As I'm sure you're aware, I've been on the hunt for a new facial cleanser. I want it to be as safe for the environment as possible and I want it to work! I have oily skin that tends to get irritated easily and in the harsh winter cold can become dried out. Well ladies and gentlemen, drum roll please... I have found a winner. I'm not kidding. I know I can jump around with products but I am in love. Literally in love with these three products.
Checks and Balances leaves my skin clean and refreshed. There is no tightness and it controls oil for hours. I use it day and night and have noticed a considerable difference in the shine factor.
Purifying Tonic is the perfect compliment to Checks and Balances. The dullness that has plagued my skin is slowly disappearing, as are the blackheads. My skin is refreshed after I use this and truly looks and feels clean. There isn't any tightness like with usual tonics (aka astringents) and I love that it gets the last remaining makeup and gunk off.
Modern Friction has made my skin so soft. I use it twice a week and can see an immediate change. My blackheads are disappearing and my pores appear smaller. My skin is soft and looks and feels reenergized. It doesn't irritate like some scrubs with sand have been known to. I absolutely love this.

With all three of these products I use a very minimal amount. The size of a pea for the cleanser, one dousing of the tonic on a cotton ball and the size of a dime on the scrub. I anticipate each of these to last well over six months, thus I'm okay with the cost. And did I mention, each of these products are tested on people not animals, is made exclusively with plants and essential oils not chemicals and the tonic is even organic? I have nothing to complain about!
Images: Origins

One thing I'm religious about is putting sunscreen on my face. I'm a product junkie so you can trust me when I say I've tried tons of different sunscreens.

Last year when I was at the dermatologist having some melasma looked at, she recommended Elta MD Oil-Free Sunscreen since I have, well, oily skin. And you know, this stuff is amazing! It's light, fragrance-free and doesn't leave any film on my face. It's also safe for sensitive skin. If you're on the hunt for sunscreen I definitely recommend Elta MD. They have a full line including products for older skin, acne prone, sport, water proof and body lotion.

Elta MD is pretty much only available through dermatologist offices, however, I have found a few places that carry it online, including Amazon. Prices are consistent everywhere, but don't be turned off with the price. It's so worth it.

This past July, when my Mom was visiting, I was saying how I couldn't find a laundry detergent I loved. I was also lamenting about how much I hated the price of the ones that were decent. For example, Mrs. Meyers is 64 loads for $15. That's a lot of money for detergent, especially when you can get Purex Green Laundry Detergent for $5 bucks or so at Target!

Well Mom (knowing the best like Mom's do) suggested Kirkland (Costco brand) environmentally friendly liquid detergent which has a light, clean fragrance and is 110 loads for $12. It works in both regular and HE washer and of course, I love it! Clothes come out spot free and smell fresh, not purfumey. Thanks Mom for the suggestion!

I'm an advertising company's ideal customer. I love pretty packaging, clever advertising and all the claims the product can do. But, as I've become more and more environmentally conscious I switched my attention to products that are safe for me and safe for the environment. As I mentioned last month I hadn't found a shampoo and conditioner I loved. Well guess what?! That has now changed!

Let me introduce you to Lamas Beauty. They have numerous products including hair care, skin care and body care, but, I'm obsessed with the Soy Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. Made with 100% organic, natural ingredients including vitamins E and B, soy, aloe and amino acids this product is wonderful. Unlike other natural shampoos, the lather is thick and sudsy. The conditioner light and washes out thoroughly (a problem I've had). There aren't any chemicals (sodium laurel sulfate being the main culprit) that strip your hair of its natural moisture or hair dye. Seriously, my hair is super shiny, bouncy and has a light pretty, not perfumy smell.

Here's a little product review I found from the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Seems it did really well! You can purchase the products at numerous health food stores, drugstore.com and directly from Lamas Beauty. Prices vary widely so I suggest you shop around!

I hope you love it as much as I do!
Image: Lamas Beauty

So my Earth Day Resolution was to start using only personal health products {where available} that are safe for the environment. And part of this, is to continue implementing green cleaning products into my life. I'm good to go on body wash, laundry detergent and floor cleaner but I've been on the hunt for a dishwasher detergent that actually works.

Well guess what? Method has come through! Their Smarty Dish is naturally deprived, phosphate-free, full of biodegradable materials and actually does a great job! We do a brief rinse of all our dishes, put a tab in, run the dishwasher and viola everything comes out clean!

You wouldn't knowingly eat chemicals that kill animals and plants and pollute the water that run into your drinking source, right? So why would you eat off dishes that have been washed in them? My thoughts exactly!
Image: Method

Ever since Lancome seemingly changed the formula of their Definicils Mascara {which then gave me terrible raccoon eyes} I've been on the hunt for something new. I've been open to high end, low end and everything in between with a criteria that it should lengthen and thicken, wash off easily and most importantly, not run. I have pretty decent lashes, so they just need something to help them standout. Enter Maybelline Full N'Soft. My lashes are definitely clump free, not brittle, longer and thicker and so far no raccoon eyes! I'll let you know once the humidity invades Charlotte, but for now, I'm thrilled I found something that get's it all done!
Image via Drugstore.com

I don't know about you, but lately my skin has been super dry. So, it's time to switch up my moisturizing/body wash routine.

Out is Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash and in its place is Johnson's Softwash Melt Away Stress 24 Hour Moisturizing Wash. So far I love it. The scent is light, it rinses away without a residue and I definitely notice my skin isn't as dry and tight feeling after the hot shower.
Also out is Lubriderm Lotion with Sunscreen. I'm not getting any sun on my arms and legs anyway. In its place comes Suave Firming Moisturizer. Again, it has a very light fragrance {noticing a pattern here} and I'm not itchy at all throughout the day. In fact, at the end of the day when I'm changing into pajamas I notice my skin feels very similar to when I first put on my clothes.

I'm all about finding the best products but don't like spending buckets of money on things like this. What are your favorites?
Images via Drugstore.com

I've been searching for a less expensive facial cleanser to replace the Origins and Aveda I've used over the last couple of years. Mostly because I think money is better spent on other things but also because if they have the same ingredients then in my head they must do the same thing. This weekend I tried Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser and really loved it. It didn't leave my skin dry, it sudsed nicely and had a nice, fresh frangrance. Yeah for less expensive beauty products that work! {image via Drugstore.com}

As I run out of the current health and beauty products I'm using, I've begun replacing them with all natural ones. I'm very particular about what I use. I don't like soap that is perfumy or has an overpowering fruit scent. I just like to smell clean but at the same time not antiseptic. Same criteria goes for any product I use in my hair with the addition that it can't leave a nasty film. These are the best products I've found so far.

The Method body wash and hand soap in White Tea leave my skin moisturized. I don't itch, have a nasty "moisturized skin" film or get any type of irritation or breakouts {all of which I've had with other products, particularly body wash.}

I really love Aveda products but they just don't work into my budget. The Burt's Bees Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo and Conditioner come in a close second. The scent is refreshing and not at all reminiscent of walking into a Bath & Body Works store. Peeewww. They leave my hair shiny and smelling great. The conditioner doesn't leave a nasty film on my hair thus causing it to be limp.

The Burt's Bees Hair Repair is great for hair that gets a lot of abuse. I blow dry mine almost daily and occasionally use the flat iron. This stuff made it super soft and moisturized.

Recently, I found the Burt's Bees products for $1.98 at Target. That's the same prices as Suave and a lot cheaper than the $7.99 at the grocery store. If you go to Target, Burt's Bees is kept by the makeup, not by the other shampoo and conditioner.

I'm still searching for natural toothpaste and deodorant that does as good of job as Crest and Secret. If you have any recommendations please let me know!

Origins makes the best skin care products. I love Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash. It's perfect for my combination skin. I use it year round and never have dry, tight skin.






Never A Dull Moment exfoliates my skin, keeping it bright without being harsh and irritating.

Neutrogena makes the best cream for dry, cracked hands. I LOVE this stuff.