❤ Get in the Glow! ❤

I have never been really into body moisturizers.  Although for some unknown reason I loved to buy them then proceed store them under my bathroom sink indefinitely.  I have gone through short phases where I used them regularly, as I distinctly remember a Bath and Body Works Juniper Breeze stage in my teens and then later a little obsession with Nivea self tanning daily lotion.  If I remember correctly, "Juniper Breeze" smelled nothing like juniper (which is a stinky eucalyptus-like bush) nor of breezes, but more like a bizarre chemicalized sweetness untraceable to any natural compound, but I loved it back then.

Anyhow, with the exception of these little lotion excursions I have never consistently moisturized anything other than my face.  I always felt sticky and somehow "humid" after using body lotion so I tended to avoid it.  I especially hated the post-shower-lotion-dressing sequence that would have me stripping back down to towel off the offending muck before redressing in an alternative outfit that was less sticky.  I'm sorry, but I'm very tactile, I have no other way to describe it. A fold, or uneven seam in my sock would set off a gargantuan fit when my mom would put my shoes on, even at age two.  (Sorry mom, and thank you for always fixing my offending socks even though I made you late for work- love that about you)  Anyway! Back to my point- I hated lotion, but I love the sleek, shiny shins and shoulders look that a great moisturizing routine imparts.  Also, my skin can get really dry in the winter time.  And dry skin is not pretty or girly, and I aim to be both, so these days you will find me happily lubing up my epidermis with something a little more natural than Lubriderm. What's nice about options that are based on natural ingredients is that they lack things like silicone an dimethicone.  So you end up way less sticky and of course, healthier in the process.

Now let's talk about my faves.........

❤ Spectrum Organic Coconut Oil- Surprised? Seriously, this stuff is the best and I cannot get enough. You can do everything from baking cookies with it to using it to remove waterproof mascara (hey- I know waterproof mascara is not healthy but for goodness sakes I live in Seattle! I cannot run around looking like a goth suburbanite, so give me a li'l break).  I also use it to moisturize my face, lips and as an overnight treatment for my hair.  I even use it to add a little shine and polish to my lips, cheekbones, collarbones and shins.  All in all this stuff is fantastic, AND I get to smell like a giant coconut macaroon. Which, by the way is probably my most favorite cookie on the planet, especially when it's dunked in dark chocolate, yum! It's also under $10 for a giant container, you can buy it anywhere and has absolutely nothing in it besides coconut oil.  I even had a little nibble of it 'cause it smelled so good, and you know what, it tastes yummy too! (For some delish (vegan) recipes featuring coconut oil check out the Babycakes cookbook from the super famous NYC bakery- it's a favorite of mine)

❤ Mother's Special Blend Toning Oil- A beautifully moisturizing body oil that my very lovely longtime friend MrsKatherineA over at the www.getposhtopush.blogspot.com turned me on to.  Not just for mommies my friends, it's great for babies and grannys and everyone in between.  It soaks in and plumps your skin all while smelling nutty and naturally delicious.  Great to use damp right out of the shower too! Find it at your natural grocery store for about $15, no need to order it online. My brother tried to steal my bottle when we were visiting family in Texas and I had to lay the smack down.  He has always been one for secretly pilfering my beauty items.  Boys: just man up and buy your own! Who cares if it has a pregnant lady on the label? ;o) www.mothersspecialblend.com

❤ Bubble and Bee Body Butta- Yum! This stuff is like deliciously fluffy and sweet frosting.  It is all organic and scented with organic flavor oils.  You could seriously eat it, it's so pure-although I think you would have to log some serious miles on the treadmill to work off those calories.  Laugh if you must, but edibility is something I look for in lotions these days, think about it: you are pretty much coating yourself from head to toe, so really you want it to be something you would put in as well as on your body.  This stuff fits the bill and it comes in super yummy scents like raspberry vanilla and coconut lime.  They also just came out with a sugar and spice one for fall that I NEED to get my hands on. You all know I love Bubble and Bee and I think the proprietor Stephanie is great. She honestly cares about each product she creates, and so I love to support her efforts. Find it at www.bubbleandbee.com for $16/4 oz or $24/ 8 oz- but don't kid yourself- you need the 8 oz since this stuff is a little addictive.

❤ Wild Carrot Herbals Lord My Hands Are So Dry!- This is the cleanest "real" lotion I could find.  Why do I worry about cleanliness in real lotions? Because lotions have water, and items with water need have to have preservatives in them to avoid nasty bacterial growth. Ew- something to avoid right? I don't want it in my food and I don't want it on my body.  But potassium sorbate is the preservative used by Wild Carrot, and it is the only preservative allowed to be used in organic products.  So I figure it is the best of what's out there. This company is local for me, being made right next door in Oregon.  It has a naturally sweet, slightly spicy vanilla scent, and feels very moisturizing and not sticky.  I love that it is in a amber glass pump bottle that's pretty enough to keep on my bedside table.  That way I can lotion my dry little hands before bed all the while saying "Lord, my hands are so dry," as if He has nothing bigger to deal with, Ha!  It's about $16 for an 8 ounce bottle and for a lotion has some very nice ingredients including some organic oils and nut butters.  Find it at your local health food store or: www.wildcarrotherbals.com/. They also have a luminous lotion with a little shimmer in it, in case you're into that sort of thing for summer.  I know I am!

❤ Another DIY favorite that I should mention is to take a hunk of coconut butter and a little jojoba oil and even beeswax if you have it, and microwave or melt in a double boiler all of it until liquid and mixed together.  Then, let them set back up in the fridge or on the countertop overnight to make a naturally chocolate scented lotion cake. They sell these in Lush for like $15 filled with a bunch of extra toxic junk that you don't need or want.  Coconut butter is not inexpensive, but you can buy it in bulk over at Amazon or sometimes at health food stores. You can even use soap or candy molds to make pretty lotion bars to give as gifts or just for yourself. I love how quick and easy this is to use, and the fact that it's calorie-free chocolate.  Girls, you gotta love that- don't say I never gave you anything!


So there you are- a little tour of my supply.  Remember when looking for some of the best beauty solutions, sometimes we don't need to look any further than our pantries or refrigerators to find cheap and simple solutions just like our Granny's Granny used to use.  Avoiding chemical nasties = good for you and good for our environment. Also, never ignore the fact that what you are putting into your body is showing up on the outside.  You can't expect to have great results with any beauty regimen without getting enough veggies, water, sunscreen, sleep and vitamins. Also, don't ignore those omegas for gorgeous skin and hair, even vegetarians can get the good stuff now: NutraVege is a superior vegan source of Omegas www.ascentahealth.com/products/human/nutravege-200-ml.

Your skin as well as your entire body will thank you, believe me!

❤ Eco Belle Elle