Simply Earth Subscription Box (Giveaway/Review)

Do you enjoy using essential oils in simple DIY projects to create homemade natural alternatives to commercial products?  I do, and I have a modest collection of oils and books of ideas to work with, but often I never get around to doing half of what I'd like, due to missing one vital item or another.

Simply Earth is a monthly subscription box that is delivered to you for $39.00 a month that makes it easy to build your oil collection and provides six projects a month with necessary tools and four essential oils.

Simply Earth Bonus Box

Each month tends toward a seasonal theme, making the whole thing a lovely way to learn a few techniques with the help of just a few pieces of equipment you are sure to have on hand.  Many of the projects are quick and simple enough to do with children.

When you first sign up for the subscription, along with the current month's Recipe Box, you will receive their Bonus Box that contains six amber vials, six roller ball bottles, a small jar, solid coconut oil, liquid coconut oil, almond oil, and beeswax pellets.

These supplies are used often in each month's recipe collections, and a new Bonus Box is delivered every six months as long as you have a subscription.

I received the January Box along with the Bonus Box for review and I was intrigued as I explored the contents after opening it.

The January theme was body and skin care - perfect for these winter months that can make us so dry!

The monthly recipe box came neatly packaged with four essential oils, a packet of multicolor pastel tapioca beads, a silicon square mold, two lip balm tubes, six recipe cards and a sheet of stickers for labeling the completed projects.

The four essential oils for January are Bergamot, Myrrh, Ravensara, and a blend called Farewell Scars made up of Lemon, Lavender, Rosemary, Myrrh, and Helichrysum.

I was most curious about the Ravensara as I had no previous experience with it.   It is touted as an oil that helps with seasonal illnesses and has a calming effect that increases confidence.  The scent was highly reminiscent of anise, so it was no surprise to discover its botanical name is Ravensara anisata. I find the scent to be very pleasant and was pleased to find that it is often used during cold season much the way eucalyptus would, to clear stuffy heads.

The first and simplest project was a confidence diffuser blend that used bergamot and ravensara.  I added it to a tea candle style infuser and set about to work through the other projects.

Both the Skin Healing Booster Roll On for minor injuries and scar care, and the delightful Skin Renewal Sugar Scrub were quick to make and would be easy for children to make as gifts with adult supervision.

The Calming and Uplifting Body Butter required a mixer to whip the ingredients together, but otherwise was also very simple to put together, and the result was sublime - I have so enjoyed using this and will definitely be making up another batch when it's gone.

The last two projects - the Lip Rejuvenating Lip Balm and Relaxing Textured Massage Bar  (which is where the tapioca beads come in) both required melting wax and coconut oil over a double boiler or similar alternative.   I used a glass measuring cup so I'd have an easy way to pour the contents into the lip balm tubes and square mold - I found that hooking the handle over the edge of the pot and suspending it in boiling water was the easiest way to keep the handle available to pick up with a potholder when it was time.

As a tip - remember not to use hot water to remelt the remains of wax on your tools with hot running water and let it go down the sink!  It'll reharden in your pipes.  Instead, wait until it is nearly cool but still soft and wipe out thoroughly with a paper towel before washing.

Both of these projects worked out just as described - of the two, I like the massage bar best. The lip balm is not quite creamy enough for my winter-dry lips to use without pulling at them.

All in all, I found this subscription box to be a lot of fun, and a great value - the four oils included go for a total of $64.96 on the website - that, along with several projects and supplies to get familiar with using them make the $39 a month cost a real bargain.  Add to that the free $40 Bonus Box that arrives the first month of your subscription and you will be all set for several months of fun and a collection of homemade natural products to enjoy.

If you've ever wanted to try out a few DIY techniques using essential oils or to grow your essential oil pantry, Simply Earth may be the perfect subscription box for you.

The February Box will be all about making your own cosmetics!

If you subscribe following using the code RCHFREE you will receive a free $20 gift card with your first subscription box and bonus box! You can use the gift card for individual purchases on Simply Earth or the next box.


Simply Earth is also allowing us to host a giveaway for the February Box plus Bonus Box - read on to see how you can enter to win!

UPDATE:  This giveaway was originally for the January Recipe Box plus Bonus as described above - however January has now sold out and the winner of our Giveaway will receive the FEBRUARY Recipe Box plus Bonus Box.   Check here for a sneak peek, and if you want to subscribe, don't delay - these things do sell out before the end of the month!

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One winner in the US will win a February Simply Earth Subscription Box plus Bonus Box (value $79.00).

This Giveaway ends at just before midnight ET February 4, 2019.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning. (If you don't leave a comment, any additional entries will be void.)

The winner will be notified by email 24 to 48 hours after the end of the giveaway by email. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.
 Good luck!

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Review/Giveaway: Zim's Max Crack Creme

If the bottoms of your feet and heels resemble a topographical map of the surface of Mars, you need Zim’s Max Crack Creme.

My feet have looked like that for years. Hard callouses, rigid, thickened skin and ravine-like cracks — especially on my heels — have been with me for years. Along the backs of my ankles lay strips of dried, dead, discolored skin,  dark, rough and seemingly permanent.

Then my wife, Lynda, received some Max Crack Crème to review, and after using it a little while on her hands, suggested I give it a try on my feet.

Warning! Ugly feet pictures ahead!

I warned you!

I didn't have high hopes - like I said, I was sure this was a permanent problem for me. Zim’s, despite my initial skepticism, put an end to all that.

After 1 week - softer surrounding skin, cracks no longer 'raw'.

After less than two months it’s made my feet almost normal again. The dead cells along the backs of my ankles sloughed off with just a little scrubbing after just a week of treatment.

And over the next six weeks or so, the cracks closed up and the skin became softer.

The heels are still thickened, and that might just be a natural result of wearing shoes; but they are much, much better, and I think I can continue to improve them by using a pumice stone and continuing to use Max Crack Crème.

Zim’s products are all-natural, and cover a wide range of skin-care needs: moisturizing, pain relief, diabetic care and wound care, to name a few.

Max Crack Crème is meant for any part of the body where skin is subject to drying and cracking, including hands and fingers as well as feet. (And needless to say, it quickly took care of winter dryness on my wife's hands before she turned it over to me.)

It comes in an oily liquid formula and a creamy gel version. Ideally, you should use the two in tandem — the creamy daytime formula during the day when it can be held close to the skin by socks or gloves, and the liquid formula just before bed.

That’s just how I used it for my feet. I rubbed the cream on my heels and ankles each morning, just before getting dressed, and the liquid just before going to bed. (I could have used multiple applications during the day, but I didn’t want to be taking my socks and shoes off frequently while working.)

After a week of use, I used a washcloth in the shower to scrub off the dead cells behind my ankles, and they washed right off like so much dirt. This after years of my looking at them and sighing in frustration.

I tried not to track progress on the cracks too closely, checking just once a week or so. I noticed visible improvement each week, until just before writing this review, when the latest pictures in this review were taken.

Now, while I have seen much improvement, I'm not done yet. I plan to continue using the product to maintain it.

After 6 weeks, amazing progress!

I will make one minor observation - the all-natural ingredients, including Arnica Oil, that make up these product are not scent-free. There is a noticeable scent that is pretty strong on application - it's not chemical, and in fact I think it smells pretty good. It settles down after a few minutes, but it was a surprise at first and may mean you want to give yourself a few minutes before heading out in public.

Zim's Max Crack Crème is readily available in the nearby grocery store, but you can also buy it online direct from the company or other online retailers, and is very reasonably priced. Zim’s products are all described as either all-natural or “natural-based,” and the company does not test them on animals.

In my opinion, Zim’s is one of those rare products that delivers on its promised results and even exceeds expectations. Zim's has been around for 60 years, and the pharmacist who originally developed their line of products was specifically seeking a solution to the cracked skin issues of local cement workers - it's a hardworking solution to a tough problem.

If your skin is in need of care, give it a try.  Two of our US readers will each be receiving a tube of the Daytime Formula and a bottle of the Original/Nighttime formula, courtesy of Zims! Read on to see how you can enter to win this Giveaway.

http://www.zimsusa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/zimsusa

https://twitter.com/zimsusa

https://www.pinterest.com/zimsusa/

https://www.youtube.com/user/ZimsUsa

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning. (If you don't leave a comment, any additional entries will be void.)

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY and will end just before midnight ET on 4/13. 

The winners will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winners have responded and confirmed, their first names will be posted on our Giveaways  page.

Good luck!

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Review: Squatty Potty

As I sit upon my porcelain throne I ponder the great questions in life: Why is my 2 year old staring at me? Do I have any notifications on Facebook? Oh no. My phone is almost dead. Where did I leave my charger? What was my wife asking me to do 5 minutes ago? Oh yea. Change the baby's diaper. Ooh. Look at this picture of a cat. What was I supposed to do again? Why is my wife yelling? What time is it? Its been 30 minutes?!

OK. So I have a bit of a confession to make. Yes, it does often take me longer to drop the kids off at the pool than it does my wife.  But lets face it guys, a lot of the time we spend on the toilet is spent playing games on our phones, browsing Facebook, or watching fail videos on YouTube. Sorry to ruin it for you, but you know its true. We read about how to build a deck, the newest, fastest car or computer that just came out or how to make our wives happier (lol...right). We play Clash of Clans or Candy Crush on our phones. This is our time. Our few minutes of the day to escape and decompress.
The idea of taking less time in the bathroom can be a little scary for some of us.

But let me be the first to tell you that it's okay to spend less time backing the big brown motor-home out of the garage, especially when it leaves you with an oddly satisfying feeling of emptiness inside.

The first few times I used my Squatty Potty, I didn't think there was much of a difference. Why is this any different than leaning forward while you bomb the porcelain sea? I already do that.

But then it happened. I finally got it set right. The stool was the perfect distance from the toilet, my feet were perfectly spaced, and I had the perfect posture. It was as if someone had given me the greatest gift of my life. For the first time ever, I felt empty inside in a good kind of way. A way that is hard to describe.

Imagine this: You've been trying to clear out some inventory for days, but it just isn't happening. You've done everything you could think of including drinking 5 cups of coffee in 3 hours. Your stomach is cramping and you feel like you could die. Then it happens. You finally release the corn-eyed butt snake into the wild. Be free, butt snake! Live your life as you were meant to!

This is how every porcelain adventure feels with the Squatty Potty.

I get it. There're a lot of people who doubt it. There're also a lot of people who understand how it works but still haven't tried it.

Then there are those of us who have. There are those of us who can't live without it.

I want to buy 2 more: one for our second bathroom and one to keep at work. I find myself cringing when I have to go at work knowing that it won't be as epic and awesome as it is at home. Most people dislike birthing the brown dragon in public bathrooms for different reasons. I, and other Squatty Potty users, have our own selfish reasons.

In all seriousness though, I have never felt this great. I don't know how I lived before the Squatty Potty. It has changed my life for the better.

I spend less time in the bathroom and more time with my family and I literally feel better than I ever have. The price for the Squatty Potty Ecco Stool from their website is $29.00. They offer free shipping on any order over $19.99.

There are 3 other versions of the stool. The slim with teak finish is priced at $60.00,  the Tao bamboo adjustable model sells for $80.00, and the portable model that folds up for traveling sells for $35.00.

They also offer a line of t-shirts and toilet sprays. Not only can you poop better but you can smell and look better too!

And a note for our readers in Europe, they fit nicely under European style toilets as well!!

I sincerely hope that if you have even been remotely considering purchasing one that my review helps to push in the right direction (pun intended). The next time you feel the need to drop a depth charge do so from the right angle and altitude. ;-)

You've still got a few days to order one of these magical devices from their website and get it in time for Christmas - and you should. Someone you know wants one, and may not even know it yet.  If it's you, get two.

https://www.squattypotty.com/
https://www.facebook.com/squattypotty
https://twitter.com/squattypotty
https://www.pinterest.com/squattypotty/
https://www.instagram.com/squattypotty/
https://www.youtube.com/user/MySquattyPotty

Review/Giveaway: Joanne's Cocoon Bar Soaps

I have hair and skin that dries out significantly, then explodes into an oily mess if I use body products that contain sulfates. Artificial fragrances tend to make me itchy as well, so I try to stick to products that include as little nonsense as possible. Bar soaps usually contain fewer ingredients, and often times fewer ingredients equals less irritation.

People are attracted to liquid body washes because they tend to have more lather (which they associate with “clean”—not necessarily the case) and the scent tends to last longer because the perfumes used have more staying power, but are also more irritating to the skin.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) as well as other sulfates are what are responsible for the lather in your body wash, shampoo, and even toothpaste. Unfortunately for those who are sensitive, they can also be harsh and drying to the skin.

Bar soap is nice in that it doesn’t generally contain SLS or any other sulfates to produce lather. The problem with most bar soaps, however, is the “tightness” feeling you get from the strength of the soap.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the soap from Joanne’s Cocoon has none of those issues.

I received a generous supply of 14 bars of soap to try out, two of each scent. So for this, I gave some to my mom to try, who does not have explosively sensitive skin, but who is somewhat picky in her scent preferences.

One thing in particular that I noticed about all of the soaps is that they last, without softening into a squishy mass that splats and goes down the drain if you accidentally step on it (oddly specific, yes, but this is a thing that I have experienced).

All of the soaps are organic, made with goat’s milk, natural essential oils and tinctures. Most of them actually contain bits of plant matter in them as well, which I think is extremely cool. I used each with a bath puff and they lathered well without having to go back for more, and they didn’t have that drying, tight feeling that most bar soaps have.

Each bar has it's own personality and purpose.

Espresso Enfold— an exfoliating bar with coffee, vanilla, and cacao: This one smells like creamy coffee and the most like food. I’m not a big fan of dessert-type scents as a personal preference, but would be good for someone who likes that sort of thing.

Orange Cloak—Orange, French red clay, calendula: Fresh orange scent with a slight hint of cloves. Calendula leaves are pressed into the soap.  These ingredients work together to encourage skin elasticity and hydration, making for an excellent anti-aging soap.

Mint Wrap—Spearmint, rosemary, peppermint: In the words of my mom, “this smells like chewing gum”. Astringent, minty and kind of tingly, but not for everyone. Dried mint leaves are pressed into the soap.

Swathe of Herbs –Patchouli, juniper berry, and tobacco tincture: This one probably sounds the weirdest, but is a great combination. I suppose this could be considered the most “rustic” of all of the scents, but all temper each other. Definitely one of my favorites, this bar is excellent for soothing combination to oily skin.

Citrus Case—Lemon, lime, and tangerine: This is mom’s favorite. Light and refreshing, it’s supposed to be the skin-clearing bar. I haven’t used it long enough to determine how well it clears the skin, but it smells great.

Lavendula Cover—Lavender, Benzoin, and bergamot: Mom doesn’t like the scent of lavender as a personal preference, too English-teacher-old-ladyish for her. I like it the best, though, and the bergamot gives it a floral-but-not-too-sweet balance.  This soap is designed to treat dry skin and excema.

Honey, I’m Home—Honey and Oatmeal: This one doesn’t have much of a scent, but was noticeably more moisturizing than the others. Actual oats are pressed into the soap. This would probably be good for someone with skin irritation or dry skin issues.

The scents of each of the bars are great, but don’t have staying power for very long after the shower. Such is the nature of natural scents, however. You get to enjoy them in the bath and then they’re done. If you want something that will stay in your pores for any length of time, you’re going to have to buy a liquid detergent, and your skin doesn't want you to do that.

Each bar of Joanne's Cocoon soap costs $4.75, and is available on either their website or on Etsy. Joanne's also sells 3 two-pack sets of bars that go well together for $9.99:

~ Enrich / Even Tone Set (Lavendula Cover & Honey, I'm Home)
~ Exfoliate / Anti-Aging Set (Espresso Enfold & Orange Cloak)
~ Refresh / Rejuvenate (Mint Wrap & Swathe of Herbs)

Joanne’s Cocoon has generously offered to give away one (1) two-pack of your choice to three lucky readers in the US. Keep reading to see how you can enter to win!

https://www.joannescocoon.com/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JoannesCocoon/
https://www.facebook.com/JoannesCocoon/
https://www.instagram.com/joannescocoon/

To enter the giveaway, you must leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY and will end just before midnight ET on 7/27. 

The winners will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winners have responded and confirmed, their first names will be posted on our Giveaways  page.

Good luck!

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Review: Natural Traditions Hand & Body Lotion

Having sensitive skin has me always on the lookout for products that are made with as few artificial ingredients as possible. Unfortunately, not all natural products are gentle either, which can prove extremely frustrating.  

NaturalTraditions, a company that makes all natural, organic, skin care products, was a welcome antidote to that frustration for me. Using gentle, organic ingredients and essential oils, Natural Traditions offers many different options for those wanting a more natural and gentle way to take care of their skin care needs.

I was able to try out their 4oz bottle of All Natural Hand & Body Lotion ($9.00) in their popular scent Lavender and Rose. 

When I got it in my mailbox, I was actually in some dire need of a good restorative hand lotion, as the heels of my hands were starting to resemble sandpaper, and not the fine grit stuff either. 

 Of course, I immediately slathered some on my poor palms. 

In all honesty, it felt like I was smoothing a layer of silk onto and into my hands. The lotion is very creamy and not at all runny, like some can be, even in 98 degree weather! 

 As for the scent, I was informed that the rose part of the lavender and rose was actually a rose blend, due to the cost of pure rose essential oil, which I don't mind.  All the other essential oils they use are pure do Terra brand oils.

(Seriously though, I have pure rose essential oil on my holiday wish list because I can't see spending that much on one little bottle for myself, so I understand using a blend.) 

Unfortunately, though, using a rose blend meant that the only thing I could really smell was the lavender. 

96 degrees and still not runny, even with coconut oil as an ingredient.

I can be really picky about my lavender scents, but because Natural Traditions uses only essential oils to make them smell yummy, I had no problem smelling the herbaceous lavender every time I used it (which was often). 

I found the smell so relaxing that I actually keep it next to my bed, and use it before falling asleep on my hands and feet.   


Even after just that first use, I could feel a change in my rough hands.  

After only a week, there was a night and day difference in my hands.  Instead of rough grit fit for only a rough sanding, the heels of my palms were once again smooth as a baby's bottom, a glorious return to my normal silky hands!

Because I really couldn't smell the rose, when I have to replace the lotion, I will probably choose a different scent.  I do love the creamy silky feel of my skin when I use the lotion, so I believe I've found a company I can stick with for my skincare needs! 

 I know that one of their gift sets would be perfect for anybody looking for a gentler skin care gift!

http://www.naturaltraditions.net/

https://www.facebook.com/Natural-Traditions-1596851783926861/

Review/Giveaway: Coconut & Company #COCOBESTIE

Dry skin and eczema arenot the best two things to have as a combined skin condition - most products solve the problem for one but irritates the other.  It's something I've battled for years.

So when given the chance to try Coconut & Company's Virgin Coconut Oil For Beauty, I wondered which issue will it help and which will it hinder?

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed when opening was the smell of the coconut oil.

Now, since I don't eat coconut I asked my husband if it smelled the same, and he said he does. I also recalled that I have seen coconut oil in the oil section at the grocery store, so I brought some and it actually smells the same.

I'm not sure if that would be a plus for anyone, considering that you could pretty much smell like the same cooking oil. (My aversion may be the result of my sensitive pregnancy nose.)

As I do have dry skin, I did a test area first to make sure it didn't make me itchy. One day later no itch and I needed lotion everywhere else that I didn't place the test area. It was still soft and hydrated.

Factors to Consider
The next thing I noticed after using it for the first time after that initial test was that a little goes a VERY LONG way.

I was very excited that one application would last me through the day as well as the next morning.
This product makes your skin soft, and after a few hours you can still have that soft feeling without looking like a grease ball.

That is the biggest downside for me - for a good long while, it really does feel greasy before soaking into your skin. Now, that could be due to me applying a lot, but even when I used on my son who also has eczema, he was very shiny for a long time, which some people would find OK, but not me.  If you use this, you'll want to try as little as possible and see what amount will work without undue greasiness.

Also, I want to note that I did not use this product every day due to just not wanting to smell like coconut oil everyday. Unlike using coconut butter, the smell it not something I find to be an everyday scent.  The good news is, the results are so long lasting, that there is little need to apply daily.

Ways to Use Coconut & Co
As far as making my skin soft, not making me itchy and lasting throughout the day, Coconut & Co. works perfectly!

I wanted to see how else I could use this product, so I started to research other things that I could do with it.

As a women with natural hair that seems to always to be dry, I remembered that I actually have products that I use for my hair that have coconut oil as one of the ingredients. After asking around, I found that some women use a small amount of coconut oil and water to detangle their hair.

When I tried that with this product, not only did it help with detangling but also with shedding. When I continued my hair regiment after adding Coconut & Co Coconut Oil to my routine, I noticed that was I was having less and less shedding. By using COCONUT OIL!!  Why did I not know about this sooner?

Another way was to use coconut oil right out of the shower is to apply it to damp skin without drying first, and then lightly towel dry or air dry. This provides very soothing and hydrating coverage to your skin.

Now as someone that is pregnant my skin gets even dryer, and after the first time I tried it, I was sold and now I use it every single day!  Remember how I said above that I was avoiding using it daily, due to the scent?  Well, I noticed that I don't smell like coconut oil as much as the day goes on when I apply it to wet skin just out of the shower - so that was a huge plus. I think this must be because the pores are opened from the warm moist shower, and the coconut oil is absorbed faster than when it is applied to dry skin.

Nighttime Hair Moisturizing Spray / Detangler Spray
Coconut Oil has a very low melting point - at 76F, it goes from a solid to a liquid.  Since that's the case,  I started to place 1 tablespoon and some warm/hot water in a spray bottle, and that would be my dry late night hair spray before wrapping my hair up for the night.  It works well as a detangler before combing through damp hair, as well.

Conclusion
So hydrated soft curly hair, hydrated soft skin throughout the day and a great moisturizer for both! WINNING!

I truly love this product and am even happier that my entire family can also benefit from using it.

If you want something that can make your skin softer and in my opinion healthier, as well as your hair, I would definitely give this product a try!

Coconut & Co. is available in several sizes, from a 2 oz. container for $9.00 up to a 32 oz tub for $45, and can be purchased world wide.

GIVEAWAY
Coconut & Co. is generously offering an 8 oz BESTIE JAR ($19 value) to THREE lucky winners in the US!  If you have skin, you want in on this one, so read on to see how you can enter to win!

http://coconutandcompany.myshopify.com    

https://facebook.com/coconutandcompany 

https://twitter.com/coconutandco  

To enter the giveaway, you must leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY and will end just before midnight ET on 4-27. 

The winners will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winners have responded and confirmed, their first names will be posted on our Giveaways  page.

Good luck!

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