Completely Natural Bronzer!!

For the past year and a half or so I have rid myself, my house, my family of as many unhealthy products as possible.

Read Here for more about how I did just that. (Still a work in progress).... 

So I truly only have a few products that I am currently using that have some questionable ingredients in them. One of those is my e.l.f. Bronzer and Blush  that I LOVE!!!!! Not only is it super affordable it is hands down the best color of any bronzer out there.  

So I started researching a few different natural bronzers out there....and I just kept thinking surely there's a better way...one that I can even "make" perhaps....

I ran across a few recipes on Pinterest and on a few blogs....

So this morning after I showered I thought....I'm gonna make my own bronzer.

Of course little one was pumped to help out! 

I went to my kitchen yes the kitchen...and sprinkled...(all organic of course)

Simply Organic Cinnamon

Simply Organic Nutmeg

Organic Cocoa Powder

We then used a Mortar and Pestle to smooth out the texture of the ingredients....she loved this part!

We then put our concoction into one of these Empty containers . 

I whipped out my Large Powder Brush  dusted it across my forehead...temples...chin...and cheeks...

Viola! 

What do you think??

I think it's awesome!! Plus I smelled yummy all day!! 

Can't get more natural than that! Xoxo

  

Easy Simple Skin Care Routine...

For all of you low maintenance peeps out there...three steps like old school ways...but with modern products that actually do something!

Here's a simple routine for you...to keep your skin fresh, clean, and healthy.

Cleanse AM

Neutrogena Naturals - I love this natural cleanser. Great for makeup removal and leaves skin with zero residue! Excellent for all skin types. 

AM toner

Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner - I have been using this toner for years. It is fabulous for those of us looking for a toner to help with hyperpigmentation, acne, sun damage, pore size, and fine lines. The best out there! Love! 

AM SPF 

Eltamd UV Clear SPF 46 - Holy Grail of SPF! Works wonderfully for all skin types and will NOT cause acne or blackheads! Great for oily and dry skins! Yep both!! The best ever! I've been using for about 4 years now ...as does my husband and everyone I tell about it! 

Cleanse PM

Neutrogena Naturals - Cleanse twice for those of you who wear makeup. 

PM toner

Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner - use on cotton ball post cleansing. Do not rinse! 

Treatment
Skinceuticals Retinol - tried and true! Nothing works better against wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes...nothing like retinol! It's a skin changer!!! 

Un retouched natural light photo....minimal makeup....42 years old! 

Thank you for reading my blog and for making purchase to help support my homeschool and my small business! Much appreciated! 

I love Salicylic acid!! Acne beware!!

So if you haven't read my post on Glycolic acid....read...Here.

Now let's talk about salicylic acid...

I use salicylic acid on a daily basis...it helps to keep my breakouts at bay and it keep my pores clear. 

What is salicylic acid?

It is derived from the willow tree. 

It has aspirin type properties...which can help calm the skin. 

Native Americans used salycilic acid from tree bark to treat fevers. 

It is a beta hydroxy acid...and like Glycolic acid can be found naturally in unripe blackberries, blueberries, grapes, tomatoes, olives...

Salycilic acid according to my favorite Wikipedia ..."causing the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, opening clogged pores and neutralizing bacteria within, preventing pores from clogging up again by constricting pore diameter, and allowing room for new cell growth." 

Basically "Saly" as I like to call it..helps your dead cells to shed more quickly...keeping your pores nice and clear. And because of the aspirin properties it's an anti inflammatory. 

It works great on mild to moderate acne....whiteheads...milia (closed comedones) and it is the absolute best hydroxy acid for those stubborn blackheads! 

So if you struggle with acne. Blackheads. Milia. Whiteheads. 

Give saly a try!

I use 

Obagi CLENZIderm ...I apply it after I have cleansed my skin in the am using a cotton ball. 
Image Salicylic toner Is also a great option! Use it the same way as above.

Glytone Acne Cleansing Toner...use this one if you have very oily skin and very stubborn acne. 

If you are super oily or have moderate acne add a cleanser to your regimen. 

Like this one Clenziderm Cleanser . Remember to use only CLEAN hands when you cleanee your skin! No washcloths...no buff puffs...nothing rough! With acne you have to be super gentle. 

If you knew someone struggling with acne please send this to them. 

I can help them! 

Acne tried to ruin my life and I don't want it to hurt anyone else! 

Glycolic Acid 101

Glycolic acid....known as a fruit acid...and yes it is found and sourced from sugar beets, pineapples, sugar cane, unripe grapes, and cantelope...but mainly it's made in a lab. Cheaper this way.

I discovered Glycolic acid peels in 1994. I had horrible acne that I'd been dealing with since I was 12 and when I discovered Glycolic acid my life began to change! Read more about my acne struggle...Here and Here. 

Glycolic acid can be used daily. 

It is put in lotions, creams, eye creams, cleansers, toners....basically any type of skin care product. 

Glycolic superficially exfoliates the top layers of skin....so that your new fresh skin can come forward....so it can be revealed. 

It helps with cellular turnover. 

It can and will dramatically change skin. 

It takes time. You have to be extremely consistent and even more patient. 

By using glycolics your skin will look more fresh, youthful, and bright.

And you must protect your skin every single day for the rest of your life with SPF or you are wasting your time and money. 

Glycolic is best for: 

sun damaged skin 

hyperpigmentation aka brown spots

visible fine lines

weathered or leathery skin 

age spots

white heads

mild acne

**it works best on oily, acneic, normal, slightly dry skin types**

It is not for people with super sensitive or super dry skin. It can be too harsh.

Here are some of my favorites!
Glytone Daily Facial Cleanser...use if you are just starting out with glycolics
Glytone Exfoliating Gel Wash..what I use once daily 
Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash...for those of you who have damaged skin or acne below the neck
Glytone Mild Gel Wash

Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner...my fav Glycolic toner ever! I use it daily! 

derma e Toner...for those of you who would like a more natural option

If just starting out with glycolics...

If your skin becomes to dry, peely, red, irritated...back off...use every other day or 3x a week. 

I've been using glycolics for almost 20 years and I truly believe it is one of the main reasons I have very few lines, hardly ever a breakout, and very little hyperpigmentation...well that and daily SPF! 

Unretouched photo! 

How I protect my child from the sun...

We never leave the house without a full arsenal of natural SPF. I protect her as much if not more than I protect myself. And you all know I'm a vampire who loves a faux tan only!

I love  Colorescience Powder for her face and for touch ups thru out the day.  Especially if I don't want her to be greasy.  It's super easy to use. An she doesn't mind wearing it...or me applying it. 

This hat Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat has been a lifesaver! 

I love all of the Sunday afternoon hats. In fact I wear this one...Sunday Afternoons Cowboy hat. 

These are my go to products for her!! 

Colorescience Powder

Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat

Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat Youth Royal

Yes To Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion, 3 Ounce

Babyganics SPF
Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30, 6oz Spray Bottle

Kiss My Face SPF

Solar Sense Clear Zinc SPF 50 Carded Stick, 0.45 Ounces Unit

Babyganics Pure Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, 0.47-Ounce (Pack of 2), Packaging May Vary

I also reapply every hour. Including her scalp. I know it's Derm recommended to reapply every two hours but I don't wait this long.

Crows feet...wrinkles around eyes be gone!!

These are such easy and super cheap ways to not have crows feet aka wrinkles around your eyes!!

Many many years ago...my first aesthetician that worked on my horrible acne once told me..(while I was complaining about the creapiness around my eyes...that didn't actually exist) that many of her contact lense wearing clients age more quickly in the eye area because of the tugging and pulling while putting in and removing their contacts. Basically the tugging and pulling up and/or down of the lid twice a day.

Hmmmmm.....

Makes sense!

This is similar to the reason that people have the "11" in between their eye brows...repetitive movement from squinting. That's why I wear Ray-Ban Wayfarer every time I step foot outside! So I never have to squint.

And forehead wrinkles...from raising their brows.

So from that day forward I have been super gentle and extremely careful when I remove and put in my contacts. 

I try to also never rub my eyes.

Annndddd I never pull or tug on my eyelids when applying eye liner or eye shadows.

So I have also taken this a step further for most of my adult life...

How I remove my eye makeup.

I NEVER use a cotton pad to remove my eye makeup. 

I simple use my facial cleanser....Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing or Simple Foaming CleanserNon paraben safe cleanser that is! 

Yep cleanser only... that removes makeup...

So when I am cleansing my skin..after getting my face super wet I add a few pumps of my daily cleanser to my hands...get a nice lather going...then very gently cleanse your skin...including your eye area...using your fingertips extremely gentle removing your eye makeup...then rinse...do this twice if you are wearing nighttime makeup...

If I'm wearing just my daily makeup ...one cleanse over my lids is all I need.
More makeup equals two cleanses.
I actually do three cleanses plus a toner treatment.Obagi Clenziderm  Or 
Perricone MD Firming Toner. 
I do each of these toners 1x per day.

***Two cleanses is all the rage right now and I've been doing it for years! Yay ahead of the game!***

Read about how I wash my face Here.

Your daily cleanser is all you really need to remove your eye makeup. 

If you have a bit of residual liner on after your cleansing...simple take a cotton swab (not a cotton pad or round) ....dipped in eye makeup remover...such as this natural paraben free one Alba Botanica Eye makeup remover and ever so gently remove it....without pulling or tugging. 

I do use an eye cream 3-4x per week....it is super light and it's a cooling gel formula which I adore....non pore clogging .....non milia producing which I love...Eltamd eye gel. You know I love Elta products!

Gentle is the key when it comes to the eyes!!!

Unfiltered photo with natural sunlight...age 41 and 8 months....

Homeschooling mom! 

Going paraben, sulfate, phthlates free...

I have always been an ingredient detective!

I read this amazing comedogenic (acne causing) ingredient book Acne RX wayyyy back in college wayyy before the internet....and it was life changing for me. It truly paved the way to not only clearing my own acneic skin but also as a new career path. In fact, I still research ingredients to this day because of this book. I sort of a research junkie! I'm also this way with food...and working out! 

Recently I started to research the ingredients that honestly I had not really given a second thought too.

Parabens.

Phthalates.

Triclosan.

Quaterium 15.

Triethonolomine (TEA)

Lavender

Tea tree oil

And being that these ingredients can be very harmful .....from cancer causing, to antibiotic resistant, to damaging hormones.....

Sooooo......

I decided to get rid of them all.

Including...soaps, lotions, SPF, makeup, shampoo, conditioners...anything that had the unsafe ingredients!

I started with reading the back of all of my labels on everything that touches me skin.

And....let me also state that I am NOT one care about if something is "natural" or not...because from all of the years of studying ingredients "natural" doesn't necessarily mean better...."natural" doesn't mean it's not going to cause acne!!
Wow it was an undertaking!

Also being aware of ingredients that are acne causing...

And is still a work in progress....
Thankfully most of my products were safe!

Here are some of the new items I have added or replaced in my home.

For so long I have used cetaphil cleanser as my makeup remover...but it has parabens so I switched to
Neutrogena Naturals cleanser andNeutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub.I love this cleanser! It removes makeup so easily. And is reasonable priced. It's a bit hard to find in some stores. THE scrub is super gentle. I use it twice a week. 

I have also used Jergens natural glow forever!! But I was Sooo sad to find out it has some of groady ingredients in it! So I have made the switch to Fake Bake Sport Self-Tanning Lotion. And I have to say I am super pleased with the results. I use it just as I did the Jergens...as a daily moisturizer. 

As much as I love to kill germs...I don't want to make my body antibiotic resistant so I switched to this healthier hand sanitizer Babyganics and Everyone Hand Sanitizer Spray

And for bathing...this soap is my favorite! I tired several before finding this amazing body wash...Everyone Soap .

And if you have tired to find a safe lip gloss...lip balm....lip anything look no farther! I am in love with 

Bite Beauty Bb , Bite Beauty Lush Lip trio, and Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask.

I have horrible dry hands and was sad to find out that my hand lotion has parabens....working hands...but thrilled beyond belief to find Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream Facial Treatment, 4 Ounce....my hands are thanking me! 

 I have a few more products that I am looking for a replacement for but so far...I am loving my new healthier choices!