All Natural Whipped Belly Butter

It’s interesting what pregnancy does to your body, aside from the obvious of what’s going on inside. On the plus side, my hair and nails have been growing like weeds and have never looked better.  But, on the other hand, my skin is like that of a 13 year old, and not just on my face. And I can’t forget to mention the dryness and itchiness, thanks to that rapidly expanding belly. 

For the past few weeks that I've checked my pregnancy app, two little words have been staring back that I just dread - stretch marks. I know it's inevitable that they will come, and when they do I should consider them a 'badge of honour', but dammit, I am going to try as hard as I can to prevent them. 

When it comes to my skin, all natural has been the way to go. Lately, that's been more important than ever now that baby is on board. While there are many products on the market that remedy the dryness and itchiness of stretching skin, a lot contain some not-so-friendly ingredients that have no business being near baby. 

Are you expecting? Try this recipe for an all natural whipped belly butter, my secret weapon from day 1. It is easy to whip up at home, easy to apply and has a calming scent. Enjoy!

All Natural Whipped Belly Butter

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp shea butter
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp sweet almond oil
• 3 tsp vitamin e oil
• 10 drops frankincense essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. In a double boiler on medium-low heat, combine butters and almond oil and heat until melted.
2. Allow mixture to cool completely (i.e. place bowl in freezer for 15-30 minutes).
3. Spoon cooled mixture in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl.
4. Add vitamin E oil and essential oils. (By adding the essential oils once removed from the heat, you ensure the integrity of the essential oils won't be damaged.)
5. Using whisk attachment, whip on high speed 6-7 minutes or until whipped to a light, airy consistency.
6. Spoon whipped body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly.
7. Store at room temperature, or refrigerate if your house is warm enough that it melts the oil.
8. Apply daily during pregnancy and after birth. 

The above ingredients are all safe and beneficial for you and your growing baby. Here are their benefits: 

• Lavender essential oil is healing and calming.  It also nourishes broken, cracked skin.
• Frankincense oil promotes cellular health and calms and soothes the skin.
• Vitamin E oil is moisturizing and highly nourishing.  It also prolongs the life of your butter.
• Sweet almond oil contains vitamins A and E.  It contains a large amount of antioxidants which help skin appear younger.
• Coconut oil is extremely healing. It is full of antioxidants and Vitamin E.
• Shea butter helps rebuild collagen which is broken down when the skin ages or becomes damaged.

*I recommend applying this body butter right after the shower. It is oily, so allow it to dry on your skin before putting on your clothes.

Do you have your own secret recipe for keeping your skin moisturized? 

5 Tips to Green Your Bathroom

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturalGoodness #CollectiveBias

The bathroom is where we begin and end each day, with a variety of routines designed to help keep us healthy. It is also a hotspot for overindulgent water use, excessive paper waste, chemically-loaded cleaning products and lots and lots of plastic.

Have you ever thought that the decisions you make in the bathroom can not only affect you and your family, but also affect the health of the planet we call home? Use these 5 tips to green your bathroom and reduce your impact on the planet.

1.  Clean the air. The bathroom is usually the most humid room in the house. Excess humidity causes mould which can spur allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues. Make sure your bathroom is ventilated properly by opening windows, installing an exhaust vent, turning on a fan after showering or even adding an oxygen-producing plants. By moving air through the bathroom, you’ll remove the moisture the mould needs to grow. And no toxic mould means no need for harsh chemicals.  

2.  Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Reduce the amount of water consumed by installing low-flow toilets and shower heads, taking shorter showers and turning off the taps while washing your face and brushing your teeth. Reuse products whenever possible, such as towels and rags instead of paper towels to wipe down the bathroom. A number of items used in the bathroom can be recycled, including shampoo and body wash bottles, empty aerosol cans, empty toilet paper rolls and plastic bags and wrappers. 

3.  Upgrade your lighting. If you haven’t already made the switch from incandescent or CFL bulbs to LEDs, now is the time. LEDs generate less heat, consume 80% less energy and last 25 times longer. Switching to LEDs is one of the simplest ways to cut down on your energy bill and save money. Remember to only use lights in the bathroom when absolutely necessary and get in the habit of turning off bathroom lights when you’re done.

4.  Nix the chemicals. Standard household cleaning products are loaded with harsh chemicals, which can be detrimental to your health as well as the planet’s. That skull and crossbones symbol does stand for ‘hazardous’, which should be the number one clue. Luckily, you have everything in your kitchen cupboards to get you started on creating all natural cleaning products. A bit of baking soda and vinegar goes a long way and will leave your bathroom sparkling.

5. Go all natural. Similar to bathroom cleaning products, your bath soap, shampoo and even your toothpaste contain chemicals that can damage your body. A good rule to live by - if you can’t pronounce the name of the ingredients in your personal care products, you shouldn’t use them. 

As a user of all natural face wash, lotion, shampoo and conditioner, we recently made the switch to the natural Tom's of Maine® Simply White® Clean Mint Cavity Protection Toothpaste (4.7 oz).

Found in the toothpaste aisle at your local Walmart, Tom's of Maine® products are made in Maine and do not contain artificial colours, flavours, fragrances, preservatives, animal ingredients. All toothpaste packaging is recyclable, and products are not tested on animals. Aside from toothpaste, Tom's of Maine® also offers other natural products like deodorant, bar soap, and mouthwash. You can learn more about the products' ingredients, including their purpose and source, by visiting the Tom's of Maine® website.

Interested in trying Tom's of Maine® Toothpaste? Check out the roaming demos happening in select Neighbourhood Walmart locations on September 19. Demos feature select Tom's of Maine® products, including samples and coupons. Check to see if they’re coming to a store near you here. 

Don’t stop in the bathroom, challenge yourself to go green in other areas of your home!

What natural choices do you make for your family? Have you ever tried Tom's of Maine®  products? I'd love to hear!

3 Favourite Batty's Bath All Natural Skin Care Products

This month I'm welcoming Batty's Bath back to T.O. & fro! Batty's Bath is a botanical skin care and soap company based in southern Ontario and every. single. product. is lovingly hand-crafted using planet-friendly, people-friendly and animal-friendly ingredients. Amazing. 
It has been almost a full year since I ditched my chemical-loaded lotions and potions and started using Batty's Bath all natural skin care products. The switch to all natural routine was a no brainer for me, but also something I had absolutely no knowledge about. Luckily,Batty thought of a way to help those like me. Not only does she hand craft quality products, her shop website and blog are loaded with extremely useful tips for people with all skin types, including Q&A, customer product reviews and plenty of videos and helpful articles.  
I have tried almost a dozen of Batty's products, and have not been disappointed by a single one. I've even got my sister in law and one of my girlfriends hooked, and I'm sure they would say the same.  However, for the sake of this post, I had to narrow it own to my top 3 favourite Batty's Bath products. Here's what I chose, and why.

(Photos courtesy of Batty's Bath)

1..  Mineral Cream Concealer

This is the newest Batty's Bath product to be added to my skin care routine, and probably my favourite. In a nutshell, the mineral cream concealer is 100% natural, won't clog pores, is safe for acne prone and sensitive skin, contains light sun blocking ingredients and is conditioning and moisturizing. It provides coverage for a range of my “bad face days”, from under eye circles when I need more sleep to the visitors that pop up on my chin during that time of the month. Comes in two shades: warm sand (light) and cocoa cream (medium).

2..  Patchouli & Grapefruit Olive Oil Facial Soap

This soap is for you if you often have break outs and are looking for a soap to help you get your problem skin under control or you're looking for a soap to keep your skin clean, controlled, smooth, and soft. The bar works in two different ways - the patchouli side is used to helps calm break outs, while the grapefruit side purifies congested, oily and acne prone skin to reduce future breakouts. This facial olive oil soap is packed with skin loving olive oil, which provides excellent moisturizing benefits, and the grapefruit and patchouli scents make it smell amazing!

3..  Patchouli Facial Moisturizer

While it took my skin a few days to get over the shock of moving from a chemical-loaded moisturizer to an all natural one, I have not looked back since making the switch. Batty has several types of moisturizers, but I picked this one in particular because it was specifically made for sensitive and problem skin. Patchouli oil is a powerhouse when it comes to essential oils - it is excellent at calming acne prone skin and heals inflammation, acne, dermatitis, sores and eczema. Not to mention, its earthy smell is fantastic.

Do you have an all natural skin care routine? 
Have you tried Batty's Bath? What is your favourite product? Which would you like to try?

Interested in trying some of Batty's Bath skin care products? Sign up for the Batty's Bath newsletter to receive a free shipping code, and stay tuned for her North American free shipping days!

Other Batty's Bath posts:

Introducing Batty's Bath

Behind the Scenes at Batty's Bath

Batty's Bath Skin Mapping

Batty's Bath: Another Happy Customer

Where to find Batty: Shop  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

*This is a sponsored post, however, I truly believe in this shop/product or else I would not share. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Favourite Natural Beauty Brands | Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos

Hello, T.O. & fro readers! I'm Lindsay and I blog at Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos. When Mar and I discussed my post topic, I told her that I was most comfortable writing about beauty: I am in no way a professional, but simply love learning about and experimenting with beauty products and skincare. I spend an inordinate amount of time researching and discussing cosmetics- it's my greatest hobby.

Today, I'm discussing two of my favorite beauty brands that also happen to be natural!

TARTE

I’m all about drugstore makeup, but some brands are worth the splurge. Tarte is one of them. I’d been a BareMinerals fanatic for years and, after trying Amazonian Clay, I immediately converted. I’m sorry, BareMinerals fans, but Tarte’s product is better. The brand also claims to be all natural and cruelty-free; their products are made from ingredients like clay, maracuja, and pomegranate, while still remaining glamorous. I’m slowly building a Tarte arsenal full of foundation and brushes and mascara. It's all wonderful and beautiful. Don't want to commit to one thing? Try the Discovery Set (below). 

All photos courtesy of tartecosmetics.com 

Sweet Kisses Lip Set // Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara // Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation // The Slenderizer Contouring Brush // Lipsurgence Matte Lip Tint // Cheek Stain // Tartlette 101 Discovery Set //  

LUSH

Lush is my skincare and shower go-to brand. Not only are Lush's products some of the best on the market, the company is committed to using fresh ingredients and safe synthetics and believe in transparent communication when discussing both components. I was introduced to their famous bath bombs a few years ago and consider them one of my favorite products of all time! They leave my skin feeling incredibly soft (and don't stain the bathtub!). The shower gel, hand cream, and cleansers are all fabulous choices as well! Their wrapped gift sets make perfect presents for the ladies in your life; I'm especially fond of their holiday-themed packages! Check out my favorites below.

Added bonuses: they're currently running a campaign called #banthebead to raise awareness regarding the harmful environmental effects of microbeads, which are found in many face washes.They suggest using natural exfoliants such as nuts and shells instead. Also, many Lush products are sold in black pots which are made of recyclable plastic. For every five empty, clean pots you bring back to Lush, you'll get a face mask free!

All photos courtesy of lushusa.com 

Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask // Angels on Bare Skin Balancing Lavender Cleanser // Dark Angels Charcoal Cleanser // Flying Fox Shower Gel // Big Blue Bath Bomb // Space Girl Bath Bomb // Glamorous Lipstick // Helping Hands Hand Lotion // Hello Sunshine Gift Set              

Have you tried either brand? What are your thoughts?

New to Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos? Start here:

Let's Chat: I Have a Big Butt (and that's Okay)  |  Perfection  |  Lessons 

Find Lindsay here: Blog  |  Bloglovin'  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Whipped Body Butter with Essential Oils

According to the calendar, spring is officially here. But even though the date may be inching closer to April, the weather in my neck of the woods makes it feel like we're still stuck in February. The awkward transition from season to season is brutal on my skin, and just because winter is coming to a close, doesn't mean that my skin won't continue to suffer.

As I continue my journey to stray away from the store-bought lotions and potions, and to instead incorporate all natural products into my beauty routine, I recently stumbled across a recipe for an all natural whipped body butter. After all, the rest of my skin needs some loving too. This recipe is so simple and only contains three ingredients: coconut oil, vitamin E and essential oils. All of which will make your skin sing.

3 Ingredient Whipped Body Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vitamin e oil

6 drops frankincense essential oil

6 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1.  In a double boiler on medium-low heat, combine all ingredients and heat until melted.
2.  Allow mixture to cool completely (i.e. place bowl in freezer for 10-15 minutes).
3.  Place cooled mixture in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl.

4. Using whisk attachment, whip on high speed 6-7 minutes or until whipped to a light, airy consistency.

5.  Spoon whipped body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly.

6.  Store at room temperature, or refrigerate if your house is warm enough that it melts the oil.

You can use any combination of essential oils you wish when making your own body butter. However, the combination of lavender and frankincense in this recipe is very pleasing on the nose - almost an earthy aroma, but not in a overpowering kind of way. These oils also come with added health benefits. Frankincense essential oil helps fade stretch marks and scars, has anti-anging properties and is effective as an antiseptic and in reducing stress. Lavender essential oil is effective in treating acne, provides relief from pain in muscles and joints and reduces mental stress and anxiety.  Both perfect additions to your "its no longer winter, but its still not spring" skin care routine.

I recommend applying this body butter right after the shower. It is oily, so allow it to dry on your skin before putting on your clothes. Since running out of my go-to facial moisturizer, I have also started using this body butter in lieu. While it may not be suitable for everyone's face since as it is a little oily, it works on the dryness of mine. Not to mention, when applying makeup, it glides on smooth and evenly, and it almost acts as a primer, setting my face for the rest of the day.

Have you tried essential oils? What is your favourite scent and use?

Young Living essential oil samples for this recipe were provided by Dwelling Simple Essentials. To learn how to get started with essential oils, check this out, and for more information, go here and here.