What’s not to love about Trader Joe’s? Right? I mean they have tons of organic products, pretty affordable prices, amazing customer service and the cutest selection of flowers! It’s a win-win for me and one of the many reasons I do like 85% of my grocery shopping there. I thought I would share a little Trader Joe’s haul for all you fellow TJ lovers out there! Hope you enjoy!

Since we’ve been vegan for over 10 years now, this is our typical vegan Trader Joe’s trip for my family of four. I try and get the majority of my grocery shopping done at Trader Joe’s, and then finish by getting a few things at Costco or Sprouts. And since I don’t want to take my girls grocery shopping every week, I try and get enough for two weeks of meals! So here is a little breakdown of my cart!

The Essentials: Fruits and Veggies

This varies every trip depending on what they currently have in stock that is organic, but the bulk of what I buy is from this section. We really try to eat whole foods, and stay away from processed foods because they aren’t the best for you! I have a pretty sensitive stomach so any additives will typically irritate it!

Those are pretty much the essentials that we always stock up on! But I thought I would share a few of my favorite finds that you have to try! Some are snacks and more processed, but everything in moderation for us! And some are frozen because it’s great to have something you can make quickly on a weekday when you are short on time! So here are some of my favorite Trader Joe items you need to try!!

1. Trader Joe’s Vegan Ranch Crunch Salad Kit

Okay! This has been a fan favorite for the last month I’m the Moya household! We are obsessed! The salad kit includes green cabbage and romaine lettuce, fried onions, roasted sunflower kernels, kale, red cabbage, carrots, green onions, and a vegan ranch dressing. You just put the dressing over, add the sunflower kernels and you are good to go! The flavor is amazing!

We actually love to make this salad and put it into corn tortillas! We then add vegan fish fillets and some yummy salsa and you have a delicious vegan fish taco that took less than 10 minutes to make!

The only downside with this kit is that it’s not organic! Other than that it’s pretty amazing!!!

2. Trader Joe’s Japanese Style Fried Rice

I buy like four of these at a time! My daughters are obsessed! The flavor is super good and it’s so easy to cook on a busy weeknight! And it’s only $2.99, so it’s definitely an affordable vegan meal/side dish!

The dish includes a rice base with a small amount of edamame, carrot and tofu with a savory sauce. The shredded tofu is supposed to be like a fried egg, but there’s not that much if it so we add some tofu to make it more protein filled!

We love cooking our tofu in the air fryer! Highly recommend this one, but I’ve seen amazing reviews on this one from Amazon too. In an earlier blog post (here!), I shared my favorite way to make tofu! The key to getting crispy tofu is a tofu press! Pressing tofu is THE key step when cooking tofu. When it’s pressed it absorbs marinades and crisps up more easily! This one is super affordable and works great, but I love the aesthetic appearance of this one too!

I also love to add avocado and nutritional yeast to the fried rice and tofu to give it more flavor and more nutrition! It’s so delicious! You have to try if you haven’t already!

3. Almond Butter Pretzels

Okay…I was a fan of the regular peanut butter filled pretzels, but these are just amazing! I mean who doesn’t love something a little sweet and salty. These are seriously the best though and my go to snack whenever I am craving something sweet! I really love how creamy they are inside and they are great snacks for anyone whose child has a peanut allergy!

I would just make sure you don’t eat the whole bag in one serving! It’s definitely easy to, so be mindful of that! The serving size is 8 nuggets, which contain 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 240 milligrams of salt, 19 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of sugar. But it’s definitely a delicious treat!

4. Coconut Chocolate Date Bars

These delicious bars are amazing! I’m a super big fan of the fact that it only has a few ingredients and they are all real ingredients, no hard to pronounce names over here! It’s just dates, almond butter, coconut flakes, unsweetened chocolate chunks and cocoa powder! That’s it!

Each bar has 170 calories and it comes in a five-pack for $3.49, so it’s a good deal! They taste like a brownie to me and are very creamy and slightly chewy! My daughters really love these as a special treat and I can feel satisfied knowing they aren’t getting all of the additives! They are a great alternative to a brownie or dessert, or even just a little treat to put in your child’s lunchbox! These bars actually remind me of a Larabar, which Trader Joes used to carry!

Eco-Friendly Shopping Items

One bad thing about Trader Joes is that a lot of the products are wrapped in plastic! You can’t really bring your reusable produce bags and put the produce straight into them since they are already packaged. I do wish that was an option, but unfortunately, it isn’t right now! In order to combat that, I always bring my reusable bags to bag my groceries at home! It’s the little things that count!

Here’s a few of my favorite bags!

I hope this post didn’t make you too hungry and that you have a Trader Joes nearby so you can try these delicious items! Thank you for following along and we hope you have a great weekend!!

xoxoxo,

Kari

p.s. if you do click on the links and purchase an item, we make a small commission! we appreciate your support <3

The post What’s in My Cart: Trader Joe’s Haul appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Sustainable bathroom tip #1—Reduce your toilet paper usage

Remember last year when covid initially hit and there was a huge toilet paper shortage?? Here on Kauai our shelves were empty and relying on shipments made the situation a little more difficult and unreliable.

With the unpredictability of the toilet paper situation, we decided to finally get a bidet. My mother in law had the same thought, ordered 3, and gifted us one.

A bidet in your bathroom is one of the simple ways to make your bathroom more sustainable.

Side note: our friends have owned a bidet for years I refused to give it a try haha…I don’t know why!

If you’re unfamiliar with a bidet, it’s basically attaches to your toilet seat and to your toilet’s plumbing. Instead of using a huge wad of toilet paper, or needing to wipe multiple times, the bidet splashes water to clean you off!

I’m so sad that I went so many years without a bidet! Haha…it’s seriously so amazing! Not only do I find it more hygienic but we’ve noticed a significant decrease in our toilet paper usage!

If you’re reluctant to get one, let me tell you that it doesn’t hurt at all. And most, if not all bidets allow you to control the pressure so you can start off with super low pressure and increase with when you feel more comfortable.

This might be TMI, but I find myself waiting to handle my business till I’m at home bc of the amazing-ness of a bidet! Haha I really think everyone would love one!!

Sustainable bathroom tip #2–Transition to plastic-free razors

Most of us shave regularly and most of us use plastic razors and refill blades. It’s estimated that over 2 billion blades and refills get tossed annually in the US! Since they have a dangerous component, they can’t be recycled! Transitioning to plastic-free razors is another one of the simple ways to transition to a sustainable bathroom.

For years I have been sharing my husbands razor (which I guess is pretty sustainable too haha) but finally felt like it was time to get my own.

I kept on seeing ads for a popular magnetic razor and the marketing almost got me. Then I saw one of my favorite sustainable influencers share about her metal razor and I was sold!

The Leaf razor I got is 100% plastic free! It shaves wonderfully, comes with replacement metal blades, is made with no plastic and can be recycled!

Plastic free razors do cost a little more up front (I linked a $12 one!) but in the big picture, it is better purchase for your wallet and our planet.

Sustainable bathroom tip #3–Transition to Cotton Turkish Towels

In the past few months I began transitioning our bath towels to cotton Turkish towels.

Polyester happens to be a common material used in the traditional plush towels. Polyester happens to be plastic in material form (that is a very simplistic explanation, look it up for all the facts!). So not only do the plush towels take forever to dry in a dryer but they also let out micro plastics, that get dumped to our land,each time they are washed.

Transitioning to cotton Turkish towels is another of the simple ways to make your bathroom more sustainable.

With so much humid air here in Kauai we found that the plusher towels wouldn’t fully dry between uses and would take so much energy to fully dry in the dryer. For our situation, transitioning to cotton Turkish towels was the most sustainable option.

More about sustainability

Another thing I’ve learned about sustainability is that sometimes it’s more sustainable to keep what you have till it’s no longer in good condition, rather then getting super excited to be sustainable and throw all non-sustainable items away. Additionally up-cycling items that you no longer need and donating are other ways to be sustainable.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts and supporting our blog! If you haven’t read Kari’s post on sustainable swaps check it out here.

We love you guys are are so grateful for you.

Shop Post Here

Another way you can support us it by purchasing via our links. We make a small commission with each purchase and it means so much to us. Aloha.

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It’s time for Sephora’s biggest sale of the year, or at least one of them. They don’t happen to often but when they do, it is the perfect time to take advantage of this highly anticipated shopping event and get all the goodies at a discounted price! The Spring Sephora sale officially starts on Friday, April 9th and runs until April 19th! When you can start shopping depends on your beauty access tier, as well the discount you will receive.

Here’s a breakdown of the different tiers, discount and start dates

• Rouge – 20% off and can shop between April 9th-19th
• VIB– 15% off and can shop between April 13th to 19th
• Insider– 10 percent off from April 15 to 19

You can redeem your discount using code OMGSPRING as many times as you want within that time period, so you can buy everything at once or spread out your shopping. There’s no minimum purchase, but there are a few exclusions. You can only by one Dyson item per transaction, and can not use the discount on any Ordinary products or on the Nudestix Hand Sanitizer Gel! Other than that you are free to take full advantage of the Sephora Spring Sale!

It really is the best time to treat yourself to new skin-care, stock up on the essentials or refresh your makeup routine for spring!

We wanted to share a few of our favorites to make shopping easier for you! Hope they help! These are items we have used for years, we recommend or that have great reviews and we are wanting to try!

Makeup Favorites

I am definitely using this time to stock up on some new makeup products. I don’t really like foundation and how heavy it can be so I love this Kosas Tinted Face Oil. It provides a dewy finish, light to medium coverage and just feels so good on. I also love the Kosas Concealer for under eyes and on any imperfections. Set it with the Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder, which helps take away shine, but not the glow so you are left with glowing and smooth skin. If you can’t tell, we are big fans of Kosas over here! We also love their lipsticks and glosses! You can see the numerous colors in this post here!

Definitely will be stocking up on the Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Corrector too! I just found out that the company is going out of business so this product will be discontinued! So sad! But it’s seriously such an amazing product. It’s pretty thick so you just use a tiny bit and it literally brightens your under eye area so well! I’m going to purchase another one to keep on hand, as well as order the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Correct and Brighten Concealer Duo Stick. I’ve heard great things and it has amazing reviews so I am hoping this will be able to replace my Becca corrector!

If you are looking for an amazing, clean beauty (yay for no toxins) then you need to try the Ilia Lengthening Mascara. It’s pretty much my holy grail of mascara! I love how it lengthens my lashes and doesn’t clump.

You can shop more of our favorites below!

Skincare Favorites

This past year, especially the last few months, I have really been trying to focus on my skincare. My skin has been acting up lately so I was on the search for some new products. One of the products I found that I have really come to love is the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads. I have seen such improvements in my skin’s texture and brightness if I use these consistently. They have them in extra strength, normal and sensitive so there is something for everyone’s skin type. I definitely love these and highly-recommend them!

As a mom of two busy girls (hi! tired eyes) who still has some dark spots and slight melasma left over from pregnancy, I really try to focus on finding skincare products that will brighten my skin, including my under eyes. I love the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser and the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream. They both really help me feel more alive and refreshed!

And to protect my skin from getting more sun spots and melasma, I love wearing the Supergoop sunscreen! It goes on smooth, doesn’t leave me feeling greasy and best of all doesn’t break my sensitive skin out! I love the whole line!

I also highly recommend the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask! It’s a bit expensive so the discount helps make it more affordable. My skin soaks it up and feels so refreshed afterwards! If you suffer from textured skin, this is a must-have as it helps resurface and smooth the skin.

One of my favorite skincare steps is toner! I first use this Farmacy Green Clean Melting Balm (lasts forever) to remove makeup, and then use a toner. I really like the Paula’s Choice Exfoliant Toner or the Farmacy Deep Sweep! My skin always feels squeaky clean after!

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Tools and Brushes

Alright! This Dyson Airwrap has been on my radar for so long! It sells out in a blink of an eye so if I can snag this, it must be fate right? I’ve seen so many insta stories and reels showcasing the product and let me tell you, the results are amazing. It definitely provides salon worthy blowouts without damaging your hair. It hardly ever goes on sale so this is the perfect time to add it to your cart at a discounted price!

A few months ago, I ordered the Nuface Mini Device and I’m really starting to notice a different in my skin. It has microcurrents that stimulate collagen and tone the face. I started off doing it once or twice a week for five minutes and didn’t see any major change. Recently, I started doing it 4-5 times a week and I can already see a difference in my skin. It appears more refreshed and not so tired looking. I add it to my morning skincare routine so I can take full advantage of the improved brightness and tone! This is the more inexpensive model and it works great! While it may be a bit pricier, I think in the long run I will save on skincare and treatments!

The Sephora Spring Sale is a great time to purchase the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand Set. It comes with a Tapered wand (my favorite), a 1”, and a 1.5” wand. You basically get three different wands for one price, and with the discount, it is a steal! It’s the only wand or curling iron that I have found that really gives me volume and waves. Typically, my fine straight hair won’t hold a curl or wave so this is magic for me! Highly recommend!

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Hair Care Favorites

The Sephora Spring Sale is the perfect time to try products you’ve been eyeing. That’s exactly what I intend to do.

At the top of my list are the Dae hair care line. I’ve never really given my hair too much attention but Dae products make me want to care about my hair haha.

I’m obsessed with the coconut scent making the Playa hair care line so appealing. Not to mention, the Playa line appeals to my tropical Latina side too!

I’ve never tried a hair mask. The hundreds of people expressing how transformative the Briogeo hair masks are for the life of their hair.

The Olaplex hair care line has top reviews for brightening hair, decreasing frizz and suitable for all hair types.

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Bath & Body

Included in the Sephora Spring Sale are various bath and body products. I love the way Sephora has all the clean items separated. With the click of a button you can shop only clean bath & body.

Some of the best clean bath & body items will be on sale during the Sephora Spring Sale.

Have stubborn bumps on your body, even those infamous arm bump, then you got to try KP bump eraser. With so many testimonies reporting significant decrease in bumps, it’s a serious must try especially during the Sephora Spring Sale.

If your skin is lacking a sunkissed glow, then check out Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. It leaves such a natural looking tan and reviews rave of it’s ease of application.

I recently starting using a body scrub and they are so incredible! I focus on my elbows, knees and ankles and have noticed such soft skin post body scrub. Herbivore Coconut Oil Body Polish & Fresh Brown Sugar Body Scrub are on my wish list given all of there great reviews, I wanna see what the hypes about!!

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Body Care

Taking care of my skin was never a huge priority growing up. Now as I’m in my mid 30’s I definitely see the value of protecting my skin from sunshine and giving it some love using clean, non-toxic products.

SPF foundation from Coola basically a BB cream with SPF which I think is genius. I love a makeup routine that is quick but effective and an SPF foundation is a huge win for me!

Goopglow Morning Skin Glow. Simply add this powder to water and let it do its magic in about 7 weeks. Packed with all the vitamins to revitalize your skin!!

Kopari Natural Deodorant I’m always on the hunt for a natural deodorant that works for me and I’m excited to try this one, especially with all of its good reviews.

Tinted lip sunscreen I love adding a colored lip to my look. It’s an easy way to brighten up your face, and I have a small obsession with keeping my lips from being dry/flaky.

With its anti-aging properties that will help lift and firm skin, this cream may be my new BFF

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Clean Fragrances

Most fragrances carry lots of harsh toxic ingredients so it’s nice to see Sephora carry some clean alternatives.

With different scent options such as lycee, cinnamon, warm woods and sea salt, there is bound to be a clean fragrance for your palette.

Sephora has exclusive items and The 7 Virtues vanilla woods perfume combines warm pears and roses with spicy vanilla yielding a huge crowd pleaser.

YOU CAN SHOP MORE OF OUR FAVORITES BELOW!

Sephora Spring Sale

Did we miss any other must have products from the Sephora Spring Sale? We love trying new things, so please share your favorites from the sale!

Also don’t forget to check out our previous post with amazing deals from the LTK Spring Sale.

Happy Friday friends! We love you! Kari + Melissa

Ps. If you make a purchase from one of our links we make a small commission and it means so much to us! Mahalo for the support!

The post Our Favorites from the Sephora Spring Sale appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

I’m sure most of you have heard of the Liketoknow.it App! It’s an awesome app that makes shopping your favorite influencer’s style picks right at your fingertips! You get access to shop million of products styled by and on real people! We love this app and it really helps us try new styles that catch our eye! Every year, they have a LTK Spring sale, an in-app exclusive sale event where you can get major discounts at select retailers! It’s a great sale so we thought we would share everything you need to know about the LTK Spring Sale!

LTK Spring Sale Basics

This is a 3-day event from April 9th through April 11th! The sales are only accessible through the app, where you will receive a discount code for each retailer. It’s the perfect time to refresh your spring wardrobe, stock up on your favorites and try new products, all at a great price! It’s great because the sale is in addition to whatever sale each retailer is currently having and you can stack promo codes! You really can save so much money!

Here are this year’s participating retailers and their discounts!

• Abercrombie & Fitch – 25% off sitewide (stackable on any promos)
• Buddy Love- 25% off sitewide
• Colleen Rothschild- 25% off sitewide
• Express- $10 off $100 (stackable on any promos)
• Elemis – 20% off sitewide
• It Cosmetics- 35% off sitewide
• Madewell- $25 off $125 (stackable on any promos)
• Quay – 20% off sitewide
• The Styled Collection – 45% off sitewide
• Tarte- 25% off + free shipping
• Victoria Emerson- BOGO

To make it easier to shop, we will be sharing our favorites from the sale, so you can see them all on our liketowknow it profile and save them to your Wishlist prior to the sale.

If you don’t have the LiketoKnow.it App, here is how you can download!

1. Download the LIKEtoKNOW.it app
2. Follow us (sunkissedandgrateful)
3. All products from the sale will be on our profile with a red tab
4. Tap on the products for additional details and it will pull up a unique discount code for you to use
5. Copy the promo code then click ‘Shop Now’
6. Paste the promo code when checking out

Abercrombie Spring Finds

Abercrombie has so many new spring items. If you’re like me, you’re probably tired of everything in your closet, so at 25% off during the LTK Spring Sale, I think we should all treat ourselves to something 🙂 Here are some of my favorite Abercrombie Spring finds.

ABERCROMBIE SPRING TOPS

Abercrombie Spring Tops— These tops really stood out to me. I’m really into the square neckline, buttons, ruffle accents, neutral tones and textured materials of these tops. I tend to wear more loose fitted tops but lately have been wanting to add a little variety to my closet.

Do you stick to the styles you like or love to try new styles? I really admire people who can try all the styles and look so cool in whatever they wear. Working towards that haha. I plan on getting a top or two during the LTK Spring Sale!

Shop Abercrombie tops below!

ABERCROMBIE SPRING DRESSES & SKIRTS

Abercrombie Spring Dresses and Skirts—I love dresses and skirts. Something about wearing a dress makes me feel automatically pretty 🙂 Abercrombie has so many dresses and skirts that are super cute on all body types. I do love all the 90s inspired pieces and they take me back to my middle school days!!!

I love the the floral dresses and skirts in their spring line, different silhouettes like the wrap dress/ruched skirt, and the subtle sexiness of the high slits and peekaboo knot! So many good spring dresses & skirts at Abercrombie which makes me so excited for the LTK Spring Sale!!

Shop Abercrombie spring dresses & skirts below!

ABERCROMBIE SPRING SHORTS & PANTS

Abercrombie Spring Shorts & Pants—I live in shorts! These Abercrombie shorts are my go-to bc not only are the super flattering but with all their frequent sales, you can get them at such a good price! I love their curve love mom jean shorts. Since I do have curvy thighs most shorts are tight around the thighs but these are so flattering!

I haven’t purchased a pair of jeans in so long haha but their boot cut jeans look so good—comfy and cool. I’m super excited to try these black joggers and knitted lounge pants.

Shop Abercrombie shorts & pants below!

ABERCROMBIE BODYSUITS

Abercrombie bodysuits—My love for bodysuits started with Abercrombie! If you haven’t added bodysuit to your wardrobe, you’re missing our! I know they seem super uncomfortable and unflattering, but they are actually super comfortable and can be worn with so many pieces! During the LTK Spring Sale, all of Abercrombie’s bodysuits will be on sale. I love the cut outs, ribbed material, scuba neck, Henley, 90s and halter! Seriously so many good ones!!

Shop Abercrombie bodysuits below!

IT Cosmetics

These are the best selling IT Cosmetics products. With each having hundred and some even thousands of positive reviews, they have to be amazing! With a 35% price cut during the LTK Spring Sale, now is the time to try something or stock up on your favorites.

For the eyes—IT Cosmetics collabed with Dry Bar and created a mascara. As someone who is always looking for a better mascara, this collab is exciting! And every make up bag needs a good brow pencil!

For the face—within the last year I started wearing foundation. IT’s CC cream and foundation have amazing reviews for being lightweight with great coverage.

For aging—Aside from makeup IT also has a popular skin care line. They’re top sellers are the anti-aging moisturizer and anti-aging night cream. Although I try my best to accept everything that comes with aging, I still wanna do what I can do to delay lines, wrinkles and all that other lovely stuff haha.

Shop It Cosmetics best sellers below!

Quay Australia

Sunglasses are a spring and summer must have! I’m so glad that Quay is included in the LTK Spring Sale! 20% off of all shades!! With so many style, frame colors and lens colors, there is a pair of sunglasses for every face shape and complexion. I really like a gold frame and the classic black too! There are also options for the men in your life.

Shop Quay sunglasses below!

If you haven’t invested in some blue light glasses, check out this post to learn about the benefits of protecting your eyes from blue light! I keep mine next to my bed so I can remember to use them when I work at night. I really do feel the difference in my eyes when I don’t wear them.

During the LTK sale, Quay blue light glasses will be 20% off! They are lightweight and cute! I especially love the clear aviators and black circled frames!

Shop Quay blue light glasses below!

Madewell Spring Finds

Madewell is offering Madewell $25 off $125 (stackable on any promos) during this sale! I love that you can stack promos so you can really get some great prices! I’m definitely going to take advantage of the sale to order some new jeans, headbands and stock up on my favorite Madewell Whisper Ribbed Tees and Tanks! I have them in four colors but I just saw that there are more! It’s such a great basic to have! I styled the white tee with my Madewell skirt in this post, just adding a knot for a little flair! I wear a size small in these shirts and think they run a little big!

I’ve also been eying this sweater tank the last few weeks! I love the neckline and I can dress it up or down! It’s pretty versatile but would look great paired with these denim shorts or my favorite Perfect Vintage denim! If you order the Perfect Vintage jeans, size down though! I feel like they run a size big!

I love this tie-shoulder dress too! The colors are rich and vibrant and it’s an easy piece to just throw on! Add a hat or headband and you have an easy look that looks put together!

Since I spend a lot of time at the beach, I want to get some more coverups! I loved this romper cover-up! It comes in a few colors too!

Shop Our Madewell Favorites Below

Elemis Best Sellers

I am actually super excited about this sale! One of our favorite bloggers, Andee Layne, often uses Elemis products and her skin is ahhhhhh-mazing!!! She uses the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and has nothing but amazing things to say! They exfoliate your skin, help with dark spots and pores and work on correcting uneven skin tones! I’ve actually been struggling with my skin texture lately so I am going to add these into my skin care routine! They are more gentle, so it is perfect for those with sensitive skin!

I have also heard amazing reviews about the cleansing balms! They are perfect for dissolving make-up, daily grime and pollutants, leaving your skin cleansed, nourished and renewed! I’m going to pick up the fragrance free version as my skin is sensitive, but this one is a best-seller and I see it everywhere!

I’ll also be re-purchasing the Peptide Eye Recovery Cream! I’ve been using it for a while now and I definitely see a difference in the darkness of my under-eyes if I use it consistently! It wakes up my eyes and helps reduce puffiness! This tired momma needs all the help I can get!

Be sure to take advantage of 20% off sitewide during the sale! It’s a great time to invest in your skincare!

Shop Elemis Best-Sellers Below

Tarte Favorites

Tarte is offering 25% off + free shipping during the sale! Such a great deal because a lot of their products are already pretty affordable! Unfortunately, the ever popular Shape Tape Concealer is excluded from the sale, but there are so many other great options to enjoy! I am a big fan of these Quench Lip Rescue balms! I love the colors Opal and Nude! They are super hydrating, give a slight, subtle color and are made from vegan ingredients!

I’m also a big fan of the Amazonian clay 12-hour blush! I have it in a few different colors, including exposed (a nude pink), peaceful (a soft nude peach)and risque (a peachy-nude)! Pair it with the Amazonian clay matte waterproof bronzer for a soft, glowy look that lasts all day!

After seeing such positive reviews, I am definitely going to order the Rainforest of the Sea salt lyfe lip duo! It’s a beautiful color and you can wear them alone or seperate, depending on the look you want!

And if you are looking for a good full-coverage foundation, you have to try this one! It covers dark spots, redness, and acne! I love the matte finish too! My skin tends to get oily so this works great at keeping that down!

Shop Our Tarte Favorites Below!

Thanks for following along!

As always, thank you all for following along with us on our journey! We always appreciate your support and are so grateful for everyone who takes the time to read our posts, leave comments and interact with us! Hope you enjoyed our little breakdown of the LTK Spring Sale! Let us know if you have any questions about sizing or need help planning outfits!

Be sure to follow us on instagram if you aren’t already. We also have a LiketoKNow.it account, where we post exclusive content as well! Both have the (username: sunkissedandgrateful!

xoxoxox,

Kari and Melissa

p.s. if you click on a link and purchase within a certain amount of time, we do make a small commission. we appreciate your continued support!

The post Everything You Need to Know About the LTK Spring Sale! appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Swap Reese’s Eggs for Unreal Dark Chocolate PB Cups

If you haven’t tried the Unreal Dark Chocolate PB Cups they are amazing!! These go so quickly in our home that I sometimes I have to hide a couple for myself

Swap Peeps for Smash Mallow

So I’ve never actually tried a peep heheh but from my understanding it’s a marshmallow treat. A healthier Easter candy alternative for peeps would be the Smash Mallow Egg Hunt Pack. We’ve used vegan marshmallows for years and love them. We’ve used these to make rice crispy treats, s’mores and in hot chocolate and they taste better than marshmallows to me!

Swap Sour Patch Jelly Beans for Yum Earth Giggles

I love sour candy so it was very important for me to find one without dye and corn syrup. I found the Yum Earth Giggles and they are actually sour and delicious, such a win for me!!

Swap Cadbury Mini Eggs for Hu Gems

If you can overlook the fact that the Hu Gems aren’t shaped like mini eggs and try them, I’m sure you won’t regret it Hu chocolates are some of my favorites and their clean ingredient list only makes them better!!

Swap Haribo Easter Gummy Bears for Black Forest Gummy Bears

This is probably one of the easiest swaps! The Black Forest Gummy Bears Easter Edition are so yummy you wouldn’t think they were a healthier option!

Happy Easter!

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Easter with healthier Easter candy alternatives I hope you enjoyed the post! If you’re still doing super last minute Easter shopping check our our guide here! Happy Easter, friends!

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I don’t know about you guys but one of my favorite parts of a skin-care routine is applying a mask. There’s just something so relaxing and indulgent about it! I love how it can instantly relax you, while also providing targeted relief for your skin. It’s a win-win in my book! Plus there are so many different types of face masks. You can focus on reducing pore size, improving texture or drawing out impurities! Whatever your skin challenge may be, there is a mask that can help!

Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite face masks to help reveal glowing skin, keeping skin feeling fresh and youthful all year long!

My Skin Breakdown

My skin is usually pretty low maintenance, but this past year it has definitely had more random breakouts and I feel like I’ve been struggling with texture and pore size recently.

I think wearing face masks (the COVID protection kind) has caused some irritation and breakouts in my lower jaw area so I’ve been really trying to focus on keeping that area cleansed and makeup free if I need to wear a mask for an extended period of time.

I also have pretty sensitive skin so I really try to use all-natural or clean beauty products that aren’t too harsh and won’t burn my skin! I once applied a super popular face mask and wore it for only 5 of the 20 recommended minutes and my skin was so red! It lasted two days and felt like I had gotten a really bad sunburn! Definitely don’t want to experience that again!

I feel like my skin is in desperate need of a good peel or a hydra facial since it’s been like 3 years since my last fácil treatment! But in this busy season of motherhood, it’s not always easy to sneak away for that! That’s why I love doing face masks! It’s my little at home spa-experience!

Mask # 1// Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator Mask

Key Ingredients: Potent fruit enzymes that work to gently slough off dead skin cells, finely ground walnut shells to exfoliate and nutrient-dense plant oils and honey to restore moisture!

Directions: Gently apply in circular motions. Set 10 minutes to 1 hour, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

My Thoughts: The Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator mask is a great detoxifying and exfoliating mask. I really love the way it makes my skin feel! It has some texture so when you rinse off you can definitely feel the exfoliation happening. I typically try and do this mask once a week when I feel my skin needs a little exfoliation and some brightening! My skin feels so good after wearing this mask, especially the next morning! After using this mask, I wake up with absolutely radiant and glowing skin, especially when I leave it on for the full 45 minutes! Because it does require a longer time, I typically use this on Sunday’s when I do a full self-care routine.

Mask #2 // Sahajan Brightening Mask

Key Ingredients: turmeric, hemp seed oil, and AHAs (the acids from orange, lemon and bilberry)

Directions: To a cleansed face, apply a thick amount of mask to the face and neck avoiding the area under the eyes. Leave on for 15 min. A slight tingling is normal. Your skin will absorb what it needs. Rinse off with warm water.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love the Sahajan Brightening mask! It’s actually one of my most used fave masks! I had actually never heard of this brand before but won a giveaway and received some of their products, including this mask, and noticed such amazing effects on my skin! I feel this mask really help increase the brightness of my skin, while also creating a smooth finish. I also love that you only need 15 minutes to reveal a refreshed glow! I am a true believer in this mask and will definitely purchase again!

Mask #3 // Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

Key Ingredients: Natural BHA from White Willow Bark Extract, Pomegranate Enzymes and Pink Clay

Directions: Apply a thick layer over face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Use up to 3 times a week.

My Thoughts: This mask is definitely a splurge item as it is on the pricier side, but the ingredients and packaging are so clean, luxurious and good for the environment. The mask includes 3 sources of glow, 4 sources to refine pores, and 6 sources to smooth and soften skin texture. After using this mask, I definitely see an improvement in my akin’s texture and pore size, which are two main concerns for me! I love the scent of the mask, that it is gentle but works and that it’s made from organic and natural ingredients. So while it may be a bit pricey, it definitely delivers.

Mask #4 // ORGAID Vitamin C & Revitalizing Organic Sheet Mask

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C to brighten dark spots and patches, hyaluronic acid rejuvenates and plumps skin, and Orange peel and pomegranate to boost collagen.

Directions: On clean skin, apply the sheet masks 1-2x per week (20-30 mins) to give your skin an at-home spa treatment. Prior to using, pop your sheet mask in the fridge for a cooling effect! (Love doing this) And don’t forget to apply all that extra serum in the pouch to your neck and chest!

My Thoughts: This mask is a game changer! It’s $6 for one or you can purchase a pack! But honestly, I see such great results when I use this consistently. My melasma and dark spots have faded, my skin is glowing and even my furrow brow wrinkle has improved! Definitely will keep purchasing!!

Using these four face masks throughout the month has really helped my skin improve. I can definitely tell a difference in appearance of fine lines and pore size, as well as brightening!

I hope my review helped and that you can find a face mask that works best for you! Obviously everyone’s skin is different but I love reading reviews to get an honest opinion so I thought I’d share mine too! And don’t forget to wear your cute little headband to keep your hair mask-free and dry! I love these two options- polka dot bow headband and a three pack!

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For more skincare advice, be sure to read Melissa’s post about Dermaplaning!

Thank you for following along with us! We always appreciate your love and support!

Xoxoxo,

Kari

P.S. we do make a small commission if you purchase through our links. If you do, we greatly appreciate it and our so grateful!

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How Blue Light Exposure Can Affect Your Health

Most of us spend a huge part of our lives looking at a screen—for work, entertainment, education and communication. Since screens use blue light displays, our faces and eyes are the most susceptible to damage!

Blue light exposure has been linked to eye fatigue, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Additionally, studies have shown blue light is a risk factor for the onset of a condition (age-related macular degeneration) that can lead to vision loss over time! If that alone isn’t wanting you to protect yourself from blue light exposure, there’s more!

Additionally the blue light from our screens impacts our sleep by messing with our circadian rhythm. Disrupted sleep decreases our quality of sleep and we all know how important quality sleep is to our health, mood, energy, etc.

I also read that children are also susceptible to adverse reactions from blue light exposure so it’s even more important for them to protect their eyes!

While there is conclusive evidence linking blue light exposure to increased skin damage I read that:

“The best evidence we have is that blue light ‘contributes to brown spots on the skin and hyperpigmentation such as melasma, and possibly to photoaging and the breakdown of collagen, which leads to wrinkles and skin laxity…’”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.allure.com/story/blue-light-phone-skin-effects/amp

With it being such a new topic in dermatology, I’m not sure if there are any longitudinal studies yet. However, knowing that early evidence does suggest blue light exposure has the potential to be damaging to our skin is enough for me to take protective measures.

Tula Protect and Glow

I have been using the Tula Protect and Glow cream for some months. It not only protects skin from blue light exposure but also is a sunscreen. Most sunscreens are thick leave a white residue, but not this one. It’s light and not sticky plus it is made with clean ingredients, which is something that’s super important to me.

Non-Toxic Blue Light Face Creams

I found some non-toxic blue light face creams. I wanted to share the ones I found, just in case you’re wanting to add them to your face routine!

Direct links for each cream can be found here! Links also found at the bottom on this post.

Blue Light Exposure Eye Protection

I noticed people on social media start wearing blue light glasses over the past year but never really looking into it myself. It wasn’t until talking with some friends and they shared with the me the importance blue light exposure eye protection. I ordered these glasses for me and Randon that day! They came out to about $7 each so not a huge investment for the protection they offer.

Blue Light Glasses

There are so many blue light glasses options out there. I was surprised that they can cost just as much as prescription lenses! Yikes! If that’s in your budget and you wanna do that, go for it! I did, though, find some budget friendly blue light glasses–ranging from $5 to mid $30s! Also, I shared one option for kids.

Find direct links to glasses here! Also at the bottom of this post.

Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

Protecting yourself from blue light exposure may be really low on your priority list haha it was non-existent on mine. But I think small steps lead to big changes especially when it comes to our health. Thanks for reading today’s post and hopefully you learned something new! much love, –Melissa

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ps. if you purchase from our links we make a small commission! so thanks so much for supporting us!

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Until recently I never wore lip color! I was a loyal lip balm/chapstick girl (still always have chapstick on me!). But about a year ago I got some Kosas lip colors and have been loving adding some color to my lips. Lip color seems to add an immediate pop and helps me look more put together…and these days I’ll take all the help I can get bc you know, mom life.

Kosas lip color 1-Rosewater

The first of the Kosas lip colors is Rosewater. It’s the prettiest pink and a very subtle tint. If you’re not used to seeing yourself with lip color or would like to keep things subtle this color is for you! I also think this color is great if you’ll be ringing in the New Year with your family at 7pm, which is what I’ll be doing!

Kosas lip color 2-Thrillest

The Kosas lip color, Thrillest, has a red-orange hue. This color really complements my skin tone and I think it would look great on most skin tones! I like to pair this color with a monochromatic or dual tone outfit to give it some edge. Perfect for a virtual ball drop!

Kosas lip color 3-Electra

Of course I had to include a classic red, Electra! Red can be super intimidating to try but on the other hand it looks so great on every skin tone once you get past the boldness factor, you won’t regret it! The first time I wore red I thought everyone was staring at me and maybe they were, so be prepared to turn heads 🙂 I don’t wear it everyday but when I do, I can’t help but feeling a little spicy and your New Year’s kiss recipient won’t be complaining.

Kosas lip color 4-Royal

The last of the 4 Kosas lip colors, Royal, has a deep berry hue. It’s cool berry tone combines feminine and sexy, making your pout irresistible beautifully radiant. This will be perfect to apply after the kids go to bed and you can finally sneak in some kisses.

Not ready for color…

If you still aren’t ready to try color, no worries! Here are some options for you that give your lips a subtle shine and softness.

–Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom: it gives lips a nice clear gloss. I use this daily!

–Young Living Lavender Lip Balm: I got earlier this year and I love the texture of the balm. It glides on so smoothly and offers moisture and shine! Unfortunately I left it in the pocket of my shorts and it get destroyed in the dryer :/

–Burt’s Bees Lip Balm: This was one of my first lip balm obsessions and still carry one around to this day!

–Sun Bum Coconut Lip Balm: I’m a sucker for the coconut scent and this one does not disappoint. The balm isn’t as smooth as the other ones but its SPF 30 so I use this when I’m going to the beach.

Fun colorful pout

Whether you’re prepping for your New Year’s kiss or just want to try a fun colorful pout for the first time, I hope this post gave you some inspo to just go for it!

Make sure to check out Kari’s most recent post on how to give your skin some much needed lovin’ during the winter.

Thanks so much for reading and giving us love! Muah . —Melissa

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ps. we make an itty bitty commission if you purchase via our links. so thank you so much!

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What is a Toxin?

I briefly wanted to explain toxins. So what are toxins?

Disclaimer—I don’t know all the terminology and am far from an expert so please do your own research especially if my toddler level explanation leaves you with questions 🙂

Toxins are harmful chemicals that are added to products for any given purpose (longevity, color, scent, functionality, etc.). Exposure to toxins have/ been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, auto immune diseases, and so many more gnarly conditions. It’s so scary to me! Which is why I’m so passionate about raising awareness to the harmful toxins that get snuck into most products!!

Educational Resources

I’ll do another blog sharing more extensive resources but I wanted to share the two I use repeatedly!
• EWG.ORG is my go to for all things clean and non-toxic. They share lists of safe alternatives for all household/beauty/baby products. They have articles with news on legislative changes and just tons of informative posts.
• Think Dirty App — I try to shop local as much as possible within my budget which means my purchases are limited to what’s on the shelves. The Think Dirty App allows you to search an item and provides a profile of toxic/potentially harmful ingredients in the product. It gives each product a score from 0-10. I love this app when I’m shopping with my kids and i don’t have the luxury researching each product before purchase.

Let’s get into the 3 budget friendly ways to create a toxic free kitchen.

Toxic Free Kitchen with Cast Iron Pans

I know what you’re thinking.
“Cast iron pans are too heavy.”
“Is it true you’re not supposed to wash them? That’s gross.”
”What’s wrong with my non-stick pan?”
Maybe you don’t have those questions/reservations, but I initially did! Until I learned about the toxins found in the huge majority of cookware! The amazing lining that prevents food from sticking to the pan is actually not amazing and is seeping carcinogens into all the food cooked in it! Eek…not cool, especially after I invested in organic food!

Cue the budget friendly, toxic free, cast iron pan!! It’s Teflon free and will last you forever!!! I picked up a pair at Costco for around $30. Here is a similar one I found on Amazon.

Since cast iron pans don’t have a non stick coat, cooking on them have a little learning curve but don’t get discouraged. Stirring frequently really helps me avoid food from sticking. Another alternative is stainless steel cookware, and they can also be relatively inexpensive. There are actually toxic free, non stick pans, like our favorite Always Pan, but it’s more of an investment piece.

Toxic Free Kitchen with Silicone + Glass Storage

The second way to have a toxic free kitchen is with silicone storage. Not only is eliminating plastic from your kitchen great for your health, it’s also great for the Earth. So why do I say no to plastic storage? Although most plastic is made BPA free, I read an article saying that most manufacturers have found a way to make BPA without calling it BPA so we still get all the harmful chemicals from the plastic into our food and eventually into our bodies. That’s the biggest reason why I made the switch, and of course the 1,000 year life span of plastic!!

What do I use instead? I own a few Stasher bags that I use for packing snacks for my kids, storing leftovers, and dry foods I buy in bulk. Recently I learned about Zip Top bags and their standing feature seems incredibly helpful.

Aside from silicone bags I also use glass for storage for dry foods, snacks, and frequently used foods. Not only are they a better alternative to plastic but I really like the look of them. Mason jars are so cute to me and when I saw these glass jars with bamboo lids for sale during Prime Day I had to get them. We also use glass mason jars for storing too!

I’m slowly replacing all of my plastic Tupperware and want to get these!

Toxic Free Kitchen with Parchment Paper

Just as the majority of cookware is created with toxins, most bakeware is as well. From what I’ve read, there is a way to still use that has a toxic non-stick surface—parchment paper. Parchment paper is a way to protect your food from making contact to the toxins. The parchment paper that I use is biodegradable and compostable, which to me is the cherry on top of the primary benefit (not allowing toxins into the foods we bake)!

Parchment paper is very affordable and a great option to continue to use your current bakeware and not have to repurchase all new items.

Toxin Free Kitchen and Life

Living a toxin free life is part of my core values and I love sharing what I learn with anyone willing to listen or read 😉 My hope is that I’ve sparked some curiosity in you to perhaps make some changes in your life to also have a toxin free kitchen—and life! Kari’s post on an armpit detox is another way to embrace the toxin free life 🙂

So grateful for you, beautiful friends!

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Can you even believe that winter is here? Honestly, this year has been so wild and crazy and I cannot even believe we are almost to 2021. May it bring us a lot more moments to make magical memories. With winter just around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my 5 winter skincare saviors that help keep my skin fresh, hydrated and glowing!

I typically have combination skin, a little oily in some areas and dry in others. But once the temperature drops, it gets so dry so I definitely have to change my skincare routine to keep it hydrated. If I don’t keep my skin hydrated, I tend to breakout more so it’s something I really focus on!

First things first, DRINK WATER!!!

It’s also so important to focus on drinking more water! I aim to drink at least 75-100 ounces of water a day because I really notice an improvement in my skin’s texture when I do!

I try to carry around my 32 ounce Hydroflask and know that I need to refill it 3 times to meet my goal! Or you can get this reusable water bottle from Amazon that has a time marker to help you visually see your goal! Both have really helped me pay more attention to how much I am actually drinking. If not, I think I would survive on coffee!

So now that we have the most important step out of the way! Here are my 5 winter skincare saviors, including one hair product! Oh and they are also all clean, non-toxic and good for the skin or hair! No nasty chemicals over here!

5 Winter Skincare Saviors //

1. Pure Anada Lip Scrub in Strawberry // I don’t remember how I found this product, but it is seriously my favorite. After I brush my teeth, I take a small amount, scrub it onto my lips, gently rub and then wash off! The smell is amazing and it leaves my lips feeling so smooth and flake-free! I also love that it is pure and simple ingredients and organic! This is especially important to me because it’s close to my mouth! Once my strawberry flavor runs out, I am definitely going to try the Mango Peach Flavor.
2. Kosas LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm // I love love love this lip balm! I bought it in Baseline (Clear Shade), but they also have two other colors – Pulse, a sheer warm tan, and Rush, a sheer cool pink. I put this on throughout the day and the hyaluronic acid keeps my lips feeling hydrated and plump. It nourishes and protects my lips, is powered by clean and active ingredients and I am just obsessed! I love to just line my lips with a lip liner slightly darker than my natural color. Then I just wear the lip balm over! Definitely a must have to keep your lips feeling smooth!
3. Pai Skincare Organic Kukui and Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator // Exfoliation is key for me during the winter months! I love that this formula is super gentle, polishes my skin, but doesn’t overdry it. The product starts off as a gel formula and transforms into a silky milk that you wash away. It feels so nice and definitely leaves my skin feeling hydrated and radiant. It has high amounts of Omega 3 & 6, as well as Vitamin E to help keep your skin moisturized! It’s definitely not like most exfoliants I have tried in the past! It’s actually one of my favorite products ever for leaving my skin feeling clean without stripping it of all its natural oils! Plus a little goes a long way so this product will last for a few months!
4. Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator // I pretty much love the entire Josh Rosebrook line. Every product I have tried has been so good and has really helped my skin. During the winter months, I switch over to this product to really help seal in moisture. After washing my face, I gently pat it with a towel and then spritz a few sprays of the Hydrating Accelerator all over my face. It feels so good and it literally smells like marshmallows! The ingredients are so impressive, containing powerful powerhouses such as ashwagandha, dandelion, licorice, elderberry and seabuckthorn. They all work together to give you youthful and glowing skin! You can also spray it on mid-day to refresh your makeup. I’m telling you this product is amazing!
5. Klorane 3-in-1 Hydrating Hair Mask // Along with taking care of your skin, it is so important to keep your hair hydrated as well. I have long, fine hair, but a lot of it and during the winter months, it tends to tangle. It gets worse when it is not hydrated and I can barely brush it! I love this mask because it is made of clean ingredients and it leaves my hair feeling so smooth and moisturized! I will typically do a hair mask once a week during winter and let it sit for at least 30 minutes while taking a bath! This mask can be used as a traditional in-shower treatment or you can even leave it on overnight to help with super dry hair. I love that it doesn’t weight my fine hair down though. Some products are too heavy for me since my hair is fine and will end up just leaving it looking greasy. I just use a small amount on my ends and let it soak in all that goodness!

Remember to stay hydrated, keep your skin feeling fresh and moisturized and your showers not too hot! Haha! I just read that most people will take warmer showers and baths during the winter months because they are cold, but this actually dries out the skin and hair even more. One tip I learned was to turn the water on the coldest setting at the very end to help seal in moisture when washing your hair! It’s hard to do during winter but definitely helps!

I hope you enjoyed these winter tips and products! Do you have a skincare savior that you love!? Let us know!

xoxoxox,

Kari

P.S. did you try the armpit detox yet? If you missed it, you can read the blog post here!

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