My Favorite Things!
One of the first places I start with clients is talking about switching over all their personal care products, getting a high quality water filter, and even cleaning products. Of course this is a slow, gradual process but an important step to take when addressing all aspects of health. So I thought it is time to finally get it all in one place and share with you all of my favorite things I’ve been using, especially with black Friday sales coming up, this is when I stock up and recommend you do too!
Why is making the switch necessary? Does it really matter what we put on our skin? The short answer is YES!. We absorb any and everything we put on our skin into our bloodstream within 15 minutes and then it is sent to our liver to process. Our liver already has so many jobs to do, the last thing we want to do is slow it down because it’s overwhelmed with too many toxins.
Water is LIFE! Not just the water we drink, but also what we wash/soak our food in when we clean it and of course what we shower in is so important to make sure we’re not getting things like chlorine or fluoride. This is especially toxic to our skin microbiome, our gut microbiome and even our brain.
So lets jump right in!
Water filter- Clearly filtered. I have been using this company for a long time, and what I love about them is they show their third party independent lab tests for their products which is the gold standard for reliability when testing products. You can always start with the water pitcher and the shower filter if budget or space is an issue, and then progress to the under the sink system which is so helpful when washing veggies! Here is a link to get $10 off your first order and they are having lots of black Friday sales!
Viori Shampoo and Condition bars. It is so hard to find a truly natural shampoo and conditioner but I have finally found one that I am so happy with, plus there is no plastic involved, win win! Another bonus, they last so long! Get 10% off on your first order!
Castile soap for body wash! This is a tried and true old fashion soap with minimal ingredients, great for sensitive skin. My favorite scents are almond and lavender.
Face wash- Pore Detox Herbal Cleanser by 100percentpure. This website is fantastic, especially for those with strong sensitivities like my girls with MCAS. This cleanser comes out as a powder and you just mix with water. Plus, it lasts SO long! I think I’ve been using the same bottle for well over 6 months. I also have their coffee eye cream which smells amazing but truthfully it’s not something I remember to use often but it’s great!
Face moisturizer. This is one area where I splurge but again, I stock up for the year during their black Friday sales so it’s worth it. I can honestly say I have noticed improvements in my skin tone and texture, it’s really worth the hype. Alitura Gold Serum has the most amazing list of high quality ingredients like rose hips oil, astaxanthin and essential oils like Frankincense. Really can’t recommend this one enough!
Alitura Clay mask. Truthfully, I tend to be really low maintenance and typically wait to complete a mask until I notice my skin is acting up. Once I finally use this mask I wonder why I don’t do it more because it is phenomenal! Now if it’s not in your budget, I have seen amazing results with just using green clay so don’t fret! Sometimes I add some ground coffee to the mix before applying to my face and it really adds an amazing pick me up between the exfoliation and the scent.
It is so rare these days that I do full makeup, but when I do I use Vapour Organic Beauty foundation and their bronzer or blush makeup sticks. I’m also a big fan of their mascara (it lasts a long time). They use only organic ingredients and you can actually pronounce all of them!
Physicians formula eyeshadows and mascara are the budget friendly options that still don’t contain toxic phytoestrogens of phthalates which are known to contribute towards estrogen dominance.
Toothpaste is another important one to check for added fluoride since it massively disrupts thyroid function and studies have shown it accumulates in the pineal gland affecting our hormones. I’ve been using this Hello brand which is so affordable and you can find in big box stores like target to make it super convenient!
Branch Basics cleaner for an all natural solution to doing dishes, washing your clothes and even hand soap. I mix this with essential oils and/or vinegar depending on what I’m cleaning. I love their oxygen boost for laundry as well to give it a fresh clean. Why is this important? Because anything you breathe in or get on your skin gets absorbed into your body. People who are exposed to lots of toxic cleaning products have higher risks of cancers and liver disorders, so this is a big deal!
Energy bits chlorella and spirulina. Do you want the best quality seaweed clinically proven to decrease cancer risk, increase longevity and improve your immune system? I’ve been using this for years and I won’t ever use another brand again. The spirulina is perfect for daytime use to give an energy burst, provide a wide variety of nutrition and my favorite use is while I’m fasting to starve off hunger. I love the chlorella for nighttime use before bed to boost detoxification and another amazing benefit I’ve noticed is my skin looks younger! Use the code REVIVE for 20% off!
Organifi green juice is my daily go to and how I usually wash down my spirulina for a super nutrient boost. If you have difficulty drinking water or getting enough greens on the daily, I can’t recommend this stuff enough. Plus it tastes amazing! It’s best to buy it in bulk to save the most.
Now onto some biohacking! I saved up and waited to buy these tools during these sales in the years prior and for me, it was a priority knowing all of the benefits they offer. I recommend really evaluating what your current needs are and checking these off as it makes sense for you!
Mito pro red light. The research has been out on all the benefits of red light that it reduces pain, improves wound and muscle healing, improves mitochondrial function and can help restore hormone function. This has been especially helpful during pregnancy as a natural way to manage low back pain. Plus there are vanity benefits as well. You can use it on your face with their goggles to improve collagen production for more youthful skin. I use the Mito Pro 300 and I love it!
Infrared heating pad. If you have ever heard me speak about hormone balance or liver detoxification, then you’ve heard me talk about castor oil packs. When I do them I always use it in combination of the infrared heating pad for all the amazing benefits of infrared heat. The settings are great so you can set a timer and the specific temperature in case you fall asleep because it is just that relaxing!
Castor oil packs. I won’t bore you yet again with all the benefits of castor oil packs, I have a whole video on my Instagram about them if you want the details. These are especially important for my clients with poor detoxification, histamine issues and overactive nervous systems as it triggers the parasympathetic state. Queen of thrones has the easiest to use pack because it ties and always make sure to buy castor in a dark glass bottle to avoid BPA exposure.
Relax Far Infrared Portable Sauna. This is without a doubt the biggest investment but I can tell you it’s well worth it. Saunas have been known to reduce your cancer risk significantly in addition to improve your bodies ability to detox mold and heavy metals. Sweating is one of the top ways we excrete toxins from our body and most people have difficulty sweating who need to detox the most. This is the best way to get those detox pathways open again. I can also guarantee you will sleep like a baby after using this- it’s incredible.
Dry brushing. Want a much cheaper way to get your lymphatic system moving? Simple dry brushing is so effective for improving energy, opening lymph pathways and reducing edema. Try this in the morning for a natural energy boost!
The Human Charger. Do you live somewhere where it is really cold and really dark for many months of the year? Do you struggle with SAD, seasonal affective disorder? If so, I highly recommend this product to help regulate your circadian rhythm and jumpstart your body in the morning. I grabbed this when I was still living on the east coast for use during the winter months when I had little daylight or sun exposure available. It is super helpful during the initial weeks of daylight savings time when our nervous systems tend to get a little shocked by the change. It works with headphones that you place in your ears and delivers bright light to help regulate your internal clock. This is also especially helpful if you tend to travel a lot and find yourself in different time zones. I rarely use it living on the west coast now, but will be sure to have it on me if I find myself back during those cold winter months.
Molekule Air Purifier. Do you think about your air quality? Indoor air quality has been shown in recent studies to be more toxic than outdoor air due to VOCs from furniture, carpets, paint… you name it. Not to mention dust, mold and viruses than can get trapped in the air. Molekule gets rid of all of that, even the big C! I got this when I realized I was living in mold to mitigate some of my exposure and I’ve been a huge fan ever since. They offer financing and smaller options to make it a really easy choice. When I can, I keep my windows open during the day and just use this at night in my bedroom which is prime time for your body’s detoxification system.
Defender shield EMF protection devices for my cell phone, laptop and headphones. The research on harmful EMFs is really strong unfortunately and we have more exposure than ever before. The number is actually in the millionths higher than our grandparents were exposed to which is astronomical. If you’re new to this, I recommend grabbing the book, The Non-Tin Foil Hat Guide to EMFs to provide a really thorough breakdown of the effects but more importantly what you can do about it. The easiest way to start is to grab a cell phone case, headphones and laptop guard as these are likely things you are using frequently. This is especially important for women who are planning on conceiving because the fetus is extra sensitive to EMFs. In that case, I also recommend checking out belly armor and other brands that offer clothing with protection.