Au Naturel

\ˌō-ˌna-tə-ˈrel, -ˌna-chə-\ (adjective) Naturally

I've recently been on an "all natural" kick when it comes to cosmetics, skin care, hair care, and what I put in and on my body in general. Now, I haven't gone 100% natural, but I've started to replace some of my products with their all natural counterparts. Below are some of my fave new products that I actually like more than my nasty old chemical-filled ones!

My current fave products are the Yes To Carrots Shampoo and Conditioner and Yes To Grapefruits Makeup Remover Wipes and Dark Circle Correcting Cream

My new go-to natural brand is Yes To. Not only are all of these products at least 95% natural, paraben-free, petroleum-free, SLS-free, AND phthalates-free, but you won't have to go without dinner the next week to pay for them! I just pick mine up at the Walgreens around the corner, which usually has some sort of deal on them to boot. An added bonus: with each purchase, you help give back through the company's Yes To Seed Fund!

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay leaves my skin uber smooth and detoxified and Organic Virgin Coconut Oil puts back all the nourishment that I've lost throughout the day.

Once a week, I try to pamper myself with a little at-home spa experience and whip out my Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. Again, yet another product that won't break the bank ($5.99 for a POUND!), is all natural, and - most importantly - works! I use a heaping teaspoon of the powder and mix with one teaspoon each of water and raw organic apple cider vinegar (more on this miracle product below), leave the mask on for 20 minutes, rinse it off, and admire my tiny-pored face.

Coconut oil is the new craze in the world of "going natural" and I can attest that it lives up to the hype. I prefer to use this brand but as long as it's organic and virgin, it'll do the trick. I use this for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING (I've heard people describe its uses to how the dad in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" uses Windex!). Hair's looking a little dry? I'll just rub a little in my palms and apply to the ends. Dry skin? Throw some coconut oil on it! Need a little pick-me-up? Just have a small spoonful, either by itself or in some tea! Seriously, coconut is my new do-it-all, natural product.

I love adding a tablespoon or two to 1 liter of water and sipping on it throughout the day

Raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar has been a longtime staple of mine, ever since I read about all of its benefits. Not only it is great for skin and hair, but it acts as a mini-cleanse when ingested and cleans out all the gross stuff that's built up in your digestive tract.

While I still have a long way to go to replace all of my chemical-based products with natural ones, it's important to remember that everything should be in moderation. Even Miranda Kerr, supermodel and natural lifestyle activist, recently gave an interview where she acknowledges, "For me, it's 80% health-conscious and 20% indulgence. I try to avoid saying 'always' and 'never,' because we're human beings, and it's not always possible. But to be educated and aware of what you’re doing before you do it is the key," when talking about her natural lifestyle.

Book Worm

Now that I have two weeks off from grad school until my Summer courses begin, I finally have time for that mythical thing I've heard about: reading for pleasure. 

In looking for a book, I wanted to focus on something a little deeper than my usual reads and stumbled upon Better by Atul Gawande. My fiance got this book at a med school book exchange and has been encouraging me to read it for some time now. I'm only one chapter in and already I'm hooked.

Better by Atul Gawande. And my faux glasses.

While this book is technically geared toward those in the medical field, as all the anecdotes are from Dr. Gawande's personal experiences, the deeper meaning can be applied to anyone's life. The main theme throughout the book is going above the minimum and how seemingly small steps can really create something better. It's self help meets Grey's Anatomy (minus McSteamy unfortunately) and was just the thing I needed to elevate my books for pleasure from Harry Potter to something a little more adult.

Met Gala: The Good, The Bad, and Kim Kardashian

So, the Met Gala, aka my second favorite night of fashion right behing the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, was last night. The theme was Punk and man, did the majority of attendees completely miss the mark or what?!

When I think "punk" I think plaid, leather, studs, and hair. I'm convinced, however that all these celebrities' stylists thought the theme was "Black Swan," seeing how there was an abundance of feathers and over-the-top black eye makeup. Now, you may be thinking, "How does she even know anything about punk?" Well, my friends, I present you this picture from my freshman year of high school to squash any doubts about my punk credentials:

No, seriously. I was that cool.

I don't know why, but actresses seem to miss the mark of the Met Gala. So often, they go either too much to the theme or not enough. To me, the real stars of the Met Gala each year are the models. They are not afraid to take risks, and these risks almost always pay off.

 So onto the Met Gala's Best and Worst Dressed. And Kim Kardashian. She gets a category all her own.

The Good:

Gwen Stefani in Maison Martin Margiela

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

Sienna Miller in Burberry. Now THIS is how you do studs.

Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood. I'm really surprised that we didn't see more VW this year!

The Bad:

Ashley Greene in Marchesa. Not only does this dress make her look bigger than she is, but the theme is PUNK and the only thing punk about this dress is that it has black in it.

La La Anthony. Am I the only one who is reminded of Tara Reid's nip slip by this gown?

Lily Collins in Moschino. Now I love me some Lily Collins, but she simply tried too hard with this look. Take off the jacket and she might've been in the Good category.

Dylan Lauren. If your dad is Ralph Lauren, you have no excuse to not be the best dressed. And while this dress is stunning, this is the Met Gala, the one place you can dress as crazy as you've ever wanted.

The Models:

The Queen of the Met Gala, Gisele Bundchen in Anthony Vaccarello. Just the right amount of punk without looking like she's in a costume.

Cara Delevigne in Burberry. Studs galore, plunging neck line, and a simple, flowing skirt. I'm dying right now.

Doutzen Kroes in Theyskens Theory. Finally, the leather that everyone seemed to forget about!

Heidi Klum in Marchesa. This looks like what I wore to my senior prom. Again, why would you go to Marchesa for a punk theme?!

Karlie Kloss in Louis Vuitton. One of the rare occasions where a model gets it wrong. This looks like what Kate Gosselin would wear if she were invited to the Met Gala - hairstyle and all!

Black Swan?

Jessica Pare in Jason Wu. This look would be fantastic if she didn't ruin it with the Black Swan-esque eye make up!

Elle Fanning in Rodarte. Is it just me or does her makeup make her face look lopsided?

Ginnifer Goodwin in Tory Burch. Another case of a beautiful look being ruined by Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" makeup artist apparently.

Alexis Stoudmire. So. Many. Feathers.

Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte. Again with the feathers!

Last and, let's be honest, least, Kim Kardashian in Riccardo Tisci:

It looks like she forgot she was going to the event, took her grandmother's drapes, and then just wrapped herself up in them. And then made gloves and shoes out of the scraps. At least her makeup is flawless?

All in all, I was quite disappointed with fashion's interpretation on Punk. Alexander McQueen is rolling over in his grave right now.

Melanoma Monday!

Contrary to the implication of this post's title, Melanoma Monday will NOT be a recurring weekly segment. Really, it's only because both Melanoma and Monday begin with an "M" and I just read a good article from Women's Health on the topic. I'll try to keep this post from being too preachy.

If a dermatologist looked at my Melanoma credentials, he/she would probably lock me in a room where there is no chance of any sun reaching me. I have (awesomely) red hair, my mom had Melanoma when she was in her 20s and her father (my grandpa) died of it in his 70s. I fried my skin at the beach when I was younger and in tanning beds in college (this is the one thing I will always lie to my parents and my dermatologist about to avoid a lecture). And I've had too many abnormal mole biopsies to count.

The embarrassing thing is that it's not any of those biopsies or family history that got my to take my skin health seriously. It was this picture:

This photo of Bill McElligott, a delivery truck driver, shows the real damage sun can have on one's skin

So no, it hasn't been the fear of cancer that has gotten me to repent for my skin sins, it was vanity. But no matter the reason, my vanity will hopefully prevent me both from looking like the right side of that picture, and from having a drastic scar from having Melanoma removed.

Ok, I'm done preaching. Below are my go-to everything for protecting my skin from the sun's harmful rays.

The whole reason we fry ourselves in the sun and tanning beds is for the look. And I'll be honest,  I feel prettier when I'm tan. Jergen's Natural Glow is awesome and they just released a version with no odor (so you won't smell like soy sauce anymore)! I haven't tried the odorless kind, but I'll take their word for it.

      

Neutrogena Age Shield Face SPF 110. Yes, I know SPF 110 is a little overkill, but when it comes to SPF, the more the merrier, I say. I slather this on my face, neck, and chest every morning. And anywhere else where skin is exposed. (Fun fact: many women get Melanoma and extreme sun damage on their chest, even if they wear sunscreen daily, because they leave it out during their morning routine!)

The skin around your eyes is super sensitive. I always wear sunglasses to block UV rays and especially like the classic Ray-Ban aviators. They give extra coverage and will never go out of style.

A wide-brim hat protects your face, neck, and chest from the sun, all while keeping you looking super chic for a day at the beach.

When I first became obsessed with my skin, I tried to stay indoors as much as possible, which, honestly, was really boring. And I felt like a vampire. But my mom passed along some advice that HER DERMATOLOGIST told her: don't be afraid fo the sun. Instead, just be smart and cover up! After all, modesty is so in style right now.