Month: March 2015

Tsi-La Organic Perfumes

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You know you’ve officially become a glamorous hippie when even your perfumes become organic and, to be honest, I love it! To know that almost everything I put on my skin is 100% natural and organic feels great and leaves me feeling like I am doing the absolute best I can for my health and overall well-being, all without sacrificing my glamorous, girly ways.

Because I love to smell good, what girl doesn’t, I have been on the hunt for organic perfumes over the past month and finally have found a line I really enjoy- meet Tsi-La! Tsi-La’s artisan perfumes are infused with organic herbs, fresh flowers and exotic spices, fortified with a proprietary blend of more than 8 organic super-fruits, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and plant sterols!

Tsi-La’s Living Flower Organic Perfumes are made from:

  • 100% Flower and Plants
  • Plant Essences And Raw Organic Oils
  • Super-Fruits And Phytonutrients
  • Ultra-Pure Natural Ingredients
  • Vitamins And Minerals
  • Zero Synthetic Chemicals
  • Preservative and Colorant Free
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Cheers to Spring!

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While I do love all things organic and healthy, sometimes I also like to enjoy an occasional cocktail, especially if it is pink with flowers. I can not remember the last time I did have one, but perhaps after seeing these adorable cocktails it’s time. I came across these on Pinterest, and after seeing how easy they are to remake, I had to share!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup pink lemonade
  • 2 oz coconut vodka or coconut rum
  • Edible flowers of your choice
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Swap it Out Sunday- Goodbye M.A.C Lipsticks

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Every glam girl has loved M.A.C. cosmetics at one point or another, however, I am happy to say that I have tossed out all of my M.A.C. items after learning about how unsafe they really are.

Every Sunday I do “Swap it out Sunday” where I let you know the toxic reality of some of my favorite old products, encouraging you to dump them for safer options that perform just as well! Today’s Swap it Out is for M.A.C. lipsticks.

Many M.A.C. lipsticks score the worst possible on the Think Dirty app because they contain class 3 carcinogens like Red 33 Lake. This is what gives their lipsticks their vibrant colors, but in return, it can be damaging to our health, especially when used on lips that lead to accidental consumption and absorption.

Why sacrifice your health when there are awesome lipstick colors out there that are much safer, and that still perform just as well? One of my favorite lines to use for fun, safe colors is Nudus. Nudus lipsticks are certified organic from Australia with a wide variety of colors to choose from, made mostly from flowers, fruits, and vegetables!

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The Secret Table Event in San Diego

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Two years ago I attended the very first Secret Table event here in San Diego and had a blast, which is why I am super excited to be attending this years event on April 4th! I figured this event fits in perfectly with this site, so I wanted to share it here in case anyone local to San Diego would like to attend.

The Secret Table is basically a huge organic dinner party/ mixer, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy organic food and drinks and mingle with like minded individuals, all while supporting local non-profit organizations. This event isn’t advertised too much as the Secret Table prefers to keep a genuine crowd, appealing mostly to San Diego change makers, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, visionaries, food and sustainability experts, science and business leaders, and other individuals working to make our community a more vibrant and prosperous place.

The name Secret Table comes from the concept of the location being kept a secret until the day of the event, so all I know right now is that this year’s event will be at a private location in Ranch Santa Fe, however the photos of the venue look beautiful.

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joeSCRUB Organic Coffee Body Scrub

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I love coffee, the smell, the taste, which is why I was super excited to try out this 100% natural coffee scrub by joeSCRUB. Made from organic coffee grinds, organic cacao, sea salt and various other skin soothing ingredients, this is one safe, delicious smelling scrub all coffee lovers must try out!

This scrub is awesome for a variety of things, you can use joeSCRUB for:

  • Diminishing the appearance of cellulite
  • Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
  • Treating acne
  • Alleviating eczema & psoriasis
  • Fading scars
  • Exfoliating off dead skin
  • Improving skin hydration
  • Protecting against free radicals
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Naturigin Hair Color Review

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Did you know that conventional hair dyes contain damaging chemicals like ammonia, parabens, SLS and other harsh ingredients that wreak total havoc on your overall health and hair? It’s pretty much common sense to know that hair dyes aren’t the best for your hair, however, girls around the world, myself included, continue to turn a blind eye when it comes to this process. I never really knew exactly how bad this process was, but after researching it bit more, I discovered a few things you never want to expose your hair to.

Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Dye-

  • Ammonia– This is one of the worst offenders in the beauty industry.  Ammonia is added to hair color to force open the hair’s cuticle to deposit color, however, this can severely damage the cuticle creating dry, damaged hair. Ammonia is also highly toxic when inhaled, putting you and your stylist at risk.
  • Parabens– As we all know by now, parabens are the enemy. Found in just about every type of beauty product these days, hair dye is no exception. You never want to use products with parabens, as they are continuously being found in breast cancer tumors.
  • SLS– This stands for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and it can be found in the majority of all hair care products today. Many researchers do believe there is a link between SLS and cancer, on top of it being known to cause major skin irritations, hormone imbalances, corrosion of the skin and allergies. There are many products labeled as ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ that still contain sulfates so you do want to double check for these before you buy.
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Aleavia Skin Care Review

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For as long as I can remember I have had problems finding a shampoo that did not leave my scalp itchy and irritated. I always thought that it was something I was eating, but after reading more about what is in my beauty products, I realized that it was definitely an ingredient in my shampoo that was causing my irritation. Because I love/want/need a good lathering shampoo, I was sad to learn that what allows my favorite Acure Organics shampoo to lather, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, actually could be the cause of my scalp irritation.

While the Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate in Acure Organics shampoo is naturally derived from coconuts, because of the high amounts, it can pose a threat to those with a sensitive scalp. The risks associated with this ingredient are low, the only issue really being that it is a detergent that can irritate sensitive scalps causing scalp psoriasis or eczema. If you do have a sensitive scalp, check your shampoo for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, as either could be the cause of your irritation.

So now that we are all having to ditch all our old shampoos, what should we use instead? Well, for a while I didn’t have a solution. I would simply use less of the shampoo on my scalp and hope for the best, which never worked. And then it happened, I came across an organic line called Aleavia which claimed to be 100% organic, prebiotic and known for it’s amazing ability to clear up acne, rosacea, eczema, dry skin and psoriasis, all while helping balance your skin’s PH level.

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How To Switch from Toxic Makeup to Natural Makeup

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Because I get asked the same handful of questions a few times a day, I figured I would write a blog on exactly how I made the switch from toxic makeup to natural makeup, hopefully making the switch easier for those looking to do the same. I want to start off by saying I love makeup, I have had a beauty blog since 2009 and can’t quite live without a solid smokey eye and golden tan, however, the more I would read about what was in my favorite products, the more grossed out I became.

I have read a few studies now that claim over 75% of today’s cancer cases are caused by things we are putting in and on ourselves. Sickening isn’t it? To know the food we eat, the makeup we wear, the lotion we slather on, the water we drink, all are making us terminally ill? I had to make a change asap. So, January 1, 2015, I made a promise to myself that I would only wear safe products from there on out.

I, at one point, was just like you, overwhelmed and at a complete loss as to how I would start over 100%. What items should I replace first? What products are the worst for me? How will I replace my favorite Estee Lauder foundation? And will the new one even hold up? Instead of allowing myself to panic, I decided that I would just start slowly, replacing items one by one as I could. The very best advice I can start with is, do not allow yourself to be so overwhelmed that you take no action, instead, just start small and the rest will fall into place. To make this switch just a little easier, here are a few of the steps I took to switch from toxic makeup to natural makeup.

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Dairy Free Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream

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If there is one thing I can not live without, it’s ice cream. I love ice cream! However, my body hates ice cream and every single time I eat it, I end up with a stomach ache and major regret. Traditional ice creams are packed full of hormones, gums, stabilizers and other nasty ingredients, which is why I always end up with bad skin, stomach aches, and eczema anytime I consume dairy or other store bought milks. {Organic almond milk is no exception here! The store bought brands of organic nut milks also have gums in them so beware!}

So, what’s a girl to do that loves dessert but ends up sick after eating it? Make a new, healthier way of course! I came across this Dairy Free Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream on Pinterest and just knew I had to try it out.

Not only is this recipe so simple, it is so delicious, better than regular ice cream in my paleo personal opinion.

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Paleo Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

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I recently got a Vitamix, so I guess you can say I’ve been going crazy on Pinterest recipes. First of all, for anyone who says a Vitamix isn’t worth the money, I strongly disagree! I am obsessed with mine and can’t believe I ever lived without it. I know they are pricey {$528.00}, however if you think about how much you can do with it, it’s totally worth it.

With that being said, I had to share tonight’s Pinterest creation- Paleo Garlic Mashed Cauliflower. If you already eat Paleo, then this idea is nothing new, but this was my first time making it and it was so delicious and so easy, I had to pass on the tip.

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