Tag Archives: One Love Organics

I Work Out

Workout

I’ve been Classpass-ing my way through Toronto since I’ve been here.  Working out regularly has made me feel a little more normal, like I live here. Which, I do, but I still can’t quite seem to master cooking at home and grocery shopping. I feel like I either waste food or don’t have everything I need to spice it up and cook properly. To say I’m craving the comforts of my own kitchen would be an understatement. But I am mega thankful that I can use Classpass here without adjusting my membership in any way. So easy! Toronto’s workout scene is pretty awesome – I’ve done “Ladies Who Lift,” tons of barre – including a restorative class where I basically gave myself an intense myofascial treatment with a foam roller (holy moans sounding in that room – hurt so good) and deconstructed yoga. Variety is my jam. Here are a few of the essentials for the #fitbitch life.

fitness finds

I’m paying these GapFit leggings forward. My friend wore them to a class one day and I ordered them the next day (in both colors!) I actually find I like wearing them for lounging and running errands because they don’t feel like workout pants. They’re so flattering with ribbed sides and a slimming waistband.

Most of my workout wardrobe is from Old Navy. Can’t beat the price and everything holds up really well no matter how much you wash them. I love the sexy mesh detail on this top!

Sometimes I shower twice a day (always steamy hot water) so I make moisturizing a serious priority. I absolutely cannot get enough of the One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Body Serum. It’s such a treat to breathe in this aroma and I love the oversized spray handle for easy use. It keeps my skin smooth all day and I think over time has improved the feel of my skin (bold statement but truth!)

I never understood why people have to replace their sneakers so often but I get it now. I love these Nikes but can definitely feel the wear after running and working out in them since the winter. Time for an upgrade.

I stocked up on these Hurraw balms at The Detox Market in Toronto and always keep one in my workout bag. I hate starting a class with dry lips and also don’t want to wear anything with color. These are perfect – and under $5 a pop!

I was in a good place with my Soapwalla citrus deodorant but decided to give PiperWai a try after I heard so many raves. It’s gray in color from the activated charcoal but blends in clear to skin. And it is incredible. You can use it right after shaving without irritation and it holds up the best of anything I tried. I’m a convert.

If you like cold water to stay cold or do any type of hot yoga, then S’well is for you. I’ve been seeing these bottles at gyms for the past year and finally decided to give it a go. Now, it’s the only way I like to drink my water. Cold beverages stay cold (like chillingly cold) for 24 hours. The bottles are mega cute, too. And this is when I admit to you all that I might have a water bottle accessory problem. Oy.

Let’s Do This Thang! A Night for Green Beauty

A Night for Green Beauty 2014

It’s almost here! A Night for Green Beauty is officially going down on Thursday, August 7. This is the second annual event – the first was in New York last September – bringing together eco beauty brand leaders and enthusiastic people (like moi!) for a night of glamour and luxurious eco beauty. It’s free to the public and if you are in SoCal, I hope to see you there on Thursday. If you’re not, I promise to Instagram my way through the event.  I have been counting down the days since Victoria first shared her ANFGB vision with me back when it was still polar vortexing outside. I’ve heard rumblings of new eco beauty debuts and am way excited to check out everyone’s wares.

ANFGB

Beautycounter Lip Sheer – These gold tubes are as chic as can be and I have a feeling what’s inside is equally so. // Indie Lee Blemish Stick– I’m looking forward to meeting Ms. Lee and it’s high time I tried the blemish stick that everyone is raving about. Laurel Organics Eye Balm – Did someone say BALM? This has a blend of 24 ingredients that address fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. Word is that they are giving out 20 full-sized samples at the event.  // La Bella Figura Golden Corrective Highlighter  – LBF is launching their makeup line this week! Or should I say “more than makeup” since it is skincare first, color second. I need this golden cream highlighter on my cheekbones yesterday. // One Love Organics Vitamin C Body OilI have warm and fuzzies towards this body serum and team OLO is using ANFGB as a focus group for its new body polish. Holla! // Odacite Serum ConcentrateI’m hoping the Odacite crew can give me advice for a custom pure elements plan.  Each drop is a concentrated dose of vitamins and antioxidants and you mix and match to suit your needs. // LURK Perfume OilI first met Anne Sanford of LURK at last year’s event and was enchanted by her beautiful perfume oils. This one is rose on rose on rose and I can’t get enough. Rumor is she has something new coming out this week, too. //  Kahina Fez Hand & Body Balm – Again. Did someone say BALM? Can’t wait to massage this into my mitts!

The Birkenstocks Revival

Birkenstock-Beauty

Birkenstocks are back and now that I’ve got my feet in a pair I’m concerned I may never wear another shoe again. It’s like a cozy cocoon for my feet and I’m just wondering who I have to thank for these being “fashionable” again. I completely get why some people stayed in their Birks since 1994. There really is a better way. Consider me a convert (for now). As my friend Lindsay joked, is this a slippery slope to the land of tangled hair and no makeup for me? Hardly, though the Birkenstocks revival is inspiring a whole new wave of simplified summertime living for me.

Nourish Fig Deodorant. I’ve long gone natural with my deo and Nourish is the one I always go back to. I need reliable in the summer months. // Fez Body Serum. Patchouli and Birks, what can I say, they just go together. But there’s more to this body serum than a stereotype – there’s rose, orange blossom layered with vetiver, ylang-ylang and hints of cumin and clove. Please make this into a perfume, Kahina! //  S.W. Basics Toner. I discovered this apple cider vinegar toner last summer and it balanced my skin and prevented breakouts like a champ. It’s back in action again, morning and night on a clean face. // Madewell Piazza Maxi Dress. The great thing about Birks is they go with everything.  Shorts, jeans and especially flowy dresses. I love this in red and white. // Birkenstocks. I went with the Gizeh Birko-Flor in Golden Brown. On my foot, I thought this fit was the most flattering. A requisite for wearing these non-stop: a great pedi color. // Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Castile Soap. This is the soap equivalent of Birkenstocks. The question is: what can’t you wash with Dr. Bronner’s? The rose is my favorite. //  Meow Meow Tweet Tweet Camper’s Kit. Mosquitoes are enemy number one in summer. For a night out on the lake, bring reinforcements. MMTT’s Insect Repellent doubles as a perfume. For real…not just when you’re wearing Birks. // One Love Organics Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo. The longer I go between washes, the better my hair looks. The key is a great dry shampoo and powder formulas are the best.

Your Face Wash Might Be Illegal

face-exfoliators

Exfoliating as you know it is will never be the same, at least in Illinois. And it’s good news. The state became the first to ban the use of synthetic microbeads in soaps and scrubs. Usually made of plastic, these tiny beads are hiding in plain sight in your face and body wash and even in your toothpaste.Not surprisingly, they’re causing all sorts of problems. Think millions of tiny beads going down your drains, absorbing who knows what before making their way into Lake Michigan only to be eaten by fish and marine life. You’re right to question what their business is in our personal care. Are we seriously relying on plastic to smooth out our skin anyway? I ditched those formulas after realizing that they usually come with a nasty breakout, too. Not quite the package deal I’m looking for. Change doesn’t happen overnight so it will be a few years before shelves change dramatically.

The good news: we’ve got options. Incredible, plastic-free options. Let’s talk scrubbing sinkside, today.

1. One Love Organics Cleansing Sponge. Submerge this adorable heart-shaped sponge in water and it turns into a squishy heart-shaped exfoliator that removes your makeup and polishes your skin. It’s so gentle that you’ll wonder if it really is working…it is. // 2. Tatcha Polished. This creamy rice-based exfoliant makes me feel way fancy. It’s like massaging silk on your face and results in the smoothest baby soft skin. It’s water-activated so you’re in control of the consistency every time. // 3. Acure Brightening Facial Scrub. Sea kelp and chlorella are the buffing superstars and French green clay extracts oil and buildup form pores. There’s something so satisfying about the deep green color. // 4. M-61 Brilliant Cleanse. You don’t actually need grains, seeds or any other physical exfoliant to get the job done. M-61’s creamy formula has a blend of four alpha beta hydroxy acids – glycolic, salicylic, lactic and malic – along with grapefruit and orange peel extract to gently remove dead surface skin. This is great for oily skin since the creamy formula doesn’t dry you out. // 5. May Lindstrom The Clean Dirt. Clays, warming spices and healing salts are the base of this exfoliating cocktail that does wonders skin. It’s like at-home microderm. Blackheads will disappear, skin will be soft and toned and you’ll feel like a million bucks. // 6. S.W. Basics Exfoliant. This proves you only need a few ingredients. Oats, almonds and sea salt – that’s the full list. Simplicity at its finest.

Seven New Beauty Products to Love This Summer

summer-beauty-products

Summer is here, officially, and with it comes so much new beauty. There’s more to swoon over than just bronzer, though that will always excite me, too. Each and every one of these pretty newbies has me thinking of hot summer days and nights.

Sara Happ Clementine Lip Scrub – This sweet orange box is like a present for making it to June. The sweet citrus, sugar and oils are exactly what is needed to get your lips lipstick-ready. // Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil Primer – This does for your hair what primer does for your face. So much promise in this bottle…less frizz, UV protection, detangles, less breakage. // Ruffian Endless Summer Collection  – I so was hoping for one of these metallic polishes in my Birchbox. Each one is prettier than the next, but that blue…right? // Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand Eyeshadow Palette – Bobbi Brown is the master of nude eyeshadow and her summer twist is everything. That gold, dusty matte clay and all of those seashell pinks…I mean….perfect. // By Terry Cheek to Cheek – This is a brand new type of blush…a syrup, technically. I need to get myself over to Space NK stat to see what this is all about. // Lollibalm – Benefit done did it again with a balm version of their iconic tints. This is a brand that knows how to please. // One Love Organics Gardenia Body Serum – This is summer southern charm in a bottle. The spray nozzle ensures a fine mist to give your body the right amount of dewy glow.

To Dew…Vitamin C Body Oil

ED-OLO-Body-Serum

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!

How to Make Foundation Look Natural

LaBellaFigura-Jardin-de-Fleurs

I want it all when it comes to my makeup. I especially want that full coverage foundation to look completely natural, like it is my actual skin. The good news, it is much easier to get that second skin look than you think. The first step is a moisturized face — makeup just won’t sit well on dry skin and will only get worse as the day wears on. Dry office air, anyone? It’s the second step, though, that really makes the difference. After applying your foundation (cream/liquid/tinted moisturizer), spritz a toning mist all over your face and buff buff buff. And buff some more. I take my Cargo Magic Brush (the name says it all) and spritz the La Bella Figura Jardin de Fleurs all over. The key is to do it right after applying foundation and before any other makeup. The finish is dewy and natural—so good you could stop right there. But, I’d recommend a few dabs of cream blush on the cheeks for good measure. I adore LBF’s mist with coconut water and hyaluronic acid for hydration and jasmine, honeysuckle, rose, carrot seed hydrosol (see ya redness!) and white peony to balance PH levels in skin. But, you don’t need to spend a lot of dollars to benefit from this trick. The Heritage Rosewater & Glycerin, at about $6 a bottle, is equally up to the task.

Toning-Mist

A few of my favorites, low-to-luxe style:

$ Rosewater & Glycerin Spray / 100% Pure Organic Rose Hydrasol $$ Caudalie Beauty Elixir / ZENMED Nutrient Boost Spray / ED4OLO Vitamin D  $$$ Kahina Toning Mist / La Bella Figura Jardin de Fleurs / Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence

Washing Your Face Will Never Be The Same

Face-Cleansers

I’m not sure how it happened, but suddenly washing my face is one of the most exciting parts of my day. We all do it, but do you ever stop and think about it? Of course not. Washing your face is a necessary utility, and one that more often or not leaves your face feeling dry and stripped. If anything gives me that feeling now, it’s a total red flag. One that is usually followed by multiple breakouts. The absolute worst. Good news, you don’t have to scrub your face off for it to truly be clean. I predict this year will be the year of the face wash. It’s a changing, people, all for the good. Forget about soap and water, and get excited about the new guard.

Vitamin B and fruit enzymes. The Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics oil cleanser is not just a “first step” like so many other oil cleansers. It’s the only one you need and you’ll savor every moment you spend massaging this onto skin. Marvel at how easily it takes off your makeup and how soft and moisturized your skin feels after.

Oil meets gel. Now, this one is a pre-release sample but I couldn’t NOT include La Bella Figura’s incredible cleanser. I’m pretty sure they made it for me, since it smells of rose and pink grapefruit. Apply 1-2 pumps onto dry skin and then soak a hot muslin cloth over skin to remove. I am impressed with how well this removes makeup and love the fluffy gel texture. Coming soon!

Hana-Lavender-Grains-Cleanser

Grains. Washing your face with clay and oats results in baby smooth skin. Hana Organics added some poppy seeds and lavender and created a dry mix you blend with water to create a paste. Thicken the mixture if you fancy a mask. Bonus: it exfoliates as well!

Mud. It looks and tastes like chocolate pudding. That alone is all I need but of course May created much more than dessert with Honey Mud. Honey is a natural antibacterial and witch hazel, frankincense and myrrh do their part as well (no breakouts, promise!)

Plant fibers. Sensitive skin types, listen up. Dr. Sponge can be used on you, and also babies. It’s soft like jello and can be used day or night. It removes makeup (if a heavy makeup day, you may need backup), dirt, oil and absolutely demolishes blackheads. I’m a convert.

The Best of 2013

Best-Beauty-2013

I’m not good with goodbyes, but I’m ready to give 2013 its final sendoff. The promise a brand new one holds is pretty thrilling, especially when this year has been so good to me. I hit publish on my very first 312 Beauty post in January, the start of a wild and crazy ride! There was the time Refinery29 included me in a list of bloggers “you need to be reading,” the reminiscing I did on wedding day beauty for POPSUGAR and the segment I did on Chicago’s FOX 32 on Memorial Day. I’m still awestruck from meeting so many incredible women at A Night for Green Beauty and honored I got to interview Butter LONDON’s global colour ambassador Katie Hughes, Space NK founder Nicky Kinniard and Illamasqua founder Julian Kynaston when they came to Chicago.  Most of all, I’ve had the best time talking beauty and getting to know so many of you (on the internet and in real life!) Let’s do more of that next year, k?

I can’t wait to see what the next year in beauty will bring. It’s fitting that my last post of 2013 is all about the products I loved most this year. I give you, my top 10!

Deborah Lippmann Glitter and Be Gay is hands down, the best nail polish I bought all year. I wore this constantly! The sparkling yellow gold and bits of blue holographic glitter are killer.

I used to think that salt sprays were drying until I tried Davines This Is A Sea Salt Spray. It’s the best styling aid for my type of hair (stick straight). I spray on dry hair before I curl and get the softest waves that last all day. No small miracle.

Everything I thought about natural mascara changed thanks to Kjaer Weis. The 99.8% organic mascara is better than most others (natural or otherwise). Plus, it smells like roses!

I tried at least a dozen facial oils this year and Lina Hanson’s Global Face Serum was easily my fav. It plumps up my skin and makeup looks better when I apply this first. The scent, from a blend of 11+ exotic plant oils, is intoxicatingly good.

ILIA Cosmic Dancer is the most flattering gold highlighter. It’s soft and brightening and not the least bit brassy. Word is that it’s limited edition for the holidays, which I’m not ready to accept.

Katie Hughes herself introduced me to Butter London Cheeky Crème Blush in Pistol Pink. It’s a bright pop of color and you can dab it on your lips, too.

This year will go down as the year of MAC RiRi Woo. It was released several times with all of Rihanna’s MAC collections and it sold out quickly with each one. Worth the hype.

My mornings were greatly improved after discovering R.L. Linden & Co Thousand Petal Beautifying Mist, which is like a blast of floral adrenaline. Plus, I want to be friends with the owners. They seem like such cool chicks!

Washing my face will never be the same. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil exfoliates with plant extracts as it breaks down all of your makeup. Two thumbs up.

I’ll never be Camilla Belle, but at least I have Benefit Gimme Brow to get me a little closer in the brow department. It’s part brow filler part volumizer and takes 2.5 seconds to apply. I’m already on my second tube!

Happy New Year!

This list is daBalm.com

Holiday-Gift-Guide-Balm

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? How about a balmy one? You know where I’m going with this. I’d say a tube of lip balm is a consummate gift but as a balm extremist, I take it to a whole new level. I had to create a dedicated gift guide on this topic alone to explore what’s out there beyond that tube of Chapstick. These are all daBalm.com. Get to it!

These S.W. Basics lip balms taste like dessert and are a favorite of mine. I think the flight of four is such a fab gift.

The best part of balms is how many ways you can use them. Take Revolution Organics up on their challenge of 22+ ways to get your balm on.

I actually treated myself to an early May Lindstrom holiday present (it’s all Cyber Monday’s fault). The Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm Concentrate is the stuff dreams are made of.

I consider introducing people to One Love Organics Skin Savior a public service. Mix this with your mineral makeup to make a cream, slather it on dry spots and you’ll soon realize that life is just better with Skin Savior.

The W3LL People Nudist Lip Shines are on my wish list! Every single color.

The RMS Beauty Skin & Lip Balm is a hidden treasure! You could certainly use on your lip, but I think this is great to apply on the face and cuticles for extra moisture.

Twas A Night For Green Beauty

One-Love-Organics

I’m back from a quick 36-hour jaunt to NYC for A Night for Green Beauty. You know what happens when you bring together a group of fanatical beauty bloggers, makeup artists, editors, brands and juice-spiked cocktails? Really amazing discussions on things like, which natural deodorant did you wear to the party? For the record, the answers were really interesting – the Green Product Junkie even whipped out a roll-on tube of Milk of Magnesia on the spot. And the proof is in the pudding, ladies. Take a good look at the glowing skin of these green gurus and you will be an instant natural skincare convert. Lina Hanson is so beautiful you almost can’t look at her directly and I really just can’t EVEN with May Lindstrom. Stunning.

While breaking down an entire night of green beauty goodness will be tough, I’ll give it a go!

Lurk

Pretty little Lurk fragrance oils

One of the stylists at James Corbett Salon sat me down in his chair for a much-needed refresh with Tela Organics hair care. I usually give the stank eye to stylists who come at me with a paste but I’m glad I was feeling risky or I never would have discovered the Tela Beach Hair. The oomph it gave to my roots was pure sexpot. I now know never to doubt when shea butter is involved. This won’t be the last you hear from me on this product!

ILIA-Beauty

ILIA’s Sasha Plavsic and me

ILIA Founder Sasha Plavsic shared some deets on new launches. Look out for a new gold highlighter to come this holiday and reformulated mascaras. Also, you need to try the ILIA Lipstick Crayon in Call Me. It’s the perfect girly pink I’ve been searching for like ever.

La Bella Figura is at it again with exotic travel-inspired fragrance oils. This time, they brought to scent their experiences from San Miguel, Istanbul and Positano.  I’m partial to San Miguel, which Victoria will vividly paint the picture of how it came to be based on her experiences in the city during Dia De Los Muertos and how the streets smelled of fresh bread, cocoa, cinnamon, wildflowers and incense.

Lina Hanson is also working on taking the fresh grapefruit and vanilla aroma of her new Global Body Serum and turning it into a fragrance.  And, for moms of wee ones, she is also launching a Baby Serum this fall.

I chatted with team Kjaer Weis, pressing for details on the new foundation coming and getting in some physical exercise by doing reps with the weighty compacts! I’d be one happy gal if my makeup bag was filled to the brim, even if it caused lower back pain! I need to get on the taupe eye shadow Wisdom stat.

Rev-Organics-Green-Product-Junkie

Alexandra of Revolution Organics touching up Katie of the Green Product Junkie

Summer may be fleeting but bronzer is here to stay. Revolution Organics Co-founder Alexandra Zanella showed me how to use the Bronzed Freedom Glow to bring life to the face. A fun and easy trick that actually makes you look like you were in the sun? Blending ever so slightly a dab on the tip of your nose.

After standing in my four-inch booties for hours, I was feeling the burn and onset of blisters. First time in boots all season is killer! It was fate that at that very moment I struck a conversation with Britta Aragon, founder of CV Skinlabs, who spritzed me down with her Rescue + Relief Spray. Instant cooling effect. I can see myself getting a little trigger happy with this mist!

Gotta love how this event all started with my Chicago ladies of La Bella Figura! Thanks for being such wonderful hosts.

I Took the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Challenge…Here’s Why

neutrogena-ultra-gentle-cleanser

I’ll be honest with you – I’m pretty happy with my face wash. What I’m not totally happy with is YOURS. I’m speaking generally, of course, but be straight with me: Do you use Cetaphil? I’m not one to single out products and brands, but if there was ever a product that needed cleaning up, Cetaphil is it. It’s essentially water and chemicals. Lots of ’em. Sure, it may feel gentle on your skin but it’s the last thing you want to be cleaning your face with. My girl Bets summed it up perfectly…Cetaphil is the devil.  Yet, I hear from friends, coworkers and family constantly that it’s their go-to. I asked a girlfriend to break down the reasons she buys this it and it came down to price and accessibility (and the perpetuated myth that it is GOOD for you).

To help you navigate the drugstore skin care aisle a little better, I decided to take the Neutrogena Ultra-Gentle Cleanser Challenge. I marched on over to CVS after work one day and handed over my $9 for a bottle, which BTW is massive! I appreciate the short(er) ingredient list, of which only one really bothers me (but as it turns out, not my skin). That ingredient is a “fragrance” (always so vague) which Neutrogena promises won’t irritate even the most sensitive of skin.

After seven days of ignoring my Chia Whip in favor of the Ultra Gentle, I was unscathed and overall pleased with its performance. No breakouts, redness or otherwise hiccups. Skin felt balanced and never dry or tight. It is also excellent with the Clarisonic — so foamy and gets every trace of gunk outta pores. While I’m not quite ready to trade in my truly natural formulas, Neutrogena did us all a solid with the Ultra Gentle.

The challenge is still on (see here) if you are so inclined to switch things up. And, if you are using a face wash that starts with a ‘C’ and ends with a  ‘phil’…you know what to do.

Beauty Serums for the Body

Lina-Hanson-FB

{Inspiration from Lina Hanson via Facebook}

Once you begin beauty oil-ing, you just don’t stop. It’s been the best skin care shake-up for me. It makes sense to extend that goodness to the body, right? Skin care absolutely shouldn’t be limited to just the skin on our face. Lucky for us, body serums are a growing trend. I’ve begun dabbling with these body serums by One Love Organics (oh, the Rose!) and have noticed a difference in my skin. It’s smoother to the touch and I feel good knowing that my largest organ is absorbing healthy ingredients that actually benefit skin. La Bella Figura is set to launch one soon – and you know the ingredient list will be turn-back-time style. And this month, celebrity makeup artist Lina Hanson— of Global Face Serum beauty oil fame!— is launching her new Global Body Serum.

Lina-Hanson-Global-Body-Serum

Lina preps and primes some of the most beautiful faces in Hollywood with her Face Serum – Natalie Portman, Emma Stone and Morena Baccarin have all sported the Lina-induced global glow. Like its sister oil, the Global Body Serum contains 10 super oils sourced from around the globe: rice bran, apricot kernel, argan, yuzu, vanilla, camellia seed, brazil nut, pumpkin seed, grapefruit and avocado.  Isn’t it refreshing to be able to pronounce all of the ingredients? What’s even better is how it feels to massage this on to damp skin. Just as you do your face serums, press this on to your skin. I focus it on my chest to start and then blend outward. I mix a few drops of it in with my Weleda when moisturizing my legs as I don’t want to use too much of the oil (it’s a splurge!)

Lina timed the launch of Global Body Serum to World Environment Day, June 5. A splurge on either of her Global Serums from June 15 through August 15 means 15% of proceeds go to the International Rescue Committee. Global Body Serum retails for $63 and is available at LinaHanson.com.

P.S. While we’re on the topic of splurges, it’s only fair to share my favorite budget body oil buy! Check it here

Low to Luxe: Eye Cream

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!

Best-eye-creams

Low to Luxe: Acure Organics // Origins // Kiehl’s // Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics // La Bella Figura

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)

Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics

Elizabeth-Dehn-One-Love-Organics

What happens when two of the most ingredient-conscious skin care mavens join forces? A whole lotta vitamins and plant power with a healthy side of dew and glow, that’s what. One Love Organics co-founder Suzanne LeReoux and beauty editor extraordinaire Elizabeth Dehn of Beauty Bets teamed up to create the Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics collection. It’s inspired me to go all PSA on you:  YOLO so #ED4OLO. We only have one face, so treat it right. Right?

The debut collection includes a Vitamin C Serum and a Vitamin E Eye Balm. It’s crazy good stuff, guys. The Serum has a “don’t mess with me” blend of vitamins A, C, D & E and is rich in rare fatty acid Omega 7 and Omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids. The vitamin C is an ester formula, which means it’s more active and stable on skin. Have no fear of irritation and just let it work its magic on the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and bask in the beautiful rose aroma. As for the Eye Balm, this may be the most concentrated balm I’ve used (earning it a prime spot on my balm-inspired Pinterest board).  The first ingredient is shea butter and it just gets better from there with vitamins A, D & E, organic fennel (helps reduce puffiness), pomegranate, eyebright and ginseng to lift and plump. The tiniest fleck is all you need for day, but a heavier layer overnight makes for some real beauty sleep.

The most pressing question I have now is what are these ladies going to do next?

Shop the collection here.

note: samples provided for editorial consideration