BEAT THE WINTER SKIN AND HAIR BLAHS WITH THESE NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

There’s nothing worse than the winter months (even in warmer climes like my home in San Diego) to play havoc on your skin.

I came home recently from non-stop press trips around the world, looked in the mirror, and knew I had to start using FactorFive Regenerative Serum to get my healthy glow back—asap!

I started my regime feeling good about this product. What was most important to me is that the FactorFive serum is made using human stem cell growth factors that work at the cellular level to restart critical skin processes that can teach skin to repair itself after being damaged and dried out. Also important is the fact that it is produced in the USA by scientists in their own lab using non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.

Amazing biotechnology in a bottle…what’s not to love?

Since my hair looked as dull and lifeless as my skin after weeks of travel, I welcomed the opportunity to test the COCOSOLIS line of hair products for a chance to breathe new life into my roots. I also put the company’s hair oil mask and growth serum spray to the test.

The Hair Oil Mask, which contained natural ingredients such as coconut, almond, olive, argan, and jojoba oils, brought my stress-and-sun-damaged hair back to life just after a few applications. The Hair Growth Serum Spray also made a difference in just a few weeks, helping to restore the hair loss I started to experience under the stress of constant travel.

This skin care line also features a Collagen Booster Dry Oil, which boasts a long list of organic oils—from coconut to passion fruit to pomegranate seed—to name just a few. Those soothing oils relieved the dry patches and gave my skin a welcome glow.

These products are manufactured in Europe, where natural beauty formulas have long been embraced for the ultimate in skin care, with no harsh chemicals added. They are also cruelty free.

Give yourself—and your skin— a Spring Break with these excellent skin care choices.

Disclaimer: I only review products that I have personally tested, and I am not monetarily compensated for any reviews. All opinions are my own.

FROM TRAVEL ITEMS TO SKIN CARE, READ ABOUT MY MOST RECENT FINDS

IT’S A “SHOE IN” GOING THROUGH SECURITY WITH THESE INNOVATIVE SHOES

These stylish and practical slip on sneakers can make going through airport security a breeze.

Going through the security checkpoint at an airport can be a headache and a hassle. And YES, unless you have Global Entry you can make your way through security without removing your shoes. However, know that many airports in countries around the world still require you to remove your shoes when passing through security, even with Global Entry status.

Needless to say, trying to quickly remove and put your shoes back on can have you hobbling around and potentially forgetting important items in the process.

KIZIK SHOES are a stylish and perfect answer to this problem. They feature a patented heel design so all you have to do is slip your toes into the shoe and the heel will compress so your foot can slide all the way in. Then, once your foot is in, it will spring back into place securing your foot in the shoe. Sneakers are now as easy to put on as slides or flip flops. You can view videos of how the shoes work on the website.

THIS SIMPLE ACCESSORY CAN HELP YOU KEEP ORGANIZED—AND ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT MORE

“Get Organized” and enjoy your flight more with this ingenious product

If you travel as much as I do, you know how frustrating it is to find room in the airline pocket in front of you for all the accessories you need during your flight. That’s when the SERENITY ORGANIZERS TRAY ORGANIZER will be your new best traveling companion.  Just slip it over the tray table and organize items like electronic devices, magazines, water bottles, sanitizer sprays, eyeglasses, snacks and more.

It’s also great for parents with kids! You’ll also enjoy knowing you have a clean surface to use. When you depart, the organizer magically transforms into a drawstring tote to pack up your items. The organizer is washable, so a quick laundry wash will get you ready for your next trip. Simple, but genius!

ANTIDOTE TO A LONG HOT SUMMER: WHISPERING WILLOW BODY OIL

After a long hot summer here in San Diego, my skin was showing signs of stress. So I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to sample the WHISPERING WILLOW body oil (both the lavender and eucalyptus & mint versions).

Smooth away dry skin with this natural body oil

I need to preface this review by saying that I only use and endorse natural products which are cruelty free. Whispering Willow definitely fills those criteria. The skin oil immediately soaks into my skin, without leaving a heavy oil feel, and I see a definite improvement almost immediately. The generous 4.5 ounce bottle, with an attached pump, will definitely provide skin relief for many weeks, if not longer.

These products are handcrafted by a small team in North Carolina, and the company donates 10% of their profits to charities each year.

STREAM2SEA, PROTECT YOUR SKIN—AND THE OCEAN

Know you are helping to protect the ocean when you use these biogradable products

In keeping with my love of natural and biogradable products, I was happy to try out some of the sustainable Stream2Sea products  founded by Autumn Blum, a certified dive instructor and chemist with a mission to set a new and reigning standard for sustainable, ocean-safe body care products and sunscreens. Loving to swim in the ocean as I do, it’s a good feeling to know that my efforts to protect my skin from sun damage will not harm the ocean’s delicate ecosystem. I was happy to try out some of the sustainable STREAM2SEA products, founded by Autumn Blum, a certified dive instructor and chemist with a mission to set a new and reigning standard for sustainable, ocean-safe body care products and sunscreens.

Her Every Day Mineral Sunscreen is unique as it was formulated to become even more effective when it comes in contact with water. You can’t get any better than that!

IT’S A NEW YEAR, AND TIME TO GET TO THE “ROOT” OF YOUR BEAUTY PROBLEMS

Let’s face it, in this time of pandemic stress (and having to wear a mask over your face most of the day), you may have ignored your regular beauty regime. The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to review new products that may help with common skin and hair problems.

Here are our top picks:

BIOTIN FOR HAIR CARE

Hair loss, both in men and women, is the bane of people experiencing it. That being said, it can be vastly improved provided you treat it quickly enough.

Over the past two months, I’ve tested  Pureauty Naturals Biotin Hair Growth Serum which uses a blend of biotin, pea sprout extract and pro-vitamin B5 to strengthen hair. Since I refuse any chemical lotions or hair products on my body, I was happy to try it out. My treatment resulted in a substantial improvement in texture and smoothness overall. This serum is free from any alcohol, parabens and sulfates--more chemicals I look out for before I buy any product, to consume or add to my skin.

The fact that this line is made in the USA reinforced my commitment to using it.

I recently gave the Biotin eyelash serum a try. It’s filled with biotin, castor oil, and green tea extract.  I’ve been blessed with great eyelashes all my life, but this serum seemed to soften my lashes and, who knows, they may grow even longer as a result.

You can’t go wrong with the power of nature!

VENAMINE Morrocan Argan Oil

 Another product that I can highly recommend is Venamine 100% Moroccan Argan oil. You can find it on Amazon for $21, and it competes with the super high-priced oils I have tested over the years as a reviewer.

This oil soaks into the skin and doesn’t feel greasy, and just a few drops hydrates and nourishes your skin. I’ve been dealing with dry skin this winter, and this oil has given me great relief. Again, it contains all natural ingredients and because of that, and how it makes my skin rejuvenate, I can highly recommend this product.

Please note that I am not compensated for any reviews I post on this site. I do hope you enjoy my “ad-free” website, which allows you to enjoy all my articles without those constant annoying advertising pop ups. And do note that all our comments are written by me and unbiased. If a product sent to me for review does not meet my parameters, I will not write about it.

Thank you for visiting our site and hope to see you back again soon!

Ignoring your Beauty Regime?—Get Back in the Groove with these Excellent Products

If you’re like most of us, you may have ignored your beauty regime during the pandemic, either out of lethargy or that “nowhere to go so why bother to make myself beautiful” syndrome.

Now that life is finally approaching normal, it’s time to pay attention to your hair and skin (and even teeth!) to restore that pre-pandemic glow. I’ve collected several products that I’ve personally tested and am excited to recommend to my readers.

Having lived for a decade in Europe with access to some of the best skin care products I’ve ever used, I was delighted to see a new line of products from the American ILONA, a new iteration of what used to be Ilona of Hungary (a product I knew well from my European days).  I was especially interested in testing out the RESTRUCT® Facial Remapping Cream, predicated on a unique protein sourced in Japan that helps reconstitute elastin and collagen to firm, contour and remap the skin.

I’m in week four of applying this cream every night—from neckline to forehead—and I am seeing some astonishing results in my skin’s elasticity and glow. By week 8, the serum promises a dynamic “restructuring” of the skin’s appearance (just in time for my next press trip)! I’ve also seen significant improvement as a result of the ILONA BUOYANCY® Resuscitating Eye Treatment, which uses a re-oxygenation formula that breathes new life into the delicate skin around the eyes. Now that’s something we can all use, at any age.

I never had much faith in the ability of hair serums to make any difference in my mane, until I tested out the product by Pureauty Naturals' Biotin Hair Serum. The serum combines a generous number of growth-inspiring ingredients, like biotin, glycerin, lactic acid, vitamin E, squalene, and ubiquinone—all of which I Googled to verify their success in helping to restore health to the scalp and the hair follicles.

At $20 for 2 fl. Oz. on amazon.com, this has to be one of the least expensive hair restoration products on the market. As an added bonus, it comes with a 90-day, “no questions asked” return policy. I’ve definitely seen a difference in my hair strength and thickness, and, thankfully, many less strands of locks in the shower drain!

Let’s face it….what good is glowing skin if your smile isn’t sparkling white to match?

While there are a mind-boggling number of teeth whitening products out there (and I’ve tried many of them in my day) the one that stands out, in my opinion, is the SNOW whitening kit I’ve been using for the past several weeks.

Back in the days when teeth whitening products came out, I went to my dentist and had whitening trays produced from a plastic mold he took of my teeth. It set me back more money than I want to admit. Furthermore, it required my spritzing pretty harsh whitening gel in the trays, which always made me a bit nauseous, to be honest.

Well, times have changed, and definitely for the better. The Snow kit, as promised, is so easy to use. Just apply the gentle whitening serum (which is a far cry from the caustic stuff I used in the past), hook up the whitening mouthpiece to any available charging outlet (a variety of USB and phone cables are attached to the mouthpiece), and sit back and relax for 15-30 minutes while this product does its job.

No more wearing those horrid trays with chemical whitener gel during the night! We’ve come a long way since then, to be sure.

I’ve noticed an appreciable improvement after just two weeks of daily use, and I look forward to what my teeth will look like in 30 days. I’ll post a photo of my results in my next update.

Just SMILE!

Disclaimer:  Please note that the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own and will not receive any future compensation based on sales arising from my recommendations. My goal is to share my favorite product experiences with my followers, in an effort to improve the travel/lifestyle experience for us all.

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Have a question or need more information.? Contact me at: joannestravels@gmail.com and I will be happy to respond.

TRAVELING SOON? NEED A GIFT FOR MOM?

IT’S IN THE BAG

Those of you who follow my travel item “favorites” blog will know that I’ve been a fan of the SOLO NEW YORK lines of luggage and bags for many reasons.  First and foremost, these bags are produced from recycled materials such as 100% ocean-bound plastic bottles (hard to believe, but true).

The icing on the cake is that each piece is stylish, super well-constructed, and designed with the traveler in mind.

If you travel for business, I can’t think of a better product than Solo’s underseater rolling briefcase. The organization options are many.  It’s so surprising what you can fit in this bag, including a 15.6” laptop! Two front zippered pockets hold other essentials, and an interior organizer holds so much more.

This versatile bag is also made from recycled plastic bottles and glides through the airport on precision wheels making your jaunt between gates a breeze.

The MyCHELLE line of cosmetics has always been on the top of my list of favorite skin care products and I was delighted to hear about the launch of the Hydrate Collection, a line that features hyaluronic acid, an ingredient known to add hydration to thirsty, dry skin. I had the opportunity to test out some of the products in this new line and can attest to the fact that each played a significant role in bringing back life to my dull and dehydrated skin.

The Ultra Hyaluronic Eye Gel definitely brightened my day, as well as my eyes, when I saw what a difference it made in eliminating those fine wrinkles that inevitably pop up during a dry winter. The Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum, together with the Cream, gave my face a healthy glow, thanks to natural ingredients such as green caffeine and blue lotus extract. Before sleep, I apply the line’s Deep Repair Cream, infused with rosehip and black currant oils that work their magic overnight.

My Mom definitely would have approved!

Disclaimer:  Please note that the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own and will not receive any future compensation based on sales arising from my recommendations. My goal is to share my favorite travel tips with my followers, in an effort to improve the travel experience for us all.

I also hope you enjoy this AD FREE experience on my site!