Just Like Our Minds And Bodies, Our Skin Has Changing Needs Depending On Age. Skin confidence is a lifelong pursuit. Long-lasting radiance comes from clean living and clean beauty habits, which you can infuse into your skincare routine at any age! There’s a lot of talk in the beauty industry about fighting age and concealing the signs of a life well-lived, but natural beauty has something different in mind for us to learn. Natural skincare involves taking a look at more than just what’s in your beauty cabinet. We know that natural beauty is holistic beauty. In fact, many of...

Live Bolder And Cleaner With These Simple Lifestyle Changes For Healthy Skin We’ve all been there: waking up in the morning, reaching for the coffee pot in lieu of a nutritious breakfast, sitting straight down to work and not making any meaningful movement for hours… even sometimes for the rest of the day. By the time the evening rolls around, you’re feeling bloated, stagnant, and more exhausted than ever. Not to mention, your skin is dull, dehydrated, and dare we say, looking very uninspired.  Nourished skin starts with clean living, from the very foods you eat to how much sleep...

There are two main types of natural exfoliation for your face & body – but how do you know which one is right for you? Many people have the impression that exfoliation requires intensely scrubbing a gritty product on your face, leaving the skin raw and pink. While it’s true that exfoliation removes the outer layers of dead skin cells from your face and body, there’s no need for the process to be abrasive; in fact, there are ways to exfoliate that don’t involve scrubbing at all!  When it comes to revealing your most beautiful, natural glow, there are two...

There’s A Flourishing Community Of Bacteria On Your Face Right Now – It’s Called The Microbiome.  Most wellness-minded individuals are familiar with the gut microbiome – the network of good bacteria that lives in your stomach and intestines that helps you digest, regulate systems, and more. Guess what: you also have a thriving family of microbes contributing to your well-being on your face as well! It’s often referred to as “skin flora.”  Usually when people think about bacteria, fungi, viruses and even mites, they tend to get grossed out. The truth is, these inspiring microorganisms provide the crucial service of...

Relax and unwind at the end of the day with an indulgent, cleansing shower ritual featuring our Detoxifying Charcoal Soap and signature Shea Butter Whips One of our favorite rituals is indulging in a relaxing warm shower after a long day. The simple act of washing away the day’s dirt and stress can elevate your mood like nothing else! But is your shower unknowingly damaging your skin? It all depends on how you’re showering and what products you’re using. Synthetic or highly processed body products can leave your skin feeling parched, scaly and even a little itchy. The soaps you...

Dry lips are a nuisance. Here’s how to prevent them and protect your lips for smoother, softer, plumper lips all year round. Skip the dry lips this winter. By tackling dry, chapped lips head on, you can enjoy a smooth, hydrated pucker in all seasons.  There are few things more annoying than dry, chapped lips. Not only are they a nuisance, they can make you feel self-conscious as well, causing you to pick at them, lick them, and do other things that otherwise make the problem worse. Luckily, there are a few easy, natural and accessible ways to cure dry...

From Dry, Oily, Acne Prone And Otherwise Grouchy Skin, There Are Many Ways To Use Our Brightening Facial Grains Natural Face Mask To soothe Any Skin Condition.  For many people, face masks are an easy go-to when looking to infuse a little self-care into your day. Face masks are the ultimate slow-down activity (other than painting your nails), perfect for a sleepy, rainy day or soothing night-time ritual. With all the products on the market, you might be inclined to think that there’s no one face mask that works for every skin type – but that’s not true! The beauty of...

Natural Beauty Enthusiasts Swear by The Universal Body Balm Say “goodbye” to greasy body balms! The Universal Body Balm delivers a luxe dose of total-body moisture that nourishes skin, hair, lips, cuticles, and anywhere else on your body that could use some extra luxurious hydration – even on-the-go.  For many people, finding the right moisturizer is a complete hassle. From oils to butters, lotions and more, the amount of options can drive you crazy! With the sheer number of products on the market today, there’s one product that serves as a one-stop-shop for total body hydration: body balms. After struggling...

Embolden Your Yoga Practice By Adding In The Benefits Of Aromatherapy With This DIY Natural Yoga Mat Spray. There are few things in life more adventurous and satisfying than taking a yoga class. In the short period of time in class, you learn new positions, breathing techniques, and connect with your body through fluid and meaningful movements. Not only is yoga a great example of mindful movement, it’s also an excellent way to de-stress. All the tension stored in your nervous system over the course of the day can finally be released!  Yoga Is Great For Your Skin Like we...

Did You Know: Your Mindfulness Practice Is Directly Connected To Your Skin's Well-Being. Mindfulness has long been the unsung hero of the beauty space. Big-box companies and corporations have been pushing synthetic products as solutions to common and very treatable skin issues like dry or oily skin for generations, without regard to the skin’s natural chemistry – or the state of the person experiencing them.  Guess what? The root cause of many skin problems today such as acne flare ups and eczema can be attributed to this one major factor: stress. When stress is paired with harsh chemicals found in...

The benefits of shower rituals are plenty. As with any meditation or action to prepare you for a certain activity, shower rituals allow you to enter a relaxing, renewing mindset. How often do we find ourselves preparing for the day or winding down from our busy schedules without a grounding tool to center our minds? With the assistance of soothing essential oils and moisturizing products, shower rituals open up the opportunity for you to immerse yourself fully into a soul and skin-renewing experience. When you think of rituals, you might be tempted to envision chanting or crystals – but the...

How do you show love for yourself? Clean beauty and the simple acts associated with self-care, like choosing natural cleansers and moisturizers, are some of the easiest ways to incorporate love into your daily life – but creating a more elaborate self-care experience that nourishes your soul as well as your body is an act that’s not to be overlooked.  A combination of soothing body treatment and “spirit” lifting, bathing is an age-old practice that just so happens to be one of our favorite acts of self-care. Bathing traditions stem from several different philosophies and cultures, including Shinto, Buddhist, and...

When things are hectic, especially with the stresses of today’s corporate work environments, you might find yourself tempted to clock in extra hours and ignore your personal needs. Often what falls to the wayside first in these kinds of scenarios are two essential components of a healthy lifestyle: movement and exercise. What we fail to acknowledge in these moments when we forego our needs is just how important movement and breathing are for our mental states – and, in turn, our skin and overall health. By incorporating mindful movement into our daily routines, we make it easier to always have...

This week marks six years from the first time I sold my handcrafted bath & body products at the Hoboken Green Fair. I made about $60 that day but wow, I was completely over the moon. I was amazed that people liked the recipes I'd created and even more amazing, they were willing to pay for them. Never before had I felt such excitement and pride and hope. Since then, Cecile's products have greatly evolved as we've served countless customers from around the world at maker markets + holiday fairs in the NY/NJ area. Loyal customers have supported Cecile's with their dollars...

One of the defining attributes of our present age is a distraction. We are isolated from living and breathing fully in each moment, our time is torn between monitoring real-time, hyperactive digital notifications all while attempting to keep up our physical appearances optimized to match the pace. Ditching your phone – and your makeup – might just be the ticket to a more balanced, relaxed, and luxurious lifestyle. Living clean should include environmental factors and habits in addition to bath and body care products.  We’re told by big companies who are removed from everyday life to wear our makeup a certain way, to...

Inhale. Bright florals mingle with an earthy, woody aroma; your shoulders drop another inch as the day’s tension melts away. The corners of your mouth begin to gently curl, a smile taking over your face. Bask in the elevating, healing, and transformative scent surrounding you. WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS? Essential oils are popular healing alternatives for everything from anxiety disorders to digestive problems – but their true value, especially when it comes to living cleanly, is through the aromatic benefits they provide when blended and diluted in quality self-care products. When used in the bath, in lotions and body butters,...

Transitions in life, through time, and in work are moments of deep renewal and seismic change. While these moments are often exciting, they can sometimes introduce more stress into our lives than what we’re typically used to.  This stress can negatively impact overall skin health in addition to our emotional well being. Higher levels of stress can lead to increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, which may lead to overactive oil production which can lead to unhealthy-looking, unhappy skin.  The modern beauty economy will often propose quick-fix methods for stressed-out skin, insisting that one-stop-shop products packed with preservatives and...

If you’re not ending your daily (or twice-daily) beauty ritual with nourishing moisturizer, you may want to start now… Why moisturize? Skin moisturizers have one of the most important jobs in your beauty routine and serve to create and maintain a barrier between your skin and the toxins and pollutants in the air. This barrier ensures that your skin retains its moisture and can help curve over-production of oil throughout the day.  While there are many different types of moisturizers available – from those containing high water content for oily skin to rich in oils for drier skin – avoiding...

We all know what it feels like to be thirsty, but what are the warning signs when your skin – the largest organ of your body – is lacking hydration? Dehydration is a skin condition that happens to those with all different skin types and affects the skin’s elasticity. Can you have oily skin and be dehydrated? Yes, you can. Keeping hydrated is key when it comes to beauty, affecting how we look on the outside as well as how we feel on the inside. It takes more than drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day to retain necessary moisture...

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it also happens to be the most exposed to toxins, pollutants, and harsh environmental factors we come across every day. The act of cleansing is an important part of maintaining healthy, happy skin. But how do you know which products to use to ensure a lasting, soothing ritual?  Clean, Natural Cleansing Washing your face is the one thing in your routine you should always make time for – no excuses for being tired or not having enough time! Even if wearing makeup isn’t a regular thing for you, pollutants and dirt in...

Skincare rituals might be having a big (and well-deserved) moment right now in the wellness space, but are you making the most of your routine?  What is Exfoliation? The act of buffing away dead skin cells – exfoliating – is one of the most well-known tricks in the beauty book for removing dull surface cells to achieve healthy, glowing skin. In order to maximize the benefits and absorption of moisturizing products, exfoliation should always be the first step in your regularly scheduled deep-conditioning ritual. After all – if you’re slathering rich, nutrient-dense moisturizer on top of dead skin cells, chances...

Feeling beautiful in your skin is a monumental part of every person’s journey to inner happiness.  One of the best ways to treat and pamper yourself for healthy, glowing skin is to go natural! Feeling beautiful in your skin is a monumental part of every person’s journey to inner happiness.  One of the best ways to treat and pamper your skin for healthy, glowing skin is to go natural. When it comes to making the switch, start with small choices. Cecile’s products provide exceptional quality while using only raw, organic and unrefined ingredients, so that skin absorbs the full profile...

As the weather turns colder and snow begins to fall, our skin begins to react in (un)predictable ways. Temperature fluctuations from cold winter air to the forced heat inside buildings can be especially punishing as your lips, face and even hair become increasingly dehydrated. For adults and children with persistent dry skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, ongoing exposure can also lead to painfully rough and cracked skin that take quite some time to heal. While drinking lots of water is often our first line of defense (and the answer to many of life’s problems), it’s even more important to...