I Tried it: Sahajan Skincare + a Giveaway!

I've actually had this Sahajan Skincare duo since this Summer but have been waiting to post about it because I truly, truly feel like it is my Fall favorite (and could be yours too). Derived from the Hindi word for "intuitive", Sahajan brings you the evidence to follow your intuition and choose clean beauty. Lisa Mattam started her clean skincare journey much like I began mine, with my/our children. While I don't create my own products, I did become more concerned with what I was putting on my children's skin then wondered why I was so discerning with theirs but not with mine. Thus brought my on my natural skincare journey which is now a sort of passion. Finding the best and then telling those I care for about the brands that mean something to me.

Sahajan uses only natural and organic ingredients but also ayurvedic. If you're not familiar with the term ayurvedic it means a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian continent. It's based on a belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. I am completely on board with that. I know that personally, I am always trying to find balance in all areas in my life, in order to be at peace, be happy, and be somewhat sane for everyone in my family.

So I tell you all this because sometimes it's not just the ingredients or the scent of a product, or even how well it works (and yes, these are all important things)... it can be the reason why a product line was started or why ingredients were sourced from a sacred lineage. It's almost or should be a ritual to take care of your skin, and I am beginning to think of it more that way, since I do value my time in the bathroom, in front of my beauty cabinet.

The protective face serum (now the radiance face serum) and the ritual body oil are the really real deal. The scents invoke a sense of meditation, of self care. The oils are fast absorbing and leave the skin so soft and feeling loved. The body oil especially, is something that I use when I want to treat myself to something that feels so special. I don't use these Sahajan oils every day though I want to. It's almost hard to describe but they are precious to me. I want you to experience these for yourself and the brand does too! They've so kindly and generously offered one Prim and Propah reader the opportunity to win a bottle of each for themselves. Isn't that awesome? Enter on the instagram photo below!

You can follow Sahajan Skincare on twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

✨GIVEAWAY✨ Learn all about this sweet @sahajanskincare duo on the blog today (link in profile). They are my Fall favorites to be sure. The scents invoke a feeling of meditation, one of self care + love. The oils are fast absorbing and leave the skin so soft and feeling cared for. The body oil especially is something that I use when I want to treat myself to something that feels so special. I don't use these Sahajan oils every day though I want to. I want to keep them special, precious to me. I want you to experience these for yourself and the brand does too! Sahajan is offering you the chance to win this duo for yourself. Isn't that so generous? ✨ To enter: 1. Follow @sahajanskincare 2. Follow @primandpropah 3. Tag a friend who needs to feel the love today and add an emoji! #greenbeauty #sahajan #cleanbeauty #makewavesmonday #womeninwellness This giveaway ends Sunday 11/12 and is not affiliated with Instagram, Good Luck!✨

A post shared by Amanda (@primandpropah) on Nov 6, 2017 at 4:04am PST

I Tried It: Kelia Skincare + a Giveaway!

I've been so fortunate to be able to try all sorts of different skincare products this Summer and as we wind down our warmer days and Fall starts creeping in, I am happy to start tinkering with my skincare routine to ensure that I am taking care as the weather changes. I had the opportunity to work with Kelia Skincare, using The Repair Serum. It's different than the face serums that I've been using all Summer and I'm so excited to work this product into my Fall routine for a few different reasons.

1. The Repair Serum is a lightweight but super effective serum, jam packed with lots of fantastic ingredients. Licorice root, Daisy Flower extract, Wild Yam, Goji Berry, Bamboo stem extracts, Geranium Essential Oil, all encourage your skin to brighten and firm up. As a woman creeping up into her 30's, it's important to me to find products that help me reduce fine lines, combat discoloration and sun damage. I've been using it for a few weeks in the evening and do feel as though my skin has started to look a little more radiant. It also has a light scent that is appealing without being overwhelming- the geranium really does come through.

2. The Repair Serum, along with the other two products from Kelia Skincare (The Night Cream and The Moisturizer) are cruelty-free, never tested on animals, which is a given if it's going to be in my home. There are so many cruelty free options out there that there is no excuse to use something else.

3. Kigelia Africana, a super versatile fruit extract, is used in the line and has a ton of proven benefits like being anti-inflammatory, firming, anti-oxident, and clarifying. Doing a little research on this tree, it's actually pretty neat. Besides the benefits of the extract, the 3 foot long fruits (yep, 3 feet!) can be dried to make beer as well as feed some of my favorite animals (Hi Elephants and Giraffes!)e

4. The Repair Serum makes my face feel good. It goes on smooth, absorbs quickly, and is super luxurious. I have found that if a serum is going to break into my routine these days, it needs to feel luxurious. Applying my face routine is now a ritual and one that I take seriously.

If you don't want to take my word for it, try it yourself! My friends at Kelia are so stoked about what they're doing and want to share. One Prim and Propah reader will get the opportunity to try The Repair Serum (an $85 value) for themselves! Enter on the instagram snap below and Good Luck, my beauties!

✨GIVEAWAY✨The Repair Serum from @keliaskincare makes my face feel good. It goes on smooth, absorbs quickly, and is super luxurious. I have found that if a serum is going to break into my routine these days, it needs to feel luxurious. Applying my face routine is now a ritual and one that I take seriously. Check out my full review on PrimandPropah.com (link in profile) and make sure you enter to win The Repair Serum (an $85 value) for yourself below: 1️⃣Follow me @primandpropah 2️⃣Follow @keliaskincare 3️⃣Tag a friend who loves natural skincare! Giveaway is open until Sunday 09/17 and is not affiliated with instagram #keliaskincare #ecoskincare #greenbeauty #greenbeautyblogger

A post shared by Amanda (@primandpropah) on Sep 11, 2017 at 4:09am PDT

You can follow Kelia Skincare on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

I Tried It: COOLA Eco Suncare

“I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided.

Have you noticed that the Propah Family is very fair skinned? Well, we are. And sensitive skinned, did I mention that? When it comes to being outside, I have to make sure that my kids (and myself obvi) are covered in sunscreen and hats and everything in between because it's so super important to protect our skin. That said, I kind of have an aversion to the smells and feel of common sunscreens/blocks. Of course, I use them, but when other options come along, I'm here for it. COOLA was awesome enough to send us a great package of some of their best sun products and to say that I am pleased, would be an understatement. The natural line of products that also touts some amazing organic ingredients has me really excited about protecting our skin with something that I actually love. No more "tolerating", I'm loving.

The folks at COOLA aren't just creating your average sunscreen, they're curating a useful but crushworthy line of products for the whole family. Discerning mothers (and fathers) know what is quality when they see it. When I tried the Eco-Lux (SPF50) Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray, I was a touch skeptical at first because, man does it smell good and my brain had trained me to only trust sunscreens that made me go "meh". I was so very pleasantly surprised though. Over 70% of the ingredients are organic and all of them are super safe. This is now our go to sport spray when we hit the Cape last week, prepping for the Red Sox game and when I'm packing a bag for the park or walking trail because I can use it on all of us. Even when I've run out of the baby specific goods, this works in a pinch for Teddy too.

I also got to try the Mineral Sport SPF 50 Tinted Sunscreen Stick, Face SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray and the Liplux SPF 15 in Peppermint Vanilla... and all of the products do not disappoint. I may have received these items for free to try but I am already scoping out some of their makeup because I love what I've seen so far. Their makeup setting spray itself is a great way to make sure that you're protecting your face from UV rays. Even if none of your makeup itself has an SPF, this is the best stuff to create a matte finish. My only qualm is that as a Mom of two young children, I wish there was an option to get this spray in a bottle that isn't glass... I've had a few scares in the past week and would be heartbroken if my spray broke. But really? It's fancy and I love that too.

I'm a new fan of COOLA and am super excited that I was introduced to them. They may not be the least expensive option to protect your skin from harmful UV rays but they are most certainly one of my favorites. Quality is key for me and I like to support brands that are looking to keep harmful ingredients out of their formulas while providing products that you can truly fall in love with.

Do you want to try COOLA yourself? You can use COOLA code: Light20 to receive 20% off your order until September 30th!

In Love with Skincando as always + a Giveaway

I like to call Skincando the gateway brand, as in, this is the best line of products to get your man to start using clean-green-eco beauty products. The Skincando Combat Balm is LITERALLY the best little jar of amazing that you can get your hands on- it's an all purpose salve that I put on every little scrape, burn, scratch, itch and bug bite. It has really served our family well with all manner of irritations as well it should. It was created for soldiers overseas to help with wind burns, sand flea bites and other environmental irritations that you could imagine them experiencing. It's really as good as I'm telling that it is. I recommend it at least once a week, seriously. Even though I received my first jar of Combat Ready Balm for free many years ago, I have bought many jars since, so that should show the passion I have for this product. In addition to the Combat Ready Balm, the line has expanded to lip balm, bar soap, bug spray and new this past week, their shower gel. The Combat Ready family is growing and I am so happy to support Sara and the Skincando team with this growth!

To celebrate the shower gel and it's awesomeness (I should know, I just tried it!), Skincando wants to give one Prim and Propah reader the opportunity to win a Combat Balm starter kit which includes it all! You'll win: a 2 oz. jar of the Combat Ready Balm, the Combat Ready Shower Gel, the Combat Balm Lip Balm, the Combat Ready Bar Soap and the Combat Ready Bug Repellant. It's an awesome set up and you'll be so happy to win, I promise you that! Head over to Instagram to enter right away!

✨GIVEAWAY✨I first discovered @skincando on my very first trip to @follain and it's been one of my best relationships ever since! The Skincano Combat Ready Balm is one of the few "green" beauty items that my husband now views as a trustworthy staple in our bathroom beauty cabinet. He automatically reaches for it when he has dried hands, burns, scratches, bug bites and more (and so do I obvi). We joke it was the gateway product. I receive a lot of samples of things but this is one product that I keep buying over and over, so you know it's something we love. Skincando just released their new Combat Ready Body Wash and to celebrate, Sara and the team want to treat one Prim and Propah reader to everything pictured here:2 oz. jar of the Combat Ready Balm, the Combat Ready Shower Gel, the Combat Balm Lip Balm, the Combat Ready Bar Soap and the Combat Ready Bug Repellant. ✨🙌🏼 To enter: 1. Follow @skincando 2. Follow @primandpropah 3. Tag a friend for good vibes! Giveaway ends Sunday night August 20th. Good Luck my lovelies! #propahbeauty #skincando #greenbeauty #cleanbeauty #makewavesmonday

A post shared by Amanda (@primandpropah) on Aug 14, 2017 at 5:06am PDT

You can find Skincando on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

I Tried It: Bella Aura Skincare

I've been trying a lot of different skincare products this Summer. To me, that's a great thing. Since having the second baby,  my skin has been changing. I have no idea if these are permanent changes or if it's due to the hormones. I do know that I've been working on keeping my skin happy in the heat and humidity, while breast feeding, while also trying to change my diet. All of these have an affect on me and what will work with my skin. I had the opportunity to work with Canadian brand Bella Aura, using an extended line of their skincare products for the past month. Bella Aura operates under the core values- believing in honest beauty, purity of ingredients and proving how they are different in the green/ clean beauty space (which is rapidly expanding)

The folks at Bella Aura sent me a full regimine to follow with their five product line. They called it the 'go with the flow' microcirculation facial, which helps to contour, lift and create a very in shape face. Apparently, the microcirulation facial circulates more blood and oxygen to your skin, repairing damage and building necessary cells. So yeah, I was pretty stoked to supercharge my beauty routine.

What I received: The Antioxidant Booster which helps your skin detox from all the grossness you encounter in a day, Daily Repair Moisturizer which delivers hydration to the skin while supporting the skin's natural collagen,  Instant Under Eye Lifting Cream which helps the sensitive skin around the eye firm up, reducing the signs of aging, puffiness, dark circles etc and so on, the Night Cellular Renewal which not only hydrates but fights the signs of aging by improving firmness, elasticity and retaining moisture and the Gentle Purifying Cleanser, which is what it sounds like but is also the foundation for the go with the flow facial.

So I've mentioned before that I'm not getting any younger. When I'm looking at new beauty products, I want both results and great ingredients... and by results, I mean, please make me look younger or at least stop the signs of aging. I want to promote healthy skin, keep my skin tone even, firm it up and if a have a healthy glow, well, then all the better.

The Bella Aura products themselves are above the standard as far as the ingredients are concerned. Using neroli, argan, fig de barbary and nigella oils, the Bella Aura Kamilah blend is tested and sourced from nature while also taking into consideration how the products can be used with one another to create emulsions (combination of serums and creams). So I can check this off the requirements.

The results part, well, at first I was a little taken aback at how much I had to remember when applying my skin care routine. My brain is fried come the end of the day because two kids... but once I got into the routine, it was really easy to dip and dap as I needed to. The products all have a very light but lovely scent and apply very smoothly. There was not a single one that I applied and left me feeling greasy- so they definitely absorb quickly. After using the products for a couple of weeks now, I couldn't tell you which wrinkles it attacked or where I specifically felt my skin had improved but I look at my face and see a healthy one. My skin is glowing people and feels soft and oh so healthy. And smooth, did I mention smooth? I should really do the regimine then post a selfie because I look that good, even with no makeup. It's a 5 product line that works and will last me because each step is regimented and precise. Want to see what the regimine was all about? Check it out below.

Tips from Bella Aura "go with the flow" microcirculation facial

- 1-2 minutes daily in AM and PM - use upward lifting motion

By using this technique you maximize the absorption of the vitamins K1 & K2 (which promote blood vessel elasticity), vitamin P (which reduces capillary fragility and increases microcirculation), Omegas 3,6,9 (improves blood circulation), vitamin B3 aka Niacinamide (which increases fatty acid ceramide levels in the skin to help the skin retain hydration) contained in our products.

1) Cleanse skin with Gentle Purifying Cleanser for 30 sec to 1 min
2) Mix Daily Repair, 4 drops, with Antioxidant Booster, 3 drops, in palm of hand
3) Dot mixture onto the 5 points of face: forehand, cheeks, nose, and chin
4) Using index and middle finger, gently massage upward along your jawline. Focus on where you want to lift - i.e. jawline and below cheekbones
5) Focus also on lymphatic drainage: Massage upward along jawline towards ears, around and behind ears, and then down the sides of your neck and outward to your shoulders
6) For laugh lines: Pull outward with same fingers to smooth away lines
7) Forehead lines, if any: Zigzag motion with index and middle fingers. If no lines: massage upward and outward
8) Eye contour: light swipe 1 pump under each eye and gently tap with 2 fingers to stimulate circulation

You can follow Bella Aura on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Tips on Making the Switch to Natural Haircare Stick

*This post was written in collaboration with the wonderful people over at Follain.

Having pretty much cleaned up my family's act as far as bath and body beauty products are concerned, I tried to focus on our haircare products. I'd stocked up for what seems like years worth of shampoos, conditioners and styling gels, mousses and sprays... well, it has taken me a long time to go through them. Even though I am of the belief that we should be using cleaning and natural hair care products, I am also of the belief that we shouldn't waste things either, so yeah, that's been a double edged sword. There are a couple of things that I've done that have made my hair healthier, stronger and have helped me ease our family into using quality products that will last us a long time.

Find Similar Replacements: You likely have your favorite products. You've been using them for years because they work and they've served you well. Think about what it is that you like so much. Is it the way your hair shines after you use that specific shampoo? Does the hairspray hold your hair in place like whoa? Whatever it is, you can find a clean replacement, I promise you. You may need to try a couple times but luckily, you can find many brands doing smaller sizes for you to try first. I love Josh Rosebrook Firm Hold Hairspray and Yarok Feed Your Moisture Shampoo and I totally feel like I didn't trade any effectiveness by going natural.

Wash Your Hair Less: I know, seems gross, right? But not actually. I used to wash my hair every single day, but guess what? You don't need to. We all have different hair types so how many washes per week may vary but for me, I can go at least 2-3 days between washes, especially if I have dry shampoo on hand. I love the Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder and Florapothecarie Dry Shampoo for those days that I don't feel like washing- just style as usual! Plus, this is a great way to keep from using more shampoo and conditioner than you need to.

Have Fun and Experiment: Just like finding your favorite products has always been, don't be afraid to branch out if something seems to not be working for your hair. There are so many brands making such great products that you'll surely find the thing that makes your hair shine/ or boosts the volume/ or adds moisture/ or makes it feel silky smooth. Try Captain Blankenship Mermaid Sea Salt Spray for the most perfect beach waves or if you reeeeally want to treat your hair, snag Rahua's Elixir!

Do you have any tips on keeping your hair clean by using clean products?

I Tried It: Kaliks Collective + a Giveaway!

Branding is important to a degree and if I were to judge a book by its cover, Kaliks Collective calls to me with it's packaging. My initial thought when receiving some of their products this month was to totally swoon over how pretty their frosted glass bottles and labels are. You could totally say that I was vibing with them! But obviously you can't judge a book by its cover and you have to give products a try before you can recommend them to your friends and family and you guys too! I gave some of their products a whirl: The Balance Glow Facial Oil, Revive Lavender Hydrosol Mist and the Renew Facial Cleanser.

Balance Glow Facial Oil: the sheer amount of amazing oils that make up this facial oil was enough to get me excited. Marula, Neroli Essential Oil, Baobab, Rose Geranium Essential Oil, Carrot seed and more, I couldn't wait to try this even thoough I certainly don't have a need for a new facial oil. This oil goes on velvety smooth and doesn't leave a greasy film which is one of my biggest pet peeves, facial oil turn offs. Kaliks actually recommends combining this with the Revive mist and I gotta tell you that I love this at night time, after my wash and before my dreamtime oils. I guess it goes to show that if you like something enough, you can make room in your beauty routine.

Revive Lavender Hydrosol Mist: Most definitely my favorite out of the bunch because I LOVE A GOOD FACE MIST! This is the perfect mist for Summer if you ask me my opinion- hydrating and softening. Just place it in the fridge and it becomes the most wonderful after sun mist, seriously. I happen to love Lavender so if you vibe with that relaxing scent, this is definitely for you. The bottle is very generously sized as well, which you gotta love. Plus, it's certified organic!

Renew Facial Cleanser: This is one of those versatile products that you can use as a cleanser, face scrub or mask. With all sorts of yummy ingredients like marshmallow root, rosehip seed, lavender, nettle leaf and more, this cleanser really feels like more than your average face wash. I'll be completely honest that what I had been using to exfoliate for years had been actually very bad for my skin. The small granuals in the Renew cleanser get the job done but are very gentle; I don't feel like they were scratching me up rather then gently removing the dead skin.

I think if the Kaliks line were to expand then I would be there with bells on. This indie brand is one to watch because what they are producing is quality, organic skincare that you can feel good about using both literally and figuritively.  I'll be keeping my eye on them and what they're doing in the future!

You can find Kaliks Collective in their shop, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Bonus time! Want to win some Kaliks Collective products for yourself? Visit my Instagram post for an easy entry giveaway!

🌸GIVEAWAY🌸If you haven't heard of @kalikscollective and their swoonworthy beauty line, now is the time to listen up! 🌿catch my full review on primandpropah.com today but while I have you, it's GIVEAWAY time! Want to win the Revive Lavender Hydrosol Spray and the Renew Facial Cleanser? To enter 1️⃣ Like this post 2️⃣ Follow @kalikscollective 3️⃣ Follow @primandpropah 4️⃣ Tag a friend! (each additional tag counts as an entry) -Link in profile 💕🌸☀️Giveaway ends Sunday July 23rd 9pm ✌🏼 #greenbeauty #propahbeauty #goodvibes #propahpage

A post shared by Amanda (@primandpropah) on Jul 17, 2017 at 3:30am PDT

I Tried It: BeautyCounter

A couple of months back, I saw Beautycounter come across one of my social feeds and very shortly thereafter, a girl I went to High School with, knowing that I'm really trying to embrace green and clean beauty, contacted me about the Beautycounter brand. She'd recently became a consultant and seemed really passionate about the brand so I was like, sure, let's talk Beautycounter! She offered me the opportunity to try some of their best selling products so I could see the quality and safe ingredients that they use when making their essentials. How does Beautycounter compare to other brands that I'm currently using? Well, honestly, they're right up there and they're not totally overprices so I think what they've got going, is an excellent way for the green beauty movement to reach more people. Being educated is part of their mission and educating others is why I'm talking green beauty so, I appreciate what they're doing.

I've The Rose Water Uplifting Spray: You may recall that this spray made it into my Winter Skin Must Haves and it's for good reason. I keep this on hand now because my skin is dry and sometimes needs a pickmeup. I KNOW this is going to be clutch come Summer when it's hot and sticky; this will be a cool burst of freshness for this sweaty glistening lady.... and the good news? When I'm spritzing and the toddler comes along, I don't have to worry about giving him a little spray.  Check out BC's ingredient selection process here.

Another item that I tried, and loved, was the Uplifting Day Cream: it does everything you want in a moisturizer. It smooths and softens. It didn't leave my skin feeling greasy and it wore beautifully under makeup and over my face oil. I don't know that I would completely replace my moisturizer for the UDC but it's definitely a quality product, with a pleasant light scent, that would be a great addition to anyone's beauty regimen.

Something that I can foresee being a "purchase" for me, would be the Everyday Shampoo and Conditioners. I am a HUGE sucker for anything citrus but more importantly, this clarifying shampoo made my hair feel instantly cleaner after some definite build up had occurred because of my "purple" shampoo (no, I'm not a shampoo purist, yikes!). I don't wash my hair every day but this pair will work it's way into my rotation because I've been looking for a perfect clarifying shampoo and this checks a lot of boxes for me in general.

There are many more products that Beautycounter has to offer, including a new baby line that intrigues me so I might just set up a party for family and friends. No matter how much I talk to my family about natural beauty products, I get the feeling that it might not be completely sticking. I think it might be time to bring in some outside help... tell me, have you tried any of the Beautycounter products?

You can follow Beautycounter on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Hello, Beauty with Whole Foods

I have to credit Whole Foods for being the catalyst in my life, encouraging me to be more conscious of the items in our bathroom and in my makeup bag. You may recall that I attended a Hello! Beauty event in Lynnfield, MA this time last year where a few green beauty brands basically opened my eyes to what's lurking in some of even the most commonly used products out there. In the past year, I have done a pretty good job of educating myself and others about the responsibility to be a mindful consumer. Being that the Hello Beauty bag is what started all of this, it should be no surprise that I am wicked excited about this year's!

Included in the Hello, Beauty bag this year (and for only $15 dollars!):

• Dr. Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk
• derma e Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask
• Acure Pore Minimizing Facial Scrub
• evanhealy Rose Geranium Toner HydroSoul
• Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+
• MyChelle Perfect C Serum
• Mineral Fusion Lash Curling Mineral Mascara in Gravity Black
• Burt's Bees Sunset Cruise Lip Stick
• Weleda Skin Food
• Riji Green Organic Cotton Bag to hold it all!

What a collection, am I right? These will be available in store for one day only on Friday March 18^th and each store will have a limited quantity so you'll want to make it your business to get in there before work or on your lunch hour. Priced at $15, the Hello Beauty! bag is an AMAZING deal. Plus, if you're shopping Whole Foods for beauty this weekend, their facial care sale is great, 25% off Friday, Saturday and Sunday! What do ya say? Are you headed to Whole Foods this weekend? Make sure to check your local store's schedule... I know there are some great beauty centered events coming soon!

*Whole Foods provided me with this Hello! Beauty bag but all opinions are 100% my own. Heck, I bought my own last year so you know I love it!

I Tried It: Skincando

I think it was when I first visited Follain in Boston's South End that I received a sample of the Skincando Combat-Ready Balm. Being a blogger, I'll be honest. I receive samples for a lot of different things so for a product to stand out, it does mean something. The Combat-Ready Balm really did make an impact in our home over the last Winter where 6 feet of snow "blanketed" our sweet New England region and now that it's Winter again, I have found myself digging for that sweet relief for my cracked + dry hands. While our Winter has been MUCH milder this year, the air is certainly different and our skin reacts to it, no doubt. You know, if you read up on the Combat-Ready Balm it was originally used by soldiers in harsh regions to help relieve severe dryness, eczema, chafing, scars, bug bites, burns and so much more. It's the kind of salve that you want to have on hand, and literally, on your hands, because it's the real deal.

I really hadn't done much research on what else Skincando offered because I am starting to get settled into the green beauty products in my regimen but I just recently received some of the Skincando Luxe line and gave it the good old college try. I replaced my normal moisturizer with the miracle cream and have to say that with the colder weather, and the subsequent drier skin, it paired nicely with my face oil and absorbed quickly. A little goes a long way so even a light layer kept my skin moisturized all day without feeling greasy. On those days where it was just oil and miracle cream, my face felt good. On the days when I wore this combo under my makeup, it held up nicely and didn't complicate my normal routine of getting dolled up aka evening out my skin tone with something lightly tinted.

The eye balm, well, I don't currently use an eye balm but I am pushing 34, oh wow, yeah so maybe I should be looking into this in more detail? The Skincando luxe eye balm is very similar to the miracle cream in consistency and how it wears on the skin. The balm has green tea and lemon grass essential oils but is not heavily scented, which is a major pro in my book. I'm going to continue using the eye balm and will start looking at those fine lines and wrinkles a little closer to see if there are any results. Both the miracle cream and eye balm are handmade to order, so it's a very personal process that I admire. My friends and I are always talking about authenticity and where you spend your money is like casting a vote, and you want your vote to count.

The products are legitimate and in the very least, the combat balm will earn it's spot in your battalion but bonus for people who like brands that give back and want to make the world around them better, Skincando's founder, Sara Damelio created Operation Sand Flea, a means of donating the combat ready balm to troops overseas, which can soothe flea bites, sunburn and dry skin all at once. It's how the combat balm came to be and it's how Sara and her team are giving back. It's really special and I love when a line has a story like this. I can get behind a brand where I respect the people and love the products. Skincando has found a place in my beauty cabinet and that is not a lie. I can't wait to snag a jar of the Combat Balm especially for kids, since, well, I have one!

You can find Skincando on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. If you're local, pick up the combat balm at Follain or visit the Skincando site for your goodies.

*Skincando provided samples but all opinions are 100% my own + I will spend my own money on future Skincando purchases.

A Valentine's Gift to Swoon Over

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, really, it's time to start hinting to your loved ones or planning to "treat yo self" for that holiday filled with loooooove. Something that I've seen that I think is a fantastic little gift is the mani/pedi set from True Moringa, Meow Meow Tweet and D.I.D. For those looking to get a gift that #1 won't break the bank #2 will show a little creativity and #3 is a healthy beauty option, look no further. I love to see brands that I admire, team up for something really cool. Check out what you'll get and where to find it for purchase!

M E O W  M E O W  T W E E T   M O I S T U R I Z I N G   S O A P 

CLEANSE. Hand crafted in small batches with organic, unrefined plant oils and butters, steam-distilled and cold-pressed essential oils and organic and wild-crafted botanicals, Meow Meow Tweet Organic Soaps sponge away impurities while rejuvenating winter skin. MMT products are always vegan, cruelty free, and created with socially conscious ingredients all the way down to the whimsically illustrated packaging. Soap up and soak before your mani-pedi!

T R U E   M O R I N G A   C U T I C L E +  B O D Y  O I L  

HEAL. Anti-aging, moisturizing radiance from nature’s ‘miracle tree.’ True Moringa All-Purpose Body Oil restores essential fatty acids and antioxidants to prevent damage and dryness and radiate healthy, supple skin. Apply to cuticles daily for beautiful, strong nails and massage post mani-pedi for happy hands and feet.

D . I . D .  5 -  F R E E  N A I L  P A I N T 

GLOW. Top it off with a fun, fresh coat of shimmer from non-toxic D.I.D. Nail Paint. D.I.D. offers a host of highly pigmented, eco-friendly nail color collection that compliments the beautiful tone of your skin in 1 - 2 coats. We chose limited-edition champagne-inspired Prosecco shade for this mani-pedi box to bring out your inner sparkle (in a naturally sophisticated kind of way).

Find the Valentine's Day Mani+Pedi Box for purchase here and be sure to let me know what you think when you try these brands out!

Excited for the Inaugural W.E.L.L. Summit!

I have been waiting for pretty much 6 months for W.E.L.L. Summit to draw near... and here is it, almost the end of October. In just a few weeks, the team over at W.E.L.L. Summit will be throwing their inaugural event with lots of great breakout sessions, movement classes, farm to table dinners and more all with people who are interested in living well. I am super excited to have organic cocktails and wine with like minded people who I am hoping to call new friends after a couple of days, just hangin', learning to live a healthier life. I'm posting the full info on the summit so that if you just have an inkling to think about going or if you have been waiting to pull the trigger, now is the time my friends! There are a couple different options, surely one will fit your needs! I hope to see you there!

Full Experience

– Farm-To-Table Welcome Dinner

– Lunch on Friday, November 6th & Saturday, November 7th

– Breakfast on Saturday, November 7th

– Brunch on Sunday, November 8th

– 2 days of interactive and educational breakout sessions and access to wellness leaders. All breakout sessions will be capped at 30 people ensuring you will have a chance to connect with the speaker, ask questions and get your questions answered!

– Networking opportunities with wellness professionals and enthusiasts

– Exclusive gift bag filled with wellness goodies

– Exclusive offers from our Sponsors such as a two month membership to Thrive Market + 15% off of your first purchase

Full Experience Pass $549.

Weekender Pass

Here’s what your W.E.L.L.come Weekender Pass will include:

 – Farm-To-Table Welcome Dinner with Keynote Speaker Latham Thomas

– Check-in Gift Bag

– Turn-Down Gift Bag

– Access to your choice of Breakout Sessions (Saturday & Sunday)

– Saturday morning yoga class with Boston Yogi Emily Griffin (optional)

– All inclusive Saturday lunch

– Access to the L.I.V.E. W.E.L.L. Marketplace

– Sunday morning movement class (optional)

– Sunday brunch

 Weekender Pass Price: $350.

Drop me a line if you're going; I'd love to connect!

Easy (and Delicious) DIY Natural Lip Balm

Have you ever considered about making your own beauty products but stopped short because you thought it would be too difficult? Well, I'm hear to tell you that with a little time and a touch of motivation, you can make some pretty awesome stuff. A little recipe that I have tried (and really love) is one for a natural lip balm. I especially love this recipe because it can be tweaked to suit your taste and scent desires because using essential oils and extracts, you make little adjustments here and there. If you are an online savvy shopper, you can find all your ingredients on the nets but be sure to make sure you are purchasing from a reputable site, since this business is going on your sweet bod. 

What You Will Need:

·    1/8 cup Coconut Oil 

·    1/4 cup Beeswax 

·    1/8 cup Shea Butter 

·    1 tsp Coconut Extract (you can use Vanilla or Almond too)

·    1/4 cup fresh or dried herbs of your choice, rose petals works too!(I used fresh spearmint from my herb garden)

·    1 tsp Sweet Almond Oil 

·    Optional: a drop or two of  your favorite essential oil (I added two drops of spearmint essential oil)

*This concoction makes enough for about 6 small containers

Put it all together:

1. Measure all of the ingredients  into a small saucepan. I would suggest using something that you're OK not cooking food in again. I use an old sauce pan for this + my candle making.
2. Heat on low until everything is melted. Do not be tempted to crank up the heat. Patience is a virtue and since we're using so many oils, things will start sizzlin' at high heat.
3. Strain out the biggest pieces of your herbs. You can leave them in for added sumpin' if you want. Totally your choice!
4. Pour into sanitized containers that you want to use to store.
5. Let cool completely (only a couple of hours) and they’re ready to use and share with your friends who will be completely impressed that you made your own lip balm!

Have you ever made your own beauty products?

Best Beauty Products + an Exciting Giveaway

I really want you to consider making some really easy switches to natural beauty options. At first, I found this to be a daunting task. I have had some really hard core brand loyalty in the past and I didn't know how I would be able to give it up... but once you start making yourself aware of the ingredients that are in even your most "trusted brands", you'll find it easier to start acting. I teamed up with 9 amazing eco, green beauty brands to bring you a giveaway of some of my favorite products out there right now. I can recommend these products because I have used them before; I want to share them with you. Check out why I love each and every one of these products and once you are through, jump to the end of the post to enter to win all of them! Pretty sweet deal, am I right?

What you'll win: $200 worth of my favorite Good for You Beauty products!

Laughing Tree Organics Night Nectar, $23

Minka Miracle Hand Salve, $14

Organic Bath Drenched Organic Body Butter, $29

Seaweed Bath Co Citrus Vanilla Body Wash, $13

Shamanuti Activated Charcoal Cleanser, $36

Skincando Combat Ready Balm, $22

Soapwalla Citrus Creme Deodorant, $14

SW Basics Makeup Remover, $14

True Moringa All Purpose Lemongrass Body Oil, $29

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*All items were donated to this giveaway by each of these beautiful people driven brands to help raise awareness of what we are putting on our bodies. The products that we choose to use are a decision that we shouldn't take lightly.

Greening Your Beauty Routine? KimberlyLoc Has You Covered

Ready to make the switch to natural beauty products, but feeling a little overwhelmed? You’re not alone.

I’m Kim, and I write the natural beauty blog kimberlyloc.com. Since starting this blog in 2010, I’ve been fascinated by how quickly exceptional green beauty products have made their way onto the market today.

While it’s amazing to have options, it can also make switching to cleaner beauty even more daunting. 

• Where do I start?
• How much is all this going to cost?
• Does this stuff really work?

In my daily interactions with readers, friends, family and coworkers, my first piece of advice is always the same: Start small, and think about the products you use on a regular basis.

Most likely, those products are your daily skincare needs. This is an area where green beauty shines. Plant-based skincare that’s nourishing, gentle and targeted to whatever your skin needs exists, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

7 Ways to Get Started on the Path to Eco-Beauty, a Guest Post from Cameron of Boston Green Blog

This year Prim and Propah turns Five years old and with those five years have come a lot of changes around here at the ol' blogstead. One of the most recent, and most welcomed, changes has been the decision to make the Propah household more eco friendly, which includes the products that we use on our body. The change can seem daunting at first but I swear, you can do it and you will be so glad that you did! This coming week will be all about natural + eco beauty; tips and tricks, guest posts, DIYs and even a fantastic giveaway... it's all to shed some light on the road to natural beauty and hopefully help you make the change. To get us started, I asked Cameron of Boston Green Blog to zone in on some tips that are easy to adopt in your life right away...

As a green living blogger on BostonGreenBlog and a beauty and wellness columnist at JUGs, I get a lot of questions about cosmetics. People understand the importance of eating right and clearly see food’s connection with the environment. But oftentimes, the link for other consumable products isn’t so clear. Its tricky to know what cosmetics are good and bad for you and the earth, and even harder to find the right products in stores without going broke. The best thing to do, is ease into eco-beauty with these starter tips!

1. Take Care of Yourself

First and foremost, remember that your skin is an organ. Its wellness not only depends what you put on it, but also what you eat, if you sleep well, and how much you exercise. Your skin serves a lot of major functions and interacts with the rest of your body. So, the first thing to do in a journey to eco beauty is to be conscious of how you treat yourself.

2. Be Wary of Labels

The beauty industry makes billions of dollars. Marketers and designers put a lot of work into conveying a message about their product through the packaging in order to sell as many units as possible. Green and beige packaging and the word “natural” do not a safe product make. Instead, look third party certifications like USDA certified organic, Eco cert, Fair Trade, etc. However, keep in mind that these third party certifications are expensive to get, so many small companies don’t have the resources to get them. But for eco-beauty newbies, certified products are the way to go until you become more familiar with natural safe ingredients.

3. Ban the Bead

Microbeads - or tiny pieces of plastic in scrubs and exfoliants - are reeking havoc on the environment. These beads are so small that they aren’t removed during the wastewater treatment process and end up in our waterways. Fish and birds are eating them and they are also contributing to the great pacific garbage patch. The worst thing about this environmental catastrophe is that these beads are totally unnecessary! There are plenty of biodegradable, safe materials that provide the same function. Try a sugar scrub instead!

4. Embrace Oils

We all grew up being told to purchase “oil free” skin products. But it turns out that the right kinds of oils are really great moisturizes and help balance out our skin. Olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, avocado oil, and many others are super effective moisturizers that don’t make you break out and can also be used in hair, on cuticles, and as makeup removers.

5. Ditch Deodorant

Traditional deodorants are full of chemicals like aluminum and parabens which have been loosely linked to some scary health problems like Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. Plus, those pit stains in your favorite blouse are from deodorant - not sweat! Switching to a natural deodorant takes a little getting used to, but is one of the best eco-beauty switches you can make.

6. Forget Fake Fragrances

Fragrances are made up of any number of chemicals, which due to an FDA loophole, do not need to be put on a product’s ingredient list. Perfumes are considered proprietary so companies do not need to disclose their chemical recipes to the public. Fragrances often contain allergens and sometimes small amounts of carcinogens as well. Going fragrance free, or only purchasing products scented with essential oils, is a great way to decrease your exposure to toxic chemicals.

7. Get Resourceful

The ins and outs of eco beauty can be overwhelming. There are a lot of chemical names to remember, certifications to understand, and ingredients to discover. Luckily there are some great resources to help you on your mission to detoxifying your makeup drawer. One of the best is Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database which rates more than 60,000 consumer products on safety. The next is ThinkDirty, an app that shoppers can use to scan barcodes of products while they’re shopping to compare the safety of products available. Lastly, Goodguide rates companies on their environmental, social, and human health impacts. These tools are a great way to become familiar with the products you're using and the companies your are supporting with your purchases!

See? Totally doable! Thanks to Cameron of Boston Green Blog for taking the time to share some of her tips on getting a new and healthy beauty routine kick started! You can find BostonGreenBlog on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.