Skincare

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Vegan, clean ingredients, and sustainable packaging all in one skincare line can be a tall order. I was ecstatic when I found a product that checked all of the boxes. A dear frient introduced me to Youth To The People. YTTP. Their motto is Skincare for ALL and they stay true to that, which is apparent on their website. This company does a fantastic job in keeping their ingredients safe for the planet, as they are all biodegradable and plant-based. Their products are also vegan and cruelty-free. I appreciate their extended efforts to minimize plastic use by packagining in glass bottles. They offer refill size bottles for several products to keep the waste even less. The packaging is sourced locally in the States from the company Neenah. The Neenah papers used have been Green-e certified, meaning the paper is manufactured with 100% renewable green electricity. The post consumer recycled paper are free from chlorine and come from sustainable raw materials.

Raising Vegan Tip- Quit face cleansing and makeup remover wipes for good! Have an abundance of washable nursing pads you no longer need? These make for excellent makeup remover or face cleansing pads. The softness feels great on the skin. After use, throw them into the washer in a mesh bag to wash with your towels. Dry the same way, and now you have reuseable face wipes.

My MUST-HAVE is their Superfood Cleanser. I use this cleanser with my Clarisonic and it lathers so nicely. The freshness it unmatched by all of the other products I have tried in the past. This cleanser is a mood changer! If I am feeling exhausted, I will wash my face with this Superfood and it brings me back to life. Currently priced at $36 for 8 oz (237 ml) bottle. This product is offered in a refill size $64 for 16 oz (473 ml) bottle.

Next I apply the Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power toner to my T-zone and trouble areas. This toner has done wonders to balance my skin. I tend to have both dry and oily patches, but the toner has been amazing to even it out. The 4 oz bottle typically lasts me about 6 months. Currently, the 4 oz, (118ml) bottle is $38.

Right now, with the summer heat and humidity where we live, I use the Superfood Air-whip Moisture Cream. It has a lightness that is perfect for hot, sweaty days and it soaks into my skin beautifully. A the time of posting this the 2 oz. (59ml) jar is priced at $48. I use it once to twice a day and it lasts me typically 2 to 3 months. The glass jar I then repurpose for storing small craft materials for the kids or small screws/bolts etc. The lid is plastic but the glass could easily be recycled.

In the winter months, when it is dry and cool, I switch to the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. It is heavier and perfect for night use, but if you have low humidity in your area, this may be needed for day use as well. This is currently priced at $58 for 2 oz. (59 ml) jar.

The Superclay Purify + Clear Mask is a part of my self-care routine. Combine this mask with a bubble bath, book, and a glass of wine. Ah, the relaxation! This mask feels wonderfully refreshing and leaves my skin feeling soft and renewed. Priced at $36 for 2 oz. (59ml) jar.

Recently, they launched the YTTP community which offers a rewards program. By siging up, you can earn points to redeem for more product and receive a special birthday gift.

If you are already a fan of YTTP, I’d love to hear which products are your favorites in the comments below.


Beach Day with Littles!



Going to the beach is a fun day for the whole family.  The Littles have a great time exploring new textures, hearing new sounds, and seeing new sights.  It will certainly wear them out for their next nap!

If you are going to the beach with a baby (not walking yet) the goal of the day is to keep them entertained in the shade.  For the toddlers, you have the same goal, but add in water-safety.  Toddlers can make their way to the ocean in a blink of an eye, so always be on alert!

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Eating vegan at the beach may seem hard at first, but it is actually extremely easy- especially when eating healthfully.  Be sure to keep yourself and the Littles well hydrated.  For babies older than 9 months, water is a great supplement to formula or breast milk.  Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water- so load up!  Avoiding salty snacks or caffeinated drinks will help slow dehydration. Below you will find a list of our favorite beach day snacks.  


Snack List:

  1. Organic Vegan food pouches- We especially like unsweetened applesauce for the Littles.  Once they enjoy combination flavors- there are so many options for delicious organic vegan food pouches.  You can also make your own!
  2. Fruit!  Oranges, bananas, grapes (not for the four-legged family members), apples, pears, mango, the list goes on.  For convenience sake- we prefer bananas and oranges- easier fruits that don’t require a knife.
  3. Hummus and Veggies– celery, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, etc.  Depending on how the age of your Little, the veggies may need to be steamed in advance.
  4. WATER!  Depending on the beach, you may have access to clean, fresh, drinking water, but if not- bring a lot of water!  We prefer to bring a gallon of drinking water to refill bottles and a gallon of tap water to wash hands prior to eating.
  5. Coconut water.  If your family is prone to dehydration, coconut water is your answer.  I’ll spare you the boring details, but its electrolyte balance makes it ideal for quick hydration.
  6. Nuts.  Almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.  All are great sources of protein and omega-3.  I recommend finding the unsalted variety.  Nuts are a choking hazard for kids under the age of 2 years.  As long as your Little doesn’t have a nut allergy, almond butter or other nut butter packets are great snacks.  However, the consistency of the butters can be very hard for babies to swallow.  For the babies, nut butters should be diluted to a sauce consistency for easier swallowing.
  7. Dried Fruits.  For the adults or older Littles, I am a huge fan of dried mango, dried apricots, etc.  While eating a whole fruit is ideal, the convenience of dried fruit is great for the beach!


IMG_4974Sun protection!  Sunscreen, rash guards, UV protective hats, umbrellas, beach tents- these items are musts for a beach trip.  No matter how long the sun exposure, everyone should be wearing sunscreen.  Be sure to ask your doctor at what age they recommend babies start wearing sunscreen.  In regards to UV protective hats- always read the labels.  Surprisingly, not all are intended for UV protection.  The label should clearly state UV protection or SPF 50+.  Consider buying brightly colored rash guards, bathing suits, or UV protective hats for the Littles.  This way you can easily spot them on the beach or in the water.

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Raising Vegan Tip– My favorite sunscreens are zinc oxide based.  Zinc oxide is a mineral and sits on the surface of your skin.  It acts as a barrier reflecting and absorbing the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.  It is also used to treat skin abrasions, diaper rash, and chapped skin.  Bonus!

Sometimes the amount of gear needed to go to the beach can seem overwhelming.  Keeping the essentials (shade, water, snacks, diapers) in mind- try to pack light. 

 


Beach Gear:

  • Our favorite sunscreen for Littles
  • Best Beach Tent- Fits 2 adults and 2 Littles and is very easy to set up and break down.  I especially love the built-in sand bags so it doesn’t fly away!
  • Great Beach Mat that allows sand to fall through it when packing.  We also like beach mats since the surface of this mat can be rough for crawlers.
  • UV protective hats are a must!
  • Great toys to keep Littles occupied.
  • A tub at the beach?  Yes!  Fill it up with ocean water and let the Littles splash and play.  Also keeps the Littles cool.  Always supervise!
  • Beach wagon!  Any variety with all-terrain wheels will work great for hauling gear or Littles!
  • Adult rash guard- Don’t forget to protect yourself!


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Skincare and Pregnancy

Thanks to a close friend’s suggestion, one of the first purchases I made after the news of being pregnant was the book Expecting 411  This fantastic quick reference book, written by two women physicians, a pediatrician and a OB/GYN, covers it all!  After skimming most of the chapters, but carefully avoiding the “Labor Day” section (after all I had 9 months) I came across the do’s and don’ts of skincare products.  One main ingredient to avoid is Vitamin A, which has many names, i.e. retinol, retinol acetate, and 3-dehydroretinol.  So, after reading the tiny labels on my skincare products, I needed to go shopping!


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Things to consider when purchasing skincare products- the ingredients (No Vitamin A) and the manufacturer.  For me, it’s important to ensure the product is both vegan and cruelty-free.  Sadly, these two things do not always go hand in hand, so a little investigating is required.  If the product is sold in mainland China, it MUST be tested on animals, and therefore not an option for me.  The symbols to look for are

PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies offers an excellent database and remains my go-to for screening skincare products.

Warning- Not all companies have made it on the PETA database.  My favorite facial moisturizer by French Girl, is both vegan and cruelty-free, but was not found in the database.

What is your favorite vegan & cruelty-free skincare product?