This post is sponsored by NOW® and I received complimentary products to try. But, as always – all opinions are my own.
Clean beauty. Natural products. Perhaps these are terms you’ve heard, but aren’t sure how they’re relevant to you? Today I’m breaking down all the benefits you could experience if you make just a few easy changes to your weekly routine. I’m not talking about fitness tips or ways to get more sleep. Although, those are important too! Over the past few years we’ve been making changes in what we buy and use daily (remember this post?). From non-toxic household cleaners to more organic foods and natural hair care products, our family intentionally switched them up this month. This post will share three affordable ways to create a healthy lifestyle.
Natural products have been available for years now, but it’s only in the last decade or so that they’ve become mainstream. Free from harsh chemicals, toxic ingredients and harmful additives, these “clean” alternatives can protect and benefit our bodies in numerous ways. So, surely there must be a catch, right? WRONG. It’s thought that manufacturing without synthetics can be more costly. But, that’s simply not true. The products I will share today are under $25, with many under $10. You can purchase them too at a discount! Use promo code AGLAMLIFESTYLE for 20% OFF your order at nowfoods.com for all of 2021!
Berry Full Shampoo // Berry Full Conditioner
3 Tips to Create a Healthy Lifestyle Using Natural Products
TIP 1: Start Using Natural Hair Care Products
Scrub a dub dub, put those natural hair products in your tub (or shower)! You might have seen that I stocked up on a bunch of clean beauty and skincare products from NOW Solutions in this post. But, then I needed to take a closer look at what I put in my hair too.
Our hair care products ultimately affect our scalp and hair root, reducing hair loss and giving us healthy, shiny hair. But, when you use products full of toxins, the results can be detrimental. Serious health problems like skin irritation, dry skin, and even breast cancer have been linked to things like parabens and phthalates (used as a gelling agent) often contained in non-natural shampoos. Silicones are also used, giving the facade of silky, moisturized hair when in fact the hair follicles need more nutrients.
Many shampoos are full of synthetic and abrasive ingredients that strip hair of their natural oils. But, beyond the goodness they do for us they’re also better for the planet.
Health Benefits of Natural Hair Care Products
Clean hair care products often contain antioxidants, like Vitamin E or Vitamin A, which strengthen hair and reduce breakage. It’s also said that natural products can provide an anti-aging effect for your hair since there are no harsh chemicals. So, it goes to say that a healthier scalp and body are benefits of using natural hair care products! Who doesn’t want better looking hair?! #goodhairday.
Lastly, they’re also typically more environmentally friendly and cruelty-free. Both products I’m listing below earned the PETA certification, Beauty Without Bunnies, which means the products were never tested on animals. They have also received the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Enhanced Certification which means they were inspected for good manufacturing practices and quality systems including how they package, store, and distribute their beauty products.
Berry Full Shampoo
For the last month or so I’ve been using the Berry Full Shampoo from NOW® Solutions. One of the first things you will notice about natural shampoos are that they are less foamy. The reason for this is the lack of harsh detergents. But, it isn’t a bad thing! Your hair maintains its natural oils and shine with this shampoo. As you adjust, I recommend that you wash your hair twice with this shampoo as there will be less build up and more lather in that second rinse. Also, this shampoo has a pH balanced formula which is better for your hair cuticles. I’m loving this so far.
Price: $7.99
Berry Full Conditioner
Like its sister shampoo above, the Berry Full Conditioner from NOW® Solutions has also been a part of my routine the last month. What I love most about these products (aside from the fact that they’re good for me!) is that they give my fine hair a volume boost. I always say I have a lot of hair, but it’s very fine. So, it gets weighed down easily. Not with this! Honestly, it’s sort of an optical illusion because the formula looks creamy and like it could be heavy. But, it’s packed with ingredients like biotin, panthenol and a unique herbal blend to dramatically increase your volume. I’m sold! And, just like the shampoo – it’s incredibly affordable.
Price: $7.99
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil // Avocado Oil
TIP 2: Start Using Healthy Cooking Oils
The two things I do most – clean my body and eat! So, it makes sense that my second tip to create a healthy lifestyle is to put better stuff into your body. And, you also want it to taste good!
Now, I won’t name names. But, until recently we were cooking fairly frequently with an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that simply wasn’t high quality and wasn’t unrefined. Those are two of the most important things when it comes to healthy cooking oils.
Also, because of the amount of monounsaturated fat, EVOO has been shown to have many health benefits. But, remember that oils are still fats and are calorie heavy. So, you want to keep in mind that your fat intake should only be 25-35% of your daily calories and to always consult a doctor when it comes to your diet.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Benefits for Skin
Growing up, I’ll always remember my grandmother telling me to put extra virgin olive oil on my neck and chest before bed. At the time it sounded crazy, but it’s moisturizing powers been proven over time. Using EVOO as a face wash, serum, makeup remover or moisturizer can provide calming benefits for your skin.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Benefits for Hair
Eating olive oil benefits your overall health. But, then there are the benefits extra virgin olive oil provides for your hair. You can literally lather it into your scalp at the roots of your hair or on the tips where you get split ends to strengthen your hair and add shine. No heavy hand required! A little goes a long way.
Ellyndale® Foods Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I’m obsessed with this premium, unrefined, organic extra virgin olive oil. There, I said it. It is just so flavorful! Truthfully, after the first use it earned its place in our pantry and our bellies! This oil is keto-friendly and certified organic, as well as Non-GMO Project Certified.
What’s unique about this EVOO is that it’s purity tested. NOW uses a unique Oil Identity Testing process which verifies the profile of the oil to be sure it’s safe, true, and not contaminated. It’s those extra assurances they take which ensures a quality oil.
In the pictures above and below I’m using this delicious EVOO for my famous egg sandwich. But, I’ve also used it in pastas and for sautéeing veggies (it’s so good with asparagus!). And, you can’t beat the price! Like I said, using organic and natural products doesn’t have to break the bank. A healthy lifestyle is more within reach now than ever before.
Price: $9.99
TIP 3: Start Using Clean and Natural Skincare
My third tip? I’ve already hinted at it above twice! Make the move to clean skincare products. I wrote a full review on my favorite NOW® Solutions cleansers, serums and moisturizers and their skin benefits. So, I won’t rehash all of that here except to say that their variety of products covers almost any skin type and are very affordable.
Price: range from $4.99 to $29.99
Creating a healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming. That’s why I’ve picked a few specific tips to share that are more attainable. But, changing habits can be hard! Half the battle is believing you can make the change and then holding yourself accountable. I’m confident that if you try any of the NOW® Solutions natural or organic products I’ve included above you’ll love them so much that making these changes will be a breeze. If you have any questions, please leave them below!
