Update: My Latest Clean Bath + Beauty Favorites

It’s been about a little over a year since I started down my journey of cleaning up my body with my hormones in mind both from the inside out and the outside in. And when I say journey, I mean it’s been a JOURNEY.

I’ve written about the food side multiple times, and inspired by some new favorite all-natural products, I thought it was about time to update you about all the junk I’m using on my skin and hair. *None* of these brands have sponsored me or gifted me these products, so I assure you, you are getting fully honest reviews.

But first, a couple notes — if you’re sharp and you read me carefully, I’ve made mistakes. Yes, yes, hard to believe, I know. For instance, once upon a time, I thought Method made products free of hormone disruptors. Not so. All joking aside, if you couldn’t already tell, I’m no expert, so read ingredients carefully and do not rely on me.

Secondly, our favorite brands are onto us. They see that clean beauty is the next big thing. Sephora even has a clean beauty section on its website (which is very helpful). So brands have begun to plaster words like “vegan” and “natural” all over their shit (kind of like an apple with a sticker that says “Gluten-free!”). But 1) there are no rules that say these things have to be honest (they’re not food or drugs and so the FDA doesn’t regulate them), and 2) you need to know what works well for you. For instance, “vegan” doesn’t necessarily mean great things to me if it’s a product made with soy, because while it IS natural, soy has estrogenic effects that could potentially exacerbate my endometriosis symptoms — exactly the thing I am trying to avoid.

Finally, attempting to get rid of all your products and replace them with natural ones isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap (although I have some really affordable finds for you today!). Don’t stress though. Honestly, the last thing you need to be stressing about is if your favorite body wash has phthalates or if your lotion comes in a BPA-free bottle. It’s just too much sometimes, and the effects of stress on your body are just as bad as endocrine disruptors, if not worse.

In the meantime though, I’m happy to take one for the team and experiment with some new clean products. Here are my current favs and my not-so-favs.

SKINCARE

Skincare is the category I am probably most excited to tell you about. I’ve come across some really fantastic, affordable products. I’ve been battling with my skin FOR YEARS. TBH, I really thought by 34, acne would not be an issue for me. Actually, I recently had my first (glorious, incredible, wonderful) facial, and my facialist tells me I don’t actually have acne. Rather, my skin is dehydrated, my digestion is slow, and I do have some hormonal zits.

Look at me, using serums and oils and shit!

Girl, you’re telling me. Whether it is technically acne or some other skin woe, I am not here for it.

That said, I’ll admit, I have not been consistent about a skincare regimen beyond just washing my face morning and night. Either my skin is on a clear streak and I just leave it alone, or my skin is terrible and it feels like nothing I try works. So when my friend told me about The Ordinary’s mostly clean, very affordable products, I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try.

Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of serums, acids, and oils available, I just followed The Ordinary’s sample regimen guide for “congestion and the look of blemishes.” After washing my face, I start and end my day with the niacinamide and zinc serum, and in the evening, I follow that with the salicylic acid. Finally, I finish with the plant-derived squalane (the most expensive of the three at a whopping $7.90!).

I’ll admit, I was skeptical of the squalane. It is a straight up oil and just sits on top of my skin. I felt like that was much too oily for me, but I stuck with it, and my skin has improved! I reported this to my facialist, and she recommended I use it in the morning as well. Since it takes hours to sink into my skin, I didn’t really think I could use it under my makeup, so I recently started using the rose hip seed oil, which is still a moisturizing oil but a bit lighter than the squalane.

The Ordinary recently also came out with a squalane-based cleanser, which naturally I had to try since I am now a squalane convert. I don’t think this stuff makes as big of a difference as the serums, acids, and oils, BUT it is a solid substitute for Glossier’s milky jelly cleanser which I adored once upon a time. (FYI, the milky jelly cleanser is NOT terrible at a 4 on the Think Dirty scale in case you also love it.)

My other favorite new skincare find is my makeup remover. For as long as I can remember, I’ve used Almay’s oil-free eye makeup remover wipes. I didn’t think much about it since Almay is generally hypoallergenic, but friends, “hypoallergenic” is not the same as hormone-friendly. I thought about this when I was staying at a hotel overnight for work. This swanky hotel provided makeup remover wipes and out of curiosity, I started reading the ingredients. Sulfates, phenoxyethanol, bummer. Then it occurred to me to see if these ingredients were in the Almay wipes. Sure enough, they were.

Guys, I don’t know what the hell micellar water is or why everyone is obsessed with it now, but this Yes To Coconut Micellar Water is a SOLID makeup remover. It is gentle, it takes off all my makeup very easily, it smells great, and as far as I can tell, there is nothing in it that causes me concern.

BODY

WELL. I am not pleased to tell you that the occasional bout of acne (or non-acne) sometimes still plagues my back. Cute. A few months ago, my massage therapist asked me what body wash I had been using. I was using the Honest Company’s shampoo and body wash. She told me some other clients had similar problems with that brand. Great. Yes, it’s clean, but I was obviously not happy with these results. Thanks Jessica Alba.

She recommended African black rock (charcoal) soap. While I do like the Alaffia citrus scent, after talking with my facialist and finding out my skin is actually dehydrated, I started to wonder if the harsher oil-stripping route I had taken with my face was also doing no favors for my body, and I switched recently to Alba Botanica’s bath and shower gel. One note — I am not crazy about the midnight tuberose scent that I’ve linked here but that’s what I am using because it was available on Amazon Subscribe & Save (the millennial Jewish woman’s version of coupon clipping). But I will say, it IS very emollient, and there are other scents. TBD on if it helps calm my skin down.

My next favorite body care find? Trader Joe’s mango honey moisturizing shave cream. I just happened to be in a TJ’s when I was running low on shaving gel and decided to give this a try. TRADER JOE’S CAN DO NO WRONG. This stuff smells great and is also “very emollient.”

On the topic of my legs, when I remember to put lotion on them (not often), I like any of the scents from the Everyone brand. They all smell awesome, and Everyone also has some great essential oil products. TBH, Scott is more regimented about moisturizing with this than I am though. But I am OK with that because I get to smell him smelling like a lemon coconut cake.

And while we’re talking about scent, I’ve been a big fan of fragrances since…well, for as long as I can remember. As you might know, I am also a big fan of podcasts. So when I started hearing ads for Phlur on my favorite podcasts, I was interested in trying their clean-ingredient fragrances. For $18, they’ll send you a sample pack of three fragrances to try. I tried Hanami, Olmsted & Vaux, and Améline.

Phlur advertises ALL their fragrances as unisex. But…Améline is described as:

“Our statement of feminine intelligence, grace and glamour. A clever new concept of a rose, Améline owes its unique and complex presence to notes of rose (of course), sparkling top notes of Italian bergamot, plus pink pepper and hints of patchouli and sandalwood. Can be worn by a man, but only by those who want a lot of compliments.”

So I didn’t expect to like it, as someone who used to run around Sephora spritzing myself with men’s fragrances. I really doubt a man would want to wear Améline (and I further doubt he’d get anything but odd looks), but as it turns out, I do. I couldn’t get enough of it. So I ordered a full size, and if you do that within a certain amount of time of ordering a sample pack, Phlur will take the $18 off the price of a full-sized bottle.

Clean fragrance FTW!

What can I say? I’m just a bastion of feminine intelligence, grace, and glamour.

Finally, as we all know, a solid sunscreen is an important part of whole-body skincare. Especially if you’re like me and have a penchant for lounging in the sun in the summertime. I am disappointed to say that my favorite sunscreen of choice over the last few summers, Sun Bum, while vegan, comes up at a whopping 8 out of 8 on the Think Dirty scale. So that’s a sun bummer. This year, I’ll switch to COOLA, a light, non-greasy sunscreen that I’ve sampled in the past. It smells great and feels great, and best of all, it is a clean green 0 on Think Dirty.

MAKEUP + HAIR

Given my previous admission that my skincare routine generally consisted of washing my face and pretty much nothing else, it may not surprise you that I have historically been equally low-maintenance when it comes to my hair. For years, my favorite shampoo and conditioner was good old (and cheap) Herbal Essences.

Then a few years ago when I got my hair colored for the first time, I learned that sulfates will alter the color, so I tried a number of color-safe products. Now that I am in the market for extra clean, endocrine-friendly products, I am using Pacifica’s Coconut Power Strong and Long Healing Shampoo and Conditioner. I love a great coconut scent and I love a wallet-friendly Amazon Subscribe + Save item even more.

Transitioning my makeup products has been a lot slower process and I only have a few finds to share with you so far. Again, my makeup routine is relatively low-maintenance (for someone who wears makeup, of course). On days that I wear makeup, it takes me about five minutes to apply:

• An all-over tinted moisturizer or CC cream

• Under-eye/blemish concealer

• Eyeshadow

• Eyeliner

• Mascara

• Blush

Occasionally I’ll also throw on a brow gel and even more occasionally, lipstick. So far, I’ve found replacements for three of these products.

I replaced my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (that I REALLY REALLY loved) with Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular CC Cream. The coverage is comparable, but it’s not as buildable as the Laura Mercier was. So I’d be open to any clean light coverage products y’all love.

Similarly, the concealer I have found to replace my beloved Benefit Erase Paste concealer is decent, just a teeny tiny bit off. What I like about W3LL PEOPLE’s Natural Bio-Correct Multi-Action Concealer is that it has caffeine in it, and caffeine is great for calming puffy under-eye circles. What I don’t love, is that by the end of the day, it collects in the tiny creases of said under-eye circles. So I’m open to recommendations here as well!

However, one all-natural find that outdoes even my old favorite mascaras, is ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara. This stuff is AMAZING. It is jet black, really lengthens my lashes, and does not clump or flake at all. I also like how the brush has a row of firm bristles to separate lashes.

NEEDS

And now, here’s where you can help me. I am on the lookout for the following all-natural bath and beauty products. Tell me your favorites in the comments or on Instagram!

• I am VERY flattered and pleased to have gotten quite a few compliments on my eyeliner since starting this blog and Instagram. Since my high school days of rimming my eyes with thick, black, emo-style pencil, a black, liquid liner cat eye is about all I do (and can do), and a few of you have asked for tutorials. I will attempt this (but if you want really good beauty tutorials from actual beauty bloggers with an amazing sense of humor, visit my friends Our Time of the Month)! Currently, I use Eyeko’s Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, so I’m on the hunt for a replacement. What I’m looking for: a black liquid or gel liner, preferably with a pen-like applicator rather than a brush.

• I’ll also need new eyeshadow to put under that eyeliner. Really, I have very little requirements. What I’m looking for: a good neutral tone that stays put.

• Since I am generally deathly pale, I do require some blush (and bronzer in the summer). Similarly, very few requirements. What I’m looking for: a cream or gel cheek color that lasts — could be open to a powder but I generally think creams last longer.

• Like any good Jewish girl, I have made it so that 99 percent of you do not know the true texture of my hair. Trust — it’s a jewfro, and while I may be low-maintenance about my skincare and makeup routines, my hair does require some work. An ESSENTIAL part of this has been some kind of prepping agent to protect my hair from impending heat and also to ensure that it remains smooth and as frizz-free as possible (not an easy feat in the Baltimore summertime). Past favorites include Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment and CHI’s Iron Guard. Currently, I am using Aveda’s Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother. It is cleaner than the other two but does have some sulfates. So I’d like something a bit cleaner. What I’m looking for: something to put on wet hair that protects it from heat and ensures a smooth ‘do.

• On the topic of hair, I am currently rocking some blonde balayage by my girl Beth at Ash + Oak Salon (highly recommend). To keep the blonde pieces cool and bright, every other week or so, I use Fanola’s No Yellow purple shampoo. It is DEFINITELY full of hormone disruptors, so I am in the market for a replacement. What I’m looking for: a purple shampoo to keep my blonde from getting brassy.

• Finally, if you know me, you know I always have my nails did. And I RARELY get them done by the pros. I love painting my nails and have a box full of OPI and Essie shades. I’ve heard of ten over ten non-toxic nail polish, which is now at Target (!), but have also heard it doesn’t stay chip-free for long (like even a day). What I’m looking for: GOOD COLORS that hold up for about a week (like OPI or Essie).

Have you tried these products? What do you think of them? Likes? Dislikes? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram!

xo,
Staci

Sweet Dreams

When I was little, I had the coolest bed…a TRUNDLE bed. I remember being so excited to get that bed because it meant when my friends slept over, they could have a little bed right next to mine, and that seemed like the most amazing thing. Right up there with sitting facing backward in the “way back” of the station wagon my parents had when my brother and I were kids.

Just like the station wagon became significantly less awesome when I turned 16 and inherited it as my first car, the trundle bed outlived its cool factor. It’s a twin bed, the mattress is about as thick as an ultra-thin maxi pad, and the frame squeaks and creaks (and not because it’s old…it was noisy as hell from the very beginning).

Don’t get me wrong, I still sleep GREAT on it if I spend the night in my old bedroom at my parents’ house because I spent the first 18 years of my life sleeping on that bed. And compared to the dormitory beds in college, the trundle bed was downright luxurious.

So when I moved out of my parents’ house after college and got to pick out an actual adult bed, I was pretty much obsessed with it. The mattress was thick and cushy, and I picked out the perfect CB2 Marimekko graphic floral duvet to make my bed the centerpiece of the bedroom. I was super stoked to buy some ultra soft jersey sheets as well.

But when my boyfriend moved in this past June, it was time to retire my old bed. The jersey sheets, twice replaced, had pilled and had holes in them. The corners of the box spring were ripped up by the same claws that made the holes in the jersey sheets. And the bed frame was literally down a leg. Not to mention the bed was a full-sized bed and my boyfriend is a larger than average full-sized human at 6 ft. Add two cats to the bedtime equation and I was feeling the need for more space.

So sleepy. Hecking up the bed is hard work.

Now that I am an (older) adult (read: no longer the 24-year-old who was stoked for jersey sheets), my boyfriend and I agreed it was a wise investment to buy a quality bed with quality bedding.

He can literally sleep anywhere at any time, but I alas cannot, and sleep is VERY important to me. I am convinced that ample, quality sleep is the key to good health. No matter how much celery juice you drink or crystals you use (wait, what do you do with crystals again?), sleep is the number 1 game changer.

I am not kidding, I literally have a recurring nightmare about being up all night. That’s it. Nothing else happens. I just see the sun start to come up and realize I’ve been up all night and it’s a BAD DREAM.

Since putting this bed together was a PROCESS, I am going to tell you about the splurges and bargain finds and preach to you the good word of sleep. FYI, none of this is sponsored (but if you want to partner with me, please get in touch, I would like free sleep things) so you are getting my honest opinions.

First, a little pro tip from me to you…or really from Scott to you, since he is the one who turned me onto this. Whenever we are looking to buy something for the apartment (bedding) or need a new gadget (wireless headphones) or really anything (2019 planner), we consult Wirecutter. Obviously, reviews are biased and subjective, which is why Wirecutter is great. They apply a nearly scientific way of testing and reviewing the best products on the market and update it regularly. They tell you what criteria they based their picks on and give you upgrade or budget options. So far it hasn’t let us down (we are now the proud owners of the softest fucking towels around and I am loving it), and we used it a lot when researching our bed and bedding.

As one does, we started with our mattress. There are so many bed-in-a-box brands now, it was hard to know where to start. But it was July, blazing hot outside, and Scott is a walking furnace. In the winter, I’ve been known to go to sleep in full sweats, socks, and even mittens because I am so goddamn cold all the time, but wedged between Scott and two cats meant waking up drenched in sweat more often than I’d prefer (which is never).

So we did some research and I asked around about cooling mattresses in particular. My friend Renee raved about her Ghostbed mattress, and after we did some research, we determined this was the best cooling mattress at the best price point. I love a soft mattress, but I know firm is better. Luckily, the Ghostbed is firm but not too firm for me. And if you’re in the market for a cooling mattress (or really any mattress), I’d also recommend the Ghostbed. Definitely look for deals though. We bought ours during a Fourth of July sale, got $150 off, and two free pillows…and I LOVE my Ghost pillow.

All of my sets of sheets were now too small for the queen-sized mattress, but Scott’s old sheets were big enough. He had a couple sets of Sheex, those “performance” sheets that are supposed to be cooling and moisture-wicking like workout clothes. Maybe it was the leftover Florida smell that we couldn’t get rid of no matter how much we washed them or maybe it was the clinginess, but I could not stand these sheets. (It was the clinginess, just taking a shot at Florida.) I personally hate it when sheets bunch up under me or get twisted around my legs, and these had a proclivity for doing that.

So we consulted Wirecutter for this one and dutifully went with their favorite pick four years running, the L.L. Bean 280-thread count Pima cotton percale sheets. They are super crisp and soften up the more you wash them, and as Wirecutter points out, they are cool in the summer. The first night I put these on the bed, I got in and started doing snow angels of happiness.

Next it was time to replace the biggest source of heat other than the living beings occupying the bed — the comforter. I had a cheap comforter inside my beloved CB2 duvet, and we debated back and forth about the merits of a comforter versus a quilt, but I couldn’t find a lightweight quilt that was what I wanted — a simple gray with white pinstripes. The quilts and coverlets were not doing it for me, so eventually we researched the best cooling comforters and settled on Buffy. I am a big fan of this “cloud comforter,” which you can try for 30 days before deciding to keep it and pay. Bonus: I was surprised with a free sleep mask that came along with it. I sleep with it on every night; it has lavender sewn into it and it is very soothing.

Here’s where I fucked up though — I did eventually find the pinstripes I was looking for when stores began stocking different duvets for fall. I got this cute reversible Threshold duvet from Target. But I didn’t notice it was flannel until it was too late, and all our carefully selected *cooling* items were for naught. Flannel is fucking hot. So when the weather warms up, we’ll be in the market for a lightweight quilt or coverlet after all (any suggestions)?

I won’t shit on Target though; I love their home items, and we did get some extra pillowcases there to supplement the ones that came with our sheets. These super affordable Room Essentials microfiber pillowcases are incredibly soft and come in a million colors and patterns.

So…#sorrynotsorry I put this much time, effort, and thought into my bed. Sleep is my favorite form of self-care.

What are your favorites? Come tell me how you dressed your bed either in the comments or on Instagram!

xo,
S

Boring Self-Care (My Favorite Habits)

This past weekend, I had one of the best mini-vacations I had in a long time, visiting friends in Boston. In an effort to get good flight prices, Scott and I relied on 6 a.m. flights and then the weekend was PACKED with fun stuff since it was my first time there.

No regrets but...holy shit I am tired. Compounded by the facts that I got my period (and was not able to cycle-sync with rest), my healthy eating went to shit (still no regrets though because Boston has amazing food), and my body is still adjusting to a slightly new work schedule, this week has been ROUGH.

Again, it was worth it. Spending time with friends and traveling are always good for my soul. But getting thrown off of my routine means self-care is the first thing to go -- especially boring self-care.

I've mentioned it a few times here and there, but boring self-care essential. I *love* manis, salt baths, and face masks as much as the next basic bitch, but sometimes to really care for yourself, you need to go even more...well, basic.

Cue boring self-care.

I first read about the concept of boring self-care about a year ago here, and I've been following @makedaisychains since (so #relatable). The idea is that something as simple as taking a shower can be excellent self-care when you're in a slump (especially if it feels like an achievement -- which is often the case when one has endometriosis, depression, or any chronic illness).

It's hard for me not to beat myself up when I fall off the rails of good habits, but as I've mentioned previously, I am trying to reframe that as an opportunity for good information. So in addition to really enjoying my poor eating habits and running around Boston this weekend, it also taught me that now that I am home, it is time to make some space for boring self care. 

Here are some of boring self-care's greatest hits:

A recent farmers' market haul.

1. As previously mentioned, showering. A lovely epsom salt bath works wonders on your skin and muscles and throw some lavender oil in there and you've got yourself a self-care party, but the truth is, we don't always have time for a leisurely bath. I try to make them a priority leading up to my period, but that just didn't happen this month. But you know what ALWAYS makes me feel refreshed? A simple shower.
2. Making my bed and sleeping like a champ. I know this doesn't bother everyone, but I personally hate getting into an unmade bed. I hate sheets being wrinkled up around my legs. It feel luxurious to get into a neatly made, tidy bed. And I know that sleep is the first thing to go for a lot of busy people, but we collectively need to make it more of a priority. The health benefits of a solid eight hours a night are numerous, and anyone who knows me knows that anything under seven means I'll be a useless, angry person the next day.
3. Social media and news curfews and blackouts. After Trump's inauguration I temporarily put myself on a social media and news ban each weekend. I was so angry and upset every day by the news that I needed a break to stay strong to be part of the #resistance. Otherwise, I probably would have lost my mind by now. And in keeping with my preachy attitudes, I've given myself a social media and news curfew as part of good sleep hygiene. If I start looking at Facebook or Instagram right before bed, I am prone to 1) scrolling mindlessly and endlessly because I am literally too lazy to turn over and plug in my phone, and/or 2) I will see something that makes me angry and I will go down the rabbit hole of obsessing about how stupid Trump's latest tweet is and how horrible his MAGA people are and then I will simmer and have trouble falling asleep.
4. Stretching. I began to really focus on stretching when I started running in order to minimize aches and pains. Then I made stretching a daily activity on the recommendation of my pelvic floor physical therapist. Luckily, PT stretches can double as runner stretches, since they focus on stretching hips and hamstrings. I know a lot of people hate stretching though because it's boring, and at this point, my regimen takes up 16 minutes. I make it go by more quickly by listening to podcasts while I do it, and my body 100 percent appreciates it. Plus, I am a better runner for it.
5. Dry brushing before each aforementioned shower. This one potentially falls into the "trendy self-care" category, because I am seeing more and more mentions of it on Instagram, but it is frankly a little boring to do. Before each shower, you basically brush your skin with a dry, stiff-bristled brush working your way from your extremities toward your heart. Aesthetically of course, it is good for your skin since it helps with exfoliation. But additionally, it promotes circulation, particularly of lymph, which is why I started to do it. Anything that helps eliminate excess estrogen more quickly, especially when I'm PMSing, is the way to go.
6. Cleaning, blurgh, cleaning. Look, I hate cleaning. Some people love it, but I hate it. I never really thought about it as a self-care activity until recently. I had some time off before I started my new job and had planned to park my ass at the pool for the whole week and not budge. Needless to say, that didn't quite work out. In fact, Scott and I spent an entire day reorganizing and cleaning the apartment since he recently moved in. Honestly, it was grueling. We were both tired, sore, and cranky by the end of the day. But then it was the most amazing feeling to just sit down on a clean sofa in a sparkling, sweet-smelling apartment, and RELAX. I was telling my PT about it, and she was like, yeah, that's self-care. OH.
7. I also used to hate cooking, but you guessed it, that's self-care too. In fact, I've come to even enjoy the whole process BECAUSE I've come to think of it as this really caring thing I am doing for myself. From meal planning, to food shopping, to prep, to cooking, being really mindful about what I am going to eat each week and creating dishes I will enjoy feels like the ULTIMATE act of self-care. When I think of it that way, it feels less like a chore and more like something I can feel good about.

What about you? What are your favorite acts of boring self-care? Will you be participating in any this weekend?

I for one will be catching up on sleep.

xo,
S

My Favorite All-Natural Bath, Body, + Beauty Products...So Far

Lately I've been binge-listening to Gretchen Rubin's podcast "Happier" from the beginning. I'll post more about that at a later date, but recently I experienced what she calls the "lightning bolt" strategy of habit change.

According to this idea, you change your habits due to one significant event that basically lights a fire under your ass until you change a habit without even trying. For instance, a woman who gets pregnant might stop smoking, or a man who is diagnosed with prediabetes changes how he eats.

My lightning bolt moment was not quite as dramatic.

As you know, I've begun being more mindful about the food I put in my body in order to reduce inflammation, thereby reducing my endometriosis symptoms. Since I had my second surgery for endometriosis, and my specialist recommended switching to all-natural bath and body products, I've kept that in the back of my mind, but was only gradually making the switch if and when I ran out of something. That is -- until my lightning bolt moment.

Several weeks ago, I was getting myself ready for the day, thinking I could use a little dry shampoo. I have quite a few dry shampoo samples from Birchbox, including R+Co Death Valley, which I know is quite the Instagram favorite. I gave myself a spritz, looked at the ingredient list, and gasped in horror. One of the first ingredients is propane. PROPANE. What the actual fuck?

I only found out sometime in the last few years that the FDA does not review or regulate bath and body products or cosmetics. If you're like Past Staci, you may think "they" wouldn't let us use ingredients that aren't safe, whoever "they" is since the FDA apparently isn't even involved. But Current Staci is much more jaded after one too many rounds of being treated with "safe" drugs and treatments that have done more harm than good.

And now? Now I'm over it all. I don't want to be running around with fucking propane in my hair. So as I finish up each product I already have, I'm methodically replacing each of my products with natural, soy-free ones that aren't full of chemicals that screw with my estrogen.

Here are some of my favorites so far!

Shower Gel 
So far I've tried three natural shower gel brands -- Dr. Bronner's, Method, and Acure. I tried the Dr. Bronner's almond 18-in-1 castile soap. It is pricier than the other two, but it isn't just body wash, hence the "18-in-1." In fact, the Dr. Bronner's site suggests using it for everything from washing your pets to scrubbing the windows to brushing your teeth. And although the consistency is watery, personally, I think the almond scent can't be beat.

Next I tried the Method Energy Boost scent, which is citrus, ginger, and sea buckthorn. I definitely like citrus scents as a pick-me-up in my morning shower, and I am pretty sure I'll be going back to this one. The wash is both gel-like and creamy, and the price point is more than sustainable.

Currently, I'm using the Acure body wash in sublime sweet orange because as you'll see below, I am a new fan of several Acure products. It smells nice, but the Method scent *just* edges it out.

Hand + Dish Soap
I am super into Method for this category again. The sea minerals scent is a nice clean scent to leave behind on your hands after washing them, and the lime and sea salt scent is great for the dishes. Again, the price is unbeatable for natural, cruelty-free products.

Shampoo + Conditioner 
For the longest time, I've been using the OGX products. I tried the coconut milk shampoo once when I needed travel-sized shampoo and couldn't stop sniffing my hair. But then it came to my attention that OGX is not cruelty-free, and once you know something like that, you kinda can't UN-know it, so I am still on the hunt for a good shampoo.

I *thought* I ordered a shampoo and conditioner from Juice Organics to try, but it turns out, I managed to order two different conditioners. I am enjoying the color-protect fig and sunflower oil; it's nice and thick, which I love in a conditioner. I haven't yet tried the smoothing pomegranate that I thought was shampoo. So! I am in the market for a good natural shampoo. Any suggestions?

I also tried a bottle of the Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle conditioner a while back. It's not as thick as I'd like in a conditioner BUT it actually does tingle, has a nice peppermint scent, and it feels REALLY nice on the scalp.

Disinfecting Wipes
The Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes kill all the same germs the Clorox shit does but with essential oils and environment-friendly materials. I wish this scent was a little more lemongrass and a little less thyme, but these definitely get the job done.

Face Wash
Like the Dr. Bronner's soap, the Trader Joe's Spa face wash with tea tree oil is castile soap, so it is a little bit more liquidy than I'd prefer in a facial soap, but it is both cleansing and gentle. I had a moment earlier in the year when I fell prey to allllll the Glossier Instagram marketing, so I am finishing up milky jelly face wash now. I do really like it, but I finish, I'd like to find a natural face wash with a similar consistency. Any recs? 

Serum 
My secret shame is this -- up until recently, my skincare regimen consisted of washing my face in the morning, after workouts, and in the evening...and that's it. No moisturizer even, and I will probably end up wrinkly AF. I think after years and years of drugstore products, acne prescriptions, Accutane, and fluctuating adult hormonal acne anyway, I think I kind of just gave up and figured no matter what I did, acne was going to be a part of my life.

But! Instagram strikes again. I tried Glossier's Solution and got pretty into the idea of acid exfoliants. I giggled over all the K-beauty sheet masks. And I resigned myself to the fact that I needed to grow up and start using moisturizer like you're supposed to. I didn't think Solution did much for me in the end, and by the time I was ready to reorder, Glossier was out of stock anyway, so I decided to do some research and found glowing reviews of Mad Hippie's Vitamin C Serum. I should mention that I think the number 1 difference in my skin lately has been the way I've been eating, but I do think this serum is making me a bit more...glowy. I'm pretty obsessed with it.

Acne Spot Treatment
The Incredibly Clear Acne Spot Treatment is...incredibly efficient. If I feel a zit on its way, I dab some of this on before bed, and I can't say it gets rid of the zit immediately (nothing does), but it definitely shortens the length of time said zit stays on my face.

Moisturizer 
The Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Gel Moisturizer/Cream is actually an old favorite from well before I started going all-natural. I think along with Aveda, Origins is like the OG of all-natural beauty products. I first fell in love with this moisturizer when I got a sample and realized it smells like an orange creamsicle. I MEAN... Are you sensing a theme here in the type of scents I like? It is super lightweight and hydrating and I swear by it before bed.

Face Masks
I am going to be rull honest here -- I know we are all in a face mask moment right now, and I love them as much as the next girl, but I am not sure any of them do anything. At least not immediately. If you've found a mask that does show marked results, feel free to tell me I'm wrong. But because I don't see much of a change, I see their value in the fact that doing them is a fun, relaxing 10 minutes of self-care and there is nothing wrong with that. But because that's all it is to me until I'm proven otherwise, I'm not breaking the bank on masking, so I love love love the Yes To line, which is made with fruits and veggies. I particularly love this little trio -- for $4, you get three different masks in one pack -- one to clear your skin, one to calm your skin, and one to make your skin glow. And if you're more of a sheet mask girl, they have versions of those too.

Body Lotion
My legs get dry in the winter from the cold and dry in the summer from my inevitable sunburns. For a long time I used some Bath & Body Works body creams because they smelled so nice, but I stopped after a while because I hated going to bed with my legs feeling greasy. So I am delighted to tell you that is NOT a problem with the Acure Lively Lemongrass body lotion. I am truly obsessed with this stuff. It is lighter than a cream but the argan oil in it sinks into your skin by the time you're done brushing your teeth, and it does not feel oily or greasy on the sheets. And I am super into the scent.

Collagen Peptides 
Y'all. I know all the influencers are into the Vital Proteins collagen peptides, but TBH, they are hella expensive and I was kind of overwhelmed by the variety available. The grass-fed collagen peptides from Thrive Market (where I am buying lots of my organic staples at a discount) are the same thing. They are tasteless, which is nice in a protein powder which can often taste chalky. I've only been slipping these into my smoothies for a week or two now, so update to come on if I see any differences in my skin, hair, and nails.

And now...

You may have noticed there are a number of products not listed. I need your help! Here are the bath and body products I have yet to try in natural brands. Which brands do you like?

1. Toothpaste - I'm thinking I'll try Tom's or Dr. Bronner's.
2. Makeup - OH GOD WHERE TO START?! 
3. Laundry detergent - Might as well clean my act up from top to bottom.
4. Self-tanner - Does natural self-tanner even exist?
5. Sunscreen - For aforementioned sunburns.
6. Hair product - I will probably go back to using the Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep. I used it for years to tame the jewfro before Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day lured me away with a sample, but it is a great product and all-natural.
7. Purple shampoo - I use the Fanola No Yellow shampoo once a week to keep my balayage looking tight, but it is FULL of chemicals, so please let me know if you know of a natural one.
   
   And the toughest one of all...
    
8. Natural deodorant - I am REALLY skeptical that I can find one that works, and not stinking is really important for someone who works out as much as I do. Nothing pisses me off more than having to breathe in someone's stench all throughout a hot yoga class, so if you know a good one, PLEASE lemme know in the comments or on Insta. Bonus points if it is an effective antiperspirant.    

No more parabens, sulfates, or phalates up in this house!

xo,
S

LIFE + STYLE?

Here you will find somewhat of a catch-all. I'm a recovering shopaholic, but since these days I work from home, I can't justify beefing up my closet with anything other than gym clothes. But I still love clothes, and I'm finding my way through the adult world of interior design. So here you will find tidbits on what I'm wearing, how I'm decorating, and generally how I'm stumbling through adulthood.