By: Loren Estes Photos by: Rachel Benavides
I am a lover of all things health and wellness, and obsessed with keeping my body healthy and happy. By day, I work in an ER as a patient service representative, and in my free time I am the owner of a health, fitness, and food blog. I am all about feeling my best self, but ask the younger me if that was the case and she would say, “Water? Who is water?” Okay, maybe I wasn’t that bad – but when I was a teenager, I really started to prioritize my health and overall wellness. Wellness and beauty are just about making yourself feel good and feel like your best self. In my eyes, wellness isn’t just about a $500 face mask you got at some fancy boutique; it’s about daily rituals in your life that make you feel happy and your best.
br
As a lover of all things healthy for my body, I am all about items that are healthy for the environment as well. When I choose products I use for my own beauty, I will always choose sustainable and eco-friendly first. All of my products are either homemade with sustainable and Zero Waste ingredients, or they are bought from companies that have a passion for sustainability.
Manduka Pro Yoga Mat
First and foremost, I have to talk about what makes me feel my absolute best – and that is yoga and moving my body. Whenever I go a few days without moving my body, I have this overall heavy feeling. Doing yoga, lifting weights, or any other kind of movement are my favorite forms of self-care and make me feel confident and glowing! This yoga mat is my absolute favorite, and has been used just about every single day for the past 9 years. It has seriously held up so well over time and a plus is that it is sustainably made. So worth the price. Product available at manduka.com $120
Cocokind Chlorophyll Mask
When I’m in need of a little extra self-care, I always do a face mask. This mask is my favorite – it’s made with simple, clean ingredients: chlorophyll, organic spirulina, wheatgrass, and chlorella. It helps de-puff my face and gives a nice boost of antioxidants to my skin, helping it boost my complexion and purify my skin. Product available online at cocokind.com $19
DIY Whipped Lotion
This is a product I use multiple times a day. I love to make it myself so I know exactly what is going in and on my skin. It is a simple mix of cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, and coconut oil. I use this all over my body, and it keeps my skin super-hydrated. Most lotion on the market is water-based; I try and avoid those, as they tend to dry up skin even more. Recipe on chickpeawellness.squarespace.com
DIY Dry Shampoo
Okay, what girl cannot live without dry shampoo?! I can’t. I knew I didn’t want to use conventional dry shampoo because they are full of toxins and not good for us or the environment, so I thought, “Why not just DIY it?” I have been using this for the past year and I will never, ever go back to conventional dry shampoo. This only uses two simple ingredients that you can find right now in your kitchen: cocoa powder (raw, no sugars) and corn starch. I can just brush this on my roots with an old makeup brush, then just head out the door. Recipe on chickpeawellness.squarespace.com
Cocokind MyMatcha All-Over Moisture Stick
This product is seriously good for everything, I have to keep it in my bag at all times. You can put it under your eyes to get rid of dark circles and puffiness; use it as a spot moisturizer for dry patches; and even use it as a lip balm. The best part is that it is only made with 3 ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax, and matcha powder. Product available online at cocokind.com $9
Cooking and Recipe Developing
I know for most people cooking is a chore, but for me – I love to develop my own recipes and share them with everyone. Cooking up real, whole foods will always bring me so much happiness, and of course, eating these healthy foods helps me stay beautiful. (See that? Confidence!) Free! Everyone can try their hand at cooking; maybe you’ll find it’s the best self-care for you as well.