skin care

November 24, 2020 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Clean Beauty Scene Holiday Gift Guide

Hello savvy beauty! This blog post is the companion holiday gift guide to Episode 15 of Clean Beauty Scene Podcast. You can listen on any podcast app, click here to listen on Apple Podcast.

Please don’t head to the mall to get the toxic junk – you know the brands I’m talking about. Instead, give your sisters, daughters, nieces, girlfriends, moms and wives (and yourself!) healthy beauty with glamourous eco conscious products. This curated list gives you a wide variety of suggestions.

I love this time of year. I happen to enjoy Christmas shopping and searching for the perfect gifts!

Keep checking back, this list will be updated often.

I’m offering 20% off my coaching services and programs for the holidays.

Click here to enter the Aspen Apothecary giveaway!

Skincare

Niru Beauty Turmeric + CBD Mask Kit and Face Oil Gift Set for Normal/Oily Skin Brightening and toning Ayurveda face mask and nutrient-rich anti-aging face oil come pre-wrapped in a beautiful paper gift box. $65 Use code CleanBeauty for 20% off. I had the pleasure of interviewing CEO and creator Leena Roy on the podcast last month, episode 11. Listen to the interview on any podcast app and learn how her ingredients heal acne and give you glowing skin. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.

Indie Lee Discovery Kit Complete 3 step skincare routine includes travel sizes of 3 of their best sellers: Brightening Cleanser (the BEST cleanser!), CoQ-10 Toner and Squalane Facial Oil $29

AnnMarie Herbal Facial Oil Handcrafted using organic and wildcrafted ingredients, balances, moisturizes and softens skin. $45 Use code GLOWING10 for 10% off

LoveGoodly Essential Subscription Box Recipients gets a box every other month curated with 4-5 full size products, focused on nontoxic, cruelty free and vegan beauty and skincare, as well as an occasional eco style accessory, wellness product or healthy snack. Pause or cancel anytime. Single Essential Box also available $34.95

Herbivore Botanicals Prism Exfoliating Glow Serum Gentle yet effective daily exfoliation with this new and improved formula of 12% natural fruit- and plant-based AHAs and 3% Willow Bark-based BHA $54

Blissoma Holiday Support Set Pure Sensitive Care Complex, Stress Relief Serum, and a Hand and Body Cream all in a gift box $75 (25% off). I’ll have founder Julie Longyear on the show soon!

Living Libations Frankincense Honey Mask Fortifying and skin nourishing $24.96

Skincando Miracle Cream Thick, luxurious hydrating night cream that has had a loyal following for over fifteen years! $12 – $70. I’ve invited CEO and founder, Sara DAmelio on the podcast so stay tuned!

Holiday Edition: 5-in-1 Cinnamon Cassia & Coconut Moisturizing Exfoliator Exfoliates and moisturizes dry cracked skin. Check out my Facebook live interview with founder Rene Bartosh here, learn about the line and how she created it after years of suffering from chronic, dry, cracked, often bleeding skin $20 & up.

Bella Vida Skincare Minis Gift Set Includes a variety of mask minis: Blueberry Coco Charcoal Mask, Pineapple Paradiso Glow Mask, Radiant Sunflower Serum, Coco Citrus Noir Purifying Cleanser, Pumpkin Pie Enzyme Mask $27 (nearly 50% off!) I’m excited to welcome founder and fellow SoCal resident, Erin Schmidt to the podcast after the new year!

Colorado Aromatics Razz Hyaluronic Acid Tightening Serum $16.85 You had me at tightening serum! This serum is wonderful and smells beautiful. Be on the lookout for an interview with CEO, Cindy Jones.

Makeup

Ilia Eye Love Clean Eye Makeup Set Includes eye tint, liner, my latest favorite mascara in a nice travel bag! $45***

Aether Beauty Amethyst Crystal Gemstone Palette 12 gorgeous eyeshadow shades $58***

PYT Beauty Day-to-Night Cool Eyeshadow Palette Love this, neutral but stunning shades $32***

Salty Girl Beauty 5 Minute Makeup Kit Includes foundation, concealer, multi stick, lip gloss, and mascara in your choice of shades with a cute makeup bag $120

Earth Based Body Multi Purpose Lip & Cheek Tint. Sheer tint that delivers shine and hydration $22. Founder Nancy Sundboom will be on the podcast in 2021. Check out the gorgeous watercolor artwork on the packaging created by Chicago artist, Christine Arcus .

Crunchi Solarise™ Bronzer Every savvy girl needs a good bronzer all year round!$36

Kosas Mini Wet Set Lip Oil Gloss Trio Set of 3 best-selling hydrating plumping mini Wet Lip Oils $25***

Want my top 10 beauty secrets delivered to your inbox instantly? Click Here This checklist gives you easy, actionable tips that you can start right away to look & feel your best!

Body Care

100% Pure Coconut Body Oasis Deeply moisturizing coconut shower gel, whipped body butter, hand buttercream $38 (40% off)

Sway Trademark Dry Body Oil A luxurious body oil formulated with over 10 precious botanical oils and extracts. Customize and choose your own skin boost, aroma and toppings. Use Code SWAY@& for 27% off $48

Pure Haven Complete Almond Biscotti or Candy Cane Pack Includes dream cream (a cult favorite), candle, body wash, moisturizing hand soap, and body butter. Smaller sets available and items may be purchased separately. Limited Edition. $24.95 – $112.95

Hair Care

Innersense Organic Beauty Box Clean, luxurious hair care set that includes shampoo, conditioner, leave in conditioner and lift volumizer $56 (50% off!)

Pura D’or Apple Cider Vinegar Thin To Thick Shampoo and Conditioner Set Encourages exfoliation to the hair and scalp and locks in hydration. This is my current favorite hair care! ~~$25.99~~ $18.19 with code Bf2020. 30% off all products with that code!

Nail Care & Polish

Lauren B. Beauty Luxury Nail Care Collection Long-wearing, chip resistant, vegan, luxury eco nail polish and nail care. Use kellyb20 and get 20% off. Lauren Berkovitz, CEO and founder was the first person I interviewed on Clean Beauty Scene podcast! She is featured on episode 11, you can listen on any podcast app, click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.

PRITINYC All That Jazz Collection 3 bottles in beautiful, festive holiday colors $30 I’ve invited founder Kim D’Amato on the podcast.

Perfume

Aspen Apothecary CBD Infused Vegan Perfume Created by BIPOC sisters committed to amplifying women $79. Named by InStyle as one of the “Only Luxury CBD Beauty brands I’ll ever shop”. I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing CEO & co-founder Keta Burke-Williams on Clean Beauty Scene podcast, you can listen on any podcast app. Be sure to enter our big giveaway for your chance to win a bottle of their beautiful perfume, a tote bag, and a wellness coaching session with moi! Click here to enter the giveaway!

Abbott NYC Exploration Set 8 unisex fragrances inspired by nature $28***

Stocking Stuffers

I always looked forward to checking out my stocking on Christmas morning! My mom… er Santa put the best stuff in there. My favorite was a big tube of the giant Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in six different flavors. Oh do I wish those were toxin free. Fortunately, I found a few clean alternatives. Lip Smackers will always hold a special place in my heart.

LaVigne Liminal Resilience Face Oil Poppy-infused blend of active botanicals that hydrate, nourish, and encourage resilience. This is the first product in their Derm Immortelle line $5.00 – $9.00 for trial sizes.

Pure & Coco Pumpkin Spice Moisturizing Lip Balm $7

Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Set $15

Pure Haven Refresh Moisturizer With Pre+Probiotics $29.95

Lhamour Hand Butter from Pink Moon $10

Vertly CBD Infused Bath Salts $29***

100% Pure $10 Beauty Deals Tons of items for just 10 bucks… foundation, mascara, lipstick, lotion, powder and much more!

For Little Girls & Tweens

Get them started on clean products, their systems are delicate and still developing. Fortunately, there are fun clean lines for especially for them.

Prim & Pure Sparkle & Glam Gift Set $29.99

Lip Smacker alternatives:

Fatco

BellaBar Macaron Lip Balm Set

Pacifica

Hurraw!

Ladybug Jane

Beauty Tools

MOTD Cosmetics Pretty Perfect Essential Face Makeup Brush Set From Safe & Chic $77

Rodan+Fields Micro needling anti-aging tool and Pour Cleansing MD System that exfoliates, minimizes pores and extracts blackheads. Starting at $204

Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool A personal must-have! $28

Skin Gym Rose Quartz Facial Roller $28***

Gifts For Men

Erin’s Faces Lumberjack Skincare Set For Men Face wash and face lotion $75

Pure Haven Men’s 4-piece daily skin care set includes shave butter, aftershave and moisturizer, body wash, and face wash $67.95

Bow Chica Bow Wow

Into The Wylde Wylde One Herb & water-based lubricant $11.99

Java Skincare Sexy Serum Stimulating and sensual caffeine-infused massage and lubricant oil $19.50

Province Apothecary Sex Oil $28***

Click here to apply for a complimentary consultation to receive some guidance in reaching your health, clean beauty and weight loss goals ★

Wishing you & your family a very Happy Holiday Season!

For more clean beauty brands I recommend click here, and for eco household lines, click here.

*Disclosure* I may be an affiliate for some of the products that I recommend on my site. If you purchase those items through my links I’ll earn a small commission. This does not affect your price. I do appreciate you shopping through my links, it helps support this site so I can continue offering you lots of value, good recommendations and free information. Thank you in advance, I appreciate your support! Become an affiliate.

January 15, 2020 By Kelly

Top Benefits Of Omegas 3, 6 & 9 For Beautiful, Healthy Skin

Guest post contributed by Emily Woodman of Arya Derm

Omega fatty acids have numerous health benefits, many of which are yet to be unraveled. What we know so far is that they have tremendously positive effects on the heart, bones and skin, They also support mental health, reduce weight, help fight inflammation and decrease liver fat. Some studies suggest omegas prevent dementia, bipolar disorder and asthma.

How Do Omegas Work?

Some 90 percent of dietary fats come in the shape of triglycerides, which are composed of glycerol and fatty acids. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are components of cell membranes that help fight inflammations and regulate blood pressure.

Our bodies can produce most of the fatty acids, with the exception of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Because they need to be consumed through the diet, they are called “essential fatty acids.”

Recommended daily intake for LA and ALA stands at 4 percent and 0.5 percent of the total energy, respectively. EPA and DHA, recommended daily intake is 250 mg a day. Dietary sources of Omega-3s include fish, fish oils and plants rich in a-linolenic acid (grains and oils).

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

There are numerous types of omega-3s, with the three most common ones being eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

EPA produces eicosanoids, which are the chemicals responsible for reducing inflammation and fighting depression.

DHA makes up ca. 8 percent of brain weight and is, hence, of extreme importance when it comes to normal brain development.

ALA is used as an energy source and can be converted into EPA and DHA, to a degree.

Foods with Omegas are healthy but do you find it challenging planning ahead & eating healthy when you have a hectic schedule? It’s overwhelming!

Click here for a free Healthy Eating On The Go guide with simple tips & habits along with several delicious, nutritious options to grab & go making it easy to eat healthy even when you are pressed for time.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-6s serve primarily as an energy source. The most common one is linoleic acid, which can be converted into arachidonic acid (ARA). ARA produces eicosanoids, which fight inflammation.

However, the production of too many eicosanoids may increase the risk of inflammation diseases, hence omega-6s should be taken in moderation. The modern Western diet contains more omega-6s than the body needs.

Other notable omega-6s include gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

Omega-9 Fatty Acids

Omega-9 fats can be produced by the body, but consuming foods rich in them has numerous beneficial health effects, nevertheless. For one thing, they reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

The most common omega-9 is oleic acid, a major energy source for cells that regulates the biosynthesis of numerous essential metabolites.

Omegas and the Skin

As stated above, omegas are anti-inflammatories, which means that they protect the skin from inflammation and the UV rays. Thus, they keep the skin hydrated, fighting the appearance of wrinkles.

Omega-3s prevent and treat various skin conditions, including psoriasis. The latter is normally treated by dietary and supplemental Omega-3s. Omega-3s decrease the risk of skin cancer, photo-aging, atopic skin conditions and sunburn.

The metabolism of LA and ALA is limited to the skin, while both omega-3s and omega-6s influencing the inflammatory response of the skin.

It is important to understand that omegas work best when ingested. Many people believe that applying them topically will suffice, but that is not exactly the case. In fact, there are only two fatty acids that need to be applied topically: oleic and linoleic acid.

Being a major structural component of the skin, DHA takes care of cell membranes. EPA regulates hydration and oil production of the skin, as well as premature aging. It reduces the risk of acne and prevents hyperkeratinization (the cells lining the inside of a hair follicle).

On top of regulating inflammation, omega-3s help prevent the development of psoriasis, rosacea, scaling, erythema and acne. One of the major functions of the omega-3s is to decrease insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and to reduce scaling, erythema and pruritis.

Sources of Omega Fatty Acids

Foods high in omega-3 fats include fish, fish oil, nuts, seeds and algal oil.

Amounts per 100 grams of the common omega-3 rich foods are:

Salmon: 4g EPA and DHA
Mackerel: 3g EPA and DHA
Sardines: 2.2g EPA and DHA
Anchovies: 1g EPA and DHA
Chia seeds: 4.9g ALA
Walnuts: 2.5g ALA
Flaxseeds: 2.3g ALA

Omega-6 fats are found in refined vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.

Amounts per 100 grams of the common omega-6 rich foods are:

Soybean oil: 50g
Corn oil: 49g
Mayonnaise: 39g
Walnuts: 37g
Sunflower seeds: 34g
Almonds: 12g
Cashew nuts: 8g

Similar to omega-6s, omega-9 fats are found in refined vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.

Amounts per 100 grams of the common omega-9 rich foods are:

Olive oil: 83g
Cashew nut oil: 73g
Almond oil: 70g
Avocado oil: 60g
Peanut oil: 47g
Almonds: 30g
Cashews: 24g
Walnuts: 9g

Recommended daily amounts for ALA:

Men: 1.6 g
Women: 1.1 g
Pregnant women: 1.4 g
Children 1 to 3: 0.7 g
Children 4 to 8: 0.9 g
Boys 9 to 13: 1.2 g
Girls 9 to 13: 1.0 g
Teenage boys: 1.6 g
Teenage girls: 1.1 g

Omega Fatty Acids: General Benefits

Much has been said about the benefits of essential oils with new discoveries never failing to deliver. It is true that we still have a lot to learn, but the facts we are already aware of speak in favor of omega fatty acids.

Skin health benefits of omegas go deeper than just the surface. A healthy body spells healthy skin, so it is crucial to eat a balanced diet instead of simply taking supplements.

After all, it has been proven that communities consuming a fish-based diet have low heart attack and stroke rates, with consumers’ triglyceride levels being decreased by 15 to 30 percent. On top of that, they also have higher HDL cholesterol levels (“good cholesterol”).

Finally, EPA alone helps fight anxiety and depression. These are the world’s two sole most common mental illnesses, with anxiety disorders affecting 18.1 percent of the U.S. population every year, and MDD (major depressive disorder) and PDD (persistent depressive disorder) combined affecting 9.2 percent of people.

That being said, concluding how a balanced diet rich in omega fatty acids is beneficial on multiple levels should not be a difficult leap. Take good care of your skin and overall health at all times.

November 22, 2018 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Here’s A Roundup Of The BEST Eco Beauty Black Friday Deals!

Hey savvy beauty! Get fab gifts for the beauty junkies on your list and grab some delightful goodies for yourself with these fantastic Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (& Sunday) & Cyber Monday deals!

Most of these lines have sales and savings all the way through Tuesday for Cyber Monday. Happy Shopping ?

Credo Beauty

True Botanicals 20% off plus $5 credit for every $50 spent.

Juice Beauty Fantastic gift sets deeply discounted

Credo Several deeply discounted gifts sets on a very large variety of clean brands including $35 Glow & Go Set valued at $103 & free $100 gift with $125 purchase

Annmarie Skin Care 25% off sitewide with code BF2018

Just Nutritive 20% off sitewide

Follain is 20% off with code getclean

100% Pure Great discounts on a variety of gift sets & $10 Beauty Deals!

Hynt Beauty 30% off sitewide with code BLACK2018

Pure Haven 20 – 50% off select products including skin care, hair care, kids care, essential oils including exclusive deals for Cyber Monday

Babo Botanicals 40% off entire line with code TGIBF40

The Detox Market Spend & Save + free gifts

Pour le Monde 40% off certified 100% natural fine fragrances

Joy Provisions 40% off everything

Genetix Organic All products on sale, several more than 50% off

Crunchi Up to 50% off + Black Friday Gift Sets

Jurlique Holistic Skin Care 30% off sitewide with code FRIYAY

Bubbleandbee 20-50% off everything

Pure Haven 20 – 50% off select products including skin care, hair care, kids care, essential oils

Antonym Cosmetics 30% off entire order with code BLACKFRIDAY2018

Lure Essentials Cupping Sets Deep discounts on face and body Cupping sets throughout the weekend.

Plume Science 30% off on all Plume products with codes: LKFRIDAYCAD for Canada & BLKFRIDAY for US

Want my Top 10 Beauty Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox Instantly? Sign Up Here

This checklist gives you easy, actionable tips that you can start right away to look & feel your best!

AND for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday…

I’m offering 25% off ALL my services through Tuesday, 11/27:

Customized One-On-One Eco Wellness Plan: Transition To An Eco Beauty & Household Routine With Ease $175 $132

Save an abundance of time and avoid the hassle of being greenwashed with a customized personal plan based on your personal needs and the type of skin care, beauty &/or home products that you want and need to make your green journey easier and more glamorous.

You’ll receive a personalized PDF containing your complete customized plan with information and suggestions

You’ll know the exact steps to effectively detox your beauty and personal care routine to support long-term health, without stress or overwhelm.

It’s the perfect holiday gift – Get one for yourself and one for your bff, daughter, sister or wife.

One-On-One Private Eco Wellness Session $50 $37.50

Private 30 minute session via phone or Zoom. Transition to the right eco products for your skin type and preferences, reduce your body’s toxic burden with my help snd expertise. Get questions answered about products you currently use, which products you should use, & more.

Home Detox Session $80 $60

My concierge in-home service. I’ll assess your home and the products you use and help you implement eco friendly lifestyle habits, create an eco friendly environment inside your home, detox everything and transition you and your family to a healthy beauty & personal care routine which will reduce your carbon footprint and minimize your body’s toxic burden. I’ll provide you with PDF containing information and suggestions for alternative methods and products.

(If you’re not local, I offer Skype sessions)

In the Los Angeles or Ventura County area? Place your holiday order for a beautifully customized eco friendly gift basket to give your clients, hosts, friends and family! Get 10% off your first order ?

***I am also donating 10% of all sales to Ventura County Community Foundation to support victims of the tragic Borderline shooting & the devastating fires in my hometown here in Southern California*** #TOStrong

Wishing you & your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!! ?

September 10, 2018 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Roccoco Botanicals Skin Care Review & Giveaway!

Roccoco Botanicals is one of the best skin care lines that I have ever tried and you, my beautiful, savvy friend, have a chance to win an entire 4 piece skin care set from them!

Effective anti-aging skin care

I am a tough customer when it comes to skin care, particularly anti-aging skin care. I want something that is truly clean. It cannot have an unpleasant or over powering scent (even when scents aren’t synthetic, they can be unpleasant!). I especially want something that is seriously effective. I’d like to notice a positive change in my skin. Demanding? Perhaps. but it’s possible. Excellent, result driven, non toxic skin care does exist, ladies.

Scroll to bottom of the post to enter the giveaway

Using skin care that is appropriate and effective for my age group is key. So many beauty bloggers and YouTubers, particularly when it comes to green beauty are 27 if they’re a day. So when they tell us about organic beauty products they’ve tried and say they are so amazing and go on about how their skin is glowing it doesn’t carry much weight because your skin should be glowing and beautiful if you’re not even 35 yet. Those of us who are well over 40, like me, would like products that make aging skin glow!

Having said that, I realize that just because you’re under 30 doesn’t mean you necessarily have beautiful skin; some people do have skin issues like rosacea, acne, milia or even premature aging. I get it, but I’m talking in general.

There are wonderful clean, green, eco beauty lines on the market. I am continuously on the hunt for eco friendly skin care that combats signs of aging that women in middle age and beyond want to address as well as skin care that addresses acne and other skin issues my clients struggle with. That is the type of natural, eco skin care that I want to introduce to you. It’s not about looking like we’re 25, it’s simply about looking our best and giving our skin the best possible chance to glow and radiate our inner beauty. It’s about looking healthy.

Quality eco friendly skin care

Which brings me to the fantastic line I am reviewing today, Roccoco Botanicals. Founder, Jacine Greenwood, started the line aiming to provide safe, quality skincare for compromised and hyper-sensitive skin inspired by her children whom both suffered from eczema. Their products focus on calming and soothing irritated skin and making it less reactive.

They use extracts from the native bushlands of Australia, where they are based. The formulas are safe and advanced with liquid crystals, botanicals and botanically derived ingredients such as peony, pomegranate, resveratrol, elderflower and many more. Their headquarters are in Australia and they have a warehouse in Boise, Idaho. Each item is in beautiful recyclable packaging.

Is acne or random breakouts your issue? They have you covered. Roccoco Botanicals has a fantastic anti-acne line as well. Jacine is one of the most knowledgeable people I have come across when it comes to skincare. She was recently nominated for Favorite Brand Educator in the DERMASCOPE Magazine Aestheticians’ Choice Awards! They also have remarkable products for healing eczema. Follow her on Instagram and you will get helpful tips and information every time she posts.

I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing her. Be sure to watch it, Jacine offers wonderful information about how the nourishing ingredients they use in their formulations benefits the skin and we discuss what good, quality skin care should be delivering.

Roccoco Botanicals Giveaway

This is a big giveaway, Jacine is offering a phenomenal prize valued at nearly $400! One of my very lucky readers will win the full 4 piece anti-aging set which includes:

Soothing Cleansing Oil An oil based cleanser containing a soothing blend of Omega 3 rich oils designed to gently clean skin while replenishing vital lipids. Sunflower Oil, Raspberry Oil and Passionfruit are high in essential fatty acids which help to replenish the skin barrier. It helps dislodge blackheads which makes it is a great cleanser for dehydrated acne skin.

Purifying Essence Helps exfoliate and unblock pores without drying out the skin.

LRT (Lift + Rejuvenate + Tone) This is their revolutionary neck cream that I was lucky to try. It is designed specifically for the architecture of the neck and décolletage. I think we can all agree that the neck area is one of the hardest areas to firm and tone. You’ve seen those women who look pretty good but the neck not so much which is why I always tell clients to take care of that area too! Good skin care does not stop at the jawline. Very few peptides on the market specifically target this area effectively, the way LRT does. It also reduces pigmentation and evens out skin tone. She told me that they were seeing great results on the face so I applied it all the way from the chest up to my forehead.

Pomegranate Eye Balm A rich cream infused with peptides. It firms and tones the eye area reducing the appearance of expression wrinkles.

My video review & interview with Jacine

This luxurious line of high quality skin care products delivers. I am impressed. As you’ll hear when you watch my video review, I saw results with the anti-aging products she sent me. They are extremely effective yet gentle. Very hydrating, felt wonderful on my face and smells lovely. I love that they package formulations in pumps. I find them easier to use and they are certainly more sanitary.

The cleansing oil is divine and if you get blackheads, this is your new best friend. The eye balm is phenomenal. I get puffiness around the eye area, not only did this eye balm not exacerbate that the way many eye creams on the market do, my eye area looked better. I was starting to see some crepiness on my neck (ugh) but the LRT took care of it, I saw a noticeable improvement! I also noticed a firmness.

It was such a pleasure interviewing Jacine!

They also offer remote consultations. They will help you and guide you to the right products for your skin concerns. Jacine is extremely knowledgable. One conversation with her is like a masterclass in clean, natural skin care ingredients! She is a genius when it comes to healing acneic skin and she is absolutely delightful, such a sweet, likable person.

This is not just some cheapo giveaway, the value of this is nearly $400!

Oh, and another really cool thing? If you are the winner, let me know what your skin type is and if the skin care set featured doesn’t align with your skin type, she will send you products that do!

Do not hesitate, enter to WIN now!

Update: Sorry you missed the giveaway but you can check out all the wonderful Roccoco Botanicals products here. Try some and let me know what you think! I’m sure you will love them and the results they give you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 9, 2018 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Check Out The Fantastic Clean Beauty Products You Can Find At TJMaxx & Marshall’s!

I love a good bargain. What Savvy girl doesn’t?! But we want quality too. You can find both at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s for a fraction of the price! (I think that’s actually Ross’ slogan but you get the point Love that store too).

No, this isn’t an ad or paid sponsorship, they just happen to be two of my favorite places to shop because they carry just about everything at a discount… home goods, clothes (even some designer threads!), accessories, toys, fitness items, stationary, even beauty products. In fact, you can find clean beauty products there!

Photo credit: JeepersMedia on VisualHunt.com / CC BY

I recently visited both stores and found some good clean skin care so I popped on a live stream on my Facebook page to share my discoveries at TJMaxx and Marshall’s.

There are many clean lines to choose from. Lucky for us savvy girls there is far more variety on the market than there was even just a few years ago. I have vetted and researched dozens of brands and list some that I recommend here on my site.

Clean & organic beauty products at TJMaxx

They are all available online but it’s nice to be able to grab some goodies while you’re out running errands, isn’t it? Which is why I love that we can find nice products at places like TJMaxx and Marshall’s. I’ve also found some at a few of my other favorite stores so stay tuned for those videos.

To make shopping easier for you, grab my list of the top 12 toxic toxins to avoid when purchasing cosmetics, beauty & personal care products for you & your family. This is your personal cheat sheet. Avoid buying products with these ingredients and you’ll be a green beauty. ?

Clean & organic beauty products at Marshall’s

June 2, 2017 By Kelly 4 Comments

The #1 Reason You Shouldn’t Skip A Trip To The Dermatologist

One of the questions I am most often asked is, “what sunscreen should I use?!” Using quality sunscreen that is free of toxic chemicals is important but equally important is keeping an eye out for changes in your skin.

Do you go to the dermatologist for yearly skin checks? Do you take you kids for yearly skin checks? It’s not just adults that are at risk of skin cancer.

May is skin cancer prevention month and quite coincidentally, my son’s skin check potentially saved his life. In this recent live stream I did in my Facebook group, I tell the whole story, share some of my favorite sunscreen brands & clear up confusion surrounding a controversial ingredient found in many skin care products, titanium dioxide.

At 4:30 minutes in, I discuss the importance of skin checks & exactly how my son’s saved him from an unfavorable diagnosis down the line.

I don’t want to sound dramatic but the dermatologist said that this would have turned into melanoma. I feel very blessed that we caught it so early. I’m proud of him, he noticed it on his back & brought it to my attention.

I have had 2 basal cell carcinomas removed.Tanning with baby oil back in the 80s? Guilty. They were very small, I found both myself. It’s important to check yourself frequently & when something new pops up, have it checked out.

It’s so important to know your skin and your entire body and be aware of any changes whether they seem abnormal or not.

I also have a very special & might I add, extremely cute guest joining me in this video!

Protect yourself and your loved ones and schedule those skin checks!

Feel free to join my private Facebook group where we share all things wellness, eco friendly living & organic beauty & I’ll be doing informative live streams, Q & As & more!

It can be overwhelming to know what products are safe and which to avoid. To help people figure it out and minimize their body’s toxic burden, I’m running a fun, FREE green your beauty routine challenge in July:

5 Days To A Clean, Green Beauty Routine ?

In this challenge, you’ll learn simple tips that you can start right away to look better, feel great & improve your health by detoxing your beauty & personal care routine without giving up glamour ? It will be fun, sign up here!

It runs this week but you can still participate & reap the benefits. I’ll send the videos & info to everyone who signs up so you can access & peruse at your leisure 🙂

January 3, 2017 By Kelly Leave a Comment

The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Clean Beauty: Look Younger Without Harmful Chemicals

Achieve a youthful glow without slathering yourself with toxins

Going green with your beauty and personal care routine will help you make significant improvements in your health and in the way you look. But it can be confusing, can’t it? It’s not easy to know what to do, which products to use, which methods really work and which resources to trust.

You want to look your best naturally and achieve a more youthful appearance without slathering yourself with harmful chemicals, right? You can! Ditch the toxins with my free beauty checklist, The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Clean Beauty ?Look Younger Without Harmful Chemicals In 10 Easy Steps™.

This cheat sheet is for the modern woman who desires to be environmentally and health conscious without sacrificing style, quality and glamour. It gives you simple, actionable tips that you can start right away to look and feel hotter and even more fabulous than you already are.

I’ve done the research, I’ve tested methods and products galore. I want to share my top organic beauty secrets with you. These tips go way beyond skincare products to help you feel better, look better & have more energy.

Get your FREE clean beauty checklist here!

These are my top clean beauty and wellness tips to help you look and feel your best. Self care is quite the buzzword lately but it really is important. I’m a firm believer that when you feel better you look better and when you look better you feel better!

There are many ways to show yourself love, eco friendly and wellness living is one of them… to me the most important one. Why? Because while you are healing yourself you are also healing the environment. You live in and among every single person living in that environment. Your desire to detox your body and your home creates a ripple effect. You are taking on a task that not many consider taking or will take in their lifetime.

It’s never too late to become aware and do your part for the environment and it’s never too late to take better care of yourself. What’s good for the environment is healthy for you and what’s healthy for you is good for the environment… it all works synergistically.

I also want to prevent you from getting greenwashed. What is greenwashing? It is when companies display insincere concern for our health & the environment claiming their products are clean when they actually are not.

Are you ready to turn back the clock naturally, look younger, improve your health & feel better without using unsafe products? Here’s How In 10 easy Steps

Your journey to organic beauty and wellness starts now! Click here and your FREE checklist will be delivered right to your inbox.

Would you like even more support going glamorously green and living your healthiest lifestyle with clean beauty and holistic wellness? Join my free Facebook group today!

Connect with fellow eco minded people and those who strive to become more eco friendly as we share ideas, information & recommendations on clean effective brands & products, as well as wellness, organic beauty and eco friendly living methods & news. We’d love to see you there!

A votre sante!

xo ~Kelly

p.s. Are your energy levels low or are you struggling to drop weight? Feel free to book A complimentary Eco Wellness consultation.

I’ll evaluate you and give you a crystal clear plan with key steps to get weight off for good.
We’ll uncover hidden challenges that could be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. You’ll learn tips to mitigate Type II Diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and potentially get off certain medications.
You’ll leave the session renewed, energized and inspired to make the changes necessary to implement new healthy habits as well as learning about a proven method to lose weight once and for all.

Click here to book your free consultation at a time that is convenient for you or email me: kelly@kellybonanno.com

Savvy Girl’s Organic World Facebook Group

December 19, 2016 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Clean Beauty Recommendations

You’re smart, savvy & healthy.

Your beauty products should be too.

Your guide to clean beauty & personal care

The secret to adopting an all natural eco beauty and personal care routine is using products with clean ingredients. But it’s not that easy. Long lists of ingredients are daunting and look like you need a PhD to decipher. I was just as confused and frustrated as you so I did the research and found dozens of clean lines to make your clean beauty shopping experience a breeze.

You don’t have to give up anything! When it comes to products that do not contain harmful ingredients, there are many fabulous clean lines to choose from to help you take care of your skin and glam it up. Earth friendly does not have to mean earthy, ya feel me?

This is a comprehensive list of brands that I have vetted and researched. No greenwashing from any of these lines. Among them you’ll find fantastic skincare, body care, hair care, makeup and more. They do not contain any of the carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals found in most products on the market.

Many of these lines are completely pure, others may contain safe synthetics, dyes, etc. but every line you find here is clean. How green you want to go is your choice.

Curious to know how you can get your hands on my list of “bad” ingredients to avoid? Send your email address to me at kelly (at) kellybonanno (dot) com and I’ll send it right over for free or click here and have it delivered to your inbox.

You can find a comprehensive list of eco friendly household lines, including cleaners, laundry, clean candles, water filters, mattresses, clothing, jewelry, accessories, essential oils and more here.

I’m an affiliate for some* of the lines which means I’ll receive a small commission if you buy something through my link (this does not affect your price.) which I truly appreciate as it helps subsidize the free content I share here on my site, in my Facebook group, on Instagram, in my free newsletter, etc. I am an entrepreneur, a creator, affiliate commissions are part of how I support my family. Thank you for supporting me and my mission to help make your clean beauty shopping simple. I’m not affiliated with all of them but I do give my eco seal of approval to each one so happy shopping!

Find it overwhelming to figure out which products are best for you? I’ll take the guesswork out. Call, text or email me 818.235.2205 kelly@kellybonanno.com or schedule a complimentary call with me. I’m happy to offer guidance in choosing which lines and products will meet your needs and budget.

Now, on to the list!

100% Pure

100% Pure This is one of my favorite lines for skin care, cosmetics, bath and body products. They are made with the highest quality ingredients, completely free of all harmful toxins. The lipstick is very long wearing and the mascara gives luscious volume & length!

Credo Beauty A vast array of high performing eco-friendly, cruelty free, organic cosmetics and skin care lines including Kari Gran, Antonym, Gressa, Innersense, Josh Rosebrook, Lily Lolo, Priti NYC, Alima, RMS Beauty, Skin Owl, Vapour, W3ll People, Love Fresh, Rituel De Fille. Get 20% off with code: CREDOFAM

Madison Reed High quality, salon-worthy clean hair color actually does exist! Find your best hair color, cover those grays, get that glossy shine you want WITHOUT ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates or gluten. With over 45 shades of gorgeous, multi-dimensional hair color with superior gray coverage, you’re guaranteed the perfect shade for YOU. Use code KELLY123 and receive 15% off plus free shipping on your first order!

Indie Lee After being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009 (then fortunately recovering), Indie made it her mission to educate and empower others to make informed, healthy life choices and to create a line of clean products that are as effective as they are safe.

Love Goodly A large selection of wonderful clean, eco beauty lines plus a subscription box containing 4-5 mostly full size products. Each month you’ll receive beauty and skincare, a style or home accessory and an occasional healthy snack and wellness item. With each purchase, they give back to a cause.

Annmarie Skincare Handcrafted organic, wildcrafted skin care made with a 3-step, proprietary process. Very nourishing beautiful products that I highly recommend.

Safe and Chic An extensive selection of organic green beauty, skincare and hair products that are environmentally safe and never tested on animals. Over 1500 products and 85 brands to choose from.

Pur a’dor Clean skincare, haircare, and body care. Buy something and you’ll bring another tree into the world. They plant one tree for every bottle purchased at their online store. Hands down the BEST hair spray! Light with great hold, not sticky or wet.

Aether Beauty Clean vegan beauty that harness is the power of crystals with gorgeous makeup including award winning zero waste, 100% recyclable pallets. Get 15% off with the coupon code KELLYBONANNO

goPure Exceptional skincare based on the most potent active ingredients and botanical extracts. High quality skincare products at the lowest possible price.

Maya Chia Fantastic line of clean skin care products with high-performance, luxurious formulations. Their Super Blend rescued my dehydrated skin. Love it.

The Detox Market A wide variety of offer pure, effective, and elegant products. They are committed to curating the best of natural beauty while never compromise efficiency.

Living Libations Unique, pure, healing beauty and personal skincare products formulated with some of the highest quality organic and wildcrafted essential oils found around the globe.

Hey There Savvy Beauty! Want my Top 10 Beauty Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox Instantly? Sign Up Here ?

This checklist gives you easy, actionable tips that you can start right away to look & feel your best!

Pure Haven Nourishing skin & body care, non toxic hand sanitizer, exceptional hair care, safe baby & kid’s care, makeup, excellent pet care, effective home cleaning & quality essential oils. Every item scores 0 – 1 on the EWG Skin Deep Database. No animal testing, everything is gluten free. Order direct through my affiliate site @ Pure Haven Essentials, or fill out this contact form for product inquiries, advice and orders.

Click here for Non Toxic Hand Sanitizer

Follain A healthy beauty store with safe and effective products from over 40 brands, all made in the USA. To be Follain approved, a product has to be safe, effective and luxurious. They test each for effectiveness by consulting with aestheticians, dermatologists, makeup stylists and other pros.

Silk Naturals Clean make up that is free of harmful ingredients and affordable. Their philosophy is makeup should be fun! I agree. I love that they have several wonderful dupes for your favorite toxic makeup items.

Waxelene Safe petroleum jelly alternative. (One of my MUST have, holy grail items!) Organic therapeutic ointment that moisturizes, nourishes and protects dry and cracked skin without clogging pores. Comes in a tube, in a jar & in a lip balm which is my absolute favorite lip balm ever – totally keeps my lips soft and kissable.

Fatco Clean deodorant and pproducts for face and body including amazing lip balms that are cute clean alternatives for the beloved Lip Smacker.

The Honest Company LOVE the mascara and primer in one, lengthens without clumping and is not pricey!

Juice Beauty Authentically Organic Formulas Made With USDA Certified Organic Ingredients: to enhance the powerful antioxidants and to limit pesticide and synthetic fertilizer residue. LOVE their CC Cream with SPF and the Green Apple Brightening Essence.

True Botanicals They work with researchers at leading universities, including Carnegie Mellon and Cornell, to identify the most nourishing ingredients for skincare: botanical extracts packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids creating high-performance formulas by combining ingredients known to combat specific skin issues, such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles.

Hynt Beauty Luxurious color and skincare cosmetics with rigorous ingredient quality specifications. Co-founded by breast cancer survivor, Meryl Marshall.

Pure & Coco All-natural, vegan, coconut skincare born out of the founder’s necessity to heal her chronic, dry, cracked and often bleeding skin in the winter months and year round.

Tata Harper High performing products formulated with more than 300 different botanically based ingredients sourced from all over the globe in high levels of concentrations.

Salty Girl Their goal is to have you ‘feeling beautiful, badass and ready for the day’, enhancing your natural beauty with clean nourishing ingredients and beautiful colors #OWNYOURBEAUTY

Roccoco Botanicals Superior skin care. Fantastic anti-aging skin care that is results driven as well as high quality skin and body care safe and effective for acneic and hyper-sensitive skin including rosacea and eczema using select anti-inflammatory active.

Pour Le Monde Certified 100% natural and very beautiful fine fragrances made from entirely pure ingredients with great names like Empower and Envision.

Lauren B. Beauty High quality couture eco nail care and polish in 85 beautiful colors that are glossy, long lasting and chip resistant, especially when you use one of their awesome topcoats like the Sun Activated UV Gel Topcoat. The brush is pre-lacquered with twice the standard amount of bristles, so your polish glides on smoothly and streak-free giving you a gel-like couture polish that dries fast. Use code kellyb20 and get 20% off! You’ll love their gorgeous colors, nail growth serum, cuticle oils, hand cream and the monthly Beauty Box.

Blissoma Holistic Skincare 100% natural, Certified Vegan, made in-house, packed with certified organic botanicals, bioavailable vitamins, essential fatty acids, and skin-soothing seed oils. They specialize in care for demanding skin types such as extremely sensitive skin, allergies, or other skin problems.

Wildling Empress Stone is a facial gua sha tool for lymphatic drainage is designed to help revitalize and sculpt facial skin and neck and alleviate tension. Empress Oil works with the tonic to hydrate and plump skin.

Zoe Organics Baby and mom care made with high quality botanicals, waxes and minerals.

Real Purity All natural products designed for the most sensitive of skin to soothe and soften.

Mad Hippie This award winning line of vegan skincare is dedicated to the preservation of the environment with their eco business practices and donations of $1 to conservation from every web sale. They have high performing serums, creams and oils that produce results.

Pure Anada Makeup, beauty tools, body care, mens care and skincare formulated with Olivem®1000 Crystal Skin™ and Leucidal® Advanced Aloe, a safe preservative.

Jane Iredale A wonderful collection of hypoallergenic non-nanoparticle mineral makeup and skincare products that nourish the complexion. This line is one of my personal favorites, superior products.

Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Skin Perfecting Primer Soft Focus The Soft Focus liquid formula is designed to balance normal sensitive and combination skin types while instantly providing a naturally soft satin finish with beauty-boosting botanicals including Vapour’s proprietary Herbal Enlightenment Complex and Deep Moisture Complex of rich organic Pumpkin and toning Elderberry. Savvy girls, let me tell you, this is by far the best primer I have ever used. You will love it!

Pleni Naturals Non toxic products for babies, kids and the whole family made with nourihing vitamins, antioxidants. A portion of proceeds go to Life Lab, a pioneering nonprofit cultivating children’s love of learning, healthy foods, and nature through garden-based education.

Eco Girl A women-owned and operated shop offering natural products for your health, beauty, style, home, and the planet. They’ve partnered with One Tree Planted to help support global reforestation by donating 1% or more of all website sales. A single tree can provide a habitat for hundreds of species. Trees are vital for the air we breathe, our water, medicines.

Acure Skin, hair, body, lips and baby care formulated with targeted plant and food based ingredients. I love their face scrub, cleansers, fruit enzyme peel and hair care & more. Affordable high quality.

Inlight Organic Skincare Exquisite plant based skincare formulated with effective organic food-grade and cold-pressed oils, herbs, the purest essential oils and beeswax.

Odacite They source the highest quality ingredients, precious plant extracts, magical oils and potent cosmeceuticals to create highly effective skincare with ultimate potency, absolute freshness and complete purity.

Crunchi High performance, safe, toxin free, beautifully pigmented cosmetics. My rep is Kerry, she’s super sweet and helpful, tell her Kelly says hi!

Puracy Organic Hair Care & Skin Care Gift Set Award-Winning Organic Hand & Body Lotion, Natural Body Wash, Shampoo & Conditioner. Sulfate-Free, Developed by Doctors (pack of 4).

LURE Essentials 100% Pure Rosehip Seed Oil Certified organic, cold pressed, unrefined, virgin for face massage, skin, hair and nails. Hydrate lips, dry itchy skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, address hyperpigmentation.

Manda Naturals reef safe organic food grade sun care.

Saje Natural products containing essential oils, healing plants, and natural ingredients from all over the world formulated to be safe and effective based on modern science and traditional use.

Lily Lolo Natural Organic Mascara Nourishes and conditions eyelashes – Enriched with chamomile and vitamin E. Adds volume and length to eyelashes evenly and smoothly with no flakes, smudges or clumps. Vegan and gluten free.

Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18. Lightweight hydration and ultra-sheer broad spectrum protection SPF 18 provide daily, easy to wear protection. Be aware, this is not 100% clean, however, it does contain anti-aging ingredients such asFruit stem cell complex, resveratrol, CoQ10. Plus, some of you are looking for ‘safer’, not necessarily the purest.

Ever Skincare Clinically proven to target visible signs of aging, including the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and dark spots with clinical-grade level ingredients.

Lure BLISS Face Cupping and Anti Cellulite Cups Face & Body Cupping Set: Cupping Massage is known to help: improve circulation, reduce inflammation , release toxins (lymphatic drainage and detox) , lower blood pressure , relax muscles , relieve joint pain , fibromyalgia , regulate hormones, release endorphins, promote healing, improve sleep.

Genetix Organic High performing organic serums for a variety of skin issues including their cult favorite Enhancement Oil with herbs that penetrate to stimulate blood flow and promote the growth and longevity of new cells. Can be used to enhance your breasts, butt and lips. Va va voom.

Pacifica A full range of lovely natural cosmetics, perfumes, nail polish and skin care.

Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeshadow A highly pigmented natural loose-mineral eyeshadow with a matte finish.

Amara Organics Vitamin C Cream Face cream with coconut oil, cocoa butter & jojoba oil nourishes skin, softens fine lines, fades age spots, and gives skin a radiant glow.

Babo Botanicals Skin, hair, sun and baby care made with a combination of pure plant actives, naturally derived, certified organic and all-natural ingredients.

Clean Tan Self-tanning concentrate, natural bronze color that lasts like a spray tan, add to any lotion, serum or oil for a dream tan.

Just Nutritive Skin care, hair care, tanning products & pet care made with the purest plant oils, butters, botanical extracts and essentials from the best that nature has to offer.

Suzanne Somers’ Skincare, Haircare & Makeup Superfood for your skin feed to nurture and hydrate your skin, while giving you flawless coverage. They use effective botanical actives with ingredients like shea butter, jojoba, aloe, argan oil, grape seed oil, bamboo powder, tapioca, rich mineral powders, raspberries, oranges, Vitamin E and more.

For those of you who have curly hair, I have heard RAVES about Suzanne Somers True Brazilian!

Carina Organics Citrus Extra Gentle Shampoo Specially compounded for color treated, permed, bleached, hi-lighted, and dry hair, the extra gentle shampoo gently cleanses without stripping hair of it’s colour and replenishes your scalp with essential moisturizing nutrients.

Sex Oil Hydrates and soothes with vitamin E, coconut and rosehips oil. High in antioxidants. Dual function as an unscented body or massage oil.

Black African Soap Body, hand and face wash that can soothe eczema, acne, psoriasis and more.

Puriya Cream For eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, shingles and rashes. Powerful 13-in-1 natural formula provides instant and lasting relief for severely dry, cracked, itchy, or irritated skin.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Multi-tasking products formulated to address your specific skincare concerns. Their sunscreen is fantastic, one of my top sunblock picks.

Zoya Nail treatments and 10-free nail polish in several gorgeous colors.

Prim Botanicals Lovely skincare, eco perfume, haircare, clean burning candles and pretty beach blankets.

Prim and Pure Affordable, safe, natural products for children and teens.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes Tonic-infused natural face wipes to reboot dull, tired or oily skin with aloe, bamboo and green tea (20 individually wrapped bamboo wipes)

Jurlique Holistic Skin Care Pure & natural skin care combining ancient arts of alchemy, herbal medicine & homeopathy.

Hair Color

Palette By Nature Natural hair care and color free of PPD, PTD, Artificial Dyes, Amines, Ammonia, Peroxide, Resorcinol, Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates and pet grooming products.

Hair Print Non toxic hair color for dark shades.

Deodorants That Work

Pure Haven (my personal favorite) they also have a great baking soda free version, doTERRA, Phresh, Schmidt’s, Meow Meow Tweet or CocoPits, Ursa Major, Fatco

Sunscreen

Coola (fantastic under makeup), MyChelle Dermaceuticals (love this one too), Acure, Mad Hippie, Ever (this one has nice shades if you want tinted sunscreen), Manda Naturals, Block Island Organics, 100% Pure, Babo Botanicals.

Acne Care

Blissoma, Osmia Black Clay Facial Soap, Roccoco Botanicals, Pure Haven Skin Care, Andalou Naturals brightening line, Suki clarifying toner & purifying acne serum. Tea Tree essential oil can be used as a spot treatment in some cases, check with me or your esthetician.

Eczema Treatments

Pure Haven Dream Cream, Waxelene, Pure & Coco, Colloidal Silver gel, Black African Soap, Forces of Nature eczema control, Puriya Cream.

Dr. Wang Herbal Rescue Balm Herbal & NON-steroidal care for itchy, dry & irritated skin. Winner of 2017 Good Housekeeping Seal, safe for kids, developed by a dermatologist and herbalist.

For Baby & Mama

Ecocentric Mom Monthly delivery club for moms who want to discover and save on the very best non-toxic, organic, natural and unique products for themselves, their babies and their homes. Each product meets their rigorous product standards.

Earth Mama Organics Clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, including pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby care.

Feminine Care

Pads, tampons, menstruation care and more: L., Rael, Cora, GladRags.

Essential Oils

Mountain Rose Herbs

Pure Haven

doTERRA

Become an affiliate.

*Disclosure* I may be an affiliate for some of the products that I recommend on my site. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a small commission. This does not affect your price. I do appreciate you shopping through my links, it helps support this site so I can continue offering you lots of value, good recommendations and free information. Thank you in advance, I appreciate your support!

September 8, 2015 By Kelly 2 Comments

10 Good Reasons You Should Be Using Organic Coconut Oil Everyday

I’ve been slathering coconut oil all over my body and cooking with it for years. To reap its many health and eco friendly beauty benefits, use high quality unrefined organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil.

Coconut oil strengthens the immune system.
Coconut oil has a high smoke point so it’s ideal to cook with. Its antiviral and anti-fungal properties prevent it from oxidizing so it won’t go rancid at a high heat like other oils. Dr. Mercola says that although it is a saturated fat, the fats are small/medium chain fats so they diffuse and provide energy.
Coconut oil is an amazing natural moisturizer, it works wonders on dry skin and has been shown to firm skin and help prevent wrinkles. Apply it directly or mix it with your favorite facial and body moisturizers.
It has strong anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-viral properties so it helps fight infections in the body and on the skin.
Dr. Oz says 1 tablespoon a day will boost your energy level. It goes directly to the brain so it’s quickly used as energy rather than being stored like most fats. Try it on toast and in recipes instead of butter.
Coconut oil has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, it’s high in lauric acid so it boosts metabolism and may help with weight loss.
It helps control blood sugar, aids thyroid function and helps the body absorb calcium and magnesium.
Coconut oil is a great conditioner for your hair. Massage it into your scalp, work it onto the ends of your hair, leave it in for about 30 minutes then wash and condition your hair as usual. I saw a friend at a party and thought her hair looked especially beautiful, she surprisingly attributed it to advice that I had given her a month earlier: coconut oil.
Its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties make it fantastic for use on diaper rash and cradle cap in infants.
Countries whose diets include high amounts have been shown to have lower rates of heart disease. However, because it is saturated, it can raise cholesterol levels. This is the controversial aspect of coconut oil to keep in mind and talk to your doctor regarding concerns if you have cholesterol issues
Oil pulling with it whitens teeth and keeps your mouth healthy and kissable. Swish it around for 20 minutes first thing in the morning then rinse and brush your teeth.

August 12, 2014 By Kelly 1 Comment

Are You Making These 4 Summer Skin Care Mistakes?

Guest post by Helen Moore

Summer brings the usual issues that overwhelm the skin like peeling sunburns, bug bites, or oily and sweaty skin. It’s a tricky balance to care for the skin during the summer and we’re probably not aware of the mistakes we make.

1. Over-exfoliating and washing the face Since the summer heat and humidity can makes us sweat more, it makes the skin feel oilier. This can be so unsettling for some people that they tend to over-cleanse the face and increase the number of times the exfoliation is done. This essentially strips the skin of its natural oils which causes the skin to overproduce oil exacerbating the problem.

Solution: Keep your cleansing routine the same — wash in the morning and cleanse at night. Limit exfoliation to twice a week. Continue to moisturize because without adequate hydration, skin may over produce oil. If necessary, blot wipe it with a clean cloth.

2. Foregoing Sunscreen Despite its popularity, some people are still not in the habit of applying sunscreen. It’s important to do this even if you don’t have any plans of spending the day at the beach. While some people are not applying sunscreen, others are applying it incorrectly.

Solution: Don’t skip this at all. If you go swimming or spend the day outdoors, bring a bottle with you and reapply as needed. Lather a generous amount on skin that’s exposed. Choose a sunscreen with non-nanoparticle zinc oxide. Look for one on the Environmental Working Group’s list of safe and effective sunscreens. Ava Anderson Non Toxic tops their list.

3. Failing to stay hydrated While refreshments, such as a cold glass of juice, quench the thirst and relieves our body from the heat, our skin also needs the same kind of treatment inside and out. It’s not enough that you drink lots of water, especially during this season.

Solution: Eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in water content to supplement what you may lack with drinking just water. Put on lotion and moisturizers so that the skin absorbs this, preventing flakes and dryness that commonly happens during summer.

4. Disregarding care of the feet Feet are exposed to a lot of free radicals and irritants during the summer because people wear sandals and flip-flops a lot, or walk barefoot in the sand. With so many activities, care for the feet is often overlooked, when it should be given attention, as this is when cracks and dryness often occur.

Solution: Don’t ever forget to moisturize and exfoliate the feet. Make this part of your skin care routine. One other thing you can do is apply moisturizer, such as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil at night and then wear socks. This may be a bit too warm to do in the summer, but try at least three times a week.

What is your summer skin care routine? Share your tips in the comments below.

The summer season can also trigger a yeast infection. Know what factors cause this and what you can do to prevent or treat yeast infections using natural ingredients by visiting YeastInfectionsAdviser.com.