Carmen Shenk

Hello Friend! Here are some helpful resources to help you consider how you’re taking care of yourself and if there are ways you can simplify and make your process more intentional.

Here is a super simple approach to self care that you can customize to your preferences and the needs of your skin and hair. This will help you get intentional about needs and wants, and will help you choose products based on your values.  For example, I choose earth friendly, zero waste products – such as a straight razor or safety razor instead of disposable razors as just one example.  If you’re using a multi-step skin care regimen that has more than cleanse, tone and nourish… then give some thought on how you can simplify that system both for the simplicity of it, the time and money savings, and for the space you’ll gain in your bathroom and travel case. 

Simplicity works on all kinds of levels to bring us back to a mindful and intentional way of living that you can refine to suit your specific wants and needs.  For example: I use fewer products now, but I use better quality products… and I’m still probably spending less per year than I was.  Simple living does not necessarily mean living without luxury.  

Download these helpful Resources:

I have provided a handy PDF for your convenience. Naturally, if you like making your own products – then one bar of handmade soap can work for hair, hands and face if it is Castile soap (here’s a fancy version), or hand made charcoal facial soap. One bottle of nourishing lotion or whipped body butter might also work quite well (if you have a stand mixer) or you may prefer one for hands and one for delicate facial skin. You can make this as simple or as complex as you like, and if you want to make your own and keep things very frugal, there are tons of recipes available online. I would encourage you to think of buying high quality products, and just using fewer items and going for more multi-purpose ones when possible. I don’t mind paying a little more to get a product that I’m happy using.

If you love to DIY self care products, then you’re going to love this!  I’m including a PDF of self care recipes that I use.  I’m here to provide you with as much value as possible.

Here where I shop for ingredients: I go to Young Living for essential oils and most of the products I use on a daily basis come from there, I go to Brambleberry.com for other ingredients such as oils and butters for my whipped body butter, and Amazon.com for containers such as my 4 ounce stainless steel spray bottles that I use and refill as needed. 

If making your own feels like simplicity and luxury to you – then go that route.  If purchasing them feels like simplicity – then go that route.  I do a little of both depending on how much time I have on my hands at the point I’m about to run out of something.  I LOVE making potions, but it’s also super easy to order good quality products and have them appear on my doorstep.  You do what suits you best.  This process is to help you make these aspects of your daily life intentional and purposeful so that you’re taking good care of yourself even as you are downsizing and decluttering your home and routines.

All of us have made decisions on the products we used based on which store we were in a which product was the cheapest. I think that’s easy and normal, but it doesn’t always get us the results we want. I hope you’ve found these resources helpful in making the system that’s right for you so that you can keep things simple and in line with your values.

Contact me with questions.

All my love,

Carmen