La Bella is back! Our new Bella is Joanna Runciman of Actual Organics.

Joanna Runciman

Joanna Runciman is a writer, wellness coach and advocate for detoxifying your life from chemicals. We crossed paths because I was enjoying her blog and found her passion for clean and green living inspiring. We sent Joanna products to sample and luckily for us she became a fan! Joanna has changed her own life and now helps others weed out the toxins in their life and is a leader in healing and wellness in Canada. Check out her site at www.actualorganics.com



La Bella Figura: Who are you?

Joanna Runciman: Mrs Joanna Runciman.  A passionate advocate for non-toxic living, I educate and empower women to live more radiantly, through eliminating unnecessary toxic synthetic chemicals and toxic practices from their life.
Where do you live? 

JR: In the mountains of British Columbia, Canada.

LBF: What is your occupation? 

JR: Wife, friend and I also run a little business called Actual Organics.  I am currently writing my first book.
LBF: What is your astrological sign?

JR: Born in April, but actually the only guidance I seek is God!

LBF: What do you do for fun and recreation?

JR: Ski, walk, Feldenkrais and cooking, I also love watching comedies, my favourite being, Love Actually.
LBF: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why? 

JR: I would love to go to the rainforests around the world.  The majestic trees that have lived on this earth for centuries would be amazing to experience. 

LBF: What do you enjoy most about your life? 

JR: My husband is my best friend and I feel truly blessed everyday to be married. As well as that I am encouraged by the possibility for positive change; my educating others to take a stand and clean up their life- a sort of get the gunk out & get the radiance in! 

LBF: What made you try organic products? 

JR: Chronic acne for over ten years, I then began to reduce my toxic body burden; starting with what I used on my skin, moving to genuinely organic skincare was a logical choice.  I encourage reading ingredients thoroughly as organic can hide some horrors pretending to be healthy.

LBF: If we "shadowed" you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we
find out about you? 

JR: I occasionally wear a Bobbi Brown mascara that I was given a sample of at a big department store in London, it has butylene glycol and phenoxyethanol and all manner of toxic synthetic ingredients but the occasional times I wear it my lashes do look longer! 
LBF: What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on\
a desert island without?

JR:  I love the La Bella Figura Barbary Fig Renewal Serum so would want an endless supply of that with me, some Shea butter, coconut oil and Ora Wellness tooth oil.  Baking soda is pretty handy too to clean my beach house on the desert island, so I'd like some of that too!
LBF: What will you be doing this weekend? 

JR: Skiing, having a massage, cooking and going for a long walk, drinking tea and playing cards. 

LBF: Sum up a motto that best describes you:

JR: You may not like what I say but detoxing your life will serve you well, so be brave (you are braver than you think) and get rid of the clutter be it physical, emotional or synthetic chemical!  Make your life more simple and enjoy the radiance that is yours to shine for the world to see. 

Thank you Joanna! We hope you had a lovely ski trip and are excited about your upcoming book. We can't wait to read your first book and hope you are inspired every day. Follow Joanna on Twitter @ActualOrganics and on her Facebook page, ActualOrganics.

La Bella of the week, Writer and Editor, Susan Linney

This week we are especially excited to feature a real beauty addict and expert as our "La Bella" of the week!  Susan Linney knows a good thing when she sees it.  We are inspired by her recent job switch from a great and steady job to persue her dreams.  You can read Susan's (often sassy, but always spot on) work on Meets Obsession, a publication for fashion, beauty, and culture insiders.  You're missing out if you haven't checked it out.

Looking natural and gorgeous.

La Bella Figura: Who are you?

Susan Linney: daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, friend, niece, cousin, godmother, writer and beauty lover.

LBF: Where do you live?

SL: Brooklyn Heights, NYC

LBF: What is your occupation?

SL: Currently, I’m a freelance beauty editor and writer. Prior to that I was a research chief for seven years, first at Redbook and then at Lucky magazine. I loved heading those departments but realized that my real passion was for writing. So I took the leap back in February to freelance full-time. It’s a little scary not to have that steady paycheck anymore, especially given the current economic climate, but I’m still glad I did it. My work is incredibly rewarding. I’m really doing what I love.

LBF: What is your astrological sign?

SL: Aries

LBF: What do you do for fun and recreation?


SL: Play with beauty products, practice Pilates (and when I get really motivated, yoga). I love to play Wii with my husband (yes, were are both still kids at heart), write in my journal, people watch

LBF: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

SL: Does traveling back in time count? If so, I’d LOVE to spend a week in the 70s. From a fashion standpoint, I adore everything about that decade.

In real life? I actually got to go to Iceland back in October, which had long been on my travel list. It’s an amazing country and I think everyone should visit. Especially if you are a beauty junkie like me: they have the most amazing hot springs, spas, and organic beauty products.

LBF: What do you enjoy most about your life?

SL: My friends and family, being a newlywed (sort of—this Sunday, Nov 13^th is our first anniversary), the fact that I was born and raised in NYC, my writing.

LBF: What made you try organic products?

SL: Being a beauty editor is a pretty sweet gig because you get sent A LOT of free product. I was lucky enough to receive some samples from LBF and I was instantly in love. The La Curacio Lip Balm is now the only thing I use for my chapped lips—I’m addicted to it.

LBF made me realize that organic products really do work. I had tried some in the past to lackluster results. But now that I know there are all-natural brands out that that work, I’m really getting into seeking them out and using them more often.

LBF: If we "shadowed" you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we find out about you?

SL: Sometimes I go to bed without taking off my makeup. It’s terrible and I’m such a hypocrite because I always scold other people who do it. I don’t do it often, but there have been nights when I’m so wiped out, the thought of doing anything other than crawl into bed seems impossible.

LBF: What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on a desert island without?

SL: St. Ives Apricot Face Scub, Laura Mercier’s Flawless Skin Mega Moisturizer, LBF’s La Curacio Lip Balm. Bliss’ Bergamot and Vanilla Body Buff and Body Butter, Klorane’s Mousse with Chamomile (smells like pure honey—so yum!), and Diptyque’s L'Ombre dans l'Eau Solid Perfume.

Also, Bobbi Brown’s Beach Oil, however if I were on a deserted tropical island, I suppose I wouldn’t need it.

Wow—that’s a lot! Yeah, I’m an addict.

LBF: What will you be doing this weekend?

SL: Packing for a trip to Turks and Caicos!

LBF: Sum up a motto that best describes you:

SL: Don't lose your confidence if you slip,

Be grateful for a pleasant trip,

Then pick yourself up,

Dust yourself off,

And start all over.

         

A "beauty" writer.

Happy Anniversary Susan! Have a fun vacation! (Don't you just see her on vacation trying to get through security with an array of products in her arsenal?)  We want to thank her for giving organic products another chance and we are beyond delighted that she is a LBF fan! This is one expert you want to follow and read steadily.  Follow Susan on Twitter @Susan_Linney and on Meets Obsession.

La Bella of the week, Clara Montes.

Our pick of the week, Clara Montes is a friend of ours and a beauty snob. Clara is a Brazilian living and working in the States that brings back great products for us to try on her trips to Rio.  She is a witty and sassy chick and quite the Einstein to boot.

Who are you? 

Clara, just a simple girl living in complicated times.

Where do you live?

My body is in Chicago, my heart is always in Rio.

What is your occupation?

An economist and professor.

What is your astrological sign?

I'm a fish! Hahahahahahaha!

What do you do for fun and recreation?

These days not much because I'm in a classroom most of the time and when I'm not I'm in front of a computer.  Summers are different for me.  I travel and go visit friends all over.  Like all Brazilians I love being outside and at the beach.  I boogie board and surf.  I also like to cliff dive!  It's crazy and a little dangerous, but very thrilling.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

Good question.  I probably would go to Japan.  I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture.  I would love to learn a little Japanese first.

What do you enjoy most about your life?

My independence.  Growing up we did not have much money and we were limited.  Having a job and a little money means I get to be independent and have a little freedom. 

What made you try organic products?

You!  I'm kidding because in Brazil we use coconuts in everything. We drink the water in the morning to hydrate, use the oil in our hair and on our skin.  Almost everything you can buy on the street is very fresh and natural.  My Mother used to make us natural "lipstick" with acai juice and coconut oil because we couldn't afford makeup.  Who knew that I would revert back to natural products because it's better for you.  My Mom should have been the Brazilian Estee Lauder.  I will also try any good organic shampoo. I have about 15 bottles of shampoo in the shower.

If we "shadowed" you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we find out about you?

A lot of embarrassing things.  I don't sleep much, I don't exercise much and I drink a lot of coffee.  I try to wash my face every night, but sometimes I forget if I'm working late.

What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on a desert island without?

I guess a comb for my hair because I hate tangles,  shampoo, toothpaste, a good moisturizer and a mirror to look at myself and use to attract attention from a plane.  I would go crazy on a desert island. 

                                               What will you be doing this weekend?

Writing, cleaning my apartment and making soup.  If I ever get to leave my apartment I would love to take my friend Victoria out to a new wine bar here in Hyde Park.  One day, I hope.

                                              Sum up a motto that best describes you:

Antes pouco do que nada.  It means, half a loaf is better than none.  I always remember that when I think I haven't accomplished enough or want more.

 

Thank you so much for a fun interview Clara.  We wonder what kind of soup you'll be making and where you'll go cliff diving next!  Thanks for the tip of mixing coconut oil with acai berries, sounds like an experiment for LBF. We'll be sure to send you text messages to remind you to wash your face.