JoaS

I know it's been a minute, and I promise I am posting a ton of recipe ideas next week as promised. But I thought I'd pop in and write up a little something on my absolute favorite products I've been using these last few months. I find I need to use a product regularly and in conjunction with a few other products and in different climate conditions before I'm absolutely convinced it's worthy of the "tried and true" label. So you can trust that the following have been thoroughly vetted. 1. First up is this Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste . I posted a photo on Instagram earlier this week, but it deserves a good mention here on the blog. I seriously shuddered at the thought of putting charcoal in my mouth, but I am so happy to report that it tastes better than most toothpastes I've used over the years, with a subtle mint flavor--it's not even as aggressive as many of the popular drugstore brands. Also, it is not gritty. It is dark in color, ...

First of all, I'd like to open by saying that I have never enjoyed wearing makeup so much. These new, clean products have made such a difference in the health and look of my skin. Even though I'm wearing less makeup than I have in years past, I feel more confident and think my skin looks better than ever. I'm so excited to share these products I've absolutely fallen in love with! Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular CC Cream : This has become a favorite foundation product. I love the consistency for my dry, sensitive skin, and I feel moisturized without feeling sticky or greasy. That could just be me. I would definitely consult an Ulta employee--or salesperson wherever you are shopping--but for dry or mature skin I think this is a winner. It's a very sheer coverage, buildable, but sheer. I am searching for a fuller coverage foundation for Winter and special occasions, so I will update when I find a great one. NYX Dark Circle Concealer : I was so surprised to lea...

So, thanks to @annaliesemeyer on Instagram, I've recently discovered a little thing called the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database by the Environmental Working Group . I've been looking into some of the ingredients used to make products we just toss in the cart at the grocery store without a second thought, even the so called "natural" ones I make sure to buy for my sensitive skin. Needless to say, it's been quite the eye opening experience and a tad alarming to learn what passes for "clean" for many companies. (The irony is that it will probably be cell phone radiation that gets me, but if I can be the slightest bit preventative and intentional in my skincare and personal care choices, perhaps I can stave off some of those cancer concerns). Making the switch from tried and true favorites to new products that are EWG verified (or close*) can be daunting. I imagined it would be--it certainly doesn't happen overnight and it can get pricey if yo...

Living at the beach, we experience pretty mild winters and long bouts of high temperatures and humidity. Those days are upon us now--have been for some time--and will continue well into Fall. For this reason I like to keep my makeup simple and light year-round, but especially in the upcoming Summer months. These products have been my favorite finds that I repurchase throughout the year to keep my dry, sensitive skin looking and feeling put together. Covergirl Clean Matte BB Cream : The entire Covergirl line of sensitive and clean foundations and bb creams have proven gentle and well-suited for both my skin tone and tendencies. In the past I have purchased numerous tubes of the Covergirl Smoothers Lightweight BB Cream  and several bottles of the Covergirl Clean Sensitive Skin Liquid Foundation . This new formula has been the best of both worlds - I love having the benefits of the bb cream but also having a more powder-like matte finish, without having to actually finis...