Tag: amazon

“Just Cause” Gift Guide

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Holiday shopping can be so painful, amiright?? Running around town, looking for the perfect gifts for everyone, waiting in long lines, who needs it? It’s simply extra stress and takes away from time we could spend enjoying this magical season. I’ve made holiday shopping super easy with my no fail Gift Guide plus you can also use this guide to give someone a “JUST BECAUSE” present. Find something for everyone on your list, no matter what they’re into.

Sunday Forever:

Want to give a little magic? You can’t go wrong with Sunday Forever. They have an amazing selection from kimonos to candles and from crystals to fragrances and jewelry. They also offer gift sets, like the Good Vibes set. Bonus: They come packed in the cutest little boxes!

Contents include: 24K gold filled, adjustable evil eye bracelet, California White sage, and their “go sage yourself” lighter in a pouch. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little something for yourself too, right?

SugarBear Gummies:

Need something for the person who puts health on the top of their New Years resolution list? SugarBear has awesome vitamins that are completely personalized. Whether you want to give someone the gift of more energy, great skin, or even better health overall, they have a vitamin or set of vitamins for you! Health starts from the inside out and the new year is a great time to start a new regime.

How does the Women’s Multi differ from the Hair Vitamins?
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins contain 13 vitamins and minerals to support normal healthy hair and nail growth.
Women’s Multi contains 5 nutrients to support healthy skin, 5 nutrients to support hair and nails, 6 nutrients to support energy for a total of 16 nutrients designed to promote total body wellness.

Can I eat the Women’s Multi and SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins together?  
Yes! They’re a perfect combination!

HANDMD SKINCARE:

In search of something for the skin care obsessed? Hand MD, has an incredible luxurious online store, which happens to be one of my new favorite shops and has a wide variety of cleansers, lotions and scrubs that are guaranteed to be free from nasties and totally toxin free. Can’t decide? Get a Ultimate Hand Care Bundle! Honestly, who doesn’t love shopping, especially when someone else is footing the bill. Check out their instagram, they are always having a great sale.

Cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturize your hands with the full anti-aging hand care collection. This bundle features Daily Dual Repair, Exfoliating Peel and Rehydration Cream along with the Hand Cleanser scent of your choice. 

What makes it so good? 
– Gentle ingredients Free of Mineral Oil, Paraben Free, Vegan, and Cruelty Free 
– Anti-aging elements Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sea Kelp, Jojoba Oil 
– Moisturizers Even better than your store-bought hand creams

” Our hands give us power. They provide us with expression. We use their strength to convey a message. You entertain with your hands. Cook. Clean. Eat. Work. Deliver.”

Hand MD has combined powerful anti-aging ingredients with luxurious moisturizers in each products to help you challenge fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll discover benefits of softer, smoother, radiant looking hands in just 8 weeks.

If you really think about it, we do everything with our hands. They make everything possible.

Until Hand MD, there hasn’t been something this revolutionary on the market that could help repair them. The main goal is to bring awareness to anti-aging and give women of any age the opportunity to reawaken their hands, so they look the way they feel inside.

Oral Care:

Need a gift for the person who has everything? Do they have a at home teeth whitening kit? Probably not. Check out White with Style to snag one. They also have the kits in different flavors. They now sell teeth whitening kits with charcoal, toothpaste and brush set too. It’s the most popular teeth whitening company backed up by top dental hygienists. Plus, their customer service is top notched and have a kit for everyone even smokers and coffee drinkers. Oh and also BLB readers get an exclusive discount! Enter code CRYSTALEE to get 90% off your enter order. You’re welcome!

Everyone loves cashmere right? It makes for the perfect and totally lux gift! Our friends at Naked Cashmere have something for her, him, and even our furry friends. From robes to slippers, they are a tad bit okay maybe very expensive but if you have a special person who loves cashmere or if you want to treat yourself then the price doesn’t matter.

Need something for a person who is hard to shop for? Get them a book or 2. Find out what type of books they enjoy and who is their favorite author. Make sure him or she doesn’t have that book first without giving away the surprise. While you are at it, get their favorite snack and their favorite candle. A book, snacks and a candle with a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant sounds like a great gift to me!

What are some of your favorite gifts that you received or gave?

Let us know in the comments!

These 6 Mistakes You Make In The Shower Are Ruining Your Skin

Published on by Lee1 Comment

So you probably think how you’ve been showering for the last 20 years was on point. Like really, how wrong can you go in the shower – as long as you get your body clean, goal achieved, right? Well yes, but it’s like your skincare routine – you can get WAAAY better results just by layering your products in the right order – and showering is the same. By doing different steps at the optimum time, it’ll result in cleaner and softer skin. Intrigued? Here’s what you’re doing wrong, and how to shower the right way:

showering tips (2)

1. Blasting the heat too high

We know, we know, it feels great, but soaking your skin in hot water is actually drying your skin out. Super hot showers strip your skin of their natural oils and dehydrate it, making it feel dry and itchy; it can even lead to rashes. You should also cut back on how long you spend showering, 5 to 10 minutes is ideal – if you’re washing your hair, aim for 15 minutes max, to avoid stripping the skin of its natural moisture levels. The drier your skin, the more likely you are to get rashes, as it’s easier for bacteria to penetrate the cracks in your skin.

2. Not washing in the right order

If you’re in a rush, you most likely take advantage of those few minutes when you let your conditioner do its thang, and wash your body. But doing this could be the reason you get pimples on your chest, body or back, as when you wash out the conditioner, it leaves a film on your skin that can block your pores. Try the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Gel; it’s hypoallergenic, soap and paraben-free, moisturizes dry skin and is also amazing for getting rid of body acne. Also, Glow Goddess bar soap, $10.00 is another good choice as well. Goddess bar soap has lavender essential oil that can be used for treating burns, inflammation, eczema, acne, nervous tension, asthma, arthritis, acne, and bacterial infections. This gentle bar soap is soft on the skin and is packed with lavender flowers as a soft exfoliant. Another tip is to use your shower gel only in the places where your skin is oily, your lady parts (look for fragrance-free), underarms, and feet – unless you’ve been exercising and sweating excessively. Because your arms and legs have much less oil to spare, using soap here regularly can make your skin drier.

3. Not masking in the shower

This is juicy news to us, but it makes so much sense! The experts say the best time to do your face mask is in the shower when your pores are open from the warmth of the water. This means that hydrating and nourishing masks will be able to deliver all their vitamins and minerals as they can soak into your pores more easily. Similarly, ‘extracting’ masks like clay, mud, and charcoal can pull more toxins from your open pores, without running the risk of dehydrating your skin as the mask won’t completely dry out. For a quick nourishing and moisturizing DIY, you can apply a thin sticky layer of organic honey over your skin for 5 minutes while you shower.

4. Shaving at the beginning of your shower

Shaving is an eternal pain in my butt – no matter how much you do it, it keeps coming back. If you want to maximize on your silky soft skin for as long as possible, the key is to wait until the end of your shower, about ten minutes in (or while you have your conditioner in). By this time, your hairs will have softened and your pores will have opened, making it much easier to get a closer, smoother shave. Another hack, don’t keep your razor in the shower, as the steam will gradually rust the blade and speed up blunting. Instead, leave it to soak in baby oil, which keeps the metal from oxidizing, so it’ll stay sharper for longer. Try Nad’s Natural Hair Removal Cream, $5.99 for a smooth, razor bump free look and feel.

5. Using old sponges and loofahs

We know it’s painful to throw something away that seems like it still has at least another six months of effective use, but sometimes it’s what you can’t see that you need to be cautious of. Loofahs and sponges collect bacteria and mold due to the damp conditions they’re stored in, which can lead to rashes or dry patches. Ideally, you shouldn’t use either for longer than a month. To keep your loofah or sponge in the best condition, ring it out as much as possible after using it, and allow it to dry completely before you next use it, storing it in a dry place, not directly in your steamy shower.

6. Not moisturizing immediately after showering

First things first, instead of vigorously rubbing your skin dry with a towel, try gently patting it instead. The aim is not to be completely dry, but to use any leftover moisture on your skin to your advantage when you moisturize. Experts agree that within three to five minutes after you shower is the best time to rehydrate your skin so that you can trap any excess water on the surface of your skin without it evaporating. Moisturizer and body oils act as a barrier to lock in moisture; I love using Gloww Goddess Body Oils, $20 as these contain rich vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids to help restore your skin. Otherwise rich moisturizers like shea butter or cocoa butter are amazing natural moisturizers.

Which of these showering mistakes are you guilty of?

**FTC: This post is not sponsored. No monetary compensation was received for this post, however, products were sent to me. Opinions are 100% my own, of course.

Ladylike Laws: Holiday Gift Giving Etiquette

Published on by Lee1 Comment

Gift giving can be a sticky subject. How much should you spend? Do you give your boss a present? Is re-gifting okay? How do you handle unexpected gifts? These are common questions many of us may find ourselves asking each holiday season. Fortunately, there are some clear-cut rules when it comes to giving gifts…

How much should I spend?
First off, forget stressing over giving people things that have the same monetary value of what they gave you. Instead, figure out the nicest thing you can afford within your means. The best way to figure this out is to make a list of everyone you want to give a gift to. Then determine how much you can (not want) to spend on each person. Having a budget will keep your holiday spending in perspective. Gift giving is about being thoughtful and showing appreciation, it’s not about going into debt.

Who should I give gifts to?
Give presents to the people you want to show your appreciation to such as family and close friends. If you are part of a big group and don’t want to leave anyone out, arrange a gift exchange or plan a Secret Santa with a price point that works for everyone ($10 to $100 is most appropriate). As for people who celebrate different holidays, it’s totally okay to give them a present so long as it isn’t anything religious.

What’s the present protocol for work?
According to the co-author of the 18th Edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette, Anna Post, the one person you really shouldn’t give a gift to is your boss. “When you’re in a work environment and there is a team of people working together if you give your boss a gift it can often come across as trying to buy good favor.” However if you work at a company with 10 people and want to give something to your boss, Post suggests making it a group effort. That way it doesn’t come across as though you’re fishing for brownie points. If you happen to be close friends with your boss, keep it personal and give him or her a gift outside of the office. As for co-workers, Post says to “tread carefully.” While there will inevitably be people you are close to, try not to show favoritism. If you have a personal relationship with someone outside the office, Post advises giving him or her a gift somewhere other than work. Otherwise, if you give one person a card, give everyone a card. Another idea is to bring in a treat for the entire office to share. Communal gifts that can be shared are ideal.

To re-gift or not to re-gift?
Opt for not. Not only is re-gifting dishonest, but you will also most likely get caught (or be paranoid about getting caught). Re-gifting entirely defeats the purpose of gift giving. Gifts are meant to be a reflection of your gratitude for someone–something that has been thoughtfully selected by you for someone you care about. Re-gifting is both thoughtless and wrong. If you’re strapped for cash, make the gift instead. DIY gifts are from the heart and the recipient will surely appreciate it far more than a random store-bought present.

How do I handle unexpected gifts?
If someone gives you a present out of the blue, you are not required to reciprocate. Instead of scrambling for an excuse as to why you do not have a gift for them, graciously accept the gift and say thank you. Stammering for an explanation will only make things worse. And besides, you shouldn’t feel compelled to give just because you received.

Are gift cards and gift receipts okay?
Yes! Gift cards are actually very thoughtful since you need to consider the recipient’s interests. And it’s much better than giving someone cash, which many consider gauche. As for gift receipts, it’s always a good idea to include them. It tells the recipient you understand if they don’t like the gift and it’s okay for them to return it in exchange for something they really love.

I hope you found today’s Ladylike Laws post helpful! I’ll be posting a follow-up blog about the major no-no gifts next week.

What’s the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

XO Lee