Category: Beauty and Fashion Tips

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This post brought to you by éclos Skin Care. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am not getting any younger over here with 40 knocking on my door. It’s important to me to take care of my skin now before the signs of aging begin to really show. I was thrilled when I was given this great éclos Skin Care sample kit to try for a week!

What makes Eclos unique is their skin care line features Apple Stem Cells extracted from a rare Swiss apple which have shown tremendous ability to stimulate skin stem cells, encouraging aging skin to behave like younger skin. Plant extracts, vitamins and anti-oxidants combine with the Apple Stem Cell technology to help minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and tired skin.

Even better is how affordable this skin care line is and it’s available at stores like Walgreens and CVS! Plus you can save money with their coupon!  Get department store quality without the department store price tag. It does not contain harmful petro-chemicals, parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

I tried all the skin care products in the sample kit! I loved all of them and they smell so good. I have to say my favorite was the éclos Anti-Aging Instant Radiance Facial Scrub! It warms up as you put it on your face. It smelled so good and felt great. It doesn’t stay harsh like some scrubs. It works into your skin and is more like a gel after it begins to dissolve. I loved it and felt like a spa treatment.

Facial Cleanser Skin Prep- lathers to remove makeup and daily debris which refreshes skin and purify pores. Use once morning and again at night.

Radiance Facial Scrub- exfoliates dry, dull dead skin cells. Restores radiance plus evens out skin tone. Use once daily- every other day. It warms up as you apply. I used it at night before bedtime.

Cellular Activator Face Serum– promotes collagen production giving skin a more youthful look. Helps visibly reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while protecting against environmental damage. Smooth serum over clean, dry skin in morning and evening. For optimal effects, use under éclos Moisture
Therapy Regenerative Cream.

Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream- Revitalizes skin stem cells, helping to tighten sagging skin and postpone wrinkles. Use once daily, morning and night. For optimal results, apply over éclos Cellular Activator Face Serum.

Restorative Eye Cream– visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Gently pat under, and around, eye area morning and night.

Renewal Clay Mask– cleanses skin, absorbs impurities, and helps unclog pores. Smooth a thin layer of mask over clean face, avoiding the eye area. After mask hardens (between 5 to 10 minutes), rinse thoroughly with warm water. Use twice weekly for maximum benefits.

My skin feels so much cleaner and brighter. I have noticed my pores are smaller and even the discoloration on my cheeks has lessened. My skin just feels so much smoother. I have noticed I was having a bit more acne than normal, but I think it was because it was bringing out the impurities to the surface. My husband has even commented on how much nicer my skin looks. I do find the moisturizer is a little thick which is fine for at night, but not for daytime wear. I have combination skin and it just felt too heavy on my face in this heat and humidity. I love to use it at night.

Don’t take my word for it and try it for yourself with your éclos Skin Care sample set! You will receive:

• Facial Cleanser Skin Prep
• Cellular Activator Face Serum
• Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream
• Restorative Eye Cream
• Instant Radiance Facial Scrub
• Skin Renewal Clay Mask
• éclos Terry Cloth Head Band

Plus a $3/1 Full size product exp 12/31/2013 Money Saving Coupon!

I am giving away this great sample kit which retails for $19.99 to one lucky fan! There is only one super easy entry!  Leave a comment on this blog post stating which product in the kit you are most excited to try. That’s it! The giveaway will end on Saturday June 9th at 11:59PM CST! Winner will be picked using Random.org and US only please 18+ or older! Good luck!

Today’s thrifty living tip is to whiten teeth with baking soda.  I know you can purchase toothpaste made with baking soda, but I don’t find they work all that well. Those whitening strips are very expensive even with coupons and sales.

I find the very best way to whiten my teeth is to use plain baking soda. I make a paste with a teaspoon of baking soda, a pinch of salt, and add a little water. Use that paste to brush your teeth. You could also just sprinkle a little on a wet toothbrush. I find the paste cleans better. I then rinse my mouth well with water. You can use a little hydrogen peroxide, but be careful to never ingest peroxide (even food grade). I would suggest if you ever want to swish with peroxide then mix it with an equal amount of water.

I only use this mixture once to twice a month. Baking soda is abrasive and will wear away the enamel if used often. My dentist reassured me it is safe to use but not daily. He recommends no more than once a week at most, but said every other week would be safer. My teeth are not overly stained so I stick to once a month.

Have you tried baking soda as a tooth whitener? If you have, then what were your results?

Today’s thrifty living tip is to use baby wipes to spot clean your clothes. I know they have the Tide fabric wipes, but baby wipes do the same job and cost less to buy. Baby wipes are very effective at cleaning up spilled food or drink. I keep a small pack of wipes in my purse. They have the hard case or you can buy the small pack of samples. I also receive free wipe samples from time to time in the mail. My little one is a tween, but I still keep a box of baby wipes in my house to use for many things as they are so versatile. You can even use them as makeup remover especially for your eyes.

Today’s thrifty living tip is use coconut oil as part of your beauty routine. Coconut oil is truly a wonderful product that is great for eating as well. If you do cook with it, then make sure you get cold pressed and unrefined virgin coconut oil. It’s a little more expensive, but a good quality oil for cooking. There are so many beauty uses for it. People in India and Philippines have been using it for centuries. The women have gorgeous skin and hair. I’ve always noticed how silky their hair looks. The reason coconut oil is so good for hair is that the oil actually sinks into the hair shaft and not sit on top of it. You can google all the wonderful benefits of coconuts which are many. Here are some ways I love using it as part of my beauty routine.

Deep Hair Conditioner– this will make your hair so soft and silky. It’s also great to use if you have a dry, itchy, or flaky scalp. I use it twice a week. I live in a sub-tropical climate so most of the year my oil stays a liquid. During the winter it does solidify so I scoop out a spoonful and melt it for a few seconds in my microwave. I only do a 10 seconds at a time until it’s mostly melted. Then I rub it in my hands and massage all over my scalp and down to the ends. I really concentrate on the hairline in the front. Then I cover my hair with a shower cap but you could use saran wrap. You can leave it on for a minimum of 20 minutes, but as long as overnight. I never sleep with it in my hair and usually keep it on for 1-2 hours. Then I wash it out as normal, and it will not leave your hair feeling oily or greasy. It really does wash all out with shampoo. My hair is never frizzy which is a huge plus for during winter.

Moisturizer– just slather on a little bit all over like any regular body or face lotion. You really don’t need much either. Your skin will never feel softer. I like to use it after I shave my legs. It makes the best hand moisturizer. I use this every night before going to bed. I use a little bit on my lips as a chap stick. It’s tastes good too on your lips.

Sunscreen– coconut oil makes a great sunscreen. I used it everyday before going to the parks at Disney World. I was in the sun for hours and never burned once! It actually helped me to tan. I don’t tan well either so this was amazing for me. I still have a slight color and it’s winter.