Tag Archive for: natural

Meet the Founders of Austin-based Clean Beauty Retailer, Fine Line

Fine Line was created out of a desire to foster Austin’s growing community of wellness-minded people.

Despite the multitude of places to buy clean beauty products online, we believe nothing takes the place of IRL human connection. We hope you come to Fine Line to find your clean beauty favorites, but also to try new things and meet new people. Come say hi and stay awhile. – Cissy & Ashley

How do you start your mornings? 

Cissy: My mornings start with a cup of coffee, a short meditation and some sort of exercise (typically biking or pilates). Exercise is key for me to start the day feeling good. After showering, I get to the fun part – my skincare routine. I love taking my time with all things serums, eye creams, moisturizers and gua sha treatment.

Ashley: After I hit snooze a few times, I head straight into my skincare routine to wake me up. I’ve been trying to limit my caffeine intake so I’m experimenting with alternatives like Rasa and Four Sigmatic. 

Why is clean beauty important for you?

Cissy: Clean beauty is important to me because it aligns with my intention to lead a healthy lifestyle. The clean products now available on the market make it possible to get great results without negatively impacting our health. I am a long time fan of the movement to educate people about what they put on their skin and feel lucky to be playing a small part as co-founder of Fine Line.

Ashley: There aren’t many shortcuts in life but I believe clean beauty is an easy way to improve your overall health. Cissy and I have both always been wellness obsessed and when we came to Austin, we met a lot of like minded people but didn’t see many opportunities for us to come together. The community aspect is the best part of clean beauty, and that’s what inspired us to build something ourselves.

Favorite mood-boosting meal?

Cissy: My favorite meal to make at home is a salad with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted chickpeas, pistachios, avocado and olive oil. I never get sick of this salad and it makes me feel good!

Ashley: I live for roasted red peppers, artichokes, and avocado over brown rice with a little olive oil and vinegar. Nothing fancy, which is probably why it boosts my mood so much!

What are your go-to daily beauty products and why?

Cissy: Oh boy, this could take a while. I love trying new products so I regularly rotate my regular lineup. Right now some of my go-to daily products include Goldfaden Doctor’s Scrub, Goldfaden Needle-Less, Indie Lee Superfruit Facial Cream and One Love Organics Botanical B Cleanser.  I love Doctor’s Scrub for exfoliating my skin. Needle-less is so effective at smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. Indie Lee Superfruit Facial Cream is packed with so many great ingredients like Vitamin C, plant peptides and hyaluronic acid.

Ashley: Same…how much time ya got? My routine is actually quite simple right now – Ere Perez Ginkgo Micellar Water, Goldfaden Needle-less (this is a miracle product we can hardly keep on our shelves!), One Love Organics Youth Preservation Serum and Furtuna Skin Restoration Balm to bring my sensitive, dry skin back to life. I break out along my jawline from time to time and use Goldfaden Facial Detox to nip it in the bud. This product was actually my entry into Goldfaden – I read about it on Goop and figured if it was good enough for Gwenyth, it’s (more than) good enough for me!

The makeup I can’t live without:

Cissy: I generally keep it simple when it comes to makeup. I can’t live without Vapour’s Mesmerize Mascara, my Olio E Osso lip/cheek tint balm and the Ere Perez Vanilla Highlighter. 

Ashley: I love the Ere Perez Quinoa Water Foundation…it’s skincare and makeup in one! I love a red lip so use their Carrot Colour Pots in Hello and Holy, and always finish with the Vapour Mesmerize Mascara.

What does wellness mean to you?

Cissy: For me, it means taking care of my mind and body through healthy eating, exercise, positive relationships and conscious consumption. I feel my best when I stick to these goals. 

Ashley: I think it changes. Some days it’s waking up early and going to pilates. Other days, it’s closing my computer early, ordering takeout, and binging Netflix.

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How To Receive Radiant Skin with Sacha Strebe

Name: Sacha Strebe

Location: Los Angeles 

Age: 41

Tell us a little about yourself…
I moved here from Australia seven years ago and fell in love with the LA lifestyle. After a few years working in digital media—I held the position of Editorial Director for MyDomaine and then Create & Cultivate—I went out on my own as an editorial consultant helping content creators and media brands with their digital strategy, growth goals, and more. I accomplished so much during that time and felt incredibly fulfilled, but creatively I really felt the pull to return to the design world so I recently accepted the Editorial Director role at EyeSwoon, working closely with interior designer, Athena Calderone. 

While digital media keeps me creatively fulfilled, my other passion is skincare. I have always loved the innovation, technology, and ingredient advancements of the beauty industry, and testing them out on my own skin to achieve that healthy radiance we all crave. After many requests from friends to share my own skincare routine and treatments, I finally launched an Instagram account called @skinlexicon where I could share everything from the products to the lasers, injectables, PDO threads, and at-home tools I love. The response so far has been phenomenal and I love how close the skincare community is, too—it’s always positive, open, and fun! 

What are your skincare goals? 

For me, it’s always been healthy, even, glowy skin which equals hydration! I am 41 so my skin is going through a new iteration. It’s thirstier than it was in my 20s so I definitely find I need hydrating serums, thicker moisturizers, and an occlusive to seal it all in. 

Do you have any specific skincare concerns? 

I developed melasma after having our son 13 years ago so after treating it with three sessions of IPL at the time (I know they don’t recommend that now), my routine has been all about maintenance and prevention ever since, which equates to brightening products, lasers, microdermabrasion with PRP, and a lot of sunscreen! I am also a big fan of exfoliation, which I know has gotten a bad rap in recent years for damaging the skin barrier, but at my age, it’s key to ensuring a steady cell turnover (which, let’s be real, has significantly slowed down). I love chemical exfoliators like peels (I do a chemical peel at least 1-2 times a month) and physical exfoliators at least 2-3 times a week.

First thoughts when incorporating Radiance Repair and Doctor’s Scrub into your routine:

1st week… As a fan of exfoliation, I couldn’t wait to try the Doctor’s Scrub, especially considering almost all of my friends recommended it to me. The difference in my skin was immediate—we’re talking baby smooth, soft, and with that healthy glow from stimulating the blood flow. I also love how receptive my skin is to the serums afterward—it heightens absorption and ultimately, the efficacy. Radiance Repair is almost like a moisturizer/serum hybrid. The texture is incredibly smooth and my skin has a beautiful, glowy sheen afterward. 

2nd week… There is a visible difference in the texture of my skin—smooth, even, and clear. Since the Doctor’s Scrub is so fine, it doesn’t damage the skin or irritate—it really does feel like I’ve just stepped out of a professional microdermabrasion treatment. I have also noticed a reduction in pore size or the appearance of pore size since the scrub helps to clear away dirt and debris thus minimize blackheads in the process. I love the Radiance Repair so much—often I’ll come back into the bathroom during the day if my skin is feeling dry (especially during these colder months) and reapply it because it just feels and looks so good when I do.

Is clean beauty something that you feel passionate about?
I think the term “clean beauty” has caused a lot of confusion with consumers around what it is and what it means for something to be considered “clean.” I don’t think anyone wants to put skincare on their face that could be carcinogenic but I also think there’s a lot of fearmongering around certain ingredients that hasn’t been helpful. It’s important to do your own research and find skincare that works for your concerns and goals. I follow a lot of cosmetic scientists like Michelle Wong from Lab Muffin and Jen from The Eco Well who help to explain a lot of ingredient myths and debunk misinformation.

What else do you feel passionate about?

I love my fashion especially my Aussie designers—Dion Lee and Christopher Esber! I am also obsessed with our French bulldog, Cosmo. And I’m passionate about getting out in nature—I learned how to ski this year and just started mountain biking with my husband and son.

Best advice you’ve ever received in regards to caring for your skin?

Good skin takes time. Consistency is key. And get regular facials by a licensed esthetician to do professional extractions and facial massage. They can also help to get you on a skincare routine that’s suited to your skin and goals—so important. Also, see a dermatologist for annual skin cancer checks! 

How do you stay focused and motivated throughout the day?

I truly love what I do so it’s never hard for me to stay focused and motivated. I love creating, collaborating, and challenging myself to innovate, step up, and push myself to be better every day. But matcha helps too! Lol.

What are some of your favorite foods that keep your skin healthy?

I’m a vegetarian so I eat lots of plant-based meals with healthy fats like avocado and olive oil, plus there is always a ton of leafy greens and seasonal veggies in my meals. We also cook a lot at home so we know what’s going into our meals. I love to do a big grocery shop on the weekend and meal prep for the week ahead. I stopped taking a lot of vitamins and focused on supplementing through diet. I also follow Glucose Goddess because I think glucose is one of the most underrated elements of good health—her hacks to flatten glucose curves have been such a gamechanger for me!

Fill in the blank:  ________ is/are underrated.

Poetry. I always seek it out in times of need whether that be for creative inspiration, motivation, or just when I need to feel uplifted. I just bought a book of Pablo Neruda but I also love Mary Oliver. 

I also think rest is underrated. This year I have allowed myself to resist the urge on the weekend to “do” and instead just to “be” and not feel guilty if I haven’t accomplished anything or fulfilled a to-do list. Rest is just as if not more productive. We need it. 

 

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The Gold Standard in Skincare: Superhero Ingredients

When choosing the correct product for your skincare goals and needs, understanding ingredients is imperative. We always go back Dr. G, to understand the power player ingredients and why he formulates with them. Below are some favorites and where to find them.

Retinoids attack hyperpigmentation, stimulate the skin to generate collagen and hyaluronic acid, increase radiance by reducing pore size, safely exfoliate and increase cell turnover. Find them in Wake Up Call and Hands to Heart.

Peptides encourage skin cell growth and collagen production. Peptides are made up of a string of amino acids held together by tough bonds of nitrogen and carbon that act as messengers to send out signals which tell the receptors on your skin cells how they should perform. Find them in Plant Profusion Neck Cream.

Acetyl hexapeptide is a powerful wrinkle-reducing neuropeptide that works by hindering a signal protein called catecholamine that triggers muscle contraction, thereby relaxing your facial muscles. Find it in Needle-less serum.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids or AHAs (Lactic acid, Glycolic acid and Fruit acids) are used as a facial exfoliator and are an excellent choice for people with sun-damaged skin, aging skin or normal to dry skin types. AHAs do not cause sun sensitivity and come in the forms of lactic acid which is derived from milk, glycolic acid which is derived from sugarcane and fruit acids which are derived from fruits (citrus and apples/malic acid). Found in Fresh-A-Peel.

Beta Hydroxy Acid or BHA (also called salicylic acid) comes from acetylsalicylic acid which is the same source as aspirin. In general, beta hydroxy acid is a more effective treatment for acne-prone skin. BHA is the only acid that can dissolve the keratin plug inside a pore, which will ultimately form a pimple. BHA can cause sun sensitivity and must always be used in conjunction with sunscreen.  Find it in Detox Clarifying Gel.

Mallow extremely soothing and loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. Find it in our Detox Cleanser as part of our proprietary DETOX complex.

Elderflower promotes blood flow and loaded with vitamins A, B, C and E. A true powerhouse ingredient. Find it in Skin Balancing Mask.

Arnica helps with bruising and the darkness involved and contains flavonoids, polysaccharides, and sesquiterpene lactones. Also contains the beneficial oil, thymol, clinically shown to cause the smooth muscles in your blood vessel walls to contract, thereby dilating them and increasing blood flow and circulation. Found in Bright Eyes.

Milk thistle Fatty acids, including linoleic acid, Vitamin E (antioxidant/environmental stressors, Silymarin, which is actually a group of three flavonoids (anti-aging, antioxidant purposes from environmental stressors). Found in Fleuressence Botanical Cell Oil.

Japonica flower one of the most important medicinal herbs in history, may provide extraordinary levels of calming properties. Loaded with key benefits to improve the appearance of flaws. Found in Facial Detox Mask.

Achieve your most healthy and glowing skin when science and nature combine.

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