• Buy products with minimal
  packaging. Minimal packaging can still be chic as evidenced
  by Mod.Skin Care. A few other brands that are using minimal packaging are:
  Afterglow Cosmetics,
  Sevi Oganics,
  Living Nature, &
  Raw Gaia.
  Pangea Organics goes one step further and has created plantable packaging.

• Immediately after use, unplug your curling iron and hair dryer instead of just turning the
  switch off or better yet skip the damaging effects of both a few days a week. Your bathroom counter will also reap the benefits of less clutter which means happy roommates and/or husbands!

• Use low energy light bulbs in your bathroom.
  

• Use organic and natural beauty products. There is an organic and/or natural
  alternative to everything these days. Take advantage of this and support the
  organic boom. You’ll be surprised at how much more you enjoy the products.

• Use a cloth shopping bag or reusable tote when shopping.

• When ordering online, look for companies that share your vision and use eco-friendly shipping/packaging methods. Posh Organix
  re-uses all vendor’s packaging and traded in regular packaging peanuts for
  the cornstarch variety. Pangea Organics is another excellent example; for
  some very enlightening background, view this video of Pangea Organic’s CEO.

• Stay clear of products that contain Parabens. Parabens are petroleum- based which means
  they are made from the same stuff that runs our cars. Not to mention
  parabens are basically plastic and prevent our skin from breathing and
  renewing itself.

• Check to make sure the companies from which you buy products do not test on animals.

• Remove unwanted hair with all-natural wax and reusable strips instead of disposable razors. It is easy and no more time consuming once you get the hang of it and the
  finished product is so much smoother than a disposable razor shave.

• Apply your makeup with your fingers or brushes and avoid using cotton swabs and
  disposable sponges.

• Try to limit your shower time
  to one 3 minute shower a day. It helps if you can reduce the
  amount you wash your hair. Believe it or not, the more you wash your hair
  the more oil is created and the more you’ll need to wash it. If you can
  slowly start washing your hair less and less, you will eventually only need
  to wash it once a week. I practice this and I can honestly say my hair does
  not get even slightly greasy until that 7th day. This also helps your hair
  become stronger, shinier and all around healthier.

• Remember to recycle all old cosmetic containers.

Use makeup to play up your best feature - and downplay the others.

For example:

If you have a full pout but small eyes, use a rich color on your lips and go light with your eye makeup. The same applies to beautiful eyes and small lips - simply play up those eyes and use a nude color on your lips. Playing up one feature draws attention away from features you don’t like. Just remember keep it simple! Makeup application for a day look should never take more than 5-7 minutes.

1. Drink water

Eight to ten glasses of water each day will keep your skin looking its best.

2. Eat right

Even with all the best beauty products in the world, your skin needs to be nourished from the inside out to be healthy. Think of your diet as the cake and products as the icing. Incorporate as much fresh, nutrient and enzyme rich fruits and veggies into your diet as possible. This will ensure your body is receiving all the important beauty vitamins and antioxidant protection. Also, incorporate foods which are rich in essential fatty acids such as almonds, walnuts, flaxseed, & salmon. These foods help restore moisture to the skin from the inside out.

3. Sleep

I’m sure you’ve heard this enough by now. Sleep 8 hours a night. They call it “beauty sleep” for a reason.

4. Avoid metallic makeup

Avoid wearing metallic eye colors or shimmery face makeup. Shimmer and shine make wrinkles stand out, which make you appear older.

5. Use a clay based mask or exfolliant

This one doesn’t seem very intuitive. However, if you are like many of us you’re battling breakouts and blackheads at the same time as wrinkles. It is very important to use clay-based masks for removing impurities and pulling up blackheads. When blackheads are allowed to sit in our pores, the pores will elongate. This leads to larger pores thus poor skin texture. If clay based masks are too drying for your skin try using a gentle exfoliant to create the same results. We love the nurturing effects of Mod Skin Labs Alchemist Mask or the luxurious Chocolate Face Pack by Raw Gaia. If you are looking for an exfoliant try Mod. Skin Labs gentle Samurai Scrub or Living Nature’s Vitalising Exfolliant.

6. Use a hydrating mask

The best type of mask for younger looking skin is one that will rejuvenate, moisturize and enliven your skin. Try Living Nature’s Hydrating Gel Mask it is scientifically proven to stimulate fibroblasts (structural skin cells) to increase the production of collagen and elastin. Moisturizers and hydrators are essential because aging skin dries out quickly.

7. Tighten sagging skin

The loss of firmness affects women as they age. Because so many women strive to have a youthful appearance, losing that firm youthful looking skin can be frustrating.
Anti-aging skin care treatments, such as Mod. Skin Labs Facial Sculpting Serum with DMAE & Blue Green Algae, can help strengthen and tighten the sagginess in the skin. Results are seen in just 20 minutes. This anti-aging treatment intensely restructures the skin and strengthens the elasticity which makes it no surprise that it is one of Mod. Skins global best sellers. An at home quick and easy way to tighten skin, is to rub fresh aloe vera over clean skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.

8. Refrigerate under eye cream

Place your under-eye cream in the refrigerator to help cool and soothe puffy eyes in the morning.

9. Use cream blush and foundation

Use a cream blush instead of powder since powder tends to settle into fine lines.

10. Use a lip plumping gloss

Try Mod Skin’s Chilean Lip Panache to plump and smooth lips for a more youthful appearance.

Bonus: Use Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn’s secret. Fill a large bowl full of ice cold water and soak your face in the morning. This trick is sure to banish all signs of puffy, saggy skin from a long night.

Beautiful Healthy Hair on the Green

With all the focus on green energy and green products, can you take care of your
hair & help the environment? Definitely! Probably more than you think. The best
part is these tips will also improve the health of your hair.

• Wash your hair less frequently

You can start by washing your hair every other day. Depending on your hair type
you may even be able to wash as infrequently as twice a week. Your hair may seem
overly oily at first; however, given some time and your scalps oil production
will adjust. Hair care professionals are mostly in agreement that it is not
necessary and can be damaging to wash you hair daily. When you wash your hair
less frequently this provides your hair with more time to recover the natural
oils that are stripped away during the washing process. The natural oils in your
hair are the best hair product on the market for soft, shiny healthy hair.

• Limit the time in the shower

When you limit the time in the shower hot water and energy usage is being decreased. This helps the environment because water usage is down and energy is
being conserved.

• Rinse with cold water

By rinsing with cold water, hot water and energy are saved. The cold water helps
to close the pores in the skin and the follicles in the hair. This leads to
shinier and softer hair.

• Do not repeat

Most shampoo bottles suggest that you should wash your hair more than once. This
is not necessary. This extra wash cycle only strips your hair of more natural
oils and leads to shampoo waste.

• Buy hair care products that are natural & organic

Since your shampoo and conditioner are going straight down the drain, make sure
you are not sending toxic chemicals into the water supply. Natural & organic
hair care products are also much gentler thus preventing overly robbing your
hair of natural oils.

• Use recycled and biodegradable bottles

Search for hair care products that are bottled responsibly. This will help
reduce pollution and waste.

Our Favorite Organic & Natural Hair Care Products:

Living Nature’s Hair Care Collection is comprised of naturally repairing and replenishing shampoos and
conditioners. These restorative formulas are free of synthetic chemicals. They
are full of the highest quality natural ingredients blended from New Zealand’s
rich and unique plant life. Additionally, Living Nature’s packaging is 100%
recyclable and contains a natural ingredient (15% calcium carbonate) which
reduces energy and plastic.

• Nourishing Shampoo for Dry Hair

• Nourishing Conditioner for Dry Hair

Winner of the 2008 Natural Health and Beauty Award

John Masters Organics developed one of the first luxury organic hair care lines. The celebrity
following is testament to the popularity of these products. John Masters
Organics has developed everything from shampoos and conditioners to volumizers
and styling gels. John Masters Organics is dedicated to exceptional ingredients
that are organic, bio-degradable and fairly traded whenever possible. In
addition, all essential oils are steam distilled, all plant oils are cold
pressed, minimal ink is used on packaging, bottles and boxes are recyclable and
the entire John Masters Organics line is cruelty free.

Here are a few of the best sellers:

• Lavender Rosemary Shampoo for Normal Hair

• Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair

• Citrus & Neroli Detangler

• Dry Hair Nourishment & Defrizzer

• Hair Pomade

• Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner

* See more John Masters Organics products here.

Puffy Face?

1.Fill a large bowl with water.

2. Add lots of ice.

3. Soak face for about five minutes.

This absolutely works wonders! It is a ‘must do’ after a long night. Kate Hudson reported doing this trick to look movie ready after long nights with her little one.

Wishing you beautiful, healthy skin!