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Proactiv® Deep Cleansing Wash – A Shower Staple

December 9, 2011 By

You know what I am loving right now? My Proactiv® Deep Cleansing Wash and whether you like it or not, I am going to tell you the reasons. Something I love having in our shower is something both me AND the man can use… I guess you could call it saving space? Well, in my overcrowded shower is something I consider to be one of my new shower staples. The Proactiv® Deep Cleansing Wash is an acne fighting weapon that is as easy to use as washing your body with it!

It has pretty much everything I am looking for in a body wash…

#1 It works. No one wants to get pimples anywhere on their body and as unlady like as it is to talk about it, blemishes are a fact of life and also are not confined to one’s face

#2 The Proactiv® Deep Cleansing wash is something I can use on my body and my face (ie bringing it to the gym or traveling) without concerns of drying out or my sensitive facial skin getting rashy. Bringing only one bottle instead of two? Score.

#3 It mildly exfoliates. There are little microbeads in there but by no means are they harsh or abrasive. Sloughing off dead skin is always a good thing. Yay!

#4 As I mentioned before, it is something that the man and I can both use. Acne is not specifically geared towards women or men for that matter. Straight to the point, we all need to take care of our skin. No frills, the man is not afraid of the Proactiv® products lying around.

I totally agree with Katy Perry: “The Deep Cleansing Wash is awesome. Your skin feels totally fresh and clean. And you can stop worrying about getting zits in places you don’t want them.” I don’t want zits anywhere and that includes my bod!

As always, you should test products on your skin before putting it in your full rotation but that being said, I did not experience any issues whatsoever with the Proactiv® Deep Cleansing Wash.

Have you guys tried any Proactiv® Products? What do you think and what do you recommend? Share your stories and join the conversation here, on Twitter (@proactiv) or Facebook!

*Proactiv® was awesome enough to let us try this product for the sole purpose of telling you, our amaaaazing readers, exactly what we thought of it. Though this post is sponsored, our opinions are 100% honest because we would never lie to you guys… we love you! xoxo

Filed Under: Acne, Body, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , ,

Madre Labs Natural Hair Care, Skin Care & More

December 5, 2011 By

Madre Labs is all about quality products that help make your life better. They want to help you have a vibrant and healthy life and they have a line of unique products to help you do just that.

I had the pleasure of getting to review a few of their exceptional products including their Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner formulated for “Normal Hair”, their Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair, their Moisturizing Body Wash and Leave-In Conditioner as well as their Body Lotion and Hand Cream.

 

pH Balanced – Eco-Friendly Packaging – Made in U.S.A.
Made with Biodegradable Ingredients and Contains NO No-No’s

Shampoo & Conditioners

I used both the Balancing System and the Moisturizing System and was very happy with the results of both. I think the Balancing System worked best for my husband and 4 year old and the Moisturizing System worked best for my thick, frizzy hair. Both sets smelled great although I think I preferred the scent of the Balancing System.

Both shampoos cleansed my hair thoroughly but gently. The Balancing Conditioner gave me soft and gentle conditioning that didn’t feel waxy or weight my hair down. Worked great for my 4 year old and husband who both have thin, wavy hair that needs volume. I preferred the Moisturizing Conditioner as it made my hair silkier, shiny and less frizzy than the Balancing Moisturizer.

Knowing that both sets have exceptional ingredients, made me feel great about using them. I would highly recommend them for anyone wanting to get away from mainstream hair care and harmful ingredients, but who doesn’t want to compromise on results and quality.

Hair & Body Care

The Moisturizing Body Wash was probably my favorite product from the Madre Labs products I was sent to review. The bottle is almost empty! Everyone in my house LOVES it. This body wash is unique in that it doesn’t contain any sulfates or soap. It’s a gentle, very lightly fragranced, soap-free Body Wash that produces luxurious lather without using harsh surfactants that dry our your skin. Argan nut oil, which is high in vitamin E and rich in essential fatty acids, will help your skin feel silky smooth. In addition, the Rosemary Mint scent will make you want to stay in the shower all day. It contains a proprietary blend of superfruits (açaí, goji, pomegranate and seabuckthorn) that help protect your delicate skin from oxidative and environmental damage.

My least favorite product was the Leave-In Conditioner. Not because it’s not a great product but because the scent was just a little too much for me. It’s very strong scented and it seems to linger in the air, so if you don’t spritz and run, it’s a little heavy for the lungs to take! As far as performance is concerned, it’s not really necessary because their conditioners work great and I really didn’t feel the need for additional conditioning. It was good as a detangler for my 4 year old’s hair though.

 

Hand & Body Cream

They offer a nice big bottle of Hand & Body Lotion that soaks into the skin fast, leaves it soft and it’s unscented! I felt good using it on my whole family.

My husband’s favorite product is the Unscented Hand Cream. It comes in a convenient sized tube so you can take it with you and it delivers fast and adequate moisture to dry hands. An essential for winter!

Madre Labs Mission
To create truly innovative and unique formulations of the highest quality, assisting our health-minded customers in supporting their well-being — both inside and out, by offering finished products that WE OURSELVES want to use.

At Madre Labs, we strive to use only the finest natural ingredients deemed acceptable by our discriminating customers, as well as our peers in the natural products industry. We like to refer to our formulations as “Performance Natural” which simply means that our products are formulated to be highly functional and effective, using both natural and naturally-derived ingredients in a manner that is safe and beneficial to the health and beauty of your skin, hair and body.

You can purchase Madre Labs products at iHerb.com and you can find more info about their products on their website at madrelabs.com.

Overall, I definitely recommend Madre Labs products and I am excited to partner with them to offer our readers a chance to win their products! Check out Madre Labs in Day 7 in our 12 Days of Giveaways!

From December 7th to December 21st, you can enter for a chance to win an awesome collection from Madre Labs!

* The product for this review was provided to us free of charge for the purpose of product testing. This does not effect our opinion of the products in any way. We only write about products we personally like and use, regardless of how they were acquired.

Filed Under: Body, Conditioner, Hair, Shampoo, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Likewise Skincare Review

November 27, 2011 By

We are always up for trying new skin care products, you guys know that. Likewise Skincare was awesome enough to let us try some of their products to let you guys know what we thought of them. We received the Likewise facial moisturizer and the Likewise Face and body wash for review. While I had never heard of Likewise skincare products before, I have learned to never knock something until you have tried it. You will miss some pretty great things thinking like that.

Like I mentioned before, I had the opportunity to try both the Likewise facial moisturizer as well as the Likewise face and body wash. I would have to say that the face and body wash was my favorite of the two. It had a fresh scent, not as citrus-y as I had hoped but still lovely. If applicable, I like to let the man try stuff with me, so that if it’s something we can both take advantage of, it’s most definitely a plus. I like that I can keep this in the shower and that both the man and I can use this. He would rather something he can use on his body and face rather than have to use separate products so that was his opinion on this subject :) haha. I have more thoughtful approach to this product. It’s refreshing, non abrasive and a great addition to our shower regimen.

I would be interested to see what Likewise skincare comes up with next as I found their products appealing and the face and body wash especially satisfactory. I would need more of a selection from them in the future to see myself really committing to them as a brand for all of my skincare needs. Visit Likewise Skincare’s blog, facebook and twitter to keep up with their latest and greatest news… that’s what I plan to do.

Filed Under: Body, Face, Hands & Feet, Reviews, Skin Care, Sun Protection Tagged With: , , , , ,

Winterize Your Beauty Routine with DNA EGF Renewal™

November 14, 2011 By

We were very fortunate to be invited to attend a webinar with Dr. Ronald Moy, one of the country’s leading dermatologists and plastic surgeons in regards to our Winter skin health. It is not getting any warmer, especially here in the Northeast soooooo, what should we do to help keep our skin soft and supple? What should we avoid doing? What is the best for our skin? Dr. Moy covered it all and introduced us to DNA EGF Renewal™, his new line that helps keep our skin looking young with real science and thoughtfulness behind it. First let’s check out some basic facts from Dr. Moy:

HOW WINTER MOST IMPACTS YOUR SKIN:

•Dry skin occurs naturally as skin ages for most women as natural oils diminish; cold dry winter weather can dramatically increase skin’s dryness.
•Lower humidity increases dryness, especially indoor heating.
•Dryness decreases the skins natural lipids that keep skin cells together and prevent water loss. This natural lipid barrier is the essential first line of defense for your skin.
• Skin can become itchy, flaky, chapped and flushed as  you go between temperature extremes inside and outside.
• Frequent hand washing is crucial to controlling cold and flu germs, but it also increases dryness. Every time you apply night treatments to your face, apply any excess to your hands.
WINTER SKIN STRATEGIES:
•Avoid hot water on the face and body.
•Excessive exposure to hot water can strip the skins natural oils.
•Use a gentle, sulfate free, fragrance free cleanser and warm water.
•Apply moisturizers after cleansing while skin is moist.
•Stay hydrated.
•Eat a diet rich in Omega 3’s.
•Layer products to protect exposed skin.
•Don’t forget SPF.
•If itching, scaling or inflammation persist, contact your dermatologist.

So what is Dr. Moy and the DNA EGF team’s philosophy? REPAIR THE PAST. PROTECT THE FUTURE

Skin is compelled to act younger with the help of two scientific breakthroughs: Enzymes that speed the DNA recovery process. Epidermal Growth Factor extracted from barley that triggers cellular renewal. So how does that translate to something we can use in our daily lives? Check it.Growth Factor Serum was developed to help bring back the vitality to your skin. Skin glows, texture is refined, pores look visibly smaller, and younger, fresher skin emerges.

  • Barley EGF is the first and only plant-based Epidermal Growth Factor. It is the subject of a clinical study conducted by Dr. Moy
  • Most advanced serum to self correct the negative effects of skin aging and reprogram skin to act young again
  • Dramatic & rapid improvement of skin exhibiting advanced signs of photodamage to help diminish the appearance of age spots, pronounced wrinkling, and uneven coloration
  • Revolutionary plant-based (non-bacterial) growth factor is proven more stable and effective than standard EGFs
  • Ideal for all skin types
The Renewal Foaming Cleanser is a gentle, foaming formula that provides an innovative, non-irritaring version of glycolic acid delivering gentle exfoliating action. Removes old, dull, surface dead skin to reveal clean, vibrant skin. What is not to like about that combination?

  • Unique amino acid glycolic complex stimulates cell turnover and washes away surface impurities to prime skin for maximum regeneration
  • Encourages optimum absorption of Dr. Moy’s advanced anti-aging actives for highly efficacious results
  • FREE of artificial fragrances, sulfates, and parabens
  • Ideal for all skin types
  • Formulated for daily use

The DNA Night Renewal is a rich lotion featuring and advanced liposome deliver system that maximizes cell repair activity during the body’s sleep cycle to recover skin’s youth.

  • Induces cell regeneration and counters photo-aging damage to restore skin vitality
  • High levels of bio-advanced DNA Repair Enzymes, peptides, and botanical actives boost youthful cell turn over
  • Builds and fortifies a healthy lipid barrier
  • Ideal for dry or stressed skin
  • For night-time use

…and those are just a few of the great products that Dr. Moy and his team have developed for the DNA EGF Renewal™ line. They also offer Scar Therapy, Defense SPF 30 and oh so much more. Have you guys tried any of Dr. Moy’s products? We would love it if you shared your opinions with us!

Filed Under: Acne, Aging / Wrinkles, Body, Face, Fashion Advice, Hands & Feet, Skin Care, Sun Protection Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Perricone Foundation and Cosmetics Giveaway (Up to $150 RTV) *CLOSED*

November 7, 2011 By

Perricone MD has long been known as a thoroughbred in the field of skin care. From their best rated anti-wrinkle creams to their fabulous No Foundation Foundation, Perricone MD has got what you need to keep your skin healthy, youthful and glowing.  Featured in top magazines and recognized by celebrities and medical professionals alike, Perricone’s lines of products are the real deal.

What are some of our favorite products from Perricone?

Perricone Foundation A perfect complement for your daily anti-aging skin regimen, the benefits of No Foundation Foundation abound:

  • Instantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, lines and pores.
  • Provides non-chemical SPF 30 broad spectrum UV protection.
  • Corrects skin undertones.
  • Quick-absorbing.
  • Moisturizes. Skin appears smooth and naturally dewy.

Cold Plasma represents Dr. Perricone’s most comprehensive and efficacious work to date.  Through Dr. Perricone’s patented delivery system, Cold Plasma offers the skin all it needs for optimal health. Cold Plasma helps correct the ten most visible signs of aging: wrinkles, enlarged pores, dryness, redness, discoloration, uneven skin tone, impurities, loss of firmness, loss of smoothness, and loss of radiance. Whatever your age or skin type, Cold Plasma delivers extraordinary results.

Anyway, suffice to say that we think Perricone MD rocks! So do you want the chance to win an item of your choice up to $150? That’s right, Perricone MD is giving one of our lucky readers just that chance!


TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post and tell us which Perricone product valued at $150* or less you want or need and why!

Extra Optional Entries: (Leave 1 comment for each extra entry.)

Note: You must leave 1 comment per entry. Extra entries will NOT be counted unless you leave a NEW comment for each one (not a reply).

Details

Contest runs from November 7th until November 20th 2011. Last chance to enter is November 20th 2011 at 11:59pm ET. Winner will be chosen with Random.org and notified by email within 7 days of contest end and asked for full name, address and phone number (for shipping purposes). If no response is given within 48 hours, a different winner will be chosen, so please be sure to check your email!

Entrants must be 18 or older and located in the US only.

Prize will be provided and shipped by Perricone MD.

The prize or prizes have been provided by the company and not myself. The brand or company is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of the company providing the prize.

If you are the winner of this giveaway and you do not receive your item within 8 weeks of sending us your mailing address, please email us and let us know.


Filed Under: Acne, Aging / Wrinkles, Body, Face, Giveaways, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , ,

Proactiv® Refining Mask in the House

October 31, 2011 By

When Proactiv® was like, Hey our Proactiv® Refining Mask is pretty awesome,  we obviously had to try it. Being that we are generally pretty big fans of the Proactiv® line of products, it was no trouble whatsoever (winky face) but at the same time, I don’t generally use facial masks or anything that I have to leave on for more than a couple minutes. Ladies, I get impatient. The Proactiv® Refining Mask has made me realize that I have to be more patient sometimes.

After a long shower, and a wash with the Proactiv® Body Wash, I decided to apply the Refining Face Mask and “relax” while it was doing it’s thing. This mask was voted Allure’s best mask for oily/acne-prone skin. A thin layer of Proactiv® Solution Refining Mask dries out and prevents zits… so we put this bad boy to the test. What am I working on this week? A cluster of blemishes on my chin. I have combination skin, so keep that in mind.

First impressions? Just like all the other Proactiv® products we have tried, the Refining Face Mask the odor is non-offensive and “clean”. I have read reviews online that have said it has a sulfuric smell but I didn’t notice it and if I did? I don’t think I would actually mind it. The mask is applied to damp skin and then immediately starts to dry to your face. Don’t be alarmed.  This is the face mask doing it’s thing. I settled in and let the mask set and act. Note:  Since relaxing is a loose term for me… here is a good time to read a book, write a letter, straighten up your bathroom, water your plants, put together your grocery list,  etc etc and so on.

Results? Well, I have to say that once I rinsed the mask off, my skin felt much brighter. While I didn’t notice an immediate change in my blemishes, I did feel that the mask helped sooth my irritated skin. I have also been using the spot treatment and renewing cleanser to work with the face mask and have been seeing fantastic results. I have noticed my skin getting clearer.

Word of warning though… In using the face mask, I have to be careful not to use it too often. My skin tends to get dried out. I would guess, you have to find that right balance depending on your skin type and in combination with a moisturizer. All in all, I am happy to put the Refining Face Mask in my skincare battalion because the whole line of products leave my skin feeling fresher and younger and looking fresher and younger. Hello.

Have you guys tried any Proactiv® Products? What do you think and what do you recommend? Share your stories and join the conversation here, on Twitter (@proactiv) or Facebook!

*Proactiv® was awesome enough to let us try this product for the sole purpose of telling you, our amaaaazing readers, exactly what we thought of it. Though this post is sponsored, our opinions are 100% honest because we would never lie to you guys… we love you! xoxo

Filed Under: Acne, Body, Face, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , ,

Celebrate the Season with Winter-Inspired Beauty Products

October 29, 2011 By

Even though Fall isn’t over yet, the scent of Winter and the holiday season is already in the air with your favorite beauty products. If you want to wrap yourself in cozy comfort with seasonally inspired lotions, makeup, or other beauty items then reach for one of these new products first!

Philosophy Tinsel Town

Philosophy is famous for their seasonal scents, and this luscious 3-in-1 bubble bath, shower gel and shampoo sparkles with the scent and effervescence of crisp berries and has a gorgeous raspberry color. What better way to get into the spirit of the season than with a fun, whimsical shower gel? Great for gift-giving, too!

($16, Philosophy)

 

 

Bath and Body Works Liplicious Holiday Lip Gloss

Available in 13 scrumptious holiday flavors like winter candy apple, peppermint hug and pink sugarplum, these festive lipglosses from Bath and Body Works are sure to put a smile on any woman’s face. Plus, they’re moisturizing and can be worn alone or over your favorite lipcolor. Get one for all of the women in your life; they are great for stocking stuffers!

($8, Bath and Body Works)

 

 

 

Harajuku Lovers Jingle G

This cute and festive fragrance has a fruity-oriental scent with notes of honeysuckle, tangerine, gardenia, vanilla and cedarwood – and she is ready to celebrate the holiday season in style! With her red and white suit, whimsical bow and gold belt buckle, Jingle G is the perfect gift for the woman in your life. Plus, the included hook allows you to turn your Jingle G into a Christmas ornament!

($25, Zappos)

 

 

Sephora by OPI Four Piece Full Size Nail Colour Set

I love Sephora by OPI’s holiday collections, and this four-piece set is no exception. The set includes four fabulous shades that are just perfect for the holidays, including: Only Gold For Me, Be-clause I Said So, Are You Glistenin’ and Sparktacular. I love all of the shades so much, I can’t pick a favorite!

($28, Sephora)

 

 

Too Faced Beautiful Dreamer Collection

Everything you need to put your best face forward this holiday season is packed into this gorgeous kit, which includes a “heavenly” patent makeup bag to hold all of your holiday goodies. The collection also includes an exclusive eyeshadow quad; shimmering lipgloss; an illuminating blush and bronzer duo, Lashgasm mascara and a deluxe Shadow Insurance Candlelight.

($48, Ulta)

 

Which winter-inspired beauty product is your favorite?

 

 

 

Filed Under: Beauty, Body Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,