I've tried to get better about my shopping, I really have, and I've done very well since the days of my early twenties. I am now more methodical about what I need for our home, for my business, for my beauty cabinet and for my fashion wardrobe. (ok, so that last one may still cause problems, haha, but I am trying to do better.)

Taking inventory of what I needed for the New Year I headed to one of my favorite stores on the planet, Target. Of course it's Target, what girl doesn't adore getting lost in the aisles and filling her cart with a million things you don't need piled in on top of the few you do?

So, I was on a mission for a planner for 2016. And of course I found the cutest set by Sugar Paper. The neutral design matches my brand and my office and I fell in love. I had used their products last year and loved that it had exactly what I needed on a daily, weekly and monthly basis for how I work. 

After I got what I needed for the office to kick off the year right, I headed over to the beauty department, you know, just to look, and to my pleasant surprise, (OK, I was ECSTATIC), Target started carrying Derma E! My FAVORITE skincare line that I rave about ALL. THE. TIME. Having it at Target means I don't have to wait on shipping times and get my beloved Eye Life Creme anytime I need it! Seriously, through the holidays, we didn't get much sleep and it was a God send for my puffy, tired eyes. 

For those of you new to Derma E, it's 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, and it WORKS. My best friend was here over Christmas and she even stocked up after using it at my house. She has super sensitive skin and loved the night cream and day cream. Neither being too heavy for her. 
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​After I stocked up on my Derma E goodies and some new mineral make-up pretties that I didn't get in my stocking from my Santa this year, I of course, headed to clothes where I got a couple of cute wintery tops while we are still enjoying chillier temps. 

What are YOUR favorite Target finds? #NoticeTheLotus at Target and try Derma E. I'd love to hear your favorite product from the line. I love spreading the word on healthy options that don't damage our bodies, but instead enhance it's beauty and health. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

This post sponsored by Derma E and Brand Backer. All opinions are my own. 

As stated in my last Beauty Routine post on my teeth and body care post, I am just as careful as to what I put ON my body as to what I put IN my body. I can't stress enough that investing in high quality products that are gentle on your skin, hair, body, face & nails will help preserve the quality and health you are trying to obtain through diet, rest and exercise. 

When Derma E approached me about their line, I fell in love with their concept and their line has since become my line. It's a 100% vegan & gluten-free beauty & skincare line that is approved safe for Celiacs, and upon their launch of their #ICANTWHEAT campaign I knew it was time to share what I love about them. You can read all about their formulations here to see all the goodness that's in there and all the nasty that's not. 

While most products start in labs, Derma E started in a health food shop in Southern California, and as a resident beach girl, I love products that start in little shops seaside. It speaks to the entrepreneur in me who dreams of a nutrition office near the shore. 

Their skin, hair and nail oil is one of my FAVORITE products because I love being able to get multiple uses out of a product for the best value. I use it primarily for my nails, because I adore soft, silky cuticles, but in the winter months I also add a drop with my lotion or moisturizer as well as a drop of my favorite essential oil for the richest and deepest moisturizing action when the weather is particularly dry and harsh on my skin. It's also comprised of three clean ingredients: argan oil, kukui oil & jojoba oil. 

Though I am careful to use it on my hair (my hair is quite fine and too much oil of any kind makes me look like I need to shower & a good shampooing), I do use it in a mister with a little water to tame fly-aways when I travel to humid climates. As I'm heading to Texas in a week, it will accompany me for frizz defense. 

Another MUST have in ANY girls beauty arsenal is a GOOD dark circle eye creme. I don't care how much sleep you get (and I ALWAYS get 8-9 hours) as we age our sensitive skin around our eyes take harsh punishment from makeup, washing, the elements, the sun and its better to invest in a good eye cream now.

And when it comes to my eyes, I am SUPER careful about what I put on them. In changing and cleaning my diet I started reacting to EVERYTHING I put on my eyes. From mascara, to moisturizer, eye shadow to cleanser, if its not pure my eyes will develop styes (I know, ew) or get red & itchy. When I find something that is gluten-free & gentle I embrace it. I hug it. I use it regularly and I recommend it to others who I know struggle with finding products for their sensitive skin. 

In addition to being gluten-free and paraben-free, it is also GMO Free and full of beauty rockstar awesomeness. 

And I saved the best for last. Well, ok, anything that is gentle and healthy and makes me feel pretty is the best. But as our skin is the largest organ, it makes sense to give it extra loving care. LOTION is one of my favorite things in this world. It's just something that has always made me feel pampered & pretty and it lets me know I'm taking care of my skin.

I travel, a lot. And plane rides, road trips, constant climate changes and varying weather BEATS UP my skin. Finding a gentle, vegan, gluten-free lotion is CRUCIAL when I'm applying it daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Derma E's Vitamin E lotion is such a Godsend. It's buttery soft and comes in Fragrance Free or a scented variation with natural oils. It's also gentle enough to use on YOUR FACE. Which totally blew my mind because I never in a million years put a traditional lotion on my face in fear of harsh chemicals or crazy breakouts. 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I'd be happy to answer questions about any ingredients, practices or usage. Derma E did sponsor my post with product, but all photographs & opinions are my own. I'd been seeking a gluten-free & vegan beauty and skin line for so long and I am so happy to have found, and embraced, this beautiful company. The line offers an abundance of products from haircare to skincare, nail care to beauty. I was just highlighting the top three in my beauty cabinet because I don't use a ton of product. I know my go-to's and what has worked best to keep my skin balanced, healthy & glowing. 

OK. I know I said that was the best part, but this next part is the BEST BEST part. YOU can save 25% of anything in the line using the promo code ICANTWHEAT in celebration of the #ICANTWHEAT campaign & they are doing an AMAZING giveaway.

Enter for you chance to win $150 of Gluten Free Natural Skincare by derma e. 

One winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to shop at www.dermae.com 

1,000 Runner Up winners win a Gluten Free Sampler kit (3 foil packs) + insert with coupon code 

You can also head over and take the evaluation to find what's best for YOU and your skincare regiment. This is what I did originally to get started and I was matched with the PERFECT products missing from my beauty cabinet. You can put in your preferences and allergies to make the recommendations super tailored to your uniqueness. 

I would love to know your favorite gluten free skincare products, and if you've tried Derma E, what's your favorite from the line? 

I choose to use 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil daily, as I use it in everything already and had it on hand - plus I believe the health benefits of coconut oil outweighed the other oils in this case. Also, I get my coconut oil from Trader Joes. 

Overall I haven't seen drastic changes except that my teeth feel REALLY clean 

ALL the time. 

Which in itself is worth it to me. You know that feeling after you come from the dentist and your mouth feels slick and super fresh? Oil pulling does that for me. My gum health seems to have improved slightly, though they were generally pretty healthy to begin with. 

My second favorite perk is my teeth have become whiter, which is always a big plus!

Have you tried oil pulling? I would love to know what it did for you. And also, if you haven't what's your biggest question or why are you holding back? 

Each year I like to make a list of my goals to moving toward more healthy, whole, organic living. I did a Natural Goals post in 2013 for home, food and body.  And this year, I am doing the same.  My beauty routine has gotten quite the overhaul and I've met some amazing beauty experts and make-up creators along the way. 

What I've Accomplished:
Full make-up overhaul. I adore my new makeup routine.  I got rid of SO many of my chemical products and it's so much simpler to find things.  I use all mineral, no chemical eye shadow, mascara, lip products, and blush.  I will be doing a product review on all soon!

Using all natural products. From my body scrub, to my natural tangerine vanilla soap, my organic plant-based shampoo and conditioner and my essential oil perfume, I try to keep as much artificial fragrance out of my routine as possible.  I also smell like a coco-nutty-hawaiian fruit. 

Yoga and meditation on the regular.  This has been so crucial in my over-all calm and well-being.  Being so susceptible to anxiety and worry through my not-so-great gut health and hormone imbalances, taking time to just pray, talk to God, do devotionals, do yoga, stretch and meditate on the Word has been so important for finding balance and handling stress on the daily better. 

My hair is SO much healthier.  So, I know last post I was very sad I was no longer a blonde. And, ok, some days I still struggle, and Mr. Charming and I find this to be a touchy subject because he knows how much I love being blonde, but I will say my hair hasn't been this long in a LONG time, and though it's still pretty thin, its definitely in a better state than its been in years. So I'll stay chest-nutty brown for a while longer. 

Detox.  I found out this year I have a genetic mutation that hinders my detox pathways.  I'm saving up to see another Dr. about this too, because, quite frankly, it sounds like something that totally sucks, but in the meantime I'm trying to do as much healthy stuff as I can.  I take coconut oil and kale in my smoothies everyday, I dry brush before shows and I try to work-out when I'm not exhausted.  This can def. be an area I improve.  But I am trying to make small steps to improve. 

What I Still Want To Do:
A Better Cardio Routine.  Since finding out about my MTHFR mutation, it explains why when I vigorously workout I get sick.  Which sucks.  I LOVE running and dancing, but I also need to respect my body.  I would like to get into a better habit of taking walks with Mr. Charming and my girlfriends, just to try to sweat a little, de-stress and get some cardio in. 

DETOX, DETOX, DETOX. Like I said above, I found out this year I have a genetic mutation that hinders my detox pathways. So I'm trying to find  more healthful ways to detox without my body getting sick in the process.  In addition to what I'm doing above. 

Toothpaste and Deodorant.  I'm awaiting my next Honest Co. shipment that includes toothpaste, and I'm still on the hunt for an aluminum-free deodorant that lasts all day. Or at least half a day. Or at least a half of a half of a day.