September 2019 - Life of an Earth Muffin

Review: LUSH Herbalism Face Cleanser

Posted on September 27, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! As I mentioned in my Plastics I Refuse to Give Up post, I started using the Lush Herbalism face wash over the summer. I have been using it for a few months now, so I thought I would share a review of the Lush Herbalism cleanser with you all today! 😀

Pin to read later!

Pros:
~This face wash makes my skin feel SO healthy and moisturized! I had been using Proactiv for a year or so before making this switch, and that always made my skin feel super dry. I love that my skin feels nourished and clean after using this face wash!

~Helps prevent new breakouts. The reason I started using this product was because over the summer my skin freaked out with Proactiv. It has been a few months now, and I am still dealing with some of the scarring left over from the incident. This product definitely helps my sensitive skin in preventing any new zits from forming, which is a huge bonus!

~There are fewer ingredients/chemicals, making it better for my skin. I plan on writing a whole long rant about how Proactiv ruined my skin, but the major reason I stopped using it (spoilers, I know) is that it bleached one of my dark shirts. If it can literally bleach a dyed fabric, what is it doing to my skin?! I feel much happier that Lush makes products with fewer ingredients and additives!

~The packaging is made of recycled plastic and can be brought back to the store! While I try to avoid as many plastic containers as I can (check out my Why I Use Bars Over Bottles post!), many Lush products still do not have a “naked” form… But hopefully they will one day! I love that you can bring back 5 of the black tubs to any Lush store and receive a free face mask in return – definitely a great incentive to get people to recycle their containers!

~A little goes a long way! This cleanser is used a bit differently that others, as you have to take a dollop, get it wet, and then apply. Because of this, the product will last much longer than a typical bottle (which I love!). Plus, you aren’t paying for water in your face wash. 😊

~Saves water in the shower. Because it is a more hands on process, I don’t actually wash my face in the shower anymore, choosing to wash it after getting out. This saves water and makes my shower time even shorter.

~Smells very fresh! This product has over 1,000 reviews on Lushusa.com, and many people seem to think it smells bad. I think it smells nice, but maybe I am in the minority…

Cons:
~Takes more time than other “normal” cleansers. Like I mentioned above, this cleanser is more hands on, but I don’t think that is a bad thing! However, if you can’t add a couple more minutes into your beauty routine then this cleanser is not for you.

~I am not a fan of the ground almonds. I understand that they act as a natural exfoliate (thank goodness there are no plastic microbeads!), but I sometimes think they irritate my skin as they can be very sharp!

Thanks for reading my Lush Herbalism review! What is your favorite Lush product?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Why I Use Bars Over Bottles 🧼

Posted on September 23, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! I think one of the easiest switches I made on my journey towards living zero waste was replacing my plastic products with bars. This isn’t difficult to do, especially now that companies like Lush have a lot more “naked” options. This post outlines the best reasons why you should also replace your plastic bottles, so let’s jump right into it! 😀

picture of plastic shampoo bottles next to a stack of shampoo bars, suggesting that you should choose the bars over the bottle

Pin to read later!

1.
There is less plastic packaging. If you want to be more sustainable, it is a much better alternative! Many stores like Lush and Whole Foods sell these products in absolutely no packaging, which means you can avoid all waste by bring your own container/bag to the store. Plus, you don’t have to worry about recycling the plastic bottle at the end, which as I mentioned in my Ultimate Plastic Recycling Guide, isn’t actually good for the planet.

2.
You get more product, which is better for your wallet! How many times have you been unable to get all of the product out of a plastic bottle? There are many hard to reach places, which often forces you to toss before it is actually all gone. Many “naked” products use concentrated ingredients so that they will last a longer time; my Jumping Juniper shampoo bar lasted me 98 washes!!

3.
These products are often more natural. I am all for avoiding any unnecessary chemicals/additives, so I love that I am able to reduce them by buying bar products. This is especially true if you buy locally or off of Etsy, as I have found that even Lush items have more ingredients than I would like.

4.
They look so much better in the tub! 😍 Just peep my side of the shower versus my roommate’s. Plastic bottles are usually obnoxious colors with a million words, so I am a huge fan of having products that don’t visually clutter the room. I love my Ethique soap container that keeps my shampoo bar and soap dry so that they last even longer; I would definitely recommend checking it out, as it is only $15 and is biodegradable after a few years of use.

a picture of the inside of the shower in my apartment, showing the comparison between a side with no plastic bottles and one with plastic bottles

5.
They work just as well! I think many people are concerned that these products aren’t as effective as the brands they know and trust… And that is just untrue! Sure, you might not love everything you try out, but you will definitely find products that you LOVE!

What “naked” products do you use currently?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Am I Still Loving the Femometer?! – 1 Year Update

Posted on September 18, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! I cannot believe it has been a full year since I started using the Femometer as part of the Basal Body Temperature natural birth control method. I unboxed my Femometer a little over a year ago, so I thought I would share what I am still loving (and not loving) about this product. Spoilers – I still LOVE it! 😄

What I Love – The Pros:
~For someone with a longer cycle than the average woman, this app is much more accurate when it comes to making cycle predictions. Before I starting using the Femometer, I was using an app called Flo that just did not understand that my cycle lasts for about 35-38 days. It would predict based on the “average length of a cycle,” which often made it very very wrong (so much so that I would often track on my own too which basically defeated the purpose of using the app). I LOVE that the Femometer adjusts its prediction after each cycle – it can accurately detect the start of both my period and ovulation 95% of the time (the rest are off by 1-3 days), which is just incredible!

~Getting into the habit of taking my temperature was super easy, as I was basically in the habit by my month 3 update. After the habit is formed, you will definitely not forget to take your temperature each morning, and I love the addition to my morning routine.

~Going off of that last point, I formed my habit so well that I actually took my temperature in my sleep once 😅 This didn’t throw off my chart though, because you are able to delete any “abnormal” readings or pick the accurate one if you take it twice by accident. While I haven’t experienced any abnormal instances other than this one, it would be super helpful for keeping your charts consistent when you have a fever.

~NO PERIOD SURPRISES! 🩸 See the first bullet point.

~The visual data in the app is amazing – there are so many different charts that are tracked for you in the Analysis tab in your profile. From analyzing every single data point that has ever been taken to just visualizing each cycle for consistency, the real magic of this device is the data you get. It definitely helps you take charge of your cycle, which is so empowering to me!

Overlaying your cycles can help you see how similar they are!

What I Don’t Love – The Cons:
~Unfortunately, the app doesn’t re-adjust your ovulation date until after your period starts when it analyzes the cycle. While my ovulation date is usually accurate, it might vary by 1-3 days. This doesn’t bother me too much, as I also do the Cervical Mucus method that makes it super easy to tell when I am the most fertile; however, it is something to think about if you aren’t using any other birth control methods.

~As I’ve mentioned in prior updates, I don’t like that I need to sync my thermometer to the app each day… But it is a small time commitment that isn’t a huge deal.

~I also don’t like that the comparison charts use the “average” woman’s cycle… It is especially not as helpful for someone who has a longer cycle, but I understand that I am an outlier in this regard. 🤷‍♀️

Overall verdict, please do yourself a favor and purchase a Femometer! The $30 you pay is SO worth it! What are your thoughts on using the Basal Body Temperature method?

Love,
Jenna ♥

My Tips & Tricks for an Armpit Detox 💪

Posted on September 16, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins; Happy Monday! To start this week off right, I want to share my tips and tricks for dealing with an armpit detox… Now some of you might be asking, “What the heck is an armpit detox?”, so you definitely came to the right Earth Muffin! Let’s jump right into the post!

What is an armpit detox?
An armpit detox is a detox for your armpits (duh! 🙄) that often occurs after switching from an aluminum based deodorant to a more natural deodorant (such as the natural deodorants from Pretty Frank). When using products that contain aluminum your body is prevented from perspiring, which is why they are often labeled as “antiperspirants”. After switching to a deodorant that lets you sweat, your body isn’t used to it… This results in the armpit detox where you might notice excess sweat and smell coming from your pits as you sweat out the gunk/toxins that have been sitting in your armpit for months and even years! 😷

My Experience with an Armpit Detox
When I switched and started using Pretty Frank’s Wild Wood deodorant, I (surprisingly) didn’t experience much of a detox. I maybe had more sweat than usual for a few days, but nothing too crazy. I did however notice my body actually sweating in the pits for the first time in my LIFE, which was such an interesting thing to think about.

Tips for Surviving Your Armpit Detox
If you make the switch to natural deodorant, you might experience a much longer detox than I did, so I thought I would share my tips to help you mitigate the sweat and the smell!

1. Pick a time that works the best for you – Don’t try to make the switch when you have a lot of presentations in class or know you will be wearing a lot of tank tops. I think winter is probably the best time of the year for a detox, as you can wear a shirt under a sweater to catch any excess sweat or smell!

2. Dab away the sweat often – You will find yourself sweating more than usual, so feel free to use some toilet paper or tissues to dab away the sweat often. I would do this whenever I went to the bathroom, as it is an easy thing to do while sitting on the toilet (sorry for the TMI haha).

3. Reapply when necessary – Feel free to reapply deodorant if you feel like the smell is getting particularly bad… Just make sure you don’t over do it so that your armpits turn white or it rubs into your clothes. You wouldn’t want a stain!

4. Let your pits have space – This process is completely normal, so let your armpits detox all the gunk! I would avoid wearing any tight-in-the-pit clothes to prevent from even more irritation. #freethepits!

5. Have a back-up smell blocker – If you are super concerned with the idea of slightly smelly pits, double up your odor blocker by using body spray, perfume, essential oils, etc. Please don’t use too much though, nobody wants to smell you from a mile away!

6. Make sure the scent of your natural deodorant works for you – Some body odors don’t mix well with certain scents, or your body odor might smell similar to a scent. If you aren’t liking the smell of the first product you try out, don’t give up and try again! It is really a trial and error process until you find the deodorant that works for you. 😊

Pin to read later!

Have you had an armpit detox before? What are your tips for making it easier?

Love,
Jenna ♥

How to Zero Waste Your Airplane Flight ✈️

Posted on September 11, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! After branching out from my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series into topics like periods, I thought it would be fun to explore traveling. As I recently took a trip to Washington D.C., it seemed like the perfect time to share my tips for being low waste on an airplane. 😊

Note: flying on a airplane is not good for the environment. It is actually one of the worst things to do… So, there really isn’t a “zero waste” way to fly; however, if you must fly these are tips that you can use to mitigate other waste at the airport and on board.

1. Book an airline that uses online boarding passes – You won’t have to worry about printing your ticket or losing it along the way! Just make sure your phone is charged up to be scanned through security and the gate. Delta has a great app I use, but I am sure many other airlines offer this lovely feature.

2. Bring your own water bottle – People I talk to are often unaware that you can bring your own water bottle through security (just make sure it is empty when you go through!). Airports have water fountains near the bathrooms, which reduces the need to buy plastic water bottles in the airport or to get a beverage during the in-flight food service.

3. Be prepared with some snacks! – Again, you can bring snacks through security! For my trip to Washington D.C., I brought along some pretzel sticks in a reusable sandwich bag. 🥨 I was able to refuse the snack mid-flight and even have some leftovers for my layover. While I didn’t have enough space in my bag to bring as much food as I could have, at least a few snack packages were saved!

4. Bring your own ear buds/headphones (noise cancelling is recommended!) – You can usually purchase cheap, throwaway-able ear buds on flights, but save your money (and the planet) by bringing your own!

5. Don’t check a bag; bring a carry-on! – Even if you have your own luggage tag, your checked bag will still get adorned with some extra stickers and tags that are unnecessary. Save that waste by packing light and bringing only a carry-on. 🧳

Pin to read later!

What do you do to reduce waste when flying?

Love,
Jenna ♥

The Weekender’s Guide to Washington, D.C.

Posted on September 2, 2019October 25, 2023

Hey earth muffins! As you could tell from @lifeofanearthmuffin, you will know that I recently spent a few days in Washington, D.C.! While I wasn’t there to be a tourist (I was attending an accounting conference for my graduate program), I did have some extra time in the evenings to do a bit of exploring… So I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to write another Weekender’s Guide post 😊 Let’s jump right into it!

What To Do:
1. Walk around to visit all of the monuments – I’m talking Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. There are SO many cool monuments to visit! There is quite a bit of walking involved to get to all of them, so you might consider taking the Metro. If you are going to ride the subway, you will need to purchase a Smartrip card for $2 and then add money onto the card depending on the price of the fare to each stop. The Metro machines can be quite complicated but there are always nice workers ready to help! 👍

2. Hit up museums – Many of the museums are FREE, so I would definitely recommend checking out as many as possible. You can see some amazing things all the way from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers to space ships. There’s a lot of history to learn!

3. Take a double decker tour bus – If you don’t have a lot of time, consider taking a bus tour. The one I went on was during sunset, and we hit a ton of monuments in only three hours. Such a great way to see the city!

4. Take a picture in front of the White House – It is surprisingly smaller than you think it would be…. 📸

5. Hit up The Player’s Club (1400 14th St NW) – If you are looking for a cool night life scene, I suggest this club. There is a sky deck, pool tables, games (pin ball, etc.), and even a whole shelf of board games. As someone who doesn’t drink, there were plenty of other fun things to do.

What To Eat:
1. Buredo – This place has sushi burritos!! Literally two of my favorite foods morphed into one – how could I not eat there? 🍣

2. Georgetown Cupcakes – I used to bake cupcakes all the time, so it was a blast from the past to go into a cupcakery. While I now think cupcakes are overly sweet (I’d definitely prefer a cookie), this was one of the more tasty cupcakes I have tried!

3. Picnic on the Washington Mall – The Washington Mall is absolutely gorgeous if the weather is nice, so I recommend buying your favorite dishes/snacks at the grocery store for a fun little picnic! Plus, this can be much cheaper than eating out. 🙂

Where to Stay:
1. Homewood Suites by Hilton (1475 Massachusetts Ave NW) – I stayed here and it was really nice… And it wasn’t as expensive as some of the other hotels around. It was a 15 minute walk from the White House, so you definitely can’t beat the location!

Pin to read later!

What are your favorite things to do in Washington, D.C.?

Love,
Jenna ♥