4 HEALTH AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU SHOULD TRY OUT IN 2020

I should probably start this post off with a disclaimer: I am the farthest thing from a health and beauty blogger. Somehow I ended up with a whole bunch of really smart friends who are actually doctors, nurses, and physicians’ assistants who do a lot of eye-rolling when I bombard them with my hypochondriac questions about my non-existent ailments. That being said, I do try to take pretty good care of myself, so when I find products l love, I definitely want to share them with y’all!

So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite recent health and beauty centered finds!

Collagen for Her

Ever since collagen started trending a year or two ago, I’ve been trying to figure out a way to incorporate it in my daily routine. Vital Proteins seemed to be the internet’s general consensus on best brand, so last year, I bought two big tubs of their powder. Spoiler alert: they’re still in my pantry. I tried using the unflavored powder in several different drinks, and even though a ton of people swore on their lives you couldn’t taste it, I definitely could.. and I hated it. Plus, it also claims you can dissolve it in hot or cold beverages, but I kept ending up with big gloopy messes in anything that wasn’t at least luke-warm. Basically, for someone like me who isn’t a religious first thing in the morning hot coffee drinker, it just seemed like too much trouble.

A few months ago, one of my favorite bloggers posted about a new brand she was trying out (Collagen for Her), and I was immediately intrigued because they offered the powder in pill form! I already take pills for acne every morning, so maybe this wouldn’t be too hard to incorporate in my daily routine! I ordered a bottle to try out, and I’ve been taking them ever since!

photo from the Collagen for Her website

The deets: each capsule contains 5 different types of collagen for a total of 500mg per pill (the recommended dosage is 3 pills, and a bottle contains 90 for a 30 day supply). They’re sugar, gluten, dairy, and soy free while also being perfect for anyone on Paleo or Keto diets.

And if you’re still wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s why it’s so important..

From the Collagen for Her website: Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, comprising about 30% of all the protein in our bodies; with 70% of the protein found in our skin, 90% in our connective tissue, and 90% in our bone mass. This is why collagen is often referred to as “the glue that holds the body together”! However, over time we start making less of it, which is why it is important to replenish our bodies with a collagen supplement!

The benefits: Collagen is believed to help with tons of things, including hair, skin, nails, joints, your immune system, and even digestion! At the risk of giving y’all a little TMI, I would have to say that the area I’ve noticed the biggest difference in since starting to take these pills is digestion. And by that, I mean.. staying.. ahem.. “regular”. I didn’t necessarily realize I wasn’t “regular” until I was. And let’s be honest, a healthy gut just makes you feel better all around.

Additionally, over the last few years, I’ve developed an annoying case of fancy acid reflux, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and although I am definitely more careful about what I eat now, I haven’t noticed any flareups while I’ve been taking this.

I think it’s also worth noting that as I’m sitting here writing this during the middle of flu season (and I work at a germ infested high school!), I’m getting over what might be a lifetime record of the shortest common cold I’ve ever had. I’m talking zero fever, a half a day of drainage/throat irritation, and 2-ish days of a barely mentionable sinus headache. For reference, my colds usually last at least 1.5-2 weeks. I assume it will take a little while longer to see any noticeable hair/skin/nails benefits, but hey.. it seems to be working from the inside out, and I’m super happy so far!

GET $5 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER FROM COLLAGEN FOR HER RIGHT HERE!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost

Speaking of healthy skin, now that I’m in my 30’s, I’m suddenly becoming hyper-aware of every little line, wrinkle, and sunspot I see. My skin has always been insanely oily, so I have basically been my own built-in moisturizer for most of my life. Okay, that sounds weird, but seriously, I’ve legitimately never even thought about or touched a moisturizer until a few months ago. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been on acne medication for several years now, and while it works wonders for my cystic acne, it’s also incredibly drying. I’ve never had dry skin before, so this is totally new territory for me.

The last time I visited my dermatologist, I asked him for some recommendations, keeping in mind that my skin is still pretty sensitive and I don’t want to add any problems now that we’ve got the acne almost completely under control. He gave me several samples of a few different brands, and his nurse emphasized that the Neutrogena Hydro Boost was her personal favorite. I used up my sample tubes over the course of a month or so, and immediately got on Amazon to order more.

This stuff is SO GOOD, y’all. It’s kind of like a gel, rather than a lotion, so it glides on super smooth, leaves ZERO oily residue, makes your skin feel super soft and amazing, and has the added ingredient of hyaluronic acid, which, like collagen, is naturally produced by your body, and is supposed to help lock in moisture. It’s also supposed to reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines, so basically just sign me up and take my money!

I’ll be honest, I was absolutely terrified that adding a moisturizer to my routine was going to completely freak out my skin and make it break out like crazy. I’ve actually noticed the exact opposite. Even on my acne medication, I would still have the occasional flare-up (mostly around that time of the month), but I have even noticed a reduction in the amount and severity of those monthly flare-ups, which is an unexpected (but very happy!) surprise!

Currently, I’m using this at night before bed, but as the spring and summer months approach and my time outside and in the sun increases, I want to add an option with SPF into my morning routine as well. I just ordered the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield from Amazon and I’m excited to try it. It appears to be the same gel consistency, also includes hyaluronic acid, added antioxidants, and has an SPF of 25. I hate the feeling of regular sunscreen, so I’m hoping this will feel just like the regular Hydro Boost but with the added sun protection. I’ll keep you updated!

That’s It! Fruit Bars

I first tried a That’s It! fruit bar as a sample in my runDisney box after the Wine and Dine 10k in November 2019. I loved it so much I took a picture of it on my phone so I could remember the brand, and on my way home, I saw them in the airport Starbucks, so I grabbed a few more. I love that they really are exactly what they say. The ingredients on the packaging are the ingredients in the bar. That’s It! No chemicals, no preservatives, no fillers. Just fruit. I love knowing exactly what I’m putting in my body, and I love that I can satisfy my snack craving with something delicious and healthy.

You know how dried fruit has that wonderfully sweet and chewy consistency that almost fools you into thinking you’re eating gummy candy? That’s what these bars are like. There’s no added sugar, they’re non-GMO and gluten free, (some even have prebiotics and probiotics included!) and they’re almost always right around 100 calories or less, which basically means you can have like 5 of them at a time, am I right?

They’re perfect to take with you as a quick snack in the middle of a work day, or in your carry-on for a long day of travel. I’m definitely packing myself several bars for my upcoming trip next week!

The fine print: after seeing my original post on Instagram, That’s It! gifted me a box of fruit bars to enjoy, but all opinions are my own.

Tula Rose Glow and Get It

This is another thing I was influenced to try via several of my favorite bloggers, so I put it on my Christmas list. I am not always ready for that alarm to go off in the mornings, and most of the time, my face totally gives me away. I’ve added this cooling balm to my morning routine, and I really love the way it wakes up my tired eyes! And after using it for several months now, I feel like I look less tired in the mornings, so I’m officially a fan for life! Plus, like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost, it also includes hyaluronic acid, so more of a good thing must be a good thing, right?

It also includes rosehip oil (a plant-based retinol alternative, rich in vitamin C), rosewater, aloe, apple, watermelon, and blueberry (which all hydrate and soften skin and are especially great for the delicate under-eye area), and caffeine (to help wake you up, obvs).

photo from the Tula website

Basically, it tightens, brightens, cools, has a gorgeous iridescent shimmer, and works almost like a primer underneath my favorite under-eye concealer. Some reviews say that they use it alone as an under-eye brightener. I’ll be completely honest and say that I personally still need concealer on top of it because my dark circles are (and have always been) large, in charge, and a very goth shade of purple. If yours are more on the subtle side.. I say go for it, girl.

Another thing I love about this brand is that they are cruelty-free, which means they never test their products on animals.

What are some of your favorite (recent or tried and true!) health and beauty finds? Let me know in the comments below or over on Instagram!

XO, CHRISTEN

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