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3 STEPS TO THE BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE
So excited to share with you my 3 Steps to the Best Skincare Routine. I find people often aren’t sure what a beauty routine is or where to even start. Or perhaps they think they have a routine, yet instead it looks a little more chaotic. In this post, I want to help you create a beauty routine that you not only love but that works for you. I will also be sharing some of my staples in my beauty routine and how they create the base of it. If it’s one thing I’ve learned since being in the beauty industry for over 14 years it’s that a beauty routine should not be ignored.
For this post I’ve partnered up with Beauty Heroes to showcase my faves and highlight why they make the staple list. If you’ve followed me long enough, then you’re no stranger to Beauty Heroes.
MASK
I often hear people say what does a mask really do? My response- so much! Masking can impart key nutrients to the skin, give you a glow, even skin tone, improve hyper pigmentation, draw out impurities and so much more. Finding the right mask may seem daunting but it’s all about addressing your key skincare concerns. If you really just want glowing skin, opt for a hydrating mask. If detoxifying your skin is top priority, look for masks with clay and minerals to draw out the toxins. Whatever your skincare need is, find a mask suited for that and then use it 2-3 times a week. Just like exfoliation, I pick 2 days of the week and set those as my mask days. It’s something I look forward to and creates a little ritual out of it.
One of my favorite masks I found through Beauty Heroes is Mahalo’s The Bean Antioxidant Mask. It like a thick mud but not drying like you might assume. It goes on easy and then dries. However, my skin doesn’t feel dry after using it. Instead, it feels like it just received a surge of adrenaline to the skin- in the best possible way! I know, weird way to describe it but my skin is more awake and the blood flow to the skin is so apparent. It was as if my skin had a good workout and is shining from the inside out. It smells divine. A sweet smell with notes of cacao and vanilla, ylang ylang and sandalwood. My skin also feels much smoother, and clear. I literally can see sun spots fading after using. It’s evident the mask actually gets in and detoxifies the skin.
LET’S TALK: INTENSE HYDRATION
With winter fast approaching, my skin is in need of intense hydration. I got a few requests to show my most hydrating products, including the ones that I find too hydrating for my skin. So here goes nothing. These are the most hydrating products I own.
Mahalo – Mahalo Balm
My personal balm of choice is the Mahalo Balm. Not at thick as the Vital Balm, this balm to oil adds moisture into my skin without feeling like it’s drowning it. I always wake up glowing after using this. Like the Vital Balm, I have been avoiding this during the summer as I just don’t need that much hydration, but I can’t wait to break it out when it cools down.
NEIMAN MARCUS INDIE BEAUTY
Beleaguered luxury retailer, Neiman Marcus, is entering the independent beauty market with ShopTheExpo, a collaboration with Indie Beauty Expo. Launching the limited-time collection over the weekend with a pop-up boutique in the NorthPark Dallas store, Neiman’s is featuring an assortment of fifteen products for sale on-line only. “With the rise in indie beauty we’ve been focused on curating an amazing assortment of under-the-radar brands,” said Kelly St. John, vice president, divisional merchandise manager for beauty at Neiman Marcus.
Brands included in the three-month sale are skincare companies, Ayuna, Beneath Your Mask, CircCell, Le Prunier, Luxe Botanics, Mahalo Skin Care, Planted In Beauty, Pour Moi, and Ranavat Botanics, the alternative Girl Undiscovered, color cosmetics from Ellis Faas, Joséphine Cosmetics, Lük Beautifood, and Sappho New Paradigm, and dental care from Swiss Smile. In November a Trending Beauty Shop will open in the NorthPark store, featuring many of these names to highlight newness. “Certainly in the industry you hear about designer and mass being challenging…[at Neiman Marcus] the niche and luxury [categories] continue to be very, very strong,” St. John continued.
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
Indie Beauty Expo at Neiman Marcus
Meet the names shaking up the beauty world.
They’re passionate about beauty, sharing their secrets and they’re only here for a limited time.
Maryna Kracht established her skin care on the principles of Hawaiin mindfullness, gratitude and clean ingredients.
The line employs CO2 extraction that delivers the purest extracts with a near-identical profile to the raw plants.
HONEY-BASED EXFOLIATING MASK REVIEWS: MAHALO THE BEAN
Mahalo The Bean Antioxidant Mask: In my opinion, this is the gentlest – and the best-smelling – of the three. It has a spicy coffee/chocolate scent that makes it a pleasure to use, and it’s a great mask to unwind with after a long day.
This would be a great option for those of you who are looking for a decadent, nutrient-dense mask that really delivers. The exfoliants in this mask are very gentle but they do visibly brighten my skin. The results are not as instant as the Active Enzyme Exfoliator, but I find that I tend to use it more often because it’s super gentle. I use The Bean up to three times a week as opposed to the Josh Rosebrook, which I use just once or twice.
I didn’t instantly fall in love with this mask when I first used it (I preferred The Petal, which gave me more instant results), but the more I used it the more I fell in love with it. In fact, it is currently one of my favourite Sunday night pamper masks, and I will repurchase it when I run out.
#ShopTheExpo at Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center
Indie Beauty Expo (IBE) brings Dallas beauty addicts a selection of under-the-radar products.
By partnering with Neiman Marcus, IBE continues to shed a light on independent beauty, lifestyle and wellness brands with an exposition-style roundup of products. Taking root in the retail markets of New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, IBE is slated to expand to London in 2018. The two-day event at NorthPark Center will feature a curated collection of fresh finds to switch up skincare routines! Founders Nader Naeymi-Rad and Jillian Wright, Neiman Marcus’ vice president of Beauty, Kelly St. John, and faces behind the brands will be on hand for a tailor-made shopping experience. Lines and products at ShopTheExpo include organic oil Le Prunier, Polynesian-inspired Mahalo Care, climate-smart skincare line, Pour Moi, and the Ayurvedic-based Ranavat. Giving power to the people, brands with buzz may become part of Neiman Marcus’ permanent beauty assortment. Oct. 20-21, Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center, 8687 N Central Expy
3 Masks to Transition Your Skin to Fall
With the cozy sweaters and stylish boots fall ushers in also comes the potential for skin flare ups. Temps drop and our diets change, says Vert Beauty esthetician Shelley Beaumonte. “Our skin cell turnover slows down and our skin can feel out of balance.”
That might mean more breakouts, more oil, more redness, more puffiness—all signs that your skin could use a little extra nourishment. “We need to pay special attention to repairing our skin from the summer elements and to hydrating it for the upcoming colder weather,” Shelley says.
Gentle (very gentle, says Shelley) exfoliation can help with that. Plus, incorporating nutrient-rich masks into our skincare routines gives our complexions a chance to fight back. That’s why we’ve picked these three masks to transition your skin to fall. Read on for Shelley’s recommendations to find the best mask for you.
Mahalo Skincare The Petal
This powerhouse mask from Mahalo is great at reducing inflammation, which Shelley says is the key to healing any skin condition. “Fine lines, puffiness, redness, acne—it all starts with inflammation,” she says. “Anything that reduces that inflammation can help heal the skin and give us results we want.”
A hydration infusion can help with that too. Hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water and is part of skin’s natural composition, helps your complexion retain water, and helps other ingredients penetrate more deeply.
The Petal is soothing and calming, with rose hydrosol that’s more potent than rose essential oil, and can help reduce redness and blemishes. “It’s great for rosacea,” says Shelley. So is the turmeric found in The Petal. “It’s immunity boosting, so it can help reduce flare-ups and redness,” Shelley says. Willow, a natural salicylic acid that’s great for detoxing and exfoliating, plus silver, which pulls toxins up and out, round out this mask’s blend.
Pro Tip:
This mask can be used as a redness reducer spot treatment. Apply just on the areas of skin that are suffering from irritation for a quick, soothing boost.
My Favorite Organic Masks to Cure Acne
As you Angels know, I love to get right to the point with my posts! So let’s get right into what makes these masks so special the type of results I experienced when using them.
Mahalo Skin Care: The Bean Mask
Brands that fill their skin care with herbs and botanicals from Hawaii have always had great results for those who suffer from acne. Mahalo has been a long time favorite of mine because they are a luxurious skin care brand that uses Polynesian, Western, Eastern, and modern scientific advancements to blend the most powerful and effective natural skin care. Their skin care works on all skin types and heals a range of skin problems from acne to anti aging. I have used everything from their line and have personally fallen in love with each item. But here is why The Bean Mask if my first recommendation. It fights acne and anti aging at the same time.
Full Ingredient List: https://mahalo.care/shop/the-bean/
Hero Ingredients:
- Raw Honey -Known to have strong antibacterial properties, this is an ingredient that heals, hydrates, and gives your skin a glow.
- Cacao -A strong antioxidant that heals and prevents free radicals from damaging the skin. You will see this ingredient is trending in the green community! Many face masks are formulated with cacao.
- Green Coffee Bean Oil + Coffee Co2 – Full of antioxidants, protects against UVB rays from the sun, smooths and brightens skin, increases circulation and helps fight cellulite and signs of aging.
- Sea Buckthorn- Powerful anti aging ingredient that helps slow the signs of aging. Helps promote hyrdration, elasticity, skin regeneration and helps prevent acne.
- Ceylon Cinnamon – Brings circulation to the skin that helps quickly cure acne.
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.
BEAUTY HEROES AUGUST: MAHALO SKINCARE
In case Mahalo Skincare is new to you, I’ll tell you that it is made with lots of love by it’s founder, Maryna on the lush island of Kaua’i. The Bean Antioxidant Mask reads like a delicious superfood smoothie; rich local honey, fresh island turmeric, ginger, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, coffee and cacao are paired with astaxanthin, bamboo charcoal and willow to firm, purify, and brighten skin, taking glow to the next level. This mask was designed to stimulate circulation and perk up tired, dull skin. And, who’s skin isn’t dull and tired after a summer of margaritas and sun? Or, is that just me?…
Mahalo included their signature Bamboo Beauty Brush as this month’s Sidekick. It is the perfect size, and applying a mask with a brush really does make the masking experience so much more luxurious and fun. Application is more precise, and I just find it soothing and fun to “paint” my face.
HAVE OILY SKIN? YOU’LL LOVE THESE 8 NON-GREASY MOISTURIZERS
If you have oily skin, chances are you never leave home without throwing blotting papers or mattifying powder into your bag. And you’ve likely wondered (maybe more than a few times) if there’s any point in using moisturizer. Spoiler alert: there is.
“Skipping hydration is the opposite of what you should be doing,” says Tara Foley, skin-care guru and founder of the clean beauty site Follain. Oily skin, just like any other complexion issue, is caused by a moisture imbalance (in this case, you’re producing too much sebum). “If you strip your skin of everything [with a cleanser], it’ll make problems worse,” Foley warns. “You need to give your skin some moisture after cleansing to rebalance it.”
Her go-to fix? “I always recommend fighting oil with oils,” she says. “If you put a light one on your skin, it tricks it into thinking it’s already produced enough oil so that it doesn’t go on to make more.” In other words, it stops your shine at the source—so you won’t wind up layering on products that could lead to breakouts.
“You need to give your skin some moisture after cleansing to rebalance it.”
Beauty expert Jasmine Garnsworthy, founder of customized facial oil company The Buff, agrees with Foley. “Look for lighter, natural oils that more closely mimic the sebum your skin already produces, like squalane or jojoba,” she says. “Mineral oils are often used as a cheap emollient, but they’re not easily absorbed by the skin, so they become occlusive.” (Read: pore-clogging.) Other rich ingredients to avoid in your facial oils include shea, vitamin E, argan oil, and triglycerides, Foley says.
If oil just isn’t your jam, Garnsworthy and Foley recommend trying balms and gels instead of cream moisturizers for your hydrating fix. “Balms are really similar in texture to a cream or lotion, but typically don’t have the thicker ingredients that can be problematic,” Foley says. And Garnsworthy adds that gels absorb into the skin quickly and don’t leave any gunky residue.
Foley and Garnsworthy are in agreement: You can nourish your skin without causing it to freak out and over-compensate. So Well+Good staffers (with oily skin) tested out the experts’ recommendations to figure out which products are the best of the best. The results? Glowy (but not overly so) skin ahead.
Keep reading for eight editor- and expert-approved oily skin hydration essentials.
Mahalo Rare Indigo Beauty Balm. The rich purple balm—which is hand-blended in Hawaii—isn’t just pretty: It’s chock full of inflammation-fighting active botanicals that deliver essential nutrients to your skin for a radiant complexion. And vitamin C, fatty acids, and antioxidants help you protect a stressed-out dermis. Bonus: It smells like vanilla and has a creamy consistency that just feels heavenly.
MARYNA: A WOMAN REBORN
Connected by our shared love for Hawaii, Maryna and I have long dreamt of a girls trip to the island of Kaua’i, the home and inspiration for her artisan beauty brand, Mahalo Skin Care. As we planned for our third collaboration, the timing was right to make this dream a reality. I flew to meet Maryna and for 4 sacred days we escaped the daily to-do’s of our ordinary lives and ventured into the lush and sometimes precarious terrain of the island Maryna now calls home. Days of hiking, swimming, deep breathing and absorbing the energy of the island led to incredible breakthroughs and divine inspiration for both of us, some of which we share in the video below.
Perhaps one of my greatest revelations was how the land can hold space for our personal transformation. While I’ve always known that the island has so many gifts of nature to offer – botanicals, ocean, indigenous wisdom, and Mana (the word for the energy the Hawaiians derived from the land and nature) – I witnessed first hand how these bountiful gifts have offered Maryna a safe space for her evolution.
Maryna has called Kaua’i home for the last seven years. It’s where she birthed her business, now firmly established as a leading brand in the green beauty industry. How did this travel-loving Ukrainian woman get grounded on this Hawaiian island? In an inspired interview, Maryna shares how Mahalo came to be, the challenges she faces as she navigates operating a global business from a remote island, and why she now feels more optimistic and energized than ever before. In her own words, she shares her deepest intention for us all and how she uses her platform to spread the message of feminine empowerment and gratitude through beauty ritual and true self-love.
The Matcha Trend Has Officially Spread To Skincare
Matcha isn’t new—it’s said to have been brought from China to Japan, where it has remained popular, sometime in the 10th century. The matcha craze in the U.S. began in early 2015, but it’s new to skincare. Traditional green tea, made by steeping leaves rather than dissolving matcha powder, is the most-studied antioxidant, according to Dr. Leslie Baumann, M.D., a Miami-based dermatologist and author of Cosmeceuticals and Cosmetic Ingredients, and she considers it the most promising natural ingredient on the market today.
“There’s convincing evidence that oral and topical green tea—you need both—neutralizes free radicals and decreases inflammation,” she says.
Do It Yourself – It’s not just for the spa: Matcha products are also hitting the shelves. To find an effective treatment (and avoid any low-quality products riding the wave of the matcha trend), “look for a brownish tint,” says Dr. Baumann, a sure sign of a high concentration of EGCG.
Mahalo Skin Care: The Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate – Packed with healing green tea leaf, phytonutrients, and plenty of oils (argan, pumpkin seed, cardamom), this balm-like cleanser, which should first be applied to dry skin, turns to a milky lather when introduced to water.
This beautiful sunny #indiansummer day calls for a #throwbackto the summer issue of @elle_nl featuring @reinaorganics, the beautiful no-cloth required cleanser @mahalo.care the Unveil…
The UNVEIL cleanser is the first step in your beauty rituals. The silky synergy of biocompatible oils, active anti-inflammatory phytonutrient infusion and antioxidant-rich enzymes create a gentle, yet effective thorough cleanse to exfoliate, soften and smooth, while leaving the moisture barrier of the skin intact and balanced. The UNVEIL cleanser is especially beneficial for nutrient deficient, congested and environmentally stressed skins.
3 STEPS TO THE BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE
So excited to share with you my 3 Steps to the Best Skincare Routine. I find people often aren’t sure what a beauty routine is or where to even start. Or perhaps they think they have a routine, yet instead it looks a little more chaotic. In this post, I want to help you create a beauty routine that you not only love but that works for you. I will also be sharing some of my staples in my beauty routine and how they create the base of it. If it’s one thing I’ve learned since being in the beauty industry for over 14 years it’s that a beauty routine should not be ignored.
For this post I’ve partnered up with Beauty Heroes to showcase my faves and highlight why they make the staple list. If you’ve followed me long enough, then you’re no stranger to Beauty Heroes.
MASK
I often hear people say what does a mask really do? My response- so much! Masking can impart key nutrients to the skin, give you a glow, even skin tone, improve hyper pigmentation, draw out impurities and so much more. Finding the right mask may seem daunting but it’s all about addressing your key skincare concerns. If you really just want glowing skin, opt for a hydrating mask. If detoxifying your skin is top priority, look for masks with clay and minerals to draw out the toxins. Whatever your skincare need is, find a mask suited for that and then use it 2-3 times a week. Just like exfoliation, I pick 2 days of the week and set those as my mask days. It’s something I look forward to and creates a little ritual out of it.
One of my favorite masks I found through Beauty Heroes is Mahalo’s The Bean Antioxidant Mask. It like a thick mud but not drying like you might assume. It goes on easy and then dries. However, my skin doesn’t feel dry after using it. Instead, it feels like it just received a surge of adrenaline to the skin- in the best possible way! I know, weird way to describe it but my skin is more awake and the blood flow to the skin is so apparent. It was as if my skin had a good workout and is shining from the inside out. It smells divine. A sweet smell with notes of cacao and vanilla, ylang ylang and sandalwood. My skin also feels much smoother, and clear. I literally can see sun spots fading after using. It’s evident the mask actually gets in and detoxifies the skin.
LET’S TALK: INTENSE HYDRATION
With winter fast approaching, my skin is in need of intense hydration. I got a few requests to show my most hydrating products, including the ones that I find too hydrating for my skin. So here goes nothing. These are the most hydrating products I own.
Mahalo – Mahalo Balm
My personal balm of choice is the Mahalo Balm. Not at thick as the Vital Balm, this balm to oil adds moisture into my skin without feeling like it’s drowning it. I always wake up glowing after using this. Like the Vital Balm, I have been avoiding this during the summer as I just don’t need that much hydration, but I can’t wait to break it out when it cools down.
NEIMAN MARCUS INDIE BEAUTY
Beleaguered luxury retailer, Neiman Marcus, is entering the independent beauty market with ShopTheExpo, a collaboration with Indie Beauty Expo. Launching the limited-time collection over the weekend with a pop-up boutique in the NorthPark Dallas store, Neiman’s is featuring an assortment of fifteen products for sale on-line only. “With the rise in indie beauty we’ve been focused on curating an amazing assortment of under-the-radar brands,” said Kelly St. John, vice president, divisional merchandise manager for beauty at Neiman Marcus.
Brands included in the three-month sale are skincare companies, Ayuna, Beneath Your Mask, CircCell, Le Prunier, Luxe Botanics, Mahalo Skin Care, Planted In Beauty, Pour Moi, and Ranavat Botanics, the alternative Girl Undiscovered, color cosmetics from Ellis Faas, Joséphine Cosmetics, Lük Beautifood, and Sappho New Paradigm, and dental care from Swiss Smile. In November a Trending Beauty Shop will open in the NorthPark store, featuring many of these names to highlight newness. “Certainly in the industry you hear about designer and mass being challenging…[at Neiman Marcus] the niche and luxury [categories] continue to be very, very strong,” St. John continued.
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
Indie Beauty Expo at Neiman Marcus
Meet the names shaking up the beauty world.
They’re passionate about beauty, sharing their secrets and they’re only here for a limited time.
Maryna Kracht established her skin care on the principles of Hawaiin mindfullness, gratitude and clean ingredients.
The line employs CO2 extraction that delivers the purest extracts with a near-identical profile to the raw plants.
HONEY-BASED EXFOLIATING MASK REVIEWS: MAHALO THE BEAN
Mahalo The Bean Antioxidant Mask: In my opinion, this is the gentlest – and the best-smelling – of the three. It has a spicy coffee/chocolate scent that makes it a pleasure to use, and it’s a great mask to unwind with after a long day.
This would be a great option for those of you who are looking for a decadent, nutrient-dense mask that really delivers. The exfoliants in this mask are very gentle but they do visibly brighten my skin. The results are not as instant as the Active Enzyme Exfoliator, but I find that I tend to use it more often because it’s super gentle. I use The Bean up to three times a week as opposed to the Josh Rosebrook, which I use just once or twice.
I didn’t instantly fall in love with this mask when I first used it (I preferred The Petal, which gave me more instant results), but the more I used it the more I fell in love with it. In fact, it is currently one of my favourite Sunday night pamper masks, and I will repurchase it when I run out.
#ShopTheExpo at Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center
Indie Beauty Expo (IBE) brings Dallas beauty addicts a selection of under-the-radar products.
By partnering with Neiman Marcus, IBE continues to shed a light on independent beauty, lifestyle and wellness brands with an exposition-style roundup of products. Taking root in the retail markets of New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, IBE is slated to expand to London in 2018. The two-day event at NorthPark Center will feature a curated collection of fresh finds to switch up skincare routines! Founders Nader Naeymi-Rad and Jillian Wright, Neiman Marcus’ vice president of Beauty, Kelly St. John, and faces behind the brands will be on hand for a tailor-made shopping experience. Lines and products at ShopTheExpo include organic oil Le Prunier, Polynesian-inspired Mahalo Care, climate-smart skincare line, Pour Moi, and the Ayurvedic-based Ranavat. Giving power to the people, brands with buzz may become part of Neiman Marcus’ permanent beauty assortment. Oct. 20-21, Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center, 8687 N Central Expy
3 Masks to Transition Your Skin to Fall
With the cozy sweaters and stylish boots fall ushers in also comes the potential for skin flare ups. Temps drop and our diets change, says Vert Beauty esthetician Shelley Beaumonte. “Our skin cell turnover slows down and our skin can feel out of balance.”
That might mean more breakouts, more oil, more redness, more puffiness—all signs that your skin could use a little extra nourishment. “We need to pay special attention to repairing our skin from the summer elements and to hydrating it for the upcoming colder weather,” Shelley says.
Gentle (very gentle, says Shelley) exfoliation can help with that. Plus, incorporating nutrient-rich masks into our skincare routines gives our complexions a chance to fight back. That’s why we’ve picked these three masks to transition your skin to fall. Read on for Shelley’s recommendations to find the best mask for you.
Mahalo Skincare The Petal
This powerhouse mask from Mahalo is great at reducing inflammation, which Shelley says is the key to healing any skin condition. “Fine lines, puffiness, redness, acne—it all starts with inflammation,” she says. “Anything that reduces that inflammation can help heal the skin and give us results we want.”
A hydration infusion can help with that too. Hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water and is part of skin’s natural composition, helps your complexion retain water, and helps other ingredients penetrate more deeply.
The Petal is soothing and calming, with rose hydrosol that’s more potent than rose essential oil, and can help reduce redness and blemishes. “It’s great for rosacea,” says Shelley. So is the turmeric found in The Petal. “It’s immunity boosting, so it can help reduce flare-ups and redness,” Shelley says. Willow, a natural salicylic acid that’s great for detoxing and exfoliating, plus silver, which pulls toxins up and out, round out this mask’s blend.
Pro Tip:
This mask can be used as a redness reducer spot treatment. Apply just on the areas of skin that are suffering from irritation for a quick, soothing boost.
My Favorite Organic Masks to Cure Acne
As you Angels know, I love to get right to the point with my posts! So let’s get right into what makes these masks so special the type of results I experienced when using them.
Mahalo Skin Care: The Bean Mask
Brands that fill their skin care with herbs and botanicals from Hawaii have always had great results for those who suffer from acne. Mahalo has been a long time favorite of mine because they are a luxurious skin care brand that uses Polynesian, Western, Eastern, and modern scientific advancements to blend the most powerful and effective natural skin care. Their skin care works on all skin types and heals a range of skin problems from acne to anti aging. I have used everything from their line and have personally fallen in love with each item. But here is why The Bean Mask if my first recommendation. It fights acne and anti aging at the same time.
Full Ingredient List: https://mahalo.care/shop/the-bean/
Hero Ingredients:
- Raw Honey -Known to have strong antibacterial properties, this is an ingredient that heals, hydrates, and gives your skin a glow.
- Cacao -A strong antioxidant that heals and prevents free radicals from damaging the skin. You will see this ingredient is trending in the green community! Many face masks are formulated with cacao.
- Green Coffee Bean Oil + Coffee Co2 – Full of antioxidants, protects against UVB rays from the sun, smooths and brightens skin, increases circulation and helps fight cellulite and signs of aging.
- Sea Buckthorn- Powerful anti aging ingredient that helps slow the signs of aging. Helps promote hyrdration, elasticity, skin regeneration and helps prevent acne.
- Ceylon Cinnamon – Brings circulation to the skin that helps quickly cure acne.
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.
BEAUTY HEROES AUGUST: MAHALO SKINCARE
In case Mahalo Skincare is new to you, I’ll tell you that it is made with lots of love by it’s founder, Maryna on the lush island of Kaua’i. The Bean Antioxidant Mask reads like a delicious superfood smoothie; rich local honey, fresh island turmeric, ginger, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, coffee and cacao are paired with astaxanthin, bamboo charcoal and willow to firm, purify, and brighten skin, taking glow to the next level. This mask was designed to stimulate circulation and perk up tired, dull skin. And, who’s skin isn’t dull and tired after a summer of margaritas and sun? Or, is that just me?…
Mahalo included their signature Bamboo Beauty Brush as this month’s Sidekick. It is the perfect size, and applying a mask with a brush really does make the masking experience so much more luxurious and fun. Application is more precise, and I just find it soothing and fun to “paint” my face.
HAVE OILY SKIN? YOU’LL LOVE THESE 8 NON-GREASY MOISTURIZERS
If you have oily skin, chances are you never leave home without throwing blotting papers or mattifying powder into your bag. And you’ve likely wondered (maybe more than a few times) if there’s any point in using moisturizer. Spoiler alert: there is.
“Skipping hydration is the opposite of what you should be doing,” says Tara Foley, skin-care guru and founder of the clean beauty site Follain. Oily skin, just like any other complexion issue, is caused by a moisture imbalance (in this case, you’re producing too much sebum). “If you strip your skin of everything [with a cleanser], it’ll make problems worse,” Foley warns. “You need to give your skin some moisture after cleansing to rebalance it.”
Her go-to fix? “I always recommend fighting oil with oils,” she says. “If you put a light one on your skin, it tricks it into thinking it’s already produced enough oil so that it doesn’t go on to make more.” In other words, it stops your shine at the source—so you won’t wind up layering on products that could lead to breakouts.
“You need to give your skin some moisture after cleansing to rebalance it.”
Beauty expert Jasmine Garnsworthy, founder of customized facial oil company The Buff, agrees with Foley. “Look for lighter, natural oils that more closely mimic the sebum your skin already produces, like squalane or jojoba,” she says. “Mineral oils are often used as a cheap emollient, but they’re not easily absorbed by the skin, so they become occlusive.” (Read: pore-clogging.) Other rich ingredients to avoid in your facial oils include shea, vitamin E, argan oil, and triglycerides, Foley says.
If oil just isn’t your jam, Garnsworthy and Foley recommend trying balms and gels instead of cream moisturizers for your hydrating fix. “Balms are really similar in texture to a cream or lotion, but typically don’t have the thicker ingredients that can be problematic,” Foley says. And Garnsworthy adds that gels absorb into the skin quickly and don’t leave any gunky residue.
Foley and Garnsworthy are in agreement: You can nourish your skin without causing it to freak out and over-compensate. So Well+Good staffers (with oily skin) tested out the experts’ recommendations to figure out which products are the best of the best. The results? Glowy (but not overly so) skin ahead.
Keep reading for eight editor- and expert-approved oily skin hydration essentials.
Mahalo Rare Indigo Beauty Balm. The rich purple balm—which is hand-blended in Hawaii—isn’t just pretty: It’s chock full of inflammation-fighting active botanicals that deliver essential nutrients to your skin for a radiant complexion. And vitamin C, fatty acids, and antioxidants help you protect a stressed-out dermis. Bonus: It smells like vanilla and has a creamy consistency that just feels heavenly.
MARYNA: A WOMAN REBORN
Connected by our shared love for Hawaii, Maryna and I have long dreamt of a girls trip to the island of Kaua’i, the home and inspiration for her artisan beauty brand, Mahalo Skin Care. As we planned for our third collaboration, the timing was right to make this dream a reality. I flew to meet Maryna and for 4 sacred days we escaped the daily to-do’s of our ordinary lives and ventured into the lush and sometimes precarious terrain of the island Maryna now calls home. Days of hiking, swimming, deep breathing and absorbing the energy of the island led to incredible breakthroughs and divine inspiration for both of us, some of which we share in the video below.
Perhaps one of my greatest revelations was how the land can hold space for our personal transformation. While I’ve always known that the island has so many gifts of nature to offer – botanicals, ocean, indigenous wisdom, and Mana (the word for the energy the Hawaiians derived from the land and nature) – I witnessed first hand how these bountiful gifts have offered Maryna a safe space for her evolution.
Maryna has called Kaua’i home for the last seven years. It’s where she birthed her business, now firmly established as a leading brand in the green beauty industry. How did this travel-loving Ukrainian woman get grounded on this Hawaiian island? In an inspired interview, Maryna shares how Mahalo came to be, the challenges she faces as she navigates operating a global business from a remote island, and why she now feels more optimistic and energized than ever before. In her own words, she shares her deepest intention for us all and how she uses her platform to spread the message of feminine empowerment and gratitude through beauty ritual and true self-love.
The Matcha Trend Has Officially Spread To Skincare
Matcha isn’t new—it’s said to have been brought from China to Japan, where it has remained popular, sometime in the 10th century. The matcha craze in the U.S. began in early 2015, but it’s new to skincare. Traditional green tea, made by steeping leaves rather than dissolving matcha powder, is the most-studied antioxidant, according to Dr. Leslie Baumann, M.D., a Miami-based dermatologist and author of Cosmeceuticals and Cosmetic Ingredients, and she considers it the most promising natural ingredient on the market today.
“There’s convincing evidence that oral and topical green tea—you need both—neutralizes free radicals and decreases inflammation,” she says.
Do It Yourself – It’s not just for the spa: Matcha products are also hitting the shelves. To find an effective treatment (and avoid any low-quality products riding the wave of the matcha trend), “look for a brownish tint,” says Dr. Baumann, a sure sign of a high concentration of EGCG.
Mahalo Skin Care: The Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate – Packed with healing green tea leaf, phytonutrients, and plenty of oils (argan, pumpkin seed, cardamom), this balm-like cleanser, which should first be applied to dry skin, turns to a milky lather when introduced to water.
This beautiful sunny #indiansummer day calls for a #throwbackto the summer issue of @elle_nl featuring @reinaorganics, the beautiful no-cloth required cleanser @mahalo.care the Unveil…
The UNVEIL cleanser is the first step in your beauty rituals. The silky synergy of biocompatible oils, active anti-inflammatory phytonutrient infusion and antioxidant-rich enzymes create a gentle, yet effective thorough cleanse to exfoliate, soften and smooth, while leaving the moisture barrier of the skin intact and balanced. The UNVEIL cleanser is especially beneficial for nutrient deficient, congested and environmentally stressed skins.