More Natural Beauty

Via: Postbulletin.com

Riddle: What does a shiny head of hair and potato salad have in common?

Answer: Mayonnaise.

Before you say “yuck,” consider this: Did you know that an egg mask can make your complexion glow? Or that avocados can be used as a facial? These foods, plus others in your pantry or refrigerator, have interesting cosmetic uses way beyond cooking.

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Via: Feelgood Style

Written by Stancie Wilson

Its safe to say most of us are clutching our wallets tighter these days and for those of us who refuse to compromise quality and purity in our beauty products despite these economic times, there is hope! Follow one or all of these tips below to avoid falling victim to cheap and toxic beauty buys in the name of saving a buck.

1). Open Your Cupboard

Keep it simple and affordable by getting back to the basics.  Know exactly what you’re putting on your skin and you’ll save some dough in the process:

Olive Oil: Some swear by no other moisturizer than this; in fact, I was surprised to learn that one of my relatives has used nothing but olive oil to cleanse and moisturize her face for years and she has great skin.  I’ve tried organic olive oil this winter in lieu of lotion on my legs and it works great; soaks right in!  Celebrity makeup artist, Rose Marie Swift of Beauty Truth and founder of the new organic cosmetic line, RMS Beauty, suggests using cold pressed olive oil on a cotton cloth or pad with warm water to remove makeup. 

 

Baking Soda: For ultra cheap and effective exfoliation, Rona Berg, best selling author of “Beauty: The New Basics” and “Fast Beauty: 1000 Quick Fixes”, suggests mixing 2 teaspoons baking soda with a teaspoon organic olive oil.  Apply to damp skin, massage gently, and leave for five minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Apple Cider Vinegar: If you’re able to tolerate the smell, many find just a little mixed with water works wonders as a facial toner or steam on oily and/or blemished skin.  If you’re having dandruff or product build up issues, try an ACV rinse after shampooing.  Find an organic version, like “Bragg’s” or “Spectrum” (it should be cloudy, not clear).  Drinking up to 1 Tablespoon per day can also help clear troubled skin from the inside out (be careful, start with 1 teaspoon and work your way up so not to shock your digestive system).  For years, Patricia Bragg has helped health conscious celebs like Madonna, Carol Alt, Demi Moore, Clint Eastwood improve their health with this ”miracle juice”.

Here is the rest of her headlines:

2). Make Your Own
3). Go Straight To The Source
4). Take Advantage Of Competition
5). Keep Value In Mind
6). Don’t Pay For Water
7). Know What To Splurge On
8). Stalk Bargain Sites
9). Forget What The Packaging Looks Like
10). Get Products For FREE!

Read all her advice here

MORAGA — Teenage girls typically like to try different brands of beauty products and cosmetics. And like other girls her age, Jill Hughes is just joining the ranks of teen product consumers all across the nation.

But unlike generations of teens before her, 17-year-old Jill has become more aware of the toxic chemicals found in beauty products — chemicals that are linked to causing cancer or birth defects.

After one of Jill’s Girl Scout leaders told her about a group called Teens for Safe Cosmetics, she attended a summit presented by the group.

“I have always been interested in healthier cosmetics, but never really knew much about them,” said Jill, a Campolindo High School senior. “I was really drawn to the idea of green products and just living a greener lifestyle. So I decided to create a fair that would teach girls about healthier cosmetics and products.”

Through the event, Jill — an East Bay representative for Teens for Safe Cosmetics — wants girls to think about: “What’s in your lip gloss, nail polish and deodorant?”

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Dark circles are cute on raccoons, but not so appealing on our own delicate faces. If you’ve ever woken up looking a little puffy, you’re not alone. I went on a hunt to figure out what causes this condition and how to fix it naturally.

Here’s the scoop.

Age, stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, nutrient deficiency, and depression can all cause dark circles and puffiness. As we get older the skin around our eyes becomes thinner and veins beneath it become more prominent. Stress and depression take their toll on the body and can show up in many forms such as dark circles, acne, rashes, etc. Lack of sleep and proper nutrients produce the same result. In order to look and feel our best we have to take care of ourselves! However, stress and a few late nights every once in a while are unavoidable.

Here are a few natural remedies you can try at home.

-The cooling cucumber. Place a thin slice over each eye and treat yourself to a well deserved nap.

-Almond Oil/Vitamin E Oil. Rub either one of these natural healing oils around your eyes every night before you go to bed.

-Green teabags. After enjoying a cup of green tea, take the used tea bags and place one over each eye. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce fluid build-up.

-Shoulderstand. This inversion pose will reverse your blood flow and give you an instant natural glow.

Feel free to share any other remedies you use at home.

Via: The Open Press

There’s nothing more annoying than being swarmed by mosquitoes when you go outdoors. It’s hard to enjoy your summer in the garden, on the deck or at the cottage when you’re constantly being bitten. Many chemical insect repellents are available, but for those who prefer natural skin care products and other natural remedies, it’s hard to find a solution. However, there are a few home-made mosquito repellents recipes that have lasted through the ages. You might want to give them a try.

Natural Bug Sprays for the Environment: The advantage of these products is that you repel the mosquitoes long before they get anywhere near you. There are many recipes; you might want to start with the most popular – equal parts of flat beer, Epsom salts and antiseptic mouthwash, for example. Combine them in a spray bottle and cover your grass, garden and soil. The mosquitoes hate it. Several natural oils are also effective. One part clove oil to one part peppermint or spearmint oil and 15 parts water works well, as does 10 parts lavender, 5 parts lemon and 2 drops of geranium or eucalyptus oil. Add a couple of tablespoons of almond oil and you have a beautiful scent that, fortunately, smells horrible to mosquitoes. For a very unusual scent, try eucalyptus with rose and lemongrass oils.

Plants: There are several plants you can place around your garden that discourage mosquitoes. Thai lemon grass, lemon thyme, lemon balm, citronella or lemon-scented geraniums work great. In fact, just about anything that smells like lemon sends mosquitoes running. Well, flying. You might also try rosemary, marigolds, eucalyptus, citronella, catnip, chamomile, chrysanthemums, or basil. Beautyberry bush also works and has the advantage of attracting birds – they love the seeds. Choose the scents you like best and plant them in your garden or in pots around the deck.

Vanilla extract: Mosquitoes hate the smell. If you like it, you’re in business. Just dab a little on pulse points – the inside of your wrist, elbow, knee or ankle, the base of your neck just above the collar bone (feel for the throb), or at the temple – and the mosquitoes will stay away. You might also try vanilla-scented candles. If possible, get some that are fragranced with real vanilla extract.

Skin care products: Neem oil is perhaps the most well known skin care product for both repelling mosquitoes and relieving the itch once you’ve been bitten, but there are several other skin care products available that combine some of the natural oils or extracts from the plants above. Of course, lemon is very common, as is eucalyptus – especially when they’re combined. Some also come in little handy wipes so you can take them with you.

If you have the opportunity to surround yourself with plants and other natural mosquito repellents, you’re best off. However, if you must use topical skin care products for additional protection, make sure you first apply a shielding lotion. Shielding lotion is a real breakthrough in skin care technology. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a new, protective layer that locks in natural moisture while keeping out chemicals. If you can’t go 100% natural, you’re at least protected.

Using the few simple remedies above, including natural skin care products if needed, you’re going to get much more enjoyment out of your garden, deck, and outdoor activities during the warm months. So, head out to the plant store, stopping off on the way and pick up some beer, mouthwash and Epsom salts – and don’t forget the shielding lotion.

Via:  MARKET WATCH
Ethics as important as price for increasing number of consumers
A new survey released today by ethical beauty retailer, The Body Shop, indicates that in spite of the tough economic climate, ethics are as important as price with today’s increasingly eco-conscious consumers.
In Canada the findings revealed that 77% of consumers are making more purchasing choices based on the corporate behaviour and ethics of a company than they were five years ago and 40% of those polled say that they make those decisions on a weekly basis.Other findings included:
- 68% of respondents cite quality of goods and trust in the brand as their criteria for buying a product
- 34% say they purchase based on the ethical reputation of a company
- 35% say price and value is their criteria for purchase

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