The 8 Most Beautiful Self-Watering Planters We Could Find

William Morris famously said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”  We wholeheartedly embrace this idea as we enter a new season and plan on filling our homes with fresh new plants this spring. A potted tree completes a space like no other, and did you know that plants in the bedroom may actually help you sleep?

The trouble is that houseplants aren't so 'useful' if we struggle to keep them alive for more than a month. That in mind, we've curated this short list of gorgeous self-watering planters to help you keep everything alive with ease...

The 8 Most Beautiful Self-Watering Planters We Could Find

 

Urban Outfitters Izzie Self-Watering Planter | Textured glass and terra cotta? Sign us up. This modern-looking planter won't interrupt your neutral palette at home and keeps greenery perfectly hydrated—the rounded ceramic vessel sits right in to this riveted glass watering basin.

Ballard Designs Canopy Self-Watering Planter | These stunning glass planters are inspired by the iconic biospheres of Cornwall, England’s famed Eden Project. Designed with a focus on sustainability, the shapely silhouettes are made from mouth-blown recycled glass and fitted with a removable, sustainably sourced cork stopper. Pack a bit of moss around the soil to emulate the look above.

Easy Plant The Luscious Trinity set | Everything Easy Plant ships arrives in their signature self-watering planters. It doesn't get easier! If you're looking for more than one new house plant, we love Easy Plant's pre-selected sets. The Lucious Trinity Set (above) is the easiest way to plant shop with minimum hassle. Their set options are as small as these trios (select your own plants and planter colors) and as large as the 'Natural Sanctuary' set with 22 houseplants from trees to tinies!

Room Essentials™ Indoor/Outdoor Self-Watering Planter | Minimalist in every way, this planter comes in a range of easy neutrals and contains an easy-to-fill reservoir so that the plant can draw up water as needed.

Phoenix Vine Self-Watering Planter Pot | Terra cotta has been used as an irrigation tool since ancient times. It's high water permeability makes it a classic material for planters, paired here with a glass reservoir for a look we love. The layered planter slowly releases water into the soil over time.

Giraffe Creation Self-Watering Flower Pots | A great option for when you're traveling, the saucer of this sage green planter is designed as a reservoir to store enough water to meet the amount your plants need for up to two weeks.

Tomorotec® Glass Self-Watering System Spikes | We love these iridescent hand-blown glass globes as an easy self-watering addition to any planter you already have at home. Each one administers a steady dose of water that is absorbed as the soil dries out. We've asked our green-thumbed friends about these, and they really do work!

Metal Watering Can | Finally, if you've already got planters you love, at least make watering them more enjoyable! We love this small, classic watering in an elegant silhouette that makes watering plants easy and a little bit fun.

Read Next: Came Through Dripping: Sweet Potatoes With Tahini Butter Prove Simplicity Is Bliss

The post The 8 Most Beautiful Self-Watering Planters We Could Find appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/kZPcQW4
via IFTTT

An Excerpt From Dr. Will Cole’s New Book, Gut Feelings

Dr. Will Cole is a favorite pro here at TCM and a health advisor to Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Sophia Bush, and more. A leading functional medicine practitioner and New York Times bestselling author, Will has dedicated his life to teaching people to apply skepticism to nutritional trends and, instead, pay closer attention to their intuition.

His new book, Gut Feelings, Dr. Cole demystifies the gut-brain connection and provides a framework to repair the relationship between what you eat and how you feel.

In this excerpt, he outlines the benefits of whole food carbs for stress and anxiety, how fruits and veggies can impact your mood, and provides a full list of produce to add to your meal plans in meaningful ways...

Carbohydrates—*Not* Your Mortal Enemy

If you’ve read anything about nutrition lately, there’s a good chance you left thinking that carbs are your mortal enemy. As has happened many times before—such as when we vilified anything with fat in the 1980s and 1990s—we’re currently in a phase of making carbs our mortal enemy. But I want it on record right here and right now that carbs are not your enemy. While I agree that as humans, we are eating way too many carbs on average—mostly in the form of added sugars, refined grains, and simple carbs—carbohydrates aren’t inherently bad. In fact, when it comes to your health and happiness, carbs are pretty darn important. Let me explain.

Carbs make you happy. And I’m not talking about the consumption of mass amounts of sugar or white bread making you feel good at the moment. Carbohydrates help your body produce important brain chemicals like serotonin. Answer me this: Have you ever tried to cut out carbs and felt anxious and sad or been so amped at night you can’t sleep? That could be due to the sudden decrease in carbohydrates. Serotonin plays a key role in your nervous system and in your ability to sleep; it fends off negative thinking and anxiety. There is even a strong connection between carbs and sleep, because serotonin is made from carbohydrates but melatonin—also known as your sleep hormone—is made from serotonin. Therefore, some people try to cut out all carbs too quickly or for too long and end up staring at the ceiling at night, overcome by anxious thoughts. Pretty interesting, isn’t it?

Fruits and Vegetables—Fiber and Polyphenols

Fruits and vegetables are full of beneficial nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial fibers that feed your gut and your brain, which means a healthier gut-feeling connection. Study after study shows that if you want a healthy gut and a healthy brain, these plant-based foods are key. For example, a systematic review that analyzed the results of almost 6,000 studies found that people with a high total intake of vegetables and fruits seem to experience higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy. This may be the first time you’re hearing the word self-efficacy, but it means “an individual’s belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments,” as defined by the American Psychological Association. In other words, eating your fruits and veggies is linked to a higher likelihood of believing in your own strengths and abilities. That gives new meaning to the phrase plant powered, doesn’t it? Even more, the same review showed that high fruit and vegetable intake is associated with lower levels of psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Another study showed that people who eat at least 470 grams of fruits and vegetables a day had 10 percent lower stress levels than those who consumed only half of that amount. For reference, 470 grams of blueberries is about 2.7 cups!

Dr Will Cole Gut Feelings

Read Next: My Daily Staples: Dr. Will Cole On Gluten, Guacamole + Green Tea

The sneaky but great thing about fruits and vegetables is that the more of them you eat, the less room you have for the other stuff, like refined sugar and inflammatory oils. As you’ll see in chapter 8, the foundation of all the recipes in this book is made of colorful fruits and vegetables. Why? Because they really are the key to a long and healthy life. And the good news is that, unlike with carbs and fats, it’s hard to go wrong with fruits and vegetables. In fact, the key to healthy fruit and veggie intake is consuming a diverse array. Why? Because the bacteria in your gut feed off the fibers, called prebiotic fibers, found in these plant-based foods. A study published in Nutrients showed that a diet rich in vegetables and other high-fiber plant-based foods improves gut bacterial diversity within two weeks. I find that patients who are trying to heal their sensitive guts often do better at the beginning with more soft, cooked vegetables, like soups and stews. Digesting food requires a lot of energy, so this makes it easier for your gut to process everything and focus on healing instead. Even fruits can be cooked down into a compote, making them gentler on a healing digestive system.

We tend to focus on the evil side of carbohydrates, like how they can spike your blood sugar or be addictive, while ignoring the clear benefits of having some type of carb in your diet. The key to healthy carbohydrate intake is to focus on healthy, nutrient-rich carbs over empty, blood-spiking carbs like simple sugars and refined grains, which is what we’re doing in the 21-Day Gut-Feeling Plan. For patients who have blood sugar problems, macro-stacking can be a great way to bring clean wholefood carbohydrates into your meals. Macro-stacking involves consuming carbs, such as fruit or potatoes, after proteins and fats. In this way, you can buffer any blood sugar spike that can happen even with healthy carbs.

Below you’ll find a great list of healthy fruits, vegetables, and gluten-free grains. These foods are high in antioxidants, fiber, and some whole-food-based carbohydrates that are key to a stress-free diet.

VEGETABLES
Alfalfa sprouts
Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Bean sprouts
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Broccoli sprouts
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chives
Collard greens
Cucumber
Dulse
Endive
Ginger
Jicama
Kale
Kelp
Kohlrabi
Kombu
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Nori
Okra
Olives
Peppers
Radishes
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Scallions
Seaweed
Spinach
Swiss chard
Turnips
Water chestnuts

FRUITS
Apple
Avocado
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Clementines
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Grapes
Guava
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Lemons
Limes
Lychees
Mangoes
Oranges
Papayas
Passion fruit
Pear
Persimmon
Pineapple
Quince
Raspberries
Star fruit
Strawberries
Tangelos
Tomatoes
Watermelon

STARCHY VEGETABLES
Acorn squash
Butternut squash
Carrots
Peas
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Yams

LEGUMES
Black beans
Edamame
Fava beans
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
Great northern beans
Green beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Mung beans
Navy beans
Peas
Pinto beans
White beans

GRAINS
Gluten-free oats
Quinoa
Rice

Read Next: Ask Dr. Will Cole: How Many Glasses Of Wine Is Too Many?

This excerpt from Gut Feelings is copyrighted © 2023 by Will Cole. Published by goop press/Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Dr Will Cole Gut Feelings

The post An Excerpt From Dr. Will Cole’s New Book, Gut Feelings appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/Qj8bmT0
via IFTTT

Cauliflower Nachos with Cashew Cheese Sauce from The Gracias Madre Cookbook

Gracias Madre has now lasted the test of restaurant time, a trendy haunt for healthy, plant-based meals that has become a beloved West Hollywood establishment for almost a decade.

In their new cookbook, The Gracias Madre Cookbook: Bright, Plant-Based Recipes from our Mexi-Cali Kitchen, the team reveals all, including this recipe for their drool-worthy cauliflower "nachos" -- complete with cashew cheese sauce!

Coliflor Frito (Cauliflower Nachos)

There’s nothing traditionally Mexican about these crispy bits of cauliflower that have been smothered in nacho cheese—in fact, like nachos, they’re a distinctly American invention—but no one’s going to turn down a plate of these bites or argue that there’s a better way to enjoy cauliflower.

SERVES 4

For the cauliflower...
Canola, rice bran, or other neutral oil, for frying
5 cups cauliflower florets, cut into bite-size pieces
Himalayan salt, to taste

For the nacho cheese sauce...
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours or up to overnight
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 small garlic clove
½ to 1 whole jalapeño, seeded
2 tsp Himalayan salt, plus more to taste
1 ½ tsp chipotle powder
(Makes 3 cups)

Directions:
1. In a Dutch oven, heavy-bottom pot, or high-sided frying pan over high heat, heat about 3 inches of oil to 350F.
2. Line a baking sheet with a few layers of paper towels and place nearby for draining.
3. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pot, fry the cauliflower until golden, for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping the florets occasionally to fry evenly.
4. Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer the fried cauliflower to the baking sheet to drain and season immediately with salt. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
5. Drain and rinse the cashews under cold water until the water runs clear.
6. Transfer the cashews to a high-speed blender and add the pumpkin seeds, lemon juice, garlic, jalapeño, salt, chipotle powder, and 1 ¼ cups of water.
7. Blend until smooth and creamy. (The mixture will keep in the fridge, covered, for 3 to 4 days.)
8. In a medium bowl, add the friend cauliflower with the nacho cheese and toss to coat.
9. Transfer to a serving plate with the lemon wedges and a side of cheese sauce, if desired.

The post Cauliflower Nachos with Cashew Cheese Sauce from The Gracias Madre Cookbook appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/1bH5LF0
via IFTTT

Food Combining: What To Eat To Flatten Your Tummy + Optimize Digestion

There’s quite a lot of controversy when it comes to the practice of food combining. Does it work? Is it worth all the effort? Despite all the opinions, the practice of food combining can significantly ease digestion and promote proper assimilation of nutrients. It's worth a second look if you've already written this practice off.

Developed in 1911 by physician, Howard Hay, who studied and concluded that foods would be better digested if they were eaten with other comparable foods that digested at similar rates or contained the same enzymes necessary to breakdown their nutrients. Sounds rational enough.

The controversy began when after further research and a growing understanding of nutrition we realized that, one - most foods naturally contain a combination of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, making it hard to pinpoint which group a food belongs to categorically, and two - the more combinations of these food categories an ingredient or meal contains, the more types of enzymes are needed to break them down for your system to use. While there has been little direct research on the effects of food combining, the practice has helped many people ease digestion complaints and help with nutrient assimilation, whether scientifically validated or not.

Some believe that because a heavy and complicated meal containing many different ingredients requires different enzymes as well as an acidic or alkalizing environment, these secretions in the digestive process may actually cancel each other out, causing the digestive process to slow and work less efficiently. This can result in gas, bloating, and other complaints of indigestion. More so, poor food combining coupled with indigestion can lead to stagnation and fermentation in the gut, causing bacteria and yeast overgrowth, candida, symptoms of weakened immunity and other results of poor or compromised digestion down the road. Remember, good health starts with a strong gut!

It's worth revisiting food combining, especially if you have weak digestion. Here’s what you might experience if you give it a go:

- Improved digestion
- Reduction of toxin buildup and formation in the gut
- Increased nutrient absorption
- Reduced gas and bloating
- More rapid elimination
- Improved energy

[olists num=1]
[olists num=2]

The post Food Combining: What To Eat To Flatten Your Tummy + Optimize Digestion appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/vpu1WB5
via IFTTT

Let’s Talk About Peptide Therapies + Why They Will Continue To Trend In 2023

It was early 2022 when friends here in LA first started sharing their peptide therapy experiences with me. One was on a regimen for fertility in preparation for banking her eggs, another for muscle gains, and yet another for weight loss. The Ozempic controversy had yet to swirl into mainstream consciousness, and I was amazed to hear about their results.

Initially, I spoke with Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Toni Tizon-Damiano of Roots Wellness who offers sermorelin, CJC1295, and semaglutide peptide injections in her practice. Through Toni, I began to learn about the growing promise of peptide therapies to target a wide range of needs from anti-aging to deepened sleep and improved brain health.

As I widened my research, I found that certain top biohackers had been quietly naming peptide injections as an exciting area of progress for years. Insulin, for example, is a peptide and has been around for over 100 years. As is nearly always the case, it's taken time -- and possibly a bit of media controversy -- for many of the lesser known peptide treatments to become more accessible and better understood.

As the semaglutide (Ozempic) craze has grown, it has triggered valid concerns of a return to "diet culture". That craze brought my research to a halt and I hesitated to cover the topic at all. We're on a positive trajectory of body positivity in this decade in a way I hope to see continue.

After polling our readers on Instagram, you let us know that the interest was there, and I decided to publish these insights from three pros, all of whom offer a wide variety of peptide therapies in their practices. Peptide therapies are so promising across an important cross-section of health concerns beyond just weight loss. Across the board, in my look at peptide therapy offerings, I've found a wide-variety of therapies with claims related to all of the below:

+ Better sleep quality
+ Improved immunity
+ Improved bone density
+ Reduction in body fat
+ Increased metabolism
+ Increased lean muscle mass
+ Accelerated wound healing
+ Thicker hair
+ Tightening of the skin
+ Better athletic recovery
+ An overall increase in energy
+ Balance with other hormones
+ Improved libido and sexual performance
+ Improved cognition
+ Improved joint pain
+ Improved mood

Peptides are not new: A lot of research on peptides has been going on for decades, mostly in Europe, and not the US, cccording to Dr. Heather Smith-Fernandez. "I would assume this is because we have been going through a strong pharmaceutical boom during this time. However, I believe peptides should be a large focus for medicine in the United States moving forward. Unfortunately, I’m not confident this will be the case. Hopefully, education and awareness of the benefits of peptides continues to spread so that more and more individuals can experience what they can do for their health and the health of their loved ones."

We're sharing a few of the most notable peptide therapies you should know about below, but first...

An important note on Ozempic + Weight Loss: Semaglutide and some other peptides target obesity, appetite control and chronic blood sugar imbalances specifically. While supporting weight loss in obese individuals is key for many preventative health measures, please think twice about any treatment that reduces appetite if medical obesity is not a health issue for you.

Many of us, myself included, actually need more nutrition in our daily diets for optimal health -- not less. Before approaching any peptide therapy that could effect your appetite, consider working with a nutritionist first to do some personal testing. I recommend long-time TCM contributors Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LD, IFNCP, holistic nutritionist Kelly LeVeque, and Jennie Miremadi, a licensed integrative clinical nutritionist who also specializes in healing from disordered eating.

Let's Talk About Peptide Therapies: 6 Treatments To Know

Let's start with a few peptides therapies I've been fascinated to learn more about...

SS-31 | According to Dr. Heather Smith-Fernandez of Peptology, SS-31 is a peptide that helps to "dysregulate the production of mitochondrial free radical production (mitochondrial-derived ROS) and is therefore being looked as a global anti-aging molecule."

BPC-157 has been experimentally demonstrated to accelerate the healing of many different wounds, including tendon-to-bone healing and superior healing of damaged ligaments. This peptide has been known to exhibit analgesic (pain relieving) characteristics. Those who suffer from discomfort due to muscle sprains, tears and damage may benefit from treatment with this peptide. You can download Peptology's free guide to peptide treatment therapies here.

Cerebrolysin | Also called FPE-1070. The neuroprotective properties of the nootropic peptide Cerebrolysin help to protect neurons from lactic acidosis and prevent the formation of free radicals. Cerebrolysin has been studied in memory loss, concentration decline, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, MS, TBI, and stroke.

CJC1295 | According to Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Toni Tizon-Damiano this growth hormone peptide is one of the most popular peptides used at her practice."With growth hormone peptides, it is important to understand that we're not injecting growth hormone itself. These peptides simply enhance the signaling to our pituitary to secrete more of our own supply of growth hormone.

The popular use of growth hormone peptides started after studies found that patients were injecting growth hormone and having negative outcomes. The use of peptides provided some of the benefits of enhancing our own natural supply of growth hormone without the negative side effects

Low growth hormone can cause an individual to feel fatigue, brain fog, depressed, mood changes, low libido, weaker muscle function or a decrease in the ability to gain muscle, an increase in fat and so much more."

Growth hormone is responsible for childhood development, but is also important in adulthood. Growth hormone is responsible for many functions in our body that we lose as we age. After age 30, there is a steady decline of growth hormone produced by our body. This decline is often due to aging but also to toxin exposure, oxidative stress, disease, lack of sleep, obesity, inflammation and of course, chronic stress.

DSIP or Delta sleep-inducing peptide | According to Dr. Jacey Folkers’ of Joi Women’s Wellness, DSIP is a naturally occurring substance originally isolated from rabbit brains in 1977. DSIP has been described as a sleep-promoting substance rather than a sedative. Clinical uses for DSIP exist and the peptide has been used for the treatment of alcohol and opioid withdrawal with some success.

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) |  Semaglutide is a GLP-1 peptide (glucagon like peptide receptor agonist), says Nurse Practitioner, Toni Tizon-Damiano. Semaglutide has been prescribed for those with type 2 diabetes to help lower hemoglobin A1C (3 months blood sugar). These patients found that they were not only lowering their A1C, but also losing weight. Semaglutide helps to increase insulin secretion to decrease blood sugar in turn, decreasing appetite. Many of my clients are experiencing faster weight loss, lower cholesterol, lower hemoglobin A1C and potentially lowering their risk for cardiovascular related deaths.

Semaglutide was first developed in 2012 with 1 mg injection (Ozempic) first approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in 2017. The FDA approved semaglutide in 2021 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol).

Selank | This peptide has pronounced anxiolytic activity and acts as a stable neuropsychotropic, antidepressant, and anti-stress drug that relieves aggression and fear reaction in different animal species. Selank also has a nootropic action, which promotes the formation of memory and learning processes, and tremendous immunomodulatory activity.

Sermorelin is a peptide analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It was first developed within the United States during the early 1980s. By 1997, the FDA approved its use and sale via prescription.

Yes, peptides have been around and researched much longer than most people realize. Sermorelin acts in a very specific way and is valued for its therapeutic possibilities. It does not affect the levels or actions of glucose, insulin, prolactin, cortisol, thyroid hormones and a host of other compounds within the body. Instead, sermorelin stimulates the body to increase its production of human growth hormone which improves the efficiency of the body’s metabolism. Because Sermorelin increases the body’s metabolism and improves energy levels, it has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on weight loss in people who want a more natural approach.

On the Ozempic Controversy

We also asked Dr. Jacey Folkers’ to weigh in further on the controversies surrounding semaglutide, from reduced access to diabetes meds, the narrative around weight loss culture -- even 'Ozempic face'. She shared this with us:

"The latest data shows that over 73% of US adults are overweight or obese with obesity as the leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes. What’s more, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in America.

Both obesity and diabetes mellitus are important independent risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. We tend to categorize people based on official diagnoses, but just because a person struggling with weight or obesity has not been diagnosed as a diabetic does not necessarily mean they do not have the same health risk factors as a person who has. Medication that can help prevent and even reverse the chronic metabolic conditions that lead to diseases linked to diabetes and obesity should not necessarily be limited to one specific diagnosis.

Semaglutide can dramatically change the trajectory of a person’s health by helping improve the metabolic and blood sugar imbalances many Americans have. For the most part, type 2 diabetes and obesity are conditions with significant lifestyle contributing factors. Semaglutide can help people make changes in their lifestyle that will benefit their health. It can help excess weight come off and blood sugar levels to improve, which can lead to overall better health.

When it comes to the discussion around “Ozempic face”, this side effect should not be blamed on the medication itself. When dosed appropriately, semaglutide can help facilitate a steady and gradual weight loss experience for many patients. With all medications, the dose is extremely important, as everyone responds to medications a bit differently. If a patient is being monitored well and dosed appropriately, their weight loss can be managed at a more gradual rate and prevent extremely fast drops in body mass, which can lead to 'Ozempic face'.

Overall, peptides have far less side effects compared to pharmaceutical medications. Peptides have a pleiotropic effect (more than one effect) on the body and functions in the body in a more natural way. Medications often are meant to have a single direct effect and change or inhibit a naturally occurring pathway in the body. For example a COX2 inhibitor has a single targeted inhibition, and because of that, we get a whole bunch of side effects. The medication is forcing a response to occur in the body, whereas a peptide will moreso guide the body’s own built-in healing process to function better.

Before You Try Peptide Therapy...

Tizon-Damiano notes that growth hormone peptides specifically are not safe for anyone that has a known cancer and have not been well studied in those with thyroid disorders. "I require lab testing, vital signs, weight and BMI. Monitoring Insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) and other basic labs are crucial. IGF-1 is a biomarker that is the most important at mirroring what our growth hormone is doing. It has been studied in aging and the key is not to be too high or too low but to be balanced.

I urge people to commit to their peptide regimen for the full 6 months and then cycle off at least 30 days between to make sure that the body will continue to produce it’s own natural supply of growth hormone and won’t develop resistance to it."

Tizon-Damiano's patients most often see results in 3-6 months after daily injections that must be kept in the refrigerator. Side effects from peptide injections can include nausea and/or dizziness that commonly diminish once the body adjusts to the peptide.

The needles involved in peptide injections are very small, nonetheless most of them require injecting 5 out of 7 nights per week on an empty stomach.

Peptide injections usually range from $150-$300 per month depending on the peptide.

The post Let’s Talk About Peptide Therapies + Why They Will Continue To Trend In 2023 appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/h3OjWUb
via IFTTT

3 Major Clean Beauty Moments from The Oscars Last Night

An event like the Oscars allows clean beauty's brightest stars to share their very best work. Last night's award show celebrated both age and racial diversity, and the looks have never been more masterful. We're highlighting three -- Zoe Saldana's skin prep, Kate Hudson's makeup look, and Stephanie Hsu’s Old Hollywood hair to show you how three talented beauty pros put clean products to work...

Oscars' Skin Prep for Zoe Saldana by The Beauty Sandwich

According to Lord Gavin McLeod Valentine (AKA The Beauty Sandwich), "Through techniques of fascia manipulation, rhythmic massage and radiofrequency, we trigger a reaction that amplifies the connectivity of the skin tissue and accelerates the function of the products, providing results that are visible instantly rather than over time.”

Start with applying Augustinus Bader The Cleansing Balm, to clean skin, while delivering a gentle massage to release tension in the neck and jaw, and encourage blood flow. Next, apply the Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel to deeply penetrate the pores and remove barriers for active products to come followed by an Oxygen Infusion powered with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, Vitamins A C E to build a reservoir of hydration.

Next, applying the Augustinus Bader The Face Oil, Gavin delivers a facial massage inspired by the ancient Japanese art of Kobido to activate the facial muscles and lymph nodes, followed by Effleurage to encourage the breakup of lymphatic drainage
Next, applying the Augustinus Bader The Face Cream Mask, Gavin applies cryo sticks to work underneath the cheekbones and thread through the temple for increased lymphatic drainage.

Applying the Augustinus Bader The Ultimate Soothing Cream, Gavin puts clients under an LED light to tighten the fibers of the skin, lift and rhythmically contract the muscles. This is followed with a second round of Effleurage to remove any remaining congestion.

The process is finished with a Radiofrequency treatment that settles the skin and a Contour Kinetic Suction. The results are then sealed with Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. Gavin leaves his clients with a guided meditation designed to bring them to a place of deep relaxation and help them to envision the evening before them.

Read: Why Zoe Saldana Has Gone Gluten Free (It's Not A Hollywood Thing)

Celebrity Makeup Artist Tonya Brewer for Kate Hudson

Celebrity makeup artist Tonya Brewer channels whimsical glam for presenter Kate Hudson’s Oscars look last night.  "Kate wanted whimsical fairy glam for the Oscars. I decided to give her the most beautiful glowing skin and a subtle iridescence on the eyes, doe eyed lashes and a soft neutral lip, all thanks to the magic of Kjaer Weis!"

First, I prepped the skin with The Beautiful Hydration Serum. I really worked it to saturate the skin for extra hydration and luminosity. Then, I started bronzing with the Powder Bronzer in Bask. I started at the perimeter and highpoints of the face and nose to add a sun-kissed look. Next, I went in with Cream Foundation in Paper Thin for the full face. It melted beautifully with the bronzer for an all over glow.

After, I applied the Brow Gel in Blonde to frame the face and give the brows the shape I wanted and filled in any sparse areas.

For her eyes, I used Cream Eye Shadow in Smolder on the lid for all over coverage. I used the Eyeshadow Quadrant in Wanderer for the crease to contour the eye and a little under the lash line for definition. I used the Cream Glow in Radiance to add a bit of sparkle to the eye. I went under the top lash line with Eye Pencil in Brown, curled the lashes, and applied Im-Possible Mascara for major volume.

For the cheeks, the bronzer already gave them nice definition, so I was able to just add the same Cream Glow used on the eyes, to right above the bronzer and on the bridge of the nose. I then applied Cream Blush in Embrace to the apples of the cheeks for a dewy touch of color that melted into the skin.

I finished off lining the lip with the Lip Pencil in Bare then applied Nude, Naturally Lipstick in Calm. On top, I added Lip Gloss in Treasure to perfectly finish the look.

Finally, I applied the Body Oil to highlight and plump her already beautiful skin.

Read Next: Mornings With Kate Hudson: Ginger Smoothies, Black Coffee + A Quick Workout

Stephanie Hsu's Red Carpet Hair by Brian Fisher

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Fisher took inspiration from the idea of ‘reclaiming the Hollywood starlet’ for Best Supporting Actress nominee Stephanie Hsu’s look at last night’s Oscars. Stephanie’s look "was very collaborative. We loved the idea of a healthy modern wave still feeling old Hollywood. As her dress is so formal we loved the idea of the ease and youthful energy of her hair down."

On clean damp hair I applied the FEKKAI Clean Stylers Root Lift Volume Spray to the roots and the FEKKAI Clean Stylers Prime Mist throughout lengths in 1-inch sections.

Next, I used Tangle Teezer’s Wide Tooth Comb to evenly distribute the styling products while quickly removing tangles. This dual-sided comb’s flexible two-tiered teeth provide a deeper detangle to eliminate knots while never pulling or breaking the hair.

After applying the FEKKAI Brilliant Gloss Glass Hair Anti-Frizz Oil Serum to the ends, I blow dried the sides and back of hair. Blow dry top section, over directing roots and misting sections with the Clean Stylers Flexi-Hold Hairspray before pinning them to cool. I smoothed the right side of the hair back using the Clean Stylers Glossing Cream+ and brushed behind the ear to add volume and texture.Using hairspray on each section I waved the hair using a twist and wrap method, pinning to cool completely before brushing out.

I then gently brushed out her hair for a smooth and shiny finish. The brush’s unique bottle shaped teeth were designed to dry-style, and keep strands perfectly in place. I used the hairspray to set all over style knowing that I will be able to go back later and restyle for the after party look!

Read Next: Why 90'S Hair Icon Frédéric Fekkai Bought Back His Brand To Take It Clean

The post 3 Major Clean Beauty Moments from The Oscars Last Night appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/Clhu4n8
via IFTTT

The 7 Coolest Belt Bags To Wear With Everything This Spring

If you regularly run errands on which you wish you could leave your bag behind, consider the belt bag. The utilitarian look of the early '90s has become a super-embraceable fashion trend over the last few years -- and we've never loved a re-invented accessory trend more. Here are a few our favorite picks...

7 Belt Bags That Will Convert You Into A Fanny Pack Fan

Athleta Excursion Mini Belt Bag | Super lightweight, water-resistant and made from recycled nylon, this petite pouch is our top pick for weekend errands. Select your color of choice and pair it with activewear of any kind for errands and beyond.

MZ Wallace Black Crossbody Sling Bag | No need to edit down your on-the-go essentials with this oversized crossbody. Be extra, and make a statement with the quilted sling bag we can't get over. Multiple compartments will keep you organized and the chain strap detail keeps things high-style.

Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack | Dagne Dover is known for their unique neoprene bags and ultra-wearable colors. Their pack is soft enough to strap across any tank top, made from recycled Repreve® fabric from recycled plastic bottles).  Makes a perfect day bag for travel too!

 

Comme Des Garçons Khaki Logo Patch Pouch | If you love outdoor adventuring but tend to spend most of your time in the city, this utilitarian belt bag has you covered. We love this shade of green for the girls who only ever wears neutrals.

Clare V. Grande Fanny | We love everything from Clare V. and this belt bag just makes sense. The vintage vibe of the black and cream checks is pretty irresistible, but the bag also comes in a slew of great textures and colors. In true Clare V style, the strap is interchangeable with a number of other options, and it also comes in a smaller size. Create a belt pack of your dreams!

Kibou Deliberately Minimal Diaper Bag | Imagine changing a diaper without ever putting your bag down on the ground or public bathroom surface. Kibou's pack was made with moms in mind -- a genius vegan-leather fanny that keeps everything within reach, including a detachable changing pad!

Varley Lasson Belt Bag | Perfect for minimalists, this belt bag has sleek, lightweight style and luxe details that'll easily pair with everything in your closet. Wear to Pilates, on hot girl walks, or to casual lunch with friends.

The post The 7 Coolest Belt Bags To Wear With Everything This Spring appeared first on The Chalkboard.

from The Chalkboard https://ift.tt/S9xpG8V
via IFTTT