Who is The Reformed Product Junkie?

Welcome, I'm Dianna! I've been a licensed cosmetologist for over 20 years. I used to specialize in hair and esthetician services. Though I no longer work in a salon - I am very passionate about the industry and still practice as a hobby on friends and family. I always say you can take the girl out of the salon, but you can never take the salon out of the girl...is that a saying? Well, it is now.

One of the first things you are taught in beauty school is that professional products are superior. In EVERY. SINGLE. WAY. If it's not sold in a salon it's cheap and 'not quality'. And products labelled 'all-natural' are a joke and aren't as effective as traditional, professional, aka - HIGH $$$ - lines. I wholeheartedly believed this and preached it to everyone who would listen. I loved trying out new products, from haircare to hairstyling and any skincare item that promised me an even skin tone and non-oily hydration - I bought it all, always on a search for the Holy Grail of products. It's surprising I'm not destitute from this actually...

My face had always been plagued with rosacea and acne from a young age and well into my 30s. In the winter my face would become dry, flaky, and inflamed - always itchy and in pain. In the summer I would turn into an oil-slick, desperately applying drying products and layers of powder foundation to absorb it all. And in-between I was a terrible blend of the two extremes. I have struggled with eczema (dermatitis) on my arms, hands, chest, and legs for as long as I can remember. The skin on my face is also quite sensitive, often experiencing what some might call, 'tomato face' when testing out new products. Over the years I have lived in several climates from super dry & cold to very moist & hot. As I've aged my skincare needs have changed. Which always led to spending tons of money to find new products that either didn't work or they worked, but they led to irritation/dryness/breakouts...until I started making my own natural products.

This is my background and where I come from as I embark on this new path towards more natural skincare (and probably haircare at some point). My goal for this blog is to help people learn alongside me and bring awareness into the ingredients that we put on ourselves and our loved ones. I also really want people to understand that skincare does not have to be complicated and you don't have to spend some exorbitant amount of money to have beautiful skin. Thanks so much for reading!

Last updated: 1/20/2025

Disclaimer: This site cannot and does not contain health or medical advice. The recipes and information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice. All information is provided in good faith, however the The Reformed Product Junkie makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on this site (desktop or mobile). Before taking any actions based on such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professional. The use or reliance of any information contained on the site (desktop or mobile) is solely at your own risk.