What’s In The Goodie Box?

Tour The Goodie Box!

Whew! What a month! I’m so excited to have celebrated this month with all of you. Thanks to each and everyone one of you who subscribed to the blog and liked our facebook page. And now for the good stuff! Let’s take a look at what is in the goodie box!

The-Cure-Natural-Aqua-Gel

Cure Natural Aqua Gel

This is a really interesting exfoliator. On clean, dry skin, you apply a dime sized amount all over face and wait about 30 seconds. The gel starts to thicken and turns white. Massage in a circular motion for a minute or so. Then rinse off gel and skin.

 

beautycounter-routine-clean-cream-shellandshine

Beautycounter Routine Clean

Beautycounter has recently updated this product (along with several others) to now be known as “Nourishing Cream Cleanser” but it is still an oldie but goodie. This is one of my favorite everyday cleansers that cleans well but doesn’t dry your skin.

 

beauty-counter-charcoal-mask-shell-and-shine

Purifying Charcoal Mask

Quickly becoming one of my favorite face masks, this charcoal mask rocks! It is a mineral-rich mix of clay and charcoal that pulls out impurities and soothes your skin. A little goes a long way and this is now a weekly routine around my house.

 

ursa-major-face-wash

Ursa Major Face Wash

I had originally found this product through some samples with another purchase. I did some background checking on the ingredients before giving it a shot and I’m glad I did. It is a great cleanser that feels soothing and tingly and does a great job of removing stubborn makeup. For the non-fussy peeps that are still looking for a great product, this one is worth checking out and could easily be a cleanser for all family members.

 

DIY Antibacterial Balm

Well this stuff is just amazing. A friend sent me a link to this recipe thinking it looked like something I would make. You know I had to try it and am glad I did! It was very easy to put together and is one of the more versatile products I have concocted. Aside from healing cuts and scrapes, I have found it works great for a cuticle cream. It is really thick and due to the beeswax, creates a great moisturizing barrier with staying power. Love, love, love this stuff.

naturulz-foot-repair-best-product-for-feet

Naturulz Foot Repair

This product was a drugstore find that I picked up rather skeptically. The packaging does scream natural product but reading the ingredients was reassuring. I’ve been using this for the past few months and love it’s moisturizing ability. It is pretty oily and melts in your hand so a little goes a long way and you are definitely going to want to put on some socks after applying it and walking around the house.

Moksha-body-oil-burning-leaves

Moksha Body Oil

Those who know me, can attest to my favorite fall/winter fragrances being woodsy and deep. I’ve long worn a CB I hate perfume scent for years called ‘Burning Leaves’ but was super excited to find this body oil that smelled nearly the same! Since it is in an oil form it is long wearing and blends nicely into the skin.

thievesoilThieves Oil in Jojoba

This little gem is also a good health hack for the winter months. The history of the ‘thieves oil’ blend dates back to the Bubonic Plague where robbers would cover their hands and selves with a blend of oils to ward off germs while they robbed plague suffers and not get sick themselves. Now I don’t advocate using this for nefarious purposes, it will help you fight off germs while keeping you smelling deliciously like Christmas. You can wear it like a fragrance or spread it more widely on your body like an oil.

dried-rose-tea-leaves

Rose Tea

Good for tea time and good for your skin! I love this tea. It is probably one of my favorites. Daily use of the Siberian Rose tea is said to give you a healthy complexion, promote skin hydration, and act as a gentle sleep aid. It is helpful in clearing toxins and restoring balance to the intestines. Rose teas are very high in vitamin C, which is an important component in maintaining healthy and radiant skin.

dr-bronners-lip-balm-shell-and-shine-favorite

Dr. Bronners Lip Balm

I’m sure to a lot of you Dr. B’s needs no introduction. Their main soap line can be used for everything from self care to home cleaning. I use their products for a lot of things around my house. I didn’t have any idea that they made lip balm! On a trip to my local herbal supply store, I found the orange ginger balm and tried it out. Love it. Great moisturizer, not too waxy. It is just what you are looking for in a basic lip balm.

 

Collagen-Firming-Facial-Mask

My Scheming Q10 and Collagen Firming Facial Mask

On to the masks! I’ve picked up a couple of these boxes at our local asian supermarket and these are some of my favorites. Now I am giving away my last one and they are temporarily out of stock! Keep your eyes peeled for more. They are firming and toning and like other Korean sheet masks, are a nice little spa day right in your own home.

snail-bee-sheet-mask

Snail Bee Mask

While hydrating, this mask seemed to have the most benefit as a skin brightener. I felt like my skin was glowing after using it. This was amplified if I used the masks a few days in a row. It seemed to take a few years off and melt the look of stress away.

 

Whew! That about covers it! I hope you enjoy the package Sheryl. Included in the box is this handy-dandy little legend showing what product matches what sample (With Stickers!! Yep- I’m a dork  ;)). Feel free to message me in the comment section with any questions! xoxo ~Shell&Shine

Shell-and-Shine-gift-box-legend

Shell-and-Shine-Goodie-Box

 

 

 

 

Shell & Shine! One Year Old!

One Year Old!

Holy Cow Time Flies! We are just about to celebrate our one year anniversary here at Shell & Shine! I’m so exstatic! I am also very grateful to all of you who have been reading, commenting, and reaching out.
I have been busy making some skin-care packages for a few besties (eeehum… like people who live on remote Alaskan islands! You know how you are!). But I haven’t forgotten you!

Shell-and-Shine-Sweepstakes-Win-Giveaway-Gift

Goodie Goodie!

In honor of how completely kick-ass you all are, I have a skin-care goodie bag for one lucky winner, to be picked at random on October 3rd (2016). It is jam-packed with samples of all of my favorite products and some things I’ve made myself.

How To Enter?

How do you enter? Great question! Go to my website (shellandshine.com) OR my Facebook page and subscribe or follow and you will be entered for the drawing. Do both? And you get entered twice! Whaaaaat?!? Two chances to win!! That’s right 🙂 That’s how much I love you.
So subscribe on the site and follow me on facebook. I want to give this goody bag to you!
 I am so sincerely thankful to have shared my online journey with you thus far. Here is to another year 🙂

You Asked- I Answered! Jasmine Revealed.

All you could ever want to know about Shell and Shine author, Jasmine Hartsook.

I get tons of questions from day to day. You wanted to know… So here you go!
Do you go by any nicknames?
 JazzyPants or Jasmine-chan if you’re my mother:)

Where is home? 
Seattle, in the great Pacific Northwest!

What is your favorite part of where you live? Seattle is such a great city but it does take getting used to the weather. Once you pass the year mark and know you can make it through the grey season, this place can’t be beat. Although growing and changing fast, the Emerald City can feel small while still offering great art, music, and culture. Better yet, within a half-hour, you can be in the woods and surrounded by amazing nature: Mountains in one direction and the sea in the other. Geographically, it is hard to top.

Where did you go to school and what did you study?
 I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and a B.F.A. in Photography. I am a life-long student and find myself perpetually taking classes from Math to Marketing, Science to Surfing.

What’s your favorite part of the day? When I can wake up for it, I love early mornings when it is quiet and it feels like you may be the only person around.

Favorite books? Push by Sapphire, This is Water by David Foster Wallace.

Who is your favorite artist? I have three and all for different reasons. Egon Schiele, Gerhard Richter, and Wayne White.

Why do you blog? 
I get a lot of satisfaction from sharing what I learn. For the last decade, I have spent a lot of time researching and trying things that are geared toward good health and specifically skin health. Wanting to archive my favorite finds, I decided to do it publically online and hopefully, others may find some useful tidbits!

Shell-and-Shine-Jasmine-Dog-Person
Jasmine’s faithful companion, Fleck, Rat Terrier Extraordinaire!

Are you a cat person or dog person?
 I am a total dog person. I adopted a rescue rat terrier five years ago and consider him my most faithful companion. He is a very challenging little guy with stranger danger but there is nothing like the morning medicine of seeing a dog’s wiggly behind, prancing down the hall to an anticipated walk. We should all be so excited to start each day.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? If you ask my best friend, he would easily recite my old trusty “Afternoon reading book after book at a Barnes and Noble with a coffee.” But more recently, I would have to say my guilty pleasure is getting in bed WAY too early and turning on the electric mattress warmer and drifting to sleep with a podcast playing.

What are you currently listening to? As we speak, Lana Del Ray’s “Born To Die” is spinning. I did just pick up some new records last weekend, which includes Prince, Thelonious Monk, Gil Scott-Heron, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Sheena Easton.

Shell-and-Shine-Jasmine-Favorite-Music

Favorite musical artists? Die Antwoord, Alt-J, Thomas Newman, D’Angelo, Aphex Twin, Warrant, The Beatles, Lenny Kravitz.

Latest interests? Well besides all things skincare related (that’s why we’re all here, right!?), I have been interested in waste reduction lately. The amount of things we consume is amazing and even more amazing is what we discard. Being a thoughtful consumer is important and minimizing any trash you create even more so. This answer could go on and on. Book-making, technology geek, hiking, psychology, taxidermy, anatomy, meditation,…

Anything else? Just ask 🙂

About-Shell-and-Shine-Author-Jasmine-Hartsook

 

Korean Sheet Mask Trial

The verdict is in! I have found the top two Korean Sheet Masks after many, many, agonizing trials ;).

Korean-Sheet-Masks-Shell-and-Shine

Korean Sheet Masks have started to see a rise in popularity over the past few years in the US. I am lucky enough to live in Seattle and have access to a lot of Asian stores that sell these individually. Over the past two months, I’ve done the hard work for you and tried a few- Twenty to be exact. Without further ado, here are my top two:

 

  1. Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack from Benton

While hydrating, this mask seemed to have the most benefit as a skin brightener. I felt like my skin was glowing after using it. This was amplified if I used the masks a few days in a row. It seemed to take a few years off and melt the look of stress away.

Benton-Snail-Bee-Mask-Shell-and-Shine

Editor’s Note:

This face mask is fully immersed in a highly concentrated essence infused with snail slime filtrate and bee venom. This premium blend of natural ingredients makes the skin’s immune system stronger to be able to stand against daily exposure that often leads to  skin damage. This mask helps recover damaged skin to enhance elasticity, softness, and radiance. This mask is free from parabens, synthetic colorants, artificial fragrance, and formaldehyde. It’s suitable for all skin types, even hypersensitive skin.

 

  1. Q10 Collagen Firming Mask by My Scheming

This mask left my face feeling so soft. I was really impressed with the texture of my skin after using it. Also to note, my skin felt firmed up but still very hydrated, not tight.

Collagen-Sheet-Mask-Shell-and-Shine

Editor’s Note:

Made with Collagen and Q10, ingredients known for their ability to tighten and renew skin, this face mask is further packed with seaweed essence to give skin a superb level of moisturization. Skin looks brighter and smoother right after using the mask, while regular use rejuvenates skin leading to a healthy and radiant glow. Massage essence into skin after removing mask. Do not rinse off.

Korean-Sheet-Mask-Trial-Shell-and-Shine

Sheet mask thoughts in general-

Pros: There is such a variety and are great for firming and hydration. The packaging makes it great for travel and the application makes it really easy to apply the mask at night and just take off with no fuss, no muss.

Cons: On the flip side, the packaging. I did take issue with how much waste these created. Besides the tissue of the mask itself, some also had a backing and all are individually wrapped. This adds up and I’d much prefer to have a reusable jar when done with my mask products instead of a ton of packaging waste. Additionally, some of these masks (even ones that I liked) have a few ingredients that aren’t great and I tend to avoid.

Sheet-Mask-Shell-and-Shine

Trash Talk – Let’s ditch it.

Trash, huh, yeah. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

I know, Earth Day was last month, but that is my point exactly! Being environmentally conscious is a practice for every day, not just one day a year. So…While not explicitly about skincare, taking the time to think about the resources you consume in your everyday life and what you can reduce is synergistic to a more natural lifestyle.

I could go on and on here about statistics that lead me to make some pretty meaningful changes to my lifestyle and trying to reduce my consumption and waste, from shopping in bulk, bringing my own bags, not using paper towels, etc. but it might be more meaningful to share with you links to the things that inspired me to be more mindful. I hope you find some of these resources as life changing as I did.

United States of Trash, Morgan Spurlock

morgan-spurlock-united-states-trash

Morgan Spurlock, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind Super Size Me, follows his own trash to see what throwing something ‘away’ really means.

Trash is for Tossers, Lauren Singer

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Lauren Singer lives a Zero Waste life in NYC and literally only produces a jar or two of trash every year. You can spend hours looking through this beautiful blog.

 

Zero Waste Home, Bea Johnson

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Bea Johnson lives waste-free with her family since 2008 and is the author of the bestseller Zero Waste Home.

 

If these so inspire you to make some lifestyle changes, I suggest hitting the thrift stores and looking for some items to help you cut down on your consumption. There are a few items that I purchased along the way (some old, some new) that I found helpful. I’ll provide the links below to some great products. For example, in Seattle, plastic bags have been banned in an attempt to promote reusable bags. I’ve invested in some good canvas ones that I use each time I go to the grocery store or do my general shopping. You can find them below along with some other cool items.

 

Green Grocery Shopping

Reusable Canvas Bags– I keep these on hooks right by my front door and grab them on the way out for any kind of shopping trip. I like these in particular because they have great fabric holders on the inside to keep wine bottles and such from moving around.

reusable-canvas-bags-consumption-cutter

Reusable Produce and Bulk Bags- I do a lot of shopping in bulk bins to cut down on the amount of food packaging I go through. These mesh bags and canvas/muslin bags are great for everything from produce to grains and nuts.

Reusable-Produce-Bags-cut-consumption

no-trash-mesh-bags

no-trash-muslin-bags

 

Personal Care Items

I’m sure if you are reading this blog, it is no surprise to you that I spend a lot of time experimenting with different personal products. I’m not only looking for things that work great and are healthy for my skin, but I do also place a lot of consideration into how much waste these things produce and how recyclable/reusable the packaging is. For me, it almost becomes a fun game to see how efficient I can be while still enjoying my routines. Here are some changes that I found painless and effective:

Safety Razors– This took a little practice to learn how to use BUT what a money saver! Each blade tops out at about ten cents and lasts for quite awhile. I never spend money on razors anymore and the waste produced here is by far less than traditional razors or disposable alternatives. You know what? This is also pretty beautiful hanging in my shower.

safety-razor-cut-down-consumption

Toothbrushes– Biodegradable Bamboo! These brushes are the right firmness and also look super cute. I tried several different kinds but this one was by far the best. I have found it holds up better than traditional brushes so they last a bit longer. Additionally, when they are used up, I pull the bristles out and use the wood handles for plant markers. Works great!

bamboo-toothbrushes-reduce-trash-shell-and-shine

Feminine Products- Ladies, the average woman throws away 250-300 pounds of feminine product waste in their lifetime. The majority of these products are at least partially made out of synthetic materials and take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Being that most of these products haven’t even been commercially produced for that long, that means most of the feminine products that have been consumed thus far, are still sitting in a landfill somewhere! All of them! Whoa! Now, full discloser here. When I was looking at cutting this part of waste from my lifestyle, I made a decision that if I were to allow myself any waste production, this would be an area I could allow it for comfort or convenience if necessary. However, I am happy to say I have found some awesome alternatives that really work and I find just as easy, convenient, and comfortable to use as the standard pads and tampons I grew up with. Here are my top picks!

Reusable Pads

Reusable-Pads-Reduce-Trash

Thinx- Underwear with built in pads! OMG- these are awesome! I just bought one pair to try them out and was skeptical about how well they would work, but now I’m ready to order a few more. There are a ton of reviews out there so let me google that for you.

thinx_underwear-less-trash

Lunnette– Reusable menstral cup.

lunette-cups-reduce-trash

 

 

Other Household Products-

Scotts Naturals TP– What!? Toilet paper without the cardboard tube! Genius! I’m not sure why someone hasn’t thought about this sooner. Love it. Less waste. I do wonder how much it cost/changed things adapting the factory to produce this product but hope it is a trend that would catch on. I’m not sure why we need that cardboard tube other than making crafts from them later.

 

tube-free-toilet-paper-no-trash Kitchen Jars– Glass. I’ve replaced all of my kitchen containers with glass over the years. They are essential for bulk shopping and versatile while keeping everything very fresh. I can’t recommend this enough.

leparfait-jars-no-trash

DIY waxed wrap– And finally, for the kitchen, I made some waxed reusable fabric to replace all saran wrap use needs. There are several tutorials out there but I used wax from a Portland company called Otterwax and some scrap pieces of fabric. They are perfect for covering bowls, wrapping sandwiches on the go, etc. Perhaps I’ll post a tutorial on that process in the future.

 

I hope you found some of these links inspiring and some of these ideas helpful. As I consider myself one big DIY experiment, I’d love to hear from you and what you do to minimize trash in your household. Give me some ideas! What do you do that I should also?

 

 

 

 

Trina Felber – Primal Life Organics

Trina Felber of Primal Life Organics skin-food talks to the Bulletproof folks. 

 

This was a pretty interesting podcast. I am curious to hear if any of you have tried the Primal Life line of products. There are a few recipes in here I will be recreating; Namely the tooth powder and the capsaicin pimple treatment. I will keep you all posted! Updates to come 🙂

The Body Deli – Palm Desert

Order’s Up! The Body Deli Haul

You Guys! This Place! I was recently in Palm Desert and had some time to myself. After a quick solo lunch date, I stumbled upon The Body Deli store. Wow. This place is amazing. Their philosophy from the website:

THE BODY DELI is the pioneer in fresh, organic, raw superfood enhanced personal care products. Two Cosmetic Chefs, Margaret Skarin Clark and David Anton Parker, created the brand in the resort towns of Palm Desert and Palm Springs, California in 2001. Two “foodies” with an extensive background in nutrition, raw food, wellness and beauty, envisioned a personal care brand so different, fresh and unique that they started making their own healthy skin care products. Their special method is a process similar to crafting fresh juices and smoothies in a high-end Organic Juice Bar. “Fresh Food for the Skin” was their concept, and since then they have evolved a global brand committed and dedicated to providing the absolute purest alternative for nourishing the face, body and hair. Celebrities, fashion designers, Fortune 500 leaders and health conscious people have fallen in love with The Body Deli’s unique, effective and wonderful creations.

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What to get?

I went in and drifted off into an aromatic wonderland. I made it out of the store with just two small jars of body cream and a catalog. That evening I covered one arm in Tahitian Vanilla and the other in Jasmine Tuberose. Typically, I don’t buy Jasmine scented products because although I’ve been the recipient of about every Jasmine scented soap under the sun, they tend to smell like an old lady’s bathroom. This cream used the real essential oil, which is, if you have smelled it, much, much, different.

After my pale Seattle skin was properly hydrated, I started flipping through their look book. Needless to say, there were a few other things I saw worth trying and convinced my friend to hit up the store one last time before leaving Palm Desert.

body-deli-look-book-shell-and-shine

Other purchases:

Crème de la Rose. The Body Deli’s most popular product, a luxurious, rich and nourishing anti-aging facial moisturizer that is formulated to help accelerate cellular turnover, feed epidermal cells, restore elasticity, and diminish the depth and intensity of wrinkles. BULGARIAN ROSE, COQ10 and VITAMIN-A is used for its cell regenerating properties and exquisite healing aroma. GOJI BERRY extract is used for its amino acids and Vitamin C content. It is for normal to dry skin types that are experiencing the effects of aging.

And the piece de resistance: Sea Cucumber Gelee. They say “it is like getting a fresh juiced green drink for your skin. Organic Aloe Vera is combined with skin toning algae and nature’s most potent moisturizer, Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid has the ability to bind more than ten times its weight in moisture. This highly effective combination gives you the finest all natural moisturizer to impart a dewy glow while it cools, soothes and hydrates the skin.” For Real! And yes, it does require refrigeration so I did pack up my checked back with some ice packs and sent it flying! Those who know me will tell you I am definitely a no-nonsense traveler and like to keep things as minimal and easy as possible. This, however, was worth the extra effort to cart home. Let me also tell you how good it feels going on your face straight out of the refrigerator. Cool and soothing.

shell-and-shine-body-deli-haul

Where to get Body Deli products?

“Ok, Great!” You say. “But when am I ever in Palm Desert?” They do have a pretty great looking website and free shipping on orders over $75. Don’t worry, this stuff is on the spendy side so it is easy to rack up that sort of tab. I did have a long conversation with the woman in the store about how the refrigerated products are shipped and she assured they are pros at keeping it all on ice.

If you do find yourself in their neighborhood, be sure to check out the brick and mortar. I found them at their El Paseo flagship store. Enjoy!

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5 Best Morning Practices For A Glowing Face

  1. Hot Filtered Water With Lemon

lemon-water-great-for-skin

Besides hydration, what are the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning? Incorporating with your morning routine, this is a great way to wake up (I prefer over coffee) and detox. Lemons are super rich in vitamin C and drinking lemon water regularly can even out skin tone and brighten up your complexion. The vitamin C in lemon water fight damage caused by free radicals and promote your body’s own collagen production.

 

  1. Rose Tea

Siberian-Rose-Tea

Also rich in vitamin C and delicious, after I drink a cup of lemon water, I move onto the Rose Tea. I’ve talked about this before and can’t stress enough, how great this is for skin health.

 

  1. Routine Clean Cream Cleanser by Beauty Counter

    Beauty-Counter-RoutineCleanCreamCleanser-great-for-skin

Next, on to washing your face! This one took me awhile to find. I’ve been a bar soap and water  gal for a long time. My skin is so sensitive; Most things I tried irritated it. I had been trying the beauty counter line of moisturizers and got a sample of this cleanser. I was shocked at how gentle yet effective this stuff was. Hooked!

 

  1. Sonic Cleansing Brush from Michael Todd

micheal-todd-sonic-clear

This was a bit of a splurge for me. At $150 a brush, it is a little more than I would want to spend on something that may have seemed unnecessary but I gave it a shot and love this sonic brush. Mind you, I am NOT someone who likes extra hassle in my routine so anything that doesn’t stay charged or just work is quickly nixed. The Michael Todd Cleansing Brush just works and isn’t much trouble at all. It gives you a deep clean and a great facial massage which is said to firm skin, even tone, reduce breakouts, and promote collagen production. This particular model has antimicrobial technology to keep the brush clean so you don’t spread around more dirt and germs. I still clean mine with tea tree soap after using it to assure it’s cleanliness. This brush also has a timer so you can move the brush around your face and keep track of each section’s massage time.

 

  1. Best Moisturizer

Last but not least, on with some moisturizer. I love the Beauty Counter Everyday AM Hydrating Cream. Not too heavy. Not too light. I’d say, just about right :).

Moisterizer-5-steps-morning-routine

Dry Shampoo -7 Ingredients for Amazing Hair

Finally it’s here! My recipe for DIY Dry Shampoo that is an absolute staple in my routine and I simply cannot live without (ok- dramatic!;). If you have read the article detailing the NO Poo technique that gets you away from toxic chemicals and washing your hair everyday with commercial soap/shampoo, then you can understand the need for a Dry Shampoo. Generally, I only cleanse my hair twice a week, so I take seriously the products that I use in the in-between times. This Dry Shampoo is natural, smells good, gives good styling texture and can be modified to fit your specific needs.

ingredients-for-dry-shampoo-in-jarground-lavender-flowers-dry-shampoo

How do I use Dry Shampoo?

That is a great question! Using Dry Shampoo is easy to use and can extend the life of a style or increase the time you need between washes. This particular Dry Shampoo is a powder that you sprinkle in your hand (start with about a dime-sized amount and just like cooking, season to taste! Errrr- adjust for your needs ☺). Spread the powder around in your hand covering your fingertips and then massage into the roots of your hair. I sometimes turn my head upside down over the bathtub to catch any loose powder so clean up is as simple as turning on the shower. Massaging your scalp is great for the health of your skin and your hair. It increases the blood flow to your follicles, uses your body’s natural oils to condition the scalp, and helps to strengthen the roots of you hair. Insider tip- it also feels really good. Once you are done massaging the DIY Dry Shampoo into your roots, voila! That’s it, you’re done! Flip your hair over and you will see added volume, less oil, and a pretty nice texture (although it may take a bit of getting used to the feel) for styling.

How do you make Dry Shampoo?

Ok, enough talk already! Where’s your recipe for this magical Dry Shampoo? Well, it couldn’t be much easier to make.

DIY Dry Shampoo recipe:

What you’ll need:

¼ cup French Green Clay
¼ cup Arrowroot Powder
½ T. Chamomile Powder
½ T. Lavender Flowers (ground)
½ T. Oatstraw Powder
Essential Oils
Iridescent Mica (optional)

ingredients-for-dry-shampoo

 

Directions:

Mix all of your powders together. I like to do this in a mason jar. It makes for easy mixing of the Dry Shampoo ingredients and you can use it for storing the excess powder until you need it. After it is fully mixed, add a few drops of your essential oils of choice. I would recommend using no more than two. Some of my favorite oils for this Dry Shampoo are Lavender, Rosemary, Sweet Orange, and Jasmine. The last ingredient on my list is optional but plays an important part in doing something that most other Dry Shampoo recipes fail to do, which is keeping your hair looking shiny. Let’s face it, gaining a few extra days in-between washes is great but not at the expense of looking like you are wearing a powdered wig. I add a small amount of iridescent mica to my Dry Shampoo and this keeps your hair looking dimensional and shiny. There are a lot of different options for iridescent powders but the Bare Minerals Clear Radiance would be a good example of one to add. They’ve recently changed their formulation to make it more health friendly. Feel free to experiment with what mica you use if you want to change the color or the sheen of your Dry Shampoo formula.

bare-minerals-clear-radiance-for-dry-shampoo-hair

The last tip to mention is one that I love- storage! I have kept my Dry Shampoo in cute little containers on my bathroom shelf and in my cupboards but the last discovery was by far the handiest. Take an old, empty spice container that has the shaker top and fill it with your DIY Dry Shampoo powder. It fits with your other products well and seals nice and tight for travel. It also allows you great control in how much you pour out to apply. Remember, a little goes a long way!

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Let me know if you try the Dry Shampoo recipe for yourself. I’d love to hear what you think and any comments or suggestions you might have.

 

dry-shampoo-ingredients-shell-and-shine

No-Poo Method // How-To Save Time and Never Shampoo Your Hair Again //

What!? No-Poo!?

I’ll tell you a secret. Ok, it’s less of a secret, and more insider knowledge so you’ll be privy to something known only by my close friends. I haven’t washed my hair in over 7 years! I know, that sounds disgusting but what I’m really saying is I haven’t used ‘commercial shampoo’ in almost a decade. How do I clean my hair? Simply stated, the household’s best friend: Baking Soda! The ‘No-Poo’ movement isn’t a new thing but myself being a product, fragrance, and new hairstyle junky (I submit exhibit A proving no boring hairstyles even while not shampooing!), had to find a few hacks to keep this routine as fun as testing out new shampoos. I’ll share my recipes.

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Why Give Up Shampoo?

The goal of shampoo is to clean your hair and primarily remove the sebum and pollutant build-up. In general, shampoos leave your hair clean, bouncy and smelling good, BUT, the tradeoff is over-stimulating your oil/sebum production forcing the NEED to wash your hair way more than you should have to, stripping your hair of natural conditioning and exposing you to some pretty harsh chemicals that are largely unnecessary. Commercial shampoo is generally made up of surfactant like sodium lauryl sulfate with a co-surfactant or other ingredients. Sodium lauryl sulfate and its’ similar sodium and ammonium compound cousins are known skin and eye irritants, toxic to organs, reproductive systems, and endocrine disruptors, as well as potential (but not proven) carcinogens. At the end of the day, who needs it! I just want my hair to feel clean and smell good.

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Bonus!

Let’s talk one more bonus to giving up the shampoo for good: Efficiency! In my daytime work life, my biggest strength is trying to make processes as simple and efficient as possible. Why work harder when you can work smarter? To that end, why do more when you can do less and have the same great result (or better)! I’ve cut my hair-washing schedule from an everyday routine to a twice-weekly activity. Why would I every want to add that task back into my life. Hello to an extra 5 plus hours a week of not dealing with shampooing and drying long hair.

The No-Poo Details

The base of what I use to clean my hair is baking soda. You can use the kind in the yellow box from your grocery store or I would also suggest seeking out the aluminum free kind you can find at most health stores (there is some controversy on this ingredient in baking soda at all so perhaps further research is needed). I like to change up my routine from time to time based on my hair’s needs or if my routine needs spicing up.

Everyday Baking Soda Cleanse-

Reasons-To-Love-Baking-Soda-No-PooI keep an oil (like kitchen olive oil) dispenser with a mixture of baking soda and water in it for general hair washes. Using the dispenser is useful in getting the mixture right to the scalp to clean the oils and leaves the rest of the hair with less exposure, keeping some of the natural oils in. The ratio is about 3 tablespoons of baking soda to one cup of water. For a little extra bit of fancy, I add a few drops of essential oil to keep it smelling fresh and different. My two favorite oils to scent my hair wash are lavender and lemongrass.

Something For The Product And DIY Lovers-

raw-honey-diy-no-poo-shampoo-shellandshineWhen I want a bit more shine, softness and fragrance, I wash my hair with a mixture of raw honey, baking soda and water. Honey is antifungal, antibacterial and is slightly acidic so it helps to balance the scalp and fight dandruff. I make this shampoo in a single-use amount right before use. With a half cup of very warm water, I dissolve a heaping tablespoon of raw honey (For an in-depth look at the benefits of raw honey wash, head over to this article from our friends at Empowered Sustenance). To that mixture, I add a tablespoon of baking soda, stir, add directly to my scalp and scrub. With all of these ‘No-Poo’ recipes, you will have to get used to the absence of suds. There is no luxurious lather but your hair will be squeaky clean and healthy.

Those Days You Need A Little Extra-

For the rare occasion that I have a lot of product or stuff in my hair, I’ll make a paste using BS and Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap. A little bit goes a long way so you only need about a tablespoon of BS and a dime size amount of Dr. Bronner’s. If you aren’t familiar with this soap, I recommend checking it out for multiple uses in your personal care and house cleaning routines. It is fair trade certified, mostly organic and created mostly from natural oils. I still use this sparingly in my hair care practice, but am happy to have it when needed.

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What About Conditioner!?

Conditioning with the ‘No Poo’ method couldn’t be easier. I regularly use a rinse of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and that keeps my hair soft and shiny. For this mixture you add about a tablespoon of ACV ( further instructions here ) to a half a cup of water and use it as a rinse over your entire head. I choose to add a few drops of a strong smelling essential oil to keep from smelling like a salad. After leaving this rinse on my hair for about a minute, I rinse using cold water. There are so many other great DIY conditioner treatments out there for deep conditioning, but this one is a great option for everyday.

*A word of warning*

I’ll end this article with cautionary advice. If you are planning on transitioning to a ‘No-Poo’ lifestyle and forgo your shampoo forever, be prepared for a transition period. Your hair will be greasy for a little while and probably not look great. Think about it- You have been faithfully chemical’ing up your scalp for years and your oil glands have been keeping up with you! It will take them awhile to get with the new program, but it will happen. In my experience, it took about 3 weeks for my hair to go from being greasy to being normal again. It is really just an exercise I patience and hat wearing. In the end, it is totally worth it to going from washing your hair everyday to only a few times in a month and knowing that you are lessening the toxic crap you are rubbing into your body’s biggest organ.

 

Stay tuned for my recipe for dry shampoo to keep your hair looking right in between washes! Smells great and makes your ponytails look amazing. Coming soon.

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