I spend a lot of my time on the New York City transit system (read: subway) admiring women’s toes. That sounds incredibly creepy, I know, but the truth is that I love to see what my fellow ladies are doing with their tootsies.

As for my own toe art, I stick to non-toxic polishes. Most conventional nail polishes contain toxic ingredients like toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde. My polish of choice is made by Priti, a company started by a fashion-conscious pregnant woman looking for safe and natural beauty products.

I’ve tried dozens of natural polishes, and Priti is the only brand to produce nail color that keeps up with conventional alternatives. The color range is vast — from Love Patt (bright pastel green) to Cherry Ripe (exactly as it sounds) — and more importantly, this stuff sticks. Many natural polishes have a high chip factor, but Priti is the real deal.

As for removal, check out Priti’s remover. It’s made from soy and corn as well as coconut and lemongrass oils, with a lovely citrus scent. Never again will you fill your bathroom with a cloud of stinky acetone.

I love Priti so much that I BMOP (bring my own polish) to my pedicures now.

What are your favorite nail polish brands?

I’ve always had long hair, except for one experimental year in college (a pixie cut gone very wrong). And accordingly, I’ve always had a serious relationship with conditioner — it’s helped liberate my wavy locks from tangles, snarls and frizz.

So when I found an easy recipe for hair conditioner on ReadyMade.com, I was curious. Could I really make my own conditioner? I decided to play with it. Granted, this DIY conditioner feels different from the store-bought variety — a bit thinner and oilier — but it works. Try it out:

DIY Hair Conditioner
2/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon guar gum
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon organic almond oil
5 drops lavender essential oil

1.   Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until emulsified.

2.   Transfer the conditioner to an old plastic lotion tube or pump bottle that’s been thoroughly cleaned. Use within a month or store in the refrigerator between washes.

Before you mix up some of your own, read this:

• Guar gum and xanthan gum are safe ingredients derived from nature. If you’ve ever dabbled in gluten-free baking, you know that these two help to bind, thicken and emulsify baked goods that would usually get their kick from wheat flour. In conditioner, they add thickness and slickness.
• I’m partial to almond oil for its rich texture and subtly yummy aroma, but you also can use olive, sunflower or canola oils.
• The essential oil addition is up to you. Lavender is calming, tea tree is antibacterial and ideal for dandruff, and orange and grapefruit are uplifting and energizing.
• I multiplied this recipe by six to make enough for several washes.

Hmm … now what should be my next DIY experiment?

Marisa Belger   Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

“Sunless tanner” is one of those oxymorons that makes me giggle. But as a redhead with the accompanying fair skin and freckles, I’ve come to understand that faux tanning isn’t such a bad thing. Especially if it’s done safely.

On these summer days when it seems like my bright white stomach may blind the eyes of my fellow beachgoers, I’m faced with two choices: trade the bikini for a full-body wetsuit or apply a coating of a natural self tanner — a sunless tanner, if you will.

Here are my two current picks for a quick and easy glow:

1.    Lavera Sunless Tanning Lotion, $29 (5 oz.)
Lavera hits the mark with a tanner that’s chock full of organic ingredients that are seriously moisturizing: think macadamia nut, jojoba and sunflower oils. Scented with nothing more than essential oils, this tanner delivers a natural-looking tan without leaving you in a stinky cloud of synthetic fragrance. Lavera gets extra points for adhering to Germany’s strict BDIH guidelines for natural cosmetics.

2.    Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunless Tanner, $11 (4 oz)
Alba has been my go-to brand for natural sunscreen for years, so it makes sense to trust the company with my sunless tanning needs. Alba’s version is made with luscious, naturally derived ingredients like green tea, ginkgo biloba and chamomile. It’s also paraben-free.

Remember that self-tanners have no sun protection, so be sure to slather on the SPF before heading into the rays.

What are your favorite products?

For more great health & lifestyle content, visit me here at Completely You

When you’re a product junkie like me, a solitary bar of soap will not cut it. Oh no, one will not do. Upon stepping into my shower each morning, I expect to be greeted by a variety of sudsy options to satisfy whatever mood I happen to be experiencing. On any given day there are usually two bars in play and a number of bottles containing a range of liquid soaps. Currently, my cleansing options are vast. Here’s what it looks like on my shower shelf:

EO Everyone Soap: This giant bottle — 32 fluid ounces to be exact — is an all-purpose scrubber of notable value that can be used on every part of everyone’s body, including hair. My family (man, woman and four-year old child) has been moving through the coconut and lemon scent for a couple of months now, which leaves us smelling, not displeasingly, like a Thai kitchen. The little one pumps a few squirts of the soap into the tub for an easy bubble bath and the adults use it on a scrubbing mitt or washcloth. The multi-tasking soap is not 100 percent organic, but does include organic coconut extract and an organic herbal blend made from soothing plants like chamomile, calendula and aloe. (32 fl. oz.; $9.99)

Whole Foods Triple French Milled Soap: This bar soap gets my vote for its organic ingredients, thick lather and bright, but not overpowering, fragrance. I’ve got Lemon Verbena ready to go for the mornings when I’m dragging. The fresh, zippy scent helps pull me fully into consciousness. Cucumber Lime and Lavender are lovely mellower options. ($6.99).

Alaffia Authentic African Black Soap: Black soap is pretty awesome. Made from a combination of shea butter, palm kernel oil and ashes collected from plantain leaves and bark from the Agow tree, the soap is prized for its gentleness and versatility. The soap can be used on the face and body, as shampoo, as a shaving aid and is even safe for babies. Allafia’s is Fair Trade, paraben-free and contains no synthetic fragrance. (16 fl. oz.; $8.95).

Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap: This soap is simple, simple, simple. It’s no secret that olive oil is an effective natural moisturizer. Put it into a bar of soap and you’re pretty much guaranteed to get clean without ending up with tight, dry skin. This is a no-frills cleanser with a super subtle scent and no scary additives — that’s no parabens, pthalates or synthetic fragrance. ($2.99). 

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap: I try to reserve my 8-ounce bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Hemp Lavender soap for traveling, but sometimes it’s the only soap I want. This stuff is so pure and so good, made with just a handful of easy-to-read organic ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and lavender oil. I can’t get enough of it! (8 fl. oz.; $6.39).

For more great health and lifestyle content, check out the rest of Completely You

I spend most of my summer scratching bumpy mosquito bites and irritated patches of sunburn. As a redhead with skin that is exceptionally mosquito-friendly, bites have always seemed like something I would just have to accept. But I’m ready to stop the itch. The warm weather is now in full gear and I’m arming myself with a supply of products that will prevent — or stop — itching and irritation. As always, my two requirements are safe (read: natural) ingredients and effectiveness. Sure, naturally derived ingredients are great, but this stuff actually has to work.

My first line of defense is Jāsön’s Quit Bugging Me insect repellent. This spray stood up to the nastiest Brooklyn mosquitoes as well as the horseflies and gnats that own my parent’s backyard in rural Connecticut. Made with geranium and coconut oils, Quit Bugging Me doesn’t leave me smelling like a human citronella candle. And since it’s Deet-, PABA- and paraben-free, I can feel good about dousing my 4-year old with it.

My second summer go-to product is Boiron’s Calendula Cream. Calendula is nature’s sooth-all. This herb is a serious healer, calming heat rashes, bug bites, sunburn, even scrapes and diaper rash. I can’t do without it.

By this point in the summer, my ankles are usually dotted with scabby mosquito bites and at least one section of my freckly white skin is flaky and itchy with sunburn. Not this year! A steady stream of preventative bug spray and healing calendula is keeping the itch in check. Now, let’s see if I can make it to Labor Day.

For more great health & lifestyle content, check out the rest of Completely You

I often find myself running my fingers across my 4-year-old’s skin, marveling at the silky softness that is a preschooler. My adult existence is far from supple. To keep my skin from morphing into that of rhinoceros, I beat back dryness with two key tools: a scrubby mitt — kind of like an extremely rough washcloth — and a sugar scrub. Some days I use the mitt. Some days I scrub.

When I choose to scrub, my scrub of choice is Faerie Made’s Lavender Shea Sugar Scrub. Like every beauty product that makes its way into my bathroom, this scrub is truly good enough to eat — though I don’t recommend that. Made from a rich combination of cane sugar, brown sugar, shea butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil, this scrub is a superstar multitasker, sloughing away dry patches and following up with intense moisturizing. And in true time-saving fashion, no follow-up lotion is necessary after a rubdown with this scrub.

For more great health and lifestyle content, check out the rest of Completely You

Marisa Belger   Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m all about nurturing my feet. I believe that healthy feet equal a healthy, happy attitude. Accordingly, I’m always on the hunt for natural foot treatments with which to spoil my feet. I’m especially fond of scrubs that help me beat back the dry and calloused spots that are an inevitable result of stretching on my yoga mat and walking in New York City.

After a bit of experimentation, I discovered that it’s possible to whip up a simple and effective scrub using two ingredients that I always have around: sugar and essential oil (which is available at the health food store). Here’s how:

1.    Combine 1/2 cup of white sugar with six drops of peppermint essential oil.

2.    When it’s time to scrub, add a small splash of water to a palm-full of the mixture.

3.    Rub it vigorously all over your feet. I recommend using a palm-full for each foot.

Post-scrub, my feet were smooth and refreshed and my spirits were energized thanks to the aromatherapeutic effects of the peppermint. For an added antibacterial benefit, use tea tree oil instead of peppermint. Note: Keep water away from the container that holds your scrub or you’ll end up with a gloppy mess.

For more great health and lifestyle content, visit me here at Completely You

Marisa Belger   Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

By now you know that driving is harmful to the environment. You know that cars produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But did you know that motor vehicles are the greatest contributor to global warming? And that choosing human-powered transportation over the vehicular kind — think biking and walking — is a proven method of reducing damaging CO₂ emissions?

For me, this is more than enough motivation to hang up my car keys for a week. Yet saving the earth is only one benefit of keeping my engine turned off: Biking and walking also keeps me fit. And encouraging my family members to join me keeps them fit too.

I’m proud to say that I have successfully completed a seven-day no-drive challenge, biking and walking whenever possible and using my city’s public transport system when it was just too far to go on foot. I find that walking gives me the chance to say hello to my neighbors, to literally stop and smell the roses and to savor the rush that comes when I know I’m doing something good — for my body and the planet.

This summer, I challenge you to keep your car parked for a week. Pump up your bicycle tires, break out your walking shoes and get an updated bus and subway map. I invite you to see the world from outside your car windows, to breathe deep and remember — it’s easier than ever to be green.

How many days have you gone without driving? Tweet me @Completely_You

Marisa Belger   Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

I’ve come to learn that even a small amount of self care can have a dramatic effect on my overall approach to life and relationships. Example: Taking 20 minutes once a week to pamper my feet makes me a better mother, friend and employee. Really! I’ve discovered that my feet hold a direct line to my ability to focus and be present for others.

And I view my time with my tootsies as way of showing respect for all they do to carry me through the world each day. Sure, fancy pedicures are nice, but you can create your own foot spa at home with minimal effort and financial output. Here’s how:

1. Elevate
After a long day of walking around the city, I spend 10 minutes in one of my favorite yoga poses: resting with my feet up against the wall. Elevating the feet allows blood to flow down your legs, giving the entire lower half of the body a much-deserved reboot.

2. Soak
Fill a basin or the bathtub with enough warm water to cover your feet entirely. I add a few drops of a calming essential oil, like lavender or chamomile, and keep my feet immersed for 15-20 minutes.

3. Scrub
Use an exfoliating body scrub — it doesn’t have to be specifically designed for feet — to rid your feet of dead skin. I’m partial to Faerie Made’s rosemary mint sugar scrub.

4. Moisturize
Complete your DIY foot spa experience with some deep moisturizing. I like Honey Girl Organics foot balm, which is packed with extra-virgin olive oil and organic raw honey. I also enjoy Badger organic foot balm, which is fortified with peppermint, rosemary and tea tree organic essential oils.

How do you nurture your feet? Tell me below or tweet me @Completely_You

Marisa Belger   Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

Next to under-eye concealer — for those hereditary dark circles — my desert island cosmetic item of choice would be lip balm. I like it all: flavored, tinted or plain, just as long as it does the job (its job is to hydrate and protect my lips, in case you’re wondering) and is made with safe and natural ingredients.

Recently, I attempted to make my own lip balm. I was hoping it would be cheaper than stocking up on the latest lip goo and maybe even better. I used a simple combination of beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter and essential oil. Try it:

DIY Lip Balm Recipe
(Makes 8 tubes)

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cocoa butter
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon beeswax
5-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Combine all ingredients except essential oil in a double boiler over medium-low heat. When all ingredients melt, remove them from the burner. Stir in essential oil. Pour hot mixture into empty lip balm tubes or containers. Allow to cool completely before placing caps on tubes.

Heed these tips too to ensure DIY lip balm success:

• If your lip balm is too hard … you probably didn’t add enough oil. A bit more carrier or base oil — sweet almond or olive in this case — will soften things up.
  
  
• If your lip balm is too soft … add some more beeswax to firm it up.
  
  
• To up the eco-factor of your DIY creation … reuse empty lip balm tubes or containers.
• To increase the overall safety of your lip balm … use organic ingredients.
• Don’t make your lip balm sting. Peppermint oil is a refreshing and uplifting choice for homemade lip balm. But too much peppermint is painful. Trust me. Limit yourself to five to 10 drops of a quality essential oil.
• Try other essential oils as well. Peppermint is not the only option. Oh, no. You can make lip balm of any flavor by using five to 10 drops of a different essential oil. I also like orange, grapefruit and cinnamon.
• Give them as gifts to your friends. Make a couple of different flavors, wrap them in some cute paper and you’ve got an instant cheer-me-up gift for a girlfriend.

In the end, I was pleased with the results of my homemade lip balm, though I will confess that there was something decidedly handcrafted about my product. Not bad, just homemade.

Up next: tinted lip gloss. I think I’ve got what it takes!

Have you ever made your own beauty product? Talk about it below or tweet me @Completely_You

Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.