What I'm packing for Maui...

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In a few days I'll be in Maui!  I'm so excited gathering my essentials that I'll be taking with me... 

We go to Maui every year and this year we are going for 12 whole days!  It usually falls right after my birthday so I always love getting a couple of new swimsuits for the trip;)  I've always been very picky about my swimsuits and used to have so much trouble finding one I liked that I once had a dream of designing swimsuits just to be able to have what I was looking for!  Well, I'm happy to say, these days there are many "suitable" suits to choose from and I'm going to let you in on some of my faves, and where I find them.

This year, I'm loving the color-blocked swimsuit look, so I'm mixing and matching for a classic chic black and white look.  Each year I seem to get obsessed with a different swimsuit brand.  Last year it was all about my sexy black Mikoh one piece.  This year it's all about Vitamin A.  

Vitamin A is known for their signature "California Cut" bottoms which are the perfect mix between the "Full Cut" (still a little too 'mom jeans' for me;).... and the all too popular "Brazilian Cut" (which I'm just plain getting too old for;)

What I learned about swimsuits is this...  Once you go QUALITY like this, you never go back.  Are they more expensive?  Yep.  It's kinda crazy what swimsuits cost these days for how little material you actually get.  BUT, when you're wearing that little....you want to look your best, right ladies?   Brands of this caliber are just different.  Vitamin A is an exceptional brand with seams that lie flat against the skin.  The quality is meticulous.  The fit is hip slimming, curve-hugging, bust boosting, figure flattering perfection!  They also have nailed the simple, solid colors I love so.  Gone are the days of the bright loud prints, thank goodness.  They are also made right here in sunny California and do their part to lighten their environmental footprint, I like that.

The suit in the photo above fits amazingly well.  This bikini top is the Vitamin A Neutra Bralette in White Ecolux, which is a matte superfine jersey made with recycled nylon fiber to conserve resources.  I have always been a fan of the classic triangle top, but these days, turning 44 years old a week from today... it's just not offering the support I need if you know what I mean.  This top, with its more bra-like shape, is very flattering on.  The bikini bottom is the Vitamin A Neutra Hipster in Black Ecolux (they also have a hipster full cut version if the California Cut isn't for you.)  I love these bottoms because they are simple, yet have cute cut out side panels.  It matches the cutout in the center of the top.  Don't be afraid to mix and match, it's so fun and easy to do with solids.  It's also easy to do if you find a print you like... you can just get the print in one, and pair it with a solid colored bottom to tone it down a bit.  

You'll also see in the pic above that I'm also not going to Maui this year without as couple more of my essentials... my Protect safe sunscreen with SPF 30.  As you know I've started my Safe Product Movement this year, so this and my Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 for face will definitely be packed;)  The other thing that I'm so excited to take is my Rose Water Uplifting Spray.  It's one of my favorite things and will be perfect to spritz on when it's hot... and after that plane ride to keep my skin hydrated.

So what other quality swimsuit brands can I recommend for you?  L Space has always been a favorite of mine, great styles to choose from and excellent quality.  I also love ViX Swimwear.  Their Bia suit has an amazing way of looking great on so many different body types, very flattering.  If you're looking for your first luxury, quality suit, I'd recommend this bottom in black and this top in black.  You simply can't do wrong with it.  This was my first quality suit and I absolutely loved it and have recommended it to many of my friends who have loved it too;)  It has gold hardware sliders that you can adjust on the top and bottom to make it look best on you.  This Bia style also offers a brazilian and a full cut bottom to choose from.  I like their brazilian because it's not AS skimpy as other brazilian cuts...it fits kind of like the california cut mentioned above.  It's also one of the best triangle tops that actually fits larger busted women beautifully!  With that said it also looks amazing on smaller busted women...it's simply one of the best all around suits in my opinion.

One thing about all of these quality swimsuits... where the heck do you find them??  I live in California and the only store I've seen these brands at is Nordstrom and some specialty boutique bikini shops in beach towns.  So this is where you have to turn to online shopping.  What I used to do is just order a few to try on to see which brands I liked.  Once I learned what brands looked best on me and what size I was in those brands, it became pretty easy to shop.  My tip is to read the fine print on websites about shipping and returns!  Some swimsuit sites only offer exchanges or store credit...not refunds!  I stay away from those because I always want to option to return a swimsuit if it doesn't fit, because they have to fit perfectly.  I've returned a lot of swimsuits over the years!  

A couple of the sites that offer great quality swimsuits that I use are southbeachswimsuits.com and mollybrownswimwear.com.  They also have cute cover ups and dresses for your vacation shopping!  Here's the thing ladies, these expensive swimsuits go on sale!  Big sales!  You can find great deals on amazing, high quality, luxury brands.  I recommend sites like 6pm.com and zappos.com to find great deals.  Here's what I do... I find a style a like and write down the exact brand name and style name.  I then google it!  I shop around to find the best deal.  Now this trick doesn't work on new styles that were just released that season, but there are some great deals on past season suits out there, you just have to find them.  I once got a $200 ViX suit for $16 for the top and $16 for the bottom on 6pm.com.  

Here's a couple of my other new faves... First this color is called "mimosa" so it was kinda calling my name;)  Shop the bikini top here and the bikini bottom here.

Vitamin A Bikini, Beautycounter Protect Sunscreen, Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

Next, this Bikini top is very flattering on.  It has no hardware and the material is so luxurious.  This color is different than any other I've seen...

Mikoh Bikini in Lychee, Beautycounter Rose Water Spray

The bottoms I chose to match this top are really pretty too and come in this same Lychee color.

One store that I love to go take a look around before I go to Maui is Target!  I LOVE their "long lean tanks" and Vintage Tees.  I collect them in white because I wear them with anything and everything. 

I got this really cute cover-up romper that is absolutely adorable on.  The flared sleeves makes me feel like I'm bringing out my inner Stevie Nicks.  I'll be steaming this, sorry about the wrinkles....

I know some of you might still be covered in snow out there, but I hope this inspires you to get ready for some summer sun!  Follow me over on Instagram over the coming days as I'll be wearing some of the items in this post!

Dry Skin Brushing - Benefits + How To

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I tried Dry Skin Brushing years ago.  I'll admit, I did it once and was a total wimp....I thought it hurt and gave it up immediately.  But I've matured and live a healthier lifestyle since then and decided to give it another chance.  Now I'm totally hooked.  I even look forward to this amazing morning ritual.  I don't want to scare you away if you've never tried it.  I tell you this because the first time you try it, you might think, "screw this!"  LOL.  I'm here to encourage you to put your big girl pants on and give it a chance....it gets better.  

BRUSHES:

The first thing I want to talk to you about is the actual brush.  All skin brushes are not created equal.  There are many synthetic brushes out there...stay away from those.  You want to get a natural bristle brush.  Many people like a boar bristle brush which is natural and good quality, but I'm an animal lover so I think there's an even better option.  I recommend going vegan on this one and getting a good quality natural cactus sisal brush.  Best choice in my opinion.  I did some research and found the same quality brush I have, at a better price for you!  Get yours here.  This one is a nice hand held brush like mine, but you can also get one with a long handle so that you can reach your back.  If you get one of those, I recommend getting a plant based one without a detachable handle (I linked to a good one above) as it can fall off when brushing which is annoying.  Here's another plant based good one.  Do not brush your face with a body brush, it's too stiff.  There are special face brushes that are softer if you choose to include your face.  I personally do not brush my face.  So let's get to why you should dry brush...

THE BENEFITS:

• It exfoliates skin.  It will slough off dead, dry skin improving skin's appearance.  it will clear clogged pores and allow your skin to breathe.  By doing this your moisturizer will penetrate your skin and hydrate it more efficiently.  
• It increases circulation.  It delivers oxygenated blood to the skin which encourages elimination of metabolic waste.
• It stimulates the Lymphatic System.  This is the system that is responsible for eliminating cellular waste.  The lymphatic tublules allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination.  This is referred to as lymphatic drainage.  When the lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and make us sick.  This is a leading cause of inflammation and disease.  Skin brushing is a powerful aid in keeping this system healthy!
• It helps with the appearance of cellulite.  While this may be temporary, dry skin brushing may help soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing them more evenly, decreasing the appearance of cellulite.
• It improves digestion and kidney function.  Dry brushing can help with bloat.  Massaging the lymph nodes can help shed extra water and toxins from the body.
• It's invigorating.  After you get over the initial slightly painful scratchiness of dry brushing, it actually starts to feel GOOD.  Along with glowing and tighter skin, it can feel invigorating!  I actually like it now!  It's like an invigorating massage that leaves your skin feeling awake!

HOW TO:

Skin brush daily for best results.  Some people even do it twice a day.  I've been doing it once a day.  I recommend doing it in the morning because it can leave you feeling stimulated and invigorated, so it's a great way to start the day.  Essentially you want to brush your entire body, starting at your feet and brushing the skin in short or long strokes in the direction of your heart.  Always brush in one direction in strokes, don't scrub back and forth, toward the heart...this is best for circulation and the lymphatic system.  You can even start with the soles of your feet and move up the body.  When you get to your stomach and chest you can brush in a circular motion.  I find it difficult to do my chest, it's pretty sensitive and can be a little painful, so I'm still working on it;)  Just do the best you can.  Don't press too hard to leave scratches to break the skin, but your skin will be a little pink.  Stay away from any broken skin and vericose veins.  Clean the brush every few times with a gentle soap and water.  

As soon as your done brushing, shower as usual.  After showering, apply a skin oil while still wet to lock in moisture.  I've been switching to all safer beauty products this year with my Safe Product Movement, so I use this Lustro Body Oil which is so moisturizing and safe with a EWG Skin Deep rating of 1.  It comes in two different scents.  Many other body oils can be synthetic and contain harmful "fragrances" that contain a number of toxic chemicals.  You can actually get one of the body oils I use for FREE right now when you spend $200 stocking up on other safe products...that's how I got mine;)  You can also use a good coconut oil which works great!

I'm turning 44 this month, so I'm loving discovering new ways to improve my health and pampering myself a little more while I'm at it.  I'm a big fan of aging gracefully.  Just knowing we are doing all we can, by eating well, doing healthy things for our bodies, make us feel good.  I hope you give skin brushing a try!  Do you skin brush?  I'd love to hear from you what you think of it.

Charcoal Cleansing Bar + Sea Salt Spray

Two new amazing safe products just hit Beautycounter's website today!  The Charcoal Cleansing Bar made it's debut last month but sold out quick...it's back in stock today!  The Sea Salt Spray is brand new and I can't wait to get my hands on it because I LOVE sea salt sprays to create great textured style in my hair.  Here's a little more info about these two....

CHARCOAL CLEANSING BAR

This Charcoal Cleansing Bar is called a "face bar", but can absolutely be used on your body too.  I've heard it works wonders on "bacne".  It detoxifies and absorbs impurities without drying it out!  If you struggle with acne at all... or have teenagers going through that phase... give this a try.  I don't have acne, but i do have small breakouts at times and I plan to keep this bar on hand for those times when I need it.  I've heard this bar is absolutely amazing for blackheads.  Many people think they need to steer clear of oils when they have acne prone or oily skin and this simply is not true.  You just have to use the right ones.  Synthetic oils sit on top of the skin and can make your skin "greasy".  Many products are actually overly drying with harsh surfactants such as sulfates....which end up making the problem worse.  This bar gently draws out impurities with charcoal while nourishing the skin with safe oils that are easily absorbed.  This one bar will last you for months.  This is going to be a HOT item, so you might want to jump on this before it sells out again;)

SEA SALT SPRAY

Ready for beachy waves?  This Sea Salt Spray is for you!  I've always loved using sea salt spray on my hair because it creates a great, textured style...but I felt other brands would dry it out.  I have dry hair anyway, so I stopped using it as much.  This one will give it touchable texture without drying it out!  It has Himalayan Pink salt, red algae extract, and clay.  It's used to create beachy waves, enhance curls and restore shine.  Other sprays often contain hormone-disrupting ingredients and are contaminated with measurable amounts of carcinogens.  It just came out today....so I'll be ordering this one for sure.  I'm headed to Maui in March and this will be my perfect hair companion!

Enjoy!  I am more and more excited every day now that I'm using more and more Beautycounter products.  It makes me feel great to know I'm using products that are safe and non toxic.  They are so high performing and their packaging is spot on.  I'm a girly girl...so I'll admit that matters to me!  My husband is totally happy we are making safer switches too.  He even requested I order him the shaving cream so I did immediately when I learned his old one had carcinogens and hormone disrupters that may cause liver damage!  So don't forget the think about your entire family when making safer switches;)

I'll keep you posted on the products I'm using and loving!  Have an awesome day....and don't forget to watch "The Human Experiment" on Netfilx to learn more about what's really going on in the U.S. and why many of the products we use every day could be causing our family harm.  Read more about my mission to help get safe products into the hands of everyone in my Safe Product Movement post and Why I Chose Beautycounter.

Safe Product Movement

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I'm starting a movement and I need your help!  

Are you ready to clean up your act?  I am. This is the year I'm finally opening my eyes to the truth about what's really in our products we use every day.  

Since this is going to be a new journey for me, I thought it would be fun to take you along with me and get everyone involved!  Why?  Because as we all start cleaning up our act together, we can share the products we love and why!  We all want to be safe, but we also want products that are going to perform.  We can help one another find cleaner, safer products that work the way we need them to.  Join this movement with me!

Now, before we go any further, I want to point one thing out.  I don't want you going down the rabbit hole on this!  Don't let it consume you.  The point is to just do better.  We cannot be perfect and I'm not asking you to be.  Let's just be aware and when we can choose a safer product....make the switch!  ...Okay, now we can move on.

Here's what we can do to help each other... 

1. Download the Skin Deep App to start checking your products like make up, skin care, lotions, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo to see how they score.  Let's aim for products that have a "low" hazard score of 1 or 2.  What this means is it has a low hazard for health concerns like Cancer, Developmental/Reprotoxicity, and Allergies.   Get your kids involved and make it fun!  Decide where you need to make improvements.  You don't need to do it all at once, the key is to start paying closer attention to your products and what's really in them.  
2. Start switching out your current products that score a "moderate" to "high" hazard score (unsafe) to new products that ARE safe.  If you find a product with a low score that you love...and works well...I want to hear from you so we can all know about it!  Share your switch by posting it on Instagram or social media of your choice with the hashtag #safeproductmovement so others can search and see all the safer products that people have already tried out and love!  This will be a great way to get recommendations!  Let's say someone is looking for a new safer sunscreen for their family.... they can search the hashtag to find one that maybe someone has already tried and loves!  I will also have a Pinterest Board called Safe Product Movement where I will share mine and yours!
3. Spread the word!  Tell everyone you know you have joined the Safe Product Movement!  Share this post with them to show them how it works.  First, it will help more people get safer products into their homes.  Second, it will help more people find high performing safe products because more people will be sharing their "switches"!  

Decide for yourself how quickly you want to make "switches".  Maybe you're the kind of person who will throw out all of the unsafe products at once.  Maybe you plan to make one healthy switch per week.  Not all products are in the EWG Skin Deep Database, but as we search products it tells them what products are being scanned and searched...so they are adding new info all the time to their database.  Just do the best you can.  Use your common sense and if you're unsure, call the company or do some online research about the brand.  

One ingredient I want to mention is "Fragrance".  This is an ingredient to AVOID.  There can be dozens to hundreds of chemicals legally hidden in this word that are linked to birth defects, breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, and ADHD.  Any chemical that a manufacturer doesn't want to disclose, they can just hide it under that one dangerous word... "Fragrance".  Pretty messed up, huh?  Instead look for "frangrance-free" or essential oils are okay.

I'm calling this a "Movement" because things need to change in this country.  There are 1400 toxic ingredients that have been banned from products in Europe.  There have only been ELEVEN ingredients that have been banned from products in the U.S.  The last time Congress passed a law regulating the cosmetics industry was 1938.  Not okay.  It's up to us to make a change in our homes, for our families.  If you're looking for a skin care and cosmetic line that is known to be safe, read my page here about why I chose this one.  I love that by choosing products from this company, I don't even have to spend time checking...I know it's safe.  Time saver;)

I'm SO excited to start seeing your "switches"!!  Like I said, I need your help so please get involved and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!  I've already made skin care switches, toothpaste switch and counter spray switch.  I'll post them soon!  Share your switches and share this message!  Thanks everyone, let's make a difference!

These are the kinds of things you'll see me posting on social media...

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As you can see in the EWG Skin Deep app, the score on the Colgate just isn't okay with me anymore.  I've been putting ingredients that only "moderately" cause cancer directly onto my gums twice a day?  That's going right into our bloodstream!  Not okay.  Make a "switch" to a safer product for your family.  I feel so much better now every time I brush now that I've switched.  Toothpaste may be something you may not remember to switch, so check yours!

Now, I've heard that Colgate actually owns Tom's now....I heard that from some of you after posting this on Instagram.   I want you to know that that's not the part that concerns me.  All I'm focusing on is making better choices, safer choices. 

Amazon Prime Day

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Have you heard? It's Happy Amazon Prime Day on July 15th!  They are celebrating turning 20 years old by offering deals that they say will be better than Black Friday!  What!?  For someone who gets her cardio through shopping, like me....it's worth a look!  :)

So what's the catch to participate in Amazon Prime Day?  You do have to be an Amazon Prime member to participate in these deals.  Most people I know, including me, are already Prime members...if not you can sign up for a free 30 day trial to see if you like it.  After that, it's just $99 per year.  I think it's totally worth it with all the shipping fees saved!  What else does Prime membership mean?  In addition to the deals on July 15th, you get free 2-day shipping on millions of items, photo storage, instant streaming of many movies and TV shows, and access to books and music.

I love Amazon, they usually have the best deals I can find anyway....so I'm looking forward to see what I can score on Prime Day!

Click here to find out more about Amazon Prime Day!  Happy shopping! ;)

My Top Five Beauty Tips

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My top five beauty tips are pretty simple.... I've always loved trying different beauty products but you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for the latest and greatest trend.  The thing is, as I'm getting older, it comes down to a few simple tricks and if you practice them consistently... you'll look younger, longer.  It's never too soon to start a healthy skin beauty regimen.  Here's mine...

1.  Never go to bed without washing your face.  Ever.  I have always washed my face before bed.  It's a good habit of mine since I was very young.  I just feel gross going to bed with makeup on.  It is so much healthier for your skin.  You don't have to spend a lot of money here.  It also preps for #2... My favorite splurge in this category:  Caudalie Foaming Face Wash.  My favorite drug store pick:  Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil Free Acne Wash (I don't have acne, but I love this stuff.)  As long as it works well to gently remove makeup and doesn't burn my eyes, that's all I need.  I do like to wash my eye makeup off this way, in one step...I don't use a separate remover.

2.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  I say this three times, because it should be done in three steps.  Moisturizing goes for your entire body...but especially your face.  I moisturize morning and night and am very diligent about it.  In the morning I just splash water on my face.  I don't wash it again.  As you age, it's not good to wash too much... you're not a teenager anymore;)  I put eye cream on by dabbing it under and around my eyes with my ring fingers.  One of my favorites that I keep going back to is Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Eye Concentrate.  It's a splurge, but feels amazing.  The container lasts me a long time.  I don't have a favorite drug store brand in this category, but if I was going to get one, I'd choose Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream.  I love their other products, so I bet it's as good.  Next is a face serum.  My go-to is Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Serum, which has a light, creamy consistency.  Another one I get once in a while is Truth Serum Collagen Booster by Ole Henriksen, which is a clear, gel-like serum that brightens the skin.  It smells like oranges.  This one's good if you've had a lot of sun exposure.  If it's morning, I proceed to #4.  If it's night time, I put on a heavier night cream next.  My absolute favorite night cream is Algenist Genius Anti-Aging Cream.  A little pricey but I absolutely love it.  Again, it's a huge container, so it will last me a long time, especially wearing it once daily.  Again, Boots No.7 is a great drug store choice.  Whatever you choose,  look at your ingredients and pick one without parabens.  As long as it has healthy ingredients....just moisturize (eye), moisturize (serum), moisturize (cream).

-Boots No.7 is a wonderful, inexpensive beauty line that can be found at Target and Ulta Stores.  It's usually in the $20 range but Ulta usually has great coupons!

3.  Exfoliate.  I only do this when I feel like I need it.  I remember the days in high school when I used to love that "Apricot Scrub" that would just scratch the heck out of my face!  Those days of damaging scrubbing are over.  I have a Clarisonic brush that I use every so often but have heard mixed reviews on whether it's good for your skin.  I must say... I have a new favorite product and it lands in this category.  It's Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Peel in Extra Strength.  It's a two step process that uses pre-soaked pads.  You apply the first step, wait 2 minutes, then apply the 2nd step.  That's it.  It leaves your skin so beautiful and glowing, stripping away all the dead skin cells.  Absolutely no redness or irritation, just beautiful skin.  I do this about once a week, or as needed.  It's safe enough to use daily if you want.  I'm so happy I found this;)  I'm adding one of these in my Giveaway going on right now!!  (See Giveaway on my main menu to see how you can enter...ends 4/18/15!)

4.  Wear protection.  I'm talking about sunscreen here.  I've tried a lot of sunscreens, BB's, etc and I'm picky in this category.  It has to be just the right consistency.  I've found one I love that is my go-to on a daily basis.  My favorite non-tinted day cream is Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream SPF 15.  It's wonderful and I feel protected from sun exposure on a daily basis.

5.  Smile.  This is the best one...and so simple.  :)  When you put a smile on your face you're immediately ten times more beautiful.  Don't get botox, it's just weird.  My opinion.  Don't be afraid of a few smile lines here and there.  Take good care of your skin, be happy...and age gracefully.  

A couple of extra products that I keep around for 'every once in a while'... Josie Maran Face Oil for that once a year dry skin that needs extra help.  I also love Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum.  It really does make your skin beautiful...I can see why she calls it the model's secret;)

That's my beauty regimen.  I do that every. single. day.  I'd love to hear your favorite beauty tips!  Or... if you didn't have one before reading this, maybe this will inspire you to get one!  It's never too late to develop a healthy skin routine!

Here's to aging gracefully.

Love beauty products as much as I do?  I recommend Birchbox!  It's like getting a personalized gift box every month...