My 8 Beauty Swaps from Whole Foods Market

Recently Whole Foods Market gave me a $50 gift card to make some healthy, cruelty free swaps to products I have already been using. You guys know I only use cruelty free products, but I found some great products all the same, and some were much better than what I had previously been using.

The Whole Foods Market brand, 365 Everyday Value, offers an organic cotton round alternative – much better than the ones I have been buying from drugstores! And that is something I use regularly – to apply toner and take off makeup.

The Kiss My Face travel-sized SPF 30 Sensitive Side 3-in-1 sunscreen is definitely something I’d take on vacation, but I plan to keep this in my purse to use on my hands and forearms to protect them from sun damage and premature aging and sun spots. Definitely a good buy!

The EO Body Lotion in Rose & Chamomile smells SO good! I like to keep a moisturizer with a pump on my nightstand for easy access. I have been using a highly scented one that has some non-natural ingredients and fragrances. I love that this moisturizer has a reasonable price and it’s made with natural ingredients and has a soothing fragrance. Organic sesame seed oil, mango seed butter, organic jojoba, rice protein, beta glucan and rose absolute essential oil makes me feel good about putting this on my skin.

I’ve been a fan of Alaffia since I tried their coconut shampoo a while back. They are big on giving back to the community, fair trade, non-GMO, vegan, soy and gluten-free and give back to children’s education and reforestation charities. I bought the Everyday Coconut Face Toner made with coconut water. It smells SO good! It’s super refreshing, and can be used as a toner or facial mist. I love that it has neem in it, which is a great antimicrobial to keep acne at bay (while hydrating your skin).

I was very excited to see the Whole Foods Market Aromatherapy Sprays made IN STORE (my local store is at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles). They are not weak scents at all – very full of essential oils! I got the Breathe Deep spray, which is made with eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon. Perfect for my almost daily headaches. I have used other sprays, diffusers, and even topical products applied directly to my head, but this baby is strong, and mama loves it!

I bought the Natural CALM Bath with Lavender by Natural Vitality to replace the epsom salts I’ve been buying from the drugstore. I love that it has magnesium and natural sea salts to relax my muscles (I have fibromyalgia, so this is a must for me!) and detox my body.

I love trying new soaps, and the one I bought from Acure is amazing. It’s called Pumpkin + Calendula Argan Oil Soap. Three very nourishing ingredients right off the bat. It’s made with SUSTAINABLE organic palm oil, organic argan oil, organic safflower and/or sunflower oils, and essential oils of sage, lavender, lemongrass, spearmint, calendula petals, rosemary and pumpkin seed oil. The scent is mostly spearmint/rosemary/lemongrass to me. Very spa-like and relaxing.

And last but not least, I bought something not exactly in the beauty aisle, but nearby! My favorite brand of supplements, Garden of Life, has a Vegan D3 organic, whole food (made from lichen), Vitamin D spray. It also has omega 3, 6, 7 and 9s from organic pumpkin seed oil and organic cranberry seed oil. As a blogger and owner of a social media agency, I don’t get enough sun (that’s the understatement of the year!), and I’ve read that fibromyalgia sufferers often have lower Vit D levels. Mine always seem to be at the bottom of the “normal” levels even if I take 5,000 IU a day. This brand is a spray – and each spray is 1,000 IU, so you can control how much you’re getting. Vitamin D is incredibly important and many Americans are deficient, so definitely get checked and see if you need to supplement! (Note: check with your doctor before taking any supplements.)

Los Angeles – 3rd and Fairfax Whole Foods Market Beauty Week events

 

Whole Foods Market Beauty Week 2015 – March 18 – 24
This is the first time Whole Foods Market is hosting Beauty Week. The Whole Body departments will host events, classes, demonstrations and promotions to inform shoppers about Whole Foods Market’s large selection of quality personal care products and cosmetics that support healthy people and a healthy planet. All Whole Foods Market locations will offer a limited edition “Hello, Beauty!” bag for $18 (valued at $60), beginning Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m. local time! From March 20 to 22, shoppers will save 25% on all facial care items at Whole Foods Market.

I also had to share this awesome Third Street tea I picked up along with dinner on the way out. How cute is the label? The tea is delicious and has no sugar added. Very refreshing!