I recently had the opportunity to try out the BeeCeuticals Organics skincare line. I had never heard of it until one of my lovely readers recommended it. I have to tell you that I am hooked. Their Bee-yond Lip Balm is truly emollient and not waxy. Most chapstick like products have this weird taste and they don’t last very long. You could end up reapplying it every 15 minutes. This lip balm on the other hand my friend will change your life.

The Beeyond Body Balm is over the top moisturizing. I’ve been stashing it in my nightstand for lubing my aching dogs at the end of the night. Just a little bit (about a dime size) will cover my feet in a sheath of organic goodness. If I had to compare it to another skincare line who shall remain nameless (sounds like Nurt’s Keys), there really is no comparison. They use certified organic ingredients and are completely paraben and synthetic fragrance free. That last one is a biggie with me. My son has inherited my notoriously sensitive skin and that other company’s baby bee wash and lotion would consistently leave him with an unexplained rash. I believe it was the nondescript fragrance that did it.

So lest you think this is all hype, I am giving away a BeeCeuticals High-Five Kit to two lucky readers. It contains five of their best-sellers, sorry no lip balm, so you can see for yourself. If I’m lying I’m dying. You will also be a convert. To enter just leave a valid comment starting today and ending at 12 noon (CST) next Thursday. The winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on Friday February 1st. The catch is after you try it you have to come back and let us know how it worked for you. I already know the answer but I will act surprised anyway.

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As I’ve said before, I get territorial about my new finds. I will selectively withhold information from people who I deem unworthy. No use throwing my pearls to the swine. In this case I have decided that my find was just too fantastic to keep to myself. In all of my benevolence I have decided to share it with you today. You should feel honored.

A few weeks ago while on a hunt for new products, I stumbled across the website for Bare Naked Beauty. They are an Australian company that practices what they preach. Proceeds from your purchases go to the development of renewable wind energy in Australia and to an orangutan adoption program. Yes, orangutans. I was blown away by pages of delicious Natural and Organic products that I had never even heard of before. I was giddy and my head was spinning. Two glasses of wine and a warning from El Jefe later, I had filled up my little cart. Well, and then removed a bunch of items. Okay…then put it back when he wasn’t looking. I finally narrowed it down to MyUtopia’s Rejuvenating Cleansing Oil and Est’s Vanilla Orange Velvet Lip Balm. Seriously, I’m not putting you on here when I say, my skin has never felt so soft. I have sensitive combination skin so it’s not like I can use just anything. This cleansing oil felt like I was pouring silk over my face and it had only the faintest fragrance. I could not stop touching my face, I know a big no-no. My skin was soft and moist but not oily and it lasted all day long. I want to marry this cleansing oil and have like ten thousand of its babies.

You know how I am about my lip balms so for me to say it’s good means a lot. It sincerely feels like velvet gliding over your lips and it makes me want to go steal some Girl Scout cookies. Picture me as Ann Margaret in “Tommy” only replace the baked beans with a vat of this lip balm. The product info says that it’s “highly lickable”…um yeah, that’s an understatement. I just want to take a spoon and eat it out of the cute little glass jar. As for the customer service can I just say *in my best valley girl voice* like oh my gawd, like they totally like rock like you know. I was expecting shipping from Australia to be ridiculous and really, it would have been worth it. But it was only $13 and some change, and it got here in about a week. I giggled with glee as I opened the box to find a bevy of samples and a hand written note in addition to my purchases. I will have to tell you later about the moisturizer sample I got..LOVING IT. By the way, the orangutang’s name is Bella. I big squishy heart them.

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Whole Foods Market (referred to in our home as whole paycheck) has some great skin cleanser recipes on their website. Most of it is stuff you probably have sitting around and would not have to make a special trip to go buy. I can’t resist homemade remedies. They are just too easy and you can do so much with just a few ingredients. Check it out and enjoy!

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Post from: Pretty by Nature

Imagine that you have not eaten real food for days and the sight of a glass of water makes you nauseous. You would be where I have been this week. After clutching the toilet for dear life and wishing I could just rip out my intestines and put them in a drawer for a little bit, I have emerged into the light of day. Being able to stand upright is a beautiful thing. Enough of my pity party. Luckily when I was at my lowest point, my day was brightened by a lovely box of goodies from Saffron Rouge. Even when I’m feeling awful, I don’t have to look awful. As my mother would say, “Well at least you look pretty!”

This time I got the Oatmeal with Italian Bergamont soap from Pangea Organics. I definitely needed to wash the sickies away and smooth my skin in the process. The smell is super strong at first, almost too strong for me but it seemed to mellow pretty quickly once I was out of the shower. Since I have such sensitive skin I am very careful about the soaps I use. I want to feel squeaky clean without it drying out my skin. Bar soaps tend to dry me out but this one actually didn’t. It left my skin feeling more like a body wash. I think next time I would try the Tunisian Olive Oil and Coconut instead though, but that’s just me. They also have some great shower gels that I think would be nice for guys too. I don’t particularly want to smell like a pine tree but some woodsier folk might.

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I came across this recipe for a homemade coffee scrub and I just had to share. I used to never drink coffee but now I can’t make it through the day without at least one cup. This is a good way to recycle the grounds. It is a little messy but well worth the effort I think.

• 3 T Coffee grounds (organic-caffeinated)

• 1 T Salt (optional)

To Make:  Brew a fresh pot of coffee. Enjoy a cup, if you like. Put grounds (and salt) in a small bowl. Use grounds within 20 minutes of brewing before oxidation occurs.

To Use:  Scrub mixture over entire body while in the shower. Rinse. Tone. Moisturize.

I followed with my lovely toner and moisturizer from LUSH and I just feel as fresh as a daisy, don’t ya know.

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I consider myself an expert on packing for travel. I have it down to a science at this point. That is why it is so shocking that I made it all the way home for Christmas and forgot my soap. I blame it on mommy brain. The hubby’s stuff; all there. All the endless baby crap, check. Even though you vow to not put yourself last, you just can’t help it. The other two complain more so it gets to the point where you will do anything to make it stop. If I have to hear, “Honey, where’s my…, or “mama, juice” (actually sounds more like doose and is actually chamomile tea…sucker), one more time. I may lose it.

I ended up using my son’s Nature Babycare body wash to rid myself of the stench of air travel. I can’t say that I want to use it everyday, but you know what, I’m impressed. Most hotel soaps just suck all the moisture out of my skin so I didn’t even try it. This body wash doesn’t at all. It actually seemed to restore some of the elasticity to my skin. I know my son’s skin is always soft and moist, but I thought that was just because he’s a baby. I think now the soap has something to do with it as well. That and the extra five years he has sucked out of me. It does have fragrance in it, but it’s very subtle and is pretty low on the hazard meter. I trust it enough to use on the bug, so obviously I thought it would be fine for me. I guess I don’t recommend it for everyday use, but for me I will use it in a pinch, if the need arises again. Next time, I will make sure I have everything I need. If my husband doesn’t have underwear, then so be it.

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As promised here is my top ten list of my favorite green beauty websites. They offer great gift ideas and lots of goodies for you. Some of these I have talked about before but gosh darn it, they deserve to be mentioned again, so there.

1. Saffron Rouge- Pretty much the online go-to for Eco cosmetics and skincare. Join Kirsten’s Inner Circle and get free samples every month.

2. Sephora-An obvious choice, but I just love them. If you haven’t “been to” Sephora then make it your New Year’s Resolution to come out from under that rock. Organic, natural, botanical and everything in between. Lovely makeup tools as well.

3. Green by Nature- I am so infatuated with their products I may just put together a gift basket for myself.

4. Lavera- A German company that uses Certified Organic ingredients. They have a wide range of cosmetics and skincare.

5. Sanre Organic Skin Food- Great products with a very “I made this in my bathroom” feel to it. Provide you’re into that kind of thing.

6. Naturopathica- Great spa type products. Excellent gift options for the high strung friend in your life.

7. Korres- Natch. There really isn’t much to say, they are perfect. No seriously.

8. Lush- Amazing products made with top notch ingredients. Fresher than fresh. Start the new year out with a bath bomb.

9. Lovelula- Organic and natural beauty and skincare with style. It’s like the younger sorority sister version of Saffron Rouge.

10. Upurea- Another great mega site bringing together the best offerings in specialized beauty and skincare.

 I hope you were all paying attention because there will be a test later. Let me know about other sites that are on your favorites list this year. Happy shopping.

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While I would never characterize myself as a girly girl, per say, I do enjoy getting prettified occasionally. The Holiday season gives me the perfect opportunity to be unabashedly feminine. Office parties just call for fancier attire and more makeup than I would usually wear. Somewhere between Vegas Showgirl and my typical bare-faced look. What I really need is lipstick that will still look good even after my third glass of champagne. Mascara that will make your eyes pop even after you can barely see straight. Note to self: Please, please don’t embarrass yourself this year. You are too old to get plastered and you will have to see these people on Monday.

Which brings me to my latest squeal-worthy find, Dr. Hauschka’s Rouge Powder. For that, “Oh I’m not wearing makeup, I am just naturally rosy-cheeked and so perky you want to punch me look”. Nothing dresses up a formal outfit like the perfect shade of red lipstick. Any other time of year and I wouldn’t be caught dead in *gag* lipstick. I’m all about the tinted lip balm. However there’s something about the ChristmaHanuKwanzica season that makes me want to be “that” girl. NVEY ECO Organic Lipstick really feels and looks like a high-end designer lipstick. It is certified organic by the Australian Organic Food Chain, so no need to worry about eating lead as well as too many mini quiche. So join me as I strap on those high heels, drape myself in velvet and just make an ass out of myself in general.

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While still a little on the expensive side, Nature Girl is the “Nikki “to Rich Hippie’s “Paris”. It’s a little more likable and smells less like salty garbage. I’m kidding. That was mean. I apologize. Rich Hippie’s perfumes smell great. The Oatmeal Face Mask looks delish, no?

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