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Daily Facial Care Done Right: Alba Botanica
Lately, my skin hasn’t been feeling or looking as great as it should. Who’s to blame? Winter in New York! I have been looking for a new cleanser to help draw out the dirt and oil while moisturising my skin. I also have very sensitive skin, so I needed something that didn’t cause irritation. If you have been having the same issue here is my top suggestion: Alba Botanica.
Alba Botanica is cruelty-free, made with 100% vegetarian ingredients and without harmful ingredients. Each collection delivers concentrated doses of botanical ingredients that detox and act as a fast fix for your skin and body. Each mask is saturated with its key ingredient (coconut, Camu Camu & more!) to target specific skin concerns (from wrinkles to acne!)
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Facial Care
Each product in the Hawaiian Detox facial care collection is formulated with Volcanic Clay, a mineral-rich natural substance that draws out dirt, oil, and grime from deep within pores before being washed away. This action helps clear problematic impurities which immediately brightens and refreshes skin. The clay’s unique physical texture also polishes away dead surface cells, leaving skin with a smooth, even, mattified glow. Each formula is powerfully effective, yet also hypo-allergenic.
Hawaiian Detox Cleanser (6oz., $11.99, Whole Foods)
Gentle yet effective daily detoxifier lathers away problematic impurities
Hawaiian Detox Scrub (4oz., $11.99, Whole Foods)
Distinctive black lathering scrub gently exfoliates, clears and brightens skin
Hawaiian Detox Sheet Mask (single mask, $3.49, Whole Foods)
Micro-extraction mask loosens stubborn impurities for intensive detox action
Hawaiian Detox Facial Towelettes (30ct, $5.99, Whole Foods)
Multi-tasking towelette whisks away makeup, detoxifies and tones without rinsing
Alba Fast Fix Sheet Masks (SRP: $3.49, Target, Wal-Mart, Whole Foods & natural food stores) Individually wrapped, serum-soaked fiber masks contour to your face to deliver concentrated doses of active botanical ingredients. In as little as 5 minutes, skin experiences a powerful beauty-enhancing treatment! 100% vegetarian ingredients, no animal testing, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors or parabens.- Coconut Water Hydrate Sheet Mask: an infusion of coconut water, cucumber and chamomile provide a mega-moisture oasis to return skin to healthy, hydrated happiness
- Camu Camu Anti-Wrinkle Sheet Mask: Camu Camu, cocoa, and caffeine fight the good fight to help firm, tone and tackle those pesky lines and wrinkles
- Papaya Anti-Acne Sheet Mask: the zit-zapping trio of papaya, lemon balm, and salicylic acid penetrates pores to give pimples their proper punishment
- Grapefruit Even Tone Sheet Mask: grapefruit, charcoal, and turmeric vanish visible pores, soothe redness and help lighten shadows, to give skin a soft, even glow
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The Summer Snack Winners Nutiva and Numi Organic Tea
Nothing says summer like a refreshing glass of iced tea. Kick the traditional beverage up a notch with recipes from superfoods brand, Nutiva, and Numi Organic Tea. They’ve combined both Nutiva’s Organic Black and White chia seeds with Numi’s Organic Tea blends for a treat that’s both nutritious and satisfying.
Chia seeds are a rich source of protein, antioxidants, essential omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. These super seeds are also an excellent source of essential minerals such as phosphorous, manganese, calcium, sodium and potassium. Adding chia seeds to your favorite beverage actually helps you feel satiated and is a great way to get your nutrients throughout the day.
Enjoy Nutiva’s new O’Coconut snacks with your iced tea. These snacks are crafted from lightly sweetened organic, fair trade coconut and have only 60 calories each. Enjoy pure coconut with O’Coconut Classic or try O’Coconut Hemp & Chia for additional nutty flavor and the nutritional benefits of Omega-3s. These are amazing and the perfect snack. I got a pack of them and the quickly disappeared from the pantry!
Iced Tea + Lemonade with Chia Seeds
Chia adds a superfood boost, while lemonade adds a light sweetness to the crisp, refreshing flavor of black tea.
Ingredients
1/2 tsp. Nutiva Organic Black Chia Seeds
2 Tbsp. water, room temperature
1 Numi Organic Tea – Breakfast Blend black tea bag
½ cup water, boiling
½ cup lemonade
Ice cubes
Lemon slicesDirections
1. Add chia seeds to 2 tbsp. of room temperature water. Stir to combine, and set aside for 5 minutes, until chia softens.
2. Meanwhile, bring ½ cup of water to boil.
3. Steep tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes.
4. Discard tea bag and pour tea into a tall glass. Add lemonade and chia seeds and stir to combine.
5. Top with ice, garnish with a lemon wedge and serve. -
Pamper Her St. Valentine Style
For the girl who has everything (which is no girl ever) who is soooo hard to buy for (you gotta pay more attention) –
Here are 3 easy gifts that will score you major points. You can show her that you care even without breaking the bank.
1. Burt’s Bee Coconut Foot Cream – This is a tried and true classic. For all those sexy heels and all the places she has to walk – every girl will be sure to use this. This pampering natural foot cream combines coconut oil, lanolin and vegetable glycerin to revive and rejuvenate even the driest, most neglected feet. There’s also a hint of natural rosemary and peppermint oils to refresh tired soles. You can even use it after shaving on those dry winter legs too. The smell is divine and you will go nuts for it. Retails fro $9
2. Repechage Hydra Refine Cleansing Mousse – Even if your girl is not a mermaid, she can still appreciate beauty from the sea. Repechage has seaweed ingredients along with the refreshing cucumber and lemongrass to clean, refresh and prevent any breakouts. The ingredients help to reduce sebum production and keeps her face fresh after a long week. Now that’s a real treat. Retails for $29
3. Blue Copper 5 Seven Night Molecular Repair – So a 7 night Cancun package is out of your price range but you can still give her something that is 7 days of awesome! Copper is one of the hottest trends in skincare right now and if you intense hydrated, soft and supple skin – you will see a huge difference with these tiny tubes. A healthy glow comes not from bronzer alone but also with healthy, revitalized skin that blue copper can help unveil. Retails fro $98
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Young, Fresh and Easy: Meet the Cocodrill
If you love coconut water like me, you probably want to have it all the time! Having a Cocodrill means you can just go buy a young coconut and have it ready in less than 2 minutes! This is a perfect and fun present for housewarming, holidays for the person who has everything
The best thing you can use to get the freshest coconut water at home is a COCODRILL. This is so easy to use and perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a machete at home :] After I drank the coconut water, I made 7 more holes around the coconut and then turned it upside down and Hulk smashed it onto my granite counter top. it worked and I scraped up the coconut meat up with a spoon. YUMBuy your COCODRILL at www.RawNori.com
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I’m Coo Coo For Coconut Oil!
It’s official, I’m coo coo for coconuts!! As an island girl, there was nothing better than sitting under a palm tree in Haiti on a breezy summer day taking a long satisfying sip of cool coconut water straight out of the coconut. As an adult, it became just as satisfying out of the bottle after a long workout. Coconut macaroons, coconut cake, coconut lotion, coconut body splash, coconut hair pomade, and now my new obsession: Coconut Oil. I’ve always had a thing for natural oils, but to find out how many uses I can get out of my coconut oil has not only saved me TONS of money, but its also rescued my skin, hair, and health. For my recent trip to Punta Cana in DR, I did some research on sunscreen. I’ve never like the idea of sunblock, but as a woman of color, its important that I try to protect my skin as much as possible, so I looked for natural forms of protection. I’ll be honest, I underestimated the coconut versus the hot Dominican sun, but not only did the coconut protect my skin, but it gave me such an amazing glow afterward. I came back to Miami, bronzed and beautiful! I even made sure to buy a bottle of oil directly from the local farmer’s market in Punta Cana. Now I refuse to be caught on South Beach without my coconut oil.
Coconut Oil can be used as an in-shower and after-shower moisturizer, keeping skin nice and supple. It can also be used to remove mascara, eye shadow and blush. Just rub a little on your face, wipe off excess with a paper towel or cloth and then wash face regularly. You can put it on again after washing your face, as it’s also known to heal scars and minimize active acne. EVCO has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects. Taken internally it strengthens the immune system, increases metabolism, and is a supplement source. Using coconut oil as a weekly conditioner adds shine to your hair and diminishes dandruff. Can you see why I’m coo coo for coconuts?!? Lol, its like my own Superman in a can 🙂 Feel free to come up with your own uses for coconut oil. I’m sure it’ll be a winner!
