Prepping Pretty Spring Skin

by Sarah Logan

When the sun finally begins to warm our faces again, and the world slowly looks a little greener, we always feel the need to freshen up our looks a bit. In an enthusiastic hurry to apply this season’s bright makeup colors, we may forget to stop and realize that the most important step is good skincare for a clean, smooth base. After the cold wind, dry heating systems, and dark days are done with our faces, most of us go into springtime looking a little dull.

To bring your face back to life, there are some basics that always help whether you’re at a spa or your bathroom sink. Firstly, be sure to exfoliate: it can be as simple as adding salt (for oily skin) or sugar (for dry skin) to your face wash or buying one with exfoliating beads in it. It always helps to add a product with something like fruit enzymes or hydroxy acids into your regimen for added results. Going to get microdermabrasion at a local spa is a great choice for deep exfoliation that will be noticed right away. Any of these options will reveal fresh skin that is glowing and smooth.

Pamper your skin this spring.

Second, you need to continuously moisturize to have skin perfect for makeup application. If you’re getting a facial at a spa, that’s great because they will both exfoliate and moisture your skin while you’re there. At home, be sure you’re using a formula appropriate for your skin type, like a gel for oily skin, a thicker cream for dry, or something in between. Some of the face lotions with radiance/skin brightening ingredients are perfect for dewy spring skin, and are a nice boost for any look.

If we just take a little extra care in reviving skin at this time of year, the reward will be a complexion that’s more awake and well-textured. Your face will look flawless all season long!

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of Aesthetic Science Institute (ASI). ASI is a beauty school for new students interested in a career in aesthetics and licensed aestheticians interested in advanced aesthetics training and certification.

Stay natural, stay beautiful, go green!

My friend really liked these lipsticks! She told me they were very long-wearing, rich, and creamy. She did say that they seemed to need more moisture. I had the same thought when I tried the Almond Cream shade. I countered this by adding a top layer of lip gloss…it made it more moist. I also always use lip balm before I put lipstick on so that helped too.

This was Lori’s response when I mentioned that we thought the lipsticks needed a bit more moisture:
“The reason it feels like it needs more moisture is NOT because it lacks moisturizing ingredients , as you can clearly read on the panel, it is rich in emollient ingredients. (butters ,waxes and oils.) We needed to make a lipstick that is luxurious and truly natural, as well as VERY long lasting in color and creaminess. I believe we have achieved that. Bobbie Brown is the line I adore and I used her products as a prototype in terms of feel, texture and color payoff. I think we did a great job in creating a natural prestige version of our own that is more than comparable.”

I definitely must agree with Lori here…..it might be that I am just not used to lipstick! I also really loved the long-lasting rich color it allowed me to have. The Almond Cream shade is a lovely nude shade that gives you a very natural look. Right now, there are 8 lovely shades to choose from.  Another fabulous part of LipFacts lipstick is that it contains all natural ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, shea butter, and vitamin E to name a few. Check out their ingredients page here: Lipfacts Ingredients

Lipfacts leaves out toxic and chemical ingredients. Lipfacts Naturally Elegant Lipstick contain absolutely no mineral oil, lead, petrolatum, dyes, lakes, and parabens. Remember, we ingest our lipstick and if we do this, we should be using products we can eat! Lipfacts by Lori gives women a better choice and proves that your health does not have to be compromised for beauty.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

Disclaimer: I was provided lipstick samples free of charge from Lipfacts by Lori. I was not paid in any way for this review. This review consists of my honest observations of the product.

Even before I went organic, I used it after sun exposure.  It’s anti-inflammatory properties are healing for sunburned skin. Aloe also contains 18 amino acids, vitamins and minerals making it the perfect food for your skin. You can drink aloe vera juice for the internal health benefits but did you know you can use it topically as a face and body mask? You only need 3 ingredients and it’s really affordable too!

You will need:

• Aloe vera juice (organic)

• Aloe vera gel

• Rose essential oil (pure, not synthetic)

Visit From Nature With Love for affordable beauty ingredients, including aloe vera gel.

Watch the video below for exact instructions on how to make your own soothing, hydrating aloe mask. Let me know your results!

Right now the 100% Pure Special Deal of the Week is an 8 piece fruit pigmented cosmetic box + bubble bath and body scrub for $46! Normally purchased separately this would cost $85! For the bubble bath (7.5 oz.) and scrub (6 oz.) you have a choice between pink champagne and dark chocolate (yum!) In addition, you can also get free shipping with orders over $50.

This is a great way to try 100% Pure products while saving a bunch of bucks too! I know I am going to get in on this deal. I hope you do too! Visit 100% Pure to order and find out more, but hurry it may end soon.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Robin

In the previous post, I raised this question and now there is further proof that beauty companies deal in deception first, and your well-being last. The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an ad for Johnson and Johnson’s Clean and Clear Spot Control Kit and deemed it as deceptive and misleading. In the commercial, young girls (who are not actresses, according to J & J) are depicted before and after using the product. In the before pictures, the girl’s faces are blotchy and shiny. In the after ones, their skin is smooth and clear. It was reported that in the before picture, the girl’s had no face makeup on. Their skin was completely bare. In the after shot, J&J admits a light powder was applied to their skin. If a company can be deceptive simply in their promotional material, isn’t it likely that they are deceptive about the effectiveness or safety of their product? Does something like this make you feel misled? Do you feel like you wasted money on products because the company manipulated the results?

Click here to see the actual commercial and let me know what you think.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

I concocted my own at home facial! It was a 5 step process. You can use the products you already have on hand or even get creative and make some of your own recipes. I used a product line from Blissoma, an awesome company I just discovered through one of my favorite eco-beauty blogs,  ecochick.com. I jumped on the chance to try the starter kit (4 full sized products) for only $25! UPDATE: This deal is no longer being offered but visit iriestar.com for to sign up for future promotions! Wanna know more? Read the review of this amazing, affordable natural line here: ecochick.com

Read on for your step-by-step instructions for your DIY facial!

Here are the easy steps to your skin rejuvenating at home facial:

Step 1: Cleanse. Wet face and cleanse using a gentle cleanser. I used Blissoma’s Mild Rice Cleanser. Pat dry.

Step 2: Exfoliate. Use face scrub to remove dead skin cells. Since I didn’t have any scrub around, I created my own. Take about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and combine with 2 tbsp. of sugar. You can play around with the amounts. Gently apply to face and rinse. By now your skin will already be incredibly soft!

Step 3: Clarify. Apply a clay mask to skin, being careful to apply it evenly.  Blissoma’s Clay Renewal Treatment mask did an excellent job for me. Let dry and remove with a warm wet cloth.

Step 4: Tone. Blissoma’s set came with this great toner spray (Intense Hydration Tonique) which hydrated my skin. If you don’t have a product like this, you can skip this step or mist face with some purified water. Let dry.

Step 5: Moisturize. Apply moisturizer (it was night so I used Blissoma’s Evening Facial Creme.) The set  also came with a Morning Facial Moisture. I love the fact that it had different formulations for day and night. Your skin needs different treatment at different times of the day.

Step 6: Enjoy smoother, softer, and healthier skin!

This isn’t something you will do everyday but once in a while it is nice to pamper yourself! After I gave myself this facial, my skin was new year ready. Do you have any other tips for an at home facial? Please share!

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

Green tea is not only great for your heart, but for your skin and hair too.

Did the title catch your attention? I hope so…The benefits of drinking green tea are many: weight loss, increased metabolism, inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, and improving the immune system to name a few. Green tea contains EGCG, a powerful  antioxidant which kills cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. If green tea is not part of your daily diet, it should be.

Green tea is so healthy in our diet but what can it do in our beauty products?  There are times when your hair needs a break from regular shampoo and needs a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup of styling products. Enter Aubrey Organics Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo.

It deep cleans and rinses well leaving the hair healthy and manageable. It contains herbal extracts and nutrients which make the hair easy to style and cuts down on dry time (who doesn’t need more time in their beauty routine??) Green tea and nettle extract protect hair and tone the scalp. Aloe replenishes moisture while almond protein strengthens hair fiber, fullness, and manageability. You will be so pleased when you use this shampoo as it contains so sulfates, parabens, or chemicals. It’s also vegan and is not tested on animals. Here are the complete ingredients:

INGREDIENTS: Deionized Water, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap, Organic Green Tea Extract (Organic Green Tea, Organic Nettle, Natural Grain Alcohol), Organic Aloe Vera, Carrageenan, Organic Lemon Peel Oil, Almond Protein, Organic Blue Camomile Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

You can explore the entire line of green tea products at Aubrey Organics.

Another company who have tapped into the power of green tea is Burt’s Bees. They make a collection of products utilizing this wonder ingredient. I was able to find a Green Tea set at Marshall’s (I am always looking for deals!) It contained a 12 oz. shampoo, 12 oz. conditioner, 8 oz. hand soap, and a soap bar. Burt’s Bees Color Keeper Shampoo and Conditioner uses green tea and fennel seed to help preserve color. This is a good shampoo, but when compared with Aubrey, I definitely like the results from the Aubrey collection better. My hair seems to stay cleaner longer than when I use the Burt’s Bees. If you decide to try both lines, it is up to you to decide which you like better. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the benefits of green tea or what is has done for you. Please leave me a comment.

Until next time, stay natural… stay beautiful… go green(tea!) -Robin

Save money by purchasing a skin care set.

By now, you all know how much I ♥ Aubrey Organics products. I love how they create skin care systems and products designed for different skin and hair types too. I like to coordinate my products and use all the same items from one product line.  After 30, I decided it was time to be on the offensive and start anti-aging activities.  I found out about Rosa Mosqueta after researching which natural ingredients were best for anti-aging. Rosa mosqueta originates from rosa mosqueta oil and is a powerful anti-oxidant, providing Essential Fatty Acids and promoting youthful skin. It also has amazing skin regenerating properties and can reverse sun damage! I started using Aubrey’s Rosa Mosqueta Moisturizing Cream for the daytime. It absorbs easily, makes a great base for under make-up, and moisturizes and hydrates the skin all day. To make it even better, all the ingredients are identifiable and contains no chemicals. I was so pleased with the daytime moisturizing cream that I decided to expand to the night cream.

The Rosa Mosqueta Night Cream is a bit thicker and when applied, makes the skin shiny and glowing. That  is not really a problem though as you apply before bedtime and the cream works it’s magic as you sleep. It’s ultra-moisturizing and restores softness to dry skin. Like the day cream it contains powerful antioxidants, liposomes, and alpha lipoic acid, which in combination helps smooth fine lines, wrinkles, and leaves the skin looking radiant. After using this cream for some time, I am so satisfied with the results and you will be too!

I was delighted to find out that Aubrey uses this fantastic ingredient in it’s hair care products as well. Rosa Mosqueta Nourishing Shampoo is especially for color treated hair but can be used on all hair types. It boasts that it can remove harsh chlorine, which your hair absorbs through the water if you are not using a shower filter (click here for more on shower filters.) It also leaves your hair soft and manageable and the scent is quite pleasant (rosy!) as you shower.  Rosa Mosqueta Nourishing Conditioner contains many healthy essential oils designed to condition, untangle, and fortify for healthy hair. This line starts at $7.98 and up for an individual product and ranges in price. You can get the skin care at a discounted rate if you purchase a set.

When used in tandem, all these products do exactly what they claim to do in a safe way. Aubrey does not use any harsh chemicals. They preserve their products with citrus seed extract and vitamins. Using Aubrey products gives you peace of mind in that you know your body will not be harmed. Aubrey products are organic, safe, and effective. Visit Aubrey Organics to discover them for yourself and find the product lines that match your needs. I know you will be satisfied! If you have any questions about the Aubrey line (or anything at all) please drop me a line through the comments or contact page.

Do you use any Aubrey products? If so, which line and product works best for you? If not, which product would you like to try? I would love to know.

Until next time, stay natural… stay beautiful…Go green! -Robin

Some people categorize their skin as “sensitive”  or think they have skin allergies. They use special formulas because otherwise their skin will break out or become irritated. Did you ever think that maybe your skin isn’t really sensitive? It might be that man-made chemical ingredient in your product that made you break out. I’ve heard many instances of this. You don’t necessarily have sensitive skin or allergies, it’s the toxic ingredient or combination of ingredients that cause problems for anyone who uses them. Such ingredients shouldn’t be in beauty products. Not only can they disrupt the surface of the skin, but they are absorbed into the bloodstream disrupting bodily functions and organs.

I recently heard from Jenna and she had this to say:

“Love your Toxic Beauty blog. I used to think I had allergies because my eyes were puffy and itchy more often then not- I recently switched to all natural and organic beauty products and my skin has never looked or felt better- I was polluting myself without even knowing it! Go Green!”

So if you experience similar problems, be it puffy eyes, bumps, or itchy skin, give your regular beauty products a break and give natural products a try. You may be very surprised (and pleased!) at the results. If you’ve experienced any of these side effects from using commercial beauty products, drop me a line. Stay natural…stay beautiful. -Robin

Sometimes the best cures exist right in front of our eyes. I have previously posted about how wonderful it is to use the foods you can find right in your refrigerator to create the most lovely beauty recipes. Now I want to turn my attention to another natural beauty aid, oils. All of the oils I am going to talk about can be used for cooking. The benefits are endless.

My favorite oil to use on the face is almond oil. We all know how healthy almonds are when ingested,  but now we can also reap the benefits externally. Almond oil soaks in and manages to keep your face soft, smooth, and glowing. It moisturizes, works as an anti-aging tonic, and can even relieve irritated skin. I primarily use this at night (sort of as a night serum) but it can also be used in the day. I use almond oil to moisturize my cuticles too. Almond oil is rich in many nutrients, including Vitamin E and D, magnesium, and calcium. As an added bonus, it can be used as a massage oil and a carrier oil when mixed with essential oils, such as lavender or bergamot.

For the body, I prefer to use coconut oil. I usually will purchase a large container of organic virgin coconut oil and place it into a squeeze bottle. This makes it very convenient for application to the entire body and it usually lasts a long time. Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer and can improve the skin’s elasticity, which may become a problem as you age. Coconut oil is full of healthy lauric acid, which helps the body fight viruses and bacteria. It can help heal skin irritations, like almond oil. It is also a miracle hair product, providing moisture, treating damaged hair, and promoting hair growth. Of course, you can also take it internally, which helps you lose weight!

Please visit  From Nature With Love where you can purchase almond and coconut oil as well as 1,750+ natural ingredients for use in homemade beauty recipes.

Unlike mineral oil, these healthy oils do not lay on the skin, or clog pores, giving the skin a chance to breathe. They are easily absorbed into the body and are safe, natural moisturizers. Does anyone out there use any natural oils? If so, I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment on the blog. Also, please don’t forget to sign up for RSS updates and for automatic updates by e-mail. Thanks for visiting the blog!