I have been using a full Innersense routine for the last 2 years. Below is a list of the products I typically use, however it can vary depending on the needs of my hair at the time, the time of year, or even the weather.
Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner
Inner Peace Whipped Cream Hair Texturizer
Two back-to-back vacations have me BEAT! I apologize for being a bit MIA lately, but 7 days in Cabo followed by 3 days in the Catskills had my life in a constant state of chaos. My fellow fibros know that deviating from your schedule for even a day can bring on symptoms, so you can imagine how 10 days of travel over the course of 13 days has left my body feeling!
Now that I am back home, I wanted to share some of my recent favorites in the sunblock department. SPF is essential for everyone, but its a matter of life or death for my fair skin. I am always layered in it whether I’m on vacation or simply running errands because I have a family history of melanoma. As such, I am always trying new sunblocks and have 3 current favorites that I wanted to share with you all. All products are linked!
I am obsessed with this spray lotion. I am typically not a fan of spray lotions, as they can be sticky, leave a residue, and can dry out the skin – but not this one! This coconut clear spray lives up to its name, going on clear and smooth and leaving without a trace. I like at least SPF 50 on my body at all times and this spray makes application easy (FYI spray lotion should ALWAYS be rubbed in after spraying to ensure even application and absorption into the skin). Besides the efficacy of this sunscreen, the brand is also free of synthetic fragrances, harsh sulfates, artificial colors, parabens and phthalates. They also do not test on animals and are free of ingredients identified to have potential adverse impact to coral reef . BONUS PERK – it may depend on your area, but I can get this lotion at Costco pretty much all the time in a value pack that rocks.
This facial sunscreen has been my go-to since I got a sample from my dermatologist like 5 years ago. I have never been burnt with this on my face – even on an off day where I forgot to reapply. It goes on super light and leaves your skin with a satiny-matte finish. It is also great under make up if you have an outdoor event like a wedding or graduation. Due to its light nature, this is the sunscreen I apply to the part in my hair as well, since it doesn’t leave my roots greasy. It’s very easy to forget the part of your hair and unfortunately that is where many women later develop sun-related issues. Make applying sunblock to the part in your hair a part of your pre-sun routine!
After a few days of sun, sand and chlorine, my skin is often dry and itchy. Two of my travel companions were using the SPF 30 of this all week long and swore by its conditioning properties. I grabbed a bottle from the pharmacy in Mexico (in SPF 50) and fell in love. It is so luxurious on the skin and leaves you smelling heavenly. This was perfect for my last 2 days where all I did was sit under the umbrella and read, while this moisturizing lotion helped to revive my skin. It’s important to wear lotion even if you’re covered by shade because not all umbrellas have SPF and you can get burned through them. I loved the way my skin felt and smelled, plus it leaves a little shimmer on the skin that ups the vacation glow factor.
I am always trying new lotions. Leave me a comment below with some of your favorites!
As silly as it sounds, I stand 100% behind this statement. I would never describe myself as simple or low-fuss (many who know me may make a convincing argument in favor of the use of the word EXTRA), but I previously never put too much energy or emphasis on my appearance. I have always done a good job of taking care of my natural curls and have my simple everyday 5 minute makeup routine and before last year, this worked for me.
Developing fibromyalgia changed so many aspects of my life. I obviously knew about the physical implications before I was even diagnosed (no one needs to tell a fibro patient that they’re in pain), but there were a multitude of emotional and psychological symptoms that don’t manifest until far later, like aftershocks of a tragedy.
For me, the strangest trait that developed was a heightened consciousness of my appearance. A reformed Catholic High School girl with natural-born confidence, I had entered my early adulthood with almost zero concern for what other people thought about my appearance. Something about losing my faith in my own physical capabilities led me to start being more concerned with my clothing, hair, and makeup. My insistence on not letting this condition change my life more than it had to and not allowing it determine how other people saw me actually pushed me to put more effort into my guise.
At first, I was worried that this was a result of a blow to my confidence. However, I have come to realize that instead it is often a calming and mood-boosting practice. On days when I may be too tired or sore to do certain activities, I take pride in taking a few extra minutes to do something special with my makeup or wear a new piece of clothing I’m excited about. As I realized what feeling good could do for my overall well-being, I started to seek out ways to pepper in a little pampering every now and again.
As a curly girl, I had always loved the feeling that a blowout gave me – frizz free bouncy hair that made me feel ready to take on the world. Getting blowouts more frequently (no more than 1 a month to avoid too much heat on my curls) has been a therapeutic practice for me for several reasons:
I know that it’s not always financially feasible to indulge in treatments like this, but when you can, it can be so rewarding. My biggest tip would be to avoid the blowout chains (overpriced and not worth it) and instead sign up for the newsletters of local salons, as they often will advertise $20-35 blowouts when they have quiet days in the salon.