Famously founded by iconic makeup mogul Bobbi Brown, Jones Road Beauty is a clean makeup line most known for their Miracle Balm and What The Foundation. Bobbi Brown sold her eponymous makeup line to Estee Lauder decades ago, but had signed a non-compete clause barring her from creating another makeup company until October 26, 2020. That very day, she launched Jones Road Beauty, a brand that embraces a minimalistic “less is more” approach to makeup. Jones Road Beauty offers a trim range products, some of which are multi-functional. I purchased a few products to try and see what the hype is about and am sharing my honest thoughts in today’s Jones Road Beauty review.
What is the difference between Bobbi Brown and Jones Road?
Jones Road Beauty is Bobbi Brown’s second foray in the makeup world. This is a contemporary line of versatile products that embrace a less-is-more approach to beauty. It’s the embodiment of Bobbi Brown’s beauty philosophy.
Jones Road Beauty also launched a range of skincare products including a face cream, eye cream, cleansing stick, oil stick and even a hair balm.
The brand was built on the philosophy that the world doesn’t need more beauty products, which I find eyebrow raising. If the world doesn’t need more beauty products, why launch yet another line of beauty products. Every beauty brand owner believes their line to be “better” so I don’t see why this is their philosophy as it really doesn’t say anything about the brand at all.
Why did Bobbi Brown create Jones Road Beauty?
Besides the obvious answer of money, it seems like Bobbi Brown created her own line because after she sold off her original makeup brand just a few years after launching it, she wanted something all her own again. And she waited a good 20 years to do be allowed to do so.
Her answer to Instyle Magazine was to create a line that was simple to use and taught women how to look good with less.
Jones Road Beauty Controversy
Jones Road Beauty received backlash surrounding their TikTok controversy of encouraging customers to post reviews (including negative) for viral views in exchange for payment.Meredith Duxbury and Mikayla Nogueira who are popular beauty creators were some of the first influencers who went viral for posting negative reviews of Jones Road Beauty What The Foundation. It’s unclear whether these were authentic reviews or paid for.
Is Jones Road Beauty Clean Beauty?
Jones Road Beauty is pretty low on the spectrum of clean beauty in terms of “cleanliness” of their ingredients. They do use controversial synthetics and artificial colorants.
The Miracle Balm is a highlighter balm with a natural “lit from within” type finish. The concept is identical to rms Living Luminizer, except Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm comes in a huge container. Seeing as rms Living Luminizer is one of my least favorite rms products, I’m not surprised that I didn’t really care for Jones Road Beauty’s Miracle Balm either. It feels more like a balm than it does a true highlighter.
Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm is basically a castor oil-beeswax balm that includes mica for a shimmer effect and a mix of colorants for the shade. It doesn’t feel all that greasy or oily to me which is a plus. But I can’t see myself finding much use for this product as I use my skincare to moisturize underneath already, and if I want a highlighter effect I’d prefer to go for a true highlighter than something in-between.
One last thing to note is it has a strong herbal scent from essential oils.
Jones Road Beauty foundation is described as “a tinted moisture balm meets traditional foundation.” This is a light coverage foundation that provides a dewy finish, but leans more satin if you have dry skin like me. I’m not a big fan of the pot packaging as it’s not very sanitary sticking my fingers into the product everytime. I do like the somewhat thick consistency and moisturizing properties of the formula, but wish the lightest shade was a bit brighter. Porcelain, which is the lightest shade offered, is still not quite the perfect match for my skin tone.
What The Foundation Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lecithin, Stearyl Alcohol, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Glycol Copolymer Silica Silylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain [+/-]: CI 77491 – CI 77492 – CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Mica.
More Thoughts
I’m not sure I find the $44 price to be reasonable for What The Foundation as it’s on the steep end for the pretty average ingredients list it offers. There are similar quality products for cheaper and better formulated products for a similar price.
I can’t picture myself re-purchasing the Miracle Balm for nearly $40 as I didn’t find much use for it nor was I particularly impressed.
The oil cleansing method, also known as OCM and double cleansing method, is the standard cleanse that dermatologists recommend doing every evening. If you’ve spent any time on the beauty side of social media, oil cleansing isn’t anything new to you. The double cleanse is touted as THE way to cleanse no matter your skin type. But if you’re wondering what oil cleansing or double cleansing means, how to oil cleanse and why, then keep on reading.
What is Oil Cleansing?
Oil cleansing is based on the principle that like dissolves like. Our skincare products, makeup and sunscreen can all contain oil. Applying oil allows for a more effective way to remove dirt and oil buildup on your skin.
Oil cleansing is great for dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, breakouts and sensitive and reactive skin.
Many people notice that after they start oil cleansing nightly, their skin looks healthier and even glows.
I didn’t start oil cleansing until I was in my 20s and that’s because I started really investing my time and energy into taking care of my skin. But I honestly wish I had learned to oil cleanse during high school and college. If I had started taking better care of my skin at an earlier age, my skin might be in even better shape today!
How to Oil Cleanse
Oil cleansing should not be the sole way you cleanse your skin. It’s done as the first step in the double cleansing method:
Step 1: Oil cleanse
Step 2: Water-based cleanse (gel cleanser)
If you’re only oil cleansing then the likelihood of debris and oil remaining in your pores is high. That’s why you should be using a traditional water-based or gel cleanser after using an oil cleanser each and every time.
There are a number of ways you can oil cleanse. As each oil cleansing product is formulated differently, you should first check how the company advises you to apply AND remove their product. For instance, some oil cleansers are able to be rinsed off with just water while others need manual removal with a damp washcloth.
1. Apply to dry or damp skin
2. Massage the oil into your skin
3. Wait for a minute or two to allow all those good ingredients to get to work
4. Wash off with warm water or a damp washcloth (depends on product formulation)
I know you’re going to want to remove the oil as soon as you rub it around, but I highly recommend letting it sit for a while if you can spare a few minutes! Cleansing oils are usually made of wonderful skin-beneficial ingredients and it’s a waste to remove them immediately. Let your skin soak it up!
Benefits of Oil Cleansing
There are so many benefits to oil cleansing. If you can commit to properly cleansing your skin with the double cleansing method, you will never be able to go back to basic cleansing.
Sure, we all have those days when we’re too tired to cleanse, let alone double cleanse, but I just want to emphasize how important cleansing is in your skincare routine. Nothing you do afterwards matters, if you haven’t properly cleansed your skin.
Effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, dirt and debris
Addresses skin issues like breakouts, blackheads, dry skin
Doesn’t strip away the skin’s natural oils during cleansing
Reduces inflammation and soothes sensitive / reactive skin
Helps oily skin stop overproducing oil
Certain oils are deeply purifying and can clear clogged pores
Restores a damaged skin barrier
You might be terrified of using an oil cleanser if you have already oily or acneic skin, but DO NOT BE. Even oily skin benefits from healthy oils. In fact, using an oil cleanser can help train your skin’s tendency to over-produce oil.
Same for acneic skin. Oils like Black Cumin Seed are powerfully purifying and can help clear your pores without any harsh side effects.
If your skin barrier is damaged, oils can help replenish and fortify it. Skin barrier is usually damaged by the overuse of products or using the wrong products. By helping the good stay in and keeping the bad out, your skin is able to gradually improve over time.
True Botanicals is a luxury organic skincare brand that’s endorsed by quite a few celebs like Olivia Wilde and Brooke Shields. Founder Hillary Peterson started True Botanicals after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and now manages a mostly female team up in Northern California. The entire True Botanicals is Made Safe Certified so customers can be rest assured their products are third party vetted and approved. After experiencing the line I can confirm that this brand doesn’t seem to cut the usual corners when it comes to the quality of their products. Getting certifications is wildly expensive and not using cheap filler ingredients like so many brands do these days is costly. So it’s no surprise that this line is priced on the luxury end with many products costing over $100. I tried True Botanicals Chebula line and am sharing my thoughts in this True Botanicals review.
Note that Unilever owns a minority stake in True Botanicals. They are one of the first brands in the world to use Chebula, a breakthrough, bioactive antioxidant that visibly fights five signs of aging. This ingredient is so unique that it’s called a cascading antioxidant, meaning that it doesn’t lose its potency on your skin – it works hour after hour to help fight free radicals that can lead to skin aging.
The True Botanicals face oil is rich in ceramides, fatty acids and antioxidants and works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase hydration levels. The formula features 14 easily absorbable seed oils, algae extract and astaxanthin and a natural scent from jasmine, neroli, and rose. It has a bright orange hue and a medium weight consistency that’s great for the winter months.
Hemp, Pumpkin, & Grape Seed Oils
Algae Extract + Astaxanthin
Certified Nontoxic (MADE SAFE)
Naturally Scented With Sandalwood, Helichrysum, And Cypress
My favorite from the Chebula line is the Chebula Active Serum. This is supremely hydrating and has an amazing luxurious texture and consistency. Instead of water, the serum begins with a base of organic green tea leaf extract, aloe Vera juice and Neroli Flower distillate. I feel that this is an effective serum if lasting hydration is your goal.
The True Botanicals Chebula Cream is a fun pink hued, airy whipped cream that feels like whipped jar of moussy frosting. It has a subtly resinous, woody yet sweet scent.
Moisturizers will be moisturizers, but which moisturizers feel like a much-needed shot of water for your skin? This natural moisturizer roundup is a little different from the rest in that you won’t find any rich, thick creams here. Instead, these juicy moisturizers are more like water bombs and will quench skin as dry as the desert. Think super lightweight and watery consistencies that instantly penetrate and hydrate.
Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Cream has a watery pudding consistency that hydrates skin instantly. The gel-cream also smooths and protects skin with their Proprietary Dutch Tulip Complex and a multivitamin complex of Vitamins B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), C and E.
$49
If you love sweet scents like vanilla, marshmallow, buttercream then Kinship Supermello is for you. Supermello hydrating gel cream is an ultra ultra lightweight and smooth gel that feels weightless on skin. For an affordable brand, Kinship uses a base of organic aloe leaf juice and supercharged the formula with Marshmallow root, hyaluronic acid, plant-based probiotics and coconut water.
$26
Biossance’s Gel Moisturizer is lightweight, ultra-hydrating and infused with squalane and probiotic technology to balance skin and restore its glow.
$54
95% organic, it doesn’t get any more natural than this. This hydrating gel-cream has light-as-water consistency and buoyant texture and is formulated from natto gum. Natto gum is extracted from fermented soybeans, packed with polyglutamic acid (PGA), enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids. Polyglutamic acid (PGA) is a naturally occurring peptide found both in our skin and gooey strings of natto. This new game-changing ingredient can hold moisture 10 times better than hyaluronic acid, increase natural moisturizing factors, and improve elasticity. Formulated with rice and aloe vera extract in place of water, this cream leaves the skin soothed and brightened with lasting hydration.
$35 (discount code OBL saves 20%)
Serum-moisturizer turns into a slushy consistency aka liquid once applied to skin The Innbeauty Project Slushy Serum Moisturizer Crush is a gentle retinol alternative product with Bakuchiol that can act as either a serum or a moisturizer depending on your skin type, season of the year, etc.
$28
With the word “quenching” in its name, it’s no surprise that Odacite Green Smoothie is formulated to instantly hydrate skin. It feels like a literal cucumber smoothie blended together. Powered by 16 Greens, Superfoods, Botanical Extracts and Clinical Actives like Blue Green Algae, Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid, Pomegranate, Apple, and Grape Juice.
$68
Juice Beauty’s Hydrating Gel Moisturizer protects the skin’s microbiome with a proprietary prebiotic blend including viola flower, chia & coconut acts, fermented kuaru, American bamboo and prickly pear.
$52
For a luxury thirst quencher, Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer uses Gel Water Technology, powered by Chia Seed Water, Marsh Samphire, and Tremella Mushroom, to drench skin in hydration. It boasts 14 sources of plumping hydration, 10 sources of antioxidants, and 13 sources to smooth and soften skin texture.
$130
For an extra hydrating and light face lotion sunscreen that’s feels like you’re applying an aloe serum, Blissoma Photonic Light Shifting Solution provides skin with a burst of potent antioxidants along with SPF 25. A true face moisturizer and sunscreen in one, Photonic Light Shifting Solution contains Niacinamide at 3% Astaxanthin red algae extract, Black Tea, Gotu Kola, Hydrangea along with oils of Tamanu, Sesame, Argan, Blackberry and Raspberry.
It has a slight beige tint that’s sheer to offset any unwanted white cast effect and has a light herbal scent that’s smells so fresh and real it’s as if you’re smelling the herbs directly. If you’re prone to sunscreen lotions feeling like they’re sitting on top of your skin (some of us are more sensitive to that!), I can almost 100% guarantee this one will not feel like that.
$58
This pastel blue-hued water cream is nutrient-rich and weightless. Seaweed and a microbiome-friendly pre and probiotic protects skin exposed to pollution and blue light.
$54 (discount code OBL saves 15%)
The latest deodorant of the moment is Hume Supernatural Deodorant, which I’ve been trying for the last few months. I have an issue with their marketing as I could immediately tell upon first whiff that the scent was not natural. It’s kind of crazy to me that my nose can pick up on this instantly now. So when Hume says 100% performance and 0% toxic in huge font on their home page, it’s pretty misleading. While I have no issue with synthetic scent per se, I think brands should be 100% transparent if they’re going to throw around words like toxins and percentages in their marketing. Hume first came onto my radar when I saw Be Well By Kelly endorse the brand on her page as their investor and advisor. Someone from their team reached out to send me their deodorants, so here goes my Hume deodorant review.
Despite their scents not being totally natural, they are actually pretty interesting fragrances. Desert Bloom and After Rain are most intriguing to me. Out West is nice but very masculine and leathery.
Hume deodorants contain desert botanicals, probiotics and mineral rich ingredients like diatomaceous earth. They do not contain aluminum, phthalates, parabens, gluten, baking soda or triclosan.
Desert Bloom contains notes of orange neroli, bright agave, accents of prickly pear, and cactus flower. It smells crisp, green, floral and powdery. The fragrance is on the strong end, so if you get a headache from fake scents I’m not sure how you’d fare with this one.
Hume deodorants have a consistency and texture that remind me of Corpus Naturals deodorant. They both start off with a Propylene Glycol base and have a slick, wet texture.
Do Hume deodorants work? The million dollar question. After having the man with BO issues try it and say it works better than some other natural options I gave him, I think it’s safe to say that these are probably more effective than your average natural deodorant.
If you’re on the search for quality organic sheets for your bed, look no further. Investing in organic sheets and bedding free from harsh chemicals and harmful toxins is one of the easiest steps you can make in creating a safe, sustainable and non-toxic bedroom. There’s no shortage of eco-friendly and organic bed sheet brands committed to sustainable practices and certified organic materials. The healthiest bedding material isn’t just about being certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) though — you also want to look for comfort, breathability and texture, which can vary widely. Organic sheets can set you back about $150-$400 for a full set but can last up to 10 years with proper care. Still, I know not everyone can afford that, so I’m also including a very cheap organic sheet brand for families on a tight budget who still want safer products. Read on for the best organic sheets for your bed.
Is Organic Bedding Better?
So you’re wondering whether it’s worth buying organic sheets and what’s wrong with your current sheets. Organic bedding is better in so many different ways:
Manufactured without harmful chemicals like pesticides, harsh chemical cleaners and fabric treatments
Don’t contain any inks and dyes that may contain heavy metals
More comfortable, breathable AND durable
Not treated with flame retardants often used in baby and kids products
Organic cotton uses less water and produces around 46% less CO2e than conventional cotton
Keeps the earth’s soil, air and water used to grow crops free of harmful chemicals
Organic sheets are the healthiest and most environmentally friendly bedding option.
Pact’s organic cotton sheets come in Cool Air Percale, Room Service Sateen, and Jersey in a variety of cool and earthen tones. I love the quality and feel of Pact bedding, and they seem to get softer with every wash.
For natural non-toxic bedding that’s incredibly luxurious, Coyuchi is highly coveted thanks to their selection and quality. If you’re looking for luxury organic sheets made to the highest standards of environments and social responsibility, Coyuchi ticks all the boxes. They’re the epitome of coastal Californian luxury and have been making organic bedding since 1991. You can choose from a wide variety of Organic Percale, Crinkled Percale, Relaxed Sateen, Relaxed Linen and more in a variety of colors. In fact, even my duvet covers, throws and pillows are all Coyuchi. I’m a little obsessed!
If you want ultimate luxury when it comes to organic sheets, Avocado Green Mattress Organic Superfine Suvin Sheets are a 1000 thread count and are made with one of the world’s rarest Extra Long Staple cotton varieties. GOTS organic certified Indian Suvin Cotton is considered the king of cottons and offer incredible Eco-luxury softness. Avocado Green Mattress bedding is STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX and MADE SAFE certified and are lab-tested + screened to be free of harmful substances and toxins
A great option that’s more budget-friendly for organic sheets is Illinois-based organic home brand My Green Mattress. Offered in colors White or Natural, My Green Mattress sheets are made from 100% GOTS Organic Cotton. Their sheets are soft and silky smooth to the touch and have a light reflecting sheen. A King size set costs $169 for 1 Flat Sheet, 1 Fitted Sheet, and 2 Pillowcases. I love the feel and quality of these as well.
Another fantastic budget-friendly organic sheet product is Happsy’s Organic Sheet Set. The downside is they only come in one color! Happsy is a brand owned by Naturepedic, and they have the expertise and technology to create quality organic products for the more conscious consumer. Happsy sheets have a 300 thread count and are GOTS certified organic with a soft and comfortable feel.
If you want to sleep in the same sheets as Oprah herself (she deemed them the softest ever), then check out Cozy Earth. They’re not made with organic cotton like the rest of the sheets mentioned, but with 100% Viscose from Bamboo. Out of all the sustainable fabrics I’ve tried cotton, linen, hemp, supima cotton, etc – bamboo has been the softest. The downside with bamboo though, is that there’s no organic certification for it, and the processing and manufacturing of bamboo isn’t the cleanest. But man oh man, Cozy Earth sheets are insanely soft.
For organic cotton sateen sheets, check out New Jersey-based White Lotus Home. Their handmade Sateen Sheets are made from 100% USDA-certified organic cotton yarn, and are made locally in New Jersey. The thread count of their organic sheets is a bit lower at 230 Thread Count. If thread count isn’t a priority, White Lotis Home sheets are more breathable and capture less particles.
SAVE: Discount code OBL saves 20% at White Lotus Home
If you’re on a tight budget and can’t shell out hundreds for an organic sheet set, Amazon actually makes their own organic bedding using GOTS organic cotton. A queen set is only $45 for a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases. I put them to the test, and while they don’t have quite the same feeling of luxury and quality as the high-end organic sheet brands mentioned above, Amazon’s sheet set is adequate for non-fussy sleepers.
Long hairstyles for men are more in than ever thanks to the newest generation of celebrity heartthrobs. In 2023 we are embracing genderful looks! I’ve gathered the best men’s long hairstyles looks for inspiration. So there’s long – and then there’s REALLY long. Both look great on men and can be styled in an endless number of ways.
Shoulder Length Side Part
@shaami_sam
Long Curls
Shoulder Length Grunge
Austin Butler may have chopped off his long hair for his role as Elvis, but long hair Austin is the inspiration for a shoulder length grunt look.
Tousled Long Hair
BTS took the world by storm and Mr. Kim Taehyung’s long tousled look has captivated millions upon millions upon millions of Army and non-Army alike.
Curly Long Hair
Actor Finn Wolfhard stars in this generation’s biggest TV show, Stranger Things, and his curly long hair is undeniably charming.
Flowing Waves
The biggest actor of our time Timothee Chalemet always has his flowing locks styled to perfection.
Gucci Westman, celebrated makeup artist for names like Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, and Gwyneth Paltrow, launched her clean makeup line Westman Atelier in 2018 and I finally purchased the Foundation Stick to try the raved about brand for myself. Westman Atelier is a luxury line so the products are not on the affordable end at all. The Foundation Stick cost me nearly $70 and their other products look even pricier with the powder foundation going for $75 and lip palette for $85. I try so many affordable Gen Z type clean makeup products that I was eager to try something super luxurious. And Westman Atelier really does feel like the Dior or Chantecaille of clean makeup.
Note that Westman Atelier is not an all natural makeup brand and does sometimes include lake dyes and synthetics.
The packaging of this foundation has to be the nicest I’ve ever owned. There is a magnetic cap and the color of the packaging is this beautiful soft petal cream shade. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of this foundation:
Type: Cream stick
Finish: Natural to matte
Coverage: Medium to full (for my skin this feels more full coverage)
Can be used either as concealer or all over foundation
Star ingredients: Berryflux Vita Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Squalane, Coconut Oil
I feel that the coconut oil would be a dealbreaker for some as it can cause clogged pores and breakouts.
The Vital Stick Foundation is creamy and glides on like velvet, leaving a natural almost matte finish for my dry skin. It’s also very high coverage for my skin and I can see myself using it as a spot concealer versus needing it all over my face. While Westman Atelier says the foundation is buildable, I feel that more than one layer looks cakey and feels heavy. I do find the foundation lasts all day.
Not the most skin beneficial ingredients list as it’s filled with synthetics, but the Vital Stick Foundation does offer sophisticated performance.
Ingredients: caprylic/capric triglyceride, isononyl isononanoate, isodecyl neopentanoate, dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline wax (cera microcristallina), squalane, polyethylene, vp/hexadecene copolymer, synthetic wax, disteardimonium hectorite, hydrogenated polyisobutene, silica, nylon-12, camellia oleifera seed oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, phytosphingosine, butyl stearate, isostearyl alcohol, alcohol, water (aqua), pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, mica, dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, rubus idaeus leaf cell culture, tin oxide, titanium dioxide ci 77891, iron oxides ci 77491, iron oxides ci 77492, iron oxides ci 77499
Reviewing Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins’ favorite LED mask by CurrentBody! I’ve used quite a few LED Light Therapy Masks (not all though!) and I love that my CurrentBody mask is slightly more powerful than my others. It combines Red (633nm) and Near-Infrared (830nm) light wavelengths to boost skin’s collagen production. One thing to note is that CurrentBody has only one LED light therapy mode of collagen production and does not feature other colors like green, blue or yellow light. Some of my favorite actresses like Renee Zellweger and Kaley Cuoco also use CurrentBody. Read on for my CurrentBody review and use discount code OBL to save 15% here.
Lily Collins wears her mask in season 3 episode 1 of Emily In Paris, the hit Netflix show.
When I use red light therapy regularly I notice more even toned skin that looks slightly “thicker.” I guess you could call it plumper but to me thicker feels like the more appropriate way to describe it.
Red light therapy is actually well studied to provide numerous health benefits and is often used as an integral part of holistic health routines by people who have suffered or are suffering from diseases.
…red/near IR (FR/NIR) laser light (630–1000nm), offers promise as an effective treatment for chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration. One hypothesis to explain the PBM mechanism describes mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) as a photoreceptor for FR/NIR light. Absorption of the light by CcO leads to restoration of mitochondrial induction of gene transcription. The outcome of photobiomodulation is the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory processes, up-regulation of anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and restoration of physiology.
– H. Chung, T. Dai, S. K. Sharma, Y. Y. Huang, J. D. Carroll, M. R. Hamblin, The nuts and bolts of low-level laser (light) therapy, Ann. Biomed. Eng. 40(2)
Originally developed by NASA scientists, LED Light Therapy is medically recognized and clinically proven with over 40 years of studies done. Not 40 studies, 40 YEARS of studies.
Lght therapy also helps improve immune cells, which is crucial for those dealing with autoimmune disorders. In response to the wavelengths while undergoing red light therapy, cells release pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and leukocytes (white blood cells) which enter the body’s tissue to promote healing. Red light therapy helps in activating lymphocytes, to boost the movement of epithelial cells, healing wounded areas quickly and increasing cell turnover rates.
The wavelength CurrentBody uses, and that is the standard for LED Light Therapy masks, has been clinically proven to heal and rejuvenate the skin through stimulating collagen and elastin in skin’s dermis layer.
LED Red Light Therapy isn’t just about collagen production and wrinkle reduction though. It also functions as a wound healer, stimulating natural cellular responses for skin repair and healing.
CurrentBody uses a wavelength of 633nm which has been shown to have the most effect on skin cells in studies. My other masks use 630nm.
And since I’m less concerned with acne fighting blue light or skin calming green light, all I really care about is that the red light works.
How Often Should You Use It?
You should do it 5 times a week for 10 minutes. The mask has an automatic timer, and since it’s hands free, you can multi-task during your mask sessions.
With red light I notice an overall rejuvenation effect, especially with regular use of 10 minutes 5 times a week.
Discount code OBL saves 15% on the CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask. It doesn’t work on the entire site. I have one other code active OBL20 that works on the ZIIP device at CurrentBody.com.
Bored at night while at home or in your room alone? Whether you’re a teenager or adult, I’m here to solve your bored nights one idea at a time! Here you’ll find a variety of creative things to do when bored, relaxing activities, self-care, self-improvement, healthy and more! Each day can start to feel no different from the one before and the one before if we’re doing the same thing day in day night. Our hustle culture teaches us that if we’re NOT being productive or constantly working, we’re useless members of society. So we end up in this never-ending cycle of overworking, exhaustion and burnout. But in recent years as the world slowed down, and even stopped at a certain point, many of us have had the opportunity to take a step back and reflect, even recalibrate our priorities and our life’s trajectory. Or if you’re here, you may just be looking for inspiration on things to do at night OTHER than watch shows and mindlessly browse the Internet and social media. Maximize your evenings and your free time with these ideas on what to do at night when bored.
Listen to an educational, inspiring or interesting podcast
From self-improvement to true crime, there’s no shortage of cool podcasts that will help you learn something you didn’t know before. I personally enjoy Gary Vee’s podcast.
Do an at-home facial
As a skincare addict, this is one of the first things I find myself wanting to do when I have spare time. If you get good at it, your at-home facial can be almost on par with a professional facial.
@vanelja
Give yourself a foot soak
When’s the last time you had a good foot pampering session? Buff away those calloused heels and give your poor feet some much needed TLC.
Work on a vision board
I know this sounds cliche, but it’s an excellent way to work on manifestation. Manifesting what you want in life begins with thinking about it first. So put some time in to thinking and envisioning what you want to bring into your life.
@headstandsandheels
Do yoga
Roll out your yoga mat and spend just 10 minutes doing any form of yoga, even if it’s just stretching. Simply moving your body will improve your health in the long term.
@vanelja
Look up new travel destinations
It doesn’t matter if summer is a lifetime away or you don’t have the cash, look up where you would want to go and picture yourself there and the things you would do. Look up destinations here.
@headstandsandheels
Walk your dog
If you have a dog, go walk your furry child. Walks are the best part of their day, and their lives are so much shorter than ours. Give them an extra moment of joy at little to no cost to you. If you don’t want to leave your home, then play a game with them.
That thing you’ve been wanting to get started on? Get started!
That book you’ve been wanting to write, the business idea you have, or that language you’ve been wanting to learn – just start! If you just get started today, you’ll be that much further ahead in X months than if you kept putting it off. Remember that people who are less intelligent than you are more successful at life because they’re actually DOING something.
Clean your makeup brushes
When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? If it’s been a while, imagine all the bacteria accumulating on the bristles that you’re then applying directly to your face. Go sanitize your makeup brushes with warm water and soap.
Work on a puzzle
With a bajillion puzzles at your fingertips on Amazon that can be delivered next day, you don’t even have to leave the house to find easy ways to entertain yourself at home.
Do a gua sha ritual
If you don’t know what gua she is, it’s a traditional Chinese practice of scraping the skin to help move stagnant chi (energy), improve blood circulation and eliminate toxins. Check out some of my videos on Instagram or TikTok for inspiration. And if you don’t have a gua she yet, check out gua she tools here.
Call a loved one
Tomorrow is never guaranteed and we never know how long we have our loved ones with us until they’re gone. So call up the friend or the family member you haven’t spoken to in a while and re-connect.
@teresalaucar
Clean one part of your home
Chances are you probably don’t want to spend your night cleaning your whole place. So pick one area, whether it’s the bathroom, the desk or the fridge, and clean just that spot of the home. Cleaning feels a whole lot less daunting when you use this strategy.
Take an everything shower
What do I mean by an everything shower. That means you’re not just hopping in and out. An everything shower means you’re doing all of the steps that you normally don’t have time for when you’re in a hurry in the morning. Do a scalp massage, shave every nook and cranny of your body, exfoliate, dry brush – whatever constitutes your perfect everything shower.
Take an everything bath
Similar to an everything shower, you could take an everything bath if you prefer. That means you’re not just simply soaking in hot water – you’re putting in your essential oils, bath soak blends, lighting your candles and pouring a glass of wine.
@headstandsandheels
Start a manifestation journal
Work on a manifestation journal. You don’t necessarily need to go buy a pre-designed journal as any notebook will do. Write down your thoughts, dreams, goals, and/or plans, basically all the things you want to manifest in 2023!
@vanelja
Read a book
One of the more obvious things you can do when you’re bored is to read. Reading is nourishment for your mind and well-read people are almost always more successful at life. Why? Because without reading, your mind is only limited to your own experiences which are so minuscule compared to the vastness of humanity’s.
@headstandsandheels
Work on your personal brand
What I mean by personal brand isn’t your dropshipping business. I mean who you are outside of the labels society has given you. Who are you outside of the person you are at work? What are the passions you want to cultivate? If you already have some sort of personal brand you’re working on, then reflect on all you’ve accomplished and where you want to go. Set some clear goals.
@vanelja
Make a healthy snack
Avo toast, chia seed pudding, celery with peanut butter – whatever your idea of a perfect snack is, go make it.
Have a solo dance session
Turn on your favorite song and dance like no one’s watching. I don’t care if it’s jumping around and flailing your arms type dancing. Move around and boost your serotonin levels.
Plan a date night
You don’t need to be in a relationship to plan a date night. Ideate your perfect date night with yourself and set it in motion. Have you been wanting to go to the movies for a while but just haven’t found the right time or person to go with? Take yourself to the movies. Is there a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try? Normalize eating alone in public.
Learn self-defense techniques
Ok you might need social media for this one, but I think it’s always a good idea to know self-preservation and self-defense techniques. I’ve seen ones from what to do if you’re trapped in a car, what to do if you’re traveling alone, what to check for in an airbnb when you enter, etc.
Do a DIY face mask
If you’re not in the mood for doing a full-on facial at home, try doing a simple DIY face mask. One of my favorites was passed down by my mom, and it’s a juicy cucumber face mask that’s oh so hydrating and brightening. Another favorite is mixing turmeric with water for brightening and tightening of the skin.
Take a virtual class
My partner is currently taking an online music making class at night that he purchased for hundreds. While I may not be willing to pay that much for a course, there are plenty of free ones out there that will help you learn more on just about anything.
Plan a date with your partner
For those of you currently in a relationship, plan out your ideal date with them. If you want them to initiate, then tell them what sort of date you want them to take you on.
@vanelja
Groom your dog
For pet owners, take some time to groom your dog by brushing out their fur, cleaning their ears, clipping their nails and brushing their teeth. All they have is you to look after them.
Experience a virtual sound bath
I’m a big fan of sound baths and the healing power of sound. They’re ultra relaxing and transportive, and you can easily find them for free on Youtube.
Take a meditation class
It’s so easy to take a virtual meditation class, whether it’s on Youtube or through an app. Meditation can ease stress and anxiety levels and help teach you to practice mindfulness in your everyday life.
Brainstorm a meal for dinner
Feeding our bodies is the greatest form of self-care. When you’re bored at night in your room, browse through dinner recipes and bookmark the ones that excite you the most. Make a mental note to cook that meal sometime that week.
Buy something for your parents
We never really know how much hell we put our parents through until we become parents ourselves. Buy something spontaneous for your parents no matter how small of a gift. It could be surprising your mom with a flower delivery or sending your dad’s favorite whiskey over. You know your parents best.
@teresalaucar
Declutter
Declutter and organize your closet. There’s probably a ton of clothes you never wear that you could re-sell online or donate. Set aside of pile of clothes you want to re-home and organize the clothes you DO wear regularly.
@teresalaucar
Throw out expired makeup and skincare
Many of us never bother to think about the expiration date of our skincare and makeup. That eyeshadow palette you’ve been using for four years has GOT TO GO.
Write a letter to your childhood self
Much of the anxiety, triggers and trauma we deal with as adults stem from our childhood. Help heal your inner child by writing them a letter, telling them everything you wish they would know.
Try on a new hairdo (virtually)
Try on different hair colors and hairstyles virtually for fun. Wondering what you’d look like with bangs and platinum hair?
Try posture correcting exercises
Thanks to looking at our phones and laptops constantly, poor posture is affecting everyone. Try some posture correcting moves – there are some fun ones you can do with the help of your partner too.
Learn facial massage techniques
Whether it’s sculpting your cheekbones, melting 11 lines and smoothing nasolabial folds, there are facial massages for every concern.
Take a personal finance course
We’re never taught important life skills like personal finance in school, so it’s up to us to take our financial future in our own hands. I personally really like Clever Girl Finance’s free resources!
Treat your hands to a pampering session
We often neglect our hands, when the skin there is prone to signs of aging just like our faces. You can do a luxurious DIY hand soak, exfoliation and mask session for glowing smooth hands.
Practice self affirmations
We hear it all the time, but how often do we actually set aside any time to practice positive self affirmations. Focus on the affirmations that resonate most with you and practice saying them outloud.
Look through the job marketplace
This can be a touchy subject depending on your current employment situation, but I’m a firm believer in always leveling up even if you’re currently employed. Check out what opportunities might be out there.
Reflect on your relationship
For those of you in relationships, reflect on your relationship up until this point and where you see it going in the near and far future. Write down what areas have been bothering you and what parts of your relationship need work.
@vanelja
Enjoy a self pleasure session
Sexual wellness is just as important as any area of wellness. Whether it’s imagining your fantasy or using your personal toys, give yourself some extra love and attention.
Try candlelight meditation
I took candlelight meditation classes while traveling around Southeast Asia and have been meaning to continue practicing it at home. Candlelight meditation involves staring into a flame without blinking and quieting the mind. It’s much harder than it sounds.
Create a capsule wardrobe
Refine your individual style and assess your current wardrobe. While you don’t necessarily need to work on building a capsule wardrobe in your assessment, it’s a great way to trim down your wardrobe to the necessities. A capsule wardrobe consists of a set of tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, and accessories that can be interchangeably mixed and matched.
@teresalaucar
Reorganize something in your home
It could be your underwear drawer or that one random drawer with stationary. Organize something small that you’ve neglected.
Play with your dog
If your dog is sleeping all the time, it could be because they’re bored and have no one to play with (besides you). Stop what you’re doing and spend some time playing and interacting with your dog to brighten their day.
Make a list of restaurants or places you’d like to visit in your city
If you live in a big city, there are restaurants, eateries, cafes and bars popping up every week. Seek out some spots that look interesting to you and make a list. Then hit up some friends or loved ones and make plans to go there with them.
Write a cute note to a friend or loved one
Cherish your loved ones and show them how glad you are they’re in your life. You can do this by writing a spontaneous cute little note (by text) to the bad biddies you know and spontaneously hitting send. If you’re wanting to send to a romantic partner, then you can send a flirty or sweet one.
Find your dream candle
We’re in the middle of candle season, and if you haven’t found your dream candle yet, check out inspiration here.
Get on Duolingo
Ok language might not be your thing, but if you’re someone who loves culture and language then get started on learning a new language using Duolingo. The app and website are so easy and simple to use.
Rearrange your room
It’s always good to switch things up in your environment. Rearrange the furniture or decor in your room for a fresh new twist to your surroundings.
Write a poem
You don’t need to be a literary genius to take a crack at writing poetry. Write what flows through your soul as a personal creative outlet.
Do a DIY hair mask
There are so many ingredients in your kitchen right now that work wonders for hair health. Make a DIY hair mask and let it sit in your hair for at least an hour. I love ingredients like rice water, banana, olive oil, mayo and honey for hair.
Try the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling
Some people swear by oil pulling every morning. Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice where you swish oil around your mouth for 15-20 minutes and spit it out. It’s great for oral health because it binds toxins and bacteria from your mouth and helps eliminate them.
@headstandsandheels
Try on outfits that make you feel good
Put on that lipstick and the outfit that makes you feel like THAT girl. Embody her and be her.
Augustinus Bader is a prestigious skincare line founded by world leading stem specialist Augustinus Bader. Founded in 2017 and based in London, the clean skincare line is backed by over 30 years of research in cellular repair and his deep understanding of stem cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Each product contains their patented technology TFC8 – the renewing complex of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesized molecules naturally found in the body. Augustinus Bader skincare products combine sustainably sourced botanicals with bioengineered clean actives. This is a luxury brand with their famous cream priced at nearly $300, so definitely not for those on a budget.
It’s no surprise that celebs enjoy this brand. Augustinus Bader is loved by Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, Sandra Oh, Dakota Johnson, Hailey Bieber, and Margot Robbie and probably many more. In fact, it’s even referred to as the Birkin bag of skincare. I’ve even seen it carried at Swiss facial studios.
I naturally was curious as to who Augustinus Bader is and I’m not going to lie, I thought he was a woman all this time. Germany-based Professor Augustinus Bader is a globally recognized biomedical scientist and physician as we as expert in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He works at the University of Leipzig where he lives with his family.
TFC8 aka Trigger Factor Complex’s patented technology is made of over 40 ingredients and inspired by over 30 years of research, innovation and clinical study. TFC8 kicks your cells into repair mode and nourishes and protects the skin.
The technology guides key nutrients and powerful natural ingredients to the skin, creating and supporting an optimal environment for cellular renewal. The adaptive skincare is capable of addressing individualized concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, redness, hyperpigmentation, cellulite, stretch marks, and damage caused by external stressors. TFC8 works to train the skin for the long-term so that it looks and feels healthier, firmer, stronger, and more even over time.
Augustinus Bader offers four different types of their face cream depending on your skin type. I tried The Rich Cream which is formulated for dry skin. This is a silky cream that honestly does not feel all that heavy to me and its richness really comes from the oil content. When I think of heavy creams this one doesn’t feel like the them in the traditional sense. It goes on like velvet, melting into the skin and leaving a bit of a shiny finish from the oils. If you’re looking for a matte moisturizer, skip Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. I do definitely notice softer, more supple skin from using this cream.
When I was trying to decide between the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer versus the Dyson Airwrap versus other more affordable hair dryer brands, I ultimately went with the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. And now here I am reviewing a hair dryer while my man watches the fifa World Cup. There’s so much hype around Dyson for hair, and I wondered what makes Dyson so special besides the technology, futuristic design and being famous for its vacuums. Even though I love the sleek look of a good blowout, the main reason I don’t like to blowdry my hair is because of the cumulative damage it would cause to my already very damaged hair. The Dyson hair dryer promised to prevent heat damage through its ability to dry hair faster. Still, is a hair dryer worth $429 when traditional ones cost less than $100 and how is the Dyson cost justified? I figured I could find out and if I didn’t like the Dyson Supersonic, I could always return it within the return policy deadline. I’m sharing the good and the bad in this Dyson hair dryer review, and why I don’t think majority of people should buy the Dyson Supersonic. I WILL say this is the kind of gift that would impress your mother-in-law.
Dyson Hair Dryer Pros and Cons
I ultimately chose the Dyson hair dryer over the Dyson Airwrap because the Airwrap doesn’t fully dry your hair and is mainly focused on styling. So if I bought the Airwrap I’d have one more styling tool to add to my collection but would STILL be in need of a hair dryer.
I also decided to go for the black version because black looks more chic than silver. Plus my partner could enjoy using it when he needs to blowdry his hair.
There’s Dyson Supersonic hair dryers that are refurbished, but I decided to go with the regular hair dryer even though a refurbished one would have been $100 cheaper. Reason being for the warranty. Dyson warranty lasts two years normally, but for the refurbished one only one year. Amazon also offers refurbished Dyson products but I’m not sure what their warranty is.
Here is what the Dyson hair dryer has to offer broken down in easy to read snippets:
Bladeless design
Uses the Dyson Digita Motor V9: Spins up to 110,000rpm, propelling 13 liters of air up to the amplifier every second
Uses an aerodynamic phenomenon called the Coanda effect that attracts hair to surfaces through jet propelled streams of air
Prevents hair damage with intelligent heat control technology that measures airflow temperature over 40 times per second
Air Multiplier technology that creates high-velocity jets of air to dry hair quicker than traditional hair dryers
Five magnetic attachments for easy switching in and out
Flyaway attachment eliminates the need to use a hair straightener separately
Made with all hair types in mind
3 heat settings
4 speed settings
Smaller shape
What Comes with the Dyson Hair Dryer
The Supersonic comes with five different attachments:
Gentle air attachment: diffuses air in a gentle and cooler stream of air. Ideal for sensitive scalps and thinner hair.
Diffuser: Larger diffuser for curly or wavy hair. Mimics natural air-drying by dispersing air across a wider surface area.
Wide-tooth comb: Great for type 4c hair
Styling concentrator: For a precision blowout. Used for styling and drying smaller sections of hair with a precise stream of air.
Flyaway attachment: Used after hair is dry to smooth out any flyaways and frizzy hair for an extra sleek effect
What You Should Know about Dyson Supersonic
Something I didn’t know before I bought the Dyson hair dryer is that I needed to clean the filter once a month. Both the hair dryer’s outer filter cage and the inner filter mesh should be wiped down regularly with a dry cloth. For something so expensive, you want to make sure you’re prolonging product life with proper care.
Also, while I was delighted that the Dyson attachments were magnetic, the magnets are extremely strong and a little difficult to pull apart. You do eventually get the hang of it, but at first the magnets were surprisingly strong.
While the Dyson technology exceeded my expectations, it fell short in the noise department. It might be another decade (or never?) before silent hair dryers exist. The third and strongest setting on the Dyson hair dryer is pretty loud while the 2nd setting is much more tolerable for my ears.
Figuring out how to use the Dyson hair attachments is a learning process. To maximize the results from the Dyson Supersonic it’s important to know how and what to use each attachment for. For instance, I found that the diffuser worked best for the bulk of the hair drying process and the styling concentrator attachment was ideal at the very end. The best way to use it is to:
Point the nozzle away from the scalp
Place it around half an inch from the hair
The final step if I have time and want to look extra snatched is the flyaway attachment, which easily replaces my hair straightener. I start just shy of my roots and go down the lengths and find that it gives me more of a sleek, shiny finish. The Dyson flyaway attachment has the most effect when used on the highest setting.
Speaking of which, the highest speed setting of the Dyson is can be a tad too strong to be used comfortably for the entire blow dry process. Ironically, the Dyson team should have made the 3rd speed just a little less powerful which would have possibly also made it less noisy. I find myself using the 2nd setting but wish I could take more advantage of the Dyson’s power.
My Honest Review of Dyson Supersonic
Let me start by answering whether I think you should buy the Dyson hair dryer and then I’ll explain why I got it for myself. No, don’t buy it. Why? Because it’s super expensive, and no one actually needs a $400 hair dryer in their life. The Dyson hair dryer never seems to go on sale either. They really position it as an exclusive, luxury product. My life (and hair) was truly fine before I got the Dyson for my hair and it would have been just fine without it. The Supersonic should be a holiday wishlist item that you’ll only accept as a gift, ideally from your partner since they’ll be the ones benefiting the most from you looking like THAT GIRL.
Here’s why I personally bought the Dyson for my hair. “Buy less, choose well and make it last” by iconic fashion designer and environmentalist, Vivienne Westwood forever changed the way I consume. I prefer to invest in products that are superior and last forever instead of cheaply made items. I’m also financially in a place where I can afford to make big ticket purchases like this. As Jay Z once said, you can’t afford something unless you can buy three of them. In my 20s when I was swimming in college loan debt and making a meager salary, I would never have even entertained the idea of such an excessive purchase.
Lastly, I have very damaged hair from decades of chemical processing, bleaching, dying etc. Most people have not put their hair through what I’ve put mine through. In fact, all my friends have healthy virgin hair that they might have colored or put in a few face-framing highlights once in their lives to satisfy an itch for change. Their hair would stand up just fine to some occasional heat damage and recover quickly. Mine not so much. Mine’s barely holding on by a strand.
Is the Dyson hair dryer a very cool hair tool? Yes definitely. There’s a lot of aspects I love about it. The Supersonic is by far the most advanced hair dryer I’ve experienced and the technology is without a doubt impressive. I love the non-bulky minimalistic design. It’s so easy to hold and even with the attachment on, the bulk of the device’s weight is in the handle. Almost all hair dryers look like those ConAir ones with a handle and a body that looks like a horse’s head. Because the top part is so bulky compared to the handle my hands always get tired, maneuvering it around my head becomes awkward and having to finish drying my hair becomes a lengthy and arduous mission.
Yes the Dyson hair dryer cuts down on drying time. I have very long hair that goes a little past the middle of my back and the Dyson dried it in about 11-12 minutes.
Who the Dyson Hair Dryer Makes Sense For
You have to tick at least two of these bullets for the $429 Dyson hair dryer to make sense as a purchase:
Budget is not a concern
Your hair is severely damaged, thinning, prone to breakage, heavily processed, etc
Your time is very limited and valuable – you don’t have time to dry your hair for 20-30 minutes daily
You blow dry your hair daily because of a people-facing job or job that requires you to look impeccably groomed
If you normally use a hair dryer once a week or a few times a month for special occasions only, the Dyson Supersonic isn’t worth it for you. If you’ve got a stressful, demanding job that requires you to look polished at all times and very little free time, then this hair dryer will save you time, effort and your mental health.
Dont forget to check the return policy of the retailer you might make your purchase so you can return it if you don’t like it.
If you’re dealing with hair loss or hair thinning and are looking for clean and natural solutions without any potentially harmful ingredients, you’ve landed on the right post. Hair loss and thinning is a common condition, affecting up to 80% of men and 50% of women by the time they are 80. Hair loss can be caused or exacerbated by stress, genetics, a low-protein diet, certain medical conditions or plain old aging. Even the way you part your hair or constantly have it up in a tight bun could be causing hair thinning. Hair loss is so common it’s no wonder there are plenty of options to restore hair growth sold on the market. Thankfully, for those of us trying to lead healthier, toxin-free or toxin-less lives, there’s also plenty of clean and holistic brands tackling the hair growth dilemma. Whether you’re looking to jumpstart hair growth or keep your existing hair strong and dense, you’re likely to find a brand or product in this post that deserves a spot in your hair care regimen.
Launched in 2016, Nutrafol is perhaps THE most vetted natural supplement for hair growth. Nutrafol offers 100% drug-free hair-thinning solutions featuring high-quality ingredients sourced from around the world, are third-party tested for purity and are clinically tested. made with a patented Synergen Complex, a proprietary blend of concentrated plant ingredients. The Synergen Complex is a blend of stress adaptogens, DHT-targeting botanicals and antioxidants formulated to target the internal imbalances that lead to hair thinning and shedding, promoting a healthy hair growth cycle.
VEGAMOUR is a sustainability focused clean and vegan haircare brand that uses clinically studied ingredients that are proven to work for hair loss and thinning. Specifically, they boast results of subjects noticing up to 52% more density and 76% less shedding. All natural and cruelty-free, VEGAMOUR uses clinically researched and backed ingredients, meaning these ingredients have shown in clinical studies to improve hair growth. The serum’s four hero ingredients are Red Clover, Mung Bean, Curcumin, and Nicotiana Benthamiana. The serum comes in a dropper bottle and has the consistency of water and contains no oils, so there’s no having to deal with greasiness.
If you’re tackling hair loss, breakage, or lack of growth, The Nue Co’s SUPA_THICK gets to the root of the problem. Formulated with patented follicle technology, it targets both the hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells located at the bottom of the follicle, while prebiotics (inulin) and probiotics (lactobacillus ferment) repopulate the scalp’s all-important microbiome. It also soothes a sensitive scalp, eliminates dandruff and removes product build up to reveal healthy, thick hair.
Everyone should regularly exfoliate their scalp to encourage hair. Growth. This scalp scrub shampoo detoxifies, exfoliates, soothes, and balances the scalp for optimal scalp health. scalp scrub shampoo infuses Binchotan charcoal to draw impurities from the scalp and hair follicle to provide the foundation for optimal scalp health. Vegetable-derived micro-exfoliators remove dead skin cells and product build-up from the scalp to support a clean, balanced, and healthy scalp.
DUO is an innovative beauty device featuring the latest dermal technologies – Sonic vibration (gentle scalp massage), Therapeutic warmth, Red Light Therapy, and Electrical stimulation (e-stim) to stimulate the scalp with a tingly blissful sensation while providing an effective circulation boost. Laduoar Duo is used with the DUO Pods which are filled with nourishing ingredients. Duo’s LED red light delivers therapeutic light energy through 30 medical-grade red LED bulbs of 660nm wavelength to your hair follicles to energize and revitalize while promoting healthy hair growth and elasticity.
Hair steaming will help with hair growth by keeping your scalp healthy. Steaming is an effective way to unclog pores in the scalp, and clogged pores will hinder any hair growth progress you want to make. Hair steaming also helps your scalp get rid of toxins and increases blood flow to the scalp, both of which are important for stimulating hair growth.
Maya Chia’s Power For is a fast-absorbing, ultra-lightweight yet potent infusion of the most nutrient-dense, clinically-proven proprietary blend of Multiple Peptides, Amino Acids, Collagen (from a vegetable source), High-Quality Antioxidants, Fermented Minerals, Phyto-Actives and Adaptogens.
A manual scalp massager like the one made by Ceremonia invigorates blood flow to the scalp to help promote healthy hair, exfoliates the scalp by gently yet effectively lifting sebum and product buildup that accumulates between washes, helps distribute natural oils to boost hair’s luster and helps to control flakiness. Keep a scalp massager in your shower to give yourself a much-needed massage.
Evolve Better Roots multi-tasking oil awakens dormant hair follicles while nourishing scalp skin via 6 clinically proven clean actives, by activating the scalp’s newly-discovered olfactory intelligence. The Better Roots Scalp + Hair Oil is a light and fast absorbing oil that moisturizes the scalp while stimulating hair follicles in support of healthy hair regrowth, including the appearance of thicker, fuller hair, less excess shedding, a moisturized soothed scalp, and it can be applied to hair for protection against breakage while adding moisture and shine. Better Roots features Follicin, Basil Root Extract, Hemisqualane, Bataua Fruit Oil, Prickly Pear Extract, Ceramide NG, and Alpine Rose Extract.
Once your new hair starts sprouting, you want that hair to be strong. That’s when you can look into hair strengthening serums like Agent Nature’s Holi Locks, which is a strengthening, detangling, anti-hair fall serum. It contains a number of patented ingredients like:
Follicusan™: a milk-based bioactive, containing active signaling molecules, which clinical studies have proven to stimulate the appearance of dermal papilla cells on the scalp
Capixyl™: a peptide (acetyl tetrapeptide-3) that is combined with a plant-based red clover extract
Beracare ARS Hair Serum™: a natural complex packed with properties that promote the look of hair follicle revitalization and hydration of the scalp
Redensyl™: targets the root causes of unhealthy hair
Vegamour’s GRO Revitalizing Shampoo contains some of the same star ingredients of the best-selling Vegamour GRO Hair Serum. The color-safe shampoo boasts microencapsulation technology that works to deliver their phyto-actives deep beneath the scalp’s surface (in only thirty seconds according to VEGAMOUR’s website). The product itself is a dense, clear gel that lathers instantly and provides my dry hair with a decently thorough cleanse.
Zero waste clean skincare brand Common Heirlaunched in 2020 with a mission to reimagine clean beauty. While people were more than willing to by sustainable skin care they were less willing to go through the motions of recycling afterwards. The female founders wanted true sustainability to be accessible when big, innovative companies were falling short. To solve this barrier Common Heir decided that the solution was plastic-free, biodegradable packaging that wouldn’t harm the environment whether it was recycled or not. I’ve finished up my entire container of Commin Heir’s Retinol Serum and am sharing my thoughts today.
Each little capsule contains the exact amount of product you need, nothing less and nothing more. Not having used a serum that came packaged in this way it was a little tedious at first to have to break off the top of the capsule and throw it away each time. I eventually became used to it, plus I like the fact that the rest of the unused product in the capsules isn’t exposed to air.
I also use clean retinol products with 0.05% and 0.1% retinol, so this was my first time trying as much as .2% and found that my skin tolerated it well. I do get a sense when using it that it’s stronger than my other retinol products.
There is no fragrance and the consistency feels like a silicone-oil-serum though the product is silicone-free. It’s not quite a serum nor an oil in how it feels.
The capsules might look itty bitty but they actually pack quite a bit of product. I find it easiest to squeeze all the product out in one go then dab it on cheeks, forehead, chin and then spread.
At nearly $90 Common Heir is priced on the luxury end.
The founders make it a point to test their clinically effective products on all skin tones, including darker skin tones. They also give back to a number of organizations and have experienced growing success since they launched not so long ago. I’m excited to see what else the brand has in store for us in the coming years.
Step aside clean skincare, it’s time to shine the light on clean body care! If you’re applying body wash (and lotion) daily over every inch of your skin, it feels like the logical next step to want to switch to a safer and more natural option. There’s more organic body wash product choices than ever, including an option no matter your body concern, lifestyle, budget or age. Read on for the best natural and organic body washes worth trying in 2023.
Leefy Organics Discount Code was founded by a holistic nutritionist during his journey of restoring his mother’s health. She suffered day and night for eight months from severe nasal and mucus congestion and over-the-counter medications nor medical specialists were of no help. Juicing fresh turmeric roots and making tea with sliced ginger roots were the only things providing her some relief. After lots of research, Leefy Organics’ founder discovered that turmeric supplementation requires three crucial keys to allow our bodies to unlock and absorb the true potential of these roots: liquid form, black pepper, and fat. Once she tried the liquid Prana formulation for the very first time, her symptoms were alleviated within minutes. The founder’s mom convinced him to share Parma with others and Leefy Organics was born. Their new supplement Nidra was also inspired by finding a natural solution for his mother’s osteoarthritic back pain. I’ve only tried Prana so read on if you’d like to learn more about it and use Leefy Organics discount code OBL to save 15%.
Prana is a natural remedy made with organic and full spectrum extraction of superfood ingredients. It contains: Organic turmeric root, organic ginger root, organic black pepper fruit, organic vegetable glycerin.
Prana helps with:
a healthy inflammatory response
brain function
joint health
heart health
migraines & headaches
PMS symptoms
I always try to keep turmeric a regular part of my wellness regimen as it is SO beneficial to health.
Used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, turmeric is nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory superfood.
Same for ginger root! I saw my parents keep Korean ginger and ginseng supplements in the home constantly.
Black pepper fruit is added to ensure the efficacy of the turmeric. Black Pepper has been shown to increase curcumin absorption up to 2,000%.
Organic vegetable glycerin serves as a critical lipid base is needed for maximum curcumin absorption.
Prana’s turmeric and ginger roots are sourced from organic, non-GMO growers in the USA and doesn’t contain any chemicals, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
Leefy Organics Prana has a subtly sweet taste that’s totally tolerable.
Sharing all the best broke girl friendly skincare lines! I’ve already written a mega post of the best budget organic beauty brands, but for those looking specifically for skincare brands I thought I would write an affordable natural skincare version. These clean skincare brands are budget friendly and still remain high quality, while valuing transparency in their ingredient labels and sourcing.
Three Ships Beauty makes award-winning clean skincare made with 100% natural ingredients. All Three Ships Beauty products are $35 or under, certified cruelty-free and vegan, and formulated by world-class chemists. Tired of what they saw in the clean beauty industry, Three Ships founders set sail to be the most transparent clean skincare brand out there. And by clean, I don’t mean the mix of cheap synthetics and natural ingredients that clean beauty has mostly become. I think this brand is making some fantastic 100% natural skincare products at accessible price points. While Three Ships isn’t luxury, they also don’t feel budget or “granola”. Read on for my Three Ships Beautyreview and use discount code OBL to save 20% at Three Ships.
Famously founded by Jessica Alba, Honest Beauty is a clean skincare and makeup brand that’s widely available at ULTA and Target stores everywhere. Most known for their baby and personal care products, The Honest Company has expanded to include a wide range of affordable beauty products. They have a drama filled past of lawsuits and toxic ingredient scandals, that you can find more info about online. But for people looking for safer products that are budget friendly, Honest Beauty is highly convenient.
Facetheory is a clean and affordable skincare line that reminds me of The Ordinary with its focus on clinical actives, percentages of ingredients and simplified formulas. The brand is originally from the UK but are widely accessible in the US via their Amazon store. They have a very extensive range of products as well to suit all skin types and concerns. I
Sustainable natural skincare brand Upcircle Beauty is breathing new life into ingredients that are typically thrown away. Born in London, Upcircle is vegan, zero waste, Leaping Bunny Certified, certified Plastic Negative and uses natural and organic ingredients. The best part? They’re so affordable! Backed by crowdfunding and three Shark Tank investors, the brand is now available at major US retailers like Whole Foods, Credo Beauty, Thrive Market and Urban Outfitters. Upcircle Beauty regularly collects coffee grounds from 100 artisan coffee shops to create their upcycled skincare products and have expanded to using many more salvaged ingredients
Ranging from $10 to $20, Sukin natural skincare is a broke girl’s Aussie dream come true. The Australian skincare brand offers a wide range of skincare products that are mostly around $10-$15 including a brand new mineral sunscreen launch in both tinted and untinted options
Kinfield is a clean beauty brand that wants you to live your best outdoors life with safe and functional products. From their DEET free bug repellant spray to beauty editor favorite sunscreens, Kinfield formulates their vegan line with science-backed ingredients and without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. Also sold at Credo Beauty and on their website, Kinfield products are safe, simple and effective with reasonable prices.
DERMA E is one the largest natural skincare brands in the US that makes affordable vegan products sold everywhere from Target and ULTA to Whole Foods and Sprouts. With everything from skincare to scar gel and sunscreen to hair care, DERMA E could easily take over your entire personal care and beauty routine. DERMA E call themselves a clean, eco-ethical brand because of their commitment to natural ingredients, the environment and giving back. Even though not all DERMA E products are 100% natural (they’re a 100% vegan and cruelty-free brand), this company offers such a wide selection of products at incredibly accessible prices.
Based out of Portland, Mad Hippie was started by husband-wife duo Sam and Dana who believe in all natural simplicity. They take responsibility for the planet seriously and use BPA-free, fully recyclable airless pumps, print solely with soy inks and run the entire facility off alternative energy. Insanely affordable and highly effective, Mad Hippie also has one of the best budget Vitamin C serums on the market.
Kinship is an affordable clean, cruelty free and plant-based skincare line that launched in 2019 by scientists and industry experts. Kinship already have a cult following thanks to their Self Reflect Rose Sunscreen and are at Ulta stores everywhere. Placing skin barrier health above all, Kinship is probiotic-focused with each product featuring their Kinbiome, a proprietary microbiome technology that supports a healthy skin barrier.
Launched in 2019, Innbeauty Project is a clean skincare brand for Gen Z that’s instantly recognizable by their brightly multi-colored packaging. The Innbeauty Project Pimple Paste is the product that initially piqued my interest, and then their Lip Glaze, and then their Slushy Serum Moisturizer Crush, until I had to try them all for myself. Prices remain accessible with everything in the Innbeauty Project line under $30 and the brand is committed to sustainability, pledging to fund the removal of three plastic units from landfills, waterways, and marine environments for every product sold. Note that this brand does combine natural and synthetic ingredients including dimethicone and phenoxyethanol. Innbeauty Project is sold at Sephora, Credo and their website.
Born in Paris, Typology is an affordable clean and vegan skincare line with a focus on actives, simplified formulas and transparency. Often referred to as the French The Ordinary, Typology is like The Ordinary’s sophisticated Parisian cousin, and she’s a little more expensive. The B Corp certified brand uses natural and vegan formulas are trimmed down to only what’s essential (yes they are free from Phenoxyethanol too). The entire line is French made with partner laboratories in Bergerac, Aix en Provence and Compiègne. For a relatively new brand, Typology already has a line of a bajillion products with a wide variety of skincare, natural sunscreens, makeup, hair care, scalp care, and body care. I mean they even have self tanner, tinted lip oils and lip plumping serums.
Acure is a great beginner skincare line to start with when you’re just starting on your organic beauty journey or you are truly broke. They offer skincare, haircare and body care.
100% natural and plant-based beauty brand BYBI puts ingredients and the environment first. They use climate conscious packaging and ingredients as well as low-carbon production methods. BYBI’s prices are ultra affordable with most products under $20 and their packaging as chic as ever.
Pai Skincare is one of the original OG skincare brands that launched 15 years ago when clean beauty wasn’t even a term yet. Pai Skincare founder Sarah developed Chronic Urticaria in her mid-twenties and experienced reactions to almost every product she tried. after four years of dealing with it, Pai was birthed from the founder’s need for gentle skincare for sensitive and reactive skin. This, in turn, meant pure formulas without any harsh ingredients, natural or otherwise. Based in the UK, all Pai products are manufactured in their London headquarters and sold in 50 countries around the world today. Every Pai skincare product is safe for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, but I’ve found that even though this line is specifically tailored to problematic skin, these are great products for non-problematic skin too. Read on for my Pai skincare review.
Pai Skincare is obsessed (in a good way) with certifications.
They’re accredited by these organizations so their claims are legitimate:
The Pai Rosehip Face Oil contains both organic Rosehip seed and Rosehip fruit extract and was designed to be suitable for all skin types, even the oiliest skin. It’s an incredibly lightweight oil with a liquid consistency that feels hydrating. If you’re scared of adding a face oil to your routine, Pai Rosehip Oil is a great one to start with and comes in a variety of sizes. This is Pai Skincare’s most popular product and for good reason!
If you find yourself a fan of Pai’s Rosehip Oil then I can practically guarantee you’ll love their Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil. It’s also a lightweight and thin-consistency cleansing oil that’s gentle yet effective. With a bit of water it emulsifies so everything rinses off easily. I love the subtle fruity scent.
It comes in two sizes, both of which are packaged in glass, and contains organic ingredients like olive, sunflower, castor, jasmine, basil, lime and orange along with organic rosehip fruit extract.
As someone with barely there lashes, clean mascaras that don’t perform with excellence simply don’t work at all for me. I’ve tried dozens and dozens of natural mascaras over the years, and the very best mascaras have always remained unbeat with the exception of just one newcomer mascara earning a spot at the top. While this post shares all the mascaras from worst to ok to very good, there are only three clean mascaras I would consider the very best: one luxury, one mid-range and one budget friendly.
Next I gathered very good natural mascaras that could be someone else’s best mascara. Cult favorites like ILIA, Well People and Lily Lolo all have mascaras that perform well and are formulated thoughtfully.
These performed better than the average mascara but not as good as the above mascaras. They fall somewhere between very good and average for my barely there lashes. That begin said, they probably work much better for those who already have the foundation of beautiful long lashes.
These “just OK” mascaras didn’t work well for my barely there lashes, but could work much better for those who already have the foundation of beautiful long lashes. These mascaras are some people’s “best mascaras” so you never know what might end up as your favorite.
These mascaras just seemed to have no performance whatsoever, I can’t see them working for anyone regardless of whether you have amazing lashes or not.
I first took Ora Organic supplements back in 2019 or so and recently tried some more of their organic supplements. Ora Organic only uses plant-based ingredients, sources organic wherever possible, and has the highest testing standards. Ora Organic has roots in New Zealand and the word ‘Ora’ comes from the New Zealand Māori greeting ‘Kia Ora’ which means ‘be well’. third-party labs test our products for heavy metals, pathogens, and contaminants. I love Ora Organic’s commitment to quality, purity and taste in all their products.
What kind of supplements does Ora Organic offer
Multivitamin
Gut health
Plant protein
Beauty
Sleep and stress
Feminine health
Immunity
I’m using their hormone balance supplement, probiotics supplement and superfood greens powder.
Something I always try to make sure I’m taking is probiotics because of the importance of gut health. It’s well known now that our gut is our 2nd brain and the brain-gut connection control so much our well-being. Ora Organic Trust Your Gut has 20 billion CFUs of dairy-free probiotics and organic prebiotics from 7 highly-studied Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. These strains have been researched for their potential to support:
digestion
immunity mood balance
essential nutrient creation
healthy inflammatory response
Trust Your Gut is boosted the effectiveness with organic prebiotics and no-added-sugar powder. The fruity taste is sweet and turns a glass of water into a delicious drink.
I definitely don’t eat as many servings of greens daily as I should be as I live in a crazy expensive city. To make up for that I’m taking Ora Organic Greens Powder which is jam-packed with superfoods like Barley Grass Juice, Wheat Grass Juice, Alfalfa, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage Cilantro and so much more. This also tastes sweet and tastes just as good in a glass of water as it does a smoothie.
This is the one capsule form supplement I’m taking by Ora Organic. Harmonious provides hormone support with: Organic Acerola Extract , Organic Burdock, Organic Gelatinized Maca, Organic Ashwagandha, Organic Cordyceps, Organic Holy Basil, These organic adaptogen capsules are formulated to aid with:
Say goodbye to crunchy hair and harmful toxins in aerosol cans and say hello to clean hairsprays made with natural and organic ingredients. They may not give you the sky high hold that defies gravity, but they’re still able to gently hold your style in place with a soft to medium hold. Instead of toxins that lead to product buildup (not to mention the scalp absorbs at a higher rate than the rest of your body) which then leads to dull, lifeless hair and a blocked scalp, natural and organic hairsprays use clean ingredients like rice bran and flax to safely provide your hair with hold. Check out the very best natural hairsprays in clean beauty.
Short haircuts are more on trend than ever for 2023 and the number of short hairstyles you can try are endless. If you’re wondering which short hair trends are in style for 2023, you’re in luck because I’ve rounded up fresh pics from today’s hairstylists of the best short hairstyles and short haircuts.
Short hair works for all hair types and textures (straight, curly, wavy, relaxed, coarse, thick, or thin). Whether you’re over 50 or still haven’t left for college, short hairstyles can be a refreshing change from long, scraggly and damaged hair that lacks bounce and volume.
@stxph.h
Not only are short hairstyles chic and lift up the face, but they’re also low maintenance and keep your hair healthy. There are SO many ways to style a short hairstyle whether you’re in for a bob, lob, shag or pixie cut.
Even if you’re not ready for the big chop just yet, scroll through for the best short haircut and short hairstyle inspiration for 2023 you can find online! Hashtag short hair don’t care.
It’s so easy to try short hair without any commitment thanks to the wide variety of affordable wigs available on Amazon in all sorts of colors, styles and short lengths.
Short haircuts and hairstyles for older women over 50
Short hairstyles with bangs
Trendy short haircuts
Edgy short haircuts
Is short hair better for women over 65? Over 40? Don’t go by anyone’s beauty standards but your own! There’s plenty of long hairstyles for older women that are so elegant and timeless. But if it’s short hair you desire, there are a variety of piece-y, feathered, layered, modern and classic looks. The rule is that there are no rules.
Once you know you’re moving to Switzerland to start your new life, the next biggest task is to find a Swiss apartment to rent. And it is nooo easy task. Finding an apartment to rent in Zurich and Geneva is notoriously difficult due to the housing shortage in large Swiss cities. There’s more people looking and not enough apartments available, with the percentage of freed up apartments at any given time being less than 1%. In fact, it’s quite common for the Swiss to rent their apartment for decades, all the way into their retirement years. Combine that with Swiss society being one of the largest aging populations in the world, the ability for young professionals and students to find Swiss housing is greatly hindered. This guide to Swiss apartment renting aims to demystify the rental process in Switzerland. You’ll learn the ins and outs of where to look, how to apply, how much rent is in Switzerland and what to expect (plus some personal insight) in this guide to renting Swiss apartments.
A little about me and why I wrote this Swiss housing guide: I’m Andrea, a Swiss-American who has lived in Switzerland for more than decade and rented in 5 cities across the French, German and Italian regions. I put together this guide for my younger self, because I wish there something like it when I was trying to find an apartment in a new city. I hope it helps newly Swissed students and expats in their renting journey.
Everyone here knows how difficult it is, yet there’s very few resources online that don’t sound like they were written by a robot. Which I get. It’s not exactly the most interesting topic to write about. Let’s not even talk about how your Swiss landlord can be a total nightmare! *cough* greedy *cough*
I hope this guide to renting in Switzerland helps, and if there’s anything you’d like to share to help others, please do write in the comments below.
Step 1: Look Online
Chances are you’re going to Switzerland (or have just moved) without having much of a network here.
The easiest way to find an apartment is for someone you know, who’s leaving their current place, to transfer their apartment directly to you.
When tenants leave an apartment, they’re able to put forward one or more new tenant applications to the landlord.
Landlords tend to prefer this as it takes all the work out of posting the rental property on a portal, scheduling viewings and responding to queries.
Locals in Switzerland usually procure an apartment through someone they know, whether it’s a work colleague, a friend of a friend, or family member.
Switzerland being such a small country, jobs, apartments and such are often transferred via one’s network without ever being posted publicly. It’s like a game of musical chairs – but the societal version.
Still, there are a number of ways to look for a rental apartment in Switzerland:
Apartment search websites
Social platform marketplaces
Hiring a relocation service
Online Property Portals
The rental property websites have apartments listed directly by real estate agencies.
Homegate
Comparis
Flatfox
Homelike
Immostreet
Immoscout24
UMS
Homegate and Immostreet are some of the most popular. This is also the most difficult way to land an apartment in that your chances of being selected are slim.
Marketplaces on Social Platforms
People are constantly moving in and out of apartments, though it does tend to slow down in the summer and winter holidays when people are away for vacation.
They will often post on Facebook marketplace or Anibis (Switzerland’s version of Ebay) to either find subletters or completely transfer the apartment over to someone new.
Tip: Apply immediately if you see something you like
Swiss apartments get snatched up before you’ve even had a chance to find them or hit send on your message. As soon as someone posts they’re leaving their apartment, rest assured they’re receiving dozens of messages as soon as they hit publish.
If you see an apartment you like, don’t waste a second in applying. It’s a race and the fastest win.
Hiring a Relocation Service Company
Not many people opt for this route, but for those who don’t have the time to scour the web, write messages and attend viewings, hiring a relocation company will take all the work out for you.
This naturally doesn’t come free, so you would need to be willing to pay whatever fee the company requires. Sometimes it can be the first month’s rent.
Step 2: How to Apply for Rental Apartments
An impeccable rental application can make all the difference when looking for a Swiss apartment.
There is no room for mistakes in Switzerland (as you’ll soon find out) and it’s imperative that you meet all the requirements of landlords and give them all the correct information. Precision is your friend in this country.
Applying for apartments in Switzerland is akin to applying for a job. All landlords and subleasers will require your application to include various documents including:
The application form from the landlord or agency
Copy of ID / work permit
Salary slip for the last 3 months
Extract from the local debt collection register
In Switzerland there’s no such thing as a credit score. Instead, you provide an official document showing your debt status from the local debt collection register to prove you have no outstanding debts.
In German it’s called Betreibungsauszuges and in French attestation de non-poursuites.
Tip: Including a personal letter to your application can help
While I may never know, I feel that adding a personal letter to my rental application helped me get selected for apartments.
It’s basically like a cover letter for a job, but explaining who you are, why you’re interested in the apartment and why you would be a good tenant and neighbor.
Landlords can receive a hundred applications for one apartment, especially if it’s a nice one, so going the extra mile helps yours stand out.
Zurich Apartment Rent (How Much Rent is in Switzerland)
The cost of renting can vary greatly depending on whether you’re:
In a small city, big city or village
In the city center versus out of the city center
Number of bedrooms
Old or recently renovated
An apartment in a smaller town like Zug instead of Zurich, or even neighboring Germany (France in French Switzerland), will be more affordable, BUT there’s the added time and cost of commuting.
Or, if you work in Geneva, to find more affordable housing you can live in the outskirts of Geneva city like Mies, in a neighboring town like Nyon, or the next biggest city 45 minutes away Lausanne.
Many people also choose to live just over the border in French cities like Ferney Voltaire. There’s an extra layer of complexity, though, as you’re technically a resident of France, and all admin and taxes must be done under French rules.
If you prefer to live right in the city, then you might wonder which neighborhoods are best. Switzerland is very safe so you don’t need to worry about accidentally living in an unsafe neighborhood. Each neighborhood does have its own characteristics and vibe. Certain parts might be grungier than others, and some areas are livelier with lots of university students while others attract families with young kids.
There’s plenty of very old apartment buildings in Switzerland that have terrible units like the above photo depicts. While not unlivable, you can tell these apartments haven’t been renovated in decades.
Many landlords never bother to renovate because they know people are desperate to find housing and will rent as is.
Swiss apartments don’t have in-unit laundry like in the US. They’re communal, down in the basement, and sometimes, each tenant has an allotted time slot for when they can do laundry. And if you don’t stick to your time slot, your victimized neighbor WILL complain to the landlord.
Generally speaking, if you’re a single person looking to rent a normal 1 bedroom apartment in Zurich or Geneva you’re looking at a range of CHF 1700 to CHF 2500. A studio is a little more affordable but not significantly.
Cost to Rent a Room in Switzerland
If you’re looking for a room in a flatshare, the cost can range from very cheap rooms at CHF 600 to luxury apartment rooms at CHF 2000+ with most rooms falling in the CHF 900 to CHF 1600 range.
The best place to find a room is to look for posts in Facebook marketplace, the classifieds section of expat social networks like glocals or expat groups on Facebook.
If you need two separate bedrooms or more, then the price of renting goes up much higher.
What does 3.5 rooms, 2.5 rooms mean?
A 4 room description in Switzerland doesn’t mean there are 4 bedrooms.
A kitchen and living space count as 1.5 rooms (weird I know!). Here is what room numbers generally mean in Switzerland:
1.5 = studio (kitchen/living/bedroom altogether)
2 = studio (living/bedroom together + separate kitchen)
2.5 = 1 bedroom (kitchen/living together + bedroom)
3 = 1 bedroom (kitchen + living + bedroom)
3.5 = 2 bedroom (kitchen/living room together + 2 bedrooms)
Remember, this is a just a general guideline as it can vary from canton to canton. Sometimes a very small room that’s more for storage can be counted as 0.5 rooms.
Housing Security Deposit
When you first move in, you’ll need to pay a three month deposit. (With subleases it’s usually 1 or 2 months paid directly to the subleaser.) In Switzerland, the deposit is placed in a special bank account opened by your own bank in the tenant’s name. So when you log in to your online bank account, you’ll see that separate account listed with your other Norma ones. That being said, you need a local Swiss bank account in order to be able to rent in Switzerland.
No one can touch this security deposit account, not you nor the landlord, so it’s safe and secure until you decide to end your housing contract.
Additional Expenses
Another cost you need to consider is the utility and building maintenance fees that you’ll be required to pay monthly. It’s essentially an estimated partial payment of utilities.
At the end of the year when the exact cost is calculated for the entire building and divided by the number of tenants, you’ll need to pay whatever remains if there’s a balance. There usually is a small balance remaining, but not an amount that would you make you fall off your seat.
In German Switzerland it’s called Nebenkosten, and it covers all the building expenses, maintenance, cleaning, gardening, etc.
Be sure to check whether utilities are included in the rent or an additional expense you’ll have to pay on top. With subleases, you will sometimes also have to pay separately for Internet/TV depending on each subleaser.
Radio & Television Fee in Switzerland
When renting in Swiss cities, every household must pay a yearly radio & television fee. As of 1 January 2021, the radio and television licence fee amounts to CHF 335 per year. They used to charge you based on the number of devices you have in your home, but now it’s just per household.
Subletting Warning
When subletting, make sure that your subleaser has notified their landlord that they are doing so. Tenants are NOT allowed to sublet without receiving written permission from the landlord. If they are doing so in secret, you risk the landlord finding out and kicking you out. I know someone who has had this actually happen to them, and it’s not something you want to have to deal with while adjusting to a new job and country.
Beware of Housing Scams!
Housing scams run rampant online, and if something feels off about a posting, it’s because there probably IS!
Pictures too nice? Price too good? A too good to be true housing ad is always a scam.
Never pay a deposit before actually seeing the apartment IRL, and never trust anyone who promises to mail you the keys. They never do and said apartment never exists.
Landlord being abroad or out of the country currently is a dead giveaway of a scam.
Students seem most vulnerable to falling prey to scammers. Here’s the advice that EPFL University gives to its students:
NEVER pay to visit an apartment, neither in advance nor in person
NEVER send money to anyone if you don’t know them (mailing address, phone number, etc)
DON’T accept any offer you can, just because you’re worried you won’t find housing
DON’T agree to everything – the right of refusal can only help you
NEVER agree to anything under pressure
How Long Does it Take to Find a Swiss Apartment?
The length of time it takes to land a housing contract varies from person to person, but on average, you can expect to look for 6 months. Some people luck out and are able to land an apartment immediately, but not everyone gets so lucky. On the other extreme, some people look for up to a year or longer before they manage to get an apartment.
I hope this guide to renting in Switzerland was helpful, and if you have any questions or input, please drop them in the comments below. Or come say hi on Instagram! Wishing you all the best luck in your search for a new Swiss home!
You’ve already thought of clean filtered water and organic mattresses, even filled most of your fridge with organic produce, but you probably haven’t thought about non-toxic ceramic nonstick coated cookware. That’s right, even our pots and pans can be made of materials (flourinated chemicals) that emit harmful toxins when heated. A number of non-toxic cookware brands are making it easier for us to cook worry-free. Caraway healthy cookware is a non-toxic version of non-stick skillets and saucepans, offering both functionality and quality. Wondering why Caraway is so popular, what Caraway is made of and how Caraway is non-toxic? Today I’m sharing my honest thoughts in today’s Caraway review.
Conventional pans and pots are coated with PTFE (such as Teflon®), lead, cadmium, and other toxic materials. In fact it’s in more than 95% of non-stick pans. While you’re cooking, these harmful ingredients can perch into your food and stay in your body for decades.
Caraway is made without any toxic materials like PFAS, PTFE, PFOA.
The FDA presented its findings from three studies on the prevalence of PFAS at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s annual European meeting. The premise, that the chemicals have been widely used in nonstick cookware, contact paper, food packaging, cleaning products, and other industrial products have leached into our food and contaminated our water supply. These chemicals are linked to liver damage, certain types of cancers, thyroid disease, infertility, high cholesterol, obesity and more.
They’re also better for the environment. During the manufacturing process, Caraway cookware releases up to 60% less CO2 into the environment compared to traditional non-stick coatings.
Caraway instead has a mineral based ceramic coating so nothing iffy leaches into your cooking.
Surprisingly heat up quickly and evenly (Caraway pans have an aluminum core)
Caraway is oven-safe thanks to stainless steel and enameled surfaces
Beautifully designed
Less oil and butter is needed
No rusting!
So easy to clean!
These are hefty pans so I expected the Caraway pan to take quite a bit longer to heat up than my lighter pan, but that wasn’t the case.
They’re also oven safe up to 550 degrees, so I can switch to baking my dish without having to transfer it to a different container.
There’s so much slip to the Caraway pan I need far less oil than I normally would and that also means less accidents of burning the surface.
Cleaning the pan is such a breeze too compared to my conventional pans. Leftover food sauce glide off easily with a swipe, so less time and energy is spent in the cleanup process.
Can Caraway make eggs without sticking?
No. I put it to the test and you still do need a small amount of oil.
What I Don’t Like About Caraway Nonstick Pan
Heavy
Not enough size options
The pans are on the heavier side, and while Caraway does offer a mini pan, there’s still not enough size options. I have a small kitchen and don’t cook for a family of 5 so I prefer smaller sizes!
If you love to bake, Caraway also offers baking sheets, a muffin tray, loaf pan and circle pan for making cakes, roasting veggies and more. They feature the same ceramic non-stick surface that’s chemical free and so easy to clean.
30-Day Risk Free Trial
Caraway is risk free with a 30 day trial and free returns, so if you find you don’t like their cookware you can return them easily.
I’ve tried a good number of essential oil diffusers, and I’m particularly excited for this one invented by the company behind AirDoctor and AquaTru. AromaTru is not just another essential oil diffuser like the ones that already exist on the market. While there ARE high tech diffusers that don’t require water, AromaTru takes it a step further by also not requiring dropping essential oils every time you use it. With a basic essential oil diffuser, you have to add water then drop in your essential oils, each and every time. Not to mention you have to clean the container as often as possible. Launched in October 2022, AromaTru is the most hassle free aromatherapy diffuser I’ve tried. I’m sharing my experience using the AromaTru Smart Diffuser.
What I love is that everything can be done with the touch of a button. No water, no cleaning, no refilling, no nothing is required once you set it up.
No water, mold or bacteria buildup
No constant cleaning and refilling
No measuring drops
Waterless atomizing diffusion
Diffuses up to 4 bottles at a time
Mood enhancing ring light
Wifi enabled smart version available
Connects with AromaTru App
Can be used with other brands’ essential oils
One thing to note is that this is not a cheap diffuser and costs nearly $200. If this is something you really want, AromaTru is currently having a launch promo so you can get it at $140.
What’s amazing about this machine is that you insert the essential oil bottles and the machine diffuses directly from the bottle. So there’s no having to change, measure, open, close or deal with the essential oil part until the bottle is all used up.
AromaTru can work with any company’s essential oil bottles so you do not need to use only AromaTru’s. The only thing is that if you’re using their WiFi enabled machine and app then the machine won’t know what essential oils are being used as the AromaTru ones have a special barcode that the machine can automatically scan.
This chart breaks down the difference between a regular $30 essential diffuser and AromaTru’s invention.
AromaTru offers two options: one that’s WiFi enabled and one that’s not. The WiFi one is slightly more expensive. I think if you want to be 100% hands free, not have to push ANY buttons on the machine and like the idea of controlling the machine from your phone using their app, then the WiFi one is worth it. If you don’t mind using the diffuser manually then the non WiFi enabled version is fine.
My Green Mattress was started by a mattress craftsman who needed to make the healthiest mattress possible for his daughter. And their Kiwi Organic Mattress just won 2022 Good Housekeeping Parenting Award! My Green Mattress is a small family owned, certified organic, made in the USA company based out of Illinois. Harmful materials flame retardants and polyurethane foams and toxins are strictly kept out of their products. Check out my My Green Mattress review and save 10% during their Cyber Week sale!
My Green Mattress’ GOTS Certification (Global Organic Textile Standard) proves to their customers that their mattresses are:
Made from organically grown, harvested, and processed materials
Manufactured in an environmentally and socially responsible way
Made from 100% GOTS Organic Cotton, the My Green Mattress organic sheets feel like quality. The material feels sturdy yet breathable throughout the night and have a soft lustrous sheen to them. For cotton sheets they’re perfectly comfortable and soft, but if you’re looking for extreme softness then look into Cozy Earth bamboo sheets.
I have the Natural color in King size.
Sheet sets include: 1 Flat Sheet, 1 Fitted Sheet, and 2 Pillowcases (1 Pillowcase for Twin and Twin X-L. Crib purchase is (1) fitted sheet only.)
The My Green Mattress company offers one type of pillow and it’s their Charcoal Infused Latex Pillow. Latex is a firm material so if you like a soft or plush pillow, the My Green Mattress one is not for you. I’d only recommend their pillow to people who love a hard pillow.
That being said, the King size is more of an XL King and doubles as a fantastic body pillow.
About Latex
There are various types of latex pillows like shredded latex and molded latex. From My Green Mattress blog on latex:
Shredded latex pillows are highly versatile and can be customized to fit your specific needs by adding or removing filling until the pillow is comfortable for you. They are also extremely supportive and provide excellent pressure relief.
Molded latex pillows are made from a solid core of latex and are great for people who suffer from neck pain or headaches as they offer superior support and alignment.
Support: Latex pillows offer great support for your head and neck. If you suffer from neck pain or headaches, a latex pillow can help to align your spine and improve your posture.
Breathability: Latex pillows are naturally breathable, which helps to keep you cool and comfortable at night.
Naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic: Latex is a naturally antimicrobial material, which means it resists mold, mildew, and dust mites. This makes it a great choice for people with allergies or sensitivities.
Springy and conforming to your body: Latex has a quick response time, is conforming to your body and offers pressure-relieving comfort. They’re also springy which allows for proper distribution of your head’s weight and prevents your head from sinking into the pillow.
Durable and long lasting: Latex pillows are incredibly durable and long lasting. With proper care, you can expect them to keep consistent shape and support for 2 to 4 years.
Eco Friendly: Latex is a sustainable material that comes from rubber trees. It’s also biodegradable, so it won’t clog landfills like synthetic materials can.
Chemical Free: Synthetic pillows made with polyurethane foams off gas chemicals into the air and environment, which you are exposed to nightly while you sleep. Polyurethane foam pillows emit gasses, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in an off-gassing process that can cause illness, including allergies, skin irritations, hormone disruptions and more.That is why it’s so important to choose pillows that are free of chemicals, and are safe for you and your family. An organic latex pillow is not only supportive and comfortable, but it is the better choice for your family’s overall health.
Why Charcoal Infused?
My Green Mattress’ Charcoal infused latex pillows are made with activated charcoal which is known for its ability to absorb odors and toxins. They’re also naturally antimicrobial and can help to reduce allergies and respiratory problems.
The organic skincare world is a luxury lover’s dream and there’s no shortage of the most decadent all natural face moisturizers and organic anti-aging creams. These luxury face creams combine innovations in green science with artisanal plant formulas. Anti-aging organic face moisturizers will beat your La Mer any day, period. The best face moisturizers for aging skin will contain powerful natural ingredients and actives like advanced peptides, retinol, hyaluronic acid and more. I’m also sharing the best luxury natural face moisturizers with SPF. If you’re looking for the upper echelon of organic anti-aging face creams for mature, dry or troubled skin – or you allow nothing but the very best to touch your skin – read on.
Welcome to the ultimate guide to the best natural hair care brands that use clean, organic ingredients. These non-toxic lines don’t contain harmful chemicals, plastics or hair-stripping sulfates. Caring for your hair is actually not that different from caring for your skin. We all have a hair type and hair porosity level that determines what the best organic hair product for us would be. Natural and organic hair care gets the job done without harsh sulfates, parabens, silicones, synthetic color or chemical fragrance. It’s also important to understand that hair health starts at the root (aka follicle), which is why a healthy shampoo (and don’t forget diet) is the basis for good hair. In 2023 there are plenty of clean & natural hair care brands that offer targeted solutions for thinning hair, fine hair, irritated scalp, dandruff, hair growth, oily roots and more. I’m sharing the best luxury and cheap natural haircare brands made with clean ingredients (plus a lot of them are on Amazon).
TULA is a probiotics and superfood-forward skincare brand founded by Dr. Roshini Raj, a board-certified, Harvard trained gastroenterologist who has been studying probiotics & their microbiome-balancing benefits for over 20 years. There’s no denying the woman knows her stuff. The brand has become nearly mainstream popular, instantly recognizable by its bright baby blue packaging. While TULA labels itself as a clean beauty brand, it is neither an organic nor green beauty brand — and it is not clean enough for some. They were never 100% natural and have been mixing synthetics with natural ingredients before it became more normalized in clean beauty. After many years, I finally bit the bullet and bought several best seller TULA skincare products. Read on for my honest opinion of TULA.
While the brand is not suited to my particular taste and not something I would use on my own outside of testing purposes, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the TULA products I tried.
TULA bans 1600 ingredients from their products, but they are not 100% clean as they do include fragrance with no indication of natural origin, artificial coloring and other synthetic ingredients.
Overall, TULA has the usual moisturizer, toner and serum type products, but they also like to be innovative and have some interesting product types and textures.
I initially thought TULA was priced to be accessible for the younger generation and was disappointed to find that for a brand that doesn’t look at all like luxury, their prices were relatively steep. The TULA Moisturizer costs a whopping $54 while the cleansers are just under $40.
The TULA cleanser, TULA sunscreen and TULA eye balm stick stood out to me most.
First of all, TULA’s sunscreen uses 100% chemical filters. When I first saw the gel squeezing out of the tube I wondered if I had received a product that went bad. The bumpy uneven texture of the gel looked like the product had somewhat separated, perhaps from being past expiry. But I think this is just what the products look like as it wasn’t past expiry and applied just fine.
I was also expecting a traditional gel, something more of a dense clear gel. It’s a creamy looking thin serum-gel that goes on applying like a watery serum, The mica adds a pearlescent shimmery glow that you may or may not appreciate. Upon immediate application, skin looks very hydrated and dries down to like you never applied anything at all.
TULA Sunscreen Gel is a non-comedogenic formula with skincare-first ingredients like probiotic extracts, pineapple & papaya. It has absolutely no white cast, but that’s because it uses no mineral UV filters at all and only chemical ones.
Ingredients:
Does not contain live cultures. Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5% Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Pentylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Ectoin, Glycerin, Arginine, Hydroxyectoin, l(Pineapple) Fruit Extract,(Papaya) Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Triethyl Citrate,(Orange) Peel Extract, (Lemon) Peel Extract, (Pear) Fruit Extract, (Apple) Fruit Extract,(Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Mica, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
TULA’s moisturizer feels and looks almost identical to just about every other mid-market moisturizer I’ve tried. It’s made of anywhere between 70-99% water, butylene glycol and ethylbexyl palmitate and costs $54 — already grossly overpriced in my book. Not sure why it needs to have Dimethicone, when it’s supposed to be skincare.
I can see why it’s TULA’s most popular product because everyone wants a face cream that feels moisturizing, has a pleasant smooth texture and sinks in nicely. It does have some unique ingredients like Yogurt, Chicory Root and fruit extracts. But I still think there are much cleaner and better clean moisturizers that are way more affordable than TULA’s.
While this eye product is a completely unnecessary product in a skincare routine, it’s kind of fun to use because of the novelty factor. This is a cooling and brightening undereye balm stick with a baby blue shade (artificial colors). It does have the subtlest brightening effect thanks to the shimmer from Tin Oxide.
It’s a slick and dense balm stick that’s not emollient, so only the slightest bit of product is applied with one swipe.
The TULA Purifying Cleanser is a true jelly cleanser. It feels so much like fluffy jelly, which makes for an interesting cleansing experience. I don’t feel like it’s heavy duty enough to use without doing a double cleanse, but it does feel pleasant on the skin. If you’re looking for a standard gel cleanser, this isn’t it.
Sana Jardin is a socially conscious, luxury fragrance house. Their vision is to use clean and sustainable perfume as a vehicle for social impact and the economic empowerment of women. Sana Jardin is built on the principles of a circular economy – their alternative business model enables the women in their supply chain to become micro-entrepreneurs by up-cycling the waste products from perfume production. The complexity of Sana Jardin perfumes are akin to fine fragrances. Sana Jardin is ideal for floral fragrance lovers.
I found that many of their perfumes lean feminine, so this is a great line for the sophisticated girly girls out there.
My absolute favorites are Incense Water and Jaipur Chant. I also really enjoyed Berber Blonde and Sandalwood Temple. Fleur De La Révolution I’m still trying to figure out what I think about it as I neither love nor hate it. Tiger By Her Side tickled my fancy the least.
Sandalwood Temple and Jaipur Chant are some of their lightest scents, but by no means boring. Sandalwood is warm and woodsy with a subtle sweetness thanks to vanilla. While the top notes are bergamot, neroli and orange flower, neither fruity nor floral is dominant in this scent.
Top: Bergamot, Raspberry Leaf, Pimento Berry Heart: Rose Absolute Morocco, Rose Oil, Rose Water Base: Musk, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Incense Water by Sana Jardin is the scent that I loved the most. This Sana Jardin Paris perfume is a sweet, floral with some patchouli. In my clean fragrance journey, Incense Water comes closest to my former favorite fragrance by Paco Rabanne. Despite the word incense, this perfume doesn’t remind me at all of incense.
The combination of Tuberose, Moroccan jasmine, narcisse and musk makes this a sultry, soft yet intoxicating scent that I can’t get enough of. The tuberose isn’t overpowering and goes so well with Lemon and Clove Leaf while the musk undertone anchors and softens the scent overall. Even though this is a soft scent that fades quickly I love it.
Looking at just the notes, this isn’t usually a scent profile I’m drawn to, but there is something special about this bright and sunny citrus perfume. Berber Blonde would be a great summer scent, but isn’t something I’m drawn to in the middle of winter. I enjoy Neroli which is why I like this perfume, but if Neroli and bright fruity notes are not your jam I can’t imagine you enjoying Berber Blonde.
Founded in a 1 bedroom Brooklyn apartment in 2017, Golde makes plant-based superfood supplements that are accessible and fun. Their debut product was the Golde Turmeric Latte Blend, and today they’ve grown to offer a range of functional 100% natural and vegan-friendly supplements. In a world where wellness is positioned as luxury, Golde is doing things differently. Their packaging uses a rainbow of colors that brighten your day and many of their ingredients are organic.
This collagen creamer can be added to coffee, smoothies or plain water to help your body produce collagen. It contains coconut milk powder, bamboo extract, biotin and hyaluronic acid to help with healthy skin, hair and nails. It has a subtle vanilla coconut taste.
The Pineapple Debloat was formulated as a substitute for products like probiotics, digestive enzymes, and ginger shots so you can save money and get more bang for your buck. It provides full spectrum gut support and digestive enzymes for natural bloat relief and lasting digestive balance. It comes in individual sachets you can add to a glass of cold water.
Ingredients: coconut water powder, citric acid, pineapple juice powder, digestive enzymes, salt, turmeric (color), rice fiber, natural pineapple flavor, organic ginger extract, probiotics, organic stevia extract, monk fruit extract
I have a love hate relationship with the term TikTok viral as being social media popular doesn’t mean that it will work for your skin, let alone work a miracle. The hype is sometimes totally undeserved and sometimes worthy, but most of all designed to get you to buy buy buy. So read this post with a grain of salt (cue salt bae). If you’re curious about the clean beauty products that went viral on the educational dancing app, keep reading.
Facetheory is a clean and affordable skincare line that reminds me of The Ordinary with its focus on clinical actives, percentages of ingredients and simplified formulas. The brand is originally from the UK but are widely accessible in the US either by their US website or Amazon store. They have a very extensive range of products as well to suit all skin types and concerns. I first tried their Vitamin C serum and more recently their face moisturizer. Read on for my Facetheory review.
Things I Like About Facetheory
365 day guarantee: This is the most generous risk free offer I’ve seen as it usually isn’t more than 30 or 60 days!
B Corp certified
Sustainable and biodegradable packaging
Delivers to 100 countries
Prices range from $12-$32
Leaping Bunny and PETA approved
Facetheory Regena C20 Vitamin C Serum
The Facetheory Vitamin C serum contains 20% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (they also have a 30% option too) and Ferulic acid derived from rice bran. I’ve used this on and off for over a year as a daytime serum.
The Facetheory Vitamin C serum is an oil serum so if you prefer a water based non-oily product, skip Facetheory. If you don’t mind an oil product as your Vitamin C serum, this is a strong product that I don’t find irritating.
For less than $12 I think this is a great moisturizer that’s thoughtfully formulated with plenty of actives.
COLLOIDAL OATMEAL: Facetheory Colloidal-C contains oatmeal with extremely high beta glucan content. Beta glucan is a powerful moisturiser that’s gentle on sensitive skin.
PANTHENOL (vitamin B5): protects against water loss
HYALURONIC ACID
VITAMIN E
This feels gentle, soothing and adequately moisturizing. It doesn’t have the most luxurious texture, but it gets the job done.
What’s more convenient than getting your grocery shopping and beauty shopping done at the same time? Whole Foods Market’s wide selection of clean beauty and personal care brands lining their aisles makes it possible. Their standards go beyond typical “clean beauty” claims and ban more than 180+ ingredients from all their beauty and body care products, including parabens, phthalates, microbeads and triclosan. Whole Foods Market also requires third-party certification for organic label claims on personal care products, as there are no mandatory government standards for “organic” claims in the body care industry. I’ve rounded up 30 clean beauty brands you can find at your local Whole Foods Market (may differ store to store.)
Hair masks are a necessary part of your hair care routine if you battle frizz, dryness or damage. In fact, if you bleach, balayage or chemically process your hair you might as well swap out conditioner for a hair mask. Hair masks provide intense, deep treatments and have far less water content and a whole lot more nourishing ingredients. There’s plenty of clean hair masks to choose from for all hair types and all budgets, big and small. Instead of synthetics, filler ingredients and harmful toxins, clean hair masks use natural and organic oils, butters and extracts that all have hair beneficial properties.
One of my favorite products I’ve tried from Briogeo is their treatment. I believe this is where a brand can really shine for me personally as I have hair that’s been through decades of chemical processing – coloring, highlighting, balayage etc.
The Don’t Despair, Repair! MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment is basically two treatments in one: a Protein Treatment and Moisture Treatment, that dispense as two separate products simultaneously.
It’s a silky medium-weight consistency that’s not as light as a conditioner but not very rich either. The rice protein complex protects hair from future damage + hydrates dry, brittle hair + supports healthy elasticity in your strands. The moisture treatment contains Squalane, Sweet Almond Oil, Biotin, Panthenol, Glycerin and more.
While Briogeo says this is a weekly treatment, I find it easy to use on every hair wash day. With my dry hair, my technique is to always apply treatments to dry hair so it can straight to the core of the strands and then use steam to help it absorb deeply.
If you’re looking for something very rich and moisturizing or have very coarse, dry, damaged hair, I would skip the Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask. This is a deep conditioning treatment for fine or normal hair as it’s on the lightweight side. This bestseller Briogeo mask is very much a regular conditioner for my hair than a mask. It’s made in a water base with rosehip oil, B-vitamins, algae extract and more.
San Diego based Cymbiotika launched in 2018 offering a range of innovative supplements using highest quality plant-based nutrients, combined with the most advanced bioavailable absorption technology. Many of the ingredients are organic and some are wildcrafted and biodynamic, which is often higher quality than organic. Cymbiotika never uses synthetics, GMOs, fillers, chemicals, preservatives, additives or sugars in any supplements. San Diego native and highly regarded health expert Chervin Jafarieh founded Cymbiotika with the help of his background in Biodynamics Farming and Permaculture to create vegan liquid-form supplements with the purest ingredients found across the globe. Sharing my thoughts on the supplements I’ve been using in this Cymbiotika review. Use discount code OBL to save 10% at Cymbiotika.
Shilajit is a supplement I’ve been curious about for years but never actually tried until now. It’s black as the night and looks a lot like tar with a strong earthy mineral taste. Containing 84+ minerals, the Cymbiotika Shilajit Resinis rich with fulvic acid, humic acid, vitamins, enzymes, tocopherols, bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and metabolites for your body. According to Cymbiotika it is the most powerful adaptogen on the market, and contains the highest gold content in the world.
Ingredients: Purified Mineral Pitch Resin (Contains 333 ppm Elemental Gold and 100 ppm Elemental Silver)
Cymbiotika’s Liposomal Vitamin C supplement is derived from a blend of Non-GMO L-Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate. To create the perfect synergy, they added Biotin (Vitamin B7), to support the production of proteins and enzymes that are needed for healthy skin, nails and hair growth.
I like this over a traditional oral vitamin C dietary supplement, because the liposomal technology provides superior absorption, allowing for effective high level dosing. Liposomal is always the way to go if you can afford it. Liposomal delivery can significantly improve the bioavailability of vitamin C (the rate at which it’s absorbed by the body). In fact, its efficiency is close to the intravenous delivery of vitamin C in medical settings.
If taking directly from the pouch it’s VERY sweet! If that’s not your thing I recommend adding it to glass of water.
Ingredients: Vitamin C (from Ascorbic Acid (80%) and Sodium Ascorbate (20%)), Potassium (from Potassium Bicarbonate), Biotin, Phosphatidylcholine
Cymbiotika’s Liposomal D3 + K2 + CoQ10 dietary supplement contains the highest quality plant-based materials essential for activating over 3,000 genes associated with longevity. I pump 12 squirts into a glass of water and love tartly sweet tangerine flavor.
This vitamin D supplement may provide health benefits such as supporting immune function, heart health and increasing bone strength.
Vitamins D3: critical for supporting bone health by regulating phosphorus and calcium absorption
Calcium and phosphorus: strength and density of teeth and skeletal system
Vitamin K2: can assist vitamin D in keeping healthy bones
Cymbiotika’s Vitamin D3 and K2 liquid formula contains a highly bioactive form of vitamin K2 called menaquinone-7, or MK-7. This formula may also help promote brain health, mental clarity, and support normal blood clotting while increasing energy levels.
Millions of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D, which is why I try to take it regularly during the winter especially as I get very little sun. Other Vitamin D benefits include:
Absorb calcium and phosphorus to build healthy bones and prevent bone density loss
Lower inflammation to boost immunity and prevent cardiovascular issues
Control insulin to support healthy blood sugar levels
Improve nerve and muscle systems to create healthy movement and reactions
Support brain function to defend against depression and mood disorders
Regulate enzymes to support sex and adrenal hormone production
I recently visited the Neals Yard Remedies store in Covent Garden while in London for a wedding, and am sharing all about this massively popular UK organic skincare brand that’s been around since 1981. For 40 years Neals Yard Remedies has been making natural and organic skincare using ethically sourced herbs, botanicals and essential oils. Neals Yard is a family-run franchise and has all their products made in their eco-factory in Dorset, England. The brand has a luxury modern apothecary feel and is well recognized by their cobalt blue packaging with bronze accents. I tried Neals Yard’s Frankincense Intense line and am sharing my thoughts in today’s Neals Yard Remedies review.
If you love the grounding scent of Frankincense I think you’d enjoy this particular collection in the Neals Yard Remedies range.
The Frankincense Intense line features sustainably sourced Frankincense essential oil from the resin of the Boswellia sacra trees that grow wild on the Dhofar region of Oman. The precious resin is expertly harvested using traditional tools before being hand sorted and distilled to extract the pure essential oil.
The 88% organic Age Defying Overnight Mask is formulated to help contour, lift and restore, which makes it suited to more mature skin types with fine lines and wrinkles. I find this mask beneficial during the cold, winter months when my heating is on blast as it doesn’t dry out overnight and keeps moisture locked in underneath.
The NYR Overnight Mask is a dense yet smooth, silky mask that reminds me of freshly made frosting. The frankincense scent is subtle yet relaxing.
It contains Bacillus Ferment to firm and recontour as it evens skin tone, and Glycogen and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration. The mask also contains botanical adaptogens, Ashwaghanda extract, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) oil and Turmeric Root extract to support skin health. I like using this multi-tasking sleeping mask when I want to give my skin a break from its usual skincare routine and supercharge it at night with something different.
I love a product that makes for an indulgent cleansing ritual and Neals Yard Frankincense Intense Cleansing Melt provides just that. This non-boring cleanser is a luxurious triple-textured cleanser. What does that mean? It goes from gel to oil to milky emulsion. The unctuous certified organic formula dissolves impurities, including doing a decent job of removing waterproof makeup.
Cleansing Melt contains a micro-emulsion of natural sugars and a blend of organic sunflower, sweet almond and refined coconut oils. It feels like a silky oil-gel salve and has the NYR signature Frankincense scent that relaxes the senses without overpowering them. Overall, a beautifully formulated cleanser that works.
The Frankincense Intense Hydrating Essence is actually an essence in the true sense of the word. If you’re looking for a light liquid toner, skip this one. But if you want a rich toner, the Hydrating Essence has a secretion-like consistency without being goopy or heavy. Overall, the ingredients aren’t very impressive to me but I like that it has purified pomegranate extract and a beautiful scent. Note that this toner is not a spray and must be used with a cotton round.
I’m not one to go buy a hand treatment serum, but since I haven’t been paying the closest attention to the skin on my hands I’m glad that I’ve incorporated this product into my routine. I like that this is a serum versus a lotion as I don’t like overmoisturizing my hands. The Hand Treatment Serum is very lightweight and absorbs quickly.
It helps to firm and hydrate skin and reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and age spots. The formula most notably contains ribose, narcissus extract and provitamin A-rich organic rosehip seed oil.
I’ve used a few of Neals Yard Remedies candles since they use organic vegetable wax AND organic essential oils (plus I love buying candles when they’re on sale). While they’re not my favorite out of the dozens of candle brands I use, these are some of the cleanest and safest candles around.
The glasses can also be repurposed as drinking glasses, but there’s no getting rid of the logo.
Rhode Skin, the new skincare line from Hailey Bieber, launched in summer 2022 with three skincare essentials that focus on skin barrier and health. The clean girl aesthetic has taken over social media and Bieber seems to reign queen with her signature glazed donut look and slicked back hair. Her adherence to minimalism shows through the small number of products launched by Rhode – the Barrier Restore Cream, Peptide Glaze Fluid, and Peptide Lip Treatment. So really, two actual skin care products and one lip balm. Rhode Skin and The Outset by Scarlett Johansson stuck out to me this year, and I’ll be covering Rhode Skin first. Is Rhode the actual secret to Hailey Bieber’s signature glazed donut look? Is Rhode Skin worth buying? Here’s why it’s not.
Currently, Rhode is being sued by another company with the same name. The already existing Rhode is a women and minority-owned fashion brand founded by Purna Khatau and Phoebe Vickers in 2014. The growing global brand was painstakingly built over the course of years and can’t compete with Bieber’s immense fame (plus husband Justin Bieber promoting Rhode to his 250 million followers). Depending on how the lawsuit goes, Hailey Bieber’s Rhode may have to change their name.
Where to Buy Rhode Skincare
Rhode skincare is only available on their site. It is currently sold out. (A marketing tactic to increase hype)
The Barrier Restore Cream is for those in need of intense hydration or looking to soothe inflamed skin. It contains shea butter, squalane, peptides, and niacinamide to hydrate, plump, and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Rhode Barrier Restore Cream functions as both a day and night moisturizer.
Rhode Barrier Restore Cream comes in a pale grey tube made of recycled materials. The packaging is very unisex and sporty. It looks so similar to Kosas Sport, I could easily mistake Rhode for Kosas. With Kosas’ wild success in recent years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bieber’s team used Kosas Sport as their inspiration.
The ingredients matter most to me when it comes to taking care of my skin. Rhode Barrier Restore Cream does include some great skin care ingredients, like a variety of peptides and a few other actives like Niacinamide. But besides that, this is a very standard water, glycerin, coconut oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) base. And these first ingredients make up 90% of the formula if not more.
So yet another boring moisturizer that is not exciting, innovative or interesting at all.
Moisturizers serve as an occlusive barrier to prevent moisture from escaping, and it’s your serum that will do all of the hard work of actually penetrating into the layers of the skin to work at a cellular level. If a moisturizer looks like every other moisturizer on the market, I don’t care for it. I’d rather slug with my face oils and face balms.
Rhode Skin also says that they didn’t put in anything that wasn’t useful into the formula, but I see a number of eyebrow-raising ingredients.
Polyvinyl Alcohol stuck out to me as I don’t often see that used as an ingredient. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic plastic polymer that is often used to make thin layers of plastic wrapping and lining, like the wrapping of dishwasher and laundry pacs. It’s a plastic.
Polyvinyl Alcohol can also can cause skin irritation unless it is combined with other ingredients that protect the skin, such as emollients or skin-repairing ingredients. A strange ingredient to want to use.
Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid
The product purported to be Hailey’s secret to glazed skin, the Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid. This is a lightweight, gel serum that plumps and hydrates to support a healthy skin barrier. It contains similar actives to the Barrier Restore Cream like niacinamide, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. But is this actually glazed donut in a bottle?
Let’s take a look at Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid’s ingredients.
The first two ingredients are water and Butylene Glycol, which again, probably make up at least 90% of the total product. Butylene Glycol is a preservative commonly found in cosmetic products — and it’s made from petroleum. While it’s a better alternative to Propylene Glycol, I prefer my products to be without petroleum byproducts.
The trendy name “glazing fluid” is pretty genius marketing for a product that is very basic. I have the same gripe with Glow Recipe’s Niacinamide Dew Drops. These two products are very similar to each other, even at first glance from their names.
If you want a hydrated, glowy “glazed donut” look it’s really quite simple. Layer multiple hydrating serums and use face oil.
The beauty industry loves to overcomplicate things, so they can confuse you first then present the magic solution. They want to make you think you need to have a certain product to accomplish a certain “look” invented by social media (but has actually existed since the age of civilization), so they can capitalize off you.
I’m certain Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid is not the secret to Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut skin. So all these years, she’s achieved her signature look with a product that didn’t even exist until recently from a line she created this year? The beauty industry really thinks we’re all obtuse.
More Thoughts on Celebrity Skincare
2022 seems to be the year that every celebrity, big and small, has been launching their beauty brand. From Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty makeup line to Brad Pitt’s outrageously priced skin care brand and Scarlett Johansson’s The Outset to Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, there is no end in sight to the slew of celebrity launches.
And there is no better example of the rich getting richer. While small artisans in the green beauty space pour their hearts and souls into their creations, which are sometimes the culmination of a lifetime of learning, celebrities are able to slap their name on any product created by a team they hired and make it impossible for smaller business owners without capital and star power to thrive, let alone, survive.
These celebrities create “poor people products” for the masses while they’re able to use elite products and services you could never even dream of affording. It’s the easiest cash grab of the century. Do celebs with hundreds of millions of dollars to their net worth already really need MORE while the world crumbles around them?
Without true artisans, the organic and green beauty world would be so dismal. I will always be rooting for the true pioneers and believers of clean beauty, not the mega rich seeking to capitalize off it.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Time for me to check out Jared Leto’s new skincare line Twentynine Palms.
We’re diving into whether heated eyelash curlers work or not today! If you’ve been heating up your eyelash curler with a lighter before curling your lashes, there’s a safer and more effective way to curl your lashes now thanks to technology. I used to use the flame from a lighter to heat up my lash curler and had a couple painful mishaps from the metal being too hot for the delicate skin around my eyes! Today, heated eyelash curlers have become increasingly popular thanks to their ability to hold a curl better and longer than a traditional eyelash curler. It works the same way a hot curling iron works to curl your hair, except heated eyelash curlers are designed for safe use around the eyes. Heated eyelash curlers tend to range from $20 to $40 with higher end devices going for higher. And they come in a variety of designs to suit your preference. I tried the best heated eyelash curlers you can find on Amazon and put them to the test.
Types of Heated Eyelash Curlers
Clip
Comb head
Push-up curler
They can either be battery powered or USB chargeable.
How to Use a Heated Eyelash Curler
How you use your heated eyelash curler will depend on what kind of curler you have.
If it’s a clip then you open up the clip, secure it so the lashes are inside the clip then you release the clamp so the clip is gripping the lashes.
If you have a wand then you simply press up against the eyelashes onto your eyelid.
A push up curler is used in a similar way to a regular eyelash curler.
I prefer to keep my eye closed when using the curler.
Before or After Mascara
Everyone finds what methods works best for them, but I personally prefer to use it before applying mascara. I find this works better overall for me and I avoid breakage. But once in a while I’ll give the curl a bit of a boost by using it on mascara.
How Long Do You Have to Use It on Lashes?
Because I have straight lashes, I have to use the heated eyelash curler for a good 3-4 minutes
Best Heated Eyelash Curlers
BeMyLady Heated Eyelash Curler
Type: comb head
Heats up in 7 seconds
Has 3 heat level settings: low, medium and high
USB rechargeable
Under $18
This one was the most comfortable for me to use and the highest heat setting did not burn me at all. I push up my eyelashes from the base using the curler and have it pushed against my eyelid for the most sky high lift effect possible. I do this for a few minutes and my lashes have a noticeable curl.
Dust2Oasis Heated Eyelash Curler
Type: comb head
Heats up in 10 seconds
Has 3 heat level settings: low, medium and high
USB rechargeable
Under $19
The Dust2Oasis Heated Eyelash Curler is quite similar to the BeMyLady one, but I prefer the BeMyLady one because the highest heat setting on Dust2Oasis’ occasionally becomes uncomfortably hot and I need to yank it away from my poor eyelid. Unfortunately, because my lashes are so short and stubborn I need to push them high up against my eyelid as much as possible to get a decent curl. This might not be necessary for those blessed with long lashes already.
Vifycim Heated Eyelash Curler
Type: clip
Heats up in 10 seconds
Has 3 heat level settings: low, medium and high
USB rechargeable
Under $24
With this heated eyelash curler, it’s recommended to apply one coat of mascara first then go in with curler. I clip the lashes from the base as much as possible and move it up to the tip and repeat. This one requires a little more practice to get the hang of.
Using the heated eyelash curler
Ignore the wrinkle patches I’m using – they have nothing to do with the heated eyelash curler.
Before
After
My camera quality isn’t so great on top of my eyelashes being so sparse and thin, but you can hopefully notice the difference.
Wrinkles patches have been around for more than a century, but have enjoyed a surge in popularity recently thanks to social media and the younger generations looking for more affordable, safer alternatives to Botox. The best wrinkles patches smooth the appearance of fine lines and provide a temporary wrinkle reduction effect. Popular silicone wrinkle patches like Frownies and SiO Beauty work by retraining the facial muscles to relax, release tension, and lay flat. I tried the most highly rated wrinkle patches including Frownies, Sio and a number of popular Amazon-sold wrinkle patch brands, and am sharing all my thoughts in today’s review.
Originally called wrinkle eradicators in 1889, Frownies is a fourth generation business led by and for women. Frownies are small cardboard-like patches that stick to your skin and are made of natural weighted unbleached craft paper and a vegetable-based adhesive. Each Frownies box contains 144 patches perforated in different triangle shapes to accommodate distinct areas of your face.
How To Use Frownies
Frownies recommend using Frownies Facial Patches every night for 30 nights to receive lasting results.
After you have trained your facial muscles, you should wear the Facial Patch a minimum of three to four days a week in order to maintain proper facial posture.
Fine lines can be smoothed in less than 30 nights and often only need 3-4 nights every week to maintain wrinkle free skin.
The patches should only be lightly spritzed with water or face toner not put under running water. They won’t adhere properly to the skin if overly wet. The next day they’re stuck very tightly to the skin, so pulling them off without any “lubrication” is pretty painful. I wet them again before gently removing. The last thing I want to do is unnecessarily stretch and tug my skin.
Frownies Pros:
Affordable, you get a lot of patches with your purchase
Another very popular, modern wrinkle patch company is SiO Beauty’s wrinkle-reducing and skin hydrating silicone patches. Sio Beauty was started by Gigi Howard, who experienced chest wrinkles in her 20s and sought to create her own solution. After hundreds of prototypes and even a few clinical trials, Sio Beauty was launched.
These 100% medical grade silicone patches are made of high quality material and are very beginner user friendly. The way SiO Beauty wrinkle patches work is through gentle compression, which flattens existing lines and prevents new ones from forming.
Skin should be completely dry and free of creams. Wear SiO’s wrinkle treatment patches while sleeping, or for a few hours during the day, whatever is more comfortable.
Another popular wrinkle patch brand I tried that’s also used by Amanda Seyfried is called Toute Nuit, which I found on Amazon. These affordable wrinkle patches are designed by a Japanese makeup and skin care specialist, to smooth out wrinkles, and relax facial lines & frown lines on your face.
The Toute Suit wrinkle patches work by giving your facial muscles and skin a support structure to relax and regenerate.
Toute Nuit patches are made from a non-invasive, skin safe, hypoallergenic medical grade tape with small perforations that allow for air porosity, easy application and removal.
The patches are transparent and blend in with your skin so they are not noticeable.
Toute Nuit even offers Relaxation Patches to prevent and relieve tension between eyebrows and forehead from extended screen interaction.
The most affordable option I found are Smoothies Wrinkle Patches which contains 16 sheets of 10 adhesives for under $18. These are reusable to a certain extent and come in a variety of shapes.
They hold skin in a relaxed state to remove facial expression damage and can be used after you let your serums and moisturizer absorb. Female founded,
Smoothies uses eco-friendly packaging and are made entirely in the USA. I found the Smoothies wrinkle patches easy to use and the variety of shapes was versatile, but I did find them to be on the small side.
These are great for focusing on specific small areas or individual wrinkles, but you would need to purchase other wrinkle patches in addition if you’re looking to cover more skin and prevent muscle movement over a wider area.
Slicked Back with Undercut
