INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY

Is anyone else using infrared light therapy at home?

It seems to be somewhat controversial so of course do your own research but this my take away and how we use our infrared light at home.

This is a pretty complex topic and let's be real, a lot of it is over my head. The variations of light therapy differs based on wavelengths of light. For example infrared light can reach deep into the body (muscles, bones, organs) whereas red light is absorbed in the top layers of the skin.

Without trying to sound like a Biology book my understanding is light therapy gives cells more energy (ATP) which results in a wide array of benefits such as increased cell turnover, improved wound healing, builds collagen and decreases wrinkles, joint health, scars, and generalized aches and pains.

Brock has been using the light much longer than I have. Almost every night he does his "light therapy" and I became intrigued. Brock uses it after the gym to help his muscles repair, grow and recover faster. He has also reported an improvement to his shoulder and thumb pain when using the treatment consistently.

I became hooked when I read the benefits light therapy has for skin, collagen and anti-aging! I immediately regretted not using this little gadget sooner! I only recently started using the light on my entire face for less than 5 minutes at a time. I can't say I've noticed any crazy results but I am now trying to be more consistent and use it 3-4x a week so I will keep you posted!!


Most of the information on this post is from Red Light Man- this is also where we purchased our light but there are other options out there!






References:
Joovv
Healthline

Clean your brushes!!

This is your weekly reminder to clean those make-up brushes! This is something I NEVER did. That is until I discovered this simple trick that gets the job done!

Charcoal!

I love using my charcoal cleansing bar in the shower to clean my face + full body. Charcoal works so well to detox the skin and remove toxins. This cleansing bar is made with binchotan charcoal, organic witch hazel and green tea extract along with pure essential oils. This combo provides a deep cleanse and detoxifies the skin without over drying or irritation! ⁣

⁣body wash✔️⁣

face wash✔️⁣

make-up brush cleanser ✔️✔️⁣

When I get a new Charcoal Bar I first put it in the microwave for 10 seconds and cut off an edge. I designate the small cut piece as my make-up brush cleanser and the remainder of the bar is for my personal use.

It is super simple to clean your brushes. I get the brush and bar wet and swipe the brush all over the bar until I get a nice lather going. I know I am done when the water starts coming out clear and the brush looks good as new! 

When I am done I keep the brushes upside down, resting against the wall on a washcloth until dry!

Check out that amazing transformation!

Happy Washing =]

DO YOU DEW?

Making the switch to safer products is overwhelming and truly getting started is the hardest part. Keep in mind that this is a marathon and not a sprint. My best advice in regards to make-up and skin care is to simply start with a skin care regimen and the flawless in five. These are both bundle type packages and are really the most bang for your buck.

Anyone who knows me knows that I really don't know much about makeup. I went my entire four years of high school surviving by putting bronzer all over my face half asleep on my drive to school each day. Then, I became a nurse which was perfect- hair in a ponytail and scrubs everyday definitely didn't require a full face of makeup! Flash forward to today- still working as a nurse but I now dress business casual everyday AND have to interact with professionals and family members out in the community daily...soo I need to a look a little more put together 😅. 

My makeup routine is BASIC but it gets the job done and if I want or need to spruce it up I totally can. Let me introduce to you the Flawless in 5!

Flawless in 5: 

This is a simple makeup routine that should take you FIVE minutes and is a super EASY and AFFORDABLE way to start cleaning up your make-up bag. You get to customize your colors and make options such as brow gel or pencil and decide dew skin vs tint skin (more on this below). You choose 6 products for $150~It's a great deal for some really great products to get you started! 

Okay so now the question: DEW or TINT? This is the newest change to the flawless in 5 allowing people even more options for what works best for them! I personally don't think you can go wrong but let me explain the difference in the products.

DEW skin: this is a very lightweight, sheer coverage tinted moisturizer with spf 20. (It uses non-nano zinc for the SPF which can be a tad drying to some- I put on my daily lotion and follow with dew skin and it has been the perfect combo!) I normally apply this with my fingertips OR combine it with the tint skin using the retractable brush. 



TINT skin: Tint skin is considered a medium coverage foundation- does not have spf. I have never been a big foundation person but I tend to grab my tint skin when I want a little more coverage, have blemishes or uneven skin tone and before nights out! It goes on amazing using the retractable foundation brush blending outward! I set with powder and follow with some blush/bronzer!

I am more than happy to help you color match! And keep in mind Beautycounter has a wonderful 60 day return policy so if the color is totally off you can return and try another shade! 

Lets talk sunscreen

Happy Mother's Day!! I am so fortunate to have so many amazing mothers in my life and over the last few years it has been so awesome watching my friends step into the role as mom!

Summer is quickly approaching... unless you're like me and live in the southern part of the country. Our days of 80+ degrees have been around for awhile now and the temps are only getting higher. Sunscreen seems to be a hot topic lately and for good reason.

Did you know 90% of signs of aging are related to sun exposure! (skincancer.org) YIKES- so be sure to wear your sunscreen! Also make sure to wear hats, long sleeves, sunglasses and find yourself a shady spot to lounge! 

Before we dive in I wanted to mention SPF:
SPF (sun protection factor): an SPF of 15 blocks 93% UVB rays and an SPF of 30 blocks 97% UVB rays...so just know spf 100 realllly probably isn't necessary and just another wonderful marketing tactic. 

There are 2 different types of sunscreen - Chemical Sunscreen and Mineral Sunscreen (also known as physical). 

Chemical Sunscreen - what most people are familiar with in the market today. It is created using chemicals to filter the sun- they essentially work by absorbing the sun's energy and releasing it. Common ingredients found in this type of sunscreen are oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate  or octocrylene. Chemical sunscreens are very easy to apply, blend easily, and are transparent on the skin.

But here is the problem: chemical filters are high risk for skin irritation and allergies, they are absorbed into the body very quickly and can be detected in the blood, breastmilk, and urine and have been linked to hormone disruption. 

CLICK HERE to read a recent report from CNN regarding sunscreen

Mineral Sunscreen - Mineral sunscreen is made most commonly with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide creates a physical barrier between your skin and the sun. These ingredients work by truly reflecting the sun's rays away from your skin.

When it comes to sunscreen, Beautycounter focuses on technology, safety, packaging, and responsibility. They use non-nano zinc and evaluate the particle size to ensure it has low potential risk of entering the bloodstream. The spray sunscreen uses non-aerosol bag-on-valve technology so no propellant chemicals are sprayed into the air or onto your skin. Lastly it is FREE from oxybenzone and octinoxate which are known to damage the coral reefs.


FYI regulations on sunscreen are being looked at much more closely- for example many areas in the Riviera Maya are wildlife preserves it is now a federal regulation at the eco-parks to have a biodegradable sunscreen! 

IMPORTANT- labels like "reef safe" or "reef friendly sunscreen" are unregulated so it is up to you to turn the bottle over and read that ingredient list! Do it for your skin and the beautiful coral reefs!

So far I am using the follow:

Beautycounter Sunscreen

Naked Zinc (amazon)

Badger brand (amazon)- I found this to be the "thickest" and leaves the most white residue on your skin out of the three.

Let me know- do you have a mineral sunscreen that you love??

It has been a minute

So here is the thing - I LOVE reading blogs. There is probably a handful of people who totally agree with me and "understand" and then another half who are like huh, why?? I have multiple blogs I read everyday- I personally really enjoy reading honest opinions about products, amazon finds, vacations and restaurants!

I actually can't tell you how many times I've started a blog and then deleted it or wrote a post then forgot my password for 6 months. That is the story with this blog. After Brock got me a camera for my bday (2017!) I was determined to create a blog documenting my journey with photography and create a place to keep my photos....

Well, that obviously didn't happen. I still love photography and take as many photos as I can but they magically haven't made their way to the famous "blog"! I am excited ti create a place for me to share everything- photography, vacations, dogs, family, health and wellness, beauty and have a home base for myself to come back to!

SO welcome! We shall see how this goes =]