Products I’m loving that are not in the ethnic hair care section

 

I know I’m not the only one who didn’t even bother going into the main hair care section, which I refer to as the “other” section, because I just KNEW those products would not work for my hair thickness and texture. But with more bloggers and influencers creating videos and product reviews showing how these products can actually work well for textured hair, it opens our eyes to seeing that we don’t have to limit ourselves to the products in the ethnic hair care section

There are products from the ethnic hair care isle that worked poorly in my hair- as in, I used it once or twice and tossed it. I have wayyyyy too much hair to be fooling around with a product that doesn’t work for me

Aussie Moist Conditioner – as a detangler or leave in conditioner. Smells great and provides plenty of slip that makes detangling a breeze

Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle – This product lives up to its name and it’s great when you’re short on time and don’t have 1/2 an hour to one hour to deep condition your hair

Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask – Also provided great slip and was very moisturizing as the name implies. The product was thick, which is something I look for when selecting a deep conditioner. Plus it contains aloe, which has become my hair’s BFF. Click here to read my blog post about what’s in my hair spray bottle!

OGX Coconut Curls Conditioner – one of the best leave in conditioner’s I’ve uses on my hair. My hair loves anything coconut. This product defines my curls and leave them soft and shiny without any product buildup. Plus a little goes a long way

I’m not saying the concept of the ethic hair care section is no longer relevant or that we shouldn’t support the smaller, often minority women-owned businesses that launch their product lines in that section. But what I am saying is that we should be open to experimenting with products that we may not have considered before, but that our hair may actually love.

We might benefit from focusing less on which aisle the product is in and more on other product attributes like ingredients, price, and performance. Because let’s be honest, there have been products in the ethnic hair care section that were a complete fail for me

So what products have you tried from the other hair care section that have worked well for you?

Connect with me on social @mypassion2purpose!

 

 

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10 Foods I Buy Every Week

If you see me at the grocery store, then you are likely to spot these 10 items in my shopping cart, because they are my staples that I eat basically every day if not every week. They all contribute something unique to my diet and can be used in several different ways. They are also relatively inexpensive. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring or expensive. So let’s get into it!

• Eggs – A great protein option that I use as an ingredient for making breakfast casseroles, egg muffins, oatmeal bakes or breakfast muffins, scrambled eggs, or to use as a binding ingredient in recipes like meatloaf or turkey burgers
• Almond milk – Unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes a great addition to a smoothie that gives it a little more flavor. Water can make a smoothie taste somewhat bland. Plus, almond milk has calcium to support strong bones and teeth. I also like mixing it with vanilla protein powder
• Leafy Greens – Folate is a key mineral many women need, especially if you are of child-bearing age. Leafy greens not only contain folate, they are also low in calories, packed with other nutrients, and are high in fiber. Baby spinach, spring mix, red or green leaf lettuce, and romaine are my top choices. Veggies at each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is my goal! Green veggies are easy to incorporate with breakfast when mixed with eggs, to create a salad for lunch or sautéed as a dinner side
• Bananas – Bananas help satisfy my sweet tooth. I also use them in smoothies to make them creamy and naturally sweet. They are also tasty sliced up on top of pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal. Pro tip – slice them up, place them in a small pan with non-stick spray and cook on medium heat until they are caramelized. Yum!
• Meat/Poultry – I don’t consume very much red meat. So my typical options are chicken, turkey, or tuna. Protein is another component I like adding to each meal. Studies show that adding protein to each meal keeps you fuller longer. For chicken, I alternate between white meat (breast, wing) and dark meat (thigh). Rotisserie chicken is a great option if you are short on time. You can also roast your own in the oven! I like buying the Starkist® brand single serve tuna packs that I can add to some leafy greens. For breakfast, I might buy turkey bacon or turkey sausage links
• Sparking Water – Sparking water makes it easier to drink more water. The carbonation also gives you a feeling of fullness. Just make sure you check the label to confirm there is no added sugar. I like the Simple Truth brand that can be found at Fred Meyer/Kroger. But there are several other options as well
• Cheese – Cheese adds so much flavor to salads or I buy cheese sticks to enjoy as a snack. Since I love cheese so much, I have to make sure I stick to the suggested portion size so that I don’t overdo it. I especially like adding a couple of tablespoons of feta or blue cheese crumbles to my salads for some healthy fats
• Sweet Potato – This is one food that I could eat every day and not get bored! Have you ever roasted one in the oven on 450 for 45 minutes?! It comes out perfect! I also use sweet potatoes to make sweet potato fries, mashed sweet potato, or I cube them and bake them as a breakfast or dinner side option
• Baby Peppers – I love the slightly sweet taste and the crunch. I add them to egg and salads. They add color to my meals, which is important since we eat with our eyes. We are more likely to enjoy our meals if they are aesthetically pleasing
• Dijon mustard – I prefer to make my own salad dressings since most dressings have added sugar, sodium, and preservatives. I mix the Dijon mustard with red wine vinegar for a homemade salad dressing

What are some of your staples? Do we enjoy some of the same foods?

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The Steps I Take to Achieve My BEST Wash & Go Style!

I’m not easily intimidated, but I used to be intimidated by wash & go’s. They seemed so complicated and that only certain hair types could achieve them. When I first went natural, my true curl pattern was so foreign to me since I relaxed and straightened my hair for so long. I wanted to start my natural hair journey with more straight-forward styles like twist outs and braid outs. But after a couple of years of wearing those styles I was actually getting a little bored with them. So then I was finally up for the challenge to see if a wash and go style would work for me. I watched YouTube Video’s created by influencers with a similar curl pattern and thickness, such as Naptural85 and GlamTwinz334. I paid attention to how they applied the product and what products they used to achieve the best results.  I know every head of hair is different, but following regimens from people with similar hair, is a great starting point. As you become more familiar with your own hair, you can experiment and branch out to using different products and methods to achieve the results you want

 

Steps to Success!

Working on wet or damp hair allows the hair to be more pliable and better able to absorb the products. So I only style on freshly washed hair or I re-wet my hair

I also work in sections, which is important especially if you have thick hair. It helps you make sure you are evenly distributing the product all throughout your hair, from roots to end. I part my hair down the middle and create 4-5 sections per side, so 8-10 sections total

The order in which you apply products matters. I layer my products in this order: spritz hair with a combination of water, aloe vera juice and vegetable glycerin. I purchase both from Vitamin Shoppe. Then I apply my leave in conditioner, a cream moisturizer that is heavier than the leave in, followed by my styler, which is either a foam or a gel. I don’t use a styler without at least applying a leave in first since most stylers are not intended to provide as much moisture to the hair as a leave in and you don’t want your hair to come out frizzy. I depend on stylers for definition and hold

I allow my hair to air dry. You can diffuse your hair if you don’t want to wait for it to dry. I notice that when I diffuse, I get a little more frizz. But that could just be me

Product Applied to Freshly Washed Hair

My Favorite Products

Leave in Conditioners

Cantu Curl Activator Moisturizing Cream

OGX Coconut Curl Quench Conditioner

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave in

Cream Moisturizers

Cantu Coconut Curling Cream

Eden BodyWorks Coconut Curling Cream

As I Am Double Butter Cream

Styler’s

Wet Line Extreme Gel

Cantu Styling Foam

Shea Moisture Gel

Design Essentials Cream Gel

Eco Styler Gel with Argan Oil

The Method

Rake product through each section with fingers to evenly distribute, scrunch ends to define them. I sometimes use a Denman brush to clump my curls. But I noticed I get more shrinkage when using a Denman

Night time routine – I pineapple my hair and then tie a scarf around my head

Workout – I pull my hair back in a lose bun and place a cap over my head

Refresh – Every 2-3 days, I use my Qredew. Steaming adds moisture and also the Qredew helps detangle my hair. Click here to read my post sharing my thoughts on the Qredew. After steaming, I repeat the steps above: wet hair, leave in, cream, and then styler

What’s my next hair challenge, you ask? – Bantu Knots! Well maybe….I hear they’re uncomfortable to sleep in and I value my rest!

How about you? Do you do wash and go styles? If so, what methods and products worked well for you?

Connect with me on Instagram and let me know you read the post! @mypassion2purpose and I will follow back!

The Ultimate Guide to Green Smoothies

Even though I’ve been maintaining a healthy lifestyle for over 10 years, one holiday season I did THE MOST and my body let me know it was not happy with some of my indulgences. I was experiencing some digestive issues and wanted to get back to feeling better. I came across a Green Smoothie challenge posted on Facebook by the Black Women Losing Weight group. BTW, click here to check out my feature! I was intrigued by it, because that was when green smoothies really started to become more popular as a tool to help your body reset, add more nutrients to your diet and lose weight. The smoothie challenge had a few variations. You could choose between drinking 1-3 smoothies a day. If you chose 3 smoothies per day, they would be substituted for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You would also eat 1-2 snacks per day. 3 smoothies a day was a little overwhelming to me. Plus I didn’t want too much of a calorie deficit since my goal was not weight loss, but more so to reset and detox my digestive system. So I opted for 1 smoothie a day and then I planned to return to my normal style of eating for my other meals and snacks

The challenge was only supposed to be for January, but I was really liking the convenience of green smoothies as well as the taste. On top of that, my digestive system was thanking me. So I decided to continue and now, a few years later, I still love and drink them almost daily! They are easy to make, inexpensive, filling, nutrient dense (vitamins, minerals, belly-filling fiber) and help curve my sweet tooth

I take them with me during the work week for lunch. I blend them up the night before so I can just grab and go in the morning. They are also a great option for breakfast if you’re short on time and usually skip breakfast

So if you’re interested in experiencing all these great benefits from drinking Green Smoothies, then keep reading!

Let’s get started!

First things first, you will need a blender. You don’t have to go all out. I purchased my Ninja from Macy’s on sale for $99. I had a Black & Decker one I purchased for $39, but it only lasted a few months. So I guess you do get what you pay for!

Mason jars with plastic lids. I purchased my 24 ounce jars at the supermarket. I prefer the plastic lids since the traditional lids start to rust after a while

Plastic freezer bags in the quart size, which is 7 x 7-3/4

Measuring cups or a digital food scale to portion out your ingredients

I prepare all of my smoothie packs for the week on Sundays during my weekly meal prep. Click the links below to read my meal prep blog posts Part 1 and Part 2! I portion out the ingredients (veggies and fruit) and place them the freezer bags. At night when I blend the smoothie, I only blend up one for the following day. If I blend them up for more than one day at a time, I noticed the smoothie for the second day didn’t taste as good

The Magic Formula!

The base for all of my smoothies is the same: liquid, protein powder, green veggie and a whole banana

Liquid – 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk and ½ cup of water. You can also use cashew milk or another non-dairy milk of your choice. Try to avoid adding juice (apple, orange, grape, etc.), because they are typically high in sugar and calories and low in fiber. Plus the natural sugar from the fruit will make it sweet enough!

Protein Powder – I prefer a vegan vanilla protein powder. I use ½ a serving. You can use a whole serving if you’d like. Even if you’re not vegan, whey protein can be difficult to digest and may cause gas and bloating. Plus I noticed the vegan formulas tend to have better quality ingredients and contain less processed sugar. There are hundreds of brands on the market, but the ones I like because of the high ingredient quality and flavor are from It Works!, Garden of Life, Purely Inspired, and Orgain

Greens veggies – I use about 2 handfuls of spinach. You can choose other green veggies like kale, collards, Swiss chard or zucchini.

Fruit – I always use a whole frozen banana for natural sweetness and to make the smoothie thick and creamy. If you don’t like bananas, you can use an avocado for creaminess since it has a neutral flavor. Avocados are a good source of heart and brain healthy Omega 3’s

After the banana, I always add two varieties of other fruits. Frozen fruit makes the consistency creamier and more enjoyable for me. Having three types of fruit helps to mask the flavor of the spinach

Once I am ready to blend up my smoothies, I add them to the blender in this order: liquids, protein powder, spinach and then all my fruit. Blend for 1-2 minutes based on the type of blender you have and your desired consistency. If my blender is having a hard time blending up the ingredients, I will add a little more water

Since these are typically used to replace a meal, make sure the smoothie is at least 18 ounces and/or 300 calories to keep you full for a few hours so you don’t get hangry! You can use an app such as MyFitnessPal to help you calculate the calories

And just a little side note, the ingredients will separate overnight. So make sure you shake it up well before drinking

Bulk it up!

Remember the goal isn’t to be hungry. If you notice your smoothie isn’t filling enough, you can add more nutrients and calories, easily and in a healthy way

Chia Seeds (whole; not ground) – You can find them in the bulk food section, which I recommend since they can be pricey. They add protein and a nice crunch. They also expand in liquid so they will fill your belly and keep you full

Nut or Seed Butter (peanut, almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter, etc.) – select a brand with no added sugar or oils by checking the ingredient list. Make sure to read the label or you can get it freshly ground in the bulk food section. 1 tablespoon should be sufficient since nut and seed butter can be calorie dense. Or you can use 2 tablespoons of powdered peanut butter. This is also something you can purchase from the bulk foods section

Ground Flax Seeds (must be ground for nutrient absorption) – You can buy them whole and ground them yourself or you can buy them already ground. Also, once they are ground, refrigerate them to keep the nutrients bio-available. Toss out any unused ground flax seeds after about a week

Recipes Combinations

Again, the base for all my smoothies is liquids, protein powder, green veggie, and a banana. The variation each week is with the other 2 other fruit options I add. So here are some of my favorites that I wanted to share!

Combo 1 – Very Berry

½ cup of raspberries

½ cup of blueberries

Combo 2 – Tropical Breeze

1 cup of strawberries

½ of an orange

Combo 3 – Down Under

1 cup of strawberries

1 whole Kiwi

Combo 4 – Red Alert

1 cup of strawberries

½ cup of raspberries

Combo 5 – Mango Tango

½ cup of mango

½ cup of pineapple

Combo 6 – The Blacker the (Black) Berry

1 cup of blackberries

½ cup of cherries

Combo 7 – Teacher’s Pet

1 whole apple

½ of a pear

Combo 8 – Peaches n Cream

½ cup of peaches

½ cup of pineapple

Combo 9 – Orange you Glad?

½ of an orange

½ cup of mango

Combo 10 – Cherry Up! (Get it? Like “hurry up!” lol)

1 cup of cherries

1 whole kiwi

Experiment with different ingredients. The combinations are really endless! Also brands like Dole carry frozen mixed fruit blends

I really hope you will give green smoothies a try and start to come up with your own tasty creations! Whether you’re in need of a system re-set, want to try something new, get more nutrients in your diet or have always wanted to try them, but didn’t know where to begin, I hope this post was helpful to you! Feel free to share it with others!

If you’re already a green smoothie fan, then please share some of your favorite recipes and how smoothies have benefited your health!

Stay connected with me!

Instagram @mypassion2purpose. Let me know you read my post & I will follow you back!

Facebook – join my Fab + Fit fitness group for support, accountability, and community! Plus I post my weekly meal prep, tasty recipes, fit tips, inspiration, and free workouts! You should totally join us, because we’re stronger together!

 

How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain: My Top 10 Tips

 

 2008 – Current

Did you know the average American gains 7 to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas?!

With all of these wonderful occasions filled with fun, family and friends, there’s also the yummy food…in abundance! But you don’t have to panic thinking you will need to completely miss out on your favorite foods. This journey is not about restriction. It’s about finding balance, enjoying life along the way, and creating better lifestyle habits that work for you. I’ve learned so much since starting my journey in 2008 after losing and keeping off 60 pounds. We can’t have an all or nothing mentality. The best approach for me has been one where I know all of the options I have. Then I pick and choose which indulgent foods I want to enjoy! Another great approach is to perhaps not focus this last 5 weeks of the year on weight loss, but weight maintenance. That in itself, is still a win! So here are my TOP 10 TIPS for avoiding holiday weight gain!

TOP 10 TIPS for enjoying the holiday season while still keeping your wellness goals in mind!

Tip #1 – Take a healthy dish so you have options. If you can, ask the host in advance what will be on the menu. Don’t feel embarrassed about asking. It’s OK to be proactive about your health. This is also a great opportunity to be creative! You can either find a new recipe for a healthy dish or you can make some tweaks to a current favorite to make it a healthier option

Tip #2 – Eat before you go. Plan to have a small meal or snack before so you aren’t overly hungry when you arrive and get tempted to make unhealthy choices. Your small meal should consist of a protein, complex carbohydrates and a healthy fat to  hold you over until your main meal. If you want a light snack instead of a meal, a protein bar or a piece of fruit are great options

Tip #3 – Practice moderation. I like to remind myself that I can have what I want, just not all of it, all of the time. Before you eat, scan the food table and scope out your options. Consider what you really want and take small amounts of those items. I try to go for foods that I don’t normally get to eat. I try to fill half my plate with veggies, then the other half with the foods I want to try out

Tip #4 – Hydrate. We can sometimes think we’re hungry when really we’re thirsty. So throughout the day, and with your meals, make sure you drink plenty of water. You should still try to aim for at least 8 ounces of water. Drinking enough water will also help you feel less bloated if you eat too much salty food

Tip #5 – Wait before you go back for seconds. Before you go back for seconds, allow your food time to digest. It normally takes about 20 minutes for our stomach to send the signal to our brains that we’re full. So if you just scarfed down your food and think you need more, try to wait it out first

Tip #6 – Enjoy the festivities for more than just the food. I know we ALL love food, don’t make food the main focus. Try to also focus on building relationships and creating new ones. So ask your favorite aunt what she’s been up to or talk to the visitor in the room and make them feel welcome. You never know, you may even find a new workout buddy!

Tip #7 – Track your food and try to be as honest as possible. I like using MyFitnessPal app to track my meals. You may choose to use a different app or even a journal. I want to enjoy the holiday, but I don’t want to go overboard. So tracking helps me be mindful, yet still enjoy the occasion

Tip #8 – Get back on track the next day. A holiday is just that; a day. When you carry it over to more than a day, that can make it much more difficult to get back on track. You want to have fun, but still keep in mind that you have goals to meet. So create a plan for what the following day will look like as far as meals, working out and of course, water!

Tip #9 – Exercise. I still like to get some activity in for that day to create a calorie deficit so I have a little more flexibility with my food choices. But if your gym is closed, then no worries. You could opt for a home workout, a neighborhood walk or choose to skip it and work out the next day

Tip #10 – Be kind to yourself. If the day doesn’t go as planned, then don’t beat yourself up over it. All it means is that you’re human just like the rest of us. No one is perfect. So dust yourself off and keep pushing forward!

I hope these tips help you! You may choose to follow all, some or none of them at all. The choice is yours. It is up to you to define this journey for yourself on your own terms.

Happy Holidays, be safe, have fun and eat well!

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Health Halo: 7 Foods that can be Deceptively Healthy

Once again fancy marketing does the trick! We see the flashy commercials, celebrity endorsements, fancy packaging and bold product claims that makes us excited about a health food product and leads us to believe we’ll be making the right choice if we buy it. But in reality what we see is not the whole picture and we may end up purchasing something that can actually push us further away from our goals. Then we may be left wondering why we aren’t making progress. Insert the “Health Halo” effect

The Health Halo effect occurs when a food that has some healthy attributes to it is perceived as being an overall healthy food. For instance, many people (mistakenly) think that foods labeled as “low fat,” “reduced fat,” fat free,” “Vegan”, etc. are almost always a better option

Food manufactures know what will grab our attention. They know our pain points and frustrations when it comes to weight loss and wanting to find healthy food that still tastes good. Manufacturers can make almost any product claim they want to in an advertisement and on the front of the package; but the ingredients and nutrition label on the back of the package tell the full story. So we have to take the time to understand what we ae truly putting into our bodies

Since I know you have goals, I want to help you win, girl! So here are the 7 most common health halo foods that you should be aware of. I am not saying to never eat them, but just take what the manufacturer says with a grain of salt. Understand that their primary goal is to make a profit; not help you lose weight. So read the packaging and then make the best choice for you!

7 of the most common health halo foods:

• Granola – can be high in processed sugar and it can also be challenging to stick to a serving, which is usually ¼ cup. Check the nutrition facts to determine the number of grams of sugar and the source of sugar. Sugar has many names and usually end in “ose” like fructose, sucrose, or dextrose. Also brown rice syrup is processed as well. For more information on the different names for sugar, check out this article. There are brands like Purely Elizabeth that are sweetened naturally with honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar

• Yogurt – some yogurts have as much sugar as a candy bar! Opt for Greek Yogurt since it is low fat and high in protein that helps you stay fuller longer. Brands like Dannon have varieties that are sweetened with either stevia or monk fruit extract. Some other great brand are Siggi’s and Fage

• Protein Cookies – some protein cookies on the market are huge and actually contain TWO servings per individual package. But who is really only going to eat half the cookie? If you can stop at half, then bravo, because I know I can’t. You’re pretty much eating a cookie that just happens to have more protein in it compared to a typical cookie. But there are some brands, such as Quest Nutrition cookies that are low sugar, single-serve options. Or make some of your own. I love the baking recipes from Mywholefoodlife.com. They are easy, healthy and typically no-bake!

• Trail Mix – this one is similar to granola, because it also usually contains added sugar. A serving is again around ¼ of a cup. But most people tend to eat it by the handful without realizing how much they actually consumed. You can opt to make your own by using any combination of nuts and seeds you like. For the sweetness, try to avoid refined sugar and choose maple syrup, honey, raisins or dried fruit that doesn’t contain a lot of added sugar like this healthy trail mix recipe from Elizabeth Rider!

• Salad Dressings – most store bought brands contain excess sodium, added sugars, preservatives, and saturated fat. Bolthouse Farm is a great option, because the base is Greek Yogurt. I also really like the Annie’s brand. You can always opt to make your own. I normally do a combination of white rice vinegar, liquid amino’ s (soy sauce alternative) and Dijon Mustard

• Protein Bars/Snack Bars – just like protein cookies, some protein/snack bars have a ton of sugar in them. Some of my favorites that also don’t taste like a protein bar are Quest Nutrition, Think Thin, Kind Bars that have less than 10 grams of sugar, RX Bars, and D’s Naturals. There are tons of great alternatives at the Vitamin Shoppe, GNC and Target

• Baked Potato Chips – these can be high in saturated fat because they typically use poor quality oil. Quest Nutrition also has line of protein chips as well as the Protes and couple of other options I’ve seen at GNS. You can make your own. Here’s a recipe for Sweet Potato chips! If you just like that crunch, you could try some sea salt popcorn. Smart Foods or Boom Chicka Pop are my favorite brands that I get from Target or the local grocery store

You may have noticed a trend here with these food options – added sugar. Many of the ladies I speak with about weight loss say they are frequent snackers. So do you see where your snacking could be the culprit behind your weight loss plateau? I’m all for snacking, but of course I only include then in between my main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). You shouldn’t need to snack more than 1-2 times per day if your meals contain the proper balance of nutrients and the majority of your food is from whole food sources

Aside from rapid blood sugar spikes, processed sugar makes you crave more sugar once you eat it. Since sugary foods don’t always provide the amount of fuel our bodies need, we may end up eating more calories throughout the day to get satisfied. When you consume more calories than your body needs, your body stores it as fat. Again, I am not giving you food rules or smacking your hand with a ruler. I will sometimes eat foods with added sugar, but I try to limit my consumption. I am just encouraging you to be more informed and make better choices. It’s important to be mindful of what you’re eating and practice moderation. Define healthy from your lens; just be an informed consumer!

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BeautyCounter Skin Care Review: Where Activism meets Glamour

When we think of health and wellness, we may initially only focus on what we put into our bodies with the foods we eat, which is of course very important. But what about what we put ON TO our bodies? Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs the products we put on it. For about the last year or so, I have been trying to live a more holistic lifestyle by changing out products I use daily with more eco-friendly versions. So, I was excited when I had the opportunity to try products from BeautyCounter’s skincare line! BeautyCounter values transparency with regards to the full spectrum of their product line that also includes make up and bath and body products. Not only do they want to create safer products, but they also have a strong social justice mission to advocate for change within the personal care industry, which is poorly regulated by the FDA. The FDA has not regulated the safety of ingredients since 1938! While the European Union has banned more 1,300 chemicals, Canada has banned around 600, the US has only banned around 30 ingredients. This moved company CEO, Gregg Renfrew, to action with the bold acclimation “we deserve better!” She is a proponent of environmental health and chemical safety that would ban harmful ingredients such as formaldehyde and coal tar, which are both known as carcinogens (meaning cancer causing) from being included in our products

Since 2013, BeautyCounter now consists of over 30,000 consultants. Their activist approach sets them apart from competitors in the beauty industry

Initial Consultation

During my consultation with Kara, I told her my skin type, which is oily skin with hyper-pigmentation. She used that information to send products geared towards those specific skincare needs

Products Received

Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser

Countercontrol Mattifying Toner (brown jar)

Countercontrol Mattifying Face Cream

Countercontrol Recovery Sleeping Cream

Overnight Peel

Counter Control Set

Counter Match Cream

Exfoliating Face Peel

Skin Care Regimen

Morning:

I cleansed with the Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser, which had a lightweight consistency that went on smooth and silky with a slight citrus scent. The product does have some suds, which I like because it makes me feel like my skin will be cleaner!

I followed that with the Countercontrol Mattifying Toner which helped to remove any remaining dirt and oil

I finished with the Countercontrol Mattifying Face Cream. This product left my face soft and smooth. It didn’t feel cakey. I didn’t apply makeup the first day I tried it. But noticed throughout the day, my skin remained soft and didn’t produce as much oil

Night:

Cleansed with the Clear Pore Cleanser. Applied the overnight peel, which doesn’t need to be rinsed off. The consistency was similar to a lightweight lotion. The peel is used to diminish the appearance of discoloration/hyperpigmentation, acne scars, fine lines and breakouts. I waited 5 minutes and then applied the Countercontrol Recovery Sleeping Cream. The consistency was similar to most face creams. This product also went on smooth. My skin was vibrant and not dull

The following day, I applied the mattifying face cream and then my foundation. But, I didn’t use my normal mattifying powder so I could assess how well this product controlled shine on its own. I was impressed! By the time I took this picture, my face would have usually looked like I spread Crisco all over it! Lol

From the products I received, my favorite product was the Countercontrol Mattifying Face Cream. It really helped keep the shine at bay

I also liked how none of the products had a heavy scent, which may be something you like if you are sensitive to smells

I really enjoyed learning about how this company is paving the way for cosmetic reform, because any company can create a product and market it as “safe” due to poor regulation and lax laws. This was also an opportunity to try eco-friendly beauty products that are gentle; yet effective. So, “Thank you, Kara!” If you’re interested in checking out these products for yourself, click here to connect with Kara directly Beautycounter.com/karapetry

What are some ways you’ve incorporated health and wellness into your daily life?

Connect with me on Instagram @mypassion2purpose and let me know you found me through my blog! And I will follow back!