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I’m just fixing up a fresh batch of beauty bait, you don’t even need a pole to catch these.

Feeling like your standard SPF leaves you exposed to pollution and free radicals? Priori’s Radical Defense  is the first ever dual chamber SPF with an Environmental Protection Faction (EPF) to protect against all harsh outdoor elements.  Totally out of my league price wise, this stuff retails for $120!

The word ‘balance’ is often used in skincare and health talk.  I can’t help but think of myself delicately trying to balance on a beam.  Did anyone else have to go through the balance beam drill in school?  I could NOT stand it. 

I was terrible at it to begin with but in addition to that it seemed like it was too little too late.  I mean if you’re in junior high and have lousy balance is 20 minutes per week going to turn that around? probably not.  Very very annoying.  Anywho, I survived all that thankfully so I’m now balancing with a foam cleanser. 

NARS balancing foam cleansing mousse

A delicate and light botanical scent, just a tiny little bit goes a looong way.   You probably know NARS for their makeup, now it’s time to get to know NARS skincare a little better.  I’m so happy with this product, maybe my expectations were low, thinking NARS does such a great job with makeup, there’s little chance they can get so much right.  I stand corrected, not only is NARS makeup awesome, so is NARS skincare.

An instant personal fave, the balancing foam cleansing mousse  is so satisfying, easy to use, perfect to display.  I love the way it takes off all my makeup and grime.  At the same time it leaves your skin refreshed and soft, not stripped like some cleansers can.

Sun Protection is Vital, Kiehl’s All-Sport Year Round sun block is available in different strengths and applications. 

Choose from lotions or sprays and don’t forget those lips.

Protection for active adults, this stuff will stay on through your daily activity.  

A lightweight, moisturizing formula, contains Vitamin E and Aloe while providing UVA AND UVB protection.  Oh yeah, and did I forget to mention it stays on while in water?!  protecting you and your loved ones in water up to 80 minutes.

It’s great, it takes a little while to work in but once it’s there it gives your skin a little sheen.

Boy2001 suffers from dry skin much of the time.  It’s totally manageable with maintenance but finding products with little or no scent that don’t look girly is always an issue.  I had every intention of having him use theraplex but then I noticed they have mineral oil and petrolatum and although I’m not a fanatic, I prefer to keep him away when I take notice.

The only other person in the house with dry skin, my dear husband, was ready and able to test.  I had him use a variety of theraplex items over the last two weeks and he’s enjoyed them.  He especially loves theraplex for his feet which are usually dry dry dry.

I can’t explain to you how dry, you would have to see to believe.  The products don’t have spf so he’s been using them at night.

• Theraplex Emollient for severely dry skin
• Theraplex FT Exfolliating Emollient
• Theraplex Clear Lotion
• Theraplex Hydrolotion

You can find theraplex in your local drugstore or buy online.  

I’ve been testing Sera skin care and have fallen in love with the little glass tube that rolls away the troubles.

I don’t have (m)any wrinkles yet, perhaps two or three so my usage is purely preventative at this point.  I LOVE this product because it is a small, think the size of a lipstick tube.  The roller is amazing, you don’t have to get eye cream under your nails, no need to worry about contaminating your eye cream with other beauty products.  The roller is, simply put, a sanitary and efficient way to apply eye wrinkle serum. 

Sera uses recycled and recyclable glass!  that’s right, you’re going to keep this beauty out of the landfill TWICE!  Retails for $39.95 @ Roll Away Winkles

So, is green the new black? “no, green is life” according to Jurlique CEO Eli Halliwell.  When people say, green is the new black, it implies that going green is a trend and therefore temporary and trivial.  Halliwell instead sees the change to green as a shift in thinking.  People are more aware than ever that we are at a critical time in our natural timeline. 

The ironic part is, we’re heading back to the way things were done so long ago.  Composting, preserving, reducing waste by reuse which segways into paying more attention to what we eat, drink and wear. Nature is efficient, it disposes of that which it does not need and renews itself perpetually.  So it’s no surprise that more and more people want to learn how to live Biodynamically and in sync with nature.

Essential Oils are so powerful they should not be applied directly to the skin, irritation and rash are among other more serious consequences.  They can induce labor (cumin), cool your body (peppermint), warm your body (black pepper essential oil) and much more.    In learning more, we will shed the bad ingredients that threaten our health and well being and find new and exciting products that are just as beautifully packaged and desirable as their poison laden counterparts. 

The old ideas of marketing skincare have to be changed as well.  When asked if Jurlique had an anti-aging line, Halliwell said that he found the term disingenuous and that it invites death.  At the same time, Jurlique could meet or beat anti-aging products on the market. 

Jurlique is the “alternative beauty company that believes beauty comes from beauty”. 

Learn more about biodynamic farming and Jurlique in part one. Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty from Australia Part One.

What a life changer, not only is the product good but my favorite part of this product is that it is a spray.  It’s so much easier to get it on the kids without a hassle because it’s fast to apply.   Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock 45 is very effective, we’ve been out in the sun quite a bit these last two weeks and the kids are looking great, no signs of sun damage at all.  It has an active photobarrerier complex, is oil free and waterproof.  I’m going to get some more of it to keep as a permanent fixture in the car this summer.

Find more reviews on Total Beauty and find out more about the CEW Awards and Winners.

There’s also a great opportunity to get your skin evaluated in a city near you, check out the Aveeno website to find out about the Road to Healthy Skin Tour.

Burn that image into your head and next time you go shopping for skincare make sure you look for the Natural Products Association (NPA) seal.  This seal is marking a new era for consumers, no more confusion about what is natural and what is not.

Under the new program, products must follow strict guidelines set out by the Natural Products Association to merit bearing the seal. The criteria include, but are not limited to:

• Product must be made up of at least 95 percent truly natural ingredients or ingredients that are derived from natural sources
• No ingredients with any potential suspected human health risks
• No processes that significantly or adversely alter the purity/effect of the natural ingredients
• Ingredients that come from a purposeful, renewable/plentiful source found in nature (flora, fauna, mineral)
• Processes that are minimal and don’t use synthetic/harsh chemicals or otherwise dilute purity
• Non-natural ingredients only when viable natural alternative ingredient are unavailable and only when there are absolutely no suspected potential human health risks

 I am super excited about this program because buying products is very confusing, consumers tend to think the term, natural, is being regulated but it is not.  This seal is really going to help people make choices in skincare so be sure to look for it.  Find out more at the NPA website.

Cost Effective Luxury 

Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer is your first layer of defense and skin nourishment.  It’s incredible because it comes out as a foam.  I must admit when it first came out I instinctively spread it to both hands like hair mousse but snapped out of it just in time.  I like the mousse because it is light, spreads easily and feels light on my skin.

A little goes a long way because it spreads so easily making it a cost effective luxury.  Layer Olay Definity Correcting Protective Lotion with SPF 15 for day and Olay Definity Intense Hydrating Cream for night. 

I’m so happy to see a classic brand like Olay keep up with modern life.

Soon I will post pictures of my Rose Garden, I’ve been tending it gingerly waiting for my rose crop to reward me with the slightest reciprocity for my hours of attention.  It takes a lot to grow roses, they are prone to lots of leaf diseases and infestations, not to mention little ones that want to make mommy a bouquet and cut down to the root with a sweet smile.

Weather it’s bugs or kids there are lots of things that can go wrong with a rose garden.  That’s why I was astounded to find out that the creams I’ve been slathering on use only Damask rose oil — it takes 60,000 roses to make a single ounce of Damask rose oil!! 

Berwick Balancing Day Cream is luxurious but it’s also necessary luxe because it has more than 300 organic compounds and is tolerated by all skin types.  Berwick provides Natural Beauty with  a scent (rose-y of course) and texture that could command a much higher price tag. 

I did not take it along on my trip making my homecoming that much better.  Everything’s coming up roses at Berwick with pore minimizing and even skin tone with a light-weight, hydrating formula.  It’s a great first step in the morning to prep your face for makeup or alone for a dressed down day.  Want one more especially noteworthy fact?  the first ingredient in all Berwick products is rose water.  You’ve GOT to give this line a try.