My (not so) dirty little secret...

It's time for me to come clean (ba dum chah!) and confess that I may have become a bit of a soap hoarder over the past several months.  I've completely abandoned liquid bath gels in favor of all natural bar soap (and actually bar soap typically will contain fewer ingredients which I like). I rationalize the excess I've squirreled away in my closet by saying to myself that it doesn't expire, that if I get into a pinch I can use it as hostess gifts, and in the meantime it's an added bonus that my t-shirt drawer smells lovely now.

My current fave was a lovely gift from a French friend who brought me a trio of donkey milk soap back from the South of France (thanks Nathalie!).  At first the idea of rubbing donkey anything on my body was a bit repulsive - I'm not going to lie.  But something about it being a French donkey made it a bit more palatable, especially as I imagined the donkey lazily spending its days lolling around in lavender covered fields of Provence.  I mean, this donkey probably has a better life than I do, let's be honest.  But I quickly became a sucker not only for the adorable packaging, but also the terrific moisturizing benefits.  Plus, the first bar in the package was a Patchouli scent, so I knew it was meant to be (not pictured above because it's happily ensconced in my shower at the moment).  I can't wait to try the Lavender and Eucalyptus scents.

Plantlife also makes some great all natural bar soaps. I love the Patchouli (of course), the Anise/Clay and the Sandalwood.  They also make an Argan face/body bar that I'm eager to try. I've tried soaps on my face in the past (Dove and Cetaphil) and found them to be too drying, but as soon as I give these babies a whirl I'll come back and update this post.  It would be nice to have a two in one for travel especially, so fingers crossed!

A day at the Ren Faire

It's been about 20+ years since I've been to a Renaissance Fair (Faire?)- probably making an annual visit as a child with hippy parents was enough to guarantee I'd never want to go back as an adult (cross reference late in life patchouli interest).

However the times, they have a' changed, and I must admit, I had a blast at one in Maryland this weekend.  Chomping on an enormous turkey drumstick and drinking copious amounts of ale while bag pipers droned in the background was a surprisingly delightful way to spend a Saturday (and the situational dressing was fun too!)

(I'm wearing RMS uncover-up in #22, Lip2Cheek in Smile, Revlon creme shadow in Not Just Nudes, and Lipstick Queen Sinner in Berry)

NEED...THIS...NOW! Wild at Heart bags

The designers behind brand Wild at Heart have this to say about their line:

"Rachael Moore and Chrissy (Bang Bang) Bray spent years creating their own makeshift Hands-Free Bags before they realised - the world needs a range of strap-on leather bags.Dedicated to creating comfortable and beautiful designs, Wild at Heart is about freedom and self-expression."

Now perhaps when you hear the words "strap-on" and "leather" in a product description it may bring to mind a slightly (umm..) different type of product, but all I know is, I NEED the below waist bag (and perhaps one of the fringey arm band bags...ahem, friends and family, hint hint birthday hint hint) like I may never have needed a bag before.  Fringey bum bag, come to mama!!

http://www.wildatheartbags.com

Everything's coming up roses!

I've gotten into rose hydrosols recently as a prep for applying oils or serums on my face post cleanse. Not only is the smell addictive, but rose hydrosols are anti-inflammatory and can help sooth redness.  Its antiseptic and astringent properties are also great for helping calm and heal acne prone skin.

Decant it into a smaller purse size spray bottle and drop it in your bag to give your skin a quick pick me up on hot summer days (add aloe for a great sunburn soother).  You can also spray into your hair for both moisturizing and scenting or onto your pillowcase before bed.  So many great uses!

On my mind today: Neroli essential oil

When I think of Neroli, images of Cleopatra lounging in her private bath immediately come to mind.  And indeed the flower and oil was highly regarded by ancient Egyptians for its mind, body and spirit benefits.

Extracting the oil is a laborious process, and thus, it's typically not inexpensive. It takes about 1000 pounds of orange blossom flower to make 1 pound of Neroli oil. The regenerative benefits of Neroli are the reason people have successfully used it to treat acne, stretch marks and broken capillaries.  The overall therapeutic properties are: Antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-infectious, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, deodorant, hypertensive (lowers blood pressure).

I can't wait to work this into my beauty routine! On my fall wish list is H. Gillerman's blend which contains a couple other ingredients I'm very interested in these days in terms of how they can help calm my rosacea - rose otto, helichrysum and rosehip.

The full ingredient list is as follows: 100% organic neroli, petitgrain, rose otto, helichrysum, carrot seed essential oils; jojoba oil, avocado oil, meadow foam seed, rosehip seed, evening primrose oils; non-GMO vitamin E.

Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter and Color Quench Lip Tint

I picked up these little cuties recently and so far am obsessed with them!

Coconut features prominently in the ingredients, and the vanilla coconut lip tint (pictured on right) is a warm coconutty treat on the kisser. I also picked up the Vanilla Hibiscus (pictured on left), which leaves a light sheer pink color on the lips and is rich in avocado and coconut oil.

The Bronzing body butter is a lovely subtle shimmer with just a hint of color. I'm pretty fair and it works well on my skin tone.  Also, a little goes a long way. The sea algae and coconut oil in the ingredients feels very hydrating and isn't tacky or greasy on the skin.  It's a perfect way to relive the beach days of summer and sneak a little tropical into Fall.

According to Pacifica: "Our skin care and color is formulated without: Animal testing, animal ingredients, FD&C color, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, mineral oil, petroleum, peanut oil, triclosan, and other ingredients you do not want on your skin."

Oregano oil - not just a pizza topping

Oregano essential oil is something I'm eager to try adding in to my skincare regime.  Because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, some experts have advocated the use oil of oregano to treat skin conditions like acne and rosacea. Add a drop or two to sesame oil (or another carrier oil you've found works well with your skin type) and apply to skin before you go to bed (the oregano smells a bit like...well, oregano - so unless you want your face to smell like a delicious slice of pizza I wouldn't recommend morning application). This is a strong oil so please make sure to dilute it with a carrier oil. I would start with one drop and work your way up depending on how your skin reacts - and patch testing is always a good idea.

It's also reputed to boost immunity when taken internally, or you can pop into a room diffuser or use in creating your own hand sanitizer* for its antiviral benefits.

*Making your own hand sanitizer is easy, and you can avoid the harsh ingredients most store bought contain. Combine high proof vodka or witch hazel with a few drops of your preferred essential oils.  I like to combine vodka with oregano oil, tea tree oil and lavender. You can also add aloe and vitamin E oil for extra moisture and substitute vodka with witch hazel if your hands are extra dry/cracked.


And speaking of oregano, here's a peek at me serving up some balls (rice balls that is!) with Guilia Della Gatta at Arancini Bros.  I'm still dreaming of the truffle porcini arancino or the basil pesto mozzarella...

Magic Yoga carpet, take me away!

I had to post these yoga mats I'm obsessed with (*hint to my friends and family, my birthday's just around the corner!).  

I can't wait to practice my moves on one of these puppies with some palo santo burning in the corner and some exotic essential oils dabbed on my temples (frankincense, myrrh, perhaps some sandalwood thrown in the mix).  Who's with me?!

Patchouli, I love thee

Dear Readers, it's time to embrace your inner hippie and get to know Patchouli!  Not the dubious bottles you pick up from the street vendors that are blended with some other kind of musk and probably smell terrible.  No, we're talking about the therapeutic grade essential oil.  Many popular perfumes actually contain patchouli as a base note, however I love the woody, earthy and aromatic smell on its own (and yes, it's heavily concentrated and a little goes a long way - a lesson I learned the hard way once when a woman in Whole Foods told me she could smell me all the way down the aisle...whoopsies!).

Patchouli also contains some amazing benefits.  It's an aphrodisiac (had to list that one first!), an anti-depressant, a diuretic, a reputed appetite inhibitor, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and a fever reducer.  In terms of skincare, it helps heal and prevent acne (and scars) and fights fine lines. It also helps to treat eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. While there is a bit of debate on whether you should apply patchouli "neat" (undiluted) or not, I would recommend some dilution with a carrier oil.  You can always patch test on your forearm to see if applying it neat gives you a reaction.  Run out of deodorant? Soak a cotton ball with witch hazel, add a drop or 2 of patchouli essential oil and blot under your arms.  It works!  Added bonus - it repels mosquitoes and moths (and I'm sure some patchouli detractors would say humans!).  In fact, patchouli gained popularity in the West in the 18th and 19th century as silk traders from Asia and the Middle East pressed leaves into the cloths to prevent moths from laying eggs.  And in Europe, the patchouli smell in cashmeres and silks became a way to verify authenticity of origin. 

(Funny patchouli fact: According to Wikipedia, "In 1985 Mattel used patchouli oil in the plastic used to make the action figure, Stinkor, in the Masters of the Universe line of toys.")

Weigh in - love it or hate it?

Simple beauty (food) hacks

In the previous post we covered honey and its beauty benefits.  Keeping in the same vein, here are some other ideas for making the most of some items you may already have in your kitchen!


AVOCADO

In addition to being a delicious and healthy fat addition to your morning smoothie, you can use the empty peel for a quick moisture mask on your face.  Take the scooped out peel and gently press or rub the inside of the peel on your face.  Then eat, pick out your clothes, etc.  When you're ready, wash it off and finish getting ready.


COCONUT OIL

Before heading to the gym in the morning (or beach/pool is a good time to do this as well), slather the ends of your hair with coconut oil.  The heat from your head as you exercise will help the oil penetrate your hair and it's an easy way to give your hair a moisture mask on a busy schedule.  You can also use it to shave your legs as a swap for shaving cream. (Note, you can substitute any oil for the above tricks - olive, grapeseed, sesame, etc.). There are also copious articles out there about the benefits of "oil pulling" - essentially swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes.  If you have the time and the patience, it's supposed to whiten teeth and have other general health benefits.  

TURMERIC/CINNAMON

Both are great to mix with honey or yogurt (or both!) as a mask.  Each are reputed to help prevent acne breakouts, brighten and tone skin and fight signs of aging.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

So many household uses with this one!  But in terms of beauty, it makes a great toner.  Dab a cotton ball and apply to t-zone or other oily parts of face. Can also be applied to keratosis pilaris to help breakup the sebum clogs that create the "chicken skin" phenomenon. Apple cider vinegar is also fantastic as a hair rinse.  If you're a big pool goer, this will help remove chlorine build up in your hair.  Shampoo first, then pour one part water, one part apple cider vinegar over your hair.  Rinse, then condition.  Will make it soft and shiny!  You can also mix apple cider vinegar, aloe and avocado oil in a spray bottle and use to sooth sunburn.

The Buzzzzz - Is honey the new coconut oil?

One of my favorite DIY face masks at home is comprised of three simple ingredients: oatmeal, plain yogurt (full fat is best) and honey.  It moisturizes, soothes and helps draw out impurities.

Next on my to-do list however is to start honey cleansing using Raw Manuka honey.

Honey is known for its anti-bacterial and healing properties (ever swallowed a tablespoon when you feel a sore throat coming on?).  Raw Manuka honey in particular is renowned for its medicinal benefits (ideally 15+) and antioxidants. Native to New Zealand's North Island, Manuka is the honey's Maori-given name and is unique in that the bees only interact with the Manuka shrub which flowers just 2-6 weeks a year (it's also the reason the honey is more expensive). Beneficial taken both internally and externally, I'm most interested in what it can do for my face (umm duh!).  I'm perpetually on a hunt for facial cleansers that will thoroughly clean my face, moisturize and not aggravate my rosacea or clog pores.  Bonus is that honey is reputed to both prevent breakouts and help heal current spots.  When using it as a cleanser, remove eye make-up first (a cotton ball soaked in either olive oil or coconut oil is a good natural way to do this), then wet face and apply the honey. You can then leave it on as a mask for 15-20 minutes or immediately rinse it off (if you suffer from rosacea, make sure you use lukewarm and not hot water) or use a wet washcloth/muslin to remove.

I'm also keen to try a Manuka honey/turmeric face mask (perhaps with some cinnamon thrown in the mix).  Turmeric is reputed to help calm rosacea and draw out impurities (I'm actually taking turmeric/neem capsules orally daily but it's unfortunately too soon to report results).

Is Manuka honey the next miracle product?  Let me know your thoughts!

Flash that Tat!

As summer draws to a close I thought I would take advantage of the last bit of warm weather by partaking in some temporary body bling.

http://www.flashtat.com/shop/

 


I'm particularly interested in the necklaces and cuffs and think it will be a good way to make the most of my dwindling tan.  Apparently if you follow the instructions it can last 4-6 days, which isn't too shabby. Perfect for swanning around in a caftan and flowy beach waves!  (Which is how I'd like to spend most of my time, preferably with a piña colada).



Would you rock it?  Comment below!

Seabuckthorn Oil - the good, the bad and the smelly

As I mentioned in my first post, I've gotten veeeery into oils over the past year and in addition to regularly using Argan and Sesame oils on my face (have yet to delve into oil cleansing but can envision the benefits) and body, I've recently started using Seabuckthorn oil on my face due to other users that say it calms Rosacea.

Currently I'm using Sibu brand :

After cleansing with Everyday Coconut face wash (which contains Neem oil as the first ingredient - a great oil for purification if you suffer from breakouts), I'll pat my face dry and then spray with Avene thermal spray (the oil is better absorbed if your face is damp).  I'll gently rub 2-3 drops over my face and let it absorb.  Now I will warn you - this has a noticeable smell.  If you're sensitive to smells, this may not be for you.  But so far I've been able to handle it (all in the name of beauty!). While it hasn't been a miracle cure for my rosacea, I have noticed a subtle lessening of redness and pimples, and its bounty of Omegas and other benefits (repairing skin damage from sun exposure, fighting wrinkles, and some bloggers say it heals burns and reduces inflammation etc.) will certainly keep me using it until the bottle is finished.

Have you tried Seabuckthorn oil?  Comment below!

RMS Beauty - Uncover-up #22 and Lip2Cheek in Smile

 


On a whim I purchased the above two RMS products from Bglowing after reading extensive reviews of the products all over the Internet.

I have sensitive combo skin with mild rosacea and the occasional breakout so am a bit nervous to put anything new or different on my face, but after reading about the ingredients (which are all natural with a coconut oil base) I decided to give it a shot.  I also am hoping the #22 won't be too dark for me...so click the below video to watch my first try in action!

Video review and demo

*Update: After taking RMS out on the town for a test drive I have the following to report:

1. It feels really comfortable on the skin
2. It is glowy...and I mean glowy!  Looking at myself in the mirror behind the bar, my face looked like a flashlight...so I perhaps shouldn't have skipped the setting powder step.
3. My friend commented that I looked like I'd just had a chemical peel - which I still don't know was a compliment or not.
4. No clogged pores that I can observe from first use (I'd had a nasty encounter with raw coconut oil last year when trying it out as a face moisturizer so I was somewhat wary) but if I develop any issues from usage will update.

*Editor's note on video: if any of my friends are wondering why I look/sound tired...I'll admit it, I was a wee bit hungover when I filmed this.  Mea culpa!

Welcome to All the Good Breaks!

I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical this summer (or should I start saying Fall now? Yikes..) and have had the luxury of being able to indulge my ever-increasing obsession with all things green beauty.  At the intense relief of dear friends and family, the Patchouli phase was short lived (although I still hold a special place in my heart for it and may at some point do a throw back post extolling all of its many virtues) and I've now progressed on to a Sandalwood fixation. Sandalwood reputedly is anti-aging, fights inflammation, acne and helps other skin afflictions like eczema and psoriasis.

Here's a round up of the Sandalwoody products I'm currently lusting after:

Evan Healy Argan Intensive Facial Serum 

In addition to Argan oil, this contains Frankincense, Sandalwood and Jasmine and while being all natural and great for your skin, it also smells fantastic.  I have sensitive combination skin with mild rosacea, along with the occasional breakout (good times!) and this has not caused any issues.  Although I would say it's a bit heavy for morning use in the hot summer months and better used at night. I'm betting my skin will drink this up in the winter.

Simply Divine Botanicals, Butter Me Up Hand and Body Moisturizing Butter - Sandalwood

The Lavender scent is pictured but I'm currently loving the Sandalwood scent. It's a true, woody essence and smells amazing on the skin. It's chock full of great ingredients like: Mowrah Butter, Aloe Butter, Avocado Butter, Beeswax, Hemp Seed Oil, Shea Oil,Organic Whole-leaf Aloe Vera, Sunflower Oil and absorbs nicely into the skin.  Another fun butter they produce is "You Glow Girl".  It's a glitter body butter that contains essential oils like Lemongrass, Lavender, Clary Sage and 24k gold!!  If my bathroom wasn't overflowing already with oils, creams and butters I would nab this in a heartbeat.  In a nutshell, I can't wait to try more from this brand, especially the Sandalwood Revitalizing elixir.

Indah Sari Body Butter

So that I wean myself off slowly from my Patchouli obsession and don't go into withdrawals, I decided this body butter which combines Patchouli, Sandalwood, Basil, Fennel and Lemon in a coconut and cocoa butter base is a good next step.  The name and smell both make me feel exotic and like I want to traipse around in long colorful silks and gold arm bangles...

Soothing Touch Organic Sandalwood Bath and Body Oil

Ayurveda is something I've long been interested in but haven't delved much into yet (other than finding out that apparently I'm a Pitta Dosha - whatever that means!).  And apparently Sandalwood features prominently in Ayurvedic treatments. This oil, in addition to smelling "rich and exotic" contains many wonderful skin oils like Argan, Grapeseed and Seabuckthorn (I'll post more about Seabuckthorn later).  Perhaps if I'm feeling particularly rebellious one day I'll sneak some of my Patchouli essential oil into this as a blend and hope I won't raise a hue and cry from friends and neighbors.

Leave a comment if you're a Sandalwood fan or have tried any of the above.

Next up the cult fave...RMS!