Getting Back to Beauty Basics

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://moms.dailybuzz.com/channel/style.

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Fall, for me, is a time of re-evaluating, re-focusing and starting anew. My birthday is in September. Autumn is typically back-to-school time. It seems appropriate that the Jewish New Year falls around the same time. It’s also a time of returning to routine, after a less-structured summer.

In the past few months, I’ve been seeking to re-invent my morning routine for a few reasons. First, I am now working from home, which means I can be a bit more casual and natural. Second, I’ve become concerned about some of the chemicals in everyday beauty products. Third, hair products, especially, can be outrageously expensive, and keeping the budget light is always beneficial. Following are some of the routines I’ve come up with that I’ve found successful:

Hair

My hair routine has undergone the most radical transformation. My biggest hair problem has always been fine, light hair that flies away. Many products — notably Redken Extreme Anti-Snap ($18/bottle) — have been recommended to me. As much as I love Redken Extreme Anti-Snap, it’s like most products in that it can weigh my hair down — especially if I let it dry naturally, as I’m now able to do.  Put on a product and let your hair dry naturally and, for the most part, it looks like a greasy mess — at least mine does.

Meanwhile, I’ve been reading about a trend where people aren’t washing their hair (or showering) quite as often. Growing up, I washed my hair every single day, and this pretty much continued until the last few years. Turns out washing your hair too often strips it of its natural oils. And I discovered that with these natural oils, and without the harsh hair dryer, my hair is smoother and even curly sometimes, which I love. I also love that I’m going with my hair’s natural tendencies, instead of continually fighting against them.

My hair care regimen now is pretty simple, and it involves things you’d more likely find in your pantry than in your bathroom. Taking a cue from Simple Mom, I use baking soda for the “shampoo” and diluted vinegar for the “conditioner.” My method is to pour a little vinegar (a few tbsps)  into a squeeze bottle and fill it the rest of the way with water. With the baking soda, I use two cups in the shower. One is my main supply of baking soda, and the other is where I mix together baking soda and water until it forms a kind of runny paste. Once I mix it together, I put it on my scalp and rub it around, like I would shampoo — it won’t foam up, though. Then I rinse it out. I finish by squeezing the water and vinegar over my hair, massaging that in a little, and then rinsing it out, as well. No, I don’t smell like vinegar when I’m finished.

Many people who’ve tried this report that it takes their hair some time to adjust. Their scalp is accustomed to over-producing oils in response to being stripped by the shampoo every day, so it takes it a little while to calm down. So, if you try it and are disappointed at first, give it some time.

Body and Face

I’ve always had kind of itchy rash-prone skin. In some places, like under my running bra, I’ve occasionally gotten yeast rashes, too. Since I switched to using Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castile Soap as my bath soap, that’s come to an end. Lavender, it turns out, is a natural antiseptic, so that must be working its magic.  (The verbiage on the label is a bonus!) Castile soap is also free of harsh detergents — it doesn’t foam as much as what you might be accustomed to, but it’s certainly doing the job. This is working really well in the autumn, and hopefully will also hold up in the dryer winter months.

I’ve also been using this as a facial cleanser, but it’s a bit drying for my taste. Still looking for the perfect solution there. Thoughts, anyone?

Underarms 

Here is where I’m very open to suggestions. Since it’s been getting slightly cooler, I’ve been experimenting with a Weleda Deodorant –it’s more natural and without the aluminum that characterizes many antiperspirants. Basically, you spritz your underarm (as many times a day as you need), and the citrus scent is supposed to mask any unpleasant odors. So far, I’m not thrilled. It gets hot in Central Texas — even in autumn we’re seeing temperatures nearly in the 90s — and I’d like to be active outside without driving away my companions. I may have to go back to the regular stuff in the end. (Many articles I’ve seen dispel the idea of aluminum causing breast cancer or other health problems, though I’d still rather err on the simple side if possible.)

Have any of your been successful with anything other than antiperspirants that use aluminum? I want something as natural as possible, but it has to be something that actually works. Thankfully, with my other new beauty regimens above, it’s possible to have the best of both worlds.

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Thank you to Walgreens for sponsoring this blog post. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.