Big Bargains!

Have you been to Big Lots lately? If you have one of these bargain shops near you and you are looking for natural beauty products, food, and some other stuff, you might want to check it out!

You really have to sift through the aisles to find something, but at recent trips to the locations in Irondequoit and Dewey Ave. in Greece, I stumbled upon lots of natural food products from Bob's Red Mill. I stocked up on flax seed meal, which I put in smoothies and in my no-grain pizza crust.

I also found my beloved Sunflower Dream sunflower seed milk for just $2 per container and it doesn't expire until later this summer!

Also found-- K-Cups for my Keurig at just $9 a box. I found Barista Prima House Blend, Van Houtte Creme Bruless, Van Houtte French Vanilla, Van Houtte Costa Rica, and Wolfgang Puck Breakfast in Bed blend.

For just $4 each, they also had Organic Wear by Physicians Formulas bronzer, loose foundation, and finishing powder. What a savings!!!

The biggest bargain I happened to find at the Dewey Avenue Big Lots over the weekend? My favorite sunless tanner!!! And it was THREE BUCKS a container! This is the $34 self tanner I reviewed here on the blog 3 years ago and it is paraben-free Kardashian Glamour Tan! Woo hoo! THREE BUCKS!!! Here is my original review.

Have you found any deals lately?  Share them with me!

The Benefits of Seaweed

I am having a love affair with seaweed lately. I have always read up on the benefits, but pretty much skipped incorporating this into my life other than having a seaweed body wrap done at a day spa. Why is it one of my favorite ingredients now? For many reasons!

 I have told you about my lifestyle overhaul, which began in late winter. Now TWENTY pounds lighter, more energetic, and more content in general, I can attribute that partly to seaweed. You may know that I cut out sugar and wheat from my diet, started stepping up the exercise, and added Emerald Essentials Action Whey to my diet each day. I also started taking capsules called Emerald Sea each day. To be exact, I take three daily.

Emerald Sea is an all-natural blend of 7 sea vegetables, including Organic Norwegian Kelp, Organic Dulse, Organic Kombu, Organic Bladderwrack, Organic Sea Lettuce, Organic Wakame, and Organic Nori. This is a proprietaty blend from Emerald Essentials and all of the ingredients are certified organic and have been sustainably harvested by hand.

I have been taking Emerald Sea for 3 months now.

I have experienced many benefits.

*My last round of bloodwork was stellar. No problems at all. My doctor commented on how good my bloodwork now is.

*Adding this to my daily regimen has really helped shrink my belly! I really believe that Emerald Sea has played a major role in my weight loss because it helps to regulate metabolism.

*Emerald Sea is a natural source of iodine, and I believe that is why my thyroid levels are so good. I was on the verge of being put on medication and that is no longer the case.

*I have carpal tunnel syndrome and have intermittently had to wear a brace.  Typing is often painful for me and has been on and off for the past 15 months.  My symptoms have greatly diminished. I also attribute this to Emerald Sea, which has been shown to help with bone and joint health.

*My skin has benefited from the sea vegetables, too. My skin is so clear an feels so supple. Seaweed has many skin benefits!


After experiencing the benefits of Emerald Sea, I have looked for other ways to incorporate seaweed into my daily life. Here are some of my favorite seaweed items--

*Trader Joe's has seaweed chips for just $0.99 a bag. The treat is called a Roasted Seaweed Snack and it's pretty tasty! I have some everyday. Because the only carbs (1 g.) are from fiber, it is a truly no carb snack. They have regular and wasabi. I am a wimp and it feels like the inside of my nose is on fire when I have wasabi, so I always get the regular!

*The Seaweed Bath Company has a lovely, super rich foot butter made with Bladderwrack that is just lovely! It is called the Wildly Natural Seaweed Foot Butter and retails for $9.99.

*100% Pure has a newer line of hair care and I am loving the Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner! It smells heavenly and I love how they make my hair feel as I am in the growing out stages and want some oomph! My hair is super shiny with these items. Seaweed is mineral-rich and can stimulate hair growth and improve the overall health our your scalp and hair.


Here is a great article from Mao Shing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., PhD about the benefits of seaweed on the Dr. Oz website: Dr. Mao Shing Ni article

Is seaweed a part of your life?  Share what you love about it in the comments section below.

Congrats to the Silk'n Flash & Go Winner!!!

We have a winner of the $299 Silk'n Flash & Go permanent hair removal system!!! The winner was chosen at random via Rafflecopter/random.org and will be sent the product directly from the company. CONGRATULATIONS! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Giveaway: Silk'n Flash & Go

We have given away some really fantabulous prizes over the past 6 years on Chic & Green, but this one is the best!

Yesterday, I told you all about the Silk'n Flash & Go Permanent Hair Removal system. It has worked for so many thousands of people and I am using it right now with some great results.

How would YOU like to win one?

Now is your chance!

The folks at Silk'n are going to give away a Silk'n Flash & Go to one of my lucky readers in honor of Mother's Day!

This contest is open to all of my US and Canadian readers over the age of 18. Follow the steps below to enter. A winner will be chosen Sunday, May 12th and announced Monday morning.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silk'n Flash & Go Review

I am hairy. I admit it. I have super pale skin, but dark hair on my body thanks to my Greek genes. My hair also grows SUPER fast. It's something I really have hated and been self conscious about since high school. I remember my friend Ryan saying to me, "Wow! You have more hair on your arms than I do." That was the day I went home and shaved my arms.

Hairy arms, hairy legs....I can remember the horrible smell of Nair, followed by the rash and bumps that would follow after it only took off half my hair. I have shaved, wax, sugared, threaded, epilated, and tweezed hairs from all over my body for years and years. Once I hit the hormone jackpot after having kids, the hair came darker and faster. And in the worst places.

Because my hair grows so fast, waxing keeps it at bay for LESS THAN ONE WEEK. I kid you not. When I shave my legs in the morning, the hair is gone, but my skin is so pale that you can see that dark root deep down practically showing through.  If I sneeze and get goosebumps, it is all over. My legs (or arms) feel stubbly.

Chin hair? Yep. Got it. Pesky hairs growing on the upper lip? An errant hair near my belly button? Yep. It sucks, but it's something I deal with. I can pluck it from the roots and it comes back by the next morning. It is awful.

I cannot even begin to think about how many hours I have spent just removing hair. And I am sick of it. A couple years back, I even had bloodwork done to see if I had some sort of hormonal issue. At least then I would know WHY I grow hair with such ease. It was all normal. I am just hairy.

Enter the Silk'n Flash & Go.

Here is how the website describes the device:

"Silk'n Flash&Go is an innovative light-based device for hair removal with FDA clearance for permanent results. The new high tech design of the Flash&Go applicator allows individuals to properly target and zone into any area that requires treatment. No area is too big or too small!"

The wonderful folks at Silk'n sent me a Flash & Go to experience first hand.  I began my first treatment on March 16th.  First of all, I need to say that I am the ideal candidate for this. It works best on people with light skin and darker body hair. That is me.

I also have to tell you that this is NOT an instant fix. It will take time and multiple treatments need to be done. I cannot tell you, "Wow! I started in March and now I have no hair on my body except where I want it and it is gone forever!"

That is not how this works.  You do treatments every two weeks. Silk'n recommends doing the treatments every 2 weeks at first, progressing to higher levels of energy (ouch factor, LOL). After that 3 to 4 treatments, they recommend once a month if you have hair growth going on.

Eventually, it is ADIOS to hair.

To use this, you need to shave first.  You can't wax or use anything that rips out the root right before doing this. The device is hand held and you plug it in. It isn't noisy, but there is a soft fan noise. If you have ever had a children's hair styling play kit with a battery operated hair dryer, the Flash & Go has that same humming noise. The lights indicate when it is ready and you press the device on your skin and push the button. A flash appears--like an old fashioned camera with a popping noise.


You do the treatments every 2 weeks because of the hair growth cycle. As you know, there are three stages of hair growth. The light can only really impact the hair during the active growth cycle. It is estimated that about 20% of our hair is at that active growth stage at any given time, so you need to space out treatments to be sure that there is a point when it will truly work.

Back to what I called the "ouch factor". I should not have even said "Ouch."  This does NOT hurt. It is a warm sensation on level 1 and when you move up levels, it is nothing more than a warm rubber band snapping sensation. It is NOT painful. Not at all. This is coming from someone who CANNOT tolerate pain. Waxing, tweezing, and using an Emjoi are MUCH, MUCH more painful. This is just warm...on the highest setting it was just a tiny bit of a nuisance. That is all.

I can do the chin/upper lip area in less than 2 minutes.

It takes me about 30 minutes to do both legs up to my thigh and about 10 minutes for both arms. My underarms--the area which seems more sensitive to the discomfort than anywhere else--take all of 2 minutes for both.


The Cons

* My skin is MUCH more photosensitive. This is to be expected with this type of treatment. I typically wear an all-natural sunscreen based with zinc oxide. It is normally effective. After using my Silk'n Flash & Go, this sunscreen does NOT cut it. After being outside for my son's lacrosse game, I have a sunburn on my arms and legs despite using sunscreen. I have found that I need a chemical (more unhealthy) sunscreen with HIGH sun protection if I am out in the sun. And the site does advise you to avoid sun exposure, so they do tell you. With kids playing outdoor sports, avoiding the sun isn't feasible.

*After three treatments, the first cartridge died. The box included a replacement, but I will soon need another. These are $45 each. That said, because this product works and I will eventually not need razors or have to spend all that time on removing hair, this will be well worth it.

The Pros

*After three treatments, the hair on my arms has been reduced DRASTICALLY. In fact, I would say it is about 80% gone. What has grown back is growing very slowly and is MUCH finer and hardly noticeable.

*After three treatments, I do NOT have to shave my legs everyday anymore. I can get away with every 2 or 3 days which is unheard of for me. There are some spots that have NOT yet grown back. This only improves with each treatment.

*After three treatments, the area that seems to be taking the slowest amount of time is the pesky chin area, but it is much better than before. The hair is much softer and the growth rate is slowing down.

*This product is working. I promise to check back and share my results in another few weeks and then again a few weeks after that.

*Compared to laser treatments at a medical spa, this is VERY affordable. Yes, it is $299 right off the bat.  When you think of the thousands of dollars and time spent going to get laser done, this is so much more affordable and so much more convenient! You have privacy, do not have to make an appointment, and results are effective

*This is PERMANENT hair removal. If you are like me and have had it up to HERE with shaving, tweezing, and waxing, this is really a wonderful alternative.


The Biggest Pro

This one is easy. Having this little machine has helped my self esteem. It can be a real bummer to wonder if your legs (or worse--other spots on your bod) are getting a five o'clock shadow within hours of shaving. Who wants that!? The Silk'n Flash & Go is really a fabulous product and I highly recommend it!

For more information about the Silk'n Flash & Go or other Silk'n products, please click here.



Disclosure: I was sent a Silk'n Flash & Go at no cost for possible review. All opinions are my own.

Why, Hello There!

~19~

Hello lovely readers!

I am so sorry for not posting sooner. I have been swamped with projects and Ben just started his super busy sports season filled with lacrosse and soccer. Nick has been preparing for his band concert and I have been doing LOTS around the house.

Sunday, I tiled the kitchen floor. By myself -- except for the couple weird cuts I lost all patience over and asked Tom to come inside and help me with.

I repainted my kitchen cabinets a couple weeks back--still robin's egg blue--but three shades lighter. We are also in the process of converting our three season breezeway (which was my jewelry studio) into an all-season dining room. We turned our dining room into our bedroom last summer, giving the boys lots more space upstairs.

Saturday after Ben's lacrosse game, the plan is to install a new floor in the soon to be dining room. First, I need to find time to paint the room! It's going to be Behr Melted Butter with white trim. Last month, I painted the living room (again) a shade called Contemplation from Behr and I am in love with it.

I also have mentioned that a couple months back, I overhauled my diet and exercise in a major way. I am now down NINETEEN pounds. Nineteen! And nearly 2 sizes. And I am ENERGETIC and feeling so well. It has really been amazing. The trick--NO EXCUSES. I have been running at a local track, walking 3-4 miles a day, riding my bike, doing a Bob Greene DVD, pilates, and doing exercises with my kettlebell.

A few weeks ago, it was chilly and raining. I told myself, "I don't want to go out there and get rained on." It is an excuse I have used over the years time and time again. It's rainy. Snowy. Windy. Too cold. Too humid.  Too many bees. Too many puddles. Too early. Too late.

And I said to myself, "NO excuses." In fact, I marched over to my closet, grabbed my workout clothes, iPod, water bottle, and put my sneakers on. That day was the turning point because I STOPPED allowing myself to make excuses. I take a day off each week from working out. I just do it.

I have so much to share. Eating is different for me. You have been reading this as I have done low fat, no fat, high fiber, heart healthy, and even Vegan eating. I have never stuck with something this long because they are all DIETS.

This is not. Since March 4th, I have been wheat free, gluten free, sugar free. It must be a record because I haven't had pasta or a piece of warm crusty bread since then. And I DO NOT miss it!

I am not going to lie to you. The first couple weeks were HARD. HAAAAAAARD. Please, I wanted to eat a loaf of sourdough bread, plate of lasgana, and have some Abbott's Frozen Custard....on a waffle cone. Or a chocolate chip muffin from Tim Hortons. Or a cupcake.

Then something happened. No more heartburn. No more bloating. No more cravings. NONE. I sleep better. I am HAPPIER. I am not as tightly wound. I am HEALTHIER. Every single time I have ever attempted to lose weight--whether it be those 50 pounds I lost when Ben was 2--or "just 5 pounds", I always had the idea that it was a "DIET"--that my diet would eventually end and I could go back to eating anything I wanted. I had to change my ENTIRE thought process and make a true CHANGE.

Chic & Green will be adding a new regular section to this blog. I will share recipes, other success stories and more. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, this week I will be back with more jewelry talk from Color by Amber, product reviews, and Etsy Love.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I found these Skechers Go Walk sneakers at Marshalls for just $34.99.

After coffee, I walk between 3 and 4 miles each day at a brisk pace. That, combined with completely overhauling my way of thinking when it comes to eating, has helped me to shed 17 pounds since early March. These are super comfy and I love the fuchsia!

Looking for super comfy workout pants? It's still pretty chilly here most days, and I love my Athleta Flash Pant with SPF 50+ and moisture wicking. They were a great deal for $24.99, regularly $84!

Speaking of overhauling my eating, I drink two smoothies daily--one for breakfast usually and another as a snack. I use a scoop of Emerald Essentials Action Whey, a giant handful of baby spinach, Trader Joe's Sunflower Seed Butter, and either almond milk or sunflower seed milk (unsweetened). I also stopped eating all wheat products, corn, and sugar....no white flours. I eat as often as I want to. I just avoid the items listed above and follow lots of yummy recipes from Low Carb Layla.

For an instant glow, I swear by the Nutri-Zyme Peel from Relevé Organic Skincare.  It is rich is natural papaya and pineapple, and also has asparagus tips. It leaves my skin radiant and you can literally see dead skin cells falling off your face after you use it! It is THAT good.

If you love lip gloss, I highly recommend my favorite new glosses from Jane Iredale! They have avocado oil and Moringa butter in them and last for hours. My go to shade for spring is called Beach Plum and I just adore it!

Wegmans now has (seed) Body Care Therapeutic Hand Scrub in many of their stores! I love this gentle scrub enriched with grape seed oil because it softens my hands and feet for summer mani/pedis. I will check this afternoon to see if the Irondequoit stores have it in stock, but the scrub is available in the Rochester area now!

While I have long been loyal to Wegmans, I confess how much I truly love the new Trader Joe's in Pittsford. The raw milk cheddar is a staple for me. YUM! I love their meats and all of the cheeses, the flowers, sunflower seed butter, prices on kale and grape tomatoes, and the whole vibe of the store. In fact, if you are looking for me on a Monday in the late morning, you most likely can find me inside Trader Joe's.

My friend Stephanie is a Senior Consultant with Tastefully Simple. When I placed an order at her spring open house, I ordered the Dill Pickle Dip Mix. This makes a great dip on its own, but I have been adding a bit of this barely any carb mix into my egg salad, chicken salad, and into my mock potato salad made with cauliflower. I love the flavor of anything dill and I recommend this one!

Sign Up for the Color Run!

Happy Thursday, my friends!  I want to tell you about a fabulous event called The Color Run, which will be happening May 4th at Frontier Field in Rochester.

Unfamiliar with the Color Run? Here are some details:

"The Color Run™, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community.

Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer. The fun continues at the finish line with a gigantic “Color Festival,” using more colored powder to create happiness and lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid color combinations. Trust us, this is the best post-5k party on the planet!

With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow:

1. Wear white at the starting line
2. Finish plastered in color

This special 5K run/walk benefits Teens Living with Cancer.  Here is some info about the organization from the Color Run website:

"Teens Living with Cancer (TLC) is the peer support program of Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation. Founded in 2001, the organization was one mom’s answer to a challenge posed by her 19 year-old daughter days before she died.  Asked to use what she had learned “to make a difference – to make things better”, founder Lauren Spiker established the non-profit with a mission to help teens live their best lives during and after cancer. The small grassroots organization, now a nationally respected provider of psychosocial support for teens with cancer, has TLC chapters in Rochester and Buffalo, NY."


If you use code COLORCHIC, which is exclusively for my readers, you will save $5 on the cost of registration now through May 1st.  Click HERE to register.

Let's get cheeky!

If you're in the market for a new non-drugstore blush, I have a couple of products to tell you about that I think you'll adore!

Mineral Fusion

I had never tried Mineral Fusion products before and was excited when the company sent me some blush to try out.  I'm really impressed with these powder blushes.  They almost remind me of my old favorite Lancome Blush Subtil in terms of texture and blendability, but without all the nasty chemicals.

The colors I was sent are great for my complexion: Airy and Creation. Airy is described as "shimmering mauve", and it is just gorgeous. Creation is described as "matte rosy pink" and I love this color, too. I think Airy is my favorite.  I love this one so much that I've worn it four days in a row which is rare!

Mineral Fusion blushes are gluten-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free and contain no artificial colorants.  They retail for $21.99.

I am looking forward to trying more products from this line because I am really impressed by the blush!

It Cosmetics

You know I love It Cosmetics. I recently had the chance to try their new Vitality Cheek Stain in Matte Sweet Apple.  The color looked very dark and bright in the container, yet it went on very sheer, adding a hint of brightness and color to my face without looking clownish.  It was the punch of color I needed on a cloudy day in Rochester!

I love that this is a compact formular, but it looks like I used a cheek stain from a tube or perhaps a cream.  I have always prefered powders for my blush and this one gives you the look of a stain with the convenience of a powder.

This product is available through QVC or the It Cosmetics website for $24.50.

I used the French Boutique Blush Brush from It Cosmetics ($34.50) to apply and I am also really impressed with this brush.  I told you a few weeks back about how much I love their foundation brush and this is another solid brush! All brushes from this company are cruelty-free.

Have you tried any of the above products before?  How do you like them?  I'd love to know!

*All of the above products were sent to me at no cost for possible review.  As always, all views are my own.

(sun)FLOWER POWER

It's everything related to sunflower seeds today at Chic & Green!

Skin Care Benefits

Sunflower seeds contain large amounts of Vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant. We talked about antioxidants before — these play the role of skin care superheroes, working to fight against free radical damage. They are also rich is something called Sesamol, which is another antioxidant with the ability to help minimize sun damage. Oleic acid (an essential fatty acid) and Phytosterols are present too. These help plump the skin, which gives it a glowing, healthy look.

3 Health Benefits


*Helps reduces stress — Did you know that sunflower seeds actually contain tryptophan? We know this is in our Thanksgiving turkey, but it’s also present in sunflower seeds. Tryptophan is an amino acid and it can help to produce serotonin, which we know can help to relieve tension and calm the nerves.

*Helps the cardiovascular system — Just 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds can give you 90% of your daily requirement of Vitamin E. This vitamin neutralizes free radicals and can help prevent them from oxidizing cholesterol. If cholesterol is not oxidized, it cannot stick to arteries and build up.

*Helps the bones — Magensium works to help strengthen your bones, much like calcium. Copper is present, too, which helps with the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Not only is this good for your skin, but it helps with the joints. And the Vitamin E found in sunflower seeds actually can help to provide an anti-inflammatory benefit to help with arthritis.

These are just three of the many health benefits of sunflower seeds.

I've been loving sunflower seed products lately when it comes to health.   I used to drink unsweetened coconut milk and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, typically.

Not long ago, though, I tried Sunflower Dream Unsweetened Sunflower Seed Drink. This is now my favorite non dairy milk. I drink it plain and also use this in my daily green smoothies (Sunflower Seed Butter + Sunflower Seed Drink + Emerald Essentials Chocolate Action Whey + Cinnamon + Flax Seed Meal + Baby Spinach + Ice Cubes).

I also am hooked on Trader Joe's Sunflower Seed Butter. It is SO, SO delicious!

Other Products with Sunflower

I also use Emerald Essentials Action Whey daily.  I mentioned the other day that since I have been using it, I have lost 15 pounds. It was *almost 15 pounds two days ago day, but this morning when I got on the scales, it was 15.5. This product is casein free, gluten free and all natural with whey from grass fed cows and contains Sunflower Seed Lecithin.  This ingredient is also present in this girl's favorite natural sunscreen, Relevé Organic Skincare Sun-Lite SPF 20.

Here is a good video about this suncreen, which was featured in the 2012 EWG Annual Sunscreen Guide as a top-ranked natural SPF:

Review: Relevé Clay Cleansing Bar

In February, if you'll recall, I started a new adventure in life as the PR/Media Relations Manager for a growing company called Emerald Essentials. 

The company offers pure, organic nutritionals and skincare products. When I started this job, I had no intentions of signing up to sell. I have enough to do without adding another hat :) Between my freelance beauty writing and social media consulting, I am a pretty busy girl. I don't have to tell you that--my erratic posting levels have kind of given that away.  Between work (which is from home and flexible and completely rewarding), volunteering, home decorating projects and MOTHERHOOD, signing up to do something else was kind of --well-- not in my plan!

Then everything changed after trying the products.

I tried EVERYTHING. And I mean EVERY SINGLE product made by this company, from the whey protein (which has helped me lose almost 15 pounds, WOO HOO) to the eye cream. Since there is no cost to becoming a distributor, I decided to sign up to sell as well. Not only do distributors earn generous commissions, but they get a good product discount as well.

I am in love with these products. If you have been reading my blog for these 6 years, you'll know that  do NOT associate my name with anything I do not like or support.

I thought I'd share some reviews with you on the skincare products offered by Emerald Essentials.  The skincare line is called  Relevé Organic Skincare. You may have heard of this brand in last year's EWG Annual Sunscreen Guide, as the sunscreen was ranked among the very best!

I am reviewing what I use first in my routine each day, the cleansing bar.


The Relevé Clay Cleansing Bar  is a true skin treatment in bar form. In addition to cleansing, moisturizing, and deodorizing the skin, it is packed with potent ingredients to provide benefits to your skin.

Try it as a gentle shampoo and shaving bar, too! I have used it in my own hair, which is in the growing out stage of a pixie cut with highlights.  My hair is left feeling soft and clean and it glistens.  Put down the harsh shaving cream and try this bar on your legs as well. It is so creamy. Men will love it for their daily shaving.

I love using this one on Nick, too. Like his mama, he was "blessed" with Keratosis Pilaris (the "chicken skin" bumps that resemble red goosebumps). He lathers up and it has made a difference on those affected areas where he has KP on his knees. It also has helped on my upper arms.

This is a LONG LASTING bar cleanser. We are all using it and I have had it for several weeks.

The ingredients:

Ingredients: Rare Earth Mineral Clay, Proprietary Formula, Blended with Organic Ingredients that include Organic Olive, Coconut and Castor Super-Fatting Oils, Along With Vitamin E, Jojoba, and a Proprietary Herbal Formula (Aloe, Bee Pollen, Bladderwrack, Cocoa Powder, Coffee, Dandelion Leaf, Kigelia, Frankincense, Gotu Kola, Green Tea, Lemongrass, Maca, MSM, Orange Peel, Pau D'arco, Peppermint Leaf, Rosemary, Suma, Vitamin C, White Oak Bark, Witchhazel) for extra moisturizing benefits. Each bar is scented with pure essential oils and made with organic or wild-crafted ingredients- exactly as nature intended.

To purchase or to talk with me about the Emerald Essentials opportunity (seriously, you DO NOT pay to join, nor are you required to keep any type of inventory), contact me.

My Emerald Essentials site

My Emerald Essentials email

Disclosure: I do freelance work for the company and am now an Independent Disibutor.  As always, since 2007, opinions are my own and completely candid!

What's In It Wednesday: C & G's Most Popular Post

My boys are on spring break this week, so I am taking a bit of a break to enjoy have fun with them. I will be back with new posts soon, including my current view on phenoxyethanol and a list of my favorite natural mascaras.

I thought I would post my most popular What's In It Wednesday post -- Cetaphil cleanser.

Enjoy:

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has been an In Style and Allure magazine beauty award winner for years. Doctors recommend it for children and for adults with sensitive skin. What's in it that makes it such a favorite?

Here is the Ingredients List for Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser:

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

Water is ingredient #1. I don't think we need to discuss this one at length, so let's move on.

Cetyl Alcohol is actually nothing to be worried about it in this. Unlike harsh alcohols like SD Alcohol 40 (very drying on hair and skin), this is simply a fatty alcohol used as a skin softening ingredient. In many cases, this comes from a vegetable source, but many times it is from animal sources, so be sure you know how it is sourced if this is a matter of concern to you.

Propylene Glycol is used in conjunction with other chemical ingredients as a preservative. It is also found in products to make it easier for other added ingredients to penetrate the skin. This ingredient has been shown in studies to aggravate skin conditions such as eczema. This derivitave of mineral oil is considered a petrochemical. There are many different grades of PG: industrial grade is found in anti-freeze. Some will tell you that skin care products with propylene glycol just like anti-freeze. This isn't true--the kind in cosmetics is cosmetics grade. That being said, can cause contact dermatitis, especially in such a very high concentration.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was once rumored to cause cancer. While this has been proven false, SLS is a highly irritating detergent known for creating a lather. Scientists do not recommend using SLS at a rate of 15% of a total product, and at that amount only because it will be diluted with water and rinsed out. What is so very, very bothersome to me is that on the back of the Cetaphil cleanser bottles it says that you can massage it in without rinsing and simply tissue off. I did that once. I wondered a while later why my face hurt so much. It was the SLS that hadn't been rinsed off.

Stearyl Alcohol is another fatty alcohol. It's a thickening agent and skin lubricant. Animal lovers may find it bothersome that this often comes from sperm whales. Vegetable stearic acid is a much more animal-friendly alternative. While this is a pretty benign alcohol, it is recommended to avoid the eye area because it's a potential irritant.

Now we're on to my friends, the parabens. Not quite. I am floored that the folks at Galderma decided to put in 3 forms of parabens in this cleanser. While all of the negative effects of parabens are not yet known, studies originating in Japan link buytylparaben and male birth defects. In the toxicology papers, it was stated that butylparaben "adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system..."

This is because of the fact that parabens have repeatedly been shown to interfere with the body's hormone function. This is exactly why parabens continue to be under fire for their potential cancer causing properties. Would I use a paraben on my boys? No. Never again in a million years. Would I use a paraben on my own body? No. This house has been paraben free now for over 7 years and will continue to be.

The Bottom Line:

I used to use Cetaphil. The moment I started using handmade soaps, cleansing oils, and other natural skin care products from my favorite brands (such as Relevé from Emerald Essentials, Nourish and 100% Pure), the drugstore best-seller went out the door.

Our pediatrician used to recommend Cetaphil. Nick had eczema. It made it worse. Why is is so highly recommended? Is it the free samples given to hundreds and thousands of doctors' offices the way heartburn pill trial packs, formula samples, etc. are? When you look at Cetaphil, you're looking at fatty alcohols, potential cancer causers, a petrochemical and irritating detergent.

Would I recommend that for baby's skin, much less for an adult? Never. The best thing you can do is research your labels and make informed decisions with whatever you put on your children or on yourself...

Equal.

"We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others."

~Will Rogers

One of my closest, dearest friends on earth is a gay man. I love him and have since we became friends in college--even though it took him forever to return my Billy Joel's Greatest Hits CD to me. I apologize for being snotty about having my CD for so long. And I am so forunate to have gotten to know you. I am a better person for having known you.

Even though a few hundred miles separate us, he is always in my heart and thoughts and I am so proud of the person he has become. 

He is a compassionate, kind, generous, intelligent, amazing human being. He was there with me at my wedding. And I should be able to be at his wedding one day too. He has that same right that Tom and I had when we exchanged vows and promised to love, honor & cherish each other.

He is in Washington right now with his sign in front of the Supreme Court. I wish I could physically be there to stand along side him with a sign of my own. He is a human being. He has the right to love.He happens to love men. He was BORN that way, just as I was born this way, as a woman who fell in love with a man. He deserves the right to get married one day. Why is this even an issue?

This is not about religion or what YOU think is right or wrong. It is about human rights.

I support marriage equality.  

Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

Color shown is #340 Flower Power

As you know, I love having my nails painted as much as I love to wear lipgloss and earrings. I feel naked without color on my nails.

I am taking a little break from gel polish right now, especially since I have been busy with painting projects (again!) and other home improvement projects (new kitchen floor in the next week or two when I get the motivation).  I'm getting gels again before our summer vacation, but for now, I am taking a little break.

While strolling down the aisles of Wegmans the other night, I passed through cosmetics and these nail decals from Sally Hansen jumped right out at me with a loud "Buy me for spring!"

I thought "Why not?" and added them to my cart.

I put them on Saturday evening and the picture above is from about 10 minutes ago.

This was my second time using something like this.  In December, I tried Jamberry Nails, which is a similar concept.  Click here for my Jamberry Nails review.

The Sally Hansen product gives you 16 nail sticks (8 in each individually wrapped package). It says it is for one manicure. Now take note--unless your nails are LONG, only open one of the packages. You will only need 1. Leave the other one sealed so you can use it another time.

I cut each of the nail strips since there was enough length for two finger nails on each strip. I thought the nail stickers were not that sticky and were a bit firm to work with following the package insert.  What I did was use the method I did for Jamberry Nails--warming the strips with my hair dryer, applying, trimming, and then setting with the blow dryer again.

This method worked really well and it took all of ten minutes for me to do both hands.

At Wegmans without any coupons, the little kit was $8.99 (it comes with mini orange wood stick to push back cuticles and multitasking little emery board/buffer). So it equals $4.50 per manicure if you can use each kit twice.

Considering this is supposed to last up to 10 days -- I will follow up with results on this one -- it is a cute looking manicure for $4.50.

Have you tried these before?  What were your impressions?

UPDATE: These nail stickers lasted me a full 9 days!!! That is when they started to show regrowth and began to lift near the cuticle bed. I am so happy with the longevity!

Help! Zits!

I am actually sharing this post again because a lovely reader, Jenna, asked me for some help with acne skin care. Here it is!

I am usually not a skin care "kit" person, nor do I typically suggest you run out and buy something you may have seen on TV.  This is the exception.  Juice Beauty, a line I adore and have oodles of respect for, has a kit designed for acne-prone skin.

The ingredients, as with all Juice Beauty items, are stellar.  I've never had a Juice Beauty product that wasn't formulated well, and the reviews online of the system are fabulous.

This would be my first choice if I were trying to combat breakouts. What I would recommend is buying the kit, which will cost you $39 (it's billed in two payments of $19.50). After you've determined how well everything works for you, then I'd probably end up purchasing the large sizes on my own to save money.

Other skin care product recommendations for acne:

Aunt Nancy's Lemongrass and Sea Clay Soap -- Lemongrass essential oil is a gentle antiseptic and is beneficial to acne-prone skin. It also helps clear the pores and firm the skin. Sea clay helps to draw out impurities and control the oilies. This also contains rice bran and grapeseed oil, which I recommend for oilier skintypes as well. $6

One Love Organics My New Best Friend Skin Shammy -- Don't waste your money on the overhyped Clarisonic. You don't need it.  I highly recommend the dermatologist-grade microfiber cloth from OLO. It helps to rid the skin of bacteria, excess oil, environmental debris, etc.  $12

Dickinson's 100% Natural Witch Hazel -- While I typically do not recommend skin care products formulated with alcohol, I make an exception for this all-natural witch hazel (which is 14% alcohol). It soothes sunburns, helps sore and irritated skin, and is a wonderfully effective astringent.  A bottle will cost you about $3 and last many months!

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Maximum Strength Spot Treatment -- This contains a natural form of salicylic acid called white willow bark. It contains 2%, which is ideal for acne. Salicylic acid, unlike alpha hydroxy acids, is oil soluble so it can get into the pores and pull out excess sebum and grime. Please note, it is not recommended that you apply any form of salicylic acid while pregnant. $13