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I can’t believe I just found your site! (considering how long I’ve known about safemama). Anyhow, I was browsing, but didn’t find anything on anti-aging skincare. As I’m now in my mid 30’s I’m realizing I need to do more to keep my skin firm and pretty. I tried samples from the arbonne anti-aging line, but hated the orange/toasted marshmallow smell. I hear shaklee has an anti-aging line, as well. Do you have any insight on safer anti-aging skin care lines? or do you not even think it’s necessary to stick with a “line” of products. I’ve always had individual favorites, but I feel like my cleanser, eye cream & face cream routine is not doing as much for me as I need it to….. thanks so much for this site!!
Welcome to the darkside, my friend. You spend your 20’s being careless about your skin and before you know it, 30 starts to creep up and you see a line here and then a line there, and you wonder how you started to age so quickly. Or you blame it on your kids, because let’s face it, they age you.
I was one of those people that treated my skin absolutely HORRIBLY in my 20’s. I wish I could go back to my 23 year old self and punch her in the face for all the tanning and not wearing of sunscreen. And don’t even get me started on the crap I slathered on my face. And now I’m paying for it by aging quicker than I would like.
Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to in the anti-aging department, and a lot of them don’t require slathering products on your face, but for that, we do have a lot of suggestions for safer anti-aging lines.
Tips for slowing down the aging process:
Now, you can’t exactly stop the aging process, obviously. It’s a part of life. But you can do things to, shall we say, age gracefully:
- Hydrate! I know we mention this a lot, don’t we? And it seems like a no brainer, but hydration has so many benefits, and one of them is helping with those fine lines. The more hydrated you are, the better elasticity your skin has, and this is something that will take you through life. Drinking the appropriate amount of water will help plump your skin to minimize the damage already done and of course, keep your skin glowing and looking youthful. How much water should you drink? Well, that depends on your weight. Generally, you want to divide your weight in half and that’s how many ounces you should drink.
- Exfoliate! Exfoliation is an important process in the anti-aging process. Your skin sloughs off the dead skin to make way for the new, but sometimes, that doesn’t always happen naturally. Exfoliating at least once a week (preferably twice, unless your skin is very senstive) with a gentle exfoliant and a washcloth (I’ll get to that in a minute) will help keep wrinkles at bay.
- Avoid harsh soaps! It’s important to keep your face clean, but you don’t want to use something that’s going to strip your face of it’s natural oils, and then dry it out (which would make you have to exfoliate more often). I wash twice a day, once in the morning, when I shower and then once before bed. I would stress the importance of washing more before bed, so that the days “road dirt” and makeup don’t go getting into your pillow, making you at risk for break outs. Ew.
- Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruits and veggies! Again, this is another common sense no brainer, but fruits and vegetables have natural properties to help heal and nourish your skin. Fruits like açaí, blueberries, pomegranate, blackberries, raspberries and cherries to name a few. All of these fruits have great antioxidant properties. Try to eat them in their natural form, rather than in juices, which are mostly concentrates.
- Moisturize! It’s important to also moisturize your face daily. I try not to mess to much with my skin, especially after abusing it for so long, but in the winter, I definitely need help in the hydration department.
- Wear Sunscreen! Ok, I’ll admit, this one is particularly tough for me. I’m in the no sunscreen camp, unless I’m going to be spending all day in the sun, I generally skip it. However, if you’re proned to skin cancer, or if you live in a particularly sunny climate, you’ll want to at least wear a 15-20 SPF daily. You want something that will block out harmful rays, but still allow SOME rays through, because sunlight is actually good for you too (vitamin D and all of that). If you wear mineral makeup, it contains titanium dioxide, which also helps with blocking out the suns rays as well, so don’t go overboard with SPF and mineral makeup. Again, you do want to expose yourself to some sun.
Brands we love:
As a rule, you don’t have to purchase all from one line and in fact, I find that it’s better to pick and choose. Find what works for you. Buy some samples from different lines and then see what you love and buy the full sizes. Chances are, you’ll find a line, buy the whole damn thing, and then find end up hating half of it. Even if you find a few different brands of, say, exfoliant, it’s absolutely ok to rotate them, if you wanted to buy a couple of different brands.
Exfoliants:
100% Pure sugar scrub – All of 100% Pure’s scrubs are great, but they seem to all have a different consistency based on the flavor. My personal favorite for facial exfoliation is the chocolate mocha. It’s got real coffee grounds in it, making it a little more gentle on the face and an added bonus is, should you accidentally get some in your mouth, it’s sweet, so you can get your daily dose of chocolate right there in the shower!
Moody Girl Sugar Scrubs – I love Moody Girl’s product line. She has great scrubs and bath taffy (bubble bars). The sugar scrub makes a great exfoliant, but I’d recommend hers maybe once a week as it’s pretty sugary, and it does make my face residually red for about 12 hours after use. Best before bed, but the ingredients are pretty natural. Not all of her scents are phthalate free, but she will disclose which ones are if you ask her.
Burts Bees Citrus Facial Scrub – This has been an on and off staple in my life for at least the last ten years or so. It’s inexpensive and effective. It exfoliates without drying the skin and doesn’t irritate even my sensitive skin.
Facial Cleansers:
Weleda Iris Cleansing Lotion – This is a good cleanser for those who might get dry flaky skin easily due to anything that lathers. My skin has a tendency to do that from time to time. So I use this when my skin is really dry. It does take some getting used to. The whole no lather thing throws me for a loop, but my face does feel clean.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap – This is another great staple of mine that works great as a facial cleanser (proof that you don’t have to buy a cleanser specifically for your face). The only thing is that I’ve had to put it aside for the winter because we’ve had all sorts of dry skin problems here from the weather, but it doesn’t strip my face of the oils and and winter aside, it’s been good to my face. Plus, it’s inexpensive and readily available just about everywhere. It also lasts forever.
100% Pure Facial Cleanser – It’s no secret I love this line. Although, to keep in line with my statement from before, I do try to rotate it with other stuff, because I feel that it works better this way. This is a great gentle cleanser though. It’s got lather, but it doesn’t dry. It makes my skin feel really soft after use.
Moody Girl’s Bath Icing – This is one of my utilitarian products. I use this for shaving, a sometimes body wash, and also for washing my face. I was afraid that the lather would dry my face out, but it hasn’t. It’s decadent without being bad for you.
Moisturizers:
Dr. Hauschka’s Moisturizing Day Cream – This is definitely a higher end product (I actually have not found a “cheap” moisturizer that has worked on my face and believe me, I’ve tried), but I it worked well for keeping my face hydrated without leaving it feeling greasy. That is one of my big issues with moisturizers for the face. It has to be light.
John Master’s Rose and Apricot Antioxidant Day Cream - This is one of Kathy’s staples and favorite picks. We totally adore John Masters hair products and after trying to cut down on the budget and rotating through different hair products, I’ve switched back to my favorite John Master’s products and I’ll never use anything else again. Anyway, this is a great moisturizer for everyday use. It’s light and great for sensitive skin. Kathy says: “I use during the day..its still really gentle (I look for stuff with no or little citrus for my sensitive skin and rosacea) and has antioxidants to help me fight aging. “ It’s also supposed to help with age spots (which means I will be running out and buying this cream pronto). Again, this is a little on the pricey side ($28), but given how much you use on a regular basis, and the quality of the product, it’ll last awhile. You’ll use less and get more with John Masters. Trust me. A bottle of their styling gel has lasted me nine months and I still have some left.
Weleda Almond Intenstive Face Cream – This is another one that Kathy loves. It’s a little bit thicker of a cream, but absorbs nicely. This isn’t something you would use everyday. But rather a good follow up to a facial treatment. It’s about $20 for a one ounce tube (whoa) but again, it’s not an everyday lotion. It’s also available at most Target stores, which is great for the convenient factor.
Sunscreens:
I haven’t found anything sunscreen wise that I’ve been in love with, but Kathy recently did a post about sunscreens, because we get asked this question a lot.
A great site that has a lot of different products to choose from, including anti-aging serums, is Saffron Rouge. While they do carry a lot of the more expensive lines (and they also have a sample club for about $35 a year, and you get a few new samples a month), they have some affordable stuff. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself to at least one higher end product if it’s something you really like, and then mix it in with more affordable skin care. You don’t have to drop a mint to keep your skin looking healthy. In fact, you can easily make an exfoliator yourself out of brown sugar, almond oil and a little bit of essential oil. It lasts for about six months and works just as well as a store bought product (I made some for my son whose arms have been like alligator skin this winter and it worked well to get the leather off).
So there you have it. You don’t need to load up on anti-aging products, one or two might suffice, but rather, take the preventative measures with stuff that you already have and make them count. Try to find samples of products to try out so that you’re not out of a lot of money if you don’t like it.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: 100% Pure, Dr. Bronners, Dr. Hauschka, Etsy Finds, Exfoliation, Face Wash, John Masters Organics, Moisturizer, Weleda, burts bees
I have switched to natural deodorant recently, with no real trouble. However, I have yet to find anything that cuts the mustard for my manly husband, especially in the Texas summer! Not to mention most of the alternatives I have found smell rather girly. Any suggestions? Do your husbands use natural deodorants, and have they found one they can count on?
We are shamed to say it, but our husbands are pretty stubborn when it comes to switching their products over to natural products. My husband was pretty annoyed when I tried to switch his toothpaste over and now secretly looks forward to business trips because I know he keeps a secret stash of Colgate in his toiletries bag. So he still uses his trusty old Axe. You can lead a horse to water and all of that (although, I did get him to switch his chemically enhanced shampoo to Dr. Bronner’s. Baby steps).
However, we do tell people that it definitely takes time to switch over to have it work properly, and men are no exception. We did post some tips on switching over, you no doubt have read (and I’ve also tried to drill into my husband’s head as well), but they bear reposting:
Be patient. You’ll need at least 2 weeks to adjust (and sometimes longer), so if you go a couple days on a new deodorant and you smell this could mean your body is still ridding itself of toxins. You might have to try a brand or two to find the right one for your body chemistry too, so give it some time.
Exfoliate. Its a good idea to GENTLY exfoliate your armpits once in a while to remove any dead skin blocking your sweat glands and pores. Use a really soft washcloth and gently massage the area. Don’t use scrubs or salts as this might damage the delicate skin of your armpits.
Sweat! The reason deodorant makers put Aluminum in their product is to prevent you from sweating. There is a major problem with this in that you are supposed to sweat, sweating is your body’s way of ridding itself from toxins and impurities. Once your body is used to not having antiperspirant it can actually regulate your sweating. Since switching to Weleda I have not noticed being “wet” unless I am huffing and puffing on the treadmill, in which case who cares. What matters is I don’t SMELL like sweat.
And of course, to add another:
Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate: The more water you consume, the less likely you are to smell as water flushes toxins out of your system.
And of course, diet also has a play. If you’re going to eat stinky foods, they have to come out somehow, and going to the bathroom isn’t the only way your body excretes waste. Which is why you tend to smell like an 18 year old brewery after a night of drinking heavily. Garlic, onions, red meat. It’ll also come out in your pores as well. Which makes me wonder if I’d smell like vanilla cupcakes if I lived on a diet of them…. hmmm food for thought…
As for brands, we personally like both Bubble and Bee’s Pit Putty (they have other varieties as well) and Weleda. Weleda’s deodorant is more of an alcohol base which might help curb odors for your husband, better than Bubble and Bee, and I know my husband has said that the original Bubble and Bee is a little bit too feminine smelling for him. Weleda makes a Sage variety that isn’t girly smelling. I’ve used both Bubble and Bee and Weleda doing yard work in the hot summer sun and while, yes, I did sweat, I didn’t smell at all. I would say to buy a couple of varieties, find what works and then rotate based on your needs. Guys tend to be simpler with their body care needs, but sometimes, they need to go the extra mile to find a product that works for them too.
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Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Ask LovelyMama, Bubble and Bee, Deodorant, Dr. Bronners, Men's Skin Care, Weleda
It’s no secret that I pretty much hate my hair. I could link to countless reviews of conditioners and the like, and you’ll see that I have impossible hair. Only made more impossible by the lack of chemicals that keep it looking like a brillo pad and of course, pregnancy.
I also generally don’t take too much time doing my hair as having a toddler doesn’t allow for countless hours of primping. And I’m ok with that. I get the time to shave my legs, and for that, I’m thankful. It’s the little things, you know?
So when I actually do get some free time to blow out my hair and make it look hot and sexy, I try to stretch it out a day. One problem I have though, and that’s oily roots. I generally must wash my hair every day, but when blowing it out, it’s not only time consuming, it’s taxing on my hair.
There are countless powders and sprays out there to help with oily roots, because they say next day hair is sexy. Most of it though, has all the chemicals we like to avoid. And there’s always always corn starch or baby powder. I’ve had limited success with those, and there’s also the problem of looking instantly like your white haired gramma. No thank you.
I took my Weleda deodorant spray and sprayed it at the roots and in some other oily areas of my head and viola! Worked like a charm. Not only did my head smell good, but I didn’t have that heavy dirty hair feeling all day. It’s a miracle!
I wouldn’t recommend this for use every day, since Weleda’s deodorant is alcohol based, but once in awhile, it’s a great alternative use for deodorant. I’m keeping a bottle on hand as my new secret weapon.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Deodorant, Styling Products, Weleda
Valentine’s Extravaganza Week continues with massage oils! Granted, there isn’t a whole lot of massaging going on around my house considering I’m pregnant. However, making a point to put each other first is important in any relationship! Typically, massage oils are made with mineral oils that use up valuable resources that are taxing on the environment. Plus, wouldn’t you rather put a natural unprocessed oil on your body rather than some refined petroleum? Me too.
There are a few store bought brands that use natural ingredients if you’re looking for a nicer gift… or you can stick to the tried and true at-home ingredients that are both affordable, multipurpose and make your skin feel great.
Massage Products We Love
Mountain Rose Herbs Massage Oils: These oils contain only blends of natural essential and organic oils like organic olive oil and organic almond oils and vitamin E. They offer a range of scents, scented with rose, chamomile, and lavender and come in 4oz pumps and 1oz sample kits!
Weleda Massage Oil: This is a great massage oil for those of you with active lives… whether you’re chasing kids or a workout king – this oil helps restore tired, aching muscles before and after physical activity. Weleda is one of our favorite lines using only natural and organic ingredients.
AuraCacia Massage Cream in Tangerine Grapefruit: A cream instead of an oil this might be a little less messy. Based with grapeseed oil and scented with oils like tangerine and grapefruit this sweet smelling citrus rub down will refresh and awaken the senses for a fun night out. Rawr!
DIY At Home Massage Treatments
Pure Coconut Oil: Available at your local health food store or aisle, this ingredient is great for your skin. Use it to moisturize after a shower, soften cuticles or massage your muscles. Better yet, you can cook dinner with it too. Add it to a romantic meal with stir fried veggies and shrimp to add a full flavor. Also, we hear it makes a good personal lubricant. *Tee Hee*
Make Your Own: You can make any kind of massage oil concoction that suits you with a few simple ingredients from the health food store. Pick up organic vegetable and nut oils, such as olive (great for skin and hair), sweet almond, jojoba, avocado and some vitamin E to make your own sexy combination’s. Add drops of your favorite essential oils like lavender, orange, or arnica to spice it up.
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Categories: DIY Recipes, Massage Oils, Weleda
This product isn’t really new news for many, and I’ve seen it mentioned on various beauty sites, but I couldn’t very well not dedicate a post to it considering the nature of this lotion. I hesitate to call it that because when I think of lotion a certain texture comes to mind and Weleda Skin Food most certainly doesn’t fit that idea, and I’ll tell you why.
My creams, lotions and balms fall into 3 categories. 1) After-shower, 2) Desk worthy, and 3) Nightstand. After shower potions need to be luxurious but not overly greasy, although I am known to indulge in body oil from time to time. Desk worthy items need to be ultra moisturizing but MUST absorb fast because I don’t have time to wait during my peak 3 hours of alone/work time waiting for oils or butters to soak in. Greasy keyboards are not cool. Finally, the nightstand group. This coveted spot goes to products that earned my love and devotion. They can be thick and creamy and suitable for overnight moisturizer. Weleda Skin Food falls into this category.
It comes out looking almost like some kind of epoxy used to glue things together but once its distributed it does actually feed your skin. This stuff is great for stubborn rough spots, hands, cuticles, elbows, knees, etc. I recommend night use so it has a chance to soak in – but I am also known to use this on car trips when I’m not driving. (I like to do little spa treatments in the car on long trips).
Weleda is one of the few companies I trust 100% and feel better knowing that their products aren’t filled with parabens, phthalates, or synthetic ingredients. They have a vast collection of products, many of which I use and love. This one is no different. This cream is like dessert for your skin.
Get Some: You can find small sample sizes and full sizes of Weleda Skin Food right now at your local Target, or online on Amazon.com, or direct from Weleda’s Online Store. (I am just dying to try the Foot Cream now…)
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Categories: Body Lotion, Hand Cream, Weleda
One of the first things I did when greening my beauty routine was look for a new deodorant. Upon hearing and reading the dangers of putting aluminum, parabens and phthalates on my armpits every single day, I went looking for something safer. I started off with the natural first step and that was Tom’s of Maine, which didn’t work so well for me, so I switched to JASON brand. Then I read up on propylene glycol and decided to really go for the safest thing I could find. I took a chance on Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant and am really happy with the results.
Statia weighs in: I actually have the Citrus scent and I like it. One of the things that I DON’T like about this deodorant is that the first ingredient is alcohol. It’s effective, but after awhile, it can be irritating to the armpits and if you’ve just shaved, stand back. Overall, it’s not a bad deodorant, but I don’t use it that often. The other drawback to this is that when I am wearing it, and I forget, I wonder where the hell the smell of booze is coming from, and I realize it’s not a mixed drink, it’s me! Maybe wearing this when you’re going to go out isn’t a good idea. God forbid you get pulled over…
Weleda makes 3 scents of deodorant, Wild Rose, Sage and Citrus. It’s a spray, packaged in a lovely glass bottle (if you’re ridding yourself of plastic this is awesome, some might not think so), not ever tested in animals they only use the safest natural ingredients possible. The only small downside to this deodorant is that there is a sting factor if you’ve just shaved. So far, this hasn’t been a big drawback for me… a little sting or pasting toxic chemicals on my pits. It’s a fair trade off.
A few things to remember when switching to a safer deodorant:
Be patient. You’ll need at least 2 weeks to adjust, so if you go a couple days on a new deodorant and you smell this could mean your body is still ridding itself of toxins. You might have to try a brand or two to find the right one for your body chemistry too, so give it some time.
Exfoliate. Its a good idea to GENTLY exfoliate your armpits once in a while to remove any dead skin blocking your sweat glands and pores. Use a really soft washcloth and gently massage the area. Don’t use scrubs or salts as this might damage the delicate skin of your armpits.
Sweat! The reason deodorant makers put Aluminum in their product is to prevent you from sweating. There is a major problem with this in that you are supposed to sweat, sweating is your body’s way of ridding itself from toxins and impurities. Once your body is used to not having antiperspirant it can actually regulate your sweating. Since switching to Weleda I have not noticed being “wet” unless I am huffing and puffing on the treadmill, in which case who cares. What matters is I don’t SMELL like sweat.
Let’s talk about B.O. I have read that diet has an effect on your smell so pay attention to what you ate prior to discovering your pits smelling a little ripe. Some say red meat is a culprit. Being perfectly honest, once my body regulated and adapted to my new safer deodorant I rarely if ever smell. Not even in the hot sun, not after I work out, and even if I skip a day showering. For the sake of science, I’ll admit I skip a day here and there. (What, like you never did? Don’t front…)
Get It: You can find Weleda Deodorants in our Amazon store as well as on one of our favorite retailers Saffron Rouge. Weleda deodorants comes in 3.4fl.oz and 1 fl.oz bottles.
Posted by admin • add a comment •
Categories: Deodorant, Weleda
