natural skin care

Treat Skin to Gentle Nourishment with the Live Clean Fresh Face Collection-Giveaway

October 28, 2016 by Kathryn 137 Comments

The more my skin starts to mature, the more I need gentle, yet effective cleansing and moisturizing to keep it looking its best. Whether I’m on the go or lounging at home, taking care of my face is always a priority. That’s why I’m so happy that I discovered the Live Clean Fresh Face collection some time ago. The products are gentle, contain organic botanicals and are so effective for revealing skin’s radiance. In fact, the only skincare products I took on my recent two-week trip to Ireland were the ones in the Live Clean Fresh Face travel collection.

So, what makes this skincare line so great? For one thing, it provides thorough cleansing, nourishing moisture and protection against the elements, all without leaving skin feeling greasy or weighed down. Since I get hormonal breakouts, a good lightweight cleanser is a must for me and the Live Clean Fresh Face Foaming Cleanser is ideal. I love the way the foam provides a deep clean without drying out my skin.

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Holiday Gift Guide-Burt’s Bees Natural Skincare and Beauty Products-Giveaway

November 24, 2011 by Kathryn 92 Comments

Holiday Gift for Natural Beauty

Women everywhere are embracing the benefits natural products can provide to them and their families, and skincare products are no exception. Burt’s Bees has been a leader in natural personal care and beauty products for years and the company has some fabulous options for radiant, natural beauty this holiday season.

burt's bees sensitive skin solutions line

For those with skin that tends to be extra-finicky, there’s the brand new Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin Solutions line. This ultra-gentle collection consists of a cleanser, moisturizer, eye cream and night cream and is specially formulated to fully cleanse and hydrate skin without causing the redness and irritation that is so often a frustration for those with sensitive skin. With cotton extract, rice extract and aloe to soothe, soften and moisturize, it’s the gentle and natural way to treat your sensitive skin right.

My personal favourite product was the Burt’s Bees Sensitive Night Cream. It was a very luxurious texture but it absorbed wonderfully into my skin and left it incredibly soft. At thirty, my skin isn’t quite ready for such intensive hydration nightly, so instead I used it after my weekly exfoliating scrub. The cream was a wonderful finishing treatment after the rejuvenating effects of the exfoliation and I really noticed a difference in my skin’s texture. Best of all, the cream actually seemed to soothe any minor irritation caused by exfoliating!

But Burt’s Bees doesn’t just have gifts for sensitive-skinned beauties this Christmas! For the on-the-go woman with a desire for luscious lips in even the harshest winter weather, there is the ingenious Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Change Purse! This darling little kit features three Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balms and even has a clever mirror incorporated into the top of the purse to make application a breeze anytime and anywhere.

burt's bees lip balm change purse

Now I must admit that I am a confirmed Burt’s Bees lip balm addict. I have a stick of balm in the van, in my purse, in the bathroom and beside my computer. I tend to favour the addictive tingle of the Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, but I was thrilled to have a chance to try out the pomegranate-enhanced Replenishing Lip Balm too! I loved the tangy flavour and the balm was just as effective at healing and protecting my lips from the cold winter weather as my beloved beeswax balm!

Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin Solutions products and Lip Balm Change Purse are available at select grocery, drug and mass merchandise stores across Canada and can also be purchased online at www.burtsbees.ca. So visit the site and check out the amazing selection of Burt’s Bees products for the holiday season. They’re sure to be a hit with any eco-friendly woman on your shopping list!

ARV: $9.99-$24.99

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Abundance Naturally Eco-Friendly Personal Care Products-Review and Giveaway

August 22, 2011 by Kathryn 50 Comments

It’s no secret that I love eco-friendly products. Nature is full of amazing things and I adore finding companies that have learned how to respect the earth’s bounty while at the same time reaping the benefits that the natural ingredients provide. Recently, I learned about an incredible company called Abundance Naturally that provides just the kind of eco-friendly products I love.

The company specializes in providing Canadians with high-quality and eco-friendly personal care products and has a range of different product lines for babies, kids, teens and adults. I love the fact that not only are the products free of harsh chemicals and man-made ingredients, they are also rich in essential plant extracts and organic herbs. I was thrilled when I was given the chance to review some of the company’s most popular products for myself.

I received Abundance Naturally Baby Balm, Thursday’s Plantation Tea Tree Liquid Filled Cotton Tips, eco.kid Lice Bomb Treatment and a Bellaboo Girl on the Go kit to review. The assortment was incredible and I loved the fact that Abundance Naturally had products for the whole family. The tea tree oil cotton tips arrived at just the right time and I made sure that I popped them into my purse right before we left for our camping trip.

Am I ever glad I did! These clever little liquid-filled swabs were a lifesaver! The mosquitoes were horrible at the campsite and between the bites and the inevitable burns and scrapes that come along with camping, I was using one or two a day to sooth and disinfect minor injuries. I loved the fact that the liquid was contained within the swab so that I didn’t have to carry a messy bottle of oil on my trip. I just pulled out a handy swab, snapped the seal and applied the liquid!

I also brought the Bellaboo Girl on the Go kit on our trip since it was developed for acne-prone teenagers and I have a problem with my skin breaking out. The smell of these products is absolutely addictive! The kit includes All That Clean Skin Facial Wash, Buff Skin Facial Exfoliator and Gorgeous Skin Moisture Dew and every product smells good enough to eat! The Moisture Dew felt incredibly luxurious on my skin and I had a hard time believing that I wouldn’t start to break out after using something that felt so rich and creamy, but I didn’t have any problem with breakouts using the Bellaboo system. And after about a week of use, my skin had such a great healthy glow!

I didn’t actually test the eco.kid Lice Bomb, though I did read about it a little. I didn’t know there was an eco-friendly solution for lice and I am so glad I learned about it! When I was in my teens, our entire household got lice and I still remember the harshness of the shampoo we had to use to get rid of them. I also remember how hard my mom had to hunt for an effective lice treatment she could use because she was breastfeeding my youngest sister at the time. I only wish we had had Lice Bomb around then!

Believe me when I say that I hope I will never have to go through that process again, but if I do I’m glad to know that there is an eco-friendly option for lice removal available. And I was intrigued to learn that the eco.kid shampoo and conditioner are formulated to help prevent lice too! Since I know firsthand how much work is required to eliminate lice once they’ve entered a house, I’ll definitely by investing in this shampoo now that my son is starting school!

The final item that we tested was the Abundance Naturally Baby Balm and the entire family was excited about it. We are a balm-addicted family and this balm was one of the very best we have ever used. The smell is unbelievable with a hint of minty freshness and the balm is amazing at healing diaper rash and minor skin injuries and irritations. It even helped speed my husband’s healing after he burnt his arm quite badly on his motorcycle!

I enjoyed all of the products that I received from Abundance Naturally and while it’s hard to choose a favourite I think the Bellaboo products are what really made an impression on me. I’ve dealt with breakouts for so long and I’m thrilled to have a natural and eco-friendly cleaning system that still gives me the clear skin I long for. I still do get the occasional breakout but my skin is so much better than before I started using the kit! If you’re looking for safe and effective personal care products that the whole family will love, check out the great variety of personal care products from Abundance Naturally today.

Buy It: To purchase any of the personal care products from Abundance Naturally, shop online now

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a kid’s ultimate back-to-school prize pack containing a Bellaboo Girl on the Go Kit, eco.kid Prevent Daily Shampoo, eco.kid Nourish Daily Conditioner and eco.kid Bubbalicious Soft Hair Styling Wax, a $63 value, from Abundance Naturally

To Enter (mandatory): Visit Abundance Naturally and leave a blog comment about another product that you would like to try, then let me know you did using the Rafflecopter form below

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Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm-Review and Giveaway

January 10, 2011 by Kathryn 1,118 Comments

Back in a time when convenience was all consumers cared about and every new additive was celebrated for the money it could save regardless of the potential harm it could do, Burt’s Bees stood as a pioneer in the natural product revolution. Since 1984, the company has been on a mission to provide quality products created with simple, natural ingredients. From candles to lip balm to the huge range of nourishing products available today, Burt’s Bees has evolved a lot over the years. But the company’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness hasn’t changed at all.

I was lucky enough to review some of the fabulous skin care products from the Burt’s Bees Radiance collection as well as the company’s iconic lip balm last year (you can read the review here) and I was so impressed by the nourishing and natural products. So when I recently received one of the brand new Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balms to review, I knew I was in for a treat.

These luscious lip balms are 100% natural and come in six different shades. I received the Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm to review. The colour is a rich coral pink shade that looked quite dark in the tube, but when I smoothed it onto my lips I was thrilled by the touch of brightness the colour added to my look. The lip balm is nice and sheer so that my natural lip colour wasn’t just wiped out, and the hint of colour in the balm added the perfect deep pink shine, enhancing my look without being overwhelming.

The lip balm itself is full of good-for-you ingredients like Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Beeswax. The balm also contains natural botanical flower wax from Ylang Ylang and Jasmine. I learned about flower wax and its benefits almost a year ago; the delicate waxy coating on the petals of flowers helps protect them from the elements and offers the same benefits when applied to the skin.

The flavour of this lip balm was very subtle and I almost would have thought that it was unscented and unflavoured. When I read the product information sheet, I learned that the balms were flavoured with pear. I smelled the balm again and, sure enough, I was able to notice the scent after all! Pear is such a mild aroma that I would guess only the most refined olfactory experts would be able to identify it without knowing what they were looking for.

My lips suffer badly in the winter, so I am a lip balm addict when the mercury starts to drop. The Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm did a great job of protecting my lips and I never once had chapped or cracked lips while I was using it. I was so happy that I could protect my lips from winter weather and enhance my look at the same time!

I was very impressed with the Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm and can’t wait to try some of the other shades to see if they suit me as well as the Hibiscus shade does. I’m not a very big fan of lipstick because I feel like it makes my lips too noticeable. For someone like me, the subtle colour of the tinted lip balm is the perfect compromise, and the fact that the balm is packed with naturally nourishing ingredients is the icing on the cake! For a completely natural lip balm that will keep your lips luscious and looking great, check out the new Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm!

Buy It: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm will be available starting February 2011 at select national grocery, drug and mass retailers and at www.burtsbees.com

Win It: One incredibly lucky reader is going to win a prize pack of assorted products worth $150 from Burt’s Bees

To Enter (mandatory): Visit Burt’s Bees and tell me about another product that you would like to try

Bonus Entries:
· Like Mommy Kat and Kids on Facebook
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· Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post
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Giveaway ends 11:59 pm CST on January 31, 2011. Open to Canada Only

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been provided free of charge by the manufacturer or PR firm for the purposes of this review. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies

Lalabee Bathworks-Review and Giveaway

December 8, 2010 by Kathryn 135 Comments

Holiday Gift for Babies and New Mothers

I love natural skincare products, not just for myself, but for the rest of my family too. Babies are really the ones that need great natural skincare products the most, but finding a good line of effective natural skincare isn’t always easy. Lalabee Bathworks specializes in organic natural skincare for mothers and babies, and the company’s products looked like just the thing for my infant son’s delicate skin. I was delighted when I was given a chance to review some of their wonderful-sounding products for infants.

I received the Body Balm, Baby Butter and Bottom Balm to review. Because Benjamin’s sensitive skin is prone to rashes, I was especially excited to try out the Bottom Balm. This 100% natural balm contains extracts of organic calendula, organic chamomile and organic lavender, which are known for their healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The base of organic oil and beeswax creates a firm to the touch, incredibly rich balm that I couldn’t wait to try.

I found the Bottom Balm had a slightly sweet smell that was very appealing. The next time Benjamin had a diaper rash, I applied a fingerful to his bottom before putting on a fresh diaper. The rash had faded by the next diaper change and was gone within a few days! Benjamin’s rashes can be truly awful, complete with bleeding and weeping sores, so having a balm that heals as well as relieving pain is so important to me!

The Body Balm is a relaxing lavender-scented balm designed especially for infant massage. My entire family fell in love with this balm, and I often catch my oldest son rubbing his finger in the container and smoothing the balm on his cheeks. The smell is so soothing and the creamy feel of the balm on the skin is unbeatable. Despite the firmness of the Body Balm, it absorbed very well into the skin once it warmed up a bit. I love putting it on Benjamin after a bath because it leaves his skin amazingly smooth, it smells wonderful and it relaxes him before bed.

The final product I tested was the Baby Butter. This product had the softest consistency of the three products and absorbed the quickest into the skin. The product is formulated with low allergy ingredients and is unscented, so it is a great choice for sensitive skin. When I saw how richly moisturizing the balm was, I started using it on Benjamin’s knees since he has rough patches on them from crawling. The Baby Butter worked so well at smoothing and protecting his delicate knees that I soon found myself using it on my own dry and cracked elbows. The difference the Baby Butter made was amazing, and I loved how soft it made my skin feel.

Lalabee Bathworks products would make a great gift for any infants on your Christmas list, and the company has a wonderful line of products for pregnant, postpartum and nursing mothers too! For a Christmas gift that will have baby feeling great naturally, check out Lalabee Bathworks today!

Buy It: To purchase any of the skincare products from Lalabee Bathworks, shop online now

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a 20g tin of the best selling Bottom Balm from Lalabee Bathworks

To Enter (mandatory): Visit Lalabee Bathworks and tell me about something you liked or something you learned there

Bonus Entries:
· Like Mommy Kat and Kids on Facebook (bonus good luck karma for recommending the site to your friends!)
· Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post
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· Subscribe to my blog by RRS Feed
· Subscribe to my blog by email (2 Entries)
· Grab the Holiday Gift Guide 2010 button
· Follow Mommy Kat and Kids on Twitter and ReTweet this: RT @mommykatandkids #Giveaway Lalabee Bathworks Baby Bottom Balm-ends Dec. 31 http://bit.ly/eUVAwh (can be Tweeted once daily for extra entry)

Giveaway ends 11:59 pm CST on December 31, 2010. Open to US and Canada