RAW THOUGHTS

healthy, positivity, Raw Stories

November 12, 2020

Raw Stories – arielleestoria

Sharing Raw Stories is a way for us to connect, acknowledge the beauty, strength and perseverance involved in every journey. We hope these stories enlighten, inspire and encourage you as you walk your own path and help you to know that you are never alone.

What is your Raw Story?

I think that this journey of listening to, loving on and coming home to these homes we have the honor of calling bodies is honestly less about positivity and more about gratitude. Somedays, we will not always feel positive about our homes, some days we will feel nothing, some days we will just exist and not acknowledge only flaws or only goodness we will just-be. I think that’s the goal of this body “positivity” journey and the point of it – less negative self -talk and more that leads you to holding yourself a little closer and being thankful that you have what you have and learning to embrace the wholeness of who you are.

Photographer: @karenmarieco

Hair Care, healthy

November 5, 2020

Fall Hair Trends

Lock-downs, loungewear and ponytails are how we spent our spring and summer. And even though we can’t get a redo on 2020, we can give our hair a good refresh to close out the year in style. Our salons are open and it’s time to show a little optimism with a fresh look and maybe even consider wearing pants without elastic waistbands again.

So what’s trending for fall? Here are some of our favorite hair looks getting all the love from celebs and influencers. And don’t forget to stock up on dry shampoo that can extend your style or add volume and texture to just washed hair. Get it here.

Curtain Bangs.

If you’ve always waffled between bangs or no bangs, now is the time to go for it. Curtain bangs, or longer layers you can sweep to the side are sexy, cool and having a moment.

The Rounded Bob.

Bobs have redefined classic + classy for a few years now, but this season they get a little rounder and softer with a bit of added curve and texture.

70’s Shag

Bell bottom jeans, slouchy sweaters and a long, layered shag. Really, is 70’s fashion ever going to go out of style? We hope not.

The 70’s tousled layers are more popular than ever this season so Farrah-lovers, it’s time to get your shag on.

Classic Mid-Length a’la Kourtney Kardashian

Trimming off summer split ends will get you to a gorgeous, classic, sexy mid-length look. Keep it simple without a lot of layers. It’s versatile, classic and stunning with a little wave or texture spray added.

Long + Curly

Own it. Let loose your curls and show the world your wild and free side. Girls with girls should flaunt them with longer layers and maximum fullness for the full, I am woman, hear me roar effect.

Chandelier Layers

This is a pretty, face-softening look that’s all gentle layers and no hard edges. The back of hair is cut in longer layers with shorter, smooth, face framing fringe in front. It puts the focus on eyes and gives you a softer, gentler vibe.

Close Crop

Girl, if you just can’t deal, a close crop is your go-to. Everyone has done it in different pixie cut forms from Charlize, Halle and Katy Perry to Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and Scar Jo. It’s a sassy, powerful statement that’s both sexy, confident and rocks your no-nonsense mood.

recipe

November 5, 2020

Healthy Pumpkin Bread? Yes, please.

Heck yes. Give us all the pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin facials and even the pumpkin bread. Fall is not the time to skip your comfort foods — especially now. Baking is our lifeline to longer, lazier, colder days spent inside and needing some feel-good food to nurture our bellies just a little. But how to do that and maintain some semblance of a healthy diet?

One of our favorite fall comfort foods is this recipe from Cookie + Kate. It’s a healthy pumpkin bread recipe that loses the refined sugars and replaces them with honey or maple syrup. It’s so yum, that no one will ever guess it’s a healthy version. Check their website for options to make it vegan, dairy free or gluten free as well.

This recipe takes about 10 minutes of prep and about an hour in the oven.
Happy baking, babes!

Recipe yields 1 loaf.

⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil*
½ cup honey or maple syrup
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin purée
¼ cup milk of choice or water
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice blend (or ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon allspice or cloves)
1 teaspoon baking soda (NOT baking powder; they aren’t the same!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups white wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour
Totally optional: ½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit…
Pinch of ground cinnamon, for sprinkling on top

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 325º and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and whisk until blended. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, simply let the bowl rest in a warm place for a few minutes, like on top of your stove, or warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.)
Add the pumpkin purée, milk, pumpkin spice, baking soda, vanilla and salt, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. Some lumps are ok! If you’re adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.
Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. If you’d like a pretty swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (typically, if I haven’t added any mix-ins, my bread is done at 55 minutes; if I have added mix-ins, it needs closer to 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer the bread to a cooling rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.

healthy

November 5, 2020

Fall for a New Clean Routine

Season’s change and so does our hair and skin. Even if you live in So Cal, the change is subtle, but the drier air, indoor heating and other factors take a major toll on your glow. If you live in colder areas, the effects are even greater. Now is the time to pivot and tweak your clean routine to hold on to soft, smooth skin, vibrancy and avoid the winter hat-head, frizz bomb.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your personal-care cool in the colder months ahead.

Hydrate Inside and Out.

Your skin produces less oil in colder months so that means its time to step up the hydration inside and out. You should definitely drink more water, add lemon and sip on hot teas throughout the day. Remember, what you do on the inside, shows up on the outside. It’s also time to think about moisturizing your skin on a deeper level. It’s a good time to go from your everyday lightweight Lotion to our lush, creamy Body Butters — even if you just put it on before bed. They melt into skin with gorgeous, uplifting scents and are the perfect antidote to dry, flaky, itchy skin.

Think about going Sensitive.

If your skin is irritated from weather and other environmental factors, you may want to try one of our Sensitive Skin formulas. They keep you calm so you can carry on when your skin starts feeling flaky and itchy. Our Green Tea + Cucumber + Aloe Vera and our Almond Milk + Agave + Oatmeal Body Washes and Lotions are both clinically tested safe for sensitive skin.

Add Exfoliation.

Summer’s tired skin cells are hanging on. Its time kiss them goodbye and add our Sugar Scrub to your shower routine at least 2-3 x per week to gently exfoliate and reveal brighter, smoother skin. They’re full of skin-loving Cold Pressed fruit oils too, so they not only brightens, but soften and leave a protective veil of moisture — which we like to call our Sugar Scrub glow.

Hair Rx.

Our new PRO Remedy collection is a professional grade treatment line made for hair that needs extra love. Now is the time to add all five products to your arsenal so you can avoid winter frizz, dullness and breakage that comes in cooler months. Try our Reconstruct Shampoo and Conditioner, Leave-In Primer Mist, Leave-In Unbreakable Balm and even our Protective Dry Shampoo that helps, not harms your hair when you can’t fit in a wash. All are formulated specifically to protect your color investment and reconstruct and repair hair from over-styling, breakage and environmental stress.

Extra Love for Your Lips.

Remember, your lips absorb 65% of what you put on them, so keep your lip products clean. Our 95% Organic Natural Lip Balms are made with organic extracts and Cold Pressed essential oils to soften, smooth and lock in moisture. Keep them on hand all day and apply with reckless abandon. Each delicious flavor comes packaged with a pot of sugar scrub too, so you can prime lips and get rid of flakiness first.

Raw Stories, Uncategorized

October 29, 2020

Raw Stories – topmodelc_

My name is Carlene John. I am a 30 year young Brooklynite and Vitiligo warrior. Vitiligo is a skin disorder which causes melanin loss in the skin, but in “losing” melanin I found myself and a true purpose. Instead of it holding me back, my skin disorder made me determined to push through the many barriers of conventional beauty. It is my motivation to pursue an art I am extremely passionate about. I began modeling at the age of 17 and have grown tremendously over the years in crafting a walk I can call my own.

Photographer: @Garren.Pryce

Hair Care, Uncategorized

October 22, 2020

Your Next Hair Color Hero at Sally Beauty!

Introducing PRO Remedy exclusively at Sally Beauty, your new clean hair care solution for professional salon quality formulations, look, & scents made with plant-derived ingredients and cold pressed products.

We created PRO Remedy to bring the salon feel to you—especially during quarantine era, most of us are looking for ways to help maintain salon hair color and vibrancy between salon visits.

If you need a good hair fix and seeking to maintain, repair, and protect your hair, say hello to Raw Sugar’s PRO Remedy lineup. The new affordable, professional-grade collection of products crafted with high-functioning, nutrient-rich botanicals, organic extracts, and plant-based formulas. Do we hear some hand clapping? Because, yaaaas. Not to mention, the exclusive line features the most gorgeous, head-turning scents.

Lean on us to help protect your hard-earned color with our clean ingredients!

*Due to COVID 19, PRO Remedy bamboo tops may have alternative temporary substitutions and will be back shortly.

PRO Remedy Reconstruct Shampoo- White Orchid + Mushroom

Protect your hard-earned color while you cleanse—gently remove unwanted product build-up and pollutants without stripping. Made with nature’s most powerful hero ingredients that are high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—this proprietary blend of Reishi and Cordyceps Mushroom extracts and White Orchid extract helps replenish moisture and rebalance PH levels—nourishing scalp care for optimal hair growth. Infused with a blend of fermented oils to prevent split-ends and breakage while boosting elasticity, bounce and shine. Hair smells gorgeous with a light floral scent of white orchid, jasmine and nuances of rosewood. Balance your spirit as well as your scalp for longer, stronger, and visibly more vibrant hair.

PRO Remedy Reconstruct Conditioner – White Orchid + Mushroom

The ultimate damage control rescue treatment! This color-locking conditioner helps repair broken bonds, softens split ends, and adds moisture to prevent further breakage. Made with nature’s most powerful hero ingredients rich in hair-strengthening proteins, vitamins and minerals—this proprietary blend of Reishi and Cordyceps Mushroom extracts and White Orchid extract helps to seal in moisture, boost shine, for incredibly nourished long strong hair. A unique combination of natural UV-protective fermented oils, rich antioxidants and phytonutrients instantly repair split-ends and strengthen hair bonds without weighing hair down. Soothe your senses as well as your scalp with pure floral notes of white orchid, jasmine, and rosewood. The result is silky soft, legendary hair.

PRO Remedy Leave-In Primer Mist – Wild Rose + Watercress

This amazing lightweight, pre-styling treatment is a multi-tasking hair-primer that does it all! Infused with botanical extracts of Wild Rose, Watercress, and Mojave Yucca. The gentle mist helps to detangle, bonds hair strands, and seals split-ends for ultimate frizz control. Cold Pressed Sunflower Seed Oil and Coconut Oil, work like a pro to keep hair protected from heat damage and breakage without weighing it down. Leave hair smelling gorgeous with rich and delicate notes of wild rose paired with watery fresh greens. The result is wonderfully silky and radiant looking hair.

PRO Remedy Protective Dry Shampoo Camelia Flower + Agave

You’re a quick spritz away from refreshed, volumized and gorgeous hair! Save time between washes and extend your look with this Protective Dry Shampoo that cleanses and absorbs oil and odor. Revive your bounce and maintain color vibrancy while shielding from environmental stress. Infused with Vegan Quinoa Protein, to make hair feel thicker with lustrous volume, and a proprietary botanical blend of Blue Agave and Green Tea to naturally detangle and prevent future damage. Extra fine Rice Seed and Bamboo Powder leaves no powdery residue, only a soft-to-the-touch feel. The result is incredibly fresh hair with a camellia flower, lilies and sweet agave scent.

PRO Remedy Unbreakable Balm Leave-In Bond Treatment – Banana Leaf + Coconut

Bliss out with this brilliant, instant frizz-smoothing and structure-strengthening leave-in Balm that seals, heals and protects while bringing damaged hair back to life! Made with a lush botanical extract blend of Banana, Coconut and Lotus Leaf, to seal in color, enhance elasticity, boost shine and soften hair. Infused with bond sealing, vitamin-rich fermented oils to help restore over processed hair, protect color and prevent further breakage. Embrace the scent of a lavish tropical paradise of creamy coconut and banana. The result is truly brilliant strong hair.

All PRO Remedy products:

Made with plant-derived and Cold Pressed ingredients
Made with organic extracts
Free of Parabens & Silicones
Cruelty-Free & Vegan
Color-Safe
For every product purchased, Raw Sugar donates a bar of soap to a family in need

October 22, 2020

Quick Spritz to Fabulous: Why We Love Our Dry Shampoo

Did you know, we now have 3 totally different Dry Shampoos! Each specialized formula is tailored to meet your mane needs.

If there’s one thing Covid has taught us, it’s to prioritize our time. Who has the energy to spend an extra hour or two washing and styling their hair daily?! Certainly not this Raw Sugar babe.

As we’ve adapted to the new norm by homeschooling, remote working, video conferencing, and quarantining—any extra time has shifted to indulging in new hobbies, meditating, and relaxing. We’ve become less concerned about perfection and more obsessed with ease. That said, we still want to look cute AF for the video calls and FaceTime chats!

Let’s celebrate self-care hacks that give us more time for what’s important! Not to mention, saving the earth’s precious water resources.

PRO Remedy Protective Dry Shampoo Camelia Flower + Agave

Save time between washes and extend your look with this Protective Dry Shampoo that cleanses and absorbs oil and odor. Revive your bounce and maintain color vibrancy while shielding from environmental stress. Infused with Vegan Quinoa Protein, to make hair feel thicker with lustrous volume, and a proprietary botanical blend of Blue Agave and Green Tea to naturally detangle and prevent future damage. Extra fine Rice Seed and Bamboo Powder leaves no powdery residue, only a soft-to-the-touch feel. The result is incredibly fresh hair with a camellia flower, lilies and sweet agave scent.

Raw Sugar Volume Dry Shampoo, Watermelon + Lychee

Say goodbye to bad hair days. With a few quick sprays of our color-safe Dry Shampoo, you achieve maximum volume with minimum effort. Bamboo Powder and organic Marshmallow Root extract magically absorb oil and impurities so hair instantly bounces back to life with revived softness, shine, volume and vibrancy, leaving hair smelling super fresh and juicy with subtle notes of watermelon and lychee. Poof! No more dull, flat, tired hair.

Raw Sugar Texture Dry Shampoo, Maqui Berry + Coconut

Say goodbye to bad hair days. With a few quick sprays of our color-safe Dry Shampoo, you achieve maximum volume with minimum effort. Bamboo Powder and organic Marshmallow Root extract magically absorb oil and impurities so hair instantly bounces back to life with revived softness, shine, volume and vibrancy, leaving hair smelling beautifully fresh with hints of coconut, maqui berries, rose and cedar wood.

For you babes who embrace the dry shampoo lifestyle, rejoice! These Dry Shampoos have your back, so you avoid pulling out the blow dryer and get back to living life. All three formulas are safe for color-treated hair, vegan + cruelty-free, and made without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, or artificial dyes. Also safe for use on chemically treated hair, extensions, and will protect your color investment.

XOXO

Hair Care

October 22, 2020

Raw Sugar Hair Care Breakdown

Available at Sally Beauty! Click the image to shop 👆

Find your clean hair care solution with Raw Sugar’s line of products that are made with plant-derived ingredients and cold pressed products.

Healthy self-care includes your hair, but shampoo and conditioner are not one size fits all. Finding the right hair care for your hair type could make the difference between life with lustrous locks or fighting the frizzies on a daily basis. That’s why we tailor our hair care line to specific needs. Check out which collection may be the perfect fit for you!

The Moisture Smoothie

For overworked, dehydrated hair that needs an extra shot of moisture and nourishment.

Amazing for hair that’s dry and overworked and needs a heavy dose of moisture. The Moisture Smoothie Shampoo + Conditioner is a hair strengthening duo to achieve a tamed mane. This super hydrating formula with Coconut + Agave + Sweet Almond Milk delivers thirst quenching hydration and shine to keep your hair sleek, glossy, and vibrant.

The Bounce Back

For hair that doesn’t want to be weighed down, craves weightless body, and bounce.

Add more life to your hair with our Bounce Back Shampoo and Conditioner. Infused with shine enhancing carrot oil, mango butter and nourishing agave, it delivers weightless bounce and soft body, with a delicious mango scent.

The Truly Unruly

For hair that is wild and unruly, needs curl-defining nourishment and frizz fighting power.

Our Truly Unruly puts life back in your curls without weighing them down. The deeply cleansing formula is fortified with rich Avocado, cleansing Apple Cider Vinegar, and healing Rosemary Oil so your curls are under control but wild spirit is still fully intact!

Dry Shampoo Volume

For tired, flat hair that needs a quick pick-me up between washes to revive volume and freshness.

This lush, gorgeous smelling Dry Shampoo is your go-to for quick volume between washes. The super-fresh formula is crafted with Bamboo Powder and organic Marshmallow Root extract to magically absorb oil and impurities so your hair instantly bounces back to life with added volume, revived vibrancy, and beautifully fresh scent of watermelon and lychee.

Dry Shampoo Texture

For tired, dull hair that needs an instant boost of style between washes to add texture and revive freshness.

For flat, lifeless hair in need of extra style. This lush, plant-derived formula made with Bamboo Powder and organic Marshmallow Root extract to magically absorb oil and impurities to add instant texture for maximum style between washes. It revives stale hair with a beautifully fresh scent with hints of coconut, maqui berries, rose, and cedarwood.

Healing Power Hair Masque

For some extra love and damage-repair done from over-styling, overheating and product build-up.

Immerse your hair in the ultimate Healing Power of Avocado + Banana Oil + Coconut Milk + Agave nutrients: a super dose of nourishment for shinier, stronger, visibly healthier hair. Made with an indulgent blend of nature’s highly nourishing plant-derived power ingredients repair over-worked hair that’s in need of a little Raw lovin’.

Mighty Curls Hair Masque

For curly hair that needs frizz tamed, curls defined, and an overall hair revive.

This rich, blossoming tropical scented hair masque will help you tame, soften, define and add shine to curls, kicking frizz to the curb. A powerfully nourishing and regenerative blend of Organic Papaya and Shea Butter extract, Hemp Seed Oil, and Pro-Vitamin B5 ramps up moisture while giving curls weightless, silky volume, vibrancy, and bounce.

Fierce Renewal Hair Booster

For a shot of hydration, restoration, and boost to damaged hair.

We’ve loaded up this hair booster with Soy Protein for extra shine and Coconut Oil to restore hair breakage! This quick, leave-in treatment was made to give your hair that extra love it needs. This booster protects and reduces any further hair damage, so your future self will be thanking you! Glossy, silky hair will always be in style. Each Raw Boost bottle contains up to 2 uses.

Be Kind To Human Kind, Sustainability

October 15, 2020

5 Sustainable Ways to Clean Your Body

Taking care of yourself should never be at the expense of others or the environment. That really is the heart of what sustainable self-care means. Since our skin absorbs up to 64% of what you put on it, it also means being very intentional about what you put on your body — from cruelty free to non-toxic ingredients. All said, it’s clearly the time to clean up your self-care regimen.

Here are 5 ways you can be more sustainable with your clean routine.

Use products made with natural or organic, plant-derived ingredients. You’ll be giving yourself self-care that not only feels good, performs well, you’re using ingredients that align with nature and are actually good for your body and don’t poison the planet. Instead of chemicals, you’re infusing vitamins, minerals, plant extracts and skin-loving ingredients into your body that has a feel-good effect that extends to your spirit as well.

Use products that are cruelty free. Sustainability means taking care of our planet, and all the living things on it. There is no place for animal testing in a soulful, sustainable world.

Just say no to chemical, unnatural ingredients. Using body washes and soaps that are non-toxic with no harmful chemicals is key — not only because we absorb 64% of what goes on our body and could eventually make us sick, but the chemical waste can destroy our planet.

Opt for a shower to save water. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons.
Find eco-friendly packaging and re-use containers. Currently only an estimate of 14% of plastic gets recycled. Re-use is the best way to live a sustainable lifestyle.

See our blog here for ideas on reusing plastic containers, 5 hacks for to be more eco-friendly, and our guide to a plant-based diet.

Lip Care, Uncategorized

October 15, 2020

Is Mask Mouth a Thing?

We’ve all heard of maskne (aka, acne caused by wearing a mask) and unfortunately, that’s definitely a thing. But mask mouth? Yep. Also a thing. When you’re wearing a mask for any length of time, you’re breathing your own breath, the moisture in your breath gets damp which goes into the fabric of your mask, which in turn is a breeding ground for bacteria such as candida — you may get a rash and your lips may get extremely dry. Hello, mask mouth.

The antidote for dry-lip mask mouth is creating a barrier of moisture on our lips with a nourishing Lip Balm to prevent the constant dryness. Forget lipstick and lip gloss unless you want it sticking to your mask — and the rest of your face. Raw Sugar Natural Lip Balm is the perfect layer of protection, because not only does it moisturize lips with a blend that is made with Cold Pressed ingredients, it has Vitamin E, safflower and jojoba oils to lock in moisture, creating the protection you need while nourishing them at the same time. The added bonus of using Natural Lip Balm in delicious flavors is that the extracts act as a mini aromatherapy session so your brain signals a happy, calm sense of well being. And yet another bonus? Every Lip Balm comes with a tub of exfoliating Lip Scrub.

Lip Scrub is key to exfoliation of sensitive skin on and around your lips, treating dry, chapped lips and adding softness. It will help keep lips primed and pretty and infuses them with a protective veil of moisture to prevent mask irritation. So exfoliate with Lip Scrub. Apply Lip Balm with wild, reckless abandon or at least once an hour. Let’s make mask mouth a thing of the past. Shop below!

Lemon Sugar Lip Balm

Watermelon + Fresh Mint Lip Balm

Almond Milk + Agave Lip Balm

Pineapple + Maqui Berry + Coconut Lip Balm

Raw Coconut + Mango Lip Balm

12 3 4 Next ›Last »