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My Favorite “Self Care” Products Currently

All Natural Lip Masks, The Best Dry Brush, Fancy Razors & More
Filed Under > Beauty & Tutorials

The top self care products including natural collagen lip masks that actually work!

“Self care” is all the buzz these days, and I personally couldn’t be happier.  The art of staying in, rather than going out, is celebrated with an emphasis on the small luxuries that make us feel better.  Self care, and in turn self love, is something I am totally on board with, and honestly wish it would have been this much of a thing when I was in my twenties.  I would have spent a lot more nights dabbling in essential oil face masks and a lot less mornings hung over.

Like the rest of my beauty routine, I like to prioritize clean, all natural products as much as possible.  That means a lot of the ingredients include my favorite essential oils and beneficial ingredients like charcoal, jojoba oil, organic sea salt, along with plenty of antioxidants to completely nourish my skin all over.  

Fortunately, I’ve found that it’s easier than it used to be to find products that have all of these things and less of the things we don’t want! Whether you’re looking for an irresistible all natural perfume, a cure-all cold and flu soak, all natural collagen lip masks or the best ever dry brush, look no further.  

I’ve rounded up my current favorite, natural, and just a tad indulgent, self care products here today.  Because if you didn’t know about natural collagen lip masks and 14k gold razors, you haven’t been living.  Truly, MKR

P.S. While these are my current favorites I’m always on the lookout for more, so I’d love to hear your own personal favorite self care products in the comments below!

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French Girl Organics Rose Facial Polish

Waiting on Martha Home, $38

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This fine grained facial polish is a wonderful exfoliant that’s rich in antixidants and all natural ingredients.  It’s gentle and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive like mine! 

French Girl Organics Rose/Ylang Sea Spray

Waiting on Martha Home, $26

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Ever longed for those perfect I’ve-been-at-the-beach-all-day waves?! This sea spray is my personal favorite for adding a little texture to my locks with three varieties of organic sea salt and nourishing essential oils. 

KNC Beauty All Natural Collage Infused Lip Mask

Violet Grey, $24.99

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I was so thrilled to stumble across this all natural moisturizing mask for my lips!  It helps hydrate and plump lips with collagen, hyaluronic acid, moisturizing plant extracts and vitamin E.  Bonus points because it’s formulated without fragrance, parabens or mineral oils! 

I apply the masks to my lips for 15-20 minutes two times before a big photoshoot or event. 

Aura Botanica Aromatic Nourishing Oil Blend

Keratese, $58

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The Aura Botanica line by Keratese is made of 99% natural ingredients and it is DIVINE.  This one is a multipurpose oil that nourishes your hair with avocado oil, jojoba oil and rosemary extract.  And the fragrance comes from sweet orange essential oil, which is said to boost your mood!  I’ve never had my hair feel so soft and look so shiny! 
 

Aura Botanica Essence D'Eclat Moisture Mist

Keratese, $43

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This lightweight hair mist works to nourish the hair while controlling the frizz, which I always need in the summertime in this humidity!  It’s composed of jojoba oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and argan oil, along with sweet orange essential oil and Damask rose flower water.  Seriously, you want this in your life!

Merben International Hard Texture Foot Brush

Amazon, $11.99

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I am completely and utterly obsessed with Merben dry brushes these days; in fact, we have them coming to The Well Code collection at the shoppe soon!  They vary in size and texture of bristles, and they are a game-changer in your skincare game.  This hard texture brush is perfect for using on rough calluses on your feet and heels.  You’ll feel like you just left the spa after you use this! 

Smart Ash Teeth Whitener + Detoxifier

Bedrock & Bloom, $30

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The quest for whiter teeth doesn’t have to stop when you go green with your beauty and personal care products, I’m finding.  This nontoxic, all natural and organic teeth whitener is the new addition to my morning and nighttime routine. 

French Girl Organics Ambre Noir Liquid Parfum

Waiting on Martha Home, $55

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French Girl Organics gives us a completely safe and clean perfume in irresistible Ambre Noir. The top notes include essential oils frankincense, cardamom, with heart notes of sandalwood and vanilla. Lastly, the bottom notes are amber, cistus and vetiver.  All of my favorites! 

French Girl Organics Rose Lip Polish

Waiting on Martha Home, $15

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I practically have one of these in every hand bag, on my nightstand, and bathroom counter!  I love this all natural and organic rose lip polish that gently exfoliates dry skin and leaves me with the perfect pout. 

C.O. Bigelow Cold & Flu Soak

Nordstrom, $18

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I recently discovered this amazing herbal formula that helps boost immunity and fresh breath, while soothing me whenever I’m feeling a bit congested too.  It’s seriously a cure-all.  Ingredients include revitalizing eucalyptus and peppermint essential oil, along with willow bark, echinacea and ginger. 

Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil

Young Living, $31.75 via The Well Code

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Anything that promises to rid me of cellulite…sign me up! Young Living gives us an all natural, super hydrating massage oil that can’t be anything but good for the skin. It includes pure vegetable oils, vitamin E, and essential oils.  The grapefruit oil improves the appearance of skin texture, while Juniper oil helps cleanse. 

French Girl Organics Jasmine Liquid Parfum

Waiting on Martha Home, $55

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I’ve found recently that I adore the smell of jasmine.  It’s sweet, intoxicating and smells like summer.  That’s why I’ve turned to this all natural perfume by French Girl Organics lately; it’s heavenly. 

Fur Oil

Free People, $44

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It’s not taboo to talk about pubic hair anymore thanks to Fur Oil.  This all natural blend, vegan oil helps soften hair and clear pores, ultimately fighting the possibility of ingrown hairs.  Ingredients include grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and antibacterial essential oils like clary sage, lemon, peppermint, tea tree and more. 

Carrie 14k Gold Razor Set

Oui Shave, $85

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So glam, right?! This gorgeous razor is just as helpful as it is beautiful though.  It’s great for normal to sensitive skin that’s subject to irritation from shaving, and coarse and fast-growing hair.  I especially love the all natural healing shave oil that comes with the razor too. And if you don’t believe the hype read the reviews on the site; 49 reviews and almost everyone is 5 stars! 

 

 

SW Basics Oil Serum

Target, $29

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My current silky, nourishing serum on rotation is like a “healthy, balanced diet for your skin.” Ingredients include pure organic avocado, geranium, turmeric, and coffee oils, it has crazy-high levels of essential fatty acids, phytoesterols, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and other super-nutrients.

Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

The 5 Best Nail Polishes I Come Back To Season After Season

The Tried-and-True Classics & New Favorites On Rotation
Filed Under > Beauty & Tutorials

While I always love a good new buy, especially in the beauty department, I’m truly a creature of habit when it all comes down to it.  There are just some products that deserve love and loyalty after all of these years of wearing them and replacing them.  And that includes the best nail polishes.

I’ve always preferred painting my own nails and giving myself an at-home mani.  I’m one of those people that can’t stand being held captive for that amount of time when I can do it myself at home.  And I’m pretty good at them, I must admit!  So when it comes to nail polish, I like to have all of my favorites on-hand.  

Like everyone and their mom, I could never quit OPI Cajun Shrimp.  The punchy fire-engine-red, yet tropical coral hue has always screamed OOO to me, even when vacation plans were not in the cards.  And I think I’ve been wearing Essie Ballet Slippers for going on 13 years…am I aging myself by saying that?!  

But the best nail polishes deserve their homage, and today I’m claiming my top five that I wear season after season.  When I discovered nontoxic and 8-free Smith & Cult a few years ago, I was thrilled to add a few more “constants” to my forever list, like this cold-weather oxblood and this universally flattering nude.  See any you love?!  What shades would you add to the list?  Truly, MKR

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Smith & Cult Ghost Edit

Net-a-porter, $18

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Neutral on my fair skin is always difficult.  But somehow, Smith & Cult nailed it with Ghost Edit. This color is utterly perfect, and it’s universally flattering on all skin tones. 

Essie Ballet Slippers

Target, $8.99

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I’ve been wearing Ballet Slippers for 15+ years.  It’s the smooth, soft pale pink that every woman should have in their arsenal. 

OPI Cajun Shrimp

Ulta, $10

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The classic of the classics, am I right?!  Cajun Shrimp will forever and always be one of the best nail polish colors in the land.  It signifies OOO with a drink in-hand…even if it’s just a state of mind. Ha! 

OPI That's Berry Daring

Target, $7.39

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It’s punchy, it’s bright and it’s an incredibly flattering shade all year ’round! That’s Berry Darling has been one of my favorite OPI colors for years, and one that I probably will always own. 

Smith & Cult Dark Like Me

Neiman Marcus, $18

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Here’s my go-to during the winter months; another rich, bold shade by 8-free brand Smith & Cult. The berry tones mix with oxblood for the absolute perfect deep red. 

Featured image, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

What’s Old Is New Again (If You’ve Been Around Long Enough)

An Easy, Comfortable & On-Trend Outfit with The Best Black Bodysuit & Duster
Filed Under > Outfits

Tan duster, black bodysuit and ripped jeans outfit via waitingonmartha.comYSL bag, tan duster, black bodysuit and ripped jeans outfit via waitingonmartha.comBlack quilted YSL bag with tan robe duster, waitingonmartha.com The best black bodysuit and tan duster robe outfit, Waiting on MarthaTan duster robe outfit with black YSL bag and ripped jeans, Waiting on Martha Tan duster robe outfit idea, Waiting on Martha

When I was putting this outfit together in my head, I felt very on trend.  I was proud of myself for stepping a bit outside my comfort zone.  I almost felt a little Kardashian-esq…which actually kills me to write as I’m not a sucker for most trends.  But when I was actually getting dressed, I realized these weren’t new trends at all.  No, they were all things I’ve worn before, or remember my mother wearing, in my much younger years.

This black bodysuit, for example which I’m convinced that it’s the best black bodysuit around.  It’s inexpensive, made of soft cotton from J.Crew…and it happens to be 30% off right now with code BIGSALE.  It’s long enough for my torso, unlike most other bodysuits that I’ve found.  If you’ve ever worn a bodysuit that’s not long enough, you’ll know that there’s nothing worse.  You’ll be talking or walking, and feel it go snap-snap-snap, and then your bodysuit is suddenly creeping on up.  Anyway, this bodysuit is exactly— like exactly—like my capezio ballet leotard I wore for 13+ years of my life and really is the best black bodysuit I’ve found.

And these jeans are another example…they’re faded, ripped and high waisted.  I’m pretty sure that I had a dozen of these back in high school.  I paired the casual jeans with my go-to Stuart Weitzman heels to dress up the look a bit more.  I have these heels in nude, silver, and the patent black shown; they are absolutely worth the price tag.  You’ll have these ones for years and years, while less expensive versions I promise, will not last.

And this flowing robe-like trench reminds me exactly of one from London Fog that my mother used to wear all of the time.  I loved that jacket; it was soft, flowing and feminine.  This one is super old from COS—I was serious when I said everything comes back around—but I’ve linked a few very similar options in the widget below, and I especially love this one on the high-end, and this one on the low-end. 

Lastly, this beautiful YSL bag is a major investment, but there’s no denying the power of a great bag that you’ll probably pass down someday.  And one of my favorite features is actually its large leather convertible strap so that you can wear the bag over your shoulder in a more casual sense. The effect is actually so much more my style!  After all, a fancy bag with a casual outfit always tends to bring an unexpected I’m-not-really-trying vibe.  

But all in all, I can’t deny how easy and comfortable this outfit is; it just made me feel good.  And that’s an outfit win-win in my book. So basically, all I need is a scrunchie, and I’d swear it was 1995 again.  But I’m not complaining.  Truly, MKR

P.S. I heard scrunchies are actually making a comeback!? xo

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Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

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