New Holy Grail Muscle Rub by Remedy!

Apologies in advance as this will not be a fancy post by any means but I had to throw up a quickie about a new muscle rub I picked up that I am LOVING.

For quite some time I had been hoping to run across a dupe for Do Terra's Deep Blue cream (the best muscle relief cream I'd ever used on arthritis and sore muscles but quite pricey!) and the Universe must've heard me callin' because it sent this little tube to me!

It's like a homeopathic version of Icy Hot, as it contains both menthol (cooling) and clove (hot), along with helichrysum which is a true holy grail essential oil. I mean, is there anything helichrysum can't do?! As it's a more expensive essential oil, it's rare to find in a muscle rub, so as you can guess, I was ecstatic to find this. The cream/gel is a light orange color and once rubbed in dries to a complete invisible finish - in other words no greasy-ness whatsoever, just a cooling/tingling sensation. Reviews on Amazon are stellar and this will 100% be a repurchase for me when it runs out (I shudder to think!). It's occupying a coveted position currently on my nightstand to rub on any sore muscles before bed. Love this stuff!

What I'm trying - Phoenix Botanicals

Hello Lovelies!

I hope that you have had a delightful summer! I must admit, while I'm enjoying the last nice days here in NYC, I'm also looking forward to Fall...I love a little nip in the air and cozy sweaters. Who's with me?!

I'm so pleased to have the opportunity to share with you a brand lovingly made locally by Irina Adam: Phoenix Botanicals. I feel a special kinship not only with the name Phoenix, but also with her holistic approach to skincare.

"Phoenix herbal balms and skin care are uniquely formulated for your experience of the healing energy of plants, their natural scent, and surprisingly beneficial properties. Trend-setting botanical creations infused with fresh plants. All our ingredients are organic or wildcrafted, and locally sourced whenever possible. Absolutely no synthetics in our perfumes or skincare."

I had the distinct pleasure of trying a few of the items of her range, which I'll detail here (clockwise from top left in pic).

You see me haulin'? Summer staples

I did a bit of a haul recently as I needed to stock up on some summer staples and thought I'd combine it all in one post for your viewing pleasure!

The sunscreen sitch:

I'm not quite sure whether it was the climate change, time zone change, or the fact that the expiration date had long passed (woopsies!)...but whilst in California last month my sunscreen declared war on my face. I was experiencing zits like I haven't seen in over 10 years..it was about as welcome as a casual acquaintance asking if they can crash in your studio apartment for the two weeks they're in town.

Torn between finding the lesser of two evils - sun damage or acne marks that will stick around for lord knows how long - I decided to ditch what I had been using and place my faith in Raw Elements. 

Maji acupressure pillow review

As a frequent sufferer of shoulder and neck pain, I just had to investigate this strange looking pillow I found in a shop recently. A quick google search revealed that these types of acupressure pillows are meant to engage pressure points and release endorphins similar to how acupuncture works...and I will say that the hard plastic points on this are sharp!  This is definitely not for the faint of heart..which is perhaps why I egged myself on to try it.

Preliminary findings are that it's not as bad as it seems pain wise. I thought I would have to put a towel over it to start, but I found that I actually didn't. While the sensation isn't pleasant - and I certainly WON'T be napping on it as one online reviewer reported in a comment - it's tolerable, and I'm curious to see if it will have any effect on my seemingly chronic discomfort. I didn't notice anything miraculous upon the first tries (I've used it on my neck as well as lumbar area) but will give it a couple more shots before I debate returning it. I also may see if it works as a sort of bolster while I do yoga.

Have you tried an acupressure mat or pillow? Comment below!

A couple of things I've picked up recently..

• Mineral Fusions Lip Tint in Blush, eye liner in Azure and angled shadow brush (on the off chance I ever decide to put some time and effort into my eye make up!) which I bought on a whim during a crazy good sale at WF (40% off...now how in the world do you pass that up?!?). So far I'm LOVING the eye liner. It is the most gorgeous shade of blue with a slight metallic aspect to it. With the oils it contains and the absence of ickies, I can feel good about applying it as well. The only note is that by the end of the night it tended to bleed a bit into my under eye area (top lash line stayed intact), which I attribute to the oils in the formula interacting with my under eye cream. Some setting powder under the eye should resolve that. Also, a bit to my disappointment, it does not hold up on the waterline. However the color pay off and natural ingredients will definitely make this a staple for me. The lip tint is not as exciting for me as I thought it would be. I was hoping it would be a match for my natural lip color and serve to enhance that, but it's a tad too brown in the undertone. Also, while it is moisturizing, it is not a replacement for a balm which I was hoping it would be considering the ingredients. Finally, there's really no staying power to the color. All told, the lip tint will not be a repurchase. I still prefer my Pacifica lip tint which I've discussed previously in the blog.

• Sibu Eye cream - being in need of more eye cream I picked this up spur of the moment as I'm a big fan of Sea buckthorn and I've been pleased with the other Sibu products I've tried. While I'm never thrilled when the first ingredient in a skincare product is water (and this is the case here), it features a host of other very intriguing ingredients that create a virtual salad (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, mustard, wasabi) and I just knew this had to go on my face! So far I haven't been disappointed. Perhaps I'm imagining things but I do feel like in the 9 or so days I've used it (in the mornings) I've noticed a slight firming and tightening of the under eye skin, thereby reducing the appearance of my fine lines.

• Weleda skin food - hands down this is the best hand cream I've found to date (with my other hand cream by Deep Steep a very close second). It's incredibly rich but yet absorbs quickly and isn't greasy. When I found this 1oz size on sale, I nabbed it for my purse.

Hope my U.S. friends are enjoying the holiday weekend, and a shout out and hearty thanks to my international visitors!

Stay tuned for another unusual find I'll be discussing soon...

Etta + Billie

On a Mother's Day excursion to Pescadero I stumbled upon a quirky little shop that might just make one of the best Mochas I've ever had, and coincidentally boasted a small array of some delightful organic products.

Enter, Etta + Billie.  Anyone who knows me well knows that Patchouli anything is likely to catch my eye, and Etta + Billie had the most wonderfully fresh combo of geranium and patchouli in a body oil, lotion, scrub (perfect for the shower as it came in a bar and is full of moisturizing butters), handy dandy skin balm stick (perfect for the purse!) and soap. Of course there were other lovely fragrances like Lavender and Grapefruit Cardemom, but I wasn't to be deterred.

Founded by Alana Rivera and made in San Francisco, I was charmed by the minimalist packaging and dedication to conscious and healing ingredients.

If it weren't, umm, all about Mom that day, I would've snatched up the body oil, skin balm and bar scrub in a heartbeat!



Body oil: "Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) seed oil, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (Rose Geranium) Essential Oil, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) Essential Oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract, Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E) *Certified Organic"

Body scrub: "Sodium chloride (Sea Salt), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) seed butter*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) fruit butter**, Pelargonium graveolens (Rose Geranium) essential oil, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) essential oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract, Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E) *Certified Organic **Fair Trade"

Made Simple Cosmetics review

While still out on the West Coast, I'd thought I'd take a moment to profile another local brand I've been admiring lately: Made Simple.  And the products are just that.  Raw, vegan, organic and handmade in small batches in beautiful Soquel, CA, it's everything a discriminating naturalista could look for in skincare!

My mother has been loving the above moisturizer as a heavy duty nighttime aid over her retinol, and while I won't be applying it on my face anytime soon (my face doesn't react well to coconut oil or citrus EOs, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else with sensitive skin) I love it as a post-shower moisturizer for my neck and decollete. The consistency is a surprisingly light frothy concoction, similar to whipped cream, and it has a really soothing herbaceous blend of smells. It's perfect to keep on your nightstand to rub on any dry bits before beddy-bye as the lavender is such a relaxing scent. 

Ingredients: Raw Unrefined Shea Butter*, Virgin Coconut Oil*, Sweet Almond Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Essential Oil Mix: Lavender*, Grapefruit*, Sweet Orange* (*certified organic)

Other standouts from the brand for me are the Helichrysum & Argan facial serum (read more about the benefits of Helichrysum here) and the Chamomile lime deodorant (while sharing many of the same ingredients, it's a much smoother and more pleasant to apply formula than the Schmidts I've been using, which as an aside has been performing very well despite the consistency leaving much to be desired).

At very reasonable price points, I highly recommend giving this brand a try if you're looking to keep things healthy and simple..

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Santa Barbara Grapeseed Company Rosehip oil

In honor of my return trip to California I thought I'd feature a new oil I'm trying that's local.  I picked up this grapeseed rosehip oil as grapeseed oil is one that I haven't tried on my face yet (although I have on my hair and body and it's a great moisturizer) and I was curious to try as the weather is warming up and it's a lighter weight oil (as compared to avocado).

Preliminary findings are that it's delightful! The essential oils of rose geranium and damask create a lovely fragrance that hits you as soon as you apply the oil. I've been applying to my face in the mornings post cleanse, and a little on the ends of my hair and the smell is fresh and uplifting. Geranium is great for balancing out skin (either oily or dry) and is an astringent so also good for tightening/firming.  As grapeseed oil is a by-product of the wine making process, it contains resveratrol (a powerful anti-aging compound for skin; this is one of the secrets to the brand Caudalie's success and popularity) and a host of vitamins and anti-oxidants. Rosehip oil is also a fantastic lighter weight oil for skin brightening (apparently Miranda Kerr swears by it).

I have a feeling this will be a go-to oil for me this Spring and Summer..

INGREDIENTS

expeller pressed vitis vinifera (grapeseed) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower*)oil, rosa rubiginosa (virgin rosehip) oil, essential oils of: pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium), rosa damascena (damask rose), tocopherol (vitamin e)

*certified organic ingredient

All about Neem

Neem oil, extracted from the Neem Tree (part of the Mahogany family), has been extensively used for eons as a cure-all in India and as a part of Ayurveda. Today it's most commonly used for hair/scalp health and for treatment of skin conditions like acne.

In terms of the latter, its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties have long been held in high regard for ridding the skin of acne-causing bacteria (likely due to the compound it contains that is similar to salicylic acid) and reducing redness.  It also has a high content of fatty acids and vitamin E which help treat facial scarring, are anti-aging and even tone.

Tip: for acne prone skin, combine Neem oil and Bentonite clay to make a purifying mask.  For an extra anti-bacterial and moisturizing oompf, you can also add in raw organic honey (or kill two birds by picking up raw organic Neem honey as I recently did from Heavenly Organics). Make sure to wash the mask off with lukewarm water before it fully dries on your skin.

Matters of the Heart

For those of us ready to get our romance on this Saturday with our sweetie, or heck, if you're planning on romancing yourself (always important as well!), here are some lovely items to get you in the mood..

• Ilia Strike it Up - a true blue based red that's organic, moisturizing and semi-matte. Put it on your pucker, blot then re-apply.
• Valentina's Home Brewed True Love oil - a luscious blend of cardamom, chocolate and rose in coconut oil. Slather it on post-shower or bath, it's truly decadent!
• Tata Harper love potion - the name alone, 'nuff said! An exotic blend of essential oils including jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang and frankincense, it's 100% a natural aphrodisiac. I know I'm sold! 

DIY rose petal face mask:

Once the festivities are over, don't throw out that lovely bouquet! Pick off the petals and soak briefly in cold water. Then extract a handful of petals and place in a mortar and pestle (or if you don't have one, you can use a bowl and bottom of a spice jar) with your favorite facial oil and/or you can use a combo of full-fat plain yogurt and raw organic honey to create a soothing mask.  Or, if that's all too much of a bother, place the petals in a large bowl and simply do a facial steam. Use almost boiling water and carefully tent your face over the bowl with a towel - not too close, you don't want to burn yourself! You can throw in some chamomile tea bags for an extra calming steam if you like, and keep the steam session to 10 minutes or less.

Whether you're celebrating self love or sharing it with another (or both!), set the mood with some music that makes you feel groovy and take time to pamper yourself this weekend..

With love,
Shana

Yoga accessory wishlist

Carrying on in the yoga theme, here are some yoga toys I'm lusting after at the moment...

• Headstand frame - as someone who struggles with getting into a headstand, both because I often have neck/shoulder pain as well as a self-admitted lack of upper body strength, this is just the ticket! Inversions are great for rejuvenation and cleansing, so I'd love to play with this.
• Singing bowl and Tibetan Tingshas - I'm all for a little cleansing sound during meditation or yoga, or to calm my mind before bed. I want both!
• Lotus cushion - and last but not least, a pretty pretty meditation cushion!

Throw in your favorite essential oil rollerball blend (mine's with palo santo) or flower essence spray (eg Lotus Wei pure energy) and you have the makings of an excellent yoga practice!

Happy Chinese New Year (Year of the Sheep)

Photo crd AstroStyle

I love me some Chinese New Year. Maybe it's because I love any excuse for a fresh start, or perhaps because I love the animal theme, or possibly because they throw a swingin' good parade every Feb to celebrate in NYC and SF...or all of the above!

In any case, I'm jumping the gun a bit as the Lunar New Year isn't for a couple more weeks, but you can get a head start and find out which animal you are and how the Year of the Green Sheep will affect you here. 

In the meantime, get your dim sum on and Gung Hay Fat Choy! (That roughly translates to "Happy New Year" and you have my blessing to annoy your native speaking friends and coworkers by saying it frequently over the next 6 weeks as I like to do)

Yoga Round-Up - My Fave's

Happy Feb!

As I've previously blogged about, morning yoga has become a staple in my a.m. routine. But of course there are days when I'm feeling tired or lazy, and it takes extra effort to convince myself that I'll feel better after having done it. It's on those types of days in particular that I turn to the below videos to help motivate me (along with a spritz or three of the Lotus Wei Inspired Action energy mist). Whether you already practice, or it's on your New Year's resolution list, these videos are a great tool.

Detox Flow (I particularly like Helen's soothing voice and integrative mind/body/spirit approach)

Full body vinyasa flow (Filmed in Woodstock, this is a great video to watch if you want to pretend you're at a yoga retreat in the privacy of your own home)

Yoga for Stress Relief (Adriene is adorable and super approachable with her tutorials, pretty much any of her videos are great)

Yin Yoga (Filmed in a beautiful setting by the water, this is a great introduction to Yin yoga which focuses on cooling the body - rather than building heat - through prolonged holdings of postures. If you're not naturally flexible, this may be a somewhat challenging video but I recommend you either build up to it or give it a shot as it's a fantastic way to reconnect with and ground yourself if you're feeling frazzled)

As a P.S., here's the link again to how to make your own yoga mat spray.

Happy Yoga-ing!

Lotus Wei - Energy Mist, Serum and Elixir (Inspired Action)

Attehhhnnn...HUT! 

The three part Lotus Wei series concludes with the Inspired Action collection. 

Lotus Wei - Energy Mist, Serum and Elixir (Pure Energy)

Sound the gong for Part Two of my Lotus Wei flower essences feature!

Hibernation mode..

Since most of NYC has shut down as of last night from the blizzard, I'm in full-on hibernation mode, and, I kinda love it!  I'm taking the time to be productive and thought I'd share my agenda for the day:

• Morning yoga (Check! And here's the video)
• Mopping (I told you I have a slight obsession...Check!)
• Cooking (In case anyone cares, [sidenote, is this blogger overshare?] it's broiled chicken - which I forgot to turn because I was writing this - and brussels. Check!)
• Surfing my favorite websites while listening to 30's jazz singers (Check!)
• Pillaging my DVR while enjoying a nice glass of wine (or three...)
• Treating my face with a little face mask/scrub (I'll be applying my Sibu purifying mask, followed by a spritz of rose hydrosol and then my Argan oil from Destiny Boutique)
• Pre-bedtime relaxation ritual courtesy of Lotus Wei Inner Peace serum and mist, and the latest book I'm reading

What are your hibernation routines?  Share below!

Lotus Wei - Energy Mist, Serum and Elixir (Inner Peace)

Cue the trumpets!  Today's post (and actually the next two as well, as this will be a three part bonanza) is on the much feted Lotus Wei flower essences.

What I'm Trying - The Wet Brush

I finally caved recently and, ignoring the slightly skeevy name and "made for TV"-esque packaging, bought one of the most talked about brushes in, well, the brush world (yes, that is a place, trust me) lately.

I'd had to suppress years of it being pounded into my head that you never, ever, brush your hair while wet.  Or else!!

However after hearing about this brush being the second coming to the air-dried, letting your natural waves flow look (currently the look I've been sporting since I don't have to be at a desk at 9am anymore, and let's face it, it's a lot healthier for your hair), I had to try it for myself.

I'm not sure how it beats a wide-toothed comb, but the vociferous advocates on Youtube (one in particular who was so excited about the brush she barely got a word in between curses), along with the cheap price ($9 at Target) convinced me.

I used it for the first time recently to distribute a hair mask through my hair (I'd been involved in a photo shoot at a hair salon recently and it involved heavy heat work on my hair, so I wanted to give it a little extra TLC when I next washed it) and I will say it did a jolly good job of doing so.  It wasn't the miracle detangler that others rave about (seriously, people have said that it's saved their relationship with their screaming brush-averse children) for me on the first go, but perhaps that was because I hadn't conditioned it yet (this was post shampoo and pre-mask) so my hair had pretty much no slip and a lot of knots.  Post mask, it did glide nicely through my hair, but this was most likely due to the fact that a) I'd already brushed all the knots out, and b) my hair had a lot of slip at that point as I was heavy handed with the mask.

Is this really the miracle brush people say it is? I'm not sure yet, but I'll come back for a round two update once I've gone through a couple of regular hair wash and co sessions with it.

Sugar Scrub v. Salt Scrub

Among the very eco-conscious, there's a trend now to avoid scrubs that contain beads that are not bio-degradable. And since it's so easy (and cheaper!) to make your own (biodegradable) scrub, I thought I would open the sugar vs. salt debate (well, and then there's coffee grinds as well but we'll save that for later!).

The main difference boils down to the fact that as sugar particles are finer, they are gentler on the skin (although I wouldn't advocate for using either on the face), so if you have sensitive skin this is a better pick.  It's also more scrumptious aromatically if you're blending with coconut oil and perhaps some vanilla extract - yum!

Salt, while a bit harsher on the skin, has cleansing and purifying properties that sugar does not. I'm currently using Valentina's Home Brewed Salt Scrub in Protection, which contains three of my favorite EO's: Frankincense, Myrrh and Patchouli. While I adore the smell and the concept, the salt particles are a bit rough for my skin and tends to irritate it so I likely won't repurchase sadly.

Whichever exfoliant you pick, it's incredibly easy to make your own scrub at home. My mother uses a very simple and effective combination of sugar and olive oil. You can add to that any essential oil of your liking.  Clary sage would be a great choice to uplift your mood (and for women it has a positive effect on hormones). Ylang ylang is another affordable and refreshing smelling EO. Or you can keep it simple and simply combine sugar or salt with an oil of your choosing: olive, grapeseed, argan, jojoba, sesame, peanut, almond, etc. etc.

Exfoliating your skin weekly (I wouldn't recommend more than twice a week max) helps prevent body breakouts as well as ingrown hair, and is overall a great addition to your shower or bath routine.

I am Fire..

Wellll technically I'm water from an astrological perspective, but I fell in love with the above graphic as it really represents to me my intention for 2015. I had a fun crafty project recently with a friend, in which we created vision boards for this year, and if you haven't already done so, I highly recommend it! The basic premise is that you cut out phrases, words or images (or all three!) that speak to what your goals and aspirations are for this year. Then paste it all together and put somewhere in your home where you'll occasionally view to keep top of mind what your intentions are. I know it sounds a little woo-woo, but trust me, you'll be glad you did it!  I love looking at mine; it swings more toward the image-heavy side (with some strangely random pics of wildlife), but I was able to find some great words and phrases that really resonated with me.

It's a perfect project for the weekend if the weather is cold or dreary. Grab a friend, a glass of wine (or three), a face mask and have fun!


(Image courtesy of Giovanni Cosmetics - a fantastic natural hair care brand. I'm a big fan of their Ultra-Sleek collection, I use the hair and body super potion every time I wash my hair, it's one of my "holy grail" products)