October 2019 - wherefitnessmeetsbeauty

Hello foxes! I know I’m not the only one, but I have battled with my skin for years! I finally found a skincare routine that has been working for me and products that don’t work against my skin. Keep in mind that we all have different skin texture and issues. What works for me might break your skin out. I am a 26 year old ladies, so wrinkles and fine lines have already made their debut. However, I also have sensitive skin, so retinol isn’t my jam. As soon as I started buying more natural beauty products, I noticed an improvement in my skin. I assumed my skin was more on the dry side because I live in the desert. But turns out my skin is oily, which explains all those breakouts. I wanted to mention that the health of your skin not only reflects your skincare routine, but also your sleep, stress levels, and nutrition.

Step 1: Cleanser | Skin Co Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream

I have been using Truffle Therapy Whipped Cream Cleanser for my face wash for over 2 months now. I was hesitant at first because my skin doesn’t do well with cream cleansers. But it says it’s for all skin types, so I was convinced to try it in the end. Skin Co is an animal cruelty free brand and they use quality ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised that it made my skin feel really soft the first time I used it. The cream also didn’t break me out or irritate my skin. It doesn’t really smell like anything and a little goes a long way. I like to scrub it in and let the product sit on my face for a minute. I go through phases where I wear makeup everyday and then I stop for a while. I’m in the natural face phase, so I don’t really use this cleanser to remove makeup. But I have once or twice and it did a good job.

Step 2: Acne Scrub | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Face Wash & Scrub

I love that the formula is strong for an animal cruelty free scrub. It contains salicylic acid, which helps fight acne. It leaves my skin fresh and clean without feeling tight. It’s a great combination of cleansing and exfoliating without it being too rough. I’ve noticed a huge improvement on my oiliness and breakouts. And the best part is that it doesn’t irritate my skin.

Step 3: Toner | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner

I know I said my skin feels clean, but it feels extra clean after using this clarifying toner. I just spritz a little product on a cotton ball and swipe it in an upward motion. Adding a toner to my skincare routine has been a game changer. I’ve noticed that it helps fight existing breakouts while preventing new ones. I’ve been using it twice a day and it doesn’t dry out my skin. Like I mentioned, I have sensitive skin, but the aloe made it really soothing!

Step 4: Face Mask | Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask

I like to use face masks after I tone because it acts as the perfect primer. I’ve been using this mask twice a week and it’s definitely not your typical face mask. The product isn’t full coverage like most face masks and goes on almost opaque. But you only need a thin layer of this appropriately named veggie mask. It’s full of vitamins and minerals from wheatgrass, kale, avocado, and chia seeds. My skin feels so soft and hydrated after I rinse it off.

Step 5: Primer | Touch In Sol No Pore Blem Prime Essence

I definitely used this wrong the first time. I put my foundation on immediately after I applied the primer and my makeup was sliding off my face. Luckily, I gave it another shot and fell in love. The serum is watery and glides over your skin. It helps to absorb in your other skincare products. I still apply a makeup primer, but I use the No Pore Blem even when I’m not wearing makeup.

Step 6: Face Oil | Wander Glow Ahead Illuminating Face Oil

Another product I was skeptical about because I didn’t think oily skin and face oils made sense together. But it’s definitely not oily and it absorbed quickly right into my skin. It has vegan, animal cruelty free ingredients like castor oil and black currant seed oil, which helps balance moisture and plump up the skin. I haven’t noticed any reduction in fine lines, but my skin is very glowy afterwards. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t break me out. A little goes a long way, so be careful.

Step 7: Moisturizer | Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer

This is the only non animal cruelty free product in my routine. For as much alcohol is listed in the ingredients it doesn’t dry out or burn my skin. It does contain soybean extract, which has long term benefits and helps brighten skin. I also like the fact that it contains a 15 SPF, which doesn’t leave a white cast on your face. The non greasy formula prevents streaky makeup, which I really appreciate. I do prefer Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Day Lotion, but it was out of stock. Finding natural moisturizers with SPF is a challenge, so I had to settle this time.

What are some non animal cruelty free skincare products that you’ve been loving?

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Peace & Love,

Heather

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Since soy is a controversial topic, I thought it would be perfect for this week’s blog post. One of my friends told me that soy was basically the devil. And you know my vegan ass eats soy, so I wanted to know just how bad it is. I’m sure you’ve heard that if men even blink at a block of tofu, they will grow boobs bigger than mine. And some women think they won’t be able to conceive if they eat soy. Some people praise the plant-based protein, while others run from it. So, is soy even safe to consume?

Realistically, soy can be both good and bad. Over the years they have been processed and genetically modified in ways that can be potentially dangerous to the body. These genetically modified versions were called “roundup ready”, which were designed to withstand the use of herbicides while increasing yields. The United States produces the most amount of soybeans in the world and 97% isn’t even used for human consumption. The majority of GMO soy is fed to animals, however it might be a good idea to stick to organic soy products if you try to avoid GMOs.

Man Boobies

One of the reasons why soy is such a hot topic is because it contains estrogen like chemicals called isoflavones. However, it’s important to remember that isoflavones aren’t estrogen. Men are afraid that soy consumption can increase estrogen levels and decrease testosterone levels, leading to man boobs and a squeaky voice.

The rumors stem from two case studies involving one 19- year old man who reported enlarged breasts and the other 60- year old experienced erectile dysfunction. One test subject was actually consuming 3 quarts of soy milk per day, which is a lot for one person. But one study used even higher amounts of isoflavones and proved soy wasn’t a problem for most men and had zero effect on male reproduction.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a large percentage of men will develop man boobs at some point in their life. This statistic doesn’t surprise me knowing the fact that ¾ of the us population is overweight. And say maybe you are overweight or obese, your testosterone levels are going to be lower compared to someone at a healthy weight. I don’t think we should demonize soy because you blame your insecurities on phytoestrogens.

Breast cancer

High amounts of estrogen in the body have been linked to higher risks of breast cancer. The rumors that soy also increases these risks come from people mistaking isoflavones with estrogen. Although isoflavones have estrogen like characteristics, they also act as antiestrogens, blocking estrogen from binding together. This could in theory, prevent the risks of breast cancer. This preventative effect depends on the quality of soy, the age at which a person starts consuming soy, and other factors.

Some studies have shown that soy can help reduce breast cancer, however the bulk of the research involving humans show that consuming soy does not have a negative impact on health. Another reason for the confusion can be blamed on studies that used animals as test subjects. Humans and animals metabolize isoflavones differently. The test subjects were also injected with extremely high doses instead of being absorbed and digested naturally in the body. comparison to someone eating a diet moderate in soy, that is an extremely high dose.

Infertility

People became concerned about isoflavones when they observed sheep who ate large amounts of red clover had issues with reproduction. Red clover contains phytoestrogens that are also in soy. Remember, animals and humans metabolize phytoestrogens differently. According to one study, men who eat soy foods may have lower sperm concentration. However, the study involved only 99 men and most men who had lower concentrations were overweight. It’s likely that the extra fat these subjects had increased estrogen levels, which causes a decrease in sperm concentration. One theory is that obesity caused the men to be more sensitive to the phytoestrogens found in soy. In Asian countries, diets high in soy are very common and have not been shown to affect fertility. The bulk of clinical studies do not suggest that isoflavones negatively impacts reproduction. In fact, one study showed that consuming soy can be beneficial to women going through infertility treatment.

We can take away from all the information that soy is safe to consume in moderation. Soy actually has so many benefits like it’s cancer fighting properties, omega 3s to lower the risk of heart disease, and full of vitamins. The pros absolutely outweigh the false claims about this plant-based food. There’s nothing wrong with a little mock meat or protein powder on occasion, but it might be best to stick to quality sources of soy in your diet like tofu, tempeh, and edamame.

Don’t forget to share and subscribe.

Peace & Love,

Heather

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