Category Archives: Au Naturale

Results from the 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge + a free gift for readers!

06 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, health & wellness, Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

We have come to the conclusion of my 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge with Anjum Hanafi, Independent Consultant at Rodan + Fields. And I must say, I have an appreciation for my skin unlike never before. Before I tried these products, I was at war with my face: constantly fighting off breakouts, dullness, oil production, dry flaky patches, and appearance of fine lines. Due to a variety of factors (hormone changes, lack of sleep, lifestyle change, and just from general aging) I never knew what face I’d wake up to in the morning. Plus, the unpredictability of it all was aggravating my postpartum anxiety! Now, through this skin care regime, I feel like I’m working WITH my skin, feeding it what it needs, and creating a harmony of hydration and health. There are few surprises these days and I’m grateful for that.

R + FOk, regarding my issues I was hoping to address:

  • Dullness: Completely gone. I feel I’m rocking a healthy glow once more and there is a nice color in my cheeks. Even on nights where the baby wakes up THREE TIMES (and once for the toddler, too!) I don’t experience that showing up in my face the next morning.
  • Flakiness/Dry patches: Completely gone. The surface texture has totally evened out and I’m back to my regular homeostasis of normal-to-oily skin. The combination of oily in some places and super dry in others was confusing to me (I didn’t know what to put on my face!) and it’s nice to just reach for one go-to product that handles it all.
  • Old acne scars: Fading. Both the subtle pockmarks and not-so-subtle dark spots are continuing to even-out.
  • Fine lines: When I turned 33, I got my first wrinkle. My tall forehead wrinkles up with certain expressions and one of the lines finally just stayed there. However, –and I can’t believe it– but the roller smooths out that one pesky line. If this continues to work, I’ll keep to my personal promise of putting off the Botox until age 40.

Intensive Renewing SerumAdditionally, one product comes in the kit I received but wasn’t used in the challenge. I’m breastfeeding & it’s not recommended, so I had to hold off. BUT, it is amazing and award-winning and deserves a mention: R+F’s all new re-vamped Intensive Renewing Serum is all the rage — even featured in the April ’18 edition of Oprah’s O Magazine! The highest concentration of Vitamin A available on the market without a prescription, this powerful tiny daily-dose blue capsule packs a punch. Many Vitamin A serums on the market are too much for sensitive skin but this product is specifically formulated for even the most sensitive skin and works to visibly firm, smooth and revitalize the skin. It reduces the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles and the individual capsules ensure the product says fresh at every application.

Best part– my neighbor Anjum is running a special just for Blog Joie de Vivre readers: Get a FREE gift with any $80+ purchase! Y’all can choose from their Body Moisturizer, Foaming Sunless Tanner or Body Sunscreen. Here’s a simple & quick one-minute skin questionnaire with direct recommendations from the dermatologists…just fill it out as your first step and she’ll arrange your free exclusive gift.

Advertisements

June Update: 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge

11 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to the middle of my 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge…I am happy to report I am seeing improvement! The area that is showing up most significantly are in the acne scars along my cheeks. To illustrate it best, I tried to take a pic that’s back-lit and from the side to show off the texture. Subtle improvement, but the results are something I’ve never been able to achieve through any facial or topical cream, prescription or otherwise. Very excited to continue ‘rolling’ as I think the surface texture of my skin will continue to even out. No difference in fine lines yet, but honestly wrinkles are the least of my skin-specific worries.Acne Scars, one month inThe little roller has been a bit of an adventure to use. I mean, there ARE ACTUAL NEEDLES that you’re rolling across your face! The sensation kind of surprised me at first, but I quickly got used to the feeling and now look forward to ‘rolling’ at night. You move in up/down and side-to-side motions and the process only takes one minute to cover the entire face. It needs to be rinsed with warm water after each use and submerged into an effervescent tablet solution (just like dentures, teehee!) twice a week.Active Hydration SerumRegarding the Active Hydration Serum (pictured above), it has been a process getting my skin used to that level of moisture. As first, my skin felt sticky after each application. It was as if the skin was absorbing it very slowly. The product never sat on my skin and looked greasy, though (which has happened before with over-the-counter night creams). After a month of use, the clear serum formula is absorbed right away – as if my skin recalibrated & now accepts the product very well. I’m really enjoying the consistency of the lightweight formula – no residue on my fingers and my skin drinks it right up. I shouldn’t call it ‘lightweight’ though, because the product is actually quite an intense moisturizer! Plus, the cool applicator tool distributes the exact right amount for each use. My internal image of skin “dullness” is gone and the pesky flaky patches have vanished.  ~More updates in another month! 🙂

 

 

 

60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge

01 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, health & wellness, Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Any reader of this blog knows I’m an avid tester of the latest skincare products. I absolutely love to try out new serums, creams, & cleansers and then share my reviews with y’all. My neighbor Anjum knows this, too, and suggested I give Rodan + Fields a try. She is a huge advocate of this line and sells it with great success. She prompted me to use certain personalized products and commit to them for 2 months — or, the 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge. Because even with all the fun products that are sent to me for review, I still don’t exactly “love” my skin.
Acne ScarsThrough this challenge, we’re hoping to tackle a couple of issues I’m currently dealing with: acne scars and dullness. –Anyone in the same boat? I’m in my mid-thirties and finally the pimples I’ve dealt with my whole life are starting to subside. BUT, I’m left with subtle scarring, or slight pockmarks that show up at the right angle & in some lights. More noticeably, I have scarring that manifests as dark spots…those fade over time, but we’re talking MONTHS. My dermatologist told me the scarring could be addressed by a series of microneedling services. (Since I’m breastfeeding, there’s a lot of products and procedures I need to steer clear of for now.) Microneedling is safe, but the price tag is scary! The packages at my dermatologist’s office started around $800. Luckily R + F makes a roller than is basically the same idea but can be used on yourself in the convenience of your own home.R + F RollerThe AMP MD Roller, Rodan + Fields micro-exfoliating roller, is designed to help the skin heal itself. As the micro-needles move across your skin (don’t worry, they don’t hurt!), signals are sent to the brain to “SEND COLLAGEN!” Collagen is what heals our wounds and gives our skin strength & elasticity, along with replacing dead skin cells. The micro-needles also create channels in our skin allowing any skincare products applied after to be absorbed quicker & deeper, creating results for a firmer tone, smoother texture, and a reduced appearance of lines & wrinkles!

The second skincare issue I’m hoping to rectify is dullness. This could be just a case of life with a newborn and general postpartum skin changes. I just feel like my skin is lacking luminosity. –I guess once you have that ‘pregnancy glow’ and then proceed to see it fade, you want it back, haha! Now, I haven’t been able to keep up with my facials over the last few months, so I know a contributing factor here is the lack of regular exfoliation. But Anjum tells me hydration is a major component in dealing with skin dullness. Again, since I’m breastfeeding she had to stick within certain ingredient boundaries but we found something that should work fabulously for me in their Active Hydration Serum.R + F AHSActive Hydration Serum (AHS) is a hydrating, oil-free serum that increases the hydration level in our skin. Often times, we apply moisturizer to our skin, thinking this will help with hydration. Moisturizers, in fact, only seal in EXISTING hydration — they do NOT add hydration to the skin! As we age, our level of skin hydration decreases, causing our skin to look dull and (dare I say it) droopy. AHS adds hydration into the skin, and when your skin is hydrated, it looks more vibrant, glowing, and smooth! AHS is formulated to benefit all skin types.

So, here begins Day 1 of our 60-Day Love Your Skin Challenge! I’ll keep ya posted during the journey and share my progress. –Interested in joining me? –Want to FINALLY love your skin? Check out the products here and reach out to Anjum on Instagram or Facebook. She’s always available to answer any skincare questions or recommend the right products.

New Year’s Beauty Refresh

28 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, health & wellness, Life[style], Pregnancy, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

New year, new leaf. Taking a minute this month to clean out my medicine cabinet and refresh my regular routines. This is the perfect time to replace or clean brushes (makeup, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, etc.), exfoliate that dead wintery skin with a mask & new hydrating products, and revive hair with a good healthy cleanse. Here are some new products I’m trying as part of my New Year’s beauty routine refresh:

Face Masks:  Get radiant, younger-looking skin from Vichy’s Mineral Face Masks born from earth, water and rock. Whether used alone or for multi-masking, these face masks are empowered by natural minerals such as Bentonite Clay to leave your skin feeling fresh and purified. VichyRight now, I especially love the Quenching Mineral Mask by Vichy (pictured on the left). A deeply hydrating mineralizing face mask, it contains Vitamin B3 to soothe and replenish the skin with 24-HR hydration. It immediately hydrates, soothes and strengthens skin with 10% concentration of Vichy Thermal Mineralizing Water (which is rich in 15 minerals that help skin resist everyday aggressors for strong, healthy skin.)

New Toothbrush:  After my last teeth cleaning when I was tenderly informed of a condition called Pregnancy Gingivitis (hint hint?), I know it’s time to get back on track and make dental care a top priority. Doctor Plotka’s is the leading toothbrush for better health because it contains antimicrobial bristles infused with silver! I first heard about the health benefits of silver from my interview with designer Rebecca Minkoff and have been intrigued by its uses ever since. Not only are the bristles antimicrobial, but they mimic flossing and are long-lasting. Time to toss out our current brushes and try these for fresh & healthy teeth in the new year.Doctor Plotka's

Toner for your Scalp:  Although a day on the slopes, a walk in the rare peek of sunshine, or basking in the low-humidity air can make for perfect winter days, they also make a dry mess out of your hair & scalp. That’s why I’m trying out something I’ve never used before: a purifying scalp and hair toner. –Have you heard about girls who “wash” their hair in Apple Cider Vinegar? Well, Essential Rinse is a new product along those lines…but the formula smells great and has that lower pH, which will clarify and purify the hair instantly. Apparently it’s very easy to use: after cleansing with shampoo, massage the product into wet hair & scalp, distributing evenly with your fingers before rinsing thoroughly with water.Essential Rinse

 

Life[style]: Nov. ’17 — Effortless Beauty: products that do all the work for you

18 Saturday Nov 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, health & wellness, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Who else finds themselves dazzled by advancements in beauty products out there?! I’m constantly tempted by all the new tech, formulas, and combos the industry comes up with, i.e. super-sticky black masks that promise to pull out your deepest blackheads, the at-home micro needling devices, and those soft vertical rollers producing beach waves while you sleep. The results seem incredible! But let’s be honest, although these treatments can be done at home -which is a huge plus- they still take TIME to apply and perform. Sometimes I’ll spend double or triple the amount of energy that it would take a professional to produce the same, if not usually better, results. –Ain’t nobody got time for that! That’s why this month, I’m sharing some new beauty products & services that are completely effortless. Yep, their fantastic results take absolutely no energy on your part to receive. All the beauty payoff / none of the effort.

A Professional Blowout: Austin got its own Drybar location (at The Domain Northside) and earlier this week, I finally paid them a visit. Drybar is based on the simple concept of focusing on one thing and being the best at it: Blowouts. I adore their classy atmosphere, consistent styling results, and professional hospitality. They sent over a gift card for a complimentary blowout and it was the perfect mid-week pick-me-up for this pregnant mama! I typically don’t treat myself to a professional blow dry unless I’ve got a special event coming up, but this was a lesson in not needing an excuse to make yourself feel fabulous. I felt like a new woman walking out of the salon! Drybar

A Silk Pillowcase: Get a variety of beauty benefits simply by laying down…it doesn’t get any easier! Made with the highest grade of long fiber mulberry silk on the top and high grade cotton on the other side, the Hollywood Silk Solution is designed to reduce bedhead, decrease tugging on delicate facial skin and extend your blowout. Now, you can truly get your beauty sleep this year. Machine washable, too! Available in Pink, Caramel and White ($45)Silk Pillowcase

Your Daily Dose of Beauty: Just add water! This box of once-daily beauty sachets nourish skin from the inside so it can heal & repair itself and ultimately achieve a softer, younger look. CORREXIKO’s Skin Supplement lessens the results of cell aging over time; meaning daily protection for the face, neck & body from signs of aging in the years the come.Beauty VitaminsA single packet of these nutritional supplements contains 5 capsules specially formulated to target distinct skincare concerns. What can you expect? The maker claims users will start to see skin firmness, texture, glow and a lessening of fine lines and wrinkles within 12-18 weeks of consistent daily use, though benefits may be seen earlier, and increased energy may be noticed from Day 3 onwards. The formula includes 60 active clinically proven ingredients, such as:

  • Astaxanthin to neutralize free-radical oxidative stress
  • Lycopene for UV protection
  • Collagen precursors to support the strength of the dermal matrix (including elastin and collagen fibers)
  • Hyaluronic acid to maintain extracellular hydration
  • Resveratrol to help the body’s fight against inflammatory action
  • Additional Potent Probiotics to help your body absorb nutrients effectively
  • Natural Energy + Mood boosters to help awaken your body and mind
  • Essential Nutrients, Enzymes, Amino Acids, Minerals and Superfoods to stimulate skin renewal

($95)

Spa Luxury Anywhere You Go — Life[style]: Oct. ’17

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Oh, how I love a day at the spa! –Who doesn’t? However, busy schedules and financial constraints can keep most of us away from visiting more than once or twice a year. Plus, I like to keep my visits limited to only every once in awhile…that way the experience stays super special. This month, I wanted to share a round-up of products that provide spa-like results and a little pampering at the same time. You can use them at home or during your travels for that spa-like feeling of luxury & relaxation anywhere you are!

Refreshed, Radiant & Ready To Go: Keep your skincare routine easy & exciting with these four new Kleenex releases that help prep & maintain a fresh-looking face. Makeup artist Spencer Barnes, who works with A-list celebs like Julianne Hough & Nina Dobrev, uses Kleenex Facial Cleansing products for their natural affect & high-quality sanitation. Kleenex

  • Barnes says the Kleenex Exfoliating Cushions are “perfect” for when clients have “flaky patches” that are ready to lift off.
  • Barnes finds the Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes “super gentle” and “easy to use” after a long day of shooting.
  • A must-have for all Makeup Artists, Barnes finds the Kleenex Eye Makeup Removers “gentle,” “effective,” and “easy to use” on all clients.

Safe Skincare Everywhere: Now you can take super-safe skincare along wherever your travels may take you! In perfectly sized TSA-approved bottles, PUR attitude announced that it will release a Trial Size Kit containing five of its bestselling products. By combining patent-pending technology with essential vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients, the PUR attitude brand redefines innovation in skincare by avoiding harsh chemicals, parabens, PEG’s, glycols, sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes.PUR attitudeThe PUR attitude Trial Size Kit features the following five key products, each of which contains 100% pure, active ingredients (no water) and follows the brand’s strict “Safe Beauty” standards: HydroDrench Moisturizing Gel Cream, Fusion-C Vitamin C Serum, Insta-Results Face Lift Gel, Multi-Effects Eye Cream, and Fountain of Youth.

Travel Wear for Ladies Who Spa: During our Babymoon in Bermuda, I got to test out a new spa ‘robe’ that boasts four-way wear — works as a dressing down, beach coverup & more. The Spa Dress is a multi-use wardrobe item for the practical traveler who prefers to pack lightly & expeditiously. It rolls up and is easily packable in the tiniest of getaway bags. spa robe Here are some of the ways to wear this fun, soft, and versatile piece, shown above in “Confidence Boosting Black,” size S/M:

  • A Body-Enhancing Cover Up: Wearable UNDER resort robes. Cotton-blend 80-20% spandex adapts to curves. Stretchy top provides light support.
  • A Slip-On Towel: Lush terry locks in moisture. Doesn’t fall when you need a towel to stay up. Reduces public displays of ‘towel dropping syndrome.’
  • A Dress-Before-You-Dress: Text & primp as you wear. Comfy walk-around attire. Dries as you dress.
  • A Sundress or Skirt: Practical for the sauna but wearable on the beach, by the pool or anywhere your spa excursion takes you, at home or away.

 

Life[style]: Sept. ’17 — Getting that Glow

16 Saturday Sep 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Fashion, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m always hunting for new tools & products to help me attain that inner glow. Anything labeled lightening, brightening, revitalizing…I’m all about it! Here’s a round-up of items that enhance that glow effortlessly.

Shine bright like a diamond:  Something about the way a real diamond sparkles & reflects the light brings out lightening effects elsewhere, like the whites of your eyes & brightness of your teeth. When you put one on, it’s like your whole face lights up! –Talk about adding another meaning to the saying Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.Diamond Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Diamonds Direct in The Domain for their “Love Comes Once in a Tacori Blue Moon” designer event. The selection of diamond engagement rings & colorful fashion pieces they have right now is astounding! I learned about current trends with wearing diamonds: mixing metals is “in” and you can add stacks of fun stylish bands to wear next to your engagement ring & wedding band. They are running an incredible September financing offer (0% APR for 5 years), so now is the time to buy that perfect bauble you’ve been eyeing!

Start fresh & boost illumination:  Cleansing my face twice a day is a non-negotiable! I like to start with a fresh palette for my serums & makeup. With two newly released products from Nerium International, you can set yourself up with a clean fresh glow to start the day!

First, the Double-Cleansing Botanical Face Wash is an advanced, lightweight one-step facial cleanser that goes on as a nourishing oil and transforms to a foamy lather with the addition of water, to remove both makeup and impurities. It leaves behind soft, smooth, comfortably clean and hydrated skin. This multifunctional facial wash does double-duty as a makeup remover and is delicate enough to be used morning and night. Nerium 1Then, applying a few pumps of their new IllumaBoost Brightening & Shield fights discoloration and recovers your healthy glow for a fresher looking complexion. This booster ‘serum’ features a breakthrough delivery system that dispenses a fresh & potent dose of vitamin C plus other proprietary & proven ingredients to help brighten, hydrate and protect skin by simply adding a few pumps to any skincare product or directly to one’s face.

Brighten those eyes:  A brand new therapeutic treatment for ‘Bad Eye Days’ comes in FreezeFrames Cool Eye Wear, providing soothing relief to puffy tired eyes through a never-before-seen unisex sunglass line. FreezeFrames were first conceptualized as a dual-purpose device for both 100% UVA-UVB sun protection and cooling eye therapy.Freeze FramesReusable gel pads magnetically click into place within the frame casing and are anatomically engineered to discretely target zone-specific problematic eye areas unlike any other eye care product on the market today. These patented “Gel-Pad” attachments soothe ‘the puffy and tired’ with gentle cooling compression customary of how a nurse might apply ice to swollen symptomatic eyes areas.

Wear after a spa or medical treatment to decrease pain and bruising while also increasing the healing. Use to soothe allergic puffiness, PMS inflammation, computer dry eye strain, or revitalize after a long flight. Helpful also in relieving headache and migraine symptoms. End result: look and feel ‘cool’ while on-the-go!

Life[style]: July ’17 — New releases in the beauty category

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

When it comes to beauty, some women like to treat themselves to a new lip gloss or mascara. Me, I like fancy skincare products. I’m drawn to the permanence & wholeness of caring for the skin you live in, versus expensive make-up products that are wiped off each night. Now, I’ll admit I am a bit of a makeup junkie and kinda obsess over fabulous eyeshadows & lip shades, but I’m especially interested in new skincare treatments. This month, I’ve got some new complete collections, supplements, and relaxing indulgences to consider incorporating into your beauty routine…

Mom-friendly skincare. When baby-proofing your home, make sure to life-proof your skin! New moms are often exhausted and overwhelmed, which can wreak havoc on your complexion – however, Vichy’s Idealia collection grants illuminated, lit-from-within results, giving you one less stress to lose sleep over.Vichy

  • Idéalia Night Cream ($35): Discover the restorative power of a good night’s sleep on the skin with an advanced night treatment that mimics skin’s key repair activity during a deep sleep.
  • Idéalia Radiance Boosting Serum ($39): Formulated with an Antioxidant Recharge Complex (citrus flavonoids + licorice root extract + energizing adenosine), this serum restores an ideal skin quality and recharges skin with a glow.
  • Idéalia Eyes ($31): A 2-in-1 anti-aging treatment and illuminator works to reduce dark circles, smooth fine lines and illuminate shadows.

Drink to your youth. Want a first-of-its-kind wellness solution that provides age-fighting benefits both internally as well as externally? Thanks to Nerium International’s new Youth Factor Complete Vitality Complex and Superfood & Antioxidant Boost, you can get age-fighting benefits for body, cells and skin!* Instead of a handful of pills and an overwhelming regimen, support overall wellness and fight the signs of aging with a duo of nutritional supplements—one a tablet, the other a powder. Youth Factor

  • Youth Factor Complete Vitality Complex is a tablet that contains both the Youth Factor Enzyme Blend and Complex NAA that help with: cellular energy support, free radical defense, strengthening the immune system, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and revealing brighter-looking skin.*
  • Youth Factor Superfood & Antioxidant Boost is a supplemental powder featuring hearty servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables—far more than most would be able to consume from their diets alone. It helps to balance the body’s pH levels to help maintain well-being.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

Bring international beauty traditions home. Treat your skin to some worldwide beauty this summer! New to the U.S., Treets Traditions brings tried and true practices from five regions of the world to your bathroom. With regional, natural ingredients that work, rediscovering age old beauty will have your skin looking fresh and new in no time! I’m loving taking my normal bath up a notch with these premium lavender & beeswax Bath Fizzers ($14).Bath bombsExclusively at your local Ulta Beauty & on Ulta.com all five collections from Treets Traditions are inspired by regional traditions to heal, and nurture skin. Coming from The Amazon, Africa, the Alps, Asia, and the Nordics, each collection is tailored to different needs and highlights different regional ingredients for your best skin yet!

The Practical Father’s Day Gift Guide

13 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Dapper Dad, Fitness, Holidays, Married Life, Product Reviews, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

After nine years of married life, my husband and I have evolved into gifting each other more practical, useful gifts for the holidays. Case in point:  we recently celebrated a wedding anniversary and our gift to each other was a new vacuum. –Seriously. It was a really nice hi-tech vacuum, but a household cleaning device nonetheless. We figure, we have everything we need and buy ourselves what we want –within reason and many times after each other’s counsel. Now, for milestone birthdays & anniversaries, we favor the gift of experiences:  i.e. international travel, concerts, weekend staycations, etc. But especially since becoming parents, for those “greeting card holidays” like Valentine’s Day & Mother’s/Father’s Day, we appreciate unique everyday gifts that are consumable and practical. For starters, he’s asked for a tub of Tacodeli’s “Dona” sauce (now available at Whole Foods Market!) and it’s already in the fridge waiting for him. Here are some other ideas:

For the Clean Freak Dad:  Caffeinated soap. DirtyBird Energy is dedicated to creating products to help productivity for active, busy lifestyles. Whether it is at the office, during a workout, or raising children, they want to help everyone be at their best and most productive. Each DirtyBird Energy Bar is infused with ingredients to help achieve this goal.Dirty Bird—The Energy Soap bars are infused with caffeine and peppermint oil to energize the body and mind. Scientific studies show caffeine absorbs through pores and hair follicles, which will energize the body even before your first cup of coffee in the morning.

—The Relax Soap bars are infused with lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and ylang ylang essential oils. Each of these oils absorbs to relax the body and mind as well as soothe the skin. An evening shower with Relax helps to promote a restful sleep allowing him to wake up refreshed & ready for the day ahead.

And the soap isn’t the only thing that’s special! Each soap comes packaged in a patented reusable container that snaps shut and allows Dad to take his soap anywhere (the gym, camping, vacation, etc.) or use it to keep other goodies in. And DirtyBird Energy is proudly made in the U.S.A. — another plus! DirtyBird Energy Soaps are available in singles, a 2-pack variety, 6 packs or in a monthly subscription, delivered right to his doorstep every month.

For the Traveling Dad:  Alkaline water. With summer around the corner, the whole family will be drinking a lot more water. These alkalizing sachets by Coral LLC help raise the pH of his drinking water, buffer chlorine, and add Vitamin C & antioxidants by way of ionic trace minerals. This is a great thing to pack in his backpack during summer travel — useful for weekend camping trips and international excursions alike (both places where the tap water can be suspect!)Alkaline waterI especially love their portability — perfect for amping up water fountain tap water when refilling your reusable water bottle. Whether at home or on the go, the convenient mineral sachets can easily transform ordinary water—bottled or treated—into a boosted beverage that may help support optimal energy and hydration. Alkalized water has also been known to help the body maintain a healthy pH balance, hydration level, and metabolism, as well as support natural detoxification.

For the Dad Who Does It All:  Spirulina supplements. ENERGYbits spirulina tablets fire up your thinking, improve your alertness and protect your brain health all WITHOUT caffeine, chemicals, sugar or gluten. After his big day, RECOVERYbits step in by speeding muscle recovery. These supplements are a 1-2 punch that will improve everything Dad does, from his golf game to his career. Recovery BitsHe’ll love how razor-sharp his thinking gets with ENERGYbits and it’s all thanks to their high concentration of healthy fatty acids, plant-protein, chlorophyll and B vitamins, with no caffeine, chemicals or sugar. These tiny little algae tablets are the healthiest way for everyone to focus better, recover quick, and work smarter not harder. Show your dad (and yourself) some love this Father’s Day and feed your brain with bits. One size fits all!

 

Life[style]: May ’17 — Hot Mama Health & Wellness

18 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Fitness, Life[style], Product Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Hey there hot mamas!  Sharing some handy tools made available in our health & wellness toolkits. New classes, probiotics, and skincare!

The Workout:  Flywheel Sports is a new boutique indoor stadium cycling studio in The Domain. Flywheel provides all the tools needed to set goals, beat your own personal records, race against others, and make fitness fun! I recently held a Mom’s Night Out event there and we enjoyed seeing friends while being healthy together. –Group workouts are my jam! If you’d like to try out one of their classes courtesy of Blog Joie de Vivre, use code FLYLWA15 for a free ride. Guests will need to create an account and apply the code at checkout. Expires June 15th.Flywheel

The Supplement:  Already the #1 supplement sold on Amazon, Hyperbiotics was founded by Jamie Morea, who developed the line after a life-altering trip from Guatemala to Thailand and contracted Entamoeba histolytica, a rare intestinal parasite most common in developing countries.HyperBiotics.jpgJamie’s horrific experience sparked her quest to develop superior, live probiotic formulas, and to teach others about the vital ecosystem of beneficial bacteria living in each and every one of us. Hyperbiotics has 60 PATENTS and the formula was developed with technology that ensures the organisms are viable without refrigeration, survive past stomach acid, only uses human resident strains (as opposed to soil based organisms or active yeasts) and contain up to 15 different beneficial probiotic strains. Hyperbiotics was created on the premise that bacteria is both the foundation of health and the future of medicine. As of April 25th, Hyperbiotics will be available to consumers nationwide at Target stores, just in time for spring/summer travel plans!

The Skincare:  Though you may plan to give your skin a breather from makeup in the summer, sometimes (for me, at least) a bit of foundation is needed to cover up unwanted blemishes and redness. Melting makeup mixed with sweat from our extreme temps in Texas can lead to an even worse situation:  clogged pores and acne. Try VENeffect’s Pore Minimizing Cleanser and Micro Exfoliant to reveal beautiful skin. VENeffect helps offset the signs of hormonal aging with plant based technology to inspire luminosity and elasticity in skin.VenEffect.jpg