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Home Spa with La Bella Figura

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If you have a busy schedule you probably can't afford the luxury of escaping to a spa for a facial. Sometimes we can create the same relaxing experience in our own back yard. Just a few minutes steaming and sitting with a powerful mask can add blessed moments to your day. To launch the opening of The Local Rose store here is a mini video on La Bella Figura's mask made with Manuka honey and the daily elements defense oil. The oil can be found on The Local Rose Shop and the mask on La Bella's. Manuka honey is from the bees that pollinate the Manuka bush in New Zealand. It is always important to make sure the honey is "active". Being active means the honey has antimicrobial properties. This makes it an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial super food.

We started the skin routine by steaming with purifying tea bags filled with herbs and blossoms. Then the healing mask went on followed by the daily face oil. All these natural, nourishing elements make the skin glow and happy!

Beautiful camera work by Mel Blanchard.

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Blades Natural Beauty

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Recently Jessa Blades paid me a visit from The Big Apple. She came over for tea and we discussed all things on natural beauty on our stroll through roseland. Jessa is a makeup artist, herb maven, green beauty expert and creator of her own line. Her Calendula Cleansing Grains are perfect for traveling. I for one hate to check in luggage so on my recent trip to NYC I took Jessa's grains with me so I didn't have to check in any liquid substances. The grains are dry grains and become a cleansing fluid when mixed with water. We both found common ground on our love for using herbs for hormone balance and other issues. She even makes her own tea my favorite being Mountain Woman Tea made with oats, nettles and lemon balm. Look below for her tips on using what is in the kitchen cabinet.

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Kitchen Beauty Cures from Jessa:

Garlic- A true healer, this herb has been helping us feel better for centuries. I love to mash it up and use the paste to heal a pimple.
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil- this anti-aging, antibacterial multitasker is a must have for the cabinet. There are countless uses for this ingredient; some of my favorites are to use it as an allover body moisturizer or as a deep conditioning hair treatment. Apply oil to your hair and then wrap it in plastic and sit in the sun for your required 15 minutes of Vitamin D exposure. I then like to go and clean my house and leave it on for as long as possible before I rinse it out with some…

Apple Cider Vinegar- This is a kitchen/beauty cabinet must-have with hundreds of uses. Some of my favorites include using it as a clarifying and moisturizing hair rinse. It is also great to tone the skin or help internally for digestion and heartburn (which will in turn help your skin).
Rolled Oats- Cook oats in water and put them in a cheesecloth bag, add to bath water to soothe itchy skin due to a rash or insect bites. Also great for facials, mix oats and honey for a gentle exfoliating face mask. Looking for more hydration? Mix oats and yogurt for a soothing treat for your face.
Local Raw Honey is a miracle ingredient, soothes coughs and sore throats internally and also works for first aid and beauty recipes. Honey makes a wonderful hydrating facemask that provides gentle exfoliation. I love the “honey pat” technique: Apply the honey to clean skin and begin to tap (like you are typing) all over your face. When the honey becomes too sticky to lift your fingers, rinse off. Also great to use on your skin to heal a cut or skin irritation, and makes a great lip balm (tastes good too!).
And finally, please keep in mind that it is always best to choose organic and try to buy in glass whenever possible.

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Makeover with Katey Denno

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I met the lovely and insightful Katey Denno through my friend Victoria who is the creator of the skin care line La Bella Figura. We had a sweet afternoon where we experimented with La Bella Figura's new face oil, and then I learned tips for quick beauty make over. Katey is a Pre-Raphaelite beauty who usually works with New York fashion beauties and Hollywood movie stars.  She advocates using natural non toxic brands and was able to give me a few incredible tips (like how curling your lashes can make all the difference)! A webisode on our afternoon is below.
1. How did you start leaning towards using more natural make up on your clients?
 About 3+ years ago my best girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer. We felt hopeless. I needed to help in some way, so I turned to the world of makeup and skincare to give me some direction and ability to offer some relief and education. I focused on researching the best products for her to use, keeping in mind that the skin absorbs everything, funneling it into the bloodstream pretty immediately.   I've learned a whole lot since then, and I've swung to a middle ground at this point - I don't insist on making myself (or others) crazy insisting that everything that I come in contact with be 100% natural all the time. I follow more of an 80/20 rule: 80% of the time I try to use only products with ingredients I know are safe. However, if there's a lipstick I have my eye on that doesn't exist in the natural world yet - I'm gonna wear it on a special occasion, and not feel badly about it!
2. What are your top three favorite products? I have such a hard time picking my favorite products. I try new things constantly so what I love today may get pushed out of the top 3 list tomorrow when I try something new. I can say that consistently I love a.  Balmy Days lip balm from Ilia (smoothest coconut oil-based lip balm),  b. a delicious face oil - tied right now are Lina Hanson, Amala, and La Bella Figueroa, and c. an awesome creamy cheek color, again tied: Vapour organic beauty, and W3LL People.
3.Your skin is so dewey what is your secret? Thank you! I love the look of glowing skin and I use straight up oil on my face day and night. Plus I give myself a little face massage when I apply it which helps to drain any fluid I may have been retaining (No!!). 
4. Are you a mermaid or forest fairy? Can I be both? 
5.  What to where is your favorite meal? I just came from having a pretty incredible meal - a group of friends, all sitting around laughing and sharing stories, eating a variety of incredibly fresh, vegetarian dishes, made with love.  We ate slowly and took breaks to share bottles of wine. I'm also a sucker for a big breakfast. I wake up ravenous and excited for oatmeal every morning.
6. Is there one supplement or food item that you think helps us with having glowing skin?

My number one recommendation for what you can put in your mouth that will help your skin is coconut oil. I've been recommending  it to folks for years now and have heard back - and seen- great things. 
7. Who is your beauty inspiration? My mom is my beauty inspiration. 
8.  What book is on your nightstand? Art Of Attention:   My friend Elena Brower (and her co-auther Erica Jago) just published this great yoga workbook that, in her words, inspires your practice, contemplation, and creativity. In my words - it's a great reminder of what to do with my body, my mind, and my heart, each day.

 

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Healing Mask Giveaway from La Bella Figura

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We are having a Spring Time Giveaway of incredible healing treatments from La Bella Figura Beauty. With this spring time gift you get a detoxing tea bag set, Bio Active mask made with Manuka Honey, and the daily defense oil that is made with collagen building Camellia oil among other incredible ingredients. To be considered for the Giveaway simply 'like' The Local Rose Face book Page. Would love a comment as well here on the site.

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