Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Talk About It - DleCosmetics

Today we are talking gorgeous gloss with a fantastic finish that comes in three shimmering shades. DleCosmetics creates the perfect gloss for green goddesses on the go. I recently had the opportunity to try all three of their glosses and have fallen in love. You all know how sensitive my lips are to gloss (let's be honest, they're sensitive to just about everything!) but this gloss is wonderful!



This all-natural gloss formula is incredible. This product has been formulated with all natural ingredients including Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Beeswax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Kaolin, Cocoa Butter, Carrot Powder, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, just to name a few.

These glosses are hydrating, nourishing, and completely visually stunning. My lips love the smoothness and hydration they provide. They are not sticky, gooey, or clumpy. While all three do have shimmer, none of them are chunky or too glittery, in fact they look like a more grown up version of the shimmery glosses that I loved when I was a young teen. All three shades are super flattering and easy to wear.


Pink Fetish is my favorite, but I really do love all three. Pink Fetish is the perfect pink for every day wear. It's a very natural, delicate pink that has a lovely pearl finish. This color looks amazing with my coloring and I have a feeling it looks great on any and all skin tones. It is so wearable!

Jess Barely is a shimmering champagne that has the perfect balance between nude and pink. This is the least pigmented shade and appears sheer on my lips, but I still really like it. It makes a great gloss for layering over lipstick.

The final shade is Poison Apple, the perfect red gloss that even Snow White would love. In the tube this particular gloss can appear a bit intimidating if you're not used to wearing bold shades but once applied to the lips it appears less intense and more like a sheer red berry shade. This one has the largest particles of shimmer/glitter but they're not too big.


 Now let us talk about the awesome and innovative packaging. Each gloss has a built in LED light that automatically lights up when the tube is opened. There is also a mirror built into the side of the packaging, which means no matter where you are you can apply your gloss perfectly making this the perfect gloss to keep in your purse. I used to have a little bit of a party girl side and I definitely could have used this back then.

The last thing I should mention is how affordable DleCosmetics Light Up Glosses are. Each costs $8.95 individually or you can purchase all three for $19.95. Their shipping is also great at a flat rate of $3.95.

If you're on the hunt for the perfect all-natural gloss I highly suggest you check out DleCosmetics. I absolutely love their gloss and can't wait to check out their fall shades.



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Back to School Sanitizer

It's that time of year again, time to head back to school, and we all know that germs love to lurk in the hallways, linger on desks, and get passed from kid to kid. Thinking about germs can make anyone a little nervous but reaching for the commercial hand sanitizer is not the wisest choice. They are typically full of yucky stuff and smell like pure alcohol… yuck! Step away from the Purell and try making your own sanitizing spray with this easy recipe.



What you need:

2 ½ tablespoons of lemon witch hazel (Thayers is my favorite!)
1 tablespoon of tea tree oil
25 drops of lavender, lemon, or peppermint essential oils


 Put all of the ingredients into a little plastic spray bottle (that you can find at almost any drugstore/grocery store/beauty supply/dollar store) and you can throw it in your purse, keep it on your desk, or use it anywhere you feel the need to disinfect. You will need to shake it before each use since the ingredients have a tendency to separate. Spray it a few times directly into your hands and rub them together to de-germ. This spray should help stave off those yucky germs that cause illness and it's perfect for back to school time!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Talk About It - Eco Lips +Giveaway! (closed)

Today we are talking lip balm, which is one of my absolute favorite topics. I have said it before and will say it time and time again, the truth is I'm obsessed with lip balms. However deep my love for lip balms runs, I'm very picky. I consider myself to be a connoisseur of lip balm and love trying new ones. I recently got to pick and try several Eco Lips lip balms and have found love with all four of them. None of them irritate my super sensitive lips, are handcrafted in the USA (Cedar Rapids, Iowa to be exact), and are cruelty free, eco-friendly and made with certified organic ingredients.


The first one I tried (and one of you will actually get to win your own tube of) is the Eco Lips Gold USDA Certified Organic Lip Balm. This lip balm is Fair Trade Certified, unflavored, unscented, and highly moisturizing. Its ingredient list is made up of Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Baobab Oil, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Organic Rosemary Extract, and Organic Calendula Extract. It's a simple lip balm but it's incredibly long lasting and hydrating. My lips adore this balm and anybody and everybody would feel the same way. This lip balm (and the one that is up for giveaway) came with an Eco-Clip, which is a handy recycled aluminum carabiner.


Up next is the Ecotints lip balm I selected. I chose Plush Red, which is a gorgeous sheer red shade that suits me and my coloring. It has a very slight vanilla scent and flavor. It is very moisturizing and provides such a lovely buildable color. I absolutely love tinted lip balms and have decided that this one is my new favorite. I want to purchase the other shades too because this tinted lip balm is excellent and worth picking up in every color. It is very natural looking and smoothing. It's ingredient list is comprised of Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Castor Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Vanilla, Organic Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, and Candelilla Wax.

I was really excited when I came across a lip balm created in mirror image of my favorite juice by Honest Kids. Despite that fact that I'm 25 years old, I still really love the Berry Berry Good Lemonade juice pouches and couldn't pass up the Honest Kids Berry Berry Good Lemonade Lip Balm. Made up of Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Berry Flavor, Organic Lemon Flavor, Organic Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, and Organic Calendula Flower Extract it is 100% edible. It smells and tastes just like the juice I love so much. It's seriously yummy!


The final lip balm I chose to take for a test drive is the ONE WORLD Relax Calming Lip Balm in Lavender Lemon. This lip balm is made with Fair Trade Cocoa Butter and Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Grapeseed Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Vanilla Flavor, Vitamin E, Organic Essential Oils of Lemon, Lavender, and Sweet Orange. It comes in an oversized tube coming in at .25 ounces. It smells so good, although it doesn't have much of a flavor. It's hydrating, soothing, and the lavender helps keep you relaxed. The combination of real lavender, lemon, and vanilla is a winner!


To learn more about the company and their products please click here to be taken to their website.

To win your very own Eco Lips Gold Lip Balm with an Eco Clip click HERE.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Roses Are Red...

Roses are beautiful, timeless, fragrant and also therapeutic. Rose water has been used and revered for centuries all over the world for so many different purposes. It is said that Cleopatra even used rosewater as part of her daily beauty routine and loved it! It has antibacterial, soothing, antiseptic and healing benefits. It is often used in cosmetics, skincare, hair products, medicine and even for cooking and baking.

Rose water is very effective when it comes to skin infections and problems. It can hydrate dry skin, reduce swelling and redness, purify and tone the skin, and help with blemishes. It can also tame irritated, sensitive skin. You can find rose water available for purchase at any store with a good natural or organic section, but you can make your own at home. It's so easy, and when you make your own you know for a fact that it is high quality and 100% natural.

You need 1 cup of rose petals (make sure to rinse them well before beginning), packed down in the measuring cup like you would do with flour or brown sugar while baking. Put the petals into a heat resistant bowl and pour two cups of boiling distilled water over them; use just enough to cover them. Steep for half and hour before pouring the rosewater through a strainer into a bottle or jar of your choosing. Your rosewater will be good for about 7 to 10 days in your refrigerator.


You can use your rosewater for:
Toning your face after cleansing
As an aftershave to calm the skin
Spraying on your face to cool and refresh
Adding to your bath to smooth skin
Creating your own natural beauty products

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Quick Tip - Get Rid of Greasy Hair

Summer is my favorite season but the harsh sun at high temperatures can lead to greasy skin and hair. In addition to sweaty strands, spending time in salt water or backyard swimming pools can cause hair to need a little extra care and cleansing. If your hair needs a little clarifying, all you need is two common household ingredients to bring your hair back to it's full potential.



What you need:

1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Your daily shampoo

Just add the aloe and lemon juice to your regular shampoo and wash as you normally would. These two extras will help refresh and clarify your locks leaving you with clean, bouncy hair. You can use this all year long to get rid of build up as well.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Hydrated Hands and Feet

Bananas are a healthy and nutritious treat eaten by people all over the world. They make a fantastic snack but also have skin beneficial vitamins, minerals, and potassium. Since bananas are so good for the insides and outsides of our bodies there are many different ways in which you can use banana to pamper yourself and today I'll be sharing one simple recipe featuring the delicious, yellow fruit. This recipe is an easy to make hand and foot treatment for use when your skin could use a little TLC.
 


What you need:

1/2 of a ripe banana
1/2 teaspoon of honey
2 teaspoons of unsalted butter 


Mash the banana and combine with the honey and butter, mix until smooth and creamy. Spread over your hands and feet then cover with socks and gloves. If you can handle it, leave on over night. When you wake up in the morning your hands and feet will be unbelievably soft and smooth!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Quick Tip Tuesday - Citrus Bath

Want luminous, refreshed, and vibrant skin? Next time you take a bath try adding some citrus to the water. You will need 2 to 3 ripe oranges and 2 lemons (although you can use one or the other if you prefer).

Fill your tub with warm water and squeeze the juice of the oranges and lemons into the water. You can then add the actual oranges and lemons to the water as well. Soak for at least 20 minutes and relax!

Your skin will absorb the Vitamin C that is found in the orange and lemon juices leaving your body looking luminous and rejuvenated! This soak is also great for those of us with pesky body acne. The juice of the oranges and/or lemons acts as an astringent as well as an exfoliant, and helps clear and soften the skin. Please be aware that citrus can cause your skin to be sensitive to the sun for an hour or two after exposure so wear sunscreen if you're going to be out during the day. Enjoy!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Indecent Perfume Exposure

I want to do something a little bit different today and get something off of my chest. It's no secret that I'm sensitive to fragrance, or as I like to so cleverly call it - scentsitive. yes, I have the nose of a bloodhound (I can tell if you have eaten Italian food, or anything else really, in the past 72 hours) but I also have an illness, and part of that illness is chemical and fragrance sensitivity.

 Before I get too deep into this rant, I want to say that I am in no way trying to attack any of you who wear perfume or scented products. I know many of you love, use and wear perfume or other scented products like lotions and shower gels on a daily basis and even though I'm complaining about public perfume usage I want you to know that wearing fragrance in moderation is 100% acceptable.

Last week I went to see a new doctor who sends out fliers to all new patients asking them not to wear any cologne, perfume, or fragranced products while in their office. While sitting in the waiting room, an older gentleman walked in wearing so much cologne I can only imagine that he doused himself with an entire bottle of the same scent he's been wearing for the past 40 years. He literally had me gagging. It's not exactly the scent that was bothering me (although it wasn't the most pleasant odor); it was the amount.

This has happened to me numerous times throughout my life. I feel as though men and women become used to their fragrance of choice and can no longer smell it so they spray four times the recommend amount on their bodies to compensate for their adjusted noses. If you can't smell yourself, it doesn't mean the rest of the world can't smell you.

Another ridiculous story I want to share involves a mall and the beauty department inside of one of my favorite department stores. Upon walking into the store you cross the fragrance section to get to any other section. A sales associate approached my Mom and I and asked if we wanted to try the newest, hottest perfume on the shelf. We politely declined and the woman spritzed us anyway. She seriously sprayed the perfume directly onto me and my skin which sent me into an allergy and migraine induced stupor. This happened several years ago and it still appalls me to this day. Why in the world would she spray (awful smelling, by the way) perfume on a person who specifically said no. I forgot to mention that after I said no the first time she asked me if I was sure, to which I replied, "yes, I'm sure. I don't want to try this perfume. Thank you though." Spritz, spritz.
And don't even get me started on teenage boys and Axe or girls and their misuse of body spray.

I guess the whole point of this rambling and ranting is that when you are getting ready to go about your day in the morning or about to go out for a night on the town just take into consideration that there are people out in the world who are extremely sensitive to fragrance. Before you spritz that extra spray or two of perfume or cologne ask yourself if it's too much and be aware that you can set some people off in a flare up of their condition.

Has anything like this ever happened to you? I'd love to hear your odorific tales.