Let me tell you…Guiying Decolletage Treatment changed my ways! It has this magical silky-smooth texture which quickly turns into buttery balm upon contact with skin. This treatment balm is perfect for nourishing the delicate breasts, chest and neck area. It is formulated with potent medicinal plants that promote lympatic circulation in your body.  Daily use of this balm infused with botanical oils promotes skin elasticity, protects skin from free radical damage, and smoothes appearance of stretch marks. My favorite part is that this treatment was created around the idea of encouraging women to do self breast exams in efforts to fight breast cancer. I have incorporated this treatment into my daily self-care ritual, and I look forward to a gentle decolletage massage every night before going to sleep. The balm leaves my skin soft and smooth, and my breasts firm, perky and radiant, while its intoxicating botanical scent helps me to relax and wind down at the end of the day.

I liked this balm so much that I hurried to order another jar to have as a backup once the first one runs out. Luckily, a little goes a long way, so you don’t need much of the product each time. If you want to splurge a little on yourself, or to give a special woman in your life a meaningful gift, this is it!

Guiying Decolletage Treatment 

While at it, I decided to also try the All Seasons Beauty Balm, which is a multi-tasking balm for just about anything on your body. I personally like to use it on dry patches of skin, lips, bumps and irritations, under eyes at night, but it can also be used as cuticle and hair treatment. I have noticed how quickly skin heals after applying this balm. Most of my blemishes or dry patches are gone after two nights of applying this balm, while under eye skin seems brighter and more even-toned. The slight rose scent is divine and calming. And I certainly love the compact size of this balm, which makes it my go-to product to bring with me while traveling. You’ve got yourself a night face balm, eye treatment, cuticle oil, lip balm, and more — all in this little jar!

All Seasons Beauty Balm 

SHOP HERE:

5 YINA Guiying Decolletage Treatment ($65)

5 YINA All Seasons Beauty Balm ($28)

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So, I was thrilled to find Warby Parker glasses. Not only their styles are fun and minimalistic, you get to try gasses for free before you buy! How does this work? You can pick up to 5 pairs online and have them shipped to you for free. After trying the glasses on, you have 5 days to ship them back, also free of charge. Once you decide which style you liked the most, you can order a pair with your actual prescription. Simple as that!

I love the convenience Warby Parker provides with the free shipping and return of try-on glasses. This makes shopping for prescription glasses more fun. Check out the website and see how different styles look on different models. There are fun color options to chose from in every style. Here are the ones I have picked to try on.

WELTY in Whiskey Tortoise

SIMONE in Tea Rose Fade

WELTY in Eastern Bluebird Fade

FINCH in Violet Magnolia

DAISY in Jet Black

Trying these styles on has definitely helped me make up my mind. Different styles suit different face shapes, so there is no standard “good fit” for all. I noticed that the styles all fit differently too, some are wider than the others, some have wider nose bridge, etc. Although my mind was pretty much set on “Simone”, once I actually got to try them on, I realized they’re smaller than I imagined them to be. I am going with “Welty” as my final pick, but I have yet to decide on the color.  If you need help with making up your mind, take some pictures of you wearing different styles and let your friends and family chose their favorite look. Note that Werby parker also carries sunglasses and prescription sunglasses.

(This post is not sponsored by Werby Parker, all opinions are my own.)

SHOP HERE:

Warby Parker Glasses

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Even to someone like myself who cares so much about what I eat or what hides in the beauty products I use, it was a surprise to find out that the tampons I’ve been using most of my post-puberty life are not as safe as they are advertised to be. No one really talked about the safety of feminine care products — we just put our trust into the assumption that whoever makes them would care enough about female health to disclose any potential health hazards that could come with using a certain product. But, until very recently, no-one did care enough.

Feminine care products lack regulation, and that is why major tampon companies freely use synthetic fibers and dyes to lower the production cost. Women’s vaginal tissue is delicate and highly absorbent, so all the aluminum, alcohols, fragrance additives, hydrocarbons and dioxin (aftermath of bleaching) get soaked up by our body. Majority of tampons in the market today contain synthetic materials like rayon, as well as pesticide residues commonly used when growing non-organic cotton. All these toxic ingredients are linked to cancer, infertility and other reproductive illnesses.

In the U.S., the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requires ZERO ingredients to be disclosed to consumers of feminine products. There have been ZERO studies conducted on the long-term effects of artificial fibers in tampons we have long been using. Nada, NONE! How does that make you feel? Yes, very angry! Unless you take charge of your own health, no one in our money-hungry world would step up to care for your feminine health.

It is with much pleasure that I introduce to you the two natural feminine product makers that I got to try: LOLA and CORA. It is great to know that women are starting to step up and take charge of their own health. My only hope is that such products become widely available and affordable to the general public. Toxins-free feminine products should be the standard after all, but we can’t get there without educating ourselves on the matter.

LOLA

Lola is a women-owned company that offers a line of toxins- and dyes-free feminine care products made from 100% organic cotton and nothing more. You get your feminine “stash” delivered to you in the amounts and at the intervals you specify when you sign up. You can choose your preferred number of Super, Regular or Light absorption tampons in each box as well, which is awesome.

Freebie alert! New Lola customers get 2 boxes for the price of 1 or 3 boxes for the price of 2, which is a great way to try the product at half the price. You also get your personal referral code which you can share with your friends and family to give/get a $5 credit when they sign up to LOLA and shop. You can use my promo code “VASTROUSKAYA1” to get your first $5 LOLA credit.

“Be informed; Ignorance isn’t bliss” -LOLA

CORA

Cora is another brand I have tried that offers safe and pure tampons. Their tampons are made with a 100% organic cotton woven in a unique way for maximum absorbency. They are biodegradable, hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. The currently used plastic applicator is BPA-free, but the company IS currently developing a bio-based plastic to reduce the environmental impact.

I loved the soft and silent wrappers Cora uses, as well as the storage box and leather case you get with your initial order. It’s is a nice bonus, but it does come at a higher cost per box. The great thing is that you get to personalize your box with the different absorbency and the number of tampons you get in each delivery.

You also get a lipstick-sized cardboard capsules with extra tampons inside that you can safely keep in your purse for when you or a friends needs a tampon. Each “capsule” also has your personal promo code on it that can be used to get free Cora supplies. Feel free to use my promo code “volha61” when you make your first purchase to get some free products.

I hope this post will inspire some of you to take charge of your feminine health and look into some options to protect yourself from the harmful ingredients. Time to make some changes that really matter! Happy New Year 2017!

SHOP HERE:

LOLA ( promo code “VASTROUSKAYA1” )

CORA ( promo code “VOLHA61” )

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I mainly use Lavender oil to help me relax at night and get a restful sleep, or to get rid of headaches, body pains, tension and sore muscles. Adding a few drops of this oil to my hot bath creates a relaxing and soothing spa experience. Breathing in Lavender oil helps with respiratory problems, such as when you get sick. I always make sure I take a hot Lavender oil bath when I feel I’m coming down with a cold – it helps me feel better much faster.

I have mentioned in my previous posts that I suffer from sleep inconsistencies. Some days I need extra help, so I take a bath with Lavender oil, then rub a tiny bit of oil onto my temples. This helps to calm down my busy mind and fall asleep. Even though I rely on sleep aid supplements a lot, I much rather use this natural remedy when I can. I’ve recenlty got my hands on this lovely Bulgarian Lavender Oil by First Botany. I love the dropper top it comes with – makes it so much easier to control the amount you use.

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Bulgarian Lavender Essential Oil by First Botany  

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Moringa Leaf Powder is a natural caffeine-free way to boost your energy and increase your body’s nutrients intake. It is packed with essential vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, protein, Omega 3, 6 & 9, to name just a few. It is a powerful superfood with many health benefits. Moringa powder aids with detoxification and digestion, and is also a mild laxative. This powder is also a great source of Iron (more than spinach), so, vegetarians – rejoice!

The super fine Moringa powder is great for adding to your food or drinks, although it does not dissolve at all. It does have a very strong grassy-herbal taste and smell, so if you’re not a fan of that, mixing it into a delicioius smoothie would do the trick. I mix a little into my sugar-less green tea and it tastes intense, but I kind of enjoy that. I use the Organic Moringa Leaf Powder by Zen Principle. It is made in the US and is always fresh.

What I would like to show you in this post though, is how you can make a quick and effective mask with this powder. The powerful nutrients in Moringa make for a perfect treatment mask to treat acne, protect from free radicals, rejuvenate and revitalize your skin.

I’ve only tried mixing this powder with water so far, as seen in the pictures below, but there are various ingredients you could also add to customize the mask for your own skin needs. I’m thinking some honey and green tea powder?

This powder came in a 1 lb bag, but I transferred in to a tight-lid-container for better storage and easier access.

Take a teaspoon or less of this powder and mix it with some water to form a thick paste. Once mixes, the paste smells so much like a farm (it’s very grassy!). Apply it to your face for about 5 minutes. Since this powder doesn’t dissolve, I have notices that it is lightly exfoliating. The tiny powder particles gently slough away dead skin cells, which I love! This simple mask  did a great job at calming the hormonal breakouts and left my skin more even toned and bright the next day. I love to apply this mask while I’m taking a bath, then I can rinse it off and soak my body in the bright-green water. It’s a whole spa experience!

SHOP HERE:

Zen Principe Moringa Leaf Powder

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I’m so glad I still have this beautiful stone oil burner that I got when I was working at The Body Shop some time ago. It is very easy to use and looks so inviting. I like to pour a little water into the top, let the candle warm it up a little, and then add my oils. Makes them burn longer.

As for the oils, I’ve been using the Edens Garden Oils, but there are so many other great brands out there. For a beginner, you may want to start with a pre-mixed scent, or get a little starter kit of the oils that appeal to you the most. I tend to go a little crazy and get everything at once, but there is no need to have them all. I like to mix my own little “recipes” depending on my mood. Today, it is “Cinnamon Bark + Sweet Orange + Grapefruit + Rosemary”. A sweet and spicy perfection!

If you need an idea for a perfect holiday or house-warming gift, this may be it!

I’d love to hear about your favorite oil combinations! Please give your suggestions in the comments!

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Edens Garden Oils

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The Paraffin Collection is my favorite line from Markell. I particularly love the Paraffin Peach Hand And Foot Therapy Creams. It has a vaseline-like consistency and comes off a bit greasy at first, but after it absorbs – you’re left with super soft and silky skin. The peach kernel and grape seed oils strengthen the nails and bring an intense moisture and softness to dry skin and cuticles. It is also perfect for overnight treatment. Put on your favorite spa socks after applying the Paraffin Therapy Foot Cream – and wake up to soft happy feet!

My best friends for this coming winter!

If you don’t like the greasy feeling on your skin, the Paraffin Line has other creams and balms that are lighter and have a more creamy consistency. Unlike the Peach products though, which smell like a peachy paradise, these don’t smell as distinctively. Very moisturizing nonetheless!

Another favorite of mine is the “Repair” Hair Drops  from Markell Natural Line. It contains argan and walnut oils, which repair hair structure and strengthen your locks from within, leaving them silky and shiny; and Vitamin E protects your hair from sun damage. These Hair Drops are light and don’t weigh your hair down. I love how well my hair absorbs this. The smell is fresh and not overwhelming.

I am looking forward to reviewing more Markell products after I get chance to give them a try for a little longer. Stay tuned!

SHOP HERE:

Markell Cosmetics (not available in the U.S. yet)

The Paraffin Collection

Markell “Repair” Hair Drops 

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I got my sample in ‘Sexy Sadie’ and fell in love with the smell. It is a sweet, earthy and spicy scent, with notes of Ylang-Ylang, Patchouli, Sweet Orange, Cinnamon and Vanilla. I don’t usually like patchouli, but here it is not too overpowering. It does have that earthy hippie smell to it though, but in a very appealing way.

This deodorant is non-toxic, vegan, and not tested on animals! The clay-based formula is a great green alternative to your usual deodorant. For those who sweat a lot, this product might not be perfect for keeping you dry on hot summer days or when you are very active. But then again — no products I’ve tried so far do. But this deodorant does a great job at neutralizing underarm odor without the harmful ingredients. I still use my stronger deodorant if I have an active day ahead of me or will be out of the house all day. But Routine is now my go-to deodorant for less active days. It can easily be re-applied throughout the day to freshen you up.

The finger application prevents bacterial contimination of the product. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s a smarted way.

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Kaolin Clay, Baking Soda, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Marigold infused Olive Oil, Vitamin E, Lavender Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Patchouli Oil, Neem Oil, Nag Champa Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Vanilla Oil.

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Petit Vour Box Suscription

Routine Cream Deodorant

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Lavender is a great option for natural healing of many common health issues. To name just a few, it helps with insomnia, depression, migraines, nausea, stress, acne. Pick up some lavender candles, bath salts and soaks, or burning oils, and you got yourself a relaxing retreat at the comfort of your own bath. My favorite to use is Dr. Teal’s Soothe & Sleep Soak, which you can find pretty much anywhere, but there are tons of other options out there.

What are your favorite ways to relax? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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Lavender & Thyme Soy Candle

Dr. Teal’s Soothe & Sleep Soak

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Trigger Point Roller ( similar here )

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