When it comes to natural skincare knowledge, not many will have more experience than Cecilia Wong, facialist and founder of Cecilia Wong Skincare, who described the defining moment of her career path as an esthetician when she was just fourteen.

“I battled acne, pigmentation and excessive oiliness growing up. My mother always told me that if I wanted to have better skin, I needed to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, in addition to drinking the herbal tonics and soups that she made. One day, while I was preparing dessert,” which only consisted of fruits, since, as Wong mentioned, she was not allowed any sweets, “something clicked. I made a face mask out of blueberries and papaya and applied it on my skin. I did that for a week and saw a huge difference in my skin right away. Because of this experience, I knew that I wanted to help others with their problematic skin.”

Fast forward to present day, and you’ll find Wong managing her popular line of signature skincare products and a thriving skin care clinic in New York City, where she regularly helps clients transform their skin from the inside-out. By successfully uniting her expertise in Traditional Chinese Medicine with natural products and approaches for skincare, like the gua sha facial massage, Wong has essentially created a trifecta of skin nourishing goodness.   

“A few months after I started my business, I was hearing complaints from my clients that they weren’t seeing results from the products they were using, and they asked me if I could create something for them,” said Wong. “I was reminded of when I was younger and used fruits to create face masks, so I decided to create a line that would consist of herbs, fruits and plants with the core ingredient being black currant.”

In addition to her line of all-natural, vegan, made in the USA products, Wong also relies heavily on her background in Traditional Chinese Medicine when suggesting herbs to her clients. There are three, in particular, that Wong highly recommends. Sage, licorice root, and parsley are the trio she deems responsible for unlocking that oh-so-covetable glow. Here’s what she says each of these herbs do and how she recommends using them:

Sage: “The antioxidants in this herb help to fight off free radicals and ease away wrinkles and fine lines. It’s great for those with acne prone skin due to its ability to clear blemishes and kill bacteria. Sage is very cleansing! You can use it in smudging, cook it in soups and even make tea with it. This herb can be used on skin in creams or serums.”

Licorice Root: “This herb helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and brighten the skin. The powerful antioxidants in licorice root act as a barrier and protect skin from environmental stressors. Licorice root is mainly used in teas or as a supplement in capsule form. Can also be used topically in creams.”

Parsley: “This herb is a great source of Vitamin C and helps to promote oxygenation in skin. It repairs and promotes collagen production as well as helping to clear up blemishes due to its antibacterial properties. Parsley can be used in cooking, herbal tonics and teas. I also love using them in my baths—it’s both therapeutic and medicinal! Great topically in creams or serums.”

Of course, it’s important to proceed at your own risk. Wong cautioned, “You should always consult a doctor or an herbalist before incorporating any herbs into your diet. This is to avoid interactions with your existing medications, and so you are taking the proper amount. They can have side effects if taken incorrectly.”

Patience is also key when using these herbs. Wong said that there’s no actual set time to see results, but depending on the reasons for using the trio, it may take anywhere from two to three months to see improvement. As always, individual results may vary. Furthermore, she also highly emphasizes the age old notion that healthy skin starts from the inside, and that diet and nutrition play a key role in how good your skin looks, reminding us that “eating nutritious foods will give skin the nutrients and vitamins it needs to stay plump, youthful and healthy.”

When asked about some other skincare game-changers, Wong said, “I am a huge fan of gua sha facial massages, which is amazing for any age! It helps to depuff the whole face, breaks down tissue blockages and releases toxins. It’s great for toning and sculpting the skin as well as stimulating various acupressure points.” In fact, Wong offers a quartz gua sha tool so you can practice the art of facial massage at home–something she tells her clients to do between appointments as their “homework”.

Being proactive and incorporating regular maintenance is the cornerstone for improving and maintaining healthy skin. That’s why Wong recommends visiting a licensed esthetician at least once per month since professional facials “can help achieve a better, deeper cleanse than the one you do at home.” She also noted their ability to “rid the skin of buildup, toxins and dirt, while eliminating bacteria that could be lingering on the skin,” not to mention the effects they can have on premature aging, improved circulation, greater collagen production, and facilitating plumper, healthier, more radiant skin.

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The following five clean beauty trends are starting off strong going into 2018 and are worth your attention. Make them part of your regular beauty routine to always put your best face forward.

5 Clean Beauty Trends of 2018

1. Anti-Pollution Skincare

We all know pollution is bad for our health, but it also can be hazardous to our skin. In a 2013 study, it was found that the sun’s UV rays are responsible for some 80% of visible facial ageing signs, including wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and loss in skin elasticity. Another study conducted in Germany and China showed how increased air pollution lead to brown spots on the skin. Air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, oxides, particulate matter, ozone, and cigarette smoke are just a few of the many agents that have negative effects on the skin.

It’s no wonder then that anti-pollution skincare is increasing in popularity around the world. In the UK, the anti-pollution skincare market grew by 30% in just six months, with cleansers, face masks, and SPF-based products leading the charge.

Some standout products include Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque, Clinque’s City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector, Dr. Andrew Weil’s Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Serum, and REN’s Flash Defence Anti-Pollution Mist.

2. Oil Cleansers

Oils aren’t just for moisturizing. In fact, they can be used to cleanse the skin as well. How do they work? When massaged into the skin, oils in a cleanser bind to surface dirt and grime and enable them to be comfortably rinsed away, leaving behind skin that is clean, soft, and hydrated.

For those of us with particularly dry skin, oil cleanses make for a gentle and less harsh, moisture-stripping alternative to regular soaps. Great options: Tata Harper’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser, Mahalo’s UNVEIL Cleanse Melt Concentrate, May Lindstrom’s Pendulum Potion, and Cocokind’s Facial Cleansing Oil.

3. Crystal-Infused Skincare Products

The year 2017 saw an upsurge in the popularity of healing crystals, and 2018 won’t let up. One of the more unique ways in which crystals are being integrated into daily wellness routines is for beauty purposes.

Idil Pekar’s Hungarian Thermal Water Tonik is made with clear crystal quartz; Dr. Brandt’s Ruby Retinol Hydracrème is infused with a ruby crystal complex; Nails Inc’s The Mindful Manicure range of nail polishes contains flecks of rose quartz, tourmaline, and citrine for love and good vibes; Glossier’s Haloscope highlighters are enhanced with real Rose Quartz or Golden Topaz; Själ’s Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask contains blue copper, blue sapphire, and blue lotus for restorative, firming, and regenerative benefits.

4. Bright Eye Shadows

Here’s a fun trend that you don’t have to resort to toxic beauty products to indulge in. Achieve a statement look with Alima Pure, Lily Lolo, and Ecco Bella!

5. Jade Facial Rollers

Jade rollers are handheld massaging tools that are made with one or two naturally cold jade stone heads that, when rolled across the face, allegedly boost blood circulation, decrease under-eye swelling, and help the skin to absorb beauty products better. Try one for around $25.

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Blustery winter weather can be harsh on our bodies, particularly the skin and hair. And when those areas appear dry, it usually means they’re craving a healthy dose of thirst-quenching moisture.

Fortunately, your winter beauty concerns have been turned into solutions thanks to this selective list of products featuring ethical brands with naturally-derived, cruelty-free ingredients.

1. Lower the Shower Temp

We’ve probably all heard a time or two (thousand) that hot showers are bad for our hair and skin. Not only are they drying, but hot showers strip you of your natural oils, which experts believe may trigger inflammation and exacerbation of skin conditions. This is said to be especially true when that shower is above 99 degrees. Fortunately, by adding this nifty temperature gauge, you can be sure your winter showers are less damaging.

2. Moisturize Not Once, But Twice

During harsh winter conditions, it’s perfectly fine (and even encouraged) to moisturize your body twice a day. This organic hand and body lotion from Puracy is the perfect candidate for doing just that. In fact, I use this myself on my highly-sensitive skin. Hydrating without feeling greasy or leaving any residue, this gentle formula really is fragrance-free, silky, and luxurious.

3. Tame Dryness and Frizz

Another product I use regularly is this rosehip seed body oil from Life-flo. It’s excellent for putting moisture back into dry winter hair and works wonders for hydrating my skin after showering or cleansing. The smell is mild, doesn’t irritate my skin, and a few drops go a long way, making it very economical.

4. Continue Wearing Sunscreen

Just because the harsh summer sun is in hiding, doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods in the winter. Yes, the UV index is at its lowest around this time, but it still exists and can still cause skin damage. That’s why sunscreen is a year-round must. Designed to be a nutrient-replenishing cream plus SPF 30 sunscreen, you’ll benefit greatly by using this Josh Rosebrook product that was tested and recommended by staff at Organic Authority.

5. Use a Humidifier

Winter air equals dry air. And when the air has more humidity in it, the risk of infection and viral transmission is lowered, you’ll have softer, more radiant skin, you’ll breathe easier, and experience a host of other benefits. This particular humidifier also incorporates aromatherapy so you can de-stress while you re-hydrate.

6. Hydrate Your Face

Winter wind can be unforgiving, especially on the face. Therefore, a high-quality natural moisturizer is recommended, especially if you live in an extreme climate and/or already have dry skin. Suggested by the manufacturer for dry or very dry skin, this ultra-sheer moisturizer from Andalou Naturals is non-GMO, SPF 18, and scored well with EWG.

7. Lock In Lip Moisture

If you already suffer from dry, flaky, chapped lips year-round (slowly raises hand), then you know just how harsh winter weather can be on the mouth. However, it is possible to lock-in moisture with the right product. Highly recommended by many wearers, this Intense Therapy Lip Balm with SPF 25 by Jack Black just might do the trick.

8. Drink More Water

Sure, we’ve all heard this before, but its importance never diminishes, especially during the winter, when it’s crucial to hydrate from the inside-out. Silly post-its on the wall, a pestering app, or a gorgeous insulated bottle–it doesn’t matter what it takes, just do it–although, I am totally partial to this mother of pearl container from S’well. Bonus: aside from being, quite possibly, the best looking water bottle ever, it keeps your drink cold for 24 hours or hot for twelve.

9. Pamper Your Hands

Forget dry, chapped, peeling hands this winter. Instead, pamper your digits with this specially-designed hand salve from Badger Balm. Sweet birch and wintergreen oils soothe, while aloe and castor oil moisturize. If you are prone to severely dry hands, apply after every hand washing, and don’t forget to rub into your cuticles, as well.

10. And Your Feet, Too

Even if you keep your feet bundled up when heading outdoors, the combination of dry air, hot showers, and other factors, like naturally dry feet and calluses, still call for extra moisture. Hydrate and escape to the tropics (at least in your own mind) no matter where you are this winter by incorporating this pampering Coconut Foot Creme from Burt’s Bees into your routine.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Not so long ago there was little thought about how what we consume affects the appearance of our skin. Today, these two concept are almost inseparable. The emergence of ingestible cosmetics for enhanced physical appearance is feeding into the staying power of the so-called nutricosmetics segment. But what exactly drives nutricosmetics? Here’s what you need to know about this major shift in the beauty industry and why what you consume may be more important (and popular) than what you topically apply to your skin.

What are Nutricosmetics?

The segment brings together the concepts of nutrition, nutraceuticals, and personal care all in one. For health food and supplements producers, it is no longer good enough to create a product that keeps customers healthy. Now, the product must make consumers physically radiate that fact. While this seems quite simple in premise, it actually didn’t catch on in the U.S. until recently.

David Pollock, an independent beauty chemist who has formulated some of the all-time best-selling beauty products, including Smashbox’s Photo Finish and Bliss’s Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, weighs in on the trend. “Nutricosmetics is nothing new. The trend of beauty from within and realizing the important role health plays in the look of our skin has been a huge category in Europe since the early 1990’s,” he says. “Vichy is a top anti-aging line in Europe sold through pharmacies. There, the pharmacist can advise the consumer one-on-one.  Several companies tried to introduce the concept here in the U.S.—including Oil of Olay—but it didn’t catch on at the time. There are several reasons. The U.S. consumer did not connect nutrition with beauty—so companies would have to repackage the products to look more upscale and similar to other beauty products or educate the consumer.”

But the last few years have seen a shift toward healthier eating in the U.S. With this has come an increased attraction for foods and supplements that promise not only a healthier internal terrain but also an added bonus of external beauty as well.

“Over the last few years, our country has learned more about the benefits of proper nutrition and supplements,” says Pollock. “This is not a fad anymore, but a mainstay that we will see grow over the next few years. Nutricosmetics will come in more forms than just tablets. We will see more enriched waters, water drops or additives, shakes, etc. Nutrition companies that have established supplements or key ingredients can easily segue the success into topical skin care using some of the same key ingredients that their consumer is accustomed to. NeoCell is a great example. They have a nutritional collagen product, as well as a topical collagen serum. We are going to see more nutrition companies entering the space, as the beauty sector tries to catch up.”

Whether enticed by pretty packaging, intelligent marketing, or the sweeping beauty benefit claims, consumers are putting their money into nutricosmetics, a segment set to have a global worth of some $7.5 billion by 2024.

Do Nutricosmetics Work?

They’re popular. But do nutricosmetics work?

Nutritional biochemist Shawn Talbott has formulated a number of nutricosmetic dietary supplements for various companies and has written at length about skin health and diet. Talbott speaks on nutricosmetics efficacy, “The science is definitely ‘emerging’ with regard to the most effective nutrients for supporting skin health – some work and many don’t – but it’s the ‘time course’ for benefits that is generally the most challenging for consumers. Nutricosmetics are generally much slower to exert noticeable effects. He continues, “For example, a nutricosmetic supplement might take 30-60 days to show a benefit on a consumer’s skin, such as for acne, wrinkles, moisture, and skin tone, while a topical product could be capable of showing noticeable benefits within a day. This leads many consumers to think that the nutritional product is not working, when it’s actually working in a complementary, but slower, fashion.”

Talbott is currently working on a complementary skincare regimen that includes both a topical treatment and a dietary supplement. He explains the synergy, “The acne regimen that we’re testing right now is based on a topical regimen that works quickly to reduce redness and blemishes in a day or two, combined with a probiotic supplement that reduces inflammation and immune reactions over 30 to 60 days, so the redness and blemishes don’t come back.”

Where to Find Nutricosmetics

These days nutricosmetics run the gamut, from regular food recommendations to packaged supplements that preach clear hydrated skin, anti-aging, strong hair/nails, and slim body benefits. Think about all of the trendy products that have hit the market in the past few years. And supplements like biotin, hyaluronic acid, and keratin, among others, are no longer just ingredients in a topical solution. They’re being sold as oral supplements that improve hair, skin, and nails.

HUM Nutrition is a supplements brand that doesn’t stop at the promise to improve your health. It goes on to say that it offers “nutritional solutions that help you achieve your beauty and lifestyle goals”. Its products follow the philosophy of “beauty starts from within”, with each supplement geared towards some physical goal, from clear, glowing, and radiant skin to shiny, lustrous hair and stronger nails, to a flatter tummy and overall weight loss.

Another great example is Vital Proteins, a collagen supplements brand that also preaches “beauty starts from within”. Collagen is considered a vital building block of the body including skin, hair, nails, bones, and joints. Vital Proteins offers 30+ products that are marketed with an explicit target: beauty.

The LA-based trendy Moon Juice has also played a role in building the nutricosmetics market. Its Beauty Dust is filled with antioxidants, sourced from goji berry powder, schisandra berry powder, rehmannia root extract, ashwagandha root and leaf extract, and amla berry extract. The company writes that its Beauty Dust helps to protect cells from free radical damage, preserve collagen protein, enhance elasticity of the skin, and cope with stress.

Similar botanical powder/tonic and snack companies like The Beauty Chef, Amina Mundi, Dope Naturally, Kalumi Health, and Herbalore are also riding the wave of nutricosmetics and only make for a small slice of the whole pie.

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It’s almost autumn, which is a good enough excuse to hop on the pumpkin train (or tractor?) and start incorporating its deliciousness into just about everything possible. What better way to start than with your beauty routine? As you await the first harvest of fresh pumpkins, you might as well whet your appetite with a body scrub that drowns your senses with wholesome aromas and the occasional (not so accidental) taste test. 

Beauty Benefits of Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub

Four ingredients are all it takes to attain clean, smooth, supple skin that emits a soft pumpkin pie scent.

Pumpkin is full of alpha hydroxy acids, which moisturize and smooths skin as well as help to prevent wrinkles. They also improve photo-damaged skin. Pumpkin is also rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A. These antioxidants work to rejuvenate the skin, synthesize collagen, decrease the appearance of fine wrinkles associated with natural aging, and protect against the negative effects of solar radiation.

The sugar acts as a natural exfoliant that gets rid of dead skin cells, revealing a bright and clear complexion. Meanwhile, almond oil’s emollient and anti-inflammatory properties soothe and calm the skin, and cinnamon provides anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that protect the skin from acne. Honey adds a lightly sweet aromatic finish that happens to have antibacterial and soothing qualities.

What You’ll Need

Besides the ingredients themselves, all you need is an airtight container (preferably made of glass) to store your pumpkin pie body scrub.

Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub Recipe

Two to three uses

Ingredients

• 1 cup coarse raw sugar
• 1/2 organic pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
• 1 drop of cinnamon oil or 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, pumpkin puree, honey, and almond oil together until well combined. Add more or less sugar and oil until you reach desired consistency. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator between uses.

To use the scrub, rub it into wet skin, paying extra attention to elbows, knees, and feet. Cautiously use on facial skin. The sugar may be too abrasive, especially for sensitive facial skin. Rinse skin clean and pat dry. Repeat once per week for best results.

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Fiercely dedicated to clean beauty and wellbeing, makeup legend Jane Iredale tells us her beauty secrets and gives advice on how to radiate from the inside out.  

Twenty-two years ago, Jane Iredale founded Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, one of the first-ever clean makeup lines. Since then she has continued to revolutionize the beauty industry by creating skincare products that nurture, not irritate, our skin. After debuting her Naturally Glam line and skincare supplements, I caught up with Jane to discuss the future of beauty, the importance of transparency, and how to properly feed our skin for a glowing complexion.

[This article is edited for length and clarity.]

Donna Sozio: How do you define beauty in the world and in yourself?

Jane Iredale: There’s beauty everywhere you look if you want to see it. For me, the key to finding beauty every day is to appreciate your life and life in general. I can look at a flower and be overwhelmed with a sense of appreciation for its beauty. I know it does my heart good and that must impact my health.

DS: What do you think is behind women’s fascination with makeup?

JI: Women frequently seek options to cover what they consider to be visually frustrating conditions like acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Regrettably, they often make choices that are not effective and potentially make the problem worse. The most important thing for us has always been that our makeup looks so good on the skin but it doesn’t look like makeup.  It looks like your skin, only better.

DS: How important are skincare supplements and how do they promote beauty from the inside out?

JI: It’s now understood that you can effect just as much change in the skin, if not more, by feeding skin from the inside as well as the outside. This means eating well and supplementing your diet with food that the skin loves. It will reward you in many ways: clearer, smoother skin at any age; reduced breakouts, irritation and sensitivity; the skin will strengthen its protection from UV damage and it will glow with health. We can help this entire process with our complete range of nutritional beauty supplements that support skin health.  The success of Skin Accumax has paved the way for us with our consumer and partner base. They see how dramatic change can be with a supplement that specifically targets skin health. Our research-backed, ethically sourced ingredients which contain a synergistic blend of vitamins and plant nutrients perform at the very core of your skin, where topical creams can’t reach, leaving skin clearer, brighter, smoother and more youthful looking.

DS: What trends in natural beauty are you most excited about today?

JI: Right now there’s a large movement in “beauty from the inside out.” It’s not a trend, per se, but it’s an all-important and innovative advancement for the beauty world. We’re also seeing a rising consumer demand for transparency and understanding of ingredients used in makeup and skincare. This is a good thing, and I believe the mineral makeup category has helped to affect this change. We’ve listed our ingredients on our website from the beginning because we are very proud of our ingredients and the way we formulate. That sort of transparency is now very necessary.

DS: What do you wish conventional beauty companies would learn from clean and green lines?

JI: Mineral makeup is a healthy, skin-friendly alternative to traditional makeup. Not only does it provide superior coverage, but it is also UV protective, non-comedogenic and calms redness. Minerals allow the skin to breathe and function normally – a boon to all skin types but especially for those who are sensitive or suffer from acne or rosacea.

Furthermore, if it’s a good mineral makeup, it’s devoid of ingredients that sensitize the skin and cause problems such as blocking pores.  True mineral makeup should have protective qualities such as sun protection and antioxidants.  It will appear light on the skin but also give excellent coverage.  We do far more testing on our products than is required.  All of our products are tested for comedogenicity, sensitivity, and phototoxicity.  They are also dermatologist and clinically tested.  You can trust them.  But not all mineral makeup is created equal.  It’s important to look at the ingredients and the claims that are made.

DS: What are your summertime go-to products for a healthy sun-kissed look?

JI: Making healthy food choices are essential to achieving a natural glow. So I consider organic products an absolute must – preferably vegetables just picked from my garden. I don’t sunbathe so any sun-kissed look I have come strictly from my PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation and some Peaches & Cream Bronzer. Smooth Affair For Eyes in Gold on top of my cheekbones helps as well. I also place in the middle of my eyelids.  In the summer, I like to fill my lips with pencil and put a gloss on top. I almost always use Tantasia on my legs and arms. It’s highly moisturizing, smells great and is streak-free. I can deal with the pasty look in the winter, but it has to leave for the summer.

DS: To you, what does it mean to be fearless?

JI: I suppose it means not allowing fear to hold you back from something that you want to do.  I think everyone feels fear.  he question is whether you allow the fear to get the better of you. Perhaps “fearless” should be defined as the ability to go beyond the feelings of fear.

DS: Rather than a “flawless look” how can we use makeup to bring out our best?

JI: Makeup is about self-expression. Use it to do just that. You will be at your best if you project to the world an image of who you truly are. Of course, that also means getting comfortable with who you truly are. That’s beyond the ability of makeup.

Find Donna on Twitter and Instagram

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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If you drink a cup of coffee or two (or more) per day, then you’ve likely thought about whether the habit was doing you any good.

The truth is, there is no clean-cut conclusion. Research points in both directions. Some attest coffee is jam-packed with antioxidants and has been show to prevent cancer, boost sex drive, and improve heart health. Others say it can disrupt sleep, increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and may be toxic. To make matters more complicated, coffee is probably also affecting your beauty. For better or for worse, here’s what you need to know.

Let’s dive into the bad news first. Coffee is a diuretic, which means that it leaches the body of its water content. The more you drink, the more your body–and your skin–is stripped of its moisture and the less supple, glowing, and healthy it appears. Dehydration leads to skin inflammation, collagen loss, and even acne.

Coffee is also highly acidic and can mess with your stress hormone cortisol, which negatively affects the skin’s oil production when imbalanced, causing acne and inducing aging. Pair dwindled sebum production with dehydration and you can see how much of a toll coffee can take on the condition of your skin, making you look a lot older than you are. (If you add milk and sugar to the mix, you only compound the negative effects, too).

Now for the good news: coffee’s negative effects may be counteracted if you are diligent enough. Make it a rule for yourself to drink two glasses of water for each cup of coffee. Meanwhile, don’t make coffee the first thing you consume in the morning. An acidic beverage is not what you want your stomach to wake up to. Instead, consume as much water as you can in the morning, followed by a green juice or smoothie. Thirty to 60 minutes after drinking your raw green juice or smoothie, enjoy your coffee. It is important that you allow some time for your morning green juice or smoothie to pass through your stomach before you add coffee to the mix. Coffee’s acidity may react to previously consumed beverages and food by fermenting, causing gas, bloating, and even more acidity.

Coffee itself can be dehydrating, but if you time it well and drink plenty of water throughout the day, you can absolutely avoid losing your skin’s elasticity, hydration, and glow.

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Any natural beauty enthusiast has dreamed of walking into a department store and seeing a whole counter dedicated to natural beauty. This wish has come true with Nordstrom Natural Beauty Outposts opening in select stores.

Once upon a time we were left with a selection of the most basic natural items or, worse, pseudo naturals when shopping larger retailers. Well, leave it to department store rockstar, Nordstrom, to be the first to offer not one or two, but a sexy, solid variety of natural beauty products in-store. Starting this year, Nordstrom Natural Beauty Outposts will be popping up in select California stores.

Demand for natural beauty has grown exponentially in the past few years. Organic skincare sales clocked in at more than $3 billion in 2015 and are predicted to reach $13 billion by 2018. While millennials make up the largest portion of women shopping for natural beauty, almost half of women say they are interested in purchasing organic beauty items.

To meet the increasing demand for safer products, Nordstrom shoppers can now shop natural beauty in-store. Wondering what you’ll find at the Nordstrom Natural Beauty Outposts? The likes of Tata Harper, Odacité, Kypris, and Herbivore Botanicals.

Our Favorite Picks From Nordstrom Natural Beauty Outposts

1. Herbivore Botanicals Brighten Pineapple Enzyme + Gemstone Instant Glow Mask

Fruit enzymes are the gentlest way to go about getting your glow on. Brazilian white tourmaline gemstone brightens skin, rice powder softens, and rose water tones and calms. Use weekly for a healthy, gorgeous complexion.

2. Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil

Searching for your new favorite facial oil? Look no further, this is it! Blue tansy and squalene moisturize, while toning down redness and inflammation. Jasmine sambac oil improves elasticity and tone.

3. Kypris Pot of Shade Heliotropic Treatment Primer SPF 30

Skin primer and mineral sun protection in one. Sweet iris stem cells plump up skin, tamanu and sunflower oils hydrate, and algae softens and soothes. A daily must have.

4. Kypris Cleanser Concentrate

Everyone needs an oil cleanser in their beauty kit. It is simply the best at removing makeup and gives a gentle clean, perfect for all skin types. This beauty contains baobab oil, great for keeping pores clear and giving skin a youthful look.

5. Odacité Pf + O Passion Fruit-Orange Dull Skin Facial Serum Concentrate

We could all use a bit of dullness relief right about now. Use this concentrated serum, either on its own or added to your daily moisturizer, to restore radiance and support skin. Passionfruit boosts glow, while orange oil firms and tones.

6. Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil

Keep skin soft and supple with this fast absorbing oil blend. Improves skin’s elasticity while it moisturizes.

7. Tata Harper Aromatic Irritability Treatment

Get your nerves under control with this little rollerball aromatherapy. Small but mighty, this baby packs a powerful punch with potent essential oils. Carry one with you to relieve stress on the go.

Topanga, Del Amo Fashion Center, Santa Anita, The Grove, and Santa Monica Place locations will include the outposts as of January 12, 2017. Not in CA? No problem! You can shop Nordstrom’s natural beauty online.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Great business ideas often start small and simple, with a vision to make the world a better place. For Poéthique founder, Gayatri Pradhan, that vision was to deliver safe plant-based ingredients that could replicate the sensory experience of high-end skincare products, but without the toxic ingredients still all-too-common in our skincare industry.

As a former marketing executive for global skincare brands, Pradhan knew there were opportunities to create a better product. Not just an opportunity—a dire need to do it. And it helped that she was a trained pharmaceutical chemist who understood that making a natural, green product that was not only effective, but also felt great to use, involved a whole lot more than simply blending together ingredients–there’s an art and a science to the natural stuff as much as the conventional.

“We’ve come such a long way with our knowledge of natural ingredients,” says Pradhan.

“People think of cultural beauty wisdom as this old, ancient thing, almost like a static body that hasn’t grown or evolved in years. But every passing generation adds something new,” she says. “This body of knowledge is a living, growing thing. And so I knew there had to be a way to get to a product that was green but also felt great.”

Pradhan’s Indian heritage, passion for travel, and thirst for learning converged into a singular goal of trying to bring the best and most effective natural ingredients into products that actually work. With her keen eye for design, she has been able to bring to life a brand that stands out from the earthy and minimalist brands that abound in natural skincare and addresses the growing concerns of consumers from all walks of life, but in particular, millennials and their quest for clean, green beauty that performs as well as or better than the conventional products beloved by their mothers and grandmothers.

“Our generation is interested in all natural lifestyles in such a paradigm-shifting way. There had to be other green chemistry experts out there that recognized this and wanted to add to this body of knowledge.”

One such expert is Patricia Mirabito, a cosmetic chemist with more than twenty years of formulation experience under her belt, and the key formulator for Poéthique’s unique products. As director of her own chemistry laboratory in Buenos Aires, her reputation has been built through her sought-after work for the region’s most respected dermatologists.

Patricia had always been interested in active natural ingredients and botanical extracts and used them extensively in her practice. However, prior to Poéthique, she typically blended these botanical ingredients with standard cosmetic industry chemicals, thinking of them as necessities to get to a stable product that worked and felt great to use.

“There are some synthetic ingredients that have become such an industry standard that I wasn’t sure it could be done without them,” says Mirabito.

The problem is that the indulgent experience of luxury conventional skincare brands typically comes from silicones and other polymers that are often composed of the same materials that go into making plastic goods like tires, bags, etc. They may offer temporary results, but don’t deliver the long-term benefits of natural plant-based ingredients. And several of these non-natural ingredients are being exposed as harmful toxins, impacting human endocrine systems through both acute and cumulative exposure.

With Poéthique, Mirabito’s natural instincts for problem solving were tuned to formulating a 100 percent plant-based product without sacrificing the indulgent experience of high-end skincare brands.

“I have so many friends that would love to make the switch from green beauty products but try them and turn back to their default non-natural brands, because the experience is just not enjoyable,” says Pradhan. “It feels like they have to take a medicine–but beauty and skincare is not a medicine! It is as much about the experience as it is about the results.”

So the duo set out to reinvent the beauty care industry relying on nature’s inherent beauty wisdom. While this is certainly not the first green beauty brand on the scene–they did have a specific task in mind. The twosome wanted to create products that could work across multiple skin types, across multiple climates, and that would layer well with other skincare routines. Consistently, they had found that many existing green beauty brands felt heavy and greasy to use, making them not suitable to all skin types, nor could they be used in all manner of season or climate. They knew their work was cut out for them – making something that is effective was a given, but having people go WOW! when they tried the product would be the hurdle to cross. Passionate about helping more people make the switch to clean, green beauty, they wanted their products to make it easy for people looking to make a switch.

It didn’t disappoint. From Pradhan’s early vision, the journey took close to two years as they approached various suppliers, consulted with other experts in green cosmetic chemistry, pushed for better results, and built prototype after prototype testing treasured natural ingredients from cultures all across the globe. Their search for unique ingredients took them all over the world – from the mountainous regions of Peru to the sub-tropical rainforests of Australia; from the heart of India and sweeping Mediterranean groves to California’s lush valleys. There they found such exotic and powerful ingredients as the caviar lime, chock full of fruit acids, vitamins, and trace minerals, and wild plums abundant in vitamins and antioxidants. They also recognized the utility of well-known ingredients such as oats, olive, and jojoba oils.

 Armed with these ingredients, they formulated their first line of products, meant to balance skin health – a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. As a new brand, they decided to launch the products in phases, using each product to introduce green, toxin-free beauty lovers to unique ingredients. The launch product, Poéthique’s Radiance Boosting Serum, is loaded with caviar lime and wild plum extracts and acts as a treatment to gently accelerate skin’s renewal process to reveal softer, brighter skin. In releasing the serum first, Pradhan wanted to showcase the uniqueness of ingredient, the high quality of the product that could layer easily with a person’s existing beauty regimen.

When product testers begged for more of the sixth round of prototypes, the two knew they had a hit on their hands. Their work has been validated over and over by the green beauty community. Users consistently rate it highly for effectiveness and experience, while bloggers love it and have called it their “new green beauty obsession!” Well on its way to becoming a cult favorite, Poéthique’s journey has only just begun. 

 “Entrepreneurship is such a gut-wrenching, heart-stopping ride,” says Pradhan. “We put so much passion and hard work and expertise into developing Poéthique, and we got feedback along the way to make sure we were going in the right direction,” she says.

“Once we went live, I was a nervous wreck! What if no one bought this? What if no one loved it? And then to hear the reviews come in, it’s such sweet relief and a validation of all the work we have put in–it powers us for the hard work ahead as we nurture Poéthique and the customers who believe in green beauty products that work.”

Find Jill on Twitter and Instagram

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With a few simple upcycling projects, you can take those old coffee grounds and expired coffee beans and turn them into some pretty useful DIY products.

Coffee is like the peanut butter to my jelly, the milk to my cookies, the Kim to my Kanye. Coffee is the wind beneath my wings, and I would be completely useless without it. Yet, every day I seem to do away with its waste. Old grounds and beans get treated like second class citizens, and ya know what? That needs to change. My coffee deserves more respect, dammit, which is why I’ve found you these totally cool and useful upcycling projects using your leftover coffee stuff.

1. Under Eye Cream

Coffee-infused under eye cream is said to be life-changing. Apparently, this miracle working concoction will help reduce puffiness, reduce the appearance of dark circles, and help with fine lines.

In addition to the coffee oil, which you extract yourself, it calls for a variety of other skin nourishing carrier oils and butters – almost all of which I have used personally at one time or another and have had nothing but positive results. Soap Deli News shares the tutorial you need to conquer this project.

2. Bar Soap

The next upcycled DIY looks super simple to make and doesn’t require a lot of hard-to-find ingredients, precise measurements, or time. Plus, if you like the idea of French vanilla coffee, then you’ll love the smell of this vanilla extract-infused soap.

With just old coffee grounds, glycerine bar soap, vanilla, and equipment, like a muffin tin, you can create an exfoliating and deodorizing soap to help invigorate you morning, noon, and night. Clearly Natural makes a good bar soap that I’ve used before, and is a glycerine-based product that I think would work well for this project. Check out the full tutorial over at Popsugar.

3. Decorative Balls

Everyone needs a decorative ball or two or ten in their lives, but the storebought types are expensive, and can be kinda wasteful. Instead, I’ve got a hybrid project for you (fully upcycled if you use old tennis balls) that uses styrofoam orbs and old coffee beans.

The blogger actually uses beans for eating, but if you follow her instructions over at Love Sweet Love, then I’m confident you can use the expired coffee assortment you have on hand. It’s basically a layer of coordinating paint (brown in this case), some hot glue, and some patience. Other decorative uses for old beans would be filler for jars, and as a base layer in which to nestle your candles.

4. Scented Candle

Speaking of candles, this DIY project is guaranteed to make your house smell like a vanilla latte all day long. The tutorial from Hello Glow calls for using your own gorgeous glassware, reusing unscented candles (or you can buy wax chips), a wick, whole coffee beans, and chopped vanilla beans. I can’t believe how beautiful these look. They would make awesome gifts and the aesthetic possibilities are endless!

5. Face Mask

Take the benefits of coffee to your face by making and using this simple ground face mask. Yes, it might look a little silly at first, but if it’s true that coffee reduces redness, increases circulation, and exfoliates the skin, then it’s totally worth it.

Beauty Banter uses whole ground coffee beans, but you can simply apply the grounds from this morning’s coffee. Combine these with a few other natural ingredients like honey, lemon juice, cocoa powder, and milk or almond milk, and you’ll be ready for your close-up in no time.

6. Wood Stain

If you’re turned off by the idea of using a stinky, toxic commercial wood stain, then you’ll love this new medium. DIY Vintage Chic has a great tutorial on how to create and use a coffee and vinegar based wood stain. The results are subtle at first, but after allowing it to sit for a week, the finished product is quite impressive. Not only that, but it’s natural, uses your old grounds, and doesn’t emit any noxious chemicals.

I hope you’ve been inspired by these upcycled projects that utilize old coffee beans and grounds. If you go through as much coffee as I do, then you know just how useful these can be. Let us know you thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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