How I'm Healing My Psoriasis Naturally
/My three-prong approach to healing my psoriasis naturally. Read about my quest to heal my skin without prescriptions or steroids.
Read MoreMy three-prong approach to healing my psoriasis naturally. Read about my quest to heal my skin without prescriptions or steroids.
Read MoreIt’s been a minute since I’ve talked here about my clean beauty journey. This pregnancy has brought out major skin issues, my psoriasis has flared to a level far beyond any flares that I have experienced in the past. I continue to use my topical steroid, but want to limit the use as much as possible because I am growing a little one. One option to combat psoriasis during pregnancy is called light therapy. Essentially you go into a tanning-type chamber, without the harmful rays. You start off going for 1 minute and build up to a few minutes and the UV rays are good for healing the skin. I avoided this treatment because I found out my insurance would charge me a a $40 copay each visit (twice/week). I got some new info that in fact they would not charge me a copay. So I began going to light therapy twice a week. It was true that my insurance company did not charge a copay, but to my dismay they did not cover the treatment in full, thus I received a bill for over $500 and promptly stopped this treatment.
All that to say, I had to find other, less costly methods, to offer relief for my skin problems. I had already switched most of my shower products, but so previously I had been looking for great clean make-up options. Because of my skin issues, I shifted focus to finding products that could help heal my skin. Currently, my psoriasis is still flared compared to pre-pregnancy, however the products below have offered some relief.
Koki Eczema Cream - I found this locally made cream at a market a few weeks back. Normally in the summer I just use a light body oil, as opposed to a heavy skin cream, but since my psoriasis has been flaring, I have been altering between this eczema cream and the Psoriasis Honey Serum, and so far it’s working great.
Maple Holistic Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo - This clarifying shampoo naturally gets rid of build up. Because my scalp is a place where I have particularly bad skin issues this shampoo has really helped. I was hesitant to make the switch because I love the smell and feel of the other Maple Holistic, Silk 18, shampoo I use, . But now I have converted to mixing it up and using the Apple Cider shampoo once or twice a week.
Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shave Soap - I didn’t start using this product to help improve my skin, but rather for the sake of my plumbing. For years I have used coconut oil to shave my legs. It works great and smells great, but leaves my shower a mess! Once I used up my latest jar of coconut oil, I set out on a quest to find a clean shaving product. I already love Dr. Bronner’s soap, so I gave this shave soap a try. I love it! My shower is so much cleaner and my legs feel fresh on the daily. My biggest complaint is that it is tough to squeeze out of the bottle.
Psoriasis Honey Skin Serum - I have been using this product for a little more than a week, in lieu of my argon or coconut oil I regularly use post shower in the summer months. As I mentioned above I rotate between this light oil and the heavier eczema cream. Out of the gate is a great combination. The oil has a lovely, light honey-sweet smell and leaves my skin hydrated without feeling oily at all.
The One Room Challenge is kind of like a marathon (I ran one way back 2008), you work really really hard, feel so accomplished when it’s over and come away with feel a real sense of community with your fellow runners at the end. Everyone’s walking around with their medals and you just want to hug them all and tell them they did a great job. So here is my hug to my fellow One Room Challenge participants, a round-up of my very favorite rooms from this season's crop of amazing reveals. Check out my favorite and go take a look at the rest of the rooms here.
We made it! Another One Room Challenge in the books! I am just so happy with how this bright and modern kids bath turned out! Started from a dated 80’s bathroom with a blue formica countertop and carpet and gave her a major glow-up in the form of a complete renovation. Now - classic selections with a special layer to make it a happy, updated space for my kiddos.
For the reveal part 1, I’m showing you the everyday wear of my kid’s bath reno. Next week she will get dressed up! I designed this bathroom to be updated classic at its core. The subway tile on the walls and the mosaic on the floor are available at big box stores, but I’ve mixed them in unexpected ways. The bones of this bathroom have longevity and flexibility. I could paint, wallpaper, add paneling and it will all work with the tile, vanity and lighting. The color and fun I will be sharing next week are the frosting and can be easily changed and updated as my kids grow.
Shopping for a kid’s bath? I got you. I’ve been wanting to do a round up of places to shop for a bathmat for quite some time. For a kids bath I need a true bath mat, something washable, with the non-slip grips, that can take a beating, get wet and is also comfy enough to kneel on to give the kids a bath. I rounded up 12 super fun and playful mats that would be perfect in a kid’s bath. Then I took it a step further and found you some complimentary shower curtains.
No pretty pictures or fun shopping resources to share with you this week, unfortunately. We have been getting down to business though! If you’ve missed it, check out my plans in week 1, tile layout options in week 2 and lighting options in week 3. About two and a half weeks ago my husband and I completed the demo. We ripped out the bad shower surround, the blue formica countertop, the carpet, all of it! Keep reading to see how far we’ve come!
That’s it for the updates on the progress, now for the fun stuff! I’m talking about lighting today. I spend lots and lots of time looking at lighting for clients, and one of my favorite resources is Etsy. The options are endless, the pricing is usually good an, items are often customizable and they are made by artisans. Click to check out my favorite Etsy shops for lighting!
I have made almost all of the design decisions, check out the plan here. There are just a few hanging question marks. One of the big ones is the subway tile layout. I sourced classic matte white subway tile in an updated size, 2 inch x 8 inch. I originally planned on doing a basket weave pattern, but because the tiles are exactly 2 inch x 8 inch they won’t work as a basket weave with grout lines. I want something more out of the box than a straight stack or a traditional brick pattern. I have been playing around with a few other layout options.
I started this design back in 2019 and purchased the vanity in 2020, I am THRILLED to finally be starting the reno on the kid’s bath! I will be linking up with the dozens of other bloggers and Instagrammers who are also participating in the One Room Challenge. We will document our progress over the next 6 weeks both here and on my Instagram account.
In some projects there is one element that makes the room, this bath makeover is truly the sum of its parts. Ripping out the dated paneled drop ceiling, raising the height and adding shiplap made a HUGE difference. Adding decretive trim to to the walls, doors and bookshelf made this makeover look way more expensive than it was. A fresh coat of moody purple-grey paint (“Vintage Collection” by Magnolia) changed the space and the new vinyl peel and stick floor tiles completed the look.
Although I have a lot more to go, I’ve made a lot of progress. I installed drywall and shelving in the closet, I’ve painted and primed the storage shelves and I also added all the trim to the walls and painted. Come check out my progress!
Since I have little progress to show this week, I am going to share some fabulous modern mirror and sconce combinations that were on the table for this project. The combos are heavy on rich metals, clean lines and special details.
I’ve been slowly making the shift to clean beauty products for sometime. Currently, all of my shower and body products are clean and still working through some make-up stragglers. You can find my other clean beauty posts here and here.
A few months back I was in Chicago and visited the Credo Beauty store. I am obsessed with this place! It’s like being a vegan and going out to a specialty vegan restaurant. You don’t have to ask the waiter a million questions, you know you can eat it, so the whole menu is available to you! That is how I feel about Credo. I don’t have to read every line of the label, because I know they’ve vetted their products and brands. Anyhow I discovered several new products on that visit and have picked up a few others along the way and I want to share my new favorites with you.
Maple Holistics Silk 18 Shampoo - I have used a few Maple Holistic shampoos, mostly specialty ones for my dry scalp needs. The Silk 18 shampoo is a new product, the packaging is so clean and simple and it smells amazing. I love how it leaves my hair silky and smooth.
Weleda Skin Food - this stuff is amazing! It’s thick, delicious smelling cream for your body, face and hands. I have been putting it on my psoriasis spots along with my prescription and it really seems to be helping. I also used it nightly on my hands and when my face is feeling dry, I even put it there.
RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Content - This is my favorite lip product I’ve bought in a long time! FYI, this color “content” is red with a slightly pink hue. It’s not completely opaque and it has a lot of shine, the photo on the website looks much darker than it is in real life.
Lily Lolo Mascara - I have tried several clean mascara options, and this is by far my favorite. It goes on smooth, stays on and washes off fairly easily.
SHOP MY FAVORITE CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS
My three-prong approach to healing my psoriasis naturally. Read about my quest to heal my skin without prescriptions or steroids.
Last week I styled a shoot and my bride wore a ponytail. I have always loved the versatility of this traditionally laid back hairstyle. A ponytail can be casual, it can be effortlessly chic, it can be polished and it can be glam. No matter the vibe, it's low maintenance and I think it commands confidence. We wholeheartedly approve this bridal hairstyle. Without further ado, here are 10 bridal ponytails we love!
While adhering to a capsule wardrobe, I find I want to change up and experiment with my hair. Playing with hair accessories is a fun way to change up an outfit. However, hair accessories can become juvenile pretty fast if you're not careful. I love this idea of a casual summer vacation look of a loose pony tied with a scarf. These cool girls have serious hair game with minimal effort.
Do you have a different winter and summer skincare routine? I can't stand how dry my skin is right now, even my little's little buns are rough. These are my staples getting me through the dry season.
COLD SPRING APOTHECARY LOTION - During spring and summer I love to lather on the Argan oil post shower, but when it's dry, lotion is my go-to, this natural, delicious smelling lotion from a local shop.
MAPLE HOLISTICS ARGAN SHAMPOO - This shampoo has six of the most effective oils for hair and scalp health, so good for my winter hair. For every bottle sold, Maple Holistics donates $1 to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Click here to order your free samples.
L'OCCITANE IMMORTELLE DIVINE CREME - as with my lotion, in warmer months I reach for face oil, but during dry skin season, I like something with a little more moisture power, I am obsessed with how my face feels after applying this creme, so soft and smooth, but not oily at all.
BURT'S BEES' MEDICATED LIP BALM - I have to admit, I am a lip-balm-a-holic. I have this Burt's Bees' balm on Amazon Prime subscription, I now have a tube in every room of the house, one in my bag, one in my car, and one at the office, I am prepared for dry lips at any given moment.
About two years ago I started making the switch to clean beauty products. After reading about the harmful chemicals in our favorite products, I decided to explore all the clean options there are on the market these days. I suffer from psoriasis, which requires topical products that are anything but natural, so I try to balance my prescription medications with a natural regimen. Prescriptions aside, I am proud to say about 85% of my beauty and skin routine is "clean" and just as good and effective as the chemical-filled products I used to put on my body.
Lauren Koster Creative offers full service design and styling for weddings, events and photoshoots, as well as custom installations, backdrops and decor.
I began my career in the New York City fashion industry and fell in love with creating beautiful spaces and experiences. I plan and design weddings and share lifestyle and DIY content here.
My three-prong approach to healing my psoriasis naturally. Read about my quest to heal my skin without prescriptions or steroids.