Tag Archive | skin care

Guest Post – Susie Stephen of LongRunYoga.com on Aubrey Organics Hair Products

Jun8

Let me just say, this is by far my most exciting post because it enables me to support another fellow active running girl who is enthusiastic about organic products.

Here is how Susie Stephen, founder of LongRunYoga.com describes the blog she writes:

” “Ooh, I want to tell you, it’s a long run”, The Eagles.

This website aims to provide information about running and yoga, all designed with staying happy & healthy in mind for more than a few weeks or months, but for the long run. Yoga and running suggestions are made that can be fitted into a normal working day or week, for months and years to come.

Both yoga and running meet and satisfy the body and the mind’s need for not only movement and activity, but also relaxation and reflection. They are free and simple practices that we think will help you feel better and sleep more soundly.

Please bear in mind this website is a labour of love, and a work in progress. Click around for a few ideas to get you going, and email us with any suggestions or questions about yoga, running, or anything else – connected.

Happy Trails!”

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To me, her outlook and approach to yoga and running is refreshing, inspiring, and contagious! Love it!

On her blog, Susie also briefly describes herself & experience:

“About Founder:

I started running at age 11, took up yoga as a undergraduate student – and basically have been doing a mixture of the two ever since. On this website I share a few insights from the world of each – and a combination of both activities because they have helped me to stay sane, learn, travel and meet incredible people!”

Susie offered to give her feedback and opinions on

Aubrey Organic’s hair products,

as I had recommended them to her. I was very excited to hear that she tried them–it is a gift that she was willing to write about them! Without further a due, here is her review of these products:

“Aubrey Hair Products for Active Lifestyles, and one running yogi!

Over the the last few months I have been on the look out for hair products that are less ‘sticky’ and more ‘eco-friendly’, if that makes sense. It’s seems difficult to find the combination of something that actually ‘feels good’ – for my hair and the planet! But I think I’ve finally cracked it. Thanks to recommendations from Jesica at Run On Organic, my new go-to hair products are Aubrey’s Swimmer’s Normalizing Shampoo, and the NuStyle Organic detangler & shine booster. 

But why? Let me explain. As a ‘sporty’ girl (and I could have written fit…) with curly, dry hair, prone to frizz, it’s difficult, & far too time & energy consuming to constantly be worrying about my hair. The usual result is that I just tie it back in a bun or a ponytail and pull on a headband or cap – sound familiar? So I was excited to try the new Aubrey Detangler (non-aerosol), especially because it’s made from a range of organic products (quinoa, evening primrose oil and aloe), and isn’t tested on animals. Also the Swimmer’s shampoo claims to, ‘Gently remove chlorine, salt & perspiration to prevent dry, brittle hair’. Awesome. I packed both for a two-day trail running & yoga extravaganza on the North Shore of Oahu. 

And the conclusion? After an action packed weekend of hot & humid trail running (with plenty of perspiration!), followed by breezy hours of yoga-by-the-sea, and a sea swim in Waimea Bay on the way home – you would think my hair was frazzled. But no. Using the all-natural swimmer’s shampoo, followed by a quick spritz of the light & refreshing detangler and a comb, I was always ready to go – with no worries about the condition/ state of my hair! Thankfully I have a feeling my hair will be seeing more daylight from now on thanks to Aubrey, and thanks to Jes!”

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I can relate to Susie in every way, especially in the hair department. Aubrey Organic’s have had the same impact on my constantly sweaty and stressed hair. How cool is it that this groovy girl lives this beautiful, passionate life on Oahu?! I am constantly inspired by this phenomenal gal, and you will be too after checking out her blog. Go read & learn awesome stuff at LongRunYoga.com !

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A gigantic thank you to Susie for providing her honest words and opinions! They are much appreciated. Happy running, sister!

BFree Organics Serum & Scrub Skin Care Review

Jun4

I came across this fabulous line if organic skin care,

BFree Organics

on instagram, where I got to know Cassandra and her company through pictures. She is an absolute delight, a loving mother, a passionate soul and a happy girl–it shows.

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She held a competition via instagram in which the winner would acquire two wonderful BFree products, rose sugar scrub and rose hip serum.

I was elated to win because it meant I finally got to try these products that I had been eager to get my hands on.

Rose Sugar Scrub

BFree Organics’ Description:

“High quality simplicity at its best. Ingredients: Vegan sugar cane, Vegetable glycerin, Rose Water, Almond Oil.”

My Description & Thoughts:

This scrub is quite an experience–gentle yet effective & thorough exfoliation, all while smelling like a bouquet of roses. I have used it on my face, neck and legs. The sugar eliminates dead skin from the surface while still being gentle enough not to cause irritation. My experience is that few scrubs are gentle enough for the face–BFree got it right with this one!

Rosehip Serum

BFree Organics’ Description:

“A little goes a long way! This serum will last a very long time. A must have for spot treating and anti-aging! Organic Rosehip Oil directs moisture to parched areas without over- treating “normal” skin. Use for seasonal dryness, or after sport, to restore softness. Rosehip oil is known for reducing surgical and accidental dermal scars, the elimination of certain hyper pigmented spots. Directions: After cleansing and toning, apply to problem areas. Use in the morning and/or evening.

Ingredients: Virgin Rosehip Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Musk Rose Oil, Rosemary Essential Oil and Distilled water.”

My Description & Thoughts:

This serum is absolutely delightful. In the last few months I have become increasingly enamored with serums and the power they have to heal damaged skin and maintain a beautiful complexion. This serum is comprised of ingredients that are especially effective in doing just that. It has a wonderful aroma to it–my facial is left smelling rosy and fresh. I apply it to my face right after stepping out of the shower. As Cassandra states, a little goes a long way. I use the drops of water left on my face from showering as an aid to help spread the serum around evenly onto my skin. My skin is soothed and stays its clearest with I utilize this serum daily. Wonderful product!

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Homemade, Organic, Raw Facial Masks

May7

I am constantly making new concoctions, potions and “hodge podges,”

homemade, organic, raw facial masks

to put onto my face so that my skin absorbs these substances and reaps the benefits of the nutrients within them. The process is a wonderfully creative adventure! Here are some of my potions so far:

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Coffee Mint Honey Mask:

-Organic ground coffee

-Fresh mint (ground up with coffee grinder)

-Raw honey

The coffee in this mask acts as an exfoliant when washing it off, the fresh mint is wonderfully refreshing and cooling to irritated skin, and the raw honey helps make the mask a desired consistency as well as detoxifying and nourishing the skin. I play with ratios of these three ingredients, always using honey as the base because it makes application easy. This mask also smells amazing!

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Honey Cinnamon Mask:

-Raw honey

-Organic ground cinnamon

As mentioned in the last mask, raw honey is a great vehicle to add other components to in the process of making a mask. Raw honey has healing properties that help repair damaged skin and even out dark spots. Be careful with using a large amount of cinnamon in this mask. Using a lot of cinnamon tends to attract blood to the surface of skin, making skin feel slightly burning and very red. The positive of cinnamon is that a small amount helps revitalize, detoxify, and nourish the skin. This mask is simple to put together and effective in giving skin a good cleanse.

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Oregano Honey Lemon Mask:

-Organic dried oregano

-Raw Honey

-Organic fresh squeezed lemon juice

The oregano in this mask was a last minute decision, as I had it on hand and decided to throw it into the mix. I already knew that oregano essential oil is beneficial for oily skin, thus, I figured dried would be similarly beneficial. Lemon juice is a natural astringent, as it counteracts the oil on your face that pores produce. The honey helps bring the other two ingredients together, while also providing the aforementioned benefits. Any other similar herb can be substituted for the oregano. I am an advocate of using what you have on hand.

I have had fabulous “luck” with creating these homemade, organic masks solely using the high quality ingredients I have already in my pantry. As long as the ingredients are organically sourced, your skin will soak in a lot of great, powerful and healing nutrients that these foods contain.

Metabolism Boosting Drink: 8 Foods that Speed Up Metabolism

May7

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A recent focus of mine has been on METABOLISM: What slows it, what accelerates it, how important is it?

One of the conclusions I’ve come to is that

there are certain foods that contain components that actively amp up the body’s metabolism.

That in mind, I decided to create a “Meta Drink” that contains several powerful foods. I drink it in as few gulps as possible, as the taste is INTENSE! (After you read the ingredients you’ll understand).

Metabolism Boosting Drink Ingredients:

(all organic, raw, fresh squeezed)

-Cinnamon (ground)

-Ginger (ground)

-Cayenne Pepper (ground)

-Maca Powder

-Lemon Juice

-Orange Juice

-Grapefruit Juice

-Coconut Vinegar

The liquid ingredients help the ground ingredients come together. Sometimes adding a splash of water helps make this mixture more drinkable. I drink this first thing in the morning and I find it wakes me right up and revs my energy.

My Makeup: Aubrey Organics, Juice Beauty, Emani, Faerie Organic, Larenim

Apr5

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This post will be brief, as I just wanted to share some of the organic makeup/cosmestic products I’ve been using.

I have successfully switched every makeup item in my regimen to an organic alternative.

It’s such a wonderful feeling knowing that I am putting good things onto my face and can recognize the ingredients in each of them.

Here’s the rundown of my organic beauty items that are practical for daily use/wear:

-Juice Beauty Organic Perfecting Foundation in “Organic Sand” and “Organic Ivory”

-Aubrey Organics Translucent Base Powder in “Caramel”

-Emani Pressed Mineral Foundation in “Sienna”

-Faerie Organic Eye Shadows in shades “Cocoa Bean” and “Hush”

-Faerie Organic Bambi Eyes Mascara

-Larenim Cosmetics Powder Eyeliner in “Destiny”

-Aubrey Organics Natural Lips Sheer Tint in “Sheer Pink”

I have two shades of both foundation and powder to accommodate my changing skin (i.e. sun tanned in the summer, lacking tan in the winter). This strategy works perfectly for matching my skin tone as close as possible.

I have reviewed these products in earlier posts, so check them out if you’re curious! Happy “makeuping” :)

Navitas Naturals Organic & Raw Maca Powder Review

Apr3

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Navitas Naturals Organic & Raw Maca Powder

-Navitas Naturals Description:

“Maca is an herbaceous plant native to the high Andean Mountains of Bolivia and Peru. It is one of the only food plants in the world able to thrive at such a high altitude. Maca, and more specifically the root of the plant, has a long history as a superfood. The maca root was prized throughout the Incan empire for its adaptogenic-like qualities that enable it to nourish and balance the body’s delicate endocrine system, and to help cope with stress. It also energizes naturally, without the jitters and crashes of caffeine, and it can aid in reproductive function, helping to balance hormones and increase fertility. Navitas Naturals Maca Powder is the raw and natural form of this special root.”

-My Description & Thoughts about Maca:

I have become increasingly interested in finding foods that can aid and optimize the function of the endocrine system.

I don’t believe I’ve ever sought information before for the sole purpose of bettering this specific pathway in my body. The thing that intrigues me most about the idea of optimizing the system that is responsible for hormone dispersement is this: ample amounts of exercise, heart rate raising and muscle challenging activity can have a decreased effect on the body (for increased athleticism, decreased body fat, accelerated metabolism) when the messengers inside your body, known as hormones, are not doing their job the best they can. Like every other system in the body, food intake effects this.

I love reading and learning more about superfoods like Maca that have the power to elevate the health of the endocrine system, sans hormone injections or other invasive methods.

Maca has an interesting taste to it; it’s hard to even come up with a good description for it. It is a bit earthy, with similar flavors of other roots like beets, carrots or parsnips. I like it best simply mixed with water and gulped down the hatch. Since it has a peculiar flavor, I don’t often put it in smoothies nor fruit bowls. It’s more of a “maca shot.” Sometimes I will add it to another daily elixir I drink that is made of lemon juice & coconut vinegar.

Navitas Naturals products are available at most health food stores like Natural Grocers and Whole Foods. One bag that will last a few months costs about $17.

Dew Puff Plant Fiber Exfoliating Sponge for Acne Prone Skin

Apr3

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Ever since my early teens, I have combatted facial acne and blemishes.

I’ve fervently searched for routines, products, regimens and methods for having clear skin.

I have successfully found several organic face soaps, serums and moisturizers that nourish and feed my skin so that my breakouts are minimized.

Part of my face cleaning routine has consisted of utilizing a facial exfoliating round, one that you can find at your local grocery store or pharmacy. These rounds basically got the job done from a standpoint of creating a nice lather and exfoliating the skin; though they did, at times, leave my skin red and slightly irritated after showering if I scrubbed the slightest bit too hard.

It occurred to me that what these little rounds are made of should not be ignored. I don’t have any knowledge as to what they are made of. Plastic maybe? That’s my best guess.

The reoccurring thought I had was “I am putting so much time and effort into learning about, purchasing and implementing these organic face cleansers, yet I am neglecting the vehicle with which I am applying and scrubbing them into and onto my skin.” I didn’t have any products in mind to replace these plastic rounds yet, though.

It was on a regular trip to a health food store called Natural Grocers that I came across this awesome exfoliating facial sponge. I found this product amongst the organic beauty products, pumice stones and hair brushes. I was eager to try it!

This Dew Puff is effective yet gentle and is made of plant fiber, a more trustworthy and recognizable material.

This is how Dew Puff describes this product:

“Dew Puff facial sponges are made from the root of konjac, a plant native to Asia. Konjac has long been regarded for its health and medicinal properties. With its natural ability to break down dirt and promote circulation, Dew Puff is the perfect puff for dew-beautiful skin, everyday! Dew Puff with Bamboo Charcoal contains activated carbon and minerals to help prevent breakouts, plus antioxidants to fight acne-causing bacteria. Soothing for blemished skin. Super soft and for gentle everyday skin care. Cleans, exfoliates and refreshes. Skin stays naturally hydrated 100% chemical free Just add water to use.”

After using this Dew Puff sponge for several weeks on my face, I am not only a fan of this product but I am surely converted to plant based facial exfoliators.

This sponge provides gentle, yet thorough and effective exfoliation. It is supposed to be used wet, so I put it under the shower nossle to douse it before use.

If you have a skin care regimen that already includes exfoliation, consider trying this Dew Puff. I’m glad I switched.

Aubrey Organics Evening Primrose & Rosa Mosqueta Body Lotion Review

Apr3

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Aubrey Organics Body Lotions

Evening Primrose Soothing Lotion:

Aubrey Organics’ Description:

“Special, gentle care is yours with this hydrating lotion formulated with soothing, organic evening primrose oil, ideal for many dry skin conditions. Use it daily to instantly calm and replenish dry, stressed skin.”

My Description & Thoughts:

This lotion smells wonderful, very calming and soothing, as Aubrey’s description says. The consistency is very rich & creamy. I find it best to apply right after showering so that the skin absorbs the essential oils and nourishing ingredients while the pores are still open. It leaves the skin moisturized, but not goopy. It is the ideal lotion to have on hand. As always, the ingredient list on Aubrey products are recognizable, clean and free of harsh chemicals.

Rosa Mosqueta Luxurious Lotion:

Aubrey Organics’ Description:

“Luxurious body lotion instantly restores your skin’s natural moisture balance to leave it incredibly soft and silky. High in essential fatty acids, vitamin E and other nutrients, this ultra-rich formula is perfect for dry skin. A customer favorite for years.”

My Description & Thoughts:

My review for all Aubrey lotions is and probably always will be similar; they are all wonderfully moisturizing and each scent is pleasant in its own way. I particularly prefer this scent, though. Aubrey makes several products in the “Rosa Mosqueta” scent and they are lovely & floral, reminiscent of fresh cut roses. This is my favorite out of these two lotions because of the scent.

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Aubrey Organics Facial Products vs Proactiv Acne Treatment

Apr3

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No matter how many blog posts I do about Aubrey Organics, my words will not be sufficient in communicating the impact that this brand has had on my life.

Throughout my successes as an athlete and nutrition conscious individual, I have had the hardest time (especially as a teen) in keeping a clear facial complexion.

As cliche as it is, I have truly tried most remedies for acne (both homemade & store bought). I had some success using the Proactiv acne treatment products but was quickly deterred when I read the ingredient list on the bottles.

Proactiv acne treatment products remind me of diet pills, they might be “effective” in addressing the issue (losing weight or clearing acne) however they can be detrimental to the health of your body.

They are a quick fix to a problem that is related to the overall well being of your body.

I could go all day talking about how crucial my switch to a organic facial products has been to my peace of mind and overall health.

Now, to brag on Aubrey a bit….

Aubrey Organics Facial products come in a range from 1 to 5. 1 being for skin that is very dry and sensitive and 5 for skin that is very oily.

I evaluated my skin to be around a 4, which Aubrey calls “Combination Oily Skin.” I also intermittently use the product for “3″ skin, which Aubrey calls “Normal” skin.

The two products I use on a daily basis are Aubrey Organics’ Blue Green Algae Facial Cleansing Lotion followed by the Blue Green Algae Moisturizer.

1. Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Facial Cleansing Lotion

-Aubrey Organics’ Description:

“Soothing formula cleans and balances the complexion and gently exfoliates with active enzymes and a mild castile soap base.”

-My Description & Thoughts:

The consistency is just as it sounds, creamy and lotion-like. It is so gentle on my skin and feeling very nourishing, yet effective. It can also be used daily without drying out skin. It doesn’t feel, at all, like it’s stripping the skin. This is my go to cleanser. Great ingredient list, very effective and has a pleasant herbal smell. Love this product.

2. Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Moisturizer

-Aubrey Organics’ Description:

“Light antioxidant formula helps protect skin from sun exposure and pollution and restore moisture and elasticity without clogging pores.”

-My Description & Thoughts:

This moisturizer is the perfect compliment to the cleansing lotion. It is the perfect balance of moisturizing and not goopy. I can put this on my skin after washing my face in the morning and my skin absorbs it just enough so that I don’t feel like I have a heavy layer on my freshly washed skin. It smells just like the cleanser and has a very pleasant aroma. Great ingredient list in this product too. Wonderful moisturizer to have on hand.

*A little not so obvious use for this moisturizer: before applying eye shadow, I mix this moisturizer with a bit of concealer and apply it to my eye lid. This makes a perfect primer!

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Mineral Fusion Nail Polish Review

Apr2

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A recent venture of mine has been finding a nail polish that is an improvement on the typical nail polish found in pharmacies and big box grocery stores.

At Whole Foods I found a line of nail polish made by a company called Mineral Fusion.

To start, I bought one bottle in a color that I call charcoal gray (pictured above).

Here is how Mineral Fusion describes this nail polish:

“Long lasting, chip-resistant formula. Formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate free. Custom, extra thick brush for flawless application.”

To be quite frank, that brief description sounds decent, but I was not impressed with the ingredient list, which they list as,

“Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic, Anhydride Copolymer, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Diacetone Alcohol Styrene, Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Citric Acid, Benzophenone‐1

(May contain):

Mica, Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Aluminum Powder, D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake, D&C Violet No. 2, FD&C Yellow No. 5 Alluminum Lake, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide”

Very discouraging.

The conclusion I’ve come to is this:

Mineral Fusion nail polish is an improvement on the nail polish made by major beauty manufacturers.

Unfortunately though, it seems that to avoid these chemicals, wearing no nail polish seems to be the safest route. Ive concluded this because even “natural” brands like this one are still interested in their polish having staying power, which will always come from chemicals.

To end with a positive, I’ll say…This is a step in the right direction.