The cold as officially set in here in North Carolina, after a seemingly mild last couple of months. It feels like January is always regarded as a “pass through” month. It’s cold, dark and people are trying their best to eat right and undo the damage done over the holidays. But I kind of like the crisp, cold air and the excuse to snuggle on the couch with a good movie and fire going. So I’m sharing 7 things for January, filled with winter whites and cozy nights.
Josh Rosebrook Herbal Infusion Oil
With cold, dry air, this is the perfect time to swap out your soapy cleanser for an oil cleanser, to protect your skin and maintain moisture. Herbal Infusion Oil is a multi-use product that’s made to remove makeup, cleanse and treat your skin. Unlike some oil cleansers which are meant to be rinsed off, you massage the oil on and then gently press a clean, dry cloth onto your face to remove dirt and oil from your face, so this actually a waterless method to cleanse your face. It took a little getting used to and I had to fight the urge to wash it off, but it actually works wonderfully and is such a nice treat when my skin’s feeling dry. I did cave and use it as more of a double cleanse a couple of times when I was wearing a lot of makeup and it still did a great job of removing all my makeup. Josh Rosebrook has the highest integrity when it comes to ingredients in his products, and this is no different. It’s filled with organic oils and infusions of organic herbs. I love the light, pleasant scent.
Ok, I’m a little late to the party, but when my friend Sammie (hullosam.com) made me a matcha green tea latte, I was instantly hooked. She used canned coconut milk (the real deal, full of fat kind) and vegan apple honey and it was AMAZING. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, and matcha is a concentrated version of all that, meaning it’s a super food. You can add it to smoothies or baking recipes, but if you can perfect a matcha green tea latte, you will be in heaven and it’s the perfect hot drink to have on a cold January day. Finding a matcha that’s high quality, but not a million dollars isn’t easy. Between ceremonial matcha, organic matcha, low grade matcha, it’s tough! I’m not a matcha expert, but I found this certified organic matcha and the price is pretty awesome.
Because it’s always hard to get out of bed on a cold winter’s day, I’ve been using this aromatic tonic every morning as soon as I get up to shake off the sleepies. With two small kids and a puppy (oops I spilled the beans! More to come about that soon..), I get a pretty jarring wakeup most days and a couple of mists of this makes me feel wide awake and ready to take on whatever early morning challenges there are. Plus, it smells really pretty, which makes it a nice way to start the day. It has notes of juniper and black pepper.
I love wearing a white nail polish in the winter. It feels fresh and just as crisp as the air outside. Aila is one of my favorite nontoxic nail polish brands, since their polish lasts forever (you have to pick up some of their Better Than Gel top coat too). As with any light shade, you may have to apply a few coats to achieve the desired color. I applied three light coats in the photo above. Cute, chic and winter ready!
This mask was gifted to me in a green beauty secret santa exchange by Vanessa of The Clean Curator. I fell in love with this weird, Hannibal Lector mask right away. It’s a little slimy and did scare the kids, but it gave me the most glowing, moisturized skin I’ve had in a long time. It also banished any puffiness I had. They sell it in a pack of 1 or 5. I’m thinking about buying the pack of 5 and using them when I have a special event or big night out.
I’ve talked about this movie before, but I keep coming back to it lately. It’s a documentary, but don’t let that deter you. It has so much great information and real stories of people affected by chemicals in our environment and people lobbying for change with in the industry. As it stands, most chemicals are considered innocent until proven guilty and enter the market freely. Only after their devastating effects to people are known, are the chemicals reconsidered and taken off the market. This goes for everything from ingredients on pesticides to plastics to personal products. I highly recommend it! It’s on Netflix.
While you’re cozied up on the couch, watching a movie and drinking your matcha green tea latte, of course you need some organic chocolate! And the peanut butter makes it even better. Confession: my son actually has a big peanut allergy so we don’t typically keep peanut products in the house, but this is a rare treat reserved for when he’s in bed. It can be hard to find the dark chocolate version of these in stores so I was so excited to see they carry them on Amazon!
Hoping you all stay warm and cozy! xo
Great recs Molly! I am dying to make a matcha latte with homemade cashew or almond milk! I need a substitute for coffee!