Announcing NOYA’s Homeless Initiative!

We need your help! We are proud to announce NOYA’s new homeless initiative: for every balm you purchase and send a photo of, we will donate one to a homeless or low-income person.

1. Purchase one of our balms. Use the store locator on our website to find a retailer near you. If your favorite store doesn’t carry us, ask them to give us a call!

2. Follow us on Twitter (@NOYAbeauty) or like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/noyacosmetics). You can also submit by emailing give@noyabeauty.com

3. Upload a creative picture of you with your NOYA lip balm.

That’s it! Keeping your lips smooth and hydrated never felt so good.

And since you’re giving to the homeless, we’re giving back to you: while entries are limited to one per person, your creativity doesn’t have to be. The most creative photo submission will win its sender a year-long supply of lip balm for herself and three friends. Now that’s sure to perk up anyone’s pout!

We searched meticulously through charities that would be a perfect fit for us until we finally found The National Health Care for the Homeless (HCH), who will help us distribute the balms. We are so excited to contribute to their cause. And you can now help us by giving a much needed, and sometimes overlooked, self-care staple.

Let us know in the comments how YOU like to give back, and as always, live divinely

The nitty gritty:

NOYA will be making donations while supplies last, and submissions are limited to one purchased balm per person. Submissions must include a picture of you holding your newly purchased NOYA lip balm through any of the above mentioned outlets.

Please note that by submitting your photo publically, you are giving us the right to upload and share your image on our twitter, instagram, website, facebook, youtube, pintrest and all other avenues associated with the NOYA brand. Submissions through email are excluded from this, we recognize and respect your request for privacy.

Twitter: twitter.com/NOYABEAUTY

Facebook: www.facebook.com/noyacosmetics

Email: give@noyabeauty.com

For more details:  noyabeauty.com/buy-a-balm-give-a-balm/

NOYA – Now available on over 150 stores in New York, New Jersey, and Chicago!

It’s been a long, exciting path to this huge milestone in NOYA’s journey to store shelves. We are proud to announce that the big day is finally here and NOYA can now be purchased throughout select stores in NY, with more to come in Florida and California over the next several months. You can access the following link for an updated list of stores that carry NOYA lip balms: Store Locator

In order to share in the celebration, we thought we would take you on a quick trip along the steps it takes to create a simple, all-natural and kosher product such as our yummy lip balms.

 

Step 1: Finding nature’s secrets

The concept of adding a protective layer to the lips has been around for 100 of years, yet in recent times we have begun to complicate this very simple need. Before creating NOYA, we found that most balms had a long list of ingredients in them, each requiring hours of laborious research just to find out a) what they are and b) what they do. Finally we thought to ourselves: there must be a simpler, more natural way to nourish and protect the lips, and that is when the idea behind NOYA lip balms was born. It wasn’t easy to find just the right textures and ingredients to work with, but finally we settled on the three main components of NOYA balms: extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and beeswax. (Check out our NOYA Lip Balm Series for a description on why we selected each of the ingredients we use!)

1. NOYA Lip Balm Series – Beeswax
2. NOYA Lip Balm Series – Coconut Oil
3. NOYA Lip Balm Series – EVOO

 

Step 2:  Finding a balance

Once the ingredients were settled on, it took extensive work just to finalize the right balance and combination to create a formula that’s light yet extremely hydrating and non-greasy but substantial enough to last through hot coffee sips and late night kisses Plus, we wanted the balms to be a little more fun than your standard lip product and have a taste that’s irresistible! We chose to use all-natural Stevia to add some yumminess to two of our balms, the Cherry and Vanilla along with all-natural flavoring. After multiple trial and errors, we came up with a Vanilla flavor to rival the sweetest of cupcakes, and a cherry that’s a tangy dance on your taste buds. The Mint was a bit tricky, but we think we balanced our spearmint balm to be a perfect, cooling minty sweet goodness that perks you up while moistening your lips. Lastly our Classic lip balm is a simple, no nonsense flavorless lip balm meant for the purists among you! It has only three ingredients and as far as we know is literally the simplest, purest lip balm there is on the market! If nature itself were to create a lip balm, this might be it.

 

Step 3:  Perfecting the packaging

The original NOYA lip balm tubes were bright and colorful! Hard to believe, but we had a completely different, crayon box inspired look in mind for our NOYA brand. The packing itself was going to be bright and full of colors as well, but after hours of back-breaking work by a design team, (and some sleepless, caffeine-infused nights for us) the colors slowly melted off. We felt that a more modern edge to our packaging conveyed our brand’s mission of a simple and natural lip care line more than the bright, vivid packaging ever could.  Even our signature splash of water design went from being a monsoon-sized graphic eating up the packaging to a more demure, eye-friendly wave.

What’s up next for NOYA’s creative team? Perhaps a line of completely biodegradable packaging? Hmm…

These are just three of the unexpected and fun aspects of creating a lip care line. A lot of time, we had to work off the cuff and experiment with new flavors or create completely novel ways of packaging our lip balms. And we aren’t done yet! Our team is already researching ingredients for new products, and we promise to keep you posted.  Stay tuned! And as always, live divinely.

On our lips: Mulberry

When we first heard about Fall 2012’s trend lip color we thought, rather sarcastically, Oh how innovative, a deep burgundy for Fall. Snooze! But after some further research we realized that the mulberry lip isn’t just another boring burgundy lip, it’s a multi-dimensional, lush purple tinted brown…or brown tinted purple? Either way, the trick to pulling off this look is blending two or three different shades of brown, plum, or even purple together for a shade that’s not only on trend, but perfect for you. Here are some of our favorite way to wear this look:

1. Super graphic

Graphic lips are all about a sharp, defined lip; it’s bold, in your face and not for the faint of heart. To start off, line your lips with a dark plum, burgundy or dark brown liner. Make sure to go slightly above your actual lip line for added volume and intensity. Want an even more daring edge? (duh!) When you reach your cupids bow, extend the line up a bit and draw defined, angled peaks. Although the effect won’t look natural, the sharp lines will give your mouth a pouty, 3-D effect that you see covering the spreads of fashion editorials. Fill your lips in completely with liner and then apply a matte lipstick in a matching shade of plum or burgundy. Make sure to pick a lipstick that has a hint of purple to it, and if you can’t find the exact shade you’re looking for, simply mix a wine colored lip stick with a dark purple one to create your perfect custom shade of Mulberry. For extra staying power, dab a translucent powder over the lipstick, blot and apply a second coat. Not a matte finish fan? No worries, layer with some high shine clear gloss for a slick, wet finish. The effect is a stunning three dimensional lip with strong definition and an edgy, modern feel.

2. The everyday look

While the graphic lip is great for a night out, it just won’t do at the office or even at a casual dinner date with friends, however this look can be adjusted to work during daylight hours too. Simply leave out the lip liner and opt for a lighter shade of lipstick or simply a tinted balm. In order to perfect this look, rub the lipstick onto a clean finger and gently dab the color onto your lips. This technique achieves a less saturated, “just-bitten” look, meaning that you can get two different lipstick colors out of one tube simply by controlling how much of it goes on your lips. If you’re not into using your hands, apply the lipstick straight from the tube and then blot your lips on a napkin a few times. Layer with a quick swipe of a light reflective gloss in a complementary shade and you are good to go! It’s an old trick that will never go out of style

3. Barely there

Sometimes we just want to look effortlessly beautiful and wear just enough makeup to look like we’re not wearing any at all. On days like that, it can feel like incorporating trends into our looks just isn’t possible, but we don’t believe this has to be the case. For example if you wanted to achieve this look in a more natural way, rather than using a full on lipstick, or even a tinted balm, opt for a lovely burgundy or wine colored stain which can be applied lightly for a flushed hint of color or layered for a more saturated, kissable look. Don’t have a stain? No problem! Simply apply a lip liner in the mulberry family (again, dark red, brown, even a plummy purple will do) all over the lip, blend well with your finger and then blot most of it off on a clean napkin. Top it off with a moisturizing lip balm (NOYA anyone?) and you’re all set for a light, lasting trendy lip without the fuss and worry of an over-the-top look.

We hope one of these looks works it’s way into your Fall make-up routines, but if none of these ideas seem appealing to you, why not try out your own Mulberry-inspired creation? The beauty of makeup is that it’s all about experimentation, and what once seemed over the top and clownish (see the neon pink lip of this past summer) eventually becomes the new must have look splashed across the covers of every magazine. Can you think of any cool ways to wear the Mulberry mouth? Make sure to leave a comment below letting us know how. And as always, live divinely

A Second Look: Fall

It’s officially fall, and whether that means a return to school, or a return from some tropical vacation, one thing’s for sure, it’s getting colder by the minute. If you’re like us, you love the sizzling, sweaty glare of the sun, and the chillier weather can sometimes bum you out. Alright, it can make you want to crawl into bed, and not come out until the sunshine returns (why don’t humans hibernate???). But since for most of us such a fantasy is not a realistic option, let’s think about the brighter side of fall and make good use of all the gifts this season has in store for us!

1. Sweater Crazy!

Cooler weather means one awesome thing – sweater weather! From cardigans to hoodies, cables and knits, fall fashions are abundant with this cute and cozy staple. In fact, we start daydreaming about cardigans and pullovers long before the first day of fall; by the time August rolls around we really miss layering cardi’s over tanks and t-shirts. Way before the end of summer, we can be seen sneaking through our storage and pulling out some old favorites, like the bold floral print mini cardigan that adds a flair to any outfit, or that leopard pullover that always makes me feel fun and frisky. There are so many varieties and prints to work with, your closet is sure to be bulging by the time (shudder!) winter rolls around.

2. Accessories galore!

One thing that we miss most during those sweltering summer months are our scarves, which brings us to accessories in general. We love us a pashmina layered over cropped jackets, rain coats or over anything really. Once the warmer weather rolls in, we have a very hard time letting go of our scarves, and tend to wear them long past the point of comfort. So when we need to get excited about fall, we bust out those scarves. Not into scarves? No problem, Fall allows for an abundance of accessories like cute mini motorcycle gloves, head wraps or slouchy berets, faux fur vests, and best of all, BOOTS. From wedge booties to rugged army boots, there is a style of boot out there for everyone. So pick yourself up a new pair of shoes (or two..), layer a bold scarf on top of your favorite vest, and pull on some adorable fingerless gloves; the options here are limitless, so feel free to go wild with it!

3. Pumpkin…everything!

From pie to cider, pumpkin is definitely the quintessential fall fruit. What better way to shake those post-summer blues then with a nice, hot pumpkin latte and a side of delicious pumpkin muffins? You can literally just mix vanilla cake batter with Pumpkin filling, and make yourself some yummy, Fall flavored cupcakes. Use your imagination and see how many tasty pumpkin treats you can think up. And this year, make sure you carve yourself a jack-o-lantern or two; there’s no better way to bring back your childhood frivolity then with messy pumpkin creations. If culinary creations aren’t your forte, don’t fret, here’s some of our favorite recipes:

[find links for pumpkin cider, pie, muffins, cookies....]

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie:  
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/perfect-pumpkin-pie/

Pick-Me-Up Pumpkin Latte:  
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/beverage/pick-me-up_pumpkin_latte_recipe.html

Pumpkin Muffins:  
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2006/10/promise-keeper-pumpkin-eater/

Old-fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies:  
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/32364/old-fashioned-soft-pumpkin-cookies/detail.aspx

4. Fall Colors!

We’re not just talking foliage here, which in itself is beautiful and should be fully enjoyed, photographed, and instagrammed, but make-up! Most likely, your summers been filled with coral nails and lips, pink lip glosses, shimmery shadows, and generally light handed application. Fall brings out our more rustic nature and  we find ourselves craving the deeper hues in our looks, from burgundy lips, to brown and taupe eye shadows, we cannot get enough of our favorite autumnal shades. And don’t even get us started on red lip stick! Although we’ll admit, red finds it’s way onto our lips every season, we absolutely cannot stay away from red lips during the Fall, and usually purchase at least one more shade for our collection every year. And if you’re worried about pulling off these darker shades, don’t fret! Just apply with a lighter hand, and use some moisturizing balm on the tip of your finger to gently dab on your lips and diffuse the color.

5.  Holidays!

Some of the best and most festive holidays are around the fall season. There are costumes to plan for Halloween and turkey dinners to cook for Thanksgiving. Although football season isn’t technically a holiday, it’s definitely a reason to host fun parties and cheer your (or your significant others) team to victory. Get yourself in the holiday mood by decorating your home with cobwebs for Halloween, or create some fun Fall wreaths to lay around the house and put you into that Thanksgiving mood. After all, redecorating is a great way to bring new energy into your home, and what better excuse than all these lovely holidays? Try experimenting with new recipes this Thanksgiving, who knows, maybe you’ll start some new traditions? Or try to cook a healthier, yummier dinner this year for you and your loved ones.

These are just a few of our favorite things about fall, there are definitely more reasons why this season is a time for celebration rather than mourning. Looking over this post, we think a good theme for fall is adventure and experimentation, whether that’s in the form of exploring a park and enjoying the lovely foliage, or trying out a new look or recipe, there is no better time than now to add some spice and excitement to your life (if only just to take your mind off those end of summer blues). Hopefully this post managed to add some fun to the next couple months!

Let us know what some of your favorite things about fall are, and what you do to keep those smiles on all year long And, as always, live divinely.

NOYA Lip Balm Series – Beeswax

As we close out our NOYA lip balm series, we come to the foundation of our lip balm ingredients:  beeswax!

Beeswax is produced from glands in the abdomen of young bees and then scraped off of their bodies. We know — this may not sound like the most intriguing process, but beeswax is as edible as honey and its benefits makes it all worth it. Read on!

Beeswax contains vitamin A, which helps to soften and hydrate the skin. When added to skin care products, beeswax acts as a humectant, which means it draws moisture into the skin and sealing it in. It also forms a protective barrier on the surface of the skin that protects against irritants. This is perfect for those with dry or sensitive skin, as well as the tender skin on our lips (hint hint! NOYA lip balm!).

Beeswax also has traits that allow it to act as an emulsifier, which basically means it helps keep two ingredients together. When added to skin care products it makes creams thicker, and also helps firm and plump the skin. This property makes it a great hair product ingredient as well. It makes the hair stronger and thicker, building up the volume of the hair. Who doesn’t love big hair?!

Aside from volume, beeswax can give additional shine and a glossy appearance to the hair. The wax coating and its antioxidants can also protect the hair from harm and damage created from everyday environmental factors and conditions.

Based on research and studies, beauty treatments based with beeswax are likely to have antibacterial and non-allergenic properties, which can be beneficial for treating minor skin irritation and protecting the skin from airborne allergies.

The last but most definitely not least benefit of beeswax is its very pleasant and sweet fragrance. Why wouldn’t you want to add beeswax to your beauty products?!!

Here are some cool DIY ways to incorporate beeswax into your beauty regimen. Have fun with these recipes! And remember, live divinely!

Lotion Bars –  
http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-do-you-make-lotion-bars-none-of.html

Deodorant -
http://frugallysustainable.com/2011/11/homemade-probiotic-deodorant-that/

Solid Perfume -
http://www.ohmyhandmade.com/2011/contributors/tutorial-diy-luxury-solid-perfumes/

Hair Pomade -
http://ecoyogini.blogspot.com/2012/05/diy-beeswax-hair-pomade.html

Facial Moisturizer –
http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/diy-your-perfect-moisturizer.html#s.abdirfxuqbaaa

NOYA Lip Balm Series – Coconut Oil

As promised, we are continuing our NOYA series, discussing each of the three main ingredients found in our nourishing lip balms. Last time we covered the health and beauty benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and today we move on to a personal favorite – Coconut Oil!

Coconut Oil is extracted from the meat and kernels of coconuts. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (also know as EVCO) is developed from the fresh kernel of the coconut by natural means and without undergoing chemical refining. This leads to EVCO being an extremely healthy oil to consume. It works with your metabolism to increase your energy level and burn more calories, thus contributing to weight loss. It is also known to lower cholesterol, helping to decrease chances of heart disease. The saturated fats in EVCO have antibacterial properties which help to protect our bodies from illnesses such as the flu and common colds.

EVCO is not only a great product to add to your next meal for health benefits, but it also can be used externally to aid with the healing process of cuts, scrapes, and bruises. So be sure to keep some in your medicine cabinet for those clumsy days.

Now for the fun benefits of any product – how they help our beauty regimen! EVCO has been said to be the most penetrating of all oils, making it a hair necessity for lots of naturalistas. You can add it to your hair as a pre-shampoo treatment, saturating your hair and leaving it on with a plastic cap for 20-30 minutes before washing. This will help moisturize your hair and protect it from the harsh sulfates found in some shampoos. When you’re done cleasing, add some to your favorite conditioner for a cheap, yet rich DIY deep conditioning treatment. Your hair will love it and thank you with days of luscious strands.

With EVCO not only being an extremely moisturizing, but also an anti-aging oil (thanks to its natural UV protection), this makes for the perfect face and body moisturizer for all skin types. It will leave you looking refreshed and smelling heavenly throughout the entire day.

Recently, we’ve established some of our favorite ways to use EVCO – as a cuticle treatment. Just like the rest of our body, our nails need frequent moisture. By using EVCO as a weekly cuticle treatment (massaging it into the nail bed) and also applying it as the first coat (before your base coat) when polishing your nails, you are moisturizing your nails, decreasing chances of yellowing of the nails, and protecting them from harsh chemicals in some nail polish. Within a few months you will have those long healthy nails you’ve been working forever to achieve.

The best part about EVCO is that a little goes a long way, making it an affordable natural beauty product with properties that can benefit each of us in different ways.

Leave us a comment telling us how you have benefitted from EVCO!

Although olive oil is a staple in many kitchens, most people aren’t aware of its huge health and beauty benefits! So this week’s post will introduce you to extra virgin olive oil — nature’s miracle potion (and one of the three main ingredients in our balms!).

We thought it would fun to write a series of posts dedicated entirely to the natural ingredients that make NOYA lip balms such a tasty treat for your lips. Not only will this help you get to know us better, but knowing what these ingredients do in and outside the body will help you make better, healthier choices when you’re out on your next shopping spree for food or cosmetics products. In the following weeks, we will cover NOYA’s two other main ingredients: coconut oil and beeswax

But for now, on to EVOO! Extra virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of olives, making it different from regular olive oil. It’s chock full of antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids, which are considered good dietary fats. The result is that olive oil can lower your cholesterol and improve heart health. Moreover, the antioxidants in olive oil slow down the aging process as well as help to improve your metabolism. However, it is important to remember that EVOO has a high calorie count so it’s only good for you in moderation by substituting it in place of stuff like butter!

Mediterranean women have always used olive oil for it’s beauty benefits – they rub it on their hair as a nourishing mask and on their skin as a gentle moisturizer, even putting some in their bath water for a nice, hydrating soak.

Used on the skin, olive oil regulates your skin’s natural moisture, and works to soften, smooth, tone, and firm the skin. If that’s not a miracle potion, we’re not sure what is! Furthermore, because it is rich in antioxidants, it functions as a natural anti-aging serum whether ingested or placed directly onto the skin. However, when applied to the skin, olive oil can plump wrinkles for a more youthful, radiant skin tone. And when applied after sunbathing, olive oil can protect the skin from sun damage. What doesn’t this stuff do? If you are worried about the greasy skin factor in using this stuff, never fear, we have a few tips and tricks you can try out for yourself:

1. Try putting EVOO on your skin right before bed, and gently cleans with a delicate body wash when you wake up. Your glowing, healthy skin will love you for it!

 

2. Apply the olive oil onto moistened skin, which helps to dilute the olive oil leaving your skin soft but not greasy.

 

3. Mix the olive oil with some lemon juice, and apply either as a moisturizer or as a zesty cleanser.

 

4. Make an all over body exfoliant by mixing olive oil with sugar and honey. Rinse off in your shower and enjoy skin that stays totally hydrated throughout the day.

Aside from what we’ve listed so far, olive oil has a tons more functions (including as a furniture polish!). It’s gentle enough for everyday use even on the most sensitive of skin, and has the added benefit of being a multi-tasker – cook with it, clean with it and when you’re done, soak in a hot bath with it!

Let us know what your favorite olive oil tricks are in the comments. And, as always, live divinely.