News

Video Tutorial - Natural Makeup on Mature Skin May 03 2015

With Mother's Day coming up, I thought it would be a great time to post our newest video tutorial featuring my Mom as my model! This is a really quick and natural day look on mature skin. Very pretty, fresh and easy to do.

We offer free personalized skincare and makeup consultations (with minimum $50 order) and will create a palette of colours that work perfectly with your skin. This would make a great gift for your Mom or yourself!

Email me for more info: kristin@greenwoodnaturals.com

Happy Mother's Day to all the hard working Mamas out there! 

Kristin


Evening Makeup Video Tutorial April 25 2015

We've just launched our first video makeup tutorial using Pure Anada mineral cosmetics. A huge thank you to Taryn and Chris from Abraxas Studios for their amazing talent, and for a fun afternoon!

This tutorial goes through the entire face, from foundation to eyeliner. It shows how you can create a beautiful evening look, in under 10 minutes, using clean, safe and beautiful products from Pure Anada. There are application tips and tricks to get the best results from your makeup.

If you want to come for a free half hour skincare and makeup consultation (with minimum $50 Pure Anada purchase), just send me an email kristin@greenwoodnaturals.com

I would love to create your perfect look!

Kristin


Winter Skin Tips January 20 2015

 

Wintertime isn't always kind to our skin. Between the cold air, blowing winds and dry, indoor heat, the moisture is just sucked right out and can be hard to replace. Add to that sensitive, eczema prone skin and you can have a big problem on your hands (literally)!

Here are our five tips to keep your skin healthy all winter long, from head to toe!

1) Moisturize - every day. This is obvious, but also key. You might need to step it up and go with a richer moisturizer in the winter. On your face, try Pure Anada's Berry and Bouquet Hydra Cream. On your body, our own Greenwood Naturals All Natural Moisturizing Cream is hydrating, gentle and safe for the whole family. For extra dry spots, like heels, hands and knees try Pure Anada's African Gold Shea Butter. You can even melt some shea butter into your bath, for a deeply moisturizing soak.

2) Protect -  If you are going to be playing outdoors, make sure you protect exposed skin with a barrier. Pure Anada's African Gold Shea Butter is perfect for this job. Smooth it over cheeks and nose and that wind won't dry out your skin. This is especially important for little ones who tend to have really sensitive skin. Don't forget the lips, Pure Anada's Cocoa Mint Lip Balm is super rich and tingly from peppermint essential oil, and it will keep your lips smooth and soft.

3) Be Gentle - Even though it is tempting when it's cold outside, make sure you don't use very hot water to wash your face and body. This can lead to redness, irritation and can dry the skin out even more. Instead, use warm water and gently massage the face with Pure Anada's Lavender and Chamomile Calming Cleanser, which won't strip the skin of moisture, but will melt away dirt and makeup and leave skin soft and calm. For your body, try Greenwood Naturals handmade, Botanical Soaps, which contain olive and coconut oils and are gentle and moisturizing on the skin.

4) Exfoliate - Removing dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin allows moisturizers to penetrate readily and leaves skin feeling soft. For your face, Pure Anada's Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser is gentle, yet effective. For the hands and feet, Pure Anada's Dead Sea Manicure is an aromatherapeutic experience. It exfoliates, hydrates and just makes the hands and feet feel brand new!

5) Hydrate - from the inside out. We know that our skin is made mostly of water, so make sure that you are replenishing those cells with lots of fresh H2O during these dry months.

 

 


Disappearing Gifts! December 03 2014

About this time last year, I was chatting with someone who introduced me to the idea of disappearing gifts. I had never heard that term before, and I was intrigued. She said that her family strives to buy gifts that 'disappear'. Things like gourmet food items, personal care products and candles, restaurant gift certificates, passes to movies, theatre and parks. Things that actually get used, and therefore disappear. Things that encourage spending time with one another and taking care of ourselves. Things that don't just sit there, collecting dust or taking up closet space.

Most of us have enough 'stuff' in our lives and our homes. Many of us are trying to simplify and get rid of clutter. Buying for the sake of buying seems wasteful and thoughtless. 

Supporting small, local artisans and businesses who carry natural, organic, fair trade and ethically sourced products is also an important part of this idea. What could be better than giving thoughtful, useable, natural products to your loved ones, and supporting your local economy at the same time?

I want to make sure that my dollars are spent thoughtfully this year, both in terms of who I am supporting with my purchase and who I am giving to. 

Are disappearing gifts appealing to you? Are you going to change your holiday buying habits? What are some great gift ideas that you have? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Kristin

PS Check out our disappearing gifts!


Sprouted Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes November 28 2014

I've never been a pancake person. I don't love going out for breakfast the way so many of my friends do. I'm happy with toast and tea most mornings. But when I was pregnant I had an insatiable appetite for pancakes. I wanted them all the time. Morning, noon and night. With lots of butter and maple syrup. I just couldn't get enough! And for some reason, that love for pancakes remained. I make them often for the boys, and I'm always playing with my recipe. Adding healthy things like chia or pumpkin seeds, swapping out whole wheat flour for quinoa or spelt flour, mixing in a mashed banana or chopped apple, throwing in a handful of coconut or dark chocolate chips if I'm feeling decadent (which is most of the time).

This morning I had some roasted pumpkin puree that needed using. So I stirred it in with a dash of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Today I used a blend of spelt and sprouted whole wheat flours. They were a hit. I served them with this coconut spread, which is pretty darned delicious. And with natural peanut butter for the baby. Yum!

 

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

1 cup flour (you can use whatever you have, I used half spelt and half sprouted whole wheat flour)

1 cup milk

1 egg (preferably from a happy hen)

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional, but highly recommended)

2 tbsp coconut sugar (optional)

2 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

pinch sea salt

 

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. While whisking, add milk to dry ingredients until just combined. Add egg and pumpkin puree until just combined. Ladel into small rounds onto hot, greased pan or electric crepiere (if you don't have one and enjoy making crepes and pancakes, I highly recommend getting one). cook for a few minutes and flip when the surface is covered in bubbles. Continue cooking on the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat and enjoy!

 

 

 

 


Pop-Up Shop! November 14 2014

This week has flown by! The Pop-Up Shop at Berns and Black has come and gone and the blur of organization and paperwork, orders and getting ready for the holiday season has been keeping me busy! Not to mention my two boys and a nasty cold.

I would like to say a big, huge, thank you to all who came and all who helped. It was a lot of fun, and really nice to meet and talk to people who are as interested and passionate about natural products as I am!

Here are some photos, so you can get a feel for the day, and the beautiful space at Berns and Black.

~Kristin

 


What do you wash your face with? October 24 2014

It took me a really long time to start taking good care of my skin. One of the main reasons was that I hadn't found a good line of skincare that I felt was safe enough for my face. So many products, even ones claiming to be natural, are full of dangerous synthetics, parabens, sls, yucky perfumes (oh, the smells!), etc etc. When I finally found Pure Anada, I was so impressed, and so relieved. The ingredients are so safe, the scents are all natural and amazing, the products are effective and luxurious to use. I was instantly hooked. I've been using them on my skin for at least 5 years now. I have tried almost all of them, and there are truly none that I wouldn't recommend. They have products for every type of skin, from oily, to dry, acne-prone to aging.

I decided that it would make things easier for people if they could just click and purchase a whole system, from cleanser to moisturizer. So we came up with the following Pure Anada Skincare Systems at great prices. You save 10% off the regular price of the products.

Mature/Dehydrated Skincare

Sensitive Skincare

Anti-Aging Skincare

You can also pick and choose from any of our skincare products to create your own personal skincare system.

I have my routine down now, and I want to share it with you. It's easy, works wonderfully, keeps my skin glowing (even on mornings that I've been up 6 times in the night tending to various tiny boys), and it's reasonably priced to boot. 

In the morning, I start with Citrus Refreshing Cleanser to wake me up, followed by Marine Mineral Toner, Awake Eye Gel and Revive Serum. My mineral makeup goes on beautifully once my skin has absorbed the serum. 

In the evening before bed, I wash away my makeup with a warm cloth and a pump of Lavender and Chamomile Calming Cleanser an aromatherapeutic nighttime ritual, then I spray a mist of Garden Facial Mist and a small amount of Berry and Bouquet Hydra Cream which gives my skin a little extra moisture at night. These two routines take about 5 minutes a day each and they will change your skin for the better. Plus, Pure Anada's skincare products are super concentrated and last a long time.

What are you waiting for? Order your complete skincare system now, your skin will thank you!


Smoky eyes for fall October 05 2014

Sweater weather is officially upon us, and this Smoky Plum eye makeup look from Pure Anada is the perfect accompaniment to your cozy sweaters and soft scarves. I love how natural makeup can still be fun and bold! Check out this video tutorial by Pure Anada's Kristen von Riesen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egsIo4V7HoM

Then click these links to get your makeup and re-create this look:

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/liquid-foundation

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/flat-top-foundation-brush

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/velvet-matte-eye-shadow

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/luminous-eye-shadow

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/large-sized-luminous-blush-and-bronzer

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/large-sized-matte-velvet-blush

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/pureline-eye-pencil

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/natural-mascara

http://www.greenwoodnaturals.com/products/natural-lipstick

A look this pretty makes fall a little easier to welcome...

Kristin

 


Welcome! September 30 2014

We are so happy you've found us.

Greenwood Naturals was born from my own interest in natural products. Over the years I have shifted my buying habits towards products that are safe for my body, and the planet. I am a label reader, and too often I pick up a product claiming to be "natural" and "safe", and it is far from either. So, I decided to create a store where you can trust that every product is safe. We only source and carry products that I would use on my babies. Well, I generally don't use mascara on them, but I truly could it's so gentle. Many of our products are made by small companies right here in Canada, and all are made by people with the same passion for the health of our bodies and our earth.

Our products range from soaps, mineral makeup, skin care, oral care (natural bamboo toothbrushes, toothpastes), baby care, laundry, home products and more. Plus, we are constantly searching for new products to add, so keep coming back to see what's new. 

We also have a Pop-up Shop coming Saturday, November 8th at Berns and Black Salon in Winnipeg. You will be able to see, touch, smell and try our products, and meet us face to face. More details coming soon.

You can stay in the loop by following Greenwood Naturals on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and by registering for our newsletter (bottom right hand side of the page)

Thanks for stopping by!

Kristin