7 Ways to be a Natural Beauty

We don’t need tons of time —or harsh chemicals—to get shiny, healthy hair and smoother skin. Just steal these gentle and natural back-to-basics moves to start looking and feeling your best.

Embolden Your Skin to Greater Heights of Radiance: Slice a few grapes in half and rub the cut sides over clean skin. “The fruit acids are natural exfoliators,” explains Regine Berthelot, head aesthetician at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at The Plaza in New York City. We highly recommend you try Yamerra's Natural Facial Serum ($20 : online at Yamerra.com).

Incredibly nutrient-rich, restorative and energizing; Yamerra's Natural Facial Serum (2oz)

Wake up tired, puffy eyes: With a chilled eye cream (store yours in the fridge). Apply it from the outer corners of your eyes toward your nose. This helps drain excess fluid in the area. We recommend a homemade blend of: 1 ounce Jojoba oil, 5 drops Chamomile essential oil, 5 drops Rose essential oil.

Make your own homeopathic blend at home and store in a cool place. You can store small amount for everyday use in a dropper botttle

Directions:

Combine essential oils with Jojoba oil and store in a one-ounce glass bottle with a dropper top. To Use: Apply 1 drop of the oil to your finger and gently smooth the oil beneath your eye and onto the area just beneath the brow bone. Do not apply oil directly to your eyelids.

Zap blemishes with two ingredients homeopaths have used for centuries: anti-inflammatory arnica and antibacterial tea tree oil. Find them at any Whole Foods Market. 

Stay protected by applying a moisturizer with premium Shea butter before sunscreen; studies show the ingredient decreases the effect of UV radiation on skin and may help prevent sunburns. We like Yamerra's Home Sweet Home Honey Vanilla Hair and Body Butter, highly recommended for the Fall Season ($12 online: Yamerra.com)

Soothing, moisturizing and healing: Yamerra.com (1$12)

Make a facial mask more effective by applying it right before you get out of a steamy bathroom, where steam from your shower opens pores so ingredients can penetrate. Smooth plain yogurt over your face after your shower, let it sit for about 10 minutes (sit somewhere where it can dry), then rinse your face. 

A plain yogurt mask will do wonders for your skin! So quick, easy and affordable.

Create tousled waves with this trick from stylist John Masters: dissolve 1 tablespoon sea salt in a spray bottle filled with 8 ounces warm spring water, then add 10 drops of organic lavender oil; shake well, then spritz on damp hair and let it air-dry.

Strengthen hair with a mayo mask (its cholesterol plumps the cuticle). Comb 1/2 cup mayo through wet hair, wait 15 minutes, and rinse with cool water.

Hope these tips help you as they have helped me! Love, 
Maryam

Affordable Eco-Friendly Ways to Maintain Your GLOW and Beauty, Naturally!

Beauties, 
We love trying all of the new products and potions that come our way, but sometimes we like to go classic with homemade, natural beauty treatments. Fancy treatments for hair, skin and nails are undoubtedly luxurious, but sometimes the best beauty fixes can be found in your home!

We want to share 3 of our favorite GO-TO natural, homemade beauty remedies that actually work:

1. You've probably heard of using toothpaste to dry up zits.. It also works great when you use it to scrub the yellow stains off your nails that can result from wearing nail polish. Just put some toothpaste on an old toothbrush (we chose this all-natural Tom's formula that is made without sulfates — meaning that it won't dry out your cuticles!), and scrub away at clean nails. Your nails will look so fresh and so clean-clean that you can go without lacquer and still look polished. 

2. If you've noticed that your skin has lost its usual brightness and luster, squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto a cotton pad and apply to skin. 

Lemon juice is an acid, so it can act as a toner for dull skin. It has exfoliating properties, so it can help brighten the look of the skin. But, it can also be very drying, so make sure to rinse it off after ten minutes or so. 

3. Apple cider vinegar removes clumpy residue in hair from product buildup. It also works excellently as a natural detangler. When used regularly in your natural hair care routine, apple cider vinegar can revitalize your hair, leaving it soft and smooth. The vinegar also works by closing the cuticle of the hair and makes your hair super shiny!

There you go Beauties! As easy as 1, 2, 3!

Xo, 

~Maryam