Freya Arctic Cleansing Water - Scandinavian Skin Science

My beauty regimen has always been based on simple efficacy. I like things that work, keep my skin from breaking out or being too dry and don't require a great time commitment. When I was younger, I was totally a wash and go girl but now that I am getting older, I'm not adverse to making a little more effort to keep my skin looking smoother and more, uh, radiant with targeted anti-aging products.

When I was asked to try a new line of skincare products from Scandinavia, it wasn't a hard sell. I love the clean, simple aesthetic that seems to rule up near the Arctic circle. Something about the bracing cold air makes the population prone to good design and natural ingredients, like bentwood furniture and modern glassware. As the Freya Skin Care website notes:

Scandinavian women have long been admired for their supple, clear skin and timeless beauty, thanks to the potency of the region’s resources and a culture of health and well-being. Now Freya is tapping into Scandinavia’s natural advantage in the battle against aging to create a powerhouse skincare system that is truly in a class by itself.

Freya is apparently the first brand in the cosmetic industry to nano-encapsulate marine based Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as LEXA™, a never-before-seen patented ingredient shown to boost collagen production by over 600%. And besides, the line is called Freya, ostensibly named after the Norse goddess of beauty, love, war and death. How cool is that? Those Viking descendants are pretty badass and it certainly couldn't hurt for a little of that to trickle down my way.

I received a full-sized sample of Freya Arctic Cleansing Water to try out. Even the bottle is stately and calming, a stoic column of aquamarine and silver that feels cool to the touch. 

You twist the silver cap up to reveal a hole in the top, which you dab with a cotton ball to release the kraken. I mean, the cleansing water. Now, when I mentioned before that I am a wash and go girl, I should also tell you that I have never used a cleanser that you didn't have to rinse off. I'm prone to oiliness, so it just seems counterintuitive to me that you wouldn't want to rinse. You don't rinse Arctic Cleansing Water off but it gets all the day's detritus off your skin and leaves it dewy soft. In fact, even in the dead of this insanely cold, dry winter, I could probably forego moisturizing after using it without turning into a shriveled crone. It's pretty awesome.

I should also mention that it's hard for me to review one skincare item without trying the rest of the range but this is actually a very good standalone all-in-one product. Like I said, it gently cleans and conditions the skin. I also tried it on eye makeup in the name of science and it did a great job. I was very impressed. 

I wish that Freya offered a travel kit so I could try the whole line without dropping a bundle. I am especially interested in the undereye dark circle and puffiness reduction capabilities of the Freya Firming Eye Cream, since that is my personal beauty pet peeve.

To learn more, like Freya on Facebook or follow @freyaskincare on Twitter.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a sample to facilitate this review. No compensation was provided, although I might earn cash or credit if you buy something after clicking on one of the affiliate links. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Olay Total Effects CC Cream (Giveaway)

I've said it before– I'm not a heavy makeup wearer. Sure, I like to glam it up every once in a while, but I've never been an everyday foundation user. I've only recently given in to the fact that I should use concealer under my eyes. The fact is, though, I'm 42 and have two kids. My skin is starting to show its age via discoloration. I could use some help evening out my skin tone.

Olay has joined anti-aging properties (AA) with beauty balm (BB) technology to create CC cream. Part of the Olay Total Effects line, CC Tone Correcting cream combines moisturizer, 15 SPF sunscreen and a sheer color for a light, natural effect. No heavy drag queen pancake makeup here, it's just a subtle tint that leaves your skin smooth. Even if you forget to wash your face overnight. Not that I suggest that on a daily basis.

My grandmother uses a lot of Olay products and her skin is still beautiful in her 80s. I should be so lucky!

This is a great product for light coverage. You can literally apply it in seconds and it gives you an even, glowy radiance. If you'd like to try it for yourself, Olay has provided a $25 Walmart gift card for one of my readers. Just enter using the form below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway





In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a complimentary sample in order to facilitate this post and Olay has provided the gift card prize. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are, as usual, entirely my own. 

L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

BB creams have been all the rage in Asia for quite some time but it seems like US cosmetics companies are just jumping on the bandwagon. I love the idea of blending skin care with cosmetics, since I have always been a foundation-free girl but I'm getting older and my skin can use a little more evening out these days. Tinted moisturizers that can actually refine your skin tone while creating an even finish sounds just my speed.

I'll admit it, though. I am extremely skeptical of any cosmetics that call themselves "magic." It seems like an overstatement of what any makeup could do, unless you're talking about some super thick pancake foundation that literally covers up your natural skin. L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream, however, is kind of magical. It's a very lightweight and sheer lotion that comes out of the tube white but delivers a dewy, natural look that seems more like bare skin than stage makeup. I have absolutely no idea how it works, but it really does!

There's no chalky or ashy tone from the white lotion– the "BB" in this cream stands for Beautifying Beads, microcapsules of pigment that blend seamlessly with your skin tone as you apply it. My skin tone is usually hard to match since I am neither fair nor dark and have an olive undertone but the Medium BB Cream worked well for me. It's infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization and did a great job of keeping my skin feeling dewy all day, even in the dry climate of the Kansas winter. This would be an absolutely perfect product if it contained a sunscreen.

L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream retails for $10.95 for 1 fl oz. It is available in four shades and is sold at mass food and drug retailers nationwide. Click here to find out more.

SheSpeaks will be be hosting a Twitter Party about L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream and more beauty secrets on Thursday, March 7th at 9pm ET. Join in using hashtag #MagicBBCream and the custom TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/TwZyJS.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a sample from L'Oreal andSheSpeaks to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

OrganicaPure - A Natural Indulgence #HGG2011

OrganicaPure is a line of skin care products based on three simple, powerful natural ingredients: cocoa, aloe vera and honey. These gifts from nature have been used in beauty rituals since ancient times, in many different cultures, but OrganicaPure harnesses each ingredient's healing powers and combines them utilizing modern techniques to create products that are as effective as they are indulgent.

Responsible gift-givers can rest assured that OrganicaPure sources their ingredients by sustainably extracting resources from the earth to produce an ecologically friendly product line and spa lovers can just relax and luxuriate in the rich, fragrant bliss. I tried the Aloe Vera & Honey Body Scrub and Cocoa & Honey Body Lotion. I really like the convenient pump dispensers and recyclable plastic bottles. It's such a pain to unscrew lids for jars in the shower or tub, especially with hands that are oily from using a scrub.

Thankfully, OrganicaPure's body scrub is a non-greasy formulation and is very gentle, even on sensitive skin. It's fabulous for use with a body brush or sponge. (I use it with the Clarisonic body brush, and it renders even problem areas like scaly upper arms and ingrown hair bumps baby-smooth. Sorry for that mental image.) The body lotion absorbs quickly, leaving a faint but intoxicating chocolately scent on the skin. I like it but probably need something heavier for the harsh, dry Kansas winter, like the Cocoa & Honey Body Cream or 100% Cocoa Body Butter. I'm dying to try the Aloe Vera & Honey Shampoo, too, and I wish I had a reason to try the 100% Aloe Vera for Sunburn…

The packaging is just right for holiday gift basket, too, don't you think? I like how they hint at the traditional red and green without being so ugly sweater-ish.

Great Deals!

Buy 1 product at OrganicaPure, get 20% off (use code OP20)
Buy 2 or more products, get 40% off (use code OP40) 
Free shipping on orders over $40!

For more deals:

• Like OrganicaPure on Facebook
• Follow OrganicaPure on Twitter

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the samples shown to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Vogue Influencer Network Clarisonic Challenge

I'm not much of a makeup girl. That is to say, I love makeup, but on a day-to-day basis my face is usually pretty bare. Looking at my senior portrait from high school, it's safe to say I wore more makeup back then than I do now. Shudder.

I've had several friends wax poetic about the wonders of their Clarisonic but I was hesitant about buying one. Being moderately stingy, I was a little hesistant about the high pricetag on these skin cleansing brushes: they run between $150- $225, depending on the model. How much better could it really be? Then a Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System showed up on my doorstep as a perk from my membership in the Vogue Influencer Network. Would it live up to the hype?

The PLUS includes a handle, charging cradle, a brush head for sensitive skin, a body brush head, 1 oz. trial sizes of Refreshing Gel Cleanser, Gentle Hydro Cleanser and Nourishing Care Cleanser and a 2 oz. trial size of Refining Skin Polish for body. I didn't realize that it did double duty as a facial cleanser and a body smoother. It has to be recharged for 24 hours before first use, so I took some time to read up on its history. I'm a huge fan of my rechargeable toothbrush, so I was impressed that the Clarisonic system shares its technological DNA with the Sonicare: both were created by the same primary inventor and use similar patented sonic frequency to enhance cleaning power. I couldn't wait to give it a go.

I have always taken care of my skin, using decent quality skincare since college and coming from a long line of relatives who look much younger than they are. I've never had many problems with my skin- no acne or wrinkles or blemishes to complain about. One of the reasons I never took the plunge and forked over the dough to buy a Clarisonic was because I thought my skin already looked pretty good for a 40 year old mother of two. Bear in mind that I am a skeptic by nature and then let me tell you about my initial impression: my skin actually felt noticeably different after ONE use of this contraption. No joke. Two weeks in and I've had multiple people tell me how radiant I look. I haven't been called glowing this often since I was pregnant, and I am quite sure that I am not in that condition now, thank you very much! Even my husband, who is more skeptical about beauty products than I am, acknowledges the visible and tangible improvement.

My dad is going to ask when I developed freckles (and why I never brush my hair) but I think you can see the evenness of my skin tone in this unretouched photo. Now I desperately want to try the Clarisonic Opal, which reputedly does wonders for puffy dark circles- my personal beauty demon.

Especially covetable: Sephora's exclusive Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System with Tarte eye makeup trio.

The Clarisonic PLUS body brush attachment has also been a lifesaver for me. I've had ingrown hairs on my upper arms and the backs of my legs since I was a kid and using the body brush has made a huge difference, much more than sugar scrubs and other exfoliants ever have. I feel like a real smoothie!




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System as shown above via the Vogue Influence Network. I was asked to try the device out and share my thoughts with the group. I was not compelled to write about it and I did not receive any monetary compensation. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Skincare

People are pretty crazy loyal to Bare Escentuals and their 100% pure mineral makeup. There are a zillion imitators these days but they're the real deal, formulating products that not only camouflage flaws but actually work to fix them. I'm a wash and go girl, in general, so I look for beauty products that can multitask. One of their catchphrases is "makeup so pure you can sleep in it," which I absolutely love, so I was excited to hear that they have recently debuted bareMinerals Skincare.

I received a bareMinerals Skin Renewing 30 Day Trial kit, which includes generous sample sizes of Purifying Facial Cleanser, Purely Nourishing Moisturizer and Firming Eye Treatment. All products in the bareMinerals Skincare collection are powered by their proprietary RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, a blend of 72 essential macro and micro minerals with three times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries or pomegranates. This antioxidant boost increases cell turnover, resulting in smoother skin, smaller pores and finer lines.

I liked how gentle the bareMinerals Skincare is. The formulas are creamy but lightweight and rinse clean. The cleanser worked well on my makeup without feeling like it was drying me out and the moisturizer and eye cream absorbed quickly without need to reapply– impressive since my skin has been parched all winter. I definitely see improvement in my skin texture, it looks firmer and more radiant. Glowy, if you will. I've even been asked about what I've changed, which I see as the ultimate endorsement!

Bare Escentuals on Facebook
Bare Escentuals on Twitter

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received product samples to facilitate this review. As usual, though, all thoughts are my own.

Lexli Skin Care: 4 Simple Steps with the Power of Aloe

When I was growing up, my mom always kept an aloe plant around and she'd break off a chunk and rub the juicy goo on any kind of cut or scrapes, so I knew that aloe was supposed to have some kind of restorative power. What I did not realize as a child was that aloe contains over 75 nutrients such as minerals, amino acids, and a number of vitamins including B12, enzymes and more. In fact, aloe vera is one of the only known natural sources of vitamin B12 and has been used as a natural anti-inflammatory to treat eczema and dermatitis. It is a great natural emollient and cleanser for healing damaged skin.

Lexli makes pharmaceutical-grade skincare products that harness the healing properties of the aloe vera plant. Surprisingly, aloe absorbs into skin better than water to provide lasting moisture. While most skincare products are water-based, Lexli products use pharmaceutical-grade 100% aloe vera as their starting point.

I received the Lexli 30-Day Starter Kit, which contains trial sizes of five products: Aloe-Based Cleansing Lotion, Aloe-Based AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant, Aloe-Based Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Normal to Dry Skin, Aloe-Based Tone and Balance, and Aloe-Based Night Moisturizer. This set is a convenient way to try The Lexli 4-step System (cleanse/exfoliate/moisturize/protect) without investing in costly full sizes. It's also great for travel, once you realize how great the products work!

I like to try out skincare lines for a week or two before I write about them but I have to admit that I saw noticeable changes in my skin texture and radiance from the very first use. The AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant looks really odd at first, sort of an off-white cream speckled with bright green beads of vitamin C. It has an unusual, not necessarily unpleasant scent compared to the other products, which I attribute to the glycolic acid. It is phenomenal! It exfoliates dead skin while simultaneously soothing and moisturizing it. The website says you will see noticeable changes within three weeks with optimal results in three months, but I swear I saw improvement almost immediately. I also love the cooling effect of the Aloe-Based Tone and Balance mist and both of the moisturizers are effective without feeling heavy or greasy. The Aloe-Based Cleansing Lotion is concentrated but very gentle, too. The only thing missing from this kit, or from the Lexli line, in general, is an eye cream. Since puffy, dark circles are my personal trouble spot, I would love to have an aloe-based problem solver. Maybe they'll create one…


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received product samples to facilitate this review. As usual, though, all thoughts are my own.

Mama Mio Mighty Moisture

Mama Mio is a beauty brand I fell in love with during my first pregnancy. Their Tummy Rub Stretchmark Oil was my daily ritual indulgence. Post-pregnancy, I found myself addicted to their body firming lotions. Boob Tube Bust and Neck Firmer is still a big fave, almost four years post-partum!

Now they are introducing Mama Mio High Protein Face Care, collection of anti-aging formulas packaged with two 30-second Face Fitness exercises to change the way you look AND feel. There are five products in the inaugural line, incuding a cleanser, eye serum and three targeted moisturizers. I received the Mama Mio Mighty Moisture to try out.

Mighty Moisture is an all-in-one moisturizer with a lightweight feel but heavy duty impact. Within one use, my skin texture was noticeably smoother and more even. I was skeptical at the claims that "one pump is enough," especially since my skin was parched from winter dryness, but it is incredibly emollient and left a pleasant lavender scent on my now-dewy fresh face. The Face Fitness exercises, Rosies and Ponytail Pull-Ups feel a bit silly but are quick and remarkably effective. If you want more of the nuts and bolts on how it works, watch this video:



I am dying to try Eye Know Moisturising Eye Serum next because dark circles and puffy eyes are my biggest beauty problems these days. If it's half as effective as Mighty Moisture, I will be impressed!


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a product sample to facilitate this review. As usual, though, all thoughts are my own.

Tarte Welcomes Spring

The weather is finally starting to thaw and teeny tiny green buds are forming on all the plants but my parched skin still has the dullness of winter. Perennial favorite tarte cosmetics has a bevy of new products to help foster the fresh, healthy look of springtime.

The Amazonian clay 12-hour blush is available exclusively at Sephora and comes in 8 shades to give everyone a natural glow. Even though powder blushes can sometimes be drying, the Amazonian clay works on all skin types, intuitively providing nourishing moisture to dry skin while minimizing oil on oily skin. I am obsessed with the sweet pink dollface shade and love the color-coordinated compact.

The provocateur Amazonian clay shimmering powders have the same refining qualities as the blush but can be layered for looks from subtle to shimmer princess. It's available in two shades, champagne and rose. The champagne is lovely but possibly better suited to fairer-skinned ladies. I thought it was a bit pale on my olive skin. Dust along the decolletage for some instant glamour!

My absolute favorite new product is the emphasEYES natural inner rim brightener. This innocuous nude eye pencil has become my secret wake-up weapon! I wear gas-permeable contact lenses and always have dry, bloodshot eyes. This pencil is amazing- just a little jot on the inner rim makes your eyes look bigger and brighter. Love, love, love this little guy.

tarte's spring 2011 collection is now available at the following retailers: tarte.com, sephora/sephora.com, ulta/ulta.com, beauty.com, QVC.com, Henri Bendel & boutiques nationwide.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received samples of the products mentioned to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.

Touch'd Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 8/27 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Lisa @thebeadgirl !!!***

her comment...
oh my word...almond puff please!

love rachel MUST try her products :)


Rachel Ferrucci is a dynamo. We've been friends on Twitter and Collective Bias for a while but I finally got to spend some time with Rachel and watch her in action at Evo, where she was in charge of coordinating the speakers– no small feat but she did it in inimitable style, often with a miniskirt, towering stiletto heels and always with a great sense of humor.

Rachel is a busy, busy, busy lady with a zillion different projects going at all times. So naturally she decided to up the ante even further, launching her own line of bath and body products designed to pamper and protect skin. She spent eight years refining the products in the Touch'd line and now she's ready to share them with the world.



I received the Moisture Myst, which is a spray-on that absorbs quickly leaving only a faint scent and soft, soft skin. The Tropical Paradise scent is a bit floral for me (Cherry Bomb or Almond Puff would be more up my alley) but I love how non-greasy it is and easy to apply. It's really great for parched, sunburned skin because it's light ultra refreshing. It is also fantastic for squirmy kiddos who don't like to sit still for lotion application after baths. Just spritz it on damp skin and they'll never know what hit them… Moisture Myst has been great for Roo's occasional eczema patches.



The initial Touch'd offerings include:

Organic Sugar Scrub, Moisture Myst, Bath Butter (this one sounds amazing!), Foaming Salt Soak and Tub Tea Bags.



To enter and win your own Foaming Salt Soak, please comment on this post with which Touch'd scent you want to try most.


Entries will be accepted through August 25th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), join the Touch'd Facebook page, follow @Touchd on Twitter, follow Superdumb Supervillain, follow me on Twitter, fan Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

The Story of Cosmetics

This totally harshes my mellow, so to speak. More info about the scary truth behind beauty can be found at The Story of Cosmetics. You can also join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to persuade lawmakers to take a stand.

Skin Energizer

I received a massive box of skin care products a few months ago and I've been working on trying them out so I could give you some opinions. I wasn't familiar with their products but according to their site, SkinEnergizer manufactures and distributes high quality skin care products using natural-based, botanical ingredients that are targeted to specific problem areas. There are a lot of problem areas to work on, apparently! Here's the run-down from their website:

Extensive research has produced truly effective, high-performing products for anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, face & body firming, and treatments for sun damage, stretch marks and scars, cellulite, brown and age spots, psoriasis, acne, dark circles, and a broad range of best-selling lotions, creams, body scrubs, moisturizers, exfoliates, and spa and body luxury skin care. A natural-based, botanical solution is our mission.

• Natural-based, botanical active ingredients and essential oils
• Minimal and recyclable packaging
• Development and adoption of industry best-practices
• Continued process improvement for corporate efficiencies
• On-going ingredient research, development and sourcing
• Customer education on ingredients, solutions and skin care
• Solutions for Cleansing, Rejuvenation and Growth
• Results and Benefits Based product objectives!

Like I said, I received a lot of products to review and I was a bit overwhelmed. SkinEnergizer offers solutions for just about any skin type or condition. The products I've enjoyed the most have been:



Nourish Skin Tight Body Firming Lotion (Smooths and refines belly and thigh skin, plus the Orange Love Spell scent smells like a creamsicle!)



Nourish Dark Spots and Age Spots Fade Cream (Really amazing and seems to work quickly; extremely useful since I scar easily from bug bites)



Nourish Complexion Cream (Regulates my horrifically oily skin without drying it out)

Other cool things about SkinEnergizer are their commitment to reduce packaging waste and marketing expenses and they even have a gigantic advice section so consumers can educate themselves on the proper products for them. Nice.

Disclosure: I received a big box of SkinEnergizer products and was asked to post my honest opinions. No compensation was received.

Cleaning Up on Earth Day

REMOVEEZ is a line of natural, citrus-based liquid skin cleansers made with homeopathic extracts of plants and flowers. Sticky messes sometimes seem like they need industrial-strength toxic goo to deal with them (when I worked at record stores, for example, the best way to clean bin dividers of all the sticker residue was with lighter fluid, ick) but REMOVEEZ proves that you can clean almost everything up in a healthy, safe, and earth-conscious way:

Temporary tattoos

Bandages

Tape of all kinds

Tar

Sap

Ink/Ballpoint pen

Permanent markers

Residue adhesive

Wax used by beauticians

Auto grease

Door grease

Shoe polish

Shoe glue

Color copy ink/Personal printer ink

Paint

Spray adhesive

Tile and carpet adhesive

Oil based paints

Industrial adhesives

…and many, many more.

REMOVEEZ is gentle on the environment but, more importantly for parents, it is also gentle on skin. (The formula was actually created in response to those pesky temporary tattoos that kiddos are addicted to but screech in horror if you remove as directed with stinky, stinging, drying rubbing alcohol…) If your kids are particularly good at getting into stuff, you'll be happy to know that REMOVEEZ gently dissolves the hard-to-remove stuff like permanent markers, paint, temporary tattoos, tar, and more, without stripping skin of its natural oils. In fact, extra REMOVEEZ left on skin soothes and nourishes with ingredients such as aloe, calendula, bee pollen, and Hawaiian white ginger. Rub REMOVEEZ until it naturally dissolves the sticky stuff and wipe excess off or keep rubbing until it disappears into your skin! It smells heavenly, too, with four great scents, all blended with orangey goodness: lavender, eucalyptus, coconut, or clove.

"As a surfer and father, I want to make sure we take care of our world for both our children and future generations,” says REMOVEEZ founder Jeremy Alcock. "Choosing to use REMOVEEZ is a simple and natural choice among many others to live sustainably. Earth Day is a reminder of what each individual can do, from recycling to planting gardens to teaching kids to turn off the lights and playing outside.”

Follow REMOVEEZ on Twitter or Facebook or check out the Removeez Blog to find out more.

Disclosure: I received a sampler of REMOVEEZ products to facilitate this review.

Mirra Beauty (Giveaway)

***WINNER PICKED 4/5 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #60 Julie!!!***

her comment...
I am looking for some new shampoo and conditioner to try





mirra is a comprehensive line of new beauty products sold exclusively at Kroger stores. The mirra collection is made with natural ingredients such as olive oil, aloe leaf juice, and cranberry, bamboo, honey and chicory root extracts and includes shampoos and conditioners; hair styling products; body washes and mists; facial and skin care lotions, cleansers and cleansing cloths; eye firming and age defying creams; and cosmetic brushes.

I received a big box of mirra products to try for a few weeks, courtesy of Global Influence. I don't ordinarily like grocery store brands but I thought I'd give them a try. I wasn't expecting much, being something of a snob when it comes to skin and haircare products. I received mirra volumizing shampoo and conditioner, eye cream, day and night facial cream, body wash and body lotion. I figured I'd use them for a week or so and go back to my old department store and salon brands.



Much to my surprise, I absolutely LOVE them. The shampoo and conditioner make my normally limp and frizz-prone hair bouncy and smooth, plus it smells like a more botanically-derived version of Hawaiian Punch. (A good thing, in my book.) I don't ordinarily like shower gels but the mirra version lathers like soap and smells gorgeously of bamboo and honey. The facial care was my biggest surprise. I have oily skin in summer and dry skin in winter and usually alternate between pricey brands I have to order online. I liked the mirra creams so much that I actually went to Dillon's (my local Kroger affiliate) and bought the mirra exfoliating facial cleanser to try, as well! I have experienced no dry patchiness or oiliness with these products, which is something akin to a miracle. And the prices are affordable, too- the facial and eye creams are at the high end at about $14 each. (For a limited time, mirra is offering $5 off when you purchase any two mirra products. To download the coupon visit www.kroger.com/coupons.) I am very impressed with everything I have tried and am looking forward to purchasing the cleansing wipes next.

Disclosure: I received the products shown above courtesy of The
Kroger Company for review and giveaway as a part of the Global Influence Network.

To enter and win your own mirra sampler similar to the one I received (contents may vary), please comment on this post with the mirra product you would most like to try.


Entries will be accepted through March 31st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

I ♥ Lush

I've been a big fan of Lush for a long time now, since before they had stores in the US. When I lived in Seattle, my friends and I would often drive up to Vancouver, B.C. and come home with bags of good-smelling bath stuff. When I moved to Memphis, I even did a couple of phone orders to stock up on the coveted items. My old favorite, Skinny Dip shower gel, has long since been discontinued but I can still remember its heady white chocolate, clove and violet scent…Lush now has stores in most major US cities but I've got two kids and can't really justify driving four hours to Overland Park to buy bath bombs. Luckily, their website is well-stocked and easy to navigate! I received some new goodies to try out: the American Cream conditioner, Rehab shampoo and a Creamy Candy Bubble Bar.



My hair changed texture when I was pregnant with Roo. It used to be thick and wavy, but lately it's been fine and limp. The very definition of lackluster. I've tried volumizing shampoos, intensive conditioners, hot oil treatments. If it makes my hair soft, it makes my scalp itchy. Nothing works. These actually do! And they smell pretty great, too. Rehab is packed with tropical fruit juices (papaya, pineapple, kiwi and mango) as well as invigorating peppermint and rosemary and nourishing extra virgin olive and jojoba oils. It cleans without stripping and leaves hair soft and bouncy. American Cream is thick and sweet-smelling, like strawberry milkshakes and creamsicles mixed together. It leaves a subtle scent along with smooth, well-behaved hair. I actually let my hair air-dry today in the nasty Kansas winter and there is not a lick of frizz, even without aid of styling product. I am impressed! Roo and Jasper have used teensy bits of the very, very bubblicious Creamy Candy Bubble Bar and LOVE the yummy sweet fragrance and slightly pink bubbles. They fight over who gets to crumble it under the running water, even. And it doesn't leave their skin dry and rashy, which is important to me since both of my kids have sensitive, eczema-prone skin.



If you're looking for somewhere to start, the Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes sampler box is a great way to introduce yourself to Lush's handmade skincare. I'm not real sure what the "free moustache" is all about but everything else in the box looks nummy.

Disclosure: we received the three items mentioned above (American Cream, Rehab and Creamy Candy Bubble Bar) to facilitate this review. Honestly, I am pretty sure I would love at least 90% of the things that they make. But I'd be happy to test that theory, anytime!

Skin MD Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 1/12 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #1 Benita (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
I love that it hydrates the skin and retains the moisture.



Kansas is dry. Very, very dry. Right now the winter cold combined with dry central heating has sucked the moisture out of everything in our home. The cats' water bowls dry up overnight, the plants are listless, my entire family is suffering from itchy, scratchy skin. Roo and Jasper both have pretty sensitive skin so I have tried many different lotions over the years and we keep coming back to Skin MD Natural, which we reviewed a while back. It's a shielding lotion so it not only hydrates the skin but also retains the skin's natural moisture and protects it from the environment. If you're outdoors a lot, it is also available in an SPF15 formulation.

To enter and win a bottle of Skin MD Natural, please comment on this post with your favorite feature of the lotion.


Entries will be accepted through January 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Tarte Bargain Weekend

Yesterday, my mom asked me if I was going someplace, why I was so dressed up. I was wearing a t-shirt and a gym skort with my hair wet from the shower. I know I am usually pretty slovenly these days but it was a little unexpected. I didn't think I had extended any unusual effort.

"You look so nice!" she gushed, "are you wearing makeup?"
My mom is not prone to obsequious compliments so I was sort of suspicious.

"Uh, no. Well, I do have on some concealer and a little blush…"

"You look like you have eye makeup on! You look like you're going out or something."

"Umm no. Just concealer and blush."

"Can you go get it? I want to try it on!"

So I ran upstairs and got my secret weapons: Tarte dark circle defense natural under eye corrector and natural beauty cheek stain. The dark circle defense comes with its own brush that lets you get the coverage you need without being too cakey or mask-like. The blurb on the website claims that dark circle defense "is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of eye puffiness in just 4 weeks. Finely milled light refracting minerals actually brighten skin to help camouflage dark circles, puffiness, refness, fine lines and wrinkles." I honestly don't doubt it. My saggy baggy eyes are looking a bit brighter these days. I was surprised because there are only two shades offered and my skin tone is usually pretty hard to match but the medium-to-deep shade worked on me and on my darker-skinned, tan-loving mom.



The cheek stain is in a no-brainer push up stick that you can dab on anywhere (I like it on my cheeks and lips) and blend with your fingers. There are a dozen or so cheek stain shades to choose from, but the natural beauty is their completely-green version, with natural ingredients and colorants and their proprietary T5 blend of antioxidant superfruits. Even the packaging is recyclable! And the shade is totally perfect, despite looking like a black cherry push-up pop; you can use it sheer or layer it on for a richer color. Seriously, Tarte has made makeup so simple that even I can do a passable job.



My mom was so impressed, she decided she needed to order a zillion things off the Tarte website. You should, too, if you're in the market for beauty products: Through Monday, August 24th, you can get 40% off of everything in the store (even the super covetable Femme Fatale eye palate pictured below) by using code FF09 at checkout.

Meaningful Beauty Review

I've always loathed Cindy Crawford. Yes, she's beautiful and sporty and actually seems like she'd be pretty nice in person. But since I first saw her in the '80s I have had an irrational dislike of her, perhaps because she is my polar opposite. When I see pictures of her with her preternaturally beautiful kids these days, I feel unnerved– it's like she and her remarkably attractive husband are out to repopulate the world with their superhuman progeny.

Which isn't to say I wasn't foaming at the mouth waiting to try the Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford Skin Care Program. Obviously, she knows a thing or two about not only being beautiful but retaining that beauty while aging gracefully. The crux of the Meaningful Beauty system is Age Maintenance. Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh created the line to help preserve skin’s existing youth and vibrancy, without surgery, delaying the visible signs of aging for as long as possible. Meaningful Beauty’s formulas are designed to help smooth the appearance of visible fine lines, brighten the complexion, and diminish skin roughness and redness in just four weeks.



Initially, I was skeptical of Meaningful Beauty because of my pathological (and inexplicable, really) dislike of Cindy Crawford and laziness about skin care regimens. I used to be a proponent of single step systems but now that I'm getting older I am definitely much more open to using different moisturizers for day and night. The core system consists of a skin-softening cleanser, eye creme, day moisturizer with SPF20 and night moisturizer. Additional products include a glowing serum (unbelievable!), easy-to-use facial masque, and décolleté and neck creme. The last sounds a little extraneous but it really does firm up the skin around your neck and bosom, which can often be the telling point of a woman's age. I have been very impressed with Meaningful Beauty, especially with the way it moisturizes my skin without leaving it feeling too oily or causing blemishes. The skin softening cleanser is very gentle and an unusual non-foaming, non-cream texture. It cleans the skin without stripping it of moisture or over-exfoliating. The night fluide moisturizer is very lightweight compared to other similar products I have tried but it leaves my skin smooth and even… radiant.

Maybe Cindy Crawford isn't so bad, after all!

In An Instant

In An Instant is a skin care system by supermodel and mompreneur Heidi Klum. Designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, large pores and skin imperfections while building benefits over time with continued use, the best thing about In An Instant is how quick and easy it is to use. There are four main components to In An Instant: Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Intensive Firming Serum, Instant Tinted Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, and a secret weapon, the Instant Wrinkle Smoother wand. There are two bonus products in the line, a Warming Facial Scrub (feels amazing!) and an Eye Cream.

I don't have a lot of time to worry about multiple steps in my skincare regime, so I really appreciated this system's no-nonsense approach to beauty. It would be perfect for younger, active moms who might be starting to worry about wrinkles. I especially love the Instant Tinted Daily Moisturizer, which comes out of the tube looking oddly like cement but smells lovely and fresh like cucumbers. It actually creates a healthy, natural looking shade that eliminates the need for makeup. If you're a wash and go girl like me, you will love it. The only complaints I have about In An Instant are minor: I know I said I prefer fewer steps in my skincare regimen but I wish there was a moisturizer without tint and SPF to use at night. Also, the Eye Cream seemed to help brighten my dark circles and diminish puffiness, but after a week or so I developed an allergic reaction to it. (This is a problem I have with MANY eye creams, since apparently the gas permeable contact lenses I have worn since seventh grade cause a reaction with almost everything. Sad fact.)

Overall, I think In An Instant would be great for women who appreciate a healthy, natural look with radiant skin. It made mine look smoother and more glowing but unfortunately it didn't make me look like Heidi Klum…

In An Instant is not available in stores but you can purchase an In An Instant 30-Day Intro Kit online for $39.95 with free shipping and handling.

Sparklehearts Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 5/12 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #1 (when does that ever happen?!) Donna!!!***

her comment...
This sounds wonderful and pretty!

When Roo has a new stuffed animal or doll, inevitably it is christened with some sort of combination of the words sparkle, heart, flower, or clementine. I am not sure how these monikers were burned into her psyche, but every single new addition to our household is named SparkleFlower or HeartSparkle or ClementineSparkleHeart. So when I was asked to review a new line of all-natural beauty products for girls called Sparklehearts, it seemed like destiny.



Sparklehearts is committed to providing the glamor and glitz girls want in hair and body care while maintaining a healthy environment. Their products are 99.6% natural, featuring ingredients like essential oils, violet extract, coconut, shea butter, and green tea extract, and feature a signature fragrance reminiscent of sweet treats. Unlike most products marketed toward young girls, Sparklehearts contain no artificial fragrances or colors, parabens, phthalates or sulfates. They are never tested on animals and their packaging is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. There are currently five products in the Sparklehearts collection: Shine Shampoo, Rainbow Soft Conditioner, Peace Out No Knots Hair Detangler, Bubbling Blooms Body Wash and Sweet Hearts Sparkly Body Lotion.



We tried the Shine Shampoo and Rainbow Soft Conditioner. Roo loved the cool graphics and pink pumps on the bottles. As soon as she saw them, she knew they were for her. And once she smelled them, she was totally sold! I'm a little bit harder to convince, since I am the one who has to deal with her sensitive skin. I wanted to make sure that Sparklehearts was as natural and gentle as they say, while also cleaning her playground grime-encrusted hair effectively. It passed with flying colors on both, and Roo loves having hair products that are for her own personal use. We combed her hair and let it air dry with no additional styling products. Check out the shine on that moptop!



Get 20% off any purchase at Sparklehearts by entering code BLOG20 at checkout. You can also join Sparklehearts on Facebook!

To enter and win one Sparklehearts product of your choice (we're dying to try the Sweet Hearts Sparkly Body Lotion because it features natural mica for extra sparkliness!), please comment on this post and let me know what "skinemies" are. Check out the "About Us" page at Sparklehearts to find out.



Entries will be accepted through May 10th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***


And don't forget this week is the big Give It Away Now Blog Carnival, too:




You have to be in it to win it, as they say...