Green Beauty: my morning/hygiene routine tag!!!

In case you guys did not know, my morning routine was just posted on the nomoredirtylooks site here! I could not be more excited. It is like getting published by your favourite publishing house!!! Anyways, I thought I would go into a more in depth look at my "hygiene routine" here for all of you to check out and then I decided to make it a TAG in which I will tag other bloggers as well. I feel like I never get around to reviewing all of these products I use and that this would be a nice way to introduce everyone to some of my (and to see some of everyone else's) natural faves.

Stats

Name: Stephanie

Age: 23

Current Weather: I just moved home to the South after graduating and the weather is humid and in the 80s (high 20s-30s for Celsius)

Hair: Long, brown, and curly/wavy. Less oily since switching to natural products and washing it less.

Skin: Fair with some freckles and it has always been acne prone :( I was on a strict regimen of prescription topical stuff which worked, but left my skin completely dry. As I mentioned in a previous post I recently stopped taking birth control in lieu of the non-hormonal copper IUD. (Speaking of which, have you seen this adorable commercial for Paragard? Love it) Anyways I have added to my normal regimen of fish oil/flax seed oil and evening primrose oil with Black Current Oil (similar to the primrose with lots of GLA) and Indole-3-Carbinol which is derived from cruciferous veggies and is recommended for women coming off of birth control in a dosage of two 200mg tablets per day (I take mine with meals) for three months to help get hormones back on track. I am hoping this helps because I am so afraid of having a major breakout! I have almost been off of the pill for a whole month (my first non-pill period should be starting next week) so we will see how that all goes... 

 

My new supplements!

Onto the routine!

Before the shower...

When I wake up I tryI try to do oil pulling with coconut oil (I use the Nutiva brand) which is an Ayurvedic technique that consists of swishing the oil in the mouth for twenty minutes then rinsing with warm salt water. I admit it is hard to last the full twenty, but I have found it is a great way to naturally whiten the teeth and make my whole mouth/gums feel supple and healthy. I will then usually eat breakfast and workout and also take the supplements I mentioned above like fish oil or flax seed oil, black current oil and evening primrose oil, and Indole-3-Carbinol. I also only brush my hair before I shower with a wide toothed comb. In the morning or at night I apply Wedderspoon Manuka Honey 16+ strength to my face as a mask as long as possible which I will rinse off in the shower or on its own if I am not showering. I keep it on as long as possible for it to have the most acne-fighting effect, however, honey alone can be used as a normal cleanser and not necessarily as a mask if you are looking for a cheap and natural cleanser for normal skin! Manuka honey is so special and associated with acne because it is derived from bees in New Zealand who pollinate tea tree oil flowers!

My precious Manuka bottle <3

In the shower...

Next I shampoo with either Desert Essences Lemon Tea Tree Shampoo for oily hair or Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Shampoo (both of which I like and find wash away build-up, which was my biggest hurdle when looking for a natural shampoo) followed by either John Masters Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner, the John Masters Honey and Hibiscus conditioner, or the Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery conditioner.

Shower Goodies!

I let my conditioner settle while washing my body; I have recently begun washing my body and shaving with Moksa Organics Soap in Abbey Road. It smells amazing, is gentle, (I loved the Dr Bronners tea tree bar soap, but then it become too drying for my skin) and the company is so philanthropic and donates to a ton of great charities! After rinsing out my conditioner with cool water (a technique that adds shine and tames frizz) I wash off my Manuka honey mask. I have ready that it is best to wash the face at the very end of the shower when there is no chance for "cross-contamination" from other products that are not exactly good for facial skin. If I do not have time to do a mask I will use either the Tata Harper cleanser or the Dr Alkaitis cleanser I have from the samples I purchased on spiritbeautylounge. I like them both and find them super gentle, but prefer the Manuka for its specific, anti-acne punch.

After that I turn off the shower and I may spray my hair with the Aubrey Organics Nustyle Organic Detangler and Shine Booster (which smells like limes) as a heat protectant or Intelligent Nutrients Leave-In Conditioner which kind of makes me smell like a pizza because of the savory-herbal scent/ingredients, but I like it anyways.  Then I wrap my hair up in a cotton/jersey t-shirt which I have heard is better for preventing frizz and keeping curls intact than I regular towel.

Here are the two leave-ins for my hair I mentioned above, along with other odds and ends products like the Vive Sana Solar to Polar Ultra spf 40 sunscreen, my Acure Organics Brightening Facial scrub, my Bubble and Bee Organic Lip Balm in Pomegranate, and my Acure Organics Argan Oil + Starflower Line Eraser which I use on my eyes

Outside the shower...

I do not really towel off my face or body because I find the extra moisture super beneficial for the rest of my routine. I spray my face with the Acure Organics Rose Facial Toner for oily skin which I LOVE it smells so good especially after reading this article about the benefits of rose scents on nomoredirtylooks, then I mix my beloved Aubrey Organics Aloe Vera with whatever moisturizer is tickling my fancy. I use the aloe because it is such a great base to cut/preserve products which we in the natural world know can be quite expensive. As I mentioned, I purchased the sample packs of Tata Harper and Dr Alkaitis so I basically pick and choose which moisturizer I feel like mixing in with my aloe. At the moment, I love the Tata Harper Serum and the Dr Alkaitis Soothing Gel and Nourishing Treatment Oil. Both companies products smells sooooo good and honestly make my skin look so plump and incredible. I never thought I would be able to treat my skin to such luxurious moisturizers during my prescription days; it has been one of the greatest revelations of going natural!

The awesome, and quite large, samples from spiritbeautylounge

I cannot stress enough how much I love Acure Organics.

After that I spray my body with a DIY Toner of Aloe Vera Gel by Lily of the Valley (which is edible quality that I sometimes add to my drinks) and Witch Hazel followed by either a body moisturizer of a DIY combination of coconut, argan, and jojoba oil, my Acure Organics Unscented Lotion, or my Bubble and Bee in Coconut & Lime or Moksa Body Butter in Grapefruit Ylang Ylang. I’m really into body moisturizers. And moisturizing in general.

Then I apply my deodorant. These days I rotate between my Bubble and Bee Pit Putty in Geranium & Lime, Dr Mist in Lavender, or Soapwalla.

Pit Putty not pictured

Finishing touches...

As far as makeup goes, I probably only wear it once or twice a week and try to keep it really simple. Again, I am all about the samples! I recommend it because they are all quite sizable and I have yet to run out of one and repurchase. I use the Vapour Organics Concealer on my eyelids and the Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation on my under eyes and any other imperfections as I do not like the entire covered-face look especially in the nice weather. I line my upper water line with Korres brown eyeliner, apply RMS Living Luminizer to my eyelids, brow bone, cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow and I have been loving Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in Blush for my cheeks! I also love the RMS lip2cheek in Modest. I sometimes finish that up with a  DIY bronzer made of cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, and some other stuff (the recipe for which you can find here) and the 100% Pure Mascara in Black Tea as well as my Bubble and Bee Lip Balm in Pomegranate or my Badger Organic Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in Cocoa.

Bird's-Eye-View of my makeup drawer

Finally, I may want to dab on some perfume. I have a ton of Lavanila perfumes and my favourite is the Vanilla Passionfruit, but I am also digging the Vanilla Grapefruit scent for this time of year. I have samples of the Tata Harper Irritability Treatment as well as the Lotus Wei Infinite Love Mist which I have also been using a light and soothing scents.

OK! So that is my morning/hygiene routine. Now for the people I want to tag!

Ashleysgreenlife
Glamorganic Goddess
Tested on Human
The Flaxen Owl
Naturalla Beauty
The Zero Waste Home
Fig+Sage
Free to be Natural
Daniellebeautybliss
The Love Vitamin
Going Green...Glamorously!
Holistically Haute
Oh She Glows

Sound off in the comments about your favourite green products!

Green Juice For Thought: five things

I totally stole this idea from another blog, but I thought a fun and summery picture post would be great today! Here are five things I am loving right now. 

1. The Farmer's Market!

You cannot go wrong with fresh, seasonal, and local produce! This week's highlights were tomatoes which became a delicious caprese salad, strawberries which became a healthy sorbet, and kale!

2. Homemade sorbet given as a Mother's Day gift. It's even good for you and stupidly easy to make. See the recipe here.

3. Bright summer sandals.

4. Colourful and non-toxic toes to go in those summer sandals!!! I am loving this colour Maura by Zoya.

5. And finally, pleasure reading. Because I am OUT of school!

Hope you guys enjoyed this light and silly post! Sound off on your favourite things of the moment in the comments :)

Green Beauty: painted this moment

My first manicure (self-applied) of the summer! This whole season I have been craving a creamy, turquoise polish and when the new summer collection from Zoya called Beach & Surf came out with the colour Wednesday I knew I had to have it. It reminds me of the totally spring-y colour of a blue robin's egg. Plus, Zoya is nomoredirtylooks approved!

Green Health: my iud consultation and insertion experience

Bye bye birth control!

I do not know if I mentioned this before, but I had been on birth control (Yasmin) for the past four and half years and that had put me in a moral dilemma in my journey to becoming more natural. First I switched up my diet, then came my beauty care products, and it was a natural progression to start thinking about the other things I voluntarily ingest. Especially after reading articles including this one about the adverse effects of all these extra hormones that make their way into the water supply through urination and how this can sometimes cause involuntary sex changes in frogs(!), I knew I had to make a change because how YUCK is that?

So, I started looking for an alternative and the copper IUD (I have the Liberte brand) seemed like the best option for me. IUDs are most popular with mothers who are in monogamous relationships and do not want to have to worry about hormones/taking a pill, but since IUDs became officially approved for women who have not yet been pregnant its popularity has skyrocketed. Now, I still have qualms with the idea that there is something unnatural inside of me, but I think it is the best option to be the most effective in preventing pregnancy (in comparison with the most natural rhythm method or lady-comp) while also being more natural than birth control pills at the same time. Ultimately, I do not want to get pregnant right now!

Finally, I want to know what it's like to ovulate naturally again! Is that weird?

I have been on the pill so long I cannot even remember what it was like to have everything work on its own and I wanted to be able to feel that way again :). 

Although the one thing that TERRIFIES me (it's also super shallow) is the effect this lack of birth control will have on my skin (you can read an amazing/comment filled article about that here from nomoredirtylooks as well as this one about contraception methods in general). So, I will also be reporting on that in another post which will be a series about my b.c. "withdrawal" if you will. Here are two more articles (1 & 2) about the IUD which I found very helpful as well as this amazing livejournal site called IUD divas which is chock full of support and personal experiences that I really enjoyed - everything you have ever wondered about is on there or you can post a question and it will be answered immediately by a bevy of supportive commenters.

Right, onto my actual experience! In this post I will regaling you with my consultation appointment and my insertion. My follow up posts will be about my first one month check-up - it will include checking my strings, my first real period with the IUD, what sex is like with the IUD, etc and I will post other updates whenever something significant or interesting happens!

So, as I said I had been toying with the idea of getting an IUD for almost a year. Since last September actually. The final push for finally getting it was that I am moving out of Canada and to the United States now that I have graduated, and the IUD is WAY LESS EXPENSIVE here than in the States. My consultation was at my University's health centre and was merely that; there was no physical examination and the doctor and I discussed the risks of the IUD, my relationship status, and why I did not want to take the pill any longer. My doctor told me about many of her personal experiences with IUD insertions which made me feel confident in her experience; the day of my insertion she had already done two others before me! She also did insertions  mainly on women my age who have never had children which was important to me.

The one dilemma that arose was when we discussed the pros and cons of the copper IUD vs the hormonal Mirena IUD. She said "The Mirena is the Cadillac of Birth Control. It is almost impossible to become pregnant with it. The copper IUD is 99% effective, but I have seen women become pregnant with the copper IUD when they have sex without using a second method during ovulation." 

So that was a bit of a smack in the face for me. I was so set on the copper and wanted to do away with hormones, but the Cadillac of birth control? It sounded super tempting. She followed that up by informing me that the Mirena has a far smaller dose of hormones than the pill because the hormones are released directly at the source and that I would even ovulate on the Mirena, but would probably never have a period because the Mirena thins out the uterine lining so no fertilized eggs can implant. That brings up another issue concerning the primary method used by the IUDs to prevent pregnancy. My roommate who is in med school informed me that the primary method of the Mirena is to prevent fertilized eggs from implanting by thinning out the uterine lining while the copper IUD's primary method is using copper as a spermicide. The copper is released, similar to the way hormones are released, inside of the uterus. It also causes the uterine lining to become inflamed which prevents implantation of a fertilized egg as a second method. Anyways, I walked away from the appointment making an appointment for the required physical as well as insertion, but unsure of which IUD I would choose.

A conversation with my roommate quickly cleared this up for me. She said, "Your main reason for going off the pill is to not have to use hormones. 99% is super effective so I say you go with the copper." She was right. I made my decision.

At the physical my doctor gave me a prescription for my Liberte copper IUD as well as a cervical softener/painkiller to take the day before and 3-4 hours before insertion.

My insertion was at five in the afternoon and I was pretty nervous. First she had to check the position of my uterus by inserting her fingers into my vagina with a lot of pressure and pressing down on my abdomen which was no big deal just a bit uncomfortable. Next, things progressed just like a regular pelvic exam, except the doctor had all sorts of intense looking instruments and the IUD set up. First, the speculum was inserted and the area was cleaned with a brownish/iodine looking like liquid. The doctor talked me through the whole process, but I cannot remember the name of this stuff! Next she sprayed my cervix with this great numbing spray and used a pliers-like instrument to situate my cervix to aid with the insertion which I barely felt.

Finally, it was the moment I had read the most about and was most nervous for - the sounding. The doctor uses this long, metal, straw-sized pole to check the depth of the uterus to ensure the IUD can be inserted. 

I could feel it touching the opening of my cervix and the doctor said, "So you'll feel a little cramping" and boy did I ever. Now I have never had kids and have moderate period cramps, but I have never felt something like this before! It was an experience, I even said "Ow" many times aloud which I was not expecting. All in all, however, this lasted a maximum of one minute and I would not want anyone to be dissuaded from getting an IUD because of these small moments of pain. I learned that my uterus is seven cm deep (the minimum requirement for insertions is six I believe) and we were good to go for insertion! I was very happy that all was normal with my uterus; I got to learn so much about my lady bits during this experience and it was all very interesting to me. I also feel I got a little insight into the pain of childbirth during the insertion which was a bit terrifying, but comforting in that now I have some sort of idea of what to expect! Although, mothers who have the IUD say it does not even compare to childbirth. Eek. ANYWAYS, I was pretty worried about having to go through all of that intense cramping again with actual IUD insertion, but the doctor told me it would be less intense than the sounding because the IUD would not go as deep. She was right! The cramping was still bad, but not as bad. Afterwards, she cut the strings and let me touch the excess; they were super fine and fabric-like. I am interested to see what my boyfriend will say when we have sex...

After that I put my clothes back on and was experiencing some pretty intense cramps, think the worst cramps you would have during a period. They were not, however, even near as intense as the cramps I experienced during the sounding and insertion. Then, we talked as I sort of sat and relaxed for a little bit, she told me I did not look faint (this can happen sometimes), told me that nothing was to enter my vagina for at least one week, and I was on my merry way. I even biked home! Though the cramps were bad and I was cursing the whole way.

Then I was home and I just chilled and by the next day my cramps were almost non-existent and I felt fine. I even went to the gym! Which is totally permissible after insertion. 

I got it inserted during my period which is recommended because you're more "open" during this time and I had bleeding for the next five days which was the normal last day of my period.

So that was my insertion story guys! I hope you enjoyed it and that I do not talk about periods, vaginas, and contraception too much on this blog after that Diva Cup post haha. PLEASE feel free to ask me any questions you may have and check out all of the great links I posted throughout. Have a great weekend! Here the sun is shining and it finally feels like spring :)

Green Beauty: weleda review

I have graduated from undergrad guys!!! Well, only "unofficially." The real ceremony is not until June, but for all intents and purposes I . Am. Done. Which means I can return to my true love: blogging about green living :) I gift to you a review.

Weleda was the first natural company I was ever introduced to and it helped spark my transformation to natural beauty, cosmetics, healthcare, etc. These babies are actually from Germany complete with German labels which I like a lot. I have since repurchased the Anglo version of the Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash (orange).

I think Weleda is an excellent stepping stone into the world of natural beauty because it is so accessible as it is available in stores like Whole Foods and Target and not a brand one can only find online. 

Their mission statement to cultivate beauty is as follows:

"We do it with Biodynamic^® farming methods. We do it by developing fair trade partnerships for a more positive impact on the world. We do it by empowering the individual to make positive change in the world.
And of course we do it with meaningful products that work with your body’s own natural vitality and ability to nurture and heal.

We strongly believe in supporting your health and beauty, and that of every individual. By doing so, we hope each of us will be empowered to cultivate beauty in the world. For ourselves, for our children, and for the children of all the generations to come."

They are certified by a number of organizations all of which you can view here and state that their products are free of synthetic preservatives, synthetic fragrances, synthetic chemicals, or anything synthetic. They claim to use biodynamic principles to grow all of their ingredients and the ingredients they are unable to grow themselves they purchase from fair trade sources. I find their website to be impressive, but also shiny and processed - it is clear that Weleda has become a large and powerful company. They have not, however, been bought by a large and un-green corporation, but remain owned by a family trust in Germany. Props to them for that!

First, the body wash.

GREEN JUICE APPROVED: Yes.

SCENT: Light and Citrus-y with the essential oils of mandarins, oranges, and grapefruits. I love citrus scents!

TEXTURE: Thin and creamy with no real lather.

PACKAGING: Generic body wash squeeze-tube as pictured above, but I absolutely love the bright colour!

PRICE: 1G at $12 for 6.8 fl oz which lasted me almost a year.

GREEN THOUGHTS: This body wash is recommended for "parched and tired skin."

I really liked this because it left my body feeling clean without leaving it feeling stripped and I do not have particularly dry skin. 

I just find that disturbing my skin's natural state to the point where I am "squeaky clean" is uncomfortable and the Dr Bronner's bar soap can leave my body feeling this way. My skin also seems to love sea buckthorn berries! They are full of essential fatty acids, vitamin A (hence their bright orange hue), and vitamin E and Weleda also makes a body oil in the same line as this cleanser which I thoroughly enjoy. It is a gentle, affordable, eco-friendly, great for shaving, and pleasantly scented body wash that I did end up repurchasing because I like it so much. That being said, I am a fickle woman and after finishing my second tube I have decided to order some Moksa Organics bar soaps instead after reading this rave review from figandsage. There is nothing wrong with the Weleda wash, I just felt it was time for something new!

GREEN VERDICT: GGG If you are looking to switch to more natural products Weleda is a great and affordable place to start and is available at your local store!

Next, the scrub.

GREEN JUICE APPROVED: Yes.

SCENT: More lemon-y citrus than the body wash. Very fresh.

TEXTURE: Very gentle "Natural plant wax pearls" exfoliants that are not overly harsh in the same thin/lotion consistency of the wash.

PACKAGING: Bright green squeeze-tube - I also adore its bright colour.

PRICE: 1G at $12 for 5.1 fl oz and I have had it since the spring of 2010. Seriously it is like this small tube is never ending. Maybe I just do not exfoliate enough?

GREEN THOUGHTS: I like this. At first, I did not like it. As I mentioned above I was in the beginning of my "naturals" transformation stage and I was extremely suspicious of exfoliation and lotion-type cleansers after being brainwashed by conventional dermatologists for my entire life. I thought all lotion and exfoliation meant ACNE!!! I have since learned better. Exfoliation is not liked or necessary for everyone, and clearly I partake in it rarely, but when I do I find it thoroughly enjoyable. The "wax pearls" in this scrub are extremely gentle and I give myself an exhilarating lymphatic massage when I use it. This combined with the scent and the soft skin it leaves me with make using this product similar to a mini-spa type experience and who does not like that? As I said, I like it

GREEN VERDICT: GGG A scrub is not necessary, but this one is gentle and effective.

Finally, the Citrus Deodorant.

GREEN JUICE APPROVED: Yes

SCENT: Citrus in a tart lemon-y way like the scrub.  I am sensing a scent-pattern in this review...

TEXTURE: A liquid spray

PACKAGING: A very chic glass bottle. It will be so nice to re-use once it is empty!

PRICE: 1G at $13

GREEN THOUGHTS: I bought this about a year ago around the same time I purchased my Lavanila deodorant, I cannot quite remember why, and in the beginning it was rarely used. Now I have about one third of the bottle left and am still using it.

DEODORANT. This and toothpaste I find the be the most difficult products to find in natural beauty. 

I had been using my Pit Putty for a few months when it began to stop completely eliminating my B.O. after a few hours which was HEARTBREAKING. That is when I decided to combine it with this deodorant which helped a lot. Sometimes I would even switch it up and use this deodorant on its own and it was surprisingly effective which I think is due to the alcohol - I do not mind the inclusion of alcohol and find it so effective in a deodorant. It was great for moments when I could smell myself getting funky; all I needed was some spritzes of this stuff and I was back to being fresh as a daisy.

In conclusion, what I have come to find is key when preserving the effectiveness of natural deodorants is to ROTATE. This deodorant has a hard-earned place in my rotation.

 
GREEN VERDICT: GGG A pretty effective deodorant at an affordable price. Great for de-funkifying when you are in a rush!

Woohoo for this long overdue return to blogging!!! I cannot wait to share a lot more this summer :)

Green Beauty: badger, badger, badger

New post! New post!!!

First are you doing the Desert Island Challenge posed by Nomoredirtylooks? You. Should. My five products are 1) honey in lieu of face wash, 2) baking soda/raw apple cider vinegar in lieu of shampoo/conditioner, 3) Evan Healy hydrosol in lavender (review here; I am honestly way too obsessed with toner/hydrosols), 4) tata harper moisturizer of choice combined with aloe for face moisturizing, and 5) acure organics unscented lotion (review here)/coconut oil for body moisturizing. Only five (in my own way) products! Impressive, non?

Onto the review.

Badger is probably my other favourite low-priced organic brand aside from Acure Organics. 

They are known for their incredible and multipurpose balms as well as their sunscreen. I have two lips balms and two regular balms. Here is the blurb from their website:

"Badger creates healthy personal care products using only powerfully pure, naturally processed minerals and botanicals brimming with life-force. We begin with fresh, whole herbs, flowers, fruits, roots and their fragrant essences. We blend them into creamy, dreamy, super-concentrated Agents of Good. Our elegantly simple, amazingly effective blends are formulated to nourish your skin and delight the senses, everyday, safely and naturally."
 
They are also certified USDA organic and contain very simple ingredients like high quality olive oil, castor oil, other rich oils and essential oils.

The Lip Balms:

GREEN JUICE APPROVED: Yes. Check out the above.

SCENT: All scents are very light and enjoyable. The fair trade and organic Creamy Cocoa scented Cocoa Butter lip balm is their equivalent to the "unscented." It is not strong and enjoyable. The balm in the pot is Tangerine Breeze and extremely subtle which is fine for me!

TEXTURE: Both are thick and very moisturizing. The tube is more waxy while the tin is more emollient. Depending on the look you are going for, both are great! The tin is great for applying over lipsticks/stains/colour while I tend to use the tube strictly for moisturizing purposes.

PACKACING: The tube is larger than the average tube of balm which I really, really like and do not find at all difficult to apply or deal with. The tin is slightly harder to pry open which can be annoying. Not a deal breaker though.

PRICE: 1G at all products under $5!

GREEN THOUGHTS:

The Cocoa Butter lip balm is my favourite lip balm EVER. EVER. Like I gave it to all of my best girlfriends for Christmas this year EVER. 

It stays put for a long time and is just moisturizing as a dream in any weather!!! The tin is not as mind blowing; I received it as a gift and would not have purchased it otherwise. It is multipurpose though which is great! I sometimes use it as an eye moisturizer if I feel so inclined.

GREEN VERDICT: GGGG for the Cocoa Butter balm and GG for the tin. The tin is effective, but not necessary and as I've expressed the Cocoa Butter lip balm is my favourite of all time.

Now onto she straight up Balms:

Enjoy the glare of my dirty coffee table.

GREEN JUICE APPROVED: Yes

SCENT: None for the unscented (the scented version of this balm smells like wintergreen) and a delicious lemon/ginger zingy and spicy scent that I like. It's not too strong when compared with Bengay.

TEXTURE: Both balms are thick and emollient. They take a little while to sink in. Both are moisturizing, but obviously the Healing balm is what I use for moisturizing as the Sore Muscle Rub heats up! You do not want it all over your hands.

PRICE: 1G at $8

PACAKGING: Unlike the lip balm tin, these are very easy to open. I love the Badger tins!

GREEN THOUGHTS: The Healing balm I keep on me at all times in my purse/backpack.

I love, love, love it! My mom even got herself some after using mine on Christmas break :) 

It is extremely easy to apply and very effective at quickly moisturizing even the most ravaged of hands/body bits. I feel comfortable using it everywhere like my eyes or lips. I would definitely recommend this in order to get that emollient finish in place of the Tangerine Breeze balm in the tin from above. This is more moisturizing and easier to use in its larger tin. The Sore Muscle Rub is alright. I get particularly sore on my back and have not found it too effective...I don't know if my skin is thick there, but the rub does not seem to heat up as well as it's supposed to with its cayenne extract and other spicy additives. When applied to my lips, however, (not recommended) I could definitely "feel the heat." So I don't know what gives there although I do LOVE the smell...That being said I would not completely discount it. It's only eight bucks and free of chemicals so why not give it a try!

GREEN VERDICT: GGGG for the Healing balm and GGG for the Sore Muscle Rub.

It feels great to do a beauty review again! Hope you guys enjoyed and let me know if you have any questions :)

Green Juice For Thought: updates

HELLO!!!! I feel since we know each other better because of the fantastic random things about me tag, I could share some general things I'm mulling over that I think (hope) will interest you. We'll see how that goes...

First.

I gave in and purchased the Lana Del Ray cd on iTunes. I AM LOVING IT. 

Anyone else in this camp or am I completely alone? I have also begun re-listening to the latest Coldplay cd since they released the music video for the song "Charlie Brown." I recommend checking out BOTH! I am also jamming out to upbeat/top 40 type songs to balance out the deeper/more emo effects of these albums so let that set the mood for my current state of mind. 

It's the end of my fourth week eating lots of fruits and veggies and I am really, really enjoying it! The first three weeks I lost six pounds!!! A very healthy rate of weight loss at 2 lbs/week. I'm weighing myself tomorrow morning so let's hope the trend continues. It also makes me feel much more in tune with my body's "intuition" if you will. I find it much easier to notice when I am feeling full and I rarely desire the processed foods/unhealthy foods I used to crave A LOT. I still have cravings, but they are much more infrequent. 

It has been so nice to feel completely satisfied in eating and weening away from treating food as a comforting crutch. 

Right now my regular day begins with a full glass of lemon water followed by greek yogurt/oatmeal and quinoa mix with maple syrup grade B or grade 2 (depending on where you live) which contains more minerals and one tablespoon psyllium husk for fibre and chia seed gel (chia seeds soaked in water and kept in the fridge) with 1-2 pieces of fruit. Lunch is a smoothie/juice with salad accompanied by nothing or maybe toast or eggs - depending on my mood and hunger level. Dinner, as I've mentioned before, is the most creative meal! Last week I made burgers which were absolutely DELICIOUS and this week I plan on making a lentil stew dish and miso soup. YUM. Also broccoli on the side. And lots and lots and lots of delicious tea.

I am also beginning to incorporate exercise again, mostly cardio (running) and yoga with a lot of effort to meditate to exercise this mind of mine. I cannot remember if I mentioned this in my last post, but when I meditate I have the most intense, vivid dreams. I enjoy dreaming so it's a plus for me but a side effect I was not expecting...I read an article on the running guru/olympic athlete Jeff Galloway a couple weeks ago and am extremely intrigued. On youtube I am subscribed to the GoogleTalks channel and as luck would have it they just interviewed Jeff! 

He supports a run, walk, run method of running focused on remaining INJURY FREE and making running accessible to everyone. 

I highly recommend giving it a watch or checking out his website if you are new to running/are injury prone when running/need help training for any sort/length of race. 

Finally, school is getting BUSY. I have my first paper of the semester due Thursday, thankfully only a five pager, and a lot of other things to worry about! I have found doing this detox that cooking has become a solace for me as well as reading. Currently I'm reading The Jungle Effect by Dr Daphne Miller after seeing the recommendation on TurbyandJohn's site. I am halfway through and thoroughly enjoying it. 

Miller focuses on coldspots of "Western" diseases throughout the world and their diet/lifestyles. Currently I just finished the chapter on the world's coldspot for depression - Iceland! 

Who would have thought they were so happy despite such crummy weather? A highly interesting conundrum that many believe can be explained by their diet. Ooo and one pampering thing I did this weekend was a FACIAL STEAM courtesy of this fabulous article by The Flaxen Owl. I used argan oil in place of jojoba and it has honestly done wonders and takes 1% effort and thirty minutes max. Also check out her haul of Acure Organics products.

Finally, here is a fun picture of my night and some supplements I am taking. I just took Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor and it reconfirmed my ideas on what supplements I should be taking. I don't really believe in the need for a multi-vitamin as I try to get as many nutrients as possible through food and believe they are way more accessible to our bodies this way, but some other stuff I am so down to take through supplements.

Vitamin D because it is winter and I get ZERO sunshine. Evening primrose oil has become a staple for me! Dr Weil's Vitamin Advisor even recommended it. It's really good for female health, skin, and hair. I find a noticeable difference in the clearness of my skin when I take it. And of course OMEGA 3S. I could NOT be more into Omegas. I am also planning on having a nice, oily salmon for dinner two nights this week! In addition I have purchased nutritional yeast and restocked my psyllium husks. The only thing I do not take, and should, is calcium/magnesium. I have it, I just find it such a pain to take a supplement four times a day. Is this lame/lazy? I may try. I may. I just do not want to become a supplement pill popper!

Anyways, check out these links for some more fun info on supplements, omega 3s, and nutritional yeast. No more dirty looks always has such appropriate posts!

Tonight I am not watching the Superbowl (can anyone else not stand Madonna?) but making cookies and toying with the idea of doing schoolwork....also loving the blog Tested on Human. Her posts are honest, sassy, and in depth! Oh, and GREEN :)

Banana, oat, and chocolate chip cookies!!! = sanity for my roommate and I this coming week

THYME tea. Delicious. And great for colds!!! I drink it just because I enjoy it. Enjoy the artsy angle of this pic.

Hope you all enjoyed this update! I am working on a recipe post, beauty review, and book review for this week!