Winter Skin Good Bye with Eco Tan

This Winter has been feeling extremely long. I am still sipping hot tea next to the heater while typing this, so I guess it's safe to say that I have gotten used to the mild temperatures here in Australia. I am even getting a little bit pale.Naturally I am a medium skin tone, tanning very easily and I do get pretty dark during the Summer months. My skin is yellow toned and I feel it looks best sun kissed. I believe all skin tones are beautiful from the fairest milkiest white to the darkest chocolate brown, and of course we all suit our natural skin tone. As makeup artist I observe skin tones constantly as it's important to find the right colour match when applying makeup. My yellow skin can get a little sallow in Winter so I do prefer a little bit of a tan glow.

I am quite low maintenance (for someone working in the industry) with my personal beauty routine and really like products that work and a beauty routine that I can do at home. While spray tans are super popular here in Sydney (and thank goodness there are now certified organic self tan options available!) I prefer a quick DIY job in my own bathroom.

Self Tanning at home So I was very intrigued when I heard about Winter Skin by Eco Tan. Winter Skin is a lotion in a pump bottle, which is a body moisturizer with a hint of buildable self tan. It's THE solution to just warm up your skin, super easy to use. It has no stinky fake tan smell and keeps the skin hydrated. I simply exfoliate with the Extreme Exfoliating Glove in the shower and use the Winter skin as I would my usual body moisturizer and then wash my hands thoroughly. Done! If your knees, elbows and feet are dry make sure you exfoliate and hydrate them before using any self tan. This one is pretty foll proof though, as the colour is just a believable little hint of tan. No need for a tent or cleaning the bathroom afterwards, just a quick and easy thing to do. It can be used a few days in a row until you achieve the desired colour. Love it! It really helps as well to even out the skin and I feel ready to expose my legs now that Spring is around the corner.I might need a bottle for Summer to even out any tan lines before the wedding...(I will let you know if I do and if it works!) I think this is great for beginners, anyone with very fair skin, or people like me that find it too stressful to go for beauty appointments. If you however want a deep professional spray tan, Eco tan actually has professionals that can do this for you.

Why Organic? If you know me or have read this blog before you know how passionate I am about anything organic. To me it's the best lifestyle to ensure we can sustain this beautiful planet in the future. Organic food and cosmetics protect the environment, the animals and also our own health as humans. Of course I could go on and on why it is so important, but chances are you know this already. Otherwise I might write up a separate blog post.

Of course I all for the quality certified organic ingredients throughout the whole Eco Tan range. It has been tested in Australia to be toxin free and it's also vegan. I recommend this range to all my brides, if they are thinking about getting a fake tan for their wedding day. Of course always book yourself a trial appointment for a tan before the wedding day,so you can confirm the right colour and also make sure you don't have any allergic reactions. Now we can all get a truly healthy glow! In time for Spring...

A date with the bathtub- Weleda Time Machine

The nights are still pretty chilly over here and having worked some late nights lately as well as doing quite some intense yoga sessions, my muscles were in need of a soak and massage.

I haven't even used our bath tub since we moved into our apartment almost a year ago. When I lived in Berlin years ago the bathtub was the place to find me on days off and cold winter nights. I almost forgot how good it feels to have a bath! While the bathtub brings back memories I stepped even further down memory lane by using a beautiful Weleda bath milk. Weleda is one of the brands my hippie parents used when I was little and that I have adored all my life. It's the go to green beauty brand for everyday essentials. We lived in Germany and my Mum who is a Naturopath has always been into organic and green beauty products. Weleda has just brought out a new Arnica Muscle Soak, that called my name. It actually smells of an Swedish Sauna to me, which must be due to the birch, rosemary and lavender used. Where I grew up in Northern Europe saunas are very popular and are part of our culture. By the way: Did you know we recently visited Northern Germany, Denmark & Sweden? If you are interested in Scandinavia and our adventures check out our personal blog here. It's our personal project about happiness, photography and travel but mostly all the small things that make life so wonderful.

But back to my wonderful bath experience: I feel bathtime is one of these special pampering times that are so important for self care, just like meditation or exercise. I think I will continue to have baths until Spring arrives! I soaked for a little while in the warm water before bed and had my bed already warmed up with hot water bottles. I can't even remember a thing, I passed out as soon as I snuggled up. Highly recommended!

"Skin Food" is another hero product by Weleda a healing intensely moisturizing balm, soooooo good for feet, elbows or dry hands! It's one of these cult beauty products that has had no reason to change formula since 1926. It has a huge celebrity following as well and is a staple in many professional makeup kits, including my own, especially during the Winter months. Free from parabens, artificial preservatives, colours and fragrances. Skin Food is not tested on animals and is suitable for vegetarians. (this one is not vegan it does contain lanolin)

Weleda is one of the brands that takes green beauty to the next level, they grow most their ingredients in their own biodynamic organic gardens. Exotic ingredients they usually buy from sustainable fair trade projects, ensuring there are no sprays or pesticides used. This way they ensure that they are able to use only the highest quality ingredients while making sure they are sourced in a way that is ethically, socially and environmentally responsible. Extra green smoothie points from me there ;)

How To Find The Right Oil For Your Skin Type

Why do some people swear by using pure oils on their skin, while others try to stay clear of oils completely after bad break out experience? Why are oils all the craze right now and how to know which one to use? If you are a beauty nerd and love to know more details read on. If you are just after a quick What-product-to-buy-guide, scroll down toward the end of this post :)

What's in an oil? It's important to realize that all natural carrier oils have a different composition of fatty acids, making them suitable for some skin types and purposes, yet not for others. All oils contain a different percentage of Oleic Acid and Linoeic Acid. Many skincare brands combine different pure oils to get the right balance and a variety of benefits.

Why oils are better than creams, lotions & co Moisturizing your skin with certified organic plant oils is possibly the best thing you can do for your skin. Pure plant oils provide moisture and nutrients to your skin without any fillers or aggressive preservatives. Water is usually the first ingredient on the list and therefore contained in the highest percentage in your moisturizer, due to the high water content moisturizers and creams will always require preservatives while pure oils don't. You basically get more bang for your buck and higher quality as water is nothing more that cheap filler. Plant oils are very versatile and can help to balance oily skin with over active oil glands while moisturizing the very dry skin.

How to find the right oil for my skin? Below is a guideline on which oils commonly work the best for the different skin types. You might have to experiment to find the oil that works best for your skin. If your skin absorbs the oily quickly and nicely, not leaving it shiny, but rather supple, moisturized and healthy it's right for you! You want the oil to absorb, without leaving any residue behind.

Dry Skin In a nutshell: Oils that are high in Oleic Acid are best for dry skin. These oils very rich and nourishing and feel oily on the skin. Some of the best oils for dry skin are: Macadamia Oil Avocado Oil Almond Oil Apricot Kernel Oil Sea Buckthorn Oil More balanced oils that can also work well for dry skin: Jojoba Oil Flaxseed Oil Argan Oil Coconut Oil (Unrefined) Coconut Oil (Refined)

Combo/Oily Skin Oils that are high in Linoleic Acid are best for oily/acne prone skin. These oils are light and help to reduce clogged pores. For example: Safflower Oil Black Cumin Seed Oil Hemp Seed Oil Evening Primrose Oil Pumpkin Seed Oil Rosehip Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil Soybean Oil These are well balanced oils also good for oily/acne prone skin: Jojoba Oil Pomegranate Oil Sesame Oil

Extremely Dry Skins If you are very very dry or live in a very cold climate, your skin might ask for something more. In this care try Coconut Oil or Plant Butters (e.g. Shea-, Cocoa- or Mangobutter), which are also amazing for the body. These oils are high in Palmitic Acid and not recommended for acne prone skin.

Look For Quality & Keep it Cool It's important to look for certified organic oils of best quality. If you use an oil that is high in Linoleic Acid, it's best to keep it in the fridge, as they tend to go off very quickly otherwise.

How To Apply Usually only a few drops are needed and oils are best applied on damp skin. I love spraying my face with some hydrating mist before applying oil. The right can be used morning and night instead of moisturizer.

Favourite Face Oils Products

I have put together a list of some of my favourite ready to wear luxury face oils. If you don't want to start mixing and blending yourself and you love a pretty bottle, you might enjoy checking those beauties out.

Trilogy Roship Oil: Great for all skin types, including oily/combination skin. Many people have seen great results on acne prone skin. It's high in Linoleic Acid and they also have a version that has been enriched with Antioxidants, which prolongs it's shelf life and protect your skin.

N.E.O. Vanessa Megan: All skins including Acne Prone, it's based on Argan Oil which is non comedogenic. Still a very rich oil. Great for ageing skin, dry skin and adult acne.

Intelligent Nutrients Renewing Oil Serum: Based on Safflower and Argan Oil and Grapeseed Oil this one is very high in Linoleic Acid and therefore great for balancing oily skin, combination skin and also suitable for acne prone skin.

Trilogy Age-Proof CoQ10 Booster Oil: Great for mature skin, anti-ageing, normal to dry skin. Based on Macadamia Oil, this is a savior for dry skins. It is enriched with Anitoxidants and a unique "Glycablend" of oils to combat the ageing process in the skin, called glycation. It also contains Tamanu Oil, which is known to have very healing effect on the skin.

Gressa Purifying Oil: The name says it all, this blend of oils is suitable for oily and acne prone skins. With it's base of Jojoba and Rosehip oil it's high in Linoleic Acid, Macadamia Oil adds moisture and balances all skin types. It diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, restores skin elasticity, soothes and balances troubled skin, and fades discolorations. Ideal for all skin types.

La Mav Antioxidant Rich Nightly Repair Nectar According to La Mav great for dry, mature and sensitive skin. Based on Rosehip, Jojoba and Apricot Kernel Oil, it's a well balanced oil that should work for all but oily skins.

Some other great Indie Brands that make high quality oils, according to skin type are BLOOM & Mi Skin Organics.

There is so much to know about oils and if you are interested, please research and read even more about them. I tried my best to really simplify all the facts into a compact useful post.

THE Luxury Lip Balm - Henné Organics

My possibly favourite lip balm ever is Henné Organics.

I have shared this picture already on Instragram before, but I thought it's certainly worth mentioning again. The quality of this product is outstanding and this exactly what founder Laura Xiao is all about. "If there’s one unifying thread that summarizes my current path in life, it is quality. I seek quality in friendships, quality in love and quality in material things." Well said and extremely well done.

This little miracle moisturizer is certified organic, non toxic and not tested on animals. It feels smooth and nourishing and tastes absolutely delicious, thanks to all the wonderful ingredients. And it comes in a glass jar, which makes it perfect to use in my green makeup kit as organic makeup artist. It's an allrounder great for dry areas like cuticles, elbows and can even be used as highlighting gloss on the skin, if you are in a pinch. Of course it's safe to use on your little ones as well.

I have a feeling this one might receive cult status really quickly.

Zuii Organic Eye Makeup Fun

I have recently had some fun with the Zuii Organic Range.

My fav's were the Eye Brow Definer, Maxi Lash Mascara and funky Flora Eye Shadows. The eye makeup products are lovely and also great for editorial makeup use. This range is filled with colour and certified Organic. I have been using the mascara with great success on my sensitive eyes, and experiencend no watering or itching. It is not water proof, yet it holds up throughout my work day really well.

If you are in the market for a silicone free primer, this one is really worth trying. It absorbs quickly and is suitable for all skin types and creates a lovely smooth base for your foundation. As I am very yellow tones I didn't find a good colour match in their foundations, this primer however is a good find.

Zuii is powered by flowers and every product uses beautiful botanical oils and flower extracts. I find the range perfect for teens and young women who love colour, they even do vegan colourful mascara.