Being a bit of a lazy girl, I am all about easy, multipurpose products. And I get even more excited when these amazing do-it-all products work even better than the 20 individual things they can completely replace.
Argana Vita makes just two amazing products, but these puppies are so powerful, effective, and versatile that you can literally toss out half the content of your bathroom!
This month we’re giving away a trio of fabulous products from Yes to Tomatoes!
This line is perfect combination or oily skin that is prone to breakouts, and features natural ingredients that clear up pimples, reduce severity of blemishes, and control oil.
With these products you can cleanse and moisturize your way to clearer skin with acne-fighting ingredients like organic aloe, tomato, African red bush tea, salicylic acid, watermelon and red pepper. Nourishing oils like almond, jojoba and olive help nourish skin while clearing clogged pores and balancing blotchiness.
Click here to read my review of the Yes To.. product line, one of our absolute favorite drugstore natural beauty finds.
Step 1. Make sure you’re following us on Facebook!
Step 2. Make sure you’re following us on Twitter! If you already follow us on both, you can follow us on Pinterest!
Step 3. Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite skin-clearing remedy.. Bonus points if it’s a natural remedy!
That’s it!
We’ll announce the winner on Friday, May 17th, so make sure to enter before 6pm EST that day!
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Thank you everyone for entering, and for sharing your skin clearing tips!
Marina Volod, creator of Avitalin Skincare, has devoted her life to the study of skin physiology, cosmetic ingredients and skin nutrition, and that immense knowledge base has yielded the creation of an immensely effective, powerful, and best of all, healthy line of vegan skincare products. For the past month, I have been using her products, and I have to say, my skin absolutely loves it!
I follow my oil face wash with Avitalin Firming Fluid ($55), which is formulated with anti-aging skincare powerhouses like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and phospholipids. It also has one of my favorite natural ingredients, seabuckthorn oil, which is a wonderful anti-inflammatory antioxidant. The vegan fluid goes on super smooth, and I actually found that I don’t even need a moisturizer after using it!
When my skin is feeling a little overstressed and red, I love to use Rebalance Calming Complex ($58), which is specially formulated to calm sensitive skin, especially if you’re prone to eczema, rosacea, or dermatitis. It is loaded with nourishing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like rooibos and green tea extracts, licorice and oat extracts, and calendula. It also helps to keep skin cells young and vital with potent vegan embryonic phyto complex and beta glucans. It leaves skin silky smooth and even, and provides non-greasy moisture all day long!
To keep eyes youthful, I love the Smooth Contour eye cream ($55). It is marvelous for getting rid of any puffiness and dark circles, and feels absolutely luxurious around the eyes. It’s made with ultra nourishing shea and cocoa butter, brightening alpha-arbutin, and the patented Syn®-Ake, which is a potent complex that relaxes facial tension, preventing the formation of new lines, and improving firmness and tonicity.
Once a week, I love to exfoliate and rejuvenate my skin with the Active Enzyme Peel ($40), which uses gentle fruit acids and skin lightning ingredients to increase cell turnover, improve skin’s texture and brighten the complexion. Pineapple and papaya enzymes make this peel feel and smell like a treat straight out of the spa, while arbutin and baltic amber extract deliver potent skin transformation.
Marina really embodies our ethos here at The Organic Beauty, that nature provides us with the most effective and potent ingredients to heal and beautify our bodies, inside and out!
By: Stephanie Heino
This time of year, people take the opportunity to indulge a little (a lot!) extra in chocolate. You don’t necessarily have to say no to that delicious piece of chocolate, but make sure it is 70% or darker in order to get the maximum health benefits. In fact, if you are looking to lower your blood pressure or boost your mood, a bite of dark chocolate might be the perfect answer. The cocoa found in some of your favorite desserts contains many super powers that can help improve your health such as cardiovascular system (mainly in the form of flavonoids). You might have noticed that chocolate often gives an instant feeling of happiness—this is due to the rush of dopamine that triggers the brain’s pleasure receptors, and endorphins which provide a natural high kind of feeling. But as with any sweet treat, even this one should be eaten in modest portions because it is high in calories, but at least you can go to the dark side in a delicious, healthy way. If you, like us, don’t buy the chocolate sold in stores, try making those easy, raw and delicious desserts from Valentine’s Day!
Flavonoids. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a type of chemical found naturally in plants. These phytochemicals are known to help fight a wide array of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Make sure you’re getting all of the benefits of flavonoids by buying dark chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa. If you aren’t sure, look for bars with “pure,” “dark” or “unprocessed” on the label. Flavonols (the type of flavonoid found in chocolate) help your skin look its best. Those antioxidants help your skin protect itself from UV damage (hello, fewer wrinkles) fight free radicals (so long, sun spots) as well as improving skin hydration and thickness – which both are important for young-looking skin. Read more about this later in the article!
Lowering Blood Pressure. High blood pressure can be combated with a small daily dose of dark chocolate. We now know that the flavonols found in cocoa can thin blood and relax blood vessels. If you are worried about high blood pressure, even a small amount, like a sprinkle of cocoa or raw cacao on your quinoa porridge every day, can help lower your numbers.
Mood Booster. When you’re feeling down, sometimes there’s nothing better than eating chocolate (hello, PMS!). And as it turns out, there is a scientific reason why chocolate is so often the perfect answer for a case of the blues. This miracle food contains hundreds of compounds that boost endorphins and serotonin, two of the best-known chemicals that are responsible for making us feel happy. Next time you need a quick mood boost, try making yourself a cup of organic hot cocoa (sweetened with stevia, of course), and your day is sure to turn out more delicious.
Stress Reducer. Dark chocolate also helps combat beauty’s public enemy number one: Stress. Cocoa helps reduce stress hormones, which means less collagen breakdown in the skin, and fewer wrinkles.
It helps boost your immune system. Dark chocolate may help suppress T-cell activity in your immune system, making it an amazing fighter against certain conditions such as psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
When it comes to beauty; cocoa butter (the cream-colored fat that’s extracted from cocoa beans) is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, lotions, and other skincare products thanks to its moisturizing properties (the most stable, highly concentrated fats). So if you are looking for a moisturizer that’s affordable, naturally sweet-smelling and easily absorbed by the skin (melting at body temperature), make sure to pick up some beauty products containing cocoa butter next time you go shop for beauty products!
Here is 6 reasons why you should use cocoa butter in your beauty regiment:
Help Reduce Skin Conditions. Cocoa butter has been known to treat eczema and dermatitis. Thank the cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP) in cocoa butter: CMP inhibits the production of immonu globulin, which tends to worsen the symptoms of dermatitis and asthma.
It may help prevent cancer. Studies have shown that CMP helps inhibit the growth of cancer cells. CMP inhibits cancer cell and tumor growth by preventing the oxidation of good cholesterol and the production of inflammatory cells.
Prevent Stretch Marks. Ever wonder why pregnant women reach for cocoa butter-enriched products to rub on their bellies? Cocoa butter is loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E. Paired with its ability to moisturize like no other, cocoa butter is said to be the best ingredient to prevent stretch marks. While cocoa butter can’t entirely erase them, it is able to reduce their appearance remarkably!
Anti-aging Properties. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants, which help in fighting off free radicals. Free radicals destroy healthy skin cells, damaging your skin and making it age faster. An added bonus: cocoa butter may also protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.
Skin Softener. As mentioned above cocoa contains antioxidants that work toward repairing damaged skin. This will make your skin softer, especially when paired with other homeopathic skins cures like raw honey. Next time you are giving yourself a manicure, use a homemade cocoa lotion made out of yogurt, honey and cocoa powder, works wonder for winter-dry hands!
Hair Moisturizer. The benefits of using cocoa butter on hair are increased manageability and moisture. Cocoa butter can help prevent hair loss due to breakage or extra fine texture. It can also help alleviate scalp itching and irritation. Another benefit of using cocoa butter on hair is the prevention of chemical damage.
I will make sure to invest in some beauty products containing cocoa butter next time I go shopping, you should too!
By: Stephanie Heino
Want healthy and glossy hair without supplements? Do you want it to grow faster, while getting strong nails and flawless skin? Keep reading!
A sound diet with lots of raw foods will give you the best possible nutritional advantage for getting healthy hair, nails and skin. Stock upon leafy greens and get in a serving of soaked raw nuts or seeds each day which deliver minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids (the building block of protein that makes our hair, nails and skin). A mineral-rich diet with lots of raw foods is your best bet for creating beauty inside-out.
The health of our hair and nails depends on good circulation of the blood which carries oxygen and nutrients to the area. We need to move the body to ensure this circulation is working as it should. But mostly problems with hair and nails are due to an imbalance within, and that can always be re-balanced through healthy raw foods!
In fact, your body prefers to be nourished with raw foods. If your diet predominately consists of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, you will create a perfect balance within, which will show up on the outside (with some patience!).
Check out this guide to 5 amazing raw foods that will boost your beauty and give you fuller, shinier, healthier hair:
Dark Green Vegetables
Greens like kale, spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard, are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. They are also packed with minerals like silicon and sulfur that are vital to healthy growth of our nails and hair.
Nuts
Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature’s best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure you eat nuts on the regular.
Flax seeds
The second step to beautiful skin, hair and nails involves including optimal amounts of essential fats in your diet. Fats are especially important for our skin and hair. They are an enormous part of how skin and hair are stay moist and lush as opposed to course and dry, and by including flax seeds and avocados you take care of this issue. If you feel like it will be a problem to eat enough of these foods to truly nourish, it can also be practical to use an essential fatty acid supplement in the form of a liquid oil. Although this is a post on raw foods, evening primrose oil is also a favourite of skin, hair and nails.
Wheatgrass
By drinking wheatgrass, and washing your hair in it you will see some great results. By doing this, nutrients penetrate into follicles and stimulate growth of new pigment-producing cells. Getting results takes time, but be patient!
Sea Vegetables
Research shows sodium alginate, a compound found in most seaweed, binds with heavy metals and chemical poisons, flushing them from the body. They nourish the endocrine system, especially the thyroid and adrenal glands. Iodine in seaweed keeps the thyroid functioning normally, and is high in natural sodium. Sea vegetables, providing plenty of proteins, complex carbohydrates, carotenes, and chlorophyll, not only stimulate and strengthen the hair, but also the skin and nails. Brittle hair, caused by a shortage of minerals, too much salt or animal food, or use of drugs, can be restored by eating sea vegetables. Kombu comes in sticks which you can add to your soups, stews, beans and casseroles. It has a yummy salty flavour, and you also get a range of minerals that your skin, hair and nails love.
After one of my best girlfriends told me of her new oil face wash routine, I was intrigued, and more than a little bit skeptical. I’ve had oily skin my whole life… How could washing my face with oil help?? But as I watched my friend’s skin get clearer and clearer, my curiosity got the best of me. I picked up some jojoba oil from Trader Joe’s and did the deed! Low and behold, my face was significantly less oily throughout the day, and within a few weeks, my perpetually clogged pores were clearer, and my skin was the softest and most glowing it’s ever been. I’ve been using this method for a couple of months now, and I have to say, I’m never going back! Best of all, this is so much less expensive than buying fancy face washes, and so much more effective and natural! Here’s how it’s done:
The official prescription calls for a combination of castor oil and another balancing oil in the following proportions:
You may want to add a drop or two of yummy essential oils to add a scent and some added healthy skin benefits! Try essential oils of lavender, rosemary, tea tree, or eucalyptus.
If this all seems like too much work, you can try a pre-blended oil. I like Kindred Skincare Co. Complete Cleanse Oil (for oily and blemish prone skin), 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm (for normal to dry skin). I’ve also had great results with just pure organic jojoba oil, which is super easy to find and doesn’t require mixing.
For maximim benefits, use this method at night. There’s no need to cleanse your skin the morning after, you can just rinse with warm water. This allows your skin to balance itself and prevents over-drying and overproduction of sebum! You’ll need a washcloth, your oil, and some super hot running water.
If your skin feels at all tight after your oil wash, you can use a couple drops of your oil (or one of the oils below) to moisturize your skin. If you don’t wash your face in the morning, your skin’s oil production should normalize within a few days of using this method. But I still like to use a really great face oil as a moisturizer after I shower. My absolute favorite is Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum (check out my interview with the owner of Osmia, Sarah Villafranco). For some other great face oils that clear pores and cure breakouts, check out this post on Well+Good NYC.
All you devoted followers of trends in organic beauty know that the search for non-toxic products that are just as effective as their potentially carcinogenic counterparts can be a grueling one. For the last few months, I’ve been testing the entire line of Own Skincare Products, and have to say I am super happy with the results! The line isn’t organic, but it is free of harsh chemicals, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and all the other bad guys we Organic Beauties are bent on banishing. Best of all, it is super affordable!
The San Francisco-based product line features the super potent skincare ingredient, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which is known for reversing and preventing the signs of aging and improving skin texture and firmness. The Firming Silk Concentrate serum feels fantastic after my morning jojoba oil face wash. It really does leave my skin silky smooth and absorbs super fast. I use the Lifting Eye Cream twice a day, and I definitely attribute my total lack of lines to the potent combination of CLA, safflower oil, shea butter, and soybean germ extract! Before bed, I end my skincare routine with luxurious Refining Moisture Night Cream, which goes on super smooth, absorbs super fast, and gives me the smoothest, brightest skin when I wake up in the morning. In the last few months, I’ve noticed that my skin is softer, smoother, and despite my recent (ahem) landmark birthday, I’m happy to say my skin doesn’t look a day older than it did at 18!
The other great thing about the Own brand is their commitment to holistic beauty. Over on their blog, they regularly feature all kinds of super helpful lifestyle tips that guarantee young healthy skin for life! Check out their 10 Winter Beauty Tips! Because, as we Organic Beauties know, beautiful skin is more than just the products you use…
Ever notice how near the end of winter your skin starts looking a little dull and listless? Dry, winter skin causes a build up of dead cells on your skin that make the outer layer look a little less than fabulous. Though there are a lot of good facial scrubs on the market, sometimes all those added ingredients aren’t all that necessary.. I’ve found that a really effective, super easy, and decidedly cheap option is a simply at-home sugar scrub. I did one this morning to wake up my skin a little bit, and noticed an immediate improvement in the brightness, smoothness, and moisture of my skin, not to mention a marked shrinking of a pesky zit I woke up with.
I recommend using a raw, organic sugar of a medium coarse size (a little finer than Sugar in the Raw, but not nearly as fine as table sugar). This size gives you a really good exfoliating effect without being too harsh on the skin.
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I'm Natasha Uspensky, holistic nutritionist, Ayurvedic practitioner and healthy lifestyle expert. I created The Organic Beauty to be your resource to celebrate and learn about everything from healthy eating and living for your whole family, to natural beauty and sustainable style. I hope to inspire you to live beautifully and healthfully, in a life you love!
Click here to learn more about me!
xoxox
