My Favorite Beauty & Wellness Things for Fall

September means my kids are back in school, and I’m buckling down on everything from my daily routine to what products I’m using.  While I love experimenting, especially when it comes to beauty and wellness, come fall, it’s only sticking around if it’s working.  

Here are my favorite beauty and wellness things for fall:

Truvani Vanilla Protein Powder

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know oatmeal is my favorite breakfast.  I eat it most days of the week, even on vacation (unless I’m in Europe, then I’m probably eating croissants).  I love oatmeal because it’s nourishing and comforting, and as my grandmother used to say, “it sticks to your ribs”.  

A few months ago, I started experimenting with adding protein powder to my oatmeal, but the few that met my ingredient standards tasted like chalky crap.  That is, until I tried Truvani.  I love the sweetness and taste, and it keeps me satisfied until lunch.  This is important because now that I have to get my kids to school by 8, I’m eating breakfast at 7:30, and it’s a solid 4-5 hours before lunch.

Sakara Metabolism Bars

Again, if you’ve been a long-time reader, then you may be wondering what happened to putting Sakara’s metabolism powder in my oatmeal.  Well, I got hooked on their metabolism protein bars, so I’ve been getting my metabolism fired up during snack time instead.  Sakara recently improved the bars, and I can’t put my finger on it, but I’m loving the update.

I have these bars at home, in my office and in my carry-on.  They’re the absolute best to hold me over between lunch and dinner, and they don’t make me feel bloated while flying.  I love the ingredients.  They’re one of the few packaged foods I still eat after discovering that “natural flavors” in a lot of packaged foods might be pretty shady.  Sigh, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. PSA for new customers: use my code XOJEN for 20% off your first order if you decide to try them.

B.T.R. Nation Bliss Bars

These are the other protein bars I keep on hand.  I’ve loved peanut butter since forever, and there are few pairings that do it for me like peanut butter and chocolate.  As with the metabolism bars, I have a subscription for the B.T.R. Nation bars so I never run out.  The only time I won’t eat these is on an airplane because of passengers’ potential peanut allergies.

Other than the taste, I appreciate the story behind this product.  Founder Ashley created the product when she couldn’t find any high-quality and healthy snacks for her sick parents.  Needless to say, the ingredients are excellent.  The “Bliss” flavor is called such because it contains reishi mushroom, which is reported to be a mood booster.  Nothing wrong with that (and there’s absolutely zero mushroom flavor).

Huppy Toothpaste Tablets

With a decent amount of travel on the horizon, I was looking for as many solid alternatives to my liquids as possible.  To replace my toothpaste, I first tried toothpaste powder, but I didn’t love that it came in a plastic container.  It also tasted godawful.  Then I discovered Huppy toothpaste tablets.  They come in a metal tin and taste like breath mints.  

Instead of swallowing it, all I have to do is chew one, wet my toothbrush and start brushing.  It’s amazing how foamy it gets, and not to risk copyright infringement, but they’re curiously strong.  The ingredients are excellent, and it’s plastic-free.

nakd. Thai Crystal Deodorant

I’m about 10 years into my natural deodorant switch.  It hasn’t been an easy road (the initial 2 week detox period wasn’t pretty), and it hasn’t been without some serious misses.  The one deodorant that stuck for me was Schmidt’s Bergamot and Lime.  However, it has one major drawback: it stains my clothes.

When I was a bridesmaid at my brother’s wedding this summer, I forgot to put on deodorant.  The most fascinating thing was how at the end of the night, I didn’t stink.  This is saying something since I was standing outside in the July heat for the ceremony and then spent several hours dancing almost nonstop.  Plus, I had to give a speech, and I always break into a cold sweat before public speaking.

I have a theory that the cleaner I eat, the less toxins are coming out of my body.  This theory first formed after my husband commented over my lack of morning breath and how I never seem to smell bad by the end of the day.  I stopped wearing deodorant for all of August, and at the end of that (hot) month, I did want a little something, but what?  Then I tried crystal deodorant, and I’ve been a fan ever since.  I chose this specific brand purely because it looks nice in my bathroom cabinet and comes with a travel-sized version.

Jones Road Beauty

Fun fact: Bobbi Brown (formerly of Bobbi Brown cosmetics) lives in my town.  Another fun fact: she and I both graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).  She started Jones Road Beauty as a clean makeup line, and the flagship store is only 5 minutes from my house.

Most of the products are creamy formulations, and I love this because the best makeup routine for me involves little to no brushes.  Basically, if I can use my fingers, I’m a happy girl.  Plus, it’s less to pack.  Here are my favorite products and shades:

• The Mascara – It’s honestly almost too good, and I mostly use it at night because it’s so dramatic.
• The Face Pencil (Shade 4) – I was looking for a concealer that wasn’t drying but also wasn’t pulling my mascara down my face.  This is that concealer.  Note: You will want to buy the pencil sharpener too.
• Miracle Balm (Bronze) – I’m so pale, and this makes me look more alive without looking like an Oompa Loompa.
• Lip and Cheek Stick (English Rose) – See above.
• The Best Eyeshadow (Rose Gold) – This is like glitter eyeshadow for grownups.  For less subtle glitter, especially for nights when I want to jazz it up, I also have the Just a Sec (Topaz) and Sparkle Wash (Midas).
• The Oil Stick – A quality face oil made solid?  Done.  I’ll never fly without this again.  

Snif “Suganami” Perfume

I never thought I’d see the day that I’d wear any perfume other than the two I’ve been wearing for several years.  I’ve tried many clean (or clean-ish) perfumes, and they’ve always disappointed me.  Either they didn’t smell good, the scent didn’t last, or I broke out in a terrible rash.

What prompted me to buy Suganami, I won’t say (okay, I was influenced by an account I follow on IG).  All I know is that when I got it, it was love at first spray.  The price is more affordable than the other perfumes I wear, and I appreciate that they send a tester with the full-sized product to test it out first.  It was a safe bet, and one that I’m glad I took.

Suntegrity Impeccable Skin

I’m probably due for a beauty routine update, but my former holy grail of tinted moisturizers has been replaced by its cousin.  The Suntegrity moisturizer I used to use was amazing; however, the color wasn’t precise from tube to tube.  I’d buy the same shade, and it would be so much darker or lighter than the previous one.  I started buying the shade above and below my usual shade so I could custom blend it to get it right.  

While browsing their website one day, I discovered Impeccable Skin, which Suntegrity acknowledges as being much more color accurate than its predecessor.  Although more expensive, I now only need one shade (nude), and I’m all set.  It’s under 3 ounces, so I can take it in my carry-on.

Kami Speer

I finally got to meet Kami in person when I went to Italy over the summer.  She graciously gifted all of the attendees a beautiful altar cloth and then had some additional pieces for sale, such as wraps and capelets.  I’ve been mindful lately about how I spend money on clothes, especially when it comes to considering the environment.  Kami’s items are handmade and one-of-a-kind, and I was tempted to buy one on the retreat. However, they’re definitely an investment due to the specialness of them, so I decided to think about it.

After being back home and waiting a few weeks, I reached out to Kami about a custom creation.  We had an initial consultation to kick off Kami’s creative process, and what she produced for me was beyond my expectations.  The pieces I received were pure magic, and I couldn’t be happier with the end result.  Definitely check her out on her website, or find her on social media here.

That’s everything new that I’ve been loving lately and carrying with me into fall.  If you’d like to see an updated daily routine or beauty regimen, let me know.