Home / Community / Blogs / Beauty On the Go

natural

Sunburn S.O.S.

May 30, 2012 at 1:46 pm
By

There are simple solutions to keep sunburn from leaving you red in the face.

If despite all of our sun safety imploring and warnings, you’re still seeing red after the holiday weekend, fear not. Theri Griego Raby, M.D., founder and medical director of the Raby Institute for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University shares five natural sunburn remedies you can do at home, stat.

  1. Apply aloe: The plant has a long-standing history of providing sunburn relief due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. “Gel straight from the plant is most effective,” Dr. Raby says. “Aloe vera causes blood vessels to constrict, which can take the sting and redness out of a sunburn.”
  2. Refresh with peppermint oil:  The cooling and aromatic qualities of peppermint oil can help quell the scorch of a bad burn. The essential oil can be directly applied to the affected area or diluted with a cup of lukewarm water.
  3. Take an oatmeal bath:  Adding oatmeal to bathwater is an ideal skin soother that won’t irritate already-damaged skin. “The key is to soak no more than 15 to 20 minutes and to use cool, not cold, water to relieve skin without sending the body into shock,” she explains. “Afterward, air dry or blot skin with a towel rather than rubbing skin dry, which can cause further inflammation.”
  4. Go for green tea:  After brewing a pot of green tea, let the liquid cool and soak a washcloth in the mixture.“Placing the compress on affected areas wicks heat away from the skin and reduces swelling,” Dr. Raby says.
  5. Stay hydrated:  Drinking fluids can also help combat second-hand sunburn symptoms. Sunburn can cause a mild fever or headache, so be sure to replenish lost hydration by drinking plenty of water after a day in the sun.

Something to Smile About

July 5, 2011 at 10:46 am
By

A recent study by Orbit Complete found that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup, and women generally smile more than men.mcx-white-smile-0510-msc

We were born to smile…literally: Babies start smiling in their sleep as newborns!

Young or old, no one wants a parched-looking pucker. Keep your lips moisturized this season with the lip products that make me smile:

  • Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick with Vitamin E: This moisturizer to soothe cracked lips may look like a glue stick, but it’s far from sticky—we keep it on our nightstand and smooth it on before snoozing.
  • EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere: This fun-to-use orb is addictive and tastes slightly sweet.
  • Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment: The combination of hydration, SPF and brown sugar is almost kissable itself!
  • Etsy Bare Balm: This can be applied with your finger and conveniently fits in your wallet or pocket.

    • What’s the lip product you can’t live without?

    —By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

    Green Trade

    June 1, 2011 at 9:59 am
    By

    Earth-friendly beauty brand EcoTools, known for using recycled and sustainable natural materials in their cruelty-free products, just launched their Choose to Live Beautifully campaign to inspire you to go green: Simply send a new or used beauty product to the company, and in exchange they’ll mail you a coupon for a free EcoTools product (valued up to $7.99; you can receive a maximum of two). They’ll also recycle all donated beauty goods through RecycleBank. Visit the Choose to Live Beautifully site now through the end of summer for information on what products are eligible and where to send. Happy swapping!

    Consumer Donating (low res)

    Earth-Friendly Hairspray

    April 25, 2011 at 7:24 am
    By

    love-our-earth-close-heart10x10

    Hairspray was always one of those products we could never imagine going green. But in the spirit of Earth Day, we’ve compiled a list of Mother Nature-approved finishing sprays. Keep strands in line with these natural wonders:

    Screen shot 2011-04-22 at 11.13.52 AM

    If you’re going for an au naturel look, Aubrey Organics NuStyle Hairspray is the spray for you. This hair-aid has a barely-there feel to it that will give your hair the hold that it needs without any crunchiness.

    Screen shot 2011-04-22 at 11.22.49 AM

    Another light hairspray that’s gone green is TRESemme Naturals Finishing Spray. This long-lasting finisher is made with sweet orange extract to help fortify strands (and impart a nice scent). It’s also dye-free, and enhances hair’s natural radiance.

    Screen shot 2011-04-22 at 11.24.32 AM

    If you’re more of a big hair gal, Nexxus Phyto Organics Absolute Firm Hold Finisher lends enough staying power to uphold even bold styles, and contains botanicals to nourish locks.

    —By Lindsay Richardson, beauty intern

    Favorite Find Friday: Jurlique Jasmine Shower Gel

    February 25, 2011 at 10:51 am
    By

    We’re suckers for a big bottle of drugstore body wash, but every once in a while we treat ourselves to a post-workout rinse with Jurlique Jasmine Shower Gel. The honey-like formula and warm, rich floral scent make a humdrum shower feel like a luxurious spa experience. Plus, the softening suds contain a laundry list of skin-coddling natural extracts, like chamomile, grapefruit and rosemary. What’s your favorite beauty indulgence?

    Jasmine_GEL_flat

    • FITNESS Magazine on Facebook

    •