Reevaluating Your Skincare Routine

Why is my skin freaking out? 

I get this question a lot this time of year and the most common answer is the changing in the climate. The transition from winter to spring, and then summer, often means change in humidity, temperature, and being outside more which can shock your skin into fight mode. 

When this happens, it may be time to reevaluate your routine. If you are getting more oily, a change in moisturizer or using less of it may be warranted. If you are chapped or seem stripped, adding more hydration is necessary. With either change, a good exfoliating regimen is suggested.

Check out the graphics for options for various issues you are experiencing right now.

E-mail me for a consultation for the perfect routine for you! avapurebb@gmail.com

Also, check out my wellness community for other safe swaps and cosmetic options.

Go Green In Every Room

🌿Going Green In Every Room 🌿

In celebration of Earth Day's 50th anniversary this month, I want to share a few ways to be a bit greener all over your house. Here are some simple ideas for various common rooms in your home. 🌎 For the full list check out this post in Avapure’s Green Beauty and Beyond

♻️KITCHEN♻️

➡️Put an "Eat me Now" box in the fridge to avoid the nearly pound of food wasted a day by each American! Having this designated box will be a starting point for snacks and meals.

➡️Put an end to your paper towel habit, for daily wipe downs and clean ups, switch to kitchen towels.

➡️Begin composting by using a cute compost bucket that you can gather scraps in over the week and toss once or twice into your compost pile outside.

➡️Start cooking in cast iron...like our Grandma's

♻️BATHROOM♻️

➡️Upgrade your toilet to a water efficient model.

➡️Fill our tub without wasting water by plugging it immediately and adjusting the temperature as you fill to get it just right.

➡️Shorten your showers a little- just shaving off 60 seconds will save you more than 2 gallons of water which adds up to 800 plus a year.

♻️BEDROOM♻️

➡️Wear what you have or hit up the thrift store.

➡️Detox your mattress- common foam mattresses contain materials made from petrochemicals that off gas toxic organic compounds.

♻️BACKYARD♻️

➡️Adjust the hight of the mower to 1.5-2 inches. This helps strengthen the roots of the grass and shades them so the moisture in the soil doesn't evaporate- less time running the sprinkler.

➡️Make the most of mulch to keep weeks out without chemicals.

➡️Collect rainwater for your plants.

Foolproof Ways to Destress

Who is feeling stress from the long list of changes many of us have encountered the past few weeks? I most certainly am while trying to navigate this new normal. While stress is a normal response to unexpected change, there are several things we can easily incorporate into our daily life to help reduce the short term and long term effects of stress.

Try one of these simple activities to destress. These mind altering activities are literally brain changing! 🧠

Meditation - deep breathing, prayer or focusing on a calming word. 🧘 Spend some time in silence.

This may take practice, especially if you are not one to sit in silence. Start with just a few minutes at a time. There are also guided meditation and breathing exercises on phone aps and fitness trackers that can help get your started.

Exercise- helps you breathe more deeply and releases muscle tension. ⛹️‍♀️

Get moving! Take a walk, go for a jog, work in the garden, take the pet or kids out to play…anything to get your muscles moving, blood flowing and if you are outside, some added Vitamin D.

Activity with flowing movements- think yoga or tai chi. These help slow down breathing and can increase mental focus.🧘🏼‍♀️ There are fabulous online guided workouts right now too. I have enjoyed checking some of these out (my kids love it too)!

What are your favorites? Share your favorite activities to wind down and let go of a little stress.

Product Spotlight: Skin Compound

Avapure’s Skin Compound is an excellent salve which is a heavy hitter for skin that needs immediate attention.

The slow process no heat herbal infusion allows the herbal properties to stay in tact and potent. Your skin will love the properties from these organic herbs.

🌿Plantain
🌿St. John's Wort
🌿Goldenseal
🌿Comfrey

Infused into organic olive oil combined with fair trade organic shea butter and beeswax

Good for
✅chapped skin
✅scrapes
✅wind burned skin
✅Minor burns
✅insect bites
✅prevention from elements

Snag yours today here: https://www.avapurebb.com/aromatherapy/skin-compound

Cookware Safety

🥘 🍳 As an advocate for safe swaps, I get asked about kitchen products all the time. I did some digging to help my wellness community members navigate the cookware options out there and this is what learned. Honestly, I was completely overwhelmed with options (as many of you are too I’m sure) so I am hoping that this short breakdown will help AND any of you that have knowledge not his topic will chime in to help others all of us make some safer swaps.

❌❌What we wants to avoid:

🚫Teflon - this is the most commonly use skillet and also the most warned about. Teflon contains PTEE or PFCs which can release fumes when overheated. These fumes can cause symptoms that are flulike - chills, headache, body ache, coughing, and even fever!

🚫Aluminum- aluminum exposure in general is regarded as safe, but daily exposure can be of concern. Aluminum has been shown to be linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s and neurological problems. Scientists have discovered this toxicity at certain levels, just can’t agree on what level.

❓❓Controversial Cookware

▪️Ceramic Coated Non-stick was created as a safer option to Teflon. Although it is safer, research is still being done. I believe the concern with this is heavy metals and nonoparticles.

▪️Porcelain Enamel pans are typically cast iron with enameled ceramic coating added. again some research shows lead and cadmium- something to be cautious with.

▪️Silicone- the verdict is still out on silicone baking. I personally use silicone for certain things like my mini egg omelets. They are way easier to clean than anything else I have tried

✳️What is the safest?

✅Cast Iron is my first recommendation. When appropriately seasoned, it will work like a non-stick skillet. However, avoid cooking acidic foods in cast iron, as it degrades the metal and can even make your food taste metallic.

✅Ceramic Surface Cookware- I have seen a lot about the brand Xtrema Cookware. They score highly for safety and reviews state easy to clean. They downside is ceramic breaks easily.

✅Regular Stoneware for baking. Also, I have been using Silpat baking mats on my cookie sheets for baking.

✅Glass and Corningware are excellent for the oven (just not stovetop). They rate well for safety and are pretty low maintenance.

✅Stainless steel is generally safe- again don’t cook acidic foods as with cast iron. However, my foods always stick! Suggestions?

Find more information like this in Avapure’s Green Beauty and Beyond

No Change, No Growth!

At the start of the new year, we tend to reflect and reset. I have never been one to create a New Year's resolution, but rather reflect on where I have grown and areas I want to continue to foster and develop.

This past year was pivotal for me in terms of personal development, but it only makes me want more. Changing perspective and mindset during challenging times wasn't easy and is still a process in progress, but when I step back and reflect, I love where this personal growth has brought me and I desire more. Change is GOOD- not easy, but worth it! 

One of the areas I have really focused growth is in the area of mindset, power of positivity and personal mantras. One that I keep coming back to is 'No change, no growth." This works for me in all aspects - my my relationships, my work, my fitness goals... How we speak to ourselves is so important. When you are feeling your glass is half empty, shifting your mindset is easy and beneficial- and can be easier if you have a mantra or two to speak to yourself. 

We will dive into this more over the next couple months (lots of content coming up on this and my journey of shifting mindset in Avpaure’s Green Beauty and Beyond) but in the meantime, I want you to think about your mantra and share in the comments. Let's ring in 2020 full of positivity.