Men deserve cleaner, safer skincare, too. Whether a man uses a bar of soap for everything, or sneakily steals his wife’s lotions and potions… there’s a reason that men need their own skincare regimen designed specifically for their skin. The truth is that men’s skin is biologically different than women’s skin. Men’s skin is 25% thicker. Men’s skin is oilier. Men have larger pores.
Read moreFacial Massage
At 46 years old, I'm all about aging gracefully. I've never had any "work done"...not even botox which is quite common today.
With that said...aging, wrinkles and sagging skin is the pits. I'm always looking for ways to look and feel beautiful in a natural and safe way and sharing things I've found that I love.
Lately I've learned more about Facial Massage and I'm a fan...
The face is full of nerves and pressure points and is a great way to pamper yourself...while benefiting your skin. Facial massage is not a new thing. It's been used in Chinese medicine for a very long time...
Here's some benefits of Facial Massage:
We know how important excercise is for our body. Think of it like exercise for your face.
- It increases circulation by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the face which is like a "natural face lift".
- It helps your face products absorb better and deeper into skin so they can work even better.
- Relieves tension in the face...tension that can lead to more wrinkles.
- You'll look younger because the massage stimulates blood flow, which increases collagen and over time will help you have more youthful, glowing, firmer skin.
- Reduces puffiness by helping to move and redistrubute fluid and subcutaneous fat that can settle.
- Reduce stress and anxiety by relieving that facial tension.
- Helps congestion, allergies, even headaches, by releasing sinus pressure that can build up.
- Detoxes the body by stimulating the lymphatic system to release toxins (get those areas along the jawline especially).
- It FEELS GOOD. A great way to do something for YOU daily that's healthy!
When I first started facial massage I was surprised how much that the area around my eyebrows was painful when I massaged there...like it was sore. This really made me realize just how much tension I was holding there. Over time, that pain has gone away because I'm releasing that tension on a regular basis. I love that.
Facial massage can be done during a facial by a professional but there are ways you can easily bring the benefits of into your home by easily doing it yourself.
You can use your fingers to perform a facial massage on yourself, but I've found a couple of tools that I use and love...
Tools I use for at-home Facial Massage:
- Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift 2-in-1 Cleansing and Micro-Firming Massage Device - This Massage Head smooths the look of fine lines and wrinkles, boosts the absorption of your daily skincare products, and with 27,000 micro-firming massages per use, delivers a pleasurable ‘spa-like experience. I love this...I even give my husband facial massage treatments and he LOVES IT. Don't tell him I told you that;)
- Jade Roller - the above device is my favorite but this is a less expensive option that I work into my facial massage routine too. The guys from Queer Eye For the Straight Guy recently talked about this...so you know it works because those guys know the best beauty tricks! Jade is naturally cooling. Just make sure you get one made with real Jade like this one I've linked. Oh and don't drop it because it will break.
- Ice Roller - I don't use this as much as the other two tools above, but when I'm feeling extra "puffy" and I need it...I'm glad I have it. I keep it in the freezer all the time and once in a while I roll my face and neck in upward strokes with this super cold roller that totally stimulates my skin and wakes it up! When I do use it, I use this one first with no product, then apply Face Oil or Serum, and follow with one of the above. Extra tip....this ice roller can be used on your body too, for example when I've had shin splints from running, I'll ice my shins and it works great! Also great for headaches. Here's what it looks like....
Products I use for at-home Facial Massage:
You don't want to use facial massage just with dry skin. First of all you don't want to tug on skin...you want the massager to glide on skin easily. Second massage allows products to absorb deeper into skin and work better, so I choose safe, high performing products that are like "nutrition" for my skin...
- Beautycounter Face Oils - Don't be afraid of face oils....especially these face oils. I think of them as "liquid gold". They're on BC's "Best of Beautycounter" customer-voted list and won Allure's "Best of Beauty" Award in 2017. Since discovering these face oils I will never be without them. They aren't synthetic like many face oils on the market, so they don't sit on top of skin, make you break out, or make you feel greasy...they absorb and moisturize beautifully. This is my go-to product whenever using my Clarisonic Massage Head.
- Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum - This is a super concentrated serum that bio-mimics your skin to give it exactly what it needs and nothing it doesn't. This one absorbs a little bit quicker than the Face Oil, so I use this with my Jade Roller, but doesn't work as well with the Clarisonic.
How to:
Apply product to face and then use your tool of choice in upward, outward strokes all over your face. When using the jade roller, I use it until it no longer feels cool on my face which is a couple of minutes. When I use the Clarisonic, I use it a bit longer...about 3-5 minutes. I try to use facial massage daily, but at least 3 times a week. Many times I do it right upon waking before I even go to the kitchen or have coffee. It makes my skin feel awake, alive, and hydrated. Starting the day like this is a great pick-me-up!
If you want to see me demonstrating both tools and products on video, head over to my Instagram @happywifestyle Story Highlights under "Beauty" and you can see them in action!
Enjoy, let me know your thoughts and if you give Facial Massage a try. If you need any help with which number Face Oil is right for your skin, #1 Brightening + Vitamin C, #2 Plumping/Hydrating + Jasmine, or #3 Balancing w/ Ylang Ylang, I'm happy to help!
Nutrition for your Skin
Today I want to talk to you about nutrition for your skin, whether all "natural" products are safe, and what you NEED to know about oil-based vs. water-based products.... I also have a special GIFT with purchase offer for you, so read to the bottom! Enjoy!
A couple of years ago, I started learning that what I put ON MY BODY (products) was just as important as what I put IN MY BODY (nutrition).
I'm so excited to have found the Countermatch Line, it's what I consider NUTRITION FOR MY SKIN.
As I've swapped out my skincare and makeup to safer options over the past two years, I've learned a lot about what to look for and what matters most when choosing safer products...
At first, I thought NATURAL automatically meant SAFER.
When I first started the search for safer options, I thought if I chose a product that was "natural" or from a totally natural source, it meant it was SAFE. Well, it might be, but not necessarily. Here's why...
The word "NATURAL" doesn't always mean SAFE. This is because natural products aren't standardized and therefore can be a bit of a wildcard.
The biggest complaint about natural products is that they don't perform as well.
Natural products can really vary with their amounts of effective ingredients. That's why the performance isn't usually the same as traditional products. I know when I first started trying natural products, the performance just wasn't there.
Natural products aren't always screened for harmful ingredients, preservatives, or contaminants. These unwanted ingredients can sneak in through the supply chain even if the company has good intentions and no one knows if the product isn't screened for them on a regular basis. The truth is, most of these products are never being screened. If they are being screened, they may be screened ONCE, from one batch, and never again.
That's not good enough for Beautycounter. We are a completely transparent company and consider 1% to be too much when it comes to ingredients like Parabens.
When people ask me if Beautycounter is a completely "natural" brand, the answer is no. Beautycounter is so different because they put SAFETY over SOURCE which allows them to shine in being SAFER AND EFFECTIVE. Let me explain...
Beautycounter uses a small amounts of synthetic preservatives, but ones that are well vetted and won't harm our health. This creates a longer shelf-life and decreases contamination.
The truth is, unlike oil-based products, water-based products have to have a preservative in them for it to be safe for your health. If not, they can become contaminated with bacteria.
This is where Beautycounter really shines. They are able to make SAFER products with HIGH PERFORMANCE because they actually carefully regulate the amounts of the effective ingredients so they actually work like they should! They have mastered the delicate balance of the precise amount of an effective ingredient with the correct amount of a SAFER preservative.
They rigorously screen every product...every single batch...THREE TIMES. That makes me feel confident because there's finally a company looking out for our HEALTH!
I learned some interesting facts about a very popular yellow lotion that I used to use in my teens and twenties...maybe you used it too.
About 25% of its ingredients were actually beneficial to our skin. The other 75% of its ingredients were harmful preservatives, silicones and synthetic polymers that make the lotion slip and slide on skin to make it seem hydrating. The majority of the ingredients aren't even usable or beneficial to skin! What??
Our skin is our largest organ. It's needs healthy nutrients too.
This is why I'm LOVING the innovative Countermatch Line by Beautycounter.
100% of its ingredients are usable and beneficial to our skin. 100%.
This is why I consider it NUTRITION FOR MY SKIN. The longer you use it, the better it gets. Plus it bio-mimics skin and delivers exactly what it needs and nothing it doesn't for 24 hours.
Just like we have to FEED our bodies with healthy ingredients, we need to FEED our skin healthy, safer ingredients too.
I hope this helps you understand what matters most when choosing safer products for you and your family.
GIFT WITH PURCHASE (expires April 30, 2018)
When you purchase any Beautycounter products through my link I will give you a FREE full size gift!
One of my favorite new products from Beautycounter is the Cleansing Wipes and I'll give you a free pack of these when you spend $100 or more!
These are the best wipes I've ever tried...the material of the wipe is SO soft, it cleanses and removes make up with no rinsing, and leaves my skin feeling amazing. These are PERFECT for travel or after a workout. These are the FIRST biodegradable wipe on the market! I want you to experience these too so take advantage of this awesome freebie from me! (Must purchase $100+ in product before tax + shipping to qualify and this freebie will ship separately from me.)
I also have a promotion going on this month for anyone interested in becoming a business partner of mine. If you'd like to start your own Beautycounter business sharing our mission of getting safer products into the hands of everyone...learn more here. I'm offering 250 beautiful 2-sided business cards from me to start your business off strong! Contact me at shannon@happywifestyle.com for more details.
Clean Swap - The 6 Worst Offenders in your Beauty Routine
***Read to the end because I tell you how you can get my 4-DAY BEAUTY DETOX PROGRAM for free....
Have you thought about how many personal care products you use every single day?
Are they safe?
There are many ingredients allowed in beauty and skin care products that should never be used:
- harsh sulfates
- formaldehyde-releasers
- artificial fragrances
- PEGs
- mineral oil
- carbon black
WHERE ARE THESE TOXIC INGREDIENTS LURKING? YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED...
HERE ARE THE 6 WORST OFFENDERS:
1. EYE + FACE CREAMS
2. FACIAL MASKS
3. BODY LOTIONS
4. LIPSTICK
5. MASCARA
6. SHAMPOO
READY TO COME CLEAN?
Here's an easy way to get started...and you get your choice of a FREE deluxe sample! ...or 2...or 3!
That's THREE deluxe freebies you can get!!
What's more.....did you know this?
Here's to SWITCHING TO SAFER. I know the thought of it can feel overwhelming. This is a great start.
***BONUS FREEBIE FROM ME FOR MY NEW AND EXISTING CLIENTS:
If you take advantage of this CLEAN SWAP promotion thru my link, email your receipt to me at shannon@happywifestyle.com and I will send you a coupon code to get my 4-DAY BEAUTY DETOX PROGRAM for FREE!
Why I take my own nail polish to the salon...
What the heck is Glyoxal? I recently asked this question after having a body scan done. It's essentially like having a "fingerprint" of the body and its imbalances. Glyoxal showed up as one of my "Top 10 Toxin Stressors". What I found out was very interesting to me...
Turns out Glyoxal is a preservative commonly used in cosmetics and nail polish. It's a Formaldehyde Releaser. It's a FRAGRANCE INGREDIENT. It scores a whopping 10 in the EWG database. (1 being safest and 10 being most toxic.)
One of the first things I teach people when learning to switch to safer products is to avoid products with "fragrance" as an ingredient because dozens of toxic chemicals can legally be hidden behind that one word. Did you know that 80% of personal care products have never been tested for human safety?
Here's what the Environmental Working Group has to say about Glyoxal...
'Glyoxal is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetic products. In the U.S. approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe.'
Well, this makes complete sense to me since partnering with Beautycounter, a company on a mission to educate, advocate, and get safer products into the hands of everyone. 1400 potentially harmful ingredients have been banned in the European Union. In the United States that number is only 30. People have no idea that their products they use every single day are making them sick. The fact that my body scan showed Glyoxal as a top toxic stressor to my body shows me that I've had way too much exposure to it.
Over the past year I've switched all of my skincare and make up over to Beautycounter. I'm now throwing ALL of my toxic nail polish out and only using safer nail polish from now on.
Will making a change make a difference? Yes.
With our skin being our largest organ, when we apply products to our bodies, those ingredients go directly into our bloodstream within 26 seconds. Day after day and year after year, those toxins can add to our chemical body burden and over time can manifest in dis-ease. So how fast can we clean up those toxins? REALLY FAST! Check out this short video that proves just HOW fast toxic chemicals can enter....and leave the body:
So what can you do to help reduce you and your family's chemical body burden?
- Become familiar with EWG.org and get the EWG Healthy Living App and start scanning your personal care products.
- As you run out of things, start switching them out to safer options.
- Swap out the worst offenders first (highest on the toxicity scale).
- Stop buying products with the word "fragrance" as an ingredient.
- Share this important information with others.
What are the safer brands I've switched to?
- Beautycounter skincare, body care, and makeup
- Côte Nail Polish
- Zoya Nail Polish
- Schmidt's Deodorant
- Schmidt's Deodorant for sensitive skin (no baking soda)
- Seventh Generation Detergent and Cleaning Products
- Wool Dryer Balls
- Fluoride Free Toothpaste
- Tooth Whitening
Start you teens off right! One of the first things young girls like to experiment with is NAIL POLISH. When we know better we do better! Here's a promising article showing how teens toxin levels plummeted after switching to safer products: http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2016/03/potentially-toxic-chemicals-plummet-teens-after-switching-safer-cosmetics
Who's with me? Are you going to start making changes? Are you going to start taking YOUR OWN nail polish to the salon with you too?
Meet Beautycounter+
Beautycounter+ launched recently which may be the most exciting thing to happen to this company yet....
What's new? Xavier Ormancey is the new head of product development and had a big hand in bringing Beautycounter+ to life. He came to Beautycounter from Paris after spending over 20 years with Chanel, Loreal, and Roche Posay. With his experience for developing luxurious products that perform, and Beautycounter's Never List... Beautycounter Plus was born!
So what is this brand new line of products all about and how do you use them?
This is a collection of targeted treatments formulated with safer ingredients to enhance your daily skincare routine. Here are the 3 new collections (9 products total):
1. BRIGHTENING COLLECTION + VITAMIN C
Infused with antioxidant-rich Vitamin C to awaken dull skin, this Beautycounter+ collection helps reduce the appearance of age spots for a brighter, more radiant complexion. This collection offers THREE never before seen products. This citrus-scented Brightening Face Oil has 7 natural oils including omega-rich marula oil for intense hydration, avocado oil which is rich in vitamins A, B, D and E for intense moisture, and black currant oil which is rich in anti-inflammatory omegas 3 & 6. Vitamin C brightens and evens skin tone, The Brightening Face Mist has Vitamin C that helps reduce the appearance of age spots while lime pearl extract gently promotes a brighter complexion. Kakadu Plum is rich in vitamin C and this powerful antioxidant in the mist that helps boost luminosity and refine the skin’s surface. This nutrient-rich white Brightening Facial Mask instantly revives skin. Polishing kaolin clay deeply cleanses and revitalizes while vitamin C helps minimize dark spots for a more even complexion and radiant glow.
2. PLUMPING COLLECTION + PEONY
Formulated with powerful peony and jasmine, this Beautycounter+ collection restores and firms moisture-depleted skin. This line is designed to give skin a more toned look and youthful appearance. The Plumping Facial Mask has deep cleansing kaolin clay, peony root extract which helps plump skin and restore elasticity, konjac root smooths the appearance of fine lines by absorbing water in skin for a firmer appearance, and rye seed to improve skin structure and soften expression lines. This alcohol free Plumping Face Mist has peony root extract which helps to plump skin, rye seed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and apple fruit extract which has astringent properties to help tighten and lift the skin. This Plumping Face Oil in this collection has 7 natural oils including jasmine oil helps which boosts hydration with a subtle floral scent, and argan oil which helps minimize the appearance of fine lines. This oil was previously known as "Hydrating" in the regular Beautycounter collection.
3. BALANCING COLLECTION + CHARCOAL
Infused with activated charcoal and ylang ylang, this Beautycounter+ collection gently refines oily, uneven skin. This nutrient-rich kaolin clay Balancing Facial Mask purifies and balances, absorbing excess oil and drawing out impurities. Activated charcoal powder minimizes the appearance of pores, giving skin a smooth, polished appearance while salicylic acid stimulates exfoliation. It also contains lactic acid which gently exfoliates and smooths skin’s surface. This alcohol free Balancing Face Mist is like no other product EVER. It has charcoal powder which is highly absorbent and rich in natural minerals to help balance and purify skin, kaolin which is a soft clay that effectively absorbs excess oil, and wild rose extract which is rich in vitamins A and C, and also helps reduce redness. This lightweight Balancing Face Oil is a blend of seven natural oils that moisturizes, smooths, and helps even skin tone. It has softening meadowfoam seed oil which restores balance, while wild chamomile calms and soothes skin. This mask is previously known as "charcoal mask" in the regular Beautycounter collection and this Face Oil is previously known as "Balancing" in the regular Beautycounter collection.
I have tried this ENTIRE line and I AM IMPRESSED. It is absolutely luxurious. These products smell amazing. The mists are so fine and even when applied. These new masks are EVERYTHING. The Face Oils have always been my "liquid gold" and now having one with Vitamin C is making me do my happy dance.
Tips for use: These Facial Masks can be used as needed 2-3 times per week. The Face Oils can be used daily alone or under moisturizer. The Face Mists can be used daily to prep skin, set makeup, and refresh skin throughout the day. You can "multi mask" too (see pic below) which means use the Plumping Mask on cheeks to plump...and the Charcoal Mask on t-zone to absorb excess oil, for example. You can taylor them to your needs!
The ultimate Multi-Tasking is "Multi-Masking"! I used the #1 Brightening + Vitamin C on my entire face to treat dark spots and #3 Balancing + Charcoal on my T-Zone to shrink pore size!
Who's ready for a girl's day with MASKS, MISTS, and MIMOSAS? Click here to shop:
Why are these products SAFER?
----> Our Facial Oils has passed Beautycounter’s Ingredient Selection Process. They are formulated without synthetic or mineral oils.
----> Our Facial Mists have passed Beautycounter’s Ingredient Selection Process. They are formulated without silicones or sulfates.
----> Our Facial Masks have passed Beautycounter’s Ingredient Selection Process. They are formulated without artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances.
MINI SPA SETS ARE HERE TOO...
