5 Steps to Healthy Skin - #2 Exfoliate

I hope that everyone was eagerly awaiting the second installment of the 5 Steps to Healthy Skin series! I have really been enjoying learning about (as well as changing!) my own skin care routine. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.

As a reminder, the 5 Steps to Healthy Skin are as follows:

1. Cleanse to remove dirt and makeup.
2. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
3. Tone to tighten and close pores.
4. Hydrate to balance skins moisture levels.
5. Protect from harsh sun and toxins in the air.

Step 2:
Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the process of removing the dead skin cells which can "pile up" and leave your skin looking dull and rough. Regular and proper exfoliation will provide you with tighter pores, softer skin and a more even skin tone.

Are there other benefits to exfoliating? You bet! Exfoliating can:

• Speed up the process of skin flaking and shedding
• improve your complexion
• make your skin look brighter and feel smoother
• encourage the growth of new skin cells
• increase blood circulation
• brings a glow to your face
• improve skin texture and color
• remove skin blockages
• allow your face to maintain an adequate amount of oil
• gives the impression of erasing fine lines and wrinkles
• keep your skin clear and healthy looking
• stimulate cellular renewal
• prevent breakouts
• remove toxins from your skin
• skin preparations are absorbed more easily

Now that you know what exfoliating is and why it is important, what do you use, and how?

The Moody Sisters make a fantastic Facial Scrub and it is gentle enough to use frequently (3-5 times a week), and not just on your face either!

1. For your face, combine 1/2tsp of the Facial Scrub with your appropriate cleanser for a wash. Apply to your face and rinse clean.
   
2. Also for your face, simply combine with the Facial Scrub with water and use as a facial mask.
3. For your lips, make a paste using a pinch of the Facial Scrub and a few drops of water. Apply to lips and rub together. Allow the Scrub to sit for a few moments before rinsing.
4. For your body, use with your body wash or water, then rinse!
   

Moody Sister Whitney created a fantastic video showing these different uses of the Facial Scrub. Take a minute to watch & learn...

winnerS!

Word got passed through that there was an excess in the Intense Moisturizing Cream department, so we drew THREE winners instead of TWO!! Woohoo!

Before the winners are announced - if you are NOT one of the winners, please feel free to use code GIVEAWAY for 20% off your order at Moody Sisters! (See, it's like everyone is a winner!) :-D

Now, the following three fans will receive a 2oz jar of Moody Sisters Intense Moisturizing Cream...

#1 - Katie Steinhauer
#2 - Sam Buck
#3 - Phronsie Howell

Love your skin

 Valentines Day seems to be that holiday that everyone either loves or hates. Moody Sisters is ready to give everyone a reason to LOVE Valentines Day this year.

   Right now you can purchase a Limited Valentines Day Set. For just $25 you will get  a bottle of  Love Potion, which is a light oil perfect for a massage oil or to use in a linen spray, warm bath or even in a reed diffuser. You will also receive a bath and shower oil, this silky hydrating oil soaks in and rinses off leaving you softened and smelling great. This great set also includes a jar of Moody Sisters wonderful  Face & Body Whip. All of these products will be in the scent Flirtatious Floral, with top notes of jasmine, ylang ylang and lavendar and bass notes  of vanilla.  Flirtatious Floral is a sensual feminine blend of oils perfect for Valentines Day or Everyday use! 

  Warning:" These products do not mend broken hearts or make your Prince Charming fall in love with you, but it sure smells good and makes you feel like you've found a new love! "

  These products will be limited quantity so be sure to order soon! And if you want these products or any other Moody Sister products in time for Valentines Day be sure to place your order by Feb. 7th, but to be extra safe Moody Sisters recommend Jan. 31st. It's quickly approaching, so be sure to pamper yourself and order soon!!

Intense Moisturizing Cream Review & Giveaway

Winter is brutal on my hands. I am certain I wash my hands too much, but I hate having that ick feeling on my hands, and I'm a self-professed germ-a-phobe. ;) I spend the majority of my mornings in the kitchen doing prep work for lunch and dinner, which involves a lot of hand washing in between food-touching, and then, the rest of the day is spent running errands (door touching), playing (toy touching), diaper changes (gross) and (in winter) nose wiping!

Now, my husbands hands get horrible in winter. He works in a car parts warehouse (grease/dirt/grime) with lots of cardboard boxes (moisture suckers!) and washes his hands a "lot" (he confessed once it "had" to be 4 times a day, haha! I wish that was all I did!) His hands end up cracked and bleeding. We've tried many different products to heal his hands, but the only thing that relieves it seems to be Spring arriving!

So, our house was more than happy to give the Intense Moisturizing Cream a whirl!

(Image taken from Moody Sisters Etsy shop)

For starters, what makes up the Intense Moisturizing Cream? The key ingredients are:

• Cocoa Butter which prevents and hydrates chapped, dry, itchy skin
• Sweet Almond Oil which softens and heals. It's packed with Vitamins A, B & E. It is also hydrating, but absorbs quickly.
• Aloe, which soothes and hydrates

Hydrates. Hydrates. Hydrates. Sign me up!

Other ingredients include Beeswax, Water, Green Tea, Oats, Herbal Extracts and Essential Oils.

The Intense Moisturizing Cream feels very similar to the Face & Body Whip despite having different key ingredients. But the Face & Body Whip is a bit heavier and denser feeling (can you even say that about a lotion?!)

As you rub the Intense Moisturizing Cream on your hands, you can tell that it really packs a punch in the hydration department! It isn't very greasy, but you can definitely tell that it hydrates more than the Face & Body Whip. I said that it isn't "very" greasy - it does feel a bit more 'greasy' than the Whip, but, it absorbs into the skin so quickly and then the 'greasy' feeling is gone.

How well does it work? I have found that I do need to re-apply the Intense Moisturizing Cream daily to see any sort of improvement (I do this at bedtime every night, since it's a guarantee that I'll have at least a few hours before more hand washing!) In the morning, I definitely notice that my hands are no longer flaky and dry, but, by afternoon, I'm back to needing more relief. It does seem that they heal a little more each day though. Over the course of using this for a few weeks now, I've noticed that all cracking in my hands has gone away as well (Told you, winter = brutal!)

The need to re-apply every day (or night) does not deter me from using it at all. I've not had my hands feel so smooth (or so...not-greasy!) with any other moisturizer. And with other moisturizers, I need to re-apply multiple times a day.

My husband (& I) saw some-what of a difference as well, but he was not as faithful in using it (totally my fault, I completely hogged the jar!) But when he did use it, even one application made a noticeable difference.

The biggest thing I noticed in comparison to other hand creams, a little bit goes a long way (obviously "little bit" is determined by your hand size!) but it is so rich and hydrating, that even when I use just a "fingertip" scoop, I still have some leftover cream (so, my elbows and feet have enjoyed some pampering too!)

The Intense Moisturizing Cream comes in a 4oz jar and retails for $12.00.

If you're feeling lucky, you can enter to win your own jar! Simply fill out the following form.

Please note, we MUST have 15 entrants to make this giveaway happen. That means you need to spread the word! There is incentive though - for each person that enters the giveaway and says that you referred them, you receive 5 extra entries into this giveaway! Start spreading the word! :)

This giveaway will run through Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 7pm (EST). At that time I will use random.org to choose a winner (assuming that there are 15 entrants!!)

You might need one or more of the following links:
Moody Sisters on Facebook
Moody Sisters Etsy Shop

Disclaimer: I received one 2oz jar of Intense Moisturizing Cream for review. All opinions are my own and you may have a different experience. Moody Sisters is sponsoring the giveaway of one jar of Intense Moisturizing Cream to one winner.

Some things to take note of...

Terra here with two updates from the Moody Sisters, Jess & Whitney....

The Etsy shop is still up and running, but the Moody Sisters now have a flash based website with more information on their products and themselves, as well as reviews from customers and a direct link to this (newly re-designed!) blog! And if you're a smart phone user, you're in luck because the website is definitely mobile-friendly! Check it out and let the Moody Sisters know what you think!

There is also an awesome new feature in the Etsy shop, Subscribe and Save! This is currently only available for a few products: Refreshing Daily Toner, Whipped Almond Face Lotion, Foaming Mint Shea Butter Wash and Hydrating Cleanser.
The idea behind this is you purchase a "subscription" of 4 bottles (of one product) and a new one will automatically be shipped to you once every 3 months - No more running out of your favorite products!! (and not to mention, you will SAVE money this way!)
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Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in the Moody Sisters' shop by following this blog, as well as joining the Facebook page!

5 Steps to Healthy Skin - #1 Cleanse

Do you look in the mirror and wish that your skin looked healthier? Felt cleaner? Ever feel that it is too dry? Oily? Just are not sure how to take care of your gorgeous skin? Well Moody Sisters is here to help!

There are five important steps to healthy skin:

1. Cleanse - to remove dirt and makeup.
2. Exfoliate - to remove dead skin cells.
3. Tone - to tighten and close pores.
4. Hydrate - to balance skins moisture levels.
5. Protect - from harsh sun and toxins in the air.

Over the next two months, we will delve deeper into each of these steps. We will learn how important each step is to healthy skin, what products you use for each step and (hopefully) answer many questions. If you do these steps you will see great improvements in the tone and texture of your skin. Every step is as important as the next regardless of skin type.

So, ladies, let's learn together and take back our beautiful skin!

Comments are open, so ask away, share your tips and let us know your thoughts! You can also ask questions on the Moody Sisters Facebook page!

Step 1:
Cleanse

Before taking on any other steps, you need to make sure your skin is cleaned thoroughly with a facial cleanser and all eye make-up is removed.

Moody Sisters has a great Eye Makeup Remover that really gets the job done! You simply squirt a bit of the remover on a cotton ball and the key oils, Sunflower and Apricot Kernel, get to work breaking up the makeup. You simply wipe the oil away. This is also great for sensitive eyes.

Moody Sisters also has two fantastic facial cleansers that work for all skin types.

If your skin is Normal, Oily or considered "Combination" skin, the Foaming Shea Butter Wash should work great for you. It is also infused with an organic Acne Treatment for those really moody skin days! The minty scent will wake up you and your senses. The key ingredients include Shea Butter, Honey, Witch Hazel, Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil. The Foaming Shea Butter Wash is a liquid that foams as you rub it in your hands. The Foaming Shea Butter Wash does not dry out your skin and is safe for daily use.
If you have Dry skin, the very popular Hydrating Cleanser will be your best bet, especially if your skin is also Sensitive or you deal with Eczema or Dermatitis. This cleanser is loaded with vitamins, herbal extracts and essential oils. The key ingredients are Sweet Almond Oil, Chamomile Flower, Witch Hazel and Oats. The Hydrating Cleanser is a cream that feels like silk in your hands. It too has a fantastic mint scent.So, you've chosen the appropriate cleanser for your skin. Now, how do you use it?

• For starters, pull back your hair - make sure you can see all of your face, neck and ears (yes, ears!)
  
• Wash your hands to make sure they are clean (you don't want to clean your face with dirty hands!)
• Open your pores by wiping down your face with warm water or steam
• Use a dime to nickel-sized amount of cleanser - put it on your hand and rub your hands together.
• Apply to face, massaging all over your face, starting at your hairline and moving down. Don't forget, upward motions at the neck, and clean behind those ears!
• Allow the cleanser to dig deep and clean (in other words, take a few minutes to relax!)
  
• Rinse with lukewarm water
• Pat your face dry with a clean towel

You need to make sure you are washing your face in the morning and evening because your pores open up while you are sleeping to release toxins. Going through your skin care routine in the morning and night prevents dirt and grime entering your pores and infecting them (think zits and black heads).

So that is step 1, Cleansing your skin! As I said before, please feel free to ask questions and leave comments - let's help each other learn!

Resolutions for a better you

 It's that time again, when we all start thinking about what we can change from the previous year to make our lives a little bit better.  This year is the first for me that I have actually made "resolutions". I will be turning 30 this summer and I am realizing that I really need to be more proactive about my health.

  As I stated in a previous post I have been making small changes over the past few years, but I still know I have a lot of room to improve! I want to be healthier to feel better and I want to make better choices so my family and I can simply do life better.

 Changes I plan to make in 2012:


   I actually made a pretty long list this year, I won't overwhelm you with all of them, but if you want to read them you can check out my personal blog resolution post.   This post was more of how I will enjoy life more in all personal aspects....but as for my health
  My biggest goal is to switch to ALL organic skincare . I have tried this on several different occasions, but I have always stopped because of the cost. This is why I Love Moody Sisters. I love the products I am using right now and everything goes a long way.
 - What I am currently using:
   1) Almond face lotion - I love, love, love this!!! I have had my container since the beginning of November and I still have almost half a container left! I think thats a great deal. (I do only use this on my face)
    2) Almond Sugar Scrub - To me, this is almost like Heaven on Earth. I keep it in the shower and use a little bit on my hands and feet. Everytime I open the container I think how amazing it smells, and I love how it feels.
    3) Mint foaming face wash - Again this is a product that I love the smell of! I was very leary to try this face wash as I have rather sensitive skin and when I find something that works I want to stick with it. Well I tried it and I am sticking with it! This is another great product and leaves my skin looking and feeling wonderful!
    4) Almond Powder Deoderant- So, I do love this product, especially because I know its good for me. But I will be honest and it is the hardest for me to use. Which I find funny, because I just read Terra's last post and it seems she has the same problem. Maybe her and I need to work on this one together! :)
     5) Lip Balm- This has been a great product this winter. My oldest son loves using chapstick and this has been great for him. He really loves the mint flavor one, he always says "mom, make sure you give me the green one". I love letting him use it , because I know there is nothing unnatural in it!

 So...I am loving Moody Sisters and I plan to try more products this coming year.

 Other ways I plan to be more "green":


  The next biggest thing for my family is eating organic, which as well all know can be more expensive than we care to pay. So this is what I have started doing.... we can NOT afford to do our whole grocery list organic, but I can do the outside of the store. SO I aim to do organic produce, milk, and meats. Little changes can make a big difference. So just take it one day at a time, one change at a time! :)

 Happy New Year!

Making Changes in Skincare

Happy New Year from Moody Sisters!!!!

In this new year, many of us are making resolutions, and for some, that includes a resolution to treat ourselves better. This could include eating better, exercising more or being more mindful about what we put in and on our bodies. Part of this resolution could be making the switch to organic skincare. This switch can be a daunting task!

How to do it...

I've found that any effort to green up our home and lives comes with this, and other, concerns. And most of the time, the easiest thing to do is start small. Start the switch with one or two products that are easy for you to use all the time.

When I started to make the switch to organic skincare, I started with the Foaming Face & Body Wash. To me, this was an easy switch. I need to have some sort of body wash or soap (I prefer body wash) when I shower (which I do everyday). I got rid of all my 'name brand' body wash and left my Moody Sisters Foaming Face & Body Wash out. With it being my only option, it was easy to just use it!

A harder switch has been my deodorant. Even though I know about chemicals in my 'name brand' deodorant such as parabens and aluminum, it's so hard to JUST use my amazing Paraben-Free Powdered Deodorant! I know that I just need to toss the bar deodorant and be done with it, but I am clinging... I don't know why!

The Cost of Things...

I don't think anyone would call you crazy for saying, "It's expensive!" It is, and can add up quick! This is another reason to start 'small'. An option for building up your organic skincare is to pick one product a month to purchase as you build up your skincare collection. Start with that easy switch - body wash, deodorant, lotion...whatever is easy for you!

Always be on the lookout for sales, specials, discounts and giveaways! Moody Sisters has been running at least one giveaway a month for the past few months, and the plan is to continue. But there is a catch... you have to enter the giveaway! You can't just hope you win, you have to enter to win! :)

Another option that people often forget - ask for what you want to switch to for holidays or birthdays!

Where To Shop...

Of course, we're going to tell you Moody Sisters!! ;-)

For me personally, I tried some and passed up a lot of organic skin care products due to price or quality of product. I have been nothing but over-the-moon happy with all Moody Sisters products I have received, along with the fantastic customer service when purchasing the products.

But, obviously, you need to figure out what fits in your family's budget and what skin care products work for your skin.

My resolutions...

I have a few resolutions when it comes to my skincare products...

• Toss the bar deodorant and strictly use my Paraben-Free Powdered Deodorant
• Make the switch to organic shampoo and conditioner
• Do a better job of taking care of my skin all around

What are some of your New Year's Resolutions?