Sandalwood extract has a long history. Its use can be traced back through beauty treatments, healthy living and even spiritual rituals that took place over 4,000 years ago.The exotic scent of this extract comes from the heartwood of sandalwood, an evergreen from the Santalaceae family. The highest quality of oil comes from older, more mature trees, and is extracted through steam distillation. This woody, sweet and exotic smell often complements cosmetic and skin care formulas, and it’s often used as an essential oil for therapeutic purposes.Although this scent is pleasant and popular, this ingredient does much more than smell good....

Fall is all about grabbing your newest pair of jeans, swapping your tanks for cozy sweaters and wrapping up in your favorite scarf. But why should the fall season be only about your clothes? Try out these fall makeup looks to go with every ensemble these next few months. For warm-toned skin, our makeup consultant recommends either pairing our Coral Berry Lipstick with our Light Coral Powder Blush, or our Indian Dust Lipstick with our Indian Dust Powder Blush. The first combination (see final look below, left) is an excellent daytime choice for those with warm tones, and its subtle brown and warm pink tones really pull together...

 In the last few years, the natural & organic marketplace has exploded in popularity. However, while sales of natural products continue their aggressive growth, many families struggle with whether or not “living naturally” is really worth it.Deciding where you should go natural is a constant challenge for many of us – so when you’re making a decision, it’s helpful to know what benefits you’re receiving and how the alternative choice could impact your lifestyle.Read on to see our picks for the top 4 benefits of natural living. FEWER DISRUPTIONS TO YOUR SYSTEM Going organic or “natural” with your beauty care routines can...

 As exciting as it may feel to have lots of nice, local and fresh food during the summer season, it can be pretty overwhelming to decide what you want in your basket. But now that summer is winding to a close, we’re here to help you make a few last decisions this season.Read this latest post at The Real Purity Blog to see our favorite late summer finds at the farmers market.TomatoesIf you're a tomato-lover at heart, late summer is the time to take advantage of the huge variety available at your local farmers market. Can't decide which variety to cook with first?...

  When the kids go back to school, stay-at-home and working parents alike often breathe a sigh of relief. No more bored kids begging you for things to do. No more summertime struggles, like getting squiggly children out of wet swimsuits or cleaning up mud pies carried into the kitchen. Finally, you can take a deep breath as you hug that deep, soothing sense of silence to yourself.But then, only minutes later, you shoot up on the couch and think – what now?? You’re itching to get going, but you don’t know what to do with yourself. Never fear – we’ve...

  When there are dozens of lipsticks, powder blushes, foundations and eye shadows to choose from, picking the right combination of cosmetics can be an overwhelming task – especially if you don’t even know whether or not you have a warm or cool skin tone. Wondering how to pick your skin tone so that you can start selecting the right cosmetics to go along with it? Read below to see these tips (original article at TotalBeauty.com). The “White” Towel Test: Wear a pure white towel or bathrobe and wrap your hair in another white towel in your bathroom and look at...