Dressing the Higgenbottom

Homemade Lotion Bars

*This post is pretty wordy so if you'd just like to get onto the recipe, click here.*

When I hit 20, my body started developing skin allergies to most cosmetics. Red, inflamed skin, itchy hives, scales, etc. I was bummed to toss my favorite shampoos, makeup, lotions, mouthwashes, and so on and so on.

From there, the Lord led me to all natural holistic healing and I've never looked back. In fact, I'm repeled by "all natural" labeling on commercial products. They're hefty promises that I've found continually fall short. Even though the "all natural" commercial products claim to have the same ingredients as what I'd concoct at home, the way my skin handled the bought products versus the homemade was like night and day. Another thing about ingredients, if it's not safe enough to consume, I don't want to put it on my body (for example, here).

Even if the ingredients on the Arbonne/Burt's Bees/etc product pass the organic, unrefined ingredient test, how does one know if the process to make the product is natural? For example, how do I know microwaves had no part in making this product? (see here, here, and here) How do I know a worker hasn't dipped their latexed (one of my allergies) gloved into the mixture?

Packaging also needs to be considered. I avoid plastics every chance I get. (another link) I'll take my stored food or cosmetics in glass thankyouverymuch.

Because I've been making my own toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, baby powder, deodorant, etc for years, I've also come to the realization of how unnecessarily expensive these "all natural" products are.

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I made a new batch of lotion bars today. No fragrance, all natural, and very inexpensive. Check out the recipe here.
- I didn't bother with essential oils as my sensitive (pregnancy) nose can't really take smells right now. -- Note that beeswax takes much longer to melt (in the double bowl method) so I start off melting the wax before measuring out the rest of the ingredients.
- One more note about the beeswax, I have a big hunk of the stuff right now and if I could go back, I'd have purchased the pastilles instead. I assume they're much easier to measure out and quicker to melt.

Making these lotion bars is sooooo quick and simple and if you get cute molds, they'd make great gifts too!

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried making these.

Baby & the Beast

Here's photo bombing Penny. I think this may be her debut here, but she's all over my Twitter and Instagram. We adopted her a year ago when she was a pup. Now that I think of it, these cut out boots are new here too. Here's a better shot...

Oil Cleansing

I briefly mentioned oil cleansing back here, but feel the need today to provide more reasons why cleaning your face with oil instead of over the counter products is not only more effective, but healthier as well. *Please note, in all these images, I'm completely void of concealer, powder, foundation, tinted moisturizer, etc. My skin is clear and it's thanks to oil cleansing (and possibly lots of water consumption).*

It's been seven years since I've broken out, or even got a pimple on my face. Before you click away, mumbling about my skin-blessed bragging, please know that I was actually a big loser in the clear-skin-gene lottery. In fact, in high school, I became dependent on doctor prescribed benzamycin. This combo of topically-applied benzoyl peroxide and enthromycin kept my hormone-laden skin clear and oil free. As a teen, I thought this stuff was the bee's knees. It gave me guaranteed perfect skin. Three set backs...

Benzamycin needs to be refrigerated. Spending the night away from home required taking my acne medication with me which subsequently ment admitting to my friends that my face wasn't amazingly smooth and with clear baby-butt skin.
My skin was dependent: If I spaced during prescriptions or spent the weekend away from my beloved beauty secret, my skin went spastic in attempting homeostasis and I was left with pizza face.
Whatever is applied topically, makes it's way internally. Look at the ingredients lists in your medicine cabinet and makeup drawer, wouldn't you like to cut some of these chemicals out of your life too?

As a poor post undergrad, I lacked insurance for the first time in my life. I rarely got sick though, so NBD, right? Wrong. My beloved benzamycin prescription had run out and at 23, the skin on my face was an inflamed, greasy mess. I bought product after product claiming to clear my skin up and nothing was cutting it. I decided to give naturopathy a try and discovered oil cleansing and haven't looked back since.

Turns out, a quarter-sized splash of olive oil was exactly what my skin needed to heal. The oil not only removes makeup thoroughly, but it also serves as a moisturizer as well. I clean my face with olive oil at night and in the morning, I simply splash my face with water and have the clear and moisturized skin I've always tried for. No more prescriptions and no clutter or multiple products in my medicine cabinet full of chemicals, good copywriting, and empty promises.

I may be too old for pimples now, but I don't see myself needing to change my nighttime routine anytime soon. I hear oil cleansing is great at fighting wrinkles. I'm months shy of 30 and so far, so good in that department. Most importantly, I rest assured knowing that my skin is absorbing something that is safe and healthy for my insides too.

So tell me, what are you feeding your skin with?

Mix-Berry Tart w/ Coconut Whipped Cream

My allergist put me on the Paleo diet (gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free) recently. Turns out she's right. That's exactly what my body needed.

My taste buds, however are a little slower to get on board. Last night, I was ready to strangle someone for a cupcake. The craving hit me hard and fast.

After a desperate google search, I found a Paleo-friendly dessert that sounded pretty decent. Turns out, this mix berry tart curbed my sugar craving and even better, is guilt free! This recipe will definitely be on rotation from now on.

What's your favorite Paleo-friendly dessert?

Saint Laurent RTW Fall 2013

Almost two weeks ago, I tweeted an image of the best outfit ever. Not sure what kept me from immediately dropping everything to check out the rest of the collection on style.com. Then I saw this gif the other day and finally sat down with mah internets to view YSL's wonderful grunge collection for RTW Fall 2013. And let me tell you, the French are so chic, they do 90's Americana right (that sentence makes more sense the less you think into it).

Babydolls and sparkle tights totally belong with disheveled hair, smudged eye makeup, black ankle boots, and flannel - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Some of my favs, behold...