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3 Ways to Feel Relaxed, Refreshed & Rejuvenated for #RelaxationDay with @KneippUSA @Rituals @NailahsShea

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Disclaimer: I received complimentary product for editorial review, however the opinions are mine to share with you!

August 15th is National Relaxation Day and in honor of this day (which I’d celebrate any time of the year), I would like to share with you 3 ways to Feel Relaxed, Refreshed and Rejuvenated using bath & body products from Kneipp, Rituals and Nailah’s Shea.

Relaxing for me usually involves slowing down, enjoying a quiet moment and taking in some deep breaths, while enjoying a long hot bath. Light some candles, pour a glass of wine and voila ~instant relaxation. So you’ve ran your bath water..now what?!?! 

1. RELAX by using a Kneipp body product made with Lavender oil

Lavender is known to be a natural herb that produces a gentle, balancing effect while creating a relaxing impact for the mind and body. Let Kneipp help you find your sanctuary by using any of their best selling bath products to help you relax after a long day. Kneipp Lavender Body Lotion in ‘Relaxing’ has a sweet almond oil fragrance that has been blended with high-quality essential lavender oil which is known for comforting the mind. What I like most is that it’s suitable for everyone in my home. So no matter your skin type, this lotion is designed to have your skin nourished and soft. It’s also vegan, so this product doesn’t contain any animal origin components. There is also no paraffin, silicone or mineral oils included. Massage into your skin after showering or bathing, slip into your favorite nightwear and get ready to relax! Available at Kneipp.com

2. REFRESH and transform your bathroom into a luxurious spa with the NEW Ritual of Hammam

Ever wanted to experience your own wellness ceremony at home? Well close your eyes and be inspired by one of the oldest cleansing traditions in the world. The Ritual of Hammam collection is offering a range of luxury body products designed to meet the needs of modern times by relaxing our body and purifying the mind with the revitalizing fragrance of refreshing eucalyptus. YOUR HAMMAM RITUAL IN 5 STEPS:

 1.  After you’ve set the mood, start your cleansing ritual with the NEW Black Soap ($15). This nourishing black soap deeply cleanses and purifies the body, removing old skin cells and leaving the skin silky soft and prepared for exfoliation. 


2.  Follow with the Hot Scrub ($29), which contains purifying sea salt, warming ginger and refreshing eucalyptus, immediately reducing fatigue and boosting your mood. Apply on top of the Black Soap for an even smoother result. 

3.  Continue with the Body Mud ($17) with mineral-rich rhassoul clay, a mud that intensively purifies and polishes the skin by helping to remove dead skin cells.

4.  Use the Foaming Shower Gel ($15), containing a purifying, refreshing fragrance that pleasantly and softly cleanses the skin. The gel also soothes and helps the skin to repair itself.

5.  After you shower, apply the soothing NEW Body Cream ($33) to the body for a nourished and toned skin. SobeSavvy Tip: The packaging for the body cream is eco-chic allowing you to refill while benefitting the environment and your budget!

Finally mist your skin, bed linen or other textiles with the Body Mist ($25) ,which is infused with rosemary (known for its aromatic fragrance, revitalizing and warming effect and soothes/supports the ability for the skin to repair itself ) & refreshing eucalyptus( known for its healing properties & stimulating effect on body/mind). It does not stain, which makes this light mist good for your skin and in your home.

Available at Rituals.com and Rituals stores throughout NYC

3. REJUVENATE and Exfoliate with Nailah’s Shea Zanzibar Spice Sugar Scrub 

What do you get when you mix spicy orange and sweet clove scents with organic Fair-trade cane sugar? An exotic scrub that is good for your face and body called Zanzibar Spice. This product is also combined with coconut, shea and grapeseed oils which is good for moisture, skin toning and anti-aging! Inspired by owner Camilia Majette travels to Zanzibar, Tanzania, this fragrance is also available as a hand-crafted shea butter soap and whipped shea body butter. I absolutely loved how it made my skin feel as well as the scent after using it in the shower. I even imagined I was on a relaxing getaway to the “Spice Island” while using these products! 

Made locally in Greensboro, NC., this all natural Shea butter-based beauty and body care line is one of my faves because its free from parabens, alcohol, harsh chemicals, vegan friendly and organic. If you want to begin your journey to healthy naturally glowing skin and travel to Zanzibar in your mind like me, you can purchase online at http://www.nailahsshea.com.

SobeSavvy tip: Come to West Elm, Southpoint Mall -6910 Fayetteville Rd #1375 in Durham to shop Nailah’s Shea in person on Saturday 8/26 12-5pm . If you don’t need any for yourself, these make amazing gifts!

I hope you are inspired to relax, relate and release using any of these 3 brands products for your bath and body.  

How do you like to relax? Do you plan to celebrate “National Relaxation Day” ?

My #SelfCareSaturday |Beauty & Body Care Product Review @NailahsShea #NailahsShea

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Weekends are for ….

  • Longer than normal showers
  • Hot Bubble Baths
  • DIY manis/pedis
  • Washing & Deep Conditioning hair 
  • Detoxifying Face Masks 

Pretty much I am all into pampering me and enjoying some type of Self Care routine on Saturdays and Sundays. Well today is no different, as I plan to use some sample beauty products I received courtesy  of Nailah’s Shea. *Disclaimer: Although, I received product for review, the opinons are my own

I first heard of this brand last week at the Triad Womens Blogger Network meetup (see recap video here) in Greensboro, where all attendees received the Nailah’s Shea samples in our swag bags ! Here is what we received: 

I am a fan of shea butter because of its many benefits and my family personally uses it to help with 

  • Dry Skin 
  • Eczema
  • Preventing stretch marks &wrinkles
  • Minimizing Scars
  • Sunblock
  • Natural Shaving Balm
  • Insect Bites
  • Cuticle Repair

I was excited to try something new from this all natural Shea butter-based beauty and body care product line.My first impression was how wonderful it smelled! This Zanzibar Spice fragrance is a nice mix of citrus and spicy. It was truly love at first sniff !

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I immediately reached out to Founder & Ceo, Camilia Majette to express my gratitude in receiving this swag and how much of a natural high I was on just from the smell of her product. I felt as if I were transported to somewhere exotic!  To my surprise, she offered to send the 2 Oz jar and matching soap too. Who doesn’t like surprises? How Sweet! 

Notice the Unscented Oatmeal Shea Butter Soap bar? I immediately thought my husband and/or daughter would love this too ! I was touched when the owner mentioned she thought of my family 🙂 We care to use natural products on our body, so it pleased me to learn that Naiilah’s Shea is a fair trade product and also…….

I showered this morning using the Citrus Manjano Shea Butter Soap. Talk about your morning pick me up! This soap infused with orange and lemongrass therapeutic-grade organic essential oils had me feeling like that OutKast song “so Fresh and so Clean, Clean”. Check out the packaging and how the soap is handcrafted:

This soap also smelled oh so good ! I appreciated the balance of fragrances and how it’s not a strong and overpowering scent.I loved how moisturized it made my skin feel. Now time to lock in and seal that moisture by using some of this Jasmine Asmini Whipped Shea Butter. 

But first, will it past my sniff test….YES!

I’ve had some shea butter products that were just too thick and seemed to take forever to absorb into my skin.  Not this one. Its texture was nice and I was able to glide it right onto my skin. You can tell she uses quality ingredients to make her hand-whipped shea butters. It did not leave me feeling too oily and I learned from the website that some of the ingredients used were high in anti-aging properties. Since I will be turning 44 this year, that was good info to know!
Although this business is based out of Greensboro, products are available to purchase online http://www.nailahsshea.com.

SobeSavvy Tip: You don’t have to wait to buy your products online. Tomorrow only, you can visit Nailah’s Shea this Sunday at West Elm in Durham from 12-5p at the Streets at Southpoint Mall! 

So far I am enjoying this journey to naturally glowing healthy skin. I look forward to continue using the products as part of my self care routine and plan on getting me some exfoliating sugar scrub from Nailah’s Shea. Be sure to follow Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

DO YOU HAVE A SELFCARE WEEKEND ROUTINE..DO YOU USE SHEA BUTTER PRODUCTS? Share below in the comments and thanks for reading ! 

Celebrate #NationalCookieDay with @NocciolataUSA @RigoniAsiagoUSA Dairy Free Hazelnut Spread Recipe

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​December 4th is National Cookie Day and with the holidays upon us and cookie swaps quickly approaching, I thought I’d share this recipe for Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies ! The star of these cookies is a brand-new dairy-free (and 100% vegan) organic chocolate hazelnut spread called Nocciolata Dairy Free.

Each batch of Nocciolata Dairy Free takes 36 hours of artisanal preparation, which combines top-quality hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar. It contains no palm oil (which is high in saturated fat and whose cultivation devastates the environment), hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, aromas or additives. This product is USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Vegan and Kosher Certified, Gluten Free, and full of flavor ! 

I  whipped up a batch of these cookies using the following recipe:                

 Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut  Sandwich Cookies

Makes about 10 large cookie sandwiches

Ingredients
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer natural but you can use Dutch process)
large pinch salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Jar of Nocciolata Dairy Free

Instructions

1.       Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.       Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for two minutes. Add the almonds to the tray and bake for 3-4 minutes more until the nuts are fragrant and just barely golden. Transfer to a bowl to cool. When cool enough to handle, break the walnut halves unevenly into smaller pieces.

3.       Spread the coconut on the baking sheet and toast it for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden. Add it to the bowl of nuts.

4.       Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.

5.       Add the walnut-almond-coconut mixture and the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

6.       Add the egg whites and stir just enough to moisten all the dry ingredients.

7.       Spoon about two tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving several inches between cookies.

8.       Bake for 12-14 minutes, turning the baking sheet once.

9.       Once cooled, spread Nocciolata Dairy Free chocolate hazelnut spread between two cookies and assemble the sandwiches. 

These cookies were a tasty treat for me and my little one! I was happy to try the dairy free option but I am a huge fan of the Rigoni Di Asiago Nocciolata Organic  Hazelnut spread made with cocoa and milk ! (I like to add it to oatmeal drizzled on strawberries, rasberries or bananas..so good!) I also have been known to tie a ribbon around a gourmet jar of this rich creamy chocolate hazelnut spread. Whether its the Dairy Free spread or  this one, they both make a lovely hostess gift!