Aura Cacia Review and Giveaway (closed)

December 17, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

Aura Cacia is very easily the most affordable and easy to find top of the line Essential Oil company.  And of course for that reason my favorite.  I remember when I first started toying with essential oils.  I was in high school and didn’t know that difference between brands, and how they are processed and that the least expensive usually means the lest quality too.

Aura Cacia began in 1982, it has been a leader in aromatherapy sales and quality — as well as a key source of expert information that has fueled the widespread awareness of aromatherapy that we see today.

auracacia1A key to Aura Cacia’s leadership is sourcing pure, authentic essential oils — dealing face-to-face with the people growing the plants and extracting the essential oil themselves whenever they can. Frequent trips to places like Europe, the Ukraine, Oregon and Australia to visit suppliers and processors illustrate Aura Cacia’s commitment to finding the best sources for their oils.

They also test every oil they receive to make sure it meets high standards. Aura Cacia industry-leading testing program — which now includes gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) — allows them to guarantee that they are providing its customers with the highest quality essential oils available. Whenever possible, they offer oils that are certified organic as well.

Aura Cacia makes aromatherapy accessible with innovative ready-to-use products that let even beginners realize the full benefits of their 100% pure essential oils in a variety of ways that can easily be a part of any lifestyle.

Aura Cacia cares about aromatherapy and the people who use it. This is evident in the quality and affordable pricing of their oils and each and ever one of their products.

188103I was blessed to have Aura Cacia reach out to me and send me a few items to try out. Of course I was familiar with their oils, but I had not tried many of their extra accessories and skin care items. One that was sent to me that I was honestly a little wary about is the Aura Cacia Patchouli Sweet Orange Body Polish. Why was I wary? I didn’t want to smell like a hippie! I have always loved the smell of Patchouli but have been around so many (dirty) hippies trying to cover up smells with it that the scent has lost its luster to me. (don’t get me wrong, I love hippies, just not the smelly ones)  Well Aura Cacia brought it back to me! The sweet orange balances the musky, spicy scent and leaves a really clean, slightly spicy and sweet scent. They know how to merge oils that is proven in this! ($10.99)

So how well does it perform? Hydrating, drenching, rough skin buster! Formulated with organic Fair Trade Certified sugar cane, grape seed oil, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil and shea butter. How is that for a karate chop to dry skin? Use this on hands, feet and other rough areas like knees and elbows for a sensationally smooth feel. Because it has so much moisture it helps to heal and lock the moisture and the new skin in!

190307My skin gets so very dry in winter.  I work at keeping it hydrating on a daily basis.  One item Aura Cacia sent me is their Soothing Organic Milk & Oat Bath.  It is created with lavender and skin-nourishing organic milk powder and skin-calming organic whole-grain oat powder to really soothe overly dry irritated skin.  I think this would be perfect for someone post-fever too.  If you have ever been to Prissy Green before then you know I am a sucker for a nice bath!  I used this last satuday, and had my latest book.  I threw a mask on my face, one on my hair and soaked and soaked.  My skin came out soft and refreshed! ($3.29)

199948I am also trying out a sweet little Snowflake Diffuser.  We always had live trees for Christmas while I was growing up, so my senses only recognize Christmas if I smell the pine(y) scents.  The Aura Cacia Snowflake Diffuser is artisan-crafted from sustainable softwood maple and comes with a full sized bottle of Balsalm Fir Needle Essential Oil. (15.99)

My house smells just like a Christmas tree!  I love it!  Now I admit, we don’t actually have a tree….. I mean I would like one, but it would be up to me and, well that is a lot of work!  So I just have this sitting on the counter in between the kitchen and living room and the scent wafts up and fills the whole room.  Love it!  and it really would make a nice gift and is completely reusable next year, and the next!

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I also this new card deck! The Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Deck is 54 cards containing information about essential oils, aromatherapy benefits, recipes for oils, and experiences associated with aromatherapy.  I think this is a really fun set for a novice essential oil user or even someone a little more experienced, as it has some really great information and some great recipes.  ($9.99)

Aura Cacia has tons of gifts for anyone on your list.  I know it might be late, but some of these you can find at stores near you too!  If not order today, December 17th!  I think today is last day to get items from most retail stores by Christmas.  (haven’t spoken to Aura Cacia about this, so i am unsure)

babysplashAura Cacia has a Organic Baby line plus a kids line as well !  Essential oils can help to brighten a cranky child, calm a child before bedtime or just use in place of traditional drying soaps and cleansers!

And Aura Cacia wants to share all the items I reviewed with you too!  One Prissy Green Reader will win:

A Snowflake Diffuser

Soothing Organic Milk & Oat Bath

Patchouli & Sweet Orange Body Polish

Aromatherapy Card Deck

In total a $40 value!  But much more rewarding!

PLUS I have two extra bottles of Aura Cacia Rosewood Essential oil that I would like to share with two runner up winners!  $9.99 each!)

To enter, visit Aura Cacia and tell me an item you would most like to try out and why.

Please find something unique and not mentioned here.

Extra Entries: (you must do the mandatory entry, then the extra entries, please leave a separate comment for all entries) =)

  • Subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) You must must validate the email. (2 entries)
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  • Unlimited entries. Post on any non-giveaway post. Leave link. It must be relevant to the topic. Only one comment per post, but you can do this for as many posts as you like.  Each comment is worth 1 entry, so you can not use it for multiple giveaways.

Contest closes at 11:59pm EST on 12/30. Winner will be drawn from Random.org and verified per the rules.  US only.

disclosure: I was sent items for review but was under no obligation to write a positive review. Opinions are my own and truthful.

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

Trillium Organics, Review and Giveaway (Closed)

December 1, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

OG-baby-goldYou probably read, maybe even here about the USDA law soon to apply to personal care just the same as food? Well Trillium Organics is listed as company to trust from OCA. And is on their BUYcot list. =)

Trillium Herbal Company, Incorporated was started in 1994 by Karen Ciesar. Since its inception, Trillium Organics has grown to include over fifteen different products, most notably Organic Body Polish. A majority of Trillium’s most popular products are listed on the Skin Deep website, which rates toxicity in cosmetics. Trillium regularly shows up as TOP RATED and are some of the safest products in any of the categories.

Trillium Herbal Company, Inc., a Certified Woman Owned Business located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin has earned its Organic Certification from the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). From the beginning, Trillium has sought to produce a beneficial product using honest organic ingredients while creating a positive impact on the planet.

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Trillium earned the Leaping Bunny certification from PETA, which denotes that the operations are 100% Cruelty Free. To that end, all of Trillium’s products are carefully hand blended in small batches. Trillium works with local, domestic, and fair trading suppliers and its operations are designed to support purity, consistency and certifiable authenticity. Trillium is certified to be a sustainably managed business by Green America (formerly Co-op America). To lessen its carbon footprint, packaging is all coded #1 PETE, and is 100% recyclable.

Trillium *scent* me their Clementine and Clove CollectionThere is not a better scent for this time of year out on the market.  It is slightly warming, fresh and with a sweet & spicy kick. It energizing with the clementine and the clove, well clove is an aphrodisiac.  So yes, it is quite sexy.  The set included:

Botanical Body Soap
Organic Shea Butter
Organic Body Oil
Organic Body Polish

My favorite item?  of course the Body Polish.  It didn’t leave me too oily or greasy, yet left my skin so silky smooth!  I actually used it, then applied just a tad more of the Body Oil over it and went to watch movies the first day I had it!  I was as smooth as a babies bum for the longest time!  I have been using the Shea Butter on my feet since it has the awesome warming effect.  It is slight, but it helps take the chill out before I layer them up with socks!

RFF OilSH 360 PolishRFF Soap

Trillium truly specializes in organic bath products for Mom & Baby.

Their OGmama’s line includes:

Organic Belly Polish which helps to nurture and aid stretching skin.

Organic Moisture Oil, light and fast absorbing, healing for all skin types.

Organic Gentle Soap, just a simple, cleansing soap gel that cleans with out stripping.

Organic Belly Butter which is perfect for all areas of expanding skin, plus knees, elbows, cuticles and anywhere else you might need it!

Trillium carries two organic bath lines for babiesOGbaby’s Really Fragrance Free and OGbaby’s Breathe Free Tea Tree.

Breathe Free Tea Tree

Breathe Free Tea Tree

I was able to try out the OGbaby BFTT is it ever so scented with just the right amount of Tea Tree.  Enough to enjoy it and breathe deeply, but not so much to overpower the littlest of noses.  The OGbaby’s BFTT carries an Organic Gentle Soap and an Organic Chest Rub.

OGbaby Really Fragrance Free Barrier Balm

OGbaby Really Fragrance Free Barrier Balm

The OGbaby RFF line does contain a very slight amount of essential oils, but no fragrance.  NONE.

The OGbaby line includes:

Organic Gentle Soap which doubles as a baby shampoo.

Organic Moisture Oil with chamomile, calendula and lavender.

And Organic Barrier Balm, a zinc free, castor oil formulation to prevent diaper rash.

Trillium doesn’t even stop there.  They have products for acne, eczema and skin care tips for anyone that needs a little steering in the right direction!

And Trillium would like to give one of you a chance to try their line out!  They are offering one Prissy Green reader:


OGbaby Really Fragrance Free
1 3oz Barrier Balm
1 8oz Gentle Soap
1 4oz Moisture Oil
16oz OGmama Belly Polish
Total retail value being $56.92

To enter, visit Trillium and tell me something you learned.  Be original.  =)

Extra Entries: (you must do the mandatory entry, then the extra entries, please leave a separate comment for all entries) =)

  • Subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) You must must validate the email. (2 entries)
  • Sign up for my RSS feed.
  • Sign up for the Trillium Newsletter! (this will be verified b4 announcing winner)
  • Vote for me at Divine Caroline and get THREE extra entries. leave your vote #. Only valid until 12/4- Old votes do not count, sorry! new votes needed.
  • Stumble & write a SHORT StumbleUpon Review and/or Add to Del.icio.us Bookmarks. (leave user name for both)
  • Blog about this contest for Two entries. ** You must link to the giveaway.

Contest winners are always chosen by random.org and verified per rules. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST, on 12/16. Open to US.

disclosure: I did receive items for review, but was under no obligation to report with a review.  opinions are still 100% my own.

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

Naya Organics Review

November 28, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Reviews

hype_border

Less packaging by buying bulk and reusing bags, boxes and containers = more earth friendly products at more affordable prices.

Less gas consumption in buying independent and locally = more clean air for us to breathe and more local businesses.

Less waste going into the landfill by composting and recycling = more space on the planet for plants and trees to grow.

Less harsh ingredients and unnecessary packaging = more paraben FREE containers and safer, cleaner, organic ingredients for your skin.

Less machine made products = more handmade goodness and valuable resources drained by plugging things in.

I was blessed to run into Naya Organics was browsing the web one day.  Only to later find the creator and I had some pretty similar background events to our lives.  This of course made me even more excited to try the line!

Sticking to the philosophy of ‘Less is More’ when it comes to your skin, NAYA Organics uses only plant & food based ingredients to create clean & SIMPLE products that nourish your skin and the Earth! There’s nothing hard to pronounce and the list of ingredients doesn’t go on forever… just HONEST organic goodness!

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A clear standout is Naya’s Rose Hips Organic Body Oil. Just look at these ingredients.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – oleic acid and antioxidants, Shea Oil – anti-aging properties, Vitamin E Oil – healing and nourishing, Evening Primrose Oil – linoleic acid, Rosehip Seed Oil – skin elasticity, Rose Hips – Vitamins A, C, D, E, Rose Buds – sweetness, neutralizer, Rose Otto EO – anti-depressant, Almond Oil – emollient 9 oz.

I have been using this as a cuticle oil and for rubbing on my elbows.  The scent is sweet and light and moisture is LARGE.  Full of healing and relieving powers.  And just so no one is confused, there is no actual Rose scent.  Not flowery at all.

The area under my eyes is always so dry and I have been using this as a eye treatment too.  Just once or twice a week, and it has been healing that area and so far no pesky milia I sometimes get when really trying to lay on the moisture.

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I also tried the Naya Organic’s Coffee Orange Body Scrub.  A real treat.  Just a slight hint of coffee and orange.  Mainly the scent is created from a mix of all ingredients.  Slightly coffee, slightly citrus but a nice rounded earthy tone.

Dead Sea Salt – absorbs toxins, Jojoba Oil – antimicrobial, Vitamin E Oil – healing, Shea Oil – anti-aging, Coffee Grounds – decrease cellulite, Orange Peal – revives mood, Bergomont EO – tames depression, Orange EO – mellows anxiety, Sandalwood EO – antifungal and antibacterial 16 oz.

Moisturizing, exfoliating with all natural organic goodness!

And Naya Organic’s has a lot of specials going on right now! All scrubs are 20% off. She is also have specials on her Garcinia Oil and sampler packs! If you are looking for a truly unique gift for someone special this holiday season, Naya Organics will have it!

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

EOS Review and Giveaway (Evolution of Smooth) (Closed)

November 28, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

Organic Lip Balm?  You know I am all over it.  and a new, funky, cook shape for lip balm, oh i am so all over that too.

Let me introduce you to EOS.  Evolution of Smooth.  I first had contact with the company when I heard a rave review on their shave creams.  But unfortunately once I realized they had parabens in them, I kinda threw it out the window.  BUT I was told they were going to bring in Organic Lip Balms and that had me all over again.

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You may even have received a free Organic Lip Balm Smooth Sphere from EOS.  They were running a promo a few months back and you could sign up to receive a free lip sphere?  I signed up and that was my first test of the Organic Lip Smooth Sphere.  Since then I have also tested their Smooth Stick Lip Balm, which is the same, just in a more traditional stick.

The Smooth Spheres come in three flavors.  Summer Fruit, HoneySuckle HoneyDew and Sweet Mint.  I have been able to try all three and I have to say that I think Honeysuckle wins.  Reminds me of the tropical fruit Popsicle, ya know the green one?  The one that tastes like sweet sweet honeydew?

balm

Then you have the three Smooth Stick Lip Balms.  Also organic.  They come in Vanilla Bean, Pomegranate Raspberry and Sweet Mint.  I wish I could get the Honeysuckle Honeydew in the Smooth Stick.  I feel kinda silly using the Smooth Sphere in public but it is my favorite flavor!

All six Organic Lip Balms are 95% organic, 100% natural organic lip balm that’s petrolatum & paraben free. And packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

AND I have some just for you readers!

FIVE winners are going to receive one Smooth Sphere Gift Bag!  This includes all three Smooth Spheres! This retails for $9.99 and is currently sold out online.  BUT you can get them while they last at Walgreens and you can buy anything from the EOS line at drugstore.com icon and of course on amazon.com.

These balms would make great stocking stuffers!

To enter tell me you usually get or give in stockings.  What are your typical stocking stuffers?

Extra Entries: (you must do the mandatory entry, then the extra entries, please leave a separate comment for all entries) =)

  • Subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) You must must validate the email. (2 entries)
  • Sign up for my RSS feed.
  • Vote for me at Divine Caroline and get THREE extra entries. leave your vote #. Only valid until 12/4
  • Stumble & write a SHORT StumbleUpon Review and/or Add to Del.icio.us Bookmarks. (leave user name for both)
  • Follow Prissy Green on Twitter and Tweet the contest. You can do this daily.
  • Blog about this contest for Two entries. ** You must link to the giveaway.

Contest winners are always chosen by random.org and verified per rules. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST, on 12/13. Open to US only.

Disclosure: I did receive items for review.  Opinions expressed are my own.  I was under no obligation to post a review.

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

Mermaid’s Purse, Natural Organics Review and Giveaway

September 28, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

Header

How cute is the name Mermaid’s Purse?  I just love it.  Quite fitting too!  Measha owner and founder of Mermaid’s Purse, has got the ticket just right!

Here is a couple things Measha has to say about her gorgeous shop:

I come from Native American roots, where you learn to use all parts of what you are blessed with. My grandmother used to make soapwith her own grandmother, so naturally when I was interested, she taught me first the homesteader method, with suet or animal fats, and then showed me how to use plant and vegetable oil alternatives. My grandmother was also a certified massage therapist and worked with essential oils for aromatherapy. I decided that if I was going to make something, I wanted it to be natural, using only plant-based ingredients. Where would I be without Grandma?

In 2003 I used my skills to develop a business and sold my soaps at arts and crafts shows. My mother used to do shows when I was growing up, so I wasn’t at all afraid of trying this for myself.  It actually made me feel right at home.  Here I was in the same environment that I enjoyed so much as a child.

It was during my first pregnancy that I would develop my first ever non-soap beauty care product. My inspiration came from being unable to find any all-natural products to prevent stretch marks. My first product would be my “Belly Butter”. From there, Mermaid’s Purse has grown into a full product line including, natural soaps, body butters, shampoos, massage oils, natural deodorants, salves and mineral soaks.

We’ve now been in business officially since 2003 and I believe our success can be attributed to a couple of things.  One, all-natural products really work. We enjoy what we do and put a lot of focus on making quality natural products. We not only make them, we also use them because they are so effective.  Secondly, because we do make all of our products, we can customize them based on a customer’s preference. After all, we’re all individuals, who can enjoy the same benefits of natural products – just to the beat of our own flavor! Try Mermaid’s Purse today, and find your own beat.

She carries a wide range of products from home grown natural loofah, to dried herbs, and essential oils.  But the shopping doesn’t stop there!  She also has shampoos, soaps, Dead Sea Mineral soaks and so much more! It is a shop you can definitely get a little lost in, so don’t forget to tether yourself with a rope, in case you need pulled back out! =)

I sampled a few items, and have to say, they are as good as described!  The Mini Dead Sea Mineral soak was the first item I tried out.  This mineral rich bath soak is a blend of Dead Sea Salt, Pacific/Atlantic Sea Salt and Epsoms Salt combined for their curative powers. For centuries people have soaked in salt baths to facilitate wound healing, to smooth and soften skin, and to ease muscle aches and swelling.

You already know how I feel about bath soaks!  I used this on my feet and ankles one day, and wow, what a difference.  My feet felt recharged and ready for the day all over again!  I don’t really ever take the time out to just soak my feet, and usually when i am in the tub soaking, I have me feet up, so I can fit better.  I need to start doing this more often!

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Craig is a huge soap lover, and reviewed the Goat’s Milk Soap.  I never even realized it had been opened!  Imagine my disappointment, when i found the wrapper and asked him if he liked it?  His response was that is was really creamy and left his skin soft.  He isn’t a huge lavender fan, being a dude and all, but he said that the peppermint and lavender had a nice scent, and seemed to mesh pretty well.    I appreciate that fact that they offer 50 Cent samples, or their full 6.5 oz bars for $7.00.  Samples are great for traveling, or for test driving which you want to buy bulk of!

SBW-0999_Shampoo-Body-Wash-01

I also was treated to s sample size bottle of her Orange Blossom Shampoo/Body Wash.  Most of the time you only see these for kids, I always figured it must be hard to get it right for adults!  Well MP has done it correct, as this was nice on my hair, as on my body.  It left my hair soft and manageable, and left my skin clean, with a slight fragrance of Jasmine and Orange.

100% Natural and Organic ingredients! Our Shampoo Body Wash is PH balanced for all hair types, and is loaded with scalp benefiting essential oils! Botanical extracts leave skin and hair clean and nourished!

Mermaid’s Purse has some well thought out gift sets.  If you are looking for a new product line to try out, or a gift for someone, i highly suggest checking them out!

Mermaid’s Purse would like to offer one Prissy Green reader their choice of two special spa packs!

Pack 1:Large Dead Sea Mineral Bath Soak with your choice of an Essential Oil to go with it

Pack 2:assortment of 5 soaps and 2  samples of what ever products you would like to try

To enter to win, go check out Mermaid’s Purse Natural Organics, and tell me at least one product and scent if applicable that you would like to try!

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each you do in order for them to count!)  =)

~ Subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) You must must validate the email that is sent to you!!!
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~ Blog about this contest for THREE entries, you have to use LINKS, and you must link to this contest, as well as to me and the sponsor.

No pressure or anything, but I think this site deserves to win a Love! This Site Award from DivineCaroline, so please, vote soon! You can vote daily!

Get an Extra Entry into any ONE contest EVERY DAY for voting! Vote once per day! Just leave a comment, on the contest you want the extra entry for, and leave your vote #!!

Contest winners are always chosen by random.org and verified per rules.  Contest ends at 11:59pm EST, on 10/13.  Open to US!

Make sure you check out all of my other Eco-Friendly Giveaways!



Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

Morris Organics Wins 2009 Top Gear Award!

September 22, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Info You Want to Know

Hey all!  I just wanted to share some really amazing news that came in from Avocate Skincare, you know the Morris Organics Giveaway I have going on?

top_09med

Well they just won a Top Gear Award from Shapeyou.com!!  isn’t that fantastic!  So along with them being winners this week, they want to extend a thank you, by offering an additional 15% off all indiviual products at Morris Organics!

That amazing Skin Glow that I told you about, yep, that one infused with Jasmine, that glides like a dream, for face and body moisture (even for acneic skin)?  get it now, for $38.25 PLUS free shipping!  No code needed!

see all the other great deals at Morris Organics!

avocate

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

My 30 Day SoCal Cleanse….30 Day SoCal Cleanse Review!

September 22, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Reviews

Hey Everyone!  I hope everyone had a nice weekend, I  certainly enjoyed mine.  As some of you may have noticed I took the weekend off, and even Monday, from blogging, and from the WWW in general.  No Facebook, no emails, nothing!  It was partially my choice, but our internet did go down Friday, Craig was out of town, and instead of calling, or messing with it, I thought, “wow, mini-vaca!”

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I did want to keep you up to date with my SoCal Cleanse!  This is SoCal Cleanses’ deep, internal and external  toxin cleanse.  I started my 30 day program on Thursday, and so far this is the easiest Cleanse ever!  First off, I am able to eat, drink and do pretty whatever I typically do.  No dairy, and no red meat.  and you want to eat as much organically as possible.  Let me give your a recap of what my days have been like so far.  bottle-box-sm

  • A.M. wake up and have a small cup of warm water with fresh lemon juice, and an apple, banana, kiwi etc.
  • About 1 hour later, I eat either a Detox Shake, or a small bowl of organic oatmeal, I use Rice Milk, and just about a teaspoon or so of Organic Honey (tropical traditions of course!).  2 SoCal Cleanse Detox Formula Caps.
  • Lunch, nice green veggie salad.  I add chickpeas to mine to give it a nice crunch, plus fiber and protein, and a little salmon or tuna too.  The dressing I use is just Olive Oil, Lemon Juice and a dash of Mountain Rose Herbs’ Lemon Pepper Seasoning.  I try to mix in as many colors as i can, brocolli, red peppers, carrots, purple onion, fruits, healthy selection of lettuce leaves.
  • If i need it I will have a snack, either an apple dipped in Peanut Butter or some sliced veggies with hummus.
  • Dinner- I made a really great Asparagus and Cherry tomato salad, I added chickpeas to that, and it was so perfect and filling, I had that for 3 days!  But my typically dinner will be either grilled or roasted Salmon, and either brown rice and veggies or a nice salad.
  • A couple hours after dinner I drink my Detox Tea, which is surprisingly really tasty!  I was a little nervous at first, but it is GOOD!  I either have my Detox Shake or my my Hemp Protein Shake in the morning or after lunch.  Usually I have it in the mornings.
  • At some point during the day (since I work from home) I also take a nice bath.  before bathing I use the awesome SoCal Cleanse Natural fiber body brush, to gently brush my skin.  Trying to stimulate the lymph system, and get all the toxins to wake up and realize i am kicking them out!  ;-)   Then on alternating days, i use either their Detox Bath Soak or the Detox Salt Scrub.

If you have read Prissy Green before, you know i love a nice bath.  (and trust me, I don’t waste water! I don’t even let the faucet run as long as if I were in the shower!)  So i knew I would easily run out of  the Detox Bath Salts before I wanted to.  So, I have made my own, just a little Epsom, baking soda and Sea Salt, plus a couple drops of grapefruit and Peppermint Essential Oils.  (all organic except for the Baking soda and Epsom)  I will give you the full recipe later.

I did this for a couple reasons, but 1 of them being, that I wasn’t going to be able to get a good massage or any other sort of lymphatic drainage while on the So Cal Cleanse, so I really wanted to make sure I was doing the BEST at home care I could possibly do.  And one of my main concerns, is cellulite, so I knew this would help flush those toxins out too!

And I use my Bellicon Rebounder for at least 5 minutes 5 times a day.  I have also been using my treadmill, but the Bellicon is so perfect for this cleanse, as it helps to get the lymphatic system moving too!

About a week before I started the program, I had a nice long chat with Cynthia, co-owner and founder of SoCal Cleanse.  When I told her my main concerns and what I wanted to accomplish in this 30 day Cleanse, she was so delighted and excited for me!  My main concerns, are cellulite hereditary, and a PIA! Plus I want to trim down a few pounds, and also help with my acne and migraines.  I know my migraines and acne are toxic, or at least they have caused me to put even more toxic chemicals into my body, so I just know this will help with both of those, but cellulite, ack. dreadful.  I swear to you all, that I have had it since I was 14, I was fit, trim, always been skinny, but it is just in my family genes. When i talked to Cynthia about this, she told me that fat deposits hold the most toxins of your body, as they don’t have anywhere else to cling.  (And even when young girls are skinny they have those deposits started) SO when you try to lose weight, stubborn areas, like thighs, and hips hold so much of those toxins, that your body won’t let it go, because if it did, where would all of those toxins go?  SoCal Cleanse takes care of that, by cleansing you out organically and naturally, flushing out those toxins and giving them an escape route!  Plus detoxifying your liver, so that it can cleanse and purify your system more efficiently.  SoCal-Cleanse-Detoxifying-Body-Brush-closeup_1

So far I haven’t lost any weight, but I am only on halfway into day 5!  =)  I do know one thing.  My skin is so soft and smooth.  Dry Brushing has taken away all the rough skin on my elbows.  I have used scrubs, lotions and tonics, nothing ever worked!    Plus, did you know that our skin eliminates over 1 pound of toxins a day?  (so gross, I know) so dry brushing helps it to work even better, and our skin being a largest organ, needs purified as badly as anything else in our system!

Okay, so enough for the schedule, how do i feel?  I feel GREAT!  I have energy, I feel like I can relax, and think a little clearer and so far no bad effects from toxins being released.  Usually by the time dinner rolls around, I am not in the mood to cook.  Every night I look forward to it.  So easy to prepare, and guess what ?  I was even jealous of  Craig’s Ben and Jerry’s last night!  I had a tangerine and a couple strawberries!

The Shakes.  Most of the time these really aren’t the best things in the world.  But if you use SoCal’s recipes, you will find them EASY to drink and actually pretty tasty.  The Detox Shake is my favorite.  I mix a few blueberries in, and some Blueberry Kefir, a teeny dollop of honey, and it tastes like the batter for Blueberry muffins.  (really!)

The Hemp/Fiber Shake is a little more grainy, but if you can get past the texture, the taste is easy to fix!  I do the same recipe as above and although not quite as tasty, it is 100% manageable.

I think I may have to order some more of the Detox Shake, as it really came in handy when I was meeting mom for lunch on Friday.  I made a quick shake and drank it, then I really only had to worry about having a small salad or some mixed veggies at lunch.

So there is my day 5!  I will update again either later this week or early next week, as I so far this program is more then amazing!  I can’t wait to start seeing some true results!   I will try and give a review on each individual product as I continue this cleanse too!  If you have have any questions, please ask in the comments!  if I can’t answer I am sure I can get them answered for you!



Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

100% Pure Review and Giveaway

September 13, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

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**This post is going to be long, so if you want to learn more about 100% Pure please go check out their About page. It tells you more about their Vegan standards, no perfumes and fragrances, no thickeners or emulisifiers and so much more great stuff about them!**

The first time I ever tried 100% Pure was the middle of last year.  I purchased their Blood Orange Body Cream and Organic Lavender SeaFoam Face Wash. The Facewash was still in a glass jar then, they have since moved to a plastic tube.  Makes for cheaper shipping, and easier use.  I was so wow’ed by that cleanser that I am not sure how to explain it.  I was going through some really horrible breakouts.  I had just gotten out of the hospital in Chicago, and I was really depressed.tubeseafoam_lavender

Just look at the ingredients, nothing harsh, nothing acidic, just clean! or 100% Pure
Ingredients: Seaweeds (Kelp, Sea Lettuce, Spirulina),Green Tea, French Green Sea Clay, Saponified Coconut Oil, Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Sea Buckthorn Oil, Rosehip Oil, Extracts of Pomegranate, Grapefruit Seed and Rosemary, Lavender Essential Oil, Extracts of Cinnamon, Thyme, Goldenseal and Oregano

big_bloodorangecreamThe Cleanser had me hook line and sinker.  And the Blood Orange Nourishing Body Cream reeled me in like a big ol floppy fish!  100% Natural, 100% Vegetarian, Gluten free The smell is so intoxicating, it is nearly sinful.  Sweet like citrus, but not sweet like candy.  I don’t like to smell like a little girl, so you can trust me on that one.  I just can’t put my finger on an adjective to describe it.  It is just uplifting. When you put it on, you just can’t help but smile.

Highly nourishing, luxuriously rich, delicious Organic Blood Orange Body Cream, concentrated with potent anti- aging antioxidants, vitamins, softening fruit oils, and moisturizing avocado and cocoa butters. Incredibly decadent smelling blood orange cream will immediately hydrate, soften and give you dewy, glowing skin. Never any artificial fragrances, synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, alcohol or other toxins. Made with all natural, highest quality, organic, ingredients.

So then, I had to wait forever to order anything else.  I broke down when I saw that 100% Pure was going to be on QVC.  Remember me tellling you about that?

So they had a kit that contained, their Ultra Lengthening Black Tea Mascara, Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20, and their Coffee Bean Eye Cream, all for $30 a $75 for $30!!! yeah, I couldn’t resist!  I had been wanting to find a good natural if not organic mascara forever!  So i placed my order as soon as I found them on sale.

All of the Skincare, bath products and cosmetics are colored with fruit and vegetable pigments! The mascara uses black tea pigments, but is 100% natural and 100% vegetarian.  Simply amazing.  It is awesome too!  Leaves my lashes black and glossy!  Thick and long.  I am telling you, it performs better then the non-natural mascara i had been hanging onto! I am so sad that I had lost touch with 100% Pure.  I need a store here in Indianapolis!  (err, that might be a bad idea!)
front_mascara
100% natural mascara lengthens, separates, thickens and glosses lashes with fruit pigments and Black tea pigments. Gentle, all natural, good for you formula is suitable for everyone, even if you wear contacts or have sensitive eyes. Water and smudge resistant.  Comes in 4 shades, Black Tea, Blackberry, Blueberry, and Dark Chocolate.

I actually haven’t tried the Coffee Berry Eye Cream yet.  I simply have too many eye creams open right now, and I don’t want to open another!  But here is a independent study:

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Pretty EYE-mazing huh? hehe.tintedmoisturizer

I did however try out the Tinted Moisturizer with Spf 20. I have the Golden Peach color.  The moisture level is spot on, not greasy at all!  That  is a problem I have had with some tinted moisturizers, other companies want to put shea butter in them, and that is just too much on my face.  It is a sheer to medium coverage so if I do have bad circles under my eyes, I put a little concealer on, or a bad acne mark, same thing.  I don’t have a problem with that!  It has zinc in it, one of it’s forms of SPF protections, and that will help heal skin irritations- so that is just another bonus!

The Tinted Moisturizer also has white tea, acai oil, pomegranate oil and vitamins. While antioxidants protect your skin from environmental hazards such as pollution, smog, smoke, exhaust, etc.

Ingredients: Pigments of Peach, Apricot, Carrot, Pomegranate, Goji Berry and Tomato, White Tea, Cucumber Juice, Aloe Juice, Acai and Pomegranate Oil, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Chamomile and Lavender wax, extracts of Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Grapefruit Seed, Goldenseal and Cinnamon, Lavender Essential Oil
SUNSCREEN ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: 15% Titanium Dioxide and 10% Zinc Oxide

Even now, knowing how good for you these products are, and having tested at least 4. I am simply stunned when I read the ingredients. I almost feel like I am being punked. Like, “no way can these products be THIS GOOD, and yet have so few ingredients, and all of them are healthy, and protective for your skin!” But it is true!!! and most of them are organic!


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sooo, I have a special treat for you!!!
I have an Ultra Lengthening Black Tea Mascara, Tinted Moisturizer with Spf 20 in Peach Bisque, and their Coffee Bean Eye Cream for one Prissy Green Reader! I thought the Peach Bisque Tinted Moisturizer would be the safest bet for this coming winter.  And since it is a sheer coverage I think it will match just about any skin tone.

To enter, head over to 100% Pure and tell me a unique product you would like to try.  It can’t be anything that was mentioned here today.  Make it something special!  They have cool bath specialty products, all sorts of cosmetics, skin care for face and body and so much more!

Remember, this kit is worth $75!!!

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Contest winners are always chosen by random.org and verified per rules.  Contest ends at 11:59pm EST, on 9/28.  Open to US.

Make sure you check out all of my other Eco-Friendly Giveaways!

Morris Organics For Avocate Skin Care Review and Giveaway

September 12, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Giveaways

avocate

Introducing Avocate SkinCare

  • ultra luxury, exclusive formulas
  • superior quality ingredients
  • 90-100% natural with organic ingredients

The scientifically studied active benefits of avocado, combined with the most expensive essential oils in the world: Avocate SkinCare, It’s unique ingredients help to re-build lost collagen while adding luminance to the skin. An exclusive formula that works with your skin’s own unique chemistry, it reverses the first sign of aging – loss of volume in the skin.

***Formulated for the most sensitive skin, it’s safe for the entire family! artificial fragrance free, color free, Paraben free, color free, paraben free***

Active Ingredients and major components of Avocate SkinCare:
avocado oil
avocado butter
Dead Sea salt
essential oils
honey
aloe vera
vitamin A
vitamin E

Their line line is simple, straight and to the point.  Yet powerhouse of effective ingredients.  The build their standard on the stricter guidelines of the Europeans, so your now your Organics are even that much more top notch.   For now they have four products:

  • Dead Sea Salt & Honey Body Polish 4oz
  • Skin Perfecting Body Lotion 8oz
  • Skin Glow for intensive rejuvenation 4oz
  • Collagen Intensive Eye Repair .5oz

avocate4I was able to try the Skin Glow.  Wow.  It is infused with Egyptian Jasmine oil , which costs $15,000 a barrel! But still is only $45! Organic avocado oil, vitamins A & E, and beautifying essential oils leave your skin moisturized & glowing without a sticky or shiny residue. This intensive rejuvenating serum absorbs deeply, rebuilding lost volume while repairing damage caused by free-radicals, sun exposure, and pollution.

This stuff is more then I have words for.  The first time I used it I applied it all over, head to toes.  Not only did my skin feel completely impressive, soft and hydrated then, but the next morning, it was firm, and glowing like a CFL lightbulb! No really.  I will NEVER be without this oil.  It is my new nighttime body and face moisturizer.  YAY for natural oils that don’t clog pores!  and the scent, is so gorgeous for bedtime.  sensuous. yummy. hot. dreamy.

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I also got to try the Collagen Intensive Eye Repair.  Very nice.  I use this over the Skin Glow, and finally have the nightime hydration my uberly dehyrdrated eyes have lacked since I can remember.  At only $18 this Eye Repair is a STEAL! Overnight, this concentrated hydrating thing and refining eye cream reduces fine lines, crepiness & under-eye bags from the inside out. Its rich, silky formula absorbs rapidly and nourishes the skin with intense collagen re-building avocado butter.

Right now Morris Organics is having a Summer Sale! You can get All FOUR products for only $67.50. That is like purchasing the oil for regular price of $45, and getting all of the other products for just $12! PLUS free shipping!!  There are a few other sales going for individual products, and other mix and match kits, go check them out!

And I have a Skin Perfect Body Lotion ($15.95) and a Collagen Intensive Eye Repair ($18) to giveaway to one Prissy Green Reader!  To enter, head over to Morris Organics (watch out they have music playing!) and tell me which product you would most like to try.


Extra Entries:

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Contest winners are always chosen by random.org and verified per rules.  Contest ends at 11:59pm EST, on 9/27.  Open to US.

Make sure you check out all of my other Eco-Friendly Giveaways!

***Just announced today, Morris Organics Received the Top Gear Award for 2009 from Shapeyou.com!!!  Congrats Morris and Avocate!***

top_09med

Karissa Gindling™ for Prissy Green™ ©
 clear acne with SIBU

Amala Organic Skin Care Review

August 16, 2009 by Karissa  
Filed under Reviews

amalalogotxt-slogan

Amala skincare enhances natural beauty by embracing the individual and benefiting the world.

Nature gives us everything we need to look and feel beautiful. Our challenge is getting it from the soil to the skin without compromising the benefits or the earth.

Amala seeks out high potency organic plants and custom distills them to ensure our ingredients retain their full therapeutic value. By protecting each plant’s beautifying benefits, they a’re able to formulate extraordinarily effective skincare with proven results.

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I was fortunate enough to have Amala send me several products to try.  I had heard great things about Amala before

Hydrate Jasmine Eye Treatment

Hydrate Jasmine Eye Treatment

but had never tried anything.  The first item I tried when it arrived was the Hydrating Eye Eye treatment.  The area underneath my eyes is always dry, I suspect it from some of the drying acne treatments I use that creep up there, but I also have pretty dry skin so a combination of the two.  When I first dabbed a little out of the tube, I thought to myself, wow this is pretty thin, and not going to make a difference.

Well let me say that it may appear thin, but actually packs a solid moisuture punch to the eye area.  With Jasmin, avacado and Eyebright, it is formulated to provide fatty acids to moisturize, anti-oxidants to protect, and toning to help rid the skin of excess fluids to reduce puffiness.

What I like most, is that I can apply it in the morning, wait a few minutes, and then apply my makeup and it doesn’t let it all slip and slide, it packs major moisture, but sinks in to the skin.  This was just what my eyes had needed.

I then moved to the Detoxify Detoxifying Body Butter with Myrtle.  Feels like silk on the body, and hands.  So soft.

Formulated with Myrtle to Detoxify, Fig to soften and heal the skin, and Olive Oil to deeply nourish and strengthen the skins moisture barrier.

Lotus Flower

Lotus Flower

So later that evening when it was time to wash the day away from my face, I decided to try their Purifying Face Polish. Wow, what a wonderful facial scrub.  So light and delicate, but with a good enough grain to really pull all of the dead skin cells from skin, and wash them away.  Formulated with Blue Lotus to nurtures skin with vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  Finely Crushed Bamboo to sweeps away pore-clogging dead skin cells and impurities and Green Tea to helps soothe while preventing premature age damage with powerful antioxidants.

This will probably remain a staple for my skin care routine.  I don’t exfoliate everyday, I think that is a huge problem with skin care, we love to scrub scrub.  but this is a nice light exfoliating and great to use a couple to three times a week.  The Blue Lotus scent is so very relaxing too.

Their Purifying Blue Lotus Gel Cleanser is quite something too.  It doesn’t get overly foamy, just swiftly cleans the

Purifying Gel Cleanser

Purifying Gel Cleanser

dirt and oil from the day away, and leaves my skin feeling nice and clean, but not squeaky, or dry.   This cleanser actually won the 2008 Beauty with a Conscience award!

Created with Blue Lotus to nurtures skin with vitamins, minerals and amino acids, White Clay to remove pore-clogging impurities and dead skin cells and Green Tea to help prevent premature aging while soothing and fighting free radical damage.

Overall, Amala has many skin ranges to choose from Detox, Hydrate, Purify, Rejunivate and Firming.  They offer all of these in easy to buy and give gift sets!  Try them out to see what you can’t live with out, or give as a gift.  I can personally vouch that anyone who would receive a gift set of Amala products would be thrilled and it would be a gift to remember.

Buy Amala directly at AmalaBeauty.com

We champion honesty and transparency as much as we do environmental and social responsibility. We are forthright and fair in every interaction with our customers, our farmers, our partners and each other.

Amala translates from Sanskrit as “most pure,” and reflects our commitment to both pure quality and pure intentions. We value your trust, and do everything we can to earn it and keep it.

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