Boston Mints Naturally Refreshing Lip Gloss

(click photo to view gloss names)

photo credit: BostonMints.com

Boston Mints Lip Gloss , are long lasting sheer lip glosses that come in 12 shades and carry the names of some really cool local New England hot spots. Creator and Makeup Artist, Joanne Ilacqua created the naturally refreshing glosses as a custom lip cosmetic which provides nourishing treatment to lips that are exposed to the punishing lights of photo shoots. "Boston Mints are made of natural ingredients including spearmint leaf oil, aloe vera gel, vitamins C and E, with antioxidants to reduce damage and premature aging. The lip glosses offer a natural, healthy alternative to the coal tar based products."  The glosses garnered rave reviews from both her model and spa clients. These "Mint-y" gems delivered the benefits we all seek in a good lip product: good texture, color and long lasting qualities and their new perky pouts couldn't stop talking about it.  There was no way Ms. Ilacqua could keep this great product as her makeup kit's secret weapon, and she didn't! *fist pumps* Boston Mints are now available to purchase online and at several locations around Massachusetts.  The price tag on these gems start at $9 and come in either full or travel size. 

 Photo credit: BostonMints

My love for a good red brings my eyes straight to "Go Sox". However, "Plantation Peach" looks like a perfect pop of  color for the summer. Oh, decisions! Decisions! What color/s do you see making it onto your lips and into your cosmetic bag?

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Pooka Pure & Simple Review

Pooka Pure and Simple is an absolute hit in my house. The products were tested by the men (well, one man and two boys)in my life as soon as they came out of the box.  Immediately, we were all impressed with the light smell and the fact that it was a multi use product (great for hair, scalp AND skin)  The Shea & Olive Hair butter went to work on keeping  afros soft, fades polished, and waves shining.  Everyone's skin was looking mighty fine also.  This immediate attraction sent me straight to the cabinet to read and try the products for myself.  I had been dealing with a winter cold and my skin and scalp were in need of some serious tlc.  Pooka Pure and Simple came to my rescue.

Shea and Olive Hair Butter is nice, light and blended to perfection.  A creme like texture that glides on and breaks down easily along the hairshaft and on the scalp.  You don't have to be concerned about oily residue because the product totally absorbed when it was applied.  A major plus for me is how great it has been on my son's skin. He tends to have eczema flare ups when the winter season rolls in.  The Shea & Olive Hair Butter has kept his itching at bay due to it's moisturizing  and soothing factor.  This product has been assigned to a neutral spot because it has already made it's way out of the house via hubby's bag.

Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment  is a great treatment oil. I used it on my scalp during a stimulating massage.  My scalp had been extremely itchy when I was midway through my severe cold, so I applied this oil then massaged my scalp and wrapped my hair up so my body heat could aid in the absorption.  The essential oils oils of lavender(soothing & calming), peppermint (stimulating) and lemon (antiseptic) eased my scalp and also helped for a better night sleep.  I think the lavender buds and rosemary floating around in the bottle has my son just over the top about this product.  Everyday, he request a few drops to rub into his hair.  I don't mind one bit because after he is done there aren't any oily handprints around the house and his hair and skin look and smell great.

Pooka Pure and Simple's collection extends to bodycare, footcare and candles.  The price point ranges from $10 (single product)- $70 (gift box).  The quality and combination of  ingredients + benefits = WIN! 

*this product was sent to me by a rep for review consideration

If you must play , then Play Pretty with Whipped Body Butter Creme

(t-b lemon orange fig, celedon, gingered jasmine, nohea ani, and island sorbet)

Play Pretty Whipped Body Butter Creme is a nature based, light, non greasy cream that glides on smooth and doesn't require multiple daily applications, which is a plus for me. I don't know about you but one thing that I find quite displeasing is a product that I have to keep applying throughout the day to" maybe" get the benefits it claims it can deliver.    This cream boasts a powerful blend of butters, essential oils, and plant extracts that is surely to help the skin attain all the nutrients it needs to maintain normal moisture levels and guard  against dryness and/or irritation often associated with various dermatitis' (mild to severe dry skin such as eczema, rosacea, etc). This is an answer to those tired, dry, cracked feet, stubborn ash, and unsightly knees and elbows. You will feel good and smell good while conquering the problems that may have overtaken your skin.  The luxurious scents grab hold of your olfactory and make you feel like you been air lifted to the tropics. Oh, I just can't get enough of the fresh lime scent in the Celedon! So if you need a stress fighter the aromatheraputic qualities these products offer will help to relax and/or uplift your mind and spirit.  

                          

(light and creamy)

Play Pretty not only meets the needs we have of  keeping our skin smooth, vibrant, and healthy but get this:  There are no mineral oil or petroleum oil, harsh ingredients, parabens, drying sd alcohol or lanolin, which can be highly allergic.  So, for all of you looking for a more "green" alternative, this is a line for you.  The line has other wonderful products like Sugar Dew, a moisturizing body wash and Sugar Shea Scrub, all of which come in the delightful flavors pictured above.  Price point ranges from $15 to $25 which may seem like a splurge purchase for some but when my 10yr old son says "oh, now this lime one smells good , I will wear this lotion everyday" I call it a family investment (lol)  Play Pretty has also been husband approved "I don't know about the pretty but I am down for play, the lime, ginger, and fig smell real good".  So there you go, Play Pretty and share this great product with your whole family.

ABOUT PLAY PRETTY (excerpt from the site):

Play Pretty Beauty was launched by two sisters in October 2006.

Although truth is, neither sister thought their skin care woes would turn into a company! Since they were children, both sisters suffered from troubled skin - eczema, dry itchy patches and blotchiness. Nothing on the market seemed to help. As adults, the sisters spent a lot of time and money trying to find a solution.
Then fate intervened. As a birthday gift, one sister received a natural remedy book that contained recipes for making homemade hair and body care products. She started making some of the recipes and shared the results with her sibling. Since both sisters loved to cook, they thought, why not try to 'cook up' a solution to their skin woes?
So they literally took to their kitchens and started blending up their own natural remedies. After countless batches, and 'test audiences' (friends, family, reluctant spouses) the sisters realized it was working - the itchiness and blotchy patches were gone and their skin had never felt so good! But what made their products different? It's simple: what they created in their kitchens didn't have the same harsh, irritating, synthetic ingredients and artificial colors other commercially made products did. It was a light bulb moment that sparked the sisters' desire to create a product line using only the best, nature-inspired ingredients.
The name Play Pretty came from something our grandmother used to say to us when we were children. Growing up, we were rough and tumble tomboys, always getting dirty, always climbing trees, always looking for our next big ‘adventure’ in Nanny’s backyard.




*disclaimer -this product was sent to me from a company representative  for review consideration. I am not affiliated nor have i been compensated for this review

What are Essential Oils?

A few years ago I found myself standing in the aisle of a store totally disappointed at a brands claim to having essential oils in their product that would make my hair stronger and more manageable. I remember going over bottle after bottle reading the ingredients that had only one or two oils (that by the way were vegetable, NOT essential) waaaaay down on the bottom of the list. Now, you remember my post on reading labels? Well then you remember an ingredient listed at the bottom means very little to no benefit. So you know my dollars stayed right in my pocket just as the product stayed right on the shelf. Fastforward, I had a conversation today which bought me back to that day. The conclusion drawn from the dialogue was: misclaims of brands is nothing new so we must aspire to be informed consumers to ensure that our dollars are spent wisely. I was inclined to go dig into my archives for a quick essential oil reference that I could share with you.

What are Essential oils?

*Essential oils are potent, volatile liquids extracted from plants, flowers, leaves,bark, stems, roots, and fruit.

*Essential oils are not greasy. They are more like water in texture, they evaporate quickly and penetrate the skin easily. They are made up of very small molecules, which enable the oil to work on a cellular level by passing through the skin layers and entering the blood and lymphatic systems.

*Essential oils provide both psychological and physical therapeutic benefits through methods of inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion. Each essential oil has its own special effect of how it reacts internally, based upon its chemical makeup. The one common factor among all oils is that they enhance the immune system by encouraging the body to heal itself.

*3 common grades of essential oils: therapeutic(highest quality), food, and cosmetic/perfume

A few common Essential oils found in products:

Tea Tree Oil -anti bacterial, disinfectant, anti fungal

Lavender - calms, heals & relieves, great for oil control

Rosemary -controls oil, good for dandruff, aids relief in joints

Peppermint- relieves itching, stimulates

Lemon- astringent, disinfectant

Chamomile - anti inflammatory, great for dry itchy skin & acne

*Commonly, essential oils used topically on skin and hair are diluted with carrier oils, which guards against skin irritation.

Carrier oils are pure vegetable oils that “carry” the essential oils into the skin. Perfume and fragrance oils are not the same as essential oils. Perfume and fragrance oils are made of synthetic (artificial) substances and they have no healing benefits.

A few common carrier oils:

Coconut oil- soothes, moisturizes, and nourishes skin

Grapeseed Oil -antioxidant, mild astringent

Jojoba Oil- similar to the oil (sebum)produced in our bodies, soothing the only carrier oil that penetrates all 3layer of our skin

Olive Oil- antioxidant, moisturizes, helps retain moisture in the skin

Sweet Almond Oil -high in nutrients, soothes, nourishes and softens

So whether you are looking to make your own products or buying some I hope this little reference helps.

essential oils

Calmed by the Candle

Oh, this is just what I need. Amidst the cold weather there is alot of coughing going on around here..eeew germs! This is a candle that will whisk me away (in my mind) and clean my air. I lit my Soul Purpose Caribbean Ginger Soy Candle and although I am cozied up from the cold outside, in my imagination the island sand and blue waters are just a few feet away. Tropical woods sway, blowing warm ginger kisses and flirtatiously inviting me into a lavender dream. Is this natural? Has to be, it's written on the packaging "all natural"..lol

Should I blow it out and come back to reality? not before I dip my finger in and rub some of this warm vitamin packed moisturizing oil on my skin.

Soul Purpose Soy Candles 7.5 oz $20