Jacq’s Organics

Jacq’s is the skincare embodiment of South Florida – fresh, healthy and pure with nurturing  local herbs and botanicals and a bright, bold style. The products are effective, luxurious (at a great price point) and a pleasure to use! I also can’t get over how pretty the textures and natural colors of the formulas are. Founder Barbara Jacques, who I had the pleasure of meeting in person and just adore is the brand - warm, inclusive and incredibly knowledgeable. She started the brand after a health scare and is committed to the purest and most ethical sourcing and formulating for safe and sustainable products. I had the opportunity of trying some beautiful skincare essentials from her line, so let’s dive in! 

Starting with my favorite the Revitalizing Face Tonerbecause I just fell in love with this product! From the peachy color to the way it instantly calms my skin this beauty water uses hibiscus petals and burdock root and other herbal extracts to balance the skin, leaving it refreshed.

The Antioxidant Beauty Balmwith grapefruit and vanilla extract does a little bit of everything and has the most beautiful texture. I use it as a cleanser when my skin is feeling dry because it won’t stripe away any hydration. The buttery, rich formula contains potent antioxidants Jackfruit, Rosehip Seed Oil, and Vanilla Extracts to protect and replenish the skin. 

Last but not least the Nourishing Face Moisturizerthe perfect everyday moisturizer that won’t clog pores or leave skin feeling goopy. The lightweight lotion melts into the skin and delivers intense hydration and healing thanks to Yucca, a root with anti-oxidant properties, rich emollient coconut and nourishing vitamins! 

Follow Jacq’son Instagram for a peak into their process, products and healthy lifestyle!   

With Virtue

I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about a haircare line! Virtue is an incredibly chic brand with muted pastel packaging and products shaped like no other brand but the substance behind the style is what makes it truly special.

The cornerstone of their technology was the discovery of Alpha Keratin 60ku™ a pure form of Keratin recognized by the body as like that of the keratin that makes up 90% of our hair, skin and nails. It heals damaged hair and strengthens healthy hair for beautiful, smooth and shiny hair. They did some amazing clinical trials that show a 67% reduction in frizz and 138% increase in color vibrancy among others. Founder Melissa Shaban, a longtime beauty executive partnered with Lt. Col. Dr. Luke Burnett who had discovered Alpha Keratin 60ku™ while working to heal wounded soldiers to start Virtue.  She created the line to be ethical, healthy, clean, selling directly to consumers to offer a luxury experiences at a reasonable price.

So now that you’ve met Virtue….on to the product!!

I LOVE their haircare quiz that asks you a few, illuminating questions about your hair, how you treat it, and what you hope to achieve with your haircare. My ideal regimen includes Shampoo (A 2017 O-wards winner) and Conditioner from the Smooth line, the super multitasker Create and the Polish Unfrizz Cream, a leave in smoother that fights frizz.

The Smooth line is pretty much my haircare dream, it’s designed to hydrate, silken and de-frizz, addressing all my major hair issues, especially in South Florida humidity. Adding on the Polish helps me achieve the smooth, pulled together look I like and Create, The One For All 6-in1 Styler is the one product I need to take on vacation other than shampoo and conditioner to get great results in any climate while protecting my hair from all the heat styling I do.  All their products smell amazing, have beautiful textures and are free of sulfates, parabens and dyes.

xx

Amy 

ESPA

I am a certified spa junkie, but I don't always have the time to make it in for services so I jumped at the chance to try ESPA’s products at home! I didn't know too much about the brand but soon realized they are carried at some of the most luxurious spas in the world including Ritz Carltons  and Waldorf Astoria properties, online they’re carried at Skinstore. It’s also no surprise, coming from a spa brand, that the products smell, look and feel just as amazing as they work to treat the skin. The packaging is so pretty - with glass bottles and tops that look like marble that you'll want to display it! 

My favorite product I tried is the Fitness Body Oil because I recently started running after a long break and this warming oil is saving my muscles! With a gorgeous lineup of ingredients like sweet almond oil, lavender, Indian Bay and Clove Bud it soothes tired muscles and smells amazing! 

I also love the Soothing Body Oil that works to calm a busy mind in the evenings - something I need desperately! A beautiful blend of aromatic and nourishing oils it leaves skin calm and prepares the brain for a restful night! 

They also have great oils for the face& lips like the Optimal Skin Pro Serum and the Nourishing Lip Treatment . The pro serum does a little of everything - from strengthening the skin, restoring elasticity and fighting the signs of aging with beautiful ingredients like Echium Oil, Sunflower Concentrate, White Lupin and Turmeric. I have such dry lips and the lip treatment oil has worked wonders to make them soft and plump again! 

Last but not least the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud is an instagram-worthy millennial pink hair mask with a gorgeous creamy texture and Watercress and red clay that made my hair feel and look amazing! 

Have you tried anything from ESPA?

xx

Amy 

Kaliks Collective

As 2017 comes to a close I’ve been thinking about, and actually doing (well, we are moving so I haven’t really had a choice!) a lot of simplifying, pairing down and considering what is essential, yes I know I am late to the game on this but I got there. As a lifelong packrat this isn’t in my nature but I’m finding it incredible freeing. I also find myself connecting with things and companies with beautiful and luxurious, yet simple approach like Kaliks Collective.

As I write I’m sipping a cup of Radiate Herbal Beauty Tea that promotes glowing skin from within, and helps send me off to bed in a calm, centered mood. Key ingredients like Spearmint (that does everything from promote digestive health to ease aches and pains), Tulsi or holy basil to calm anxiety, red clover to detoxify and rose petals to soothe coalesce in a beautiful multifunctional tea. If that weren’t enough, it also doubles as facial steam!  

Perfect for my upcoming travels is the Renew Facial Cleanser, that also serves a few purposes; from a wash to a facial scrub to a mask it does it all! It’s an effective cleanser for thoroughly cleaning off the day and gently scrubs away dead skin cells to reveal glowing skin. Mix with water, hydrosol, honey or yogurt (yum!) to create an instant mask with soothing and brightening mask ingredients like oats, clay, marshmallow root, rosehip seed , lavender and nettle leaf.

Lastly, the key to any skincare routine – a great face oil! The Glow Facial Oil is a blend of some of my all-time favorite oils – Carrot Seed Oil, Marula and Baobab among others and it does an incredible job of feeding dry, dull skin all the vitamin and nutrients it needs to bring it back to optimal condition! I love how great my skin looks and feels the next morning after using it at night!

Stay tuned, there may be a giveaway from Kaliks coming this week! 

Care/of

I have been loving Care/of, a new personalized vitamin company that lets you customize a daily vitamin regimen that come in easy, portable packages great for on-the-go or travel. I had endless questions for the innovative and talented Care/of team. Read on for their answers and enter the code INWARD50 for 50% off on takecareof.com!! Enjoy! 

What was the inspiration behind Care/of?

Most people who have ever tried to shop for vitamins know how confusing it can be. Our co-founders both had experiences where they were overwhelmed in the vitamin aisle, facing a limitless assortment of products and not really sure what brands to trust. It was clear that there was an opportunity to create a better-designed customer experience that would make the process much easier for people simply looking to do something good for their health.

What sets Care/of apart from other supplement companies?

We created Care/of based on principles of honest guidance, better ingredients, and a personalized approach. Instead of choosing among hundreds of products, we ask people who visit our website to share a few details about their health. We use that information to recommend the best supplements for them, based on peer-reviewed research and input from our Scientific Advisory Board, a team of doctors and researchers. Our digitally-based approach makes this possible. We’re innovating with technology and backing it up with empathetic customer service - the result is a personalized offering that also feels personal.

Are there any new ingredients or trends in the market you’re excited about?

It is exciting to see how personalization is emerging in the market. Everybody has different needs, concerns, and goals, so a one-size-fits all approach is not necessarily the right choice for every lifestyle. It’s great to see people considering what is important to them and being empowered to find the best products to work for them.

What was behind the (genius!) idea of putting customers names on their packets?

When we created Care/of, we knew that one of the ways we could improve how people purchase vitamins and supplements was by taking a personalized approach. We wanted that to be true both in how we make our bespoke recommendations based on individual needs, but we also wanted that to shine through every aspect of our brand, including the packaging. We’re helping people live healthier lives, and we want that to be a delightful, friendly experience. (And we’re glad you like it!)

What is the background of your co-founders?

Our co-founders, Craig Elbert and Akash Shah, have unique experiences that have shaped their vision for Care/of. Craig, our CEO, spent the last several years before Care/of as an executive at Bonobos, a digitally native men’s clothing brand. Thinking innovatively about new consumer experiences is a strength of his. Akash Shah, our head of product, is passionate about the healthcare space and has really great ideas on how personalization can shape every part of the Care/of experience.

I get the impression Care/of is a pretty amazing place to work! Was building a positive culture something that was important in building the team?

Yes. We celebrate individuality, humor, and a human connection in our brand, and our team really embodies that. Beyond that, they’re an inspiring bunch. I’m amazed at how much each of them cares about our mission and about their contributions to making the vitamins space easier to navigate. And then there are the office happy hours and the inside jokes — we definitely know how to have fun.

Elyse Marie

Elyse Marie is pretty much the embodiment of skincare brands I love to support –  family-owned with clean, handcrafted and effective products, in design-conscious and sustainable packaging! Created by a husband and wife team Elyse Marie and Rodrigo, with backgrounds in beauty and environmental industries respectively, who came together to create the brand after having their first child and turning to a more natural lifestyle.  

Elyse Marie was influenced by both her father, a scientist turned environmentalist and her mother, a holistic medicine practitioner, to embrace a philosophy of treating the whole body while considering the impact on the earth. Rodrigo grew up in Milan, Italy bringing his experience in a highly polluted city environment to his work in renewable energy and in crafting the Elyse Marie brand.

I had the opportunity to try three gorgeous products from their line (I has also heard their Dry Shampoo is AMAZING!) that are basically my perfect morning must-haves; a great eye serum and a body scrub and oil! The No 1 Illuminate has many of my favorite oils (rose, lavender, chamomile to name a few!) and addresses eye concerns from discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles and soothing irritation. I love a good oil texture for the eyes and this one is extremely effective!

As a total bath junkie the No 57 Reveal Body and No 55 Replenish Body are so up my alley! I typically use charcoal based body scrubs (which can be messy) so this sugar based scrub was a delight! From the scent to the fine texture and the almost-edible ingredient list (raw sugar, honey powder, ginger root, coffee and turmeric oil) the experience is heavenly! And best followed up with their body oil (I also drop a bit in my bath!) on still-wet skin. This body oil has gorgeous ingredients like apricot, bergamot, ylang ylang, rose geranium and avocado oils, that do all kinds of amazing things for your skin but my favorite thing about it is the delicate scent and feather light texture that leaves a subtle sheen after it sinks into the skin! 

Live Major

I feel like people see Ursa Major as a guys brand but speaking as an uber girly-girl – although I did grow up practically feral in rural Ohio and was huge tomboy until late college – this brand really resonates with me. And as an urban dweller I crave the sense of freedom, nature and adventure the brand represents. But probably the biggest reason why I am a fan is that the products are really great!

First up the Morning Mojo soap. It awakens the senses with a blend of peppermint, grapefruit and eucalyptus, rosemary and grapefruit and this 100% natural soap exfoliates with Volcanic Rock while soothing ingredients coconut oil and honey gently cleanses.

I started using the Fortifying Face Balm in the middle of winter but where I think it really shines is in the warmer months. This light, deeply hydrating cream has some serious natural antiseptic ingredients like witch hazel and willow bark extract that combat summer breakouts. My husband did pretty immediately steal this and I plan on gifting him a set of his own for father’s day!

I’d heard so much about their Essential face wipes that I kinda thought to myself “how good can they really be?” but after trying I see what the fuss was about! These bamboo cleansing wipes not only do the trick for removing makeup and dirt they gently exfoliate and soothe the skin - all with the refreshing scent of orange, fir and lavender! They are the perfect gym or travel companion.

Last up, another cult product whose reputation proceeded it is their Hoppin' Fresh Deodorant (which now comes in a baking soda free version for anyone whose skin is bothered by it – personally I was fine!). All I have to say about this fresh-scented, all-natural deo  (and have I mentioned the clean, modern packaging?) is that it works!!

Hope you enjoyed this round up of my favorites from Ursa Major! I’ll definitely be taking them along on my summer adventures and heading their advice to #livemajor!

xxx

Amy 

Scents of Summer: Molton Brown Gourmand Collection

I am a huge Molton Brown fan so I was beyond excited to try their new Gourmand Collection! The sets in the line are THE perfect hostess gift if you’re visiting friends or family this summer. But let’s dive in to what I tried....

Delicious does not begin to describe the Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Shower Gel, it brought me back to the Rhubarb pies my mom used to make as a kid and I love anything rose! The tart scent of the Rhubarb melds perfectly with the soft rose with a hint of citrus from the yuzu fruit and mandarin in this lightly foaming body wash.

As for their Comice Pear & Wild Honey hand soap only Molton Brown could make washing your hands this decadent! This luxurious hand soap is the color of sunshine with a fresh + sweet scent and it won’t dry out your hands no matter how often you wash your hands.

My absolute favorite is the Exquisite Vanilla & Violet Flower Bath & Shower Gel! Everything from the violet color to the rich, heady scent of Madagascan vanilla blended with violet flower, freesia and oris screams summer! For my birthday I’m pretty sure I’ll be gifting myself something else from this line, which includes a gorgeous candle and lotion. 

xx

Amy 

Drunk In Love

I couldn’t resist the pun and the opportunity to try the brand everyone from Sephora to every magazine and blog has been raving about! I’m in love with the pretty pastel packaging, but my favorite thing about this line are the active formulas and real results. One of the first natural brands to go truly mainstream Drunk Elephant offers clean, effective products with a tongue in cheek approach.   

New T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial, a professional strength 25% AHA (glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric) + 2% BHA (salicylic) weekly resurfacing treatment with brightening chickpea powder and antioxidant matcha tea, apple fruit and milk thistle it stripes away dead skin cells and debris to reveal baby soft skin! You definitely get a tingle for the first few minutes but no redness or irritation that can often follow traditional peels.

I follow it with the Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream - a product that may as well have been made for my skin – it delivers long-lasting ultra-gentle lightweight cream it soothes and firms skin with 6 African oils, Plantain extract and fermented green tea. It’s like the cold cream our mothers and grandmothers used reinterpreted with modern technology and a globally-sourced ingredients.

Next up the Shaba Complex™ Eye Serum! I have to confess I am deeply unimpressed with most eye creams I try but this one was a refreshing change from that trend! The texture is soft and silky but the formula packs a big punch – yucky sounding but highly effective black tea ferment + copper peptides firm the eye area while their propriety Shaba Complex (edelweiss stem cells + niacinamide) smoothes wrinkles and brightens dark under eye circles. They’ve also brought in one of my favorite ingredients Co-Q10, used in many fantastic green beauty products, that works to ward off environmental aggressors that damage the sensitive skin around the eyes that leads to skin damage and aging.

My favorite of the bunch - T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, a 12% AHA gel/serum that when used overnight brightens, evens and clears the skin. Horse chestnut and white tea prevents skin irritation while their dream team blend of AHAs - TLC (tartaric, lactic, citric acids) plus raspberry extract loosens the “glue” that holds dead skin cells to the surface. I saw a huge difference in my skin after using this for a few weeks and this is definitely a product that will stay in my nightly regimen.

And I can’t forget the adorable Lippe! It’s a super-cute and lux lip balm that makes me smile every time I pull it out of my bag. Rich Avocado, Mongongo, Cranberry and Marula Oils nourishing the lips while peptides and sea fern algae boost collagen. A just in time for summer it contains Green Tea Leaf and Vitamin C that repair damage caused by too much exposure to UV rays.

I also tried sample of the brand’s signature Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil and it was just as amazing as I’d heard it was! 

Erin's Faces

I have long been a fan of Erin’s Faces for so many reasons, from the incredibly low Think Dirty ratings, to the lovely packaging (more on that below!) to the way founder Erin Williams stays close to the women (children and men!) who use and love her products through her beauty workshops around the country and her personal approach to education and social media! I was fortunate to try a selection of her products and fell in love with the scents and textures and just wanted to know more about what makes Erin tick!

Was there a particular moment or catalyst when you said “I can do this” before you started Erin’s Faces?

As the concept for Erin’s Faces started to pick up steam I actually literally picked up my head, looked up and said “is this what we’re doing???” to God :).  I had moved to New York City to do theatre and that was the path that I thought I was supposed to be on.  So I felt more of a “this is totally what you’re doing so get on board Williams” over feeling nervous that it wouldn’t work out.  Erin’s Faces was not my idea, it was an unfoldment from prayer, so I felt like I was following directions. 

3 Favorite products – go!

Clarifying Serum

Peppermint Lip Balm

Peptide SPF 30

I know you love to travel to different cities and host events in the homes of your customers, how did this personal approach start and what do you love about it?

Thank you!  It was honestly the only way I could think of in the beginning to keep Erin’s Faces afloat!  I had no money for marketing or advertising and all of my friends in NYC had already been invited to the launch in Nov of 2011, so in Feb of 2012 I did my first Green Beauty Workshop trip down in Texas which is where I grew up.  My computer was almost dead, not great for an online retailer, and so I had hoped to sell $2000 over the week so I could cover my travel and buy a new computer.  I ended up selling $9000 and that’s when I knew that I was supposed to keep going with Erin’s Faces. 

I LOVE talking with women – it’s the best part of this job – so getting to be in a room full of them and talk about greener choices from an educational standpoint is great.  Then you’ve got the empowerment standpoint which comes from making educated purchases but also really comes out in the makeup portion.  I find there’s so much guilt, disappointment and feeling “less than” and “supposed to’s” with makeup.  So I love tearing all of that down and talking about each step in makeup, what its purpose is and then someone can decide if they’d like to do that or not – and now they know WHY and HOW.  The lightbulbs that I see going off for people through the evening are awesome!

Your packaging has me swooning! How did you arrive at your signature Erin’s Faces look?

Thank you so much!  That means a LOT to me because it was a long road.  For the first 3 years my skincare literally had a logo sticker that was Erin’s Faces in Times New Roman font in a circle, for real, and the name of the product from a P Touch Label Maker.  That was it.  Totally NOT pretty but it’s what I could afford.  Labels and logos cost money and I didn’t have it.  I had a meeting with a beauty editor from a big magazine the summer of 2014 and realized that even if she loved my stuff she could never put it in her magazine next to Chanel/Stila/etc as it just looked so unprofessional next to them. 

I loved the writing on old seed packets and Victorian style stuff, so that was my inspiration for my logo.  Looking back, it’s not the easiest to read and it’s hard to fit it on a skinny pencil but I love it and my friend Kristin Serafini (http://www.krisanthemumgraphics.com/) did it for me.  For the labels I really loved the concept of an illustration for each product and a handwritten element in the title.  I like vintage/antique things and so Kristin helped me clean up a first round of labels I had made and made them easier to read and improved upon the drawings.  It’s funny because I had been drawn to these really clean labels that looked super cool and Brooklyn :) and mine don’t look like that, but I feel like they’re an extension of me and they’re representative of who I am and of what the line has to give.

What is the best compliment you’ve gotten from a customer?  

Giving them confidence – that is the best hands down.  Whether it’s improvement in their skin, ability to do something with their makeup that they couldn’t do before or just knowing how to make a future purchase – my number one goal for each client is for them to feel confident.  

Spring Awakening

KHUS + KHUS is one of those brands more people should know about, in fact maybe everyone could benefit from their unassuming, incredibly well researched and thought out formulations. Founder Kristi Blustein, an Ayruvedic Health Educator sought to create a line of clean skincare and bodycare that would both promote healthy, vibrant skin as well as healing and a holistic approach to health and wellness. Based on Ayurvedic medicine, yogic and vedic science, eastern and western herbalism and aromatherapy KHUS+KHUS assist the circulatory system to heal from within thanks to botanical formulations that are cruelty free and without fragrances and other synthetic.   

I was fortunate to try two products from this line – that may as well have been made for my skin, the BLOSSOM hydrolat a calming (both physically and emotionally) blend of Neroli orange blossom hydrolat, with a fresh floral scent designed for destressing, soothing and healing Wild Carrot that works to brighten dull, stressed skin, plus petitgrain, red mandarin and witch hazel. I love using this hydrolat in the traditional way, spraying before the serum but also throughout the day for its calming effect.

I also tried the BLOSSOM Face Serum, a multipurpose serum that treats a host of skin concerns (all of which I have ) including acne, dullnes, dryness, sensitivity, redness and broken capillaries. They recommend applying a little to the back of the hand (which has less bacteria that the palm) and massaging into the skin. This serum offers intense antioxidant protection, combating the signs of stress and aging and its packed with some of the most powerful natural ingredients, from anti-aging Rose hip seed oil Co2 to antioxidant Argan, Sea anti-inflammatory Buckthorn Co2, Marula, skin regulating Red Mandarin, balancing Petitgrain and the same Wild Carrot Seed oil that’s found in the hydrolat to revitalize and combat environmental stress.

KHUS+KHUS products are all packaged in beautiful glass Miron bottles, that act as a natural preservative and the branding is a clean, modern version of apothecary treatments. 

Lilah b

So excited to be heading to Miami for a family wedding this weekend – and a quick trip to celebrate a milestone birthday with a dear friend! I brought along my small but growing collection of lilah b makeup on another recent trip south and the sleek “pebbles” were the perfect travel companions!

Lilah b’s tagline is‘With less, you are more’ and each product is a truly essential part of a minimalist beauty routine. Founder Cheryl Yannotti Foland, a beauty industry veteran was inspired by a move to Northern California from NYC to create a simplified, elevated line that was also clean.  To me it feels like grown up, modern approach, with beautiful shades made for daily use in packaging that brings joy with every use.

A few of my favorites are the bronzed beauty, a duo of highlighting and contouring shades for an effortless natural glow –it’s best when used with the gorgeous retractable bronzer brush. For lips and cheeks nothing beats the natural flush of the Divine Duo Lip & Cheek color – in an array of shades from poppy to nude and everything in between. ThePalette Perfection Eye Quad in b. stunning is the ultimate eye wardrobe, matte to shimmer, day to night it has everything you need for a daytime barely there look to a deep smokey eye for night!

What are your favorites from lilah b?

OSEA takes NYC

OSEA Malibu is the kind of brand I relate to as a Florida girl, it has all the hallmarks of a cool California girl brand – marine ingredients, calming, minimalists packaging and a holistic health and wellness vibe! I saw an Instagram video where founder Jennifer Palmer talked about why she felt so connected to the water, and one reason was her aunt used to swim daily in the Hudson River (I found this hilarious because these days you’d probably turn green if you tried to swim in the Hudson!) 

I had the opportunity to try two of their most popular products and found my new favorite mask and an amazing hydrator for winter (and beyond). First the White Algae Mask – I LOVE this mask, designed for dry sensitive skin, prone to redness it brightens, evens tone and hydrates – I wear it overnight! It’s brightening benefits come from a trifecta of natural ingredients; White Algae, White Wine, and White Tea plus calendula, jojoba and aloe vera to hydrate and reduce inflammation.

Next up, the Advanced Protection Cream, a super-rich defense cream that arrived in the middle of winter when my skin needed the most protection from the elements and the dry heat indoors. This cream is also formulated with a host of active naturals from their signature Algae extract, DPHP (an amino acid found in many anti-cellulite creams that tones and smooths!), soothing Aloe Vera and rich oils (Macadamia, Avocado and Olive).

I’m also SO excited OSEA is making a visit to green beauty mecca Follian’s Soho pop up March 23rd from 12:30 to 6:30 giving free mini facials + skincare consultations with their top esthetician (plus a free Sea Vitamin Boost spray (the first product I tried from OSEA and still one of my all-time favorites) with purchase of any 3 OSEA items.

RSVP here to reserve a spot 

BodyMantra

BodyMantra opened a whole new category of products for me, ones that straddle healing, touching on mental, spiritual and physical health and growth.

Formulated in small batches in Boulder Colorado, using wild crafted, organic ingredients, using only natural preservatives BodyMantra oils are intended to be used as part of a daily ritual (for me this comes mainly at night), combining physical and spiritual awareness with intention. Essential oils are diluted in a base so 2-3 pumps can be applied directly to the skin, my favorite place to apply has been over the heart (while saying the mantra that corresponds with that oil) after warming my hands and inhaling deeply.

Founder and “principal alchemist” Kimberly Jonas has worked with essential oils for over a decade and is an experienced holistic healer, yogi, mindful movement instructor, Personal Growth Counselor, Reiki Master and intuitive. She works with her clients to change their lives from within and created Body Mantra as a way for them to incorporate quick, simple rituals between sessions.

The line has two collections; Every Day, unisex range designed to be bring daily balance and focus and Power Animals that harness spirit animals and animal medicine for healing. I tried two oils from the Every Day Blends, the sensual Divine Feminine  (lavender, patchouli, ylang ylang, rose geranium and tangerine) and Heal Thyself (Rosemary, Black spruce, ginger, vetiver, Frankincense and Lavender). I love the mantra they suggest with Divine Feminine – “I embrace my most powerful, expansive, complex, sexy, wild-woman self” and Heal Thyself allows me to act as my own medicine women, acknowledgingand addressing hurt, both physical (by applying directly to painful area) and emotional (applying to the heart area).

Both of these oils spoke to me personally but I also think they apply to what many are currently experiencing today – loss, confusion, concern for the future – and thankfully BodyMantra has graciously offered to gift these two oils to one of my readers – enter here! 

Hynt Beauty

Hynt Beauty is a new green makeup brand for me and I can't believe I was so late to the game! The brand and products are glamourous, richly pigmented in a beautiful range of colors from everyday neutrals to intense fashion shades – and everything is easy to use!  Created by women who wanted luxurious, natural makeup that goes beyond the mineral makeup trend this brand is the epitome of modern, clean beauty. I was so excited to try two of their lip products, a gorgeous loose blush and my favorite new brow definer!

First up the Eye Brow Definer in Auburn and can I just say this color is perfection! I’ve been searching for a shade that wasn’t too dark or too red and this one hits the mark - and the cream to powder texture goes on smoothly and stays put! It also works beautifully as an eyeliner. 

For lips the Aria Pure Lipstick in Peonies Please is perfect deep peach for when you want to look natural but polished. The second lip product I tried, the LIBRE Lip Gloss in Une Femme Mauve now permanently resides in my bag – the metallic gloss is so luxurious and hydrating (thanks to organic oils and extracts) and the mauve color (developed with YouTuber Ashley of The Green Bunny,) is incredibly flattering. Lastly the ALTO Radiant Powder Blush in Antique rose is so much fun! With just a hint of sparkle and a subtle pink wash of color this loose mineral blush is the ultimate date night blush!! 

Have you tried Hynt Beauty? Leave me a comment with your favorites!

xx

Amy 

Nature 21 Blvd

Nature 21 Blvd is a brand new beauty site curating natural skincare and makeup, with an emphasis on Korean beauty, all with a sense of fun – the 21 in the name references the freedom and carefree spirit of that age. All the cool kids are there – brands like Youth to the People, Ah, Vapour, Supergoop and my current obsession Hannes Dottir!

Founders Lynda Lee and Soledad Cordova, friends since college left behind corporate roles to start this new venture and the site is gorgeous – simple and easy to navigate. Maybe my favorite thing about the experience of shopping on their site is how the box of natural beauty arrived.

I tried a few of their star products, first up Ah’s Eye Contour Cream from the English brand created by Andrea Hutchin a Ph balanced, lightweight and reasonably priced anti-aging eye cream. Secondly, if you follow my blog you know I’m a bit obsessed with Vapour Organic Beauty, not only do these products perform well I love the elegant sleek look of the brand.  Their Atmosphere Luminous Foundation is the first foundation in stick form I’ve ever used and the coverage is amazing and thanks to their Herbal Enlightenment Complex, an infusion of Frankincense, Tulsi and Lotus it also calmed my sensitive skin. Lastly I have been dying to try the Icelandic brand Hannes Dóttir since seeing a gorgeous spread in an Anthropolige catalog! The Marine College Lift is a dry mask, that turns green and gooey when you add water but leaves skin feeling tight and incredibly clean thanks to a mix wild organic Icelandic Sea Kelp, Arctic Marine Collagen Peptides, Powdered Honey, Albumen Protein, and organic Vanilla Bean!

The lovely ladies at Nature 21 Blvd were kind enough to offer my readers a special promotion code - enter discount code BEAUTY+C at checkout for $10 off our order of $50 or more! 

LOLI Beauty

Anyone who knows me well knows I am not a DIY-er but I couldn't resist playing skincare formulator with LOLI Beauty! The look of their kits is the perfect blend of natural yet sleek/modern and contains just the right amount of unique ingredients, sourced from around the world, to complete the 3 simple recipes included.

I tried the ENERGI kit way back in December (which shows just how behind I get in my blogging!) and fell in love with this idea of crafting my own beauty treatments! They made it so easy (some of the treatments are no assembly required) to blend the marine-based ingredients into at-home spa treatments and I love that it tells you exactly where each ingredient comes from and why you need it.

The two I tried, the Martime detox au bain (a seriously potent detoxifying bath soak) and face /body remineralizing mask (I used it as a body mask!) were effective, luxurious and so much fun to mix and use. I also marinated their herbal blend in an oil base for a few weeks before using as gorgeous bath infusion. I loved taking an active role in my at-home beauty regimen and learning more about some very cool ingredients!

BE MINE

I think I may have mentioned Valentine’s Day is probably my favorite holiday?! And I love that the definition has expanded to cover other meaningful relationships – from a best friend, a mom or a daughter! And for all the beauty girls out there I have a few gift ideas – things I’ll be giving, things I’d love to get and a few things you might want to pick up for yourself! I know self care is a big buzz word right now but it’s always been true that the relationship you have with yourself is one of the most important, and worth cultivating!

For the foodie:

Farmacy Beauty’s Strawberry Basil Lip Bloom with their signature Echinacea GreenEnvy™ gets lips in kissable form and smells delicious! It’s the perfect combination of sweet + green that will instantly transport you back to summer. For Valentine’s Day they created a gorgeous set with three of lip blooms and matching flavored virgin chocolate bar (babe, if you’re reading this I want that!!!)

For your Galentine (and candle lover!)

Who wouldn’t want to open Diptyque’s newest scented candle, Rosa Mundi wrapped in an exclusive floral pattern and a fragrances created by combining two precious roses; Damascena, the Damask rose, and Centifolia, the May rose with top notes of lychee, geranium, currant and bergamot.

For the minimalist

For the girl who cares as much about the packaging as what it does iliah b’s divine duo lip & cheek (shown here in b daring) checks all her boxes! These beautiful compacts slide open to reveal color that goes on smoothly for a sheer hint of color that can be built into something more intense and its equally lovely on lips or cheeks paring down the number of products she needs.  

For the natural beauty

I love to gift things I truly love and use and Axiology lipsticks are something I know the receiver will love. These clean lipsticks are 100% natural, vegan, organic and formulated with nourishing ingredients, but they all perform incredibly well with soft creamy textures, a wide range of shades and long-lasting formulations.

For the friend with a wild side (and a sweet side!)

Kari Gran’s Lip Whips are a cult lipcare product and I’ve long been a fan and user of the radiant tinted shade (a sweet pink shade shown above!) a great everyday shade but they also come in some intense and very cool deeper tones from rich browns to deep cherries and a classic true red – suji red – my pick for Valentine’s Day! 

Valentine’s Day Giveaway with Osmia Organics

My daughter and I decided yesterday that Valentine’s Day is our absolute favorite holiday – celebrating love in all it’s forms with chocolate and roses - what’s not to love?! And speaking of roses they’re also one of my favorite skincare ingredients for their long-lasting hydration and radiance boosting properties. Like rose colored glasses Osmia’s Nectar Vital Rose Drops adds a touch of magic to your other skincare products, and with just 8 natural and organic ingredients like rose otto, safflower, argan, prickly pear, and pumpkin seed oils it’s a clean and effective way to enhance your skincare regimen – especially in the winter when your skin needs a little TLC! Even the scent, a blend of organic rose otto essential oil, wild, Australian sandalwood essential oil, and jasmine is designed to soothe anxiety and open the heart!

Osmia founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco shared some insight into Rosa damascena (rose essential oil) that I thought was so profoundly appropriate for the unsettled times we are living in and really for anyone trying to move through sadness in their lives.

"Rose is used to help treat dysmenorrhea in women (painful menstruation), as well as infertility in women and men. It is an aphrodisiac oil – a drop on the collar bones can stimulate sensuality in the wearer and anyone in sniffing range. Rose has long been used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and grief. It is especially useful in helping people move through states of trauma, allowing them to open to and finally release from sadness."

As you can tell I’ve quickly fallen in love with it and Osmia was kind enough to partner with me on a giveaway – head over to my Instagram page  to learn more! 

Light Therapy

I’ve never been a big beauty device person but lately I’ve been incorporating more high-tech beauty tools along with facial massage, double cleansing and other more traditional methods into my skincare regimen. I had the opportunity to try Revive Light Therapy Anti-Aging LED Light Therapy device and beyond being such a fun it’s a great way to spend 3 minutes a day it treats a host of skin aging concerns – everything from wrinkles to spots to dullness – basically everything my skin is going through this winter! You charge it once and it last for months and it’s small enough to throw it in your bag when you travel.

I’ve been seeing at-home light therapy devices popping in all the magazines (in a face mask story in this month’s Harper’s Bazaar they feature some space-age light devices along with traditional masks) to treat everything from aging to acne! It also adds a whole new level of convenience when you take skin treatments once only found in a dermatologist office and make it more accessible and affordable for at-home use.

This device is FDA cleared and the science behind their Deep Penetrating Light (dpl®) Technology is based on NASA techniques used to treat astronaut and was developed with the dermatologists and scientists behind Kathy Ireland Skincare. It performed really well in clinical trials, with 97% of the women seeing “significant wrinkle reductions”. Their best-selling device is actually the anti-acne model that kills bacteria without damaging the skin.

And PS who doesn’t want to look a little like the timelessly elegant Kathy Ireland?!