Link Love Friday: Peony Season!

It’s that glorious time of year when the farmers markets are starting to burst with fresh fruits and veggies, my favorite flower is blooming (see above!), and I can pretend the full heat of summer is still a ways off. I’m soaking it all in—and I’ve scoured the internet to come up with some great links to share this week. —Aleigh

On No More Dirty Looks, there’s an ongoing discussion about perioral dematitis happening right now, and reminded me that Sarah Villafranco of Osmia Organics has a lot to say on this topic! If you’ve struggled with this skin condition, these links might be insightful.

NASA released a list of the best air-filtering houseplants. I have exactly one of these in my house. Time to add a few more…

I love this list of 6 weird things that make you happy, from Prevention. (Tear-jerker movies for the win!)

I can’t wait to try this double duty beauty parfait from the Whole Foods blog.

What have you been reading + enjoying this week?

(Image via buttersweet)

This post was shared May 17, 2013 under Body, Skin, tagged , , , , , , and has no comments

Beauty Obsession: Osmia Organics Detox Mask

I’m always excited to try a new release from Osmia Organics, but truly, few things make me happier than a great facial mask treatment on a weekend afternoon. When that afternoon includes a fresh mask from Osmia plus relaxing with a great book (I just finished this one) and a glass of sparkling water with lemon, there’s almost nothing better.

If you’ve shied away from dry facial masks in the past, this may be the perfect one to try. Yes, it can take a few tries to get just the right ratio of mask to water (start with the mask, and add a tiny amount of water bit by bit), but these dry masks have two big pluses, in my opinion: they last a really long time (if they ever expire), and you control the mixing, so you can customize them to get the perfect consistency for your skin. Plus you can mix up exactly the amount you need, whether you’re doing an all-over mask or just a dab for a spot treatment. —Aleigh

What I tried: Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask, $50*

First impressions: As with all of the Osmia products I’ve tried, the packaging for this facial mask is simple and beautiful. This new mask is a dry formula and comes in a glass bottle tucked into a small box with a small ceramic bowl and spatula. It’s potent (and pure), with three types of skin-purifying clay and activated bamboo charcoal. If you’ve got troubled or problematic skin—or just feel like your complexion is a bit dull—this mask is a great option, especially because with finely ground walnut shells, it’s also an exfoliator.

What caught me by surprise: Sarah warned me that because this mask does exfoliate and detoxify, my skin might be a little red for 10-15 minutes after I rinsed off the mask. And, frankly, I fully expected this—my skin has been a bit more on the sensitive side lately. (I always slather on a great, soothing facial moisturizer after a facial mask.) But after testing this mask several times, I haven’t experienced redness once. I can absolutely feel the mask tightening up my skin as it dries, and it does offer some great, gentle exfoliation when it’s rinsed off. (Note: when you rinse, move your fingers in a circular motion, gently—don’t scrub!) But my skin is just absolutely glowy post-mask, and it definitely calmed a recent cystic acne bump on my jawline.

Bonus: This mask comes with its own little ceramic bowl and spatula—such a great touch. I’ve been stealing bowls from my kitchen cabinets to mix up my facial masks in the past. No more!

*This product was sent to me for review, but I only write about cosmetics I think are truly worthy of being shared with you. View my full disclosure here, and my review policy here.

(Images via Osmia Organics)

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This post was shared May 9, 2013 under Skin, tagged , , and has 2 comments

Discovery: Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox

We ditched cable in favor of Hulu Plus and Netflix a few months back, and in all honesty I haven’t missed cable one bit. One of my recent Hulu Plus discoveries is a quirky documentary about a natural product my family has used for years—Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap.

Dr. Bronner’s soaps were some of the first natural products I ever used, but until I stumbled upon this documentary, I didn’t realize there was such a story behind that manifesto of a product label. It turns out that Dr. Bronner was a master soapmaker who came to the U.S. in 1929. A quirky, brilliant chemist, Dr. Bronner would  periodically abandon his family (a point with which his family appears to be at peace at this point), to “preach” his message of unity. He was once even committed into an insane asylum for his passionate speeches—although he eventually managed to escape.

The family behind the soap is undoubtedly unusual, but the one thing that really struck me is how generous this family-owned company still is to this day. According to the film, which came out in 2007, the company has donated more than 70% of their profits to charitable organizations or people. They take seriously their promise to treat their employees fairly, including generous bonuses, retirement/profit-sharing plans, and a no-deductible health insurance program. And they care about taking care of what Dr. B called “spaceship earth,” too–they’ve been using 100% post-consumer-waste containers for their products since 2003.

If you’re looking for some insight into a company that produces natural products (or just interested in an interesting story), I think the film is worth watching. (For more details on Dr. Bronner’s activism, history, and products, check the company’s website.) —Aleigh

(Images and video via Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox)

This post was shared May 8, 2013 under Body, tagged , and has 2 comments

Trend Alert: Natural Colored Mascaras

Prevention says colored mascara is back. (Check out their simple how-to-wear-it guide.) And there are plenty of natural mascaras to choose from if you want to get in on the trend. Enjoy! —Aleigh

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara in Aubergine, $28.90

Nvey Eco Volumising Mascara in Blue, $12.50

Zuii Organic Certified Organic Flora Mascara in Emerald and Lapis, $27.95

Couleur Caramel Mascara in Plum and Blue, $24.25

100% Pure Pigmented Mascara in Blackberry and Blueberry, $18

(Image via Idhren)

This post was shared May 1, 2013 under Makeup, tagged , , , , , , , , and has no comments

3 Beautiful Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Many of us try to celebrate the idea behind Earth Day all year long—but if you need a boost, here are three little things you can do today to show the earth some love!

Try something new. Trying new things (whether it’s a new food or a new activity) is good for you—and helps cultivate an appreciation for our amazing world.

Make a swap. Replace one of your not-natural-or-organic cosmetics with one that’s better for you (and the earth)! Here’s a guide I put together to help wade through the challenges of evaluating natural and organic cosmetics.

Get outside. Plant something in your garden. Play with your dogs. Or just take a leisurely walk and marvel at the beauty of the world around you. (Even just a 20- to 30-minute walk can have big health benefits!)

Want more ideas? Here’s a link to last year’s Earth Day post, which has even more ways to celebrate Mother Earth. Enjoy! —Aleigh

(Image via Amy Ray)

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