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BEAUTY & BODY GAMUT GUIDE
In search of shades, skin care, swimsuits, sassy styles or sizzling poolside tech? look no further! Alongside Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Dior and many more luxury brands you can find MAHALO Skin Care’s, Rare Indigo Balm. This supercharged violet balm can assist in calming inflammation and addressing acne, eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, and other skin conditions to promote a more radiant and youthful complexion.
SELF CARE SUNDAY
Our guide to must-try products, expert-approved beauty rituals, and how to keep all the spa feels going throughout the week. (Because you deserve it, babe.)
TREAT YOURSELF RIGHT
Whether you’ve got a few extra minutes or the whole day to spare, try our tips and tools to feel like your best self. If you have the day an all-day at-home wellness retreat is the ultimate unwind. Sinking into the bath is key when time is on your side. Throw in some powerful aromatic salts and bath oil while the water is still running. Once you’ve had a good soak, use a scrub mitt to slough away dead skin. Hop out and cover yourself in your favorite body oil while your skin is still damp and absorbent. Then wrap up under a plush towel or robe as your body sweats from the heat and bath salts (it’s super-detoxifying). We won’t judge if you take a midday nap.
Our Picks: Vacation Glow $95 mahalo.care
How to wear the color of 2018
Pantone has just announced that ultra violet will be the color of 2018. Vogue looks at how you can incorporate such a bold shade into your beauty routine.
Rare Indigo beauty balm, Mahalo, €110 on www.moncornerb.com
8 protective face creams to combat harsh winter weather
With sub-zero temperatures here, it’s time to switch up your skincare routine for winter. Think protective layers, with eight rich-textured and nourishing creams to rescue the skin from the dryness that comes with wintry weather.
Hydrating balm, Mahalo, 50ml, €90 Hydrating balm.
5 Brands to Shop From Neiman Marcus’ New Indie Beauty Selection
Walk through any department store’s beauty department and you’ll be faced with a similar experience: luxurious Chanel, Dior, YSL, Charlotte Tilbury, and M.A.C. makeup, pricey skincare products that you don’t know if you actually need, luxe candles that you hope someone will buy you for the holidays, and women offering up fancy fragrance samples. What you most likely won’t find? A brand whose label you don’t recognize.
Until now, that is, because Neiman Marcus is diversifying its beauty selection for a limited time. On the heels of the Indie Beauty Expo, the retailer is launching a new “indie” beauty category, stocked with brands that are new, effective, and mostly feature good-for-you ingredients. So if you’re looking to revamp your beauty stash this season, let us introduce you to a few names that you’ll learn to love.
1. Mahalo Skin Care
The brand created masks, balms and elixirs based on the principles of Hawaiian Mindfulness, with the cleanest and purest of ingredients.
Buy It! Mahalo Skin Care, $70-$110; neimanmarcus.com
Style & Beauty PERKED UP
Two foodie favorites – coffee and cacao – aren’t only delicious, but they’re also powerhouse ingredients in buzzy concoctions from Hawaii’s skincare brands.
Indulge in MAHALO Skin Care’s ultra concentrated The Bean mask – a facial treatment that awakens and revives both skin and spirit. Enjoy the warm aroma of coffee, cacao and vanilla beans, as well as the sweet scent of raw Hawaiian honey. The master blend of activated ingredients boosts circulation and gently exfoliates.
Why It’s So Hard to Be an Indie Beauty Brand
Startup founders talk the challenges they faced early on…
Beauty startups face a competitive market worth $60 billion; skincare accounts for the biggest share. To launch, brands have to figure out what they want to formulate and why, and who their consumers are and how to reach them, often on very limited budgets.
Maryna Kracht launched Mahalo Skin Care in Hawaii three years ago. She knew early on that ingredients would be a huge expense. Mahalo products feature tamanu oil (which has anti-inflammatory properties and can promote cell growth), sea buckthorn oil and aloe vera. Kracht looks to appeal to customers seeking something luxurious and handcrafted. “I want people to feel that this is an artisanal product,” she says.
With a team of four employees, she develops her own formulas. She works with local suppliers in Hawaii, uses organic ingredients and produces her own hydrosols, or distillates, such as rose water.
“I did have savings, but not a lot,” Kracht says. “More than anything, I had to be extremely strategic with every single dollar.” That meant lots of time researching ingredients before spending money on developing anything.
Kracht never resorted to formulating her products for Mahalo in her kitchen, as some natural skincare brands claim to. “I am a stickler for everything being sanitized and making sure we’re up to standards. I had a separate kitchen away from the house where I created a little lab of sorts,” she says.
Kracht’s face is the first thing you see on the Mahalo website. She still handmakes her formulas and writes thank-you notes to her customers. “I encounter challenges every day,” she says. “In the very beginning, you’re wearing a hundred different hats. I did everything. It was figuring out the direction of the business.”
Since its launch, Mahalo has gone from production in a small lab in Kracht’s home to a 1,200-square-foot facility with a walk-in fridge. SkinOwl has been growing every year since it launched. “SkinOwl felt like immediate success because we filled a void,” Tevelin says. ‘It’s not easy, it weeds people out very quickly.”
Despite (or maybe because of) what it takes to launch beauty brands, Kracht says it’s startups that are shaking up the industry. “These small beauty brands, mostly women-run, are trying to go up against the Goliaths of the space, but we are doing it with a backbone of five people versus 500.”
These Hawaiian Beauty Products Are Trending This Year
Green beauty is constantly growing, with new brands popping up all the time. The most constant stream of consistently fantastic lines, however, seems to be coming straight from the beautiful islands of Hawaii. No brand looks the same — some you can find at luxury retailers, others are one-woman operations that operate direct-to-consumer, some consist of one or two products while others offer an extensive range — but they all share a few things in common: natural ingredients sourced from the rich islands, knowledge of ancient traditions and customs, and truly gorgeous fragrances. Could Hawaii replace Korea as the new beauty hotspot? While we don’t see the latter trend being usurped anytime soon, with volcanic clay powders, exotic fruit extracts, and tropical-inspired packaging, things that come from Hawaii have a similar novelty, as well as impressive efficacy, and of course, absolutely intoxicating scents. No to mention that sometimes it feels like the sunshine-infused potions that come from Hawaii bring with them the relaxing and welcoming vibes of The Aloha State; because very time I try one, I can close my eyes and feel like I’m practically there.
THE UNVEIL. No one really looks forward to taking their makeup off at the end of the day. That’s why face wipes were invented. But what if, instead of a chore, washing your face was a delicious, five-minute jaunt to Oahu? Well, that’s what it’s like to wash your face with this luxurious cleansing balm. I feel like I’m going to a spa instead of to my bathroom, and I love that you don’t need a hot towel or washcloth to wipe it off; it just rinses away with water. A miracle, hand-blended in small batches, that can transform your bathroom and your skin.
How To Treat Dry Skin When You’re Breaking Out, According To The Experts
Suffering with uncomfortable pimples or sore dry skin is not ideal, but when you’re suffering with both at once, your skincare situation can feel like a nightmare. If you’re currently living through this, you’ll need to know how to treat dry skin when you’re breaking out, because as you may have noticed already, it’s not as easy as you might think. So I spoke to a bunch of skincare experts, to discover exactly how to treat dry skin when you’re also breaking out.
Maryna Kracht, founder of Mahalo Skin Care, tells Bustle over email, “Keeping the digestive tract healthy with fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut etc), kombucha, and kefir not only provides an important balance of probiotics, healthy acid balance, and vitamin boost, it also helps with proper absorption of nutrients and elimination of toxins through proper digestive tract routes and not through your skin.” Kracht adds that eating dark green vegetables will boost the alkalinity level in the body, so it might be time you start incorporating more leafy greens into your diet. “Water, sleep and exercise are also crucial aspects to keeping your skin healthy, vibrant, and clear,” says Kracht. She explains, “Water helps with eliminating the toxins and allowing your skin to be plump and youthful. Drink alkaline water. Either water with lemon, or water with a few drops of liquid chlorophyll.”
When it comes to sleep, Kracht advises what’s best for your skin, “Proper sleep doesn’t only provide rest, it also helps with balancing the stress hormones, excess of which makes your skin look inflamed, thin, and wrinkled. Keeping the circadian rhythm in check, going to sleep around 10pm, and getting 8 hours sleep is the optimum balance for many people.” “Acneic skin often shows lack of essential fatty acids, and will respond most favorably to facial oil serums or facial balm treatments to bring balance to the skin,” explains Kracht. “Our Vitality Elixir and Rare Indigo balm have been specifically formulated to contain over 70 percent essential fatty acids to deliver the optimal nutritive balance to imbalanced and inflamed complexions,” she says.
However, there is a method to using these products. Kracht instructs to apply face oils and balms over wet or damp skin. “This is very important in keeping the skin hydrated AND moisturized,” she says. As much as you may want to, you really can’t rush the healing process. “Stick to a skincare routine for at least one month,” says Kracht, “as it takes the skin 26 days to complete it’s cycle. Give your skin love and care to allow it to take the steps to properly rebuild and recover itself.”
Don’t be disheartened, it’s totally possible to treat dry skin when you’re breaking out — just follow this expert advice and you should see improvements soon!
Well + Good Editors’ Picks – Best Natural Beauty December 2016
13 NEW, NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR SKIN THIS WINTER
From the bone-chilling temperatures of winter to all the bonus holiday traveling, maintaining that healthy glow is exceedingly difficult this time of year. That’s why multitasking, skin-saving beauty products have been popping up on beauty shelves so that your skin doesn’t have to suffer. So which are the favorite new, natural beauty products Well+Good editors tested this month? A rejuvenating facial peel, an anti-inflammatory cleanser melt, a head-to-toe hero balm, a dreamy coconut skin dew, and other new power-players—many starring matcha. Thanks to these complexion-saving products, your skin doesn’t have to be as dull as the weather.
Keep reading for 13 editor-approved beauty launches this month you need to know about.
Mahalo The Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate – This makes cleaning my face actually fun—one small scoop of the green balm (from matcha) literally melts into your skin and feels like an oil cleanser. Once you add water, it turns into a creamy foam that leaves your face ultra-soft—and mascara-free. Starring anti-inflammatory fragonia (an Australian plant) and exfoliating papaya enzymes, this tropical, buttery blend is perfect for a nightly refresh of your skin, particularly if you’re too lazy to use a few products for the job.
5 Hawaiian Beauty Products to Bring Out Your Inner Moana
Disney has steadily been rounding out its princess empire with more action-packed roles for female heroines (see Elena of Avalor, Frozen’s Elsa). The latest CG-animated lead to root for: Moana, the teenage daughter of a Pacific Islands chieftain who sets out on an oceanic journey to track down lost members of her tribe. Breakout Hawaiian actress Auli’i Cravalho voices the title character and composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) wrote the songs for the movie, which is already getting advance praise and includes enough epic scenery to inspire landlubbers to rig the sails on a canoe and head for Polynesian climes. To stoke your inner wayfarer, here are five island beauty finds infused with healing botanicals.
With oils that are cold-pressed or extracted using an advanced C02 technique to preserve the integrity of the raw materials, Kauai-based Mahalo Skin Care is both high-tech and distinctly Hawaiian in its approach. The new Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate (out next month) combines anti-inflammatory matcha, purifying willow, and pore-refining sunflower oil in a balm that, when mixed with water, transforms into a milky emulsion to soften and cleanse.
5 Beauty Product Swaps That’ll Do the Body Good
It’s no surprise winter is a time to ramp up your skin care. What is surprising, however, is that you might be putting toxins on your body without even knowing it. Did you know that many commercial beauty products may actually contain hidden ingredients that do more harm than good. The list is long, but some of those ingredients include parabens, aluminum, lead, mercury, formaldehyde and more. These types of no-nos do all sorts of things like cause cell damage, environmental harm and can even lead to allergic reactions.
Perhaps that’s why green celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba are known for preferring non-toxic skin care. To help us all identify safe swaps for our winter staples, our good friends at The Detox Market shared their approved green beauty picks for the season!
Mahalo Petal Mask. This masks has 28 active ingredients that work together to help hydrate, soothe and repair skin, and it’s safe enough to use for daily use. Plus, the blend of gentle enzymes allows your skin to swallow up the flower petal essence that plumps and improves texture.
10 Best Face Oils and Serums – The Vitality Elixir facial serum
Rich and potent Vitality Elixir infuses skin renewing powerhouses like sea buckthorn, turmeric, and carrot seed into omega-rich kukui and chia super-oils making it the perfect all-in-one treatment serum and nourishing oil for all skin types. Clarifying black cumin, tamanu, and helichrysum, also in the mix, keep breakouts at bay.
The ONE Product You Really, Actually Need This Summer
I really hate when brands boast of having beauty products that are “vacations in a bottle.” No matter how coconut-tropical-fruity smelling a body lotion might smell, it can’t successfully convince me that I’m on a beach in Maui when I’m actually reading a million emails at my desk in the middle of the day, basking under the glow of the office lights.
Mahalo Vacation Glow…gets pretty darn close. Maybe it’s the name and the very cool wooden bottle—even the ingredients and the “how to use” are engraved into the container, which shows an immense level of detail that you cannot stop looking at—that has me believing, but there’s something about this body-hair elixir that’s in a word, “beachy.”
The brand describes it as “molten sunshine potion”—a phrase that my cynical self would normally roll my eyes at, but in this case, I cannot think of a more dead-on description. It smells like fresh white florals (there’s essential oils of jasmine/Hawaiian pikake), plus something you can’t quite put your finger on (it’s a mix of tuberose, ylang-ylang and geranium)—a fragrant concoction that’s definitely more than enough for someone to stop and ask you what you are wearing.
Then, there are the hard-hitters: vitamin E–rich Kukui, balancing macadamia, does-everything argan oil, skin-repairing sea buckthorn and mega-hydrator avocado. The lineup makes the most perfect oil, a sort of rich serum that works perfectly post-shower—you literally only need a drop—to smooth out hair and perfect the skin on your legs. The best part: The scent and glowing hydration sticks around, so when your midday coffee kick calls, you may actually be able to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and pretend you’re on a lounge chair looking out at the sea somewhere.
5 Masks for Better Skin ASAP
No need to travel all the way to Hawaii when Hawaii can come to you. Named after Hawaiian Volcano Goddess Pele (umm how I become a Volcano Goddess?) the mask transforms problematic skin and reveals a luminous new you. But it’s the list of magical ingredients that prove that this newbie is the real deal: “Botox-plant” Hibiscus, Turmeric, collagen-boosting Vitamin C. Mahalo!
7 Truly Organic Skincare Products That Won’t Kill the Environment – Why Labeling Matters
The global market for organic personal care products is a budding industry, and it’s one that’s intrinsically tied to the “new green revolution,” which is good news for environmental activists. Regulating organic products: Though the Food and Drug Administration regulates products labeled as organic, the department has yet to adopt a formal definition for the term. “FDA regulates cosmetics under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA),” the organization explains in a statement. “The term ‘organic’ is not defined in either of these laws or the regulations that FDA enforces under their authority.”
Instead, the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge of the National Organic Program (NOP), which in turn holds brands accountable for labeling standards, which it defines based on the percentage of organic ingredients that make up a given product. It’s important to note that, due to the projection that the organic personal care marketplace is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, many brands are strategizing to get on board. This can, at times, lead to heavy marketing campaigns that can obfuscate a product’s actual ingredients.
Natural or nah? Just because a product is organic, that doesn’t mean it’s innately safer than non-organic products. “An ingredient’s source does not determine its safety,” reads a statement from the FDA. “For example, many plants, whether or not they are organically grown, contain substances that may be toxic or allergenic.” And the word “natural” carries no weight at all. Brands are free to use the label at their discretion. And big brands that may not have eco-friendly practices in their DNA are looking to get involved. “‘Natural’ has a fairly sturdy antonym — artificial, or synthetic — and, at least on a scale of relative values, it’s not hard to say which of two things is ‘more natural’ than the other: cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup? Chicken or chicken nuggets? G.M.O.s or heirloom seeds?” author Michael Pollan wrote in an April article for the New York Times. “The most natural foods in the supermarket seldom bother with the word; any food product that feels compelled to tell you it’s natural in all likelihood is not.”
With all that in mind, here’s a roundup of seven ecologically-conscious skin care lines to explore, all of which hold organic ingredients as a No. 1 priority. Happy bathing.
- THE BEAN Mask
The Vitality Elixir
“I could go on for decades about Mahalo Skincare’s Vitality Elixir….I’ll keep it down to three key selling points:
1) A wooden bottle that looks like it was found washed ashore, rather than behind a beauty counter.
2) The smell, which is pungent but beachy, and
3) the formula, which is chock full of Omega-3s, Sea Buckthorn, and everything else your skin loves.
An All-Natural Aesthetician Spills Her Secrets For Gorgeous Skin
…massage a dime-size amount of oil into my face and neck using light upward strokes and a few firmer circles on the jaw, third-eye area, and temples. Right now, I’m using Mahalo’s enlivening and hydrating Vitality Elixir, an exotic blend containing chia seed oil, turmeric, and CoEnzyme Q10.
Press, Media and Reviews
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Review: Mahalo rare indigo Balm
I’ve had so many requests to chat more about the Mahalo Skincare Rare Indigo Balm, so I thought I’d dish out the inside scoop on this little enchantress which just so happens to be one of my favourite skin saviours right now. There was a line once in the best movie of all time – Under The Tuscan Sun – where Diane Lane is writing a postcard and describes grapes in the market as ‘smelling of purple’. When I first took a sniff of this magical potion, that’s the exact phrase that came to mind: it smells like purple! And what does purple exactly smell like? A luxurious blend of aromatherapy oils that’s crisp yet sweet, with floral undercurrents of rose, ylang ylang, chamomile and iris.
THE VERDICT Winner, winner, chicken dinner. This ticks all the boxes for me because it’s multi-purpose, and such a delicious part of my daily skin prep routine. From the healing, anti-inflammatory properties to the enchanting look, feel and intoxicating therapeutic aroma, I’m a convert. The best part is that there’s enough to last you months and months, so the investment value makes it totally worth it. It’s a must-try for organic loving beauty buffs, Divine Goddesses or anyone looking to cure serious skin irritations with the healing powers of Hawaiian Rare Indigo.
Paratiisi Puupurnukoissa – A Finnish Review
I have been waiting for so long to have those wooden puddings in my hands and – aaaaaah – in the late summer I was finally rewarded… The timing could not have been more suitable, even in the days of the fall, something like this. Hawaii’s sand, sun and tropical rain blossom with fragrant winds. Can we take a moment to talk about the unimaginably beautiful wooden packaging ?! Handmade carvings finish luxury. Mahalo’s products have a quite different feeling than all my other natural cosmetics. Some kind of casual honesty comes through everything from the scent of products to their uncompromising compositions and what they are used for. I got the whole set and tried to tell the word about my own favorites.
If you only try one, I definitely recommend the Rare Indigo Beauty Balm. I have used it in the evenings, in the morning the skin looks rested and glowing. The effect is noticeable in just a couple of days. It also corrects skin damage and soothes acne inflammations. Vacation Glow, what a wonderful name! This body and hair elixir is the most luxurious and golden oil I have ever come across. Mahalo Balm is love in a bottle that can be used as a moisturizing cream after adding serum or a beauty mix- or in ten other ways. Like, for example, a night eye lotion that eliminates swelling and fades odors, or like me, a lip balm addict: lip gloss that treats and nourishes for a long time. From the masks my favorite so far is the Petal Mask. Rose and jasmine fragrant honey gel mask brightens, suppresses and soothes the skin. Last but not least, is the oil serum Vitality Elixir. It is packed with an abundance of earth’s most powerful raw ingredients and makes miracles visible on the skin, it’s a must to admit that I love it the most as it looks like the Vacation Glow.
SAY ALOHA TO MAHALO SKIN CARE THE GREEN HAWAIIAN BRAND
Aloha! How would you like to take a little piece of Hawaii with you? A little piece of Hawaii that – trust us on this one – is practically guaranteed to give you that beautiful Hawaiian glow all year round?
We are happy to introduce to you Mahalo Skin Care! Mahalo, handmade on Kauai, Hawaii, is dubbed so after an old Hawaiian word that means gratitude and respect. Many of their products are infused with volcanic ash and other unique, eco-friendly ingredients native to Hawaii that will keep your skin thriving on a daily basis. Mahalo is committed to offering the best, safest and most organic skin care while still guaranteeing the highest quality products.
With its beautiful bamboo packaging, Mahalo is not only extremely effective but also aesthetically pleasing. Not to mention that the bamboo makes the packaging sustainable and helps to shield the tropically-scented products from harmful UV lighting. Some of the best products from the Mahalo Skin Care line include the Pele Mask, the Mahalo Balm and the Vitality Elixir.
Pele Mask: With an interesting mix of ingredients including volcanic ash clay, hibiscus, turmeric and more, this mask – named after the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele – will tighten pores, soften wrinkles, fight acne, reverse aging, calm inflammation and restart circulation. $60
Mahalo Balm: This balm is a mix of rich and exotic ingredients, including avocado butter, rosehip, carrot and grapeseed butter, and will repair skin by promoting healthy cell growth, reduce redness and sooth imperfections. It can be used as makeup remover, lip balm, hand cream, lotion, moisturizer and cleanser. $90
Vitality Elixir: Yet another unique blend of ingredients – including tamanu, turmeric, and helichrysum – this light oil serum perfectly combats both aging and acne. It brings out that youthful glow by pampering, nurturing and revitalizing your skin. $110
From its beautiful packaging to its effective ingredients, Mahalo is a must-try for anyone in search of a spectacular skin care line!
NEW THINKING, NEWER PRACTICES – AND SKINCARE BRANDS I’M LOVING
I have so much to blog about I honestly don’t know where to start. I cannot tell you how much I am loving the industry at the moment. There is so much great newness coming out of the US in particular, that I can’t wait to get it on my face, get it on client’s faces, talk about it, talk to retailers about them. It’s just exciting. After a couple of years down the *argan oil and sheet masks* black hole (kill me now), it’s so welcome.
All of these brands, besides springing out of the West Coast (and beyond) have one thing in common: they all invoke a sense of calm to the skin and mind that seems to fit perfectly in both the current world – and they all blend beautifully into treatment rooms when used in conjunction with hi-tec brands.
Mahalo Skincare is another Hawaiian-based brand (erm thanks Hawaii!) that comes prepared in beautiful hand carved glass-in-wood packaging and again like Leahlani is made of beautiful raw, natural ingredients that you literally cannot wait to get on your skin. My most-used products are currently Vacation Glow and the Mahalo Balm.
Mahalo is available in the UK from www.alyaka.com and in the US from mahalo.care
10 Best Face Oils and Serums – The Vitality Elixir facial serum
Rich and potent Vitality Elixir infuses skin renewing powerhouses like sea buckthorn, turmeric, and carrot seed into omega-rich kukui and chia super-oils making it the perfect all-in-one treatment serum and nourishing oil for all skin types. Clarifying black cumin, tamanu, and helichrysum, also in the mix, keep breakouts at bay.
Product Review: The Pele Mask by Mahalo
…Bioactive and concentrated yet gentle and non-irritating, The Pele Mask really does what it claims—gives you a revitalized glow.
Named for the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele, the mask features volcanic ash clay to draw toxins from the skin and clear the pores…collectively the formula offers a treatment that leaves my skin feeling purified and revitalized, never dehydrated or irritated.
That’s pretty magical in my book. I love that the mask is a powder, which means I can customize it as I please. My favorite way to prepare The Pele Mask is to blend in a ceramic dish with a little dash of rosewater to activate the mask. I enjoy applying masks like this with a brush for a quick and even application. Mahalo makes a pretty Mini Treatment Bowl and Brush set for this purpose. The Pele Mask comes to life and fizzes as it swells into a mousse-like consistency that’s easy to spread. The soft earthy scent of the mask is subtle and lovely. After 20 minutes of masking, I like to hop in the shower to rinse clean. …
REVIEW: BEAUTY HEROES MAY 2016 FEATURING MAHALO SKIN CARE
When you open up the jar it smells like a blend of ylang yang, lavender, vanilla and iris. The smell is quite unique and very strong in my opinion. I don’t think it’s a scent that everyone will fall in love with.
The balm is rich and dense, you don’t need to use much at all. After washing my face and applying toner, I scoop out 1/2 a pea size and evenly disperse onto my finger tips. Then, I take the balm and gently pat it into my skin and neck. It doesn’t seem like this would be enough, but this is plenty. Overall the balm is great and I would repurchase. I love how it makes your skin silky and smooth and the ingredients are top notch. With regular use the balm could easily last 6 months.
Final Thoughts:
Beauty Heroes knocks this one box out of the ball park. The box is such a great value for what it is and I am continually impressed. As for the indigo balm and petal mask I think they worked very well. The only thing is the scent could be bit strong and I would suggest getting a sample or smelling the product before purchasing.
MAHALO SKIN CARE RED MY LIPS LIP TINT
Mahalo Skin Care Red My Lips is a gorgeous lip tint with plumping infusion and is for a great cause, The Red My Lips organization. The moment I saw this beauty I knew I had to have it. First, Mahalo Skin Care is one of my must have skin care lines and so anything made by them I must get. Secondly, this was their first make up treat and hello beautiful red, packaging and ingredients. Third, and most important 20% of proceeds from these luxury clean lip tint goes to the Red My Lips organization. Seriously, everything about this is exquisite.
“Mahalo Skin Care created The Red My Lips Tint from their passion for social causes, clean beauty, and desire to give back.”
RED MY LIPS CAMPAIGN
I didn’t know about this campaign until Maryna of Mahalo Skin Care shared the Red My Lips Campaign. Red My Lips.org is a non-profit organization who runs a global campaign in the month of April. This is a Red Lip-wearing campaign in April where supporters join together to speak out against rape myths and victim blaming, demonstrate solidarity and support for all survivors, and raise awareness and funds. So in April if you want to raise awareness wear Red Lipstick or this gorgeous Red Lip tint by Mahalo Skin Care, whether your a man or woman, please do.
This is an amazing organization and cause, which doesn’t get nearly enough people talking about it. The thing is we need to join together to start the conversation because likely we all know someone or are close to someone that has been affected by sexual violence.
BATTLE OF THE BEAUTY BALMS
It seems like beauty balms are all the rage these days and with good reason. They’ve become an integral “last step” in my routine, and they are slowly but surely replacing the more traditional cold creams / moisturizers I’ve been accustomed to.
I’ve been testing out three of what I perceive to be some of, it not the most, popular balms on the green beauty market: The Blue Cocoon by May Lindstrom, The Rare Indigo by Mahalo, and Bless Beauty Balm by Leahlani Skincare.
All three have a similar function – to nourish the skin with a potent cocktail of natural antioxidants and vitamins, resulting in renewed, hydrated, and more youthful skin. They are particularly useful for reliving irritated or rebellious skin. I love them all for various reasons despite their similarities. Read below for an overview of my experience with each, and to find out which of the three I would repurchase!
… when I repurchase, I would have to go with…The Rare Indigo by Mahalo.
Simply put, the scent of The Rare Indigo makes me weak at the knees and it’s the one that makes my skin look the most radiant. I find it noticeably reduces the signs of aging including plumping fine lines and softening pigmentation. I know the Rare Indigo has me covered on all fronts.
The ONE Product You Really, Actually Need This Summer
I really hate when brands boast of having beauty products that are “vacations in a bottle.” No matter how coconut-tropical-fruity smelling a body lotion might smell, it can’t successfully convince me that I’m on a beach in Maui when I’m actually reading a million emails at my desk in the middle of the day, basking under the glow of the office lights.
Mahalo Vacation Glow…gets pretty darn close. Maybe it’s the name and the very cool wooden bottle—even the ingredients and the “how to use” are engraved into the container, which shows an immense level of detail that you cannot stop looking at—that has me believing, but there’s something about this body-hair elixir that’s in a word, “beachy.”
The brand describes it as “molten sunshine potion”—a phrase that my cynical self would normally roll my eyes at, but in this case, I cannot think of a more dead-on description. It smells like fresh white florals (there’s essential oils of jasmine/Hawaiian pikake), plus something you can’t quite put your finger on (it’s a mix of tuberose, ylang-ylang and geranium)—a fragrant concoction that’s definitely more than enough for someone to stop and ask you what you are wearing.
Then, there are the hard-hitters: vitamin E–rich Kukui, balancing macadamia, does-everything argan oil, skin-repairing sea buckthorn and mega-hydrator avocado. The lineup makes the most perfect oil, a sort of rich serum that works perfectly post-shower—you literally only need a drop—to smooth out hair and perfect the skin on your legs. The best part: The scent and glowing hydration sticks around, so when your midday coffee kick calls, you may actually be able to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and pretend you’re on a lounge chair looking out at the sea somewhere.
MAY’S BEAUTY HERO BY MAHALO SKINCARE
This month’s Beauty Heroes box comes to us from Mahalo Skincare, all the way from the “Garden Island” of Hawaii, Kaua’i. Mahalo (meaning gratitude, respect, praise) Skincare is lovingly and painstakingly made by husband-wife team, Maryna and Mark Kacht. (I met them at IBE, and they could not be more lovely). The couple set out to develop a skincare line that works on every level – energetic, physical and spiritual. Each product is a synergy thoughtfully sourced, integrity ingredients, hand-crafted in small batches to delivery efficacy and a luxurious experience of botanical skincare.
This month’s hero product is the much talked about Mahalo Skincare Rare Indigo Balm. When this product launched late last year, bloggers couldn’t stop discussing it. This balm is so unique; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried. I’d never heard of anyone using Indigo in skincare before, and it lends a beautiful color to the formula, so I was really intrigued and wanted to learn more. Organic hemp, murumuru, babassu, grape seed and kukui oils replenish the skin with essential fatty acids, while helichrysum, chamomile, acai, and chamazulene-rich yarrow build a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profile to renew skin at the cellular level. Rose, Vitamin C, coQ10, iris, carrot seed, and bergamot deliver a youth-enhancing and restorative boost to repair stressed skin. The result is calmed, soothed, deeply hydrated skin. The scent seems strong at first, ( a blend of vanilla, iris, ylang ylang, frankincense and lavender) but a little balm goes a long way, and its fragrance becomes more subtle once on the skin.
This month’s Sidekick is The Petal by Mahalo Skincare. The Petal is a rich and decadent pre-mixed, pudding-like face mask that brings out the skin’s natural glow and vitality. The base of enzyme-rich honey, naturally exfoliates and draws in moisture while rose clay and cacao soften and gently detoxify. Floral essences of rose, hibiscus, chamomile, jasmine, ylang ylang and rose geranium are perfectly arranged to create the ultimate beautifying skin treatment, gentle enough to apply pre-event or several times a week. Again, the scent seems strong at first, but it is meant to provide a dose of aromatherapy while you wear it.
Mahalo Skincare Vitality Elixir
Mahalo’s Vitality elixir is a golden-colored silky oil nested in Mahalo’s gorgeous signature bamboo packaging (with a pump oil dispenser)…Performance-wise, Mahalo’s Vitality will most likely federate, it packs a vitamin punch to say the least. Just like we use coffee to wake us up, Vitality does the same for the skin. Whenever my skin is lackluster and tired, I apply two drops of Mahalo for a skin massage and my face quickly regains some color, and I look like I just came back from a nice workout. The Mahalo elixir is made of 10 mighty ingredients combining anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. I believe it’s one of the best serums for oily skin since it tackles two issues at once: preventing skin inflammations and breakouts while also boosting the skin and helping to protect from environmental damages….For my oily skin, I’ve found it to be moisturizing enough, it’s quickly absorbed and non-greasy. Those with dry skin would have to verify if it’s rich enough for them, but I feel like mixing a few drops with a cream moisturizer will do the trick….The good thing is that a little goes a long way: two drops are enough to cover the whole face.
Currently Using: Mahalo Skin Care
There are plenty of compelling natural beauty products out there, ones that are both effective and a joy to use. But few are actually legit works of art, which is what I encountered when I tried Rare Indigo Beauty Balm from Mahalo Skin Care in the May 2016 Beauty Heroes box.
Come to think of it, finding product masterpieces that you’ll want to buy again and again and tell your best friends about is one major aspect of the Beauty Heroes mission. But in the few months that I’ve been a Beauty Heroes Ambassador, I’ve had quite a few deliveries that left me shocked (and, um, super-psyched) about the quality of the products this subscription service delivers. I think Jeannie Jarnot, the founder of Beauty Heroes, gets a real thrill out of knowing that her subscribers are jumping with joy at the mailbox on a regular basis!
But back to Rare Indigo. This buttery balm indulges your visual senses as much as your olfactory and tactile senses. It’s the loveliest shade of soft, could-this-actually-be-natural purple, for crying out loud. It feels nothing short of restorative and youth-giving when I melt it between my fingers, inhale its heady natural fragrance (a mix of vanilla, iris, ylang-ylang, frankincense, and lavender), and press it into my skin each evening. I may have had a had a tough day juggling clients and writing in my office, and my toddler most likely wiped his nose and spilled smoothie on me several times, but at that moment I’m the queen of Kauai (the Hawaiian home of Mahalo Skin Care and its founder Maryna Kracht). I love its strong anti-inflammatory and deeply moisturizing properties, a product of ingredients including helichrysum, chamomile, and yarrow to soothe, rose, carrot seed, and CoQ10 to heal, and organic hemp and kukui oils to moisturize. Again, a work of art! And if you have seen the paradise that is Kauai (incidentally, it’s where my husband and I honeymooned 5 years ago!), then you can begin to understand where at least some of Rare Indigo’s natural beauty and allure originates. Thank you Beauty Heroes and Mahalo Skin Care for many beautiful moments this month!
The Rare Indigo balm
It’s my second jar of Indigo balm, so I’ve had enough time to properly use it and see the results on my face. If I had to pick a favorite product from Mahalo, it would be the Rare Indigo beauty balm, because it blew me away. When it comes to balms in general, a bunch of them comprise beeswax and shea butter which have a tendency to feel clogging on my skin if I use them for an extended period of time. To avoid any trouble, I mainly use balms during colder months, but I don’t have this issue with Rare Indigo, because its formula is quite unique, containing for example Murumuru butter and Babassu, which are both from the region of Amazon. Murumuru is emollient, high in essential fatty acids, and contributes in restoring elasticity. It’s often used to heal psiorasis, exczema and dry skin. Babassu is has soothing properties and used to treat inflammations. Another plus is that is said to be non-comedogenic, which I something I do believe since I did not experience any breakouts by using the product….In terms of skin benefits, it has been particularly efficient in calming inflammations and lower oxidation damage in stressed tissues. Environmental pollution, stress, fatigue, all these elements can affect the skin. I often feel my skin congested and tense, and to avoid resorting to Frownies prematurely, I’ve been turning to Mahalo’s Rare Indigo for help. Every-time I apply it on my face, I feel like the tension melts away. My face feels supple, soft, refreshed and looks glowing. I’ve been using it morning and evening. Little funny story: before going to the dermatologist, I put some Indigo Rare on my dad’s face because his face was quite dry and he looked a bit tired. During the doctor’s appointment, she complimented him on his glowing skin! It works like a charm I tell you.
Another win for me was the scent. This is obviously a matter of personal taste, some will love it, others won’t, but I’m very receptive to the aromatherapeutic benefits of its floral scent: inhaling the exquisite aroma it calms me down instantly. Rare Indigo feels very nurturing and comforting at the same time, it’s the perfect companion for stressed and problematic skin like mine. Why is it called Rare? Because it’s manufactured in small batches and the process is handmade.
CENTER YOURSELF & SKIN WITH THE RARE INDIGO™
I was a balm virgin…until two weeks ago …
Why hadn’t I used balms before? I was scared, honestly. I always pictured balms as heavy, greasy, and nothing my skin would react well to. I had visions of blackheads a plenty and oil slicks across my forehead by noon. But these two balms were just so inviting I dared to try them. Boy was I wrong about my negative expectations, it’s pretty safe to say I am now reaching for one of these beauties at minimum once a day if not more…quite the 180.
MAHALO SKIN CARE
Founded by Hawaiian resident, Maryna, Mahalo is designed to work in healing a trifecta of physical, energetic, and spiritual bodies. This brand evokes our beauty from within by focusing heavily on our energy and the effects it has on our skin. Mahalo is an amazing representation of whole beauty, where we understand that the mingling of each part is necessary to create a vibrant wellbeing. Each of Mahalo Skin Care’s products are meant to invite us to enjoy sacred beauty so that each day we crave our beauty rituals which nourishes not only our skin, but soul. Like so many in the green beauty world, Mahalo Skin Care understands that beauty is much deeper than skin.
A tropical emulsion of indigo colored hydration The Rare Indigo™ is nothing short of heavenly. The indigo color correlates with the third eye chakra which allows for us to have a larger awareness of the world around and within us. The scent is calming, mellow, and soothing with soft floral aromas of iris bathed in ylang ylang, frankincense and vanilla. It’s never overpowering and always inviting, sometimes I find myself just opening the jar to take a whiff…it is that wonderful.
The oils, infusions, botanicals, and butters that are blended to create The Rare Indigo™ are combined to provide hefty doses of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Hemp, kukui, murumuru, helichrysum, acai, CoQ10, and indigo, to name a few, are teeming inside this balm to provide repair and protection to any skin type. They renew deep inside our cells to reveal hydrated and restored skin.
The balm is to be applied to freshly washed skin and just a small scoop (which comes with the balm) is warmed between the palms. I love to inhale deeply a few times before I apply it to my skin as the scent is transformative and mellows my nerves. I then apply The Rare Indigo™ by pressing it into my skin and then gently massaging it for a minute or so in circular motions. Instantly I feel happy and even-keeled, as if sitting on a white sand beach in Hawaii. My skin appears hydrated, prepped, and has a nice glow. The Rare Indigo™ wears beautifully under makeup making it great in the am or pm.
Going back to my fear of balms and that they’d be overly heavy, greasy,or pore clogging… Rare Indigo™ is anything but. Within 10-15 minutes the product is soaked in, it always feels light, and has never caused any pore mishaps. Rather, it is anti-inflammatory and ultra calming thanks to the indigo, helichrysum and other botanicals. What a special treat we have in store for us this month. The Rare Indigo™ retails for $110, but as always it’s a steal with Beauty Heroes. Join Beauty Heroes here to receive this months box delivered to your door.
THE PETAL
A muted desert rose in color The Petal mask is a beta-hydroxy treatment that naturally exfoliates, detoxes, and hydrates the skin. The scent is like a blend of chocolate and flowers with earthy undertones and the mask leaves the skin amazingly soft and even.
Formulated in a base of honey (one of my favorite things for a home DIY) the mask is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating which makes it great for every skin type, especially acne prone. Rose clay, sodium hyaluronate, cacao, algae, and a blend of rose in multiple forms make this mask super power-packed and luscious.
Just a teaspoon is all that’s needed for the entire face. Apply it with fingers or a brush and let sit for 10-30 minutes, or even longer if you prefer as doesn’t dry out quickly. Wash with a warm cloth and admire the hydrated and decongested skin it reveals.
Together the mask and balm make great partners. Apply The Petal, let sit on your skin for a morning meditation or prayer and rinse. Follow with a spritz of your favorite toner and bathe your skin and nerves in the calming cloak of The Rare Indigo™. After makeup your ready to conquer your day, renewed and glowing.
Review: Mahalo rare indigo Balm
I’ve had so many requests to chat more about the Mahalo Skincare Rare Indigo Balm, so I thought I’d dish out the inside scoop on this little enchantress which just so happens to be one of my favourite skin saviours right now. There was a line once in the best movie of all time – Under The Tuscan Sun – where Diane Lane is writing a postcard and describes grapes in the market as ‘smelling of purple’. When I first took a sniff of this magical potion, that’s the exact phrase that came to mind: it smells like purple! And what does purple exactly smell like? A luxurious blend of aromatherapy oils that’s crisp yet sweet, with floral undercurrents of rose, ylang ylang, chamomile and iris.
THE VERDICT Winner, winner, chicken dinner. This ticks all the boxes for me because it’s multi-purpose, and such a delicious part of my daily skin prep routine. From the healing, anti-inflammatory properties to the enchanting look, feel and intoxicating therapeutic aroma, I’m a convert. The best part is that there’s enough to last you months and months, so the investment value makes it totally worth it. It’s a must-try for organic loving beauty buffs, Divine Goddesses or anyone looking to cure serious skin irritations with the healing powers of Hawaiian Rare Indigo.
Paratiisi Puupurnukoissa – A Finnish Review
I have been waiting for so long to have those wooden puddings in my hands and – aaaaaah – in the late summer I was finally rewarded… The timing could not have been more suitable, even in the days of the fall, something like this. Hawaii’s sand, sun and tropical rain blossom with fragrant winds. Can we take a moment to talk about the unimaginably beautiful wooden packaging ?! Handmade carvings finish luxury. Mahalo’s products have a quite different feeling than all my other natural cosmetics. Some kind of casual honesty comes through everything from the scent of products to their uncompromising compositions and what they are used for. I got the whole set and tried to tell the word about my own favorites.
If you only try one, I definitely recommend the Rare Indigo Beauty Balm. I have used it in the evenings, in the morning the skin looks rested and glowing. The effect is noticeable in just a couple of days. It also corrects skin damage and soothes acne inflammations. Vacation Glow, what a wonderful name! This body and hair elixir is the most luxurious and golden oil I have ever come across. Mahalo Balm is love in a bottle that can be used as a moisturizing cream after adding serum or a beauty mix- or in ten other ways. Like, for example, a night eye lotion that eliminates swelling and fades odors, or like me, a lip balm addict: lip gloss that treats and nourishes for a long time. From the masks my favorite so far is the Petal Mask. Rose and jasmine fragrant honey gel mask brightens, suppresses and soothes the skin. Last but not least, is the oil serum Vitality Elixir. It is packed with an abundance of earth’s most powerful raw ingredients and makes miracles visible on the skin, it’s a must to admit that I love it the most as it looks like the Vacation Glow.
SAY ALOHA TO MAHALO SKIN CARE THE GREEN HAWAIIAN BRAND
Aloha! How would you like to take a little piece of Hawaii with you? A little piece of Hawaii that – trust us on this one – is practically guaranteed to give you that beautiful Hawaiian glow all year round?
We are happy to introduce to you Mahalo Skin Care! Mahalo, handmade on Kauai, Hawaii, is dubbed so after an old Hawaiian word that means gratitude and respect. Many of their products are infused with volcanic ash and other unique, eco-friendly ingredients native to Hawaii that will keep your skin thriving on a daily basis. Mahalo is committed to offering the best, safest and most organic skin care while still guaranteeing the highest quality products.
With its beautiful bamboo packaging, Mahalo is not only extremely effective but also aesthetically pleasing. Not to mention that the bamboo makes the packaging sustainable and helps to shield the tropically-scented products from harmful UV lighting. Some of the best products from the Mahalo Skin Care line include the Pele Mask, the Mahalo Balm and the Vitality Elixir.
Pele Mask: With an interesting mix of ingredients including volcanic ash clay, hibiscus, turmeric and more, this mask – named after the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele – will tighten pores, soften wrinkles, fight acne, reverse aging, calm inflammation and restart circulation. $60
Mahalo Balm: This balm is a mix of rich and exotic ingredients, including avocado butter, rosehip, carrot and grapeseed butter, and will repair skin by promoting healthy cell growth, reduce redness and sooth imperfections. It can be used as makeup remover, lip balm, hand cream, lotion, moisturizer and cleanser. $90
Vitality Elixir: Yet another unique blend of ingredients – including tamanu, turmeric, and helichrysum – this light oil serum perfectly combats both aging and acne. It brings out that youthful glow by pampering, nurturing and revitalizing your skin. $110
From its beautiful packaging to its effective ingredients, Mahalo is a must-try for anyone in search of a spectacular skin care line!
NEW THINKING, NEWER PRACTICES – AND SKINCARE BRANDS I’M LOVING
I have so much to blog about I honestly don’t know where to start. I cannot tell you how much I am loving the industry at the moment. There is so much great newness coming out of the US in particular, that I can’t wait to get it on my face, get it on client’s faces, talk about it, talk to retailers about them. It’s just exciting. After a couple of years down the *argan oil and sheet masks* black hole (kill me now), it’s so welcome.
All of these brands, besides springing out of the West Coast (and beyond) have one thing in common: they all invoke a sense of calm to the skin and mind that seems to fit perfectly in both the current world – and they all blend beautifully into treatment rooms when used in conjunction with hi-tec brands.
Mahalo Skincare is another Hawaiian-based brand (erm thanks Hawaii!) that comes prepared in beautiful hand carved glass-in-wood packaging and again like Leahlani is made of beautiful raw, natural ingredients that you literally cannot wait to get on your skin. My most-used products are currently Vacation Glow and the Mahalo Balm.
Mahalo is available in the UK from www.alyaka.com and in the US from mahalo.care
10 Best Face Oils and Serums – The Vitality Elixir facial serum
Rich and potent Vitality Elixir infuses skin renewing powerhouses like sea buckthorn, turmeric, and carrot seed into omega-rich kukui and chia super-oils making it the perfect all-in-one treatment serum and nourishing oil for all skin types. Clarifying black cumin, tamanu, and helichrysum, also in the mix, keep breakouts at bay.
Product Review: The Pele Mask by Mahalo
…Bioactive and concentrated yet gentle and non-irritating, The Pele Mask really does what it claims—gives you a revitalized glow.
Named for the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele, the mask features volcanic ash clay to draw toxins from the skin and clear the pores…collectively the formula offers a treatment that leaves my skin feeling purified and revitalized, never dehydrated or irritated.
That’s pretty magical in my book. I love that the mask is a powder, which means I can customize it as I please. My favorite way to prepare The Pele Mask is to blend in a ceramic dish with a little dash of rosewater to activate the mask. I enjoy applying masks like this with a brush for a quick and even application. Mahalo makes a pretty Mini Treatment Bowl and Brush set for this purpose. The Pele Mask comes to life and fizzes as it swells into a mousse-like consistency that’s easy to spread. The soft earthy scent of the mask is subtle and lovely. After 20 minutes of masking, I like to hop in the shower to rinse clean. …
REVIEW: BEAUTY HEROES MAY 2016 FEATURING MAHALO SKIN CARE
When you open up the jar it smells like a blend of ylang yang, lavender, vanilla and iris. The smell is quite unique and very strong in my opinion. I don’t think it’s a scent that everyone will fall in love with.
The balm is rich and dense, you don’t need to use much at all. After washing my face and applying toner, I scoop out 1/2 a pea size and evenly disperse onto my finger tips. Then, I take the balm and gently pat it into my skin and neck. It doesn’t seem like this would be enough, but this is plenty. Overall the balm is great and I would repurchase. I love how it makes your skin silky and smooth and the ingredients are top notch. With regular use the balm could easily last 6 months.
Final Thoughts:
Beauty Heroes knocks this one box out of the ball park. The box is such a great value for what it is and I am continually impressed. As for the indigo balm and petal mask I think they worked very well. The only thing is the scent could be bit strong and I would suggest getting a sample or smelling the product before purchasing.
MAHALO SKIN CARE RED MY LIPS LIP TINT
Mahalo Skin Care Red My Lips is a gorgeous lip tint with plumping infusion and is for a great cause, The Red My Lips organization. The moment I saw this beauty I knew I had to have it. First, Mahalo Skin Care is one of my must have skin care lines and so anything made by them I must get. Secondly, this was their first make up treat and hello beautiful red, packaging and ingredients. Third, and most important 20% of proceeds from these luxury clean lip tint goes to the Red My Lips organization. Seriously, everything about this is exquisite.
“Mahalo Skin Care created The Red My Lips Tint from their passion for social causes, clean beauty, and desire to give back.”
RED MY LIPS CAMPAIGN
I didn’t know about this campaign until Maryna of Mahalo Skin Care shared the Red My Lips Campaign. Red My Lips.org is a non-profit organization who runs a global campaign in the month of April. This is a Red Lip-wearing campaign in April where supporters join together to speak out against rape myths and victim blaming, demonstrate solidarity and support for all survivors, and raise awareness and funds. So in April if you want to raise awareness wear Red Lipstick or this gorgeous Red Lip tint by Mahalo Skin Care, whether your a man or woman, please do.
This is an amazing organization and cause, which doesn’t get nearly enough people talking about it. The thing is we need to join together to start the conversation because likely we all know someone or are close to someone that has been affected by sexual violence.
BATTLE OF THE BEAUTY BALMS
It seems like beauty balms are all the rage these days and with good reason. They’ve become an integral “last step” in my routine, and they are slowly but surely replacing the more traditional cold creams / moisturizers I’ve been accustomed to.
I’ve been testing out three of what I perceive to be some of, it not the most, popular balms on the green beauty market: The Blue Cocoon by May Lindstrom, The Rare Indigo by Mahalo, and Bless Beauty Balm by Leahlani Skincare.
All three have a similar function – to nourish the skin with a potent cocktail of natural antioxidants and vitamins, resulting in renewed, hydrated, and more youthful skin. They are particularly useful for reliving irritated or rebellious skin. I love them all for various reasons despite their similarities. Read below for an overview of my experience with each, and to find out which of the three I would repurchase!
… when I repurchase, I would have to go with…The Rare Indigo by Mahalo.
Simply put, the scent of The Rare Indigo makes me weak at the knees and it’s the one that makes my skin look the most radiant. I find it noticeably reduces the signs of aging including plumping fine lines and softening pigmentation. I know the Rare Indigo has me covered on all fronts.
The ONE Product You Really, Actually Need This Summer
I really hate when brands boast of having beauty products that are “vacations in a bottle.” No matter how coconut-tropical-fruity smelling a body lotion might smell, it can’t successfully convince me that I’m on a beach in Maui when I’m actually reading a million emails at my desk in the middle of the day, basking under the glow of the office lights.
Mahalo Vacation Glow…gets pretty darn close. Maybe it’s the name and the very cool wooden bottle—even the ingredients and the “how to use” are engraved into the container, which shows an immense level of detail that you cannot stop looking at—that has me believing, but there’s something about this body-hair elixir that’s in a word, “beachy.”
The brand describes it as “molten sunshine potion”—a phrase that my cynical self would normally roll my eyes at, but in this case, I cannot think of a more dead-on description. It smells like fresh white florals (there’s essential oils of jasmine/Hawaiian pikake), plus something you can’t quite put your finger on (it’s a mix of tuberose, ylang-ylang and geranium)—a fragrant concoction that’s definitely more than enough for someone to stop and ask you what you are wearing.
Then, there are the hard-hitters: vitamin E–rich Kukui, balancing macadamia, does-everything argan oil, skin-repairing sea buckthorn and mega-hydrator avocado. The lineup makes the most perfect oil, a sort of rich serum that works perfectly post-shower—you literally only need a drop—to smooth out hair and perfect the skin on your legs. The best part: The scent and glowing hydration sticks around, so when your midday coffee kick calls, you may actually be able to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and pretend you’re on a lounge chair looking out at the sea somewhere.
MAY’S BEAUTY HERO BY MAHALO SKINCARE
This month’s Beauty Heroes box comes to us from Mahalo Skincare, all the way from the “Garden Island” of Hawaii, Kaua’i. Mahalo (meaning gratitude, respect, praise) Skincare is lovingly and painstakingly made by husband-wife team, Maryna and Mark Kacht. (I met them at IBE, and they could not be more lovely). The couple set out to develop a skincare line that works on every level – energetic, physical and spiritual. Each product is a synergy thoughtfully sourced, integrity ingredients, hand-crafted in small batches to delivery efficacy and a luxurious experience of botanical skincare.
This month’s hero product is the much talked about Mahalo Skincare Rare Indigo Balm. When this product launched late last year, bloggers couldn’t stop discussing it. This balm is so unique; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried. I’d never heard of anyone using Indigo in skincare before, and it lends a beautiful color to the formula, so I was really intrigued and wanted to learn more. Organic hemp, murumuru, babassu, grape seed and kukui oils replenish the skin with essential fatty acids, while helichrysum, chamomile, acai, and chamazulene-rich yarrow build a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profile to renew skin at the cellular level. Rose, Vitamin C, coQ10, iris, carrot seed, and bergamot deliver a youth-enhancing and restorative boost to repair stressed skin. The result is calmed, soothed, deeply hydrated skin. The scent seems strong at first, ( a blend of vanilla, iris, ylang ylang, frankincense and lavender) but a little balm goes a long way, and its fragrance becomes more subtle once on the skin.
This month’s Sidekick is The Petal by Mahalo Skincare. The Petal is a rich and decadent pre-mixed, pudding-like face mask that brings out the skin’s natural glow and vitality. The base of enzyme-rich honey, naturally exfoliates and draws in moisture while rose clay and cacao soften and gently detoxify. Floral essences of rose, hibiscus, chamomile, jasmine, ylang ylang and rose geranium are perfectly arranged to create the ultimate beautifying skin treatment, gentle enough to apply pre-event or several times a week. Again, the scent seems strong at first, but it is meant to provide a dose of aromatherapy while you wear it.
Mahalo Skincare Vitality Elixir
Mahalo’s Vitality elixir is a golden-colored silky oil nested in Mahalo’s gorgeous signature bamboo packaging (with a pump oil dispenser)…Performance-wise, Mahalo’s Vitality will most likely federate, it packs a vitamin punch to say the least. Just like we use coffee to wake us up, Vitality does the same for the skin. Whenever my skin is lackluster and tired, I apply two drops of Mahalo for a skin massage and my face quickly regains some color, and I look like I just came back from a nice workout. The Mahalo elixir is made of 10 mighty ingredients combining anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. I believe it’s one of the best serums for oily skin since it tackles two issues at once: preventing skin inflammations and breakouts while also boosting the skin and helping to protect from environmental damages….For my oily skin, I’ve found it to be moisturizing enough, it’s quickly absorbed and non-greasy. Those with dry skin would have to verify if it’s rich enough for them, but I feel like mixing a few drops with a cream moisturizer will do the trick….The good thing is that a little goes a long way: two drops are enough to cover the whole face.
Currently Using: Mahalo Skin Care
There are plenty of compelling natural beauty products out there, ones that are both effective and a joy to use. But few are actually legit works of art, which is what I encountered when I tried Rare Indigo Beauty Balm from Mahalo Skin Care in the May 2016 Beauty Heroes box.
Come to think of it, finding product masterpieces that you’ll want to buy again and again and tell your best friends about is one major aspect of the Beauty Heroes mission. But in the few months that I’ve been a Beauty Heroes Ambassador, I’ve had quite a few deliveries that left me shocked (and, um, super-psyched) about the quality of the products this subscription service delivers. I think Jeannie Jarnot, the founder of Beauty Heroes, gets a real thrill out of knowing that her subscribers are jumping with joy at the mailbox on a regular basis!
But back to Rare Indigo. This buttery balm indulges your visual senses as much as your olfactory and tactile senses. It’s the loveliest shade of soft, could-this-actually-be-natural purple, for crying out loud. It feels nothing short of restorative and youth-giving when I melt it between my fingers, inhale its heady natural fragrance (a mix of vanilla, iris, ylang-ylang, frankincense, and lavender), and press it into my skin each evening. I may have had a had a tough day juggling clients and writing in my office, and my toddler most likely wiped his nose and spilled smoothie on me several times, but at that moment I’m the queen of Kauai (the Hawaiian home of Mahalo Skin Care and its founder Maryna Kracht). I love its strong anti-inflammatory and deeply moisturizing properties, a product of ingredients including helichrysum, chamomile, and yarrow to soothe, rose, carrot seed, and CoQ10 to heal, and organic hemp and kukui oils to moisturize. Again, a work of art! And if you have seen the paradise that is Kauai (incidentally, it’s where my husband and I honeymooned 5 years ago!), then you can begin to understand where at least some of Rare Indigo’s natural beauty and allure originates. Thank you Beauty Heroes and Mahalo Skin Care for many beautiful moments this month!
The Rare Indigo balm
It’s my second jar of Indigo balm, so I’ve had enough time to properly use it and see the results on my face. If I had to pick a favorite product from Mahalo, it would be the Rare Indigo beauty balm, because it blew me away. When it comes to balms in general, a bunch of them comprise beeswax and shea butter which have a tendency to feel clogging on my skin if I use them for an extended period of time. To avoid any trouble, I mainly use balms during colder months, but I don’t have this issue with Rare Indigo, because its formula is quite unique, containing for example Murumuru butter and Babassu, which are both from the region of Amazon. Murumuru is emollient, high in essential fatty acids, and contributes in restoring elasticity. It’s often used to heal psiorasis, exczema and dry skin. Babassu is has soothing properties and used to treat inflammations. Another plus is that is said to be non-comedogenic, which I something I do believe since I did not experience any breakouts by using the product….In terms of skin benefits, it has been particularly efficient in calming inflammations and lower oxidation damage in stressed tissues. Environmental pollution, stress, fatigue, all these elements can affect the skin. I often feel my skin congested and tense, and to avoid resorting to Frownies prematurely, I’ve been turning to Mahalo’s Rare Indigo for help. Every-time I apply it on my face, I feel like the tension melts away. My face feels supple, soft, refreshed and looks glowing. I’ve been using it morning and evening. Little funny story: before going to the dermatologist, I put some Indigo Rare on my dad’s face because his face was quite dry and he looked a bit tired. During the doctor’s appointment, she complimented him on his glowing skin! It works like a charm I tell you.
Another win for me was the scent. This is obviously a matter of personal taste, some will love it, others won’t, but I’m very receptive to the aromatherapeutic benefits of its floral scent: inhaling the exquisite aroma it calms me down instantly. Rare Indigo feels very nurturing and comforting at the same time, it’s the perfect companion for stressed and problematic skin like mine. Why is it called Rare? Because it’s manufactured in small batches and the process is handmade.
CENTER YOURSELF & SKIN WITH THE RARE INDIGO™
I was a balm virgin…until two weeks ago …
Why hadn’t I used balms before? I was scared, honestly. I always pictured balms as heavy, greasy, and nothing my skin would react well to. I had visions of blackheads a plenty and oil slicks across my forehead by noon. But these two balms were just so inviting I dared to try them. Boy was I wrong about my negative expectations, it’s pretty safe to say I am now reaching for one of these beauties at minimum once a day if not more…quite the 180.
MAHALO SKIN CARE
Founded by Hawaiian resident, Maryna, Mahalo is designed to work in healing a trifecta of physical, energetic, and spiritual bodies. This brand evokes our beauty from within by focusing heavily on our energy and the effects it has on our skin. Mahalo is an amazing representation of whole beauty, where we understand that the mingling of each part is necessary to create a vibrant wellbeing. Each of Mahalo Skin Care’s products are meant to invite us to enjoy sacred beauty so that each day we crave our beauty rituals which nourishes not only our skin, but soul. Like so many in the green beauty world, Mahalo Skin Care understands that beauty is much deeper than skin.
A tropical emulsion of indigo colored hydration The Rare Indigo™ is nothing short of heavenly. The indigo color correlates with the third eye chakra which allows for us to have a larger awareness of the world around and within us. The scent is calming, mellow, and soothing with soft floral aromas of iris bathed in ylang ylang, frankincense and vanilla. It’s never overpowering and always inviting, sometimes I find myself just opening the jar to take a whiff…it is that wonderful.
The oils, infusions, botanicals, and butters that are blended to create The Rare Indigo™ are combined to provide hefty doses of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Hemp, kukui, murumuru, helichrysum, acai, CoQ10, and indigo, to name a few, are teeming inside this balm to provide repair and protection to any skin type. They renew deep inside our cells to reveal hydrated and restored skin.
The balm is to be applied to freshly washed skin and just a small scoop (which comes with the balm) is warmed between the palms. I love to inhale deeply a few times before I apply it to my skin as the scent is transformative and mellows my nerves. I then apply The Rare Indigo™ by pressing it into my skin and then gently massaging it for a minute or so in circular motions. Instantly I feel happy and even-keeled, as if sitting on a white sand beach in Hawaii. My skin appears hydrated, prepped, and has a nice glow. The Rare Indigo™ wears beautifully under makeup making it great in the am or pm.
Going back to my fear of balms and that they’d be overly heavy, greasy,or pore clogging… Rare Indigo™ is anything but. Within 10-15 minutes the product is soaked in, it always feels light, and has never caused any pore mishaps. Rather, it is anti-inflammatory and ultra calming thanks to the indigo, helichrysum and other botanicals. What a special treat we have in store for us this month. The Rare Indigo™ retails for $110, but as always it’s a steal with Beauty Heroes. Join Beauty Heroes here to receive this months box delivered to your door.
THE PETAL
A muted desert rose in color The Petal mask is a beta-hydroxy treatment that naturally exfoliates, detoxes, and hydrates the skin. The scent is like a blend of chocolate and flowers with earthy undertones and the mask leaves the skin amazingly soft and even.
Formulated in a base of honey (one of my favorite things for a home DIY) the mask is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating which makes it great for every skin type, especially acne prone. Rose clay, sodium hyaluronate, cacao, algae, and a blend of rose in multiple forms make this mask super power-packed and luscious.
Just a teaspoon is all that’s needed for the entire face. Apply it with fingers or a brush and let sit for 10-30 minutes, or even longer if you prefer as doesn’t dry out quickly. Wash with a warm cloth and admire the hydrated and decongested skin it reveals.
Together the mask and balm make great partners. Apply The Petal, let sit on your skin for a morning meditation or prayer and rinse. Follow with a spritz of your favorite toner and bathe your skin and nerves in the calming cloak of The Rare Indigo™. After makeup your ready to conquer your day, renewed and glowing.