Taking Care of your Skin with Diabetes

New diet, insulin injections, blood sugar checks- diabetics already have a lot on their plate. However, many diabetics don’t realize that they may also face skin disorders as a potential side effect of diabetes. In fact, as many as one-third of diabetics will have a skin disorder related to diabetes during their lives. However, smart skincare can help prevent many of these issues. 

Skin disorders linked to diabetes often stem from common side effects of diabetes. For example, high glucose levels often cause dry skin, which leads to other disorders such as itching, cracking, rashes, and difficulty healing from open wounds. Diabetics also experience reduced blood flow to certain areas of the body and weakened immune systems, making them prone to bacterial or fungal infections. In rare cases, insulin injections can cause yellow skin, or, more commonly, rosacea.

While these skin issues can turn serious, it’s possible to prevent them from even occurring with smart skincare techniques. Diabetics should bathe with mild soap and warm, not hot, water daily, using moisturizing soap and lotions afterwards to retain moisture. In the cold, windy winter months, air is drier; counteract this by keeping your home’s air humid. Keep your blood pressure and glucose levels controlled to maintain good circulation and soft skin. You may also want to keep a first aid kit for skin stocked; have it include items like antibacterial ointment, petroleum jelly, gauze pads, hypoallergenic tape, cleansing towelettes, and self-adherent elastic wrap.

Finally, diabetics are also vulnerable to foot problems, such as blisters, cracked feet, infections, and skin conditions caused by a lack of circulation or diabetic nerve damage. Stop these problems before they even start by wearing shoe inserts to prevent change in the shape of your foot that diabetic nerve damage may cause. You should also examine your feet daily for any damage or new conditions, and see your doctor yearly for a foot examination that focuses on circulation and sensation.

Diabetics may be prone to skin and foot issues, but with proper preventative care, you can avoid many of these disorders.

How to Achieve Perfect Skin for your Wedding Day

As exciting as it is, planning for your dream wedding can be a stressful process- and unfortunately, that stress can show on your skin through breakouts and blemishes. Take a long-term approach to achieving glowing skin on your wedding day with this year-long guide to wedding skincare.

12 Months to Go: Schedule an appointment with your dermatologist to create a plan for your skincare concerns; continue to see the dermatologist regularly leading up to your big day. Wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun so that your skin stays healthy, and begin implementing your skincare plan. Treatment can take a while to work, and you may have to make adjustments to find out what works for you. Instill good skincare habits in yourself now, such as washing your face twice a day.

6 Months to Go: Avoid flip-flopping between products. To prevent stress-induced breakouts, drink plenty of water and make time for yourself to relax, such as through a regular yoga class.

3 Months to Go: Try a professional body treatment such as a body thermal mask or an exfoliation scrub. Test out different self-tanners or spray tans to find that perfect, non-orange glow for your wedding day.

1 Month to Go: Schedule a brightening facial with extractions for a healthy glow. Have your makeup trial for a dress rehearsal to see what products and colors work with your skin. Make sure you’ve allocated funds in your budget for skincare products that will last you until your celebratory day.

1 Week to Go: Apply sunscreen daily to avoid a sunburn. Wear sensitive skin deodorant, get plenty of sleep every night, and drink water throughout your day.

1 Day to Go: Use a hydration mask for a nourished glow in pictures. Prep your products so that they’re ready to go tomorrow. Go to bed extra early, and stay hydrated while eating antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, leafy greens, and proteins.

On the Day of Your Wedding: Have a trusted friend or family member carry your day-of emergency essentials, such as extra bobby pins or pressed powder. When getting your makeup done, use mascara, brow filler, and under eye brightener to look awake and refreshed. For an airbrushed look, use facial shine control and setting powder; make sure that your foundation matches your skin tone on both your face and neck. Finally, use setting spray to ensure that your makeup lasts for the entire day.

No matter how beautiful your skin looks, a big smile is the best accessory a bride can have on her wedding day- so have fun and enjoy your big day!

Sunergetic Helps Save your Skin.

Sunergetic is the world’s #1 premium natural supplement that helps maintain your skin’s ability to protect against sun related effects and skin aging.

Have you ever wondered how some people never seem to lose their youthful and healthy looking skin, no matter how much they age?

Men and women in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s with beautiful, smooth, flawless, healthy skin and the energy and liveliness that makes you wonder….

“What is their secret?”

“Protection From The Sun”

Sun exposure is the #1 cause of skin aging. Sun exposure in the winter months puts you at the same risk as exposure during the summertime

The results of sun exposure or tanning beds? Wrinkles, dark spots, freckles, skin discoloration, pigmentation and skin discoloration.  

Your skin is a precious gift that should be nourished with the highest quality ingredients. Natural herbs and antioxidants have shown in science to play a critical role in maintaining healthy and youthful skin.

Sunergetic combines powerful natural herbs and antioxidants that help protect your skin against the sun and skin aging from within.

Try Sunergetic absolutely risk-free and experience the results for yourself with our unparalleled 365 Day Money Back Guarantee.

Please visit www.sunergeticproducts.com for more information. 

Be sure to like Sunergetic on  Facebook

Follow Sunergetic on  Twitter

 For a limited time only receive a special 25% discount on all orders by typing in the word Sheila at final checkout in the Discount box.

Hair Extension Handbook: Everything You Need to Know

Hair extensions can be a great way to add length or volume to your hair. But with so many options available, it’s hard to know which route to go. Here’s a look at a few different techniques that can change up your look in no time flat!

 

Clip-in hair extensions are an easy and quick way to add length and volume to your hair without any long-term commitment. The best part is, you can easily buy them online from reputable sellers like Hershesons who use 100% real human hair. These easy-to-use extensions are practically invisible and can be styled as if they were your own hair. There’s also no damage to your existing hair. Simply clip them into place you’re ready to go!

 

Sewn-in extensions are another option if you’re looking for a longer commitment. They generally last two to three months and you have the option of selecting any texture of hair you want since your own hair is hidden under extension. The only drawback is that this technique can be somewhat more bulky and noticeable than others.

 

Malaysian extensions are a newer technique that works similar to sewn-in extensions. While sewn-in extensions utilize braids to add the piece, Malaysian extensions are sewn in via a track pattern created from your own hair. Once the track pattern is created, the extension is sewn in and should last for a few months. This method may not be ideal for ponytail-wearers, but it is a less-bulky option than the traditional braided sewn-in method.

 

For those looking to avoid salons altogether, tape-in extensions are a great DIY option. The hair is on a track with tape. You simply sandwich your own hair between the tape for added volume and fullness. The method is easy enough to do at home and generally lasts about two weeks before the tape starts to loosen. This isn’t a technique for those looking to change up their current texture since your own hair is still visible. Rather, it’s good way to add volume or length to your current style.

 

Another quick method to add some length or volume to your do is to incorporate the use of ponytail extensions or wig fringes. Ponytail extensions come in a variety of styles. Choose from added waves or curls or longer braided pieces to add some flare to the traditional up-do. Or, if you’re looking to change up your look but don’t want the commitment of snipping your locks, opt for a wig fringe. These clip-in bangs let you try a wispy side-bang or a fuller chic style without any fuss.

ChapStick Cupcake Creations Review

I wrote about ChapStick® when they premiered their holiday flavors in December. ChapStick® has brand new flavors that I am so excited to tell you about. The new flavors are based on cupcakes. If you know me at all, you know cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts. It's a no-brainer that I would love cupcake ChapStick®. The new flavors are cake batter and red velvet. When I was pregnant with Noah I had a cake flavored lip balm and I loved it. The cake batter ChapStick® is better than that one. Of course I had to give one to Noah because he thinks ChapStick® is awesome. There was an incident with the Cherry one he had where I had to throw it away and he was so sad. He was happy to hear that I was working with ChapStick® again and that he would get a new flavor to try. He really loves the Red Velvet ChapStick® and isn't sad about the cherry one he lost.  Along with the ChapStick® I received a really cool party pack! Complete with party hats, noise makers and Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcake Mix. We can't wait to have our party courtesy of ChapStick®. I love that ChapStick® keeps making new products. It's my favorite brand of lip balm and that is important especially since I don't wear lipstick. I have to keep my lips hydrated.

Here is some information from ChapStick®:

Moisten lips by icing on new sweet ChapStick® Cupcake Creations. Make lips happy and enjoy the sweet flavors!

Take the party anywhere, while keeping your lips happy with the new ChapStick® limited-edition flavors – decadent Velvet Cupcake and mouth-watering Cake Batter.

Making lips deliciously sweet, soft, and scented of dessert indulgences will be a piece of cake.

Give loved ones a guilt-free way to have their cake with ChapStick® cake-inspired flavors. Featuring a convenient gift tag on the back of each package, ChapStick® takes the hassle out of gift wrapping, making it easy to attach on top of a gift or give as a thoughtful gesture for friends, teachers, co-workers or family.
ChapStick® Cupcake Creations varieties are available for a limited time beginning February 1st exclusively at Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens nationwide.

Which flavor are you most excited to try: Cake Batter or Red Velvet?

For more information please visit the ChapStick Website. 


Be Sure to like ChapStick on Facebook to keep up to date on all the new flavors and information.

The ChapStick® product, information and gift have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Toddlers and Tiaras Teaches Little Girls Appearance is Everything

I wrote a post about what is wrong with tv these days and I was thinking about what shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and Little Miss Perfect teach little girls. Ok I don't think Little Miss Perfect is on any more.  I know these are not kids shows but there are still commercials for them and they appear on talk shows and they sometimes cover it on the news. I am concerned with child beauty pageants anyways. I am sure some people will argue that it teaches self esteem and blah blah blah. There are more healthy ways to teach self esteem. There are better ways to feel good about your self. Beauty pageants focus on outer beauty and they are forced to wear gobs and gobs of makeup and wear fake teeth called flippers. They are many times the little girls are dressed in skimpy little outfits that I would never wear as a grown woman. They look fake. 

 They are taught to be fake little puppets that are are taught that the most important thing in the world is to be beautiful and to have the prettiest face. What is wrong with letting kids be kids? Why not teach them that they are beautiful without the makeup and the false teeth and spray tans. Beauty comes from within. It doesn't matter what you look like as long as you are kind and have a good heart.  Beauty isn't putting on clown makeup and being told by judges that you are the most beautiful. You don't need someone judging you on your appearance. How you feel about yourself is what is important. The parents need to stop brainwashing their children but subjecting their little ones to judgement and paying for them to be judged. It's almost as if they are trying to prove to themselves that their child is good enough. Every child and person is good enough, and no one should have to tell you that. If you don't believe it, it doesn't matter how many pageants you have won or how many times you are told a day you have to believe it. 

 Loving yourself is the most important thing.

E!'s New Show- Bridalplasty- America's New Self Esteem Killer!

I was watching E! tonight, Bruce Almighty was on. It is a great movie. I was watching the commercials and twice they showed an ad about a new show premiering tomorrow called Bridalplasty. The show is about a group of brides that leave their fiancee for four months and they compete and get plastic surgery and the winner gets a dream celebrity wedding. The winner has her new whatever she gets and shows her fiancee when he lifts up the veil. I am not sure if all the brides go under the knife or not. I am sorry but I think that is the dumbest most superficial show that I have ever heard of. I hope to get remarried some day. Who knows what the future might bring but I am telling you what, my future husband will love me for me. He will have to love all my flaws, because they are mine. I am not talking about my inner flaws I am talking about my outer appearance. My freckles, my imperfections that everyone has, after all, no one is perfect, say it with me now, no one is perfect. Everyone knows their flaws, they don’t need someone else pointing them out. I think that it gives people the wrong idea, the impressionable children, people that have self esteem issues. Actually, it is plain sick honestly.

I am ashamed to be in this society, where everyone obsesses over their appearance. Where kids are bullied because they look different, because they aren’t “perfect”, maybe they have a different body type. Some kids’ lives are made a living hell because of those things. It is crap TV like this that encourages bullies to pick on other kids because they are different. Those kids that are being bullied are someone’s daughter or son. There are quite a few adult bullies out there too. Some people call them grown up mean girls or mean boys. Their whole purpose in live is to make someone else feel like crap. It doesn’t end after you leave school. There are 30 and 40 year old women who make fun of people for no reason. They talk about them behind their backs and make them feel horrible. When someone says something hurtful it doesn’t matter if you are 8 years old or 48 years old. It still hurts. Sure, you deal with it in other ways, like ignoring it, but deep down it still hurts the same.

Last night I was watching Pauley Perrette’s YouTube videos, she was talking about bullying and how things get better, they really do. She said that she wore glasses and an eye patch in school and that she was picked on a lot. She said she was never mean to anyone. She is now an amazing actress on NCIS and instead of being spiteful; she is very humble about her life. She doesn’t pretend to put on this glamorous Hollywood lifestyle; she is just herself, very down to Earth.

I am a firm believer that everyone is beautiful. I always look for the good in people. I think to truly love someone is to be able to find them beautiful or handsome inside and out. To embrace their flaws and love them, we are all jigsaw puzzles some of our pieces are different than others but they make up who we are. We need to understand that what is to love is to love the whole person. Not the parts that we want, but each part the same. Learn to accept those flaws and erase them in our minds and hearts. You know, something could happen and someone’s beauty could disappear, but to people who love you, you will always be beautiful in their eyes and heart. God made each of us the way he wanted us to look. He made us all unique and put love and care in to molding us from lumps of clay in to the person we became. I would not want to say something God made was ugly. God does not make ugly things.

Appearance in Disney Movies

I wrote a post a while back about kindness. I have been thinking about kindness again so I went back and read my post I wrote. I said that I have a theory about appearance and I didn’t ever write the post. So, I thought I will now that it is on my mind.
I have noticed something in my 29 years of being on this earth that Disney movies are kind of messed up for a couple reasons. The first reason is appearance is a huge part of it. Let me explain. You have all the beautiful princesses and princes who are all beautiful and handsome. That teaches children that if you are different looking or not beautiful and maybe even plain looking you aren’t as good as someone who is beautiful. The villain is usually ugly, haggard in appearance or fat. That is kind of wrong in my eyes that almost always the villain is ugly and the hero or heroine is beautiful or handsome. It is kind of like well; if someone is different or scary looking they must be bad. I am aware that it is make believe but think about it. It kind of makes sense. It is playing on society’s obsession with outward image.

I know that this theory is flawed in two Disney movies. The first one is Beauty and the Beast. Gaston is an “attractive” man and the villain in the story and the beast is the hero. Ok, but he was put under a spell to teach him kindness and that beauty is found within, Of course he changes back in to a handsome prince. I get that they are teaching that beauty is found within but I don’t really see how they should have made him attractive at the end. Seriously what is wrong with being average or unattractive? Appearance is not the most important thing in the world it shouldn’t even be on the list of the top ten thousand important things.

The second Disney movie that flaws my theory is The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo is not only unattractive but he is also disabled. It’s my favorite Disney movie because it teaches the way I think about others and how you have to look past the skin and see their soul. I would of liked for Quasi to get the girl but after all it is a Disney movie and an unattractive person with a beautiful person granted neither one is under a spell is unheard of. I am also aware that it is a book and that is not how the story goes at least they didn’t kill anyone good in that movie like in the book.

Just because someone is beautiful doesn’t make them good. Just because someone is unattractive does not make them bad. They have nothing to do with each other in the slightest. I just don’t understand why appearance is such a huge deal these days. I mean something could happen and someone is stripped of their appearance. I think that you can’t judge a book by its cover is a great proverb. I look for the beauty in everyone and everything, not outer beauty but what’s inside. That is all that really matters and should only matter. Everyone is different and if everyone walked around looking like Barbie and Ken then the world would be a confusing fake place.

Who is to say what is beautiful and who is ugly? Who makes that call? Is it you? Is it society? The answer is NO ONE. No one has the right to pick out the flaws of another person. If you have time to pick out someone’s flaws you have time to deal with them. I believe that you should love everyone for real reasons and look past others short comings just as you would want someone to look past yours. No one should judge anyone because no one is perfect and no one is better than anyone else that they even have a say.

Guest Post: Beauty myths - Don’t let them get to you

One of the things women will care about consistently throughout their lives will be their beauty and skincare. It is actually amazing how far women would actually go to preserve their skin against aging, or to reduce acne and freckles or to get a glowing spotless skin. Well, most of us tend to believe a lot in beauty myths that we read in magazines or have just been passed down from mother to daughter. Well, don’t follow these supposedly beauty tips without confirmation because most of them tend to be just myths and nothing else.

Myth1: Crossing your legs will cause varicose veins - Wrong! Sitting with crossed legs cannot cause spider legs or varicose veins but spending a lot of time standing up may do that. When you stand up for too long, your vascular network has to work harder to pump blood to your heart and this can cause protruding veins on your legs.

Myth 2: Shaving your legs makes the hair come back thicker-another myth. Your hair will grow as they should, according to your genes. Some people have lighter, thinner hair while some have darker, thicker hair; shaving has nothing to do with it. Only, when you shave, you cut the hair, it’s not removed from the root so when they grow back, they tend to look thicker.

Myth 3: Applying ice to the skin will make the pores smaller - Wrong! Our pores are once again, part of our genes and that also has nothing to do with artificial products. The size of our pores will remain as they are. However, ice can act as a good toner for your skin anyway.

Myth 4: Applying nail polish all the time can make nails yellow - True. This happens to a lot of women who love wearing nail polish all the time. The reason for this being true is that our nails can absorb the color pigments, especially of stronger and darker colors. So before you put on the color, apply a layer of clear base coat which can prevent the nails from absorbing pigment.

Myth 5: Toothpaste can cure pimples – well, yes kind of. Toothpaste has elements and ingredients that can heal a pimple much sooner and can dry it up but toothpaste can also irritate your skin and dry it. So it may be a better idea to use pimple cream rather than toothpaste if your skin is especially susceptible.

Myth 6: Applying beer on skin before a sun tan can make it glow - Not! Unless you are going for a self-tan, try to avoid sun tanning altogether. Applying beer has nothing to do with golden tans; it’s all about the genetics. Some people can get good and golden tans while some cannot, it is as simple as that.

Myth 7: Split ends can be repaired-Wrong. Split ends once formed are formed and you cannot force the hair to repair itself back again. Split ends are a sign of unhealthy treatment or just an indication that it is high time for you to get your hair trimmed. Hair trimming can actually make hair grow quickly and remain healthy.

Author Bio

Richard Jacobs is a chief editor since early 2007, and he currently works for www.myduiattorney.org. A website that helps you to find the right DUI lawyer, you can search for a NJ DUI Lawyer online, anytime!

This is a guest post written by a sponsor and I have approved this article for useful content pertaining to my blog. My thoughts and opinions may differ than those of the author of this post.

Bath and Bodyworks

I used to work at Bath and Bodyworks when I was younger. It was a fun job. I have always been a Bath and Bodyworks junkie as long as I can remember. I worked in a store that was upgrading to the new fancy store. I helped them move and set up the store. It was interesting. I met a lot of interesting people and surprisingly I didn’t get sick of the smell of the store. I had to be really perky. I am a friendly person, but I am also a tad bit shy. I don’t like being all in your face like you have to be with that job. Most of the people I worked with were really nice, I had fun joking around with the cute stock guys even. I learned something I wanted to share with you all. It’s not really a corporate secret but it is something that not everyone knows and I didn’t until I worked there.

Everything at Bath and Bodyworks has a 100% guarantee. How long does the guarantee last? For-ever( in my best Squints voice). Does it have to be new? Nope, if you decide you don’t like the scent anymore you can exchange it. You know your sense of smell changes, especially if you bought it when you were pregnant or if it reminds you of a horrible memory. Have no fear you can take it back no questions asked. I have actually put it to the test. There were things I had for years that just didn’t smell good to me anymore and I exchanged them. The receipt was somewhere buried under 50 feet of trash in a landfill, they gave me store credit, they didn’t give me the price I had paid for because some of it was discontinued packaging or scents.

Of course I am not telling you to clean out your drawer of Bath and Bodyworks products and exchange them, but I know we all have that one or two bottles of lotion or bodywash where we are now thinking what the heck that stinks. I am almost convinced that they pump scents in the air ducts so you are in a scent coma that forces you to buy more. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. We all know it is almost impossible for me to walk in there and not come out with something. It’s not that I am out, it is quite contrary. I have plenty. My two favorite scents are from the classics collection and I stock up on them after Christmas when they are super cheap.

My favorites are Pearberry and Country Apple. I also really like Juniper Breeze but I always go back to my old stand bys. I remember how upset I got when they retired Pearberry. I cried a lot. I eventually found it online again but I didn’t want to pay the shipping for it. The next thing I knew it was back in the stores for limited times. Usually at Christmas. So, I have quite a few Pearberry body washes, lotions and sprays. I wish they made it in the antibac soap again. All my sinks have Bath and Bodyworks soaps on them. I need a support group badly. I have gotten a little bit better just because I have so many, but I still get the urge from time to time. I only buy it when it is on sale and/or I have coupons. They always ask me for my email address for coupons and I always say, “You already have all my email addresses.” I went yesterday and bought some more soap!

I am a ZOMBIE MOMMY!

I have a confession to make! I am what you would call a ZOMBIE MOMMY. I hardly ever wear makeup. I am also considered frumpy. You know in the movie The Stepford Wives when Mike is showing the Stepford video, I am the before wife. So, I have made it my goal since it is New Years Day to dezombify myself. I don’t own much makeup and the makeup I do own is like seriously 8 or 9 years old.

I don’t even really know how to “put on makeup” lol. I don’t want to wear gobs and gobs I just don’t want to look like I am about to go feast on some brains. I don’t even know if my 8 or 9 year old makeup is still in working condition or not. It’s probably toxic and should be covered in Mr. Yuk Stickers! I terribly need a makeover! I am interested in organic skincare. I think that might be better for my skin if their was not all those extra toxins.  I have become more aware of organic things since I had Noah and started blogging.

Next I will discuss my hair or should I say my zombie locks! It’s like frizzy, yet straight. It tangles really easily and really badly. I cut it myself a couple weeks ago cause I got sick of pulling my hair when I would try and get the tangles out. I have broken bristles off my hair brush because my hair is such a mess. It still tangles but at least now it isn’t long tangles!

I love to be comfortable because I spend a lot of time at home. I love to wear pajama pants. I have two pairs of jeans that are both ripped and are so big they fall off of me when I walk. It would be great if I was a gangsta girl, but I am a mommy. I have some cute shirts and cute pajamas but my pants that I wear out are like fleece pants. It’s really sad. I have not wore shorts in like 4 years. It could be 103 degrees and I will be wearing jeans. I have some funky funky clothes! I don’t like wearing them cause I look so frumpy and dumpy. Maybe even like Humpty Dumpty!

I have never been to a spa. I have never stepped foot in one. The most professional massage I have ever had was at the county fair where the chiropractors give you free ones. Then call and harass you for months to come in. Even though you were told a while back by a chiropractor that you have a beautiful spine. I trust him. He works with the Colts I think he knows what he is doing! I have gotten a water massage at the mall a few times. Those are really cool. Especially when they have you watch a TV and listen to the music. It has been a while though.

I have never had a professional pedicure. I had a manicure a few times. That was cool but that was definitely my pre-mommy days. I can only dream of what a spa has to offer. It’s like the episode of Fraiser where they go to that new spa and each door leads to a better room until they end up outside by the dumpsters. Someday, maybe I will go to a spa. I know lots of people go on spa days. I bet it is wonderful!

So, my goal for 2010 is to dezombify myself. If anyone wants to help me on this mission please contact me.

Sweetly You Review and Giveaway!

I love good smelling lotions, body washes, and other toiletries. I could probably open my own store. I have so many of them. I like to change them up and use different things on different days so I like to have a wide variety of scents. I am a firm believer that good smelling lotion can make you feel better.

I had the opportunity to review three items from Sweetly You. Sweetly You is an online store that sells bath and beauty products. They have 50 scents and many different bath and beauty items such as lotions, bath salts and scrubs. They also sell Jelly Bellys. Sweetly You has 18 items for under ten dollars. There are even a few gift sets that would be a great gift for anyone who is in need of some pampering. Everything is a great price. You should definitely check out the specials and the low flat rate shipping. If you have family in other countries like I do Sweetly You ships world wide too! The holidays are coming up and it would be a nice little treat for a loved one.


I reviewed three items from Sweetly You. The first item was Coconut Lime Verbena Shea & Coco butter cream. The cream was wonderful. It is so thick and it smells wonderful. I really feel moisturized after using it. The scent is great. It is the perfect blend of coconut and lime.

The second item I tried was the Essential Sugar Scrub in Cotton Blossom. I had never used a sugar scrub before so it was interesting and different. I didn’t know what I was missing before I tried it. All of my dead dry skin was washed away and I was left with smooth pretty skin.

The third item I tried was my favorite. It was Foaming Bath Butter in Royal Pear. It works wonderfully with the Essential Sugar Scrub. The Foaming Bath Butter was luxurious and not like the body washes I was used to. It was really a treat to use. I loved the scent of pear. I don’t know what it is about the scent of pear that is just so great. But Wow I felt like I had spent the day in the spa after using these products. You should check them out and let them pamper you and make you feel relaxed and beautiful.

Thank You to Sweetly You for providing me with three complimentary samples to try for my review and providing the giveaway products too.

One of my lucky readers will win the Pomegranate Body Lotion Combination set which has a 4 ounce bottle of Sweetly You’s signature scent Pomegranate and a bag of Pomegranate Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Mandatory Entry go to the Sweetly You website and tell me something you would love to try.

You must do the mandatory entry to receive the bonus entries.

Bonus entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email

Follow my blog

Follow @sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway please include the link. (This can be done once a day) Please also include the link to your tweet in your comment

Tell me your favorite flavor of Jelly Belly

Remember to put your email in your comment or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway will end November 25, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET

This giveaway is open to US residents only

Beauty Tip A day Giveaway!

It’s time for some of my favorite beauty tips.One of them is from the widget and the other ones are my personal favorite beauty tips.

If you happened to miss my previous post, I have a really cool Beauty Tip of the Day widget on the bottom of my blog. You should check it out! A new tip is posted on it every single day!

Tip #1- Treat your eyelashes with a dab of Vaseline every day for darker, conditioned eyelashes.

Tip #2-When you use thick foundation add a little bit of moisturizer on your palm and mix it with the foundation to thin it out. I know some companies make thick foundation and that was how I would thin it out. You could really do that with any foundation for extra moisturizing.

Tip #3- Toothpaste works wonders on pimples. Make sure you only use the paste kind and not the gel. Rub a dab on your pimple and let it dry and in the morning the pimple will shrink. Make sure you wash it off though.

Tip #4- This next tip comes from my grandma Rose. She used to have really dry eye lids. She would put Vaseline on them and they would be moisturized.

Tip #5- You can cut facial cloths (both wet and dry) to maximize use and cut down on the cost some.

There are 5 of my favorite beauty tips. Please make sure you check out my beauty widget on the bottom of my blog for many more beauty tips and tricks. Make sure you check it everyday for a new tip!

I have a giveaway for you all! One lucky beauty will win a box of Unilever beauty supplies! Unilever is the maker of Dove, Ponds, Vaseline and Q-tips.

Thank you to Unilever for providing the beauty box for this giveaway

Mandatory Entry: Tell me one of your favorite beauty tips

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count

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Tell me another beauty tip for another entry

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This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY

This Beauty Giveaway will end on November 5th, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST

Check it out...Free Beauty Tips!!

If you scroll all the way down to the bottom of my blog you will see my beauty widget. I have the opportunity to participate in the Beauty tip a day program. It is full of great tips that change daily. Be sure to come back and check out the new tip daily. It is sponsored by Unilever which make Pond’s, Q-tips, Vaseline and Dove.

It is really cool. I look forward to reading the tip each day. If you miss one you can go back and look at the previous days tip to see what you missed. I also received a little beauty care package to help me try out the tips. I received Pond’s products, Q-tips, Dove and Vaseline. So check it out! What a great way to help share wonderful daily beauty tips!

Pond’s Superior Clean Challenge

I had the opportunity to take part in the Pond’s Superior Clean Challenge. The idea of the challenge is to try Ponds vs. another well known companies wet facial cloths. It was really interesting because I wasn’t sure of the outcome was going to be. I told my mom about the challenge and I thought it would be fun to have us both try them both out.

My mom decided it would be cool to do a blind test of the facial cloths. So she had me close my eyes and she gave me two facial cloths. This was the first time I saw either so I truly had no idea which was which. I would wipe one half of my face with one facial cloth and the other half with the other one. First I examined them for texture and thickness. Facial cloth A was thinner than facial cloth B. Facial Cloth A didn’t have the little diamonds that made them quilted like facial cloth B. Cloth B was textured and provided exfoliating. I smelled them both I preferred facial cloth A’s smell over facial Cloth B. Facial cloths didn’t smell bad it was just a more aromatic smell.

First I wiped my right side with facial cloth A. Facial cloth A was nice it was refreshing and it made my face feel clean. Then I used facial cloth B on my left side. Facial cloth was nice too it was more refreshing than facial cloth A and my face felt cleaner than facial cloth B. Then it happened…. The right side of my face started burning. It didn’t feel good. It felt horrible. I actually had to use facial cloth B to make it stop burning. So I told my mom I liked facial cloth B so much more than facial cloth A after she shared my experience with me. I asked her which was which and facial cloth A was the leading well known brand and facial cloth B was the Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes.

During my moms test she wiped her face in the same way I did. She prefers the Pond’s facial cloths scent over the other brand. She used it to wipe off her makeup including her mascara. She said that the leading brands facial cloth did a pretty good job. She actually had higher expectations for the one that was the leading one because she has been using that brand for a long time. She was extremely surprised that the Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes worked better. She had to use the Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes to remove the mascara that the leading wet facial cloth left behind. I am sure she will now switch to Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes.

It was a lot of fun to get to try out two different brands and compare them blindly. Most of the time you just have one brand and you just use it. You don’t realize the differences until you have them going “head to head” like I did. I highly recommend trying out different products by comparing them together. I really liked the Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes because they are thicker, softer, and just plain clean better than the leading brand.

Be sure to visit HERE to learn all about Pond’s Superior Clean money back guarantee, find summer beauty tips from fashion and beauty expert Jenn Falik, download coupons and learn all about Pond's.

Thanks so much to Pond’s for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Pond’s Superior Clean Challenge.

Solavie Review and Giveway

There is a really cool company called Solavie Skin and Hair Systems that makes different beauty products. One of the products they make is a hair and body wash. This isn’t the same shampoo that you find at your local store where you are bombarded by a whole aisle of same types of shampoo with a different name the bottle. How is it different you ask? It is formulated by CLIMATE.

It is the perfect size for when you are traveling. It is small enough that it is safe for airplane travel in your carry-on. It also snaps together in a patented yin yang system. It is compact so it takes up little room in your suitcase. I hate dragging big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash on a trip with me especially with the weight restrictions every ounce and inch counts in my suitcase. These products are ideal for traveling. Have you ever gone on vacation somewhere and the climate is completely different than where you live? I have.

When the climate changes sometimes your beauty products aren’t working the same as they did at home. The last thing you want to worry about on your vacation is frizzy and unmanageable hair and your face products that just aren’t doing the job.

Solavie Skin and Hair Systems is a unique line of beauty products. Solavie is Earth’s first Eco-Global Skin and Hair care system. The different Enviro-types of products are Plains, Desert, Shore, Mountains, Urban, and Tropics. Each of the Enviro-types have a specially formulated face wash, Face Nourish, Body Nourish, Hair and Body Wash and last but not least Hair Nourish and style. In the Tropics products for example, each contains a hand-picked selection of phyto-nutrients from hardy plants native to tropical ecosystems. These ingredients help plants survive and thrive in their place of origin, and in these formulas, offer similar protection and nourishment for skin and hair.

Here is how Solavie is great for the environment.

No outer package = zero paper waste
Compact bottle design= fewer trucks which means less gas
Double-concentrated formulas = less plastic
All natural ingredients = bio degradable
100% re-used or recycled materials = 0% Net Carbon

Here is how Solavie is helping others in the world

From & for eco-systems of the world = enviro-type®
Native plant phyto-nutrients = local indigenous sourcing
Supporting 3rd world handicrafts = socially responsible
Profits donated to sustainable charities = 0% net waste

I had the opportunity to try the Desert Enviro-Type Duo Pack which is the Desert Hair/Body Wash and Desert Hair Nourish & Style. I loved the design of the bottles. It was pretty cool the way that they snap together. I eagerly tried out both the Desert Hair/Body Wash and the Desert Hair Nourish & Style.

I thought that it smelled really good. I noticed that there wasn’t as much lather as I am used to but that is no big deal. I think extra lather dries out hair if I remember correctly. Since these products are formulated for adding moisture that would totally make sense. It rinsed out of my hair very easily. I didn’t have to spend a lot of time or water trying to get all of the hair wash out.

Then I tried the Hair Nourish & Style. It is a combination conditioner and hair gel. I thought that was an interesting combination. I decided to use it as a conditioner so I rinsed it out. My hair felt so silky when I was washing it out. After my hair dried it felt very moisturized and soft. My hair looked great and very manageable.

This is definitely a great product. Not only do you save money by not having to buy separate bottles of Shampoo, Body Wash, Conditioner and Styling Gel. It is also great for the environment and the world. What could be better?

Thank you to Solavie for the opportunity to try the Desert Duo Pack.

I have one Tropics Duo pack to give away to one of my lovely readers.
Mandatory Entry: Go to the Solavie website and Check out the different enviro-types and tell me which one you want to try and why?

Please remember to include your Email address in your comment or have it accessible on your blog.

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count

Bonus Entries

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This giveaway ends September 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm EDT.

This giveaway is open to residents of The US and CANADA only!

Good Luck Everyone