The Top Trends of 2018

The Top Trends of 2018

by | Blogroll, Health, Wellness

2017 was the year of the keto diet, with people googling ‘how long before ketosis?’ so they can know how fast their results will be! The year of mushrooms in everything and the year we all learned how to pronounce ‘matcha’ and ‘acai’. This seems like the year everything shifted: people were more focused on health than diets. Every state in the country declared war on the pharmaceutical industry. Yoga wasn’t just for the yogi’s anymore.

This coming year, the evolution continues. I firmly believe that this is the year that we wake up and realize that it’s our responsibility to care for Mother Earth, the year we pay attention to what we’re consuming – and why. 2018 is the year of the mission: the mission to improve. Between a collective consciousness awakening and the impact of our place as humans emerging, we’re bound to sprint headfirst in the direction of continued wellness.

Plus, we can indulge in some cool new products along the way!

Evolution is the ideal word for what 2018 promises. Here are some hot trends to look out for…

PLANETARY ALIGNMENT

There’s already a ton of science based evidence that climate change is having a detrimental effect on our health. Between the natural disasters, regulation rollbacks and national monument upheavals, I believe 2018 is the year that we start paying attention to the planet. When I started my petition to save the endangered trees in San Diego in November, I kept hearing the same thing from everyone: “We need more of this.” And it’s true – we do.

We need more people who care, more people who are involved and more people who are passionate. I believe this will be the year that people realize they have no choice but to get involved. Without every day people standing up for the rights of the soil and the trees and the air, mega corporations think it’s okay to pollute, deforest and destroy our environment. No one is going to save the planet for you. You have to start the revolution. And only you can. I believe this is the year we all will.

I firmly believe brands will begin to jump on this trend too. Corporations like One Tree Planted are partnering with brands like Genetix to plant a tree for every order placed. I think it’s an incredible way to creative a massive, positive environmental impact. It also shows consumers what’s important to the brands and brand owners, which in and of itself is a massive commercial disruption.

Pick up these books in the new year to get started on your own planetary mission:

 

Powder Power

Daunted by the idea of taking 460496 supplements a day? Now, you don’t have to!

Powders are the newest way to get your vitamins in – and now, they taste DELICIOUS! A handful of awesome potion brands emerged on the market in 2017, and I foresee a lot more people jumping on board to this relaxing, delightful and delectable way to stay well! Healing spices can tackle everything from pain to bad skin, and there are endless ways to incorporate them into your diet. I mean, this one straight up tastes like hot chocolate.

NEW Superhero Ingredients

You’ll be seeing some new ingredients pop up in your skincare and grocery aisles. Look out for Melatonin in your skincare, jackfruit at your fruit stand and cassava in your cupboard. They all have incredible anti-oxidant properties that soothe skin, aid digestion and reduce inflammation. They’re gluten free, dairy free and cassava is rich in fiber.

Hormone Revolution

Women are finally taking back their hormones. I predict that 2018 is the year women start to question why they’ve chosen certain methods of birth control, and perhaps look for natural options to address many of the symptoms BC is prescribed for, such as acne, mood swings and PCOS. There are many supplements that support feminine estrogen balance, and I foresee estrogen-regulating (and breakout tackling!) DIM taking a big front seat this year, along with Fenugreek and Echinacea. Fenugreek helps with breast milk supply and lowers inflammation. Echinacea encourages the immune system and reduces many of the symptoms of colds, flu and some other illnesses, infections, and conditions as well as improves depression symptoms, heals skin and tackles inflammation.

SELF-CARE

People – women especially – are coming to realize that self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

I think this is the year people finally connect back to nature. Take that leisurely hike in the morning. Put the kids to bed early. Draw that bath – every night. I think this is the year people finally connect back to nature and dive deeper within. It doesn’t have to be a drastic lifestyle change – self-care is about practicing small rituals every single day that add up to an improved existence. There are also so many ways to practice it; from journaling every night to lighting your favorite candle and curling up with a good book, to doing a phone detox every morning – finding the time to connect with ourselves can – and should – be paramount in 2018.

Here are some books to get you inspired…

 

 

 

 

 

 

PET FOOD THAT RIVALS YOURS

As more people than ever are cleaning up their food choices and asking “Wait, WHAT’S in this?!”—their pets’ plates are getting a makeover too.

I think the top 5 question I get asked in person is what I feed Raelie and Ruca. If you follow my Instagram stories, you may know that I make them dinner from scratch every night: organic meat, potatoes, veggies, carrots, chia seeds, healing oils and spices. And honestly – I’ve saved a lot of money this way! Yes, maybe my mouth waters when I make them their food… but they’re not complaining! Plus, I have the peace of mind knowing whats in it, and they tend to gobble it up in .5 seconds, so I’ll take that as a hell yes from them, too.

Don’t have the time to do this? That’s A-OK! Pet food brands are committing to high-quality kibble made from fresh, whole, and clean ingredients (no GMOs or grains for *your* fur-baby)—and even recipes that have been tested on humans.

Don’t forget to put oils (designed for cats and dogs) into your furry friend’s diet, too! This helps with joints, keeps coat shiny and increases energy and endurance.

Here are our favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

BRAIN BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS

They’re called nootropics – and they’re on the rise. Nootropics – often called smartdrugs – have been circulating since the late 90’s by wellness guru’s like Dave Asprey (Bulletproof Coffee). Dave says, “I remember opening the unmarked brown package and wondering whether the pharmaceuticals and natural substances would really enhance my brain.

They did, and I’ve been a big fan of certain cognitive enhancers ever since.”

Dave’s favorite nootropic is modafinil. “When I first started taking modafinil,” Dave says, “I felt more like myself than I had in years. I took it just about every day in varying doses for 8 years (with a physician’s prescription). It gave me energy and changed my life. I would not be the biohacker I am today without modafinil.”

Always consult your doctor before incorporating supplements.

Here are our top natural, non-Rx brain-boosting helpers:

 

 

 

NATURAL BEAUTY CONTINUES IT’S RISE

The natural beauty market is estimated to be valued at $24 Billion (that’s Billion with a capital B) by 2024, making it one of the fastest growing markets in the world – rivaling the tech boom!

Green beauty is finally getting its time in the spotlight, with giants like Target and Sephora finally jumping on the bandwagon. Companies are promising increased transparency, and people are finally waking up to the hot topics of ingredients in their skincare, deodorant, body wash, toothpaste and more. Folks were even learning that their fan favorite petroleum jelly, contains – you guessed it! – petroleum! YUCK!

Don’t wait to take control of your health! Beauty swaps are now affordable, effective and environmentally sound.

Here are some of my long-standing favorite green beauty swaps for commonly used products like face oil, vaseline and a gentle face scrub:


 

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5 Acne Fighters That Totally Transformed My Skin

5 Acne Fighters That Totally Transformed My Skin

by | Beauty, Blogroll, Green Beauty, Skincare

Acne sucks. I think this is one universal truth that will never change.

Trust me, I know.  

I used to face horrendous, cystic acne all over my jawline, body and face every morning. This was painful, embarrassing and most of all, a nuisance. It was horrible for my self esteem and held me back from doing even the most basic things, like making new friends, going grocery shopping or booking jobs.

Honestly, a good skincare routine has changed everything!

Here are the 5 acne fighters that have totally transformed my skin:

Supplements have been a huge part of my win in my battle against acne, so they deserve to be mentioned first. Supplements have been the foundation of keeping my acne at bay.

The reason that most conventional treatments for acne and skin issues don’t work is that they fail to treat the real issue: your insides. Steroids, anti-biotics and even heavy duty prescription medications skip over the one thing that truly does need to change and for your new, clear skin to stick: Your body needs to be in balance.

Who knew that the true key to combating my skin issues – especially my cystic acne – for good was getting passed by every time I went to the pharmacy for a new skin Rx? The last thing I was missing was herbs and supplements, which have truly been the big game changer for me. If I take my supplements, I barely have to worry about a small blemish around that time of the month. If I miss my supplements, I DO see the same symptoms that I used to have. Bumps pop up. Pores get clogged. Cysts form. Not pretty.

Most female acne is hormonal, and to treat hormonal acne you need to deal with the root cause – your estrogen levels!

One of my favorite and most useful herbs for combating my skin issues has been the supplement DIM, which acts as an estrogen regulator. It balances the estrogens in your body, straightening out your hormones and allowing your skin to stop freaking out. DIM has now become widely known on the Internet as one of the better treatments of hormonal acne, and it has helped many of my friends, family and clients. DIM supplements are an excellent option for women with acne who have high estrogen and low testosterone. These women are typically estrogen dominant. One example is women on synthetic birth control. DIM supplements will work at reducing side effects of the birth control, and getting your libido back. I take 4 DIM pills a day and am totally acne-free!

Some of my other favorites are vitamin D, vitex, fish oils and evening primrose oil.

Serums

I know this may seem counter-intuitive to what they tell you, but you do NOT want to use harsh products when tackling your acne. When you’re fighting acne, ALWAYS avoid products with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfates. Why? Well, you really don’t want extra, unnecessary inflammation if you want your skin to heal! These products are SUPER harsh, stripping the skin of natural pH it needs to stay balanced and often leaving skin red or raw – on TOP of not addressing the problem.

The next step in the foundation of my good skin is to find yourself a good, organic serum that addresses the cause of acne, so that you are not only healing your acne now, but you are preventing future acne. The Detox Repair Serum was formulated to do just that!

This vitamin enriched serum is an effective blemish-fighting acne treatment to minimize pimples, zits, and help prevent future breakouts. How? This serum is specifically formulated with the highest level of french green clay and activated charcoal. Effectively fights blemishes, reduces acne, and helps keep skin free of new breakouts. Healing, organic vitamins are designed to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores while zinc oxide, a natural mineral, provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum.

The result is clearer skin that lasts. Don’t just take my word for it! A recent reviewer said this:

“I have tried SO many different acne solutions and am BLOWN AWAY by this product. I wanted to get away from my harsh acne cream due to all of the chemicals that irritated my face. I tried a bunch of other products, but nothing worked. I finally came across this and will never turn back! No smell, no irritating essential oils, no dangerous ingredients and the serum actually works to prevent and heal breakouts! Highly recommend!” –June, 27

The best part about these serums is that they are essential oil free. Essential oils can irritate skin over time because our body’s become sensitive to the concentrated ingredients. The Detox Repair serum is also scent-free, so you don’t have to worry about if the smell will irritate your delicate palette or your skin.

Use as an oil cleanser as well as a morning and nighttime serum! Simply apply to face as instructed and remove makeup with a wet or dry washcloth. Can additionally be used as a body oil.

Soft Water 

Hard water had done a number on my skin, but it took me months to identify this as one of the main culprits! You’ll know you have hard water in your shower if you experience any of these symptoms after showering: dry skin, itchiness, flakiness, a filminess or dry hair and scalp.

Hard water is high in alkaline (pH), and also contains high levels of minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron. This clogs and irritates your skin.

The remedy is switching to a soft water filter for your showerhead. You can grab this one from Culligan for under $30! Soft water helps your body clear toxins, fight infections and oh yeah – it won’t take 10 minutes to wash product out of your hair! Check if you have hard water in your area at: www.theorganiclifeblog.com/hardwater

Skip The Dehydrators 

I haven’t drank a drop of alcohol at all for a few months now (post on this coming soon!) and other than my health, I have surpsingly seen the most difference in my SKIN!

Cutting out caffeine and alcohol – especially hard alcohol – will truly help you win the war against your acne. If you’re not too inspired by plain old water, try adding some fresh lemon or berries and organic honey for flavor and drink at LEAST 8 cups of water and 4 cups of caffeine-free tea per day.

Caffeine (when ingested) can cause disruption to your guts, which is where the start of your clear skin truly begins. Caffeine also messes with your hormones, namely your stress hormone, which is a huge disruption to your oil production. On top of that, it’s a diuretic, adding a super dehydrating affect that I think we can all agree we’d like to skip.

But don’t worry – You can literally drink your way to amazing skin! Try replacing coffee with teas specifically designed to help you wean off. Teeccino, an herbal coffee alternative that tastes JUST like coffee (I swear!) is my favorite, but you can just make your own drink at home with some fresh herbs like mint, cacao or lavender flowers and warm milk, cinnamon, honey and turmeric.

Masks

Like a good serum, a good face mask fights the very CAUSE of acne, not just the surface skin disruptions. I invented one for just this purpose, and have used it for over 4 years every time I see a little bump creep in, usually around that time of the month. Forbes actually featured this mask this year – a true highlight. My organic face mask works great to simultaneously exfoliate and moisturize your skin. Incorporate this mask into your skin routine 2-3 times a week for the best results. Your skin will be glowing, refreshed, and happy! Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

To Do:

  1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl
  2. Mix together thoroughly with a wooden spoon
  3. Add water and mix thoroughly until it is a muddy consistency
  4. Apply to face, neck and décolletage using a fan or makeup brush
  5. Allow to dry for 10-15 mins
  6. Remove while still damp

Voila! A perfect complexion is yours!

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