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Biossance: No Compromise Beauty
I always get so excited to share with you the clean beauty products that we are testing and loving! My sweet friend introduced me to Biossance about a year ago, and I have been hooked ever since. It has truly revived my skin, and I think I know why. A little bit of their story: after the the scientists behind this skincare developed patented technology that allowed them to create an accessible treatment for malaria, they decided to use this same innovative technology to create combinations of powerful, effective, and sustainable ingredients to put on our faces. How amazing is that? P.S. I love their promise: "only the most trustworthy and powerful ingredients are used in our products because our standards for clean beauty are high, and our standards for ourselves are even higher." Yes and amen. Oh! And I am kind of obsessed with the mega-moisturizing molecule they use in these clean magical potions!
My two favorite products are The Revitalizer and The Nourisher. The Nourisher is the most lovely face oil that brightens your skin with an oil soluble Vitamin C that is 50 times more powerful than absorbic acid, fights free radical attack leaving skin with a healthy radiant glow, and reduces the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles. What is not to love? I use this in the morning and at night.
Now for The Revitalizer AKA my all time favorite product. I love this so much because it can be used on your locks to prevent frizz, split ends, and dryness; it can be used on your body for extra hydration, and it can be used on your face to instantly hydrate and accelerate cell turnover. Side note: this is saving me in these dry winter months!The sweetest bonus to every purchase on Biossance is that they donate $1 for every product purchased to Zagaya. It is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates the eradication of malaria through collaboration around innovative and science-based technology. They envision a malaria-free world created through education, improved technologies, and access to the highest quality anti-malarials available.
Clean, Safe, and Beautiful Lipsticks
Lip color is such a fun accessory- we love playing around with colors depending on our mood and outfit. However, a lot of lipsticks unfortunately contain harmful and toxic ingredients. That is not very appealing, to say the least. We all deserve clean, safe, and beautiful lipsticks! That is where the brand, Kosas, comes in. Kosas lipsticks are made with the best natural ingredients like green tea, rosehip and grape seed oils. When we first heard about Kosas via goop, we were so intrigued, and once we tried out their lipsticks (thank you, Kosas!) we were totally sold. The lip color goes on so well, it's weightless, lasts, and looks so good. It's mind-blowing to us the harmful toxins that are in so many beauty and self-care products. We are so thankful for brands like Kosas, that make safe alternatives that are extremely effective and completely beautiful.Find Lo's outfit deets at the bottom! xo
images by felicia lasala
THE OUTFIT:
sunglasses | tee | jacket
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Melissa's Morning Smoothie
Hey guys! Melissa here and I am sharing my morning smoothie recipe + my love for Moon Juice- a shop dedicated to a holistic approach to healthy living, including the most amazing medicinal ingredients to add to your morning smoothies.
What I personally love about smoothies is the variety of smoothies that you can make. I go through phases of what I put in mine and switch up what ingredients I use, depending on the day and my mood. The recipe I have going now is super good, so I just had to share. This smoothie includes three Moon Juice products- their Beauty Dust, Ashwagandha, and H0 Shou Wu. Below are the ingredients + explanation of benefits for each Moon Juice product.
SMOOTHIE:
1 cup almond milk or water (or sometimes I do 1/2 and 1/2!)
1/2 frozen banana
A handful of organic frozen blueberries
Teaspoon of Ashwagandha from Moon Juice
Teaspoon of Ho Shou Wu from Moon Juice
Teaspoon (+ a little more) of Beauty Dust from Moon Juice (c/o)
Tablespoon of Spirulina (from Whole Foods)
--blend all together in a blender until smooth--
Benefits are below as described on Moon Juice's site- head there to read more! They do a great job at explaining each product.
Ashwagandha: calms the nervous system + soothes anxiety and improves sleep
Ho Shou Wu: encourages youthfulness, sex drive, + helps to balance hormones and give you a healthy glow
Beauty Dust: think glowing skin, shiny hair, and bright eyes
Moon Juice's collection of moon dusts is so amazing. You can add them to smoothies, water, or even your morning coffee. They have quite a few versions including spirit dust, brain dust, and more, but I have only tried the beauty dust so far and love it.
*feature image via moon juice
Valentine's Day Wishlist
We are big fans of Valentine's Day. It's such a sweet, love-filled day and we can't help to get giddy over it. Below is our Valentine's Day Wishlist- it includes a few girly items that we would love to receive + they make great gifts for your bestie, sister, or mom. Links are below to shop and feel free to send this link over to your guy...:) Ideas can be so helpful! XO
stranded dry shampoo powder
french girl lip polish
voluspa candle
kosas lipstick
love themed undies
slip silk sleep mask
+ the denim jacket featured in the main image :) XO
*featured image by felicia lasala
Juice Beauty
I truly believe that I was meant to discover Juice Beauty as I found out about the clean skincare and makeup company three different ways, at about the exact same time. I took that coincidence as a cue that I needed to give their products a try. I first learned about the brand via Anthropologie's website since they sell it, then I realized that goop's skincare line was created in collaboration with Juice Beauty, and then I found out that Lauren was interested in Juice Beauty as well. Long story short, the stars aligned and Juice Beauty was brought to my attention. At the time I currently only own one Juice item, their amazing concealer, but their mascara and creamy blush are on my next-to-buy list. I love that the Juice team is so passionate about clean, safe ingredients. Also, the concealer is very effective and does not cause me to break out. I have had quite the time dealing with some acne on my chin and it is so sensitive to concealers. I want to cover it up, but with something that will not smother it, irritate it, or make it worse. I have tried so many concealers out there, and finally Juice Beauty's perfecting concealer saved the day. It's such a relief knowing that it is free of toxins and harsh chemicals. Below are a few images via Anthropologie + Juice Beauty products we want to try.*image above via the juice beauty pinterest page via this blog post
concealer | pressed powder | cream blush | mascara | lip cream
Clean Beauty Thoughts
Lauren and I are big believers in using products on our face and skin that are not only effective, but safe, clean, healthy, and minimal. Last week we shared a collage of Lauren’s favorite safe beauty products (read) and today we are sharing two articles from goop that do such a good job explaining the importance clean beauty (read) and discussing 10 products that are clean, safe, and effective (read). These articles are a great first step to going clean in the beauty department. It can be overwhelming (and financially daunting) when you consider swapping out all of your beauty and personal care products, if they aren’t clean. However, the key is to do a little bit at a time. It’s also trial and error, figuring out what works for you. I started the process last spring, and am still always chipping away at it and making edits. It’s an ongoing process, so don’t feel like you have to do it in one big swoop. If you start a product or two at a time (tossing the toxic version and replacing what you need with a clean alternative) you will feel like you are making progress, without being overwhelmed. In addition to clean beauty, we also love natural beauty. When I started the transition last spring over to safe personal care products, I also edited my makeup routine pretty severely. I now wear a lot less makeup and thoroughly enjoy it. Not only does it allow my skin to breathe, but it also celebrates quality products over quantity, and most importantly it lets inner beauty shine. And bonus, it saves a heck of a lot of time in the morning! We would love to hear your thoughts on clean beauty and natural beauty below in the comment section // xo Melissaimage via goop
10 Safe Beauty Products
We are so passionate about using skincare and makeup products that are free of harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens. Those toxic ingredients do not belong anywhere near our skin and faces! Lo recently launched a toxin-free dry shampoo product that we are totally in love with- Stranded. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you must! I can personally say that it is extremely effective. It gets the job done and saves me from having to over-wash my strands. It also gives me such peace of mind knowing that it is paraben free and sulfate free. Below is a collage of 10 safe beauty products that are some of Lo's favorites, and the links are below to shop. We would love to hear about your favorite safe beauty products in the comment section, too! xo Melissa
one | two | three | four | five
six | seven | eight | nine | ten
main image by hannah burton
A Dry Shampoo For Every Hair Color: Stranded
I hope you all had the most special and reflective New Year. I always love a fresh start and can't wait for what 2017 holds. I must preface: the last two weeks of 2016 were extra special because we launched our dry shampoo powder, Stranded, as well as The Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation, and both are so near and dear to my heart.
Let's talk Stranded! I am so thrilled to introduce you to the loose powder, dry shampoo suitable for blondes, brunettes and red heads (yippee!!). It all started four years ago in our apartment with my bestie, Anna Beth, brainstorming on how we could create a legit dry shampoo without using baby powder or harmful aerosols! After SO much learning, praying, and trial and errors, it came to life! I am so thankful for how much we have learned through process, and I now have an extra respect for small business owners! Not to mention, we have learned how absolutely perfect the Lord's timing is - we never understood the delays until now because for the tiniest detailed reasons, it could not be a better launch time. 👱🏼♀️An extra fun fact: my sister and her husband joined our team almost two years ago! Extra extra fun facts: it is #parabenfree #sulfatefree #glutenfree AND #vegan 🙌🏻🍏 + we give a percentage of every sale to The Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation! Stay tuned for exciting things ahead. Hint hint: a Dallas launch party will be happening in the Spring!
*images: felicia lasala*
THE OUTFIT: denim (c/o) | boots (c/o) | sunnies
turtleneck (similar, similar, similar) | bag (similar, similar)
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Los Angeles Favorite: Carasoin Spa.
I have realized time and time again these last two years that it takes TIME to find your places in a new city: the yoga studio, the facial haven, the cozy breakfast spot. It also takes a lot of trials and errors and can sometimes feel a bit discouraging. Personal side note: I have been clinging very tightly to my Dallas spots, which makes every visit quite full of appointments. I recently made a pact with myself to find my Cali places so the precious time in Texas could fully be dedicated to family, friends, and relaxation.Enter the hidden gem: Carasoin. I saw this recommendation from a friend on Snapchat and immediately took a screen shot, and I am so glad I did! Carasoin is the combination of two French words, Caress and Soigner, that embody the principles and philosophies of this spa; to revitalize your skin, body and soul while creating an experience that leaves you feeling exquisite. This day spa and clinic did just that and absolutely exceeded my expectations.
