Cosmeceuticals go one step beyond traditional skin care, using science to aid in the fight against skin damage and the effects of aging. CosMedix is a line of skin care that works by using the science of Chirality. 

Chirality refers to the right-handed and left-handed molecules in our bodies and the ingredients we apply to them. Ingredients that have been chirally corrected have been filtered to contain only molecules that positively interact with the skin. In addition to minimizing the risk of allergic or adverse reactions, studies have shown this process to produce ingredients up to four times more concentrated than those in conventional brands.

CosMedix is a plant-basedskin care line. They use no artificial colors or preservatives. The CosMedix people sent me two of their products to sample for review: Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum and Eye Believe Liquid Crystal Serum.

Eye Believe  is an eye serum that you use as part of a night time skin care regime. It protects and replenishes the delicate skin around the eyes. It uses alpha-liopic acid to stimulate collagen and elastin.  It reduces the look of fine lines. You can also use it around your lips, to help deal with fine lines and thinning lips.

I like this product. It has a sort of irridescent look to it, purple to green. I know that isn’t science-y, but it sure makes it fun to use. A little, tiny bit goes a long way. I noticed a relaxation in the fine lines, crow’s feet type, after using it for 2 weeks. Eye Believe retails for $90.

Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum.  This serum is meant to be used alone or under a moisturizer. It’s a peptide serum made with antioxidants that help to correct and prevent photo-damage.  This means, it helps with damage from the sun. Some of the antioxidants include Reservatol from grapes, Whey Protein, and seed oils. It’s also supposed to help with firming.

Read More – CosMedix: Plant-Based Cosmeceuticals

Etsy weekend shopping… When I was a kid, my sister’s favorite thing to dress up as for Halloween was a gypsy. She would pile on all Mom’s necklaces – the two best being a blue bead and leather necklace and a choker with hanging strands of faux gold coins. We thought the look was so cool.
I found a grownup version that my sister would love today.  The Holly Lynne shop at Etsy has a coin-charm bracelet made with coins from around the world including; Yugoslavia (1984), Slovenia (1998), France (1990), Slovenia (2000), and Argentina (1987). This is the rich gold version.

Gypsy Coin …read more

Still searching for a Valentine’s Day gift for  your sweetie?  How about something from The Body Shop? They’ve got a couple of great gift sets for the man in your life.

Hemp Heroes Gift Shop
$35
The ingredients that went into these Hemp products were obtained through a Community Trade program. Hemp oil is a super-rich oil full of antioxidant omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
Come to dry skin’s rescue with this pampering gift set featuring moisturizing hemp seed oil to repair dry, cracked skin and restore its natural moisture barrier. Feel good giving this environmentally-friendly crop.
The set contains:
*Hemp Hand Protector
*Hemp Body Butter
*Hemp Foot Protector
*Hemp …read more

If you are looking for something cute to lounge around in on Valentine’s Day, Fairie’s Dance has a couple of cute nighties that are flirty, but also comfy. Perfect for enjoying a romantic evening in with your sweetheart.

Venus Lace Nightie
$59
This gown is made of organic cotton and dyed with a low-impact dye. It’s 10% spandex, so soft and stretchy. It has a halter-look front and criss-crossing straps in the back. It comes in a Wild Rose or French Blue color. Pair it with the Venus Lace Panty or the Cross Your Heart Thong for a complete matched set.

Lace-Trimmed Nightie
$55
This …read more

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’ve got some eco-friendly jewelry to share with you. It’s eco-friendly because the designers used recycled materials or they made the pieces using Fair Trade practices. I found these pieces at Nimli, a great place to shop for people enjoying a green lifestyle.

Nugaard Designs Large Golden Grass Ring
$58
This unique ring is made of tightly woven and wrapped golden grass. It looks like fine gold wire to me. It has the same lustre as gold. Very interesting. The ring was handmade in Brazil, the homeland of Nugaard Design’s Erica Pacey and Allessandra Feio.
…their jewelry is …read more

Golden Path Alchemy is offering their Romance Herbal Mask at a discount of 25% for the month of February (2010). Like all Golden Path Alchemy products, the mask is made with pure essential oils and fresh ingredients. These ingredients include  Rose, Oyster Shells, and Oats which are all good for refreshing and renewing the complexion.

Romance Herbal Mask
1 ounce on sale for $15, regularly $20
*Rose is calming to the skin, it reduces redness, and tones the capillaries. The fragrance is both uplifting and calming to the spirit, as well as the skin.
*Oyster shell is a gentle exfoliant. It helps to reduce …read more

True natural beauty starts with plenty of rest and relaxation. Is your bedroom conducive to proper rest and relaxation?
Mine isn’t. I have a beautiful bed with mocha-colored sheets and a comfy mattress pad. My bed is set below a couple of big windows, so I can read before I fall asleep with the window cracked open a bit, listen to the crickets when it’s warm, but the rest of my room, it’s a mess. I’ve got to fit so much into one space – my home office, my treadmill, the darn cat box in the adjacent bathroom… Too much stuff.
To …read more

Pangea Organics is a product line that includes cleansing, moisturizing, and skin care. Pangea Organics are cruelty-free, organic. They are free from Sulfates, Petroleum, synthetics fragrances or colors, GMOs, synthetic preservatives. They are made using Fair Trade practices. The products are handmade in small batches which ensures that they are fresh when you purchase them. Pangea Organics supports sustainable agriculture. In short, they are about doing things right and producing a good quality product.

This month, February 2010, you can get two of Pangea Organic’s Lip Balms  for the price of one. These lip balms are made with antioxidant-rich Organic ingredients …read more

Etsy Weekend shopping…… More Etsy today. Just can’t get enough. How about a purse made of recycled/upcycled Capri Sun packets?  I’m so glad to see that they are good for something other than holding sugary drinks. I worked in the school cafeteria for years and I cannot tell you how many Capri Sun packets I would see on any given day.
 

Here’s a look at the inside of the bag….

Capri Sun Purse
$20 at Green Designs by Lisa
This would be a fun re-usable shopping bag. It’s 9 inches tall, 10.5 in length, and 4 inches wide. It has one interior pocket. …read more

Etsy weekend shopping… Mindy G’s shop at Etsy carries the most unique charm bracelet. It’s made with vintage silverware, accessorized with a little heart-lock and key. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Heart Lock and Key Charm Starlight Bracelet
$47 at Mindy G
This popular bracelet is back in stock. This time I made it with the starlight vintage silverware design. A beautiful two sided sterling silver heart and key charm for the focal charms at the front. A large sterling silver lobster clasp and a pale pink freshwater pearl is added to the back of the bracelet for a finishing touch. This can be …read more