4. Revamp Your Beauty Cabinet
It’s still chilly outside, so you’re likely slathering your skin and lips with lotions and balms meant to soothe. But when’s the last time you scrutinized the ingredients in your beauty products? The skin is the body’s largest organ, after all, and whatever you put on it will be absorbed into your system.
First, you should chuck anything that includes such unsavory ingredients as paraben — which has been linked to breast cancer — and triclosan, which often irritates skin. Opt to buy natural, organic products or make your own with rich, simple ingredients like beeswax and shea butter
5. Say “No” to Shoes
It doesn’t matter how cozy your shearling boots are — once they’re worn outside, they shouldn’t be worn inside. Imagine what you walk over in a day when you wear your shoes on public sidewalks, in bathrooms, on city buses and trains… all of that dust, dirt, lead and more is being tracked into your home if you don’t take your shoes off before coming inside. If you need further inspiration to remove ‘em, find a really cute shoe storage system for your garage, mudroom or hallway.
6. Clear the Air
You probably learned in elementary school the sheer power of trees: They clean the air by breathing in carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen. It’s truly incredible, and a concept you can bring into your home — without, you know, planting a sapling in the middle of your living room.
Instead, invest in a small army of potted plants to improve air quality in your home. Volatile organic compounds float around the air in most homes, but a few living, breathing houseplants like aloe vera, spider plants or snake plants can filter that away. Oh, and they’ll also improve your mood and make the space look and feel cozier. We call that a win-win-win.