Beauty fads tend to come and go, but one trend is here to stay: skin care, hair care and cosmetics that enhance our appearance without compromising our health. Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties have seen a surge in organic and all-natural beauty products and services, so we can look good and feel good too.

Patricia Juliani-Cattarina developed her skincare business, OilivingLife, in a tiny apartment kitchen in Mamaroneck. But she developed the wisdom behind her business in a more exotic and faraway place: Manaus, capital of Amazon State in Brazil.

“My exposure to nature expanded to a level I never could have imagined when my family moved to Manaus,” Juliani-Cattarina says. “Amazon, with all its natural resources, was awesome. It has the most diverse animals, plants, flowers and trees in the world. So I grew up drinking açai smoothies, eating all kinds of nuts and fruits 20 years ago that people today are now discovering.”

That early exposure to nature inspired the launch of OilivingLife, a line of handmade skincare products that Juliani-Cattarina designed to be nontoxic and safe while highly effective.

“Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and since your skin is porous, it will absorb whatever you put on it,” she says. “That’s why it’s so important to pay close attention to the ingredients in your skincare products. If the products that you use contain harmful ingredients such as harsh, toxic chemicals, colors and fragrances, those ingredients will make their way into your body, your blood and lymphatic system. There is no reason to load our bodies with tons of chemicals used by conventional beauty products. My mission with OilivingLife is to only use ingredients and materials that are safe for our bodies and the environment.” 

For more info, email [email protected], visit OilivingLife.com or find OilivingLife on Instagram and Facebook.

 

In the fall, we love pumpkin in our coffee and our candles. So why not in our skincare products? Pumpkin’s on the menu at Sarah’s House of Health, in Mahopac, where licensed esthetician and Eminence skincare specialist Daniela Hortencio offers spa treatments as well as waxing, microdermabrasion and reflexology.

The Pumpkin Latte Hydration Masque is popular with customers wanting to restore their skin’s natural moisture balance, she says. “The masque combines vitamin E and omega-9 nutrients with purée of fresh pumpkin to fight the appearance of aging and environmental stress on skin. Other ingredients include avocado oil, chamomile, lavender and aloe vera.”

Since bringing her practice to Sarah’s, Hortencio has also seen a surge of interest in Eminence, a 60-year-old Hungarian organic skincare line. She is the only licensed esthetician in Putnam County authorized to retail Eminence products.

“Customers love our Eminence starter sets,” she says. “They’re beautifully packaged, and they’re the perfect introduction to our award-winning skin care. Each set includes one month’s supply of targeted organic products designed to treat specific skin types and concerns.”

She says she feels lucky to be practicing at Sarah’s House of Health, which provides “the perfect ambiance” for her clients to relax. “I truly love what I do,” she says. “It means a lot to me to make my clients look good and feel good about themselves.”

Location: 900 S. Lake Blvd., Mahopac, NY. For more info, call Hortencio at 914.562.0618 or visit DanielaHortencio.com. Gift cards are available.

 

When Dragonfly Hair Studios celebrates its grand opening in Millwood this month, it will be one of the few “green” salons in Westchester, offering eco-conscious products and featuring a spa-like vibe with all-natural elements, right down to its locally crafted coffee mugs. Set for 5 to 9 p.m. November 1, the event is open to the public and will include hors-d’oeuvres, champagne cocktails, music and a gift bag of product samples. Magician Margaret Steele will provide live entertainment, and Pam Cucinell will offer astrology advice.

Tara Colavecchio, who co-owns Dragonfly along with Tori Bracco, worked for Chaz Dean in Belair, California, and several top salons in Manhattan. Most of her staff also have years of New York City experience. Astrid Cohen, who worked at Warren Tricomi Salon at the Plaza Hotel, is Dragonfly’s color director and educator.

“Tori and I are thrilled to see our vision for the salon come to life, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the green movement in this industry for years to come,” Colavecchio says.

In addition to cuts, non-standard color options and blow dry, the salon offers eyelash lifts and tints, hair extensions, waxing and makeup services, and reiki healing sessions and other wellness offerings by appointment. The salon also carries pure Marula oil, which serves multiple functions, from makeup remover to under-eye cream to de-frizzing and styling hair.

Location: 238 Saw Mill River Rd., Millwood, NY. For more info, call 914.271.1336, email Facebook.com/DFHairStudio or visit Facebook.com/DFHairStudio.

 

One of the most powerful anti-aging tools comes from within us, according to Amy Kowal, owner of Reviva Skin and Body Solutions, in Fishkill. By controlling our mindset through meditation, she says, we can “reprogram” our DNA to keep us more vibrant and youthful.

“Dr. Masaru Emoto showed how human consciousness affects the molecular structure of water. Positive words and thoughts communicated to water enabled it to form beautiful crystals when frozen, while negative communication produced chaotic frozen crystalline forms. As the human body is 60 percent water, those same types of stimuli will affect us in the same manner.”

Our DNA field is in direct connection with our body, and it works more efficiently when we increase our vibrational rate, Kowal says.

“Disease possesses a low vibration, so when your cellular structure is vibrating at a higher level, disease cannot remain in your body,” she says. “You can support your body in its natural healing and aging functions through meditation and communication. While in a meditative state, you can communicate to your cells that you want them to heal and repair themselves and have a long life span; that you do not need wrinkles or to be ill or to die to experience spiritual growth. Visualize this occurring and how your ideal outcome will look. The reprogramming isn’t automatic, but if you believe it, expect it and focus on it with regular meditative activity, your body will comply.”

For more info, call 646.932.2240 or visit RevivaBody.com.

 

Winter weather is hard on the skin, and so GreenEarth Organic Facials, in Cortlandt Manor, is offering a Revitalizing Autumn Facial to prepare and protect the skin for the coming months.

“It’s important to keep our skin fresh and hydrated, especially when it’s cold,” says spa owner Mary T. Prenon. “This refreshing seasonal facial features new products from our organic, vegan Shira Organics line.”

The autumn facial includes double cleansing with seaweed pomegranate cleanser; enzyme exfoliating with an aromatic pumpkin exfoliant; a facial massage with organic grape seed oil; collagen serum and a soothing pumpkin masque; a neck, arm and hand massage with lavender body lotion; and moisturizing with pino noir moisturizer.

“Our new Shira Organics line is also vegan and contains plant extracts that are chock-full of antioxidants, humectants and vitamins to keep the skin fresh and moist,” Prenon says. “Our clients especially love the pino noir moisturizer— even if they’re not wine lovers. The resveratrol in red wines is excellent for skin health.”

Cost: $85 through the end of December. For more information on GreenEarth’s spa services, call 914.552.0983 or visit GreenEarthFacials.com.