Not Just Skin Deep: Introducing Pacifica Beauty

This post was written by Caitlin, our Body Care Department Lead:

Cambridge Naturals is bursting with color! This week, we introduced Pacifica Beauty to our Body Care Department.

Bex is PUMPED about Pacifica Beauty

Pacifica was formed in 2008 by Brook Harvey-Taylor and her husband, Billy Taylor. The couple cultivated the idea for Pacifica while taking a drive home from a surfing trip and applied their mutual love for fragrance & perfumes along with their passion for the arts & outdoors. Pacifica was originally born as a natural perfume and candle company and has since grown into a wildly successful cosmetic, beauty and body care leader.

If you are looking to transition away from your current beauty routine, or just want to shake up your makeup, we’ve got you covered! From eyeliners, mascaras, brow gels, highlighters and eye shadows to lip sticks, lip gloss, blush and bronzer to primers, foundations, concealers and under-eye brighteners, we have something for everyone!

Pacifica offers an extensive line of gluten-free, 100% vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics that don’t contain harsh chemical ingredients found in most mainstream cosmetics AND they’re not harsh on your wallet! Prices range from $9.99 to $31.99, making Pacifica an affordable option if you’re looking to make a new makeup leap.

My new personal favorite is the Dream Big Lash Extending 7 in 1 Mascara! This Mascara is unbelieveable! It offers: lash serum, instant length, lash lift, volume, conditioning, rich color and a 2-in-1 brush in just one wand! You have the power to choose length or volume with the simple twist of the wand - you will see the mascara brush lengthen and shorten right before your eyes!

We're so excited about our new Partnership with Pacifica! Be sure to celebrate with us during Pacifica’s demo on Friday, August 5th from 4-7 in store only at Cambridge Naturals!

DIY Natural Whitening Toothpaste by Jenn

This blog post was written by Jenn, who is a Customer Service Specialist at the store by day and an Industrial Design student by night! She also designs and handcrafts some beautiful wooden necklaces that we carry. She has a passion for herbs and DIY body care. Read her tips for making your own natural and effective toothpaste below!

Natural & Whitening?! What kind of witchcraft is this?! For most of us, when we think of a whitening toothpaste, our first thought isn’t necessarily "natural" - but with a little help from an unlikely source it can be! Like most of you, I am a huge proponent of all things natural, and if I can make it myself - well, that's even better! My teeth have a tendency to stain now and again with my over consumption of tea, coffee, kombucha, and chocolate. I thought there was no hope and that I would either have to quit my delicious habits or give in to those nasty chemical ridden whitening products *shudders*. However, through trial, error, and lots of research I have put together a recipe that not only whitens but is squeezable and it only takes a few simple ingredients some you may have right in your kitchen. You can also buy all of these ingredients at Cambridge Naturals - many of them from our bulk section!

Photo credit: Jenn M

Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet ingredients into another bowl. Then slowly mix the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients. Once everything is thoroughly mixed together, put it into any container (I use a little squeezable tube) and it's ready to use! This recipe usually lasts me about 2 weeks, so feel free to adjust accordingly, and enjoy your newly sparkling pearly whites!

What you will need:

2 tbsp of Bentonite Clay
3 tbsp Distilled Water
2 tbsp Coconut Oil (liquid state)
½ tbsp Baking Soda
¼ tsp Powdered Clove
⅛ tsp Himalayan Pink Salt
⅛ tsp Activated Charcoal
5 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil*

*I would NEVER suggest taking essential oils internally, but with this recipe you're not actually swallowing it and using very little!

Not Just Skin Deep: Interview with True Moringa's Emily Cunningham & Kwami Williams

We first saw Moringa Connect at Natural Products Expo East, a little over a year and a half ago. Co-Founder Emily Cunningham enticed us over to talk with her beautifully packaged, golden moringa oil, and we were hooked by the efficacy of the product and the story behind the brand. We're relaunching our Not Just Skin Deep blog series with an interview with Emily.

Tell us a bit about how you got started! What were you doing before you founded MoringaConnect?

My co-founder Kwami and I were both undergraduates and met through MIT's D-Lab program, working with small farmers in rural Ghana on a host of affordable technologies. While we were there, we were struck by the enormous potential we saw. As it turns out, there are over 1.5 billion acres of uncultivated land in Africa and 120 million small farmers living on that land earning less than $2/day. Meanwhile, the tools they needed to transform their lives were growing in their own backyards. 

It was the farmers we met in rural Ghana who first introduced us to the moringa tree. We worked alongside them to develop technologies to extract the antioxidant rich oil from the moringa seeds and supply chains to connect them to conscious consumers worldwide. 

Prior to our love affair with moringa, I had studied development economics and bounced around a number of different sub-fields of development work (including a brief stint as a rickshaw builder), and Kwami had his sights set on being an aerospace engineer (and even worked for NASA!).     

Photo credit: Agritools

Why moringa? What's so special about the moringa leaf and oil?

Moringa is known locally as the "miracle tree" because there really isn't much it can't do. Moringa leaves have more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more protein than eggs, and more iron than spinach per serving. Moringa oil is being called "argan on steroids" for its anti-aging, moisturizing, and skin-soothing abilities. It's extremely versatile and makes a wonderful facial oil (replacement for a daily moisturizer or night cream), conditioning hair treatment, or body oil. Even the waste product from oil processing (pressmeal) can be used as a natural fertilizer, protein-rich animal feed, or flocculant to purify water. 

The tree itself flourishes in arid climates, requiring little water, and producing seeds in eight months and leaves in two months! It can be intercropped within existing crops to help those crops grow better, and replenishes the soil with essential nutrients. So for farmers, it's a no-risk, high reward source of food security and income all rolled into one. 

How do you process the oil? Who is making your product and how are they compensated?

What makes us special is that we manage the entire supply chain. We work with over 1,600 small farming families throughout Ghana, providing the inputs and financing they need (like seeds, organic fertilizer, and plowing services) to kickstart their moringa farms and the training they need to grow product up to the high standards of the global market. We then buy the seeds from them at a fair price, and ship them to our processing facility (that we designed and built from scratch and tailored specifically to moringa processing) where they are cold-pressed into our True Moringa oil. This ensures that we're able to produce both the highest quality oil and have the most social and environmental impact. To date, we've planted over 250,000 moringa trees. 

Photo credit: Agritools

What other exciting projects is the company working on?

We launched our Minga Foods brand in Ghana to make nutrition easy on the go. Our first product is an infuser pouch filled with moringa powder to add into smoothies, soups, or stir-fry for an extra boost of nutrition. Word on the street is it may be coming to the US soon! 

We're also launching the largest moringa farm in Africa - our nucleus farm - this spring. It will be steady source of organic seeds and leaves, a demonstration site for the latest permaculture and agricultural methods as well as a testing ground for off-grid processing technologies. We're excited to provide income and food security to hundreds of new farmers and ramp up production to meet growing demand!  

What products are in your beauty bag?

Photo credit: Sasha Pedro Photography

I use True Moringa Unscented Body Oil for literally everything - it's my go-to facial cleanser, moisturizer and hair conditioner while traveling. For those of you afraid to put oil on your face or in your hair - I've been there! Every skeptic I've met who has given moringa oil a try as a replacement for their facial soap or moisturizer hasn't turned back. 

For body soap and lotion, I turn to Alaffia (they're doing amazing things with rural communities right next door in Togo) or Dr. Bronners (amazing supply chains around the world and a to-die-for peppermint aroma). For more than just the basics, I love Josh Rosebrook, Ilia, and One Love Organics.

Where do you see the company heading in 5 years? 10 years? What's your vision for the future?

Moringa oil is going to be the next "big" beauty oil - akin to coconut, jojoba, or argan. We're looking forward to replicating our high impact model and processing technologies in partnership with smallholder farmer organizations around the world to ensure that those at the bottom of the supply chain are treated fairly. 

We're really excited about Minga Foods too - we believe that true development will happen when products are not only grown and processed in Africa, but also packaged, branded, and sold in Africa - to Africans. We're looking forward to creating a line of healthy snack foods powered by moringa, utilizing all of the wonderful natural resources already grown in Ghana and the surrounding countries, but often exported to the Western world (think pineapple, mango, cashew, cocoa, honey). Over the next few years, we hope to see Minga become a pan-African brand and ultimately a global brand.

The Minimalist Makeover: Simple, healthy and all YOU, with five beautiful products

This guest post was written by Kristin Jorgenson, one of our favorite customers and sales brokers, who works with Dr. Hauschka skin care. Kristin has gorgeous skin and wears flawless, minimal make up, always looking completely radiant when she pops in the store.

The Minimalist Makeover is for anyone who wants to achieve a healthy, natural look using just a few skin-loving, non-toxic cosmetics. The look is also known as “YOU, on the best day of your life.”  

You: hydrated, healthy, rested, and happy, on a gorgeous, breezy summer day, sparkling, in love.

Before applying any make-up, one must care for their skin with a gentle cleanser, toner and the appropriate day cream for their skin’s current condition. I love Dr. Hauschka’s Quince Day Cream for its clean finish and protective antioxidant ingredients.

Here are the top 5 products I use when performing a Minimalist Makeover, all by Dr. Hauschka Skin Care:

| ONE |

Dr. Hauschka Foundation: This is a brand new formula that I’m wild about. It goes on smoothly and evenly on a well-moisturized face. The foundation contains oils of coconut, apricot and macadamia, which sounds like dessert but lends to hydration and smooth, protected skin. The coverage is light to medium, never heavy, allowing the skin’s natural radiance to come through - but effectively concealing any blemishes or colorations that are inconsistent. I’ve found this new foundation to work as well as a concealer when sponged under the eyes - which was a nice surprise, and keeps us on our theme of minimalism.

|TWO|

Translucent Bronzing Tint: This product is well loved by make up artists everywhere for its perfected formula and unbelievable versatility. The liquid mineral tint contains olive oil and beeswax for a hydrating, blendable application, anthyllis (a healing botanical extract present in many Dr. Hauschka products) and witch hazel for a toning effect. The bronzing tint can be mixed with day cream, sunscreen, or foundation to deepen the shade. It can also be applied strategically with fingers, a makeup sponge or a makeup brush to contour areas of the face, which would naturally be touched by the sun. 

|THREE| 

Rouge: I love rouge. The right rouge brings the face back to life almost instantly. Dr. Hauschka has really accomplished minimalism by providing the only 3 rouge shades one could need- a bright coral, a rosy pink and a soft nude. These mineral rouge powders contain silk powder, lending a slight luminescence in the light, as well as witch hazel and sage to soothe and refresh. Dr. Hauschka’s International Make-up artist Karim Sattar taught us to ad a touch of rouge to the eyelids to give a youthful look. I’m hooked on that technique.

|FOUR|

Mascara: Natural mascara is sometimes the product that brings people to natural cosmetics due to eye sensitivity. Many people, however, transition to natural mascara more slowly because they believe that eyelashes aren’t as affected by chemicals as the skin is. I’d like to challenge this! Dr. Hauschka’s Mascara contains delicious smelling Rose Petal Wax, soothing eyebright and black tea and neem leaf extract the strengthen lashes. For more oomph, the volume mascara is a firmer formula with a great volumizing brush. Ingredients such as candellila wax, beeswax, neem leaf extract and cane sugar result in plump, long and healthy lashes for beautiful, expressive eyes. 

|FIVE|

Novum Lipstick: This is my favorite decision to make when finishing a makeover. By this point, the person is relaxed and their skin is looking fresh and dewy. Using hair, eye, skin tone and colors/type of clothing I choose either a pop of color or a shade very close to their natural lip color. Dr. Hauschka’s Lipstick Novum is the most hydrating lip color I have ever used thanks to Vitamin E rich Moroccan Oil, Jojoba Oil and protective Rose Wax. Lipstick Novums come in 4 amazing shades, Sand Dune (a copper nude with hints of lavender), Miraculous Rose (a tawny pink), Laid Back Apricot (a warm peach) and Exhilarating Berry (a gorgeous shade somewhere between raspberry and wine that looks different on every person I’ve ever used it on).  

Enjoy!

Not Just Skin Deep: Alex's Picks

This is the second post in our series Not Just Skin Deep - the products our staff use every day in their body care routines. Alex is one of the buyers in our body care department and has a background in cosmetology. She's scouted some wonderful new items for the skin care section, including A Wild Soap, and is always on the look out for amazing natural make up products!

1. Heritage Store Organic Castor Oil

This organic castor oil has been a great addition to my oil cleansing routine. I like to mix it with organic sweet almond oil and a touch of rosemary essential oil to create a facial cleansing solution in place of a traditional face wash. Castor oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and is a bit astringent, which is helpful for removing impurities from the skin.  Heritage Store’s castor oil comes in a nice big glass bottle, cold-pressed, pesticide and paraben free, the company also tests the oil to be free of solvents and chemicals. My skin is still adjusting to this cleansing method but so far I love it!

2. Bamboobino Baby Washcloths

Ok, so these are supposed to be for babies, but why not get some for yourself? I like to use these after oil cleansing my face, run it under hot water to gently steam the skin and wipe of excess oil. These washcloths are seriously soft! Added bonus, bamboo fiber is hypoallergenic and has antibacterial properties. The company Bamboonino uses organically grown bamboo and cotton and is working towards become a carbon neutral company.

3. Evan Healy Light Moisture Replenishing Fluid

I really enjoy this product, I use it as my moisturizer before I apply my make up. The name pretty much sums it up! Super light, has a more liquid texture than your average moisturizer. Featuring tamanu oil, pomegranate seed oil and organic, sustainably sourced argan oil, it leaves my skin feeling balanced. Despite the fact that there is so many beneficial oils in the product, it is still super light. Evan Healy sources the argan oil from a protected and self governed women’s cooperative in Southern Morocco.

4. Hurraw! Moon Balm

Love this lip balm. First off, it smells amazing, almost like a vanilla cookie! It is intended as an overnight lip balm, as it contains soothing chamomile and a blend of therapeutic oils including meadowfoam seed oil and rosehip seed oil. However, I wear mine during the day - it’s certainly creamy, but I don't find it to be too heavy. And I can’t get enough of the scent! Hurraw!’s balms are vegan, raw, organic, fair trade and they also use sustainable argan oil from the Berber Cooperative in Southern Morocco.

5. A Wild Soap - Sea Scrub Bar with Sea Clay and Kelp

We just brought this line of soaps into the store. They come from a family owned company in Austin, Texas that uses organic and sustainable palm oil, wildcrafted herbs and unique essential oil blends. The Sea Scrub bar is my favorite. It has a super light and refreshing scent (palmarosa, cassia, vetiver are just some of the unique essential oils used!) that is blended with pumice, sea salt, sea clay and kelp. Refreshing, lots of lather and mineral rich!

6. Dr. Hauschka Liquid Eyeliner in Black

If you enjoy makeup and are forever trying to achieve that perfect cat eye, then this liner is for you! The brush on this eyeliner is crazy delicate and thin to help with precision. The eyeliner liquid is infused with eyebright and neem oil to help sooth and rose wax to help maintain color throughout the day. I definitely am still working on the perfect cat eye, but getting closer!

7. Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint in Adorn

Another product new to our store, I love that this helps round out our cosmetic selection providing a quality yet cost effective (and cruelty free) lip color option or all ages. My favorite color is a rich plum called “adorn”, the darkest of the fun hues mineral fusion offers. It goes on pretty light - the color intensifies as you apply more to your lips. The consistency is super smooth, almost like a gloss, which is great. I keep it in my back pocket and reapply as needed!  

Not Just Skin Deep: Our Natural Body Care Rituals

The truth is, when it comes to body care, the products you use every day go more than skin deep. At Cambridge Naturals our mission is to provide you with the best choices in truly natural, healthy and effective body care products that you can feel good about putting onto your body's largest organ: your skin. Whether it's five or 15, each of us on staff has body care products that we just can't live without. They make up our daily body care routines, helping us start and end each day feeling clean, refreshed, beautiful.

In this new blog series, our staff will tell the story of the products they use every day in their own body and beauty care rituals. Zack, our Assistant Manager and champion of our improved Men's Section, is the first one to step up to the plate! Read on for all of Zack's favorites...

(1) Black Willow Bark Shaving Soap by A Wild Soap and (2) Vegan Shaving Brush by Omega

I love shaving, but it took me years of razor burn as well as trying different products and techniques to get to this point. If only I had known about natural shaving soaps! Now I look forward to shaving instead of dreading it. This is an incredible shaving soap infused with Black Willow Bark extract to sooth irritation and Activated Charcoal for exfoliation. Shaving soap is an often misunderstood body care product; it will work on its own but works amazingly better if you use shaving oil and a shaving brush. I like the Omega brand Vegan Shaving Brush and the Badger Shaving Oil. The key is to take your time and turn shaving from a chore to a joy.

Using a wet shaving brush, rub the shaving soap until a dense lather develops and then gently brush the lather into your oiled skin. And only shave in one direction before rinsing off and re-lathering!

(3) Clay Dry Deodorant - White Pine by Adama Minerals

How many deodorants does one have to try before they find the right one?! I have searched high-and-low for a deodorant that works through my entire workday that doesn't irritate my skin and doesn't smell like I'm wearing cologne. This is one of my new favorites, it goes on smooth without friction, smells 'clean', and gives me a good 6-8 hours of full effect. It also comes in three other scents. Two or three swipes and I’m good to go for the day.

(4) Scalp: Follicle Treatment and Volumizer for Thinning Hair by John Masters

Like a lot of people I rotate shampoos and conditioners every so often.  And despite my best efforts, my hair is thinning fast. Some shampoos and conditioners can help by volumizing it or giving me a better balance of cleanliness and moisture, but this spray from John Masters is the best solution I have found. It is light in texture like water, is full of scalp stimulating herbs and essential oils, and leaves your hair and scalp feeling fabulous. Mist on after toweling off and gently massage into the scalp and hair.  It’s no “miracle hair loss cure!” but it has helped improve my scalp and I like the way it leaves my hair looking, clean but not frizzy.

(5) Neem & Turmeric Face Wash by Himalaya

Oily skin can be a struggle, especially when you’ve got blemish prone skin too. This face wash from Himalaya is a great pick for anyone with oily, blemish prone skin who doesn’t want their skin drying out immediately after washing. Not only does it leave your skin feeling super-clean, it smells like fresh marjoram! I like to begin my day with this wash and end it with something more astringent.

(6) Lemon Thyme Hydrosol and (7) Sea Algae Serum by EvanHealy 

What can I say about EvanHealy… their products are simply the best. Their Sea Algae Serum is a slick, lighter serum that is packed with natural antioxidants and beneficial oils and leaves the skin feeling smooth and looking radiant. And I love using their Lemon-Thyme Hydrosol for its oil-balancing and anti-microbial properties. It is honestly my favorite smell in the entire world.  After washing your face morning or night, spray liberally with hydrosol and finish with one or two pumps of this serum. Heaven.

Shaving Naturally for Healthy Skin (Part 1)

This post is the first in a series on men’s bodycare by our Customer Service Specialist, Zach.

For many people shaving is a frustrating chore that results in nicked cheeks and legs, irritated skin, and thinner wallets from all those expensive blades. Not to mention all of the chemical exposure from conventional creams, gels, and balms. An alternative shaving technique called wetshaving has been gaining a following in recent years and for good reason: most people have drastically better shaving experiences as well as results using wetshaving methods and products. What’s more, with double-edged razor blades costing on average under $1.00 each and properly cared for safety razors and shaving brushes lasting decades, the savings add up quick. And many people experience far less irritation simply by choosing shaving products free of harsh synthetics.

Making the conscious choice to rid your environment of chemicals and synthetics can have a dramatic positive effect in one’s daily life and shaving is no different. What we put on our bodies is as important as what we put in our bodies.

Cambridge Naturals is proud to offer a wide selection of natural shaving products for both men and women including natural and artisanal shaving creams, soaps, and oils, aftershave balms and tonics, as well as ethically made shaving brushes and double-edged safety razors. See below for a partial list of shaving products available at Cambridge Naturals (not complete list, please call 617-492-4452 for specific product inquires.)

Aubrey ‘Men’s Stock’ aftershaves • Alba Botanica shaving creams • Bulldog shaving creams, gels, and aftershaves • Burts Bees aftershaves • Dr. Bronner shaving gels • Everyone Soap shaving soaps • Fieldworks Supply Company shaving soaps, gels, and aftershaves • GoToob travel liquid containers • Herban Cowboy shaving soaps, creams, and aftershaves • John Masters shaving soaps, creams, and aftershaves • Kiss My Face shavings creams • Lagona shaving creams and aftershaves • Leap Organics shaving creams, oils, and aftershaves • Merkur safety razors • Perma Brands shaving accessories • Preserve razor handles and cartridge razors • Provence Sante shaving soaps • Radius razor cases • Somersets shaving oils • Vie-Long shaving brushes

Summer salt scrub

Photo credit: http://besskincare.com

Ahhh, summer. Beach weekends and mid-day picnics at the park. Perfect time to catch the rays and get that mega-dose of vitamin D our bodies so desperately crave all winter. Too much sun, however, can come at a cost and lead to peeling skin and dry patches. While sunscreen or a big floppy hat should be your first line of defense, what to do once the damage is done?

Well, first, apply copious amounts of aloe vera. We sell several great natural brands of 100% pure aloe gel– minus the creepy added fragrance and color dye (Yellow 5 and Blue 1 anyone?) of conventional brands.

Second, once the burn has faded, slough off that dead skin and leave your skin feeling clean and smooth, and freshly scented with a homemade salt scrub. So easy to make and can be a great gift for family and friends (hello, wedding season!)

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salt
1 cup almond or jojoba oil
20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil(s) (optional)
Dried lavender or rose buds (optional)
Mason jar or similar container

Instructions

1. Blend salt and your choice of oil in a mixing bowl.

2. Add the essential oil and lavender buds (optional). Stir and place mixture in a clean container and secure lid.

3. Use the scrub in the shower on damp skin, concentrating on rough areas and gently rinsing after use.