Stop thinking about it as “I cant have that” or “I have to eat diet food.” You’re only denying yourself of something you think you want.
Think of it as “I make the choice to be healthier” or “I don’t eat that.” You’re empowering yourself to choose healthy alternatives.
see my tips on being healthy {here}
Face wash, face lotion, eye cream, anti-aging serum, wrinkle-fighter, makeup remover, blemish cream… It’s all ridiculous. And so expensive. And personally, I think it’s too much for the skin. If you eat well and eat your antioxidants (think berries!), and use a couple products with limited chemical make-up, your skin will likely look better than if you used all the anti-everything crap that’s out there. But don’t get me wrong, the manufacturers do a phenomenal job. The more you use their products, the more you need them, and the more you buy! Especially if the items “balance” each other and require you to use an entire line of product. It’s a great marketing ploy. The manufacturers are actually pretty smart. And rich because of us! {shame on them} *hop down off my soap box and continue*
I often look in health magazines for their top picks for ‘beauty’ items. They’re a great source of information and testers explain exactly what does and does not work, and why they prefer a particular product over another. A Chicago-based health mag is exactly where I got 3 of my favorite things within the past year. I’ve tried a lot of ’face stuff’ but like to stay as natural as possible. Along with washing my face with coconut water before bed and using the oil cleansing method periodically, there do happen to be a few commercial products in my bathroom cabinet that my face approves of!
Alba Botanicals Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser $14
why? not tested on animals, hypoallergenic, no phthalates, no parabens, no SLS, contains skin-brightening enzymes to wash away impurities and take care of skin dullness…oh, and it smells fantastic.
Burt’s Bees Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizer $17.00
why? contains Salicyclic Acid to help treat acne, witch hazel to tone the skin naturally and control oil, doesn’t clog pores, paraben free, not tested on animals…although a little more expensive, it’s totally worth it to me because a TINY bit covers my face and I’m not left having to reapply throughout the day
Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Rollerball Spot Stick $9.99
why? the rollerball reduces bacteria because you don’t use your hands to apply, petrolatum and paraben free, containts Symrise which helps reduce redness, Lycopene which is an anti-inflammatory and Salicylic Acid to help heal blemishes
***I think these items are decently priced. I prefer to spend a little more on important items, as I have learned the “cheap stuff” contains all kinds of chemicals and irritants, and don’t usually live up to their expectations. I honestly don’t purchase these often, and since you don’t need a lot of product you probably won’t find yourself having to replace them frequently. I look online for coupons and use the Ulta Cosmetic coupons/sales if I’m buying something because it’s actually a great store to save some money!***
The scads of sugar included in bottled beverages is no secret. We all know we’re not supposed to drink pop or sweetened fruit cocktails. Sucrose, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup and all the other chemicals that these drinks contain are terrible for the brain and body. Many of the first few ingredients on a can/bottle are sugar and/or corn syrup based. {read: you’re drinking insanely large amounts of sugar and synthetic sweeteners}…
I am more likely to stay away from things that are unhealthy if I have a visual of just how terrible they are for me and have knowledge of their side effects. And I’m definitely more likely to stay away if it is not something I would readily give to my child.
Here’s some fantastic information for common drinks and the incredible amounts of sugar they contain. So if it says “fruit flavored” somewhere on the label, that’s no indication that you shouldn’t feel bad about drinking it…
in a single 20 oz. sugared cola there is the equivalent of 16.6 teaspoons of sugar
shots of sugar in common drinks… shots of sugar?!?!
would you like some beverage with your sugar?
…here’s a couple final facts to make you think twice…
“Hollins University found that 48% of sodas tested from the fast food fountains contain coliform bacteria, which is linked to fecal matter. To make matters worse, the bacteria was found to be resistant to eleven antibiotics.”
“According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, Americans drink more than 50 gallons per capita of carbonated soft drinks each year. That adds up to thousands of extra calories, sugar, and who knows what else. For example, if Coke Classic is your drink at 96 calories per can, it adds up to 77,300 calories per year and 43,100 mg of caffeine per year.”
Think before you drink! What are you using to hydrate your body???
