Although spring doesn't officially begin until Tuesday, it's time to begin looking into a fresh start with healthy habits that can also improve your appearance.
To begin, open your makeup bag.
The organic cosmetic trend has been on the rise for a few years, but when it comes to beauty products, the broad number of brands claiming to be organic can be overwhelming. There are multiple ways companies can deem their products as organic.
According to the USDA, for a product to be labeled "organic," it must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt) while the remaining ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances or agricultural products not available in organic form that are approved on the national USDA list.
These products must also display the USDA Organic Seal and the certifying agent's name and address. Lastly, for a product to be labeled "Made with Organic Ingredients" the product needs to contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and the product label must list up to three of the organic ingredients on the principal display panel and may not display the USDA organic seal.
While regulations may allow many products to be labeled as organic, there are some simple ways to make sure you're getting the best product for your buck.
First, look at the ingredients. Some ingredients to watch out for are talc, bismuth, mineral oil, gluten, zinc and titanium oxide, benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, chemicals ending with paraben or phthalate, and synthetical colorants or fragrances. Products that specify they are paragon, phthalate and synthetic free are a good start to recognizing the product uses limited chemicals.
"The less ingredients, the better," said Mo Willoh, a Jefferson City licensed cosmetologist.
Another way to look for organic cosmetics is doing your own research to find a brand you like.
One organic brand gaining popularity is Young Living Essential Oils. The company has recently released its first cosmetic line called Savvy Minerals, which features chemical-free mineral-based cosmetics that work well for those with sensitive skin while also being gluten free, mostly vegan free (their lip gloss and mascara may contain beeswax) and cruelty free. The line also includes a MultiTasker mineral, which can be used as an eyeliner, eye shadow and brow filler.
"Here's the thing, most of us use makeup almost every day from the time that we're teenagers, and everything that you put on your body you put in your body so it just makes sense to use as much chemical-free products as you can," said Ladonna Walbom, a Young Living distributor and licensed aromatherapist. "I don't use a whole lot of makeup, but what I love about the Savvy is that the same makeup can give you a day to day sheer look to all the way to full coverage, so it's very adaptable."
Savvy Minerals also gives an ingredients list for every product they sell, plus in-depth descriptions of the company's farming and sourcing practices on the Young Living website. More information about Savvy Minerals and how-to tutorials can be found at www.yldist.com/ladonnawalbom.
Similar to Savvy, the makeup line Omiana excludes talc, bismuth, phthalates, paragons and other harmful chemicals while also only using cruelty-free ingredients. However, Omiana is marketed as a health-conscious cosmetics line good for those who typically experience allergic reactions with makeup. For example, only a select few Omiana products contain gluten, soy or beeswax, and they offer several products that exclude Mica and titanium-dioxide that can be found in some mineral-based cosmetics.
Ingredients for each product are listed on their website as well as a sidebar you can use to select which ingredients you're looking to avoid. More information can be found at www.omiana.com or you can visit a nearby store at 816 E. Broadway in Columbia.
If you enjoy experimenting with the benefits of oils, you can also opt to make your own health serums. Though it may take some trial and error, creating your own can help you to know exactly what you're using as well as keeping a few more dollars in your pocket.
One DIY serum that's popping up lately on social media is a mix of castor oil and lavender to increase the length and thickness of your eyelashes. Castor oil is great for hair because it is full of fatty acids such as ricinoleic, which moisturizes and protects your lashes. Lavender is also beneficial for hair because it's antiseptic properties can significantly increase hair growth. By simply combining lavender and castor oil in a cleaned mascara bottle, you can apply this serum overnight and look forward to stronger and longer lashes. Adding cedarwood oil to the mix will moisturize and increase blood circulation in the skin.
No matter what cosmetics you choose, make sure to use them appropriately to keep yourself healthy overall. Misuse of products and serums, even when organic, can cause some negative side effects such as drying of the skin and facial hair or clogging pores, which can result in acne.
"I love the trend right now of not over washing the skin and hair because your body needs some of its natural oils to stay healthy," Willoh said.
Your body, especially your face and scalp, rejuvenates better when it receives proper blood flow. When washing, try some light pressing on the face and scalp rather than rubbing the skin too much. You can also try lightly massaging your upper eyelids a couple times a week to increase blood flow to your eyelashes.
Sinus health can also have an impact on physical appearance.
"One of the biggest things about bags under eyes is typically sinus issues by far," Willoh said. "The nose goes directly to the eyes."
If you find yourself using a lot of serums and makeup to cover symptoms such as baggy eyes, it may be worth contacting your doctor to discuss sinus remedies. Sinus conditions can also cause swelling and redness in the face.
The most important key to bettering your appearance is to concentrate on your overall health - get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. Balance is key. You don't need to cut out certain food groups, but a balance of good fats from food can improve the quality of your skin and hair. Food such as avocados, eggs, nuts and olive oil that contain fatty acids help your body produce its own natural oils.
"Even to start out, one of the most important things that everybody has to remember is that your skin is your protection. It's the largest organ in your body and people don't think of it that way, so what you put in internally is truly going to reflect," Willoh said.