Tough Love

Hi guys! I have been wanting to blog about this subject for a while, but I haven't wanted to step on people's toes or create a stir. But, my passion for all-natural, non-toxic, living is too much for me to not say something. This subject keeps popping up in my life and I keep trying to brush it under the rug, but I just can't anymore. There is false information that you're not aware of and you're being "trained" and "educated" by people who may, or may not, be licensed professionals (or really know what the hell they're talking about).

I finally decided to speak my peace when I was doing a makeup application on someone and she was asking me about aesthetics and makeup and my career, how long I've been doing it, etc. When I had mentioned that I had been in the aesthetics field for about 10 years now, she mentioned me to that she had just recently gotten into the same field. I thought, "oh yay! another aesthetician to talk business with and share similar interests." So of course I asked how long she's been an aestetician and she said she wasn't in fact an aesthetician but she sold a certain skincare line. Look, I'm all for people becoming entrepreneurs and empowering people to take control of your life and follow your passion, but you are not a licensed aesthetician because you sell skincare. I don't care if you've been trained in person, or online, if you bought a kit and you read the pamphlet, you are not a licensed professional in aesthetics. I know this sounds harsh, but it's the truth and it's a lot of work to become an aesthetician so let's not cheapen it. Also, there is so much more that we study that you aren't aware of, so if cosmetics and skincare is something you love, great! But, an online tutorial does not make you a licensed aesthetician.

So, with that being said, please follow up and make sure you know the educational background with anyone that you reach out to about your skin, your skincare, your skin issues, etc. Not only do you need to make sure you are trusting licensed professionals with your skin but also, you need to find the right person on your wave length. There are tons of women who ask my opinion about brands that I don't use, but I know ingredients, studied ingredients and what they do with your body and your skin, and I have been educated on so many different brands while working as an aesthetician, I am very familiar with what ingredients and products do what, without me even using them on a daily basis. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just stating this is what I've been taught, this is what I'm good at, and this is what I love so I continue to study up on the latest ingredients and products. With that, you do want to find someone on your wave length (sorry, went off on a tangent there) so-if you're looking for super active, chemically created ingredients, you can most definitely ask me, and I can suggest, but if you know me at all, I don't use these, so I'll suggest and pick the best I can for you, but personally, you know I'm going to push towards more natural, non-toxic ingredients. It's all about finding your match and the person you trust, and who gets you.

So, with that-I will never sell products or write about products I do not believe in. I am approached almost daily about selling skincare. I have told them politely "no" and then of course I have to come back with a reasoning why. Here's my why-they're not natural, and they're not good for you. Plain and simple. I'm going to write a longer, more detailed version below of why, but plainly-I do not agree with most of the ingredients in these skincare brands and makeup brands being sold (multi-level marketing). Yes, they work, yes, it stays on all day, yes, there are great before and afters, but no-I would never put that on my face, or the faces of anyone I love. I have had many customers and friends ask my opinion, and I've even told the people that have approached me to sell the products, and they all  want to know what I think about the lines/brands and I tell the honest truth. I'm nice, but I'm honest with why I won't sell or suggest the brands.

One of the last times I told someone I would not sell their brand, of course I had to explain why I wouldn't so of course I just said, I do not want to use products that are chemically created, I only like to use non-toxic products, you know the story.  So, I gave my explanation I was countered with a very condescending response. Basically telling me that "natural" is just a marketing ploy and ingredients "most likely" won't absorb into the skin, and these ingredients that are being linked to cancer "could be linked" but, "most likely" aren't. Look, that's not good enough. And trust me, in school and in my professional career, we ask our clients to fill out medical forms for contraindications, illnesses, allergies, etc. Plus, if you're pregnant you can't use a ton of ingredients, and to me-if you can't use it while you're pregnant, why the hell would you want to use it every day?? I just couldn't handle the way the response was written. It was literally giving these crazy descriptions about how they "might not be linked to cancer" they "most likely won't absorb into the blood stream" and also started spatting off about ingredients and how the most potent are the first listed...umm yeah, we do know that. Then it turned into a bunch of just big words and descriptions to truly throw you off course and think, "wow! there's a  lot of words on this paper, they must know what they're doing." It truly went totally off course I think to throw you off the crappy, toxic ingredients that they actually use in their products. Because the truth is this-most of these brands boomed before people started getting smart about their ingredients and their health. These brands can't go back on their entire line and say, "yeah, we put toxic chemicals in our products." So, they just came up with a bunch of condescending comments to throw you off course.

Ok, so I'm not going to call out any brands-I just want  you to be aware of these ingredients and what they can do. I know they're your friends, I know you want to support them, but these people selling also need to know what they're putting out there. It sucks to find out that a brand you work for puts toxic junk in their products, but these products are spreading like wildfire and people really need to know what's in them. So-top ingredient scaries!

Parabens-yes, this has been a buzz word for many years. But here's the deal, parabens are basically a preservative in a ton of skincare. But, there have also been parabens found in cancerous tumors. That is why you are seeing so much paraben-free marketing around. It's a big deal you guys. This ingredient is an absolute no-no. I won't get into detail about this ingredient because we've heard about it a ton, but just stay away from them. I know there isn't "scientific 100% proof that they do cause cancer, but it's enough info for me to stay away. So if you see any ingredient with paraben at the end of the word, stay away! There are a few-propylparaben, methylparaben, etc.

Phthalates-these are tricky little shits because our FDA and cosmetics industry is so messed up, you can change the name of phthalates to throw us off course. So basically stay away from anything that says "fragrance" in the ingredient list, because that's most likely a phthalate. The CDC actually did a study and found that a trace of this toxic ingredient was found in every single person they studied...yikes. Phthalates, are used in plastics and in tons of cosmetics (like I said, stay away from anything listed "fragrance" on your ingredient list) this ingredient has been found to be a hormone disruptor which leads to infertility, reproductive defects, insulin resistance, and developmental issues in children.

Benzoyl Peroxide-this is a huge ingredient in blemish products. But for one-notice that when you use it you bleach your towels, some people's hair gets lighter---ummm yikes you guys. You're putting this on your face!!!!! It is essentially bleaching your towels and hair and YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON YOUR FACE. Step away from the benzoyl peroxide. This has also been linked to tumor growth. Tumor growth-no. Absolutely not. Do not use.
Synonym(s): DIBENZOYL PEROXIDE; PEROXIDE, DIBENZOYL; ACNEGEL; AZTEC BPO; BENZOPEROXIDE; BENZOYL PEROXIDE (ACGIH:OSHA) ; BENZOYL SUPEROXIDE;  BZF-60; CADAT BPO

Hydroquinone-speaking of bleach- Hydroqunione is bleach! You know what else? It is banned in Europe. You guys, it's BANNED. And here we are just throwing it all over our faces!! Hydroqunione permanently alters your pigment, meaning it will lighten dark spots, age spots, scarring, etc. While permanently altering your pigment (yikes!) it also weakens collagen and elastin. So, now you don't have dark spots....buuuut you have saggy skin-no thanks. Not  only does it permanently alter our skin and damage collagen, elastin, and bleaches our skin, and goes into our blood stream, and you can't use it while nursing or pregnant, and banned in other counties, it's under suspicion of being a carcinogen...ummm you think??
Synonym(s): 1,4-BENZENEDIOL; 1,4-DIHYDROXYBENZENE; 1,4BENZENEDIOL; 4-HYDROXYPHENOL; P-DIOXYBENZENE; P-HYDROXYPHENOL; 1,4-BENZENEDIOL; 1,4-DIHYDROXYBENZENE

Petroleum-this ingredient is in TONS of cosmetics and guess what else it's in? Motor oil! Yay! Let's just slather this all over our skin! Another tricky ingredient that has different names-look out for-
Petrolatum, xylene, toluene, mineral oil, liquid paraffin. If you needed any other reason to not use it from the fact that it's made with same ingredients as motor oil, here's a big one-petroleum contains 1, 4-dioxane which is a probable carcinogen according to the World Health Organization and the EPA.

Methylisothiazolinone-first of all, if you can't pronounce it don't use it. This ingredient, called MIT for short, has been studied and shown that this ingredient is has neurotoxic properties in it. Studies have shown that even using a product for 10 minutes that contains MIT caused damage to your brain cells. Other links-seizures and visual abnormalities. This is in lots of cosmetics, even baby shampoo.
Synonym(s): 2-METHYL- 3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-2H-ISOTHIAZOL-3-ONE; 2-METHYL-3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLIN-3-ONE; 3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2-METHYL-; 3 (2H) ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2METHYL; METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE225METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE SOLUTION; 2-METHYL-3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLIN-3-ONE

Oxybenzone-this is in tons of sunscreens. Yes, it's all about sun protection, but unfortunately some SPF's are crap so don't use this ingredient or Avobenzone either! So, oxybenzone has been linked to allergies, hormone disruptors, and low birth rates in baby girls. The CDC found that oxybenzone was in 97% of American's urine. What the heck you guys? Just stay away from this and Avobenzone which has had a name change numerous times. It has also been linked to cancer.
What I use for SPF-zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide
Synonym(s): BENZOPHENONE-3, (2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYPHENYL) PHENYL- METHANONE; (2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYPHENYL) PHENYLMETHANONE; 2-BENZOYL-5-METHOXYPHENOL; 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYBENZOPHENONE; 4-08-00-02442 (BEILSTEIN HANDBOOK REFERENCE) ; 4-METHOXY-2-HYDROXYBENZOPHENONE; ADVASTAB 45; AI3-23644; ANUVEX; B3; BENZOPHENONE, 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXY-

Artificial Dyes and Colors-if it has a Yellow, a Red, basically anything in the Roy G. Biv (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, red for any of y'all that didn't take art class) category it's not being purchased by me. There is absolutely no reason a skincare product needs to have colors in it. Synthetic colors are usually made from coal tar. Let's put that on our lips and face! Obviously these have been linked as a carcinogenic, obviously they can cause sensitivities, and shocker here-your body is left with heavy metal deposits. So, stay away from the obvious Red # whatever, and the Yellows, and all basic colors should not be listed in your ingredients. Also, stay away from anything starting with FD&C or D&C.

Disodium EDTA-here's the deal, I know people love the EWG website but I have a few hesitations. There are NUMEROUS ingredients I have studied that have hard evidence that they are toxic and not good for you, and I'll hop on the EWG website and it gives it a rating of a 1. Something just doesn't seem right. Just like phthalates and benzoyl peroxide that I wrote about earlier-EWG gives them a score of 3-4...umm no. You're saying a bleaching agent linked to tumors and "fragrance" of all types that cause hormonal disruptors is a 3? The EWG is being too conservative, and I'm sorry-I'm going to be real particular when it comes to me, my body, what I put on it, and what's absorbing into my bloodstream. You know what else doesn't seem right with the EWG-this ingredient right here. Tell me gals, this ingredient disodium EDTA has this many synonyms-
(ETHYLENEDINITRILO) TETRA- DISODIUM SALT ACETIC ACID; ACETIC ACID, (ETHYLENEDINITRILO) TETRA-, DISODIUM SALT; DISODIUM DIHYDROGEN ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETATE; DISODIUM EDETATE; DISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETATE; DISODIUM N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) GLYCINE] ; DISODIUM SALT ACETIC ACID, (ETHYLENEDINITRILO) TETRA-; EDETATE DISODIUM; GLYCINE, N,N 1,2ETHANEDIYLBIS [N (CARBOXYMETHYL) , DISODIUMSALT; N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL ) - DISODIUM SALT GLYCINE; N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) GLYCINE] DISODIUM SALT

To me, I just don't want to use something that chemically altered. I can't pronounce it-definitely off the list. It has multiple names-sketchy. There are some really scary, toxic ingredients out there and all cosmetic companies do is change the name!! It's so scary you guys, you just need to be careful. For me, this ingredients binds metals in tap water, helps foam for cleansers, but I just can't get past all the synonyms for it and tests have shown large amounts of disodium EDTA can cause mutagenic and toxic activity. Yes, this is more than a normal dosage, and topically, but to me-I just say no to EDTA and the other 50 names it has.

PEG-also known as Polyethelyne glycol, it's a group of ethylyne glycol polymers. These help moisturize, they are used as a preservative, and they also help the absorption of other ingredients-toxic or not, so think about the other ingredients involved in that product as well when using products with PEG's in them. And let me say, if it has PEG in it, it probably has all other crap in it as well, so I don't want any help with the other toxins absorbing into my skin. All-in-all, this ingredient has been linked with toxicity of the body, harm to the nervous system, and has shown links to tumors, so just say no!

Dimethicone-this is a synthetic oil, and it's usually in hair and skin products. Any product that claims it feels silky, and creates a really nice hydrating barrier on the skin probably has this, and you do not want it! First of all, it's occlusive so it's just going to feel super rich & heavy but it's not going to even absorb into the moisture barrier (don't even get me started on that subject!) Back on point, it also doesn't let your skin breathe at all. It won't let your skin naturally detox, so no sweating which could lead to some serious health issues! It basically gets in the way of your skin functioning like normal, which is just scary. On top of that issue, it's also known to be a hormonal disruptor. This why so many people have reproductive issues!! Let's just throw in a link to tumor growth as well shall we? Just stay away from anything with a "cone" at the end. It shows there's some form of silicone in it and for 1, it'll break you out, and for 2-you get all these great side effects with it! So just stay away.

Ok, I'm trying to stop but I definitely wanted to get some top ingredients on this blog but I also wanted to go through the ingredients of these products that get pushed down our throats by our friends and family (sorry!!)  I hate to rain on your entrepreneur parade, I want you to feel empowered and I want you to succeed, but I cannot let these brands keep spreading like wildfire when there is so much junk in them that will harm you. I literally have not even scratched the surface of sketchy ingredients in these skincare brands we are pitched all the time. I would be writing all day, and you would be reading a seriously long blog (yes, even longer than this one)

So, with all that being said-I don't expect you to be on your phone researching ingredients and products constantly (that's what I'm here for!) but, I want you to be aware. Use "Think Dirty" app, it's awesome! You just scan products and you're good to go, but sometimes the products aren't on there. The EWG is another resource, but after reading this blog I'm sure you can gather my feelings on that website (I don't trust it)

My point is not to bad-mouth brands, it's not to ruin someone's dreams of becoming an independent, successful, business woman. But, I want you to know what you're using, what you're suggesting other people to use, and it's not good!!! The FDA and huge cosmetic corporations don't give a damn about us, so they will spoon-feed you this crap that goes around the issue. And the issue is you're putting toxic junk that will cause health issues, tumors, or basically poison us and all they want is to "empower" you and make you feel like you're taking control of your life and you're really making a difference in people's lives because their skin is improving. But for what cost? It's not safe, it's not natural, it's not good for you, hell, it's not even good for these poor rats that have been tested on for the cause of toxicity.

I want you to feel empowered and I want you to feel good about yourself and take control of your life and share your passion. But I also want you to know what these big businesses aren't telling you, and that is that these products are full of toxins and junk that they do not have to use. There are natural versions of anti-aging products, skincare, hair care, baby products. You do not have to harm yourself to make you feel good about your appearance. Yes, it stinks if you've put time, money and your passion into a brand and you realize it's full of harmful crap, but come back from it and spread the word about what we are doing to our bodies!

If you ever need help finding natural beauty products, that are safe, that work, please let me know and I will be glad to help!! This is my job, it's my passion and I will not let these shitty big, rich, cosmetics industries slowly give all of us cancer and reproductive issues. Spread the word gals, get empowered gaining knowledge and spreading what you know about these sketchball cosmetics ingredients and companies!

Hi guys! I wanted to write a blog post on one of my favorite foods that offers a ton of benefits! Not only does it jazz up any Buddha bowl, salad, or entree, but the health benefits are huge! I have really grown to love fermented foods. If you follow my instagram at all (naturallytruebeauty btw!) then you know my love for kombucha. But now I've also grown to love kimchi, kraut, kefir, any type of fermented food!

What is fermented food? Basically the food (usually carrots, cabbage, sauerkraut) goes through a process called lactofermentation. This means that the natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch which creates lactic acid. This process creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and tons of probiotics.

What are the benefits? Basically eating fermented foods have been shown to preserve nutrients that we consume and also break down the food to make it easier to digest. So-totally helps with digestion! Which in turn will help numerous health concerns, issues, and will make your life easier! So many issues stem from the gut so adding fermented foods into your diet will help with so many aspects of your life & health. You're giving your body a HUGE dose of probiotics so digestion will go easy breezy, and it'll give your body more time to produce collagen, elastin, and increase cell regeneration which means-beautiful skin! If we can give our digestive system a little break from constantly breaking down and digesting our food (which I hear takes up 80% of its energy all day!!) our organs can focus on producing other things that will help hair growth, cell regeneration, and other steps to give us our natural beauty! Other great benefits are-obviously improved digestion, bowel health, decrease disease & boost immunity! There are so many auto-immune issues that stem from an unhealthy gut and taking any form of fermented foods can really improve these issues!

Eating fermented foods or drinking kombucha or kefir will give your body beneficial bacteria to your digestive system and it will in turn, help balance the bacteria in your gut. I would definitely suggest amping up a healthy lifestyle once you add fermented foods into your diet because while you increase your digestive health, fermented foods will also help your body absorb more nutrients from your food! So, it's just the perfect time to increase veggies & healthy foods into your lifestyle.

There are so many benefits & I have really loved adding in kimchi & kraut into my foods but I haven't been steady with it until I started watching one of my favorite health bloggers on her insta-story. She was mentioning gluten intolerance, which so many of us have. And she had mentioned keratosis pilaris-which I have had for as long as I can remember! I HATED my arms for years because it was so bad! I used to tan (gasp! I know, I know) in high school just to hide those red bumps. I just hated them! When I was in aesthetic school we would put all sorts of crazy acids on my arms to try and help with it & nothing worked. It wasn't until I got older that I realized when I eliminated gluten in my diet, the keratosis pilaris (KP for short) went away! It was a huge discovery & I was thrilled to see some change! So, just out of health I cut out more gluten. I still would eat it from time to time and my KP would show back up. I've just kinda been back and forth, but when I watched this insta-story from whatcaitate ( I love her!!) she was mentioning gut health & the connection with gut health & auto-immune issues. She was mentioning KP and how obviously that shows you do react to gluten, so much so that your body starts showing the inflammation. If your body is that sensitive to gluten that you get KP, then this could show you your gut could be out of whack. Not acknowledging this could lead to auto-immune diseases like leaky gut, which I do not want!! So, I really started taking this gluten thing seriously. Instead of eating it from time-to-time I decided this needs to really be reigned in!! Also, while really being particular about watching the gluten intake, I also decided what other steps do I need to do to keep my gut healthy! That's where I saw so many suggestions about adding in fermented foods. I have drank kombucha for years so that's a start! But now I am making a point to consume fermented foods 3 times daily! I just take a spoonful and add it to every meal! I also heard that a heaping spoonful of fermented foods has just as many probiotics as a taking a probiotic supplement! Simple!

I have some homemade kombucha fermenting as we speak (or as a type, lol, corny I know) in my cabinet in the kitchen. I also made a point to stop at a local farmer who has numerous pick-up locations around Nashville & surrounding towns called "The Fermented Farmer." He sells so many types of ferments! He ferments hummus, salsa, guacamole, he also makes kefir, kombucha & fermented granola! That is just scratching the surface! Check out his website (www.fermentedfarmer.com) this is such an easy way to incorporate fermented foods into your lifestyle. They are delicious and when you study the health benefits, it's a no-brainer! Check out his website and add some of this delicious, healthy goodness into your daily routine!!

 Health & happiness!

  Andy

Jade stones have been a beauty tradition for centuries. It originated as a Chinese beauty ritual. There are so many benefits for the skin, it's hard to fit them all in. Here are my top reasons you should hop online and buy a jade roller immediately!

Jade stones stay cold even on the skin, so that cold will tighten pores & improve blood circulation. Jade stones also reduce puffiness, smooth out fine lines & wrinkles, improve skin tone & reduce dark under eye circles. With the rolling of the jade wand it actually helps promote lymphatic drainage and release toxins in the skin as well. All this means-cell regeneration and clarity in the skin. Which means-beautiful, smooth, fresh new skin cells which in turn is youthful skin and no blemishes! 

Jade is actually used for protection and healing. Jade is known to protect you from negative energy & to balance your chi which is your energy hub. Ancient Chinese medicine has linked numerous physical & mental symptoms (from anxiety, fatigue, to pain) to your chi being out of whack. So even using this jade roller for the aesthetic benefits for your face will still help balance out your energy internally. 

The jade roller will also help with sinuses, headaches, or anything that causes pressure on the face. Since the stone is chilly it will increase the blood flow which brings oxygen to the surface. This helps improve your skin tone. All oxygenation means from the jade  stones is that it brightens your complexion & even boosts your mood by drawing out negative chi and dispelling bad energy. 

Not only do you get these benefits I've stated above, but even using this jade roller in conjunction with your Skincare will help your products penetrate deeper, which in return helps your skin tone & anti-aging benefits (and your wallet since you get more results from your products!). The roller gives a nice facial massage which helps release tension in your face, which will help smooth fines lines and wrinkles immediately & give great anti-aging results long-term. Simply apply the roller after putting on your favorite serum & moisturizer & just roll in an upward motion. I use my jade roller in the morning to wake up my skin & give it that instant brightening. But I also love doing it at night as a nice wind-down to ease any stress and tension from the day & it's just soothing & relaxing. 

The main point is this stone detoxes, balances, and is anti-aging. The jade stone will keep your skin in the healthiest environment possible. The massage of the roller will smooth lines, improve elasticity, tighten the skin, and de-puff. Jade is also naturally anti-inflammatory so you can say "goodbye" to redness, irritation, and skin sensitivities. 

I suggest using it day & night in your daily routine. Kick start your morning with it to help with puffiness, add a brightening glow, and really wake up your skin. Then focus at night on anti-aging, like a mini facial at home. Think about rolling all the stress of the day off.  Just roll it while you're drinking your morning coffee, watching the news or your favorite show, whenever! It's such an easy addition to your day & it will be so beneficial physically & mentally! Your skin will thank you for it! 

Whole Foods Beauty Week

Hi guys! I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's day! I wanted to write a quick blog on something exciting going on in Nashville next week. 

Y'all might not know this, but one of my jobs that I do besides freelance is I'm a "beauty expert" for Juice Beauty. Juice Beauty is one of my favorite organic Skincare brands! I was a fan of the line before I worked for them. So I truly enjoy working for Juice Beauty. I use tons of their products & I really love going to Whole Foods around my region and educating people in the line & helping people find their perfect Skincare regimen. Sometimes it's very tricky transitioning into a non-toxic Skincare line, so I love being able to help people do that!

Next week is Beauty Week at Whole Foods all around the region! This means all skincare & cosmetics products in the Whole Body department are 25% off from March 22-28! This is such a big deal for all of us who work for these brands, so tons of reps will be there as well! This is a great time to come by and check out products. There will be lots of reps with samples, goodies, and lots of knowledge! Not only is there a great discount with the products but on Friday March 24th they will release this kick ass beauty bag! 

The beauty bag is loaded with tons of samples & deluxe samples of non-toxic beauty products. They go on sale on Friday March 24th when the doors open, and trust me these beauties go fast!! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at what all is in the bag and now I'm going to share it with you!!

Acure Pore Clarifying Red Clay Mask with Moroccan Red Clay & Argan oil-Acure is a very popular brand and I have yet to try anything in their line, so I'm excited to try them out. I'm intrigued by the red clay/argan oil combo. it sounds nice on the deep pore cleansing action with the clay, but then you have the hydrating action of the argan oil, so I'm curious to try this out. Plus, everyone can use a clay mask! Derma-E Hydrating Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive-well, I mean it's only my favorite brand! This mask is actually the first thing I every tried from Juice Beauty and it was love at first application. I have struggled to find decent, active non-toxic products. I was feeling defeated & then I tried this & my face actually tingled & itched & I thought, "FINALLY!!! A PRODUCT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!" I'm not saying every product has to burn to work, it's just hard to find powerful, anti-aging non-toxic products so this was an amazing find! I use it at least once a week & it's one of my biggest beauty must-haves! I could write a blog on this mask alone!

Trilogy CoQ10 Booster Oil-boosts skin recovery & radiance with Glycablend, co-enzyme Q10 & tamanu-I have never tried Triology, so I'm excited to try this out. CoQ10 is a great ingredient & anything with a Glycolic blend will be great for anti-aging so I'm looking forward to trying this out. 

Mineral Fusion Volume Mascara in Jet-I've heard great reviews on this mascara. When I work at Whole Foods for Juice Beauty it's the one mascara people always go for & people tell me all the time how much they love it.

Dr.Hauschka Facial Toner-evens & fortifies skin. This is a great brand and one of the most well-known natural brands. Definitely a great brand to try out!

Evan Healy Wild Carrot Nourish Balm with Immortelle-soothe & brightens eyes. I have always wanted to try this so I'm excited for this product alone! Immortelle is a fantastic ingredient that is known to literally bring cells "back to life" as they say, so when I see Immortelle in a product-I want it!  I hear wonderful things about the Evan Healy brand so I am so excited to try this baby out!

Andalou Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk-age defying cleanser. I love Andalou, great products & great price point. I can't wait to try this cleanser. It's so intriguing to me. There are amazing words that spark my interest on this product-probiotic & a milk, with apricot??? Sign me up!

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion-I love Skin Food from Weleda & I have one of their lip balms. They both are so rich & hydrating, I can't wait to try this.

Pacifica Devocean Lipstick in Tenderheart-I have a highlight palette from Pacifica and it's dreamy. I'm all about adding to my non-toxic lipstick collection so I'm excited to get my hands on this. 

Whole Foods Dry Skin Hand Cream with Peony, Mint & Blackberry-first of all, that scent combo??? Peony, mint & blackberry!! I can't wait to see what this smells like. I love Whole Foods brand products & everyone can use an extra hand cream! 

All these products come tucked in an exclusive Piece & Co beauty bag!! This is a gorgeous bag made by Indian Artisans using organic cotton & their traditional technique of dabu indigo mud-printing & power loom. It's a beautiful bag alone! Then you open it up to find all these beautiful products to try & love!

These bags are while supplies last & the best part about it??? They're $18!!!!! 

If you want a peek at a pic of the bag & all the goodies in it-go to my Instagram account-naturallytruebeauty 

Come by & get one early on Friday morning, I have a feeling they won't be there long!! And if you need any help or guidance about transitioning over to natural beauty products come see me all week at Whole Foods for Beauty Week! 

Spring Cleansing

Hi guys! Spring has (almost) sprung but here in Nashville it feels like it's been here for a while. This weather has been so crazy! But honestly, I've quite enjoyed it! So in honor of spring being just around the corner, this blog is devoted to spring cleaning, or spring cleansing as I like to call it. 

Growing up with a mom who cleaned houses, I've been used to a very, very clean house my whole life. So I really like to give our house a really good head to toe cleaning at least once a week. Especially since we have 3 dogs, the basic cleaning is a must. Something about a clean house is more than just cleanliness. It helps your state of mind, your attitude, and it just feels good! Having a clean home reduces stress & anxiety, and also calms and relaxes you. 

I really am a firm believer in moon phases and cleansing the house with sage when it's a new moon, also when there's negative energy, sickness, starting a new phase in life, anything like that. So it only makes sense to do a cleansing when you're on the brink of a new season! 

I'm starting my spring cleansing somewhat early because I'm not just cleaning & cleansing the house. I'm doing some major deep cleaning. I love Chip & Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper so when they came out with a magazine, you bet I subscribed! Off the subject but I have LOVED both Magnolia magazines so far! I have found each one to be very profound and fitting in my life at that moment. I love when things speak to me and come to me at the right place & time. So, once again, this magazines focus was simplicity. 

Simplicity. That's the name of the game right now! Me and Corey want to simplify so bad!!! We want to de-clutter, get rid of excess, keep it simple. That's our goal in our life, our relationship, our friendships, our home, our clothes, our everything! We just went to Shaker Village in Kentucky and it was so inspiring to see the simplistic living the Shakers believed in & how resourceful and mindful they were. So, all of this is just falling into place with us. 

So on today's subject of simplicity, I'm going to focus on simplicity of cleaning and de-clutter in the kitchen, because that's the room I focused on today. Not only did Magnolia Magazine speak to me about simplicity, but the spring edition of this magazine goes over spring cleaning and this magazine has an awesome cleaning check list. So I'm following it!

Today is the kitchen-I got rid of all those silly plastic cups you collect, random Rubbermaid containers, expired foods, organized and cleaned my oven, appliances, and dishwasher. I'm going to share some green cleaning with you.

All you have to do for a good "spring cleansing"  is get some good music going (of course!) light some sage for cleansing, open doors and windows and start on my check list. Once that's done, get to work! Get rid of things that don't serve you, or you haven't used in forever. Deep clean the fridge, throw out old food, organize. It feels so good to actually have an organized kitchen, or house for that matter! It's therapeutic, and it makes you feel good. You want to be in there and cook, and be in there with friends and it's just good for your state of mind! You wake up happier, you feel more productive, you're at peace, a clean house makes such a difference. 

Here are some quick and easy home made house cleaners I love-

All purpose cleaning spray-

2 cups of water

1/2 cup white vinegar

2 T baking soda

20 drops of essential oil

I use this for the heavy duty cleaning. Stove tops, tile, floors. I use this when I'm doing my deeper weekly clean. 

Easy Upkeep Spray-

16oz of water

20 drops of on-guard 

Or

10 drops lemon

5 drops lavender

15 drops rosemary

15 drops melaleuca 

This is a great disinfectant spray. I use this daily, multiple times a day, for upkeep. 

I also love the Doterra OnGuard cleaning concentrate. You can dilute it with water and there are TONS of options! 

Glass Cleaner 

1 cup of water 

1 cup of white vinegar 

20 drops lemon essential oil

I like to use old glass Perrier bottles as my spray bottles because remember-using essential oils in blends will NOT go well in a plastic bottle, always use glass. I will buy those sprayers and just screw those on the bottle, done!  If you need, cut the straw thing to fit the glass bottle. I love to reuse glass bottles for so many different purposes and essential oil recipes are perfect for that. 

A couple of my favorite clean household cleaners you can buy at the store-

Sal Suds by Dr. Bronner-it's amazing!!!! I buy this by the gallon when I can. You can mix it with water and use it for anything and everything! I even use it for laundry detergent (just 1 tablespoon will do a loaf of laundry!) love this stuff!! Super multi-purpose

DoTerra OnGuard Concentrate-this stuff is similar to Sal Suds. You mix it with water and it has multiple uses. This stuff smells like heaven too! Major antibacterial benefits and I always bring it out during flu season. 

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes-I just love these wipes! I use them constantly! The smell of these wipes, oh man. It's one of my top 10 favorite scents lol. These are great for sticky messes and wiping up food. Corey doesn't like them because they leave a streak across our counter, I don't care. They wipe out tough stains on countertops and stove stops, they smell great, and I always use another spray cleaner with a towel after I use the wipes anyways, so streaks don't happen anyhow.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lavender Multi-Surface Cleaner-this stuff. Wow. One of my friends and loyal facial clients gave me a bottle of this because she loved it so much and now me and Corey are obsessed. We are so obsessed with this amazing smell, we are going to buy the Mrs. Meyers lavender cleaning concentrate next so we can use it for everything. We want to buy the Mrs. Meyers lavender laundry detergent too. I'm telling you, we are obsessed. This is usually what I use after my Seventh Generation wipes, or I'll use a homemade mix. I always spray everything in my house down with this stuff before guests come over because your house will smell like heaven! When my friend gave me a bottle of this, she said she stocks up at Target because the one near our house had it priced wrong for .97 cents instead of the $4 or so that it's supposed to be. So she said she would stock up whenever she would be in Target, which then led to me stocking up whenever I went to Target, which led to my mom stocking up when she was in Target. Until the price changed to $4. It was good while it lasted, lol. I will continue to buy this even at it's regular price. 

Dishwasher cleaner-

Put 1 cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher safe glass. Place it on the top rack. Use the hottest water cycle option & run it through one cycle. The vinegar will eat away at grime, sanitizes, and cleans odor. After that cycle, sprinkle a cup full of baking soda around the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through a short cycle. This is a great way to deep clean that dishwasher every 6 months or so.

Ok! I hope this helps!! Happy Spring Cleaning & Green Cleaning!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My Travel Go-To's

Hi all! So if y'all know me at all, you know I travel a lot! I travel for work (a lot!) and I love to go on family vacations & quick little mini-vacations with my husband. I pretty much go to the same places around the region for my job, but sometimes this job will throw you a curve ball and you'll end up in places I never would have thought! Or, I end up in places that aren't exactly in my southern territory, but I'll totally take it! I'm always up for a travel adventure. If you have the opportunity, go for it! I love to take advantage of the scenery while traveling and the food! 

Every time I travel I love to research where to eat & where the nearest Whole Foods is, lol. I kid you not-I MUST go to the Whole Foods wherever I'm at! I just love it! I love checking out each & every Whole Foods I'm near. If Corey's with me, we run through it faster and get fun new snacks and goodies. If I'm by myself, well that's my night! I will stroll through each aisle one at a time at a turtle's pace. I just love it! Anywho, I'm going off subject. 

So, I really try to focus on the positives of travel because let's face it, you have to! There's not a ton of downsides, but traveling a lot can be testing to your patience and stressful! For the longest time I would keep an entire giant bag just stocked with all the beauty samples I had collected and basically I just used what was in there. Never really restocked or made sure I had enough of certain products, just went with it. That didn't work so well. Things didn't react well with my skin or I was missing products in my regimen, it just called for a breakout. When I travel anyways my skin tends to breakout and be a little blotchy so really just digging in my giant bag 'o beauty samples was quite risky and not really the smartest move. Plus, I really wanted to focus on keeping my products non-toxic and most of my samples were not. My skin was just going through enough traveling, we didn't need to also use it as a test dummy for new chemical-heavy products as well.

My next move was literally unpacking and packing all my products every time I left for work and every time I came home. First problem is this-packing full sized beauty products it's risky. They break, they leak, you leave them behind-it sucks. Next issue-I had to pack and unpack pretty much 2 times a week at minimum, that sucks. 

After all these years traveling you think I would have the hang of it by now. But I have finally conquered my travel Skincare regimen! Since I go to lots of Whole Foods for my job as a beauty expert for Juice Beauty I get to visit my beloved Whole Foods a lot! Yes, I work in Whole Foods and I STILL go into Whole Foods during my free time. Do what makes you happy people! So, since I've been able to frequent Whole Foods more I really love to test out their travel-sized products just for trial. It's easier to commit to a travel size while in the testing stage. So, I've tried out a lot of items and here are my fave travel go-to's!

Preserve Toothbrush-this was maybe $3 at Whole Foods. I love this toothbrush and the handle is made from recycled yogurt cups! Plus, the angle of the toothbrush hits those hard to reach teethies in the back! This brush also has a 3 level bristle lay out so it's good on the gums too! The toothbrush is completely recyclable (they have a recycle program) and you're minimizing your impact on the environment! 

www.preserveproducts.com

Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk-this is a great makeup removing cleansing milk. I have sample sizes (thank you awesome job) so I take these little samples with me when I travel. If you want some samples, come see me ;-) anyways, this is a great milky cleanser, it's not too harsh or drying and it gets makeup, dirt, debris, and the day off your skin. Next I like to follow with a gel cleanser because I am a firm believer in a double cleanse (first use a heavier cleanser to remove surface dirt & makeup, next use cleanser of your choice to really get a good deep clean)I use this milk cleanser all the time! It's one of Juice Beauty's top sellers and it's a great universal makeup removing cleanser. Gentle enough for all skin types! $22 for full size cleanser (6.75 oz) sold at Whole Foods

www.juicebeauty.com

Everly Powdered Drink Mixes-these are all natural, sugar free, 0-5 calorie drink mixes. I try to drink TONS of water when I travel and these little packets make it way easier to drink lots of water. I just mixes things up a bit! I have little sample packs, I have no idea where I got them, but if you go to their website, www.goeverly.com, you can get a free pouch of Everly if you refer a friend (they get a $5 off coupon) and if they buy something-you get a free pouch! So partner up with a friend and get y'all some free Everly powder! They come in easy to travel pouches with a twist off top, super convenient. Plus-every pouch sold, Everly gives a treatment of life-saving rehydration salts through ColaLife. ColaLife provides packets of rehydration mixes (oral rehydration salts) to mothers in rural Zambia. These moms use these mixes to treat their babies when they're sick to save them from dehydration. $12.50 for a 30 serving pouch. Also have energy mixes (I haven't tried those yet) $12.50 or 20 servings

www.goeverly.com

EO Products Certified Organic Deodorant Wipes in Tea Tree and Peppermint-I love these things!!!! Not even a $1 at Whole Foods for a single packet, these babies come in handy! I'm up close and personal doing makeup and facials so I have to smell fresh. But, using organic, all natural deodorant is a freakin crap shoot! Most of the time it works great but sometimes it fails you and these are so handy for that situation. I keep these in my purse and all you do is open the packet and it's like a wet wipe. It cleans and has deodorant all in one! Total lifesaver! Great for camping as well!

www.eoproducts.com

Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate-yes I know I'm talking about Juice Beauty again but this eye cream is AMAZING!!! It lifts & firms-smoothes fine lines & wrinkles-helps with dark circles. I mean what else do you need??? It's lightweight and just feels amazing. A little goes a long way & this is a must when you don't get the best sleep in a hotel (which happens often). It keeps my under eyes hydrated but not too slick where your concealer slips off. This eye cream is jam-packed with organic grape & carrot juices, essential fatty acids, and vitamins B5, C, and P for hydration. It's amazing you guys! 

$30 (.5oz) sold at Whole Foods

www.juicebeauty.com

Dr.Bronners 18-in-1 Pure-Castile Liquid Soap-this stuff is life!!!! I'm going to write an entire blog for this product next. But I'll just give a quick blurb about it-it's awesome, you can use it for anything. Literally-face, hair, food, dishes, pets, toothpaste (I don't suggest that one though!), and cleaning your home. I could go on & on. I use this as my face wash (after my cleansing milk) and I use this as my body wash. Such a fantastic Multi-use product. There's literally a million things you can do with this! It's definitely a travel must-have seeing that it can do so many things! I love all the scents as well! My usual go-to's are peppermint, or the citrus scent! $4.50 (4oz) sold at Whole Foods, Target

www.drbronner.com

Radius Cranberry Floss-here's a fun fact, I floss my teeth about 2-3 times a day. I just have to! So I NEED floss everywhere I go! This one glides easy and it's cranberry and has xylitol-still not 100% sure what xylitol is or does but I always see it in big letters whenever a product contains it, so I'm assuming it's good?? That's kinda an exaggeration, I know I've researched xylitol and I know it's ok, I just can't remember all the details lol. But, I also don't know why it's cranberry flavored either, but this floss is a winner in my mind. Easy glide, easy travel, and it's great. Radius takes a holistic approach on all their products & make sure their decisions in production are sustainable, and can reduce their carbon footprint. $3 sold at Whole Foods

www.madebyradius.com

EO Products Botanical Hand Sanitizer-I love this spray. It smells good and it's so convenient. My favorite scent is coconut & lemon, and it smells so yummy. These sanitizer sprays aren't made with any harsh chemicals, and recycled packaging. You can use this spray to clean surfaces too. Like the remote at the hotel, your yoga mat, shoes, use it to refresh anything! Dab some on a blemish (the lavender spray is great for that). You can use it as a deodorant. Good for stains! Especially if you spill in the car (happens all the time when I travel). Cleans surfaces like your phone, glass, mirrors. This little spray is one of my favorites. $3 (2oz) sold at Whole Foods 

www.eoproducts.com

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer-I know, I know. I'm back on Juice Beauty but it's that good!! This line has been the easiest line to transition into organic beauty but also it's so easy to use for so many different skin situations. These products I've mentioned here really can span from a large rangers skin types and issues. The eye cream is universal. The cleansing milk is great as just a makeup remover or a cleanser for dry skin. This moisturizer is great while I travel! I tend to breakout when I travel, but I also feel very dehydrated when I travel so this is the perfect moisturizer for that. It hydrates & restores with it's juice beauty blend (aloe, grape & apple juice blend instead of water like other products). So no matter if you use the oil-free moisturizer, you're still getting huge doses of antioxidants, hydration, and moisture. I'm pretty normal-to-dry but more towards dry, but I still breakout...my skin is a complex beast. What I like most about this moisturizer is it keeps my skin clear because it's not too heavy and loaded down with ingredients that can clog my pores, but it still hydrates my skin. It's truly the perfect balance for whatever your skin is feeling at that time. $30 (2oz) sold at Whole Foods

www.juicebeauty.com

I hope you check out these beauties! These are some of my favorite staples when I travel & when I'm at home. Plus, most of these products are Eco-friendly or give back to the environment or help people in need. These are products with a purpose and multipurpose which I love! I hope y'all enjoy!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Just Do It!

I know that this saying has been used somewhere before...can't put my finger on it though. I'm just kidding! I know this is Nike, but it's the saying that kept looping through my brain last night. 

I got home after some work and me and Corey have really been into finding things to watch that either-a) spark our creativity, b) inspire us to follow our goals and dreams, c) help us pinpoint our goals and dreams, d) make us laugh. So, we watched Chef's Table on Netflix. The first episode is about chef Massimo Bottura and his story from a rocky beginning to now being the owner of a three-Michelin-star restaurant. 

When I first started watching it, it shows modern time. He owns the kitchen and you can see his confidence shine through. I watch him, and all I think is, "wow, I want to have that kind of confidence in my passion. I want to own a room and just have my passion flow through me." You see him as just this powerful, confident, strong, chef that has it all figured out. But then they go through his journey and it's one of those realizations of, "HEEELLLLOOOO!!!!! He worked his ass off for this & it did NOT come easy!" Just like most powerfully inspiring stories, his had the early naive years, the tough times, the weak times, the times you wanted to quit, the numerous times  you get rejected, and then when you think it's all lost...POOF! Curve ball! And viola! You've made it!

I had no idea while watching the beginning of this documentary that this man had pissed off his entire town he lived in because of his "crazy" ways of creating Italian dishes. You would never know this man was mocked for his style & literally made the front pages of magazines and newspapers ripping apart his food. You just don't see that, but it happened. It made me realize that even these people that "have it all" still had to work for it. And something that rewarding will come with tough times and a lot of hard work. 

What I like about his is this-he's not some reality star who just randomly became famous for being who they are. He went through the ringer and succeeded and that's what's different from him and these "other celebrities." You can see that with him. You are immediately in awe of his presence, you can tell this man knows & loves what he's doing. He is meant to be a chef and it's really exciting to witness this act of fate. 

While watching this, I'm continually inspired. It helps me whittle down exactly what I want to do & who I want to be. It truly shows me, I love the beauty world & it oddly gave me a boost of confidence. I'm watching this documentary and I'm listening to his story of his childhood memory of the kitchen & cooking & how oddly serendipitous it is that he is a chef and it was like it was all laid in place for him. But it wasn't. Yes, these childhood memories make it seem like it was crystal clear, but he still had to work like a maniac to become successful. All these stories about him hiding under the kitchen table & talking about his grandma rolled pasta, it's beautiful & it just takes me back to all these funny signs I had growing up and how blatantly obvious it was that I should be in the beauty field, yet I had the hardest time trying to figure out what to do for a living. Hell, up until this year did I stop trying to run away from this field! Why couldn't I just accept my fate & my passion & go with it? I don't know. It's just not that easy when what you love & what you do for a living isn't a "normal" job. 

But watching this documentary made me feel more concrete in my passion & my future. His childhood memories about food & cooking really reminded me of all my funny memories that connect me to what I do today. At 7 I had a face cleansing brush from The Body Shop and I used it to cleanse my face religiously! From a very young age, I reveled in the compliments of my porcelain doll skin, lol. I'm ridiculous! In junior high,looking through YM magazine and practicing makeup looks from the CoverGirl ads were my refuge from not being the prettiest & not feeling pretty or "popular" in any way. In high school, I would book makeup appointments for my friends for our proms, I know, I said it already-I'm ridiculous! In college I remember "shaping" a boyfriend's brows all the time. I mean geez! It's like this profession was right in front of me! Yet I still questioned it all the time! Sometimes I still do. 

But this documentary made me realize it's scary to follow your passion. I'm not the only person who questions their path or their purpose. I'm not the only one who struggles with stability or money & just has to take that leap of faith that it's all going to work out (which here's a little secret-if you follow your passion-it always works out!). I'm not the only one who's family and friends don't get their job or understand what they're doing or going to do. I'm not the only one who has sacrificed a lot to get to where they're going. Massimo Bottura didn't breeze through life either. The man worked for his success and it's so inspiring to watch. 

With all that being said, while I'm watching this documentary I keep thinking about what I want, what my goals are, and what I need to do to get there. I love traveling with brands and representing these amazing lines. I love getting to meet all these amazing customers from all over & getting to hear their stories and getting to make them feel good & pretty & important. I love building relationships with the people that work at all these events that I get to see regularly. I love helping & teaching people about what their skin needs an how to apply makeup. I love helping people find the right regimen for their skin & helping them love their skin! I also really, really love sharing my Skincare, makeup & product knowledge with people that want to learn-hence the blog. Forever I have told myself, "I need to find a local magazine, online or paper, and write for them." I know so much about beauty & I want to share that. But for some reason I felt like I needed to work for somebody else. I needed to work for some other magazine, newspaper, or blogger. But last night while watching that documentary I heard, "just do it" over & over in my mind and I'm like, "ok!" Lol, it was really that simple all of a sudden. 

I realized I have a blog! I don't need somebody else to tell me what to write for them. I don't need somebody else to tell me I'm relevant enough to write for them. I am relevant enough & I will share it my damn self! I know it seems silly since I already do have a blog. But I've held back so much because I didn't feel like a "real" blogger for some reason. I don't know what kind of recognition I needed or who's approval I was waiting for. But last night it dawned on me. I'm so hard on myself & I'm rarely happy with what I do or the outcome of a lot of my work. But one thing I know I am good at & what I'm meant to do on this earth is to share my love, passion, knowledge & excitement about skin & beauty. So what's holding me back???? Myself. And that's not going to happen anymore. I'm not going to wait for this big blog to want me, or that big magazine or newspaper to consider me. I'm just going to do it myself. I can't keep talking myself out of it. I want to share things but sometimes I worry that I look like I'm trying to be something else, or I'm trying to act cool or like I'm some beauty know-it-all. I talk myself out of so much because of my own doubts & critiques. So, I'm going to have to remind myself that this is what I want, this is what I'm good at, and this is what I'm meant to do.

Hang tight folks, I'm ready to share so much!!! Just do it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad