SHOP THE LOOK:
Delizioso Skincare TARA Adorned Blushing Mousse
FASHION:
Bikini: Solid & Striped
Necklace: Native Vibestyle
Braclets: Pura Vida, Padma Design, Lokai, Soul Freedom
Rad 1973 Shirt: Treacherous Minx
Beach Towel: Pop Sugar Fitness
Shoes: Koolaburra
PHOTOGRAPHY:
I had the privilege and honor of attending Laurel Skin Studio’s Grand Opening this weekend in San Francisco!
Laurel Whole Plant Organics – formerly Sequoia Beauty – was one of the first brands I ever blogged about here on The Organic Life. Back when Laurel Whole Plant Organics was Sequoia Beauty and The Organic Life was My Organic Life (ch-ch-ch-changes!) I was falling head over heels with Laurel’s Shaffer’s awesome, potent, gorgeous creations time and time again. Everything I tried, I loved. Everyone I saw, I raved to!
Laurel is a testament to accomplishing your dreams against all odds. She’s a beam of light and a beautiful business woman who really makes it work. I was super happy with Laurel’s standards and her commitment to her craft and impressed with this spirited chick who grew many of her brands awesome ingredients in her own garden. I continue to be blown away by what Laurel has accomplished in the past few years. Attending the opening of Laurel Skin’s Studio this weekend was like taking a big gulp of friendship Pride.
When I visited Laurel’s studio a few weeks ago, she was still preparing to open. We chatted a bit about what brands she was going to sell – many of my favorites, including La Bella Figura, Josh Rosebrook, Lurk and more! We talked about how the place was going to look, but I was absolutely blown away to actually see it finished in all it’s gorgeous glory!
Left: Melissa of M. Parke Studio, Middle: Laurel of Laurel Whole Plant Organics, Right: Moi of this blizog 🙂
Every single one of Laurel’s team, friends and family were beaming with pride and happiness.
If you’re in the Bay area you MUST stop by! You can take a look at Laurel’s gorgeous creation process, get a glimpse of the killer view of the Bay or shop the array of totally clean beauty, hair and makeup products, perfume, teas and tinctures Laurel has curated.
You can get a beautiful facial by Laurel’s new esthecian, my good friend Megan Porchen!
Megan is a beautiful green beauty expert a well as a total sweetheart. Megan and I got dinner while I was in town and she is so excited to be working with Laurel. I am so thrilled they’ve connected and Megan gets to do her thing in such a beautiful space!
Me & Cindy of Hello Dollface
Josh Rosebrook, Laurel of Laurel Whole Plant Organics, Victoria of La Bella Figura
Laurel’s Lip Healing Creation
With Victoria of La Bella Figura
If you’re looking for a meditative space to relax, or you’re into your new favorite, friendly local beauty shop making magic potions on the daily, Laurel Skin Studio is the place for you!
There is nothing else like this place in San Francisco.
I am so happy for Laurel and wish her and her team the absolute best.
From head to toe, here are some of my favorite green beauty products to kick off this Spring!
The Detox Market was kind enough to send this over during some dry winter months here in So Cal, but the scent, the feel, the ultimate shine you get from this product is perfect for spring. To say I am obsessed with this dreamy, creamy body butter would be an understatement. There’s not a single night I didn’t use this since the day I opened it! It smells like you’ve waltzed through a lavender field and feels like you’ve dipped yourself in melted, whipped butter. So, so divine! This is great on my legs and feet during spring when I can finally get out those shorter dresses and show off some sexy sheen!
Nudus Australia Lipstick in Revenge
Yeah, yeah. We all love our paisley pinks and flower crowns, but what about your spring date nights and gallery openings and dinners with friends on the town, enjoying the warm, crisp air? Spring is my favorite time to bust out a good red lip, and it doesn’t get sexier (or more perfectly red) than Nudus Australia’s Revenge. Definitely a night time, driving down the highway with the wind in your hair on the way to the beach feel, and I love it that way! Totally natural, organic, super pigmented and long lasting, this color has the added benefit of looking amazing on every skintone and healing your lips as you wear it.
Dream Nuage Vanilla Bean Foot Soak
Spring is my time to indulge. I always tend to get super busy around this time, as my East Coast friends emerge from hibernation and projects kick into high gear with new energy. That said, I’m always looking for a great way to wind down, and this girlie, natural Epsom salt soak is where it’s at! I adore the packaging as well as the high quality ingredients. Some nights I will bring a chair into the bathroom and fill the tub up over my feet with warm water, then relax and read a book, using this to scrub and then soak my feet and legs. On nights where I have a little more time, I throw a handful into my bath water and take a long, luxurious bath. It smells incredible and has awesome anti inflammatory and anti septic benefits! I really like this foot soak product, but I’m aware that other people may not. And that’s fine, it’s all about finding the right product for you so you can feel the full benefits. Some people I know have tried this ion cleanse detox foot bath and have said that it works wonders for helping them to relax after a hard day at work. I may decide to try this when I want to try something else, as they have said that they prefer this product over many others. But for now, I’m going to stick to the Dream Nuage Vanilla Bean Foot Soak.
Josh Rosebrook Oculus Eye Serum
I’ve mentioned the Oculus eye serum here, here and here because well… I am obsessed with it (no shame!) Not only do I happily call Josh Rosebrook a friend, he’s a genius when it comes to formulating his products. You won’t find willy nilly or fly by popular ingredients in Josh Rosebrook’s creations. Instead, each ingredient is hand selected by Josh to benefit a wide variety of skin and hair problems using phytochemicals, plant extracts and an organic powerhouse of Ayurvedic naturals. Oculus is no exception. Oculus brightens, tones, and regenerates. When we spoke about it in person, Josh said that Oculus had been a dream of his to create for a long time, because our eye area is so sensitive, as it’s thinner than the rest of the face. That means it needs to be treated differently than the rest of the face! He chose anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing, high end and potent ingredients that truly do the trick; Camelina, Hempseed, Sunflower, Almond oils and awesome herbs like skullcap, echinacia, and the amazing eyebright (a plant that has awesome anti-inflammatory benefits – it literally treats pink eye!)
These go to work overnight on tired, dry or puffy eyes. I recently used Oculus while I was doing my book edits and not sleeping quite as well (YOU try waking up to inspiring thoughts every 30 minutes and we’ll see what your eyes look like in a week! 😛 ) I saw results immediately. The very next morning I woke up with less bags under my eyes, reduced darkness and no puffiness at all! It was magic. I’ve continued to use it every night since to better and better results. I am even using less concealer under my eyes every day, it works so well!
Laurel Whole Plant Organics Eye Serum
Laurel Whole Plant Organics was one of the first brands I ever blogged about. For good reason. They keep getting better and better. I mean, Wow. I was lucky enough to meet Laurel a few months ago on my trip to San Francisco (and I’ll be hugging her again and her studio opening this week!) Talk about an eye serum that will stay at the top of my beauty cabinet – within arms reach – forever. NEVER stop making this, Laurel! Never!
Laurel’s Eye Serum is a one drop wonder! One drop is enough to cover under both eyes (with a little left over). I absolutely adore the scent, the amazing, pure and organic ingredients, Laurel’s awesome philosophy and of course, how great it works! Do you suffer from dark circles, puffiness, or are you overtired and stressed? This takes care of them all! I saw results overnight! It was great – I had honestly never experienced anything like it!
I am privileged to call Dana, founder of Gem+Remedy, a dear friend. She’s awesome, thoughtful, kind, creative and extremely giving. This collaboration between Gem+Remedy and BeauTeaBar is inspired to help you get good skin! It’s made with Moss Agate (for healing infections and inflammation) Peridot (to naturally heal the skin), Azurite (for healthy skin and teeth) and Aventurine to renew the skin and bring forth your inner glowing radiance. I adore this brand collab, this message and have been wearing this bracelet non stop. I’ll admit – I’ve truly experienced better skin, and can’t wait to continue to see the affects from this addition to my skincare ritual. Gem+Remedy is really magical.
Satori made it’s debut a few weeks ago, and Lina was kind enough to gift me a full and sample size, which I’ve really, truly been loving! Lina is truly an inspiration. Watch this video when you get a chance for a serious creativity injection. Everything Lina makes is totally amazing, organic and beautiful. Satori was inspired by Lina’s travels to the far East, with warm vanilla, sexy sandalwood and crisp yuzu and ginger, this perfume oil is a must have. I rub it on my wrists for a quick bout of aromatherapy. It’s inviting and refreshing while also being completely delightful. Perfect for every day wear as it’s not overpowering, and also great on the neck during date nights and encased in sustainable marula oil, I can’t get enough of this. A perfect scent for spring!
W3LL People Bio Brightening Stick
The Detox Market gifted me this as well and I couldn’t have been more excited to try it! This gorgeous brightening stick from W3ll People makes for the perfect subtle highlight along cheekbones, eyelids, and my nose! I adore this for completing a fresh spring look. It looks great with or without a little powder over it and wears well all day. Looks great on the outside of lids for a beautiful, sun kissed effect to brighten and sculpt the entire face.
Argan Oil, Sea Buckthorn, Camellia Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Oil. This cell serum powerhouse by Biodara has it all, and the Founder Mimi, has my heart. She recently stopped by the Waxelene booth at Expo West, where I was happily working away, and we got to chat for a few minutes. Her story and her commitment to healthy living is a dream. I long to find Founders with ethics like Mimi’s, and I’m privileged to have met someone with a passion like hers as well. I adore this Cell Refresh Serum for my oil cleansing as well as using it as a daily moisturizer for my whole face. I will take a warm, wet towel, apply a few drops the Biodara Cell Refresh Face Serum to my face by patting it gently into my skin, let it sit for a minute and then wash my face with the warm towel for a rejuvenating mini facial. Then, I apply 3 drops of the oil for full coverage. It looks beautiful under makeup and is beyond incredible for creating plump, refreshed looking skin.
Speaking of Waxlene, it’s no secret that I absolutely love them to pieces. True story: I was in line at Whole Foods the other week, and a young woman two people in front of me asked the cashier if they had any Waxelene. The cashier thought for a moment, and then replied, “ Oh! You mean the best lip balm ever?”
Waxelene debuted their lip balm in June to rave reviews, and I am obsessed. I have a tube in every bag I own, in my backpack, in my car, with my camping gear, in my bathroom, next to my bed. I just don’t go anywhere without it. Anything you would use Vaseline for… just use this, instead! Totally natural, organic, no petroleum or the nasty stuff you find in Vaseline and Carmex. Just good for you ingredients! Waxelene is also great to put on the base of your plants during spring time to prevent bugs from climbing them and munching. Try it and see! For only $3.99 you really can’t go wrong!
When I met Katie a few months ago at The Detox Market, she admitted that out of her whole line, that Infinite Love was (at the time) her favorite. I can totally see why! They gave these out on the set of Ted 2, a movie I acted in over the summer. This mist is perfect for Spring, for attracting love and light and good energy into your life. I firmly believe in this mist and all it’s incredible properties. It promotes love for yourself as well as for others, and smells like exquisite rose, mandarin and Lotus Wei’s signature honey scent. I’ve been using this for over 5 months now, spraying some onto my pillow at night and misting myself throughout the day. I love it!
Local, organic, caffeine free and totally amazing. Buddha Teas are just right down the street from me. They sell them at my local market and I am so proud of what these guys have accomplished in such a short amount of time! I ADORE their line of Chakra Teas. Each tea is designed around a different chakra and infused with specific, natural and ayurvedic herbs designed to increase your connection to that chakra. Root Chakra tea has been my jam lately. With super food dandelion and calming clove, I sip this all day long and also right before bed at night for an a sense of well being, mental clarity and stability. It is the spine chakra, which promotes your connection to the earth. For my readers: Get 10% off your order with coupon code ORGANICLIFE at checkout.
What a beauty! This is flower power in a nutshell. A gorgeous elixir of super powerful healing oils, CoQ10 complex and vitamin C, my skin can’t get enough of this amazing oil from Kypris. The packaging and the galant glass bottle are to-die-for, and the kosher, highly potent ingredients make this a must have for sensitive skin, acne prone like mine. It smells like a rose garden and feels like you’ve treated yourself to an expensive facial and can finally turn off and relax. Kypris Beauty Elixir II: Healing Bouquet also contains stearyl glycyrrhetinate, which is an isolate from licorice that helps reduce flakiness and restore skin’s natural balance. Super moisturizing and it makes an incredible before bedtime ritual. A great scent for spring, too. It reminds me of decadent flowers in bloom!
Not only is Adina one of my favorite brand owners, mastering the most simple ingredients and packaging them into pretty powerhouse’s in her line SW Basics of BK, she’s a great, witty writer. I’ve been loving her first book, Skin Cleanse – a great how-to that gives you a deeper insight into your skin. Perfect for a spring or summer read, or just a perky pick up for anyone looking to delve deeper into their own skin issues, I adore this book! With cute but insightful chapters like You Are What Your Great-Grandmother Ate, to adorable illustrations that go along with her narrative, to what nasties to spot in your cosmetic ingredients, I’d say Adina’s made a large charge into the literary world of green beauty, and she’s done it with much grace and humor.
These last few weeks, I’ve been following a particularly adorable ( & informative!) beauty tag. Yes, I’m talking about the swanky #WhatsInMyMakeupBag hashtag.
I think these posts are so fun and I’ve had a blast checking out everyone’s posts on instagram and their blogs! I was absolutely swamped the last few weeks working on my book edits, but finally I can respond to all the posts tagging and asking me…
So, what exactly IS in my makeup bag?
All of my makeup, oils, balms and brushes are natural, vegan and/or organic! I am so happy to share this with you today!
With love,
When I finally met Gloria, the Founder of Born Skincare, a few weeks ago at Yoga Journal, I could not hug her tightly or praise her products enough. I mean, it was fan girl central. I LOVE her products! I mean LOVE.
The beautiful Gloria’s journey into the natural product world started a lot like mine when Gloria’s brother was diagnosed with cancer. Even though this incredible message behind the products really speaks to my heart, that’s not the only reason I love Born Skincare. It’s also not just because they’ve helped my skin tremendously (although this post will prove they have!) Not just because they’re made with 100% amazing, organic ingredients and love with great intention. Not just because I use Born Skincare each and every day.
I almost hugged Gloria to death because her products have literally saved my life.
Let me elaborate…
If you remember from this post, I suffer from a severe case of scoliosis and arthritis. How does this translate in real life? Well, essentially, it means my back is full of excruciating knots. My muscles often feel like cracking bones, or like someone has stuck a knife in them and is turning it over and over. Not pretty. It doesn’t make life happy. Feels not so good. Because I know how it feels to live with a condition like this, it then comes as no surprise to find that some people may have reached the point where getting surgery on their spine is the next step to take, as scoliosis can be a lot to handle sometimes. With this being said, with surgery as big as this, doing research beforehand by checking out this website, for example, could be a start, as well as speaking to healthcare professionals about this procedure.
All of this I manage with yoga, herbs, and meditation. But recently, my lower back just… went out. I had never really understood what this meant until the morning a few weeks ago when I woke up, threw the covers over to get out of bed, and couldn’t move. The pain was totally excruciating. It was beyond what I had ever felt. And it was really, really inconvenient. Moving is really, really crucial to my job. I couldn’t even begin to start getting out of bed, never mind beginning a yoga practice that may ever promise to help me move. I was so upset.
First, I charged my Source for Muscles from Born Skincare on my crystals & quartz charging plate from Hood x Hippie. It promotes love, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion. I extend this mantra to myself as well as others before applying the oil. This helps to energize the oils with good, healthy intentions as well as acclimate it to my energy before applying it to help my pain.
Along with my yoga practice, herbs and daily affirmations, I need something topical and natural to combat the inflammation. That’s where The Source for Muscles comes in like a knight in shining armor!
With a pure muscadine oil base (this oil is incredible for your skin!) The Source for Muscles perfect to use anywhere from your achey muscles to your sore neck or anywhere you get aches and pains. It also combats the kind of severe inflammation that can leave you bedridden, as I was.
I literally use this oil every time my back acts up. I apply it directly to the sore spot and rub it in gently. It’s jam packed with Eucalyptus and Menthol, which make up the ancient healing ingredients in this pretty powerhouse. Eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory and analgesic affects, acting as a numbing agent as well as relieving the pain, inflammation and soreness in my muscles.
It’s also a decongestant, making it great for your chest if you feel a cold coming on as well. Menthol is a peppermint with a pungent but refreshing flavor that serves as another amazing anti-inflammatory agent in The Source for Muscles. It also works as a relief from tension headaches, nausea and pms symptoms. Gloria’s sourcing is so pure and feels incredible when applied to the skin!
When I applied The Source for Muscles to my lower back for 2 straight days, I could finally begin to move enough again to begin my yoga practice again! It was nothing short of miraculous! I can’t say enough good things about this incredible combinations of oils and herbs. I will never be without it! Within 48 hours of using this on my inflammation I was back in action – totally safe and good to go – as long as my trusty Source for Muscles was by my side!
Now that I’m feeling better, I still give The Source for Muscles a good rub down on sore muscles and aches and pains after a good workout or my yoga practice.
Gloria is offering a 15% discount on The Source for Muscles this week with coupon code ORGANICLIFE at checkout!
Take advantage of this awesome deal while it lasts!
With love,
Hey lovelies,
Probably one of the most frequent questions I receive on my blog are what my favorite products are, and where you can get them.
We’ve been hard at work and we now officially set up a shop on the site!
You can browse my favorites, shop my personal collection or take advantage of discounts that are JUST for The Organic Life readers.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think about the shop in the comments!
I always love hearing feedback so we can make improvements for awesome readers like you.
Much love,
