Recently, I discussed healthy living and green beauty inspiration with holistic RN Jena Halman-Kincaid of Clean’s The New Black! I initally discovered Jena’s gorgeous photos on Instagram, and loved her honest reviews on her blog. Continue reading for her healthy living insights!

Wonderland Organics: Hi Jena! How did Clean’s The New Black come about?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: I started the blog after multiple suggestions from friends and family that I should. I was getting asked on a regular basis about health, and which skincare or household items were safe to use. After much thought I decided to go for it and almost two years later here I am, feeling incredibly blessed to be a part of this exploding industry.

Wonderland Organics: So glad that you started your informative blog! Tell us a bit about your background.

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: I was raised surrounded by the holistic health field: my father is a homeopath and both parents taught me the importance of health at a young age. Honestly, it wasn’t until I was on my own in college making my own food choices day in and day out that I started to really understand just how much food affects us. For the first three years I ate a pretty typical college diet of bagels, pasta from a box, and fast food burritos. And then I got acne for the first time and freaked out. This sent me down the rabbit hole of green beauty as well as turning back to my roots of eating more non-processed foods.

I’m also an ICU RN. Every day I see how people’s lifestyle choices make or break their later years in life. I also understand how Big Pharma has come to pollute the lives of millions for the sake of the dollar. When really, what most of us need is preventative education on how to maintain the health most of us are born with. My blog, Clean’s the New Black, is a way for me to help educate, those seeking, on essentially how to stay out of the hospital, pharmacy, and doctor’s office.

Wonderland Organics: It’s great learning more about health tips from a RN. Regarding skincare, are there any regimens or routines that you would recommend?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: I believe in letting my intuition guide my skincare (as well as food) routines. If we listen to our instincts our bodies will always know what to reach for. So, I always recommend to have multiple products from a few brands on hand so the routine can be varied day to day. Perhaps a light serum is all you will need for moisture one day and the next a more hydrating balm because of those few glasses of wine you had the night before. At least for me, I find my skin radiates more when a healthy dose of variation is thrown into the mix.

Wonderland Organics: Yes! Our skin is going to need different products depending on the seasons. What brands are you currently using for makeup? Are there any nail polish brands that you recommend?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: My go to for makeup is always Erzulie Cosmetics, Rhonda the owner is an amazing person and makes wonderful natural makeup for very affordable prices. At least 75% of my makeup routine consists of Erzulie products. I love her foundation, highlighter sticks, concealer, and 2-in-1 color sticks. Two of my other best loved brands are Pacifica Beauty and Glory Boon.

Nail polish is a hard one, even tough there are 5 free and 7 free companies, which are a great step in the right direction, they all still have a good dose of chemicals. Because of this I choose to not polish my nails on a regular basis. However, when I do for those special occasions I love Lillian Eve 5 free polish. They have great colors and their formula is amazing at not chipping.

Wonderland Organics: Thanks for the suggestion! What are your favorite health remedies?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: I could probably go on and on about this topic since health is so near to my heart. However, if I had to choose I would say number one is Arnica Gel for bruising. I bruise quite easily but hate the looks of battered up legs. My go-to remedy to help bruising disappear faster is the homeopathic remedy arnica. You can find it in a gel: this is the one I use. Apply it directly to the bruise once or twice a day. It helps to work even faster if you massage it into the bruise, which hurts a bit, but helps to break up the blood. It’s also great for relieving sore muscles and aches.

A second favorite remedy is dried fennel seeds for an upset stomach. These are the same whole fennel seeds you may have in your spice cabinet. All you need to do is chew (to release the goodness in the oils) on a small pinch, like 3-5 seeds, and then swallow them. This helps almost immediately for belly aches, indigestion, gas, and cramping. It is safe for little ones too with no side effects.

Wonderland Organics: Arnica is amazing! Do you have any advice for people embarking on a green beauty journey?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: Start simple and look internally. Green beauty isn’t only about the products you place on your

skin, but also our internal health. Make sure you’re addressing any internal issues your body may be going through as well as starting out with just one or two products. Also, know that your skin often goes through a detox phase so skin issues may get worse before they are better. This is ok and good, it means you body is finally purging itself of toxins so that it can have lasting radiance.

Wonderland Organics: Wonderfully put! It’s good to be realistic about the detox phase. What is your favorite Wonderland Organics product?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: I am a sucker for the Indulge Lotion. The smell is so transformative and the lightness of the lotion makes it a great warm weather treat. You can read my full review here, Indulge is a great way to introduce yourself into green body care.

Wonderland Organics: Thanks so much Jena! Lastly, where can we find you on social media?

Jena Halman-Kincaid, RN: Social media:

Facebook

Instagram 

Twitter 

Pinterest 

Google+

Thanks so much for talking with me about your holistic journey Jena! What are some of your favorite health remedies? Let me know in the comments below!