skincare

Practical Acne Advice That You Can Follow Today

June 11, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Keeping your skin clear is an ongoing battle that affects everyone. One of the most common enemies we face is acne. Described as an inflammatory skin problem, acne can range from mildly frustrating to an incredibly

stressful problem that can leave scars on our face. While acne isn’t exactly a serious threat, it’s significant enough to have an emotional effect on you. It can hurt your self-esteem and confidence, it can make you shy away from social gatherings, and can even result in lost focus at work or school.

Thankfully, there are a handful of practical ways to deal with your acne.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/THIs-cpyebg (CC0)

Understanding why acne occurs

First, we have to understand what causes acne in the first place. In general, there are three main factors:

Clogged hair follicles
Bacterial infections that cause inflammation
Hormonal fluctuations that cause your face to secrete oil

Blackheads are typically considered a very normal form of acne. These can be upgraded to whiteheads when they’re more severe and eventually cysts. Acne is most common in teenagers and young adults, but you can have severe breakouts much later in life as a grown adult. Genetics and environmental influences can also play a role in your acne.

Now that we have a better understanding of why people get acne, let’s look at how you can get clearer skin with some practical advice.

Keep your face clean and pores clear

The main focus of dealing with acne is to reduce inflammation and remove any bacteria that is associated with acne formation. This means removing all makeup before you go to bed or when you come home, and cleaning your face on a regular basis to remove dirt. Keep in mind that washing your face too much can have an inverse effect and make your acne worse. If you find that your breakouts are particularly bad, you may want to consider an acne treatment from a reputable spa or clinic. These are generally much more effective at clearing acne on a short-term basis.

Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet is also a huge component of your acne. Studies suggest that consuming fewer carbohydrates and sugars can actually lead to reduced breakouts. However, this can vary from person to person and it’s a good idea to try and understand what foods have a higher chance of affecting you personally. You can do this by keeping a food diary to see what things can cause breakouts and what foods are generally safe.

Use products designed for your face

A common mistake that people make is using different kinds of creams on their face that aren’t actually designed for facial use. These creams can often clog pores which you can avoid by using a product that is designed specifically for facial use. In general, oil-free products are going to fare much better on your face because they’re less likely to clog your pores or exacerbate acne breakouts on your face. In other words, be more mindful about the products you use!

•How do you treat your acne?

Thank you for reading!

Health

Protecting Your Health When Spending More Time Out Of Doors

January 11, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

The results are in! They state that spending time outside and away from our stuffy office desks is good for both our bodies and our minds. However, it’s not all good news as there are also risks that we must account for as well. Happily, you can find out what these are, and so minimize them by reading the post below.

Sunburn

One of the most significant issues concerning spending time out of doors is the risk of sunburn from UVA and UVA rays. In fact, due to the link to cancer, many people are reticent to spend more time out of doors at all. Especially if it’s in locations where the sun beats down relentlessly.

However, what it is important to remember here is that getting enough sun safely can actually be good for. After all, it is exposure to sunlight that helps to stimulate the production of Vitamin D. Something essential for health and well being.

Picture found at Pexels – Licence CC0

To that end, investing in the right types of sunscreen for your skin is essential, as this can allow you to spend time out of doors while minimizing the risk of burning.

Of course, there are two things to beware of here. First is the factor number. With 50 being the highest and most suitable for those will pale, sensitive skin, that will be out in the sun for long periods.

Additionally, something that can make a big difference with sunscreen is how it is applied. For example, sunscreen wipes are convenient for those people that are on the go. Whole those planning on spending the entire day outside may be best off choosing a single application sunscreen. Although they will have to wait for the recommended time, around 40 minutes before they can go outside to swim or do water sports.

Insect bites

Another hazard that you can be exposed to when spending more time out of doors are insect bites. Unfortunately, while you can use repellent, to reduce the risk of being bitten, there are often so many insects around that it has little effect.

The good news, however, is that even if you do get bitten, you don’t have to live with the annoying, unquenchable itch that they leave behind. In fact, if you can get your hands on products like this insect bite cream, it’s possible to continue enjoying your outdoor time as normal. Instead of having to stop on your hike or canoeing trip every five minutes to scratch.

Pollution

Most of us think about getting more time out of doors as a healthy option. One where we will have access to fresh air. Of course, this isn’t necessarily the case as not everyone lives in rural areas where the air is clean.

In fact, those of us that want to spend more time out of doors that live in the city are quite likely to be exposed to increased pollutants in the air. These being things that can not only be bad for our lungs but also our skin as well.

With that in mind, taking precautions against any pollution damage can be wise. Whether that is using special makeup, or even wearing a face mask when running or walking out of doors.

This post was a collaboration.

Beauty Health

The 101 Routine To Reverse Sun Damage

November 28, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Reversing sun damage sounds ambitious. Let’s be clear from the start: You can’t undo what has been done on the spot. In other words, if you’re looking for a secret remedy to tame an unexpected sunburn, this is not the article for you. While direct sunlight exposure is beneficial for your mind and body, it’s fair to say that you can have too much of a good thing. After a hot summer, your hair can feel dry and brittle. Blond hair, especially, tends to take a turn for dull yellow hues. As for your skin, you may notice a lasting sensation of tightness. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, it doesn’t disappear as the sunlight reduces. While you can cover up with rich creams or vibrant hair dye, you also need to address the problem in the deeper layers of your cells. Winter is the best time to tackle the summer damages, as you’ve got plenty of time to heal before the next hot season.

Pixabay – CC0 License

Your Hair Deserves Some Attention

You need to nourish your hair from within if you want to get it back to health. Dry hair especially can feel unruly and messy, which in turn forces you to use additional styling products and heat – and you can guess that over-styling damaged hair is the last thing you want to do. Therefore, if you find that you haven’t been able to manage your frizzy and unruly locks, you should look for a combination of products that can repair the sun damage. The Joico Defy Damage hair care line is an excellent tip for anybody who is trying to regain full hair health. It’s also a good idea to stay away from the blow dryer for a while, and embrace the natural drying process to keep heat damage to a minimum.

Pixabay – CC0 License

Help Your Skin to Heal

Switching your skin care products for winter moisturizers is the best thing you can do to keep your skin hydrated and healthy in winter. However, if your skin isn’t healthy to begin with, then you’ll need to consider treatments that can help to heal the sun damage. You can look into professional support to boost your collagen production in the areas that have been affected by the summer sun. Med spa treatments tend to offer dedicated skin care cures, such as CO2 laser skin resurfacing, for instance, which triggers the healing process. Skin lotions can only address surface damages.

Give Your Body The Supplements It Needs

Last but not least, your body produces its own collagen. However, this production reduces over time. Collagen promotes skin healing, elasticity, firmness, and healthy hair. If you want to reduce the visible signs of sun damage, you need to help your body boost its natural collagen production. The easiest way to get more collagen is to consume it as a supplement. Not only does it help to reduce fine lines, but it also restores moisture to the skin cells and strengthens your hair.

Ideally, you need to protect your skin and hair from extreme sun exposure. However, once the mistake is made, the best course of action is to address the problem directly in your skin cells and hair follicles. Don’t cover it up, but build health from within!

•How do you protect your skin from the sun?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Beauty Health

What To Do When Your Toddler Develops A Skin Condition

October 23, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Children are out playing in the sandbox, in the mud, and rolling around in the wet grass. It’s what they are supposed to do! Toddlers are meant to be playing rough and finding out about the world around them by simply doing. This will give them a lot of opportunities to feel different textures, realize what is safe and what isn’t. However during this time, their body is growing rapidly and thus, big changes mean vulnerability. Whenever our bodies are growing there is always a risk that we will develop a condition of some kind. This is because our bodies are growing faster in size that the strength of our immune system. Skin conditions are among the most common for toddlers, so being able to understand and treat such ailments is going to be to your advantage as a parent.

Scalp Itch

There are lots of different scalp conditions that toddlers can develop. As mentioned they will be playing in some messy environments so they have a chance of picking something up. One of them is scalp ringworm is called tinea capitis. Ringworm is highly contagious and it’s possible to be spread from child to child. It usually happens when the toddler is between the ages of 2 to 3. The symptoms should be very clear. Look for a red scalp that is itchy and has developed small scales made of skin. The key is to look for hair loss from the scalp. This could be down to itching but also down to the fluid and inflammation building up underneath the scalp. There may be a rash close by the scalp, such as on the ears, head, face and neck as well. Go to the doctor and he or she will prescribe an anti-fungal medication which will be applied to the head. You may get a treatment that you need to apply to the area and leave it in for a while, or it could be a treatment shampoo.

A Wide Deep Rash

Eczema is more likely present in toddlers than at any other age. It’s because the skin is still developing and it cannot produce the necessary natural oils to keep it lubricated and moisturized. Therefore what you might see is that your toddler begins to have a wide rash that slowly gets deeper. For toddlers, a different kind of treatment such as Dermeze ointment cream should be used. More complex creams like E45 won’t always produce the best results. This kind of ointment cream will be delicate and still moisturize the skin, providing a protecting top layer for your child. Not only does it rehydrate the skin, but it creates a protecting seal for the skin. This is useful for keeping rainwater out of the pores so the natural oils can stay on top of the skin.

For toddlers, the body’s largest organ is perhaps at the weakest level it ever will be. Their skin is something that will almost certainly go through trials and tribulations, so prepare ahead for your toddler.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Beauty

10 Ways To Save Your Skin

February 1, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Come mons.

Your lifestyle can have a big impact on your skin’s health. If you want to keep your skin looking smooth and rosy long into old age, try taking some of these measures!

Moisturize

As we get older, our skin naturally loses its ability to create sebum (our skin’s oil). Without this sebum, the skin dries out and wrinkles more easily. Moisturising daily can help to replace this oil in our skin as we age. While it may not be necessary when you’re young, it’s worth starting early just to set up a routine and supplement your skin’s health. If you have naturally oily skin and are prone to spots, regular moisturizer could make this worse and you may be better of using a specialist non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is a method of removing the outmost layers of skin, which are often just dead skin cells, allowing the freshest layers to shine through. This can stop pores getting blocked, helping to prevent spots and acne. It can also prevent calluses from developing and prevent dry skin. The most common way to exfoliate is to simply scrub the skin with a sponge or loofah. There are also exfoliation rubs with a gritty texture that is perfect for rubbing off dead skin, as well as exfoliation face peels that take off the entire top layer.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking a lot of water is also good for your skin. When you’re well hydrated, your skin is likely to have more elasticity – making it less prone to wrinkles. Staying well hydrated also improves the flow of blood around the body, including under the surface of the skin, helping to maintain a rosier appearance. All in all, make sure you’re drinking enough liquids (coffee and alcoholics drinks don’t count as both of these can further dehydrate you).

Get More Sleep

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons.

We all need our beauty sleep. Getting a minimum of 7 hours per night allows the body to go through its full healing and rejuvenation cycle. If this cycle isn’t completed, you could find that wounds, rashes, and acne don’t seem to heal. On top of this, the body may not have a chance to flush out toxins, resulting in the skin taking on a pale appearance. You can get more sleep by going to bed earlier and cutting out bad evening habits such as snacking heavily and looking at bright screens. You can also find ways to improve your sleep quality so that you’re not waking up as often – this could include upgrading your bedding and blocking out the early morning sunlight with blackout curtains.

Stay Active

Exercise is good for your entire body, including your skin. By increasing blood flow, exercise allows nutrients and water to get around the body faster, helping to nourish the skin more quickly. Any type of physical activity that gets your heart rate up will achieve this.

Protect Yourself in the Sun

Sunburn doesn’t just temporarily make you look like a lobster – it can also permanently dry out and scar the skin, resulting in excess wrinkles. Not only that, sunburn is the leading cause of skin cancer. By protecting your skin while in the sun, you can reduce the risk of sunburn. One way to do this is to wear sunscreen – ideally anything over spf 20. Another option could be to simply cover up with clothing, or shelter in the shade. It’s also worth wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes – this will protect the actually eyes themselves and prevent facial wrinkles cause by squinting.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is terrible for the skin in a number of ways. The heat from cigarettes often helps to speed up facial wrinkling, while carbon monoxide and nicotine restrict the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the skin, making healing more difficult and causing skin discoloration. By quitting smoking, you could stop this damage from taking place (& giving yourself lung cancer). Vaping is a much healthier habit for the skin – with so many weird vape flavors to choose form, it can be an exciting alternative. You could also try nicotine patches and hypnosis.

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Cut Down on Cosmetics

If you cake your face in make-up every day, this could be having an impact on your skin. Excessively using cosmetics like foundation, mascara, and lipstick can lead to clogged up pores and permanent skin discoloration. You should try not to wear make-up every day and you should always remove your make-up at the end of the day before going to bed. If you like to wear makeup, invest in good quality, oil-free products!

Consume Less Sugar

Too much sugar can also be bad for your skin. When we consume sugar, our insulin levels spike. This in turn can lead to greater skin inflammation – it could help to aggravate acne or make conditions, like eczema, worse. Soft drinks are some of the worst contenders when it comes to sugar, and by cutting down on these, you could find that you make a big positive difference.

Get More Vitamins

A number of vitamins are required to keep your skin healthy. Vitamin A is one of these – this vitamin is efficient at treating wrinkles and is found in foods ranging from sweet potatoes to eggs. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the production of collagen, while also serving as an antioxidant – it’s most commonly found in citric fruit, broccoli, and bell peppers. Other vitamins that are good for the skin include vitamin D, vitamin K, and vitamin B5. You can take these as supplements in many cases, and they could improve your general health, as well as your skin health.

I’ve been working hard on improving my skin (thanks acne & my 30s). It takes work, but it’s worth it! Let me know what tips and tricks you have for good skin- comment below!

This post was a collaboration.

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Beauty Fitness Food Reviews

Holiday Gift Guide 2017 + Giveaway

December 20, 2017 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

The holidays are here! I love this time of year. I’m a huge gift giver, and I strive to make sure the gifts are as personal and awesome as I can. This Christmas (and all holidays!), I’ve put together a list of great gifts; for food, fitness, and beauty lovers!

Nuun Hydration Tablets: Nuun tabs create the perfect sports drink, without all the sugar. There are three categories: vitamins, electrolytes (my favorite), and Nuun performance.

Photo from nuunlife.com

Water enhancer includes:

better performance: the addition of non-gmo sourced dextrose helps the body to absorb fluids more efficiently while still containing 1g sugar or less.
clean ingredients: we used plant based sweeteners and ingredients to increase health benefits
gluten-free, dairy + soy free, safe for clean sport certifications

Each electrolyte tab contains:

sodium: 360 mg
potassium: 100 mg
magnesium: 25 mg
calcium: 13 mg
vitamin c: 38 mg
10 calories
1 g of sugar

2. Slim Clip Case (GIVEAWAY): The Slim Clip Case by Wonderful Things Factory is AMAZING for working out, especially running! I was sent two cases to try, and I don’t think I’ll ever get another case again. The back is able to clip onto your leggings, shorts, or jacket (or really anywhere that works!), and STAYS THERE. I am training for a half marathon, and I need my phone to be easily accessible. Plus, the case comes in different sizes (fits all phones) and colors. The Slim Clip Case is perfect!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This giveaway runs from 12/21/17 – 1/1/18. Two people will win a Slim Clip Case shipped directly from Wonderful Things Factory. Winners will be selected randomly. Open to U.S. residents 18+.

3. Fuego Box: Fuego Box is perfect for the die hard hot sauce lover. The goal is to bring you emerging hot sauces that you most likely haven’t heard of. It opens up a world of heat! You can buy individual bottles, curated single boxes, and a monthly subscription delivered straight to your door. Plus, they offer great gift boxes! Enter your email on the site and receive $10 off your first box!

4. DERMA⋅E: DERMA⋅E skin care is my all-time favorite! I use their cleansers, lotions, toner, masks etc every day of my life. The products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and do not contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, petrolatum, mineral oil, or artificial colors. They’re gentle, yet effective! My favorite product is the Firming DMAE Moisturizer, which contains Alpha Lipoic Acid & C-Ester (affiliate link). Also, be sure to check out the holiday bundles they are offering right now, and at a discounted price!

I hope you enjoy the items I’ve recommended for this holiday season! What else would you like to see on the list?

Happy Holidays, & thank you for reading!

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Beauty Reviews

Beat The Winter Dryness with Maple Holistics Avocado Oil (+ Free Sample)

January 31, 2017 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Living in the desert during the winter can be brutal to my hair and skin. It’s cold and the humidity is under 10%, causing my hair to frizz and break apart, plus cause my skin to be incredibly dry. I’m always searching for a natural moisturizer that isn’t oily, but actually WORKS. Luckily, I’ve recently discovered Maple Holistics Avocado Oil!

Disclosure: I received a free bottle of avocado oil from Maple Holistics, in the hopes that I’d review it on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Maple Holistics, a beauty and skincare company based out of New Jersey, prides itself on being:

Made In The USA
All Natural
Cruelty Free
Sulfate Free
Safe for Color

They have products ranging from shampoo, to body wash, to skin serums. I was really excited to try the avocado oil for two reasons: hair/skin therapy + I love avocados! I know avocados contain healthy fats, so I imagined they would help my hair/skin too. What’s great is that this avocado contains nothing but avocado oil! It’s 100% pure avocado oil. It’s also cold-pressed and refined.

The suggested uses for this avocado oil are:

Lightly massage into skin, especially dry areas.
Apply directly to scalp as a hair conditioner, or add drops to shampoo before applying.

I really like using this avocado oil on my elbows (really dry areas) and as a conditioner once or twice a week. It’s made such a difference! Mind you, I color my hair, and the avocado oil doesn’t strip the color at all (check out this article about their purple shampoo, which is great for colored hair).

My boyfriend likes to use the oil for his beard, which is usually super scratchy and coarse (but not anymore!).

Photo Courtesy of the Maple Holistics Website

Want to get a FREE sample?!

Maple Holistics offers free samples on their website to people who are willing to post an honest review on their website! You’ll receive your complimentary sample. You can currently you can choose between: Botanical Dry Hair Shampoo, Sweet Almond Oil, or Cedarwood Shampoo. Sign up to get your free sample here!

Have you decided the avocado oil is perfect for you (it definitely is for me!)? Order on their site or on Amazon, and you can get free shipping for orders over $25, or free shipping and a gift for orders over $35.

For more info + updates about Maple Holistics, sign up for emails on their website or like them on Facebook!

Have you used avocado oil? Did you like it?
What do you look for in a moisturizer (skin or hair)?
Are you going to apply for the free sample?!

Thank you so much for reading!

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Beauty Reviews

ELLEDA: A Quality Facial Serum That Won’t Break The Bank

May 1, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

I’m getting old. Okay, maybe not old, but as of last month, I’m officially in my late 20s. Add in the terrible air quality and pollution in Los Angeles, and I’ve got myself some pretty bad skin.

It often feels like I can’t catch a break. With combination skin, my face gets super oily, causing acne, which in turn causes my skin to become dry. Plus the weather is ridiculously dry here (we’re in one of the worst droughts California has ever faced). I swear I’ve tried everything. Various store-bought anti-aging creams, oily lotions, oil-free lotions, etc. I started making my own facial moisturizer with coconut oil and essential oils in the hopes that it would be better for my skin. It has been, which is awesome, but my skin was still missing something. I needed a hyaluronic acid serum, and one that was less expensive than what most brands are asking.

While looking through a new-to-me blog and brand website, I stumbled upon a serum that was right up my alley. It was Elleda Vitamin C 20% Serum and the ingredients are almost all-natural (98%). I thought I’d give it a try for 30 days and see if facial serum was worth the hype. *I was offered a full-size bottle of Elleda serum in exchange for sharing my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Reference ID pmc7558e9d1f956b016d1fdba7ea132378

First, let me share a bit of info about this amazing serum!

It’s known as Mother Nature’s skincare secret in a bottle
It offers clinical strength Vitamin C at 20% – the perfect percentage and maximum effective concentration designed to stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer skin, reduced wrinkles and the diminished appearance of sun spots and acne scars.
It contains a powerful blend of natural ingredients in perfect proportion.
The ingredients are 72% organic and 98% natural ingredients specifically designed to leave skin feeling and looking healthy and vibrant.
In addition to 20% Vitamin C, this unique anti-aging serum contains an antioxidant-rich mix of vitamins and botanicals that combine to make you look and feel beautiful!

Ingredients:

—-> Vitamin C – Stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
—-> Vitamin E – Nourishes your skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky.
—-> Hyaluronic Acid (11%) – Hydrates skin cells to freshen your complexion.
—-> Aloe Barbadensis Leaf – Protects and revives your skin with natural healing properties.
—-> Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) – Helps aid a variety of skin conditions, including acne and eczema.
—-> Jojoba Oil – Mimics your body’s natural oils and absorbs deeply and quickly to moisturize all skin types.

As you can see, there are endless amounts of benefits to using this serum!

What I Love About Elleda Serum:

It’s inexpensive! There are a few serums on Amazon for $20+, but many of the serums I’ve seen are well over $50. This Elleda serum is only $14.50 on Amazon (affiliate link)!
It’s high quality. It works extremely well!
Most the ingredients are natural and organic. I try my best not to put chemicals in my body or on my skin.
It comes in a glass bottle. I refuse to use plastic for anything. Glass is much cleaner and safer!
It dries quickly. I don’t have to wait forever to put my coconut oil moisturizer on.
It lasts a long time! I used this serum twice a day and it lasted almost a full 60 days. The bottle is 1 oz.

What I Don’t Necessarily Love About Elleda Serum:

It’s a dropper. It wasn’t impossible to use, but I’d prefer a pump. I felt like I wasted a lot of serum because it fell off my finger or I squeezed too much out.

Find Elleda 20% Vitamin C Serum on Amazon (affiliate link)!

Sign up for their emails on their website and receive a discount code. Follow Elleda on Facebook for updates, promotions, and discounts!

Have you noticed any changes in your skin/complexion as you’ve grown older?
Have you or do you use a serum?
What products work best for you?

Thank you so much for reading my blog!

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Beauty Holistic Living Reviews

Shape + Firm With Erbaviva Organic

October 3, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

I think most women can agree that shaping and firming our skin is something we are into. Especially for ladies like me who live in Southern California where it’s “beach weather” 10 months of out the year! Sometimes, we need a little more than great nutrition and exercise- we need outer nutrition for our skin. That’s where Erbaviva comes in!

First let me share a little background of who Erbaviva is:

In the defining spirit of voyagers, Robin and Anna were among the very first to seek out and source the highest quality organic ingredients possible for their original organic baby skincare line in 1996. Desiring the healthiest, safest and most natural products for their newborn, the couple developed distinctively pure products, consciously crafted with ultimately nourishing living herbs and botanicals and free from harsh detergents, chemical fragrances and other unhealthy additives. Erbaviva was born (website).

Credit: David Jordan Williams – Williams Studio

In addition to having amazing skincare products, Erbaviva was also founded in Southern California! Being that I live in SoCal, I find this extra exciting. 🙂

Disclosure: I found Erbaviva through Twitter, and connected with the company via email. They offered to send me the entire line of the shaping and firming products in the hopes that I would write an honest review on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Here’s some information on the shaping and firming line:

An exquisite custom-blended collection of USDA Certified Organic spa-grade salts and essential oils brimming with active botanicals and enzymes that effectively absorb into the skin and inspire your body’s natural ability to firm, shape and tone. These USDA certified organic skin care products bring spa quality treatments to your home. Therapeutic grade pink pepper, ginger and sandalwood stimulate circulation and tone while frankincense and helichrysum encourage cell regeneration and promote skin elasticity. Erbaviva’s Shaping and Firming line is presented in two dynamic phases for greater efficacy (website).

Products:

For the first two weeks, you start off by using the shaping line. There’s the shaping salt, shaping oil, and shaping essence. There are a few ways to use them: put the salt in your bath water, then use the oil and essence after you get out; rub the salt and oil together on your skin after your shower, then use the essence; or (if you only take showers and don’t want salt everywhere) rub the salt on your skin in the shower, then use the oil and essence after the shower.

After the two weeks, repeat this process using the firming products. Simple!

I’m super impressed by these products. They smell and feel amazing, plus they not only shape and firm my skin, they moisturize it, too! For someone who goes through a ridiculous amount of lotion a day, Erbaviva is a saving grace. I used the products for four weeks to see how they worked, and they work great! There’s definitely a difference in my thighs and stomach/love handles. My skin is smoother and looks more refreshed! Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos because my camera broke. 🙁 I’ll have to do this process again when I have a working camera, and add the photos to this post!

Erbaviva also has skincare for moms-to-be, babies, everyday essentials, bath and body, and aromatherapy! There’s so many different products, it’s almost impossible to choose which ones to get! You can check out the shaping and firming line here, and the rest of the products here.

You can also find Erbaviva on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Thank you Erbaviva for the amazing opportunity to try your products, & thank you to my readers for checking out my blog!!

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XO

Lyndsay

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Beauty Holistic Living Reviews

Benefits of Genuinely Simple’s Comfrey Cream + A Discount

September 6, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

Disclosure: I received free samples from Genuinely Simple in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

When I found Genuinely Simple on Instagram, I was instantly intrigued. Before now, I had never heard of comfrey cream. I try to use alternative medicine as much as possible, and this includes natural lotions and salves. The comfrey cream made by Laura at Genuinely Simple is absolutely amazing!

Here’s a bit of background information about comfrey (from genuinelysimple.com):

Comfrey is a medicinal botanical plant. It has been used for centuries to treat problems of the skin, bone and muscles. Genuinely Simple infuses comfrey into olive oil along with calendula flowers. The herbs sit for weeks, allowing the nutrients to flow into the olive oil. Afterwards, they are strained out of the oil and the plant matter is composted. The infused oil is than mixed with shea butter, and candelilla wax for a thicker consistency.

Photos: The comfrey plant (courtesy of GS) | Peppermint comfrey cream from Genuinely Simple

This comfrey cream is definitely a new favorite! It comes in original, lavender, and peppermint. I use it as body lotion, hand lotion, a conditioner on my split ends, and to even out calluses on my feet. My boyfriend uses it for his joint pain on his knee. It’s something that you need to use over time to get the effect on the joints, but for simple skin care, it’s instantaneous!

I emailed back and forth with Laura, the owner of Genuinely Simple and creator of the comfrey cream you see here. She is fabulous! We both have mood disorders, so we instantly clicked. She told me a little bit about how she started making comfrey cream, and why the plant is so special to her:

“When I was 20, everything started to fall on top of me. I [took] myself off all medications, against doctors orders, but I knew this was not the answer. I struggled with insomnia when I would get “manic”. I always said, “I could not shut my brain off but my body was so tired.” During the time period I started studying natural medicine and diet, which led to adopt a strict vegan diet, exercise, and natural remedies for healing purposes (no pharmaceuticals).

i went to Australia to intern under a Naturopathic doctor, Barbra O’Neill. It was life changing. Although, I had been vegan for almost six months at the time, I learned so much on natural medicine that I felt the need to share it with everyone I knew. While I was in Australia, I took a keen to the comfrey plant. I worked with a lot of the clients and noticed how amazing comfrey worked on their backs and stiff joints. It was love and I knew this was my ticket in sharing the health message. That is why I make and sell comfrey cream.”

Photos: All the GS products from Laura | Original comfrey cream (photo from genuinelysimple.com)

The lotion bar is super cool, too! I thought it was a soap bar at first, but it’s actually lotion that you apply after you bathe or shower (it contains comfrey as well). I’m always in a hurry, so it was awesome being able to use a lotion bar as opposed to liquid lotion. It was much faster to use! Plus it’s great quality.

Photo courtesy of genuinelysimple.com

Discount Code:

Laura at Genuinely Simple has graciously offered my readers a 15% discount on all Genuinely Simple products! Isn’t she amazing?!

Check out her website at www.genuinelysimple.com – enter code BALANCED15 at checkout for your discount. It’s that simple!

You can follow Genuinely Simple on these social media platforms:

Have you ever used comfrey cream or the comfrey plant?
What do you currently use for skin ailments?

I want to thank Laura at GS for the wonderful opportunity to review your products!

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Lyndsay