These Beauty Essentials are a Force of Nature

In Honor of Earth Day, Here are My Top Eco-Friendly Beauty Essentials

 

Some products can leave harmful residue during disposal into the sewer, then circulated into our eco system. For example, microbead in some scrubs are coming from particles of plastic that rinse down the drain and eventually show up in lakes and oceans. In addition to polluting the water, microbeads can accumulate other toxic chemicals such as PCBs, be eaten by fish and wind up in the food supply, according to the Attorney General's office. If you aren’t sure if your scrub contains the offenders, check the ingredients list for 'Polyethylene'. From my experience you are better off anyways, as they tend to be too harsh. The gritty beads can break the skin and spread bacteria, causing breakouts.

Here are my favorite beauty products with sustainably harvested ingredients, and eco-friendly packaging:

Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush
It's a long-wearing blush that really lasts up to 12 hours!! The fade-free flawless finish is due to natural clay, harvested from the banks of the Amazon River. The Amazon River flows for 4,000 miles and as it flows it collects highly nutrias plant and fruit matter.  A lot of brands market their blushes as long lasting, but with this one I really found it to be the case, and the color payoff is fantastic!!

Tarte - Smooth Operator™ Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
This translucent, silky finishing powder keeps makeup in place without ever appearing chalky and mattifies skin by removing excess surface oil.
Aside from the Amazonian clay, It contains a special clay called Kaolinite, which can absorb 75 percent of its weight in sebum as it hydrates the skin, leaving a long-lasting matte finish that won’t make breakouts worse. Perfect for oily skin like mine!!
Another impressive ingredient is - Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a phospholipid derivative with the ability to stimulate cell proliferation. It visibly reduces pores thanks to a stimulating cell differentiation, promoting the tightening of skin, effectively shrinking oversized pores.
This powder really makes my pores less noticeable. I can count on it when I go to on camera auditions and don't want my skin to be oily and shiny in an unfaltering way. 


 
Josie Maran - Argan Oil Hair Serum
If you've read this post, by now you are aware of my obsession with hair serums, and this one shines in my endless stash, delivering instant and long lasting shine.
A recent study has shown that only some oils will actually penetrate the hair. Mineral oil and sunflower oil for example, will not penetrate. But Argan oil will filter deep into the cortex because it is so similar to hair's natural lipids. Straight chain glycerides will easily penetrate, while polyunsaturated oils, like jojoba oil, are more open in their structure so they don't pass through the layers of cuticles very well.  When I use it, my hair looks and feels healthier, silkier, and extraordinarily shiny. Biosilk serum is my top pick, but if it's a more curly look I am going for this adds shine and smoothness, yet curls hold well with it.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive
I mentioned this gem when I wrote about my favorite peels (you can read the post here). Since then, this has become my #1 favorite peel!! This peel toned them down my acne scars completely.  I use it two ways--as a mask and also as a spot treatment on any zits on my face, which will tremendously reduce them. A combination of acids tends to be more potent at melting away dead layers of skin and this is formulated with: malic acid from organic apple juice, citric acid from lemons, tartaric acid from white grapes, glycolic acid from raw cane sugar & lactic acid from organic milk.

Happy Earth Day,

A Berry Delicious Treat (with Beauty Benefits!!)

The vibrant, beautiful colors of many fruits and vegetables are Mother Nature's way of telling us that those foods are loaded with antioxidants. The rich hue of blueberries and strawberries, is a signal that they are packed with an antioxidant system called Polyphenols, that help protect skin and act as an anti-inflammatory, improving skin texture.

Polyphenols from blueberries may also have a slimming effect, a study suggests. Researchers at Texas Woman's University treated mouse cells with either blueberry polyphenols (in three different doses) or a control solution. The active compounds blocked the growth of new fat cells and the buildup of lipids inside cells, reducing total fat by up to 73 percent at the highest dose.



This super easy DIY Popsicle is high in antioxidants, high in fiber, low in sugar.
Simply blend fresh: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, then fill an ice pop maker,
like the one by Ikea (CHOSIGT Ice pop maker, $1.99, )
For the mold to easily loosen, rinse with lukewarm water.

Beteavon!! (Bon Appetit in Hebrew),

Green Tea, Clearly.

The next big breakthrough in acne treatment may be the humble bag of green tea sitting in your kitchen cupboard!!
Recently, a University of Miami study showed that applying a two percent green tea lotion twice a day for six weeks reduced the number of acne lesions in subjects by more than 58 percent. Green tea contains antioxidants that are proven to reduce inflammation, which is likely the reason behind this anti-inflammatory effect.

Topical antioxidants save cells from a significant amount of environmental damage by free radicals. Free radicals are insatiable molecules that form in the body when we are exposed to UV light and other environmental assaults. I compare them to 'pirates'; In order to stabilize themselves they steal electrons from other molecules leading to damage. Antioxidants work their magic by turning free radicals into 'friendly' compounds, stopping them from causing inflammation, DNA damage, and collagen loss. That's why topical antioxidants can also help prevent wrinkles.

EGCG is the predominant antioxidant in most forms of green tea, and it’s also the most potent. It's over 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more powerful than vitamin E at neutralizing free radicals. 

Here is how I like to treat my face to some Green Tea TLC:

Option 1: For dry to normal skin. Make your green tea, then soak a compressed facial mask sheet (or use paper towels), letting it absorb the green tea. Wait until cool, then spread out the mask and place on your face for about 10-15 min.
Muji Compressed Facial Mask Sheets (5 sheets /set for $2.95)

Option 2: For oily skin. Use as a clay mask. Mix the powder with a little water to form a past and apply to face. Take off as soon as dry. My favorites Teuksun Powdered Green Tea (see picture) available in some nature stores, and Evanhealy Green Tea Clay Mask. At $24.95 at Whole Foods Market.

Wishing you clear skin,