Please tell us about yourself, Ellen…
I live in the Seattle area with my wonderful husband and our 10-month-old puppy, Maverick, a sweet, energetic blend of golden retriever and border collie. He really keeps me busy! I hope to volunteer with Maverick as a therapy team. We may also give agility a try, just for fun. He’s really fast and he loves to jump and climb! Right now, I’m teaching him the basics and taking him everywhere I can to introduce him to all kinds of people and animals and places.
I’ve been making jewelry for the past decade or so and I’ve been a freelance writer for even longer. I spent much of my earlier life on stage — from church worship team, to touring with a theatre company, to singing and dancing on a cruise ship — and I hope to get back into performing when I find the time!
How long have you been on your all-natural path, and what inspired you to be on it?
We moved to Seattle just after we got married and at the time I was struggling with painful digestive issues. Seattle is a hot-bed of alternative medicine and I discovered naturopathic doctors. I also discovered that my discomfort was caused by a simple imbalance in gut flora and could have been completely avoided if the doctor who had given me antibiotics for bronchitis had also prescribed probiotics! I felt so much better so quickly that I dove into researching natural remedies and never looked back. We also eat as organically as possible and clean our home without chemicals. Since then, I’ve also recovered from my life-long migraines under the care of a naturopath, raised two golden retrievers into their teens using holistic medicine and a raw diet, and treated one golden’s cancer without chemotherapy. And he lived four times longer than the traditional vet said he would with chemo! Of course, learning what drugs and chemicals can do to us led me to investigate my cosmetics and personal care products, too. I was absolutely shocked when I found out what I was putting on my skin.
What makes you choose ‘the ANB’ and what do you like about it?
I met Sharon online at the All Natural Beauty Forum. When she started the ANB, I was excited that there would be a way to find so many wonderful things in one place. I love that Sharon has put her stamp on each company by checking them out. This saves me time and helps me to know I can trust their products.
Which products and/or DIY recipes have you tried from our sites and what are your favorites and why?
There are so many good companies and products it’s hard to narrow it down, but I must say especially love Grateful Body’s facial serums and Monave’s eye pencils and lipsticks. The GB serums smell so rich and earthy and feel wonderful on my skin. The Monave lipsticks make me feel good because they’re so natural — I’m sure I “eat” a lot of lipstick! They also make my lips soft and supple.
What would you tell a friend about choosing all-natural beauty products?
I’d remind her that our skin absorbs a great deal of what we slather onto it. If those products contain toxic substances, the end result will be imbalance or disease of some kind. If those products contain healthy ingredients, we’re going to be healthier inside and out. And we’ll look younger, too! What a bonus!
