Shentel’s Morning Skin and Hair Routine… Exposed!
Meet Shentel, everybody. She’s in the Navy. She’s in some rough weather, eating even rougher food, and she’s clearly pretty rad. If this girl can manage to keep a clean routine, nobody has any excuses anymore. Thank you so much for sending this in Shentel!
Name: Shentel
Age: 22
Current weather: Hot, dry, and definitely sandy. (Yes, there are still sand storms in the middle of the ocean. Don’t ask me how it happens, but it does.)
Hair: Brown, fine, and a bit curly. It’s almost all down to my chin. (I’m growing it out after spending 3 years with a pixie cut, and have officially hit the “Awkward Middle Stage” where I can’t pull it up.)
Skin: My skin has always been prone to acne, but since I’ve gone all organic, it’s been better. Since I’m deployed on an aircraft carrier, I’m stressed out, the food is horrible for me, and the water is super hard (since, you know, we boil the salt water to make it useable), and it definitely doesn’t help my skin.
Favorite star or icon from the past: Paintings of Ophelia or the Lady of Shallott are always pretty.
In the shower…
Let’s explain a few things before I start- I’m in the U.S. Navy… and I’m deployed. I’ll explain a little about ship life for people who don’t know- I have a small, 1 foot deep locker beneath my bed. The mattress flips up so you can stow things in there, and that’s all the space I have for everything I need for 6+ months. When I shower, I have to carry everything with me to the bathroom. So I don’t like having a ton of things to lug to the shower with me.
I usually end up with only 4 things in the shower with me. Some Pacifica body wash or Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic shampoo and conditioner, and Kahina Giving Beauty face wash. I lather up my hair with the shampoo, and wash my face with it to open my pores a little bit. Rinse the shampoo and condition my hair- I let it sit while I wash my face and body. I soap up my face with the Kahina Giving Beauty face cleanser, and then wash my body with whatever soap I lugged in with me, and then I rinse everything off and climb out of the shower.
Outside the shower…
I go brush my teeth (I know it’s bad, but I still use Crest, since I haven’t found any decent natural toothpastes. Any suggestions would rock.) I usually take some coconut oil and spread it over my body, legs, and arms. I use Soapwalla’s deodorant- it’s the one thing I NEVER GO WITHOUT. (I’m in the Arabian Gulf right now… It’s freaking hot, and I stink by the time my 12-14 hour shift is done if I don’t use deodorant.) Get into my uniform, and then put Intelligent Nutrients leave in conditioner in my hair, and let it air dry. Then I use Kahina’s Toning Mist and Argan Oil on my face, though occasionally I’ll opt for just coconut oil, or maybe some of Evan Healy’s Sea Buckthorn Oil. (Basically, whatever I’m in the mood for.) I have some Pangea Organics Rosmary and Argan face lotion that I use instead of oil when I feel like wearing a little makeup, too.
Finishing touches…
I almost always put Joy Juice Serum from Lotus Wei on my wrists and neck and chest before I leave my berthing. Then I spray some French Lilac perfume from Pacifica on my uniform. (Though recently it’s been Malibu Lemon Blossom.) I use RMS Beauty’s Living Luminizer most days on my eyes and under them, and it makes me look like I’m glowing, which I love. Sometimes I end up putting some Modest Lip2Cheek (Also by RMS Beauty) on my lips, too. I pull my bangs to the side with a hair pin that’s the same color as my brown hair, and spray it with Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hair Spray. Voila!
Awesome sauce, we love your routine.
Loving this pic of two Navy mechanics via
I LOVE this routine!! I am also always envious of people who don’t need (or don’t “feel” like they need) foundation.
First of all, thank you for sharing Shentel, your morning routine is frigging awesome!
Second, toothpaste suggestion coming your way:
My toothpaste was the last thing to go natural when I made my switch to clean products. I have crazy sensitive teeth and had been using Sensodyne for years. Then some Perioral Dermatitis (a bumpy, red, looks like a break out, seriously annoying rash appeared at the sides of my mouth and down my chin) popped up and I had no idea what from. I researched endlessly and came across Fluoride and SLS in toothpastes being a big cause of PD, so I tossed my Sensodyne and embarked on a search for a clean toothpaste with the power to desensitize my teeth enough to get me through a day! I tried many a tube with little to no success, and I was truly truly desperate. Truth be told I almost went back to Sensodyne. Just in the nick of time I found a brand called Squigle online. I read about their Tooth Builder Sensitive Toothpaste which was SLS free and Fluoride free, and read some of the reviews and thought, “what have I got to lose?”.
It’s been 5 months and I am totally and completely satisfied! Unfortunately it is not a minty fresh kind of toothpaste – there are no added flavors. But I can attest that my mouth does feel completely clean, and my husband assures me that I don’t have bad breath. It takes some getting used to, not having that blast of mint, but as long as my teeth aren’t aching every 5 seconds and the paste does it’s job cleaning I am a happy lass!!
Shentel, I think you just stomped on every excuse I’ve ever heard *not* to go clean. ;) Also love how feminine you can be, even on an aircraft carrier. You rock. Thanks.
Oh, come on! This is the most badass morning routine ever. I love that she’s doing all she can to keep it natural in the middle of SANDSTORM’D SEAS. Most mornings I don’t even make it to the perfume step; meanwhile Shentel is pulling on her Navy uniform in the middle of the ocean and all, “Oh, you know, a little sprtiz of whatever I’m feeling!”
As far as toothpaste goes, I use Jason Sea Fresh (appropriate? I think so), and it’s divine. It foams up nicely, doesn’t leave that gritty feeling on my teeth, and tastes super good.
Go on with your bad self, sister!
this is impressive on many levels! great routine!
Great routine Shentel! Kahina, Evan Healy, RMS and Lotus Wei are all favorites of mine. And thank you so much for your service : )
oh yeah…toothpaste…I love Miessence in anise and lemon flavors. Expensive (like $10/tube) but once you start buying they send you info on deals. Also I hear good things about Rose of Sharon Acres tooth chips, though I haven’t tried (they make other stuff I love).
I didn’t realize you could be in the Navy if you were still a “girl”. :-(
Wow, brave girl. Great routine.
@comagirl– I sympathize with your distaste for the diminutives “girl” and “boy,” but the fact that you complain about it under the alias comaGIRL makes me giggle a little!
Shentel, you are amazing! Keeping in natural while deployed on a carrier – wow! Love this routine too.
For toothpaste, I recommend JASON’s Seafresh, Kiss My Face, Auromere (or paste with Neem).
Thank you Shentel for taking the time to send in your daily routine and really, thank you for your service .
You made it absolutely clear that if you can manage to follow a clean daily routine in an environment that is way hostile , anyone else has just ran out of excuses !
Thank you! Stay safe …and happy Easter!
One word: Awesome!
@comagirl, are you just waiting for someone to point out the irony of your nickname? (so you can say, yeah, I totally got you all with my anti-”girl” talk)
; )
Shentel- wow! I second, third, and fourth all of the sentiments already posted. We’re so proud that you choose Kahina. Though we can’t ship to PO boxes (UPS) we do make an exception for APO boxes for exactly these reasons. I walk on over to the post office myself to mail APO shipments. I can’t imagine how tough it is to maintain a beauty routine out there, yet beauty routines help us feel human and refresh us so it’s pretty darn important I’d argue. Wishing you all the very best out there. Thank you for your service!
I love Uncle Harry’s tooth powder. I was skeptical at first, but my mouth has never felt so healthy since switching to this! It doesn’t count against your liquids and even the one oz bottle lasts for months. Now, it’s not sweet like toothpaste but only takes a few days to get used to it. http://www.uncleharrys.com/store/index.php/cPath/48
My picky husband, who has disregarded Tom’s, Uncle Harry’s, homemade and a few other types of toothpaste, and I have both settled on Jason Powersmile toothpaste in peppermint. It’s SLS free. We choose to get the one with fluoride, but they make it without fluoride as well.
For toothpaste, I use ascended health oralive. It’s a little expensive, but gets my teeth soo clean. It’s vegan, hand made and is meant to be swallowed due to the minerals, enzymes and probiotics it contains. That took a little getting used to.
For any of you ladies that use the soapwalla deodorant, have you noticed a darkening of your underarm skin? I was told it was due to the skin drying out, so I exfoliate every morning with sugar, but my underarms are still way darker than they were before i started using the product. Also, I’ve gotten soo many ingrown hairs…on my UNDERARMS. It’s so weird. I’m not sure if it’s the deodorant or my razor, but I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone else has experienced the same thing. I’m hoping it goes away because the product rocks.
So true…I’ve been on the Arabian Gulf (on a yacht, in a rare moment of “wtf luxury!” in my life) and I can attest that yes, it’s sandy EVERYWHERE. Also, saltiest water ever. It’s a battle to keep hair and skin moisturized, and this routine sounds so perfect. Why don’t I ever think of leave in conditioner! I travel there about once a year, next time I’m copying this routine! (Shea butter was all I used last time, which was good, but variety is the spice of life!)
This has been my favorite morning routine so far! Thank you so much Shentel for your service. What an inspiration you are! Glad to see that you are able to maintain a beauty routine overseas. Lip2Cheek in Modest is one of my favorite colors from RMS Beauty, and the Living Luminizer is really amazing as well.
Shentel, you are so together for 22. Love that you rock your routine on a aircraft carrier. I don’t know if you have a Trader Joe’s near you when at home, but they have some great toothpastes. I like the fennel. I never leave home without my Lotus Wei too.
Sooooo impressed and inspired! Finding a good clean toothpaste is tough…. I’m currently using Ascended Health’s Oralive Dental Elixir. It’s a bit pricey, but AMAZING. It’s made out of superfoods and herbal extracts and is filled with minerals, enzymes, probiotics and tons of great stuff. My gums were beginning to recede at one point, and I tried everything – different toothpastes, mouthwashes, toothbrushes & brushing softer – but after using this for a month, my gums totally changed, grew back up and had a healthier color. The only thing is that it takes a little bit of time to use because you have to brush and then swish it around in your mouth for a while to get the most out of it.
I just want to second the recommendation for Jason Sea fresh. It is awesome if you have sensitivity issues but also can’t tolerate SLS. The prescription toothpaste I was given by my dentist was giving me constant canker sores until I switched to this. The Jason’s helps with teeth strengthening and also soft tissue sensitivity.
So inspired Shentel :) Loving hearing all these routines from every corner of the world!
@KN, I’d say that the darkening of the skin you’re seeing it is a common thing . I noticed it too ( although I had to stop using Soapwalla due to an “angry red pits” reaction on top of the darkening of the skin ). I’ve been using my DIY recipe and so far so good.. Although I’d say that my skin was way lighter before..not sure if it was the Soapwalla “stain” that never went away or if it is my DIY that also darkens the skin.
@Nancy Yes!!! My underarms have red patches and are darkened. I can’t wear sleeveless anymore. I wonder if there’s anything that will lighten them back to normal again?
@KN and @Nancy
I had that reaction with Soapwalla too! And this is so going to be TMI but here goes… At first I noticed darkening then one day my pits got really red and itchy. I thought it was just some irritation that other users have mentioned, something to do with baking soda, so I stopped using the deodorant for a while. The irritation didn’t go away for a few days though. So I did some googling and came across this lady’s blog where she mentioned using Soapwalla and that she is prone to underarm yeast infections and that she \should have realized that the darkening was a sign of an impending underarm Candida infection\. This freaked me out and I started using a bee propolis balm on my armpits and drinking yogurt everyday. I also rubbed coconut oil on my armpits, before I ran out and started using the balm, and that somehow sloughed off all the \darkness\. (Bonus: The coconut oil and propolis balms totally kept me stink-free. I guess those things really are antibacterial and anti-fungal). The blogger’s theory is that the cornstarch in Soapwalla feeds yeast. My underarms have cleared up since then and I’ve started using the Soapwalla again just to see, but I’ve kept up the daily yogurt to be safe. It’s been a few weeks and my underarms have stayed light so far and itch-free. So I think there might be a connection between the yeast and the darkening. Anyway, try rubbing in coconut oil to get the dark layer of skin off.
Also, I believe that females should be allowed embrace all expressions of femininity. If I choose to call myself a girl without shame (because really, how is \girl\ shameful) then pooh to anyone who tries to give the word an ugly or diminutive meaning. That’s your issue, not mine.
@Kat, thank you SO much, can’t wait to try this!!
Hello,
I have the wonderful fortune of being this young ladies husband. Let me just say that she is an incredible girl, and I’m very proud of this woman. (I think I hit each of the labels)
I try to keep her stocked up with what she needs out there, and I’ve taken note on the toothpaste. I’ll check for a Trader Joe’s nearby and work with her on getting her something that she can use and enjoy.
She was so excited to go natural, and I’m very happy that she’s been able to keep it up. It helps her to feel better in a very stressful environment. She has also introduced other women the benefits of going natural. She’s very thankful for all the comments and I’m sure she’ll be responding soon. She doesn’t get a lot of time on the ship for the internet.
@ Dave, Your comment made me smile! You are wonderful! :)
@ Shentel, You are completely inspiring!! I loved reading your routine and I agree with all of the sentiments already posted! Thank you!
@KN
I tried Soapwalla a while ago and after three days I noticed my underarm skin was very flaky! It wasn’t itchy but the area was a bit darkened. I stopped using the deodorant and gently exfoliated but the skin underneath was red. After about a week it was all cleared up. I was so disappointed that this wasn’t my HG deodorant as it seems it is for so many others. I’m thinking that I’m allergic to lavender (of which there are copious amounts of in the deo) and that the baking soda was too rough on my skin.
@Dave
I’m glad your wife has such a supportive husband! My sister is married to an officer in the Navy and her husband is gone for about six months out of each year. It’s rough when your spouse is out at sea!
I love coconut oil on my skin, making raw chocolate…
A amazing whitening all natural toothpaste that is Powersmile by Jason way better than Crest :)
Thanks for sharing this routine!!
Wow that is really inspirational! After reading that I don’t think anyone has any excuses for not properly doing their skincare routine lol! Another person who uses RMS Living Luminizer, I really want to try it now! :)
I’ve been using baking soda as a deodorant (just plain no name or Arm and Hammer—it works great!), which also happens to be one of the ingredients in Soapwalla’s deodorant. I’d be willing to bet that it is the very ingredient that turns armpits dry and brown (ugh, lol). My way of dealing with it has been to a) not apply it within 24 hours of shaving (I use regular deodorant on those days), and when necessary, soak myself in a hot bath for 30 minutes or so until I can rub off the dead skin (which is the brown stuff you see) with my fingers. After a year or so of doing this, my skin somehow seems to tolerate baking soda better. Of course, this may not be the case for everyone, but it’s worth a try because it’s such a cheap and simple way to keep yourself smelling fresh. :)
Shentel, you can also use baking soda as a toothpaste—it neutralizes bad odors in a way that I haven’t seen many toothpastes do. I’d keep on using Crest every once in a while though to get the benefits of the fluoride.