Natural Products Hit List

After making a conscious effort to change my diet to one that is more natural, I decided I should transition all of my products to natural ones and it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. There were a few products that didn't make the cut (a few natural deodorants that didn't seem to do anything) and skin care products that weren't quite right, but I've finally settled on some favorites. My three favorite resources are Follain, Beauty Counter and The Detox Market. I actually have a Detox Market retail location on my street so I mosey in and try everything just about every other weekend. If you guys have any favorites let me know in the comments below - I love to try new beauty products : )

Deodorant
I started with Schmidt's Bergamot & Lime Deodorant but, while it smelled amazing, it didn't quite keep me smelling amazing and wasn't much of an antiperspirant either. I tried Piper Wai charcoal activated deodorant next and it definitely does the trick. It's a little weird putting it on with your hands but you get used to it.

Toothpaste
David's premium natural toothpaste (Runner Up: Tom's of Maine). You don't really think about toothpaste in this category but may as well go big or go home.

Serum
Vitner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum is my choice in this category. Check out the amazing reviews on their website. No need for lotion after this potent baby is put on, which I love.

Face Lotion
Beauty Counter Rejuvenating Day Cream is one of the first Beauty Counter products I tried and I love it. It's so light and has a really nice consistency but packs a great moisturizing punch. It also looks great under makeup. (Runner Up: Tammy Fender Antioxidant Creme). I am also really excited to try Beauty Counter's Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion that has gotten amazing reviews and sold out a few times.

Cleanser
I used the face wash recommendation that Follain assigned to me after I took the skin quiz and so far so good with India Lee Brightening Cleanser. I may transition to Elizabeth Dehn Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil in the winter so I don't dry out my skin too much.

Makeup Remover
This one is tough because everyone knows I love my Clinique eye makeup remover but SW Basics Makeup Remover removed makeup well. I've also tried and like MV Organic Skincare Pure Jojoba Oil.

Sunscreen
Don't forget to cover up! Most of my tinted moisturizers and face lotions have SPF but I got Suntegrity spa 50 body sunscreen for body and I also got their face version.

Face Wipes
I love Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes because they get rid of makeup, travel well and really make you feel fresh. Sort of a different category because they are more of a toner pad than a face wipe but I love Arcona's toner pads.

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
Beauty Counter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer or Tint Skin Foundation both work as well as my non-all-natural ones.

Concealer
My favorite concealer (natural or not) is Beauty Counter Touchup Skin Pen.

Hair
This has probably been the toughest category to transition but some early favorites are from Rahua (shampoo, conditioner, elixir and finishing treatment) and Sachajuan (Shine Serum).

Body
I love the smell of Bergamot, so this one was a no brainer. Anyone have a great natural body lotion that they love?? I'm looking for a good one for my super dry skin.

Beauty Must-Haves

January is a good time to reassess your beauty routine and come to turns with which products you can't live without and which need to go in the trash because you haven't used them in 9 months. It feels really good to do a January purge so that's exactly what I'm going to do (more space in the cabinet for you, Tory!). Below are the products I can't live without and are staples in my routine.

Hair:

• I use Shu Uemura cleansing oil shampoo and it has changed my hair for the better. I have a super dry scalp but it does get greasy with some traditional shampoos. This took all of the grease out and leaves my scalp nourished and not stripped. It's gentle on color-treated hair too.
• Oribe makes some great conditioners but my favorite has to be the conditioner for brilliance and shine. It's light and makes my hair super shiny.
• Before I blow dry, I put a dab of Loreal Professional Mythic Oil Creme Universal. I discovered this at my hair salon and it's got a great smell and really helps protect my hair from the heat. So much so that I don't always have to run the straightener through my hair after blowdrying because it helps calm my tresses. 
• I'm obsessed with my Harry Josh blow dryer. It dries my hair in half the time.

Skin:

• Cetaphil baby! This drugstore cult favorite does the trick so there is no need for a fancy face wash (although I've tried many...). It doesn't dry my skin and it gets all of my makeup off. 
• For when my face is feeling really dry and in need of extra love or cleansing, I use Eve Lom cleanser, which is actually more like a thick lotion potion that you wash off. It leaves your skin feeling super moisturized. If you have really dry skin, I recommend this cleanser. 
• When I need a little extra clean, I use Arcona's toner pads. They leave my skin feeling slightly tingling. I love to use these right after a workout or to make sure that absolutely every bit of makeup is off my face. They're all natural and don't irritate you skin like some drugstore toner pads. Absolutely love these. 
• I have been using Clinique's eye makeup remover since I started wearing makeup (as does my mom and sisters) and I can't imagine ever switching. I hate the feel of traditional oil based eye makeup removers and this one really works. 
• Before putting on my moisturizer, I use Eve Lom's White Advanced Brightening Serum. I often switch around my serum's but I really like this one. 
• Young women sometimes forgo eye cream but I am all about it. Caudalie's Premier Cru eye cream is great. I do like to switch these around every once in a while, but this one is a keeper. 
• While expensive, Revive's moisturizing renewal cream supreme is pretty fab, especially for people with dry skin. I use this as a night cream before I go to bed. It's a little heavy for daytime wear. 
• For daytime, I love Beauty Counter's Rejuvenating Day Cream. It's super light and looks and feels great under tinted moisturizer or foundation. It's an awesome consistency. 
• After I go through my cleanse and moisture routine, I like to spritz with Beauty Counter's Nourishing Rosewater Mist. It just feels great on the skin and helps set your makeup.
• For when I want to get rid of the top layer of dead skin, I use Arcona's Gentle Solution Treatment. After you wash your face, you apply this in a thin layer and then leave it on while you sleep. In the morning, use the Arcona Grain Grommage Scrub to get the dead skin off. It makes my skin feel AMAZING so I do this about once a week. It's gentle enough for my sensitive skin and natural and lacking those harsh chemicals in a lot of traditional peels. 

Makeup:

• Most weekdays I don't wear makeup (on weekends I am an eye shadow monster!) but when I do, it's a quick routine. I start with Bare Minerals complexion rescue tinted moisturizer. It has just the right amount of no makeup makeup and has SPF. 
• For those undereye bags, I like Beauty Counter's touchup concealing pen. It's all natural and has great coverage. 
• Speaking of Bare Minerals, they also have a killer bronzer. Just a dusting will do. 
• I have always switched around mascara's but this Trish McEvoy one is here to stay in my makeup bag. It coils around your lashes and there is no residue under your eyes ever. The smaller, thinner brush allows your to really get every last lash too. I LOVE this mascara. 
• Top it off with my favorite aquaphor and I am out the door. Anyone with dry skin/lips should hoard this in their purse. 

Body:

• I recently bought Sachajuan Ginger Flower body wash because, quite frankly, I like the look of the bottle/color, but I actually really like the smell and how it leaves my skin feeling. 
• I love everything from Kayo Better Body Care, especially the body beautiful creme. They have been touted as a natural body line that has potent and concentrated ingredients usually reserved for face creams and serums. 

Any products you guys love that you think I should try?? Let me know!

Natural Beauty: Beautycounter

I've been slowly transitioning all of my products, especially my skincare products, to natural products and I recently came across a brand that I have dumped all of the other natural and non-natural products for. I was introduced to Beautycounter when the products were featured on jcrew.com and I placed a big order on their website for serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, concealer, shampoo and conditioner. I loved all of my products so much that I went back and ordered a lot more from the site. I cannot recommend Beautycounter enough especially if you are looking to transition to all-natural products without compromising quality. Plus, the bottles look great on my counter! Below are my favorite picks.