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Please note that I get a lot of personal emails, and while I would love to answer them all, I just don’t have the time. Before emailing me, please look through the articles and use the Search box on the top right to find an article relating to your question.
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Please email me at hello [at] epicbeautyguide [dot] com.
Hello! My name is Tatjana and I own a Beauty Boutique in Edmonton, Canada! I live by pretty much the same principles as you when it comes to beauty regimen and your blog caught my eye when I saw that you wrote a review about Prtty Peaushun which we sell at our shop!
Most of the products we sell are organic, natural and some are even vegan! Ironically, my shop is called Epic Beauty Boutique! LOL!
Anyways, I wanted to give you a shout out and tell you to keep going and I am looking forward to sign on for your affiliate program and keep reading your blog!
Tatjana
Hey Tatjana! That is a fantastic coincidence! I love the floral background on your site – I wish you the very best with your boutique. I look forward to having you as an affiliate, too! Spreading the Epic Beauty gospel. ;D
~Steph x
Hi Stephanie, I just got your book on Kindle and I’m really enjoying what I’m reading so far. Unfortunately, the tables aren’t showing up so it’s a bit confusing when I’m reading the part about types of skin problems and their possible solutions. Is there any way to fix this? Thank you! p.s. I just started a natural and organic skincare business online (http://www.ziba-bynature.com) and it would be amazing to invite you as a guest blogger at some point if you have the time:)
Hey Stephanie! I bought your book yesterday evening, and I just finished it. Thanks for writing such a great book. I feel like I learned a lot. I’ve been struggling with acne troubles for about 6 years. I’ve spent that time self diagnosing and treating my skin with a bunch of half-baked ideas that I skimmed from Google. I just want to say that I appreciate you and your efforts to help people like me understand. Next week marks a new diet, exercise plan, and outlook on myself.
Thanks Stephanie, you rock!
Hi I was wondering where you buy the Japanese cotton pads, I really like to try out the lotion mask
Hi Annalyse,
I buy mine from Muji — if you’re in the USA, this is the link: http://www.muji.us/store/health-and-beauty/skin-c…
~Steph x
I’m from Australia
Hi Steph! I am new to your blog, but am already devouring every article you’ve probably written! I’m ordering your book, too– so excited! Until it get’s here, though…do you have any DIY tips for extremely oily skin? I know you have natually dry skin (verrry envious of that, especially since it’s been so warm and humid here in So. Cal.), but my skin is shiny ALL of the time, prone to whiteheads on my chin and temples, and blackheads on my forehead and nose. :/ So far, the yogurt mask, champagne toner, honey mask, have worked like magic– my skin is already looking better. I started (trying) to cut out sugar and gluten, and have began drinking green smoothies everyday. Anything else I should be making for my skin until I can buy some of the awesome products you talk about? And also…which of those products would work best for oily skin like mine? Thank you sooo much for all you do– you are a godsend!! Xo
You’re a sweetheart, Amanda. I’m SO glad your skin is doing better! You’re going to be shocked at how amazing your skin is going to look when you cut out the sugar and refined grains (brown rice here and there is fine). I would say you are doing fine and that you don’t need to make anything else for yourself. Simplicity is best. For your oily skin, I would check into Sophyto, ARCONA, and Epicuren — in my experience, they make the best and most gentle products for oily skin. Oily skin can be tricky, because if you strip too much oil off all the time, the skin becomes even more oily (!) and more prone to breakouts, but you also have to remove enough oil and debris to clean out the pores. It’s a fine line, and those 3 brands generally do the best job of it. I hope that helps! Keep me posted.
~Steph x
hi!i’m linda from malaysia„i just want to know whether your book available in Malaysia?
Hi Steph!
I came across your website last month and has been reading your blog posts regularly ever since! Awesome website you have here, you truly motivate me into going natural and also organic
By the way, I have a question.. I am from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Me and my husband are going to have our pre-wedding photo shoot sometime April next year. I have been trying to hunt for a local natural makeup artist for some time now but so far I came across none. It does seems like natural skincare and makeup resources are so scarce here
Just wondering, by any chance you know of any makeup artist which uses natural makeup? Ever since using natural skincare products, my face looks much better than before and it’s hard to go back to harsh chemical products anymore..I hardly ever apply makeup so doing my own makeup will be out of the question.
If you ever have any other recommendations, please do let me know too
Thanks in advance!
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn!
You are in the same boat as me.
I am looking for a natural makeup artist for my wedding and it has been almost impossible to find one. What I am going to do is purchase the makeup and have the artist use it. Natural makeup is so beautifully formulated now that it’s almost exactly the same to work with as the conventional stuff. I have interviewed a few makeup artists and they are all excited about trying the natural products I have, so I haven’t encountered any resistance.
So my suggestion would be to check out some YouTube tutorials or Jemma Kidd’s makeup books to see what style and colors you want for the day. Then go out and buy what your makeup artist will need. The main things will be tinted moisturizer or foundation, concealer, and eyeliner. Your artist can use conventional eyeshadow if you want because generally they will put your natural foundation or concealer on your eyelids first, followed by eyeshadow, so it will have a hard time penetrating your skin. But that’s up to you. I already have a few palettes of natural eyeshadow, so I’m just going to take those along with me for the artist to use.
I hope that helps. It seems the easiest and most logical approach for not irritating your skin but also getting an excellent makeup artist.
~Steph x
Hi Steph!!!!
Thanks for the reply! And yay!!! Your website is finally back to normal again
By the way, just wondering if you received my email about 2 weeks ago? Hope you don’t mind recommending some good natural makeup foundation that provide good coverage. I have already found a good makeup artist by the way
Another thing is, I woke up to small tiny red bumps that appear to be a little itchy on my arms today.…I am not sure if is it sensitivity or the crazy cold weather but do you have any idea on what might contribute to this? Also, any chance you could suggest some good body lotion/moisturizer too?
Thank you very much!!
Hi Marilyn!
Hmm, I don’t think I received it, or if I did, it got buried in the mountain of emails.
I suggest trying a few foundations ahead of time to see what looks best and lasts the longest. Try Real Purity, Vapour, 100% Pure, and Living Nature. They seem to have the best foundations and tinted moisturizers.
I’m so glad you found a makeup artist! That is the hardest part I think. ;D
It’s probably the colder weather. Try mixing 1 tablespoon sea salt with 2 tablespoons olive oil and/or grapeseed oil, and use that to gently scrub your skin. It might also help to consume more vitamin A, either from organic liver, sweet potato, or a supplement like Jarrow’s Carotenall. Also make sure you’re eating enough fat.
For body moisturizer, I use plain oil (like sweet almond) or Epicuren Enzyme Moisturizer.
~Steph x
Thanks Steph!!
Any idea how to stop/ease the itch naturally? It”s getting a little annoying.… I tried applying witch hazel though.
I know what you mean haha. Neem works really well, so does anything minty. I have a neem spray from The Neem Man, and in a pinch I’ll use peppermint hydrosol or peppermint tea.
Will try to get my hands on The Neem Man soon
By the way, do you think drinking aloe vera juice will help? If so, can you recommend any brand? Thanks~~
Great! Neem is stinky but it works. ;D Aloe vera juice is anti-inflammatory and helps nutrients absorb, and it’s also quite healing for the digestive tract. It *may* help for this particular problem.
Have you tried before? Any particular brand to recommend? I tried searching online, it does seem like most include other preservatives..
Yes, I have a giant glass jar of Lily of the Desert Preservative-Free aloe juice. That’s my favorite brand. No other preservatives except I think citric acid, which may or may not be from corn.
Thanks Steph!!
Just wondering, do you use humidifier at home? Any good one to recommend?
Ya! I use humidifiers sometimes — I have the “Germ Guardian” but I think they also go by the brand name “Pure Guardian.” I bought their tabletop humidifier and larger humidifier (this one: http://amzn.to/VyZCpe) two years ago. They are both great and very quiet (which is important since I’m a light sleeper).
Thanks!
Can you recommend some good teas for stress relief and also induce sleep?
Check out Traditional Medicinals — they have great tea, including varieties specific to stress and sleep. You can also try a supplement like Cortisol Calm from Pure Encapsulations. Getting adequate sunshine and exercise will also help you with stress relief and quality sleep.
~Steph x
Thanks again!
What’s your thoughts on bone broths by the way? Are they suitable for acne sufferers?
Hello Steph. What is the best way to remove pimple scars? I have some old scars on my skin which won’t go away, I have tried diluted ACV, lemon juice etc… Also, I would like to hear your thoughts on getting rid of pimples fast. Thanks~
Hi Marilyn. Try CELSUS scar cream — I’ve been recommending it like crazy because it worked so well for me. It’s all natural and got rid of old freckle-like marks on my chin in 1 1/2 weeks. Great stuff. I have a post coming up on getting rid of pimples quickly, since it’s a multi-pronged approach. For now, try tea tree oil topically and eat zinc-rich foods (or ask your doctor about take 15mg zinc) to speed healing.
I have an eczema patch on my neck that just won’t go away. Ever since I am following a healthier diet, exercising, using natural skincare etc, my face has gotten much better but this annoying eczema patch is super stubborn! Any particular regimen/ingredient that is great for eczema? I know the general epic beauty guide rules, but since my wedding photo shoot is just roughly a month away, I would really want to get rid of them. I have tried several moisturizer but to no avail. Can you help?
Hi Marilyn! I hear you — I’ve been there.
You need to go in with some good topicals now, because eczema can be extremely stubborn and take months (or years) to slowwwwly heal. This is what I have done in the past to eliminate eczema patches within about 2–3 weeks (ask your doctor about this if you need to):
1. Up the fat intake. Olive oil, coconut oil, salmon, avocado…gobble it up.
2. Absolutely NO wheat, gluten, dairy, or eggs. You can ease up on that later if you want to.
3. Take 15 mg zinc daily.
4. If it’s itching, spray on peppermint hydrosol or apple cider vinegar diluted in filtered water (the ACV will sting a bit, but it’s worth it). You can spray this on as often as you want.
5. Use neem spray (theneemman.com is where I get mine) and/or neem oil to stop itching and speed healing.
6. Apply moisturizing oil throughout the day. You want to keep your skin moist all the time.
Here’s what a typical topical treatment (try saying that three times fast haha) looks like:
1. Spray with peppermint or ACV. Let dry a bit.
2. Apply neem, tamanu, or sweet almond oil.
3. Spray on glycerin diluted in filtered water to seal it all in.
4. Do this multiple times per day.
Before getting in the shower, apply a thick coating of oil to your eczema patch. This will prevent it from drying out and getting irritated by hot water.
I hope that works for you as well as it does for me!
~Steph x
May I know if eliminating eggs is a must? Ever since starting paleo diet, eggs have been my staple..and I like eating them too. I often eat them for breakfast and also sometimes as side dishes of main meals. Which type of glycerin do you mean? Is it also called vegetable glycerin? Also, can you recommend a good brand of Vitamin E oil (for topical treatment)? Thank you so much
It may help to eliminate them for the next 4 weeks until your shoot. You can try eating quality bacon, veggies, or even smoothies instead of eggs. Yes, vegetable glycerin. UniqueE is the brand of E I use.
Hi Steph, is there a detoxification period during the initial phase of eating healthily? I realized I have more breakouts and the eczema has somehow gotten worse… Any idea why?And, can you recommend some natural remedies on relieving stress? I am on meditation and doing yoga twice a week, but life’s still quite stressful for me. I am not sure how to keep stress level to a minimum and I did read your book and posts.
Hi Marilyn! Sometimes that can happen when your hormones are establishing balance, and generally speaking, it doesn’t last long at all. In order for me to help a bit more, could you clarify your timeline for me? On your March 1st comment, you stated “Ever since I am following a healthier diet, exercising, using natural skincare etc, my face has gotten much better but this annoying eczema patch is super stubborn!” but now you are saying you have more breakouts. So in the last 4 1/2 days you have noticed an increase in blemishes and eczema, correct? That will help pinpoint exactly what you have done differently. Since you mentioned stress, it could mostly be a stress thing for you. For me personally, if I get stressed out, I can get a breakout within a day or two.
Stress is a highly individual thing, so while I have a lot of tips, it’s up to the individual to see what will work for them and practice the different methods consistently. For me, what works best is reading books (I love Byron Katie’s books — great stress reliever for me) and yoga. Stress is a mental game, and we all bring it upon ourselves in different ways. While it might be difficult, the best way to reduce stress is all in your head. It takes patience and consistency, but you can do it. As far as natural remedies go, I think you are referring to supplementation. In that case, there are some things that can help mitigate stress, such as GABA, Siberian ginseng (eleuthero), and rhodiola. Pure Encapsulations makes a good one called Cortisol Calm. You can get it here: http://amzn.to/12s3Vtu
~Steph x
Yeah, such a coincident that it seems like the day after I told you that I have seen huge improvements in my skin overall, I noticed my face has more breakouts and gets more oily than the past 2 weeks (when it’s in the best state). Eczema patch is forever still there, though..haha! I thought stress might be the main problem too, but I was suspecting the zinc supplement I took, since I have been following a very strict paleo diet. May I know which one did you take?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog!! Thank you!
Thank you, Alicia! I’m so glad.
)
~Steph x
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide
credit and sources back to your website?
My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my users would
really benefit from some of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this ok with you. Cheers!
Hello Steph, just a few quick questions :
1. Is it ok to consume beef (red meat) regularly? Thought red meat consumption is linked to cancer…
2. Any online sources of buying pastured eggs?
3. Do you recommend drinking bone broths at all? I have acne prone skin and wonder if consuming it will aggravate acne?
Hi Jaime!
1. Yes, it is okay to consume regularly as long as it is grass-fed and/or organic. Conventional (CAFO) beef has been linked to certain diseases in the past because it is unhealthy meat from unhealthy cows. Grass-fed and CAFO beef are like night and day. 2. Check EatWild.com and Tropical Traditions. I have never looked for pastured eggs online before, but I know those two resources are great for grass-fed meat, dairy, eggs, etc. 3. Yes, I love bone broth and it’s extraordinarily healthy. It will not aggravate acne. In fact, it’s likely to help calm inflammation. It even shows promise for helping to heal the intestinal tract.
~Steph x
Hello Steph, would like to hear your advice on teas drinking. I have several types : chamomile, rooibos, oolong, matcha as well as “Stomach Ease” and “Kava stress relief” both from Yogi Tea. Do you think consuming 3 different types daily is excessive? Thanks
Heya Jess,
I don’t think it’s excessive. As long as you are not overdosing on herbs, you should be okay. If you have doubts or if you have a medical condition, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. Personally, on average, I will drink a cup of matcha, rooibos, and Traditional Medicinals Lemon Detox per day.
~Steph x
Thanks Steph
What are your current recommendations for fixing digestion issues?
That’s a big topic! What sort of digestion issues? Indigestion, bloating, gas, stool issues, difficulty digesting certain foods…?
Hoping to improve stomach acid and also heal gut
Hi Steph, how about food to lower testosterone? I am dealing for years with pimples on my chin, back & chest and wish to find the right answer. Would you have some tips to share?
I am looking forward to hearing from you
Hi Elsa,
I will write a post on this for you. In the meantime, let me ask you this: do you know for certain you have higher levels of testosterone? Have you had blood testing? I have some tips for this, but I want to make sure this is the real issue you’re having.
~Steph x
hello Stephanie!
i’m suffering from rosacea for a long time now, could you please help me with some tips about what sould i eat and what not?
i’m sorry i know that you probably wrote it in your book but i can’t afford to buy it now so just a few tips would help a lot)
thanks in advance
ann
Hi Ann, no problem.
I suggest you start here: http://www.epicbeautyguide.com/start-here/ A lot of the tips I provide for acne are also really useful for eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. These conditions are all inflammatory, so if you remove the source of inflammation internally (and externally) you will see results. Let me know how you’re doing.
~Steph x
Epic Beauty Guide website is really one of the best online places where I’ve found very effective natural beauty news, tips, and other updates. I’ve just subscribed to the newsletter option of this site to get informed about latest beauty information. Thanks.
Hi Steph! I wanted to know if camellia oil by itself could be used as a makeup remover/cleanser? I know Tatcha has their version of a camellia cleansing oil, but with other extra ingredients; I was thinking of purchasing the Oshima Tsubaki brand for now since Tatcha has sold out of their oil.
Hi Paula! Yes, you can certainly use plain camellia oil to remove makeup and cleanse. Just make sure you remove the oil well with warm/hot water and exfoliate afterward. I suspect the reason some people get skin congestion with oil cleansing is because they do not thoroughly cleanse and remove it, leaving some dirt and dead skin to get trapped under the oil.
~Steph x