Nic Pick for Stocking Stuffer's

This is one of my favorite products of ALL TIME! I have used Indigo Wild's Zum Bars for over 10 years now and still love the Frankincense and Myrrh collection!  Made with moisturizing Goat's Milk and pure essential oils, this bath bar is superb.  It gives a nice lather (sodium lauryl sulfate free), nice clean feel, and a divine scent to the skin.   Zum Bar's run under $8 dollars and are the Perfect Stocking Stuffer's for this Holiday Season!

Sometimes the best medicine is a smile

It is a gray day in Northern Virginia.  So instead of a product review, I thought I'd share a picture of our Canine Daugther, Sugaree.  This shot makes me smile every time I look at it.  It's one of those days where blasting a smile will help clear away the drear.  Remember the power of a smile.  Pass one along today.  I have found my day uplifted in days passed, just by someone's positive energy blast of a smile.  They are contagious in the best way.  Make an effort today to smile at everyone you see, a stranger, your partner, your children, and coworkers.  Marvel at the power of a smile and the way it moves us all.  :)

Suki Punch

After using up most of my Eminence arsenal, I figured I would give more Suki products a shot. As always I am battling breakouts and thought I'd try the Pure Facial Moisture Balancing product as my daily and nightly moisturizer, along with Suki's Balancing Toner prior to application of the Pure Facial Moisture Balancing. I used this product months ago as my night time treatment but put it aside and to be honest, it got lost in the mess of what is my product closet. Yes, I said closet, not cabinet. I am definately a product fiend and much to my husband's dismay, I overrun our bathroom linen closet with thousands of products. But we got a new shipment of Suki products in at work and I thought I'd give it another try. I purchased another Balancing Day Toner (which I absolutely LOVE) and took a couple samples of a new product called Bio Targeted Purifying Serum that also has the 15% white willow extract in it. After cleansing my skin, I follow with a couple squirts of Balancing Day Toner on a cotton pad and do a nice once around on my entire face. The first couple days I used my samples of the Bio Targeted Purifying Serum after the toner, before the application of the Pure Facial Moisture Balancing product, and I have to say, it packs a mega purifying punch. My hormonal area breakouts cleared up in a matter of days (3-5). I have reviewed the Pure Facial Moisture Balancing product before because it is a little unsettling to use at first. It's a oil based product and dispenses with an eye dropper. Even though I know that all moisturizing creams are a mixture of oil and water, it still makes you second guess if you should do it if you are breakout prone. I will tell you what though, I am a believer now. I will admit it has taken my skin about a month of this dedicated Suki only regimine to balance out into the beauty that it is now. After using a 15% white willow toner and serum, I started to unclog and resurface my skin, revealing and opening my pores. For the first couple weeks I felt my blackheads were more prominent but in fact these products were clearing up the dead dry layer that was trapping these suckers!! I exfoliated with a sample of the exfoliate foaming cleanser then followed with a good extraction session. I can't believe the difference now a month later in my congestion status. I have NO active pustules and my blackheads have improved significantly. Dare I say it, never has my skin responded like this even to my beloved Eminence daily Products. I will admit, that the Eminence Masques are unbeatable but I may be a new rave reviewer on the Suki Products for daily care. I use only two drops of the Pure Moisture Balancing and it covers my entire face. My mineral makeup glides right on after my morning application and I feel sets it even better that my Eminence Eight Greens did!

So now let's break down what is in this Pure Facial Moisture Balancing product. First off, it is what it says....It is a PURE, breathable, normalizing oil concentrate. It's very simple and pure in the ingredient list.
The list is as followed:

 simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil, oryza sativa (rice) bran oil, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, corylus avellana (hazelnut) seed oil, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil, lavendula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, tocopherols mixed (vitamin e), calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract & squalene, echinacea purpurea (echinacea) extract, lavendula angustifolia (lavender) oil, matricaria chamomile (chamomile) oil, *aroma/fragrance, linalool *component of 100% pure essential oils

Your skin is made up of oil. Over stripping and drying out the skin causes it to overproduce oil in response. Using Pure Facial Moisture Balancing actually normalizes oily skin because it has the right blend of sebum / skin mimicking properties. It's a calming, soothing antibacterial oil based product that absorbs quickly and does not leave the skin greasy at all. It has a nice light lavender scent and does not over power your senses. I love this product and with the help of the other Suki Products I have been using along with it, I have seen some amazing results.

Fighting Hormonal skin with THIS....

Eminence Organics has this little hormone-induced breakout fighter serum that I have been using as my daily moisturizer during this HEAT wave of a summer. Having put aside my beloved Suki Balancing Day Lotion for fall and winter, I needed to use something that would help keep my skin clear, feel light, and have no adverse effects from sun exposure. I purchased Eminence Organics Eight Greens Youth Serum and the Eight Greens Whipped Moisturizer to try. Both products have a nice, and for lack of better word, herby scent. I am pretty impressed so far.

The concept behind the Eight Greens collection is that the main ingredient, Yucca Root, contains phytoestrogens and help balance out women's hormonal imbalance induced skin characteristics (aka: hormonal breakouts along the jawline, chin, and lip area) as well as restore a firmness and overall youthful radiant appearance. Women near their monthly cylce, perimenopausal, or menopausal...anything related to us wonderful women and hormonal changes, can benefit from this collection. After doing more research on the Yucca Root and it's power, I found this Yucca Root has been a treasured root, especially in Native American culture, as an anti-inflammatory and cleansing agent. The main medicinal agent in Yucca is saponin, which is a natural precursor of natural cortisones normally produced in the adrenal glands. Not only does this powerful medicinal root work as an anti-inflammatory, but also it has anti-aging qualities as well. Yucca is very rich in polyphenols as well, which suggest the ability to reduce the effects of aging. According to a piece of research published and done by Life Extension, plant polyphenols prevent tissue damage and block free radicals. The main polyphenol in Yucca is Resveratrol, known for its preventive power of degenerative conditions such as cellular damage. Basically this is one powerful inflammation, protector of cellular damage and breakdown little root.

I found that the Eight Greens Whipped Moisturizer is a little too heavy for such a sweltering hot summer for my skin for day time use. I have been experimenting (this morning actually) on the dilution of this product. All Eminence Moisturizers are concentrated and made for a customized dilution with water, depending on your skin's needs. I used a teeny tiny dab today with about 1-2 TBS water and found it was a good mix, though today is a little more mild than the 100 degree days we have been having here in Virginia the past couple weeks. Before I go to bed has been when I have been using the serum AND the moisturizer. For Day time I have primarily been using 1-2 drops of the Eight Greens Serum and my makeup and SPF powder go on flawlessly, without a heaviness underneath. So until the summer heat subsides, I will continue to use this little gem of a serum as my daily moisturizer/anti-acne treatment and save the whipped moisturizer for my Night Time treatment cream.

Clearly beautiful

This product has become my skin saving product this summer. Eminence launched the VitaSkin Collection a couple months back and I must say, it's pretty amazing. The Clear Skin Masque has been my weekly skin care treatment ,and it has helped me considerably. I had a minor set back in my pore clarity while my husband and I were camping the first week in July, but now it's balancing out beautifully. Since I am out in the sun so much, I've had to cut the use of my BELOVED Suki Balancing Day Lotion because of the high concentration of White Willow Extract (15%). Though it was a miracle at keeping my skin clear, White Willow or Salicylic Acid can cause photo sensitivity and hyperpigmentation when exposed to the sun. Kayaking, hiking, and concert going is our enjoyment of summer, and even though I would apply my Eminence Sun Defense Minerals SPF 30 religiously, I was still starting to develop some new hyperpigmentation spots. So reluctantly I stopped using my Suki, therefore my skin GASPED, pouted and started breaking out again. THEN this Eminence Miracle saves the day.

With the power of Probiotic that attacks bad bacteria that causes breakouts,cooling Cucumber that tones and revitalizes, Kaolin Clay which provides a gentle detox, plus Marigold and Tea tree with their antiseptic properties, this amazing facial masque helps exfoliate and eliminate the signs of acne so your skin will glow with newfound confidence in no time.

How to Use: After cleansing, toning and gentle using an exfoliator to ensure product penetration (I LOVE EMINENCE ROSEHIP AND MAIZE EXFOLIATING MASQUE as my exfoliator), apply a quarter size amount of the Clear Skin Probiotic Masque with a tsp. of water to the entire face. If you have already exfoliated once or twice this week, then skip the exfoliation prior to masking. I personally like to do my exfoliation with my masking treatment and treat myself to a mini facial every week. You will experience a refreshing and soothing cooling sensation a minute or two after application of the masque. Rinse after 20-25 minutes and follow with your toner and daily moisturizer or night treatment cream.

Results are even more dramatic when combined with the VitaSkin Clear Skin Vitamin taken daily. This is a multi-phase release vegan pill designed to regulate and calm your skin with borage seed oil that dilutes sebum, and acidophilus to regulate yeast and reintroduce healthy bacteria to the body.

I have had great feedback from clients about this combo and have first hand experience as a consumer myself. This masque I highly recommend for my acne/breakout prone friends. It feels wonderful to use and actually works. Visit www.eminenceorganics.com for more information over all Eminence's organic products.

Summer Sun Essentials

Glorious Summer is here. Beach time, pool time, concert going, biking, hiking or kayaking, all these activities we wait all winter long to bask in the joys when Mother Nature is smiling on us. While reveling in this wonderful time of the year, don't forget to protect yourself from too much sun and environmental aggressors. Here are a couple of my favorite Summer Sun Essentials!

1. Eminence Organics Sun Defense SPF 30

These beautiful brush-on, easy application and carry Micronized Zinc Oxide Sun Defense Minerals are fabulous for on-the-go Sun Protection. They are available in 5 different shades of minerals pigments and will match most skin types. Not only does it provide an SPF 30, but it also works as an anti-inflammatory, is water resistant, and is hypoallergenic. The easy pump brush is simple to apply and carry anywhere. Definately a new Nic Product Pick.

2. Tropical Vanilla SPF 32 Face Formulation and Body Formulation

This is the most heavenly smelling SPF product I have ever found. The uplifting scent of Vanilla is superb in these products and are more than just smell good sun protectant products. Using the power of Zinc Oxide and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (a clear liquid compound that absorbs UVB light), Tropical Vanilla SPF 32 products give you great protection from the sun but also help restore the delicate water content in your skin. Studies show that after using the Tropical Vanilla Sun Cream over 7 days,your moisture content increases by 250%!

3. Aloe Mint Hydrating Gel Face Formulation and Body Formulation

This calming and soothing cream gel will help reduce skin irritation and inflammation while fighting against the damaging effects of overexposure to the sun and elements without clogging pores. It has a fabulous refreshing cooling sensation on the delicate skin and is a MUST HAVE for the Summer Season. It is available in a face formulation and a body formulation. If you find yourself a little over kissed by the sun, pick up this beautiful product to calm and soothe your skin.

4. Jane Iredale Foundation with SPF 20

This Foundation is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and comes in a PurePressed Formulation, Amazing Matte Loose Finish Powder, and also Liquid Minerals. You won't believe the difference their mineral bases will make in how your skin feels and looks. You can apply as lightly or as heavily as you like. Jane Iredale products are free of oil, talc, FD&C dyes, synthetic preservatives or fragrance. Pure Makeup that actually helps the skin, doesnt clog pores, and gives you Sun Protection.

So There you have it, my Summer Sun Goddesses and Sun Gods! Four Fabulous Summer Sun Essentials to accompany all your Summer fun :)

Words that inspire me........

"All glory comes from daring to begin."~Alexander Graham Bell