Author Archive
A Holistic Nail Experience
Posted by: | CommentsNamaste’- “I honor in you the Divine
That I honor within myself
And I know that we are
ONE”
I’ve always been a big fan of the comedy series Seinfeld. Remember the episode when Elaine went to the nail shop and thought the women were talking about her? To find out what they were saying, she brought George’s dad to the shop….being that he could understand Korean….for me, it’s still one of the funniest moments in tv history. It turns out they were making fun of her and she ended up getting banned from the shop! Be sure to check out the video clip at the bottom of this post for a quick laugh! I am sure many of us can identify with Elaine. Women love to get their nails done and many of us visit the nail shop once or twice a week. Did you realize how many health risks you expose yourself to when you visit the nail shop?
A Toxic Scent
When you walk into the nail salon, your nose is immediately assailed with chemical smells….polish remover, polish, acrylic for fake nails…not to mention the dust when those nails are filed. People who work in nail salons are even more at risk then you. When you get fake nails, manicures, or pedicures, your body absorbs all the chemicals your technician is using. Many of these substances have been proven to be carcinogenic. So what’s a girl to do?
Say…..Namaste’...
Walk in….feel a sense of peace and well being. Take a deep breath. All I smell is incense. I am immediately offered tea, coffee, or water. I accept and go for the chai. Where am I? I’ve never been in a nail salon like this before. Welcome to Namaste’ Nails in Pompano Beach, Florida (that’s in Fort Lauderdale.) Namaste’ Nails is an all natural nail salon. They use organic skin care products for all their services and a plant based solution for their gel nails, therefore no toxic smell or toxic side effects. In addition to being a nail salon offering facials and waxing, they also provide new age services, such as reiki, reflexology, feng shui, and astrology.
My Perfect Pedicure
I opted to get a pedicure since my finger nails were in such bad shape I didn’t think a manicure could even help! I was led to the back area where they do pedicures by Beatrice. She had me choose a color amongst the three brands they carry… all big-3 free (toulene, formaldehytde, and dbp.) I chose a hot orange color. While they do not have massage chairs, I still felt pampered as Beatrice worked on my feet. When it was done, my feet looked amazing! What a fantastic experience.
Meet Suzanne Weider, owner of Namaste’ Nails
Before I left, I was able to meet Suzanne, owner and operator of Namaste’ Nails. Suzanne had her own salon and was in the industry for years when she began to realize something was wrong. She realized the dangers she was exposing herself, her employees, and her clients to when using toxic nail and skin products. She saw a need for a more natural, safer option and opened Namaste Nails 2 years ago. “If they’re wearing a mask, you should be wearing one too. I actually care,” she says, referring to nail techs who wear a protective covering over their mouth when doing acrylics for their clients. In fact, most nail salons are required by the state to post a warning regarding the inhalation of acrylic dust. The majority of her clients now visit specifically because she uses natural products. The substance she uses for artificial nails is bio-gel and is made from a plant based rubber. It’s the healthiest option for women who want to have artificial nails. I saw her doing this for a client and they looked beautiful…and there was no horrible smell. The soap and lotion used in the pedicures and manicures are natural and organic. While the nail polishes are not 100% natural, they are big-3 free and she plans on having water based polish in the future.
Tell a Friend
A day in the life of Namaste' Nails.
Suzanne’s salon thrives on word of mouth…so much so that she has the need to expand and in 2 week she will relocate her shop to a bigger location. This will allow her to offer more services for her holistic clients, including reiki classes, a reiki circle, meditation, massage, and a hair stylist who will use organic hair color. It was a real pleasure to meet Suzanne. She has proven that a heart based business helps you as well as your clients prosper. If you are in the Fort Lauderdale area and want to give Namaste’ Nails a try, visit their website at namastenailsandnewage.com or give them a call at (954) 933-3023. Dawn will be more than happy to make an appointment for you.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, although my pedicure was complimentary.. This review consists of my honest experiences while at Namaste’ Nails and was not influenced by anything or anyone.
Babushka’s Beauty Secrets Book Giveaway
Posted by: | CommentsOn Monday, I reviewed the new book Babushka’s Beauty Secrets: Old World Tips for a Glamorous New You. Read my review here. I really loved this book. It was fun to read and turned me into a homemade beauty junkie….and now I want to pass it on! Hachette Publishing has made available 3 copies of Babushka’s Beauty Secrets for me to give away. Yes, that’s right there will be three winners chosen! Want to be one of the lucky three? See below for entry details.
Three lucky winners will win a free copy!
1. Mandatory entry-
Subscribe to the Toxic Beauty Blog newsletter by using the sign up form on the top right sidebar (in the pink box.) Simply enter your name and e-mail and click submit. You must confirm your subscription for this entry method to be valid.
Additional entries- Subscribe to the RSS feed or e-mail updates for my other blog, All About Aubrey Organics- this will give you three extra entries.
2. Sign up for either of the free ebooks available on my blog: Beautify Naturally: 10 Nontoxic Ways to a More Beautiful You or Master Cleanse Magic. Check them out in the sidebar to the right. You must confirm your subscription for this entry method to be valid. – this will give you three extra entries.
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, Stumble Upon, Digg, Reddit, Friend Feed, Mixx, My Space, Delicious, Simpy, Plurk, Squidoo (or any other social media site you are a member of.) – 2 entries
4. Share this giveaway on Twitter. This may be done once a day. Copy and paste this link and please leave the URL to the tweet. “@organicgirl6 Babushka’s Beauty Secrets Book Giveaway! http://toxicbeautyblog.com/?p=1188“- 1 entry
5. Blog about the giveaway. Please make sure to include a link back to this post. In your comment, please include a link to your blog post.- 5 entries
*** Please leave a separate comment for each entry method you use. This is how I credit you with the extra entries. 
Giveaway Rules
You may enter until August 4 at 11:59 pm.
Open to US and Canada only.
Must be 18+ years old to win.
Not redeemable for cash.
Winners will receive prizes directly form Hachette Books.
Thank you to Hachette Books for sponsoring this giveaway.
Good luck everyone!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Book Review: Babushka’s Beauty Secrets
Posted by: | CommentsMy grandfather emigrated to the United Stated from the Ukraine 100 years ago…I never really had a chance to reconnect with my Ukrainian roots until I read Babushka’s Beauty Secrets: Old World Tips For a Glamorous New You. Written by Raisa Ruder, esthetician to the stars and Susan Campos, it’s a complete guide to homemade beauty. “Babushka,” by the way is Ukrainian for grandmother. Raisa grew up learning all her babushka’s natural homemade remedies for the hair, skin, and nails and wrote this book to share all her secrets with everyone.
Skin Care You Can Afford
Many times commercial beauty products are not only filled with toxic chemicals, but also extremely expensive! One of the best things about creating your own skin and hair care recipes is that it’s affordable. Not only will you have beautiful glowing skin, but you’ll also have a few extra dollars in your wallet. If you thought certain foods were healthy for your body, wait until you see what they can do for your skin and hair!
While I read this book (a very fun read, by the way, as Raisa interjects humor throughout) I was like a kid in a candy store. I didn’t know which recipe to try first! The book is divided into different sections, based on your beauty needs (hair, skin, nails, hands, feet, lips, eyes) and she even gives recipes designed for different ages. Have a special event coming up? Want to give your skin some pizazz? Try the “Graduation Souflee.” Many women have expressed concern about dark under eye circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Whip up the “Banish Bags,” “Lighten Up!” or “Heard it Through the Grapevine” recipes. An index makes it very easy to find the right concoctions for you. For the lazy ones who say, “I will never make all this stuff,” (I admit this is me sometimes) she even provides a section for “One-Ingredient Wonders.”
Beauty Food For Thought
My nails were looking pretty ragged so I decided to follow Raisa’s instructions for the “10-Minute Manicure.” Afterwards, my nails never looked so good…or my hands more moisturized! I used a scrub of brown sugar and olive oil and I was able to save the rest for another day. I also did “The Perfect Pedicure” because my feet were in great need of some TLC! I soaked my feet in water with epsom salts and a dash of vanilla (smelled amazing!) Then I mixed up the “Strawberry Scrub”…a very easy mixture consisting of strawberries, olive oil, and salt. Raisa advises using olive oil after applying lotion to your feet and legs for extra softening. Oh, my feet felt so pampered!
You may say I have egg..err...avocado...on my face!
Now on to the “One-Ingredient Wonders.” I turned my attention to avocado…I must admit that even when I am mixing up guacamole I admire the texture and color of the avocado and more than once or twice I thought this would make a great face mask! It does! Your skin will benefit from antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It was so easy….all I had to do was mash up the avocado and apply to my face….it’s also great to condition hair, so I rubbed it all over my hair as well. Now I must admit, I looked a bit like the green monster, but 15 minutes later I easily rinsed in the shower, and came out with glowing skin and soft, shiny, healthier hair. I loved this recipe and it was so easy!
I really loved this book. I had already liked homemade beauty or DIY (Do-it-yourself) recipes, but this book pushed me to actually start doing it on a regular basis. It’s a great guide to keep around for when you need a little extra “oomph.” I really hope you are able to give some of them a try…stay tuned to the next post on Toxic Beauty Blog for a special surprise…you may get to try Babushka’s Beauty Secrets a little sooner than you think…hint…hint…
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
The Versatile Blogger Award
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s always an honor to be recognized for the work you do, but when that recognition comes from one of your peers, it’s even more special. I was recently chosen to receive the “Versatile Blogger Award” from Annie of allnaturalannie.com. I absolutely love visiting Annie’s blog for her special spin on natural beauty, so I was extremely honored to receive this award from her! Part of this process is now sharing 7 things about myself and then I shall pass this award along to 5 of my favorite bloggers. So here goes!
- I am a cartoon junkie. It used to be The Simpsons, but I’ve graduated to Family Guy, American Dad, and The Boondocks. I don’t think cartoons are just for kids!
- I’m learning how to cook wheat-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and sugar-free recipes. Since I’ve been eating this way, I feel great (not bloated) and the foods are incredibly delicious! I made coconut bread yesterday with coconut flour and it was a huge hit!
- I changed the way I beautify myself and my personal care products when I discovered there was a link between diseases and ingredients used in personal care products. I lost my mother to ovarian cancer 11 years ago and I truly feel there was a connection between her cancer and the fact that she used talcum powder for many years.
- My favorite place is the beach. The gentle soothing waves and sea salt air relaxes me immensely. I’ve lived by the beach my entire life and I cannot imagine living in a place that’s landlocked.
- I am an only child and was raised only by my mother. But all through my life I have had a dog as a pet. Our dogs were like my siblings.
- I am a beauty junkie- I love (all natural and organic) creams, lotions, makeup, perfume, and hair products. I am a girly girl!
- I’ve recently discovered the beauty of homemade skincare. I always thought it was too difficult and time consuming, but it’s really not! I love using fruit, veggies, and other foods to make my skin glowing and healthy! (And don’t worry, I will share the recipes.)
And now to present the Versatile Blogger Award to 5 of my favorite eco-beauty bloggers:
Thanks, ladies, for helping us realize it is easy being green in the beauty realm! And on a side note, I was just mentioned in a new blog post “50 Best Blogs for All Natural Beauty.” This is a fabulous resource for those of you seeking natural beauty blogs. Thanks so much for including me in this list!
*** Don’t forget, this the last day to enter to win organic shea butter! Go here to read about how to enter. Ends tonight at 11:59 pm…you can still sneak in!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Always Bet on Black
Posted by: | CommentsA few months ago I posted about all the benefits of shea butter. It’s one of my favorite natural moisturizers. At that same music festival where I bought the shea butter, I also found another miracle product that I have been using religiously for months now. Just what is this substance? Well it comes in a big block, it foams very well, and it’s black!
It’s African Black Soap! Maybe you’ve heard of it but never really knew what it can do. When I am in the shower, I simply scrape off a little piece and rub between my hands. The result is a fabulous foam. I use it on my face and it cleanses so well. It also great to use in areas where you sweat as it kills odor causing bacteria. African black soap originates from West Africa, where palm and palm kernel oil are combined. The black color comes from the extraction process of blending them together.
Always bet on black!
What can African Black Soap do for you? So much! It:
-relieves acne and removes blemishes
-prevents rashes, itching, or dry skin from developing
-rejuvenates skin, leaving your body fresh and clean
-clears up pimples, rashes, eczema, fungus, ringworm, and body odor
Ever since I started using this soap, I have found my skin to be cleaner and clearer…because even at the age of 34, I still develop the occasional blemish. This soap is good for all ages. If you decide to purchase African Black Soap, just make sure it is 100% natural. Target sells a variety of African Black soap mixed with other ingredients, which I have not tried yet. I also use soaps made by Sundial a.k.a.Nubian Heritage. They come in other varieties as well black soap and are available at Imedmart.com. They are very affordable at around $2.26 a bar. I’ve also found a body wash and body scrub in addition to the bar soap at Amazon.com.
If you have any of the skin problems above, African Black soap may be the solution you have been looking for. So where did the title for this post come from? If you’re a Wesley Snipes fan, you know it’s from the movie, “Passenger 57.” Seems like Wesley really knew what he was talking about, because black soap is a sure bet for clear beautiful skin. Just for fun, take a look at the clip from the movie below. If you’d like more information, feel free to send me an e-mail on the contact page. Are you familiar with African Black Soap? Your comments are welcome.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
