by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Discounts, Fashion, Give Back, Green Beauty, Health, Product Reviews, Videos, YouTube
I had literally sworn off painting my nails in the name of green beauty. Once, twice a year at most, I was using some less-than-agreeable polishes on my nails, or would sometimes use some of the green ones I was gifted, but other than a few selects (Kure Bazaar and Genfiore are my other note-ables) my color palette has been limited to a few brands.
Aila Cosmetics is different: physician developed, free of the nasty 5 toxins, vegan, gluten free, paraben free, and cruelty free, these chic, beautiful, sassy polishes are so gorgeous and really break the mold. Founded by Cary ( a Doctor, Montessori school president, deeply loving mother, and medical contact for Make-A-Wish) and Sonny ( an LA resident, English Bulldog mommy, & former Podiatric Surgeon), Aila also gives back.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRY71Lp1tIw&w=560&h=315]
Aila (Cary’s daughter) was born with extreme differences, but they were not understood and went undiagnosed for years. After countless attempts to diagnose Aila, they eventually learned that she has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Aila donates a portion of the proceeds to SPD Foundation through the AILA Gives program to support research and awareness of SPD.
Personal Pros:
Gorgeous colors with incredible back story’s to each brand name (seriously – check ‘um out!), a great retailer, a wonderful cause, and a brand that gives back – what’s not to love? And just in case you missed it: these nail polishes are also good for you, strengthening your nails, adding shine (I recommend the top coat like crazy!), and you don’t have to worry about ANY nasties. Their ingredient list can be found here.
You can get 15% off your Aila order now with coupon code ORGANICLIFE at checkout. Watch my newest video with Aila (above ^^) which I had the pleasure to shoot and direct, to get the scoop!
Happy Holidays, my loves! Have a beautiful week – Happy Shopping!
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Discounts, Give Back, Happiness, Health, Mental Health, My Organic Life, Product Reviews, Videos, YouTube
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuPrvSEabY&w=560&h=315]
Currently I take around 35 different kinds of supplements and tinctures per day, only some of which I’ve previously touched on in my blog.
These herbs range in everything from supplements for anti-aging, to cancer prevention, to ones for my skin, hair, and nails, to supplements for my energy level, anxieties, stress, and better rest. These natural herbs are sometimes for specific ailments, which range from moderate to severe joint and muscle pain from scoliosis and rheumatoid arthritis to stressful situations like big meetings or a long journey. Without taking these supplements, it would be (and for a long time, had been!) absolutely impossible for me to do yoga, exercise, hike, surf, swim or participate in many of the daily activities that I truly enjoy now.
When I tell people that I take 35 supplements per day, I always get the same question, “ Isn’t that expensive?”
It sure is! Although I give myself a cap per month on my supplements, it’s always nice (but often times really hard) to find good deals on things that I take a lot of – like amino acids, collagen, fish oil, and A-D vitamins.
So when Life Equals reached out to me to be their Brand Ambassador, I couldn’t have been more excited. Not only does Life Equals provide different kinds of vitamins and supplements at an affordable price, they wanted to help me bring home that message to you with EXTRA discounts on one time and monthly purchases, just for reading!
Life Equals is also a One For One Wellness Company, meaning that for every vitamin you buy, Life Equals donates a multivitamin to children who need it in 44 countries and 33 states in the USA. I absolutely love this aspect of giving back, which you rarely find in the vitamin world.
Today I’d like to take a minute to focus on Life Equals Focus & Energy blend of essential herbs, amino acids and B vitamins. The Organic Life & Life Equals have collaborated on a short video that details more about how Focus & Energy can help your life, improve your body on your journey, and help you achieve your goals, as well as provided you with a coupon code for a one time or monthly purchase of any Life Equals vitamins!
For a One Time Purchase on ANY Life Equals product, enter coupon code ORGANICLIFE for a 10% discount at checkout.
For a Monthly Subscription on ANY Life Equals product, which is perfect for someone like me who takes my vitamins every day and knows I will always need to stock up, we’ve provided you guys with a whopping 75% discount for your first month!! Yep. You read that right. Use coupon code ORGANICLIFE75 at checkout and watch those $ signs disappear. After the first month, you will receive your favorite Life Equals Vitamins every month with 15% off + Free Shipping! This is a no commitment – pause or cancel anytime service.
Not only are you providing vitamins for children in need with your purchase, you’re donating to the best cause of all: your self and your health. Check out the short version of the video below and head over to Life Equals site to get your ticket to a healthier life today.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55CP3VJ4fJQ&w=560&h=315]
by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Events, Give Back, Green Beauty
It’s not every day an event comes along that brings together all the biggest, brightest and most brilliant names in the business. But A Night For Green Beauty is certainly one of them.
A gorgeous soiree hosted by La Bella Figura founders Victoria and Karen, this event’s highlighted sponsors were Baby2Baby, an amazing non-profit organization in Los Angeles. This year, with the partnership of Baby2Baby and Goodebox, La Bella Figura (as a collaborative group) were able to raise $20,000. The turn out was fantastic – with juice from Pressed Juicery, Brazilian Dancers, a flower crown making booth, and all the best in luxurious and natural skincare to try, as well as many, many brand owner’s to meet!
My personal highlights were seeing all the hard work La Bella Figura, Johan Salvador and I did together in New Orleans come to life, watch the launch of LBF’s new “More Than Makeup” line, as well as giving hugs to some of my favorite people, makeup artist’s, and women I really admire. I finally got to chat it up with the incredible Svetlana from Gressa Skin and her awesome family, saw my buddies from SW Basics of BK, as well as saw my stylist and skin/hair guru Josh Rosebrook’s ANFGB debut! My best friend also came, which made me just over-the-moon happy!
I finally got to tell the amazing women who helped me get started on my Green Beauty journey the biggest props and hugs- including Sarah from Osmia Organics, May of May Lindstrom Skin, the ladies of One Love Organics & Juice Beauty, as well as Hope Gillerman and Munemi from MUN Beauty. I also got to gush to the ladies of Zoe Organics about how much I am adoring their skin cream! What a treat!
Dana of GemRemedy also came right up to me and gave me the biggest hug!! I didn’t even know she was going to be there, but I was sporting my GemRemedy bracelet and was so excited to chat her up and show her all my favorite people.
Thank you to La Bella Figura
The Chalkboard Mag + Pressed Juicery, Baby2Baby & Goodebox
for putting on such a fabulous night!
See you next year!
<3
by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Give Back, Giveaway, Green Beauty, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Skincare
Scentsational Soaps is an incredible all natural company based in Florida that makes a variety of amazing products including soaps, lip balms, lotions, gift sets, scrubs, honey based, royal jelly, bee pollen and Propolis based products!
Already, everything in this post is under $16 for the full size version, but as a collaboration between Scentsational Soaps and My Organic Life, we offer you a 10% Off Discount on Everything when you purchase til Feb 5th!
To Inspire Romance: You also get an extra 19% off on Lavender Honey and Chocolate Honey Decadence products till Feb. 15th.
This all natural line of skincare goodies soothes, calms, nourishes, and moisturizes you while remaining incredible affordable and true to their causes and passions. Owner and Skin Guru Sarah Torrance started Scentsational Soaps from humble beginnings: her sweet son Chad has a disability, chromosome DUP15q and is global development delayed. Making homemade glycerin soap together started as a home schooling, hands on project between Mother and Son. Two fold, Sarah was also hoping to relieve his eczema, since commercial soaps have sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS), parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum, which was irritating his skin. Sarah’s been an Educational Inspiration throughout her community, created global impact with her products, website, donations and her incredible and effective all natural line has worked wonders on my own life!
Scentsational Soaps are a company who truly cares: as a family company, they care for your skin as they do their own family’s, and are committed to help you cleanse, nourish, treat, & restore your tender skin with care, with natural, proven effective, yet gentle products. They are saving the bee population, giving back to charity with your purchases and have created an affordable and effective line that incorporates everything your skin could possibly need to heal – naturally! Plus Sarah is an incredible, genuine and inspiring person and she and I have had some heart warming conversations that will stay with me always. I am really grateful to have found Scentsational Soaps and truly believe in these affordable and all natural alternatives to clear and happy skin!
This All Natural Conditioner is incredible even on extremely curly, unruly hair like mine! It smells delightful – like a chocolate/honey candy bar, and is made using Olive, Coconut, Castor and Meadowfarm Seed Oils that add natural shine while cleansing properly and thoroughly. Panthanol (Pro Vitamin B5) and Chamomile create extra body and everything rinses out super easily! This gives me bouncy, happy curls! Pure Florida Honey and Cocoa Absolute provides your hair vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and trace elements that promote hair growth and strength. Cocoa Absolute provides your hair with extra conditioning and nourishment for that sexy bounce and volume – safe and naturally!
Speaking of Chocolate Honey Decadent goodness – Conditioner, meet your match! This scrub is perfect for a relaxing detox bath or in the shower for some extra tough exfoliation! It smells divine and is made with honey – Chocolate and Honey have powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-aging properties which cleanse, nourish, and moisturize the skin naturally. Chocolate softens, revitalizes and rejuvenates skin while protecting skins elastin and collagen from damage and leaving my skin with a healthy glow.
This is incredible for my arthritis – one spoonful in a bath and I am in bliss! Florida Sea Salt and Epsom Salt flush out toxins, ease muscle pain and make it easier to move, improve my walking distance and exercise capabilities. Overall – this has truly improved my life!
As you can tell, this has taken some trips with me. I make it out to San Diego now for work about once a week, and this little bottle has been a life saver! It’s wonderful for dry hands and legs during my train rides and also during the long hours working outside and by the beach in the sun. These Paraben free Body Lotions include Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, which have historical benefits to the skin. Scars, blemishes, imperfections have known to heal from these nourishing oils. In addition, they include Vitamin E and C, plus Japanese Green Tea to help combat free radicals. The smell is my absolute favorite – think Strawberry Shortcake meets Honey Heaven!
To die for. This is just totally delightful! It was the first thing that I opened when I received my package and I am so glad I did because I fell in love instantly!
This Organic and Vegan, Not Tested on Animals, No Petroleum, No Parabens, No Mineral Oil helps you exfoliate and smooth skin naturally, fighting cellulite, dry, flaky skin, eczema, psoriasis, acne, heals blemishes and provides a protective measure against skin tanning and free radical damage! I also use this on my lips as a lip scrub and it keeps lips soft and kissable!
This is perfect to use before shaving, tanning, or for sore muscles and aches and pains. Sulfate free, Paraben free, Chemical Free. Not only does it exfoliate well and completely naturally, giving your body a divine glow and instant renewed feeling, it also smells divine – like you’ve stepped into a field of lavender and a massive amount of honey bees are there to greet you!
Organic Oils, Essential Oils, Pure Local Florida Honey and Sea Salt make up the ultimate scrub for moisturizing and nourishing, as well as anti-free radical damage benefits to the skin. This little scrub makes me so happy and is a staple in my baths and bathing routine!
Bees make propolis, which they use to glue the materials of their hives together, by mixing beeswax and other secretions with resins from the buds of conifer and poplar trees. Those resins have natural germicidal properties. For centuries, people have used propolis on wounds and as a remedy for ailments ranging from acne to cancer, osteoporosis, itching, and tuberculosis.
Talk about a wonder-treatment for acne, psoriasis and eczema! This formula is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, astringent, and vulnerary (or wound-healing) and is ideal for skin irritations and inflammations, helps acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, heal cuts, bruises, wounds, baby rashes, herpes, cold sores, hemorroids, damaged skin, dry skin, nail fungus, shingles, canker sores, worts, itching skin, rashes, burns, bug bites to calm skin down, helps heal and rejuvenate skin, just to name a few… Calendula Oil is proven to be one of the best healing and cell regenerative oils. Designed for Eczema, Scentsational Soaps carefully selects herbs and essential oils that combine in healing harmony to provide instant and long-lasting relief to cracked, dry skin and to those who suffer from eczema. Comphrey Oil is used for wound healing, treatment of bruises and for skin cell proliferation. Olive Oil prevents the loss of your skin’s natural moisture, softens skin and attracts external moisture to your skin. It helps keep your skin soft, supple and younger looking.
This is a miracle for my acne and post-acne scars – for redness that won’t go away – for any scars you’re trying to heal – for an even, incredible skin tone – Propolis Healing Salve is your stuff! This has made an incredible difference in my skin and the healing time of any thing on my face hands or legs that I am trying to rid myself of!
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage from occurring. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants, but your body can’t produce it, which means you have to make sure you’re getting enough of this valuable nutrient in your diet and through your skincare products. The BELIEVE bar of soap represents the mind set of all parents with disabled children, to BELIEVE in what is possible and BELIEVE in a positive future. This bar comes either in Lavender or Blueberry flavor, and $1 of every purchase goes to the Dup15q Alliance. This soap bar contains Vitamin E and is perfect for cleansing and renewing skin, as well as feeling good about your purchases. 🙂
This a powerful little soap for under $10 is a miracle for anyone with troubled or aggravated skin! I am extremely wary about using soaps on my face, but this one is entirely different! This smells like sweet tea, is perfect for any skin type and is loaded with Dead Sea Mud, French Pink Clay, Unrefined Shea Butter and Essential Oil blend that will leave you craving more! This has made a drastic improvement on the length and duration of my breakouts when they occur and also has helped to keep them at bay! Whenever I STOP using this soap (during travel, etc) I notice a direct increase in skin aggravation and “under the skin” breakouts, so this is definitely and preventive way to clear skin! It peels away dead skin cells, revealing healthier, youthful skin while it moisturizes and helps with skin’s hydration. It will pull out toxins that may be in your skin. It is also tightening and firming to the skin which gives the skin an anti-aging benefit, leaving you with a more youthful look. Dead Sea Mud is also good for your scalp as it will strengthen hair roots, enhance new hair growth and help prevent hair loss, so this can also be used as a No-Poo bar!
Royal Jelly is amazing for you and I’m so glad some one has harvested the best there is and made such incredible products from it! Royal jelly is a milky secretion produced by worker honey bees. It typically contains about 60% to 70% water, 12% to 15% proteins, 10% to 16% sugar, 3% to 6% fats, and 2% to 3% vitamins, salts, and amino acids. Its composition varies depending on geography and climate. This product gets its name from the fact that bees use it for the development and nurturing of queen bees.
Here is a small list of the amazing benefits of consuming royal jelly:
-lowered cholesterol
-prolonged life span due to high antioxidant levels
-helps to keep skin smooth, toned and elastic
-protects the liver
-reduces arthritic pain
-boosted metabolism
Royal Jelly contains vitamins A, B, Complex, C, D, and E with particular emphasis on the B complex, namely, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid, which is reputed to bolster the strengths of the adrenal glands and to help reduce stress levels. Ideal for anti-bacterial, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, gout, fights depression, retards the aging process, promotes sexual health, just to name a few. Made with Pure Florida Royal Jelly, this fights wrinkles, skin deepening, troubled skin and helps my break outs amazingly well! This soap is incredibly special and amazing to me and has made a huge difference in my life!
This incredible soap was one of the first I’ve tried for fighting Acne exclusively, and this little soap did wonders for me! It reduced breakouts, fought ones I was currently fighting (and losing) and gave my skin a clear and even tone after just a few days of use! This is great for your whole body! It cleanses, hydrates and soothes the skin with the added benefit of gentle alpha hydroxy acids. Honey soap is ideal for wrinkles, eczema, acne, dry skin, burns, wounds, body odor and achieving a soft, noticable glow.
For Under $4, how the heck can you go wrong? This stuff is my absolute favorite lip balm flavor I have ever tried! I used it in NYC during cold, dry December and it was miraculous! Kept my lips soft, hydrated and pouty while keeping them incredibly kissable! This natural lip balm is packed with moisturizing and nourishing butters and oils to keep your lips soft all day! My little routine is using the Vanilla Sugar Scrub as an exfoliator before putting this on – it definitely increases the staying power and makes lips their most incredible!
Scentsational Soaps is currently also working on a cleanser with propolis, toner with propolis, eye serum with propolis, royal jelly and honey and a face cream with propolis, royal jelly and honey. All are scented in the beautiful Florida scent of orange blossoms/neroli essential oil and oh-so-spa like. These healing alternatives go hand in hand with their Fresh from Florida, Local Earth, & Sea theme for Scentsational Soaps HoneyBee Naturals line.
Already, everything in this post is under $16 for the full size version, but as a collaboration between Scentsational Soaps and My Organic Life, we offer you a 10% Off Discount on Everything when you purchase til Feb 5th!
To Inspire Romance: You also get an extra 19% off on Lavender Honey and Chocolate Honey Decadence products till Feb. 15th.
*These products have been generously gifted to me for the purpose of review. With deep appreciation, I give my fully informed and honest opinion always.
Love & Light
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