Sonya Skincare

A few weeks ago, i was invited by a local spa to try out a facial using Sonya Skincare.  The thing about this particular skincare is that it's mostly formulated with Aloe.  Certainly you've heard me chat about my love for products containing Aloe.  Aside from all its wonderful healing properties, Aloe also brings back fond memories of my late grandpa.  You see, he suffered and later passed away as a result of his battle with emphysema.  This illness often caused much discomfort to his lungs.  Every week, grandpa would purchase a stem of Aloe and proceed to make himself a homeopathic cough syrup that seriously worked miracles!  Ever since, i have a new found respect for anything containing this powerful ingredient that nature truly intended for healing!

The first step of my facial began with Sonya Skin Care Aloe Purifying Cleanser.  This cleanser is designed to gently remove makeup and debris without over drying your skin.  There was something very calming about the way this product felt going on to my skin.  I felt a slight cooling sensation that left my skin feeling quite refreshed.

Immediately following the cleanser, the aesthetician applied the Sonya Aloe Deep Cleansing Exfoliator to gently remove any impurities for a true deep cleansing.  This exfoliator is formulated with natural jojoba beads and aloe making it the perfect marriage for soft and smooth skin!  For best results, use this product twice a week.

OK, so here's the most interesting and perhaps my favorite part of the facial... the mask!  This Mask consists of two products combined... the Mask Powder along with the Aloe Activator.  Together, these create quite the experience for your senses!  The mask goes on smooth like most
masks, but after a few minutes, it hardens and you immediately feel as though your skin is getting pulled back!  I felt like Joan Rivers after her 500th plastic surgery!  Wow, it was quite the sensation!  It wasn't uncomfortable by any means, just more like instant gratification!  You know, the feeling that something is really working on your skin immediately upon application!  This mask increases blood circulation and may result in some redness that will only last for a little while.  However, I didn't really experience much redness.  I did feel a little tingling but as i said, it wasn't uncomfortable.  The aesthetician recommended this mask stay on for 15-20 minutes since it was my first time.  Though anyone choosing to do this at home could continue with half hour treatments.  This mask will essentially make your skin feel tighter and rejuvenated.  It's formulated with a combination of rich ingredients chosen for their special properties to condition the skin and cleanse the pores.  The Aloe Activator contains stabilized aloe vera gel and allantonin, an organic cell renewal agent.  This mask is sure to remove dead skin cells leaving your skin feeling fresh, vibrant and more luminous then ever!  I thoroughly enjoyed this mask!

Next came the Aloe Refreshing Toner with white tea extract that provides vital moisture to help keep your skin properly hydrated.  It is important to note that this is an alcohol-free toner leaving your skin refreshed and hydrated!  I love the way a good toner feels against my skin.  This one felt very quite soothing!

After the toner, the aesthetician applied the Aloe Nourishing Serum with white tea extract preserves to replenish skin's moisture and help maintain its youthful appearance.  The serum is very soothing on the skin and its lightweight formula makes it the perfect base for Sonya Aloe Balancing Cream.

This facial was sealed with the Aloe Balancing Cream.  This aloe rich moisturizing cream contains revitalizing extracts to help maintain proper moisture balance of your skin.  It made my skin feel hydrated without feeling greasy or heavy in any way.

Overall, this was a very pleasant experience for me.  While i do not know for certain the long term effect of these products, i can speak for the fact that my skin felt revived and happy upon completion!  Also, the fact that these ingredients are all formulated with aloe as their main ingredients makes their credibility high on my list.  This skincare is certainly worth your consideration!  You can purchase products individual, or click here to purchase Sonya Skin Care Kit.  Check it out!  If you are outside of the USA, click here to purchase!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  XOXO Carla - FMM

Detox Skin Intervention

So little by little, I've been introducing you to some wonderful 'all natural' options for makeup and skincare!  Detox Skin Intervention offers a wide variety of products to pamper your skin without the use of harsh ingredients! Best yet, they won't break the bank!

OK so you all know that I'm a lip balm girl!  I have a huge collection and have tested hundreds of these babies! Every once in a while, i find a gem!  Such was the case when Detox Skin Intervention Lip Therapy touched my lips!  I immediately liked its creamy smooth texture.  My lips somehow felt protected and hydrated.  This Lip Therapy is formulated with organic beeswax, almond oil (beware if you have an allergy), grape seed oil, vitamin E, aloe, organic honey and dead sea salt to help repair your lips!  Isn't it nice when you can actually pronounce every ingredient in a product?
I keep this gem on my nightstand and apply it every night before bed.  My lips feel so smooth and nourished when i wake up in the morning.  I really noticed a difference using this product versus some other natural lip therapies that I've tried in the past!

Dead Sea Salt Mineral Moisturizing Lotion is enriched with salt from the dead sea to lock in moisture.  It's formulated without any chemicals or fragrances which can irritate your skin!  I love that you can use it anywhere on the body... face included!  Best part?  It helps reduce fine lines, improves elasticity, treats acne, eczema and psoriasis while locking in moisture keeping your skin looking smooth and hydrated!  This lotion absorbs rather quickly and feels wonderful on the skin!  I love that it's fragrance free because i have the world's most sensitive eyes... but with this lotion, my eyes need not worry!

Lets chat about eyes!  I love testing out eye products!  I have so many issues with my eyes... they're sensitive yes, but the bags and dark circles make it a challenge for any product!  Detox Skin Intervention's Eye Revive passed with flying colors!  Eye Revive is formulated with essential oils and salt from the dead sea to help reduce puffiness under the eyes and smooth out fine lines.  This product felt soothing on my tired eyes, it never once caused me to tear up (thumbs up for that!) and definitely helped minimize puffiness.  I especially love that it smooths fine lines too because... lets face it, I'm at a gulp critical age and need to take care of such things!

So lets chat!  Have you tried DETOX Skin Intervention?  What are your thoughts?

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO Carla - FMM

* Products sent for consideration.  All opinions are mine based on my experience with these products.  This is not a sponsored post!  

Gunilla of Sweden Nutrient Rich Body Lotion

The beauty of being a beauty blogger is being introduced to products you otherwise may not have learned about.  Such was the case with Gunilla of Sweden's Nutrient Rich Body Lotion!  The sweet people at Gunilla of Sweden sent over their 'must have' body lotion to try.  Intrigued, I immediately took to the web to learn more about this lotion.  Interestingly enough, I learned that whereas most lotions contain water as their main ingredient, this one actually contains 76% organic aloe, with high levels of organic pomegranate, organic strawberry, organic elderflower, jojoba and organic olive extracts.  You see, the thing is, the skin on your face is different from the skin on your body.  Your body needs the nutrients from organic aloe as well as the hydration from jojoba and olive extracts to moisturize deep into the skin.  This high-end organic lotion feeds and restores your body's natural moisture and PH balance leaving skin soft, smooth and perfectly hydrated.  With over a dozen amino acids and half a dozen vitamins and enzymes, your skin will get the hydration and nutrients no other body lotion can offer.

I will honestly say that it definitely feels different than other body lotions.  It absorbs quickly into the body leaving your skin feeling soft but not greasy! It smooths roughness while increasing cell turnover and slowing down the aging process as well!  Score!  Lastly, you'll be pleased to know that it's formulated without parabens, sulfates, dyes, petrochemicals or harsh irritants.   This organic lotion is light but definitely gets the job done! 

So lets chat!  Have you ever tried Gunilla of Sweden's Nutrient Rich Body Lotion?  If not, would you like to try it?  ENTER OUR FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY and you could win one of three bottles of this amazing lotion ($32 Value)!  Here are the contest rules!

1. Follow Gunilla of Sweden on Facebook
2. Follow Fashion Maven Mommy on Facebook
3. Go to Fashion Maven Mommy's Facebook page and 'SHARE' this post
4. Leave a comment on this post on Facebook.

Three winners will be selected on Thursday, June 6th at random!  USA entries only please!

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO Carla - FMM

Naturopathica

So a few months ago, when i did the HBA Global Expo event for Allure magazine, i mentioned that i met with some really wonderful beauty companies.  One in particular was Naturopathica.  They are a skincare company that combines active, certified organic and anti-aging ingredients to deliver powerful results.  They so generously sent me a package of their most popular skin care products.  I've been testing every single one of them out for almost a month now.  I wanted to be sure to give you the most honest review possible.  Truthfully, I'm totally smitten by these amazing products not only because they feel wonderful on my skin, but they really appeal to my 'green' side.  Who doesn't love organic products right? So in this package, I'd say there were a few products that really stood out from the bunch which i will review for you today. 

First, lets talk about the Vitamin K Brightening Eye Serum.  When i first sampled this product, i was a bit taken aback by the texture and scent.  Lets just say i didn't love the scent necessarily, but i will tell you that the texture is amazing... did you hear me?  AMAZING!  I probably use this product about three times a day because its texture makes this eye serum so easy to manipulate and massage around the eye area.  I simply dab it in the area under my eyes and proceed to massage all the way around including the area above the eye by following the bone structure. It's honestly, a little bit of heaven.  I have sampled many many eye serums, but this one just feels different.  As for the scent, it's an acquired taste... it's light and I've since learned to like it.

The next 'must have' product is the Plant Stem Cell Serum. This tiny little powerhouse is a certified organic concentrated serum, designed to significantly slow down the aging of cells due to inflammation caused by UVA photodamage and oxidative stress.  I'll take FIVE please!  OMG i love this product!  I wear it every single day under my moisturizer and love the fact that it slows down the aging process.  I may have to dab this pretty baby on more than just my face... ahem!

OK if you're obsessed with lavender like me, you'll LOVE the Lavender Protective Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 17.  This has been my go to daily moisturizer since it arrived and when i run out, i will replenish it!  The scent is sooooooooo wonderfully soothing and it feels light (which i love in a moisturizer this time of year) yet provides just the right amount of hydration.  A wonderful product in my book!  If your skin is a bit on the dry side, i highly recommend the Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream.  It smells incredible and is a bit heavier then the Lavender Protective Moisturizer.  I will definitely sport this pretty baby during the winter months, when my skin tends to get a bit on the dry side.  If you're in the market for a new facial scrub, check out their Oat Facial Polish for all skin types.  I like to keep it in the shower, this way I'm sure to use it daily.  After all, clean skin is imperative!

 

Overall, I'm so grateful to the wonderful people at Naturopathica for introducing me to such amazing products.  I will definitely do some shopping on their gorgeous site.  I already have my eyes set on the Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex as well as their Lavender Honey Balancing Mist.  So, if organic is your thing (and even if it's not at the top of your list), do yourself a favor and check out these amazing products.  Your face will thank you for it! 

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  Don't forget to become an official follower of FMM! XOXO Carla