Beauty Rituals for Every Body

I love the simplicity of summer. Hair loosely fashioned on top of my head. A cute dress. No socks.
Meals are easier; fruit and vegetables abound, my husband’s running the grill and if we have a late dinner it doesn’t feel like bedtime.

I like my beauty routines to be simple as well.
These are my favorite family skincare and first aid staples.
All, except the hair towel, I retail.

1. A bar of really good artisan soap. This was a hard one at first. Beauty school taught us that bar soap was bad. Generalizations such as that can rarely be true. (I believe that statement itself may have been a generalization) Soap made from plant oils infused with skin loving herbs, such as this one from Infuse Organics was a game changer for me. I love that there is no wasteful packaging. I mostly use on my body but it is kind to the face, as well. For those of you that like to cleanse your face in the shower this is a one and done. However, if you are only cleansing your face in the morning, we need to talk about a pre-cleansing oil or a creamy cleanser you can use (mostly without water) with slow intention and self-massage at night. I really like the ritual of washing away the day before sleep. "The day, however it may have been, is now over and tomorrow will again be imperfect but new."
2. An ayate exfoliating cloth. If you ever loved a loofah only to see, weeks later, the mold grow, this will bring you back to the joy of shower exfoliating. A loosely hand-woven cloth of agave. Isn’t agave neat? I mean, tequila, a low glycemic index sweetener and a washcloth! You do so much for us agave. It dries between uses if hung up in the shower and also can be laundered with your towels. I can get around 9 months of use from one. I use it with my bar soap all over my body--a bit too abrasive for the face, neck and decollete though. Your body moisturizer will be more effective if you first slough off the dead cells. I find scrub products too messy and potentially hazardous for weekly use. Falls are the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury related deaths. Just ask my husband why we have no throw rugs! https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/older-adult-falls
3. A microfiber hair wrap. I comb my hair with a wide toothed comb in the shower while the conditioner is on. My hair stylist, bringing a bit of slow beauty to hair care, taught me this. After rinsing and getting out of the shower, I give my hair a gentle squeeze and wrap it up so I can move on to moisturizing my body with my hair out of the way. Meanwhile the wrap is gently drying my hair some. I also use it when I am using a deep conditioning treatment. This newer, wiry grey hair of mine needs soothed and I, for the first time, have become a user of such products. Any recommendations?
4. Plain jojoba oil. I towel off in a way that looks more like blotting than rubbing. We want to intentionally leave some of that water there. I pour about a teaspoon of the oil in my palm, rub between my hands and apply to one leg. Repeat on the other side and I split a similar puddle size between my arms. Over time you will figure out the puddle size you need for the parts of your body. Use a little more on your chest and get what you can on your back or enlist a helper. (This can make the difference of itchiness or not in the winter for me) The key is to do your moisturizing (oil/lotion/cream) within 3 minutes of toweling off. That’s not much time, so get in the habit of doing it straight away. This is advice from a dermatologist, to keep in the skin the water from showering or bathing. Water and oil, our barrier is made of this. If you aren’t yet over 40, get in the habit now because this all matters more and more as we age and or skin degrades. Jojoba is chemically a liquid wax (now remember kids, chemical is NOT a bad word) and very similar to our own sebum and has a long shelf life to boot. I also use it to remove eye makeup.
5. Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel. Inflammation from eczema, acne, rosacea is soothed. Razor burn, ingrown hair, tender waxed areas are no match for this antibacterial yet hydrating magic. If using on your face, think of it as your treatment layer if your skin is dry, as you will need an oil or cream on top. All around first aid item for any boo-boos; burns, bites, stings etc. Lovingly gift this to a man in your life that thinks skin care is girly. The simple green bottle, herbal aromas and refreshing gel texture will have him thinking you are a genius for knowing his wants so well. It is the perfect aftershave.
6. Mantle Skincare (my private label) Lavender Clay Masque. Another first aid family product. I’ve sent so many clients home with a dab of this for spot treating small areas post extraction and also to help draw things out of the skin. It is that drawing and drying that makes it a great choice for ingrown hairs, pimples, stings and bites. Insects not only poke us but they leave behind a little of their own goo that lingers and irritates.
7. Balm Bar--another stellar Infuse Organics product. How I use it: lip balm (in the treatment room too) and hand balm. I adore the eco push-up tube for quick slathering of my lips. Bonus if you rock climb or play guitar, while softening your skin it will not remove your calluses. Another all around soother--scratches, bites etc. So many wonderful butters, herbs and essential oils. I rub the stick on my dry (clean please) neglected cuticles. It really heals so much. Unlike the above clay, this is invisible on the skin so it can work hard for you in public just as well as in the privacy of your home. Balm Bar is also loved by dudes. In fact, it was the formulator's father insisted she share this product more broadly.