A Journey in Adulting & Self-Care

If you walk away from this blog only have read this post, then just know that your neighbors will thank you. Smelling good not only makes us feel good but can be pleasant or even down-right alluring to those around you. And before you think all it takes is a shower and deodorant, just know that we are about to level up your aromatic game. The Basics Because this is a blog about making self-care accessible, we will start at the beginning. Shower regularly. Even if you feel depressed, tired sick...a warm shower can work wonders. Even if it is the only thing you manage to do...pull yourself out of the bed long enough to get under that shower.  If this tweet is to be believed...the Vikings and all their showered glory were too sexy for European women so the power of a shower cannot be denied! Great! You are freshly showered! Now what? Use deodorant. If you are using anti-perspirant (the difference being that antiperspirant  actually block your ability to sweat), then use these at night sin

Sun's out, toes out! When the weather gets warmer, we get cuter options for footwear with sandals and flip-flops leading the way. But if your heels are callused and your toes have seen better days, you may find that you are less excited about the prospect of open-toed footwear. Never fear, your girl is here with a guide to keeping your toes as cute as possible at home! 1. Don't go barefoot First of all...if you wear shoes in your home...stop doing that, its just gross. But if you go barefoot at home, wear socks or slippers! Barefoot, even at home, can cause calluses and damage to your feet. 2. Exfoliate! Whaaa...even your feet?? Yes! I personally love the Babyfoot Peel for a bi-annual, at-home pedicure. This magical yet gross process starts with your pre-soaked feet in plastic booties and ends a few days later with sheets (that's right...I said sheets) of dead skin peeling off your feet. It gives you the same, enthralled feeling of disgust you get when you look at a pore st

 Ah...a flowing, luxurious mane...our hair is one of the few things that we can change on a whim with just a few snips of a scissor or stroke of a bleach-coated brush. However, hair loss can be a difficult and somber part of aging. Recently I celebrated my 35th birthday and I noticed that I was forever cleaning up errant hairs after a shower or brushing my hair. With long hair, this was not new but I noticed that I would have side part that ran deeper than I liked or that my updos were sitting flatter than usual. The last straw was when I tried the middle part to see what all the hype was only to be shocked at the lack of volume. I tried volumizing spray with a little success but I knew I had to get to the root of the problem...pun totally intended. So here are some things that I tried and what I liked and did not like: This is about 6 months apart with red light therapy, hair serum, peppermint oil and biotin. Now that I know this combination works, I will remove one product at a time

Lash lifts, eyelash extensions, false eyelashes, lash primer, tubing mascaras...the list goes on and on for all the products that have been created to give that long, fluttery lash look. And the reason is quite easy to see, long eyelashes instantly open up your eyes, give a demure but sweet or sultry look and, done right, can be the easiest part of your routine. During the COVID quarantine, I played around with DIY lash extensions (which...like DIY micro needling , can be damaging if not done right) but found that I would rub them off or end up damaging my own natural lashes. I still love the look of long eyelashes, especially since face masks left only my eyes uncovered as a part of my makeup routine. I had seen success with an eyelash serum that I got off Amazon but was interested in a verified product along the lines of Latisse...but without the Rx. That is when I came across Babelash, a product that seemed to leave everyone that used it with lashes that seemed absurdly long. It was

Regardless of your political beliefs, we all can make small changes that can help make our routine just a bit more sustainable and eco-friendly. The added benefit of it being more cost-effective just makes it that much better! So, here are some easy swaps you can make to make your routine a bit greener. Makeup towel instead of makeup wipes While makeup wipes are super convenient when traveling or at the gym, makeup towels can quickly add up and end up in landfills. A microfiber towel (I use the MakeUp Eraser) is an easy way to get even the most stubborn and waterproof makeup off your face and have your cleanser work on cleaning your skin, instead of trying to get makeup off. Cotton rounds instead of cotton pads If you have toner or eye makeup remover in your routine, you may go through a fair amount of cotton balls. A reusable cotton rounds is an easy way to still get these steps in your routine but without the damage that comes from growing, bleaching and throwing away cotton balls. C

Growing up in India there were some cultural norms that were very different from the West, specifically when it came to dental hygiene. I remember seeing my grandfather chew on twigs from the neem tree to help prevent decay. Of course we had toothbrushes and toothpaste, but this was what he had grown up with. We only brushed our teeth once a day and it was the first thing you did when you woke up.  Moving to the States, our routine evolved to include brushing 2x day, flossing etc. However, as an adult, I am now realizing that there is a preferred order to things when it comes to dental hygiene. MYTH #1: Rinse after brushing Wait, what, no...ew. That was my first reaction when I found out that it is not necessary to rinse after you brush your teeth. Yes, of course, you spit out the lather but if you rinse out the toothpaste, you decrease the protection it gives. Leaving it intact gives just a bit more protection than if you rinsed it out.  Plus, if you can, flossing after brushing means

 This blog was born out of two reasons: 1. for my daughter to have a documented way to take care of herself...when she decides mama has something worthwhile to say and 2. from the numerous friends and family who have asked to have my ideas and research documented for them. The specific topic of healing acne scars was something that has been requested a few times so I thought it was about time to document it! What is scarring? So, for the purpose of this post, I will be discussing acne scars. Many people refer to any mark left after acne is gone as acne scars but there are actually two different types of scars, PIH and atrophic scars. PIH (Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) These are the red or brown discolorations that are left after your acne is healed. This can be a result of popping the pimple or just because you have melanin and your skin is prone to pigmentation. They are not 3-dimensional and you may have reasonable success in covering it with makeup. These scars will get worse