Shave this...

Let’s talk about shaving. We all have a love hate relationship with shaving, we love smooth skin but hate razor burn. There are a lot of new razors on the market designed specially for women. I bought and tried three of them, Billie, Flamingo and Joy, and here is what I think:

Billie - https://mybillie.com/pages/razor
Shaving companies have always been created for men which may explain why we're still overpaying for women's razors and referred to as goddesses for shaving. Our razors are built for a better shave: 5 sharp blades, encased in 360° of charcoal shave soap, with rounded edges to help you navigate those curves. Our products are free of toxins and bad additives — we only use premium, healthy ingredients. How it works? Your Starter Kit consists of a Billie handle, the mag(net)ic holder and two 5-blade razor cartridges for $9. Ongoing, we’ll deliver four replacement blade cartridges to your door for $9 (at a frequency of your choice) so you never run out of supplies. As always, free shipping. 

Flamingo - https://www.shopflamingo.com/products/razor/

We’ve been a part of the Harry’s family for a while, so naturally we started with body hair. Since Harry’s launched in 2013, over a million women have used and loved the products, including us. We set out to design something better. The result? A line of quality products, for all the places you count on quality, meet Flamingo. Our custom cut Gothic Arch shaped blades are made at our very own factory in Germany. Using the highest quality Swedish steel, our blades give you a close, smooth shave every time. We added a flexible hinge and rounded edges to work with your body — knees, bikini line, you name it. And our hydrating Aloe Vera strip makes for the most comfortable shaving experience. The razor is $9 and the blades come in a 5 pack for $16. Only available at Target.

Joy - http://www.joyshave.com/
In the wake of direct-to-consumer shaving startups like Flamingo and Billie, Joy is the latest player that's getting real about women's body hair — and making the products we actually want to use to deal with it (if we choose to do anything at all). As a shaving line, the most important product is probably the razor, which comes in a light pink or teal . Joy's version has five sharp Gillette blades and a Lubrastrip, which work together to give you a clean shave sans irritation. The non-slip grip handle makes it easy to hold, so you don't have to worry about dropping your razor. For $8.97 you get the razor handle and two blade refills. A set of four refill blades costs $8.97, while a set of eight refill blades costs even less per blade at $15.97. Only available at Walmart.

I have been using Billie for over a year. I’m happy with the razor but having razor blades only available via auto-ship, is not convenient. I cannot tell you how many times I ran out of blades and had to wait a week for new ones. It’s too stressful. I bought the Flamingo because two friends told me how great it was. My feeling, meh. I don’t think I get a close enough shave and I hate how flexible the blade head is. I recently bought Joy after seeing an ad. I wish I would have bought it months ago. It’s hands down the best razor have ever used. All summer I have been shaving my legs every other day. With Joy, I can go every two days because it gets such a close shave. Joy is definitely the winner, Billie is a close second if there was an alternative to auto-ship and Flamingo was my least favorite. 

ella+mila

If you are looking for a great chemical free nail polish, I found one! ella+mila is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after nail polishes. This line of lacquer was born from the simple idea of creating an eco-friendly yet high-end product. With a passion for color and dedication to healthy beauty, the founders strive to provide fashion-forward beauty products without compromise. These polishes are chip-resistant, quick-dry and high-shine. ella+mila nail colors do not contain toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), xylene and camphor making it a 7-free product. These polishes are also PETA-certified, cruelty-free and vegan.

I went directly on the ella+mila website and ordered five polishes. All About the Base (base coat), In a Rush (top coat), and three colors; Pinkterest+, From Rio XO, and I Pink I Love You.

I cannot believe how fast these polishes dry. It's unreal that your nails are completely dry in less than five minutes. They go on smooth, the colors are vibrant and the top coat definitely provides high-shine. I highly recommend this polish. You can purchase them directly on the ella+mila website and Target just picked up the line. My local Target says they will be available in store on March 26th. I can't wait to buy more colors!

If you missed this article in the New York Times, it's definitely worth the read. 

Do You Know What’s in Your Cosmetics?

Thousands of chemicals, in billions of dollars worth of products, are being governed by regulations that haven’t been updated in decades.

Read the full article here

According to the article, The American cosmetics industry is a $70 billion-a-year behemoth. The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors has an annual budget of just $8 million and 27 staff members. The laws governing the office's authority run just two pages long and have not been updated since 1938, when they were first enacted. Such meager tools leave federal officials nearly powerless to regulate the makeup, lotions, toothpastes, deodorants and other elixirs that often are applied to the most intimate parts of the human body.

As I always say, you have to protect yourself. The cosmetics industry has not been regulated since 1938. Manufacturers are free to use any ingredients they want, without any warnings for you. Learn how to read labels or download the EWG app and scan your products for safety before you buy. 

Bite Beauty Lip Products

Anyone who knows me, knows that I always have on bright bold lipsticks. I don't wear eye makeup so I can get away with lips that pop. I'm obsessed (as you can see below) with Bite Beauty lip products. 

Bite Beauty is a Canadian cosmetics company specializing in lip products. Founded by Suzanne Langmuir in 2011, launched in 2012, and acquired by Kendo in 2014. The brand is carried exclusively at Sephora and on their website. Bite was founded on a simple premise: what you put on your lips should be as good as what you put in your mouth. They created their own lab to develop products with natural and organic ingredients that also have luxurious textures and big-pigment color. They have lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, lip pencils, lip crayons, lip gloss, lip masks, lip scrubs and lip balm. 

All Bite's products are made with food-grade ingredients. These natural ingredients provide creamy, long lasting hydration that nourish and revitalize lips. These products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients.

Babo Botanicals

I decided to try a new shampoo and conditioner from Babo Botanicals. I haven't heard of this company but I found them on the EWG website. I went with the Berry Primrose Smoothing Shampoo & Wash and the Berry Primrose Smoothing Conditioner. I'm obsessed. I honestly don't think I will ever use another brand of shampoo & conditioner ever again.

First, let's start with the scent. It smells so good. I can't get over it. I get whiffs of it throughout the day and love it. As i said, I got the Berry Primrose but they have a few other scents as well. They have Oatmilk & Calendula Shampoo, Lavender & Meadowsweet Shampoo, Cucumber & Aloe Vera Swim and Sport Shampoo, a Lice Shampoo and a Fragrance Free Shampoo. I can't wait to try the lavender one.

Second, let's talk about how soft it makes my hair. It's loaded with evening primrose oil, shea butter and cocoa butter which smoothes and softens the hair. It's also enriched with Babo's Nutri-Soothe Complex, rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. My hair has never felt so soft.

Lastly, it's free of all the bad stuff. It does not contain SLS, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, synthetic fragrance, dyes, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, mineral oil, MEA, DEA and TEA. This amazing formula does contain tree nuts, coconut and shea butter. Babo Botanicals is a Certified B Corp, Cruelty Free, and Vegan Friendly.

I highly recommend Babo Botanical products. The founder, Kate, originally started the line for babies and children. In fact, she named the company after her son's security bunny, Babo. Kate graduated from Harvard, joined the Peace Corps, then landed a job as a skincare product developer. She worked for L'Oréal, LVMH, Avon and Redken. When she got pregnant with her first child, she went searching for safe, natural products for her new baby. Her entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and Babo Botanicals began. The products perform so well, they are perfect for babies, children, teenagers and adults.

             

Top 5 New Year Skin Care Resolutions

1. Ditch your lotion and use oil - Don't be afraid of oil, it's the best thing I ever did for my skin. Lotions are filled with toxins like parabens, fragrance, petrochemicals, alcohol, and oil emulsified in water. The only ingredient in lotion that provides any moisture to the skin is the oil. One of the basic principals of chemistry is like dissolves like. If you have oily skin, you should be using oil. Plant oils are excellent for all skin types. They are very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces (sebum) so they are easily absorbed into the skin, don't clog pores and promotes skin cell function. Some of my favorite oils are avocado oil, apricot oil, marula oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil. You can use these alone or make your own oil mixture. Just get a glass dropper bottle, choose your plant oil, add some vitamin E oil and add a few drops of essential oil. Lavender, cedarwood, lemon and frankincense are a few . If you don't have the patience to make one, grab one of these Acure Marula Oil, EO Argan Oil, or Dessert Essence Oil. 

2. Wash your face every night - Never go to bed with makeup on. Makeup can trap dirt and environmental pollutants inside the skin which results in premature aging. Sleeping in makeup also clogs your pores which leads to acne. Lastly, it interferes with the natural shedding process of the skin which results in duller, drier complexion. Get a good chemical free face wash like these, Acure Cleansing Stick and Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel

3. Get a chemical free shampoo - a good chemical free shampoo can be life changing. Ingredients in shampoo contain lots of chemicals. These chemicals can cause flaky skin, persistent itching & irritation, asthma, sinusitis, allergies and even cancer. They strip moisture and natural oils from our hair causing rashes, hair loss and dandruff. Invest in a chemical free option like one of these, Babo Botanicals and Avalon Organics

4. Moisturize after showering - keep a body oil right in the shower. Warm water strips our skin of natural oil and we need to replenish. Apply the oil right after you shower while your skin is still damp. Try one of these, EO Body Oil and Shea Moisture Body Oil

5. Make Vitamin C your new best friend - Vitamin C is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skin. Environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution create free radicals that cause premature signs of visible aging. Vitamin C creates a brighter complexion, evens out skin tone and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It improves hydration and keeps your skin looking younger. I use both of these every day Avalon Organics Vitamin C Serum and Avalon Organics Vitamin C Antioxidant Oil. 

Avalon Organics Intense Defense

After trying the Avalon Organics shampoo, I decided to look into their other products. I went with two items from their Intense Defense line, the Facial Serum and the Antioxidant Oil. This entire line is formulated with vitamin C, which is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skin. Environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution create free radicals that cause premature signs of visible aging.  Studies show that antioxidants can neutralize these damaging free radicals. Intense Defense balances vitamin C, white tea and lemon bioflavonoids to defend skin and support its natural renewal cycle. 

Facial Serum - targets sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles by energizing skin and supporting collagen and elastin production for a smooth, even, more lifted complexion. When applied twice a day to problem areas after cleansing and before moisturizing, trouble spots receive an intense infusion of protective antioxidants.

Antioxidant Oil - features a blend of Apricot, Raspberry and Argan Oil that absorbs quickly, reinforcing skin's natural lipid barrier, which locks in moisture and protects skin against environmental stressors. Just a few drops massaged over freshly cleansed skin will reinforce skin's natural resilience.

Both products score low on the EWG app. The serum ranks 3 and the oil ranks 2. If you are not familiar with the EWG Healthy Living App, download it ASAP.  EWG ranks products on a scale from 1-10, the lower the number, the safer your product is. You can scan product barcodes or simply type in the product name. I highly recommend both the serum and the oil. You can buy them directly on the Avalon Organics website, on Amazon or at Wegmans (if you live by one). 

Brush your way to healthy hair

Did you know you should give your hair a good brush every morning, before every shower and every night? Proper brushing can eliminate waste materials that build up on the scalp. Brushing three times per day helps evenly distribute sebum (the oil your scalp naturally produces) through your hair to retain moisture and keep shiny locks. Brushing also prevents hair loss by increasing blood circulation in the scalp and transporting oxygen and nutrients to the hair stem, root and bulb. Brushing also helps balance the sebaceous gland, which produces sebum. Over or under production of sebum is often to blame for hair loss.

Don't forget to get yourself a good brush. You should only brush your hair with natural bristle brushes. Synthetic bristles can actually harm your hair. They cause breakage which leads to frizzy hair. Yuck! Boar bristles brushes are the way to go. They are the most similar to human hair and they evenly distribute the sebum. When you brush with a boar bristles brush, you allow the sebum to evenly coat the whole strand rather than staying concentrated at the scalp. Always brush your hair when it's dry and use a comb when it's wet.

Lastly, make sure you are using a good chemical free shampoo. I've tried a bunch of chemical free shampoo, Shea Moisture, Juice Organics, Perfectly Posh, Acure, Dr Bronners and Monet. I liked all of these brands but I found one I like even better, Avalon Organics. This brand has EWG's stamp of approval. You can buy this shampoo in lemon, lavender, tea tree, coconut, peppermint, rosemary and apple cider vinegar. If you are lucky enough to live near a Wegmans, you can grab the shampoo there for $7.99. You can also buy directly on their website or on Amazon. Always shampoo your hair twice, the first time lifts the dirt and the second time washes it away. Only put conditioner on your ends, never on your scalp.

Chemicals Banned For Use In Cosmetics

Who regulates cosmetics in the United States? NO ONE. In 1938 the cosmetic industry was granted self-regulation. Nothing has changed since 1938. The FDA isn't even authorized to approve cosmetic ingredients. The U.S. Federal Government doesn't require health studies or pre-market testing on personal care products. Manufacturers are free to use almost any ingredient they choose. As a result, we are exposed to thousands of harmful chemicals that are banned in other countries.

So what can you do? 

Read labels - you can't bank on the what the bottle says. Unfortunately in this country, we have issues with label laws too. If a product has one natural ingredient, added to 10 chemicals, they are legally allowed to label the bottle as "all natural". Be sure to always read the label and read every ingredient.

Familiarize yourself with chemicals  - you need to know what chemicals to stay away from. Refer to the Dirty Dozen list that highlights the 12 most common toxic & carcinogenic compounds found in cosmetics.

Take advantage of EWG - Environmental Networking Group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. If you click on the EWG Verified tab, they review thousands of personal care products and give their approval on products that meet their strict standards. 

Splurge vs. Steal

Beautycounter's cleansing balm is one of my all time favorite products. It's a light, airy balm with a hint of cranberry oil to give it an amazing scent. Deemed as the balm that does it all, you can use it as a cleanser or a moisturizer. Made with sunflower seed wax and a mix of oils, such as, avocado, jojoba, sweet almond and raspberry. Formulated without items from their Never List, you are guaranteed safe ingredients. It comes with a hefty price tag of $80 and you have to buy it from a Beautycounter rep.

Acure also launched a cleansing balm. Also a light, airy and pepperminty fresh balm that comes in an easy to use stick. Made with rose hip oil, sea kelp and cactus flower. I just got this and I'm very impressed with it. Although it doesn't have a dual purpose like the Beautycounter, the cleanser works quite well leaving your skin super soft. 100% vegan, paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, petroleum free, silicone free, and cruelty free. This comes with a very reasonable price tag of $9.99 and available at your local Target.

Safe Sunscreen

There are so many sunscreens out there to choose from. Most of them do more harm than good. They are filled with toxic ingredients that may be worse for your skin than the sun itself. 

It's very easy to pick a safe one. On the back of every bottle you will see a list of "active ingredients". The only ingredients you want to see here are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide protects against UVA and UVB light rays, prevents burns and signs of photo-aging. Titanium dioxide is a fine white powder that occurs naturally. It's a very effective UV filter.

The bad sunscreens have active ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalte, oxtocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. These chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, and may impact hormones. They are highly toxic to you and the environment.

EWG's 12th annual Guide to Sunscreen was just updated for the summer of 2018. This guide contains sunscreen safety ratings to help you make the right purchase. They rate the best sunscreens, SPF-rated moisturizers and lip products. EWG's Guide to Sunscreen

I'm a huge fan of All Good, Alba Botanica, and Goddess Garden products. Always protect your skin with a good chemical free sunscreen. Don't forget to stay hydrated too!

Save Your Skin...

Summer is officially here. We bypassed spring this year and went right from winter to summer. I took my snow tires off at the beginning of May and by the end of May, we are already pushing 90 degrees.  This can wreak havoc on your skin. Especially if you are going out in the sun with winter white skin and getting burned. 

Zausner Solar Recover Save Your Skin Hydrating Mist is an all-natural, fine-mist daily moisturizer that relieves dry, irritated and sunburned skin. The Mist has multiple beneficial uses that will improve the health of your skin especially if used daily. 

It was conceived a few years ago innocently enough when Michael Zausner owned a tennis club in the Southern California desert where the daytime summer temps reached 115 degrees regularly. After being nuked all day the last thing they wanted to do was to smear sticky aloe products on his skin. So they created a fine mist to rehydrate, the criteria for which was simply to use all natural essential and vitamin oils that they knew was healthy for the skin and to make it smell good. Even though as a tennis pro they were very tan, they never took their shirt off. So when they went to the beach one day and got sunburned, they discovered by accident that the spray calmed down the burn and prevented peeling unlike anything else they had ever used. They began testing it all over the Caribbean on themselves by purposely lying out in the sun and burning themselves with consistent results that saved many a vacation. Hence the slogan "The Only Animals We Test On Are Ourselves".

Ingredients - distilled water, natural vitamin E, calendula, lavender oil, sesame oil, geranium oil, roman chamomile oil, sandalwood oil and French seaweed absolute.

You can buy it at Lori's Natural Foods, Lucky Vitamin and Amazon

I keep the bottle right in shower. Spray directly on skin and rub in. I use it daily at this time of year, whether I have been in the sun or not. It doubles as a great moisturizer and smells amazing. it's a light, refreshing, easy to use spray for those of you who don't have time to moisturize. Just spray and go!

Purifying Hydro Sponge

Earth Therapeutics makes one amazing body sponge. Infused with purifying medicinal bamboo charcoal and interwoven with textured fabric to help cleanse and draw out toxins. This hydro sponge is textured to gently exfoliate away the outer layers of dead skin to unclog pores. An embedded infusion of medicinal bamboo charcoal enhances the cleansing process by drawing out impurities. It also stimulates circulation so skin can breathe freely. After regular periodic exfoliation, skin will benefit from the deep clean feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.

To use, wet in warm water, apply your favorite chemical free cleanser (such as Carolina Castile Soap, EO All-Purpose Soap or Nubian Heritage Soap) and gently massage the skin. The frequency of use really depends on the sensitivity of your skin. They recommend using it at least once a week but I read reviews where people use it every day. Personally I use it every other day. 

After using sponge, hang to dry. Replace the sponge every 3 months or so, depending on how often you use it.

You can buy the sponge at Ulta, Amazon and on the Earth Therapeutics website. 

Acure Brilliantly Brightening - Part II

I recently posted about this Brilliantly Brightening Acure line but since it's SO good, it's worth a second post. Originally I only bought the gel cleanser and the night cream. After I fell in love with both of those, I bought a few more. I got the day cream, facial scrub, face mask and glowing serum. I can't rave enough about all of them. My skin is glowing and looks the best it has in years. 

Day Cream - Face the day with CoQ10, gotu kola and argan oil. This powerhouse combo helps moisturize and protect with a one-two-three punch that fights dullness and evens out skin tone for skin that’s bright and beautiful.

Facial Scrub - “Seas” the day with natural exfoliation from the ocean. Sea kelp super-nutrients soften and detoxify, while lemon peel and French green clay cleanse without stripping away natural moisture. Madonna lily brings the brightness to round out this refreshing facial scrub.

Face Mask - Moroccan argan extract conditions and moisturizes while chlorella brings a boost of skin-benefiting vitamins and omega 3s for extra glowing goodness.

The Glowing Serum - Argan oil restores moisture, borage oil soothes and cranberry and pumpkin seed oils add antioxidant protection. That’s some serious glowing goodness. Bonus: it doubles as a makeup remover 

As a reminder, 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.

Ditch the Dry Cleaning

I don't know about you, but the smell on clothes when they come back from the dry cleaner is unbearable. Not to mention the terrible things dry cleaning does to your skin and the environment.

Perchloroethylene is used by 80-90 percent of all dry cleaners. It's a neurotoxin and causes cancer in lab rats. It's also a major groundwater contaminant, found in more than 25 percent of U.S. water supplies. It's toxic to wildlife, especially fish. A recent study found that food, stored in a car with dry-cleaned clothing for one hour, absorbed levels of perchloroethylene. An EPA study found that people have perc in their breath after visiting dry cleaners. Yuck!

Break-up with your dry cleaner and do it yourself.

First grab a spray bottle. Any time you use essential oil, you should use glass. Over time, the essential oils will eat through the plastic. It's so hard to find larger glass spray bottles. I can find them in 2oz, 3oz and even 4oz but anything larger than 4oz seems impossible to find. So I used a plastic bottle for this, I go through the solution so fast that it hardly sits in the bottle for long.

Grab some vodka. Vodka kills odor-producing bacteria and does not leave a lingering aroma. Go to the liquor store and get a 90 proof bottle of cheap vodka. The cheaper the better (save the Kettle One for your martinis). I found one for a whopping $9.99.

Grab some distilled water. I always have it on hand because i use it in my garment steamer. You can by a gallon of it for less than a dollar.

Lastly, grab your essential oils. You need lavender and tea tree. Lavender has tremendous antibacterial and deodorizing properties. Tea tree is known for its antiseptic properties. Not only do they smell nice, they kill bacteria.

Now here is the hard part (kidding). Mix 2 parts vodka, one part distilled water, and four drops of each oil and viola you have your own dry cleaning spray!

Turn your garment inside out and put it on an hanger. Spray the areas where you sweat, armpits, neckline etc. and make sure you fully saturate these areas. Don't be stingy, make sure they are soaked.  Then do a quick spray over the whole garment. Hang dry until the saturated areas are fully dry, I usually leave overnight. Obviously this only works to deodorize, it's not meant for stains.

EO Meyer Lemon All Purpose Soap

As soon as I heard they brought this product back, I ordered a few bottles. Lucky for me, they got delivered yesterday. EO All Purpose Soap is life changing. If you are obsessed with lemons like me, you will love the scent. It smells like fresh cut lemons. It's made with pure essential oils of Lemon and Mandarin Orange for a refreshing, uplifting aroma. It's a gentle non-toxic cleaner formulated without sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates (SLS). It's extremely versatile and there are so many things you can use it for. When they say "one soap, hundreds of uses" they aren't lying.

Laundry - add 2 squeezes per machine load. Soak delicates in sudsy water for an hour, then rinse.

Dishes - use 1/2 squeeze per load in the dishwasher. If you wash dishes by hand, one squeeze on a brush or sponge. It's great for tough pots and pans.

Camping - safe to use while roughing it in the great outdoors. EO All Purpose Soap is environmentally friendly and made with biodegradable surfactants.

Your home - spritz on any surface for a (green) deep-clean. Add 2 squeezes to a 16-oz spray bottle and shake.

Floors and carpets - add a little soap to a bucket of warm water. Mop hardwood and tile, and gently scrub carpet stains.

Car - use 3oz. soap per gallon of water and a soft sponge. Great on hubcaps and windows too.

Paint brushes - soak brushes in 2oz. + 16oz. warm water, then comb bristles with a wire brush.

BBQ grill - Scrape off the remains of last summer with a hard-bristled brush and some soap diluted in warm water.

Pets - 2 squeezes in warm water and scrub away.

And finally, you - wrap up all your cleaning with a pH-balanced hand soap, gentle enough for every day. Since it has a mild pH with a range of 4.5 to 5.5, it's perfect to use as a body wash or in the bath.

So ditch your Tide, your Dawn and all those other chemical cleaners you own and replace it with EO All Purpose Soap. A 32oz bottle comes in at $10.99. Since you only use a few squeezes for all those household items, it should last you a while.

Its only available on the EO website so grab some today!

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. 

What to do with roses from Valentines Day?

Rose water is exactly what it sounds like, the distilled water of roses. Dating back to early Egypt, rose water has ancient homeopathic roots. Cleopatra even used it! Rose water is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, contains antioxidants and hydrates. It helps sooth, balance, rejuvenate, soften, tone and revitalize the skin. 

So what do you do with all those roses you got on Valentine's Day? You make rose water. 

What you need:
Rose petals (fresh are the best, wilted are ok, dried will work but won't be as potent)
Distilled water

Directions: Remove petals from stems and run them under luke-warm water to remove any leftover residue.
Add petals to a large pot and top with enough distilled water to just cover (no more or you'll dilute your rosewater).
Over medium-low heat bring the water to a simmer and cover.
Let simmer for 20-30 minutes 
Strain the mixture to separate the petals from the water
Place water in a glass jar to store.

Rose water hydrates and moisturizers the skin, helps maintain the skins pH balance and controls excess oil. The best time to use rose water is at night. It helps clear all the impurities your face has collected throughout the day. It also helps you de-stress which can aid in better sleep. I spray rose water on my face at night after I cleanse and before I moisturize. I also keep a bottle in my desk drawer at the office. Whenever I need a little pick me up, I spritz some on my face. 

Don't be so quick to toss those roses...they are the gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Valentines Day ❤