My Five Minute Face

When I'm not traveling for a meeting or tradeshow, I'm fortunate enough to be able to work out of my home office. This transition occurred within the last six months, and while it has overall been a wonderful change, there are just a few drawbacks. Namely, the grooming situation. When all of my professional interactions take place via web-ex or conference call, it's easy to justify spending all day in my fuzzy yellow robe with my hair in the same state I slept in, and zero makeup on my grubby little face. Hawt, right?

Over the past month, I've tried to make more an effort in this regard, including getting dressed and pulling myself together a bit (before noon), but still wanting to relish in the joy of having some relief from heels, blazers, and lipstick.

Here's my regimen for sprucing up my mug in less time than it takes to brew a carafe of coffee. (Mmmm...coffee.) 

1. Rinse face. I don't wash my face in the morning because my combo skin tends to dry out from a twice daily wash. My night cream is a mixture of YL essential oils, grapeseed, and coconut oil, so there's nothing heavy or medicinal that needs to be washed away. Just a splash of water and a quick spritz of my morning serum (YL's Lavender and Joy EOs mixed with grapeseed oil and filtered water), and I'm spanky clean.

2. Balance the skin tone: 

• Jane Iredale Handi Brush
• Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder in Pale Yellow #1 - The yellow tone of this powder helps camouflage red undertones in my skin. (I also adore the JI Pure Pressed Powder, which has mineral SPF built in, but Mom had a stockpile of BB, so I'm working my way through that.)

3. Define the eyes:

• Rimmel's Exaggerate Eye Definer in Noir - Total steal for the price point. Applied just along the outer corners of the upper lashes to create an awake, fresh look. (If you have lighter coloring, I love the Origins Automagically Liner in Mushroom when I want a softer look.)
• It Cosmetics Universal Brow Powder Pencil - One of my fave new finds because it provides coverage without being too dramatic, and has a spooly on the other end to finish the application with a nice, natural flourish. This may be a step you're tempted to skip, but attended-to brows can make a huge difference in looking well groomed.
• Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black - Two coats, separated with a metal lash comb, and I apply to the upper lashes only for a clean look. (If you have lighter coloring, a dark brown or navy mascara would be lovely.)

4. Conceal yo'self*:

• It Cosmetics Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush - Game changer.
• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye in Light - Under eye concealer is not an option for me...lest folks suspect I'm strung out or moonlighting as a boxer. This is a recent addition to my arsenal, and I love the texture and longevity of this stuff. I apply with the aforementioned brush in an upside down triangle pattern under my eye, blend out with the fluffy end of the brush, and use whatever is leftover on the brush to conceal around my nose and redness on my chin.

5. Blush and glow:

• Jane Iredale Dome Brush
• MAC powder blush in Peaches - Applied to the apples and swept up toward the temples.
• NARS powder blush in Orgasm - Yes, two blushes. The combo of these two colors is absolutely perfect, and I love the matte, bright color of the MAC blush, while the subtle illumination of Orgasm (teehee) gives a lovely glow and really makes you look refreshed.
• (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark - If I'm wearing my hair down, I like to add a quick swipe of this bronzer to the hollows of my cheek, my temples, and just under my chin line for subtle definition. Takes a few extra seconds, but it gives some depth that makes a big difference.)

6. A little lip:

• Stila Lip Glaze in Loganberry - I suspect this color was a limited edition since I received it in a gift set, so I'm rationing what I have left since it's an awesome shade. But this lip glaze creates a nice shimmer (without looking like you've just ate a glitter sandwich), stays put, and the brush is firm enough to allow for a precise application (to avoid toddler-meets-popsicle mouth).

And there you have it! I'd venture to guess that it took you longer to read this than it would take to accomplish this look. So whether you're looking for a no-fuss work look, spending the day chasing around kiddos, or just want to shorten your time in front of the mirror before enjoying a low-key weekend, know that you can enhance your natural loveliness in whatever time you can spare by covering these basics.

*Side note: I never used to do concealer after my eye makeup since it struck me as a prep-your-mug kinda task, but when a gal at Ulta told me to try it, it made such a huge difference that I have been doing it ever since. 

Favorite Essential Oils for Pre- and Post-Workout

Whether it's hours of yard work ahead or hitting the gym for a good sweat sesh, essential oils can make a huge difference in both your physical output and how quickly you can bounce back. I want to share with y'all some of my favorite Young Living Essential Oils for pre- and post-workout/activity...

Aroma Siez - We received this oil in a Promo a few months back, and I am so thankful it came into our lives! I love using it with muscle aches, and my go-to is a roll-on M made with a combo of Aroma Siez, Wintergreen, and V-6. I use this cocktail almost daily to balance my body from sitting at a desk all day, but I also use liberally right after a workout, targeting the muscle groups I worked that day.

Wintergreen - I am not a huge Peppermint* fan (though I have benefitted from the therapeutic effects of the oil more times that I care to count), so Hubs suggested we grab some wintergreen. This oil not only has analgesic properties (for after the burn), but is also supports respiratory functions (looking at you, cardio). I go nuts with this oil before I even put on my workout gear.

Joy* - This lovely blend makes a daily appearance as my perfume, but I add an extra drop to my chest (right over my heart) before heading to the gym or outside to work in the garden. It instantly boosts my mood, inspires confidence, and it makes me smell much better when I start sweating like a pig glowing.

Valor* - They don't call this stuff "an adjustment in a bottle" for nothing. My back frequently feels of out sorts (a weak core takes its toll on more than just pant size, yo), and I also have a lot of knee problems (thanks to over a decade of dancing during my formative years). I apply a drop of valor to my upper back/neck (on my spine), a drop to my lower back, and a drop under each knee cap to inspire confidence. 

Lemongrass - M read that this oil does more than just ward off feisty insects, so he recommended I incorporate it into my joint care routine. I've experienced a lot of benefit from applying lemongrass to the backs of both knees. It also help combat gym-bag funk. 

Lemon* - Too many benefits to mention, but this one pulls double duty for flavoring my water while also being a clutch ingredient when I cleanse, so I am all the more inspired to guzzle as much as I can before, during, and after my workout. I've also put a little of my lemon water on a towel to sanitize the weight machines at the gym.

PanAway* - If I really overdid it (which for me most commonly occurs when working in my own backyard, pulling weeds or landscaping), I reach for the PanAway. It has a tingly sensation, and helps me feel relief (one of the  main ingredients in this blend is wintergreen, by the way). In fact, when we first got our Everyday Oils, I had injured my back really, really badly the day before (like I had to shift in my chair about a thousand times during the EO class we attended), so this was actually the first oil I ever used. 

*Oils marked with an asterisk are included in the Everyday Oils Collection, FYI.

I'd love to hear what natural remedies you've used to help stay on track with your own active lives! Any favorites?

This is not a sponsored post, nor is the information in this post intended to provide medical advice or supersede information provided by a medical professional. Any information provided in this post pertains only to Young Living's therapeutic-grade essential oils. If you have any questions about Young Living Essential Oils, please don't hesitate to reach out via the Contact tab. To join my incredible group, you can sign up here.

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Essential Oils...Essentials: My Must-Haves for Getting the Most Out of EOs

A little over 3 months ago, M and I started using Young Living Essential Oils, having been introduced to them via a class we were invited to by a gal from church (who has since become a good friend, a lovely perk of this oily deal). We've been absolutely amazed at how these oils have supported our lives!

While we were fortunate to be able to attend an in-depth class in-person before we got our oils--which isn't a prerequisite to using the oils, of course, but certainly helps from our experience--I found myself wishing there was a list of the essentials to accompany our Everyday Oils set. You know, those items that would take the "starter set" to another level and better equip you to respond to all the basics needs of your family. (These are basically the tools to have on hand to help you and your oil stash thrive.)

My must-have items for getting the most out of our Young Living Essential Oils:

1.) Diffuser - It's amazing that a few drops of oil and some water can make such a huge difference, but whether I've found myself in full blown meltdown mode due to work stress, or fighting back an epic headache, diffusing has been a game-changer. We fortunately received a fantastic diffuser in our Starter Kit, but Abundant Health also has some good ones that don't heat the oils and are safe for use with YL therapeutic grade oils. This is a great approach for freshening up your home and helping your kiddos stay well, too.

2.) Capsules - OK, let's be honest, some of the best oils are stanky.  (Valerian, I'm looking at you, dude.) And if you're using oils when you have a sour stomach or are just not right in the bread basket, the smell alone might make you want to hurl. Enter: veggie capsules. These empty capsules allow you to ingest the oils without tasting them (not all oils are recommended for ingestion, mind you), and can ease discomfort. We order the Size 0 caps from Abundant Health, but you can find these in local health food stores as well.

3.) Good Coconut Oil - Carrier oils (such as olive, jojoba, sesame, etc.) are important to have on hand for diluting  your oils for certain applications (especially with kiddos). But given the other benefits of coconut oil, that has been my go-to, and I love the way the texture works with the EOs. A carrier also helps yours oils go further, but given the quality of YL oils, it's important that you spring for organic, virgin coconut oil. (If you're wanting to make some roll-on blends of your own, I've heard great things about jojoba oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temp, so we actually use YL's V-6 complex, but again, quality is key with whatever carrier you choose.)

4.) E.O.P.R. - The Essential Oils Pocket Reference has been the single most important tool (well, tied for first with the incredible support and resources of the Baby Steps Team) for utilizing our oils on a regular basis, which ultimately saved us from being totally gung-ho for about a week and then fizzling out. This guide allows you to focus on specific oils and recommendations, as well as history, properties, etc. We also regularly reference the Vita Flex foot chart to better target where we want to apply oils on our feet...especially the stinky guys I mentioned before.

5.) Glass water bottle - We fell in love at first sip when we tried a drop of lemon EO in our water...and that was before we even heard all the benefits of ingesting lemon oil (or lime, orange, peppermint, etc.). But having a glass bottle is key to avoid the oils leeching the plastic into your water, which is sort of the opposite effect one hopes for when trying to detox. We tried a few before we finally found Lifefactory bottles, but now M and I rarely travel without our respective roadies.

Have you tried essential oils yet? If so, what are your must-haves?

This is not a sponsored post, nor is the information in this post intended to provide medical advice or supersede information provided by a medical professional. Any information provided in this post pertains only to Young Living's therapeutic-grade essential oils. If you have any questions about Young Living Essential Oils, I am a huge fan and super passionate about them, so please don't hesitate to reach out via the Contact tab or order here!