Archive for the ‘BEAUTY’ Category

Are you a voyeur like I am?  I love to peek inside the medicine cabinet.  As a beauty boutique owner, I’m asked all the time what I really use.  I know I’d love to look in your shower so here’s a look in mine.

Here in NYC, bathrooms and kitchens run small, tiny, but luckily I have one to myself in my apartment, that I can keep stocked with my favorite stuff, not for visitors or boyfriends.  I’d like to have an entire beauty boutique at hand’s reach when I shower and bathe, but critical cutbacks must be made. Here’s what makes the cut in my shower this summer.

Did you know that water quality can have an effect on how your products perform?  Since natural products don’t tend to be as lathery as conventional ones, I use a Crystal Quest shower filter and Oxygenics Elite SkinCare Showerhead.  The filter removes some of the chorine/chloramine from the water.  I’ve been using the Crystal Quest filters for years now and whenever I use another shower without one, I swear I can feel the unfiltered water drying out my skin.  The showerhead makes the shower feel more invigorating despite it’s being low-flow, and it adds oxygen to the water so that rinsing and sudsing works better.

One thing anyone can tell by peeking in my shower is that I’m nuts about exfoliating – always have been.  Just below the hangers where I keep my Hydrea London Body Brushes for dry brushing, is the first tray.  I alternate face cleansing between my two ALL TIME favorite facial cleansers, natural or not, which are the Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser and Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser.  The Kahina cleanser exfoliates with enzymes so I use it when I feel like my pores are getting congested, sometimes with my Face Brush.  The Tata cleanser is my everyday, gentle surface exfoliant.  The third I alternate in sometimes is the Patyka Masque Gommant which I use when I’m in the bath.  I don’t usually recommend mixing up your skin care too much but I know my skin really well and can handle the changes without irritation.

You also see my nail brush here.  I used to always pick under my nails with a card or whatever was handy until my manicurist told me that actually pulls the nail away from the nail bed, making a dirt trap.  Now I only use a nail brush.

Then there’s my pink dental floss from Dr. Tung’s – the best dental floss on the planet!  Floss with something else and then floss with Dr. Tung’s immediately after – you’ll be shocked how much was left behind!  This is an area where more natural alternatives just don’t cut it (yet).

For body cleansing right now I’m using Pangea Organics Geranium Shower Gel with the sponge seen in the bottom tray.

On the second tray, right now I keep my summer hair stuff: Yarok Feed Your Volume Shampoo and Condiitoner and Ctonics Core which I use when I’ve been sweating alot or have a lot of product buildup.  It’s the only clarifying shampoo that doesn’t strip moisture.  My favorite summer scrubs are the Skinnyskinny Organic Black Coffee Body Scrub (especially in the morning) and Because Body Scrub which smells like pineapple and makes my legs looks super silky and glowy.  Oh and there’s my mustard bottle for mixing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the bottom tray,  I have my Sea Sponge, my Daily Shower Cleaner, and my top 3 night-of-pampering supplies (which of course involves exfoliating!) : Carbonized Bamboo Gloves, Ila Body Scrub For A Blissful Experience and Ila Bath Salts For Inner Peace.  I used ti make my own shower cleaner but have been too busy and this was the greenest available, although it does contain phthalate-free synthetic fragrance and  I’d prefer it didn’t.

I’ve shown you mine, now show us your shower supplies on our Facebook page!

 

 

 

 

If you want a safe, simple way to look tan without the sun, bronzer can be a great addition to your beauty routine. It’s easy to apply, to remove, and can be used to sculpt features and rejuvenate the look of the face. This is the best time of year to get into bronzed, glowing skin so have fun with it!  On our fair beauty, Glenda, we show you the top 3 reasons why bronzer is a summer staple:

1) It “warms” up your face instantly by adding a sun-kissed glow with color and luminosity. For a natural glow, choose a bronzer about 2 shades deeper than your natural skin tone. Matte will give a more subtle look, as seen here on Glenda, but shimmer bronzer can be gorgeous too, especially in the evening.

2) You can fake a tan by adding bronzer to the high points of the face, where the sun would normally hit first: think forehead, cheekbones, and top of nose. If you wear sunscreen on your face but get a bit of color on your body, bronzer helps to match the face to the body. You can also add it to the neck and chest with a big, fluffy brush like Nvey Eco’s Powder Brush #3.

3) Bronzer can be used to contour the face. Contour adds a dimension that is especially flattering in photograph or video, but can also be worn everyday. Choose a matte (no shimmer) powder bronzer, 2-3 shades deeper than your skin tone. Use Alima’s Blush Brush #17 to apply product to the cheekbone, forehead and jawline, if desired. To contour eyes and nose, use a smaller brush, such as Alima’s Large Shadow Brush #39 and Blending Brush #37. Apply powder bronzer/contour sparingly with a soft, fluffy brush and remember to blend well!

 

What we used:
On Face: Vapour Soft Focus Foundation in 110, RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up #22, Nvey Eco Bronzer in Natural Bronze to contour and Alima Satin Matte Bronzer in Mauna Loa for allover glow.
On Eyes: Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Java
On Brows: Nvey Eco Mascara in Black
On Lips: Vapour Plumping Lip Gloss in Vivid.

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To schedule a pro makeup lesson or green beauty consultation with Rebecca, visit her site www.RebeccaCasciano.com or email beauty@rebeccacasciano.com.

As we know, the skin is the largest elimination organ of our bodies, responsible for 1/4 of our bodies daily detoxification. Generally, toxins and waste are released through our skin’s pores during perspiration. However, there is a simple and effective way to greatly assist the process, called dry brushing. Used for centuries by Russians and Scandinavians, dry brushing helps by removing dead skin cells so that the skin can properly eliminate waste. This technique has a myriad of other benefits and can be done daily from the comfort of your home!

For the deets, we caught up with New York City detox expert, Tracy Piper, a well known Acupuncturist, Massage and Colon Therapist, to get the goods on how dry brushing really works. Tracy explained that the skin is known as the ‘third kidney’ and as a person’s body becomes toxic, one of the first places it will show up, is in the skin.  However, “The skin is the last organ to receive nutrients from the body. With dry brushing, you are able to open the pores and allow the release of toxic material.” In addition, gently brushing the skin stimulates the lymphatic system, encouraging blood circulation and cell regeneration.

The skin is the last organ to receive nutrients from the body. With dry brushing, you’re able to open the pores and allow the release of toxic material.

-Tracy Piper

 

Not only is dry brushing great for your health, but it also has plenty of beauty benefits. Regular brushing tightens your skin by increasing blood flow, stimulating nerve endings and removing the dead skin cells, making way for smoother skin to surface. It is also one of the only (if not the only) effective treatments for reducing cellulite.

Along with daily dry brushing, Piper recommends drinking two liters of water with lemon each day. The lemon water helps activate the liver to liquefy fat trapped within the connective tissue, which is the cause of cellulite. For a real beauty boost Tracy adds, “Pay attention to good alkaline water, wholesome organic food and getting chlorophyll in the diet.”

Okay, now that you’re convinced that dry brushing should be introduced in your daily routine, let’s talk about how to dry brush! First, you will need to pick up one of these lovely Hydrea London FSC Certified Body Brushes. Dry brushing should take place once a day, before you get into the shower, so that you can wash away the impurities from the skin. Piper emphasizes the importance of following specific techniques, as haphazard brushing could actually do more harm than good.  But don’t be alarmed, just remember the general rule is to brush from the extremities towards the core of the body.

How To Dry Brush:

- Begin with your feet and brush in circular motions

- Continue brushing up your legs

- Proceed to your hands and arm, towards armpit

- Brush your entire back and abdomen area, moving towards the heart

- Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen

- Lightly brush the breast

- Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck

 

At first, your skin may feel sensitive to the brush, but as you get used to it, you will find it very invigorating and enjoyable. Remember to start off gently, especially around sensitive areas, and increase pressure with time and practice. This amazingly beneficial technique should only take about 3-5 minutes of your time, although you may want to spend 5-10 extra minutes on cellulite areas.

If you would like to learn dry brushing from a pro, we recommend Tracy Piper’s 30 Minute Skin Brushing, offered at M.A.R.C. Holistic Center in Soho. Enjoy the multitude of beauty and health benefits from this simple, yet powerful practice!

Face serums are becoming increasingly popular but many of us are still wondering…

What Are They? Just like an antioxidant rich diet is great for your skin and health, topical antioxidants too are incredibly beneficial in preventing and reversing signs of aging and dullness. These extracts and oils are most potent when they are undiluted and applied directly to clean, dry skin. Many of the ingredients in moisturizers that are meant to hydrate and protect your skin, can dilute or buffer the effectiveness of the active ingredients. That is why many dermatologists now recommend that we apply antioxidant concentrates, known as serums, before putting on makeup, moisturizer or sunscreen.

Why Organic? Using a natural face serum versus a conventional synthetic serum is like eating fruit and vegetables instead of popping a vitamin. Your body loves the real thing! We beleive that real vitamins and nutrients from plant life are better absorbed and synthesised by the skin than synthetic ones. Many serums on the market today are silicone based. Silicones are plastic-based polymers that basically form a plastic film over your skin, making it appear and feel temporarily smoother. Over time, with this invisible waterproof film over the skin cells, your skin begins to suffocate and may become inflamed, dehydrated and congested which ironically, may trick you into using even more product to get a better result.  Spirit Beauty Lounge beleives that organic facial serums are the safest way to deliver the most bio-available nutrients to your skin.

Which One is Best For My Skin? We’ve included Face Oils, Gels and more “serum-like” serums. We put them all in the serum category because they are concentrates of active ingredients which are meant to be applied drectly to the skin, before anything else.

Best for Giving Dull Skin Glow: Ila Face Oil for Rejuvenating Radiance.
Key Actives: Argan oil and Rosehip Seed oil which are high in anti-oxidants and fatty acids to fight wrinkles and help skin cells regenerate. Damascena Rose Otto which is regenerative and nourishing to the skin’s cells.
Why We Love It: This is a product that literally makes your skin glow. People will notice and comment on your skin when you’re using Ila Face Oil!

Best on a Budget: Acure Organic Seriously Firming Face Serum
Key Actives: Argan Oil restores moisture to the skin’s lipid layer. Borage Oil soothes inflammation and Cranberry works to neutralize free radicals.
Why We Love It: A certified organic anti-aging concentrate for under $25.  What’s not to love?!

Best for Mature Skin: Amala Rejuvenating Serum
Key Actives: Vitamin C-rich Acerola, brightening Sea Algae and wrinkle-fighting Cocoa Bean naturally repair skin.
Why We Love It: We love facts & stats – in independent clinical trials, after just four weeks, 100% of users reported reduced fine lines, restored firmness.  Real, noticeable results from a natural product! That’s what we live for.
Also See: For extra dry mature skin, layer or alternate with Amala Rejuvenating Treatment Oil.

Best Aging Prevention: Intelligent Nutrients Organic Anti-Aging Serum
Key Actives: Antioxidant Acai, Pomegranate, Cranberry, Raspberry & Pumpkin seed oils
Why We Love It: They say that 25 is the age at which you should start your preventative anti-aging skin care regimen.  This serum makes your skin feel and look great and is just the right price and potency for the average 25-35 year old woman.

Best for  Dry and Best for Acne-Scarred Skin: Kahina Giving Beauty Serum
Key Actives: Balancing Argan Oil and Sea Buckhorn oil for accelerated skin healing.
Why We Love It: Acneic and acne-scarred skin needs love too!  Too often it’s over-treated with harsh acne products which leave the skin in a ravaged state.  This serum will speed up healing, balancing and resurfacing.

Best for Oily/Active Skin: Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel
Key Actives: Anti-inflammatory, calming Aloe Vera Gel and essential fatty acid and nutrient-rich seaweed and herbs.
Why We Love It: Natural serums are usually oil-based, this aloe & witch hazel based gel delivers all of the nutrients skin needs, without the unneeded oil.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend
Key Actives: Regenerative Co2 extracted Rosehip Fruit Oil
Why We Love It: If you have reactive, sensitive skin, you know that the more active ingredients there are in a serum, the higher your chances are of having a reaction to one of them!  Pai uses just one super-potent and effective yet non-irritating source active ingredient in this gem of a serum.

Best Multi-Purpose: Patyka Huile Absolue Serum
Key Actives: Silky, luxurious Squalane and Vitamin C rich Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Why We Love It: The incredibly silky texture of this serum is perfect for softening, smoothing and rejuvenating not just the face, but the hair, body too!  We’d also name this serum: Best for Uneven Skin Texture

Best for Prematurely Aging Skin: Ila Rainforest Renew Face Serum
Key Actives: Acmella Extract – a fast acting fine line and wrinkle reducer, and skin brightening Brazilian Ginseng
Why We Love It: If you’re 25-35 and already seeing creeping crows feet, new “freckles” that won’t fade, forehead wrinkles or enlarged pores, but don’t feel you’re ready for a mature skin regimen, this serum will erase the premature (and mature) signs of aging without causing an imbalance in younger skin.

Best for Skin Discoloration/Melasma: Organic Apoteke Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum
Key Actives: Vitamin B, C, D, E and beta-carotene-rich Carrot Seed Oil.
Why We Love It: Most effective actives that can break up melanin are also highly toxic.  This potent serum proves you can do it naturally, while nourishing the skin.

Best All Around: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum
Key Actives: There are 29 actives in this serum, including anti-aging Narcissus Bulb Extract and Date Extract
Why We Love It: Tata Harper pulls out all the stops, sparing no luxury in this hero product. It smells amazing, feels succulent, absorbs easily, and within only a week gets results: brighter, softer, smoother and more toned skin.

Spirit Beauty Lounge order fulfillment fairy extraordinaire, Katie Turner,  is lucky enough to share her beautiful porcelain coloring with the magnificent Anne Hathaway.  When our friend, natural makeup artist and wellness consultant, Rebecca Casciano stopped by to stock up on supplies, we talked her into making this transformation!

 

What She Used:

On Face: Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector 902, Nvey Eco Erase in Medium & Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in S100
On Cheeks: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Smile and Modest
On Eyes: Nvey Eco Cake Eyeliner in Brown (also on brows) with Nvey Eco Organic Mascara in Black, RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Solar, Vapour Trick Stick in Star and Nvey Eco Blush in 956 (on eyes!)
On Lips: RMS Beauty Lip 2 Cheek in Modest & Vapoour Elixir Plumping Gloss in Tease

Brushes: All Alima Pure and Nvey Eco

For expert natural makeup application instruction and color consultations, contact Rebecca Casciano today!