Ask the PFMs: Natural Shampoo & Conditioner Picks for Creating Volume

Hi ladies (and gents!) It had been a while since we did one of these posts...and now it seems the questions keep on coming. We love it, so keep asking!

Q. I'm looking for a new volumizing shampoo and conditioner. I want to try a natural, organic product and I've been shopping around and reading labels but I'm not sure which to try. Can you help?

A. Oh yeah...I have some ideas for you! Reading labels and understanding the long list of ingredients to avoid can definitely be overwhelming...so let me break it down for you a bit. I've come to learn that there are major offenders to steer clear of, and I'm more happy to direct you to this helpful list created by the ladies of the Green Beauty Team. When it comes to research, I don't hesitate to dive right in (actually, I thrive on it.) I consulted reputable green beauty sites and read through numerous product reviews to discover that there are plenty of options to amp up your locks while protecting yourself and the environment. Depending on how thrifty you want to be, I came up with three shampoo/conditioner duos to choose from. Without further ado, let's turn up the volume!

Un, get Wallet Friendly with Acure Organics Pure Mint and Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner. There is a beautiful story behind this beauty line...designer Kristy Guerra founded Acure Organics as a way to honor her grandmother, who battled breast cancer for over 10 years. Kristy wanted to help raise money for breast cancer research and awareness while also providing healthy products that promote healthier living and a greener planet. This safe, affordable, beautiful line of organic beauty products is the result of her efforts. Side note: whether I've been at Bikram yoga or I just have product build-up, I use their Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo/Conditioner...the clarifying properties are amazing!

Deux, do you have the Urge to Splurge with Rahua Voluminous Shampoo and Conditioner? Although this is a pricier option, the rave reviews are hard to ignore. This luxurious line contains rich, potent natural ingredients that protect and improve the health of your hair and the rainforest.

Trois, sometimes you just have to Treat Yourself Like a VIP with Yarok Feed Your Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. I've already sung the praises of Yarok's Volume Enhancing Mousse, so it's no surprise that this duo is on the list. Their hard-working hair care line is free of alcohol, paraben, sulfates and cruelty to animals. The idea is to nourish the scalp with vital nutrients while serenading the senses...that's wellness from the inside out. xoxo Becca

PFMs on the Town: Green Glam at Fashion Week

 

There's a craving I get every so often and surprisingly it has nothing to do with the latest recipe or handbag. It's a longing to get together with like-minded people who want to celebrate and share mutual passions...anyone else with me? So, when I was invited to the Green Glam Fashion Week Tweetup there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would end up joining the party.

Hosted by 4 green beauty and fashion experts (including our friend and Eco-beauty goddess Rebecca Casciano) the event was a meeting of the green beauty-savvy minds...we bonded over our shared love of all things healthy and stylish. The boutique-like setting of Organic Avenue's Space of LOVE* was the perfect spot to sip fresh green juice and swap good vibes with dozens of other beauties. I met many amazing women from a variety of industries (can't wait to get together with them again) and had the chance to introduce my girl Jazmin to the awesome world of green beauty. Plus, we took home a sweet swag bag full of healthy treats! Looking chic and enjoying beautifying foods while spreading the message that vibrant health starts on the inside...now that's an ideal night spent during NY Fashion Week!

If you are inspired to be in the know about the next green beauty event in the New York area, I encourage you click the links above to follow or tweet any (or all) of those lovely ladies mentioned previously. Feeling like you want to empower yourself to make healthier choices in life, but don't know where to start? Of course you can always Ask the PFMs! This is just the beginning of a growing movement towards natural, healthy, and stylish living that is anything but boring. As green beauty-fashion-wellness enthusiasts, Sesheta and I are so proud to be setting a hot trend that can become an incredible lifestyle if you let it. xoxo Becca

*images via Rebecca Casciano, Jon Gordon, and MavenFresh

PFM Obsession: Becca's Beauty Fresh Five #2- Hair

image via Spirit Beauty Lounge

Hi beauties! Bringing you #2 on the Fresh Five countdown today...it's time to show some love for your gorgeous locks! I'm a firm believer that your hair is your cheapest accessory (thank you Beth Jones!) and you have plenty of opportunities to use it to your advantage. So we should take good care of it- right? 

Summertime means I'm either fighting frizz or creating beachy waves (usually both at the same time) and I wanted to find an all-natural hair product that can help. After making the conscious decision to green my beauty routine, I discovered the Yarok line of hair care products online at Spirit Beauty Lounge. Yarok means green in Hebrew, and their mission is to make the greatest positive impact on hair and scalp health with the least negative impact on the natural environment. Don't you just love that? The glowing reviews pushed me to try out Yarok Feed Your Roots Volume Enhancing Mousse on my naturally wavy hair. So glad I did! I'm a huge fan of letting my hair air-dry in the summer, and this product has been a lifesaver. I dispense about 2-3 pumps of this lightweight mousse and then use my fingers to squeeze, scrunch and define. My long hair becomes shiny, bouncy, and not at all crunchy. It gives me loose waves that are soft and full of body...no frizz! I've also used it to amp up the volume after my hair was already dry and styled. This is what I consider "hair care"-  a 100% natural plant-based product that actually nourishes my hair, makes it healthier, and *gasp* makes it look good? More please. xoxo Becca

image via

I leave you with this...feel free to share it someone special!

PFM Obsession: Becca's Beauty Fresh Five #5- Lips

Get excited, ladies...it's the latest Fresh Five- Green Beauty Edition! I'm counting down my top five favorite beauty products that are not only going to help you look great, they are actually healthy for you and for the environment too.

Sesheta and I recently had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by the Green Beauty Team. We spent an evening learning and celebrating healthy beauty. Inspired by our good friend (and host) Rebecca Casciano, I've been trying to green up my personal beauty routine...one product at a time. Being that I'm so conscious of what I put in my body, why wouldn't I want to be just as aware about what goes on my body? Does this have your mind spinning a bit? Click here for a list of toxic ingredients that has become my new shopping guide. 

The Two Rebeccas! Images c/o Green Beauty Team

Lately Rebecca's been rocking a shade of neon pink lipstick that has me smitten. I got the chance to sample this lil beauty delight at the event (with an amazing makeup pro applying it, no less!) Immediately, I loved the way it looked with my skin tone.  Ilia Beauty Lipstick in Neon Angel is my now my go-to for bold summer lip color...expect to see a lot more of it in future outfit posts! In the most perfect highly pigmented shade of punchy pink, it rivals the best-selling brands at Sephora...and as a bonus- it actually keeps lips moist and smooth. Most importantly, when you are licking your lips you won't be worrying about what your body is absorbing and how it's affecting your health. Find your perfect shade online at Spirit Beauty Lounge...and stay tuned for #4! xoxo Becca

What is MavenFresh?

It's hard to believe how much time has gone by since Rebecca and I started MavenFresh.  At first, it was all about jewelry and accessories, but, once we realized all that we had to offer, MavenFresh evolved and blossomed into all that it is today.  It is only fitting that we re-define all that we have become.   

Becca and I are personally committed to living a lifestyle based on whole living - in health, beauty and fashion.  More of you are realizing the importance of incorporating holistic practices and green living into your lives.  MavenFresh can help in figuring out where to start.  Why?  ...Because we live it and because a healthier world starts with you and me.

...so if you have been wondering, "what is MavenFresh?", well, now you can't say we didn't tell you!  xo sesheta & Rebecca

MavenFresh grew out of the concrete jungle - the brainchild of Sesheta Holder and Rebecca Santilli.  Drawn together by their love of fashion, color and their vegan/vegetarian lifestyles, Sesheta and Rebecca bring their organic take on life to designing and consulting. 

Creatively fueled by the vibe of NYC, the co-founders coined the term, “premiere fashion maven” or PFM.  As PFMs, Sesheta and Rebecca have a broad vision of design and style. MavenFresh has become more than jewelry and accessories – it is a way of life.

Following a mostly plant-based diet and with a push for a greener lifestyle, the PFMs incorporate holistic healing practices such as acupuncture, herbs, yoga, and detoxification into their daily lives.  Their combined experience in health, design, styling, visual merchandising, real estate staging, redesign, life coaching and in the esoteric arts will help inspire your journey to a new you!

SERVICES

Jewelry & Accessories Designers - MavenFresh designs balance hard materials with vintage-inspired softness.  Each handmade piece is a combination of the colors and beauty of nature blended with the stark contrast of the city (New York, of course).  You can find our modern and vintage-inspired handmade jewelry and accessories in our etsy shop along with  vintage and recycled wares at www.etsy.com/shop/mavenfresh.  Custom orders welcome and encouraged. We are also available to teach jewelry design and crochet classes.  

Personal Stylists- Available for wardrobe editing/recycling (includes re-selling your items on eBay), personal style renewal, closet organization, styling for special events and appearances.

Life Stylists- Here to assist you in a transition into gluten-free, vegetarian/pescatarian, or vegan living complimented by raw foods; we will work to help you create lasting dietary changes while incorporating healthier life choices.  Ready and able to cleanse your kitchen pantry and hit the local health food stores with you- just let us be your guides! We also offer prepared meals and treats to assist your shift onto the path of wellness.

Color Consultants- We are not afraid of bright color...or neutrals! When it comes to choosing paint color, the options are endless. By incorporating paint expertise with numerology and color therapy, we will share our successful tips and picks to have your final project looking fab in no time.  Room redesigns are also an option for those who are interested. 

We are looking forward to hearing from you! Message the PFMs at mavenfresh@gmail.com.

PFMs Do It Better: Fighting Frizz!

Do you fear frizz and bad hair days? Are you tired of the rainy humid weather that we've been having for the past two weeks? Ladies (and gents) you are not alone...I give you two solutions for fighting frizz: my savior and my go-to.

 

Lately I've been getting well acquainted with Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray. I discovered this stuff during my trip to the Whittemore House Salon. The stylists are big fans of this line over there, and now I'm addicted too! This spray is perfect for keeping my fringe under control- a major plus for us gals with bangs. So far I've put a few different hairstyles to the test (loose natural waves, messy side bun, and a deep side sweep with flat iron) that ended up staying relatively frizz-free and not at all greasy. Yay! I highly recommend it although a bit pricey. You won't really be using this every day,  just as your savior from heat and humidity...boy do I see a bunch of those days in our near future.

When in doubt this spring and summer, grab a silk scarf and tie it around your head into a bow or wrap it turban-style. A bright color and pretty print will step up your outfit and let you embrace any unsightly frizz. Simple as that. My go-to collection of vintage silk scarves keeps growing every year. But I don't have a polka dot version just yet...!!!

So what do you use for frizz protection?

PFM Obsession: Clarisonic Mia

It's been a month since I've stopped using my hands to wash my face. And I'm never turning back. Ever. 

The Clarisonic Mia has been in countless magazines, endlessly reviewed on websites, and stocked in many stores (helloooo Sephora.) But surprisingly there are still some beauty pros who are totally in the dark about this fantastic tool! It made me realize there must be plenty of beauty novices like myself who also need to be told about the Mia. Thus, a post dedicated to the new star of my cleansing routine. To prove my point...

I give you exhibit A: my sis Suzie who has taught me everything I know about makeup (besides Sesheta!) Since we were in our teens I've considered her my beauty guru; if I'm unsure about buying a new product I always run it by her to get an opinion. Nine times out of ten, she's already tried it! When I asked her about the Mia- she had never even heard of it. Now for the first time ever, Suzie wants to buy a beauty product that I told her about...whoaaaaa.

And exhibit B: my amazing hair stylist Tara who is also a professional makeup artist. She's up to date on the latest beauty trends and always has a hot product to tell me about when I see her. She constantly has me tempted to run out to try said new product(s). But strangely, I was the one telling her all about the Mia!

So ladies, here's what I did. I saved up some cash and took the plunge. The verdict? Let me just sum it all up for you: by day two, my face was noticeably softer. After a week, the dry patches I had (for months) around my nose and cheeks disappeared. The annoying pimples that I couldn't get rid of around my jawline are now totally gone. Before buying the Mia, I had even gone to a dermatologist who wanted to put me on antibiotics- ummm that was definitely not happening for this girl. Now I'm getting complements on my skin. The key was to upgrade my cleansing routine!

I could go on and on...but you get the idea. The winter is officially over and there's no better time to get rid of any dull flaky skin and start fresh. After all, it's your skin and it deserves special treatment!

And to my best girlie Dara, you will not regret this purchase.