On the Second Day of TwitterFest, SproutBaby Will Give YOU This

Each day, SproutBaby will tweet a 40% discount URL on one of the hundreds of eco-friendly items available on Sproutbaby.com. Think that's a good deal?  Every seventh person to purchase this item will be awarded a free gift!

Today's Twitterfest deal from SproutBaby.com is 40% off all Smiling Planet Plates and Placemats. Simply follow @sproutbabyclub on twitter and look for the special link to purchase.

If you are one of the lucky seventh buyers, you will be rewarded with a FREE Sweet Knee Oatmeal Cookie Bath.

Watch as Sproutbaby.com’s youngest employee, 4-year-old Eden and mom Emily tell us about today's deal. Visit http://www.youtube.com/sproutbabyclub for their special video!

A little bit about Smiling Planet:

Smiling Planet is a family owned and operated company, local to SproutBaby headquarters in Marina Del Rey, California.


Their earth-friendly plates contain no BPA, no phthalates, no lead and no toxic inks. They are independently tested and are made from 100% recycled, medical grade polypropylene plastic. To complete the sustainability loop, in addition to being 100% recycled, the plates are 100% recyclable for true "cradle to cradle" manufacturing.


Why We Like It

Well, if that weren't enough...the designs are adorable! Each plate features a unique design sure to catch the attention of your little one. Plus, in a unique innovation, the designs are placed subsurface, so utensils won't scratch them.


Disclaimer:  I was not paid nor compensated for this post.

ThermaFuse HeatSmart Serum Review

ThermaFuse products are formulated to protect and repair heat-styled hair by utilizing their registered technology HeatSmart Complex.  This combines a silicone molecule with a wheat protein molecule that penetrates to smooth frazzled cuticles while adding a shine.  This HeatSmart Complex works three times better at an elevated temperature which is what occurs when you blow dry and use hot irons/curling irons on your hair.  The Ceramide-2 and Ceramide-6 helps to replace the hair's natural glue that is often destroyed by the heat.

ThermaFuse HeatSmart Serum is a leave-in treatment, styler and finisher that will instantly absorb, provides a light soft non-greasy feel while delivering a smooth shine.  It is for all types of hair with a proprietary blend of three certified organic oils:  Argan, Acai and Flaxseed. 

I found it's really a light weight formula that did not weigh my hair down nor give it that greasy look that some other anti-frizz or shine products do.  It's alcohol free so it won't dry it out either and the oils really do make your hair shiny, frizz free and soft.  I applied it to damp hair and it was much easier to comb through as I have major tangle issues having curly hair.  I like ThermaFuse HeatSmart Serum because it has certified organic botanicals and white tea extract and no artificial coloring. 

The aroma was a mild vanilla musk with a touch of blackberry and rasberry.  It was very pleasant.  I really did like this product and will continue to use it as it's kept my hair frizz free even on rainy days.  I love that it didn't weigh it down or give a greasy look and feel.

It sells as a 2 ounce bottle retail at $19 or 6.8 ounce professional.

ThermaFuse has an entire collection of hair care products:

• Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo and Condition
• Sulfate-Free Strength Shampoo and Condition
• Sulfate-Free Weightless Shampoo and Condition
• Sulfate-Free Color Keeper Shampoo and Condition
• Sulfate-Free Relief Dandruff Shampoo and Condition

ThermaFuse's Treatment Collection includes:

• Sulfate-Free Color Brite Shampoo and Leave In Conditioner
• Asset Astingent for itchy scalp
• HeatSmart Dry Oil Treatment
• Intense Repair Deep Conditioner

ThermaFuse Stylers:

• Fixxe Volume Mousse
• Boost Thickening Spray
• Esculpt Medium-Firm Gel
• Control Extra-Firm Gel
• Straight Smoothing Balm
• Coil Curl Definer
• Shine Polishing Sporay
• TAC Texture Taffy

ThermaFuse Sprays:

• Support Working Spray
• Nuage Finishing Spray
• Uphold Aerosol Spray

Find a spa/salon near you to try it yourself by clicking HERE.

Earth Baby Organic Forget Me Knot Hair Detangler Review

UPDATE:  After getting to try this product, I love it so much that I just purchased two more detanglers and a shampoo.  The scent left on the girl's hair is AMAZING! 

I highly recommend this for any child!

Earth Baby provided their organic Baby Hair Detangler for my review. What I thought was cute were the words "Forget me Knot" imprinted on the bottle. I was given the opportunity to review this product because of my membership at The Product Review Place.

When I received the Baby Hair Detangler, I liked the bottle as it was attractive and had a tiny picture of the endangered Tarsier Monkey which they are a friend of (support through charity). The bottle was white with light green accents and had an easy flip up top. I stress that as I almost bust my fingernails opening other bottles.

All you need is a quarter size of the detangler and it went a long way on my daughter's hair. It smelled amazingly good too. She has to use medicated shampoo so this was a welcome change to the smell. The texture of the detangler was smooth and washed out of her hair with ease. Some products require a lot of rinsing but this didn't.

Her dad usually brushes her hair after a bath so I asked him how it rated and he said "no rats!" This was a first as she always has rats so this hair brushing event went on with no "ouchs" or "that hurts!"

Earth Baby organic products are made in the USA. Earth Baby products contain organic and natural ingredients in efficacious hypoallergenic combinations to cleanse and protect baby’s skin as purely as possible. All ingredients and formulations meet the most rigorous standards of quality and safety.

Earth Baby uses advanced award-winning technology and for more information, visit http://www.earthbaby-organics.com/pages/our-tech

Earth Baby is the first organic company to develop a line of baby products using the best and most advanced technology in the baby product category called OleoSpheres™.

Earth Baby’s own OleoSpheres technology, winner of the Frost & Sulliven Technology Innovation of the Year Award in the category of personal care application. This allows targeted delivery of natural nutrients in safflower oil in the skin. This moisturizer, emollient, and emulsifier in one received the Ecocert compliance and approval.

• Finalist in the 2009 Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors Cosmetic Innovators of the Year for Personal Care Product Innovation.
• Finalist in the 2009 Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors Cosmetic Innovators of the Year for Personal Care Package Design.
• 2008 Innovation Awards Finalist Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

You can purchase them online or from Amazon (three actual products attached but more are available).





Earth Baby has everything you need ranging from moisturizing wipes, baby lotion, refreshing mist, bath gel, diaper rash cream, sunscreen, baby shampoo, cosmetic bags, diaper totes and changing mats or you can purchase the entire collection.

If you are concerned about what you are placing on your child, want a product made in the USA, want to support a business that supports great charities and was created based on more than 30 year’s of experience, try Earth Baby. I will have to try out more products since we love the Detangler.


Here are the product information and ingredients in the Organic Forget Me Knot Hair Detangler:

• hypoallergenic
• tear free
• certified organic ingredients
• pediatrician recommended
• OleoSpheres™technology
• manufactured in the U.S.A.
• 6 FL OZ/ 177 mL ℮

Baby Hair Detangler leaves hair tangle-free and easy.

Our creamy detangler conditions hair as it separates strands for easy combing and brushing. The fragrant Chamomile, Vanilla, Honey and Mango formula is pH-balanced and packed with rich jojoba and murumuru butter to leave hair silky soft and full of shimmer and shine.

Ingredients:

• Lippia Citriodora (Lemon Verbena) Extract, Ceteary Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Carthamus Tinctorious (Safflower) Oleosomes, Astrocaryum Murumuru Butter, Jojoba Alcohol , Potassium Jojobate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (and) Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Water (and) Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract (Fresh Cells), Fragrance (Parfum).

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. BOTANICAL INGREDIENTS. PURE JOY.

Bioidenticals & Custom Compounded Hormones: Pursuit of Alternative Medicines

Organic, natural, alternative and the list goes on as the age of internet produces more information to anyone with access can handle.  The ease of researching and to promote and publish books is making it blatently easy to market your opinions and products whether founded or not.  We all are hearing the benefits of organic products and who can not admit that the concept is good?  The older I get, my quest to stay younger and live longer has grown beyond my wildest imagination.  Now when I crave a Big Mac, I contemplate the millions of calories I'm adding to my already challenged body not to mention preservatives, flavorings and hormones utilized in the meat and buns.

I work at a pharmaceutical company so I understand the in's and out's of clinical trials and research.  The trend within the whole beauty and well being market is on bio this and bio that and gene this and gene that.  The latest buzz and I might be wrong but I think Suzanne's Somers book has started the flap is around Bioidentical.  I admit that I've not heard that term until this morning when I was reading this AP article titled "'Bioidenticals' Not FDA-Approved, Contain Estrogen."

The key take away from this is any health care supplement/product that is deemed natural is not required to go through the FDA process of proving safety and efficacy.  You might recall the Hydroxycut recall and prior to that, years ago, ephedra (I think).  Both products were deemed "natural" so the unsuspected user assumed it was safe and I was one of those. 

This trend with Bioidenticals is within the name as the appeal to consumers.  Per the article: 

"Bioidentical" is a marketing term that has no accepted medical meaning. Its implied benefit is not unique to alternative remedies; many prescription drugs contain hormones that chemically match estrogens and progesterones made naturally by the body.

Women need to understand there's no rigorous evidence these preparations are any more effective or any safer than traditional hormone therapy. In fact, there's much less evidence for efficacy and very little research on long-term safety," said Manson, who has no industry ties and was a key researcher in the big federal study that warned women in 2002 of the health risks from long-term hormone use."

The article also mentions compounding pharmacists which according to the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists are those 'who provide personalized medication solutions, mixed safely by trained, licensed pharmacists.'

I had no idea that they could do that either so I definitely learned a lot about this topic.

One final quote from the AP story:

In 2001, the government tested 29 products from compounding pharmacies and found that one-third did not meet standard quality benchmarks, including potency problems, Manson writes in her book, "Hot Flashes, Hormones and Your Health."

Want to know more or look at available products? Try Amazon:

       

The Organic Pharmacy: Carrot Butter Cleanser

The more I learn about the chemicals and preservatives in all products we consume, the more I worry.  These ingredients are in our food, our drinks, oven in our beauty products and I'm sure the list goes on.


With my continuous battle of the bulge, I started reading more and more about these products that are added into everything and became concerned.  I never really thought about them being added to our beauty products and baby products until recently. 


The Organic Pharmacy has interesting and informative content on this very issue.  It states that on average, we use between 5 to 15 products a day that are full of toxins.  If you think about it, at least from a woman's perspective, it's very true.  Shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, facial lotion/moisturizer, acne medication, deodorant, foundation, blush, powder and so forth.  By the time we get ready to eat more toxic products, we are already toxic.


I just recently switched and began using an organic detangler for my two younger daughters and perhaps it's a mind trick, but I definitely feel like a better mom by going the extra mile to ensure I'm taking care of them. 


Thanks to The Organic Pharmacy, I will explore many options to start detoxing mine and my children's lives from all these horrible chemicals, preservatives and flavorings and colors.

I received a full size jar of Carrot Butter Cleanser by The Organic Pharmacy for all skin types.  The 75 ml jar arrived in a small box with no extra packaging which is great when you are looking for truly organic products that take the environment into consideration.   The name "Carrot Butter" and "The Organic Pharmacy" were both in silver lettering which accentuated the large silver lid and the see-through jar provided a level of sophisication and elegance to the appearance.


I used the small spatula provided to remove a small amount (penny size) of the cleanser to massage on my dry face for about a minute.  My face had a warm sensation as I massed the Carrot Butter Cleanser all over.  It has a mixed fragrance with a menthol undertone.  After I soaked the muslim provided wash cloth in "hand-hot" water, I pressed it over my face and then wiped off the Carrot Butter.  I rinsed twice as the package directions stated.

My face had a cool sensation afterwards.  The Carrot Butter Cleanser itself is a silky smooth, non-abrasive cleanser and felt good as I massaged it all over my face.  My face felt invigorated and clean afterwards.  I waited several hours and avoided applying anything additional on my face to see how it would feel and it's smooth, non-greasy and soft.  I really like how it feels.

Carrots are a known antioxidant and great for the skin.  Shea butter, which you definitely feel, moisturizes the skin and the other ingredients offer an array of benefits  to cleanse and soothe. 


This is definitely an experience that produces spa quality feel without all the harmful chemicals, preservatives, colors and fragrances.  It will leave your face feeling soft, nurtured and glowing.  I highly recommend it.


Here is the official descriptions from The Organic Pharmacy:


For all skin types including oily.

Your skin is your canvas; a healthy glowing skin begins with a thorough but gentle cleanse. Carrot Butter Cleanser dissolves grime, dirt, pollution, make up (including eye makeup) in one easy step. Antioxidant Carrot is blended with skin softening Shea & Cocoa Butter to leave the skin incredibly soft and smooth. Chamomile, Rosemary and Lavender soothe and decongest the skin leaving it radiant.

Application:

Remove a small amount of cleanser with the spatula provided, rub the cleanser between clean hands and apply to dry skin, massaging it in well. Soak muslin or flannel in hand hot water and remove cleanser. Finish with a splash of cold water. (Do not use cotton wool as this will not remove cleanser)

The most essential cleanse should be carried out at night. If this is done properly, in the morning simply splash the face with water.

The Carrot Butter Cleanser sells for $59.90 but should last for months.

Interested in more organic, high quality products?  Check out their website.  They tout a message of only the purest and highest grade natural and organic ingredients are used.  Due to this, a little does go a long way and since they make small batches of their products, you get the best. 

The Organic Pharmacy's product line is vast:

• Make Up
• Books
• Kits
• Skin Care
• Sun Care
• Body Care
• Hair Care
• Bath
• Gifts
• Men (products for men ... you can't select men :))
• Macerated Oils
• Mother and Baby Care
• Creams and Ointments
• Homeopathic
• Tinctures
• Supplements
• Detox at Home Program
• Candles

NOTE:  I was not paid for this review.  I was provided a sample only to review.