Raw Spirit Fragrances Desert Blush Review

Shannon Smyth36 comments
Raw Spirit Desert Blush fragrance review via @agirlsgottaspa A heady scent featuring wild-harvested Australian sandalwood and a hint of the intoxicating floral note of Australian Boronia. Prior to getting Raw Spirit's Desert Blush fragrance into my hands and (immediately, because OMG) onto my skin, I had never experienced the scent of Australian Boronia. As someone who is not really a fan of the earthy and woody fragrance of sandalwood, the sweet and floral aroma of the boronia literally MAKES this perfume. The floral scent is the perfect complement to the sandalwood, creating something so utterly inviting. Raw Spirit Desert Blush fragrance review via @agirlsgottaspa Desert Blush, like all of Raw Spirit's fragrances, comes in both a rollerball and eau de parfum. I've used both, but definitely like the convenience of the rollerball to be able to have control over the application amount as well as it being small enough to fit into my purse. Desert Blush (and all Raw Spirit fragrances) is marked as unisex, however, I do feel like this is a feminine scent. But as all perfume oils interact with everyone's body chemistry differently, you may find it smells differently for you. Raw Spirit Desert Blush fragrance review via @agirlsgottaspa While the perfume is simply encased in nondescript glass packaging, it really is the outter box that lures you in with its muted hues, gold embossed font and canvas texture. You feel like you are about to open something of substance. And more so, something you can't live without. Raw Spirit Desert Blush fragrance review via @agirlsgottaspa The Raw Spirit brand was inspired by Australian photographer Russell James' collaborative art project, Nomad Two Worlds, which explores the clash of ancient and modern cultures and celebrates the richness of Indigenous and marginalized communities around the world. You can learn more about how this brand came to life via their about page. Other fragrances from Raw Spirit include: Fire Tree: a sensual, unisex, smoky and sweet fragrance oil Wild Fire: a dry, woody, sensual scent Bijou Vert: a fresh fragrance with sensual depth Citadelle: a clean, refreshing fragrance Winter Oak: a smooth, creamy, warming scent Summer Rain: a fresh and invigorating citrus fragrance If you're not sure which fragrance would best suit you, they do offer a Discovery Set. If you have a Barneys New York nearest you, stop by their fragrance counter to experience these scents for yourself. 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Press samples

Read more →

Get Skin Holiday Ready with RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

Shannon Smyth

Disclosure: Thanks to RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream I’m getting my skin ready for the holidays as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #RoCRetinolResolution #WomenWhoRoC Get your skin holiday ready via @agirlsgottaspa #RoCRetinolResolution #WomenWhoRoC

I feel like this year has flown by. Don't you? We're quickly approaching what is prime photo season - the holidays! The holiday season (October through the beginning of January) is my frenemy for many reasons. I look forward to the warmth and fun of enjoying family get togethers and parties, but loathe the stress (which shows on my face) and all the photos I'll soon be tagged in. Having our 5 boys plus a newborn means many sleepless nights and sometimes chaotic days. I definitely don't want that to come across in pictures. For most things, I am a procrastinator. I simply wait until the last minute to do anything, but one thing I have learned when it comes to my skin? Undoing years of damage, as well as creating a flawless canvas simply doesn't happen overnight. I absolutely have to begin my anti-aging regimen months in advance. Pamper your skin via @agirlsgottaspa #RoCRetinolResolution #WomenWhoRoC AD Right now setting aside time for myself is difficult, but oh so necessary (if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody's happy.) One way I am pampering myself while treating my skin, is with an evening dose of me time. (You deserve it, so gift yourself with it daily!) That includes a detoxing soak in the bathtub (San Francisco Salt Company) with the fragrance of a ridiculously soothing candle (I LOVE the Geranium and Lavender candle from Root Candles), contrasted by the invigoration of my favorite coffee scrub (Fig+Yarrow) followed by RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. Get your skin holiday ready via @agirlsgottaspa #RoCRetinolResolution #WomenWhoRoC AD Taking the stress level down a notch helps more than you may think when it comes to your skin. And that relaxation helps to promote a more restful sleep when you steal away time for yourself at the end of each day. Looking well-rested means less concealer. When it comes to combatting wrinkles, especially those deep wrinkles on my forehead, I love that I can do it in my sleep while my skin is regenerating. RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream's main ingredient is retinol, which is the #1 dermatologist recommended anti-aging ingredient. As we age, we lose 1-2% of collagen each year, which results in a sallow and sullen appearance. Retinol improves collagen-depleted skin treating fine lines and deep wrinkles. Give yourself a good 4 weeks of consistent, nightly use and you'll begin to see a difference. Minimized wrinkles means less time spent photoshopping...or in my case, making my husband take about 100 photos until one meets my approval. Oh c'mon, you know exactly what I am talking about! Get your skin holiday-ready via @agirlsgottaspa #RoCRetinolResolution #WomenWhoRoC AD I'm looking forward to my husband's annual Christmas party at work and won't be cringing when friends break out the camera! How far in advance do you begin getting your skin holiday-ready? 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Read more →

Yuni: Yoga-Inspired Beauty

Gail Lewis

Review of Yuni - yoga inspired skin care via @agirlsgottaspa As someone who cannot survive without yoga, I was beyond excited when I heard about Yuni. Yuni is the first natural, sustainable, convenient, Yoga-inspired beauty brand.

Yuni products are versatile, multi-tasking, time saving and enable yogis to potentially practice more often since having time to shower or the availability of shower facilities may be a deciding factor in whether we decide to work out or practice.

All Yuni products are plant-based, non-toxic, biodegradable and compostable and contain 100% all-natural fragrance. The first two Yuni products that I HAD to try were the No-Rinse Body Cleansing Foam and Instant Shower Sheets.  Both of these products are incredibly effective at leaving my skin feeling clean and refreshed without the need for water. 

I absolutely love hot yoga, but after class there is usually a line for the showers. I usually skip hot yoga on a day when I have commitments after class because I don't have the time to wait to shower and I definitely refuse to show up to an appointment covered in hot yoga sweat. The Instant Shower Sheets and No-Rinse Body Cleansing Foam give me that just showered feeling without the time and hassle.

Best of all, I don't need to skip my hot yoga session due to showering time constraints. The Instant Shower Sheets are going to be new favorite travel companion especially on long flights and also because I have had the unfortunate experience of being stuck in an airport for a long period of time and these shower sheets would have been a life saver.

My other favorites from Yuni are the Muscle Recovery Gel and the Aromatic Body Mist. The Muscle Recovery Gel contains fair trade green tea extract, peppermint and arnica to ease post workout soreness and inflammation.  The rollerball applicator makes application easy and mess free and I am now very addicted to the minty fragrance and intensely cooling sensation.  It's perfect post hot yoga and also post run. 

My fiancé has also been using the Muscle Recovery Gel after surfing and is also in love with it. The Aromatic Body Mist is like walking into the most zen-like spa experience, it's an incredibly relaxing fragrance that creates a 100% natural aroma with essential oils of Bergamot, Neroli and Sage.

 In addition to misting myself with this, I also love misting my bedroom right before bedtime.  The Aromatic Body Mist is also going to be a favorite travel companion of mine, especially with holiday travel looming in the near future.

Yuni products are not only my new yoga and gym bag staples, but they are now also my travelling essentials.

Thankfully a lot of the products come in travel sizes which will make the travelling experience a much more enjoyable, stress-free and dare I say, beautiful experience. Yoga lovers, have you tried Yuni yet?  

*Disclosure: Press samples

Read more →

My Top Five Beauty Products From Whole Foods

Gail Lewis
Top 5 beauty products from @wholefoods via @agirlsgottaspa The only department in Whole Foods that I normally skip is the beauty department. It's true. I guess I've always just felt that the Whole Foods beauty department contained products that would be of little or no interest to me due to them smelling weird or my assumption that they were ineffective. Well we all know what they say about assuming. Silly me. After actually browsing through the beauty department, I realized that Whole Foods carried some of my favorite beauty products that I normally have to search for online due to most retailers not carrying them in store. Whole Foods has now become one of my favorite destinations for beauty products that are natural, organic, cruelty free and that perform amazingly well. A few of my favorite beauty products from Whole Foods are: 1. Alaffia Pineapple Coconut Shea Butter Soap, $2.99  I love a good bar of soap and this soap smells incredible. It leaves my skin soft and moisturized plus it is triple milled and Certified Fair Trade. 2. Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive, $39 This peel contains alpha hydroxy acids and exfoliates while also reducing the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.  After using this, my skin is left glowing. 3. Kiss My Face Lavender and Shea Moisture Shave, $4.99 This is my all time favorite shaving product.  This shave cream is really moisturizing and contains Vitamin E and oils to soften skin. The creamy formula provides a smooth, close shave with Golden Seal, lemongrass and aloe that help to soothe and olive and coconut oils to moisturize. My legs are left feeling touchably soft with absolutely no bumps! 4. Eco Lips Vanilla Bean Organic Lip Scrub, $9.99 This lip scrub contains organic, Fair Trade Certified sugar that gently exfoliates and polishes. It also contains organic coconut oil, olive oil and jojoba oil to condition and protect lips leaving them soft, smooth and moisturized. After using this scrub I don't even need to use lip balm. This scrub is an absolute MUST before applying lipstick, especially red lipstick, because it makes application a breeze and red lipstick just looks better on flake-free lips. Plus it is edible! 5. 365 Everyday Value Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, $5.99 So I don't exactly get this in the beauty department, but this is one of my favorite multiple use beauty products. I use it as a makeup remover, deep conditioning hair treatment, as a body scrub by mixing it with coffee grounds, lemon and honey and as a shaving oil whenever I am out of my regular shaving product. What's your best beauty discovery at Whole Foods? Leave a comment and let me know! 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Read more →

Why Oral Health is Important #Listerine

Shannon Smyth

Disclosure: Thanks to LISTERINE® I’m practicing good oral care as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #Listerine

Is your mouth on your side? A healthy mouth improves confidence in your personal endevours! via @agirlsgottaspa #Listerine Sponsored Is your mouth on your side? Poor oral health affects aspects of your life that you may not expect. While improper oral health practices deeply affect the health of your mouth, you may be surprised to learn that it also impacts your career opportunities, confidence and relationships with others. Two people in my life immediately come to mind when it comes to how the state of their mouth affected their confidence - my son and my husband. While my son Duncan has always conducted good oral care, he had bucked teeth for a while due to sucking on his hand (vs thumb sucking) since the time he was an infant. Eventually Duncan stopped smiling for pictures and soon enough, he felt that other kids didn't like him because of his teeth. This led to a lot of self esteem issues. Once he was able to get braces, his smile returned and his social relationships have improved. My husband admittedly never had a good oral care routine, which led him to have poor oral health issues like gingivitis, loss of some teeth and cavities. This, too, led him to have self confidence issues and he rarely opens his mouth when he smiles. Sometimes people have mistakenly taken this the wrong way and think that he's in a bad mood or just doesn't care. It's amazing how people perceive things due to our smile. Although he has put a routine into place, he can't reverse the damage already done and often reminds the kids just how important good oral care is from a young age. To highlight the impacts of poor oral health, LISTERINE® Brand executed a nation-wide survey with GFK Roper, a leading marketing insights research firm, to better understand the social implications that it can pose; providing fresh data that will hopefully inspire Americans to reconsider their current oral care routine. Some of those insights include: Is your mouth on your side? A healthy mouth should make your list of things to do! via @agirlsgottaspa #Listerine Sponsored 3 in 4 Americans say the state of their mouth determines how they look and feel (77%), nearly as much as their weight (78%). I personally, would agree with this. My weight (especially right now after having a baby) makes me very self aware. However, the look and feel of my mouth also plays a role in my self confidence. Healthy pink gums, clean teeth and good breath are just as important to me as the lipstick I don to feel more attractive. Do you feel the same way? More than 8 in 10 Americans feel oral health issues are embarrassing (85%), and more than 9 in 10 say that they feel better overall when their mouth feels clean (93%). Think about it this way - when you first come into your twice yearly dental cleaning, your mouth feels kinda gross. When you walk out, that clean feeling makes you want to smile at everyone who looks your way. Am I right? Brushing your teeth alone misses 75% of your mouth, leaving millions of germs behind. When left untreated, these germs can lead to oral care issues such as plaque and gingivitis. So in between cleanings, the use of a therapeutic mouthwash, like LISTERINE® Antiseptic, is vital to maintaining good oral health. Nearly half of American adults over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease (47.2%). In adults 65 and over, prevalence rates increase to 70%. Not to be gross, but if there is blood when you are brushing your teeth or flossing, chances are that you have gingivitis. This also leads to bad breath as well. Nearly all American adults over the age of 20 have had cavities at some point in their lives (91%) and one in four have untreated cavities (27%). I can't say I know a single person without at least one cavity. Implementing an oral health care routine of brushing, flossing, using mouthwash and twice yearly dental cleanings can help to diminish the chances of getting a cavity. Not eating a ton of sugary treats helps too. About half of all Americans aged 20–64 have lost a tooth due to oral disease (52%). Something I drill into my sons' heads is that if you don't take care of your adult teeth, the only the thing you can be sure of is that you will eventually lose them. Your mouth says a lot about you. In fact, the health of your mouth has a surprising and significant impact on how other people perceive you - from assumptions about your overall health and social life, to opinions about your success in romantic relationships and even your career. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true. Just think about the people in your life whose smile is, well, vibrant. It tells a story of happiness, success and someone who takes care of themselves. Now think of someone who has issues with their teeth, their gums are grey and their breath isn't exactly smelling like roses. Many would assume that the person is lazy and not really invested in a healthy lifestyle. The way you engage with these two types of people is an indication of your perception - which is most likely an inaccurate one. Oral care is important! Check out these tips from LISTERINE® via @agirlsgottaspa AdWhile more than eight in 10 people think that they have a healthy mouth, the truth is that most Americans suffer from some form of oral disease. Many of the oral care issues that people experience are preventable, and adding LISTERINE® as part of your twice-daily oral care routine can help you transform the health of your mouth so you can put your best self forward and help ensure that your mouth is always on your side. LISTERINE is committed to promoting healthy oral care habits, that’s why they’re partnering with Oral Health America, who’s FALL FOR SMILES campaign is committed to educating the public about the positive impact good oral health can have on one’s overall health and well-being. OHA’s mission is so important to LISTERINE they are jump starting the giving with a $20K donation, with the hopes of reaching $40K through consumer engagement. Has the state of your smile affected you in some way - positive or negative? Please share it in the comments! Engage with LISTERINE® on social media: Facebook: Facebook.com/listerine Twitter: @ListerineGlobal 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! All data referenced in this post was provided by the LISTERINE® Brand Survey. To learn more, please go to www.listerine.com/health-mouth-vs-unhealthy-mouth

Read more →

Susan Posnick COLORFLO Loose Mineral Foundation and Kabuki Brush

Gail Lewis
Susan Posnick COLORFLO Mineral Foundation review via @agirlsgottaspa I know that this may sound somewhat contradictory, but I love wearing makeup that I can't really feel. I like knowing that it's there on my skin, but do not want to be reminded that it's actually sitting on my skin throughout the day. This is why I love wearing Susan Posnick COLORFLO Loose Mineral Foundation. It's an incredibly luxurious mineral foundation that provides beautiful coverage, contains natural sun protection and imparts an insanely gorgeous glow. It's so lightweight that I forget that I'm even wearing anything - until someone comments on how glowing and fabulous my skin looks. I love that the colors range from light natural for those who are fair-skinned to caramel for darker skin tones. I'm currently using shade M8- Golden Beige, just one color shy of their darkest shade. This mineral foundation is amazingly easy to apply, especially with the Kabuki Brush, which is a dense, soft brush that makes application a breeze - the mineral foundation literally takes less than a minute to apply! Just follow the application instructions by swirling the brush into the minerals, tapping the brush on the side of the cap, and then apply to your face. Susan Posnick COLORFLO Loose Mineral Foundation is gluten-free, paraben-free, cruelty free and also contains vitamins A and E.  The foundation retails for $38 and the Kabuki Brush retails for $24.  She also offers a 2-in-1 COLORFLO as well. Have you tried Susan Posnick's products yet? 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: press sample

Read more →

Ambi Even and Clear CC+ Cream for Women of Color

Gail Lewis2 comments
Ambi CC Cream review via @agirlsgottaspa Finding makeup that contains sunscreen, but does not leave my skin looking gray and ashy, has always been a challenge for me. I'm sure it has been a challenge for a lot of women of color, too. I love and want to take care of my skin by making sure that I wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an spf of at least 20, but I also hate the feel of too much product sitting on my face (especially during the warmer months.) It can be difficult to find makeup that also provides broad spectrum sun protection without making me look like I've put baby powder on my face. Can you relate??? Ambi CC Cream swatch for women of color via @agirlsgottaspa Thanks to Ambi Skincare, which has been providing skincare products for women of color for decades, I  found a product that provides coverage, evens out my skin tone and contains broad spectrum sun protection without leaving my skin looking ashy. The Ambi Even & Clear CC+ Cream is a really light feeling, non-greasy CC cream and the light/medium shade is a perfect match for my skin tone. It gives my skin a soft glow with absolutely no ashy appearance.  The coverage is really light so it's great at making my skin look even-toned and naturally flawless without looking like I'm wearing full coverage makeup. Have you tried it yet? I highly recommend it! 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: press sample, affiliate link

Read more →

Get the Glow: Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder

Gail Lewis
Get the glow with Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder. Full review via @agirlsgottaspa Wouldn't it be great if we could have that bronzed, sun-kissed skin all year round? With Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder your skin can still maintain its summery glow even if you live in Minnesota. Gerard Cosmetics’ Star Powder is inspired by iconic Hollywood starlets; Marilyn, Audrey and Lucy.  The lightweight powders each add a hint of color and buildable sheen.  Marilyn Star Powder is inspired by the ultimate blonde bombshell and is a luminous powder with an ultra luxurious, creamy texture. Audrey is a warm champagne gold that is reflective with high shine and can be built up for an intense glow or dusted lightly on cheekbones for a subtle sheen.  Lucy, which I am currently using, is a really velvety, finely milled powder that adds a hint of golden shimmer and looks beautiful on cheekbones or mixed with blush. Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder review and swatches via @agirlsgottaspa A little goes a long way, even when mixed with your blush, so just a light dusting is needed for an insanely gorgeous, sun-kissed look.  I also love sweeping a light dusting over my eyelids for an extra glowy look.  For less of a sheen I mix Lucy with my everyday face powder to tame down the sheen factor. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know! 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Press sample, affiliate link

Read more →

Customize Your Skin Care Routine with Paula's Choice

Shannon Smyth
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Paula's Choice.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Customize your skin care routine with @PaulasChoice - full review on @agirlsgottaspa #PaulasChoiceSkinCare Who can resist Paula's Choice in their skin care routine? Sorry, I couldn't help but make that joke, although I have to say that now that I've tried this skin care line, I'm pretty much hooked. Prior to this review, I hadn't tried any of Paula's Choice skin care, although I am very much aware of Paula Begoun, the founder, as the Cosmetics Cop who is all about truth in beauty, skin care, ingredients and proven research. In fact, I had the chance to interview her when Beautypedia launched several years ago. Her website has a full encyclopedia of advice for every type of skin care concern. She is a wealth of information! I am a true skin care junkie. I absolutely believe that it doesn't matter how much contouring and concealing you do or how much makeup you wear - if your skin is a mess, there is no hiding that! Besides, the better you treat your skin, the less makeup you'll have to invest in to fix your flaws. Customize your skin care routine with @PaulasChoice - full review on @agirlsgottaspa #PaulasChoiceSkinCare

Paula's Choice Skin Care Consultation

My relationship with Paula's Choice began with a personalized skin care consultation. Paula’s Choice is committed to customer advocacy, education and helping people find the best products for their skin. In fact, everyone can receive a FREE personal skincare consultation by calling this number: 1-800-831-4088. I spoke with Moniqua, who asked me to briefly explain my skin and routine to her. She asked follow up questions to further clarify my skin type and changes I am seeing in my skin. Over the years my skin has changed a lot. In my youth (or back in the olden days, as my kids would say), my skin was oily. Throughout most of my adult years, it transitioned into combination (normal to oily.) When I moved to the Pocono Mountains in 2003, it became dry in the Fall and Winter and then back to combination for Spring and Summer. (Where you live can have a major impact on your skin.) However, during my recent pregnancy and post-partum AND now being considered to have "mature" (UGH) skin, it has again transitioned to normal to dry. Trying to find products that work well have been close to impossible. Trying to figure out the circus that is my skin has become incredibly frustrating, so I appreciated having a skin care expert to chat with to get a customized skin care regimen in place for me. Paula's Choice offers a 100% money back guarantee (within 60 days) - so I liked that safeguard when choosing products. Paula's Choice is also cruelty free and does not contain irritating dyes or fragrances. Their product line includes something for everyone, acne, rosacea, aging, pores. They treat it all. On their website, you can choose from a menu of skincare concerns you’d like to treat and for me that was sun damange (hyperpigmentation), uneven skin tone, balancing my skin so that it was not dry yet not oily, treating the occasional blemish, the always annoying blackheads and diminishing the signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles.) You could say Moniqua had her work cut out for her to find me Paula's Choice products that could meet all of my needs. Customize your skin care routine with @PaulasChoice - full review on @agirlsgottaspa #PaulasChoiceSkinCare

Paula's Choice Skin Care for Mature Skin

The Paula's Choice skin care regimen that was suggested were products from the Resist line. One of the major standouts for me about this line is the texture. I am not a big fan of heavy creams and serums, and the Resist line is very lightweight. From the toner to the serum, BHA and moisturizer, I am thrilled at how each product applies and despite all of the layering, it doesn't feel that way. Customize your skin care routine with @PaulasChoice - full review on @agirlsgottaspa #PaulasChoiceSkinCare In total, my morning and night skin care routine contain 6 products: Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser, Resist Weightless Toner, Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA, Resist Moisture Renewal Oil Booster, Resist 25% Vitamin C Spot Treatment, Resist Daily Fluid SPF 50 (day), and Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator (night.) Once a week I swap out the 2% BHA for the Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foam 4% BHA. Right now I'm using the Oil Booster, but once my skin has finally balanced out, I plan to use the Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster, which is for all skin types. Now you may ask, are all of those products really necessary? Here's my stance - most people will try to skip a product or two in order to save time and money, but then end up spending it on cosmetics to conceal whatever issue wasn't addressed. When those cosmetics aren't enough, they think it's the skin care products they're using and go onto try something else. By the time it's all said and done, you've spent more money than you've intended and more time trying to fix a problem that could've been easily solved to begin with. I encourage you to give Paula's Choice a try and set up a consultation so that you get the right products in your hands. www.paulaschoice.com Have you tried Paula's Choice? 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Read more →

GuruNanda Pulling Oil

Gail Lewis1 comment
Oil pulling with Gurunanda Pulling Oil via @agirlsgottaspa Before starting GuruNanda's Pulling Oil, I had heard about the practice of oil pulling, but I had never done it myself nor had any close friends or family who had done it. Although, there is a ton of information on the ancient practice of oil pulling readily available at my fingertips, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect (the taste, feeling, etc.) Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic procedure. It involves using oil as a mouthwash and swishing it in your mouth for about 15-20 minutes, then spitting it out. This action is meant to pull out toxins in your body and is very beneficial for your health, especially your oral health. The reported benefits of oil pulling are plaque removal, treatment of bad breath, toothache, sensitivity and gum disease. It will also help brighten your teeth, heal mouth sores, prevent cavities and keep gums healthy.  In addition to the reported oral benefits, other reported health benefits;
  • Relieves headaches and migraines
  • Reduces eczema
  • Treats arthritis and related illnesses
  • Clears sinuses and reduces infections
  • Improves the lymphatic system
  • Stimulates metabolism
  • Prevents heart disease
  • Supports kidney function
  • Alleviates allergies
  • Regulates menstrual cycles and reduces PMS
  • Promotes better sleep
The GuruNanda Pulling Oil is composed of a mix of rich ingredients like pure sesame oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and peppermint oil and is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids while also naturally containing iron, calcium, magnesium, plus Vitamins A, B and E. The first time I tried oil pulling I only lasted for five minutes! I'm pretty sure this was due to me swishing too aggressively and my jaw just got tired. I actually liked the taste of the GuruNanda Pulling Oil the first time I tried it, so the idea of swishing it for 15 minutes didn't seem unachievable.  It has a slightly minty taste thanks to the peppermint oil. The second time I tried it, I made it to ten minutes.  I very gently swished the oil in my mouth, but there was so much saliva that accumulated I just wanted to get rid of it.  I have been oil pulling for only about two weeks now and have made it to 20 minutes. Thus far the only benefit that I have noticed is that my teeth are whiter, but I think that two weeks is probably not enough time to notice a lot of the reported benefits of oil pulling. There's also unseen benefits, like supporting kidney function and preventing heart disease that are difficult for me to report on. I'm going to continue using this product and will post another update in about month. Have any tips or tricks for me in the meantime? Leave a comment and let me know! 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 and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: affiliate link

Read more →