Strange Daze Indeed

Isn't life strange? And wonderful!

Valentia Skin Care – New Even Glow Serum

By 7 Comments

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I’m not a pushover when it comes to beauty products. I have a set of standards that I adhere to, and if I don’t like something, I’ll tell you! That being said, about a month ago I was given a chance to try Even Glow Serum by Valentia Skin Care and, so far, I really like it!

valentiaserum

Our skin is damaged every day due to environmental pollutants, chemical laden cosmetics and oxidative stress.
Essentially, Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants.

Free radicals can negatively impact our health and our skin in many ways and deplete our natural protective resources. Without additional antioxidants, the skin’s ability to defend against these pollutants is diminished and signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone can appear.

Even Glow Serum starts with a 20% Vitamin C base which is in itself a powerful antioxidant treatment. Complementing this are skin super oils chosen to enhance and supoprt the Vitamin C.

I’m a firm believer in Vitamin C through fresh juices, fruits and supplements. I also appreciate it in my skin products.

The Power of Natural Ingredients

Parabens, phosphates, and other chemicals found in many skin care products can disrupt your skin’s natural processes. Adding natural ingredients can help strengthen its resilience and protective abilities, leaving your skin healthier and more youthful.

Here are some of the natural ingredients this serum contains:

Vitamin C: 

(as mentioned above) Helps prevent environmental aging, wrinkles and pigmentation. Vitamin C is also necessary for the production of collagen, which helps maintain skin elasticity, strength and durability, providing a smooth and plump appearance.

Sea Buckthorn Oil:

I’ve been a fan of sea buckthorn oil since I first began using it about a year and a half ago. It helps erase fine lines, sun spots and imperfections in skin tone. Rare Omega Fatty acids (Omega-6 and Omega-7) in the oil help promote scar healing and moisture rentention and Sistosterol improves microcirculation giving skin a healthy glow.

Resistem:

Reduces Inflammation and Regenerates Skin Tissue Faster, also provides long-term benefits in protection

Hyaluronic Acid:

Protects and Helps Retain Moisture lost over time as we age and helps protect skin with a breathable barrier

Rosehip Seed Oil:

One of the best plant seed oils containing Vitamin A for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation and Vitamin E for firmer skin without dryness

Green Tea Extract:

The catechins in green tea are a potent antioxidant which also contribute to the overall anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant benefits.

Each ingredient in Even Glow has its own positive effects; however, the synergy as they all work together provides the most benefit.

valentiaskincare-product-04

My experience:

How does it smell? It has the fresh natural scent of oranges. I’m a huge citrus fan so I enjoyed this.

How is the texture? Neither too runny nor too thick

How is it on my skin? It absorbed quickly and I could feel a very mild tightening effect. It was non-greasy and non-sticky which is something I look for in my skincare products.

Did it leave my skin oily? No, not at all.

Is it vastly overpriced? No, in fact, it is on sale right now at Amazon for $35.

How long will it last? Mine has lasted me over a month so far as you do not need to apply much, just a few drops.

How does it work? My skin looks healthy, glowing and more youthful after using this for a month. I notice the fine lines are diminishing over time. They won’t go away miraculously, but, I do see change! My skin looks smooth, bright, plumper and the tone is even.

And, one of my crucial questions, did it irritate my skin, did the fragrance bother me: No, not at all!

Would I use this again? Yes!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Fabulous Finds: Olie Biologique Huile Radicale

By 28 Comments

Olie-Biologique-Radicale-e1360794186430 Hot right now: Facial Oils

 

Though at first it may give one pause, putting pure and natural oils on your face is one of the best ways to help restore moisture, deliver essential nutrients, and prevent pore congestion. Just make sure you are using a high quality plant-derived oil.

I had a rough winter. My skin had a rougher winter. As spring approaches, I’m looking for ways to restore its natural glow. My favorite right now is Olie Biologique Huile Radicale.

Nature’s plumper and parched skin quencher. A MUST for dry, dull and damaged and aging skin begging for its radiant glow.

Intensive radiance-boosting and rejuvenating, this blend of 8 organic plant seed oils and floral extracts provides all-natural skin quenching properties with lightweight, healing potency. Anti-oxidants, fatty acids and naturally occurring retinoic acid preserve elasticity, plump facial lines and improve firmness while reducing brown spots. Absorbs completely to leave a silky, non-greasy finish. – from the site 

Ingredients: Organic Camellia Oil, Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Blackcurrant Seed Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Natural Vitamin E, Grapefruit Oil, Sandalwood, Rose Geranium Oil, Rose Damascena (rose) flower oil.

I received a travel size to test and am now a believer. I will be replenishing my supply when I have gone through this one, though that will be a while as you only need a few drops at a time. I put it on at night before I go to bed and have noticed that my skin looks more radiant and youthful in the morning. Although I have only been using it for about a week now, I already see the plumping effects on my laugh lines. This fills them in and helps diminish them. The scent is natural and light, the feel luxurious on my skin.

For a mini facial massage: Apply over neck + face. Massage upwards & outwards for a few minutes to boost circulation, break down congestion & firm facial muscles.

Olìe biologique is a luxury natural skincare brand based on 100% organic, vitamin rich oils unearthed from plant and tree sources.

Check out the Power Trip Trio:

OLIEPowerTripTrioBoxSet-e1363886437921-480x480

Special Reader Discount:

Receive 20% off the purchase of a full size bottle of 005 Huile Radicale. This offer expires August 31st, 2014.

Reader Discount: 20% Off
Reader Discount Code: OlieBB05

Disclosure: I was provided a sample to facilitate my review from BrandBacker, however, all opinions are, as always, my own. 

 

   

GothamBox: Nirvana Delivered

By 23 Comments

“I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighborhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.”  – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I’ve always loved traveling and exploring cities both in the US and around the world. I was born on the East Coast, but traveled and lived on the West Coast for many years only to return to the East Coast again.

There is a sense of joy in loving wherever you are, however, there are certain qualities each city has that one may become nostalgic for, whether it’s the transcendent skyline with the Golden Gate Bridge in SF or the excitement of New York’s Times Square. So often, it’s the food that you miss, the smells and unique flavors – the New York poppyseed bagels, the SF sourdough bread. Sometimes, like Proust’s madeleine, just one bite and sweet memories come flooding back like a waterfall.

And sometimes, by opening a package, you can get a taste of a city you’ve never been to that gives you the sense of being there. I found all this and more with GothamBox.

I got to sample the San Francisco Box and I loved it! It came in a big brown box and unwrapping it was like a mini-Christmas. I have really missed SF!

Here is my SF box! I was super-excited to open it. It was full of goodies.

Here is a picture close-up:

Inside?

Nana Joes Granola: Nana Joes Granola was created by Michelle Pusateri from locally sourced ingredients to evoke the taste of granola that was made in your own kitchen. Nana Joes combines the perfect balance of ingredients with natural flavors to create a truly delicious granola.
I’ve eaten granola for years and this is really a special blend with just the right combination of flavors – All granola blends are made using the finest organic ingredients. Mine was the Sunset Blend with Pecan, Mulberry and Coconut – unbelievably good!
Coco Tutti:  CocoTutti creates wonderful award-winning small-batch chocolates using the finest ingredients and masterful artistry.
These were beautifully packaged, melt-in-your-mouth creamy with a great mix of flavors. Very unique and meant to savor. Delightful decadence.
 The Chai Cart: The Chai Cart has its roots in San Francisco’s street-food culture. The Chai Cart’s mission is to provide the same wholesome goodness of chai that’s enjoyed across India everyday by using high quality, pure ingredients in small batches.
 I got two lovely packages. One with Masala Chai and one with Mint Chai. The Masala Chai is their signature blend with cardamom and ginger and it transported me back to days at the ashram waking at 3 am and being greeted with a hot mug of Chai. It was so genuine and delicious. It was wonderful with milk and a bit of sugar.
The Mint is a delicious herbal blend with mint, ginger and lemongrass. Very fresh and intoxicating.
 La Palma: La Palma has been serving tortillas for over 50 years. Located in the heart of the Mission, La Palma uses the freshest ingredients to produce the finest machine and handmade Mexican tortillas, tamales, pupusas and sopes.
An ex-boyfriend of mine taught me how to make wonderful tortilla creations, and these were so delicious, you could even eat them plain, but browned up and with veggies, cilantro and guacamole they were heavenly.
Oh, and there were Peeps inside! How fun! And also, a wonderful hand-written postcard of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge.
At $20 a month, this is a whole lot cheaper than a plane ride to SF and an incredible treat.
Today, I received my NYC box! 
I opened it and immediately this incredible scent filled my room. The most fragrant coffee smell! Heartbreaker Espresso with Cherry Blossom, Marzipan and Tangerine roasted fresh at Cafe Grumpy! I ground the beans and then my kitchen smelled amazing. The taste is really fresh, rich and wonderful and it kept me going throughout a hectic day.
Cafe Grumpy roasts premium coffee daily and manages to stay in front of the quality curve by sourcing their coffee directly from farmers in Central and South America and roasting the beans themselves in their Greenpoint, Brooklyn roastery. The coffee is packaged in sealed valve bags.
 Next, Roni-Sue’s Beercorn. This is beer & pretzel caramel corn with candied mustard seeds and I can honestly say I’ve never tasted better. What an amazing combination of savory and sweet, with locally grown popcorn, Martins Pretzels, cultured butter, pure cane sugar, agave, Brooklyn Brewery beer syrup, malt syrup, sea salt ad mustard seeds. 

Warning: Extremely addictive! Hide this or it will be gone asap!
Rhonda Kave has been making chocolate and snacks for over 25 years. She’s applied that experience in crafting this BeerCorn: The perfect snack for brew lovers and a favorite treat at Good Beer NYC!  
And… Rescue Chocolates. From each chocolate purchased, 100% of the net profits are donated to animal rescue organizations around the country. How sweet is that? My bar was the Peanut Butter Pit Bull flavor. It was very tasty with crispy peanut butter and dark 64% chocolate. 
 All Rescue Chocolate is 100% vegan and every flavor highlights a different rescue issue on the packaging. 
I also got a hand-written postcard of a gorgeous skyline in Downtown New York.
So, you’re probably wondering how you can get your own Gotham Box, a monthly carefully-selected box from local businesses in the “Gotham” (or city) you choose. Right now, the cities available are New York and San Francisco, and they are expanding to include others. You can switch up your cities or stick to one if you subscribe for only $20/month. And, you get full-sizes, not samples, with shipping included. 
Here’s one of the coolest parts: For every box sent, they donate a meal to feed someone in the community, so, yes, paying it forward which creates more abundance and joy overall.
It’s really quite fascinating as to how GothamBox came about so my next blog piece will be a guest post from Jonathan Chin, the co-founder and “Mayor of Gotham City”. You can find that here.
But, you may be wondering how you can get in on all these goodies. And, yes, every month will be new delights! You can sign up at GothamBox.
You can also connect with GothamBox and follow the latest news and fun on Facebook and Twitter.
And, a bit more good news! Just come back here on May 1st for the amazing Mother’s Day event we’re having since GothamBox is one of my sponsors and has generously offered a prize package containing a 2 month subscription to GothamBox including a box from SF and a box from NYC.
Lots of surprises in store! Don’t miss it!
 PS: I’ll be signing up for sure! Beauty boxes are fun and all, but this is truly nirvana.


influnenster-Debra