With Rustic Maka you can fight body odor without aluminum and nasty chemicals!

Rustic Maka is a green beauty brand that formulates simple personal care solutions, using only natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and non-GMO ingredients.Rustic Maka Pachy deodorant in ‘Sweet Lemonade’ is a delectably-scented underarm treat! Check out the full review below:

Rustic Maka Pachy deodorant in 'Sweet Lemonade'

Rustic Maka is a green beauty brand that formulates simple personal care solutions, using only natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and non-GMO ingredients. The company’s Pachy deodorant is fast making a huge mark in the natural beauty world, because it’s effective, smells amazing (via natural essential oils) and is good for you! There is no need to use anti-perspirants or deodorants that contain aluminum, a known carcinogen and brain toxin, when there are amazing natural brand deodorants out there that work without sacrificing the user’s health! Instead of using aluminum as the main odor-fighting ingredient, like most popular brand-name deodorant companies do, the smart folks at Rustic Maka formulate their deodorants using the natural powers of arrowroot powder and baking soda.

Rustic Maka Pachy deodorant in ‘Sweet Lemonade’ is a delectably-scented underarm treat! It smells just like sugared-up ripened lemons, so the name is quite appropriate - the scent is derived from vanilla beans, orange peel oil and lemon peel oil! Also packed with moisturizing and soothing shea butter and coconut oil, this deodorant is fantastic at keeping the underarms looking smooth and healthy. It’s also very usable right after shaving and won’t irritate the delicate underarm skin. The best part is that this deodorant works! It lasts all day and will keep you smelling nicer than any aluminum-packed, artificially-perfumed popular brand-name product will. For this green beauty column, the verdict is clear - natural wins over synthetic any day!

Rustic Maka offers a wide array of different scents in their deodorant collection, including a baking soda free version, great for anyone who has extra sensitive skin. Check out the Rustic Maka website for more information on the green beauty brand’s amazing natural products. And explore this blog for other great natural deodorant suggestions that have been featured here! Let’s all have aluminum-free underarms!

Treat hands to organic, skin-loving goodness with SpaRitual Handprint Hand Salve

SpaRitual's hand cream is a 75 % organic, biodegradable and vegan formulation of thick, skin-loving goodness, which is free of synthetic dyes and fragrances, parabens, phenoxyethanol and petrochemicals. Check out the full review below:

SpaRitual Handprint Hand Salve

SpaRitual is quickly becoming a favorite green beauty brand for this column, but also for green beauty enthusiasts worldwide. SpaRitual is a brand that formulates luxurious skincare and nail care products without adding carcinogenic and toxic additives. Featured today is one of SpaRitual’s “signature collection” products – the Handprint Hand Salve. This hand cream is a 75 % organic, biodegradable and vegan formulation of thick, skin-loving goodness, which is free of synthetic dyes and fragrances, parabens, phenoxyethanol and petrochemicals.

This nourishing balm goes on thick, but absorbs quite quickly, leaving a silky shield over the hands for a time (which all good, effective hand creams should do because skin needs time to absorb the beneficial ingredients). With a pleasant and subtle (not at all over-powering or headache-inducing) sugar-lemon scent, the main ingredients that work so well to make your hands feel silky-soft are organic fair trade shea butter, marula oil, griffonia seed extract and honeybush. That sounds like a yummy ingredient combination that I would want to treat my hands to regularly!

Find out more about SpaRitual and the green beauty brand’s amazing products and various collections by visiting the SpaRitual website. Stay tuned to this blog for more articles and features on SpaRitual and other green beauty brands!

Cucumber: a do-it-yourself natural remedy for redness and blemishes

Ever wonder why so many store-bought redness and acne treatments contain cucumber extract? Well, cucumber is a centuries-old natural remedy to sooth irritated skin, to eliminate redness, and to treat acne. Check out the article below and learn how to use fresh cucumber as your beauty secret weapon!

Cucumber: A DIY natural remedy for redness and blemishes

Ever wonder why so many store-bought redness and acne treatments contain cucumberextract? Well, cucumber is a centuries-old natural remedy to sooth irritated skin, to eliminate redness, and to treat acne. Cucumber belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, all of which have anti-carcinogenic properties, and are super hydrating additives for ingestion (good eating!) and to apply to the skin for facial treatments. Cucumber is not only hydrating, but it is rich in pantothenic acid, which is a powerful antioxidant, helpful in fighting aging and acne. Pantothenic acid helps reduce skin’s overproduction of oils and it soothes inflammation.

So how do we go about giving ourselves a cucumber treatment from a solid cucumber? As pictured above, take a potato peeler, and cut a thin slice of the cucumber so that you have a long strip with cucumber skin on one side, and cucumber flesh on the other side. After washing your face, gently apply the fleshy side of the cucumber strip to any areas of the face with redness or blemishes, and leave the cucumber strips on for at least 20 minutes. An hour is even more beneficial, as the skin continuously absorbs the goodies present in that valuable cucumber flesh! There is no need to wash the face again after removing the cucumber – just moisturize as usual (a light gel moisturizer is best after this treatment). And, of course, go eat the rest of that nutritious cucumber!

The cool thing about this treatment is that cucumber is pretty good at adhering to the face, so you can walk around and it usually stays on. Most people notice an immediate reduction in redness when the cucumber strips are removed. And, acne swellings are usually significantly reduced by the following day.

Organic cucumbers are, of course, the better choice, since this veggie is very susceptible to pesticide absorption, and we don’t want those toxins absorbed topically or internally. This cucumber DIY (do-it-yourself) natural remedy is an age-old grandma’s facial treatment that everyone should know about, and everyone should try, to see if it works for them! It’s one of the easiest and cheapest natural remedies for redness, blemishes, irritations and acne. Explore and follow this blog for more DIY natural remedies!

Get ready for some gorgeous, spacey nails - check out 'Affection' by SpaRitual!

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Affection': one of six fantastic newly-released 5-free nail colors from SpaRitual’s 2016 Spring Collection “Nurture”:

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Affection': one of six fantastic new nail colors from SpaRitual’s 2016 Spring Collection “Nurture”.

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Affection' is one of six fantastic new nail colors from SpaRitual’s 2016 Spring Collection “Nurture”. ‘Affection’ is an awesome, icy, metallic blue nail color that evokes images of sexy femme-bots from outer space…. meaning, the femme bots would definitely be wearing this nail polish! It’s just so cool! Pictured above, ‘Affection’ is a medium sky-blue shade, that is actually a shimmery nail polish, but because the shimmer is so fine, the visual effect is also metallic.

The best part about this nail polish is that, aside from being vibrant and long-lasting, it’s also 5-free. SpaRitual formulates all of its nail lacquer without including toxic and carcinogenic chemicals such as DBP, toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin. And with SpaRitual’s incredible collection of nail polish colors and finishes, you’ll find just about any color and finish that you’re looking for. So why go anywhere else to find your favorite nail polish? With SpaRitual, you have a safer, healthier alternative nail polish brand, which offers quality without nasty chemical additives. SpaRitual is a favorite green beauty brand at holistic and green spas around the world, and was the 2014 Winner of the American Spa Professional’s Choice Awards.

For more information about SpaRitual's 2016 Spring Collection, and about other fantastic collections that SpaRitual has previously released, visit the SpaRitual Website. Stay tuned to this blog for more articles and reviews on SpaRitual and other green beauty brand products!

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Caring' – such a beautiful 5-free nail polish!

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Caring': 5-free nail polish by SpaRitual. It's a perfect, healthier replacement for China Glaze's popular nail color 'For Audrey' (check out the last picture below for a comparison of 'Caring' and 'For Audrey'!) :

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in 'Caring': 5-free nail polish by SpaRitual. It's a perfect, healthier replacement for China Glaze's popular nail color 'For Audrey'.

 

AND... this nail color matches my sunglasses perfectly too!!!

 

 

SpaRitual’s 2016 Spring Collection “Nurture”, offers six fantastic, brand new nail colors! Pictured above on the nails is one of those lovely new releases – the nail color ‘Caring’. I was so happy to find this beautiful, bright and unique nail color because it’s a perfect replacement for China Glaze’s ‘For Audrey’, which had previously been a favorite nail color of mine, before I turned to green and clean cosmetics. This color is actually even prettier than ‘For Audrey’ because it’s slightly brighter (see a comparison of these two nail polishes above).

‘Caring’ is a gorgeous turquoise green, with no shimmer, and with lots of shine. This nail lacquer lasts! With three coats and no base or top coat, this polish lasted a full six days, without chipping, until I actually went ahead and removed it to switch my nail look. That’s pretty impressive, and it may be the longest lasting polish I have ever used. For something this pigmented, you definitely notice chipping, so I was very surprised at the longevity of ‘Caring’!

SpaRitual consistently formulates healthier, 5-free nail lacquer that is just as, if not more, effective than other popular nail polish brands that DO formulate polishes containing nasty, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. So what does 5-free mean exactly? SpaRitual’s nail polish formulas are always free of DBP, toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin, all of which are known toxins to the human body. Instead, the good folks at SpaRitual choose responsible and safer ingredients, but without sacrificing quality and effectiveness. For this reason, SpaRitual is a favorite brand at holistic and green spas around the world, and was the 2014 Winner of the American Spa Professional’s Choice Awards.

For more information about SpaRitual's 2016 Spring Collection, visit the SpaRitual Website.

Nail polish that Wicked should endorse - 'Destiny' by SpaRitual

Yes, I do mean the Broadway musical Wicked, and they really should endorse this 5-free glitter nail polish! It's not for everyone, but if you like all things green, you gotta check this nail polish out! Check out the review below:

 

'Destiny' Glitter 5-free nail polish by SpaRitual. Remind anyone of Elphaba, the green witch from Wicked?

Yes, I do mean the Broadway musical Wicked, and they really should endorse this nail polish! I have no doubt in my mind that Elphaba (she's the green witch) would pick this nail polish as her trademark nail polish - I mean - just look at it! For those of you who aren't as enthused about this whole Wicked connection I'm making, let me just get to the point: today's feature is SpaRitual's 5-free glitter nail polish in 'Destiny'.

Glitter nail polish is super fun for anyone who likes to make their nails look bedazzled and blinged-up. Glittery or chunky nail polish is also a great alternative to jewelry! But it’s also important to know that a healthier nail polish brand, SpaRitual, that formulates 5-free nail polishes (free of DBP, toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin), makes some of the best glitter and chunky nail polishes on the market.

‘Destiny’ by SpaRitual, pictured above, is a glittery green polish with lots of different-sized and different-colored speckles of glitter throughout. Because of the various speckles in this polish, a 2 or 3 coat application is best for maximum bling results and maximum light interference! The life of the nail polish job is also prolonged if you use a base and top coat (try SpaRitual’s Multi-Tasker base and top coat), however SpaRitual’s high quality nail lacquers are actually fairly long-lasting without the need for base or top coats. It’s no surprise that SpaRitual was the 2014 winner of the American Spa Professional’s Choice Awards.

Now, if green glitter nail polish isn't your thing, SpaRitual offers an enormous array of different colors and textures in their nail polish collections. For more information on SpaRitual’s vegan and green beauty line, check out the SpaRitual website. Stay tuned to this blog for more upcoming features on this luxurious and effective natural cosmetics brand – and other green beauty brands as well!

Body wash over bar soap? Lather up vegan, organic & biodegradable with SpaRitual!

SpaRitual, a green beauty brand, has released a fantastic limited edition Yuzu Rose collection! Featured today is SpaRitual's luxurious Yuzu Rose Body Wash, which is made from 75% organic ingredients, is responsibly sourced, and is biodegradable, vegan, and free of synthetic dyes, parabens, phenoxyethanol and petrochemicals! 

SpaRitual, a green beauty brand, has released a fantastic limited edition Yuzu Rose collection! Featured today is SpaRitual's luxurious Yuzu Rose Body Wash, which is made from 75% organic ingredients, is responsibly sourced, and is biodegradable, vegan, and free of synthetic dyes, parabens, phenoxyethanol and petrochemicals! With a rose-inspired scent that, through its sexy muskiness, is both feminine and masculine, it’s a perfect body wash for anyone who is in need of a little skin treat!

SpaRitual’s body wash is light-weight and clear in appearance, but lathers finely and abundantly. A little goes a long way, invigorating the latherer with a subtle rose essence. And it really is a gentle scent (no irritating overblown fragrance in this body wash!), so it's perfect for those who are sensitive to strong smells.

This body wash is also very hydrating, and doesn’t require the user to follow up with lotion, except, of course, for instances of very dry skin, where one might need some extra moisture. Truly hydrating body washes, such as this one, are wonderful for those who are in a hurry after showering. This body wash definitely follows SpaRitual’s moto: “Slow Beauty for a Fast World”!

More information about SpaRitual’s limited edition Yuzu Rose collection, and SpaRitual’s other amazing products, can be found on the SpaRitual Website. SpaRitual is perhaps most well known for their healthier, alternative, 5-free nail polish, but the vegan and green beauty brand formulates excellent body care products as well, which are well worth a try for any green beauty lover! Stay tuned to this blog for more upcoming articles featuring SpaRitual and other green beauty products!

Discover the scents of naturally-derived Acorelle perfumes via this delectable sample pack!

Acorelle is a French green beauty brand that has been formulating non-synthetic perfume products since 2005. The perfume formulas are also 90 % organic, and free of animal cruelty, synthetic chemicals, artificial colors and phthalates. Acorelle offers a delicious Discovery Sample Pack, that includes 9 of their amazing naturally-derived fragrances! Continue reading below for the full review:

Discover the scents of Acorelle perfumes via this delectable sample pack: 9 naturally-derived fragrances, each with its own aromatherapy benefits

If you have been following this blog, you'll know by now that recently I have been obsessed with Acorelle perfumes, and for good reason! Acorelle is a French green beauty brand that has been formulating non-synthetic perfume products since 2005. The brand relies solely on naturally-derived fragrances to create their perfumes, and the formulas are also 90 % organic, and free of animal cruelty, synthetic chemicals, artificial colors and phthalates.

So, perhaps I have you interested in this fantastic brand, but you don’t know which scent to start with… well, Acorelle has a remedy for that, because the brand offers a delicious sample pack of 9 different perfumes (pictured above). When I say ‘delicious’, I really mean that – these perfumes are so wonderful! They have great lasting power and great aromatherapy benefits, since each of the 9 perfumes is derived from essential oils.

Acorelle divides their perfumes’ scent profiles into three main categories: energizing, balancing and soothing (based on aromatherapy benefits). Acorelle’s perfume discovery pack includes the “energizing” scents of Pure Patchouli, Land of Cedar, and Tea Garden; the “balancing” scents of Silky Rose, Absolute Tiare (Tahitian Gardenia) and Vanilla Blossom; and, the “soothing” scents of Lotus Dream, Divine Orchid and Citrus Infusion (Neroli).

It’s very difficult to choose a favorite scent in this discovery pack because Acorelle does a superior job with making each scent so delectable. Each has its own character and therapeutic effects! I think most people would love them all too! Perhaps my personal favorite is the Divine Orchid perfume because it’s very unique, sweet and uplifting.

For those of you who are sensitive to perfumes, Acorelle is a fantastic brand to try because the perfumes are gentle and do not contain irritating chemicals, most often found in popular brand name perfumes (and it’s high time those synthetic and chemical-rich brand products stop doing so well on the market!).

Check out the Acorelle website to read more about this amazing green beauty brand and to see what other products they offer. Acorelle perfumes are currently available in the United States at Whole Foods markets.

Shine On - a gorgeous, lightweight, and natural lip gloss by SpaRitual!

SpaRitual’s limited edition Yuzu Rose collection features a set of four wonderful lip glosses, and they are well worth a try for any #greenbeauty lippie lover! Today’s feature is the deep plum shade ‘Shine On’:

Above: Showing the high shine and deep plum quality of the shade!

SpaRitual’s ‘Shine On’ biodegradable & vegan lip gloss leaves lips with silky-soft veil of moisture & super glossy shine - 1 of 4 lip glosses in SpaRitual’s limited edition Yuzu Rose collection. Also wearing SpaRitual Glitter nail polish in 'Beyond'.

SpaRitual’s limited edition Yuzu Rose collection features a set of four wonderful lip glosses, and they are well worth a try for any green beauty lippie lover! Today’s feature is the deep plum shade ‘Shine On’, pictured above. And if you’re also wondering about the awesome, super fun nail polish in the picture – well, that’s also a SpaRitual product. It’s their fantastic ‘Beyond’ nail color from the brand’s wide array of glittery nail polish options!

SpaRitual’s ‘Shine On’ biodegradable and vegan lip gloss leaves lips with a silky-soft veil of moisture and a super glossy shine. It also smells really nice (like roses!), and is formulated without gluten, synthetic fragrances, parabens, phenoxyethanol or petrochemicals.

‘Shine On’ is a gorgeous plum color that sits so lightly on the lips, it may very well be the lightest lip gloss I have tried. But despite being lightweight, the color payoff is fantastic and the lasting power is great too! The deep berry shade sinks into the lips a bit after about an hour or two of wear, leaving a lovely and even, gentle plum stain.

SpaRitual is a green beauty brand dedicated to formulating products that are vegan, biodegradable, ethically sourced, and free of gluten, fragrances, parabens and petrochemicals. SpaRitual is perhaps most well-known for its nail polishes, which are a favorite at green or holistic nail salons across the country. But SpaRitual’s body and lip products are also fantastic!

Stay tuned to this blog for more upcoming articles and reviews on SpaRitual’s 2016 Spring collection, Nurture, and SpaRitual’s limited edition Yuzu Rose collection! Check out the SpaRitual website for more information on this awesome natural brand!

Have a lemongrass riot with a new favorite natural deodorant by Rustic Maka!

New favorite natural, aluminum-free deodorant! Rustic Maka Pachy Deodorant in 'Citrus Gardens', baking soda free:

Rustic Maka Pachy Deodorant in 'Citrus Gardens', baking soda free

Today’s feature is an amazing deodorant product by natural beauty brand Rustic Maka! It’s an all-natural roll-on deodorant that keeps the body smelling nice without the use of toxic or carcinogenic ingredients, such as aluminum and parabens. It’s quickly become a new favorite deodorant of mine, for its easy application, skin-soothing properties, and high effectiveness in keeping body odor at bay.

Rustic Maka’s Pachy Deodorant in 'Citrus Gardens' is a lemongrass lover’s dream come true. For anyone who loves to perfume themselves with pure lemongrass essential oil, this deodorant is a real treat! The main scent profile is lemongrass (via lemongrass essential oil), which is an uplifting, refreshing and energizing aroma that has so many aromatherapy benefits too!

This toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan and USA-made deodorant is formulated without aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances, or propylene-glycol. Just check out these fantastic all-natural ingredients:

Manihot Esculenta (Arrowroot) Tapioca Powder*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax**, Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass) Oil, Saliva Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oil
*Certified Organic Ingredient, **Wildcrafted Ingredient

Rustic Maka makes most of their deodorants with baking soda as an odor-fighting ingredient, but this Sensitive ‘Citrus Gardens’ version is made without baking soda, which is an occasional irritant for people with very sensitive skin. It’s wonderful that Rustic Maka has offered this baking soda free option for those select few individuals. What is most impressive about this baking soda free version is how effective it is. Most natural deodorants that I have tried that do not contain baking soda tend to be much less effective. But Rustic Maka has created an amazing formulation that keeps your underarms smelling fresh all day. This deodorant was tested in a Southern California heat spell, while touring Disneyland California all day, and while hiking Southern California’s mountains. This deodorant worked without re-application, all day, for both those occasions, when sweating and heavy exercise were definitely happening!

Another plus of this deodorant is the moisturizing benefit. It’s wonderful to apply after shaving, and keeps underarms smooth and healthy looking. This is no doubt due to the high quality, skin-nurturing ingredients in this deodorant’s formula.

Rustic Maka offers deodorants in several wonderful scents and also formulates various soap bars, body salts, body scrubs and foaming soaps. Stay tuned to this blog for more upcoming reviews on other Rustic Maka deodorant scents, and check out Rustic Maka’s website to find out more about this amazing green beauty brand.