Tag Archive for "Lifestyle" | The Organic Beauty

Love Keeps Us Happy and Healthy!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Holistic Health, Lifestyle Holistic Health, Lifestyle, love, mood, neuroscience Permalink 0

By: Nkechi Njaka, Msc

Who doesn’t love love? Especially, on Valentine’s Day? Even the most bitter of us, who loses sleep in anxious preparation of an anti-Valentine’s Day event, still at the heart of her heart loves love and knows with every fiber of her being that love and happiness are inextricably linked.

Well, I am here to tell you that there is neuroscienctific evidence for this positive correlation. And that joining the mainstream masses in an overly capitalized Hallmark Holiday could increase your mood, even if you love in a non-romantic way.

Scientists have long been working to show how and even prove that love gives us health benefits beyond the obvious advantageous security of always having a date for Valentine’s Day. Researchers are not yet able to determine that romance trumps close bestfriendships or an affectionate/adoring family when it comes to health and wellness. But researchers are finding that sex, partnership, intimacy and caring for another all seem build a case for making us stronger– with health benefits that range from improved healing and management over chronic illnesses (which means living longer!).

How can we practice this on a daily basis… or, specifically, today with our Valentine’s Day date?

Doctors at the University of North Carolina have found that hugging may result in dramatically lower blood pressure as a result of boosting blood levels of oxytocin, the relaxing ‘cuddly’ hormone that plays a key role in orgasms, labor and breastfeeding. Oxytocin is linked to attachment and is a factor in bonding and monogamous pairing. In their fascinating study, researchers asked couples to sit close to one another and talk for 10 minutes, then share a long hug; their findings were positive, albeit small, changes in both blood pressure and oxytocin.

However, the power of frequent daily hugging was intense! The women with the highest oxytocin levels had systolic blood pressure that was 10 mm/Hg lower than women with low oxytocin levels—an improvement similar to the effect of many leading blood pressure medications, says Kathleen Light, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at UNC and one of the study’s authors. It’s amazing that something as simple as hugging can do that! In a recent study published in the Biological Psychiatry, there was support that Oxytocin was also linked to lower secretion of cortisol (a stress hormone) and when administered, cortisol aided conflict resolution in couples compared to their placebo-given controls.

Dopamine (the ‘feel good chemical’) is the key chemical in the brain’s reward system, a network of cells that is associated with pleasure and addiction. Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, recently conducted a study at Stanford University Medical Center in California, where his hypothesis was that love affected the brain in the same way many addictive drugs do, by targeting this “feel good” chemical in the brain known as dopamine, which was demonstrated by an fMRI (brain scanning machines that allow us to see areas of the brain when certain thoughts or emotions occur). So that saying ‘love is a drug’ seriously has some scientific validity.

So is love just chemistry?

In a nutshell, yes. Dopamine brings people together and oxytocin keeps them attached, studies show. Obviously there are other factors that contribute to who we find to love (eg. compatibility, geography, socialization, timing, to name a few). But it is fun to know that our bodies were designed to make experiencing love fun and healthy!

And now for the part where I tested this theory and conducted a little bit of my own research…. Actually, these findings more or less explain an experience I recently had. I was on a first date with someone and we spent the evening sitting very close (talking and sharing with maybe a bit of hand holding) and when the night was over, we exchanged a great bear hug. My thinking about him (and for-no-other-good-reason giddiness) for the next 24 hours could be evidence of that release of oxytocin. The fluttery feelings I had that made me want to experience more intimacy with that person is part of a very natural process of growing attachment. It’s wonderful to know that they also have some direct effects on lowering (my already low) blood pressure!

There is evidence that love improves long-term health and wellness. I would say that even if celebrating Valentines Day is merely a reminded to value love, it is worth celebrating!

5 Ways to Stave Off Winter Colds, Boost Immunity and Energy!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Friday, January 20, 2012 Diet and Foods, Exercise, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition Diet and Foods, Exercise, health counseling, Holistic Health, Lifestyle Permalink 0

Winter really is the time to go a little extra distance in terms of self-care. But committing to take these few simple, holistic steps will cut down on those sick days, help cure winter blues, and get you through these cold, dark days in one, happy, healthy piece!

Sleep: This is where we should take a page from the books of our large furry mammal friends. Our bodies use a lot of energy to keep us warm in the winter, and that, combined with more bugs floating around, and the lack of sunlight equals a need for a LOT more sleep. Even if you’re a “I’m fine with 5 hours” kind of person, really opt for 8 hours of sleep a night MINIMUM during the cold months. You’ll have more energy, higher immunity, and less tendency toward seasonal blues! Opt to sleep between the hours of 10pm and 7am, which is the most restful time in the body’s cycle, and also ensures the most exposure to those scant daylight hours. I promise, the party life will still be there for you come spring!
Bundle Up: Contrary to some misinformation floating around out there, you really can get sick from exposing yourself to the elements (and I don’t even mean the full monty kind of exposure). Wearing clothes that aren’t sufficiently warm, leaving your throat, head, and nose exposed to cold winds all can affect both your body’s ability to retain it’s heat and your mucous membranes’ ability to keep out nasty bugs.
- Aim for dressing warm enough so that when you’re standing outside, you’re pretty comfortable (i.e.: not shivering, hunched up against the cold, and cursing the gods of winter). This means sweaters, scarves, hats and gloves. Worried about looking like an abominable snow-person? Opt for layers that go a long way, like thermal undergarments, tights or leggings under your jeans, and warm top layers that you can peel off once inside.
Stay Lubricated: Once you’ve got your giggles out of the way, consider this: Dry, cracked skin on your hands, face, and in your nose is like leaving big gaping holes for germs to get in through. In the winter months, it is even more important than usual to stay moisturized, inside and out. This means using a humidifier a night (to keep your nasal passages, throat and skin moist), using a good quality moisturizer on your face and body every day (I like Desert Essence Organics Sweet Almond Moisturizer), and drinking lots of water and hot teas throughout the day.
- Water hydrates and lubricates your system from the inside, and also flushes out toxins to keep you from getting sick. Opt for warm or hot water instead of cold in the winter months… it is much easier on your system, warming and psychologically more comforting, and also very detoxifying for the lymphatic system!
- Hot teas can have a similar effect, and many herbal teas like ginger, echinacea, slippery elm bark, and elderberry have wonderful immunity boosting effects!
- I am also a fan of Emergen-C or Airborne during the winter months as well, especially if you find yourself in crowded areas like trains and airports, or if you’ve been in contact with a sick or sniffly person.
Let Food Be Thy Medicine: Especially in the winter months, don’t underestimate the power of great diet. Eating antioxidant and nutrient rich foods, healthy plant proteins, and lots of quality oils in the winter will go SUCH a long way toward keeping you healthy. Stock up on garlic, dark leafy greens, all kinds of beans, and hearty root veggies for the winter, and try to eat home-cooked food as much as possible. Not only is eating this way going to ensure the biggest nutrient-bang for your buck, but home-cooked meals are also substantially more nourishing, which has positive psychological effects as well.
- Opt for hearty soups and stews (like this Thai Sweet Potato Soup), and increase your intake of healthy fats, like nuts, olive, coconut, and sesame oil, fatty low-mercury fish, and avocados . These foods will nourish you from the inside out, give you much more energy to burn, warm your body, and heighten your immunity!
- If you start to feel a little sniffle or tickle in the throat, chow down on some major immune-boosting foods, like this Yummy Cold-Busting Salad, jam packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial nutrients!
- The one vital winter nutrient you just can’t get enough of from food is vitamin D, which is super important for immunity, mood, and energy. Supplement with a high-potency sublingual vitamin D drop like Bio-D-Mulsion Forte to make sure you get enough, especially if you live in cold climates where you can’t get 15 minutes of direct exposure to sunlight every day.
Keep Moving: It’s easy to let your typical workout routine fall by the way side when it’s 25 degrees outside, but it’s important to find ways to keep moving and fit some exercise into your routine every day. This might mean finding a workout video (Netflix has some great ones!) to do at home, or finally getting your courage up to try bikram yoga if getting to the gym fills your with thoughts of shivering torment. If you do get yourself to the gym, make sure to finish your workout with a steam in the sauna, which helps to raise your body temp, sweat out those toxins, and nourish you to the core. Even if you only do 20 minutes a day, maintaining a regular exercise routine in the winter will boost your energy, increase serotonin levels, and help keep your immune system on top of its game!
- For an extra mood and energy boost, pick a sunny weekend afternoon to bundle up and get outside for some skiing, a snowball fight, sledding, or just a brusque winter walk. The sunlight will boost your mood, while the heat from moving around while layered up will help warm your body and burn off extra calories.

Less Stress & More Energy Through Breath!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Monday, August 15, 2011 Exercise, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Wellness Exercise, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, stress management, Wellness Permalink 0

Less Stress & More Energy Through Breath! 2 | The Organic Beauty Blog

Doesn’t it seem like navigating through the world of healthcare and self-care always seems to come at a cost? Supplements, nourishing organic produce, fitness classes, self-care appointments, it seems like very little of the great things you can do for your body and your health are free. But there is something that is always there for you and doesn’t cost a penny… your breath! We all know how important it is to breath right while exercising, but we often times lose sight of the fact that the way we breathe the rest of the time is just as important. Here are some simple tips and exercises for maximizing your breath to manage stress, calm nerves, energize your body, and experience amazing health benefits!

Breath through your nose as much as possible. Breathing through the nose is much more energizing and oxygenating than breathing through the mouth. When you’re walking around, doing your thing, make an effort to breathe through your nose as much as possible, focusing on taking long, slow breaths. Inhaling and exhaling nasally takes much longer tan orally, which gives the oxygen more time to get into the bloodstream. This slower, deeper breath also has a remarkable effect on brain waves, which reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and can even help with hunger and food cravings!

For relaxation, try the 4-7-8 breathing exercise. This exercise is an amazing tranquilizer for the nervous system, and is a great tool for lowering stress levels, blood pressure, as well as improving sleep!
- First, place the tip of the tongue on the ridge just behind your your front teeth.
- Secondly, exhale completely through your mouth, totally emptying your lungs of air. Then, close your mouth and inhale through your nose for a count of 4.
- Keeping your mouth closed, hold the air in your lungs for a count of 7.
- Next, exhale slowly, for a count of 8, making a whooshing sound (as though you’re saying “shh”). Make sure you exhale out completely, so your lungs are completely empty of air, and your abdominal muscles are engaged. This is one cycle of 4-7-8 breath. Repeat this cycle 3 times for a total of 4 breaths, and you’re done! Try to complete this exercise twice a day for maximum results. Use it whenever you feel stressed, overworked, nervous, or when you’re dealing with insomnia.

For an energizing boost, try Bellows Breath. This yogic breathing exercise is wonderful for when you’re tired, low on energy, feel your alertness slipping, or when you just need a late afternoon pick-me-up. It can be just as effective as a cup of coffee!
- Inhale and exhale very rapidly through your nose, with each breath being as quick as possible…like a bellows!
- Aim for about 3 in and out breath cycles per second, with inhalations and exhalations being equal in length.
- For the first few tries, complete the exercise for no more than 15 seconds. But feel free to increase the duration every time you do it, up to a minute in length maximum.

Lastly, forget huffing and puffing while exercising.. Instead, try ujjayi breath! Heavy breathing during exercise puts the body into a highly stressed state of emergency, which is actually counter-productive to the benefits of physical activity. Maintaining a steady, deep breath takes the strain off the body, allowing us to do more without as much strain. Ujjayi breath is an ancient yogic breathing technique that was created to cleanse the mind and body, focus thinking, and cause a deep sense of calm and relaxation.
- To learn ujjayi breath, inhale deeply through the mouth. On the exhale, start to close the back of your throat to slightly constrict the passage of air, as if you are fogging up a pair of glasses. This should sound like an ocean wave.
- Once you are comfortable with this exhale, work on employing that same throat constriction on your inhalation. Focus on an even, slow inhalation and exhalation in this manner… kind of like Darth Vader.
- When you’re ready, close your month, and continue this style of breath exclusively through the nose.. That’s it! You are employing ujjayi breath. Try breathing this way when you are stretching, doing yoga, or other forms of light exercise. Eventually, try to breathe this while doing all forms of exercise. It definitely takes some getting used to, but focusing on this deep, slow, nasal breathe while the body is being physically stressed makes for a more effective workout that has much less negative impact on the body. For more information on the benefits of this style of breathe and its benefit for physical activity, check out John Douillard’s amazing book, Body, Mind, and Sport.

Breath is the most vital sources of our life, energy, and health, but, as it is an automatic function, it’s very easy to neglect in terms of conscious use. When we bring our attention to our breath, we gain access to an incredibly powerful and effective wellness tool that can aid us in so many different aspects of our health. Best of all, it’s a tool that is free, easy to use, and that we have access to 24 hours a day, regardless of where we are! Try some of the above techniques consistently for a few weeks, and you will notice dramatic results.. without spending a penny!

Organic Mania!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Friday, July 29, 2011 Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Organic Beauty Lifestyle, Organic, organic produce Permalink 0

Obviously, we here at The Organic Beauty are super pumped about the recent data that shows a whopping 60% of Americans, across all age groups, prefer organic foods to the conventional options. An even higher percentage of respondents 35 and under reported the same preference as well! This is great news!!

As the consumer demand for high quality, organic produce and foods increases, the supply (and therefore the price) decreases substantially. The primary reason that organic foods are more expensive than conventional varieties is that there are fewer farmers and food manufacturers producing the foods, and significantly fewer subsidies that support organic production. Organics have, until only very recently, been in the realm of the luxury market; something only the privileged classes could afford (or even gain access to!).. Remember when organic food was #6 on the hilarious blog, Stuff White People Like? Yeah…

All you faithful OB reader know by now that eating and buying organic is incredibly important for your health, the environment, and even those radiant good looks. Let’s all keep voting with our wallets, and supporting organic farms in our supermarkets and farmer’s markets, and organic beauty products in stores and online. The more we show that buying organic is important to us, the more amazing organic products will be available to us and our fellow Organic Beauties and Beaus across the country, who may not already have ready access to pesticide, hormone, antibiotic and carcinogen free foods and products. Let’s make that 60% into 100% of Americans that say DON’T FEED ME CRAP!

Stay Healthy and Beautiful While Traveling

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Thursday, July 21, 2011 Exercise, Healthy Beauty, Lifestyle Exercise, Healthy Beauty, Lifestyle, Organic Beauty, travel Permalink 0

Most of us do a lot of traveling during the summer months, and whether it’s for work or those long-awaited vacations, travel can wreak utter havoc on our health. Air travel is dehydrating, and can leave us exhausted for days. Unfamiliar surroundings can make finding a healthy, organic meal difficult. Sitting for hours on our chosen form of transportation can cause soreness and swelling. All this stress on the body can increase the chances of getting sick, but can also cause fluid retention, breakouts, stomach problems, and other unfavorable effects. But there are some simple steps we can all follow that will help us leave the downside of traveling behind so we can enjoy our well-deserved vacations, and be super productive on our business trips.. With no regrettable after-effects!

Tips for healthy air travel:

Make sure to drink lots of water before, during, and after air travel to combat fatigue, swelling, skin dryness, and jet leg. Aim for a large glass of water for every hour you are in the air.

Don’t eat the food!! Plane food is utter garbage, and is laden with salt, which worsens dehydration, bloating, and fatigue that many people experience while flying. Instead, make sure to eat a healthy meal before you leave the house, or if you must, grab a salad at the airport. But avoid anything heavy, greasy, or salty before getting on that plane. And bring a healthy snack like raw, unsalted nuts, some fruit, or veggie sticks with you on the flight in case you get hungry!

With their recycled air, planes are breeding grounds for germs. Make sure to strengthen your immune system by taking 1000 mg of vitamin C the morning of your flight and when you land. And make sure you eat lots of nutrient-rich, immune-boosting fruits and veggies before your flight!

I know it can be fun, but stay away from alcohol before and during your flight. If your goal is to arrive looking fresh and great, alcohol will definitely not help, and it adds to the body’s dehydration. Getting off the plane hoarse, dry, and with circles under your eyes is anything but fabulous. If you’re a nervous flier, and need a little something to help you relax, take some valerian root to calm your nerves, or some natural melatonin to help you sleep. Benedryl, or any prescription sleep aids will just result in arriving groggy and out of it.

Flying is no fun for your skin either. Make sure to wear a good, oil-free facial moisturizer with SPF to protect your skin from the super strong UV rays up there, and pack a revitalizing facial spray to perk up your face after the flight (I like L’Occitane Olive Tree Organic Toning Face Mist). Ladies, avoid caking on the makeup before your flight. If you must wear something, just a little mineral powder, some mascara, and a moisturizing lip balm should do the trick to get you there in style. Wearing more than runs you the risk of getting post-flight pimples, clogged pores, oily skin, and looking all melted when you land. I like to bring a little face wash with me to wash up after the flight, and if necessary, putting on a little more makeup at the airport when I land.

Tips for when you arrive:

Try to do some stretching (or even hit the gym at your hotel if you feel up to it!) shortly after you arrive. This will do a lot to combat post-flight stiffness, swelling, not to mention fatigue.

Do some research before you leave about some healthy food options near where you’ll be staying, and locate them when you get in. We often arrive at our destinations famished, and it’s really easy to make terrible food choices in the interest of convenience when we’re stressed and tired. But that’s exactly the time when a healthy, nutritious meal is most important!

Once you’re all settled, purchase some healthy snacks, bottled water, and maybe some breakfast items to keep in your hotel room (that little fridge isn’t just for overpriced candy bars!). This will help keep you away from those hotel buffets and continental breakfasts that are responsible for so much of travel-related weight gain. Fruit, some whole grain crackers and hummus, nuts, and Larabars are all great options to have around. If you’re going to be in a location where purchasing specific items you like will be difficult, just bring them from home!

If your hotel room has a kitchen, try to incorporate some home (or hotel-) cooked meals into your travel schedule, especially if there aren’t a lot of healthy restaurant options around you. And even when eating out at the most dubious of restaurants, you can still make healthier choices! A soup or salad is always a good idea, and almost all restaurants will have at least one or two vegetarian options available, which are definitely preferable to the sketchy, high-fat meat dishes you’ll find at that greasy spoon or chain restaurant.

Lastly, try to keep up some semblance of your normal routine while you’re traveling. Go to bed around the same time (accounting for time differences, of course), eat around the same time you are used to, and definitely maintain your exercise routine! This will keep you from getting sick, putting on travel weight, and throwing your body out of balance. Indulging in treats you wouldn’t normally eat, and getting a little lax with working out can be a fun part of de-stressing and letting go while on vacation, bit it’s important not to overdo it. Spending the three weeks after you get back undoing all damage you did to your body while traveling isn’t really worth that one week of blissful abandon, is it?

Photo via Pinterest

6 New Year’s Goals You Can Actually Stick To!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Tuesday, January 4, 2011 Diet and Foods, Exercise, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Wellness Holistic Health, Lifestyle, resolutions, Wellness Permalink 0

We just got back into town last night from a whirlwind few weeks of holiday insanity that definitely threw me off the Organic Beauty track. The result?? I have a cold, look all puffy, and feel about 10 lbs. heavier… ugh.

In this less than ideal state, it’s really tempting to make all kinds of ambitious New Year’s resolutions to never be in this state again.. We all resolve to eat healthier, lose weight, exercise more… we might get all gung-ho with a new workout regime or diet for a few weeks, even a month, confident that THIS year, we’ll be able to stick with it. But then February rolls around, and we’re back to take-out pad thai and maybe some yoga once a week. The truth is, biting off more than we can chew with our resolutions is a guarantee for failure. We can’t accomplish all our goals at once. So rather than taking on massive, life-altering changes, there are a bunch of small, but super high impact changes we can make to our diets and lifestyles that are easier to stick with and yield long-term, lasting results. Try one or two of these resolutions, or all of them! Either way, you’ll be taking invaluable steps toward a healthier you.

Find a Farmer’s Market Near You!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Healthy Cooking, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Wellness farmer's market, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Organic Permalink 0

A BIG part of the Organic Beauty philosophy of looking and feeling great is the quality of the food we put in our bodies. I’ll go into this in more detail in my forthcoming installation of the 5 Steps series, but suffice it to say that eating organic food is of great importance to the health of our bodies. Eliminating pesticides, hormones and chemicals from the meat and produce we eat is paramount to maintaining great health (and beauty!), and the best way to do this is to limit our intake to foods that are certified organic.

I understand that cost of organic food can be prohibitive to many people. When faced with the choice of purchasing a 5 conventional avocados for $3, versus one organic avocado for 99 cents, it can be difficult to justify the cost. BUT, you’ll be happy to know that there is a way around this issue! A way to eat healthy, unprocessed, locally grown food that comes from small, often family owned farms. This food may not be certified organic (due to the hoops the USDA makes small farms jump through to get certification), but it is almost always grown without pesticides, hormones, and additives. And the best part? Someone from the farm is right there in front of you, available to answer whatever questions you may have about their growing or feeding practices!

Where is this magical, wondrous place, you might ask? Your local farmer’s market! If you don’t live in New York City, California, or Madison, Wisconsin, where farmer’s markets can be found wherever you look, you can use the search function on Local Harvest‘s site to find farmer’s markets, CSAs, farms, co-ops, and retailers that sell local, organic produce near you. Stuck in Skokie, Illinois? Boom. Find all the details for the Skokie Farmer’s Market. Road-tripping through Denton, Texas? There may not be a farmer’s market, but there are two great co-ops that sell local, organic food.

Nearly wherever you are in the country, you have options for eating well beyond the crazy price tags of Whole Foods. Farmer’s markets have amazing bargains on organic and local foods, and you always have the option of negotiating with the purveyor! Try getting away with that at Whole Foods!

The bottom line is that cost is no longer a reason to not eat healthy. Your longevity, health, and physique are worth finding where and how to put the right things into your body. Make it happen!

Step Three: Revolutionize Your Beauty Routine

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Monday, September 20, 2010 Healthy Beauty, Healthy Home, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Organic Beauty, Product Reviews 4 steps, hair, Healthy Beauty, Lifestyle, makeup Permalink 0

Tossing all your old, chemical-laden makeup, skin- and haircare supplies can be incredibly scarring. Some women use the same mascara for decades… the very prospect of switching brands can be like betraying an old friend. But with all the recent popularity of all things green and organic, there has never been a better time to switch to organic and/or natural products. There are great products for problem skin, aging skin, great makeup, even sunscreen! All without harmful chemicals and carcinogenic additives. Want to browse the options? Future Natural is a great site for organic skin- and haircare, featuring great brands such as Juice Beauty, Mod.Skin Labs, John Masters, and Farmaesthetics. Those of us who are incurable Sephora addicts can get a fix with Sephora’s Natural and Organic section, where you can stock up on all the best organic brands, like Boscia, Bare Escentuals, Josie Maran, Pangea, Korres, and Tarte.

Natural vs. Organic

In selecting your new beauty products, keep the following in mind: “Natural” and “Organic” are not the same thing. Though using products labeled natural is still preferable to the pharmacy-bought, chemical brands, you may still be using products that have dangerous pesticides and repellents in them. Organic ingredients are grown or processed in accordance with strict regulations, without the use of these carcinogenic chemicals. In an ideal world, we would all only put organic products in and on our bodies. However, affordability and availability are issues for some people, but that shouldn’t prevent every one of us from making better choices. Start by eliminating the most dangerous elements (see Step One) and go from there! Or, if you’re ready to dive in 100%, check out The Coming Clean Campaign for a list of USDA certified organic brands.

Great Organic and All-Natural Products to Try:

Hair:

Intelligent Nutrients Haircare is a really great line of products, certified organic by the UK Organic Soil Association. I particularly like the Harmony line, featuring great anti-aging, revitalizing, volumizing shampoos and conditioners chock full of antioxidants. Another good line, though not all organic (despite the name!), is John Masters Organics. My favorite of their products are the Sea Salt and Lavender Hair Mist and Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer, and both happen to be USDA certified organic!
Desert Essence Organics also features mostly certified organic ingredients in a bunch of really great haircare products for all types of hair. I particularly like the Organic Coconut Oil Shampoo and Conditioner.. perfect for dry hair.

Face:

Simply Divine Botanicals has an amazing line of natural skincare products, with some certified organic ingredients. My absolute favorite face wash is called Black Velvet, and it is perfect for all skin types, from acne prone to dry and sensitive. Of the 100% organic brands, Miessence is one of my absolute favorites. I particularly like their Purifying skincare line, which is great for problem skin, and uses ingredients such as organic echinacea and thyme. They also have an organic glycolic peel!

One of my all-time favorite moisturizers is the Sweet Black Tea and Rice Facial Moisterizer from Juara, a natural, Indonesian skincare company. They use great ingredients like Kombucha, avocado, and rice bran oil that make for radiant, amazing skin.

Makeup:

Bare Escentuals makes a great line of pure mineral makeup, that is actually pretty healthy for your skin. I like the mineral foundation (with SPF 15!) and the mineral veil. For slightly heavier coverage, I love Juice Beauty Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. It provides a lovely glow and blended color with tons of nutrients that prevent aging and promote skin health.

There are actually quite a few new organic mascaras coming on the market, and it’s about time! The delicate skin around your eyes is a really easy way for harmful chemicals to get into your bloodstream, so its really important to use quality ingredients on those peepers. One of my favorite mascaras is Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara from Physician’s Formula. Its a really thick formula with a finely bristled brush that gives a super voluminous look, and the ingredients are mostly organic, and almost ALL natural. Miessence also makes a great mascara, and is 87% organic.

For eyeshadow, blush, and everything else fabulous, I have a few go-to lines. Bare Escentuals, Korres, and Josie Maran are all good places to start. Tarte also makes some amazing natural (though not organic) products; my faves are the Natural Cheek Stain (so good for more dramatic fall looks) and the Lipsurgence Natural Lip Stain, both formulated with plant-based ingredients that are rich with antioxidants, and both are paraben, SLS, pthalate, and mineral oil free! For 100% certified organic ingredients, my favorite lines are Vapour Organics (try their awesome, antioxidant rich Siren Lipstick), with color derived from natural fruit pigments), and Nvey Organics, whose line of vitamin-infused eyeshadows in 24 different colors are formulated with sensitive skin around the eyes in mind.

Nails:

The products we use on our nails are perhaps the most toxic aspects of our beauty regiments. Almost all commercial nail polish brands have heaping amounts of terrifying chemicals in them (formaldehyde, toluene, DBP) which cause a whole mess of health problems, including (but not limited to!) respiratory problems, reproductive complications, liver and kidney toxicity, headaches, fatigue, and yes, even cancer. There’s a reason why manicurists wear surgical masks! The good news is that we now have options… Priti NYC is my absolute favorite. They have pretty much every color under the sun, have NONE of the carcinogenic toxins listed above, and even have some organic ingredients! They even make a completely non-toxic, soy based nail polish remover, which actually works (believe it or not!).

See?? No need to panic about throwing away your trusted Maybelline’s and Neutrogena’s, there are much better, healthier, and even more effective products out there that won’t harm your body! If you have some favorite organic or natural products, feel free to comment and share them!

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Welcome to The Organic Beauty!

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Friday, December 11, 2009 Healthy Beauty, Holistic Health Healthy Beauty, Holistic Health, Lifestyle, Organic Beauty, Wellness Permalink 0

Not too long ago, I embarked on the sizable undertaking of drastically overhauling what goes in and on my body. Through organic food, organic or natural cleaning products, and mostly organic beauty products, I am ridding my body of harmful chemicals and pesticides. But breaking the reliance on convenient, pharmacy or corner store bought items is no easy task. What I hope to accomplish with this blog is to find the very best (though not necessarily most expensive) products for body and home through extensive research and product testing, and deliver my findings to YOU, my beautiful and health-conscious readers. Soon, you too can discover that natural and organic products make you look and feel so much better than their chemical-laden counterparts.

Read on, and find how to achieve natural, radiant beauty, from the inside out.

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