Ditch the complicated beauty care products and start using the best oils for skin.

One of the best beauty and health care tips I embraced was to stop buying into the sensational firming, anti-aging, silky-smooth claims touted by expensive beauty products. Sure, they may work this so-called “magic” quite well, but coincidentally enough, the best of these brands are often based in natural plant-based oils. So, why load on the extra fillers, fragrances, water and other colorants and preservatives when you can get right to the source?

These oils are incredibly potent, basically concentrated versions of the leaf, fruit or flower they herald from. A few drops are all it takes to transform your skin and your health. Do your bank account and your conscience a favor by embracing the natural benefits of plant-based oils.

Oils reap so many benefits that they simply cannot be ignored. They can be ingested, topically applied and even used as a bottle of incense, so to speak – one whiff and your mood can change! They are non-toxic, chemical-free and all-natural alternatives to store-bought beauty products and often get the job done much more effectively.

Be sure to do you research before applying any oil to the skin, as you want to first make sure if the particular oil complements your particular skin tone and complexion. Certain oils are best for dry skin while others are best for combination or oily skin.

Be sure to buy organic, pure oils that are extra ensured to be unadulterated and completely pure. Often, oils are diluted in another “carrier” oil, which is cheaper to produce, so make sure to look at the ingredients list to check if the oil you are buying is only what it says it is.  Also, don’t just look at the price tag as a show of quality. Most oils should be stored in dark bottles, as any exposure to light will spoil their quality. Do your research first, then bask in their glory.

11 of the Best Oils for Skin

1. Sesame: Sesame oil moisturizes the skin and hair, has a slight SPF factor, lowers stress and blood pressure and even slows the growth of cancer in cells.
2. Marula: This East African oil has a matte finish and is great for combination or skin, as it doesn’t leave behind any sheen. It is full of antioxidants and omega acids.
3. Rose: If you’ve ever been to the Middle East, you’ll notice the widespread use of rose oil among women as a beauty product. It makes for a pleasant perfume and moisturizes skin and hair, improves hormone balance, treats PMS and menopause and even improves sexual performance.
4. Argan: Argan oil from Morocco already has the beauty world buzzing, particularly for its anti-aging properties. The trend is there for a reason – follow it!
5. Frankincense: I’m not sure how to pronounce this one, but I’ve seen it pop up in some of my favorite raw and organic moisturizes. It is touted for preventing acne and healing burns, rashes, cuts and scrapes. It also improves the immune system.
6. Jojoba: Jojoba oil is light and very easy to find at most drug stores. Its purposes also spread thin. It can be used for all skin types and reaps so many benefits – moisturizes, heals and reduces fine lines.
7. Tea Tree: This oil gets red of fleas, clears acne, kills bacteria, eliminates bad odors, cleans silver and dresses wounds. It is a popular ingredient in natural anti-acne remedies as well as natural toothpastes.
8. Coconut: You can eat it for incredible benefits, but it is just as effective as a moisturizer. Coconut oil is packed with healthy fats that leave you with smooth, supple and young skin. The coconut oil benefits are endless.
9. Grapeseed: Protecting the skin from UV damage is reason enough to rub in grapeseed oil, but it is full of other benefits as well. It is great for oily skin, because it naturally regulates oil production. It also has strong antioxidants.
10. Chamomile: Sip your chamomile tea to relax and apply chamomile oil on your face to reduce irritation. Consider chamomile your one-stop shop to unwind and release tension.
11. Almond: Packed with some sweet benefits, almond oil is light and leaves behind a silky, soft and smooth finish.

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Photo Credit: Kazuhiro Zeino

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Natural beauty products are better for our body. And on Earth Day 2014, we remember that they are better for our planet, too.

Earth Day, now in its 44^th year, invites us to examine how our actions impact the planet. But it is just one day—so what about the other 364 days in the year?

April 22 1990 was the 20^th anniversary of Earth Day, and my first. I had just moved to Minneapolis having accepted a position at Aveda a month prior. Little did I know it would be a move to a whole new way of life.

Before I started working for Aveda, green was simply a color to me. Once I joined the company I began to understand that green was so much more, thanks in no small part to its visionary founder, Horst Rechelbacher. His vision of sustainability and environmental responsibility changed everything. No longer did you have to sacrifice product performance for a cause. All of us on the inside were constantly being challenged to live up to the mission of the company, and what made Aveda so special and successful was that we did. Our enthusiasm was contagious.

It was through the success of Aveda that I realized that the choices we make with our purchases support the changes we want to see in the world. Just look at how many choices we now have for amazing product made in a responsible, earth friendly manner. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the choices, though (I know I do). Therefore, I called my friend and Aveda alum, Terry Gips, who is now President of the Alliance for Sustainability and asked: “What can I do for Earth Day, and will it really make a difference?”

The truth is, there is a lot each of us can do–even if it seems so simple, so insignificant. From supporting companies that are minimizing their impact on the environment, to making small changes that can save money and the earth at the same time. There really is so much that can be done. Terry’s advice is to educate yourself: “understand what is going on and prioritize.” Terry has written a wonderful piece called “Show Me the Money: 10 Simple Sustainability Steps People Can Take to Save Money and the Environment.”

To that advice this Earth Day, why not educate yourself on some natural products for the body and home, and see if you can go a little greener? Swap one of your usual natural beauty products for a more sustainable product that makes you look better, with no guilt! Here are four companies noteworthy for both their commitment to the environment as well as making truly fantastic and effective products. They’re so green you’d think it was St Paddy’s Day all over again!

Hair

First up is Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Health and Beauty, founded by Horst Rechelbacher. IN is the evolution of Horst’s idea that “Everything we put in and on our bodies must be nutritious and safe.”

Intelligent Nutrients uses:

• certified organic ingredients
• 100% plant fragrances, never synthetic
• Nothing toxic, plasticizing, metallic or scary 
(I love this!)
• Combining plant wisdom with the latest in scientific technology

My family’s favorite IN product is the Pureluxe Shampoo and Conditioner. As with all of Horst’s products, the scent is what you fall for first. Lemongrass, ylang ylang and geranium combine for an uplifting and refreshing experience that leaves your hair hydrated, shiny and healthy, and I feel good about my daughter using it.

Face

Earth Tu Face began with two herbalists, a garden, and a focus on creating a purely plant-based skin care. I recently discovered Earth Tu Face and appreciate its responsible plant based approach to beauty.

Earth Tu Face believes:

• In truth and transparency in the personal care industry
• Never putting on your skin what you would not put in your mouth
• In minimal waste packaging
• In avoiding synthetics & preservatives

The Earth Tu Face Voyage Travel Kit is a great introduction to its skin care. It includes: Face Wash, Face Serum and Body Butter.  The gentle formulas and earthy aromas make your skin feel as if you’ve been on a retreat (even if your never left your bathroom).

Body

Robin Brown and Anna Cirronis started Erbaviva in 1996 as a line of organic skincare products for baby and mothers-to-be (their own newborn was their inspiration). The company has since (and thankfully!) grown to include products for the entire family. Erbaviva’s products are compassionately made by hand at the company’s own renewable energy powered facility in Southern California. With so many beautiful products to choose from it’s hard to decide which one I love the most!  The Relax body lotion is a perfect addition to a pre-bedtime ritual.  The light and nourishing cocoa seed butter combine with natural oils of lavender, rose and neroli to restore moisture and encourage relaxation.  Or check out the Refreshing Foot Balm, which is perfect for getting those winter feet flip-flop ready.

Home

Launched just one year ago by artist and package designer Kristi Head, LITE+CYCLE candles are 100 percent earth-made with pure essential oils, vegetable waxes and a single cotton wick. No chemicals, pesticides, paraffin or synthetics. Made by hand in the USA. The vessel-less pillar candles integrate renewable biodegradable materials with natural-only ingredients.

The recently launched Urban Forrest candle was inspired by the juxtaposition of  a natural oasis in the center of the city. Notes of cedar, fennel, fir and a hint of coffee blend to create the perfect balance of Zen with the zip of caffeine.

My personal steps for Earth Day: indulge in all of the above! Plus, I just ordered a compost bin for my organic waste. Change starts one step at a time.

Find Fatima on Twitter @fatimaolive and on Pinterest

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top image: karin.krn

The post Earth Day 2014: Low-Impact Sensibility for Your Natural Beauty Routine appeared first on EcoSalon.

  

One lucky EcoSalon reader will win $240 worth of incredible skin care products from Vision Biospherically Correct products. Want to enter for your chance to win? Read on.

Who doesn’t want to give their skin a healthy, glowing springtime boost? Vision Biosperically Correct Skin Care Products can help, and you could get to try these outstanding, revolutionary products for free. We’re giving away a skin care system from Vision that includes all natural, organic and wild harvested ingredients.

Vision’s skin care system relies on superfoods such as acai, camu camu, copibia and tamanu oil to help create healthier and fresher looking skin in just days. It’s the ideal line of products for skin needing extra hydration and nourishment, making it perfect for the summer days just ahead.

The package includes:

Silky Olive Cleanser: For centuries people have understood the benefits of olive oil for the skin and now you can experience it too. This finely textured facial cleanser containing pure olive oil, will leave your skin feeling soft and silky smooth. With a gentle blend of essential oils to add a light, fresh scent this is a wonderful product to use every day. Finish your skin care routine with your favorite Vision moisturizer. Palm oil free.

Reviving Face Exfoliant: Made with New Zealand’s own sea salt to deeply cleanse the skin. This face and body scrub will brighten your day by removing dull skin cells and letting fresh ones shine through. Salt minerals are beneficial to the skin and white clay is known for its detoxifying and softening properties. Jojoba oil helps to moisturize and calendula tincture helps to restore your skin to its radiant best. Use once per week or as required. Splash your face with lukewarm water and apply scrub to the face in small circular motions. Rinse well and finish with your favorite Vision moisturizer.

Refreshing Citrus Lotion: This zesty orange lotion provides a perfectly smooth matte skin finish, ideal for a non-moisturized look or as an under make-up prep. Packed full of rosehip oil, the amazonian super fruit extract camu camu and aloe vera for maximum vitamin E and C skin health and vitality. A delightful pick-me-up with orange and lemon essential oils for extra freshness. Wonderful stored in the fridge as a fantastic summer time boost after a hot, dry day.

Revive Eye Gel: They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. Revive the tender skin around your eyes with this refreshing gel packed full of organic aloe vera , the supreme ingredient for cooling and reducing puffiness and lightening dark shadows around the eye area. A little of our tender loving care goes a long way. Apply gently with finger tips around eye area. (Palm oil free.)

Nourishing Eye and Face Cream: Prime skin nutrition with this easy to spread, two-in-one eye and face cream formulated with the anti-oxidant rich acai oil; ideal for providing good fatty acids. With a subtle floral scent, this is a convenient product nourishing enough to use both day and night. Spread lightly over face and use finger tips to gently pat around eye area.

Face Superfood: A magical blend of exotic ingredients sourced from all over the world, resulting in an outstanding cream with exquisite texture and feel. This nutrient rich skin food, featuring acai and  tamanu oil, is absorbed rapidly and is therefore ideal as a day cream for dryer skin types and as an exceptional night cream for all skin types. Calendula oil aids healing and evening primrose and camu camu are known to restore skin elasticity. In conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, we are confident you will enjoy the benefits of fresher, more rejuvenated looking skin.

Pretty amazing, right? Want another reason to love Vision? Vision Products give back: it’s a charitable trust that donates a minimum of 15 percent of all net profits to charity. At checkout, customers can even choose which charity they want 15 percent of their purchase to be donated to right away. Vision Products is truly a brand that stands behind the quality of its products and the integrity of its mission and our planet.

Ready for your chance to win? Just sign up for our newsletter. Already a subscriber? You’re entered to win. Winner will be selected at random and must live in the United States. Good luck!

Enter now!

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You might be full of energy and ready to get things done, but those droopy, poorly arched brows are telling the world you’re exhausted. Small as they are, our eyebrow shapes play a crucial function in emotional expression, and the wrong shape can not only throw off the balance of your face, but send an inaccurate message about how you’re feeling. Overly-arched brows can make you look harsh and angry, while rounded ones can lend a sad, bewildered look.

How you shape your eyebrows depends on what you’re working with. If you’ve got naturally lush, full brows, you’re in luck – a bit of trimming and tweezing is all you need to make the most of them. If your brows are sparse and shapeless, mastery of eyebrow-enhancing products can make all the difference in your appearance.

Tweezing Tips: Pluck a Perfect Shape

When it comes to plucking, less is more. It’s so easy to tweeze away what seems like just a few hairs and realize that you’ve fundamentally altered your eyebrow shapes. Plus – bold brows are in. The best course of action is to have a pro shape your brows the first time, and then keep them up at home, but if you’d rather tackle it yourself, here are some tips.

It’s best to pluck right after showering, after the warm water gets a chance to open the hair follicles, using a pair of tweezers with sharp, slanted tips. Before you take away any hairs, use a brow or mascara wand to brush the hairs up. If they’re overly long, carefully trim off the tips just past the natural line of your brow.

Start by assessing the overall shape of your brows. Do they have a noticeable arch? Use a pencil to find the most arched part of your brow and line it up with your eye. The most flattering location for the arch is at the outer edge of your iris, not over the tear duct or the middle. Arches over the front part of the brow create a shape that’s too round. Once you’ve located the arch, pluck just a few hairs along the bottom edge of the brow at this point to create a little bit of definition. The video above illustrates this process.

Note where your eyebrows start and end, as well. Plucking too far in from the bridge of the nose can make your eyes look too far apart, and if the ends of your brows are too long, they can drag down the shape of your eye, aging you and making you look tired.

Faking It: Enhance Eyebrows with Powder, Pencil or Wax

The most foolproof way to find a shape that’s right for your face without doing any permanent damage to your brows is to play around with some eyebrow stencils. Most likely, there will only be one or two that really work for your face shape, so you might use the pack just one or two times before you figure out what you like and how to do it on your own, but it can be a helpful tool to get started.

The biggest mistake women make with brow products is choosing a powder or pencil that’s too dark. Even if your hair is black, you likely don’t need anything darker than medium brown to achieve a soft, natural look. Your brow product doesn’t have to match your hair color exactly; the trick is finding a product that’s not either too ashy or too red for your skin tone and hair.

When filling in brows with a pencil, make sure it’s sharp and use a light hand to apply short, hair-like strokes in the direction that the hair grows naturally. The same technique is helpful when applying powders and waxes with a brush. If your brows tend to be unruly, hold them in place with a clear brow wax or mascara.

One kit that’ll give you lots of control is the vegan and cruelty-free Jane Iredale Bitty Brow Kit, which is available in blond and brunette shades and comes with pigmented brow powder, three brushes and botanical brow wax. Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Mousse is another great product to help achieve a natural look, and it lasts longer than most pencils.

Still feeling lost? Take a few minutes to browse some eyebrow tutorials on YouTube, so you can see how the products are applied.

Top photo: Nadia Martinez

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BB cream.  You’re not entirely sure you know what it is, but based on the buzz in beautyland, you’re pretty sure you need it. 

From all the raving about it, you’d think it was a miracle in a tube. Is it glorified foundation?  Tinted sunscreen?  A little of both actually, and then some.  The ‘BB’ stands for beauty balm, and really, it is a pretty great multi-tasking tool to have in your cosmetics bag when you find one that works that’s also not jam-packed with junk.

A good BB cream will prime the skin, moisturize, and provide the desired amount of pigmented coverage in a color complimentary to your skin tone. It will also contain a natural sun protection factor and provide skin with some repairing and anti-aging benefits while you’re wearing it. It sound too good to be true, right?  Well, there are several BB creams out there, hundreds in fact, but very few that are healthy and perform well.

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Suntegrity’s “5 In 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30.  It provides my sensitive, combination skin the perfect blend of moisture and warm, sheer color to help even out my skin tone without acting like a foundation. And the antioxidant benefits from red algae and certified organic aloe vera, jojoba, sunflower, pomegranate, cucumber, and green tea, along with nano-particle free zinc oxide, all help to reduce UV damage and aid in skin repair. I’ve never broken out from it, the scent is mild and the SPF is high enough to keep me well protected from damaging UV rays.  It also very kindly does not pile up in the “life full of laughter” lines under my eyes.

I’m also a fan of Juice Beauty’s new Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream. Described as a “12-in-1 ultimate color correcting cream,” it boasts a long list of benefits to the skin, helps even skin tone with a cooler pigment tone, has a nice texture, provides SPF 30 protection and a cocktail of beneficial ingredients, including the Juice Beauty proprietary fruit stem cells with clinically demonstrated anti-aging benefits. Both the Suntegrity and Juice Beauty options are more similar to a tinted moisturizer with SPF than a full coverage foundation, which works well for those of us seeking to even out skin tone and protect our skin but don’t necessarily want a lot of coverage.

That said, for those seeking full coverage, Jane Iredale’s Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream is an excellent option, with a larger variety of shades to choose from to match your skin tone. Its full, creamy, easy to use coverage formula creates a truly flawless pallette with the benefits of SPF 30, added moisture and beneficial nutrients.

Do you see BB cream in your future?

Want to try healthier beauty products to find what works for you?  Check out Goodebox, a members only discovery and trial service for healthy beauty and natural wellness products.

top image: victoria nevland

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