GREEN YOUR ROUTINE Giveaway

Happy Friday! Today I want to give you a few tips about greening your beauty routine. Even though the products you choose are important of course, there is also something to be said for getting a little DIY, too! Since my 100% Pure Argan Oil is, well, pure and just one ingredient, it's easy to incorporate into your favorite home beauty routine. There is also something to be said for what you don't use. Check out my tips. Plus:

I want to know, what are your favorite DIY recipes that incorporate my 100% Pure Argan Oil? The winner will get a free bottle!

Please comment below and include your email address. Only U.S. and Canada residents are eligible to win. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Friday, April 20. 

1. Try a Homemade Brightening Masque
I love beauty products, but sometimes a simple at-home treatment does wonders for the skin. One of my favorites is a yogurt masque. Simply take a quarter cup of your favorite plain, greek yogurt and use a paintbrush to apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. If it begins to dry out, drape a damp washcloth over your face to keep moisture in. Rinse, being sure to remove all the yogurt. The lactic acid in the yogurt will help dissolve dead skin and impurities, leaving your face looking bright and rejuvenated.  Be sure to moisturize with 100% Pure Argan Oil right after washing your face to nourish the skin. 

2. Get Dirty
If you wash and style your hair every day, you're doing a whole lot of work and putting an unnecessary strain on the environment. Instead, keep your blowout for a few extra days by using a dry shampoo. You can simply sprinkle it on your roots and rub it in to get rid of any excess oil. You'll save water and electricity by not washing your hair or turning on your blow dryer. Over time, your scalp will get used to not being washed every day and will stop producing so much oil. 

3. Say No to Synthetic
One of the most important things to me when I was creating my line was to ensure that my products contain no synthetic fragrance. Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates which can disrupt the endocrine system and damage the reproductive system. Essential oils are such an amazing alternative. Look for all natural perfumes, or go to the health food store and pick up a few of your favorite essential oils to create your own unique blend! 

GET THE LOOK: (Eco) Oscars 2012

On the most glamorous eve in Hollywood, we noticed that the beauty looks were fresh with only the slightest splash of color (except for Angelina's striking red lips, of course). In true let-your-natural-beauty-shine-through style, our favorite eco-celebs proved that less is more and that it's all about highlighting your best features. To replicate this, we thought we'd round up their beauty looks and make them simple so that you can achieve them yourself.

To start, make sure your skin is cleansed (Argan Cleansing Oil), nourished (100% Pure Argan Oil), and protected (Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+). Lightly apply your shade of Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation and dust your T-zone with our Argan Pressed Powder in Natural. This will leave you with a clean palette and your skin will stay soft and supple all day. 

1. Cameron: Ms. Diaz was a blushing beauty in shades of pink on her cheeks and lips. To get the look, smile and the apply our Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink to the apples of your cheeks. Stain your lip with our Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Jitterbug and then apply a thin coat of Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Precious for a soft sheen. Keep your eye makeup simple by lining your eyes with Eye Liner in Black and then applying a coat of GOGO Mascara on both the upper and lower eyelashes

2. Natalie: Letting the ruby red of her dress take center stage, Ms. Portman kept her makeup soft in hues of dusty rose. Get her subtle look by highlighting your eyelids in shades of brown (we recommend our Argan Beautiful Eyes in Beautiful Nudes), lining the upper lid with our Argan Magic Marker Liquid Eye Liner, followed by a coat of GOGO Mascara. Then use Argan Color Stick in Rosey on your cheeks and our Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Waltz on your lips. Finally, apply a coat of Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Voluptuous.

3. Penelope: A sparkling ocean blue dress meant that Ms. Cruz needed a beauty look that was classic and simple. She kept it clean by sticking to earthy and neutral shades. First, define your eyes as detailed in Natalie's look, making sure to keep the eyeliner defined on the upper lid and blended on the bottom. Follow with our Argan Cream Blush in Sunset. Finish the look by applying our Lip Liner in Peach to your entire pout, followed by Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Happy for a little shine.

4. Gwyneth: With a dazzling bright white dress, Ms. Paltrow stuck to bronzed shades for her face. Define your eyes like the looks above, using Argan Eye Shadow in Embrace and Maple to draw attention to your lids. For a sunkissed glow, use Argan Bronzing Powder in Beach No. 1 on your cheeks. Finish with our Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Mambo and a top coat of Argan Lip Gloss in Confession.

GET THE LOOK Valentine's Day 2012

Happy Love Day! Whether you're celebrating with a night out this evening or simply staying in to cozy up with your sweetie, it's always fun to get a little dolled up in the spirit of this fabulous day of pinks and reds. But no need to go overboard! We pulled four looks that will inspire you to highlight your features while still looking elegant and sweet, then we made them eco and added our spin. We're confident you'll look amazing!

Prime Face: After washing your face with Argan Cleansing Oil, moisturize with our Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+, followed by the Argan Primer Mist. Once absorbed, finish with Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation for a flawless canvas.

1. Mauve: To get this look, lightly dab our Argan Cream Blush in Sunset on the outer apples of the cheeks.  Then, cover the lid in Argan REM Pen Eyeshadow in Dusty Rose, followed by Argan Eye Shadow in Maple in the crease of the eye to highlight the depth of your lid . Finish with two coats of GOGO Mascara and apply our Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain Cha Cha for a final touch of mauve.

2. Poppy: First, define the brows with the Argan Magic Brows. Coat the top lid of your eye with Argan Eye Shadow in Vintage to show off your peepers and draw attention to your brows. Follow with coat of GOGO Mascara. Finally, cover your bottom lip in Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Waltz, dab your lips together and blend with your finger for a popsicle-stained pout.

3. Coral: Softly sweep Argan Eye Shadow in Valentine over your lid extending to the inner corners. On the apples of your cheeks, apply our Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink, then curl your lashes and apply a coat of GOGO Mascara. Finish with our Argan Lip Treatment to make your lips soft and smooch-ready.

4. Rose: Make a winged line on your eyes with our Argan Magic Marker Liquid Eye Liner. Follow with two coats of GOGO Mascara. Then apply our Argan Color Stick in Rosey and finish with Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Tango. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

JOSIE'S TIPS Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Waltz

It's here! This lovely month where you can't help but see shades of blush, fuchsia and rose popping up everywhere to celebrate love. Isn't it great? But before you think you have to sacrifice your favorite shade of lip color to kiss your sweetheart, may I remind you that your perfect Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Waltz is waiting for you? It's perfectly pink, an easy on-the-go marker and it won't budge. If ever there were a made-for-Valentine's-Day smoochin' product, this would be it. Here's a few tips:

-Going from work to a fun date? Use a little on your lips in the morning and come evening, carefully apply like a liner, fill in your lips and apply a dab to your cheeks. Then blend and go!

-Not going to kiss anyone, but want to look fabulous anyway? First apply the marker and then top with Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Voluptuous for a stare-worthy pout.

-Keep it subtly sexy by applying gently and blending with finger, then applying more color in the middle of your lips for a popsicle-stain-meets-natural color.

MAMA ESSENTIALS Giveaway

For all you other moms and moms-to-be out there, I hope you've taken advantage of my celebration over on our site! Enjoy 10% off until January 31, 2012 on my Moms-To-Be collection here by simply using this code at checkout: Baby#2

And from now until next Friday, enter for a chance to win our Argan Balm and our Argan Bear Naked Wipes, two of my mama must-haves! I carry these items with me everywhere because you just never know when you or your baby are going to need cleansing and hydration. To win, simply leave a comment telling me how you spend fun time with your child in the comments section below. As you can see, Rumi and I like to be birds!

The winner will be anounced here and on Facebook on Monday, February 6.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

GET THE LOOK Christian Dior Spring 2012

The soft hues of winter sometimes need a pop of punch to avoid being too mellow. Christian Dior took complementary shades of pale pinks and barely-there peach and combined it with vivid lips for a look that is both feminine and fun. We thought we'd replicate it so that you can stand out and be eco-chic at the same time. . . plus, this looks great with a face framing hat in the cold months and takes you right into wearing dresses in the warmth of spring.

1. Cleanse skin with the Argan Cleansing Oil followed by Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+. Give your skin a few minutes to soak up the moisturizer and then even out skin tone with Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation.

2. Using Argan Magic Brows Brow Marker + Brow Powder Duo, fill in eyebrows. Set with a small dab of Argan Balm for a polished face.

3. Dab the Argan Cream Blush in Sunset on cheekbones blending upward towards top of ears. Then, carefully line and fill your lips with Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Flamenco.

4. Finish the look by curling eyelashes and apply a coat (or two) of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara on the lashes.