Clean Beauty Brand: Clove + Hallow

Hey guys! Today’s post is going to be a collaboration with a Clean Beauty brand called Clove + Hallow. I am very particular about what brands I collaborate with and make sure it is only something true and authentic to me. I was so excited because this brand I have actually purchased multiple times from before so it was completely aligned with what I like to share! Clean beauty is a movement that you guys know I am very passionate about. I love that more brands are starting to come out with cleaner options for beauty and skincare, but sometimes the quality can be compromised. I was able to choose three products to be sent and try out so I wanted to pick one I knew I already loved, which was the conceal and correct concealer (shade 02) and then two new to me products that I currently did not have in my collection (pressed mineral foundation in shade 03 and lip
Velvet in cupcake). The concealer is my absolute favorite! It’s really pigmented, comes with a doe foot applicator (my favorite concealer design), has a nice creamy yet liquid-y formula that doesn’t cake and does a great job covering dark circles. You can blend it out with a dense brush or a beauty sponge (my favorite way). The pressed mineral foundation I tried out a few different ways and the way I prefer to wear it is over my tinted SPF. It does have coverage and color, unlike a translucent powder, so I found it to look better over something lighter like a tinted SPF rather than a regular
liquid foundation. I love a tinted SPF, but having oily skin I feel like I need a little something extra to set it and this was perfect. Love this combo for spring and summer days. The last product I’ve actually been eying for a while. I used to be such a liquid lipstick girl because I loved the longevity and dramatic look for special occasions when you need your lips to stay on for a while! I haven’t used a liquid lipstick in literally years because all of the ones I have don’t have the greatest ingredients. I love a moody/grungey lip color and this one really gives that look for someone who isn’t a fan of reds or berries, but wants a more dramatic lip. The doe foot applicator was great and skinny enough to line your lips if needed. The product went on super smoothly and really lasted. I do find that liquid lipsticks can be a bit drying (I have the world’s driest lips) so sometimes I like to add a little gloss or balm over the top of that is happening! Regardless, I will definitely be saving this one for nights out when I need a little something to add some drama to my makeup! Cannot wait to try more of their products! Thanks again for the #collab #cloveandhallow #brandpartner #cleanbeauty

You can order their products on their website www.cloveandhallow.com

Top 5 Favorite Non-Toxic Products

As some of you know, I am a consultant for Beautycounter, which is a safer beauty brand. I share lots of Beautycounter favorites on my Instagram, but I also have some favorite non-toxic products that are not Beautycounter brand and wanted to share those with you guys. I am all about trying to limit the amount of harmful chemicals and toxins in my life as much as I can, but still enjoy a good quality product. I am so happy that I have been easily able to swap some things out one-at-a-time in efforts to make my home a safer environment. I definitely believe in balance and not being extreme, but my motto is: every time you run out of a product, replace it with a cleaner, safer option! Here are my top 5 favorite non-toxic products of the moment:


1. Norwex Mop System

This thing is seriously AMAZING!! I have been using a cheap little mop with wet pads over the past few years and I love how well they work to clean my floor, but A) The pads are expensive and B) They are made with harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. I saw my IG friend from @paisleyprintsspokane post on her stories about this Non-Toxic Mopping system that looked like a more heavy-duty version of what I had been previously using. She said it was Norwex, which I had heard of before, but didn't know much about it besides the fact that it was non-toxic. She gave me the run-down on all of the details behind the product and how everything works. If you are interested in learning more about it you can research it or reach out to her on IG (the science/mechanics behind it all made perfect sense to me, but I want to make sure you get all of the bases covered, so make sure you ask someone who sells it!). It's basically a special cloth material made up of fibers that you just have to add water to and it effectively removes dirt and germs from your home/body/etc. She has been using it for years and said she had saved so much money on cleaning supplies because of the fact that you only have to use water and the quality is so amazing. I think it comes in a pretty rose gold color too! Seriously guys, this thing is amazing and makes me feel SO much better about my 1 year old crawling all over the floors and my dog eating scraps of food or chewing on toys that have touched the ground.

Lindsey's Norwex Link
http://www.lindseyjones3446.norwex.biz


2. Everyone Soap

This stuff is so great! It is really affordable and easily accessible, too. I see it at Target and the grocery store, which makes it nice because as much as I love to order stuff online, sometimes you just run out of something and need to run to the store ASAP to grab it! My favorite scent is the Coconut & Lemon scent. The soap is a 3-in-1 product so you can keep it anywhere that water is running! We use it in our shower as a body-wash and Chris uses it as a shampoo. We have it in our guest bathroom too and can also be used as a baby wash. Such a great product!



3. Doterra Lemongrass Essential Oil

My mom is a distributor for Doterra and she gave me this oil to put in my diffuser or add to a spray bottle for cleaning. I am not super brand-loyal on essential oils because I haven't really gotten super into them or anything, but I know I have a lot of friends that sell both Doterra or Young Living. I just really freakin LOVE this scent! It is sooo fresh and lemon-y. I put it in my Amazon bamboo color-changing diffuser and it just makes my house feel fresh and clean without spreading toxic fragrances into the air we are breathing!



4. Primally Pure Deodorant

I have only used the Charcoal Deodorant, but I know they have a bunch of other ones to pick from. I had messaged them before I purchased it and they said their best sellers are the Charcoal or the Blue Tansy, so I might try that one next. I just love this stuff and it actually works for me. I was super disappointed in a brand that I had tried prior after I found out they use Fragrance/Parfum in their products. I immediately found Primally Pure after this and have been obsessed. This is one of the first things you should change out in your beauty routine because conventional deodorants have so many toxic carcinogens in them. No one likes a stinky, sweaty armpit, and I think you guys will really like this brand!

https://primallypure.com/products/charcoal-deodorant

5. NKD SKN Self Tanner

I did a blog post a while back on this product (go to my beauty tab to read the whole post), but I have been using it for a lot longer now and have come to seriously LOVE this stuff! I don't know about you guys, but I feel 100% better with a nice tan on my fair-skin! I used to do the booth spray tans, which are nice because you don't have to apply anything yourself, but I know they use synthetic fragrances in the ones I was doing and some toxic preservatives too. Getting sprayed as often as I want to be tanned is also pretty expensive! The Dark Shade of the NKDSKN tanning mousse has been my favorite. It is so affordable and accessible, too. It runs about $20 and you can pick it up at Ulta! They have a bunch of other products too, but this has been my favorite. I actually just recently had to repurchase for the first time, so it lasted me a long time. Highly recommend!!

At home teeth whitening system

I just finished whitening my teeth with Smile Brilliant and I wanted to share my experience with you guys! Disclaimer: This product was sent to me to try out in exchange for a blogpost, but like always, I will be honest and share my true thoughts. I am NOT a doctor and you should always check with one if you are ever skeptical with ingredients in a product.

As most of you guys know, I am a new mom, which means VERY little sleep on my end. In turn, I have been upping the coffee and have noticed that my teeth have been taking a hit from this. I haven't whitened my teeth in a while, but I have in the past (I used to use white strips in high school and a few times after). After I had Luke (I didn't want to whiten while I was pregnant) I was super excited to get my teeth looking brighter, but after a round of strips from the grocery store, I just was not happy with the results and feel like I could not tell the difference. Another thing I really don't love about using the strips is that they are a one-size fits all kind of product and I feel like the strips go on my gums and and make them more sensitive PLUS I can feel my mouth getting all of the whitening gel all over it and it just can get really messy. I also felt like I was stuck doing nothing during the time that I was whitening my teeth because I couldn't talk (you pretty much have to keep your teeth clenched in order to get them to stay in place). I was ready for something better. 

I was sent Smile Brilliant whitening system to try out and I am so happy with my results. I had braces as a teenager and Invisalign last year and I have always been confident in my smile until recently. The coffee stains were just making me feel self-conscious and I could tell in pictures that my teeth were definitely not the shade they used to be. I am so happy that after completing this whitening system I can confidently smile again!

The process was super easy. I was first sent the kit, which included materials to take my own impressions and the whitening gel itself. I took my impressions (instructions are perfectly explained in a notecard included in the package) -- if you aren't comfortable another idea would be to Youtube how to take impressions! I took my impressions and then sent them off in the mail in the pre-paid postage envelope the next day. They also send you updates through email when they receive your package and then make the trays super quickly and send them back. I got them a few days later and they material that the custom trays are made of is super flexible and rubbery feeling, but they fit perfectly custom to your teeth! I have done Invisalign and had clear retainers and these are much more soft and flexible. The whitening gel itself comes in syringes, which make it really precise and easy to apply to the trays. Smile Brilliant also provides detailed instructions on how to do the whole process. I was also sent desensitizing gelbecause your teeth can get a little sensitive when whitening. My teeth used to be so sensitive when I used other products, so I was honestly a little nervous. I remember certain noises just made me cringe when after whitening with whitening strips that I used before. I don't know how to explain it, but the sound of zippers or nails scratching against my clothes seriously hurt my teeth so bad! I am sooo happy to report that I have not had any sensitivity after this process (note that my results could obviously be different from yours, but I am just sharing my experience!). 

I wanted to share my results from before and after. You can see that before my teeth were just looking dull and had staining from my coffee habit. I think I started whitening around mid-November and I just finished my last session. I went at a pace that I felt comfortable with and didn't want to overdo it. I am soooo happy with my results and feel so much more confident now with my smile. 

Smile Brilliant is hosting a giveaway for one of you guys to get your own whitening system! Head over to this link to see the details and enter for a chance to win! Make sure you use my code below too to save some money on your kit!

 Giveaway link: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/tiffanymeri

 15% off store wide code: tiffanymeri15

Tooth Whitening Gel

Organic Self Tanner Review: Nkd Skn

Hey guys! As you guys might already know, I have been on the safer beauty train for a while now! One thing that I have been wanting to switch over is my fake tan. Over the last few years I was just getting a tan from a salon, but it can get pricy and also, now that I have a baby it isn't really a priority of mine to go spend the time out and about getting a tan. I went and bought a Jergen's one from Walmart a month or so ago and when I got home I looked at the ingredients and it had parabens in it. Parabens are one of the most well-known toxic ingredients, so I immediately took it back! I wanted something more natural and safe for my body. You cover your entire body with a sunless tanner, so this just made sense to me that you really need to make sure it's safe. I am also breastfeeding, and while I am not a doctor and you should always check with your doctor on this kind of topic, the research that I have done doesn't give me any reason to believe that this organic self-tanner would be unsafe! I have been using the Nkd Skn Tinted Tan Mousse in Dark for over a month now and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you guys! I will always keep my product recommendations completely transparent! By the way, this post is not sponsored or anything, just wanted to share with you! 

The good: 

This self-tanner has the most amazing, clean ingredients! It has absolutely no questionable ingredients and makes me feel super safe using it. 

It also has no self-tanner smell. I am not sure how they do it, but I have tried soooo many and this is honestly the only one that actually has no scent after you shower. 

There is a color guard. (Meaning: it goes on dark so you can see where you are applying it) For a beginner, this is amazing! I would highly recommend this tan for anyone who has never done one. It shows you where you are applying it so you really cannot miss any spots. I find that with a dark, non-gradual lotion self-tanner, I can miss spots sometimes. 

It is a mousse. I find the mousses to be the easiest of all self-tanners to apply. It also helps with it drying more quickly than lotions in my experience. 

The wear. I feel like this self-tanner really fades nicely. It comes off evenly in my experience. 

The price! Such a good price for an "Organic self tanner". It's only $19.99, which is amazing!

The convenience. You can pick this up at Ulta, which is great if you run out you don't have to wait for it to come in the mail! 


The bad: 

The Dark shade really isn't super dark. This could be good and bad, depending on your skin color. I am super fair skinned and I used the Dark and don't find it to be extremely dark on me. Especially after you wash the color guard off, it looks a lot more natural than some other self-tanners I have used (again, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just the name might be a little misleading). 

The only true con about this product, in my opinion, was that it is pretty sticky on my skin. This wouldn't be that big of a problem, but since I am up every 2 hours in the middle of the night feeding a baby, I found that it wasn't completely drying down and ended up coming off partially when I would hold Luke or if my arm was bent in my sleep. It just felt a little tacky until after I showered. This may have to do with the fact that it uses natural products to give you the tan. It wasn't a huge con for me, but just something to note. I have white sheets and I found that it transferred onto them and on my baby's pajamas during the night. 

Tips: 

Make sure you exfoliate, shave and moisturize before doing any self-tan. It goes on a lot more evenly and in my experience it also helps with the longevity of the tan! Also, use a self-tanning mitt! I used one I bought off Amazon for just a few dollars! Make sure you moisturize after you use it to help prolong the tan too! I found that this really helped. Last tip: lay down a sheet over you pillow and bedsheets that you don't mind getting some transfer on (especially if you have white sheets, like me!) 

Overall: 

I would definitely repurchase this self-tanner and I am going to add in the gradual tan lotion to my self-tan routine as well. I think this would be a great addition and I will let you guys know if it makes a difference in darkening the color or anything! I love the organic ingredients and the price point on this brand. It gets the job done when I want to have a little color and I feel safe doing it! 

Pregnancy skincare essentials

Hey guys! As some of you know, I have slowly switched over to more natural beauty products and I wanted to share which ones I have been loving so far during my pregnancy! I have mentioned before, but I really love the Think Dirty App (free to download) where you can type in or scan different beauty and skincare items to see what their ingredients are and which ones are harmful. I have felt extra inclined to use it since I have been pregnant too. These have been my favorites:

1. Honest Face and Body Lotion & Pacifica Island Vanilla Body Butter: I switch between the two of these depending on which scent I want. The Pacifica one is thicker, but I feel like my skin retains more moisture with the Honest one! Both are such good every-day body lotions! They smell super good and leave my skin nice and soft. Sometimes putting a belly butter on every single day just seems a little excessive so this stuff is perfect for in between. I find the Honest one in the baby section of Target and it's around $10 and rates really low on the Think Dirty App. The Pacifica one you can get at Target or Ulta. Same thing with the Honest body wash! Smells really good and does the job.

2. Honest Co. Organic Belly Balm: This stuff has such good, moisturizing ingredients, smells good and makes my little growing belly feel super soft. I put it on at night (not every night) and by the time I wake up in the morning it feels soaked in, but still moisturized. I think it will be really nice for when I really start to stretch and my stomach is itching!

3. EOS Mint Chapstick: I have mentioned this before, but it is my favorite chapstick ever. It has natural ingredients, feels so cooling on your lips and leaves my lips smooth when I apply it. I have had SUCH dry lips during pregnancy and have tried a bunch of different ones and this always seems to be the one I come back to. The stick form is key (I don't like the little ball ones).

4. Pacifica Dreamy Youth Day and Night Face Cream: One of the first things I switched out were my face products because they seemed to have the worst ratings on the Think Dirty App. I am not an expert, so always check with your doctor on everything, but this has great ingredients and is nice and hydrating! It also smells really good, kind of floral-y. I put this on my neck too every night!

5. Coconut oil: Such a good multipurpose product. I use this under my eyes and on my neck and chest a lot! You could literally use it all over your body, but I just find it pretty greasy so I stick to smaller areas. Also, SO CHEAP.

6. Pacifica Sea Foam Face Wash: Has been my favorite for a while now. Smells so good and is super gentle! I have really sensitive skin when it comes to certain fragrances in face washes and my skin will completely dry up and crack. However, this has never done that and takes all of my makeup off as well!

7. Coola Face Sunscreen: My foundation has SPF in it, so this hasn't really been necessary for me, but if you are going on vacation somewhere or need an SPF under your foundation this is an amazing one!

8. Pacifica Essence Hydro Mist: My sister, Chloe, got me this for Christmas and I LOVE it! I use it as a safer "makeup setting spray" and it just feels really nice and makes the powders on my face set in nicely. You get a lot of product in the bottle and the sprayer has a really nice, even mist! It would be really great for girls with dry skin to spray on before applying makeup too I think!

I love trying out new products and am trying some different ones right now, so as soon as I have used them long enough I'll share some more good finds!!

Green Beauty Faves

Hey guys! It's been a while...I've been really slacking on here! I've had this post semi-written for a while now, but wanted to make sure I used all of the products long enough to really know if I loved them. If you know me, you know I am a sucker for makeup and anything beauty related. However, I recently started to change my lifestyle about 6 months ago and really wanted to start paying more attention to things I was putting in or onto my body! My mom had recommended the Think Dirty App, which sounds a little risqué, but it's totally NOT what it sounds like :) It's an app where you either scan the barcode of products or enter in the name and it rates them on a scale of 0-10 (10 being dirtiest) based on the ingredients that the products are made out of. It breaks down all of the ingredients and you can click on each one and read if there are any risks in them and it even shows you the sources that their information came from. You can find tons of different kinds of beauty products, skincare items, hygiene products, etc. Not EVERY single product out there is on the app, but I have been learning the "dirtiest" ingredients and checking for them in products that are not in the database instead. Also, it gives you suggestions for similar products that rate low on the app and are a much healthier alternative. And while I also don't support waste and throwing out everything that I had, I have been trying to slowly replace each one of my empty beauty products for a healthier option -- I think that seems reasonable! After trying out different beauty products over the past few months, I am excited to share my 10 favorite AFFORDABLE products under $10.


 1. Burt's Bees Lipstick in Nile Nude

This is the perfect warm toned nude. It's really comfortable! I am a total nude lip girl, but there are also quite a few bolder shades--would be great for Fall and Winter!

 2. Plant Apothecary RE:FRESH Organic toning face mist

For when my skin is feeling a bit dry, this stuff is super refreshing and takes away the powder-y look. You can use it to tone your face or as a makeup "setting" spray (I definitely would say more of a "finishing" spray as it doesn't make a difference in how long it lasts on me). It also gives a good, even mist -- if you have ever tried a setting spray and you get water drops all over your face or a shot to the eye you will appreciate this. Plus, they donate part of their proceeds to a charitable cause!

 3. Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara

 I rotate between this one and the Pacifica Dream Big Mascara (which is a few more dollars and has a twisting wand). I really like the Physician's Formula one because it has a really comfortable, slim handle that makes it easy hold onto when applying it. It has a rubber wand--which I am usually not a fan of-- but this one I LOVE! It's the perfect thickness and has lots of little bristles. I have really sensitive, watery eyes and it does not burn them or make them water even more. It separates the lashes well too!

 4. Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC Cream
I feel like if you are going to switch out two products of your makeup routine, foundation and lip products seem the most beneficial (in my opinion). I have really oily skin and it's been really broken out as of lately (I honestly think I am allergic to my own sweat so if you have any tips let me know!!). I like a decent amount of coverage for that reason! I have tried a few "healthy" foundations and they are soooo sheer and way too dewy for my liking, but this one is seriously the best! The only negative is that it comes in only two shades :( I have been wearing light/medium all summer, but I am going to have to go light for sure ASAP. It also has SPF 20 in it! I wore this by itself to the lake during the summer with a hat and didn't burn my face at all. It isn't super matte, but I would say has a satin finish to it. I set it with a powder in the morning and then usually do a quick touch up around lunch with my powder brush. I don't feel like it looks oily, but a little glowy at that point. It smells really natural, kind of like oatmeal? Sounds weird, but trust me. I really wish they could come out with more shades, seriously!

 5. Pacifica Sugar Amber Dreams Hand Lotion
 Smells like heaven--go get it.

 6. Pacifica Seafoam Complete Face Wash
My original face wash I was using was honestly the worst on the Think Dirty App. This one is a 0! It smells like coconuts and really leaves my face feeling clean. I have tried some "natural" face washes out in the past and something in them really dries my face out around my nose and chin and this one definitely does not do that at all. I turned my best friend, mom and sisters onto this one!

 7. Simple Facial Wipes
Lately, I have been using the micellar ones, but both are great! Since I have been having skin problems, I use these to wipe my face off while I workout and really get everything clean! Also, good to have in your makeup bag to wipe makeup off of bottles and your hands!

 8. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer
The best affordable, non-oily facial lotion I have tried. I can wear it under my foundation and it acts almost like a primer. It's pretty liquid-y, so a little goes a long way. I have had this same bottle for probably way too long!

 9. EOS Chapstick Mint
GET THE STICK KIND! I have tried so many of the little ball shaped ones and they only make my lips feel waxy and even more chapped, but about 6 months ago I saw this in the checkout at Target and tried it out and it is honestly my favorite ever! I love minty scented lip products and this one doesn't have harsh chemicals going into your mouth like many other chapsticks do!

 10. Burt's Bees Gloss Lip Crayon in Outback Oasis
This is my favorite color! Honestly, I am never really drawn to a twist-up lip crayon, but I was really into to this color. This is always my go-to lip product to keep in my purse. It looks good when I am tan, pale, wearing a full face of makeup, no makeup, literally all of the time! It's really comfortable and the mauvey, cool-toned nude color is perfection.

While I truly believe that everything has to be done in moderation and I definitely am not perfectly "green" by any means, I have been trying to slowly replace empty products healthier options. It's especially nice when they can be bought at places like Target and Ulta, where I would go anyways to pick up beauty items and they can be found for an affordable price. Plus, who doesn't like trying out new stuff?! I can't wait to share more with you guys! Let me know what some of your favorite healthy beauty products are :)