Simple Shampoo for Stressed Strands

I'm one of those girls who washes her hair every day even though I know it's better for your follicles to skip a day in between. I try it once in a while but for the most part I partake in a daily hair cleansing ritual but lately my hair has been really dry so I decided to experiment with making my own DIY shampoo with hydrating properties. I whipped up a batch of homemade olive oil shampoo lat week and I really like it.

What you need:
A small bottle
½ cup of liquid castile soap (I'm using Dr. Bronner's Baby-Mild)
2 tablespoons aloe vera extract (I picked up aloe vera juice that you can drink)
1 teaspoon of olive oil

You can also add essential oils or herbs if you want but I wanted to keep mine as simple as possible.




All you need to do is mix your ingredients together by shaking the bottle. Once it's mixed properly it will appear creamy and opaque. Shake before each use. It lathers surprisingly well!

Castile is a really gentle cleanser than helps get dirt, oil and other gunk out of your hair and off of your scalp while the aloe vera and olive oil will help infuse moisture to your strands. This shampoo leaves my hair so shiny and healthy looking!

Since oil makes it hard to condition I condition first and then shampoo. My hair looks great!

I'm going to continue using this until my bottle is empty and then I'll post an update for you. Let me know if you try it out too!

Talk About It - April 2012 Goodebox

I received the April Goodebox I told you I won from their Facebook page on Friday and it's everything I could have hoped for. Some monthly delivery boxes can let you down in some way but I've been fortunate enough to receive 2 boxes and both blew my mind, in a good way!


If you missed my review of the March Goodebox or need a refresher course let's cover the basics really quickly - for only $16 a month you will receive 6 or more trial sized healthy and natural beauty products shipped directly to your door (or mailbox) around the 15th or 20th of each month! In addition to receiving products to test out, members of Goodebox also receive exclusive discounts and the chance to win free full sized products.

Some monthly boxes are generic and filled with one size fits all products but Goodebox decided to tailor boxes to each members specific needs and concerns. When you sign up you get to fill out a profile detailing your favorite shades of makeup, skin type and tone, and your concerns in addition to several other topics like whether you're a vegan or not. Never again, for example, will you receive a cleanser for oily skin when your have dry skin.

When you're a beauty blogger finding new and exciting brands and products can prove to be difficult, especially in the natural sector, but this month I received products I had never tried before from a few companies I had never heard of. Once again Goodebox did not disappoint.

Let's get to the contents of my box, shall we?

I received two 0.17 oz of Weleda Iris Day Cream and Iris Night Cream. I have both heard of and tried Weleda products before but never these two. They do smell quite strong (which is a problem I have with a lot of Weleda's offerings) but they do smell nice.



Next was the cutest little travel size of True Natural Sunscreen Active Sunscreen SPF 40. I was so excited to get this in my box! I'm sun sensitive so I like to keep sunscreen on hand at all times and this is the perfect purse-sized tube. I haven't tried it yet but I love natural sunscreen so I'm sure I'll love this one!

I love lip products so I was happy to see a full sized Devine Lip Shimmer in the box. I received Champagne and absolutely love it. I have a full review of Devine Lip Shimmers coming in the next few weeks so keep an eye out for that.


I had never heard of Linda Kammins before but I received 3 of her products to test out. The first is her Lavender Daily Shine Shampoo which is a concentrated shampoo so they also included a separate bottle to mix it with water in. Also in the box was her Peppermint Daily Shine Rinse, which smells SO good! The final Linda Kammins product is her Tea Tonic Rinse, a sachet of tea with a bottle to mix in.

The last product in my April Goodebox was a body butter from Get Creamed Body in their Pink Citrus Paradise scent. I'm in love with this body cream. I'm super scentsitive but this smells fantastic. It's a light, fresh, pink grapefruit scent that is not too overpowering or overwhelming. It's also incredibly luscious and hydrating. It makes my skin feel so silky soft and healthy that I'm planning on ordering myself a tub.

8 great products to try for only $16? I'm all for Goodebox and can't wait to sign up for more. Unfortunately I missed the deadline to receive the May box but if you're interested in signing up for the June box you need to do so before May 30th. Let me know if you sign up too!

Berry Body Scrub

Let's continue with the strawberry trend from the other day with a recipe for a strawberry body scrub that is delectable and perfect for pampering yourself or a loved one with. It's so simple and easy to make and use.

What you need:
10 big, ripe strawberries
2 tablespoons of your favorite skin friendly oil (I really like olive and grape seed for body scrubs)
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of brown sugar



Blend the strawberries and oil together to make a liquid but keep in mind that it's okay if there are still some chunks of berry left. It doesn't need to be totally liquefied. Pour into a bowl and add the sea salt and brown sugar. I really love to use both sea salt and brown sugar when making a scrub because the different sized granules are really effective at sloughing off dead skin cells.

I always use scrubs on damp skin, but everyone is different. I especially love this one for my hands and feet but it works great on arms and legs too. If you have any of your mixture left you can store it in an airtight container for about a week.

Have a great weekend!

Talk About It - Soulstice Spa Spring Shades

My favorite nail polish brand Soulstice Spa recently released four gorgeous new shades in honor of spring and I was lucky enough to receive two of them to try and review. If you read my review from a couple of months ago about Soulstice you probably remember how much I love these nail varnishes!

Soulstice Nail Colour is 100% Vegan, cruelty free, non-toxic, 3-free (doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate), and made in the United States. The company also donates a portion of all proceeds to non-profit social and environmental organizations. They have a wide variety of colors so there is undauntedly something for everyone, including the on trend new releases.

All of their polishes are named after cities around the globe and the newbies are no exception. The two I didn't receive (but I think I'm going to purchase) are called Kauai, a rich berry pink with gold shimmer, and St. Tropez, a shimmery nude. The two I received are Cape Cod and Harbour Island.

Cape Cod is described as "a delicate pearlescent blue-grey" and I agree! It's absolutely gorgeous and totally reminds me of Cape Cod (even though I've never been there) and sailing. It's a perfect shade for spring and summer. Blue is one of my favorite colors but I tend to avoid it for my digits because I actually have blue and/or purple extremities (a side effect of my illness) but this doesn't make my feet and hands look dead, which is a huge plus!

Harbour Island is stunning. It's described as "pink sands; a sugary pastel". It's a super shimmer sheer shade of peachy pink and it's very feminine and flattering. As far as glittery polishes go it's one of my new favorites. It is very reminiscent of something sweet and sugary like cotton candy and I really love it. It looks wonderful indoors or out and shimmers and shines beautifully in the sun.


If you're interested in checking out Soulstice for yourself you can visit them online. Each polish retails for $8 or you can purchase a pack of five for $30. You can also find them on Facebook.
(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, are my own and honest.)

Creamy Berry Facial

Strawberries are superheroes when it comes to nourishing skin and fighting acne. They also happen to be one of my favorite fruits (actually, one of my favorite foods in general!). I took my first steps for a ripe, red strawberry and now in addition to eating them regularly, I use them to supplement my skin care routine. Strawberries are in season and perfect for the picking right now so it's a terrific time to share a berry great facial mask.

Since strawberries have a natural type of salicylic acid in them they are perfect for those of you with oily or acne prone skin, but they're also beneficial for normal skin. They help soften, exfoliate, and brighten the skin. You can use them on their own or you can mix up a batch of the following facial mask:

What you need:½ cup of fresh strawberries (this is around 3-5 berries)
1 tablespoon of plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt for my skin)
2 teaspoons of honey

You can either use a blender to mix the ingredients with a fork to mash them. You should end up with a consistency similar to a smoothie. Apply on your clean face and let your skin soak up the nutrients for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

Talk About It - March 2012 Goodebox

A few weeks ago my Mom sent me a link to Goodebox's website so I could check it out. Upon reading about the company, I immediately sent them an e-mail asking if I could review their service. It turns out Goodebox is one of the coolest monthly delivery services out there and I couldn't be any more excited about them and their offering. For only $16 a month you have the ability to receive 6 or more trial sized healthy and natural beauty products delivered directly to your door (or mailbox)! This service is perfect for us Green Goddesses who love to try new products to add to our beauty arsenal.

If you're a regular around this part of the World Wide Web you know how much I love monthly delivery services and today I'm pleased to be able to share my thoughts on Goodebox. Samples not enough for you? In addition to receiving products to test out members of Goodebox also receive exclusive discounts and the chance to win free full sized products.


I received the March Goodebox (funny enough, I actually won an April Goodebox from the company's Facebook page so I'll be able to review that for you once it arrives in case you need to see more!) for review and I was so excited to open it once it arrived. I was not at all disappointed. This box was packed full of awesome goodies that I was just thrilled to be able to try including:

Alima Pure Luminous Blush in Freja and Bronzer in Belize –I love and adore Alima Pure so I was so excited to be able to try these particular shades. Freja is a gorgeous medium warm pink color with subtle shimmer. It looks very natural but gives the skin a gorgeous glowing effect. The shimmer is very fine so it is not too over the top. Belize is a shimmery, medium bronze shade perfect for getting a sun kissed look.

Travel Size of Bear Naked Wipes from Josie Maran – I have always wanted to try these wipes so I was ecstatic when I opened the box and discovered them. It's the cutest package ever and the wipes themselves are great! They are very moist (which is something I look for in cleansing wipes!), have a very light and fresh scent, and do a great job at getting makeup off. There are 8 wipes in the travel-sized package worth $6.

Stark Skincare Grapefruit Cleanse + Hydrate Balm - I had never tried Stark Skincare before receiving these samples but I'm definitely impressed. I haven't used the Cleanse + Hydrate Balm very much but I really like it. It smells lovely and works really well as a multitasking product for cleansing and moisturizing. I have a similar product from One Love, so I know I'll love it.

Stark Skincare Green Tea Detox Clay Mask - The Mask from Stark is also really great. It's a powder that you can add tea, water, or even fruit juice to. It dries quickly and tightens.

Clairvoyant Beauty De-puffing Cucumber & Cranberry Eye Gel – Clairvoyant is another company I've been interested in but had never tried before. I think this eye gel is fantastic and it's full size (.50 oz) so I'll be able to continue using it for quite a while. My eyes have a tendency to get irritated by some eye treatments but this one really refreshes and cools my eyes. It's great for day or night use and really helps shrink my puffy bags. It also smells delicious! This product alone is worth $32, which far exceeds the cost of the Goodebox.

Clairvoyant Beauty Rosehip Oil & Hibiscus Facial Serum – I have a hypersensitive sense of smell and this smells so strongly of flowers that I couldn't use it. However; My Mom has been using it and really enjoys it!

If you're worried about receiving products that don't suit your skin tone or type you have no need to worry. Goodebox offers personalized boxes designed to suit particular concerns or needs. When you sign up for the service you fill out a profile that details your age, skin and hair type, and personal preferences. You even have the option of receiving only Vegan products. Finally, a subscription service that keeps you Vegans in mind!

You can learn more or sign up for your own Goodebox by visiting their website. I know I'm going to sign up for the next months box so I can continue receiving awesome samples. It's more than worth the $16 monthly fee in my opinion. What about you? Does Goodebox pique your interest?

Talk About It - Engage Green

Remember last month when I told you how much I like handbags? Well, today I have another handbag review from the coolest company and I'm so excited to be able to share it with you!
The founder and designer of the company is Venezuela born Leonor Mendoza. She now lives in Brooklyn and works with 12 other eco-minded people who make up Engage Green.

Engage Green is a company who believes in using sustainable and recyclable materials to create functional and fashionable handbags, totes, wristlets, backpacks, and other types of bags. Their designs are created using recycled paper and plastic as well as sustainable organic cotton, cork and hemp. They believe in using sustainable materials to conserve resources, minimize waste, and protect the environment.

Their brand has the cutest logo that is featured on all of their bags. The story behind their logo that they share on their website is amazing and admirable: "Our story began with our concern about Global Warming, about our Planet. . . and about Team Work. . . We thought about the Penguin, whose natural environment was melting away. We thought about the Chicken, whose natural environment was being flooded by the glaciers that were getting smaller. A penguin and a chicken -- two birds living in very different environments, both dealing with the consequences of climate changes. It is a metaphor of our times -- a penguin from the glaciers and a chicken from the land. Even though they cannot fly, they can ride and team together toward a common project, to help Stop Global Warming. . . to ENGAGE GREEN!!!- This is what our logo represents".

I was sent their Large Spanish Mosaic Tote Bag in Orange and I couldn't be any happier. The bag is made out of recycled plastic which comes from used water bottles. Approximately 18 16 oz water bottles are used to make 1 yard of their fabric. How cool is that?0 Now to describe the bag - The first thing I noticed about this bag was how well it is crafted! It's so sturdy and durable. Its attractive carrying handles are strong and functional while adding a nice contrast and detail to the bag. The straps are also extremely comfortable to carry on the shoulder.

It's more of a burnt orange color, so it will be perfect for all 4 seasons. The Spanish Mosaic pattern is fun and funky while still being chic. The bag is almost a neutral color with a touch of brown, black, and blue. It's large enough to hold whatever one may need to tote around and even my laptop fits in it. It has a convenient organizer and a zipper side pouch so everything has a perfect place.



Engage Green is a great company with a strong message and a powerful mission. They even support numerous charities and non-profits like The Nature Conservancy, American Red Cross, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society just to name a few. Please see their website to learn more about their brand and products. You can also purchase your favorites online.

(FTC: This tote was 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, are my own and honest.)

Sweet Cream Facial

Does your skin need a little brightening, revitalizing, or exfoliating? Well, you have come to the right place if it does, because I have the perfect healthy, do-it-yourself facial recipe today! I love all three of the ingredients used in this recipe on their own and in a million other combinations but this one is at the top of my favorites list.


What you need:
2 tablespoons of finely ground oatmeal (you can either buy oat powder or use a coffee grinder to mill your own regular oatmeal)
1 tablespoon of honey
2 tablespoons of cream or milk (you can use what you have but the higher the fat content the better)

Mix your ingredients together until smooth and apply to your freshly cleansed skin. Once it's applied, you can massage your skin in small, gentle circles to let the oatmeal act as a scrub and then let your mixture sit on your skin for 15 minutes before rinsing off. The oatmeal and cream will act as exfoliants while the honey imparts moisture and antibacterial properties. Once the mask if off you skin should be softer, brighter, and cleaner.

Going Bananas

Bananas are staples in most homes, and my family members could be considered connoisseurs of the healthful, yellow fruit since we go through bunches of bananas. I love to eat bananas and never feel guilty about doing so because they are packed full of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and tons of vitamins. Since they are so good for your insides, I decided to do a little research and discovered that they are really good for your outsides as well.

If you want to keep it simple, just mash up half of a banana until smooth and apply the mush directly to your cleansed face. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off. When it's time to rinse your skin will feel a bit tight. Bananas are really soothing and good for irritated or inflamed skin. Using a banana on your face will help soften, smooth, and refresh.

If you have some left over from your facial, apply a generous amount to your under eye area and let sit for 20 minutes. The high potassium content in the super fruit will help get rid of dark circle, puffiness, and fine lines.

Wait - Don't toss the peel just yet! Despite the fact that it sounds a bit gross and the peel feels really slimy and weird rubbing the inside of banana peel directly on your skin will also make the skin feel really soft and hydrated. Doing this often has also been known to reduce acne. I think this would be perfect for sunburned skin as well since it's so cooling and soothing.

Let me know how you feel about using bananas for beauty and if you have any other banana beauty tips!

Talk About It - Scientific Organics Phytocell Detox Mask

Hi Beauties, I have an announcement to make. Get ready for it... I have a new absolute favorite facial mask from a company whose cleanser I also love. Scientific Organics from cosmeceutical skincare line emerginC offers eight organic and naturally based products for a healthy complexion. The most interesting feature of Scientific Organics products is the addition of Kombucha, a fermented tea known for it's healing properties, as well as healthy plant and marine extracts.

I absolutely loved their Kombucha Cleanser which I reviewed a couple of months ago so I jumped at the chance to try their Phytocell Detox Mask. I'm completely in love with this detoxifying mask and am ecstatic to get to share my thoughts with you! Before you let the $50 price tag alarm you, trust me when I tell you that it is worth every penny.

The Phytocell Detox Mask is a French green clay mask with ingredients like aloe, grapefruit peel oil, red algae, sweet almond oil, sea starwort oil, vitamins e, c, and a, white and green tea, grape stem cells, kombucha, spirulina, and many other beneficial elements. Scientific Organics uses only natural ingredients with at least 70% being organic. They never add synthetic fragrances or colors and they never test on animals or use animal ingredients.

Let's talk about vanity first. The mask comes in a gorgeously simple green glass jar that is recyclable and chic enough to keep on display. The company fills the jar with a very generous 1.76 fluid ounces.



The mask itself is a very pale green color that feels more like a thick cream or moisturizer than a detoxifying facial mask. It coats the skin very easily and feels amazingly soft and smooth upon application. It smells a bit like citrus but it's very light and clean. It does have a hint of an odd underlying smell but it's not at all offensive or unbearable. A little of this mask goes a very long way. It is not drying at all, and even imparts a level of hydration into my skin that I just don't get with other masks.

This mask promises to "draw out impurities, nourish, brighten, soothe and improve tone and texture" and I agree with what it says. This mask leaves me in awe every single time I use it. I apply it to just cleansed skin and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before removing it and I can't believe how my skin looks and feels after rinsing. The first time I used it, I had a couple of blemishes that were instantly reduced in size and severity. My skin tone is more even, the texture of my skin is silky and my skin looks better overall after using.

The only bad thing I can say about this product is that I can't stop touching my skin after I use it, and I try my hardest to keep my hands off of my face. But is that really a negative? I think not!

Something I love about the company is that with every Scientific Organics purchase, emerginC plants a tree using Plant-It 2020. Plant-It 2020 is such an awesome non-profit foundation that you should check out at www.plantit2020.org. You can find my new Holy Grail facial online where you can learn more or purchase Scientific Organics products to try for yourself.

(FTC: This product was 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, are my own and honest.)

Talk About It - Lanikai Bath and Body

Beauty products from the gorgeous, tropical islands of Hawaii are deliciously fragrant and appealing as evidenced by my experience with the products of Lanikai Bath and Body. With close to 100 different products in 18 floral and fruity scents there is bound to be something to please everyone. I was fortunate enough to be able to try their creamy, moisturizing lotion and their enticing, softening body washes in several of their popular scents. They are a treat for your nose, your mind, and your skin.

Lanikai's bath and body products are handmade and contain only pure and natural botanically based ingredients. Their products are also cruelty free and eco-friendly. Their shop is on the island of Oahu in a town called Kailua (on the other side of the island from Waikiki and Honolulu). If you can't make it to the island to try out their products you can always order online!

Like I mentioned before, I got to try out their All Natural Tropical Lotion in several scents and their body wash in coordinating scents. They offer their lotions and body washes in two sizes, 8.5 oz and 2.2 oz. The scents I received were Plumeria, Tahitian Gardenia, Pikake, and my personal favorite, Orchid Vanilla. Each and every fragrance is very true to life, which is very impressive.

Their lotion formula includes ingredients like Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Sea Kelp, Kukui Nut Oil, and Papaya Fruit, among many others. Lanikai's body lotion is amazing! It is so smooth, creamy and it's very moisturizing. It helps to improve the texture and health of my skin every time I use it. The smell stays with you all day, but not in an overpowering sort of way. It lingers but it's light so you occasionally get a whiff of a scent that transports you to the tropical getaway of your dreams.

Their body wash has an all-star lineup as well with Sea Kelp, Chamomile, Cucumber, Calendula, Lavender, White Tea, Arnica, Extracts of Papaya, Echinacea, Green Tea, Awapuhi, Pineapple, in addition to many different oils and vitamins. This body wash has such a silky and smooth formula. It creates such a luxurious lather. I have used this as a normal body wash, shaving gel, and bubble bath (although the bubbles don't last long) and I can't get enough. The scent is strong but doesn't last. It rinses clean and doesn't strip my skin.

Their products envelop your senses and create a mini-vacation in your bathroom while invigorating, refreshing, and softening your skin. Lanikai gets my stamp of approval and I highly suggest you check them out. Their prices are really good and their products are beautifully crafted and perfect for all skin types.



(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, are my own and honest.)

Moisture Matters

A common misconception about skin care that people with oily skin have is that since their skin is oily they don't need to moisturize. That thought could not be any further from the truth. Everyone regardless of skin type needs to moisturize. Oily skin is often oily because of a deep-seated need for hydration – oily skin is often actually very dehydrated skin that is overcompensating by creating excess sebum.

It's important to find the right moisturizer for your own skin type – which in your case oily gals is a light, water-soluble moisturizer so here is a super simple light lotion recipe that would be perfect for daytime use.

What you need :
1 ounce of Aloe Vera gel
2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin
1 teaspoon of melted beeswax (you can skip this if you're a Vegan)
½ teaspoon of jojoba oil

Add all of the ingredients together and stir them until the beeswax starts to cool which will take about 5 minutes. Put the mixture into a jar or a bottle and voila! You have you very own facial lotion that is perfect for combating the "greasies". This will last for about 3 weeks.