Much Needed Vitamin Sea + Vitamin C

This past weekend, I cruised down to one of my favorite beach spots in the whole world for some much needed alone time. There's something special about watching powerful waves interlace with the shoreline in an extreme pattern that provides therapy and calm to a rough work week. Although comforting and providing a tranquil state of mind, I couldn't forget my sunscreen, water and a new favorite, the bodyceuticals Vitamin C + Calendula fruit stem cell AHA.  



I can't tell you how amazing this all natural product smells, and I can't even begin to share how good it felt on my face, I can only write a description, and let me just tell you, you'll want to lick the jar and touch your skin all day long!

The fresh, organic aloe juice whipped into this facial cream contains high potency Vitamin C and antioxidants designed to tone & even out skin tone. Um, hello? Where has this baby been all my life?!

Studies have also shown the ingredients in this cream do the following:

• Firm & plump tissue
• Assists with age & sun spots
• Freshen and soothes skin
• 90 percent certified organic. vegan

Full list of Ingredients: Vitamin C ester, Organic aloe vera juice, Organic coconut oil, Organic Calendula, Organic cranberry, Organic rose hip seed oil, Wild blueberry extract, Organic black willow bark, rosemary, neem, Vitamin E d-alpha tocopherol & mixed tocopherol.

 If you have an awesome product to share with me or want me to try, let me know, I'd love to check it out! Come say hi on my instagram page.

Beauty Brand Stila Goes Cruelty-Free

What's Happened?...



Interesting news on the beauty front, thanks to blogger Cruelty-Free Kitty for providing the information on her blog. Cosmetic brand Stila, has pulled out of China, which is HUGE as China test on animals where their law permits. With this transition official as of 2017, Stila has been moved to PETA's list of brands who do not test on animals.


The Hope...
With Stila being such a huge brand in the industry, one can only hope more brands will follow their lead.


Not to knock down other brands, but with so many options to produce rich color and product sans testing on animals, why not?


Almost There...


The more I learn about animal testing, the more distraught I have become. As a beauty and lifestyle blogger and past beauty editor for a national magazine, I have sampled a slew of beauty treasures, and that's not to say my makeup bag is completely free of "no animal tested" staples. I am however, more mindful of what I'm putting on my skin; and thinking of the suffering these innocent animals go through to help me look glamorous.


Need Help?...
In this day and age, we have so many options of beauty goodness, and many cruelty-free beauty brands are duping high-end main stream (non-cruelty-free) ones. 
For example:  NYX, Wet "N' Wild, Tarte and of course Stila have several options to choose from. Check them out at your favorite market.


In Conclusion...


CHEERS TO STILA! any victory is a BIG victory in my book!

Stila by ladylisalove featuring Stila

TRY THIS JUICE BY OPEN SOURCE ORGANICS

Open Source Organics

"Raw. Vegan. 100% Organic" - Open Source Organics

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! About a year ago, I did a three mile hike in the West Hollywood hills area, and upon my final steps back to the parking lot, a food truck was waiting there. Being a girly girl and a lover of country-chic designs and clean lines, I locked my eyes on the cute mason jar full of juice. They were large in size, and if I recall correctly, about $9.

 "Hmm...Not bad," I thought, for something that was vegan, healthy and only made up of simple ingredients.

I was excited to try it, and picked out my juice, "Apple Pucker."

 The gluten-free, 100 percent organic and "made with LOVE," mixture of apple, lemon and mint tasted delicious, and its mojito resemblance (sans alcohol and additional sugar) was the perfect resource my body needed post-cardio sesh.

For weeks, er, months after that initial meet and greet, I couldn't forget that juice. Something about it was just THAT different to me. Thankfully through a diligent search and determination to not give up, I found out the name of the company that made this joyous concoction, Open Source Organics, and the rest is history.

If you're a foodie, like to live healthy, on a special diet, or just want to try something new, check them out. You'll be happy you did.

Open Monday-Sunday 7 am - 8 pm  7107 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood CA, 90046 

 

Photo by @shoesdogsandchocolate

Photo by @opensourceorganics

Photo by @misoo_hungry

 

shoesdogsandchocolate

Amazing weekend at Natural Products Expo - West!

Happy little Friday, everyone! It's Thursday, and I'm so excited to share what happened at this year's 36th annual Natural Products Expo West and Engredea, the world's largest natural, organic and healthy products event. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

I started my day off incredibly early by attending yoga at 7:30 a.m., with Yogini expert and instructor,  Gina Caputo, and rocked out to incredible music, infused with good vibes from Michael Franti.

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)
As part of their #gotogether campaign, Kashi spoiled everyone after the yoga sesh with an all natural, vegan breakfast bowl filled with almond butter, coconut shavings, strawberries, carob chips and granola; and Gaiam offered free yoga mats and yoga sling at a first-come-first-serve, basis.

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

After stuffing my face and filling my belly with delicious eats, I was ready to power through the day. 

I entered into the ground floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, California, and was blown away with the burst of positive energy, excitement and samples being passed my way. 

I stopped by the Honest Company booth and learned about their natural approach to baby care products that are non-toxic to both baby and moms. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

Bodyceuticals Calendula launched their natural tattoo coverup, Ink pot. All you had to do was flash them your favorite work of self body art, and you were gifted with a sample.

Giovanni beauty was representing their hair care line by pampering attendees with a fun hair makeover. As one of my favorite brands to follow, I am currently swooning over their Blackberry and Coconut Milk repairing shampoo and conditioner. The team was so friendly upon introductions and offered me a few more travel size take-aways. What girl could resist?!

With too many aisles to count and hours into the show, I stopped by the Weleda skin care booth, and received a free hand massage by this lovely lady, Elizabeth.

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

Ever heard of ear candling? Wally's Natural demonstrated the use of ear candles and explained their purpose to a small crowd of on-lookers amazed with this product. Ear candling is said to help calm and relax the nervous system by ways of warmth and a slight whistling sound that is actually a low air current pushing through the candle. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

Staying within the natural line of beauty, I stopped by Gurunanda and learned about oil pulling and essential oils. Let me just share, that after a few inhalations of orange, harmony and eucalyptus, I was at ease. A great state-of-mind to be in with all the trade show's hustle and bustle. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

Australian based product, Natralia handed out packets of their "happy little bodies" lotions and regular line of skin relieving lotions, foot balms and body washes. By far one of the best lotions to help soothe irritated skin due to eczema or other allergens. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

As I moved on to the third flood of the Convention Center, I was greeted with the nicest Italian guy, chef and owner of Russo's New York Pizzeria, Mr. Anthony Russo himself, who handed me a fresh slice of Russo's gluten-free pizza. HEAVEN and by far the best pizza I've ever tasted! A born New Yorker,  Anthony Russo moved to Texas and opened up several Italian pizzerias. Lucky Texans!

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

Washing everything down was no hard chore with Clearly Kombucha!

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

And, look who greeted me during a quick pass through aisles, it's the Mama Chia mascot. 

Everything was so delicious, but I needed a quick taste of something sweet, and fast! Thank goodness for Nikki's Coconut Butter for saving the day! Nikki and husband Andrew, are so full of enthusiasm, you can't help but become re-energized when talking to them, and if you can grab a spoonful of the vanilla cake batter and dark chocolate fudge coconut butters while chatting, the butter, er better! 

The soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free product comes in five delicious flavors and is a great snacking substitute to sugary options that are infused with fillers and hard to pronounce sweeteners. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

So Delicious, dairy-free products company had a cute set up and a line of their own, just outside their throwback to an ice-cream cart, delivering cold treats and servings of So Delicous vanilla almond milk and chocolate coconut milk. SO DELICIOUS, is so yummy!

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

I couldn't help but smile the entire time I was at the show. Everyone was just pumped to be there, to meet you and introduce their line of items, be it beauty, bamboo and organic fabrics, healing and wellness, toxic-free, dye-free, and vegan, the show was a hit!

In fact, the Natural Products Expo West and Engredea is the world's largest natural, organic and healthy products event, and this year hit a record-setting 6.9 percent growth rate. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

A HUGE thank you to New Hope Network for inviting me, and for hosting 77, 000 attendees in total. 

(photo: @shoesdogsandchocolate)

And with more than 3, 000 exhibitors, including 600 first-time exhibitors, I can only imagine what records you'll exceed to break next year! Until then,  I'll continue to spread the word about how this incredible expo is my favorite to attend each year!

Lush Cosmetics Review

I always wondered about this store, but it wasn't until a month ago that I actually stepped foot into one. I was a bit nervous to parooze the aisles, so I tapped on the shoulder of what turned out to be the friendliest seasonal sales rep possible; her name was Ella. I remembered her name in two ways: one, it was like Bella (duh!) and two, the Ell part reminded me of the character Elle from my favorite movie, Legally Blonde. 

Miss Ella guided me around the store and shared funny anecdotes to clue me in on what each item can do for my skin. Through several giggles, testers and a few stares from on-lookers, I weeded through my ideal choices. My final purchases consisted of two facial masks, one for hydration and the other to clear up acne; two toners, one to also combat acne and oil and the other to rid of toxins, and lastly, a hydration lip balm. 

O-M-G. They are all drops of heaven. The clean scents, all-natural, fresh and vegetarian ingredients, not to mention animal-free testing process made me an instant lover of this cosmetic chain. 

My review is strictly my own and I wasn't paid by any means to do this, I just simply love sharing great beauty products to anyone that will listen. If you ever get the opportunity, stop into a Lush store. Although you may not get a clerk like Ella, I'm sure you'll love the products.

(Photos: @shoesdogsandchocolate)