From Hormonal Shifts to Glowing Skin: Your Menstrual Cycle and Self-Care Secrets

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

Behind the Lens: Our Latest Shoot

When I launched AO, I thought I was clear on what it needed to look and feel like, and to most people, I was. But now that we've been doing this for a little while, it's become abundantly clear that we needed a refresh. We needed to go back to the drawing table and rethink the emotions we wanted our visuals to create.

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

Turning Your Routines Into Rituals

Being more mindful and intentional about the decisions and actions you take in your everyday life can feel daunting. The mere thought can send you into "yet another thing I have to do 🙄 ". That's enough to make any woman continue doing things the way she's been doing them....even if they aren't working. But what if I told you that Address Oasis is all about making one less decision? What if I told you that those daily things you're doing, washing your face, taking a shower, having your morning tea, walking your dog, all of those daily routines (habits) can be shifted into rituals? What if I told you that being more mindful about the way you complete those routines is all it takes to create your own personal rituals....your own oasis? Would that make it feel like less of a burden? Yes? Perfect! Let's talk about how we can shift those routines into rituals and why you should value being able to do that. First Things First Let's toss this idea that Rituals are just about meditating for 20 minutes, sitting in silence, reading, doing yoga etc. Because let's be honest, that way of creating a ritual isn't for everyone. At Address Oasis, we're all about you feeling seen and for us that means meeting you where you are. We understand that Rituals can look different for everyone. Our core desire is simply that you start. How do you start turning your routines into rituals? A simple shift in mindset. Let's get into the actual differences between routines and rituals. Routines vs Rituals I was at a conference a few weeks back as a Vendor for Women's History Month. A woman spoke up during the panel (she was a nail technician) and she mentioned how getting your nails done, hair done, etc aren't rituals, they're routines for most people. It's something most of us do out of habit every 2 weeks because that's how we've always done it. As soon as we're done with our service, we routinely book our next appointment. The dictionary definition of routine is: a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program. Most of us are following a fixed program. It isn't mindful, it isn't intentional...it isn't a ritual. For example, taking a shower is more about getting clean for the day and checking it off your list. It's more about this idea of you being "put together" than the actual process of showering. Rarely are we actually thinking about the purpose or activity, just the outcome. Rituals are the exact opposite. The dictionary describes rituals as more ceremonial. If we think back to the shower example, this could easily turn into a ritual if we were mindful about paying attention to the experience of showering. This could be being mindful about the products we use and the ingredients in them, thinking about the effect the products will have on our skin, are we using our body scrub or skipping it, are we using really hot water or shifting to lukewarm to protect our skins barrier, and even the process of getting into the shower. What music or podcast are you listening to, are we rushing to get in and get out, what candles do we light, etc. Rituals are more about the purpose of our actions. Taking the routine but being mindful of the purpose and process will turn that routine into a ritual. Slowing down and being intentional about the journey will turn that routine into a ritual. Why Does Turning Our Routines Into Rituals Matter? When we think of the word ceremony, we think of a celebration. Rituals are celebrating getting to do life. Shifting our mindset in this way can positively affect our day-to-day life by forcing us to slow down, stay present, reduce anxiety, and romanticize all the things we take for granted. Routines and rituals are often used interchangeably, but this should now highlight the key differences between the two and why you should value creating ceremonies or rituals around these daily tasks. It isn't about adding more to your plate, it's about creating mindfulness and intention with the time you have. How To Switch Your Routines To Rituals Since we're all about body care here, I recommend you start there for shifting the routine of your shower time into a ritual. Let's focus on your body whip for example. We recommend using our triple butter body whips, our bestselling whip is Calm, if you don't love the moisturizers you're currently using. The next time you shower, follow this ritual: Leave your skin slightly damp instead of completely drying off. The purpose here is to be mindful of how long the whip and scent will last vs applying it to completely dry skin. Take a scoop of the whip into the palm of your hands and slowly rub it into your hands to warm the product to make it easier to spread and to focus on the texture of the whip. Put your palms up to your nose and deeply inhale the scent. Think about how the scents make you feel. Do they remind you of anything, a specific time, or feeling? Slowly smooth the whip onto your arms, décolletage, stomach, hips, thighs, legs, buttocks, ankles, heels, toes, and cuticles. Watch your skin transform. Head to your full-length mirror and admire how healthy, glowing, radiant, and nourished your skin appears. Smell your skin and embrace the chemistry between the scents and your natural skin smell. Isn't that much better than the usual way you "lotion yourself"? Does that feel like more tasks or does it feel like you're loving on yourself and creating a ritual? Ready To Create Rituals With Your Body Care? If this is all new to you and you'd like something to make it a little easier, you're at the right place as Address Oasis is all about ease and creating one less decision with mindful rituals. Start here with our 4-part body care ritual. Not sure which scent to choose, you can take our quick and easy scent quiz. Want to know how to stay consistent with your rituals? Check out our blog about creating consistent rituals.

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

5 Reasons You Need Squalane in Your Body Care Ritual

At this point, we all know moisture is the key to smooth, beautiful skin. But sometimes, using your products consistently just isn't good enough. Having powerful ingredients inside your products is really what your skin needs when you've been layering on all the products, yet your skin is still dry when you want it to feel supple and soft. Even though we spend our whole lives trying to find the best way to create a body care ritual, the skin itself has many parts that most of us don't know about. One powerhouse ingredient that we can't get enough of these days is Squalane. It comes from an oil that your skin naturally produces called Squalene. You may be unfamiliar with the term Squalane, but you've likely have seen it in some of your favorite products (like our body whips and body serums). If you're curious about why we have such a soft spot for this all-natural skincare component, note that the oil has several positive effects on the skin. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Squalane, or as we like to call it, your new favorite skincare ingredient. So, what is Squalane? Where's It From? Squalane is a changed form of squalene, which is a natural substance made by the sebaceous glands and makes up 10–12% of the oil on your skin. It is a natural antioxidant that keeps your skin soft, hydrated and looking youthful. When you buy Squalane, what you're really getting is squalene that has been hydrogenated. This stabilizes it so that it can stay on shelves and ready for you to buy and use in your body care ritual! Until recently, almost all Squalane came from the livers of sharks. Now, most of it comes from olive oil, rice bran, and sugarcane. Squalene vs. Squalane Before we talk about how this rich emollient can help your skin, let's talk about how the vowels a and e affect their chemical structure. The oil on your skin is called squalene with an "e." When it is processed or hydrogenated, it changes into Squalane with an "a." Squalane is the more shelf-stable, skin-friendly, and long-lasting type found in products and retailers. 5 Benefits Of Squalane For Skin 1. It Helps Keep Skin Hydrated Since squalene is a component of the skin's natural moisture barrier, it plays an important role in ensuring the barrier continues to be adequately hydrated and performs its job. But research shows that our bodies make less squalene as we get older, which makes our skin look drier and less healthy. Using Squalane as part of your skincare routine can help stop this natural loss of moisture and keep your skin moist. For daily hydration, reach for one of our top sellers, the Oasis Body Whip. This dreamy, moisture-rich whip is made with Squalane, Vegan Collagen, Vitamin E Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Kukui Nut Oil to keep skin moisturized and balanced for 24 hours. It's suitable for all skin types, helps fight winter dryness, and can be used both in the morning and at night to make skin feel soft and supple, and look healthier. 2. It's a powerful Emollient. There are three different kinds of moisturizers: humectants (like hyaluronic acid), occlusives (like petroleum), and emollients (like olive oil). Squalane is in the latter group. An emollient's primary function is to soothe and smooth the skin by locking in moisture and repairing the damage. 3. It Has Antioxidant Properties. Stabilized Squalane helps fight harmful free radicals when it is added to skin care products. This keeps the skin strong and healthy-looking. This is especially good for the skin to help it deal with cold weather/winter. Squalane is a popular ingredient in serums that help slow down signs of aging and oils, like our best-selling Body Serum. This powerful antioxidant serum contains 7 powerhouse oils including Squalane Oil, Rosehip Oil, and Baobab Oil. The non-comedogenic, lightweight formula is suitable for all skin types, even skin that tends to get pimples and experience eczema. 4. It helps slow signs of aging. Using antioxidant-rich skin care products can help neutralize the effects of free radicals and reduce the stress they have on the skin. In the end, this can help your skin look younger for longer and make fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. 5. Helps prevent water loss. Because Squalane is an oil, when it penetrates your skin, it sits on top of the water your skin has. Since oil and water don't mix, Squalane helps protect the water your skin has and prevents it from losing water. This ends up protecting your skins barrier which prevents flaky skin, redness, and sensitivity.  Squalane for Your Body Care Ritual in a Nutshell In conclusion, Squalane is an excellent option for all skin types because it acts similarly to the skin's natural oils and helps to create youthful, supple, beautiful skin. Basically, it's a natural wonder and helps you make one less decision about your body care because Squalane tackles a lot of what your skin needs. We highly recommend incorporating Squalane into your body care ritual!

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

3 Steps To Creating A Consistent Body Care Ritual

Consistency is the #1 reason we don't complete the things we desire most. The moment we try to overcome our emotions and create a new goal, we immediately think of all the reasons why it's impossible. "I don't have the time." "I don't know where to start." "What I'm doing is kind of working, do I really need to change?" The truth is...you can do hard things. You can be consistent.  If I had to take a guess, I'd say that your body care ritual is at the top of the list of things you haven't found the time to be consistent with. I've struggled to be consistent with my body care ritual too. That's why I developed these 3 steps to help you accomplish what you desire most....creating an intentional body care ritual that serves you.

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

Creating Wellness Rituals in Your 30s

Your 30s are when you finally realize "wait, I can prioritize me and my self-care and the world won't set on fire?". That ah-ha moment you experience smack in the middle of career demands, family responsibilities, and the ever-elusive quest for "balance" can leave you feeling overwhelmed with thoughts of "but how the heck do I do that?" Your 30s are a decade marked by growth, change, and the pursuit of your most authentic self. Its the pivotal moment when you realize "if I don't take care of me, who will?" Or "if I don't fill my cup, how can I continue to fill others?" And this doesn't mean you start becoming selfish, right? It simply means that your life no longer revolves around being with friends 24/7, staying out until 3a, making doctor appointments only when something hurts. It means that you start being proactive with your health, wellness, and even creating rituals because you love it versus feeling like it's a punishment. Creating wellness rituals in your 30s is nothing short of magical. On this journey, we'll explore why rituals matter, the difference between rituals and routines, the beautiful impact they can have, and four key rituals that should be at the heart of your wellness ritual. Before we dive deep into your action plan, let's lay the foundation. Chapter 1: Demystifying Rituals What's a Ritual Anyway? First things first, let's define rituals. They're not to be confused with routines. Routines are autopilot tasks; rituals are intentional, soul-soothing moments. Think of them as mini-celebrations you gift yourself every day. They provide structure and purpose, without feeling mundane or obligatory. Chapter 2: The Magic of Rituals In Your 30s Unlocking the Potential You might wonder, "Why rituals?" Well, your 30s are a whirlwind of transformation, growth, and self-discovery. Rituals are like the friend who's always there when you need them, offering support and comfort. They anchor you amidst life's storms, empowering you to thrive, even on the most overwhelming days. Chapter 3: Ritual #1 - The Body Care Affair Elevated Body Care: Our first recommendation is a body care ritual. You may think, "I already have products that I've been using for years". I want to share something with you. What you expose yourself to is who you become. This means that if you expose yourself to elevated ways of taking care of yourself, you'll desire that more. That's what having a ritual does, and in turn, makes you desire it in other parts of your life as well. Here's where Address Oasis takes center stage. Imagine your daily shower routine transformed into a luxurious sanctuary. With our hydrating creamy body washes, exfoliating scrubs, moisturizing whips, and nurturing body serums, your self-care journey gets an instant upgrade. It's not just about cleanliness; it's an intentional pause in your day, where you cherish your body's beauty and resilience. It turns your shower routine into a ritual. Chapter 4: Ritual #2 - Mindful Mornings Embrace Sunrise Moments Start your mornings with a moment of mindfulness. Before the hustle begins, dedicate a few minutes to gratitude, or deep breathing. This simple practice sets a positive tone for the day, offering clarity and serenity amidst the morning rush. Also, being mindful doesn't have to mean meditation & journaling. What grounds you and makes you feel loved? Whatever just came to mind for you is what should be the start of your mindful morning. Chapter 5: Ritual #3 - Creative Escapes Tapping Into Your Creativity Consider this a call to your inner artist. Set aside time for a creative escape, whether it's blogging, writing, painting your toes, or sewing. Let your imagination take over. Creative rituals are the ultimate stress relievers, igniting joy and self-expression. The whirlwind that your 30s are, needs an escape. The escape doesn't have to mean ugly outbursts (though sometimes it can look like that), it could simply mean that you need to tap back into something you've been suppressing, like your creativity. Chapter 6: Ritual #4 - Nature Nurturing Forest Bathing, City Style Get back to nature, even in the city. Dedicate time to connecting with the outdoors. Whether it's a park stroll, rooftop garden visit, or balcony gardening, nature rituals foster peace and replenish your vitality. Picture it (in my Sophia Petrillo voice, iykyk), you've got your favorite tea, or apple juice in a wine glass 🤷‍♀️, and you're hanging out on your balcony on a lovely spring morning. It's 7:15a so everyone in your house is still sleep. Your phone isn't buzzing yet and there are minimal cars on the street. You're listening to your favorite podcast (or reading your favorite blog 😉) and enjoying that garden you've been creating on your balcony. Now, imagine if you did this every Sunday before you started your week. It isn't something you dread doing. You look forward to this. The morning fresh air + that proud feeling you have from watching something you love grow. That's the power of rituals. Chapter 7: Starting Your Ritual Journey Getting Practical Now, how do you start? It's simpler than you think. Choose a ritual that resonates most with you, like the Address Oasis body care ritual or one of the other unique practices we mentioned above. Create a serene space, set aside time, and immerse yourself. These rituals are about real, attainable self-love, not far-fetched dreams. Next, always remember why you started your ritual. Creating a body care ritual, for example, isn't about smelling good. It's about how good you feel knowing that you intentionally took that 45 minutes to an hour for yourself. It's about how good hearing "your skin feels so soft" or "damn, you smell good" makes you feel. So every time you feel like skipping your ritual for the day or allowing something else to interfere with the time you set aside for you, I want you to remember the real reason you started this ritual. Chapter 8: Your Ritual Begins Carve Your Path Your 30s are a canvas waiting for your unique masterpiece. Embrace rituals as the palette of colors that'll fill this canvas with beauty and strength. These practices are not obligations; they're self-care gifts, affirmations of your worthiness. As you embrace these rituals, remember that life isn't a checklist; it's a journey. Let these rituals be your trusted companions, walking alongside you on this incredible journey of your 30s. They're your daily doses of magic, love, and well-being, designed to keep you thriving, even amidst life's whirlwinds. READY TO CREATE RITUALS WITH YOUR BODY CARE? If this is all new to you and you'd like something to make it a little easier, you're at the right place as Address Oasis is all about ease and creating one less decision with mindful rituals. Start here with our 4-part body care ritual. Not sure which scent to choose, you can take our quick and easy scent quiz. Want to know how to stay consistent with your rituals? Check out our blog about creating consistent rituals.

Skin News – by Loran Wilson

How Your Body Care Ritual Sets You Up For A Productive Week

Mondays can be tough on a lot of people. Nevertheless, whether you are excited about your job or not, how you handle the beginning of a new week determines how productive it will be. Instead of dreading how tough the week would be, I prefer to focus on rejuvenating my mind and body; believe it or not, that takes consistent effort. To change the way you see Mondays, you need to be intentional about setting a consistent body care ritual that improves your quality of life. This isn't another random post about piling on a ton of products that "smell good," so you "feel good." Having a body care ritual that sets you up for a productive week can boost your confidence and make you highly productive. A morning body care routine can be a motivating factor if it consists of activities you really look forward to doing. They help relieve mindset stress, make your day more interesting and increase productivity. Here is how you can create a body care routine to set yourself up for a productive week: 1. Cleanse You may not have noticed all the harsh ingredients in your body wash but many things, like perfumes, dyes, and harsh soaps, can dry out your skin. People with even more sensitive skin might have skin irritations or allergic reactions. Choose products like a nourishing body wash that doesn't strip your skin of its natural oils. I recommend our creamy body wash, packed with folic acid and potassium, which helps slow down signs of aging and keeps skin smooth. 2. Exfoliate As unglamorous as it sounds, your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells. Whatever dead skin you do not remove by cleansing will be handled by exfoliating. While cleansing twice might not sound like so much fun, the glowing skin you get afterward? Totally worth it. You feel good. You look good—boosted confidence! For exfoliation, try our foaming body scrub 2-3 times a week. This handmade exfoliating body scrub is made with sugar and fine powders that fix rough skin while the creamy Aloe Butter base and hydrating oils soften the skin. It gives you that spa-like experience. 3. Moisturize After all the cleansing you've done so far, moisturizing renews the skin and provides hydration and extra nourishment to your skin. You want to look for products with proven moisturizing ingredients. I recommend our triple butter body whip, which melts gently onto your skin, leaving it supple and smooth with a soft glow. By giving your body the right amount of moisture before the week starts, you'll feel healthier and be able to focus on the things you want to do instead of what you have to do before and after work. 4. Treat At the end of every week, our body deserves all the TLC it can get. You'll enjoy the benefits if you can get into a ritual of providing your skin with the nutrients it needs. One way to introduce powerful ingredients into the skin is by using serums. A serum brightens, firms, protects, boosts collagen formation, soothes, and softens the skin. All this fantastic goodness in one little bottle! Our moisturizing body serum is weightless, ultra-hydrating, and perfect for all skin types. It is also a luxurious blend of squalane oil, exfoliating and anti-inflammatory rosehip oil, and restoring baobab oil. Once you get a consistent body care routine, you'll feel more confident and productive during the week, knowing that your body looks and feels great.   Key Takeaway It's not easy to get up every day and do your body care routine. It takes a lot of self-control, and chances are you'll slip up more than once. This is good, though. The harder you try, the easier things get. Self-discipline is what makes that easy. This discipline will not only help you get out of bed every morning ready to work, but it will also show in the quality of your work and your productivity level each week. Don't wing it. Do it with intention. Click here for an all-inclusive body care system that will help you prioritize your routine. And if you need help creating a consistent body care ritual, you'll love our last blog: 3 Steps To Creating A Consistent Body Care Ritual.