Naturally Care for Your Skin

30. January 2012 · 2 comments · Categories: Health, Mommy Care · Tags: , ,

Please enjoy today’s special guest report which shares some tips on how to naturally care for your skin.

We all worry about our skin from time to time – especially as we age. Whether any woman wants to admit it or not, we are all prone to the effects of aging and those sun spots, dry skin, and wrinkles are bound to creep up on us at some point. However, in a world obsessed with looking young, you don’t have to commit to some age-defying procedure to get great looking skin. Simply switching to natural skincare products can do the trick.

While most women stick to high end traditional skin care products to care for their faces, many are unaware of the damage these types of products can actually do. Traditional skin care products contain large amounts of parabens and other chemicals which can actually further irritate your skin, leading to dry or red patches or even further break outs. The additional dryness these products can cause can actually increase the signs of aging at a more rapid rate.

So if you are looking for a better way to care for your face, consider purchasing natural skincare products. There are a wide variety of lines, including those from major recognizable brands to more natural and independent lines such as Nude Skincare, and these products don’t have any of the harmful additives found in traditional products. Because they are packed with vitamins and minerals, your face also gets an extra boost that can help with reducing age spots and increasing firmness.

In addition to not having any agitating chemicals, natural skincare products are just all around better for the environment. Most natural skin care products come in a biodegradable packaging that is plant-based so you don’t have to worry about the environmental impact, and they are also not tested on animals. So for those of us looking to further reduce our footprint, buying natural skincare products allows us to do so with one easy switch.

Those interested in natural skincare products should note, however, that they can be as evenly priced or even more expensive than some traditional brands. While the effects on your skin and environment make it worth the few additional bucks you spend, you are going to want to shop around for the best deals. There are several retailers online which offer great natural products at an affordable price.

Alchemilla Pure Organic Skin Care Kit Giveaway

28. May 2008 · 273 comments · Categories: Contest, Herbalism, Mommy Care, Product Review · Tags: , ,

I used to have pretty good skin. It got even better when I was pregnant–one of the lucky ones? I don’t know. Because after the baby was born, my skin got rough and it seemed no matter what I tried, I couldn’t get it back to its pre-baby glory. I even invested in a set of Dr. Hauschka products, all natural and organic, but my skin just sucked that stuff up like it didn’t see the price tag, and I still had a rough complexion.

Then came Alchemilla. Yay! Can I say “Yay” without sounding juvenile? I guess my commentary will have to match my new skin. I tried the Exfoliating Face Wash Cream and was shocked at how different my complexion looked right from the first try. It’s something you use a few times a week, and it takes so very little to wash with that the tube will last a good long time. The smell? Fabulous. Herbal. Fresh. After that I used a little bit of the Rose Rehydrating Essence which is a great boost for dry skin. I know what you’re thinking, “Rose? Hello Grandma!” But no, the scent is subtle and refreshing, not heavy; and it doesn’t stick to you for hours, leaving a floral trail behind you. I finished up with the Rehydrating Day Care Cream, which once again took a surprisingly small amount to do the job. My skin looked so improved by the next morning that I haven’t used anything but Alchemilla for the past week. Tiny little wrinkles I’ve fought with for years, including the new ones that come free with a two-year-old boy, are vanishing. Again, Yay! I’ve even forgone makeup lately, something that usually frightens me.

The very best part about Alchemilla has to be its purity. Everything is organic, natural, and chemical free which is a must for me. You won’t find any lurking parabens, nasty alcohols, or other icky stuff hiding in their products. Based in Oregon, this young company buys all their herbs locally and is even working on growing their own. Alchemilla was started in October of 2007, which means you get to discover it before Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker. And Oprah. Let’s not forget Oprah. I love to discover things before her. She can’t have all the great stuff first!

So you want to try it now, don’t you? Alchemilla generously provided THREE of their brand new Skin Care Trial Kits ($32.50 value) that I’ll give away here. This is what’s included in the kit:

- Foaming Facial Cleansing Gel (1oz)
- Clarifying Facial Toner (1oz)
- Exfoliating Face Wash Cream (10g tube)
- Gentle Plant Purifying Masque (15g tube)
- Rehydrating Day Care Cream (10g tube)
- Rehydrating Essence – Rose (2ml vial)

- Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (sample sachet)

Ready to enter? Good, let’s get rid of our wrinkles together!

3 Ways to Enter:

1.) Leave a comment telling me what interests you the most at Alchemilla. You can name a product, mention a feature of the website, or tell me something about their business in general that appeals to you. Believe me, this won’t be difficult!

2.) Subscribers are automatically entered into this and all future giveaways. Just click here: Subscribe to dkMommy Spot by Email (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.

Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Monday, June 2, 2008, to enter.

Note: I just noticed Alchemilla has a newsletter. When you sign up, you get a free New Subscriber Reward with an order of $35 or more. I signed up and got a coupon code for a free full size hand cream. Very fortunate. Improving the skin on my hands is my next project!

How to Get Rid of Wrinkles Naturally

01. May 2008 · 10 comments · Categories: Herbalism, Homemade Products, Mommy Care, Money Saving Tips, Remedies · Tags: , ,


If one thing has put more fine lines and wrinkles on my face, it’s being a mom. I don’t know where those all came from! I could Botox myself, but no one is going to stick needles in my face, and I’d still like to be able to move my face. (Can you imagine yelling at your kids to get out of the street with no facial expression whatsoever??? What good would this do, I ask?) I could get a chemical peel, but chemicals are icky. I could buy expensive lotions and load up on my paraben intake. Or I could try getting rid of the wrinkles naturally–and make some tea.

Yeah, I hear all my regular readers thinking, “There she goes with tea again!” But I just found out a tip that is just begging to be put to the test. Apparently, lemon balm tea can be used as a wrinkle reducing astringent! I haven’t tried this one yet, but you can count on the fact that I will.

Here’s what you do: Take two cups of boiling water and pour it over a handful of FRESH lemon balm. When it cools, strain out the herbs and refrigerate the cooled tea. Use this liquid each morning after washing your face.

To me, this sounds very refreshing as well. I love the smell of lemon balm. If you drink lemon balm tea, you’ll relax. So maybe this relaxes your face, which is something every mom can stand to do every now and then. If you give this a whirl and you manage to get rid of some wrinkles, let me know. We’ll get together and have a tea party.

Best of dkMommy: Kiss Dry Skin Goodbye with coconut oil.

Natural Hair & Skin Treatment Remedies

13. March 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Herbalism, Homemade Products, Mommy Care, Money Saving Tips, Remedies · Tags: , ,

A mom’s got to pamper herself to help recharge her batteries. While department stores have their pricey chemical-laden treatments, there’s a plenitude of goodness right in your own kitchen. Here are just a few natural hair and skin treatment remedies – fun to try, inexpensive, and 100% natural!

For clogged pores, place a big handful of chopped parsley in an earthenware bowl. Put one cup of boiling water over the herb and steep while covered until it cools to room temperature. Strain out the parsley and dampen a washcloth with the liquid. Place cloth on your face for about 15 minutes. Now you have an excuse to use when you need a few moments to yourself!

For shiny hair, don’t forget this old and effective remedy: 1/3 cup vinegar with 2/3 cup water. After shampooing, pour it over your hair. Give another rinse with clean water to avoid smelling like a tossed salad. For red hair, try cider vinegar. It gives a mild color boost.

If you’re looking for an all-natural hair gel, go for the aloe vera. It works as a setting gel without all the chemicals and alcohol.

I’ll be doing a post on coloring hair naturally soon, but I first want to test some out. In fact, the ingredients are sitting in my bathroom waiting for the experimentation to begin. Get subscribed or plop dkMommy Spot in your reader of choice so you don’t miss it!