Product Obsession: Scentuals Bodycare Review #1

Scentuals Bodycare creates all natural personal care products handmade in Canada. They use ingredients which are sourced from all around the globe, their products are never tested on animals and are Eco-friendly.

Their goal is simple - "to provide the finest quality, affordable bath and body care which adds to your well being while delighting your senses."

I can honestly say that after trying their products that they most certainly achieved their goal!

Here is what I received:

1) Daily Skin Repair - This moisturizer will definitely come in handy during the Fall and Winter months, especially for my husband, who struggles with dry, itchy skin during those times. Made with nourishing and deeply hydrating Shea, Mango and Cocoa Seed Butters, you can kiss dry skin goodbye! I received this in "Lushberry" and I loved the scent of citrus combined with the rich scents of the Shea and Cocoa butters. It comes in a solid stick form, very much like a deodorant, yet melts seamlessly into skin when applied.

Price - $12.95
Ingredients - Theobroma Cacao (cocoa) Seed Butter, Stearic Acid (vegetable derived), Butyrospermum Parkii (shea butter) Fruit, Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil, Organic Mangifera Indica (mango) Seed Butter, Pure essential Oils, Tocopherol (vitamin e)


2) Vanilla Velvet Natural Hydrating Body Spray - This will be another Fall/Winter favorite of mine, not just because it's hydrating, thanks to moisture retaining vegetable glycerine, but because I love the luscious, musky fragrance of Vanilla and Sandalwood in the cooler months.

Price - $14
Ingredients - Filtered Water, Vegetable Glycerine, Pure Essential Oils, Fragrance

3) Vanilla Velvet Natural Handmade Soap - Like the hydrating mist above, this soap is a luscious combo of Tahitian Vanilla and Sandalwood, with the added healing benefits of Hemp Seed Oil and Nutmeg. So, not only will this keep your skin soft, but the antiseptic properties of Nutmeg will keep blemishes at bay. It's a win win situation in my book! :-)

Price - $6.50
Ingredients - Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Filtered water, Sodium hydroxide, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Pure essential oils, Beeswax, Pure Essential Oils, Organic Cannabis Sativa (hemp) Seed Oil, Myristic Fragrans (nutmeg), Fragrance

4) White Cranberry Hand and Foot Repair Cream - This was probably my favorite moisturizer of the bunch. I loved the fruity, almost candy-like scent of cranberry and how it melted into my skin, leaving it so silky soft and not the least bit greasy, despite how rich of a cream this is. It also reminds me of Christmas, which is probably due to the sweet cranberry scent.

Price - $15
Ingredients - Filtered Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF (plant derived), Vegetable Glycerin 99.5% USP, Stearic Acid (plant derived), Cetyl Alcohol, Pure Essential Oil, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (shea) Fruit Butter, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (aloe) Leaf Extract, Fragrance

5) Grapefruit Moisturizing Body Wash - Made with 76%  Aloe Vera juice as well as organic Argan Oil, this body wash has left my skin so soft that I don't need a moisturizer after I shower. It's energizing citrus scent really helps to wake me up in the morning too! This is a great natural alternative to some of the popular mall brands out there!

Price - $12
Ingredients - Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice), Coco glucoside (coconut derived , Coco glucoside and glyceryl oleate (natural lipid layer enhancer), Citric Acid, Pure essential oils , Argania spinosa (organic argan oil), Xanthan gum (natural thickener), Potassium sorbate & Sodium benzoate (natural preservatives)


6) Tangerine Dream Natural Hydrating Hand & Body Lotion - I loved the fragrance fusion of citrus and vanilla with this lotion. It's both energizing and relaxing at the same time, and completely intoxicating. And with ingredients like organic Aloe, Olive Oil and Argan Oil, skin is healed, nourished and rejuvenated.

Price - $12
Ingredients - Filtered Water, Oryza Sativa (rice) Bran Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF (plant derived), Persea Gratissima (avocado) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin 99.5% USP, Stearic Acid (plant derived), Organic Olea Europaea (olive) Oil, Pure Essential Oils, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Citrus Grandis (grapefruit) Seed Extract, Organic Argania Spinosa (agran) Oil, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (aloe) Leaf Extract


7) Pink Grapefruit Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion - Another fruity scented lotion, this one was slightly richer than the Tangerine Dream, yet not at all greasy. It contains Olive, Rice Bran and Avocado oils to deeply moisturize and regenerate skin, as well as Aloe Vera to help maintain skin's elasticity. This is a perfect "day at the beach" companion.

Price - $10
Ingredients - Filtered Water, Oryza Sativa (rice) Bran Oil, Persea Gratissima (avocado) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF (plant derived), Vegetable Glycerin 99.5% USP, Stearic Acid (plant derived), Pure Essential Oils, Organic Olea Europaea (olive) Oil, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Citrus Grandis (grapefruit) Seed Extract, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (aloe) Leaf Extract



I received several of their lovely lip products as well, which I will be including in a separate post, so stay tuned! :-)

The wonderful people at Scentuals were also kind enough to give a coupon code to be used for their site. Just use code chickweedandblush_20 at checkout to receive the discount! And, it's good for a year (it expires 8/21/15), how sweet is that??!


*All products were sent to me for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

You can follow Scentuals Bodycare on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


Have you ever tried Scentuals Bodycare products? What are your thoughts?

Guest Post: Aloe Vera - The Wonder Herb to Enhance Your Health and Beauty

I haven't done a guest post in quite awhile, so I am excited to finally have one to share! Vanessa Gallo is a talented writer from Zurich, Switzerland, who has a Masters in English Literature and who has worked with other professional writers.

She contacted me to see if I would allow her to write a guest post and I was happy to oblige, even more so once I learned she was going to be writing about one of my all time favorite medicinal plants - Aloe Vera!

My mom has had an Aloe plant in her home for as long as I can remember. It was essentially one of our main sources of "first aid". Now, I have an Aloe plant and it is still an integral part of my natural health regimen.

Read on to find out why this plant is so darn amazing!

Aloe Vera- The wonder herb to enhance your health and beauty - Guest Post by Vanessa Gallo

Photo Credit Google Images

Aloe vera belongs to the lily family and has many therapeutic and cosmetic properties. It is a key ingredient in many of the herbal medicines and beauty products. The use of aloe-vera dates far back to 4500 B.C. Queens of Egypt used to use the leaves of this plant to enhance their beauty. This magical plant is the powerhouse of a variety of nutrients which are necessary for our health. Let us list out the benefits of aloe-vera in developing our health and beauty.
⦁ Aloe-vera contains more than seventy five effective components which include twenty amino acids. Of twenty, eight amino acids are indispensable for the human body. In addition to this, some enzymes, vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides are hidden in aloe vera.  Salicylic acid, Saponins and Sterols have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
⦁ It reduces triglycerides and helps in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. It works amazingly well in reducing weight. It is used in the form of medicines and helps in treating piles, ulcers, ameneorrhoea and jaundice.
⦁ Aloe-vera is known to reduce the growth of cancer cells. Polysaccharides are found in aloe-vera which with an increased production of nitric oxide weaken and reduce cancer tumors. Acemannan is a phytonutrient which also has anti cancer properties.
⦁ Aloe-vera is effective in reducing the burns caused by the radiation therapy treatment for cancer. Both the internal and external uses of aloe-vera quicken the healing process and provide great relief.

⦁ Aloe-vera is globally used as a cosmetic product. It moisturizes the skin, gets rid of fine lines, wrinkles and dead cells on the surface of the skin. It removes stretch marks and helps in retaining the smooth texture of the skin.
⦁ Aloe-vera gel is beneficial in treating skin ailments like dermatitis, burns etc. It is also helpful in protecting the skin against sun burns, it prevents itching and scratching of the skin, heals wounds and stops bleeding from minor cuts. It prevents skin allergies and blisters from insect bites.

⦁ Inflammation in the body like rheumatism, arthritis, inflammation of the eyes and ears will be cured with the regular consumption of aloe-vera juice for more than fifteen days. This juice offers relief from digestive disorders. It eradicates gastrointestinal disorders such as heart and acid reflux, acts as a laxative and avoids constipation. It also reduces the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. Applying the gel externally helps to reduce muscle and joint pain.
⦁ Aloe-vera boosts the antioxidant effects of vitamins E and C. It improves the quality of blood and enables the circulation of nutrients and oxygen to various tissues and cells of the body. A sedentary lifestyle may result in blood clots in the circulatory system. Aloe-vera removes blood stickiness and promotes circulatory health. Once the blood is less sticky clots will not get formed. This entails there is a low risk of heart attack and stroke.
⦁ It contains anti diabetic properties also by which blood sugar levels are stabilized. The major symptom of peripheral neuropathy is the numbness in hands and legs. This will be avoided by using aloe vera.
⦁ Aloe-vera helps to flush out the excess water from the body. It prevents renal diseases caused by type 2 diabetes. It protects the body against the risks of kidney stones as well.
⦁ It is said to improve gynecological health. It regulates menstruation and helps in the proper functioning of uterus, cures fibroids and ovarian cysts with herbal treatment. Aloe-vera has antimicrobic properties which prevent fungal, bacterial and viral infections like herpes, Candida infections and vaginal itching. The anti inflammatory properties of this plant protect the human body against gynecological inflammations.
⦁ Aloe-vera functions as the best first aid solution. It makes a wonderful dressing for wounds and prevents harmful bacteria and infections.


Author Bio: I am Vanessa Gallo, a freelance writer from Zurich and prefer both academic and non academic writings. Normally I do help in writing all the academic papers and also content editing for all sorts of students. A good writing experience in creative writing with many professional services, made me effortless to prepare all kind of papers. Currently I am working out by providing the articles to the bloggers.


Thank you, Vanessa, for sharing!

What are your thoughts on Aloe Vera?

Peace & Love,
~Sabrina

"Own Your Bed Head" Project

I was recently contacted by Casper Sleep Mattress to share any tips or tricks I may have for dealing with messy morning hair as part of their "Own Your Bed Head" Project.

Since I have long hair that generally has a mind of its own, I was happy to oblige.

What I wish my morning hair looked like! Photo Credit

What my morning hair more closely resembled! Google Images

Let's face it, we all wish we could tumble out of bed looking like a Victoria's Secret Model (ok, maybe that's just me), but the sad reality is that not all of us are that lucky. Some of us wake up in the morning looking like a flock of birds made a nest out of our hair (again, maybe that's just me!).

Fed up with spending time de-tangling the ratty mess my hair was every morning, I decided to do something drastically different. No, I did not shave my head, though that would have solved the problem right there!

Honestly, I simply decided to stop sleeping with my hair down at night. I know what you're thinking - why didn't I think to do this in the first place? I guess because it was too obvious.

After having had my "eureka!" moment a few years ago, now I just throw my hair up into a loose bun on top of my head and when I wake up and take out the elastic band, my hair is wavy and no longer a mass of tangles.

Before bed (and washing my face of course!)

How my hair looked this morning after I took it down. No brushing was required! Neither was make-up apparently...eek!

That's really all I do! No special products. No complicated or fancy hair styling. Just a quick, two second bun and voila! No more messy bed head! I have no idea why I didn't do this years ago...


What are your tips or tricks to combating messy morning hair? Leave me a comment below!


Peace & Love,
~Sabrina

Product Obsession: Pour Le Monde Natural Perfume

Pour le Monde, which translates to "for the world", creates elegant, non-toxic perfumes, that use nothing but natural essential oils, natural grain alcohol and distilled water. One of the many challenges for me since going green has been finding a good, long lasting natural perfume that can rival some of the more popular high end brands out there. Thanks to Pour le Monde, my search may be over!

Not only are these perfumes completely natural and beautifully fragrant, but 10% of profits from each product goes to benefit a specific charity. Among those are "Guiding Eyes for the Blind/Healing Autism; National MS Society and the Cancer Support Community".

Photo Credit

Synthetic fragrances may smell wonderful, but ingredients like parabens, pthalates and synthetic musks are not so wonderful for our health. Not only can these substances disrupt hormone balance, cause liver and kidney damage, but they can also adversely affect the environment as well. Still want to douse yourself in your favorite mainstream scent?

Pour le Monde does not use any of the above ingredients and only uses pure plant oils and isolates that smell pleasing without being too overpowering.

I was very fortunate to try out their sample kit, which includes their 3 scents - Together, Envision and Empower.

1) Together - This was my favorite of three. It's light, delicate scent is both classic and sophisticated, yet flirty at the same time. With fruity top notes of Argentina Lemon and Italian Bergamot, florals of Jasmine, Freesia and Lilac, and blended with the woodsy base notes of Vanilla and Balsam, this perfume is perfect for day or night.

"10% of the net sale of TOGETHER benefits the Cancer Support Community. Let’s all get TOGETHER, 
  so that no one faces cancer alone ®.”

2) Envision - This is a perfect date night fragrance! It's bold and seductive and very exotic. Top notes include Florida Grapefruit and Pink Peppercorn, mixed with middle and base notes of French Lavender, Egyptian Geranium Rose and Indonesian Patchouli. It's quite intoxicating!

"10% of the net sale of ENVISION benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. ENVISION a world free of MS!"

3) Empower - . With crisp, clean top notes of Lemon, Persian Lime and Brazilian Orange, mixed with energizing notes of Spearmint and Lemongrass and finished with earthy Patchouli, this fun, playful scent is suitable for both men and women. 

"10% of the net sale of EMPOWER will benefit Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Dogs that EMPOWER the blind, visually impaired and children with autism."

My overall thoughts - I loved that these scents lasted longer than my previous experiences with natural perfumes and that they adjust with my own body chemistry, creating a scent that is uniquely mine, in a good way, rather than the "piney" scent that most mainstream brands end up smelling like on me. These perfumes truly are exquisite. 

*Samples were sent to me to review, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Have you tried Pour le Monde Perfumes? What are your thoughts?

Product Obsession: Luminance Skincare + a Coupon Code!

I've been extremely fortunate that I have gotten to try so many amazing natural skincare brands. Even more so that I have gotten good, sometimes even amazing results from them.

Luminance Skincare is no exception. I think of all the brands I have tested in the past several months, none have provided such noticeable anti-aging benefits in such a short amount of time. Granted, I already look a lot younger than my age, but I know what my "areas of improvement" are, and this line has definitely improved those considerably!

Maybe it's the fact that they use some of the most therapeutic, nourishing ingredients there is. Or that those ingredients are not only organic, but raw as well, so they retain all of their healing nutrients. Whatever it is, these products work and I am excited to share my thoughts on them with you!

Here is what I received:

Products were generously sent to me for review

1) Delicate Cleanser - This cleanser is probably one of the most unique cleansers I have ever used. It is not only made with highly nourishing and moisturizing oils, such as Avocado, Coconut, Jojoba, Argan and Macadamia Nut to name a few, but it is also made with ph balanced soap. It is vegan, organic and raw. It produces a light lather, rinses completely clean and leaves your skin incredibly soft. I've only been using this for a few weeks, but I am loving the way my skin feels afterwards and also that I have not once broken out! I have definitely been looking forward to washing my face since receiving this! Oh, and the fact that this comes in a spray bottle means less chance of wasting product so this baby will last you quite awhile!

Price - $18 for 4oz or $30 for 8oz
Ingredients - Water:  Purified Water Oils: Coconut, Jojoba, Apricot Kernel, Macadamia, Avocado, Meadowfoam, Argan, Kukui,Grape Seed and Rice Brand. Scents:  A secret blend of 100% Pure Essential Oils. Herbal Extracts: Honeysuckle, Orchid and Chamomile. To Saponify: Food Grade Potassium Hydroxide*

* A few words about Potassium Hydroxide: It is not synthetic.  It is the traditional base component that when added to the fatty acids (the seed and fruit skin oils) to create a reaction resulting in hot process liquid soap. The most gentle skin loving variety of soaps. When the formulation is done right, and we do it by hand is small batches, with engineering precision, all of the Sodium Hydroxide reacts with all of the oils, and clays and essential oils into a wonderfully fragrant, perfectly gentle and safe bottle of liquid soap. 

2) Rosewater Toner - As a fan of roses and rose scented anything, this is like heaven in a bottle to me. It's pure organic Rose Water, with nothing added to it. It restores the ph balance to your skin after cleansing, can help make up blend more seamlessly, and it is perfect for all skin types.The therapeutic and healing benefits of Rose Water are endless and why it is a must have staple in my skincare!

Price - $18 for 4oz or $30 for 8oz
Ingredients - Water: Organic Rose Water

3) Nourishing Serum - I think this is probably my favorite product of the bunch and that is saying a lot, since I loved everything I was sent! One of the things that makes this serum so special is that it contains Tamarind extract, a fruit high in anti-oxidants and a special form of polysaccarides, called xyloglucans, which has been proven to outperform Hyaluronic acid in terms of moisturizing and plumping up skin. I've noticed that since using this serum my skin has become firmer and yes, more hydrated. A very little bit is all you need to see any kind of results, so again mucho bang for your buck! I can honestly say I will shed a tear when I run of this, it's that good!

Price - $22 for 1oz
Ingredients - Water: Purified Water Oils: Tamarind, Kukui, Argan, Avocado, Apricot Herbal Extracts: Orchid, Comfry, Chamomile, Ginko, Tamarind, Sea Buckhorn, Honeysuckle, Calendula, St. John's Wort, Chia Seed Preservative: Red Radish Root

4) Hydration Face Moisturizer - If you like a moisturizer that deeply nourishes but feels light on your skin, then this product is for you. As with the serum, a little goes a very long way, and it absorbs into the skin very quickly, so you don't have to wait long before applying make-up, a plus if you are pressed for time! This moisturizer also contains ingredients which are anti-inflammatory, such as Evening Primrose and Meadowfoam oils, so acne prone gals like myself need not worry about break outs! 

Price - $27 for 1.9oz
Ingredients -  Water: Rose Water Oils:  Apricot Kernel, Macadamia, Avocado,Jojoba, Meadow foam, Argan, and Kukui. Organic Herbal Extracts: Tamarind Seed, Raspberry Seed, Comfry, Sea Buckthron, Holy Basil, Calendula, Tamanu, Honey Suckle, Rose Hips. To Naturally Preserve: Red Radish Root Extract.

5) Mataki (Maitake) Mushroom Face Mask - I love mushrooms. I eat them almost daily, I just never thought of using them on my face. Since using this mask, however, I can now say that I love using mushrooms in my skincare! This mask is literally food for your face. It contains organic Maitake Mushroom, Kelp, Matcha Tea and food grade clays, which all work together to pull impurities from your skin, while providing deep hydration. You can use this either as a regular mask, washing it off after ten minutes or so, or you can apply a thin layer and leave on overnight in place of your moisturizer for more detoxifying benefits. 

Price - $32 for 1.9oz
Ingredients - Water: Lavender Oils: Jojoba. Kukui, Argan, Meadowfoam, Red Radish Root, Blue Chamomile Herbal Extracts: Maitake Mushroom Mycelia, Calendula, Honeysuckle, Botanical Blend, Tamarind Seed, Amaranth Seed, Horsetail, Matcha Tea, Rooibos Root and Ginko Root.

6) Anjou Pear Soap - This creamy, super moisturizing soap smells just like fresh pears! I love using soaps like this that are hand crafted, gentle and contain absolutely zero toxins or harsh chemicals! 

Price - $6
Ingredients - Water:  Purified Water Oils: Coconut, Palm (Orangutan friendly), Jojoba, Apricot Kernel, Macadamia, Avocado, Palm Kernel, Meadowfoam, Argan, Kukui, Grape Seed and Rice Bran. Clays: White Benonite, French Green & Red Moroccan Scents:  A secret blend of 100% Pure Essential oils. To Saponify: Food Grade Sodium Hydroxide*  

My overall thoughts - I am extremely impressed with this brand, their ingredients as well as the results I have achieved through using them. I love that they use Radish Root as their preservative instead of Phenoxyethanol like some organic and natural brands do. I also love their prices, which for raw, organic products of this quality are extremely wallet friendly! I highly recommend checking out this brand! 

The wonderful people at Luminance is also offering a 20% off discount code to be used at their online store. Just use CHICKWEEDANDBLUSH at checkout!

*All products were sent to me for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own

Have you tried Luminance Skincare? What are your thoughts?

Peace and Love,
~Sabrina

Favorite Natural Make Up Tag

So, I was tagged forever ago by the lovely Jana to do this post and I am just now getting around to doing it. I know, I am a big slacker! Things have been crazy for me lately, so I am trying to get caught up on things as I can.

If you haven't already checked out Jana's blog, Small Bits of Loveliness, make sure you do! :-)

Now to answer the questions!

These are a few of my favorite things...

1) What is your favorite foundation? For over a year now, the foundation I use more than any other is Lucy Minerals powder foundation. I use the "Lucy Light" formula in the color "light". I just purchased their Oil Control with Silica formula so we'll see how my skin responds to that one.

2) What type of foundation do you prefer - mineral, liquid or cream? It honestly depends on my mood,  how my skin is behaving at the time, and what kind of look I am hoping to achieve. So, I will say all of the above. ;-)

3) Have you found a favorite natural mascara? Yes! My favorite natural mascara right now are the Organic Wear by Physician's Formula mascaras. I like them all, so I switch which one I wear depending on what my Target store has in stock.

4) In your opinion, what company makes the best pigment for eyeshadows? That's a tough one since I have pretty much stuck with the same brands for the past few years. I love the eyeshadows by Everyday Minerals and Terra Firma Cosmetics, but I have been dying to try Silk Naturals!

5) Have you tried any of your own natural make up? If so, how did it turn out? I can honestly say that I have not yet tried creating my own make up. I did formulate my own face primer, if that counts! :-)

6) What make up item was the hardest to switch over to a natural alternative? I'm still looking for the perfect foundation primer sans silicones (which is why I played around with making my own). I need the look of what silicone provides, but without the break outs I get from it. I will say that I do like the primers from Vapour Organic and 100% Pure, sadly they don't blur out my scars quite as well as a silicone primer does.

7) Do you have any holy grail natural or non-toxic make up products? My Jane Iredale Bitty Brow kit, Lucy Minerals foundation, Batty's Bath Quick Tints moisturizer, and my Organic Wear mascara.

8) What is your go to non-toxic lip product? I am a fan of Everyday Minerals lip butters! I also like Burts Bees as well.

9) What is your favorite natural cosmetics brand? Oh gosh! I honestly don't have just one favorite! I can maybe give a top 5 - Everyday Minerals, Lucy Minerals, Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques, The All Natural Face and Vapour Organic. As I discover and try more brands, I am sure the list will change and/or expand!

Thank you again, Jana, for tagging me! :-)


What are your favorite natural make up brands/products? Comment below to share!

Peace and love,
~Sabrina

Product Obsession: Love for Humanity Organics

One of the best things about being a part of the "green beauty" blogging community is discovering, being introduced to and trying out all of the amazing organic products that exist. It can actually be quite daunting to even attempt to pick a favorite.

And while my own list of favorites is ever expanding, there are a few that have really stood out to me, and made me want more.

One of those brands is Love for Humanity Organics.

From their website:

• Affordable luxury is our standard
• • Our products provide powerful skin rejuvenation
• • We use only the purest, premium quality organic, USDA certified organic and natural ingredients.
• • No toxic chemicals (commonly found in most skincare products) such as sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, synthetic colors, T.E.A., D.E.A., glycols, silicones, PEGS, ethoxylate or formaldehyde or formaldehyde derivatives are used
• • No animal products or animal by-products
• • Vegan, cruelty free, not tested on animals
• • Our bottles and boxes are recyclable
• • We are made in the USA with love

PR samples 

What makes this brand exceptional to me isn't just the list of ingredients, which is enticing on its own, but the mission behind it. Love for Humanity has teamed up with the charity, Feed the Children, an organization dedicated to providing meals to starving children. By purchasing one product, you are in turn providing one meal for a child in the United States. I'd say that is a pretty compelling reason to check out this brand!

When they contacted me to try out some of their products, I couldn't say no!

Here is what I received and my thoughts on each:

1) Fresh Foaming Cleanser - I've decided that my skin seems to have this love/hate relationship going on with foaming cleansers. Either they leave my skin too dry, too oily or work for a while and then just don't. Well, I am happy to say that this is one foaming cleanser that has not let me down in the weeks I have used it. It is neither too drying, too greasy/filmy, but rather is just right. Calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Lavender and Chamomile help to soothe and heal, while Ylang Ylang balances oil production. Gentle castile soap creates a non-drying lather to deep clean without stripping skin of its precious oils. The scent is a sweet, almost candy-like fragrance. It creates a light, creamy foam and it rinses completely clean. I have used this both day and night and my skin has stayed soft throughout.

Price - $45 for 5.5 oz
Ingredients - Herbal infusion(water, symphytum officinale (comfrey) root*, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flowers* and matricaria recutita(chamomile) flowers*, castile soap*, ethanol (sugar cane alcohol)*, and the essential oils of ylang ylang * and cedrus atlantica (cedarwood)*. *certified organic

2) Super C-Serum - This was the product from this brand that really caught my eye! This is probably the best vitamin C product I have ever used on my skin, seriously! For one, it is formulated with Kakuda Plum, which is said to be the world's richest natural source of vitamin C (concentration being as high as 3200-5000mg/100g compared the orange's 50mg/100g). It also contains Green Tea and Rosehip oils, both high in anti-oxidants as well as having potent anti-aging benefits. Secondly, it not only moisturizes beautifully without being heavy or greasy, but it makes your skin just glow! The fruity scent is uplifting and relaxing at the same time. Using this serum makes both my skin and my spirit happy, happy, happy!!

Price - $45 .05oz
Ingredients - Camellia sinensis (Green Tea)*oil, Rosa rubiginosa (Rosehip)* seed oil, Terminalia ferinandiana (Kakadu plum)* extract, Citrus paradisi (grapefruit)* oil. *certified organic

3) Anti-Aging Eye Serum - Even though this is an eye serum, I have been using this on my face as well, particularly in any areas I feel need some "extra help" (i.e. acne scars). I don't really have any issues with my eye area, save for a few very faint fine lines, so I can't really say that this product made a huge difference there, other than it kept my eye area moisturized. I honestly prefer this as an all over face serum/spot treatment, as both Rosehip and Helichrysum oils are amazing scar healers.

Price - $50 for 0.5oz
Ingredients -  Rosa rubiginosa (rosehip)* seed oil, Cucurbita pepo L.(pumpkin)* seed oil , Carthamus tinctorius (safflower)* seed oil, Ricinus communis(castor)*seed oil, Pelargonium graveolens(rose geranium)* oil, Matricaria recutita(blue chamomile)* oil, Helichrysum italicum (helichrysum)* oil. *certified organic

4) Miracle Mask - If you can't use Coconut Oil on your face, then this product may not be your cup of tea. However, for those of us who can and like to, then this is a definite must add to your skincare collection. In addition to virgin unrefined cold pressed Coconut Oil, this lovely skin treat contains nourishing Shea Butter, soothing Oat Kernel Flour and hydrating Jasmine Absolute. Use this before bedtime and wake up to the most moisturized skin you can imagine! Also, the intoxicating scent of Jasmine is so relaxing it helps me to drift off to sleep without a care in the world! A little bit goes a very long way so this should last quite awhile, which for the price is a big plus.

Price - $50 for 2oz
Ingredients - cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, butyrospermum parkii (shea)butter*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*,cera alba (beeswax)*, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour (colloidal oatmeal)*,jasminum grandiflorum (jasmine absolute)



My overall thoughts - I honestly loved every product that I was sent, especially the Super C-Serum and the Fresh Foaming Cleanser. I am so impressed with the ingredients, the company's use of sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices and of course their charitable work to help provide meals for hungry children in this country. This company is the total "green" package and I highly recommend checking them out!

*Products were sent to me for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Have you ever heard of or tried anything by Love for Humanity Organics? What are your thoughts on them?

Peace & Love,
~Sabrina xx

Interview With the Founder of Pure Living Boutique + a Coupon Code!

Photo Credit

One of the joys of being a blogger is getting to meet new and interesting people. And if those new and interesting people also happen to share the same ideals, loves and passions you do, then it can be all the more exciting.

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janet Meredith, founder of Pure Living Boutique, an online shop dedicated to providing the most pure and natural handmade products around.

A purist for over three decades, Janet has been seeking out and using green products long before it was hip.
As someone who strives to find and use the cleanest products I can, I was particularly excited to be introduced to this site. Even more so once I noticed that one of my favorite brands, Living Libations, is among those to purchase.

Read on to learn more about Janet, her journey to a cleaner, greener life and what products she uses!

Lost in a pile of packing material! :-)

1) Was there a specific event or experience that made you start using organic products?
It all began with a pimple. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of a dermatologist
being given directions on the use of Retin-A along with a script for antibiotics. This sun
worshipper surfer girl used the Retin-A but flushed the antibiotics down the toilet.
Quickly the skin on my face blistered and peeled from the Retin-A, I was horrified and
threw it in the trash. At that moment, age 14, I knew intuitively that this was not the right
road for me. Shortly after that I picked up my bottle of Herbal Essence shampoo and it
struck me like a lightning bolt - that bright green color and hideously sweet odor were
not the result of herbs.

By age 17 I had a part time job and a car so I would spend hours wandering around the
local healthy food store. Mesmerized by the bins of sesame seed sticks and dried herbs
and books, I explored my way around this new found treasure. In my early 20s I began
studying herbalism and experimenting with mixing and brewing and concocting; making
my own skin care products. Many years of formal education and research along with
personal lifestyle decisions have led me down a pure path.

2) What inspired you to create Pure Living Boutique?
Art inspires me. I’m always seeking out and buying handcrafted original paintings,
photography, skin care products, ceramics, handbags, etc. I enjoy farmers markets and
developing a relationship with the farmer and supporting my local community. With a
background in aesthetics, I especially love personal care products.
Pure Living Boutique is my vision of an online farmers market ... minus the eggs, of
course!

3) What do you look for when choosing products to sell on your site? 
Ingredients, hands down. No item can contain toxins, chemicals, methyl-anythings,
sulfite-yuckies, or other weird scary sounding stuff. Unless it’s a facial mist or home
cleaning item, my products do not contain water or other fluffy fillers.
I support artists who handcraft their yumminess as a labor of love. To the best of my
knowledge no one uses pre-made base formulas. The majority of items are edible,
although I don’t necessarily recommend eating them! Marketing is an amazing tool and the average consumer relies heavily on a pretty label.

Often times the information on the front of a bottle and the actual ingredient listing {not
“key ingredients”} are incongruent. One of the hats I wear is teaching a course titled
“Label Interpretation”. To find out more about my services, please visit
www.JanetMeredith.net.

This has been and continues to be an amazing learning experience for me, some of my
customers are very knowledgeable and I love it when they ask questions because they
teach me too!
I also look for items that meet this criteria: O{rganic}, R{aw}, V{egan}, W{wildcrafted},
F{airTrade}, E{coFriendly}, G{lass}.

4) What is a typical day like for you? 
In addition to Pure Living Boutique, I’ve been teaching yoga for over 15 years. So, most
days I’m either teaching or taking a yoga class. Rarely do I wear makeup or blow dry my
hair, I’m fortunate to don comfy clothes and a ponytail most days.

My skin care routine is simple + easy:

Dry brushing, I use soap on my body and an oil cleanser on my face. Then I mist with flower water 
 and roll on an under eye protectant. If I’m teaching a SUP yoga class, I’ll rub on some coconut oil. I floss, brush with tooth soap  and use a brushing rinse . Then I add a tad of lip color.
Once per week, evenings, and special occasions require a little more effort ... but hey I
LOVE using all of my products, so it’s super fun!

5) What advice would you give someone who is looking to "green up" their life? What 
are some good products to start with?
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying ... beauty shines from the inside out. Many times
irritating skin disruptions are the body’s way of saying “wake up, I’m in need a mineral/
nutrient/amino acid or something”, so I would begin with cleaning up the food choices by
striving toward purchasing organically grown fruits + vegetables. They are most
nutritious when eaten raw or lightly steamed. I cannot praise simple h2o enough.
Begin with a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. A weekly scrub and mask are a wonderful
addition for deeper cleaning. For the body, using soaps and body creams and
deodorants that do not contain fragrance or other weird stuff. Oral care is extremely
important as well and can easily be a separate interview!

Herbal tonics and salves are also available at Pure Living Boutique and serve specific
purposes. They make great substitutions {or additions} to your home first aid kit.
Eliminate nasty environmental toxins in your home. It is amazing how effective pure
essential oils combined with a few other nontoxic ingredients can be at thoroughly and
safely cleaning your entire home, automobile, litter box, children’s toy box, etc.
Pure Living Boutique offers choices that match all of the above suggestions {minus the
fresh veggies}. If you’re unsure which product may be best for you, please feel free to
contact me at pleasure@purelivingboutique.com, my mission is to offer excellent
personalized customer service. I want you to love my products as much as I do!

6) Any plans to create your own natural products for your site?
Yes, I am so excited. I’m finalizing the elegant details, so stay tuned for the debut!


I can't wait to see what she comes out with! How about you? I'd love to hear your thoughts!~


Janet was also kind enough to offer the discount code “chickweedandblush” to use on her site. The discount is good from now until 8/15/14 so hurry up and check out Pure Living Boutique ASAP! :-)



You can follow Pure Living Boutique here:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/PureLivingBoutique
Twitter: twitter.com/pure_advice
Instagram: instagram.com/purelivingboutique
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/pub/janet-meredith/12/1b1/79a
YouTube: youtube.com/user/purelivingboutique.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/PureAdvice/

Peace & Love,
Sabrina xx

Product Obsession: Homespun Apothecary

Every once in a while you encounter someone that not only leaves a positive mark on your life, but who actually helps to make a difference in your quality of life as well.

For me, this person is Jennifer Kegley, creator and owner of Homespun Apothecary, an online shop that not only carries beautiful face and body care products, but homemade pain relief products as well.

Products generously sent for review

Jennifer, like myself, has suffered with degenerative disc disease and interstitial cystitis. Unlike me, however, she has dealt with an array of other debilitating issues that left her permanently disabled. Not finding any relief from conventional methods, she changed her diet and began making her own natural personal care products.

Though not completely cured of all her ailments, her products have helped her to manage her conditions to the point where she no longer needs certain medications! 

You can imagine how immensely honored I was when she contacted me and asked if I would like to try some of these healing products to see if I would benefit as much as she had.

Here is what she sent me:

1) You Glow Girl Cleansing Oil - I have been a fan of oil cleansers for a while now and this one is my new favorite for sure! Full of amazing skin loving ingredients, such as camellia, grapeseed, avocado and jojoba oils, this cleanser not only hydrates and nourishes, but removes every trace of make up, including stubborn mascara. Since I started using this cleansing oil, I've noticed a reduction in new blemishes, less redness, increased hydration as well as overall smoothness.

Price -  $20 for 2oz, $39 for 4oz
Ingredients - Camellia Sinensis (Camellia) oil, Vitis vinifera (Grapeseed) oil, Ricinu Communis (Castor) oil, *Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) oil, Persea americana (Avocado) oil, Essential oils, Tocopherol (Vitamine E), Rosemary Oleoresin

2) Oh My Aching Body Balm - I can't tell you how many times I have uttered the words "oh my aching body" over the last several years. Chronic back pain is never a picnic, and trying to find products that not only offer genuine relief, but that are also not loaded with crap has been a challenge for me. Thankfully, this product covers both. The superstar ingredient in this wonderful balm is capsaicin from cayenne pepper extract. Throw in some other oils known for alleviating pain and inflammation and you have yourself one amazing anti-pain hero. I've honestly been able to sleep much more comfortably since using this, as opposed to waking up constantly because my back is hurting. I also love that this smells minty as opposed to medicinal like over the counter brands do. I definitely see myself entering into a long term relationship with this product! :-)

Price - $15 for 2oz, $29 for 4oz
Ingredients - Cocos nucifera (Organic Coconut Oil), Elaeis guineensis (Palm Kernel Oil), Capsaicin (cayenne pepper extract), Olea europaea (Olive Oil), Cera alba (Beeswax), a proprietary blend of essential oils, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Oleoresin Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Oleoresin).

The heat here has turned this into more of an oil than a balm!

3) Comfort and Joy Moisturizer - I have been using this moisturizer before bed on my hands, feet, and especially the chest area (I do an ayurvedic breast massage at night) and I not only love the light, silky feel of it, but the scent is also quite unique - like citrus and mint with some floral notes tossed in the mix. In the morning, I've been using it as a full body moisturizer and I adore how soft it makes my skin. All in all, I am very impressed with this product.

Price - $8 for 2oz, $15 for 4oz
Ingredients - Olea europaea (Olive Oil), Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut Oil), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba), Cera Alba (Besswax), Proprietary essential oil blend, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract (PhytoCide Elderberry OS), Rosemary Oleoresin


I was also sent two samples of their beautiful soaps, and though I have not yet gotten around to using them (shame on me, I know!), the scent alone is enough to make me fall in love. The ingredients are also divine and the texture of the soaps tells me that these will not dry out my skin, but rather will hydrate. I will be including these in a separate post in the future for sure! 

Thank you so much, Jennifer, for creating these extraordinary and healing products. I am so grateful to have had the chance to try them and so is my back! :-)


*Products were sent to me for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Have you ever tried anything from Homespun Apothecary? Leave me a comment below and tell me what you think!

Peace & Love,
~Sabrina

Product Obsession: Raw Love Body Scrubs

I'll be honest, I am one of those people who just can't seem to ever exfoliate enough. It's not that my skin is overly dry or anything, it's just that I love how my skin feels after I add that little step into my routine.

Of course, like everything I use on my skin I am picky what I choose to exfoliate with. I want to have soft, smooth skin, not look like raw meat!

Enter my new body scrub obsession from Raw Love Body.

"Our gentle & exotic scrubs are handmade with pure, natural, organic ingredients for you and your baby to soothe and relieve dry, itchy skin. Raw Love Body products are packaged in high-quality stand up pouches that are resealable, waterproof & are perfect for traveling. Our packaging is both recyclable + landfill friendly.

We use some of the most aromatic oil absolutes extracted from flowers and plants such as jasmine, rose, lavender, pure vanilla, etc.
Some of the ingredients we use are, cold pressed sweet almond oil, which is extracted from sweet almond seeds. Studies have found that its composition is somewhat similar to the natural oil found in a baby’s skin. This composition helps in protecting your skin, prevents common skin problems and keeps it youthful, radiant and healthy.

Jojoba pearls, freshly ground blanched almonds, pure organic honey and raw cacao powder are another example of the many wonderful organic ingredients used in our products. Almonds and jojoba pearls are gentle, non-abrasive and have fabulous moisturizing properties that provide a gentle yet thorough exfoliation without causing irritation or damage to the skin. Finally honey and an anti-oxidant rich raw cacao powder’s hydrating, antibacterial and healing properties provide relief and repair dry, itchy, chapped skin. Raw Love Body is just pure, gentle goodness and sealed with love for you and your loved ones."

~rawlovebody.com

I was really excited when they contacted me to try some of their lovely products to review. Here are my thoughts on each:

1) Beach Vacation Body Scrub - This is my favorite of the three scrubs I was sent. First of all, the blend of coconut creme, flakes and oil transports my senses to a beach on a tropical island. I am a huge fan of anything coconutty in the summertime, so this was like heaven to my nose! Then of course, you have ingredients like aloe vera, sweet almond oil and vitamin E to hydrate, nourish and heal any dry or rough patches. Plus, you can smell like a pina colada for the day, so win win in my book! :-)

Price - $38 for 8oz

Ingredients: Organic coconut palm sugar + coconut creme + coconut flakes + extra virgin coconut oil (cocos nucifera), himalayan pink sea salt (halite), aloe vera (aloe barbadensis), jojoba pearls (jojoba esters), strawberry seeds (fragaria vesca fruit seed), sweet almond oil (prunus dulcis), lime (citrus aurantifolia), Vitamin E

2) Detox Body Scrub - This scrub is the perfect assist when doing a cleanse or detox. Green tea and grapefruit help rid the body of toxins, while lavender and chamomile relax and calm the senses. The scent is a mixture of citrus and lavender, unusual, but quite soothing in my opinion. 

Price - $38 for 8oz

Ingredients: Himalayan pink sea salt, poppy seeds (papaver somniferum), sweet almond oil (prunus dulcis), pumpkin enzyme (curcurbita genus), organic neem powder (azadirachta indica), chamomile flowers (matricaria chamomilla), lavender flowers (lavandula), green tea leaves + green tea extract (camellia sinensis), vetiver (vetiveria zizanoides), grapefruit (citrus paradisi), lavender (lavandula), Vitamin E.

3) Fight Cellulite Body Scrub - To the lucky women out there who were blessed to never have cellulite, I say enjoy that gift. For those of us who were not so lucky, I recommend checking out this scrub. Freshly ground organic coffee, natural ground loofah, natural volcanic pumice and organic coconut palm sugar all work to smooth out any lumps or bumps while the anti-oxidants in the blueberry seeds, grapeseed oil and orange and lemon peel powders help to reduce water retention by flushing out toxins. I haven't used this product long enough to notice significant results, but I love the way my skin feels after using this anyways. 

Price - $38 for 8oz

Ingredients: Colombian fair trade organic coffee (coffea arabica), natural ground loofah (luffa aegyptiaca), natural volcanic pumice (pumex), himalayan pink sea salt (halite), organic coconut palm sugar (cocos nucifera), aloe vera (aloe barbadensis), blueberry seeds (vaccinium fruit seed), grapeseed oil (vitis vinifera), orange peel powder (citrus sinensis), lemon peel powder (citrus limonum), geranium (pelargonium graveolens), Vitamin E

My overall thoughts:  I love the fact that I really don't need a moisturizer after using these scrubs. They are also extremely gentle, so even someone with really sensitive skin could use these without worrying about causing damage. I also love that none of the ingredients are refined, so that they retain all of their nutrients and benefits, and that they are carefully chosen to create the most effective and nurturing products possible. There is definitely a lot of love that went into the making of these beautiful body scrubs. I honestly can't get enough of them!

*Products were sent to me for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own

Have you ever tried Raw Love Body Scrubs? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below!

Peace and Love,

~Sabrina