“Self-care” is all the rage, and while much of it is necessary for a healthy and holistic life, more often than not, we don’t have the time, or simply can’t seem to justify the price-tag. That being said, showers are my ME time!! I take long, hot showers at night, and they are my favorite 20minutes of the day! Evening showers are my time to unwind– Winn is asleep– and I can relax, pamper myself, or just ZEN! Lately, three products have made this time even more luxurious, and they’re each under $20, so you’re not breaking the bank.
Fun fact, because I usually shower at night, I almost never use a hairdryer– healthier air dried hair FTW! Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Collection is everything you’d want in haircare and you can find it at your local Ulta or Walgreens. Get sexy windswept hair through tropical coconut oil & sea kelp that’s sulfate free, and moisturizing! This is in no way sponsored, y’all, I just genuinely enjoy this product line that much! If you trust me, go buy the entire collection now, it includes Moisturizing Shampoo, Conditioner, Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, Soft Waves Sea Salt Spray, Texturizing Cream, and their Texturizing Dry Shampoo (FAVE!) for only $35.
As you know from last year’s post on Beauty Detox, I’m always keeping an eye out for cleaner non-toxic beauty options– however, they need to do their job and they need to do it well. Recently, I stumbled across Patcha Soap Company, and their whipped soap scrub is GOLD!!! Dead Sea Mud whipped with natural exfoliants like sea salt, pumice, and volcanic ash, this scrub is not only deeply cleansing, but leaves your skin feeling smooth & rejuvinated! Patcha Soaps are crafted in the U.S. with no synthetic fragrances, SLS, sulfates, or parabens, and are cruelty free. In addition, Pacha Soap purchases help fuel “clean water initiatives, small-scale soap shops and other sustainable ventures in developing countries!” Naturally, I found this gem at Whole Foods, and despite our living near a city-sized Whole Foods, they still manage to keep a handful of scents stocked at all times. So far Dead Sea Mud is my favorite offering a deeper scrub, but I’ve also tried their French Lavender, and Limited Edition Holiday scent– both were incredible!
This year I made it my goal to prioritize skincare. However, the products I love are luxury items with a price-tag to match. I justify this, because when it comes to scrubs and masks, I often make these at home. These DIY blends are incredibly easy to make, are cost effective, and offer an opportunity to pamper your skin with natural ingredients that are chemical and toxin free. Simply mix the following 4 ingredients at a 1:2 ratio, you’ll need brown sugar, baking soda, your favorite face cleanser (I use Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleanser), and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (I use lavender and frankincense for their calming & firming properties). Fold your cleanser in well, and you should see a whipped butter-like consistency begin to form.
If you’re new to baking soda as an exfoliator, it’s finely ground yet hard making it effective at removing dead skin cells without causing too much irritation. In addition, it’s acid neutral. Personally, I’ll make a jar’s worth of this scrub at a time, but I don’t use it every day. I talk more about How to Curb Winter Skin here, but simply put, too much of anything can be a bad thing, so try every 2-3 days to start. For an even deeper scrub, apply scrub with minimal water to start.
Personally, I struggled for years to find a scrub I loved on the market, they were often to rough, had too many chemicals, or simply didn’t live up to their promise, which is what led to this recipe in the first place. It should go without saying that everyone’s skincare needs are unique, but this combination has proven to be a trusted part of my regular skincare routine, even if I change up the cleanser. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
