JOSIE'S TIPS Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment

Hi Beauties!

When I created my new Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment, I was looking for a way to seriously pamper my skin without taking the time out of my busy schedule to go to the spa for a facial. The creamy oil formula I created deep cleans pores with Argan hydration while the included cleansing cloth buffs away dead skin—so you’re left with silky, hydrated skin and smaller-looking pores. What more could you ask for! I use it once a week to give my skin a little pick-me-up. Here are a few of my secrets for making the most out of your jar.

1. Instead of immediately wiping off the treatment, submerge the entire cleansing cloth in hot water, ring out, and immediately drape it over your face for about 40 seconds, allowing the steam from the cloth to open pores and the cleansing treatment to deep clean. Once the cloth has cooled, use it to wipe off the excess treatment.
2. Use water scented with essential oils to wipe off your cleansing treatment for a relaxing aromatherapy experience. Fill a bowl or sink with very warm water, and add in a few drops of essential oil or infused water. Try eucalyptus or tea tree for acneic skin, and rosewater or rose oil for dry skin. For irritated skin or rosacea, steep a bag of chamomile tea in the bowl. Dip your cleansing cloth in the infused water and use it to wipe the creamy oil from your face.
3. Don’t forget your neck! The skin on the neck and décolleté is just as sensitive and precious as the skin on your face, and one of the first places where we begin to show signs of sun damage and aging. Use Cleansing Treatment on these areas to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. And don’t forget to smooth some Argan Oil on after!

If you have questions or comments about using the Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment, please feel free to post in the comments! I'd love to hear what you think.

With love,

Josie

PINTERESTING FINDS Color Inspiration

We’ve been working on some seriously exciting color projects here at the JMC offices. While we can’t reveal too much, we CAN tell you that there’s something very exciting and very colorful things in the works. When we need to give our creative energy a little boost, we check out some of the gorgeous photos on Pinterest for color inspiration. Take a look! And tell us, if you could create your own perfect color product, what would it be? 

JOSIE ANSWERS Argan Goodness for Babies

Hello, my beauties.

 I love getting questions from Chicological readers, and recently a reader named Kelly asked a great one. She's wondering how to use Argan Oil on the delicate skin of her newborn and her five year old daughter.

My six-year-old and five-month old daughters Rumi and Indi are both Argan babies. I use Argan Oil on their skin the same way I use it on mine. Rumi Joon loves it so much that if I don't keep my eye on her, she'll drench her hair with it.

Here are some tips for using your fave JMC goodies on your little ones:

100% Pure Argan Oil: Add Argan Oil to your baby’s bath or rub it on their skin after their baths. I use Argan Oil on Indi Joon to moisturize her hair and scalp. It's one pure, organic ingredient, so I feel good using it on my babies' pure, organic bodies. 

Argan Balm: I use Argan Balm on Indi Joon to prevent chapping and diaper rash. A little goes a long way to keep her beautiful, soft skin protected and hydrated.

Bear Naked Wipes: Like most kids, my daughters are great at finding ways to get grubby. Bear Naked Wipes are handy-dandy for clean-ups on-the-go.

With love,

Josie 

P.S. If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments and maybe I'll choose it for the next "Josie Answers!" 

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Getting Cozy

After a scorching early Fall here in L.A., we are finally getting some rain! The chilly temperatures have us longing for cozy days snuggled up trying some new at-home beauty treatments. We can't wait to treat ourselves to these soothing eco-friendly options to help us get comfy as the rain trickles down outside. 

Epsom Salts Bath: If you're feeling achy or stressed, you could use a soak in an Epsom salt bath. Many Americans are deficient in magnesium, and Epsom salt baths are one of the easiest ways to boost your levels, relieving symptoms of magnesium deficiency like joint pain, fatigue, and arthritis. Epsom salts also help relieve stress, reduce inflammation, and flush out toxins from the body. Yes please! 

Soften your Feet: We love a good pair of wooly socks in the winter. But what we love even more is that our favorite fuzzies keep our feet feeling baby smooth. Here's how. Soak your feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes, then use a pumice stone to scrub your heels and pads. Apply a rich moisturizer (our Argan Balm is a great tool for the job) to the tops and bottoms of feet and pull on a pair of comfy socks. We promise when you take your socks off after a few hours, your feet will be so supple.

Warm Your Moisturizer: If your house is chilly it's hard to get warm. Here's our favorite tip. Post-shower, warm a bit of your favorite moisturizer in the microwave. Make sure it's not too hot before you slather it on your skin. It will keep you feeling toasty as it absorbs and softens your skin. Our favorite? Josie's Moroccan Argan Body Oil. Try the Calm (lavender) scent, and get to relaxing! 

Images via: Viciously Cyd, DTW, Pinterest

DO GOOD Breast Cancer Awareness

Hearing that you or someone you love has cancer is life-changing. It's more common than any of us would hope; nearly 40,000 American women die annually from breast cancer alone.  It seems that everyone here at JMC has been touched by cancer in some way—including our founder herself. Josie's grandmother, Rita Maran, is 35-year survivor of the disease. In her honor and in honor of all the Argan beauties battling the disease, Josie put together a special collection of "Think Pink" JMC products. Fifteen percent of sales from each of these products will be donated to City of Hope to support those battling breast cancer. We sat down with Grandma Rita—who at a very young 83 still plays tennis every day to keep herself healthy and fit—to learn about her experience as a breast cancer survivor. 

When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?

My first bout with cancer was way back in 1972, when a hysterectomy was necessary to remove a cancerous uterus. Five years later, a large cancerous tumor in my left breast led to surgery - what was then called a 'radical mastectomy.' That in turn called for chemotherapy for half-a-year, plus a dedicated daily routine of physical exercise to get back into physical - and mental – shape.

What was it like to go through your fight against breast cancer?

I was determined to combine mind (reason) and body (exercise). My attitude was: first came cancer, now comes recovery. I was living in London but had terrific support from family, all of them three thousand miles away in California, and from circles of women- and men-friends in England. I jumped headfirst into a new job doing human rights campaigning work with nonviolent grassroots groups in a dozen European countries. That in turn led to "going back to school" at the London School of Economics, to understand how international human rights law could help accomplish nonviolent social change. I just plugged away at staying healthy and learning what I needed to know about human rights.

As a survivor, what words of advice and support would you give to those affected by breast cancer?

 It's a bummer - no doubt about it. Breast cancer represents a huge challenge to your mind, your body, and your self-image. That's a fact - get used to it. For me, it was a call to pull up my socks, get full command of all my resources, and get to work. 

What does it mean to you to have your granddaughter, Josie, raising money for breast cancer? 

Josie was born first of my four grandchildren. I remember her at three months, when she was still my only grandchild and I was still undergoing chemotherapy. We were lying in bed early one morning, playing and laughing, when the thought suddenly hit me: "It doesn't matter to this darling little girl that I have only one breast. She can only know me as I am." Once that realization was out of the way, I could enjoy my granddaughter - and the three grandsons that followed, and now Josie's two daughters - Rumi Joon and Indi Joon- and her cousin Peter's son - Axel, without cancer getting in the way. Josie's nature is to look at a problem - in this case breast cancer - and dig in to do something positive and life-affirming. I couldn't be more proud or more happy that she is that way and that she and Ali are surrounding their two girls with that sense of respect and compassion for others with whom we share this planet.

JOSIE'S TIPS Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain

The temperatures are dropping, and before you know it, everyone’s going to be rocking that smoky eye look that we all love so much. But why does cold-weather makeup have to be so one-note? Can’t we try something a little more…colorful? I'm so psyched that my Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain won a 2012 Allure Best of Beauty Award. The prize has renewed the appreciation that my JMC ladies and I have for this long-lasting, lightweight stain. Around the office, we’ve been flaunting Flamenco and whipping out Waltz for a fresh take on the Fall face. Here are my best tips for getting the most from your Lip and Cheek Stain.

Go Bare A bold lip + a bold eye + rouged cheeks = overkill! I suggest you focus on the lips and leave the rest of your face beautifully bare. Choose a bright, bold shade that complements your skin tone. (Flamenco seems to work for everyone!) Too naked for you? Pat some Argan Illuminizer onto your cheekbones and brow bones to give your skin some radiance.

No Undercoat Needed I know it’s tempting, but don’t apply balm before your lip stain. Most lip balms are oil-based, which keeps water-based stain from absorbing into your lips. Instead, lightly scrub lips with an old toothbrush to exfoliate, and follow immediately with lip stain. If you're batty for your balm, put it on top of the lip stain.

Move Beyond Berry Beauty magazines and blogs claim that berries, plums, and reds are the only Fall-appropriate shades. I say, step outside the box! Try a poppy coral like Jive, or a bright pink like Jitterbug (and bonus, it’s part of our Breast Cancer Awareness collection this month—15% of proceeds go to City of Hope). So unexpected! If you’re feeling more traditional, try Fox Trot, a deep berry wine, or Quickstep, a rich plum.

With love and luscious lips,

Josie

P.S. Don’t be afraid to get cozy with your someone special. This lip stain lasts even through a steamy evening of smooches. xoxo

Images via: Frijolita, Style.com, Bellasugar, Weheartit

GREEN YOUR ROUTINE Beautiful Bathing

We love a good bath and body care tip, like the great DIY scrubs that our October guest blogger shared with us on Tuesday. Inspired by her tips, we’ve been looking into how to make our overall grooming a little greener. Check out our finds!                                                                   

Go Reusable: Most of us probably have a little unwanted hair that we like to say sayonara to at least once a week in the shower. But, according to the EPA, we toss 2 billion disposable plastic razors a year! Try a reusable razor instead to cut back on your footprint. And instead of buying shaving cream, try using your regular hair conditioner or body wash. Anything that really coats your skin will protect you from razor burn.

Cool Off: Nothing feels better than a really hot shower, especially as we enter into the colder months. But, did you know that your extra steamy temp could be wreaking havoc on your skin? The skin naturally produces special proteins and fats that protect and lock in moisture. Hot showers remove this protection, leaving skin dry and itchy. So turn down the heat! You’ll do some good for your skin and your energy bill.

Baby Your Skin: Okay, so we talk a lot about not stripping your skin here at JMC. But really, don’t do it!  Use very mild soaps on the body or an oil body cleanser like our Argan Cleansing Oil for Body. You want to avoid products with harsh detergents which can leave your skin dry, and aren’t so great to wash down the drain.  After showering, gently pat skin with a towel. Then, apply a thick moisturizer to seal in hydration. Extra dry types should try our Argan Balm, while we recommend Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter and Moroccan Argan Body Oils for more normal skin types.

CHICOLOGICAL GUEST POST Teri of Beautiful Makeup Search

You know we like a good DIY beauty recipe over here at JMC. So when Teri Cosenzi, the creator of beautifulmakeupsearch.com, shared her must-have body scrub recipes, we were running-not-walking to the kitchen to whip some up. As a busy mom of four, Teri is an expert on makeup and skincare that not only works, but fits into her sometimes-hectic schedule. Teri’s been living, breathing, and blogging beauty for the past 11 years—bringing a whole lot of know-how to her avid readers. Take it away, Teri!

Simple Sweet Sugar Scrubs

There is no denying that fall is coming. Beside the drop in temperature, I notice a big change in my skin around this time of year.

Over the summer, I spent a lot of time outdoors in the sun, in the pool and in the ocean. With the little color I soaked now up fading, and my self tanner routine over; my skin is very dry and uneven. Sure, it has been neglected for the last few weeks, and it needs to get back to it’s better, soft self.

To help my skin along the way, I give my whole body a nourishing scrub at least once a week. My favorite scrub doesn’t come from the store; it comes right from my kitchen shelves.

My DIY Skin Care Scrubs are simple and sweet. Each scrub requires just two ingredients—sugar and oil. 

DIY Light Body Scrub

For a light scrub, I mix one cup of granulated white sugar with enough Vitamin E Oil to make a thick paste. I take it with me to the tub and scrub it in circular motions all over my body. The simple-to use scrub helps rid my skin of dead cells, allowing it to take in the nourishment of the Vitamin E Oil. If you have never used a body scrub before, this easy and gentle.

DIY Coarse Body Scrub

For a heavy-duty scrub, I mix one cup of dark brown sugar with olive oil. Again, I use this in the tub and scrub it in circular motions all over my body. This scrub is best for skin that is use to body scrubs, can handle more exfoliation and needs more hydration.

After using each scrub in the tub, I carefully rinse off (careful--it does get very slippery in there when using oil) and just blot my skin with a towel. I do not fully dry. To seal in the moisture, I slather on some of my favorite body moisturizer. 

After a few simple sweet sugar scrubs, my skin is already looking better and feeling softer.

Not a DIY girl? Check out our brand new Argan Sugar Balm Body Scrub, exclusively at QVC. It’s loaded with yummy, glowing skin ingredients like Shea Butter and, of course, lots of Argan Oil. Your skin will thank you!

Brown Sugar Image via Family Dinner Book

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Natural Nails

Here in the office, we’ve been talking A LOT about our nails recently—our Manager of Product Development, Jenn, has been sporting some wacky and wild nail art that has sparked a wave of serious nail envy. Among us chicological gals, all things nail polish and nail art have gotten a pretty bad rap due to all the chemical-laden formulas out there.  But—hooray—there are some eco-conscious alternatives that have us striping, polka-dotting, and bedazzling our digits. Here are our fave eco tips for nails.

Be Free: “3 Free” that is. Look for nail polishes that are free of these three no-no ingredients: toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde. Josie’s favorite “3 Free” brand right now is Priti NYC, which was started by fellow mom Kim D’Amato when she was pregnant with her first kid.

In the Buff: Our VP of Sales gave us a great idea yesterday. When she goes to get a manicure, instead of having polish applied, she asks for her nails buffed. And boy do they sparkle! It looks like she has a clear coat on top, but it’s all her natural shine.

Argan Nails: You know we couldn’t talk about nails without giving some props to the ultimate cuticle oil—Argan Oil! It moisturizes those hangnails and dry nail beds like nothing else. You can even put a drop on your freshly painted nails to repel water and dust while it’s still tacky.

Images Via:

Priti NYC

The Beauty Department

Pinterest

JOSIE ANSWERS How is JMC Argan Oil Different?

With so many new oil products on the market, I'm getting lots of letters and calls asking how our Argan Oil is different from others. What makes is special? What are you "voting with your wallet" for when you buy it? Here's why my pure and natural wonder ingredient is—in my humble opinion—the best of the best. 

1.It's 100% Pure and Organic

Every bottle of my 100% Pure Argan Oil contains only one ingredient. It's not a blend. It contains no preservatives, fragrances, or other oils. Also, it's 100% organic: as clean and natural as skincare gets. It's so pure, it's edible. After all, why would you put something on your body that you wouldn't put in it?

2. It's First Cold Pressed

Like the finest olive oil, the Argan nuts in my oil are pressed only once, and heat is never applied to them. This ensures that all the vital nutrients—including Vitamin E and tons of essential fatty acids—are kept intact, the better to make your skin healthier and happier.

3. It's Good for People & the Planet

Argan Oil not only helps you look and feel great, it also helps the environment, and the women who produce it for us. Every purchase of my 100% Pure Argan Oil supports women’s co-ops which, in turn, provide the women of rural Morocco with a steady income, fair wage, and literacy classes. The co-ops also help protect the Argan forests and ensure responsible harvesting practices and reforestation. 

Want to see how Argan Oil is traditionally extracted? Take a look below!