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I do not like clutter on my bathroom counter and I try to avoid beauty fads as I believe that many of them are just clever marketing ads and useless for real life. However, there are a couple tools I have been using over the past year and I wanted to share them with you because they’re worth talking about. Skincare is very important to my daily routine and helps me feel and look my best. -And by skincare I do not mean just my face. We only have one body and if we don’t take care of it there is no going back. I am always looking for new ways to simplify my routine and trade in my products for natural, organic, and earth friendly options. I also like well made products and tools that will last rather than be thrown away after a year of use.
I use several natural products on my skin every day and I will share those with you soon, but today I wanted to talk about three tools that I use for my skincare routine, especially because some of these are quite new to my beauty ritual, but they are here to stay and I will tell you why.
The first new tool I wanted to share is the Konjac Sponge
. These vegan all natural makeup removing sponges last up to 2-3 months and are completely compostable when you’re done. If you’re someone who uses disposable makeup remover wipes, pads, or cotton balls, this is a great alternative, even for travel. I took mine with me on our honeymoon in place of makeup remover wipes and a wash cloth and it worked beautifully. With a little bit of warm water it gently exfoliates and removes makeup. For more stubborn makeup like mascara, a some micellar water or coconut oil will do the trick. This sponge is gentle on the delicate skin around your eyes. This is my new favorite skincare tool and I love it because it really does remove every drop of makeup. And the best part is that it saves my washcloths and towels from residual makeup stains.
The jade roller. You’ve probably heard a lot about these lately as they’re quite trendy. These facial massaging tools are believed to have healing properties because of the jade stone. They also massage out fluid build-up under your skin that makes your face feel puffy in the mornings. They claim to be cures for wrinkles and improve skin tone. Although these tools have been beloved in Japan for hundreds and hundreds of years, I do not believe that they are that magical. However, the facial massage aspect feels nice and is a lovely skin care ritual. The stone itself can be warmed or cooled (I like mine nice and cold from the fridge on a puffy morning) and that coolness does indeed help reduce puffiness. Is it a miracle cure? No. But it does work to a degree and I like the way the cool stone feels on my puffy morning skin. So I give this tool a three out of five stars. Plus, instead of jade I went with a cute blush pink Rose Quartz Roller 
that I like having around.
The body brush
. I have seen these funny looking brushes in my grandmother’s house, but never knew exactly what they were. The soft bristles are actually meant for your skin, not your hair. I first heard of body brushing from a book L’art de da Simplicite: How To Live More With Less by Dominique Loreau and I looked them up. It turns out, body brushing might be the best thing EVER for your skin (next to sunblock)! I saved this one for last because it is my absolute favorite. It sounded so weird reading about it, but once I researched the benefits I was sold. It truly does have many benefits that are easy to see with just a few tries. “Dry brushing” or “body brushing” is when you use the soft brush tool to exfoliate your whole body. You want to do this BEFORE you bathe, not after, as it is only effective on dry skin.
The why: There are so many reasons why you should body brush every day. Not only does it exfoliate your skin, diminish dimples and cellulite (for real!), but it also boosts your immune system and gives you energy. Think about it; your skin is your largest organ and the gatekeeper to your entire body. Body brushing removed dead skin cells and stimulates your lymphatic system, which rids your body of toxins. The increase of circulation that it gives you is also what boosts your energy levels. Even more miraculous; it improves the firmness of your skin making you look more toned. This tool is my body’s magic eraser.
The how: Starting with your feet, gently brush your skin in exfoliating circles and work your way up your leg and over your bottom. After you complete your legs, move on to your arms starting with your hands and working your way up. Then you can gently exfoliate your back, neck, and torso. It will really awaken your senses and leave you with a “tingly” sensation, but you should never brush so hard that your skin becomes red or raw.
These are the three tools that have made it into my skin care routine this past year. I would love to hear what tools you love and why they’re a part of your skin care ritual. Please share your favorites in the comments below.
