Real Sh*t, Wellness

Essential oils and diffusing is SUCH a thing right now, and I am obsessed. Completely. Diffusing oils is the best to make your home smell amazing, to feel better, and just to make your home more vibe-y. You know what I mean if you have a diffuser. When I am at home, you can bet I am diffusing oils.

Another big benefit of diffusing essential oils is that the ones I am going to show you today are non-toxic and plant-based…so you don’t have to worry about being poisoned by gross chemicals.

I’ve spoken about my anxiety here on the blog before, and it is something that I deal with regularly, so I recently did some research on the best oils to use to help with anxiety. THERE ARE SO MANY! I have tried most of the recommended oils and I am here to share my absolute faves with you.

Adding in the use of essential oils with other self-care things like meditation, yoga, therapy, etc. will add to your arsenal of combative techniques.

♡ Lavender oil: Lavender oil is the all encompassing oil and can be used for anxiety, to help with sleep, and ease your mind. Think: relaxation and serenity.

♡ Tangerine oil: Any citrus oil can brighten your mood when your anxiety is making you feel depressed and sad. Orange/tangerine oil is known to be the best of the citrus oils for this purpose. I love to mix orange essential oil with eucalyptus oil for the most amazing spa-like experience in my bathroom.

♡ Bergamont oil: Bergamot oil comes from bergamot oranges and has an invigorating citrus scent (see above for orange oil being amazing for anxiety). According to a 2015 study, both animal and human trials have found that bergamot helps relieve anxiety and improve mood.

♡ Ylang Ylang oil: Ylang Ylang oil is a beautiful floral scent and is used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation. According to a 2006 study on nurses, inhaling a blend of ylang ylang, lavender, and bergamot lowered stress and anxiety levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and serum cortisol.

My favorite blends:

♡ Well-Being oil: If you are just getting started with essential oils, I highly recommend trying out some of Saje’s blends. Well-Being is my all time favorite because it’s a blend of some of my favorite scents: lavender, neroli, and cypress. We already talked about lavender, and neroli is a floral, citrus note to instill feelings of peace and harmony. Cypress centers the emotions and stimulates the senses with a fresh, woodsy aroma. AKA it’s pretty much perfection when it comes to helping with anxiety.

My best tip is to use essential oils consistently. I keep my faves in my car, too, so that I can use them all day.

Real Sh*t, Style

The wedding is over, I get it. But I have so many tips to share!

Jeff and I were engaged for 2.5 years, so I have some unique tips to help the whole process run smoothly. I feel like this is more easily shared by literally talking with you guys, so please take a listen to today’s Podcast episode all about wedding planning!

Beauty, Real Sh*t, Wellness

First things first, I have quite the history when it comes to having fake nails. I got my first acrylic set when I was 12 years old because I thought the french manicure was so cool. You know what I’m talking about! I loved the long square shaped french was just so chic. LOL!

I would continue to get them done occasionally, but took several year breaks until a few years ago, when I was just sick of my natural nails constantly breaking. So 3 years ago, I jumped back on the acrylic train and didn’t stop until recently.

The #1 reason that I wanted to stop getting acrylics was actually because I also topped them with gel polish, which meant that I was putting my hands under UV light every other week. I know that nail techs will tell you that there is no risk, but there’s just no way around it. UV light is no bueno. I also wanted a more natural solution to my thin, brittle nail situation.

Enter dip powder. OH-EM-GEE, guys, this is life changing. Unlike Acrylic, manicure dip does not make use of any special chemicals to help it harden. And compared to Gel manicures, it does not require the special UV rays necessary for curing. {Source}

Dip powder application involves applying a base and then dipping them in powder. The powder adds the colors, and they come in different colors and shines. {Source}.

I was nervous that after removing my acrylics, which was a NIGHTMARE by the way (it took me 6 hours), that my nails would break even with the dip powder. Nope. It’s been 3 months since I’ve been getting them done, and my nails have remained strong and they have even grown out quite a bit. There are no “tips” on my nails, I just have the dip powder laid over my natural nails and they are thriving.

I. KEEP UP WITH NAIL APPOINTMENTS

When I got acrylics, I stuck with the same person because she GOT me. She always got my shape just right, and knew which colors I’d like. I was so sad to leave her because she doesn’t do dip manicures, but I have found someone at a new salon that does a great job. I recommend going every other week and sticking with the same person. This may require trial and error, but once you find the right person, keep them!

2. ALL ABOUT THE POWDER DIPS

We talked about dip before, but it really is the best alternative to gel and acrylics because it’s natural – the powder is fortified with vitamin E and calcium. It’s a win win. No damage, no chipping, no UV light…I mean, what could be better?!

3. USE CUTICLE OIL

If you’re trying to repair damaged nails or grow your nails longer, using a vitamin E oil on your cuticles helps a lot. It also helps keep your hands looking hydrated which is a bonus. I love this one from Jason.

Uncategorized

It doesn’t matter how old you are or what skin type you have….you NEED to be using a Vitamin C product on your skin because it has so many amazing benefits.

I am your trusty guinea pig, and I have tried 6 Vitamin C products over the last 2 years, and can confidently say that Kakadu Vitamin C is my favorite. Reason being: I can SEE and FEEL the difference in my skin when using this product every morning. The benefits of using a Vitamin C on your skin are numerous, beginning with the most popular – it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

You might be wondering what Kakadu is? I did, too.

Wild harvested in the remote Australian Kimberley and NW Territory, Kakadu Plum puts the SUPER in super fruit.

Ounce per ounce, Kakadu plums contain on average 55 times the vitamin C of Florida oranges.*

Vitamin C helps protect against pollutants, oxidative stress and free radical damage, and may help improve skin elasticity, firmness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Kakadu Plum grows in the remote bush of the Australian Kimberley and Northwest Territory.  It is here that the Kakadu Plum is sustainably wild harvested during the monsoonal season of the hot, inhospitable Australian summer.  Hand picked by the Aboriginal people, each tiny fruit is gathered from trees found at random.

The Kakadu Plum is considered a gift of the Dreamtime, the sacred Aboriginal era during which ancestral spirit beings created the world. Aboriginal legend teaches generation after generation the secrets of this extraordinary fruit.

The Kakadu Plum grows in the remote bush of the Australian Kimberley and Northwest Territory.  It is here that the Kakadu Plum is sustainably wild harvested during the monsoonal season of the hot, inhospitable Australian summer.  Hand picked by the Aboriginal people, each tiny fruit is gathered from trees found at random.

The Kakadu Plum is considered a gift of the Dreamtime, the sacred Aboriginal era during which ancestral spirit beings created the world. Aboriginal legend teaches generation after generation the secrets of this extraordinary fruit. {Source}.

What initially drew me to Kakadu C was its high potency (it is 20% stabilized vitamin C), it’s cruelty-free, dermatologist tested and approved, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic. It is also formulated without dye, fragrance, and gluten.

Now for the full list of benefits of using a Vitamin C on your skin:

♡ Promotes Collagen Production

Vitamin C boosts collagen production, which fills in lines and wrinkles. With a concentrated product like Kakadu C, MAJOR prevention takes place as far as aging goes. Can you say saving money on botox?!

♡ Protects skin from the sun

Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it naturally strengthens your skin and repels damage. It shouldn’t be an alternative for sunscreen, but it does protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

♡ Speeds up healing

Studies have also found that high levels of Vitamin C can help to speed up the body’s natural healing processes. It can help to heal small cuts, acne scars, and other blemishes more quickly and effectively.

♡ Helps with discoloration

If you suffer from skin redness or other discoloration of the skin, then a a vitamin C serum may also be able to help you achieve a more uniform skin tone and better complexion. Specifically, vitamin C is great for reducing embarrassing redness. This has been very true for me, as I deal with rosacea and have dealt with it since I was 10 years old. Vitamin C reduces my redness by about 30%. This also goes for reducing the appearance of under-eye circles! This stuff is seriously magic when it comes to discoloration.

♡ Reduces inflammation

Vitamin C is known to reduce inflammation, which is incredible for reducing puffiness in the face. I’m all about facial massage to reduce puffiness, and the combination with the use of a vitamin C serum is life-changing. I feel like I lost 5 pounds after massaging my face with Kakadu C!

How I use Vitamin C

I like to apply vitamin C serum once per day, in the morning, to my face and neck (massaging for a few minutes) after using toner. After the massage is done, I apply the rest of my skincare and makeup.

Real Sh*t, Style, Travel, Wedding

Kauai is one of my favorite places in the world. It covers so much: the nicest people, beautiful beaches, amazing food, and a relaxing vibe…which is why we chose the island for our wedding!

We stayed on the island for 8 days after our wedding, and I wanted to share a behind the scenes peek of our honeymoon with this travel diary.

xo, Lynn