Back to School Challenge

I'm ready to do this 5 habits challenge again.  Last time we had a great group and the winner got $45 in her choice of Posh products delivered to her.  It only costs $5 which all goes toward the prize pot.  Sign up today using PayPal (no fee- use the link on the sidebar).  As soon as I get your donation confirmation, I'll add you to the private Facebook group where you can print your tracker and get daily motivation!

Five Habits Challenge

Could you use some motivation and accountability when it comes to taking care of yourself?  I sure could!  There are 5 basic personal habits that I'm wanting to be more consistent with at this stage of my life.  Nothing crazy or too idealistic- just some basic things that make me feel better and more prepared to take on whatever comes each day...

Anyone is welcome to join me in this challenge.  The more the merrier!  I'll post the tracker and you can download it and print for free.  If you'd like to be part of the private facebook group I'll be creating for this challenge and be eligible to win the prize (your choice of Posh products worth the total sum of donations I receive minus tax and shipping) please donate $5 by clicking on the paypal link here:

 If you live near me and want to use cash or would like to mail a check that's fine too.  We can all support and encourage each other through the group!  I'm really looking forward to it!  Here are some of the details:

And here's the tracker for the first challenge starting May 19th.  Who's in??

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

Nobody needs to tell you that getting enough water is essential to your health. Or that it's vital to flushing out toxins and helping all your organs (including your skin!) work properly.  We've heard it over and over and we all know it's true.  Whenever I feel "off" the first things I've learned to ask myself are these questions:

1.  How much water have I been drinking lately?

2.  How healthy have I been eating?

3.  How much exercise have I done?

4.  How much rest have I been getting?

5.  How are my stress levels?

I seem to start with water because that's the easiest thing to fix!  Well, theoretically right?  We have easy access to clean drinking water all day long so what's holding us back from downing more of it??  In my case (and I suspect I'm not in the minority here) it's the R word.

 

Remembering.  

I can't hold myself up as an example of a perfect water drinker, but I am going to share a few things I sometimes do to make it easier on myself to remember.  It will still take effort, but like meal planning, it's always helpful to do the thinking before dinnertime (or bedtime- in the case of realizing you didn't drink enough water that day!)

One idea is putting all the water you want to drink for the day in the fridge.  That way you can visually see how much is left to drink and you don't have to look for a clean container and then fill it up each time.  I find myself drinking out of mason jars because I always have plenty around and I love that I can put lids on them.  I just drink right out of the jar and when it's empty I rinse it out and let it dry for the next day.  Fill them all up again at night or first thing in the morning and put them back in your spot in the fridge.  You'll have to train your family not to touch.  They can get their own water.  These ones are off limits ;)  I like to drink 12 cups a day (3 quarts) especially during the summer.  But if I only get through 2 of these (8 cups) I still feel good about that and count it as a success.

Another thing that I use when I'm REALLY having a tough time remembering is a water drinking app.  I have this one and really like it.  You can set how many reminders you want and at what times of the day... you can even take a picture of the different containers you drink out of and click on the one you want to log.  It's easy.  But you have to have your phone with you to get the reminders.  Logging each drink can be a bit of a pain (although it's only one click) but if you want to accurately keep track of how much you're drinking there's no better way!

So what do you do to make sure you get enough water?  Any other tips and tricks to share?

2 New Skindelicious

 Mango Marshmallow is a reformulation of You Can Call Me Candy slather (which I love!  So I'm positive I'm going to love this one too) and Olive You is a body butter based on the slather with the same name (which happens to be my husband's favorite thing to use on his ultra dry skin).  Can't wait to try these both.  Who wants to do a party order??

Portable Online Parties

 If you've tried Posh, chances are you love it. If you love it, you should be getting some for FREE and HALF PRICE! And if you haven't tried it yet, this is the perfect way to do it.

If you live within 20 minutes of me and would like to host a home party, great!  Pick a time, invite your friends and I'll bring what I have over for everyone to sample.  Realistically, though, we are all very busy.  Portable Online Parties are the direction I'd really like to head with this business.  These parties are flexible, they're personalized, and guests get to try the products they most want to in the comfort of their own homes.  Curious?  Read on...

Here are the basic steps to hosting a Portable Online Party (if you're interested, please email me at carissabuck@gmail.com for more detailed information):

1. Create a Facebook event or group and invite your guests (FB is preferred, but a group email will work)

2. Encourage guests to browse the website and become familiar with the products

3. Post your wish list of 6 items you'd love to try and encourage your guests to post theirs if they'd like to receive free samples

4. I'll mail the requested samples to you to distribute (labeled and prepackaged so it's easy for you to hand them out)

5. Guests try out the products and order if they want.  All sales earn party perks for YOU, the hostess!

All this year, I will be giving an EXTRA 1/2 price item to anyone who hosts and submits a party order.  Hostesses will always receive their entire wish list of 6 samples!  Guests will receive anywhere from 2-5 samples on their wish list, depending on how many request and what I have availabe.  It's easy, no pressure, and nothing to lose (but lots to gain).  Let me help you do this!

Citrus

Snarky Bars

These soapy shea butter bars are serious scrubbers!  Do you like that feeling when someone scratches your back?  My husband is constantly asking for a back scratch and I hate doing it because apparently I can never do it hard enough, even when my fingernails feel like they're going to fall off!  I tried the snarky on his wet back the other day and he was in heaven.  Problem solved.  (And yes, I loved it too- though it had to be done with a lighter hand)

Works amazing on feet... anywhere you can stand it.  Don't try it on your face though, the thought makes me cringe.  Cool thing about exfoliating with these bars is that they're loaded with shea butter to soften you up as you scrub.  I'm really loving this unique product.  And I haven't even got to the smell yet.  Both of the scents are incredible.  Intoxicating really.  Can't decide which one I like better!  Classic or Brazilian Bombshell...

Let's Talk Feet

 Getting my feet soft and smooth has been one of my favorite things about discovering Perfectly Posh.  I go barefoot, wear flip-flops, and sandals.  A lot.  The Rubby Scrubby is a must for me.  If I could only choose one foot product, this one is it.  It's a peppermint exfoliator stick in a hard soap base that contains shea butter and coconut oil.  After soaking my feet (or toward the end of a bath or shower, while my feet are still wet) I scrub the calloused areas with this stick- focusing on the outer edge of my big toe and my heals.  It starts to lather a bit, and at this point I like to give my feet a quick 30 second massage and enjoy the strong peppermint scent.  Then rinse.  Easy and effective!  

*I store the stick with the lid just barely set on top so it can air dry in-between uses

The Soothing Stick is really becoming useful now that it's heating up outside.  This is a great little companion to the Rubby Scrubby, especially if you scrub your feet in the morning or right before you put on flip-flops or cute strappy shoes.  I would call it a moisturizing foot deodorant.  The soothing stick also has the same strong peppermint scent which helps that pleasant cool tingly feeling last longer, but the biggest benefit is that it keeps my feet from getting sweaty or slippery feeling while moisturizing them at the same time.  Body butter on my feet is nice at night when I'm heading straight to bed, but the Soothing Stick works super well for going straight to sandals.  It contains cornstarch and shea butter.  And honestly, peppermint is the best combatant that exists for foot odor!  I think I just might give this pair to my teenage son for his birthday next month ;)

If you REALLY want to pamper your feet for a special occasion (or just because you deserve it), these other fun products will certainly help you out:

 

*Before scrubbing, dissolve a peppermint Fabulous Fizzy tablet into some warm water and soak your feet for 7-10 minutes.

  

*Could your feet use some really intense repair?  Give the peppermint/aloe/marshmallow Pink Putty foot mask a try for 15 minutes while you enjoy some relaxation time with your feet up!  

*If you need a quick makeover for your feet during the day or on the go, just spray the moisture-rich peppermint Twinkle Toes mist on for on-the-spot relief.  This dries instantly but contains hydrating macadamia and avocado oils to nourish skin and give it a healthy sheen.

If you decide to buy the entire Play Footsie line, you'll get to pick an additional product (up to $12 value) for FREE!  Like my favorite item, the Healer, or the wonderful lemony Cuticle Cutie.

Big Fat Yummy Hand Cremes

Each one of these smells unique and amazing.  They're all made with apricot kernal oil and coconut oil so they're nice and hydrating but absorb into the skin very quickly without any greasy feel.  Which means you can get back to using your hands right away!  They come in 3 oz tubes- perfect for your purse and for traveling/flying.  

*APRICOT KERNAL OIL is known to pack mega-moisturizing power without a greasy feel.  It's gentle and contains high levels of vitamins A & E which penetrate skin quickly.

*Food grade COCONUT OIL is hyper-nourishing and rejuvenates dry and damaged skin.  It speeds healing of cuts and bruises while it fights infection.  It also forms a barrier to hold in moisture while penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Want to have them all?  Buy the bundle and get one free!

Vegan Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do You Feed Your Skin?

Skin is the largest organ of the body.  It's our first line of defense against injury, illness, and pollution.  We may not realize it, but our skin absorbs a large percentage of whatever we put on it.  Taking good care of it goes a long way in helping our bodies function properly.  These are some of the nourishing ingredients you can expect to find in Perfectly Posh products:

All Over Pampering

DTox and Brighten Facial

This routine definitely leaves me with tighter, younger feeling, brighter skin.  The DTox mud stripper works wonders over time to lessen blackheads and tighten the pores on my nose.  The Vitamin C serum removes discoloration and dark patches, and the Caffeinator stick reduces puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.

Step #1: Delish face wash- use a very small amount of this gently fruity foaming wash with warm water to cleanse face.  I avoid exfoliating cleansers in this routine because the mud mask will cause newly exfoliated skin to sting more.  Gender Bender is another good choice for this step.  Rinse and pat dry.

Step #2: Stripper- spread a thin layer of this vanilla-scented mud over face and let dry for up to 15 minutes.  The stripper can be used up to 3 times per week.  I most often use it on my T zone (forehead, nose, and chin- sometimes just nose) and once in a while over my whole face.  It's aggressive and may burn slightly at first.  Be sure to test first or substitute if you have sensitive skin.  Another option to use for step 2 is the Seawitch kaolin mask.  Both can cause skin to redden temporarily so don't do this routine directly before going somewhere important.  Your skin will need an hour or so to recover, but it will feel great!

Step #3: Vitamin C Fairy- use just a drop or two of this serum on areas of discoloration and under eyes to promote elasticity and brightness.  If you'd rather have an anti-aging serum to treat and prevent wrinkles and creases, use the Sweet Young Thing serum instead for this step.

Step #4: Caffeinator Stick- just one swipe under each eye is all it takes to boost tightening and brightening of the fragile skin in this area.

Step #5: Moisturize 911- this subtle-citrus scented moisturizer is loaded with caffeine to perk up your face while giving it the moisture it needs after DToxing.  Use as much as you feel you need.  A large pea-size drop is just right for me.

Step #6: Make-Out Magic Lip Scrub- DaMintcha, Oh Peaches, or Tree Hugger will work here, just don't forget to pamper those lips.  These sugar lip scrubs will last forever because it only takes the tiniest bit to do the job.  Rub in to exfoliate dead skin and make lips incredibly smooth.  Let any extra sugar dissolve or you can lick it off.  No rinsing.  This one happens to have a subtle sweet grapefruit flavor.

Plain Posh

Do you have fragile or sensitive skin?  Prefer no dyes or fragrances?  Posh makes a chunk, a bath bomb, and a slather (body butter) in this line.

I love putting some plain slather in my hands and mixing in a drop of my own essential oils before rubbing it on.  A drop of lavender for feet and hands at bedtime is wonderful.  A drop of peppermint in some slather for massaging the back of my neck and shoulders is invigorating and stress-relieving.  Any oil you can safely use on your skin, you can mix with the slather to change up your experience and fit your mood.  Lots of possibilities!

The chunk has only 9 ingredients including glycerin and sodium palmate and the bombinator has only 6 ingredients.  The slather is made with a luxurious healing cocoa butter base.

Hey, Honey! New Personal Favorite!

Sometimes you just have to give something a try before you'll have any idea you'll fall in love.  This hand creme is incredible.  It doesn't yet come in a convenient little tube like the others for your purse or traveling.  It comes in a little tub with a screw-on lid (like a half-size skindelicious).  It has the same basic formula as the Big Fat Yummy Hand Cremes (coconut oil and apricot kernal oil) but with the addition of honey, so it's just slightly richer.  It works SO well.  I will not be without this one from now on.

To be honest, it doesn't smell like lemon and honey to me.  Well, I guess it kind of does.  But if I had to describe the scent with my eyes closed I would say it smells like rainbow sherbet, or maybe a lemon raspberry sorbet.  Whatever.  It's fantastic smelling.  It's very soothing and the honey is healing.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!  It's a must-try, my friends.

Easter Candy

Easter is April 20th!  Still a few weeks away so there's time to order a few fun things for your older kids (or yourself!)  Some ideas for teen Easter basket stuffers are:

 BFY hand creme, lip scrub, lipshot lip balm, cuticle cutie, a chunk, a skin stick, fragrant bath salts, Call Me Candy slather, the Rubby Scrubby or face wash and moisturizer.

Rest and Hydration Facial

This nightly routine has been making my face feel fabulous so I thought I'd share it.  This investment in yourself is a fantastic price for such high quality ingredients, especially when bought together in a bundle to take advantage of the Buy5 Get1 Free deal.  The amount needed is so small and effective that these products will last a good long time.

Step 1: BFF Exfoliating Face Wash- Use a very small amount (1/2 pea-size) with plenty of warm water and lightly scrub face avoiding eye area.  Rinse and pat dry.  Alternatively, Complexion Perfection could be used instead.  It is also a peppermint exfoliating face wash- though slightly less exfoliating.

Step 2: Rain Mask- Smooth a thin layer over face and neck.  Leave on for up to an hour then rinse and pat dry.  (Rain mask is gentle enough to use daily- I currently use it about twice a week).  Another moisturizing mask that could be used here is The Saint.  It is avocado and honey based.

Step 3: Sweet Young Thing- Use just 2 or 3 drops and rub into bare clean skin, focusing on wrinkle prone areas like forehead and around the eyes and mouth.

Step 4: Sleepy Stick (or Healer Stick)- Swiping a layer of shea butter directly underneath my eyes and on my lips is SO comforting and nourishing any time of day but especially at night.  The sleepy stick contains lavender oil and the healer contains orange oil.  I love using the lavender scent at bedtime.  I keep it on the nightstand next to my bed just in case I want more :)

Step 5: Night and Day Moisturizer- A pea-size amount of this intoxicating lavender heaven is enough for my whole face.  The scent is strong at first (breathe deeply and enjoy!) then dissipates as it's absorbed.

Step 6: Sweet Dreams Night Creme- Ideal for maturing skin, this luxurious creme is wonderful to put on my cheek and neck areas for an extra boost of hydration.  Like the others, a little goes a long way and the subtle pressed petal scent is a lovely one to go to bed with.  It compliments the lavender so nicely.

Step 7: Rest up and let the magic do it's thing while you look forward to the incredible youthful-feeling face you'll most certainly have in the morning.

Rain Mask

I LOVE this brand new mask!  It's a super hydrating treat.  I put it on last night after washing my face and left in on for about an hour while my husband and I watched a movie.  It's invisible and it didn't make my face feel tight and stiff like other masks when it dried.  I nearly forgot I had it on.  The best part was washing it off.  I kept rubbing it into my skin as I was splashing the water on it because it got really soft and silky and I didn't want it to wash away too fast.  Followed it up with some Sweet Dreams night creme and my face was incredibly soft!

I wasn't really drawn to trying this mask at first because I've never been a huge fan of rose scent.  I've always associated the smell with old-fashioned things and grandmas.  I love grandmas... just haven't wanted to smell like them ;)  I have to admit, though, the reworking of it- giving it a vintage appeal and a modern update by adding the touch of citrus- really works for me!  I'm finding a new appreciation for it.  Mostly, I just love how it makes my skin feel.

I think I'm going to become very attached to this one.  It's comforting and soothing.  It makes me feel like I'm really doing something healthy for my skin.  Maybe I'll put it on for a whole hour once a week while I deep condition my hair and make myself read or watch a movie while I'm waiting.  I like this idea.