Acai berries are what is known as a Super-Fruit. Super-Fruits are those that are high in vitamins, anti-oxidants, and fiber. They are an almost medicinal fruit. I’ve tried a fair share of Acai products for review including bars, drinks, and a supplement. I’ve found the taste to be like that of another Super-Fruit, cranberry. Tart, rich, full. Not everybody’s cup of tea, but I enjoy a tartness in moderation.

Some of the benefits of the Acai include a boost in energy levels, improved digestion, circulation, mental clarity, sleep, immune system, and sexual health. Acai contains anti-oxidants that fight the free radicals that cause cancer. It cleanses body of toxins and slows down the aging process.

I don’t want to give you a laundry list of Why I Love Acai, but suffice it to say that if it’s good for the inside of you, it’s good for the outside, as well.

Here are a couple of examples:

*Increased circulation and elimination lead to healthier skin. Good skin comes from a healthy body. There’s only so much you can hide with makeup.

*Anti-oxidants help to slow the aging process. A diet rich in acai could result in fewer wrinkles and a brighter skin tone.

So, does acai berry make you more beautiful? Yes, but not in an instant way, like a makeup or a new haircolor. Over time, a healthy diet, including acai, can lead to an overall increase in health, well-being, and beauty.

Image credit: All Posters.com

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Josie Maran’s award-winning makeup line features natural products that are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Sythetic Fragrance, and Phthalates.  All products are full-size, except for the Organic Argan oil. This  kit is the perfect introduction to the line and a great way to celebrate Earth Day every day.

Josie Maran Earth Day Essentials Green-On-the-Go Kit
A $98 for $48 at Sephora.com
Image credit: Sephora.com

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Here are a couple of books that I’m looking into:

The Little Green Book of Beauty: 250 Tips for an Eco Lifestyle

 by Sarah Callard

This book is part of a series on living a more eco-friendly life. It discusses issues like organic products, green packaging, animal testing, toxins, etc. In addition to The LIttle Green Book of Beauty, there’s also The Little Green Book of Shopping, and The Little Green Book of Home. 

The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances

by Julie Gabriel

The Green Beauty Guide gets to the truth in green beauty. Many companies claim to be green or natural when in reality their products contain harmful toxins which can actually harm your skin. Gabriel shows you watch to watch for and what to watch out for so that you can make the most of your true beauty.

Image credit: Amazon.com

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A better solution?  Agro Labs, has a line of natural liquid supplements that are easy to fit into a busy lifestyle.

I’ve tried their Green Envy Daily Detox, which works to get your system running smoothly. My son, Max, who has Cerebral Palsy and a host of problems that can be traced back to the Cerebral Palsy, takes this on a daily basis and I’ve noticed that his skin in clearing up. It also helps to boost immunity, which is very important to his ongoing good heal.  Green Envy Daily Detox has a fruity taste - sort of like you are eating the leaves and evrything, which I found surprising, but not bad, on the first day. By the third day, I was used to the taste and it actually tasted good.

Lately, I’ve been taking the Superberry Upgrade with Resveratrol, which is both a health and a beauty drink. It benefits your hair, skin, nails – your total body. It contains all the power berries – blueberries, acai berries, pomegranates, mangosteens, goji berries, grapes, strawberries, and cherries. There are a total of 3,750 ORAC units per serving and it contains Resveratrol, which is the antioxidant found in red wine. Superberry Upgrade antioxidants provide the body with anti-aging properties.  It tastes great – has a taste similar to cranberries. I just take two tablespoons, in the morning, with my toast. Simple.

Both products are preservative-free and all natural.  You can read more about them here. They are found at Walmart, CVS, and Costco.

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This is my second Beauty and Style Network blog – I write The Scented Life, as well.  In addition, I write  Dating Dames and Veggie Chic, also part of the b5media family. I love blogging and beauty and nature, so this new blog is going to be a lot of fun.

I plan to share a lot of natural and/or green products with you.  For example, this week, my daughter, Bailey, and I are using the Mannatech skin care line.  We are going to give it one more day, then I feel we will have enough experience with the line for a good review.  Mannatech uses no paraben preservatives, purified water – even the packaging is made of green materials.  Watch for the review tomorrow.

I’m really looking forward to writing Pretty By Nature. I hope that you find it both informative and entertaining.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

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FASHION

The Well-Heeled Society highlights a worthy Breast Cancer Awareness event: Shoes That Inspire, where you can buy a $10.00 raffle for silk Peter Fox shoes, hand-painted by Tracey Asai.

BEAUTY

A Touch of Blusher counts down the best 10 fall 2008 makeup collections.

Steeping Beauty has a low cost fine mist spray by Evian.

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• Aging Fabulous admits to having a beauty products wish list miles long.
• Banging Bags is in possession of her new Dolce & Gabbana handbag.
• Beauty Bento Box loves Olay body In-Shower body lotion.
• Beauty Gizmo teaches you how to apply eyeliner, flawlessly.
• Burning The Scale share the iVillage 10 ways to cut back on sugar.
• Celeb Look chronicles all the different looks of Miley Cyrus.
• Dapper Diva has 4 amazing bras for plus women.
• eBeautyDaily  picks  Xen-Tan for 2008 Self-Tanning choice.
• Her Accessories shares the solutions to heavy calves.
• Hot Mama Daily is happy that Halle Berry is back! *whistles*
• Indie Style File delved onto the Vancouver Fashion Week.
• Just A Formality wants to know what you think of this purple evening gown.
• Makeup Minute talked about the Three Custom Color Light Brights Lipstick. Collection
• Manscaping 101 has your guaranteed pimple-popping advice.
• Metro Style Men jumped into the Motorcycle Jacket trend.
• She Knows Best asked which Hollywood Men’s hairstyle do you prefer?
• Shoe Blitz made me drool with the Alexander McQueen Satin Rope Tie Sandal.
• Shopaholics Daily made me proud with her under $10 shopping spree .
• Snarkstress thinks Lindsay Lohan is Sloppy and Soggy. OUCH!
• Spa Beautifully has tips on the products to help you wake up and get going.
• Style It Less lists 5 espadrilles for under $20 perfect for your Summer.
• Style Tots used Aveeno Baby Soothing Moisture cream for her 10 yr. old son’s allergies.
• Teen Style Lounge wants to know if a tiara is in your prom list.
• The Daily Tee says it’s their duty to please ‘that’ booty.
• The Latest Luxe is flirting with the Valentino polka-dot patent pumps.
• The List Maven gives you 7 tips in choosing a prom dress.
• The Scented Life has an Indie crush with Disquieting Designs.
• Tops 2 Bottoms is loving Summer in the Philippines.

Cheers to April. It was good while it lasted. May, here we come!!

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Erbaviva has a multitude of products for just this. Check out these luxurious organic gift sets, just for the Mommy-to-Be.

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I was just looking over the Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Products. The products in their naturals collection are made from botanical ingredients.

I have my eye on this lovely set of 5 body bars. In this Botanical Body Bar Collection are the following bars: 1 Cocoa Butter, Nutmeg & Cardamom, 1 Green Tea, Vetiver & Sandalwood, 1 Mango Butter & Cranberry, 1 Mint, Fennel & Ivy, and 1 Pink Grapefruit & Cucumber with White Clay. I imagine they are heavenly. This collection retails for $25.00.

A gift I think I will be picking up for my mother-in-law is the Smooth & Purify Gift Basket. In the basket is a Pink Grapefruit & Cucumber Body Bar, a Pink Grapefruit & Cucumber Shower Mousse, a Lemongrass & Brown Sugar Body Scrub, and an Olive, Almond & Myrtle Body Mist. This gift set retails for $76.00

There are many more items in their collection, including beautiful gift sets. In case you are looking for a natural beauty gift, check out the website.

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Over the weekend, I went to plug in my bubbling foot bath, only to find that it was no longer in working condition. I was quite bummed, as I had my evening of foot pampering already planned. So what to do? I made my own foot bath.

I took a really large stainless steel mixing bowl, and filled it with very warm, almost hot, water. I added a few orange and lemon slices to the bowl, and then went looking for a few other goodies in my kitchen cupboard. I found some sea salt, which I added a good tablespoon, and some rosemary, so I added a few teaspoons of that too. I then added a few drops of Vitamin E oil. The scent of the bath was calling my name.

I soaked my feet for about 20 minutes, and used parts of the course sea salt to scrub some dead skin off my heels.

Let me tell you, this simple foot bath had my feet looking and feeling great.

Do you have your own foot care or foot bath recipe you would like to share? I would love some more suggestions, as I plan to make my own footbaths from now on.

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