5 Steps to Healthy Skin - #5 Protect

We've come to the end of our series - can you believe it?! You can click on the following links to take you back to the previous posts from this series:

1. Cleanse to remove dirt and makeup.
2. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
3. Tone to tighten and close pores.
4. Hydrate to balance skins moisture levels.
5. Protect from harsh sun and toxins in the air.

Step 5:
Protect

Last week, we talked about how a moisturizer helps to balance skin moisture levels. Using a moisturizer, such as the Moody Sisters Face & Body Whip will also help to protect your skin. The Face & Body Whip is packed with natural age-fighting properties, vitamins, herbal extracts and essential oils. Using this on your skin will do wonders in protecting and maintaining the beauty of your skin.

There are many ways you can protect your skin, such as:

• eating healthy
• exercising
• drinking enough water
• protecting your skin from the sun
• not smoking
• managing your stress level

But just as important is to figure out which of these steps can best help your skin, purchase the appropriate skin care product(s) and take care of your skin, daily. It may seem overwhelming to completely change your daily routine and add in these steps, but, as I said in the beginning, implementing these steps into your skincare routine will definitely reward you with changes in your skin.

I hope you have enjoyed reading and learning through this series! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below or on the Moody Sisters Facebook page.

5 Steps to Healthy Skin - #4 Hydrate

I hope everyone is learning something through this series! Don't forget, you can always ask questions on this post or on the Moody Sisters Facebook page.

For reference, the 5 Steps to Healthy Skin are:

1. Cleanse to remove dirt and makeup.
2. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
3. Tone to tighten and close pores.
4. Hydrate to balance skins moisture levels.
5. Protect from harsh sun and toxins in the air.

Step 4: Hydrate

Hydrating is not only a crucial step in keeping our skin healthy, but to healthy living!

The obvious, and easiest, way to hydrate your skin: drink plenty of water! How much water? As I was prepping for this post, I came across this great website sharing just how much water one should each be drinking. How are you doing on hydrating your largest organ (your skin)?

No matter how you're doing on the water chart, your skin might need an extra boost in the hydration department. Maybe your skin is typically dry, or, like mine, winter can just be a harsh enemy. If this sounds like you, a moisturizer like the Face & Body Whip will definitely help your skin retain the moisture it so desires!A good moisturizer does not only hydrate your skin, but keeps your skin soft, as well as protecting it from premature wrinkling.

Moisturizers work in two ways:

1. Replenishing lost water
2. Trapping the natural moisture of the skin
   

After cleansing and toning your skin, simply cover your skin with a thin layer of moisturizer. You want your application motions to be circular and 'outwards' - this movement is known to combat gravity and prevents early sagging of the skin.

Anything to add on hydrating your skin? Feel free to share or ask here, or on the Moody Sisters Facebook page!

Love Yourself (Part 2)

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day! Amanda had a fantastic post on Monday regarding ways to love yourself when it comes to things you take in (food and water), as well as exercising. Today, I wanted to share with you ways you can love yourself when it comes to the products in your home and that you use on yourself and family.

If you are reading this blog, you most likely know all about the amazing skincare products from Moody Sisters, and that they are organic and vegan, as well as paraben and aluminum free. Along the lines of skincare, I didn't make it a new years resolution, as I didn't think of it 'in time', but, I really want to make some changes with my makeup products. I don't wear a lot of makeup, but, as of late, I've really wanted to look more into changing what I use (currently, that is Mary Kay, because I keep getting free samples...see, I don't wear it often at all, haha!) (If our awesome readers have any direction in this area, please chime in!!)

I try to be very mindful about the products we use in our home (even though we have so very far to go!) I try to make all our cleaning products (yay for baking soda, vinegar and good 'ol water!) Every now and then, I resort to using a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner from Tropical Traditions (which works great on tough kitchen stains, but has a ton of uses around the house - from carpet cleaner to fruit/veggie wash. Seriously it is ALL PURPOSE).

I have a couple lofty goals of getting back to making laundry detergent, as well as attempting to make dishwasher detergent (I wish I could say giving up the dishwasher altogether and saving a ton of water and money, but time is valuable and with 5 eaters, and often friends over...I'm beyond thankful for that noisy machine!!)

We have cloth diapered all our children (starting when our oldest was about 9 months old), and have been happy not only with how much money we've saved, but also because we've managed to avoid many chemicals next to the skin of our children. In conjunction with cloth diapers, we've used cloth wipes, and stuck with coconut oil for diaper cream, allowing us to avoid many more unpronounceable ingredients.

TMI time - this is your warning ;) I've also made changes to my personal care lineup, opting for more eco-friendly/chemical free items in the form of mama cloth. This another area where I have far to go, but, it's a work in progress!

TMI time over ;)

I'm certain there are things I'm forgetting but,

How about you? In what ways do you take care of & loved yourself??

Love Yourself!!! (part 1)

Feburary, the month of LOVE! Let's talk about loving ourselves! After all, we have been blessed by God with this body and life and we need to treasure it.

Earlier in the year I shared with you some "Resolutions" I had made for the year, one of my goals was to exercise more and eat more "organically". Well...I am not going to lie, the excercising...not going so great! My intentions are good, but life happens and it falls to the wayside, (I really think I just need to join a gym...it's too hard to exercise with a 1 yr old and 4 yr old trying to join in, and by the time they are in bed I am too exhausted!). However, I am happy to share that the eating better is going well!

One big change for me is I have eliminated caffeine out of my daily routine. I am typically a HUGE coffee drinker, I mean normally about 3 cups a day. I have been "caffeine free" for about 4 weeks now and it honestly feels good! I think I was pretty dependent on caffeine and to not be is nice. :) Also, no caffeine means I take in a lot more water. I am a big drinker (I don't mean "drinker" ...because we don't "drink" at all) ;-) , I am constantly intaking fluids and it is good to know that it is something good for me.

Another big change is I am making it a point to eat breakfast EVERY morning, my boys are big breakfast eaters. I am always making pancakes , or eggs and of course the occasional bowl of cereal but I easily get sidetracked and forget to eat that first meal of the day. Being that it is the most important meal of the day, I now make it a point to enjoy it with my boys & its a great start to our day together.

As far as eating organic, we have been doing a lot more of that as well. I, along with my mom found a grocery store chain that has an AMAZING organic section. We do have to travel about an hr to get there, so it only happens every other week, but it has helped immensely in my endeavor to go more "green". When it comes to beef, we don't do a lot, but what we do now is grass fed only.

I understand that eating organically can be really expensive, by no means can we afford for everything in my grocery cart to be organic...but the best thing I have found is to do what I can, stay away from processed foods and cook at home! Eating out is not only a little worse on your wallet, but its never going to be as healthy as what you can make at home, and when you cook at home you know exactly what your taking in!

So love yourself and Eat Well!!! And maybe you can be a little more disciplined than me and fit in a regular workout (any tips on that are greatly appreciated!).

Review Eye Makeup Remover

 I tend to live on the girlie-girl side of life. I love to dress up & I  don't go anywhere without makeup. My favorite thing to wear is eye makeup, but I have a strong dislike for getting eye makeup off. I have tried several different brands of eye makeup remover to decide that its just a waste of money, because nothing gets it all off. I typically end up taking about 1/2 of it off at night before bed and the rest after my morning shower. So I have been using vaseline for the past few years because I feel it does just as good if not better than most eye-makeup removers and its much cheaper.

  I was sent Moody Sisters Eye Makeup Remover to try out, with the above being said I was a little skeptical with my past experiences. However, Moody Sisters has done it again!! I am thoroughly impressed with their remover.

    I love the feel of it on my skin, it removes ALL of my makeup (I have several times used it again in the morning, just out of habit to find a completely white cotton ball)  and it doesn't leave my skin oily. I honestly think it is the perfect product!!

 Moody Sisters Eye Makeup Remover is made with Apricot Keranl Oil , Sunflower Oil, Water and Vitamin E. One of you will win your own 4oz bottle to try out! Just feel out the entry form below.  This giveaway will end on Monday Feb 20th. Good Luck!

5 Steps to Healthy Skin - #3 Tone

So hard to believe we're halfway through this series! I sincerely hope there is learning taking place, and even better - Change!

As a reminder, here are the 5 Steps to Healthy Skin. Feel free to click on the links to remind you of the importance of the steps.

1. Cleanse to remove dirt and makeup.
2. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
3. Tone to tighten and close pores.
4. Hydrate to balance skins moisture levels.
5. Protect from harsh sun and toxins in the air.

Step 3:
Tone

We learned in our first step of cleansing how pores work - they open up when you are sleeping to release toxins. We want to make sure that our skin is sufficiently clean. If dirt and grime get into your pores, then infections, in the form of zits and blackheads, can occur.

Skin Toners work by

• fighting blemishes and tightening (or shrinking) pores
• protecting your skin from losing oil and moisture
• refining the skin pores and tightens them
• making your skin feel soft, fresh and clean
• reducing oiliness over time
  
• improving skin complexion
• fading the appearance of fine lines
• balancing the pH of your skin
  

Using the Refreshing Daily Toner made by Moody Sisters, is very easy. Simply apply the Toner to a cotton ball and wipe onto your face, in a circular motion, then allow to air dry. This needs to be done daily to provide the maximum benefit to your skin

Using a Toner is such a simple step to keeping your skin - your largest organ! - clean and working as it should.

Questions? Comments? Something to add? Post away in comments or on the Facebook page!

Traveling with Moody Sisters

 I have lived in the same town all of my life minus the two years that  I went away to a Bible College in NY. My parents still live in the house I grew up in which is about two minutes from where my husband and our kiddos live and my grandparents, aunts, uncles , cousins all live within a twenty minute drive from us. However, I married a man from Maine which is where his parents still live (a 12 hr drive from us) and he has a brother in PA, a sister and her husband in RI and another brother, his wife and 4 kiddos live in NY. So all that to say , we do a fair amount of traveling.  My husband always laughs at my inability to pack lightly, and its gotten worse since having children. I am an over thinker, so I tend to pack for every possibility that could ever arise.
  My husband especially laughs at my toiletry bag, when we travel.  I have to pack all of our toiletry items and the kids items...and it just gets a little crazy! Well, Moody Sister's has made traveling a little bit easier with their travel size items.

 These little containers may seem to small to last very long, but with all of Moody Sisters products you will find a  little goes a long ways, so these will be perfect for a week or so a way and you save so much space!