D.I.Y. Travel-Sized Coconut Oil

If you don't already know, I'll tell you again - I love coconut oil. (If you need a refresher this is why & so is this.)

The only thing I don't love about it is that having a glass jar of it in my tiled bathroom scares my clumsy self.  I saw some fancy coconut oil at Whole Body at WholeFoods the other day that came in a friendly squeeze plastic container.  I almost bought it. ALMOST. It was half the size of the coconut oil I had at home & twice the price.  My thrifty inner voice would not have it and I left it on the shelf at the store.

I still felt conflicted with the glass jar of coconut oil that has now become a regular amongst my shower products.  Then it hit me - duh - I can just transfer my coconut oil to my own plastic squeeze bottle.  I found one for $1.99 at Ricky's but you can pick them up at any beauty supply store or Amazon. 

If you've purchased your first jar of coconut oil (from an air conditioned supermarket) you've probably noticed that it's creamy & white & doesn't really look like oil at all. That's because coconut oil is liquid at 75 degrees so if it's cooler than that it'll be solid.  So how do you get it into your new (cheap) squeeze bottle? Easy. Either leave it out in the summer heat or run the glass jar under some warm water & you'll have liquid coconut oil in no time. Now all you have to do is funnel it into your plastic bottle. Et voila you've got your very own shower-safe coconut oil that you can now travel with ! If you're flying be sure to make sure you pick up the tsa-friendly 3 ounce sized bottle.

Coco Luxe Organic Coconut Oil in a Tube!

It’s no secret that I love coconut oil. I use it mainly as a moisturizer since it’s the only thing I’ve really found that doesn’t leave my skin itchy, red or bumpy especially after shaving. I’ve also used it for oil pulling, taking off my eye makeup & cooking. One of the best things about coconut oil is that it’s pretty easy to find - you can pick it up at your local grocery store & even score some quality organic stuff for reasonable prices.

The one downside to coconut oil for those of us using it for non-cooking/eating related purposes is that it comes usually in a glass jar or a big tub. Albeit I usually keep both types in my shower (yes, having glass in my shower - for me- is super dangerous since I’m pretty clumsy & also pretty lazy with screwing the top back on allowing water to get into my oil - which does not mix well.) This jar/tub issue was a problem until Coco Luxe Organic sent me their organic coconut oil IN A TUBE!  This is a game changer for all of us that want to travel with coconut oil (it's TSA friendly & ready to go!) or are clumsy/lazy with jar/tub maintenance.

To refresh your memory, coconut oil is solid below 65 degrees which gives it more of a buttery consistency. To use this tube of goodness simply store it above 70 degrees for immediate use. If it is solid (because the temps dropped overnight or you keep your AC on super low) simply run the tube under hot tap water until soft. I like to keep mine in the shower & since I take hot showers it is soft enough to squeeze out & moisturize by the time I’m squeaky clean. Then I smooth it on over my damp skin which is when I feel is the best way for it to absorb. It absorbs pretty quickly so you can go about your dressing routine. If you're concerned that some of the residual oil will get on your clothes simply towel it off - the good stuff will have already been absorbed. If you find that the oil in the tube is too liquidy stick it in your fridge (or ice bucket if you’re at a hotel) or under cold running water until it reaches your desired consistency.

One extra bonus to using this magic in a tube - I use/waste less of it. Typically when I scoop coconut oil out of the jar at least one scoop lands on the shower floor. With this tube I have more control & less waste. Win. Win.

If you’re still on the fence about adding coconut oil to your beauty regimen the team at Coco Luxe suggests you use it for:

• a face wash
• an energy boost (try it in your coffee!)
• psoriasis relief
• a massage oil
• a hair conditioner
• a lip moisturizer
• a diaper rash remedy
• & even pet health!

Swish with Coconut Oil for Clearer Skin

I've never had perfect skin. In fact it's probably my biggest daily battle & insecurity (there I said it). I always listen in when people with poreless complexions say that they "take care of their skin" or they do nothing at all and that's why it looks the way it does.  Personally, I'm pretty sure the (in)balance of my skin lies in somewhere in the mixture of genetics, stress and diet.  I've used most creams, lotions, potions and scared my husband when I come out of the bathroom with a face mask fit for Halloween. I've used super natural remedies and other chemically ones that I would like to deny but I won't because I've tried lots. The only things that seem to really keep my breakouts at bay in the past have been drinking lots of water (I mean lots) & being on vacation.  Obviously I can't be on vacation every day of the year and I really do try my best to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

A couple weeks ago my sister, fellow natural product enthusiast, told me about coconut oil pulling or as I like to call it swishing.  Just when I thought I had exhausted all the ways I could love coconut oil in comes this skin saver.

What is she talking about? I'll tell you. At least once a day you take a spoonful of coconut oil & swish in around in your mouth for 5-20 minutes which ever you have time for. I do this in the shower or while I'm blow drying my hair in the morning.  You just swish and after the max amount of time you have to give that day you spit it out (either in a garbage or your toilet, if you spit it in your sink it might end up building up in there over time & clog it). Then you scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper.  I use a copper tongue scraper like this one.

Ok so what's it all about? What you're doing is detoxing all of the bacteria in your mouth.  That's why it's super important to scrape your tongue after so you don't swallow all the toxins you just pulled from your mouth.

This simple practice can make a huge difference in your skin.  My skin isn't perfect but since I've started my swishing routine I've seen a big difference in it which leaves me less stressed and just a smidge more confident. Some say that they notice that their skin glows from this - SIGN ME UP!  Plus, since coconut oil has antibacterial properties it will also keep your gums healthy and teeth whiter!  So give it a try, what do you have to lose?

Baked Root Vegetable Frites

Yesterday, I posted about mussels. Other than great bread to soak up the yummy sauce you should definitely eat them some some sort of "frites."  Instead of your traditional pomme frites (potato french fries), Chris & I munched on a tasty alternative: root vegetable frites.

Lately, I'm trying cook more with coconut oil. It's a bit lighter then olive oil & has some really great benefits too - whether you eat it or rub it on like a body lotion - it can help boost your immune system, help you to lose weight & does wonders for skin care. Check out more about these benefits here.

Click through for this tasty & guilt-free recipe.

Whole Wheat Naan Bread

I love naan bread. There never seems to be enough of it when we order Indian takeout, even if we feel like we've ordered too much. It's just too good. When I saw this recipe on Sprouted Kitchen I knew I had to give it a go. So I did. I made naan bread. It was pretty easy too!

Keep reading for the full recipe & check back later this week to see my perfect fall recipe using said naan.

Spring Beauty Must Haves

The warmer months mean more skin & open toed shoes.  These are my top three spring beauty must haves (besides my new favorite deodorant of course).

1. Organic Coconut Oil has anti-microbial, anti-fungal & anti-bacterial properties that make it a great skin conditioner especially when you're baring more skin in this hot weather we've been having.  So many of those trendy beauty oils now have coconut oil as one of their main ingredients & they offer it in a tiny vial for beaucoup when you can pick up a 14 oz jar in your grocery store for less then ten bucks.  I keep a jar of this in my shower & use it as a shaving oil, eye makeup remover, moisturizer & zit zapper. It also smells like coconuts - which is heavenly in my book.
2. Zoya Nail Polish is free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) & camphor  or in other words the really bad stuff that can be found in a lot of nail polishes.  Zoya has tons of gorgeous colors. I'm currently sporting this pretty coral color, Kara, on my toes. Oh & if I couldn't love it more it's really really long-lasting.
3. Lily Organics Skin Care Seaweed Balancing Facial Cleanser - I'll be honest I'd never heard of this stuff but I'm so glad that the sweet folks at Lily reached out & brought it to my attention.  This facial cleanser like all of Lily products uses organically grown ingredients from their certified organic farm with USDA certified organic manufacturing methods.  They've been pioneering organic skin care in Colorado since 1986 - can you believe it's taken me this long to find them… or for them to find me! This cleanser balances &  nourishes skin with seaweed & essential oils which is ideal for my combination skin that's prone to breakouts. The antibacterial properties of tea tree oil & rosemary are ideal for combating acne.  It's super gentle & leaves skin feeling clean & never dry like some acne fighting formulas can.

What products are you obsessing over lately? I love more recommendations.

PS: Happy Birthday to my fabulously gorgeous friend Ashley! Hope this is the best year yet! xx

Summer Hair Product Picks

I’m a bit of a beauty product junkie, an occupational hazard. I’m constantly testing out the next best thing for work (& pleasure). Every summer I hunt for the perfect product to achieve beachy hair even if I’m not at the beach. My usual obstacle is most “beachy” hair products dry my hair out, but there is hope & I've found it in three products!

These three game changers, plus a cute hair scarf have become staples in my daily hair routine. None of them weigh my hair down so I can use them by themselves or layer them together. What’s even better is that they are all double duty products & really deliver.

Here are the reasons I’m loving these summer hair products:

Olivine’s Love + Salt Beach Hair & Body Mist

• is scented like nostalgic days at the beach.
• adds beachy tousled texture without over drying hair. can be used as a body mist too!
• texturizes without drying thanks to the coconut oil in it (You know how much I love coconut oil.)
• made with ingredients I can pronounce & eat (like Himalayan Salt!!)
• 5% of each sale goes to Every Mother Counts

Acure Leave-In Conditioner Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell

• ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioner providing weightless body & shine.
• protects hair at the cellular level & helps to strengthen it at the root. 
• a few spritzes helps to revitalize waves at the end of the day.
• it can also double as a facial mist!

The lovely ladies at Lauren + Vanessa introduced me to Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction

• use it alone or layer with other products.
• 10 benefits in 1 easy step for perfectly polished hair.
• worked through damp hair helps moisturize, smooth, shine, soften hair.
• I apply this & then let my hair air dry without any worry of frizz.
• it even provides UV protection for when you’re getting beachy waves naturally!

What are your go-to products this summer?

Pouty Product Pick of the Moment: RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Sacred

The last thing I put on before I leave the house is a lip product. Depending on how the mood strikes me it might be as simple as a lip balm or  a super bright pout (like this one or this one).

While perusing the sweet little shop, Shen Beauty, in Brooklyn with my sister I came across RMS Beauty lip shines.  I quickly dabbed some of the lip shine in sacred on my hand & knew it would be coming home with me.

Kristen Arnett, a green beauty makeup artist, introduced this line to my sister (& me!) which means it hits all the bells & whistles that a natural beauty product should have - it's made with completely safe ingredients & it works just like it should - amazingly.

I usually steer away from pots as I just don't like dirty fingers in things but I distinctly remember Kristen boasting about how the coconut oil's* anti-bacterial properties make it safe to use for us germ freaks.

The buildable color goes on smooth. You can use a little or a lot depending how you're feeling.  This color starts off pink but can work it's way to more of a red which I love. I'm even using it on my cheeks too - just apply lightly with your ring finger & blend in for a healthy flush.

Click through to see a snap of how one layer of it looks on my lips.

*As if I couldn't love coconut oil more - it's in here too. I think the stars have definitely aligned for this one.

Baked Coconut Shrimp

 

Chris & I are big fans of coconut shrimp.  When I came across Bobby Deen's  more figure-friendly version of our normally fried guilty pleasure I had to try it.  This recipe for baked coconut shrimp uses egg whites & an oven for baking which means you don't have to clean up messy oil splatters & you can eat more - guilt-free! Oh & the dipping sauce is addictively delicious.

Click through for more photos & the full recipe.

Truly's Natural Deodorant: Good Enough to Eat

If you are within an earshot of a tv, radio, computer or smart phone you've probably heard the latest news on Angelina Jolie's decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy.  This procedure reduced her risk from getting breast cancer from 87% to 5%.

I will now climb up on my proverbial soap box because this is my blog/soap box. Cancer is caused by all sorts of factors these days or at least it seems like it to me.  There are some easy things we - yes you & me - can do to prevent it.   It starts with paying as much attention to what we put ON our body as to what we put IN our bodies.

I've posted about safe products before & how I try my best to use only  good-for-me products. But I'm not perfect, sometimes I have to err on the side of what works instead of what's most natural.  This was true when looking for natural deodorant. Many deodorants on the shelf today contain aluminum which is linked to cancer. The deodorant & antiperspirant world has us believing that rubbing aluminum based formulas on our 'pits is the only way to stay clean, dry & stink-free.  Who cares if aluminum is linked to cancer if I'm not sweating or smelly? Me! That's who!  Hence why the idea of rubbing a cancer causing agent on my armpit close to my breasts just doesn't sit well with me. 

The good news is there is a deodorant god, her name is Truly. Truly's Natural Deodorant is the answer to my natural deodorant prayers. I'm an totally convinced & converted. I think this product is so nice that I blogged about it twice (read my other post here).

Truly's Natural Deodorant is made with just four ingredients: organic coconut oil, powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), baking soda, beeswax.  I have cooked with, ingested and digested all of these ingredients & I can say this without fear of what may happen to me because they're all completely natural & safe.

Not convinced yet? Here's some other reasons you'll love Truly's Natural Deodorant:

1. It smells delicious. It smells like cookies - yes cookies but it doesn't leave you smelling like your deodorant - you know what I mean if you've ever rubbed one of those deodorant solids on that come in a blue tube on your 'pits.
2. It's long-lasting. Just rub a small amount on clean pits in the morning & you're good for the day.
3. It's small enough to stash in your purse & TSA friendly to bring on that tropical vacation.

I'm so happy that this is now part of my daily routine.  If you'd like to opt out of preventative surgeries (like me!) make this simple change today & use an aluminum-free deodorant. You can get Truly's Natural Deodorant online or if you're in NYC (& soon DC) you can pick it up at any Shobha Location.