Pictured: Lunchbox Chocolate Muffins (with hidden veg) and Easy Ganache Icing from my Easy Wholefood Lunchboxes ebook. 

Below are four popular kids meals and how you can give them a boost! Just making a few of these changes, one at a time, can make a big difference to your families health.

DEALING WITH FUSSY EATING? WE CREATED THE FUSSY EATING BUNDLE  TO HELP AS MANY PARENTS AS POSSIBLE INSTIL POSITIVE EATING HABITS IN THEIR CHILDREN AND PROVIDE LIFELONG JOYFUL A RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD, THUS CREATING PEACEFUL, STRESS-FREE MEAL TIMES. FIND OUT MORE HERE.

Porridge

Why it’s already good …

Oats are rich in the B-complex vitamins and anti-oxidant vitamin E. They also contain soluble fibre which helps to keep you feeling satisfied as well as help the digestive system along. Soluble fibre also provides a food source for beneficial bacteria in the gut.

How you can make it better

Soak oats overnight in warm water and yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk to neutralise phytic acid. Phytic acid is found in the outer layer of grains and blocks the absorption of essential minerals which can lead to deficiencies.

Grind up some flaxseeds and mix through the porridge to provide a good ratio of Omega 3’s. These are relatively tasteless.

Once cooked, mix in some butter or cream, whose fat-soluble activators provide the catalyst for mineral absorption and they make it super tasty!

Ensure you add a natural sweetener like pure maple syrup, raw honey, or a sprinkle of rapadura sugar rather than a highly refined, processed sweetener.

Top with blueberries which are full of antioxidants and research suggests that in addition to protecting against heart disease and diabetes and improving brain function, they may also help reduce visceral “toxic” belly fat—a type of fat that has been linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Add cinnamon to stabilise blood sugar and for extra natural sweetness.

Grab my Pimped up Porridge recipe here.

Spaghetti Bolognese/Meatballs

Why it’s already good

Great source of protein –  the building blocks for our body.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a nutrient in cooked tomatoes that has been shown in laboratory studies to slow the growth of – and even kill – prostate cancer cells. It may also combat heart disease and diabetes.

How you can make it better

Cooking the tomatoes with good fat, like olive oil, helps the body absorb more lycopene.

Buy the best quality mincemeat you can afford, preferably grass-fed or organic because what the animals are fed, and whether they have access to sunlight and pastures make a big difference to their vitamin and mineral composition.

We all know this one, but it really works! Add shredded vegetables like zucchini, carrots, mushroom and, if you can get away with it, kale which is one of the most nutritious plant foods in existence!

Swap to whole grain spelt pasta (spelt is an ancient grain) which is high fibre, high protein, wheat-free and lower in gluten than regular wheat pasta.

Here is a delicious recipe for Summer Baked Meatballs with Kale and Juicy Tomato Sauce

Scrambled eggs on toast (great for breakfast, lunch or dinner!)

Why they’re already good

Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on earth and a complete protein source and a great source of vitamins and minerals, including the super absorbable ‘heme’ iron.

How you can make it better

Try adding in poached eggs, soft boiled eggs, and eggs over easy into the repertoire. Leave the yolks nice and runny. The less you cook eggs, and the lower the temperature used when cooking, the better access you have to their nutrition. This is because high heat kills off lots of vitamins and minerals.

Use a good quality sourdough bread for the toast. Sourdough is fermented, digestible, and promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut, giving the whole immune system a boost. Look for long-fermented sourdough (48-hours pref) made from stoneground (or equivalent wholegrain) flours.

Add a good spread of grass-fed butter to the sourdough (as well as to cook the eggs in)  as a source of good fat. The greener the pastures, the more Vitamins (A,D, and K) the butter will contain. Or you can use avocado, another beautiful source of good fat which contains a rich array of heart-healthy ingredients.

Try to layer the toast with some baby spinach and slices of tomato both full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants or fry up some mushrooms, all make a tasty accompaniment to eggs.

Always make sure you go for good quality pastured eggs. Some of my favourite brands are shared here. 

Pic credit Natalie Walton ,photographer Lynden Foss

During my renovations there were a few favourite accounts of designers and stylists I followed, on the top of my list was Natalie Walton’s instagram feed.

What drew me to her beautiful account was the sense of calm her home evokes (even though she has 4 kids!), her sentiments around sustainability and her use of timeless, natural objects.

The other day her tips on ‘Daily Habits to Create a Calm Home’ really resonated with me. At this point in we are experiencing major lockdown in Sydney and our homes have never been more important. I thought Natalie’s checklist contained wonderful ideas to live by to help us get through these difficult times. I particularly loved tip No 5 which really made me stop and think and take a different perspective about boundaries.

I am sharing these tips with Natalie’s permission, because I thought they might resonate with you too. Natalie elaborates on these individual tips in her original post here.

Daily Habits to Create More Calm at Home

1. Clear clutter – Don’t underestimate the impact this has on how you feel. Even one surface or nook can make a difference.

2. Tidy as you go – Make life easy for yourself, and break it down into small manageable steps.

3. Take responsibility – Focus less on other people’s behaviour and more on your own. Be proactive about what you can do and control.

4. Work as a team – Set small goals that you can achieve together and celebrate small wins with free/fun time.

5. Create daily rhythms – While we often think boundaries and rules are restrictive they actually create more freedom.

6. Start the day right – Morning routines are important. Get up before everyone else and have some time to yourself – to exercise, journal, plan your day or just be.

7. Create a sanctuary – Make your bed every day, and create a bedroom that feels restorative. (See point 1 – clear the clutter.)

8. Embrace rituals – Incorporate simple pleasures into your day – a quiet coffee, lighting a candle after everyone has gone to bed – whatever it is to make you feel good.

9. Eat well – Food has a huge impact on how we feel every day. Cutting sugar out of my diet was one of the best things I ever did.

10. Reduce alcohol consumption – Another simple idea to make you feel better every day. I rarely drink, and it’s another one of those decisions that has had a HUGE impact on how I feel and function every day.

Please let me know in the comments what you find is helping you during lockdown.

Come hang with me over on instagram or Facebook where I share daily health and wellness inspiration.

You might also like ‘How I Created a Calm and Peaceful Home’.

Bren x

Believing in the incredible power of food as medicine I undertook and committed myself to raising them on a diet of nutritious, home cooked meals, even though cooking three meals a day from scratch is A LOT of work (not to mention the dishes).

They are now strapping 15 and 17 year olds who are entirely capable of cooking for themselves (get your kids in the kitchen as young as possible! but I still do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to cooking.

I just can’t stop.

I can’t stop because I love knowing that despite how much take-out, processed foods, missed meals, alcohol (!), they’re having out there in the world, that home is where I can always make sure they well get a proper,  meal full of goodness to nourish every cell in their bodies.

I can’t stop because they have spread their wings and are flying so very quickly away and deep in my soul I already miss them and cooking for them makes me feel connected to them and hold on to them a little longer.

I can’t stop because I feel joy seeing their faces light up when they hear they’re favourite Creamy Pasta Bake or Mexican Beef and Bean Burritos is for dinner.

I can’t stop because they are so self sufficient and independent in every way that feeding them feels like one of the last few things I can still do for them to show them how much I love them.

I can’t stop because food is love in my heart and my home and it always will be this way.

Bren x

I battled bulging closets and random clutter strewn about and overstuffed junk drawers that threatened to overtake us. Which is so bizarre for me as I don’t function well at all without order but it all just got away from me. I used to dread coming home from holidays, where everything was always minimal and spick and span, and face the disarray that was my home.

Now I am thriving in a completely organised home and I’m revelling in the degree of organisation I’ve managed to achieve. The biggest barrier to creating a calm, peaceful, relaxing home, was simply that I was completely overwhelmed with where to start!

It took me months of research and trial and error to find what worked best for me, and I’m still very much a work in progress with so much still to organise, but my oh my, have things turned around for us at home!

Below is a little peaceful piece of my kitchen.

And isn’t my study nook soooo relaxing?! Can’t thank my architect and decorators enough for bringing my vision to life!

There’s no more hunting for a particular white T-shirt in an overstuffed wardrobe because there it is sitting with all the other white tops hanging beautifully on my black velvet hangers.

No more ‘where is my biscuit tray I need to bake cookies’ because there it is in my neatly separated kitchen drawer. No more where is the Mirin I need to make fried rice because there it is with the rest of my bottles in the side compartment of my fridge (which I simply adore btw hence why two pictures!).

All the bottles go in one spot now so I’m not fishing around the back of the fridge looking for them.

How gorgeous are my open shelves. Yes, more to dust but totally worth it!

Having an organised home and life has made everything easier. And I’ve trained the rest of the family up too, it honestly didn’t take long. I think it’s because they loved the benefits of being neat and tidy and organised too. The kids start the day making their beds, it ain’t always perfect, but it’s good enough, and they also know to return everything to it’s place. If I’m honest, it’s the hubby who has been hardest to train up (!) but we’re getting there, and I’ve learnt I’m going to have to let some things go 🙂

As Marie Kondo says, “putting your house in order is the magic that creates a vibrant and happy life”.

I can tell you that with everything now neat and tidy and everything in it’s place, life now feels calmer, easier, and I am much more happy and relaxed as a result.

Bren x

A good diet is essential for great nutrition, but it’s also something we tend to take for granted. Pew Research reports that more Americans are concerned with healthy eating today, but not all of them are able to reach that goal. This could be due to a number of factors, such as access to healthy food or attitudes towards food.

If you’re concerned about your diet and health, it may be time to focus on specifics— namely, your gut. Maintaining your digestive health is important for the overall condition of your body. Your digestive system helps break down nutrients in your food, and boosts your overall immune system. If you aren’t sure you’re eating enough food good for your gut, then here are five things you can add into your diet to do just that.

Yogurt

If you want to boost your digestion and overall gut health, one of the fastest and easiest ways to do that is through eating fermented foods. In our previous article on ‘5 Reasons to Add Fermented Foods to your Family Meals’, we talked about some favourites, including sauerkraut, kombucha, and of course, yogurt.

Yogurt is a great addition to any diet because it’s easy to find and great for pairing with other foods. Natural and Greek yogurt varieties are especially helpful for building up healthy bacteria in your gut, and they taste great too!

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass may not be the first thing you think of when you want to improve your gut health, but it’s actually a pretty powerful plant. Not only is it full of important minerals and nutrients, it’s also a great natural remedy for acid reflux.

Brightcore claims that wheatgrass powders are high in alkalinity and nutrient concentration which helps to detoxify your body and improve your digestive system. No more heartburn after meals— with wheatgrass, you can definitely rest easy.

Vegetables

When it comes to a healthy diet, including vegetables is pretty much par for the course. Vegetables and other plant-based foods are low in calories yet high in nutrients, making them foundational to healthy diets. But did you know that vegetables are great for improving your digestive health too?

Green leafy vegetables are especially good for your diet, because they tend to be high in magnesium. The Cleveland Clinic suggests greens like spinach, which can not only provide your body with necessary nutrients, but can also help relieve constipation. If that’s a concern for you and your household, it’s time to stock up on greens.

Prebiotics

Nutrition is a pretty complex process, one that involves a lot of chemicals and hidden functions in our bodies. While you’ll definitely see people recommending nutritious foods for healthier guts, it’s important not to miss out on feeding what does make our guts healthy— the good bacteria in our digestive systems.

These good bacteria feed on what’s called prebiotics, which are non-digestible starches and fiber. News Medical lists a few such as chicory root, onions, and oatmeal. While these shouldn’t make up the bulk of your household’s diet, they’re essential for maintaining the populations of good bacteria in your gut. Make sure to feed these bacteria every once in a while, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the nutrition you need, too.

Whole Grains

Fiber is pretty important in the digestive process, so we need to make sure that our families have enough of it. Not only does it play a crucial role in digestion, it also helps to lower cholesterol, improve digestion, and lessen the chances of constipation.

WebMD enumerates important high-fiber foods, including whole grains. Brown rice, millet, oatmeal, and even pasta are all great whole grain sources of fiber. Whole grain bread is another important source of fiber, and easy enough to switch out for sandwiches and other meals. For maintaining a healthy digestive system, fiber is one of your family’s best options.

Which means the old Bento Box may no longer cut it.

I’ve been getting lots of messages from parents asking me what lunch boxes my teens take to school.

Parents who understand the importance of good nutrition for growing teens but have to somehow convince them to take a packed lunch rather than money for the canteen.

Not to mention that most kids still take their lunch wrapped in plastic wrap or in zip lop bags, not really understanding the impact this single use plastic has on our earth.

The challenge is to pick a non-toxic lunch box, that’s easy to clean, kind to the earth, and which won’t make our teens stick out like a sore thumb at school.

NB: I’ve always bought  from and affiliated with Biome Stores because their vision is to preserve a safe, healthy environment on this wonderous planet for now, and for those who come after us.’ And because they have very strict standards and go to great lengths to source products that are not only free from toxins and all synthetic preservatives and fragrances.My kids are now 15 and 17yrs old (!) and here’s what they’ve been using the past few years …

U Konserve Rectangle Container with Divider 

My kids starting using the U Konserve container in high school and it’s still going strong. It’s great for salads, leftovers, wraps, sushi, rice paper rolls …. The removable divider is great when you want to divide food, like sandwiches and snacks. These are lightweight and easy to wash. I think it’s the plastic (recyclable) lid rather than stainless steel which gets it over the line for my teens. U Konserve have a heap of cool looking containers of all different shapes and sizes which you can check out here.

This mage contains the Haloumi and Cous Cous salad from my Easy Wholefood Lunchboxes recipe ebook.

I’ve got this large, square U Conserve lunchbox on order because the older my kids get the more they request more big salad type meals for lunch and I think this will be the perfect size.

Pic credit: Biome Stores

I love the look of these Ever Eco Stainless Steel Round Containers too and have ordered a set for my daughter because she’ll love that the lids match the many, many different colour bikini’s she’s been buying this summer ?

Pic credit: Biome Stores

Thermos double wall food jar black trim 470ml 16oz

These are perfect for keeping food hot in Winter and cool in Summer. I pack things like soups, dumplings, spag bol, smoothies, yoghurt/fruit and granola, bircher muesli, chicken nuggets, everything! Here’s a great post for when the weather cools off with 10 Warm and Hot Meals to pack for School Lunches. 

Pic Credit: Biome Stores

EcoPocket Sandwich Pocket

When it comes to sandwiches, my teens still use reusable sandwich wraps in different designs I bought years ago. These Sandwich pockets are a great alternative if you’re kids are concerned about fitting in with everyone else at school. They’re reusable, low-tox and replace those single use plastic zip lock bags which clog our landfill.

Pic Credit: Biome Stores

Other

When it comes to insulated bags, we keep it low key black for my son with this Packit Freezable Classic Lunchbox.

A good alternative is the Sistema range of insulated bags which you can get from supermarkets and places like K-Mart.

Pic Credit: Biome Stores

Eco Vessel Boulder Triple Insulated Bottle

The key to water bottles for teens is no babyish logo and no spouts. Just undo the top and take a swig and extra points if it’s insulated, let alone triple insulated keeping things cold for 72 hours and hot for 14hrs. Oh, not to mention best go for the most unobtrusive colour. These bottles are long lasting and top notch quality.

Photo Credit: Biome Stores

Now all that’s left to do is pack those new lunch boxes full of goodness. Let me help you with some inspo

17 Sweet and Easy School Lunchbox Ideas

10 Savoury School Lunchbox Ideas

My Easy Wholefood Lunchboxes Recipe Ebook is also packed with 40 delicious nut-free, sweet and savoury wholefood recipes your kids will love! Grab your copy here! 

It pays to know there are all sorts of hand sanitiser products going around, including an influx of cheap hand sanitiser coming from China which you can pick up from the supermarket or pharmacy which contain lots of nasties which can be damaging to our health, especially with the increase in regular use.

Please take a read of these two articles on the hidden dangers of hand sanitisers. Here’s an article by The Street and another article here.

It’s compulsory for my kids to sanitise before entering school, before every class, before recess and lunch ….. That’s ALOT of sanitising and it all adds up!

So you know me, always on the lookout for the best natural alternatives for the sake of our kids, and one of my faves is the 123 Nourish Me On The Go Hand Sanitiser. You can read all about why it’s my preferred option below. I just pop into my kids pockets and bags and I don’t have to worry about any negative impacts to their health.

Here’s a comparison of the 123 Nourish Me ‘On The Go’ Hand Sanitiser versus imported Chinese version

– Australian Made and Owned versus Made in China and imported
– 100% Natural versus Synthetic Ingredients
– Full ingredient disclosure versus Hidden ingredients
– 70%vv alcohol versus Undisclosed percentages
– Pure Essential Oils versus Artificial Fragrances/Parfum (possible neurotoxin)
– No Nasties versus Triclosan (decreases immunity, increases allergies, increases asthma, environmental toxin, hormone disruptor), Acrylates/C10-30, Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymere, -Triethanolamine (toxic, allergen), Benzalkonium (uses Benzine in it’s production), Chloride (toxic, skin irritant)

The only ingredients in the 123 Nourish Me On the Go Sanitiser are:

✔️ 70% Ethyl Alcohol
✔️ Purified Water, Glycerol
✔️ Lime Oil
✔️ Grapefruit Peel Oil

If you want to keep your family safe stock up with the “On The Go’ hand sanitiser here.

Other posts you might like:

Best natural sunscreens(and what to avoid)

The Best Natural Skincare Products for Women over 40.

Best Natural Skincare for Teenage Girls

However, the recent Covid-19 pandemic has led to more people working from home than ever before. Millions of people all over the world are in uncharted territory as they work from home for the first time.

While this can be natural and easy for some, this isn’t always the case. Some people will struggle with their work-life balance and this can lead to a lot of stress. As a result, it is important to have and create boundaries when working from home to maintain your sanity. These will allow you to maintain a decent work-life balance, even when you are home all day.

With that in mind, this article is going to go over some tips and steps for setting boundaries when working from home.

Try Stick to a Routine and Schedule

Because our brains often enjoy patterns and repetitions, it is a good idea to try and stick to the routine you had before you started working from home. Set the same hours, wake up at the same time and doing things like that can help make working from home a little easier. The closer you stick to your routine, the easier the transition will be.

If you didn’t have a solid schedule before, it is a good idea to try and create one. Set your work hours in advance, and let your family and friends know about them, so they will know when you are working and when you are free. Also, when you don’t have a routine or schedule, it can be tough to motivate yourself and can lead to other inconsistencies.

Disconnect Every Now and Then

With us constantly being on our phone, tablets and computers, it can be hard to get away. Even if you are only relaxing and watching videos, you are likely still receiving work-related messages and emails. In order to truly set boundaries, you need to turn off and step away from your devices from time to time. It gives your brain a break and lets you truly let go for a while.

Not only is this good for your mind, it could also be good for your body. The EMF that comes from our various devices can potentially be negatively affecting your health. By limiting your usage, you are limiting your exposure. Of course, if you can’t get away from your devices, products provided by EMF Harmony can also keep you protected while using them.

Have a Dedicated Workspace

Having a space in your home dedicated for work can make working from home a lot easier. Whether it is a room like an office, or a temporary set-up in the living room, having a dedicated workspace will help you focus more on work when you’re there. You need to train yourself to associate that area with work for the time being.

While working from home, this space should only be used for work, if at all possible. This will help your brain associate it with work, and the rest of your home with relaxation. Also, have ways to minimize distractions. Try make sure the space is private, or at least doesn’t have your children constantly running through it. This could be roping off the area, simply telling your children your plan or even leaving them fun signs to let them know when you’re working.

In conclusion, we hope that this article has been able to help you successfully set up some boundaries while you are working from home. Making the transition isn’t always easy, but setting boundaries when working from home is certainly possible.

Guest Post by Ashley Lipman

Author’s bio:

Content marketing specialist

Ashley Lipman is an award-winning writer who discovered her passion for providing knowledge to readers worldwide on topics closest to her heart – all things digital. Since her first high school award in Creative Writing, she continues to deliver awesome content through various niches touching the digital sphere.

Governments have been informing us about vigorous hand washing and social isolation, but not a word about how we can keep ourselves healthy as one of the best ways to protect ourselves against COVID-19 and other viruses.

“Death from infections in the developing world is often not due to the infection itself but the body’s inability to fight it because of nutrient deficiencies.” – Dr Mark Hyman

There’s so much you can do from your own kitchen and home, You don’t have to be a sitting duck.

Your immune system is incredibly powerful. What you eat and drink and how you live have a direct impact. If you get a virus, including Coronavirus, you want your immune response at the ready so it can fire on all cylinders and put up a fight.

Below I share some ideas on how to keep your immune system strong so you can thrive and be well.

1. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, kale, Chinese greens, broccoli and cabbage) which are the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. You can load up on your greens and other immune busting ingredients with this Ginger, Mint and Green Apple Smoothie. 
   I recommend adding a teaspoon of Forest Super Foods Camu Camu into your smoothie to further boost immunity.  One teaspoon has around 1200% of your vitamin C RDI and because it is just a berry (as oppose to synthetic) it is very easily digestible and an excellent product to ward of  viruses of all kinds.

2. Eat lots of anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-oxidant foods like garlic, turmeric, ginger, oregano, cinnamon, green tea, apple cider vinegar, lemon, raw honey. I put loads and loads of ginger and lemon in the smoothie above, or this Spinach, Lentil and Lemon Soup has it all going on!

3. One of the best ways to boost the immune system is with bone broth. I just throw in some chicken frames, chicken bones and wings, celery, carrot, onion, apple cider vinegar, salt and filtered water into my slow cooker for 12 hours. The process of slow cooking extracts amino acids, collagen, vitamins and minerals out of the meat and vegetables creating a nutrient-dense, easy to digest, immune boosting liquid. Once it’s cooled in the fridge you want the consistency to be firm, like a jelly, to get the most out of your broth. You can use the broth for soups, sauces, and use instead of water to cook rice, quinoa etc. Here’s my easy recipe for Homemade Chicken Broth. Use your broth in this beautiful, healing Chicken Noodle Soup.

4. Eat lots of fermented and probiotic foods to help fight bacteria, reduce inflammation and increase antioxidant activity. Here’s a recent post all about fermented foods. And here’s a recipe for my Big Batch Bircher Muesli which is choc-a-block full of wonderful ingredients to feed your gut and maintain a healthy immune system.

6. Eat lots and lots of fruits and vegetables so that all the wonderful antioxidants help destroy free radicals (which weaken our immune system).⁠ They are high in vitamins C, A, and phytonutrients that support the immune system. Each different colour offers different antioxidant benefits. Try this delicious Anti-Oxidant Salad. ⁠

7. Hopefully you’ll be eating the rainbow of fruit and vegetables but definitely make sure you include berries, all berries, but especially blueberries which contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin, which has antioxidant properties that can help boost a person’s immune system. Add some blueberries into this Anti-oxidant Smoothie

7. Consult or talk to a naturopath (I recommend Naturopath Naomi Judge) or health foods store naturopath about supplements which contain Vitamin C, Zinc, Curcumin and Vitamin D.  Studies have proven all four of these to be effective in preventing, reducing the severity and reducing the length of colds and flu and directly support the immune system. Other important measures you can take are

✔️Get more sleep⁠ because a sleep deprived immune system won’t function properly, sleep allows the body to restore and heal
✔️Drink more water⁠ – you can’t have a proper functioning immune system if you’re dehydrated
✔️Avoid sugar and processed food⁠ because they are major immune suppressors.
✔️Exercise and get fresh air daily⁠
✔️Minimise stress⁠

Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice and any changes should be done in consultation with your healthcare provider.

After I shared my post on the Best Natural Skincare for Teenage Girls, many of you messaged me asking what skincare products I use on my skin too.

So I thought I’d share with you.

Since around my 40’s and certainly now that I am 50, my skin is noticeably different to when I was younger. It’s also a lot more temperamental so I have a variety of products on hand to address the change in mood #KidsintheKitchen

So what’s changed most about my skin?

The biggest one is dryness. For years I had an oily T-zone (thank you open pores) and then almost overnight it clicked over to dry!

My skin is definitely not as firm or elastic anymore which is what happens as collagen and elastin levels decline. Then gravity likes to torture us by taking a hold causing eyelids and jowls to droop. Ah, the joys!

Thankfully wrinkles aren’t a huge problem for me …yet!

My skin routine

Life is full so I have to keep my skin routine simple otherwise I just won’t do it. My go to online store for all my personal and beauty products is Nourished Life because it’s a one stop shop to clean beauty, 100% cruelty free, zero waste, eco-friendly and there is no green-washing of their products, you shop there you know everything is going to be natural.

Morning

When I shower each morning I cleanse my skin using my current fave Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk (age defying)  but if my skin is going through an exceptionally dry phase, I’ll go for the Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Cleansing Foam.

Once a week I use an exfoliator because as we age our cells turnover at a much slower rate which means  our skin can really start to look dull and I find exfoliation really helps with this. My faves are Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Pearl Exfoliator or La Mav Cranberry Bio Exfoliating Scrub.

My latest find and complete addiction is Snowflower Illuminating Face Oil by Edible Beauty. The feel and smell of this oil is so luxurious. Since using it my skin feels much more hydrated and I can see my healthy glow coming back. Post shower, I put a few drops into my hands and gently press the oil onto my face neck. After that I’ll pop on my favourite moisturiser which is Weleda. My faves are Weleda Skin Food Light, and the Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream is a winner too. Sometimes I mix a bit of the two together in my palm and then apply to my face.

If I’m heading outdoors I’ll pop some sun protection on, Hello Sunshine and Little Urchin Tinted are easily my favourite of the millions of natural sunscreens I’ve tried and tested. Being an outdoorsy gal, I’ve developed pigmentation on my face due to sun exposure and not taking more care to cover up and use sunscreen, so now I have one dark spot on each cheek. I recently discovered, but haven’t used this product, which is going onto my next order to try – 100% Pure Dark Spot Remover. It claims to lighten dark spots by using Ferment Sake and Matsutake Mushroom which are known for their brightening properties.

Night

At night I cleanse my face with either one of the Andalou cleansers I use as part of my morning routine. If I’ve got eye makeup on I use Wot Not Ultra Hydrating Facial Wipes. After I cleanse I apply the Snowflower Illuminating Face Oil by Edible Beauty on again, followed by Weleda Pomegranate Firming Night Cream. 

Other

I like to do a face mask once every couple weeks or at least once a month and for many years now my favourite has been Dr Hauschka’s Clarifying Clay Mask.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and feel free to share your favourite natural skincare products.

Bren x