I keep my daily beauty regimen simple and fuss-free. I strongly believe less is more! The less make-up, the more of a glow you can achieve. It takes time to get your skin where you want it, and everyone has different conditions to adapt to.  I have fine hair and dry skin, so I’m huge on conditioning every nook and cranny of my body.

My skin has also had its ups-and-downs over the years. I grew up with clear skin, but when I reached college and began drinking, eating unhealthily and getting little sleep, I went through periods where my skin was absolutely unbearable to manage.  The worst part about breaking out is that all you want to do is cover it up, but doing so just clogs your pores even more and continues the vicious cycle. I’ve sworn off cover-up and foundation, because if you just let your skin push all the junk out and maintain a hands-off approach, you’ll see that it eventually clears up on its own.  The key is to stop fussing! After trying to tame the beast that was my bout of acne, I decided to step back and stop applying so many lotions and acne remedies. I allowed it to get really bad before it got infinitely better. Be patient and trust your body’s inclination to balance.

Everyone, however, has to take into consideration their hormone balances, their predilection to acne, sensitivity to temperature and environmental toxins, and reaction to certain chemicals. Hopefully you have adapted to these over the years, and know what works and what doesn’t. There are, however, practices that I believe work across the board in improving/maintaining skin and hair appearance. Here are my bathroom cabinet staples:

1. Dry Brush

This bad boy is a simple, yet extremely effective way to activate your lymphatic system. Undress and set aside a few minutes every morning to dry brush (yes, that means no water). By brushing in an upward motion toward your heart in circular motions, you are stimulating your body’s circulation and encouraging detoxification. Focus on neck, behind the kness, armpits, and groin area for greatest results.  Also focus on your bootay to reduce cellulite. This ritual also warms you up on a cold Winter morning!

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is all-purpose. Don’t confuse it with coconut butter. Coconut oil presses and extracts the oil from coconut meat, whereas coconut butter includes the meat. Use coconut oil for your body. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of oil on your body–it won’t make you look greasy. It’s very light on your skin and absorbs quickly leaving no residue. It also leave a faint, fresh smell. No, you won’t smell like a pina colada. Coconut oil is great for scars, moisturizing, eczema and psoriasis, and I believe it to be the ideal conditioner for your skin and a great hair treatment. Don’t use it on your face if you are acne-prone. This is ALL you need in your cabinet for moisturizing! It lasts a long time too, so more bang for the buck!

3. Vegetable Soap

These soaps are vegetable-based and lack the parabens and other synthetic ingredients found in other soaps. They are cleansing and smell delicious!

4. Nails

Non-toxic brand of nail polish! My favorite brand–Priti. Click here to get some!

6. Skin-Care Line

This is a great line–Dr. Alkaitis makes organic, raw skin care products. They are light and make the skin feel smooth and luxurious.

7. Hair

Morocco Method International hair products. Great stuff. Great results. These products are 100% natural, raw, vegan, organic, fair trade, chemical-free, family and baby safe, and pet friendly. Oh, and they work like a charm!Can’t get much better than that.

8. Scent (Perfume)

Intelligent nutrients has made the most beautiful, feminine scent! I love Jasminas. Put a little of the oil behind your ears, on your neck and on your wrists, and you will exude a beautiful, natural scent that isn’t laced with chemicals and artificial additives. You will smell the glow!

9. Makeup

Alima Pure is a phenomenal line of makeup. This is what they have to say, “Our mineral cosmetics are never made with additives, fillers or fragrances that can irritate your skin or clog your pores. In fact, the pigments in our natural makeup are actually beneficial for your skin, offering sun protection and anti-inflammatory properties.” Sounds good so far. Even better, it is certified against the more rigorous European standards of the Federation of German Industries and Trading Firms for natural cosmetics. It is only the 2nd American cosmetics company to be able to boast this. The products are quality, pure, and eco-friendly. They are also affordable and you can recycle your jars!

Try these products for yourself. While some may be on the more expensive side, they are great investments that last longer than your average toiletries. They pay off in the long-run and are all you need!

xoxo