Is it just me or has the term "self-care" become a buzz word lately? Every social media platform I use is flooded with ways to do this seemingly difficult task lately. Is there a secret key or series of steps to follow to figure it out? I'm not sure. I certainly don't have that! But I agree wholeheartedly that self-care is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and love that there are so many ways to accomplish it!
One of my favorite ways to take care of myself is an at home spa day or quick pamper session. My schedule changes on a daily basis, so sometimes I only have time for a quick face mask while other times allow for a long soak in a bubble bath. No matter the length, I always walk away from my pampering feeling refreshed and lighter. Due to this habit of mine, I love to try out new treatments and products. After my last experience with Valentia (read more here), I couldn't wait to try this detox mask!
For those of you who haven't heard about this great brand- prepare to be impressed. They use natural ingredients paired with effective science to address skin problems all over the spectrum. In addition to being natural, Valentia's products are also fee of parabens, toxins, and harsh chemicals found in other products. On top of that- this mask is vegan and cruelty-free. It seriously fits all of the criteria I look for in my skin care products. Hello, beautiful!
This detoxifying mask has to be the best scented clay mask that I've ever used. It had a light botanical smell as opposed to the earthy, well, muddy smells most masks have. But don't let the pleasant smell fool you. It packs a serious detoxifying punch! After applying a thin layer to your face, allow it to work its magic for 15-20 minutes. The mask stiffens up and lets you know when it's dry! The ingredients have natural fibers that will provide extra cleansing and exfoliation as you remove the mask. Simply massage in circles as you was it off!
After use, my skin is soft and clean. As with most masks designed to extract impurities, this did cause a few pimples after use. Don't fret- this means that the mask did its job to remove the junk lodged deep in my pores. Just don't use it too close to an important event if your skin is similar to mine! This product was a home run for me and I can't wait to continue to use it during future pampering sessions! If you want more of this great brand- check out their shop, Instagram, and Facebook!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Valentia to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!
I'm absolutely a creature of habit- there's no denying that. I love a good routine and feel at peace when things run according to plan. My skincare routine is probably the least predictable of all of my routines, because I LOVE trying new products. My routine also gets modified often because I have so many different products at my fingertips that I've used that produce awesome results. I'm all for mixing and matching different types of products to achieve my best fresh face! Things have been quiet out here on my blog as it relates to my beauty/skin care favorites, but I have to break the silence to share a new great product that I've been using- Valentia's royal rose hydrating serum! (showcased here earlier this month)
Valentia is a skin care brand that focuses on creating products that are natural, free of toxins, paraben-free, and effective. I was unfamiliar with their products before using this one, and am so glad to have been introduced! I'm very careful about what I put on my face and these products pass the scrutiny test. This particular serum packs a serious punch of moisture, antioxidants, and soothing botanicals. It's designed to smooth out you skin's texture and tone while nourishing. Hello, gorgeous skin!
Valentia's royal rose hydrating serum is not only beautifully packaged, but it is potent. I could feel the hydration immediately after my first use. No burning, no itching, and no sticky feeling follows application either. Over my first week, I noticed more radiance in my skin and I felt as though my skin was glowing even before I put any makeup on! The serum is more of a thin lotion that a traditional serum. It's so easy to use and doesn't run all over the place or promote wastage of product. You only need 1-2 pumps to coat your entire face and neck, so this bottle is extremely cost effective at $35. It has a dreamy and light rose scent, not surprising given the ingredients. Overall, it's a hit!
A quick testimony to the results I've seen: unless I'm sick, I rarely leave my house without applying some form of makeup to my skin. I just prefer the little bit of confidence I get from having nice-looking skin when I go out. Even just a tinted moisturizer or BB cream will make me feel better before I leave. On Saturday morning, I actually went out to pick up some breakfast bare faced. THIS IS HUGE FOR ME! I definitely owe my newfound comfort with my skin to this fantastic serum.
If you want more information about Valentia or the royal hydrating serum, check out their website. To purchase, you can head here. And as always, please reach out to me if you have any questions that are left unanswered!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Valentia to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!
Happy Monday, y'all! I feel like those are actually rare, but I'm committed to staying positive this year and want to do what I can to make that statement true. One of the ways I've made my Mondays a little brighter has been with the addition of some lessons learned from my Monday Glow challenge I mentioned on Twitter and Instagram last week. I want to give y'all the whole story today!
First off, some of you may be wondering what the heck I mean when I say Monday Glow. I was introduced to the concept by my friends Annie and Cat who blog over at Collective Passions. They've come up with this great eating plan to help you "reset" your body on Mondays to start the week out right. I've spoken before about how indulgent I can be over the weekends, which hasn't changed, and I love that this plan is designed to target those habits! I've never tried a healthy eating plan before and have failed to keep up with diets I've attempted in the past but the idea of a one-day plan seemed manageable to me. (Not to mention delicious after I was introduced to the recipes!) I decided to give it a go and was really happy that I did!
I think the best thing about this plan is how easy it was for me. I like eggs, veggies, protein bars, green juice, and smoothies- so why not put them all together for a strong start to my week?! These girls have laid out everything you need for success with this plan in their gorgeous eBook and have not missed a detail! They share every little step- down to how many days in advance you need to order your specialty items from Amazon. And don't worry- the recipes are totally approachable and don't require any special tools.
I've always considered myself a healthy eater, but I was surprised at how great I felt when I packed my day with superfoods. The title explains it all- I felt like you could see my glow by the end of the day! And believe me, that is not something I can typically brag about after a Monday! I learned some yummy recipes that I can't wait to try my own variations of and was introduced to some new smoothie boosters to help make my blends even more potent. All-in-all, this was a great boost for me and I will definitely be incorporating what I've learned into my everyday routine to help glow a little brighter every day!
Aside from the great food, this plan comes with 2 important components: a "glow journal" to help you be mindful and capture your feelings throughout your Monday Glow day and a private Facebook community for support! Obviously, given the fact that I'm a blogger, I love writing and found the journal to be a great way to keep myself mindful throughout the day. It's easy to get busy, especially on Mondays, and neglect how you're feeling! The community is so helpful to me because I love having people to keep me accountable in my healthy habits and to bounce health ideas off of!
Does this sound as interesting to you as it did to me? Read more about the why behind the plan and have an opportunity to purchase the eBook here. Also, Annie and Cat are graciously giving away a free copy to one lucky reader! Enter using the widget below and GOOD LUCK!
Hey y'all! I hope you're having the most fabulous week! Mine has been pretty good and I'm just happy it's FRIDAY! I'm about to get into a super busy season with my job, so I'm enjoying this "calm before the storm" time period. I've found that when I get busy with work, my typical routine and priorities shift. Normally, I stay in a pretty structured routine and this makes me happy (yes- I'm very Type A). I try to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, eat right, have a healthy amount of exercise, and keep up with my family/friends. Add in work responsibilities and blogging, and I have a full day every day!
Unfortunately when my routine starts to shift, I notice some not-so-cute side effects. Bags under my eyes, dry skin, fast food/take out for meals, feeling isolated from loved ones... YIKES! Any one of those problems are basically a nightmare for me, not to mention a combination of several. To my dismay- there is no quick fix for these problems. BUT, you can take steps to lessen and/or prevent them when you know they're on the horizon. Prevention is key for so many issues we run into- and that's precisely how Spongelle's Beyond Cleansing body contouring buffer comes into play!
Do you remember my first experience with Spongelle? I couldn't be more thrilled to check out another one of their awesome products. This body contouring buffer is designed to fight cellulite before it's a problem. How is this miracle accomplished? The shape of this buffer allows you to massage areas prone to cellulite. This treatment aims to stimulate lymphatic flow in those areas to firm and tighten your skin- ultimately preventing cellulite. It also contains caffeine and other botanical extracts to give immediate results after use. Um- hello?! A preventative treatment to keep my skin looking youthful that involves a massage? Do you think there is even a second of hesitation here??
As expected, my experience with the body contouring buffer was wonderful. First- the beach grass scent is just intoxicating. I mean, seriously. I wish y'all could smell through the screen! Simply taking it out of the box transported me to a spa-like mindset. I love feeling pampered and this did just that for me. The buffer is to be used in gentle circles with the textured side and the soft side is used to cleanse. This has 30+ washes in it and I can't wait to continue using it. My skin is soft, smells great, and appears smooth- especially in the areas that I massage. In my understanding, the new plumpness of the treated skin is due to the caffeine inside the buffer. I do believe that prevention is the only true way to combat certain issues like cellulite and do not think there is a quick fix that will provide long term results. With that being said, I think that quick fixes absolutely have their time and place! I'm happy to have discovered mine- this is perfect to bring along for a beach trip or to be used any time that you need a little last-minute skin tightening.
It even looks fun!
Overall, I'm pleased with this product (not that I'm surprised after my last experience)! Want more Spongelle? See their Instagram page to look at images to get you in a relaxing mindset and stay up-to-date with all product news! If you'd like to get one for yourself, Spongelle body buffers can be found at Anthropologie, spas, and local boutiques. You can use the store locator found on their website to find the closest location to you! In addition, they are sold online. Spongelle is generously offering 20% off to readers with the code "BBLOGGER20" through October 19.
This giveaway has ended, thank you for all who entered!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Spongelle to review honestly. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!
Hi hi! I'm back again with another book review. This was actually my second time reading "Eat, Pray, Love" because my initial attempt was unsuccessful. I first tried to start this book while in college, and wasn't able to juggle all of my commitments AND read. This was fairly typical of my college days- my renewed love for reading has really blossomed since I've been working full time. I purchased this book before it was even committed to be a movie, and decided I wasn't going to see the movie until I finished it... years later I am finally ready. This second attempt obviously had divine timing because I was able to get all the way through it and really felt as though my older self appreciated it more than my college self would have. I've had more relationship experience, finally have the desire to travel, have a love for yoga, a steady faith, and well, my love for pasta has always been here. But you can see that I am basically an ideal candidate for this book.
The book is split into 3 sections, not-so-slyly relating to the title. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, picks up to travel after a nasty divorce and what I gathered to be a mid-life crisis. She spends her time in 3 different countries- Italy, India, and Indonesia- and explores different aspects of her personality while immersed in the culture of each one.
In my humble opinion, this is a beautiful story of self-discovery as she navigates her travels and healing process. She openly writes about her struggles with loneliness and depression, which I was very impressed with. She could have easily glazed over those details and filled the pages with the rest of the story line. Her self-assurance tactics and connection to her budding spirituality were also inspiring to me.
I found this to be extremely well-written and easy to read. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down, but I had no problem feeling engaged and excited to pick it back up. I love books with a strong female lead and this absolutely qualifies! After finishing, I have decided that I want to go eat all of the pasta she described in Italy and am excited to develop a more spiritual connection to yoga/meditation. But first, I will settle to just see the movie! I hope it doesn't disappoint!
On a side note, I just started Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me" and am loving it. I'm looking forward to the next review already!
Have you read "Eat, Pray, Love"? Did you see the film? What are you currently reading/do you have any book recommendations for me?
Hey out there! I hope y'all are having a great week so far. I recently posted this photo on Instagram, and had some requests to share my thoughts on the product. I was introduced to the brand Supergoop through a sample in my Birchbox. Even with my first use, I knew this was going to be my next beauty secret! And I'm so happy to talk about it with y'all!
When I received my sample, I was using Clinque's age defense BB cream. I really like that product, but it wasn't providing the coverage I wanted on a day-to-day basis. I feel like it would be best for light "barely there" make-up. The way it was described to me, a BB cream is a beauty balm that offers light coverage and is jam packed with nutrients to treat your skin. A CC cream is for complexion correction and helps with color-related skin problems through more significant coverage. Based on those descriptions, I knew I wanted to try a CC cream to give me more coverage but struggled to pick a brand. There are so many make-up brands out there!!! Thankfully Birchbox took care of the legwork and sent me a knight in shining armor.
Supergoop's CC cream offers beautiful matte coverage without looking cakey on your skin. While I was looking for more coverage, I wanted it to stay lightweight on my face. This absolutely does the trick for me! Most importantly, it contains SPF 35 to keep your skin protected. My dad is a skin cancer survivor, so I am extremely careful with sun protection.
I have been applying this product with my fingers and find it to be about the same consistency as my previous product. It's been providing me with gorgeous coverage and I'm really pleased with how matte my skin stays all day. I didn't think it could be (or needed to be) improved upon, but on a whim last week I bought a new make-up brush that has made me love this product even more! I got an airbrush foundation brush from Sephora and am able to achieve an even lighter look. I'm absolutely in love.
Overall, I am head-over-heels for this foundation. If you have any questions that I didn't address here, please comment below or shoot me an email! I'd be happy to share more information- especially if it will help you find your new favorite beauty product!
Hey y'all! Happy Monday (if there is such a thing). I'm super excited to share today's post! Have you heard of the amazing body care brand Spongelle? I've seen these adorable sponges in local boutiques and was absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to work with them! They are packaged in vibrant boxes and available in an array of delicious scents. I haven't been this excited for a package to arrive in quite some time now.
I received the coconut verbena body buffer and mandarin mint pedi buffer to try. This was my first time actually using a Spongelle product, and let me just tell y'all- these little guys are incredible! They are infused with sweet-smelling cleansers that leave your skin feeling luxuriously soft after use. Even better, they are able to be used multiple times!! The body buffers can be used 14+ times and the pedi buffers can be used 30+ times. That might be my favorite part of this whole body care innovation! Also of note, they are 100% made in the USA.
For me, the best part about the body buffer is how simple it makes my shower in the morning. I'm practically a zombie before I have my morning cup of coffee! Only needing to add water to the sponge makes this the EASIEST way to cleanse and pamper your body. And although it's one step, I don't feel cheated by skipping out on using multiple products to get soft skin. These sponges leave a light scent that sticks around well after my shower and deliver serious moisture from neck to toe. While I'm not the biggest fan of coconut scented products, I didn't mind the coconut verbena scent on my sponge.
As most girls do, I love getting pampered when receiving a pedicure. However, I do not like when they remove callouses from your feet. I'm soo ticklish! I always seem to spaz around and worry about kicking the poor soul working on my toes. This pedi buffer might just be the answer to my unsaid prayers. It's definitely a more firm sponge than the body buffer and it works to gently (but effectively) remove dead skin. The best part? It doesn't tickle when you do it to your own feet! Additionally, the mandarin mint smell was absolutely to die for! It was wonderfully exotic and makes me happy every time I use my buffer.
Overall, I love these products! I plan on continuing to use them and can't wait to try new scents when I purchase my next set. I also think these are perfect gifts at a reasonable price point! Interested in checking these out for yourself? Hop over to their shop and Instagram pages to browse around!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Spongelle to review honestly. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
Hi out there! It's no secret that I'm a big fan of exfoliation. Not
only do I enjoy the feeling of scrubbing the impurities off my body, but
I love the smooth skin revealed afterwards! While this is important
across your whole body, it is especially beneficial for our faces! This
helps to keep pores unclogged, remove dead skin, and really prepares us
for the serums and moisturizers we may use afterwards. Because of these
great benefits, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try out
this fantastic Oz Naturals dermafoliant!
I've used exfoliating face washes and masks before, but never an exfoliant powder. I
was a little skeptical and unsure of how to really use this product
when I received it. The instructions ask you to mix a small amount of
powder with water in your palm, scrub in circular motions, and allow it
to sit for 5 minutes on your face before rinsing it off. I may just be
clumsy, but I tried to use this twice at my sink counter and ended up
with the stuff all over my black granite! Not a pretty sight and
required me to clean my counter tops a few extra times during that week
to prevent the powder from sticking to everything I set down. The next
time I tried it, I used it in the shower and had an AMAZINGLY different
experience. It didn't feel messy, and was really easy to rinse off
completely. I will be using this exclusively in the shower moving
forward. In addition to the messes I was making, I also had a difficult
time trying to figure out a good amount of water to add to reach a nice
consistency before exfoliating. The "thin paste" description in the
instructions is pretty vague and I found that I prefer to really just
wet the powder and then add a little more water as needed during use!
The
dermafoliant makes my skin feel so silky, I honestly didn't know that
my face could BE that smooth! Putting on my serum and moisturizer
afterwards was actually enjoyable because I loved the feeling of my own
skin. How great is that?! It is recommended to be used 2-3 times a week,
and I feel as though the texture of my skin has evened out with regular
use (I've currently been using this product as recommended for the last
2 weeks). I'm excited to see the long-term results!
Interested in picking up a bottle for yourself? Check out Oz Naturals' Amazon shop here for more information!
I'm seriously impressed at the price point, because I feel that you are
able to get many uses out of the bottle sized based on my experience so
far.
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Oz Naturals to review honestly. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
Hey y'all! I've been busy busy busy so far this week- I'm actually out in Arizona this week for a work conference. This is my first time here and I'm hoping to sight see a little bit after all of the meetings. The weather out here is so different than what I'm used to, considering the fact I've never lived in a desert, but dry heat is pretty awesome! I was scared by the forecasted weather for the week, but so far it's manageable.
I wanted to share another book review today. I absolutely FLEW through this book. It sucked me in right away and I had a seriously hard time putting it down every time I picked it up to read. I just adore books like that. Dark Places is written by Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl, and mirrored the darkness found it that book. So, if you were bothered by the plot or imagery in that book- this one is NOT for you.
This story follows the survivor of a murdered family in a small Kansas town as she looks into the details surrounding the event that's haunted her for over 20 years. It twists and turns through flashbacks and current day, keeping you on the edge of your seat with each page. The ending is too good to even hint at or spoil, so trust me in saying you've gotta pick this up and read it for yourself! Overall, the book was very intriguing to me and sent me through a wide range of emotions- from sadness to surprise to disgust. I've always believed that a good book evokes strong emotions from you- whether they are positive or negative- and this definitely did!
Have you read this book? What are you currently reading? What are your favorite kinds of books?
Hey y'all! I hope you're having a fabulous week so far. For those of you who have been reading along with me, you've probably noticed that I'm getting really interested in beauty and perfecting my skin care routine over the past few months. I've never been an expert when it comes to make-up, but I've always taken great care to keep my skin healthy and glowing. I work a customer-facing job in sales and have become even more sensitive to my appearance over the past few years (although let's be honest, what girl isn't?!). My appearance is giving an impression before I open my mouth to my customers and my skin has not been speaking kindly of my habits as of late- dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, and sun exposure. As I've started aging, I notice that my lifestyle shows up on my face more than it ever has before. Why is growing older so dang hard?!
Since I've started reading more blogs, I've noticed a new-to-me trend in skin care: beauty serums. They come in many different shapes and sizes claiming to fix a host of skin woes. I don't know all that there is to know about them, but I do know that you put them onto clean skin before moisturizing and it is said to work best when you leave a few minutes in between each step to let it fully absorb into your skin. As I've mentioned before, I have a combination complexion that tends to get even more oily when I'm stressed out. The fact that I'm already shiny made me nervous about putting something slick onto my face, especially in the mornings underneath my make-up.
Although I was nervous, the benefits of Solvaderm Skincare's ACE-Ferulic Serum seemed to outweigh my worries of adding a serum to my routine. Their products are carefully crafted by skincare experts and dermatologists to ensure top-of-the-line quality. This serum is designed to restore your skin and fight signs of aging due to sun exposure and/or environmental stressors. ACE-Ferulic serum targets your protein and collagen fibers to improve skin structure. Additionally, it works to improve your texture and tone to leave your skin glowingly youthful! Sign me up!
I have been using the product as directed- once in the morning and once at night- and am happy with my results so far. It began to work surprisingly fast! I could honestly notice a difference in my skin the first morning I woke up after using the serum. My skin appeared more plump and looked so well rested! This serum goes on so smoothly and doesn't cause any discomfort (burning, stinging, redness, etc) after application. In addition to the changes in structure I've noticed, I feel as though my skin has a more even tone and texture than it did before I started using this great product. Anything that banishes fine lines from my face is a winner in my book! I also love that this serum is professional grade and delivers actual results. I'm thrilled so far and am looking forward to my results with continued use.
Interested in picking up a bottle of this miracle serum for yourself? Check out Solvaderm Skincare's website here!
Do you use a beauty serum? Have you heard of this brand or product? If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or send me an email- I'm happy to answer any questions you may have!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Solvaderm Skincare to review honestly. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
Hey y'all! I hope you're having a fabulous week so far. Shortly after graduating college, one of my goals that I made for myself was to get back into reading for pleasure. I had a hard time with it to be honest. After years of required reading for school, all of the fun had really been sucked out of the activity for me. Upon having that realization I decided that I would ask around for recommendations for books that others enjoyed, in hopes of relighting that fire within myself. Thankfully, that did the trick for me and I have erased my schoolgirl mindset with respect to books. Since I attribute my enjoyment to good recommendations, I thought I'd start sharing little reviews of books I'm reading as I finish them- just in case you are looking for one too!
I really enjoyed "Mean Girls" but honestly had very little exposure to Tina Fey outside of her Sarah Palin SNL skits. I knew her to be funny in her roles, but that was just about it. I saw "Bossypants" on the shelf in Target and was so tickled by the cover; I had to get check it out. (Sidenote- I'm extremely visual so many of my picks in life are based on visual appeal. This is a good and a bad thing since exterior charm doesn't always translate through content!) Before I purchased it, I read the back cover and was totally sold!
This book is a witty and well-written peek into what it's like to be Tina Fey. She shares intimately personal stories covering all topics, from her childhood to her marriage to her career, in a very light way and I didn't find any parts of the book to be drawn out or trying too hard. Written comedy can be extremely difficult in my opinion due to the fact that you lose a comedian's delivery skills! I felt that most if not all of the jokes in this book translated well and you can't help but laugh out loud at certain parts. Her personality shines through and I enjoyed the feminist tones throughout the book.
I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something upbeat and easy to read. It was a great travel book for me, because I wasn't feeling lost in the story if I let some time pass between readings. I was able to pick right back up where I left off.
Have you read this book? What are you currently reading? Would you like to see more book reviews on the blog?
Happy May lovely readers! I hope that we are finally done with the showers and can just enjoy the flowers as the old adage goes. I know I am a little late on this, but I wanted to share with y'all my first month of my Birchbox subscription! I signed up at the beginning of April and was able to get the collaboration box with Rifle Paper Co. It is beautiful! I am definitely going to be reusing it as storage in my place.
I've heard so much about Birchbox lately- between their commercials and blog posts on my radar. It sounds great, but I'm more of a "tried and true" girl when it comes to my beauty routine. My stepsister recently signed up for the service, and has had nothing but good things to say about it! Wait- I'll take that back- the only negative point she could bring up is that she wants to buy at least one product in every single box. Now in my eyes, that's a good and a bad thing. Good when you find the right fit or a product that fits a previously unknown need and bad when you find an awesome duplicate of a product you have plenty of at home.
Upon signing up, you fill out a decent sized survey to understand personal style and current beauty habits. The personalization seemed great and I was very eager to get my first box. I was a little weary to receive tons of sample sized products- as I have quite a few unused samples around my house already. But in the end, I figured for $10 I will take my chances to try it out until I decide it's no longer necessary for me! Birchbox sends you an email with the tracking information, so you can check-in to see where your box is once it's shipped. On the day my box was supposed to arrive, I felt like a little girl running down on Christmas morning as I went to check my mailbox! I ran directly into my house, and tore in to check out my goodies. It was so exciting!! I got a CC cream, a perfume sample, a facial peel, a hand lotion, and a lip + cheek stain. They are all samples sizes with 1-20ish uses contained in each. They really did a nice job matching colors to my complexion and classic taste in make-up.
I honestly have used all except the peel at this point and totally understand what my stepsis meant. I WANT IT ALL! The problem is in fact real. I can probably live without the lotion and the perfume, but as soon as I need more foundation I want to order the CC cream and lipstick. I've been wearing a BB cream but really enjoy the increased coverage and matte look of the CC cream. Such a great find!
I'm really excited to get my May box! It's been hand-picked and designed by popular blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere. I'll be sure to share what I get in that one too!
Do you have a favorite subscription service? Have you tried Birchbox before? If you're interested in signing up or finding out more information, please send me an email so we can chat 1-on-1!
Hi out there! I can't believe it's already the last day of April. I've said this before, but this year is just FLYING by so far! There has been so much to do in so little time thus far, and it's been leaving me just short of exhausted. I am a fairly light sleeper and picky about my sleeping conditions- so between hosting guests and traveling, I've slipped into a serious sleep debt to my body. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to try out Vita Sciences Maxasorb Melatonin Cream just in time!
Melatonin is a chemical that we naturally produce which regulates our sleep cycle. I don't have a deficiency that I'm aware of, but I definitely have a harder time falling asleep in the past few years that I ever have before. I've seen melatonin capsules at the pharmacy before, but have been weary about taking sleeping supplements. I am a bad sleeper anyways, and didn't want to become dependent on a pill just to fall asleep. Many of the supplements contain other chemicals as well, and I'm not one to just fill myself with unnecessary chemicals and hope that they help. I was so intrigued by the idea of a melatonin cream, I couldn't wait to try it!
It is so easy to use- I rub one pump of the creamy lotion on my legs before I crawl into bed on nights when I need a little help falling asleep. No matter how tired I am when I get into bed, I seem to do the same song and dance that prolongs my sleep every night. I normally toss and turn around in my bed for a while before getting comfortable. Once I'm finally settled in, it takes me additional time to shut my brain down from the day and relax into sleep. When I use my Maxasorb Melatonin Cream, I significantly reduce the amount of time between snuggling in and falling asleep. It's been amazing for me! I've noticed that when I have more restful sleep, it's easier for me to get up in the morning to start my day. Any changes in the morning are huge for me, as I'm not exactly a morning person as it is (read more about my morning routine here).
I honestly was a little skeptical about a topical melatonin treatment, but am so glad that I decided to give it a try. I don't feel dependent on it at all and am happy with the results when I use it. The lotion is smooth without leaving your skin greasy and is odorless, making it easy to use before bed. Here's to many more restful nights! Interested in getting some for yourself? Check out Vita Sciences website here.
Have you used any melatonin products? Do you have any secrets for falling asleep quickly?
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Vita Sciences via Brandbacker to review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
Happy Monday, y'all! I hope you had wonderful weekend! These past few weeks have been crazy with work for me, and it's really starting to show on my face. When I get stressed out, my skin gets more oily and I feel as though I break out every single time! Nothing is worse than having to deal with bad skin AND a crazy busy schedule! Thankfully, I got the opportunity to try out Pure & Essential Mineral's Dead Sea Mud mask. It couldn't have come at a better time for me!
Mud masks are well-known for their ability to purify your skin and shrink your pores. Now, there are many products who include those claims on their labels so it can be difficult to sort through all of the mess to find what actually will help out your skin! I have fair and sensitive skin, so I have to be extremely careful when selecting what I put on my face. Through knowing and understanding my skin type, I have found that I look my best when I use products containing mostly natural ingredients. Pure & Essential Mineral's Dead Sea Mud mask is 100% natural and organic- so I didn't have to think twice about giving it a try.
The instructions recommend weekly use, but I was hesitant to go all in until I had tried it out a few times. I have currently used it twice and am pleased with the experience. The product is silky smooth and went on easily. The mask does have a pretty strong smell, but I honestly didn't even notice it once it was on my face. It's not an artificial or perfume scent, so it didn't bother my eyes or nose during use! The mask dries quickly and you can feel it tightening on your skin right away so you know it's working. There was no burning sensation like I have experienced with other mud masks. Allow it to dry and after 10 minutes, re-activate the mask with warm water for simple removal. My skin is very soft and feels squeaky clean after using this mask! I have noticed a reduction in the size and redness of already-present blemishes. The mask does claim to reduce blackheads, but I did not see that on my skin. Maybe that is a benefit of longer or more frequent use than what I have been able to do so far.
I am excited to have a new secret weapon in my beauty routine and will definitely be keeping this mask handy for those stressful weeks! Head on over to Pure & Essential Mineral's Amazon shop to try it out for yourself!
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Pure & Essential Minerals to review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
This winter has been rough on my skin. I'm not sure if it's the colder temps or that I'm doing something different, but my skin has definitely been suffering. Not good! I've dabbled around with different moisturizers and techniques to beat the dryness, but I think I've FINALLY discovered the cure for my skin. Better late than never, right?
Enter my miracle treatment- 100% pure Argan oil. Argan oil has essentially limitless uses because it is such a pure and simple ingredient. You can add a few drops into your bath, infuse a beauty product with a little extra moisture, apply to skin as a head-to-toe moisturizer, smooth stray/frizzy hair, repair split ends, or even sprinkle over a salad! {I'm not sure I would do that last one, but it apparently is good?} I've been using my Radha Argan oil for just under a week and am already pleased with my results. Radha Beauty is committed to creating high quality and effective beauty products that happen to be at a great price. I have perused other Argan oil brands and was shocked to find a 4 oz bottle of certified organic product at such an affordable price point! I was also really impressed with the fact that Radha Beauty uses environmentally friendly packaging methods, natural ingredients, and partners with woman-empowering organizations throughout their production. And to top it all off, the product actually WORKS!
At this point, I have used my oil in several ways. I first tried it out as a skin moisturizer. I warmed the oil between my hands, using 4-6 drops at a time, and applied all over my body. The oil absorbed quickly without leaving behind a greasy or sticky film. My skin was slick, so I would recommend avoiding your feet unless you are putting socks on or getting into bed right away- no need to slip and fall! I found time to draw myself a bath Sunday evening and added several drops of oil into the tub as it was filling up. I could actually tell a difference in my skin's texture after my soothing soak! My final use so far was in my hair- I smoothed several drops through my hair, after warming between my hands, starting halfway down my strands and concentrating on the ends. My hair has a healthy sheen and feels moisturized at the end. I hope this will help me avoid some split ends and keep my hair looking healthy in between hair cuts.
I have an idea for a DIY involving my new favorite oil, and am hoping to find some time to get it together in the next week or two! Be on the lookout for that. Interested in picking some up for yourself? Head over to Radha Beauty's Amazon shop for great pricing on this essential beauty product.
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary item from Radha Beauty to review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.
Hey out there! I wanted to share with y'all one of the best things I've purchased for my skin in a while. My skin tends to be on the oily side- especially towards the afternoon. I am a loyal fan of The Body Shop's skincare line {I particularly love the seaweed cleansing line}. When I was in the store to buy some more toner, I wandered over into their mask section. I bought this product by recommendation of the sales representative and rushed home to use it!
This mask is called the Blue Corn 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Scrub Mask. It's incredible! I use it once a week in place of my normal skin care routine. My favorite part is definitely how soft my skin is when I rinse it off. It works to deep cleanse AND exfoliate your skin. First you apply a thin layer to your face and let it work its magic for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and enjoy the exfoliation! My skin is absolutely glowing afterwards and I feel like my skin looks better for several days after using it.
My lovely mask definitely helps to control my skin's oil production after use. Truly, I just love how pampered I feel while I use it! Day-to-day life can get so busy and it's great to take some time to treat yourself. It would be a great addition to the next at-home spa day! I would highly recommend it.
What is your favorite product to pamper yourself? Have you used this before?
As I mentioned previously, I picked up some cold pressed juices from Wegman's to try something different. Juicing and juice cleanses are extremely popular up here in Northern VA. I haven't committed to a full fledged cleanse {not sure if I will ever be able to do that}, but I have definitely enjoyed mixing them in with my daily diet. Feel free to pop over to my Instagram to see some of my different choices!
I've only experimented with a few different brands at this point- but I've been pleased overall with my choices. For me, these have been a great tasting and easy way to get more fruits and veggies during the day. Particularly during lunch! I find myself going to the same fast food places {yikes!} when I'm eating out. And while I'm not always eating off the dollar menu, I don't always get to eat the rainbow either!
Have you experimented with any cold-pressed juices yet? I wanted to share a little about my experience so far with y'all! The two brands I have tried are BluePrint and Suja. I drank a Carrot Lemon juice from BluePrint that I picked up at SafeWay. Kinda random, but I just had one of those days where I was running late and forgot to grab a previously purchased juice before I left home. The juice was very separated when I purchased it, but blended well when I shook it. The color was vibrant and smelled just like a fresh carrot when I opened it up! The juice was thin and fresh tasting with a crisp lemon after taste. {I mention the texture because I was worried about it being thick} I enjoyed it, but I wonder if it would be just as good- and cheaper- for me to buy a small bag of carrots to have with my meal.
The other juices I have enjoyed so far have been from Suja. I grabbed quite a few flavors to get started! As far as the green juices go, Green Delight was my favorite. This is probably more of a beginner juice as it is primarily sweet. For the colored/fruity juices, it's truly hard to pick. If I had to, Berry Goodness and Berry Nana have got to tie for first. Look at how pretty these are!!
I couldn't even get a photo before finishing this one! :)
As you can see, these are brilliantly colored and gorgeous! Two of the juices that I got were a little on the earthy side for being a juice newbie. Maybe my first hint should've been that I don't particularly love beets, but the Sweet Beets was more beets and less sweets. I think I would've liked it more if it was sweetened a bit more. It smelled rich and flavorful. The Uber Greens bottle was also on the earthy side and the juice was very thin. Although I didn't fall in love with the Uber Greens, I did feel good after I drank it. Just knowing that it was so full of antioxidants and nutrients made it taste better for me. While I'm not totally opposed to trying them again, I feel like my favorites and the more fruity juices will be the ones I continue to incorporate into my routine. Here are just a few more pretties for your viewing pleasure. :)
Have you tried out any cold-pressed juices? What are your favorites? Have you done a cleanse? Please share your thoughts below in a comment!
Today, I wanted to share with you my favorite technology "accessory": my fitbit Flex.
Now, I'm not sure if many other people wear theirs as a part of a bracelet stack... but I absolutely love this little piece of rubber and plastic! Over the past year, I have really gravitated away from any regular exercise or workout routine. I experience little spurts of ambition where I sign up for fitness classes or go running or shop for gym memberships. The length of these ambitions vary, but nothing seems to stick for me. I've always lead an active lifestyle and have never really needed to put forth the effort to "get fit" or go outside of my normal routine to make sure I was getting enough exercise.
Let me just tell you right now I was delusional until this past summer. I pretended not to notice my metabolism working less, my clothes fitting more snug that usual, and the fact that I was worn out after small amounts of physical activity. While I am well aware that our bodies change with age, I also understand that healthy habits are important and often require extra effort on our part. Upon the realization of my health mistakes, I decided to get a fitbit. This thing rocked my world.Putting a numerical value on my activity has been really eye opener for me- I was overestimating the amount of activity I was actually doing on a daily basis. Sure, walking around DC and checking out the monuments helps rack up 20,000 steps but I am not doing that every day. Most days I come home from a mainly sedentary work day, change into my pajamas, and plop onto the couch to watch the tv for the evening. {a picture of health, right?}
Fitbit allows you to set daily goals for different categories: steps, distance, active minutes, weight, water consumed, and calories. I truly believe that the changes I have seen in my health since July were the result of the goals I have set with my beloved gadget. For me, the visualization of my activity as well as the tracking of my progress towards my goals has been extremely effective as a motivator. I get so excited when I reach my goals. I just want to do more!
Although the use of technology has helped me, I know many people are able to make huge changes on their own. I think that no matter how you reach your goals, it's important that you have them and constantly work towards achieving them! You only get one body- so remember to treat yours well.
Do you have any fitness gadgets? What keeps you motivated to stay healthy?
