I’m a big fan of exfoliation—in moderation—and since I regularly do battle with cystic acne, I’m a big fan of gentle exfoliation in particular. Through trial and error I have proven the rule that too much exfoliation (or exfoliation that’s too harsh) is not a good thing for my skin. I also look to my skin to dictate whether or not to reach for a scrub or my Clarisonic. Lately I’ve been opting for a gentle exfoliation treatment 2-3 times a week, including a great weekend facial mask treatment.

I’m a new fan of the affordable, generously-portioned products from Sweet Leaf Bath, a Canadian company from founders Rose Creamer and Stacey Guymer that makes its products in small batches—with extremely clean ingredients.

What I tried: Adzuki Bean & Rice Bran Face Polish, $16.95*

First impressions: As per usual, I went straight for the ingredients list, and liked what I saw. Here it is in all of its glory: Organic Adzuki Powder, Organic Rice Bran, Cucumber Seed Extract, Custard Apple Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba. Simple, clean, easy. The adzuki  bean powder and rice bran make for an extremely gentle and soothing exfoliant…after my very first use my skin felt smooth, but not dried out or irritated in the slightest.

What caught me by surprise: This is going to sound weird, I know, but this product smells like fresh green beans to me. (Not in an unpleasant way!) Just sort of fresh, earthy, and like veggies at the farmers market. The instructions on the jar say to scoop out a little bit, mix with water, and scrub. I also tried tapping a little out into the ceramic jar that I got with this facial mask, mixed it up, and applied that way. Either tactic works well, but I find mixing it in a bowl helps me with portion control.

Bonus: Sweet Leaf’s products are made with pure, organic, and fair trade-certified ingredients. (They’re licensed by FairTrade Canada.)

*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.

(Image via Sweet Leaf Bath)

This image has nothing to do with today's post—but it made me smile.

The last few weeks have been busy/challenging/amazing/sad/happy/frustrating and many other adjectives…I could go on. But life is starting to settle back into a (somewhat) normal routine. I’m looking forward to spending more time here with all of you (!!), but in the meantime, I’ve pulled together some great links from other places for today’s Link Love post. Enjoy, and happy Father’s Day weekend! —Aleigh

A look at how argan oil is made and processed.

On multitasking (and why it’s not always a good idea).

Hair dressing (a DIY hair conditioner good enough to eat), from the Whole Foods blog); I’m definitely testing this out tomorrow!

More on phenoxyethanol from Pai Skincare. (I do my best to avoid this ingredient, and I’ve noticed it has been used with less frequency by many otherwise natural companies.)

(Image via szeke cc)

• How to be legendary.
• DIY homemade (non-toxic) watercolors—because sometimes an art project is just the thing you need to perk you up.
• The wisdom and grace of this 87-year-old yoga teacher is just…amazing. Don’t you think?
• What could be happier than more reasons to eat chocolate?

(Image via blentley)

Fact: Dry-brushing your teeth for 30 seconds before regular brushing can cut tartar by 60% and cut gum-bleeding risk in half.

I decided to try it out, and so far, I’m a convert.

Now, I brush my teeth with a (very soft) dry brush for about 30 seconds, then follow with wet brush/toothpaste. I’ve been using a Sonicare toothbrush for years (on my dentist’s recommendation). I could definitely tell a difference in the health of my gums when I started using the Sonicare (I tend to brush too hard when I use a regular toothbrush!)—and with this new routine, I’m noticing other changes. My teeth feel smoother and my gums are less irritated. It’s a small change, sure, but it’s an easy one to make—I’ll be interested to see if my dentist notices any difference at my next appointment!

Do you dry brush your teeth? Would you try it? —Aleigh

(Image via JP)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

For the past several weeks I’ve been trying out two new products on my never-ending quest to find the perfect eye cream—and while I’m not sure either of these are perfect (for me, at least), both are absolutely worthy of being shared with you.

Vital-C Serum, $48, The Body Deli: OK, so this isn’t technically an eye cream. It’s a serum, and it’s not just for your eyes. I bought this bright orange serum on my trip to Palm Springs a few months ago, and I’ve been using it somewhat religiously since I got home. (My first product from The Body Deli!) The texture and color remind me a bit of a runny egg yolk—it’s very slick—but my skin loves it, and it feels so good. Plus, this little serum contains some powerful antioxidants: Rovisome Vitamin C, CoQ10, and allantoin, all of which work to increase elasticity, reverse free radical damage, and reverse sun damage.

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream, $33: This eye cream came in my last Goodebox. I really like that it’s creamy and soothing, although I do have to be extra careful not to get even a tiny amount in my eyes (it stings!). I tend to use this eye cream when I wake up with especially puffy eyes—the macadamia nut oil and sunflower seed oil are great for reducing swelling, and the pomegranate oil works well to smooth fine lines. This is also a great option for people who tend to wear a decent amount of eye makeup—since it’s absorbed quickly, you don’t have to wait long before applying a concealer or eyeshadow.

Would you try either of these eye creams—or have you already found your perfect eye cream? —Aleigh

(Top image via beyourpet on flickr, product images via The Body Deli and Weleda)