Natural and Organic Beauty Products

I love trying new natural and/or organic beauty products that besides their great quality, are also cruelty free (non- animal tested) and care for the environment. I personally don't wear much makeup on a daily basis, but when I do, it's usually very natural looking. I do like to take care of my skin though, especially because we're always exposed to the sun and climate changes.  

Why Natural/Organic products?

I prefer Natural & Organic products for my skin because they're free of unnecessary chemicals such as Parabens, Sulfates, and Petrochemicals. Besides, I definitely love to support eco friendly products that reduce the impact on our environment. If you'd like to start using natural and/or Organic beauty products, I recommend you to start with one of the products you use on a daily basis, maybe your deodorant or moisturizer. You can even make your own beauty products at home, simple and easy.

This time I wanted to share with you some of the products I'm currently trying.  I'll be doing a future post (part 2) showing other product recommendations. Stay tuned! 

Closer view of each product. See description/review below.

1. Burt's bees Lip Balm and Lipgloss : Those two are my best friends, I always carry them in my bag. The lip balm is the best I've ever tried, it works great in Winter when your lips get dry and/or protects you from the sun as well. They have a lovely selection of flavors, the one I'm currently using is the one with Pomegranate Oil.

The Lip gloss is also great, I love its consistency, not too sticky like other brands I've tried before. The color I'm currently using is 233 Rosy Dawn. Love that shade of pink!

2. Erbaviva Refreshing Foot Balm:  I've tried different foot balms in the past and this one is by far my favorite. I love it because it really works! It's perfect for girls like me who walk a lot and love to pamper their feet after a long day. The balm's consistency is a little bit heavy, like a scrub, but it works perfectly to stimulate circulation and give comfort to your tired feet.

I'm an aromatherapy lover, so as my little indulgence, I use the Erbaviva Essential Oils. My favorite scents are Peppermint & Eucalyptus. Just two or three drops in your bubble bath and you'll feel in heaven. Promise.

3. Burt's Bees Day & Nigh cream: The Radiance Day Cream by Burt's Bees is one of my current favorites, I love it because it's light, soft and enhances your skin's natural radiance. You definitely feel your skin fresher, smoother & more moisturized. This day cream is made with Royal Jelly which contains 8 essential amino acids, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 C, D & E along with Niacin and Folic Acid. Naturally fabulous indeed!

For the night I'm trying the Intense Hydration night cream infused with Clary Sage (a plant known for its ability to trap and retain moisture). Its consistency is heavier than the morning cream almost like a facial mask, just perfect for the night. I also love its natural frangance! 

4. Jojoba Oil: This wonderful oil is many products in one! You can use it on your skin to give it extra moisture, or on your hair, scalp or even as a makeup remover. I personally use it on my hair, especially on the ends to add a little bit of shine and moisture since that area can get easily damage due to the heat exposure. You can find it at your Favorite Trader Joe's store. 

More natural bliss!

Honey + Cinnamon Mask

A little secret that is super effective, natural & easy to make: 

* 2 spoons of organic honey (100% honey not sugar added) 

* 1 table spoon of ground cinnamon 

Mix both ingredients carefully until you create an even consistency. Apply it on your face, you can do it before going to bed. The properties of honey and cinnamon are many, but when mixed together they work wonderfully on your skin. Besides, they're both anti bacterial which is great for acne and a great way to have a glowing skin. 

In order to use any of the products I'm reviewing on this post, please make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients before trying them out. You can read the labels to see the full description.  

Tip: When looking for certified Natural and/or Organic products, make sure they show the logos below on their labels. 

 If you have any question, please feel free to comment on this post or email me. Enjoy! 

Embrace Yourself

Here's one of my favorite quotes: "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection". I love this quote because it's a good reminder about the importance of treating ourselves with nothing but love. In such a competitive world, sometimes we tend to be our toughest critics, we focus on our "flaws" instead of embracing our qualities and be proud of them. Sometimes we can get caught up in the idea of the "perfect" woman (perfect body, hair, face, etc.) and we forget how beautiful we truly are. We don't need to compare ourselves with anybody else because we are unique individuals. "True beauty comes from within" I'm sure you've heard this many times, but it's totally true, if you are a happy person who feels confident about yourself, that can definitely be reflected on the outside. Loving and appreciating ourselves is the path for true happiness and inner peace. I think a great exercise to practice is to ask yourself everyday what's your favorite thing about you, something you feel proud of.  It would be awesome if you could share with me (on the comment box) what you LOVE the most about YOU, the most beautiful, important and unique person in this world. 

Esta es una de mis frases favoritas: "Tu, tanto como cualquier persona en el mundo, mereces todo tu amor y tu afecto. Me encanta esta frase porque nos recuerda la importancia de querernos y valorarnos. En un mundo como en el que vivimos tan competitivo y duro, muchas veces nosotros mismos somos nuestros peores criticos. Nos enfocamos solo en nuestros "defectos" (por decirlo de alguna manera)  y olvidamos darle mas valor a nuestras virtudes y sentirnos orgullosas de las mismas. A veces las mujeres caemos en la idea de la mujer "perfecta" (cabello perfecto, cara y cuerpo perfectos, etc.) y nos olvidamos totalmente cuan hermosas realmente somos. No olvidemos jamas que no necesitamos compararnos con nadie mas porque somos totalmente únicas. "La verdadera belleza viene de nuestro interior" seguro que han escuchado esta frase muchas veces, pero es muy cierta, como nos sentimos por dentro es lo que reflejamos por fuera. No hay mujer mas hermosa que aquella que es feliz y esta segura de si misma. Amarnos y apreciarnos es el camino a ser feliz y encontrar paz con nosotros mismos. Un buen ejercicio que podemos practicar es preguntarnos cada dia que nos gusta de nosotros mismos? Algo de lo cual nos sentimos orgullosos. Seria lindo si pudieras compartir conmigo (en un comentario en este post) que es lo que mas AMAS de TI, la persona mas hermosa, importante y única de este mundo.

On another note, I'd like to share with you what I was wearing today, my current favorite skirt from Anthropologie!. It's a beautifully crafted skirt that I can totally wear with many other pieces. The beautiful royal blue shade and the embroidery detail made me smile because I'm a detail oriented person and that's what I look for when I buy something, beautiful details. The great part of this skirt is that you easily wear it with a simple blouse or tee. Since the skirt is a statement piece itself, you don't need to put much emphasis on the top. This is one of those pieces that doesn't need anything but the right accessories.

También queria compartir con ustedes mi look de hoy, mi falda favorita de Anthropologie!. Es una falda hecha cuidando todos los detalles y que puede ser usada de mil maneras. El hermoso color azul royal y el detalle del bordado me hicieron sonreír porque soy una persona que le encanta los detalles únicos por eso los busco siempre que quiero comprar algo. Lo mejor de esta falda es que puedes usarla con una blusa o polo sencillo ya que como el detalle está en la falda, no necesitas poner mucho énfasis en la parte de arriba. Esta es una de las piezas que no necesitan casi nada para completar el look, solo los accesorios adecuados. 

I chose a three quarter sleeve top (from Anthropologie as well) to wear it with this skirt. I love the relaxed silhouette and the light fabric. This tee is definitely a basic piece in my closet that I can mix and match with different pieces. 

Escogí una camisa de manga 3/4 (también de Anthropologie) para ponerme con esta falda. Me encanta la silueta relajada y lo suave de la tela de esta camisa, definitivamente una pieza basica en mi closet ya que puedo combinarla con muchas otras cosas. 

I also wanted to show you a closer view of the pieces I was wearing. The sandals are from Clarks, and they're the most comfortable ones ever. I always wear them when I have to walk long distances and don't want to wear flip flops or snickers. I can wear them with almost everything because neutrals are easy to combine, besides they're beautifully designed. And last but not least, I made the earrings you see above with my own hands. These earrings are made with recycled materials plus the beads are seeds painted in a beautiful blue shade. I'm starting a line of eco friendly jewelry that I'll be sharing with you soon! In the meantime, if you're interested in buying these earrings (they're 2 of a kind only), please email me here or leave me a comment on this post and I'll give you all the details. I have more pictures of the earrings that I can send you out by email. Have a wonderful day!

Quería mostrarles un poquito mas de cerca los detalles de mi look. Las sandalias son de Clarks y son unas de las mas cómodas que he tenido hasta ahora. Siempre me las pongo cuando tengo que caminar largas distancias y no quiero ponerme zapatillas o sandalias de playa. Estas sandalias las combino casi con todo ya que los colores son  neutrales y ademas tiene detalles muy bonitos que los hacen únicos. Y por ultimo, quería hablarles un poquito de los aretes que muestro en la foto de arriba, son aretes hechos por mi. Estos aretes con hechos con materiales reciclados y ademas que las bolitas son semillas pintadas en un lindo tono azul. Estoy trabajando en una linea de joyas eco friendly que estare compartiendo con ustedes muy pronto. Mientras tanto si desean adquirir estos aretes me envían un email aqui o me dejan un comentario y les dare todos los detalles. Que tengan un hermoso dia! 

xoxo!

Introducing Tulisan

Tulisan means "handwriting" in Indonesian, and it's there in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where the magic happens. From start to finish Tulisan is made by the hands of super talented artists who reflect their dreams and passion through their beautifully illustrated prints created to be applied to bags, totes, and household accessories. Each illustration is inspired by a story that comes to life in an exquisite, vibrant color palette that definitely makes a statement piece. 

I was very pleased to visit Tulisan's showroom, they are located at the Cooper Building in Downtown L.A. The team was super nice and they shared with me some of the beautiful pieces of their collection. I was amazed by the fantastic designs & great quality, their style has everything I love in a bag. 

The elephant painting you see below is simply gorgeous! I love elephants and I can totally picture that lovely illustration at home hanging on my wall. 

Another lovely illustration & my favorite bag

I felt like a kid in a Candy store surrounded by such beautiful bags, totes & home accessories

A full view of the showroom

I'd love to share with you a little interview with the super talented Melissa Sunjaya, artist & founder of Tulisan. 

I wanted to learn more about Melissa's story & inspiration. For me, it's always a pleasure to know about the artist behind the product and the creative process. Please take a moment to read it. Thank you!

BM: What’s your inspiration? Tell us a little bit about your design process and philosophy.

Melissa: I find inspiration in almost every corner: from music, to people, to my travels. Every object has a story, and one only needs to open their heart to discover these peculiarities. Even the simplest details in our surroundings inspire me; such as old cast iron ventilation grilles, quirky shapes of botanical specimens, faded colors of vintage stamps or simply fine handwritten scripts on old postcards. Once intrigued by an object or a concept, I research two things: its origin and what it means to that culture. I take elements of each subject and display them in a different context. For instance, I would fuse traditional and contemporary elements from varying cultures like fresh Scandinavian color palettes over architectural patterns from the Middle East.

BM: Please share with us a little bit about Tulisan? How did you decide to start this company?

Melissa: In 2010, I founded Tulisan to pursue my lifelong dream of creating handmade products with an original twist. With $500 for my initial production cost, I bought one hundred yards of raw cotton canvas from an upholstery shop which was going out of business, cut the canvas into small pieces, and started silk-screening my artwork on to these cotton sheets. The first set of tea towels, aprons, and cushion covers were made in my garage using my grandmother’s 1940s Singer sewing machine.

BM: What’s the most important thing for you as an artist?


Melissa: Tulisan is about making a mark while staying true to oneself and sharing the journey with others. My artwork is a form of recording my emotions and transferring these through the mediums I use. It is important that I do each process honestly and in the most thorough manner.

BM: What’s your favorite part of being artist/ founder of Tulisan?

Melissa: Tulisan products are made by a team of passionate artists in Indonesia. They are willful individuals who honor their intuitions and project the very best of their being. Many of them have crossed over from their academic or professional background to doing what they do today for Tulisan. We take joy in the process of empowering each other to do things that we never thought were possible. The result is often a nerve-racking experience of self-discovery.

BM: What advice would you give to other women who want to start their own business?

Melissa: Every woman who wants to start her business should view the journey as a fight for her own freedom. Every triumph she earns in finding this freedom is about discovering something new about herself and every loss she faces is about learning her strength.

BM: What’s your favorite indulgence?

Melissa: A perfect cup of cappuccino.

BM: How would you describe a happy moment?

Melissa: A day of sketching together with my husband and our two daughters.

BM: What’s your all time favorite movie?

Melissa: Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard.

BM: Most-played song/album on your iPod right now?

Melissa: Nina Simone’s Wild is the Wind.


BM: 3 countries you would love to visit?

Melissa: Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

BM: What’s your motto?

Melissa: A Posse Ad Esse (Latin) – From Possibility To Reality.=

Interesting Facts About Tulisan 

‘Tulisan’ means ‘handwriting’ in Indonesian. I chose this name, because our collection is rooted in translated colorful narratives onto each printed product we make. Every print on our products comes from my original pen and ink illustrations and they each bear a short fiction. I have always longed to create a wearable medium for visual impressions. 

Visit Tulisan at: http://www.tulisan.com/

Twitter: @mytulisan

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mytulisan

Romp Store For The Little Ones

Have you ever wondered where to find beautifully designed toys that develop your kids imagination & creativity without losing the fun factor? Well, you should definitely check out Romp, this wonderful online store full of super creative toys, accessories, decor and more for the little ones in your family!

Favorite Items From Romp!

I particularly LOVE the modern-vintage feel of Romp, the unique items that you can't find anywhere else, and the fact that their products are environmentally friendly. What else can you ask for? Since Holiday Season is around the corner, I created a wish list for some special little ones in my family! You can see the pictures of my favorite items on this post along with Romp's top products. Aren't they adorable? 

The lovely & super talented owner of Romp store is actress, mom & entrepreneur Kellie Martin. I had the opportunity to do this little interview with her, hope you enjoy it!

BM: Kellie, please share with us a little bit about Romp? How did you decide to start your own business?

Kellie: Becoming the owner of ROMP sort of fell into my lap.  I had been a customer for over four years.  I loved ROMP's selection of wooden and open-ended toys that encouraged a child's imagination.  When I heard that it was closing, I decided that I couldn't let that happen, so I figured out how to buy it and then run it. 

 BM: How can you balance being an actress, mom and business owner? 

Kellie: Balance is achieved if you are able to get your priorities straight.  I am a mom first and foremost and an actress and business owner second.  There are days when I can balance it all but mostly it's a scramble.  I don't think anyone has really figured out how to do it with complete grace.  Actually, I'm just hoping to clone myself: Kellie the mom, Kellie the actress and Kellie the owner of ROMP.

BM: What’s your favorite part of being a business owner especially such a cute little store?

Kellie: My favorite part of owning ROMP is being able to see my parenting philosophy come to life in the products.  I've been so inspired by my own child and so committed to finding interesting toys/activities that engage her mind and body and really encourage her to engage in creative play.  ROMP allows me to share my ideas and what's worked well for my daughter with parents everywhere.  

BM: What advice would you give to other women who want to start their own business?

Kellie: I would encourage other women to start their own business if they whole-heartedly believe in their business.  It can't just be about making money because that usually doesn't happen right away.  Something besides money has to sustain you.  

 BM:    How do you see Romp in five years time?

Kellie: In five years I would love ROMP to have an even bigger online presence and also be a brick and mortar store (maybe a few stores!).  I'd love the stores to be a place where parents and children in the community gather to share ideas, listen to music, learn and grow.  That's my little dream : )

Kellie Martin & daughter Maggie

Thanks for reading! And please don't forget to stop by Romp. 
rompstore.com

xoxo

Novica: Beautiful Artisan Treasures

I'm very glad to share with you a unique shop for world treasures named Novica. Novica works in association with National Geographic to support super talented artisans from around the world giving them the opportunity to showcase their beautiful work and share their inspiring stories. One of the things I love the most about Novica, is that you feel that you can really connect with every artisan through their story, pictures and inspiration, so that your shopping experience is more personal. One of the things that is important to me when I shop, especially online, is that I like to know a little bit more about the creator behind the product, the story of the product and how it was made. When you shop at Novica you feel you're not only shopping beautiful and unique pieces but also supporting fair trade policies and helping artisans in their efforts to make a living from their talent. That's the way I felt when I learned about Novica and its mission. Another great thing about this online store is that it carries pretty much everything you need, from home decor to clothing and accessories such as alpaca wool gloves, silk shawls from India, beaded bracelets, onyx dangle earrings, you name it!. Novica has also a gorgeous eco friendly collection that you'll adore.

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Me siento muy contenta de poder compartir con ustedes esta linda tienda online llamada Novica. Novica trabaja en asociación con National Geographic para apoyar a artesanos talentosos de todas partes del mundo dandoles la oportunidad de mostrar su arte y compartir sus historias de vida. Una de las cosas que mas me gustan de Novica es que uno siente que realmente te conectas no solo con el producto, pero también con el artesano detras del producto a través de su historia y proceso de creación. Así, la experiencia de comprar online es mucho mas personal y única. Para mi es importante, especialmente cuando compro online, saber un poco mas acerca del creador del producto y también de donde viene el producto y como esta hecho. Cuando compras en Novica, sientes que no solo estas comprando piezas hermosas y únicas si no que también estas apoyando a los artesanos a seguir viviendo de su arte y talento. Otra de las cosas que me gustan de Novica es que tienen de todo lo que te puedas imaginar, desde cosas para el hogar hasta ropa y accesorios como guantes de alpaca, bufandas de seda de la India, pulseras de piedras naturales, etc. Ademas Novica tiene una hermosa colección eco-friendly que te va a encantar.

Some of my favorite products:

Picture above (from left to right): Beautiful shawl from India, beaded bracelet, decorative basket, Peruvian wall art.

Foto de arriba (de izquierda a derecha): Bufanda de la India, brazalete de piedras, canasta decorativa y arte peruano en tela.

If you'd like to know a little bit more about Novica and its mission, here's a lovely video with a message from Novica artisans:

Si quieres saber un poco mas acerca de Novica, aquí les dejo un video con un mensaje de los artesanos:

Have a lovely Monday!

Que tengan un lindo Lunes!

Introducing Entertaining Elephants!

Entertaining Elephants is a beautiful children's clothing line & boutique located in Los Angeles. I love everything about Entertaining Elephants, it's just adorable! Besides the lovely & whimsy designs and great quality products, Entertaining Elephants ethics and aesthetics are always favoring the natural, vintage and recycled materials and supporting products made from socially and environmentally viable sources. I believe that is very important to teach our little ones the importance of making our planet a better place.

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Entertaining Elephants es una boutique y linea de ropa de niños y niñas hermosa ubicada en Los Angeles. Me encanta todo de Entertaining Elephants! Ademas de los diseños preciosos y la gran calidad de sus productos, la filosofía de esta boutique favorece siempre lo natural, vintage y materiales reciclados ademas de apoyar los productos hechos con recursos viables que favorecen al medio ambiente. Pienso que es muy importante enseñarle a nuestros pequeños sobre la importancia de hacer de este planeta un lugar mejor.

If you live in Los Angeles, you can always stop by this lovely boutique or you can also visit the online store at entertainingelephants.com They're currently having a 50% discount in selected items and the lovely elephant wear made out of organic cotton. You can't miss it!

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Si vives en los Angeles, puedes visitar la boutique o también puedes ver la tienda online en entertainingelephants.com Ahora mismo hay un 50% de descuento en la mayoría de sus productos y la linea elephant wear hecha de algodón organico. No te lo puedes perder!

So cute!

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this adorable boutique!

www.entertainingelephants.com

Entertaining Elephants is also on Twitter @elephantwear

& Facebook.

Thanks lovelies!! xoxo

Me encantaría saber su opinión sobre esta linda boutique!

www.entertainingelephants.com

Entertaining Elephants también esta en Twitter:

@elephantwear y en Facebook.

Gracias!!