The Savvy Life

By Todra Payne

You know how you have those special things that you deem worth a little extra money? It could be your favorite ketchup at 50 cents more than the store brand.

Or maybe you buy “regular” clothing when it comes to most things, but jeans are strictly designer label.

That’s how I feel about soap. I know I can remove the day’s dirt with a no-frills soap from the supermarket. But it’s not really about getting clean. It’s about the experience.

When it comes to soap, I want dried flowers and poppy seeds. I want fun shapes and amazing scents. I want hand-cut, rugged edges. And I insist on all natural ingredients, right down to the essential oils for scenting. Of course, this sudsy creativity costs me a few dollars more than “pedestrian soaps”. But in my opinion, it’s totally worth it.

And if you don’t believe me, here are some links to my favorite hand-made soap artists. The pictures draw you in, but wait until you hold an artisan soap bar your hand and sniff the natural fragrance. It’s intoxicating.

Vanilla Latte French Hand-Milled Soap with Coffee  - from SilverFirsFarm – This vegan, hand-made French-milled soap smells like a delicious Starbucks drink. It creates wonderful lather and doesn’t contain any harmful, skin-drying ingredients. The rustic look and swirled colors just add to my excitement. And all for just $5 a bar.

Wildflower by Wild Soap Bar - I’m a sucker for this chunky wonderfully wild soap. The feel in hand is so much fun because of the texture. But even more important, this soap contains a healthy list of ingredients that will leave your skin baby soap – organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, and  goat’s milk. The wild flowers mingled throughout are a pretty bonus. $6 per bar.

Creekside Creations Orange Ylang Ylang Soap - This soap’s appeal lies not in fancy shapes or textures, but in the scent. Nothing captures the spirit of summer like this citrus/ylang ylang blend. I especially like it in the winter when I’m missing warmer days. With a simple ingredient’s list that includes fresh goat’s milk and essential oils, this soap works for the whole family.

Sea Kelp/Moss with Chamomile & Cocoa Butter Soap by Natural Handcrafted Soap – Can’t escape to the beach? Hop in the shower with this delightfully sea-scented bar and you’ll swear you can hear waves. Sea Kelp has rich nutrients and serves as a skin exfoliant. Sea herbs detox the skin and offer beneficial minerals. While chamomile adds an unexpected herbal note.  $9 per bar.

Todra Payne is a healthy beauty expert and an artisan soap connoisseur. You can chat soap and all things natural/beautiful at www.HealthyBeautySocial.com.

Sea Kelp/Moss with Chamomile & Cocoa Butter Soap by Natural Handcrafted Soap

By Todra Payne

If you’re like me, you want the healthiest beauty and personal care products you can get your hands on. Formaldehyde in hair straighteners, lead in lipstick and a myriad of other health-related concerns are causing many women to think twice about what they’re putting on their faces.  But sometimes, the premium price tags on natural and organic items are staggering.

Here are a few tips to help you find the healthiest products you can buy and stay within budget.

1.       Never trust the front label. It’s unfortunate, but some companies are well aware that image is more important than truth. A beautifully designed green leaf and the word, “natural” on the front of a product doesn’t insure anything. Turn the label over and read the ingredients list. If you see recognizable ingredients (olive oil, rose essential oil, shea butter, etc.) closest to the top of the list, you’re probably holding a mostly natural product.

2.       Look for products with the least number of ingredients. Have you ever picked up a frozen food item that had 16 ingredients, when you could make that same meal at home with just five? The rest of those unpronounceable words are probably fillers and preservatives. The same holds true for beauty products. Simple is best.

3.       Don’t trust the price tag. We’ve been conditioned to believe if something costs more, it must be better. Marketers know this and charge a premium for items that don’t have any special powers – or special ingredients. One of my favorite beauty bloggers recently did a post on how a $95 anti-aging moisturizer was mostly corn oil, petroleum jelly and nasty preservatives. Nothing age fighting about any of those ingredients.

4.       Look past the Photo-shopped celebrity endorsement. I know your favorite pop star says she wears that drugstore lipstick. But the truth is she’s paid six figures to tell you that. Reject the allure of advertising and make decisions based on the quality of a product.

5.       Don’t be afraid to buy from small brands that don’t have ads in magazines. A recent survey revealed that women are more likely to buy from beauty brands they recognize than those they don’t. Why do you think major brands pay upwards of $200,000 per ad in glossy publications? They know repetition creates loyal customers. Head for the internet and seek products made from small, family-owned brands. You’ll be surprised by the quality, the freshness and the lower price tag.

6.       Do your research on what ingredients really are healthy, and which to avoid. The Environmental Working Group is a great place to start. You can also ask about the purity and value of a product at my social beauty network, Healthy Beauty Social. It’s where hundreds of women share their knowledge with each other about non-toxic beauty products.

You can look wonderful, use healthy products and stay within your budget.

Todra Payne is a former celebrity makeup artist turned Healthy Beauty Expert.  She is the founder of The Healthy Beauty Project and Healthy Beauty Social.

By Todra Payne

Spring is fully here, with its shorter sleeved fashions and fun, flouncy skirt options. For many of us, we’re frantically trying to whip our dry, dull skin into shape before summer when we go from short sleeves to no sleeves. And bikinis! 

Relax. There’s still time to get your skin in top notch shape before the sun and waves are fully upon us. The following simple body nurturing tips can be used now and all the way into summer. 

Remember, summer skin is exposed to extreme heat, with the possibility of sunburn, as well as chlorine and other not-so-nurturing environments. It’s just as important to care for legs, arms, and other parts during the upcoming months as it was in December. 

But instead of relying on heavy creams, go with pampering weekly body masks, all over wraps, refreshing spritzers and lightweight, but nourishing oils. Here are four simple recipes you can make at home.

Cucumber and Milk Body Mask

This is great treat after a long day in the sun to cool and de-stress your skin.

2 cups powdered milk

6 large cucumbers, peeled

3 drops of your favorite soothing essential oil, such as lavender or chamomile.

Directions

Puree cucumber in blender until smooth. Remove and put in glass bowl. Add powdered milk and essential oils and stir well. Sit in empty bath tub and apply mixture all over. Relax for 15-20 minutes, allowing the mask to work its magic. Shower in cool water afterward.

Yogurt, Aloe Vera and Honey Body Wrap

For those with perpetually dry skin, this body wrap will leave you moist and glowing.

5 cups of plain Greek yogurt

2 cups of raw, organic honey

2-3 cups of aloe vera juice

Directions

In a large glass bowl, mix yogurt, honey and aloe vera. Apply to body and wrap with plastic wrap. Sit in empty bath tub for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water (best to remove honey).

Aloe Vera and Rose Water Spritzer

1 bottle of Aloe Vera Juice (best bought from a health food store)

1 bottle of organic rose water

Directions

Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice and rose water in a spray bottle and keep in the fridge. Spritz on sunburned or stressed shoulders and face for a cooling treat.

Citrus Avocado and Sweet Almond Body Oil

This lightweight summer oil makes use of two powerhouse moisturizers – avocado and almond oils. Almond oil disappears into the skin without leaving a heavy trace, while avocado oil is said to offer some sun protection.

2 T Avocado Oil (available at specialty supermarkets like Whole Foods)

2 T Sweet Almond Oil

3 drops of citrus scented essential oil such as sweet orange or grapefruit

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a glass bowl and apply to damp, freshly cleaned skin. Allow to penetrate before dressing.

Todra Payne is a former celebrity makeup artist turned healthy beauty expert. She is the founder of The Healthy Beauty Project and www.healthybeautysocial.com

By Todra Payne

The arrival of spring reminds us that shorts and bikini season is just around the corner.  Dry winter skin needs to be nourished into warm weather skin. But soft, touchable summer arms and legs don’t happen without a little work. The good news is getting luscious skin doesn’t have to involve expensive spa visits and high priced products.   

Body scrubs made from food items like spices, fruits and yogurt, along with essential oils can work wonders for dull, dry skin if you know what to do with them. Just remember to make your fresh food scrubs in small batches and use immediately since you’re not using preservatives. Below I’ve listed a few of my favorite beauty recipes.

If you don’t have the time to mix your own body treatments, I’ve included reasonably priced natural beauty products that will also do the trick.

Citrus and Rice Body Scrub

Sugar and salt aren’t the only ingredients that work for exfoliating. This recipe makes use of ground rice to remove dead skin. The refreshing scent of orange tea and orange essential oil, mixed with jasmine (this can be substituted with another scent if you don’t like jasmine) make this an unexpected summer treat for your skin.

Recipe: ½ cup of raw rice, finely ground in spice grinder; 5 T of cooled orange pekoe tea, 4 drops of orange essential oil; 2 drops of jasmine essential oil; ½ cup of sesame or grape seed oil.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together to form a paste. Rub skin in gentle circular motions. Rinse off with warm water.

Natural product substitute: Raw Element Citrus and Sunshine Body Scrub. $14.99 (http://rawelementbodycare.com/citrus-and-sunshine-body-scrub/)

Coconut and Ginger Body Scrub

Dried, unsweetened coconut flakes mixed with grated ginger provides a very gentle exfoliation for those with sensitive skin. Here’s a great way to get an island feel into your beauty routine.

Recipe: ½ cup of soy oil (high in vitamins E, A and K) or almond oil; ½ cup of dried coconut flakes, 1 T of freshly grated ginger (boosts collagen production).

Instructions: Grind coconut flakes fine in food processor or coffee grinder. Mix all ingredients together. Rub on dry skin vigorously. Soak in bath or shower for a few minutes and then rinse. Pat dry (don’t rub).

Natural product substitute: 100% Pure Coconut Body Scrub. $25.00 (http://www.100percentpure.com/COCONUT-BODY-SCRUB-s/477.htm)

Botanical Salt Scrub

This sea salt scrub removes dead skin and uses sweet almond oil to hydrate the skin. The lavender and chamomile essential oils are calming. Note: Avoid chamomile essential oil if you are pregnant.

Recipe: 3 T of good quality sea salt; 3 T of sweet almond oil; 5 drops of chamomile essential oil; 5 drops of lavender oil.

Instructions: blend all ingredients together in a bowl and apply to dry skin. Rinse in shower and pat dry.

Natural product substitute: Colorado Aromatics Botanical Body Scrub $9.50 (http://www.sagescript.com/products.htm#skin)

Todra Payne is a Celebrity Makeup Artist turned Healthy Beauty Expert. She is the founder of The Healthy Beauty Project.

*Coconut Body Scrub

By Todra Payne

Even though the media says the recession is, well, receding, many of us are still eyeing our bank accounts with caution. We’re spending on the things we need and a few of the things we want, but we’re certainly not throwing caution to the wind like in the old days.

When I need a fashion fix, I head to sample sales or shop outlets like Neiman Marcus’ Last Call. With cosmetics, I get natural products online direct from the brand owners, cutting out the middle man and saving myself on department store markups.

I understand it’s not mandatory to spend large wads of cash to get quality products. But being the beauty junky that I am, every once in a while, a beauty product will catch my eye with its chic packaging and exotic ingredients and I’ll melt under its power.

And that’s okay. I firmly believe there are times to treat myself to something special. Here’s a list of my favorite “Worth it” beauty products.

Clairvoyant Beauty Detoxifying Clay Cleanser with DMAE – this luxurious facial cleanser makes use of French pink and green clays to deep cleanse and detox the skin and DMAE diminishes the appearance of fine lines. Even though this is a foaming cleanser, it doesn’t dry out my skin, even in winter. And the pink grapefruit scent (not a synthetic fragrance) is a gentle mood enhancer in the mornings. I am definitely hooked. $32.99

Pure & True Aromatic Antioxidant Toner – Remember when we were teens and “toner” meant witch hazel? Or worst, rubbing alcohol? As a grown up with aging skin, I need a gentle toner that doesn’t include alcohol. This toner from Pure & True, in its sleek white bottle and beautiful box, feels like the ultimate splurge, while giving my skin exactly what it needs. $32

Made from Earth Vitamin Enriched Moisturizer – This hydrating, anti-aging face moisturizer uses Organic Rooibos Tea Extract from Africa (a powerful antioxidant with the highest levels of Polyphenols) along with organic aloe vera and avocado oil to boost collagen production and soften fine lines. And although I can find moisturizers for a fraction of the cost, this one makes my skin feel and look five years younger. $74.99

Eve Organics Mineral Foundation – After getting my skin to glow from my favorite skincare brands, I’m ready for a little color. Although, a drugstore foundation can be had for about $9 these days, I seek out the healthiest products I can find. For me, that means my makeup is pure mineral without the additives many mainstream brands toss in their formulations. Eve Organics is a brand I trust. And their foundation colors are perfectly matched to skin tones from fairest pale to the deepest dark. My color is Dark Warm. $24.95

Todra Payne is a Celebrity Makeup Artist turned Healthy Beauty Expert. She is the founder of The Healthy Beauty Project.