Maybe your 18 year old self was effortlessly fly, I wasn't but maybe you were. But everyday your body is fighting a million internal and external variables that may not be so kind to your skin, nails, and hair. Great genetics can only take you so far, being your most epic self takes being intentional about what you put inside of your body.

1. All the Right Nutrients

And a few years (or decades) into living our best lives, we start depleting vital nutrients and a loss of those nutrients can devastating to maintaining your sexy. For instance, Vitamin E contributes to skin health, and Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and formation, which forms the basis for vibrant skin. Biotin helps to maintain healthy hair.*

I'm a green smoothie girl, I eat grass-feed beef, and I am no stranger to all the most nutrient rich super-foods yet my medical practitioner still informed me that I needed to take high quality supplements during my annual physical. Problem is, I can't swallow a pill to (literally) save my life. So finding Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails strawberry gummies was exactly what I need. Tasty, easy to take on the go, made with naturally sourced colors and flavors and come in a delicious strawberry flavor and with no artificial flavors, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, or fish.

Refresh your beauty routine with the Hair, Skin & Nails Challenge and see for yourself how thier gummies work from within to support lustrous hair, healthy nails and vibrant skin. Nature’s Bounty is so confident in their product that if for any reason you don't like it after 30 days, they will give you your money back

I've been taking Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails strawberry gummies for weeks and I have not missed one day, which is a first for me.

2. Manage the Drama

Stress can wreak havoc on your skin, nails, and hair. The negative effects of stress can present themselves as hyper-pigmentation, extreme dehydration that can result inflammation, rashes, hives, acne, thinning hair, and brittle nails and strands.  Essentially, the opposite of beauty prosperity!

Try to manage that stress. I know the stress management struggle is real. I speak from experience as a mom, wife, and entrepreneur with an intense management role in corporate finance. I’ve found these to be my most effective stress reducers:

• Exercise, more specifically cardio, even more specifically a Zumba or other dance classes with tons of fun and carefree twerking. An added benefit of exercise is that it can increase blood flow, which dermatologists say can flush cellular debris out of your system (i.e. cleanse from the inside out)
• Meditation or spiritual quiet time. I occasionally use a meditation phone app or spend 20 minutes of intentional time focused on my spiritual self in deep prayer.
• Massage! I love the Korean spas in Los Angeles County,  spending the day surrounded by women focused on self-care is so refreshing.
• Digital detox or a period of time where I refrain from using electronic devices (smartphones or computers) and use this rare opportunity to reduce stress and (as an added bonus) focus on social interaction in the physical world.

3. Rest!

Getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night is a total game changer. Not only does it improve memory, improve quality/span of life, it also boosts creativity and curbs inflammation in the body. In terms of hair, skin and nails and according to a study by University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, poor amounts sleep can:

• Lead to more fine lines (wrinkles)
• Slackening of elasticity
• Uneven pigmentation
• Moisture loss

Moral of the story folks: before you spend your many pennies on topical treatments and care products, a simple change in what you put into your body and daily routine could be all the support your beauty regime needs to take it to another level.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

• Thursday, July 06, 2017
• clever girls

3 Simple Ways to Support Your Inner (And Outer) Beauty

Maybe your 18 year old self was effortlessly fly, I wasn't but maybe you were. But everyday your body is fighting a million internal and external variables that may not be so kind to your skin, nails, and hair. Great genetics can only take you so far, being your most epic self takes being intentional about what you put inside of your body.

1. All the Right Nutrients

And a few years (or decades) into living our best lives, we start depleting vital nutrients and a loss of those nutrients can devastating to maintaining your sexy. For instance, Vitamin E contributes to skin health, and Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and formation, which forms the basis for vibrant skin. Biotin helps to maintain healthy hair.*

I'm a green smoothie girl, I eat grass-feed beef, and I am no stranger to all the most nutrient rich super-foods yet my medical practitioner still informed me that I needed to take high quality supplements during my annual physical. Problem is, I can't swallow a pill to (literally) save my life. So finding Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails strawberry gummies was exactly what I need. Tasty, easy to take on the go, made with naturally sourced colors and flavors and come in a delicious strawberry flavor and with no artificial flavors, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, or fish.

Refresh your beauty routine with the Hair, Skin & Nails Challenge and see for yourself how thier gummies work from within to support lustrous hair, healthy nails and vibrant skin. Nature’s Bounty is so confident in their product that if for any reason you don't like it after 30 days, they will give you your money back

I've been taking Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails strawberry gummies for weeks and I have not missed one day, which is a first for me.

2. Manage the Drama

Stress can wreak havoc on your skin, nails, and hair. The negative effects of stress can present themselves as hyper-pigmentation, extreme dehydration that can result inflammation, rashes, hives, acne, thinning hair, and brittle nails and strands.  Essentially, the opposite of beauty prosperity!

Try to manage that stress. I know the stress management struggle is real. I speak from experience as a mom, wife, and entrepreneur with an intense management role in corporate finance. I’ve found these to be my most effective stress reducers:

• Exercise, more specifically cardio, even more specifically a Zumba or other dance classes with tons of fun and carefree twerking. An added benefit of exercise is that it can increase blood flow, which dermatologists say can flush cellular debris out of your system (i.e. cleanse from the inside out)
• Meditation or spiritual quiet time. I occasionally use a meditation phone app or spend 20 minutes of intentional time focused on my spiritual self in deep prayer.
• Massage! I love the Korean spas in Los Angeles County,  spending the day surrounded by women focused on self-care is so refreshing.
• Digital detox or a period of time where I refrain from using electronic devices (smartphones or computers) and use this rare opportunity to reduce stress and (as an added bonus) focus on social interaction in the physical world.

3. Rest!

Getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night is a total game changer. Not only does it improve memory, improve quality/span of life, it also boosts creativity and curbs inflammation in the body. In terms of hair, skin and nails and according to a study by University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, poor amounts sleep can:

• Lead to more fine lines (wrinkles)
• Slackening of elasticity
• Uneven pigmentation
• Moisture loss

Moral of the story folks: before you spend your many pennies on topical treatments and care products, a simple change in what you put into your body and daily routine could be all the support your beauty regime needs to take it to another level.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Read more

I've been battling extremely dry skin and dull hair recently. To remedy my skin issues I've played with various honey based masks and I've mixed it with everything from avocado to oatmeal. For my lack luster hair, I did a baking soda wash and apple cider vinegar rinse. Both treatments worked out well, especially after adding a little unrefined coconut oil from Whole Foods.

• Saturday, October 08, 2011
• homemade

Dry Skin and Dull Natural Hair

I've been battling extremely dry skin and dull hair recently. To remedy my skin issues I've played with various honey based masks and I've mixed it with everything from avocado to oatmeal. For my lack luster hair, I did a baking soda wash and apple cider vinegar rinse. Both treatments worked out well, especially after adding a little unrefined coconut oil from Whole Foods.

Read more

Mineral Oil is derived from petroleum (crude oil) and is used industrially as a lubricant and cutting fluid. Many products labeled as natural contain mineral oil,  and if you think about it mineral oil is earth derived so the natural label is not far fetched. In hair and skin products, mineral oil forms a film over the skin to lock in moisture. Inadvertently keeping oxygen out hindering your scalps normal respiration, in turn making hair feel hard and eventually drying it out.

Keep in mind that mineral oil is widely used (even in baby products) and FDA approved and there are many that believe that there is a wide over reaction in the natural community about the use of the product. There are studies on the toxicity of mineral oil that I will not get into. But, remember when they would spray fields with pesticides in old documentaries with children sitting outside eating lunch, opinions about what is safe is subjective and ever changing. But I would say that I would avoid hair moisturizers with mineral oil as the main ingredient especially in locked hair because of build up. In loose hair I would minimize the use.

How can you tell if it is the main ingredient? Simple, the ingredients listing on any product puts them in order from most to least by weight. The first ingredient is the main ingredient. Any ingredients listed in () are the ingredients found in the ingredient preceding the (). The rule of thumb is the first 5 ingredients makes up the majority of what ever food or product you've purchased. So if you are buying something because it is a tea tree moisturizer and tea tree is the 8th ingredient buy something else.

• Saturday, January 08, 2011
• Green Living

Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Products: Mineral Oil

Mineral Oil is derived from petroleum (crude oil) and is used industrially as a lubricant and cutting fluid. Many products labeled as natural contain mineral oil,  and if you think about it mineral oil is earth derived so the natural label is not far fetched. In hair and skin products, mineral oil forms a film over the skin to lock in moisture. Inadvertently keeping oxygen out hindering your scalps normal respiration, in turn making hair feel hard and eventually drying it out.

Keep in mind that mineral oil is widely used (even in baby products) and FDA approved and there are many that believe that there is a wide over reaction in the natural community about the use of the product. There are studies on the toxicity of mineral oil that I will not get into. But, remember when they would spray fields with pesticides in old documentaries with children sitting outside eating lunch, opinions about what is safe is subjective and ever changing. But I would say that I would avoid hair moisturizers with mineral oil as the main ingredient especially in locked hair because of build up. In loose hair I would minimize the use.

How can you tell if it is the main ingredient? Simple, the ingredients listing on any product puts them in order from most to least by weight. The first ingredient is the main ingredient. Any ingredients listed in () are the ingredients found in the ingredient preceding the (). The rule of thumb is the first 5 ingredients makes up the majority of what ever food or product you've purchased. So if you are buying something because it is a tea tree moisturizer and tea tree is the 8th ingredient buy something else.

Read more