Kelly Bonanno

Your soulful coach for eco friendly living, clean beauty & wellness Savvy | Sexy | Beautiful | Healthy | You

Reviews & Giveaways

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Lauren B. Beauty Couture Eco Nail Care Review & Giveaway!

When I began my green journey, I succumbed to the fact that I would have to give up nail polish or deal with the toxins. Those were the options back then. Adorning my digits with a glorious shade of my favorite blues and purples is something I just could not give up so I found myself in quite the quandary. What did I do?  I dealt with the toxins.

And let me tell you, those are some harmful chemicals. They are linked to birth defects, cancers and problems with the endocrine system. If you’re using conventional nail polish, you’re still exposing yourself to them. But there is no need for that. You do not have to give up your glamorous manicures and pedicures to avoid those toxins. Time to switch.

Lucky for me and all manicure lovers everywhere, smart companies like Lauren B. Beauty burst onto the scene with innovative formulations and gorgeous colors that are free of the most harmful ingredients found in most polish.

It’s confusing to figure out what toxins are most harmful in beauty products which is why I created this checklist with the top toxins to avoid.

“GIVE A WOMAN THE RIGHT MANICURE AND SHE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” ~Lauren Berkovitz

The right nail polish can lift you up

I’m a DYI girl when it comes to beauty treatments. I love a salon manicure but to save time I usually just do it myself. Yes, saves $$ too. I need high performing polish that lasts and looks great even when I’m running out of time and can only swipe on 1 coat. Equally important? Polish that doesn’t contain the super toxic ingredients which is why I am extremely excited that I’ve partnered my favorite clean nail polish and nail treatment brand, Lauren B. Beauty for an exciting giveaway to refresh your nails!

You probably know by now that it is my firm belief that when you look better, you feel better and a manicure most definitely makes you look better! You can cheat and just swipe on a quick coat or 2 and look 10 times more polished, pun intended.

Ditch the water soak

Intuitively, I never thought soaking nails in soapy water during a manicure was a good idea. (Not just because the soap they use has toxins!) Turns out, I was right. Lauren taught me that it weakens the nails. I am frankly quite happy to request no soaking with confidence the next time I treat myself to a mani-pedi.

Non toxic nail polish that works ?

There are many polishes on the market now that are free from some of the worst chemicals. But I know what you’re thinking… they’re not all high performing. True, but you’re in luck, Lauren B. Beauty luxury nail polish is high quality. It’s glossy, long lasting and chip resistant.

As Lauren explains in our interview, the brush is pre-lacquered with twice the standard amount of bristles, so your polish glides on smoothly and streak-free giving you a gel-like couture polish that dries fast. Proving that we can have beautiful colors on our nails without being subjected to the disgustingly harmful toxins. How amazing is that?! 

Lauren B. Beauty polishes are all 7-free which means they contain no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene or camphor, xylene, TPHP and other related phosphates. Frankly, there’s no reason to use a nail polish that contains that junk. 

The line is also vegan and cruelty free are, made in the USA – right here in my home state, beautiful California!

Not only are the 85 colors stunningly gorgeous, how cute are their names?! Sun Kissed in San Tropez, Vintage On Vine, Santorini Seduction, Lauryl Canyon Lover, Mandeville Maven, Meet Me On Melrose, Brentwood Bliss… being an LA girl, born and raised, I especially like the SoCal inspired names ?

 

Look put together in a flash

Every savvy beauty knows that a pretty polish on your nails makes you look more put together. Even when you’re running around town in yoga pants and a messy bun, having your nails polished set you apart. I personally appreciate it, it pleases me to see a lovely manicured hand. Lauren says it best, “nails are your best accessory!”

Want my Top 10 Beauty Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox Instantly? Sign Up Here ? This checklist gives you easy, actionable tips that you can start right away to look & feel your best!

This sexy shade is Malibu Beach, the color I happen to be wearing as I write this!

It goes beyond nail care

Caring for our hands is vital.  What are the two areas that give away our age ladies? Your neck and your hands. You can inject your face, laser it, lift it, you name it. But there’s not much you can do to retain the youthful look of your neck and hands if you don’t take care of them which is where Lauren B. Beauty restorative botanical hand treatments come in.

Her Nourishing Hand Creme has an anti-aging, amino acid and peptide blend that hydrates and softens. The Reparative Cuticle Oil is made of a custom blend of 14 ultra-pure plant and flower oils to hydrate, heal and revive (and it smells divine!) Another genius product is her Nail Growth Serum with amino acids, antioxidants, Vitamins, peptides and biotin to boost growth and strength. How badly do some of us need that?!

Watch our Interview

I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing founder Lauren Berkovitz and tour the Lauren B. Beauty office and warehouse here in Westlake Village, California. We had a great chat, she is truly a pleasure, you will love her! Her story is inspiring and she gives us some fabulous hand and nail care tips! Watch on my Savvy Girl’s Organic World Facebook page.

How did I discover this fantastic nail polish? I was in my local Planet Beauty talking the sales girl about how important clean beauty is to me given that I help people go green for a living. I bought a bottle and fell in love. So, this review is based on my own purchase, however, Lauren graciously gave me all kinds of goodies when I met her for the interview, I’ll be telling you all about those upcoming videos! I was very happy to discover that Lauren is local and pleasantly surprised to meet her when we spoke on the modern Beauty panel at the SoCal Wellness event in February.

Enter our giveaway!

We’re choosing TWO winners.TWO lucky winners will receive a set of nail polish (2 assorted colors +1 Dual base/ top coat + Reparative cuticle oil, an $80 value!) from Lauren B. Beauty to keep you perfectly polished and accessorized all throughout the spring!  #GIVEAWAY
1 winner will be selected through the Rafflecopter form below and 1 winner will be selected from Lauren’s Instagram account so head over there and follow both of us @laurenbbeauty and @kellybonanno.

Lauren is also offering coupon code KellyB25 exclusively for my audience that will give you 25% off all orders.

TO ENTER on the form below then head to Instagram.

Winners chosen at random on April 19th. Open to US residents. Good luck savvy beauties!

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Roccoco Botanicals Skin Care Review & Giveaway!

Roccoco Botanicals is one of the best skin care lines that I have ever tried and you, my beautiful, savvy friend, have a chance to win an entire 4 piece skin care set from them!

Effective anti-aging skin care

I am a tough customer when it comes to skin care, particularly anti-aging skin care. I want something that is truly clean. It cannot have an unpleasant or over powering scent (even when scents aren’t synthetic, they can be unpleasant!). I especially want something that is seriously effective. I’d like to notice a positive change in my skin. Demanding? Perhaps. but it’s possible. Excellent, result driven, non toxic skin care does exist, ladies.

**Scroll to bottom of the post to enter the giveaway**

Using skin care that is appropriate and effective for my age group is key. So many beauty bloggers and YouTubers, particularly when it comes to green beauty are 27 if they’re a day. So when they tell us about organic beauty products they’ve tried and say they are so amazing and go on about how their skin is glowing it doesn’t carry much weight because your skin should be glowing and beautiful if you’re not even 35 yet. Those of us who are well over 40, like me, would like products that make aging skin glow! 

Having said that, I realize that just because you’re under 30 doesn’t mean you necessarily have beautiful skin; some people do have skin issues like rosacea, acne, milia or even premature aging. I get it, but I’m talking in general. 

There are wonderful clean, green, eco beauty lines on the market. I am continuously on the hunt for eco friendly skin care that combats signs of aging that women in middle age and beyond want to address as well as skin care that addresses acne and other skin issues my clients struggle with. That is the type of natural, eco skin care that I want to introduce to you. It’s not about looking like we’re 25, it’s simply about looking our best and giving our skin the best possible chance to glow and radiate our inner beauty. It’s about looking healthy.

Quality eco friendly skin care

Which brings me to the fantastic line I am reviewing today, Roccoco Botanicals.  Founder, Jacine Greenwood, started the line aiming to provide safe, quality skincare for compromised and hyper-sensitive skin inspired by her children whom both suffered from eczema. Their products focus on calming and soothing irritated skin and making it less reactive.

They use extracts from the native bushlands of Australia, where they are based. The formulas are safe and advanced with liquid crystals, botanicals and botanically derived ingredients such as peony, pomegranate, resveratrol, elderflower and many more. Their headquarters are in Australia and they have a warehouse in Boise, Idaho. Each item is in beautiful recyclable packaging.

Is acne or random breakouts your issue? They have you covered. Roccoco Botanicals has a fantastic anti-acne line  as well. Jacine is one of the most knowledgeable people I have come across when it comes to skincare. She was recently nominated for Favorite Brand Educator in the DERMASCOPE Magazine Aestheticians’ Choice Awards! They also have remarkable products for healing eczema. Follow her on Instagram and you will get helpful tips and information every time she posts.

I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing her. Be sure to watch it, Jacine offers wonderful information about how the nourishing ingredients they use in their formulations benefits the skin and we discuss what good, quality skin care should be delivering. 

Roccoco Botanicals Giveaway

This is a big giveaway, Jacine is offering a phenomenal prize valued at nearly $400! One of my very lucky readers will win the full 4 piece anti-aging set which includes:

Soothing Cleansing Oil An oil based cleanser containing a soothing blend of Omega 3 rich oils designed to gently clean skin while replenishing vital lipids. Sunflower Oil, Raspberry Oil and Passionfruit are high in essential fatty acids which help to replenish the skin barrier. It helps dislodge blackheads which makes it is a great cleanser for dehydrated acne skin.

Purifying Essence Helps exfoliate and unblock pores without drying out the skin.

LRT (Lift + Rejuvenate + Tone) This is their revolutionary neck cream that I was lucky to try. It is designed specifically for the architecture of the neck and décolletage. I think we can all agree that the neck area is one of the hardest areas to firm and tone. You’ve seen those women who look pretty good but the neck not so much which is why I always tell clients to take care of that area too! Good skin care does not stop at the jawline. Very few peptides on the market specifically target this area effectively, the way LRT does. It also reduces pigmentation and evens out skin tone. She told me that they were seeing great results on the face so I applied it all the way from the chest up to my forehead.

Pomegranate Eye Balm A rich cream infused with peptides. It firms and tones the eye area reducing the appearance of expression wrinkles.

My video review & interview with Jacine

This luxurious line of high quality skin care products delivers. I am impressed. As you’ll hear when you watch my video review, I saw results with the anti-aging products she sent me. They are extremely effective yet gentle. Very hydrating, felt wonderful on my face and smells lovely. I love that they package formulations in pumps. I find them easier to use and they are certainly more sanitary.

The cleansing oil is divine and if you get blackheads, this is your new best friend. The eye balm is phenomenal. I get puffiness around the eye area, not only did this eye balm not exacerbate that the way many eye creams on the market do, my eye area looked better. I was starting to see some crepiness on my neck (ugh) but the LRT took care of it, I saw a noticeable improvement! I also noticed a firmness.

It was such a pleasure interviewing Jacine!

They also offer remote consultations. They will help you and guide you to the right products for your skin concerns. Jacine is extremely knowledgable. One conversation with her is like a masterclass in clean, natural skin care ingredients! She is a genius when it comes to healing acneic skin and she is absolutely delightful, such a sweet, likable person.

This is not just some cheapo giveaway, the value of this is nearly $400!

Oh, and another really cool thing? If you are the winner, let me know what your skin type is and if the skin care set featured doesn’t align with your skin type, she will send you products that do!

Do not hesitate, enter to WIN now!

Update: Sorry you missed the giveaway but you can check out all the wonderful Roccoco Botanicals products here. Try some and let me know what you think! I’m sure you will love them and the results they give you.

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InLight Organic Skincare Review & Giveaway

Allow me to gush for a moment… I simply love this line. The products I tried for this review are sublime. They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can have luxurious, effective, high performing skin care products without turning to toxins.

Inlight Organic Skincare is formulated with effective organic food-grade and cold-pressed oils, herbs, the purest essential oils and beeswax. The products are formulated by homeopathic doctor, medical herbalist and skin expert Dr Mariano Spiezia, the company’s founder.

One of the products they sent me to review is their facial cleanser. It’s a deeply hydrating oil-based balm that lifts skin impurities, fights blackheads and spots and removes makeup. The scent of this cleansing balm is absolutely divine. My first thought was ‘do they make a fragrance in this scent?!’ I seriously want a perfume version of it!

It’s different from any cleanser I have tried. You leave it on for a few minutes to allow it to deeply decongest and cleanse then wipe it off with the ph balancing floral tonic or for added exfoliation remove it with their organic cotton glove or your own wash cloth. This lovely cleanser is the recipient of beauty awards such as Anti-aging Beauty Bible and Green Parent Natural Beauty.

The face oil is one of the best that I have tried. It glides onto the skin beautifully giving a silky feeling. The scent is very nice; subtle with notes of vanilla and rose. Every ingredient is clean as is the scent but even some organic fragrances can be too overpowering, this is not! It’s designed to moisturize and nourish the skin as well as balance production of skin sebum.

My skin felt wonderful after applying it. It absorbs nicely and works very well under make up. I also used it at night and do believe I see some improvement in my skin.

The packaging is also lovely. Performance is what really matters but presentation is important, baby!

Check out my latest video, I give my full review and interviewed Lucie Husarkova, founder of Hug Your Skin. She shared interesting information about some of the effective anti-aging ingredients they use.

Holiday shopping is under way so I know you’re looking for great gift ideas, luxurious skincare is always a wonderful gift. Treat yourself and the women on your list.

Enter the giveaway for your chance to win an InLight product. There will be 2 lucky winners! One of you will win the chocolate mask and one of you will win the face oil.

They are also kindly giving all of my fabulous savvy readers 15% off any purchase. Just head to my affiliate link and enter coupon code KELLY15 at checkout. Discount valid through end December 31, 2017.

If you purchase Thursday, November 23 through Monday, November 27 you’ll get the special Black Friday deal: 25% OFF with promo code BFCB25. Purchases over $60 will include beauty glove made from 100% organic cotton.

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Win A Free Bottle Of Block Island Organics Sunscreen! #Review & #Giveaway

With summer starting in just a few short weeks, I know what’s on your mind… beach days, BBQs, pool time, water park craziness. But so is sunscreen. Which one should I use? What brands are safe? Which ones don’t leave a pasty white film? … some of those thoughts sound familiar?

The most important thing when it comes to choosing sunscreen is – you know what I’m going to say – that it’s free of harmful chemicals. And I know what you’re thinking… “but pretty much all of them have harmful ingredients, so what do we use?!”

I get it, good sunscreen is hard to find. The struggle is real. You want toxin free, a nice consistency, no white film, good protection from the sun’s damaging rays and a pleasant scent, right?

I recently discovered a sunscreen that meets all of those criteria, Block Island Organics. You have a chance to win a free bottle of their Natural Face Moisturizer SPF 30!

My son even likes it. Well, he doesn’t like to wear any sunscreen, kids and sunscreen are like oil and water, aren’t they? He knows I won’t buy the toxic junk so when it comes to clean sunscreen, this one gets his approval. If your kids are as picky about sunscreen as mine are, you know know that is a good sign. Learn what he has to say about it in this live stream he & I did for my Facebook group. 

I’m very happy to have a good, safe sunscreen to recommend. Block Island Organics is completely non-toxic mineral based made without nanotechnology, which is important. Mineral sunscreens are often made with nanotechnology which is not a good thing because nanoparticles have been shown to cross the cell barrier driving into organs, even attaching to brain cells. They’ve also caused developmental issues in animals.

The entire line is free of parabens, phthalates, dyes,  artificial fragrances, sulfates, petrochemicals… I could go on. Suffice it to say, nothing harmful in there! Yo. They are completely transparent about the ingredients they use, all are listed on the site

Their products are non-comedogenic & vegan formulated and gluten free which is so important for those of us who are gluten intolerant (me!) or have Celiac.

Their SPF 30 and their Face Moisturizer SPF 30 made the list of Environmental Working Group’s top sunscreen picks for 2017. This line is made in the USA and they do not test on animals.

The Natural Face Moisturizer SPF 30 is extremely moisturizing and blends very well. If you have dry skin this will be an oasis of hydrating sun protection. If you have oily skin you may find it a bit heavy. My skin is normal with an oily t-zone, however, as I age it’s getting drier. I found that my tinted moisturizer went on smoothly after applying the sunscreen. Happy to report that it does not irritate the eyes the way many sunscreens do.

What is the worst thing about most natural sunscreens? They leave that pasty white film which no one likes. This one does not! Major plus.

Where does the name come from? The family run business started out of an eco spa on Block Island (which looks beautiful btw), Rhode Island called Koru Eco Spa. Their philosophy is: actively enjoy the outdoors with the motto “Play Smart. Play Safe. Non-Toxic Suncare.”

Not only do you get a chance to win a free bottle, Block Island Organics is offering my audience a discount as well! Use code kellyb to get 20% of any product in the line. The code is valid June 10th – June 28th.

Enter here for your chance to win a free bottle of Block Island Organics Natural Face Moisturizer SPF 30! Giveaway is valid only in the U.S.

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended but stay tuned, I’ll be doing more in the near future!

In the meantime, I invite you to participate in my free challenge. It can be overwhelming to know what products are safe and which to avoid. To help people figure it out and minimize their body’s toxic burden, I’m running a fun, FREE green your beauty routine challenge in July:

5 Days To A Clean, Green Beauty Routine ?

In this challenge, you’ll learn simple tips that you can start right away to look better, feel great & improve your health by detoxing your beauty & personal care routine without giving up glamour ? It will be easy and fun, sign up here!

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Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Detergent #Review & #Giveaway

Let’s start the new year off with a fabulous giveaway, shall we?! What goes in your skin goes on you skin. What goes on the clothes that hang on your skin matters too so you better pay attention to what you are washing your clothing and linens with!Laundry Basket Organic Liquid

Eco Nuts is a USDA organic cleaning products company that utilizes berries grown in the Himalayas that naturally contain soap. They asked me to review one of their most popular products, the berries themselves which are used for laundry as well as their  “normal” USDA Organic liquid detergent. Non of their products are packaged with plastic, which I LOVE. The devastating statistics of how much of that plastic ends up in our beautiful oceans is horrendous.

Organic DetergentsThese products are GMO Free, Certified USDA Organic, Certified Cruelty Free, Nut Allergy Safe, Free from Added Dyes, Free from Artificial Fragrances. They can be used in all machines (including HE) and are also great for baby clothes and cloth diapers.

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical at first. These funky looking little balls are going to get our laundry clean?! Bear in mind that I have 2 rough and tumble, tree climbing, football playing, baseball playing, run-around-in-the-rain-and-get-muddy BOYS. I tried the Organic Laundry Detergent which are the soap berries themselves and their Organic Liquid Laundry Detergent which is made out of soapberry extract. Both products performed well. Out clothes and linens came out clean and fresh proving there is NO need to use toxic laundry detergent!

It’s not surprising that this inventive company was featured on Shark Tank! Not only does the detergent work but how fantastic is the packaging?! Earth friendly and because it’s concentrated it’s not housed in one of those enormous hard to lug around plastic jugs that takes up way too much real estate in your laundry room. It’s a small stainless steel pump!new 11 copy

Of course I checked the ingredients on the products I tested and they are safe, no greenwashing! They have many other great eco friendly products too. Check them out and be sure to enter to win your own set of soap berries which will give you 100 loads and a bottle of their Organic Liquid Laundry Detergent which does 30 regular loads or 60 High Efficiency loads!

 

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Spice-Topia ~ A Foodie’s Dream #Review & #Giveaway

10371970_731333570262411_677551667233179294_nIf you happen to be visiting Southern California make a stop on quaint Main Street in Ventura and be sure to pop into Spice-Topia. No plans to be near the pacific coast? Check out their website and order something to enhance your cuisine. 

One of my lucky readers will win a basket of some of their most popular items!

They have everything from spices to teas, mouth watering marinades, BBQ sauce, balsamic reductions, olive oils, one-of-a-kind products for kitchens and cooks and so10402633_729116407150794_3869392181915982580_n much more. Everything is from organic and fair trade certified suppliers, including products from some of Ventura’s favorite local vendors! Great prices too.

Owner Ashley Pope is sweet and helpful, she’ll help you pick out just the right items for your needs. It’s no wonder they were 2013 Juni Award recipients of  Merchant Of The Year and Best Customer Service. Ashley was recently named winner of the 2015 Young Entrepreneur Issue of the American Latino Magazine Cover contest!

They offer cooking classes with professional chefs so if you’re in the area sign up! 

559781_454379741291130_1608753697_nIf you follow this blog you know I’m not a fan of cooking, I’d rather be collaging, crafting or on the tennis court than in the kitchen. That’s why I love the wonderful things they carry, it’s an easy way to make food taste like you’ve slaved in the kitchen while also allowing true cooks to create special dishes.

The delicious spicy red pepper and garlic flavor of the Grumpy Grandpa honey from Henry’s Humdingers made my stir fry taste like a true gourmet chef had been in my kitchen. The fabulous Blueberry Balsamic from enFuso is terrific on salads and makes a yummy marinade and the spices we tried made the flavor of our meals come alive!

Enter for your chance to win a basket of yummy foodie goodies & be sure to follow Spice-Topia on Facebook & Instagram @spicetopia

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Elizabeth Koh Fair Trade Handmade Scarves #Review & #Giveaway

14208_311934158993097_3445591342726515913_nClear vision, a smart business plan & some good karma brought this philanthropic endeavor to life

I recently discovered a wonderful company that makes absolutely beautiful fair trade scarves and you have the chance to win one! These intricate handcrafted scarves are not just another pretty accessory, proceeds from Elizabeth Koh help provide shelter and life development resources to homeless and abandoned children in Thailand through our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages.

I was honored to have the chance to meet and chat with Elizabeth Koh‘s lovely founders, Janelle and Megan.

Savvy Suburban: Your scarves are absolutely beautiful! I love that they are handcrafted by women in Thailand. Tell us about Ampha and Tong, their team and how you chose to work with them. 

 Elizabeth Koh: We were bringing 100 pounds of medical supplies to Rajavithi Home for girls, when we realized that we didn’t have a translator for the supplies! I asked some friends at work for advice, and my co-worker introduced me to their friend Eddie. Eddie is thai, and was going to be in Thailand visiting family while we were there. He offered to help us translate the supplies, and we met him in Bangkok. He ended up traveling with us for the next few weeks, and introduced us to his Uncle who lives in Thailand. His uncle introduced us to his aunt, then his cousin, who took us to the women in the village. So I like to say it was a little bit of good karma that took us to the women! 

 SS: What materials are the scarves made of?

 EK: 100% Cotton. We may eventually delve into other materials, but we feel that the simplicity and comfort of cotton was the best starting point for our brand.

 SS: The thing that struck me about your business is that you are not just selling scarves, you are doing a wonderful service by offering fair employment in a part of the world that needs it. What gave you the philanthropic idea to have them made this way?1456492_200437876809393_1176485574_n

 EK: We wanted to create a company that benefited the communities where our products were made. That was the first idea we had, and from their we decided on scarves as they were an easy one size fits all item to start with. I personally have been traveling to Thailand since 2010, and saw people there that needed help. The Thai people are incredibly kind and friendly, and we wanted to do something that would benefit them while creating a company that we could be proud of. After visiting with many organizations, we chose SOS Children’s Villages to donate 10% of our profits too. 

 SS: Elizabeth Koh has donated a good amount of funds to the Thai charities, the children of Rajwithi Home For Girls and SOS Children’s Villages of Thailand. Why is this region of the world near & dear to your hearts? Why are these organizations important to you?

 EK: This region is near and dear to our hearts because of the amazing people living in it. The thai people are incredibly kind, and can always manage a smile no matter what the circumstance. Their positivity is contagious, and seeing the stark differences between life in Thailand and life in the USA made us want to do something to help. The Rajavithi Home for Girls was one of the first organizations I met with, and they need a lot of help. It is hard to see so many people in need and not want to help them all! While we love the Rajavithi Home for girls, we chose SOS Children’s Villages as our official partner because of how well the children are taken care of there. SOS believies in the importance of raising children together as a family. In each village 10-12 children live together in one home, and become brothers and sisters. They have a mother in the home who lives their 24/7, and becomes their mother for life. This idea of creating a family environment for the children really struck my heart.

SS: Running a company with your best friend must be loads of fun! What is the best thing about it?

 EK: The best thing about working with Megan is that we know each other so well, we have a short hand with each other and don’t have to spend much time “breaking things down” or over explaining where we’re coming from. There’s no ego here. Another great bonus is that we’ve been travel buddies for almost ten years as best friends. Now, through company we travel around the country quite a bit for sales meetings and conferences, as well as several trips to Thailand each year. Its just really special to be able to have a companion by my side who can be my savvy design and business partner, and then flip a switch and be my best friend in a second.

149386_318036825049497_4915695200355734659_n SS: Where would you like to see your company 5 years from now?

 EK: In five years I would like to see us active in 3 different countries, providing fair employment and giving back to other regions of the world. As an avid traveler, I have visited many countries and know there is need all over the world. We are currently partnering with the Soroptomist Club to sponsor local scholarships for high school students, I would like to see us partnering with more charitable organizations in the USA as well. In 2015 we plan to launch 3 other types of accessories, so keep your eye on EK next year!

You can find their soft, gorgeous scarves and more information about this special company on their site and on Etsy. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.  Enter our giveaway for your chance to win a beautiful handcrafted Elizabeth Koh scarf!

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Review & Giveaway: Mainelement:love Aloe Conditioner

The main element in this line may be love but a prominent element is aromatherapy. It’s infused into the entire line to not only nourish the hair and scalp but also ‘awaken the senses.’ This aspect was highly important to creator, Tyrika Williams, a licensed massage therapist who knows about the benefits of aromatherapy.

 

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Mainelement:Love Aloe Conditioner made my hair soft, silky and feeling healthy. It even gave it some shine. My hair is pretty healthy and soft, it’s not coarse or frizzy so I would only use this once or twice a week but it can be used everyday and as a leave-in conditioner. It nourishes the cuticles and hair shaft with panthenol and wheat protein. If your hair is dry, brittle, damaged, color treated then use it more often and it will help get it back in good shape.

I’m loving the aromatherapy aspect, it has a delicious vanilla mint scent. You know those yummy mints they give out at nice restaurants? That’s what the smell reminds me of!

Check out their whole botanical hair care line which includes herbal shampoo bars, conditioners, hair tea rinse, and herbal styling balms made with essential oils, natural butters and botanical herbs.

I’m happy to report that most of the ingredients are clean, no toxins that are of very high concern. It does, however, contain a few ingredients that rate 4 on the EWG cosmetic data base. On their scale of 0-10, 4 is considered moderate concern. I’d rather all of them be no higher than a 1 but fortunately the rest of the ingredients are clean.

It’s important to note that it doesn’t contain sulphates which are not only harmful but they severely dry hair out and strip the color.

One of my lucky readers will win a bottle of this fab conditioner and soon be sporting soft, healthy hair. Enter to win today! Good luck!

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Review & Giveaway: OraMD All-Natural Mouthwash

Good oral hygiene is crucial. Even the hottest people cannot be sexy without it. Let's face it, bad breath is one of  THE biggest turn offs! No one wants to make out with someone who has chronic halitosis. 

oramd-bottBut you don't want to absorb the nasty chemicals of traditional mouth wash brands. Besides, the alcohol in those dries your mouth. OraMD by Trusted Health Products is an all-natural liquid toothpaste, mouthwash and breath freshener that contains no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or fluoride and is comprised of 100% pure botanical oils of almond, spearmint and peppermint.  

It works very well, my breath felt fresh and I like the fact that it also fights tartar, plaque and helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Personally, it didn't take any getting used to but the company warns that some may find the anti-inflammatory properties that kill bacteria a bit strong so you may need about a week to get used to it.

Enter for a chance to win a bottle! Your odds are good, they are giving away a bottle to not 1 but 3 of my lucky readers! Like their Facebook page and saves $5 on your first order.

Try it & lock lips with that foxy babe you've had your eye on 😉 Along with brushing & flossing this step will have your mouth ready for a marathon make out session.oramd-logo

 

 

 

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Posh Polish For A Green Girl’s Perfect Mainicure

If you want your manicure to outlast the rest try Poshé top coat. I’ve used it for years. I gave myself a quick little manicure before heading out on the town last night and only had to wait 5 minutes before my nails were good to go. There are a lot of Seche Vite fans out there but I find Poshé works better.

Poshe & night swim 040Allure Magazine agrees, they’ve given it the best topcoat award 5 times. It gives great shine and it really is chip resistant. My pedicures can last 3 weeks without a chip. Obviously it doesn’t last that long on my hands since they’re constantly being used and washed but it lasts as well as the brands with toxic chemicals.

If I do my nails at night, after just 5 minutes I can get in bed and wake up the next morning without sheet prints on my nails. The best thing about this top coat is that it is free of the toxic chemicals dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde that are found in most other nail polish brands. Try it & let me know what you think.