EO® and Everyone™ Products

In 1995, Brad and Susan were asked to create five essential oils blends for Bloomingdale’s holiday gift guide. In a garage on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, they got to work. Susan and Brad soon became 40 people. They decided to name their company EO® for the essential oils that were both their first products and the heart and soul of everything they create. To capture the purpose of their vision, they chose the motto: Love Life, Live Clean. Today, EO® operates out of a San Rafael facility with over 90 employees.
EO® Products

In 2012, they took their ten years’ experience and launched a line of products designed for young people and large families who had little or no choice for quality, botanical body products. Everyone™ for every body was born. Everyone™ is fun, affordable body care made for every day, every budget and every body. These products are as gentle on you as they are on the planet. 
Everyone™ Products

At EO®, they research, develop, manufacture, and ship their own products. Over the last twenty years, as they grew from mixing blends in a three gallon stock pot to producing hundreds of products in their 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility, they learned a lot about the cosmetics and personal care industry. Because there are no certifications in the personal care or cosmetics industry for organic ingredients, they chose to follow the guidelines for food. 
In 2004, they became a certified organic manufacturer, certified by the California of Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). 
In 2011, they became the first personal care company to be certified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Verified Project. 

All of their products are USDA Organic, non-GMO, synthetic fragrance free, cruelty free, gluten free, PCR and B Corporation. Their products DO NOT contain parabens, laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, polysorbstes, phthalates or artificial colors or dyes. They even provide a Green Glossary of ingredients they use. Transparency is important to them, which is why they put this comprehensive Green Glossary together to help you understand everything that makes up EO® and Everyone™ products.

You can shop right on their website or their products are sold in 2,424 stores in 60 different states/regions. You can search here to find a store near you. 

I love their story, I love their products, and I love this company. So "Love Life, Live Clean" and check out EO® today!

Environmental Working Group

I know I blogged about the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, last year but they made some changes so I wanted to share. For those of you that don't know about EWG, they are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Their mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. EWG is broken up into two separate websites, EWG for energy, farming, food and water, and EWG Skin Deep for cosmetics and personal care.

EWG Skin Deep is a cosmetics database that contains information and online hazard assessment for over 70,000 products. Launched in 2014, their staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. They rate products on a scale from 0-10, the lower the number the better the product is. Please check out the EWG Skin Deep website if you haven't already done so.

They had a Skin Deep app that you could download on your phone, scan products in the store, and instantly know what you should and shouldn't buy. The Skin Deep app has gone away, so sad, but what they replaced it with is even better. The new app, EWG Healthy Living, combined two of their most popular resources, EWG and EWG SkinDeep. Now the product health and safety ratings for 200,000 food AND cosmetic products are simply one click away.

Go to the App Store and download the app today, it's free!

Make your Own Face Oil

I know that I am completely obsessed with oil (my friends will 100% agree) and that's because it has worked wonders on my skin. Oil gets such a bad rep and people are afraid to use it. Oil is the only thing I put on my face, I don't even own any face cream or lotion anymore. I started using straight oil but now I'm all fancy and mix oils together and add essential oil (my friends also joke that I'm a chemist). Below are some of my favorite oils and instructions on how to mix them.

Step #1 - Grab your bottle
Any dark glass dropper bottle will work. Vitamin Shoppe has these or Amazon has these

Step #2 - Choose your base oil
This will make up a majority of the oil so choose wisely. You can use any oil you want but below are my favorites.  You can revert to my Oils 101 post for full descriptions of each one.
Jojoba oil
Avocado oil
Apricot oil
Grapeseed oil
Sweet Almond oil

Step #3 - Add your bonus oil
This step is optional. I like to add a bonus oil for extra nourishing.
Carrot seed oil - high in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E and carotol, which bring new life to the skin
Evening primrose oil - very gentle oil, great for acne and very moisturizing
Rosehip oil - full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that can help hydrate, correct dark spots and reduce scars and fine lines

Step #4 - Add your essential oil
Lavender - antimicrobial and antioxidant, great for acne
Frankincense - helps reduce acne, helps reduce the appearance of large pores, prevents wrinkles and   helps lighten and tighten skin to slow signs of aging
Citrus - provides high levels of vitamin C to heal and protect the skin
Orange - promotes production of collagen to fight signs of aging, like wrinkles and brown spots
Lemongrass - antiseptic and astringent properties make it perfect for getting even and glowing skin
Rose - provides deep hydration to the skin, reduces redness, brightens complexion and it's extremely
beneficial for maturing skin especially during times of hormonal change
Cedarwood - tightens the facial skin and gives a youthful appearance

Fill the bottle 2/3 with your base oil. Then fill the bottle almost to the top (just below where it starts to go into the neck of the bottle) with your bonus oil. If you are using carrot seed oil, just add a few drops. Add 5 drops of essential oil and shake to incorporate. Just use a few drops to cover your entire face. Your skin will soak the oil in very quickly and you will not feel greasy. The biggest problem with oil is that people use too much. Your skin can only absorb a certain amount, once its absorbed, the excess oil sits on the top layer of your skin, making you feel greasy.

EXO Pure Remover

Pure Remover™ is a naturally moisturizing nail polish remover derived from plant-based, organic ingredients. It's designed to condition and repair your nails while it removes polish. It's acetone-free, alcohol-free, non-flammable and non-toxic. It comes in four scents; lavender, orange, mint and unscented. 

Pure Remover contains just a few ingredients, biodegradable esters and USDA certified organic essential oil blend. It is safe for use on natural nails, acrylic nails, and removes most gel polishes. All of their products are carefully crafted with clean, organically derived ingredients in Buffalo, NY. They do not test on animals.

I will never buy an acetone remover again. This one doesn't smell up your house, doesn't contain toxic chemicals, and moisturizes your nails. Skip the stinky acetone, and pamper your nails with Pure Remover.

I bought mine at the Tony Walker store in Buffalo, NY. You can also buy online on the EXO Supply website.

        

Chemical free beauty steals at Ulta

On September 3rd, Ulta launched their 21 Days of Beauty. During this campaign, you can get up to 50% off their most loved brands. Fortunately for us, some of those brands are chemical free. Pur, Tarte and Cover FX all made the cut.

September 5th - Pur Primers  Regularly $33 on sale for $16.50

September 6th - Tarte Double Duty Beauty Lip Sculter Lipstick and Lipgloss Comes in 16 colors. Regularly $24 on sale for $10. 

September 10th - Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Precision Longwear Eyeliner Regularly $20 on sale for $10

September 22nd - Tarte Tartiest Lash Paint Mascara Regularly $23 on sale for $10

They even have a few items on sale for the whole 21 days. 

Pur Eye Polish - Comes in 6 colors. Regularly $26 on sale for $16.50

Tarte Double Duty Gel Foundation  Regularly $39 on sale for $27

Tarte Mattifying Primer Regularly $32 on sale for $22

Cover FX Cover Click Stick - Comes in 9 shades. Regularly $18 on sale for $10.80

All these deals are available in store and online. I can't wait to go grab some of these items at these amazing prices!

Spearmint Tea for Clear Skin

I hate tea. I don't discriminate either, I hate all kinds of tea. The only time I can drink tea is when I'm sick. Even then, the only tea I can tolerate is the Youthberry Tea at Starbucks. Once I found out about spearmint tea, and it's many health benefits, my thoughts on tea changed.

1-2 cups of spearmint tea a day is more effective than any prescription remedy for hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is usually large cyst like pimples that can be deep, painful and take for ever to clear up. Hormonal acne is anything below the lip line, so your chin, chest, even your back. This acne is caused by a hormone in our body called androgen. Androgen causes increased sebum production (sebum is the oil our bodies naturally produce). The more oil your body produces, the higher chance of blockage, which leads to breakouts. Spearmint is an anti-androgen and helps balance and decrease the level of androgens in the body. It also proven to help reduce sebum production. Balancing your hormones aids in significantly reducing hormonal acne.

Spearmint contains vitamins, antioxidants, and vital nutrients. It's also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. I've read many articles where people rave about the tea and how it's changed their skin. So put down the chemical acne creams and pick up a cup of spearmint tea instead.

This is the spearmint tea I buy. I got it at Wegmans but Whole Foods and Amazon have it too.

Coconut Whitening Toothpaste

We all know my obsession with coconut by now, so you can imagine how excited I was to see Jason's new coconut toothpaste. The Simply Coconut Whitening Toothpaste just launched. It comes in four flavors, coconut creme, coconut mint, coconut eucalyptus and coconut chamomile. I got the coconut creme and i'm in love.

It's made with virgin coconut oil, bamboo powder, strawberry extract and pineapple enzyme to give your teeth a stain-free sparkle. It has a very creamy texture and a little bit goes a long way. I can definitely taste the strawberry extract. It's also 99% earth sourced.

The Jason Simply Coconut Whitening Toothpaste promise: no fluoride, no SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), no parabens, no artificial sweeteners, no saccharin, no propylene glycol and no gluten.

I like it so much, I think i'm going to order the coconut mint one too. I always complete my routine with my Jason Coconut Mouth Rinse. This is the best mouthwash I have ever used. You can buy them both on Amazon.com, Luckyvitamin.com, or at Whole Foods.

Let's Talk About Wrinkles..

Age, sun, smoking and regular use of facial expressions all contribute to wrinkles. We all want to minimize the appearance of wrinkles as much as possible. Before reaching for the expensive, chemical-ridden, anti-aging products, try these natural remedies first. 

Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. This can flush your body toxins and promote healthy, glowing skin. The moisture can also plump up your skin and temporarily fill wrinkled areas. 

A perfect anti-aging serum can’t be made without lavender oil. Mix 15 drops of lavender oil to 1 ounce of jojoba oil and also add 5 vitamin E capsules and store in a glass bottle. Apply on your face twice a day to remove wrinkles. Lavender oil helps restore the skins elasticity. Jojoba oil is one of the most hydrating oils in the entire world. The antioxidants in jojoba oil soothe fine lines wrinkles and slow down other signs of aging. 

Apply witch hazel to your wrinkles before going to bed. Witch hazel contains tannins, which can help smooth out wrinkles by tightening your skin. Apply 4 to 5 drops of witch hazel to a clean cotton ball and gently massage the affected area in small circular motions.

Make castor oil your best friend. Castor oil is one of the oldest-known wrinkle treatments. At around $3 a bottle, it's also the cheapest. By applying castor oil to the skin, you help to soothe your skin, restoring its natural youthful appearance and helping to diminish unsightly wrinkles. 

Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your side causes you to get wrinkles on your cheeks and chin. Sleeping on your stomach causes you to get wrinkles on your forehead. If you can't get out of the habit of sleeping on your side or stomach, then make sure you are sleeping on a satin pillowcase. 

Exfoliate. Exfoliating gets rid of all the dead skin making your wrinkles less noticeable. Just don't overdo it, I only exfoliate my skin 2-3 times a week. If you have sensitive skin, you should only exfoliate once a week. 

Mongo Kiss Lip Balms

Mongo Kiss lip balms feature certified organic ingredients and Fair Trade Certified™ Cocoa Butter infused with Mongongo Oil, a nutrient rich oil from Zambia, Africa.

Used for centuries by the !Kung bushmen of the Kalahari to cleanse and moisturize their skin, Mongongo Oil is high in Vitamin E and other nutrients perfect for nourishing skin. It was also used to protect the skin from the harsh desert environment. The nut of the mongongo also contains: calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, and high concentrations of vitamin E.  

Mongo Kiss balms are USDA organic, Non-GMO project verified, fair trade certified, gluten-free, creuelty-free and made in the USA. The plastic tube and cap are made with over 40% post-consumer recycled material. They are also a certified B corporation.

It comes in eight great flavors, acai berry, banana, blood orange, peppermint, unflavored, vanilla honey, yumberry, and pomegranate. I bought the pomegranate one below at CVS in Florida. You can also buy it on Amazon or directly on the Eco Lips website. 

I put this on every night before I go to bed and my lips are super soft. It's hands down one of the best lip balms I have ever used. 

Alba Creme Shave

This moisturizing, soap-free cream shave is power-packed with rich botanical emollients to ward off dryness, chaffing and bothersome bumps while invigorating skin with a fresh, cool sensation. An infusion of aloe vera, ginkgo biloba, peppermint and vitamin E help hydrate skin and soften unwanted hair for effortless razor glide and reduced risk of nicks, cuts and irritation.

All Alba Bontanica products contain 100% vegetarian ingredients, no artificial colors, no harsh sulfates, parabens or phthalates, and never tested on animals. 

I love the aloe mint scent but it also comes in coconut lime, unscented and mango vanilla. 

You can buy all four scents on Amazon, CVS online, Walgreens online and Thrive Market.