BEAUTY – Plum Joyful

Skincare Spotlight : Eminence Organic Skincare Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream

PlumJoyful — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 06:58:36 +0000

I am a bit of a skincare junkie. Always have been. With very sensitive and temperamental skin, I have always had to pay close attention to my skincare routine. In high school when my friends were falling asleep in their makeup, I had a very particular three-step routine that I had to stick to in order to keep my eczema and breakouts (how’s that for oxymoronic) at bay. Oy. So I know my skincare. I have tried it ALL. When I made the switch to more natural products I had a difficult time finding ones that I felt were as effective as their more “toxic” counterparts. Often times they fell short in one way or another. Night cream was the hardest thing of all. They were either too greasy and heavy, or not moisturizing enough. Until I found Eminence Organics Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream. I LOVE this cream so much. It uses a biocomplex of vitamins including Coenzyme Q10 and Alpha Lipoic acid, as well as blueberry juice to tighten pores and non-GMO soy to plump skin and reduce fine lines. The best part is that is smells like blueberry cobbler. Yum. Why I Love Eminence Organic Skincare They use […]

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Jade Roller : Your new favorite beauty tool

PlumJoyful — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 07:24:03 +0000

Jade Rollers have been around for a long time. I mean a long time, we’re talking since the 7th century. In China jade is believed to enhance beauty, longevity, emotional wellness, as well as increase the qi (pronounced chi) or life force of the wearer. It has even been said that in Chinese mythology jade is referred to as crystallized moonlight and is the definition of pure. It can purify a persons aura and protect from negative energy. All of that esoteric stuff aside, jade rollers are becoming very popular as a beauty device and actually have some very real benefits. Used in China since the 7th century, they have found their way to America in the last few years. Women (including Miranda Kerr and Kate Moss) swear by them. Why you ask? Jade Roller Benefits They are not only a soothing and relaxing facial massage tool, jade rollers actually improve the quality of your skin in the following ways: Lymphatic drainage – Jade rollers help to move the interstitial fluid that gets trapped in your face which results in increased nutrition to the cells, increased circulation and less puffiness. Smoothing fine lines – This is a result of the increased […]

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Your perfume is killing me… and you

PlumJoyful — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 07:40:50 +0000

Fragrances play a big role in our lives. Scent has the ability to illicit memories and feelings in a way the our other senses don’t. Remember what summer campfires smelled like? Or your mom’s lasagna she made every sunday night? Fragrance makes any sensory experience that much more visceral. We are just wired that way. The smell of your partner, or your baby is designed to enhance our bonding and connection. While the experience is relative, and one person may love a scent that another despises, we can all agree that the role of scent is a powerful part of our human experience. That is why fragrance has become a billion dollar industry. However the “fragrances” that we have come to know and love in our perfumes, cologne, and personal care products are LOADED with hidden toxins that are destroying our health as well as the environment. Sad I know. But there is hope. Knowledge is power, so read on to learn the hidden dangers in your perfume. And because I would never leave you hanging, I will also give you the names a few wonderful fragrance companies that are changing the game by eliminating most if not all of […]

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Skincare Spotlight: Dr Jackson’s 03 Face Oil

PlumJoyful — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 07:00:34 +0000

I have very sensitive, finicky skin. It has become even more so after pregnancy. One of the biggest changes has been that it’s gotten much drier than before. However, it can still breakout! One of nature’s cruel jokes on new mom’s. So I desperately need the extra moisture that a face oil can provide but often find my skin getting congested when I use one. I am so happy to say those days are OVER! I have found the bomb face oil that not only moisturizes without breaking me out, but somehow it has smoothed the texture of my skin. Sort of in the way a mild alpha hydroxy acid would, but there are no acids in this oil. Not sure which ingredient is responsible for this, but I chalk it up to the fact that there are so many anti-inflammatory ingredients in it that it dramatically reduces the inflammation in my skin resulting in a smoother texture. Just my unprofessional dermatological assessment. Say that five times fast. It’s called Dr Jackson’s 03 Face Oil and I have been using it for about three weeks now, long enough to really see it’s effects on my skin and I am SO happy […]

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The creme de la creme of non-toxic lipsticks

PlumJoyful — Fri, 13 May 2016 06:34:54 +0000

Forgive me for the lack of posts this week. I have been working on a job that keeps me away from home for 12 hours on some days, a husband who was on the road and a toddler with 103 degree fever. Needless to say life has been a little crazy around here and the blog was last on the priority list. When life gets hectic like that it’s so hard to find a moment for myself. Self-care certainly falls by the wayside. It’s a miracle if I can find five minutes to take a shower or a poop. TMI? Sorry. My point is that at times like this we have to find small ways to feel human and presentable even when it’s been three days since our last shower…..or poop for that matter. Ok, I’m done! This brings me to the topic of this post! Lipstick! I am not one of those lucky ladies that was blessed with a lot of natural lip color. So for me if I want to look less like I slept three hours with a cranky, sweaty toddler draped across my chest, and more like one of those bright-eyed blissful ladies in a Lunesta […]

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide

PlumJoyful — Thu, 05 May 2016 07:09:22 +0000

Things have been very busy over here at Casa Plum, so I apologize for the fact that this gift guide is rather late, but I assure you that the shipping on these awesome gifts can be expedited to get to you in time for Mama’s day! Now that I’m a mama I have a new found love and respect for this beautiful day. I have a real appreciation for my own mother now that I have a daughter, and I want to let her know how truly grateful I am for her and all that she sacrificed for me. I now truly know just how much she loves me, and I probably owe her an apology for the decade between 12 and 22. At the very least I hope some of these awesome gifts will atone for my teenage years. I want all mama’s to feel pampered and appreciated on this special day so this guide was created with that in mind. 1. Muriel Brandolini Beach Mattress– I love the beach with all my heart. I’m a Cali girl through and through. But sometimes laying on the sand can be uncomfortable after a while. I especially find this to be true […]

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DIY Aromatherapy spray

PlumJoyful — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 07:00:28 +0000

I love essential oils for so many reasons. They can be used for everything from skincare to cleaning your home to repelling fleas and ticks on your pets. In addition to all of these great uses, some of the greatest benefits of essential oils are their ability to affect your mood and wellbeing. Scent can have a powerful influence on everything from our stress levels, sleep habits, confidence levels, even our physical and cognitive abilities. Scent and emotion both stem from the limbic system and are very closely tied. We have all had the experience of a particular scent calling up a memory and its corresponding emotion. Or the intense feelings of love the smell of your baby or significant other can create. It’s real kids. And the best part is we can harness the power of scent to encourage our own feelings of joy and wellbeing! A while back I was working away from home for months and I was feeling a lot of stress. I remembered that on a previous job out of town, I had found a “bedtime” aromatherapy spray that was meant to be spritzed on your pillow for peaceful sleep. It became a calming ritual […]

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Green Smoothie week starts today!

PlumJoyful — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 07:00:57 +0000

It’s Green Smoothie week at Plum Joyful!!! Let’s start our spring cleanse off with a yummy green smoothie. Here is our first smoothie recipe chock full of good ingredients for liver cleansing and digestion. Spiced Mango lime green smoothie 1 cup fresh or frozen mango 1/2 large banana or 2 small ones 1 cup coconut milk (I like half full fat and half low fat for extra creaminess without all the calories) or non dairy milk of choice 1 cup baby spinach leaves 1/2 cup dandelion leaves Juice of half a lime 1-2 tsp alcohol free vanilla extract (optional) Frontier brand is the best for alcohol free. A tiny pinch of nutmeg 1/8 tsp or a healthy pinch of powdered ginger, or 1/2 inch fresh peeled ginger * for extra sweetness add a few drops of stevia The Spinach and dandelion leaves will aid in cleansing your liver, the lime will help jumpstart your digestion, as will the ginger. the mango is loaded with vitamin C which aids the liver and immune system, and the banana gives a nice dose of potassium! place all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. Follow along on instagram for a new recipe […]

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Detox with Plum Joyful: A simple Springtime cleanse

PlumJoyful — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 07:30:16 +0000

Spring has sprung and instead of waking up with the sun and feeling full of energy and promise, you feel sluggish, dull, and just a bit behind the eight ball. During the winter months the shorter days and longer nights tend to make us crave heavier, warm, comfort foods. Couple that with the cold temperatures making us want to snuggle under a blanket in front of the TV instead of heading to the gym, and you can understand why you may be feeling a bit bloated and blah by the time Spring rolls around. Most ancient healing traditions, like the practice of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, advocate some form of detoxification in the Spring. In Traditional Chinese medicine it is said that Spring is the best time for cleansing. This is because they consider the predominant organ of springtime to be the liver. The liver is the organ considered to keep your Qi (life force) moving smoothly. In Springtime the earth’s Qi is awakened and a process of renewal begins as the ground thaws and new life pushes through. We have the same opportunity to hit refresh on our bodies, bringing forth a new vitality to take us […]

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S.W. Basics: Clean skincare available at Target!

PlumJoyful — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 07:16:07 +0000

S.W. Basics, my latest skincare obsession, is simple clean and effective. And are you ready for the best part? It’s available at Target! Once upon a time you had to travel far and wide to find non-toxic, healthy skincare products. Those are the days of yore, because one of the cleanest brands of skincare is now available at you local Target. S.W. Basics was founded by Adina Grigore in her Brooklyn home. She has incredibly sensitive skin and needed to create gentle effective products that she could tolerate. S.W. Basics was born. All products are healthy, locally sourced, completely organic, and list less than five ingredients on the label. All products are rated as a 1 by the EWG Skindeep database, which for those of you who don’t know, will tell you the toxicity of a product and rate it on a scale of 0-10, 10 being the most hazardous. I have used her cleanser which simply contains Rosewater, vegetable glycerin and tea tree oil. That’s it! Three ingredients and it is gentle and effective! I also use the toner which contains apple cider vinegar, witch hazel and essential oils of Clary sage and sandalwood. This toner is awesome, great for […]

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