Posts Tagged: tips
Finding safe skin care products (that actually work!)
Tell me if this sounds like you…
You get frustrated when looking for safe skin care / beauty / personal care products.
You get tired of reading endless lists of ingredients…
You find it hard to figure out what works (without a lot of expensive trial and error).
You wonder which natural ingredients are effective, and which ones are added simply because they sound pretty.
I know how tricky it can be finding a product that isn’t loaded with chemicals, or figuring out if that natural + organic product is really what is claims to be.
To make it easier I wanted to share this helpful app created by the Environmental Working Group: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/app/
You can download it to your phone and look up any ingredient you may not be familiar with.
(You may remember that I mentioned the EWG in this post on finding a chemical free + effective lip balm.)
The EWG database is great, but it isn’t perfect. There’s still a ton of research to be done on the effects of these chemicals on our health.
We are bombarded by so much everyday, and we shouldn’t have to worry about what we’re putting on our skin.
I’m on a mission to change this.
I’m putting together a free guide that will make it easier to navigate through the beauty aisle. It can be a full time job figuring out what’s good, what’s bad, what works & what doesn’t. I want to make it easier for you. Leave a comment + let me know: What’s your biggest challenge or frustration when it comes to finding skin care / beauty / personal care products?
You can also answer anonymously on surveymonkey: Click Here
Thanks so much, hope all is well!
Liz
How to relax and get a good nights sleep
- As a supplement
I like “Natural CALM” and “Super Mag”- both are magnesium powders that you mix into water to make a fizzy drink. Both are incredibly calming. Just be warned – taking too much internally can cause a laxative effect, if you catch my drift. I find it’s best not to get too creative and to follow the instructions on the package when it comes to taking it internally.
- Magnesium oil:
This stuff is awesome. It’s not really an oil, but a magnesium salt water solution. You can spray it on and massage it into your skin, or use it as a foot soak. Applying magnesium to the skin can prevent the laxative effect since it doesn’t have to pass through the digestive system. (Of course, everyone is different, so don’t take my word for it – be sure to do your research*). I order mine on amazon.com (although I’m seeing it more and more in health food stores these days). Note: it may itch at first (for me it only itches if I haven’t used it in a while), but I’ve read that the itching should stop if you water it down a bit.
- Epsom Salt a.k.a Magnesium sulfate: Aaaahhhhhh…Soaking in an epsom salt bath is another tried and true way to relax your muscles and get a dose of magnesium. I like to stir 2 cups (or more) into a nice warm bath. Add 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil to the water for an even more calming experience. You can easily find epsom salt at any drug store, and lavender oil at most health food stores. The epsom salt will make you sweat (great for detoxing) so it’s a great idea to drink some water during your bath or better yet, a nice relaxing cup of herbal tea.
You can learn more by watching this video by Dr. Mark Hyman; “Magnesium: The most powerful relaxation mineral available”, or this one by Mark Sircus on Magnesium Oil therapy and finding the right dose for you. ( Mark Sircus recommends adding 5 POUNDS of epsom salt to your bath – pretty hardcore.)
2. Restorative Yoga:
During restorative yoga, you get into different poses supported by pillows, bolsters or yoga blocks, and you lie in each pose for a while (much longer than you would in more active types of yoga). The different poses help you release tension and help bring your emotional patterns and nervous system back into balance. Here’s a great restorative yoga video I found on youtube. The instructor has a really soothing voice, and her yoga sequence is relaxing and perfect just before bed. A lavender eye pilllow is a great addition to the practice since you’re lying on your back or your side for the poses. Find my handmade bamboo + organic cotton aromatherapy eye pillows in my etsy shop.
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*Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or registered dietitian / nutritionist. The purpose of my blog is to share my own experiences with healthy living. When it comes to your health, please do your research & be sure to consult a health practioner before trying anything new (especially when pregnant or nursing).