Thursday, 15 October 2009

Saturday, 12 September 2009

  • Skin Free – A New Direction in Skin Care, Review/Giveaway

    I recently had the luxury of testing five of the Skin Free products. As someone who frequently battles with sensitive skin, I was very impressed with the range of both affordable and all natural products available in this skin care line.  I would recommend this product line to anyone looking for an affordable and chemical free product solutions that really work.

    When I got it home, I was pleased to find these waiting for me to try out.

    1

    Extra Moisturizing Soap & Shampoo Bar™ – 3.5 oz – $3.99

    This bar of soap delivers exactly what it promises.  It was clear and completely free of chemicals and scent.  I typically use a liquid moisturizing soap, but I was equally pleased with the amount of lather that this bar generated.  I was also excited to discover that this product contained extra virgin olive oil which has always been good to my skin.  I will definitely use this soap again.

    I did not test this product as a shampoo as I have chemically treated hair, but with the lack of chemicals present this would probably do the job well.

    Super Moisture Body Balm™ – 8 fl oz – $12.99

    This product is a very rich butter and oil balm that I found most useful on areas where I experience significant dry skin.  I especially found this as a great solution for the dry spots on my legs and feet. I heat it up (a quick zap in the microwave for about 15 seconds) and apply it before going to bed at night.

    It should be noted that this product contains soy and should not be used if you have any allergic reactions to soy.

    After Shower Moisture Spritz™ – 8 fl oz – $11.99

    The After Shower Spritz is essentially bath oil placed into an easy to use spray bottle.  This is an especially convenient product for those of us that take showers.  I enjoyed this product a lot as I always use a moisturizing cream after showers.  This proved to be a much quicker solution and I was just as pleased with the feeling of the spritz as I was with a standard lotion.

    Niaouli Butter Stick™ – 1 oz – $7.99

    This handy product is a nice quick and convenient solution for any dry patches or troublesome areas.  I was thrilled with the extra layer of moisture this product adds to the skin.  I plan on carrying this around in my bag during the fall/winter for all of those dry or chapped spots that tend to pop up during the cold weather months.

    Lite Moisture Cream for Daily Use – 50 ml – $25.00

    This cream was a nice light moisturizing solution.  My face did not have a greasy feel after the cream was applied.  I would recommend this cream for anyone looking for a just a touch of moisture to add to their daily facial routine.

    All in all? these are great products, and they have a ton of varieties in product in case you’re looking for something a bit more specific.

    So now, it’s your turn to enjoy them! We’ve got $30 for you to spend on their products and try them out for yourself :)

    Dates: Sept 11-Sept 15, 2009 (11:59 pm EST)


    Enter at thin:dependence!

Sunday, 06 September 2009

  • I never was a winner…until now. (review and giveaway)

    When I competed in sports in high school, I never played to win. Winning was always a nice bonus if I did. But, I was never the best at anything, never the one getting all the awards or medals. I began running some time ago, and it was never to go and run a race, it was for my own health. I didn’t want to “compete” against anyone because I knew I’d never win a marathon, a half marathon, or heck even a 5 or 10k . Running is about a personal journey to the finish, not who-beat-who and how fast for most people.

    I had a chance to watch Spirit of the Marathon. This film follows a handful of runners of all experiences training to run a marathon. Some are Olympic bronze medal winners, some never ran before. What’s important to them is their journey. Their own personal journey to the finish. It’s incredibly interesting to hear their stories of running, and it’s really surprising that even the really amazing runners aren’t always out to win, rather to achieve what they thought would never be possible.

    One of the runners is an older man roughly at about 70. He’s got a good 12 minute per mile pace (which is still very good, in my opinion!). He teaches others to run and how to finish. I realized that running isn’t a judgmental sport. You know when you’re in the weight room and you have those HUGE dudes huffing and grunting as they pull their weights? I always avoid those machines because I feel inferior like they might judge me for being weak. I also hate taking group exercise classes because if I get tired, I look out of shape. But, this man showed me that running isn’t about how fast you finish, what place your take or who you beat. It’s about finishing, no matter how you get there.  Running is one sport where the more experienced runners want to show you how to finish and will work with you until you do. There’s a camaraderie among runners in a sense, even though you can do it alone.

    Read the rest of the review and enter the giveaway!