skincare with a hint of rose...

The scent of rose is worth blogging about again and again. I've blogged before about my favorite mask from Aubrey Organics and luscious body oil from Weleda. Nature Girl offers a face mask "I Am Petal" and always a great staple for your bedside table or office desk is the rose hand cream by Jurlique.

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.

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.

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...

As you may know by now I am a huge fan of honey for the skin. I think mainly because I am a fan of glowing, dewy skin and I feel that when I try a honey mask I am left with glowing supple skin. This rose oil and honey face mask is via the blog homemade beauty recipes....

Sweet almond oil, which is light and easily absorbed, softens and nourishes skin. Honey a natural humectant, moisturizes, leaving tired skin incredibly smooth.

• 2 T honey
• 2 T sweet almond oil
• 5 drops essential oil of rose
• 1 drop vitamin E oil

Mix together. Massage onto clean face and neck with fingertips. Relax for 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water. Gently pat dry to reveal a fresh, soft complexion.

time for a mask...

Are you craving a face mask to soften and moisturize sensitive skin? Try this banana-avocado recipe that can easily be made in your home. Similar to the basic avocado mask but with a few more skin softening ingredients:

1 organic ripened banana
1 organic ripened avocado
2 tablespoons plain organic yogurt
2 drops of Vitamin E oil

This will make enough for 2 masks at least. Apply to clean, damp skin for 10-20 minutes. Wipe mask off and rinse face with warm water. Apply a moisturizer, or don't if you're going to sleep.

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...

sweet beauty...

Looking for tips for beautiful skin? Try a sweet, fragrant honey mask. It's a wonderful way to moisturize and hydrate the skin. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. This mask always leaves my skin feeling soft, moisturized and creates a nice glow. Honey can also be added to the avocado mask for extra benefits or to create a smooth consistency.

Spread raw or organic honey over a clean face (be sure to always avoid eye area). Let honey sit for 20-30 minutes. To promote pore cleansing, tap you fingers over your skin in the areas your pores seem to be congested. Doing this creates tiny suctions that help clear clogged pores. Rinse and wipe face off well with warm water.

beauty on the go...

With all the holiday travel that is going on, I thought now would be a good time to post about my favorite express skincare masks by the Greek company Apivita. I love the product line and they seem to have skin and haircare masks for just about every need. Apivita express products are available in single dose, travel-friendly packaging which allows you to mix and match different creams and masks to create your own personal skin "diet". These are small enough to throw in your purse and perfect to add onto any gift! A few of my tried and true favorites are the firming face mask with grape, the age management face mask with green tea and the eye zone mask with ginkgo biloba. I am very interested in trying the instant lifting mask with red wine...Click here to order online, also available at CO Bigelows in NYC.


All images from Apivita.com.

time for a mask...

This avocado mask is moisturizing, affordable and quick to prepare. Avocado provides a rich source of vitamin A,C,D,E and has more potassium than a banana. Avocado oil is regularly used in skin and hair products because of this rich nutrients.
For the Mask: Mash 1/2 organic avocado, I find 1/4 avocado is enough unless your going to put on a hair mask as well. Apply a thick layer to your face and neck and let sit for at least 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.
Sometimes I mix a little organic honey in as well to make more of a smooth consistency. Afterwards your skin will feel fresh, young and replenished...take advantage of what your kitchen has to offer! For those of you who do not want avocado in your hair here is a good solution by Burt's Bees.

time for a mask...

I love this very affordable organic strawberry yogurt face mask, it hydrates and brightens the face while gently exfoliating the skin with natural fruit and lactic acids. This mask is a good option for people with sensitive skin because it exfoliates so gently. What I love is how hydrated my skin feels afterwards, I don't feel like I need to apply any moisturizer.

To do: Apply any organic ( face strawberry yogurt such as Stoneyfield Farms or Brown Cow) over your face and neck area, let sit for 15-30 minutes, remove with warm towel then rinse throughly. Amazing soft hydrated skin!

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.