At Home Spa Gifts from Bliss

Bliss started out as a Spa which blossomed into more and then came Bliss Spa products to get a spa like experience at home.

Bliss products are available at blissworld.com, Sephora, The Bay and TheBay.com.

Dry Skin?

Try NEW Raspberry Champagne Body Butter (6.7oz for $32). Body butter is great for dry skin, it’s so thick and creamy.

You can buy it separately or get it in one of Bliss’s special holiday kits:

Suds + Butter ($35)

Body Butter plus Soapy Suds and a loofa in one of three scents.

You “Butter”" Watch Out ($43)

Three Body Butters in all three available scents.

Other Kits available right now are:

The “Bod” Squad ($72)

“a quartet of our most "’spa’-pular below-the-neck blends”

• lemon+sage body butter
• lemon+sage body scrub
• fatgirlslim
• high intensity hand cream

Best in ‘Glow’ $83 (Sephora Exlusive)

“a quartet of our most ‘spa’-pular formulas for face.”

• triple oxygen instant energizing mask
• fabulous foaming face wash
• triple oxygen+c energizing cream
• fabulips softening lip balm

Plus Others

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative in exchange for this post. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dolphin Organics 100% Natural Baby Products

I’m not a regular user of organic products but I do understand why many people prefer to use organic or natural products in their household. Especially if your child has special skin issues, a natural product that is hypoallergenic would be even more important.

Lavender!

I was given a chance to try Dolphin Organics new line of products that feature a Norfolk Lavender scent. The scent alone had me jumping at the chance. I think lavender is the PERFECT scent for babies.

The lavender scent is currently available in the lotion, Shampoo/Body Wash and Bubble bath. I tried the first two out with my son.  The first thing I noticed is that the lavender scent is stronger in the lotion, which is my favourite.

Just How Natural Is It?

The back of the containers has a chart that shows which ingredients are organic, which are natural and which are artificial (HINT: NONE)

I really like the rest of the packaging as well. The bottles are not easy for a baby to open so you shouldn’t have to worry about your baby grabbing it during bath time and opening it on you. My 19 month old couldn’t open it.  I just LOVE the front of it too:

Dolphin Organics also has a DO Natural line which includes Sunscreen and Detangler as well and the company sells Gifts, Bundles and Travel Sets.

Unless you live near one of the retailers, you are probably best to buy it online, especially if you live in Canada as it’s only available in two stores, one of which is online only anyways.  

I don’t think my family will go strictly organic/natural anytime soon but I do appreciate that it’s a well made product and would probably make a good choice for a family who is looking for something more organic for their baby.

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Cleanser and Eye Cream (Holiday Gift Guide 2012)

*Stocking Stuffer Idea*

Burt’s Bees is a well-known name in natural skin products. I’ve used their lip balm for many years. I get my husband to use their hand salve as he comes home from work with terribly dry and cracked hands. So I happily accepted the opportunity to try out some new Burt’s Bees’ products.

They have a new Intense Hydration face care line. I tried Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser with Clary Sage. According to the company Clary Sage is found deep in the hills of the Mediterranean. This plant thrives in a harsh environment because of its ability to trap and retain moisture.

Product Claims

• Hydrates dry skin
• Removes dirt, oil and make-up
• Rinses easily without leaving a residue
• Non-Comedogenic (won’t block pores)

What I Think

• Smells great!
• Glides on smoothly
• Makes my face feel clean and smooth
• You only need to use a small amount
• Not a bad price at $12.99
• I really like it and will very likely buy myself some more!

I also tried their Intense Hydration Eye Cream. I can use all the help I can get with my eyes.

Product Claims

• Hydrates dry skin
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Helps revitalize the eye area
• Absorbs quickly
• Non-greasy

My Thoughts

• It has revitalized my eye area
• I love the applicator; you can just put a few dots on right from the tube so you get just the right amount.
• It does absorb quickly with no greasy feel
• Once again, I love the smell

Be sure to check out the whole Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration line which includes the above two as well as a treatment mask, day lotion and night cream.

*Disclosure: A member of my review team received one of the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Are You Happy With Your Skin Colour?

Why is that we can’t just be happy with how we look? Most of us spend tons of money and time changing how we look to match more of what we think of as the “ideal.”

Unhappiness is Everywhere

It’s not just those in North America either. While many of us clamour to tanning salons or our self tanners to get a DARKER skin tone, some people with naturally darker skin do what they can to make their skin LIGHTER.

Skin Bleaching

My friend who was born in Somalia but grew up in Kenya bleaches her skin with a special product made for that purpose to give her face a lighter shine. I was discussing this with her, how crazy it is that light skinned people want to be darker while dark skinned people want to be lighter.

Risking Our Lives for Beauty

I asked about the safety of the skin bleach and she admitted that while it’s safer than regular chlorine bleach, you still have to be careful not to use too much or you can damage your skin. Tanning is of course very unhealthy too, and can cause skin cancer.

Our Culture

Of course with anything, there are exceptions. I am by no means suggesting that EVERY Caucasian wants to be darker or every person with what we consider darker skin wants to be lighter but it isn’t just my friend either. Her culture truly believes those with lighter skin are more beautiful than those with darker skin, even in their own country or culture. So since she is lighter than her sister, she is considered more beautiful.

How to Change

Fight against what society says, be proud of the skin colour you were born with, no matter how dark or light that may be. You are beautiful when you don’t pretend to be someone else, when you embrace who you ARE. Society’s beliefs about beauty will only change if every person is true to themselves.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

*photo credit: from photoexpress.com. Do not copy.

REVIEW: Complexion MD Wrinkle Cream

*This Review is Written By Barb, a Member of my Team.

I am 52 years old and have watched my skin age for a while now. I recently noticed fine and not so fine lines around my lips and I don’t much like them. Therefore when the opportunity to review an anti-aging cream from wrinklereview.com came along I was excited to try it out. I received a jar of Complexion MD and started using it at the end of June or early July.

Product Claims

• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles within weeks
• Repair skin and promote circulation
• Firms and tighten skin
• Hydrates and moisturizes
• Noticeably reduces signs of aging

The cream itself has a thick consistency and feels like it’s sitting on the skin. At first I wasn’t a fan because it didn’t slide around smoothly on my face or have a nice scent, not that it smells bad mind you. Further reflection however made me think that it was a good thing. It means that it has no irritating fragrance or silicone. Many beauty products contain silicone which makes the product glide across the skin. I’m not too sure that silicone should be on your skin.

So What ARE the Ingredients?

• Acetyl Hexapeptide-3
• Palmitoyl Pentapeptide
• Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Retinyl Palmitate
• Shea Butter
• Aloe Vera

I know some of those names can sounds scary so if you want to know more about what they are, see the ingredients page.

The instructions recommend that after applying Complexion MD that you use a moisturizer with anti-oxidants. I used my moisturizer although mine does not have anti-oxidants. My face instantly felt smoother. It set a great foundation for my make-up.

After using if for a month or so I’d say that is has lightly reduced my crows feet but I don’t see a noticeable difference around my lips. However I haven’t put it too close to my lips only because they have been irritated lately. It does reduce the look of my large pores and I love that.

The Bottom Line

Complexion MD claims to improve your complexion and make you look younger and from my experience using it, it lives up to its claims. I’d love to continue to use it but it’s a little expensive for my budget. I must say I’m intrigued about the new Microdermabrasion Polish they now carry.

Where to Buy

Complexion MD Anti Wrinkle Cream is $99+shipping/one month supply and can be purchased from the website.

*The reviewer received product from a company or PR agency for evaluation purposes. All review are honest.

REVIEW: Cleopatra’s Choice Argan Oil

Argan Oil comes from Morocco and can be used to nourish the face, body and hair. It comes from the Argan tree and is 100% organic as nothing artificial is added.

Cleopatra’s Choice has it imported from Morocco and bottled in 4oz containers. The image (right) shows what looks like a spray bottle but mine comes with a eye dropper type top so you can apply small amounts.

Uses:

• Conditioning Dry Hair
• Reducing Frizzy Hair
• Treating Skin Blemishes/Blotches
• Prevent Stretch Marks
• Moisturize Skin and Nails

I’ve had a very dry scalp that results in lots of itching. I applied some of this to my scalp and let it sit for a while before washing my hair and it made it so much smoother and less itchy. I also applied some to this chronic dry patch on my one elbow that no matter how intense of a moisturizer I use, is dry again the next day or before. I used the Argan Oil almost a week ago and my elbow is still moisturized.

If you are wondering how you get oil out of a tree, there is a little video on the product page that shows how it’s made in Morocco.

Cleopatra’s Choice currently has the bottle on for $29.95, a savings of 32% and it will ship free in the US or low shipping rates for Canada. They carry products for face, body, hair, makeup, men and by skin type or condition. Products are from Africa, Australia, Dead Sea, Fiji, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Morocco and United States.

Find Cleopatra’s Choice on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Safety With a Safety Razor–Or How My Child Shaved Off Her Eyebrows

Before the invention of the safety razor, men shaved with straight razors which could easily cut your skin and had to be used a certain way. I always wondered how they managed to shave with those things without cutting off their face!

Now that we have razors that are housed in a plastic or metal casing to make it less likely we get cut, we can shave faster and safer but of course, it’s still a razor and is still sharp.

Where do you keep your razors?

Ours are usually either in a “shaving” basket or on a wire rack hanging in the shower. However my husband often forgets to put his razor back when he’s done and leaves it on the shelving unit over the toilet where we usually keep the towels.

The result?

My Suggestion

I suggest you of course keep your razors away from your kid’s reach, but also that you don’t shave in front of your children, that you do teach them that it’s sharp and can cut them. (See the little cut in the middle picture? Would have been a lot worse with a straight razor.)  Also keep your blade sharp, (or in the case of disposables, buy new blades.) You might think this would be more dangerous but in reality, a dull blade is more likely to cut the skin.

This post brought to you by The Art of Shaving. See more.

Ivory Wants Canadians To Take Back the Simple Moments #IvorySoap

Ivory is a brand name I think all Canadians are familiar with. Ivory soap products go back many years.

Ivory is re-launching in Canada and in honour of that, they surveyed Canadians asking them which tasks made their lives the most complicated.

Results:
- Financial management/budgeting (44 per cent)
- Household chores (41 per cent)
- Preparing meals (28 per cent)

Ivory reminds you to take back the simple moments and make time for what you want to do, not just what you need to do.

Ivory makes of course bar soaps (Simply Ivory and Aloe) but also makes body washes (Lavender, Aloe, Waterlily and Simply Ivory) and liquid hand soap (Simply Ivory.)

I was able to try out some body washes and they are very creamy and smooth. Just like Ivory is known for. Take a few extra moments in the shower to lather up nice and enjoy the cool soap over your body.

Below are some tips from life coach France Hutchinson. Also check out the Ivory Facebook Page and see some of the old ads from long ago.

France Hutchison Simple Moment Tips Life can easily get cluttered with never-ending professional commitments, household chores and everything in between. Ivory stands for all things pure, clean and simple, and wants Canadians to make time for what they want to do, not just what they have to do. Life coach, author and yoga instructor, France Hutchison, has the follow tips to help Canadians take back simple moments: 1. Take a moment this week to celebrate with your children, your spouse, and most importantly, have fun!: We often wait for a special occasion to get together and celebrate. Take a moment to celebrate your successes and enjoyable moments, and to thank the people around you who have a positive impact on your life. See how your tension and minor worries disappear. 2. Give a hug to your friends and family: To love and feel appreciated makes our heart happy. A hug is productive when we hold the other person in our arms and our breathing is slow and deep. Practice your hugs while breathing deeply, you will notice a feeling of calm and happiness comes over you. 3. Take two minutes to dance, jump and move your body – every hour. A sedentary lifestyle makes our body and our mind sluggish. Every hour, take the time to stand up, stretch and walk a little faster. This will awaken the quality of your consciousness. 4. While washing your face with Ivory soap in the morning, smile and tell yourself that you feel wonderful and you are beautiful: A smile has a ripple effect. A smile has a ripple effect. When you smile at people, it brightens their day as well as yours 5. Remove the word "no" from your vocabulary -- say yes to three people today: Be receptive to positive vibes; say yes to three people today. For example, because of your job you have been putting off lunch with a close friend, say yes to lunch today. Take a moment to read your favourite novel, say yes when your child asks you to play ball. Take 30 minutes to savour the pleasure of sharing a moment with a loved one. Say YES!

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6. What would you make number six? What’s your tip for taking simple moments? (Leave a Comment and try out my new commenting system!)

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Rachel Rene Bath & Body (Christmas Gift Guide)

Rachel Rene Bath and Body is a business started by a mom (Christine) when she discovered her knack for homemade products after making a milk bath for her daughter (Rene.)

She sells such products as bath bombs, lotions, handmade soap, body polish, body mousse and body mists, plus she has a men's line and gift sets and she can do wholesale orders too and large orders such as for a Bridal Shower.

I was sent a few products to try out, here are my thoughts.


Bath Bombs

I have not had a chance to try the Bath Bomb yet (what mom has time for a bath!?) but it's a very large size compared to what I was expecting so I'm sure it would be great in a bath. Some small ones often feel like they aren't even there in a full bath, but this one wouldn't have that problem. It smelled very strongly too so it should be just the right strength of fragrance in the water.

Body Mousse

The Body Mousse is HEAVENLY. If you have extremly dry or itchy skin, this is the ultimate moisturizer. It was like caking my skin in butter but it wasn't too greasy afterwards. It just took a few rubbings to have it soaked all the way in. The one I tried was Oatmeal, Milk & Honey and it has a pleasant, but not overpowering smell in the jar and on your skin for a while after application.


Body Polish

Body Polish is for use in the shower. It's a grainy scrub used to exfoliate with. It's great for sloughing off that dead skin, especially on those rough patches such as your elbows and knees.  I have always loved using these types of sloughing products in the shower but they often leave you feeling grainy, greasy or just not quite clean. RR Body Polish is designed to leave you refreshed, smelling nice and clean.

Lip Butter

Lip Butter is just a fancy way of saying lip balm. I was sent the Margarita fragrance and let me just say, YUMMY! I am not a drinker but this lip butter smells DELICIOUS! I could smell it all day. It goes on smooth and lasts a while and you can STILL SMELL IT when it's on your lips! MMMM. If you like lip balm, you will LOVE the Rachel Rene Lip butter. I wonder if the other scents smell as good as this one! Lip butters are available in tubes or pots.

Handmade Soap

I'm not a soap person. I usually use body wash. However I know many people love the look of handmade soaps. They can add whimsy to your bathroom. I mean just LOOK at the options! They are so pretty, some look good enough to eat! (BUT DON'T!)

You can find Rachel Rene Bath and Body all over the web at her main website and store, Facebook, Twitter and her blog.

COUPON CODE: 15% off your order within the next 2 weeks with code "Callista".

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Burt's Bees Products (Christmas Gift Guide 2011)

Any of the products from Burts Bees would make a great stocking stuffer because they are the perfect size! Here are some ideas.

Lip Balms - especially Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil.

Eye Creams - refresh your eyes with these creams. Softens skin.

Men's Collection - for the men in your life, Burts Bees has Aftershave, Cologne, Deodorant, Soap and Shavecream.

If you are looking for something for yourself, you might need this foot cream after all that shopping!

If you don't need any more stocking stuffers, you may be interested in one of these kits of more than one product together.

*Disclosure: I received one of the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Smart Mom Jewerly/Teething Bling

Liam playing with Bangle
(c) 2011 Kathleen Garber

I love this idea! How many babies grab on to your jewelry and try to chew on it? Now they can do that with special jewelry designed to be safe for babies to chew on, but still fashionable for mom.

I especially love the bangles. I'm not a big jewelry person but the bangles can safely be given to the baby as a toy as well. While the necklace is for mom to wear only and is not safe to just give to the baby on his or her own, the bangles are.

They are the right size for my 3 month old to grab onto and suck on and it wont fit over his head, or twist and catch his finger or hand.  It feels good on his gums and he likes to play with it.

Teething Bling Necklace

Although I'm not a big jewelry wearer, the necklaces are just the kind of jewelry I do wear occasionally. I'm not interested in chains or diamonds. I like cords and something simple. It's perfect for me.

The necklace has a breakaway clasp so that if by chance baby gets it wrapped around it's arm while playing with it (around your neck), the necklace should come apart so the baby's circulation isn't cut off.

I really love the idea of baby friendly jewelry.

I'd like to quote the FAQ for some important information you should know:

Teething Bling® is made from a commonly-used, medical-grade, food-safe silicone.  It's the same material found in many teething toys and other baby products, such as the 'coated' infant spoons we all use. 

Is it safe?
Yes. Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind. 

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Sponsor Spotlight: Smart Mom Jewelry/Teething Bling

Smart Mom Jewelry presents Teething Bling, the original jewelry for mom that is SAFE for babies to mouth. Their pendants and bangles are specially designed to be safe for babies to chew on while being held.

• They are made from the same silicone that coated baby spoons are made out of. It's food grade so it's safe to put in the mouth.
• The cords on the necklaces are made from nylon and have a breakaway clasp.
• The jewelry is designed for babies with erupting teeth

Allow me to quote them on the safety:

Is it safe?
Yes. Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind.  - Smart Mom Jewelry

The company also sells the Baby Magnet Tie (a tie for dad with a squeaker and a rattle in it) so they can get in on bling too! You'll also find some Tween Bling and shirts for mom and babe.

Read about the moms behind Teething Bling and see what charities they donate to. 

 Connect With Smart Mom Jewelry:

On Facebook On Twitter

 

I will be doing a review and giveaway of a product from Teething Bling soon. Comment on this post  to earn an extra 2 entries into the giveaway. The giveaway will be open worldwide and you can say whatever you want. Be sure to actually enter the giveaway when it's up though or your comment won't count.

CLOSED: REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: Burt's Bees Products ($150 Gift Basket)

I've got a great Mother's Day gift idea for you!
Lotions and Creams make great gifts for moms as they often don't have a chance to pamper themselves.

Burt's Bees creates natural personal care products from bee by-products. Even the packaging is good for the environment - most of it is made from recyclable materials. You can read more about Burt's Bees if you are interested.

I first tried Burt's Bees when I was a teenager and my mother purchased some. She LOVES Burt's Bees. So when I was offered some products from Burt's Bees to try out I said sure!

I was sent some Cocoa and Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion (right) and Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil (left) to try on myself. In general I'm not a big Pomegranate fan but I do like the smell and taste of the lip balm. It came in handy when I was in the hospital after having my baby as my lips were very dry.

The lotion smells DIVINE. I could just smell it all day long. It smells like coconut and chocolate to me although there is no coconut in it. Cupuacu must smell similar to coconut.



I also received three products from the Baby Bee line for babies! My new baby Liam tried them out.  We tried out Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion in Original and Fragrance Free (right) plus Baby Bee Diaper Ointment With Vitamin E (left.) (Note: photos not to scale - lotion is 6 oz while diaper ointment is only 2 oz)

The lotions are great for sensitive baby skin. The original is 100% natural while the Fragrance Free is 99.0% natural. I much prefer the fragrance free. It feels much smoother than other baby lotions.

The diaper ointment confused me at first. I couldn't figure out if it was to treat diaper rash or to prevent it at first. I assumed it was to treat but it was clear and runny like my barrier cream (from another company), not thick and white like the rash ointments. The tube says on the back:

"This diaper ointment nourishes and reconditions skin while creating an emollient layer to seal out wetness. Baby's skin is left healthy, moisturized and soft." 

So I guess it does both. My newborn baby was starting to get a diaper rash from pooping so often in the middle of the night and not waking up to be changed. I healed the rash just before I received my samples so I used the Burt's Bees diaper ointment before bed and in the middle of the night to protect his bum and it worked. No more rashes. It made the diaper area really easy to clean too.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - 
Winner - Suzanne. You've been sent an email but contact me if you don't get it soon.

Thanks to the company, I can offer a $150 Assorted Gift Basket of Burt's Bees Products to one lucky Canadian winner.Burt's Bees will ship the product directly to the winner. It will be an assortment of Burt's Bees Products to be determined by the company but will total $150 in retail price.

To enter the giveaway, you must FILL OUT THE FORM. Comments will NOT count towards entries but feel free to comment on the review or comment so you know you've entered this giveaway already.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Burt's Bees and then tell me one item that you'd like to try. - +1

Extra Entries: (optional) - be prepared to leave usernames for follows/likes and links for tweets/posts
1. Follow Callista's Ramblings on Google Friend Connect (GFC - see sidebar) - +1
2. Follow @callista83 on Twitter - +1
3. Like Callista's Ramblings on Facebook - +1
4. Subscribe to Callista's Ramblings via RSS or Email - +2
5. Post about my giveaway in a blog post -  +2
6. Post about my blog in your sidebar - +1
7. Write a review of my blog on Alexa - +5
8. Comment on any non-giveaway post - +1 each
9. Tweet the following tweet (one time only) - +2

"#Win $150 Worth of Products from Burt's Bees from @callista83 http://bit.ly/lhthna CAN ONLY - 05/12 "

Giveaway is open for entries until May 12, 2011 11:59 PM EST

FILL OUT FORM TO ENTER

REVIEW: Skin Free Products

Skin Free is a company that makes skin care products for those with special skin issues or concerns such as Extreme Dry Skin, Skin or Fragrance Allergies, Psoriasis, Dermatitis, Eczema, Pregnant Moms, Babies, The Elderly, Diabetics, Renal Patients and After Radiation or Chemotherapy.

They have the following qualities:

• All Natural, Vegan Ingredients
• No Perfumes
• No Petroleum Products
• No Harmful Chemicals
• No Steroids
• No Colorants
• No Greasy feeling
• No Animal Testing, Cruelty Free

I was sent three products of theirs to try out and review. My reviews are honest and are not affected in any way by how I received the product.

The Extra Moisturizing Soap (pictured at right) was soft and a pleasure to use. It's for delicate, sensitive or very dry skin and is also helpful for allergies, eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis. While I don't suffer from any of the second group, I do have very dry skin on my hands and feet and the bar of soap did help. I used it on my whole body and it felt like I was being washed in butter. The bar didn't last long!

The Niaouli Butter Stick (pictured at left) is similar to the bar of soap except that it's not soap. It's a rub on stick you use for a patch of dry or broken skin and is perfect for rough elbows, cracked heels or chapped lips. It works really nice as a chapstick and helped my dry cracked elbows. The only thing that could make the product better was if it pushed up like stick deodorant so you could rub it directly onto your elbows or heels.

What IS Niaouli you may be asking yourself?

"The Melaleuca family contains three notable trees that contribute to the healing world: Tea Tree, Cajeput, and Niaouli. Niaouli is most valuable for disinfecting skin wounds. Niaouli can also firm skin tissue and help with ulcers, acne, blemishes, and chapped skin." - from the package

The Niaouli Scrub for Blemish Prone Skin (no picture) feels like a jar of wet sand but it really does a great job of sloughing off dead skin and exfoliating the skin. We used it in areas that normally get lots of breakouts (not the skin, but on the body.) We seemed to get less breakouts while we used it and when we stopped for a while, they seemed to come back but I'm not sure. The downside is the smell. It smells horrible, but good if you have a cold and want to clean out your nostrils. Also the sandy particles settle to the bottom so you have to stir it with your finger for a bit before scooping some out to use.

Overall I am impressed with the products and would definitely recommend them to someone with the skin problems mentioned above. Be sure to check out Skin Free and the Skin Free Blog.