Haven's Arc Vitamin C Serum Review

     I have never used a serum like this on my face before. I wasn't quite sure what it would feel like or what it was supposed to do. I've used toners, lotions, creams, masks, oils, and sprays. But never a serum. And I am so sad I have been missing out on this item. It's completely different from any of the aforementioned products.

      The serum is so easy to use and effective. It comes in a nice, small, dark-colored, glass vial. The dark bottle is a key component because it keeps the ingredients inside the bottle fresh. Light can actually damage nutrients. That is why beer is usually stored in a brown bottle. Just in case you wanted a fun fact today.

     The lid twists off and has a syringe attached for easy application. It's a little dropper that keeps you from having to stick your fingers in the unused serum. Which would contaminate the rest of the bottle. Plus, it has a liquid consistency like water and so you need the dropper or else you would waste a lot of product by pumping or pouring.

     When you apply the serum to you face it runs a little just because it is just like water. You have to rub it in as soon as it is applied. It is almost immediately absorbed into the skin. That is great news because that means the nutrients are also absorbed immediately. There is absolutely NO residue left behind. Your face feels clean and smooth almost as if there is nothing on it. Which is great because it can be worn underneath your makeup or moisturizer and nobody will ever know it is there.

     It is hard to describe what your skin is like after applying the serum. My skin feels and looks refreshed after using the Vitamin C Serum. It is not a miracle overnight makeover, but it does have some overnight benefits. I have a problem with acne. And when I am extremely tired, stressed, or depressed I have a tendency of picking at my face. It's horrible. Right now my face is worse than usual because I have new mommy hormones going berserk inside me, a 3 month old with colic, and a husband that is only around for an hour each day. Usually the day after I have attacked my face it is inflamed, irritated, and sore. But when I use Haven Arc's Vitamin C Serum after these episodes and wake up the next day my face looks like it usually does 2 days after picking. It's almost as if this serum helps heal my skin faster.

     I did a little research and found out that Hyaluronic Acid is actually naturally present in the human body. And it is used in the healthcare industry. Here are some interesting facts I found:

Some people apply hyaluronic acid to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer.There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging. www.webmd.com

    Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil, Green Tea Extract, Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, and Resistem (Plant Stem Cells) are all ingredients found in Haven Arc's Vitamin C Serum. All of these ingredients are used for their anti-aging properties and ability to enhance Vitamin C effectiveness on your face and skin. Special ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Organic Sea Buckthorn oil help plump up the skin which reduces wrinkles and leaves skin looking clearer and younger. 

     The presence of Organic Rosehip Oil and Vitamin C increases collagen production. This makes it so your skin retains elasticity and prevents skin sagging associated with aging. I don't really have an issue with wrinkles yet and so I can't really vouch for its effects on reducing fine lines and wrinkles, but I'll accept any prevention of aging it offers. 

     Overall, I am extremely pleased and quite surprised with this product. I was hoping for a little extra moisture and maybe some nice plump skin, but what I received was so much more. It helped reduce the redness and inflammation associated with my acne. It has helped to heal my face more quickly and efficiently. And it makes my skin feel amazing after each use. I would recommend it to friends and I would continue to use it myself. 

If you are interested in giving it a try it is available on Amazon: HERE

This is the product description on their Amazon Page (They can explain its benefits much better than I can:

Our Vitamin C Serum 20 % is a powerful concentrated serum for the highest form of active, stabilized, Vitamin C boosting collagen production, increasing elasticity and firmness for your beautiful skin .

It is enriched with vitamin E, ferulic acid, vegan hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells and restore cells. Our potent plants-derived ferulic acid incorporation into the topical solution of vitamin C+E improved chemical stability of the vitamins C+E and doubled photo protection to solar-simulated irradiation of skin from 4-fold to approximately 8-fold as measured by both erythema and sunburn cell formation! This combination of pure natural small molecular antioxidant can reach deep skin layer and provide meaningful synergistic protection against oxidative stress in skin.

Functions:

★ Provide amazing eight-fold small molecular weight antioxidant protection.

★ Proven to reduce and restore sunburn cells up to 96%.

★ Prevention of the formation of free radicals in sun exposed skin.

★ Fade sun spots and discoloration right away.

★ Refine skin texture and reduce wrinkle formation.

★ Plump skin cells and increase elasticity.

★ Provide deep moisture protection on the skin.

★ Prevent and treat UV-induced damage.

★ Brighten and restore the skin cells to its natural radiant glory.

Manufacturer's guarantee: Our goal is 100% Customer Satisfaction! We provide 100%Satisfaction Warranty! If you are not satisfied with your order, we will happily refund your money. 

I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

NaturaliDerm Organic Facial Moisturizer Review

    For the past month I have been trying a new facial moisturizer.  It's called NaturaliDerm Organic Facial Moisturizer. I was excited to try it out because it is Organic. And if you know me then you know I love all things all-natural. The hardest part about organic products is knowing for sure if they are truly natural or not. And since I'm not a chemist, I can never tell by reading the label. I have to trust the companies word for it and go with my gut. I discovered that not all of the ingredients are organic. Just some. Six out of the Seventeen ingredients are organic. These include: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Shea Butter, Witch Hazel, Cocoa Butter, and Rosemary Extract. Organic enough for the claim, but not enough to be all-natural.

    Packaging can tell you a lot. But it can also be quite deceiving. The packaging for this moisturizer was quite impressive.  The lotion comes in a gorgeous little bottle that I found quite nice to look at. It looks like a bottle that you would find on a shelf at the spa. It is so much cuter than any of my other products that I own. To me, it shows that this company took a lot of pride in their work and want to showcase their creation. They went into the extra effort of making the packaging look appealing. Which they did quite well. This is a lotion that I feel like I can put on display. I actually was tempted to keep it on the counter to compliment the decor. Is that crazy? oh well, maybe I am. lol

     The container is clear and so you can actually see the lotion inside. It looks so fluffy and fabulous in its pretty little bottle. It reminds me of homemade cool whip or whipped yogurt. Which for some reason really excited me! Maybe because that translates in my mind into lightweight, smooth, and creamy.

     But for me, the looks didn't match the feel. When initially applied it didn't seem to spread very far. I felt like I had to use two pumps to cover my face. And then my face felt ULTRA sticky. If you have ever applied Aloe Vera straight from the plant, that is how my skin felt immediately after application. My eyelids were actually stuck to themselves when I had my eyes open. That is a strange feeling! After a couple of minutes the moisturizer was absorbed into my skin and felt much better. The stickiness went away and it felt like I had nothing on my face.  But maybe that's a good thing??!

    I have really dry skin and my face flakes very easily. For me, it did not seem to moisturize enough to be a part of my nightly routine. Normally, I use oils on my face at night. And I found that if I used this lotion in conjunction with my oils that it was able to replenish my skin. But either one on it's own was unable to hydrate my skin thoroughly. Oils have gotten a bad rep in the acne treatment industry. But I have suffered from intense acne for nearly 14 years. In my case, dry skin and hormones seem to be the root cause, so I need extra moisture.

     Last month was the first time I've had my monthly since I had my baby in December. And this lotion was put to the test! My face broke out horribly. It was one of those episodes where you don't leave your house for a week because you're too embarrassed to let the world see the grotesque mess you've turned into. I continued to use the NaturaliDerm Organic Facial Moisturizer (since I had just started using it) with my oils at night and by itself during the day. I wasn't sure if experimenting with my routine was a good idea with the fragile state of my condition. But I did it anyways. And it worked! With time, my face healed and cleared up. The lotion did not make it any worse. It actually felt better than other lotions do at that stage.

    Once my face started getting better I decided it was time to start wearing makeup again. A little war paint always makes me feel a little more indestructible. I discovered that this lotion is ideal for makeup application. It is not heavy or greasy at all. It leaves the perfect foundation before your makeup routine. My other lotions tend to be too oily, slick, or heavy. My makeup always ends up moving and smearing. But with this lotion it stays in place better and looks more natural. I love it!

     While writing this review I started looking over the ingredient list

     Maybe that's why it felt like Aloe on my face. Oh geez! Now I feel dumb. Oh well, I'll leave it written the way it is and you can laugh at me too.

     Here are some of the benefits better explained:

1. Key Natural Ingredients - 

• Aloe barbadensis - Hydrates and restores skin moisture
  Witch Hazel - Tightening pore size
  Shea Butter - Seals moisture, protects skin from damage
  Cocoa Butter - Seals moisture, protects skin from internal and environmental damage
  D-Panthenol - Skin conditioner and moisturizer.

Does not contain

• Parabens or harmful preservatives
  artificial fragrance
  artificial color

All in all, I really do like this lotion a Lot. However, it may be  better for certain skin types. For people with skin like mine, it is better just as a daytime moisturizer. But then again, I might just be accustomed to having residue left on my face since that's what other moisturizers do. Because my face didn't flake any more than it already did. It actually seems to flake less! And I seem to have fewer breakouts. In addition, it is great for those of us that wear makeup! Maybe give it a try and see what you think...

NaturaliDerm Organic Facial Moisturizer

     As for me, I'm going to continue using it and see if my face continues to improve. In my own personal life I've come to the conclusion that you need to give skincare products a few months to really see a difference! Luckily,  with NaturaliDerm you're protected by a 60 day, no-questions asked money back guarantee and world class customer service!

I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Exfolimate Review

     Ok, so I swear I have the fastest growing body hair on the planet! But the hair on my head never grows at all. Lol. Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me? And the saddest part - I hate hair. Every time I shower I shave. Girls are always laughing about how they feel bad for their husbands because they turn into wooly sheep during the winter. I'm not one of them. I can't stand going three days without shaving. It's horrible. And I shave everything. Literally everywhere from the neck down is game. It's such a hassle. And the irony is that my grandmother didn't have hair on her legs. At all. And one of my best friends in high school didn't have hair on her calves. Mother nature hates me! She is so cruel. jkjk.

Look at that handy dandy wrist strap on my Exfolimate!

      If you shave regularly then you know some of the side effects. I was so desperate to shave while camping once that I tried shaving my legs completely dry. BiG MistaKe! I had shaving rashes and burns all over my legs. It was miserable. And last summer I was working out twice a day and say I was shaving once a day at least. My armpits had the worst razor burn and they always seemed to have ingrown hairs. And no matter what oils or creams I use I always end up with ingrown hairs in a place that you try to keep as "pretty" as possible. Red bumps down there isn't something anyone wants to see. That's some scary stuff!
      Recently, I was tempted to even start shaving my face because of a talk show on the radio! They were saying that a recent study was claiming that shaving your face will give you younger looking skin. Really?! But there was noway that I was going to try that because I didn't want to risk growing back double the hair with extra thickness. Apparently, that's just an old wive's tale. Or so they say. If you're brave enough go ahead and try this one out for me and let me know your results. I'm still a little too sheepish to take that plunge. Plus, that would mean more shaving! NOOOOO! And what happens when you're snogging and your 5 o' clock shadow starts scratching your hunk's face??! No thank you! I don't need any more embarrassment in my life.
       But it makes sense. Exfoliating gets rid of the old, dead, dry skin and actually leaves younger, healthier skin on the surface. So, you are left with a more youthful glow. The glow comes not only from the fresh skin, but also the increased blood flow from the movement and pressure.. More blood circulating means more oxygen reaching the cells which leads to healthier skin. You still can't convince me to shave my face though! That's why I LOVE this new product I have been using. It solved this whole issue for me. It's called Exfolimate.
     It's an Australian design that helps to exfoliate your entire body. It comes with a body tool and a face tool. When I first opened the package I was actually kind of scared. They look like razor blades. And like I have said before those ain't going near my face! But I soon realized they're actually quite nice. I didn't get cut. And I DID use it on my face!
     The first time I used it in the shower and I noticed that they did exfoliate, but not as drastically as I was expecting. I guess I thought I was going to left with raw red skin like you do after a chemical peel. That's not the case. They remove just enough skin that you're left with nice skin that you can go out in public and sunlight with. Hooray!
    I noticed the biggest difference the second time I tried them though. The first time I used them in the shower. The second time I used them in a bath. I poured some Adovia Dead Sea Salts into the hot water and soaked for a minute before using my Exfolimate. Holy Cow! They worked extremely well this go around. And it felt soooo... GOOD! The pressure of the blades running along your skin is like this insane massage. I swear you can actually feel the blood circulating as you run it across your body. The only thing that could make it better is if someone else was doing it for you. I tried doing my feet, but my feet are outrageously sensitive. I couldn't stop squirming and jolting from the tickling torture. But it worked like heavenly magic everywhere else. I didn't find a whole lot of build up on the Exfolimate itself. But I found it when I tried shaving afterward. After every stoke I had to clean all of the dead skin out from my razor. I know it's gross. But that's how good this product works!
     Normally, I have to apply lotion the second I leave the shower or else I dry up and look like the dried and cracking ground in the Sahara Desert. But as soon as I was done I was interrupted by my two year old who wanted to get ready for bed. I had to put my routine on pause and take care of her. To my amazement my legs were still soft and silky when I finally got around to lotioning! Say what??!! Yep, you heard me right. That's when I decided that these little tools were my new best friends. And for the next two days I kept rubbing my legs and touching my skin. I couldn't keep my hands off myself. They were still the softest and smoothest they've ever been! If you've ever heard angels sing please insert music now.
     Last night I was unable to use my Exfolimate and today I regret it. I opened a brand new razor last night and I can already feel the prickly hairs today. GRRRrrr! But when I used the same brand of razor that was 4 months old with the Exfolimate my legs were smooth for days! Ka-ching! I found gold!
     They even removed my Keratosis Pilaris! Don't worry it's not contagious. Although it sounds scary it pretty much just means I have too much skin. Have you ever had those bumps on the backside of your arms? They almost resemble pimples, but they're not. It's just extra keratin. Well, Exfolimate got rid of them! YaY! Silky smooth skin everywhere!

Instead of soap on a rope it's a thing on a string!

    Now if you're thinking that any hard piece of metal will do the job. You're wrong. These little tools are actually an Australian design with more than meets the eye. They have little micro-grooves that help to remove the dead skin. And they're perfectly grooved to get in all of the right places. You can do your jawline, neck, chest, armpits, groin, legs, feet, and almost anywhere else you wish! And unlike sponges, rags, loofahs, and those puffy mesh balls you don't have to worry about bacteria growing in them!  Even better news for your skin! They also come with cute wrist straps to keep you from dropping them in the shower. Which also makes them more convenient to store.
     So if you suffer from dry skin, ingrown hairs, or Keratosis Pilaris then you should give these a try. Or if you are planning on getting a spray tan these are a must! Even if you just want soft, smooth, silky, younger looking skin, or you want a really good massage then you should give these a try!

You can get them for points from Walgreens HERE.
or
Directly from their awesome site HERE.
or
for Amazon points and free shipping HERE!

And as they say on their website

  G'day Mate!

I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Adovia Dead Sea Bath Salts Review

This photo is from their Amazon page.

     The past couple of weeks have been EXTREMELY stressful. Technically, the past year has been, but we won't get into that. But I have really been feeling miserable lately. And today I relieved quite a bit of stress while cleaning my house. But trying to take care of a 2 month old with colic and a nearly 3 year old adds a little stress to my relaxation process. lol.
     When it came time to get ready for bed I decided I needed a shower. I figured since I had accomplished so much today and was quite perturbed with my lovely husband I decided I deserved a treat - a BATH!!! Then I remembered I had a special little something I've been waiting to try, Adovia Dead Sea Bath Salts.
     I am a huge fan of detox and relaxation baths. I usually use Epson Salt and oils. So, I set the scene. I lit a candle in one of my favorite scents, dimmed the lights, drew a hot steaming bath, poured in the salts, and turned on my Pandora. I had put the baby to bed already and figured my hubby could handle our 2 year old.

     When I opened the salts I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Without even thinking, I tried to smell the salts and realized these are pure and do not have any added color, fragrance, or additives. And the best part is the bag is resealable and so you don't have to worry about anything happening to your precious salts until you take your next bath.
     I knew I couldn't be in the tub forever so I listened to about two songs and then decided I wanted to use my Exfolimate again. OhMyWord! This thing is amazing. Check out my other post to learn more about it - HERE.
     I instantly noticed a huge difference between the Epson Salt and the Adovia Dead Sea Bath Salts. Normally when I hop into the bath I have to gently lower myself because it feels as if I am lowering myself onto shards of glass. When I entered the tub this time there was nothing there. The Adovia Salt is fine grain and so it dissolves much faster.
    I also noticed that my exfoliator seemed to work even better in the salt bath. Little did I know that these salts help to exfoliate your skin.
     When I got out of the tub I was kind of expecting my skin to shrivel up and turn into powder from soaking in salt. But it didn't. Before I could even apply lotion to prevent my skin drying out I was interrupted by a rapping at the door. I opened it to find my little girl standing there. Apparently my husband had decided to turn on the television for our daughter and head to bed. Grrr. So, I had to stop my pre-bed prep to get my daughter ready for bed. How could he let her stay up til 11pm unsupervised while he sleeps? Lucky for him I had just de-stressed or else I might have flipped him off the bed. jkjk. My point is that during this whole process I didn't dry out! My skin always starts to parch the second I get out of the shower. Adovia Dead Sea Salts are highly concentrated with minerals that help make your skin healthier and more beautiful. And I could totally tell! They actually contain 26 essential minerals for your skin and body.
     As I ran around the house afterwards trying to get everything tidied up I couldn't help but run my hands across my skin over and over again. I feel amazing! My skin is so soft and smooth. I feel like a new person. I no longer smell like spit up or feel like I've been living in a cave.
     I finally was able to workout with one of my super fit friends and she completely kicked my butt the other day. I have been so sore. But after this bath I feel a little better. I don't know if it was the salt drawing the toxins out of my muscles or the salt adding the minerals back into my body that did the trick, but even my insides feel better now. I am still sore, don't get me wrong, but I can stretch just a little bit further now.
     I don't know if I can ever go back to Epson Salt now. I think I am sold for life on these Adovia Dead Sea Bath Salts!


I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Foxbrim Vitamin C Lotion Review

Every year I go through the same battle... Dry Skin! Ugh. The dry air wreaks havoc on my skin as soon as the temperature starts dropping. If you have ever lived in Utah then you know what I am talking about.
I moved to Utah from the East when I was in elementary. It was summer so it was no big deal. Even though we had lived out here before (my Dad was military) my body was not prepared for the change. When the leaves started falling my skin started drying out. By the time there was snow on the ground I was in pain. My hands would actually crack and bleed from being so dried out. And I'm not talking about a pin prick. Imagine having like fifty paper cuts on each hand. It was so painful! My parents tried everything that they could think of to help my poor hands. We tried Vaseline, Neosporin, every type of lotion, and wearing gloves 24/7. Nothing seemed to help. We finally bought some lotion, called Udderly Smooth,  that is meant for chapped cow udders. It helped, but not as much as I would have liked.
I have now lived in Utah for the majority of my life and my skin has acclimated for the most part. My hands no longer crack and bleed. But I have dry skin naturally anyways. When I put liquid foundation on my face it emphasizes my flaky skin. I HATE it! But I can't use powder because it dries me out even more. I am meant to live by the beach. If only I could afford it, all my problems would be solved. lol.
And if you know me then you know I have serious problems with acne as well. As soon as I hit puberty my face started breaking out, and it has never stopped. I gave up hope a long time ago because my mom and older sister still battle with acne. But I always had it the worst. My face was almost unrecognizable at times. I spent my teenage years hiding from cameras and society. When I finally met a boy that was willing to marry me and look at me for the rest of my life I was in shock. But he started receiving the torment instead of me. His coworkers would razz him about me all the time. They would tease him about having a 13 year old girlfriend at no expense. And no, they weren't talking about an age difference because we're less than a year apart. It was about my acne.
Two years ago I finally found a dermatologist that found a solution for me. It didn't cure my acne, but it rid my face of the majority of the bumps. I have stuck with the same expensive washes, lotions, and routine ever since to prevent any major breakouts. But I had to stop using my prescriptions last March when I found out that I was pregnant. I kept using everything else the same just in case though. Every now and then I have a breakout and I always have a couple of bumps and stuff, but nothing serious like what I used to deal with. Thank heavens!
Last month I received an offer to try out a new lotion. I was extremely excited, but also very very nervous. I was already having dry skin issues since it was November. I didn't want to change my routine and chance any catastrophic events on my face since I was not on my medications. But the lotion sounded pretty good, so I was willing to take the chance.
It's made by a company I have never heard of - Foxbrim. But it was filled with ingredients that I knew were good...

• Vitamin C
• Green Tea
• Aloe
• MSM
• Shea Butter
• Jojoba Oil

Here is the product description from Amazon:
Expect MORE from your Daily Moisturizer. It Starts With Quality Skin Protection With Proven Vitamin C.

Moisture and More. All The Benefits In A Single Bottle.

Is your skin looking it's best? Create healthy hydrated skin that radiates. 
• Effectively lighten spots and discoloration. 
• Reduce wrinkle formation and existing wrinkles. 
• Refine and even skin texture. 
• Promote skin cell turnover.

Enjoy the many benefits of an advanced natural lotion with effective ingredients. The simple and essential step to healthy glowing skin. The results you've come to expect from Foxbrim.

• Natural & Organic ingredients make up the most advanced facial moisturizer available. 
• POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE combination of Aloe + Vitamin C + MSM. 
• Absolutely no parabens, additives or fragrances. 
• Comprehensive benefits for hydrated and beautiful skin.

We encourage you... Try Foxbrim's Vitamin C Lotion. If you're unsatisfied in ANY WAY we'll provide you a total refund (for every penny!). No Questions Asked! It's that simple. What do you have to lose?

I never trust what the bottles claim though because I've never had the results. But this product actually surprised me. I've been using it for one month now and have had great results!

The first night I used it I was taken back by how moisturizing it actually was. I washed my face and removed my makeup like I usually do and then applied Foxbrim's Vitamin C Lotion. I squirted a full pump onto my palm and soon found out you shouldn't do this. I ended up rubbing the extra on my hands and arms because it was too much for my face. That's how moisturizing it is. When I awoke in the morning my face felt amazing. Not dry at all. My hands felt great too!
I did learn it's best to wait 5-10 minutes to apply my makeup after applying the lotion though. I'm used to my face soaking up all my lotion before I get the chance to rub it all in. This lotion actually moisturizes though and so it takes some time.
After using it for a couple of weeks I could tell that my face didn't seem nearly as dry as it did before. There was even a day when I was too busy with my sick daughter to get around to my morning face routine. By 4pm I noticed my face felt greasy. I have never had that issue before. It was quite impressive.
But get this - No breakouts! Of course I have had a couple of smaller annoying zits, but I haven't had my enormous, painful whiteheads. What?!?! I thought for sure that switching over to this unknown lotion would cause my face to go into revolt. But nope, it's been happy and calm. Amazing!
My face feels so much better! It is such a relief to not be fighting flaky, acne-ridden, or chapped skin this year. It's like an early Christmas present. I have even used it on my hands when they start to look like lizard skin. This stuff is wonderful. If you're looking for something that will actually moisturize then you should give Foxbrim Vitamin C Lotion a try.