So Nutra Lift is a new line for me to try. The company is strong on using all
organically grown ingredients so that was a plus for me. 

     The first product I will be talking about is the Herbal NonSoap Cleanser. This cleanser is designed to not strip the skin with any detergent and to leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. This is also supposed to replace a toner by having which hazel in it. Side bar…I am not a fan of toners but that is for another day…Back to the review. The non-soap was a plus for me considering I live in the dry winter weather of the Northeast and tend to be more on the dry side right now.  Since it is a “non’ soap if you are a foaming cleanser guy or gal this might not be for you.
     The first thing I noticed was the amazing citrus scent when I squeezed it in my hand. This comes from the orange flower in it which has an added benefit of brightening the skin’s appearance. It is a gel like texture but like I mentioned does not foam up. The company recommends 2-3 drops which is defiantly more than enough. Massage all around the skin and allow to stay on for about 30 seconds and rinse off. After I used this my skin definitely felt refreshed and clean. 
     The company says it removes all makeup. With that being said it does not remove eye makeup so you would need a separate remover for the eye area. After using this cleanser for a week I had mixed feelings. The Pros for me was the amazing smell, it felt like a wake up call in the shower in the morning and my skin defiantly looked brighter for makeup application.. Also, the organic ingredients made me feel good about what I was putting on my skin. The cons were that my skin did feel a bit tight after. I was hoping that with it being a nonsoap this would not happen. Unfortunately for me it did. This also may be from the peppermint, orange flower and vitamin c. All of which can sometimes be a little harsher on a sensitive or drier skin type.
     All in all if you are looking for a good conscious organic cleaner to try and you are more combination this may be a fit for you. Or for someone like myself that is a bit drier switching it up every other day with another cream or oil based cleanser may give you a nice balance of brightening and hydration. 

     The second product I got to try was the Luminous Eye Serum. I was beyond excited to try this since my under eye area is my problem area like so many. This eye serum is supposed to tighten and brighten dark circles. And let’s be honest who doesn’t want that? The main ingredient that will be doing that is mighty peptides and Olive leaf extract. Olive leaf is creating quite a buzz lately for its natural anti aging benefits.
     Now I loved the texture of this serum. It had a very silky smooth application and glided right on. Most times I have to wait before applying concealer and this was not the case it absorbed immediately and I did notice an instance tightening effect. This could definitely be from the olive leaf or the vitamin c. I did bring this serum onto the eye lid up into the brow bone. This is also recommended by the company, which is a plus! 
     This product was great and I have continued to use it daily. Now, again if hydration around the eye area is a concern for you I would recommend using an additional more hydrating eye cream over it. This is fine since this is an eye serum and it is lighter in texture and not designed to really hydrate but more treat the eye area. Also, when trying any new eye product that has vitamin c do a quick allergy check for those sensitive guys and girls. Out of the two products I tried I really liked this a bit more. So if you are looking for a science meets nature type of skin care line I would recommend trying Nutra Lift. It may be just what your looking for. 

What is it?
     Great skin after a stressful week can sometimes be a case of irony.  Need a pick me up before the big date or having a stressful week that has wreaked havoc on your skin.  Whether it is only a spot or more, Apothederm's Acne Clarifying Treatment is formulated to help clean up sebum and minimize pore size.  It's gentle, yet effective, meaning it won't irritate skin.  Sometimes life brings a breakout and what you need is a problem solver. 

     I get breakouts every so often... a pimple here and there. So having something like this in my drawer puts me a little at ease knowing I can apply this to it after cleaning my face. I just cover the affected area with a thin layer. It says you can apply 1-3 times a day but I would start with just once a day since it may cause your skin to become a little dry. 
     With me, I didn't get any dryness but I still started with once a day and then gradually worked my way up to three times. It's lightweight and absorbs immediately which was nice because then I can go and throw my makeup on right after. It did calm down a few pimples I had and made them not so noticeable which is great! But I didn't notice any pore minimizing during my trial of this. I think I may just have unshrinkable pores since nothing seems to work on me for that!
 

      "Skin care companies should deliver the claims they promise."  Somme Institute truly believes in this statement. A team of independent leading research and practicing dermatologists, were tired of having products not do what they claim to. In 1996, "clinical trials began testing ingredients to see what delivered results to the skin and what didn't. Through the use of Ultra Violet (UV) photography, participants' skin surface and subsurface conditions became visible. These advanced photographs enabled researchers to witness and analyze damage beneath the skin's surface-damage that would later appear in the form of dryness, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. 
      After over 10 years of testing, development and "tracking" more than 5,000 participants, Somme Institute® discovered and developed a Patented technology called Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5™)." Instead of me explaining take a look HERE to see what MDT5 is all about and why this technology helps make these outstanding products work!

     I spoke with a very nice PR coordinator named Catherine. She asked me about my skin to ensure that I have the best experience with their products and to make some recommendations. I told her about my skin and also how my nose gets flakey and really shows when I use powder makeup. Right away she already had a tip for me. Here is what she said: "Our esthetician suggests that when doing your Regimen at night, after applying A-Bomb (feel free to be liberal with the amount of product you apply at night—the skin really soaks it in); apply Vaseline or Aquaphor all over the nose. You should definitely see a difference within a couple of days." (It works!!)
     Before I even got the kit to begin with I was already pleased with their customer service and feel that anyone who has any type of skin issues that they would be a great deal of help and respond in a timely manner. Good customer service and knowledge makes for a happy customer! Even though I was already excited to try of their items, I was even more when I opened my package and saw what is pictured above! I had received the Nourishing Cleanser, Transport Pads, Serum, A-Bomb and Double Defense!  Here is how the regimen goes:

What is it? A non-foaming, non-comedogenic, non-drying gel cleanser containing Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5™), a patented technology of highly engineered vitamins A B3 B5 C & E designed to deep clean the skin while leaving it feeling soft and refreshed.

What did I think? A very super lightweight cleanser. Applies like a lotion and moisturized my skin while cleansing it. 

What is it? Saturated soft cotton pads with Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5™), and AHA to gently exfoliate dead cells on the skin's surface.

What did I think? I love these! There are 50 pads in the container and you only need one each time. My skin isn't really sensitive so these were quick and easy for me! I feel it could possibly be a little much if you have super sensitive skin, but you could just use it once a day or every other day. 

What is it? The advanced technology in Somme Institute®'s Serum combines Vitamin C along with a high concentration of Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5™). Serum helps reduce the visible signs of premature aging, smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and evens skin tone.

What did I think? This was one of my 2 favorites out of the bunch. It goes on super silky and absorbs nicely! Just gives an overall lovely feeling to my skin AND it's not a thick heavy serum! The bottle dispenses a perfect amount so you can apply as little or as much as you'd like.

What is it? A-Bomb is a lightweight cream containing Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5™), designed to help improve skin tone, texture and clarity, with a high concentration of Vitamins A & E. A-Bomb helps soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while targeting poor skin texture and dry skin. It calms and soothes the skin while promoting its vitality and firmness.

What did I think? A lightweight cream with some nice substance to it! This was the other of my favorite of the bunch. My skin almost gets excited for this step (I can feel it! Haha). A little goes a long way with this! Even if I put to much on my face, if I rub it in for a minute my skin absorbs it all and loves it! Super hydrating and the skin texture feels more fresh! Gives my skin that dewy glow!

What is it? Double Defense with SPF 30+ and Parsol 1789 is a light-weight moisturizing lotion. Double Defense protects the skin from premature aging while locking in vital moisture.

What did I think? I use this one every so often just because I really don't like the smell of sun screen. If you don't then you won't like the smell of this either. But with that being said, the best way to start protecting your skin is with an SPF so this product is needed and is great for those days your going to be outside anyways!

     I really have fallen in love with this system. It's super easy to follow and each and every time you have that dewy looking skin with hydration that you can feel! After a few weeks of routinely using just this skin care line, I can say I notice a difference in the redness of my skin, the overall texture and had a decrease in reoccurring pimples I get. I can not say to much about lines and wrinkles because I don't have them yet (phew), but I can say I would recommend this regimen to anyone looking to hydrate, reduce redness and improve their skin texture on their face.  You could even try out a trial/travel version of these products before purchasing the bigger sizes.

     The one thing I like/dislike above the line is the packaging. Maybe it's just my graphic design minor kicking in, but I have a love/hate feelings about it. It does achieve that clinical clean look but at the same time on the actual bottles it doesn't say "STEP ONE" etc. I wish in the circles on the front they put a number on it to tell which is what step. I mean, obviously after a few times of doing it you remember which is which but it's also just a nice visual. Other than that I'd suggest you check out their website out and see all the loads of information they have! It's very interesting and you can tell how dedicated they are!

     Just by looking at the picture above, how adorable is this company! This is what came in a little package for me to try out. It's a jar of body butter and two lip balms. Not only that but since the name of this company is Sweets Cosmetics, they also threw in a couple candy treats for me as well! What a cute idea and staying with the theme of their brand! Wrapping the lip balms in that same waxy paper like a candy was another adorable touch to their packaging!
     Sweets Cosmetics says they have 4 things that sets them apart from the rest: natural, homemade, local and delicious! Sweets products don't include parabens, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, petroleum, or deceptive marketing promises. So they are a pretty straight up type of company. They list the ingredients clearly on the packaging and are proud of their products which is great but they are also do sweet gestures. Since the beginning they have been donating products to local women's charities and plan to do it as long as the company stands! How SWEET! :)

     For over 50 years, Calgon has been dedicated to creating uniquely exhilarating bath
 and body experiences that stimulate the senses, restore the spirit and take you 
on a special, fragrant journey to the place you want to be.

     I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Hawaiian Ginger trio pictured above! They have a bunch of scents to choose from but this one stood out to me because of the orange and melon combination. Here is how Calgon described it: The invigorating aroma of orange and melon blends with the uplifting crispness of lemon and Hawaiian ginger in this clean, fresh fragrance. Precious woods and musk complete the sensuous affect.
     If that hasn't got your attention I'm not sure I know what will. This set is a perfect already packaged gift for any woman you know! It has a body mist, shower gel & foam bath, bath salts and a poof! I just wish it came with a lotion as well.

     "This unique 2-in-1 new formula is packed with nourishing oils to leave skin clean, moisturized and soft. Its luxuriously rich and creamy formula is infused with Vitamin E, Aloe and Shea Butter for a silky-smooth finish."

     I love products that serve more than one purpose. This product I used for a regular shower gel and as a bubble bath. Both experiences has left my bathroom and skin smelling fresh clean and yummy! The poof comes in super handy because I didn't have one prior to this gift set and helped lather up nice bubbles when using it for a body wash. The thing with Calgon products is they are affordable but don't smell cheap or wear off super fast. Quality is where it's at and I find that in these products.

     In the same refreshing scent, I have a 2 oz. body mist! This is the perfect size for your purse. I bring this with me everywhere and always get asked what I am wearing when I spray it. The scent is very work appropriate and since it is a mist it's light and this scent especially is a happy scent. That sounds weird, but if you try it you will know what I mean. I feel like I couldn't be angry or mad when wearing this fresh scent!

    "Enriched with minerals and essential oils, this exquisite new formula softens skin, eases tension and promotes well-being. The airtight cylinder preserves freshness, allowing for optimal restoration and revitalization with each use." This product is nice for a nice relaxing bath to decompress and wash away the day. This to me was the lightest I could smell of the scent. I am not a huge bath salt person by any means so maybe that's why I didn't favor to this as much as the other products but it did do what it is meant to and the oils do help make the skin soft but I just wish the scent was a little more present.
     Overall, I really love the quality of their scents and the affordable price that anyone can afford. Sometimes they say when you buy things that are cheap, then the product is most likely cheap. You get a bang for your buck with these and the scents are not cheap smelling which is what I loved most. If you want to try some of their products I would definetly suggest getting a kit like mine above to get a feel for their line. Great present idea as well!
 

     Fruit smoothie for your face! That's what I have here everyone! This little packet contains vitamin E, no gluten and is paraben free! It also contains raspberry, mango, apricot, peach and pomegranate! Don't try to drink it though, I promise it won't go down easy. 
      It is suitable for normal, dry, sensitive and combination type skin. I washed my face off with warm water then applied onto my face and neck and went online to do some online shopping for about 15 minutes! After that I washed off my face and my skin actually felt refreshed and like I washed away all the days grime.
     It does smell like anything raspberry, such as jello, drinks etc. I enjoyed it. What it did do which I didn't think it would since it said smoothie, was dry like a clay mask. It got really dry and tight as time went on, which I don't care for much because I don't like being able to not to talk, haha. But it did glide on easy and had PLENTY of product in one packet to do my face and even a little of someone else's face, which I loved that they were generous with their product. Now it was a little of a pain to rinse off, like any clay type mask but I really do like the fresh clean feeling after taking it all off. I can't wait to try the others!

     This packed contains a cold pressed Virgin Olive Oil mud masque for soft and supple skin. They added ultra-moisturising rich Shea & Cocoa butter which smooths your skin and cleanses it! This mask if found to work for dry, normal or sensitive skin. You can imagine with olive oil alone, how moisturizing this could be. But with the added Shea & Cocoa butter, it makes it that much better! Also, common sense, if you have oily skin, don't pick this up...it contains more oil!! 
     Now, I do look like I have the mask on from that Jim Carrey movie, but hey, you do what you got to do to keep your skin looking good right?! I applied this the same way as I did the one above and hung out until it was dried up. As you can see in the photo you can tell where it was drying and when my whole face turned that color I washed it off.
     I found it to smell like a baby wipe (clean one of course!) and that there was enough to do my face once. I could tell this one had less product in it than the first one because it JUST finished my whole face. (This one has .5 oz and the smoothie had .7 oz) Being a clay based it took a little bit of  scrubbing to get it off but the end result was nice and soft skin. So far impressed with these!

     Detox with our Green Tea Peel Off face masque for a deep cleansed, toned complexion. Experience the wellbeing of natural minerals, young Green Tea, root Ginger and reviving properties of squeezed Lemon to uplift and refresh skin. Ginger helps to reduce skin inflammation, whilst ensuring elasticity and firmness is maintained.There is also an antibacterial element which can help to cleanse skin, ridding it of trapped dirt and grime. It is also recommended for normal, oily and combination skin. I would also say those who are acne prone to since this does some deep cleaning of your pores.
     As the other masques, I applied and let sit for about 15 minutes. This isn't clay based
like the others, but more of a gel when applied. This packed had enough to cover my face and neck perfectly. It smelled nice, with the hint of green tea and lemon together. After a few minutes I could feel it drying but not as bad as the clay masques. Not to mention this goes on clear so I don't have to worry about scaring my fiancé with a scary green masque like the other day! Haha! 
     This was easy to peel off although it didn't come off in one giant piece it was still easy to remove. My skin felt very refreshed and a little brighter. It was very light on my face and I think this one is perfect for summer! I like the peel off masques a lot because of how much easier they are to take off than scrubbing a clay masque off.

• Suitable For Vegans
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Nut Derivative Free
• No Added Parabens

    Do you have dark spots or blotchy skin from the sun or just from aging?  This product is designed to harmlessly and naturally repair those little imperfections.
    Luminaze uses a catlaystic all natural ingredient to give your whole face a uniform look with excessive skin lightening or splotchyness. "Luminaze actually breaks down melanin for a visible improvement in the appearance of dark spots and overall evenness of skin tone in only 7 days"
    This product works hard at removing these skin issues, but is also so gentle that it can be used daily with your regular face routine.  To get the actual breakdown of how the science of this product works click HERE.
    A product like this that doesn't have those harsh chemicals to get rid of discoloration on your skin is a huge plus to me. As I've said before, if you start with a clean canvas and nice skin, your already going to make your makeup look 10x more flawless!   
    You can try this out at any Nordstrom in the USA or The Bay in Canada. 

DreamBelly Butter is designed to help protect and nourish your skin as it stretches to accommodate your growing belly during your pregnancy.

     Being pregnant can be on of the most amazing experiences a woman goes through in her life, but the aftermath can be scarring and not so amazing. So that's why I am sharing with you this thick butter that you can use during your pregnancy to help prevent the tearing of your skin while it's trying to stretch to accommodate to the child and their growth rate. Not only that but using a thick hydrating butter keeps your skin more elastic and help prevent any kind of marks even if your not pregnant but may experience rapid weight gain.
     DreamBelly Butter has such a nice uplifting light scent that I love! Along with the lovely light fragrance, the texture of this butter is thick and has the consistency of butter, literally. Tomy (my fiancé) said it looks like cream cheese, I had to convince him not to try to eat it because he loves the smell as well!! 
     Since I am not pregnant I use this as a regular moisturizer and I only have to put this on after the shower in the morning and I honestly didn't need to reapply later because of the quality of the ingredients kept my skin feeling super soft. For those of you who are pregnant they say to apply to your belly twice daily.
     The butter combines natural, plant-derived butters and oils for deep moisturizing along with antioxidants from grapefruit and rosehip oil to heal, soothe, and revitalize strained skin. All those oils help repair and/or lighten any kind of dark stretch marks as well. They hit the nail on the head with that description. I really feel like my skin feels healthy when I apply this and find myself touching my skin a lot more because of the feeling. It doesn't quite absorb and melt into the skin like a light moisturizer, so you will be able to feel the richness on your skin for a few hours which is a great feeling! I know once I am pregnant I will be giving this a try because my skin is nowhere near dry with this and will prevent my skin from tearing at the dermis layer!

     If you knew buying a certain brand of skin care items could benefit a lot of other people in need would that sway you more to lean towards those kinds of products? Doing one simple thing like buying products like these face products pictured above from Alaffia can make a difference.     
     Alaffia is an advancing gender equality and alleviating poverty through the fair trade of handcrafted shea butter in Togo, West Africa. As if that isn't great enough, the price of each of these items are affordable and work fantastic! I have been using them for a few weeks and my skin has really taken a liking to the cleanser, toner and cream. It's a great little system I use daily.

     The first step every morning and night I do is grab the facial cleanser. The one I have here is for normal or combination-oily skin. It is meant to refreshen and protect your skin throughout the day. It has proven moisturizing properties of unrefined shea butter with the antioxidant power of virgin coconut oil, Rooibos tea and African wild honey! Soooo, if all those ingredients don't scream out "I MOISTURIZE" then I don't know what does! 
     It's super lightweight too which I love. It spreads on evenly and doesn't feel like I have a heavy cream cleanser on my face just a light lotion like cleanser. First I just wet my face and neck and then rubbed in circles with my finders to get rid of makeup, dirt and oil. When I washed my face off with my washcloth the water had a gray tint to it, so that was a proven fact that this lightweight cleanser has a huge cleaning power punch to it. I could see all the days wear on my face go down the drain. Only $13.95!

     Next step I use is the Facial Toner. Before jumping into spraying this, make sure you shake it up. It can separate in the bottle, which is natural, so just give it a good shake first.  After cleansing my skin and actually being able to FEEL the clean skin, I pat my face dry and mist my face and neck with the toner. Then I gently pressed the Facial Toner onto the skin. You can also use this throughout the day to refresh and revitalize your skin if it's feeling dull.
     What the toner does is balances your skin's pH, maximize hydration and provides extra protection against environmental damage with all those lovely ingredients that are in the cleanser above. After I spray this onto my face and pat it lightly and give it a minute to dry, I can feel a little bit of tightness on my skin but not the least bit of a dry feeling. I like the way it feels, I just have to hold my breath when doing it because I don't care for the natural smell it has.  Only $11.85!

     I love this Face Cream!! I apply this after I allow a little time for the toner to dry up. I squeeze some onto my fingers and rub into my face and neck.  It improves the texture of my skin and also relaxes my skin after the toner. It leaves my face feeling baby soft and actually it felt really hydrated. It claims to diminish fine lines but I am lucky enough not to yet have them! :P
     It again has all the same moisturizing ingredients as the other two products along with others that help maintain your skin and have it looking and feeling clean and soft. This is actually the face cream I go to even when I am not using the cleanser or toner that day. I just am a sucker for a soft face, especially when after I already applied the cream, I keep on touching my skin because of the silky feeling it gives!  This one is the most expensive of the three at $16.95, but so worth it and a little goes a long way.

     Suuthe by Mari products are created to provide fast, natural relief from severe to 
mild skin conditions. They are capable of soothing, repairing, maintaining, preserving 
and protecting your skin. Suuthe formulations have been created by combining some 
of the world’s oldest and most effective ingredients. Each ingredient was chosen for
its own unique qualities and ability to have a positive effect on the skin. As a result 
we are proud to bring you a line of skin products that truly work!

     "Skin Repair is a synergistic blend of some of nature's most magnificent healing ingredients.  Mari developed damaged skin repair when her son was suffering from very dramatic eczema. She could not find a skin product on the market that helped him so she decided to make her own Skin Repair product."  It is naturally anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and anti inflammatory and works with skin issues from rashes to open wounds and stretch marks to arthritis.  Talk about a universal product! That's what I like to hear!
     This product contains different kinds of oils, shea butter and other yummy stuff for your skin to drink up! This works wonderfully and makes my skin nice and soft without a real greasy feeling. It has an herbal smell to it as most natural products have.  I found it helped calm down the bumps on my arms and make them a little less sensitive which was nice! I think I could find myself using this more in the winter when it's dry and cold out!

     The lip balm is very similar to the skin repair, almost the same thing in lip balm form. It's oval shaped which was kind of different. I'm used to the same old round shape but I liked it! It contains emu oil, shea butter, organic olive oil, bees wax and essential oils. (Same as the the Skin Repair. The only thing I'm not sure if I am all excited about is the emu oil, because it's rendered fat from an Emu (a big bird).
     Putting aside thinking about the ingredients, I liked how well both products worked. I said it before, but I really find these coming in super hand during the winter when my skin gets dry and cracks because of the lack of moisture. My skin will appreciate these!

Skin Repair - Price varies depending on size you want
Lip Balm - $4.50