Hello darlings!
Happy Sunday :) (or whatever day you're reading this). I realized I haven't done a must haves or feminine favorites post in a while and figured today is as good a day as any.
I have to admit, I find it pretty odd the obsession with feminine hygiene on the internet. Like yes, it's important to smell fresh and at the very least, unoffensive, but it's not lost on me how this idea of smelling *fresh* and perfect all the time is fairly new. In fact, it used to be considered sexy for women to have a bit of musk on them as men found it natural and it activated their animalistic desire. I listened to a really interesting podcast on this topic which I'll link here.
Feminine hygiene doesn't mean washing your self several times a day with things that smell like artificial flowers and butterflies. It's about taking care of yourself consistently, from the inside out, eating a healthy diet that's rich is fruits and vegetables, and making sure to incorporate exercise so that you release toxins from your body through sweating.
Our societal obsession with smelling sweet like a pineapple has actually backfired, because many of the products that are promoted in those "Smell FrEsh AlL DaY" videos actually disrupt our natural pH balance and cause more harm than good.
So this post will be a combination of some of my current favorite hygiene AND self-care products for those nights where you just want to pamper yourself. Enjoy!
When you have naturally oily skin, as I do, it can be SO difficult to find a product that controls the oil production without drying out the skin. I've tried several different cleansers and I have to say that the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser might be my favorite gentle cleanser that I've ever used. It smells amazing and it balances my skin's oiliness without making it feel like sandpaper afterwards. I've noticed an improvement in texture and my breakouts have subsided as well. I follow it up with the Clarifying Moisturizer and top off the routine with No7 SPF 30 moisturizing sunscreen in the morning and in the evening I finish with a night cream or acne treatment.
Not only is this company based out of the Bay Area (so I already love it), but they also use safe, natural, organic and sustainably farmed ingredients in their products. They're completely transparent about the ingredients in every bottle and even have an ingredient list available on their website. But beyond that, this body wash is one of my absolute favorites. It smells heavenly, foams up really nicely and it makes me feel even better that I know it's not filled with a bunch of harmful chemicals and toxins.
I've been a Native deodorant stan since I posted my "Hygiene Tips Every Woman Should Know" video last year and SO many of you helped me out in finding the absolute best deodorant ever. Native is quite pricey but again, it smells amazing and it actually works. I haven't used another brand of deodorant since finding Native and once you use it for the first time you'll see why. It's fresh, light, and keeps your sweat under control pretty much all day.
(*Pro tip: apply your deodorant at night instead of in the day. This is when you're supposed to apply it because your sweat glands are less active at night and the deodorant is able to seep into the skin easier.)
This one I don't have yet, but upon doing a little research for this post, I found out about this wonderful invention! It's a pillow that you pop in the microwave for a few minutes and then wrap around your neck, head or wherever you need to relieve tension at the end of the night. I don't have it yet but I 100% intend on buying!
Probiotic
Here's the real tea ladies. If you want to smell *fresh* and *good* down there, you need to be taking a probiotic. Probiotics replenish your gut with healthy bacteria while also fighting off bad bacteria. Probiotics are proven to help with yeast infections, and reduce the risk of vaginal smell. You can get probiotics from certain foods like kimchi, yogurt and kombucha, but taking a probiotic supplement can also help with overall health. (*note: I am not a medical professional and this is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Please consult your doctor before adding any supplements into your daily routine.)
During these unbearably hot summer months, I always opt to use my diffuser instead of candles to help my space smell amazing. I love the fact that the oils I use are natural, so I'm not pumping any toxins into the air. I have been using Saje essential oils since our collaboration last year and I absolutely love them. My current favorite scent is "Fresh Bouquet" and it smells like a wonderful combination of rose and geranium oil!
Y'all know I'm a skincare junkie and this mask is one of my absolute favorites. Maybe it's because you have to add water to the powder yourself, which automatically makes me feel in touch with a more natural and primal side, but it actually works very well. Every time I use this mask, I'm left with skin that feels detoxed and polished.
Up next on the self care side of things are ice rollers! I was gifted some from a skincare facility here in San Francisco last year and my oh my are they wonderful. They're meant to cut down on inflammation in the skin by cooling and calming it down. But I've found that they also work wonderfully at relaxing muscle tension if you have a headache! Any time I feel a cluster headache coming on, I grab my ice rollers and my Saje pain relief essential oil and the two together work like magic!
This one is a little unconventional but after experiencing a UTI for the first time this past year, I have gone to extra lengths to make sure I never have one again. (They are painful, uncomfortable, and downright annoying!) I use the entire Uqora line to help with urinary tract health and if you struggle with UTI's, I'd seriously suggest giving some of their products a try. A lot of times, the very products that we're using to smell *fresh* downstairs, are the very products that cause irritation and lead to vaginal health issues like UTIs. Just mix up this drink any time you feel a UTI coming on and it should help ease irritation.
Ahhh back to me and my oily skin. It really is a struggle but it's a struggle that is NO MATCH
for these oil wipes. Y'all when I tell you these have saved my skin on more than one occasion, I'm not kidding. They used to be a BIG staple in my skincare routine and I'm going to start including them in the rotation more often. I've been using these wipes for years now and I love them. They help prevent breakouts and keep my skin feeling matte throughout the day. They're small so you can easily keep them in your purse and do a little dab on your face whenever you head to the ladies room.
Well my loves that's it for this post, I hope you enjoyed it and that these tips help you to feel fresh and feminine throughout your day to day lives.
xo,
F.
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