I recently had the opportunity to try a vegan soap bar from Rad Soap Co. and while I have been using a liquid soap for over two years, I was open to switching to a soap bar and curious to see how it would work for me! After checking out their website, I was very interested in a lot of Rad Soap Co. products and I just love their story on how they got started! "It all began in a small kitchen fueled by a mother’s love where founder, Sue Kerber searched for something natural to relieve her son’s eczema. In early 2009, she turned her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for blending natural ingredients into what is today known as the Rad Soap Co." - Rad Soap Co. You can learn more about them here. Rad Soap Company products do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, harsh chemicals, GMO’s, gluten, nut oils, or animal products. They're cruelty-free and made in the USA! Buy It! The Rad Soap Co. Wine Natural Body Bar, $10 RadSoap.com About Wine Natural Body Bar, $10 〰 A rad body bar crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients and infused with the rich grape scent of a New York Red Wine. Review 〰 I love all the excluded ingredients when it comes to Rad soaps! This wine scented soap bar smells delicious! It was love at first sniff for me. I was a little hesitant about switching to a bar, mostly because I like the ease of pouring a liquid soap onto my wash cloth. However, this soap bar does not disappoint and is just as easy to use! It lathers well, is gentle on my sensitive skin, and feels really moisturizing. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft! I love that their soap bars are pet friendly, though I haven't had a chance to try it on my pups. Suggested Use 〰 Gently massage bar onto moistened skin, washcloth or loofa to create a thick lather, apply lather generously and rinse clean with water. Recommended to follow with Rad body cream to lock in moisture. Full Ingredients List 〰 New York State Red Wine, *Sodium Hydroxide,Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Unrefined Hempseed Oil, Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Safflower Oil,**Natural Fragrance Oil Wine. *After the saponification of oils occurs, no Sodium Hydroxide remains. Comprised of 100% Pure Natural Essential Oils and Natural Ingredients. Rad Soap Company has a wide selection of soap bars to choose from, all with rad names! They also offer a bar soap club so you can try a new one every month! Your soap bar(s) will be delivered conveniently to your door! What's better than that!? Overall, I am really loving their soaps and they have so may more products I would love to try to, like various CBD products, natural deodorants, face masks, and body butters! They have a thorough frequently asked questions page to reference which I found extremely helpful when getting to know the brand. I highly recommend checking out Rad Soap Co. for all your natural body care products. Thanks for reading and happy shopping! Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Rad Soap Company for testing purposes. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal thoughts and opinions. I only recommend products that I have personally used. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

I have been making the switch to clean and natural products for quite some time now and I still find it challenging picking out the right products for me. I really like my products to be clean and simple with easy to understand ingredients... and if it's personalized for me, even better! Back in May I was introduced to Y'OUR (Y'OUR Personalized Skincare) when they contacted me to try their products in exchange for my honest review. Y'OUR is a personalized skin care brand made with high quality, clean ingredients. I visited their beautifully designed website to learn more and really fell in love with the idea of getting a complete skincare routine that's curated specifically for me. I even more-so fell in love with the fact that the products check off all my boxes for what I want in my skincare! Y'OUR Products are: Good for sensitive skin Made with clean ingredients Toxin-free Do not contain parabens or fillers Cruelty-Free Non-Comedogenic Made in the USA Formulated specifically for you When you visit the website, you will see the option to take their skin quiz. It does not take long and is very important in ensuring they formulate the right products for you, so be honest when answering! The quiz asks about your skin type, concerns, goals, how your skin is affected by situations, what products irritate your skin, stress factors, acne factors, how natural you would prefer your products to be (entirely vegan, some non-vegan natural ingredients like yogurt), whether you want them to be fragrance-free, and more. Based off of my quiz results, the following ingredients were recommended to me: The Y'OUR Skin complete skin care set includes a 3-month supply of 4 full-size products: a cleanser, a day cream with SPF, a serum, and a night cream. When the website did not show me a full ingredients list, I easily reached out to their customer service department through email and got a quick response. I wanted to check all the ingredients before hand to make sure there were not any concerning ones or ones that upset my sensitive skin. It also makes me feel really comfortable knowing what I am using. “We want to ensure that our customers are safe while using the products.” - Y'OUR SUPPORT TEAM They helped me out by sending over a full list for my products! Here's some information, along with the full ingredients lists, for the products they created for me: Facial cleanser Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Sodium Olivate, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Rosa Rubiginosa (Rose Hip) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Calendula Officinalis Seed Oil, Chondrus Crispus (Seaweed) Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica (Loquat) Extract. Day cream Ingredients: Water, Hydrogenated Polybutene, Octyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4-Isostearate, Octinoxate, Zinc Oxide, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cyclomethicone, Sunflower Oil, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3-Oleate, Silica, Hexyl Laurate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Capryly Glycol, Methylisothiazolinone. Serum Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Hyaluronic Acid, Aspalathus Linearis (Red Tea) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. Night cream Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Fucus Serratus (Brown Seaweed) Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum (Red Seaweed) Extract, Polyacrylate 13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. Before receiving the kit, the company sends out introduction emails and informative emails on how to use their products which I found very helpful! They also update their blog with really helpful articles, like How To Get Rid Of Whiteheads Forever. I officially started using these products on June 13th and really enjoyed them from the start! The products arrived packaged in a beautiful box that nicely displayed each product. I love how they are labeled to make things extra simple. They also send a card with instructions on how to best use the products. They really want this routine to be super easy for you and it is! This is as easy as it gets! I started out following the instructions above and was really happy not to have any immediate irritation or redness from the products. The cleanser is really different than what I am used to using, it's very light and non-abrasive but still lightly lathers. The serum is the best! It hydrates really well and leaves your skin glowing without feeling or looking greasy! The day cream is rich and I love that it has SPF but forewarning it goes on white and dries translucent. It’s the first day cream with SPF that has not irritated my skin in any way! A little goes a long way and it absorbs really well. The night cream is thick and leaves your skin baby soft! I’ve been waking up to more hydrated skin since I started using this! After a few weeks in I started using the serum in my morning routine as well for an extra glow. My skin took very well to this new skincare line and I only experienced some small pimples after the first few days of using them. The photo below was taken at the end of the first week and there's more full before and after photos below too! After two weeks, I really started to notice changes in my skins texture and that my pores seemed less noticeable. I didn't feel like I saw a drastic change at first, which is why I wanted to test them out a bit longer before writing this review. I would say about one month in is when I really started seeing a more noticeable change in my skin. I always dealt with tiny areas of clogged pores and this was something that was slowly going away. In general, my skin felt cleaner or more hydrated, looked less dull, and was glowing more than usual. I love that they check in with you to see how the line is working out and offer to reformulate up to two times during your first three months until you're happy and achieving your skin goals. Today marks 50 days in and I am very happy with this routine and the results. My skin has been really clear, soft, and smooth! The only concern I have is that I have not noticed a huge change in the appearance of my fine lines. However, I am just so happy that my skin has been loving these that I really don't want to make any changes! Y’OUR sends an evaluation form to make any adjustments before sending out next shipments so I might decide to make a change after using up this last months supply! I also would really like to see them add an eye cream to this routine! It would make it perfect! The Y'OUR skin complete skin care set can be a hefty investment to some, especially if you're switching from more traditional or drug-store products.In my opinion, I do feel like the quality, concept, ease of use, and customer service justify the price but I do find it to be more expensive then my previous regime which included a few different products from different brands. They offer two ways to pay: Pay $65 each month for three months (that's $16.25/month per product) or Pay $180 every three months (that's $15/month per product) Overall, I highly recommend checking out Y'OUR Personalized Skincare. I love how easy they make it for their consumers to get their hands on natural, clean skincare products! This line is perfect for people who want to switch to natural skincare or for someone who likes simplified skincare and the idea of having the products delivered right to their door. I love how these products can evolve with you and be re-formulated around your skincare needs! If you have any questions about these products or my experience please feel free to reach out to me! I am so thankful I was introduced to Y'OUR and that I had the opportunity to try these. Now it's Y'OUR turn to try them! Take the personalized skin quiz here to discover what ingredients are best for you and start using your personalized skincare! Here are my results after 7 days, 14 days, 35 days, and 50 days. These were all taken in natural day light, the first and third in direct sun. Thank you for reading! Here's to happy, healthy, glowing skin! Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Y'OUR Personalized Skincare for testing purposes. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal thoughts and opinions. I only recommend products that I have personally used. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. #yourpersonalizedskincare #yourskin #cleanbeauty #naturalproducts #skincare #skincareroutine #skincarelover #skincareblog #skincareblogger #facecare #beautycare #skincarevideos #beautytalk #cleanbeautyblogger #cleanbeauty #nontoxicbeauty #naturalbeauty #parabenfree #noparabens #crueltyfreelife #crueltyfreeskincare #crueltyfreebeauty #crueltyfree #naturalproducts #antiaging #skincareroutine #cleanskincareroutine #yourskincareroutine

If you're switching to clean beauty, subscription boxes are a great way to start trying products and discovering clean brands. They are super convenient, affordable, and allow you to try smaller sizes of products before investing in full sizes. I recently discovered Petit Vour, a vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free beauty subscription box that showcases the best non-toxic and plant-based beauty products in the industry. Every month they send you $50-$60 worth of products for as low as $15 a month. This is the most affordable clean beauty box I've seen! Plus, when you subscribe you can get back over 20% each month in PV Points ($4) for reviewing the products in their box. Those PV Points can then be used in the shop to buy products! Their online shop showcases all of the products from the beauty box and more, which makes it that much easier to discover (and share) new favorites! I had the opportunity to try their July box and it did not disappoint! I was really happy to try some brands that I've had my eye on for a while, like Ursa Major and French Girl Organics. This months box included the following items: French Girl Organics - Vitamin C Polishing Wash Ursa Major - Bright & Easy Mask Terre Mere Cosmetics - Smudge-Proof Eyesahdow Base Kalos - After Hours Sooting Night Cream And I also received a waterproof eyeliner from Antonym Cosmetics as a July bonus item for new subscribers! I am not only a fan of Petit Vour for offering such an amazing selection of products at a great price, but because they are a great company that cares about so many important concerning problems! Their goals are to: End Animal Abuse Reduce Demand for Factory Farms Protect the Environment Reduce our Carbon Footprint Help Conserve Water Support Sustainable Practices Support Fair Trade Encourage Ethical Principles and Responsibility How it works: Elevate or recreate your beauty routine with a subscription to Petit Vour's luxury-curated, cruelty-free beauty box. Each month you'll receive 4 products (always valued over $50) of non-toxic and plant-based beauty, curated to your beauty profile for as low as $15/box. Plus, get $4 back each month in store credit for reviewing your box. BE BOLD. BE KIND. Ready to sign up!? click here Disclaimer: I received this subscription box complimentary from Petit Vour. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal thoughts and opinions. I only recommend products that I have personally used. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. Some of the links posted above may be affiliate links which means I make a commission if you purchase the item. This commissions help me run this website and allow me to keep providing quality content. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

Who needs to wear sunscreen? EVERYONE. Regardless of age, race, or gender... Don't skip your SPF! Using sunscreen daily prevents the chance of skin cancer by protecting you from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. But choosing a sunscreen that is safe enough for everyday wear can be tough, especially when you only use natural and clean products. There are so many chemical sunscreens on the market to choose from which makes it so easy to just go to the store and pick some up for the weekend... but is it non-toxic and safe to use? Good for your health? Safe for your kids? Unfortunately, probably not. I do my best to avoid the following endocrine disrupting ingredients that are commonly found in most traditional sunscreens: parabens, synthethic fragrances, oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene octisalate, and/or avobenzone. This makes shopping for a good, clean sunscreen a bit more of daunting experience, especially when some brands claim their clean but still use dirty ingredients. Finally, I discovered a brand with proprietary formulas that break suncare boundaries, blends mineral sun protection with high-performing skincare science, and leaves out over 1,500 questionable ingredients… all with 100% transparency on their labels (and your skin!) Meet Solara Suncare This suncare brand is clean, safe, chemical-free, cruelty-free, vegan, reef-friendly, and made in the USA! They removed the most disruptive and questionable ingredients and added even more of the good ones at meaningful levels. Their suncreens are non-nano, non-coated zinc oxide based and Ecocert and COSMOS certified. Instead of a long list of never-ingredients you can't understand, they instead choose full disclosure on everything they DO use in their products... and they follow EU transparent labeling guidelines so there is no guesswork, decoding, “trade secrets” or hidden byproducts. They use efficacious levels of bioavailable and protective actives created specifically for two things: to help shield your skin from harmful sun rays, digital and environmental pollution, and to help skin stay healthy and rejuvenate in the important hours after exposure. Their sunscreens are dermatologically tested and approved. About Solara Suncare Solara Suncare was founded by a mom on a mission to find non-toxic, non-irritating suncare products for her children, who have sensitivities to chemical sunscreens. When she learned the reaction was due to chemical build-up in their bodies from sunscreen, it freaked her out and she began dissecting labels. As she searched for safer options, she found a big, disappointing (and confusing) hole in the suncare space. There weren’t any that checked ALL of her boxes: non-toxic, non-whitening/sticky and actually benefited the skin. Even the ‘organic’ SPFs had funky, irritating stuff inside, which confused her. Stephanie sounds a lot like me, which is why I was so excited to discover this brand through Palm and get this SAFE sunscreen on my skin! I tried GlowGetter, JuiceBoost, and Time Traveler and coincidentally this is Stephanie's favorite combo! Solara Suncare goes by the American Academy of Dermatology and Skin Cancer Foundation recommendations for applying sunscreen. They indicate about an ounce for the full face or body of an adult (which is a shot glass full) and a lima bean sized amount for face or nickel size for the face AND the neck/decollate. I encourage you to ask your doctor/dermatologist if you are unsure of how much to wear. JuiceBoost Defense Boosting Serum This non-SPF defense boosting serum comes in a 1 fl oz container for $42 and works to instantly hydrate and reinvigorate thirsty skin. It contains two stable forms of Vitamin C, Peptides, Swiss Apple Stem Cells, Sunflower and encapsulated CoQ10, watermelon, prickly pear, and aloe to quench and nourish your skin. Review - This serum feels really nice when applied. It hydrates and absorbs quickly so you can apply your sunscreen directly after. It has a very light scent that you can barely smell. I love that you can wear this alone, under SPF, and under makeup! This particular product was designed more like a skin-softening primer so it doesn't 'pill' under face makeup. You can also use this as post suncare treatment and wear it under a night cream! Buy It! JuiceBoost Defense Boosting Serum, $42 SOLARASUNCARE.com Glow Getter Nutrient Boosted Daily Sunscreen (Naturally Scented) This naturally scented lightweight mineral moisturizing 30 SPF sunscreen comes in a 3 fl oz for $32 and is good for all over your body and/or your face. The ingredients are 99.99% from plant origin: it contains a potent mix of sacred lotus, green coffee and 10-active PlantDFNS™ tones. This sunscreen illuminates and hydrates and leaves your skin glowing. Review - This sunscreen applies white because it is a mineral based zinc sunscreen so it takes a minute to run in and a minute to absorb for a transparent, smooth look and feel. It dries down with no sticky residue and leaves your skin glowing and sparkly. This product is naturally scented but the scent is not overwhelming. It does not smell like a traditional chemical sunscreen and may take some time to get use to. I tried this all over my body and tried the unscented time traveler sunscreen on my face. If you prefer non-scented, I recommend trying their Clean Freak sunscreen which is non-scented. Application - This sunscreen should be liberally applied 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and at least every two hours. It is important to reapply because mineral sunscreen does not absorb into your skin/blood (a good thing!) Buy It! Glow Getter Nutrient Boosted Daily Sunscreen, $32 SOLARASUNCARE.com Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen (Unscented) This ultra-light 30 SPF face sunscreen comes in a 1.7 fl oz for $42. It contains peptides and ceramides that address past photo damage and help to prevent future damage from the sun and environmental and digital aggressors. Review - This face sunscreen took a bit longer to sink into the skin then the glow getter sunscreen. My face was really white for a couple of minutes but it does dry down translucent and does not feel sticky or greasy which is a huge plus! This is not sparkly like the glow getter sunscreen. It can be wore alone or under makeup or over JuiceBoost Defense Boosting Serum. Application - This sunscreen should be liberally applied 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and at least every two hours. It is important to reapply because mineral sunscreen does not absorb into your skin/blood (a good thing!) Buy It! Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen, $42 SOLARASUNCARE.com I really fell in love with this brand and can't wait to try more of their products, like their pout protector and clean freak unscented body sunscreen! While the price tag is a bit on the higher side for the size and amount of product, you can truly feel good knowing you're using clean, safe products. You can visit their website to browse their selection of sunscreens and shop suncare kits. Thank you for reading! Disclaimer: This post does not contain affiliate links. I received these products as part of a collaboration with #SolaraSuncare and #joinpalm. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal thoughts and opinions. I only recommend products that I have personally used. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

Have you heard of Fleur Marché? I can’t get off of their website! I have learned so much about CBD after visiting the site for the first time this evening. To be honest, I have never really taken the time to fully research the various types of CBD products and become completely familiar with them. I know the basics and I know CBD has so many amazing and powerful benefits but I definitely don’t know enough to start using them daily. I’ve tried a CBD lip balm but not sure I would know what to do (or how to use) tinctures, edibles, patches, or pens! It seems like a whole new world to me! However, Fleur Marché was like my little CBD bible this evening… teaching me all about CBD and how to incorporate the products into my life. I really like their easy-to-navigate website and how clear the information is. The aspect I found most helpful was the “Le CBD Delivery Format” guide, aka “the quick and dirty guide”. The chart on their site breaks the delivery methods down and gives you a clear understanding of how it works, time to onset, duration, and more. Extremely helpful! Their overall mission: to make you feel comfortable with using CBD as a wellness tool and to introduce you to premium brands. All their products have to pass a high bar to make it to their marketplace, you can read about their requirements here. "According to the World Health Organization, "In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential... To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD." - Fleur Marché While I would love to tell you all about CBD here, I’ll leave it to you to visit the Fleur Marche website and discover the wonderful world of CBD - without getting completely and entirely overwhelmed. Click on the LEARN tab - or just click here. Happy learning!

Still holiday shopping? Ulta Beauty has a Buy More, Save More sale going on right now! Here are the best clean beauty brands and deals. But Hurry! These offers end on 12/24/18. Botanics: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Botanics works to support the skin’s defenses from daily aggressors for a more radiant, youthful appearance. Certified organic ingredients, not tested on animals, and has a sustainability commitment. NO parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, or SLS. Burt's Bees: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off. Excludes Lip and Holiday Kits Makeup powered by the best of nature, to bring out the best in you. Formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and SLS. Free from rules. Free your beauty. Eco Tools Brushes and Sponges: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Eco Tools Bath: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Armed with a mission to make women look beautiful on the outside and feel just as good on the inside, sisters Jen and Stacey set out to create a brush collection that was not only environmentally friendly, but chic, high-quality, and affordable too. After sourcing recycled materials, renewable bamboo and better manufacturing processes, in 2007, EcoTools® was born. SheaMoisture Bath: Buy 1 Get 1 40% Off SheaMoisture skincare    Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Shea moisture is are natural, organic, sustainably-produced brand. Made with love for you and your body. All products are free from parabens, phthalates, paraffin, mineral Oil, DEA, petroleum, formaldehyde, and propylene. Never on animals. Pacifica: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Pacifica is a 100% vegan brand known as the most innovative, creative natural beauty brand on the market with a full range of cosmetics, perfumes and skin care. They offer a recycling program for their products. Earth Therapeutics: Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Happy Shopping!

These all-natural energy powder sticks from Pure Lyft are giving me life right now! After being the laziest person yesterday and today from battling a cold, I knew I needed some clean energy that wouldn’t dehydrate me. This was my first time trying this product! I received four flavors: orange, lemon-lime, mixed-berry, and original and opted to add the mixed-berry one to my green tea. It didn’t change the taste too too much, just made it taste sweeter and I definitely felt a boost in my energy about 20 minutes later... I was able to do some things around the house that I couldn’t do yesterday! 👊🏻 ____________ Peel + stir or pop + pour this all-natural clean caffeine (no synthetic caffeine like energy drinks) into any beverage. Works great for pre/post workout energy - or if you’re like me and feeling 💀 from a cold it gives you a nice boost to get through the day! ____________ You can pick them up from a @Lifetime.life gym or visit their website! Disclaimers: I received the items in this post complimentary for testing purposes. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal thoughts and opinions. I only recommend products that I have personally used. Some links posted above may be affiliate links which means I make a commission if you purchase the item. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

What are Sulfates? Sulfates are surfactants, mostly used in shampoos as a foaming agent but are known to lift dirt and oil from the hair. They can also be found in your household cleaning products, body wash, face cleanser, and toothpastes. They commonly appear on product labels as: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLEF), or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS). Why should I avoid them? They can cause irritation to your hair, skin, and eyes and strip your hair of its natural oils and can cause your hair to feel dry. Long term use leads to damage. Sulfates however, make a great cleaning agent for your which is why many brands include this ingredient in their products. When used in hair products, sulfates attract water and oil which lift dirt and oil from the scalp, making your hair feel squeaky clean! So if Sulfates do such a great job cleaning, should I go sulfate-free? The choice is yours! Sulfates have been proven to be a safe cleaning agent but if your hair hasn't been as healthy as you would like it to be and you're using sulfate shampoo, it could be time to make the switch! There is such thing as "too clean" when it comes to sulfates. Keep in mind that they can wash away the important stuff our scalp creates that our hair needs! They can also strip the hair of moisture and long term use can lead to dry, brittle hair. Benefits of using SULFATE-FREE shampoo: ✔️ Milder on the scalp and hair ✔️ Less drying, better moisture retention ✔️ Less frizz and more healthy shine! Who is sulfate-free shampoo good for? Especially good for people with frizzy, coarse, curly, or dyed hair - or really any hair type! Below are some recommendations for sulfate-free shampoos from Shea Moisture. They are all free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, animal testing, and petroleum! I love Shea Moisture! They also make corresponding conditioners but I tend to mix and match. Shea Moisture For normal hair: 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Shampoo For curly hair: Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo For wavy hair: Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oils High Porosity Moisture-Seal Shampoo For dry hair: Green Coconut & Activated Charcoal Purifying & Hydrating Shampoo For extra dry hair: Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo For brittle hair: Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Shampoo For damaged hair: Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Shampoo For thin hair: Dragon's Blood & Coffee Cherry Volume + Shampoo For dry scalp: African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo For moisture loss: Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo For frizzy hair: Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Shampoo For thick, frizzy hair: Raw Shea & Cupuaçu Frizz Defense Shampoo For low porosity hair: Baobab & Tea Tree Oils Low Porosity Protein-Free Shampoo For high porosity hair: Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oils High Porosity Moisture-Seal Shampoo For deep cleansing: Sacha Inchi Oil Omega-3-6-9 Rescue + Repair Clarifying Shampoo For dandruff: African Black Soap Dandruff Control Shampoo For growing hair: Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo Other hair products we love: Extra-Virgin Coconut oil for your hair: https://amzn.to/2l5OeFd Organic, Unrefined Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/2JRFmxI 100% Raw/Cru Non-GMO Manuka Honey: https://amzn.to/2LTuMa3 Pure Olive Oil for Hair: https://amzn.to/2JPGfXM Beauty by Earth Boar Bristle Hair Brush: http://bit.ly/2zCN9Pp Beauty by Earth Detangling Hair Brush: http://bit.ly/2JmtGlB Beauty by Earth Dry Shampoo for Light Hair: http://bit.ly/2mhPd62 Beauty by Earth Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair: http://bit.ly/2zEB2RU Beauty by Earth Organic Argan Oil: http://bit.ly/2mi6Gew Beauty by Earth Haircare Gift Set: http://bit.ly/2KTxSz4 Disclaimers: This post is not sponsored. Some links posted above may be affiliate links which means we make a small commission if you purchase the item, which goes towards running this website! All posts are personal opinions. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

Activated Charcoal Powder has so many benefits, did you know about it’s BEAUTY benefits?! Here’s 10 surprising BEAUTY uses for Activated Charcoal Powder! ♡ DISCLAIMER Don’t try if you are allergic to any of these ingredients. Always do a patch test first! • This is not a SPONSORED video • Views are my own • I was not paid by the brand/company/products to promote them or create this video • I do NOT own any music. No copyright intended. • Some links listed may be affiliate links.

This all-natural under-eye balm targets crepiness, fine lines, and dark circles. This eye balm contains three ingredients that are the powerhouses in terms of skin benefits. It is completely natural, easy to make, 100% chemical-free, toxin-free, paraben-free, and free of synthetic fragrances. If there is one thing I find myself complaining about a little too much, it’s definitely my under eye area (shout out to my ulta girls who know way too much about this). I am almost always feeling dehydrated (who has three or more coffees a day? not me!!! :X) and consistently trying to up my water intake which helps smooth out the under-eye area really well and generally helps clear your skin well too. Additionally, I’ve tried so many eye creams on the market and have spent hundreds of dollars doing so. The real issue I run into with a lot of eye creams is that the chemical content is too high and I have a negative reaction to the product which includes tingling or burning the area when it’s applied - or it just doesn't work after long term use. The skin under your eye is so delicate and also super absorbent so I always aim to use non-toxic and healthy products in that area. After looking up all of the ingredients from my current eye creams, I decided to toss a few in the garbage and started to look up the best natural remedies for crepiness, fine lines, and moisture loss - and if I could find something to help with these amazing dark circles i've been blessed with, well then thats just an added benefit! I wanted to make a list of the ingredients that have proven to help the under-eye area and you know coconut oil just kept popping up on every website! I actually used coconut oil a lot in the past to remove my face and eye makeup but stopped immediately when I saw it was clogging my pores (coconut oil is very clogging and has a 4 rating on a scale of 0-5, 0 being it will not clog your pores - as an alternative try organic hemp seed oil or shea butter, both rated a 0! Learn about what is and isn't comedogenic on Beneficial Botanicals website). Yet, coconut oil has so many benefits when used under the eye so I knew I definitely wanted to use this ingredient in my eye balm. I tried using a pinch of coconut oil under my eyes morning and night for two days and I was loving the results. The second ingredient I came across was shea butter and WOW I am so happy I ordered some and tried it right away. It’s amazing! This product alone really helped to smooth my under eye area after the first use. I also tried it on my entire face in my nighttime routine and it really moisturized my skin but I didn't like it enough to replace my good ol' trader joe's face moisturizer. I tried it the morning and night for two days and was blown away by how hydrating it truly was. Definitely knew I would add it to my eye balm The last ingredient that I couldn’t leave out after reading all about it is pure Vitamin E! Vitamin E is so so good for you! I did not try this out on my eye area before adding it to my eye balm because I didn’t want to put the pure vitamin E on my eye in case it was too potent, although I think it would have been fine. So without further ado, here is every detail about this amazing, natural, under-eye balm that actually really works! Ingredients & Benefits: Coconut Oil Moisturizes and hydrates, absorbs quickly Helps to smooth out fine lines and prevent wrinkles Contains several vitamins and antioxidants to help repair & heal damaged skin Reduces swelling and redness due to it's anti-inflammatory properties Lactic acid helps to tighten pores, making skin appear more firm and smooth Helps to protect and fight free radicals When shopping, look for keywords like: raw, organic, cold pressed, extra-virgin. I just ordered this one for $10.79! Shea Butter Rich in natural vitamins, like A & E, and fatty acids that help to nourish and moisturize the skin to prevent drying Aids in the skin’s natural collagen production Helps to reduce skin irritations Long term use results in softer, smoother skin, a more even skin tone, and reduction in appearance of wrinkles Contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linolenic acids that protect the skin from free radicals Also contains cinnamic acid and considered an anti-inflammatory Non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive or acne-prone skin When shopping, look for keywords like: raw, pure, unrefined, organic, Grade A. This is the one I use! Pure Vitamin E Capsules Penetrates deeply into the skin to moisturize and hydrate skin Supports the production of elastin and collagen and reduces the appearance of wrinkles while preventing the formation of new wrinkles Has a firming effect on the skin and can help reduce appearance of age spots Packed with antioxidants which fight free radicals that play role in aging process/collagen breakdown Antioxidants also help to protect against harmful UV rays Helps with cell proliferation by allowing the skin to renew itself which in turn results in soft, glowing skin I purchased mine from Shop Rite (Shop Rite brand) but they also have many to choose from on amazon too, like this one! How to make it: Using a medium sauce pan melt 2 tbsp. of coconut oil with 2 tbsp of shea butter Remove from heat, puncture 3 Vitamin E capsules and squeeze contents into the small dish & mix well Pour your liquid into a sealable air tight container Use a tooth pick to pop any bubbles (see my photo above, I forgot to do this!) Place it in the refrigerator and wait for it to solidify How to use it: Use AM and PM on area are after cleansing. Use a spatula or q-tip to remove a small amount Pat lightly on the eye area, including the sides and eyelids. Can be mixed with your favorite concealer or used on top of concealer to blend Tips & Tricks: Always try a patch test first! I like to keep mine refrigerated because it feels nice and cool but it’s not necessary After your balm solidifies in the refrigerator it can be stored at room temperature Do not use any ingredient you may be allergic too before contacting your doctor Try customizing your eye balm by adding any essential oils for other things you’d like to target like dark circles or puffiness. For example, primrose oil has strong anti-aging properties. I didn’t use this because I am allergic to rose but I’ve read it works wonders! Overall thoughts: I love that this eye balm is all natural, safe, and easy to make and use. After the first use I saw such great results that I knew I had to keep using it daily. I'd like to mention that I labeled this as a "balm" because of the texture after it solidifies; It feels more like a chapstick texture rather than a cream or lotion texture. I'd also like to mention that it smells mostly like the shea butter but has a generally faint scent. It really hydrates and smoothes out fine lines but makes the biggest difference when it comes to applying my makeup (especially because concealers like to sit in my creases). My under-eye area is much more smooth! I haven't noticed a big change in my dark circles, although I do read online that all three of these ingredients can help to lighten dark circles. I will continue to use it and see if it helps lighten with more long-term use. Please let me know if you have tried this or if you plan to! If you have any questions, leave them below or message me on instagram! Thanks for reading <3 - Lauren Disclaimers: This post is not sponsored and I was not paid in any way to promote the mentioned products. I only recommend products that I have personally used. Some links posted above may be affiliate links which means I make a commission if you purchase the item. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal opinions. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

I love coconut anything! It smells good, it tastes good, and it's good for you! When I found out that I was going to get to try the new Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter from March Jacobs Beauty thanks to influenster, I was sooooo excited! I love highlighters and because they are just so darn pretty I've racked up quite a few - varying from drugstore to high-end - and they all have one thing in common... they are all powders! I have normal-to-dry skin so as long as I moisturize and prep my skin, I don’t usually have an issue with wearing powders (although I should add that this depends on the brand for me... some powders make me look ancient!) A gel-based liquid highlighter isn’t something I’ve put much thought into but it makes sense! I don't think I have ever even swatched a true gel highlighter before this... (closest products I've tried would be the Becca shimmering skin perfector or Benefit's hoola liquid bronzer.) The idea of this highlighter was just so intriguing, I couldn't wait to learn more about it and try it! About the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops: This skincare-based gel highlighter is inspired by Marc Jacob’s love of coconut water and the glow of youthful, radiant, well-hydrated skin. It has five forms of coconut and provitamin B5, which help nourish the skin. It feels super smooth and has a bit of sparkle!​ If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me swatch this on my arm during my Instagram story. I’m definitely cautious when it comes to trying out products on my face before fully researching them. I have pretty sensitive skin and some allergies, so I spend a bit of time looking into the ingredients before trying it, especially trying it on my face. At times I'm definitely risking a breakout :( This is probably one of the reasons why I haven't tried any liquid highlighters before this - too nervous I would break out! Here’s what I’ve gathered on these good-for-your-skin dew drops: ✔️ Hydrating & Lightweight ✔️ Infused with five forms of coconut to hydrate and nourish the skin ✔️ Formulated without Parabens, Sulfate, and Phthalates ✔️ It’s golden-peach hue flatters all skin tones with warm radiance ✔️ Coconut Alkanes help to make it long wearing ✔️ Coconut Milk helps to deeply hydrate the skin ✔️ Coconut Water provides refreshing electrolytes ✔️ Coconut Polysaccharides help condition the skin ✔️ Coconut Fragrance provides a nice, light scent ✔️ Marc Jacobs Beauty is Cruelty-Free! How to use: You can use this product to highlight the skin directly or you can mix it with your primer or foundation for an all-over glow! One to two pumps is recommended per application. My experience: When I first received this product I swatched it on my arm. I really wanted to see how it felt and looked because I never used a gel or liquid highlighter before but I wasn’t immediately ready to try it on my face, just in case I had a reaction. I was really impressed! No reaction! The texture is a light and more of a liquid then I expected it to be for a gel but I figured this would help with the application and blending. First impression: It's hydrating, super glowy, and smells like coconut heaven! I usually opt for fragrance-free products but the coconut scent of this highlighter seemed light enough to wear on my face. Application: After learning about the benefits and ingredients I decided to try it out in my regular makeup routine. A little goes a long way with this product! You do not need a lot of this product and the recommended 2-3 drops per application, according to the Marc Jacobs website, is accurate. I tried applying it with both a brush and a sponge and definitely liked the sponge better. You need to work with this product quickly because it does set quickly, something I am not used to with powders. When I used the beauty blender I dabbed a few dots of it to my cheek bone and then started to blend it. I noticed that the spots where I originally dabbed were harder to blend out. This happened more-so with the brush application for me. I could see freckles of highlight after it blended and blended (if you know what I'm saying...) I finally was able to figure out what worked best for me: applying a small pump to the beauty blender, blending it as I apply, and then going back and adding more afterwards as needed. I don't entirely want to say that this highlighter tops all my powder highlighters... but it almost really does! I can see myself using it daily. It's a different application, a different feel, and a different finished look then what I am used too and thats what I love it! It's exactly what I needed but didn't know this whole time! This highlighter has a bit more actual sparkle in it then I tend to use but since it’s hydrating and beneficial for the skin I am willing to be a bit more sparkly! The color of this highlighter is YOU DEW YOU (I'm obsessed!) I can definitely see how this peach-golden hue can be flattering for all skin tones and I think it worked really well for my light skin tone. I don't naturally gravitate towards peachy hues; I usually opt for a more pearl/opal white color so this is a super new look for me! The bottle design is simple, clean, and well-made. I love the pump bottle because I feel like it’s more sanitary and can’t harbor bacteria. I also love that you can control just how much you dispense by adjusting the pressure you apply to the pump. Overall thoughts: I really enjoy this good-for-your-skin product! It's not something I would have picked out for myself if I were shopping around, but I do think if I spotted it beforehand I would have took the time to learn about it and try it. I am so grateful Influenster introduced me to it! I really like using this directly on my skin to highlight areas like my cheek bones, brow bones, bridge of my nose, and my cupids bow. I also tried mixing this with my foundation for an all-over glow and loved the look! It seems perfect for a day where I want to wear my makeup more natural. It's long-wearing and gives you a nice summer glow without that overpowering sparkle. Ready to get your coconut glow on? This highlighter retails for $44 for a 24 mL size bottle and is sold at: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2I4zKyH Sephora: https://seph.me/2MGHSZB Marc Jacobs Beauty: marcjacobsbeauty.com Thank you so much for reading! xo, Lauren Disclaimers: I received the item in this post complimentary from influenster for testing purposes. I only recommend products that I have personally used. Some links posted above may be affiliate links which means I make a commission if you purchase the item. I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal opinions. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

I have a never-ending interest in learning about different ways to live a healthier, more natural life and I want to share my ongoing journey of making the switch to more natural products. I’ve always loved trying new products and sharing my feedback so I thought, what could be more fun than potentially wasting my money or getting an allergic reaction by buying and trying some natural products just for you!? Absolutely nothing, I love it and am excited to share everything about this experience with you through informative posts, product reviews, and more! Here’s how my interest in switching to natural products started… When I was 20-something I developed a totally out-of-nowhere case of mild adult acne. After spending an excessive amount of time and money, from visiting dermatologists to researching online for hours, I decided to pick apart my findings, instead of my face, and make some lifestyle changes that I felt could not only improve my skin but my general health too. Alas! The acne has vanished, the clogged pores aren’t so clogged, and the under-eye skin is looking a bit more revitalized. When I took time to learn about the products I was using, I started to learn more about ingredients and how they effect us. From hormone disrupting parabens to carcinogenic chemicals… I wondered, “why am I even using any of this garbage?!” At this point, I knew making the switch to natural products would be more than worth it. No one likes to be at risk for life-threatening diseases, allergic reactions, and hormone disruptions, so why not fight back and make the natural switch with me!?​​ To give you some background, my professional experience is mostly retail store management and makeup artistry, however, studying diagnostic medical sonography for the last two years really introduced me to a whole new level of information. I am fascinated with the human body and am consistently cycling through information, talking with professionals and doctors, researching, and studying the human body. Working in the makeup industry allows me to meet new people all the time and when someone has similar concerns as myself, it’s only natural that I go into high-gear share mode and chat away! Talking with others is what motivated me to start putting this info out there, but I wasn’t sure how. I think I started a blog on about 4-5 different websites before I could decide on one! Allow me to give you a heads up if you don’t personally know me - I’m definitely a cheese ball with a quirky sense of humor who loves good sarcasm. You will get a sense of this through my writing. Aside from drinking way too much coffee and writing, you can find me working, hanging with my husband, family or friends, crafting up something I saw on pinterest, doing makeup, taking pictures, or working on some sort of media project. What can I say? I have a lot of interests and plan to explore them all! I’ll leave you with this - I could have been a doctor, should have been an scientist, would have been an esthetician but instead I’m just here writing this … So please be respectful, kind, and enjoy it as much as you can! Thanks so much for reading! -Lauren Disclaimer: I write all of my own posts which contain my own personal opinions. The information within my posts was obtained through research I’ve done. I always encourage everyone to research these topics I talk about to discover your own thoughts and opinions on it. I am not a doctor and I do advise you to use your discretion before trying anything at home. I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about any serious health questions.