The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Brazilian products that will change your routine
Aside from the illustrative fact that Brazil has yielded a sizable percentage of the supermodel community, there’s the obvious aspect of the country’s environs: How many superfoods and “miracle” products have been sourced from the Amazon? Blame it on acai, but it’s practically cliche at this point. (Almost as cliche as claiming that all Brazilians are destined for model superstardom.)
Either way, it’s undeniable that the word beauty is practically synonymous with Brazil. And there are numbers to back that up: Forbes reported in 2014 that Brazil was the fastest-growing beauty industry worldwide. Embracing the incredible plant ingredients the region has to offer, Brazilian women strike a balance between tropical glamour and a more natural sensibility — and their go-to products reflect that. So whether the Olympics have sparked your interest or you’re perennially fascinated by the country’s best-kept secrets (both, in our case), we thought it only fitting to count down the best Brazilian (and Brazilian-inspired) products to help you find your inner Gisele.
Natura Seve ($26)
Natura is Brazil’s resident cosmetics giant — far and away the biggest beauty company on the local market. Fans particularly love the brand’s bath and body products, like its sweet almond bath oil.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($45)
If you’ve seen this cellulite-fighting cream on Byrdie a lot lately, it’s only because it really is that good. U.S.-based company Sol de Janeiro harnesses the power of Brazilian plant ingredients for formulas that truly deliver, and this is its best-seller. Come for the intoxicating scent, stay for a dimple-free bum.
Bestbronze Autobronzeador Spray ($20)
True Brazilians know that in their tropical clime, SPF is non-negotiable — so to get their goddess-like bronze, they rely on this particular formula, which happens to be the top-selling self-tanner in the country.
Pure Brazilian Coconut Water ($5)
If we had a nickel for every time a Brazilian Victoria’s Secret Angel told us she washes her hair and skin with coconut water … well, we’d buy more coconut water, because it’s clearly doing something.
Brazilian Golden Body Veil Sol de Janeiro($32)
We also have to vouch for this genius, albeit slightly lesser-known product from the brand behind that cult-beloved Bum Bum Cream. It’s basically bleach-meets-depilatory, so when you use the cream combo on, say, your arm hair, you’re left with an impossibly flattering layer of glimmering peach fuzz. Trust us — you’ll want to try this.
Golden Care Creme Anti-aging Corporeal ($61)
We’ve heard enough good things about this revitalizing body lotion to be officially intrigued — it gets top reviews for its non-sticky texture and deeply moisturizing capabilities.
Rahua conditioner ($36)
We have to show some love to another American product sourced from Brazilian ingredients, Rahua, our go-to all-natural hair brand. Just one whiff of the delicious palo santo scent might convince you enough to douse your strands, but you’ll keep it around for the addictively glossy finish it leaves behind.
Instead of buying a health insurance policy to cover their workers, a growing number of small and midsized companies are opting to pay their employees’ medical claims directly, a potentially riskier practice financially called self-insuring, a recent study found.
Between 2013 and 2015, the proportion of midsized companies with 100 to 499 employees that were self-insured increased 19 percent, to 30.1 percent, according to the analysis published in July by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The percentage of small firms with fewer than 100 employees that self-funded their health plans grew 7 percent, to 14.2 percent, the study found. Meanwhile, self-funding by large companies declined slightly, to 80.4 percent.
For the study, researchers analyzed survey data from nearly 40,000 employers that participated in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance/Employer Component.