Acure Brilliantly Brightening Products

Acure is a family owned and operated company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality natural and certified organic personal care. Their products are paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, petroleum free, silicone free, cruelty free and 100% vegan. Their products do not contain synthetic fragrances or artificial colors.

I recently purchased the Brilliantly Brightening Cleansing Gel and the Brilliantly Brightening Night Creme. I gravitated towards these because my skin is so dull and dry from this harsh winter we have had. It's been cold and snowy and at this rate, I may not take my snow tires off until May. All kidding aside, this line can help. Antioxidant-rich pomegranate, blackberry and acai team up in the cleansing gel while chlorella, echinacea and argan oil join forces to moisturize in the night cream. Both have a light, refreshing citrus scent. A little goes a long way with both products, especially the night cream. You only need a tiny amount to cover your whole face and neck. My skin feels hydrated and radiant after using it for just a few days. I'm definitely going to grab the Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub.

You can view the full Brilliantly Brightening line here.

Acure products are available directly on their website, at Target, at Wegmans and on Amazon.

Nubian Heritage Soap

If I'm not using Castile Soap, I'm using Nubian Heritage Soap. Their Mango Butter and African Black Soaps are my favorites, but the entire line of is amazing.

Nubian Heritage started over 23 years ago as street vendors in Harlem. They pride themselves on creating safe, non-irritating and gentle products to cleanse, treat and moisturize. They've mastered ingredients from around the world, such as black seed oil, buriti oil, haitian vetiver, tamanu oil, mango butter, raw shea butter, frankincense, papaya extract, myrrh, neem oil, lemongrass, chai Tea, avocado butter, tea tree oil and many more. 

What's not in their products is just as important as what is. They manufacture products without potentially harmful synthetic ingredients that may have an impact on our health and our environment. Nubian Heritage products do not contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, DEA, silicones, mineral oil, petroleum, triclosan, synthetic fragrance or artificial color. The brand is cruelty-free and doesn't test on animals. 

You can view the entire line of Nubian Heritage products here. They have soap, oils, scrubs, body wash, lotions, bath bombs and deodorant. You can buy their products directly on their website, at Target, at The Vitamin Shoppe and at Wegmans. If you are lucky enough to live by a Wegmans, their soaps are on sale this week for $1.99. Stock up!

What's on your Nightstand?

We all know I take my nighttime skincare routine very seriously. This holds true even after I get in bed. I keep the below four items on my nightstand and try not to fall asleep without using them..

1. Hand cream - I always apply hand creme before I go to bed. Your hands get dried out during the day from exposure to dry air and excessive washing. Applying a hand cream before bed helps repair some of the damage overnight. It also prevents your hands from aging. I use the Beautycounter Citrus Mimosa Hand Cream. It does carry a hefty price tag of $18, but I love this company and their products. The founder, Gregg Renfrew, was featured on the Today Show on Friday. 

2. Lip scrub or lip balm - always apply a lip balm or a lip scrub before bed. You need to moisturize your lips at night if you want to wake up with smooth, soft lips. We lose a lot of moisture from our skin at night, especially in our lips. If you have chapped lips, apply it at night and you will notice the difference when you wake up. Just be sure to use chemical free lip care, the chemical ones actually dry your lips out more, so you apply more, and buy more of the product. Genius right? I found a great lip scrub and lip balm in one, Pacifica Lips Like Sugar. It's a candied lemon and sugar lip scrub but it's more of a lip balm with some sugar in it. It's not your typical scrub that you apply, massage around and wash off. This one I apply and leave on all night. I wake up with soft lips every morning. It also smells amazing and has a price tag of $4.99. 

3. Water - A lot of people refrain from drinking water before bed to avoid getting up in the middle of the night night. I, on the other hand, drink water every night before bed. Your skin regenerates while you are sleeping so drinking water before bed helps restore the skins elasticity and eases wrinkles. It helps improve circulation during the hours you are not moving. It also balances vitamins and minerals in your body. I even read an article written by a cardiologist that said drinking water before bed reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke. I always bring my Swell bottle to bed with me. I never wake up in the night but if you are one of those people, try drinking water an hour before bed. 

4. Essential Oil Diffuser - I try to turn my diffuser on every night. Not only does it add moisture in the air, but different oils can aid in mood changing and air purifying. Lavender oil helps with sleep due to its calming properties. When my allergies are bad, I mix lemon, lavender and peppermint as this is known as the 'allergy bomb'. When I'm sick I diffuse Thieves. I diffuse eucalyptus all the time because it's one of my favorite oils. I could go on and on but you would be surprised by the benefits of essential oil if you don't already use them. You can also go on Pinterest and find lots of different diffuser blends. Just remember to use pure, therapeutic grade oils. I use Young Living (YL # 2962702) and I love them.