Puruskin Derma Roller Advanced Body Kit: A Review

Derma rollers are sort of all the hype right now. They're super affordable and the benefits are said to be endless- I've seen the results of derma rollers, and they can help everything from scars to breakouts, fine lines and deep wrinkles. Sure, maybe it doesn't feel all that comfortable... But we all know that beauty is pain, right ladies?

The concept of the derma roller is pretty wild, although not too different from many medical spa grade beautifying techniques . Basically, the derma roller is going to puncture your skin with hundreds of microscopic wounds. Remember, I said microscopic ! Don't freak! By creating these tony wounds, little tiny healers are activated to heal said wound. And that's the brilliant part of derma rollers. Using a derma roller once or twice a week is said to dramatically help reduce fine lines, scars, and hyperpigmentation. In theory, this makes sense.

The key to derma rolling is doing it correctly. This means to apply the derma roller straight up and down, left and right, and diagonally. This ensures that, well, to put it simply, your skin is injured enough. 

You can use your derma roller after cleansing and toning, while your skin is still damp. I like to use it after applying a serum, as serums are uber concentrated. Since i have super fair, sensitive skin, I Iike to use my derma roller at night, so I don't look crazy going outside with weird, red lines around my face. It doesn't take long to use the derma roller at all- maybe 5 minutes or so- and you really just lightly glide the roller across your skin- no pressure needed. After using my roller, I always follow up with a high quality moisturizer--- derma rollers help products absorb better too!!! Note:: if you're thinking of using a retinol cream immediately after, you may want to think again, as this is likely to sting a lot. 

There are loads of derma rollers out there, but I really love the one by Puruskin. Their kit contains three different sized heads that easily attach to the handle- one is for the creases around your nose and eye area, the next for the rest of your face, while the other, largest roller head is for larger areas, such as the body. It's pretty ideal. 

You can purchase Puruskin's total body derma roller kit here on amazon for $26.97, wayyyyyy below the price of any spa treatment ! 

Alite Advanced LED Plant Grow Light: A Review

I try hard with my plants. I really do. In an ideal world, I would have this amazing herb garden, filled with lemon balm and lavender, rosemary and mint plants sprouting everywhere. In reality, I live in the northeast, where my "garden" consists of a few windowsills of a few puny plants that just can't seem to get enough sunlight.

It seems that nearly everyone in my town is deficient in vitamin D- because, duh, sunlight. Here, it's like "sunlight? What's that?" And so, not only do so many of us need to take vitamin D supplements and use that as an awful excuse to go tanning (gasp!! Don't worry- I would never), but our seasonal depression is sky high. Maybe it's because we don't have enough plants.

In reality, the only way out of this mess is to treat our plants with some light of their own- lord knows they aren't getting it here. That's why this LED light is awesome, because it really, really helps to get your plants growing in an otherwise impossible environment.

Here's what they have to say about their lamp:

The 12W LED Plant Grow Light has been optimized to produce the most efficient wavelengths of light to produce peak photosynthesis performance in your garden plants. The Grow Light has been manufactured in a precise Heat Sink to generate the least amount of heat and therefore prevent any damage to your Garden Plants. Due to the consistent Light Production and refined Light Wavelength using the Grow Lamp will maximize your Plant Growth. 12 LED Lights in precise arrangement to improve Growth across all plants. With the supremely efficient LEDs, low heat generation and optimized Light Wavelengths the 12W Grow Light is the perfect option for Indoor Growing.

Sounds good to me. After figuring out how to set up this thing, I finally managed to hang it above my sad plants- the lavender, lemongrass, rosemary (that has been hanging on by a thread for literally about a year. That thing will not give up!), even my aloe and stone crop plant. I'm not sure if the latter really need it, since succulents are pretty resistant anyway. But, I swear that even they looked more perky and happy after using this lamp! I turn it off at night, of course, just because. But, even a few hours of light each day seems to really help these plants get the artificial sunshine that they need!

It's the next best thing to living in a tropical, sunshine-filled environment. But hey, I'll take it! You can purchase your Alite Advanced LED Plant Grow light for $24.99 on amazon, right here. The list price is $79.99, so take advantage of quite the steal!

Vita Sciences Maxasorb Melatonin Cream: A Review

As someone that tries to utilize herbal remedies before pharmacological ones, I'm all about the melatonin when I have trouble sleeping. Melatonin is very well known for helping with sleep. I know a ton of people that use it successfully and, generally, it doesn't have many side effects. It is typically taken as a supplement, so when Vita Sciences sent me a bottle of their melatonin cream to review, I was super intrigued.

Here's what Vita Sciences has to say about their product:

Melatonin is the hormone that controls daily day-night cycles of sleep. Some sleep disorders, such as insomnia and Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), are attributed to low melatonin levels. Travelers suffering from jet lag and swing shift workers may also benefit from supplemented melatonin. As we age our bodies do not make sufficient melatonin. Sleep enhancement is possible in healthy people as well with additional melatonin that may:

* Decrease the time needed to fall asleep;
* Increase sleepiness;
* Increase sleep duration.

Each measured dose of Maxasorb Melatonin lotion from our airless dispenser delivers 3 milligrams of melatonin with a full press of the pump. Just before bedtime, rub the easily absorbed, odorless lotion on your arms or legs. For travelers trying to ease the effects of jet lag, apply Maxasorb™ Melatonin lotion the day of travel close to the target bedtime at your destination. This will aid in falling asleep faster, improves alertness during the day, and reduces daytime fatigue. Use the product throughout the trip and for a week after return to help your body readjust its natural sleep cycle. Natural ingredients assure this lotion is gentle to your skin.

This stuff is interesting for many reasons. For one, its super convenient... think about it. Say you're having trouble getting to sleep and are tossing and turning in bed, but just don't feel like getting up to grab a glass of water and fishing around for your herbal supplements. Since this stuff is a cream, all you need is some cream and your hand. They say that one pump is equivalent to 3 mg of melatonin, which is pretty great. Most people only need a pump  (or two) to help get to sleep. So convenient!

I actually think this stuff works really great, though I was definitely skeptical at first. I mean, who uses a cream instead of an oral supplement when it comes to sleep aids? It makes so much sense though, and that velvety smooth texture is comforting and soothing. After applying this cream (just one pump!) for a few nights in a row, I definitely have noticed a deeper, smooth sleep. In addiiton, I wake up feeling totally refreshed!

You can purchase Vita Sciences melatonin cream for just  $19.95 (normally $29.95!) right here.

In All Your French Press Glory: A Review of

Over the past year, I have completely fallen in love with the french press. Sure, it seems tedious, especially in this day and age where we have our preset coffee makers and our keurigs. But there's nothing like sitting on the porch on a Saturday morning, reading the paper (or constantly updating your Twitter feed ), and drinking some fresh coffee - from your french press. And, really, they're not all that difficult.

Basically, you boil the water for your coffee (or tea! This works well with loose leaf teas and herbs too!), put your coffee grounds in the bottom of the French press... Add water, then attach the lid with the plunger. Slowly push down on the plunger, then let seep or "brew" for 5 minutes or so. And, that's it! After this time, your coffee will be ready to serve from this snazzy little pitcher and will taste SO much better. Come to think of it, this really doesn't take much longer than it would to wait for your standard coffee pot.

There  are plenty of different kinds of french presses on the market today. Try come in different colors, shapes, and sizes. I always used a standard french press, like this one by Kitchen Supreme.
If you're feeling a bit fancy, the stainless steel coffee presses by Francois et Mimi are absolutely gorgeous. The stainless steel, coupled with their vintage designs, are incredibly elegant and may be worth the extra dollars. They even make a huge, 50 ounce french press, which is very convenient for those hosting a few people. You can check out a few of Francois et Mimi's french press designs on Amazon, here and here.

While I admit that the french press may not be for everyone, I do encourage those that enjoy a relaxing Saturday morning coffee hour to invest on a french press. And by "invest," I do not mean spending an arm and a leg- many french presses only cost $20 or so, and these fabulous kinds are no exception!

Summit Nutritions Pure Whey Protein Isolate: A Review

Protein shakes have been my "thing" for the past year or so. They're easy to make and are especially helpful for those that don't have time for a sit-down meal. They say that it's super important to eat something every few hours- so hard to do! Although I think a protein shake is too much to supplement for a snack, I do like to use it as a lunch replacement. In addition, they're super fun! The varieties of shakes and smoothies you can make with a few ingredients are endless. And I'm all about consuming my protein. Currently, I use Gold Standard whey protein; however, I am always down to try something new. Such is the case with Summit Nutrition's whey protein isolate. 

They sent me a few single serve packs of their dutch chocolate flavor- which is awesome from a reviewer's standpoint- in my opinion, chocolate protein powders can be the most difficult to pull off. Often, chocolate protein powders have a chalky aftertaste and, in general, just don't taste all that great.

Summit Nutrition's dutch chocolate protein powder is the exception. I found the chocolate flavor to be light and sweet- maybe too sweet. It mixed very well, but, to be fair, I mixed it with a banana and some unsweetened almond milk, so I had to use a blender.

As for the nutritional value, this stuff is spot on. It only contains 0.5 g of fat, is low carb (two grams!), and contains 25 whopping grams of protein- which is a lot. It emphasizes how there are "no other ingredients" and "no fillers, hidden ingredients, or banned substances..." yet I wonder where the sweetness comes from. I understand that my little banana added some sweetness, but I mean, jeeeeez. I love sweet stuff, but even I think that this stuff is intense. Wowza!

I'm excited about this protein powder and would love to try their vanilla flavor. I do wish that they had more flavors, but.. they say patience is a virtue, right?? The nutritional value is pretty difficult to beat in comparison to other brands out there. The protein level is sky high, making it way more worthwhile- plus, if you feel  that it's too much protein, you can always use less than a serving size of protein powder, therefore  making your supply last longer. Rad!

You can purchase Summit Nutrition's whey protein isolate here on amazon. A 2 pound container will cost you $36.99. Not interested in such a commitment? Try their single serve pack of 3- it'll only knock ya back $7.99 and is crazy convenient for those that just wanna throw an emergency pack in their bag for later.

More Anti-Aging Gems: A Review of La Deesa's 2.5% Retinol Serum and 72% Peptide Eye Serum

Say you're super into anti-aging. Like, it is the one single thing that you want to focus on with your skin. Anti-aging, anti-aging, anti-aging. 

Now, say that you can only use two products on your skin... okay, maybe three. What would those three products be that truly target anti-aging? 

I know that my three would DEFINITELY include the following (and I think most people would choose the same.. at least, I hope so!) : 

1) Retinol 

2) Eye treatment

3) Sunscreen

Lucky for us, the La Deesa folk bangs out two out of three of those products by gracing us with their 2.5% retinol serum, as well as their 72% organic peptide eye serum. Voila!

Let's start with their retinol serum. This bad boy not only contains a 2.5% concentration of retinol, but also includes a concentration of 10% hyaluronic acid to help plump and hydrate the skin. In addition, it also includes jojoba oil, aloe vera, vitamin e, green tea... in fact, here's the full ingredients list: 

Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe (Barbadensis Leaf), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ Oil), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Wildcrafted Resina Propoli (Propolis), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

I love the super hydrating ingredients, as well as the antioxidants in this product. In addition, this has  witch hazel in it, which helps fight blemishes. Yay!

This product is your basic serum. It's odorless and comes in a glass, amber-colored bottle. I don't have to use that much to cover my entire face after cleansing and toning. I like to put it on when my face is still just slightly damp- I'm a huge sucker for saving product and, by applying while slightly damp, the product glides on the skin better.. meaning that less product is needed. 

You can purchase a 1 oz bottle of La Deesa's 2.5% retinol serum on amazon for $19.95.

La Deesa's eye peptide serum is also $19.95- but this stuff will last way, way, wayyyy longer, since it's just for the eye area. 

Plus, this stuff doesn't flake, like other eye serums I have tried!

I personally am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of eye serums. I like to use them as an extra anti-aging fighter, applying under an eye cream, day and night. It's like an extra "oomph." And, since serums are typically more concentrated, I know that I'm giving my eye area plenty of hydration and beauty attention. 

La Deesa's eye serum contains loads of anti-aging ingredients, such as vitamin e, green tea.. and the most potent ingredient, an "herbal infusion," consisting of geranium, gotu kola, dandelion, and horsetail. Here's the full ingredients on this guy: 

Organic Herbal Infusion ((Organic Gotu Kola, Organic Horsetail, Wildcrafted Dandelion and Wild Geranium), Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Silk Amino Acid Complex (Sodium L-Pyrrolidone Carboxylate, Sodium Lactate, LArginine, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Serine, L-Valine, L-Proline, L-threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Phenylalanine), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

This product really will last you months and months. I use about half of a pump for each application, which I dab under and above my eye (I've even been trying to get in the habit of applying this slightly above my browbone as well, as I've been reading more about the benefits of doing this). It's a great investment to look a bit younger! 

You can purchase a 1 oz bottle of La Deesa's peptide eye serum on amazon right here.

GoPure Naturals Youth Glow Eye Gel: A Review

Using a specialized product for the eye area is so essential. I've been using an eye cream since I was 24 and I actually sort-of wish I started earlier. You see, the skin around the eyes is super thin- one of the thinnest areas on the entire body. Plus, its constantly being exposed to sun and environmental toxins. PLUS, we're always abusing our eye muscles by squinting in the sun (we do it WAY more often than we think, I promise you). All of these things make it crazy important to protect the eye area using a product formulated especially for the eye area, since it needs something different than the rest of our body.

GoPure Naturals' sent me a bottle of their youth glow eye gel to review. GoPure claims that this product will decrease eye puffiness, as well as diminish dark circles and wrinkles. These are pretty common claims for any eye treatments. The question is, what makes this product stand out?

You all know that I am obsessed with my ingredients. Skincare ingredients are the same as food ingredients- you need to know what's in them so you know how nutritious and natural it is. Same thing.

Here's what's going on in this little package:

     • Matrixyl 3000 - A powerfully effective combination of two top anti wrinkle peptides making eyes look years younger by dramatically reducing appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

     • Plant Stem Cells - Deliver unique anti-aging effect. Reduce micro-inflammations and redness, evening-out the complexion and enhancing skin's translucency and radiance.

     • Hyaluronic Acid (Vegan) - known natural ingredient for dramatically reducing the appearance of wrinkles

     • Other ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Vegan Hyaluronic Acid, Amino Acid Blend, Wildcrafted Periwinkle, Organic Licorice, Wild Crafted Eye Bright, Wild Crafted Reishi, Organic Gotu Kola, Vitamin E

So, there you have it. I will say that licorice is often used to help lighten and even out skin tone. So, this can help with hyperpigmentation around the eye area, as well as diminish those awful dark circles. All the other ingredients listed are chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, and hydrating oils and components to really hydrate.

Upon using this product, I first noticed the smell... that familiar smell of CUCUMBER that are in so many eye gels I have used. I love this smell, it's so clean and refreshing! Plus, cucumber is known for it's soothing properties and help decrease puffiness (haven't you heard about placing cucumbers on puffy eyes? Duh!).

The texture of the product isn't bad either. It's not super duper thick, but its not watery thin. Upon using this product, the skin around my eyes immediately felt tighter. However, this makes me nervous for the awful flakiness I have discovered that many eye gels do. Makes sense- as the eye gel dries, you can literally see and feel the tightness. So, it tends to move around when more product is added on top of it. I hate that part...

After using this product for a few weeks, I have to say that I haven't noticed a dramatic difference in my skin's dark circles / puffiness. It doesn't feel a bit more hydrated; but, nothing special. Either way, there are some lovely ingredients in this product and, at $14.74 for a 0.5 ounce bottle, you can't really go wrong. Give it a shot!

The Luxury of Beauty Oils: A Review of Beautyoils.co's Camellia Oil

Let me tell you, I have been dying to try one of the many oils by Beautyoils.co. It's all these guys sell- various oils for, well, duh.. beauty! Hemp seed oil, pomegranate oil, you name it. So, when they sent me a bottle of their camellia oil to check out, ya best bet I was nothing less than PUMPED.

I've heard of camellia oils, flowers, and extracts as an ingredient in many moisturizers and face masks, but I've never actually used a camellia oil before. Furthermore, I didn't know all that much about camellia oil. I just know that I sorta mix it up with chamomile (they're two completely different things).

Camellia oil comes from the beautiful flower of the same name. Native to Japan, the Japanese initially starting using this as a cooking oil. Eventually, they began to notice the many beauty benefits this oil holds. It's rich in omega 9, polyphenols, vitamins, and plant proteins. Furthermore, the molecular structure of this gorgeous oil is similar to the skin, making it very easy to penetrate and absorb- without clogging the pores.

I love Beautyoils.co's simple yet chic label design- see the pic below. Every one of their fancy little numbers come in a bottle that looks exactly like this. No bullshit, all pure. Love it. Plus, their camellia oil is cold pressed, making it less processed and 100% camellia. The only thing I dislike is that this 1 oz bottle actually comes in plastic. It is dark amber, which is important to prevent early spoilage- however, plastic is more porous.

Either way, I do like this stuff. Beautyoils.co encourage its customers to either use the oil straight, or mix it up with a few other oils to create your own little beauty oil- how fun! Love this idea. I've been experimenting with a few different varieties, mixing a few drops of the camellia oil with grapeseed oil and rosehip oil. I apply this concoction to my face and neck every night and wake up with the most luxurious glow! Also, beautyoils.co offers their oils in a variety of sizes, making it super convenient and basically like a one-stop shop to create your own DIY beauty oil lab. ::drool.

Overall, I love this product and I am so excited to try other oils by beautyoils.co- the pomegranate and hemp seed oils are on the top of my list.

You can purchase a 1 oz bottle of beautyoils.co's camellia oil for only $9.95 right here.

Another Colon Cleanse- But Its COCONUT! A Review of Island Vibrance Coconut Colon Cleanse

I posted a review about colon cleanses a few months ago. It's slightly awkward, but whatever- it is what it is. We're all human, we all have bowel movements, and we all know that its important to have said bowel movements. AKA, POOPING.

Obviously I was really excited to try Island Vibrance's coconut colon cleanse because, well.. hate to say it, but something about the fact that it involves coconut somehow makes it sound that much more appealing. Totally crazy and doesn't make any sense at all, I know. Still, it was fun to try a different type of cleanse.

Island Vibrance claims that this product contains no fillers or, basically, bullshit- like many other typically colon cleanses do. They claim that this cleanse is  more gentle than others, and will aid in weight loss. Also, since coconut is naturally high in fiber, this should technically work better- and be more gentle, since many other colon cleanses can cause cramping and diarrhea.

The directions say that you should take two capsules two times a day, always with water. This goes for any type of cleanse. Probably so the capsules can be flushed down and put to work more quickly and consistently. And, I get why you have to take these capsules two times a day. Other colon cleanses I have tried have instructed to do the same thing. However, that doesn't make it any less annoying. I always take my supplements in the morning, so it can be difficult to remember to take them in the evening. I personally like to work my way up to twice a day. I mean, god forbid I have an accident.

One bottle of Island Vibrance's coconut colon cleanse contains 120 capsules- that's a one month supply. You can try out this alternative type of colon cleanse on amazon- one bottle will only throw you back $19.95 right now (on sale!), so I'd check it out while ya can! I dig that this is a more natural type of colon cleanse with little to no bullshit. Get it here!

What the Heck is Horny Goat Weed? And Maca Root? And, WHAT ARE THESE TWO THINGS DOING TOGETHER?! Read on.

Actually, I'm all about my maca powder. Maca is this peruvian super food that is supposed to help with all sorts of stuff, from hormone balancing to increased libido to higher energy levels. Sounds pretty fantastic, doesn't it? I thought so too, which is why I bought a huge bag of maca powder a while ago. I thought I would be able to mix it up into foods or coffee, or even do a shot of it. It smelled good, too! Unfortunately, I was wrong about the taste. While some people love the earthy taste of maca, I found it to be too earthy and bitter. Still, I was all about the benefits.

Horny goat weed, on the other hand. Uh, what? I mean, I'd heard of it before, but I had no idea what it was. Apparently, while maca originates from Peru, horny goat weed originates from.. China. Nowhere near close, though it has also been used historically in ancient chinese medicine. The benefits of horny goat weed are similar to maca, as they're known to help with sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction and stress. In fact, its usage as a tool for erectile dysfunction is so popular that its actually a component of popular medications such as, um, you know, viagra?

Together, horny goat weed and maca make for a powerful little supplement, helping balance hormones, increase energy levels, and well.. make you horney? Just kidding, there are other benefits, like helping with joint pain and decreasing stress levels (which is the main reason why I'm all about this stuff. Uh, I guess I wouldn't complain about the increased libido? TMI? Sorry).

I had never really heard of horny goat weed and maca together in a supplement, but apparently, it's a thing. Zhou Nutrition sent me a bottle of their own little mixture and, when I google "maca and horny goat weed," a load of different brands come up that mix the two up. The best thing about it? I don't have to taste that weird, bitter maca flavor.

The directions say to take 1-2 capsules daily, 1-2 hours before a physical activity.. preferably with food (though I don't bother taking it with food and I'm fine). I've been taking it for a few weeks now and I swear I do notice an increase in my energy level. I tend to have better workouts since I've started taking this. And, um, I'm not some horny beast, but that's not really a bad thing, is it?

This stuff is interesting. I've found the maca thing to be super interesting for quite a while now and mixing it up with something called horny goat weed makes it all the more intriguing. It has so many benefits that, like, why not try it?

You can purchase 60 capsules of Zhou Nutrition's horny goat weed with maca root right here on amazon. For $15.97 for 60 capsules, I'd say it's quite the steal.