18

Lola’s Morning Hair and Skin Routine… Exposed!

Posted by Sylvie on May 16, 2012  

Hello everyone! Meet Lola and her lovely routine! She is a green juice, essential oil and Lotus Wei fan…aka a girl after our own hearts. Read on…
Name: Lola
Age: 34
Current weather: The most bizarre NYC spring ever – too cold, too rainy, too gray, but seems to be getting better
Hair: pixy-short, super-fine, thin, oily.
Skin: Olive, combination (though tending towards very dry, especially during winter/spring), super-sensitive/eczema-y. It can be a source of annoyance, but also of many compliments due to nice texture and even tone (when not freaking out).
Favorite star or icon from the past: Jane Russell. Image via

In the shower…
A big part of my morning is not exactly skincare-related, but it has a huge impact on how I look and feel. I start every morning with a large green juice, full of gorgeous greens, ginger, lime and a green apple for a touch of sweetness. It makes me feel fantastic, gives a wonderful burst of energy and I always feel worse when I skip it for whatever reason. I have also been trying to embrace holistic wellness, so I take a whole bunch of herbs and supplements to help deal with my horrible, chronic migraines, give me energy and boost my immune system. Since I started doing this, my migraines got much better (and I am using a lot fewer drugs), I have much more energy, a better outlook and am able to fight off colds much, much better. I won’t mention the full list, but some of the herbals I would recommend for boosting energy and immunity and helping to deal with stress are Rhodiola Rosea, Astragalus and Ashwagandha. I use Gaia Herbs – they are organic and have very impressive quality controls (and their pills are small enough and easy to swallow). After my juice-n’-pills breakfast, I hop in the shower. I wash my face with the gentle Nude Cleansing Wash. It foams, but very little and I like the smell. A few times a week I use the One Love Organics Microderma scrub. It’s quite gentle, smells like oats (in a good way) and makes my skin silky-smooth. I wash my hair with the Acure Organics Shampoo and I alternate between Pure Mint + Echinacea and Argan and Lemongrass. I also brush my teeth in the shower (weird, I know!). I used to be a Tom’s of Maine fan, but I recently noticed that their toothpaste has sulfates. Even the kids’ version! Don’t know how I missed that, but it annoyed me enough to switch. I switched to the Melvita toothpaste for myself and my son. It’s organic and I really love it. I am a bit concerned about the lack of fluoride, but we’ll see how I get on. I use moisturizing Nubian Heritage soaps or 100% Pure Blood Orange Shower Gel only on the bits that need cleaning. When I have the time (so not often), I also use one of my DIY body scrubs. I combine organic, coarse brown sugar with honey and a mix of oils (I usually use jojoba and coconut) and add in essential oils. I tend to go citrus-heavy as that is my favorite scent. Another recipe I use is mixing old coffee grounds with coconut oil and orange essential oil. It smells heavenly and coffee is great for the skin. I usually make a batch of scrub and store it in the shower in sealable preserves jars.

Outside the shower…
I spray on my Thai Crystal deodorant first thing out of the shower to give it chance to dry. I have tried other natural deodorants before, but Soapwalla gave me a wicked rash and other ones just didn’t work. TC seems to do the trick, though I am yet to test it in sweltering New York summer (should it ever come). I tend to skip body lotion unless I have lizard skin and if I do, it’s usually whatever is lying around. More often than not, I prefer to use body oils, as they smell lovely and tend to stay on my skin for much longer. My favorite right now is Tallulah Jane Halona. It’s a gorgeous ginger-cintrus scent that doubles as a gentle perfume. For my face, I love oils and serums and am currently in love with the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Nourishing Treatment oil and think this will be a lasting love affair. I have been testing the OLO Love Springs Eternal serum, but I find that it’s not moisturing enough for my skin, so I usually layer it under the Dr. Alkaitis. If my skin is feeling extra-dry and flaky, I might use either the Dr. Alkaitis Skin Savior balm or the Dr. Alkaitis day cream over the oil/serum. I rarely use eye cream (usually I just use the same oils on my eyes), but if I do, it’s either the Kahina or Dr. Alkaitis eye creams.

Because my hair is so short, I never blow dry – I just run a wide-toothed comb though it to get it in place. I have a super-sensitive scalp and conventional styling products made it break out, itch and otherwise made my life a living hell. This was a huge problem because us, short-haired girls, really need product. I couldn’t use John Masters because it was far too greasy and heavy for my super-fine hair, but then I discovered Giovanni Wicked Texture. Initially I thought it was the answer to all my prayers, since it is free from the usual suspects like sulfates, phthalates, synthetic phragrances, parabens and, most importantly, petrochemicals (I found them to be the #1 culprit for scalp sensitivities), is vegan, organic and manages to provide the same kind of hold and definition as its conventional, nasty-toxy counterparts. I since realized that it does have silicone, so prolonged use can weigh down my hair, but I feel that it is definitely the best, mostly-clean hair product out there.

Finishing touches…
I don’t use makeup unless I go out at night and since I use makeup so rarely, I haven’t really bothered switching from my dirty make-up. That said, all my mascaras have run out, so I am going to try the Organic Glam mascara from Organic Pharmacy. I am hoping it’ll work as well as my Chantecaille. I also recently started using RMS Un-covereup and Living Luminizer. I love them, my skin loves them, so if I am feeling splotchy, I sometimes use just the Un-coverup or both of them during the day. I also don’t believe in using perfume in the workplace – I am tremendously sensitive to smell, so I could never expose others to my scents, however lovely I might think they are. That said, if I am feeling headachy, I might roll on some 21 Drops Headache essential oil blend. It smells lovely (while being thoroughly unobtrusive) and I find that it does actually kind of work. I also like the Lotus Wei Inner Peace mist. It helps me chill if I am extra-stressed and the gentle scent lingers on my clothes and doubles as perfume.
Thanks, Lola! Has anyone else been enjoying greens in the AM and feeling the results like Lola? How about the amazing herbal supplement success for decreased migraines?!

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14

Naomi’s Morning Skin and Hair Routine… Exposed!

Posted by Sylvie on April 19, 2012  

Hey all! Hope you are still enjoying these AM routines as much as we are. Please keep submitting if you haven’t yet! Today’s comes to us from Naomi, who is still using a product from the Quarterly subscription (yay!) and lots of other fun ones too… Read on!

Name: Naomi
Age: 39 (ouch!)
Current weather: schizophrenic!  NYC trying desperately to molt into spring
Hair: chin length, fine, fairly straight dirty blonde without highlights but currently sun-kissed blonde (with highlights)
Skin: Fair-to-medium complexion, pernickety temperament – still experiencing a dose of winter dryness but currently pretty clear and smooth, just needing extra care and moisturising

Naomi is a regular around these parts, and Siobhan even had the pleasure of meeting her once at an event in New York. Herewith, her awesome routine!

In the shower…

Quick hair wash with California Baby Tea Tree shampoo (every week or two I use Ctonics Tantra shampoo for flakes) followed by a light condition with Suki conditioner. I use Clarisonic on my face (and sometimes décolleté) with Wei Beauty Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser. Pits & bits get a wash with soap, currently using the one that came in my first Quarterly box (one personal care item that’s soooo easy to keep clean!). Every couple of weeks I do a full body scrub with one of the 100% Pure scrubs (not a purchase, it was free when I bought products a while back). When I don’t have a body scrub product (which I don’t tend to buy, I only use them if they came with something else) I use a body brush or the equivalent with a bit of my soap

Outside the shower…

I use one of three serums: Suki targeted bio-brightening face serum; Kahina Giving Beauty serum (a fave!); or One Love Morning Glory (compliments of a recent NMDL Friday Deal – thanks!). Then I use either 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine eye cream or Origins GinZing Refreshing eye cream, depending on if I feel puffiness or dark circles are a problem. After that, I us either 100% Pure Organic Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydration SPF20 or (if I’m definitely not spending any time outside) Bee Yummy Skin Food. It’s Vive Sana Polar to Solar sunscreen if I’ll be spending any real time outside, like weekends. A couple of times I week I moisturise with either Evan Healy body oil or Acure Organics Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 body lotion. I put MJ’s Herbals arnica salve on any bruises, Kahina argan oil on any extra dry patches or eczema and every couple of weeks, on days I’m only running errands or not going out in public at all, I use Kahina argan oil as a treatment on my hair and leave it in until the next day’s shampoo. Every day in winter, or as little as possible in the good weather, I blow dry my hair.

Finishing touches…

I love RMS un-coverup. Sometimes, depending on how “good” my skin is, I use Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation. Then I like Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm as blush, RMS Beauty cream eye shadow in Solar or Lunar, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Josie Maran mascara, Anastasia Perfect Brow pencil, Dior Lip Maximiser or RMS Beauty lip balm. Okay, so now I can really see why the Desert Island Challenge was too hard for me… :)

Ha! Is she awesome, or what?

Image via

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15

Happy Friday Deal from Futurenatural! (Featuring One Love Organics + More!) [UPDATED]

Posted by Us on February 17, 2012  

Wootwoot, we’re very excited to have Futurenatural back for a fabuloso Friday Deal. Hailing from Austin—any Austin readers in the house?—this online natural beauty site carries many of our favorite brands, from Scotch Naturals, to RMS, to Kahina and Lotus Wei. Today’s star is of course One Love Organics, whose Skin Savior balm has become a bit of a cult favorite for the green beauty set, and is currently Alexandra’s go-to face cleansing oil. But there’s more to the deal than that!

Here’s the dillio: Spend over $30 on any One Love Organics products and you’ll receive a travel size Skin Savior Balm, valued at $16. OR order over $60 and get their new (and wonderful) travel-sized Morning Glory Serum, valued at $29.

What’s more is that Futurenatural is also offering a site-wide 10% discount on ALL products. This applies with or without One Love purchases. For ALL PROMOS just use the NMDL code and the deals will be applied automatically.

The deal lasts until Sunday night at midnight!

Happy shopping everybody! And happy long weekend for the lucky ducks getting it!

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44

Feeling Chapped? Five Lip (and Multitasking) Balms to the Rescue

Posted by Alexandra on January 30, 2012  

Ugh. My lips have been SO chapped, it’s really the pits. First, you can’t wear lipstick, and then, one glass of red makes you look like a wino.

On the plus side, though, my winter-worn lips have allowed me to properly explore the wonderful world of multitasking balms available. As many of you know, when it comes to clean beauty, often what works on your lips also does wonders on your elbows, and maybe even under your eyes.

Does any balm totally cure chapped lips? Not overnight. But they make them feel about a thousand times more bearable, and prettier to look at too.

Also, when you’re using a product with skin-nourishing oils, you’re not only keeping moisture into the lip (without the drying ingredients, like alcohol, and nasty chemicals found in conventional balms) but you’re also feeding the skin with healthy fats and other friendly ingredients.

Here’s a quick look at five of my new new favorite balms. But we know there are others! What do you use?

1. One Love Organics Skin Savior Balm: I’ve been meaning to write about this stuff for a while. Lately I’ve been using it on lips, as well as to cleanse my face (sometimes with my new Clarisonic gadget, which we must discuss in another post). I was also delighted to see that my sister, who lives in cold and windy Toronto, found it at Shop Pretty there—and it’s her new fave for everything. Thing is, it’s on the pricier side. But! We have a Friday Deal in the works with these guys and Futurenatural later in February.

2. Waxelene: We’ve covered this stuff before, it’s the Vaseline of naturals and work great on lips, elbows, dry patches, and even to remove eye makeup in a pinch.

3. Yvonne Ryding Instant Repair: This product reminds me of old favorite, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (did any of you use that?). While definitely not vegan—the first ingredient in this product is lanolin (from sheep) and the third is cera alba (from bees)—this stuff is gangbusters. The line is not perfectly chem-free, but this wonderful product is. I use it mostly on my lips, but it also makes for a nice cheek and brow highlighter. And if I manage to hit the slopes before winter is through, I will bring it with and apply to any exposed skin.

4. Zoe Organics Refresh Lip Balm: This simple little lip-only balm comes in a dainty pink tube that I just love using. And because it has lime peel, peppermint, ginger essential oils, it’s all tingly, tasty goodness.

5. DollyMoo Lip Balm: This is a brand-new discovery and I’ve been using these since I got them in the mail last week. I really like the way they feel, taste and smell. Also, because of the black packaging and the not-too girly scents, these are definitely boy friendly. So you can ditch the Chapstick too, guys.

What have you been doing for chapped lips?

Pretty but possibly annoyed model via

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