It is it not wonderful to feel refreshed and take exquisite care of body, mind, and soul?
How fortunate I feel to be able to indulge in personal care in alignment with my personal values of sustainability, voluntary simplicity, frugality, and minimalism.
This is a peek way behind-the-scenes of my daily rituals, tried-and-true personal care and cosmetic favorites which I’ve chosen to be basic, minimal, and sustainable in my current lifestyle and in relation to environmental impact.
This record provides an amusing reference for my future self and perhaps of interest to other nosy/curious creatives who like to move through the world relatively lightly and well-equipped.
Personal Care
Time and experimentation have been necessary to reveal what my own requirements are and what tried and true favorites would emerge. Even so, I don’t feel the need to try every product on the market to determine the best and cosmetics as a category don’t light my heart on fire.
Challenging myself to discover what is “enough” for me, what makes me feel good and ready for anything does bring contentment.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Nothing sponsored here, nor are my products a recommendation of what you should use for personal care because what is appropriate and desireable for each individual differs, that’s what makes it “personal!”
If you have a passion for fashion, hair styling, or cosmetics, go get it! Nothing wrong with that, I’ve just identified for myself that other than feeling clean and cared for, professional and presentable, I do not wish to spend my creative and decision-making energies in those areas.
I’m gonna be dancing, writing, filming, sketching, making music, creating, coaching.
What each person requires to feel comfortable and prepared differs, but it’s worth considering what our own essentials are and what we can let go of to make more room for what’s most important to us.
Why I Keep Simple as Possible
- Packing light, Leave No Trace camping, low environmental impact
- Choosing creative priorities, reducing decision fatigue
- Conscious Consumption, Frugality, Conservation, Sustainability
- “a little goes a long way”
- Voluntary Simplicity, Minimalist/Essentialism, Chic curation
Choosing Personal Care Favorites
While decanting my soap and body oil recently, I spoke about my approach to personal care, cosmetics, and beauty in this video:
Teaching Artist Simple Self Care
The core products in my self-care lineup:
Clean Skin & Hair
I chose a buzz cut for many reasons, some being low maintenance and comfort.
- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap in Lavender. I have used this for face, body, camping, outdoors, and general purpose for years. It does not work for me as shampoo or toothpaste, but can be a great stain pre-teatment for laundry and dish soap in a pinch.
- Baking Soda as “shampoo”
- ACV 50% Apple Cider Vinegar “conditioner”
Moisturize
- Weleda Skin Food – Eye Cream, Cuticle Cream, if I could have just one moisturizer, it would be this rich 100 percent natural lotion
- All-Purpose Body/Face Oil – since I don’t have to choose just one moisturizer and like something light for all over post-shower or washing my face. I currently use the “natural” drug store brand from DM, but am not attached to it specifically.
- Bee Natural Lip Balm next to my bed, in my jacket or bag. Not too shiny, lasts long, feels good.
Protect & Treat
- Sunscreen (Sun Dance from DM matte for face, but brand not important) every day
- Shave Oil (Balea from DM but brand not important, natural)
- Tea Tree Oil spot treatment
- Deodorant (brand not important, usually men’s/unisex fragrance antiperspirant)
Eyes & Teeth
- Contact Solution (brand not important)
- Happy Brush Toothpaste
- Dental floss
Minimal Makeup
I have a small kit of stage and special event makeup as well, but for everyday just wear:
- Concealer (Alverde #2 DM natural, brand not important)
- Brown Eyeliner Pencil (Alverde DM natural, brand not important)
Tools
- Oral-B Electric Toothbrush
- Razor – basic refillable, brand not important
- Callous Scrubber for feet
- Dry Brush
- Exfoliating Glove/Loofah
- Tweezerman Tweezers
- Nail Clippers
- Nail File, Buffer
- Menstrual Cup – what also started with sustainability and convenience, never looked back
Brand Loyalty
Most of these items are interchangeable in terms of brand, as long as it is a fairly natural and sustainable one and cooperates with my own skin. However, I have jumped on the bandwagon of a few cult classics and discovered for myself why they are so popular:
- Is Dr. Bronner’s Soap the best? I certainly swear by it to clean like nothing else, but this provides a more neutral analysis
- Marie Claire editor uses Weleda Skin Food as eye cream and I am also just as happy with it as a “luxury” version
Creative Materials Playlist
For further behind-the-scenes insights into my process, I made a YouTube playlist of favorite materials for dancing, writing, sketching, travel, and whatever else I may get up to:
Resources for Further Exploration
- My Minimalism Memoir
- 4-Layers Packing List for International Travel
- Dance Shoe Blues
- Healthy Habit Building
- Notebook & Supply Lineup
- Over a Decade of Dance Notebooks – A Teaching Artist’s Journals of Class, Rehearsal, Performance
- Reflective Practice Through Journaling
- Bullet Journaling for Order and Inspiration
- Artful Archiving
- My Creative Morning Ritual
Questions for Reflection
- What are your go-to essentials that make sure personal care is handled so you can keep living an extraordinary life?
- In what areas of life are you minimal? Maximal?
- How do you make choices in alignment with your values?
- What are you creating?
Glad you joined me for this especially intimate peek at my personal care and cosmetic favorites.
Thanks for reading and making together in spirit or in fact, take good care of yourself.
I’ll be back soon with more creative living, mindful movement (dance, yoga) and coaching, see you again next time!
Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through difficulty
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life