Coconut is my favorite fruit. The scent reminds me of sandy beaches and its benefits, from the water, milk and oil, are all-encompassing. I was recently sent Renpure's Black Label line of hair care - Coconut Water - to try out. This collection features extra virgin coconut oil and natural coconut water in each product. Both ingredients promise hydration, shine and overall healthier hair.

Renpure Coconut Water Hydrating Shampoo: Both the shampoo and conditioner come in 16oz bottles. They are both safe for color treated hair and are free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, gluten, and phthalates. What's interesting about the shampoo is that I expected it to smell like coconut. But it smells like citrus (at least to my nose.) I do like citrus scents, so it's no big deal, but psychologically I was thrown off.

Without the sulfates to create lather, it can be a little difficult to determine how much you need to cleanse your hair. The first few times I overdid it and my hair felt very heavy afterwards. I have fine hair, however, I have a lot of it giving it the look (and feel) of much thicker hair. It's always a fine line for me between using products that give me the right amount of hydration without weighing it down. Once I figured out the right amount of product for my hair, it was a much better experience and I ended up really liking this shampoo.

Renpure Coconut Water Hydrating Conditioner: Like the shampoo, the conditioner has a bit of a citrus fragrance to it. It doesn't have any coconut scent at all. Do not get me wrong, scent has nothing to do with how the product works, but I'm still scratching my head as the label's ingredients are chock full of all variations of coconut oil and coconut water, and I can't figure out how it is giving me citrus vibes. There wasn't any trial and error with the conditioner, as it worked perfectly from the start. My hair felt smooth, it had a less brittle feel to it and frizz was diminished.

Renpure Coconut Water Replenishing Treatment Mist: It just takes a few spritzes of this mist to add some extra moisture to your hair. I found it very beneficial over the summer in-between washings and I plan to use it again once the thermostat gets turned up and my hair begins to dry out again. It's lightweight, but definitely delivers on its claims. Have you tried any of these products from Renpure? Questions and comments welcome! 

There are a plethora of weight loss programs out there. Equally as such, there will always be both positive and negative reviews. Prior to joining the Medifast Go diet plan, I wasn't exactly sure how it worked. Obviously I knew you ate their food, and I saw an abundance of amazing before and after photos, but I still wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Now 4 weeks in and I have a good handle on how it works.

Kalahari opened here in the Poconos with much fanfare a few years ago. My husband used to be a delivery driver who often brought their heating and cooling equipment onto the grounds and would come home and tell me all about the massive indoor and outdoor waterpark with his eyes sparkling with child-like excitement and as big as saucers as he gave me detail by detail. He and the kids would often talk about how amazing the waterpark looked, but what got my attention (of course) was that they had a luxe spa. A recent addition to Spa Kalahari is Halotherapy (or salt therapy.) Salt therapy has become increasingly popular in the last few years for its many health benefits. At Spa Kalahari their Halotherapy room is separate from their Hydro Escape (which includes a sauna, whirlpool, steamroom, multi-sensory shower and Relaxation Sanctuary), but still located within the expansive spa itself. If you are not familiar with salt therapy, it is known for its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. It's recommended for healthy people as it boosts the immune system to help combat the high amounts of pollutants and bacteria we all breathe every day. The negative ions produced, help combat stress and depression. Halotherapy is not to be a replacement for any medication or medical treatment, but is a complement to traditional medicine techniques. The way it works is that Himalayan salt is under your feet while a halogenerator vaporizes pure salt into the air. Surrounded by salt, you simply relax and breathe it in. You may experience a dry throat and increased coughing during or after your session. This is a natural reaction of the respiratory system in some people. If you experience discomfort, you should end your session.  Sessions typically last for 45 minutes. Salt therapy, while good for the lungs, it is also good for the skin as well. Acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis can all benefit from salt therapy. Of course, there are certain medical conditions that it is NOT recommended for, such as infectious disease, acute stages of respiratory disease, cardia insufficiency, COPD with 3rd stage of chronic lung insufficiency, coughing of blood/bleeding, open sores or wounds (because, ouch!), infections accompanied by fever, any form or state of tuberculosis, high blood oressure/hypertension in stage 2, and hyperthyroidism. Have you tried halotherapy? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!

Having gotten two weeks under my belt of being on Medifast, I'm going to get real with you and explain what it's really like to be on this weight loss plan for these first few weeks. I'll break it down question by question.

A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Wash is featured in YES!, the magazine inside the USA Today network of newspapers nationwide. I'm pretty much doing the happy dance! If you are new here and not familiar with our body wash, it is vegan, 98% natural and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free. It has a variety of plant-based ingredients including 30% aloe to soothe dry, irritated skin, chamomile, comfrey, and calendula. It also has shea oil to hydrate, citrus essential oils to brighten and kelp to revitalize skin. Citrus oils are also known to be great for acne-prone skin. You can find it on our ecommerce store: www.agirlsgottaspa.com/store Be sure to check out our body lotion and salt scrub. We offer free shipping on orders over $50. To stay in the loop regarding our bath and body line, please subscribe to our mailing list. Also check out our ever growing list of retailers that believe in our mission statement – You Deserve to be Pampered. If you are a retailer looking to sell A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Please contact us!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Medifast. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About this time last year, I began researching how to become a living kidney donor. I knew I was in good health, I was fairly confident I would pass every physical and psychological test, but what I didn't know was that my weight would be my biggest obstacle. Fast forward to a few months ago and me sobbing into the phone while the Living Kidney Donor Coordinator explained to me that my weight needed to drop and my A1c needed to lower (they are tied to each other, so when the weight drops, typically your A1c does as well), and until then, I wasn't going to be able to proceed with the living donation process. After 3 months of going through test after test, I ugly cried, so thank God she couldn't see me. I was all in for this donation process and now my sweet tooth was catching up with me and preventing me from doing something for someone else. I tried completely overhauling how I ate. I got a FitBit and set goals for sleep, steps and activity. I started working out. However, it took me 4 months just to lose 12 pounds. Friends urged me to get a thyroid test and check to see if I was insulin resistent. Both came back completely normal. I went to a dietician who was completely stumped. I was doing everything she would recommend. She only saw me once because she felt I knew what to do, even though it wasn't moving the needle on the scale. To say I was frustrated was an understatement. I slowly began to fall back into my old eating habits and the 12 pounds came back. I felt defeated. I hated how I looked, no doubt, but I felt even more awful that I couldn't donate to someone in need. Over the last few months I noticed that my Pastor became a Medifast rep. He lost a lot of weight and looks great. Others in my church have also done the program and looked great. However, if being skeptical was a full time sport, then I was in the game. So I did my research. A few times a week during my downtime, I would look up various aspects of the program, as well as, before and after stories from those who had done it themselves. Working 50 hours a week and managing a household of 7 means I don't have time to go to the gym. I also don't have time to do weight loss meetings. Trying to figure out what it will take to make me lose enough weight to begin the living donor process again is overwhelming and exhausting. So, when the opportunity came before me to try Medifast Go, I decided to go for it. I know that in order to lose weight from home, I have to be organized. I'm going to be honest, I love that the meals are basically grab-n-go and that I don't need to think if something has too much fat, is too high carb or if it lacks the macronutrients I need. However, there's still things I need to do to ensure success. Be Realistic When I ordered the food, I did so thinking ahead to when I go into maintanence. I like to eat things that taste sweet, I love chocolate, but I also like savory items. So the food I ordered matched that vs trying to act like I was going to cut out all "treats" and be super good. I know me, and I would perseverate on those "missing" treats and likely cheat. The Medifast Go program even has chocolate chip pancakes - something we eat once or twice a month in my house. Additionally, be realistic about every aspect of real life while doing this weight loss program. For example, can you do 45 minutes a day of exercise? For me, that's mostly unrealistic, but 10-15 minutes of HIIT is doable. Set a Goal I actually have two weight loss goals - my "ideal" and my "realistic" goal. Ideally, I'd like to lose 70 pounds. Realistically, I'd be OK with losing 30. This helps you to set your expectations. Set a goal when it comes to your daily activity. I work at home from my desk, so this sedentary job makes it difficult to get in 10K steps daily, but 6500 is more realistic. (I tested my baseline one day and it was 1500 steps. So pathetic.) I can make sure I get there by adding in some fitness before I start my work day. Plan Plan your day the night before. Decide what time you will start eating and which meals you will eat. The Medifast Go plan requires eating 6 times a day. I'm lucky if I can remember to eat 3 times a day. Spacing out eating every 2-3 hours requires advanced planning. One thing that comes in handy? My Alexa Dot. I simply tell Alexa to set a timer for 2 hours from the time I first eat. Each time I eat, I tell her to reset the time. This keeps me on track. (You can also ask, "Alexa, how much time is left until my timer goes off?" and she'll tell you.) Keep a Weight Loss Journal Keeping track of what you eat, your exercise, your weight and measurements will help to keep you accountable and on track. And as you begin to lose weight and inches, you'll stay motivated. Today I started this program and I will be doing it for the next 3 months. I'll be checking in every few weeks to update you on my progress. It is my hope that by the end I can say I'm moving forward with the living donor tests so that I can donate my kidney. Try 30 days of Medifast with 7 Days of Free Meals included in the first month's order with a renewal plan. Offer expires April 30, 2018 or get $15 Off orders of $150+ with promo code SAVINGS15 at checkout! Some exclusions apply. Offer expires April 30, 2018. If you've already worked this weight loss program with success, I would love your encouragement and tips in the comments! How to Lose Weight at Home What the First Few Weeks on Medifast are Really Like How Medifast Works How to Stick To Your Diet During the Holidays Can You Cheat on Your Diet and Still Lose Weight? 5 Tips to Lose Weight Right Now *Average weight loss for Medifast Direct® customers using Medifast Go™ is 11 pounds. Medifast Direct customers are in weight loss, on average, for 8 weeks. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Eczema is something we all deal with in my family. For years we'd try prescribed creams, humidifiers in the winter, skipping daily showers and opting for just a few times a week and so on. Then I began to notice I would get eczema during the opposite season (Spring and Summer) than some of my sons. It felt like there was no rhyme or reason to the red, scaly, inflammed skin. A few years ago I decided to research and ask dermatologists why do I get eczema at certain times of the year, when a PR rep from AD RescueWear pitched me their Tencel® fabric sleeves. I'll be honest, I was skeptical. It looked like a simple piece of cloth. How could a small piece of fabric be the solution to our problem? Wouldn't our doctors have mentioned this to us before? However, we were desperate for a solution. I received the sleeves, a pair for me and a pair sized for a child. First we used it on my teen-aged son and then my 10 year old since they have varying degrees of eczema. What is wet therapy for eczema? This is when you wear a wet fabric over the inflammed area for about 2 hours or more after applying a moisturizer. The wet fabric helps to soothe skin and seal in the moisturizer for better absorption. Since wearing wet clothing on your arm (ankle, hands and/or body) can be a little inconvenient during the day, we chose to do wet therapy at night. This is honestly the best way to do it, in my opinion, because you are less likely to mess with it (especially a fidgety child) and it combats involuntary itching while you sleep. There are a lot of moisturizers out there that work well for moisturizing severely dry skin, but A Girl's Gotta Spa! body lotion is plentiful here (for obvious reasons), and with the combination of shea butter, cocoa butter and olive oil, it was pretty much a no brainer to use. Plus there are no synthetic dyes or fragrances in it, which are known irritants with eczema. First, I soaked the AD RescueWear fabric sleeves. Lukewarm water is good, but many times we used cold water since cold helps decrease inflammation. Then I wrang them out until they were a mix between damp and really wet. Next, I applied the lotion to arms and elbows. I gave it a minute to absorb and then slid the sleeve on the arm, covering the elbow. The first morning after using the AD RescueWear Sleeves, I realized I hadn't scratched all night. My sons said the same. We all agreed our elbows felt less itchy, although they looked exactly the same. We applied lotion again during the day and then followed the same routine at night applying the wet sleeves with the lotion. By day 5, my one son's eczema was all but gone. There were a few tiny spots, but the difference was significant. My eczema had also decreased significantly. We continued the same routine nightly until our elbows looked normal. Then we just simply continued applying lotion as normal without the wet sleeves. It seemed the only time the eczema would re-emerge on my sons is when they would skip a day (or daaaaaayyyys, because BOYS) applying lotion. Then we would have to start the process all over again with the wet therapy and the eczema would be resolved within a week. As you know, there is no cure for eczema, so this is just a treatment option to quell it. AD RescueWear is more than just a piece of thin, silky fabric and the skeptic in me has been quieted. In addition to their sleeves for eczema, they also have gloves, sleeves for ankles, shirts, pants, bodysuit and socks. They have come in sizes for both children and adults. I should've written this review years ago when I discovered it. While our eczema is contained to our elbows and parts of our arms, I'm sure there are others that have it more severely. You may have to wear the sleeves and use lotion for a longer period of time. This is just my family's personal experience for the degree that we get eczema. I hope this helps you. If it does, please share this article! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

When life gets insanely busy, as seems to be the case more and more lately, the one thing that always seems to suffer is my health and well-being. I'll find the time for friends and family, but like a lot of us, I will often put my health last. 

Sometimes there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day to fit in exercise, eating healthily and finding time to de-stress along with everything else that life requires, so whenever I come across something healthy that easily and effortlessly fits into my busy schedule, trying it is a MUST!

One such healthy find that fits into a busy schedule since it can be taken on the go is Beetology juices.  Beetology juices are made from one of nature’s nutritional powerhouses, beets. The juices are U.S.D.A. Certified Organic, cold-pressed, 100% non-GMO and Certified Fair Trade. They consist of 100% juice blends containing no preservatives, additives, artificial colors, or flavors. They are also non-soy, non-dairy, and certified kosher.

In addition to how clean Beetology juices are they also have a ton of heath benefits thanks to being 100% juice with over over 50% being beet juice!  Beets are dense in nutrients and high in antioxidants, they help boost energy, aid in weight loss, support cleansing and detoxing, and have anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also known to improve blood flow and help lower blood pressure.

I was recently sent Beetology juices to try for myself. I tried the beet + lemon + ginger juice and absolutely loved it!  It's delicious, really refreshing, not too sweet and best of all I can easily grab one on the go, the size fits perfectly in my handbag!  I feel really good about the fact that not only are Beetology juices delicious, but every time I consume a bottle of this cold-pressed nutrition-packed powerhouse, I am also taking the time to do something that contributes to my health and well-being.

I've tried plenty of juices that have been sent my way for review, some have been delicious and others fall flat. Beetology gets a definite delicious from me! 

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. Opinions are my own.

September is National Yoga Month. Whether you already get your om on, are interested in learning more about how yoga has physical and mental health benefits or are just inspired to start a healthy lifestyle, we've rounded up some products to help you on your journey. The beauty of yoga is that you can do it anywhere. It can be done synchronistically with others at your favorite yoga center, privately in your own home, down the beach, or... lakeside. Wherever you find beauty and inspiration, set down your mat. Longtime readers know I live in the Pocono Mountains, so nature and the beauty of this area inspires me. This particular spot on the lake in front of my house is beyond beautiful year-round (wait until I start posting pictures of the fall landscape!) It's easy to close your eyes and just breathe here. From the water lapping on the shore, to the rocking of the dock, to the sounds of the frogs hiding around the rocks, to the ducks, birds, and gentle breeze... there is no better place to re-focus. You need to fuel your body while gaining strength through each yoga session. Ascent Protein has what you need to deliver native whey protein into your diet. This isn't for weight loss, but is meant as a food supplement. You simply add one scoop to your beverage of choice. I add it to my homemade smoothies that I make for lunch everyday (Greek yogurt, frozen berries and spinach.) I've tried Lemon Sorbet, Vanilla Bean and Chocolate. As a chocolate addict, it's my favorite, but their other flavors are just as delicious. One scoop of Ascent Protein is equivalent to 4 large eggs, 3/4 cup of almonds or 3 full cups of whole milk. Adding this to your post-yoga smoothie is definitely the way to go. This month you can get 10% off your Ascent Protein order buy using the promo code YOGA at check out. Love Warrior, an Oprah's Book Club selection, is a great read when you want to put aside some time for mindfulness. Glennon Doyle's bold honesty, rawness and most of all, realness, will make you reflect on your own life and relationships. It'll break you down and build you up. It'll make you view strength and bravery from a new perspective. Make time to get inspired - read this book. I'm a big proponent of probiotics for digestive health but I'll be honest, I had never tried kombucha until I received KeVita Master Brew Kombucha. The reason why is because I had heard many people describe the flavor of kombucha as "an acquired taste." That was enough to keep me away thinking I wouldn't like it. How wrong was I? (Sidenote: My 2 year old had no hesitation unlike his mom. My boy drank both along with me saying "Mmm" the whole time.) KeVita is fermented with a kombucha tea culture, has live probiotics, organic acids, organic caffeine, and is Verified Non-Alcoholic. I had the opportunity to try the Blueberry Basil and Ginger. Blueberry Basil is refreshing - the flavor that came through first was the effervescence of the sparkling water, next you taste the basil and the blueberry comes through last. It's interesting because I would've never thought to pair basil and blueberry together since I use basil for cooking savory items, but it offset's the blueberry's tartness. The Ginger kombucha tastes a bit spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. I deal with acid reflux a few times a week and typically only take a probiotic tablet to quell it. Drinking the Ginger kombucha helped with this as well. Another item to help make healthier choices is, Organic Stevia in the Raw. I don't know about you, but I LOVE all things sweet. Of course, that comes with a ton of downsides. Switching to an artificial sweetner has never been an option for me because the taste is not true to real sugar. Not to mention, when I'm drinking my iced coffee, I like the crunchiness of the sugar granules. (It's a texture thing.) Organic Stevia in the Raw gives me the best of both worlds without the cons. It's a blend of organic stevia extra and organic cane sugar, so there's the crunchiness of the granules, sweetness that doesn't taste artificial in any way, but it's also a natural sweetner and non-GMO. But the best part? It's lower in calories compared to regular sugar - 3 calories vs 32. (Trust me, it all adds up.) With yoga or any workout, there's sweat and odors to contend with. So when you're packing your facial cloths in your bag to refresh after a session, Summer's Eve makes portable Cleansing Cloths to help with personal care for your business down there. While they help to maintain a healthy pH so that there's no embarassing odors, they're also free from harsh chemicals and infused with botanical extracts. The Mandarin Blossom literally smells like a very light, sweet mandarin orange. Don't worry, you won't be walking around smelling like fruit, the scent stays on the cloths while freshening you up. I am a HUGE snacker, so reaching for something healthy and satisfying is key. These raw, paleo bars from B.O.S.S. Bar are packed with superfoods, and although tiny, they are mighty in taste. I honestly can't pick a favorite flavor, because they all tasted so good. I love that absolutely every ingredient benefits your health in some way. As I mentioned, they are small (about the size of my palm) but they are packed with so many fruits, nuts and seeds that you will feel surprisingly full. Right now they are offering free shipping on any 5-pack and/or case of 12 on BOSSFoodCo.com through October 15, 2017 with code BABBLEBOSS. Otherwise, if you are an Amazon Prime shopper like I am, they are available on Amazon, too. I'd love to hear from you if any of the items mentioned are something you are a fan of. Leave a comment! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

We're big fans of celebrity hairstylist, Pearson Knight, around here. He's styled hair for New York Fashion Week, is at the beckon call of A-listers and most recently can be found at Russell + Hazel in Minneapolis. So when he launched his own hair care line, I knew I had to try it. Pearson sent two of the four products from his line that he felt would best suit my hair type. The line is comprised of Sculpture Foam, Beach Grit, Straight Shine and Texture Mud.  Sculpture Foam: This curl and styling elixir also gives you volume. I have naturally wavy hair that I tend to flat iron and blow out, since the waves are never really uniform and make me look more like I just rolled out of bed (less in a sexy way and more in a messy way, on some days an 80's way.) PK's Sculpture Foam is lightweight and has a pleasant scent to it. It took some trial and error to figure out that 1-2 pumps is all I need for my fine hair. It's easy to think you need a lot more of this frothy foam than you do because it feels like there is nothing to it. But trust me, a little works! I apply it at my roots to get lift and volume when blow drying, but the best curls actually come from applying the elixir before bed. If I shower in the evening and apply it while allowing my hair to air dry, I wake up to soft, wavy volumized hair. Our editor, Gail, has naturally curly hair and it made her curls look sooooo good!  

A post shared by Shannon Smyth ? (@agirlsgottaspa) on May 8, 2017 at 7:08pm PDT

Straight Shine: This blowout lotion can be used on its own or paired with the Sculpture Foam, as it's main objective is to decrease frizz and increase shine. It's texture is literally like a creamy lotion, but it isn't heavy. Again, since I have fine hair, that is a really important attribute for me. It has the same fragrance as the Sculpture Foam, but with both products the scent disappates once in your hair. The one thing that immediately caught my attention with the Straight Shine is that it helped my round brush grip my hair better. Usually I am fighting with my hair dryer and round brush so that the hair doesn't lift and cause frizz. With the Straight Shine my hair actually stayed on the brush from beginning to end. This made my blowout look so much smoother and meant less work for my flat iron. Used together, you get volumized hair with soft curls without the frizz. Isn't that every girls dream, or just mine? You can find Pearson Knight's hair products online at www.pearsonknight.com Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!