SKINtervention 101

Chia seeds

I am 43 years old.  Just turned 43 earlier this month and I didn't blink an eye, cry into my pillow or run to the plastic surgeon's office to have myself oddly altered in any way.  Instead, I looked in the mirror and thought, "you could stand to lose a few pounds, but you're holding up well lady!"  The confidence I have gained along the way and into this new part of my life is endless.  I have lost the self consciousness that kept me from enjoying life in my youth.  There was a time when I wouldn't swim in a pool for fear or ruining my hair or causing my mascara to streak.  These days I can (soberly) fall into a certain famous celebrity's pool, have everyone laugh at my goofiness and laugh also as streaks of mascara run down my face.  Who knew I wouldn't end up taking myself so seriously at 43?  I had a lot to prove in my youth or so I thought and now...it's about enjoying the moment as it comes and laughing as often as I can.

This newfound breezy attitude doesn't mean that I'm going to sit back and let the wrinkles take over my face or body.  Oh, I'm going to fight alright, just not with scalpels and botox injections!  I prefer fruits and vegetables and the occasional sea algae.  I have learned that olive oil and avocados, roses and marshmallow root pack an antioxidant punch that can really transform my skin.  Wish I would have learned this some years ago because I believe my skin would be in even better shape, but I'm grateful now nonetheless.  I have also recently been aware how much my actions affect my skin.  I recently spent a weekend with my girlfriends in New York City and man did it show up on my face!  My skin appeared sallow, circles formed under my eyes and dry patches formed all from living it up, eating street food, staying out late and having a few too many cocktails with the ladies.  I needed a skintervention and needed it fast! 

Raw coconut cream

The first thing I did when I came back home was to exfoliate.  The dry patches were caused by dehydration from the alcohol.  Alcohol is very bad for your skin in large quantities.  (A little wine has proven to have skin protecting benefits and resveratrol found in red wine is actually beneficial in anti aging.)  I used a superseed mix of organic brown rice, chia and flax and blended it with raw coconut cream (the flesh of the coconut and oil) with a few drops of fennel oil and used this to gently exfoliate the dry patches into submission.  I prefer a gently seed exfoliator rather than walnut or apricot shells because they can "break" delicate skin and cause capillary damage.  My skin was instantly soft, dry patches gone.

Next, I needed to open my pores with a gentle facial tea steam.  I have formulated my own facial tea, but at home you can heat water in a kettle, add a few drops of essential oil for an aromatherapy effect and pour right into your bathroom sink.  Carefully, put your face over the sink with a damp washcloth over your head and allow the steam to open your pores.  You only need to do this a few minutes.  Once your pores are open, apply the damp washcloth over your face and let your skin rest.  This only takes a minute or two as well. 

While my skin has soothed and tissue has been softened by the exfoliation and facial tea steam I apply pure, Vitamin E rich argan oil to gently heal any abuse I have caused my skin.  Argan oil also contains rich polyphenols that protect skin cells and quickly fight free radical damage.  For my delicate eye area I apply Decouverte under eye repair serum, which contains barbary fig seed oil.  Barbary fig seed oil has a higher contentration of Vitamin E than argan oil and a unique composition of high linoleic  acids.  Decouverte also contains lycopene, natural retinol (from plant derived Vitamin A) found in rosehips, caffeine from cold pressed green coffee oil and azulene, a powerful anti inflammatory.  This serum is a super healer and just one night time use was all it took for the puffiness and dark circles to disappear. 

These tips, along with healthy eating of fruit, vegetables and lean protein and replenshing lost electrolytes with coconut water, plain water and antioxidant rich juices help to aid my partying ways.  This is a skintervention in the healthiest form and highly recommended after your girlfriends attempt to convince you that you are 25 all over again.  Thanks, but no thanks ladies!  I'll take confident and self depricating at age 43 over insecure and not as fun 25.   Although, that weekend was surely fun and I have the pictures to prove it.

Victoria's Fall Picks for Fashion, Beauty and George Clooney movies.

As Summer winds down its carefree and relaxed ways, some of us excitedly await our favorite season of the year the way children await Christmas.  Not just for the abundance of color nature has to offer, or the long romantic walks in the park, or even those Woody Allen movies that make New York so vibrant and elegant, but the new Fall fashion and beauty season that promise us new bounty.  The Fall fashion season is like that giant box under the Christmas tree.  We anticipate the best and latest design and products we just need to discover and of course have!

This season I am more invested than ever in the latest beauty products of the season.  Our brand is going through some transformation, we are growing and bringing new talent in.  We are also working hard to bring you some natural and organic products (that we searched the world over) for the creme de la creme in beauty.  Stay tuned because Karen and I make no shortcuts and if you have fallen in love with Tesoro or Decouverte we are going to knock your socks off with what we have going on. 

Here are a few items I am absolutely thrilled about and coveting this Fall season:

1.  A charcoal grey cape like the one pictured above.  To wear with a long sleeved top and dark denim jeans it can be fashionable for a day or evening look. 

2.  BOOTS.  I have a penchant for boots because they rock my world through Fall, Winter and Spring in this notoriously windy city.  I am currently looking for the perfect pair and have my eye on some Rag and Bone boots that may just cut into my budget in a serious way, but damn will I look like a super star as I bust a move at my favorite Argentine dance club.

3. Books, Movies and Chocolate, oh my!  Probably not in that order as chocolate will always come first.  We have a chocolate event this fall with the best chocolatier in Chicago and they are pairing up their picks with great choices in biodynamic and organic wines.  (Announcement and event invitation to come soon).  I will not be shamed into being demure at this event and very likely will be the crazy lady wearing chocolate all over her face.  Which is cool because cocoa is a great natural moisturizer.  I am also looking forward to reading a book by Nina Burleigh, The Fatal Gift of Beauty and before you judge my I.Q. you should know that Nina Burleigh moved her life and family to Perugia, Italy to cover the trial of Amanda Knox, which I find thorough and truly dedicated.  This is not a beauty book, but a book about the judgements we make based on beauty.  As Mama always said, "never judge a book by its cover."  There are also a couple of George Clooney movies to be released this Fall and I have no idea what they're about and don't care!  George Clooney on the big screen is all I need to know. 

Exotic chocolates

Delicate jasmine flowers

4.  Blood red lipstick.  Who doesn't want to look like a French film star?  I know I do!  Red lips are everywhere this season and trust me, they beg to be noticed.  Single ladies, remember to apply before making that trip to Whole Foods, you may just delight that foodie cutie you've been trying to impress.

5.  Lastly and perhaps my most anticipated fall fashion pick is something I can easily accomplish, bohemian style cascading waves.  California girls have long been the leader to promote this spirited yet natural style, but it seems big city girls are now following suit and I LOVE it!  Mostly because I have long, naturally wavy hair, but also because our new aromatic hair elixir-BOHEMIA VERDE is boosting this look for me with a healthy sheen and a heavenly scent that makes me want to sniff my own hair!



Those are my picks and I look forward to hearing yours so send me an email at info@labellafigurabeauty.com or post it on our FB page www.facebook.com/labellafigura.  Happy Fall fashion season to you all.

Victoria

Environmental Writer and Activist Siel Ju writes about La Bella Figura on Mother Nature Network and Green LA Girl

Beauty from organic argan oil

An all-organic, chemical free beauty line from La Bella Figura impressed MNN's lifestyle blogger with its argan oil-based eco-luxe products.

Wed, Aug 03 2011 at 12:45 PM EST

Photo: Courtesy of La Bella Figura

When eco-aesthetician Diana Ralys soothed my skin with argan oil at my last facial, I was convinced to start using the luxurious skin saver every day. Calming and hydrating with a gentle smooth, silky feel and mild nutty scent, pure argan oil's a great natural moisturizer that can be used as a simple serum -- no additives, preservatives, or fragrances required.

 

Earn Points What's this?

• Comments
• Email
• Twitter
• Stumble
• Digg
• Share

That's why I was ecstatic to try out La Bella Figura's beauty line. This boutique all-organic, chemical-free beauty company uses pure, organic, fair trade argan oil -- sustainably and ethically sourced from Morocco -- as the base in all its eco-luxe products. Its signature product: Moroccan Face Gold -- which is simply 100 percent organic argan oil. This pure beauty product's about as clean and healing as you can get -- especially for those with sensitive skin. The luxurious oil's super gentle, but powerfully moisturizing and soothing.

 

Though super sensitive types might just want to stick with pure argan oil, your skin can get a bigger beauty boost by adding a few other natural ingredients. Diana says though argan oil does a lot, she still recommends a few extras "Regardless of the skin's type or condition antioxidants, like Vitamin C are essential," she told me. "Antioxidants help to decrease skin's stress and support overall skin's health."

 

Want that Vitamin C with your argan oil? Then get La Bella Figura's Tesoro Mediterranean Blend. This serum also has argan oil as its base but also boasts bergamot fruit, lemon, neroli flower, and grapefruit oils -- which give it both an antioxidant kick and a fragrant citrusy scent. "It's got an extra boost of Vitamin C, even more antioxidants and polyphenols to help hydrate the skin, regenerate skin cells,and smooth out fine lines," says Karen King, co-founder of La Bella Figura. "The added essential oils help tone and detoxify the skin. The chamomile and bergamot act as anti-inflammatories, helping to calm breakouts and skin redness."

 

I often let my face serums double as my eye moisturizer too -- since the products are gentle enough for the most sensitive skin spots -- but La Bella Figura also offers a special eye serum, dubbed Découverte Under Eye Repair Serum. This potent potion combines organic argan oil with barbary fig oil for anti inflammatory power, coffee bean oil for moisture retention, and wild-crafted tomato seed oil to heal dry skin. Karen credits it with helping diminish dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. I've noticed that putting on Découverte every night before going to sleep really deep-moisturizes the skin around my eyes -- an area that easily get dry from putting on and taking off eye makeup everyday. Now, the skin there feels healthier and plumper!

 

Want to treat your skin to argan oil? La Bella Figura's eco-luxe beauty line's available at its online store. For a half ounce in a glass pump bottle, Morrocan Face Gold and Tesoro Mediterranean Blend cost $27.50 and $40, respectively. Try both plus the company's lip balm without breaking the bank with La Bella Figura's The Perfect Traveler Kit, which gives you trial sizes of all three products for $20. Découverte isn't included in that travel pack though -- and costs an eye popping $115 for a third ounce.