Stretch Marks? Come on now… after giving birth to three children – 2 of which are twins, to say I have a few zebra stripes on my belly would be an understatement. Having worked in the plastic surgery field a few years I do know a thing or two about taking care of my skin, but that doesn’t mean that stretch marks are not going to find their way creeping onto areas consistently. Besides my tummy since I’m quite blessed in the upper half of my body as well, you can find a few stretch marks there as well. I use a number of different creams as well as oils and always interested in checking out new brands and products that may help my scars and stretch marks a little. The last month I’ve been testing out the InstaNatural Stretch Mark and Scar Cream and using it in combination with other products I already have in my body cream arsenal. Here are my thoughts on this product.
First of all – let’s start with the size of the bottle. For just $35.00 you get 5 oz of product which will last you a long time. Even if used according to the directions – which is to apply twice a day, you still have enough product for a thirty day supply or more depending on the amount of product that you dispense and the area size that you are applying it to.
The cream is a different texture than I would have expected. It’s cream-like but still feels almost like a mousse and when applied to the skin, it smooths out and applies like a lotion. The amount you see in the photo above is all I use to cover my entire stomach region. The product does have a light lotion type scent though I couldn’t pinpoint the exact scent.
I really enjoy the pump that the container has. I dispense the correct amount of product each time. I’ll be honest in saying that InstaNatural is really good at their dispensing of product on their packaging for various different serums, creams, etc. so I didn’t expect anything otherwise from them.
I apologize for not sharing any photos of before and after – but I was not quite comfortable doing so. I can tell you that while I didn’t notice drastic results I did definitely notice lightening of some of my stretch marks on my belly – they are not as dark as before. I think this is a plus considering these stretch marks are from many years ago. With the price point, ease of use and the fact that my skin did not have any allergic reactions, I definitely think this is a product I know I will continue to use. I’ll be sure to stop by and provide an update after I’ve been using it for a while and maybe then I will be more confident in sharing my photos, because I did take them
What are your favorite scar or stretch mark creams to use on your body – if you use them?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
It’s no secret that I consider my lips to be one of my best assets… well, besides the fact that I’m well endowed in other areas, but that is definitely a subject for another post… teehee. While I do have my cult and holy grail favorites when it comes to lip care items, I am a sucker for lip butters and I am willing to spend the price on one that works and does the job just as it says. I can count my favorites on one hand so I was quite intrigued to see how this particular one would match up with some of my favorites. Having never tried the Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter before (or any of the products from this brand for that matter), I couldn’t wait to put it to the test.
Let me start by saying that anything and I mean anything that smells like chocolate that I can put on my face… is already a seller for me. Immediately upon opening the packaging and before opening the little box the lip butter came in – I could smell a soft hint of chocolate. Nothing overpowering but enough of a fragrance that I was immediately entranced by it. This lip butter (in a very generous sized pot) retails for $15.00 and includes 0.5oz/15mL worth of product. Now, if you know anything about me… it’s that as much as I love Lip Butters, I’m not a fan of the pot and the fact I have to dip my hands into it to get the product out. But, I’m not gonna lie, I have and will continue to make the exception with this product.
The lip balm is quite firm at first touch so using this as a balm and applying with your fingers is definitely best. It’s as easy as swirling your finger on the balm and rubbing onto your lips. I love that this can also be used as a light exfoliant before moisturizing. Simply scoop a larger portion of the butter with your finger, apply to your lips, and lightly remove with a damp warm wash cloth. After you are done exfoliating, go ahead and swirl your finger on the butter again and apply to your lips to moisturize for soft lips that last all day. The balm not only smells like berry and chocolate but it has a light flavor of chocolate with a hint of berry too.
Each lip butter is packed with antioxidant and vitamin-rich Buriti, Brazil Nut, Andoriba, Maracuja (passion fruit), Acai oils, Cupuacu, Murumuru, Mango butters plus Carnauba Wax to help moisturize your lips, add extra vitamins needed to heal your lips, protect them from UV Rays, anti-aging benefits and so much more. The Acai-Acu (which has that berry chocolate flavor) also provides the light exfoliation and hydration for your lips making this product a benefit for your puckers.
Not into a chocolaty flavor or scent? Don’t worry, because Teadora offers this lip butter in two scents/flavors: Dawn (which has a citrus type scent/flavor) and Dusk which is this one having a chocolate/berry scent and flavor.
I absolutely love that Teadora’s Lip Butters are 100% vegan. They are free of parabens, synthetic fragrance, silicone, gluten, phthalate, sulfates and other harsh chemicals which we try so hard to avoid in our skincare today. This product has become a favorite in my daily routine, especially now during the colder months when my lips are most dry. The pot seals up nicely which allows me to travel with it or toss it in my purse without any issues and while the pot includes much more product than I would expect, I love that this gives me the opportunity to do double duty and use as both a lip butter or light lip scrub.
For the price point on this item, you are getting two in one and a delicious treat for your lips. I definitely recommend this product and I know it will be one of my favorites moving forward. I can’t wait to try out Dawn. Also, by purchasing Teadora products, you are also supporting sustainable agriculture in Brazil to help stop rainforest deforestation.
Have you tried anything from Teadora before? What are your favorite lip butters available on the market today? I would love to hear from you so be sure to leave a comment down below.
This product was provided to me as a Press Sample for review and / or consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.
Yes, another skincare serum review… you know I’m addicted to this stuff right? Over the last month I have been including the Yalmeh Vitamin C + Vitamin E…
It’s been quite a few months now since I first started using Eu Natural’s Biotin Supplement. Check out my initial thoughts on the product here. Most know that while my hair never has difficulty growing (it grows much faster than most peoples’ do), because I can color my hair often and after having three children (all of which were challenging pregnancies), my hair is not as strong as it used to be and shedding is a daily occurrence. I already take a daily vitamin supplement for my body but I never mind trying products that could result beneficial for my hair.
Eu Natural offers a Biotin Supplement that is 5000 MCG. This supplement can be used for hair, skin and nails – which is always a benefit since I’m all about glowing skin. This product provides pure, pharmaceutical grade Biotin that helps to support the cellular energy production. Retailing for $24.99 (120 day supply) and currently on sale for $19.95 you receive a great deal for an affordable price tag. What I love the most is that these capsules are not big at all and very easy to swallow. There are no funky scents or tastes when you swallow the pill and I didn’t notice any upset stomach. What I love the best is that this is a product that is great for your skin, nails and your hair, not just specifically your hair which is a huge plus.
I have been taking this supplement now for several months and while my hair hasn’t experienced major growth, I do notice that my hair shaft seems stronger and my fall out/shedding is not nearly as bad as before. One of the biggest positives is that my skin loves it and my nails have been much stronger because of it.
A little note… I cut my hair and my nails pretty often. To keep my hair from split ends I try to cut my hair every two to three months and usually 2 to 4 inches at a time. My hair grows pretty fast, it always has so I didn’t notice additional growth. My nails however, while they have always grown out pretty quickly and have been pretty strong for the most part, I notice that they seem much stronger and ripping and tearing of my nails hasn’t occurred as often. I also noticed the ridges I would have in my nail bed are not as prominent as before. While I can attest that to a change in my nail care… I think it also has to do with the supplement.
Like with any supplement, I always suggest that you check with your physician first to see if you can take such. I have always been a bit worried about Biotin supplements in the past because I took one once that cause me to grow hair “everywhere” and it was not pretty. It also caused my skin to freak out and break out. I was surprised that nothing like that happened and after taking this along with other supplements, my skin loves it. Overall, it is something I will continue to use (I already purchased my 3rd bottle) and I enjoy the benefits it has given me.
Have you tried a Biotin supplement before? What were your results from taking it? Did you benefit from taking the supplement?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I have been using Tea Tree Oil for years as a part of my skin care and home needs, even if I’m not necessarily fond of the scent. Australian Tea Tree Oil or Melaleuca Oil (which is what is was introduced to me as about 15 years ago) was first introduced to me to help treat my dry scalp due to the fact that I consistently colored or bleached my hair I had dandruff. While I was not necessarily a fan of the fragrance, I noticed instantly that it helped with that issue and I continued to keep a small bottle on hand in the case other issues arise and while I haven’t had the need to use consistently, it is something I know I can rely on.
Tea Tree Oil is known as one of the most versatile essential oils. The list of claimed benefits of this product is long and include naturally fighting acne, toenail fungus, lice, yeast infections, skin tags, cold sores, dandruff (I can attest to this one), ringworm, fleas, warts, psoriasis and much more. Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil (4 fl oz / 118ml – $27.99) has been a great addition in my household and I have been enjoying this product since getting my hands on it. This particular brand offers their Tea Tree Oil in a Pharmaceutical Grade, which is a huge bonus considering a lot of companies offer watered down versions of this product (I know, I have purchased these before). I love that this particular product is undiluted and without impurities which allows you to get the benefits of the product in its 100% form. I haven’t had the chance to test it on a few skin tags I have, but trust that I will be doing this because I want to put it to the test further. Even after years of keeping this product on hand, I’m still amazed at its continued benefits that I constantly hear about.
One thing I have used Tea Tree Oil for over the years like I mentioned, is for my hair. While I don’t have issues with dandruff any longer… when I feel my scalp feels a bit dry – I simply use this oil as my hair massage oil and do the inversion method while massaging my scalp with a combination of this oil and my coconut oil. It works wonders on my scalp, but also my hair. Many ask how my hair grows so quickly considering I trim off about 2-3 inches every 2-3 months and I definitely believe this regimen has some to do with it. And, while I do not recommend it – before having my children, I used Tea Tree Oil to stop the bleeding on some of my cuts or help heal my cuts quicker and faster. Of course, it does sting a little, but it worked quickly and was an easy fix. But, I’m no doctor and do not suggest this… DISCLAIMER – I don’t suggest it. Also – don’t get this stuff in your eyes or mouth. It stings your eyes and do not swallow… yuck. lol I know some that use this as a gargle when they have cold sores or viruses, but… I’m not quite at that stage yet – lol. I’m looking forward to using this for treating my dog and his area where he sleeps to keep the buggies away from him, once I do – I’ll be sure to come back with a revisit to discuss everything I’ve been able to accomplish with this product.
Quick notation… Tea Tree Oil can be very toxic for animals especially when in it’s pure form. Please use discretion and discuss with your vet prior to testing out anything on your animal. I will be seeing my vet before using this on him. Same goes for humans. While I have used this in the past, I always make sure to discuss with my physician prior to starting anything new with Essential Oils.
Having tried several brands of Tea Tree Oil I knew right from opening the package that this was the real thing. Like I mentioned before, the scent… whoa – it’s strong and for many it can be unbearable. I am not a fan of the scent – At All! So after applying to my hair, I wash my hair shortly after. However, for the price point and the large bottle you receive, it’s well worth the cost. I’m impressed with the brand, the communication and customer service and the product. Apothecary Extracts also includes a Downloadable E-book with purchase of the product so that you can read about different uses of this product.
Since I’m a fan of this product and a long time user of Tea Tree Oil, I will continue to purchase from their brand knowing the quality of the product and the price point is beneficial. Have you heard of Tea Tree Oil before? Is this product you have used? I would love to know your thoughts and would love to know that if you used this product, what your uses and benefits were from this oil. 🙂
This post is powered by Brandbacker. While I did receive product for free in return for a review, all opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.
I am pretty behind in sharing my monthly favorites. Sadly I actually filmed a video for August favorites, uploaded it to YouTube and never got around to sharing…
Who doesn’t like a good cleansing facial oil? Well, prior to trying new brands, I had used my Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil “my holy grail, must-have, cure all” product as not only a facial and body moisturizer, hair serum/oil, facial cleanser and makeup remover as the facial oil of choice. Of course, you could call me pretty biased, but I really wasn’t going to try any new brands. However, recently I have had the opportunity to try out a Cleansing Facial Oil from Insta Natural (which is a brand I love for skin care products already) and I knew I had to try it out.
Cleansing Facial Oils are all the craze now a days as they are beginning to replace normal cleansers that we can buy to remove dirt, grime and makeup. While it is becoming a new trend, using oil to remove makeup has been around for years… in fact, my mom would tell me that my dad suggested she use Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil to remove her makeup years before it started to become popular. A best kept secret for many years, it is now something you hear about often all over the internet, on television and in magazines.
Insta Natural’s Gentle & Reviving Deep Cleansing Facial Oil ($49.95 Retail – on sale for $19.95, 4 fl oz / 120 ml) is a skin and pore purifier and makeup remover. Said to be the fastest, easiest way to banish dirt, grime and makeup from your face – application is easy and so is the removal. Simply massage a small amount of the facial wash into your skin to take off all the dirt and makeup. I have enjoyed using this especially to remove my waterproof mascara or lash adhesive. It works well and doesn’t leave my face feeling dry or my eyes irritated like some cleansers can do. It’s still delicate enough to not strip your skin of natural oils that you need to keep your skin soft and moisturized and your skin doesn’t feel oily after washing it off. I like to put a little of the cleanser on my finger tips to remove eye makeup or put some of the facial oil on a cotton pad or cotton ball and gently rub on my face to remove the dirt. I then rinse it off with warm water and pat my face dry with a clean cloth.
The dispenser is very easy to use, simply just push down on the pump and your facial oil is dispensed. You can decide whether or not how you want to apply and use it. Like I said depending on what I need to take off, I will use appropriately.
Now if you have never used a cleansing oil before to clean your face, it may be a bit different from what you expect a cleanser to do. If you already have oily or acne prone skin, it may also seem like you are doing something completely wrong by adding oil to your skin to clean it when your skin already over produces oil. However, sometimes many don’t realize that your skin may be overproducing oil because it is not moisturized and therefore your skin is overcompensating for lack of moisture. While that may not be the case for everyone, I definitely suggest trying a facial cleansing oil to see how it would work for you. I use some form of oil whether coconut oil, Argan oil or Rosehip oil to moisturize my face at least once a day and over the last two years my skin went from break outs to barely a pimple in site.
This facial cleanser does have a light fragrance that smells almost like jojoba oil (probably because it includes jojoba oil) and while it does have Lavender Essential oil, the scent of lavender is not over powering and just light enough to where you can smell a hint of it, but it doesn’t drive me nuts. Since I have very dry skin, this has definitely made a difference in my skin care routine, keeping my skin soft and moisturized even before adding my serums and moisturizer. I loved that I was able to get through the summer months without a severe eczema flare up because my skin stayed supple. While this is a liquid / oil like textured product, it doesn’t feel “oily” and cleanses the skin while locking in the much needed moisture our skin needs.
Along with Insta Natural’s Cleansing Facial Oil I have also been using the 100% Pure Rosehip Seed Oil ($49.95 Retail – On Sale for $21.95 / 4 fl.oz.) in my skin care regimen. This organic oil is rich in essential fatty acids, including Linolenic, Linoleic and Oleic Acid (Omega 3,6 & 9) along with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Antiioxidants and Beta-Carotene. This can be used on your face, hair, nails and skin as a restorer that helps to heal your skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, scars and stretch marks and provides hydration for your skin as well as reviving your natural skin color. I have been loving this product for my stretch marks (yes, I have lots of those… remember – 2 births and one I carried twins. lol) as well as using on some of my acne scars. I do have to be a bit careful with the use of this product however, because sometimes I feel like I look a little more “tanned” then I should be, though it does even out my skin tone quite nicely.
Ingredients 100% Pure USDA Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oi. NO CHEMICALS, NO ADDITIVE, NO ADDED FRAGRANCE. Imported from Chile.
This has an amber yellowish tint to it so I while it soaks into the skin really nicely, keep in mind that spilling this can stain. Also the smell… do not expect this to smell like roses because the scent is a little… hmmm…. I can’t even explain it. It reminds me of taking a fish oil capsule and a strong scented vitamin – it’s strong but luckily it doesn’t last too long. I use this product mostly in the evenings because of the scent and if you are sensitive to smell, I probably wouldn’t use it during the day. Overall this makes a great addition to my skincare regimen and I also suggested it to a friend who has been suffering from inflammation of the skin and acne breakouts and she has been enjoying it.
While I think that any of the products mentioned in this post could be beneficial for many – especially if you have dry skin I also know that sometimes what works for others may not work for some. I do suggest trying it out and seeing how it works for you or discuss with your dermatologist. I use several different products from the Insta Natural line (you can see other products I have reviewed: Argan Oil Hair Treatment and Youth Express Eye Gel) and have been loving their skincare line altogether. Have you heard of facial cleansing oils before and have your tried any? What about Rosehip oil? What are your thoughts on these items?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
