Valentines Day is a tricky one, don’t you think? There are so many ways to get it wrong, and a fewer ways to get it just right! Well, when my friend and natural beauty artist, Jessa Blades, sent along an email showcasing the very sweet and simple care package that she and a couple of friends have constructed for V-Day, my anxious romance nerves were put to rest.

Packed with all natural goodies that are gender neutral- this one gets my vote as a V-Day gift that is so right.

For those of you who are in the long distance situation, this gift is beyond perfect with your own sealing stamp of love! :)

These are limited edition, limited run care packages that I am sure are going fast. Head over to their Etsy page to order yours and, by the way, have a Happy Valentine’s Day! X

Writing this post from the majestic mountains of Whistler, I am taking in the beauty (not to mention the powder on the ski slopes!) and am so very thankful that I brought my trusty little beauty kit with all the essentials to keep my skin happy.

The combination of dry weather, high altitude, sun, wind and snow is quite a lineup of external factors to overcome! Luckily, over the past few months I have really found my favorite products that meet my skin’s needs- primarily that they are naturally sourced, paraben-free, and non-toxic.

I happen to be in Whistler this week for a winter ski vacation with a group of friends. After that I head to New York for New York Fashion Week, and at the end of February I’ll make my way to the West Coast for some California love.

No matter where I go, this non-toxic beauty kit that I’ve constructed serves me well. In all kinds of climates and with various activities on the calendar, I am always prepared and my skin always thankful.

So, let’s get into just what is in this beauty kit of mine and how you can make your own!

1. Ocadite Jojoba Beads Exfoliant. Exfoliation is highly underrated and also high effective in helping you get healthier younger looking skin. It essentially scuffs off a layer of dead skin cells, revealing the fresh ones underneath and unclogging any pores. Good stuff. I love this one because it is gentle enough to use a couple times a week, and is so fresh it actually has an expiration date.

2. Weleda Skin Food. An super moisturizing lotion that literally feeds your skin. I also use this as a lip cream before I go to bed.

3. Pangea Organics Turkish Rose & White Tea Eye Cream. I started using an eye cream when I was 15 (under the influence of my lovely Auntie Holly), and I swear it is the one thing that all women should start at a younger age to reap the benefits when they get older. I was at a party a few weeks ago and a woman there thought that I was 9 years younger than I am! I told her it is all about the eye cream.

4. MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield. So far, this is the ONLY natural sunscreen that I have found that doesn’t have an overpowering smell nor does it leave a nice skin-protecting yet white residue all over your face. I actually use it as my daytime moisturizer. It is the perfect daytime weight, blends in and protects your skin. Happiness is.

5. Melvita Mousse Nettoyante. A certified BIO Organic face cleanser that is as gentle as its French name suggests. They have a little travel size that is perfect for weekend trips.

6. Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil. This is my all-time favorite lip balm of the moment! It is a little sweeter than their original lip balm and you really do feel the extra moisturizing effects of the pomegranate oil.

So, there you have it- my not so dangerous beauty kit! What am I missing? Have any great natural beauty products that you use that belong in this kit? 

As an eco-fashionista, I am constantly searching for the products that allow me to retain my sense of self and the style I have created, while becoming a more conscious consumer.

For the most part, this has been a fairly easy task, so long as I keep an open mind and am flexible. Yet, every now and again I am blown away by a product or brand that really delivers and allows me to feel that no sacrifice has been made what-so-ever. I recently had this experience when I tried the Belegenza line, a salon quality line that is committed to reducing the toxic ingredients found in the majority of hair products.

A friend of the founder of Belegenza suggested the line to me, and luckily I was sent a sweet little package to try the products. At the time I was having a lack luster week (or month, if I am totally honest) and was having those self destructing thoughts about cutting all my hair off- I was so bored with it!

Luckily (and I am not kidding!), the Belegenza products saved me and my hair. After one use of the line, I had volume, shine and simply beautiful hair back. Ah, happiness is.

So, I sent an email to see if I could offer these amazing products to YOU- my readers- in a giveaway. I received a resounding YES and so now, I invite you to leave a comment under this post to enter yourself in the giveaway.

Belegenza has generously agreed to give out their full size shampoo, conditioner and styling gel to the winner. Good luck and here’s to beautiful, healthy hair!

On one of my first trips to Paris, I stopped by the Chanel counter in Galeries Lafayette to pick up the infamous Chanel #14- Passion! It felt almost like a right of passage into womanhood to own and wear such a vibrant color, and it did require some skill. 

After reading, Toxic Beauty, I had to give my Chanel #14 up. The ingredients were just too scary! Luckily, I found a fabulous non-toxic makeup line to replace their mainstream counterparts. 

One of my favorite mineral makeup lines is La Bella Donna. Try Mindful Red, Burnt Orange and for a more subtle nude lip with a hint of color, Pink Sand.

(Source: macnieto, via peacelovechanel)

The holiday season is fast approaching and with it, the various charity events and parties. I am always excited to dress up and break away from my normal everyday look, but usually don’t have the time to experiment with my hair.

Luckily, Ford Models puts out some great tutorial videos on how to jazz up your hair and makeup in minutes! Check out this video for an easy and effortless up-do.

And, if you are after a natural non-toxic hairspray to help you create this look go to AlternaHairCare.com. They have a hemp hair spray that will do just the trick!

(via Refinery 29)

Fresh faced with a sultry eye was the look Tarte Cosmetics created for the S/S 11 Odd Molly runway show at Lincoln Center for New York Fashion Week. Models enjoyed natural makeup application that was as good for their skin as the statement it would make on the catwalk!

I was there to capture the backstage scene and interview Tracy Davis, the lead makeup artist for Tarte. I know you will be lusting after these amazing products just as I was, so here is the breakdown of what they used so you can get the same look:

Eyes: strong brow with a smoldering gunmetal eye

-emphasEYES brows in taupe and medium browm

-emphasEYES aqua-gel eyeliner in black

-eye couture day-to-night palette

-lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 mascara

Lips: dewy and stained

-fRxtion lip balm

-LipSurgence natural lip stain in ‘envy’ 

Tarte has become one of my favorite eco-beauty lines, offering a very wide range of products and colors that are non-toxic and stylish!

Get 30% off the Fashion Week Collection with this code: FWSEPT until September 30th!

Just over two years ago, I made a hardcore switch to all natural and organic skin care and makeup products. The reasoning being that what I put on my body is just as important as what I put in my body! :)

I was overjoyed when I had the chance to meet up with celebrity eco-beauty makeup artist Lina Hanson a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles and ask her about the importance of eco-beauty and what her favorites product recommends are. Here is what she had to say:

1. Why do you think using eco-beauty products is so important? 

I think its important because it’s a much healthier alternative to beauty. There are tons of toxic ingredients in most conventional products that women don’t necessarily think about when they purchase products. By choosing “green” beauty products you get all the pure ingredients without any harsh chemicals that can harm your skin in the long-term. Do your research. Always look at the ingredient list when buying any beauty products.

2. What do you recommend my readers start with first when switching over to an eco-beauty regimen? 

3. Moving into colder weather, what face moisturizer do you covet? 

4. What is a fresh look for fall that we busy ladies can do in under ten minutes? 

5. I know you really advocate beauty from the inside out, so what is one of your favorite healthy skin recipes? 

6. You do eco-beauty makeup for the stars- who do you work with and what products are they in love with? 

You can pick up a copy of Lina’s new book Eco-Beautiful to learn more eco-fabulous tips and tricks as well as important information about what benefits you get when you go green with your beauty products. I devoured my copy in about two hours and keep it handy for inspiration when I am getting ready to go out! ;)

Summer is a perplexing time… moisture-wise. The over-heated indoor environments of winter are replaced by chilly air-conditioning and of course the sweltering heat and humidity outside. Do you pack up your body butters for the summer? Are lotions still too heavy outside, but not enough once you are thrust into the building freezers?!

I never thought I would say it, but speaking from personal experience (thanks to LaLicious!) body oils are the way to go. Our society has conditioned us to shriek in horror at the thought of putting oil on our skin, but the truth is it is one of the best ways to achieve natural moisture balance.

Over the past month, I made the LaLicious Mango Lily Body Oil one of my top five beauty products- slathering it on after showering in the morning and on ‘dedicated’ spots before bed. Aside from the truly delightful smell, the results were quite impressive. It absorbs in, leaves my skin beyond baby soft, and if I have extra on my hands I  comb it through the ends of hair as a conditioning treatment while I sleep. Made purely from Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Essential and Fragrance Oils, Soybean Oil, Vitamin E Oil, LaLicious body oil has won its permanent spot on my beauty counter. 

And… right now LaLicious is giving 20% of the body oil profits to the Earth Share “good oil” relief fund. Nice.

During my stay in Southern California last month, I sniffed out the best eco-beauty boutique in the area and am beyond ecstatic that they have launched their online store too!

Fusing prestige with natural and organic skincare, NuboNau brings together an eclectic portfolio of the very best the world has to offer. Designed to be a complete experience, NuboNau’s Online Boutique provides a perfect blend of sought after products and ultimate service delivery.  

The store stands up to its description! They carry an amazing range of U.S. brands as well as European brands that are usually harder to get. There is an underlying standard that NobuNau adheres to, so you know you are getting only best products that meet a high all-natural criteria.

Non-toxic mascara, 3-free nail polish, chemical- free sunscreen… check, check and check! Make your list ahead of time, because there are so many goodies you will likely find yourself with a very full basket come checkout time!

Congratulations to Jenny who won the GretaGuide and Tarte Cosmetics lip stain giveaway! If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry- there are plenty more goody giveaways lined up for this summer! ;)