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Oil Serum

Purpose:
The Oil Serum is a versatile, everyday facial oil designed to provide the right amount of hydration and nutrients. Its primary focus is on correcting imbalances and brightening the complexion.

Key Benefits:

• Hydration: Ideal for keeping the skin moisturized throughout the day.

• Nutrient-Rich: Contains essential fatty acids, phytoesterols, and antioxidants that nourish the skin.

• Versatile Use: Can be used as a facial treatment, light moisturizer, or oil cleanser.

Suitable for:

• Dry Skin: Deeply hydrates and nourishes, making it perfect for use both morning and night.

• Oily or Combination Skin: Helps balance oil production, best used at night to avoid excess shine during the day.

• Sensitive Skin: Gentle enough for sensitive skin, but patch testing is recommended before regular use.

How Often to Use:
The frequency of use for our serums depends on your specific skin needs and the type of serum being applied.

• Dry Skin: The Oil Serum can be used both morning and night to maintain hydration and nourishment.

• Oily & Combination Skin: Those with oily or combination skin may find it beneficial to use the Oil Serum primarily at night to balance oil production without increasing daytime shine.

• Sensitive Skin: If you have sensitive skin, start with 2-3 applications per week to ensure your skin tolerates it well, gradually increasing to daily use as needed.

Pro Tip:
Maximize your serum's effectiveness by applying it to slightly damp skin. After cleansing your face, pat it dry gently, leaving a bit of moisture. This helps to lock in additional hydration and allows the serum to penetrate deeper into your skin. Additionally, always follow up with a moisturizer to seal in the benefits and create a protective barrier for your skin. For those with oily or combination skin, consider using a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer (such as �IJ���վ Rosewater to avoid clogging pores).

Let's Recap:
Our Oil Serum is a multi-functional facial oil that delivers hydration and essential nutrients for a balanced, bright complexion. It is packed with essential fatty acids, phytoesterols, and antioxidants, making it suitable for all skin types. While it deeply hydrates dry skin, it also helps to balance oil production for oily or combination skin. Its gentle formulation is generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin, though patch testing is recommended. The serum can be used as a facial treatment, light moisturizer, or oil cleanser, providing versatile skincare benefits.

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Day Serum

Purpose: Our Day Serum is specifically formulated to protect, nourish, and hydrate the skin throughout the day. It works well under makeup or SPF, making it an essential part of your morning routine.

Key Benefits:

• Protection: Shields the skin from environmental stressors with a blend of natural ingredients.

• Lightweight Hydration: The texture provides sufficient moisture without feeling heavy.

• Preparation: Prepares the skin for makeup application by creating a smooth base.

Suitable for:

• Dry Skin: Provides hydration that can improve skin texture when layered with a rich moisturizer.

• Oily or Combination Skin: Lightweight and non-greasy, perfect for daytime use.

• Sensitive Skin: Soothing and gentle, although patch testing is recommended to prevent irritation.

How Often to Use Day Serum:
The Day Serum's usage frequency can vary depending on your skin type and specific skincare needs.

• Dry Skin: For those with dry skin, the Day Serum should be applied every morning to provide consistent hydration and protection throughout the day. Follow it with a rich moisturizer to lock in moisture.

• Oily or Combination Skin: Individuals with oily or combination skin can also use the Day Serum daily, as its lightweight formula won't clog pores or add excess oil. It helps to balance the skin while providing necessary hydration and protection.

• Sensitive Skin: If you have sensitive skin, begin with using the Day Serum 2-3 times a week to monitor your skin's reaction. Gradually increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well, ensuring to layer it with a gentle moisturizer to minimize any potential irritation.

Pro Tip:
For enhanced results, apply your Day Serum after using a toner. Toners help to balance your skin's pH levels and remove lingering impurities, making your skin more receptive to the benefits of the serum. Wait a few minutes after applying the toner to let it absorb fully, then gently apply the Day Serum. This sequence maximizes the hydration and protection your serum offers, ensuring your skin stays radiant and healthy all day long. Pairing with �IJ���վ Toner can also help in better absorption of subsequent skincare products, leading to more effective overall skincare.��

Let's Recap:
Our Day Serum is a crucial component of your morning skincare routine, designed to shield, nourish, and hydrate the skin throughout the day. Its lightweight, gel-like texture ensures ample hydration without the heaviness, making it ideal for layering under makeup or SPF. The serum's protective properties defend against environmental stressors, while its smooth texture readies the skin for flawless makeup application. Suitable for all skin types, it hydrates dry skin, offers a non-greasy solution for oily or combination skin, and is gentle enough for sensitive skin, though patch testing is always recommended.

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Night Serum

Purpose: The Night Serum is designed to assist in skin recovery while you sleep. It focuses on repairing and rejuvenating the skin with powerful antioxidants, moisturizers, and detoxifiers.

Key Benefits:

• Repair: Targets fine lines, dryness, and other signs of aging.

• Detoxify: Helps regulate oil production and prevent breakouts with detoxifying ingredients.

• Moisturize: Ensures the skin remains hydrated throughout the night.

Suitable for:

• Dry Skin: Best used with a rich night cream to retain moisture overnight.

• Oily or Combination Skin: Regulates oil production and aids in detoxifying the skin.

• Sensitive Skin: The calming properties of jasmine oil make it suitable for sensitive skin, but patch testing is advised.

How Often to Use Night Serum
The frequency of using the Night Serum depends on your skin type and specific skincare goals:

• Dry Skin: Individuals with dry skin should apply the Night Serum nightly, followed by a rich night cream to ensure maximum moisture retention. This routine helps combat dryness, ensuring the skin remains supple and hydrated throughout the night.

• Oily or Combination Skin: For those with oily or combination skin, the Night Serum can be used every night to help regulate oil production and detoxify the skin. Its formulation works to balance the skin, preventing breakouts and excessive oiliness.

• Sensitive Skin: If you have sensitive skin, begin by using the Night Serum 2-3 times a week to observe how your skin reacts. If the skin tolerates it well, gradually increase to daily use. Always follow up with a gentle, hypoallergenic moisturizer to minimize any potential irritation.

Pro Tip
Maximize the efficacy of your Night Serum by incorporating a gentle exfoliator in your nighttime routine once or twice a week. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, allowing the Night Serum to penetrate deeper and work more effectively. Choose an exfoliator that suits your skin type to avoid irritation. After exfoliating, apply the Night Serum followed by a rich night cream to enhance absorption and lock in moisture, ensuring that you wake up with revitalized and smoother skin. Always listen to your skin and adjust the frequency of exfoliation based on your skin’s response.

Let's Recap
The Night Serum is an essential part of your nightly skincare regimen, focusing on skin repair and rejuvenation while you sleep. Packed with powerful antioxidants, moisturizers, and detoxifying ingredients, it targets fine lines, dryness, and other signs of aging, ensuring your skin stays hydrated and youthful. Its detoxifying properties help regulate oil production and keep breakouts at bay, making it suitable for oily or combination skin. The calming properties of jasmine oil cater to sensitive skin, though patch testing is always advised. For optimal results, pair it with a rich night cream to lock in moisture and wake up with a refreshed, radiant complexion.

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Conclusion

Incorporating both a day and night serum into your daily skincare regimen can significantly enhance your skin's health and appearance. The Day Serum offers essential hydration, protection, and preparation for the day ahead, making it a versatile and lightweight option suitable for all skin types. Meanwhile, the Night Serum works diligently to repair, detoxify, and moisturize your skin as you sleep, ensuring you wake up with a refreshed and rejuvenated complexion. By carefully selecting products tailored to your skin type and gradually introducing them into your routine, you can achieve a well-balanced and effective skincare regimen that addresses your unique needs. Consistent use and mindful application will help you maintain a healthy, radiant, and youthful-looking skin.

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The Origins and Traditions:

The tradition of shea butter is deeply rooted in the culture of West Africa, where it has served as a multi-purpose necessity for centuries. The Shea tree ('Vitellaria paradoxa') bears fruits that are steeped in tradition; the kernels of these fruits yield shea butter, known as 'women's gold' for its association with female empowerment and a sustainable economy. Across the globe, cocoa butter has a lineage as rich as its aroma, being extracted from the seeds of 'Theobroma cacao', a tree native to the forests of Mesoamerica. Tracing back to the Mayans and Aztecs, cocoa butter was revered for its nourishing properties, and even today, it's a primary export for many equatorial countries.

The Science Behind It:

Both shea and cocoa butter boast a richly dense profile of fatty acids, with an emphasis on the 'holy trinity'—oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. Shea butter, in particular, stands out for its high concentration of triterpenes, which exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, aiding in everything from minor skin irritations to chronic inflammatory conditions. On the other hand, the unique composition of cocoa butter, along with its rich antioxidant content, enables it to act as an emollient that retains moisture. The science sings a resounding chorus, affirming shea and cocoa butter as indulgences laced with benefits that our skin craves.

The Skincare Benefits:

Shea butter emerges as a quintessential moisturizer with a secret weapon—unsaponifiables, compounds that enhance cell regeneration and cap off its formidable moisturizing prowess. Squalene, an unsaponifiable found in shea butter, gives it a leg up as an anti-aging agent, proving to be a dependable ally against wrinkles and skin damage. Cocoa butter’s spotless record is maintained by its ability to deeply hydrate, improve elasticity, and assist in the prevention of stretch marks, making it both a skin soother and a guardian.

Incorporating Shea and Cocoa Butter into your Routine:

In your quest to infuse your skincare regime with the might of these butters, start by seeking products that emphasize purity and sustain the butter's natural goodness. Shea butter can be your go-to for intensive overnight treatments, while the light texture of cocoa butter makes it an excellent day-time choice. DIY enthusiasts can craft their own balms, bars, and lotions, blending the butters with essential oils and other botanicals to personalize their skincare. The key is to listen to your skin; while these butters are powerhouses, they still require finding the ideal balance within your individual routine.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing:

The popularity of shea and cocoa butter in the global market underscores the importance of ethical sourcing and sustainability. It is vital to support brands that practice fair trade, ensuring that the communities who cultivate and harvest these butters receive equitable compensation. Ethical sourcing not only maintains the integrity of the ingredients but also contributes to holistic sustainability practices, protecting the environment and supporting the livelihoods of farming communities.

Building a Skincare Legacy with Shea and Cocoa Butter:

The resurgence of these butters in the skincare space is more than a trend; it marks a return to a simpler yet astoundingly effective approach to skin health. The rich history, coupled with scientific validation, reinforces the trust we place in these natural emollients. Whether you're dabbling in DIY creations or selecting products from ethical brands, shea butter and cocoa butter stand as a testament to the sumptuous beauty of less being more in your skincare routine. Incorporating these heritage ingredients isn't just about trends—it's about building a legacy of exceptional skincare that stands the test of time.

The history that envelops shea and cocoa butter is a story worth experiencing firsthand. With a heritage as ageless as time and roles spanning from nourishing the skin to sustaining communities, these butters offer nature at its most potent. It's an invitation to indulge in the creamy concoctions that have comforted and beautified for generations. In a world where the pursuit of purity is a perpetual beacon, shea and cocoa butter stand resilient, an ode to the past, a salve for the present, and a promise for the future of skincare.

Further Reading and Resources:

To expand your knowledge and understanding of shea and cocoa butter, including their benefits, sourcing, and application in skincare, the following resources offer invaluable insights. These platforms provide a mix of scientific research, historical context, and practical advice for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation and application of these remarkable ingredients.

• The Shea Butter Institute: An organization dedicated to promoting the benefits, healing properties, and sustainability of shea butter. Their comprehensive guides and articles are an excellent resource for anyone interested in the science and community impact of shea production.
• Cocoa Butter Chronicles: A blog focused on the exploration of cocoa butter in beauty and skincare routines, including DIY recipes, product reviews, and tips for optimal use.
• The Ethical Trade Initiative: Offers insights into the ethical sourcing of natural ingredients, including shea and cocoa butter. Their publications and reports can guide consumers toward making responsible choices that support fair trade practices.
• Journal of Dermatological Science: Provides scientific studies and research papers on the effects of natural oils and butters on the skin, including the properties of shea and cocoa butter that contribute to their effectiveness in skincare routines.
• DIY Natural: A platform for those interested in creating their own skincare products. It offers a wealth of recipes that incorporate shea and cocoa butter, paired with step-by-step instructions and advice on customization for different skin types.

By getting to know more, you can gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted roles that shea and cocoa butter play in both skincare and global sustainability efforts. This knowledge not only enriches and empowers your personal skincare practices but also aligns with broader principles of ethical consumption and environmental stewardship.

In the bustling landscape of beauty products, natural alternatives have carved a niche for themselves. Among them, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has emerged as a potent elixir not just for culinary use but also for skincare. With a believer base that includes beauty mavens and health-conscious consumers, it’s clear that ACV packs more than a sour punch—it's a skin savior. Today, we explore how the �IJ���վ Toner harnesses the power of this humble ingredient to unveil your best skin.

A Splash of Apple Cider Vinegar in Your Skincare

The trend of using apple cider vinegar for skincare might seem like a recent fad, but its roots go deep, reaching back to traditional medicine and beauty rituals. �IJ���վ Toner, a pioneer in integrating ACV into its skincare line, has led the charge in bringing this old-school ingredient to the forefront. Through this toner, we can appreciate the long-celebrated benefits of ACV in a modern, effective format.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin

Balancing pH Levels: Often called the 'miracle potion' for skin, ACV's pH closely matches our skin's acidic levels. It acts as a natural toner, balancing the skin's pH and keeping it well-regulated to fight off conditions like acne and dryness.

Fighting Acne and Blemishes: ACV is known for its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which can reduce acne and prevent future outbreaks. It regulates the skin’s oil production and clears pores, leading to a clearer complexion.

Brightening and Evening Skin Tone: Loaded with alpha-hydroxy acids, ACV exfoliates the skin gently, removing dead cells to reveal a smoother and more even skin tone.

With these powerful attributes, it’s no wonder natural skincare advocates have been reaching for ACV. And the �IJ���վ Toner encapsulates these benefits, making it a staple in the skincare routines of many.

�IJ���վ Toner: A Deep Dive

Crafted with only five ingredients, the �IJ���վ Toner centers around ACV to offer a refreshing and clarifying experience. Our commitment to organic and fair trade ingredients ensures that the benefits are naturally derived, promising potency without any harsh additives.

Key Ingredients and Their Skincare Properties

• Apple Cider Vinegar: The star of the show, ACV, is the powerhouse that resets your skin’s pH, tightens your pores, and leaves your skin radiant.
• Witch Hazel: Known for reducing inflammation, fighting acne, and healing blemishes, witch hazel complements the work of ACV, creating a synergistic effect for troubled skin.
• Distilled Water: The purest base ingredient, water forms the canvas on which the other ingredients perform, ensuring even distribution.
• Clary Sage Essential Oil: Not just for fragrance, clary sage oil helps to balance the production of natural oil on the skin, making it a boon for oily or combination skin types.
• Sandalwood Essential Oil: Cloaked in a warm, woody aroma, sandalwood oil soothes and calms the skin, adding a touch of indulgence to the toner.

Each ingredient in the �IJ���վ Toner has been carefully selected for its unique properties, bringing together a powerful formula that stands out among natural skincare products.

User Testimonials and Reviews

The true litmus test of any product is the experiences shared by its users. Several fans of the �IJ���վ Toner have lauded its efficacy in combating acne, reducing irritation, and making their skin feel rejuvenated. User testimonials provide a snapshot of the toner's impact, offering real-life validation of the benefits we’ve outlined.

"Since incorporating the �IJ���վ Toner into my routine, I've noticed a significant reduction in acne and my skin feels so much more balanced."

"The toner has really evened out my skin tone, and I no longer feel the need to pile on foundation to look presentable. My skin looks and feels great, even without makeup."

The �IJ���վ Toner is beyond a one-size-fits-all product, it is one that adapts and delivers personalized results for a diverse range of individuals and skin types.

How to Incorporate Apple Cider Vinegar into Your Skincare Routine

Testing out a new skincare regimen can be daunting, especially when it comes to potent ingredients like ACV. The �IJ���վ Toner provides a user-friendly entry point into the world of apple cider vinegar skincare, and here’s how you can make the most of it:

Step-by-Step Guide on Using Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

1. Cleanse Your Skin: Start by thoroughly cleansing your skin, ensuring that there’s no residual makeup or debris.
2. Shake Well: Before every use, shake the �IJ���վ Toner well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
3. Apply with Cotton Pad: Dab the toner onto a cotton pad and gently swipe it across your face and neck. Avoid the eye area.
4. Follow with Moisturizer: After the toner has dried, follow up with your favorite moisturizer to lock in the benefits and keep your skin hydrated.

Precautions and Tips for Best Results

While many users report a significant improvement in their skin, it's essential to conduct a patch test before incorporating any new product, especially those with potent ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, consider diluting the toner with water before application. It's also recommended to use SPF during the day to protect your skin, especially when using products with exfoliating properties. Always listen to your skin and adjust your routine as necessary for the best results.

Conclusion

Apple cider vinegar stands as a testament to the age-old wisdom that natural remedies often offer the best results. And in the case of the �IJ���վ Toner, this ingredient shines, exuding a flawless blend that encourages healthy and radiant skin. If you're looking to revamp your skincare regime with natural, effective solutions, the �IJ���վ Toner could be the ally you’ve been searching for.

The rise of apple cider vinegar in skincare is not just a trend; it’s a testament to the power of nature’s bounty. As you take the plunge into the natural skincare movement, remember that the key to unlocking your skin’s potential might be as simple as a splash of �IJ���վ Toner.

Introduction to �IJ���վ

At the heart of the �IJ���վ philosophy is a commitment to minimalism and sustainability. Our products feature five ingredients or less, are handcrafted in small batches, and have never been tested on animals. Here’s what makes our approach to skincare stand out:

• Ethical Sourcing: �IJ���վ partners with farmers from all over the world to source top-quality, fair trade, and organic ingredients.
• Empowered Simplicity: The foundation of �IJ���վ is about less is more. Fewer ingredients mean less likelihood of irritation and a simpler way to care for your skin and the environment.
• Transparency: The full ingredient list for each product is displayed, fostering a transparent relationship with consumers.

Now, let’s get into the routines for those looking to infuse �IJ���վ products into their daily skincare routines.

The Art of Cleansing

Begin each day with a pristine canvas, erasing the impurities and oils that have accumulated overnight. This is the most basic yet vital step of any skincare routine, and �IJ���վ has the perfect solution to keep it pure.

Importance of Gentle Cleansing

Cleansing is fundamental for removing dirt, bacteria, and pollutants from the skin’s surface. A gentle cleanser like the �IJ���վ Cleanser is essential, as it balances skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

�IJ���վ' Cleansing Solution

For those who yearn for simplicity in their skincare routine without compromising effectiveness, the �IJ���վ Cleanser stands out as a beacon of purity. Formulated with just three key ingredients—organic rosewater, vegetable glycerin, and tea tree oil—this cleanser is a testament to the power of minimalist beauty. The rosewater gently soothes and tones the skin, the vegetable glycerin locks in moisture without clogging pores, and the tea tree oil acts as a natural antimicrobial agent, helping to clear blemishes and calm inflammation. Ideal for all skin types, including the most sensitive, it ensures that your skin is left feeling refreshed and balanced. Simply apply to damp skin with your hands, a washcloth, or cotton, massage in soft circular motions, and rinse off with warm water for a truly purified experience.

2. Toning for Balance

Toning is an essential phase in your skincare routine, acting as a bridge between cleansing and moisturizing. It helps restore the skin's natural pH balance, reduce the appearance of pores, and prepare the skin for the more intensive treatments that follow. �IJ���վ offers a simplified yet potent solution to toning, ensuring your skin receives all the benefits it needs without unnecessary complications.

The Unified Approach to Toning with �IJ���վ

In line with our philosophy of simplicity and minimalism, �IJ���վ Toner stands as the ultimate choice for those seeking balance and purity in their skincare regimen. Crafted with one of the best ingredients—organic apple cider vinegar—our toner ensures your skin's pH levels are thoroughly balanced, while also working to calm inflammation and fight blemishes. Apple cider vinegar is renowned for its natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties, making it an excellent choice for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Introducing Hydrosol Mists

For a refreshing boost of hydration and tone, explore our �IJ���վ Hydrosol Mists. These mists come in a variety of botanical extracts, each offering unique benefits to suit different skin types and concerns. Whether you're looking for the calming effects of lavender, the hydrating properties of rose, or the toning essence of orange blossom, our hydrosol mists provide a quick and easy way to refresh your skin throughout the day. Simply spritz over your face after toning, or anytime your skin needs a burst of hydration.

To use our �IJ���վ Toner, apply a small amount to a cotton pad and gently swipe across cleansed skin. For hydrosol mists, hold the bottle a few inches away from your face and spray lightly. Allow the skin to air dry or gently pat dry with a clean towel, preparing it for the next steps in your skincare routine.

3. Hydrate Your Skin

Maintaining hydrated skin is like giving your complexion a drink of water, leaving it plump, healthy, and glowing. With the complexities of modern environments - pollution, central heating, and air conditioning - keeping your skin barrier hydrated is paramount. That’s where �IJ���վ steps in, offering hydrating solutions that are as effective as they are simple.

Importance of Adequate Hydration

Hydration is the foundation of healthy skin. It fortifies the skin’s barrier, protecting against environmental aggressors and preventing moisture loss. This crucial step influences your skin's texture, tone, and overall health, contributing to a visibly rejuvenated appearance.

�IJ���վ' Hydration Solutions

�IJ���վ simplifies hydrating your skin without compromising on nourishment:

• �IJ���վ Cream: Crafted for utmost indulgence, our cream combines shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil. This rich blend is especially beneficial for those with dry or mature skin, providing deep hydration and a silky smooth finish.
• �IJ���վ Oil Serum: For a luxurious touch, our oil serum includes organic avocado, organic geranium, organic coffee and organic turmeric oils. This formula is perfect for skin that craves intense hydration, whether it’s dry, mature, or sensitive, offering a radiant and balanced complexion.

Each hydrating solution from �IJ���վ is designed for easy integration into your daily skincare routine. Apply a dollop of moisturizer or a few drops of serum to your face and neck, massaging in upward strokes to boost circulation and absorption.

4. Sun Protection for the Earth and You

In our layered approach to skincare, sun protection is the final, critical barrier. While �IJ���վ doesn’t currently offer sunscreen within its product lineup, recognizing the undeniable importance of sun protection is part of our commitment to holistic skincare and environmental stewardship. Therefore, we recommend seeking sunscreens that align with our core values of sustainability, ethical sourcing, and minimal ingredients.

Recommended Sunscreens

We advocate for sun protection products that are reef-safe, cruelty-free, and formulated without harmful chemicals. Here are a few sunscreens we admire for their commitment to both skin and environmental health:

• Mineral Sunscreen: Look for brands that use non-nano zinc oxide, providing broad-spectrum protection without harming marine life.
• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Seek out sunscreens offered in biodegradable or recyclable packaging to minimize environmental impact.
• Plant-Based Formulations: Sunscreens that incorporate plant-derived ingredients not only offer protection but also nourish the skin.

Applying Sun Protection

Regardless of the brand, applying a generous amount of sunscreen to all exposed skin areas 15 minutes before sun exposure is crucial for effectiveness. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating, to maintain optimal protection.

Protecting your skin from the sun isn’t just beneficial for preventing signs of aging and reducing cancer risk—it’s also a step towards preserving our planet. By choosing environmentally conscious brands, we can safeguard our health and contribute to the well-being of our earth.

Conclusion

The key to effective skincare is routine. By integrating the pure simplicity of �IJ���վ’ products, you’re not only giving your skin the best, but you’re also taking a step in caring for our planet. Whether you’re an eco-conscious consumer, a skincare enthusiast, or a clean beauty advocate, �IJ���վ has the essentials for a comprehensive skincare routine that's as kind to your skin as it is to the earth. Start pampering yourself with pure, effective, and socially responsible skincare today.

Fall is��my favorite time of the year because it’s baking season!

Since we are home all the time now, I find myself in my kitchen more than ever, looking for a snack. These cookies are my go-to favorite, because they are quick to make, and even quicker to disappear from the cookie jar! I’ve adapted this recipe from��, who just happens to be one of my go-to bloggers for delicious things. I’ve been making this recipe for years, and it never fails me.

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The Perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Here's Smitten Kitchen's recipe, but stay tuned for my adjustments:��

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, raisins and walnuts, if using them. At this point, you can bake, but if you prefer to have thicker, chewier cookies, chill for at least 20 minutes before you scoop.

Heat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, depending on how long you chilled the cookies. When edges start to turn golden brown, pull out of oven, and let sit on baking sheet for another 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool.

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This recipe is for a half batch of cookies, because otherwise I’d eat the whole batch in one sitting. It’s also a good base recipe for using up other random baking ingredients in your cupboard.��And to liven things up, try replacing the��raisin-walnut combo with:

• 1/2 C white��chocolate chips and 3/4 C dried cranberries
• 3/4 C M&M Minis
• 3/4 C dried cherries and 1/2 C almond slices
• 1/2 C milk chocolate chips and 1/2 C peanut butter chips

I can confirm they also make a delicious ice cream sandwich. I’ll also sometimes add a bit of protein powder to them, so I don’t feel so guilty about eating them for breakfast! Enjoy!
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(Note: This recipe was adapted from my book��Skin Cleanse.)

This recipe for Deep Sea Hydrating “Strips” is for all you dry-skinned ladies out there. Seaweed is so good for you internally and externally—it draws toxins from the skin, is full of B vitamins, clears away dead skin cells, and leaves you hydrated and dewy-fresh.

Cucumbers are high in antioxidants and in vitamins C and K, which means they combat inflammation and aging.Cukes also have lots of vitamin A (natural retinol), which will even your skin tone and help you glow. Coffee is full of antioxidants and healthy oil for your skin. You’re going to be using a little bit of brewed coffee for this recipe, since I know you have some every day (you junkie). This recipe is slightly advanced but still really fun.

½ cup cooled coffee

½ peeled cucumber, roughly chopped

1 sheet kombu seaweed

Add the coffee and cucumber to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a shallow bowl and add the sheet of seaweed. Soak until it is completely rehydrated. To apply, first put cotton into the cuke and coffee mixture and dab it on your skin. Then tear the kombu into strips and firmly press them all over your face, focusing on the under-eye area, forehead, nose, and any dry patches. Leave on and hang out, making sure to scare as many people as possible while you look like an underwater monster. When finished, peel off and discard strips of kombu and rinse clean. When you see how amazing your skin looks, feel free to toss the gross drugstore “pore strips” from your cabinet. Makes one use.

Find this recipe and more treats in��Skin Cleanse!

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The benefits of apple cider vinegar toner are astounding and if you'd like to learn more, you've come to the right place! Read on to learn more and get a DIY recipe��featuring one of our favorite ingredients.

What Is��a Toner

When choosing a��natural toner, you want to pick ingredients that are naturally astringent without being overly drying. The goal of a toner is improving your skin tone and calming skin irritations. But most toners on the market use alcohol as their base, which is incredibly drying and literally the opposite of what you want--especially if you need a toner for dry skin.

You particularly want ingredients that preserve the skin’s delicate pH balance to help control oil production naturally. This function is key if you need a toner for oily skin.��

Why Apple Cider Vinegar?

For centuries, people have been using apple cider vinegar for skin care precisely for these reasons.

It is the ultimate natural hydrating toner, and it’s alcohol free—plus it helps even skin tone and calm the complexion with its natural pH balancing properties.

Properly diluted, ACV is��the��best toner for dry skin,��the��best toner for oily skin, AND��the��best toner for combination skin!

�IJ���վ Toner��harnesses all the toning, moisturizing, and pH-balancing benefits of an ACV toner, and then gives them an extra boost with natural witch hazel and the best essential oils for fighting acne.��

But it’s also easy to make a��D.I.Y. Apple Cider Vinegar Toner Rinse��in your kitchen.

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RECIPE: Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

INGREDIENTS

• 4 teaspoons of water��
• 1 teaspoon of organic ACV��
• **5-10 drops optional essential oils: sandalwood, lavender, clary sage, and chamomile**

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add water and apple cider vinegar together until combined.��
2. If you'd like to add essential oils, stir them in and shake one more time.��
3. Apply to clean skin with a cotton ball or a cotton pad.��

��Notes

Of course, using apple cider vinegar for face care has one downside: the smell. But don’t worry. You can cut the scent of ACV by adding a few drops of essential oil to your D.I.Y ACV rinse. Our favorites are oils with warm, floral scents such as sandalwood, lavender, clary sage, and chamomile (plus, all of these essential oils have the added benefit of giving additional acne fighting properties if you’re using your apple cider vinegar toner for pimples).

And if you're��not into��the D.I.Y. thing you��can find���IJ���վ Toner right here. For��even more D.I.Y. skin care recipes and essential oil tips, check out our books����and��Just the Essentials.

Working From Home...With Children

When my husband, Will, told me he was going to be working from home for at least the next two weeks, I was like LOL welcome to the chaos, babe!�� I’ve been working from home with our 10 month old, Liam, ever since returning from maternity leave and I think it’s kinda great Will is getting a glimpse into that now.�� It’s messy, it’s crazy, it’s overwhelming, it’s all-consuming, it’s freaking hard – and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

��Working from Home might be The New Normal��

Now that many of us are quarantined with kids and trying to work from home, it’s comforting to me that my struggles weren’t imaginary or invalid.�� So many people are expressing the same hardships that I’ve felt for the past 7 months.�� And so many people are offering their tips and support.�� During a time of physical isolation, I actually feel way more connected.�� We’re all navigating through new, scary circumstances, just trying to do our best to keep life “normal”.��

��

But like many moms, I’ve been trying to figure out what “normal” is ever since Liam was born.�� Balancing work and life is hard when there’s no physical separation between the two.�� I constantly feel like I’m failing at something.�� It’s honestly impossible to accomplish everything I want to do each day.�� In my short time as a new parent, I’ve had to learn that I can’t do it all and that doesn’t make me a failure.�� It hasn’t been easy to accept but my mental health totally depends on it.�� I for sure haven’t mastered working from home with the babe yet but I’ve found a few things to be really helpful.��

��

Make a “To Do” List Everyday

��

It’s totally fine that not every single item on the list will get done but writing down the things I hope to accomplish each day clears my head.�� Having a kid at home makes my brain go in 100 different directions.�� The to do list allows me to prioritize things, pick one thing at a time, and truly focus on that thing.�� Even though the whole list is rarely checked off, checking off even some of the list is satisfying.�� It’s a reminder that I did get things done and I can be proud of that.��

Write Down Your Goals

I’m not great at doing this consistently but, hey, I’m trying!�� If I take a few minutes Monday morning to write down my big goals for the week, I’m a lot more likely to stay focused on them.�� These are the big picture things that help me set my intention for the week.�� I like to have a personal one and a work related one.

��

Make a Schedule

��

This is the hardest one for me.�� Liam’s 10 months old so his routine still changes a lot.�� But I know – roughly – when he’s going to wake up, when he’s going to fall asleep, when he naps (ha not really), and when he eats.�� I usually look at my to do list and I schedule my highest priority task for Liam’s morning nap time.�� ��

The schedule I plan gets thrown off a little most days, so I remind myself to stay flexible.�� I can’t control everything with a 10 month old and that’s okay.��

��

Get Outside

��

This is one thing that I don’t bend on.�� I take my dog, Banks, out to the dog park or on a short hike with Liam every day and it honestly saves me. It clears my head, it makes me happy, it’s one of the very few times during the day that I unplug.�� Whenever I feel like I’m completely overwhelmed and close to a meltdown, I get out.�� Stepping away from everything might seem like the worst idea when you have a billion things to do but it makes me more productive in the long run.�� Plus, it’s one of the few ways to still safely get out of your home during quarantine. ��If getting outside isn’t an option, do something that allows you to unplug and get away from your desk – or kitchen table or whatever your desk has become post coronavirus.��

��

Ask for Help

I hate asking for help.�� I hate putting things on other people and I hate feeling like I can’t do it all.�� I’m working on it.�� But seriously, ask for help.�� If there’s not an opportunity to ask someone else for help, help yourself in whatever way you can.�� Take a break.�� Step away.�� Order delivery instead of making dinner.�� Let your kid have that extra screen time so you can breathe.����

��

��

Most importantly, I’m trying to learn how to slow things down, accept that things have changed, and that doing my best is enough.�� Give into this work from home/quarantine situation.�� The anxiety and fear is no joke right now – so take care of yourself, hug your kids a little longer, play a little harder, and slow it down.��

��<3

Kelly (and Liam)

Hand Sanitizer DIY

Don't get scared, get DIY'ing. Here's a simple recipe for a hand sanitizer that meets the CDC requirements, plus some alternative options!��

Effective DIY Hand Sanitizer—Safety First

If you're going to DIY, you should keep some of the following guidelines in mind:

First of all, the .��

Second, use rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol, which is different from the alcohol you drink (aka "ethanol").��

Third, the rubbing alcohol that's sold in stores is already diluted to a��level that will be printed on the label (often it's 70%, 91%, or 95%).��So, keep in mind that��you'll have to adjust for that dilution to get your final product to 60% alcohol.��

Essential Oils as Sanitizers

At �IJ���վ, we��are excited about the research showing that essential oils (and lots of other natural ingredients)��can be effective��at killing some bacteria and viruses. We even wrote����about it. That's why we added essential oils to this formula to supplement the sanitizing power of the alcohol, and we recommend them in your DIYs and around your house in general. We used clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil, but feel free to��try��any from this list:��

-oregano oil

-tea tree oil

-clove oil

-eucalyptus oil

-thyme oil

-fennel oil

-peppermint oil

-ginger oil

-rosemary oil��

And make your essential oil blend no more than .5-1% total of your formulations.��Here's the blend we used in our hand spray at the maximum dilution for a 2 ounce bottle.��

33%��eucalyptus (or roughly 4 drops) + 50% clove (roughly 6 drops) + 16% tea tree (roughly 2 drops) =��12 drops or 1% dilution��for a 2 ounce bottle��

Easy Hand Sanitizer��

Recipe

63% rubbing alcohol (95% dilution), or

66% rubbing alcohol (91% dilution), or

86% rubbing alcohol (70% dilution)��

13, 39, or 36%��lavender hydrosol��depending on your rubbing alcohol dilution

.5%-1% essential oil blend, recipe above��

How To

1. Convert measurements based on size of bottle. (Note: 1 tablespoon = . 5 fluid ounce.)

2. Measure and pour in the��alcohol (if you don't have equipment to measure the exact right amount, feel free just to round up on��the alcohol; you can always use less lavender hydrosol)

3. Measure and pour in the lavender hydrosol

4. Dropper essential oils blend, 6 drops is .5% of a 2 ounce bottle, and 12 drops is 1%.��

5. Shake well.��

To Use

Shake well and spritz, leave time to dry. This product does not replace hand washing, it is an additional supplement to everything you're already doing right.����

PS-We made some too if you're not so into DIY...

��Stay strong and stay healthy, S-Dubbers!��

A bunch of articles on how to overcome obstacles when starting and scaling a business for .��

And here's a bunch of articles with my DIY recipes!:

MacKenzie Smith, aka was our first ever social media manager and still pops in once in a while. She also has the most popular grilled cheese blog on the entire internet, and her recipes have taught many of us dubbers how to cook delicious food and love it. Follow her .��

Jessica Assaf was our first-ever intern and our first-ever employee and now she’s the badass co-founder of the best CBD line on the market, . She is a hugely influential activist, stalk her .��

Katie Klencheski/SMAKK Studios created our first-ever branding. Katie has one of only .1% of creative agencies owned by women, and she is a genius. .��

did our��current brand and is a beautiful, zen human who also teaches virtual yoga from LA. Follow along .��

��designs beautiful special edition��swag for us and makes the most joy-inducing illustrated goodies.��

��illustrated both of Adina's books and is filling the world with adorable tutorials and pictures.��

Maddie Gubernick��was our amazing summer intern while she was in high school, and now she has her own store in NYC! She carries the products she used to make by hand with us, obvs.��

There��are a ton of people who have found their way into our shea butter-scented family along the way. Please please follow and fall in love with these great artists and brands just like we have:��

"Having a lazy attitude might not get you far in the workplace, but we’re firm believers that the same doesn’t have to apply in skincare. There are a time and a place for a , but most days, we’re all about finding ways to get the most results from the least amount of effort possible (being real honest here). That’s why we love these from Adina Grigore, founder and author of . Trying to balance your oily forehead?��Reach for that brown rice flour in your pantry. Need a glow-boost? Mix Greek yogurt with honey and call it a day.

Ahead, you’ll find four face masks to treat your pressing skin issues—all without requiring you to leave your house."

"With her flawless skin and shiny hair, �IJ���վ Founder looks a lot like one of those women who was born without a skin worry in the world. (Some people just don't get the breakout gene). Not so. In fact, growing up and well into her 20s, Grigore was plagued by constant breakouts, itchy, dry skin, and mysterious rashes. She was using a profusion of products (including a ton of medicated lotions and creams from her dermatologist), but things were mostly getting worse.

��

With a background in holistic nutrition, she decided to put what she knew about food to the test on her skin. She threw out every single product she owned and started fresh, with only the ingredients in her kitchen. Olive oil became moisturizer, coconut oil turned into shaving cream, and apple cider vinegar doubled up as a toner and scalp rinse. It took less than 24 hours for her to notice a difference.

….Grigore gave us her top picks from��[Skin Cleanse]��(specially chosen to help beat winter skin troubles) and the recipes to go along with them. If you’re not feeling particularly DIY-inclined, there's a link to a similar product pre-made by �IJ���վ, too. Something for everyone."

Photograph by Victoria Lewis.

Meditating is extremely difficult and extremely simple at the same time. To me, all that meditation means is doing nothing. Or as��close to nothing as possible for as long as you can. That’s it. Everything else that happens while you’re meditating is PART of meditating. There is no doing it wrong, there is no end goal. It is uncomfortable, as if every second is one mental bicep curl and you’re exhausted 15 reps in. You will get stronger, but most of the time it will feel like work because just like any practice or discipline, it is work.��

What this work looks like in practice can include: Finding quiet. Sitting down. Closing your eyes. Taking deep breaths over and over. Saying a mantra over and over. Being mindful of your presence in your surroundings. Feeling sensations in the body. Listening to guidance. Movement and posing and stretching.

All of that is right, and it’s what we commonly hear as being meditation. What I have found in my own practice is that you can meditate with your eyes open, while doing things, while there is noise and distraction, for very short spurts at a time, in an extremely chaotic way, and it’ll still work.

I believe��connecting with your breath in the shower for thirty seconds can leave you as calm and collected and happy as deep two-hour sessions. And I believe that if all of us could do any version of this, our entire lives would be better.��

Here are some facts about meditating to get you going:��

•��.

•��

•��

•��

For me,��there was a period of time where I wanted to meditate but just couldn’t get myself to do it even though for years I had made myself do yoga while hating it the whole time. What finally got me meditating��was that I reached a point where I didn't just want to meditate,��I needed to. I felt like I was quite literally losing my mind and was horrified of what that meant. I studied Transcendental Meditation and Reiki and now I meditate every single day--sometimes for minutes and sometimes for hours. And I have found that all that matters is that you do it. That’s it.��

Here are the steps to make it easiest to start:

1. Get comfortable. It’s okay if that means locked in your bathroom on the toilet, or in the car in the grocery store parking lot, or laying in bed because it’s midnight and you just remembered. All of those count.��
2. If you can, close your eyes. If not, don’t. Again, it’s fine if you fall asleep. If you cry, cry. Laugh. Flip out.��
3. Just stay, however long you can. Try one minute.��
4. Repeat whenever you're able to.��
5. To watch your progress, which can be helpful motivation, set a stopwatch or a timer.

It is painful and difficult and yes it may make you anxious at first. It’s very common to get frustrated because you feel like you cannot quiet your mind or your body. It can feel physically impossible to sit still. Sometimes, even if lying down, you’ll feel physical pain from holding still. It’s bananas. (Sad spoiler alert: these “symptoms” never go away. Well maybe for monks they do, but for me they appear whenever they feel like it, regularly.)

Breathing will help the physical symptoms. Mantras help the mental ones. But the point is, for every minute you are doing it, it’s working. Take deep, slow breaths and focus on nothing else for one minute, that’s probably more than you’ve breathed in a while. Spend 20 minutes straight mentally screaming at your second grade bully for something you really could have sworn you were over, you’re healing. Let your children, pets, partners, roommates, or family interrupt you over and over, you’re learning patience. Use it to fall asleep and nothing else, you’ll get better sleep. It’s all working.����

And in my experience, the best part of “it’s working” besides that amazing list above is that very, very slowly, you learn to watch your mind. Observe it. Actually��listen to it and learn to notice��its patterns. You hear how silly it can be.��Give it time to freak out and then give it time to calm down. And when you do that over and over and over, even in little bits, you learn to accept the waves of your thoughts and emotions as just that—waves that come and go and vary in intensity. You start to see those waves everywhere, and then you learn to accept those too.��

So seriously. If you’re like me and are even a little bit worried about holding it together while everything feels like it’s unraveling—I promise this will help tremendously. Set a stopwatch. See how it goes. We’re lucky if we even have a minute to set aside for this, and how heartbreaking that this is the world we live in. Remind yourself that resting your mind is a luxury that you should take for yourself, even one minute at a time.��

Read more about meditation:��

This recipe was adapted from my book��Skin Cleanse.

All you need:

1 head cabbage

1 to 2 tablespoons sea salt

Instructions:

1. Cut a cabbage into quarters and cut out the core. Peel off the outer cabbage leaves and any leaves with black spots, and save one or two whole, unblemished leaves. Finely shred the remaining cabbage.
2. Put the shredded cabbage into a large bowl or pot and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of sea salt, depending on the size of your cabbage. An average one will need about 2 tablespoons, but if it’s your first time, start with 1 tablespoon (you can add more later). One note: don’t use iodized salt. Iodine will kill your fermentation.
3. After you add the salt, start breaking up the cabbage by “massaging” it, meaning: grab fistfuls of it and squeeze it, punch it, and just basically manhandle it. What you’re doing is causing the cell walls to break apart while the salt pulls water from inside the cabbage. If your wrists and forearms start to ache, you’re doing it right. In a couple of minutes, it will start to produce liquid. After five or ten minutes, your cabbage will look wilted and reduced in size, and there should be quite a lot of water in the bottom of your bowl (this is your “brine”).
4. Once your cabbage is all mushy, get a clean fork to taste it for saltiness. (Make sure to avoid putting a dirty fork in your cabbage—you want to keep as much foreign bacteria out as you can.) If it tastes just a little too salty for your normal taste, then it’s perfect. You want the ’kraut to be saltier than a normal meal should be, but not so salty that it’s inedible.
5. Once it’s ready, put it in a bowl or jar that’s small enough that you can pack it tightly with your fist and deep enough that the liquid can rise up an inch or so above the surface of the shredded cabbage. A wide-mouth Mason jar is perfect for this. Now, you’ll use the whole, unblemished cabbage leaves that you saved above to lay across the top of the chopped cabbage to hold down stray pieces under the liquid. Fill a smaller jar with water and tightly cap it (so the water doesn’t spill into your brine). Make sure to wash the outside of this second jar because you’ll use it to weigh down the cabbage. The whole point here is to keep the cabbage submerged under the brine. This is an anaerobic fermentation, meaning it happens only when it’s not exposed to oxygen.
6. Now set your counter ’kraut aside for a few days. How long is really a question of taste. It’ll be slightly fermented in as few as three days. But if you want to be really hard-core, you can leave it for two or three weeks. Although—take it from me—it’ll start stinking up your kitchen by that point. One thing to note: it is possible to get some mold on the surface of your brine if you’re leaving it for a couple weeks. Just skim it off the top. Not a big deal at all. Like I said, sauerkraut is pretty much foolproof.
7. Now the best part! When you’re ready, just take out the weighing jar and the cabbage leaves (skim off any mold and seriously don’t worry about it, it’s totally safe), and put a lid on your ’kraut. It’ll store in the fridge for a really long time (up to several months) if you make sure to scoop it out only with clean utensils. Not that you’ll need to store it very long. Trust me, you’ll be putting this stuff on everything. I add it to salads, veggie burgers, sausages, and as a topping on veggie soups. It’s even amazing by itself as a simple side.

Find this recipe and more treats in Skin Cleanse!

Here are my favorite classes right now, brought to you by beautiful diverse women. They’re all relaxing, they’re all peaceful, none of them are hard, all of them have helped me tremendously this year.��

1. Gentle Yoga for Beginner’s and Seniors, Sovereign Hands Yoga, 30 minutes

My fave is for seniors, obviously.��

2. Yoga Journal, Jessamyn Stanley 30 minutes

3. Easy Morning Flow, Arianna Elizabeth 15 minutes

4. Smooth and Restorative, Kemet Yoga 25 minutes

5. Gentle Beginner Flow, Cole YogaTX, 35 minutes

6. Relaxing Yoga, Sanela at PsycheTruth, 20 minutes

7. Yoga for Herniated Disc, Yoga with Celest, 15 minutes

Yep, I have one of those. But either way, this video will kick your butt and it’s very simple. All of our backs are suffering right now, try it to strengthen!��

8. Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain, Essential Somatics, 5 minutes

Yep, I have this too. And I literally do this one in bed.��

What is maskne?

Maskne is acne caused by wearing a mask. Wearing a mask creates a hot, humid environment that disrupts your skins natural protective barrier and allows bacteria to thrive. Irritation from masks rubbing up against your skin can also intensify acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Not fun but keep that mask on because getting��corona is even less fun!��

Masks and Mask Care

One of the first ways to help prevent maskne is by picking out a good mask and taking good care of it. Disposable masks are often the most breathable but not always the most practical. As far as reusable masks go, try to avoid irritating synthetic fabrics such as polyester or nylon. Masks made of 100% cotton are effective protection against the virus and much gentler on the skin. Make sure your mask fits nice and snug too! It helps protect against the virus and keeps the mask from rubbing too much against your skin. Win, win!

Keeping reusable masks clean is also super important! Think of masks like underwear – they should be washed after each use.�� Having a few good masks in your rotation makes this a lot easier. Try using a fragrance free detergent to keep irritation��to a minimum.

Skin Care

The best prevention for maskne is to keep our skin care real simple!�� Fewer ingredients and gentler natural skincare products means less chance of irritation. It’s all about finding the balance between keeping your skin clean and moisturized, without overdoing it. And we totally got you covered 😊

It’s a good idea to cleanse before your mask goes on and once it comes off. Our��Cleanser is super gentle and, because it's soap free, it's great for all this extra cleansing we’re doing. It’s going to bust through all that excess bacteria and buildup, without stripping away that natural protective barrier. Micellar waters or even just water are great cleansing options too!

When you have to wear a mask for prolonged periods of time and giving your face a full wash isn’t convenient, our Rosewater��will come to the rescue.�� It fights bacteria while it��tones, and lightly moisturizes. Spritz it on your face when you have a second to take your mask off and it will help keep your skin clean and refreshed throughout the day. Plus it’s like a little aromatherapy moment!

If you’re using anything with active ingredients like retinol, try to apply those things at night to limit irritation. Masks can intensify product absorption into the skin and these ingredients are already pretty intense! (Or opt for something a little gentler right now, like one of our Serums.)

Don’t forget to keep your skin moisturized. It will help protect your skin from the rubbing of your mask against your face. It’s a good idea to use something lightweight like a serum or gel in the morning and save your heavy duty moisturizers for nighttime.��

Maskne Treatment

Even when our natural skin care game is on point, maskne happens. It’s still best to keep things simple when treating it. Using a gentle toner can help a lot.�� Our Toner is basically maskne’s worst nightmare. It will gently unclog pores,��fight��acne, and balance the pH of your skin AKA return it back to its happy place 😊.�� Toning after that mask comes off is the perfect time.

You can also do some fun, soothing DIY treatments. Your kitchen can be your skin's best friend. Mixing together a little cinnamon with a scoop of honey is a great DIY mask that’s both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

If maskne is really getting out of control, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. They’re literally the pros at this and they’re no stranger to the woes of mask wearing.

And seriously y’all, be so extra kind to yourself. Stress can play a big role and damn…2020 got my cortisol levels on another level. So eat all those nourishing foods, drink more water, move your body, meditate, do whatever you gotta do to feel okay. Your skin will thank you��

The past few have been hellish for us as founders, small-business owners, employees, and just humans. The election of Trump in 2016, with all of its blatant fear-mongering and dehumanizations didn’t feel like something new, but it did feel like something imminently dangerous. I remember, after panicking about minority rights and civil rights, starting to fall into a deep anxiety about the future of small business.��

It already felt impossible to start and run a small business in America and since then, over the past four years, I’ve watched our business almost unravel from the complete lack of infrastructure and community in this nation’s manufacturing and distribution economy. BEFORE the global crisis that is Covid, we struggled to have vendors meet their deadlines, to get our massive business partners to understand how to work with a small company like ours, and to not be taken advantage of by middle men at every step along the way. It has been exhausting and frustrating and twelve years in, we still question ourselves all day, every single day.��

I’ve always understood that running a business is harder for me because I’m a woman and I wasn’t lucky enough to launch with a million-dollar loan from daddy. But the Black Lives Matter movement revealed to me something that I should have already been understood: just how much harder it could have been for me. The less privilege you have, the more difficult all of those struggles are. In many cases, they become insurmountable.��

My hope is that we can use all of the difficult lessons we’ve learned at �IJ���վ to help, in whatever small way we can, to raise up more diverse voices in the natural products space and to add to a spirit of cooperation not cutthroat competition among small, independent brands. That’s why we’re committing to our new �IJ���վ x Collabs project.��

Since having this idea, I’ve been stalking brands and having conversations with so many new people. It was truly the best part of 2020. I got to meet so many great makers and founders all over the country and work together to development amazing new products with them while ALSO trying to start or save or grow our own businesses while ALSO trying to survive our realities.��

• Any art: Photography, poetry, photo essays, drawings, memes.

• DIYs: Teach us how to do something that you really think everyone should know how to do. We only request that you treat us like super basic beginners because well, we are. Some ideas: sewing, cooking, baking, tincture-making.

• Products: Formulate a product that is 100% all-natural, 5 ingredients or less, and unique. Or help us develop something we’re already working on!��

• NEW: Let’s make something new together! As long as it’s good for people and better than what’s out there, we want to hear it.��

You will be compensated for your time, labor, and receive commission on sales. Just reach out so we can chat about what you have in mind and how we can work together!

Your work will appear on our website and in our new zine.��

So what do you have in mind? Let us know.

Inevitably it alters the rest of my day, causing a little peach pit of anxiety to form in the middle of my chest that I end up taking with me into everything else I do. So, in an effort to mindfully chip away at my phone addiction, I’ve been taking advantage of some of the features Apple includes with the iPhone to help with this exact problem. (Which of course is a little like if RJ Reynolds��included��nicotine patches with every pack of Camels, but I digress.)

Here are a couple ways you can use your iPhone to combat your iPhone addiction: In��Settings > Screen Time, you’ll find a couple great features for curbing your phone addiction: App Limits and Downtime. (For you Android users,��.)

App Limits does exactly what it says: It lets you select certain apps or categories of apps and set your own limits on them. If I’m playing too much Candy Crush, for instance, I can set it so that I’m only allowed 30 minutes of Candy Crush a day.

Downtime is basically App Limits in reverse. It disables apps on your phone for a certain, scheduled period of time. The nice thing about Downtime is that you can decide which apps are never blocked. For instance, text messages and phone calls can still get through while Downtime is scheduled.

What’s been working for me is to set my Downtime so that only texts, phone calls, podcasts, and my run-tracking app are allowed during morning hours that I would normally spend swiping through the nightmare news of the day. Now, instead, I get up, maybe find a podcast that I want to listen to, and go for a morning run. It’s been amazing. I have more energy and a lot more patience for the things that come up during the day.

Which isn’t to say that my doomscrolling addiction is all fixed. I’ve got a long way to go. I still expect marauding hordes of white nationalist cannibal zombies to begin rampaging at any second, but at least, if they do, I’ve managed to squeeze in a bit of exercise first!

1. Practice Yoga

When my kids were really little, the transition to bedtime was a 3-ring circus every night. Getting them to take a moment to calm down and relax was always a challenge, so after snacks and changing into PJs, we would take 10 minutes to read . This colorful book walks you through several easy yoga poses and meditations, in a way that helps kids stretch out some excess energy and prepare for sleep. My daughter was always excited to practice her tree pose!

��

2. Go for a Walk

In the summer, my kids love to go for walks��in the park. This is a great opportunity to teach kids about mindfulness, being conscious of the world around them. On the way we’ll talk about the trees and flowers we see or count the rabbits on all the front lawns in the neighborhood. We listen for new bird calls and watch for the signs of changing seasons. A simple walk around the neighborhood can��help kids learn the joys of��being��present.

3. Read a Book

Sometimes self-care is as simple as taking a few minutes for yourself to read a book you love. was a favorite in our house. With beautiful illustrations and an adorable story about Gerald the Giraffe who just wants to dance, it’s a great opportunity to have a conversation with your children about embracing what makes you happy, no matter what the world tells you.

4. DIY Spa Day

Once a month, my daughter and I have DIY spa day. We get out our foot baths and mix up a mud mask. We love using the French Green Clay Mask, and she loves to add a little bit of honey, because it smells soooo good! It’s a great opportunity for us to get to spend some down time together, and practice taking moments in life to care for ourselves.

5. Share a Movie Night

Friday nights in our house are movie night, and my kids��look forward to picking out something to watch every week. One favorite is Pixar’s Inside Out. With beautiful animation and music, and a fantastic lesson about allowing yourself to feel your feelings, it’s a great opportunity to talk with kids about how they feel, and what they do when they feel upset, angry, or sad. It’s important to learn at a young age how to express emotions in healthy ways, and don’t forget the popcorn!

6. Listen to Music Together

One thing that I have really tried to share with my children is my love of music, and how it can make you feel. We are constantly sharing new music with each other. It’s a great opportunity to open up conversations about the stories told, and the emotions felt. My kids love sharing their music discoveries with me and finding common ground in the music I listen to. Try building a shared playlist with your kids. Include music they learn in school, songs you loved growing up, and fun new music��that you can all��dance to together!

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These may seem like little things, but these practices can help your children develop healthy habits for the future. It will help them become more independent and understand how to take care of themselves to be healthy and happy in the future!

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��

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And if that’s the case then you’re probably also dealing with some work-from-home back pain. Here are some of the �IJ���վ team's favorite exercises for stretching, strengthening, and unscrewing our screwed-up backs:��

For gentle back strengthening and stretching:

This one is specifically for herniated discs, but it's great for general back pain and tightness too:

Same with this one, it's for sciatic nerve pain, but good for loosening��lower-back tightness��in general.

Here are two on using foam rollers for loosening up tight back muscles:

(If you can't find the fancy foam roller from the video, ��and��:

Yoga for opening up the front body, hip flexors, and psoas:

The channel is great in general for beginners and for finding routines for specific needs.��

��It's easy to forget that tight hip flexors can play a big part in lower-back pain.

��This one does double duty, stretching out the front body and giving your stressed-out mood a break too:

Workouts for building a stronger core:

If you're not obsessed with yet, you're about to be. This husband-and-wife team��creates workouts of all types, for all fitness levels, without the gross vibe of most other fitness instruction. If this��vid isn't what you're looking for, just browse a bit and you'll find another that is.

If you need something low-impact, here's��a great beginner pilates mat workout:

And, if really, at the end of the day, you could just use a good massage,

Stay safe out there, S-Dubbers, and feel better!

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So, for me, one small silver lining to pandemic lockdown has been that the world, it seems, has finally come around to see just how oh-so-right I was all those years!

Since March, there has been a huge surge in people interested in learning about sourdough, and friends all over the country have been reaching out to me for tips and tricks for getting started or making progress on their sourdough journeys. So, in the process of trying to help from a distance, I’ve come up with a standard set of articles and videos that I believe are the most helpful for sourdough newbies.

While with sourdough I don’t think there is any replacement for simply baking, baking, and baking again to learn subtle techniques like how to shape or how to gauge the nuances in proof time or gluten strength or hydration levels, the resources below might be helpful if, like for all of us right now, you can’t necessarily get elbow-to-elbow with an expert who can show you the subtleties of the art.

Making a Starter

The basics of making a starter from scratch won’t vary too much from recipe to recipe. (Although there are versions that add ways of kickstarting the wild yeast production, as in .) These three recipes do a good job of, from the beginning, introducing the notion that sourdough is an art requiring attention to subtle variations in what will be your own unique starter.

Feeding a Starter

It ain’t rocket science, but . I like this one because it doesn’t treat feeding a sourdough starter as if it’s a science project where every gram and degree Fahrenheit has to be perfectly calibrated. As I tell every newbie I talk to: If you want to be exact, go for it, but it’s not mandatory and, long run, it’s way more important for you to get an instinct for the right look and feel than it is to bust out your TI-85 every time you bake.

includes great visual references to help you learn to develop an instinct for the variations in the growth cycle of your starter.

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Making (& Mastering) Your First Loaf

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and I always recommend it with one major caveat: Your first loaf IS GOING TO SUCK. It’s unavoidable. More than likely your dough is going to stick to your countertop and all over your hands when you shape, it’s not going to turn out of your proofing basket, and once you take your bread out of the oven, it’s going to look like an amber hockey puck. Congratulations! You’re human and you just learned a ton. Now, try to make the exact same recipe again. I promise you’ll do better. Then make it again and you’ll do better, then make it again and you’ll do even better….

as a companion to the recipe above. The basics are the same, but the video may help cement some of the concepts. Plus, it’s hilarious.

For bonus points, .

. There are a ton of videos all over Instagram showing super-complex shaping techniques, but worry about that two or three years from now when you’re bored of your standard method of crushing loaves consistently. If you’re just getting started, just get the hang of the simple technique in this video and I promise you your loaves will be just as amazing as the ones on the ‘gram.

Going Beyond the Basic Loaf

Here are a few of my favorites:

��I’m getting carried away recommending this recipe, but I’ve been obsessed with it during the pandemic. Fair warning, this recipe is INTENSE—but if you do try it, my highly recommended little tweak: use goat butter!

Good luck on your sourdough journey! Holler at me if you have questions: adam@swbasics.com!

A “dopamine fast” is��a fancy way that��Silicon Valley + are trying to brand the idea of taking a break from everything that makes your brain release dopamine (which essentially makes you happy) in order to break your addiction to said dopamine. In other words, we’re actually just all grumpy because we’re too happy, and we need to take breaks from being happy to remember that we’re happy. Love it. Sooooo super privileged but aren’t all self-help things? I am also in the privileged position of having , so I decided to do this creepy sounding fast asap.

(And we are all in the unprivileged position of being stuck indoors, which means it's the perfect time to teach yourself how to be naturally happier!)

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How to Do A Dopamine Fast��

A��dopamine fast��is typically described as��no eating, no screens, no music, no exercise, no touch or sex, no work, no eye contact, and no talking more than is absolutely necessary. But the idea is that you’re cutting out as much of what stimulates you as possible; in a full dopamine fast you would be floating in space or something.��

Here is what I did (lol “did” is an overstatement already). I let my phone die around 4 pm Saturday, the day before the fast. This immediately set in motion the mild panic attack that would stay with me the remainder of the weekend. I listened to so much music and got so high as if both would be never again available to me. I worked on my computer until it died and then the panic attack got more intense. I plugged the computer back in and started binge watching to ensure not one minute of restful sleep.��

Then came Sunday, the day of the fast (lol again to the idea of a whole “day” of this). I woke up and meditated without a timer, which made me competitive with myself to get the timing right but then also paranoid I wasn’t getting the timing right. Surprisingly I survived this, but don’t be fooled—it wasn’t easy. I went out and got a coffee because I thought I was dying, and this is totally breaking the rules. No eye contact and lots of awkward laughter. We got back to the house and I built a fire for what felt like 17 hours but turned out to be less than an hour. I stared into the fire for another 12 hours (30 minutes). I plugged my phone in because Elana needed some photos taken but kept it on airplane mode with no wifi okay?! Jk I saw my sister texted me and I immediately facetimed her to panic about my fast, which I was already excelling at and it wasn’t even noon yet!��

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Okay but then I shut my phone for real and spent the next few hours rotating between staring at the fire, walking around, writing notes in a journal (all work or to-do related), getting high, and eating. Elana and I also walked through THANK GOD. But I smoked so so much you guys. Way more than normal. That’s how hard I was trying to cope with just doing nothing, while doing plenty!! And I had to eat because enough torture okay?

By��8 pm��I was back to Surviving R. Kelly, aka more rule-breaking.��

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Why You Should Do a Dopamine Fast��

Wow. I nailed it right? I would give myself like a 45%, a fat F. Still worth it? SO WORTH IT. Cannot even tell you. Cannot wait to do it again. I felt so much peace by the end of the day. I felt so excited to try it again soon, hopefully with more success. And on Monday--the absolute worst day of the week why does it even exist—I was incredibly productive and incredibly grateful for everything.

Do you know how amazing music is?? And your phone? And computers? Omg.��

DO IT. You will do such a better job than I did, and it will be so worth it. Try to keep these tips in mind, I think they helped me!��

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Tips for your detox:

• I was lucky to be staying in a really sweet pad for the weekend and it really helped. Make sure you��make your space feel peaceful and comfortable, if you’re anything like me you will be desperate for both the entire time.��
• Hide your screens. Seriously. I eventually had to give my phone to Elana and tell her not to let me have it. Let them die and have someone take your charger. Whatever it takes just get them far away from you.
• If you’re already a pro at controlling your screen time, find whatever else you reach for the most and take it away. Like weed or booze or food. You know what it is.
• Do the best you can. As you saw, I probably only covered half of what a real detox entails. I don’t understand these Silicon Valley robot humans but today I appreciate them too!��

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I know it's a hard time to do anything extra. But I bet if you shut your phone or computer for a few hours you’d like��everything more. And that’s what we’re really after amirite?��

Whatever it takes to stay happy right now,��

Adina <3

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Being alone can be so scary--I did it for a whole month. Here are some things that helped me stay motivated and pass the time.��

Being Alone

This past November, I traveled from California to upstate New York for an artist residency. I was scheduled to live in the woods in a big house alone for an entire month. It was terrifying. For the��past couple of years, I had found myself deeply afraid of being by myself. I turned to my friends or my boyfriend to ensure that my evenings were filled with��something. I always made plans to avoid being alone, though many evenings I was irritable and exhausted and should have stayed in. I even thought I might be dating someone to ward off loneliness. That’s not the kind of person I want to be. I want to be able sit with myself. I want to be able to love myself enough to be alone. The time alone was honestly a way to test myself.��

Now we're all about to be tested over our ability to spend time alone.��These tips are especially with people who are��single and alone in their homes, my guess is if you're in a house full of family you'll be looking for tips on how to get some time to yourself--which you should do!��

Before being alone: set rules

Before the residency started, I promised myself a few things: I wouldn’t use social media while working (so as not to distract myself in the middle of a thought), I would not drink unless I had a visitor, and I would wait one hour before calling someone if I felt lonely. The first night was definitely a challenge. The darkness of the woods was overwhelming, and I wasn’t yet accustomed to the house and its noises and quirks. However, when I woke up the next morning to the beauty that is fall in the Hudson Valley, the stress eased. I only felt excited and determined.

Over the next week, I could feel all my anxiety about my relationship, friendships, career, money, and the future slip away. The following week, I felt completely at peace. It wasn’t a struggle to be alone. I loved it.��

If you are about to spend some time alone, set some guidelines for yourself. Look at it as a challenge for ways to improve your life. Where can you challenge yourself to take a break? What's something you can work on because you have more time? Can you set chunks of time where you really embrace being alone? Can you reward yourself somehow when you do?��

Then, be patient. It gets easier over time.��

Tips for Being Alone

Here are some things I did to keep myself company:

• Set goals. First of all, I had a goal. I was there to make art, so I was motivated to wake up each day.
• Cook. When I wasn’t working, I cooked, which I find relaxing and fun and a productive way to take a break.
• Listen. The radio, music or a podcast played at all times. These stories and voices kept me company.
• Watch and read all the things. I watched stupid shows while I ate dinner, but I watched quality movies or read a book before bed.
• Sleep! I went to bed early.
• Find new habits. On my month alone, I drove several miles each morning to my favorite bakery and splurged on pastries, which I never do in Los Angeles. If you can't do something like that right now, try a walk, or a long coffee-making ritual. What's something that's completely outside of your normal routine? What can you slow down that you normally rush through?
• Make a schedule. This helps to fill your time. Because I had things to do, I felt healthier than I’ve been in a while. I didn’t look at my body the entire time. I had the same schedule every day. I never got bored. I told my friends I didn’t want to hear about drama back in Los Angeles. We didn’t text every day. I checked in and was present on social media, but I didn’t feel addicted to it. Instagram seemed boring and irrelevant for the most part. I didn’t miss anyone.

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Time Alone is a Gift

Usually��it’s impossible for people with families or regular jobs to take a month out of their normal life, and while at the moment it's mostly not welcome, we can also think of the challenge as a gift. We��are all capable of making changes, figuring out how we feel our best, and adapting to our environment (this is both a good and bad quality). I’m back in Los Angeles now, and it’s stressful. I don’t feel at peace anymore. Real life is full of unexpected events that are annoying and distracting. I haven’t completely changed my life here in LA, but the shifts I��made have stuck with me.��I��keep a more consistent schedule. I keep my podcasts on at home when I’m alone.�� Most importantly though, because of my experience, I know I can be alone, and I like to be alone. This feeling is empowering, and it can’t be taken away.

��-EB