Adventures in Argan oil

I’ve been meaning to try Argan oil for ages, so when I had the opportunity to sample a product from Pura d’or, I jumped at the chance! This review will focus on the Pure and Organic Argan oil, which you can use in your hair and on your body (head to toe). I focused on my hair for this review, but will consider trying it during any future eczema outbreaks.

For the all-natural and cruelty-free consumers, check out these anecdotes about the brand:

For more than four years, Pura d’or has been growing a culture planted on a natural set of values and beliefs. But when all is said and done it comes down to one unified mission—to create organic personal care solutions that naturally work.

All ingredients are grown on trees, not in test tubes. They are artisanally handcrafted by a hybrid team of artists and scientists, not by machines. Pura d’or creates better beauty products from ingredients that are not only naturally beneficial, but are also sustainably grown and raised with respect for the animals that eat them and the people who produce them.

I’ve been using the Argan oil sporadically for the last 2-3 weeks. Upon application, I’ve noticed a marked difference in how my hair looks and feels- much softer, shinier, and less “flyaway”. The scent is light and unoffensive- similar to what you might expect from a “natural” product but not too “hippieish”. I’ve used it as an “on-the-spot” treatment on dry or damp hair. Sometimes I have mixed the oil with another product- a curl-enhancing gel or cream, and I’ve had really great results with this!

Here are a few “before and afters” of my latest application:

Before:

See that flyaway?

Yikes, pretty dry!

I apply a small amount:

Pura d’or Argan oil

And get these results!

Under the Eyes

 

Seeing a few fine lines under my eyes, I decided to try a new, natural, paraben- and sulfate-free product, goPURE Eye Cream. Once I received the sample (powered by Brandbacker) and started to use it, I was excited for the opportunity to see benefits and results such as:

• Dramatic reduction of puffiness under and around the eyes
• Reduced appearance of dark circles under the eyes, making eyes look younger
• Reduced appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (aka crows feet) so your face looks more radiant

Always one to be a little skeptical of these types of claims, I was on board with trying it anyway. I’m always one for products without chemicals! The first time I pressed the pump to use the product, I got a waft of a fragrance with a gentle hint of cucumber smell. That was nice! When I applied it under my eyes, I did not notice much of a difference at all. Not to be outdone, I decided to continue at it and see how results were in a few weeks.

After using the product for about 3 weeks, I’m still not seeing much of a difference. I even tried to capture my results via photo and have some before and afters to share, but I could not get a good showing of my fine lines even in the “before” shots. (Trust me, the lines are there!)

Before:

After: 

Not much of a difference, right?!

On top of that, I did experience a slight burning sensation when I used the product. It wouldn’t happen every time, but I would say about 40-50% of the time, I would experience a slight discomfort/burning sensation upon application (sometimes accompanied by a little redness, which always quickly disappeared).

A little more about the product:

Formulated with Matrixyl 3000 (in Clinical Study Proven To Make Eyes Look 2 Years Younger In 1 Month of Use)

NATURAL INGREDIENTS – goPURE Eye Cram also contains Plant Stem Cells, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and a Proprietary Peptide Complex

goPURE Naturals was started by Erin Keyan who after becoming a mother was shocked to discover how many products contain toxic and dangerous chemical ingredients. She formulated goPURE Naturals with the goal of developing a brand that women can trust to contain only the purest and natural ingredients, while making them look and feel their best.

All in all, I think it’s fun to try products and see how they work. This one was not a “miracle cream” for me personally, but I have not had major visible results with any product. A competitor’s product which I have been prior to this one had no remarkable results either.

My plan is to continue working with this one and give it (and myself) some more time. I intend to try it when I have more leisure time to really observe the results a little more and see if I  make any new revelations. Plus, I want to give it the full two months that the company requests you commit to for trying out the product, and I’m not even halfway there yet!

If you want to try this product @ a 25% discount, use this coupon code when purchasing via Amazon (offer expires 6/15/15).  

A 100% money-back guarantee is offered: If you can’t honestly say that your eyes look 10 years younger after 2 months of daily use, the company will give you your money back!
REDUCES EYE PUFFINESS, DARK CIRCLES & WRINKLES – F
100% MONEY BACK Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back – If You Can’t Honestly Say That Your Eyes Look 10 Years Younger After 2 Months of Daily Use We’ll Give You Your Money Back! Made in the USA – Never Tested on Animals!

*Sponsored post, powered by BrandBacker 

Deep in the Night (What’s Your Beauty Routine?)

As the moon calls and you’re ready to go to bed, what do you do as part of your nightly ritual? Whether you’re a wash-and-go (to bed) type, or have a more lengthy, luxurious routine, you are invited to an opportunity to participate in Exuviance’s give-away- a full size Super Retinol Concentrate.  Twenty-five lucky winners will win this $78 value!

Simply share your favorite nighttime beauty tips & tricks on Twitter and other social media channels. Be sure to tag @neostrataskin and using #sleeponit.

If you’re interested in trying this unique anti-aging nighttime transformer that delivers a gradual, time-released infusion of pure Retinol in a microencapsulated form to maximize potency and tolerability of this high-strength formulation, this is the giveaway for you!

Widely recognized by dermatologists for its antiaging power, Retinol helps build natural collagen and its surrounding support matrix for plumping and firming benefits, reducing the look of deep-set wrinkles and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles from the inside out. Patented NeoGlucosamine® is clinically proven to work synergistically with Retinol, building skin’s support matrix to increase skin firming and smoothing effects versus Retinol alone. As skin becomes firmer and new cells emerge, skin is transformed, younger looking. For an immediate visual boost, optical brighteners provide visual softening.

Designed for maximum efficacy and stability, the formula contains a retinol-stabilizing complex and utilizes an opaque airless pump-top tube to maintain freshness. This light, serum-like formulation is fragrance free, Paraben free, and oil free.

Studies show after 8 weeks (data on file):
100% reported firmer skin
98% noticed skin is lifted, less droopy
95% observed Wrinkles are less apparent
95% said fine lines are less apparent
98% saw better clarity/radiance
88% noticed brown spots are less noticeable

Ready to play? Enter today with this link, be sure to share on social media with the tags @neostrataskin and #sleeponit. Add Exuviance to your nightly beauty routine ’round midnight!

Water, Minerally Water from the French Alps (and a giveaway!)

 

You know the satisfaction of a refreshing gulp of water when your throat is parched, the comfort of a cascade of droplets over your head when you dip into the shower, the welcoming relief when a summer rain falls onto your sun-heated skin.

Imagine cool, hydrating relief that you can take along with you. That’s what you get with evian® water’s unique mineral balance and uncompromised purity, suitable for all skin types. Your skin will be the picture of dewy, refreshed health.

Now is your opportunity to win your very own Evian Facial Spray!  evian® is giving away 20 two 5 oz Facial Sprays. Winners will be chosen at random.

Click to enter!

Did you know that Evian Facial Spray was originally introduced in France in 1962 at the request of doctors for use on burn patients? Introduced as the first facial spray in the United States in 1978, evian® is the only one carried by many prestige retail groups including Nordstrom and Sephora and is dermatologically test. It is also offered in many luxury resorts and hotels such as Four Seasons.

The leak-proof canister is the ideal product to take on-the-go in any purse or travel bag. Unlike other water sprays, Evian Spray is sealed at the source, so it can not be contaminated.

The French Government has extremely stringent standards for approving mineral waters as suitable to drink. Evian Facial Spray is the only mineral water spray in the USA with this distinction.

Don’t forget to complete your giveaway entry today!

Please note: this giveaway is hosted by The Wilkes Group and not evian.

Men’s Fragrance: NEW (!) by Calvin Klein, REVEAL

As an Influenster, I had the opportunity to test a new men’s fragrance by Calvin Klein, REVEAL. Considered part of a new olfactive category, the “solar oriental”, this fragrance proclaims a scent categorized by salt, warm woods, pink pepper, and flowers.

@Influenster #REVEALMORE

I picked up the small package from my personal “post office” and tore into the small envelope. In addition to a sample sized spray bottle, I received a small gray card holder (I guess I can use that in my wallet). I read the fragrance description excitedly, thinking that it sounded just like the type of scent I would like.

I gave an initial spritz into the air and upon first sniff, it actually smelled a little feminine to me. “Hmm,” I thought, “this smells like something I would considering wearing myself.” My mother had a similar reaction, though not to the same degree as me. We brought it in to her boyfriend for third opinion. He liked it, but had no ornate description for what he was smelling.

For the final test, I spritzed it on my own boyfriend. He thought it was okay and said he would wear it, but didn’t seem all that enthused about it. The immediate sniff from what I sprayed on his skin smelled very “generic” and “typical” to me. It smelled like a lot of other men’s fragrances and not all that revolutionary, to say the least. But I know better- let’s give it some time to evaporate.

I also sprayed it on myself, and I still maintain that it smells a little effeminate. It smells totally different on me than it does on him. Less citrusy, more woodsy and warm. I like it on me, but it’s still not a “me” fragrance. (I think I will be ever-loyal to Tuscany per Donna! Still haven’t found anything I like better on me!)

After about 15-20 minutes, I went back to the BF’s forearm and gave it another whiff. It dried down a  bit and smells a little more unique. Definitely smell more warmth and a bit of spice. It’s almost like pepper but without the familiar “bite” that pepper has. I like it the scent on him but it really dried down to be barely perceptible. I think he might need another application.

All in all, it was nice to try but I’m not blown away. Will definitely give it another go and report back.

Note: . Influenster sent this complimentary for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own and I’m not being compensated.

Work of the Hands

I have a family friend who became a nun later in life. I remember going to her first profession and final profession of vows when I was younger, and lo and behold, this year marks her 25th year of religious life…which will be celebrated as a silver jubilee!

As with any celebration, I like to commemorate with an appropriate gift. And what does one get a nun? Surely she must have an ample assortment of religious jewelry, knick-knacks, and stationary. I started my search online with some terms that might help me find an appropriate card. I knew “Congratulations on your 25 years of religious life!” was not going to be common fodder at my local Hallmark, but the vast expanse of internet certainly had a few options from which to choose.

With that part complete, I continued searching on the site to take a look at the gift items. I was intrigued by the Abbey scented soaps, made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. There were so many different scent varieties- it was truly remarkable! I wish I could smell them all through the screen (though the descriptions helped a bit, as did my imagination). These handcrafted items are not only made with natural ingredients but also a dose of holy water, and each batch is prayed over. Interesting!

As the story goes, what started out as something they made out of necessity became a source of value and joy that the nuns rediscovered in the present day. They use modern techniques to make the soap but with the same careful attention to detail that they use in all their handcrafted items. A motto is included on each product listing: “The work of our hands- made for your hands and body.” 

I delved a little deeper to find other everyday products that are handmade by those in a religious calling. There are several that I became interested in- lip balm, body scrubs, jellies, chocolate truffles, and Mystic Monk coffee! I just think there is something to be said about products made by human hands  with intention, and using that work as a form of prayer or meditation. Whether I am religious or not or believe in the same tenets as the artisan does, does not really matter to me. I find products made in this way to have a unique appeal- almost a mysticism about them- and that they are just as affordable as those that are mass-produced. I can see these hand-forged items becoming affordable luxuries on my shopping list, as I not only engage my senses as I use them, but reflect on the way that conscious intention yields results different than those generated by workers who are mindlessly and dispassionately completing their tasks.

Getting back to my family friend’s gift,  I ended up purchasing some of the fancy, carefully handcrafted essential oil infused soaps, a “Woman of God” pen and bookmark, and a few other items to create a gift basket. I carefully decided upon a mix of mainly “consumable” items so as not to take up too much space, create clutter, or be one more Jesus mug to add to the collection. I am thrilled that I was able to find some items that touch upon a religious motif or history but are still “layperson items”.  I hope she finds them as unique as I have!

Ordinary Objects with Personality

I’m not one for knick-knacks all around the home. They tend to be nothing more than dust collectors, so I try to keep them at a minimum. Of course I do have a few choice objects that complement the rest of my home decor, but rather than clutter my home with lots of little figurines and placeholders, I prefer to purchase everyday usable (and usually consumable) items that have flair.

Journals, notebooks, and files with fun, colorful prints are ways I bring patterns and artistic flair into my life without adding clutter and chaos to the tops of my furniture.

Stylish folders

I’m also not one for dozens of paper snippets attached to my refrigerator with a bevy of souvenir magnets. Lucky for me, my unmagnetizable stainless steel refrigerator does not even allow for magnets of any kind- they all just slip off.

On occasion though, I do have a hankering for the chance to hang up a visual reminder of my to-do list for the week, or an invitation for an upcoming event. So over the weekend, I wound up purchasing a magnetic clipboard, at Pier 1 Imports (for which I used a 15% off coupon!) which I hung on the wall thanks to the help of a Command hook.

Magnetic clipboard

My saunter through the local Pier 1 store was a banquet of beautiful, exotic items that tantalized my sights. Just being around the different colors and prints is such an inspiring and uplifting experience for me and my stimulus-soaked senses!

I’ve already put the clipboard to use, tasking it with holding the invitations to a couple of upcoming events:

It matches the style of my home perfectly and has the right mix of “contemporary”, “global”, and “whimsy” that I so love. It is not only nice to look at but functional.

What are some ways you bring colors, patterns, and/or texture to your home without creating clutter? Share in the comments if you are so inclined!

Slow-blooming Lilies

In my previous post, I mentioned the stargazer lilies I had received several days ago, which had been blooming open pretty slowly. Today’s post focuses on the transformation from one opened bloom to three, over the course of these last few days. Take a look!

One lily:

One lily

Two lilies…

Three lilies

Three lilies!

Three lilies

10/7/14 Update:

Four lilies!

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves in Gekū (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love the lush, beautiful, colorful changing of the leaves. The beauty of it startles me every morning on my drive to work and I feel very blessed to have something that ignites my senses in such a profound way.