Life and DIY

Finally Found the Best Mineral Sunscreen – Papatui (No Microplastics or Petroleum)

Holly — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:29:43 +0000

My favorite mineral sunscreen recently got discontinued, so I spent months searching for a replacement. What I found might actually be better! It's from a men's skincare brand owned by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, called Papatui. Their Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 is all mineral, has no hidden chemical UV filters, has no microplastics or petroleum-based ingredients - and it's a great price and applies beautifully (works well for all skin types).

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My Favorite Organic Berries & Powders: LOOV Organic

Holly — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:35:17 +0000

Living out in the boonies means frozen fruit only gets me so far. Here's why I started keeping wild-harvested, freeze-dried LOOV Organic berries on hand instead - plus how the polyphenol (antioxidant) content can vary a lot depending on where and how a berry is grown.

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I Got an Insanely Rare Infection Abroad (H. Heilmannii)

Holly — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:49:37 +0000

I almost refused the upper endoscopy - it felt unnecessary at the time. I'm so glad I didn't. The biopsy came back positive for H. Heilmannii instead of the common H. Pylori - a rare bacteria you catch from animals rather than people. Here's how I think I picked it up in Thailand, what the treatment was really like, and the surprising change that happened weeks later.

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Is This At-Home Anti-Aging Device Worth It? ZIIP Halo Honest 1st Impressions

Holly — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:18:58 +0000

I'm a skeptic when it comes to skincare devices, but this one surprised me. My honest first impressions of the ZIIP Halo at-home anti-aging microcurrent skincare device. Is it worth it? Here's what surprised me after my first days using it.

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My Favorite Meat Sticks & Jerky-Type Snacks: Lineage Provisions (Not Sponsored)

Holly — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:30:05 +0000

I've been meaning to share these for the longest time. Lineage Provisions makes some of the cleanest meat sticks and jerky-style snacks I've come across - no sugar added, 100% grass-fed, with beef heart and liver. With my limited diet from food sensitivities, finding nutrient-dense snacks I trust is tough. These have become a regular for me. Not sponsored. Honest Opinions.

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The Last “Microplastic Free” Affordable Mineral Sunscreen Just Got Discontinued

Holly — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:07:46 +0000

Native is phasing out their original Unscented Mineral Sunscreen, the only truly clean affordable microplastic-free mineral sunscreen I could confidently recommend. The reformulated replacement is a real downgrade - going from mostly natural ingredients to mostly synthetic ingredients.

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Microneedling vs. Chemical Peels – Which One Gets Rid of Wrinkles?

Holly — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:04:13 +0000

How I Look Younger at 43 Than I Did at 35 - microneedling, peels and what actually works after 10 years of testing both and documenting everything with before and after photos, here's the honest breakdown.

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Dr. Pen Hydra H6 Review – First Use, Demo & Results Update

Holly — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:50:16 +0000

I've microneedled for years and never seen results this quickly from a single treatment. The Hydra Pen H6 is Dr. Pen's most unique innovation - and after one treatment, it's become my favorite device they've made. I share my full demo, honest first impressions, and results that I genuinely didn't see coming.

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Starting Over at 43 – Why Staying Feels Harder than Leaving

Holly — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:40:34 +0000

At 43, I chose to start over. This is the honest story behind that decision and the reasons I'll be moving to Japan in the near future.

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BPPV Exlained: What Happened & What You Need to Know

Holly — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:35:34 +0000

If you’ve ever felt a sudden onset of severe dizziness and nausea the moment you turned your head, you’re not alone. I recently went through one of the worst episodes of my life and later discovered it was BPPV - something many people experience without realizing what’s actually happening.

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