I've been tagged! Natural skincare tips from the green product junkie...

Welcome to my world.  Here's two of my medicine cabinet shelves...recognize anything?

Tag, you're it!

I've been tagged by Mary from PureMakeup Blog!  So, it's my turn to answer a few questions she has lined up.  Let me get to 'em!  Thanks.

Describe your skincare routine in five words.  Natural, ever-changing, pure, nourishing and effective.

What's your skin type?  I tend to be on the dry side.

What's your favorite skincare product?  This is incredibly difficult because it changes all of the time.  Whenever I get something new to test that is magnificent, it becomes the new favorite. I would have to say a staple is Kahina's Argan Oil, and I'm also really enjoying La Bella Figura's Organic Barbary Fig Renewal Serum these days...the smell is so fruity and it hydrates perfectly.

Top blemish zapper?  I'm fortunate in that I don't break out that often since I began using all-natural skincare and makeup.  If I do, or if I feel like I'm clogged, I'll quickly do an Osmia Organics' Detoxifying Mask...cleans, exfoliates and brightens the skin all in one mask.  I love.

Face Wipes - yay or nay?  Nay.  They're wasteful.  A cotton cloth that you can wash over and over again seems more eco-friendly to me. 

High-end skincare or high-end makeup?  Tough one...I would have to say skincare.  But anything that you put on your skin must be non-toxic...high-end or not.  Skincare brand Acure Organics is very affordable.  

What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?  Well, it's not that unusual in that it's an exfoliator, but it's definitely an unconventional way of exfoliating...O.R.G.'s Organic Mineral Peel for Face.  You just spray it on and then rub it off after a few seconds.  It's very cool to see what peels off of your face.

You're in a pharmacy and you can only pick one item, what would it be?  Do they sell coconut oil?  If not, let's see...gosh, I think I just leave!  Really.

What are your Top Skincare Tips?

1. Please don't use a lipstick or lip balm with toxic ingredients.  You'll be ingesting chemicals.  Find a great lipstick you love from a natural brand.  I love RMS Beauty, Ilia Beauty, Revolution Organics...and the list goes on.
2. Use a natural sunblock everyday on your face and body parts that will be exposed.
3. Wash your face every night, but not in the morning.  In the morning, just moisturize.  I love GingerChi for cleansing.
4. Exfoliate once or twice a week.  I'm loving using Acure Organics exfoliator.
5. Put a mask on every once in a while...great for the skin.  If you don't have one, plain yogurt on the face is brightening and refreshing.
6. Find a face oil or serum that you love.  Trust me on this.  Oils are awesome.
7. Always use an eye serum or an eye cream.  I love Odacité.
8. Don't use toxic skincare or makeup.  The new green lines are far, far superior to anything you can buy that has chemicals in it.
9. Hang out with people who make you laugh and think you're great.  My skin always looks better when I'm happy!

Oh, and I tag life in blush and The Green Beauty Bunny!

My Natural Beauty Q & A...with Myself!

I just read Chalkboard's Q & A with green makeup artist, Katey Denno and I found myself answering all of the natural beauty questions as I read them.  So, I wanted to do my own Q & A...with myself!  Yes, there's probably a straight jacket fitting I need to get myself to, but it's fun.

Obsession of the Moment:  My Earth Tu Face Eye/Repair Serum.  I'd been using another eye cream for a long time, Naturopathica's Vitamin K Eye Cream, which I still love, but started using this after I was sent it for review.  

Can't Travel Without:  My DeVita Solar Moisturizer in SPF 30 and Solar Body Block SPF 30.
Everyone knows how much I love this stuff.  Feels like a lotion, but it's an SPF...using anything else is a total drag...and sticky!

In a Pinch I:  I'll use organic Coconut Oil to take off my makeup, to hydrate my hair, to moisturize my body, to hydrate my skin.  I find that I wake up with thee most gorgeous skin if I use this all over my face, wipe it off and go to bed.

Always in My Evening Clutch:  A pink gloss.  I'll use either Sublime by RMS Beauty, Revolution Organics' Truth or Jane Iredale's Sugar Plum.  I'm also loving Call Me by Ilia Beauty.

Beautifying Snack/Meal:  My morning smoothie:  Almond Milk, coconut oil, calcium/magnesium, flax seeds or chia seeds, a banana and berries!  Also, good fats - avocado and olive oil.

Beautifying Drink:  A tall glass of powdered organic wheatgrass from Amazing Grass.  It tastes like someone emptied their lawn mower into your water, but you'll live.

For Ultra-Glamorous Effect:  I take my Dr. Hauschka Plum/White Duo Liner and use the white highlighter in the corners of my eyes.  I'll also line the inside upper lid with the purple and as the day - or night goes on, it smudges to give a slight smokey eye.

A Perfect Pout:  Jane Iredale's Lip & Cheek Stain in Forever Pink with a gloss over it.  You can't lose.

Beauty Tool:  My Eco-Tools Retractable Foundation Brush.  I love this because you can keep it in your bag and it stays clean.  I also love it because the aluminum has been recycled.

Weirdest Beauty Habit:  Covering my face with plain, fatty yogurt.  It leaves my skin so bright and pretty that if I have a date or party, I'm definitely making the time for this before I have to apply my makeup.

In The Shower I Keep:  My Preserve Razor, NYL Gentle Sugar Body Polish, Dr. Bronner's Organic Peppermint Shave Gel, SkinnySkinny Rosemary Mint Foot Scrub, Acure Brightening Facial Scrub Sea Kelp, Rahua Shampoo & Conditioner, Sebon Organics Shampoo & Conditioner, Vetiver Rose Sellwood Soap and my own Turbinado sugar and coconut oil body scrub!

On My Bedside Table:  S.W. Basics Cocoa Lip Balm, KYI Chamomile Lavender Whipped Shea Butter Mask (I use it for my face and hands) and Badger Foot Balm.

Once A Month I:  I put on an exfoliating enzyme mask by Naturopathica's Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel just to give my skin a fresh start and follow with my Kahina Argan Oil.  

After A Long Night Or Rough Weekend:  I need my sleep, lots of water and a good foot scrub in the shower.

On Little Sleep I Rely On:  Amala's Hydrate Treatment Oil to moisturize and my Studio 78 Concealer to cover up any bags...it's my favorite concealer, hands down.

Natural Face Moisturizers for Winter: S.W. Basics, Kahina Giving Beauty & Pai

S.W. BASICS  It's still Spring-like here in NYC, but I still feel like there's a bit of a chill in the evenings and that means it's time to start using moisturizers with a little more kick in them.  This year I'm trying S.W. Basics' Cream and, once again, these guys knock it out of the park. With only three ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil, this balm-like cream is so pure, it really moisturizes your skin, yet doesn't clog. My skin is baby smooth and I've been putting it on before makeup with excellent results.  All their products are handmade in Brooklyn and their packaging is excellent.   This is a big jar as far as moisturizers go and you need so little. $34  Oh, and for the coming cold weather, I also recommend their lip balm!  

KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY  What can be said about Kahina Giving Beauty's Argan Oil that hasn't been said a thousand times?  If you're looking for a hydrating face oil (year 'round), this is the one to buy.  It's the real deal and I use it daily.  This oil is so pure you can also use it to hydrate your hair, nails (it's really great to rub on your cuticles and hands before bed - you wake up with such smooth and hydrated skin) and, of course, your face. My friend tried my Kahina this past summer and is now so hooked. He has me order and have it shipped to his workplace, "Get me the large and quick!"  Liquid gold.   30 ML: $36  100 ML: $82    473 ML: $200

PAI  This is another moisturizer that isn't just for the colder months, but if you don't use creams in the Summer and want to take it up a notch, this is for you. Pai's Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream ($44) is definitely thicker than a lotion, but doesn't feel heavy.  Beyond the fact that it smells absolutely DELISH (I'm a huge fan of the smell of chamomile) this hydrates, goes on smooth and comes in a super easy pump.  So many of their creams are excellent, but this is the one that I use and love.   If you are in the market for a heavier cream, try their Macadamia & Rose BioRejuvenate Moisturizer. Everything is organic and awesome, trust me.  $47

The Green Product Junkie's Daily Green Routine

The always green & gorgeous Figwittage suggested that I write a blog on my daily green skincare routine.  Being that I love nothing more than to yap about green products, I'm excited to do so and hope she'll let me in on her routine, as well...I'm a sucker to hear about a new product that I've never tried before.

Please note:  my routine might seem a little excessive and nuts to some of you, but you have to understand that this is my "thing."  I've always loved skincare and makeup, but when I got into the green thing...well, things just got a lot more fun and made a lot more sense.  Having a medicine cabinet filled with elixirs is heaven to me.

THE MORNING SKINCARE:

Wake up, grab my Preserve Toothbrush made from recycled yogurt cups and brush with my Eco-Dent Tooth Powder.  

Since I don't wash my face in the morning (to keep my natural face oils) I go straight to spraying either my Kahina Toner or Sanre Rosy Fresh Toner on my face. *

I then apply Kahina Argan Oil (best stuff on Earth) and apply that all over my face.  If you haven't tried this oil, I suggest you do so right away.  I've got everyone I know hooked on it.

I wait for that to absorb into the skin and apply my DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30.  

Then I'll grab for my eye cream.  I'm loving Naturopathica's Vitamin K Brightening Eye Serum.  

*Sometimes I'll do a mask in the morning.  I have several favorites, but it's usually either a FAGE yogurt mask (just get the one with the most fat and apply) or the Pangea Japanese Matcha Tea Mask.


THE EVENING SKINCARE:

Grab my SW Basics Cleanser (only 3 ingredients...and AWESOME).  If my skin is acting up,  I'll follow up with my SW Basics Toner.  Honestly, though, my skin rarely acts up since I began using organic/natural products a few years ago.

Rinse off the cleanser, grab one of my toners and apply my Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Blend Oil or my Kahina Argan Oil.  I usually like to alternate these oils at night.

At night I like a heavier eye cream so I use Holly Beth's Natural Luxury Eye Cream. 

Body Moisturizers:  Post-shower, I will often apply my Patyka Precious Woods Body Oil or my Acure Organics Mandarin Orange & Mango Body Cream if I'm in a rush.  Oh, and before applying these, I spray myself head to toe with Solar Recover's Save Your Skin.  It's basically just a bunch of hydrating essential oils that help spread the oils and/or body cream.  I love it!

THE MAKEUP ROUTINE

Naturally, this varies.  If I'm going to the beach, I'm not doing all of this.  If I'm going to be performing on stage, I do more of this.  This routine is probably my day to day one, give or take a step and I vacillate between pinks and/or coral-pinks.  I'm fair with blue eyes, so I know what works and what doesn't

For primer, I'm putting on my Vapour Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector.  I then take my Eco-Tools foundation brush and apply my W3ll People Narcissist Foundation - a definite favorite.  I don't apply a lot, just down the center of my face and spread outwards.  I love it.

I use Couleur Caramel mascara on the top lashes, Zuzu mascara on the bottom (it doesn't smudge at all and is pretty light...using it on the top doesn't give me enough oomph!  

My eyeliner of choice is Dr. Hauschka's Eyeliner Duo 04 in Plum/White.  I don't really use the white ever, but the plum is gorgeous when you smudge.  The shadow I usually use is Lunar from RMS Beauty or Cloud Nine from Kjaer Weis.

My blush these days has been either Revolution Organics in Blushed or RMS Beauty Lip 2 Cheek in Smile.

For lips?  Well, I'm obsessed with lipsticks and glosses so it's ever-changing.  My staples would be RMS Beauty in Sublime, Jane Iredale's Forever Pink Lip Stain, Ilia Beauty's Shell Shocked (a very strange and retro pinkish coral that I wasn't sure about in the beginning, but coupled with Smile blush from RMS...GORG!) and many others.  I generally reach for the pink, though.

No matter what, I'm using my RMS Beauty Living Luminizer on my cheeks, little down the center of the nose and a little in the corner of the inside eye...beautiful!

Oh, there's so much more, but I don't want anyone sending me for a straight jacket fitting.