Protect Your Hair with Barex's Sun Essential Oil

Even though summer is slowly ending, the temperature and scorching sun is still going strong! It's very important to always protect your skin and hair all year long and every season.


The Barex's Sun Essentials Collection are free from sulfates and parabens. It's also environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and recyclable.

Try the Barex Sun Essential Oil by working it into your hair before hitting the beach, which will protect your hair from sun, salt and chlorine distress. The Sun Essential Oil protects color from oxidizing. It brightens and softens hair with an abundance of multi-vitamins, and adds lots of shine! The Sun Essential Oil contains water resistant anti-aging protection with UV filters and is formulated with rice, Vitamin E, and Meadowfoam oil to soften locks, and also smells divine!

Spray the Barex Sun Essential Oil generously onto your hair, especially the mid-shaft to the ends, and spread through with a comb. In case of lengthy exposure to the sun or frequent bathing, repeat the application. For best results wash out with Barex Sun Essential Hair and Body Shampoo, and condition with Barex Sun Essential Conditioner. (Beautyhabit.com)

Many celebrities use the Sun Essential Oil, such as Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, and Leighton Meester. It's also been featured in magazines such as In Style, Harper's Bazaar, and Vanity Fair.


*Here's another important POST-sun exposure tip! Before going into the ocean or pool coat hair from the mid-shaft to the ends with TRESemme Vitamin E Moisture Rich Conditioner or other mass market rich conditioners, if you're on a budget. The conditioner will protect the hair from sun, heat damage, and chlorine. You can also treat your hair after coming out of the ocean or pool especially if you have severely damaged, bleached, and overprocessed hair.

No Frizz Wave Shaping Curl Defining

If you have long, fine, curly hair, and touch it too much, it turns into a puffy, fluffy, airy mess? If you wear your hair down, do you have to either straighten it, or use a curling balm, which can sometimes be too thick for your hair?

Well, use this award winning, Allure magazine approved, No Frizz Wave Shaping Curl Defining styling spray from Living Proof. This spray was developed by a team of MIT scientists, uses the first new anti-frizz technology in 30 years to fight humidity and friction, and it actually works! Curls are more defined and less frizzy, and because their products aren't silicone based, you won't end up with the dreaded 90's wetcurl. The formula comes in fine to medium, medium to thick, and thick to coarse varieties to ensure a full-blown curl comeback. (4oz $24, livingproof.com)

Ecofriendly Hydrating Conditioner from Number 4 Haircare

Number 4 Haircare is a new line of beauty products that's just lovely. It’s eco-friendly, not tested on animals, and amazingly scented!

My personal favorite is the Hydrating Conditioner, which leaves hair super shiny and soft thanks to acai berry, vitamin B5, and jojoba. Visit number4hair.com for more info.

Frederic Fekkai Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse

"One reason celebrities always look good is that their hair is always shiny!" explains hair legend Frederic Fekkai. "Don't be afraid to claim your own spotlight!" Now, thanks to his Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse , you can have a rinse that boosts color and adds silky shine to your hair!

Frederic Fekkai Salon Glaze is a clear shine rinse inspired by professional salon glazing services. The rinse-off treatment binds shine, recharges color, and adds silkiness to the hair. It's clear gloss and conditioner in one, Salon Glaze is gives hair amazing shine without feeling oily, heavy, or generally icky thanks to the formula, which is packed with vitamin B5 and sweet almond protein.

The Salon Glaze has a non-chemical formula also contains a unique blend of conditioning and lightweight silicones that coat the cuticle to shine and condition the hair shaft. With its lightweight formula, Salon Glaze won't weigh your hair down like traditional shine serums. It works on all hair colors and types, and both non-colored and color-treated hair. Use it at home a couple times a week and you'll definitely see a difference. (5oz $28, Sephora stores)

Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing Conditioner

Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing Conditioner with Shea Butter is a intensive hydrating daily conditioner for hair that needs serious tender loving care. It's ideal for ultra dry, thick or unruly hair, damaged, virgin or color treated hair.

A rich, creamy product that's water-based, it includes shea butter extract to soften strands and lock in moisture. That makes it optimal for thick hair that's prone to tangles, as the softening power of this moisturizing conditioner will make hair easier to comb without snags, and the boost of smoothness that the shea butter lends to the outer cuticle will help stop strands from catching on each other, stopping tangles before they start. Use this with the Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing with Shea Butter Shampoo.(8oz $23, Sephora stores)

Beachy Waves with David Babaii for WildAid

David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray: Get beachy waves by spritzing your hair with this spray. Bohemian Beach Spray is an eco-friendly non-aerosol styling spray that works for all hair types, so it’s free of sulfates, parabens, or petrochemicals.

Only just arrived to Australia this natural product that is 100% cruelty free and is not tested on animals; it’s filled with natural ingredients that create a lustrous healthy effect for your hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair to create various hair textures and volume.


Globally sourced, Bohemian Beach Spray contains sea salt from the Dead Sea in Israel for naturally enhanced texture; it has mineral rich Volcanic Ash from the Vanauatu Islands of the South Pacific for increased volume; it also has a trio of Blue Algae, Mango and Kiwi that keep hair thoroughly hydrated. It also aids in moisture retention with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Hemp Oil and Cupuacu Butter. This extraordinary blend works together to create texture or volume, while strengthening and moisturizing.


Also, ten percent of profits go to WildAid, a global wildlife conservation organization to help save endangered animals. David Babaii for WildAid also has Kate Hudson as a spokesmodel and has many fans of Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Katherine Zeta-Jones, and Jennifer Garner. ($12 at db4wildaid.com)

At Home Beauty with Ecobeauty

If you think you always have to splurge on beauty products, think again! In this book, EcoBeauty by Lauren and Janice Cox and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at all of the wonderful and easy beauty recipes you’ll come across that won’t leave you over budget. Here are two favorites!


Honey Hair Pack
Honey may sound great for topping off your oatmeal, but I had the feeling that saturating my locks in it would leave me in a sticky situation. This was not the case, however! Honey and molasses are both humectants, which mean they hold onto water molecules and add moisture to your hair. The honey and olive oil mixture should be applied to dry hair for 20-30 minutes before showering. At first, it's super sticky and you wonder if it will wash out easily, but when washing my hair the gooey honey feeling was completely gone and I was left with super-soft hair!
1 cup of honey or molasses
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Lemonade Toner
Another favorite of mine was the Lemonade Toner. It consists of lemon juice, witch-hazel (you can find this in the skin care section of your market or drugstore) and distilled water. I actually strayed from the recipe a little and used lavender witch-hazel with aloe vera just because it smelled so good. Witch-hazel is a natural toner that is great for tightening pores and removing excess oil from skin, and the lemon juice helps to fade discoloration. This toner was so refreshing, smelled lovely, and I used the extra Lavender witch-hazel as an after shower moisturizer, a lighter alternative to lotion especially in the hot summer months.
1 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoon witch hazel
2 tablespoons distilled water

I don't want to give away too much more because this book is filled with fun recipes and helpful beauty tips. At the end of the day, this is an easy recession proof way to treat yourself, so head to the kitchen and whip up a little spa day. Enjoy!

Naturally Smooth and Healthy Skin

Here's a few tips and products with a little help from nature so you can have clear, flawless skin all over.

1. Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment: Clean your skin with the natural willow bark and willowherb in this treatment. They naturally dry up zits and calm inflammation with.

Boscia is super-natural and preservative-free, botanically based skincare company founded in Japan by Kenjo Ikemori, a Japanese entrepeneur. The integrated Boscia line combines the strength of several skincare methods to achieve healthy skin. Not only is this line super gentle, but it's also super-effective. The key ingredient is Willow Bark Extract, a natural version of Salicylic Acid. ($25, Sephora)


2. Kiehl’s Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser: To make this gentle body wash, Kiehl’s teamed up with Brad Pitt. The scent is refreshing and coconutty and it’s made from 100% biodegradable ingredients. Kiehl's Body Cleanser is formulated without parabens, SLS, and Dyes. Kiehl's Body Cleanser is 100% Post Consumber Recycled (PCR) Bottle. Plus, all proceeds benefit the global green initiatives. ($17, kiehls.com)


3. The Body Shop Wild Cherry Body Scrub: This cherry scrub leaves your body feeling insanely soft, thanks to kiwi seeds, crushed walnut shells, and it smells cherry-licious .Also, it uses community- traded Brazil nut oil. ($20, thebodyshop-usa.com)



4. Lush Cupcake Facemask: This organic, 100% vegetarian clearing mask, smells like chocolate but the cocoa powder in it actually removes excess oils that cause your skin to break out. ($8, lushusa.com)


5. Jergens Naturals Renew Daily Moisturizer: Hydrate your skin with this moisturizer that contains grapeseed oil and pomegranate. It’s also 93% all natural and paraben-free. ($9, drugstores)


6. Origins Organics Totally Pure Deodorant: This organic deodorant uses lemon and lavender to control odor, so you smell fresh all day long. ($15, Origin stores)


7. Burt’s Bees Radiance SPF 15 Day Lotion with Royal Jelly: Protect your skin from the sun with this 98% natural SPF 15 lotion. It’s made with royal jelly, a natural ingredient packed with vitamins and minerals. Burt's Bees has Calendula to soften and smooth skin and Golden Seal to nourish and provide vitamins A, C, E and B Complex. The Royal Jelly just adds an additional level of nourishment with 17 amino acids and vitamins. Burt’s Bees uses natural Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide rather than chemical sunscreens to provide a physical layer of protection from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays. Burt’s Bees are free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and petrochemicals. ($18, Target)



8. LaVanila Fragrances in Pure Vanilla and Vanilla Coconut: Smell sweet with these vanilla- based organic perfumes. They’re made with essential oils and botanicals. ($56 each, Sephora stores)

LaVanila in Pure Vanilla
LaVanila in Vanilla Cocnut

Wishing you healthy flawless skin!

Naturally Healthy Hair

Here's a few tips on pampering your hair and the planet with these eco-conscious products and tools.


1. Samy Pure All Natural Smooth & Shine Shampoo: Get super shiny hair with this sulfate-free 100% vegan shampoo. It’s packed with hydrating vitamins and proteins. It’s free of animal by- products. It contains no parabens, which can irritate your skin and also sulfates, which are chemicals that make shampoos lather up, and they’re not biodegradable and can strip your hair of its natural oils. ($6 at drugstores)




2. Alterna Hemp Organics Thickening Compound: Add body with this vegan lotion that’s made with organic botanicals, it thickens, and creates fullness as you blow-dry. It’s infused with ultra-hydrating hemp seed oil, which protects and strengthens hair while addressing an array of styling needs. It delivers dramatic volume, fullness, and control.

Powered by advanced volumizing and styling agents, Alterna's Hemp with Organics Thickening Compound increases the diameter of the hair shaft while improving shine, texture and humidity resistance. The patented ultra-hydrating hemp seed oil and nutrient activating enzymetherapy complex ensures optimum nutrients and moisture balance for stronger, thicker looking hair, and evens out the porosity of the hair. It also has UV protectants to guard against sun damage. ($29 at Ulta stores)




3. Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother: This is one of my favorite hair products. It stops frizz in the most humid weather; it kept my hair smooth, soft, in place, and shiny, especially in Texas and Vietnam. Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother makes styling faster, easier. An exclusive plant infusion creates a smooth new surface on hair, defends against insane humidity, and protects against surface damage from heat styling.

Aveda’s Smooth Infusion has an exclusive plant infusion, which is a blend derived from organic aloe, maize, guar bean, and babassu nut oil from Brazil. It creates a smooth surface on hair, organic tapioca defends against humidity for up to 12 hours and its hydrolized wheat protein protects against surface damage from heat styling. It features the Smooth Infusion aroma, a fresh spicy citrus-floral featuring certified organic bergamot, certified organic palmarosa, Bulgarian rose, and Australian sandalwood. ($24 at aveda.com)




4. Sexy Hair Organics Volumizing Mousse: This thick mousse moisturizes hair with organic avocado extract and aloe vera juice, while adding lift at the roots. it's a light styling formula that nourishes hair while providing volume and control. More than half of the ingredients up to 95% in Sexy Hair Organics are certified organic, meaning when you lather up you can be sexy and sustainable at the same time. ($19 at salons)




5. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel: This light hold gel keeps hair in place with clean styling agents providing a flake-free, stay-put hold for pure style. It creates a thicker, high-volume finish, and a healthy dose of shine with a special blend of styling ingredients helps boost every strand. It has an invigorating burst of cool mint, tea tree and citrus revives, refreshes and leaves hair smelling great; also Paul Mitchell funds the planting of trees to offset all carbon emissions made by the company. ($11 at salons)




6. Olivia Garden Healthy Hair HH-P7 Large Ionic Paddle Brush: This paddle brush creates perfectly anti- static straight hair and it’s made with the eco super plant bamboo, so it spares trees.

This natural bamboo hair brush has Ionic cushion, it’s scalp massage activates blood cell circulation, helps stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss, promotes healthy hair cells, healthy scalp, and also restores hair balance and shine. ($13 at oliviagarden.com)

*Also, Bamboo releases up to 35% more oxygen into the air than other trees and it absorbs global warming causing carbon dioxide.




7. The Body Shop Detangling Comb: Untangle your hair with this wide tooth comb, it’s made from wood that was grown using sustainable forestry practices. ($7 at thebodyshop-usa.com)




8. Scunci No Damage Round Bamboo Elastics: These Bamboo elastics with soft pastel shades, give your hair a girly vibe as they help the planet. ($3 at drugstores)

*Bamboo is a natural renewable resource. Bamboo is a member of the grass family, grows rapidly without pesticides or fertilizers, requires little water, and can even survive a flood. Sprouting from a complex root system, bamboo prevents soil erosion, creating protection for the watershed system.

Wishing you healthy hair!!

The 6 Biggest Skin Care Mistakes

One of the many things I stress to my clients, is that great skin doesn't require spending a fortune on some "miracle cream" made from rare seaweed from the Arctic Circle! It's all about simple good habits. But let's approach those habits from the opposite direction: What are the most damaging bad habits that seen time and time again?

1. Using a cleanser with harsh detergents: Many people assume that the suds of their vigorously foaming cleanser are a good sign, surely it’ll leave skin extra clean. Unfortunately, copious suds are generally a sign that your cleanser contains a harsh detergent, like lauryl sulfate, that strips skin of vital lipids. Also, you should never use a bar soap, that’s always a no-no. Instead, look for cleansers that contain fatty acids and will actually fortify your skin, like Dove's ProAge products, or even simple cold cream. If you have particularly dry skin, I recommend cleansing oils or cold cream, which remove dirt and makeup without disturbing your skin's natural protective barrier.

2. Not using a retinoid: Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is the only topical ingredient proven not only to prevent lines and wrinkles but to minimize the ones you already have. Past the age of 30, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for a higher-concentration prescription retinoid such as Retin-A, Differin, or Tazorac, but there are also many great over-the-counter creams that contain lower concentrations of retinol. I like Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Night Cream, and SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0.

3. Spending too much on skin care: Splurging on the beautiful packaging and luxurious scents of pricey boutique skin care lines can feel wonderfully pampering, but you know that it's absolutely not necessary for great skin. In fact, many good quality products are made by drugstore brands, because those companies have the large budgets for top-notch research and development. If you have a small budget right now, put your money toward that prescription retinoid, and buy the rest of your regimen at the drugstore.

4. Getting facials: Yes, that's right, taking out facials from your skin-care budget and actually be doing your skin a favor! Studies show that as many as 80% of people break out after a facial. Some aestheticians often don't know which products are right for the skin of each client, and may use ingredients that can worsen acne, or essential oils that tend to irritate sensitive skin. Even if you don't break out, there are really no long-term benefits to facials, unless their treating you’re skin with amazing skincare with antioxidants, retinol A, active enzymes, peptides, and beneficial ingredients

5. Washing your face at the wrong time: Always wash your face after you rinse out your hair products and conditioner in the shower, not before. Many conditioners contain pore-clogging isopropyl myristate and other hair products such as contain coconut oil; both are common acne-causing ingredients that you don't want to leave on your skin.

6. Not using sunscreen every day: Not just for your trip to the beach, or during the long summer days, it’s every day! Yes, it's important to be even more attentive if you plan to spend lots of time in direct sunlight. But incidental sun exposure usually accounts for more of our lifetime exposure to ultraviolet rays than those days at the beach. Walking to and from your car, dashing out of the office for a sandwich, or sitting outside for a few minutes adds up, make sure you're covered with at least SPF 15, every day.

Wishing you great skin!