Ever since my naturopath introduced me to the wonderful world of castor oil packs, I've been hooked. Castor oil's healing properties go way back to ancient Egypt, where it was regularly taken orally as a laxative (which is now known to be toxic). Today, Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, and naturopathy recommend castor oil packs because of their ability to promote healing and to reduce Read more

Over the past few seasons, bigger, bolder eyebrows have been growing in popularity. While we'll save the more outrageous looks for on the runways — Chanel's jewel-encrusted strips or the foiled follicles at Fendi — if you are looking to try the full and filled brow trend at home, be sure to follow these essential grooming tips. Read more

Last week I began using the oil cleansing method, using a combination of olive oil, castor oil, and tea tree oil. Tons of readers gave me great advice on how to proceed, and a week later, I've made some adjustments and am happy to report that I'm still very much into the OCM. The hear about what my first week was like, just keep reading. Read more

It's time for another Bella experiment in the spirit of my The Natural series. This time, though, instead of making my entire beauty routine organic and edible, I'm taking things a little slower and testing out the popular Oil Cleansing Method. The OCM uses a combination of household oils (most commonly olive and castor) to remove makeup, grime, and surface sebum without dehydrating your skin. Read more

I'm two full weeks into using the OCM, and I have to admit that things aren't going well. I switched from a blend of olive oil and castor, which left my skin feeling irritated, to sweet almond oil, which other readers recommended. Unlike everyone else, though, the results I've gotten aren't so great. My skin isn't feeling simultaneously greasy and itchy anymore, but I'm breaking out all over and Read more