5 Reasons Why I Switched to All Natural Deodarant

It feels that I've always had problems 'there'... By 'there' I mean my armpits. Yes, we are totally getting real today! Growing up, I always had a sweat problem where no type of deodorant could control the amount of sweat I produced. While I have come far from that problem, I recently found the need to switch to an all-natural deodorant.

Before the switch, I was using a brand of deodorant called Secret. Secret is very popular here in North America. I've been using this brand for as long as I can remember. While it never really did 'wonders' for me, I've continued to use it for many, many, MANY years! It was only until recently when I realized that I must switch to an all-natural deodorant. Here are five reasons as to why I have switched to an all-natural deodorant.

1. Chemically filled deodorant kept ruining my clothes. I would wear a clean, crisp white shirt and by the end of the day there would be a yellowish, dark stain under my arm pits. Not cool - at all. I would have to use special cleaning products to remove the stains. This ended ruining the quality of my clothes. It was too much maintenance for clothes, all because of deodorant.

2. The deodorant was doing nothing to stop my problem of sweating. I was still sweating! Sometimes I would sweat so much it would show through my shirt (which is awfully embarrassing!).

3. I would have to keep re-applying deodorant several times throughout the day as I felt the deodorant wasn't doing its job or making me smell 'presentable'. What's the point then of even wearing deodorant if you still smell odor?

4. The deodorant was not a true testimony to its claims on the packaging and through advertising. It wasn't doing its job, not for me anyways.

5. Why was I continuing to use a product that is made of harmful chemicals? I think I deserve to use a product that is more 'friendlier' to my body.

These reasons lead me to make a life changing switch to a deodorant called Tom's of Maine -  an all-natural deodorant. I did a lot of research online and my decision really came down to the availability of a brand in my local department store and pricing. This this was my first time using an all-natural deodorant, so I didn't want to invest loads of cash. Tom's of Maine was affordable and readily available, so that's what I choose it. I couldn't be happier! Long gone are the days when I had to spend time on the weekends trying to scrub away those nasty armpit stains on my clothing. You know what's also gone too? All of those embarrassing sweat stains! (Sigh) Such a huge relief! I wish I had known about deodorant alternatives much earlier in my life.

I didn't mean for this blog post to be a review on the product. However, if you are interested in learning more about the product, let me know. I can also do a detailed product review for those who are interested.

All in all, switch to an all-natural deodorant! It's so much better for you, your body, your self-esteem and especially your clothes!

Do you use an all-natural deodorant?

~Usha

5 Reasons Why Using A Face Towel is Awesome

Using a face towel during your morning and night facial routine is a must for me. There are so many reasons why I could not go back to using my bath towel as a face towel. There are also many reasons why I wouldn't rely on a wet cleansing cloth as well. I was hesitant to spend money on a buying a bunch of face towels as I originally thought it was a waste of money. This decision, however, has made a major positive change to how my skin feels and looks. Here are five reasons why using a face towel is awesome!

1. You don't want to track dirt or other bacteria from a used towel to your clean face. Trapped dirt and bacteria is what causes breakouts and disrupts your skin. Using a clean face cloth every time you pat dry your face will ensure you are preventing this as much as possible.
2. Helps to prevent breakouts. The more times you use a clean face towel to pat dry your face, the less breakouts you will see and everyone likes that!
3. They are reusable! I use one side during my morning routine and the other side during my night routine. I go through one face towel a day. You don't have to discard the whole towel after one use, which is awesome.
4. They are easily washable. It's a bad idea to reuse a side more than once. So wash those towels! Pile all the similar colours together, add some laundry detergent and let the machine do all the cleaning for you.
5. It is such an economical method to your facial routine. Get a whole bunch that would last you at least the whole week. At the end of the week, you can wash everything. Places like Costco sell a bunch in a pack, which will definitely last you more than a week. It's definitely worth the purchase, since you won't have to be repurchasing this item anytime soon.

Are face towels a part of your beauty routine? If so, what do you use them for?

~Usha

10 Tips to Live a More Meaningful 2016

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 was full of adventures, positivity and great memories. Sometimes, things don't always go our way, but we have to make the best out of the situations that life gives us. At times, we can feel that we don't have control over of our lives and destiny and this is very true. But there are some things that we can control and decisions we can take charge of. The year of 2016 has just started! Make it your best, your most awesome year yet! Here are my top ten tips to live a more meaningful 2016!

1. Treat the new year as a fresh start. Let bygones be bygones. Leave the bad and ugly in 2015 and start 2016 with a fresh new slate.
2. Goal setting is great, but don't set yourself up for failure. Set a manageable amount of goals (I would say that 3 is plenty) within a short time frame (about 3 months). When you achieve those, set other goals.
3. Challenge yourself to do something you would never think you can do. This makes life so much more interesting and adventurous. It's also a great lesson about human willpower.
4. Create new adventures by trying something new. Maybe you want to take a pottery class or take an unplanned road trip. There is no better time to do it than now.
5. Make more time for the things you love. If you surround yourself by doing more of the these things, you will become a happier person and a live healthier lifestyle.
6. Get rid of the negativity that drags you down. Life is too short to spend time and energy on something or someone that does not add value.
7. Be kind to yourself and others. Saying 'thank you' or giving someone else a compliment can make you feel like you are on cloud nine. Try it!
8. Slow down. Living in a society where everyone is always on the go can be draining and do harm to your health. Try slowing down by waking up slower, walking slower or eating slower.
9. You are your best friend. You deserve a break and lots of 'me time'.
10. Read a life changing book. A personal recommendation is 'Spark Joy' by Marie Kondo.

Do you have any tips/plans to make 2016 more meaningful?

~Usha