Happy Earth Day! It's no secret we're earth-lovers here at Annmarie, so naturally Earth Day is cause for celebration. One of our favorite ways to spend this day is by setting aside sometime to practice self care, and reflect on all that we are so grateful to Mother Earth for.
These are just eight of our favorite ways to show some self love while showing the earth love, too.
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Wild. Annmarie.
1—Use Clean Products
We advocate for using clean products to avoid putting toxins around, on, or in our bodies, but the earth will thank you too.
Using clean products prevents toxic chemicals found in traditional shampoos, soaps, skin products, and household cleaning supplies from getting washed down the drain and into our water supply. Vegan and cruelty free products protect Mother Earth’s creatures. Products with sustainable packaging cut down on landfill waste that produces devastating methane emissions. Organically grown ingredients take harmful pesticides out of the equation.
You may not realize it, but the products you use do make a difference. Check out this resource for more info on clean skincare, and read here for more information on non-toxic house cleaning.
2—Go Foraging
No better way to pay homage than by getting outside, getting your hands dirty (literally!) and spending some one-on-one time with the earth. Head over to your nearest wild area – maybe you’re near some woods, a creek, or the mountains, and start searching for some edible plants!
Picking Your Wild Herbs
Do it away from a busy road because, with few exceptions, plants near the road aren’t so happy. Plants, like us, can pull in toxic air from exhaust fumes. We don’t want to ingest that.
Be careful about where you’re foraging because pesticides and herbicides are often used in parks and open spaces and you certainly don’t want those chemicals in your body.
A good rule to go by: if a plant doesn’t look healthy, don’t eat it. Find these directions and more in our Guide to Healing Herbs you can Find in the Wild.
3—Make a DIY Herbal Face Mask
It’s hard to say, but masking just might be our favorite form of self care. We love infusing herbs into our masks – herbs are nature's medicine, and each holds its own unique power.
Your skin loves herbs, and masks give it a chance to receive more benefits (than if you just used an herbal face wash). One of our favorite ways to get that herbal goodness is through using our Ayurvedic Face Scrub as an ingredient.
Check out this article to learn 5 DIY herbal face mask recipes!
4—Cook a Plant Based Meal
We aren’t telling you to ditch meat entirely, but occasionally opting for a plant based meal can have a real impact!
According to Earth Day Network, If you simply eat one less burger a week for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 320 miles. Skip steak once a week with your family for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months.
Try some of these vegan dessert recipes for your Earth Day celebration!
5—Tincture Something
Making a tincture is a fun and simple way to extract the most potency out of an herb or medicinal plant. What better way to honor Mother Earth than by using the medicine she provides?
Check out our guide to making tinctures if you’re new to the practice, and learn how to make a Reishi Mushroom tincture here!
6—Volunteer!
Doing good for the earth will make you feel good too, so we think it’s fair to list volunteering as a form of self care. Look online for a local beach clean up, environmental advocacy group, or state park you can get involved with this Earth Day! If you’re looking for a place to start, check out VolunteerMatch to find causes in your area.
7—Go Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing, also called “Shinrin-Yoku”, translates as “taking in the forest atmosphere” and was coined by Mr. Tomohide Akiyama in 1982. This is different than going on a hike or having a picnic in the park. You don’t need a bathing suit. It is not a workout that you can track on your Fitbit.
“Bathing”, when attached to this therapy, is not applied in the literal way the English language uses it. You should not expect to get wet or go for a dip in a body of water. Instead, it is a feeling of allowing yourself to be stripped down and the forest to envelope you the way water does when we bathe.
Being surrounded by nature is a form of meditation that leaves you calmer. It is universally acknowledged that there are positive medical benefits of meditation but for me, the act of true meditation is an elusive skill which forever feels like I’m stuck at the beginner level.
Want to learn more? Check out Forest Bathing 101 on our blog.
8—Take an Actual Bath (with a DIY bath bomb!)
Bath bombs are magical little fizzing balls of whimsy, and we love making our own. When you make your own bath bombs, you control the ingredients and you know what you are allowing your body to absorb. A lot of the bath bombs you can buy in stores are loaded with chemicals and ingredients that don’t benefit your body.
Learn how we make our own bath bombs here!
The following post 8 Ways to Get Your Self Care on This Earth Day was first published on Annmarie Skin Care.
