FOR NORMAL SKIN AND/OR ACNE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

NOVENA ORGANIC FRUIT FACE WASH

$32.00

This citrus fruit cocktail in a bottle thoroughly cleanses your skin while leaving your skin fresh and vibrant. Novena Organic Fruit Face Wash is a blend of citrus and berry extracts, oils such as tea tree, rosehip and organic olive oil, and aloe juice. Its a pregnancy skin care favorite. This paired with Novena’s Organic Citrus Blemish Lotion is exceptionally favorable for those mothers-to-be who are experiencing a case of pregnancy acne. Acne is a common and pesky side effect for some women during their pregnancy. Yet, most acne treatments contain chemicals which can potentially have adverse effects to a baby. Fortunately now, mothers-to-be can now be thankful for Novena Maternity.

Some Great Stats:
100% vegan, free priority mail shipping, dissolves makeup effortlessly

FOR NORMAL TO OILY SKIN

ACTIVE ORGANIC MILK FOREST PURIFIER

$32.00

Though Red Flower is not branded as a strictly pregnancy skin care line, its products purity are safe and gentle for anyone. The active organic milk forest purifier is high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, vitamins a, b12 and d to strengthen and stimulate vitality leaving a more supple skin tone. The creamy rejuvenating purifier helps to reduce toxicity in the skin while increasing cellular turnover. It is rich with vitamin c, cloudberries, evergreens, herbs, and potent energizing extracts to deliver intense anti-oxidants, nature’s most powerful arctic berries.

Some Great Stats:
one hundred percent botanical, free of all synthetics, parabens, dyes, petrochemicals and sulfates, made with certified organic ingredients, contains the spirit of life, packaged in 77% post consumer recycled paper and printed at a 100% wind powered plant.

Let’s face it, pregnancy can create and leave behind pesky side-effects. But no worries, nature provide numerous remedies for anything, including stretch marks. Here are two simple and natural remedies to combat stretch mark as oppose to using cocoa butter. These simple yet efficient solutions leave you with a gentle and delicious scent by the essences of nuts, flowers and citrus oils:

ONLINE AND ON THE SHELVES

Elasticity Belly Oil

4 oz- $39.00

Belli , the number 1 recommended skin care by OB-GYNS, has a wonderful product called Elasticity Belly Oil. The product is a luxurious blend of essential oils and ingredients which nourish your skin while protecting against pesky stretch marks. With almond oil as its main carrier, this oil is easily absorbed into your skin and does not leave a greasy residue. In fact, your skin is left feeling soft like a baby’s bottom. The blend’s Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil’s calming scent is an added bonus. In published medical research* (referenced from Belli), the combination of it Gotu Kola extract, Vitamin E and Collagen Hydrolysates was shown to decrease the risk of stretch marks by 39% compared to placebo treatment.

IN YOUR PANTRY

Using either almond or sunflower oil as your base, add 4 to 5 drops of orange blossom essential oil and then gently massage into your skin. It’s that simple. As well, remember that eating good whole grains and organic fruits and veggies rich in nutrients will also help you keep your skin firm.

Whole Foods Market is celebrating all things baby this month with their “Whole Baby” campaign. As part of the campaign, they are having a cutest “Baby’s Favorite Foods” photo contest where parents can upload those hilarious photos of babies enjoying their favorite foods. The prize is a Canon Powershot SD880 IS digital ELPH camera, a “Whole Baby” gift basket and a Whole Foods gift card. All pictures must be submitted by March 13th and the babies in the photos must be younger than 12 months.

In addition, special offers,discounts, educational podcasts, in-store lectures, and a brochure providing lifestyle tips & ideas will be available to all new parents throughout the month. Some topics of discussion include prenatal top priorities, natural baby care choice, tips & concerns for breastfeeding mothers and top 10 “first food” facts

Participating companies whom are offering specials and discounts during the initiative include Seventh Generation, Bellybar, Earth’s Best, Plum Organics, Traditional Medicinals, Hyland’s, Stonyfield Farm, Peter Rabbit Organics and California Baby. Visit your local Whole Foods/ Whole Body today.

Tuesday night, I hosted the “Be Thankful and Biodynamic” event at the Jurlique concept store in Soho. With Thanksgiving just next week, and all of the wonderful new mothers I have been meeting of late, I was inspired to celebrate and connect the brilliance of biodynamics and motherhood.

I created this workshop to establish a dialogue & platform, for mothers to be and women in general, to try on a biomimicry/holistic thinking cap. I chose to hold the event at Jurlique for the company and their products are truly at the top echelon of environmentally sound, holistic and ethical companies. From sustainable packaging, including vegetable based inks and plastic made from corn, the Australian based company sees to it that all of the ingredients used to make their products are grown by the principles of biodynamic farming.

I gave a brief lecture on the benefits of a selected collection of Jurlique’s biodynamic essential oils and how they can enhance or support a mother in her 2nd or 3rd trimester; as well as those oils to refrain from during these times. The delicious Babycakes NYC, provided ridiculously amazing vegan brownies and chocolate chip cookies for the guest and the incredible staff at Jurlique- Soho gave guests biodynamic facials and hand massages. Guest walked away with wonderful Jurlique products for mother and baby as well as useful information on essential oils, mayan abdominal massage & resources for sustaining a baby/child’s creativity and expression.

Pregnancy is not only a transformation of a woman’s body, but her emotional state-of-mind as well. Doctors and scientists have confirmed that a mother’s emotional state significantly influences the health of her child. A baby’s birth weight and stress level can be influenced by an overly stressed or anxious mother. The hormonal changes that the female body undergoes during pregnancy can lead to many discomforts — from morning sickness, body aches, swelling to stretch marks.

The majority of all over the counter medicines and traditional remedies are off-limits to expecting moms. Though, during childbirth, a new category of sensations, ache and pain arises and in this case a variety of medicines are commonly administered. I ask myself, why? Women deserve the right to have access to the knowledge and options of natural alternatives to alleviate their discomforts, aches and pains throughout pregnancy and childbirth. The history of aromatherapy dates back to about 4500 BC and it is my opinion that a resurgence of attention to the practice of aromatherapy(essential oils) and botany, would do our healthcare system good (the ingredients would have to be grown sustainably of course).

Visit these links to learn more about essential oils and how they may be incorporated into your holistic pregnancy and lifestyle. Please do consult with your doctor before adopting any routine into your overall pregnancy and make the right choice for you:

Overview of Essential oils for pregnancy & childbirth
Some beneficial oils for pregnancy
Oils to abstain from during pregnancy
Perineum Massage
Lavender oils’ potential estrogenic effects on pre-adolescent infants & boys (DO KNOW WHERE YOUR LAVENDER IS COMING FROM AND WHAT OTHER INGRIDENTS ACCOMPANY THE PRODUCT THAT YOU ARE USING? )
Blend Recipes
More Blends
Aromatheraphy Practioner Certification

First off, I have to applaud Angelina for gracing the cover of the new W magazine while breastfeeding. The photographer just so happened to be Brad Pitt. Angelina is inspirational because she has confidently taken a stand and is sending a message loud and clear. Women who are mothers are naturally beautiful and breastfeeding is a normal natural phenomenon that should be accepted as a social norm. Though the cover picture is just a simple black and white photo, and there were no fancy film crews in their home, still remains evident a beautiful halo of motherhood. Breastfeeding is healthy and super beneficial for mother and child. It is unfortunate that over the years, breastfeeding has been given a taboo cloak. Because of these tainted views, many women aren’t given the freedom, encouragement and support that they need to give nutrients to their child, build their immune systems, reduce a their own risk of certain types of cancer, and more. With this cover, a dialogue can begin again.

And secondly, Brad Pitt has collaborated with beauty brand Kiehl’s to create the first ever Cradle-to-Cradle certified beauty product (environmentally safe, healthy , designed for material reutilization,etc.) The Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser that Brad helped design and developed the scent, debuts this month. He also wrote a little message on the label to inform everyone where proceeds from their purchase will go:

These two people are amazing and inspirational.

Who would have necessarily thought that Strollers and Organic Skincare went hand in hand? UK based Maclaren, manufacturer of popular strollers, recently launched Beginning, an organic skincare line for baby and mother. Some of the products in the collection are certified by the Soil Association Organic Standard. The products are dermatologically tested and are safe for new borns. From facial mist to belly balm to dusting powder, the Beginning collection appears to be quite unique for the market. These products are not recommended to mothers in your first trimester. If you want to test out these products for yourself, visit the Flagship Showroom in Soho