Avalon Organics Intense Defense

After trying the Avalon Organics shampoo, I decided to look into their other products. I went with two items from their Intense Defense line, the Facial Serum and the Antioxidant Oil. This entire line is formulated with vitamin C, which is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skin. Environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution create free radicals that cause premature signs of visible aging.  Studies show that antioxidants can neutralize these damaging free radicals. Intense Defense balances vitamin C, white tea and lemon bioflavonoids to defend skin and support its natural renewal cycle. 

Facial Serum - targets sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles by energizing skin and supporting collagen and elastin production for a smooth, even, more lifted complexion. When applied twice a day to problem areas after cleansing and before moisturizing, trouble spots receive an intense infusion of protective antioxidants.

Antioxidant Oil - features a blend of Apricot, Raspberry and Argan Oil that absorbs quickly, reinforcing skin's natural lipid barrier, which locks in moisture and protects skin against environmental stressors. Just a few drops massaged over freshly cleansed skin will reinforce skin's natural resilience.

Both products score low on the EWG app. The serum ranks 3 and the oil ranks 2. If you are not familiar with the EWG Healthy Living App, download it ASAP.  EWG ranks products on a scale from 1-10, the lower the number, the safer your product is. You can scan product barcodes or simply type in the product name. I highly recommend both the serum and the oil. You can buy them directly on the Avalon Organics website, on Amazon or at Wegmans (if you live by one). 

Brush your way to healthy hair

Did you know you should give your hair a good brush every morning, before every shower and every night? Proper brushing can eliminate waste materials that build up on the scalp. Brushing three times per day helps evenly distribute sebum (the oil your scalp naturally produces) through your hair to retain moisture and keep shiny locks. Brushing also prevents hair loss by increasing blood circulation in the scalp and transporting oxygen and nutrients to the hair stem, root and bulb. Brushing also helps balance the sebaceous gland, which produces sebum. Over or under production of sebum is often to blame for hair loss.

Don't forget to get yourself a good brush. You should only brush your hair with natural bristle brushes. Synthetic bristles can actually harm your hair. They cause breakage which leads to frizzy hair. Yuck! Boar bristles brushes are the way to go. They are the most similar to human hair and they evenly distribute the sebum. When you brush with a boar bristles brush, you allow the sebum to evenly coat the whole strand rather than staying concentrated at the scalp. Always brush your hair when it's dry and use a comb when it's wet.

Lastly, make sure you are using a good chemical free shampoo. I've tried a bunch of chemical free shampoo, Shea Moisture, Juice Organics, Perfectly Posh, Acure, Dr Bronners and Monet. I liked all of these brands but I found one I like even better, Avalon Organics. This brand has EWG's stamp of approval. You can buy this shampoo in lemon, lavender, tea tree, coconut, peppermint, rosemary and apple cider vinegar. If you are lucky enough to live near a Wegmans, you can grab the shampoo there for $7.99. You can also buy directly on their website or on Amazon. Always shampoo your hair twice, the first time lifts the dirt and the second time washes it away. Only put conditioner on your ends, never on your scalp.

Chemicals Banned For Use In Cosmetics

Who regulates cosmetics in the United States? NO ONE. In 1938 the cosmetic industry was granted self-regulation. Nothing has changed since 1938. The FDA isn't even authorized to approve cosmetic ingredients. The U.S. Federal Government doesn't require health studies or pre-market testing on personal care products. Manufacturers are free to use almost any ingredient they choose. As a result, we are exposed to thousands of harmful chemicals that are banned in other countries.

So what can you do? 

Read labels - you can't bank on the what the bottle says. Unfortunately in this country, we have issues with label laws too. If a product has one natural ingredient, added to 10 chemicals, they are legally allowed to label the bottle as "all natural". Be sure to always read the label and read every ingredient.

Familiarize yourself with chemicals  - you need to know what chemicals to stay away from. Refer to the Dirty Dozen list that highlights the 12 most common toxic & carcinogenic compounds found in cosmetics.

Take advantage of EWG - Environmental Networking Group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. If you click on the EWG Verified tab, they review thousands of personal care products and give their approval on products that meet their strict standards. 

Splurge vs. Steal

Beautycounter's cleansing balm is one of my all time favorite products. It's a light, airy balm with a hint of cranberry oil to give it an amazing scent. Deemed as the balm that does it all, you can use it as a cleanser or a moisturizer. Made with sunflower seed wax and a mix of oils, such as, avocado, jojoba, sweet almond and raspberry. Formulated without items from their Never List, you are guaranteed safe ingredients. It comes with a hefty price tag of $80 and you have to buy it from a Beautycounter rep.

Acure also launched a cleansing balm. Also a light, airy and pepperminty fresh balm that comes in an easy to use stick. Made with rose hip oil, sea kelp and cactus flower. I just got this and I'm very impressed with it. Although it doesn't have a dual purpose like the Beautycounter, the cleanser works quite well leaving your skin super soft. 100% vegan, paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, petroleum free, silicone free, and cruelty free. This comes with a very reasonable price tag of $9.99 and available at your local Target.

Safe Sunscreen

There are so many sunscreens out there to choose from. Most of them do more harm than good. They are filled with toxic ingredients that may be worse for your skin than the sun itself. 

It's very easy to pick a safe one. On the back of every bottle you will see a list of "active ingredients". The only ingredients you want to see here are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide protects against UVA and UVB light rays, prevents burns and signs of photo-aging. Titanium dioxide is a fine white powder that occurs naturally. It's a very effective UV filter.

The bad sunscreens have active ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalte, oxtocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. These chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, and may impact hormones. They are highly toxic to you and the environment.

EWG's 12th annual Guide to Sunscreen was just updated for the summer of 2018. This guide contains sunscreen safety ratings to help you make the right purchase. They rate the best sunscreens, SPF-rated moisturizers and lip products. EWG's Guide to Sunscreen

I'm a huge fan of All Good, Alba Botanica, and Goddess Garden products. Always protect your skin with a good chemical free sunscreen. Don't forget to stay hydrated too!

Save Your Skin...

Summer is officially here. We bypassed spring this year and went right from winter to summer. I took my snow tires off at the beginning of May and by the end of May, we are already pushing 90 degrees.  This can wreak havoc on your skin. Especially if you are going out in the sun with winter white skin and getting burned. 

Zausner Solar Recover Save Your Skin Hydrating Mist is an all-natural, fine-mist daily moisturizer that relieves dry, irritated and sunburned skin. The Mist has multiple beneficial uses that will improve the health of your skin especially if used daily. 

It was conceived a few years ago innocently enough when Michael Zausner owned a tennis club in the Southern California desert where the daytime summer temps reached 115 degrees regularly. After being nuked all day the last thing they wanted to do was to smear sticky aloe products on his skin. So they created a fine mist to rehydrate, the criteria for which was simply to use all natural essential and vitamin oils that they knew was healthy for the skin and to make it smell good. Even though as a tennis pro they were very tan, they never took their shirt off. So when they went to the beach one day and got sunburned, they discovered by accident that the spray calmed down the burn and prevented peeling unlike anything else they had ever used. They began testing it all over the Caribbean on themselves by purposely lying out in the sun and burning themselves with consistent results that saved many a vacation. Hence the slogan "The Only Animals We Test On Are Ourselves".

Ingredients - distilled water, natural vitamin E, calendula, lavender oil, sesame oil, geranium oil, roman chamomile oil, sandalwood oil and French seaweed absolute.

You can buy it at Lori's Natural Foods, Lucky Vitamin and Amazon

I keep the bottle right in shower. Spray directly on skin and rub in. I use it daily at this time of year, whether I have been in the sun or not. It doubles as a great moisturizer and smells amazing. it's a light, refreshing, easy to use spray for those of you who don't have time to moisturize. Just spray and go!

Purifying Hydro Sponge

Earth Therapeutics makes one amazing body sponge. Infused with purifying medicinal bamboo charcoal and interwoven with textured fabric to help cleanse and draw out toxins. This hydro sponge is textured to gently exfoliate away the outer layers of dead skin to unclog pores. An embedded infusion of medicinal bamboo charcoal enhances the cleansing process by drawing out impurities. It also stimulates circulation so skin can breathe freely. After regular periodic exfoliation, skin will benefit from the deep clean feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.

To use, wet in warm water, apply your favorite chemical free cleanser (such as Carolina Castile Soap, EO All-Purpose Soap or Nubian Heritage Soap) and gently massage the skin. The frequency of use really depends on the sensitivity of your skin. They recommend using it at least once a week but I read reviews where people use it every day. Personally I use it every other day. 

After using sponge, hang to dry. Replace the sponge every 3 months or so, depending on how often you use it.

You can buy the sponge at Ulta, Amazon and on the Earth Therapeutics website. 

Acure Brilliantly Brightening - Part II

I recently posted about this Brilliantly Brightening Acure line but since it's SO good, it's worth a second post. Originally I only bought the gel cleanser and the night cream. After I fell in love with both of those, I bought a few more. I got the day cream, facial scrub, face mask and glowing serum. I can't rave enough about all of them. My skin is glowing and looks the best it has in years. 

Day Cream - Face the day with CoQ10, gotu kola and argan oil. This powerhouse combo helps moisturize and protect with a one-two-three punch that fights dullness and evens out skin tone for skin that’s bright and beautiful.

Facial Scrub - “Seas” the day with natural exfoliation from the ocean. Sea kelp super-nutrients soften and detoxify, while lemon peel and French green clay cleanse without stripping away natural moisture. Madonna lily brings the brightness to round out this refreshing facial scrub.

Face Mask - Moroccan argan extract conditions and moisturizes while chlorella brings a boost of skin-benefiting vitamins and omega 3s for extra glowing goodness.

The Glowing Serum - Argan oil restores moisture, borage oil soothes and cranberry and pumpkin seed oils add antioxidant protection. That’s some serious glowing goodness. Bonus: it doubles as a makeup remover 

As a reminder, their products are paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, petroleum free, silicone free, cruelty free and 100% vegan. Their products do not contain synthetic fragrances or artificial colors.

Ditch the Dry Cleaning

I don't know about you, but the smell on clothes when they come back from the dry cleaner is unbearable. Not to mention the terrible things dry cleaning does to your skin and the environment.

Perchloroethylene is used by 80-90 percent of all dry cleaners. It's a neurotoxin and causes cancer in lab rats. It's also a major groundwater contaminant, found in more than 25 percent of U.S. water supplies. It's toxic to wildlife, especially fish. A recent study found that food, stored in a car with dry-cleaned clothing for one hour, absorbed levels of perchloroethylene. An EPA study found that people have perc in their breath after visiting dry cleaners. Yuck!

Break-up with your dry cleaner and do it yourself.

First grab a spray bottle. Any time you use essential oil, you should use glass. Over time, the essential oils will eat through the plastic. It's so hard to find larger glass spray bottles. I can find them in 2oz, 3oz and even 4oz but anything larger than 4oz seems impossible to find. So I used a plastic bottle for this, I go through the solution so fast that it hardly sits in the bottle for long.

Grab some vodka. Vodka kills odor-producing bacteria and does not leave a lingering aroma. Go to the liquor store and get a 90 proof bottle of cheap vodka. The cheaper the better (save the Kettle One for your martinis). I found one for a whopping $9.99.

Grab some distilled water. I always have it on hand because i use it in my garment steamer. You can by a gallon of it for less than a dollar.

Lastly, grab your essential oils. You need lavender and tea tree. Lavender has tremendous antibacterial and deodorizing properties. Tea tree is known for its antiseptic properties. Not only do they smell nice, they kill bacteria.

Now here is the hard part (kidding). Mix 2 parts vodka, one part distilled water, and four drops of each oil and viola you have your own dry cleaning spray!

Turn your garment inside out and put it on an hanger. Spray the areas where you sweat, armpits, neckline etc. and make sure you fully saturate these areas. Don't be stingy, make sure they are soaked.  Then do a quick spray over the whole garment. Hang dry until the saturated areas are fully dry, I usually leave overnight. Obviously this only works to deodorize, it's not meant for stains.

EO Meyer Lemon All Purpose Soap

As soon as I heard they brought this product back, I ordered a few bottles. Lucky for me, they got delivered yesterday. EO All Purpose Soap is life changing. If you are obsessed with lemons like me, you will love the scent. It smells like fresh cut lemons. It's made with pure essential oils of Lemon and Mandarin Orange for a refreshing, uplifting aroma. It's a gentle non-toxic cleaner formulated without sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates (SLS). It's extremely versatile and there are so many things you can use it for. When they say "one soap, hundreds of uses" they aren't lying.

Laundry - add 2 squeezes per machine load. Soak delicates in sudsy water for an hour, then rinse.

Dishes - use 1/2 squeeze per load in the dishwasher. If you wash dishes by hand, one squeeze on a brush or sponge. It's great for tough pots and pans.

Camping - safe to use while roughing it in the great outdoors. EO All Purpose Soap is environmentally friendly and made with biodegradable surfactants.

Your home - spritz on any surface for a (green) deep-clean. Add 2 squeezes to a 16-oz spray bottle and shake.

Floors and carpets - add a little soap to a bucket of warm water. Mop hardwood and tile, and gently scrub carpet stains.

Car - use 3oz. soap per gallon of water and a soft sponge. Great on hubcaps and windows too.

Paint brushes - soak brushes in 2oz. + 16oz. warm water, then comb bristles with a wire brush.

BBQ grill - Scrape off the remains of last summer with a hard-bristled brush and some soap diluted in warm water.

Pets - 2 squeezes in warm water and scrub away.

And finally, you - wrap up all your cleaning with a pH-balanced hand soap, gentle enough for every day. Since it has a mild pH with a range of 4.5 to 5.5, it's perfect to use as a body wash or in the bath.

So ditch your Tide, your Dawn and all those other chemical cleaners you own and replace it with EO All Purpose Soap. A 32oz bottle comes in at $10.99. Since you only use a few squeezes for all those household items, it should last you a while.

Its only available on the EO website so grab some today!

Acure Brilliantly Brightening Products

Acure is a family owned and operated company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality natural and certified organic personal care. Their products are paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, petroleum free, silicone free, cruelty free and 100% vegan. Their products do not contain synthetic fragrances or artificial colors.

I recently purchased the Brilliantly Brightening Cleansing Gel and the Brilliantly Brightening Night Creme. I gravitated towards these because my skin is so dull and dry from this harsh winter we have had. It's been cold and snowy and at this rate, I may not take my snow tires off until May. All kidding aside, this line can help. Antioxidant-rich pomegranate, blackberry and acai team up in the cleansing gel while chlorella, echinacea and argan oil join forces to moisturize in the night cream. Both have a light, refreshing citrus scent. A little goes a long way with both products, especially the night cream. You only need a tiny amount to cover your whole face and neck. My skin feels hydrated and radiant after using it for just a few days. I'm definitely going to grab the Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub.

You can view the full Brilliantly Brightening line here.

Acure products are available directly on their website, at Target, at Wegmans and on Amazon.

Nubian Heritage Soap

If I'm not using Castile Soap, I'm using Nubian Heritage Soap. Their Mango Butter and African Black Soaps are my favorites, but the entire line of is amazing.

Nubian Heritage started over 23 years ago as street vendors in Harlem. They pride themselves on creating safe, non-irritating and gentle products to cleanse, treat and moisturize. They've mastered ingredients from around the world, such as black seed oil, buriti oil, haitian vetiver, tamanu oil, mango butter, raw shea butter, frankincense, papaya extract, myrrh, neem oil, lemongrass, chai Tea, avocado butter, tea tree oil and many more. 

What's not in their products is just as important as what is. They manufacture products without potentially harmful synthetic ingredients that may have an impact on our health and our environment. Nubian Heritage products do not contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, DEA, silicones, mineral oil, petroleum, triclosan, synthetic fragrance or artificial color. The brand is cruelty-free and doesn't test on animals. 

You can view the entire line of Nubian Heritage products here. They have soap, oils, scrubs, body wash, lotions, bath bombs and deodorant. You can buy their products directly on their website, at Target, at The Vitamin Shoppe and at Wegmans. If you are lucky enough to live by a Wegmans, their soaps are on sale this week for $1.99. Stock up!

What's on your Nightstand?

We all know I take my nighttime skincare routine very seriously. This holds true even after I get in bed. I keep the below four items on my nightstand and try not to fall asleep without using them..

1. Hand cream - I always apply hand creme before I go to bed. Your hands get dried out during the day from exposure to dry air and excessive washing. Applying a hand cream before bed helps repair some of the damage overnight. It also prevents your hands from aging. I use the Beautycounter Citrus Mimosa Hand Cream. It does carry a hefty price tag of $18, but I love this company and their products. The founder, Gregg Renfrew, was featured on the Today Show on Friday. 

2. Lip scrub or lip balm - always apply a lip balm or a lip scrub before bed. You need to moisturize your lips at night if you want to wake up with smooth, soft lips. We lose a lot of moisture from our skin at night, especially in our lips. If you have chapped lips, apply it at night and you will notice the difference when you wake up. Just be sure to use chemical free lip care, the chemical ones actually dry your lips out more, so you apply more, and buy more of the product. Genius right? I found a great lip scrub and lip balm in one, Pacifica Lips Like Sugar. It's a candied lemon and sugar lip scrub but it's more of a lip balm with some sugar in it. It's not your typical scrub that you apply, massage around and wash off. This one I apply and leave on all night. I wake up with soft lips every morning. It also smells amazing and has a price tag of $4.99. 

3. Water - A lot of people refrain from drinking water before bed to avoid getting up in the middle of the night night. I, on the other hand, drink water every night before bed. Your skin regenerates while you are sleeping so drinking water before bed helps restore the skins elasticity and eases wrinkles. It helps improve circulation during the hours you are not moving. It also balances vitamins and minerals in your body. I even read an article written by a cardiologist that said drinking water before bed reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke. I always bring my Swell bottle to bed with me. I never wake up in the night but if you are one of those people, try drinking water an hour before bed. 

4. Essential Oil Diffuser - I try to turn my diffuser on every night. Not only does it add moisture in the air, but different oils can aid in mood changing and air purifying. Lavender oil helps with sleep due to its calming properties. When my allergies are bad, I mix lemon, lavender and peppermint as this is known as the 'allergy bomb'. When I'm sick I diffuse Thieves. I diffuse eucalyptus all the time because it's one of my favorite oils. I could go on and on but you would be surprised by the benefits of essential oil if you don't already use them. You can also go on Pinterest and find lots of different diffuser blends. Just remember to use pure, therapeutic grade oils. I use Young Living (YL # 2962702) and I love them. 

What to do with roses from Valentines Day?

Rose water is exactly what it sounds like, the distilled water of roses. Dating back to early Egypt, rose water has ancient homeopathic roots. Cleopatra even used it! Rose water is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, contains antioxidants and hydrates. It helps sooth, balance, rejuvenate, soften, tone and revitalize the skin. 

So what do you do with all those roses you got on Valentine's Day? You make rose water. 

What you need:
Rose petals (fresh are the best, wilted are ok, dried will work but won't be as potent)
Distilled water

Directions: Remove petals from stems and run them under luke-warm water to remove any leftover residue.
Add petals to a large pot and top with enough distilled water to just cover (no more or you'll dilute your rosewater).
Over medium-low heat bring the water to a simmer and cover.
Let simmer for 20-30 minutes 
Strain the mixture to separate the petals from the water
Place water in a glass jar to store.

Rose water hydrates and moisturizers the skin, helps maintain the skins pH balance and controls excess oil. The best time to use rose water is at night. It helps clear all the impurities your face has collected throughout the day. It also helps you de-stress which can aid in better sleep. I spray rose water on my face at night after I cleanse and before I moisturize. I also keep a bottle in my desk drawer at the office. Whenever I need a little pick me up, I spritz some on my face. 

Don't be so quick to toss those roses...they are the gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Valentines Day ❤

What's in my makeup bag?

My friends are always asking me what makeup I use. Since I don't wear eye makeup at all anymore (revert to the 'What are Cosmetics' tab above) my bag is mostly full of lip products and some bronzer. I numbered everything in my bag below so you can see exactly what I use. 

1. Perfectly Posh Champagne Lip Oil - quench your lips with this amazing lip oil. A blend of naturally based oils with a champagne & ginger flavor. It's amazing, especially right now during this harsh winter we are having. Perfectly Posh 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. 

2. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick - Bite's original lipstick. Natural ingredients provide creamy, long lasting hydration that nourish and revitalize lips. It comes in 34 shades and have at least 12 of them. It's a matte finish and it stays on for hours. Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients.

3. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick - Bite's most nourishing lipstick in a liquid form. It's like a mix between lipstick and lipgloss. It applies creamy with a semi-glaze finish and has a lightweight feel. Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients.

4. Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Lip Gloss - A highly pigmented, vibrant lip gloss with fruit oils. This lip gloss is on the thicker side but it has natural flavors and it's like instant nutrition for lips. Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients.

5. Bite Beauty Line & Define Lip Primer - A 100% natural, moisturizing formula that nourishes lips. I use this before I apply lipstick. It's my lip liner and lip primer in one. It's has a fresh minty smell and protects my lips from drying out. Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients.

6. Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation Powder - Talc free, oil absorbing powder foundation. Available in 40 shades. Kaolin Clay absorbs oil and ensures a long-wearing matte finish. Cover FX products are enriched with good for you ingredients without parabens, fragrance, gluten, mineral oil and talc. All products are vegan and cruelty free.

7. Cover FX Cover Click Concealer - A long-wearing, full coverage stick foundation and concealer in one. Available in 24 shades. It works wonders under my eyes. Cover FX products are enriched with good for you ingredients without parabens, fragrance, gluten, mineral oil and talc. All products are vegan and cruelty free.

8. Tarte Amazon Clay 12-Hour Highlighter - A 12-hour highlighter powered by Amazonian clay for a radiant glow. Tarte products are eco-chic, cruelty free, vegan, hypoallergenic, and free from parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, triclosan and gluten. 

9. Pur Mineral Glow Bronzing Powder - Mineral glow's micronized mineral powder has rich, golden undertones to add a sun-kissed glow. Pur cosmetics are 100% cruelty free, formulated in the USA, environmentally responsible, vegan, and free from parabens, gluten, alcohol and talc.

10. Perfectly Posh Give You a Tint - Add a creamy pop of color to cheeks and lips with this soft coral color stick that brightens and tints in an easy-to-use, glide-on formula you can take anywhere. Perfectly Posh 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. 

EO Body Oil

Dry skin? Lotions not strong enough? Invest in a body oil. I know most people are afraid of oil. No one wants to feel oily or greasy. Oil can be the best thing for your skin during these dry winter months. Natural oils are easily absorbed, not greasy and non-comedogenic. They basically quench your parched skin. Oils are super-effective at keeping us hydrated without the added ingredients and toxins that most lotions have. I'm biased because I love oil, not just for my body but my face too. This body oil is very light and my skin soaks it up so quick, I never feel oily.

EO Botanical Body Oil blends vitamin E oil with jojoba, sunflower and sweet almond oils to deeply nourish skin and improve radiance where it's needed most. The timeless scent of lavender soothes the senses while this oil restores softness to the skin. Packaged in a 8oz recycled blue bottle.

I keep the bottle right in my shower. I pat dry then apply the oil. It's easier to rub in when the skin is still a little wet. I don't feel oily and my skin has never been so soft. You can buy the body oil on the EO Website on Amazon or I've seen them popping up at TJ Maxx and Marshall's.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Balm

Dr. Bronner's is known for their Castile soap. They also have another amazing product, Magic Balms. The balms are not petroleum based, but instead incorporates a base of organic beeswax and organic oils. They are USDA certified organic and contain certified fair trade oils. They come in two scents, arnica menthol and baby unscented. I own both. I use them for lots of things and they are extremely versatile. I bought mine on the Dr. Bronner's website but you can also buy them online at Target and LuckyVitamin. Below are some examples of how to use the balms. 

Arnica Menthol Magic Balm

• Clear up congestion. Just massage the balm onto your chest. You can even dab a tiny bit underneath your nose, not inside of it, to help unblock sinuses. 
• Helps cool and smooth sore muscles and achy joints
• Relieve tired, sore feet. Coupled with a foot massage, this is a must-try. Slip on some thick, comfy socks to trap in your body heat and amplify the skin-softening power. 
• Soothe itchiness from insect bites. Simply apply a thin layer to the affected areas. It can even act as a repellent. 
• Ease lower back pain during menstruation. If your pain is severe, rub the balm on your lower back to help make daily tasks more tolerable. 
• Relieve headaches. Just massage a pea-sized amount on your temples, being careful to avoid getting too close to your eyes, as the vapors from the balm can cause you to tear up.
• Moisturize dry, cracked skin especially great in the winter. Elbows, knees, feet, hands. Wherever your skin needs a bit more love and attention.

Baby Unscented Magic Balm 

• Help prevent diaper rash in babies
• Help soothe irritated red crease lines under arms and behind knees in babies
• Moisturize dry or chafed skin, cuticles, chapped lips, heels, elbows 
• Heal recent tattoos and brighten up old ones: wash your tattoo with our Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap, pat the area dry, then apply a thin layer of Baby Unscented Organic Magic Balm over the tattoo
• Define or taper unruly eyebrows
• Style beard or mustache
• Use as a daily or nightly eye cream
• Apply a tiny amount to hair to help tame flyaways, a little goes a long way

Overnight Hair Repair Mask

This overnight hair mask is perfect for winter months, especially this frigid January we are having. Coconut and lavender mixed together, and left on overnight, can do wonders to your hair and scalp. Coconut oil consists mainly of fatty acids that moisturize and nourish the scalp. It's antibacterial and anti-fungal properties make it perfect for dry, itchy scalp or to treat dandruff. The lauric acid and vitamin E can help rejuvenate your locks. Lavender oil promotes hair growth, prevents hair loss and improves blood circulation. It moisturizes the scalp and balances sebum production (sebum is the oil your skin naturally produces). The antiseptic and antimicrobial properties in lavender also make it an excellent dandruff remedy.

1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
6 drops lavender essential oil

Mix the lavender oil in the coconut oil. Part hair in sections, dip fingers in to oil mixture and apply to scalp. I parted my hair in sections and massaged the oil in from front to back. Once I covered my whole scalp, I applied the remaining my oil to the ends of my hair. Give your hair a quick brush and put it in a bun. Sleep with a shower cap (or towel) on so it doesn't get all over your pillow. Wash it out in the morning. Shampoo your hair a few times to make sure it's all out. I shampoo twice and condition once.

Not only does your hair feel amazing after the mask, but this treatment promotes hair growth. You can do it weekly or monthly. Whatever you choose, you will be amazed at the results.

Carolina Castile Soap

I'm sure you've heard me talk a lot about Dr. Bronners Castile Soap. It's been a staple in my house for a few years. Let's recap what Castile soap is. The soap originates from the Castile Region of Spain. Castile Soap started off to mean strictly a soap made from olive oil. Castile Soap has evolved to refer to any soap made from the saponification of vegetable oils. Castile Soap is pure, all-natural and chemical free. 

I use Dr. Bronners for a lot of things, hand soap, body wash, laundry detergent and household cleaner. I have been extremely happy with it and promote it to everyone I know. One of my friends recently introduced me to Carolina Castile Soap. I didn't know anything about it so I started researching. All of their soaps are made in the U.S.A. and are Oregon Tilth Certified Organic. They do not use synthetic foaming agents, synthetic colors, dyes or fragrances. They do not use sodium laureth/lauyrl sulfates in any of their soaps. All soaps are biodegradable and don't contain any animal products. You will notice that although all of their Castile Soaps contain olive oil, they also all contain coconut and any combination of other vegetable oils. Carolina comes in the following scents, lemon, lavender, almond, orange, eucalyptus, peppermint, gentle unscented and tea tree. 

I liked everything about the company and the product. I decided to give it a try and bought a bottle of the lemon. I was blown away by the smell, which was better and stronger than Dr. Bronners. Also, Dr. Bronners doesn't come in lemon (they only have citrus) and we all know my obsession with lemon! I did one load of laundry with it and went back on Amazon and ordered the orange. My laundry smelled so fresh and clean that I had to buy more. I also made hand soap with the orange and it smells amazing. 

Overall, I think both companies, Dr. Bronners and Carolina, are very similar. They are also priced about the same. I think Carolina has better scents and the smell is a little stronger. As I said, I bought mine on Amazon but you can also buy them right on their website. You can also follow them on Instagram @Carolinacastile