All-Natural, Customized Skincare with French Bergamot | DIY Essential Oils

If you love the idea of all-natural, customized skincare that is made to order specifically for your skin type, I think you'll love the brand, French Bergamot!

I absolutely love their concept. I used to try and DIY my own skincare but it was time-consuming and expensive.  French Bergamot does all the work for you! Just share your skincare needs and they will customize a formula to suit your needs. And everything is all-natural, alcohol-free, and cruelty-free.

Based on my skin type, French Bergamot recommended the Rich Cream Bundle, which is great for my aging and dehydrated skin.

Everything comes beautifully packaged with everything you'll need to create your own custom blend.

The Rich Cream Bundle that I received includes everything shown here; The Base Face Cream, Argan Oil, Calendula Extract, Rose Essential Oil, plus a whisk to easily blend everything together.

The instructions are included with your order. It's super simple and also fun to choose or create your own personalized formula, then simply mix at home.

There are hundreds of ideas on their website. Below are some of the ways that you can select your own custom blend.

Customize your own face cream in 3 easy steps:

• Select your base cream
• Choose your actives
• Choose your essential oil or natural fragrance

There are also 4 DIY bundles to choose from if you don't want to select your own actives and essential oils. These are based on skin type as well. 

You can choose from:

• Calming Cream Bundle
• Blemish Cream Bundle
• Rich Cream Bundle
• Plumping Cream Bundle

You can also shop by category on their website and create your very own personalized DIY skincare to make at home. I also love the DIY recipes they have on their website. It's a great way to get some ideas. There is everything from lip repair masks, to eye creams, and neck tightening creams!

I'm so happy with the Rich Cream bundle that I received. It's perfect for my combo, dehydrated, and aging skin. It's also suitable for those with fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, dry skin, irritated skin, and loss of firmness and elasticity. 

I find it very soothing on my skin. It's the perfect blend of ingredients for my dehydrated skin and leaves it soft, hydrated, and smooth. 💆‍♀️

French Bergamot currently ships to the USA and Canada. 

Check them out here: French Bergamot - Clean, Ethical and Customizable Skincare.

#supportlocal

#supportsmallbusiness 

PR samples were kindly gifted for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Nico's Organics Review + $50 Giveaway!

Every now and then I come across a new brand that impresses the heck out of me. Nico's Organics is one of those brands. Read on to learn more and I think you'll see why.

I recently discovered a new beauty and wellness brand called Nico's Organics. Their products are made by hand to be pure, holistic, and natural without any preservatives or additives! They are made locally in Chicago, Illinois. I was so impressed with the products and the company as a whole that I wanted one of you to experience this brand, too! Nico's Organics was kind enough to offer one of my readers a $50 credit to shop on their site, so you too can experience these fabulous products!

Nico's Organics uses only the purest certified organic ingredients blended together to create amazing bodycare and wellness products. All products are handmade in small batches!

We all know that our bodies are exposed to so many toxic chemicals everyday, and unfortunately, our bodies absorb those toxins which can wreak havoc on our bodies systems and lead to illness and dis-ease. This is why organic products are so important to our health!

Nico's Organics leaves out the nasty chemicals including; GMO ingredients or oils, detergents, chemical hardeners, petroleum products, sulfates, parabens, artificial colors, fragrances, and preservatives.

I love everything about this Nico's Organics; from the quality of their products to their packaging, and their prices! Not to mention everything is organic, and they are cruelty-free! Plus, they give back 10% of their sales to local homeless shelters and more! You can learn more about Nico's Organics and all that they do here.

The prices at Nico's Organics are so affordable, so the $50 credit should go a fair way.

About Nico's Organics:

We combine organic and sustainably harvested plants, herbs, and oils, from the earth, to make people look and feel great. 

 Nico's Organics is a line of small batch body care products crafted in Chicago, IL. Each product is made by hand to be pure, holistic and natural using ingredients the way nature intended them to be used, without any preservatives or additives.

For every product purchased, Nico's Organics donates 10% of profits to help support Chicago homeless.

You can learn more about Nico's Organics here.

All products are hand made in small batches.

Organic Goats Milk Lavender Bar - 2 for $13

Luxurious lather that comes from all the simple goodness of goats milk, coconut oil, palm oil;  colloidal oatmeal to nourish and calm skin irritations; raw honey that moisturizes and is highly antimicrobial; essential oils that have been prized for thousands of years due to the regenerative benefits, antioxidants, and full of free radical scavengers.

This soap is so luxurious! What a difference it makes when a product is made by hand with love and natural, organic ingredients! This soap contains organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, organic goats milk, organic raw honey, vitamin E, organic dried lavender, organic lavender essential oil, organic rosemary oil. 

It smells amazing and leaves my skin so soft and hydrated. And, I have no worries about my body absorbing toxic chemicals that can disrupt my hormones and more!

Be Chill Roll-on Essential Oil Blend - 2 for $18

A labor of love - created for family members that suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. the ingredients and essential oils used were chosen specifically for the ability to calm and relax the body, ease palpitations, and help with that 'fight or flight' adrenaline rush.

Ingredients: organic fractionated coconut oil, the following organic essential oils - neroli, clary, basil, myrrh, bergamot, ylang ylang, orange.

As soon as I opened up this product and applied it to my wrists, my body immediately took in a long, deep breath. This wasn't intentional but my bodies spontaneous reaction to the essential oils. I've been using this product daily now and it never fails in helping me breathe a little deeper. I end up feeling more at ease and more relaxed. It's now part of my nightly bedtime routine and I believe this, along with Nico's Organics Magnesium spray is helping me sleep a little deeper at night. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I immediately apply more of the Be Chill essential oils and it helps me to fall back asleep.

I also love the packaging. Very little product comes out when I roll it on, and that's all I need, the essential oils are strong and effective so very little is needed. As a result, this product is going to last for a very long time!

Magnesium Spray - $12

Nico's Organics Magnesium Spray is made from pure Zechstein Magnesium flakes and distilled water, NO synthetic ingredients, NO preservatives

Pure and simple - magnesium 'oil' created from the purest magnesium flakes sourced from the ancient Zechstein seabed in the Netherlands.   Nothing added - nothing removed.

I'm a huge fan of magnesium oil. It has so many health benefits, from helping with muscle soreness to assisting with deeper sleep and more. The benefits are far and wide. You can learn more about this wonderful magnesium spray here.

And, don't let the name fool you, magnesium oil is not "oily," it absorbs very easily into the skin and leaves no oily residue, you can slip right into your skinny jeans just moments after application. I like to apply it to my damp skin after my shower or bath. It is natural and from the seabed, so it tastes salty and you'll want to wash your hands after application, and not touch your eyes with it on your hands.

I love that Nico's Organics puts their magnesium oil in a spray bottle. It's much easier to control the dose and less messy than my other magnesium oils that come with a pour spout. The recommended dose is 5 sprays per day so this bottle will last for a long time! It's so easy to use and very effective. This is a definite winner in my books!

The quality and effectiveness of Nico's Organics products are outstanding! I can't wait to see what new products they come out with in 2018 and look forward to trying more from this fabulous brand!

Now is your chance to try out some of Nico's Organics fabulous products! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win a $50 credit to Nico's Organics online shop! 

Open to USA and Canada only

Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is not sponsored. Products are generously provided by Nico's Organics

Tools for an at Home Sunday Spa Day! #DIY

Sometimes we all need a little pampering and what's better than a little R&R. Sometimes, I find that an at home spa day at the end of a week can give me just what I need after a stressful week or event. We don't all have the time or money to go to an actual spa, it would be nice, but it can be just as nice (if not better) to give yourself a little pampering at home.  Here, I'll share the tools I am using right now for my mini at home spa day (which I happen to be doing today!)

To start, get your favourite scented candle going or a diffuser with your favourite essential oils. Somehow, it always creates a more relaxing atmosphere.

Next, grab your favourite tea or some lemon and water. I like to choose a detox tea or a relaxing one. Some of my favourite teas for relaxation are Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer or Lemon Balm (which I'm currently out of.) If you feel you need a detox, try some lemon in water, it's a good idea to drink this daily anyways- your liver and skin will thank you. Or, choose a detox tea, there are  a lot of good ones. The one pictured is Organic Lemon EveryDay Detox by Traditional Medicinals.

An at home spa day wouldn't be complete without a nice bath. Grab some Epsom Salts for relaxation, your favourite essential oil (I like lavender) and your favourite bubble bath. To make it more detoxifying you can add a few drops of tea tree oil or a box of baking soda (which would also make your skin super soft!)

Our hair can usually use some pampering too, I know mine does. Get out your favourite deep conditioning mask and leave it on for at least 20 minutes. Another favourite of mine is to put organic coconut oil on my dry hair before shampooing and leave it on for 10 minutes or so.

Next, you'll want to pamper your skin. Choose an exfoliator to start with and depending on your skins needs, follow up with a detoxifying or hydrating mask. These are my 2 favourites to pamper my skin; Pure and Simple's Sensitive Skin Exfoliant + Face mask followed by Pure and Simple's Rejuvenating Rosehip Mask.

Don't forget your hands and feet! I like to use the Amope electronic foot file on dry feet before I bathe. I was lucky enough to get this for free from ChickAdivor for trial purposes and it really does a great job- because it's rotating it does all the elbow work for you! I also like to use a crystal nail file for my nails as these files seem to last a life time!  Next, choose whatever nail polish colours make you feel joy on this day.

Finally, grab your favourite magazine or book or anything you enjoy to kick-back and relax. Whether it's an audible book, a movie or maybe your favourite TV show. Take this time for yourself and escape for a little while.

What are your favourite things to do to relax and unwind?

ps. Please come join the fun at Fabulous and Fun Life! Lot's of great blogs to check out or join in!

Amy

Things to do when you just can't sleep!

What to do when you just can't sleep!?

I'm sure many of us experience insomnia at some point in our lives. I decided to compile a list of things to do when you just can't sleep. Of course, I wont be able to list every possible thing, but I'll list as many as I can think of and include links where I can. Hopefully this will help some of you. And, of course, please share any suggestions you have.. let's keep the conversation going!

• Prayer
• meditation- just focus on your breath. Also, there are plenty of great meditation tracks on youtube as well as cell phone apps
• count sheep or just count your breaths
• try deep breathing- breathing exercises
• have a calming mantra- a word you find calming and repeat it in your head while you breathe
• listen to relaxing music- calm.com (also for iPhone and android)
• progressive muscle relaxation- or try YouTube
• read a boring book
• listen to a boring book - Audible free trial
• flip through a magazine
• alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhan) - how to or youtube
• gentle stretches- especially the neck
• try a few yoga postures- child's pose and legs up the wall can work well- yoga poses for sleep
• this DVD helped me a lot! It includes: yoga, self-massage, guided meditation and diet tips and recipes- my favourite DVD for sleep & relaxation
• yoga DVD for sleep and relaxation (another personal favourite) - yoga DVD for sleep
• self-massage- especially the neck and forehead and temples
• try reflexology 
• journaling- get your thoughts out of your head- 10 tips
• to-do list- update or make one 
• write down the things you are thankful for
• write an email or letter- if you're upset with someone, write it down (just don't send it!)
• play a game you find boring- maybe solitaire
• massage your earlobes (this is known to induce relaxation)
• easy hand massage (reflexology) 
• try acupressure points for sleep- acupressure
• pet your pet (a proven stress reliever!)
• If you're too cold, grab some socks or a heating pad (just don't fall asleep with the heating pad on)
• watch a boring TV show- I prefer to keep off lights and electronics, but if all else fails..
• have a snack- preferably a protein and carbohydrate mix to get the tryptophan through the BBB (blood-brain barrier)  eg. nut butter with 1/2 slice whole-grain bread, warm milk, sliced bananas in milk, to name a few..
• try golden milk- golden milk recipe
• take some magnesium - natural calm works like a dream!
• sip some relaxing tea- Some of the sleep teas at the supermarket are great, Celestial makes some good ones!
• use essential oils- add to your hand cream or put a few drops on a cotton pad beside your pillow- lavender, jasmine and chamomile are a few good ones. One of my favourites is badger's sleep balm 
• keep some homoeopathic remedies on hand - coffea cruda and bhi calming are good ones!
• inositol powder in some water can do wonders to shut off the mind!- Powdered Inositol
• liquid calcium/magnesium can also work wonders- liquid cal-mag
• clear the clutter, just don't start a full-on cleaning!
• try some melatonin if you have at least 8 hours before you have to get up 1mg time released melatonin helps me!
• if restless legs are keeping you up, you could be low in iron-  make a note to check with your Doctor
• catch up on your favourite blogs or start one!

Lastly, I came across this interesting article on cooling the brain for sleep and decided last minute to add it to this post. I've heard many different thoughts regarding keeping the feet warm vs cool for sleep and similarly with the head. Chinese medicine refers to this a lot.

These are just the things that came to my mind as I compiled this list. It just takes finding the right thing that works for each of us. I hope you will try some of these if they are new to you and hope you find them helpful.  I would love to hear any tips or tricks that you have.

As always, please check with your doctor before implementing any of the supplements I have mentioned.

Sleep well!

xo Amy

DIY - Chemical Free, Organic Dry Shampoo #Recipe

I used to buy dry shampoo all the time because I don't like to wash my hair everyday. I prefer to wash it every other day so I don't apply heat everyday, or strip my scalp too much of it's natural oils by constant shampooing etc. It's also great to use when you don't have time or just don't have the energy for the whole process. Unless you're one of the lucky one's who can "wash and go."  And, honestly, It was getting rather expensive purchasing dry shampoo all the time, so I sought out to make my own.

What you need (items listed below)...

You will need:

• A spice jar or shaker bottle of some sort ( I happened to have an empty bottle with a shaker top)
• Cornstarch (preferably Organic, non-gmo cornstarch, I didn't have this time) and/or Arrowroot powder
• Optional: your favourtie essential oil eg. (Lavender essential oil)

You can either use Cornstarch with Arrowroot powder mixed in equal parts, or you can use either of them on their own. For this batch, I have used just Cornstarch powder Organic Cornstarch . Then add a few drops of your favourtive essential oil (mine is Nature's Alchemy French Lavender ) and mix. Pour into a spice jar of your choice.

Here is what it will look like...

How to apply: 

I don't like to shake it onto my scalp, you could, but it will be harder to blend especially if you have darker hair. I pour approximately what you see in the picture above and then i massage it between my two hands. After that, I massage it into my roots. It will refresh your hair, absorb the oils and let you skip a day of washing, repeat this process if you feel you need more. It's also good to use if you've used too much product in your hair, this will help absorb the excess product(s).  I have blonde hair with darker roots and I will apply extra if I want to make my roots a little less obvious.

This is a great, simple, easy to make recipe that works! And, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. Plus, you're not putting a bunch of chemicals into your hair and scalp and the environment.

I hope you like it!  Let me know if you try it or have any recipes of your own..

xo Amy