The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

The creamy body butter is packed with nourishing beeswax, tropical virgin organic coconut oil and hydrating shea butter. Although, the body butter claims to have a tropical coconut scent; it smells more like cocoa butter to me. It also has the same consistency and melt in your skin texture. My skin felt soft and smooth but I didn’t get 24 hour hydration as promised. Overall, it’s a mediocre product. I feel like you can get the same quality from a jar of Palmer’s Cocoa butter from the drugstore without the $20 price tag.

Burt's Bees Spearmint & Lime Body Wash

The spearmint and lime infused wash is a gentle all - in - one formula. The gentle cleanser is made with coconut  and sunflower oils to create a rich lather. I love the fresh and crisp scent. It is perfect for size and scent to pack in my gym bag.

Iroha Nature Intensive Facial Cloth Mask Q10

This paraben free paper mask is packed with hyaluronic acid, Q10, collagen, and soy. Soybeans are known to prevent premature aging of the skin and retaining moisture. It is also known for its antioxidant properties such as fighting free radicals and promoting the growth of collagen. My face felt firm, supple, smooth and soft after I put the mask for the instructed 15 minutes. I did like after I finished remove the mask there was some excess serum left over and  I massaged into my neck so it can reap in some of the benefits too! I sometimes wonder how come they don’t make a mask that covers a the neck as well. Because I know some people who take really good care of the face but neglect their necks and the neck is actually makes people look older.

Lucky August 2014

The Perfect Glow-

Microfine pigments are responsible for the incredibly natural shades in  summer’s newest bronzers. To leave skin sun-kissed and healthy-looking with a powder, trace a backwards 3 shape with a fluffy brush, moving from the sides of your forehead to your cheekbones by lightly dusting down the bridge of your nose and chin. You can also use powders for your body - a little bronzer along your collarbone, under your triceps and down the front of your legs create a slimming effect. Liquids also work for both face and body: Dab a bit with your fingers or a foundation brush onto spots that the sun might hit, like cheekbones, then blend outward.

Self August 2014

Easy Beauty Fixes - Gorgeous Hair

Add Volume -  a thickening mousse that fights hair flattening heat and humidity. New formulations are lightweight and contain ingredients that expand the diameter of each strand. B vitamins, panthenol, polyquaternium-4 and hyaluronic acid are a few to look for on the label.  Rub a plum sized amount between your hands first, then run fingers through your hair from roots to tips. Use a wide toothed comb to spread it out completely.

Strengthen your hair -  a deep conditioning mask that contains amino acids, keratin or ceramides - all proteins and lipids naturally found in hair - will make strands stronger. The speediest way to use a mask is to sub it in for  your conditioner whenever you wash your hair. Squeeze the water out of your hair before applying, so it doesn’t dilute it. Rinse after a few minutes. If  hair is very damaged, try this at least once a week: smooth the mask on dry hair right when you wake up, ten minutes to an hour later, shower and rinse it out, then shampoo and condition as usual.

Soften Strands - Natural oils - argan, sesame, avocado - soak deep into the hair shaft. Before bed, distribute a tablespoon or two through dry hair.  Shampoo clean in the morning, repeat the process each time you wash until hair feels softer.  If hair is extra dry, try a leave-in conditioning spray with dimethicone in addition to the oil. It locks in hair’s natural moisture.

Boost shine - an at home gloss. Glosses deposit clear or sheer pigments and silicone that makes the cuticle layer lie flat again. Apply one to damp hair for 10 minutes, then rinse. To play it safe, use a  gloss only every few months. Some contain a small amount of peroxide which can be damaging if overused.

Easy Beauty Fixes - Luminous Skin

Bring out your natural glow - spotlight features with a highlighter or luminizer. The shimmery liquid, cream or powder reflects light, making any area you apply it to stand out. Use the same highlighter to show off defined muscles. Swipe it  on shoulders and down the fronts of arms and legs.

Hydrated your complexion -  a hydrating tone or essence. Old school toners used alcohol to dissolve oil and left skin dry. Today’s versions still control oil, but most are alcohol-free and deliver light humectants, such as hyaluronic acid, that draw moisture to the skin. If you are very dry, layer on a light moisturizer too. The toner primes skin to better absorb any hydrator you put on next.

Get smoother looking legs -  massage a cellulite treatment that contains caffeine into thighs for five minutes. Vigorous rubbing breaks up fibrous bands, so fat distributes more smoothly under the skin. And caffeine dehydrates fat cells, shrinking them so they look temporarily look less bumpy.

Woman’s Day August 2014

Two Clever Uses for Balloons

1. Serve Dessert - Dip small, inflated balloons halfway into a bowl of melted chocolate, then place on a wax covered baking sheet and refrigerate until chocolate hardens. With a pin or scissors, pop and peel away the balloons so you’re left with edible bowls.

2. Anchor a tablecloth - prevent a gust of wind from pulling your table cloth up, by attaching it to homemade weights. Use a funnel to pour sand or rice into four uninflated balloons, knot them, then safety pin one to each of the tablecloth’s inside corners so they stay hidden while holding the fabric down.

Stress Less Mornings

1. Spend 5 minutes on the porch [or if you live in NYC by a window ---hopefully you don’t get an eyeful of your neighbor] Exposure to sunlight improves your energy thanks for the vitamin D, while increasing melatonin for better sleep at night.

2. Eat blueberries at breakfast. The berries are associated with a mood hormone that can help you cheer up when you’re feeling sad. They’re also packed with healthy antioxidants that may prevent cancer.

3. Have another cup of coffee. People who drink three or more cups of coffee a day may have a 37% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those who sip less than a cup. Researchers believe a compound in the brew improves how your body processes sugar.

Better Homes and Garden August 2014

Fast Fixes for your Foyers

1. Start here - if your entry is a mess, don’t get overwhelmed thinking it needs a major makeover. Hanging a couple of hooks and putting out a big basket for shoes can make a huge difference.

2. Coat check - consider offloading some of those parkas to bedroom closets or underbed storage during the off season.

3. Hide Away - a dresser is pretty brilliant in an entry. Line the drawers with shelf paper or cookie sheets for shoes, and add a tray to turn the top into a drop zone for mail and keys.

4. Grab and go - keep a cute tote bag hanging near the back door. Use it as a collection spot for whatever needs to leave the house next trip.

How to buy Summer’s Bounty Veggies-

Corn -Buy - look for corn with golden to brown silks and healthy green husks. Store - keep corn in its husk until ready to use, or remove kernels from the cob and freeze.

Green Beans - Look for slender, unbruised beans that snap easily. Thinner beans are sweetest. Store - place unwashed beans in a resealable bag. Refrigerate up to a week.

Squash - look for firm, smooth, unblemished squash. For yellow squash, choose smaller ones - the large ones have a lot more seeds. Place unwashed squash in an airtight container and refrigerate up to a week.

Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap

The floral scented body bar soap is packed with organic Shea Butter, Oats, tamarind extract, tar, Vitamin E, Plantain Extract, Palm Ash, Rosemary Extract, and Aloe. The moisturizing soap cleans, moisturizes and protects against irritated skin while absorbing excess oil. It also helps relieves symptoms of eczema and psoriasis while keeping skin clear of blemishes. The soap lathers well and left my skin feeling soft and smooth. The plantain extract provided a gentle exfoliation and left my skin soft and smooth. The only thing I don’t like is that the bar doesn’t last very long.

Instyle August 2014

Strong, Healthy Hair

Fried, Broken Ends

1.  Get a small trim. Every four weeks, get the ends dusted, so split ends can't move up the shaft and compromise even more of your length.

2.  A preshampoo layer of conditioner with vegetable oil and elastic can protect strands while helping to restore their bounce. Leave on for a few minutes, then rinse and follow with a gentle, detergent free wash.

3. Natural oils like shea, jojoba, and almond work in two ways: they soak into hair shaft to fortify it against future breakage, and they slick down pesky flyways. A dose of biotin rich rebuilder on dry strands can also temporarily seal frayed ends.

Dull, Frizzy Strands

1. Start in the shower by using an oil-based shampoo and conditioner duo. And if you are blow-drying afterward, you must commit to going at until strands are completely dry.

2.  Use a silicone free leave in spray to protect against sweat, humidity, and rain.

3.  Look for a sheer mist with a lightweight blend of botanical oils. Frizz prone hair soaks it up and behaves but still has some body.

BBW Sleep Lavender Chamomile Body Lotion

We all have those days where we have one too many things on the checklist to be done and not enough hours in the day. And, if our lives weren’t demanding enough, sometimes it’s quite difficult to get a full restful night of sleep. This BBW Sleep lotion promises to help enhance sleep naturally without the help of pills. It is formulated with lavender and chamomile essential oils to soothe and calm the body and mind into a peaceful slumber. The creamy lotion goes on smoothly and leaves my skin delicately soft. While, I am not entirely sure this lotion makes me sleep better but it does make might nightly routine more peaceful and calm.

Zents Mandarin Ultra Rich Shea Butter Soap

The triple milled, 100% vegetable based is formulated with organic shea butter, glycerin, neem oil and coconut oil. And none of the bad stuff like parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl, colors and dyes. The soap promises to condition, hydrate, protect, deodorizes, and balance skin zones. The citrus scented soap lather well and left my skin smooth and soft while delicately scented.

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick - Icon

The matte lipstick is highly pigmented and goes on silky smooth (be sure to use a lip scrub or apply lip balm and blot). The lipstick is formulated without any parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, GMOs or Triclosan. The "nourishing" stain is packed with emollients, antioxidants fruit extracts, cili fruit, goji berry, and vitamins A, C, and E to protect and nourish lips. The lipstick went on smoothly for me and left a gorgeous matte red stain on lips. While, the lipstick promises to keep lips soft, I found it a bit drying. I also love how it doesn't transfer when drinking. I had gotten this in the small size (while waiting in line at Sephora..damn those little boxes of goodies) and loved it and eventually bought the bigger size. Do note, the small ones dry out incredibly quick and has a relatively small amount of uses. I should have just saved time and money and bought the bigger size from the beginning.

Julep Nail Polish - Linden

The blue creme is perfect for the gorgeous Spring weather (or Spring in a bottle, if you like!).  It goes on smoothly and one coat provides full coverage. Although, you can put two but it can lead to a bit of bubbles and the fearful smudgies.  The color dries bit darker than bottle and has a shiny finish.

Ladies Home Journal July/August 2014

The 7 Healthiest Summer Fruits -

Raspberries - of all the berries, raspberries have the most fiber to keep you feeling full - one cup gives you 8 grams and has only about 65 calories

Plums - there are more than 200 varieties, but buy the dark purple or red ones and eat the skin, which has the high concentrations of antioxidants to combat inflammation

Sweet cherries - one cup provides about 300 mgs of potassium, which helps regulate your blood pressure, plus a big dose of antioxidants

Strawberries - They can boost your immune system : just one cup will give you your entire daily requirement of vitamin C. Strawberries might also control type 2 diabetes and prevent heart attacks.

Peaches - peaches and other stone fruits have compounds that can reduce obesity and inflammation. They may even help fight breast cancer.

Tart Cherries -  packed with antioxidants, these may decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke and ease arthritis symptoms. They’re linked to better sleep and muscle recovery after exercise.

Blueberries -  they get their deep color from anthocyanins, which protect your heart and can improve memory and reduce urinary tract infections.

The Soap & Paper Factory Jasmine Shea Butter Soap

Around the winter time everything seems bland and boring. In the need to spice things and brighten  up a dreary month I decided to use this cheerful soap to cheer me up. The sweet scented shea butter filled up the bathroom with the scent of Jasmine even before I removed the wrapper. With the floral scent wafting through the air, I imagine walking through the meadows full of flowers -- I guess I am in for a treat. The creamy soap lathers well and left my skin soft and smooth. The best part is my skin was left moisturized and softly scented. The soap still managed to scent the entire bathroom even long after I finished taking a shower.