1 cup coconut water (hydrates the skin)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 banana
1/2 cup dandelion greens – without the stems (helps to detoxify the liver and purify the skin)
1 tbsp hemp seeds (contains fatty acids that give skin a youthful glow)
1 tsp flaxseed oil (same as hemp benefits) Dash of cinnamon (GREAT antioxidant)
1 tbsp coconut sap (optional, to sweeten)

Blend together and serve! Makes 2 servings (or 1 big one)

Consonant founder, Bill, whipping up a batch of Happy Skin Juice

As guests arrived they were served the delicious “Happy Skin” juice (recipe by Marina can be found here) to get the night started on the right foot.

At 6:45, our “Healthy Eating for Healthy Skin” expert Marina Cortese kicked off the evening in front of a packed house. After we were all disappointed by the fact that cocktails won’t stimulate our lymphatic system (one of the “skintelligence quiz” questions), we were treated to a fabulous discussion about beneficial nutrients and foods.

Healthy eating tips from Marina

After a quick break for refreshments our “Healthy Makeup and Skin Care Expert”, Donna Bishop, took the stage. Donna shared lots of fantastic information about her involvement with Environmental Defense, the importance of healthy skin care and the “wild west” that is the beauty industry. She finished her talk with a bang with some makeup demos, the smokey eye being a crowd favourite!

Makeup application demo with Donna Bishop

To close the evening we did some Q&A and handed out door prizes including Consonant, Top-it and Alma Natural Spa Gift Certificates. We were thrilled with all the discussion happening amoungst our fabulous experts and guests throughout the night.

A huge thank you to our Best Skin Experts and the ladies that spent their evening with us. It was such a pleasure and we hope to do it again very soon.

If you would like to be notified about future seminars, please join our mailing list on www.consonantbody.com

Natural mattress and topper

While Anami also sells organic clothing and skin care (including Consonant) her main focus is natural mattresses and pillows. Eva cautions us, “Traditional mattresses are filled with many different toxins, some of the worst of which are the flame retardant chemicals they add.”

If you are careful about what you eat and the products you use on your body, you may want to consider switching to a natural mattress to minimize the risk to potentially harmful chemicals.

The mattresses Eva stocks are 95-97% natural and made from pure rubber milk which is harvested just like maple syrup! They’re then covered with organic cotton which makes them deliciously comfortable and a layer of wool acts as a natural flame retardant. Eva tells me the mattresses are baked on site in Malaysia in the same premises where the milk is harvested so no preservatives need to be added to the rubber milk. The foam is then shipped to Canada to be made into the final product.

The inside of a natural mattress

Before testing out the mattress, all I could think of was summers spent at camp on less-than-firm foam mattresses. A fan of a firm bed, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the natural mattress was! Eva only stocks the highest quality mattresses made with dense foam so they don’t lose their shape. If you prefer a softer mattress, Eva has those too, as well as fluffy soft natural mattress toppers. She tells me they’re built to last for about 40 years which more than makes up for the higher price tag (not to mention the benefits of not sleeping on toxins!).

Eva is absolutely lovely and very passionate about the health benefits of natural mattresses so be sure to stop in for a visit next time you’re in Yorkville.

Anami Organic Luxuries is located at 87 Avenue Rd, Toronto. (647) 347-8263.

That’s why, between February 14th and 26th, 2012, you’re invited to bring in your old (non-Consonant) face wash, face cream or eye cream (used or unused) to trade in for a 50 per cent discount on the equivalent Consonant Skincare product (limit one per person).

All Consonant skin care products are 100 per cent natural and free of toxic chemicals and carcinogens.

The Swap is being held at the Consonant Flagship Store at 2479 Yonge Street, Toronto and the following retailers:

If you can’t make it in store, you can still participate! Follow these simple steps to swap your skin care:

1. Take a picture of the product that you want to “swap” for a Consonant Product.
2. Upload that picture to Twitter or Facebook with the following message (make sure it links to us so we see it):

“Hey @consonantbody I want to swap this ____ (eye cream, face cream or face wash) for Consonant 100% natural skin care. #healthyskincare”

3. Call us at (416) 925-2855 to place an order for the equivalent Consonant product at 50% off.
*standard shipping charges will apply

Call (416) 925-2855 if you have any questions about the promotion.

Charles Revson (co-founder of Revlon) famously said “In the factory we make cosmetics; in the drugstore we sell hope.”

Traditionally, the cosmetics industry is one built on the hope of women.

Most women that I know have a bin of rejected products under their sink that promised to smooth, plump or hydrate and failed to deliver. This repeated let down can make buying cosmetics frustrating (not to mention it can be really costly).

We’d like to start an honesty movement. We’d like to be a leader in delivering what we promise.

For example, despite what many skin care companies would like to have you believe, there is not a topical cream on the market that can eliminate wrinkles once you have them. The best you can hope to do is temporarily eliminate the appearance of them, which you can do through the use of products with ingredients like Zinc (tightens and brightens) or Cassia Angustifolia (hydrates and plumps).  You can also help to slow the aging process with good quality anti-oxidant ingredients. But once those wrinkles are there, they’re there for life (barring plastic surgery) no matter how much hope you’re slathering on there.

You work hard for your money and are paying us a big compliment buying our products. In return we promise not to be an “undercounter bin product”. We sell products that do what we say they’re going to do, guaranteed, or your money back.

Let’s leave hope to the lottery ticket sellers and bring honesty to the forefront.

Bill and Kristina from Consonant Skincare with CBCSF Founder Donna

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our customers that bought the soap. Rest assured the funds are going to a fantastic cause (financially supporting women going through breast cancer treatment). We’ve got 288 more bars in production right now so we hope to be doing another cheque presentation come spring!

If you’d like to buy a bar of Help Some-Body Soap and help support CBCSF click here or visit our store at 2479 Yonge Street, Toronto.

You’re invited to join our experts Marina Cortese (B.Kin, RHN, NNCP) and Donna Bishop (Editor-in-chief Bamboo Magazine, Natural Beauty Expert on Marilyn Denis Show) for a free evening of education geared to your skin type.

Seminar 1: “Ageless Beauty”
Monday, Feb 13th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
No cost to attend: registration required.

Seminar topics include:

-The aging process, wrinkle prevention and beautifying foods
-Healthy nutrition for healthy skin
-Beauty enemies
-Key things to look for on personal care product labels
-Makeup tips to enhance your beauty
-& much more!

As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. It’s never too early to start taking care of your skin to prevent those telltale signs of aging. It’s also never too late to start caring for your skin so this seminar is perfect for ages 35+!

Seminars are free and include the course, refreshments and a take home package full of great tips and helpful facts from our experts.

Please call (416) 925-2855 to register. Space is limited to 16 participants and registration is first come, first serve.

Aside from the obvious exfoliation benefits, here are some other great reasons to start dry brushing today:

- Promotes blood circulation.
- Helps the lymphatic system to process and cleanse toxins.
- Provides a soothing massage.
- Stimulates nerve endings in the skin.
- Breaks up fatty deposits to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
- Encourages you to slow down for a few minutes every morning (who can’t use a little quiet time before the stresses of the day begin?!).

Fabulous, no? If you decide to give dry brushing a go (you won’t regret it), here’s how to use it most effectively:

- Start using very light pressure the first few times. Brushing should feel good, not “scratchy”.
- Brush your skin in the morning before showering.
- Work from your extremities in towards your heart to maximize detoxification benefits.
- We suggest avoiding your face, but your neck is fair game.
- Rinse your body with warm water.
- Remember to apply lotion after every shower to lock in moisture!

Men: Shopping for skin care doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Once you find a good line, you should be able to get smoother, softer skin almost instantly with relatively little effort. Here are the most common concerns that we hear from guys when they come into the store.

Time for only one step?
Male skin typically has large pores and produces a lot of sebum (oil), making it integral to cleanse daily. Our Foaming Face Wash is tough enough for a man’s skin, without drying it out.

Dry skin?
Keep flaky, dry skin at bay this winter with our Moisturizing Face Cream. Our airless pump makes it easy to take with you to the gym etc. Best of all, it’s unscented (like all our face products) so you don’t have to worry about smelling like a rose.

Shave daily?
Exfoliate with our 20% Clay Bar to help prevent ingrown hairs and bumps and to allow for a closer shave. Bonus – you can use this on your body too!

Dark circles?
Hide the effects of a late night by lightening dark circles and tightening bags with our Firming Eye Cream. It also has a cooling sensation to help wake you up a bit more.

Need some more coaching?
Just ask. We’d be happy to help hook you up with the right tools to make you look your best! Visit our store at 2479 Yonge Street, Toronto for a personalized consultation or shop our website from the comfort of your home.

Where: Consonant Flagship Store (2479 Yonge Street, Toronto)

When: 6-8 pm December 5th, 2011

Join us for an evening of beauty, wine and shopping! Cheeky Monkey will be on site doing complimentary nail polish application, with their gorgeous, “3-free” polish. Blush Pretty will also be here to do makeup touch ups and skin consultations.

Enjoy a 20% discount (this will be our only discounting for the rest of the year) on all products in the store as well as draws for some fabulous prizes! With great gift ideas for everyone on your list, this is the perfect night to get all your holiday shopping done.

There is limited room at this event and the guest list is first come, first serve so RSVP ASAP at VIP@consonantbody.com. Guests are welcome, but do RSVP them as well. We will be closing the guest list by November 24th, 2011.

We look forward to seeing everyone!