The Secret to Perfect Skin

This month Lucky Magazine prompted it's community of bloggers to share their all natural style secrets. I was really excited about participating in this particular assignment as I learned a lot about natural beauty this summer, specifically taking care of your skin. As a result, I spent most of this season completely sans makeup. Although I never wore much of it, I'm a girl who has always sworn by her smashbox concealer, bare minerals powder foundation, and nars orgasm blush. However, a job that had me working outdoors in ninety degree weather did not at all entice me to wear makeup. A melting face is the last thing you want in heat. So, I found an alternative way to enhance my visage. The lesson I learned? Natural beauty will take you a lot farther than a painted face. So, here are my favorite natural beauty products. I hope they will treat your face just as they treated mine!

1. Golden Blossom Honey

Honey may seem like an odd thing to appear on a beauty product list and trust me, that was my initial thought, but over the past few months I learned how to use this natural sweetener for purposes other than to sweeten my tea. Honey is the best thing to use if you can't really afford to spend extra dough on skin care products. Most of us have been there, especially those of us who are struggling to make New York City rent. Using honey and other household essentials, you can create your own daily cleanser and weekly exfoliating cleanser right at home. Here are the two easy recipes I found that work best:

Exfoliating Honey Facial Cleanser:

• 1 tablespoon GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
• 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 
• Mix ingredients together. Gently rub onto face. Rinse with warm water. 

Milk and Honey Cleanser:

• 1/3 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 3 teaspoons rosewater 
• Place the ingredients in a suitable closed container and shake well. Apply a small amount to your face and neck with your fingers. Rinse with warm water. Store remainder in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before next use. 

2. Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water

Eau Thermale Avene's thermal spring water is a simple product made out of the most natural ingredients on earth- water. This spray is good for all skin types and works to soothe and soften skin and restores its natural balance. Its purpose has been validated by over 300 studies and has been used since 1743 at the Hydrotherapy Center to treat serious dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. This summer, I had Eau Thermale Avene's thermal spring water in my purse at all times. It was prefect for when I spent long days outdoors. One spray and I felt instantly refreshed and saved from the dry heat.

3. Glytone Sunscreen

Sun screen in the summer is an absolute must, although many dermatologists recommend using it all year round. My favorite brand for sunscreen is definitely Glytone. When applied throughout the day, It's active ingredients are clinically proven to maintain UV protection. In an era where global warming is a major topic of discussion, using a powerful sunscreen is the safest way to go. Sunscreen is an incredibly useful product, although I don't think it should ever take the place of a great moisturizer, but we'll get to that next.

4. Seventh Generation Hydrating Boost Serum
I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this post. That being said, what I think about this product is my actual opinion not a sponsored one. I tried this hydrating boost serum and it did wonders for my skin. It is the primary reason I was so confident in going makeup free this summer. Made out of all natural ingredients this serum will give you beautifully radiant complexion and softer skin. The hydrating serum works as a great daily moisturizer. I highly recommend it.

5. The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash
The Body Shop is a long time favorite beauty brand of mine. Their products work wonders and it's an added bonus that the company is entirely cruelty free. Made out of all natural ingredients their new tea tree cool and creamy wash and scrub is great for blemished skin. When I had a mini acne break out, I used both products during my morning routine and in a few days my skin was squeaky clean! It leaves your skin feeling so fresh and so so clean.

6. Dr. Owuso Sangria Shea Soap Bar
I've used a lot of Dr. Owuso's skincare products and I virtually swear by them. One of my favorites is her sangria shea soap bar. It is the perfect soap for summer skin as it leaves it feeling completely cleansed, smooth, and smelling amazing. The sangria sent is intoxicating! Save your body from all of the chlorine and UV rays it experiences during the summer by washing with this soap. We will definitely appreciate it.

I hope you you enjoy my recommendations. If you give any of them a try, I would absolutely love to hear how they work out for you! Lastly, as this post was done in collaboration with Lucky Magazine I would greatly appreciate it if you voted for it on Lucky Magazine's website. Additionally, be sure to check out some of the other Lucky Magazine all natural style posts with the hashtag: #ALLNATURALSTYLESECRETS. Have any of your own? Be sure to share them in the comment box below!

Fashion Loves Animals

Earlier this month I was incredibly surprised to receive an invitation to Fashion Loves Animals, an event celebrating the non-use of animal products within the fashion industry. The event also served as a fun-filled benefit for Farm Sanctuary, a wonderful non-profit that protects farm animals from cruelty, and additionally honored highly regarded, VAUTE Couture President and Creative Director, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart. Knowing that I've previously written about collections utilizing fur, leather, and other animal materials, the invitation was honestly completely unforeseen to me, yet  nevertheless, I graciously accepted it as an opportunity to learn more about the opposing stance.

Fashion Loves Animals was set at SIR Stage 37, a large space in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. My good friend, Rachel Gottlieb, a wardrobe stylist and fashion designer with a deep appreciation for both fashion and farming, seemed like the perfect date to accompany me that evening.  Preceding the event she had just recently returned to the city after a few interesting months of living and working on a farm in upstate New York. Unsure of what to expect, the two of us happily donned whimsical ankle length dresses and walked excitedly into the large space.

The evening began with a delightful cocktail hour featuring delectable vegan appetizers by Jay Astafa. Somehow past experiences had lead me to believe that any food labeled "vegan" meant that it wouldn't taste good. However, to my great surprise, I was immensely mistaken. Astafa's finger food was not only flavorful as vegan, but great tasting as a meal in general. Regardless of it being green, the selections were all exotic in appearance, unique in taste, and completely fulfilling. In fact, I enjoyed the food so much that I  ate enough appetizers to satisfy me for the entire night. Although, what I found even more impressive than proving vegan food can actually be delicious, was the knowledge that Astafa is just twenty years old. Learning how to cook both from his family and culinary education, in addition to catering this large event, Astafa also recently premiered a pop up of his vegan food restaurant concept, Jay Kitchen. It proved to be a huge success and now New Yorkers, I happily amongst them, can look forward to a more permanent Jay Kitchen to debut in upcoming months. Overall, Astafa provided a great start to the evening and also happened to generously offer a private dinner party worth $1000 in an auction to benefit Farm Sanctuary. He is quite the admirable young man and I look forward to hearing more about his innovative ventures in the culinary world in the future.

Following the enjoyable opening cocktail hour was a special fashion show featuring clothing by renown cruelty-free fashion brand, Vaute Couture in addition to other great vegan brands including footwear by Love is Mighty, menswear by Brave Gentleman, handbags by Matt & Nat and makeup by The Body Shop. Also accompanying the models were a few cute furry friends from The Humane Society of New York that only further enhanced each look coming down the runway. Again, what I expected was much less than what I saw. In the last Fashion Unfold twitter debate I participated in I made a bold statement of saying that all eco-friendly clothing lines were generally unattractive. All of these brands made me immediately swallow my words. Rachel and I both absolutely loved Vaute Couture's feminine silhouettes, adorable cut outs, bold colors and prints, admired Love is Mighty's sparkling heels, thought the male models looked unbelievably handsome in Brave Gentlemen's looks, and were ready to quickly purchase a chic Matt and Nat handbag. Everything about the show was executed perfectly and for the first time in my fashion career I actually appreciated a movement I used to be completely indifferent too.

The evening ended with some lovely and relaxing music by Rosi Golan and sweet vegan desserts by Fran Costigan. The desserts were so unbelievably amazing that without shame, Rachel and I followed the waiters circulating the space serving each plate of desserts. Within minutes there was nothing left of Costigan's sweet little bites. Luckily, we were able to meet the Queen of Vegan Desserts. We sat and discussed her career and her dessert making methods. "There's no reason for us to use animals when we can create delicious desserts without them," she said and she's right. I've never tasted desserts as delicious as those. With no eggs or milks involved, it's quite shocking. 

Unfortunately, I was not able to leave Fashion Loves Animals with a cute puppy, but I did leave with an entirely new perspective. As Farm Sanctuary showed me- the American farming industry is not always as cute and simple as it may sound. There are animals who are treated poorly when they're sick or not in shape. They are treated as products and not as animals with hearts, brains, and lunges. I am not a vegan nor am I vegetarian, but animals should be treated well while they're living shouldn't they? and if they're not being used for what they can provide than they shouldn't simply just be neglected or mistreated. I have been swayed to think more about the subject, but either way I greatly appreciate Farm Sanctuary's mission and cause as well as all of the talented people working in the vegan industry wether it be Vaute Couture Founder, Leanne Mil-lay Hilgart, or Vegan Dessert Queen, Fran Costigan, the faux leather quality handbag line by Mat and Nat, or natural beauty products by The Body Shop. They're all working for a greater cause that affects so many helpless animals and all in all it's incredibly admirable.

Photos via: Sarah's instagram, Farm Sanctuary, Max Gordon Photography