Who doesn’t enjoy some pampering at a lovely spa? Especially now that the days are shorter and nights are cooler, doesn’t a sumptuous bath sound inviting? While it’s not always an option to visit a professional spa, with a little prep you can create a soothing interlude in your own bathroom. Some tips to creating a tranquil environment for your own personal “Time Out.” THE ESSENTIALS Preparation is key. Start with a good cleaning — nothing beats a bath in a sparkling clean bathroom. You’ll want everything you need at hand so once you dip into the tub, you don’t have...

This article was shared with permission from The Fine Line as part of an empowerment campaign, “Wear Yourself In,” led by eco-luxe skin care company Kari Gran. In response to the beauty industry pushing an impossible idea of flawless youth for years, the campaign encourages women to be kind to themselves, and their skin, as they reflect on beauty, aging, wisdom, and self-acceptance. ******************************* My outlook on aging, as with most things, comes down to a choice. From a very young age, I’ve always been a person who makes a choice and sticks to it. Every day I choose to live my life...

Just in time for dry winter skin, Kari Gran Skin Care is adding a new eco-luxe moisturizer to the line: Introducing the Essential Balm It’s been over a year since we introduced our ThreeSixtyFive SPF 28, and we considered carefully when thinking about a new product to complement our existing skin care line.  A big part of the decision was the frequent requests we’ve gotten from customers for an eye cream, hand cream, body lotion and a richer multitasker that can treat many areas. We balanced this need with our mission of staying true to our philosophy to keep skin...

Whether you’re looking for travel sizes or an easy yet thoughtful gift, the Kari Gran Mini Kit has got you covered. TSA-approved the Mini Kit allows for more room in your suitcase without compromising your clean green beauty routine. Take your kit with you to the gym or even the occasional overnight sleepover. Split up the minis and use them separately. Put a mini Cleansing Oil in the shower to use as a shaving oil (just apply dry, shave and rinse.) Keep a mini Hydrating Tonic on your desk for a quick afternoon pick me up and spritz away all...

“Well, you’ve got your health.” My dad would say this to me often when I was young and tearfully making some problem bigger than it needed to be. Having undergone two open-heart surgeries, he understood how much of a gift good health is, and how precarious it can be.  Atul Gawande, a surgeon, and a writer for the New Yorker, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, writes clearly and compassionately about the realities of aging and dealing with terminal issues. We live in a culture that glorifies youth and supports the fantasy of...

The Secret’s Out on the Sugar Industry Having grown up int he 80's and 90's I was one of those who fell prey to the high carb low fat diet craze and it took me years to reverse the damage it did to my health and my waistline. Luckily we now know better and the truth is finally coming out. A report published in the JAMA Internal Medicine on Sep. 12, 2016 revealed that the sugar industry paid scientists in the ’60s to shift the focus from sugar as a link to heart disease and blame saturated fat instead. The New York...

This essay was written as part of an empowerment campaign, “Wear Yourself In,” led by eco-luxe skin care company Kari Gran. In response to the beauty industry pushing an impossible idea of flawless youth for years, the campaign encourages women to be kind to themselves, and their skin, as they reflect on beauty, aging, wisdom, and self-acceptance. Kaia is the author of the new book, The Joy Plan (Sourcebooks, July 2017). She teaches Mindfulness to elementary school students in Santa Cruz, California and is a blogger for mindbodygreen and other sites. ******************************* Last year, we asked author Kaia Roman to share her thoughts...

Remember the movie “Sleepless in Seattle?”  Well, September is “Strawless in Seattle” month, as the city kicks off its campaign to be one of the first major cities to ban plastic straws by 2018. The Lonely Whale Foundation, with the help of an array of local nonprofits, is sponsoring the campaign as part of its larger Strawless Ocean effort.  More than 100 restaurants, along with the Mariners, have agreed to drop straws throughout the month of September. CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks play, says it will eliminate plastic straws at all future events.  Why is this a big deal?  Because we use...

Calendula officinalis might sound like a character straight out of “Game of Thrones”, or a planet far, far away, but it’s actually a species of flowering plant in the daisy family, commonly known as pot marigold. Marigolds are more than just another cheerful flower; they’ve been used since ancient time for their skin healing properties, among other benefits. Here are a some of the best: Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial: Calendula is a gentle and a nourishing botanical that possesses powerful healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It inhibits bacterial, viral and fungal microorganisms, which helps to prevent infection. It contains high amounts of...