Category: Natural Beauty

Cleansing Grains Facial- A Step by Step Guide

Before you invest in putting a mini-fridge in your bathroom to house all of your DIY beauty goodies, maybe you should give this cleansing grains skin care routine a try. Cleansing grains are a gentle powdered mixture of all natural ingredients such as oats, clays, nuts, and adaptogenic herbs. Much like the just-add-water facial masks I told you about, cleansing grains are a powdered no-fuss version that are the building blocks of this gentle skin care routine.

The Good Hippie, a small batch natural skin care company, offers a comprehensive beauty routine with specialized blends that target the concerns of the 3 major skin types: Balance for normal/combination, Repair for oily/acne prone, and Thrive for dry/mature. Each blend consists of the products necessary to achieve the best results in this 5 step beauty ritual.

Cleansing Grains Skin Care Ritual

STEP 1: CLEANSE

Begin with cleansing grains (Balance, Repair, and Thrive), a gentle, soap-free facial wash. Use daily, morning + night for beautifully balanced, clean, and clear skin. Twice a month, indulge in a facial steam (Balance, Repair, and Thrive); a medley of vibrant botanicals that provides a deep cleansing, leaving your skin with a healthy glow.

sTEP 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliate, twice a week with a scrub (Balance, Repair, and Thrive). Gentle exfoliators + aromatic herbs assist in cell rejuvenation, revealing a fresh, vibrant complexion.

sTEP 3: purIFY

Twice a week, treat your skin to a mask treatment (Balance, Repair, and Thrive). Natural clays + healing botanicals provide a deep cleansing while leaving your skin beautifully toned, detoxed, and revitalized. You may also use regularly as a spot treatment on blemishes as needed.

sTEP 4: HYDRATE

Toners and facial mists (Repair and Thrive) should be used daily, morning and night or as needed to re-hydrate and refresh throughout the day. Aloe water, essential oils, and purifying witch hazel remove dirt and impurities that may have been missed during the cleansing process, closes pores, and prepares your skin for optimal hydration and moisture.

sTEP 5: NOURISH

Moisturizing facial oils (Balance, Repair, and Thrive) are a blend of pure botanical oils and healing essential oils that feed your skin vitamins and nutrients, deliver concentrated moisture, and form a protective barrier, shielding your skin from the harsh effects of the environment. Used twice a day, morning + night, these readily-absorbing serums lend a smoothness, and a hydrating glow to your complexion. For your delicate eye area, use the deeply nourishing Thrive eye serum morning + night.

Just Add Water DIY Face Masks

These pre-made DIY face masks are the perfect no-hassle addition to your spa days at home!

I’ll be the first to admit that DIY beauty treatments can get a little bit complicated. Measuring spoons, glass bowls, and a ton of ingredients…I swear, sometimes my kitchen looks like a meth lab. So I was super excited to stumble upon Juice Generation and BeeCause, two companies that totally take the guess work out of clean beauty recipes. How convenient is it that these face masks come fully mixed and ready to go?!

Juice Generation Beauty Blends Face Masks

Apply a little with a face brush and drink the rest! These beauty blends work from the inside out and the outside in.

  • Papaya Avocado Papaya and lemon naturally slough away dulling dead skin cells for a brighter complexion; while avocado deeply moisturizes.
  • Watermelon Hibiscus Antioxidant-heavy hibiscus acts as an anti-inflammatory to combat stressed skin, while replenishing watermelon and soothing rosewater deliver a radiant complexion. Each sip is floral and slightly sweet.
  • Aloe Greens Your skin will drink in the calming blend of aloe vera, nopal cactus and cucumber, while the combination of pear, spinach, and avocado provides a hit of free radical-fighting antioxidants.

BeeCause Face Masks

These come pre-mixed so you don’t even have to add water!

  • Banana & Oatmeal This smoothing mask hydrates and moisturizes dehydrated skin with nutrient filled bananas. Zinc filled whole oats and oat powder gently removes dirt and oils while effectively reducing inflammation and acne-causing bacteria.
  • Green Tea & Seaweed Made with green clay, seaweed, green tea, and tea tree oil, this absorbing mask helps to remove excess oil and dirt.
  • Honey & Blueberry This ultra conditioning and antioxidant-rich formula is filled with real blueberries and raw honey. The combination of Argan nut oil helps to fully hydrate and nourish the skin, a necessity in preventing aging skin.

Also available at Thrive Market

Spring to Summer Beauty DIYs

These DIY face masks are perfect for transitioning your skin from Spring to Summer!

Blackhead Buster

ingredients

  • 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 3-4 drops of raw honey

directions

  • mix the juice from half a lemon with 3-4 drops of raw honey
  • apply the mixture to your face
  • leave the mask on for about 5 minutes and rinse off with cold water

Brown Sugar Coconut Body Scrub

ingredients

  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1⁄2 cup sea salt
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus
  • 1 tbsp of your favorite essential oil

directions

  • Combine ingredients in a bowl until it forms a paste
  • Apply to moist skin in a circular motion using your fingertips to help get rid of dead skin cells
  • Rinse off with warm water

Honey & Oat Facial

ingredients

  • 2 tbsp natural yogurt
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 2 tbsp dry oatmeal
  • 1 tbsp ground almonds
  • squeeze of lemon

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl to form the exfoliating facial scrub
  • Massage gently onto face, and rinse with warm water

Balancing Avocado Face Mask

ingredients

  • 3 tbsp green clay powder
  • 1 small avocado, mashed
  • 1⁄2 small cucumber, finely grated
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Directions

  • Combine ingredients in a small bowl
  • Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes
  • With clean, dry skin, apply a thick layer to your face and neck, avoiding the eye and lip areas
  • Leave for 10-15 minutes, and wipe skin clean with a damp cloth

Exfoliating Breakfast Mask

ingredients

  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1⁄4 banana, mashed
  • 1 tbsp Greek yogurt

Directions

  • Combine ingredients in a bowl, and apply to face for 15-20 minutes
  • Rinse off with cool water, and pat dry face

Source: Coveteur

Ayurvedic Beauty Routine Essentials

Rasasara Skinfood is the one skin care line that has all your Ayurvedic beauty routine essentials covered!

Rasasara Skinfood has taken the guess work out of creating your dosha specific Ayurvedic beauty routine. This product line is 100% natural, cruelty free, and vegan. Every product is tailored to  specifically address the skin care concerns associated with each of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Rasasara unlocks the power of establishing the healing practice of beauty rituals specific to your dosha. Take their quick skin type test to get you started. If you already know your dosha and you’re ready to dive right in, check out these amazing starter kits.

 

VATA (dry/mature): Vata types feel the cold, have fine, delicate skin, tiny pores, tan easily & are cool to touch. Imbalanced Vata skin becomes dry, flaky or rough & prone to fine lines, especially on the forehead & around the eyes.

BALANCE VATA skin with the warming, softening & moisture rich ingredients found in the Rasasara Vata range, which is especially suited to mature and dry skin.

Included in the Starter Kit:

Vata Hydrating Mist
Vata Face Nourishing Oil
Vata Herbal Face Exfoliant
Vata Face Cleansing Bar

PITTA (sensitive/combination): the skin is sensitive, imbalanced and feels the heat. Note their warm glowing cheeks, are often lightly freckled or dotted with beauty marks & burn easily. Imbalanced pitta skin is prone to conditions such as redness, acne, rosacea, an oily t-zone & broken capillaries.

BALANCE PITTA with cooling, calming ingredients found in Rasasara’s Pitta range.

Included in the Starter Kit:

Pitta Hydrating Mist
Pitta Face Nourishing Oil
Pitta Herbal Face Exfoliant / Mask
Pitta Face Cleansing Bar

KAPHA (oily/congested): Kapha skin type is classically pale OR rich olive skin which looks smooth, soft & lustrous. Imbalanced Kapha skin can appear sluggish, may feel damp or a little oily & be prone to blackheads or congestion.
BALANCE KAPHA skin with the application of stimulating & detoxifying ingredients found in Rasasara’s Kapha range.

Included in the Starter Kit:

Kapha Hydrating Aromatic Mist
Kapha Face Nourishing Oil
Kapha Herbal Face Exfoliant / Mask
Kapha Face Cleansing Bar

Tridoshic  (suitable for all skin types):

Self Care Bath Ritual Essentials

Creating a bath ritual is such an essential part of self care. It’s as simple as carving out 20 minutes from your day, setting your intentions (detox, relaxation, focus, muscle relief, etc.), and creating the proper atmosphere. Therapeutic bathing rituals have been used since ancient times to promote overall wellness, and are known to help in the body’s natural healing processes. While self care encompasses everything from healthy eating habits to fitness to meditation, the power of creating a bath ritual should not be overlooked. Here are a few of my favorite bath products that’ll get you started on your own new bath ritual.

Ritual Turkish Bath Towels

If you haven’t used these towels yet, you’re totally missing out. Not only are they super pretty, adding an amazing amount of texture and style to your bathroom, but they’re also everything you’ve ever wanted in a bath towel. Absorbent, quick-drying, soft, and very large (100cm × 180cm). You might recognize this style of towels from your last luxury spa visit. They may seem pricey, but if you follow simple care instructions, these towels will literally last you at least until your next major bathroom renovation. I’m loving my Stray & Wander Turkish Towels. I have towels from both the Rio Collection and the Cove Collection and they do not disappoint!

Ritual Candles

Set the mood, y’all! Candles serve a dual purpose: ambience and atmosphere. I’m totally crushing on Basik Candle Co. right now. These coconut wax blend candles have a way better scent throw than soy and other natural wax candles, yet they’re still extremely clean burning and eco-friendly. Choose from earthy scents like oakmoss + amber or teakwood + leather for a relaxing bath. Choose from citrus scents like grapefruit + mangosteen or blood orange + bergamot for a detox bath or a bath centered around sharpening your focus. My personal favorite is the mediterranean fig tree scent. It always seems to go with my mood and intentions.

Ritual Bath Additives

Of course you can always DIY the perfect bath additive, but sometimes the right blend is as easy clicking a link. Lark, a company founded on the principle that skin care shouldn’t be complicated, has made one such perfect blend. For a crystal infused detox bath, try their  New Moon Ritual Salts. These bath salts use pink Himalayan sea salt and the soft fragrance of lavender and sage. I love to use exfoliating soaps as part of my bath ritual, whether I’m soaking in the tub, or just adding some spa style to my evening shower. Carriage 44 offers a range of exfoliating bar soaps that smell dreamy. Try the Gentle Exfoliating Oatmeal Soap scented with vanilla absolute. Or try the Exfoliating Cedar & Lavender Soap, a unique blend of ground oatmeal, cedar, lavender, and spruce essential oils. It’s like melting away at a mountain retreat. They also carry this pretty awesome Dead Sea Soaking Salt that sloughs away dead skin, detoxes, and moisturizers leaving your skin really smooth.

Take the time out for yourself and create your own bath ritual!