Cheers to Your Skin

Who doesn't ring in the new year with some Champagne? If you are like me, prosecco is your drink of choice all year round. At around 80 calories a glass, it's significantly less than a glass of red wine which weighs in around 150 calories. Polyphenols, antioxidants found in champagne, reduce the damage free radicals can do to the body, possibly helping lower blood pressure and prevent heart problems. Not only is a glass of bubbly heart healthy and low calorie, it's also amazing for your skin.

Champagne contains several ingredients that benefit the skin. Resveratrol is potent antioxidant that can act as a shield against skin damage and provides serious anti-aging benefits. Polyphenol helps reduce skin inflammation and skin redness. Tartaric acid helps balance out discoloration and can brighten your skin. 

So what can you do with this year's leftover bubbly? Some of you may be laughing and thinking "what leftover bubbly?" I can't say I disagree with you either. If you don't have any leftover, go buy a cheap bottle. Most liquor stores also sell the single splits.

Champagne Detox Face Mask
Ingredients
1/2 cup champagne
2 tbs. half and half (or plain yogurt if you don't have half and half)
4 tbs. powdered Bentonite clay (or any face clay)
Glass bowl
Non-metal mixing spoon (you shouldn't use metal with Bentonite clay)
Directions
Measure out 4 tbs of powdered clay into a glass bowl
Pour in 2 tbs of half and half (or yogurt)
Mix with clay until clay is moistened
Add ½ a cup of champagne or enough until the mixture is creamy and soft
Apply the mask immediately and allow mask to dry for 15 minutes
Rinse your face with warm water to remove
Discard any remains as this mask won't store well

Mimosa Body Scrub
Ingredients
1 tbs coconut oil
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup champagne
6 drops orange essential oil
Directions
Pour 1 cup of sugar into a bowl
Add 1 tbs of coconut oil (right out of the jar, not melted) and mix in
Add about 1/4 cup of champagne or enough to give you the consistency you like
Store in an air tight container for up to one week

Drink up ladies and cheers to 2018!

Perfectly Posh

A few years ago I attended an event where they gave us goody bags filled with product samples. In the bag was a chunk of soap called Gender Bender. Intrigued, i went home and used it right away. I loved it! It made my skin feel so soft. It's made with charcoal which pulls the toxins out of your skin. I had to buy more. Gender Bender is made by a company called Perfectly Posh. I got out my iPad and googled it. Bam, I found it. I scrolled through the website and added the Gender Bender to my cart. I went to check out and it wouldn't let me proceed without entering a consultant number. Of course I didn't have one and didn't know anyone that sold Perfectly Posh. I was telling my friends all about it and how I couldn't order. My friend Jamie did a little research on the company and offered to sign up as a consultant. Two years ago this month, Jamie started her Perfectly Posh journey. What she thought would be a little side business, has grown significantly, and she just hit Silver Premier! All from all little sample of Gender Bender...

Ann Dalton started Perfectly Posh back in 2011. She brings a strong background in product development, design, promotion, events, and a passion for pampering with the best ingredients and USA-made products. Ann also brings almost two decades of entrepreneurship, and nearly a decade of working with other women who own businesses in the social selling model. Posh is raising the bar on skincare quality and fun standards in a real-world setting.

Perfectly Posh uses the best globally sourced skincare ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, palm oil, sea salt, charcoal, coconut oil, honey, sugar, and avocado...just to name a few. All ingredients are naturally based and full of things your skin craves. Most of their products are vegan, but some do contain safe animal bi-products like milk, honey, beeswax and yogurt. Their ingredients are loaded with essential oils. All of their products are free of petroleum, parabens/paraffins, tallow, lanolin, sulfates (SLES and SLS) and phthalates. 

Some of my favorite Posh products are Gender Bender, any of the Snarky Bars, As if I Hair Shampoo, Tressed to Impress Conditioner, and Bring on the Bubbly Lip Oil

Check out Perfectly Posh today. All products are under $25 and always $5.99 flat rate shipping. 

Pore Scrubbers

These little scrubbers are amazing. They are oval, palm-sized, silicone pads with bristles on one side and a suction handle on the other side. The idea is to slide the handle between your middle and first finger so you can massage the bristle side into the skin. You can use your normal face wash or even an exfoliant with the scrubber. It's very gentle on the skin and can be used daily. Because they are made of silicone, they won't grow bacteria. This is huge because most sponges or brushes we leave in the bathroom never fully dry, which is a breading ground for bacteria. Since the handle has a suction cup, you can stick it right to the tile in your shower. To clean them, wipe with alcohol or throw in a cup of boiling water. They are perfect for travel since you can fold them and they dry quickly. I have seen them everywhere. I got mine at TJ Maxx and paid $4.99 for the 2-pack. Sephora sells one for $6, Amazon has them and I heard Walmart sells them for $1 (although when I went to Walmart I couldn't find them). I highly recommend these. My face feels very soft after I use it. I definitely think these scrubbers provide a more thorough clean than simply using your hands. 

Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

It's that time of year again. The heat is on full-time at your office and at your house. You walk outside to below freezing temps. It's always windy. These things can take a toll on your skin, severely drying it out. This is the time of year you need a heavy duty moisturizer. 

Castor Oil - for all you oil haters out there, this isn't your typical oil. In fact, it feels nothing like oil. It's a thick, clear, odorless, tasteless substance that has been around for years. Castor oil is a vegetable oil made by pressing the seeds of the ricinus communis plant. It's primary use is as a liquid laxative but it does wonders for the skin. It contains certain beneficial salts and esters that function primarily as skin-conditioning agents. It penetrates deep into the skin tissue and nourishes it with the fatty acids. It's famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Castor oil reduces pigmentation, fades blemishes, and reduces acne. The fatty acids in castor oil help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. It also aids in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and works especially well for crows feet. It's basically miracle in a bottle. The best part is the price tag, around $3 a bottle. Grab one today at your  local grocery store, Walmart, or Target in the laxative section.
 -Dry skin? This is your answer. I had really bad dry skin around my nose. I applied the castor oil with a q-tip before bed. The dry skin was significantly better the next morning. I applied it for a few days and the dry skin was gone. 
 -Need a night-time moisturizer? Wash face as normal and don't dry it all the way. Immediately apply the castor oil while face is still wet. The castor oil is thick, and a little sticky, so the water allows you to rub it in easier. One applied, your skin absorbs castor oil very quickly so you aren't left with an oily feeling. Your face will feel super soft in the morning. 
 -Have an eczema patch? Put the castor oil on that too. Skip the cortisone creams and opt for an all-natural alternative. 

Beautycounter Cleasing Balm - don't let the name throw you off. This versatile formula can be used as a cleanser, moisturizer and as an intensely nourishing face mask. I don't use it to cleanse the skin, I only use it as a moisturizer. With vitamin C to brighten the appearance of skin, vitamin E to protect the skin and raspberry and cranberry seed oils to hydrate, it's basically another miracle in a bottle. With its high concentration of natural butters and oils, the cleansing balm is an easy way to soothe and treat areas prone to chronic dryness. You can even use it on elbows, knees and knuckles or to soften cuticles before a mani. Just rub a small amount where needed, as often as needed to keep those irritation-prone areas supple and smooth all winter. Not familiar with Beautycounter? Their Ingredient Selection Process ensures safer and cleaner products that work beautifully. This rigorous process handpicks the best ingredients, such as an antioxidant-packed fruit trio. What’s not included? Approximately 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals on their “Never List” that they never use to formulate products. The cleansing balm comes with a hefty price tag of $80. Honestly, it's worth every penny. A little bit goes a long way so the bottle will last you a while. This is my favorite moisturizer and I don't know if I can ever live without it.

As if I Hair & Tressed to Impress

Perfectly Posh not only nailed the name of their new shampoo and conditioner, but also nailed the product. The shampoo, As if I Hair, and the conditioner, Tressed to Impress, are amazing. They both have a juicy citrus, lychee and coconut scent. The smell alone is worth buying it but they actually work too. My hair felt super soft and smooth after one use. You all know I don't wash my hair everyday (dry shampoo is my best friend) and I could still smell the scent in my hair 2 days later. 

As if I Hair is is formulated with olive and coconut extracts to moisturize dry hair and the scalp. It features quinoa to help fortify as you cleanse, plus soothing calendula and fruit extracts to pamper your scalp. 

Tressed to Impress is formulated with Abyssinian oil and coconut extracts to moisturize and condition the hair. It also features quinoa to help smooth, detangle, add shine and add vitamin B5 for healthy looking locks. 

Both are formulated for all hair types. As always, Perfectly Posh products are made without petroleum, parabens, lanolin, tallow, sulfates and phthalates. Perfectly Posh uses the best globally sourced ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, palm oil, sea salt, charcoal, coconut oil, honey, sugar and avocado...just to name a few. ALL products are made in the U.S.A. and cruelty free. 

You can buy the products directly on the Perfectly Posh website. They are $18 each which is less than the sulfate filled shampo you buy from the salon...

Pay Attention to Your Skin While Flying

As I sit here on my flight from Florida back to New York, I thought it would be the perfect time to blog. I travel a lot, it's a great perk having a sister who is a flight attendant. Thanks Allison. Planes are filthy. I read an article that made me think twice about everything I touch on a airplane. It said the seat back pockets are the dirtiest part, that second to the tray table. If you travel on the best airline, Jet Blue, you have the TVs at every seat. With the TV comes the little bacteria filled remotes on your armrest. Basically I sit in my seat, don't touch anything, and don't get up the whole flight. I could go on and on about other dirty parts of an airplane but let's stay on track here.

Let's talk about what you should do while traveling.....

1. Stay hydrated - one of the best things you can do for your skin during a flight is to drink a lot of water. Cruising at 36,000 feet in recycled air does a number on your skin. Whenever the environment is moisture-free (i.e. recirculated air in a plane) the air actually draws moisture from wherever it can, including your skin. I keep a glass water bottle in my travel bag. Most airports have water bottle refill stations by the gates. You can fill up before you board so you have lots of water for the flight. You should also try to avoid coffee and alcohol on the flight as it dries out your skin even more. This might be hard, especially since Jet Blue sells splits of champagne now..

2. Bring a hydrating mist - your skin produces more oil trying to battle the dehumidified air while on a plane. Hydration sprays will help absorb the oil and help the skin stay hydrated. Rose water helps hydrate, revitalize and moisturize the skin. My favorite is Cortas, which is a product if Lebanon and sold at most European stores. It's $2 and comes in a large glass bottle that i just transfer it to a smaller spray bottle. The Vitamin Shoppe also sells this Heritage Store Rose Water. Tarte also has great one, Rainforest of Sea 4-in-1 Setting Mist. A portable, multipurpose setting spray that primes, sets, hydrates, & refreshes skin while locking down makeup for 12 hours. It's important to spray right before you board. Spraying inflight is useless as the dry air pulls out the moisture right after its applied. 

3. Bring lip balm - low cabin humidity dries out your lips. The average comfortable humidity level for humans is 40-70 percent; most airplane cabin humidity levels are at around 20 percent. You should bring a chemical free, oil-based, lip balm that actually locks in moisture. Some great ones are, Dr. Bronner Lip Balm, Beautycounter Lip Conditioner, Badger Balm, and Eco Lips.

4. Bring hand sanitizer - revert to the first paragraph, planes are dirty. Bring hand sanitizer and use it often. If you must use the tray table, spray some sanitizer on a napkin and wipe it down first. You should also wipe down the armrest with the remote. Do you know how many fingers have been on that per day? Yuck! Try Dr. Bronner Hand Sanitizer or Everyone Hand Sanitizer.

Safe travels xoxo

EO® and Everyone™ Products

In 1995, Brad and Susan were asked to create five essential oils blends for Bloomingdale’s holiday gift guide. In a garage on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, they got to work. Susan and Brad soon became 40 people. They decided to name their company EO® for the essential oils that were both their first products and the heart and soul of everything they create. To capture the purpose of their vision, they chose the motto: Love Life, Live Clean. Today, EO® operates out of a San Rafael facility with over 90 employees.
EO® Products

In 2012, they took their ten years’ experience and launched a line of products designed for young people and large families who had little or no choice for quality, botanical body products. Everyone™ for every body was born. Everyone™ is fun, affordable body care made for every day, every budget and every body. These products are as gentle on you as they are on the planet. 
Everyone™ Products

At EO®, they research, develop, manufacture, and ship their own products. Over the last twenty years, as they grew from mixing blends in a three gallon stock pot to producing hundreds of products in their 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility, they learned a lot about the cosmetics and personal care industry. Because there are no certifications in the personal care or cosmetics industry for organic ingredients, they chose to follow the guidelines for food. 
In 2004, they became a certified organic manufacturer, certified by the California of Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). 
In 2011, they became the first personal care company to be certified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Verified Project. 

All of their products are USDA Organic, non-GMO, synthetic fragrance free, cruelty free, gluten free, PCR and B Corporation. Their products DO NOT contain parabens, laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, polysorbstes, phthalates or artificial colors or dyes. They even provide a Green Glossary of ingredients they use. Transparency is important to them, which is why they put this comprehensive Green Glossary together to help you understand everything that makes up EO® and Everyone™ products.

You can shop right on their website or their products are sold in 2,424 stores in 60 different states/regions. You can search here to find a store near you. 

I love their story, I love their products, and I love this company. So "Love Life, Live Clean" and check out EO® today!

Environmental Working Group

I know I blogged about the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, last year but they made some changes so I wanted to share. For those of you that don't know about EWG, they are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Their mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. EWG is broken up into two separate websites, EWG for energy, farming, food and water, and EWG Skin Deep for cosmetics and personal care.

EWG Skin Deep is a cosmetics database that contains information and online hazard assessment for over 70,000 products. Launched in 2014, their staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. They rate products on a scale from 0-10, the lower the number the better the product is. Please check out the EWG Skin Deep website if you haven't already done so.

They had a Skin Deep app that you could download on your phone, scan products in the store, and instantly know what you should and shouldn't buy. The Skin Deep app has gone away, so sad, but what they replaced it with is even better. The new app, EWG Healthy Living, combined two of their most popular resources, EWG and EWG SkinDeep. Now the product health and safety ratings for 200,000 food AND cosmetic products are simply one click away.

Go to the App Store and download the app today, it's free!

Make your Own Face Oil

I know that I am completely obsessed with oil (my friends will 100% agree) and that's because it has worked wonders on my skin. Oil gets such a bad rep and people are afraid to use it. Oil is the only thing I put on my face, I don't even own any face cream or lotion anymore. I started using straight oil but now I'm all fancy and mix oils together and add essential oil (my friends also joke that I'm a chemist). Below are some of my favorite oils and instructions on how to mix them.

Step #1 - Grab your bottle
Any dark glass dropper bottle will work. Vitamin Shoppe has these or Amazon has these

Step #2 - Choose your base oil
This will make up a majority of the oil so choose wisely. You can use any oil you want but below are my favorites.  You can revert to my Oils 101 post for full descriptions of each one.
Jojoba oil
Avocado oil
Apricot oil
Grapeseed oil
Sweet Almond oil

Step #3 - Add your bonus oil
This step is optional. I like to add a bonus oil for extra nourishing.
Carrot seed oil - high in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E and carotol, which bring new life to the skin
Evening primrose oil - very gentle oil, great for acne and very moisturizing
Rosehip oil - full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that can help hydrate, correct dark spots and reduce scars and fine lines

Step #4 - Add your essential oil
Lavender - antimicrobial and antioxidant, great for acne
Frankincense - helps reduce acne, helps reduce the appearance of large pores, prevents wrinkles and   helps lighten and tighten skin to slow signs of aging
Citrus - provides high levels of vitamin C to heal and protect the skin
Orange - promotes production of collagen to fight signs of aging, like wrinkles and brown spots
Lemongrass - antiseptic and astringent properties make it perfect for getting even and glowing skin
Rose - provides deep hydration to the skin, reduces redness, brightens complexion and it's extremely
beneficial for maturing skin especially during times of hormonal change
Cedarwood - tightens the facial skin and gives a youthful appearance

Fill the bottle 2/3 with your base oil. Then fill the bottle almost to the top (just below where it starts to go into the neck of the bottle) with your bonus oil. If you are using carrot seed oil, just add a few drops. Add 5 drops of essential oil and shake to incorporate. Just use a few drops to cover your entire face. Your skin will soak the oil in very quickly and you will not feel greasy. The biggest problem with oil is that people use too much. Your skin can only absorb a certain amount, once its absorbed, the excess oil sits on the top layer of your skin, making you feel greasy.

EXO Pure Remover

Pure Remover™ is a naturally moisturizing nail polish remover derived from plant-based, organic ingredients. It's designed to condition and repair your nails while it removes polish. It's acetone-free, alcohol-free, non-flammable and non-toxic. It comes in four scents; lavender, orange, mint and unscented. 

Pure Remover contains just a few ingredients, biodegradable esters and USDA certified organic essential oil blend. It is safe for use on natural nails, acrylic nails, and removes most gel polishes. All of their products are carefully crafted with clean, organically derived ingredients in Buffalo, NY. They do not test on animals.

I will never buy an acetone remover again. This one doesn't smell up your house, doesn't contain toxic chemicals, and moisturizes your nails. Skip the stinky acetone, and pamper your nails with Pure Remover.

I bought mine at the Tony Walker store in Buffalo, NY. You can also buy online on the EXO Supply website.

        

Chemical free beauty steals at Ulta

On September 3rd, Ulta launched their 21 Days of Beauty. During this campaign, you can get up to 50% off their most loved brands. Fortunately for us, some of those brands are chemical free. Pur, Tarte and Cover FX all made the cut.

September 5th - Pur Primers  Regularly $33 on sale for $16.50

September 6th - Tarte Double Duty Beauty Lip Sculter Lipstick and Lipgloss Comes in 16 colors. Regularly $24 on sale for $10. 

September 10th - Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Precision Longwear Eyeliner Regularly $20 on sale for $10

September 22nd - Tarte Tartiest Lash Paint Mascara Regularly $23 on sale for $10

They even have a few items on sale for the whole 21 days. 

Pur Eye Polish - Comes in 6 colors. Regularly $26 on sale for $16.50

Tarte Double Duty Gel Foundation  Regularly $39 on sale for $27

Tarte Mattifying Primer Regularly $32 on sale for $22

Cover FX Cover Click Stick - Comes in 9 shades. Regularly $18 on sale for $10.80

All these deals are available in store and online. I can't wait to go grab some of these items at these amazing prices!

Spearmint Tea for Clear Skin

I hate tea. I don't discriminate either, I hate all kinds of tea. The only time I can drink tea is when I'm sick. Even then, the only tea I can tolerate is the Youthberry Tea at Starbucks. Once I found out about spearmint tea, and it's many health benefits, my thoughts on tea changed.

1-2 cups of spearmint tea a day is more effective than any prescription remedy for hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is usually large cyst like pimples that can be deep, painful and take for ever to clear up. Hormonal acne is anything below the lip line, so your chin, chest, even your back. This acne is caused by a hormone in our body called androgen. Androgen causes increased sebum production (sebum is the oil our bodies naturally produce). The more oil your body produces, the higher chance of blockage, which leads to breakouts. Spearmint is an anti-androgen and helps balance and decrease the level of androgens in the body. It also proven to help reduce sebum production. Balancing your hormones aids in significantly reducing hormonal acne.

Spearmint contains vitamins, antioxidants, and vital nutrients. It's also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. I've read many articles where people rave about the tea and how it's changed their skin. So put down the chemical acne creams and pick up a cup of spearmint tea instead.

This is the spearmint tea I buy. I got it at Wegmans but Whole Foods and Amazon have it too.

Coconut Whitening Toothpaste

We all know my obsession with coconut by now, so you can imagine how excited I was to see Jason's new coconut toothpaste. The Simply Coconut Whitening Toothpaste just launched. It comes in four flavors, coconut creme, coconut mint, coconut eucalyptus and coconut chamomile. I got the coconut creme and i'm in love.

It's made with virgin coconut oil, bamboo powder, strawberry extract and pineapple enzyme to give your teeth a stain-free sparkle. It has a very creamy texture and a little bit goes a long way. I can definitely taste the strawberry extract. It's also 99% earth sourced.

The Jason Simply Coconut Whitening Toothpaste promise: no fluoride, no SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), no parabens, no artificial sweeteners, no saccharin, no propylene glycol and no gluten.

I like it so much, I think i'm going to order the coconut mint one too. I always complete my routine with my Jason Coconut Mouth Rinse. This is the best mouthwash I have ever used. You can buy them both on Amazon.com, Luckyvitamin.com, or at Whole Foods.

Let's Talk About Wrinkles..

Age, sun, smoking and regular use of facial expressions all contribute to wrinkles. We all want to minimize the appearance of wrinkles as much as possible. Before reaching for the expensive, chemical-ridden, anti-aging products, try these natural remedies first. 

Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. This can flush your body toxins and promote healthy, glowing skin. The moisture can also plump up your skin and temporarily fill wrinkled areas. 

A perfect anti-aging serum can’t be made without lavender oil. Mix 15 drops of lavender oil to 1 ounce of jojoba oil and also add 5 vitamin E capsules and store in a glass bottle. Apply on your face twice a day to remove wrinkles. Lavender oil helps restore the skins elasticity. Jojoba oil is one of the most hydrating oils in the entire world. The antioxidants in jojoba oil soothe fine lines wrinkles and slow down other signs of aging. 

Apply witch hazel to your wrinkles before going to bed. Witch hazel contains tannins, which can help smooth out wrinkles by tightening your skin. Apply 4 to 5 drops of witch hazel to a clean cotton ball and gently massage the affected area in small circular motions.

Make castor oil your best friend. Castor oil is one of the oldest-known wrinkle treatments. At around $3 a bottle, it's also the cheapest. By applying castor oil to the skin, you help to soothe your skin, restoring its natural youthful appearance and helping to diminish unsightly wrinkles. 

Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your side causes you to get wrinkles on your cheeks and chin. Sleeping on your stomach causes you to get wrinkles on your forehead. If you can't get out of the habit of sleeping on your side or stomach, then make sure you are sleeping on a satin pillowcase. 

Exfoliate. Exfoliating gets rid of all the dead skin making your wrinkles less noticeable. Just don't overdo it, I only exfoliate my skin 2-3 times a week. If you have sensitive skin, you should only exfoliate once a week. 

Mongo Kiss Lip Balms

Mongo Kiss lip balms feature certified organic ingredients and Fair Trade Certified™ Cocoa Butter infused with Mongongo Oil, a nutrient rich oil from Zambia, Africa.

Used for centuries by the !Kung bushmen of the Kalahari to cleanse and moisturize their skin, Mongongo Oil is high in Vitamin E and other nutrients perfect for nourishing skin. It was also used to protect the skin from the harsh desert environment. The nut of the mongongo also contains: calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, and high concentrations of vitamin E.  

Mongo Kiss balms are USDA organic, Non-GMO project verified, fair trade certified, gluten-free, creuelty-free and made in the USA. The plastic tube and cap are made with over 40% post-consumer recycled material. They are also a certified B corporation.

It comes in eight great flavors, acai berry, banana, blood orange, peppermint, unflavored, vanilla honey, yumberry, and pomegranate. I bought the pomegranate one below at CVS in Florida. You can also buy it on Amazon or directly on the Eco Lips website. 

I put this on every night before I go to bed and my lips are super soft. It's hands down one of the best lip balms I have ever used. 

Alba Creme Shave

This moisturizing, soap-free cream shave is power-packed with rich botanical emollients to ward off dryness, chaffing and bothersome bumps while invigorating skin with a fresh, cool sensation. An infusion of aloe vera, ginkgo biloba, peppermint and vitamin E help hydrate skin and soften unwanted hair for effortless razor glide and reduced risk of nicks, cuts and irritation.

All Alba Bontanica products contain 100% vegetarian ingredients, no artificial colors, no harsh sulfates, parabens or phthalates, and never tested on animals. 

I love the aloe mint scent but it also comes in coconut lime, unscented and mango vanilla. 

You can buy all four scents on Amazon, CVS online, Walgreens online and Thrive Market. 

All Good Products

A few weeks ago I went to Florida to visit my sister. I stumbled upon my new favorite sunscreen at, you guessed it, TJ Maxx. It's called, All Good Apple Sunstick. It smells amazing, goes on clear, and it's chemical free. I used it at her pool that day and fell in love with it. 

All Good's motto is "We believe in good" Feeling good, doing good, all things good. Their products are made with all-natural, organic ingredients and are formulated to heal so they not only feel good on you, they make you feel better. From chemical-free zinc sunscreens and sore muscle recovery spray to silky-smooth lip balms and scrumptious coconut oils, they cover the pain and pleasure of an active, healthy life including products for kids and babies too. 

They are also good to the environment. Their production facility runs on solar power, they are strong advocates for Reef Friendly products and initiatives, they use certified organic ingredients, their products are cruelty-free, they use recycled and recyclable packaging, shipping, and printed materials, they oppose GMOs and find suppliers who are in compliance with this, they have a partnership with the B Corporation, they are a member of Green America, and they give 1% of all sales to important global causes through 1% for the Planet.

Browse through All Good Products and get something good for yourself! 

The FDA is Getting More Complaints About Beauty Product Side Effects

The beauty industry is unregulated by any outside entities, except for a few products like sunscreen and acne creams, which the FDA has some jurisdiction over because they're considered drugs. Otherwise, it's a free-for-all out there, with the industry regulating itself. This never seems like a good idea, right? Look what happened in banking.

A new study published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that people have been increasingly reporting adverse events related to cosmetics to the FDA. An adverse event can be anything from a rash to your hair falling out to death. From 2004 to 2016, there were a little over 5,000 cosmetics-related events reported, which, if you think about how many cosmetics products are used on a daily basis, is not that many. This also doesn’t mean that more adverse events actually have been happening, just that more people are emailing the FDA about it. Also, there’s no way of knowing exactly what it is that gave people whatever issue they were reporting — but they were assuming it was the result of a product. But the biggest increase in reporting came in 2016, when 1,591 beauty-product adverse events were reported to the FDA. A lot of this increased reporting came as a result of the FDA putting out a call to consumers to report issues they’d had with Wen cleansing conditioners. Back in 2014, shoppers started complaining that the products were making their hair fall out. According to the JAMA authors, the FDA received 127 complaints about Wen from consumers, but found out that the company itself had received about 21,000. This just puts into high relief the ridiculous fact that cosmetics companies are under no obligation to report these issues, and the FDA cannot mandate that they issue a recall like it can with, say, contaminated lettuce. You can still buy Wen conditioning cleansers! With a series of recent beauty lawsuits, like the Johnson & Johnson $10 million talc suit and the icky Eos lip balm mold lawsuit, it’s becoming increasingly clear that we need more regulation. I already pointed out that with the current anti-regulation White House, this looks about as likely as Ivanka Trump selling off her clothing business — but there’s a bright spot of hope.  Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are co-sponsoring a bill called the Personal Care Products Safety Act this year. This isn’t the first time they’ve tried it, though; Feinstein and Collins also introduced this bill in 2015, but it went nowhere. The large players in the industry were on board, but smaller cosmetics companies were not, saying it would hurt them financially. But maybe now we have the public impetus needed to get it through, especially since this bill has bipartisan support. The bill would allow the FDA to issue recalls, increase labeling requirements, and help small businesses meet new mandates. It would also require the FDA to test up to five ingredients per year. Right now, the natural beauty industrial complex gets new customers primarily based on fear of the unknown. Some cosmetics ingredients are untested (although many more have years of research and safety data) or have poorly designed studies showing questionable bad outcomes, so so-called natural beauty companies capitalize on this with a “better safe than sorry” selling tactic. If we actually had solid, concrete data, perhaps then we would know for sure that our beauty products are not killing us. Either way, it’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out, no sketchy hair product needed. - Cheryl Wischhover, Senior Beauty Reporter Racked.com

The Body Deli

The Body Deli is the pioneer in fresh, organic, raw superfood enhanced personal care products. Two "foodies" with an extensive background in nutrition, raw food, wellness and beauty, envisioned a personal care brand so different, fresh and unique that they started their own healthy skin care products. 

The raw beauty magic happens in the Coachella Valley, California in the city of Palm Desert. They handcraft premium quality skin & haircare products in small batches daily in their state of the art Cosmetic Kitchen. Their products deliver real results because they use the purest and most potent raw and organic superfoods available. 

My friend Missy introduced me to The Body Deli. I loved everything about this company from the minute I opened the website, thanks Missy! All of their products are vegan, never tested on animals, non-toxic, and handmade in California using real raw ingredients. 

From June 26th - July 10th, the entire Thai Lemongrass collection is 20% off. Fresh lemon and lime will revitalize & awaken your senses.
The Body Deli Zest Fest Sale. 

If you sign up for the VIP Club, you will receive exclusive offers. Be the first to know about specials, new products and rewards. They usually have a different product line on sale every month. Trust me, you will love all their products. 

Monat 'The Champ' Dry Shampoo

If you pick friends like I do, then dry shampoo is also your best friend. Its a lifesaver. I only wash my hair every other day or every two days. I'm not going to lie, I go three days more than I like to admit. On the days I don't wash, I use dry shampoo. There are tons of dry shampoos on the market and I have tried quite a few of them, Bastiste, Blow Pro, Kenra, Oscar Brandi, Alterna, Not Your Mothers, Dove, Living Proof and Acure. I never liked any of these because i could always feel the product on my scalp and roots.

Once I went chemical free, I started making my own dry shampoo. Don't get my wrong, I still like this one, but it requires a little extra work. Since I make it with vodka, water, corn starch and essential oil, it's a wet spray. You have to spray it in, wait a minute for it to soak in, rub it in, then blow it dry it. You can find the recipe in the Hair Care tab above.

I decided to give Monat's, The Champ, a try. It's amazing, absolutely amazing. I was shocked at how much I like it. It has a fresh clean scent and goes on so light. I don't feel any product at all on my scalp and makes my hair feel like I just washed it. You just spray it in, brush your hair, and you are done. I can honestly say this is the best dry shampoo I have ever used. I might never wash my hair again...kidding.

The Champ Conditioning Dry Shampoo

Tarte Deodorant

You all know by now that I'm a huge fan of Tarte products. The Tarte line contains chemical free makeup, chemical free skincare, and now a chemical free deodorant. Clean Queen is their new aluminum & alcohol-free natural deodorant.

This hypoallergenic, cream-to-powder formula, leaves no white marks, streaking or wetness behind. It's a very light formula that goes on smooth. It contains natural plant starches to fight odor and soothing aloe to cool and condition. It has a very light clean smell. As always, Tarte products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, and gluten. 

I just picked it up at Sephora for $14. I have only used it a couple times but i'm already a fan. If you click on the Deodorant tab above, my other favorites are Lavanila, Crystal and Primally Pure. Clean Queen is comparable to Lavanila. They are in the same size and shape bottle with the same price tag. I think Clean Queen is a lot lighter and goes on much easier than the Lavanila. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Lavanila too, but I'm a sucker for trying new things. 

                                              Tarte Clean Queen Deodorant

Body Lotion

Who doesn't love a good body lotion? Lotions keep our skin soft and smooth. They are not as greasy as oil and quickly absorb into the skin. Some of them smell amazing too. So what's the problem? Lotions are filled with toxic chemicals like parabens, fragrance, petrochemicals, alcohol, and oil emulsified in water. The only ingredient that provides any moisture to the skin is the oil. 

I know everyone isn't an oil junkie like me. A few of you even told me that you simply don't like using pure oil on your skin. I get it, no judgement here! While I continue to use my homemade oil based body butter (recipe below), here are some great chemical free body lotions you can use.

Acure Organics Energizing Body Lotion
Sold at Target, Wegmans, Amazon and on the Acure website

Shea Moisture Tamanu Oil & Shea Butter Extra Dry Skin Body Butter
Sold at Target, Ulta, Amazon and I even found a few at TJ Maxx

Everyone Coconut & Lemon Lotion

Sold at Target, Amazon and on the EO Products website

Alaffia Coconut Lime Ultra Hydrating Body Lotion

Sold at Target, Wegmans, The Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon and on the Alaffia website

Homemade Body Butter. I have tried several body butter recipes and this one is by far my favorite. It has only 4 ingredients and super easy to make. Note, I used almond oil (not olive oil) and I added Young Living lemon essential oil. I also threw it in my stand mixer and whipped it on high for about 10 minutes. My skin feels amazing ever since I started using it. I keep it in a mason jar in my shower. I put it on right after I dry off. You will feel slightly greasy after you apply it, but your skin quickly absorbs it. Just remember when using oils, a little bit goes a long way.