shak-shuka

Sun Relief in a Tube

When the weather is nice, we don't take it for granted around here, and spend every last ray of sun outdoors. Normally I am not a "outdoorsy" kind of girl, but it's as if my body drags me outside to get some Vitamin D. This weekend was exceptionally beautiful so we hit the beach and spent the whole morning building sand castles, eating french fries and flying our first kite!

I think I was a bit arrogant thinking that the Dutch sun wasn't very warm or powerful, so I only put my trust Neal's Yard Lavender sunscreen on the top of my body and face, but not my back or legs. Oops, learned that lesson quickly. Sun is sun is sun, no matter where you are! I'm not burned badly, but let's just say I'm mildly "crispy". My first course of action? Dr Hauschka's After Sun Lotion. One step up from cutting your own aloe vera and schmearing it all over your body, this all-natural lotion is like SOS for sunkissed (or burnt) skin in a tube. With the first application (because I applied MANY times thereafter) I could feel the sizzle fade away and the calm scent of Dr Hauschka's trademark scent of gentle Rose Canina and Sweet Almond. Best of all, after the first or second day of application, it somehow transforms my otherwise toasted skin into a toasted brown color which makes me look downright Californian! My miracle soother in a tube, this After Sun Lotion is right next to my Sunscreen in the medicine cabinet.

Priti Hands + Feet

 

It's officially summertime which to me translates as "better get your mani/pedi done or you'll feel like a T-Rex running around". I love/hate this time of year where I feel more obliged to take care of my appearance because, well, there's more of me to see (usually I hide out in boots, jeans and slouchy sweaters the other 9 months of the year). Surely I'm not alone, so I'll share with you some of my summertime grooming tips.

No surprise, I'm officially addicted to Priti NYC's nail polish and soy remover which not only last forever, but also have the most neutral, even dare I say sweet smell (I think it smells like a cherry or a flower). But new to the Priti NYC family of products is the almond cuticle oil, 2-in-1 base/top coat and the glass nail file. First off, my cuticles on my fingers are always in the worst shape possible, and with a few drops of this almond cuticle oil, which also contains ginseng, my cuticles look back to normal. Once my cuticles are in shape, I feel brave enough to attack the nails themselves, and the glass nail file is so unbelievably gentle, even my fragile nails don't break and splinter like they do with normal files. Then, I slide on a coat of the 2-in-1 base/top coat which not only keeps my nails from yellowing, but also when I go to remove the polish, it makes it really easy to remove (am I the only one who has the most porous nails possible so that polish gets stuck to them for ions?!!). A few slicks of my favorite non-toxic Priti polish and I'm ready to go. Feeling half human again, the streets are safe again thanks to my gang of Priti NYC nail goods keeping my fingers and toes looking tip-top!

The Crème de la Crème of Shampoos

One of my favorite things after I go to the hairdresser is to catch my reflection in any, and every surface. Dirty car windows, shop windows, spoons - you name it. I feel like I'm invincible with my helmet hair of perfection. The smell wafting from my hair hypnotizes me into a sexy siren state and I hate to put head to pillow in fear of losing my new found sense of hair-confidence. Then I wake up and catch a glimpse of myself and it's all downhill from there.

Luckily my hairdresser sent me home with some goodies to help keep me and my head feeling high-o-mighty. One of them is the "Rolls Royce" of shampoos - Crème Lavante au Citron by Christophe Robin. This is no ordinary shampoo ladies, and it's not a simple wash-n-go type operation, it requires a bit of effort (leaving it on, requiring a bit of prep time) but the results are totally worth it. Made especially for colored hair (what, who, me?!), it really does help to maintain the color if you use it every 4 times you wash your hair. And the smell - oy - the smell! Thanks to the lemon zest extract, the crème au citron not only smells divine but works as an exfoliator on the hair, leaving it completely clean. Lemon, camomile, and St. John’s wort extracts combine to prevent the loss of the artificial pigments used to color hair and, also, to rebalance your hair’s pH. Your color stays rich and brilliant, your hair is once again soft and silky, and your scalp is soothed and relaxed. Once you’ve begun to wash your hair with this product you’ll have no desire to use any other. Since you invest so much in the color process, it only makes sense to invest a little in the post-op process. Totally worth the splurge, because like they say: "you're worth it"!

RMS Beauty to the Rescue

Sometimes I feel as though I've run the full spectrum of the organic, eco-friendly make-up ranges. Many of them I've loved and lost (love for), many were just too natural for me (animal lard on my face - no thanks), and so the search goes on and on for the perfect organic, natural make-up which seems will never be achieved. I will be forced to wear waterproof mascara from a hot pink and fluorescent green tube for the rest of my life......

But no! Wait - there's a newbie on the block that is going to cure all of my green-as-can-be woes!! Created by a NYC make-up artist who suffered from health conditions that she learned were due to her work materials (read:make-up) and their toxic ingredients, she vowed to create a completely natural, non-toxic, safe make-up line that emphasizes womens beauty instead of masking it. RMS Beauty is the name, and natural is it's game: as their slogan goes: "created by nature, untainted by man". Love it. What I love even more so are the products which do double-duty, like lip2cheek balm, and my favorite - "un"cover up, which basically sums up the type of foundation that I've been looking for in my ___ years on this earth. Thank you RMS Beauty for reading my mind and creating the eco-make-up of my dreams!

Magnolia Takes Me Away

Every 8-10 weeks I have a decadent ritual: I go to the hair salon for a full two hours of uninterrupted "me" time. Air kisses are blown, high fashion magazines are read, herbal concoctions that I can barely pronounced are sipped. And when I emerge, I feel like a beautiful butterfly who has shed her (hideous) cocoon shell and is ready to take on the world! Alas, that feeling fades as soon as I begin to fumble with my bike that has numerous child seats attached, and it starts to rain......

This time around was different as I left with a few goodies in tow that helped me keep my spa/salon-sanity experience. My hairdresser is one of the most fabulous (two snaps here ladies), kookiest, fun individuals I have ever met - and he has seen me through the most trying of times (chopping all my hair off and another time when I had to bring my daughter as an infant and breastfeed her while I got my haircut), so he takes extra special care of me to make sure I am fluffed, coiffed, and pampered. This time he treated me to a hand massage with this oil that left me in a hypnotic state. No alcohol-laden smells, just a lingering smell of real flowers on my skin. Normally I'm not even a big flower scent-lover, but this Leonor Greyl Magnolia oil had me at the first rub down. I kept smelling myself during my entire stay at the salon, and even on the bike ride home. I already knew Leonor Greyl products, but didn't know that they were 100% natural, alcohol and silicone free, and not tested on animals. Mon dieu! How did I ever live without this? Of course I snapped up a few of the other Leonor Greyl  products, but without a doubt, the Magnolia Oil is my favorite and if you see me in person anytime soon, now you know what I'll be wearing (and how I'll be smelling)!!!

Earth Day Beauty

There are a few things in life that just seem like natural partners: peanut butter+jelly, ebony+ivory, skinny pants+boots. Of course these are just a few of the bosom buddies that come to mind, but they definitely are two things that fit together so perfectly we wonder how they would have survived without each other.

Take for instance this new collaboration made exclusively for Earth Day 2010 between Edun organic clothing maker (we posted about them ages ago) and Sephora the beauty store giant. I love them both separately, but together, it's like eco-laden bliss. Thanks to the folks at Ecouterre I read about this partnership to create limited edition Baobob oil enriched makeup palettes for eyes and cheeks. Each Edun for Sephora palette comes attractively packaged in a natural wood case and a handy organic cotton pouch - and oh yes! the mix-and-match makeup comes in a variety of colors and includes six powder eyeshadows and one powder blush. To top it off for Earth Day, $3 of the proceeds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society that supports an initiative in Uganda that is encourages farmers to use organic cotton in their farming. Not only is this match made in heaven for Earth Day, but also for me too as I recently looked at the expiration date of my makeup and it's pretty scary the dates on some of them! Time to brush up on my makeup stash for a great cause.....

Phyto Hair Food

I've been spending a lot of time in the health food store lately, not because we're eating more than usual, but because it's become a part-time playground for my daughter. She loves the water fountain in the front of the store, running through the aisles, and her favorite: organizing the soap shelves. Yes, she does actually organize and puts things back where she found them - it's scary and amazing to watch! Needless to say that means I've been spending my fair share of time in the beauty department....and probably for good reason....

Besides this being a brutal winter in terms of the length of time we've been bundled up in sweaters, coats and boots, but it's been brutal to my skin and hair as well. Permanently-run heaters, blisteringly cold wind, and general winter dryness have left my hair a in dry, frizzy mess. Thank goodness I've had time in the Health & Body department of our health food store to rediscover one of my old favorites! Phyto 7 is a classic dry hair remedy, a soothing blend of 7 plant extracts which transform my poofy, dried-out hair into an (almost) coif-like do. Amazing! But this winter I've called in the cavalry, the Phyto 9, which has 2 more plant extracts (hence the 9 instead of 7) and is for extremely dry hair, which, unfortunately describes my hair this winter. I used to use Phyto 7 back in the day, and loved using a dollop of the sweet smelling potion, and now find myself falling back in love with the Phyto 9 in the same way. Although now I discovered that the brand who makes Phyto 7 and 9, Phyto, also makes an extensive line of shampoos and conditioners which I will be testing over the next few weeks of winter. That's right, I saw WEEKS of winter - not months!!! (wishful thinking)

Hug My Lashes

For years now I have had a losing battle in the quest to find the perfect "natural" mascara. It feels as though my eyelashes have seen and tried them all - and most of them in the end have the same result - raccoon eyes after about 2 hours of wear. I'm not even a big eye rubber, but clearly I must be a great test-guinea-pig seeing as I can melt off even the most "smudge-proof" of eye make-up. I think even my friends have gotten so used to seeing me with smudged eye make-up (and not in the sexy, smoky, sultry way) that they don't even bother telling me to fix it. Ouch.

But alas! I have finally met my (eco) mascara match! Free of the parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, and tar (yes! that's what makes mascara waterproof!), Tarte Lash Hugger Mascara appeals to my inner diva and inner treehugger. Sophisticated enough to stay put when given the full-day test, but eco enough to keep my inner flower child happy. Housed in a recycled aluminum container, chock full of good ingredients like rice bran wax, mineral wax and carnauba wax, this is my the queen of mascaras in my book. Safe for my eyes, gentle to the environment, and good for my ego (no more "hey! raccoon girl!") my quest for the perfect natural mascara is officially closed.

DIY Valentine's Day Ready

Surely you've been bombarded now by Valentine's gift bonanzas - chocolates, lingerie, and even we've fallen into the trap by pushing jewelry in last week's post! So if you are feeling that romance will be in the air in a few days, then, come prepared. And by prepared I mean, get yourself smoothed, buffed, rubbed and ready for some lovin'!

Whether you are the DIY or salon type of person, this Sugaring Hair Removal from The Body Shop is a great way to get hairless in a jiffy. I've used this many times when I've had impromptu trips to the pool, date nights, or a yoga class where I'll be raising my arms in (hairy) sun-salutations. Yes, you do have to be brave enough to inflict pain on yourself, but the results are simple, easy and long-lasting. Made from Communtiy-Trade sugar and chamomile, and lavender extract, this is hair removal at it's most luxurious (if I can dare to say that!). Sugaring Hair Removal has even been used by Cleopatra back in the days, so I figure if it's good enough for her, then it's good enough for me! Just a little pain goes a long way, to making us a hairless goddess, even if for one Valentine's Day evening out.

Scrumptious Make-up Sticks

Even though it's still a little early, I can already see the curiosity in my daughter's eyes as I curl my eyelashes, slap tinted moisturizer on my face, and slather on lip gloss. She shoves her hand towards me as if to say "me next"? Um...I don't think so little lady! Not yet (or til you're 16!!!). Right now she has had to settle for little dips into the Petroleum Free Jelly we were slathering on her when she had the sniffles.

But after I read Babyccino a few weeks ago, I knew that my daughter would be happy with my find: Whoops Bunny All-Natural Make-Up Sticks. Made from 100% natural ingredients like beeswax, grapeseed oil, pineapple extract - these pack of 5 make-up sticks give just a hint of color which will please the kids (ooh! just like a grown-up!) but will also chill mama's nerves (no worries about doing an 80's blue eyeshadow revival). Whoops Bunny is onto something super cool and eco-friendly: 100% all-natural ingredients, not tested on animals, housed in a recyclable tube container, and made using wind power. Beware: these sticks are so adorable and sheer, don't be surprised if you find yourself reaching for them if you need a bit of color in a pinch!