the truth serum

The mission is clear:  During this critical time, we all need to be extra vigilant about washing our hands frequently and thoroughly. Did you know that handwashing with soap and water is more effective than using hand sanitizers? This is because the vigorous scrubbing and rinsing gets rid of more of the infectious microorganisms from the skin. Jane Greatorex, a virologist at Cambridge University says: “No matter what you touch, soap and water is the best way to remove any potential coronavirus from your hands before it can lead to infection.  Using bleach “is like using a bludgeon to swat...

When I was 47 and saw 50 in my sights, I decided to finally get serious about exercise. Pilates and yoga became a serious commitment.  A decade after that, I stopped coloring my hair, made it through the gross grow out, and three years later, I’m finally not shocked when I see my reflection. Last year, at 61, I was recruited to be a “celebrity” dancer for a big charity event here in Seattle called Seattle Dances. This event is for Plymouth Housing, an organization that provides hope and housing to the homeless. This event represents 90% of its yearly...

Ever wondered what the term “Green” Beauty actually means? The green beauty movement started from a growing awareness of the harmful effect’s conventional cosmetics and skincare products may have on our skin, our bodies, and our environment. The green beauty barometer survey shows more and more women are paying attention to ingredient labels, wanting to make sure the products they purchase are good for the planet as well as their skin. Defining Green Beauty Products Surprisingly, there is currently no FDA set of standards or regulations that brands must meet to label themselves as green. This makes it tricky for...

This Sunday, March 8th, is International Women’s Day.  It’s a day to celebrate women and the positive impact we make in the world, socially, culturally, economically, and politically.   We've come a long way, baby, but there is still much to do. How Kari Gran Is Contributing. This year we’re especially excited about how we’ve chosen to commemorate this occasion. We’re teaming up with our friends at Grove Collaborative to introduce a fresh new Lip Whip color!  We’re calling this latest lip whip Georgia, sold exclusively through Roven (a subsidiary of Grove Collaborative.) The best part?  All proceeds from sales of...

Ask three people what clean beauty means, and you’ll probably get three different answers. It seems like a good time to share our point of view.                  What Clean Beauty Means to Us At Kari Gran, we believe clean beauty is simple. It’s the idea that we shouldn’t have to worry about what’s in our beauty products and how it might affect our health or our environment. It’s about combining organic, non-GMO and naturally derived, and ethically sourced ingredients into simple, yet effective products that make us feel good—and are better for the...

What do you look forward to on Valentine’s Day? A romantic dinner? A fun girls’ night out? Or do you just ignore all the hoopla and carry on? The one part of this holiday that I really enjoy is the chocolate part. The darker the chocolate, the better. 80% or more does the trick.  Still, it’s not a good idea for me to have an entire box of chocolates around, I tend to struggle with stopping at one. I’m trying to make healthy choices every day with what I put into my body, and an entire box of chocolate spells...

Why are we talking about sunscreen in the middle of winter?  Because wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher is one of the very best things you can do to prevent photo-aging, just like brushing your teeth every day helps to prevent cavities. UVA (think UV Aging) rays are present during all daylight hours, even when it's cold and cloudy, penetrating the skin and breaking down collagen, which plays a significant part in skin aging and wrinkling. It's as important to apply sunscreen every day of the year as it is to cleanse and moisturize. Yet, in a survey we...

Winter can be harsh, especially on our skin, which tends to become drier and more sensitive this time of year.  Give your skin a little more TLC this season.  Take a peek at Kari’s Winter Skin Care Essentials, all meant to help your skin glow all season long. HOW’S YOUR SKIN BARRIER?         This is the skin you present to the world. The skin barrier is science-speak for the outermost layer of your skin, which keeps moisture in and damaging elements (like bacteria and free radicals) out.    A healthy skin barrier is vital to keeping skin hydrated, plump, firm, and...

Red Raspberry Seed Oil may sound like a lovely natural sunscreen alternative.  No chemicals or toxins - just pure goodness from a delicious source. Sounds nice, right? Let’s take a closer look. Recently there was quite a bit of buzz about using Red Raspberry Seed Oil as a sunscreen after a Canadian study found characteristics of red raspberry seed oil offer a UVA and UVB protection rating similar to that of titanium dioxide (28-50 SPF for UVB rays and 8 SPF against UVA rays). Fortunately, sunscreens happen to be one of the only skin care products subject to a rigorous set...

We’ve having our own “A Star is Born” moment here at Kari Gran.   Lisa’s bravely strapped on her boogie shoes for a glitzy dance competition called Seattle Dances to benefit a cause that’s near and dear to her, Plymouth Housing. Last year, this event raised an astounding $1.1 million for Plymouth’s mission. Plymouth Housing is a non-profit that serves a diverse group of the chronically homeless— someone who’s been homeless for at least twelve months and lives with a disability, whether it’s mental illness, addiction, or age. Lisa’s been a big supporter of this organization for years; she believes in...