Pure beauty talk with… Abigail O’Neill

There are quite a few things that are absolutely fascinating about Abigail O’Neill. First of all, the beautiful Australian broke the age-related stereotypes associated with modelling by staring her successful career at the age of 32. She is a gorgeous loving (and loved) wife and mother of three teenagers, though she looks more like their sister (for a visual proof, you get a wrinkle-free skin and a figure any 18-year old would envy for).

If this isn’t enough, Abigail showed the healthy side of modelling by establishing herself as an extraordinary raw food chef and an author of Model Chocolate, a book full of mouth watering, scrumptious, raw, sugar-, diary- and gluten-free chocolate recipes that can take you from breakfast to dinner and a few nourishing treats you can use for your skin.

As somebody who not only believes in chocolate and its goodness, but also “nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance (or balance), fresh air, rest, & trust” as the essential steps to health and wellbeing, Abigail got to my list of most inspirational and beautiful women before I knew it and I am incredibly excited to have her here.

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What does beauty mean to you? 

I love a beautiful smile, it transcends age and crosses all barriers. Another thing for me which defines beauty is freedom of spirit; the ability to love, laugh and express a genuine admiration for the beauty in others.  

A lot of girls tend to compare themselves to the models they see in fashion magazines and, as a result, dislike their own appearance. Is there a way for them to learn to love and accept their body the way it is, to feel beautiful in their own skin? 

A great big YES!! To anyone who feels like this right now, reading this, I'd say please focus on making yourself feel energised, nourished, blessed. It might sound cliché, but true beauty really does come from within. A picture won't always capture that. To capture an image of beauty which really 'shines' through (I'm speaking of modelling in front of the camera) I know I personally feel so much more effortless in shaping 'that moment' when I feel great. Exercise, time out, and nutritious food works wonders! 

What do you do to be camera-ready at all times? 

I enjoy a lot of raw food daily, which keeps me hydrated and helps make my skin glow. My daily raw cacao treats (from my book - Model Chocolate) are essentials for me, they give me extra energy and antioxidants which rejuvenate my skin. I also surf regularly, take brisk walks and do yoga. How does your diet help you achieve it? I would say diet is No 1 when it comes to keeping me looking at my best. I've practiced this style of organic living/mostly raw vegan eating for about 20 years now and always receive flattering comments on how young I look. Is it more about exercise or any other beauty/fitness regimes?) I love to smother my skin with my cacao face mask (also in the book) after a long day of shooting, it really works a treat and smells delicious too! 

Abigail with her daughter Charlotte

Have you always been interested in healthy eating? Has it been a transition or a way of life from the very beginning?

Yes! From since I was about 13 years old, I loved reading health books, and actually 'took over' my mums kitchen! That was the best way to learn.

Would you agree with La Rochefoucauld that “to eat intelligently is an art”? 

Totally - love that one! One of my quotes from my book Model Chocolate is similar, it says:

“ENCHANT, STAY BEAUTIFUL AND GRACEFUL, BUT DO THIS, EAT WELL. BRING THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO THE PREPARATION OF YOUR FOOD AS YOU DEVOTE TO YOUR APPEARANCE. LET YOUR DINNER BE A POEM, LIKE YOUR DRESS.”

Charles Pierre Monselet

Model Chocolate by Abigail O’Neill

In your fabulous book you say that chocolate is what “transforms the way you feel about food forever”.  How does the chocolate affect our mind and diet? 

The style of chocolate in my book is revolutionary, until it becomes mainstream, which is what I want - it will continue to change and challenge the way people think about healthy food. Model Chocolate tastes so great, and is as good for you as it tastes, perfect for anyone wanting to look and feel their very best.

 

Eco-block – see recipe below

Are there any recipes you’ve created that you like the most or eat most often? 

I can't live without my Hit the Spot Hot Cacao in Winter, along with the Goji Ginger Healer, which tastes AMAZING and helps keep me well. I use my 'Classic Dark' raw chocolate all the time, and at the moment enjoying lots of Nibana Soft Serve (a raw vegan ice cream made with bananas and cacao nibs) for breakfast. The Love Me Bittersweet Pie is world famous, and another of my personal favourites. 

Can you share one of your delicious ideas with us, please? Love to! Why not try my Ecoblock recipe! It's like a cross between a coconut chocolate slice, and fruit and nut chocolate, raw and economical to make - so perfect for sharing with friends.  

Do you have any other tips for looking beautiful and feeling great? Lots! I love to share pictures of my organic lifestyle and tips on Instagram and blog, love to see you there! 

ECO BLOCK

This is the economical way I made chocolate for years, except I used carob powder in place of cacao. Whenever I made it, someone always asked me for the recipe. Look for the 'blocks' of creamed coconut in a cardboard package such as Royals. The jars of creamed coconut are more expensive, not necessary for this recipe.

200g creamed coconut or concentrate, chopped 

2 big tablespoons raw honey

¼ teaspoon vanilla powder

1 big tablespoon raw nut butter of choice

½ cup chopped raw brazil nuts

½ cup mixed sultanas, currants and raisins or dried cherries

Pinch fine sea salt

⅓ cup raw cacao/organic cocoa powder  

Place creamed coconut into a glass bowl to melt over a larger bowl of boiling water. Remove from heat adding all other ingredients and mix gently until combined. Scrape out onto a lined tray or chocolate mould and set in the fridge.

10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to set. Makes a massive family-sized block. 

Super Tip: to make this nut free, substitute raw organic coconut oil in place of nut butter and omit brazil nuts. 

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Thank you to Abigail, Rhiannon and BleachPR for the support, interview and images.

To learn more about Abigail and order her book (available in e-format and print edition), please visit Model Chocolate, read her story and follow via Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook

 

Photo source: c/o Abigail O’Neill & Bleach PR, photography: Damien Nikora, styling: Tamzen Holland Chalmers)

 

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Pure beauty talk with… Rose-Marie Swift

For me Rose-Marie Swift to beauty and make-up is like Donna Karan to fashion and clothes. Both know what women want and give it to them in the most natural, organic and beautiful way, kind to the skin and body whether it needs to be clothed or enhanced. What attracted me to Rose-Marie in a first place was her philosophy and knowledge about the skin and skincare products. It deeply resonated in me. For once I felt that there’s somebody out there who is looking for answers and information just like I did and, even better, has a solution that turned out to be my skin (and mind) saviour.

Asking Rose-Marie about an interview was a bold, very bold, move. She is a star known for her work with Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Espirit, H&M (remember that ethereal Gisele’s Spring/Summer 2011 campaign? Yes, that’s her hands that created the look) Vogue, Harper’s, V, i-D, Pop and AnOther magazines just to name a few as well as the make-up artist most gorgeous girls like Doutzen, Gisele, Miranda and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld unconditionally trust their faces to. 

She is one of a kind and, just like most one of a kind people, tends to have a very busy schedule. Yet she replied to my email and generously gave me her time fitting the interview somewhere between Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall and working with Gisele, making me feel a little bit one of a kind, too.

This story is very close to my heart because I hope that the message that comes from a true expert like Rose-Marie will be heard and may actually change a few lives, faces and bodies in the process. I know that breaking the rules isn’t the simplest thing of all, but I do hope that her passion, knowledge and advice will make some to take the first step towards appreciating and understanding organic skin care and the skin we live in.

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What does beauty mean to you?

Well, the old saying goes "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" so in my opinion as the beholder, I see beautiful as someone with as healthy and glowing skin as possible. Beauty to me is looking healthy and happy, a glow to the skin and a twinkle in the eye.

What makes a face beautiful?

I have to admit I have a skin obsession, and to me it is all about the skin…nothing beats youthful, healthy, dewy skin. Knowing your face and not changing it through layers of makeup is also a quality that can't be beaten.

RMS Beauty was created to enhance the natural beauty - what is your philosophy when it comes to make-up, both the ritual and the products? 

After many years in the fashion and make-up industry, I’ve learned a lot about the impact of daily exposure to chemicals in beauty care products. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t live up to its promises. I see the results of taking a quick-fix approach to looking good. I know first-hand the price our health can pay in the pursuit of beauty. I realized that what women need are skin care, colour cosmetics, toiletries that are as pure as possible, lines that create a solid foundation for anti-aging and long-term beauty.

Skin is a living organism. It breathes, interacts, and absorbs information from everything it encounters. It’s in constant communication with the environment. Without healthy skin, we are vulnerable to the effects of everything we encounter.

Unfortunately, most ingredients in skin products and cosmetics were approved by the FDA when it was widely believed that the skin acted as a barrier to the outside world, blocking out whatever was applied to it. We now know that whatever we put on the skin is absorbed into the bloodstream. You only need to look to medical patches, anti-smoking patches and hormone replacement patches for proof.

My background as an advocate for cleaner cosmetics came when my own health deteriorated years ago and thru my research I realized many of the chemicals that were in my body were also found thru out the beauty industry.

I started my site Beauty Truth in 2004 exposing some of the more serious chemicals in our cosmetics and through this I became very well versed on what chemicals make up our beauty products and the ramifications they can have long term. (I encourage you to read my site as I hope to have every single person open their minds to a new definition on cosmetics).

The site created a lot of press for me and the question asked over and over again by all my readers was.... what shall we use? I started studying ingredients labels in depth and the extent of the use of unregulated chemical ingredients. Sorry to inform you but the FDA does not regulate our beauty industry with the exception of synthetic colour. It is self regulated by the actual people that are adding all these ingredients and deeming them safe.

In fact, many ingredients are downright harmful. Some ingredients, like phthalates found in synthetic fragrances and nail polishes, are known to disrupt the hormone system, and are a factor in reproductive diseases and breast cancer. Sadly, the list of harmful ingredients in your personal care products is long – and we continue to use them daily. It begs the question: are short-term results now worth the risk of ugly health consequences later? 

Even the so-called natural lines which we are all led to believe are safe and clean are not by any means safe or clean. The word "natural" means absolutely nothing. There are no laws that either define or regulate its use. You are on your own to find beauty products (or food for that matter) that are actually formulated with natural ingredients. It all comes down to chemistry: when a raw material is processed for use in cosmetics or other beauty products, it typically undergoes a lengthy process.

I was surprised to learn that the majority of ingredients used for natural cosmetics are refined, bleached, clarified, deodorized, fractionated and heated to extreme temperatures. By some of this processing it means that they are not natural ingredients anymore – they are now equivalent to man-made chemicals.

Complicating matters more, the processes strip away all of the nutrients that make natural ingredients beneficial to skin and health. It is like taking one of the healthiest foods such as broccoli and putting it is a pressure cooker. It is now what I call "dead".... almost every beneficial enzyme, vitamin and antioxidant has literally been killed. That is why the concept of eating raw food has been making headlines with health advocates, nutritionists and celebrities.

I am honestly trying to educate every woman to be more aware of not just what they put on their skin but also what they put in their bodies. Your skin is a “mirror to your gut” so whatever is being put into the body is reflected in the skin. Eat healthy, eat wisely, and don't underestimate the power of clean water, fruits and vegetables. Living a healthy life is what gives us beautiful healthy glowing skin.

Do you have favourite or signature ingredients? Are there any substances, as natural as they might be, you’d never use in RMS Beauty line? 

My signature ingredient is my coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils in the world, if not the healthiest. It contains none of the nasty chemicals that are in today’s makeup removers and skin cleansers. It has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties due to its lauric acid and caprylic acid content, which aids in cleaning the skin naturally. It is a known natural antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage (premature aging) and contains high levels of vitamin E. When it is in its raw state, it is hands down the best oil out there, and the skin, eyelashes and hair all love it. This coconut oil is superior over any store bought cold-pressed coconut oil.

I also do not use any water in my products. Bacteria grows in water--not in oil--so avoiding water helps to eliminate added preservatives that are needed to keep bacteria at bay.

I also never use cheap unstable oils… I hate cheap oils that go rancid fast and cause oxidative stress on the skin. The beauty industry if full of them and many are found in the natural brands unfortunately.

What do women need to be aware of when choosing their cosmetics? What do we need to look out for when buying organic make-up to ensure that we get “the real thing’?

That is hard because unless you know the origin and processing practice of every ingredient you won't be able to find out. You have to literally find a brand that explains their ingredients (from origin, growing practices to processing), whom you know is trustworthy and has a great reputation for what they are doing. RMS Beauty fits that bill. It helps tremendously to start reading ingredient decks on the BACK of products and looking up some of these ingredients on a site called Cosmetic Database. They have done major testing on ingredients and list the toxicity levels of these ingredients making it easier to make wiser decisions when purchasing products. Tongue twisting words and that are hardly pronounceable are a red flag and most likely is a chemical.

Which one of RMS beauty products you would recommend as a first buy and why?

I would definitely suggest the Living Luminizer. It is an ultra-sheer, glowing luminizer with a satin-pearl finish that magically highlights the skin. This product is very unique to the beauty business and has become a celebrity favourite on both the red carpet and in the magazines. Its light-reflective, dewy glow cannot be compared and is the ultimate touch to add a youthful sheen to the skin. You will be instantly hooked when you hear how many people tell you how great your skin looks when using this product.

You are very particular about ingredients used in RMS beauty line. What about diet? Do you believe that “we are what we eat”?

Every woman needs to be more aware of not just what they put on their skin, but also what they put in their bodies. Your skin is a “mirror to your gut” so whatever is being put into the body is reflected in the skin.

Eat healthy and wisely, and don't ever underestimate the power of clean water, organic fruits and vegetables. Living a healthy life is what gives us beautiful, healthy and glowing skin. Makeup should enhance that beauty, not used to cover it up.

Raw, nutrient rich foods, probiotics, digestive enzymes, exercise and sleep all contribute to keeping the skin healthy and youthful and I try to live by that every day.

Avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar and soda pop like the plague.

What are your thoughts on beauty injections and dermatological treatments? What would you suggest to women who choose or need to have them as a follow-up remedy?

If people decide to do any skin procedures or peals etc. I have one life giving product for their healing process after... The RMS Beauty Oil.

And before you go... Are there any other (RMS) beauty tips you could share with us?

My beauty mantra is…… less is more.

Just as important as applying makeup it is also just as important taking it off as night. RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream beats anything out there and will remove every bit of makeup without wreaking havoc on your skin and lashes.

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Pure beauty talk with… Adriana Giotta

As I was preparing for my Pure Beauty week I wondered about the ways our mind works when it comes to understanding of beauty and the impact it can make on the way we choose to shape our life, habits and, lets face it, bodies. Naturally, I wanted to focus on the subject of psychology as a part of the series to address the healthy mind – healthy body link and also help some discover the answers they have been looking for.

I thought of Adriana Giotta, an international fashion model and founder of Role Model Living, from the start because I just felt that she would make the most perfect choice. A stunning, warm and intelligent woman, not only she experienced both sides of the fashion industry while working as a model for almost two decades, Adriana is also a qualified psychologist able to address all those emotions that can affect our mind when it comes to beauty and image, develop our true self, enjoy being unique and feel empowered by knowledge.

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What does beauty mean to you?

I believe beauty is essential in our lives. Nature is naturally beautiful; sitting watching a sunset on a beach will leave us in awe. Therefore it is good to surround ourselves with beauty. Human beings possess an objective inner standard of beauty, acquired by education or social custom, to which even geniuses such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo referred. It includes elegance, grace, harmony in composition, consistency, poise, Vitruvian proportion and symmetry.


We also possess a subjective standard of beauty; such beauty is in the eye of the beholder: any child is beautiful to his or her mother, regardless of the way he or she looks.


Beauty is also an undying state of the self, as spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains impeccably: “The most good-looking, after some time don’t look so nice. It is not in the outer appearance, it is the spirit, the inner soul. Look at the spirit inside, there is inner beauty. That beauty of the spirit is undying. It increases day by day. It also increases with age. Wisdom and maturity bring so much beauty.

Beauty is not just some appearance. Similarly, ugliness is not out of appearance. Somebody may look very good with good makeup, but if their heart is very ugly and the mind is all twisted and full of negativity, however nice they may appear, their vibrations will tell you that they are not beautiful. So, it is the mind that makes one beautiful”.

What kind of impact, in your opinion, fashion has on our perception of beauty?

Fashion dictates a beauty standard that people are subliminally asked to adhere to, failing which they are labelled as inadequate. Hence people start feeling rejected and reject themselves falling into a vicious circle, often developing a psychological condition.

Unfortunately what fashion portrays as beautiful often isn’t, as it appears most of the time as forced, unnatural and frankly dysfunctional.

For example, ultra and unnaturally thin fashion models cannot be considered beautiful, yet nowadays, this has become the trend and people tend to conform, no matter how many starving diets it will imply. That said, we are witnessing an increase in eating disorders also due to the impact of media images on people: an eating disorder most of the time has its roots in the past and childhood of the individual but it can be triggered and offset much more easily through social pressures, a fertile ground for the development of the condition.

When people start comparing themselves to media images, they end up disliking or criticizing themselves and feeling miserable and unhappy as a consequence, hence unattractive. An interior punishing dialogue begins and they can hit themselves metaphorically or even literally (a self harming practice is binge eating for example). It becomes a vicious circle.

As a psychologist and a model, do you think it is fair to blame fashion and models for the idea of perfection many women strive to achieve no matter what?

It is never only one culprit. The issue is multifactorial. We live in an overpopulated planet, in cities that most of the time look like concrete jungles. Competition is fierce. Society demands perfection, high performances. The obsession with perfection is a result of a competitive, overpopulated society, disconnected from Mother Nature; the offset of the obsession is clearly facilitated by air brushed images of models, actresses/actors, tv stars: images built for hours, or even days, by teams of professionals working to create a dream. Hair dressers, make up artists, stylists, photographers, lighting, locations, sets, art directors, post production labs, etc; these images are sold as the natural result of using ‘such and such’ product or wearing ‘such and such’ brand; Pure manipulation.

The truth is these images are built up, unreal and unnatural yet people want to achieve that “perfection” because no one tells them what happens back stage and because society makes them feel inadequate, alienated or rejected if they don’t. So people become ill, whether mentally, physically or both and even spiritually (because self un-acceptance creates a hole in our souls, an inner conflict) chasing the impossible.

People start hating themselves for not being like Mr. X or not looking like the Chanel, Dior, Prada - you name it - advertisement model (not knowing that these models are, on top of all the above, most of the times only 14/16 years old! How can a 40 year old lady who wishes to be “fashionable” identify with these ultra skinny 14/16 years old baby girls and stay sane?).

Ultimately the consumerist society is not interested in a world populated by happy and healthy people as these people wouldn’t consume as much and therefore spend as much; the consumerist machine would stop or at least slow down. Sad but true. We need to become aware of this to avoid the trap. Knowledge is half the solution, the rest is up to each one of us, to avoid actively falling into the trap.

Fashion models are partially responsible, because they send out dysfunctional images. But they are often totally unaware as they are too young and/or often manipulated themselves. They simply adjust to the fashion industry’s requests and they become victims themselves: victims of an illusion, of a dream, of their own vanity, victims of the industry. They are too young to be able to have a critical thought so they just get manipulated hugely. This is the truth.

The adults involved in the fashion business are to be held accountable: a lot of fashion designers, model agents, photographers, fashion editors, art directors, casting directors and of course media and advertising agencies. They create, approve of and/or request such images and set the standards. Recently I observed a similar trend in the acting, tv and music industry as well. Has it all been driven by the fashion industry? Quite possibly.

When I was modelling I was asked - not explicitly, but rather in an indirect way, in other words you just knew that either you conformed or you stopped working - to be non-humanly “perfect”, as in looking ultra thin, plastic and disinhibited. It was all about the body, the outer look. In fact I wasn’t allowed a brain, an opinion, a voice, a thought, a soul, a need. I was expected to be bionic. A robot. A species of machine. When conforming to that standard, models begin to send that very message out through media images, colluding with the system inadvertently. As a consequence people, the public, start to be moulded, by being exposed, over and over again, to such images.

It happens subliminally, unconsciously, slowly but surely, without being aware of it. That’s how we all get influenced on this planet. Advertising agencies spend a lot of time and effort using psychology to manipulate human minds and drive their behaviours towards the outcome they wish to obtain.

Are there any other triggers, physical, emotional or both, we need to be aware of?

The question is: what kind of perfection are we striving for? Who decides what is “beautiful” and what is “perfect”? What is really perfection? Is it just a look? Is it just another stereotype? For example the plastic, skinny, sexy, wealthy, successful career wonder woman, yummy mummy of 2 “perfect” children with an amazingly perfect husband, Posh and Becks style? What kind of perfection is that if in the end we are unhappy and depressed because to maintain that “perfect standard” we must spend 3 hours a day at the gym neglecting our children’s emotional needs as we are too busy, starving ourselves, going to the hair dresser for a couple of hours a week and to a plastic surgeon for some Botox every month or so and perhaps subject ourselves to a general anaesthesia for a blepharoplasty or a face lifting every once in a while to hide the sign of the times as we are ashamed of it? We need to wake up and become aware of the manipulation we are subjected to. We strive to a perfection that has nothing to do with the real meaning of it. Real perfection has nothing to do with a “standard”; “Real perfection is the nature of the enlightened one” as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said. Lets embrace our souls and start a nourishing journey from within.

Is feeling "fat" or "ugly" really just about the body or comparing yourself to a picture in a magazine?

We feel “fat” and/or “ugly” when we are disconnected from our true self. When there is an imbalance or conflict within, it reflects on the outer look. On the skin, on the body. Not vice versa. Then we start gaining weight and as a result looking “ugly”. As a former international model I can guarantee you that even the most amazing looking girl can look “ugly” or unattractive if in a bad mood because she is not happy with herself. The secret is to feel good in ones own skin. And to do so we need to look after our inner world and inner child.

From a psychodynamic stand point, if someone has been loved in the right way as a child, from his/her main caregiver, in other words had a “good enough mother”, for example, most probably he/she will have learned to accept and love him/herself. We love ourselves in the same way we have been loved as children. In this instance, no matter how dysfunctional the media images, it will be more difficult for them to have a significant negative impact on us. If we had a difficult childhood/adolescence, we can transform the information we have learned and that acts us out through dysfunctional behaviour, such as self harming, with some good psychodynamic work and/or a spiritual path.

What about criticism? How to face it without letting the words affect our mind?

We should never be the football of other people’s opinion. Full stop. Knowing this is enough. And then train accordingly: every time we catch ourselves being affected by other people’s opinion just become mindful and adjust accordingly. There are different types of criticism: the healthy criticism is a gift. We should see it this way. Drop the ego and just welcome constructive criticism. It will help us to become a better person. We have to be grateful to the person criticizing us as it took courage to do so. They could have just lied. Yet they chose to be truthful. When it is a destructive, unhealthy criticism we must learn to be indifferent. The nature of the mind is to cling onto the negative: we may receive 10 compliments and one criticism from that person and all we will remember is the criticism. Never mind, just know that this is the nature of the mind. This knowledge will help us to be indifferent to the negative criticism. Also knowing why the person is criticizing us: sometimes they are jealous or envious. Just look at them with a smile of compassion and move on. Accept yourself just the way you are and you will be safe. Fill your inner love void by loving and caring for your inner child.

Is there a simple but effective way to learn loving yourself the way you are? Any tips you could share?

It is a journey and there is no shortcut. We need to establish new and more functional habits therefore we must be consistent and persistent training every day, every moment, to establish the new habit. But this mustn’t frighten us: every journey starts from a first step. Awareness is the first and most important step. Being aware of the dynamic we are trapped into and being mindful about it. A spiritual path and meditation will help to connect with our abundant inner source.

A powerful exercise is to cherish our inner child, connecting with him/her: Every morning when waking up, first thing, let’s ask our inner child (you may look at your favourite picture of yourself when you were a little toddler or baby) “what do you need today to be happy and what can I do to make you feel happy, loved and safe?” Listen to the answer coming from within and please the requests; a simple but effective exercise. Be the one that loves and protect the little child you carry inside.

***

To learn more about Adriana, please visit Role Model Living and stay in touch via Twitter and Facebook

 

Photo source: Grazia Italy

 

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Pure beauty in Harper’s Bazaar 1990

“Love of beauty is taste.

The creation of beauty is art”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

What does beauty mean to you? For me, beauty is the emotional comfort, the absence of dissonance, the nourishment for the mind and soul. Beauty is synergy, the balance between the the outer shell and the content, the holistic connection between mind, body and soul. Beauty is about happiness. Beauty is purity. Beauty is about feeling sexy. Beauty is the glowing skin. Beauty is health. Beauty is knowledge. Beauty is something that empowers and conquers.

I don’t talk about beauty on this blog much, but whenever it happens, I try to to make each post as meaningful as possible because I want to remind everyone who reads my stories that beauty isn’t about perfection, layers of make-up, dieting, pushing the body beyond its limits or trying to look like somebody else, but more about purity, love, understanding and accepting.

I feel that this is not only something that would be beneficial for us, but also for the world we live in, for the future we are heading towards.

What does beauty mean to you? I ask four beautiful and inspirational women whom I interviewed for the series. I thought that their knowledge and opinions will be incredibly useful for anyone turning to fashion when looking for the formula of beauty whether it’s in the mind, adornment of the skin or healthy body.

Beauty was once the force that could save the world and I think this is the time to recall that Dostoevsky’s quote, turn to beauty and discover its wonders.

Welcome to my Pure Beauty week. I hope you will enjoy the journey!

Photo source: Harper’s Bazaar US January 1990

(photography: Phillip Dixon)

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Have you tried this miracle oil yet?

When it comes to beauty products I try to avoid common “it’s a miracle” cliché as much as I can. I know my own immediate reaction to a title like this would be very sceptical and could, in fact, put me off trying the product. I can imagine I am not the only one who would respond this way and yet I am definitely sticking with the opening line because in this instance I believe in it.

Our life, as it happens to be, is all about discovering our perfect formulas. For the way we dress, the way we carry ourselves and the way we choose to live. Our skincare regime is also about the formula that works and since any changes in our appearance are the first ones anybody would notice and something that any woman would be affected by it is essential to get the chemistry right as soon as possible.

In my case, it took a while, but I am finally starting to feel as if it’s here, in front of me, in my bathroom draw and in a mirror.

The RMS Beauty Oil is my latest and probably most precious acquisition. I have been curious about it for about a year or so and eventually, unable to resist the temptation any longer,  ordered a bottle just after Christmas.

I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I deeply trust everything Rose-Marie Swift, the creator of RMS Beauty (and the oil) does and says. Not only a brilliant make-up artist, she knows how the skin works, understands the ingredients it needs and hates, and her approach to beauty and care regimes is simultaneously holistic and modern. Every time I use something on my face I want to hug her – and now even more so, because I simply adore this oil and its effect on my skin!

This miracle in a bottle is a natural blend of several fantastic ingredients that heal, moisturise, protect and nourish.

First of all, the formulation contains buriti oil extracted from the fruits of the Moriche palm. The oil that has the highest concentration of skin-loving beta-carotene also contains vitamin D, some Bs, fatty acids, minerals and is particularly wonderful for dry and acne-prone skin to the point when it doesn’t just reduce the spot, but heals the scars, too! It also works as a natural SPF, so any artificial ones that have been linked to all sorts of problems, from fibromyalgia and hormonal imbalances to skin cancer (yes, you heard me right, and I have a scientific paper to prove it) are no longer required.

Then we have the vitamin C-rich rosehip oil to maintain collagen production, reduce acne scars and signs of aging, and calm down any reactions in sensitive skin.

The calendula oil that comes next is there to provide most gentle form of salicylic acid, B vitamins and some vitamin A to calm and sooth the skin and improve its regeneration.

The exotic part of the blend come in a form of blood purifying country sarsaparilla (AKA red china root), anti-inflammatory and antibacterial turmeric, olive leaf and ashwagandha, skin-soothing and rosacea-reducing liquorice and antibiotic, antioxidant and healing tamanu seed oil.

All are then mixed into jojoba oil that is chemically very similar to human sebum thus working as the most perfect carrier to deliver all the goodness into the cells.

Should I also mention that the Beauty oil is fragranced with natural vanilla? Just imagine the scent…

It may be expensive, but it works. In just a few days my skin felt smoother, dry patches were gone (100% gone) and a couple of spots that I had post-Christmas (I ate foods that I would not normally eat and my body reacted) faded within 48 hours.

You only need a few drops – my personal “prescription” is using 1-2 drops mixed into my moisturiser in the morning and 4 drops – at night on their own, so I expect that the bottle will last me for quite a while and I will certainly be keeping it as a part of my daily routine for as long as the Beauty oil is available.

At the moment you can buy it from Cult Beauty and get advantage of free worldwide shipping. Granted the last sentence does sound like a sale pitch, but only because there is no other way to let you know that something so fabulous is just a click away.

 

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It’s a Perfect cleanser

My skin care, just like my diet, is something I take very seriously. So much so that I can spend months looking for a new product that I’d be 100% happy with. Needless to say, the amount of research that goes into every single purchase can eventually put me off making a switch even if and when I really fancy one.

A couple of months ago, after lengthy goodbyes and pitiful comebacks, I finally made a decision to change my cleanser. I was pretty happy with my old one, particularly when it came to make-up removal, but somehow I sensed there was something else out there waiting for me as far as my daily skincare routine was concerned. I looked for days and weeks until, finally, I came across a British-grown gem, Oskia.

Of course, I heard about the brand before, but my problem was that I heard too much of the good stuff about them and it felt, in a way, as if I was almost pushed into making a purchase. My stubborn and sceptical self definitely didn’t like it.

Still there was one thing that made me very curious. The cleanser I found contained MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), one of the substances our body needs to build collagen fibres. Normally I used MSM for my arthritis-suffering clients for this is how the MSM was initially introduced to the market (and me). After dealing with my  own injury I suddenly realised that collagen isn’t just a part of the bone or cartilage, but muscles as well, and some of mine (the torn ones) could certainly do with a boost. So I took a supplement and, the science bit aside, it turned out to be a miracle worker (yes, seriously).

The impressive results made  wonder about the role of MSM in skin maintenance (since the largest organ is built of collagen) and since Oskia was the only company offering skincare containing both organic ingredients and MSM, I ordered a couple of samples to try. The night of my first introduction to Oskia Perfect Cleanser was like fireworks.

I absolutely loved it. And not just me – my skin loved it even more. It smelled wonderful. It felt creamy. It didn’t irritate (and trust me, my skin is not so easy to please). Its formula was packed with organic ingredients, oils, vitamins, minerals and high-tech additions of a natural origin in a form of the abovementioned MSM and probiotics – everything our skin could possibly need to feel beautiful, loved, pampered and spotless (MSM, probiotics and zinc would take care of the latter). I only needed a small amount, so the full size tube suddenly didn’t seem expensive and actually lasted for ages.

Although I saw the difference within a week, I proceeded using my new best friend for a month during which my face developed sort of a glow and smoothness about it.

So I thought I’d share… Just in case you have been looking for a special something in your life, too.

The Perfect cleanser is available at Cult Beauty, Mankind, Zuneta and Beauty Expert and costs £32.50

P.S. Just in case you are thinking of the supplement, I would urge you to consult a nutritionist (me or your local one) and avoid running into the nearest shop and buying something off the shelve – it’s not always safe as the quantity needs to be chosen according to your needs, plus some of the supplements available for the general sales are made from the synthetic ingredients that may cause side-effects.

P.P.S. Here is a full list of ingredients (as you can see, no parabens or other nasties): Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glycerin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Decyl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Glyceryl Cocoate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Coco Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Aqua (Water), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Methyl Sulphonyl Methane, Zinc Glycine, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol.

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Stylish quote

“There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion.”

Edgar Allan Poe

 

Photo source: Elle Sweden May 2008

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Detox like it’s 1976, Vogue-style

Think that raw juices and almond milk are something of a recent hype? Think again.

Back in 1976 Vogue published an article on health and beauty tips to keep women slim, strong and gorgeous. As a nutritionist, I was very curious about the diet chapter and was excited and surprised to see what was on the menu – raw juices, gazpacho (again, raw veggie soup, basically) and almond milk.

The menu was based on the meals offered by The Golden Door, the California-based holistic resort. I googled it - the place is still very much there getting awards and making people healthier.

I adore discovering like this and seeing that once upon a time glossies actually published articled containing something incredibly useful and easy for DIY’ing at home. Although the names and brands were mentioned, it still felt do-able and more like something you would share with your girlfriends. These days practically anything related to fitness or nutrition is there to promote a company or some new garget and push it into your face until it turns blue. Here the message was clear: “How you look at food and even how you look at it can alter your food habits.” And as far as the shape of the body was concerned, it was all about eating well and doing some strength and cardio exercises, not using some miraculous machine that, in a matter of minutes, will suck out the fat from one area, put in somewhere else, whilst exfoliating, moisturising and fake-tanning the rest of you (and probably doing a complimentary mani-pedi, too). But only this month because next month another miracle machine will be put into production and require a good PR campaign.

Alright, I am exaggerating, but you get the picture.

Guess what I prefer?

I may even try this one-day cleanse some day, but with a few tiny but powerful additions as the science of nutrition certainly moved forward since then. Personally, I love adding more vegetables into my raw juices, but if you are a novice, high quantities of greens can cause digestive discomfort – be prepared for that should you choose to give it a go.

Also remember that this isn’t a cure for everything, nor should be seeing as a diet fix. A programme like this one is there to be used by healthy people wanting to give their body a break for 24 hours and feel rejuvenated. Enjoy the day of purity and certainly don’t start the day after with bacon or BBQ ribs.

You can right click on the photo above, but just in case, here is the menu – I skipped the calories because I don’t believe in them and I’d always always advise to use organic produce):

8:00AM: Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed, unsweetened. (note from me – do dilute fruit juices with plain water, 50/50, to avoid blood sugar spike).

3:30PM: Pineapple-cucumber juice. Combine 3oz peeled cucumber (note from me – if organic, then leave the skin on for more nutrients), 1 oz pineapple, 2 sprigs parsley, 1/2 fresh apple, 3 ice cubes. Liquefy in a blender.

8:30PM: Carrot-apple juice. 2 oz fresh carrot juice (note from me – based on personal experience as I juice carrots daily – you will need about two large ones for the above quantity), 2 oz fresh apple juice (note from me – use 2 small gala apples), 1 small peeled apple, 3 ice cubes. Liquefy in a blender.

10:30AM & 6:00PM: Almond milk. 12 whole blanched almonds (note from me – use whole instead and pre-soak in filtered water, then discard the water), 1 small ripe banana, 3/4 cup water, 4 ice cubes, vanilla and nutmeg. Combine all and liquefy in a blender. Makes two servings.

1:00PM: Gazpacho: Combine 1 medium tomato, peeled and diced, 1/2 large cucumber, peeled, cut into small bits, 2 slices onion, 2 sprigs parsley. Combine all and liquefy in a blender. (note from me – don’t peel the veggies, add some raw bell pepper)

With each of 4 drinks, 1/3 oz raw sunflower seeds mixed with 3-4 pine nuts to nibble.

Photo source: Vogue US April 1976 via tfs

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Birchbox | April 2013 edition

Yesterday I decided to take a day off, jump in a car with my friend and spend a few hours in Brighton. We stopped by an organic shop to stock up on delicious organic groceries – something I was particularly excited about, got all touchy-feely with some beautiful clothes in Comptoir des Cotonniers and had a coffee in a charming French cafe.

Although it was wonderful already, there was another lovely surprise waiting for me as I got home. It was an April Birchbox from the sweet PR elves who contacted me a few days ago asking if I’d like to sample one.

The concept of a beauty box isn’t new, but until now I never really wanted to try one due to the fact that I am very particular with what I put on my skin. What I liked about Birchbox is that most make-up and skincare brands they work with follow the natural/paraben-free/synthetics-free policy – a huge plus both for the skin and health. I talked about parabens before, but in case you are new to the blog, it’s worth mentioning again that parabens have been strongly linked to breast cancer, so, naturally, avoiding them is always a good idea.

Until recently Birchbox was only available in the States, so, for obvious reasons, getting a monthly supply of goodies was out of the question. Luckily, things moved in the right direction and so the Birchbox arrived in the UK to stay.

The April box contained some wonderful and very pretty things including a bar of Le Savon Marjolis soap by La Société Parisienne de Savons (a beautiful mix of ylang ylang and jasmine and very charming packaging), Mirinesse lipstick in Glossy Kiss (the colour, once applied, looked very similar to raspberry – perfect for summer and tanned skin), Paname Paris Mirror (ideal for keeping in my handbag), and samples of Weleda Skin Food (I love this brand), Natio Foaming Cleanser and Gerda Spillmann Renaissance Age Serum.

The Weleda moisturiser had a creamy light texture and felt wonderful on the skin. The fragrance was quite strong and was a combination of calendula, chamomile and rosemary.

I couldn’t use the cleanser – unfortunately it had some pomegranate in it, which, as I discovered last year, I am extremely allergic to, as far as my skin goes.

The serum had a very light, silky, almost water-like texture and gorgeous smell that made me think of Elemis papaya enzyme peel, but turned out to be edelweiss. It’s designed for mature skin, so I can’t comment on the effects of this product. I wish there was a full list of ingredients available, but so far I only managed to find out that the range is free from parabens and synthetics.

I must admit I found it extremely tempting to sign up for a monthly delivery because at £10 (and a bit of extra for P&P) it certainly felt like a good value and great opportunity to discover some new brands. If you are curious, just visit their Birchbox UK for more details.

 

Photo source: personal

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Stylish quote

“Style s personality, not uniformity.

Beauty is attitude, not perfection.”

Antonio Marras

 

Photo source: Elle France May 1992

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Stylish quote

“You don't have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive.”

Diana Vreeland

Photo source: Vogue Paris May 1999

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No make-up make-up inspiration

Taking inspiration from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2013 collection that gave us dreamy dresses and a very natural, simple and clean make-up look that makes you look like the real you, only more groomed.

According to Pat McGrath, a cream blush is used to create softly flushed cheeks (think RMS beauty Lip2Cheek as the most brilliant and natural multitasking little hero), followed by brown shadow on the lids and under the lower lash line and finished with a few layers of brown mascara and powder.

Yes, powder is definitely back to give us the fresh and matte rather then dewy finish. If you are dreading a thought of a cakey face, think translucent invisible powders: HD Perfecting Powder by Chantecaille, Hyaluronic Hydra Powder by Terry, Un-powder powder by RMS Beauty, Zodiac powder by Estee Lauder (which also makes a wonderful and very thoughtful gift!), Sensai loose powder by Kanebo. For those looking for pigmented products, Tom Ford finishing powder or Luminous silk powder by Giorgio Armani will work beautifully.

Photo source: fashionising.com

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Ciate Pink Duo for Breast Cancer campaign

Ciaté is one of those brands that any woman can easily fall in love with. The first thing you notice about their nail polishes is the bottles – they are incredibly pretty (in a chic way), each finished with a black satin bow. Next you realise that the varnishes come in a rainbow of shades, so you definitely find the one that suits your personality. And then you learn the important details – the British brand was founded by Charlotte Knight, a celebrity nail artist who knows all the industry secrets when it comes to beautiful manicure; the polishes are free from toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl-phthalate commonly known as the “toxic trio”.

It is the free-from part that made me try Ciaté a few years ago and I am still using their polishes and brilliant fast drying top-coat that I blogged about before.

This month Ciaté site turned pink to support the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. In addition Charlotte also created a limited edition beautiful pink duo made of Pinkalilly (Pink Twilight) and Pinkaboo (Pink Jewel) for you to buy, so whenever a kit is sold, 20% will go to the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.

“The fear of breast cancer is something that heartbreakingly affects women globally. We are delighted to partner with the charity by infusing two of our signature shades with the powerful Breakthrough Breast Cancer pink. Our aim is to empower and inspire other women to support this tremendous cause by declaring their support with a beautiful nail polish.” said Charlotte in a press release.

You can order the duo on Ciaté official website or buy it in Selfridges where you will also be treated to a free Ciaté manicure at the Selfridges Pain Shop when you make your purchase.

In addition, you may also want to read my last year post on how to reduce the risk of the disease by making a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Photo source: Elle Russia March 2010, Ciate press release

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Stylish quote

“Anyone, anyone, anyone can be wildly attractive. Fitness, grooming and an open heart can do way more than any designer dress.”

Rick Owens

Photo source: Elle France 2004

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Weekend sign off

I forgot that I no longer blog on Saturdays… I think the rule was meant to be broken after all and pretty much as soon as because when there is a new story to share, it’s best just to go for it.

A few days ago, after he finished installing the lights in that epic bathroom of ours, a friend commented how bright the room was. “Oh, now I am going to see every single imperfection on my skin,” I replied without thinking. Next thing I knew was two pairs of eyes staring at me, studying my face like a map.

“But you don’t have imperfections, do you?” Mr asked, puzzled. “Of course, not, darling.” I smiled and made a book worth of excuses to disappear as quickly as possible.

Of course, I have imperfections, but this is something I’d rather keep to myself and certainly would not share with the male audience. Men are simple creatures – if you tell them that you are perfect they will think so, too. And if you choose to count your flaws out loud, don’t be surprised if they refer to them in the future.

Never forget that you are a true reflection of beauty and your imperfections are a part of it – just never refer to them as “imperfections” when your other half is around.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Always yours,

 

Photo source: Elle China August 2012

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Stylish quote

"It's not vanity to feel you have a right to be beautiful.

Women are taught to feel we're not good enough, that we must live up to someone else's standards.

The aim is to cherish yourself as you are."

Elle Macpherson

Photo source: Muse #30 2012

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GIVEAWAY: Trevarno organic skincare kits

A few weeks ago, after my post about organic skincare went live, I received an email from the lovely people at Trevarno with an order to try and review a few different products. Since I was already pretty familiar with the range and tried and tested more or less everything they have, I asked if they wouldn’t mind giving the promised samples to one of my blog readers as a giveaway. The most brilliant thing is that not only they were really excited about it – they also agreed to offer not one, but two prizes.

Each prize includes a try-me skincare kit containing a bottle of Rose & jojoba cleanser, Rosewater & Chamomile skin toner, day cream and night cream to suit either normal or dry/mature skin.

 

Based on my personal experience and knowledge of herbs and oils and their properties, I would suggest the “normal kit” to anyone under 30 and the “dry/mature kit” to anyone over 35 looking for extra anti-wrinkle support as well as good moisturisers.

The creams will last you for at least 3 weeks and the cleanser and toner – for about two, so you will definitely have time to fall in love if not with all of them, but at least some of those wonderful products.

I am so pleased about giving two of you a chance to try some of my favourite skin care and hosting such a fab giveaway as a part of the week dedicated to health and beauty.

To enter:

* follow Fashioned by Love either via Google Friend Connect (or use the button on the bottom of the page) or Facebook (choose whichever way works best for you)

* follow Trevarno via Twitter or Facebook (again, whichever way suits you best)

* leave a comment below saying which skincare kit you would like to win – normal or dry/mature.

The giveaway is open internationally and will run until midnight 14 July 2012. The winner will be announced on Sunday, 15 July 2012.

Good luck!

Photo source: Vogue China September 2006, Trevarno + personal

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Cindy Crawford in Vogue Italia 1991

For the last few months I have been lovingly collecting articles, quotes and photos that, in one way or another, were related to beauty.

Beauty that is influenced by fashion and through the eyes of people working in the fashion industry. Beauty as a reflection of our ideas. Beauty that is healthy, beauty as unique as a person herself, beauty that has no rules apart from one – loving yourself the way you are and taking care of your body as the most precious thing in the world.

If you read my blog regularly you would remember a few posts I’ve written about the link between beauty and health. Now, with the recent launch of the health initiative, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect to dedicate a part of my blog, an entire week, to the topic that means so much to me.

After marinating the idea and coming up with the final plan for the posts I decided to start with this editorial from the May issue of Italian Vogue featuring Cindy Crawford photographed by Marco Glaviano.

Back in the 1990s Cindy was my ultimate girl crush and, as far as the fitness was concerned, the role model. Supermodel with the most perfect hair, velvet brown eyes and incredible body was my idea of beauty. She was stunning, sensual and smart. She favoured healthy diet and was the very first model who released a fitness video (which, of course, I had, used and treasured).

Cindy was also the one who had a strong opinion about the health initiative programme speaking out days after the launch. Although I cannot fully support her opinion on such a complicated issue, I like the fact that she was one of the “supers” who actually had something to say bringing even more attention to the issue.

And now, without making the post even more complicated and long (see, I can talk about it for hours?), lets enjoy the beautiful photos.

Photo source: Vogue Italia May 1991

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