QUICK FACTS

Bio: Jana Drolc, author of Small Bits of Loveliness, passionate about green, natural and organic products.
Location: Slovenia
Connect: Jana’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 – lover of green beauty, advocate for organic living and content creator behind the blog Small Bits of Loveliness.

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.

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!

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?

Jana: 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.

The Greenly Guide: What inspired you to share your story through your blog and when did you begin blogging?
Jana: The longer version of this answer is in my Beauty Heroes interview, 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.

The Greenly Guide: How did you come to settle on the name Small Bits of Loveliness? (such a cute name!)
Jana: 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.

The Greenly Guide: What qualities do you look for in a brand when you are searching for new products to try?
Jana: 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.

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?
I haven’t tried the brand yet but I saw it the other day and it picked my interest –Amon & Anis. 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.

The Greenly Guide: What are your winter skincare must haves? Can you narrow it down to 5?
Jana: 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.

The Greenly Guide: We are big fans of The Peridot Mag 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’t familiar with it?

Jana: 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.

The Greenly Guide: Living abroad, can you share your go to green beauty online shops that are your favorites in your region?
Jana: For Slovenian shops I want to mention two – Specia and LilyLolo, and as for European beauty shops I love Reina Organics, Eminessences, Love Lula and So Natural Beauty. These are the ones that first come to mind.

The Greenly Guide: Do you have any exciting upcoming plans for Small Bits of Loveliness that you can share?
Jana: There is always something going on, but at the moment there’s nothing too big to share.

The Greenly Guide: Anything else you would like to add?
Jana: 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. <3

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!

For amazing green beauty information, gorgeous photos and honest product reviews, please make sure to head over to Jana’s blog and follow her over on Instagram as well!

The post Greenly Connections: Jana of Small Bits of Loveliness appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

With a brand list that includes both larger well-known green beauty brands, to lesser known indie brands, everyone is sure to find a new favorite here.  So how does Aubrey design her perfect shop? She explains:

First, they have to be clean products, truly clean, no green washing!  Organic is a plus, but not necessary. We also have to love the product ourselves and know that it’s effective.  I really use many of the products we carry – You should see the lineup of face oil in my bathroom, I am a legitimate face oil addict!  Our brands have to be committed to a green lifestyle, too.  I really believe that purchasing something as simple as mascara can change people’s lives!

In addition to her shop where you can find some of their top selling brands such as Indie Lee, Siam Seas & 100% Pure, they also offer a monthly Ecoluxe Beauty Box.  Currently, the box is comprised of at least 1 full size product and a few samples.  There will always be at least four different products included, and they are working toward including more full size items.  This box is a phenomenal value, particularly for those who are just transitioning to cleaner products, because at $20 per month, you will have the opportunity to try truly luxurious products from indie brands and more established green brands at a great price!

What products from the Green Goddess Shop do you need this Fall?  We asked Aubrey to pick two of her must haves:

1.Siam Seas Elements Beauty Balm – “To keep my face super hydrated and radiant as we head into the winter months. Siam Seas is amazing and the hype is real for a reason!”

2. Gia Minerals Sexify Organic Lipstick – “It is a deep matte wine color that is perfect for fall. If you aren’t familiar with Gia Minerals,  I think that they are one of the best kept secrets in green beauty.  They are dedicated to top notch quality ingredients and the makeup is on par with some of the best- I think of them as a green MAC.”

A shop that gives back

Not only is the Green Goddess Shop passionate about green beauty to have you feeling like a green goddess in no time, they are also passionate about giving back.  Every purchase you make through their shop is a step toward something bigger – $1 from each purchase is donated to the Global Fund for Women.  We love a shop that is helping to promote positivity and beauty from within as well as feeling your best on the outside.  We know that shopping here will have you feeling green and gorgeous!

Click here to learn more about the Global Fund for Women

[[CLOSED]]- Congratulations to @skincare_momsie!

An Amazing Giveaway!!

The Greenly Guide and the Green Goddess Shop have partnered for an incredible giveaway!!  One lucky reader will be winning the Twilight BeCalm Skin Serum by Siam Seas! (an $80 Value!!)

This is one of Aubrey’s personal favorites!  She shared with us her experience with this product, and it’s a pretty amazing testimony!

My skin is dry, but I still get cystic acne on my chin.  I also had melasma terrible when I was pregnant.  My last pregnancy, which was my third, wreaked havoc on my skin and the brown patches have been difficult to fade, and if I was using something that was fading them just by being in the sun an hour, with sunscreen, would cause spots to reappear.  This has really helped fade the dark spots I had and keep new ones from coming.  Plus my skin is very hydrated, smooth and just overall more radiant!  It has also helped with my cystic acne.  It doesn’t irritate my skin at all and that is major for a product that does so much! I have been tremendously happy with it.  My husband even commented on how nice my skin looks for the first time ever!

Head over to our Instagram page HERE  or see below for the complete details on how to enter this giveaway!  GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only.  You must be 18 years or older to enter.  Giveaway will run from Thursday, October 27, 2016 to Friday, October 28, 2016 at 11:00 PM EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced at the bottom of this post as well as over on our Instagram feed on Saturday, October 29, 2016. No giveaway accounts please. This giveaway is in no way sponsored by Instagram or any of the brands mentioned.

HOW TO ENTER: 

1.Make sure you are following The Greenly Guide and The Green Goddess Shop over on Instagram

2.Comment on the Instagram giveaway photo tagging three friends

3.Leave us a comment below telling us why you would like to try the Siam Seas serum! (make sure to include your Instagram username in your comment here so we know it’s you!)

***OPTIONAL–Receive 5 extra entries by reposting our giveaway photo on Instagram (make sure to tag us in your repost!)

The post Want to feel like a green beauty goddess? We have the shop for you! appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

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 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.

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!

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.

“We don’t believe in perfect choices, just better ones—and we’re here to encourage and support those choices”. – Mari of The Goofy Mermaid

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.

The Greenly Guide: When did you start your “Going Green” journey & why did you decide to create The Goofy Mermaid?

Mari: 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.

The Greenly Guide: With your recent departure from social media, can you briefly explain the future of the Goofy Mermaid, as I’m sure a lot of people will be interested to hear what is next for you!

Mari: 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!

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.

The Greenly Guide: I have heard you speak about your health reasons as to why you turned to natural products and green beauty – for people who may be going through similar things, can you share what you think have been your most important & effective changes that you have made?

Mari: 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.

The Greenly Guide: What was the first natural beauty or skincare product that you purchased?

Mari: 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.

The Greenly Guide: What has been the hardest product to find a natural alternative for, if any?

Mari: 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].

The Greenly Guide: What was your most recent green beauty purchase?
Mari: Does a tube of David’s Natural Toothpaste count?

The Greenly Guide: I’m sure you are constantly receiving emails from brands who are interested in working with you to promote their products – 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?

Mari: 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

The Greenly Guide: Over the years, you have had the opportunity to try products from many different brands – 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?

Mari: 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):

Bella Aura: Gentle Purifying Cleanser
Twelve Beauty: Hyaluroil Lip Treatments
David’s Natural Toothpaste
Lotus Wei: Peony Elixir or Infinite Love Anointing Oil
Innersense Organic Beauty: Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Plume Science: Lash & Brown Serum
Leahlani Skincare: Mermaid Mask
Native Atlas: Clarifying Face Oil
Tabitha James Kraan: Scented Organic Hair Oil
Siam Seas: Shampoo + Treatment

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?
Mari: 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.

Make sure to follow Kirstie, the new mermaid over at The Goofy Mermaid on Instagram.  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!

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!

The post Greenly Connections: A chat with Mari Draughon of The Goofy Mermaid appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

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.

In addition to providing helpful and friendly customer service, they take their family-first stance a step further by providing their employees a “classroom” 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.

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’s fabulous products!

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?

Lauren: My mom’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’t keep sugar in the house, for example. Just honey, and only once in a blue moon would she let us use it! It’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.

The Greenly Guide: How was Omiana born? What inspired you to start your company to create safer cosmetics?

Lauren: 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.

The Greenly Guide: Is there a special meaning or significance behind the name Omiana? How did you decide on this name for your brand?

Lauren: My [then small] team and I actually cycled through a few names, but the trademarks didn’t go through! Omiana (“ah-me-ah-nah”) 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’s a memorable, ‘clean’ name.

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?

Lauren: 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 … some colorants, colorants that have ‘iffy’ 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’s the safest option among its kind. For example, Omiana’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 … the list goes on and on. Every ingredient has a strict sourcing process.

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?

Lauren: One thing we talk about a lot with our manufacturing team is what we call the ‘preservative battle’ … 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 ‘extra security’ yet some are sensitive to them or don’t like a moderate EWG-rated ingredient (e.g., a “3” over a “0” or “1”) — on the other hand, some are sensitive to or disapprove of herbal preservations systems … they might not want an herbal preservation system only in a mascara because if it gets contaminated because it’s opened and closed so much, that’s awfully risky, being so close to one’s precious eyes. It can be a catch-22 … so we opt to offer a variety of formulas.

With the care we put into formulations and ethical, legal, customers’-right-to-know full ingredient disclosure, it can be so disheartening seeing companies mislabeling in effort to win customers in the ‘natural’ 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 — I don’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’s trademarked. It can get a little frustrating as consumers ourselves and caring about other consumers’ right to know what is honestly in their products.

Omiana is full of young women and mamas: we shouldn’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

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 ‘classroom’ 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?

Lauren: 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’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’ faces and getting to plop down to feed them — it’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’s quite separated. Our ‘classroom’ area, as we call it, is neat. It’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.

The Greenly Guide: Let’s talk about your products – what was the very first product created at Omiana, and is it still in production today?

Lauren: It was Omiana’s loose powder, and you bet, it is!

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?

Lauren: Omiana’s mineral veil really flies off our shelves. It’s simple and silky and really helps allay the appearance of pores, lines, and imperfections. Also, it sort of surprises me how well the baby bum powder 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 … I think moms really appreciate all its omissions. A little secret — you can totally use this as a dry shampoo, too : )

The Greenly Guide: What brings you the greatest joy through owning Omiana?

Lauren: 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’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 — it’s an art form and a way we get to connect with people.

The Greenly Guide: Can you share any exciting plans or new products that we can look forward to in 2017?

Lauren: We are working on at least one new mascara, more foundation choices, and eye shadows! Also you will see more in our ‘holistic’ 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.

Interested in trying some of Omiana’s Products?

You can find many of Omiana’s amazing products on Amazon. Check them out here.

Connect with Omiana on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

The post Brand Profile and Interview with Omiana appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

QUICK FACTS

Bio: Laura Ehlers is the creator of LaurasNaturalLife.com, including the Crave-Free Cleanse and Clean Beauty Academy. She is a Nutritionist and Holistic Health Educator, with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Health Education from Hawthorn University. Laura is passionate about living a toxin-free life from the inside out – including beauty products, home products, nutrient dense foods and detox methods. When she’s not creating exciting things for Laura’s Natural life she can be found devouring an acai bowl and having one-sided conversation with her dog, Tedford.
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Connect: Laura’s Blog, YouTube Channel, Instagram, and Pinterest

As a wellness warrior, holistic health educator, nutritionist and green beauty enthusiast, it’s safe to say that Laura is a wealth of clean living knowledge.  She is passionate about sharing her journey and creates incredible content through her YouTube Channel, blog and website, LaurasNaturalLife.com.

Laura has went above and beyond in providing resources to cover all your bases for living a greener lifestyle.  If you are looking to learn how to eat healthier, Laura has created her Crave-Free Cleanse; if you are looking for adorable healthy lifestyle apparel and accessories, she has created a custom collection of items that are sold through her Etsy store, Shop LNL, and lastly, for those of you looking to clean up your makeup routine and delve into the world of green beauty, she has created an educational course called Clean Beauty Academy where she will help to empower you to learn about ingredients to decide for yourself which products best suit your needs — so, when I say she has you covered, it is no exaggeration!  Laura has provided amazing resources to answer many common issues and questions people have when starting down the path to living a non-toxic lifestyle.

We are beyond excited to feature this clean living super woman on our blog today!  She is answering our questions about her own health journey, what you can expect from her courses, and she is offering her advice on how to stick to those New Year’s resolutions.  Read on below for our interview with Laura!

The Greenly Guide: Can you share why you decided to start using safer products in your home and cleaner health and beauty items? Was there one event in your life that made you question conventional products or was it a gradual change for you?
Laura: The answer to this all comes back to health. When my family moved to Georgia when I was in high school, my mom become ill with chemical sensitivity and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (although, we didn’t know these diagnoses yet). She was very sensitive to chemicals as well as any strong scents and we started using more clean products in our home – at least in regards to cleaning and fragrance free products. She also started seeing a natural healthcare practitioner which led us on a path to better health. Later in life when I got married, I moved into a brand new home and the toxic chemicals from the building materials made me so sick almost instantly. At the same time, I began working at a holistic healthcare center and was working with air inspectors and building inspectors to help figure out how to combat these chemicals I was living in! During this time, I also learned that my bloodstream could absorb whatever I put on it. I assumed since I didn’t have a reaction to my products and they did not have a scent, they were safe. I was wrong! Since I was a beauty junkie, I knew I had to find alternatives, because going makeup free was not an option!

The Greenly Guide: Did your lifestyle change to using natural products spark your interest in holistic nutrition as well, or was seeking further education in holistic nutrition something that always interested you?
Laura: Absolutely! It was a snowball effect with everything happening at once. I was always into natural healthcare and really hated going to my western medical doctor, because growing up doctors told me my chronic issues were either “nothing” or “anxiety”. They were neither. I certainly didn’t know very much about holistic healthcare until I started working in a holistic healthcare office. I love learning about nutrients, supplements, dietary systems and seeing people’s lives literally changed for the better in front of my own eyes! It was there that I decided to pursue an education in holistic health.

The Greenly Guide: As a holistic nutritionist, you have shared your knowledge in the form of your program The Crave-Free Cleanse (formerly called the 10 Day Reset)–can you explain why you decided to create this and what benefits people will see from completing this program?
Laura: So many people are looking for a cleanse as a quick fix after the holidays or before a vacation. Most of these cleanses are crap! They leave you with very few nutrients and you feel horrible, not to mention they leave you craving ice cream, pizza and cake! 10 days is a perfect amount of time to clean out the junk in your diet, while teaching you how to eat healthfully. I have tons of information about healthy eating in there (not fad cleansing), as well as no restrictions on how much you can eat – as long as you follow the types of food allowed. Typically, someone experiences a realization that they really don’t crave a particular food they used to, or don’t even like it anymore. Some people experience less pain, better sleep, more energy and even some weight loss, but everyone’s body is different. The goal is to continue using what you’ve learned in the program and treat is as a building block to a healthy lifestyle change.

The Greenly Guide: With the New Year upon us and many people making New Year’s resolutions, what is your best advice for someone who is hoping to change their nutrition and how they can stay on course for the long term?
Laura: Treat your New year’s resolutions as lifestyle changes, not as a fad. If you are serious about changing something in your life, seek out real help that will keep you accountable. Also, be realistic about what you can do and how much effort it will take on your part.

The Greenly Guide: What are a few of your favorite healthy snacks for on the go?
Laura: Nuts, fruit, celery and carrots, Suja juices and Rx bars.

The Greenly Guide: In addition to your nutritional program, you have also created your Clean Beauty Academy – can you share what inspired you to create this course?
Laura: I often get asked “is _____ a clean product / brand?”. I realized that many green beauty users are relying on green bloggers or an app to tell them if a product is safe. I don’t think that’s right. I think every woman should know for herself how to read an ingredient label on her beauty products. The choice if something is safe or not should be hers alone! On a more global level, it’s one thing to say that you use green products, but if no one is trying to ban a particular ingredient, it will continue to be used. The marketing on beauty packages can also be very deceiving. I see so many woman buying products that are marketed as “natural” or “paraben-free” and are still full of carcinogens! Once you know how to read a label, you will never be duped by marketing again.

The Greenly Guide: If someone is new to green beauty and interested in enrolling in your Clean Beauty Academy to learn more about ingredients and products, can you briefly explain the format of the course and what they can expect to learn?
Laura: The course includes four video modules, consisting of 10 video lessons total. These lessons are broken down into beginner, advanced and purist, so that once you know all the big ingredients to watch out for, you can decided for yourself which ones you want to avoid. There are also printable ingredient lists so that you can take them shopping with you, a gigantic shopping guide of all the products I and my fellow beauty bloggers have used with details like price and skin type, as well as my Better Beauty Method workbook to systematically walk you through detoxing your own makeup bag and help you decide which products to upgrade to better beauty products. There are also fun bonus videos, too! It also can be done in as little as one weekend day!

The Greenly Guide: Along with connecting with your followers via YouTube and Instagram, you have also started a community through Facebook- this seems to be a great way to interact- what makes your group unique to other similarly formatted groups?
Laura: It is BUSY! Everyone is active and ready to answer your questions. We’re over 500 green beauties strong now and growing. In addition to help, you can also find encouragement.

The Greenly Guide: When you aren’t busy creating healthy living and green beauty content, what things do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Laura: I am obsessed with barre3 and practice several times a week. I also enjoy spending time with my family (especially my sweet dog, Tedford) and in the summer I really enjoy boating and golfing.

The Greenly Guide: What products would be included if you were short on time and only had 5 minute to do your makeup – specifically for Winter?
Laura: Gressa Minimalist Serum Foundation, Honest Beauty Brow Pencil, Lily Lolo Mascara, Nu Evolution Bronzer, Root Pressed Eyeshadow in Duke.

A huge thank you to Laura for taking the time to share more about herself and her health journey on The Greenly Guide blog today.  Be sure to head over to Laura’s website to learn more about her Cleanse and her Clean Beauty Academy.  We cannot wait to see all of the exciting new things that Laura will bring to the green community in 2017!

The post Greenly Connections: Laura of Laura’s Natural Life appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

All it takes is a quick google search, or a stroll through the aisles of your local toy store and you will surely find a large selection of children’s play makeup kits.  Those makeup kits are cute and most likely appeal to your child with their favorite TV character on the front of the box, but what is inside these products is anything but appealing.  The majority of these items, which are marketed toward young girls, are filled with unsafe ingredients – parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances and synthetic dyes to name a few. With so many unsafe options on the market, I am so pleased and excited to introduce you to a safe and organic option, Prim & Pure.

As the mother to a daughter who loves playing dress up, and is always begging to play with my makeup, Prim & Pure was an amazing discovery.  Prim & Pure is focused on providing earth-friendly and sustainable products that are safe for your aspiring princesses.  Their products contain a variety of certified organic and plant-based ingredients, and are always cruelty free, paraben free, phthalate free, non-GMO, free of synthetic FD&C dyes and fragrances, gluten free and made in the USA.

While their products are intended to be fun and playful, they are also packed full of beneficial ingredients such as natural plant oils and extracts, and soothing flower essences that are safe for the sensitive skin of our precious little ones.  Their range currently includes lip glosses, cream eye shadows, body glitters, perfume rollers, blushes and odor free, peel-off nail polishes.  With an adorably branded line of products that will excite little ones, and have mom’s raiding their daughter’s vanity, you can feel good about allowing your little girls to play and use their imagination with fun and safe makeup.

We had the pleasure of speaking with owner and creator of Prim and Pure, Kelli Jackson.  In our interview, she is sharing her journey in creating her company and what makes it special, and safe for our little ones.  Kelli has also very generously offered a giveaway, where one of you will have the opportunity to win a gift set of your choosing to spoil a sweet little one in your life, so make sure to head over to The Greenly Guide Instagram feed HERE for the details on how to enter!  Read on below for our full interview with Kelli!

The Greenly Guide: Like a lot of moms, I know you mentioned becoming very aware of toxins and chemicals after you had children – what was it that finally inspired you to take action to create Prim and Pure?

Kelli: After dealing with my own endocrine health issues and working with some other natural product companies, I started blogging and working with some groups in my community. Over the past few years, the amount of growth in the industry has been astonishing and I’ve loved watching so many new products and companies come to the market giving consumers more choices. There are so many great green beauty brands now, however; I struggled to find clean products at reasonable price points for parents and children, so that’s when I set the wheels in motion to start my own line.

The Greenly Guide: Having just launched in November 2016, can you share a little about Prim and Pure as a company and what someone can expect from your products?

Kelli: When I decided to start my own line, I laid out what was most important to me. Those things ended up being safety, affordability and social impact. There are many products I could push to market but the quality or integrity of ingredients aren’t there. There are other products I would love to offer but right now, I can’t source them at affordable enough prices I’d want for my customers. Lastly, I want to make an impact….. that’s why I work as hard as I do. If I wanted to make more money, I’d take my MBA and go back to my corporate 9-5 job….. but now what’s more important to me is my kids and following my passion, and Prim and Pure has been that outlet to help spread awareness and offer safer alternatives.

The Greenly Guide: Do you have a favorite product in the line? What was the first product you created?

Kelli: Great question. Funny enough the first product I worked on was the one that actually tested my patience and aggravated me the most! Nail Polish is a tricky product. There are dozens of companies now making 5 Free, 7 Free, etc. type polishes which leads consumers to assume it must be a safe product and stop looking further to see what else is really in the polish besides just what it’s free of – when you take out something, you have to replace it with something else. I was determined to offer a water-based polish that also didn’t require the use of polish removers which are also known to contain many harmful chemicals.

Water based polishes consist of 75% or more of water, and trying to get a water base to act like a paint and form a hard film that’s going to last for a period of time on top of a porous nail surface can be challenging. Hence, not many main stream companies are attempting these formulas because it’s expensive and they don’t perform as long as their conventional counterparts. Nitrocellulose resins are the most commonly used because they are really cheap to formulate with. Prim and Pure polishes are 5 Free and also without nitrocellulose, glycol ethers, biphenyl A, acetates, acetone, alcohol, FD&C colors….. and instead we use a water and fruit and veggie base. They truly are odorless, and if you have a polish that gives off odor – you need to ask yourself what ingredient that might be!

That being said, the manufacturing process for the polishes ended up delaying my launch and frustrated the heck out of me because I was so excited to get going, but I’m so glad I waited because they came out beautiful! I’m excited to offer more colors as the business grows and I can invest in more inventory.

The Greenly Guide: Are there any items that you think Moms would want to borrow from their daughter’s stash of Prim and Pure products?

Kelli: Yes! I’ve had many moms coming back to purchase lip glosses, perfumes and eye shadows for themselves! The lip glosses for sure right now have been a huge hit! The shades are really beautiful and they wear very well while also being very nourishing for your lips! Hard to find many green beauty products under $10 with clean ingredients, but like I said that was one of my goals!

The Greenly Guide: How do you stay motivated as a mom and a business owner?

Kelli: Pure and simple…. Passion! Sure some days are hard, and I get frustrated when my kids are storming through my office while I’m packing orders, but I’ve been getting better about finding the balance that works for all of us as a family. My motivation comes from my kids, my customers, and the constant feedback I get about how much I’ve helped a person or their family get their health back just by creating awareness about our surroundings. When you know you’re making a difference, even just the smallest bit….. that’s all the motivation you need to keep going, no matter how hard it gets or how high that stack of bills grow.

The Greenly Guide: What are your favorite ways to relax after a long day?

Kelli: My guilty pleasure is wine! No shame, it keeps me sane! I find my balance through healthy and clean eating.

The Greenly Guide: I loved reading on your website about your passion for giving back – for every sale made, Prim and Pure donates to various children’s causes – can you talk a little about some of these organizations that you have worked with so far?

Kelli: Right now, I’ve been working with a lot of local events and causes – whether its donating product for various events or raising money for a specific cause or sick child in need. My customer base has been mostly local, but as the brand grows and the business becomes profitable, I am looking forward to working with larger organizations and programs to make an even bigger impact while also continuing to support my local community as well.

The Greenly Guide: What has been the best part about your journey to open Prim and Pure? What has been the hardest?

Kelli: The best part is making a difference and seeing the delight on all the kids faces playing with and enjoying my products. When customers send me their photos of their little ones, my heart melts inside each time – seeing all the fun they are having and also knowing they aren’t burdening their bodies with harmful chemicals.

The hardest has definitely been the back end…. as with any entrepreneur the ideas come easy for me, but the expense and execution have proven challenging. My husband sold something very important to him to raise enough funds for me to purchase my first batch of inventory to get launched, and it was scary for me to take that risk and leap. I hope to pay him back one day…… I have the passion to succeed so I will keep grinding!

The Greenly Guide: Can you share with us any exciting future plans for your brand?

Kelli: I have so many great ideas, I just need to continue to grow the brand so that I can continue to execute future lines and products. The process to just get one product ready from start the finish is a lot more challenging than it seems. Prim and Pure was never intended to be a line just for girls or moms….. but that was what I launched with. I have plans to create fun products for boys as well! Stay tuned and follow us for future exciting updates!

Do you know a little one who would love to try these products? [giveaway closed]

We are very excited to give you an opportunity to try some of these wonderful and safe products! The Greenly Guide has partnered with Kelli and Prim & Pure to offer one of you the opportunity to win a Gift Set of your choice for a special kiddo in your life!  These gift sets are the perfect birthday gift or party favor, and include a lip gloss, eye shadow, nail polish, body glitter and perfume roller!

Make sure to head over to our Instagram page HERE for all of the giveaway details!

[Giveaway is only open to residents of the United States who are 18 years or older]

Connect with Prim and Pure on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Brand Profile and Interview with Kelli Jackson of Prim & Pure appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

There are so many amazing things happening in the green community all the time it is easy to miss a great article!  So, each month, we round up our favorites to share with you.  Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!

{October 2016 Edition} In case you missed it…

1.When a professional makeup artist in the green beauty community releases her top picks from the last six years, you listen!

2. What you need to know about synthetic vs. organic scents when choosing your next fragrance.

3. Can your tap water be the cause of your skin issues? Read HERE how the water you use can trigger skin conditions.

4. What toxins might be lurking in your mattress?! Hear the truth about your mattress and how to find safer alternatives.

5. Have you made any changes to your skincare this season?  Learn 7 skincare routine changes for Fall

6. Siam Seas is everywhere lately and The Peridot is uncovering the woman behind the brand.

7. A wellness guide to your 20’s and beyond

8. The Ugly .01% Skincare Secret – what the experts don’t want you to know!

9. A list of the Dirty Dozen ingredients to avoid in cosmetics – a very useful resource to bookmark!

10. A great read: How to avoid hormone harming endocrine disruptors

Happy November!!

If you are a blogger and would like to submit one of your posts for next month’s Greenly Reads or if you just read a great article and think others would enjoy it too, please contact keri@thegreenlyguide.com

The post …greenly reads… appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

It truly speaks volumes when so many know and love the owner of a shop just as much as they love the shop itself. This is the case with green beauty online shop, Aurora Beauty. Farah, the owner, is well known and admired in the clean beauty space for having a beautifully curated shop as well as for having some of the most attentive customer service in the industry. If you have shopped with Aurora Beauty, you have no doubt been spoiled by Farah and all that her shop has to offer.

Farah started Aurora Beauty because she believes that nature is the best healer. Growing up, Farah was exposed to many different cultures at a very young age. She was born and raised in Kuwait, lived for three years in India and also spent one year living in the Philippines during the Gulf War. This exposure to so many experiences led to her fascination with different beauty rituals from all around the world.

Growing up, Farah had a long history with skin allergies and eczema which deeply affected her self-esteem. When harsh creams prescribed by doctors and conventional beauty products failed to treat her skin, her mother, who worked as a nurse, introduced her to natural alternatives shared with her by women she worked with. These were recipes handed down from generation to generation and are what finally helped Farah’s skin heal.

Her vision for Aurora Beauty was to create a place where every beauty product was pure, beautifully packaged, and, most importantly, delivered effective results. To achieve this level of quality, Farah works with artisans from across the globe who are passionate about their craft and do incredible work by combining nature and science which yields amazing products. Farah has made it her mission to find the most amazing undiscovered gems and bring them to her customers.

Products that inspire them to just take some time out of their busy schedule to relax and nurture their bodies. – Farah

Have product commitment issues?

Aurora Beauty offers a custom sample program to those of you who aren’t quite ready to splurge on a full size product before giving it a try first. Because buying online can be tricky, this gives customers the opportunity to touch, smell, test colors or evaluate skin sensitivities to see if a product will be a good match. Choose five samples from her expansive product offerings for only $19, plus shipping, and you’ll be on your way to finding the products that best suit your needs in no time.

We had the opportunity to ask the beautiful Farah some questions about her journey with Aurora Beauty and asked her to spill her 5 Minute Fall Beauty routine in the interview below!

The Greenly Guide: What has been your favorite thing, or what do you find most rewarding about owning Aurora Beauty?

Farah: The biggest reward of owning Aurora Beauty is the incredible individuals that I get to meet and interact with from all walks of life. Just having their incredible love and support makes all the hard work worth it! I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one, without whom Aurora Beauty would not be possible.

The Greenly Guide: What did you find was your biggest struggle in starting Aurora Beauty?

Farah: The biggest challenge was definitely having to wear many different hats as a small business owner and finding the right balance between the business and family life.

The Greenly Guide: For people who are new to green beauty and are looking for some tried and true favorites to try, can you share some of your top selling brands?

Farah: Moss, Vintner’s Daughter, Gressa, Laurel Whole Plant Organics, Josh Rosebrook, Mahalo and Agent Nateur.

The Greenly Guide: What products would be included in your 5 minute makeup routine for Fall?

Farah:  

1. Antonym Eye Liner
2. Nu Evolution Mascara
3. Hynt Beauty Lipstick in Pomegranate
4. Fitglow Beauty Blush in Pure
5. Gressa Minimalist Foundation in 04
6. Eco Brow Defining Wax in Frida
7. Plantfolk Apothecary “You are Golden” highlighter wand

We are so grateful to Farah for her generosity and kindness in partnering with us on this blog post and giveaway.  She is truly a gem in the green beauty community and runs her shop with integrity and honesty.  She will no doubt impress you with her extraordinary customer service and attention to detail.   Please make sure to head over to Aurora Beauty to check out Farah’s lovely shop!

[[CLOSED]] Giveaway! Congratulations to the winners @anushapuri & @ecosparkles!

The Greenly Guide & Aurora Beauty have partnered to bring you an incredible giveaway for not just one but TWO lucky readers!  Farah has so generously offered two green beauties the opportunity to win a $100 e-gift card to the Aurora Beauty website!  AND, even more amazing is that this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE!!

For full details on how to enter see below or head over to The Greenly Guide Instagram feed HERE!  GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway is open worldwide and will run from Monday, October 31, 2016 to Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 11:00 PM EST.  Winner will be chosen randomly and announced here at the bottom of this post as well as over on our Instagram page on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.

HOW TO ENTER: 

–Make sure you are following The Greenly Guide AND Aurora Beauty over on Instagram

–Comment on the Instagram giveaway photo tagging three friends

–Leave us a comment below telling us what you would pick up from Aurora Beauty if you were the winner! (make sure to include your Instagram username in your comment here so we know it’s you!)

***OPTIONAL–Receive 5 extra entries by reposting our giveaway photo on Instagram (make sure to tag us in your repost!)

The post Discover a unique shopping experience with Aurora Beauty appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

Hynt Beauty prides themselves on being an honest makeup brand and makes every effort to fully disclose all of their product ingredients so their customers know exactly what they are getting. Not only is their line organic based, they use the finest botanical elements and, their makeup is free of parabens, nanoparticles, synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, artificial preservatives, bismuth oxychloride, carmine, FD&C dyes and gluten. Their products are also primarily certified vegan by PETA and have received low hazard ratings on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.

An eco-luxe beauty brand + a clean beauty lover = A collaborative dream team!

If you don’t know Ashley from the Green Bunny, you are missing out on an amazing woman and an even more amazing green beauty resource! Ashley is the content creator behind the blog and YouTube Channel, The Green Bunny. After an accident while traveling abroad, her eyes were opened to the ingredients that were in mainstream beauty products and she was appalled. She immediately ditched all of her makeup and started fresh, and in late Summer 2015, her YouTube channel and blog were born! She creates weekly videos on her channel which include product reviews, makeup tutorials and monthly favorites. Her honesty and humor make her a stand out and an absolute pleasure to watch. In addition to her own videos, she also is the face of the Integrity Botanicals YouTube channel where she produces weekly videos there as well! And if this girl couldn’t get any busier, she also went ahead and teamed up with Hynt Beauty to create two custom colors for their line.

We are so excited to have both Meryl and Ashley on the blog today talking makeup, ingredients and the product collaboration that they worked on together. We will also be featuring a very exciting giveaway with them, so make sure to catch that at the end of this post!

The Greenly Guide: Can you tell us what inspired your interest in natural beauty products?

Meryl: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. After my surgeries and treatment, I began the process of reading about the possible dangers of ingredients in everything from our cleaning products, lawn care, food and health and beauty products. I was appalled at the notion that many of the products that I was using were potentially harmful to myself and my family. I honestly thought that if a product was on the market, there were regulations in place regarding their safety. Nothing could be further than the truth.

I began to make small changes to overhaul over to a healthier lifestyle which included scrutinizing ingredient listings on packages and making better choices in general. These are just a few of my changes: I easily found skin care that kept me happily hydrated. I ditched anti-perspirant immediately. I created a more structured routine for exercise. I reduced my use of a microwave to once in a blue moon. I started a new collection of cleaning products that I felt comfortable with. I mainly use a spray bottle of my concoction of water, vinegar and tea tree oil. I learned which fruits and vegetables should only be purchased organic as opposed to conventional offerings. These are just some of my new confident choices.

The Greenly Guide: And from that interest in natural products, what made you decide to create Hynt Beauty?

Meryl: In the past, I always treated myself to fine quality cosmetics, but now I have to avoid the department store cosmetic counters. I went into Whole Foods and purchased some cosmetics there. I was gravely disappointed in so many aspects, like color selection, fine textures and the lack of glamourous packaging. I do not find wood or white packaging sexy. It just isn’t ‘me.’ White packaging gets so stained from the product and frankly is a turnoff to me. I tried another brands mascara and even after wiping it down, it looks awful.

I don’t feel that the packaging has to connote the goodness that is inside. I wanted an affordable brand that could be loved and trusted. A $45 lipstick is unnecessary. I wanted products that appeal to a wide age demographic. I began a ‘blacklist’ of nasty ingredients that I found objectionable and that list has been fine-tuned several times. Almost all of our packaging can be recycled.

Hynt Beauty is a brand to be trusted and loved. It is a brand that has a watchdog at its helm. I am a breast cancer survivor and I am picky and choosy on the good stuff that goes into the product line.  Quality, Safety and Performance is my mantra. –Meryl Marshall

The Greenly Guide: What was the first official Hynt Beauty product that you created?

Meryl: I worked with my favorite cosmetic chemist, Kristina on our Duet Perfecting Concealer. I wanted a multi- tasking product that adhered to my blacklist yet contained state of the art natural ingredients. We tried using some organic ingredients but for some reason the outcome did not yield the texture that we were shooting for. Many times ingredient consistencies vary from different manufacturers. There was plenty of back and forth until we felt satisfied. I test marketed what I felt was the final working product with several makeup artists as well as bloggers well versed in natural makeup. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

The product was originally in a cute pink tube but that was a lesson learned. The tubes were clogging and the tips were coming off with the force of getting the product out. We experimented with several different replacement options and ended up with the safest one-a glass jar. I would like our customers to understand that our concealer is an effectively preserved, waterless formula so bacteria growth is not a concern, especially with the user implementing good hygiene.

The Greenly Guide: What challenges have you come across in working with natural ingredients and how have you resolved those challenges?

Meryl: I have encountered issues with natural binders that don’t ‘hold’ as well as their synthetic counterparts.

Also, the issue with natural preservatives is a slippery slope. Makeup, especially the type used on the eyes, MUST have a preservative. I have women calling asking why we used tocopherols in some of our products. Really? There are not too many choices in the natural realm that are considered a low hazard rating on EWG/Skin Deep. It would be irresponsible to market a product without an effective preservative system in place.

I know of one popular company that used to tout that their cosmetics do not have any preservatives….funny they don’t do that now. Liability is a serious issue and eye infections and rancid product is unacceptable.

Organic ingredients can many times cost more than double when compared to their conventional counterpart. Also, I do my due diligence and contact manufacturers of ingredients to research the byproduct ingredients. For example, I have found parabens being the preservative in several ingredients; those of which are not disclosed by other companies because the percentage is below 1% in the entire formula or they are not aware of it. I seek ingredients from sources that I deem responsible and that fully disclose the information that I personally require.

The Greenly Guide: Can you talk a little about your ingredients and any used in your products that are particularly unique or beneficial to the skin?

Meryl: I love jojoba oil. This is a wonderful ingredient that has multiple uses. It is loaded with beneficial vitamins and ideal for sensitive skin. It is found in several of our products, namely our Forte eyeliner pencils, pressed shadows, Encore pressed powder and our award winning, beloved Duet Perfecting Concealer. I use organic jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup.

We use state of the art Eco-Cert ingredients especially in our Aria Pure Lipsticks which feature a patented 100% GMO-free plant based complex that boosts water absorption and hydration levels by +25% across 3 epidermis layers of the lip.

The Greenly Guide: What separates Hynt Beauty products from other green beauty brands?

Meryl: Hynt Beauty is a brand to be trusted and loved. It is a brand that has a watchdog at its helm. I am a breast cancer survivor and I am picky and choosy on the good stuff that goes into the product line.  Quality, Safety and Performance is my mantra.

HYNT BEST SELLERS

Our Duet Perfecting Concealer is a beloved product that is award winning. It is a multi-tasking product. Mix in a bit of our Skin Prep or Sun Prep and you have an awesome liquid foundation/CC cream/tinted moisturizer. It is also a terrific eyeshadow primer.

Our Velluto Pure Powder Foundation does not contain Titanium Dioxide which is a heavy white mineral powder which can look a bit grey and mask like looking on the skin. I like makeup to look natural in natural light. Also, we do not use a cheap filler like Bismuth Oxychloride which causes itching in many people.

SOMETHING YOU WON’T FIND IN ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS?

Meryl explains what ingredient is completely absent from their line and what product she uses every night:

“We do not use Dimethicone in any of our products, a great binder often found in skincare and color makeup. While not harmful to the skin, it tends to bind to and suffocates the skin – especially not a good thing when you are working out and sweating.

I use our hot selling Skin Prep every night before bed. This product has a high percentage of Algae and Hyaluronate Acid that is very moisturizing without being greasy. I hate anything greasy. It gets all over my pillowcase and hair. I find that this product brightens my skin. I always recommend Skin Prep to those with acneic skin as it has anti-acne properties without irritation.

I use our Sun Prep Broad Spectrum SPF30 Sunscreen religiously every morning as a primer prior to makeup application. I cannot express how important it is to protect your skin from the sun. Never, ever rely on makeup for sun protection. This Dimethicone free product provides an excellent canvas and really works well with our makeup.”

The Greenly Guide: Can you share your ‘going green’ story and what motivated you to start using cleaner products?

Ashley: In March of 2015 I was traveling abroad with my sister and I fell down an entire flight of stairs. I ended up having to be admitted and operated on and it was truly one of the most scary experiences of my life. I have never been hospitalized before or had my health at risk in that way so while being cooped up for five months trying to heal post-op, I of course fell deeper into Youtube. I was watching Ashley or MakeupTIA who used both green and conventional products and once I started to read up on the chemicals in cosmetics I was shocked. Makeup has always been one of my biggest loves so I almost felt betrayed! I am super all or nothing so I ditched my entire makeup stash, slowly started to curate a cleaner one, and then came my Youtube channel. The timing was all sort of perfect because I wanted a channel since I was 16. Now I have been doing it for a year and the rest is history.

The Greenly Guide: How do you find green beauty products and how do you decide which products and brands you are going to try?

Ashley: Honestly, the Internet! Youtube was such a big inspiration to me before starting my own and people like Ashley (MakeupTIA) and Teri (TeriMiyahira) were really my main source of figuring out what products to try. Now, I just keep up with a lot of brands on social media and since I am a content creator anything new of course really excites me.

The Greenly Guide: What tips do you have in avoiding green washing?

Ashley: My biggest thing with consumption in general, not just green washing, is of course educating yourself. Familiarize yourself with ingredients even on a basic level to weed out the most toxic and most commonly used, and utilize resources to do so such as the Think Dirty app and EWG. It is so important that you can read labels on your own and figure out what you are comfortable using because it is different for everyone. There is no all-encompassing way to green your routine, education is key!

The Greenly Guide: You have so much wonderful knowledge, and your YouTube channel is so helpful for finding tutorials and hearing about natural health and beauty products – what other plans do you have for your channel in the future?

Ashley: Thank you! Oh man, of course, tons. I want to use my platform as a place to hone in on my creativity, and ultimately create a safe place for people of all genders, ages, and walks of life to enjoy. YouTube has been so special to me for lonely times I experienced in high school, or difficult times like trying to heal after surgery that if I could offer that comfort to anyone else that is very special to me. I would also like to raise awareness and start conversations. Topics such as fast fashion and how to avoid it, feminism, fashion as a whole, the environment, these are all things I am interested in and would like to start incorporating into my channel. I think having a voice big or small I want to share things that are aesthetically pleasing and beautiful but also indulge the mind.

There is no all-encompassing way to green your routine, education is key! – Ashley, The Green Bunny

The Greenly Guide: I would love to hear more about your collaboration with Hynt Beauty and what your process and inspiration was behind the colors you created for them.

Ashley: My collaboration with Hynt was actually such a smooth transition. Having already been obsessed with Hynt Beauty from their ethos to their products, I kind of already had ideas in my head. Since we utilized their already fabulous formulations, I was the mastermind behind the colors and names, which was a total treat. I was missing the perfect nude blush in my collection. Everything too pink, too peach, too warm, too shimmery. I wanted a good matte blush that was along the lines of my old favorite, Tarte Exposed. I named the blush Notoriously Nude since I am a total fan of word play, alliteration, and well, it was just a good nude blush! As far as the gloss goes, I wanted what I call the perfect “lipstick topper.” There are a lot of glosses that pack so much color it’s like they’re a super shiny liquid lipstick and that’s not what I wanted. I wanted something that would look good on someone of the most porcelain skin, or someone with a rich chocolate complexion hence the name “Une Femme Mauve.” Une Femme actually means The Woman or A Woman in french and it’s a good neutral mauve tone that looks great on top of basically any lipstick and for any occasion.

The Greenly Guide: Any other information you would like to include that you would like your followers to know about you?

Ashley: Just thank you for all of the love and continued support. Creating a little mini collection with Hynt I mean is beyond a dream come true and without my loyal little audience it wouldn’t be possible. I would also love for anyone to share their experiences with the products and photos with me so I can share them as well, just use the hash tag #gbxhynt.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Watch Ashley’s video HERE that is dedicated to discussing her Hynt Beauty collaboration and products!

And if you just cannot wait to pick up some of Hynt Beauty’s gorgeous products, Ashley has offered her discount code where ‘gbunny20’ will save you at checkout! Click HERE to shop!

 [[CLOSED]] Congratulations to the winner @cleanbeautycleansoul

Let’s get back to that giveaway, shall we!?

The Greenly Guide has teamed up with Hynt Beauty & Ashley to offer 1 lucky reader the chance to win BOTH products that Ashley created for the line – the ‘Notoriously Nude’ blush and ‘Une Femme Mauve’ lip gloss!

Full contest details are listed below and will also be posted HERE over on our Instagram feed, so be sure to head there to officially enter!  Best of luck to everyone who enters!

Giveaway is open to Hynt Beauty lovers WORLDWIDE!  Must be 18 years or older to enter.  Contest will run from Friday, October 28, 2016 through Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 11:00 PM EST.  Winner will be chosen randomly and announced at the bottom of this post as well as over on our Instagram feed on Sunday, October 30, 2016.

HOW TO ENTER: 

–Make sure you are following The Greenly Guide, Hynt Beauty and Ashley over on Instagram

–Comment on the Instagram giveaway photo tagging three friends

–Leave us a comment below telling us if you are someone who can never get enough blush in your collection or if you are more of a lipgloss lover! (make sure to include your Instagram username in your comment here so we know it’s you!)

***OPTIONAL–Receive 5 extra entries by reposting our giveaway photo on Instagram (make sure to tag us in your repost!)

The post Q & A with Meryl of Hynt Beauty and Ashley of The Green Bunny appeared first on The Greenly Guide.