Get that Glow, naturally and clean!

Today we are getting into self tanners. I would like to say, I'm quite seasoned in all sorts of tanning. I did professional spray tanning for over 10 years, built an entire business on tanning all the folks in the country music scene here in Nashville. As a teen in the 2000's I did enough damage to my skin to live in fear of a tanning bed and laying out in the sun nowadays. But, I do love a nice glow to the skin. I have used SO many tanners. I used the good, the bad, and the ugly! I used one once that made me look like I had a green tint and had to leave it on for 24 hours and then wash off to reveal a dark, golden glow, that still did not look natural. I have smelled and sacrificed many sheets sleeping with these tanners on. Some work, some didn't. The ingredients in self tanners that I used make me shudder to even think about it. 

Self tanners definitely have improved over the years but there is one big thing I had a problem with. Even when I spray tanned my own clients I still lacked in this department- hydration! You had to sacrifice your skin's hydration for a tan. And I really hate that! I tend to be on the dry side anyways, so not putting lotion on even once after showering is not fun for me. I can just feel my skin getting drier by the second!

But I am here today to tell you- there is hope! There a clean, naturally beautiful, hydrating self tanner out there! With lots of options! Beauty By Earth is a clean brand with high standards and I really love everything about them! I have been using their tanning lotions and mouse for years and it just works! It smells good, it has fantastic ingredients, it gives a beautiful glow that you can get from one use or you can layer to get a darker, buildable glow. And!! It hydrates!! You are getting beauty benefits while tanning. Can you ask for more?? Let's go over all the options shall we?

First off I have to say- all Beauty By Earth tanners have zero dyes, synthetics fragrances, parabens, or fillers. They are made with vegan ingredients. They are leaping bunny certified, powered by clean air, minimal waste, clean ingredients only, recyclable packaging, and plastic neutral partnership.  

Self Tanner Drops- I love this concept. It's easy to add into your skincare and body-care routine. You don't change a thing- just add a couple drops into your moisturizer and you're good to go. Another thing I love about it? You can really customize this one. The more drops, the darker it is. The more often you add it into your moisturizer, the darker you get. Easy. 

Mousse- I love a mousse. These are super easy to apply and I find that a mousse gives you more color quicker! This mousse smells amazing, dries quick! It's my fave!

Lotions- This option is great when you really want to build a tan or if you're quite fair. Plus, if you find tanners fade quick because you're so dry- this is the one for you! This lotion adds so much hydration on top of a beautiful, buildable tan. 

**I also love that Beauty By Earth has a face specific lotion for tanning. This doesn't clog pores, it has anti-aging ingredients and tans?? You know I love a good multipurpose product and this is it!!

Face Tanner Serum- This is so easy to apply to the face and add a glow. But hear this- if you're new to tanning the face use the face tanning lotion! But if you're a seasoned pro like I am- the serum is fantastic! You throw this on before your moisturizer or face oil and you're good to go!

Self Tanning Water Mist- Y'all,  I love this. Spraying this mist on the face is one of the easiest ways to get a glow. I still use all the products above for different purposes, but if I ever feel like I need a little boost of color on the face or, I have used a product that has gotten my tanner to fade faster on my face (which lots of products do!) this mist is perfect! Our faces tend to turn the skin cells over faster anyways due to our regenerating products, exfoliations, etc so this mist is the perfect fit to keep that glow!

And the biggest thing of all-- Beauty by Earth has high standards in their products and ingredients and they do so much good for our Earth. What more can you ask for? 

Check them out here: https://beautybyearth.com/?sca_ref=1412266.RMtuDjurOX

use "naturallytruebeauty12"for a discount too! 

Ok, a little preface here. So, I have been working on this blog post for over a year and a half. The pictures I'm going to attempt to share (I'm not very good with computers, lol) are almost 2 years old. I have a passion for wanting to inspire and influence girls to love and appreciate their bodies. I have had a long, long journey with this and it's a true calling of mine to change how we perceive "beauty." I want to inspire and encourage women to love themselves and not be influenced by Hollywood, celebrities, society, and the media. But honestly, I have a hard time practicing what I preach. That's why this blog post has been in the works for years. For one, it's so scary to put yourself out there, even if it is something you're passionate about. Second, it's scary to actually admit and put into words things you have gone through. But after today's fire that was lit, all because of one of those damn Kardashians sharing a lollipop appetite suppressant, I'm ready. I'm tired of getting angry and wanting to make a change but then being held back by being scared or uncomfortable about sharing something I'm so passionate about.

Something needs to be done & I'm ready to share my story, my journey, and I hope this makes you feel like you're not alone, and hopefully inspire you to want to share only truth, love, and passion to others (especially other females), and let's really make a difference.

Hi all! I hope all is well! This blog is going to be super personal and I'm excited and honestly, a little scared to write it. This is something I am very passionate about. The majority of my life I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be a fashion designer, the next Vera Wang, a big event planner, a news anchor, a model, a dancer on Broadway, a Rockette. Deep down out of all these careers I wanted to inspire girls. I wanted to inspire girls that they could do whatever they wanted and succeed. But my main goal was I wanted girls & women to love themselves. The older I have gotten the more I realize I do not need to be famous to inspire. That's where my blogging comes in. I don't blog because I think I'm a know-it-all. I blog because I want to share what I know and hopefully help or inspire even just 1 person. Majority of my blog focuses on health, beauty, recipes, beauty foods, beauty products, skincare knowledge, all that good stuff. But, what I also want to write about is something that means so much to me. I have a huge passion for helping us women realize that we are beautiful just the way we are. Every single year I challenge myself to love my body & love who I am. I'm tired of wasting my life feeling fat, uncomfortable with my body, unhappy with how I look, and constantly bashing myself. I literally have done this for over my life. There is so much more to life than worrying about getting that perfect body.

I have been a wide range of body shapes and sizes in my 33 years of living. I was this chubby little girl with glasses growing up. Until around 6th grade I turned into this tall, lanky girl. I even remember instances, at 11 years old, where I would be at church and people would see me, now tall and lanky, and say, "wow! you look totally different from your church directory picture."Or, "man, compared to that picture, you're just going to get better with age." Umm..who says this to an 11 year old? From a very young age I realized looks were tops. And unfortunately looks were all that seemed to matter. I turned into that awkward junior high stage, but really got into ballet, tap, and jazz. Wearing a leotard all the time and being around mirrors REALLY makes you aware of your body. You're in a class with a very wide range of ages as well. I was in my little awkward phase at the time, but just looking up to these older girls in the class and I remember thinking how amazing it would be to look like them one day. I wanted the pretty silky hair, the flawless skin, and their perfect figure. Let's throw in spandex leotards and midriff baring dance recital costumes and that really sent me into a tizzy. We would get our dance costumes and I would stress and cry about how awful I looked in the costume. I was like 12!! How does this happen? Why should any little girl feel like that. I'm not blaming dance. I loved dancing. I think it instilled so much more than a very skewed body image issue. But, for this blog and this subject, it's just what I dealt with. Then I moved into high school. The first few years I was just trying to get by and figure out my way through our giant high school.  I continued dancing and committed to more extracurricular activities, one of which was color guard marching band which included tons of hours of practice and hard work. I really thinned out and turned into a tall, skinny, cute girl. I noticed I got a lot more attention, from everyone. Family members, friends, boys, strangers, family friends, church members, whoever was around would make notice of how pretty I was. (I'm not bragging here, hang with me) It quickly became an obsession to always be the best. And I noticed the more weight I would lose, the more attention I would get. It became a fast way for me to notice that I got the attention a teenager so needs and desires. I could gauge my weight to the attention I was getting. It actually still haunts me to think how sad that is, and how true it actually was.

At around 16, I was battling with constantly picking myself apart and measuring myself up to every other girl around. It literally would consume my entire thought process, and that's awful. At 16 I am feeling the pressures of what you need to look like, what you need to do, and what size you need to be to get attention, and be perfect. I got the fun little homecoming court stuff, and got the attention. But, I still wasn't happy. I was actually worse off than I am now. When I was super skinny, I was obsessed. Every girl that passed me, I judged myself against her. Every food I ate, I counted calories and I would feel myself getting "bigger." I would stare at myself in the mirror in disgust of what I looked like. I would wish I looked different, like a model. I would sit and compare myself to other girls all day. I was desperate to be thin. It took over my life. I remember just worshiping these celebrities and models. I would buy magazines and just study these models. I would dream and wish to look like them. That's all I wanted, and it just makes me sad. I look back at those days, and all I think now is, "wow, you really wasted a lot of youth on wishful, negative thinking." I beat myself up when I didn't need to. I spent my carefree teen years stressing over my body size. I compared myself to everyone, all the time. I based my importance on my pant size. I was supermodel skinny & still wasn't happy. Happiness comes from the inside. (corny I know, but it's true!) Today, when I look back on my teen years, I do have happy memories but my main memories are based on comparison to others, always looking for a reason to justify eating (yikes guys, that's not good), and having this really unrealistic vision of success, beauty, and the purpose of life.

During my teen years I would workout obsessively and eat maybe 1 can of tuna a day. Not good you guys. I obviously had eating disorder issues and some body image issues. I never admitted it for many years. It went on for many, many years. The stress of relationships, college, dealing with getting into the real world outside of school, controlling my eating and my body was the way to cope. Here I am many, many years later still struggling. I don't starve myself. But, I still am so critical of myself. But here I am at 33. I eat well, because it makes me feel great. I don't control, count, or obsess over what I eat. I focus on balance, living life to the fullest, but also taking care of my body. I workout because it makes me feel good and I should utilize my body to its utmost potential. I do what I do because it's good for me and it's about taking care of yourself. I do all the right things (most of the time, I mean a girl's gotta live life and have a drink and some desserts too) but I believe I live a very healthy balanced life. Yet, now I'm 33 and trying to figure out what a "healthy" Andrea is.

I have studied and grown so much about taking care of yourself and eating right, eating clean, etc. But I pick my body apart. I've realized I am picking myself apart but I don't even know what a healthy Andrea is. The majority of my life I have lived in a controlled, obsessed eating mindset that deprived myself of food, I don't even know what a healthy me is! I don't know what a healthy weight is for me. I don't know what a healthy-looking Andrea is. I have had in my mind of my body when I was in highschool and college for so long, I forgot, I wasn't healthy at all at those times. I'm comparing myself to a completely different person from the teenage Andrea. She wasn't healthy, she was lost, and really confused. That teenage Andrea was in a really unhealthy mindset and I don't think anyone should compare themselves to that kind of person. Where I am now, is ok. It's ok to not be stick thin. It's ok to not wear a size 4. It's ok to eat 3 meals a day and meal prep, and eat clean. But it's also ok to enjoy and indulge once in a while.

I am who I am. And this is me, this is how I look, and this is how my body is. I take care of it, I workout. But it's all a balance. It's not forced, or obsessed over. This is just me & I'm doing the best I can. I need to appreciate and love who I am & what I do for myself. I need to focus on the good, and always be grateful for all I have. And that's beautiful. And that's what makes me happy.

Happiness comes from a grateful heart, a kind heart, a heart that's caring,loving. Happiness comes from not comparing yourself to others and realizing we are all completely different and we are all beautiful. I am loving that we are at the point of celebrating plus sized models. It makes me feel so good to know that the definition of beauty is changing in society. I love that magazines are highlighting the beautiful women that scream , "Look at me! I'm not the "norm" and I'm freakin beautiful!" We still do have a long way to go though. I do too. That's why us women gotta stick together and help one another & encourage one another. My age range is tough. We grew up in the time of all these celebrity and models being unrealistically skinny. Not only did we grow up in a very societal idea of what we are supposed to do, be, and look like. We grew up with our older generation having this same mindset. Let's not pass this on. We are on the verge of some major changes in how society views women, beauty, what's "perfect," bodies, health, lifestyle, etc.

We need to continue to share our stories as scary as they may be. We need to stand up for what we believe in. And sometimes we need to call some things out when they're not ok. Because keeping our mouths shut isn't going to help either. The media, society, and unfortunately a lot of our younger generation idolizing celebrities and their lifestyles need to be changed. Celebrities are so disconnected from the real world and the almighty dollar really controls their lives and their decisions. I'm sorry, I'm not going to let that influence me. So let's please not let it influence young eyes. We've got to stop supporting these really unhealthy ideals. It's not okay to suck on a lollipop to suppress your appetite. It's not ok to drink a tea that makes you shit all the time to be skinny. It's not ok to workout multiple times a day to lose your baby weight or to look good for an event, it's not ok to share the carrot sticks and celery you're eating for "lunch" to lose weight. We are putting these ideas in our heads that if we don't workout two times a day, or eat 4 carrots then we feel guilty. There should be absolutely no pressure to fit into a runway sized dress, or to lose baby weight ever!There should be pressure to love yourself and take care of yourself, and put yourself #1.

We shouldn't post gym pics as a punishment or a "ehhh I have to workout because I ate such & such yesterday." We should be working out to take care of ourselves and we should be working out because we can move our bodies and we want to take care of them. But, society has given workouts a very negative persona. We think we do it because we splurge on dinner, or we need to weigh a certain weight by such and such time. This is not ok. We need to take care of ourselves and yes, move and lift weights, and do cardio. But not for punishment, but because we want to take care of ourselves. We shouldn't post food pics of how you're depriving yourself. We should share healthy recipes that are good for us and make us feel good. But not limiting ourselves to raw veggies, and water all day. It makes people that are genuinely trying to take care of themselves or eat better feel like shit when you see a celebrity or anybody on social media eating very little and basically making it sound like this is what you do to look a certain way. That's not ok.

We have to remind ourselves that what we see in pics, on social media, and on tv aren't real. All these images have been touched up more than we can ever imagine. Nobody has flawless, perfect skin. None of these girls asses don't have dimples and cellulite in them. It's just not real. There is a person using software to change how they look, thin things out, lighten & brighten, and smooth. We have to constantly keep reminding ourselves, that's not real. Literally, everything down to that person is not real. Most likely even that celebrity they are photo shopping is so detached from reality, they don't even know who they are anymore. And that's sad & that's not true beauty either.

True beauty are the people who actually have these huge platforms and they're using them to make this world a better place & make a difference. True beauty are the moms out there putting themselves first for once, and wanting to give themselves a workout every once in a while, or a massage, whatever they need to take care of themselves to be better moms. True beauty are women supporting other women. True beauty are people sharing their stories even though it's scary. True beauty is following your passion. True beauty is taking time to figure out who you really are and what your purpose is on this Earth and following it. True beauty is making a difference in the world. True beauty is being kind. True beauty is love. True beauty is out there everywhere, we just have to actually look for it and give that attention. Not this fake beauty that we are distracted by right now.

I did this photo shoot almost 2 years ago with my talented photographer friend Joy. I told her my dreams of inspiring women, putting myself out there to hopefully make them go, "you know what? She doesn't have the body of a super model, but she's putting herself out there & she's doing it. Maybe I should try ...." All I wanted was to share these pics and hopefully inspire others to realize o everyone has a certain body shape or size, and that's ok. You don't have to be a certain size, height, or have a specific look to inspire others. So we took the pics. I received them back. And never shared them because all I did was tear myself apart. I felt like I had grown so much from highschool Andrea, and I went right back there. I went to ripping myself apart, comparison, jealousy, and feeling really stupid for even thinking I could make a difference. And guess what? I didn't do anything about it, so I really didn't make a difference. I just kept going, still with a dream, but not with any motivation.

Well let's fast forward to present time and I've done another photoshoot and with some major pep-talking from my sweet friend Joy. I'm putting myself out there. I'm doing this and I'm going to make a difference. I do not want anybody who gets on my blog or my instagram to feel like they're not good enough, ever. We're getting real and vulnerable here from now on. It's about being real, and being scared, but also putting yourself out there to really bring awareness and make a change. So the pics on this blog are the ones from almost 2 years ago. Joy did a fantastic job taking the pics and I am so grateful and thankful for strong, beautiful friends like her. It's time to put myself out there and let's make a difference. More to come gals!

Micro Needling Easy Users Guide

I'm sure you've heard a lot about micro-needling, or derma rolling. I have had so many people ask questions about this new skin trend and at first, I was skeptical. Honestly, I still am in some ways. I'll elaborate in the coming up paragraphs. But first, let's do a quick breakdown of derma rolling,

Derma rolling is basically hundreds of tiny, little needles that create a controlled wound on your skin. When you create these micro-injuries to your skin, it increases cell reproduction and it helps your skin produce more collagen & elastin. Why do we need to roll needles on our skin? Because this puts your skin into "healing mode." Doing so, it creates pumped up production of collagen and elastin to compensate to this wound & then, viola! Plump, smooth skin! Micro-needling (derma rolling, whichever. I'll probably switch what I call it, but it's the same thing) can help smooth scarring, help the skin plump up for a more youthful appearance, lighten hyperpigmentation, plump lips, and help with under eye puffiness.

I was not really on board with this for the longest. And the reason why is this-multi-level marketing. I totally understand how it works. There's no arguing that it works, if you've ever studied how the skin works But, I just am not 100% confident that anybody and everybody should be promoting this! We need to be very smart about how to correctly use this tool. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure most (some) people know what they're talking about when they're suggesting to roll a toll with needles all over your face. But, you really need to make sure you're consulting some sort of skincare professional. So, buy the tool where you want, but just please use it responsibly.

Not only was a skeptical about the tool, I was skeptical about the procedure you can get done at a dermatologist or skincare studio that provides micro-needling. I'm sure you've seen tons of versions of this procedure done. It can be very scary. My suggestion is if you do it on a professional level-make sure you research and trust where you go! If you purchase a derma roller online-buy it from a reputable source and make sure to read lots of reviews!

Here's the main difference- the tool you can purchase, can only go a certain depth in. So, this will be great as upkeep after doing the microneeding professionally. Or, if you just want a great way to upkeep your skin, give it some rejuvination, and use it as a weekly regimen, I say go for it. Microneedling at a spa is going to be way more in depth. I absolutely love this procedure! I have been trained with SkinPen. We did a lot of research between all the different brands that provide this service, and we really felt comfortable, and really enjoyed the results of the brand SkinPen. This type of wand is pretty fool-proof and researching like we have, I totally trust this brand and will only use them. Basically doing a real, salon service like SkinPen is just a way more amped up version of a derma rolling. But, you have a professional gage how deep into the dermal level that we need to go. You can adjust how deep you go and the specialist can really focus on the issues at hand, This will really bring up redness, cell production, and keep Collagen 1 producing for up to 6 months after the procedure! Doing this procedure will give you dramatic results-fast! There could be some pain (slight sunburn feeling to me) and redness, but it's a pretty serious service, so that usually comes with the territory. So as you can see, it's a very effective, dermal level, service. And the results are so impressive! If you have severe discoloration, scarring, sagging skin, really just need a serious boost-this professional service is for you & its AMAZING!

But, if you cannot find a place near you, you don't feel like your skin needs that serious of a service, or you cannot afford the service (it's pretty pricey) then the derma roller will definitely give your skin a nice little boost.

Ok, here's some pointers-

Some fave derma rollers of mine-
Stacked Skincare Collagen Boosting Microroller $30 (stackedskincare.com)
Glow Girl Cosmetics Roller (prices vary) (glowgirlcosmetics.com)
You can always buy one on amazon, but I say make sure to read the reviews and you're ordering it from a reputable source!

There are different sizes. I would suggest at first-0.3mm or a 0.5, but if you get a 0.5 really ease into this routine! You can find some with different rollers you can take on & off and adjust the depth. You can even use these on stretch marks and cellulite! I would suggest a 0.5 or a 1.0 on the body. But like I said, ease in!

Remember, you can still damage your skin doing this at home, so be safe and go easy!

Make sure you pair your derma roller with a great serum. Y'all know me, I'm a natural gal so I do not use heavy-duty serums like a growth factors or stem cells. But, if you don't mind and you want a serious skin boost-go for it because it'll really amp up your results! It's important to add a serum into your derma rolling routine because it will help your skin absorb these powerful serums up to 90%!!! So, for me, I focus on serums with peptides (major anti-aging ingredients) or hyaluronic acid (holds 1,000 times its weight in moisture!), and  antioxidants. Ingredients to avoid while micro needling-retinols (before you roll) or vitamin c's.

Ok, first thing you want to do before you start aerating your face is exfoliate! I like to do a little scrub (MyChelle Sugar Scrub is my fave) then you can do a little chemical exfoliation of some sort. You can do a chemical peel or a fruit enzyme. Fruit enzymes are my absolute favorite!
A few favorites-
MyChelle Fruit Fiesta Peel (mychelle.com)
Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask (tataharperskincare.com)
Chantecaille Hibiscus Smoothing Mask (chantecaille.com)

Ok, next-serum! Apply 1 layer on to skin.

Now-take your derma roller and gently (gentle people!) roll over your skin. You can roll up & down, side to side, diagonally. Do 2 passes. You can tell you're doing it correctly when you see a slight flush to the skin. Not bright-red, and bleeding. Just a little flush. We want our skin to have blood flow come up to the surface, not break the surface. So go gentle, pass over twice, you'll look slightly pink.
I hit my neck, but go even more gentle here. You can go under eyes, but only on the orbital bone-no closer! And do not hit the eye lids! You can go over your lips too!

Next-add another layer of serum on top! If you want (and you're not super sensitive or this isn't your first time using this roller, and only at night, you can add a retinol-my fave MyChelle Remarkable Retinal Serum-it's safe & non-toxic!) My favorite serums to use-
Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum (juicebeauty.com)
MyChelle Apple Brightening Serum (mychelle.com)
MyChelle Ultra Hyaluronic Serum (mychelle.com)
MyChelle G2 Instant Firming Serum (mychelle.com)
MyChelle Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum (mychelle.com)

Can you tell I like MyChelle products? Ha! I mean, they all work so well!! When it's good, it's good!

If you're hitting the roller on your orbital bone and lips, apply a nice, gentle eye cream & a hydrating lip balm!

After the serums, apply a moisturizer & you're set!

You can derma roll a few times a week if you would like. It's completely up to you! I would suggest at least once a week. To clean, I spray alcohol on mine and replace it often!

Also, if you need a visual-hop on to my instagram and watch my video tutorial on how to do it!

 Enjoy and Happy Rolling!

Dairy-Free Living

Hi all! I hope your 2018 has been well so far! Mine has definitely had its ups and downs already! I have seen this meme popping up around social media and let's just say, I completely stand for this and 100% agree.

I totally believe in fresh starts, and new year, new goals. But I also don't think at the strike of midnight on New Years, that you magically feel motivated and ready to go either. Sometimes, I think it's best to just feel it out for a bit. Wait & breathe. That's how January was for me. There is so much going on, so many great opportunities, and I just need a moment to figure it all out! So, here we go February let's do this! So, one thing I'm wanting to work on is eliminating dairy from my diet. (By the way, I hate the word diet, I don't "diet" I like to eat as clean as possible, but the word lifestyle didn't flow. So, diet is the only word I think will work on this one.) Not 100% all the time. But, for the most part. Here we go-


Ok, don't let the title fool you. I'm not dairy free yet. But I'm trying. I am being realistic though. My theory on life is, it's too short. You gotta enjoy everything! So, while I'm home I will eat dairy free. But, if there's a charcuterie board in front of me and I'm enjoying some wine with friends-I will enjoy it. Mexican food-queso is just going to happen. Family events-I'm not going to make them substitute dairy on my expense. If I'm in France, I'm going to chow down on some bread and cheese. But, how often am I at a Mexican restaurant or in France. It's not often, it's all about balance & moderation. You get what I'm saying?

So, while I'm at home enjoying my tea or coffee I will chose to go dairy free. But, I have had the hardest time!! I can make a vegan ranch, I can enjoy a vegan cheese. But why has coffee creamer been so difficult???? I think it's a combo of flavor & texture. It's like dairy free creamers are like water. No good. I want a creamy aspect to be added to my coffee. And I haven't found many dairy free creamers that add this to my coffee. Another issue-flavor. I just feel like most dairy free creamers have this odd fake sweetener flavor that I'm not up for.

I have tried maybe 2 non dairy creamers that will do. And I mean that, they will do. They don't make me want to throw my half & half in the trash can and do a victory dance though. So, here's the two I can handle in a pinch-

 Ripple is from Target. Like I said, it'll do. It's still not my favorite substitute. But, if I'm at Target, trying to cut those trips down in 2018 as well, I will buy it to avoid another grocery store stop. But, my #1 creamer go-to is this beauty right here-

 Califia has great non-dairy products. I love pretty much everything they make! They have great flavored options as well! This right here though is my fave. I don't like a flavored coffee. I just like to add a creamy aspect to it so this right here is wonderful. It's good. It will definitely do. Some days when I don't feel like busting out the milk frother, this is my go to. It's convenient & delicious. Still on those lazy mornings when I want to really relax and indulge in a latte-like coffee, this doesn't foam up when I put it in my frother. So, your good regular mornings where you need your coffee & run-this is a win! If you want this foamy, frothy yumminess like this

This is what you need to get-

I buy mine on amazon. And as you can see, it is $13.39 to be exact. So, I read an article about this new non-dairy creamer option on Well & Good, so of course I hopped on the blog to read about it. They were talking about coconut cream powder. I went straight to amazon to get some! I didn't find as many options of coconut cream powder, and the ones I found were waaaaay too much. I think I found 6-1.76 oz. packs for $14. This bag right here is a pound for $13. So I went for the coconut milk powder instead of the coconut cream powder. I think the coconut milk powder still adds a great amount of creaminess to my coffee so I'm sticking with this one until I can find a coconut cream powder that is even close to this amount for that price! I will say, I have seen a few more articles about the coconut cream powder, so maybe we will see more options pop up soon! But for now, I'm sticking with this!

How I make it- super simple you guys! I get my coffee going, while that's going I add a splash of almond, cashew, or coconut milk into my frother. Whatever non-dairy option you want will do. Hell, if you want to add some non-dairy creamer in your milk frother go for it! So, add enough milk to the bottom of the frother to fill about 1/4 up from the fill line. Then I add about 1 tablespoon of the coconut milk creamer to the cup and really make sure you mix it up to get rid of clumps. The package comes pretty much vacuum sealed, so when I get mine, I get a big glass jar with a tight-sealing lid, and i break up all the powder and put it in the jar! Makes for an easy-access situation. So once you mix the powder with the non-dairy milk, press the on button on your frother and bam! you're done! So simple!! Plus, it's the best latte ever! I like it more than the coffee shops! Here's my frother and my fave coffee!

 This milk frother is awesome!! We received the entire Starbucks Verismo system for Christmas a few years ago and just love it! This little baby really makes a coffee special!

This is my favorite coffee ever!!! I really stretch this coffee by mixing 2-3 scoops into just my regular organic coffee I use. I tend to not love flavored coffee but this one right here is amazing! I discovered it while I was working a La Mer facial trip in Jackson, Mississippi. I fell in love with this flavor and their Southern Pecan. I drank at least 2 cups a day, lol, while I was working in Jackson. I was so sad to part with this coffee I looked it up and found that this coffee is from Memphis! Now, whenever I drive to Little Rock, or Jackson for work, Corey and I take a little stop in Memphis to stock up on our favorite coffees to take home, and we always order a coffee for the road! This is sometimes at Kroger here in Nashville. But it's not consistent so I have no idea where to lead you. But, check out their instagram @uglymugcoffeetn and their website! They always have great deals going on!

Ok, I hope this helps in your dairy free coffee creamer journey! I will keep sharing my dairy free wins on my instagram as well! @naturallytruebeauty

Lots of love!
  Andy

Self Care tip

Hi All!! I hope 2018 has been treating you well so far! So far, so good over here! I have been working on a great vision book, no more vision boards. We have upgraded. So now I can take it with me everywhere I go and also take notes & adjust my goals and visions. It's a great way to really break down all your goals as well, and really get into detail with your dreams. I feel like when it comes to goals and visions-details are the best! It will really help you visualize exactly what you want!

Ok, here's a quick blog on a subject I'm sure a lot of you are wanting to work on. SELF CARE! Here is one of my most favorite ways to self care. It's so good for you, and the health benefits are superb. So let's get started!

Dry Brushing. I know you have been hearing about this A LOT. Dry brushing has been around for ages. But, within the last year I have really been hearing all about the buzz of dry brushing. I was introduced to dry brushing about 5 years ago when I was doing a beauty event for La Mer skincare and we did a dry brush event. Let me tell you, 5 years ago people were not too keen on me scrubbing them with a dry brush. .They were very confused. But now, I bet you they're all bragging about it. "Oh I did dry brushing 5 years ago.." you know how that goes.

Anywho, it's a real beauty buzz word and I really hope this one sticks! It's easy to do. It kinda forces you to take even  just a moment and do a little self care on you. And the benefits are wonderful.

Here's what you do-

Get you a simple scrub brush, One of those brushes you see for scrubbing your back. Buy it! Make sure it has firm, natural bristles. Nowadays you can also find a brush dedicated to dry brushing. Get you one that has a detachable handle.

Next, take a moment of your life. Stop, take a break, and give yourself some me time. Easy right?

You want to do this before you shower. So get the brush, start at your feet. I start at the very bottoms of my feet and do short strokes upward.

*Remember* you want to do all your strokes TOWARDS your heart!

Long, smooth strokes are the key! Focus each area around 10 times, Always brush towards chest/heart

So, start at the feet and do upward strokes towards the heart. Slowly go around your feet, your ankles, go up your legs slowly and move on up. You never want to go back down where you've been so make sure you hit all areas of your leg and move upward. Do each leg, and you're set!

Next-I do stomach. Do circular, clockwise strokes UPWARD towards the heart. I start at my lower abdomen and move up to about where your bra would hit.

Then do the arms-I start at the palms, and do strokes towards the heart. Move from the palms, to the hands, to the wrists, forearms, and move upward. When you get to your shoulders just do light brushes towards heart on chest.

Done! So easy!

Next shower. Hop out of shower &  load yourself down with a moisturizer. I like to use the specific oil geared towards my dosha in ayurveda. So I use a coconut oil based moisturizer. Done!

While I'm dry brushing and showering I really amp up my self care regimen by putting on a mask. Just let that baby set while you're doing all this. Done! Full body love!

Here's the benefits

Main benefit to dry brushing is that it increases circulation to the skin. This can reduce the appearance of cellulite. Enough said-where's my dry brush?

Dry brushing is a super effective way to shed dead skin cells. Which in turn means-smooth, glowing skin!

It truly is like an anti-aging service to your skin. The dry brush will remove dead skin cells which also helps pep up your cells to reproduce fresh, new, plump skin cells.

Dry brushing helps with lymphatic drainage and improving your blood circulation.

You get a really clean slate when you dry brush. When you dry brush you clear oil, dirt, and debris from your pores.

Dry brushing is a great energy boost! Do it in the morning and it will really get your day started right!

Dry brushing is a great detox! By releasing the toxins when you dry brush, it encourages the body to discharge waste so your body will be more effective.

Dry brushing helps with muscle tone.

Rejuvenates the nervous system.



**do not dry brush if you have sun burned skin, inflamed skin, sores, or skin cancer**

Hi all! I wanted to do a quick, last-minute holiday gift guide! I am a beauty expert for one of my favorite non-toxic skincare lines ever, called MyChelle Dermaceuricals. I was working a beauty event  on Friday at the Whole Body here in Nashville and while I was there I snapped some photos of some great last-minute holiday gifts, but also some of my all-time favorite, natural beauty products! All these are safe, effective, non-toxic, and do not test on animals! Not only are these safe for you, the environment, and our bodies, they’re also so affordable!!! I don’t think it’s necessary to break the bank for a fancy gift. Just put some time & effort into finding a useful gift that also does good for this Earth we live on. So here’s the list! If you want pictures of each item, go to my Instagram story for snaps of all my fave affordable, non toxic, holiday gifts!

For the Body-

Body Lotions

For the girlie girl-
Andalou Naturals Body Lotion $10-Andalou is a fantastic Non-GMO line that doesn’t even work with countries who test on animals! I can really appreciate that! Their scents in every single body lotion is so yummy (trust me, I’ve tried every single one of them!) & they leave your skin feeling silky, not sticky!

For the purist or fellow on your shopping list-
Everyone Lotion $11- I love this brand & this product because it’s all about functionality. It’s a hand, face & body lotion-so this just works! It’s super light-weight and all the scents are light and unisex. My husband loves this brand so much! I also love it as well, and I also love their multi-purpose body washes as well! 

For the philanthropist/caring person on your list-
Alaffia Everyday Coconut or Everyday Shea Body Lotions $12- This brand is one of my faves! I love their skincare & body products! This brand is all about giving back. Alaffia has multiple co-ops in Togo, West Africa and they are all about helping the women there. Proceeds go to building schools, providing bikes for girls to transport to school, they encourage women to become entrepreneurs and practice their skills to make a living. I love that they also stick to age-old traditions of Shea butter harvest & products.

For baby-
Alaffia Everyday Coconut Shampoo & Body Wash,  Everyday Coconut Hair & Body Lotion, and Everyday Coconut Bubble Bath $10- As I said in the paragraph above, Alaffia does so much good and their ingredients are safe & clean. You especially don’t want to start loading your baby down with toxins and chemicals, so you might as well give them the best while doing good for others! Sweet packaging and soothing, sensitive scents for baby!


Luxury gifts

For the trendy girl-
Eco Tools Dry Brush $5.50- Dry brushing is so trendy & so good for you! If you have one of those friends who always has her finger on the pulse of health trends-this is the gift for them! Simply use this before a shower (brush towards the heart!) and hop in the shower and load up with a luxurious body cream (geared towards their dosha if their really into Ayurvedic living!-I’ll write a post with more in-depth info on that next!) dry brushing has so many benefits and it’s a great, fun, and functional gift!

Egyptian Magic $40-This is one of my favorite products ever!!! This is probably one of my first all-natural skincare products I tried YEARS ago! It can be used as a face cream, a balm for dry patches, it’s great for eczema, psoriasis, sensitive skin, cuticles, anything!! Minimal ingredients and so effective!

Hydroflask (prices vary depending on size)- I love these so much! Corey and I have different sizes and different colors for all the drinks we need! Good for the environment because it eliminates so much paper waste from cups, and it keeps drinks cold & hot for HOURS!! So it also cuts down on reheating drinks! Love them!

Be sure to go on to my instagram to check out a few extras! @Naturallytruebeauty

Don't Need a New Year for a New Start

Hi all!! I hope everyone has had a great holiday season! I have had a good one so far. Things have just flown by and I've had to stop and tell myself to slow down & enjoy the ride. I'm not going to make this long because, let's be honest-right now, none of us has a ton of time to read a super long blog post. So here's the deal-

I know we always talk about "new year, new you" and I am totally for that. I love a fresh start! But I have found myself in this horrible mindset lately. My mindset is very much unhappy with all the holiday junk I've been eating, I've been too busy working during this holiday season to enjoy what it's all about, and I've been so focused on work and to-do's that I am not making any time for myself. I'm not meditating, I'm not working out, I'm not doing yoga. All these things add up to me being irritable, unhappy, and basically an all-around bad idea.

I have noticed that more of my mindset has been critical of myself, and really picking myself apart. I have been eating alright. Not too bad, but not great. But, I have not been doing any type of workout, because all I'm focusing on is "not having enough time." The truth is, I do have enough time, I'm just not making enough time and then this leads down the domino effect of me not being in the best mindset, me being irritable, me beating myself up about my lack of time management, and my lack of working out & doing everything I know I need to do.

Basically-if I take even 20 min. a day to do a quick workout, finish off with a quick yoga practice and a little meditation, I'm golden. I'm just not making time for it and that's completely my fault. With this, I've noticed a majority of my time I'm ripping myself apart for feeling pudgy, my jeans are tight, I'm not comfortable in my skin, and all I'm doing is saying the worst, negative things to myself over & over. This is so not good!! I realized I am in a horrible cycle right now. And instead of waiting until the new year, I'm like, "let's do this now!! why wait??"

We should never push off, or wait longer to take care of ourselves. I know what I need to do to feel better about myself and have a better mindset. So why not do it now instead of spending the rest of the holidays as a grumpy Scrooge? So that's what I'm going to do. Now more than ever, I need to change my mindset so I can be in the moment and really absorb and enjoy all the beauty the holidays have to offer. I don't want to look back and realize I didn't take advantage of the holiday season, so let's just start right now!

I'm challenging myself with this and I welcome you to join me if you would like! Make your own challenges, you know what works best for you! But the one I do ask of you to follow is the list about yourself.

Every day I am going to sweat & get my heart rate up. Whether that be barre, a walk, HIIT, cardio, whatever workout I want to do that day. It makes me feel good, it's good for me, and I get to utilize this body I have been given and I am going to take care of it & appreciate it! I'm not doing this to look good in a swimsuit, I'm doing this to take care of myself. This is purely for me. -challenge yourself to do whatever you want and makes YOU feel good! This is all about you!!

Next I am going to do yoga and meditate daily. Just take a little time out for myself. This will clear my mind, put me in the right mindset, and it's so good for the soul. -you don't have to do this, but I would definitely challenge you to at least do yoga a couple days a week (it'll change your life!)

Now these next challenges are absolutely mandatory!

Lastly-this is the one I REALLY need to work on-I'm going to ONLY speak kind words to myself about myself. You hear about that study where people spoke kindly to plants and they actually thrived and grew? Well, it's a thing & just imagine if we spoke to ourselves that way! Who knows what all we can conquer!

As a makeup artist I hear so many women rip themselves apart! It's like the immediately sit down in my chair and they just start blurting out all the things they hate about themselves and the features that are horrible. But the truth is, I see NONE of that! The first thing I see when a customer sits in my chair is their beautiful features and what I want to highlight. I never see what they see! All I see are these beautiful eyes we need to highlight, great cheekbones, lips, jawline, whatever! We have got to stop beating ourselves up and actually start feeding ourselves love.

Only say kind things to yourself. Only speak love & appreciation to yourself and your body. I am certain that after a few days we will see a huge shift in our lives and our mindset. While I only want to speak love and kindness to myself, I am also going to start a gratitude journal and in that journal I'm going to not only write about what I'm grateful for, I'm also going to list 3 things about myself (yes, myself!) that I love and appreciate. It's going to be uncomfortable at first, but I'm not going to quit.

It is 2017, almost 2018 and I thing we have got to be at the point where us women stop hating ourselves and our bodies. We cannot be ashamed of who we are and what we look like. We are all beautiful and there is no "standard" of beauty we should be based upon. We are all beautiful and that is that! I am a 32 year old woman-I have no time for beating myself up and I am not wasting 1 more second of doing so! Let's start a self-love, forget your standard of beauty, I'm going to love myself-no-matter-what, I'm going to do what I want and do what feels good revolution. Who's in????

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!