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		<title>Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/jana-of-small-bits-of-loveliness/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=jana-of-small-bits-of-loveliness</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Greenly Connections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogger introduction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty community]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[small bits of loveliness]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>QUICK FACTS Bio: Jana Drolc, author of Small Bits of Loveliness, passionate about green, natural and organic products. Location: Slovenia Connect: Jana&#8217;s Blog and Instagram If you are not yet familiar with the beautiful face pictured above, it is our great pleasure to introduce you to Jana &#8211; lover of green beauty, advocate for organic living and ... <a title="Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/jana-of-small-bits-of-loveliness/" aria-label="Read more about Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/jana-of-small-bits-of-loveliness/">Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure id="attachment_3353" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3353" style="width: 740px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3353" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/green-natural-organic-mineral-beauty-inspired-by-alicia-vikander-makeup-look-1024x683.jpg" alt="Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness" width="750" height="500" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/green-natural-organic-mineral-beauty-inspired-by-alicia-vikander-makeup-look-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/green-natural-organic-mineral-beauty-inspired-by-alicia-vikander-makeup-look-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/green-natural-organic-mineral-beauty-inspired-by-alicia-vikander-makeup-look-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3353" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana, Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>QUICK FACTS</strong></p>
<p><em>Bio</em>: Jana Drolc, author of Small Bits of Loveliness, passionate about green, natural and organic products.<br />
<em>Location</em>: Slovenia<br />
<em>Connect</em>: Jana&#8217;s <a href="http://www.smallbitsofloveliness.com/">Blog</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smallbitsofloveliness/">Instagram</a></p>
<hr />
<p>If you are not yet familiar with the beautiful face pictured above, it is our great pleasure to introduce you to Jana &#8211; lover of green beauty, advocate for organic living and content creator behind the blog Small Bits of Loveliness.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3359" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Small-Bits-of-Loveliness-Header.png" alt="Small Bits of Loveliness Blog Logo" width="600" height="228" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Small-Bits-of-Loveliness-Header.png 600w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Small-Bits-of-Loveliness-Header-300x114.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
<p>Amazing natural and organic product recommendations, Beauty Heroes Ambassador, and trained beautician, Jana is an incredible wealth of knowledge.  She has a passion for living healthfully that shines through in her thoughtful posts and detailed reviews.  Although she has a degree in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, makeup and beauty products have always interested and inspired Jana, and after reading an article about harmful ingredients that are often in every day products, her focus shifted to green beauty and finding clean and safe products.</p>
<p>If you are new to green beauty or are a veteran in your journey to finding healthier beauty alternatives, you will certainly enjoy Small Bits of Loveliness and the wonderful woman behind it.  We are thrilled today to have the lovely Jana on the blog sharing with us a little bit more about herself, how she became interested in organic beauty and she is even sharing her five must have winter skincare products!  Read on below for our interview with the lovely Jana!</p>
<hr />
<figure id="attachment_3358" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3358" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-3358" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12965079_1718423315108933_1401047563_n.jpg" alt="Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness" width="520" height="650" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12965079_1718423315108933_1401047563_n.jpg 640w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12965079_1718423315108933_1401047563_n-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3358" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana, Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What was it that first intrigued you about green beauty and natural products? How did you first become interested in researching what ingredients were in the products you were using?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Jana</em>: Well if my memory serves me right, I got into green beauty and natural products after I read an article about toxic and harmful ingredients hiding in my every day products. Before really diving into the magical word of green beauty I actually first got into cruelty free brands and products. The majority of natural and organic products are cruelty free so I just started using those. Then I started reading more about ingredients, learning which to avoid and which worked for my skin. My skin and hair really agreed with the change so it was only natural to continue. I also started reading green beauty blogs and was inspired even more to follow on this journey. So yeah, my interest in animal welfare and cruelty free products + reading and learning about ingredients made me think and changed my whole look on beauty.</p>
<p><strong>The Greenly Guide: What inspired you to share your story through your blog and when did you begin blogging? </strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: The longer version of this answer is in my <a href="https://www.beauty-heroes.com/topic/a-heros-journey/qa-with-jana-smalls-bits-loveliness/">Beauty Heroes interview</a>, to sum it up – it was my gorgeous friend who inspired me to start writing my blog. I said it many times before and I will gladly say it again, I will be forever grateful to her. Starting out on my blogging journey was THE best decision of my life. I feel blessed to have her in my life, as well as my friends and family who support me.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3362" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3362" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3362" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14719660_1818534808425097_5698961151233097728_n-1024x806.jpg" alt="Earthwise Beauty Products " width="740" height="582" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14719660_1818534808425097_5698961151233097728_n-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14719660_1818534808425097_5698961151233097728_n-300x236.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14719660_1818534808425097_5698961151233097728_n-768x604.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14719660_1818534808425097_5698961151233097728_n.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3362" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: How did you come to settle on the name Small Bits of Loveliness? (such a cute name!)</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: Aw thank you! I wanted something that would give me the option of writing about a wide variety of subjects because I didn’t quite know for sure where my blog would take me. I only knew I wanted to write about beauty, but then I also wanted to include some fashion and cooking posts, and more, so I decided on a name that would cover all that. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds, not at all. After years I still like my blog name so I guess I did something right there. Again, thanks to my boyfriend and friends who helped me.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What qualities do you look for in a brand when you are searching for new products to try?</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: I take a closer look into the ingredients + brand’s philosophy. Cruelty free, 100% natural, organic, palm oil free, eco friendly, vegan and things like that make my heart skip a beat. I’m not perfect and still use products in plastic packaging (but then I always recycle!) and I also don’t use all vegan products (I can’t say no to honey), but I try to do my best. Oh and when I see palm oil or palm oil derivatives among ingredients I always ask the brand if it’s from a sustainable source. I think everyone should be more mindful of palm oil. If you’re not familiar with the problem, palm oil plantations have a huge negative impact on environment, on animals and people. You should really look into it. Back to the qualities I look for in a brand, well a gorgeous packaging doesn’t hurt either, but in the end the ingredients and performance are what really matter.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3363" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3363" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3363" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15056546_1497245493623845_4334522407197868032_n-820x1024.jpg" alt="Siam Seas Products" width="650" height="812" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15056546_1497245493623845_4334522407197868032_n-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15056546_1497245493623845_4334522407197868032_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15056546_1497245493623845_4334522407197868032_n-768x959.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15056546_1497245493623845_4334522407197868032_n.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3363" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana, Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Are there any green brands that you have tried that are local to you that you have loved and would like to share?</em></strong><br />
I haven’t tried the brand yet but I saw it the other day and it picked my interest &#8211;<a href="http://www.amonanis.si/en/">Amon &amp; Anis</a>. I love their cute design, so pretty! They are 100% natural and at least 98% organic. I will have to try something from them, they look so lovely.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What are your winter skincare must haves? Can you narrow it down to 5?</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: Keri, this is the hardest question, I love so many products! Since this time is all about hydration and nourishment, the first product that comes to mind is the Nap in the Meadow by the amazing Earthwise Beauty. The Nap is a very hydrating product that is also anti-inflammatory and soothing, and has made such a massive difference in my skin. This year I haven’t experienced any problems with dry, flaky skin which is often times the case when transitioning from fall to winter, and I believe this product played a big role in that. For the face let me also mention my newest discovery – Siam Seas. Oh my word, Supadra’s products are so good! Such a fan of the Elements Beauty Balm and The Twiglight BeCalm Skin Serum. I saw immediate results with these two products. My skin was instantly calmer, more even and smooth. Can I cheat a little and think of the two Siam Seas products as one? If that’s the case I can move on to the best hair oil in the world, the UMA Intensely Nourishing Hair Oil, which is keeping my hair soft and hydrated. For my body I have to mention Kahina Giving Beauty Moroccan Rose Beldi Soap and accompanying Kessa Mitt, which makes my skin unbelievably soft and Rachel’s Plan Bee Jasmine Body Oil, doubles up as perfume oil. The scent of this product is one of the best out there. So much love for all these products.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3364" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3364" style="width: 740px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3364" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14499093_1380585998641287_6843905144929648640_n-1024x889.jpg" alt="Rachel's Plan Bee Body Oil" width="750" height="651" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14499093_1380585998641287_6843905144929648640_n-1024x889.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14499093_1380585998641287_6843905144929648640_n-300x261.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14499093_1380585998641287_6843905144929648640_n-768x667.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14499093_1380585998641287_6843905144929648640_n.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3364" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana, Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: We are big fans of <a href="https://theperidotmag.com/">The Peridot Mag</a> that you are a part of- how did this collaboration come to be and can you explain a little about The Peridot for those who aren&#8217;t familiar with it?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Jana</em>: Thank you, glad to hear it. First let me start with your second question. If I try to describe The Peridot Mag in one sentence, then I would say it’s a place for all who are interested in green beauty, ethical fashion, eco lifestyle and more. Everyone can find something special to enjoy and learn something new. If I can say so myself it is a great place to spend some of your time. I’m only a contributing member (a very bad one at this moment!) but I was actually a co-founder, with Liz, Tammy, and Nic. It was fun while it lasted but honestly, I was feeling too much pressure and having a full time job and my blog was just too much for me to handle. For the sake of my sanity I had to take a step back, so I became a contributor. Luckily the ladies were really understanding and I can’t thank them enough for that.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Living abroad, can you share your go to green beauty online shops that are your favorites in your region?</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: For Slovenian shops I want to mention two – <a href="http://specia.si/">Specia</a> and <a href="http://lilylolo.si/">LilyLolo</a>, and as for European beauty shops I love <a href="https://www.reinaorganics.com/">Reina Organics</a>, <a href="https://www.eminessences.com/">Eminessences</a>, <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/">Love Lula</a> and <a href="http://www.sonaturalbeauty.com/">So Natural Beauty</a>. These are the ones that first come to mind.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Do you have any exciting upcoming plans for Small Bits of Loveliness that you can share?</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: There is always something going on, but at the moment there’s nothing too big to share.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Anything else you would like to add?</em></strong><br />
<em>Jana</em>: All that is left to say is that I’m so very grateful to you Keri to feature me on your beautiful blog. I feel so honoured you picked me among all amazing green beauty bloggers out there. Thank you! To those of you who read my interview, thank you as well. &lt;3</p>
<figure id="attachment_3352" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3352" style="width: 689px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3352" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jana-bio-1024x681.jpg" alt="Jana Photo" width="699" height="465" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jana-bio-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jana-bio-300x199.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jana-bio-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3352" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Jana, Small Bits of Loveliness</em></figcaption></figure>
<hr />
<p>Thank you so much to Jana for taking the time to share more about herself and her green beauty journey.  We cannot wait to see what she has in store in the coming year!</p>
<p>For amazing green beauty information, gorgeous photos and honest product reviews, please make sure to head over to Jana&#8217;s <a href="http://www.smallbitsofloveliness.com/">blog</a> and follow her over on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smallbitsofloveliness/">Instagram</a> as well!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/jana-of-small-bits-of-loveliness/">Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2016 03:33:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Greenly Connections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bella aura]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[The Goofy Mermaid]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegreenlyguide.com/?p=3245</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>If you have ever scrolled through the #greenbeauty posts on Instagram, there is a good chance you have come across the beautiful page of Mari, founder of The Goofy Mermaid. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS in 2014, she made the decision to start living a more clean and organic lifestyle. She wanted to ... <a title="Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/chat-with-mari-draughon-goofy-mermaid/" aria-label="Read more about Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/chat-with-mari-draughon-goofy-mermaid/">Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3259" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0397-1024x683.jpg" alt="Goofy Mermaid Instagram" width="701" height="467" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0397-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0397-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0397-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px" /></p>
<p>If you have ever scrolled through the #greenbeauty posts on Instagram, there is a good chance you have come across the beautiful page of Mari, founder of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegoofymermaid/?hl=en">The Goofy Mermaid</a>. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS in 2014, she made the decision to start living a more clean and organic lifestyle. She wanted to share her experiences in hopes that she could help others who were dealing with similar health issues, so she created The Goofy Mermaid as a space to document her journey.</p>
<p>Her feed is brimming with green living inspiration. From the stunning photography to her informational product posts, you will easily pick up several tips from her page. If you are looking to discover small niche brands, but are also interested in the green beauty heavy hitters, The Goofy Mermaid has you covered. Mari has been a leader in the green beauty community and many have connected with her—she has always been willing to answer questions, lend suggestions and be there to listen to and support her followers. She has even been known to give out her personal cell phone number, which is pretty incredible! What I really love about The Goofy Mermaid is that their motto is “We don’t believe in perfect choices, just better ones—and we’re here to encourage and support those choices”. So wherever you are in your transition to a healthier lifestyle, there will be recommendations for you!</p>
<p>The Goofy Mermaid has become a place for people to connect and to learn how to make better choices, and Mari’s sweet and genuine spirit has been behind these connections. She has befriended so many in the green community, it was quite a surprise when she announced that she would be taking a step back from social media and The Goofy Mermaid. With so much on her plate, and a desire to find her passion elsewhere, Mari is no longer running the day to day posts on The Goofy Mermaid. She will be working behind the scenes, so if you would like to reach out to her, she can still be contacted through The Goofy Mermaid page.</p>
<hr />
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>“We don’t believe in perfect choices, just better ones—and we’re here to encourage and support those choices”. &#8211; Mari of The Goofy Mermaid</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>I was so excited to have a chance to chat with Mari around the time of her social media departure to get some of her thoughts on her green beauty journey, what the future of The Goofy Mermaid holds and what advice she has for those just starting down a healthier path.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3246" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3246" style="width: 715px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3246" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_3-1024x683.jpg" alt="Mari of The Goofy Mermaid" width="725" height="483" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3246" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: The Goofy Mermaid</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: When did you start your &#8220;Going Green&#8221; journey &amp; why did you decide to create The Goofy Mermaid?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: It was my 2014 diagnoses of endometriosis and PCOS (now Metabolic Reproduction Syndrome) that prompted me to take a closer look at the choices I was making and to transition to a more organic way of life. I created The Goofy Mermaid in order to share my journey in hopes to inspire others to join me in making better choices.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: With your recent departure from social media, can you briefly explain the future of the Goofy Mermaid, as I&#8217;m sure a lot of people will be interested to hear what is next for you!</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: It’s been a crazy ride — and to be honest, I never really had a clear strategy for The Goofy Mermaid. I just kind of hopped on and began sharing with hopes that someone would listen and feel understood, because living with any kind of invisible illness can not only be discouraging, but also lonely. It actually wasn’t until I decided to step away from social media that I realized just how much of an impact the brand was making… I received tons of emails, private messages, text messages (yes, I give my phone number out!) from people sharing how The Goofy Mermaid has inspired them and asking me to stay in the space. I had to leave social media, though. The solution? To bring on a new mermaid! I introduced her right before my exit and decided that I will continue to work behind-the-scenes with her to develop the brand. What that will look like? Who knows, but we do have some high hopes!</p>
<p>Although I’ll be BTS, The Goofy Mermaid will not be my only focus. I’ll actually be taking lots of time to sit in stillness to figure out what’s next for me. Despite the odds that are against me, I’m determined to get pregnant — naturally — and to find my life’s purpose. So I’ll be using my newfound free time to focus more on my health and listen to what Life is asking of me.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3247" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3247" style="width: 715px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3247" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_43-1024x683.jpg" alt="Mari of The Goofy Mermaid with Husband" width="725" height="483" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_43-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_43-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/JAN.6_GOOFY_43-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3247" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: The Goofy Mermaid</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: I have heard you speak about your health reasons as to why you turned to natural products and green beauty &#8211; for people who may be going through similar things, can you share what you think have been your most important &amp; effective changes that you have made? </em></strong></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: It’s tough to spotlight just one change when really I believe that they all work together. If I’m eating correctly, but not using cleaner products on my skin, I’m still not feeling my best — I have to be eating a certain way, exercising (be careful, though: Endometriosis and/or PCOS sufferers should not be doing heavy cardio!), taking vitamins, and using all of the right beauty + home products to feel 100%. Nurturing my emotions + soul also plays an important role in my feeling good.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What was the first natural beauty or skincare product that you purchased?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: I was fortunate enough to be provided the opportunity to try A LOT of products without having to purchase first however my first purchase was from Leahlani.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What has been the hardest product to find a natural alternative for, if any? </em></strong></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: Deodorant was a difficult hunt. Mascara and perfume are another. I actually just went back to my Yves Saint Laurent mascara since even the most impressive natural mascaras still don’t cut it [for me].</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What was your most recent green beauty purchase?</em></strong><br />
<em>Mari</em>: Does a tube of David’s Natural Toothpaste count? <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f609.png" alt="😉" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: I&#8217;m sure you are constantly receiving emails from brands who are interested in working with you to promote their products &#8211; What do you look for in a new brand that you are thinking about trying? What are your tips on avoiding greenwashing and finding truly natural products?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: It’s all about intention. My standard for brands is that they truly aim to provide better, safer, cleaner alternatives to conventional products while also serving the needs of the consumer. Purity is a bonus, but really I think that focusing too much on purity, might actually lead to exclusivity. Not everyone can afford to spend $160 on a bottle of serum, so that’s a huge consideration of mine when selecting brands. Also, just because a product contains 100% natural ingredients doesn’t mean that it’s effective. The goal of The Goofy Mermaid is to welcome everyone to make better choices — regardless of their budget or beliefs — without passing judgement on what better means to them</p>
<figure id="attachment_3248" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3248" style="width: 715px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3248" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Product Photo 1" width="725" height="725" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GoofyMermaid1.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3248" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: The Goofy Mermaid</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Over the years, you have had the opportunity to try products from many different brands &#8211; what are the ones that you keep coming back to and have become a staple in your household or beauty routine? Can you narrow down your top 10 brands?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Mari</em>: Just 10 brands? That’s rough, haha! Honestly, I have so many products that I use regularly depending on my skin’s/body’s needs, but if I must choose below are some of my must-haves (in no specific order):</p>
<p><a href="https://bellaaura.com/">Bella Aura</a>: Gentle Purifying Cleanser<br />
<a href="https://www.twelvebeauty.com/">Twelve Beauty</a>: Hyaluroil Lip Treatments<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Davids-Natural-Toothpaste-Antiplaque-Fluoride-Free/dp/B00ZTJC26C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1END8OHR5WHHS&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=davids+natural+toothpaste&amp;qid=1595700598&amp;sprefix=davids+natural+,aps,194&amp;sr=8-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=753ee30ff1930fa642564173d52747e9&amp;language=en_US">David’s Natural Toothpaste</a><br />
<a href="https://www.lotuswei.com/">Lotus Wei</a>: Peony Elixir or Infinite Love Anointing Oil<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/INNERSENSE/page/6B900AAF-0D84-44B5-A185-81E0466B2496/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=ast_bln&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=977b82a579760e2dd6ff6f4ab8c6f2e4&amp;language=en_US">Innersense Organic Beauty</a>: Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/PLUME+HAIR+%26+LASH+SCIENCE/page/D8DC78B6-5330-4433-BE04-42ABC14B10F9/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=ast_bln&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=2876fec22d26943cc6604f4818e3b258&amp;language=en_US">Plume Science</a>: Lash &amp; Brown Serum<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=LEAHLANI+SKINCARE&amp;ref=bl_dp_s_web_0&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=8bcbab56c086c481b2a226c3e457c002&amp;language=en_US">Leahlani Skincare</a>: Mermaid Mask<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Native/page/CDF2D56A-5F7A-4719-9051-B2F55D0EAF29/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=ast_bln&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=e13e3a2bbfc29d0a4418be6bdf9e6464&amp;language=en_US">Native Atlas</a>: Clarifying Face Oil<br />
<a href="https://www.tabithajameskraan.com/">Tabitha James Kraan</a>: Scented Organic Hair Oil<br />
<a href="https://www.siamseas.com/">Siam Seas</a>: Shampoo + Treatment</p>
<figure id="attachment_3250" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3250" style="width: 715px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3250" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Goofy Mermaid Product Photo" width="725" height="725" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TheGoofyMermaid2.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3250" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: The Goofy Mermaid</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: What is the greatest tip that you could give to someone who is just starting down the road of living a more natural and organic lifestyle?</em></strong><br />
<em>Mari</em>: If you want success: go slow. You don’t have to go crazy trying to get rid of every single “toxic” thing in your life, instead start with the things that most concern you and work your way from there. Also, follow some influencers within the community and connect with them! Ask them for advice, their fave resources, product recommendations for specific needs, etc.</p>
<hr />
<p>Make sure to follow Kirstie, the new mermaid over at The Goofy Mermaid on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegoofymermaid/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.  Kirstie will be working with Mari to continue to bring you wonderful content and introduce you to ‘better for you’ beauty and wellness products. Make sure to stop by and say hello!</p>
<figure id="attachment_3251" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3251" style="width: 290px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-3251" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TGM-copy-2-300x300.png" alt="The Goofy Mermaid Logo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TGM-copy-2-300x300.png 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TGM-copy-2-150x150.png 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TGM-copy-2.png 675w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3251" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: The Goofy Mermaid</em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Thank you so much to Mari for taking the time to speak with us and share her knowledge – I’m sure you will all join me in wishing her so much happiness and success in all that she will pursue in the future!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/chat-with-mari-draughon-goofy-mermaid/">Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: What is Reiki?  Clare shares her transformational journey</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/guest-post-what-is-reiki/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=guest-post-what-is-reiki</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2017 10:30:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Home & Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogger introduction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy therapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[essential oils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holistic health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holistic living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reiki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reiki practitioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[what is reiki]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>We are so thrilled to share with you this guest post from blogger and certified Reiki practitioner and teacher Clare Frances C. of Rocks and Salts.  Today she is sharing her amazing story on how she came to learn about Reiki, what it is, and how it can help to restore overall balance to the ... <a title="Guest Post: What is Reiki?  Clare shares her transformational journey" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/guest-post-what-is-reiki/" aria-label="Read more about Guest Post: What is Reiki?  Clare shares her transformational journey">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/guest-post-what-is-reiki/">Guest Post: What is Reiki?  Clare shares her transformational journey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We are so thrilled to share with you this guest post from blogger and certified Reiki practitioner and teacher Clare Frances C. of Rocks and Salts.  Today she is sharing her amazing story on how she came to learn about Reiki, what it is, and how it can help to restore overall balance to the body&#8217;s physical, mental and emotional well-being.  If you are not familiar with this energy therapy, read on to hear about Clare&#8217;s journey in the post below.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3648" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1.jpeg" alt="Clare's Reiki Story intro photo" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1.jpeg 3024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image1-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<hr />
<h3><strong>A Guest Post by Clare Frances C.</strong></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3653" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image7.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances Reiki Post" width="300" height="400" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image7.jpeg 960w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image7-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image7-768x1024.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<hr />
<p>This post has been a long time coming, so when Keri approached me, asking if I was willing to contribute an article to share my Reiki story, I could not refuse. Reiki has and continues to be a pivotal part of my personal growth, and life as a whole. It is something I wish for everyone to experience, and I hope that sharing my story may inspire others.</p>
<p>I remember my very first experience as if it were yesterday. It happened seven years ago when my friend kindly offered to give me a Reiki healing treatment. I had no idea what it was. All she told me was that I would feel deeply relaxed. That was all I needed to hear to agree to it.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3660" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances - Reiki - hand with crystals" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9.jpeg 2448w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image9-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
She had me lay down on a yoga mat, with a pillow under my head, and asked me to close my eyes and relax. What was really interesting was, despite her hands not physically touching me (she hovered them an inch above) throughout the one hour treatment, I felt sensations around the crown of my head, which felt like a mix of tingling and buzzing. There was also a pulsating warmth unlike anything I had felt before – not quite the same as what I know to be regular body heat. This was different. It felt like a radiating heat pack. I was intrigued to say the least. What was this, I wondered?</p>
<p>I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I knew, she was gently nudging me awake. I felt incredibly calm and relaxed – a lightness in my being unlike anything I had experienced before. I did not quite understand it, but I knew I wanted more. Five years later, I decided to learn Reiki for myself, which remains one of my best decisions.</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>So, what exactly is Reiki? It is an energy therapy, which works with the body’s own remarkable healing capabilities, helping to <strong>encourage and accelerate</strong> its natural healing process, and <strong>restore overall balance</strong> to the body’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Reiki originated in Japan and was founded by Mikao Usui. The word ‘Rei’ may be referred to as divine, spiritual, pure or source, and ‘Ki’ refers to energy – similar to ‘Chi’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ‘Prana’ in Indian Ayurvedic philosophy. Reiki today is commonly known as <strong>Universal Energy</strong>, and to me, is <strong>energy at its purest</strong>.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3661" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image8.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances - Reiki Treatment Room" width="750" height="563" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image8.jpeg 3264w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image8-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image8-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image8-1024x768.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><br />
A Reiki treatment is done through the hands, simply by having the practitioner place or hover their hands on, or above the body (fully clothed), which activates the energy to flow into the body. No special movement, posture or action is required. The Reiki energy will be used by the body to help <strong>heal, rejuvenate and reinvigorate</strong>. Whatever health or wellness issue the person suffers from, including physical ailments, disease, stress or anxiety, and any emotional or trauma based issues, can often be helped with Reiki in a very <strong>gentle and releasing way</strong>. Another wonderful trait of Reiki is there are no known contraindications. This means that Reiki is <strong>complementary to other forms of healing</strong>, be it conventional medicine or other holistic therapies.</p>
<p>When I signed up to learn Reiki, I went in with my sights on level two – at this level, we learn advanced tools like how to send Reiki over distance, and often seems to be what gets most people excited. This was appealing to me because I wanted to be able to offer healing to my loved ones – who live overseas – in times of need. I saw it as my way of offering them love across the miles, in a tangible manner. However, in order to do that, I had to go through level one first – getting Reiki activated in my hands, and learning how to use it.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3662" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances - Reiki Healing" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4.jpeg 2448w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image4-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
I expected to stop at level two, but life had other plans for me. Level two progressed to level three, and before I could fully make sense of what was happening, I found myself signing up for the Reiki Master Training (RMT). I remember having many doubts, the main one being my fear of public speaking. How could I possibly teach a class?! It was never my plan to go on this journey with the intention to teach Reiki. My focus was always on personal growth, and to offer healing to my loved ones. However, it grew into something much bigger than myself. I felt a pull to go further. So I asked for a sign. Early one morning, two weeks before the start of the RMT course, I looked out the window. As I was gazing at the trees, I was surprised to see four white butterflies fluttering above the canopy. I live on the seventh story, and had never seen any butterflies from that height, let alone four of them together. I took that as my sign. I cannot explain how I knew, I just did – one butterfly to represent each of the three levels I had completed, and the fourth, to represent my future Reiki Master certification. I will always remember that magical morning, and since then, life has repeatedly given me moments of wild synchronicity to affirm me that I am on the right path. I completed my Reiki Master Training in September 2016, and in addition to hosting upcoming healing groups for beginners, I also have plans to conduct my first level one workshop later this year.</p>
<p>Although my desire to learn to Reiki was intended around offering healing to others, I soon learned that at its very core, <strong>Reiki is fundamentally a way to self-healing</strong>. Two years on, I can tell you that Reiki has helped me far beyond my physiological ailments. What I feel I have gained the most is <strong>deeper awareness, profound clarity and insight</strong> into issues that I previously didn’t have, being mindfully present, and having greater peace from being able to accept circumstances as they are, as opposed to resisting them when the outcomes were – in my limited belief – not ideal. Having a full time corporate job also means that Reiki helps to balance and ground me from the daily stresses that it brings.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3663" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances - Reiki Gems" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5.jpeg 2448w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image5-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
There are many various forms of holistic healing therapies, but the wonderful aspect which Reiki offers that I find lacking in others, is the <strong>element of self-empowerment</strong>. My role as a practitioner and teacher allows me to shine light where needed, so that my clients and students can realize how to heal themselves, through greater clarity and their own Reiki practice. In my experience, the body has proven to be highly intelligent and remarkable, capable of profound healing.</p>
<p>Reiki has shown me that <strong>true peace and happiness comes from within</strong>. My purpose as a Reiki practitioner and teacher, is to inspire others to uncover this potential within themselves, and to be a guiding light for them on their own journey of self-healing, towards a more holistic and fulfilled life.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-3664" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image6.jpeg" alt="Clare Frances Photo" width="100" height="178" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image6.jpeg 720w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image6-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image6-576x1024.jpeg 576w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></p>
<p><em>Clare Frances C. is a certified Reiki practitioner and affiliate teacher with The Reiki Centre (read more <a href="http://www.reiki-centre.com/">HERE</a>). Through Reiki, Clare is passionate about empowering her clients and students to realize the potential of self-healing within them, towards a more holistic and fulfilled life. Clare also has a full-time corporate job which helps to fund her burgeoning crystal and Lotus Wei obsession. Clare recently discovered a new-found love for Kundalini Yoga which she shares along with her favorite natural lifestyle choices and reflections on life, on her social media platforms. Clare has three beautiful nieces whom she adores. They live aboard, in the Netherlands, and she dedicates her free time FaceTiming with them.</em></p>
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<p><strong>*All photos in this post are courtesy of and belong to Clare Frances C.</strong></p>
<p>Connect with Clare on her <a href="https://rocksandsalts.com/">blog</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/clarefrancces">Instagram</a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/guest-post-what-is-reiki/">Guest Post: What is Reiki?  Clare shares her transformational journey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-interview-omiana/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=brand-profile-interview-omiana</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:48:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Brand Profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cruelty free makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mineral makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non toxic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non toxic beauty]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[omiana]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegreenlyguide.com/?p=3440</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With their minimalist formulas and avoidance of many ingredients in makeup that can be problematic for those with sensitive skin, Omiana is a brand for the most discerning woman who wants clean makeup that performs and also won&#8217;t irritate their skin.  Omiana achieves this by omitting commonly problematic ingredients such as titanium dioxide, mica and boron ... <a title="Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-interview-omiana/" aria-label="Read more about Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-interview-omiana/">Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With their minimalist formulas and avoidance of many ingredients in makeup that can be problematic for those with sensitive skin, Omiana is a brand for the most discerning woman who wants clean makeup that performs and also won&#8217;t irritate their skin.  <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Omiana/page/EB12DB2E-6062-4A6F-A7DF-14B796B57FFA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=ast_bln&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=2853d3bce571b7faf8d41b8d534d06fd&amp;language=en_US">Omiana</a> achieves this by omitting commonly problematic ingredients such as titanium dioxide, mica and boron nitride, so women with the most sensitive skin will be able to find products to suit their needs. Also on their &#8216;never&#8217; ingredient list are talc, bismuth, coal tar, nanos, tin oxide, micronized particles, <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/greenly-basics-whats-the-deal-with-parabens/">parabens</a> and many more.  Omiana takes pride in their fully disclosed ingredient lists so customers are never left wondering exactly what is in their formulas. Omiana is also certified by both PETA and Leaping Bunny.</p>
<p>In addition to being ingredient savvy, Omiana is also first and foremost a family-centered business.  They are a privately held, family-owned company, that caters to a small niche clientele who are looking for a wide variety of safe and high performing cosmetics.  They pride themselves on always remembering that there is a real person on the other end of an email or phone call, and they operate on a strategy of putting heart, not profit, at the center of all that they do.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3446" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3446" style="width: 590px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3446" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/adaptive_pressed_mineral_powders-min_1024x1024-819x1024.jpg" alt="Omiana powder foundation" width="600" height="750" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/adaptive_pressed_mineral_powders-min_1024x1024.jpg 819w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/adaptive_pressed_mineral_powders-min_1024x1024-240x300.jpg 240w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/adaptive_pressed_mineral_powders-min_1024x1024-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3446" class="wp-caption-text">photo credit: Omiana</figcaption></figure>
<p>In addition to providing helpful and friendly customer service, they take their family-first stance a step further by providing their employees a &#8220;classroom&#8221; to bring their children with them to work.  This room is filled with books, piles of compostable diapers, toys and comfy couches for nursing moms. They believe in harmony between work and family, and they certainly take the steps to provide their employees this incredible benefit.</p>
<p>The Greenly Guide is so excited to share with you more about this company on the blog today.  We had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Lauren, founder of Omiana, and to ask her a few questions about her company and their products. Please read on below for our full interview with Lauren, a wonderful discount code plus a chance to win some of Omiana&#8217;s fabulous products!</p>
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<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Can you share a little about your story and how you first became interested in using natural and non-toxic beauty products?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: My mom&#8217;s family is Mennonite, straight from Germany, so we (my sister, cousins, and I) spent a lot of time helping husk corn and riding horses on the farm. I think that environment kept my head health-geared from a young age. My grandma wouldn&#8217;t keep sugar in the house, for example. Just honey, and only once in a blue moon would she let us use it! It&#8217;s always been a lifestyle for my family and me. My sister and I delved into makeup when my mom, who did not stay within the Mennonite circle, let us; we have always enjoyed makeup and considered it an art form.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3445" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3445" style="width: 374px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3445" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/epic_mineral_beauty_minerals_large.jpg" alt="Omiana mineral makeup" width="384" height="480" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/epic_mineral_beauty_minerals_large.jpg 384w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/epic_mineral_beauty_minerals_large-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3445" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Omiana</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: How was Omiana born? What inspired you to start your company to create safer cosmetics?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: Omiana came about during my first pregnancy. I was looking for a line with numerous safe options; there are a lot of amazing pure lines out there, but sometimes their shades and finishes seem limited.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Is there a special meaning or significance behind the name Omiana? How did you decide on this name for your brand?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: My [then small] team and I actually cycled through a few names, but the trademarks didn&#8217;t go through! Omiana (&#8220;ah-me-ah-nah&#8221;) is a name my toddler helped me devise, ha-ha! We polled a good deal of our loyal customers, too: they seemed to agree it&#8217;s a memorable, &#8216;clean&#8217; name.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Omiana caters not only to those looking for cleaner beauty products, but to those with specific ingredient sensitivities as well- can you talk a little about the ingredients you have omitted from your formulas and why?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: It may sound odd, but even avoiding coconut oil is a biggie within Omiana. We certainly use it, and a lot of us love it, but it would probably come as a surprise to many how some skin types are sensitive to this ingredient. Ditto for beeswax, castor oil, even zinc oxide and other oxides. Chromium greens, ultramarines, mica &#8230; some colorants, colorants that have &#8216;iffy&#8217; research findings. There is inconclusive research, pros and cons, to virtually every ingredient out there, though, so when we source, we are diligent to be sure it&#8217;s the safest option among its kind. For example, Omiana&#8217;s iron oxides are not coated, are not micronized, and are certainly not nanoparticle. Our zinc oxide is high-micron; our beeswax is kosher, cruelty-free &#8230; the list goes on and on. Every ingredient has a strict sourcing process.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3448" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3448" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3448" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Omiana-compacts-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Omiana foundation compacts" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Omiana-compacts-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Omiana-compacts-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Omiana-compacts-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Omiana-compacts-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3448" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Omiana</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: When creating products with natural and non-toxic ingredients, what challenges have you encountered and how have you resolved these issues in your formulas?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: One thing we talk about a lot with our manufacturing team is what we call the &#8216;preservative battle&#8217; &#8230; we can make an amazing pH-balanced formula that passes safety tests but then have a savvy team member or even customers (we enlist some very loyal customers in early product creation) want or not want a preservative because a preservative can offer &#8216;extra security&#8217; yet some are sensitive to them or don&#8217;t like a moderate EWG-rated ingredient (e.g., a &#8220;3&#8221; over a &#8220;0&#8221; or &#8220;1&#8221;) &#8212; on the other hand, some are sensitive to or disapprove of herbal preservations systems &#8230; they might not want an herbal preservation system only in a mascara because if it gets contaminated because it&#8217;s opened and closed so much, that&#8217;s awfully risky, being so close to one&#8217;s precious eyes. It can be a catch-22 &#8230; so we opt to offer a variety of formulas.</p>
<p>With the care we put into formulations and ethical, legal, customers&#8217;-right-to-know full ingredient disclosure, it can be so disheartening seeing companies mislabeling in effort to win customers in the &#8216;natural&#8217; segment. We have seen this with mom-and-pop shops that might not understand strict labeling mandates, and we have seen this with big companies &#8212; I don&#8217;t want to throw anyone under the bus, but an example is a company claiming an anhydrous (no-water) formula, with numerous extracts, yet their extracts are suspended in water. Or not disclosing an ingredient combination because it&#8217;s trademarked. It can get a little frustrating as consumers ourselves and caring about other consumers&#8217; right to know what is honestly in their products.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Omiana is full of young women and mamas: we shouldn&#8217;t have to choose if we want to have a career or be a mom. Merging the two is what is natural in our case. -Lauren, founder of Omiana</strong></em></p>
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<figure id="attachment_3516" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3516" style="width: 425px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3516" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Baby.jpg" alt="Lauren founder of Omiana" width="435" height="556" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Baby.jpg 435w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Baby-235x300.jpg 235w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3516" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Lauren, founder of Omiana</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: As a mom myself, knowing that family is at the core of Omiana is so inspiring. I love that you have given your employees access to a &#8216;classroom&#8217; in your offices so moms can bring their little ones with them. So amazing! As this is definitely not the standard, can you explain why you decided to offer this incredible feature at Omiana?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: Thank you so much for caring; We have two men who are in our warehouse, and my husband is our COO, but other than that, Omiana is full of young women and mamas: we shouldn&#8217;t have to choose if we want to have a career or be a mom. Merging the two is what is natural in our case. These little ones, our future, are our driving forces: seeing my babes&#8217; faces and getting to plop down to feed them &#8212; it&#8217;s why I work so hard, and I know many women who are the same way and would prefer this. Totally not judging anyone who prefers otherwise, but this is a great set-up for us here. We have to keep kiddos away from manufacturing and order fulfillment, of course, but fortunately that&#8217;s quite separated. Our &#8216;classroom&#8217; area, as we call it, is neat. It&#8217;s modern and comfy with lots of learning centers and is downtown Columbia, Missouri, so there are fun little organic cafes and other local businesses surrounding us.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Let&#8217;s talk about your products &#8211; what was the very first product created at Omiana, and is it still in production today?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: It was Omiana&#8217;s loose powder, and you bet, it is!</p>
<figure id="attachment_3450" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3450" style="width: 591px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3450" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mineral_veil_320c547a-5d75-4932-83a2-cbb18a15ecd3_1024x1024-820x1024.jpg" alt="Omiana mineral veil " width="601" height="750" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mineral_veil_320c547a-5d75-4932-83a2-cbb18a15ecd3_1024x1024.jpg 820w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mineral_veil_320c547a-5d75-4932-83a2-cbb18a15ecd3_1024x1024-240x300.jpg 240w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mineral_veil_320c547a-5d75-4932-83a2-cbb18a15ecd3_1024x1024-768x959.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3450" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Omiana</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: For someone who is new to your brand and wondering where to start, can you share some of your current best-selling products?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: Omiana&#8217;s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Omiana-Mineral-Veil-Finishing-Powder/dp/B082QRHBMJ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=omiana+mineral+veil&amp;qid=1595702780&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=f6115b838cf0a56627879a308e0f0a8e&amp;language=en_US">mineral veil</a> really flies off our shelves. It&#8217;s simple and silky and really helps allay the appearance of pores, lines, and imperfections. Also, it sort of surprises me how well the <a href="http://www.omiana.com/collections/new/products/baby-bum-barrier-no-corn-clay-gluten-more">baby bum powder</a> does! I love this so much. Normally clay is an awesome ingredient, but it made me a little nervous with my newborn, so we formulated without clay, even, and no cornstarch &#8230; I think moms really appreciate all its omissions. A little secret &#8212; you can totally use this as a dry shampoo, too : )</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: What brings you the greatest joy through owning Omiana?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: Two things: the experience it provides my family and remaining as bonded as we are and the connection I and other team members get to establish with our amazing loyal customers. We have heard so many stories about triumph over illness; healthy pregnancies; landing-the-job, Omiana getting a tiny role in these stories. It&#8217;s just awesome hearing how Omiana plays a part in lives, even if it seems small. Augmenting our natural beauty through fun colors and ingredients &#8212; it&#8217;s an art form and a way we get to connect with people.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3455" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3455" style="width: 740px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3455" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/banner3-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Omiana cream blush" width="750" height="750" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/banner3-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/banner3-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/banner3-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/banner3-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3455" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: Omiana</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Can you share any exciting plans or new products that we can look forward to in 2017?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Lauren</em>: We are working on at least one new mascara, more foundation choices, and eye shadows! Also you will see more in our &#8216;holistic&#8217; section: Beauty and health go hand in hand, so offering EMF protection, essential oil-fragranced lead-free soy candles, and much more really excites us and hopefully our supporters, too.</p>
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<h3>Interested in trying some of Omiana&#8217;s Products?</h3>
<p>You can find many of Omiana&#8217;s amazing products on Amazon. Check them out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Omiana/page/EB12DB2E-6062-4A6F-A7DF-14B796B57FFA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=ast_bln&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=3a95293b69195700e1d5316a15154a82&amp;language=en_US">here</a>.</p>
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<p>Connect with Omiana on their <a href="https://www.omiana.com/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EpicMineralBeauty/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/shopomiana">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/omiana/">Pinterest </a>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shopomiana/">Instagram</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-interview-omiana/">Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: A seasonal skincare update for Spring + 2 simple DIY recipes</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/seasonal-skincare-guest-post-by-sarah-price/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=seasonal-skincare-guest-post-by-sarah-price</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:13:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogger guest post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[botanical skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean living]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[spring skincare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegreenlyguide.com/?p=3710</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With Spring just around the corner, we are so excited to share with you today this amazing seasonal skincare focused guest post by blogger, Sarah Price.  She is addressing important skincare items and how she transitions her products from Winter to Spring. She has also created two quick and easy DIY skincare recipes to help ... <a title="Guest Post: A seasonal skincare update for Spring + 2 simple DIY recipes" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/seasonal-skincare-guest-post-by-sarah-price/" aria-label="Read more about Guest Post: A seasonal skincare update for Spring + 2 simple DIY recipes">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/seasonal-skincare-guest-post-by-sarah-price/">Guest Post: A seasonal skincare update for Spring + 2 simple DIY recipes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With Spring just around the corner, we are so excited to share with you today this amazing seasonal skincare focused guest post by blogger, Sarah Price.  She is addressing important skincare items and how she transitions her products from Winter to Spring. She has also created two quick and easy DIY skincare recipes to help brighten your complexion and get you and your skin ready for Spring!  Read on below for Sarah&#8217;s full post.</p>
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<h3>Written by Sarah Price for The Greenly Guide</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-3711 size-medium" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SarahPriceProfilePicture-300x238.png" alt="Sarah Price Profile Picture" width="300" height="238" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SarahPriceProfilePicture-300x238.png 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SarahPriceProfilePicture-768x610.png 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SarahPriceProfilePicture-1024x814.png 1024w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SarahPriceProfilePicture.png 1505w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><em>Born and raised in North Carolina, Sarah dived into green beauty when she adopted a vegan lifestyle in 2011. Discovering what ingredients worked, finding new products, and building a skincare routine that actually worked totally changed how she saw beauty.</em></p>
<p><em>After being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and depression, beauty routines became an important part of her self care routine, and a major part of her everyday life. There&#8217;s nothing more relaxing than taking some time to treat your skin, do a creative make up look, or researching new products and ingredients.</em></p>
<p><em>When she moved to Toronto for university, starting a beauty blog was a no brainer. Dedicated to holistic beauty and self care, her blog is the place to go for effective products made with simple ingredients, self care tips and rituals, how to&#8217;s, and some creative DIY recipes. She loves connecting people to their favorite products and empowering them to take time for their own wellness and self care.</em></p>
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<p>Spring is one of my favorite seasons. There&#8217;s nothing like feeling the sun on your skin after a season of layers and sweaters.</p>
<p>While we enjoy the sun, flowers, and everything Spring has to offer, it&#8217;s also important to switch up how we take care of ourselves.</p>
<p>Today I&#8217;m going to walk you through the skincare adjustments I make to prepare for the seasonal change, the Spring herbs to boost your skin&#8217;s health, and I&#8217;ll share two DIY recipes to get your skin right on track.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3714" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-plant-photo.jpg" alt="Sarah Price plants " width="748" height="746" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-plant-photo.jpg 748w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-plant-photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-plant-photo-300x300.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px" /></p>
<h4>Skincare Routine Updates.</h4>
<p>I love updating my skincare as the seasons change because when the weather changes, your skin&#8217;s needs will too.</p>
<p>When it comes to Spring, the first thing I do is check in with my sun protection cream. Is it effective? Am I using it? Protecting your skin from the sun is so important. The sun can damage your skin, causing wrinkles and sun spots, but also causing serious health issues, like skin cancer.</p>
<p>Check in with your sun protection cream and make sure you&#8217;re using an effective one. You can also avoid the sun&#8217;s harmful rays by wearing wide brimmed hats, staying in the shade, and wearing protective clothing. I also recommend checking in with a dermatologist to have your moles looked over to ensure you&#8217;re good to go.</p>
<p>As the temperatures rise, I like to lighten things up. Instead of an intense night balm, I opt for a light facial oil. For dry skin types, argan oil is wonderful. If you have oily, or problematic skin, try jojoba.</p>
<p>I also switch my serums. During the Winter, I always use a hydrating serum because that&#8217;s what my skin needs. But during Spring, I&#8217;ll look for serums that brighten my skin and prevent acne. If you&#8217;re not sure what your skin needs, take a look in the mirror and check in with your skin.</p>
<p>When it comes to masks, I usually put away my hydrating options and bring out the clay based, clarifying masks. I tend to get more acne as the temperatures heat up and the clay helps to detox and clear my skin.</p>
<h4><strong>Seasonal Herbs to Boost Your Skin&#8217;s Health.</strong></h4>
<p>I love incorporating healing herbs into my every day routine through teas, scrubs, toners, and of course, facial steams.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3715" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-fruit-and-herb-photo.jpg" alt="Sarah Price fruit and herbs" width="747" height="734" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-fruit-and-herb-photo.jpg 747w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sarah-fruit-and-herb-photo-300x295.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px" /></p>
<p>The Spring brings lots of new growth, from beautiful flowers to healing herbs. I want to share some of my favorites to help boost your skin&#8217;s health.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Organic-Dandelion-Herbal/dp/B00HSYVFRS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=organic+dandelion+tea&amp;qid=1595210726&amp;sr=8-5&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=f31dcad6a17c276c72704ae34ea15498&amp;language=en_US"><em><strong>Dandelion</strong> </em></a>is a detoxifying herb that&#8217;s actually delicious as a tea. Not only does it support your internal organs, but when your insides run smoothly, it will show on your skin.</p>
<p><em><strong>Peppermint, Lemon Balm, and Saint John&#8217;s Wort</strong></em> are also wonderful additions to spring teas and beauty treatments that can help cleanse and brighten.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve actually included peppermint in the DIY facial steam as I find it has energizing, rejuvenating properties for the skin that are so wonderful after months of cold. You can also infuse your favorite oil with peppermint to create a naturally healing body oil.</p>
<p><em>Source: Maddy, Celestine, and Abbye Churchill. A Wilder Life: A Season-by-season Guide to Getting in Touch with Nature. New York: Artisan, 2016. Print.</em></p>
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<h3><strong>DIY: Grapefruit + Mint Body Scrub</strong></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3716" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-1.jpg" alt="Grapefruit + Mint Body Scrub 1" width="801" height="608" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-1.jpg 2162w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-1-300x228.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-1-768x583.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-1-1024x778.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" /></p>
<p>This scrub is made with exfoliating sugar, hydrating coconut oil, and healing essential oils that smell incredible. Grapefruit is one of my favorite fruits and scents, as it&#8217;s really uplifting and energizing, making it the perfect post Winter scrub.</p>
<p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p>
<p>• ½ cup Sugar<br />
• ¼ cup <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nutiva-Organic-Aceite-coco-virgen/dp/B004NTCE1M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Organic+Coconut+Oil&amp;qid=1595210927&amp;s=grocery&amp;sr=1-14-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExS1pPWDg1V0FROUpIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzE2MDU3M1AwOVpFU1dJUDBIRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODQyMzQ1Mkc4T1ZYVzgyQTFPMiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=9b6e608bfd237f444d46c38b816b73cc&amp;language=en_US">Organic Coconut Oil</a><br />
• 5 drops <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peppermint-100-Therapeutic-Grade-Essential/dp/B002RUOMKK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=peppermint+edens+garden&amp;qid=1595211028&amp;sr=8-5&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=796be3f9d9a68cdbf4b7534424f902fc&amp;language=en_US">Peppermint essential oil</a><br />
• 12 drops <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Edens-Garden-Grapefruit-Undiluted-Therapeutic/dp/B002RXECHU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Grapefruit+edens+garden&amp;qid=1595211108&amp;s=hpc&amp;sr=1-1-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyRkowVFg5VzFYRlBPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTExMDEyMUUxRFYyUVU0UVRSViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjI1NjE0NjBPR0wzOUdYM1lRJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thegreenlyguide-20&amp;linkId=187b3f4c0a57cc06b7979bbed9228402&amp;language=en_US">Grapefruit essential oil</a></p>
<p>*Note: I like making scrubs in small amounts to ensure they&#8217;re incredibly fresh and perfectly safe to use. If you go through scrubs pretty quickly, you may want to double this recipe.</p>
<p><strong>Instructions</strong></p>
<p>• Simple mix all of the ingredients in a bowl until combined. If you have a blender, go ahead and blend it for a more uniform texture and scent.<br />
• Pour into a glass jar with a good seal. A classic mason jar is perfect.<br />
• Use within a few months, store in the fridge if you&#8217;re not going to use it right away.</p>
<hr />
<h3><strong>DIY: Grapefruit + Mint Facial Steam</strong></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3717" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-6.jpg" alt="Grapefruit + Mint Facial Steam" width="800" height="661" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-6.jpg 2177w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-6-300x248.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-6-768x634.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Grapefruit-Mint-Body-Scrub-6-1024x846.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>Facial steams are a really great way to boost your skin&#8217;s glow. I love doing them weekly and I make them extra healing with herbs, fruits, and essential oils.</p>
<p>By using fresh grapefruit and mint leaves, we&#8217;re able to extract all of the benefits from the energizing, clarifying fruit and the refreshing mint.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve never done a facial steam before, please check out <a href="http://www.sarahaprice.ca/sarah-price/diy-face-steam-recipes">this post</a> for more info on the benefits and how to do them, plus more recipes.</p>
<p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p>
<p>• 2-3 Slices of Fresh Grapefruit<br />
• Several Fresh Mint Leaves</p>
<p><strong>Instructions</strong></p>
<p>• Add your ingredients to a heat safe bowl. I always opt for a medium glass bowl.<br />
• Pour in hot, but not boiling water.<br />
• Place your face over the bowl so you&#8217;re close enough to feel the steam, but do not put your skin into the water.<br />
• Cover your head with a towel to trap all of the healing fruit and plant goodness.<br />
• Sit for 5-15 minutes<br />
• Follow with a face mask and your skin care routine</p>
<p>I hope these skincare tips and recipes will help you get your skin sorted for this new season! If you have any questions leave a comment below!</p>
<hr />
<p>Connect with Sarah on her <a href="http://www.sarahaprice.ca/">website</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahapriceca">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sarahpriceca">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sarahapriceca/">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahapriceca/">Instagram</a></p>
<p><em>*All photos in this post are courtesy of and belong to Sarah Price.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/seasonal-skincare-guest-post-by-sarah-price/">Guest Post: A seasonal skincare update for Spring + 2 simple DIY recipes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Brand Profile and Interview with Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/pleni-naturals-brand-profile/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pleni-naturals-brand-profile</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2017 19:25:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Brand Profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[essential oils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[made safe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[made safe certified]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non toxic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non toxic living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non toxic products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>I think it&#8217;s safe to say that parents want what is best for their children.  We want to protect them and provide them with love so they can grow and thrive.  With this need to keep our kids safe and provide them with products that will not harm them, it makes sense that many women&#8217;s ... <a title="Brand Profile and Interview with Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/pleni-naturals-brand-profile/" aria-label="Read more about Brand Profile and Interview with Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/pleni-naturals-brand-profile/">Brand Profile and Interview with Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think it&#8217;s safe to say that parents want what is best for their children.  We want to protect them and provide them with love so they can grow and thrive.  With this need to keep our kids safe and provide them with products that will not harm them, it makes sense that many women&#8217;s paths to finding natural products begin when they become pregnant for the first time.  During these nine months, many of us feel an instinctual pull to research more and to find out if something will be the absolute safest for our new bundle.</p>
<p>As a mother myself, this is where my journey began.  I became concerned with every single thing I put into my body and onto it as well, knowing that for the first time, my actions were impacting a life other than my own.  My concern for product and ingredient safety became a part of my lifestyle, and it has led me to find incredible brands with these same motivations and goals in mind.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3694" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo.png" alt="Pleni Naturals logo" width="351" height="184" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo.png 450w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo-300x157.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px" /></p>
<p>Today, I am so thrilled to introduce you to one such brand, <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand/pleni-naturals/">Pleni Naturals</a>.  I had the great pleasure of speaking with founder, and fellow Mom, Allyson Owens, and am excited to share with you the full interview below.  If you are not yet familiar with her products, they are filled with fruit and vegetable ingredients, pure organic essential oils and skin loving ingredients that will help to nourish and soothe your children&#8217;s sensitive skin. On top of amazing ingredient quality, Pleni Naturals has taken their commitment one step further to become certified by <a href="http://madesafe.org/">MADE SAFE</a>. (Read more <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/madesafe-and-kosmatology-giveaway/">HERE</a>). <strong> Read on below for our interview with Allyson.</strong></p>
<p><em>Allyson has very generously offered a wonderful giveaway for readers of The Greenly Guide, so make sure you don&#8217;t miss the information on how to enter at the bottom of this post.</em></p>
<hr />
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3685" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126.jpg" alt="Pleni Naturals Baby Products" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126.jpg 1080w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_126-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Can you talk a little about how you first become interested in natural and non-toxic products and how this lead to the start of Pleni Naturals?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: Like a lot of women, my journey into the natural and nontoxic world began while I was pregnant with my first child in 2009. It was a journey for me; I didn’t completely go “nontoxic” while pregnant because I was still somewhat unaware of toxic chemicals in the home, but my first detox was definitely my skincare routine! It was also important to me that my babies used safe, nontoxic skincare as well. Before I started Pleni Naturals I was an aesthetician and then I became a consultant and helped skin care brands develop their skin care products. I knew that eventually I would create my own skin care line and I wanted to do something different than what was currently being offered in the natural baby category. Don’t get me wrong; I love flowers but every baby skin care product at the time had flowers in it! I chose to focus on fruit and vegetable ingredients because they are wholesome, just like our babies. Plus, fruit and vegetable oils offer amazing nutritional benefits for the skin. For example; red raspberry seed oil and cranberry seed oil contain omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, which our bodies don’t produce and it is necessary to obtain through diet or topically on the skin. These two ingredients help to keep sensitive skin happy and is great for babies and kids suffering from eczema. You can find these two ingredients in our Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil and Berry + Olive Baby Balm. Two other stand out ingredients from the Pleni Naturals skincare line are broccoli seed oil and cucumber seed oil. Broccoli seed oil has a silky finish and works like a natural silicone alternative that leaves the skin smooth and the hair soft and shiny and cucumber seed oil is fantastic for soothing and replenishing the skin&#8217;s moisture balance. Both broccoli seed oil and cucumber seed oil can be found in our Apple + Broccoli Hair and Body Wash and the cucumber seed oil can be found in our Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: You mention that you created your line of wholesome and organic skincare products for babies and kids to help them develop a lifelong love for veggies, and you also partner with the organization, <a href="http://www.lifelab.org/">Life Lab</a>, to help change the way kids think about fruits and veggies. Can you share a little about your partnership and why it is important to your company&#8217;s mission?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: In addition to the answer in question #1 the idea for Pleni Naturals to focus on fruits and veggies was because of my own struggles as a parent inspiring my own kids to love their fruits and veggies! It can be a lot of work! I know other parents struggle with this as well. The fruit and veggie characters on the packaging are fun and silly and it is our mission to deepen that connection with kids and the healthy foods they eat. Plus, the skin is our largest organ and at Pleni Naturals, it makes sense to us to “feed” the skin with the same nutritious fruits and vegetables we put in our bodies. We decided to partner with Life Lab because their values are in alignment with ours &#8212; to deepen the connection with kids and the healthy foods they eat. Life Lab is a nonprofit that provides garden education curriculum for schools and I 100% believe that every school should have access to a school garden so they can experience an “edible education”.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3684" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86.jpg" alt="Pleni Naturals children photo" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86.jpg 1080w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_86-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: How do you keep your own children interested in healthy foods?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: In many ways! By being an example and making healthy foods choices every day for myself; always stocking plenty of fruits and veggies they have easy access to as a snack; I juice with my son and make smoothies for my daughter regularly (which is how they prefer to get those extra nutrients in, respectively); we go to farmer’s markets; we visit Life Lab on the weekends and enjoy running around the farm (it’s in Santa Cruz, CA which is fairly close to us); we provide a lot of color on the plate especially at dinner time so the food is visually appealing; I tell the kids why the healthy foods they are eating are good for them (i.e. good for your eyesight, makes your bones strong). I also get a lot of healthy recipe inspiration from food bloggers.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: As a mother and business owner, how do you find balance between your work and home life?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: It’s a juggle! But I am so grateful I am able to do this kind of work. I work very efficiently between school drop-off and pickup and I don’t look at my computer again until after the kids are in bed (unless it&#8217;s urgent&#8211;sometimes things come up!). I often stay up late to get any unfinished work completed and I’m a little more tired than I like, but I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about my current work/home life situation. I love it!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3690" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11.jpg" alt="Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11.jpg 1080w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_11-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Pleni Naturals has been certified as a brand with MADE SAFE &#8211; can you share why it was important to you to pursue this certification and what it means for your brand?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: I knew while developing the Pleni Naturals line I wanted it to be nontoxic and I spent a lot of time in R&amp;D making sure every product was clean. People may not realize how much work this is; especially when your ingredient “NO” list is as long as ours! Plus, there is a lot of greenwashing in the skincare industry and no regulatory body that prevents companies from calling their products “nontoxic”. How is the consumer supposed to trust skincare brands with all of this greenwashing going on? What products are truly safe to purchase/use? I like MADE SAFE because they screen products for us &#8211; the consumer &#8211; and only certify products that do not contain harmful toxins that affect our bodies and our environment. And when I learned about MADE SAFE and their mission to eliminate toxins from all products we use in our home, I knew this was the certification I had to have for our brand. Currently, all three Pleni Naturals products are MADE SAFE certified and I plan on all future products we develop to be MADE SAFE certified as well.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: What has been your greatest challenge in developing your line of products?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: By far, the biggest challenge in developing the Pleni Naturals products is preservation! If a product has water in it, it needs to be preserved. Period. The challenge is that it is truly difficult to find preservatives that work and are also natural. There needs to be more options in this area and I am sure every single green skin care company feels the same way! We were lucky to find a 100% natural lactobacillus preservative that works great for our Apple + Broccoli Hair and Body Wash but it doesn&#8217;t work for our yet to be released lotion, which we won&#8217;t launch until we find a safe preservative blend that works and is in alignment with our values. Also, the problem with the few natural preservatives that are available is that some contain salicylates (think salicylic acid) and these are not appropriate for babies and kids or pregnant women, who also use our products.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3687" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back.jpg" alt="Pleni Naturals Body Wash" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back.jpg 1080w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Wash_front_back-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: Can you share what brings you the most joy about Pleni Naturals?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: The product development process is a huge joy for me. I absolutely love it! It&#8217;s exciting every time. Also, the biggest thrill is when I hear from customers on how the baby oil treated their baby’s cradle cap or how the hair and body wash left their kiddo’s skin so soft and hydrated. This is what it is all about!</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: What can we expect from your brand in 2017? Any exciting plans you can share?</strong> </em></p>
<p><em>Allyson</em>: YES! I’m so excited! We are in development with some new products that will launch later this year. Hint: it will be a treat for moms and all ladies alike that care about effective, clean beauty!</p>
<hr />
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3691" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66.jpg" alt="Pleni Naturals Product Set" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66.jpg 1080w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pleni_Instagram_Batch3_66-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<h3>Win a Pleni Naturals product bundle!</h3>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">I am very excited to give you an opportunity to try some of these wonderful organic and non-toxic kids products! The Greenly Guide has partnered with Allyson and Pleni Naturals to offer one of you the opportunity to win all three of their current products: the Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil, the Apple + Broccoli Hair and Body Wash and the Berry + Olive Baby Balm!  Not only are these great for your kiddos, but for the adults in your family too!</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Make sure to head over to our Instagram page <a style="color: #000000;" href="http://www.instagram.com/thegreenlyguide">HERE </a>for all of the giveaway details!</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">[Giveaway is only open to residents of the United States who are 18 years or older]</span></p>
<hr />
<p>*All photos in this post are courtesy of and belong to Pleni Naturals.</p>
<p>Connect with Pleni Naturals on their <a href="https://pleninaturals.com/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pleninaturals">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pleninaturals/">Instagram </a>and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pleninaturals/">Pinterest</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/pleni-naturals-brand-profile/">Brand Profile and Interview with Allyson Owens of Pleni Naturals</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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		<title>Brand Profile and Interview with Kristi Blustein of KHUS+KHUS</title>
		<link>https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-and-interview-with-kristi-blustein-of-khuskhus/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=brand-profile-and-interview-with-kristi-blustein-of-khuskhus</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[The Greenly Guide]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:30:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Brand Profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ayurvedic skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ayurvedic specialist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[botanical skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brand profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[essential oils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health and wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[khus+khus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kristi blustein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic skincare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildcrafted skincare]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Founder of KHUS+KHUS, Kristi Blustein, isn&#8217;t your average herbalist. As an Ayurvedic Specialist and Educator, her formulas are backed by extensive research and experience, and are designed for healing and creating balance within the body through her thoughtful and intentionally designed products.  With a sleek and modern aesthetic and stunning miron violet glass packaging, you ... <a title="Brand Profile and Interview with Kristi Blustein of KHUS+KHUS" class="read-more" href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-and-interview-with-kristi-blustein-of-khuskhus/" aria-label="Read more about Brand Profile and Interview with Kristi Blustein of KHUS+KHUS">Read more</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-and-interview-with-kristi-blustein-of-khuskhus/">Brand Profile and Interview with Kristi Blustein of KHUS+KHUS</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure id="attachment_3613" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3613" style="width: 507px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3613" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kristi-Blustein-2-683x1024.jpg" alt="KHUS+KHUS, Kristi Blustein " width="517" height="775" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kristi-Blustein-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kristi-Blustein-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kristi-Blustein-2-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3613" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Kristi Blustein, founder of KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Founder of KHUS+KHUS, Kristi Blustein, isn&#8217;t your average herbalist. As an Ayurvedic Specialist and Educator, her formulas are backed by extensive research and experience, and are designed for healing and creating balance within the body through her thoughtful and intentionally designed products.  With a sleek and modern aesthetic and stunning miron violet glass packaging, you can easily create a luxurious ritual with these skin treasures. Kristi has expertly created powerful botanical treatments that will soothe not only your skin, but can also improve the state of your mind and health as well.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3614" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/logo.png" alt="KHUS+KHUS Logo" width="257" height="54" /></p>
<p>Her products have been carefully crafted to address total skin health, as Kristi believes that our skin is a reflection of what is happening internally.  The KHUS+KHUS brand promises their products to be 99% organic, wild crafted and non-GMO while also being centered upon the practice of self-care and healthful living.</p>
<p>We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Kristi, and are so excited to share with you her incredible knowledge and a glimpse of what goes into developing her unique and modern herbal infusions.  Please read on for our complete interview as well as an exclusive reader discount code below.</p>
<hr />
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: For our readers who are perhaps new to organic skincare and holistic health, can you begin by briefly explaining your background in Ayurvedic medicine, what exactly that means and how you apply those practices in your skincare?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: I have certifications in Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Health and Education from the California College of Ayurveda, with intensives in Ayurvedic Herbal preparation, as well as Aromatherapy and Western Herbalism. What this means as it pertains to formula design is that I have extensive training (1800+ hours) in classical formula design for healing and creating balance in the body. When I formulate a product, I’m looking for various botanical constituents to assist the body and mind in creating energetic healing, working through internal and external healing components. It’s a multi-faceted design because as an Ayurvedic practitioner, I look at skin health as a physical manifestation – a reflection of what is happening internally as well as the state of the mind. All of our body and face treatments are designed to calm the nervous system as well as promote skin health through the bloodstream via the olfactory system.</p>
<p>Essential oils, or pharmaceutical grade plant medicine, have an energetic component that is intrinsically understood not only by formula and product developers, but also through consistent use. It can’t be denied that these essential oils are incredibly helpful in assisting us in the development of true health and vitality. Of course, there are also lifestyle choices that have to be cultivated that certainly contribute to the state of our health. Plants open us to a new way of living that is supportive of this process. They work in ways that we may not necessarily understand right away, but in time through use, the information is mentally digested and is developed through our consciousness.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3611" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3611" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3611" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3.png" alt="KHUS+KHUS Luna Body Serum" width="700" height="698" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3.png 1192w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3-150x150.png 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3-300x300.png 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3-768x765.png 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-3-1024x1021.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3611" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: I always think it is interesting to hear the story behind the name of a brand &#8211; can you share the meaning and any significance behind the name KHUS+KHUS and how you settled on this for your brand?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: It’s a play on the vetiver plant also known by its Indian name ruh khus or khus oil. Known as the Oil of Tranquility, the chemical composition is very complex. It’s described by well-known herbalists as connecting earth&#8217;s energies – offering a source of vital energy and regeneration, supporting those who have lost touch with the earth and their roots. The name came to me in meditation; in my perspective, all real truth comes through meditation and when that happens, it’s best just to roll with it. The word “modern” is a reflection of myself; I’m not your typical woodsy herbalist. I was born in Miami, and I’ve been into modern design and aesthetic most of my adult life. I do live in the mountains of Colorado now, but I still have an edge and like my urban flair. I think the products represent my style, and people who know me personally can attest to this. The addition of “herbal fusion” is thanks to my training. I bring to the line a combination of what I’ve learned about plants through various teachers and various trainings in Ayurvedic herbalism, Western Herbalism, Vedic Science and Aromatherapy.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: As a formulator, what does the process look like for you when you are developing a product? From the beginning stages where it is just an idea to the very end, what goes on behind the scenes of your creations?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: In the beginning, when I first came up with the concept to do the line, I spent two years researching. I’m a perfectionist by nature (and by astrological sign as well (Virgo)), so there’s always a lot of research that goes into anything I do. I generally start with a concept for a product; for example, with our new body serum WORSHIP, I wanted to move into more exotic aromas, and I wanted to educate consumers about the use of aromas throughout history – aromas that humanity has used for enhancement of consciousness, meditation, energy clearing and prayer. After this extensive research, I will then choose a chief botanical. From here, I will research potential supporting plants; these will have constituents that enhance the action on the body and mind by increasing the desired components of the chief botanical. I will source the best oils I can get my hands on.</p>
<p>I have several requirements before I purchase, the most important being cultivation practices; I only deal with reputable distillers. If possible, I like to get Eco-certified ingredients. Then of course, there’s the aroma; I think people will begin to recognize the brand for the very distinct and complex aromas we offer. I like to think I have a very pronounced sense of smell, and I very much enjoy a pleasant aroma, although when dealing with botanicals sometimes an aroma may be more medicinal in nature. It may take time to get adjusted to a particular aroma, but the medicinal benefits are certainly worth it. It is a craft so the creation process is ongoing and it is only through the experience of working with the ingredients that you get the formula just right. Aroma plays a large role in this, as well as following proper protocols for the use of essential oils, especially when they are applied to the skin. There is a proper dilution of these incredibly powerful concentrated materials. There is also a creative and intuitive process that happens when you work with plants that can’t be denied.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3612" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3612" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3612" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4.png" alt="KHUS+KHUS Product samples" width="700" height="699" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4.png 1194w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4-150x150.png 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4-300x300.png 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4-768x767.png 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-4-1024x1022.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3612" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Do you have a favorite ingredient that you have worked with? Can you share some of the benefits of this ingredient and why you choose to include it in your products?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: Well, I don’t work with any ingredients I don’t like so it’s hard to pick a favorite. I do love New Caledonia Sandalwood and Australian Sandalwood (we don’t use Indian because it’s endangered). I use them in SURYA, LUNA, KAMA and in WORSHIP, which comes out in March. I use sandalwood because it not only is so pleasing to the senses and has been around for over 4000 years, but also because it truly is a magical ingredient for spiritual development and emotional healing. It also has incredible skin enhancement qualities like cooling inflammation, which is the precursor to premature aging, and offers a moisturizing effect on the skin. Sandalwood really embodies the objective of KHUS+KHUS which is skin health and enhancement as well as assisting in energetic balance and healing.</p>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: If you could describe your brand in 5 words, what would they be?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: Integrity + Vitality + Botanical + Clean + Holistic</p>
<figure id="attachment_3609" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3609" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3609" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1.png" alt="KHUS+KHUS Copious Body Serum" width="700" height="701" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1.png 1194w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1-150x150.png 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1-300x300.png 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1-768x769.png 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image-1-1022x1024.png 1022w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3609" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Can you share what has brought you the most joy in your journey to creating KHUS+KHUS?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: When you create something to relieve ailment and it works, it&#8217;s so gratifying. I&#8217;ve had patients who have been in constant pain, and I can’t imagine what they must feel. I’ve had some yoga injuries over the years, but nothing that compares to persistent pain. When people tell me that their pain has been relieved from COPIOUS, I feel such a sense of gratitude to be able to actually help someone, to provide some relief for them. When you get into the study and science of Yoga and Ayurveda, of which I have been a practitioner for many years, your objectives in life change. You are always working in a place of service. I believe the Dharma in life is to serve and to do this without expectation, but it’s always rewarding to feel some acknowledgment that what I’m doing might help someone feel better. I also feel like I’m an agent for the plants I use; they want to work for you in your life, and I’m just a facilitator of that process. So working with plants – actually, working for them – is really rewarding in general. I mean I get to work in space that smells like patchouli, roses, and sandalwood. How many more blessings can a person have in life?</p>
<p><strong><em>The Greenly Guide: How do you promote the idea of self-care within your line? Why is this important and how do you yourself practice self-care?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: Self-care begins with awareness of choice. You start to become more conscious about everything you are doing that is impacting your health and make adjustments accordingly. When you become aware that the chemicals you are using on your body are harmful to yourself and to other life forms such as animals and plant life, as well as have negative impacts on the environment, you’ll be motivated to make changes. This stage is where KHUS+KHUS comes in to support your wellness journey. We are providing high-quality botanical oils that you may not necessarily be able to purchase individually. We formulate for healing and assist in facilitating the immune system information of the plant into your body systemically. This is how we maintain and build ojas (immunity); by doing so, we are able to manage stress reactions, relieving ourselves from inflammatory responses in the body. By applying serums to the body via the practice of abhyanga (self-massage) and inhaling the aroma of the plants, you are literally building a force field of protection from external sources, which can be in the form of free radical damage and oxidative stress, or mental emotional reactions that erode our sense of equanimity.</p>
<p>It’s important because it sends a message that you are demonstrating self-love. From here, many things can happen, primarily an unfoldment of consciousness, compassion for yourself and others, peace, balance, and health. We may become more open and receptive and less judgmental. Being in a place of constant judgment causes a great deal of stress; these two things are interrelated, and a judgmental mindset inhibits our ability to find peace. Facilitating this process starts by taking steps every day to improve our sense of wellness. It may not seem like you’re doing much when purchasing a certain product, but if you look at your refrigerator and your bathroom cabinet, it will give you a deeper understanding of where you are at on your journey to wellness.</p>
<p>I practice self-care in many ways – plant-based organic diet, meditation, herbal medicine, yoga, asana and pranayama, as well as never putting anything on my body that is toxic. I use my entire line as well as various additional plants throughout my daily life, both internally and externally. I recommend taking turmeric and reishi mushrooms every day – and don’t forget the importance of water.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3615" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3615" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3615" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header.jpg" alt="KHUS+KHUS Product Photo" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header.jpg 1920w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header-768x768.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/photo-for-blog-header-1024x1024.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3615" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: For someone new to your line, can you highlight two of your products and explain what makes them special?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: One of our newest additions to the line is SEN face serum and hydrolat which are fabulous. Eco-certified CBD extract is the star ingredient, with over 400 compounds. The serum itself has over 800 compounds, which function as healing agents inhibiting the formation of free radicals and oxidative stress. We also have WORSHIP body serum launching March 1. This product features an infusion of exotic oils used throughout history for supporting energetic healing. Champa is the main botanical; in perfume, champa is held in high esteem, but it also has excellent therapeutic uses. The chemical composition of champa is extremely complex, containing 240 constituents. The exotic sensual aroma enhances self-esteem and confidence. It cools and moisturizes the skin, relieves anger and is well-known to have grounding effects on the mind and body.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3626" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3626" style="width: 1390px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3626" src="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KHUSKHUS-SEN-WORSHIP_.jpg" alt="KHUS+KHUS SEN &amp; WORSHIP_" width="1400" height="700" srcset="https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KHUSKHUS-SEN-WORSHIP_.jpg 3000w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KHUSKHUS-SEN-WORSHIP_-300x150.jpg 300w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KHUSKHUS-SEN-WORSHIP_-768x384.jpg 768w, https://thegreenlyguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KHUSKHUS-SEN-WORSHIP_-1024x512.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3626" class="wp-caption-text"><em>photo credit: KHUS+KHUS</em></figcaption></figure>
<p><em><strong>The Greenly Guide: Can you share with us what new and exciting things we can expect from KHUS+KHUS in 2017?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Kristi</em>: We are currently working on bringing KHUS+KHUS into stores so you will be able to pick up our products at your local green beauty store and spa. We are also moving into some exotic aromas, incorporating oils you don’t often see in body serums. These oils are usually found in fine perfumery, and I want to expose people to the finest and unique aromas moving forward, while expanding my depth as a formulator.</p>
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<h3>An exclusive discount for The Greenly Guide readers!</h3>
<p>We are so thrilled to offer you an amazing discount code to be used on the KHUS+KHUS <a href="https://khus-khus.com/">website</a>.  For a very generous 25% off your purchase, please use the code <strong>TheGreenlyGuide25%</strong></p>
<p>Thank you so much to Kristi for taking the time to share with us!  Have you tried any KHUS+KHUS products?  Let us know your favorites in the comments below!</p>
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<p>Connect with KHUS+KHUS through their <a href="https://khus-khus.com/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/khuskhus_herbal/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/khuskhusmodernherbalfusion/">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/khuskhusmodern/">Pinterest</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com/brand-profile-and-interview-with-kristi-blustein-of-khuskhus/">Brand Profile and Interview with Kristi Blustein of KHUS+KHUS</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thegreenlyguide.com">The Greenly Guide</a>.</p>
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