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10 ways to whiten your teeth naturally and my review of Blackwood by Splat 🖤🌲
Sponsored blog post by Splat
10 ways to whiten your teeth naturally and my review of Blackwood by Splat 🖤🌲
Ever since I was a little girl, I remember looking up to all the beautiful Hollywood stars with their gorgeous, perfect white smiles, thinking to myself; “geez, I want that too”. Having a radiant smile is contagious and I truly love these following quotes and find them to be true; “a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear” and “a smile is the most beautiful curve on a woman’s body”.
However, if you’re feeling insecure about your smile, smiling can even become a struggle, which is sad, since smiling actually boosts your immune system, because your whole body relaxes when you smile. Many feel hesitant to undergo laser treatments, which is understandable, but luckily there are ways to whiten and brighten your teeth naturally, without synthetic measures.
When I was asked to collaborate with Splat, I was very excited, since not only have I always aimed for a whiter smile, but I also love to choose natural, sustainable products and I try to be eco-conscious about my choices. This toothpaste happens to be made out of natural ingredients (up to 96% ), including activated charcoal from Karelian birch trees (which whitens effectively), natural menthol that refreshes your breath, and juniper extract (great for keeping your gums healthy). Oh, not to mention the product is completely cruelty-free and sustainable (happy dance 🕺).
Below, you will find my 10 top tips for whitening your teeth naturally, including my product review of the Blackwood toothpaste by Splat.
Blackwood by Splat 🌱🖤(including activated charcoal from Karelian birch trees): I’ve been using Blackwood by Splat for a couple weeks now, and in all honesty, even if I was excited to try it out, I was also a little suspicious in the beginning. The reason is that even if I do prefer natural products, not all of them work as well as conventional ones. Let’s take natural deodorants as an example 🙈 (side note, if you’ve found one that works, please holler at me).
Luckily, I was positively surprised with Blackwood. So, when I first started using the toothpaste, I was a little wary as the toothpaste is completely black. That being said, I was also intrigued and it felt very different from what I’m used and almost counter intuitive (who knew it would take the blackest toothpaste to make the whitest teeth). As soon as I started brushing my teeth, I was pleasantly surprised, as I immediately noticed the fresh scent and refreshing taste. I instantly liked the product and was happy and quite relieved actually (imagine to write a review for something you wouldn’t like 😅).
Probably the best thing about it was, that already after one single week, I started noticing a difference and felt that my smile was looking brighter. The more noticeable difference was after two weeks, when I felt that my teeth had actually turned brighter. In a nutshell: I absolutely recommend this product, because not only is it natural, sustainable and cruelty free- it actually does whiten your teeth when used consistently.
Practice oil pulling: Every morning for 20 minutes, swirl coconut oil in your mouth.
Brush with baking soda: Mix a tsp of baking soda with water and use it as toothpaste-let it sit on your teeth for 1-2 minutes.
Use hydrogen peroxide: Mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide & water and swish this mixture around your mouth for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Use apple cider vinegar: Mix a ½ spoonful of vinegar with one glass of water. Rub your teeth with the mixture.
Eat fruits and vegetables.
Flossing (no, not the dance 😂).
Cleansing your tongue with a tongue scraper 👅: This will remove bacteria from your mouth, and help you maintain better overall hygiene in your mouth.
Strawberries 🍓: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix it with the baking soda. Spread the mixture onto your teeth and leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly.
Last but not least, the obvious way: reduce 🚫: coffee ☕, tea, red wine 🍷, liquorice, and other foods that easily stain the teeth.
So, having a white smile, I think we can all agree upon, is something many of us strive after. And when you feel confident about your smile, voila, more reasons to smile! Make sure to check out my instagram post for a video review and follow Splat on instagram. Oh, and STAY TUNED as I will be hosting a giveaway soon where you can win a batch of the toothpaste (8 packages) a long with a YOGA MAT for you to practice home, so that you can take care of your body in a holistic way. Yay!
how it works:
🖤 Activated charcoal, the element that gives its black colour, naturally whitens, adsorbs odours, and removes stains, leaving your teeth spotless and perfectly clean.
🌱Juniper tree extract, a natural antibacterial ingredient, leaves you with fresh breath for a long time after toothbrushing.
My instagram: @evaestlander
Splat: @splat_nordics
If you live in Finland, you can find the toothpaste at your local S-markets & Prismas (incl. their web shop).
With a bright smile 💚,
Evita
xx
5 x 5: My Top Lists of gift ideas this Holiday season, my current favorite instagram accounts, beauty products and more...
5 x 5: My Top Lists of gift ideas this Holiday season, my current favorite instagram accounts, beauty products and more...
Everyone loves lists! Lists are a quick and easy way for our brains to gather information and make sense of things. Whenever we encounter new information, our brains immediately try to grasp wether or not this new piece of information is relevant for us. Just like you are currently assessing these lines that you’re reading. The process is instantaneous and we don’t even understand that we are constantly evaluating what we are seeing or reading. As we are continuously bombarded with images, headlines, news and texts, our attention span is nowadays extremely short and there’s something in numbers that make them pop out more than just the ‘normal’ headlines. Lists tap into our preferred way of receiving and arranging information at a subconscious level; they hit our attentional sweet spot. Cool, so now that you’re on board with lists, I’ve gathered a few for you to enjoy; everything from silly favorite beauty products to my favorite podcasts at the moment and so forth.
5 ideas for gift giving this Christmas that doesn’t involve buying more stuff (aka zero waste!):
Give a staycation: pick a nice hotel in the city and plan for a romantic getaway in your own home town/city (this gift idea is only for your partner duh)!
Give a massage session or session to a chiropractor or any other healing/bodywork or pampering gift!
Give a wine tasting course… I mean who wouldn’t benefit from a little extra knowledge other than always ordering that same ole Sauvingnon Blanc or Malbec…. 🙋🏼♀️
Give a yoga private/course or a one month yoga pass to their favorite yoga studio!
Give a floating experience!
My five fave podcasts at the moment:
The Goop podcast by Gwyneth Paltrow - from doctors to creatives, CEOs to spiritual healers, this is a good mix of it all.
Expanded by Lacy Phillips - Get your manifestation to the next level, no more unicorns, puppies and “only positive thinking”.
The Influencer podcast by Julie Solomon - If you’re in the marketing biz, there’s some useful tips and interesting convos.
Auta Antti! by Antti Holma (in Finnish) - In this hilarious and brilliant podcast the Finnish NY based actor answers to his listeners questions and the answers are not just funny, but actually very very wise. I almost pee myself as I laugh so hard.
Under the skin with Russell Brand - In this podcast Russel explores what's beneath the surface - of people we admire, of the ideas that define our time, of the history we are told.
5 tips for surviving winter in Helsinki
Embrace the season. It’s crazy how in our society things tend to speed up during Christmas with the year coming to an end, people run around like crazy. The problem is that at the same time people are tired, exhausted and stressed AF as naturally we feel like hibernating and sleeping in for longer. The reason is simple: we are not living in alignment with the season. Winter should be a time to slow down, cuddle up and get cozy with your woollen socks. This is literally the opposite of our modern society. So my very first tip is to cut out the unnecessary commitments. Make space for nothingness.
Yoga. Not a shocker here, but self-care goes a long way and especially during the darkest time of the year. If you’re not into yogi, then do your thing, whatever it might be (crossfit?). But exercising will give you well needed boost of feel good hormones (serotonin).
Get a sun lamp. Some people argue that this is going against the natural rhythm and season (and even my first tip). HOWEVER, some people get truly affected and depressed of the lack of day light and if you happen to be one of those people, there are luckily methods to counteract the darkness blues. I use mine in the mornings so that I have an easier time getting out of bed.
Pretend that you’re a tourist. Helsinki is a really nice city and there’s lots to do even in the winter time, so put your jacket on and go on a city stroll to Tuomaan marrkinat (market) and walk around and voila you’ll start to feel all jolly and fuzzy inside.
Decorate your home during the holiday. I swear, when we got a christmas tree last weekend everything felt a little better.
Being a tourist in my own home city is kind of nice.
5 Interesting & different instagram accounts worth following:
@connecting_consciousness : Mysticism, kind of out there, might be too much for the science loving instagrammer.
@chaninicholas : Astrology as its finest. Chani started learning about astrology at a very young age of 12 years and shares her wisdom on her feed.
@emotionalclub : Depression isn't funny, but dark humor sure is. This account is all about embracing the humor in everything, even depression.
@tobemagnetic : Lacy gets it. Her instagram is straight on and she cuts through the New Age ‘just think of something positive and you’ll attract it into your life’ BS.
@wat.ki : This feel good account follows the life of tho adorable dogs: Watson and Kiko along with their other animal friends.
My five favorite beauty regimens/products I am obsessed with right now:
Hydrating nutrient mist from Mad Hippie - I received this hydrating mist as a gift a long time ago on a retreat that I was co-hosting together with SurfYogaBeer and I just recently started using it. Now I use it every day and it really makes my skin glow like no other serum, cream or anything else I’ve tried in a loooong time.
Skinperfect primer by Dermalogica - I love the velvet texture and it smoothes out the fine little lines and uneven spots on my face.
My Simply Natural - hairbrush. I have hair is fine and gets easily super tangled, so this baby has helped a lot. Especially now with my long extended curls.
Oil pulling with coconut oil - this simple technique of swishing oil in your mouth improves not just your oral health, but your overall health as according to Ayurveda, all disease start in your mouth. I try to do this at least 3-5 times a week in the morning for about 15-20 minutes (which is annoyingly long), but it leaves my mouth feeling fresh and on top of all bleaches your teeth in a non harmful way.
My amethyst jade roller from Embrose - There’s been so much hype in the beauty world about face rolling and gua sha, I had toto try this out and I have to say, I do notice a different. My skin gets more plump and soft whenever I use the roller.
I’d love to hear some of your favorite podcasts or any other input you might have to my lists!
Happy Holidays!
xx
Eva
PS. Make sure to check out my upcoming events if you feel like you could benefit from some strechin’
Tuomaan markkinat by Senate Square in Helsinki. Image: Jonna Monola
Poppy & Peonies - a fun photoshoot in Sayulita
Living in Sayulita is pretty amazing for several obvious reasons: tropical climate, beautiful beaches, Mexican food & culture, colorful houses, waves and the community. On top of that, it is now also become a popular place amongst international brands to shoot their lookbooks, catalogs and commercials here. I'm very grateful for that as it has given me now several opportunities to meet many big and small business owners and work with them here in Sayulita. I recently did a photoshoot with the talented Adrian Doza (NY photographer) and with the lovely founder, Nat from Poppy & Peonies, an online store selling chic and handy handbags!
Check out their lookbook on their website here. Follow on ig @poppy_peonies and enjoy these cute spring-y pictures!
Until next time,
xx
Eva
Beach yoga sesh with Vuokko Salo Photography
I wanted to share these stunning images Vuokko Salo captured during her stay here in Sayulita. Vuokko Salo is not just an amazing, talented photographer who's got an extremely good eye, but she is also a beautiful mama of two adorable kids, a loving wife and has a heart big as a whale. I am lucky to call her a friend and to work with her! Without further ado, enjoy these gorgeous shots we recently took. Make sure to give her a follow on IG @vuokkosalo
PS. The beautiful mat is by Yoga Design lab and pants by Solo Sol
Girls just wanna have fun (and be pampered)
Last Sunday was a really relaxing day. I had been busy with work and other commitments lately, so I really felt like I needed some well deserved down time with my gal pals and maybe a couple glasses of Cabernet. I spoke about my need to relax with Carmen (a local chef in town) and she said she could come to my house and prepare a healthy delicious dinner for a group of friends. We started playing around with the idea a little more and sure enough it turned into something way cooler: a pampering day.
Home made cacao facials.
I reached out to a couple friends to see if they felt the same need to just relax and have a good time and get facials, manicures and pedicures while sipping wine and eating and sure enough you guessed it, they absolutely hated the idea (just kidding).
Shelby feeling like a princess.
Carmen ended up making us amazing organic cacao facials and a beautiful healthy dinner consisting of spring rolls, a pomegranate goats cheese salad and a dessert of passion fruit heaven (not really sure what it consisted of, but sure was yummy)!
Everything was amazing, however, the facials did steal the show. So why would you want to smear cacao on your face, one might ask. The things is, cacao is super rich in antioxidants (flavenoids), which are great for smoothing your skin and giving you a rosy glow. Cacao is also anti-inflammatory and its antioxidants improve and aid in collagen production and it also helps in restoring skin cells. Did I mention it smells divine? That alone, is a reason in itself. If you want to know more, check out this. Carmen was very attentive and made sure no one kept their facials on for too long, which was a very important part of the whole procedure.
I also ended up asking another girl from town to come give us manicures and pedicures, which was another huge hit. This turned into my casita having these different stations for different pampering experiences: kitchen for facials, back patio for card reading (yes, card reading!) and pedicures and living room for manicures. If you're in town and in the need of manis/pedis in the privacy of your own home or villa, make sure to reach out to Manicure Sayulita.
If you feel inspired to try this facial yourself, it's super easy and this is all you need:
Rose water (to clean and wash your face before treatment)
1 Avocado (ripe)
Mint and sage (salvia sylvestre)
1 tbsp organic raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
How? Very simple, just mix everything together and voilà!
So what's the lesson in all of this? Pamper yourself more. And in groups, it's way more fun ;)
Fresh faced girls after the facials.
Until the next pampering moment,
X
Eva
Friends with businesses: Zafiro Jewelry (my favorite jewelry)
Rocio Akrish, founder & designer of Zafiro jewelry
Priscilla, looking mighty fine rocking Zafiro
Meet Rocio Akrish, designer and founder of Zafiro Jewelry. Rocio was introduced to the jewelry industry at a very young age as she started helping her father sell jewelry at street fairs. In 2008 Rocio opened a tiny jewelry store together with her mom here in Sayulita and recently took over and gave it a complete facelift and new look. Today the shop carries mostly her own line, Zafiro, but also still sells her mom, Doris's jewelry.
Rocio style is elegant, yet edgy and she uses various different materials and gemstones from all over the world. She has always been very creative and designing jewelry and sourcing gemstones throughout Asia and Indonesia are her biggest passions. I sat down with Rocio to ask her a few questions about her jewelry and store here in Sayulita.
Q: Why is your jewelry called Zafiro?
Me showing off my headband, bracelets and rings
A: I was born to hippie parents who gave me the middle name Sapphire. Zafiro is Sapphire in Spanish.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration to design your jewelry?
A: I've always been really curious about ancient civilizations and made my first round of jewelry after I saw the King Tut exhibit, so it was super Egyptian inspired. Since then I've mostly concentrated on stones rings and made some animal pendants like snakes and Raven and Humming bird skulls because I love their symbolism.
Q: Who wears Zafiro? What are your customers like?
A: Its the biggest compliment to hear my friends say they love my jewelry and see them wearing it. I also really like when guys buy my rings and necklaces. Anyone who likes to wear stones can be my customer, no limitations.
Q: What is it like to have a jewelry store in Sayulita? Lots of competition?
A: There are A LOT of Jewelry stores in Sayulita considering its size, but I think I have something different to offer. I carry a big variety of stones and most of my jewels are set in brass, plus I use different materials like bone and fossils.
Q: What plans do you have for Zafiro jewelry?
A; I want to expand my store next year and I'm forever working on a shopping cart website, but I swear it will be done.
Q: Favorite quote?
A: Notice what you notice.
Thank you Chio!!
Love this image of Kelea
All the images are from a Goddess meets Amazon Warrior photoshoot we recently did for Zafiro jewelry. And were shot by Jessica Leigh.
Make sure to give @zafirojewelry a follow on instagram and to stop by Zafiro Jewelry when in town (a beautiful pink wall), you'll find the shop on Avenida Revolucion (main street), just across from Chocobanana.