Simple Health & Beauty
Wellness
I am definitely not an expert in this area. I don't ever buy fancy make up or keep to a cleaning routine or get my hair done. I have gained weight over the last few years. But, I think I have a good handle on the minimalist side.
Over the years I have found ways to keep the home clutter free and clean. It's not really clean if you have clutter. Excess dust accumulates on clutter.
Cleaning:
Face:
- Burt's Bees facial cloths
- Neutrogena Naturals face wash
- Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair
- Estee Lauder eye cream (this is given to me by my mother -in-law)
I use the cloths in the evening and moisturize my face and use the eye cream. I use the face wash in the shower. I moisturize my face after the shower, also.
Body:
- Dove shampoo and conditioner(it is so not natural , but is what's best for my hair right now)
- Dove detangler
- Dove dry shampoo
- OGX coconut milk shampoo and condition (occasionally)
- Caress soap (again not organic, but my favorite)
I only wash my hair a few times a week. Over washing is very unhealthy. Plus, I get lazy. :) I was told several times it's bad for your skin to shower everyday. You should shower 2-3 times a week. That's going to be a hard one for me. Although, I don't take showers everyday that I am camping and depending on where we camp. I usually don't even shower for a camping weekend.
Make-Up:
- concealer
- tinted moisturizer/BB cream
- blush
- eye shadow palette
- Maybelline Line Stylist eyeliner
- Maybelline loose powder
- Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Watermelon
My boys have told me I shouldn't wear make up. They actually get mad that I do! But seriously, I am not one of those natural beauties. At. All. When I don't wear make-up, I am constantly asked if I am sick. I have uneven skin tone and inherited dark circles under my eyes. But, it's very sweet my boys don't think I need it. While it would save money to not wear any, I still do for work. I mean, I can't scare the customers away! I don't wear any while camping, so kids win that one.
Health & Wellness:
Foods:
Health starts with the foods we eat. Nutrition. Food is fuel for our bodies. It is very important to us to eat real foods. We stay away from processed, sugars, and fast food. We aren't sure how it became acceptable to eat chemical foods and not real foods. Probably lack of education, big corporation advertising, and a busy life. But, we should never let busyness be an excuse. Education and preparation is key. See my Simplifying Meals page for more on that.
Exercise:
They say sitting is worse than a smoking a cigarette. I believe it!
We don't need fancy equipment or a gym membership to stay healthy. There are plenty of ways to exercise. I prefer natural exercise. A treadmill is absolute torture! Cardio videos? More torture!
Walk-
Walk anywhere and everywhere. It's FREE!! Walk down your driveway, down your street, at the park, with or without kids and friends. Walk at the very least 10,000 steps a day. I purchased a FitBit for encouragement and motivation. Although, I do not believe it calculates the exact steps, it's motivating. It also has a built in watch and caller ID on it! If I ever want to upgrade, I will get a Vivo Fit for our swimming and kayaking adventures.
Go on Hikes! Find a nearby State Park and hit some trails and soak up new scenery. Connect with your spouse and kids and get your exercise in! Can you tell this is one of my favorites? ( more on this on the Simplifying Entertainment page. )
Yoga-
There are several YouTube channels that provide free yoga videos. If you don't like videos, look up a few different poses that you like. write it down in a notebook. Spend a few minutes in the morning or evening doing this. Even 10 minutes will help.
Play-
I'm just a kid at heart. I love to just get out and be active. Thanks goodness I have kids to use that excuse.
Riding bikes around the block, walk around the block, play backyard baseball, frisbee, kickball, basketball, swimming, hide and seek, playground fun.
Disc Golf is usually free, after the purchase of a few discs. Take the bike along some trails around town. Run around the playground with your kids.
Home:
Once you have rid your home of excess clutter, the dust will be lessened. I always say "Dirt Don't Hurt" but, you just really don't need a nasty house. Once you get on a routine of cleaning your newly clutter-free minimalist home, you can be at ease knowing you have better air quality.
Add a few natural things to help keep air clean - indoor plants and Himalayan salt lamps.
Stop using regular marketed candles. They are full of toxins that fill the home. Use only beeswax candles and incense.