Please note: this blog post was written before May 25th and do not reflect the current Black Lives Matter movement, which I 100% support.
It’s been a minute and LOTS has happened. My grandstand plans of restarting my blog, trying to excel on my career path, and training for two half marathons have all come to a screeching halt due to a pandemic. It’s a wild time to be alive.
The only thing we can do is take it day by day and practice kindness along with gratitude. And for those of you that are coping with a mental illness or disorder—I am right there with you. My PTSD symptoms have gone into overdrive but somehow a mindful routine invites moments of chill. I can go on and on but we’ll get more candid later this month.
Onto lighter topics, like skincare and wellness favorites you might enjoy for June or at-home spa days.
Hair: To be honest, my wash days have been few and far. But, after one too many matted knots I’ve made the conscious effort to at least try to put my best curls forward to feel better. I’m not alone in this thinking either, 54% of Americans agree that having a good hair day will put them in a better mood. Amika’s Nice Cream is a fantastic cleansing conditioner that provides enough slip to get out the gnarliest knots, gives my curls a moisture boost, and good-for-strands ingredients. I will say, that the scent is very fragrant (I love it) and similar to all co-washes a deep scalp cleanse is necessary at least 1x a week. Here’s a scalp cleanser I’m currently testing and so far love.
Face: There are always so many products when it comes to this category so it’s probably best that I start in the order of application 🙂
Theo Sterling’s Skin Clarifying And Probiotic Balancing Mist is a new face on the natural skincare scene. It’s made with three ingredients (purified water, Epsom salt, and a probiotic blend) to effectively tame blemished skin. It’s a luxury item but backed with their research to clarify skin.
After misting, I’ll do one or two layers of serum. After realizing Vitamin C serum does more harm than good during my AM routine I decided to swap it out for a serum that’s packed with antioxidants instead. After browsing at my local Target, I left with bliss glow & hydrate day serum. It not only contains antioxidants but also Niacinamide, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to help improve blemishes, brighten skin, and show off radiant skin. The formula is super light and works. The packaging is cute too!
Even though we’re in quarantine I’ve been applying my organic sunscreen every single day! Unless you work in a cave you should be doing the same. One that I love for running or barefaced moments is COOLA's Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 White Tea. It’s never stung my eyes from sweat runoff, left a white cast, and is perfect for sensitive skin. A cabinet favorite!
As for those 1x a week treatment, I’ve fallen in love with Youth to the People Superfood Skin Reset Antioxidant Mask. Think of it as your reset mask used best on Sunday nights for a fresh week glow. Aveda’s tulasāra™ wedding masque eye overnight is another one the whole world needs to seriously try. It’s thick, rich, and leaves eyes so refreshed in the morning. Not sure why my lips have been a little drier this past month but innisfree’s Lip Sleeping Mask with Green Tea goes beyond lip balm. The 99.9 percent naturally-derived mask moisturizes and nourishes dry lips with Jeju green tea powder and seed oil. It also helps lips retain moisture.
Body: Since we’re in quarantine, I decided to make the transition over to natural deodorant. It felt less risky that way. I got a ton of natural deodorants from one of my favorite shops CredoBeauty.com. The first one I decided to try was from Ursa Major, due to the 4.5-star rating and familiar stick design, and it went better than expected. If you're curious about making the job make sure to read this helpful article!
Since PR companies noticed my pivot into the world of clean beauty, I was sent samples from the Bare Republic. Their Mineral SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Stick, in particular, stood out because it’s purse and reef friendly. You can honestly slip into your back pocket and go. The coconut scent is a plus too! Another absolute favorite that was sent my way was Herbivore’s Jasmine Body Oil. You guys… the scent was intoxicating.
If you’re not dealing with Bacne feel free to skip this part. Everyone else, join the party! It’s a bit lacking when it comes to this category and the products are usually a miss. So I was very excited to learn that Sandra Lee MD, aka Dr. Pimple Popper, crafted a body spray with maximum strength Salicylic Acid for our hard to reach spots. I’ve been using the spray for the past month and noticed a big reduction in clogged pores and zits.
Wellness: This is a new inclusion in our monthly essentials but I think it’s fitting to include supplements, vitamins, and tinctures that helped my everyday routine. At 26, I decided to get off prescription medication, like Adderall, since it caused more harm than good. It also made me feel like a shell of a human. Unfortunately, I still had to deal with ADD. And let me tell ya, there’s no amount of coffee or caffeine pills to help with ADD. Lucky us, cannabis has been decriminalized and a plethora of medicines and supplements have been created to assist. After lots of research and reviews, I decided to try out Plant People’s Stay Sharp. It uses hemp extract, herbal nootropics, and adaptogens to improve focus and mental clarity. There are no jitters. You don’t feel stoned. Just calm and focused which is a godsend. There are a few more CBD products I’ve discovered and can’t wait to bring them all up soon!
Did you discover any new products during quarantine? Let me know in the comments!
Shop my essentials below:
one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine* // eleven // twelve // thirteen
*numbered them incorrectly… whoops!
