Welcome to the late fall-winter edition of the beauty beat. I have a great round up of products for you to all check out. I've been battling skin issues for the last 6 months, specifically skin sensitivities. I don't know if it's because I am now in my 30s, but my skin and body overall has been really reactive. I've noticed that over the last 3 years that I've been able to link stomach issues, skin reaction and body reactions to things that I ingest or put on my skin. I've noticed that things like rashes, redness or hives will occur when I skincare products and makeup that have certain chemicals like sulfates and parabens. With that in mind, I've been focusing on finding ways to combat this in how I approach my skincare and what I eat.
I've slowly been cutting out meat and processed foods from my daily diet. I'm by no means a full blown vegan or vegetarian, as I will feed my body what it needs when it needs it, but I've found that I have problems digesting red meats and beef in general. I'll also notice more skin issues the more processed and sugary foods I eat. So, I've been eating less red meat and trying (but I won't lie it's hard and I've fumbled) to cut out sugary processed foods. I'll have chicken every once in a while, but I've been adding in tofu to help replace and adding in even more vegetables to my meals. I continue to eat fruits to help with my sweet tooth. With this whole process, I've noticed my stomach issues subside and my skin issues become less severe.
My initial skin scare began with a reaction to nasal spray medication I had been using over the summer. My allergies were really terrible this summer and my sinuses were my main problem. I had been using a nasal spray that I was prescribed alongside my allergy medication off and on this entire summer. Towards the beginning of the fall I noticed a rash around my nose. Between the spray and my constant irritation due to blowing my nose, the rash appeared. BUT - when it didn't go away after I stopped the medicine I freaked out. What I noticed was certain products inflamed the skin more, and made the rash worse. So, I went through my medicine cabinet and threw away anything that I noticed caused my face to get worse over 2 months and replaced them with vegan friendly, organic, paraben and sulfate free products. I've noticed a tremendous difference over the last 3 months.
So, for this round up - I wanted to share some products that I feel have helped my skin and that you might benefit from yourself. By opting to use vegan products you can prevent possible health conditions while also giving your skin a boost. When you choose to skip animal products, plant-based ingredients are used instead. This is great for your skin because natural ingredients are not only better for your health but they nourish your skin with their botanical and antioxidant substances. The oils and nutrients used in these types of products are also gentler on your skin. It is important to note, though that you should always ensure that the products you are using are not only vegan but also organic as you don’t want to opt out of animal ingredients while infusing your skin with toxins regularly found in non-organic products.
Hair
We don't always realize it, but when we shampoo our hair, the product will impact our skin on our face. If you wash in the shower, often your shampoo will run down your face and the chemicals
can impact your skin. Most shampoos and conditioners and other body washes have parabens and sulfates included in their ingredients. Studies have shown that some parabens can mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in the body’s cells, and while estrogenic activity is associated with certain forms of breast cancer, parabens have been found present in breast tumors. Sulfates are concerning because they were found to break down proteins, which can lead to a degenerative effect on the cell membranes. Sulfates were also found to leave residue in the heart, lungs, and brain. They can cause a number of problems for your hair including drying, irritating your scalp, fading your color, and even hair loss.
The HairRX brand was launched by industry pro and salon owner: Jodi Dery after discovering the stylists in her award winning salons were often mixing different shampoos together (as well as conditioners) to create custom products for their clients. Jodi and her team began collaborating with an elite group of highly skilled cosmetic chemists in Italy known for developing hair care and skincare formulas for the world’s most prestigious brands.
Together, they created more than 100 original formulas, each developed to solve specific hair care concerns. After being previewed by more than 3,000 hair stylists, tested and further refined by Jodi and her expert salon staff, the HairRx customized hair care line was ready. Each formula contains the ideal combination of top-quality ingredients, without sulfates or parabens.
The fact that the brand focuses on custom hair care all the while choosing to keep their products paraben/sulfate free showcases their vision in terms of quality. Customers can set up their own profile and answer some simple questions online and the site will help identify the best shampoo and conditioner for you. It was simple, quick and I was even able to customize further by selecting one of their 5 unique scents. Based on my answers, I ordered a custom set of thickening shampoo and conditioner in the lovely vanilla scent.
The formulation of the product is fantastic and gentle. It doesn't leave my hair feeling stripped and since the formulas are sulfate free, they're safe for color-treated hair and even extensions. There are no harsh chemicals to irritate the skin and to top it off - the product range is cruelty free and not tested on animals. If you want to customize your own hair care set - visit the brand online and place an order: https://www.hairrx.com
As the winter months draw closer, hair tends to get dry. In order to help remedy this, I apply
Argan oil to my hair before I heat style. Argan oil is powerful and potent for dry, coarse hair. It helps to deeply heal, smooth and restore shine and luster damaged hair. The Moroccon argan oil includes an exotic blend of Moroccan argan oil, specially formulated for coarse hair. It penetrates, moisturizes, renews, and creates softness and strength while protecting your hair from harmful styling heat and UV damage. I find when I use this during the cold months it restores moisture and due to it being a thicker formula than the original it coats hair better leaving you with soft tresses and gloss for over processed, damaged hair
Face
Since I threw away pretty much every beauty product over the last few months, I've had to replenish and find products that wouldn't irritate my already irrupted and sensitive skin. After some research I found some great brands that don't leave my skin feeling irrupted. Alba Botanica is brand that focuses on offering hypoallergenic options. It doesn't contain any harsh sulfates, it's paraben and phthalate free, has 100% vegetarian ingredients and they don't test on animals. The Hawaiin oil free moisturizer is a great whisper light moisturizer is smoothing, nourishing and includes refining humectants that lightly infuse skin with oil-free hydration. Ingredients include aloe, green tea, gotu kola and cucumber extracts that provide antioxidant benefits. It doesn't leave a greasy feel, just soft and silky smooth.
Alba Botanica Facewash is the companion product that I use with the Alba Botanica Moisturizer. Same as the moisturizer, the product doesn't contain any harsh sulfates, it's paraben and phthalate free, has 100% vegetarian ingredients and they don't test on animals. Pore-refining pineapple and skin-brightening papaya enzymes wash away impurities, make-up and dullness. It leaves your face feeling refreshingly clean. Aloe, hibiscus and passion flower provide much needed R&R to soothe and balance. It hasn't irritated my sensitive skin.
Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Facewash is a holy grail product that I read about all over the net. It hasn't disappointed. This product is really gentle and leaves your skin feeling smooth and silky. It contains natural organic tea tree oil and it cleanses the skin without making it feel tight or dry. It also includes extracts of goldenseal, hawaiian white ginger and chamomile. It helps to improve the texture of the skin, clarity and radiance of your skin.
Finding exfoliating products that aren't chock full of chemicals is hard. Skinfix Facial Exfoliating Pads are free of synthetic fragrance, cruelty free, parabens and phthalates, soy, gluten, dairy and dyes. These pads are a great option for those with sensitive skin. Each textured pad is formulated with a blend of natural glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids to gently lift away embedded impurities and spent skin cells. Sugar Cane, Willow Bark and Australian Lime Pearl extracts deliver natural AHAs to accelerate skin's own renewal process.
Body
Surya Brazil is a sustainable brand that is passionately committed to creating the best natural, organic and vegan lifestyle products that promote health and wellness. The Sapien Woman Body Scrub is made with Amazonian Organic ingredients and 100% natural exfoliants from Coconut bark and organic Buriti, which remove dead cells and impurities. Amazonian White Clay enhances the exfoliation power, and a high concentration of organic Aloe Vera juice provides intense hydration. The Sapien Woman Shave Gel is a fantastic shave gel that protects your skin while shaving. Ingredients like Cupuaçu butter, Pracaxi oil, Macadamia oil, Vitamin E to prevent drying and protect sensitive skin. Organic Aloe Vera juice and vegetable glycerin promote intense hydration.
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil (sweet buttercream) -- If the cold weather has your hands feeling dry, this product is a dream. It's velvety and whipped 100 percent pure argan oil. It's a wonderful indulgent combination that adds some much needed moisture to your skin in the colder months. This ultra-hydrating Body Butter features powerful ingredients like shea butter, white tea extract, and avocado oil to nourish and enrich skin with essential nutrients and antioxidants.
The lightweight texture absorbs instantly and restores skin’s softness and texture. This is a great moisturizing product that is also formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates.
For the Guys
Surya Brazil also has a great collection of mens products. Sapien Men Hair Styling Gel is 100% vegan, natural and organic certified. Sapien Men is Surya Brasil's first men's cosmetic collection and the first mens line in Brazil that has the EcoCert® organic certification. The hair gel smells great and provides a medium hold without using synthetic fasteners - these are what can cause a false dandruff effect. Overall, it helps keep the shape of the style, while leaving the hair naturally shiny and bright.
Sapien Men Aftershave Cream does a fantastic job of soothing, regenerating and protecting the sensitive skin of the face. It contains AçaÃ, Aloe, Macadamia and Cupuaçu, anti-irritants that promote natural softness and hydration, leaving the skin reinvigorated and healthy.
The Dirty Bird Energy Soap smells AMAZING. It's lathers up well, exfoliates the skin and just leaves you feeling invigorated. The supercharged body bar wakes you with a combo of CAFFEINE and Peppermint. Formulated with Jojoba beads, this power-packed soap will effectively scrub and smooth away dry, rough skin. The caffein provides skin-tightening effects and the Palm Oil and Coconut Oil help to moisturize the skin.
Oral Health
After enjoying the holiday food and festivities which might include wine, coffee and other drinks, our teeth might be in need of some TLC. Luster has a new toothpaste that is the perfect addition to your morning routine. I've been looking for a sulfate free formula that will be friendly to all the changes I've made that still gives me the benefits of a bright white smile. A quick and easy way to get those pearly whites back to a lustrous shine - change your daily toothpaste to a whitening formula that contains fluoride, but is sulfate free. This is an easy way to maintain the health of your teeth while keeping in mind aesthetics.
You’ll remove stains while still getting the oral care benefits of a traditional dental visit. OLuster’s Power White Deep Stain Eraser® Fluoride Toothpaste is a two-in-one whitening toothpaste that cleans and freshens breath with zero tooth sensitivity. It removes up to 95% of surface stains in only 5 days for a 2X whiter, brighter smile than the leading brand. Best part of this product is that it is enamel-safe, sulfate free formula is the only toothpaste on the market containing 2% stabilized peroxide. Check out www.lusterpremiumwhite.com for more info!
Hope you enjoyed this latest edition!
Jen
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