I have been going through all the tips you have posted and I am so impressed. I love all of them, and as a result I am having such a problem picking the winning tip. I would love to have your help in selecting the winner.

I have selected my 12 favorites and posted them below. I tried to pick the tips that were the simplest and easiest to do (and I also liked the ones I never heard of before). Everyone’s tips were amazing, so please don’t be offended if I didn’t select your tip. You can vote by reading the tips below and then voting on the poll by selecting the person’s name. The poll is closed.

{VOTE RESULTS}

I understand that some people were not happy about the voting and think I should pick the winner. All 12 contestants could have won – that’s why I selected them, that’s why I had trouble choosing my favorite, and that’s why I thought I would create a poll – for fun. So I’m not going to let this become some dramatic situation with cheating accusations and crap, because that doesn’t fly with me.  I have deleted all comments related to the cheating babble and I don’t want to see anyone making any more comments about this. It’s done, it’s all good, let’s worry about stuff that’s more important, shall we?

Below are the results. Congratulations to Brynne (please send me your mailing address).

{TOP TIPS}

The tips are *not* in any particular order.

{TIP 1 – Healing Acne Scars/Spots}
Comment by katy — December 15, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
hi stephanie!
My num­ber one beauty tip for healthy skin is to apply a bit of CQ-10 oil to an acne scar. I get ter­ri­ble spots that leave behind such dark spots that are so embar­rass­ing because even makeup doesn’t entirely cover them up. So I began research­ing about oils that have regen­er­a­tive prop­er­ties that could help renew the skin tis­sue and get rid of the pig­men­ta­tion spot faster. I found CQ-10 oil and i think its fab­u­lous!:)
All I do if apply a bit of the oil onto a pig­men­ta­tion spot every night and i have begun to see my spots are fad­ing so much faster than before. I am so excited I have finally found some­thing that helps!

{TIP 2 – Calming Rosacea and Irritated Skin}
Comment by julie — December 15, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
My favorite beauty tip is apply­ing aloe vera gel to my face. I have found when I use aloe vera it soothes and calms my skin like noth­ing else. I love that the prod­uct is 100% nat­ural and cheap!:) I have dealt with rosacea for most of my life and have tried over 25 top­i­cal treat­ments to help it, but noth­ing has worked as well as the aloe vera gel. I use it as a mask about 4 times a week and then spot treat with it every night. I love this stuff!!

(TIP 3 – Clearing Acne with Water}
Comment by Ipsita — December 16, 2010 @ 10:53 pm
My the one beauty recipe (and healthy liv­ing in gen­eral) is drink­ing clean water. Its sim­ple, but it worked for like magic. I have a really sen­si­tive skin with acne prob­lem. After try­ing lots of lots of reme­dies and creams, I finally gave up try­ing any­thing. First I started drink­ing tons water to wash off all the alco­hol I drink in par­ties and get-togethers. I noticed brighter and softer skin dur­ing those times when I drink lots of water. Now I start my day with a glass of freshly squeezed lemon water and never let myself get dehy­drated. Drink­ing lots of water along with 30 min of gym every­day has helped me get much clearer skin and I am never going to stop these.

{TIP 4 – Natural Skin Care on a College Student’s Budget}
Comment by Brynne — December 17, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Hi Steph!
I’m pretty much a poor col­lege stu­dent, so I have to get cre­ative with the prod­ucts I use for my face. I can’t buy super expen­sive treat­ments or lotions, so I make due with cheap and nat­ural alter­na­tives,
My whole beauty rou­tine is my best beauty secret. I use an aspirin mask, a lemon toner, and olive oil! Aspirin is pretty much sal­i­cylic acid, so I take three tablets (with­out candy coat­ing!) and crush them up (Or, to make them finer, I dis­solve them in a few drops of water). I mix this with honey, and use it as a mask for 10–15 min­utes, about once or twice a week. Sal­i­cylic acid has long been known for it’s amaz­ing ben­e­fits to skin, includ­ing reduc­ing wrin­kles and acne! (And I used to have such bad acne). So, with the mask, I elim­i­nate acne, and with the honey (I use raw honey), my face is mois­tur­ized. Also, honey works as an anti-inflammatory agent, and reduces red­ness.
After 15 min­utes, the mask can be a scrub and gen­tly exfo­li­ates what the sal­i­cylic acid doesn’t.
Then I use lemon juice mixed with water as a toner after wash­ing. This doesn’t work for all skin types, but it’s cer­tainly been help­ing me. I mix about a table­spoon of lemon juice with two table­spoons of water, and I dip a cot­ton pad in it and dab it on my face. Lemon juice evens out my skin tone, and also helps with acne scars and pores. I do this in the morn­ing and at night in win­ter, but only at night dur­ing the sum­mer, because you don’t want to put on lemon juice before you go out into the sun, because it makes your skin super light sen­si­tive. After the lemon juice toner, I mois­tur­ize with olive oil, and a lit­tle bit of an oat­meal lotion. And with a great diet, and a bit of exer­cise, I’ve elim­i­nated prob­lems with my face! c: It cer­tainly may not work for every­one, but it’s helped me a lot, for rel­a­tively lit­tle money!

{TIP 5 – Anti-Acne Face Mask}
Comment by Yessery — December 18, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
I’ve strug­gled with per­sis­tent acne for the past few years until my one of my aunts–who has this incred­i­ble, wrinkle/spot-free skin–told me to start using plain yogurt with a few drops of apple cider vine­gar and about 3 drops of fresh lime juice as a mask. She said to apply it for about 10–15 min­utes 1–2 times a week until my face cleared up. Once it was cleared, she told me to change to straw­berry yogurt (you can use plain yogurt and mix in organic straw­ber­ries if you like).
It leaves my skin feel­ing incred­i­bly soft and mois­tur­ized. I men­tioned it to my mother after she com­mented on my skin and she exclaimed, “so THAT’S her secret!” Turns out my aunt’s per­fect skin had been a favorite topic among all her admir­ers all these years!

{TIP 6 – Healing Chapped Lips}
Comment by Sherry — December 29, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
One thing that i have strug­gled with for years is dry, chapped lips. So a while back i researched dif­fer­ent nat­ural prod­ucts to help me with my con­di­tion. After not much suc­cess i exper­i­mented with dif­fer­ent ingre­di­ents i had sit­ting sound in my kitchen and found that a lit­tle bit of nat­ural, organic glyc­erin and a few drops of fresh lemon juice works really well to com­bat dry lop­sided. My lips always have peeled, but the first night i used this mix­ture, the next day i woke up and my lips had healed beau­ti­fully and i didn’t have any prob­lems. I have used this pretty much every night or when­ever i feel like my lips are really in need of it and it works amaz­ingly. If my lips are badly peel­ing and flaky, heat ill do is first exfo­li­ate them with a lit­tle brown sugar and honey, and then apply this mix­ture. It also smells really nice, which is good, because i per­son­ally cant stand harsh or strong smelling chapsticks.

{TIP 7 – Diet for Clear Skin}
Comment by Kaylee — December 28, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
Hey steph!
My best beauty tip is eat­ing healthy. I have tried mul­ti­ple top­i­cal prod­ucts to help achieve good skin, but noth­ing quite does it for me like a good diet. The one thing that really helps me is drink­ing a green smoothie in morn­ing. I have very dry skin and it also flakes a lot, but days when i have time to make a green smoothie in the AM, i see that my face Is a lot smoother and i don’t need to exfo­li­ate that much! Also i really try to incor­po­rate a lot of fatty acids in my diet. Since my skin is so flaky and dry i need a lot of mois­ture from the inside out. So when­ever i eat i take a fish oil cap­sule and i really see it help­ing to bal­ance my skin! If i eat too many fried foods i can def­i­nitely see how it has affected my skin the next day. So i try my best­bto make all my food and buy only organic products

{TIP 8 – Hair Regrowth Recipe}
Comment by Megan — December 28, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
Thank you so much for your blog and videos. I am only 13 but take a big inter­est in healthy eat­ing and home­made beauty prod­ucts.
I made this hair regrowth for­mula on my dad, and it really works:
(use organic prod­ucts if pos­si­ble)
Mix equal parts aloe vera gel and mus­tard.
Add a few sprin­kles of dried sage, rose­mary, cloves, cin­na­mon, and chile pow­der or cayenne pep­per. All of these spices stim­u­late blood flow, which helps hair grow.
Mas­sage into the scalp for five min­utes.
Wrap head (but not face) with plas­tic wrap.
Let sit for 15 min­utes before rinsing.
Also, dur­ing every shower after sham­poo­ing, rinse hair with apple cider vine­gar. Mas­sage into scalp before rinsing.

{TIP 9 – East Indian Beauty Recipe}
Comment by reshma — December 28, 2010 @ 11:20 pm
Hi Stephanie!
As i was born and brought up in India, my mother taught me some tips and tricks for how to main­tain nice skin and hair. One tip that i was taught very young and that most woman in India do is to make a san­dal­wood mask and put it on your face. In India you get to grind fresh san­dal­wood into pow­der, which is nice, but you can also buy san­dal­wood pow­der at any local health store in the US. All i do is mix some san­dal­wood pow­der with a lit­tle bit of fil­tered water and make it a pasty con­sis­tency and then put the mask all over my face. It hard­ens fast, but it feels so cool­ing and nice. It’s espe­cially nice to use in the sum­mer, when it’s hot and humid out­side and you just want to clean your skin and rid it from all the dirt and muck. I find that when­ever i have a break­out or just a cou­ple of pim­ples and i use this mask, it really helps to calm down the inflam­ma­tion and soothe my skin from any red­ness as well. Another ben­e­fit that it has is that i see it really helps to tighten my pores, and dimin­ish black­heads too. I love to use this before a spe­cial occa­sion because i can really see a dif­fer­ence in my skin. I tend to get brown/reddish marks on my skin after a pim­ple has sub­sided and san­dal­wood helps to fade these spots a lot faster than any­thing i have tried. Like any other dry­ing mask, after i use san­dal­wood my skin feels a bit tight, so i top it off with using a lit­tle jojoba oil and my skin is left feel­ing clean, fresh and mois­tur­ized! My mom, grand­mother and great-grandmother all swear by this and still use till today!

{TIP 10 – Oatmeal Face Mask}
Comment by Jen — December 29, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
Once a week i like to use a home­made mask. I used to switch weekly masks, some­times using honey or just plain yogurt, but recently i read online that cooked oat­meal does won­ders for your skin, so i decided to use it. I haven’t looked back since 
Once a week i use a combo of cooked oat­meal and yogurt. I just cool the oat­meal and mix in some organic full fat yogurt and apply it on my face. It really helps my skin stay soft and clear and i really love it!

{TIP 11 – Preventing Razor Burn}
Comment by Joseph M. — December 29, 2010 @ 9:27 pm
Greet­ings Stephanie — it may seem weird that a guy is read­ing a beauty guide, but I find a lot of your posts inter­est­ing and help­ful for acne and just over­all for good health. I’m not sure if you have any tips for guys with razor bump issues, but I’d be happy to share my way of deal­ing with them. I always use an elec­tric shaver to trim the beard, then I slather on a light mix of aloe vera gel + yogurt. I go in and take a shower; I use the razor in the shower and I think it helps to cre­ate less of a razor­burn since my skin is being lubri­cated with not only the water, but the yogurt + aloe vera.

If for any rea­son you get a razor­burn with this, I’d use aloe vera gel mixed with some cucum­ber juice and slather it along the area that is irri­tated. It may seem strange but it has worked for me and my father. The keys to shav­ing with­out bumps though is to make sure your skin is well lubri­cated, hydrated, and smooth which helps the razor to move over the skin smoothly. Any­way, Have a happy new years!

{TIP 12 – Greek Beauty Mask for Face & Body}
Comment by reba — December 29, 2010 @ 10:05 pm
I trav­eled to Greece last sum­mer for a friends we ding and her great grandma taught us a great beauty tip that i have been using since. What you need are just three ingre­di­ents: turmeric pow­der, Gra­ham pow­der, and milk. All you do is mix the three ingre­di­ents together and mix well. It forms this sort of thick paste, which you can thin down by adding a lit­tle more milk. Then all you have to do is layer it onto your face or body. In Greece, her grand­mother told me, this beauty recipe is sup­posed to make a girl look radi­ant and beau­ti­ful. I use this about twice a week and i can really see how it improves both my skin tex­ture and reduces my pore size. Her grand­mother told me that before a girl gets mar­ried or goes out on a spe­cial occa­sion, if she uses this recipe it makes her look great. I really love this beauty tip and you can get all the ingre­di­ents at any local whole foods store.

I have come across some incredible natural skin care products this year, and I wanted to share my must-haves with you.

1. 100% Pure Organic Lavender Honey Facial Cleansing Foam, $18.50. This is my go-to face wash, and the only face wash I’ve used consistently for almost a year. I love foaming washes, and foams are great for dry skin as well, particularly if you are sensitive and prone to clogged pores (cream cleansers tend to contain waxes that can easily clog pores). 100% Pure has a wide variety of foaming washes for all skin types, so if the lavender honey wash isn’t for you, try one of their other face washes. A bottle lasts me about 2–3 months.

2. Skin Apothke Ubtan Scrub, $15. My favorite scrub of all time. I’ve used dozens of scrubs and exfoliators over the years, and none have treated my sensitive skin the way it always wanted to be treated. You mix a little of the scrub with your choice of either water, organic milk, or organic plain yogurt and gently massage in circular motions for a minute or two. It effectively prevents blackheads and leaves your skin softer, radiant, and polished without feeling dry and irritated. Though the price went up a few dollars, this scrub is so well worth it. This will always be a staple in my medicine cabinet.

3. Arcona Triad Pads, $23. I have been using these pads for toning, removing the last remnants of my Ubtan scrub, and as a face wash if I’m traveling and don’t want to use chlorinated water to wash my sensitive skin. These all-purpose pads have Steph-approved ingredients (that is the first and last time I’ll refer to myself in third-person…promise), they smell good, feel good, and have a slight exfoliating action to one side of the pad. I even use them on my neck and chest for some extra freshening. These are definitely coming with me to Coachella this year.

4. Arcona Magic White Ice, $38. This is on the pricey side, but it’s my favorite moisturizer. My skin absolutely loves this stuff. It is very light, non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and leaves a nice dewy look to the skin, which makes it perfect for all but the driest skin types (you will most likely have to apply another moisturizer on top of this if you skin is excessively dry). I would normally use grapeseed oil on my cheeks and coconut oil on my T-zone, but MWI has been an excellent replacement and I don’t have to wait for it to sink in like the oil before I leave the house. I use only 1 or 2 pumps, and this will last about 3 months (or longer, according to some reviewers).

5. RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up, $36. A little goes an incredibly long way with this one. I used a little sample for about a month before I bought the full-size! This is the best concealer I have used for my under-eye area. It is smooth, creamy, doesn’t crease when you smile, and its neutral tone matches my skin perfectly. Plus, it lasts all day long (I don’t set it with powder or anything). I used color # 22 in the summer but got a sample of # 11 since 22 is proving to be a little too dark for my skin now that it’s heading into winter.

6. Rahua Amazon Beauty Conditioner, $34. This is my go-to conditioner for keeping my fine, curly hair smooth and super soft. It doesn’t weigh my hair down and keeps it from getting frizzy, even in really dry or humid environments. I have yet to find another conditioner that rivals Rahua’s amazingness. Plus, a bottle will last you about 4–6 months.

7. Jaime Earl White Tea Hydrating Masque, $24. This is the best mask I’ve used for hydrating parched skin. If you tend to get dry patches or overly dry skin in the winter, definitely give this mask a try. I like to leave it on for an hour, wipe off with warm water, and follow it up with an oil (for your body, try omega-rich Jaime Earl Ootanga Body Oil, $32 and for your face, try grapeseed, coconut, or olive oil).

8. Skin Apothke Organic Vitamin C Rejuvenating Eye Balm, $21.95. This has a lovely, creamy texture that does not clog pores or contribute to milia. Better yet, it lessens dark circles and fine lines. As you guys know, I’m pretty pale and you can see the bluish-green veins under my eyes (especially if I’m tired or slacking on the green smoothies), but after using this for over a month, you can barely see them. If you use under-eye concealer, this cream is great for moisturizing beforehand and makes for a smooth application.

9. Elegant Rose Boutique Lavender Vanilla Deodorant, $7. This stuff is amazingly effective and smells so good it can even be a perfume. You will still sweat of course (you don’t want to use an antiperspirant – you are supposed to sweat), but the sweat will not smell bad whatsoever. The best natural deodorant I have ever used. As long as she keeps the ingredients the same, I’m sticking with this one forever.

10. Real Purity Mascara, $13. I have this mascara in black and brown, and both colors are rich, non-flaky, and leave your lashes looking lovely. I also love that the formula doesn’t irritate my eyes (many natural mascaras I have tried either flake off or make my eyelids itch) and does not cause my lashes to shed or feel dry. It’s easy to remove with oil, but does not come off if you should cry from laughing too hard. I replace the mascara every 3 months.

11. Environmental Water Systems Counter Top Water Filtration FC150 – “Essential Plus”, $139.95. I have this model and their whole-home Spectrum unit at home, and since my brother started going to college, we got him this unit and their shower head filter. This is the best brand of water filtration I have found, and I’ve researched all of them. They’ve been in business for over 20 years, use the best carbon filtration available, the units are super high quality, and the water that comes out is free of chlorine and chemicals that upset our skin and hair. Using filtered water is one of the keys to having awesome skin. One of their online retailers (link above) is having a sale right now – enter code 10ALLSINK at checkout and you get 10% off this unit or any other sink filtration. 25WHLHM takes 25% off the price of their whole-home systems.

12. Sweet Bee Magic, $29.95. This balm is similar to Egyptian Magic, works just as well, and is about half the price. It is extremely hydrating and fixes everything from dry skin to dermatitis. Yoga tends to rough up my hands and feet, so one of my favorite uses for Sweet Bee is to rub it on and put on cotton gloves and socks. In the morning, you wake up with super soft hands and feet. This has been a staple in my medicine cabinet for about a year, and I’ll always have a jar around.

FTC Disclaimer: I have not been paid or sponsored by any of the manufacturers or brands mentioned. Some products were sent to be for free to try, most I have purchased myself and have re-purchased products that had been sent for free initially. Everything is my full and honest opinion, and I would never recommend anything to you guys if it didn’t live up to my standards and expectations.

If you’ve tried any of these products, let me know what you think of them! Do you have any products you would recommend?
~Steph  x

I love fashion and all the theatrics that come with it during Fashion Week, and I was inspired to write this post after seeing the flawless, airbrushed look of the models on the runway. I believe this is the first time I’m mentioning makeup, but I get a lot of requests for natural makeup and concealing imperfections, so I figured this would be a helpful post for getting flawless skin.

Here are my 8 steps to get you looking gorgeous in the morning (if you’re a guy, feel free to skip the makeup part, even though it’s not weird if you want to use concealer).

1. Streeeeetch. Stretching, yoga, and short cardio circuit training are an excellent way to keep your skin glowing. The reason why is because circulation is super important to keeping our skin nourished, healthy, and vibrant. Do a few minutes stretching or yoga right after waking up to get the blood moving in your whole body. It feels great, it’s good for your skin, and it energizes you for the day.

2. Eat well and hydrate. Diet plays a huge role in how healthy your body and skin will be. Choose organic produce over conventional produce as much as possible to avoid ingesting pesticides that will burden your liver and potentially cause hormone imbalances. Choose organic and/or grass-fed meats, and organic dairy (or cut out cow dairy altogether). It’s a huge topic, and I suggest reading my other articles or my guide book for exact details on good food options and what foods to eat/avoid for flawless skin.

In the morning, drink a glass or two of filtered water (I always talk about the importance of filtered water). Follow that up with a juicy fruit like a peach, pear, apple, or berries (avoid citrus for now if you are prone to breakouts). If you have a blender or juicer, maybe try making a green juice or a green smoothie. You will notice a huge difference in your skin after drinking green juices and green smoothies — it is the “secret weapon” to flawless, glowing skin.

Pressed for time? If you want to have a green juice, make it the night before and put a little fresh squeezed lemon juice in there to prevent it from oxidizing. Green smoothies take less than 5 minutes to make, so you can make that in the morning. You can also try a few other breakfast options like a juicy fruit with oatmeal (not the instant oats) and a bit of cinnamon and raw honey.

3. Begin with clean skin. Rinse your face and neck with lukewarm water, or wash with a natural, gentle cleanser. My all-time favorite is 100% Pure Organic Lavender Honey Facial Cleansing Foam. If you’re going to be applying makeup, or if you feel like your skin needs a little pick-me-up, use a gentle scrub like Skin Apothke Ubtan Scrub (my holy grail). Remember that when washing your face and neck, use lukewarm (not hot) water, and finish with a few splashes of cool water. This brings fresh blood to your face, enhancing circulation and giving you a glow.

4. Moisturize. Use a quality natural moisturizer or light serum oil to hydrate your skin from the outside and protect it from the elements. If you do not have any active breakouts, do a quick, light Tanaka-style massage with your moisturizer to enhance absorption. I like to do a few sweeps down the sides of my face/neck and a light up-and-down massage on my forehead to encourage lymph drainage and circulation. Do not do a massage if you have active acne breakouts, since this can make it worse and aggravate the blemishes.

If you want to go with a bare, dewy look, simply stop here. Whether you are a guy or a girl and if you have a few spots you want to cover, keep reading.

5. Cover up wisely. You can always tell when someone has a face full of foundation, can’t you? Slathering on foundation and powder won’t make you look flawless, it will only look fake and cakey. Instead, choose a cream, mousse, or liquid tinted moisturizer or light foundation from a company like Living Nature, 100% Pure, All Natural Face, or another natural brand. Apply the formula to the center of your face in areas that tend to get pink or blotchy, like around your mouth, chin, nose, and sides of the nose. Blend it in well. This method will keep the natural hues and dewy appearance of your skin, without looking fake at all.

Do you need a primer? Not really. With this technique, a primer is not necessary unless you feel like you have very uneven skin texture (which exfoliating will help with, see #3) or large pores. In this case, try a natural primer from 100% Pure or do a search on Esty for natural primer. You can also use pure aloe vera gel. Simply squeeze a little gel from the plant and apply to the areas you plan on putting tinted moisturizer/foundation on. Let the gel dry and apply your makeup.

6. Spot treat. Use an opaque concealer from Living Nature, Dr. Hauschka, Jane Iredale, or another natural brand, to cover up small spots like leftover acne marks or dark circles. A good technique for covering dark under eye circles is to use a concealer brush (I use one from Sigma) and blend in upward strokes. (P.S. To diminish or even eliminate your dark circles without makeup, read my article on how to get rid of dark under eye circles.)

7. Keep the glow going. While the first 4 steps will keep your skin healthy and glowing long-term, adding a little highlighter for extra oomph will help to bring out what is already there. I like to use a little olive oil (literally only 1 or 2 drops) and gently rub it into my cheekbones and brow bones for a little extra glow if I’m going out. For those who want more “bang,” use a highlighter. For fair/pale skin, use a white or pink toned highlighter. For medium/dark skin, use an off-white or gold toned highlighter. For oily skin, try a powder highlighter, and for dry skin, use a liquid or cream highlighter. Companies like Jane Iredale, Organic Glam, RMS Beauty, and All Natural Face make powder and cream highlighters. Apply it to your cheekbones, brow bones, inner corners of your eyes, the bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow, and middle of the chin (the crease of your chin, not in the cleft). Make sure you don’t highlight the tip of your nose or the center of your forehead, or you could end up looking greasy. If you are wearing a low cut top or a revealing outfit, put highlighter on your collarbone, tops of your shoulders, and down the center of your legs.

8. Finishing touches! If you have oily skin, you may want to powder your T-zone with a light, natural finishing powder from a brand like Alima Pure, All Natural Face, Orglamix, Jane Iredale, or Living Nature. Only keep the powder to your T-zone and under your eyes though, because if you powder your whole face it won’t look natural or dewy. For dry skin, skip the powder entirely, and if you find that you feel dry later in the day, bring a flower water/hydrosol with you and spray it on your face to help re-moisturize your skin.

I hope you enjoyed! This was definitely a new type of post for me, and I hope it was helpful for those of you who are interested in natural makeup.
~Steph  x

{APPLE MASK INGREDIENTS}
1/2 any kind of organic apple (leave the skin on)
1 Tbsp. raw honey, or raw manuka honey (UMF 16+)

Optional: Try adding 1 egg yolk (from an organic egg, the darker orange the yolk, the more rich and healthy that yolk is) for further moisturization. It will also help reduce and prevent acne breakouts due to the vitamin A present in the yolk, which helps balance sebum production for both oily and dry skin.

{REASONS & RESULTS}
Apples have a very cooling, slightly exfoliating effect on our skin due to the mild acids in the fruit. When applied to the skin, apples bring circulation and nourishment to the skin. And honey is a no-brainer! It is a well-known, ancient natural beauty product. It is antibacterial, a powerful humectant, and very soothing.

If you have very sensitive skin or are sunburned, try a small amount of this mask on your neck or cheek first. Depending on the variety of apple, you may or may not be sensitive to the mild acids in the fruit. FYI, green apples contain less sugar and slightly more acids than varieties like Fuji, Pink Lady, and Braeburn.

I’ve been asked what honey I recommend, and I find that raw manuka honey with a UMF rating of at least 16 (20 is even better) is the best for all skin, especially acne-prone skin. One of my favorites is East Cape New Zealand Manuka Honey Active UMF 20+. Now, if you skin is very sensitive, try a UMF of 16+, or try plain unfiltered raw honey.

{DIRECTIONS}
1. Mash up 1/2 of an apple — include the skin, but do not include the core or seeds. You can also mash it up with a mortar and pestle, or in a food processor.

2. In a small dish, mix the mashed apple with 1 Tbsp. raw honey. (Optional: also add your 1 egg yolk)

3. Apply and leave on 10–20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Finish with a splash of cool water. You may then tone with a floral water (hydrosol), quality natural toner like Sophyto or 100% Pure, or (my favorite) neem leaf extract spray. Follow up with a natural moisturizer or gently massage in a few drops of organic extra virgin olive oil.

Voila! Lovely glowing skin. If you have any suggestions or requests for DIY recipes, definitely feel free to let me know!
~Steph  x

P.S. My book, The REAL Guide to Flaw­less Skin, is available now! I’ve been getting a ton of great feedback on it, and I’m really happy that you guys are finding it helpful. If you’re interested in knowing more, you can click on this Acne Book link.

Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis does wonders for improving its look and feel — you’ll wind up with smoother, softer skin, and if you’re prone to blackheads, you’ll have less of them.

The trick is finding a quality scrub or exfoliator that will do a great job, but doesn’t contain unsafe artificial ingredients and won’t irritate your skin in the process. These are my Top 5 picks for exfoliating products.

{PICK #1}

Skin Apothke Ubtan Scrub
I am completely hooked on this natural, Ayurvedic herbal scrub. It is soothing, anti-acne (and anti-blackheads), and imparts a gorgeous glow on the skin. Use 1–3 times per week depending on your skin type. This scrub is best for all skin types, and sensitive skin will especially appreciate it. The bottle may be deceivingly small, but I’ve been using the Ubtan scrub for over 2 months, 1–3 times per week, and I still have half the bottle left! ($9, 2 oz., available at Etsy.com)

{PICK #2}

Talulah Vanilla Bean Rejuvenating Cleanser
This vanilla, rice, and sugar scrub is a great choice for those with oily, thicker skin. Sensitive, thinner skin should rub the scrub in the hands prior to applying to the face, just to wear down the exfoliating particles a bit so it’s gentler. Smells amazing, too! ($26, 4 oz., available at talulahskincare.com)

{PICK #3}

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
Organic lemongrass, sugar, and soothing herbs make this lemonade-smelling scrub an excellent choice for acne-prone skin. However, if you are allergic or sensitive to chamomile (ragweed family) or algae (seaweeds) then you may not find the same positive results with this scrub that so many people rave about. ($29.95, 4 oz., available at amazon.com)

{PICK #4}

Eminence Organics Scrubs
This company provides a wide selection of scrubs, peels, and polishers that smell divine, work wonderfully, and are good enough to eat (i.e. Mimosa Champagne Sugar Scrub). You can go to the Eminence website and see exactly what scrub would work best for your skin type, so you’re not stuck in a one-size-fits-all situation. (Priced around $40, 8.4 oz., available at amazon.com)

{PICK #5}

Naturopathica Glycolic Purifying Peel
For skin that is often irritated or sensitive, non-physical exfoliators like salicylic and glycolic acid may be the better way to go. For this, my favorite is this treatment from Naturopathica. While the price is steep, it is well worth the quality and hard work this product does on behalf of your skin. It prevents acne (especially blackheads) and keeps your skin smooth and soft without any scrubbing. ($68, 2.5 oz., available at naturopathica.com)

{BONUS PICK}

KAVI Microderm Exfoliator
This glycolic and crystal cream exfoliator is ideal for mature skin and those seeking to even out their skin tone (if you have acne scars or sun damage — rejoice!). I wouldn’t recommend it for those with active acne. This is a great option for an at-home microdermabrasion treatment that has natural, plant-based ingredients instead of all the artificial junk you don’t want on your skin. ($56, 2 oz., available at kaviskin.com)

Let me know if you have used any of these products and how you like them! Also, if you have any good (and natural) exfoliators you use, feel free to post a comment telling us what it is.
~Steph  x

I wanted to announce the winner of my new acne book…but I have a little surprise!

I chose TWO winners instead of the one winner I said I was going to choose. Both winners were chosen randomly from YouTube and blog comments. Thank you to everyone who entered, and I was really happy to have so much support. I love you guys.

All right, so the winners are…

madisonn94 (from YouTube)
Mary (from EBG blog, posted June 27 at 9.39 pm)

Congratulations!

………………..

Book Launch Date & Price

The book will be out on August 15th. I’m polishing up the FAQ section to include everyone’s questions and comments, and I definitely don’t want to give you guys anything less than an awesome book.

I also want to keep the book really affordable for everyone. I’m thinking it will be donation based where you can pick from 2–3 different amounts to pay for the book, depending on your own budget. Let me know what you think about that.

………………..

Extra Help for Your Skin

And in other news, per many requests, I have started offering one-on-one sessions. I know there’s a lot of confusing and conflicting information out there, and much of it can either be unsafe or wrong for your particular skin. So if you need extra skin help — whether it’s acne, dry irritated skin, aging skin — I’m here to help. You can go to the new “Coaching & Contact” page to check out the details.

Thank you again to everyone for your support and lovely comments.
~Steph x

This quick beauty tip came straight from Judi Rush, a clinical esthetician at Desert Dermatology in Las Vegas. I love Judy — she is an incredible, amazingly knowledgeable woman, and if you live anywhere near Las Vegas, I highly recommend booking an appointment with her. Your skin will look fantastic.

Right, so here we go:

{BENEFITS}
Gentle exfoliation, smooth and soft skin, anti-inflammatory, lovely glow

{INGREDIENTS}
Fresh organic pineapple

{DIRECTIONS}
Before You Begin: Do a patch test on your cheek first if you have very sensitive skin or suspect you may be allergic to pineapple.
1. Wash your face. Do not use toner or moisturizer yet.
2. Cut a chunk of pineapple big enough to hold between your fingers.
3. Gently rub the pineapple chunk all over your freshly washed face, neck, and chest.
4. Leave the juice on your skin for about 10 minutes. The enzymes in the pineapple will work to gently exfoliate and soften your skin.
5. Wash off with warm water. Follow up with toner and moisturizer.

Enjoy your super soft skin! Let me know how you like it.

~Stephanie
xx

{JUDI’S CONTACT INFORMATION}
Judi Rush, Licensed Esthetician & Skincare Specialist
Desert Dermatology
9167 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89147
Phone: 702–233-GLOW (4569)

All right, so I finally recorded a review of my Clarisonic Plus skin care brush that I bought on January 28th, 2010. As of today I have been using it every night (far more than the 3 times I mention in the video!) and I love this brush even more than I expressed in my video review. As you may know from earlier posts, I get really dry skin in the winter and I had dry patches on my face and arms, which have 100% gone away since I’ve been using my Clarisonic. It took about a week for them to disappear entirely. My brother is prone to acne and his skin looks clearer than it has in about a year. The redness on his cheeks is greatly diminished, and he hasn’t gotten any new blemishes in almost 2 weeks. I’m really happy for him.

So here we go! Video is below (sorry if I’m looking and acting tired…it’s because I was tired haha).

Here is the link to my previous entry, where I announced my purchase and included a few details/video reviews from other people: I Bought a Clarisonic Skin Care Brush.

{FREE CLARISONIC PRODUCTS}

I mentioned in the video that I do not use the Clarisonic products – so if you use them or are interested in using them, let me know and I’ll send them to you.

{MY 7 TIPS FOR USING THE CLARISONIC}

1. If you’re on more of a budget, go with a Clarisonic Mia ($149). You can still use it on your body, it will just take longer! Be sure to use a normal brush head for your body, and a sensitive brush head for your face.
2. Wet your skin well with warm water first and apply your cleanser to your skin, instead of on the brush head. Also be sure to run the brush head under warm water prior to using it on your face.
3. Do not use sugar or seed scrubs with the Clarisonic — they can tear your skin when used with the brush. Use only rounded bead exfoliation, such as jojoba beads.
4. Use only the factory speed setting, unless you have very tough or thick skin (like some men). Otherwise, you may irritate your skin and can cause problems.
5. Wash your brush head after each use with warm water and soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s) to keep it clean and bacteria-free. Pat the brush head with a clean towel and let it air dry.
6. Use the Clarisonic once per day if you have sensitive or delicate skin (I use it only at night). Otherwise, it’s perfect to use twice per day. No more than twice, though!
7. Buy the Clarisonic straight from their website or a qualifying spa or dermatologist listed on their website. The reason is that Clarisonic does not warranty units sold on Amazon or eBay (bummer). It’s worth the extra $10 or $20 to have the 2-year warranty, so if anything happens to your unit, you don’t have to pay for a brand new one.

I hope that was helpful! If you have a Clarisonic, feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on it.

~Stephanie
xx

Ads by Google

{BENEFITS}
Prevent and treat blemishes, soothe irritation, even out skin tone, lighten discoloration and dark spots, exfoliate dead skin cells, brighten dull and dry skin, balance skin pH

{INGREDIENTS}
1 Tbsp. organic, grass-fed cow or goat yogurt — plain, unsweetened, no added thickeners or stabilizers

{DIRECTIONS}
I use it once or twice per week (sometimes more often), usually right after a shower. Put 1 Tbsp. of yogurt in a little dish. Use the spoon to put a dollop of yogurt onto your fingers, and apply to your face and neck (chest too, if you’d like). Leave on for 5–10 minutes, max. Rinse off with lukewarm water and a splash of cool water. I like to follow up with champagne toner and then jojoba oil to moisturize.

If you try this treatment, let me know how you like it!

~Stephanie
xx

Oh, and just a reminder, I am never paid or compensated in any way for any review I give. I received these products from Real Purity for free in order to review, however, if I do not like a product, I do not review it.

Products Reviewed:

• Mascara in Black, $12.99
• Lip Stick in Copper, $12.99 or $1.25 sample
• Powder Blush in Desert Rose, $12.99 or $1.00 sample
• Eyeshadow in Chocolate, $12.99 or $1.00 sample
• Deodorant, $9.99
• Natural Toothpaste in Wild Mint, $8.99 or $1.00 sample
• Facial Mask Dry Skin, $17.50 or $1.00 sample
• Misty Facial Spray, $12.95 or $1.00 sample
• Night Revitalizer Dry Skin, $39.95 or $2.50 sample

Their new packaging (I’m so excited, it looks great):

I hope you enjoyed it and let me know if you try any of their products out!

~Stephanie
xx