Category: natural living

updates to my natural beauty routine

Last year I wrote a long post about all the natural personal care products that I use. Recently I’ve made a few changes and wanted to share those with you. I still stand by all the products in my original post, and if a change is not mentioned, I still use them.

Face

The only change I’ve made to my facial care is that I’m now using handmade body butter as a moisturizer at night, and in the morning too if I feel extra dry (which is often, during the winter). I also started using a tinted moisturizer during the day, but I consider it more of a makeup item.

Makeup

My skin has been too dry recently to use powder foundation; all my little wrinkles were standing out clearly. I switched to Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer with spf, which has a light coverage but it gives me just what I need. On top of that I still use a little powdered sunscreen to take away the shine and set it in place.

Right now I’m using bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara. I think it’s just as good as Tarte Lights Camera Lashes (what I’d been using before) and it’s cheaper.

I also added a brow pencil, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, to the mix. I’m in love! My eyebrows have been thinning as I get older and this looks so natural but really defines my face.

Miscellaneous

I started using Everyone Lotion for my body (apart from face). It’s perfect.

I carry around Honest Company lip balms. Still love Lanolin but these are easier. :)

Two things I’d like to try:

1. A physical facial exfoliator, like a Clarisonic Mia, or maybe this cheaper version by Olay. Anyone have either of these? I wonder why there is such a price difference?

2. Lipstick! I’ve never worn it, but I think it might be fun for church and outings.

Anyone use any of these products? Anything else I should check out?

February 25, 2015
ultimate healthy living bundle
Have y’all heard of the Ultimate Bundles? They are a hugely discounted bundle of resources – ebooks, ecourses, and bonuses like free product – that are only on sale once a year for a few days. Currently there are three of them: healthy living, homemaking, and DIY home. They couldn’t be more appropriate for me, and I’m sure many of you too!

Last year my mom bought me the homemaking bundle, and this year I’m super excited about the healthy living bundle. In fact, I signed on to be an affiliate with them because it’s such a great deal and I really love the resources included. Seriously, read about what it is here! If you’re interested in healthy, natural living at all – I think you’ll get really excited when you see what’s in this. Here is what I really want to dig into:
- DIY natural remedies
- essential oil info
- gardening notebook (for planning purposes – this is one of my goals!)
- green cleaning recipes
- guide to simple living & decluttering
- dealing with picky eaters (kids)
- becoming a better home cook
- making organic food affordable
- freezer cooking
- natural beauty recipes & gift ideas (I think I’m going to make my Christmas gifts this year)
- tons of real food recipes including Well Fed 2 (a paleo cookbook)
- bonuses: free yogurt or sourdough starter, online yoga membership, real food menu planning service, and lots of beauty/baby products
So cool, right??

In fact, there is so much stuff included that it sounds overwhelming. I have two thoughts on this: one, the bundle comes with a product guide to identify what specific resources you should start with for your priorities. And two, the resources are yours forever, so I intend to take one area at a time to focus on and make it my goal to develop for a month or so, and then move on.

If you’re interested, get your copy right away, because the offer is only good until the 15th, or until 30,000 copies are sold.

So I’m curious – what healthy living areas are you most interested in learning about, or what is your priority right now? Lately I’ve been focusing on food and beauty products, but I really want to develop more in the areas of natural remedies, green cleaning, gardening, and making things from scratch. Look for more about all of these things here on the blog as I get around to tackling them!
September 10, 2014
natural personal care products

This post has been in the works for literally years, starting with way back when I decided to switch all my personal care products to natural versions. It’s been a super long process because first I used up what I had, and then whenever I would try a new brand if I didn’t love it I would still use it up before trying something new. Finally I’ve come to a place that I’m pretty happy with, although I’m sure I will still try new things (and update as I go).

So as I’m choosing products what I think about is:

1) Is it natural and safe? There are some brands that I trust (you’ll notice several) but I also use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database. I try to choose products that are in the 0-2 range on their website, but in a couple cases I went with a 3 because I loved the product and it was just fragrance or something like that bumping it up. Also, not everything is in the database so then I have to check ingredients.

2) What’s the price? There are some awesome natural products out there but they can get super expensive. I’m on a budget so I’ve been trying the cheapest stuff that fits my other criteria.

3) Where can I get it? I know ordering stuff online is pretty easy but I like to be able to go to a physical store that is close by and pick something up if I need it. I get most of my stuff from Target, Whole Foods, HEB (a local grocery store), or Ulta.

4) Does it work and how do I like it? This is where I evaluate the product for itself, how it works, do I like how it smells, do I have any problems with it, etc. It helps that I have normal skin with no special issues so most products work on me pretty well.

Okay let’s get to it: this is what I’m using now!

Face

Cleanser : Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Cleansing Milk. This has been a favorite for years. It works well to remove eye makeup and I love the pump dispenser and citrus smell.

Exfoliator : Mineral Fusion Facial Scrub. I use this about once a week. I used to be so bad about remembering it but then I started keeping it in the shower and it’s much easier to grab and use that way.

Moisturizer : Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Daily Moisturizer. I actually prefer the Vitamin C version because of the scent (I adore citrus), but the lavender has a better rating.

Eye cream : BareMinerals Firming Eye Cream. Do I notice a difference when I use eye cream? Not really yet, but I’m in my 30’s now so it’s pretty widely recommended. I admit that I skip it a lot though.

Makeup

Facial sunscreen : Mineral Fusion Brush On Sun Defense. This is a little extra sun protection for everyday wear (i.e. when I’m mostly inside) since I have fair skin. I love how easy it is to apply. I’m still looking for a favorite stronger sunscreen for when I’m outdoors a lot.

Foundation : BareMinerals Pressed Powder. (Mineral Fusion also has a good one, but I find the compact really hard to open.) I love mineral powder foundation because, as you can probably tell, I go really light on the makeup anyway and this evens out my skin tone while still looking natural. I’ve tried the loose powder version and it’s just a little too messy for my liking.

Blush : BareMinerals READY. I think I try a new color every time I get one and they’ve all been good. I use this lightly though. Again, the pressed version is just easier than the loose kind. I use this brush to apply it.

Concealer : BareMinerals powder (and I use this brush to apply it). I don’t use this very often but it’s pretty effective in dealing with mild red spots and blemishes. I’m still on the hunt for a natural cream concealer for when I get a bad blemish.

Mascara : Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!. I have tried SO many natural brands of mascara, hoping to find a cheaper one, but I keep coming back to this. From what I’ve tried, it’s the best all around.

Hair, body, and miscellaneous

Shampoo : For my kids I use The Honest Company (it’s in my favorite orange vanilla scent) and I use it sometimes as well. Most of the time I use Nature’s Gate (note the price in that link is for a pack of 4). It lasts a really long time.

Conditioner : I don’t use conventional conditioner anymore, but I love the The Honest Company’s Conditioning Detangler spray. Smells and works great, and Meredith loves me to spray her hair too.

Lip balm : I can’t stand dry lips. I’ve actually found that Lanolin – which I had on hand from breastfeeding but hardly ever needed for that purpose – works amazingly well for this, which makes sense. And I usually only need to apply it once a day. I also love Pacifica Lip Tint for a hint of color.

Deodorant : I was so resistant to giving up my antiperspirant! I hate to sweat, but that stuff is so not good for our bodies. I tried several brands and so far my favorite is Kiss My Face Active Life. I have to be honest though, there was a big transition period where my body adjusted to operating without antiperspirant. I’ve gotten to a good place, but it’s been a combination of giving it time to adjust and getting used to sweating a little. If I work out, I’m still going to sweat. If I’m outside during the summer for long, I’ll still sweat. That’s the reality of going without antiperspirant. But at least I doesn’t smell bad. :)

Toothpaste : I do like Tom’s of Maine and it was my go-to until I started having trouble finding this SLS-free version. (SLS is linked with mouth sores, which I deal with from time to time.) Some stores also only carry it in peppermint, which I hate. So I started ordering toothpaste from The Honest Company as well, and I think I’ll probably stick with that. I love their kids’ version too.

By the way, if you can’t tell, I love The Honest Company. I used their diapers for Liam before we switched to cloth, and now I get their essentials bundle. It’s awesome because you don’t have to get it every month, but only when you want it. I usually order one every 3-4 months and get the stuff that I’ve run out of. If you want to try it, I’d be grateful if you used my referral link to sign up.

Bar soap : Actually, the soap I use is handmade by the daughter of one of my patients. I’m obsessed with it. But since she doesn’t ship yet, I will also say that I tried and love Zum Bar as well.

Body lotion : This is one product that I still want to experiment with, but I do like Kiss My Face Vitamin A & E Moisturizer. I really want to find a citrus scented lotion though. This one is kind of an almond/earthy/milky smell which is fine but not my favorite.

Menstrual care : Getting real here for a minute! Thankfully I haven’t needed this much at all in the last several years (thanks kids!) but I switched to the DivaCup and never looked back. If you are curious about it I’d direct you to this blog post. I also switched to cloth pantyliners (mine are by Charlie Banana) for the light days when using the DivaCup isn’t necessary.

Okay, whew! I think that’s pretty much everything I use! I know there are a lot of ways to make your own products as well, but I’m a working mama who would rather spend my spare time in other ways, and I’m dubious as to whether I could make anything that would compare to this. I do, however, want to make my own household cleaning products, and that’s my next venture!

Please share with me if you have any natural products that you love, I want to try them!

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Referral links included where available. Thanks for your support!

July 28, 2014
health update : physical

It’s time for an update! Since my original post on physical health I’ve made a bunch of changes and have more planned.

Exercise

What I’ve been doing: I mentioned I ran a 5k! It was so encouraging and motivating to be in a race environment. Most importantly, I felt really good running and I was very proud of myself. The week after the 5k it rained – I’m talking downpour and flooding – for about 5 days straight. So instead of running I did some yoga at home a couple of days, but mostly I made excuses. Boo. The next week I decided it is just too hot outside to run so I started the 30 Day Shred. Ouch.

Plans: I realized that up until this point completing the Couch to 5k program has been my goal, so now I need another motivating factor to keep me exercising several times a week. On the same day that I decided I couldn’t run outside anymore (at least during the summer) a friend of mine asked me to train for the Houston half marathon with her. It’s in January, and though I’ve never run that far before I think it’d be possible since I’d be able to really start training in the fall. We signed up for the lottery as a team and we hope to get in, but if not I think there is another half around the same time that we will run. Scary!

In the meantime I’m going to alternate the 30 Day Shred with yoga. Once the gym opens at work this is going to change because I want to start including weight training, elliptical, and spinning. I’m not really exercising on the weekends right now because of the kids, but I’m thinking of how I can add it in. Also, I’m still considering getting something like a FitBit even though I know it’s just a glorified pedometer. I think the syncing and the statistics would be really motivating for me. (Reading Elise’s and Sarah’s reviews were helpful.)

Food

What I’ve been doing: For several weeks I was back to counting calories on My Fitness Pal. My daily goal is totally obtainable because I get 500 extra calories from exclusively breastfeeding, and while I was taking care to track I was usually under my goal. So far I’ve lost about 3.8 pounds.

Plans: I have been reading the book It Starts With Food and it has totally sold me on doing Whole30. No sugar, grains, dairy, or legumes for 30 days. It sounds crazy and impossible but I think my body really needs a reset. Although tracking calories is working somewhat for weight loss, it’s not achieving my overall goal of eating healthy, real food. I still cheat a lot and have cravings that I constantly give in to, and who knows what that is doing to my hormones and internal health. My projected start date is next Monday, June 16, and I’ll be back before then to talk about my planning process.

June 10, 2014
whole person health : emotional

I didn’t think I could do a series on whole-person health without addressing the emotional/mental side of things. Remember that this is just my own personal journey and not any kind of prescription for you. Although I have experienced true anxiety and depression in my life, I do not suffer from any chronic conditions in these areas. I have several close loved ones who do, but I am not going to address those things here because I can’t speak from personal experience.

What I am going to talk about is my own mental and emotional health, which usually boils down to managing stress. Obviously as a woman I also have hormones to deal with, and maybe I’ll discuss that in the future. Right now though, stress is a key factor.

We are just coming out of a very stressful period of life. A new baby, an adjusting toddler, a three month period of severe dog anxiety framed by the death of both of our dogs, and financial strain had me on the edge. (Thank God that during this time I didn’t have to stress about work too.) During the last month everything has improved somewhat but hasn’t disappeared and probably never will.

On Sunday morning I found myself suddenly feeling highly anxious to the point of panic. It was a normal morning and the kids were behaving and I had slept fine. Meredith was just taking forever to fill her bowl with blueberries and I randomly began to cry. My heart was racing and I felt jumpy and sad and overwhelmed. I was also surprised at this reaction because this kind of thing doesn’t happen to me very often. So this is what I did to deal with the immediate situation:

Removed myself. I told David how I was feeling and that I needed to get away from the kids and the demands of the house for a bit, and then I took a long hot shower.

Let it out. While I was in the shower I shed a few tears and talked to myself and prayed. It felt good to express the emotion I was experiencing.

Took stock. I wanted to figure out what brought this on. So once I had calmed down a bit I examined the areas of my life and how my gut felt toward them. I was scheduled to sing in church that morning, was I nervous? I don’t think so, when I thought about it I felt excited. What about work? No, my feelings were neutral there. Kids? Maybe a little stressful. Home stuff? At this point the chores were done and the house was clean but immediately my gut still felt twisty about all the things I wanted to do around the house that I didn’t have time for.

Adjust expectations. Although I’m not sure exactly why I felt so panicky that day, I think a big thing that was happening is that I was taking all the multitude of projects I wanted to do for fun and mentally putting them on a list of have-to’s. Then when I realized I couldn’t do them all I started to break down. I was losing my patience with Meredith taking so long to do one small thing when I had so many things to accomplish. I think for a goal-oriented and creative person like me, this is something I’m going to have to wrestle with my whole life. I will have to keep adjusting my expectations. Currently I have several “extra” projects that I’m working on, and for now I’m going to take a step back from a couple of them to focus on one or two.

That’s how I dealt with an acute period of stress and anxiety, and it’s also the basic formula that I use when I notice my stress level reaching a high point. The part that sometimes changes is the last point, which is the action step. It depends on the reason behind my stress as to what will relieve it. Sometimes I just need to eat something and take a walk. Sometimes I need to get organized. Sometimes I need to be super productive, like get a bunch of chores done quickly. But overall, these steps work for me: take a break, let it out, examine the situation, act.

What are your biggest stressors these days, and how do you handle them?

June 3, 2014