I’m so grateful for friends like Elizabeth who introduce words like dewify into my vocab by way of her beauty collab with One Love Organics. The entire vitamin alphabet soup line of products is intensely hydrating and yes, dewifies your complexion effortlessly. It all started here and then this cleanser happened…and has continued to happen for me. It is that good. The way it breaks down makeup, brightens and exfoliates with yummy papaya. It also smells like a tropical vacation up in that bottle, with a bit of pineapple. I’m not the only one who wanted to soak my entire body in it—the cult following behind E4OLO (Club Dew?!) inspired ED and OLO to make a sister product, the brand new Vitamin C Body Oil that launched today. Cue multiples of my fav emoji. Holla! I’ve been using it for the past week and it is the business. The body equiv of a facial thanks to concentrated vitamin c, papaya enzymes and organic shea oil. Just in time for maxi dress season!
Remember when I told you about A Night for Green Beauty? It’s all set to go down in New York on September 4, and I can hardly wait. Not only are so many of my favorite brands all gathering in a single room (owners and all!), but some of my favorite green beauty bloggers will be there as well. I am going to geek out! I’d say the skin care secrets tag that’s been floating around the green beauty blogosphere landed here at just the right time. Thanks to Kimberyloc for sending this my way.
It doesn’t like to be classified, but it leans towards oily.
What’s your favorite skin care product?
I love the feeling of freshly exfoliated skin, but am careful not to overdo it. So my favorite product(s) – what, you think I can just pick one?! – are my scrubs and exfoliators. Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask is the one thing I can’t wait to do every week. It is powerful, so I actually use it about once every 10-14 days. Bonus: it smells ever so faintly of chocolate. And, I am newly obsessed with Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil. Not only does it remove all traces of makeup it exfoliates as well with fruit enzymes from papayas. How many cleansing oils do that? Total power player.
Major yay. I tend to use these more in the summer time and I always tote them along when I travel. Most of the time, I’m not packing my cleansing oil on trips, so I like to use a towelette as a first step in makeup removal. At the moment, I’m partial to Alba Good & Clean. One side is slightly textured if you need a little extra oomph or exfoliation.
Toner: Yay or Nay?
The word toner conjures up bottles of Sea Breeze to me, but 100% yay. I get my mist fix now with plant oils and hyaluronic acid and I use them at a freakishly fast pace. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin D Mist is lovely as is Kahina Toning Mist. And now that La Bella Figura Jardin de Fleurs Revitalizing Mist — love the fah-ncy name — is available I’ve got to get my mitts on a big bottle.
High-end skin care or high-end make-up?
I’ve long justified both, and I like to think of my high-end purchases as more high-quality. Not every product needs to break the bank, but I try not to guilt myself if I spend way too much on something.
You’re in a pharmacy and can only pick up one item — what is it?
Most likely a magazine or Q-Tips! I love the Precision Tips kind with the pointed edge and use them constantly. I can’t paint my nails without them and they are really useful to smudge eyeliner into a slight little kitten eye.
Tell us your top skincare tips.
The first is the most basic, but it’s so important to have a routine. Remove your makeup every night, moisturize and SPF every morning, etc. I’m always surprised when people tell me they don’t wash their face. It feels so good! Also:
· Don’t touch your face. Our hands are so germy!
· Exfoliate weekly.
· Protect your skin from the sun. Be it by sunscreen, big hats or straight avoidance.
· Wear an eye cream every day and night. It’s never too early to start.
I’d love to hear from any and all of you on these questions. And, go visit Genuine Glow and Pemberley Jones and see how they answered these same Qs.
It wasn’t long ago that my friend Catherine asked me to break down the best makeup for busy moms. And right before she came back from maternity leave, she specifically pegged me on eye cream recommendations. I’m no expert on mom beauty shortcuts yet, but I know eye cream. I started using it when I was around 19 (Clinique All About Eyes, a beginner’s staple!) and I’m a firm believer that it needs to be a part of every woman’s routine. It’s never too early or late to add that step, and the payoff is major. I’ve put together a list of my top recommendations, in low to luxe fashion. I like options, and I imagine you do as well!
Acure Organics Eye Cream is one of the best values I’ve come across — especially considering the organic, superfruit-packed formula (Acai! Pomegranate! Goji berry!) It’s lightweight but don’t worry, it’s fighting the good fight against wrinkles. One of my favorite things about this brand is that for every product sold, they donate $1 to Bright Pink to help fund breast cancer education.
I went through a major Origins GinZing phase a few years back and it remains a favorite. It’s like a cup of coffee for your eyes, with a blend of caffeine, ginseng and optic brighteners to bring visible radiance to the eye area. I like to blend my concealer with a dab of this and apply together. It’s a good morning boost.
I am a fan of most of Kiehl’s eye creams, and I really like the new Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream. It uses Copper PCA (an essential mineral in the skin) to prevent the breakdown of collagen. I love how quickly skin drinks it up (making it very easy to wear during the day) and the formula has a solid blend of wrinkle-fighters and moisturizers.
My new obsession is the shea-packed vitamin e eye balm from Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics. Shea butter is everything! The value in this tiny tub is crazy, given how little you need. It’s daytime appropriate, but best suited for night when you can layer it on for some good old fashioned beauty sleep. Elizabeth advised me to dab some on my lips and cuticles. I did so with the leftover on my finger after applying undereyes —- there’s never any waste!
I’ve saved the luxe for last! And it’s not even an eye cream but an oil serum – La Bella Figura Découverte Eye Repair Serum. I like to call it my magic eraser. If you are looking to really combat the crow’s feet, you need to call in the big guns. Découverte is made from pure barbary fig seed oil and it’s extremely effective in making stressed tissue appear smooth and youthful. I don’t throw around the “miracle” word like ever but I think this can actually help reverse signs of aging. It’s a worthy investment and the good news is a little bit goes a long way.
note: some editorial samples were provided (Kiehl’s, Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics & La Bella Figura)
