SELF CARE IN QUARANTINE: A CLEAN AND NATURAL BEAUTY ROUTINE IN 6 STEPS

Wednesday morning was rough. I woke up and started immediately thinking about next week and next month and I felt myself spiraling. One day at a time is no joke - it’s really what’s getting me through this quarantine right now. That and getting up and jumping into this new self-care routine. It only takes 10 minutes!

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DRUNK ELEPHANT VITAMIN C SERUM

This is the first product I’ve tried from Drunk Elephant and I really like it so far. It suggests that you leave it in the fridge for maximum potency which I’ve been doing. It makes it really refreshing in the morning! This product leaves your skin feeling sticky so I like to apply an additional serum over it like this one from Strange Bird.

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STRANGE BIRD INNER LIGHT MOISTURIZER

I started using Strange Bird about a month ago. I use the serum and moisturizer almost every morning and night and the cleanser only in the evenings. I can tell you from experience that not all natural skincare is created equally! These products smell amazing and they actually work! My skin has been smooth and glowing. Strange Bird is a female-founded small business and is local to CT. Use code Stephanie15 for 15% off.

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KJAER WEIS FOUNDATION

Pro-tip: Before applying an organic or natural concealer, dab a bit of face oil around your eye bone. They tend to be a little dryer then the chemical ones and this helps glide the foundation on and also leaves that area “glow”.

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KJAER WEIS CREAM BLUSH

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GUCCI WESTMAN MASCARA

It took me forever to find a clean and natural mascara that actually WORKS! This one isn’t inexpensive but I love it. It stays on all day and when I need to take it off at night, I don’t loose all of my eyelashes! I was shocked when that happened with other clean brands I tried.

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NATURAL DEODORANTS AND HOW I FIXED MY SMELLY PITS

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a n a t u r a l s o l u t i o n

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A little part of me just died of embarrassment typing out the title of this post. In the beginning of the Fall I shared on Instagram my struggles with finding a natural deodorant. None of them worked for me and I was inevitably smelly mid-way through the day. I figured it was just me, my chemistry, and I (and Frank) would have to live with it…forever! When I shared my pain in stories one day last summer, I was shocked at how many responses I received. Almost 1,000 messages with suggestions of natural deodorants that worked for you and also so many messages asking for me to share my findings. I’m so happy I shared…because it led me to this point…smell-free!

Have you ever heard of an armpit detox? I hadn't. Pretty Frank, formally known as Primal Pit Paste makes one and it is incredible. It saved me. The new name makes me laugh…maybe I should pitch Frank to them as their knew spokesman:) Anyway, the way it works is you literally are detoxing your armpits with their baking soda and charcoal deodorant sticks. I did it for three weeks. They also include a primer to calm irritation during the process but I didn’t find it necessary. My only warning re: the process is to be careful when using the charcoal at night - it will stain your light colored clothing.

After the detox it was like magic. I started re-testing all of the natural deodorants I was interested in and they were working! Some better than others, but for the first time I was able to WORK OUT and not smell. I’ve rounded up my top picks below with my favorite being the one from Corpus.

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pretty frank (formally primal pit paste)

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corpus

I love everything about this one - the packaging, the smell, and most importantly I love that it goes on clear. It also doesn’t stain my white shirts.

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native

This was my second favorite. It worked, but I didn’t love the first scent I tried. I do recommend it however if you’re looking to switch to natural.

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Agent Nateur - The Holi stick

This is the one I was using (and smelling with) before I did the pit detox. Now? I can wear it no problem. They also make one for Men that Frank uses.

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10 WAYS I PRACTICE SELF-CARE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

‘You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first”

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1.

get a 15 minute chair massage

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2.

buy grocery store flowers and arrange them

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3.

face mask and a bath before bed

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4.

try a new coffee shop with a friend

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5.

diffuse essential oils and meditate or close your eyes for 15 minutes. If you’re at work, take a break to apply an essential oil roller ball to the palms of your hands and take a few deeps breaths

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There is no doubt that self-care is essential to living a happier life. I love treating myself once in a while to a facial, fancy dinner, or a new splurge item from my wishlist, but thats not realistic on a weekly basis. Its important to find things that don’t cost a fortune so that you can feel good about doing them, often!

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6.

listen to a podcast with a cup of tea

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7.

take a few extra minutes to make something you really enjoy for breakfast + sit down to eat it without feeling guilty! It will taste better that way:)

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8.

FaceTime with your bestie

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9.

clean out your DVR - you might find something you want to watch! Now GO! Watch it!

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10.

write. I’ve said it a million times…”I don’t have time to make lists”. I’m always going, going, going, and once kids are in the mix this constant sense of urgency can be exhausting and you feel like you’re losing your mind. When I take the time to write down what I need to do for the day/week I feel so much better. My mind is clear.

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Staying Healthy During The Winter

SHOP MY LOOK

If you were to ask my family they would all probably agree that I'm a borderline hypocondriac. There, I said it! When I was about seven years old and we were traveling home from the Caribbean I got really sick on the plane and I think it scarred me! Ever since I've been obsessed with trying not to get sick, washing my hands before meals (especially in the winter) and sanitizing (I only used natural based ones but more on that later). Pregnancy kicked my fear into overdrive but now with two boys and little time to obsess over it, I feel like I've developed a good routine. Some of you have asked me what I do to boost my immunity and for natural solutions to staying healthy during cold a flu season. The flu seems to be worse than ever this year and not even the flu shot is 100% effective but I've found that these things have helped me: 

I truly believe in the statement you are what you eat (drink) and that a good diet contributes to your immunity. During the winter I religiously drink a mixture of warm water, apple cider vinegar, ginger, lemon and honey. Alone, each one of these ingredients are beneficial but mixed together its a powerhouse immunity booster. Check out this article from GOOP and read more on the amazing benefits of ginger!

Sambucus I use this three times a day at the slightest sign of an itchy throat or runny nose. Also if I'm feeling rundown and more vulnerable. The rest of the year I take it once a day. They also make a syrup for kids as well as lozenges. 

Wash Hands This is obvious I know but don't underestimate the power of soap and water. My sister is a nurse practitioner and recommends washing your hands for a period of one "happy birthday" song or the ABC's - I have Luke sing them to himself and it works! If you don't have access to soap and water I love this sanitizer. The ingredients are all natural and its free of synthetic detergents and preservatives. PS washing my hands all the time makes them super dry. Loving this hand cream lately!

Sleep I am NOT a morning person. It sounds crazy to say, especially for moms with young kids, but I can't operate on less than 7 hours of sleep. We've been really lucky that our boys are good sleepers and consistently clock out for an average of 12 hours a night. I have so much admiration for moms whose children wake up at 5:15am and start their day...I couldn't do it! No magical advice here - but I try to plan two nights a 

Green Juices With a busy schedule it can be so tough to make sure I'm getting the right greens every day. I almost always have a salad for lunch but I need more and its not always guaranteed in my dinner. Drinking a green juice with ginger or lemon a couple times a week is so helpful. If you're local my go-to's are Green and Tonic in and Meli Melo.   

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S

Check out this article: What to Cook When You Have the Flu

You must also not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional health care provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or any other professional healthcare provider.