Best of Acure Organics: Kathryne’s Favorites

KathryneMay 21, 2014 13 Comments

We’re in the midst of an Acure Organics streak over here. Haven’t ya heard? (Make sure you check out our interview with Acure’s President and Formulator, Amy Halman.)

For the past few months, I’ve been testing out a big haul of their lovely products, kindly sent to us by the knowledgable team at Acure. I’ve featured all my favorites below!

Acure was kind enough to include a lot of really targeted products for my combination/dry skin and color treated hair. I wanted to highlight the products that really moved me, so no better place to start then the product that is pretty much the best thing I’ve ever tried since switching to an all-natural beauty regime. Get ready for your newest, soon-to-be obsession…

Line Eraser

The Line Eraser (19.99 for .5 oz) is my absolute, hands down, FAVORITE Acure product. The Line Eraser is not only a product I have ALREADY bought for myself, (and will again, and again…) but this little pot of heaven is your answer to most skin care problems. I started with putting it on my “lines” – forehead, laugh lines, etc. Then I started putting it on old acne scars, new acne scars, my eyebrows…you name it! (I started deliberately putting this on my eyebrows at night because I realized that it has helped them grow in thicker. Who doesn’t want THAT?) It’s like a healing salve, and so much more. You can put it on burns, cuts, scrapes, eczema, psoriasis, etc. It’s 100% organic. The Line Eraser’s rich, almost Vaseline-like texture lend itself to really, really working wonders on your skin. It lightens and brightens scars, and has worked literal miracles on my brow/frown lines, the things I am most self-conscious about. Even if you COVER yourself in it, as I have everyday, it will last you a solid 6-8 weeks. Not everyone will marinate in this like I do, so it will probably last you longer: I work from home mostly, so I am generally inclined to slather myself in anti-aging products and answer the door in a terry cloth robe looking like I belong in a wax museum. Thanks, delivery guy! Don’t be afraid of me! Come back soon!

Meet Your Maker: Amy Halman of Acure Organics

KathryneMay 15, 2014 20 Comments

We love Acure Organics around these parts. Not only are they one of the most widely available, effective and affordable natural skincare and haircare brands we’ve encountered, but they’re changing the personal care industry…and the minds of consumers…in a BIG way!

So, we were pretty thrilled to interview Amy Halman, the President and Formulator of Acure. Amy is extremely knowledgable about the natural products realm and is the leader behind Acure’s hugely successful brand that is sold everywhere from natural beauty boutiques to your local Whole Foods.

In her interview, you will discover: Amy’s favorite Acure product, upcoming product releases from Acure (!) and the answer to the universe. OK, maybe not the latter, but everything else.

AND: in our upcoming posts, we’ll be sharing our favorite Acure Organics products. (Because we haven’t done enough of that already…ahem…) Onward!

Can you walk us through or tell us a bit about your ingredient sourcing process? How do you go about finding sustainable suppliers?

We passionately believe in organic agriculture so we seek as many certified organic ingredients as possible, not only for the sake of what you are putting onto and in your system but also to protect the planet from the synthetic and toxic ingredients that wash down the drain and into our air, waterways and soil to remain for generations to come. It is also crucial to make sure your resources are cruelty-free and no animal testing is conducted at any point in the process. We look for high-quality ingredients within the U.S. whenever possible to support our local economy and to be very mindful and connected to our carbon footprint. However, when sourcing from around the globe we hunt for fair trade resources to support fair wages and healthy working conditions for workers and their families.

We never look for ingredients as the “next new trend.” It’s so much more about clinically proven efficacy that is actually natural, healthy, supportive and proactive to the skin and body at the same time.

Cutting edge plant and food-based technology.

Gift Ideas for Mama Bears Everywhere

KathryneMay 6, 2014 12 Comments

Our mom has had a big influence on our blog, even though she might now know it (we’ll make sure to tell her on Sunday). We heard this phrase a lot from her growing up:

Listen to your body.

Our mom always reminded us that our bodies would tell us what we needed most, be it rest, food, a good stretch or a night in. Although we’ve both abused this philosophy in the past (“Dang it, can’t help you move out of your apartment tonight! I have to listen to my body and it would rather watch HGTV and order delivery sandwiches.”), all in all, it has served us VERY well in regards to our wellbeing. Maybe not so much our social lives.

Nowadays, our mom’s words have guided us to launch an entire blog dedicated to not only listening to our bodies, but feeding and nourishing them on the inside and out with ingredients that make us feel the happiest and healthiest. And this Mother’s Day, we want to do just that for our mom and give her some lovely, natural, healthy products that’ll do her right. Feel free to steal our ideas, plus we’ve got some discount codes for you!

Here’s to you, Mama Bear.

Badger Stress Soother, $6.79
Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream, $60
Adama Minerals Body Butter, $14.99 (+ coupon code below!)
Burt’s Bees Hand Salve, $9

30 Days of Eatin’ Vegan: First Bites

KathryneApr 30, 2014 14 Comments

Friends, I have been feeling a bit…saturated these days. After some soul searching and some experimentation, I have decided to try out eating fully vegan for 30 days.

I have dabbled with vegetarianism, and during my days when I worked at a farmers’ market, I didn’t even so much as look at meat. I didn’t miss it. I didn’t crave beef burgers or chicken wings, and I felt really good: slim, clear headed. Because the vendors at the farmers’ market had a trade deal agreement, I’d trade the cheese I was selling for bunches of organic greens, peppers, squash…even veggies that I couldn’t identify (!). It was SO much fun to come home with my bounty and look up unique recipes online.

My overall feeling of healthiness has been waning this past year. I’ve gained some “happiness” weight with my fiancé, I’m tired a lot, and I don’t have the resolve to say “no” like I used to. (Cupcakes have been happening…too much.) I’m getting married in less than four months, and aside from just losing a few pounds, I want to feel more vibrant. I want to bounce off the walls with energy. I want to simplify my diet. No more flip flopping. I need to make a change. Also, as I enter into my marriage, I want to start establishing habits that are good for both me and my soon-to-be husband. I’m going to be 30 this year, and while I don’t know if a fully vegan lifestyle is for me for all the years to come, I want to try it in effort to see the difference it makes in my existence overall. It’s a step in the right direction, at least. If anything, I will learn new recipes and will hopefully feel a little better by following a regimen that omits dairy and meat. Choices will be easier knowing what I can’t have.

SO: I am calling on myself to take a one month vegan challenge. Thirty days of vegan eating that is inspired and deliberate. I will chronicle my experience on Unsullied: the next post will be about my favorite new vegan recipes and then I will follow up with my results of the challenge! We will see how a dairy-eating, salami-loving gal like myself does trying to make a healthy, plant-based change.

CeeCee & Bee, a Family Affair: 20% off and DIY Scrub Recipe!

KathryneApr 16, 2014 14 Comments

I came across CeeCee & Bee on Natural Kath’s blog a little while ago, and my interest was piqued by their creativity, get-to-it-ness, and of course, their pretty, PRETTY all natural/vegan products. Based on the branding alone, I was ready to get on board. What really got to me, though, were the two sisters behind CeeCee & Bee, Charlene and Debbie, who wanted to make products that they could feel good about using. It’s these small steps taken by companies like CeeCee & Bee that start a chain reaction. As Jennifer and I know well, once you “know” about the side effects or potential hazards of some of the harsh ingredients in our everyday beauty and skincare products, it’s hard to “un-know.” So, two sisters who started a feel-good soap company, each bringing their own separate set of strengths, and voila: CeeCee & Bee was born. These two sisters at Unsullied think that’s pretty great.

Based in sunny San Diego, Charlene told me how she picks fresh herbs from her garden and infuses them in her products. Kind of wonderful, don’t you think? Ah, handmade goodness. For my fellow Californians, they’ll be at the Carlsbad Village Faire on May 4, and the Cardiff Dog Days of Summer coming up August 9, so catch them this spring/summer if you’re in the area!

OK, on to the products…read on for a discount code AND CeeCee & Bee’s DIY scrub recipe, if you’re feelin’ crafty!

Skincando is Doin’ It Right: For our Makeup Bags & Our Troops

KathryneApr 3, 2014 8 Comments

Fact: the green beauty realm is home to some serious change makers, who are applying the ethos behind natural products (sustainable, healthy, etc.) to solve real world problems. From companies who support the local communities where they harvest ingredients to those who stand up against animal testing, the vast majority of the green bath, body and skincare products we know and love are championing sustainable business and giving back. Just another reason the green beauty community is unique. And just another reason to LOVE it, and feel great about it.

Skincando Combat Ready

Case in point: Skincando. When Sara from Skincando reached out to us about reviewing her samples, we were pretty psyched – not only because of her all-natural lip balms, creams and anti-aging products, but also because her brand is mission-driven, donating Skincando’s Combat-Ready line of products to troops overseas since 2005 through Operation Sand Flea. Skincando’s Combat-Ready products are powerful, designed to soothe skin irritated by extreme conditions. And we think it’s pretty inspiring and excellent that Skincando is so dedicated to bringing helpful, natural products to troops overseas. Check it out!

The good news for natural product enthusiasts is that between Skincando’s two lines (Combat-Ready and Luxe), we found some products that we love as much as Skincando’s commitment to doin’ good. Read on!

A Box Full of Green Goodness: Ecopique

KathryneMar 28, 2014 6 Comments

When my Ecopique Blogger Box arrived, I was so excited to tear it open and see what goodness awaited me inside! This truly was like Christmas morning…except with less egg nog and more natural, good-for-you beauty products.

The idea of Ecopique is simple: make natural beauty and personal care products accessible for everyone. Through their Blogger Boxes, Ecopique sends curated natural products to bloggers, so we can be your guinea pigs and help you choose what you want to try out. Sharing the wonder of clean products by word of mouth is the main goal of Ecopique. And I was so thrilled to try these products. I have to say, the staff at Ecopique has really chose some stellar picks!

The loot:

Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a NUMBAH: Tata Harper Saves My Eyes

KathryneMar 19, 2014 4 Comments

Tata Harper, to the natural beauty, is sort of like caviar to the foodie.

It’s one of the most luxurious and trusted companies out there that supports the use of all natural ingredients that are biocompatible with our skin. According to their website, Tata Harper packs between nine and 29 active ingredients into each bottle, (most cosmetic formulas contain between one and three) and they manufacture in small batches so you know that your product is fresh and hasn’t been sitting on a shelf for two years.

All right, enough love for now! Jennifer was so kind this Christmas and got me Tata Harper’s Restorative Eye Créme ($90 for 15 ml). Being an eye cream junkie, you can imagine my glee! I want to tell you what sets Tata apart for me in the eye cream department.

Spring Body Reset: The “Let’s Not Call It a Cleanse” Cleanse

KathryneMar 11, 2014 2 Comments

All right, I know the Interwebs are always ablaze with a new “super duper miracle cleanse” or an all-juice diet that usually consists of starving yourself whilst cleansing out the toxins that are keeping you from feeling your best. Honey, I have done it AWL. I mean, truly. The Master Cleanse nearly killed me. I tried an apple cider vinegar cleanse, and that lowered my blood pressure so much that I fainted and hit my head on a coffee table giving myself a nice shiner and trip to the E.R. Gwyneth likes to tell us at goop that a full-time working, gym-going, kid-having, on-the-go female can drink herbal teas and a spoonful of mushed lentils to cleanse ourselves, thus making us feel radiant. This might be true, but I also may freak out and order the entire Fresco menu at Taco Bell by day two from sheer hunger/anger/confusion. I can’t be blamed. It’s not my fault that I like to chew things. I am not putting down ANYONE who can do this…but I can’t.

And I got a solution for ya!

New Favorites: Splurge Skincare

KathryneMar 1, 2014 4 Comments

Splurge: for us, that usually means getting the chicken quesadilla AND the Nachos Bel Grande from Taco Bell. (Also, who ate my pie? I don’t remember eating this pie.)

When Christine and Kara from Boston-based Splurge Skincare reached out to us about sampling products from their natural line of scrubs and lip “buttahs,” they gave us a chance to redefine the word. Their philosophy?

People shouldn’t wait for a special occasion to treat themselves well, it should be something they do everyday.

Amen. Both teachers, Christine and Kara used their free time to research and test out the best possible formulations for their products. The result? Even though this splurge isn’t smothered in nacho cheese or baked into grandma’s graham cracker crust, it is decadent and indulgent. It’s a skincare and lip treatment unlike anything we’ve ever tried (truly). Let’s get into it…!