The weather is beginning to cool, pumpkins and fall decor are at every turn, the air smells like crisp freshly fallen leaves, and we are surrounded by the vibrant show mother nature is putting on for us before winter sets in. Autumn is such a precious time of year and I am relishing in all that it has to offer.
I’m a huge advocate for making the most of and enjoying each season as a way to enrich your life. We also have the opportunity to learn from and connect to the natural world. My favorite autumn festivities are always pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, pumpkin carving, visiting different halloween/autumn displays and festivals, and spending time in nature.
On a deeper level, the autumnal equinox teaches us many lessons. It's a time of shedding what no longer serves and aligns with our higher self, just as the trees shed leaves that have served their purpose throughout the spring and summer. Autumn comes and goes with a bang, presenting the most beautiful, vibrant version of itself. It shows us that we can be in our full authenticity, shining our brightest without fear of judgment or disapproval. We serve the world at our highest capacity when we are fully authentic. Autumn is our permission to live fully and unapologetically before we enter the season of hibernation, inner reflection, and deep level healing.
Each one of these products is meant to enhance your health and wellbeing during this autumn season! Simply click the underlined header to check out each product. These are all products that I use, love, and trust. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do 🤎
The name alone of this product makes me feel like I need it in my life and I do! This organic balm to oil moisturizer has been a staple in my skincare for years now! It's the most hydrating and luxurious product that can be used on the face, under eyes, lips, neck, decolletage, cuticles, elbows, knees, and on any skin that could use some extra love!
Clean, non toxic skincare is something that is very important to me and this is the creme de la creme. Containing only one ingredient - 100% organic, wild harvested, cold pressed Nilotica sourced solely from Nilotica trees at the Nile River Valley. Nilotica is the better version of shea butter, a superfood for the skin brought to you straight from nature itself, it doesn't get any better!
The natural balm to oil formula melts into the skin nourishing it with vitamins A, E, and K, essential fatty acids, catechins (the same powerful antioxidant found in green tea), and a major hit of hydration. It's a powerhouse product for the skin even reducing signs of aging by healing the moisture barrier, brightening the skin, and enhancing cellular regeneration.
Heading into the colder months of the year this is a must! A little goes a long way and it's affordable. This and several other products in this guide make amazing gifts as well!
I’m a candle junkie but I’m also a non toxic living junkie, both are non negotiable and they don't have to be! Kitchen Sink Candle Co is a small business that crafts beautiful, natural candles, made with 100% natural soy wax, fragrance derived from plant essential oils, and the wick is made from 100% cotton, plus it smells incredible!
Most candles are loaded with chemicals that negatively impact gut health, hormones, the nervous system, lungs, liver, immunity, and the brain. Some of these toxins include…
Fragrance: A blanket term for synthetic chemicals unless stated that the fragrance is naturally derived. Candles aren't required to include an ingredient list. Burning synthetic fragrance in confined spaces creates a toxic environment and poor air quality as they release VOCs - volatile organic compounds - that are deemed hazardous by federal law, yet they are legally allowed to be used in candles. Linked to allergies of all kinds, respiratory distress, reproductive issues, and developmental and behavioral issues.
Phthalates: A subcategory of fragrance that are particularly toxic and should be avoided at all costs. Linked directly to infertility, birth defects, and overall hormone imbalance.
Paraffins: Directly derived from petroleum which is a byproduct of gasoline and oil, another ingredient to avoid at all costs. It's extremely harmful to human and environmental health. When burned they release toxic compounds that are found in petroleum, benzene and toluene, which are known carcinogens (cancer causing agents). Linked to developmental issues, reproductive toxicity, asthma, allergies, nervous system dysfunction, kidney issues, blood toxicity, and cancer development.
Other carcinogens: Other cancer causing chemicals that can be released from burning candles include formaldehyde acetaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Artificial colors: These have no place in our food, personal care, household products or candles. Linked to weak immunity, asthma, allergies, general inflammation, tumors, behavioral issues, mood disorders, and autoimmune disorders.
Always look for 100% soy, coconut, or beeswax candles with 100% cotton wicks that include no added color, and confirm that its made with essential oils.
Be aware that these ingredients are likely to be found in a variety of different products from room and fabric sprays, fragrant wall plugs, cleaning products and perfumes to hair products, makeup, body lotions and wash. Exercise caution, do some research and opt for clean, non toxic brands.
Magnesium is an essential element to human health being a major cofactor in over 300 enzymatic systems including muscle and nervous system function, protein synthesis, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, energy production and so much more.
Much of the population is not getting enough magnesium for optimal health and wellbeing, yet another factor contributing to the constant rise of dis-ease. Symptoms of deficiencies include anxiety, depression, sleep issues, low appetite, adha, brain fog, chronic fatigue, muscle spasms and cramps, nausea, headaches, dizziness, nervous system dysfunction, poor digestion, numbness and tingling, shaking, and abnormal heart beat. Deficiencies can lead to more serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Of course we want to be getting magnesium from our diet first and foremost. Magnesium rich foods include whole grains like oats, quinoa, and brown rice, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, soy beans, lentils, peanuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, avocado, dark chocolate, kidney beans, black beans, bananas, salmon, carrot, apple, broccoli, dates, cacao, potatoes, beef, and chicken.
Incorporating a magnesium supplement is only going to enhance overall health and wellbeing even if you do get plenty from diet alone. The magnesium oil spray from Cymbiotika is designed to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream within minutes. It enhances sleep quality, relieves tense and sore muscles, promotes good gut health, fights against candida overgrowth, and assists the body in detoxing from mold, radiation, pesticides, and other poisons we get exposed to.
During this time of year as the weather gets colder and we get less sunlight, supplements like this make all the difference. I love using this spray after a shower or right before bedtime as part of my nighttime self love routine to promote relaxation, decompress, and help my body recharge.
This salt needs to become a staple in your pantry for a few different reasons but what is black lava sea salt first of all? Its salt harvested from the pacific ocean mixed with activated charcoal giving it the unusual black color. This salt is rich in essential trace minerals, 80 to be exact boosted with all of the benefits of activated charcoal!
This salt is a must in my morning routine! I add a small spoon full of the salt in with twelve ounces of room temperature lemon water. I drink this first thing on an empty stomach to hydrate and enhance detox. Salt is essential for proper hydration and electrolyte balance and activated charcoal absorbs toxins in the digestive tract drawing them into stool to be eliminated rather than accumulating in the gut. We are all about gut health in this community, it is the foundation of true health and wellbeing, and this is going to help elevate that.
The uses and benefits don't stop there though. You can of course add it to food, use it as a bath soak, facial scrub treatment, and on the scalp for external detoxification.
It's getting to be that time of year where the weather is getting cooler, we're keeping our doors and windows shut more often, and we're spending a lot less time outside. Fresh air is essential to our health, it acts as a natural purifier to our lungs and our homes. When we are unable or unwilling to spend time outside and have our windows open when it's cold, it's important to maintain a high level of air quality with our homes. That's where an air purifier comes in.
Living in a state where its cold half of the year, this product is a non negotiable for me. The one I’ve linked above I've had for years now and it hasn't let me down yet. It's quiet, aesthetic, effective, and you only have to replace the filters every six months or so at $21! There are different sizes, the smaller one is best suited for smaller rooms and the large for bigger spaces!
It’s well worth the upfront investment with benefits like reducing allergens, removing large and small pollutants and particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, and germs, and helps eliminate odors from pets, cooking, and smoking. Increasing the air quality within living spaces improves immunity, liver function, lungs, mental clarity, and even nervous system health.
Our skin is the largest organ of the body, just like with all other organs and systems of the body it needs to be taken care of properly. Skin gets exposed to lots of stuff on a daily basis, some of which we have control over and some we don't. It's important to reduce our toxic load any chance we get.
Body wash is something that we lather all over our bodies just about everyday. Most washes are loaded with harmful ingredients that not only disrupt our delicate skin but cause an array of health issues. Anything we put onto our bodies, breath in, and eat gets absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered through the liver. When exposed to toxins on a regular basis the liver becomes bogged down and weak, becoming unable to properly detox and regulate the body.
Some toxic elements found in most body washed include sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, and synthetic fragrances plus so much more. These ingredients are linked to cancers, endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, nervous system dysregulation, developmental and behavioral problems, brain fog, mood disorders, migraines, and skin issues.
This moisturizing body wash from Sweet Spot Labs is made from 99% naturally derived ingredients. Its pH is balanced and fragrance free so it won't interfere with the skin's microbiomes and is safe for intimate areas. It's also formulated with colloidal oatmeal, saccharide complex, and ceramides to nourish the skin. What you put on and in your body matters to your overall health and wellbeing, making the switch to non toxic products really makes a huge difference!
Since we're on the topic of showering lets enhance that experience even more with filtering the water we clean ourselves in. It's no secret by now that the tap water supply is contaminated with heavy metals, feces, pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs, and elements like chlorine, arsenic, and fluoride that are dangerous for humans to be exposed to. We shouldn't be drinking tap water or letting our skin soak in it.
The Jolie shower head filter is a convenient way to remove the damaging elements found in water enhancing overall health and wellbeing but especially that of skin and hair. What lurks in our water supply adversely affects our skin and hair causing dryness, brittleness, and contributes to skin and scalp conditions like dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and general dry, itchy, flaky, irritated skin.
This has made all the difference to my hair and skin. Something I didn't know I needed until I decided to make the investment and it was so worth it! It's super easy to install and can replace any shower head. The water pressure is still up to par and the filters are affordable and only need to be replaced about every six months.
Since autumn is a time of slowing down and going inward, it's the perfect time to pick up a new book and create some quiet time. This book in particular is going to help up level your inner world and release behaviors and old patterns that have been holding you back from reaching your full potential.
The natural world around us is literally releasing the old to make room for the new. We are connected to earth and mother nature, going through the same seasons. It is a powerful time for self reflection and setting intentions for personal evolution for the coming months. This book coupled with journaling is super powerful.
Nourishing Pumpkin Spice Latte
I always get excited for each new season and all of the festivities that come along with them. One of my favorites is of course all of the pumpkin spice themed treats! Unfortunately most of the goodies sold in the stores or at your local coffee shops are loads with harmful ingredients from gluten, tons of refined sugar, low quality oils, artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners to chemical binders, stabilizers, preservatives, and additives most of which are directly linked to cancer and a host of other inflammatory responses (dis-ease).
I’m all about living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle that focuses on gut health to heal, prevent and reduce risk of dis-ease but that doesn't mean we give up our favorite treats, we simply remake them to work for our health and not against it. Once you start doing this you’ll notice that the homemade version with wholesome ingredients tastes way better than the artificial, processed version.
I’m a huge coffee lover and a good pumpkin spice latte is something that I can't pass up. My non toxic version of a PSL is simple, nourishing, delicious and I can't wait for you to try it yourself!
What you’ll need:
2 shots of espresso or 6 ounces of regular coffee
2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree
1-2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (depending on sweetness preference)
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Grass fed organic cows milks or a clean plant milk
Sprinkle of pumpkin spice
Favorite mug
How to prepare:
Grab your mug and add in the pumpkin, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Brew espresso into the mug over the other ingredients. Use the hand frother to blend together after.
Froth your choice of milk in a separate cup, pour it over the pumpkin coffee, sprinkle over some pumpkin spice and enjoy!
You can also make this an iced latte by simply adding ice before the milk 🎃☕
That concludes my autumn Self Care Essentials. I hope you’ve found some products that resonate with you and what you’d like to accomplish during this season whether it's creating more time for yourself, integrating products and rituals to clean up your current lifestyle, or diving into self help and inner work to evolve and create the best version of yourself.
Become one with the ebbs and flows of the natural world and let them guide and support you in all of your endeavors 🤎
Wishing you a beautiful day 🌿
Much Love,
Bellamy Ryder