looking towards summer: how do you protect your skin?

good morning! i was catching up on the interwebs this morning [something i haven't done much of with the new pup!] and i came across this post from sally and molly at a piece of toast about a new brand of swimwear called cover. designed by a couple of skin-conscious ladies who wanted better looking protective swimwear. i think they succeeded! their collection is spf 50+ and still attractive/mature/sexy. 

it got me thinking about summer and what my game plan is for protecting my skin. if you have ever been poolside with me, you have probably witnessed me covering myself in opaque white sunscreen + sitting under an umbrella + covering myself up with a towel. i love feeling the warmth of the sun and being outside, but i do not want to mess with the wrinkles, sunspots and possibility of skin cancer that can come from too much unprotected sun exposure. 

inspired by cover, i started checking around for other cute, long-sleeved swimwear. i found these at j.crew. i love the cute prints and the bright solids. i'm digging the bottom right one. i would pair it with some patterned bottoms and call it a day. i also like the tomboy feel of the swim shirt. it would make me feel like the surfer-girl that i will never be!

what about you guys? how do you protect yourself in the summer? have you ever worn protective swimwear [in your adult life]? do you love to tan despite the health risks?

<3 jojy

[photos from left to right: one//two//three//four// via j.crew]

product review: soapwalla activated charcoal and petitgrain soap bar

it's been a while since i've done a natural beauty post! and i'm excited to review this little guy for you all.

i ordered the soapwalla activated charcoal and petitgrain facial and body bar towards the end of january. i woke up and my skin was just a mess. and i felt frantic and insecure. i opened my computer and saw something on facebook that nubonau had posted about this soap. all i saw was "good for blemish-prone skin" and i stopped reading, signed onto nubonau, put the soap in my cart. as i was clicking the last button to complete my order, i quickly yelled to harrison, "can i order some soap? its only ten dollars!" and, before he answered, i had already ordered it and felt just a little bit calmer.

my first reactions:

• it smells really good. kind of a light, earthy, floral scent. not overwhelming. 
• it's black. that's kind of weird, but i also kinda dig it. 
• it has a suuuuuper silky lather and feels very nice and luxurious on your skin.

after a month's use:

• my skin generally feels smoother [which is saying a lot since its winter and i usually get seriously dry skin]
• it's great for daily use. doesn't over-dry, which most cleansers for acne usually do.
• my break outs are not gone, but they do seem to be healing more quickly. my skin breaks out a lot more during the winter, so the fact that my skin is healing quicker is a sign that the soap is helping, i think. i'll be interested to see how things go in the warmer weather using this soap. 

will i buy this product again? yes. absolutely.

would i recommend this product? yes. absolutely.

is it worth $10? yes. absolutely.

there ya have it!

<3 jojy


[you can buy this product here and here]

clean shampoo and haircare

haircare is probably the hardest thing to switch over when trying to go natural with products. we're addicted to super saturated fragrances in our shampoos as well as the "clean" feel we get after a wash. buuut it turns out that the "clean" feeling we get is part of the problem. pretty much all shampoos that you have heard of and used [regardless of price. i'm talking drugstore quality to high-end salon quality] are made with nasty chemicals that seep into our scalps [your scalp is basically a sponge]. not only do these chemicals strip our hair of its needed, natural oils but they also act as hormone disruptors and skin irritants. these same chemicals can be linked to some cancers and reproductive/developmental toxicity. scary stuff, right?

so. what natural shampoos are the best? i have tried about four different kinds, but there are SO many more than that. it seems like, as the natural thing catches on, there is a new brand out there every day. [all of my shampoo recommendations listed at bottom]

of the natural shampoos that i have tried so far, my favorite is Acure Organics. i have tried all three shampoos+conditioners from their line, and i have enjoyed every single one. i think the green one is my favorite though. here are the things that i love about it:

• it has a strong and delightful scent. it's different, but it's good.
• IT LATHERS. this is particularly hard to find because the lathering agent in regular shampoos is actually one of those not so great chemicals. so finding a natural one that has even the slightest bit of lather is a rarity.


it's only about $10 depending on where you get it. less expensive than salon brands and only slightly more expensive than drugstore shampoos.
it gives more of a "clean" feeling than some other natural brands do.

some of the biggest complaints i've heard about making the switch to natural shampoos are 1) the lack of lather issue and 2) the feeling of not having clean hair. i think this shampoo conquers both of these pretty well. it's true that natural shampoos leave a little oil in your hair, but that's because your hair needs it. all you girls who say "i have such greasy hair that i have to wash it everyday, sometimes even twice a day" - the washing of your hair is causing the problem [and probably the kind of shampoo you are using as well]. when you are constantly stripping your hair of its natural oils, it goes into over-time, producing more and more oil to make up for what you have just washed out. it's a vicious cycle that can't be stopped until you back off a little and let your hair calm down. so, whether you are cutting back on washing as often, or switching to natural shampoos altogether, there is a little bit of time where your hair will feel weird or dirty before it readjusts to the change. PRO TIP: wash your hair backwards! meaning, use conditioner first and shampoo second. this is especially good for us fine-haired ladies who get weighed down and greasy from conditioner.

natural shampoos won't feel exactly like your herbal essence, and you'll have to get used to it for sure. but i think we can all move past that for the sake of health, right? right.

also, if you guys aren't using a dry shampoo, you're doing it wrong. dry shampoo is a great way to deal with having a little more oil, whether from less washing or from changing to a natural shampoo. it's also a fantastic way to gain volume and to cut down on getting ready time if you don't want to wash your hair [all my dry shampoo recommendations listed at the bottom].

so what is my personal hair routine? right now i wash my hair about once a week. [and for all of you thinking that i can get away with that because i have short hair, you're wrong. when my hair was long, i was only washing it twice a week. and i know plenty of ladies with longer hair than i ever had that only wash it once a week.] anyways, i wash it once a week and then, twice each week, i use conditioner only. the rest of the time i just use dry shampoo along with a little texture cream for style. and honestly, that's about the same thing i did with long hair as well.

have you all ventured into natural haircare? have you had trouble switching over? have a favorite brand? think everything i am saying is bull****?

<3 jojy


natural shampoos i have tried and liked:

• Rahua
• Acure Organics
• evo [this is the brand they use at the salon i go to]

the one that i have not liked:

• John Masters

brands that i want to try that have gotten great reviews:

• Yarok
• Intelligent Nutrients [made by the founder of aveda]

dry shampoos:

• Lulu organics [you can also find it in travel size for cheaper]
• The All-Nighter [comes in different colors to suit your hair color so as not to leave a white residue. GREAT for  some serious volume]
• Acure Organics [haven't tried this one but i'm sure its great.]
• or just use regular ol' organic corn starch. i have the lulu and the all-nighter but i typically just reach for a little corn starch and rub it in real good on my roots.

all of the links lead to where you can buy each product. if you don't do online shopping, i reccomend checking your local whole foods and vitamin shoppe. 

[images from spiritbeautylounge.com]

spring time beauty wish list

juice beauty SPF 30 tinted mineral moisturizer: i'm thinking this would be a great makeup for summer. it has SPF which is a must [all day every day, you guys!] and its lightly tinted. assuming my skin is clear enough, i would probably just wear this with a little blush and mascara and be done.

ilia beauty lipstick in "neon angel": i want this stuff so bad. ilia has been my go to lipstick for about a year now but usually only in the red category. i don't know what has come over me, but for the past couple weeks i find myself looking at this lipstick several times a week thinking over when i can buy it. the colors of clothes i wear tend to be more neutral so i feel like i could do this neon lip no problem. i can't stop imaging an all black outfit with a neon pink smile. do you have the image in your head? i'm rocking it, right?

clarisonic mia sonic skin cleansing system: i have been hearing about these forever but never paid them any mind. maybe it's cause my winter skin in freaking out a lot lately, i don't know. but all of a sudden i feel like i need this. has anyone out there ever used one? i think the idea is that it just cleans your skin way better than you clean can it with your hands. apparently it really helps with acne. i'll take it. bonus, they come in fun colors!

soapwalla luxurious moisturizing body oil: i don't know why but i hate lotioning my body. i guess i just feel like it takes too long, and i get lotion everywhere, and it never dries fast enough, etc. but i have never tried a body oil. i love my face oils, so i feel like a body oil could be really great. i also have a weird red itchy rash all over my stomach sometimes [no doc has ever successfully diagnosed it] and i bet it would go away if i was consistently putting a quality body oil on.

have any of you used these products? i'm hoping to get some of these for valentine's day, in my easter basket and/or for my birthday. [hint hint, husband...]

<3 jojy

my favorite etsy shops: soapwalla

i adore this shop. Soapwalla has some serious bath and body products. y'all know that i'm all about the natural and organic stuff and this shop is definitely my go to for soaps, body oils and of course the deodorant. 

the Soapwalla chef, Rachel is one inspiring lady. she started making her products in her own kitchen because she has lupus, a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that was causing her to have painful skin rashes. she needed to use products that were free of all those toxic chemicals and made instead with wholesome and organic ingredients. thus she created Soapwalla:

"Soapwalla products are comprised of the highest quality products available, made with organic, vegan, food-grade ingredients, and never harmful or synthetic additives such as petrochemicals, parabens, pthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Our skin is our largest organ and in order for it to function at its best we must feed it with wholesome ingredients. If I refuse to put something in my body, I shouldn't be putting it on my body, either."

                                                   -Rachel, Soapwalla chef.

my favorite product of hers so far [sadly i haven't tried all of them yet] is the deodorant cream. it is THE BEST deodorant i have EVER USED [organic or not] IN  MY LIFE. i have always had sensitive armpits. deodorant always made my skin get red and rashy and it hurt so bad. i used dove for years cause it was the least irritating stuff i could find but when i changed all my products to be more natural, dove had to go. after some research i finally came across Soapwalla's deodorant and i've been hooked ever since. i never stink. i'm serious. it works so well. and it doesn't irritate and it smells wonderful. 

you know how bath&bodyworks is the typical "i don't know what to get this lady" present? well just stop it. you know that stuff always ends up collecting dust in the guest bathroom [also it's filled with gross chemicals]. go check out Soapwalla and buy them something that they'll actually use! 


<3 jojy



[photos courtesy of soapwalla]

UPDATED WITH WINNER-your chance to win $50 credit to nubonau.com!

hello all! i have some very exciting news:

after reading my post on natural beauty products, nubonau.com has offered all of you people a chance to win $50 credit to their site! if you have been wanting to try out some natural products, now is your chance!!

details below...

here's the deal:

the $50 credit that they are offering is in the form of 5000 loyalty points [which i talked briefly about here]. so in order to win and redeem your credit, you need to register at nubonau.com. this does not require any credit card info or anything like that. just your name, a password, etc. and then voila! you are in the cloud nine club and are eligible to win and redeem 5000 points [$50] on something wonderful!

so to enter to win, you register here and then leave a comment on this post telling me that you have in fact registered at nubonau [or if you already were registered] and then be sure to also tell me the email address that you used to register- this is of utmost importance so that if you win, nubonau can credit the correct account with 5000 points!

please read over some fine print regarding the rules for entry to make sure you are eligible:

All competitions and Contests on NuboNau.com (including the respective NuboNau Facebook and Twitter pages) are only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and are only open to individuals who are at least 18 years of age at the date of application.

By entering any competition presented by NuboNau entrants accept and agree to be bound by Official Rules as provided on this website and agree to NuboNau's general Terms and Conditions. Acceptance of any prize constitutes agreement to our General Terms and Conditions. Any violation of contest rules may, at the discretion of NuboNau, result in disqualification. All decisions of the judges (NuboNau Inc) regarding any and all Competitions and Contests are final and binding in all respects.

the contest will close thursday, november 15th at 8:00pm and a winner will be chosen on friday november 16th.

good luck!!

<3 jojy

the winner is Griffin Pepper! thanks for playing everyone!


[photos from nubonau.com]

my favorite things: beauty product edition

if you know anything about me, you may know that i'm all about organic/natural beauty products and some of you ladies out there have been curious about the products i use and where i get them. so here you go...but know that this only scratches the surface and there will be more about this in future posts!

the five things you see above are my nearest and dearest beauty products. i suppose i could be classified as a product junkie but since cleaning out my makeup bag and filling it with pure, clean, all natural brands, i have become less of a junkie and more of a lover of quality goods. so now instead of stockpiling tons of gross products, i invest in the good ones made with quality ingredients. here are my must-haves right now:

1. john masters 100% argan oil - this stuff is wonderful. i use it to moisturize in the morning and evening. leaves your skin silky and radiant and has tons of anti-aging benefits! 

2. stark skincare green tea detox clay mask - i have never been a mask user but i love this stuff. i use it 2-3 times a week and it has helped my skin so much! i am blemish prone for sure but this mask has decreased the frequency and intensity of my breakouts, including the hormonal variety. 

3. 100% pure argan oil facial moisturizer SPF 30 - i am an spf freak. and good, clean spf that doesn't turn your skin completely white is hard to come by. i just bought this bottle of moisturizer/spf a couple months ago and its a winner. i typically put it on after i put on a little argan oil, but before i put on makeup. its lightweight, not too greasy and it protects my precious skin from the suns harmful rays! 

4. rms living luminizer - okay i adore this product. its little but its a lot of bang for your buck. i have had one little pot of this since april and its still going strong, probably for several more months. it is a creamy, shimmery luminizer that pretty much creates the perfect, subtle, soft glow on your face. its not overwhelming or glittery. it really just kind of makes your skin look alive. i put it on top of any other makeup i'm wearing. it goes at the top of my cheeks, down my nose, sometimes on my brow bone, and sometimes on my collar bone.

5. ilia beauty lipstick in wild child - i saved the best for last. i love lipstick in general. sometime in 2008 i really started wearing it. and i went all out. i decided if one is going to wear lipstick, it should always be of the red variety. always. even to the grocery store or just around the house but definitely out for dinner or to a party. this lipstick is, in my opinion, THE BEST natural lipstick. its full and creamy and can be intense or not depending on how thick you put it on. and this is the best part: IT LAST AND LASTS better than any "long-wear" lipstick from the drug store that is full of lead and other terrible ingredients. this one is clean and made with organic ingredients. and "wild child" has become my signature shade. 

now, where do i get all of these products? there are several natural beauty product stores on the web nowadays that i frequent. my favorite is nubonau.com for sure. i can't get everything there unfortunately because they don't have every single brand but generally i get most things from there. they have a wide selection, superb customer service [something that is very important to me] and they have this great little points system where every time you make a purchase, you gain points and once you have enough, you can buy products with your points. it's great. 

also. i realize that none of the products are cheap and its much easier to just go to target and buy whatever less expensive makeup that your heart desires..but to me, this stuff is worth every penny because these products are free of those harmful chemicals! i think our health is worth the price tag and thats coming from a girl on a [veryveryvery] tight budget! 

okay i'm done! i hope this was helpful and i look forward to discussing this stuff further.

<3 jojy

p.s. if you have never heard that the chemicals that are in your bath/body/beauty products could be detrimental to your health, check out these resources: nomoredirtylooks.com -a great site for natural makeup reviews and helpful information on avoiding toxic chemicals. they also wrote a book about all of it which is originally how i got started on all this. you can also explore ewg.org [environmental working group] for all kinds of healthy, chemical free living tips. ewg also has a cool feature where you can look up your favorite beauty products and find out how toxic they are! yikes! it's called skin deep. 

(photos of john masters argain oil, 100% pure moisturizer, and living luminizer from nubonau.com. photo of green tea clay mask from starkskincare.com. photo of ilia lipstick from iliabeauty.com)