Sorry fellas; this one is directed to the ladies.  Two weeks ago, one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Gabrielle Bernstein spoke at the TEDxFiDi Women conference in San Francisco.  Gabby’s talk was followed by an amazing lecture by a woman named Alisa Vitti, founder of a New York City based wellness center that helps women all over the world regain hormonal balance.  Alisa spoke about the 4 hormonal stages which women experience throughout the course of every month and how your thoughts and behaviors mirror the hormonal pattern of your body.  In some ways you are a different person from week to week.  Understanding how these phases work, and how to capitalize on them, can bring a state of balance and harmony to your life.  I find this information so fascinating and have been very conscious of it in my own life since I learned about it.

Lets be honest, having stinky pits is well “the pits”. One of my biggest challenges while I was transitioning to all natural products was finding a good deodorant. It has been one of the trickiest items to find. Without getting super preachy on you, here are some of the reasons why your average deodorant is not the best for you in the long run.

	Aluminum: Aluminum is a neurotoxin linked in studies to detrimental health effects in lab animals. It was thought to be associated with Alzheimer’s, but data is inconclusive and controversial. One human study found it in breast tissue, and given the proximity of armpits to breasts, it seemed to indicate aluminum’s ability to migrate from the armpit into the body. Perhaps that’s thanks in part to….
	Penetration enhancers: That’s a fancy term for ingredients that help carry other ingredients—often the active ones—into your body so they can do their job. There are many different kinds, like propylene glycol and Disodium EDTA. Often, these ingredients on their own are not the worst of the bunch—but they can be problematic because they basically work as an express lane for the absorption of more troubling ingredients.
	Triclosan: Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is so controversial that even the FDA is getting mad about it. It’s in antiperspirant and deodorant because the thing that makes people smell is bacteria—not sweat. It’s been shown to be a hormone disruptor capable of changing the sex of fish, and it’s also suspected to be responsible for certain strains of resistant bacteria.
	Fragrance: A major difference between one brand’s “Swagger” antiperspirant and its “Classic” is the smell—a proprietary blend of chemicals lumped together under the vague rubric of “fragrance.” Check last week’s post for a refresher on why this blanket term is often hiding possibly problematic other ingredients inside your products.
	BHT: While less commonly used, this bad-boy is linked in studies to nervous-system effects at low doses, is dubbed “expected to be toxic or harmful” by Environment Canada’s Domestic Substance List, and there are studies linking it to the C-word.

(Grid and full article found here.)

I wanted to be able to help you out in your search, so you don’t have to go through the trail and error that I did. Below are my top 3 natural deodorant picks. Click through the images for the product site.
You can purchase all Tom’s of Maine products at almost any drugstore and at Whole Foods.

Available at Sephora and LaVanila.

You can buy this product for only $12 (I suggest buying more than one at a time) on Soapwalla’s etsy shop or Spirit Beauty Lounge.

Lately, my skin has been looking and feeling like a crocodile.  I decided that enough was enough. I needed to make hydration a priority!  Here are 3 steps that I took to help my thirsty skin:

1. Dry Brush: Before you shower dry brush your entire body starting at your feet and moving upward toward your head. Always brush TOWARDS your heart, never away from it.  Here are some benefits of dry brushing:

• Removes dead skin cells
• Tightens skin and reduces cellulite
• Increases circulation
• Stimulates your lymphatic system in order to drain toxins
• Helps nutrient absorption by eliminating clogged pores.

If you don’t already have a dry brush, you can buy one at any drug store or Whole Foods for under $10.

More information on how to dry brush.

2. Exfoliate:  After you dry brush but before the shower, its time to exfoliate. Let me share this PERFECT home-made exfoliation recipe. I used it last night and I just had to share it with you. Not only did my skin feel so moisturized, but my makeup went on like butter! Try this:

Mix ingredients to your desired consistency. Make sure to be gentle on your face, as your skin is much more sensitive there.

3. Water, water, water:  I know now as the seasons are changing, we feel less compelled to constantly be drinking water.  The Institute of Medicine recommends between 3-2.2 liters of water a day. Your skin needs H20 the most during the dry months. If you up your water intake, not only will your skin be thanking you, but the rest of your organs will as well.

Lets be honest, healthy and breathing skin contributes to your overall health. Yay!

Ever since I was little I have loved makeup. When I was 5 I would put on my grandmas lipstick before I went over to ask the neighbor boys to play. I spent most of my teenage years in my room trying different looks. It’s just my thing.My love for makeup and my attraction to a chemical free lifestyle clashed after reading No More Dirty Looks (check out their blog, I read it every day).

Heres a list of my 5 favorite toxin free makeup products: