A Modern Gentlewoman: Shelby Naturals Q+A!
Remember Shelby, the skincare genius I posted about from one of my all-time favorite skincare companies, Shelby Naturals? Well, she kindly shared with us some helpful little tidbits I asked her about! Not only is she highly educated in all things holistic health, she is also a wise and kind soul, so I feel it’s a real honor to have her words here. I’ve really enjoyed learning from her youtube channel and feel like she’s a friend from afar, so this post feels like we are sitting down to coffee with her! Without further ado, here’s what she shared with us! I’m so excited to apply these things in my own life!
Q U E S T I O N S :Q: I love your passion for all things health and skin! What caused you to care so much about these things?
A: I’ve always had a passion for health and skin thanks to my amazing mother for inspiring and teaching me at such a young age! I would say that struggling with acne was the driving force that got me immersed into all things health. I really started to care about what I was putting IN and ON my body. (here is Shelby’s story with acne!)
Q: You are a holistic nutritionist and I love the way you teach about how the whole body relates to good skin. Why is gut health so important when it comes to healthy and beautiful skin?
A: What a great question! I always thought having great skin depended solely on good skin care, but this is not the case. While having effective, clean skin care products are very important to having good skin, having a healthy body is the foundation! Gut health is so integral as it is the centre of our body; how we chew, digest, and absorb our nutrients, and how well we eliminate determines the health of our overall body and skin! This is why I am such an advocate of clean skin care and whole foods as they help to feed and sustain our bodies, while chemical-laden skin care and processed, gmo foods do the opposite by wreaking havoc and causing inflammation. This is how disease and skin conditions like acne develop via an imbalanced body and poor gut health. (learn more about what Shelby has to say about gut health here!)
Q: What are your top tips for radiant, smooth, and glowing skin?
A: Using Shelby Naturals! Haha. But in all seriousness, using clean skin care products focused on pure, organic oils is a life-changer. Our skin produces Sebum, which is an oil-like substance that is intended to protect and moisturize our skin. Basically to help keep us looking youthful and glowing! Using oils that closely resemble our sebum that contain a vast amount of vitamins and nutrients not only help to balance our skin but will combat pre-mature aging and skin issues such as acne!
Another tip is to be conscious of what you are putting IN your body. Everyday, I try to focus on whole, living foods! I would recommend consuming leafy greens, fresh fruits (I’m such a citrus-lover!), proteins such as fish, red meat and chicken, whole grains, fermented foods such as sauerkraut and superfoods. You will start to see such a difference in your skin and how you feel! I could go on and on, but I will finish by saying that drinking an adequate amount of water and getting enough sleep is CRUCIAL for glowing skin! And stress management, that’s must. I find I break out just from being stressed. I’m a type A perfectionist so this explains a lot. Having a schedule and journaling are my top tips for managing this!
Q: What was MOST important that you had in mind when you were formulating your products?
A: To use the best quality and most effective ingredients in the world. It’s hard to believe, but I was always skeptical of natural products and always regarded them as being ineffective. Boy was I wrong! The reason I’m mentioning this: I need to see scientific and physical proof on how a botanical ingredient works within the skin. Having this attitude allowed me to choose and use only the best ingredients that I saw worked in harmony with the skin. My goal was to create a simple product line that not only targeted and eliminated skin issues, but also slowed the aging process for healthy, youthful and glowing skin!
Q: If you went to a make up store and bought expensive products, are they likely to be helpful in achieving healthy and beautiful skin?
A: Most likely, no. I always thought the more expensive a product was, the more effective, but this is so far from the truth! The only way to know if a product will truly help you achieve healthy and beautiful skin is to read the ingredients and educate yourself. The less the ingredients, the better the product in most cases. (Shelby has a video about this here!)
Q: What is your own daily skincare routine?
A: Right when I wake up, I start with the Daily Essentials. Cleansing is super important to do in the morning as well as the evening because when we sleep, our bodies detoxify via our skin. I massage 3-4 pumps of the Cleanser into dry skin and do a gentle steam with the microfibre cloth. I feel so relaxed and my skin starts to glow! Next I spritz the Toner. I switch between the Rose Petal Toner and the Orange Blossom Toner, and am currently using the Orange Blossom because it is especially great at reducing redness and anxiety, both of which I have at the moment! Just being real. :) Right after I spritz my face 10 times ( it’s addicting; the smell, the hydration. I can spray it all day lol), I drop about 4 drops of the Serum, aka liquid gold, on my face. The glow is real! My skin feels plump, healthy and fabulous, really. I gently press it in and finish with the Face Cream for extra hydration and SPF. I do the Mask once a week and the Scrub two-three times a week to exfoliate and firm my skin. Both are great for fading scars as well! I use the Body Oil everywhere else every evening and have actually been using it as a body wash in my showers! (watch her getting ready routine here!)
Q: What’s the best thing you do for your mental and physical health every morning?
A: Such a great question! My Christian faith is very important to me and is the focus of my life, and every morning I like to start my day with reading a chapter or two of the Bible, praying and journaling, while drinking my lemon water of course. This allows me to have a clear focus and vision, and eliminates any anxieties and stress that I may have. Owning your own business can definitely be scary and overwhelming at times as the responsibility is on you (including financial responsibilities), and I definitely find rest in knowing that God has a plan for my life! Having a clear vision and focus allows me to help others to the best of my abilities as I am more productive.
Thank you Shelby! Wasn’t that lovely? Shelby is such a wise beautiful spirit and I so enjoyed hearing this from her, I hope you did too! I am so grateful she took the time to write about this for us. She is some on I admire so much. Continue learning from her at her youtube channel, here!
