I’m home from a whirlwind trip to West Virginia. Although the circumstances for my visit were very sad, it was so heart-warming and wonderful to see my extended family.

I can’t even tell you how many trips I made to these mountains of West Virginia when I was growing up riding in the backseat of my grandparent’s car. I have a pretty large extended family on my dad’s side and this visit was the push I needed to really commit to reconnecting. We are spread all over the country these days but it sure is nice to all come together. I’m finding that with each passing year of my life, that family is becoming more and more of a priority for me.

It was also wonderful to have my parents in Charlotte for a couple of nights. They’re heading back to Florida early Friday but I’ll see them again next week! The girls especially loved having them around.

I’m gearing up for a busy weekend of teaching and teacher training. Between Friday and Sunday I’m teaching five yoga classes, two strength/HIIT classes and leading TT. We started our 200-hour teacher training last weekend and it’s always so much fun to see a fresh, new group of yogis teach for the first time. The training takes place over the course of eight weekend intensives and we’ve got weekend two coming up!

I wanted to quickly share a few beauty items I’ve been loving lately to wrap up the week!

I have been focusing on stripping my skincare down to basics while trying to heal my eyes and going through the Whole30. Here are some products that have been a beneficial for me.

Aquaphor. I am so convinced that this is a miracle potion. I use it on my eyes every day and always slather a thick layer on before bed. It’s also been great for my lips in combating the dry air we’ve been experiencing with the temperature drop.

Cerave PM facial moisturizing lotion. My dermatologist instructed me to use this as a base layer before applying any of my normal skincare products, especially during the winter months. It’s been a great moisturizer for me and I use it AM and PM.

Whole Foods 365 Maximum Moisture Body Lotion. I’m slowly migrating over to a more natural, holistic overall routine and I’ve recently switched out my lotions and body wash to products. This lotion was recommended to me by someone who works in the body care department at Whole Foods. It’s half the price of the other lotions they carry but works wonders on your skin!

Jason Calming Lavender Body Wash. I am a sucker for anything lavender scented, especially for shower and bath and this has been my go-to recently.

Village Naturals Aches + Pains Muscle Relief Mineral Bath Soak. Remember that “new evening routine” that I wrote about last week? These bath salts have been a great help for creating a relaxing and therapeutic bath experience. It’s been extra nice given all the strength training I’ve been doing lately!

I need your help! I always get such great recommendations from you guys and would love your assistance.

1) I would love to hear recommendations for more natural and earth-friendly beauty products you use and resources you reference for comparing products and making product choices.

2) My blow dryer started throwing sparks at me and sounding more like a lawn mower than a blow dryer. Anyone have a blow dryer you love and would recommend? I’m looking for one that really helps smooth the hair while also cutting drying time.

Have a happy Friday!