Make-Over Day

I always think I take goofy pictures, but anyway, here is my make-over picture. I don't wear much make-up but I do think it is fun. At one time, I even aspired to go to esthetician school, but I never did.

If you are interested in my TV free journey, check out my new blog:

http://betterthanthetoob.blogspot.com/

No make-over today

I didn't have time to post my make over today, so I will do another post some time next Wednesday or Thursday! That will be the last post for this blog.

And, stay tuned for my Totally Tubular Tubeless Experiment

The end... for now

Well, today marks the end of this blog and the beginning of a new one. I just really want to wear all my make-up again. I like it, even the stuff that is questionable. It was a fun experiment. I know, I didn't quite make it to the end of the month, but sometimes when you're done, you're done. I do have to say that I think my pores are definitely smaller and my skin truly did benefit from the break. I highly recommend taking a make-up break for anyone who has clogged pores, pimples, or any other annoying face thing.

My favorite natural product that I used during this time: Aubrey Collagen Therapeutic Cream Moisturizer. Unlike its name, it is not really creamy. It is not at all oily. I think it is a great basic moisturizer to help improve skin elasticity. It is vegan and all natural and is leaps ahead of many of its competitors (in my humble opinion).

My plan now: go back to using my favorite make-up. Intermittently, I will post here to keep you up to date. If I feel like my skin is getting icky again, I definitely will do a 1 week make-up break to refresh it. I think that our skin definitely needs air, and I also think that make-up does not make us beautiful. I do love color and beauty and enjoy make-up so I wear it. But, I also don't feel that it is necessary.
Here is my end of blog picture. Sometime tomorrow, I will post my makeover! Please stay tuned for my August blog where I will be attempting to watch no television for 30 days! Maybe I'll make it to the end this time.

Be beautiful, natural people!
Wear make-up or don't
We shine from the inside

Day 21 - unless something amazing happens...

I probably won't post again until the end of the month so I can share the results of this experiment.

My take so far, it is a worthwhile venture. We definitely don't need to cover our bodies in chemical - laded products to look beautiful. And, we don't need to feel bad about it if we do decide to cover ourselves in whatever we want to please our own aesthetics.

With some exceptions (like purposefully hurting others), I think that people should not be judged for doing what they want to do. Wear make-up, don't wear make-up, exercise, stay on your couch, drink, stay sober, paint yourself green, dance naked, join a commune, work three jobs, get married, vow to stay single, have kids, don't have kids... I think you get it. I am a big believer in personal freedom. I don't know why I am going on about this, but I do think it is important. This really has nothing to do with nature or natural products at all, but I want my readers to know that I think it's great to be who you are and to accept others for who they are. So many fights, wars, arguments, etc. start because people don't agree, just agree to disagree and move on with your life. Be friends with like-minded people and have tolerance for all!

Day 20 - Essential Oils

So, I am sort of running out of natural beauty products to review. There are plenty more out there, but I don't feel right reviewing them unless I have used them for at least a week (and even that is probably not long enough!

So today's blog is about lemongrass oil. I love it - It is in the shampoo and conditioner that I use by Dessert Essence, and I also add it to vinegar and water to clean my counters. Between the water dilution and the added fragrant lemongrass essential oil, the vinegar smell is barely there and you are left with counters that smell like summer. And, it is an all natural and homemade cleaner that is super inexpensive. The lemongrass oil is the most expensive ingredient in the mix, but one tiny bottle lasts for  at least a year. I use about 8 - 10 drops of it in a normal sized spray cleaner bottle filled with approximately 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water.

Cleaning natural is easy, effective, and makes you home a safer place for little people and pets.

Day 18 ... over halfway through

At this juncture, I ask myself, how long will I keep this up? At least until the end of the month and I imagine longer... I would like to say forever but I know that is unlikely. And, as my husband pointed out, we have been swimming in a pool this week. I didn't really think of it, but the pool chlorine is certainly a chemical. While I did not brush my skin with it, I did become coated with it as I swam. Will I ever give up swimming in the summer? no. I like lake swimming too, but I really love pools too.

So, I guess you could say I am off track, but I am still going to keep it up for the rest of the month. And, I plan on only using natural mineral make-up for eternity, with the exception of extra special occasions, for which I get my make-up done (like my brother's upcoming wedding in January). Other than big and glamorous events such as that, I will let nature beautify me!

Here is today's picture. Looks like natural products have cured my nearsightedness! (not really)

August blog preview: Follow me as I attempt to avoid television for the month

Day 16 - small amounts of chemicals add up

Check your sunscreen - if there are a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients, it is probably a bit toxic to use. Of course, sunscreen is important, so look for a natural brand. Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, and Burt's Bees all make some acceptable versions of sunscreens. Don't use a spray version because those have even more chemicals.

I realize that there is a lot of conflicting information floating around the importance (or unimportance) of worrying about ingredients. Many people argue that the amount of dangerous chemicals is so small that it couldn't possibly affect us. I might agree with that logic if these small amounts of chemicals were not present in a majority of products that many of us consume and/or put on our skin.

Example: For breakfast, we eat a granola bar with some type of preservative.
                Then, we take a shower using tap water, regular soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc
                Next, moisturize with lotion that has a list of ingredients at least 12 long (many unrecognizable)
                Eat some skittles
                Have some lunch out somewhere, not sure what the restaurant uses
                Put on some sunscreen
                Swim in a pool
                Afternoon fruit snack, non-organic
                Frozen meal for dinner after a busy day
                trip out to get ice-cream

All of the things on the list above can happen during the course of a fun summer day. I am not saying to avoid fun summer days, not at all. I love fun summer days. I love ice-cream, from any place. I love candy with artificial colors. I am just saying that we should all be aware of what is going into our bodies and try not let small amounts of chemicals build up too much. I have chosen to start with skin products because it seems a bit easier than eating clean.

I hope to try clean eating for a month too, but I think I am much less likely to make it.