It’s time to add onto my “WHY ___?” series, featuring some of the fab wellness practices & go-to’s you guys ask me the most about. Because let’s be honest, I am obsessed with all of it, and I never stop searching for all of the high vibe amazingness to add to my routine.

We’ve covered “Why Probiotics?” “Why Panchakarma?” & “Why CBD?” to name a few… and now it’s time to hit up one of my favorite skincare practices!

This skincare must is also BUDGET-FRIENDLY, because I never want to neglect or alienate those who are dying to incorporate all things wellness & high vibe into their lives without breaking the bank.

You can buy one of these bad boys for about $8 on Amazon, and if you take good care of it, it will last you for a longggg time. There also more expensive options, depending on your preferences which I will link to throughout!

So, what is this skincare technique that I am raving on about?

Drum roll please…

JADE ROLLING.

Or should I say, gemstone rolling in general!

We all know I love crystals, so the first time I heard about putting crystals on my face for SKINCARE, it pretty much sounded like the most exciting idea ever.

Jade rolling has so many benefits for our skin, from the spiritual to the scientific. Of course I fell in love with it for the woo-woo reasons initially (crystals… I die for them), and wound up reaping the very pragmatic skincare benefits on top of it.

So let’s dive right into the WHY //

+ SPIRITUALLY… gemstone rolling has been an Eastern skincare practice for centuries, as jade is associated with protecting against negative energy and helping to balance our body’s energetic life force (or chi).

+ In Traditional Chinese Medicine, jade rolling is right up there with acupuncture & cupping when it comes to balancing us out where we are out of whack. Think anxiety, fatigue, pain, exhaustion, female problems, skin issues, etc.

+ SCIENTIFICALLY… jade rolling increases blood circulation, assists in lymphatic drainage, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.

+ It also helps serums, lotions and cleaners soak more deeply into our skin (right now I am loving my Botanics facial oil from their Organics line, CLEARstem anti-acne stem cell serum (created by my girl KAYLEIGH CLARK), Natura Culina cleansers, and all things Cocokind — especially the Turmeric Stick)

+ Personally I have found that jade rolling and rose quartz rolling for 10 minutes in the morning, and 10 minutes at night has reduced the puffiness in my face TENFOLD. It helps to drain the lymph so the bags under our eyes are not quite so dark / puffy, our cheekbones pop, and overall our face is slimmer and more naturally contoured.

+ It helps to stimulate collagen, brighten your complexion, and due to the energy-balancing properties can even boost your mood.

+ Our facial muscles store a LOT of tension (especially if you’re a grinder like me… #TMJproblems) so the roller helps to release those muscles and iron everything back out.

+ My facialist told me the other day that when her clients have terrible acne she spends the majority of time with them doing lymphatic drainage massage. The massage is extremely light to the touch since the lymph is directly under our skin, and it helps stagnant energy and fluids under the skin start moving to clear the way for releasing toxins.

And then there is the HOW //

+ The traditional way to do it is to roll the jade or quartz roller in an upward motion (we never want to pull our face down — gravity is already doing that LOL), working from the neck toward the forehead. Then move in an outward motion so the toxins and buildup are able to drain through the lymph nodes. (We have glands on either side of the neck, under the jaw, and behind the ears.)

+ Also, moving in the upward motion will help the skin cells absorb more product because of the way that they are shaped. Our skin is so sensitive, it will be so happy for the extra absorption boost.

+ You can do it for as little or as long as you’d like, but my preferred timing is 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night, when I have the time. That is when I really see the most benefits. Then when I am able to work regular facials into that routine, the benefits sky rocket!

+ It is shocking SIMPLE! It also feels REALLY GOOD and I like to spend a lot of extra time around my jaw line because of my TMJ.

Does it Actually Work? //

+ The most common question is… does it ACTUALLY work? (My BFF Rachel Mansfield asks me this daily, lol.) I think as with everything, we have to try it for ourselves and see if the practice resonates with us. For me personally… the answer is YES! Many of you know I struggle with hormonal acne and extreme skin disorders due to autoimmune responses, and this practice has greatly reduced inflammation, redness, puffiness, and acne… as well as contoured my face and made me feel more like ME!

+ There is no denying that it stimulates blood flow and collagen, because once you roll for about 10 minutes the proof is in the pudding. Your face will SHOW YOU what’s up, and it will feel and look very “drained” (lymphatically, not the tired kind of drained) and awake.

– If jade rolling doesn’t do it for you, I am also obsessed with this rose quartz roller. Rose quartz is all about LOVE, self-love, and self-care… so if you are trying to up your self-care vibes, this is a great place to start and will equally stimulate blood flow and reduce inflammation.

PRO TIPS //

+ Store your rollers in the fridge for an extra anti-inflammatory effect and a really delicious feel-good cooling facial massage… especially if you’re prone to redness and breakouts!

+ Meditate with the rollers once you get them and give them a purpose. Just like all crystals, your gemstone rollers will want to be given a unique purpose in order for the spiritual healing benefits to be ignited. You can even sage them or use Palo Santo to cleanse the energy when they first arrive to you!

+ Clean them under boiling hot water every few days to get the germs, products & toxins off — especially since you’re using on your face daily!

Options //

I linked to the $8 roller that I think is amazing. Take good care of it because I have noticed the wiring is a bit delicate so mine broke in my travel bag (sad) but then again I could have wrapped it up nicer before traveling and that wouldn’t have happened!

This is my personal fave rose quartz roller, and it works extremely well.

This is the jade roller I bought after my first one broke and it comes with a Gua Sha massage tool as well… which I also love!

YOU HONESTLY CAN’T GO WRONG so don’t feel obligated to spend more $ — they are all equally good in my opinion.

Should I do a YOUTUBE Tutorial for How to Jade Roll?! I just ordered a new vlogging camera and I am so freaking excited.

Thoughts?! Into it?! More skincare posts?!

Currently working on a FACIALS IN LA post that will likely go live this week… annndddd hosting a GIVEAWAY of one of my fave skincare serums (BOTANICS!) on my latest IG… go enter! You can enter as many times as you’d like!! XOXO

P.S. MY BLOG SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTER IS COMING BACK. I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY I COULD CRY. I LOST IT FOR TWO YEARS. Subscribe below to get back on the list. <3

[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ title=”1″ description=”1″]

LOVE Y’ALL HAPPY MONDAY!

I did them every week for a long time, and these days I do them as often as possible but would love to get back to the every Thurs routine at some point.

Anyway… there is so much to share. The SOUL ON FIRE Podcast just hit 2 million downloads (ahhh!) which is probably the most exciting thing to me ever, because I only released it last November and had pretty much NO expectations as to how it would be received or where it would go.

Now, it’s totally become one of my favorite ways to connect with you guys, and has spurred a SERIOUS spiritual awakening in me, thanks to so many of my guests being top of the line healers, spiritual teachers, mediums, and more.

If you haven’t listened yet, this week’s episode with the amazing Colleen McCann of Style Rituals is an amazing place to start! Colleen is a fashion stylist turned shaman, closet cleanser, intuitive crystal healer, and so much more.

And guess what? I will almost positively be attending Colleen’s shaman school next year in Nashville so…. if you live in TN, hit a sista up and I want to start planning some fun events and workshops while I am there!

( P.S. I am giving away a ‘Top 10 Blogging Tips’ document for anyone who rates & reviews the podcast on iTunes! I won’t be selling this doc or sharing it anywhere else, so screenshot me those reviews and I will share with you! )

So now, let’s dive into Loving Lately!

1. THIS Community! I’ve said it before and I will say it again, but I feel so deeply that you guys are the best, most positive and supportive community out there. I know that a lot of you read a lot of blogs, so the fact that this is one of them really means the world to me. We have the Soul on Fire Podcast Tribe group on Facebook, and every day I am blown away by the ladies (and dudes, occasionally!) sharing their hearts, helping each other out, meeting up and making friends with each other in their diff cities, supporting my events (!!) and so much more! I truly believe that when we share our best selves, authentically and from a deep-rooted genuine place, then that VIBE attracts our tribe. And I am lucky that you guys are mine. <3

2. Speaking of tribes… even beyond this awesome online community, I feel that my circle of people in Los Angeles (and other places that I spend my time like NYC) is growing in such a positive, supportive, spiritual, deep, powerful direction. This year alone I have been connected to so many people I had not met yet in this wellness and spiritual space, from the Elevate the Globe (formerly High Vibe Livin!) girls to Colleen McCann, to Kelsey Patel, to Marissa Lace, to Ashley Neese, to Sheena Mannina (all on the podcast!!), to a deeper connection with my Alo Yoga fam, to more deep rooted connections with friends of mine who are also into kundalini, reiki, crystals, shamanism, and all the good fun stuff that I’ve been obsessed with.

I am not just saying this to talk about ME, but to share with you that when you follow your  heart from a place of deep, authentic self then you also will connect with the people who are meant to be in your life and who will continue to set your soul on fire.

3. Events that are totally in line with where my heart and soul is! For a while, I was really overdoing it on the events. I was speaking on a lot of panels, agreeing to hosting all sorts of events everywhere where the pressure to share about said events and fill the space would totally eat away at me and would become a full-time job in itself. And of course there was also the whole teaching my twice – four times weekly yoga classes.

Now, I am really just saying YES to events that 100% serve my soul and feel in total alignment with what I am doing and where I want to go. Last weekend, our #livxtbb5k was a BLAST and it was so much fun teaching yoga alongside my soul sis Sophie Jaffe and collaborating with Brandin as we serendipitously and not even on purpose came up with on our latest TBB Podcast episode together!

I also taught at Alo Yoga on Monday night and the group of people who showed up were all so amazing and made me feel so much like we were all in the right place, where we were meant to be. We had yummy food and drinks from Sweetfin, Lifehouse, and REBBL and we just flowed in the sunset and had a great time. It was epic.

I have a few more fun events coming up before the summer ends so I will keep you guys all very posted! (Also in the FB group!)

4. SKINCARE! People ask me all of the time how I choose to take care of my skin. Not because my skin is perfect (it’s not), but because I am so cognizant of what I put onto my skin and because I am careful about it AND a huge proponent of eating loads of beauty foods (I’ll get to that in a sec) I like to believe y skin radiates from the inside out!

One, I interviewed the amazing How You Glow girls for TBB Podcast a couple of days ago (their episode will be out in 2 weeks!), and they inspired me with their words about creating content for their site. Mainly, they said they never wanted to be the types to “pump out content” — and they’d rather remain authentic to themselves and their audience, stay relaxed and not force content when it wasn’t going to happen.

I loved that! As someone with a very Type A personality, I feel like I can take a page out of their book with that one. I don’t think I necessarily ever “pump out content,” but I do feel the pressure from time to time to carve out extra hours to get content out even when I am swamped with other awesome things!

(Cant wait for you to hear their whole episode BTW. I interviewed Lauryn & Michael of The Skinny Confidential the next day, so there is a lot of fun stuff coming in podcast-land. Also a FITBIT GIVEAWAY for people who subscription, rate + review my podcast and screenshot me their review!! Open until Sunday.)

And…

The second thing I have to say about the weeklong hiatus is… there is so much going on in the TBB world right now, and it’s all so positive. Between the podcast, teaching yoga, working on my second book proposal, ANNDD finishing up my 500-hours at YogaWorks (literally two days away from being done), I haven’t had a lot of time for the last few weeks to sit down and blog.

The podcast is the most exciting part of that to me, because I’ve been told it helps bring my blog to life. Now you guys can read the blog and literally HEAR MY VOICE writing these words, which is exceptionally special to me because all I’ve ever wanted is for this blog to feel like a conversation.

I get excited just thinking about it.

All of that being said, I am headed to Bora Bora this Sunday with the fam and I CANNOT WAIT. I will have a lot of down time to write, write, and write some more while I am there. So expect a lot of blog posts, and please do share ideas if you have any topic requests. I am more than open.

Which brings me to today’s topic… natural beauty obsessions + real food thaaaangs that I’m really into right now //

Aight! So I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my skin lately. I will be the FIRST to admit that my skin is far from perfect… I literally have a clump of cystic acne on the far left side of my face right now, because #stress, but for the most part my skin is feelin; glowy these days + I’ve found a routine that really, really works for me. 

That routine is a combo of skincare products, supplements, hydration, and real food that I think has 1,000% all contributed to the glowiness of my skin.

None of this is sponsored, I am just sharing the utmost realness with y’all because I love you and I think these tips (other than the skincare products) are more than good for JUST skincare. Most of the below will enhance you’re overall lives, which is what I am most passionate about by far…

↠ ↠ So let’s get started!

SKINCARE + BEAUTY PRODUCTS //

↠ ↠ Rodan + Fields Unblemish & Soothe products: If you have listened to my podcast episode 8 with the fabulous skincare guru Lisa Hyde, then you know about my undying love for R+F. Lisa is a family friend, and when I was suffering from the worst parts of my post-eating disorder hormonal imbalance… my cystic acne and sensitive skin was out of control. Lisa recommended R+F Unblemish and Soothe, and the rest was history. I use a combo of the Unblemish #1 (sulfur wash), Unblemish #4 (daytime moisturizer), the toner (when I need an extra boost), and Soothe #2 and #3 for nighttime moisturizer and extra hydration. This combo helps keep the blackheads at bay and also keeps my skin nice, clean and moisturized.

↠ ↠ MUN Argan Oil: To be honest, I just discovered this product a few days ago. MUN is represented by a fab PR firm who I have done a lot of work with (Hi Kelly! Hi Dakota! Hi Gwyneth ;)) and I had the opportunity to try out their products in a gifting suite in WeHo a few days ago. Well, I freaking fell in love with the argan oil. You guys know I am not big into beauty products or makeup, but DAMN this stuff is working wonders on my skin. I have been looking for a good argan oil to mix with my foundation for quite some time, because my skin gets dry easily, and I feel like this has been a GAME CHANGER for me. I can’t wait to keep using it!! Obvi brand new in my life, but wanted to share how awesome I think this is — especially for those of us who like to go barefaced but also want to keep our skin supple, hydrated and glowy.

↠ ↠ Juice Beauty Foundation: As far as makeup goes, you guys know I don’t wear a lot of it. At all. I do like to wear a bit of light, my-skin-colored foundation to keep my complexion looking even because I do have sensitive skin that can breakout and get splotchy. I LOOOOVE this Juice Beauty foundation and simply cannot wait for you guys to see my video with Gwyneth where she picks out my makeup and walks me through which tones to use with my skin!! So soon!

↠ ↠ LONG BATHS! Seriously, the longer the better. Bubbles or not. I soak in the bath every single night and I swear it has helped nourish and hydrate my skin from the inside out.

SKIN-NOURISHING OBSESSIONS //

↠ ↠ Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: Well, if you don’t already know my obsession with collagen… you can read all about it here. Collagen is amazing for our skin, hair, nails, hormones, and so much more. Ultimately, I firmly believe that taking collagen peptides every day has changed my skin by nourishing it from the deepest layer — so literally from the inside out. I LOVE their vanilla flavor and add it into my coffee every morning. Sometimes I even mix it into yogurt. It’s also rocked my world with the strength of my nails, and my hair has never been thicker, shinier or faster growing.

↠ ↠ Vital Proteins Beef Liver: AND if you don’t know my beef liver obsession, you can read here. Beef liver is also super good for our hormones, skin, hair and nails. It is chock full of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals and is organically and naturally sourced. That last part is key. Putting whole, real, nourishing supplements into our body is just as important as putting whole, real, nourishing food into our body. Our skin will show the difference.

↠ ↠ Keto OS: You also probably know about my Keto OS obsession. I tried it for the first time about a month ago when I was in Santa Barbara with the fab Kelly Leveque. She had one of her clients on a keto cleanse (they were drinking bone broth too) and she gave me a packet to try. My brain alertness went through the roof, my body felt like I was walking on air, and the rest was history. I’ve since been taking it twice a day and have noticed a great amount of alertness, fat burning properties (not major weight loss but that’s not what I was looking for), daily motivation and mood enhancement, and it gives me the kickstart each morning to choose healthy, high fat, choices and be active.

If you order from their website, use ‘thebalancedblonde’ referral code. Yes, it is expensive… this formula is beyond cutting edge and hardly available elsewhere. You can also listen to podcast episode 14 to learn more, straight from the experts!

↠ ↠ Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil: Bulletproof products have been my jam for quite some time. In fact, I am trying my best to get Dave Asprey, the founder of the Bulletproof lifestyle, on my podcast ASAP! One of my fave Bulletproof products is Brain Octane Oil (aka MCT oil) which is a medium chain triglyceride oil that is full of healthy fats and fat burning properties. Clearly it fits with my keto lifestyle too. I am not labeling my diet as keto or bulletproof, but I do feel best when I stick roughly to those guidelines.

↠ ↠ Mag O7: This is another product that my fab nutritionist and dear friend Kelly introduced me to. I think I must have been deficient in magnesium before I started taking this, because my digestion has never been totally regular without this. It’s not to be taken every day, but can be taken up to 10 days in a row. It releases oxygen into the digestive system, which gets things moving in a healthy and natural way. Also, the influx of magnesium in my system I believe has also been good for my skin. When our digestion isn’t flowing properly, it shows in our skin. I have been glowing ever since beginning to use it!

REAL FOOD FOR SKIN //

↠ ↠ High quality FATS: Don’t fear the fat, my loves. Wild caught salmon, avocado, coconut butter and oil, olive oil, organic sprouted nuts, bone broth, organic chicken with the skin on it, ghee and MCT oil are all fabulous sources of fat. Same with the Keto OS powder! I swear by these high quality fats in my diet. It feels like I am rubbing their moisture directly onto my skin (LOL — weird thing to say? Probably, but true) because my skin radiates the benefits so much when I eat a high fat diet!

↠ ↠ Bulletproof Chocolate: YEP, I’m telling you that you can legit eat chocolate every day and it will be great for your skin. I eat this bulletproof chocolate like it’s my job, and basically any brand that doesn’t use refined sugar or sweetener. Dark cacao is where it’s at. Chocolate is FOOD, people! It’s amazing!

↠ ↠ Ghee, ghee & more ghee: I mentioned it above, but its amazing. I discovered how well my body responds to ghee when I did my Panchakarma, and I am so thrilled that it’s now a huge staple in my diet. I put it on eggs, in my coffee, mix it in with quinoa and sweet potato, and so much more! I like Fourth & Heart ghee a lot and all of their fab flavors.

↠ ↠ WATER! Without hydration, you’ve got nothin’! I am all about the water, all day every day. I drink more than 8 glasses a day. It’s nothing to go overboard with, but make sure you’re staying hydrated. Your skin WILL show a huge difference if you’re not!

I have so many more tips & tricks up my sleeve, but for the sake of keeping this post under 2,000 words (lol) — we will get to those another day!!

Let me know below if you have any Q’s! I want to do a giveaway of some of the above stuff soon. And make sure you enter my FITBIT giveaway by subscribing, rating and reviewing the podcast!!! Hope everyone has the best weekend! XX

Something I have not talked about much on the blog so far is my skincare journey. I have had quite a doozy of a few years with my skin.

Today I interview Lisa Hyde, skincare expert & Rodan + Fields consultant (also my dear friend and neighbor), on my podcast so we can share ALLL of our tips and tricks with you!

Lisa and I discuss both of our hormone imbalances that lead to crazy skin problems (cystic acne and malasma for her, cystic acne and scarring for me), the unfortunate way that super rigorous exercise added to our hormone problems, our beauty foods that we stick to now for glowy skin, the skincare routines we discovered that saved our faces (literally) and so much more.

Episode on LIBSYN! And episode on iTunes! (Subscribe if you likey!!!)

We also talk about our facialist and aesthetician in Santa Monica, Mojgan, that SAVED our lives by being awesome and giving us life changing facials and peels and non-invasive treatments — you can find her here.

Anyway, here is our podcast episode — listen, listen and share your thoughts! We recorded this the DAY before I got sick… so my voice was still in tact, unlike the interview I have coming next week (lol, but really).

And for those of you who want to read a bit more about my skincare journey (I know some of you are readers as opposed to pod listeners, which I totally get), here is the breakdown:

I had the clearest of clear skin up until I was about 22. If I had a “breakout,” it was a pimple or two on my chin that went away within a couple of days. Every time I complained about my skin having a minor break out, my friends rolled their eyes and told me, “your skin is perfect, you have NOTHING to complain about.”

Fastforward to turning 22-ish and living in New York. Plant-based vegan. Not getting enough nutrients. Living in the freezing cold. Skin as turning orange from too much beta-carotene.

And then the blackheads started coming. I swear it was overnight… I woke up one morning and had probably ONE THOUSAND blackheads deep underneath my skin, in all of the hormonal areas. Around my mouth, on my chin, and all over my forehead.

Of course, being an OCD person who was not used to skin problems at all, I started popping them like crazy. It became a daily and nightly ritual… so my face was pretty much red, irritated and exploded ALL of the time.

I found a few things that helped a bit, but every time my skin started to show signs of slightly clearing up, it would blow up again — but ten times worse.

There were times when I truly had red MOUNTAINS on my face. Like a fire. It was insane.

I was also exercising extremely rigorously, running all the time, and had transitioned back to a regular non-vegan diet.. and my hormones were OUT of control.

Between a combo of starting to see a  functional medicine doctor (Dr. Lekkos, you can read more about him here), determining that I had WAY too much cortisol and estrogen in my system and was low on progesterone, discovering LISA (on the pod today!!!) and her amazing R+F products (specifically the Unblemish and Soothe regimens), and then Mojgan (facialist), and starting to slow my routine down / workout less rigorously, I was FINALLY able to get my skin under control.

Say hi to LISA! I told you her skin was perfect. : ) 

I also started introducing lots of healthy-skin foods and supplements into my life… like Vital Proteins collagen peptides and Beef Liver, taking b-12 supplements, eating tons of healthy fats like avocado, coconut butter / oil, olive oil, freshwater fish and sprouted nuts.

And now, guess what?! My skin is CLEAR. Like, very clear. I still get the occasional breakout, and my hormones are far from perfect (still working on those…), but it has done a serious 180 from where I was just 6-9 months ago.

Look at this CRAZY collage of a deep peel I did with Mojgan that took off all the infected skin last April — woah chicka woah.

So yes, I am happy to be very open about my own skincare journey and hormone issues in hopes that it helps any of you who are struggling, and also serves as a warning to those of you who are thinking about living an extreme lifestyle like plant-based vegan with excessive amounts of exercise.

Lisa’s story is FASCINATING too, so you must listen to the pod!! She was a diehard Tracy Anderson girl and developed all sorts of skin, body and hormone imbalances due to the rigorous workout life and not getting enough nutrients.

Her whole story is in the pod, and mine!! Also, check Lisa out here, on her Instagram @lisaslovelyskin, and this awesome new YouTube video describing her business!! XO

And now I can take no makeup selfies like this all the time with nooooo skin worries at all. SCORE.

Ever since my Panchakarma, people have been telling me that I’ve been glowing from the inside out. To me, there is no higher compliment in the world.

I put such an emphasis on taking care of myself from the inside out so I can radiate those good vibes and inner health on the outside… So when my skin actually shows it, I am real happy.

That’s why my main stipulations for skin products are: natural, skin-healthy ingredients and no steroids.

In the next few weeks I’m going to do a big roundup of all of the skin products that have helped my skin calm down (and glow! yayyyy), but today we are going to focus on my lifesaver Eczema Balm from Skinfix. 

First, there are a fewwww things you may not know about my skin if you don’t know me super well, so let’s get into it.

Story time:

1. A) I have SUPER sensitive skin… My legs, chest, and arms get inflamed with eczema if I don’t take every precaution against it. (Main precautions = showering right after the gym, wearing sunscreen in the heat, always staying super moisturized, sleeping enough, resting when stressed & using my Skinfix Eczema Balm). More on that in a sec.

22. B) I had always had very clear skin until I was about 22. I was vegan at the time, and my skin was starting to get super orange and I started to get a lot of breakouts and rashes around my lower face area. Then, when I reintroduced meat, my hormones went CRAZY & my skin went absolutely batshit. I broke out like wildfire in all of the hormone-sensitive areas… around my chin and lower cheeks. It was a nightmare.

For the first time in my LIFE I started having to think about wearing foundation and face makeup to go out in public. I am very, very low maintenance when it comes to makeup… and by that, I mean I legit don’t wear any.

More on my acne story another time, but it was all pretty nuts until I got it under control.

Beyond the acne issue that I experienced post-veganism, I have had sensitive skin for as long as I can remember. I am a highly sensitive person (if you can relate- you’ve gotta read this book if you haven’t yet on Highly Sensitive People… it’s seriously life changing), so from my digestion to my skin I experience a ton of sensitivity.

Beauty foods + essential oils + my fave skincare!

Insert… eczema. It happens to the best of us. Actually, eczema chronically affects about 1 in 5 adults and every year that number continues to rise. Which makes me think that everything going on in our environment is not helping… which really freaks me out. But more on that another day.

Eczema is extremely uncomfortable. My skin will get dry, red, itchy and flaky with absolutely no warning — none. 

Unfortunately most of the products on the market have steroids in them, which honestly do more harm than good to our skin’s natural moisture barrier. Skinfix Eczema Balm is a natural medicinal alternative that really, really works. It is packed with 2% colloidal oatmeal – twice the level of other eczema products! And did I mention NATURAL?

The other thing it does is repair the skin barrier with natural shea butter, soothing botanicals and emollient protective oils. It contains 0% water, so the healing is concentrated. 

I like to use the balm specifically for my eczema flare ups along with my other Skinfix products like the Soothing Body Cream and Soothing Lotion so that my skin glows from the inside out.

It’s pretty amazing what using natural products will do for you on the inside. I personally feel so much better about what I’m putting on my skin when I know it’s natural — which I truly believe makes the product work better too because there is no stress on my side.

Our skin is our largest organ so we have to take care of it (!!!!). 

And no one wants to deal with feeling uncomfortable. We are all busy, on the go people! We shouldn’t have to deal with nasty breakouts and eczema rashes all over our bods. 

If you haven’t tried Skinfix yet, you should definitely check it out. You know I only recommend tried and true products to you guys… Things that I really love, use, and believe they WORK. Obviously we are all different so what works for me may not work for you, but it is worth a shot.

Also, FYI: I was compensated by Skinfix to write this post. It’s an awesome partnership because I genuinely love the company and it’s been a blast to watch them grow!

Leave any questions  below and I’ll be sure to get them answered for you! Who else has experienced the issue of eczema? It’s National Eczema Month, so now is the time to get the conversation going! <3

You are HOME. You get to chill out, zen out, do your thing, tap into your thoughts, and get back to the beauty of making you as “YOU” as possible.

That truly is my favorite part of my day, and next in line is my morning routine. There’s something about those special pockets at the beginning and end of each day that make me feel so centered and whole. They remind me why I like to do this life thing. (Especially because I am so go, go, go, GO during the day.)

It’s comforting to have a routine. If I’ve learned anything from my Ayurvedic studies lately, it’s that having a go-to routine grounds us, and it actually sets us up to have far less stress throughout our days / lives because our bodies are programmed to know that we will have that time to unwind.

It’s also just fun at the end of the day to get cozy, do what brings us joy, and shake off the good and maybe not as good parts of our days. My “unready” routine is my time to do what it is I love most… Spend time with Huddy, stretch on my yoga mat, burn a bunch of yummy smelling candles, get upside down a little, take off my makeup, get into my comfy pajamas, and hop into bed with a good book.

If every day could end that way I’d be happier than life, and probably far calmer than I currently am. I try to save at least half of my evenings throughout the week to go through that “unready” routine in one way or another, but sometimes I have events/plans/life things that get in the way. That’s okay too — every day can’t possibly be the exact same as the one before it!

Even when I can’t go through my full nighttime unready routine, I do have a few non-negotiables:

1. Make ginger tea or vanilla tea to sip on before bed
2. Do at least five minutes of stretching / meditating (usually joined by Hudson)
3. Wash my face thoroughly + properly… And I say thoroughly + properly because dousing my skin in water and rubbing it off with a wash cloth doesn’t cut it. I am very particular about my products and like to always make sure I am using something that works with my sensitive and particular skin
4. Brush my teeth / scrape my tongue (Ayurveda sneaking its way in there again!)

I am so stoked to have partnered with Neutrogena & their Deep Clean Gentle Scrub to bring you this post. Since I am crazy careful about what I put on my skin, I did some major research before making this a part of my routine… And all of the ingredients totally fit the bill for what I like to use.

The product is oil-free, non-comedogenic, contains Beta Hydroxy to cleanse deep into pores (for acne-prone people like me) and keep your skin nice and blackhead-free.

When it comes to my unready routine, I rotate my skincare to make sure that my skin is getting what it needs and not too much of one thing / too little of another. I like to use the scrub a couple of times a week, and I like to supplement it with gentle cleansers (like my fave light sulfur wash), a monthly facial, and tons of moisturizer.

After face washing time, it’s tongue scraping / teeth brushing time, and then reading time.

My current fave nighttime reads are: Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, Sugar Crush (an amazing book about how sugar effects our bodies… it’s a must-read), and Bad Feminist (a smart and hilarious collection of essays by Roxanne Gay).

And yes, I mentioned the tea addiction. It’s real. That’s what happens when you stop drinking coffee. Tea addiction turns into a full-blown thing.

What’s your favorite kind of tea? And your favorite way to take care of your skin? What about books that you like to read at night? The unready routine is the best. <3

ALSO, Target is offering a buy-one-get-one 25% off when you buy both the wipes and the scrub! Make sure to check it outttt, my boos. You know you’ll find yourself at Target soon and fill your cart with all sorts of other things anyway, why not get a discount?! The Double Cleansing Method works wonders!! XO

You already know I’m a strong believer in eating only the most nourishing foods for my body. I fuel my body with healthy, real foods so that I always feel my best and can be confident that I’m treating it the way it deserves to be treated. My body is good to me, so I wanna show it some love back, ya KNOW?

Living a balanced life means making good choices not only about what goes in my body, but also about what goes on it. And that’s why I’ve been so so SO in love with having a NATURAL beauty routine — which for me usually means skincare routine, because we know I don’t wear a lotta makeup.

Putting harsh chemicals on my skin is not my ish. I only have one face, one head of hair, and one body, so I’m gonna treat them well. I recently sat down at DERMSTORE STUDIOS to film a fun “At Home Spa Day” video & tell you guys about my fav products (all of which they totally carry — whoop whoop!).

Most beauty products on the market right now have a few too many chemicals for my liking. Check your product labels. Do you know what any of the ingredients even are? Most beauty products are filled with harsh chemicals, artificial ingredients, and parabens that I do not want near my skin – especially my face!

A lot of those sketchy, unpronounceable chemicals totally put your skin’s pH balance out of whack, and if I want my skin to be anything, you know I want it BALANCED! If you have sensitive skin like me, then it’s even more important that you use gentle, natural beauty products that will nourish and soothe your skin.

It’s taken a loooot of trial and error and quite a few late nights researching (serious biz, guys), but I think I’ve discovered some very favs — for now, at least. You know this routine is ever evolving!!

So let’s get into da real info. Ready? LET’S GO.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: Y’all know I live on the go. On the fly. Unprepared. Going somewhere. Always. #cantstopwontstop. Dry shampoo is a MUST so that my hair isn’t a total greaseball when I go from a workout to a business meeting to a night out. The oat milk in this dry shampoo is my fav part because it totally refreshes my hair without me having to actually wash it. Love love love that these ingredients are natural, and it def doesn’t hurt that this leaves my hair smellin’ oh-so-fine.

Eminence Facial Recovery Oil: This is really a miracle worker for much-needed hydration. If you haven’t hopped on the face oil bandwagon yet, I highly suggest you try it. This won’t clog your pours — trust me, that was my initial fear.  This oil contains herbs and nourishing oils, like olive oil and Vitamin E, that are super soothing and help to balance out the natural oils in your skin. Put it on at night, soak in the moisture, and wake up with a baby smooth face. You’re welcome.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil: After a crazy day running around (or even just laying in my bed writing all day), I need to get ALL residue off of my face so I can feel fresh and clean. I love this cleanser because it thoroughly cleans my skin without stripping it of its natural moisture, and it perfectly preps my face for any other products I want to use afterwards. It also helps fight breakouts… Which I def need. #sweatygymselfies, you guys know this.

GlamGlow THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment Masque: Every girl’s gotta have a high-quality face mask in her beauty arsenal. First of all, the packaging of this product is my favorite. That shimmery blue!!! But why I’m actually obsessed with this mask is because it sucks out all of the impurities in my skin and somehow manages to leave it totally moisturized afterwards. I reallllly don’t like that “stripped skin” feeling, which is why I’m addicted to this. Perfect for a DIY spa night with the girls, or for whenever you just wanna treat yo’self! (Also perfect to rock in cute Snapchat selfies, just saying.)

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask: I’ll admit it, I can be pretty harsh on my hair. Highlights on highlights. This hair mask leaves my hair soooo nourished and soft. Kinda makes me want to whip my hair around like I’m in a Pantene commercial, LOL. Which I do, thanks to Chels in my photo shoots. No sulfates, no silicones, no parabens, no problems.

Alterna CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction Leave-In Hair Perfector: Any product with “10-in-1” in its name sets some pretty high expectations and usually makes me roll my eyes, but this one does not disappoint. Literally obsessed with this. It has CAVIAR IN IT, GUYS. A leave-in treatment is so so necessary to prevent our hair from breaking and drying out. #fancy #iloveit

So, what do ya think? Interested in diving into a natural beauty routine?! All of my faves (and a million other amazing products that I have yet to try) can be found at Dermstore, so check ‘em out! Like I said, I made a fun vid with them, so feel free to watch if you want some live-action #TBB reviews!

I’m obviously going to continue the hunt for THE BEST natural beauty products on the market, so expect more videos about natural skincare coming very very soon to #TBBTV. Make sure you SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss the fab newness!

What are your favorite natural beauty products?! Let me know in the comments and I’ll def check them out! Remember, natural beauty products are just an addition to the natural beauty that shines through when you’re being the best version of yourself that you can, so go out there and keep killin’ it and being YOU. XO

Active Ingredients: zinc oxide 15%, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil 7%, colloidal oatmeal 2%, allantoin 1%.

Inactive Ingredients: beeswax/cire d’abeille, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, buxux chinensis (jojoba) oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil, paraffin wax, petrolatum, tocopherol.

SO! Who wants healthy skin? I’m going to be doing a takeover on Skinfix‘s Instagram next week and I cannot wait!!!! Check them out at Target, and if you try it, let me know your thoughts!

ALSO… THE BOOK — Have you read it? Have you received it in the mail? Have you seen it in your local B&N?

Lately I’ve been yearning for more variety on the blog… More RECIPE content and more listy list content again. I am trying to squeeze in writing about that stuff as much as I can, and above all I want to focus on what you guys want to see. Sometimes the best thing is to reach out to you guys and say HEYYY what do you want to read about?!

It’s you guys that give me the ability to blog for a living after all.

( Thanks for that! )

I LOVED the suggestions I got through Snappy (my Snap username is jojoyounger… Add me!) and one that popped up again and again was what sort of foods to eat for glowing, radiant, healthy skin. Thanks to my IIN days and my obsessive compulsive research on the topic, I have a lot of answers for you on that front.

Eating well is huge when it comes to the health of our skin. After all, our skin is the largest organ in our body… Of course what we put into our bods is going to affect it! Have you ever noticed that after a long night out (with a little too much alc, perhaps?) you wake up a few mornings later and your face is zit-city? Alternately, have you noticed that after sleeping well and remaining super hydrated your skin thanks you by looking a little more glowy and clear?

The difference between the two ain’t no joke. Our skin reacts to the way we treat our bodies just like the rest of our organs and muscles do. Aside from getting a good amount of SLEEP, staying above and beyond hydrated (Liquid IV, anyone?), finding a facial cleanser that works well for your particular skin type and learning to manage our stress levels and balance our time, it’s all about da food.

At the risk of sounding like a Dr. Suess book (who am I kidding, I effing love Dr. Suess)… WE ARE WHAT WE EAT. Why not be a healthy reflection of those choices?

Top 5 Foods to Nourish Your Skin & Make you GLOW from the Inside Out:

1. AVOCADO: Ohhh, the heavenly avocado. Everyone loves a good avo. Avo is trendy right now, avo is in. But it’s not just the creamy texture and the super Instagrammable avo toast served up at brunch that make us love incorporating avocados into our diet. Aside from the moisturizing monounsaturated fatty acids abundant in avocados that maintain necessary moisture in the epidermal layer of our skin, they are FULL of antioxidants and anti-aging properties. There is plenty of beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein, which are all free radical compounds that protect us from environmental damage and other visible signs of aging. Moral of the story: keep slathering avocado on your toast, because it’s working wonders for ya.

Farmer’s market avo perfection!

2. COCONUT OIL: Okay, so I’m no longer into using coconut oil ON my skin, because my skin is prone to getting oily and my pores getting clogged. Not cool. But whether or not you’re into putting coco oil ON your face, eating it is pretty darn great for your skin too. It’s full of hydrating properties, good fats, and fatty acids. The more good fats you can pack into your body (saturated is okay as long as it’s in moderation and comes from a natural source like coconuts), the more good you’re doing for your skin, hair and nails. When I was using coconut oil as a lotion for my hands, my nails were thicker and stronger than ever before. Think of the impact it has on your skin in the same way. I like to mix a tablespoon of it into my smoothies in the morning or eat it in raw desserts (yummy) to incorporate it into my diet.

Raw vegan PB cups yummy!!

3. BERRIES: We all know that berries are bursting with antioxidants, but I think the greater question here is what do antioxidants DO for us and why are they so important? Your body needs antioxidants to fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals which can lead to illness, imbalance, poor skin, and all sorts of other health issues. Antioxidants are pretty much preventative measures, just like eating well and making healthy choices in all areas. Berries have all sorts of antioxidants from Vitamin C to quercetin (yes, I know, what is that)– it reduces inflammation and may prevent and manage arthritis. Antioxidants are also good for memory and anti-aging. Berries are the all around best for health in general– and definitely for skin. I choose dark berries like raspberries, blueberries and blackberries!

4. WATTERRR: Okay, I know, water isn’t a FOOD, but I couldn’t get very far down this list of skin-healthy foods without mentioning the vast importance of hydration. Have you ever seen those “before & after” pics of people who are severely dehydrated and then another photo of the same person once they’ve been drinking enough water per day for 2 weeks? They look like TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. Your skin absorbs water like a sponge, and it needs hydration in order to stay supple and clear. Water helps with absorption, circulation and digestion– meaning that when you’re hydrated, your body is able to hang onto all the good stuff better and rid yourself of the bad stuff. People who are dehydrated tend to have dry, flaky, irritated skin, among a whole other host of issues. If you want an EXTRA boost of hydration in your water, check out Liquid IV— they have a cellular transportation technology that allows the hydration to get into your bloodstream much faster than with water alone. (Not an ad, literally just obsessed with LIV.)

Waiakea is one of my favorite waters by far. It’s Hawaiian Volcanic Water that originates from snowmelt and rain on an active volcano in Hawaii… pure and amazing. It is filtered through volcanic rock and naturally enriched with minerals. They ALSO donate 650 liters of clean water to those in need through Pump Aid for every liter sold. PRETTY AWESOME.

5. FISH!

Fatty acids, omega 3’s, good fats, GOOD SKIN!!! An international study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who ate diets high in fish and seafood had less skin wrinkling overall (COOL), which is likely due to the fact that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and seafood slow down the wrinkling process. Wrinkle development is rooted in inflammation… So if your skin is less inflamed, it will stay nice & young & pretty for much longer.

Omega-3s can also help combat acne in a similar way. AND they have mood-regulating benefits, which can help with the stress component of having acne. They say that four to five servings of fish per week will give you the omega 3s you need in your system to stay clear of inflammatory acne. Fish oil supplements (my fav brand is linked) will do the trick too!!! Especially for those of you who can’t imagine eating that much fish in a week.

Wild salmon — not farm-raised — is one of the best food sources for omega-3 fatty acids, which helps keep your skin stay moisturized. Salmon also has selenium, a mineral that protects the skin from sun exposure. Woo woo!!!

I will follow up with the next 5 ASAP, but wanted to get this up and out to you guys now!!! Tell me what else you want to see as far as content goes… This requesting ish is FUN!

What people mainly ask me is whether I follow a natural, organic, plant-based skincare routine similar to the way that I eat?

{ Face Mask Queen!!! }

The answer is what you probably could have guessed: yes, I believe in the importance of plant-based skincare (and natural ingredients, because my skin is so sensitive!!) but I don’t get totally crazy about it if I use something here or there that isn’t natural or plant-based.

I went through a phase where I was so addicted to living the all natural life that I didn’t use anything on my skin at all except for a face cleanser and moisturizer… wait, that was a phase that lasted almost my entire life, lol.

One of the reasons I am okay with being more lax now about it is because I am educated about the importance of plant-based skin care and what it can do for me. I like to spend a ton of time in the sun (helloooo, Costa Rica!) and I know I have to take care of my skin well if I want to age well… which I definitely, most certainly do.

So, here I am with this post to educate YOU about the importance of a natural skincare routine, what to look for, and some of my favorite products.

A skincare line that I absolutely love is called Boots Botanics. They offer tons of great skin-friendly options that I have been really into using for hydrating, moisturizing, toning, exfoliating and cleansing. They also have super cute lip glosses and roll-on lipsticks that my lips are pretty addicted to… yes, I have them in nearly every color. #balanced

Boots Botanics‘ have a line called Organics, which is my fave. Each of the 10 products in the line are all 80-100% organic, and the materials that are used in the products are produced in a way that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes the essential nature of the source. (I.e. their hibiscus, gingko, willowbark, rosehip, purple orchid, Iceland moss, Vetiver… etc.)

Plus, they don’t test on animals and there are no animal-derived ingredients. Like I said, I don’t limit myself to non-animal tested products because there are so many things I try to juggle in my mind on a daily basis to be as good to the environment as possible—but, when I find a good company that doesn’t test on animals I definitely consider it a huge plus.

Also there are no parabens in the products, which is necessary for my sensitive skin! Some of my favorite products of theirs are the Organic Facial Oil & the Ultra Calm Skin Calming Serum – trust me, I needed that. My skin, on a usual day, is the opposite of calm!

Plus, do you wanna learn some fun things about all-natural skin product ingredients that you might not have known before?

Hibiscus: Has natural AHAs that act as a mild exfoliator to leave skin smooth, glowing & bright!

Gingko: Has natural antioxidants that prevent collagen and elastin from breaking.

Willowbark: Has salicylic acid that reduces the size of pores and improves blemishes. (I need this the most!)

Rosehip: Super nourishing, as it has natural Omega-3 and 6 oils that keep skin looking supple & healthy.

Vetiver: Nice & relieving for our skin! It has a natural aromatic scent that relaxes and relieves tension and insomnia. (Hello, you know I am an insomniac extraordinaire!)

Purple Orchid: Has natural sugars and polyphenols that help smooth and plump lines and wrinkles.

Marshmallow Calming!!! It has natural sugars and polyphenols that make skin less reactive.

Iceland Moss: It moisturizes, and has natural sugars that help calm and hydrate the skin. Especially good for those of us with dry skin.

And now that you are hip on some of the sweet all-natural ingredients in many plant-based skincare products (and especially in Boots’ products), I will give you a little rundown on my personal skincare routine:

When I am on vacation, like I just was, I add some extra hydrating steps, so keep that in mind when reading:

My Personal Skincare Routine:

Okay, so! The number one thing I try not to do is pick my face – I used to be (and as in “used to” I mean I haven’t done it in a week so I’m pretending like I don’t do it anymore) a major skin picker. I use q-tips to squeeze my skin/black heads when I’m stressed, and let’s be honest… who doesn’t love how satisfying it is to watch those puppies come right out of your face and be gone forever.

And if I am going to pick my face, I make sure to do a couple of things first: shower in a super hot shower to get my pores nice and open; exfoliate (with hibiscus products, now that we know they are a natural exfoliant); cleanse with warm water; and moisturize directly afterward. And always use a q-tip or tissue! Don’t put your hands on your precious face… no matter how clean your hands are!

When I’m not picking, I have a pretty standard routine: Shower, exfoliate all over with a hibiscus scrub & a dry brush (I am addicted to dry brushing! More on that soon. Such an amazing stress-reliever and so good for our skin), and cleanse with a gentle, all-natural cleanser (I am loving the organic softening cleanser from Boots’ Organics package).

About twice a week I like to do a clay mask (see above! Yummay) after I shower to remove impurities, cleanse a little deeper and also because doing a face mask helps me to relax and officially begin the chill out part of my day – something I am always trying to work on. The Boots mask has willowbark in it, which helps to reduce pores and clarify. Heck yes.

If I don’t do a face mask then I usually apply some sort of 100% organic facial oil. It’s super important to me that this oil be all-natural, and then I cleanse it very well afterward. My skin tends to be a little oily to begin with, so the nourishing oils from a facial mask are great to give it the hydration it needs. Then I need to make sure I get it all off!

So I cleanse, and then the most important step (in my opinion): I moisturize like craaayyy-zay! If it’s nighttime, then I use an overnight, thicker moisturizing lotion. In the daytime I use a thinner variety with SPF.

And of course I put body butter all over my bod after I shower, because I am addicted to lotions and how amazing and calming they are – just like my candle addiction.

So, there you have it my loves! I would never use so many products on my body if they weren’t natural / easy on the skin, because my skin would flare up in a hot second.

What are your thoughts?! Do you have a natural skincare routine? Fav products?! Let me know! Visit Boots‘ website to learn more about their awesome products & fall in love as much as I have.