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Defining Skincare

Skincare Products

Skincare includes products for the skin. This includes cleansers, exfoliants, moisturizers, acne treatments, anti-aging treatments, serums for specific skin concerns, as well as sunscreen. Find Skincare product recommendations for specific skin concerns and skincare products using organic ingredients.

Skin care includes ways to care for the skin, including facial skin, throat, decolletage, and body skin. Visit the Skin Care guide section of StyleChicks for more skin care how-to information.

Ingredients to Optimize Retinol Use: A Close up of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

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We’ve all heard it: Retinol is a miracle worker of anti-aging, and we see it on the ingredient list in products ranging from cheap drugstore brands to luxury spa products to mass-market chains, dermatologists offices, and all the way to the cosmetic counters at Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorfs. What accounts for the differences in efficacy and price? Two factors: the strength of the Retinol and the products other supporting ingredients such as Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, or Jojoba. These Most Valuable Players of skincare are the real test of how well any given Retinol will work for you and if it is worth its’ price. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ingredients you do – and don’t – want to see on a Retinol’s ingredient label.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

ALL-IN-ONE RETINOL

Let’s cut to the chase: Is there a Retinol that combines ALL of the good Retinol ingredient pairings? Yes. For an all-in-one Retinol product, we find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer to be a highly effective combination of ingredients to best support the many skincare benefits of a good Retinol. It combines a prescription strength 2.5% Retinol with 20% Vitamin C Serum, Hyaluronic Acid, along with multiple buffering moisturizers including nourishing Jojoba Oil, calming anti-oxidant Wildcrafted Green Tea, calming Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and many more.

How does each of these ingredients work in tandem with Retinol to increase its’ overall efficacy? Here are some details about these key player ingredients.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce container

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce container

RETINOL

It seems obvious, but there should be a respectable amount of Retinol in your Retinol product. Prescription levels begin at about 2.5% up to 5%, although some prescriptions are low as 1%. About 2% and up is needed for a Retinol to be effective, but not all Retinol products contain very much Retinol.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C Serum is Retinol’s BFF, a partner in crime, and all around pal. Vitamin C works in tandem with Retinol to accomplish the same thing but in different ways.
For example, where Retinol refines surface skin texture, Vitamin C builds collagen to strengthen and support the skin so it is as strong as it looks. Retinol fights acne by cleaning out pores and eradicating bacteria-trapping dead skin, Vitamin C reduces acne inflammation and fades post-pimple scarring. Both Retinol and Vitamin C promote collagen, but each is involved at different stages in the collagen production process. Together, they ensure the maximum amount of collagen is produced.

Vitamin C can build collagen even around the delicate eye area

These reasons are why applying Vitamin C and Retinol daily is considered the best anti-aging topical program.

Just one pump of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats the face and throat

HYALURONIC ACID

If you have old acne scars or sun damage and had to pick only one other ingredient for an active ingredient product with Retinol, it would likely be Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is like your friend with VIP access. First, Hyaluronic Acid holds massive amounts of moisture to plump out wrinkles and fine lines while making skin look dewy and young. But more importantly, Hyaluronic Acid also can pull active ingredients deeper into the skin, including Retinol. The deeper these ingredients get, the better the supporting collagen structure becomes, and even older and darker scars fade.

Hyaluronic Acid makes skin instantly dewy and soft, it plumps wrinkles and helps Retinol sink deeper into skin to address deep wrinkles, scars, and discoloration

Many treating active ingredients, including Retinol and Vitamin C, have molecules that are too large to permeate these skin layers, but somehow, Hyaluronic Acid can bind with Retinol and bring the Retinol into deep skin layers it could not access alone.

What does all this mean? If you have deep scars, wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, sagging, or stubborn cystic acne, a Retinol product containing Hyaluronic Acid can assist Retinol to treat those deep skin level problems. When Hyaluronic Acid helps Retinol sink into the deeper skin layers, it helps eradicate uneven skin texture and tone, including sun damage and deep scars.

Buffering Agent Moisturizers

It may seem counter-intuitive, but one must buffer Retinol with a gentle, soothing moisturizer, ingredients like Green Tea, Jojoba, or Aloe Vera.  Here is why:

For all that Retinol can do, it can also give a pretty nasty accidentally, haphazard self-imposed chemical peel, and the results are not pretty. It’s easy to give oneself an accidental Retinol chemical peel, because skin starts looking so good, that one might feel applying “more is better”, which works for a few days, until suddenly it doesn’t, and your face goes from looking dewy and younger to looking like a bad sunburn.

Even if you follow the directions and only use the prescribed amount of Retinol, skin becomes more sensitive to Retinol after about two weeks, because the old skin is sloughed off, and the new skin is more delicate, yet the same level of Retinol is being applied to skin that isn’t ready to exfoliate yet. This leads to redness and irritation.

HOW TO NOT BURN YOUR SKIN WITH RETINOL

The key to avoiding burning yourself with Retinols, prescription or over the counter, is buffering. To buffer either apply moisturizer first (if you’re very sensitive) or after applying Retinol, and don’t skimp. Buffering allows for the maximum frequency of Retinol use per week. If you still can’t tolerate the peeling and dry skin, apply Retinol for twenty minutes to an hour, then wash it off before bed. This way you at least get some Retinol benefits.

But ideally, your Retinol product comes with built-in buffering moisturizers. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it is SO emollient without being greasy. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use twice a day without redness, irritation or dry, flaky peeling.

The moisturizing ingredients make Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer gentle enough to use everyday

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains quality, organic, soothing, nourishing moisturizers including:

  • Wildcrafted Green Tea feeds and moisturizes the skin, calms irritation and is an excellent antioxidant. Green Tea can calm the irritation that Retinol causes
  • Jojoba Oil is very similar to the composition of our natural skin oils, so skin tends to absorb Jojoba very well. As a carrier oil, it enhances the ingredients it is paired with instead of creating a barrier. Made of 98% monounsaturated fats so it can penetrate deeply. Jojoba has a very similar structure to sebum, replacing the natural oils the skin needs to stay healthy and gives skin elasticity and softness
  • Aloe Vera is best known for burn treatment on the skin, but it is highly nutritious to skin with numerous vitamins that the skin can use topically to enhance cell turnover and repair skin cells.
  • Shea Butter can be tricky in some products, as inorganic Shea Butters can tend to make skin breakout. Because of this, you may have had a bad experience with Shea, which is unfortunate since it can both feed the skin and overhaul the skin texture, even on deep burns. If you’re going to apply a product with Retinol, make sure the Shea Butter is organic, such as is found in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.
  • Cocoa Butter has long been used for stretch marks because it helps skin remain resilient and elastic. Retinol is also excellent for stretch marks, whether they are in the new “red” stage or older “white” stage. If you’re interested in Retinol for stretch mark repair, Cocoa Butter is an excellent pairing.
  • Vitamin B5 helps soothe and regenerate skin.
  • Vitamin E softens rough skin patches including scars. Retinol refines the texture and fades scarring, while Vitamin E makes the skin more pliable.
  • Organic Sunflower Oil softens the skin and is an excellent carrier oil. It works well with Retinol because it is so hydrating to the skin and can calm red, irritated skin when other products cannot be tolerated.
  • Propolis is a bee product, it fights infections and heals wounds. It allows for an aggressive Retinol and Vitamin C cell renewal program without skin becoming too red, irritated, flaky or raw. Some Retinol programs leave skin dry and peeling; the Propolis helps keep skin at its’ best. If you are allergic to bee products, take note.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E

With a line up of moisturizing buffering ingredients like that, you can see why we use Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It is gentle enough to use twice a day without any irritation, even on delicate skin. That is an impressive amount of moisturizing ingredients!

CONCLUSION

There you have it, some of our favorite ingredients for boosting the efficacy of a Retinol product. Pairing Vitamin C helps Retinol do its’ job best, Hyaluronic helps Retinol reach the deeper skin layers to fight sagging, build collagen, and fade deeper scars. Moisturizing ingredients that do not cause breakouts are vital to tolerate any Retinol program. The long list of high-quality moisturizing agents in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, paired with prescription strength Retinol and 20% Vitamin C makes it an ideal all-in-one product for your Retinol needs.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/

 

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

ELAJ Emollient: All-Purpose Natural Skin Softening Protectant

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ELAJ is an unscented, all-purpose, natural emollient cocktail for rough heels, cracked elbows, dry scalp, chapped lips & ragged cuticles. It won’t clog pores and can be worn under makeup while treating facial psoriasis or eczema. BONUS: ELAJ does double-duty as a moisturizing, light sheen lip gloss containing a natural SPF

 

ELAJ Emollient is a healing emollient safe for any skin, even sensitive skin areas. Made of natural ingredients, it will not clog pores, so it is safe to use on the face. It is safe for even children and treats cradle cap and minor rashes. FDA registered, ELAJ is helpful for psoriasis and eczema and other skin conditions that require gentle daily cleansing and care. It is healing and protective to severe and painful skin conditions and works wonders as a go-to beauty tool for skin concerns that just won’t respond to commercial treatments.

ELAJ for multi-tasking skin care

ELAJ for multi-tasking skin care

ELAJ USES

Some areas of skin require an intensive hydration treatment to soothe conditions such as extreme dryness. ELAJ allows the skin to breathe while treating all of the following:

  • Ragged cuticles
  • Skin inflammation or irritation from sunburn
  • Dry, chapped lips
  • Eczema, even on the face. It stops the itching for 8 hours you can get a good night’s sleep
  • Burn scars
  • Fresh acne scars
  • Dry, rough, cracked feet
  • For use as a gentle eye makeup remover that doesn’t sting the eyes!

THE ELAJ STORY

Developed by Dr. M.A. Bchihalouk, the founders’ grandfather, this emollient has been used by Suhein Beck’s family for any skin related problem for years. She indicates that everyone who tried it found it wonderfully healing for their eczema, contact dermatitis, cold sores, skin conditions or just rough and dry skin on elbows, feet, hands, and knees.

ELAJ INGREDIENTS

ELAJ all-natural ingredients including Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin C & Avocado

ELAJ all-natural ingredients including Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin C & Avocado

A powerhouse of natural active ingredients that soothe, hydrate and protect the skin including:

  • Almond Oil a hypoallergenic oil that is safe even for babies, it is an intensive moisturizer with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, rich in Vitamin E. It also protects skin against UV radiation damage and helps heal existing damage.
  • Avocado is intensely emollient with protective with high oleic acid content. This monounsaturated fatty acid maintains moisture in the epidermal layer of your skin, helping to make it soft and hydrated.
  • Vitamin A & E feeds and restores skin, assists in healthy skin cell turnover
  • USP White Petrolatum is a purer form than that which is found in Vaseline
  • Honey retains moisture, has natural cleansing properties
  • Yellow Beeswax is a superior protective barrier cream for skin
  • Soy Wax relieves psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, cracked skin, cracked heels and rough cuticles.
  • Zinc Oxide is a natural sunscreen
  • Colloidal Oatmeal soothes the skin, stops itching

ALL-PURPOSE ELAJ USES

  • BODY:  For use all over including on dry knees, elbows, rough and cracked heels, hands, and cuticles.
  • FACE:  ELAJ is safe for use on the face as it does not clog pores, making it suitable for treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, razor burn, dry spots, chapped lips, and cold sores. Also delicate skin around the eyes, earlobes, and nose.
  • AN FDA REGISTERERED SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO CORTISONE FOR ECZEMA:  MAKEUP & ELAJ FOR ECZEMA ON THE FACE: To cover eczema on your face, blend ELAJ with your foundation and use this mixture to conceal the eczema patch. Finish with a light coating of powder for a matte finish, or leave without powder for a dewy glow.
  • ELAJ FOR A LIPGLOSS WITH NATURAL SUNSCREEN:  ELAJ doubles as a lip gloss with a soft sheen and has the natural sunscreen property of Zinc Oxide.

ELAJ FIRST IMPRESSIONS

ELAJ comes in a small plastic jar; it is semi-transparent with a light golden color, lighter than honey. There is no unpleasant scent. It is a thick consistency which is firmer than Vaseline but not as hard as wax. It melts on contact with the heat of your skin. It is not greasy like Vaseline but does leave a light sheen to the skin.

ELAJ is a firm but spreadable all-purpose emoillent

ELAJ is a firm but spreadable all-purpose emollient

elaj-2-4

ELAJ is thicker than Vaseline but more pliable than Beeswax

MY EXPERIENCE: PUTTING ELAJ TO THE TEST

I’ve two near-constant dry skin issues: my almost always chapped lips and my ever-dry cuticles.

  • DRY LIPS: My lips have been dry since I was a kid. I’ve tried everything from drugstore to high-end boutique counter products (READ: slathering CREME DE LA MER concentrate on my lips). I’ve done Pinterest recommended remedies like black tea bags on the lips and Coconut Oils and other treatments.
  • CUTICLES: Even if I use gel lined gloves, my cuticles never look good. I have even consulted my dermatologist over recommended products for my cuticles. If I slather my hands with Coconut Oil at night, by the afternoon staff meeting, my cuticles are red and peeling and dry all over again.

While some things work better than others, nothing gives me smooth lips or non-irritated cuticles for a full day, especially when exposed to dry air in my office.

APPLICATION
The emollient is thick but softens to smoothly and evenly spread into a thin layer when held between the fingers (similar to the Creme de la Mer creme emulsion process). It looks like a thicker “Bag Balm” or Vaseline consistency, but it is not greasy once worked between the fingers for a minute.

ElAJ is thick but spreadable and not greasy

  • CUTICLES: To apply it to my cuticles, I softening it and rubbed into directly into my cuticles and into the nail beds all around the nail and on a few rougher spots on my knuckles.
  • LIPS: For my lips, I applied ELAJ directly onto my lips. I massaged it in, and much of the dead skin sloughed off. I applied a second light coat before going to bed. My lips were smooth in the morning, not chapped. I sometimes get cracks on the side of my lips, these felt a bit different after application, slightly numb, and in the morning the crack was healed without a rough skin patch as normally appears.
  • ELAJ VERSES VASELINE TEST:  As a third test, I applied ELAJ to the rough heel on my left foot, and straight vaseline on my right foot overnight. In the morning, the hardened skin on my left foot was soft as if I had exfoliated it off and it stayed that way for several days. My Vaseline covered foot was softer to the touch, but the hard skin remains hardened.
How to apply ELAJ

Apply ELAJ generously and allow 5 minutes to absorb

CONCLUSION

ELAJ is a  very useful, all-natural, all-purpose emollient that tackles multiple skin needs, it is safe and effective for eczema treatment and can be worn with makeup on the face.  ELAJ stops the itching of psoriasis and eczema, allowing skin to breathe while still providing a protective coating. A natural SPF lip gloss and makeup remover, keeping the two-ounce size ELAJ in your bag is a great multi-tasker when traveling.

Find all-natural ELAJ here http://elajnaturally.com/collections/all

 

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Style Chicks received this product in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

 

Skincare: Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

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Are you at that age that you are fighting aging AND acne? I think it should just be called “The Unfair Age.”

But Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub fights both at the same time and leaves skin bright and radiant.

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

 

WHAT IT DOES

Do you like the results of professional microdermabrasion, but hate the pulling on your delicate skin? Do you worry that the grit is clogging your pores, not cleansing them?

HOW IT DOES IT

Professional Microdermabrasion is pretty rough on the skin. The suction on most of the machines used in doctor’s offices seriously pulls at the skin. If you have this treatment on any regular basis, this can result in premature sagging of the skin. What’s the point of getting an expensive treatment if it is going to make you look older in the long run?

This isn’t a problem with Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub. It gently loosens dirt and blackheads the pores and sweeps them away, without any tugging or roughness. The gentle exfoliation makes it ideal for promoting collagen production as well, so facial skin looks brighter, less wrinkled, and more youthful, scars are diminished, and stretch marks get a boost towards healing.

Thanks to several ingredients in the organic formulation, skin is also deeply hydrated. That’s quite a lot from one scrub!

 

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

 

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS

Aloe Vera is familiar to many as a plant that can soothe minor burns, scrapes, and heal the skin can also serve to nourish the skin. It contains Vitamins A, C, B, and E as well as minerals and enzymes. This food for skin can heal and hydrate, accelerate skin cell growth, provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. This is important in any scrub that is powerful enough to remove dead skin cells, as the skin underneath is exposed and can easily become irritated. Aloe heals naturally and quickly.

And this is not just any Aloe Vera, but a Hospital Grade Organic Aloe Vera. I didn’t know what that meant: it is the quality of Aloe Vera that heals skin well enough that it is suitable for use in Hospital level Burn Care Units.

Another ingredient is Manuka Honey, which has amazing healing and hydrating properties. An anti-aging powerhouse that boosts collagen production and cellular regeneration. It also has natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties to heal skin conditions including acne.

Rapeseed Oil is an anti-oxidant that preserves moisture in the skin, making it smooth and elastic. It also cleanses pores, clean the skin and gives skin a natural glow. With anti-inflammatory properties, it heals skin and reduces redness.

Walnut Shell is a finely ground powder that is hard enough to exfoliate dead skin cells but is still gentle on the skin. It is important to note the finer mill of this walnut, as the smaller the size of the powder, the gentler it is to the skin. There are some products with larger pieces of walnut and that can tear the skin. This product contains a finer mill that does not scratch. As a natural product, Walnut Shell Powder does not irritate the skin the way plastic beads or some oil based beads can cause an allergic reaction.

Orange Oil is an anti-oxidant that reduces inflammation. It also can kill bacteria and improves the complexion by increase the production of collagen resulting in the reduction of dark spots and wrinkles. The bacteria fighting and inflammation reduction properties also make it suitable for gently reducing acne without excess drying to the skin.

WHY WE RECOMMEND IT

Finding a natural active ingredient exfoliation product that gently but effectively treats both acne-prone skin and the signs of aging without causing irritation is an impressive feat.

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub reduces enlarged pores, blackheads, and dry skin. Unlike many scrubs, it reduces the signs of aging including dark spots.

I especially like the combination of healing and hydrating ingredients in this scrub that exfoliate away dead skin without irritating fresh skin underneath. I also like the anti-bacterial properties in the hydrating ingredients as they protect newly exposed skin and freshly cleaned pores from potential infections and breakouts. Some scrubs can actually cause acne breakouts because they remove too much skin, subjecting the skin to infection, and they contain acne-inducing ingredients. But Era Organics has a nice balance of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients that heal, hydrate and protect freshly exfoliated skin, all while pre-emptively treating skin for acne.

TIP: Use it as an anti-aging mask by applying it to dry skin and leave it on for 5-10 minutes.

GIVEAWAY

The good folks at Era Organics are giving a Style Chicks reader a free jar of this awesome scrub! To enter, send us an email at eraorgranicwalnutscrub@stylechicks.com and tell us something you think you will like about this scrub. You can find out more information about the product from their website and social media, which is listed below. For extra entries, share something from the Era Organics website (http://www.eraorganics.com/exfoliating-facial-scrub/) on social media using their social media share buttons and let us know in your email! This contest will run through Friday, December 16th, 2016.

Even if you don’t win, everyone can get 25% off with coupon STYLEC25.

Find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018H32LHQ and learn more about this great product at https:// www.facebook.com/eraorganics, https:// www.pinterest.com/eraorganics, and their website, http://www.eraorganics.com/exfoliating-facial-scrub/

 

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Tea: Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

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The Style Chicks love tea. The Style Chicks love glowing skin. The Style Chicks love not feeling incredibly sore after Arm Workout Day. The Style Chicks love organic, all natural products. For all of these reasons and more, Style Chicks love Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea.

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea is a magnificent blend of organic powdered turmeric, ginger, fennel, anise seed, true cinnamon, and vanilla. Sounds like a Chai variant to you? It is along that flavor line, but it packs far more flavor, not to mention health benefits. It is pretty rare that I find a chai tea that tastes as good as it smells. This herbal tea actually tastes better than it smells, and it smells amazing!

The anti-inflammatory benefits of the ingredients, especially Tumeric and Ginger, are well documented. I take Tumeric supplements for its’ anti-inflammatory effects, but I am trying to use high-grade Tumeric in cooking more to get the most benefit from it. I also try to incorporate fresh ginger into recipes as much as I can. But what I like about Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea is that it contains high-grade powdered ingredients (with no additives!) in an easy to use way that incorporates seamlessly into my tea-drinking lifestyle. I stir the powder into hot water and enjoy the spicy, savory treat while getting an incredible amount of healthy anti-inflammatory benefits. I love that it doesn’t feel like I’m choosing the healthy option, but rather than I’m choosing the tasty option.

The benefits have been impressive. My skin is glowing. I had an angry blemish that was painful and very red. After a few days of drinking this tea, I noticed that while it wasn’t full flat yet, the redness had disappeared. Usually, blemishes stay red far beyond when they are flat on me, and the redness disappears over time. Because of the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of the tea, the blemish is flesh tone and far less noticeable!

My under eyes have also shown marked improvement. During Fall allergy season, my eyes always get puffy, and for the past two weeks, my orbital skin has been puffy and dark. The tea de-inflamed the area, and my eyes look great!

How the tea affects muscle recovery is also profoundly impressive. After a good Tracy Anderson workout, I tend to feel run over by a truck the next day. If I drink this tea as my recovery drink, I feel substantially less sore. It’s not just power of suggestion, either. I had a shoulder injury that leaves the joint quite inflamed. Last night I put my hand on the affected shoulder while I was in the middle of a conversation, and it was significantly less swollen than normal. Though I was absorbed in the conversation, the reduction of inflammation was enough to make me lose my train of thought. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that it is likely due to this amazing tea!

Not to split hairs, but technically this is a tisane since it is an herbal tea, not a true tea since no actual tea leaves are involved. However, this opens up options. If you want the health benefits of green tea but dislike the taste, try addition this mix into your tea, and the vegetal taste is greatly diminished. Lyn and I acquired a taste for straight green tea over time, but it took awhile (especially when we got into Matcha.) So if you are looking to start drinking green tea (or any tea), adding this mix turns a regular cup of tea into an amazingly tasty, incredibly healthy taste treat!

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

 

Mom tried it today and loved how full-bodied it is. She doesn’t like tea as much as Lyn and I do because it is, as she calls it, a “thin-bodied” beverage. She loves this tea because it is full bodied (think Hot Apple Cider straight from one of the many amazing New England orchards) and she considers it more of a savory snack for break time rather than just a hot beverage. So, if you are looking to cut out some calories by ditching your carby, sugary afternoon snack and want to replace it with a tasty, satisfying, healthy drink, this is ideal for you!

Lyn found that it had similar results for her in that it cut out her craving for a buttery carb mid-afternoon. As a family, buttery carbs are held in high culinary regard as a treat, so this is truly a testimony to this tea!

And don’t forget, it is all plant-based, organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and perfect for vegans!

Find this lovely tea at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQWM6ZG?th=1.

And learn more about the incredible health benefits of Turmeric Curcumin!

I received this item for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

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We tried Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT, from the folks who brought us our highly rated Morganna’s Bellatox.

If you’re not yet familiar with Morganna’s Alchemy, I might mention it is the phyto-dermo-cosmetic line produced by chemist Maya Hyppolite-Williams M.A.

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

INSTANTLIFT contains no silicone – the usual method of temporary wrinkle reduction – but instead is a green-chemistry approach utilizing eco-certified organic extracts to achieve tightening effects. In this particular product Sorghum, Chickory Root and Tara Extracts are the major agents of change. Sorghum is a cereal-like plant from Africa. Its extract has the consistency of melted sugar which enables it to go on the skin invisibly. Tara and Chickory Root have the same property and, additionally, add moisture to the skin. These active ingredients are used in high concentrations and are said to act synergistically.

For quite some time I’ve been attracted to products claiming to provide instant temporary lift and have tried several. My experience with each and every one previously used was that a white film developed upon drying. Evidently, this was expected by the manufacturers since some products even suggested ways to deal with the white film, such as blotting with a damp cloth or tissue. I did follow that suggestion but could not lose the white film until I washed the product off entirely. Since I did not care for the stiff feel of those products on my face I did proceed to do just that, so never learned how long the temporary tightening effect might actually last. One of those products made my face quite itchy, as well.

Well, the proof is in the pudding or, in this case, the serum. Although there was no specific instruction to apply to a cleansed face, that’s what I did. Or, more specifically, to half my cleansed face to be better able to observe any change. I spread the serum to the more saggy and wrinkled right side of my face, the side I sleep on where gravity has taken a bit more of a toll. A pea-size drop easily covered (half) forehead to jowl. For those who need address only the eye area a small drop would be sufficient. There was a very light, pleasant floral fragrance that completely dissipated almost immediately. Since I tend to be very allergic, I typically avoid fragrance but the scent associated with INSTANTLIFT didn’t bother me at all. However, if you can’t or don’t care to use a product with even a briefly detectable, light fragrance, this may be a consideration for you.

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

There was no residue at all, not on my face or fingers and no dreaded white film which had proved a bane to my previous forays into quick, temporary skin youthifying. My skin felt comfortable and, upon checking after 10 minutes or so, I did notice a definite wrinkle reduction and lift. Even if this had been the full extent of the improvement I would have been quite satisfied. However, the manufacturer calls the result an almost instant lift in that the maximum initial results occur about one hour out from application and there was, indeed, some additional improvement by the end of an hour.

The lift was noticeable enough to trigger somewhat of a dilemma. While I lost no time applying the serum to the other side of my forehead and crow’s feet (as well as my entire turkey gobble), since I had achieved jowl symmetry by applying only to the droopier jawline, I pondered if I should just leave the naturally tighter left side untreated. Well, curiosity got the best of me, and I did apply the serum to the left side and waited. A lift was achieved and, with the scrutiny one would probably only give their own face, my “good side” now was a little tighter than the other side of the face that had been first treated. So, I applied a second treatment to only the right jowl, and that brought me symmetrical again. In the future, I will either repeat treatment on the less-tight jaw line for maximum effect or just treat the droopier side alone if pressed for time.

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

Morganna’s Alchemy INSTANTLIFT

An additional plus stated for the INSTANTLIFT product verses silicone-paste based temporary wrinkle tightener is the ability to easily apply makeup after using which is, apparently, not the case with the silicone-containing products. And I can understand why that would be so since the silicone-based products tend to ball. I, personally, don’t use foundation but do apply under eye and spot cover and those products went on beautifully after INSTANTLIFT.

So, I would report being not only satisfied but delighted with my INSTANTLIFT trial. It did what it claimed it would and the effects lasted all day. Upon clinical testing a 43% mean decrease of wrinkling occurred with the best subject achieving an 81% decrease so, based on that information, the average user can reasonably expect a very satisfactory result. My experience with the eye area was especially striking, rolling back time a decade or more. I can’t begin to tell you how that made me feel!

One other thing to pass along, though I haven’t used the product long enough speak from experience, is the manufacturer indicates cumulative long-term results from the Tara Root in INSTANTLIFT. I will be continuing to use this product and will let you know when my personal jury comes back on this point!

First Update:
When I prepared for bed the temporary improvement didn’t end when INSTANTLIFT was washed off and even this morning some noticeable benefit remained.

Find it at http://morgannasalchemy.com/product/morgannas-instant-lift/

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I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

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