In this post: You’ll find a note on leaning into things that make you feel the most like yourself (even when it’s not always easy), skin-clearing organic products that bring out your true self, and the story of a strong woman who turned the loss of her mother into a movement for women to take better care of themselves.
What does being yourself even mean?
To be honest, I’m not totally sure. I’m still trying to figure out who I am.
But, I know it means staying away from anything that makes you feel like less and pulling yourself closer to things that make you feel like more.
It also means standing firm in the things that make you feel more alive, more blissful, more clear, and more capable. For me, that means stuff like working out and taking care of my skin. It means doing those things even when it’s not easy.
Let me give you an example from my recent family vacation: I need to workout. Not just to stay in shape or to stay healthy, but to literally stay sane. Something about moving to release the stress, anxiety, and overwhelm in my body just flat out works. I can think clearer and feel far more ready to take on whatever is coming next.
I feel less on edge and more like myself.
And while I desperately needed those thirty minute morning runs along the water through the Port Orleans resort where we stayed, my family was less than satisfied about them. They did not appreciate my alarm going off at 7:30 am, the water running to brush my teeth, or me shifting around to find my headphones. I was sure to get a few eye rolls followed by a sarcastic, “Really?” from my sisters when I laid my clothes and shoes out the night before.
There are times to be considerate (and I really did try to be as quiet as possible), but there are also times when you get to come first. Especially if that means you’ll be able to step forward the rest of the day feeling more like yourself and less like a stressed out demon.
I reassure my family every vacation that it’s truly better for everyone if I take this time for myself in the morning. It helps keep my crankies away and helps me see the day more clearly.
In the spirit of clarity, I want to introduce you to the Ultimate Clear Skin Kit ($55) from TruSelf Organics, because no one can argue that you don’t feel more like you when your skin is clear. I had the best complexion in high school and college, but real adulthood rolled around and my skin is like “I hate you”. And while I know there are a ton of products that could potentially help, I’m a girl on a budget!
TruSelf Organics was founded by Amanda Fata, who is a yogi, a health-nut, and an active momma of two. She already had a passion for living a healthy lifestyle, but when juggling the responsibilities of being a young mom, she realized everyone should have easy access to clean, natural ingredients for their skin. TruSelf Organics brings simplicity back to skincare with products that are handmade, organic, and cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified). Keep an eye out this fall for “The Smart Collection”, an anti-aging line created in collaboration with actress Amy Smart – how cool is that!
So, does it really work?
Well, when we arrived in Florida, I had a nice array of pimples popping up on my skin. So, I started using the Ultimate Clear Skin Kit the first day we got there (my skin definitely needed the Detoxifying Mask after a day of traveling). Fast forward to the last day we were there: we started off the day with breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at the ‘Ohana restaurant in Polynesian Resort (hands down my favorite meal all trip. They had this pineapple-coconut bread that was TO DIE FOR). Our plan was to go straight from breakfast to the waterpark, so the only makeup I put on was some Seed lipgloss and a bit of mascara. I felt 100 times more confident about going fresh faced than I did when we first got there after using TruSelf all week! My skin was more even with noticeably less acne.
I used the Detoxifying Mask twice throughout the week and the Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser (which smells amazzzzzing) in both the morning and evening. The kit comes with your choice of the Ocean Mineral Moisturizer or Herbal Infused Moisturizer. They sent me both! So I used the Ocean Mineral Moisturizer in the morning (my mom likes to keep the room at like 50 degrees, so the blasting AC tends to dry my skin out), and the Herbal Infused Moisturizer at night since my skin felt oily from sweating all day. The Ultimate Clear Skin Kit also comes with a Bamboo Utensil Set which makes applying the mask far less messy than using your hands!
Sunscreen usually adds a few more breakouts to my face, but I used the Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Moisturizer & Sunscreen ($52) from Robin McGraw Revelation while I was away this time, and I’m happy to say my skin responded surprisingly well to it!
You may know Robin as Dr. Phil’s wife, but this resilient, empowering woman is so so so much more than that. The brand started with Robin’s own revelation when she lost her mother, Georgia, from undiagnosed heart disease at only 58. Robin believes the reason for her mother passing at such a young age was due to the fact that she was always putting her family’s needs before her own. I can fully grasp Robin’s mission to not continue the legacy of self-neglect. If you’ve been around here before, you may know that I lost my dad to suicide, and his mom (who would have been my grandma) also committed suicide. One of the reasons I am so vocal and passionate about mental health is because I refuse to let this trend in my genes continue on any longer.
RELATED: Finding Strength in Loss
When that kind of purpose pumps through your blood, you bring a special kind of energy to the projects you embark on. From the luxurious design of the skincare packaging to the fun vibes of the Me O’ My collection (which was inspired by her grandchildren, and takes ordinary products like wipes, floss, and lip balm and turns them into something extraordinary), Robin’s eagerness to encourage women to believe it’s not selfish to put yourself first clearly stands out.
Talk to me! I want to know:
Do you ever struggle to put yourself first? If not, what does putting yourself first look like to you? Let’s get the discussion going in the comments below. <3
PS – You can save 20% off of any TruSelf products with the code “TruSelfie“ at checkout!
