2015 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is well under way. If you haven’t started shopping, there’s still time to buy online or run to the mall to beat the crowds and out-of-stock shelves. Knowing many parents start shopping first with kids in mind, we premiered our 2015 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide for Kids last week. Now, we’re releasing the grown-up version, the 2015 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide. As I mentioned in last year’s feature, since I’ve embraced an organic, low-toxin lifestyle, I always investigate and experiment with new products and services that focus on health and wellness. I’ve attended seminars, events, and researched the latest guides in search of unique gift ideas that won’t break the bank. Here are some of my favorite items that focus on wellness.

Six Non-Toxic Green Beauty Products for Fall

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved make-up and playing dress up. Even as a young adult, I was fortunate to sample different new products often because my roommate worked for a leading New York City beauty company. I even helped brainstorm color names for the next season’s glamorous lipsticks and nail polishes. Now that I focus on living a healthy lifestyle, I use products that are free of most chemicals ranging from household cleaners to personal care items. There’s a lot of media coverage on all the hormone disrupting chemicals in beauty products that can lead to various diseases, which is why I decided to change my habits and buy all-green beauty products. In doing this, I’ve found a few helpful healthy living resources to make investigating clean and green, non-toxic products easier. Continuing this series of my non-toxic green beauty picks for each season, “What’s in My Bag Now,” here are some of my favorite products this for fall.

4 Healthy Tips to Create a Non-Toxic New Home

I’ve heard from many feng-shui fans that removing clutter is a surefire way to increase productivity, remove toxins and promote happiness. I used to rolled my eyes at these comments the same way I did when my mother used to tell me to clean my room. Truth be told, though, I’m now a believer. Within the past few months, we sold a home that we lived in for more than 11 years, as well as bought and moved into a new one. We owned a ton of stuff and plenty that accumulated a lot of chemically-ridden dust that you can’t just “green clean.” During the move-out process, filling up the driveway dumpster was cathartic. Each box I threw away felt like I was removing toxins from my life. And I was…both literally and figuratively. Once we moved into the home, we took a few steps to assure it was an extremely healthy environment. I’m now on a mission to create an even more healthy non-toxic home and here is what I’ve done so far.

Health & Wellness News & Info Recap, 6/9

There’s still a few weeks until summer. Many of us are enjoying the seasonal mentality: free play, later bedtimes and cold, refreshing treats daily. It’s always challenging to stay healthy when busy, whether it’s a hectic work schedule or managing kids throughout the day. So, starting next week, this Health & Wellness News & Info recap will add “Healthy Summer of Fun” content for kids.

This week on the web stories include Beyoncé’s plant eating diet, Jennifer Aniston’s thoughts on natural beauty and an inspirational gesture from American Pharaoh’s jockey, Victor Espinoza.

Non-Toxic Beauty: What’s in My Bag Now

Late spring makes me happy. Seeing all the radiant flowers in bloom and bright colors of nature everywhere excites me for summer. It’s also a time that I revamp my beauty bag. I love buying new seasonal products. I’m outside more, so like skincare items with sun protection. Spring also reminds me to rid my everyday items and refresh with newer ones. I still use products that are largely organic, vegan and rate low in toxicity in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Here’s what’s in my bag for late spring.

Green Festival Expo: Health & Wellness News & Info Recap, 4/27

Every week since the New Year, PrettyWellness.com has been top-lining soft news stories about health and wellness in our Health & Wellness News & Info Recap. Armed with a passionate for following trends in wellness circles, I have really enjoyed providing summaries and insights on eating clean, being active, living without toxins and inspirational stories. Since I attended the Green Festival Expo in New York City a few days ago it seemed appropriate for this week’s “News & Info Recap” to cover this event about sustainability and green living.