Quck Post: Beauty Recommendation

***UPDATE: I found that the conditioner does contain DMDM Hydantoin which is a formaldehyde releaser. I have been trying to avoid this ingredient and it is in almost everything. I may be looking for another shampoo/conditioner.
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I decided to start doing some "quick posts." I am always thinking of things I should share about but don't really have enough info to justify a full blog post. So, instead of saving up each thing and lumping them together weeks or months after the fact, I am going to do quick and short (and probably barely edited) entries for these things. They could be beauty items I recommend, a book I read that I love, an event happening, an article I read, etc. It's probably something that most people would post about on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, but, let's be real...I like to talk and there just isn't enough room on those media platforms for what I want to share. This brings me to my first quick post.

For months now I have been trying to find a good shampoo that is free of all the "bad" stuff. You know, no parabens, no sulfates, etc. It's been a difficult task as most of those shampoos don't lather the way I want them to or they leave your hair feeling lifeless or straw-like. Well, I found one! Rather, my Mom found it and recommended it to me. I LOVE it.

Maui Moisture. A treasure now found. Here is the link to their website. They have many different types of shampoo and conditioners for all kinds of hair issues. I have thin, frizzy, somewhat curly hair and this Vanilla Bean one is amazing for me. Not only does it smell awesome, it lathers like a normal shampoo, it tames down frizz, and leaves my hair fuller and smoother.

You can purchase at most drugstores like Walgreens, but Ulta Beauty also carries it and their hair products are almost always buy one get one 50% off. The price point is wonderful as well. I believe most places carry it for under ten dollars each.

The best part? This! Straight from their website:

WHAT IS MAUI MOISTURE®?

MAUI MOISTURE^® starts with a unique blend of aloe vera juice and is infused with pure coconut water, unlike some other shampoos that start with deionized water as their first ingredient listed. The results? Moisturized strands, mended split-ends, and a healthy glow with every use.

• No mineral oil
• No silicones
• No parabens
• No gluten
• No SLS
• No sulfated surfactants
• No synthetic dye
• YES eco-friendly
• YES pure coconut water
• YES pure aloe juice

Highly recommended! Let me know if you try it and what you think.

Homemade Granola: Worth the Time?

Every morning I eat oatmeal with granola. I usually throw some wild blueberries and almonds in there, too. It has become my favorite morning meal. It fills me up, keeps me energized, and is healthy. But what about the granola? Every day I am eating 1/3 cup of store bought granola and the bag only lasts a week at most. How much am I spending on this? What amount of added sugar am I consuming first thing in the morning? The answer is a lot.

Even on sale, the granola I purchase is $5.99 a bag when it's on sale. That's a minimum of $24 a month, but usually at least $30. Yes, the brand I buy is Gluten Free, 5 grain, Non-GMO, and relatively healthy by most standards, but I wasn't happy that I was consuming evaporated cane juice, glycerin, and canola oil every morning.

What is evaporated cane juice? Companies that make it will say it's a natural sweetener. Really, it's just sugar with a tad bit of the molasses still included. All sugar, because of the process that makes it, is evaporated cane juice. So really, it's just a fancier, healthier sounding way to say "processed sugar."

Glycerin is a filler. It's used as a sweetener and preservative. I wouldn't think it would be considered an ingredient for "clean eating." Besides, isn't that an ingredient in soap? Just because it is non-toxic doesn't mean it is edible or should be consumed.

Canola oil is not something I have done a lot of research on, but it seems to be a controversy. I prefer to use olive oil or coconut oil strictly for anti-inflammatory properties and health reasons. I don't avoid canola oil completely, but I figure if there is a controversy, there might be a reason to limit your consumption at the very least.

So, this led me to research Paleo homemade granola recipes. I wanted something that was similar to the flavor of the brand I buy (blueberry vanilla). I found a great recipe and it was really easy to make. You can find the original recipe here. My version is tweaked a bit. The original recipe was so large that it required two sheet pans. Not only do I not have two sheet pans, I am only one person and that much granola would go stale before I could eat it all. I cut the original recipe in half. Also included are directions to read as you go, because my pastry chef instructor would reprimand me as I did not read the whole recipe before starting. It's my way of helping you out so you don't make the same mistakes I made.

Pre-start tips:
1. Pull out all of your ingredients and measure them out.
2. Pre-heat oven to 325* and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. (I was out so I used wax paper which wasn't ideal, but it worked in a pinch)

Blueberry Vanilla Granola with Chocolate Chunks

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 40 min

Yield: 5 cups  

Ingredients

1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup almond butter (I used cashew butter)
1/4 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon good-quality vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (I use the GF oats from Trader Joe's)
3/4 cup raw sliced almonds
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (I just used a few shakes as I try to keep things low sodium)
1 cup dried blueberries (I prefer the Steve's Paleo dried blueberries because they have no added sugar, but Whole Foods was out)
**1/8 - 1/4 cup at least 65% cacao dark chocolate chunks (I see this as optional) (I used Enjoy Life allergen-free chocolate chip minis)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F and line baking sheet with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.

2. To a small saucepan, add just the coconut oil. Melt over medium-low heat.

3. Whisk in the almond (or another nut) butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Continue to whisk until melted and smooth. Turn the pan to low heat while you prepare your dry ingredients.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, almonds, salt, and blueberries. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.

4. Pour the granola onto the baking sheet, spreading evenly.

Before spreading evenly in pan.

5. Bake the granola in the oven for 10-12 minutes and then give it a good stir.

6. Return to oven for an additional 10-12 minutes and bake until golden brown.

7. Remove granola from the oven and let it completely cool before transferring to an airtight container and stirring in the chocolate chips.

8. Store the granola in an airtight container for about two weeks.

This recipe turned out great. It's nice and crunchy with just the perfect amount of sweet. It's great for breakfast or a snack. I use this on top of my oatmeal every morning. As a snack, the chocolate chips are a fun added sweetness. However...if you are using it on top of oatmeal or in a bowl with almond milk for breakfast, I suggest you cut the chocolate chips. I add fresh blueberries to mine, so the chocolate is a little odd mixed in there.

I hope you all try this! It's a tasty recipe and has no added sugar, especially if you get the Paleo snacks dried blueberries with no added sugar and cut the chocolate chips. My verdict? DEFINITELY worth the time.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I was so excited to make this granola that I only snapped one. Enjoy! Be healthy.

Nail Products: The Big Debate

First, I would like to apologize for the gap between posts. I am doing my best to get at least one post up a week but sometimes life gets in the way. The last few weeks have been busy and tough. Hopefully, I can get back on track now!

One of the biggest debates I have witnessed in the beauty industry is what kind of nail product or process is the best. People get VERY passionate about this subject. Honestly, I don't really prefer any one style. I like different methods for different reasons. I decided to help others by sharing my experience and thoughts on these four popular methods.

1. Jamberry

Jamberry vinyl nail wraps have a large variety of designs and even partner now with Disney, Marvel, Peanuts, the NBA, the NFL, and various charities. They are fairly easy to apply once you get the hang of it. You don't have to buy all the fancy extras to apply them either, most of what you need you already have at home. Nail scissors, a nail file, a blow dryer or heat source, and your thumb are all you need to put them on.

The downside to Jamberry is that good application and a solid seal are key to getting them to last and if you have curved or domed nails like I do, it can be a constant source of annoyance. Most people have flatter nails and can apply them correctly with no problems. I, however, have them lifting by the next day. After trying every trick I could find, the only thing that solved it was putting the clear gel polish (they have a gel LED system that is pretty good) over the wraps. The main problem with this trick is it's an extra step in a manicure that should be easy and quick to do. If the look and design are more important to you, then you will LOVE Jamberry nail wraps.

The biggest pros: No drying time and tons of cute designs.

The biggest con: Having to take them off carefully and properly with remover so you don't ruin your nail surface.

Cost: Inexpensive as one sheet of nails will get you a minimum of two manicures plus leftovers for a pedicure and accent nails. The cost of one sheet is $15 for most designs.

2. Incoco

Incoco 100% nail polish appliques are different than the brands of polish wraps you pick up at the drugstore. These are higher quality and last a lot longer (up to 14 days). Because the strips are delicate, it takes some practice to put them on without ripping them. They are dry polish strips with the base coat, polish coat, and top coat built in. So like vinyl wraps, they are instantly dry. They come in a variety of designs and solids.

My experience with Incoco nail polish appliques was fairly positive. I have experienced a couple of instances with application issues, but for the most part they were easy to apply, instantly dry, didn't lift or chip, and were easy to remove. However, don't open the package until you are ready to apply as the air dries them out. This is good when it's on your nails, not so good when it's still in the package.

The biggest pro: You can easily remove with nail polish remover.

The biggest con: Delicate and easy to rip when applying.

Cost: $8 a sheet but you can find older designs for 50% off on their website.

3. Nail Polish - OPI Infinite Shine

When it comes to nail polish, my nails chip 20 min after getting a manicure. It's been a challenge finding a polish that lasts longer than 24 hours before having to reapply. Then I found OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System.

OPI has always been one of my top two polish brands. When I saw the Infinite Shine line I really wanted to try it as it claims to last up to 10 days with a "high def gel shine without the light." I was skeptical but intrigued. Step 1 is a base coat/primer, Step 2 is the color, and Step 3 is a thicker gel-like top coat. This system works very well for me. For the first time, I can go 5-6 days with no chips! If I do two coats of the color and two coats of the top coat it lasts even longer.

The biggest pro: Regular polish you can do at home that lasts longer than other polishes.

The biggest con: Still smells like polish with the harsh chemicals and takes five coats total and proper application to last a week.

Cost: $10-$12 a bottle but you get many applications from each. You also need the base coat primer and top coat.

4. Gel Polish - Salon or at home

Gel Polish is easily the winner when it comes to how long it lasts. However, you need to either buy a system to use at home or go to a salon and spend a minimum of $30. But if you are going on vacation or have a big event coming up, chances are this is the method you want.

Salons are moving to less harsh chemicals and lights that are LED vs UV to protect hands from the damage UV light can do to skin. The selection of colors and designs you can get are just like a regular manicure but last longer. If you have the money and the patience, it's worth a try. If you decide to buy a system to do at home, do your research. Some gel polishes only work with certain kinds of light and some polishes are stronger than others. If you like to do your nails all of the time and prefer gel polish, it might be worth the investment to find a great system you can use at home. The downside to doing this at home is the removal. It's a lot easier to have them remove the gel polish at the salon. Trust me, I have tried it at home many times in a lot of different ways and it's always a huge production and makes a mess.

The biggest pro: Instantly dry and you get a bit of a pampering if you go to a salon.

The biggest con: The cost

Cost: $30 a pop, minimum, plus tip. If you are doing this twice a month, you are easily spending $80.

So, there you have it! Different methods to try that are good or bad for contrasting reasons. There is one new method/product that I just heard about within the last week that I have yet to try. I have been seeing many posts on Instagram from beauty bloggers that are trying and promoting them. The brand is called Impress by Kiss. They are gel polish nails that are press-on but require no glue. Similar to the old Lee Press on Nails from the 80's maybe? I find that hilarious, but they seem interesting and I am intrigued by the concept. I plan on trying them soon. Have any of you tried them?