Fun with Hot Flashes - NOT!

One day in June. a new gal was hired at my company.  While I was training her, literally every 45 minutes she broke out and was WET.  She would start fanning herself but I thought to myself - HOW MISERABLE!!

Never one to let my "medical degree from the Internet" go unused (LOL), I shared with her what I knew about Maca Root and showed her a few I brought from home.  Can't remember now why I already had some....hmmm....... 

That day, she took one and went from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm without having another hot flash.  A miracle!!  She then ordered her own and I didn't ask again.

Good news I paid attention to the advice I gave her, because about a month ago, I started getting VERY VERY WARM....never wet, never broke a sweat, but definitely not my normal self.    

(And as an aside.....WTH!  I was told I had premature ovarian failure since age 26...have been 100% infertile ever since and have proof of that...no prevention of pregnancy...)...and that I'd not go through menopause.  Hmmm.....

I took my Maca capsules sometimes once a day, sometimes twice....but after a week or so, the effect was less and less.   I was bummed!  One day, however, I was ordering some more of that amazing, natural skin care products from Simply Divine Botanicals.com and saw she was now offering organic Maca Root Powder and I ordered some immediately.  PLEASE go read what she writes about it there.

Maca Root - on Simply Divine Botanicals.com

Ladies!!!!  This stuff is AMAZING.  Not only did it help my "warming sessions", but they are GONE.  Only when I am massively stressed do I have a baby one.......

I put 1/2 to 1 tsp of this powder in my morning green smoothies with my skate liver oil from Green Pasture.org and I have never felt better.

So now I have my own personalized "study" of 2 women...one 46 (me), one 52......and we both are having great relief with this product!

If you decide to try this, please do yourself a HUGE favor and order the sample sets of the skin care....both the main one and the seaweed one.  You will never be happier...you will never look younger.... and say goodbye to those hot flashes!!

Please let me know how it works for you .....love to hear!

Update on Face

Today is one week since the chemical peel debacle/allergic reaction...and I wanted to share a current photo, untouched by photo editing other than to crop.  I was told it would be 3 WEEKS before my face would heal.  THREE WEEKS??

To recap:

7 Days Ago

Had little to no improvement with the zillion products the salon gave me for free.  They literally gave me a sample size of ALL the skin care samples they carry to see if anything would help heal my skin and nothing did.  It all burned when I put it on.   Started using my Simply Divine Botanical "regular" skin care products and after Two days:

Two Days After using Simply Divine Botanical skin care products (my "regular" skin care products)

4 days after using Simply Divine Botanical products:

And with makeup on:

This was in the house with that lighting - 2 days ago, Sunday.

Just got back from my one week checkup and am getting 4 complimentary oxygen facial treatments ($320 value!) AND she was SO impressed with Simply Divine Botanicals that she is calling the company and ordering some to try.  She thinks it would be great to have on site.  My posting is acting up , so this is above the next photo because I can't get it to work any other way.  Weird.

 

Same day, in the car with different lighting.

Perfect Peony

I'm in the mood for crocheting flowers but want large ones.....and boy did I find a large one!  This gorgeous beauty used almost an entire skein!  There are tons of stitches in this one flower!

Gorgeous!  Love this Free PATTERN.

I may be linking to THESE parties!

P.S.  My face is doing MUCH better.  Here is what it looked liked today before running errands:

Thank goodness!   Can you believe the improvement in just 2 days of Simply Divine Botanical products? (I had a chemical peel allergic reaction disaster, blogged HERE.)

I later added a jewel in the center and combined it with other flowers for a beautiful crochet floral bouquet:

Crochet Floral Bouquet

Keeping it Real - Beauty Salon Mishap

Well, my dear readers, I've been MIA this week due to an unexpected incident at a spa......I had a coupon for a glycolic peel and had that done last Monday.  I have had 3 of these before (at a different salon in a different state) so had NO reason to worry of any kind.

This salon is state of the art and super nice.....and all went well until......it didn't.  My pain tolerance is freaky high, so I did not feel anything alarming.  However, once I got home, I wondered why my face looked like THAT.  (And thinking back, during the peel, the lady kept putting the light really close and really examining my skin, while claiming all was well.  I think she was waiting for me to freak out with pain complaints, but since I didn't, she kept going.)  All of my doctors can tell you waiting for MY pain to be any indication of a situation is a lost battle and a misuse of time.....

By the evening when hubs came home, he F.R.E.A.K.E.D. out.  I got up to go look at my face and it was NOT good.  NOT good.  Here is a little snippet....I won't show my entire face because you won't sleep tonight if I do:

Imagine that ALL OVER my face.  Yeah.  I really had a panicked moment, with my face not only visibly awful but swollen and "texturized"?  I really had a compassion moment for folks who deal with very severe acne...and frankly realized how shallow I am, I guess.......Praying that my skin would return to normal.  

I called the salon the next day to inquire what I should be doing to be safe from infection.  They had me come right in to see their medical aesthetician.  Wellll....let's just say,.....after everyone got done flipping out and tending to me, I walked out with over $150 in FREE product, including tons of skin care products and a mineral makeup I can wear safely while I wait up to 3 weeks...........WEEKS....to heal.

At first, they suspected a bad burn or bacterial reaction.  We now know it was an allergic reaction. Who me?  The girl who is allergic to chicken and turkey and other odd things?  Well, yes.  Figures.

I used all their different products with very little success UNTIL I went back to using my standard Simply Divine Botanical products.  You know, yawn.........I just go on and on and on about how wonderful they are but HELLO!  They have healed THAT situation up there  in that photo!!  My skin looks 10 times better in only 24 hours.

I got to reading on my SDB bottles and the toner actually says:

"Use for enlarged pores, cuts, rashes, and sunburn too."

I have somewhat of a burn, yes?  Woo Hoo!

Ladies, I have used the Gypsy Rose Tea Toner/Astringent, the Black Velvet Fabulous Foaming Cleanser and the Melon Medley, a WONDERFUL blend of oils that my skin just soaks right up....

After all the other products......these wonderful, natural 100% chemical free skin care creations did the trick.  It WON'T be 3 weeks...I can just tell.

Here is my face 2 days after using these natural products exclusively:

Pictures don't really capture the intense difference....but I am VERY relieved.


If you have not tried Simply Divine Botanical products yet, what are you waiting for??  Have you seen my skin in my OTHER photos?? I am 44 people!!  It is this company that I credit......

Cleanser and Foam Bottle.  They also have a formula for oily/acne-prone skin.

This is the toner I use twice a day and cannot live without.  The Rose spray I use multiple times a day - just spritz on to set my makeup and add hydration throughout the day.  Feels lovely and smells divine.

Skincredible (my rosacea disappeared with this product!) and the Melon Medley, which I credit for healing this mess so quickly.  My skin just soaks it in but it is NOT acne-producing.

I don't live near a retailer so I purchase mine online and have pretty much tried almost every product.  I reacted to the "Pack Your Bags They're Leaving" Eye gel (darn allergies) but everything else has been amazing.  DEFINITELY buy the sample pack (or individual samples) first go round, as they don't take returns unless something is defective.  I HIGHLY recommend the seaweed products as well.  Here are the sample packs:

Seaweed Sample Pack

Get Acquainted Sample Kit with 17 products!!

Seaweed products, used in conjunction with each other.

My favorite body lotions/creams....the Body Cream is more "normal" consistency with what you are used to.  The Butter Me Up is VERY thick, like hardened butter.  I put it in my hands, rub them together to warm them up and then apply.  This has healed allergic breakouts on my arms and legs.

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids is an AMAZING skin polish - it looks like raspberry jam and smells like it too.  I use it 2-3 times a week for 15 minutes, then rinse off.  The Peel Me A Papaya is a dry mixture of oatmeal, coconut milk, papaya and other products that you use to exfoliate your face, make a mask, and rinse off.  Skin is SO soft after use.

Almost forgot these 3 face creams....Amazing Face is an excellent day moisturizer.  Creme de Rose is Barbara's first "baby" and is excellent on moisturizing, healing AND skin regeneration. Rose du Jour is a light, rose scented cream perfect whenever you need a little hydration.

I could go on and on about this company and well, I have!  Ha!   Read HERE.   I beg you to go read the ingredients on her products....you've never seen anything like it!   

I don't know how this company hasn't offered me free products for all my testimonials but this is my unpaid, unbiased opinion.  I will NEVER be without these products.  Oh, and don't be alarmed at the cost...each products lasts FOREVER!! I have had the Melon Medley and the Skincredible for over a year now.  The other products last around 6 months (the seaweed spray lasts 3 months with my usage... love it!)  I also recommend getting the foaming bottle to go with the cleanser.......under tools on the website.

Anyhoo...I hope to be able to post photos soon of my newly healed, younger looking skin (I ended up with quite a peel too!  lol)  Speaking of that, I'm gonna get up and go spray some Pure Rose Distillate on for hydration....toodles!!

Do you shop at Origins?

I have never been to an Origins store or counter (in Macy's or Dillards near us), and was surprised when I walked in a stand alone store in a shopping area while hubs shopped for new phones.   I loved how the store was NOT heavily scented, or I would have had to leave.  Why do stores do that?

Anyhoo...I asked what products they have for dry, maturing skin and I was introduced to 2 that I want to strongly recommend.  (Others not so much - for example, their foundation was awful for my skin and their eye cream did nothing for me).

First, for mild exfoliation, you must try the Modern Friction - Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion.........this stuff is amazing.  Very sticky and folks, a little goes a LONG way.  I am still using the sample I was given, 3 weeks later!!  I use this 2-3 times a week.  We weren't going to buy it until they used it on my husband and he was SOLD.   Your skin feels baby soft after using this.  (They also have a Modern Friction for the body, but we didn't try that).  We lucked out and found this at a CCS - a store I had also not visited before, so we saved a bit more.

See how thick this is?

 It has little rice beads in it....

This is obviously smeared over skin....very thick, very sticky.  You lightly dampen your face, then apply a tiny amount.    Then rinse off.  Wonderful stuff.

Now the second product had us hesitant at the get go.  WAY more money than we ever spend (and we haven't spent it yet...more on that).   The new very highly touted Plantscription - Anti-Aging Serum.  Have you heard of it or seen the commercials?

This is the SAMPLE.  The full-size has a pump bottle.  One sample size is one week's worth of product.

The sales lady explained that this is their best new creation - an "all natural Retinoid", since Retinols are so damaging to the skin.  Using this plant-based product, the skin is safer but still sees similar or even better results than prescription Retinol products.   Lines and wrinkles were greatly diminished in clinical trials.

Well, my engineer husband just really wanted to know WHY the cost is $55 for 1 fl oz (that they say will last 3 months but engineer hubby did the math and will actually run out sooner compared to the sample size)? Me too.   That gal gave us a sample and assured us we'd be back.    From what I've been reading online in testimonials, long-time Youthtopia users went to the store with a scowl, NOT planning on liking Plantscription and now they are saying "Youthtopia who?"  lol

It takes a TINY amount - more is not better!  You put it on after the toner but before your moisturizer.  I use this much or LESS each morning and evening:

Sorry for the blurry photo - this product is very smooth and thinly creamy...not sure how to describe.  It leaves a light film on the face before soaking in.  You almost can't feel it.

 As I mentioned, we were traveling last week, so guess what we did?  We ended up acquiring 5 samples at 5 different stores!!!!!!!  The advertising states that one will see dramatic results within 6 weeks, so we decided to find out before purchasing.  Smart, eh? 

I can tell you that SOMETHING huge has happened to my skin in the last 2 weeks.  Is it the Plantscription and/or the Modern Friction?  I cannot tell you for sure, but it is amazing.  Hubs has actually stopped and looked deeply at my skin, run his fingers across my face and asked what was different.  Remember he's an engineer.  I'm not "data".  lol  If HE noticed, it is noticeable.

Am I going to run out and purchase this?  No.  Honestly, not in the budget and I am still deeply in love with my Simply Divine Botanical  - all natural, no chemicals whatsoever - skin care products (that I have written about MANY times...) and have plenty of those to use up.  But I will wait and see what my skin does after I run out of samples.  lol  And then, I'll give another opinion.  Is it really something I can't live without?  We'll see.

Meanwhile, Hubs and I BOTH are using the Modern Friction......such wonderful, soft skin.  And at the amounts required, that tube will last us over 6 months if not longer.

If you didn't already know, Origins is a very "sample-friendly" store.  Just go in and ask for a sample or schedule a free facial...and they will explain the best products for your skin type and the steps recommended.

*I was NOT compensated in any way for this post by any company.  My opinions are truthful and my own.

Show Us Your Life - Beauty Tips

This is a perfect time to put a post up about my current beauty tips.  I love reading other blogs and getting ideas of what works and what doesn't!

First things first:  Shower

I have had so much success with the following hair products, my husband has started using the shampoo.  His hair was thinning more and more and frankly, he was using products with ingredients that cause hair loss!  When someone mentioned my luxurious hair and fast growth, he had a light bulb moment.  His hair looks amazing now!

I have wavy, "can be curly if I try hard" hair and this shampoo and condition is to die for:

 Kinky Curly "Come Clean" Shampoo and "Knot Today" Conditioner.

These do NOT have SLS or other damaging products.  I purchase mine at Whole Foods - but you might need to ask - they usually are not with the other shampoos and hair products.

Also in the shower, every day I will use Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub.  Love this! It is  a grainy, fruity concoction.  I get a little bit and smear it all over and scrub, being careful to not let chunks fall on the floor.  I buy mine at Target as I can't find it anywhere else around here.

When I get out of the shower and squeeze excess water out of my hair carefully, I use a Microfiber towel to soak the rest of the water.  This is incredible!!  I bought a "dog" towel at a local store that works just as well and much cheaper!  This will eliminate blow drying time. 

The product that has transformed my hair into luxurious is Morrocanoil.  This smells heavenly and the result in my hair is amazing.  I never spend this much money on my hair, but after my stylist used it month after month.....I was convinced.  You cannot find a single negative testimonial about this - folks swear by it.  Be careful ordering on Amazon - I've heard there are some "fake" products being sold.  I buy mine at my salon.

I've also started using Agadir Argon Oil Spray and it is also wonderful.  I had used it only once when I went to my stylist and she mentioned how soft and healthy my hair was.  For processed hair, that is a good thing!

I put this on after I take my hair out of the drying microfiber towel.

 While my hair is up in the microfiber towel, I use my highly recommended  

Simply Divine Botanicals  

products.  I swear by these.   I am 44 and after 1 year with these products, my skin looks like this:

Please excuse the marks on my nose from my cheap reading glasses.

I have written many times about these products - click HERE.

This company uses ALL NATURAL ingredients - we should be careful what we put on our skin.  Read my link above or go to the company to read all about their philosophy and ingredients.

Be sure to order SAMPLES.  I recommend the main sample pack and the seaweed sample set to start off with.  Samples are great for traveling!

These are the photos of the products I love.

Butter Me Up - VERY thick, I use this every day on my newly shaved legs.  Several scents to choose from.

Body Cream - very much like normal lotion.  Several scents to choose from.

Honey I Shrunk the Pores - LOVE this.  Use it 3-4 times a week.  My skin is so tight afterward.  You could eat - smells very raspberry. 

Peel Me a Papaya - this looks like oatmeal and I keep it in the shower, being careful not to get it moist.  I pour a little in my hand, add a tiny bit of water, tilt my head back (so as not to lose much on the floor) and then scrub into my skin for 2-3 minutes.  I had hubs do this the other day and he was surprised how soft his skin was afterward.

Amazing Face - my favorite day cream.  Light lemongrass scent.

Creme de Rose- a light rose scent.  My daily night cream.  

Rose du Jour - another light day cream.  LOVE the strong rose scent.

Gypsy Rose Tea Astringent/Toner - I've NEVER used this type of product before and now I can't live without this.  Use it morning and night and it lasts forever.

Black Velvet Fabulous Foaming Face Wash - you have to try this to believe it.  Your skin honestly feels like VELVET after use.  They also have one for blemish-prone skin called You Can't Zit Here Foaming Face Wash.  I go to her "Tools" section and also buy the Foaming Bottle for $4 - the product lasts longer this way and actually foams.

Skincredible - a tantalizing sandalwood scent, great for rosacea, wrinkles, bruises, cracked skin, broken capillaries, blemishes, discoloration and other skin issues.

Melon Medley - I love this serum.  While it is oily to touch, my skin soaks it up and feels so soft.


Pure Rose Distillate - I spray this on multiple times a day for hydration. I love the rose scent - very calming.


~~~~~~~~~~

A sea salt peel I have used for the last 7 years is Swisa  Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel.   I used to find it in mall kiosks, but now order it off ebay.  Your skin, in one use, will say WOW.  You won't believe how much dead skin you peel off and then are left with baby bottom soft skin.

I use once a week.

I also swear by my DermaNew Microdermabrasion System (that I found for a steal at Marshalls!) 

Did you know that products like C.hapstick have some ingredients that not great for us?  We started using this Vitamin C lip balm from Walgreens, and my "chapstick addicted" husband switched over and has never gone back.  Try this for super smooth, nourished lips.

As for makeup, I have several products I highly recommend:

Nars Orgasm Blush - I've used this on all my female family members and it was beautiful!  I would normally NOT have bought this color but reading all the amazing testimonials, I gave it a try.  So glad I did!

VERY pigmented and lasts forever.  I've had this over a year and use it all the time!

Urban Decay Primer Potion - ever wish your eye shadow would stay all day and not crease?   I prefer the EDEN, as it gives me a neutral base.  The original one goes on clear. 

Some of my favorite brushes come from CVS - Essence of Beauty - check them out!

Dual Ended  - packs on color very well.

I recommend getting these makeup palettes at Sephora.  My husband just commented the other day how much use I get out of them.  Easy to travel, too.

This one has colorways that pull out to take with you for the day.

Use a fan brush for your blush - makes a huge difference.  You can run this brush through multiple colors at a time, shake and then apply.  Perfection.  Also use a Kabuki brush for all over blending.

Kabuki and Fan brushes

And ladies, the PERFECT under eye concealer is by Eve Pearl:  Salmon Color!!!  You will be shocked at how well this works.

Another new product I am using is to contour - this one is great!

Smashbox Contour Kit

Oh and almost forgot - my newest purchase -

M.A.C. Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle.  Fantastic highlighter!!

 

Two inexpensive Sally Beauty Supply products are:

Palladio Herbal Facial Primer

and

Palladio Rice Powder

And I recommend keeping everything well organized!

One more huge beauty tip for those of us over 35.  When we use peach products with our brown eyes, it ages us.  Try using more pink/purple tones (as a neutral) and see if folks don't comment on looking younger!  I didn't believe it until I tried it. Now, you will hardly ever find me in neutral, peach shades.

This colorway is your friend!!!  Give it a try before saying "no".  I did and now won't go back.

I think this about covers it.  So many more things, but these are my favorites.  Enjoy!  Now I'm off to go see other blogs and ideas!!

 Kelly's Korner Blog