rejuvinate your eyes...

I want to remind everyone about my favorite rejuvenating eye treatment from Aguacate & Co. I apply first thing in the AM and then can't help but to apply again in the evening because it just feels so good! I love the fact the while adding moisture to prevent fine lines I am combating puffiness and bags all at the same time. Order today and receive 15% off. Use the promotion code "flawless" at checkout.

the season of Strawberries...

Try a little kitchen table beauty with a fresh, in season, strawberry mask. Strawberries, as many fruits, are abundant in mild natural acids that will act as an exfoliant while evening out skin tone to give your face a satisfying summer glow...

• 3 ripe strawberries (preferably from your local farmers market and most definitely organic).
  

Wash berries, remove stems, mash and apply pulp and juice on face. Let sit for 15-20 minutes then rinse with warm water. Apply your favorite soothing moisturizer or let your face breath for the evening.

a good solid Lipstock...

Tired of reapplying your chapstick every five minutes? For lips that can't quite seem to remain soft and supple, Lipstock is a wonderful cream lip conditioner definitely worth trying out. Made with all natural conditioning ingredients such as Watermelon seed oil, Organic Avocado oil and Shea butter. Your lips will gain everything except for that annoying feeling of dryness that comes with using the standard petroleum based lip balm.

back from vacation...

...and before I know it, I am back. Vieques was amazing and highly recommended for those who love to lounge at isolated beaches (above). I always have a great time whenever I travel to Puerto Rico. I stayed at a wonderful apartment on the water with my sister and her friends. I always pack light for the Caribbean, one carry on bag. All you need is a bikini, hat, book and large scarf. Oh and a dress for the plane. My bag and dress (pictured above) are from my friend Mona's beach line Float. She is kind enough to offer all Flawless Beauty readers a 20% discount on all orders through June 30th. Enter flawbeau08 in the discount code box. Click here to see the collection.
While on vacation, my sister and I explored the local fruit stands and discovered the amazing properties of fresh papaya! Papaya is a great natural exfoliant for the skin and very healthy for the body so eat half then make a mask with the rest. The enzymes in a papaya soften and heal by fighting free-radical damage while dissolving dead cells from the skins surface. Similar to pineapple. Just mash, apply directly to skin and leave on for 15 minutes or so then rinse.

Another thing Vieques had a lot of...mosquitoes (yuk). Tea Tree Oil is a great natural mosquito bite soother. I feel like it is a decent insect repellent as well. I always travel with a small bottle when going somewhere humid. Available at most beauty or health food stores.

orange is the smell of summer...

New York City has reached the 80's and I finally get to bare some shoulder. This morning I applied the Sweet Orange body sunscreen by Korres. The scent is light and sweet, the texture absorbs well and I came home without tan lines. If you are looking for a good sunscreen for your body and face I highly recommend. Ideal for sensitive skin and water resistant. Another wonderful product by Korres.

leave skin glowing...

Ren makes a lot of amazing products that leave one with healthy and radiant skin. Surprisingly, I first discovered Ren products while staying in a hotel that was fully stocked with this wonderful brand. I was instantly hooked and have been ever since! My latest favorite from Ren is the Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask. A gentle fruit acid complex leaves you with exfoliated glowing skin in optimal health. Not suitable for very sensitive skin. Available at Renskincare.com.

lovely brows...

Threading is a technique that I have used for years as an alternative to waxing or tweezing. Threading is done with an actual spool of sewing thread pulling hair out one follicle at a time therefore leaving you with a beautiful natural looking eyebrows. Waxing can be less forgiving and forms eyebrows that aren't always well suited for your face. Tweezing can be a little tedious and lets face it, somethings are best left to the experts! My favorite eyebrow experts in New York City are the women at Madhu's Eyebrows. They charge 6$ and there is never more than a ten to fifteen minute wait. If you have really sensitive skin don't forget your sunglasses...you may be a little red afterwards.

Mandu's Eyebrows
3 Greenwich Ave
NYC
Mon-Sun 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM

get face-mask fabulous...

I love this I Am Plant Oatmeal Face Mask from Nature Girl. Perfect for normal to dry skin. It feels great on the face and left my skin soft and hydrated to the touch. The nutrient-rich exfoliating mask is made with nourishing oatmeal, wildcrafted ginseng extract to give the skin a boost, oils of jojoba seed, sweet almond and sesame seed and organic damascena rose water. If you are unfamiliar with Nature Girl, they have great products using ingredients that are all natural and organically grown. They have fun packaging in bold colors and donate a percentage of their sales to projects that benefit and improve the lives of women and the environment.

time for a mask...

I want to share one of my favorite homemade masks made from almond butter. Shown in its pure form above, this mask can add a glow to skin and moisture as well. Probably most suitable for dry to normal skin. I use regular organic almond butter that I buy from the super market in place of peanut butter. I take maybe 1-2 tablespoons and mix with some dry oatmeal. This makes a non-abrasive facial scrub. If the consistency is to thick or chunky for you, mix in some honey. Experiment with different options that are suitable for what you prefer. I let the mask sit 15-30 minutes then take off with a wet washcloth and rinse my face thoroughly. That's it, affordable and good for your skin! Let me know what you think...

a few little facts about juice beauty...

I have been meaning to try products from Juice Beauty for some time now. Right now I am using the lightweight oil-free facial moisturizer. I have to say I am very pleased! It's not too heavy on my skin, I only need to use a little bit for a lot of coverage and the scent is pleasant. The moisturizer contains white grape and pomegranate juices with soothing aloe vera and leaves your skin with a matte finish. What I really love about Juice Beauty is their product content. Here are some facts about their products...

They have:
-Organic ingredients in a 100% organic juice base, making the total organic content up to 95%.
-Powerful antioxidant technology for optimum age-defying results.
-A strict no animal testing policy.
-A 100% vegetarian ingredients policy.

They NEVER have:
-Pesticides.
-Petroleum or petroleum derivatives.
-Toxic preservatives.
-Artificial colors or dyes.
-Synthetic fragrances.

Unfortunately most skincare products contain if not some but all of the above toxic ingredients. Something to think about because the skin absorbs up to 64% of what we place on it!

the natural glow....

A translucent liquid bronze concentrate for the face from Dr.Hauschka. This is a great bronzer that can be mixed with moisturizer, sunscreen or worn alone. What is really nice is after applied the bronzer is still sheer enough that your true skin color is still visible.

Made from mineral pigments, plant extracts and oils.

a quick hydrater....

Its time to try the Rosewater Freshener from Australian organic skincare line Jurlique. This spay toner is an easy way to hydrate the skin through out the day or apply before you put on moisturizer in the morning. I find the rose petal scent irresistible!

a mask that exfoliates....

A fabulous mask from Aubrey Organics. Jojoba Meal & Oatmeal with Rose Mosqueta. Each time I use this mask, it leaves my face fresh and glowing. Although it is labeled for dry skin, I find it works great for normal skin as well. I am curious what someone with oily or sensitive skin would have to say about it.....

Traditionally, Rosa Mosqueta oil is obtained from rose hips from rose bushes that grow wild in the south of Chile. Seeds are collected and carefully processed to obtain a high concentration of essential fatty acids (77%) which provide remarkable tissue-regenerating and rejuvenating effects.

In fact, Rosa Mosqueta oil has been collected from the Andes mountains and used by South Americans for generations to treat dry skin, help reduce signs of premature ageing and fade off blemishes such as pigmentation spots, stretch marks, acne scars and sun spots. It has also proven to be particularly effective in the treatment of scars and burns by improving skin quality, color and texture.