What We Love This Wednesday

Over the past decade, there's been a serious increase in consciousness— people are more health conscious, environmentally conscious and community conscious than ever before. That being said, there’s not only an interest in products that give back, there’s a demand. Even if it’s not your thing, you have to admit you feel a tad less guilty on a splurge investment when you find out it saves the environment, combats child labor or donates to a charity. Luckily for me, one of my latest investments was far from a splurge and hit the “consciousness” ball way out of the park.

As a sucker for aromatherapy, I often find myself wandering in aisles full of luxury soaps and body butters knowing full well that I should be content with my shelf full of Elizabeth Arden and Caudalie products at home. Nevertheless, an innocent sniff session usually ends with me in the checkout lane. However, this time, I didn’t feel an ounce of remorse! As I browsed through a sea of beautifully packaged and promising items, I stumbled upon a shower crème by Love and Toast. The irresistibly cute packaging drew me in, it passed the sniff test and the label read “paraben, phthalate and sulfate free.” I was sold for all of this at a very reasonable price. After a week of use, I realized that my skin had never felt softer in my life. I have very dry skin that beckons the daily use of body butter. However, Love and Toast lets me cheat a bit! As soon as I hop out of the shower, my skin is noticeably soft and glowing. Now that it’s warmer out, some days I skip the body butter all together. I feel completely and utterly spoiled. So spoiled that I decided to look online for more products. In my research of sorts, I discovered that 97% of the ingredients are naturally derived, there are no animal ingredients, never animal tested and the kicker…a portion of every sale goes to Girls Inc. Even better! So not only am I incredibly soft and sweet smelling, I’m helping empower young girls! Who knew I was being unconsciously conscious. I look forward to trying more Love and Toast products soon!

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Foods That Solve Summer's Beauty Problems

Could the secret to summer time beauty be found in…wait for it…your kitchen?!

Believe it or not, some solutions to beat the heat might have been in your cupboard all along.

Olive oil

If high temperatures leave you frizz-prone, applying a small amount of olive oil after hair is dried and styled can keep you frizz-free longer. For naturally straight hair or short hair, use a dime-sized amount. For curly hair textures or very long hair, use a quarter-sized amount. Rub the hands together and work your way up from tips to roots spreading the oil evenly. Be careful not to douse the hair; a little bit goes a long way.

Honey

 

Besides being ridiculously delicious and fragrant, honey can be quite beneficial for your hair. It’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and it’s a natural humectant—which means it attracts moisture. The best part is that it does more than treat the hair we can see, it stimulates the hair follicles within the scalp.

Invest in a jar of raw honey from your local whole foods store. Mix ¼ or ½ cup (depending on hair length and thickness) of raw honey with water until it thins into a liquid. We recommend adding water little by little and stirring as you go along. Once the mixture is completely liquefied, massage it into your hair like shampoo and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and style as usual.

Strawberries

The acidity found in strawberries is great for fighting acne and oily skin in the hot summer heat. Strawberry seeds also act as a natural exfoliant. Some studies say that rubbing a strawberry over your face will give the desired effect. The verdict is still out on that one, but we do recommend making your own strawberry body scrub!

Mix 5 strawberries, ¼ cup of sugar and 3 tablespooons of olive oil for a wonderful exfoliating scrub to keep skin soft, clear and hydrated during the summer months.

Papaya

This yummy fruit is packed with Vitamin A and papain which evens skin tone and removes dead skin cells—that means, it’s great for anti-aging! Peel, deseed and mash a whole papaya spreading it evenly on your face. Let it sit for no more than 5 minutes so the alpha-hydroxy acids don’t irritate the skin. If you’re feeling a little less courageous, apply it to your feet after a long day of pavement pounding. You’ll have smooth, soft heels in no time.

Nuts

Sure they’re full of protein and healthy fats, but did you know that they can help brighten your teeth? The abrasive texture of nuts helps remove stains and plaque that can cause your teeth to look dull and unhealthy. Give yourself a handful and smile on, all summer long.

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