Clean Beauty Update

It’s been a minute since I’ve talked here about my clean beauty journey. This pregnancy has brought out major skin issues, my psoriasis has flared to a level far beyond any flares that I have experienced in the past. I continue to use my topical steroid, but want to limit the use as much as possible because I am growing a little one. One option to combat psoriasis during pregnancy is called light therapy. Essentially you go into a tanning-type chamber, without the harmful rays. You start off going for 1 minute and build up to a few minutes and the UV rays are good for healing the skin. I avoided this treatment because I found out my insurance would charge me a a $40 copay each visit (twice/week). I got some new info that in fact they would not charge me a copay. So I began going to light therapy twice a week. It was true that my insurance company did not charge a copay, but to my dismay they did not cover the treatment in full, thus I received a bill for over $500 and promptly stopped this treatment.

All that to say, I had to find other, less costly methods, to offer relief for my skin problems. I had already switched most of my shower products, but so previously I had been looking for great clean make-up options. Because of my skin issues, I shifted focus to finding products that could help heal my skin. Currently, my psoriasis is still flared compared to pre-pregnancy, however the products below have offered some relief.

Koki Eczema Cream - I found this locally made cream at a market a few weeks back. Normally in the summer I just use a light body oil, as opposed to a heavy skin cream, but since my psoriasis has been flaring, I have been altering between this eczema cream and the Psoriasis Honey Serum, and so far it’s working great.

Maple Holistic Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo - This clarifying shampoo naturally gets rid of build up. Because my scalp is a place where I have particularly bad skin issues this shampoo has really helped. I was hesitant to make the switch because I love the smell and feel of the other Maple Holistic, Silk 18, shampoo I use, . But now I have converted to mixing it up and using the Apple Cider shampoo once or twice a week.

Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shave Soap - I didn’t start using this product to help improve my skin, but rather for the sake of my plumbing. For years I have used coconut oil to shave my legs. It works great and smells great, but leaves my shower a mess! Once I used up my latest jar of coconut oil, I set out on a quest to find a clean shaving product. I already love Dr. Bronner’s soap, so I gave this shave soap a try. I love it! My shower is so much cleaner and my legs feel fresh on the daily. My biggest complaint is that it is tough to squeeze out of the bottle.

Psoriasis Honey Skin Serum - I have been using this product for a little more than a week, in lieu of my argon or coconut oil I regularly use post shower in the summer months. As I mentioned above I rotate between this light oil and the heavier eczema cream. Out of the gate is a great combination. The oil has a lovely, light honey-sweet smell and leaves my skin hydrated without feeling oily at all.

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