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

Did You Know About These Natural Remedies for Uneven Skin Tone?

Beauties, 

We have received quite a few inquiries about how to care for an uneven skintone as uneven skin tone can make you look tired, older and unhealthy. Skin complexion can become uneven due to slowed skin cell turnover, darkened areas caused by pigmentation, decreased blood circulation, dry or oily skin and acne and other inflammatory skin disorders. We have gathered a list of natural ingredients that will help to even out your complexion and help the restore the skin's natural balance.

Oatmeal Cleanser

Use a coffee grinder to make finely ground oatmeal; combine it with water to make a gently exfoliating face scrub. Add oatmeal to yogurt to make a cleansing and skin-brightening face mask.

Lemon Toner

Even out skin tone, remove excess oil and speed up natural exfoliation with a homemade lemon skin toner. Combine a few drops of lemon juice to equal parts distilled water and witch hazel in a clean bottle. Shake well and apply with a cotton pad; leave the toner to dry on the skin. The witch hazel is a herbal antibacterial cleanser to prevent acne and the lemon juice contains citric acid to exfoliate the skin lightly.

Yogurt Mask

A yogurt mask for a healthy even-toned complexion contains lactic acid which helps to remove dead skin cells to fade pigmented marks on the face and brighten overall complexion. Use yogurt alone on the face to cleanse and dissolve oils. Simply apply as a mask, leave on for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water. To reduce excess oils, mix finely ground chickpea power to a spoonful of yogurt and apply as a mask.

Honey Moisturizer

Honey is beneficial for all skin types and has natural anti-bacterial, cleansing and hydrating qualities. Use honey as a mask to heal, moisturize and balance dry skin. Also try a mask made with honey, mashed avocado and finely ground oatmeal to soften, heal and cleanse dry, itchy skin. The avocado contains Vitamin E and natural oils.

Olive Oil Treatment

Inflamed, red skin patches on the face can be caused by dry skin, minor eczema, sun sensitivity and harsh skin cleansers. Soothe inflamed and irritated skin by gently applying olive oil or flaxseed oil to the affected area. The omega-3 fatty acids in these oils have anti-inflammatory properties and add moisture to alleviate skin redness.

Hope this helps beauties! Remember, less is more- Don't over do it when it comes to your skin. If trying any of the hoe remedies listed above, go for "balance and enough" on application- and try to stay away from applying in excesses!

xo, 

Maryam