Top Three Must Have Natural Face Masks

Beauty Starts From the Inside! There are soo many harmful chemicals in our foods, beauty and skin care products, that using natural products made from the earth is literally the only way to maintain a healthy life! That’s why I always recommend making your own masks because-simply put, they are way better for you! I’m going to show you how!

Disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. This means I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below. Thank you for the support!

Before doing any of these masks, make sure that you’re face is clean. Download my daily facial routine as a reminder of the key steps….I keep mine handy in my bathroom!

Bentonite Clay Mask

Ingredients:

• Indian healing clay

• Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:

Before starting get a glass or plastic bowl and utensil, as the clay will interact with the negative charge of metal which decreases the effectiveness. Mix the two ingredients together until you create a paste. Leave on ten minutes or until the product dries. You may feel a “pulsing” sensation as the mask dries but don’t be alarmed. It works wonders!

This mask really tightens up your face and removes pimples and cystic acne. It’s super drying, so be sure to hydrate your face intensely after this mask.

Turmeric Mask 

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

• ½ teaspoon organic apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon of organic, raw, local honey

•  fresh lemon juice for additional skin brightening

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together. Apply to a clean face. Leave on ten minutes. Follow up with toner, serum, and moisturizer.

Turmeric is also great for total body uses, such as: digestive aide, as a teeth whitener, prevents and reduces wrinkles, reduces asthma, and is an anti-inflammatory.

Oatmeal mask

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup oatmeal

• honey

• apple cider vinegar

• lemon

Directions:

Take oatmeal and blend in your food processor. Once you have your oatmeal mixture (it doesn’t have to be a perfect powder) you can add your favorites to this mask such as honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon. Mix ingredients to create a paste. Apply to skin and leave on for 10 mins.

This oatmeal mask helps with acne because it removes impurities from the skin. It also is a very hydrating mask due to its high fat content.

Leave your comments about your favorite mask below!

xx,

Mari

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Do you even know what you are putting on your pitts?

Let’s face it- Deodorant is just downright necessary…(because who wants to smell) and downright FRIGHTENING!

We ALL have to put on D.O for our B.O everyday but what some don’t know is that deodorant’s ingredients are SO harmful for our bodies! I recommend that everyone (not just nursing mama’s) think about what chemicals could be found lurking in the skin care products they use daily.

Disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. This means I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below. Thank you for the support!

Trust when me when I say I have tried (and failed and been embarrassed) more than one time at finding the right natural deodorant for my body. The ones I list below have worked for me or have been recommended by friends. I provided the links so you can buy online but I’ve also found them at my local Whole Foods.

Let’s do a quick study together shall we? Go grab your deodorant and look at the ingredients because I’m willing to bet they have:

Aluminum which is linked to breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men

Parabens are known to disrupt hormone levels and reproductive toxicitiy

Propolyne Glycol which can cause seizures, as well as damage to the liver and heart

Triclosan is linked to weakening the immune system and can cause children to develop asthma, allergies, and eczema.

ALARMING am I right!?

Be proactive and make sure to ALWAYS check out the ingredients of the products you use inside and out! Our skin is our biggest organ, so treat it right by using only natural ingredients.

So what should you use!?

Dove Aluminum Free Deodorant

• After testing literally SO many deodorants, this is one of my favorites! And while it doesn’t exactly last 24 hours like it boasts it does, it really lasts a good 8 hours without reapplying.

• It come in a variety of scents that all smell so good (men can use it too!)

• It has a silky, smooth feeling and doesn’t clump like some others

• It’s sold everywhere (I found a 2-1 deal at CVS)
  

Rad Soap Co Use code: radcbd

• This has been one of my favorite, go-to deodorant because it’s not only small enough to travel everywhere with me (I carry it with me in my purse), but it’s strong (and smells good!)

• It’s made with all-natural ingredients for a highly moisturizing, quickly absorbing, gentle chemical and aluminum free deodorant. 

• It comes in a variety of scents: Oatmeal Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cucumber Flower
  

Nalani Natural Deodorant

It’s 100% VEGAN AND SAFE FOR YOUR SKIN!

It’s Organic, Gluten-Free, Paraben-Free, Chemical-Free, Aluminum-Free & Long-Lasting, and nonGMO.

• ALL DAY PROTECTION - Passed Rigorous Workout/Gym Standards & Long Distance Test!

• AN ORGANIC FORMULA- All Natural. Can be Used with Fragrances. Will Not affect Your Favorite Perfume.

• PARABEN AND CRUELTY FREE WITH NO ALUMINUM - Leaping Bunny Certified For No Animal Testing.

Schmidt’s

• Schmidt's formulas help neutralize odor and keep you fresh, naturally.

• Free of aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrance, plant and mineral-derived formulas are certified vegan and cruelty-free.

• My only note about this one is that it stings a little when put on freshly shaved skin or after a good sweat when your pores are open, but dies down quickly.

Native

• Native is also one of my favorite deodorants that I use daily. It really does last 24 hours like the label claims and it comes in a variety of scents. More and more stores are carrying the Native brand now, making it easier to purchase. I buy mine at CVS.

• Native Deodorants are simple, safe, and effective. They also contain probiotics which I think helps make it the most effective and long lasting aluminum free deodorant out on the market to date.

• Long lasting odor protection that goes on smooth and smells addictively good.

• Favorite scents include Coconut & Vanilla Deodorant
  

The main thing when selecting safe deodorants is that they are made with natural ingredients such as: essential oils, coconut oils, and baking soda.

We aren’t perfect but we can start by making small changes to our lives!

Let me know which ones work for you!

xoxo,

Mari

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Om My Goodness- I Feel Happier

Feeling blue? Quarantine life making you feel trapped? Cold weather got you down? It’s natural for all of us to feel sad or down from time to time. Depression rates continue to increase over time BUT you can proactively do something about it!

Here Are Some Ways You Can Help Yourself

Disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. This means I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below. Thank you for the support!

Plant Based Eating

Studies have shown that people who eat a plant based diet are happier.  Here's why- the antioxidants found in fruits and veggies reduce inflammation, fix neurotransmitters in the brain, and repair damaged cells. The food also contains natural vitamins and nutrients that boost the serotonin levels in your brain, thereby giving your mood a positive boost of happiness.

Foods that are not processed, like those in the plant based lifestyle are better for your body by naturally detoxifying your body and flushing out unwanted chemicals that may cause you to feel sluggish, and unhappy. During this detoxing process, your body will begin to not only feel better, but look better too! Your skin will begin to clear up and brighten, you will shed water weight, as well as unwanted pounds of fat, and you will have sustained energy throughout the day.

There are many foods you can eat that are rich Omega 3's which improve your mood, lower your stress levels, and reduce diseases such as dementia.

Omega 3 foods: chia, flax seeds, walnuts, avocado

Other mood fighting foods are: blueberries, leafy , and pumpkin seeds

Working Out

When you work up a sweat your body naturally creates endorphin’s which are hormones produced in your brain that give you a happy, euphoric feeling. So get your body moving!

Exercising regularly also improves your muscle strength, endurance, and balance. Elevating your heart rate improves your cardiovascular system, as well as your lung capacity, and bone density. When all of these very important systems in your body are strong, your overall wellness and mood will improve.

This may seem like a no brainer but exercise can aid in weight loss. When you exercise regularly, and build up your muscle mass, you can even burn calories at rest.

Exercise can elevate your energy levels naturally! It helps wake up your mind, body and spirit especially if you deal with chronic fatigue. It also aids with memory and overall brain health.

It can also help your body naturally stave off colds and other illnesses like type II diabetes.

When paired with a plant based lifestyle, physical fitness can aid in a total body detoxification process by flushing out unnecessary chemicals living in the body and gut. It will also flush out the pores in your skin, giving your face a glowing appearance.

Meditation

is a mindful technique in which you relax your body and focus on an object or thought, like your breath. It trains your mind to be more present and aware, thereby creating a calm stillness within your body which....reduces stress!

You don’t need to be stressed out to practice meditating. Set yourself a timer. Start with 2 minutes of deep breathing practice. Then 5, 10, 15 minutes and so on. I have found in my own meditation practice that the more often I do it, the easier it becomes to silence my thoughts and become centered within myself. Also, you can do it literally anywhere! In the car, sitting outside, on the bus etc.

Remember you are resilient. You are strong. Go easy on yourself. By working on your meditation skills you will be improving your overall health and stress management.

Here’s to feeling happier!

xx,

Mari

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These hair masks will make you GASP

I believe that everyone (men included) should do a moisturizing hair mask at least once a week.

No matter what hair type or texture- do a mask! It will not only moisturize your luscious tresses but make them healthier and stronger. Hair masks also clarify and define each strand making them not only shine but clean them of built up product and residue from your daily hair products.

Disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. This means I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below. Thank you for the support!

MY FAVORITE MASKs INCLUDE INDIAN HEALING CLAY

My favorite mask include Indian Healing Clay, which has a variety of uses (facial mask, hair mask, digestive cleansers) You can find it here or in a local beauty supply store- Whole Foods even sells it!

Bentonite clay can be taken orally as it cleanses and detoxifies your digestive system of unwanted parasites and harmful bacteria, and also aids in constipation, diarrhea, and stomach ulcers.

Today I am going to be showing you how it can be used topically to cleanse the skin and hair using it’s healing properties. Bentonite clay eases rashes, eczema, psoriasis, cuts, bruises, bacterial and fungal infections; that’s why it’s so beneficial to recalibrate not only your scalp’s ph balance but also your hair! because c’mon, how many of us really know if we scratched our scalps a little too rough during our last shampoo or have a cut on our scalp we didn’t know about?! Probably a lot more of us than we realize. Bentonite clay masks can help restore our scalp and hair back to

Directions

1. Start out with half a cup of clay. You may need to add more depending on your hair length

2. Add about 1/4 cup oil of your choice (coconut, olive, jojoba, almond, shea butter)

3. Add about 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

4. Mix in a plastic or glass container until ingredients form a paste. You can add more at this step.

5. Apply to wet hair directly after shampooing.

6. Cover with shower cap or plastic bag and leave on for 10-30 minutes

7. Rinse out and follow up with a leave in conditioner.

And VOILA, the results are clarified, detoxified, healthy, clean hair!

Let me know your results!

xx,

Mari

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