by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Green Beauty, My Organic Life, Product Reviews
Cleopatra used them to enhance her beauty in harsh desert conditions. Make up artists have been sneaking it backstage since the dawn of commercial beauty. Models have been hoarding it, paying a small fortune for it. Finally, one of the best-kept secrets to healthy, glowing skin is making its way to a drugstore, and a huge online shopping experience, near you. And yet, somehow – like the rise of coconut oil, kombucha, and manuka honey – it happened overnight! I’m talking face oils; concentrated concoctions formulated with essential oils smoothed all over your face. And it’s not as crazy as you think to lather your face with the same thing dermatologist’s have been helping you get rid of for years!
The Facts About Face Oil
- The conventional wisdom that oil clogs pores, causes zits, whiteheads, blackheads and general yuckiness is rather outdated. So why the sudden obsession with using oils? Simply put, face oils are complexion perfection in a bottle. Many botanical oils, including argan, passion fruit, and African marula oils, are potent antioxidants. I already touched on my love for Jojoba Oil a little bit (see also: a lot) here.
Why Facial Oils?
- Facial oils are made up of a variety of different botanical oils, or based around a single plant-based extract (like argan, lavender or chamomile) and provide skin with powerful antioxidants and nourishing vitamins inherent in nature, and the amazing benefits of the aromatherapeutic healing properties of facial oils are a kinder, gentler alternative to traditional moisturizers.
- Not to discount them, but traditional moisturizers – the ones we find in our local drugstore – are mostly waxes and water, with a few essential oils thrown in. Waxes form an occlusive layer on the skin, which helps to hold moisture in.
There are two downsides to waxes:
- wax build up may lead to clogged pores, and the wax barrier may prevent the oil component of the cream, the part that actually benefits skin, from penetrating the surface. This is likely the reason why creams typically deliver a higher level of diminishing results over time.
- They will work at first because they help to initially hold in moisture, but as time goes on the wax barricade may prevent oils from delivering nutrients like essential fatty acids to the skin.
The Basics: Face Oil VS Moisturizer
Compared to water, wax and synthetic fragrance-based products, natural oils deliver all of the benefits with none of the downside. The stratum corneum, the top layer of skin that’s composed of dead skin cells, is held together by naturally occurring lipids (oils), and serves as your environmental protection barrier against the elements. Lipid barrier damage occurs on a daily basis, so maintaining an effective barrier requires continuous input of lipids to the skin.
Want clearer, smoother skin? Facial oil might be your best bet. They deliver these lipids straight to the skin, right where it’s needed!
So, you on board with me on this one?
Good, good!
Let’s get started!
1. Vered Botanicals: Anti-Aging Treatment Face Oil ($118)
Oh, Vered. Between beautiful, inspiring, kind Vered herself and this exquisite line of Organic, ethically sourced, therapeutic-grade essential oils and organic herbs, I am in love. Sometimes I mix this with a few drops of witch hazel and my skin is in heaven! Vered’s products are kinda pricey but for a very good reason: this is the best facial oil you’ll ever use. It seriously has a little bit of everything, and for once you’d actually pay much more to buy the raw ingredients than you do to buy the product, which means you’re really getting your monies worth! It’s a lovely scented, aromatherpeautic, beautiful oil and I feel like a goddess using it! Plus: Vered’s elegant, aesthetically pleasing, clean cut packing is to die for!
Natural Ingredients: Organic and ethnically sourced, therapy grade essential rose hips, carrot seed, borage, aragan, primrose, jasmine, rose essential oil, rosewood, vanilla, camellia, pumpkin seed, licorice, marshmallow root, calendula, plantain, lemon peel, fennel, roses.
2. Nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut ($49)
This came in my KidStock Goody Bag, and ever since I’ve been on the hunt for regular size versions of Nyakio! Inspired by her grandparents’ beauty secrets, Nyakio infused this lightweight oil with caffeine-rich African kola nut and African oils to reveal more youthful-looking skin. I love applying this because after I use it my hands are absolutely silky smooth! That’s how you know you’ve got a good oil! 🙂 As tiny as this sample is, I’ve only needed mere drops of the stuff and it absorbs amazingly well! It livens up my skin a lot, like I just drank a ton of water. And sometimes I just smell it for fun. 😉
Natural Ingredients: Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed oil, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil, Castoryl Maleate, Cola Acuminata (Kola Nut) Seed Extract, Ormenis Multicaulis (Chamomile) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Phenoxyethanol, Nymphaea Abla Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ceramide 2.
3. Aquarian Bath’s Lavender High Altitude Essential Oil ($20)
Unlike the other oils, this is NOT to be used undiluted on your skin. It’s NOT to be used on your face directly, but I included it because I use it for things that go by my face all the time (pillows, blankets, toners). But for aromatherapy, this oil is my best kept secret because I use it for absolutely ev.er.y.thing. I put a few calming drops on my pillow every single night for amazing, restful sleep. Consequently, I brought it with me on my birthday camping trip to sprinkle on my pillow to help me fall asleep, I take it with me when I’m traveling to ease anxiety and help get better rest, I rub it on my wrists for a quick pick me up, I include it in DIY toners for a great smell and amazing skin benefits, I’ve generously added a few drops in my baths. I can’t say ENOUGH about this oil! One or two drops in ANYthing and you are guaranteed on your way to happy town! The Aromatherapy Force is strong with this one! Absolutely can’t recommend a better product of concentrated Lavender!
Natural Ingredients: Lavender Essential Oil
4. Vered Therapeutic Balancing Face Oil ($68)
Still sighing with complete love and admiration… 🙂 This Balancing face oil contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and was created especially for problematic, inflamed, damaged or oily skin. For those with blemish or acne-prone skin: this is a life saver! The condition of my skin has vastly improved since I’ve been using this oil, and the aroma of it is beautiful! It calms me down to use Vered’s products. It really heals and promotes normal oil secretion and balances out my skin in times of trouble. When used in combination with a toner, or mixed with some witch hazel, I find it really, truly does the job of eliminating inflammation and healing former breakout scars.
Natural Ingredients: They’re really lovely but rather long, and can be found Here 🙂
5. Raw Olive Rosehip Carrot Facial Serum ($18)
If you’re worried about scars, premature aging, or just hydrating your skin, this is the serum for you! You only need a few drops of this rosehip and carrotseed-based oil. These two essential oils protect, while promoting cell growth and nourishing skin. It also smells fantastic and it’s wonderful to add to other products if you’re making DIY cleansers or oils!
Rosehip seed oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids and is a great agent in the fight against dry, weathered, and dehydrated skin.
Natural Ingredients: Materials: organic rosehip oil, organic jojoba oil, organic olive oil, natural vitamin e, essential oils of neroli, carrot seed, rose, lavender essential oil
6. Osea Undaria Algae Oil ($38)
How exciting is this? Undaria Algae blocks the enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid in the skin, and hyaluronic acid is essential for good skin! It works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it affects how the body responds to injury by assisting clotting. Therefore, Undaris Algae leads to healthy, happy, glowing skin!
I want to live in this oil. Pristine, wild sourced Algae based AND 100% natural? Am I in oil heaven? I love the ladies at Osea, and their commitment to all natural products! Potent omega fatty acids minimize redness and inflammation. Vitamins A, C, and E along with hydrating sea minerals, acai and passion fruit, help repair environmentally damaged, sensitive skin and restore a healthy, natural glow.
Natural Ingredients: *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, *Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Pulp Oil, *Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, *Orbignea Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, *Oriza Sativa (Rice Bran) Oil, *Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil, *Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, *Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, *Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, *Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Thank you very much. I wish you the happiest, healthiest skin!!
Feel free to share your experience with facial oils with me!
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by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Giveaway, Green Beauty, Health, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Skincare
I’ll be kicking off the end of July in a big way: a week of a different eco-friendly, natural, organic beauty product that I’m In Love With daily, followed by a BIG Giveaway for one lucky winner! Stay tuned to learn what natural, organic products you should be using for your skin care, makeup and overall beauty routine!
I’d like to start my Favorites off with a brand that I honestly can’t get enough of… Aquarian Bath! They’ve really changed the game for me: everything from their essential oils to their vegan soap to their shampoo bar has left me awestruck at how beautiful hand crafted, natural beauty goods can be when done right!
Pink Kaolin Clay (also known as the main ingredient in this amazing face mask/cleanser) is a gentle clay, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. Pink Kaolin Clay does not draw oils from the skin and can therefore be used on dry skin types.
I use this Rose Clay Mask about once a week, on days where my skin is feeling especially stressed and oily. It’s definitely gentle enough to use more than that, but I like to switch off with my products and this is extremely detoxifying for me personally! I put it on my face, let it dry, and run a bath to sit in and read while it goes to work on my pores!
My skin has definitely responded well, and is left really soft and fresh and clean! It dries (quickly!) to it’s light pink rose color, so you know just when it’s time to take it off! (If you don’t, it will certainly remind you anytime you try to move your face! ^^)
You can purchase your Aquarian Bath’s Kaolin Mask here for only $4.99 if you’re interested in being on your way to naturally clear skin for (MUCH!) less!
Thank you very much!
Love & Light
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by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, DIY, Garden, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Skincare
House Plants
The #1 thing you’ll notice upon just pulling up to my house is that I have… sort of a plant problem. If there are not 15 things potted on the front porch, there are plants hanging from the ceiling of the porch or planted in the garden, my workspace, studio, bathroom and bedroom all have at least one plant, and there are at least two by the kitchen sink. When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels. It’s also been proven to uplift moods, purify the air, sharpen your focus and improve your mental health!
Re-evaluating the plastics & glass we throw away – even if we recycle – is always the first step. A ton of things make great planters, and a lot of plants even grow upside down very well!
If you think you don’t have room for a plant, consider these upside down methods, a terrarium, a venus fly trap or a hanging planter!
I’m cloning a bunch of peas outside (super successfully I might add!) in recycled Kombucha bottles, I planted some corn in an old egg container and every time I get strawberries, I’m super excited to plant new strawberries in the old container!
Clone Your Food
Using your trimmings, seeds or sprouting veggies for clones is a great way to perpetuate growth and nourish yourself! You can stick the trimmings of most plants (and various parts of others, depending on if it’s a fruit or veggie) in a glass of water and they will sprout roots, peas, or both within a few weeks! It’s remarkable, fun and easy!
Filter Your Water
It’s already pretty clear that we take our water for granted. The developed world has water on demand. Just turn a knob and presto! Running water. But this might not be the case for much longer, because in the United States, some neighboring states are beginning to sue one another over access to shared water resources, and aging infrastructures are struggling under the ever growing demand for abundant, clean water. Simply paying attention to how you use water can help you conserve this precious resource, too. For example, you can save water by shaving in the sink rather than the shower. And when you turn on your shower, place a 5-gallon bucket beneath the stream while you wait for the water to heat up, rather than simply allowing it to run down the drain. For instance, my laundry water drains straight to my garden via a duct. In the same case of the bath water, you can use this gray water in your garden.
It’s also important to make sure that you have clean, filtered water to drink. The 35-year-old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that the water Americans drink can pose what scientists say are serious health risks – and still be legal.
Research your home town and see for yourself!
Aromatherapy
Where it’s this amazing Aromatherapy Flax Seed Pillow from Aquarian Bath (when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING), incense, soy candles from Hip E Chick, or my own little concoction, I really like to make sure that the house smells like something wonderful at all times. Aromatherapy is an exploration of creativity as well as technical knowledge. Creative expression comes from knowing the characteristics of oils and envisioning new combinations of scents. The scientific aspect of aromatherapy comes from knowing the subtle differences in essential oils that are attributable to thousands of aroma chemicals, and how these chemical constituents affect the human body. Some of my favorite scents for relaxation & calming are Vanilla, Lavender, Rose, Sage & Jasmine.
Remind Yourself
There’s nothing I like more than a nice little reminder of who I am and what I’m trying to do with my life to start my day. Otherwise, you can get really caught up in things like finishing coffee before rush hour or answering e-mails before you’ve even brushed your teeth that the whole day gets hectic. Having nice little reminders like this in the house, by my workspace, in the bathroom, in the kitchen – wherever I will read it – is not only affirming, but I think rather lovely. 🙂
Rescue Some Real Books
I think you all know by now that I’m totally mad about books…I left about two rooms full of boxes in New York when I moved, and have since been re-amassing a small (… by my standards…) collection of rescued and thrifted books! There are books absolutely everywhere in my home… every room, on the porch, on the couch. I’m tripping over them. But I always say if I’m going to have a problem… it may as well be an immense thirst for knowledge. 😉
I’ve always wanted to have a small bathroom library so that I could pull whatever I wanted during meditation & bath times, and my dreams are slowly but surely coming true! I might even decide to shop small bathroom vanities, so I could have more storage space in the bathroom for toileteries, as well as a space to store reading material. This way, none of the books will get wet and I will have something to help me relax on stressful days. I can’t say enough about the pleasure that reading brings me.
Re-Learn the Clean
I don’t know about you, but my sensory memory of cleaning the house is riddled with toxic smells and choking on chemicals. I recently approached Hip e Chick about their all-natural cleaning products & hand soap, as well as all natural bathroom lotion for guests! As someone who has to clean the house pretty much consistently because my dog sheds & I take baths every day, I am SUPER impressed & truly very happy with these natural alternatives to cleaning my sink, stove, counters, bath & other sensitive places my body goes.
Create A Sanctuary
Whether it’s soap shaped like rose petals, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, dream catchers, vintage photos, or rocks in the sink, I always try to add a little touch of love to my home.
Finding ways to express yourself creatively is the nicest part of having your own place! Doing things that you’ve “always wanted to do” since you were a kid with your space is so, so rewarding!
Have fun ORGANIC-izing your space!
If you have any suggestions or comments on how you go green, feel free to leave them!
A big thank you to Hip E Chick & Aquarian Bath for their help on this post!
You May Also Like:
Hip E Chick
Treat Yourself: Aquarian Bath
Herbs to Cure Your Life
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by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Green Beauty, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Uncategorized
Aquarian Bath: All soaps and shampoo bars are palm oil free, SLS free, chemical fragrance free, dye free and not tested on animals. These products are absolutely beautiful and smell great as well!
Lavender Cedarwood Deodorant Balm
I’ve been on the look out for a new Vegan paraben free, all natural deodorant, and Aquarian Bath brought it right to my door and under my arms! 🙂 This is my absolute favorite natural scent, smells fantastic and lasts all day long!
This amazing, Vegan Skin Soothing Salve is perfect for the dry winter nights! Made with Calendula, Comfrey & Yarrow infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil together with Candelilla Wax and vitamin E, this comforting Salve is unscented, and melts into your skin!
Peppermint Soap
This all natural Peppermint, handmade soap is perfect for gifting or a small sample to treat yourself with! The smell is slightly herbal, but not overpowering and really fresh! This is an all natural handmade soap. Like most of my soaps it was made by the cold process method. These are vegan soaps made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Raw Unrefined Shea Butter, Castor Oil, and Olive Oil Pomace. The swirl portion was made with a small amount of oxide pigment.
Do you have any experience with Aquarian Bath? Follow them on Facebook & Twitter!
*All Product Photography (C) Tara Mackey 2013
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