Simple Sugars recently sent over a package of goodies for me to try, and boy am I glad they did! I received the Rose Body Scrub and the Green Tea Facial Scrub – both smell amazing!

It was hard to choose a favorite, but I really enjoyed the Rose Body Scrub the most. It smells like sweet roses and is the prettiest shade of blush. Simple Sugar products contain natural sugar and oils that help smooth rough skin. This scrub left my skin baby soft after my shower.

The Green Tea Facial scrub was also very nice. It smells so fresh – just like a shot of wheatgrass juice! Since it’s oil based, I would only recommend it for those with dry skin. It was too oily for my face so I used it as a body scrub and it worked perfectly.

I’m so happy I got to try Simple Sugars; the company’s creator and founder, Lani Lazzari was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank and since then Simple Sugars has increased it’s retail presence and will (hopefully) soon be offered in more stores across the country.

Rose Body Scrub  5 oz. $11.95 & 8 oz. $16.95
Green Tea Facial Scrub 5 oz. $16.95

*Photo Courtesy of Simple Sugars

If you’re not exfoliating your – you should be!  Exfoliating helps smooth out chapped and bumpy lips. It also helps increase circulation, which makes your lips look plump and fuller. Follow these steps for sexier lips!

Easy Lip Scrub Recipe

• 1 tsp petroleum jelly
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 drop of argan oil
• 1 drop of peppermint oil (optional for fresh breath!)

Mix the sugar into the petroleum jelly then add in the drops of argan oil and peppermint oil. This can all be done in your hand. Apply it to your lips in a circular motion using your index finger. Rinse or let the ingredients soak in.

Here’s a great idea for a homemade Christmas gift – gingerbread body scrub. Kids can make this for their moms with a little help from dad or older siblings. You can even make it organic by using only organic ingredients. This scrub smells delicious and is just want you need to help de-stress from all the holiday madness! Enjoy!

Gingerbread Body scrub

• 1 cup sugar or brown sugar
• 2 tps ginger
• 2 tps nutmeg
• 2 tps cinnamon
• ¼ cup almond oil

Combine all ingredients and pour into a nice glass jar with an airtight lid. Tie a nice ribbon around the jar and attach instructions that read “Apply in a circular motion, rinse and pat dry”

(Photo courtesy of © Josefbosak | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos)

Russell Organics 100% Argan Oil is a natural all-in-one oil that nourishes and moisturizes skin and hair. It’s versatile and loaded with vitamin E, omega-6 fatty acid and squalene – all of which are excellent moisturizers.

If you suffer from dry skin, then argan oil is a great addition to your winter skincare routine. I like to rub some into my dry elbows and knees. It absorbs quickly and keeps my skin soft throughout the winter months. Once the cold weather starts to kick in, my cuticles get dry and peel. Argan oil helps keep them in shape in between manis. I dab some on with a Q-Tip as needed. It also soothes and nourishes hair. After I detangle my hair, I always apply argan oil to the ends of my hair. It keeps my ends looking healthy and helps prevents splitting.

Russell Organics Argan Oil $28

(Photo courtesy of Russell Organics)

Happy Thanksgiving Beauties! Today I thought I’d share this cranberry face scrub recipe. I remember making this with my mom the day after Thanksgiving back when I was in high school. My mother and I have always bonded over beauty and baking. I love her so much for sharing her knowledge of both with me.

Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and are loaded with antioxidants. Vitamin C helps brighten and clarify your skin. Cranberries are also a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory – this means they are great at cleaning and healing the skin.

Cranberry Face & Body Scrub Recipe

1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup olive oil or almond oil
2 tbsp oatmeal

Blend the cranberries and oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Combine the mixture with the rest of the ingredients. Apply to face and body in a  circular motions then rinse. For an extra boost of radiance – leave the scrub on your face for 5 minutes then rinse.

Alivea Cream is an all natural skin soothing cream that treats sunburns and hydrates skin. It’s made from three simple but powerful ingredients; beeswax, olive oil, and water. This cream is so natural that I thought it would be appropriate to list it under the Nature’s Best category. Beeswax is a main ingredient found in many lip balms.  It locks in skin’s moisture and acts as a barrier between your skin and airborne allergies. It also heals sunburned skin and minor burns. Olive oil is also an amazing ingredient that I love. Olive oil helps hydrate and replenish skin. And water, what’s more natural than h2O! As we know water hydrates our skin as well.

Alivea Cream feels and looks like a thick, waxy balm. It has a great natural scent, it smells like beeswax. It comes complete with a small spatula to scoop the product out. At first it has a pretty solid consistency, but once you rub it in onto your warm skin, it begins to melt right in.

I was invited to a pool party over the 4th of July weekend. I am pretty sun conscious, so I didn’t burn but I did tan. But soaking all day long in the chlorine left my skin feeling a bit dry, so when I got home I applied some of this after showering. It really helped rehydrate my skin. It does take a while to get absorbed into your skin, my legs were super shiny after I applied it! My boyfriend got a mild sunburn on his neck and shoulders. When I applied some to his hot back, it literally melted right in, I just had to work in some of the specs that didn’t melt. Much to say, he enjoyed his mini back massage!

This is a great all natural product that really delivers. It’s like a store bought homemade remedy that’s ready to use. The company recommends that you store it in the fridge, since it doesn’t have preservatives and all those nasty parabens and stuff.

Alivea Cream 100ml $25

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Summer is just around the corner so this means Margarita season will soon begin! Well for me – Margaritas are enjoyed all year round since it’s my favorite drink. So then what’s better than having my favorite drink? Using it as a body scrub of course. Smoother skin and zero calories!

Limes are a natural antiseptic, this means they are great for cleaning and healing the skin. The natural occurring acids in limes also help rid your skin of dead skin cells. Limes are also loaded with vitamin c, which brightens and clarifies your skin.

Margarita Body Scrub

• 1 cup sugar or sea salt (I like my Margaritas with salt on the rim!)
• Juice from 1 lime
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• A few drops of lemon oil

Combine all the ingredients and apply in a circular motion.

Most skincare companies offer some sort of tool that cleanses your face. For example, the Neautrogena wave sonic and the Clarisonic, both clean your pores while making wrinkles and lines less noticeable. If you like those, then you will enjoy this all natural recipe because it works in the same way, but instead you get to use a tomato! I got this recipe from watching the Dr. Oz Show. I’m a fan of the show, he usually features good tips on weight loss and anti aging secrets.

Tomato Sugar Face Scrub

• 1 Tomato
• 1 Tbsp Sugar

Cut tomato in half and dip it in the sugar. Next, rub your face with the tomato in a circular motion. Leave it on for ten minutes and then rinse.

Why it works: Tomatoes have lycopene in them, that’s what gives it its deep red color. Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps protects your skin from dangerous UV sun rays and it also prevents wrinkles by maintaining your skin’s elasticity. Sugar is also great for your skin because it’s a natural humectant. Humectants help retain moisture, so the sugar helps pull moisture into your skin and keep it there.

© Chriszwaenepoel | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

Strawberries can do wonders for our skin. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. These antioxidants help fight free radicals which bombard us almost everyday. Vitamin A-C-E is the trifecta of skincare ingredients. Vitamin A helps build collagen, vitamin C helps clarify you skin and evens out skin tone, and finally vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. Strawberries also have anti-inflammatory properties that may help with redness and breakouts.

Homemade Strawberry Face Scrub

• 2-3 ripe or over-ripe strawberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp olive oil or a dollop of cold cream (Ponds or Olay)

Mash the strawberries with a fork. Mix the mashed strawberries with the sugar and olive oil. If you don’t like to use oil on your face, you can swap it out for any basic cold cream or face cream you may have.

Apply scrub to face in a circular motion. Leave on for 1-3 minutes and rinse off. Finish off with your moisturizer of choice.

The strawberry seeds and sugar work hard to scrub away dull skin to reveal bright youthful looking skin.  The sugar helps retain your skin’s moisture and the olive oil also acts as an antioxidant and moisturizes your skin.

© Nicolasdelafraye | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

Hair masks are the best prescription for dry hair. Natural hair masks work the best because they don’t contain alcohol or sulfates. Most of those chemicals can actually strip the natural oils from your hair.

Supercharged Avocado Banana Hair Mask

• 1/2 Avocado
• 1/2 Banana
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Add-ins to choose from:

• 1 Tbsp Vitamin A Oil
• 1 Tbsp Vitamin E Oil
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 1 Tbsp Avocado Oil
• 1 Tbsp Keratin Extract Oil

Mash or blend the avocado and banana together. Add in the olive oil and your choice of  add-in oils. Mix until creamy and apply to your hair. Leave in for at least 20 minutes and then wash out with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo.

You can find these oils in Whole Foods or at the pharmacy. You can also order them online. I get mine from a Brazilian products store, the small vials are found in the beauty aisle or near the register. I sometimes add a little bit of all the oils.

© Altius | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos