Adovia Natural Sulfur Soap Review

My son has recently entered the awkward teenage stage and is getting oily, acne-prone skin. We’ve been at odds in our house over soap. He doesn’t like the soap my husband and I use, so it’s time for separate soap supplies. I can definitely say his skin has different needs from mine. When I had the opportunity to review Adovia’s Natural Sulfur Soap, through a Tomoson promotion, I was pretty happy.

The Natural Sulfur Soap can be used on both the face and body. This is great for people, like my son, who are not fond of separate products and taking extra steps. He likes to use the minimum amount of products and get finished in that shower as quickly as possible.

About

Adovia Natural Sulfur Soap is enriched with minerals and sulfur from the Dead Sea. It has a 3% sulfur content. Sulfur can be a good treatment for mild acne. Sulfur acts as a keratolytic, which helps the outer layer of skin to shed and helps unclog pores. Sulfur also has some antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties.

This Natural Sulfur Soap also contains olive oil and aloe vera extract. It removes dirt and oil, unclogging pores. It is non-irritating, but it can make skin dry. This soap isn’t recommend for dry or sensitive skin, and is intended for oily and acne prone skin.

The Results

Before getting the soap, I thought the scent might be unpleasant. It turns out that there is only a subtle sulfur smell. The soap works quite well to control oiliness. The acne on my son’s face has decreased, and overall he is happy with the soap.

Adovia recommends starting to use the sap slowly to allow your skin to adjust to the sulfur. Adovia Natural Sulfur Soap is available from Amazon.com.


  




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The GoVoxBox from Influenster

I often get complimentary products to try from Influenster. Recently I was a recipient of the GoVoxBox. It came with some awesome products for women on-the-go.

There are products to keep my feet happy, protein shakes, yogurt, flavored almonds, feminine protection, and relaxing bath soak.  Looks like fun and I can't wait to try all of it.

Vitamin Shoppe Next Step Fit N Full Shake
The Vitamin Shoppe Next Step is a weight management system. Their Fit N Full Shake is full of protein and is easy to mix in their shaker cup. The shake is great for being on the go, when you don't have time to fix something to eat. It's also good after a workout. There's Swiss Chocolate,
Fresh Berries, and French Vanilla.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance allows women to play on, so they can keep going all month long without worries. They have Odor Shield to neutralize odors, and are lightly scented. The 360 degree design offers sport level protection. 

Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds

 I love almonds, especially Blue Diamond flavored almonds. Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds have enough sweetness to satisfy a sweet craving, and they provide a break from the mundane.

Aqua Spa Bath Soak

This bath soak uses the scent of lavender and chamomile to help relax you in the tub. I usually don't want to take the time to soak in the tub and prefer a quick shower. Aqua Spa Bath Soak makes soaking in a bath such a luxurious experience that I'm going to have to do more often.

ProFoot Triad Orthotic Insoles and ProFoot Pedi-Rock

These comfy shoe inserts and unique foot file make my feet comfortable and happy. The Pedi-Rock also gets rid of the rough spots to help my feet look pretty for the summer. Read my ProFoot review here.

Muller Yogurt
Muller Yogurt, made by Quaker, is a good source of protein without artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup. There are many different flavors and varieties.

Schick Hydro Silk Sensitve Care Razor Review

Thanks to BzzAgent, I was given an opportunity to review a complimentary Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor. I’ve never really enjoyed shaving. I think of it as one of those (debatably) necessary evils. Shaving is usually uncomfortable, and I inevitably I end up with niks and discomfort afterwards. Much to my husband’s distaste I forgo shaving my legs much of the winter, and I wear pants most of the time. Hey, if my legs aren’t visible to the public, then it doesn’t matter, right? Okay, I may be exaggerating, but shaving is not my idea of fun.

The Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor came along and I found myself almost looking forward to shaving. I’ve never had a razor that felt this nice while shaving. It doesn’t feel like shaving. I don’t feel any friction or irritation. The razor burn that I’ve felt in the past, with other razors, is gone. It’s a fairly quick process. I don’t have to go over and over the area to get a complete shave. 

Benefits of the Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor

It’s gentle and easy to use.

It has a good shaped handle for easy grip.

It contains a hypoallergenic moisturizing serum.

5 curve-sensing blades

Refill blade packs are available

It comes with a neat suction wall hanger, which really does stay stuck to the wall of my shower.

 

Shaving tips for women

Wet your skin first and use shave gel or cream. I’ve been using Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Gel, and I think the Signature Scents Strawberry Tangerine Twist smells great. Using something that provides lubrication makes shaving go smooth, while decreasing razor burn and irritation.

After shaving underarms, wait at least 15 minutes before putting antiperspirant or deodorant on to decrease discomfort.

I definitely don’t recommend using razors made for men. Men’s and women’s razors are not the same. My husband buys large packs of disposable razors at Costco, and I’ve grabbed one of his unused ones from his stash in a pinch. Stick to using razors made for women, especially if you have sensitive skin.

How to Avoid Looking So Tired

Recently I've put in lots of late shifts, and since I'm a mom I still have to get up early to get my boys off  to school. Lack of sleep really shows! Read more about waking up a tired face on Examiner.com.

Frugal Beauty: Getting the Most From Beauty Products

I’m frugal and hate waste. Once I find a product that I love, I want to use all of it. Often I procrastinate replacing a product that I know that I’m getting low on. I’ll find myself getting ready to go out, and try squeezing that last bit of moisturizer or BB cream out. Panicked, I’ll try to get the last little bit of product out of a tube.

If you’ve ever found yourself trying to salvage the last bit of something from a tube, here’s a tip:

Scissors to the rescue!

 Cut the end of the tube off to access the last bit of product. You'll likely find plenty of usable product left in the tube.

Plenty of product left in the tube!

Palmolive Soft Touch Review

I got the opportunity from Influenster to try Palmolive SoftTouch dish washing liquid. I’ll admit that I’ve never gotten very excited about doing the dishes — that is until I got Soft Touch. My hands get very dry and even washing them with moisturizing hand soap makes them feel dry and irritated. I’m constantly using hand cream and lotion to soothe my thirsty skin.

Often I find myself in a hurry and forget to put on some rubber dish gloves or find my gloves have gotten to be unusable.  Hands put up with lots of abuse and exposure, and they need to get a little TLC once in a while. So, I was eager to try this dish washing liquid to see if it was “softer on hands” and effectively cleaned dishes.

The cleaning ability is on par with the other leading dish washing liquid that I had been using. Palmolive Soft Touch makes some good suds and cuts grease.

My personal favorite is the Vitamin E because it smells good, and I like the pretty pink color. Another good thing about Soft Touch is that it is ultra concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way.

My hands did feel less tight and dry after washing. I didn’t feel the urgency to run to the nearest bottle of lotion as soon I was finished with the dishes. It can even be used in a pinch if you run out of hand soap.

Palmolive Soft Touch comes in three formulas — Vitamin E, Coconut Butter, and Aloe. "Tough of grease, Soft on Hands" 

It is available at most major retailers that sell dish washing liquid, including Wal-Mart.

Disclosure: I received complimentary Palmolive Soft Touch from Influenster for testing purposes.

EOS Shave Cream Review

When many people hear EOS, they think of the colorful, round EOS lip balm. Well, EOS does much more than make lip products. The company, which means Evolution of Smooth, also produces hand and body lotions and shaving cream.

I have to admit that shaving is not one of my favorite tasks because it’s tedious and uncomfortable. I’ve used many things to shave with, soap suds, shave gels and creams, olive oil, and baby oil. I like the way oils leave my skin soft, but they clog the razor. EOS Shave Cream leaves my skin just as soft, but the razor doesn’t get clogged and rinses off easily during shaving. The first time that I used it, I got the closest shave that I’d gotten in a long time. It has moisturizers that help the razor glide over skin and that help reduce razor bumps.

The shaving cream is creamy, and it doesn’t foam. It goes on skin with a lotion-like consistency. It is made with shea butter, aloe, and vitamins E and C. It leaves skin smooth and silky after use. It comes in three different scents — pomegranate raspberry, lavender jasmine, and vanilla bliss. There is also a fragrance-free formula for sensitive skin. I absolutely love the heavenly scent of the lavender jasmine.

EOS Shave Cream can be used wet or dry. The directions on the bottle say to use two or three pumps of product, and apply a thin layer to skin. I’ve found that for wet shaving less may be used, but for dry shaving  more may be required since this cream seems to give a closer shave, necessitating more lubrication.

So keep in mind that EOS lip balm isn’t the only product from EOS. They make several products to nourish and moisturize skin, as well as lips.

EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream Lavender Jasmine -- 7 fl oz

Colgate Optic White Regimen Review

White teeth are important. After all, who wants stained teeth? Many people will go to great lengths to get sparkling, white teeth. There are lots of over-the-counter whitening treatments and expensive in-office procedures to get teeth whitened. Colgate’s solution for whitening stained teeth is OpticWhite.

The Colgate Optic White Regimen’s goal is to help you get white teeth without spending a ton of money on costly whitening treatments and extra time on treatments. This system incorporates whitening in with your regular brushing and rinsing.

Brush

The Colgate 360° Optic White Toothbrush is an innovative brush to help you teeth be whiter. It helps to clean teeth and gums, while whitening teeth with “whitening cups” and polishing bristles. The whitening cups are soft rubber cups that hold toothpaste better to remove surface stains.  It also has a tongue and cheek cleaner. The soft bristles effectively clean and aren’t too rough. The brush seems easy to reach in normally hard-to-reach places. It also has a good handle with gel pads.

Toothpaste

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste is not just any regular toothpaste. It claims to have the ability to whiten more than three shades (based on twice daily use for four weeks), with results starting in one week. It also has the usual makings of toothpaste with fluoride, anti-cavity protection, breath freshening, and it helps to reduce plaque with regular brushing.

 I drink lots of coffee, so I have a problem with keeping my teeth white. So this toothpaste piqued my interest. I’m also picky about my toothpaste. I like having clean feeling teeth without any fuzz left after brushing. Optic White does thoroughly clean my teeth, without leaving any trace of plaque residue.

I’m also paranoid about my enamel and gums, so I don’t like gritty toothpaste with sandy granules that feel like they are harsh. It does have silica, but it doesn’t feel too abrasive or gritty.

Optic White leaves my teeth feeling clean and makes them whiter over the course of about a week. It does have a strong flavor, which doesn’t bother me. I was impressed with the toothpaste’s performance. However, I will use the toothpaste in rotation with a couple of others that I like due to some tooth sensitivity. After about two weeks of use, I developed sensitivity in all my teeth and sore gums. In the past I have had sensitivity, but it was specific to one particular area. After I discontinued using it, my mouth felt much better. According to the Colgate Company, “When used as directed, Colgate Optic White has not been shown to increase sensitivity in consumers.”  So, coincidence?

Mouthwash

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash removes surface stains and has polyphosphates to prevent future stains. It has foaming action to reach hard-to-brush spots. It also freshens breath.

There is one drawback, for me. The mouth rinse has a very strong taste, and I was unable to hold it in my mouth to swish it around for the 60 seconds stated on the instructions. The taste is that of hydrogen peroxide and strong mint flavor that is very overpowering for me. I did figure out one trick — dip a cotton swab in it and paint my teeth with it. This did help me to get shiny, white teeth. This trick worked better, since I do want whiter teeth.

My favorite of the three is the toothbrush, followed by the toothpaste. For me the toothpaste was good for occasional use.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

 

Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox

I recently joined Influenster. Influenster is a community of “trendsetters” that provide reviews and opinions — through the influenster.com website, YouTube videos, and personal blogs. Members are active in Social Media. One of the benefits is occasional free items for testing and reviewing.

Last week I traveled across the country to attend my brother’s wedding. When I got home my VoxBox was waiting for me. 

 I don’t travel much, and didn’t pay much attention to my packing, as it relates to TSA rules. I inadvertently packed a half used 4oz tube of toothpaste. Consequently a TSA agent confiscated it, as I was going through the security checkpoint. The box contained some Colgate toothpaste, which was a very welcome sight, since I was now only living on an almost gone small tube of travel toothpaste that I gotten to replace the one that TSA took from me. 

I digress. More about the VoxBox:

What is VoxBox?

The VoxBox program from Influenster is a great program that brings great items to “Influensters” to try and review. Influensters are bloggers and vloggers who love to share their experiences and write reviews or make YouTube videos.  If you are interested visit the Influenster website or email me. I have a couple of invites available that I will gladly share on a first come basis.

Contents of the Sugar ‘n Spice VoxBox

The box contained the Colgate Optic White Regimen:  4oz tube of Colgate Optic White toothpaste, 8oz bottle of Optic White Mouthwash, and a 360° Optic White toothbrush.

Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Oil Control Towelettes - read my review here

Nectresse natural no calorie sweetener

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer - read my review here

I will write reviews for each of the mentioned products, which I will post soon.

Thanks to all of the sponsors and Influenster for providing all of the products.


 "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Holiday Eating: Heartburn

Do you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn? Holiday eating, parties, and problems with stomach acid don't mix well. Heartburn and acid reflux are miserable to live with. If you suffer from this condition that is marked by a painful, burning sensation in the chest, behind the breastbone, you’ve probably sat awake at night desperately hoping for a cure. There are several home remedies for heartburn to try for some relief.

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root

Licorice can help soothe irritation of the digestive tract, helping your esophagus feel better. Look for deglycyrrhizinated or DGL licorice root — it comes in a capsule, chewable tablets, or as a powder that you can mix into water or I prefer grape juice.

Enzymes

Fruit enzymes, like papain that is found in papaya, work to help digestion and relive gastroesophageal reflux. Digestive enzymes can be found in health food and supplement stores. 

Apples

There’s an old saying that goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I’ve found that apples have many health benefits and that eating some apple can be good for digestion and mild heartburn.Some people are adventurous to try apple cider vinegar and say it helps relieve heartburn. I've never brought myself to drink vinegar, though.

Watch What You Eat

Avoid foods that are high in acid and that aggravate the condition — citrus, tea, coffee, chocolate, tomato products, and fried foods. It’s also seems that tomatoes get more acidic as they cook, so raw tomatoes may be more palatable than something like spaghetti sauce for some people. Also eat low fat foods and try to avoid processed lunch meats like bologna and hot dogs.

It’s also important eat at regular intervals. Don’t let your stomach get too empty before eating. Eat a small snack to tie you over between meals to try to thwart stomach acid getting out of control.

Sit Up

If you’ve ever eaten a big meal, then had the urge to lie down for a quick nap — don’t.  Lying flat will enable stomach acids to creep their way up and cause problems for people who suffer from acid reflux. Instead relax in a recliner or prop yourself up. Also don’t bend over or exercise right after eating.

Control Stress

If you are under a large amount of stress, it can wreak havoc on your digestive system and cause heartburn and acid reflux. Eat each meal calmly, chewing your food thoroughly. Try practicing relaxation or breathing exercises, and if needed speak to a counselor about calming techniques and how to deal with stress.

If you suffer from frequent heartburn consult your doctor, as it can be a sign of something more serious or require prescription treatment if home remedies and over-the-counter treatments don’t help. What feels like heartburn can actually be a symptom of heart attack and should don’t be taken lightly. Ongoing acid reflux can also have a bad consequence for the lining of your esophagus.


This is intended for informational purposes only. Consultation with a  and medical professional should be sought.

The Cure for Body Odor

Unpleasant, excessive body odor is embarrassing and can lead to bullying, teasing, shame, or depression. No one wants to be known for having a foul odor. There are many things that could cause body odor. The obvious causes are excessive sweating, not bathing frequently enough, but there are some other things to watch out for – eating certain foods like garlic and onion, medical conditions, and certain medications. Follow these tips for curing body odor and good personal hygiene.

Bathe
The obvious solution is to take daily baths or showers. Fastidious personal hygiene is essential to smelling fresh. If showers don’t seem to be doing the trick, then try soaking in a bath. Antibacterial soap is recommended for limiting bacteria on the skin, which can be one of the main culprits of odor. Dry thoroughly afterwards because warm, wet areas help bacteria to grow.

Exfoliate
Exfoliate your body, including the armpit area, with a bath brush or body scrub at least once a week. The dead skin cells that collect can contribute to the bacteria on the skin that can cause odor.

Antiperspirant
Use an antiperspirant to cut wetness. If you have excessive wetness that doesn’t seem to be helped by ordinary antiperspirants, you may need a prescription strength product. Dove Clinical Protection is an over-the-counter antiperspirant that is quite effective and provides triple wetness protection. It also has added moisturizers for minimal skin irritation.

Powder
Using a body powder that helps absorb wetness can help. Sprinkle or pat it into spots that sweat most —armpits, upper thighs, groin, and feet. Shower to Shower body powder is particularly helpful and has a pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering.

Wear Breathable Clothing
Wear clothing made of natural fibers, like cotton, that breathe and don’t trap wetness. In particular you should wear cotton underwear.

Diet
Take a look at what you’re eating. Cut foods from your diet, that may cause odor — garlic, onions, spicy food, curry, etc. Also limit your consumption of alcohol.  Drink plenty of water, since it will help dilute the concentration of these potential odor causing foods in your system and help flush your system.

If body odor persists, then consult your doctor. It can be an embarrassing topic to discuss, but it’s even more embarrassing to go around ashamed and wondering what people must be thinking. Sometimes odor is not from lack of hygiene, but rather a medical condition or as a result of medications that you might be taking.

 

updated 3/24/14

Relax With HoMedics Back Massagers

It’s not always convenient to get an appointment with a massage therapist, so the next best thing is using at-home back massagers. HoMedics has an extensive line of back massagers to relax and sooth sore muscles; some have added heat to ease stiffness. The massagers relieve soreness, relieve aches, and easy to use.

HoMedics makes a wide variety of back massagers to fit any budget, since they come in a variety of price ranges. There are massaging massaging chair cushions and pillows, massage mats and handheld massagers. Which one you pick will depend on your need and the amount of money you want to spend.

My personal is favorite is HoMedics Massage Mat. The massage mat can massage the entire body and has an optional heat setting that delivers heat to soothe the lower back. It is relaxing and eases stiffness. A couple of things to consider are that the massage mat shouldn’t be used for more than 15 minutes at a time and shouldn’t be used while sleeping. The company does not recommend the product be used by diabetics, individuals with pacemakers, and pregnant women should consult their doctor before using.

I enjoy creating my own home spa experience, using HoMedics back massagers. An afternoon, when no one else is home, can be spent relaxing and pampering myself. I turn on some soft, calm music and set the mood with lavender essential oil. Then I put on my favorite facial mask and place cool cucumbers on my eyes. I lie back for about 20 minutes and let the soothing heat and massaging action do the work of letting tension and worry slip away.

updated 3/24/14 for broken links