natural beauty guide

1. alima pure...favorite item is their luminous shimmer blush in "leigh", it has replaced my Nars blush "orgasm" that was once a staple in my daily beauty routine
2. mai couture...favorite items are their "french 125" is the perfect sheer nude gloss and their bronzing/blotting papers in "downtown" are a must have, can be found at our store in Leiper's Fork
3. RGB...favorite shade is currently "haze" which we also in stock at our store
4. Physicians Formula...favorite item is their BB cream & powder along with their organic mascara
5. Vapour Organic Beauty...favorite item is their multi-use blush in "classic" great for cheeks and lips along with their eyeliner pencils
6. RMS Beauty...their are so many favorite items to list for RMS beauty but I'll narrow it down to my top three which are their "un" cover-up concealer, living luminizer and their cream eyeshadow "solar" 

*recommended online natural beauty stores: EcoDiva Beauty & Spirit Beauty Lounge

This was a fun post for me because makeup is why I got into the skincare industry to begin with.  After being lost as a freshman in college (I'm sure you can all relate) I met a professional makeup artist and became intrigued by her career.  I had always been the one to do my friends makeup in High School but never thought about the possibility of it being my career until that fateful afternoon.  So at 19 years old I packed up,  moved back home and enrolled in a local aesthetics school.  After graduating I worked as both a makeup artist and an aesthetician.  I loved every minute of it!  But as the years went by I became more involved in aesthetics then makeup.  It's something that I still do from time to time and I always jump on the chance to get one my girlfriends all dolled up for an event but my career has slowly evolved.  

I love how the makeup industry has evolved too.  There are so many more options for natural makeup then there were when I first got started.  People are becoming more informed and creating a demand that many great natural and ethical companies are happy to fill! You can literally find a natural replacement for every makeup product you use now.  And it's not like you have to settle for a mediocre product.  These are far superior to the lead based chemical laden products you've been using.  It nourishes your skin and supports holistic health and well being.  You'll see your skin glow and from my experience your eyelashes even start to look healthier and fuller! 

French Green Clay

I'm choosing to spotlight our French Green Clay Mask today to give you all a better understanding of what it is and why it is so amazing for your skin.  A common theme that you will see in our products is simplicity and really getting back to the basics. I don't like to overwhelm you with a long list of ingredients and if I believe that one ingredient is good enough to stand alone then that is what the finished product will be.  

This is true for French Green Clay also known as Illite Clay or Sea Clay. It is naturally sourced from bedrock quarries in France and then sun dried. It has been used for thousands of years in cosmetic preparations and to even aid in internal detoxification.  It has high concentrations of plant material and volcanic matter that give it a rich mineral content that can be healing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

Here are some of the ways your skin can  benefit by adding french green clay into your routine... 

• increase circulation
• oxygenate cells
• gently exfoliate and promote cellular turnover
• absorb impurities and remove toxins
• tone and strengthen connective tissues
• tighten pores
• dry up blemishes
• reduce the reoccurrence of breakouts
• reduce irritation from bug bite

It is wonderful just by itself mixed with water for a tightening mask or mixed with honey or yogurt to really activate the moisturizing effect as well.  It is what I go to on a weekly basis to help my oily skin try to survive these hot and humid summers. The possibilities are endless when mixing masks with green clay and it can be a lot of fun coming up with a recipe that works for you.  I've used a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and honey with it when working to clear up a reaction to medication.  For best results take time to use the mask once or twice weekly.  Sometimes it can just be slowing down and creating the ritual of doing something for yourself that is the most beneficial.