THE TEN BEST NATURAL FACE OILS

THE TEN BEST NATURAL FACE OILS

Face oil. Seems kinda counter-intuitive right? Believe it or not, face oils have been around for centuries. They contain essential fatty acids, which are crucial in keeping skin young, supple and smooth.

Personally, the right natural oils (which come from nuts, trees, flowers or plants) have not only balanced and hydrated my skin, they’ve completely evened it out and rid me of nasty breakouts, hormonal acne and cysts! Yes, oil!

What’s the difference between an oil and your conventional lotion or cream?  Lotions and creams are a mixture of oil and water, and often conventional serums also have an additive that waters it down. However, restorative oils and concentrates are extremely beneficial to your skin, as long as you use the correct oil for your skin type.

So, who made the list of best natural oils?

Genetix Detox Repair Serum

I call the detox repair oil my liquid gold – it’s amazing as an oil cleanser, a moisturizer, a scar treatment, calms skin and evens your tone and overall complexion. A staple in my beauty cabinet! The Detox Repair Serum is specifically formulated with the highest level of french green clay and activated charcoal. Effectively fights blemishes, reduces acne, and helps keep skin free of new breakouts. Healing, organic vitamins are designed to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores while zinc oxide, a natural mineral, provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum. The result is clearer skin that lasts. I use this oil on my skin at night to combat any breakouts, dry skin and acne scars. Essential oil and scent free, which I LOVE! (Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!)

Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone/Combination
✔ Normal
✔ Dry

Glow Brightening Serum

Acne not your battle? If your skin is more on the dry/mature, dull or sensitive side, try this skin-smoothing, radiance-boosting retinol youth serum with organic vitamins A, D + C, melatonin and hyaluronic acid for post-facial results and all day hydration. It’s free of essential oils and perfume, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin! is formulated with high potency, organic rosehip, melatonin and hyaluronic acid that immediately tackles dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells, revealing smoother, fresher, younger-looking skin.

Fine lines appear visually plumped, the appearance of stubborn hyperpigmentation and the visible signs of aging are reduced for a healthier-looking complexion. Perfect for all skin types and all ages, this treatment is enhanced with turmeric and chamomile for maximum brightening and instant radiance. I have so much love for this oil — It’s beautiful! It also doubles as a gorgeous highlighter (Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!)

Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone
✔ Combination
✔ Dry
✔ Sensitive

Cellular Recovery Serum

This magnificent face serum is a top favorite among this incredibly luxurious line. This serum is packed with powerful anti-oxidants, omegas, vitamins, and free radical fighters. Nutrient-dense organic rosehip, magnesium and CoQ10 can penetrate the tough outer layer of your sebum and once there, initiate your skin’s repair process, revealing a vibrant, smoother skin texture.

Main ingredient melatonin has been proven to clinically reduce and reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With daily application this super serum moisturizes, improves clarity + contributes to a more beautiful, balanced and youthful complexion. All the beautiful oils and herbs in this Cellular Repair Serum promote cell structure and healthy regeneration as well as repair the current damage.

This serum is also essential oil and scent free, which I LOVE (the rest of the oils in this article are scented)! Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!

Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone/Combination
✔ Sensitive
✔ Dry
✔ Mature

(Grab the whole collection and take 25% off with code STAYWEIRD!)

Josh Rosebrook’s Deep Hydrating Serum

It’s also no secret that I adore Josh Rosebrook. He’s one of my dearest friends and my incredible stylist. And his products are LA A-list favorites! A conconction of incredible oils for every skin type (coconut, jojoba, grape seed, apricot, sunflower, hemp and seabuckthorn) as well as exotic herbal infusions of skullcap, marshmallow, neem leaf, green tea, st. john’s wort, and more, this incredible and scrumptious-smelling oil is my go-to day oil. One application leaves skin golden and glowing all day long! This not only rejuvenates skin – it re-awakens it! The phytonutrients help promote collagen and balance skin. Not only is Josh a delight in person, his whole line is amazing! Wake up with a bright, clear, beautiful face!

Kypris Beauty Elixir II – Healing Bouquet 

You know by now that I love me some essential herbs in my beauty products, so when this Jasmine, Rose, Patchouli blend met it’s CoQ10 vitamins E and C, I was hooked.   I adore Kypris’s elixir not only for her incredible, lush aromatherapy benefits and her delicious lingering scent, I’m super impressed by her GMO-free, kosher standard.   This sexy and expertly crafted formula encourages skin to be at it’s most plump, hydrated and happy; a beautiful oil standard that also contains baobab oil, which I adore because it’s perfect for my acne-prone pores. Even though it contains coconut oil, it is virgin, which my face can absolutely tolerate.  Loving this more and more the longer I try it!

African Botanicals Neroli Infused Marula Oil

This oil is so good it got a huge mention in my first book!  Marula oil is my standard for golden-looking skin, and this formula from African Botanicals does not disappoint. I prefer Marula oil to a lot of other oils out there because my skin just drinks it up. It covers all my bases: it’s hydrating, skin clearing, and evens my skin tone, as well as brings out just the right freckles in the sun. The smell is addicting but subtle because it is Neroli-based, which also makes it extremely anti-oxidizing. Totally pure, no preservatives, and no nonsense. Marula oil is wonderful for all skin types, and great for under the eyes, dark circles or to combat redness. This oil does not leave my bedside – I apply it every night without question, waking up to supple, sexy, sun-kissed skin, even during winter months when my skin tends to get dull and dry.

Vintner’s Daughter

This serum is a luxurious multi-correctional infusion of 22 of the world’s most active organic and wildcrafted botanicals. At the heart of this powerful treatment is an energy dense phyto radiance infusion. Combined with highly targeted essential oils, the formulation combines anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, skin firming phytoceramides, nourishing fatty-acids and powerful anti-oxidants to help fight signs of aging; stimulate cellular turnover; maintain skin elasticity; strengthen capillaries; inhibit melanin production; prevent wrinkles; deliver oxygen to cells and protect against free-radical damage.

Odacite Marula Neroli Concentrate

I was gifted this gorgeous concentrate from The Detox Market and I couldn’t have been happier! Odacite makes beautiful serum’s that are incredible for you! I love everything from them I have ever tried – including this over-the-top hard working but super afforable gluten free concentrate. It also contains rose oil, lemon-myrtle and vitamin E for the added skin benefits. I apply this before and after long hikes or surf sessions and if my skin is especially dehydrated. It’s amazing for travel because of it’s convenient size, and the scent lingers and is totally addicting! A little goes a long, long way. I use just a few drops to cover my whole face and neck.

Tamanu Oil

Tamanu has the unique ability to promote the growth of new tissue. It’s been used for centuries on everything from troubled skin to sores, shingles, fibrosis, burns, eczema – you name it!  Oil of tamanu contains three basic classes of lipids: neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids.  The oil also contains a unique fatty acid called calophyllic acid, and a novel antibiotic lactone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent called calophyllolide. These and other components of tamanu oil, including anti-inflammatory coumarins, account for some of the oil’s beneficial activity. This amazing oil has been incredible for my skin on acne, acne scars, psoriasis, and wrinkles. It accelerates wound healing, skin growth and overall it just plain makes skin look super plump and younger. It prevents up to 85% of cell damage as well, so applying Tamanu oil before I go out in the sun is a must for me!

What are some of your favorite face oils?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

DIY Thursday: Coconut Oil

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The benefits of Coconut Oil are immense.  It’s great for cooking, for lotion, for toothpaste, for stretch marks, for eczema, scars, is great for deep conditioning your hair, wonderful for your health as a supplement, is antibacterial, is great for dry skin and soothes nausea.

In fact, there are  101 uses for coconut oil here.

Every bit of the coconut is used. Coconuts are called the “Tree of Life” and can produce drink, fiber, food, fuel, utensils, musical instruments, and much more.  This magical fruit/nut/seed oil has a high price on the grocery shelves!  I love food and I love DIY crafts, so I figured I’d make some myself!  It was terribly successful, really fun, and super easy!

What You’ll Need:

1 Coconut

1 Fork

1 Knife

Coffee Filters

1 or 2 Jars

The first step, of course, is open your coconut (I use a hatchet) and:

enjoy

Step 2: Heat your coconut meat slightly over low heat in order to make cutting easier.

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Step 3: Cut your coconut meat into small pieces:

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Step 4: See Hearts Everywhere. 🙂

Step 5: Throw it in a food processor or blender.  Blend on high.

Step 6: Put a coffee filter or cheesecloth over a wide-mouth jar.  

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Step 7: Pour or spoon a small amount of the coconut mixture onto the cloth.

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Step 8: Squeeze the milk into the jar.

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Step 10: Refridgerate & leave it unattended for at least 24 hours.  The curd and the oil will separate.  If you wish to discard the curd, wait 48 hours and scoop it out.  However, it is just as wonderful and useful as the oil, which is on the bottom!

I am so, so very proud of my first batch, and got two jars out of one coconut!  Beats spending $6 for a jar at the store, since my coconut cost me something like $1.25! 🙂

Enjoy!

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Beauty Blast: Bubble & Bee

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Happy Saturday!  Me & Raelie say “What’s up?” from Venice Beach!

What a productive week!

I’ve had a bunch of meetings with acting, modeling and talent agencies to secure one that is willing to work strongly with me on my goals.  I’ve gotten some wonderful feedback which I appreciate immensely, met some remarkable people, signed a few contracts and still have a few meetings scheduled before I’m ready to announce who I’ll be working with, but I am VERY excited to say the least so far!  

I’ve been singing my little heart out on some new tracks for hindu doggie, American Plugs & writing my little heart out for a follow up song/video for Visual Exchange while gathering super talented musicians to work on some new tunes.  I’m excited for you guys to hear it all!

I’ve had a lot of phone conversations to secure ecofriendly and organic brands for the Around the World Lookbook, and packages have been coming in droves with absolutely beautiful (seriously, I am absolutely speechless at the quality and thought that goes into these pieces!) eco conscious, handmade & organic brands!  I’ll be teaming up with another couple of blogs to bring you more Organic Life, which has been a goal of mine since before I can remember.  I really love spreading the love!

All very exciting news, and I couldn’t be more grateful.  I’ve been saying my Positive Mantras and kissing the ground, believe me!  🙂

But meeting after meeting has been rough on me, and the travel from my secure little House in the mountains down to Hollywood for meetings, casting, & music has been rough on my skin.  I’m really not used to wearing makeup, the whole of what I do wear is minimal, and my skin has a tendency to dry out, flake, and crack in the sun if not tended to properly ( or if makeup is left on it for say, hours at a time… which just happens to be a huge part of my job :P).  Combine that with Los Angeles’s striking 75 degree March weather a week after coming home from New York, and you’ve got a Beauty Blast! 🙂

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I’ve been rocking me some Bubble & Bee this week, which is just fantastic not only because whipping this adorable packaging out at a casting or a shoot gets you a zillion questions,  but because Stephanie Greenwood, founder, is another scientist and a girl after my own heart.  And you know how I love supportive my scientists turned beauty gurus [ call it Self-Love 🙂 ]!  I can’t say enough about this company!  One Google search will tell you everything: everyone who’s ever tried them is simply in love!  And Bubble & Bee’s Coconut & Lime Lotion Stick is 100% organic, contains no water ( almost impossible to find!), contains no synthetic chemicals or estrogen mimickers, goes on smooth, doesn’t wash off like water-based lotions, heals dry hands fast, is airline permitted (so important for me!  So many of my beautiful products have been thrown away at TSA!), has a convenient application, great value, great for sensitive skin, no animal testing, & gluten-free.  Seriously, what more could you WANT!  It’s perfect for chapped hands, feet, elbows!  And perfect for travel!

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Okay seriously I don’t know what more to say about this Raspberry & Vanilla Body Butter except that it’s my absolute favorite scent and I wish I had invented it!  Raspberry.  And. Vanilla.  AHHHH why didn’t I think of that? 🙂

Organic shea butter moisturizes deeply, delivering essential protecting lipids to the skin, while organic coconut oil with retained coconut meat keep this formula smooth but not greasy.  It’s perfect for after-bath moisturizing!

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Last (but certainly not least!) to treat my face I’ve been using the Bubble & Bee Organic Certified Face Cream (For Women).

With only 3 super important and organic ingredients, it fights wrinkles, dry skin & aging without any nasty ingredients or water added!  A small amount on the face and I’m good for the rest of the day.  I cannot tell you how tremendous that is!  On the East Coast I’ve had to put moisturizer on all day long to no avail!  Remember:

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A big THANK YOU to Bubble & Bee for being true to their customers, and a big thank you to everyone on their support not only of this blog, but of my entire life: all of my little endeavors, my music, my writing, my ideas.  I appreciate your responses to my heartfelt approaches to you all for creative input, and you dealing with my stubbornness about .  I know sometimes I may come off kind of preachy, but I really believe in this stuff, and I love you all and want you well! 🙂

Do yourself a favor: relax, check out Bubble & Bee, do some healing research, listen to some good tunes this weekend & spread the love!

An early Happy St. Patty’s Day to all my fellow Irish & to my Irish readers!

Love you all!

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♥ Tara Mackey Must Have: Honey Bee Holistics ♥

I love honey. It’s a great natural source of carbohydrates, which provide strength and energy to our bodies.  Honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting athletic performance and endurance and has been attributed to reducing muscle fatigue.  It also possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumour properties!  The health benefits of honey are immense, and the more pure my beauty ingredients, the better!  Honey Bee Holistics Organic Honey Bee Face Mask is my newest honey obsession!

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Honey Bee Holistics features Handmade Cold-processed soaps, lotions, expectant mother & baby products, glaciomarine clay masks all produced exclusively in the valleys of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. Melissa is a Renaissance woman – owner, designer, maker & photographer, who only uses Certified USDA oils and butters in her products. She says, ” My products are all Organic, though not formally certified. Herbs are grown on site or sustainably wild-harvested from the nearby forests. Now featuring limited edition Jams and Jellies made from our Organic Fruits and Herbs!”

Ingredients: Strawberry Leaves, Dandelion Flowers, Marine Clay, Local Honey & Organic Jojoba Oil.

Health benefits: Removes impurities, clarifies, exfoliates and smells amazing!

Used twice weekly it’s amazing for leaving skin soft and cleansed!

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I have also been using Honey Bee Holistics Citrus Scrub!  This coconut, sheer butter based formula smells amazing and is great for baths!  Leaves skin glowing!

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Melissa is super passionate about what she does!  All products contain natural ingredients WITHOUT harmful parabens, petroleum products, and synthetic fragrances! Only natural ingredients that help your body heal itself.
No chemicals or preservatives are EVER used.

She says, ” ♥ I also formulate special products for special needs. If I don’t have it, I can make it.”

Do you have any Honey or Citrus based products to share or have reviewed?  I’d love to hear about them!

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* All Product & Beauty Photographs (C) Tara Mackey 2012