Category Archives: Beauty

Amazing Organic Skincare Ingredients That You May Not Know About, pt. 3

February 10, 2012

Organic Ingredients for Healing

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite organic skincare ingredients. So far we’ve covered ingredients that are food for your skin, restoring skin pigment, protecting against UV damage, and even aiding in DNA repair. We’ve also covered a few really wonderful essential oils and hydrosols. This week we’re moving into new territory and talking about ingredients that are helpful for people who have trouble with specific skin conditions like eczema, herpes and cold sores, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis. There’s no need to use harsh chemicals if you suffer from any of these. There are a lot of gentler ways to help your skin heal and restore it to its naturally healthy state.

 

Soothing and Pacifying Roots, Leaves, Seeds, and Oils

Magic Healing Balm is a soothing creme that promotes healthy skin by providing deep hydration, helping regenerate skin cells, and stopping the growth of bacteria that are at cause for skin infections.

 

 

 

What makes my skin love it so much?

It’s made with some of the most powerfully anti-viral and deeply moisturizing ingredients, including chaparral leaf, burdock root, lemon balm, sarsaparilla root, fenugreek seed, pomegranate seed oil, and immortele essential oil.

 

How do they work?

  • Chaparral Leaf is believed to have originated in Argentina before beginning to grow wildly in the US, where it has been used by native americans for thousands of years. It contains various amino acids, estrogen-like lignans, and zinc and has some truly remarkable healing effects when applied to skin directly.
  • Burdock Root is rich in antioxidants and acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Traditionally, it has been used to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, and various skin infections.
  • Lemon Balm, despite its name, is actually member of the mint family, named for its lemon-scent. It has been shown to quickly relieve itching and aide in the healing of lesions and sores caused by the herpes virus, as well as provide benefit when applied to many other viral skin infections.
  • Sarsaparilla Root was thought historically to be a cure for all kinds of maladies, but for the past hundred years has been largely disregarded. Recently, it is coming back into the spotlight because some of it special properties, like saponins, as a possible treatment for a viral infections, most notably herpes, as well as other skin conditions.
  • Fenugreek Seed is traditionally used as a spice, but contains a wide variety of biologically active constituents that have been shown to possibly help blood sugar regulation in diabetics and even increase breast milk production in lactating mothers. Most interestingly, however, is that fenugreek seed has been used for many years to treat acne, boils, and eczema.
  • Pomegranate Seed Oil is an extremely rich and luxurious oil. It penetrates deep into the epidermis of the skin. It contains potent antioxidants – fighting free radicals, and promoting cell regeneration. It helps to reverse skin damage. It is anti-aging,  highly moisturizing, and nourishing to skin. It is also beneficial for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Pomegranate Seed Oil is bountiful in flavonoids and punicic acid, both of which have amazing skin and health benefits. Punicic acid, is metabolically similar to conjugated linolenic acids (CLAs), making it helpful for the metabolic system, so this precious beauty oil is also wonderful for internal use.
  • Helichrysum (Immortele) Essential Oil has been praised for quite some time for its ability to simulate the renewal of skin cells. In addition to it’s ability to diminish scars, fine lines, and wrinkles, it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
Also posted in Facial Oils, Healing, Ingredient Spotlight, New Product Spotlight, Skin and Body, Skin Conditions – 0 Comments

Amazing Organic Skincare Ingredients That You May Not Know About, pt. 2

February 3, 2012


Organic Ingredients for Facial Care

Last week, I shared some amazing organic skincare ingredients that I use in my own Living Earth Beauty line. I’ve talked about such magical things as mucuna, mangosteen, and chaga, and now I’d like to share with you some of the balancing ingredients that are especially beneficial for use in facial toning and cleansing.

 

 

 

Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Microbial Essential Oils

 

Citrus sunrise doubles as an organic facial toner and cleanser and is not only generally uplifting, invigorating, and a pleasure to use, but it has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial properties that make it a gentle skin cleanser and exfoliant is great for all skin types and also helps with acne and oily skin while promoting a healthy skin pH.

 

 

What makes my skin love it so much?

Citrus sunrise is made with several hydrosols and essential oils, including, calendula hyrdrosol, lemon verbana, and a variety of citrus oils (mandarin, lemon, lime peel, and blood orange).

 

 

How do they work?

  • Calendula is a truly versatile herb that can be used beneficially for just about anything skin related. It’s useful for rashes, hotspots, scratches, abrasions, sunburns, scars, and many skin disorders. Calendula hydrosol makes a great all around skin tonic and it has a refreshing, mildly sweet floral scent.
  • Lemon verbena has a strong antioxidant capacity, making it revitalizing for all skin types and a great aid for cellular regeneration. Not only that, it’s a mild astringent, a gentle skin cleanser, and is lightly stimulating and uplifting.
  • Mandarin essential oil, aside from having an invigorating scent, is a natural antiseptic that gently cleanses the skin and clears away harmful bacteria while helping balance oily skin and heal acne.
  • Lemon essential oil is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, making it an excellent natural aid for cleansing and returning skin to its healthy balanced state.
  • Lime peel essential oil has similar properties that make it an excellent complement to lemon essential oil. In addition, it can be slightly more helpful with acne and it adds a pleasantly tart scent to anything it’s used in.
  • Blood orange essential oil is said to be the most antidepressant of all of the essential oils. Similar to the other citrus oils, it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

 

Rejuvenating and Cleansing Hydrosols

 

Moonlight Mist is the natural evening compliment to Citrus Sunrise. While Citrus Sunrise is invigorating and rejuvenating while deeply and gently cleansing skin, Moonlight Mist is soothing, calming, and relaxing – perfect for clearing away the day’s debris and sinking into a sweet, lovely evening before bed.

 

 

Why does my skin love it so much?

Moonlight Mist is made with several special ingredients, including, rose hydrosol, tulsi (holy basil) hydrosol, rose geranium essential oil, and chamomile essential oil. Deeply hydrating and soothing, these leave skin feeling refreshed and soft.

 

 

 

How do they work?

  • Rose hydrosol is predominantly a gentle cooling and anti-inflammatory agent, and has possibly been used for thousands of years for just that purpose. However, it has been found more recently to also have anti-bacterial properties which help regulate skin oil production.
  • Tulsi (holy basil) hydrosol is soothing and calming, and has excellent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is a highly medicinal herb and is considered a sacred plant.
  • Rose geranium hydrosol has been used to assist wound healing for centuries. It has analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it excellent for gently cleansing skin, helping with acne, and balancing skin pH.
  • Chamomile essential oil, similar to those above, has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also is antispasmodic and analgesic. It is extremely healing and wonderful for treating skin conditions. It has a gently sweet, apple-like aroma. Chamomile has been used for centuries in aromatherapy and is known as an anti-depressant and an herb of calming.
Also posted in Ingredient Spotlight, New Product Spotlight, Skin and Body – 1 Comment

Amazing Organic Skincare Ingredients That You May Not Know About

January 27, 2012

Raw, Healing, & Organic

 

I’m always seeking out the most amazing and potent plants, herbs, and fruits both for internal healing and skin rejuvenation. My skincare line is abundantly full of these magical ingredients, perfect for creating the most beautiful skin ever. Each of these treasures deserves it’s own book, but here’s a quick taste of just how amazing some of these ingredients are.

 

 

Raw and Edible Ingredients

 

Supernatural Facial Serum is designed to be applied as skin food, prior to moisturizing with Bee Beauty. It helps to firm skin, improve skin texture and tone, and stimulate collagen renewal. It also helps create an even skin tone, restoring your skin’s natural pigment, as well as, repair and protecting against UV damage, and even aiding DNA repair.  It is also nice for soothing eczema and other skin conditions.

What makes my skin love it so much?

First of all, Supernatural is a completely raw, vegan, and organic skincare product. But what really sets it apart is a divine mixture of several highly potent ingredients, including: goji berry, rhodiola root, amla berry, mucuna pruriens, camu camu berry, noni, chaga mushroom, and mangosteen.

How do they work?

  • Goji berries have very high levels of antioxidants as they contain a whole host of healthy vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and phytochemicals. Applying all of this to your skin will support its revitalization, evening out its texture and leaving it feeling taut and smooth.
  • Rhodiola is not only another excellent source of antioxidants, but it increases collagen synthesis and skin cell proliferation by increasing hydroxyproline and hexosamine levels. It has UV-protection, regenerative, anti-stress, and anti-fatigue properties.
  • Amla has cooling astringent properties and is used in ayurvedic medicine as a treatment all sorts of skin disorders. Deeply cleansing, it helps clear acne and tones the skin.
  • Mucuna pruriens leaves and seeds have long been used in ayurvedic medicine. As an organic skincare ingredient, it burns fat from the fat cells, decreases cellulite and wrinkles, and can even improve cholesterol levels and strengthen the immune system.
  • Camu camu is the one of most potent antioxidant Vitamin C fruits in the world with six times more antioxidant capacity than acai berries. This makes it a potent anti-aging superfruit and an excellent ingredient to assist in collagen production.
  • Noni contains high amounts of powerful antioxidants and aids the body in the production of xeronine by providing the necessary building blocks for it. Xeronine is very effective at repairing damaged cells, making noni a powerful source of anti-aging properties.
  • Chaga is very rich in melanin, which nourishes your skin cells, restores their natural pigment, and even aids in DNA repair. In some select clinical trials in the medical community, treatment with chaga extract has been shown to greatly reduce psoriasis.
  • Mangosteen is being found more and more to be an effective treatment for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and a number of other skin disorders. Thanks to the presence of tannic acid in the rind of the mangosteen fruit (technically called a “pericarp”), it acts as an excellent natural astringent. In the right amounts, it gently cleanses and exfoliates while clearing away harmful bacteria. Mangosteen fruit also contains organic compounds called xanthonoids, which are currently being examined for their potential disease ameliorating effects.

 

Also posted in Facial Oils, Ingredient Spotlight, Skin and Body – 4 Comments

New Product Review: Morrocco Method Styling Dragon Pomade

January 20, 2012

 

What is it?

Everyone would love to have radiantly healthy hair. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t an abundance of natural, organic haircare products available right now. So when it comes to styling those beautiful locks, there haven’t been too many options for those of us who demand pure, healthy options.

I’m always on the lookout for the best new organic products, and we just received a new styling cream that I’m pretty excited to tell you about. I had the chance to try it out recently, and I can say firsthand that it’s pretty fantastic.

 

Where does it come from?

Styling Dragon Pomade is made by our friends at Morocco Method. You may have already heard about them and their fantastic shampoos. This is their latest creation.

It’s 100% natural, as well as chemical and preservative free. It actually conditions and smoothes hair throughout the day too.

Its primary ingredients are shea butter and beeswax with brahmi, apricot kernel, and spikenard oils – all wonderful things that your hair is sure to love while giving you good styling control.

 

How does it feel to use it?

The first thing you’re sure to notice as you get it into your hands is how soft and creamy it is. It’s not sticky and stiff like most pomades you’ve probably come across in your life.

I have long curly hair, and a little of it rubbed between my hands and applied to hair tames frizz, defines curls, and adds shiny softness. The best part, for me, is that my hair still feels soft and natural. I can still run my hands through it. And it’s unscented, which is great. For straight hair, it helps to add texture and tame fly-aways.

It provides a mild to medium hold all day (with an extra firm hold version coming soon). You can now style hair naturally and hair still feels soft and not waxy or stiff.

 

How do I use it?

Since Styling Dragon Pomade is completely organic and chemical free, you can use it every day or as often as you like. All you have to do is scoop a dab of it out with your fingers, rub it between your palms, and apply it to any areas that need taming or scrunch it into your curls to define them. For more advanced styling, just use a little bit more to maintain the hold and wet your hands before you get started. And voila! Fantastic, styled, naturally healthy hair.

You can find the Pomade HERE.

 

Also posted in Hair, Men, New Product Spotlight – 0 Comments

Natural Remedies for Hair Loss

November 3, 2011

Hair loss can be a both physically and emotionally uncomfortable. So, it is important to have the tools to help heal the problem, naturally, rather than simply treating the symptoms with dangerous chemicals. All skin and hair conditions are the result of an internal imbalance. For hair loss, as with all skin and hair conditions, it is essential to heal internally and treat externally at the same time.

Natural External Treatments for Hair Loss

 

Morrocco Method Organic Hair Care

To begin heal hair loss with organic products I recommend a combination of Zen Detox Hair & Scalp Therapy and treatment with the Morrocco Method Shampoos & Elixirs.

 

Healing Internal Treatment for Hair Loss

If it is hair loss related to male-pattern-baldness, the main cause of hair loss is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgenic hormone. Normally, DHT plays a major role in male sexual development but an increased level of DHT leads to hair loss. When there is too much DHT in the scalp, it binds itself to the hair follicles, blocking the blood supply to the follicle. If the hair follicle cannot get the nutrients it needs from the blood, it stops growing and then shrinks. This leads to hair thinning at first and then over time leads to baldness as the hair follicle begins to die.

The solution to the hair loss is therefore to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body.

Some of the most effective natural hair loss treatments are the following:

Saw Palmetto. An herbal DHT inhibitor. It stops the process that converts testosterone into DHT. It is completely safe, natural, and far less expensive than prescription drugs.

Pumpkin seeds. Help in the breakdown of DHT by the liver.

Zinc. Zinc, like Saw Palmetto, prevents conversion of testosterone into DHT. I recommend the liquid Zinc supplements by Mother Earth Minerals or Premier Research Labs.

Take these supplements/foods individually or look for a formula that contains these ingredients at your local health food store. There are many natural formulas available. They’ll often be labeled “Prostate Health,” as the same ingredients benefit the prostate, as well. Women that are experiencing hair loss, will often have a very similar hormonal imbalance, and these same ingredients will benefit women too.

 

Other Tips for Healthy Hair and Scalp

Plant-Derived Organic MSM

1) I highly recommend taking Organic MSM internally for detoxing and for clearer scalp and stronger, fuller hair.

Take with MSM with a high quality food-based Vitamin C. The Vitamin C helps the MSM work in the body.

2) Other Nutrients that are beneficial are food-based supplements like: Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex: PABA, Folic Acid, Biotin.

Here are my absolute favorite whole-food multi-vitamin/mineral supplements. For Men. For Women.

3) And of course, PLENTY of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. My favorite vegan sources are: (Golden Algae Oil, Chia, Hemp, Flax, Pumpkin Seed, Seabuckthorn, Pomegranate – Seeds & Oils).

 

As always, leave a comment below if you have any questions! – Jill

Also posted in Beauty Foods, Hair, Healing, Health, Men – 1 Comment

The Definitive Guide to Men’s Organic Skincare & Haircare

November 2, 2011

Men love organic skincare products too. I frequently get emails from men wondering what they can use on their face, hair, and body – often they want to know which of our products have a neutral or a masculine-oriented scent.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the products I recommend. And of course, they are all raw, vegan, and organic. Not only that, but my husband Jed uses and loves these!

 

Organic Soap for Men

Black Pepper Clementine Organic Soap with Activated Bamboo Charcoal

First, we have a whole host of organic bar soaps on the site, which you can find here.

All of the soaps we carry are gently scented and appealing to men’s senses. Choose your favorite. The special Detox bar with activated charcoal is particularly great for men. It has a very light scent, with subtle wafts of black pepper and clementine. The activated charcoal in the bar helps eliminate toxins, clear pores, and remove impurities. It has been used in Asia for centuries and it works great on acne and oily skin.

The soap itself is made with Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Certified Organic Coconut Oil, and Certified Organic Shea Butter. The soap is creamy and will leave your skin feeling soft.

 

Body Wash

Coconut Cream Shower Gele

Next up is our Coconut Cream Shower Gel from ISUN.

This is a creamy, soothing, moisturizing blend of coconut oil and aloe vera gel with a masculine alpine scent. Not only that, it’s perfectly pH balanced for skin, which encourages and maintains your skin’s natural hydration and promotes a bacteria-free state.

 

Shampoo


Seabuckthorn Shampoo & Body Wash

What you’ll probably notice first about this shampoo and body wash, aside from the gentle herbal and citrus scent, is that it isn’t diluted like most other shampoos and that a little bit will go a long way. The all organic ingredients list includes herbal infusions in jojoba of seabuckthorn, calendula, red clover, oats, coltsfoot, horsetail, comfrey, nettles, chamomile, seaweed; yucca and coco-protein to saponify; orange wax; supercritical extracts of sea buckthorn & rosemary; and finally, essential oils of grapefruit, peppermint vetiver & lime.

A nickel-sized amount applied to a body sponge will be enough for your whole body. About the same amount should take care of your hair.

 

Conditioner

Shine On Hair Conditioner

After the invigorating experience of using seabuckthorn shampoo, the next best step to take is apply some Shine On Hair Conditioner. I recommend combing it through your hair when it’s wet, followed by rinsing. You can also apply a small amount to the tips of your hair when dry to give it some extra character. Those with curly hair should apply it between washings. This conditioner contains all natural and organic rosewater, jojoba herbal infusions of chickweed, marshmallow root, slippery elm, alfalfa, seaweed, aloe vera, tamanu oil, apple cider vinegar, rose wax, rosemary and sage antioxidant extracts, essential oils of lime & lavender.

 

Organic Treatments for Hair Loss

 

 

Morrocco Method Hair Care

Morrocco Method Raw and Vegan Hair Care products will help you have thick, healthy, luxurious hair and a clear, nourished scalp. These are simply the most Pure, Natural, Organic, Raw, Vegan, Green, Fair Trade Hair Products for all hair types. The Morrocco Method line includes Conditioners, Shampoos, Natural Color, and Hair Treatments that Address Hair Thinning and Hair Loss, Dandruff, Dry Hair and Scalp, Hair Regrowth and Itchy and Inflamed Scalp. If you’d like wonderful hair and a healthier scalp, give these revolutionary products a try! They have an earthy, neutral scent and are suited for the whole family, even pets.

Face Cleanser

Best Skin Ever – Seabuckthorn

After showering, meet your skin’s best friend. Best Skin Ever cleanses, exfoliates, moistens, and tones the skin from head to toe. This one in particular is best for cleansing the face. Simply, moisten a cloth with warm water, add a few squirts or the Best Skin Ever and gently massage cloth over face, this removes the dirt of the day and exfoliates. Now add one drop of Best Skin Ever, or Face Serum to the tips of fingers and massage in to face. It has a wonderful scent that is neutral enough for the whole family.

 

Shaving Cream


Zen Shave

This soothing peppermint cream will soften your skin for shaving and completely eliminate any razor burn.

 

Healthy Toothpaste

Oralive Dental Regenrative Elixir

Not enough can be said about this oral supplement. It eliminates bad breath; alleviates gum pain and gum bleeding; inhibits plaque, gingivitis, and cavity causing bacteria; and many of our customers notice that they have whiter teeth starting after just a short period of using it.

The mixture of natural high energy mineral earths, activated herbal extracts, oxygen and marine phytoplankton make the elixir a healthy, charcoal earth tone. It is sweet and minty – quite delicious.

This raw organic elixir is meant to be swallowed after you absorb the initial nutrients through your gum mucosa. We consider this a natural supplement that helps your body heal and stay healthy. It’s packed full of powerful herbal essential oils and tissue regeneration factors not generally found in any product. The benefits of super green botanicals and marine phytoplankton alone are enough to use this as a dietary supplement.

 

Body Lotion

Seabuckthorn Tamanu All Over Lotion

This is a soothing lotion that is restorative and nourishing. It sinks into your skin and it’s meant to be used all over your face and body. It contains spring water, jojoba, tamanu, organic herbal infusions of seabuckthorn berries, marsh mallow root, slippery elm, chamomile, chickweed, rose hips; seaweed extract; aloe vera; acacia; essential oils of lavender, vetiver grapefruit, palmarosa; supercritical antioxidants of sage and rosemary.

 

Unscented Deodorant

Crystal Ally Unscented Body and Foot Spray Deodorant

For an unscented deodorant, this product cannot be beat. Not only is it extremely effective in killing odor causing bacteria, it’s completely aluminum free, comes in an easy to use spray, and even contains essential oils that are specific to the lymphatic system.

 

Scented Deodorant


Poetic Pits Classic: Tree Majesty

If you’d prefer a maculine scent that is shockingly effective and comes in a convenient little roll-on bottle, this one is sure to please. Men will Love Palo Santo, Classic: Tree Majesty, Maverick, Vetiver, or Radiant Earth. Find these amazing deodorants, here.

 

ISUN Shaving and Skin Products for Men

Refresh for Men Facial Cleanser and Shaving Gele’

Our last recommendations are a suite of male skincare products from ISUN. First up is Refresh, a fantastic facial cleanser and shaving gele’ that includes special age-repair and restoring products and, like all products in this suite, is pH balanced to optimize skin health.

 

Replenish for Men Hydrating & Calming After-Shave

Replenish After-Shave is a high-performance, replenishing after shave skin tonic that hydrates, calms and energizes skin cells for rapid renewal, and exclusively includes superconductive Ormus elements. Ormus high-spin atoms accelerate cellular communication and enhance the activity of other nutrients present, giving increased regeneration and therapeutic benefits. All of this is topped off with a pleasant masculine scent.

 

Repair for Men Age Repair Peptide & Antioxidant Serum

Repair for Men is similar to Phyto-Infusion I and Phyto-Infusion II for women, but is specially formulated to be thinner and thus more able to penetrate male skin, as well as containing a slightly different formulation of ingredients. It contains Ormus gold, a dynamic super conductor of light energy and cell communication. It may accelerate cell repair and signs of youth. The presence of ormus may also enhance the activity of the youthrestoring herbs, phytoplankton, plant-derived peptides, antioxidants and enzymes combined with stabilized vitamin C to create a truly advanced, all natural and organic skin-restoration and age preventative serum. While active regenerating and collagen-stabilizing peptides and powerful antioxidants work in harmony to reduce and prevent signs of aging, your skin is naturally protected from harmful effects from UV radiation. Lightactivated photolyase enzymes from a blue algae phytoplankton has been scientifically and clinically proven to protect cellular DNA from UV radiation as well as restore DNA damaged by UV. It also significantly revitalizes the skin’s natural immune system. Together, these actions help prevent skin cancers and aging in skin. The natural UV protection is greatly increased with high levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), CoQ10 and stabilized vitamin C ester.

 

Restore for Men Light Facial Oil Moisturizer

Maturing male skin that wants to stay younger looking and maximize age prevention needs an active antioxidant facial oil moisturizer that is light and easily absorbed to efficiently carry protective and regenerating nutrients deep into the skin where it makes a difference. Restore is loaded with high levels of alive, active plant antioxidants, regenerating and anti-inflammatory herbs, antioxidant enzymes and other vital skin nutrients. These are in a light, tiny molecular structure fractionated coconut oil base that is rapidly assimilated into the skin
leaving no oily or greasy feeling. The fractionated coconut oil base will not clog pores and allows the skin to breathe. Restore provides natural UV protection, is soothing and leaves your skin feeling smooth and wonderful to look at and touch. The pure essential oil aroma is a unique masculine scent that women love with a sandalwood and green citrus base.

 

Renew for Men

Vital deep penetrating and lasting hydration for surrounding eye tissue with pure plant-source sodium hyaluronate and glycoaminoglycans is the base of this renewing eye gel. Infused with a concentrated organic herb complex, redness is calmed and skin is firmed. Organic cucumber & rose distillates are added to soothe and cool eye tissues. An Amazonian tree bark extract and plant-derived peptides help reduce puffy eyes and dark circles by stimulating lymphatic drainage and blood flow in eye tissues. This action helps to eliminate water retention that causes puffy eyes, and congestion that can cause stagnation of blood appearing as dark circles. The extracts also activate lipolysis to promote elimination of fat cells that can cause eye bags. No fillers, gelling agents or oils are used in this 100% active ingredient product.

 

Revitalize for Men Energizing Body Moisturizer and Massage Oil

This specially formulated ultra-light body oil moisturizer for men is teeming with a range of antioxidant and soothing herbs that rapidly penetrate skin in a fractionated coconut oil base. Fractionated coconut oil is ideal to add health, youth and vigor to a man’s skin and will not stain clothing. The subtle, yet inviting blend of essential oils included in Revitalize is both purifying and energizing for skin.

Also posted in Facial Oils, Hair, Men, My Picks, Oral Care, Skin and Body – 0 Comments

How to Naturally Heal Acne and Breakouts. (Finally!)

August 18, 2011

I have struggled with Acne for ages and have felt the pain and frustration associated with it. It’s an uncomfortable issue and a complex one. The reason it can be complex to treat and heal, is because there are many possible causes.

These include:
•    Diet
•    Toxic load in the body
•    Stress & Stored Emotions
•    Hormone Imbalances – increased insulin production can signal the body to release extra male hormones, called androgens, which are involved in excess sebum production, congested follicles, and thus acne formation. Also, sudden changes in hormonal balance, such as those brought about by pregnancy can have a huge affect on skin and acne. An imbalanced estrogen to progesterone ratio in the body will often lead to breakouts before, during, or after menstruation. Any other hormonal abnormalities will also have an affect on acne creation.
•    Medications – including some contraceptive pills, anabolic steroids, lithium, iodine-containing medications, and some anti-epileptic medications, can cause acne do to the imbalances they create in the body.

With all of these possible causes, what can I do?

Well, all of these causes in essence are an imbalance in the body. So, the key to to help your body get back in balance. Here are ways to to do that:

Here are my internal recommendations:

1) A healthy diet and body free of toxins is essential. A healthy diet is more about what you exclude than what you include!  A very acidic diet (animal products, meat & dairy especially, refined sugars, and processed foods) contributes to acne.

Foods to avoid
Regardless of what diet you choose, specifically steer clear of:

  • sugar, definitely refined, but even natural in excess
  • refined starches and grains
  • gluten
  • alcohol
  • caffeine
  • dairy products (especially pasteurized cow dairy)
  • red meat
  • all processed and chemical foods

Foods that are particularly beneficial

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: (Chia, Hemp, Flax, Pumpkin Seed, Seabuckthorn, Pomegranate – Seeds & Oils, Algae oils)
  • Marine Phytoplankton
  • fresh organic vegetables and vegetable juices
  • raw fermented foods
  • healthy fats like Coconut Oil, Avocados, and Sun dried Olives.
  • superfoods
  • herbs
  • wild foods
  • fresh organic fruits (in moderation) (berries are healthiest type of fruit)

Herbs and Supplements

Water, Water, Water – spring water or the most pure water available

2) Detoxing is absolutely essential for clear skin. Consider doing fasts and cleanses. Skin issues arise when your internal body is so overloaded with toxins that aren’t being eliminated, so the toxins begin eliminating through the skin. A green juice fast for at least several days or weeks is intensely healing and alkalizing to the body and rejuvenating for skin. I highly recommend Colon Hydro-Therapy in general and it should definitely be included as a part of any cleanse!

Regular exercise is essential not only for overall health, but also for clearing toxins. Also saunas, skin brushing, and massage. Other things to consider in cleansing the body are possible Candida overgrowth. You can find questionnaires online to test yourself.

3) Acne can also be caused by poor fat metabolism. This means that the liver is not capable of fully digesting and assimilating all of the fat and oil entering the system. The health of the skin is often a reflection of the health of the liver. There are various ways to cleanse the liver. Drinking water with lemon every day helps. Eating Raw, Fresh, Organic Fruits and Vegetables is important. I like add large amounts of dandelion to my fresh juices for liver cleansing. Products like Liver Rescue and herbs like Burdock Root, Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root in tincture or tea form are also simple daily ways to keep the liver healthy. Avoiding drugs, medications, and alcohol. Also look into doing liver flushes and cleanses, seasonally, or more frequently for a congested liver. For rapid and highly effective liver cleansing, coffee enemas are excellent.

4) Good skin care makes a significant difference! Immediately remove all chemical acne treatments, like benzoyl peroxide, or any other “medicated” products from your life! The chemicals and the drying effect are awful for skin health and overall body health. Look for products that are naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. With ingredients such as MSM (methylsulfonylmethane, a vital naturally occurring sulfur compound), Niacinamide (vitamin B4), Willow bark extract, Neem, Zinc Oxide, Witch Hazel.

Beneficial Essential Oils to add to carrier oils, skin care products, or to apply neat (for certain essential oils take caution before applying neat, or dilute first): lavender, niaouli, immortelle/helichrysum, thyme linalool, carrot seed, rosemary, blue tansy, geranium, bergamot, chamomile, grapefruit, palmarosa, sandalwood, vetiver, basil, cedarwood, rosewood, tea tree, rosemary.

Here is a magical acne and blemish healing essential oil blend.

Here are some products that are amazingly helpful.

5) Hygiene is also important. Change your pillowcase regularly and avoid touching your face with your hands unless you have just washed them.

6) Healthy skin is often a reflection of a healthy emotional body. Focus on healing undigested emotions and emotional wounds.

There is no quick treatment or pill for skin health and healing. Pills and medications only cover over symptoms, create health problems, damage skin, and stop the possibility of healing. Healing is always a process. Acne can take weeks or months to heal. Just take it step-by-step and take your time. Enjoy the loving process of coming into balance again.

Also posted in Acne, Healing, Health, Nutrition, Skin and Body – 2 Comments

How you can enjoy Beauty, Immunity, and Longevity with only 5 minutes of your time each day!

April 9, 2011

I have something very special to share this week!

An Exclusive Interview with the stunningly Radiant and the uber knowledgable Bethanne Wanamaker, Co-Author of Superfood Beauty Elixirs.

Superfood Beauty Elixirs is my FAVORITE recipe book for super nutrition. I blend several radically beautifying and rejuvenating Elixirs from this cutting-edge Ebook every day. These Elixirs are the foundation of my diet and the nutrition I consume for ultimate health and beauty. You can survive on standard whole foods, smoothies, and juices, but to truly THRIVE at our highest potential, Elixirs like these are essential!


Interview with the Radiant Bethanne Wanamaker, Co-Author of Superfood Beauty Elixirs

Bethanne Wanamaker is a passionate Certified Nutrition and Natural Beauty Educator and Author who is wholeheartedly devoted to empowering women to take control of their own health, make conscious lifestyle decisions, and become responsible and accountable for their actions and results.Her mission is to help women understand the power they hold with regard to their health and the irresistible potential that lies within when we commit to ourselves! Her story, as written in Volume 3 of Thank God I: Stories of Inspiration, was the catalyst experience for transforming her own health, as well as finding her true purpose in this blessed life.

Bethanne is the founder EdibleGoddess.com, a company dedicated to sharing the truth about nutrition, cutting edge health and natural beauty strategies, and a growing range of products that lead to everything you could want for yourself. She studied at Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition to become a Certified Nutrition Educator and has pursued an immense level of continuing education and teaching others in topics relating to holistic nutrition, cleansing and detoxification, longevity, raw foods, Superfoods, super tonic herbs, natural beauty, flower essences, human potential, self-development and discovery.

1. What inspired you to create Superfood Beauty Elixirs?

We had been making simple versions of our elixirs for some time with MSM and whole food vitamin C and then just kept taking it to the next level – for taste, benefits, and to maximize the synergy between the ingredients we chose. It really started with these MSM/Vitamin C drinks (such as the Morning Beauty, Orange Snow Breeze, Pink Limeade) and then a cascade of ideas poured in!

The Green Supreme was created because I was traveling to Southern CA to work the LongevityNOW Conference and wanted to make a powder blend that covered all my needs while I was on the road and working super long hours. I needed to be able to mix it with just straight spring water and have it taste good, and keep me going throughout the weekend. This is one of our longest list of ingredients for our recipes (which I’d like to change in a future edition of the book) because of this. It’s the “all-in-one” – the one to make ahead of time if you have limited access to your Superhero goodies while away from home. I remember driving back home with friends, drinking my Green Supreme (which did not have a name at the time), and my friends kept saying, “you know, everyone loved your elixirs this weekend – you could really do something with this.” And from the moment I got home, Christian and I played in the kitchen taking our original simple elixir ideas combined with our recent inspiration, and created the book.

2. Do you drink elixirs like these every day? Give us an example of how you work them into your schedule.

I do drink the elixirs every day, and typically between 1-3 each day. During the 6 months it took to write our book, we made elixirs every night to test, re-test our sweet creations. Ever since, we’ve gotten in the habit of making an elixir as a “night cap” just a few hours before bed (maybe an hour after dinner or so) and we’ll enjoy it that evening and then I save a cup for myself in the fridge so I have something ready for me when I awaken the next day. We brew tonic herbal tea multiple times per day: we use it as part of the base in a seed/nut mylk for a Superfood smoothie, on chilly afternoons to keep warm and cozy, and in the evening as a nice hot cup of satisfying tea (sweetened with stevia). We go in phases with the kefir, but usually have at least one batch per week which will make us a few ultra-refreshing coconut kefir elixirs. The kefir recipes have become some of my favorites in the book and because of the high probiotic content, each drinks FEELS massively healing, which I love. There is something unbelievably quenching about the kefir recipes, and it’s always an exciting moment when we have the kefir ready to make chilled elixirs.

3. Why Superfoods and Superherbs? Can’t we just eat plenty of fruits & vegetables or drink plenty of juices?

This is a question that will always come up in the raw food movement and that’s great because many of us want simple answers to complex issues. Yet, in each of our own experiences with eating solely fruits, vegetables, and freshly made juices, it was great in the very short-term, but felt there were something missing ultimately – even with a diverse selection of local produce. Bringing wild foods, Superfoods, and tonic herbs into the diet really do take your health to the next level and it’s usually a level of health that was not imaginable beforehand. With environmental pollution so prevalent, and the fact that our soils are not even close to being as healthy as they were 100 years ago, even organic fruits and vegetables do not have the potential to allow your body full gene expression. Christian and I want seriously be as healthy as we can be, and that means hand-selecting from different dietary approaches and taking the very best of them, and compiling our own version of the optimal individual diet. Wild foods, Superfood, and tonic herbs bring with them an immense potential for activating the innate healing regenerative energy within us all and considering it is we that have the ability to heal ourselves, we are willing to step outside the super extreme purists diet and emphasize foods correlated with longevity, genius, and spiritual growth.

4. One common comment I hear about people being resistant to superfoods is are that they’re too expensive and not realistically affordable. What do you have to say about that? How do you make it work?

Packaged Superfoods certainly can have a high price tag, yet so can all packaged raw and organic foods as well. All wild foods are considered “Superfoods” and they are free and offered to us in abundance. Consider that if you buy a bottle of wild blue green algae (which happens to be very pricey because it also happens to be one of the foods EVER we could consume – a little goes a long way, so you’re not going through the bottle in 1 month. Each bottle lasts a long time (even has a great shelf life), so it’s not like you’re going out buying this stuff on a weekly basis. There IS a start-up cost, just like anything though – you may pay more initially and then the expenses go down depending upon your usage and chosen maintenance amount.

I also feel that I am my greatest investment, so I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep myself not only well, but getting younger and healthier as each year passes. Since putting health as my #1 priority, I’ve gone through my expenditures for the month and taken a close look at how I spend my money – and found ways to whittle down other expenses so I could create the life I wanted. We all spend money every day, it’s just a matter of HOW you spend it. I could look at anyone’s finances and help you determine ways to eat healthier and continue to up-level your health, even on a strict budget, and after being laid off (or any financial downfall). With my own health, I am not willing to compromise – that would be too easy and full of symptoms to do.

5. If you could pick just a handful of superfoods or superherbs to have at home, say top 5, what would they be?

Wild blue green algae, seaweeds, fresh aloe (from whole leaf), spirulina/chlorella (have to have both for various reasons), and medicinal mushrooms (#1 being Reishi)

6. What differences have you noticed in your health and beauty with these elixirs in your life?

I have definitely felt more deeply nourished since incorporating these elixirs into my life, without question. I love that I can get an infusion of mouth-watering goodness in a divinely delicious way, and not have to rely on taking pills. Consuming tonic elixirs are a liberating choice and they have the ability to address so many issues and layers at once. Specifically, my diet feels much more well-rounded since making them a staple in my routine. I have less cravings because of the deep nourishment they offer – like they’re filling in nutritional gaps that supplements just aren’t able to do. The elixirs are made with 100% food – no “supplements”, so our bodies respond much more favorably to whole food nutrition than vitamins and minerals in isolated form. Also, I’ve noticed a preserving youthful effect on my skin (which is just a reflection of what is going on internally) and that is an amazing and clear sign that I am more mineralized and truly healthier, and therefore my skin skin appears more radiant. There is also a mental satisfaction when drinking the elixirs – they’re like non-alcoholic sweet, yet super low-glycemic cocktails, so you get the magic potion in a glass that is actually going to leave you feeling much better the next morning!

7. Are elixirs like these essential for external beauty? If so, why?

I believe they are based upon what I’ve personally experienced and what I’ve witnessed in others. As we all know, radiant beauty comes from within, so not only do we want to release accumulated toxins and poisons from the body, but just as importantly we want to infuse our body with super nutrient-density to restore, regenerate, and repair us from top head to toe. We’ve found the elixirs to be the most delicious, cost-effective, and practical way to get medicinal quality foods into the diet with the greatest potential for producing immediate results – something which is likely enticing to us all. Not to mention, with liquid nutrition the absorption level is at an all-time maximum (highly bio-available), so the drinks really deliver on their promised results.

8. If you had to chose one elixir recipe that is the ultimate for gorgeous skin, hair, and nails, and overall radiance, what would it be?

#1 Green Supreme, #2 Ancient Wisdom, #3 Tropical Quench (I had to list three… ;) But if you were to say the “ultimate” one – it’s a hard choice, but I feel Green Supreme is THE overall best beauty tonic elixir in our book with Ancient Wisdom a close 2nd.

9. What’s next for you?

The Conscious Goddess Cleanse: Bethanne is leading women from all over the world in a purifying detox program. It includes all the Healthforce products you’ll need to complete the cleanse, private phone sessions with her, and weekly teleseminars with leading experts – including me!

Be sure to check out Bethanne’s Conscious Goddess Cleanse - where I’m a featured guest speaker!

Here is Bethanne’s phenomenal Ebook, Superfood Beauty Elixirs:

Superfood Beauty Elixirs

Superfood Beauty Elixirs <- Click here to THRIVE at a new level!

Here are some of the Superfoods featured in the Ebook. These are some of the basic ingredients you’ll need to make the Elixirs:

Vitamineral Green & Vitamineral Earth
 Vitamineral Green is a superior, nutrionally dense therapeutic green superfood powder. Vitamineral Green nutritionally supports blood sugar, detoxification, the immune system, liver, kidneys, blood, bones, colon, regularity, circulation, and longevity.
Earth Sacred Healing Food contains essiac herbs, healing roots, barks, and seeds. Soothes colon, supports blood sugar, colon health, detoxification, immune system, and longevity. Earth can can be used on its own as a grounding superfood blend, or ideally taken in the same day as Vitamineral Green for a balance of yin and yang, a grounding to Vitamineral Green’s more etheric qualities.

<- Click here to CLEANSE, REJUVENATE, and THRIVE at a new level!


Plant-derived MSM Crystals: The Ultimate BEAUTY Mineral!
MSM works to build collagen, helping to create smooth skin, thick lustrous hair, and strong nails. MSM also restores and maintains healthy joints, increases flexibility, speeds recovery time from sore muscles, and is excellent for recovery from injuries. MSM makes the tissues more permeable so that they may move nutrients in and toxins out with greater ease. MSM has a remarkable effect at neutralizing foreign proteins (i.e. allergens, toxins, undigested food) making it anti-inflammatory. It provides a source of organic sulfur for the amino acids that are essential for internal cleansing.

I mix these MSM Crystals into drinks twice a day. This is the highest quality MSM available and is the only one I have found that is NOT derived from Petroleum sources.

<-Try MSM for true beauty from the inside out!

Truly Natural Vitamin C
The essential companion to MSM. MSM and Vitamin C work together synergistically. Vitamin C helps the body fully absorb the MSM. Truly Natural Vitamin C is food, not an Vitamin C synthetic or isolate. This is a naturally occuring Vitamin C in powered form. Unlike synthetic or isolates, neither of which occur in nature, this Vitamin C is non-toxic in any dosage amount and is highly absorbable. I take Vitamin C at least 3 or 4 times a day. Vitamin C not only boosts our immune systems, but it also required for collagen production. Vitamin C also speeds up skin healing and protects it from environmental aggressors.

<-Get your Vitamin C the way nature instead – an essential nutrient for health and beauty!

Also posted in Beauty Foods, Food, Healing, Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Skin and Body – 1 Comment

The Simple Solution for Oily Skin

February 10, 2011

One common cause for excess oil secretion is a lack of hydration in and around the skin cells underneath the skin’s surface. When this is the case, the skin’s sebaceous glands try to correct the imbalance or lack of moisture by producing more oil, which makes oily skin even oilier. Typically, this is treated with drying agents that may produce a temporary effect of having less oil on the skin’s surface, but long term, it can cause an even greater imbalance, with even more oil secretion by the sebaceous glands.

I used to use products with drying agents that were supposed to create a matte effect on the skin. Yet, my skin seemed even more oily and was excessively dry. Finally, I met a wonderful aesthetician in Seattle that told me to moisturize more and to forget oil-free products. I found this advice hard to believe at the time, but I was quickly amazed by the results! My skin now has a lovely glow, but is not slick with oil.

So. . . the solution for oily skin is to hydrate and moisturize the skin to give the oil-producing glands a message that they no longer have to produce excess oil to compensate for the lack of skin moisture. Use very moisturizing oils and creams on the face, but avoid creams that contain heavy emulsifiers or fillers, which can clog pores. Beeswax can potentially clog pores if it is used as a primary ingredient, making up a large quantity of the cream.

Here’s to a dewy glow, without the oil slick!

Also posted in Skin and Body – 2 Comments

How to Choose Organic Facial Products and Body Care

February 1, 2011

I apply the same principals to skin care as I apply to food. Both are entering my body, whether through my skin or through my mouth. Therefore, both need to be as close to nature as possible, completely pure, and entirely free of chemicals and synthetics. Unlike the food industry, there are no legal standards for personal care products sold in the United States, meaning that we need to be savvy when shopping for healthy skin care.

1. Become a Conscious Consumer

Read labels! If you can’t pronounce it, forget about it. And if it doesn’t sound natural, it probably isn’t.
You might expect a product labeled “pure, natural and organic” to be, well … pure, natural and organic. But you might be in for a surprise.
Because there are no legal standards for organic or natural personal care products sold in the United States, companies can, and often do, use these terms for marketing purposes. Just because a product is found in a natural foods store, for example, does not automatically mean it’s safe. Read and analyze the ingredient list carefully before buying.

All of the products on Living Earth Beauty are 100% pure, organic, vegan, raw, and natural. I use all of our products and I would never put chemicals on or inside my body. Rejoice in safe, natural, luxurious, and powerfully effective skin care and forget the rest!

2. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin!

When you’re reading the contents of a bottle of shampoo, or any body care product, ask yourself “Would I eat this?” If I needed to, how would it feel inside my body? Even if you have no idea what an ingredient is, it’s very easy to get a gut-level instinctual reaction, especially when the ingredient you’re looking at is named Butoxyethanol, Nonoxynol-10, Propylene Glycol, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Dioxane, or Ethanolamine.

The skin is our body’s largest organ. It is also our body’s first line of defense against disease. Our skin is easily damaged by external factors (chemicals, synthetics, pollution) and internal factors (poor diet, drugs, etc.).

Our skin is actually the primary means by which we absorb toxic substances. In fact, absorption by the skin is usually many times more efficient than ingestion. The skin absorbs chemicals into the bloodstream, which, in turn, are distributed throughout your body system. That is why there are medicinal patches for Hormone Replacement Therapy, or Nicotene patches. The chemicals are released slowly and absorbed quickly through the skin.

Even though many of the skin care products we put on our skin promise to beautify the skin, the chemicals and synthetic ingredients actually take a terrible toll on the skin and on our general health. Compounds in synthetic cosmetics and perfumes stay trapped in the fatty tissues under the skin and remain there for years. These synthetic compounds require massive amounts of energy for assimilation, absorption, and detoxification – and that’s energy that is being taken away from your health, your beauty, and your life!

3. Define what’s Important to You

I have a vast array of criteria when selecting skin care. Define what your personal criteria for selecting organic facial products, skin care, or body products is.

This is my criteria for products I use and products we carry on Living Earth Beauty:

  • Natural and plant-based – free of synthetics of any kind.
  • Organic or wild-crafted – free of chemicals and made from the most potent, living ingredients in nature.
  • Vegan and cruelty-free.
  • Raw – living natural ingredients that retain all their life energy, enzymes, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids.
  • Sustainably harvested ingredients
  • Hand-crafted in small batches – freshly made by an actual person with great care and infused with loving energy.
  • Any non-local ingredients are Fair Trade.
  • Eco-friendly packaging and production practices
  • Products made with the highest integrity and ethics, highest quality natural ingredients possible, and made with love.

Loving, conscious people who genuinely care about our health, well-being, and happiness make all of the products I have selected for Living Earth Beauty. All ingredients in the skin care are sustainably harvested. All packaging is eco-friendly, some are made from recycled plastics, but most are glass. Many of the products are packaged in Miron Violet Glass to protect the precious, living contents inside. I also look for companies that do everything possible to offset their energy usage and carbon emissions. We have several ways in which we do this on our end, as well. We donate a percentage of profits to healing the plant. I look for companies that are also altruistic-minded.

4. Check the Skin Deep Database

The Environmental Working Group has a wonderful comprehensive database called Skin Deep that anyone can use to check the safety of an ingredient or skincare product.
SKIN DEEP – COSMETIC SAFETY DATABASE

5. Bring Your Own

What about when you go someplace where you are subject to their products, such as a hair or nail salon? Find a hair salon in your area that uses safe, natural products, or do it yourself at home. I have been performing my own pedicures at home lately, and when I do go to a salon, I bring my own toxin-free nail polish (base coat, color, and top coat). Every salon I’ve chosen to has been more than happy to use my products. Also, make sure the salon is well-ventilated; if the smell bowls you over when you walk in, choose a different salon.

Look for Nail Polish that is free of phthalates, formaldehdye, toluene, and acetate/acetone. Aquarella and Suncoat Water-based nail polish are safer brands. To check if your nail polish brand is safe visit the Skin Deep Database.

6. Stay Informed and Spread the Love

Sign up for our Newsletter HERE to stay up to date on safe and healthy skincare. Click on the tab that says CONNECT on the left hand side of the screen and enter your email address or enter your email address in the bottom left hand corner of the page . Also, JOIN US on Facebook! We offer exclusive monthly discounts to our Facebook fans. Click on the blue f on the left hand side of the screen or in the bottom left hand corner to become a fan!

Tell your friends and loved ones about protecting themselves from harmful chemicals and share your healthy products with them. Choosing products that are natural, healthy, and close to nature is simple when you feel how beautiful, effective, and enjoyable they are!

Also posted in Health, Skin and Body, Toxic Beauty – 3 Comments
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