Best Clean Beauty Picks for Spring

Welcome to the #CleanOver40 Series! After MANY conversations about the unique challenges women over 40 experience in terms of beauty and wellness, my good friend Lisa from This Organic Girl and I are teaming up to bring you the most effective clean skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products for those of us fortysomethings. This series will publish the second Monday of every month so be sure to stop by for the latest. You can also search #CleanOver40 on our blogs to access the entire series. Be sure to tag #CleanOver40 on social with your favorite picks as well…we ladies of a certain age need to stick together!

wearing all the products listed below (except the exfoliator, of course)

Although these five products are great for just about anyone, my ladies over 40 will especially love them because they wear so well on the face. No creasing, no streaks…just honest to goodness glow! Here are my five must-haves for Spring.

Leahlani Honey Love Exfoliator – Look out, there’s a new (to me) exfoliator in town. Honey Love is a triple-threat 3-in-1 beauty, taking skin exfoliation to the next level. A potent blend of superfood maqui berry, tonifying hibiscus, anti-inflammatory noni fruit, stimulating clays, sweet Hawaiian nectars and microdermabrasion crystals, it gently yet effectively exfoliates the skin so good. Tone and texture are amazing after a go-round with this. And the scent, you guys? DELICIOUS.

Plus, I’m always a fan of Organic raw honey since it’s naturally antiseptic and antimicrobial, helping to thoroughly cleanse the skin and dissolve bacteria. A little Spring cleaning, if you will.

W3ll People Concealer in Light – I’ve loved this concealer for years. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and never looks patchy or cakey on my undereye area. The shade Light works very well on my light-to-medium complexion, especially in the warmer months. In fact, many days I blend it sparingly around my face and skip foundation all together.

Lily Lolo Bronzer in Honolulu – My favorite pressed bronzer! Honolulu gives me a lovely depth and the shade looks exactly like my skin when tan. Great for contouring as well –  not orange at all which is of the utmost importance. #nocheetoplease

RMS Champagne Rose Luminizer – This highlighter is so natural looking and doesn’t seep into the fine lines around my eyes. It’s the most subtle opalescent sheen on the face with just a hint of rose iridescence. Gorgeous.

Kari Gran Lip Whip in Cora Gold – I think I’ve talked about this shade 1,000 times in the past month, but it is so pretty! I’m not usually one to wear lip products in pots, but the color and texture are so unique, I am literally obsessed.

Right now, Integrity Botanicals is offering a free retractable rose gold lip brush with any Kari Gran lip whip purchase! Use the code KGLIPBRUSH to get the free lip brush.

What products are you loving this Spring? Be sure to check out Lisa’s Spring picks too!

Best Natural Face Creams for Women Over 40

Welcome to the #CleanOver40 Series! After MANY conversations about the unique challenges women over 40 experience in terms of beauty and wellness, my good friend Lisa from This Organic Girl and I are teaming up to bring you the most effective clean skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products for those of us fortysomethings. This series will publish the second Monday of every month so be sure to stop by for the latest. You can also search #CleanOver40 on our blogs to access the entire series. Be sure to tag #CleanOver40 on social with your favorite picks as well…we ladies of a certain age need to stick together!

ayuna face cream

We are smack dab in the dead of winter, so it’s high time to discuss super-hydrating face creams, don’t you think? When Lisa and I had a chat about our favorites, these two creams were the top of the list. (And I’m going to tell you how to get them at a discount and/or part of a great deal but shhhhhh, don’t tell everyone…)

These two products are at very different pricepoints, but I love them both for varying reasons. Let’s just get to it!

best face creams women over 40

See that beautiful bright orange color? That’s the Jane Scrivner OO Cream, $38.

This product was introduced to me about a month ago and it’s not common that I fall so fast. The OO Cream (stands for “over oil” cream) is so incredible as my last skincare step- from its beautiful, natural orange color from rosehip to its lovely mild scent of vanilla. Soothing and calming stressed skin (fantastic for eczema and rosacea!), this cream is intended to be applied over face oil or serum to lock in nutrients and moisture and reduce trans-epidermal water loss. It’s the perfect addition to your winter lineup – where I usually use my beloved Maya Chia Supercritical Oil as my last step, I’ve been putting the OO Cream on top and it’s been fantastic!

The great thing about the OO Cream is that it creates a matte finish from the thin film of beta-glucans in the colloidal oatmeal so it’s super rich and soothing yet leaves absolutely no greasy residue on the skin at all. Soaks right in yet my skin feels hydrated all day. And since it leaves a nice matte finish, it is the perfect primer for makeup application. Plus, um, 38 bucks, you guys!

However, I feel I must tell you that the OO Cream is part of the Beauty Heroes Discovery Box this month! Included with the cream are the Jane Scrivner Cleansing Balm plus two fluffy cleansing mitts to use during your skincare routine.

jane scrivner oo cream

This cleansing balm is so damn good. Super melty soft, it takes off my makeup in a jiffy and smells great. Lightly floral. Made with blends of jojoba seed oil, beeswax and a blend of nine essential oils, this balm’s base works to mimic the natural lipids in skin to improve elasticity and restore balance. Plus, I’ve already used the cleansing mitts tons of times. They are fantastic at removing balms and masks and I always feel like using mitts and/or washcloths adds a little bit of gentle exfoliation to the mix. If you aren’t a member of Beauty Heroes yet, this would be a great month to do it! It’s a $97 value for $42.95 when you sign up to be a member. (3-month initial commitment, but Beauty Heroes knocks it out of the park every month. This particular discovery ends on January 20th.)

Next up, let’s talk about my long-time love, Ayuna Cream, $198.

ayuna face cream

Ayuna Cream is the milky-colored wonder on the inside of my wrist in that previous photo of the two creams. Where do I even begin with this favorite? First off, this product is a brilliant melding of beauty and science. The emulsion targets a range of skin functions by incorporating the science of Phyto-peptides and Plasmas rich in Botanical Cell Factors, including those of Green Carrot, Arabian Cotton and Pomegranate. Phyto-peptidic Fractions from Turmeric Root and Centella, known as the longevity plant, favorably help the skin to maintain its regenerative abilities.

Um, what does that mean for you? Well, wrinkles are softer, elasticity visibly improves, skin appears more radiant and hydrated, and the formula definitely evens redness and tightens pores. I am obsessed with this cream because it has helped immensely in reducing redness and sensitivity on my face, but especially my chest.

Let me tell you, the skin on my chest is my personal problem spot. It looks at least 10 years older than my face (thanks a lot, side-sleeper wrinkles!) and gets incredibly irritated and bumpy for no specific reason. Seriously, I joke that you could look at my decolletage and a rash would pop up, but um, it actually HAPPENS. (What the heck, people!? Drives me bananas.) I’ve been using Ayuna as my facial cream for over a year, but a few months ago, I started applying the cream all over my chest after my shower (from neck and shoulders down to just above the breasts) and I can’t even begin to tell you what a difference it has made in calming and smoothing my decolletage. I am a forever convert because of what this cream has done for my chest. PRAISE BE, AYUNA.

The Ayuna Cream is considered their light version but is more than enough for my normal skin. However, if you need a richer cream, Ayuna Cream II is for you. Oh, did I mention how beautiful the scent of these products it? So lovely. Neutral and light, just the way I like it.

The Ayuna products do come with a steep price tag, but there is a little deal going on right now where you can get a killer discount. Remember my personally-curated Maya Chia Level Up Discovery last year? Well, there was another curated discovery involving Ayuna and it’s still available! This discovery contains the Ayuna Cream 15ml (the original is 50ml) AND the Ayuna Balm, which is a volcanic revitalizing mask that I also adore. You can get both of these products in the discovery deal for $99. Such a great option if you don’t want to commit to the full-sized cream from the get-go. (Although I have a feeling you will become a convert!) You can find the Ayuna deal in the dropdown box here.

There you have it, my two favorite creams in the green beauty market. Be sure to check out why Lisa loves them too! Questions about either? As always, hit me up in the comments!

Other posts you might like:

My Favorites for Dry Skin and/or High Altitudes

My Favorite Masks for All Skin Types

2018 Best in Green Beauty

It’s the start of a new year which means it’s time for my annual best of green beauty list! I started working on this list with the idea of creating an immense guide to all my favorites across all categories when I realized, well, I’ve actually already done that. For those of you who want a mega deep dive into everything I’m currently using and loving in terms of skincare, cosmetics, and body care (plus all my discount codes), you can find more than you could ever want to know here.

That leaves this post as an assemblage of my very favorite products of the year. Whether new, new to me, or something I just used all the damn time, these products are truly my crème de la crème of 2018. Enjoy!

COSMETICS

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Best Natural Gifts for the Holidays ( + $1,000 Giveaway!)

Welcome to the #CleanOver40 Series! After MANY conversations about the unique challenges women over 40 experience in terms of beauty and wellness, my good friend Lisa from This Organic Girl and I are teaming up to bring you the most effective clean skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products for those of us fortysomethings. This series will publish the second Monday of every month so be sure to stop by for the latest. You can also search #CleanOver40 on our blogs to access the entire series. Be sure to tag #CleanOver40 on social with your favorite picks as well…we ladies of a certain age need to stick together!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and you know that means…the holidays are here. Yay! Also, ugh omg so much to do. Well, I’m here to give you some gifting ideas for that great friend or loved one in your life! (Or let’s face it…for you too. I mean, these are too lovely to pass up if you ask me.)

And! Since I’m feeling all holiday-ish, I am going to give one lucky winner all of the products mentioned in this post.

But that’s only half of it. My partner-in-green-beauty, Lisa from This Organic Girl, is talking about her favorite holiday gifts too. Annnd giving away her picks as well. So one lucky winner will receive all 8 amazing gifts, totaling over 1,000 dollars. What the what?! Yes, my friends. This is some damn good action.

Let’s dive right in.

1.  Custom Initial Bangle by Yearly Co, $340

First, one of my favorite possessions of all time. I am asked about the bangles I wear often, and I want you to have one! Have you heard of Yearly Co? If not, get ready to fall in love. These 14k gold bangles are the epitome of class and charm, and when you hear the story behind the company, you can’t help but smile.

Ann Williams, the founder and jewelry maker is carrying on a 60-year tradition started by her grandfather when he gave a simple gold bracelet to Ann’s grandmother to commemorate their wedding anniversary. Every year, a new bracelet was given as a gift and the tradition has carried on with all the women in Ann’s family, shown below.

Isn’t that amazing? I just love the impetus behind it. Of course, you don’t have to be celebrating marriage to wear these gorgeous bangles. I wear three bangles from Yearly Co daily – all were gifts to myself. (Although my husband totally has these on his radar now. Not such a bad thing!) The bangles are solid 14k gold and are meant to be worn all day, every day. You can shower in them and all!

In today’s giveaway, I will be giving away The Initial Bangle to one lucky winner. The winner will be sent a sizing kit to measure their wrist first to make the bangle truly customized. I can’t say enough about these bangles -I’m wearing my initial bangle in the above photo and I love it so much!

Also, Ann is offering Whoorl readers 10% off your purchase with the code WHOORL10. A note for those of you that might feel the need to pull the trigger on a bangle – the initial bangles will be offered through December 1st to receive in time for the holidays. All other items can be ordered until December 10th.

2. de Mamiel Limited Edition Sleep Set, $99

Oooh, get ready for some slumber time luxury. We all know that your sleep ritual is an essential component of looking and feeling your best, and the De Mamiel Limited Edition Sleep Series Collection was created to soothe your tired mind and body in the most lovely way. This set comes with three blends to help you navigate a good night’s sleep. First off, there is the Settle rollerball which stills your mind and reduces inflammation with its botanical blend of herbs, watermelon seed oil, and passionflower oil, which maximize the impact of magnesium, zinc and Vitamin B—essential for a deep, calm sleep.

One for light sleepers, the Anchor balm slips you back into a calm state, letting sleep envelope you once more and the Rise rollerball is ideal for the mornings when you need an energy boost – through its blend of herbs, milk thistle, and jojoba, it stimulates your body, both physically and emotionally, powering you with the verve to take on your day. I’ve been using this as a perfume lately and I love it.

Along with the gorgeous oil blends, you also receive a sleep journal to help you reflect- whether it be gratitude, unresolved issues, or future plans. I have enjoyed this set so much, I want you to have one as well. (Thanks to Beauty Heroes for providing the set!)

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Best Podcasts! (And a bit about my exercise routine.)

Every weekday morning, I walk 3-4 miles. It’s something I’ve done since the start of summer and I, by the grace of something or other, have completely stuck with it. #praisebe

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I’m pretty much an all-or-nothing girl. When I decide to launch into a subject or exercise or diet or lifestyle, I am ALL IN. This is probably why my blog has lasted so long…all the insane research I naturally do on a subject benefits others by living here for the rest of time. Well, up until my walking revelation, I was the same way about exercise. Yoga? ALL IN. What leggings should I buy? Let’s nail that headstand in the first week! Pilates? 5 DAYS A WEEK, YO. Who needs to take a rest day? Couch to 5K? On it! I’ll determine the best app and do it every. single. day. Speaking of apps, maybe I should do that Bikini Workout App…

Are you catching my drift?

Um, yeah. So, usually, two things happen when engaging in this all-or-nothing exercise extravaganza. I burn out very quickly OR I injure myself. It’s like clockwork – I go crazy for a month or two and then, totally drop the ball and move onto the next thing. Well, I move onto the next thing after sitting around doing nothing for months. (I will say that hasn’t been the case with yoga, but my very chill practice is more for my emotional health than physical health.)

Already knowing how important consistent exercise is for my overall health, especially heading into my mid-40s, I had a little come to Jesus meeting with myself and decided enough with the ups and downs and general nonsense. A consistent walking routine would be so much better than my previous antics, end of story! Brisk walking tones the body, raises the heart rate, and, most importantly, shouldn’t injure me. (Well, my first month was spent hobbling due to some ridiculous ((but so ridiculously cute, people!)) featherweight Adidas trainers that gave me a fun case of plantar fasciitis, but once I found proper footwear with, you know, CUSHION AND STABILITY, everything healed quickly.)

All to say that I love my morning walks! Clears my head, tones my body, and I can’t imagine not doing it at this point.

(What was this post about, again?)

Ah! Podcasts! Yes.

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