DIY Natural Beauty as conscious Holiday Gifts!/ Regalos conscientes de navidad que puedes hacer en casa!

In case you guys are looking for conscious gift ideas for the Holidays, here’s one I’ve been dying to share with you! A DIY (Do-it-yourself) organic and nontoxic body butter you can create at home, pour into cool jars and gift to those you love! At least, that’s exactly what I did! :)

The brand I used to source all the vegan, organic and natural ingredients is Sky Organics! They sell products in big containers you can order and use at home to create your own beauty products, over and over again, without producing too much waste! From body butters to lip balms and facial oils. They have all the ingredients you need to become your own beauty chef at home! The DIY recipe I did was their mango body butter. Prep time was around 10 minutes, and then I just placed my creation in the fridge for 2 hours, and later added a few drops of essential oils (Peppermint and Lavender) to it and voila! Non-toxic, affordable, natural and organic body butter with ingredients we can all pronounce and understand. Making it was also really easy and fun! The great thing about using coconut oil, almond oil, mango butter, and shea butter as ingredients is that if you spill/drop them, you can immediately wipe them with your hand, rub your hands together and apply them on your skin and hair! And when it comes to the essential oils, get creative! Instead of using 10 drops of one scent, I chose to use two oils (Peppermint and lavender) and 5 drops of each. The combination created a delicious and powerful aroma!

In case you guys are ready to give SkyOrganics a try, I’ll leave you with the recipe and a video tutorial I shared on instagram last week. I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did! DIY is all about letting go of expectations and perfection, and flowing with your creativity! Use code WTS20 for a 20% discount, and head to SkyOrganics’ Blog for the detailed recipe.

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(ESPAÑOL)

En caso de que estén buscando ideas de regalos conscientes para esta Navidad, aquí les dejo una que muero por compartir con ustedes! Una crema de cuerpo orgánica y no tóxica pueden crear en casa, vaciar en frascos bonitos y regalar a quienes quieren! Al menos, eso es exactamente lo que hice yo! :) La marca que utilicé para los ingredientes veganos, orgánicos y naturales es Sky Organics! Venden productos en envases grandes que pueden usar en casa una y otra vez para crear sus propios productos de belleza sin producir basura! Desde cremas hasta bálsamos labiales y aceites faciales. SkyOrganics tiene todos los ingredientes que necesitan para convertirse en chefs de belleza natural! La receta que hice fue la de manteca de mango. El tiempo de preparación fue de alrededor de 10 minutos, y luego coloqué mi creación en la nevera durante 2 horas. Después agregué unas gotas de aceites esenciales (menta y lavanda) y listo! Crema corporal no tóxica, accesible, natural y orgánica con ingredientes que todos podemos pronunciar y entender. Fue super fácil y divertido! Lo mejor de usar aceite de coco, aceite de almendra, manteca de mango y manteca de shea como ingredientes es que si los derraman / dejan caer, pueden limpiarlos inmediatamente con la mano, frotarse las manos y aplicarlos sobre la piel y el cabello! Y cuando se trata de los aceites esenciales, sean creativos! En lugar de usar 10 gotas de un aceite, yo elegí usar dos aceites (menta y lavanda) y 5 gotas de cada uno. La combinación creó un aroma delicioso y poderoso! En caso de que estén listos para probar SkyOrganics, les dejo con la receta y un video que compartí en Instagram la semana pasada. Espero que disfruten haciendo esto tanto como yo lo hice! Todos los DIY (do it yourself) consisten en dejar ir las expectativas y la perfección, y fluir con tu creatividad! Usen el código WTS20 para obtener un descuento del 20% y vayan al Blog de SkyOrganics para obtener la receta detallada.

Sponsored by SkyOrganics.

Sustainable & Non-toxic Makeup! / Maquillaje ecológico y natural!

My mornings in Bali & my natural beauty routine! You guys asked for it- how I do my makeup everyday; especially while traveling- so here goes! To be honest, I don’t use that much makeup and my routine is usually less than 4 minutes long but the products I use make me smile every single time! Organic, nontoxic, cruelty-free, and Vapour Beauty taken cosmetics to another level by using wind power, and boxing its products in packaging that is recyclable and printed with soy ink! Top that with the creaminess and yummy smell of each product and we have the perfect combo! Here’s how my everyday makeup ritual flows like:
1) I apply essential oils on my face
2) I use Vapour Beauty concealer and foundation
3) I then use their Aura Multi Use in shade Scandal for my lips and cheeks
4) I apply the Halo Illuminator on my cheeks and nose
5) I finish it off with their Velvet Gloss in shade Deva and some mascara. That’s it! Less than 3 minutes. Simple and good for my health and our planet! Any of you tried @vapourbeauty before? I’ve been using them for over a year and LOVE! And...you guys get 15% off with code “waterthruskin”!

Other things I love about Vapour Organics:

-They use 70% organic ingredients and 30% essential oils

-They don’t test on animals

-They use solar and wind power in the warehouses

-They package only in metal and glass. No plastic.

-They use eco-friendly packaging printed with soy ink.

-Their products do NOT have parabens, chemicals nor preservatives.

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(ESPAÑOL)

Mañanas en Bali y mi rutina de belleza natural! Ustedes me lo pidieron- cómo me hago el maquillaje todos los días, especialmente durante mis viajes- así que aquí se los comparto! Para ser honesta, no uso mucho maquillaje y mi rutina normalmente tarda menos de 4 minutos, pero los productos que uso me hacen sonreír cada vez! Orgánicos, sin químicos, sin crueldad, y Vapour Beauty ha llevado los cosméticos a otro nivel mediante el uso de la energía eólica y sus envases reciclables e impresos con tinta de soja. Eso más la cremosidad y el delicioso aroma de cada producto, hacen el combo perfecto! Así es cómo fluye mi ritual de maquillaje todos los días:
1) Me pongo aceites esenciales en la cara.
2) Uso el corrector y la base de Vapour Beauty
3) Luego uso su Aura Multi Use en color Scandal para mis labios y mejillas
3) Me pongo Halo Illuminator en mis mejillas y nariz
5) Y luego termino con Velvet Gloss en color Deva, y un poco de rímel. ¡Eso es todo! Menos de 4 minutos. Fácil y bueno para mi salud y para nuestro planeta! Alguno de ustedes ya han probado @vapourbeauty? Los he estado usando hace más de un año y AMO! Ustedes pueden obtener un 15% de descuento con el código "waterthruskin".

Otras cosas que amo de Vapour Organics:

-Sus productos son 70% ingredientes orgánicos y 30% aceites esenciales

-NO hacen tests en animales

-Usan energia solar y eólica

-Solo utilizan metal y vidrio para los envases. Nada de plástico.

-Los empaques y cajas son reciclables e impresos con tinta de soya.

-Todos sus productos son hechos SIN parabenos, químicos, ni presentantes.

What's in your nail polish? Is it TOXIC?/ Cuán tóxico es tu esmalte?

Ok...you asked for it, here it is. One of my natural beauty secrets: natural and nontoxic beauty doesn’t have to be “blah”! Yes, I spend most of my time traveling to eco-friendly hotels completely immersed in nature which means I barely put makeup on and use an organic aloe gloss on my nails, but there are also those occasions when I want some extra spark without harming my health or the planet. The right type of conscious balance, you know? So, here’s my tip for nail polishes. Handmade Beauty nail polishes! This is a brand I’ve been using for three years and LOVE! Their polishes are 5 and 7-free, which means they lack 5-7 of the most harmful and poisonous chemicals other nail polishes have. Why is this important? Because your nails absorb everything you put on them, just like your skin. If it’s full of toxic ingredients, your health will take the fall. Below is a list of the 7 toxic ingredients in regular polishes, their effects on your health, and why you should avoid them.

Lastly, the Handmade Beauty nail products I recommend (my favorites) are these:

-Top Coat Sun Dry: Yes, it’s a coat that dries in seconds with sunrays!

-Hydrating Base with Aloe: I always use this one. Underneath color, or sometimes by itself.

-Nourishing oil for cuticles: smells like vanilla! I apply it on my cuticles every night.

-Top colors I use: pomegranate (red), papaya (coral), tofu (white).

Toxic ingredients to avoid in polishes:
❌Toluene: Used as a solvent, most usually as a paint thinner. Inhaling high levels of it can be harmful to your nervous system, cause birth defects and developmental problems.
❌Dibutyl Phtalate: Commonly used as a plasticizer. It is linked to cancer, birth defects (such as malformation in the embryo)
❌Formaldehyde: Commonly used to preserve dead bodies. It is irritating, triggers asthma, carcinogen.
❌Formaldehyde Resin: Used in the production of adhesives. It is also an allergen.
❌Camphor: Used as cover in nails. Poison that can cause seizures and disorientation in large doses, also dyes nails yellow.
❌Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP): Chemical used in plastics to improve flexibility. It can be an endocrine disrupter, affecting hormones and reproductive health.
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ESPAÑOL

Ok ... lo pidieron y aquí está. Uno de mis secretos de belleza natural: la belleza natural y no tóxica no tiene que ser aburrida! Sí, paso la mayor parte del tiempo viajando a hoteles ecológicos completamente inmersos en la naturaleza, lo que significa que apenas me pongo maquillaje y uso un brillo de aloe orgánico en las uñas, pero también hay ocasiones en las que quiero una chispa extra sin dañar mi la salud o el planeta. El tipo de balance consciente correcto, saben? Entonces, aquí les dejo mi tip para los esmaltes de uñas. Una marca que adoro y uso hace tres años es Handmade Beauty. Sus esmaltes son 5 y 7-free, lo que significa que carecen de 5 a 7 de los químicos más dañinos y venenosos que tienen otros esmaltes de uñas. ¿Por qué es importante esto? Porque tus uñas absorben todo lo que les pones, al igual que tu piel. Si está lleno de ingredientes tóxicos, tu salud estará en riesgo. Aquí abajo también les dejo una lista de los 7 ingredientes tóxicos en los esmaltes comunes, sus efectos en la salud y por qué deben evitarlos.

Y por si se preguntan, estos son mis productos favorites de Handmade Beauty:

-Top Coat Sun Dry: Sí! Este top coat sella el color y se seca en segundos con los rayos del sol!

-Base Hidratante con Aloe: Esta la utilizo todos los dias. Abajo del color o sola.

-Aceite Bifásico: huele delicioso! A vainilla. Lo utilizo en mis cutículas todas las noches.

-Colores que uso: pomegranate (rojo), papaya (coral), tofu (blanco).

Químicos que hay que evitar en productos de uñas:
❌Toluene: se usa como solvente, generalmente como diluyente de pintura. Inhalar altos niveles de este puede ser dañino para el sistema nervioso, o causar defectos de embarazo y problemas de desarrollo.
❌Dibutyl Phtalate: comúnmente utilizado como plastificante. Está relacionado con cáncer, defectos de embarazo (como malformación en el embrión)
❌Formaldehyde: comúnmente utilizado para preservar los cadáveres. Es irritante, intensifica el asma, y es carcinógeno.
❌Formaldehyde Resin: utilizada en la producción de adhesivos. Produce alergias.
❌Camphor: se usa como cobertura en las uñas. Un químico que puede causar convulsiones y desorientación en grandes dosis, también tiñe las uñas de amarillo.
❌Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP): Producto químico utilizado en plásticos para mejorar la flexibilidad. Puede ser un disruptor endocrino, afectando las hormonas y la salud reproductiva.

Sponsored by Handmade Beauty.

Simple & Natural Beauty Rituals!

Here is a simple and non-toxic beauty ritual I want to share with you. I apply this clay mask 1 to 2 times per week, and the other beauty products (melt and oil) every single day. Morning and night!

I know I’ve talked about natural beauty many times before but, in short, the reason why we should all choose organic, vegan and non-toxic products is because whatever we put on our skins gets absorbed by our bodies and transported into our bloodstream. What does this mean exactly? Very simple. Just like our diet, products can poison us or heal us. For that reason, you should always perform your research, read labels and choose brands consciously! Here are a few I recommend:

1)   Detox: Bentonite Clay mask. In case you haven’t read about bentonite clay, here is a link to powerful info that will make your jaw drop! Betonite clay has many health benefits and, when used as a mask, helps detoxify your skin and heal wounds or any skin diseases. I decided to give this brand a try and, so far, I love it! You can get it at Whole Foods!

Ritual:

            -Add 1 tbsp of clay, 2 tbsps of water, 1 drop of your favorite essential oil. I used wild orange this time but normally use Lavender.

            -Apply on your face with a brush

            -Let it dry for 10 minutes and wash it off with warm water

2)   Hydrate: To hydtrate, I use two products I ADORE!

a.   LXMI Nilotica Melt: vegan, no-animal testing, organic, fair-trade (LXMI pays 3 times the local wages to African harvesters) and has only ONE ingredient: Nilotica (a rare relative of Shea butter). This melt nourishes and hydrates your skin, removing wrinkles and little pimples.

                                               i.     I apply a thick amount of it at night  (like a melt mask) and a pearl size of it in the morning, especially around delicate areas like my eyes and forehead.

                                              ii.     Ps: you can get it at Sephora! And they also have a travel size!

b.     OSEA hydrating oil: this little roll-on does not only smell DELICIOUS but is also the perfect travel-buddy to carry in your bag. I carry mine 24/7 and apply it every time my skin asks for nourishment. It is natural, vegan, cruelty-free and made with essential oils.

Easy and convenient baby steps to a better, healthier and wiser you! I hope you enjoy them! Xo

Beauty brand that helps humanity!

Here's a beauty brand I've been wanting to share for a while. It encompasses everything I've been talking about on my blog and social media channels for the past two years. It is a brand that does not only focus on introducing natural, vegan, fair-trade, cruelty-free and organic beauty products into the world but is also reshaping the way companies work with women in the supply chain by providing them with work, fair wages, support, and stable working conditions rather than handouts. They pay three times the local wages for women in the Nile Valley, in their hopes of alleviating global poverty! Each product is also made with the highest, rarest and purest ingredients found around the world. The one I've been using on a daily basis is LXMI's Nilotica Melt. You guys know how serious I am about natural beauty and how picky I can get when it comes to putting beauty products on my skin. I always make sure they are as natural and organic as possible, in order to feed my cells with pure ingredients. LXMI's Nilotica Melt offers all that! Its texture looks and feels like a butter but it later melts and becomes oily when in touch with warm skin. I apply it under my eyes and forehead (delicate places where wrinkles form easily) at night and in the morning, before I apply my makeup. I've been using it for the past two weeks and have started to notice the difference in my skin. The little wrinkles around my eyes have diminished and so have the dark circles. It honestly feels great to use a natural product that does not only benefit my skin and health but also our planet as a whole. Best part? You can get it at Sephora! Easy to use, convenient, and eco-friendly. Need I say more?!

ps: LXMI is having a Mother's Day promotion! Get your natural glow at a discount by using code Mom30.  

Morning, and everyday, natural rituals!

Have you guys ever taken 5 minutes of your busy schedule to sit down and analyze what you are doing to your body? How you're nurturing it? How you're feeding your cells? Or even how you're slowly poisoning them? As you guys might've seen on snapchat, I attended a documentary screening at Dr Smood in Miami last night. This was yet another reminder of the importance of a natural, organic and at least 51% raw diet in our lives. And above all, about performing our research. Food can seriously be our medicine or slowest form of suicide! And this applies to a vegan or vegetarian diet as well! I know a lot of people who went vegan and thought they could survive just on eating pasta and bread and processed vegan junk food (yes, we have that too!) but later found themselves borderline heart-attack in their late 20s and 30s. Going vegetarian and later vegan was a decision I made years ago based on my values and compassion but has now transformed into the best decision I could've made for my health. I've stopped consuming toxic pills and have even been able to balance my Thyroid disease with my diet choices and overloads of superfoods. I honestly can't remember when was the last time I had a headache or took a pill for it! Superfoods like Turmeric, hemp oil, diatomaceous earth, Moringa and many others have become rulers of my kingdom now. BUT, I wouldn't have been able to achieve any of this if I hadn't read as many books as I could and watched as many documentaries out there on how to eat healthy and feed my body with the right nutrients, vitamins and protein from plants! I also changed my entire lifestyle. From the products I put on my skin, to the clothes I use and brands I choose to support. Everything is connected guys! It's a way of living! A conscious way of living! And, to make it easier for you, I've added a search box on the blog at the bottom of the home page where if you type "documentaries" or "natural beauty" or whatever it is your looking for, you'll find articles I've written with helpful tips and summaries on how to live your best life! Are you ready to make the change? The most amazing part about life is that everyday is our new change to start living better, wiser and healthier, and we've been blessed with bodies that have the power of gettting rid of all our toxins if we provide them with the right nutrition. 

Below is a link to a few of the stories I've written about the powerful documentaries that changed my life. One I wish to add to that list is "FoodMatters". It will open your eyes to the magical and miraculous wonders of food as your medicine! From curing cancer and depression to living a longer and happier life. xx

Documentaries: http://www.waterthruskin.com/blog/2015/10/22/must-see-movies-that-will-change-your-life?rq=documentaries

Natural Beauty Tips: http://www.waterthruskin.com/blog/2016/3/23/natural-organic-beauty-rituals?rq=natural%20beauty

Superfoods: http://www.waterthruskin.com/blog/2016/1/25/yummy-vegan-superfood-smoothie-tutorial?rq=superfood

Cruelty-free & Natural Beauty Products with a Delicious Scent!

A topic I want to cover today is beauty.  I know I’ve talked about this before but every time I find new vegan and natural products, I feel I must share them with you. Specially since the beauty industry is estimated to have reached $63Billion in revenues last year with most of us contributing to it. It all sounds great but here’s the downfall. Most beauty products do not only test on animals (all animals!) but they are also extremely toxic and can increase our risks of developing cancer cells since there is a direct connection between our skin and our bloodstream. Yes, ladies and gents! This means that whatever you put on your face and skin travels directly through your pores to your bloodstream. If you are using products with chemicals, the odds are those chemicals are floating in your blood right now. Don’t blame yourselves, I didn’t know about this either until I researched it two years ago. The articles I found were beyond disturbing and I decided to immediately make the switch and choose brands that were not only kind to this planet and its earthlings but also kind to my health. And it obviously did not make much sense to be following a plant-based diet but keep using toxic beauty products! 

So, with that being said, here is a brand I have been using for a while now and have become addicted to! From their nail polishes to the dry body oil to the body butter, I use these products on a daily basis. 

Spa Ritual: This brand is meant to nourish your body, soul and mind, guys! The products are formulated with vegan ingredients and selected plant essences that are Certified Organic and Fair Trade. Their nail lacquers and nail care essentials are vegan as well and do not contain DBP, toulene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin. None of their products are tested on animals nor do they contain synthetic dyes, parabens or petrochemicals. As if that were not enough, SpaRitual products are also packaged with the planet in mind using soy ink and recycled paper! On every box, you’ll also find the cruelty-free bunny logo proving that SpaRitual cares about our animals and does not test its products on them.

My favorite SpaRitual products so far are:

Nail polishes!!! I carry them in my purse, specially when I go get my nails done at salons that do not carry a vegan or organic line. I am head over heels over these colors: black (Bravery), white (Clearly), and Turquoise (Caring). How about those spiritual and uplifting names?! Another plus! PS: I also like SpaRitual's fast drying nail polish oil. A must!

In case you are wondering about cruelty-free and organic nail salons in Miami, I adore The Palms Hotel’s spa. They carry SpaRitual and Aveda ONLY! You will want to spend the entire day there!

Yuzu Rose Dry Body Oil, Body Scrub and Butter. These are to die for! I’ve been looking for natural, vegan and organic body products that leave my skin soft and moist while also carrying a nice scent for months now and Spa Ritual’s Yuzu Rose combo gives me all that! The oil is made with Green Tea Extract, Vitamin E and Grapefruit Peel Essential Oil. The body butter with Aloe Vera, Yuzu Oil and Shea Butter. The scrub with Yuzu Oil and organic sugar crystals. And don’t even get me started on the aroma of these products, guys! It’s beyond delicious! A sugary lemon scent that lasts for hours! Give these natural beauties a try and let me know your thoughts.

xx

Natural & Organic Beauty Rituals!

You must be wondering what's up with all the fuzz about natural skin care. Every day more consumers are talking about it and more companies are coming up with products to match that demand. Here's the deal and it's very simple. There are 3 main topics you should consider when shopping for beauty products:

1) Health reasons: Everything you put on your skin goes directly into your blood stream. If you use beauty products with chemicals and toxic ingredients, odds are those ingredients will end up in your blood and might cause health issues in the long run. There is nothing healthier and kinder to yourself than natural and ORGANIC (please!) beauty products. 

2) Animal testing: Unfortunately, we live in a world where most beauty and cleaning products are tested on animals before they can hit shops' shelves. As if testing on animals were not horrible enough, the practices companies use take cruelty to a different level and most animals (monkeys, bunnies, dogs, cats, mice...) become blind, sick, incapacitated or even die. Luckily, there are brands that have become the voice for the voiceless and have made it their mission to avoid animal testing. Tip: ALWAYS read labels and look for words like cruelty-free, no animal testing, not tested on animals, Peta certified, vegan. Most of these products also show the pink bunny (represents vegan and cruelty-free product) on their packaging. 

3) Planet as a whole: Natural and organic products are not only kind to your skin and animals but also to the planet as a whole. Most natural and organic beauty products are handmade, fair-trade, sustainable, and eco-friendly and come in recycled packaging. Nonetheless, please, always read labels and perform your research. You will not regret it, guys! In the end, every dollar we spend is our vote on how we want our world to be. Think about it. 

With that being said, here's my beauty ritual from morning till dawn! xx

BEFORE BEDTIME:

-Teeth whitening: take 1/2 TSP of banking soda with 1 TBSP lemon juice. Wash your teeth with the bubbles created by that combination. Repeat every night for 1 week and see the results. 

-Dark under-eye circles: mix 1/2 TSP turmeric powder with 1/2 TSP olive oil. Make a paste and place under your eyes for 10 minutes every night. BE CAREFUL because turmeric stains everything yellow so make sure you don't touch anything while applying the paste. 

-Face Cleaning, Hydrating & Anti-aging: I'm totally obsessed with Baiser Beauty. I've been using their natural and organic face cleansing oil, cucumber spritz and anti-aging serum before bedtime every night. 

MORNINGS:

-Face Hydration: I use Aveda's botanical skincare for my morning rituals. Aveda's mission is beautiful, guys. From not testing on animals, to taking mother earth into consideration, to creating products with only natural ingredients.

-Body Hydration:  Baiser Beauty Body Oil with 35+ SPF is THE product! Natural, organic, cruelty-free and yummy smelling. It will leave your skin soft and moist while protecting it from the sun. 

-Makeup/Blush: Another product of Basier Beauty I adore! Their natural and organic Cream Blush. It's made from beetroot powder... Do I need to say more?  

-Makeup/Bronzer: Who doesn't like a natural suntan? I highly recommend this Bronzer made from Cacao Powder and cinnamon!! 

-Makeup/Mascara: I've tried several natural mascaras but it wasn't until I discovered Tarte's Amazonian Clay Mascara that my lashes began to look beautiful naturally. Tarte does not test on animals and you can find its products at any Sephora store or online. 

-Makeup/Concealer: We've all dealt with dark circles under our eyes, haven't we? Well... Tarte's Concealer has become my soulmate! Creamy, natural, and cruelty-free. 

-Makeup/Lips: Love this brand and product. One of the only natural Lip Balms that leaves my lips smooth and moist without chapping them or becoming addictive. (Please note that this product has beeswax)