beauty

A lot of the shampoos and conditioners out there are filled with toxins (and are costly!). To save a buck and ditch the chemicals, try making your own shampoo and conditioner with these recipes. Just remember that everyone's hair is different: What works for me may not necessarily work for you. In order to find out what your hair truly needs, I suggest experimenting with the herbs you use in these recipes. Try different herb combinations and see which ones your hair responds to best. Personally, my hair loves coconut oil, rose, and peppermint.

Did you know the average woman eats 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime? To make sure you're not eating chemicals, try these crafty recipes for all natural lipstick and lip gloss. The best part is, they'll certainly save you a buck or two in the long run. Lipstick and lip gloss not your thing? You can always give these away if you'd rather not use them. Either that or learn to craft eye makeup instead! Either way, you're bound to look (and feel) fabulous.

Need some help with your skin woes this winter? Try Ayurvedic TLC.

Tiny threads of orangish-gold, staining clothes for monks and sanyasa, dying milk to support digestion, sprinkled for spells of love, costing upwards of $1000/pound --  the status of Saffron is that of royalty, and has been for thousands of years.

Recently, I had to rush one of my best friends to the hospital. The reason? Coconut oil. While coconut oil is a rare allergy, it's a dangerous one because it's in everything from hand soap to tropical drinks. While I personally adore coconut oil, and all coconut products, my friend's intense allergic reaction was an eye opener for me: Not everyone can enjoy the benefits of coconut oil. It made me wonder what alternative plant oils there are out there for non-coconut lovers, or people (like my friend) who are allergic.

Buying makeup is fun, but it can get costly. If you're feeling creative (or low on cash), these recipes will help you craft your own cosmetics in the comfort of your own home. Best of all, you won't have to worry about any toxic chemicals that conventional beauty brands use. After all, these recipes utilize ingredients you can mostly find in your kitchen cabinets. Just be warned: Things might get a little messy!

Today, thick, natural eyebrows are among the most highly coveted traits seen on models and celebrities.  But this is a newer trend – I spent my formative years destroying my own gorgeous brows with a pair of tweezers, trying to shape them into the perfect arcs I saw on the models.

I was pregnant with my first baby and the “father” was non-existent. Instead, I had met an amazing man who I had warily started dating. I had no idea what to expect while my body morphed and transformed in order to bring forth the life growing inside of me. This man's mother, who would later become my first child's grandmother, gave me a rose quartz in the shape of a heart at my blessingway, just a few weeks before his arrival. My heart, which was trepidatious and afraid to let anyone in, suddenly began opening to the possibility of love with the aid of rose quartz.

Did you know that the use of medicinal clay dates back to prehistoric times? The use of clay is making a comeback when it comes to cosmetics and medicine, and for good reason!

The Science Behind The Clay

When looking for beauty solutions, we often look to crazy chemicals and even crazier contraptions to solve our problems. It’s so easy to forget that nature has always offered just what we need to look our best! Here is a handy guide to getting glam with Earth’s greatest gifts: vitamins.