Good evening, everyone! I'm sure you have noticed my lack of posts lately. I must assure you I will be back soon :). We are without a pastry chef at work, and our baker is out on disability, which means I am working 6 days a week, sometimes 11 hours a day! I wish I had the time to write posts right now, but I barely have time to sleep enough!! Maybe I can take up blog writing full time instead :). Stay tuned, I promise I'll be back shortly!! Stay green and sweet! -Chelsea

Happy New Year, everyone!! Sorry for the long hiatus, but working in a 5 star hotel kitchen can be a bit demanding during the holidays! Gingerbread men and holiday dinner services has been occupying all of my free time! I will be splitting this entry into two separate posts, due to the amount of products I am reviewing! In part one, I will be reviewing the following products: Acure Organics Shampoo Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell, Acure Organics Conditioner Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell, Acure Organics Sensitive Facial Cleanser with Argan + Probiotic, Acure Organics Dark Chocolate + Mint Lip Balm. In part two, I will be reviewing these products: Dr. Bronner's Magic Organic Peppermint Lip Balm, Rainbow Light Certified Organics Women's Multivitamins, and the Clarisonic Mia 2! 

I purchased all of these products on http://www.luckyvitamin.com about a month ago, and I got a really good deal! Everything was about 40% off, so make sure to shop around before you buy products! There are always sales!! So, let me just say that I now LOVE the Acure Organics line! The first product I purchased and reviewed of theirs, was the eye cream. (Review here). I also tried the conditioner in this post too, and loved it so much, I bought it again! 

Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo $8-10: This shampoo says it is for Normal to Dry/Damaged/Curly hair. I have normal, wavy-curly hair, so I think I fit into that category. It has a natural Almond scent to it, so if you don't like Almond, I would choose one of their other shampoos. It is a clear shampoo as well, which I find to be more clarifying than moisturizing. It does get sudsy, and leaves your hair feeling clean. It doesn't leave a filmy residue either. At first, it took a little while for my hair to adjust to it, but I found that using it with the matching conditioner, works wonders! After about a week, I noticed that I was using less and less of this product to fully clean my hair. My hair is so soft these days! Since I have switched to all-natural shampoo and conditioner, my hair is so much less frizzy, and extremely shiny! When using a different conditioner, this shampoo left my hair looking a little limp and crunchy, so I recommend using both together! Overall, I really like this product! Also, before I used this shampoo, I would wash my hair every day, no exception. Now, if I'm running late or behind, skipping one day of washing isn't as big of a deal, and my hair still looks great!

Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner $8-10: Okay, let me just say that I love this conditioner! I have long hair, and normally I use a LOT of conditioner. Like, 2.5 bottles of conditioner to 1 shampoo bottle ratio! Ridiculous, I know…but the long hair calls for it. BUT, with this conditioner, I use so much less! It has a looser consistency that most other conditioners, and like the shampoo it too has an almond scent. It isn't overpowering though, and is actually quite lovely. For me, the most effective way to fully benefit from this conditioner is to brush your hair with a wide-toothed comb in the shower with the conditioner in your hair. That way you get rid of any knots, and end up with silky smooth hair after rinsing out the conditioner! I definitely recommend this product, and will be purchasing it again! And most importantly, there is nothing bad in the product, and the packaging is eco-friendly as well! Good kudos all around :). (Please click the links above for all the ingredient listings!)

Here's a picture of my hair today actually, and me being silly as usual! The lighting in my bathroom is obnoxiously bright, so it makes my hair look reddish. You can see the shininess and smoothness though, which is the point :) All I do is part my hair, blow dry my cowlick, and curl the front parts. I usually use my Gnarly Whale Beach Wave spray too, but I didn't today.

Acure Organics Sensitive Facial Cleanser with Argan + Probiotic $12-15:  I was a little skeptical if I would like this product, but I needed to change my face cleanser during the "cold" month(s) in San Diego. My skin FREAKED out around Thanksgiving when the temperature dropped. My skin broke out like crazy, and for the first time ever, my entire face was peeling, itchy, and extremely irritated! My esthetician suggested changing my cleanser, because the rest of my routine was great! Anyhoo, I ended up choosing this one, and I'm so glad that I did! It is a thick, creamy consistency, and jam-packed with awesome ingredients for your skin! I have been using it day and night for the past month now, and my skin has improved tremendously. It may not be from the cleanser alone, due to purchasing a Clarisonic, but my skin started improving before I ever used the Clarisonic with this cleanser. This cleanser foams up nicely, and doesn't leave a residue on your skin. It leaves my face so soft as well! I only need about a pea-sized amount to fully cleanse my face, and roughly double that amount if using a Clarisonic. I would recommend this product for people with very sensitive, or dry skin, even acne prone skin. My biggest concern was that it would make my face break out, and it actually helped clear up some blemishes! Overall, I am pretty happy with this product! I'd purchase it again in the future, but I will most likely switch back to my Desert Essence Tea Tree Cleanser because the weather is starting to get warmer again!

Acure Organics Argan + Mint Lip Balm $3-4: Okay, so, I don't know about the rest of you, but I am a lip balm freak. Ever since I first got those Bonne Bell flavored and sparkly lip balms on a necklace in grade school, I have been addicted to lip balm. I'm pretty sure I had like a collection of 25 or something in every flavor.  My addiction is so bad, that I double-check my purse before I leave the house to make sure I don't forget it. There are moments of panic when it rolls out of my chef pants pocket at work too! No panic on potentially burning down the kitchen, nope, but pure terror when I realize my lip balm is gone! Thoughts like "How will I survive the rest of my shift?" and "My lips are going to be chapped. I guess I could use the cocoa butter chips until I get home" go through my mind when that happens. Lol, okay maybe a bit extreme, but I. LOVE. LIP BALM! Now, not only do I love lip balm, but I love anything peppermint or mint. I have been searching for the perfect natural and/or organic lip balm…and nothing has been working for me. They ALL make my lips chapped and peel/crack, which is the complete opposite of it's purpose! Even this one did that to me at first. I kept switching from this one to the Dr. Bronner's one that I will review in my next post, which also made my lips peel. I was about to give up and go buy a Blistex, but I decided to give it another try. Little did I know, is that my lips just needed to get used to the all-natural stuff! My lips stopped peeling, and now this lip balm is so silky smooth and tastes delicious! Also, a percentage of this particular lip balm's proceeds goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation! You get a great organic lip balm with green packaging, quality ingredients, and good motives! Love it! 

Well there you have it! I'm very happy with Acure Organics products that I have tried thus far, and will definitely be exploring there line more in depth in the future! Stay tuned for part two of this post, featuring reviews on Rainbow Light's Certified Organics Women's Multivitamins, Dr. Bronner's Magic Organic Peppermint Lip Balm, and the Clarisonic Mia 2! Here's to health, wealth, and green beauty in 2014! Stay green and sweet! Cheers :).

I have been SO busy as I am sure many of you have as well! The holidays in the hotel industry are madness! Don't think I've stopped blogging! I will be back soon with new reviews of some awesome products! I just purchased a clarisonic, as well as a handful of products by Acure Organics! Happy Holidays everyone!! I'll be back soon :).

Who knew October would be such a crazy month!! Last week I catered my friend Michelle's baby shower, and it was a hit! It also took up ALL of my time for about two weeks, meaning no time for blog updates :). Check out my Instagram if you would like to see everything I did! (There is a button at the top of this page). This week's blog is all about natural and organic mascaras! These are the 3 mascaras that I have tried thus far, and this is my review for them! The contenders: Kjaer Weis Mascara $38, Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Nautural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara $9.95, and Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara in Pitch Black $22. Each mascara is at a different price point, which is why I am reviewing them together. I have used each mascara alone, as well as two together. Out of these 3, my favorite is the Josie Maran mascara. Before I used natural mascaras, Diorshow was my favorite for years, and I have been struggling to find one that gives similar results! To date, the Josie Maran mascara was the closest to Diorshow!

Kjaer Weis, $38: First up is a current cult classic. Many green beauty bloggers and sites love this mascara! I was very excited to try it because it is mostly organic, but was not very thrilled about the price. This also happens to be the most expensive mascara I have ever purchased! Out of the 3 I am reviewing, this one is my least favorite. The packaging is very sleek and appealing, and the brush is flat and long. Personally, it didn't do much for me. It made my lashes darker, but the more I applied, the more my lashes clumped together. It didn't give much length either. Some swear by it, but I will not be purchasing this mascara again! It is way too pricey for mediocre results. If you are interested in purchasing this mascara, you can find it on their website by clicking the name Kjaer Weis above, OR you can check out the sites I have previously mentioned, Spirit Beauty Lounge and Eco Diva Beauty! (For ingredients listing, click the Kjaer Weis link as well!)

Physicians Formula, $9.95: So this mascara you can find at Target, CVS, Walmart, etc. It is easily available in comparison to the other 2. It also happens to be the cheapest! This mascara was my second favorite, and is a great choice for an every day mascara! The packaging is shaped differently, and the brush is fat and oval like many other drugstore mascaras. It does not provide as much volume as I would like, but it does provide more volume than Kjaer Weis. It also separates and lengthens the lashes nicely. A huge perk is that it is 100% Natural, and 70% Organic. This is definitely worth your money! Again, please click the link for specific ingredients!

Josie Maran, $22: This is my favorite mascara of the three by a long shot! It claims to be a mascara that provides volume, which is totally true! The price is right around what I used to pay for Diorshow, so I wasn't opposed to purchasing it. One of the many reasons I wanted to try this mascara over many other natural options is that argan oil is one of the ingredients. If you are a first-time reader, please click here and refer to my post about Argan Oil. I LOVE THE STUFF!! On top of that, it is all-natural, recyclable, AND $1.00 of every purchase goes to City of Hope, a leading institution in cancer treatment and education! As for the packaging, it is very simple and cute. The brush is different than any other brush I have ever used. The best way to describe it is a 3D triangle. The brush allows for a great amount of volume, length, and color. It also holds the curl if you use an eyelash curler. With one coat, it is a great daily mascara, with 2+ coats, you get a more dramatic look for evenings or going out! Overall, I am very pleased with this mascara, and will most likely keep purchasing it! I do have more mascaras I would like to try, but for now, I am confident in saying that I have found an awesome natural mascara! Like the other two, please refer to the website for ingredients and to purchase!

Well there you have it! Sorry for not blogging weekly! Life gets in the way sometimes :). Stay tuned for some exciting stuff coming up! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so I'll be sure to post some gobble-worthy blogs!! Happy Halloween too! Here's some stuff I made for the baby shower, and the pumpkin that I carved! All the things that were keeping me from blogging :). Thanks for reading! You guys are awesome! 

Oh boy, what a week! This blog post has been bouncing around in my brain for the past week, but due to an unexpected trip to the ER last Wednesday, I wasn't able to make it! (I am okay, by the way!) Before I started this blog, and even before I switched to green products, I was a product junkie. To your benefit, nothing has changed :). Today's product reviews include Chagrin Valley Soap Company's Mint Mist deodorant and their Clay Silk Tea Tree Deodorant, as well as the Chlorella and Edelweiss Stem Cell Eye Cream from Acure. 

Deodorant Reviews: Before I started the Soapwalla Challenge, I had already tried the Mint Mist deodorant when it was called Coconut Mint Mist. I believe it is still the same exact product, but the name and label has changed. Mint Mist Deodorant Ingredients: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil; Organic Jojoba Oil; Organic Cornstarch; Baking Soda; Organic Beeswax. Organic essential oils: Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Lime and Tea Tree. Now alone, this deodorant doesn't really do it for me. I love the mint scent, but I had to re-apply it multiple times a day due to smelling like a dirty hippie, and it didn't really help at all with sweating. BUT, because I got a rash from Soapwalla, I decided to order it again, along with the Clay Silk Deodorant. Clay Silk Deodorant Ingredients: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil; Organic Jojoba Oil; Bentonite Clay; Organic Unrefined Beeswax; Organic Cocoa Butter; Organic Arrowroot Powder; Organic Tea Tree Oil; Organic Rosemary Oil Extract. I also tried the Clay deodorant alone, and basically had the same results as the Mint Mist. Bummer right? WRONG. I got the brilliant idea to mix the two together. HELLO results! It doesn't work just AS well as Soapwalla, but it DOES work when you mix both! Now, you are probably asking yourself "Why the heck would I buy two deodorants when I can buy one?". Great question, but since I got a horrible rash from Soapwalla, I wanted to find something that worked just as well. Here are some pros & cons of these two deodorants:
Pros:

• Both deodorants, like most of Chagrin's products are Certified USDA Organic!
• Each deodorant costs $7.75, totaling to $15.50, which is only $1.50 more than ONE Soapwalla deodorant.
• The mint scent happens to be my favorite. It is refreshing.
• If you mix the two, it does help with sweating!
• I only had to re-apply when running around like a crazy person for 9 hours during Restaurant Week. Normal people that do not work in a kitchen will not experience this :D.
• Delivery of the products is very prompt!
• There are other scents available.
• No rashes.

Cons:

• These products are not something you can pick up at a local store, you must order them.
• In order to fully work, in my experience, you have to order two different deodorants.
• They don't work AS well as Soapwalla.
• It is a cream, so you have to scoop it with your finger and apply it to your underarms, which means you'll need a sink or a towel near by to clean your hands off.

Clearly the pros outweigh the cons, and overall I am happy with these deodorants! I did stumble across a natural deodorant from an online store with probiotics that has rave reviews that I would like to test out. But, for now, I'd say the Soapwalla (and alternatives) Challenge is over for the time being! Yay :).

Now for Acure's Eye Cream: This is the first product from Acure that I have tried. I'm actually going to pick up a few more of their other products at Sprouts this week, since they are 25% off for this ad week. Thumbs up to that! Ingredients: Organic Acai, Organic Blackberry, Organic Rosehips, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Calendula officinalis, Organic Chamomile, Fair Trade Certified Organic Rooibos, Organic Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Fair Trade Certified Organic Theobromo Cocoa (Cocoa seed) Butter, Organic Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) Oil, Organic Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE (vegetable derived), vegetable glycerin, Organic Helianthus annus (Sunflower) Oil, Infusion of Organic Calendula in Fair Trade Certified Olea Europea (Olive) Oil, Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor) extract, Leontopodium Alpinum (Edelweiss) Stem Cell, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), 100% natural vitamin E, Organic Oenthera biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Potassium sorbate (food grade preservative). Before I tried this cream, I had been using Devita's Eye Cream for a year. Why did I switch? Well, for one thing they were out of it the three times I tried to get it at Sprouts, and I didn't feel like ordering it online. The other reason was that I realized it had Retinol in it, which isn't exactly good for you. So, Acure was staring me in the face at Sprouts, and I went out on a limb to try it! I'm actually quite pleased that I did! I have been using the cream for about two weeks now, and alongside using my Mun Skin's Nighttime serum (which I am absolutely in love and OBSESSED with), I have definitely seen results! The skin around my eyes is a lot smoother, and instantly less puffier when applied. The area also feels more awake when applied as well. As for dark circles, I'm not sure if it is the mixture of this cream and the Mun oil, but mine are looking less noticeable too! Overall, I like the cream. It is a great daytime cream for under your makeup. I'm not sure that I will fully switch to it from Devita, as I may try some other creams first before I stick to a new cream for a while. That being said, I am going to promote Mun Skin's No. 1 Aknari Nighttime Dream Youth Serum again!! So many people have been commenting on my skin since I started using it, and I even got one of my good friends Lorraine addicted to it as well! Some days I honestly feel like I don't need to wear any makeup because of it! Not to mention it has sold out at 3 different online retailers since I first blogged about it. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not :D!


Reader Awareness: If you are starting to wonder what exactly is in all of your products, PLEASE check out www.ewg.org/skindeep. There are over 76,000 products in their database. They list every ingredient, and give it a ranking of how toxic it is. You might be surprised as to what you put on your skin! (Make the switch to green products!!) Their main site also has a ton of great information about green living too! Check it out!! 


Coming up this month: I am currently working on/researching a gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipe! I have an awesome recipe with gluten that I made last year, so I am trying to convert it! Next product review will be comparing natural and organic mascaras! I just ordered another brand, so I will be testing them out in the coming weeks! Happy Fall everyone!! I just decorated, and am so happy I purchased cinnamon scented pine cones. Ahhhmazing! I am also helping out with/making all the food and goodies for my friend Michelle's baby shower, so I will post anything that is gluten-free! Keep on reading, and spread the word if you enjoy it!! Thanks! 

Happy Thursday Everyone!! I have been meaning to try this recipe and post it but I have been so busy with life! I'm really excited that more and more people are starting to read my blog, you guys are awesome! With that being said, I think I am going to have a set day for blog updates, with some in between if I feel the urge to blog something important :). A set day to follow! Now, you should know that I am SO not part of the whole gluten-free hype, nor do I have celiac disease. But, I do work in a pastry kitchen, and one of my goals is to sell my own goods that are organic and made with the best and healthier ingredients. So pretty much any dessert or pastry recipes I post are me experimenting for my goals :). I found this recipe on A Taste of Home, but am altering it a bit more with ingredients I wanted to try using. 

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free Banana Bread:
Yield: 4 8x4 loaf pans (I doubled the recipe) (I actually got 6 7x2.5 pans, you will see in the photos)
Pre-heat your oven to 350ºF

4 Cups of Bob's Red Mill Certified Gluten-Free Oat Flour (The original recipe calls for gluten-free AP baking flour)
2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
8 Organic Eggs
4 Cups Extremely Ripe Organic Bananas, mashed. I throw my bananas in the freezer when they are really ripe, and just defrost them the day before I bake!
3-4 Tbs Organic Raw Honey (Original recipe calls for 2 cups white sugar)
1 cup Organic Unsweetened Applesauce
2/3 cup Organic Coconut Oil (Original recipe calls for Canola)
1-1 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (Pecans work too)

1. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Sift and set aside.
   
2. In a mixer, or by hand, whisk your eggs, honey, oil, bananas, and applesauce together until thick and unseparated.
3. Scrap the bowl, and slowly add in your dry until incorporated. Do not over mix.
4. Fold in your chopped nuts, or if you prefer to sprinkle them on top of the loaves, that's okay too!
5. Spray or coat your pans with an oil of choice. I will be using Coconut Oil.
6. Scoop your batter into the pans. I used a 2 oz ice cream scooper and got 5 scoops each for 6 pans.
7. Bake on a flat sheet pan at 350ºF for 45-55 minutes depending on the size of pan. Rotate your pan halfway through as well!
8. Directly out of the oven, brush your loaves with a soak of water and maple syrup or vanilla, or a simple syrup if you don't mind sugar. This gives it that awesome top on bread that we all love! You can leave this step out if you'd like!
9. Let it cool, and enjoy! Individually wrapped loaves will last in the fridge about 2 weeks, and in the freezer can last a few months. Don't forget to date them! 

Note: This was an experiment! Next time I would fill the pans higher, because they ended up pretty shallow. I'd also add another Tbs of honey, and another tsp of cinnamon! Otherwise I was happy with the outcome! It is moist, with a nice banana and nut flavor! Not bad for being gluten, dairy, and sugar free!

UPDATE: I shared a few loaves with friends, and my boyfriend brought one to work, and everyone loved the bread! They all said they were shocked there was no sugar or flour, and that it was really moist! Some said the sweetness was perfect, others said they would add maybe some nutmeg.

Which means a review will be happening soon! Sorry for the lack of attention to my blog the last week or so! There was a very VIP wedding at the hotel, and restaurant week started, meaning I've been doing overtime daily and running around like a crazy person! Anyways, I haven't forgotten all of you lovely readers!! 



So, I purchased 2 organic deodorants from Chagrin Valley Soap Company, as well as a lotion bar to try. Now, I have already tried the mint mist deodorant, and I liked it minus the sweating and it didn't last like Soapwalla. BUT, since I am very allergic to Soapwalla (which I tried again and it gave me a rash not only under my arms, but on the back of my neck for a week), I am forced to find a new one! By the way, I think it was the lavender I am allergic to! Also, Chagrin Valley now offers a clay deodorant without baking soda, so I am going to see if I like that one better than the Mint Mist with no clay! Check out their company! They offer a lot of awesome organic skin products like soaps, shampoo bars, deodorants, salves, etc. They are reasonably priced too!! 



Expect a deodorant review soon, and a banana bread recipe and trial on Wednesday or Thursday! Stay tuned :) As Arnold would say..."I'll be back" :). 

Sorry for the lack of updates, I have been camping at the beach this week! Since I started switching to all-natural products, I have had many opportunities to try and test out various items. My most recent test has been Argan Oil. I have tried a handful of products containing the oil, or being 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil. My favorite product was the Mun Skin No. 1 Aknari Night Youth Serum, which I loved so much that the full-sized product is currently in transit to my house! A close second would be the Kahina Eye Serum. The eye serum was more greasy to me than the Mun serum, but I noticed within days that under my eyes was so smooth, lines were less visible, and my lovely dark circles I inherited from my Mother were noticeably lighter. I had the same results with Mun, but on my entire face. My monthly hormonal breakouts went away extremely fast, my skin was glowing, lines went away, and my skin just looked healthier than ever. People were commenting about my skin at work almost daily too! The scent of Mun's serum is just lovely as well. Light and floral, but not overpowering. Personally, the 100% oil was well, just too oily for me! At this point, some of you may be asking yourself if you are unfamiliar with Argan Oil: What are the benefits? How much is it? Where can I get it, and why should I buy into the hype? All are great questions, and I asked myself those not too long ago. Here are some facts I have found and experienced:

• Argan Oil is high in antioxidants, and Vitamin E, which significantly help with anti-aging, as well as preventing free radical damage.
• It is used to treat many skin conditions or issues, including wrinkles, eczema, dry skin, acne, dark spots, etc. (I have personally experienced this work!)
• It is a great moisturizer for your entire body! In pure form, or as an ingredient in a product, use on your skin, scalp and hair for healthy hair, treating dandruff, and or eve n promotea hair growth!
• It's anti-inflammatory, which means it can be used on burns and things like sore joints.
• There are culinary uses for it as well.
• It may also have heart health benefits!

If you aren't sold by now, you will just have to try it! Some brands and products are more expensive than others, but there are ways to sample things first before spending a lot if you aren't convinced. Below is a list of sites where you can purchase Argan Oil Products:

1. At Spirit Beauty Lounge, you can find brands like Mun and Kahina, as well as many other brands with Argan. They also offer an option to buy a sample box of 5 samples similar to Green Grab Bag (below, see #5). www.spiritbeautylounge.com
2. Mun Skin's site sells only the serum at www.munskin.com
3. AHAlife offers a 20% discount for all first-time customers, which is where I purchased my Mun serum. Even with shipping, it is cheaper than anywhere else! www.ahalife.com
4. SheaTerra Organics offers a more reasonably priced Argan Oil, as well as many other natural products! www.sheaterraorganics.com
5. For trying out samples, Green Grab Bag is great! You can sign up for their monthly box of green samples, or create your own! That's where I discovered Mun Skin, and many other products! It's $25 for 5-6 samples that are pretty generous! They also offer discounts for full-sized items. I absolutely LOVE them! www.greengrabbag.com

Now check those out, and get on your way to heathy, glowing skin! I'm off to watch the sunset!

Coming up soon: My reviews on cheap vs. expensive Organic Mascara, my Dad's soda challenge, AND a gluten-free, dairy-free Organic banana bread recipe!

Resources:

1. http://www.probioticsmart.com/psc/blog/benefits-of-argan-oil/
2. www.arganoils.com.