Make a clarifying skin toner

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Clarifying Skin Toner

I was always envious of those girls with luminous, smooth, glowing skin.

Skin that looked refined and buffed.  Porcelain or peaches-and-cream our grandmothers’ might have called it.

That was never me.  I tend towards oily skin and big pores.  Glowing skin?  Yes, I glow.  But more from the greasies than some ethereal internal luminescence.

So making my own skincare has been a revelation for me.

Using the Oil Cleansing Method and Luxe facial oil have really normalized and improved my skin.  (I know, putting OIL on oily skin! Who woulda thunk it?)

And recently I have heard from a lot of readers who are struggling with oily, congested skin with pimples, acne and blackheads.  It seemed like a good time to create a third product we could add to our cleansing routine.  A product especially for the oily-skin prone among us!  (Don’t worry, dry skin types … I’ll describe how you could adapt this recipe to work for you too!)

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4 tools I use to follow my dreams (and you can too!)

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FollowYourDreams_Bridge

You know those ‘out of body’ type moments?  When you suddenly “wake up” and see your life from an outsider perspective, even for just a brief moment?

That happened to me this week.

While visiting a good friend in southwest France, we were invited to a birthday dinner.  We arrived at a 1800s farmhouse in the French countryside – with a big, heavy table set outdoors, a bonfire, fairy lights, and (in true French style) copious amounts of good food and wine.

As everyone was bustling around getting food ready, I suddenly had this flash of perspective and gratitude.  How did I end up here at this moment?  After years (and years) of wanting to live in Europe and run my own business – I was finally doing it.  

Of course, it hasn’t always been this way.

Since I’ve left my corporate job and started my own business as a natural health coach, I’ve gotten lots of questions from readers, friends and people I meet asking how I did it.  So I thought I would share some resources and tools that have helped me along the way.

I am still in the early days of my business, so I can’t give you a recipe for success.  But here are 4 tools that I’ve used regularly to get myself onto the right path (which for many years seemed like just a fantasy …)  

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Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration

Is this common food causing your skin problems?

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dairy_skin_problems

You think you have your skin figured out. You’ve got your routine. You know the cleanser that works. You know how often (and how hard) to scrub. You’ve got your favorite moisturizer.

And then it happens.

Skin freakout!

Seemingly out of the blue. Greasiness. Acne. Dry flakiness. Red, inflamed flare-ups. Itchy patches.

This happened to me (yes, to me! ugh!) a few weeks ago.

It’s such a knock to your confidence when your skin misbehaves, isn’t it?

I didn’t even want to leave the house.

And I started beating myself up inside – how can I pretend to know about natural beauty when my own skin does this?!  And then: Why did this happen? What did I change??

Lightbulb moment: I made the connection.

On a recent trip I’d been eating very differently than usual – I’d eaten a ton of dairy. Yogurt with breakfast. Coffee and milk. And glorious, melty cheese with lunch and dinner.

Could this be the cause? Could dairy be the cause of my (and your) skin problems?

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Stress Relief Body Cream – Tutorial

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stress_relief_body_cream

I thought quitting my corporate job would eliminate my stress.

Ha!

How wrong I was.  Self-employment brings with it a whole different kind of stress … irregular income, accountants, hustling for business, sitting alone in front of your computer all day with no coworkers…

But I experienced a completely unexpected source of stress this week … trying to make a video tutorial on how to make this body cream!

Oh I had visions of Amanda-as-Nigella creating a luscious body cream in a gorgeously light and airy kitchen.

The reality was dark and dreary, with echoey sound and going on far too long (thank you small city kitchen, London gray skies and trying to film myself!)

Fortunately for me, I was making stress relief body cream, which was almost as good as chocolate to soothe my frustrated nerves.

And you can make some too.  Just follow this tutorial (in photos … while I work up the courage to try filming again!)

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Super Simple Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe

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Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe

When you go out in the evenings, are you more of a dark eyes or dark lips kind of woman?

Generally, I choose my eyes.

But occasionally, when I feel like being totally vintage glam and changing it up a bit – I like to rock a bright, red lip.

For me, doing a smokey eye is carefree.  I know how to do it.  It’s a look that works.  I like my eyes.

But the red lip creates a bit more stress … will I leave lip marks on all my drinks?  Will the lipstick end up on my teeth?  Will I eat off part of the lipstick leaving a strange red lip-liner looking ring around my lips?

And most of all … where did all these little flakes on my lips come from?!

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3 Natural Living Insights from Trill Farm

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Natural Living Course at Trill Farm - Spring 2013

While sipping on a herb infused cocktail (made from ingredients foraged within steps of where I was sitting), I had a flash of insight:

Living well doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.

In fact, the most simple creations with fresh foods and herbs (whether for eating, drinking, health or beauty) are often the best.

Since I’m in the business of natural health and beauty, I often hear that all this natural living stuff is great for people living the Good Life in the countryside – but that it’s not possible for busy urbanites.  

To that I say, au contraire.  

As you know I live in a small flat in London without a garden, and I’m telling you, it IS possible.  And my recent workshop experience has given me even more ideas and inspiration for making any lifestyle more natural and sustainable.

For the past 5 days, I’ve been at Trill Farm in Devon for their seasonal Natural Living course.  I had the opportunity to teach a full day Natural Beauty workshop, and participate in the entire course – from living foods, to foraging, to hedgerow medicine and mindfulness.  It was a relaxing, inspiring and nourishing weekend.

Yes there is gorgeous countryside, delicious organic food, and so much fresh air and space (essential for this city-dweller) … but more than that, this course was inspiring and insightful.

So today I wanted to share 3 natural living insights that anyone can use to bring more natural health, balance and creativity into their life.

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Travel

Home Remedies for Dry Skin: What to Eat

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vintageamanda_dryskin

You know that tight, dry feeling after you wash your face.

The fine lines, flakiness and maybe even - gasp! - crepey skin around your eyes.

So you slather on some thick cream.  Depending on your skin that day it either soaks in immediately and goes dry again, or sits in a greasy layer on top of your skin – not getting the moisture where it’s needed!

If this is your experience with your skin, you’re not alone.

Dry skin and early signs of aging are two of the issues I hear most frequently from our community.  And there is a better way to deal with dry skin, than just finding thicker and richer creams.  We’re going to tackle the problem in 2 parts – what you put IN your body, and what you put ON your body.

First up – home remedies for dry skin that you eat.  Because as you know, what you eat becomes what you are!

Are you eating enough of these foods to moisturize your skin from the inside out?

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Filed Under: Beauty, Food

Vintage Savoir Faire has a new name!

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In late 2009, I was living in a small flat in London (plus ca change…), still adjusting to this new country and a job that was less than inspiring.

I’d just taken an Introduction to Herbal Medicine Course and was fascinated at the rich history of using plants for health & beauty in England.  In less than a year I’d gone from a beauty product junkie living in central Paris to that moment in London when I realized that smearing hundreds of  chemicals on my body everyday wasn’t a very smart thing to do.  Hrm.

And I was desperate for a creative outlet.  New country, new city, newly living with my boyfriend, stuck in a cubicle all day and no friends – I had a burning need for change.

So Vintage Savoir Faire was born.

In the 4 years that followed, I’ve learned so much about natural health and beauty – which has completely transformed my life and my health.

I’ve become a certified health coach.

I’ve gotten engaged.

I’ve traveled more than I ever imagined.

I made friends and explored London.

I bought a real camera and learned how to use it.

And I’ve developed this active community of readers (and friends) through this website.

And now I’m so happy to announce another huge milestone moment in my life…

I’ve become a full-time entrepreneur.

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Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration

Rosemary Nettle Hair Rinse

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Rosemary Nettle Hair Rinse

You know those times when you’re just so busy, your creativity falls to the side? (Hello, Creativity? Where are you!)

This is a super fast project for those times.   To coin a phrase from one of my favorite infomercials, this is a Set it and Forget it project.  There’s no measuring.  There are no rules.  Just stuff some fresh herbs in a jar, cover up and let them steep for a couple of weeks.

This simple project will give you the most amazing rinse for silky smooth and shiny hair.  Only possible drawback?  It’s vinegar.

But once you get over that mental block – vinegar on your hair! – you will positively fall in love with your new hair rinse and never go back to thick, chemically conditioner again.

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Don’t be a victim of the crazy hair cycle!

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break the hair cycle

Let’s talk about hair conditioner.

For years, I thought I needed to condition every time I shampooed.  During my first haircut in Paris, I found it odd that they asked me “Would you like a conditioner?” during my hair wash – I said “yes” and then got a nice additional 20 Euro charge on my bill (ouch!).  Shocked that I got so ripped off for a necessity like conditioner, I remember venting to a French friend about it, and she seemed surprised the other way … she never used conditioner.  Hmmm.

So that made me think – what is it about the way that we’re washing our hair that requires conditioner every time?

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