Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Talk About It - Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish

I love anything that shimmers and shines as well as anything glitzy and glamorous – I have a feeling that I'm not alone so today is all about Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish!

Let me start off by saying that there is no such thing as 100% natural nail polish, only smarter and safer formulations. Dr.'s Remedy is a safe and enriched nail polish that was created by two doctors who are both board certified podiatrists who care about their patients and the products they use. Both Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel are skilled surgeons who realized the top concern with their patients is brittle and discolored nails that is often associated with the harsh chemicals that can be found in commercial nail polish.

Dr. Cirlincione's wife was pregnant and was advised against using hair dye, eating certain foods, and being exposed to harsh chemicals. This warning led the doctor to do some research on chemicals and toxins. Along with Dr. Spielfogel they created Dr.'s Remedy, which is 3 Free (formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP – which can cause some serious damage to ones health) and enriched with good for you ingredients like tea tree oil, garlic bulb extract, and wheat protein.

These enrichments help promote healthier and stronger nails and also provide anti-fungal properties so it won't cause any damage. Their nail polish come in a wide variety of gorgeous shades and is safe enough for anyone and everyone; including those who are extremely sensitive to traditional nail polish or chemicals in general.

I got so lucky because I got to try out their new seasonal collection Jolly and Joy. The collection is made up of 5 amazingly lovely and flattering festive shades perfect for the holiday season, and beyond.



ESSENTIAL Emerald is one of my favorite nail polishes, ever! I don't have anything like this shade and I just love the way it looks on my nails. It compliments my skin tone and applies like a dream. It wears well and I had no problem with chipping, although I only wore it for 2 days. This is such a gorgeous color that I can't get enough of! They describe it as "a take on the classic tree-and-plant-inspired gem of a shade, with delicate glimmer and unparalleled amounts of glamour".



RESOLUTION Red Glitter is my other favorite from the collection. This polish applies so well and looks great on the nails! The only drawback to this polish is the fact that glitter polishes are really difficult to remove, but everything else about this is perfect! It adds the perfect amount of glitter to the fingers without being too over the top. I feel like this polish would be appropriate for any situation because it's almost a nude pinkish-red color. They describe it as "a red meets copper spin that's sequin-look-alike laden with high shine and sparkle.

 

REVIVE Ruby Red is the most perfect red color that I've ever seen. It's absolutely perfect for fall and winter, and I think it would make a wonderful statement on the toes. It's deep yet feminine and pretty. It is described as "a shimmer-infused Wizard of Oz-inspired shade of crimson.



SERENE Silver Glitter is so special and unique. It changes color in different lights and makes the nails look fancy, sort of like a perfectly pretty disco ball. It wasn't the best with my skin tone but that won't keep me from rocking it because it's so interesting! It's described as "a seasonal sizzler like no other: shine, chic, totally unique in the metallic scene."



PASSION Purple is last, but not least. It's "a bombshell-boysenberry with subtle silver meshed throughout". It's not my favorite for fingernails but I have high hopes for how amazing it will look on my toes. This is my Mom's favorite of the collection though and it looks amazing on her. For whatever reason I had the hardest time applying this one. Don't get me wrong – it was still easy, just not as smooth as the others.



These nail polishes are fabulous, right? They're a little expensive at $17 each but I think they are totally worth it. I've never seen such lovely shades before. If you were only going to get one I would highly recommend either Resolution Red or Essential Emerald.

You should check them out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Remedynails or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/remedynails. If you're interested in owning these for yourself Dr.s' Remedy is sold exclusively at www.remedynails.com or by calling 877-323-NAIL.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thought and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

What a Sweet Potato!

I absolutely love Sweet Potatoes! They're one of my favorite foods – mashed, baked, steamed, any way at all! They also happen to be really, really healthy! They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and antioxidants. They are considered a super food and are definitely a must have in my kitchen. Since I love the way the taste and that fact that they are really great at nourishing the skin I thought today would be the perfect time to share this sweet potato facial mask recipe.


What you need:
2 ounces of mashed sweet potatoes (just steam them, take off their skin, and mash them)
1 tablespoons of oatmeal
1 tablespoon of honey
A dash of nutmeg


Once you've got the ingredients all together all you need to do is mix them together to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture onto your face, neck, and chest after washing with a gentle cleanser. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Make sure to moisturize afterwards (as you should with all treatments). This mask will leave your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth. It will also help new skin cells form. Sweet potatoes aren't just for Thanksgiving anymore!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Talk About It - Mad Gab's

Stockings are one of my favorite parts of the Christmas Season! Today I'm sharing with you a few products from an awesome company called Mad Gab's that would make excellent stocking stuffers, or even gifts.

Gabrielle Melchionda starting making lip balm in 1991, while still in college, after she came across a recipe that she thought sounded easy to make. She gathered the necessary supplies and began mixing up batches in her mother's kitchen. The lip balms were such a hit with her friends that they encouraged her to market them and sell them in a store. By her senior year of college, Mad Gab's was in 10 stores and Gabrielle embarked on a journey to learn how to make a business work.

Fast forward 20 years and the business has grown into a huge success. People all over the world love Mad Gab's products. They moved from their original 200 square foot office to a 4500 square feet space where the Mad Gab's team makes, ships, and sells their products. They strive to create unique, high quality, and effective all natural beauty products while creating minimal waste. They also wish to "inspire others that anything can be done with good ideas, hard work and a strong team."

Mad Gab's formulates their products with ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, organic extra virgin oil, vitamin e, natural flavors, essential oils, mica and other healthy and beneficial ingredients. All of their products are great and they come in the most adorable packaging with fun little facts on them. Oh, and by now my loyal readers know how crazy sensitive my lips are, right? Well, none of these lip products irritate them in the least! I absolutely love and adore all of the products I got to try, so let's get to the reviews!

I'm going to start with the newly launched (October 1st, 2011) Wildly Natural line of lip products. These lippies are inspired by patterns in nature like peacock feathers, giraffe spots, and the wings of a butterfly. This line offers Lip Butters, Shimmers, and Glosses each with 3 flavors. The glosses come in pink, plum, and bronze while the shimmers come in the same colors with added glitter. The lip butters come in Coconut Lime, Juicy Mango, and Lavender Vanilla.



The pink lip gloss is the most perfect pale pink that provides the lips with a very sheer dusting of pretty color. It's not sticky at all and it feels super lush and hydrating. It's shiny without being over the top. The Juicy Mango Lip Butter is so smooth and applies easily. It makes my lips feel moisturized and silky. It smells great and tastes good without making me lick my lips 24/7. The Plum Lip Shimmer is probably my favorite of the 3 because it's so gorgeous and flattering on my lips. It has the perfect amount of shimmer and color.

Moving on to the other Mad Gab's products I was lucky enough to try - lets talk about the Turtle Shimmer which is a glistening pink color perfect for any pretty pout. The Shimmers have a lovely peppermint scent and flavor to them which I just adore. The minty tingle adds a cool feel to the lips. I love the turtle on the packaging too!


I also got to try a couple of the smooch products; one is from the Zoo Smooch line and the other is from Dino Smooch. My zoo balm is the Giraffe Smooch in vanilla with SPF 15. I find giraffes irresistible, so I think this one is really adorable. It's got a really warm vanilla scent that is just delicious. My favorite balm of the bunch is the Stego Smooch lip balm in berry, which comes in a recyclable tin. This smells fantastic and I'm mad about the formulation. It's wonderful! It applies like butter and lasts for an irresistibly kissable mouth. I normally don't like balms in tins because I'm a bit of a germ freak but this one is incredible.



Last but certainly not least is the Hi-Bear-Nating Balm which is a calming lavender body balm. I can't remember if I've told you how obsessed with lavender I am before but just take my word for it – I can't get enough! This is perfectly divine smelling lavender (not all are) and it works so well to calm and relax me for bed. I just massage a little bit of this onto my neck and temples (as per instructions on the package) right before bed and I'm ready to doze off and get a peaceful night's sleep.



I love Mad Gab's so much that I'm planning on checking out their Holiday Smooch Lip Balms very soon. Their prices are affordable and their products are worth a try so check them out for yourself at http://www.madgabs.com/

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thought and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Monday, November 21, 2011

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Happy Monday beautiful! I hope you had a fantastic week. I know Beautiful Basics is a beauty blog but today is going to be a little different because I'm going to be sharing a recipe for muffins. They're not just any muffins though, they're truly delicious, and healthier than other options. I made them last weekend and they were gone by the next morning, because everyone loved them so much. I figure since Thanksgiving in the U.S. is on Thursday now would be the perfect time to share my treats!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups sugar (I used 1 ½ cups of white and ½ brown but you can use whatever you want – including raw or a sugar substitute)
1 cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup of vegetable oil
¼ cup of applesauce
1 cup of fresh, frozen, or dried cranberries (I used Craisins, but if you use fresh or frozen you'll want to chop them up)

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together and then add the pumpkin and oil – make sure to mix very well. Next you'll combine the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until moistened. Now it's cranberry time! You need to gently fold in the cranberries so they don't get broken down and mushy. Fill your lined muffin cups ¾ of the way full and stick your muffin pan in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. I then dusted the muffins lightly with powdered sugar, but you can skip this part if you'd like!




I hope you enjoy!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Talk About It - Rand Hill Naturals

It is no secret that I love honey. I also love natural skin care and cosmetics as well as my home state – Oregon. What do you get when you combine all three things I just mentioned? You get an Oregon based natural skin care company who makes honey facial care products (in addition to other products) called Rand Hill Naturals.

Randie Hill started to develop sensitivities to traditional products in the mid 90's but couldn't afford the hefty price tags of natural products so she decided to create her own. Her goal now is "to create a line of unique and effective products that incorporate plant based ingredients in their simplest, most unrefined form." All Rand Hill Natural products are pure and safe, free from any artificial ingredients like color, fragrance and preservatives. They are also very affordable!

I was lucky enough to get to try the Complexion Essentials, which includes a cleanser, a cleansing mask and a serum. All 3 products feature raw and unfiltered honey, essential oils (including Lavender, Rose Geranium, Orange, Neroli & Grapefruit), and other natural skin beneficial ingredients.



First up is the Daily Facial Honey Wash, which is a really great cleanser for any skin types (except those allergic to honey, of course) because it's so gentle. It smells amazing; like honey with a touch of citrus mixed in. It has the exact consistency of honey so it doesn't produce foam or anything that other facial cleansers may do but it's just as efficient if not more so. It's non-sticky and spreads easily across the skin. I massage it onto my damp skin and rub gently in small circles until I'm ready to rinse. It rinses off so effortlessly and leaves skin feeling comfortable and healthy. I feel like it really keeps my skin looking clear and it also brightens. It makes my face feel fresh and fit.



Once a week I use the Honey Oatmeal Cleansing Mask, but I use it as a facial scrub instead of a mask. You all know how much of an obsession I have with scrubs and this particular one has made it onto the favorites list. It smells like floral-y citrus and makes my skin look radiant. I'm obsessed with this scrub! I particularly like to use this when I've had a long day or worn a lot of makeup because it gets deep down into each and every little pore leaving them shiny and new thanks to the exfoliating oatmeal powder. I do occasionally use it as a mask, but I prefer it as a cleansing scrub. It's very hydrating and improves the condition of my skin.



The last product were going to talk about is the Ultimate Face Quenching Serum which is made up of Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Tea Tree and Rose Geranium essential oils. A lot of people are afraid of using oil to moisturize their skin but this serum is incredibly lightweight yet conditioning. It absorbs almost instantly and leaves skin feeling softer than you could even imagine without being the least bit greasy. The smell of this is a bit strong, but it's tolerable and dissipates within about an hour. Its great for morning and evening use and really plumps up and smoothes skin.

If you're interested in checking these products (or other Rand Hill Naturals products) out for yourself you can visit their website by clicking here. You can purchase online or use the Find a Store tab to see if there are any stores near you that sell these products.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Friday, November 11, 2011

Superstar Face and Body Mask

Hi there, beauty! In the past I've shared a lot of things that I love (and shared why I love them so much) and today's DIY Beauty Recipe is made up of 3 of those things on my love list. Yogurt, Honey, and Pumpkin have all had entire weeks dedicated to their uses and why they are beneficial for skin but today I'm combining all 3 to make a super face and body mask.

What you need:


3 tablespoons of puréed pumpkin
3 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of yogurt

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and combined. Steaming your face before applying the mask is a good idea but not necessary. Apply the mask evenly to your face, and even your body if you want (it's great for chests and backs). Let the mask sit for anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Don't forget to moisturize afterwards! Your skin should look luminous and rejuvenated.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Seasonal Cinnamon Lip Balm

I'm a lip balm addict, and in the colder months I love anything cinnamon scented and/or flavored so I decided to mix the two together to create a fabulous fall lip balm.

What You Need:

2 tsp. jojoba oil (you could also use sweet almond or olive oil, but I personally prefer jojoba)
1/2 tsp. beeswax
1/2 tsp. cocoa butter or coconut oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3 drops cinnamon essential oil
1 vitamin E capsule

Heat the oil, butter and beeswax in a water bath over medium heat until beeswax is completely melted with stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add honey and cinnamon oil. Open the vitamin E capsule and add it to the mixture. Stir well to make sure all of the ingredients have combined.

When it's finished just pour the mixture into containers. I use little screw-top pots that I buy at Wal-Mart. Let it cool until solid and you're ready to moisturize and treat your lips to a soothing treat. Enjoy!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Talk About It - Waxelene

Beauties, I'm madly and passionately in love with a superb product called Waxelene. Never in my life have I been more impressed with a beauty product, and that is saying a lot. Waxelene is a petroleum jelly substitute (cute play on the name, right?) that I'm literally obsessed with.

In the past I always had to have a jar of Vaseline handy, but upon reading the label and embarking upon my green journey I have retired the petroleum jelly from being a staple. This is where Waxelene comes in handy – it works for everything you would use the other stuff for but it's 100% natural with only organic soybean oil, beeswax, vitamin e oil, and organic rosemary oil.


Waxelene was born out of experience in resource conservation and organic foods, as well as a life-long commitment to health and the environment in addition to a desire to be more sustainable every day. The company uses only recyclable glass jars, natural and organic ingredients, and energy efficient practices. They believe in simple, natural and organic ingredients that are beneficial. Waxelene is completely eco-friendly, biodegradable, and cruelty free.

My addiction to this stuff is completely justified by how amazing it is. You can use this product for so many different reasons – I can't even begin to cover the entire list. I especially love this on my lips, and I cover them each and every night with it before bed. I wake up with the most supple and smooth looking lips that feel soft and healthy. You can also use this for moisturizing feet, body, hands, cuticles, face, eye lashes, and anywhere else you need a little moisturize. It's not at all greasy and it's even water and sweat resistant.

Anyone and everyone can benefit from this product in some way; if you are a Mommy, this would make an excellent baby balm for diaper rash or irritation and if you're an outdoorsy type of person you can use this to protect your skin from wind and sun burn. Beauty junkies can even use this on cheekbones to add a dewy highlighted look and on lids for a glow, which is something I have been doing often. It even functions as a makeup remover!

Here is a neat little beauty trick - If you want to turn a mineral shadow or old crumbled cosmetic into a cream makeup, all you need to do is mix the powder with a little Waxelene. When you combine the two you'll have a brand new cream eye shadow, blush, or gloss.

I highly suggest you check Waxelene out for yourself. You won't be sorry! The Beauty Editor of Lucky Magazine even loves this stuff as well as celebrity makeup artists. The 2 oz jar only costs $6.99 so it's a worthwhile and affordable investment. You can purchase Waxelene online here  or you can find a retail location near you by clicking here.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Talk About It - Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara

If you ask women who wear cosmetics to pick their one absolute makeup must have chances are at least half of them would answer mascara. Would you?

Mascara dates all the way back to approximately 4000 BC when Ancient Egyptians lined their eyes, covered their lashes, and coated their eyebrows with a mixture of kohl, water, dung and honey. They used bone and ivory to apply the kohl mixture. The eyes were considered to be the windows to the soul so they used it to ward off evil spirits and bad energy. Men and women alike wore mascara.

Mascara was used throughout the centuries (women experimented with their own mascara concoctions at home) but it wasn't until 1917 that the first mascara was born.

The founder of Maybelline, Eugene Rimmel, created and marketed a formula that was made of petroleum and black coal dust. Luckily for us, mascara and cosmetics as a whole have come a very long way in the past 94 years.

These days there are tons of options, and the world of green and natural mascara is constantly expanding. One of the best natural mascaras I have found and used is from a company called Honeybee Gardens. Their Truly Natural Mascara is truly amazing.



Honeybee Gardens was started in 2005 and they never test on animals, package their products in recyclable materials, and use the highest quality natural and organic ingredients they can. They strive to, "Create pure, all-natural bath and body care products made from only the finest organic ingredients, offer them at a reasonable price, and treat every customer like a friend."

I love their mascara. It doesn't clump, flake, or irritate my eyes. It's extremely lightweight which is a must have for me. I've noticed that some natural mascaras feel heavy, thick and uncomfortable on my lashes but this one keeps them looking and feeling soft and weightless.

This mascara makes my eyelashes look longer, more voluminous and separated. I don't ever have a problem with my curl not holding so I can't attest to curl hold-ability. It is not waterproof, but that makes me happy because I'm not a fan of waterproof mascara formulations. It is water-resistant and safe for contact wearers. I find that it doesn't smudge throughout the day or travel. The brush is a pretty standard brush with regular bristles, but the formula is incredible.

The price could not get any better. It's only $10.99, which is comparable to drugstore mascara prices. It comes in 3 different shades – black magic, espresso (black/brown), and chocolate truffle (brown). This 100% natural mascara is fantastic and you can find it online by clicking here.

(FTC: The company so generously provided this mascara to me for review consideration. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Pumpkin Body Moisturizer

Since we've talked about how skin can get dry and flaky when the seasons change from warm to frigid, I figured we should talk DIY Pumpkin Moisturizing Body Treatment. In addition to being delicious when baked in a pie, pumpkin is really beneficial for your skin! It's got tons of enzymes and antioxidants that nourish skin and help get rid of dead skin cells.

What you need:
½ cup of pumpkin puree
½ cup of coconut oil (for moisturizing)
½ teaspoon of cinnamon (this acts as an anti-bacterial)

Take all of the ingredients and mix together until smooth in a jar or an old body butter or lotion container. I always keep old packaging so I can make and store new beauty products in them. Apply the mixture to clean skin and massage to work in. Let the treatment sit for at least 10 minutes then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

If you have any mixture left it should last for about 3-5 days before you need to toss it.

This will leave your skin feeling smooth, soft and hydrated with the added benefit of smelling like a delicious pumpkin treat.

Enjoy!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Talk About It - Painted Earth (Part 2: Cosmetics)

Happy Thursday, Beautiful! I'm excited to be here to bring you part 2 of my Painted Earth special. Today were talking about their cosmetics, so lets get started. If you missed part one you can click here.

My new daily foundation is their Perfect Every Thyme Baked Mineral Foundation. This product is a baked mineral foundation that provides just enough coverage to look naturally flawless. I've been using it every day and I couldn't be happier with it. I have the color Dover Beige and it blends perfectly into my skin. It doesn't settle into lines or just sit on top of my face. It looks like it melts into my skin to help minimize the appearance of pores and even out my skin tone. I prefer lighter foundation, so this is perfect for me. It is build-able but I feel like those of you who prefer heavier coverage won't enjoy this as much as I do.



It makes my skin feel so soft and it applies like a dream! It's so easy to use and it's got a lot of great ingredients including mica, jojoba and safflower oils, lavender, thyme, green tea, vitamin e, rosemary and magnolia bark. This would be perfect for any skin type from oily to dry and even sensitive. It doesn't clog my pores or make me look "made up". This product lets my skin breathe and lets it look like my skin, only better. The compact comes with quite a bit of domed product too, so it will last a while, even with daily use.

The Ultimate Volume Mascara is a fantastically awesome mascara. It is a fiber-based mascara, which means that the formula has fibers that attach to the ends of your lashes to make them longer. My lashes aren't particularly short and stubby but they aren't super long and luxurious either, however, when I wear this mascara you would never know that. This stuff makes my lashes look like falsies and I love it! It's great for adding length and drama.



To finish up Part 2 of Painted Earth we are going to talk about the Loose Mineral Eye Shimmer that I have in Tan-Talizing, a color that I would call a gold/copper hybrid. I really like this color, for the simple fact that it makes my blue-gray eyes look very intense and vibrant. It's a gorgeous, highly pigmented shade and the shadow is really soft and blendable. It wears well and lasts all day. If you pat the color on there is hardly any fall out and it's milled so finely that it's got a subtle shimmer as opposed to chunky glitter. This is a very nice mineral eye shadow.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments section and if you're curious about any Painted Earth products check them out online.
(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for free by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Pumpkin Mask for Dry Skin

If your skin is looking a little dry and dull today's beauty recipe will be perfect for you. Like I mentioned on Monday, pumpkin is a perfect complexion enhancer because of it's ability to nourish and exfoliate. We all want a gorgeous, glowing look and pumpkin will help us get what we want. It's got tons of vitamins like A and C, zinc, and alpha-hydroxy acids.

What you need:
½ cup of pumpkin puree
¼ cup of oil (you can use jojoba, olive, or softened coconut oil)
2 tbs honey
2 tbs heavy cream (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients together until blended and spread the mixture over your clean face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before removing with warm water and a soft wash cloth.

Your skin will look refreshed, brightened, and renewed!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Talk About It - Painted Earth (Part 1: Skin Care)

The topic of Today's Talk About It is Painted Earth Skin Care and I'm so in love with this company and their products that I'm going to make this is a special with two parts. Today is going to feature Painted Earths skin care products and part 2 will be posted on Thursday with my thoughts on their cosmetics. I absolutely adore everything I was so fortunate to try from this company. I'm going to be broken hearted when I run out of them, and I look forward to trying more of their products in the future.

Painted Earth offers a very wide array of high quality and innovative skin care and cosmetics that are made with natural and organic ingredients. Their products are made in the United States in an FDA registered lab. They use only the best ingredients that are completely safe and they never tested on animals. That alone is great, but their products really speak for themselves.

Like I said, I love each and every product I tried but I would have to say my most favorite is Fresh New Eyes. This is a light, non-greasy, clear, fragrance-free gel that I have been using on my under-eye area twice a day. I have seen such a difference in my usually very dry under eyes. My dark circles have improved as well as the puffiness that usually accompanies them. I'm only 24 so I don't have wrinkles yet but I do have fine lines around my eyes and I feel like this plumps them up so they're not noticeable. It doesn't irritate my eyes or cause those small, irritating bumps (Milia) that some eye creams can do. It even works well under makeup and doesn't cause foundation or concealer to crease. This is one of my favorite beauty products ever and I would dare go as far to say that it's perfect, at least for me.



Fresh New Eyes is 99% natural and 72% organic. It comes in a .5 oz tube and a little goes a long way. I've been using it twice daily for nearly 2 months now and it is still half full. It has some really great ingredients like aloe and fruit extracts like kiwi, grape, strawberry, as well as a lot of other beneficial ingredients.



I also got to experience the joys of the Blueberry Cranberry scrub, which is one of the scrubs I use each and every week. This scrub is 98% natural and 72% organic. It makes my skin look incredible and it feels even better than it looks. It's deeply cleansing and exfoliating while still being gentle enough to not irritate my skin in the slightest bit. It's got an all-star ingredient list featuring blueberries, cranberries, rhubarb, pomegranate, dandelion, aloe, jojoba beads, hibiscus buds and olive. It decongests pores, softens, rejuvenates, and provides the skin with the nutrients it needs and desires. This scrub is more than amazing, and I couldn't be happier with it!



Next up is a product that I was initially a bit nervous to use because of its warning label stating not to use on sensitive skin but I finally broke down and tried it. The product I'm talking about is a facial mask that has been added to my weekly skin care routine because of its ability to keep my skin clear and bust breakouts in their tracks. Painted Earths Pumpkin Masque is a superstar. It's got a lot of great things in it like pumpkin, bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange and lemon extract, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger rosemary and neem oil. It smells just like pumpkin puree. It tingles and is a bit uncomfortable upon first application but settles down. I do this mask once a week, or if I feel a breakout coming on. I apply a thin layer on clean skin and let it sit for 5 minutes before washing off. I owe this mask a lot because it keeps my skin looking clear and smooth as well as luminous and bright. People have been complimenting my skin and asking me what I am using.



Speaking of pimples, lets move on to Boo Boo Gel which is an ointment made with essential oils that helps ail many different things like blemishes, bug bites, cuts, sores, sunburns, razor burn, large pores, bruises and whatever else might be bothering you. This is a gel like product that my family and I have been using for everything since we got it. It's an inflammatory and antibacterial that really helps clear up everything that I mentioned. It's my go-to for bug bites (I'm allergic to mosquito bites, so this really saved me a few times) and pimples. It's great, cooling, and smells good!

I hope you can tell how passionate I am about Painted Earth and their wonderful products. On Thursday I'll be sharing my thoughts on the makeup items I got to try with you (I love all of them too!). If you're interested in checking out their website or their products you can find them online. To read my review of Painted Earth's Cosmetics please click here.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Easy Pumpkin Pie Bath Salts

Lately I have been completely obsessed with any and every thing pumpkin spice scented or flavored. I start my day off with a homemade pumpkin spice coffee drink, work with my pumpkin spice candle lit near my desk, and snack on pumpkin spice bagels. When I said obsessed I really mean addicted. This week we'll be discussing pumpkin beauty recipes and tomorrow and Thursday I even have a Talk About It on a company who makes and sells a pumpkin mask that I adore (as well as many other phenomenal products).




This recipe makes a great holiday gift for someone you love, a friend, or even as a special treat for yourself. It's such a simple recipe but it smells delicious and you can package it in cute little glass bottles or jars that you decorate.

What you need:
1 cup of Epsom salts
½ cup of baking soda
1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice (depends on your personal tastes)

Combine all of the ingredients together and use a funnel to pour the bath salts into your bottle or jar. Run as much as you desire under running water, soak, and relax.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Talk About It - La Isha Orange-Coconut Skin Polish

You beauties know how much I enjoy a good facial scrub. Nothing means clear, clean skin more than a good exfoliation session to me. I have a very set skin care routine, meaning that I wash my face twice a day, do a scrub twice a week, and a facial mask once a week. Today I'm going to introduce you to one of the scrubs that I use– La Isha's Orange-Coconut Skin Polish.



La Isha is the type of company I love– a company with a touching and powerful story behind it. Sharon Gnatt Epel began the company after a very scary and potentially devastating experience in her teenage sons life occurred.

In June of 2005, her son got to travel to Costa Rica to take part in a summer Rainforest Program, unfortunately his trip was cut short when illegal, and toxic, chemicals from a nearby plantation made their way into the river after a heavy rainfall. Her son waded into the water and his hands and knees came into contact with these chemicals.

Within hours of exposure small blisters began to form on his skin, and continued to grow until he was taken to the hospital. Aaron was diagnosed with second-degree burns and sent back to America, where Sharons friend who also happened to be a doctor, told her that he suspected it was chemical burns. He suggested that they treat his burns with medical-grade essential oils as opposed to typical burn treatment, which would have left his hands scarred for life.

They only used essential oils on Aaron's hands and nothing else. His hands are now better and are totally clear of any scarring or discoloration. The improvement she saw in his hands led Sharon to learn more about essential oils, wondering what they could do for people with wrinkles, age spots or even sun damage which in turn led to the creation of La Isha, the only natural anti-aging skin care line developed exclusively for women "who refuse to be defined by their age".

I love their story and I love what their products stand for. La Isha products are formulated with only pure, essential oils of the highest quality and are 100% natural. All of their products are vegan and PETA certified as well as gluten free. The products they offer are highly effective and pure. They offer a holistic approach to beauty.

The Orange-Coconut Skin Polish is wonderful because it can be used on your face, body, lips, and even under your eyes. It smells like something I want to eat by the spoonful and it leaves my skin superbly smooth and supple. This scrub is a sugar-based exfoliant with medical grade essential oils as well as neem oil, rosemary, vitamin E, coconut oil, and pomegranate.

I think sugar based scrubs are my favorite because the sugar granules melt which helps me not over-exfoliate (which is highly probable). Using this is the perfect way to keep my healthy glow. It hydrates, de-flakes, and plumps up my skin for a smoother look. I love using it on my lips too because it leaves them looking great. It takes just a small scoop massaged over damp skin to get the effect that is desired.

It's a bit on the pricey side at $50 for 4 oz. but the smell is uplifting and the product works really hard to make your skin looks it's best. You can find more information about La Isha and browse their products at http://www.la-isha.com/

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Talk About It - Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty is collection of lip products that are made with all-natural, good enough to eat ingredients. They are completely safe and nontoxic as well as highly pigmented and long lasting. They feature reservatol, which is a super antioxidant that has a large fan following, organic shea butter, super foods, and food grade color.

They offer a wide range of products a vast array of shades from nude to burgundy and everything in between. Their product line includes Luminous Crème Lipstick, Vitamin Gel, Lip Shine, Superfruit butter and the 3 products I got to try which are the: High Pigment Matte Pencil, Lip Rouge, and the SPF 15 Sheer Balm. Every type of glam goddess will have their pick of their perfect product whether you like a dramatic pout, sheer tinted lips, or a creamy and flawless mouth.

Let's start with my favorite first, which just happens to be the SPF 15 Sheer Balm Рyou guys know how much I adore tinted lip balms! I have the shade Cr̬me that is a nude pink color, and it looks incredible on me. It's very wearable and flattering on my pale skin. I have darker pigmented colored lips and the combo is great. It's really moisturizing and keeps doing its job for hours. It also tastes lovely since it has organic mint and blood orange essential oils. It can be used on it's own for daily use or layered under another product for a more intense effect.



Next up is the Lip Rouge, which also can double up as a cheek color. I have the color Apple. Apple is a red shade and it's not exactly a typical color I would have picked for myself but it's a nice change. You can easily build up the color. It's very smooth on the lips since it has jojoba oil, but I have yet to try it on my cheeks seeing as I'm not sure I can pull off a red toned cheek. It's small and compact so it's perfect for tossing in your bag.



Lastly, is the High Pigment Pencil which I have in the color Bramble, described as a black currant color (again, not my typical color choice). This pencil is a really cool concept that makes applying lip color so simple and precise. It's like a really chubby lip crayon. It takes the guesswork out of applying lipstick, since it has a much more precise point. It's completely matte and very longwearing. The color payoff is incredible.



If you're interested in learning more about Bite Beauty and their products you can find them at your local Sephora or online at Sephora.com.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Talk About It - Revolution Organics

Today's Talk About It is all about Revolution Organics and their fantastic all natural Freedom Lip Glosses and Freedom Glow Beauty Balms. This company has been getting a lot of attention lately including being featured in InStyle, O Magazine, Lucky, Whole Living, Marie Claire and dozens of other magazines. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe even proclaimed her love for Freedom Glow by naming it one of her top 10 conscience cosmetics.

After being able to try their products, it's not a surprise that Revolution Organics is such a hot topic. I truly believe that their products are superstars of the Natural and Organic cosmetics world. Melissa Shabinsky and Alexandra Zanella, the creators of the company, took a brilliant idea and turned it into a reality.

Their idea sprung from a personal desire to simplify their lives and make the most healthy and responsible lifestyle choices they could, down to the cosmetics that they used. They wanted products that were not only healthy but also luxurious and multi-purpose. Their website says, "Our vision translated into a collection of healthy, pure, certified organic products that filled our beauty void … we hope it fills yours."

They certainly filled my beauty void! I love their products. The colors are remarkable and the textures are so smooth. They only use organic plant-based ingredients (like oils, herbs, butters and perfume blends) that benefit the skin in some way, so they help your skin instead of harming it and they really are excellent multi-taskers. They were designed to do more so you can use less. They are also USDA approved!

Their product line includes 5 Freedom Lip Glosses, 3 Freedom Glow Beauty Balms, an All-Over Skin Crème, an All-Over Body Balm, and a Lip Balm. I was sent the lip glosses and the beauty balm to try and I can't begin to tell you how obsessed I am with them! All 8 products I have from Revolution Organics are utterly fantastic.

Freedom Lip Gloss comes in 5 shades with adorable packaging and a clever name. These are perfect for me since they have no sticky, tacky feeling to them whatsoever. They are also really moisturizing and have a lovely color payoff. They are made with organic plant proteins and extracts as well as jojoba oil, shea butter, aloe vera, olive oil, beeswax, and mineral based pigments. They are chocked full of vitamins and antioxidants and they are packaged in an eco-friendly tube that is recyclable and biodegradable. They are a bit pricey at $26 each, but it's worth it, because do you know how much lip gloss and lip stick women eat on average in their lifetime? It's gross!

Here is a rundown of the shades:
Innocent is a really soft baby pink
Integrity is a shimmering golden rose
Truth is a sheer pink
Freedom is a strawberry red
Vibe is a warm peach



I was attracted to all of the colors but I was a little put off by Vibe at first, because it appeared to be kind of a rusty shade that I wasn't sure would flatter my skin tone, but once I applied it I fell in love. It really warms up my complexion and looks great! All of the shades are very wearable and lovely.
For as much as I love the Freedom Lip Glosses, I'm even more passionate about the Freedom Glow Beauty Balms which have become my go-to beauty products. Freedom Glow Beauty Balms are creamy stick products that can be used anywhere Рeye lids, lips, cheeks, and even d̩collet̩ Рthat come in 3 flattering colors, and really provides a glow. Just like the lip gloss these are 100% natural and healthy.

They have a gorgeous, dewy finish that makes you look like you're glowing from the inside. They're perfect for travel, tossing in your purse when you're on the run, or keeping on your vanity. They are super blendable, creamy and hydrating, and really easy to use. All 3 shades look great on me, and I'm really addicted to all of them.


(Bronzed is a golden tan, Sunkissed is a coral peach, and Blushed is a pink)

I even use Bronzed as my contour color and apply either Sunkissed or Blushed on my apples. I think Blushed will be especially perfect in the winter for a "just came in from the cold" flush. All 3 colors are very natural and would work for anyone. I don't have a favorite shade although I probably get the most use out of Bronzed.

If you're interested in Revolution Organics you can find them at http://www.revolutionorganics.com and if you try anything please let me know what you think. I highly recommend these products, and I'll be showing you how to use them once I get my new youtube channel up and running. See you soon, beauties!

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, and my own and honest.)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Talk About It - 100% Pure

How cool would it be if a cosmetic company used fruit pigments to provide color to their products? Well luckily for us, there is a company who actually does this called 100% Pure Cosmetics. They formulate their products to be not only beautiful and beneficial but also nourishing, as they are chocked full of vitamins and antioxidants. Their products are exactly what their name implies – completely pure and natural and I'm really liking them! I especially love their cosmetics, and I plan on getting more because they are THAT awesome!

This company is marvelous, so let me tell you just a few reasons why: Every single one of their products are made without parabens, sulfates, synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, detergents, or any toxic ingredients. They never test on animals and are vegan, with the exception of their products that contain cruelty free honey. They are also gluten free! All of this information I just threw at you means one thing – 100% pure products are safe for everyone!

I want to start off with my favorite product – the Fruit Pigmented Powdered Blush. I've never been more in love with a blush before now. It's absolutely amazing and I have used it every day since I got it because it's the most flattering blush I have ever worn. I have the color healthy which is described on their website as a coral bronze color but I don't think that does it justice. I think its kind of a pinkish-tawny-bronzey natural looking color. It's like my natural flush, only better! It has mica, which is a natural shimmer, but I don't notice any shimmer on my skin at all which I like. It goes on smoothly and easily, lasts all day, and comes in the cutest packaging ever. This is my new favorite blush and I think it will continue to hold that title for a very long time.



Woo… that was long winded, but it deserves an entire blog post dedicated to its amazing-ness but I'll leave it at that.

I also got to try a Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze, and I have the shade Vixen. Vixen is described as a coral color but I would say its more on the pink side. Its one of the most flattering lip colors that I have, and it doesn't bother my lips (which we know happens a lot!). I really like the package, in fact, I like the companies packaging in general. The formula is so silky and really makes my lips feel great. You should check out the ingredient list, it's superb!



Next up is the Carrot Facial Scrub. I really love scrubs in general and I really look forward to biweekly scrubbing sessions. First of all, this scrub smells incredible! It's a very gentle scrub, so it can be used daily if desire and would even work for those with the most sensitive skin, and it's hydrating too. It leaves my skin feeling really, really, really soft.



Oh my goodness, I almost forgot about one of my favorite things ever – grape scented lotion! I was sent some foil packets of the Cabernet Grape and Green Apple Body Cream and the grape is absolutely divine. I need to purchase a full size tube of this ASAP. It smells exactly like Grapeheads, which sent me into another weird craving spell where I drank grape soda and ate Grapeheads nonstop for about a week.

Okay, now I'm done.

Have you ever tried 100% Pure Cosmetics? I want to know your experience if you have, or if you haven't just tell me which products you'd be interested in trying. You can find them online here. Check them out and let me know what you think. Have a great day, beauties!

(FTC: 100% Pure provided me with these products for review consideration. I am not being compensated to write this review and as always all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Talk About It - Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

In my quest to find healthier, better for you makeup I was lucky enough to find Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on a handful of products with you today, but first – a little background on Jane Iredale.

Jane started the company in 1994 and was the first to supply the aesthetics industry with a full line of mineral makeup. Before starting her company, she worked as a commercial casting director, then moved to TV and film, and then on to the theater. She also started her very own production company where she produced over 50 programs. She has won an Emmy, a Tony Award, and the George Foster Peabody Award. Being in the entertainment industry she saw that good makeup artists only enhanced natural beauty and that healthy, clear skin and complexions boost self-confidence. All of her experiences led her to create a makeup line that helps skin look and be healthier. Her makeup is called "The Skin Care Makeup".

Jane Iredale makes a really awesome tinted moisturized called Dream Tint. Not only does this product even out my skin tone, give my face a lovely fresh looking glow (because it's neither matte nor too dewy), and leave my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth it also protects my face with SPF 15. It's very light and extremely natural looking. I use the shade light, but there is something for everyone between their 5 shades, 2 color corrector moisture tints, and the bronzer. I really like to wear this alone for day to day wear but it also makes a great base for powder foundation. It comes in a very generous 2 fl oz tube and it does have a very slight scent to it, but it's not overpowering or long lasting so it's very inoffensive.

This is what their website has to say about the product: This super-absorbent product not only hydrates, but prevents water loss, calms inflammation and improves the skin's elasticity. Plus, Dream Tint creates a soft-focus effect that minimizes the look of large pores and fine lines.



I was also sent the blending brush which is recommend for applying the Dream Tint, but can also be used for many other cream or powder based products. I really like this brush, although I use it for blush now instead of foundation or Dream Tint. It works in so many different ways but the reason I like it for blush is because it picks up and distributes the perfect amount. It's made out of both natural goat hair and Taklon fiber.

The last product I'm going to talk about is the Eye Steppes. This is such a neat concept, in really cute packaging, and I'm so glad I got to try it out! Eye Steppes are 5 different compacts consisting of 5 different eye shadow colors. They offer shades meant for different skin tones or eye colors (although you can pick whichever one suits your personal tastes best) like goBlue, goBrown, goCool, goWarm and goGreen which is the one I have. I have blue eyes but the goGreen is still really flattering on me. It features 5 colors – a pretty sparkling peach shade, a lilac, a brown, a shimmering olive green and a matte grape. All of the shadows go on smoothly, last all day, and don't irritate my eyes. I'm really happy with the texture and color payoff of these eye shadows.



All of her products boast an ingredient list that would make any green goddess proud. My skin loves Jane Iredale products and I love the way I look when wearing them. You can purchase Jane Iredale products at a number of online retailers and other locations which you can find by clicking here. Visit their website for more info about the products I've talked about today and let me know if you have any questions or if you want to share your experience with Jane Iredale makeup.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration. I am not being compensated to write this review. As always, all thoughts and opions are my own.)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Talk About Cosmetics - Real Purity Cosmetics


I hope you had a great weekend, beauty. I know I did! Every day the sun is shining and I'm breathing is a good day. I'm easy to please in most cases, except when it comes to cosmetics. I'm pretty picky when it comes to the products that I use to enhance my natural features. I'm pleased to introduce you to a wonderful cosmetic line that meets all of my expectations, plus some!

Real Purity is a company that creates and sells skin care, cosmetics, and hair products using only the finest natural ingredients. They don't use any chemicals or synthetic ingredients in their products because they have a firm commitment to making products that do not harm people, animals, or the environment. Their products are organic and formulated by naturopathic doctors, biochemists, nutritionists, herbalists, natural estheticians and other people who really know their stuff.

I absolutely love what Real Purity is all about. Their mission is a noble one and I commend them for being dedicated to taking care of the environment and helping others. They put people before profit and plan to stay that way. I love everything this company stands for. They have a wonderful mission, superb products and they're really nice people too! The VP personally called me to tell me more about Real Purity, and sounded so passionate about the company that his Grandmother Virginia started.

I got to try out so many products and I don't think I can pick a favorite so I'll start with the order I apply my makeup. First up is the Health Glow Foundation. Since our skin absorbs 60% of what is put on it, I have always been a firm believer in using the best, high-end foundations that I can. Real Purity has created a foundation that has a very limited ingredient list – 5 total! It's simple, so it's healthy yet effective. It's more of a light to medium coverage but I don't need much coverage. You fuller coverage girls won't love this as much as I do, but it's a worth a try for everyone else. It even outs my skin tone and makes my skin look great. The color Light Beige is perfect for me, and it blends right into my skin. It's easy to spread onto my face and it's not too matte or too dewy. It's really nice!



Next is the Disguise System concealer, and I have the color light. This product features 11 ingredients. I could not believe how big this product is. The say numerous times on their website that their products are never nano-sized and it's true! I was shocked. I love this concealer, a lot! It's perfect for blemishes and under eye circles. It makes my skin look naturally flawless, as opposed to other concealers that leave me looking like I'm wearing a mask! I can't say enough good things about this. Oh, and it smells good to me, like cucumbers.

I don't know if I've shared with you all that I've recently become a total and complete blush junkie. I used to just use bronzer, and that was it, but now I'm realizing that blush is the perfect topping for any look. The Real Purity blushes are so great! I have the color Shrimp, which looks intimidating in the pan but turns into a really gorgeous, almost natural looking flush when applied to the cheeks. It's beautiful, smooth, and long-wearing. I need to collect more of these! They even have cream blushes which are on my wish list now. They have gorgeous colors, and there is something for everyone!



Next up is the Holistic Formula Mascara. I have it in Black/Brown and I think I lied before because this is actually my favorite product out of the bunch. I'm extra picky with mascara, but I'm madly in love with this one. I dare say that it's even my Holy Grail mascara, no joke! It makes my lashes look defined, long, and dark but it keeps them soft, which is something I've never experienced with any other mascara before. I can't use any other mascara now because they just feel so heavy and make my lashes uncomfortable. I can almost swear that my lashes look and feel healthier too. This has only 8 ingredients, and it's a magical combination, because this mascara is incredible.

The last product I got to try is something that sounded perfect for me, since I'm ill. The product I'm talking about is the hypo-allergenic Healing Lotion. It is meant to soothe aches, pains, and sore joints and muscles which it does! It smells a bit medicinal but the scent quickly dissipates after application. It leaves my skin feeling cool and more relaxed. I really like this lotion. It's not meant to be moisturizing, so it's not beneficial in that sense but it really does help get rid of aches!



If you're in the market for organic, all-natural cosmetics, skincare, or hair products go explore Real Purity at www.realpurity.com. I put my stamp of approval on their products and I know that you'll like them too! Everything I've tried from them has been added into my regular beauty routine and will continue to have a spot in the lineup from now on. In fact, I'm planning on checking out some other products very soon. Have fun shopping and let me know if you pick up anything from their store, and what you think of their products.

(FTC: Real Purity was so kind and generous - they provided me with these products at no charge so I could try and possibly review them. I am not being paid to write this review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Black Tea for Beauty

I’ve talked about how green tea can help your skin look its best, but black tea is also a superstar who works hard to beautify and rejuvenate the skin. It’s often overlooked because its green cousin tends to steal the spotlight. Don’t doubt black tea, because it can do a lot of wonderful things for us. Let’s jump right into the details of why I think black tea is so amazing (other than its delicious taste, of course)!

If you feel a blemish coming, just steep some black tea in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Apply the tea bag directly to the pimple and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, although the longer the better! When you remove the tea bag from the blemish, don’t rinse the tea off. It’s important to leave the tea on the skin because it will continue to work its magic throughout the day. This is my go-to blemish buster. It works so unbelievably well!

Oh, and remember the green tea toner recipe I shared with you a few weeks ago? You can make the same toner using black tea, instead of green. It works in almost the same way. I don’t recommend black tea for those of you with very, very fair skin as it can stain and leave a bronze look (which we’ll talk about a little later).

Acne on places other than the face, such as the back or chest, can be really frustrating. If you’re one of those who have body acne run a warm bath and throw in some (6 or so) black tea bags. Soak and relax for as long as you’d like. It will help work to clear your body blemishes.

You can also take a tea bath if you have an uncomfortable sunburn. If you’re in too much pain to take a bath, just make yourself a cool compress. All you need to do is make a bowl of black tea, and refrigerate it until its cool. Once it’s at a nice, cold temperature soak a cloth in the bowl and apply the cloth to your skin. You can do this same thing for itchy bug bites too! A spray bottle full of the tea can also work. Just spritz it on!

You might already know that you can refrigerate used tea bags and use as an eye compress to de-puff and rejuvenate tired eyes. The caffeine in the tea is helpful in making eyes look less swollen. Its quick and it’s easy!

Everyone gets sweaty, smelly feet at some point in their lives (especially in hot, summer months) but tea can help eliminate foot odor. You need to soak your feet in a tub full of darkly brewed black tea for half an hour. The tannins in the tea will help control the smell of your feet and also make them feel cooler and relaxed.

Want a simple way to make your lips look smoother? Just grab a warm tea bag and apply it to your lips for 5 minutes. This will also help your lips retain their moisture!

Okay, and the last thing I want to talk about it self tanning using tea bags. I haven’t actually tried this, but I read about it and I’m very intrigued by the idea. I’m all about covering up and using SPF whenever I go outside, but I’m also disgusted by the scents of self tanning products, so I have embraced my pale skin tone. However, if I can use tea bags to give my skin a bronze glow, I’m all over that! Here is the article on how to make it - http://www.ehow.com/how_5043769_tan-naturally.html If any of you have tried this, please let me know in the comments what you think of it and if it worked or not!

As always, if you know of any other beauty uses for tea let me know! I always like to hear your suggestions!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Luxurious lip scrub

Lips looking a little rough around the edges? Try making my favorite quick and highly effective scrub to make your lips look smooth and full! All you need is honey, olive oil, and brown sugar. The honey is antibacterial so it kills any germs while the oil moisturizes. The brown sugar acts as the exfoliant.

Just take a small container and fill about halfway with the brown sugar, put in a small amount of honey, and enough olive oil to create a paste-like scrub. Mix all of the ingredients together and you get an extremely cheap scrub to de-flake and make lips feel luscious. Wet your lips and apply the scrub, rubbing in gentle circular motions. I recommend doing this only once or twice a week as your lips can be very sensitive.

If you don't want to use this or any scrub on your lips, you can take a damp toothbrush and rub over your lips to remove dead skin and flakes.

I hope these tips help keep your lips looking and feeling better than ever before!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Talk About It - Honey Girl Organics

Happy Talk About It Tuesday! I hope all of you beauties are doing well on this fine summer day!
I've been day dreaming a lot lately about a trip that I'm planning for next June. I'm really excited about this trip because it will be my first time on the lovely islands that make up Hawaii. I can't wait to sit on the beach and drink a virgin pina colada while digging my toes into the sand. Since it's still a year away I needed something to add into my daily routine that reminded me of what is to come on my Island getaway, which is where today's products come into the picture.

Honey Girl Organics (www.honeygirlorganics.com) is a company that is based in Haleiwa, Hawaii. They have a wide selection of natural and organic beauty products which are filled with the best ingredients they can find, with no chemicals or artificial preservatives. Each and every product they create and sell is made with only edible ingredients because they believe that you should only put on your body what you would be willing to put into your body and I couldn't agree with them more.

One of the founders of the company kept bees as a hobby which led him to create crèmes using honey and beeswax for his wife. Honey Girl Organics uses honey, beeswax, pollen and propolis in their products and combines the beehive ingredients with olive oil. Bee ingredients are great antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, collagen stimulators, as well natural humectants and emollients that provide the skin with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids. Mix these two types of ingredients together and what you get is skincare gold.

First and foremost – the packaging is so gorgeous and of such high quality! I'm stunned by the beautiful jars they come in. Okay, let's start dishing about the actual products now.

I'm going to talk about the most interesting product I have ever tried first. I use the word interesting because I'm at an absolute loss of words when it comes to describing the facial scrub. I have never used anything that is even a little bit similar to this product. It's absolutely fantastic! It smells wonderful and it leaves my skin feeling unbelievably soft and smooth. I was actually giddy after the first time I used this scrub because it's so unique and incredible. It has only 8 ingredients including aloe, coconut butter, cane sugar, honey, diatomaceous earth, papaya and pineapple enzymes and essential oil – all of which are organic.



It has a thick, granular consistency that you massage onto a slightly damp face. You can add more water to adjust the level of exfoliation you desire. Massage in small circles all over face, but be sure to avoid the eye and mouth area since they are more delicate and sensitive. Rinse with lukewarm water, and use a washcloth to remove the extra scrub that may be remaining.

I can't even describe how much face feels when I'm done. It feels softer and more silky than ever, and that's not an over exaggeration. You have to try it for yourself because I wasn't kidding when I said I was at a loss for words. You'll just have to take my word when I say it's incredible. I use this 1-2 times a week depending on my exfoliation needs.

After I'm done exfoliating I apply the Extra Sensitive Face and Eye Crème. They have a regular version as well, but I always gravitate towards sensitive formulations. This crème is great because it allows you to combine two steps into one. I've never really understood why many companies sell separate face crèmes and an eye crème, so it's awesome that Honey Girl Organics has made a product that it both an eye and a face crème in one. This product has an all-star ingredient list including extra virgin olive oil, Hawaiian purified water, beeswax, raw pupukea wildflower honey, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly and d-alpha vitamin E.



This product really makes my skin feel hydrated and healthy without feeling heavy or greasy. I also feel like it plumps up my skin and make it look more youthful. I am only 24 but I'm starting to see myself aging and developing some very fine lines around my eyes so I feel like this is really helping my skin look younger. It doesn't irritate my skin at all and I'm really enjoying it. I think it's so luxurious! Oh, and a little bit goes a very long way!

I forgot to mention above that all of their products are cruelty-free and noncomedogenic, and their customer service is top notch. These products would suit just about anyone and everyone. I love them, especially the facial scrub if you couldn't tell by my rambling! Go check them out today because I know you'll really enjoy them as well! See you tomorrow!

 FTC: Honey Girl Organics sent me these products free of charge to test and possibly review. I am not being compensated to write this review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Talk About It - Grateful Body Skin Care

Writing the Talk About It features are so much fun for me and todays company spotlight is one I am very excited about. I am overjoyed to be able to introduce you to a wonderful, natural skincare line today called Grateful Body whom you can find at http://www.gratefulbody.com/. I have been using their products twice a day for a month now and I couldn't be any more thrilled with the results I have seen.

Grateful body is a skincare company that uses only the best, natural ingredients in their products. They are based out of Berkley, California and have been around since 1998. Their mission is to "bring you 100% natural skin care that is nourishing, effective and luxurious while supporting the health of your skin, your body, and your planet."

The company is a family business that started after the founder and creator lost two of his sisters to cancer. He then began to examine what chemicals we put in and onto our bodies in the name of beauty which led to Grateful Body skincare products. They use only the highest quality raw ingredients they can find, most of the time they even use things that have been grown locally, and do not include any of the yucky stuff like chemical fragrances or colors, synthetic preservatives, GMOs, petroleum or coal tar and the rest of the bad for your body ingredients that are often found in other beauty products. They are also vegan and cruelty free!

I love everything this company stands for and I really love their products. I was ecstatic about the opportunity I was given to try some of their products out. I was sent all 3 of the unscented Extra Gentle products – facial cleanser, toner and moisturizer – as well as the Clear Skin Treatment for acne and blemishes. The reason I chose the Extra Gentle line is because they are unscented and appropriate for those who are immune compromised. I have an illness so this was something that really made me excited. I'm very sensitive to scent so this was perfect for me!



Before I start talking about the actual product I want to be superficial for a moment. When the box arrived and I opened it I became speechless. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous! The cardboard tube the products come in is lovely as well as the glass bottles the product is in. They would look great sitting on any sink or vanity! I love each and every step of this set!



The cleanser is a lotion-y consistency that spreads smoothly over the face. It rinses off so easily and cleanly but leaves my face feeling clean without the stripped or dry feeling other cleansers can leave behind. At night I use my Olay Skin Cleansing Brush with it and my skin glows! As soon as I get out of the shower I spritz 2 sprays of the toner directly into my hand and then pat gently onto my face. I follow the toner with half a pump of the moisturizer, which is more than enough to cover my entire face (they even say on the bottle that you will probably need to use much less than you are used to!).
The Clear Skin Treatment is also really great, and has really helped to keep my hormonal acne from flaring up like it normally does once a month. The smell of this product is a bit strong (but not offensive) at first but when you get used to it's hardly detectable. It's also a spray and I apply it to my face much like I do the toner. I don't like spraying things directly onto my face, although I'm not quite sure why. You can use whichever method you prefer.



I cannot even begin to tell you how many compliments I have received about my skin since I've started using this line. My skin looks amazing! And it feels even better than it looks. It feels clean, hydrated, and like healthy skin should feel. I'm neither oily nor dry. Nothing is perfect in this world, but my skin is currently as close to perfect as it can be, and this is NOT an overstatement. I will forever be a loyal Grateful Body user from here on out.

Oh, and I forgot to mention how spectacular their customer service is! Mathea is the sweetest, and I really enjoyed e-mailing with her. I'm in love with this company and everything about them! I'm so excited they are letting me give one of you the opportunity to fall in love with them too!

They also gave me a discount code to share with all of you. If you want to place an order, just use the coupon code BAYAREA to get 15% of the products of your choice!

FTC: Grateful Body was so kind and generous to send me their Sensitive Skin Basics Set as well as the Clear Skin Treatment. All opinions are my own, and I am not being paid for this review. Thank you, Grateful Body!