5 New Year’s Resolutions for your Beauty Regime: Part 1

Hello Lovely Readers!

Now that we have all adjusted to this brand new year (hopefully), I figured it is a good time to throw some NEW resolutions your way ( just in case you need more on your plate) 🙂

Resolve to make some changes this year!

Last Saturday while enjoying my favourite ritual of cozying up in bed with a hot beverage to read the weekend paper, I came across an article entitled, “Beautiful Resolutions” . The article offered 5 simple changes that can freshen up any beauty regime, perfect I thought! Except one problem: for people like you and me who stick to the pure and natural, most of the product suggestions fall a bit short.

And so. . . I bring you an annotated version with my own natural suggestions.

This is part one (I don’t want to throw too much at you at once!).

1. Purge Some Products

The article states:

“When cosmetics age, the preservatives wear off and bacteria, ranging from colonies of dirt to infection-causing microorganisms, invade. ”

I totally agree. This is especially important when using all natural products since they do not contain synthetic preservatives. I provided some tips and a helpful link in a previous post.

Makeup bag cleanup

2. Leave the House Naked

Obviously we’re not talking about clothing here…

The article states:

The “au natural” look is showing up on many 2014 runways, “makeup artist Tom Pecheux for Balmain epitomized the trend, which is as much about skin care as it is about minimal makeup use.”

I love this suggestion! Focusing on skincare, rather than makeup, can make you look even more radiant (since it’s your skin that glows, and not just your bronzer!) To go “au natural”  having well-moisturized skin is key. For this, the article suggests adding a hydrating gel to your regime and applying it under your moisturizer. I suggest, rather than using a paraben-ladden gel, use a plant- based serum that will act like a skin multi-vitamin and help prep it to receive more moisture.

Try  One Love Organics’ Morning Glory full of stimulating rasberry leaf and anti-inflammatory peppermint and lemon balm or, Pure + Simple’s Vitamin C Serum formulated with algae and Vitamin A, E, & C to assist skin immunity and aid in cell regeneration.

One Love Organics’ Morning Glory serum, 100% Pure’s Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, RMS “Un” Cover-Up

If you need added coverage (I know, it’s scary for some to think about ever leaving the house with nothing but a moisturizer), the article suggests using a CC cream to even out the skin tone. I recommend staying away from CC (colour correcting) or BB (beauty balm, or blemish balm) creams which toute their blemish fighting, sun protecting, and complexion smoothing properties. Unfortunately they often contain chemical SPF, drying salicylic acid, and synthetic preservatives.

Instead try an an antioxidant, non-clogging, mineral- based tinted moisturizer like Eminence Organics with an SPF 25. I have raved about this product before, and I will continue to since it leaves the skin feeling light, looking dewy, and smells amazing!

Let that skin shine like the sun!

Next up the article suggests, “Blend a de-puffing, dark-circle-erasing eye cream around the contour of your eyes before applying a spot corrector where needed.”

Try 100% Pure’s Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, which has received rave reviews. The cream is formulated with caffeine from green tea and coffee that offers anti-inflammatory benefits, and de-puffs the eye area while increasing circulation to brighten dark circles.

For a spot corrector try, RMS Beauty’s “Un” Cover-Up (again, one of my favourites). It does the trick for spot treatment, brightening the under-eye, or for any light coverage. The creamy texture will leave you feeling like you have nothing on at all!

Finally, finish off with a nourishing lip conditioner for a healthy radiant look. Maybe even try making your own using my lip butter recipe!

Stay tuned for Part 2 and 3  of more fabulous new year beauty resolutions!

What changes have you made to your beauty regime lately? 

The Search for the Perfect (Natural) Mascara

Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara: For each GOGO mascara purchased, Josie Maran Cosmetics will donate one mascara to a City of Hope cancer patient/survivor.

Finding the right mascara is a tough one. . . especially when going natural. I have tried many natural brands that work fairly well, but all seem to fall short in some area, whether it be volumizing, curling, or lengthening.

Mascara is a personal preference, and everyone seeks a brand or a type depending on their needs. For those looking for a lengthening mascara, 100% Pure’s Ultra Lengthening Fruit Pigmented Mascara is a great option. As you might presume, it’s coloured with 100% pure fruit pigments. The mascara comes in four colours: Black Tea, Blackberry, Blueberry and Dark Chocolate. The brush is narrow and the bristles are fine which is perfect for separating and defining each lash.

My lashes are extremely straight (I mean absolutley NO curl), fairly long, and relatively light in colour. So when I seek a mascara I look for one that is volumizing and curling. Josie Maran’s GOGO Instant Volume Argan Mascara works for me in both of these departments. It comes in one shade, ‘Pitch Black’, which glides onto lashes in a rich glossy colour with no flaking and minimal clumping. The brush aids in lifting and curling the lashes while the mascara thickens and adds volume. My only complaint with this mascara is the size of the brush. It took me a while to get used to the width, which makes it more difficult to cover short lashes and get into the corners of the eyes. All in all though, it’s a winner in overall performance.

Disclaimer: For those of you who are used to using mascaras with plastic polymers, unfortunately you will never get the same length with natural mascaras. 

No mascara

Now you know my secret. . .

With Josie Maran Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara

On the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep database, Josie Maran’s GOGO mascara is rated as a ‘2’, which means that the ingredients pose a low hazard. The mascara contains no cancer causing ingredients (and no formaldehyde, thank goodness!), but does contain some irritants. Most notable is phenoxyethanol, which is a common cosmetic preservative. I would prefer not to have this in my mascara, but sometimes you pick your battles. For those who have major sensitivities, I would recommend 100% Pure’s mascara instead. It is also rated as a ‘2’ on the EWG’s Skin Deep database, but does not contain the same irritants as Josie Maran’s GOGO mascara.

Josie Maran Cosmetics are conveniently available at Sephora, another reason why I love this product! Now, I am a strong advocate for independent shops and local retailers. Unfortunately though I can’t always be running around the city, or waiting a week for the mail to arrive. If buying synthetic products is motivated solely out of convenience, and if it means more people will opt for the natural version, than I am all for the option of buying amazing natural products at big commercial stores. Just note: not all Josie Maran products are created equal and some are not as natural as they say. Be aware of what you are buying, check out the EWG’s Skin Deep database for yourself, and always look out for greenwashing!

So natural beauties, what amazing makeup items have you found that rival their synthetic counterparts? Please share!

– Seanna