Paige for Wellness

It’s been more than a few years since I posted about my favorite items. These all come in handy while supporting your overall health (not harming it). I know how hard it can be to find items that fit that bill.

Hair care products

I’ve discussed before how much of a difference these curly hair products made for me. Aside from having immaculate ingredients lists, these are incredibly effective. I didn’t know I could have curly/ wavy hair— I thought I might, but put it all into these products whether I could or not and found that I could. I even tried scrunching and diffusing my hair (as the internet tells you to if you think you might be wavy) with bad results. My hair just got frizzy and tangly. With these, it was as easy as scrunching into my hair when it was wet.

This Curling Custard is most important for defining waves/ curls. But adequately moisturized hair is also essential on a foundational level. And a problem that came up for me when I did start getting my hair curlier was tiny tangles I discovered were called fairy knots! That’s when I found this aptly named and incredibly effective leave- in conditioner that doesn’t leave my hair weighed down or over- moisturized.

Keep in mind it will depend on your hair texture what products work for you to encourage natural curl.
Find out your porosity. If your hair is high porosity, you’d do better with more protein, which I like in the form of rice water, which you can make but will go bad in about a week. Here is a shelf stable version.

Shampoo: I know you might think (like I did) that because it’s a multi- use product, it might not be gentle enough or suitable for your hair, but this one is really popular (not just for crunchy/ health minded people like myself, but for hair enthusiasts in general– just ask tiktok!).

Conditioner: I have find hair, but I need a lot of moisture. When I wash my hair (I try to do no more that 2x per week) I use this or if I’m looking for even more moisture and detangling power, I use this masque. I’ve gotten compliments on my hair ever since, and it’s very shiny. This is coming from someone who’s really struggled with my hair in the past, especially since giving up conventional, more chemical- heavy products. I looked far and wide for products that meet my standards, and these fit the bill while being affordable.

Hair Protectant: This one does have a smell, but no pthalates which are the chemical most common in fragrances that have been tied to deleterious effects on lymph, potentially leading to health issues later down the road. When a product doesn’t have pthalates, it’s a major indicator to me that the company really did their homework when it comes to responsible crafting of products. You’ll notice how many other additives it *doesn’t* contain. thank you, pura d’or. It protects against heat up to 450 F!

Hair Growth: For those struggling with hair loss, aside from supporting the metabolism and getting the thyroid checked (including free t3 and t4), I’d recommend rosemary for the scalp. Mielle’s coming in clutch, again! You can make your own tea and spray it on, but sometimes convenience is what’s going to allow for consistency. 🙂 This is another popular thing on tiktok– people have shown amazing results! Rosemary extracts have shown just as effective as the common chemical Monoxodil used in infamous products like Rogaine.

Body Care

My favorite lotion: in lavender, unscented (I like to add my own essential oil or natural scents) and coconut

Body wash: Alba’s line is incredibly moisturizing and affordable for the ingredient quality and quantity. Some well- loved scents I’ve enjoyed are citrus, mint, or coconut.

This is basically the swiss army knife of beauty.

People use it as a deodorant, to get rid of underarm pigmentation, get rid of keratosis pilaris, (tiny bumps on the back of arms), to soften feet and reduce dry skin on heels. It can smooth out “strawberry legs”, the red bumps that tend to come with shaving. People have even used it for dandruff! It speeds up the rate of cell turnover, meaning it can help with many skin imperfections (obviously). People have seen improvement with stretch marks, acne scars (and honestly who knows what else! lol).

Deodorant: I’ve tried a *ton*. This is one of my favorite brands, lavender scented.

Face Care

Vitamin C Serum is excellent for reducing oxidation that can induce aging. I use it in the mornings, followed by a moisturizer. I love the integrity of this brand.

Retinol Serum is amazing at night (don’t combine it with sun, and it’s best to use sunscreen the morning after). It also works like an antioxidant, increases cell turnover so helps reduce fine lines. It’s so powerful that it’s even shown ability to reduce the appearance of sun damage over time. Retinol is vitamin A, the active component of prescription accutane. So, you can understand how this can be a powerful tool in your arsenal. Many products don’t disclose the percentage of retinol/ retinoids, however, which is not a good sign. I love that this is affordable and powerful. The first time you try it, maybe combine it with a little moisturizer so your skin can get used to it. Get it with this link. 🙂

Moisturizer: This has royal jelly (valuable to bees and humans alike) ,named aptly. It has been studied for it’s powerful antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti- aging properties. I apply it after the serums (or in combination when starting out with the retinol). The ingredients are simple, powerful, and yet it’s affordable. I’ve even gotten it as a gift for a family member. Here’s the link for it!

Beauty Tools & Wellness Devices

I use these when I need a little extra relaxation or a boost to my wellbeing.

Massage guns can be used to smooth fascia, optimizing circulation, lymphatic flow, and even appearance. The lymph drains out toxins and requires movement. The blood provides life- giving force to the skin allowing the appearance of radiance. Some even state that massage guns might help with stretch marks and cellulite. There are some interesting anecdotes supporting how nurturing fascia can smooth the appearance of skin, even facilitating superficial healing.

Rebounder (trampoline)