A few months ago, I became completely consumed with growing my business, Lavender Meadows, and being a full time mom.

 

I was working on several new projects like the Postpartum Care Package, business sales were steadily increasing, and I was adjusting to being at home with my son all day. Meanwhile my husband was immersed in his new doctorate program.

 

Life was crazy. I worked non stop. I didn’t give my body the nutrition it needed, I wasn’t getting enough sleep.

 

I often felt a lot of anxiety and stress. I also wasn’t getting the physical exercise my body needed.

 

Have you ever been there?

 

I decided that something needed to change and I kept looking for a quick fix. I thought of possible solutions like a new piece of technology for my business, hiring a sitter, signing up for a meal delivery service, or maybe even a house cleaner.

 

Then a miracle happened!

 

One day I ran across the profile of an old friend who is now a health coach. I partnered her to do a segment on nutrition and skin health. We also talked about the importance of non-toxic skincare ingredients.

 

After learning about her program, I decided to sign up because it offered two solutions to problems I was facing. It was a way to get some exercise and improve my nutritional habits.

 

I didn’t realize that those would be the two components that would solve everything else in my life.

 

Once I started giving my body the care it needed to function I had more energy, my motivational drive increased, and I was more content in my role as a mother.

 

I thought of new ways to increase efficiency in my motherhood skincare business and I had more energy to care for my son.

 

Exercise and eating healthy have become non negotiable in my life. I often catch myself wanting to work through lunchtime by grabbing a processed snack or skipping a workout.

 

I always remind myself that the dream is not worth living if I’m not living. When my body is strong I feel invincible and free. 

 

For those of you have already figured this out, keep rockin it! But for those of you who may have lost track of what is important, here is your reminder... you are the most important thing. It's not selfish, self care is vital.

Motherhood is a beautiful gift that I do not take for granted... but it definitely did not come easy for me!

 

Mother's Day is coming up and I wanted to take a moment to honor all of the moms out there. I also wanted to share my personal experience transitioning to motherhood.

 

I always dreamed of becoming a mom and I couldn't wait for the day that I could hold a little baby in my arms. I remember holding my son a month after he was born (Mother's Day 2019) and crying my eyes out in misery and frustration.

 

I learned that motherhood is not the beautiful picture of bliss that I had imagined. I struggled to come to terms with my new reality. I felt like my life had been permanently halted and I worried that I would never feel like myself again.

 

My son just turned three last week and I look back at those moments in wonder at how much things have changed. Becoming a mother was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but it has taught me patience and forgiveness in a way that nothing else in this world could have.

 

No matter what stage of motherhood you are in make sure you take time to rest and recover so that you can feel happy and have more energy. 

 

We created the Postpartum Care Package to help mothers care for their changing body and help moms remember: "Caring for yourself should never be an afterthought".

 

We use maternal active ingredients made from fruits, flowers, and seeds that help your postpartum body heal and recover.

 

We also use pregnancy safe skincare ingredients so that you can confidently care for your body without fear.

 

Shop our Postpartum Care Package

 

This postpartum gift set has an assortment of the best skincare for pregnancy and postpartum. 

 

Make sure a mom doesn't feel forgotten and give her some relief and comfort this Mother's Day.

Over a year ago, I created my very first facial skincare product.. a cleanser! This cleanser left my skin feeling squeaky clean. After some time, I learned that the "squeaky clean" feeling came with some unforeseen consequences.

 

This cleanser was "all natural" but it missed the mark on several other important aspects. After I removed the cleanser from my shop, which happened to be a best seller, I began a long journey to understand why a cleanser is so important and how it has drastic effect on our skin health.

 

I'll share how this story ends, but first let's talk about what you need to look for in a good cleanser.

 

HARSH SURFACTANTS

 

Surfactants break down the dirt and oils on your skin but they also break down the lipids that make up your skin barrier. An easy way to know if your cleanser is too harsh is to take note if your skin is left feeling tight and dry after a wash.

 

One ingredient to especially avoid is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. 

 

You can also check the ingredients listed on your cleanser using this website : https://www.skincarisma.com/ingredient-analyzer

 

PH BALANCED

 

Is your cleanser PH balanced? Cleansers with a high PH disrupt the acid mantle of our barrier by breaking down the ceramides that hold skin cells together leading to dry, itchy, sometimes oily skin.

 

Soap based cleansers have a high PH. This includes bar soaps and cleansers made with castile soap.

 

At this point you may be a little flustered thinking that cleansers do more harm than good. I've been there! I was so frustrated when I found out that the cleanser I had been using was doing my skin a huge disservice. 

 

Just keep this in mind.. Cleansing is essential to healthy skin.

 

We just need to pick a cleanser that will do good for our skin vs one that just gets the job done at the expense of our skin's health. Be mindful about what you are using on your skin and understand how you can create an optimal environment for it to glow.

 

HIGH OIL CONTENT

 

You will need a high oil content, a high oil content is a great indicator that a cleanser will leave your skin feeling nourished vs stripped.

 

I like to use botanical, cold pressed oils that are rich in fatty acids to help restore the skin barrier.

 

PROPER TECHNIQUE

 

I always try to treat my skin gently, so I avoid using abrasive wash clothes and spinning brushes. In the past, I believed the harder I scrubbed, the cleaner my skin would be, and the healthier it would look. That theory did not pan out.

 

Gently lathering the cleanser in circles with your fingertips is sufficient enough to get the job done.

 

 

Although surfactants can break down the skin barrier, there are some simple ways to prevent lasting damage from occurring.

 

1. Prevent the cleanser from absorbing into the skin by rinsing immediately after you have lathered.

 

2. Ensure that it is completely removed. I like to flush my face several times and then pat it dry with a microfiber towel just to be sure.

 

HOW THE STORY ENDS

 

A few months later after working back and forth with a chemist, completing endless sample recipes, and finding the best possible combination of gentle & effective ingredient combinations, the Honey Calming Cleanser was completed.

 

There were so many times when I could have simplified this cleanser's formulating process or saved money by compromising on the ingredients, but after risking everything, removing my original cleanser from the shop, and dedicating hundreds of hours to this project, I wanted it to check every box.

 

This cleanser is a fragrance free skincare product that is also great for hormonal acne.

 

What makes this cleanser truly unique is how it starts out as a creamy honey consistency that emulsifies into a gentle lather leaving the skin feeling soft. Never tight and dry.

 

Made with one of the most innovative surfactants on the market: Sodium Surfactin. This surfactant makes up less than 1% of the final formula (Simply unheard of!) and it is extremely gentle and non irritating. It is among the great non toxic skincare ingredients that we use here at Lavender Meadows. It is also reef friendly.

 

Thank you for letting me share a part of my story with you. I hope that these tips help you along your skincare journey. Please reach out anytime if you have questions. 

 

If you would like to try our cleanser SHOP HERE.

I adore my dad even though he did pass on some pretty strong genetic characteristic traits. The most prominent being deep, visible forehead wrinkles. A nice, sophisticated look for him, but not a great look for me.

 

I have learned ways to hide these bad boys by keeping my skin supple & elastic. Now I am going to share these secrets with you..

 

It's important to start from the inside out. One way to support skin elasticity through nutrition is by getting enough collagen.

 

You can get collagen through a collagen supplement or by drinking bone broth. Collagen Supplements have been proven to effectively improve skin elasticity & decreases wrinkles.

 

This makes sense since collagen makes up about 75% of the dry weight our skin. Since collagen breaks down as we age, supplements are super important!

 

Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient for every skin type.

 

With its incredible ability to retain water, Hyaluronic Acid immediately plumps out the skin and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles.

 

My favorite way to apply Hyaluronic Acid is the Drops of Neptune Serum because it is so concentrated that just a couple of drops gets the job done.

 

AHA acids are a great way to encourage new skin growth. Periodic use of AHA acids is a great way to turn a new leaf and start fresh.

 

AHA acids work to break down the glue that holds dead skin cells together. This encourages the generation of new cell growth, which reveals fresh, more elastic looking skin. AHA's come in many forms but I personally like to use the Whipped Parfait Fruit Exfoliation Mask.

 

You can keep your skin hydrated using moisturizers with Lamellar Emulsifiers. Emulsifiers allow water and oil to stay together, but lamellar emulsifiers go another step further..

 

These emulsifiers organize the water and lipids into the same pattern as the lipid bilayer of our skin. This allows the cream to penetrate deeper into our skin to provide long lasting hydration.

 

Creams made with lamellar emulsifiers provide so much hydration that you can visibly see skin appearing more smooth & plump.

 

One of the easiest things to do is to drink enough water and wear your SPF. It might sound simple, but it will have the biggest impact.

 

You know the drill but here is your friendly reminder :) Apply sun protection and drink at least 9 cups of water every single day! 

 

If you want to have the benefits of hyaluronic acid and fix uneven skin tone SHOP HERE.

If you want to have the benefits of lamellar emulsifier shop our skincare for smooth skin HERE.

• Always dress on trend


• Have flawless skin


• Get an important degree


• Have a home straight out of a magazine

Lately, I have seen a lot of marketing within the skincare world with promises of products that will detoxify your skin.. Well I am going to come right out and tell you that there is not a skincare product in this world that can actually detoxify your skin.

Detoxifying the skin is a common myth that many of us (I also fell victim for a time) believe because it sounds so appealing. The process of detoxification happens within our body and it is a function that is carried out by the liver and kidney. The liver and kidney work to filter toxins from the blood so that they can be eliminated by the body.

So is there any truth to this kind of skincare marketing propaganda? Yes! They just aren't giving you accurate information.

Antioxidants can be applied to the skin to protect your cells from free radicals. They work by lending an electron to an intruding free radical which causes the free radical to be neutralized.

By protecting your skin from free radical damage, you keep your skin's appearance bright, firm, soothed, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

This is why antioxidants are such a glorified ingredient!

Although they cannot actively detoxify your skin, they are able to prevent the damage from occurring.

I have seen the power behind antioxidants which is why they can be found in many of my skincare products. The Moon Beam Essence is loaded with incredible antioxidants like Kiwi, Chamomile, Licorice, Cucumber, and Bilberry Extracts. The Drops of Neptune Serum contains a very powerful antioxidant called Niacinamide. 

A new antioxidant that I have recently added into the Lavender Meadow Day Dream Cream is Bakuchiol Extract. This incredible plant has properties that not only provide intense protection for the skin but also works to improve the appearance of your skin by reducing wrinkles and brightening the skin's color and tone.

While antioxidants help provide powerful protection, they must be paired with an SPF to keep your skin safe from the harmful effects that result from sun exposure.

The Truth About Essential Oils

The confusion over essential oils was beyond frustrating to me. Mixed messages claiming them to be pain relieving, anti inflammatory, tissue repairing, anti microbial, etc. and others saying they can cause neuro toxicity, allergic reactions, and sensitization. Can you relate?

So I took a course from a cosmetic chemist to find out once and for all the answers to my questions! 

I learned that Essential Oils are not equal in terms of their chemical composition and atom structure. Oils differ bases on the plant they are sourced from! Some oils can be volatile with a small molecular weight and they will oxidize quickly. These oils can be irritating and sensitizing to the skin.

Essential oils are classified according to the functional family they sit in and the terpenes they are made up of. Once you understand how certain terpenes effect the skin, you can decipher which oils are safe.

What Essential Oils are safe for the skin?

Oils high in Monoterpenes, Phenols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Ethers, and Oxides are generally not recommended for use on skin. They are volatile and have a small molecular size. They also oxidize quickly when exposed to light or air. They can be irritating, sensitizing, and contain allergens. High quantities can cause neurotoxicity, especially in children. 

Oils that are high in these terpenes are: 

Pine, Rosemary, Blue Tansy, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Common Sage, Peppermint, Sweet Basil and the list goes on.

Terpene families that have a higher molecular weight and are less volatile include Sesquiterpenes, Monoterpenols, Sesquiterpenols, Aldehydes, and Esters. They are generally non irritating and non sensitizing. 

EO’s high in these terpenes include:

Lavender, Geranium, Rose Otto, Patchouli, Carrot Seed Oil, Sandalwood. 

However, some of these oils contain Linalool and Geraniol terpenes which can be potential allergens. 

Even oils that are non sensitizing must be used within very specific limits in formulations. Usually less than 1%.

Why do I avoid Essential Oils in my products?

My goal is to create skincare with wholesome, soothing, and calming ingredients backed by science. Formulations gentle enough to use on your child’s tender skin. This led my to take a fragrance free approach.

Every single ingredient is carefully selected for its skin soothing and strengthening properties. I will always adapt my products when I learn that there is a better option to improve the health of your skin! 

The products that you receive after giving birth offer temporary relief, but lack any healing properties.

Let’s talk about the numbing products that you may receive from a typical hospital or birthing center.

Two of these products, Dermoblast and Tucks, include Benzocaine and Menthol. These ingredients are topical anesthetics that provide temporary numbness and cooling. The duration of its effect is about 5-10 minutes.

I don’t know about you, but I was throbbing for a lot longer than 5-10 minutes postpartum. Just sayin’.

They also contain Methylparabens which are known endocrine disruptors.

As a licensed pharmacy technician I have seen gaps in the pharmaceutical industry and now with my training as a formulator, I understand how those gaps can be filled.

I place high standards on my products meaning that I use: Organic, medicinal plant ingredients that are free of pesticides.

I don’t use sensitizing ingredients such as fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and sulfates. I also use Ecocert certified preservatives.

So my products are safe for sensitive skin and provide incredible relief for inflamed or itchy areas.

In short: I use ingredients that will actually address and assist in the healing process and not just provide you temporary relief.

So momma, did you know you have more options than the ones handed to you at the hospital?

Experience it for yourself or welcome another to motherhood in the way she deserves. Join our tribe of women who are taking control of their healing with intention and clarity.