Feelgood Style

I like to think I’m not the only woman who kept an eye and ear on constant alert for the various Bonus Time events at the cosmetic department of Macy’s (and Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdale’s, you get the idea). Like a July mosquito to the bug zapper, I was drawn in each and every time to the big sign displaying the funky little cosmetic bag next to little tubes of lipstick and other novelties. It didn’t matter that I already had 42 bags containing half-used eye makeup remover from previous Bonus Time affairs; if it was happening, I immediately felt compelled to participate.

So it’s really no surprise that I created one for The Nature of Beauty. As they say, once an addict….But I wanted to make this one a bit more meaningful, to give me and you a legitimate excuse to get excited about this particular Bonus Time. Read the rest of this entry »

It is that time of year again when we all want to banish bumps, spots, imperfections and even (gasp!) cellulite.  You just get your facial care system down for the warmer weather months and it seems that the skin on our bodies goes into shock.  Or at least the first time we have to put on a bathing suit, that is.  Let’s face it, it has been all covered up for months now, getting ignored and neglected.  It is time for a little pampering.

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I have a bit of an obsession with lip balms. Lip glosses are too sticky {unless going out at night; then it’s appropriate}, lipsticks reminds me of my mother, but lip balms are not only moisturizing but has the added perk of giving you just a bit of a sheen for that elusive perfect pout. It’s an effortless beauty product that doesn’t look like you are trying too hard. With the perfect moisturizer and a lip balm, you are ready to start the day.

One of my absolute favorites is the Weleda Everon Lip Balm. As the lip balm queen who has tried every jar, tube, and stick imaginable, this is the creme de la creme of lip moisturizers without the hefty price tag. Weleda Everon is ultra nourishing with ingredients like Jojoba oil, Shea Butter, and precious Rose wax. Should I mention that it’s also 100% natural and all Organic?

• It’s also Petroleum-free. Did you know most lip creams still use a petroleum base.
• Contain no artificial preservatives, colors or fragrances
• Cruelty-free

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Greening Hollywood: Guild by Guild panelists: L-R Nikoletta Skarlatos, Make Up Artist, Pirates of The Caribbean; Robert Hallowell, Hair Stylist, Dancing With The Stars; Christina Marcaccini, founder, Raw Natural Beauty; Rachelle Carson Begley, Co-Star, Living With Ed; Lisa Archer, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics; Paige Donner, Founder, Greening Hollywood.

There’s more to bringing the beauty industry and green scientists together, all at one table, then might first meet the eye. By the time I presented our panel of beauty experts, moderated by Rachelle Carson Begley, last weekend in my Greening Hollywood: Guild by Guild seminar and workshop, I had learned a lot. I had learned more than just that Tarte has come out with a game-changing mascara called Lights, Camera, Lashes! and that O.P.I. had removed all three of the most harmful chemicals in their nail polish, and that Suki Pure has re-defined how to be profitable and committed to pure ingredients in the cosmetic industry. Read the rest of this entry »

At Janika they believe that nature provides us with the best in life, so of course, their line of pure skin care products is nothing but natural.  Janika, a new skin care company out of Australia, uses active botanicals, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids in their products to nourish and revitalize the skin.

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BeautyScoop is the edible beauty product many are raving about. I tried a few samples and they weren’t bad. The concept is believable. You eat the essential nutrients for maximum health and beauty benefits.

I mixed a packet of BeautyScoop into my smoothies for a couple days and it was wonderful. I had more energy and I felt better. I think I would have to try more than two days worth for an overall determination if it really works as well as it claims. Read the rest of this entry »

There was a time when conversations surrounding elasticity, loss of collagen, sagging and lack of tone, were for me like hearing someone speak in a foreign language. Convinced I’d somehow and miraculously been blessed with ever youthful skin, I never paid much attention - until now that is. Whether you’re there already or you think this is something that doesn’t apply to you, it’s never too early or late to start using skincare that addresses these very issues. Now, let it be said I’m a total skeptic (and more than a little jaded) when it comes to product claims, having worked with and tried just about everything. My latest discovery however, more than lives up to its rep and having used it for the last six wks, I can verify that my skin feels noticeably smoother, firmer and more radiant. Read the rest of this entry »

When I hear claims of eye cream being nothing more than a glorified face cream, packaged in a tiny tube and slapped with a hefty price tag I tend to disagree.  If I tried using my facial moisturizer around my eyes (and I have) it would surely cause that slippery eye feeling and end up migrating into my eyes and causing irritation.  Not at all the experience we are looking for.

Eye creams truly are designed specifically for the delicate area surrounding the eye, where signs of aging usually show up first.  You want something moisturizing – but not too greasy, cooling – but not irritating, and smoothing while leaving skin soft and supple. 

There are many terrific organic and all natural eye creams on the market today that do a bang up job on all of the above.  And I do have my favorites, but…am always willing to try another. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve been working on creating the perfect cache of hair products, makeup, body lotions, and perfumes since you were 12, right? Now you are hearing about the potential hazards lurking in your beloved collection, and wondering if you should be tossing your phthalate-packed but highly praised lipstick (and shampoo, night cream, mascara, the list goes on and on) and replacing it with some brand you’ve never heard of.  It can be overwhelming, enough to make you want to throw in the towel and forget you ever read anything about parabens or petrochemicals. But don’t lose heart; going green can be fun, exciting, and even affordable. I thought I might draw on my former life as a clinical psychologist (true story) and offer up 6 tips for making the transition to natural and organic beauty products without sacrificing your sanity!  

1. Stay informed. The more you know about why you are switching over to eco-friendly products, the easier it will be to stay motivated when you lose some of that initial enthusiasm. Feelgood Style is a great place to start, and there are several fantastic books to check out as well, including Not Just a Pretty Face by Stacey Malkan, one of the creators of the Skin Deep database, or The Green Beauty Guide, by Julie Gabriel. When you are feeling discouraged, go back and read through the articles or chapters that motivated you to make the switch in the first place. Read the rest of this entry »

I have fallen in love with a couple products from Brittanie’s Thyme.

The organic oatmeal facial scrub, the French green clay facial mask with white tea and the organic acne treatment oil are all amazing spa quality products with that nostalgic touch that gives them a handmade feel. Like you just walked into a little shop where a lady is mixing the formulas right there behind the counter.

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