Unfortunately, my year started with grief, a whole mountain of it. January normally begins with celebration for me as my sister and I celebrate our birthdays. This year however we had to prepare to say good by to the man who raised me and was the only father figure I had my whole life, my grandpa. It has felt like my world has crashed around me ever since because on top of learning to navigate through the biggest loss I've ever experienced while trying to work and be a mom we also lost two of our dogs this month as well. The word numb is the best way to describe how I have been feeling.
This isn't being posted to seek sympathy though, this is posted to help others navigate through grief. It's hard and it comes in waves. I have been grateful to have been seeing a therapist for about a year now as well as through this, and I am here to tell you if you have the ability to see a therapist do it! As you read below I share with you a few things I have learned along the way and also things that I am trying to work on.
Grief is a natural response to loss, and it can be an incredibly challenging and overwhelming experience. Whether you have lost a loved one, experienced a breakup, or gone through any other form of loss, taking care of yourself during this time is crucial. Self-care is not selfish; it is a necessary part of the healing process. Here are some ways you can practice self-care through grief:
Grief is a complex and multifaceted emotion, and it is important to allow yourself to fully experience it. Give yourself permission to feel the pain, sadness, anger, and any other emotions that come up. Suppressing your feelings will only prolong the healing process.
Reach out to friends, family, or a support group who can provide a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Talking about your feelings and sharing your experiences can be incredibly therapeutic. Surround yourself with people who understand and support you.
Be kind and gentle with yourself during this difficult time. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would offer to a close friend. Practice self-compassion by engaging in activities that bring you joy and comfort.
Grief can take a toll on your physical health, so it is important to prioritize self-care in this area. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and engaging in regular exercise. Taking care of your physical health can help improve your overall well-being.
Establishing a self-care routine can provide structure and stability during a time of grief. This routine can include activities such as journaling, practicing mindfulness or meditation, taking baths, going for walks in nature, or engaging in hobbies that bring you joy.
If you find that your grief is interfering with your daily life and functioning, it may be beneficial to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide guidance and support as you navigate through the grieving process.
Grief is not a linear process, and it takes time to heal. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to grieve at your own pace. Understand that healing is a journey, and there will be ups and downs along the way.
Engaging in activities that bring you comfort can provide a sense of solace during times of grief. Whether it's reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie, or spending time in nature, find activities that bring you peace and make them a part of your self-care routine.
Mindfulness can help you stay present and grounded during the grieving process. Take time each day to practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, body scans, or guided meditation. This can help alleviate stress and promote emotional well-being.
Above all, be gentle with yourself. Understand that grief is a natural response to loss, and it is okay to not be okay. Give yourself permission to grieve, and remember that healing takes time. Treat yourself with love, kindness, and compassion as you navigate through this challenging journey.
Remember, self-care is not a luxury; it is a necessity, especially during times of grief. By prioritizing self-care, you are giving yourself the love and support you need to heal and move forward.
Thank you Grandpa for all the years of love, support, and guidance. I owe everything of who I am to you. You were the best part of my life and I will continue to make you proud and share all my favorite stories about you.
]]>Toner is a liquid skincare product that is applied to the skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. It is designed to remove any remaining traces of dirt, oil, and makeup that may be left behind after cleansing. Toner also helps to balance the skin's pH levels, which can be disrupted by harsh cleansers. By restoring the skin's natural pH balance, toner helps to keep the skin healthy and less prone to breakouts.
Using toner offers a multitude of benefits for your skin. Firstly, toner helps to shrink the appearance of pores. When pores are clogged with dirt and oil, they can appear larger and more noticeable. Toner helps to remove these impurities, resulting in smaller, less visible pores.
Secondly, toner helps to hydrate the skin. Many toners contain humectant ingredients that attract and retain moisture in the skin. This helps to keep the skin hydrated throughout the day, preventing dryness and flakiness.
Thirdly, toner can help to balance the skin's oil production. If you have oily skin, toner can help to control excess oil and reduce shine. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, toner can provide an extra layer of hydration to combat dryness.
Lastly, toner can enhance the effectiveness of other skincare products. By removing any remaining impurities and balancing the skin's pH levels, toner allows other products, such as serums and moisturizers, to penetrate deeper into the skin and work more effectively.
Now that you understand the importance of using toner, you may be wondering how to incorporate it into your skincare routine. It's simple! After cleansing your face, apply a small amount of toner to a cotton pad and gently swipe it across your face and neck. Follow up with your favorite serum and moisturizer.
It's important to choose a toner that is suitable for your skin type. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for a toner that contains ingredients like salicylic acid or alcohol free witch hazel to help control oil and prevent breakouts. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for a toner that is alcohol-free and contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe vera.
In conclusion, toner is a vital step in any skincare routine. Its ability to remove impurities, balance the skin's pH levels, and enhance the effectiveness of other products makes it an essential product for achieving healthy, radiant skin. So, don't overlook the importance of using toner for your face. Your skin will thank you!
]]>Supporting small businesses provides a great foundation for being an active member of your community. In 2018 46.3% of all Utah employees worked for small businesses (That’s me!!!) small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy making up 99.9% of American businesses.
I was lucky enough to land my first job as an employee for Hippie Skin in 2016. It seems like I’m being paid to say that, but go back on the social media timelines and you’ll see a gap in my employment.
I worked for a few big-name corporations after leaving Hippie Skin in 2019. I won’t drop any names, but let me tell you it was Hell! After a number of H.R. and OSHA reports, I tapped out. I was relieved to find out there was still a place for me among the hippies.
I have gotten to meet many of the small business owners in Ogden and will hopefully meet many more. All of them sticking together through this rough year. It is so important to support local businesses when you can, now more than ever. 34% of small businesses have closed since January 2020.
It’s been a rough and isolated year filled with fear and loss for many, but with hope, we will soon be able to get out of our houses and rebuild our communities.
Sources
U.S. Small Business Administrations Utah Statistics report 2018 https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-UT.pdf
World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/america-united-states-covid-small-businesses-economics
Founded in 2014 by a hippie on a budget with a passion for clean beauty, Hippie Skin offers a wide range of natural skincare and cosmetics designed with integrity, research, and intention. We know you work hard to be healthy and you want a natural brand you can trust, a brand that inspires you, and a brand who shows up for you.
For the naturally minded hippie, mom, nurse, or traveler who suffers from the discomfort and frustration of skin breakouts, redness, inflammation and a lack of self confidence as such, Hippie Skin is a natural skincare line that utilizes the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and the oil cleansing method to provide a simple, affordable natural remedy for healthier skin. Unlike other natural product companies, Hippie Skin is committed to a truly natural, clean product with easily recognizable raw ingredients, full transparency from supply chain to packaging, and sustainable, high quality luxury oil blends.
Our company believes in the innate beauty within all of us and we are committed to inspiring and celebrating the unique traits that make up the fabric of the human race.
Hippie Skin was created initially using the ancient philosophy of Ayurveda to craft high quality oil blends that help to support pH balance and overall skin health. What we found was that Hippie Skin is a simple, intuitive system that works with nearly all skin types, whether you have red, irritated skin, dry skin or normal skin, and our community of hippies is all about empowering others not just to have healthier skin, but to truly shine healthier from within.
At Hippie Skin, we are passionate about:
SUSTAINABILITY:
We don't use plastics, because plastics can leach chemicals into the product. We also aim to reduce our carbon footprint, and recycling is a huge deal to us.
ORGANICS:
At Hippie Skin, we are passionate about creating truly natural, clean products. We don't use fillers EVER, and we maintain a strong commitment to minimal to NO preservatives.
QUALITY:
We believe you can have the cleanest product in the world, but if it doesn't work then what's the point? We believe in creating products that work! We are passionate about product that your skin will love and that you can feel good about using.
At Hippie Skin, we are all about celebrating the new hippie culture: The unconventional beauties, promoting change in our world, and our own personal quests for enlightenment in a world full of noise. We love all hippies and we want to inspire and empower all hippies.
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I Love, love, love these products! I tell everyone about them.
]]>I have used the Honey, Luxe and Glow daily for about a year and boy the difference in my skin! My face isn't dry or oily anymore. It made my complexion more even and my skin softer. I was never one that had acne until my last son was born and I broke out while pregnant. I used a high end acne treatment and it literally burnt my skin! Since his birth I get the occasional hormonal breakout but this has really helped with that too!
I rarely wear foundation anymore because my skin looks fantastic!(my picture is makeup free except my eyes) I Love, love, love these products! I tell everyone about them. I can't wait to try other things too like Silk for my dry skin!
Thanks so much, I'm going to be a Hippie for life ️
]]>Recently when I moved to Utah from Alaska, I began my search to try to find local products I could integrate into my life.
I came across my first jar of Hippie Luxe at a business in Ogden. I picked it up, smelled it, read the ingredients, and knew I had to try it. I searched Hippie Skin online and made my first order. That was well over a year ago. Since then I have used the Hippie Honey and Hippie Luxe daily. I use the Rejuvenate Hippie Scrub once a week as part of my routine, and recently started using the Hippie Mist Toning Spray.
I am 39 years old and constantly get complements on how great my skin looks. I wear little to no makeup everyday, and rarely have a blemish at all! Hippie Skin care brings a radiance and glow to my skin that I love, way to go Hippie Skin!
]]>I feel MOST beautiful when I am with my hubby at the gym working out and having fun! Or...after my morning run, in the garden weeding, when my 20yr old daughter shares our pic together on Instagram, or after a bottle of wine...haha!
That redness was a huge insecurity for me, and I tried whatever I could to get rid of it and cover it up. I have used so many different lines of skin care products, from Aveeno to LUSH, and every one of them either made my skin more sensitive, red, dry, or break out a ton.
I heard about Hippie Skin through Facebook and decided to give it a try. I fell in love immediately! First of all, I absolutely love that it’s made with minimal, natural products and essential oils. They smell so good! The difference in my skin was almost immediate. My red cheeks toned down, my skin became incredibly soft, and my blemishes and breakouts pretty much disappeared.
I didn’t need to wear as much makeup and foundation as I used to. Most importantly, I noticed a glow that I hadn’t experienced before; a glow that radiated from the inside out.
I have blackheads and small bumps all over my face. In one week my pores have shrunk (they used to be so big!) and my bumps are going away . I love the all natural line and it's so easy to use ! My skin feels so smooth and moisturized!
- Mariah S, NC
"I love that there are NO artificial ingredients and the products feel and smell delicious! So far, I have noticed some of my deep pimples are finally starting to surface and my pores seem to be loosening up. Plus, my skin just feels cleaner. I can't wait to see what more time with these products will do! Thanks hippieskin! I'm excited to see what else you will come up with in the future!"
- Melissa D, UT
"Your products have CHANGED MY SKIN! Seriously, I was ready to go to the dermatologist and get some heavy scripts because my acne was getting out of control. I CANNOT thank you enough! "
- Ashleigh B, West Jordan
My before and after is embarrassing to say the least... I don't know how to selfie! The regimen I used was Hippie Luxe, Hippie Honey, and Hippie Mist as outlined in the Hippie System on our blog. As the formulator/owner of Hippie Skin, I can honestly say it has changed my life and my skin - and my hope is to share my knowledge/products and empower all I encounter to Love their Faces!
~ Bethany
Another post about how much I LOVE Hippie skin, but I mean never have I ever tried skin care products that have actually, 100% helped my skin. I have acne, and not just any kind of acne.... the deep, feeling like you just got shot in the face, hormonal acne. Yeah, those kind that are near impossible to cover up. I wish I would have found Hippie Skin sooner because it has helped me SO much.
Not only does it smell amazing but it is all natural. Being able to actually pronounce the ingredients, let alone understand what I'm putting on my skin is important to me.
Hippie Skin, THANK YOU!!!!
Utah, USA
]]>I remember finding this in one of my favorite shops: Lotus Lounge. It smelled so amazing with a faint smell of coconut and lemon. I also loved that it's all natural with no chemicals. My skin was always kinda oily and very sensitive, everything broke it out. I use this to wash my face and at night before bed.
This amazing stuff has balanced my skin out, it just glows now. I have also noticed some of my fine lines seem to have disappeared. I will be using this amazing stuff forever.
I love Hippie Luxe!
Utah, USA
]]>My skin has gone through a lot in the last six years - I have had extreme eczema that lasts for months and is unbearable when it comes to many types of soaps.
Hippie Skin has been my saving grace during and after breakouts. Hippie Honey soothes irritated skin, turning it right back to feeling fresh and natural; glowing.
The whole Hippie Skin line from the start has had me excited each night for washing, moisturizing and for my weekly spa like nights where I use my Hippie Honey, Hippie Scrub as a deeper set wash.
I love how my skin feels after using Hippie Skin on a daily basis!
Utah, USA
]]>Give me nature, wild hair, a beanie, and no makeup. Set me free among the wildflowers and watch me shine! As a hippie who has struggled with health issues my entire life, it has been so important to me to find balance. Balance in health, work, and in experiencing and cultivating the things I love.
My journey steered me to yoga, and my yoga practice, along with the study of Ayurveda and eastern medicine led me to Hippie Skin. I wanted something all natural. I wanted a synergistic skin care system, and I found it. Using and creating Hippie Skin has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I love sharing it.
My skin was perfect until I was about 28. Then it just sort of blew up at me. I had scarring, sun spots, and horrible hormonal acne. Once I created the Hippie System, I was amazed at how quickly my combination oily/dry skin balanced out, and my smaller breakouts diminished within just 2 weeks. My hormonal acne cleared within 6 months, and my skin has never been healthier. I knew that I needed to share this - and my passion to create amazing skin care was born.
My before and after - the first was taken just before I started the oil cleansing method with the Hippie System, and the right was 6 months later. I'm happy to say that my skin has remained healthy for 5 years!
Many people have come to me and just gushed about how much their skin has improved using Hippie Skin, and how that little thing has changed their quality of life. This is why we are here. To inspire one to love their skin, and in turn build confidence in themselves, so that they present the best version of who they are to their world. It's the most beautiful and incredible transformation I have ever been privileged enough to witness.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Utah, US
]]>In fact I had great skin until I went on birth control. I was 17 and was on it for 3 years. My skin has never been the same since. I have eczema on my whole body, rosacea, and acne on my face. I'm young! I shouldn't be suffering from acne, but I am.
I heard about Hippie Skin on FB in a group I'm in and right away I knew I needed to try it. I was fortunate when Bethany said yes to a review, but even if she didn't I still would have purchased these products, and I will continue to purchase them in the future because they have helped me significantly!
Let me tell you, these products are WONDERFUL!! Right away I noticed how soft and smooth my face was, and though I still have my hormonal acne, I have noticed a difference in my complexion. It's smoother and more even looking. I can't wait until my hormonal acne is kicked in the bud!
I am leery about trying new products on my face because my face is SO sensitive. I've had it peel before or after using new products. But Hippie skin has literally changed my life!!
Michigan, US
]]>After I had a baby 2 years ago, I got more concerned about what was going on me and in me, since it was going in my baby too; as I was giving her breast milk. This is also about when I began my Hippie Skin journey.
For Hippie Fresh, I followed the detox instructions, and was pleasantly surprised that after a few days I literally stopped sweating. Then I went back to work doing 8-16 hour nursing shifts. This was the true test. I was so paranoid I'd have coworkers smell me. They said they couldn't smell anything!
Hippie Skin is tried and true. I have yet to find one Hippie Skin Product that hasn't had positive effects on my skin and in my life. (As cheeseball as that sounds-I'm serious).
I use the Hippie Luxe on myself, 2 year old, newborn and dog!
Pennsylvania, US
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