Retinol 2.5% Cream by Uptown Cosmeceuticals

*Retinol 2.5% Cream by Uptown Cosmeceuticals

Vitamin A or Retinol as it's most commonly known is a great anti-aging skincare product to have in your arsenal.  What does it do?  It basically tells skin cells to act like younger and healthier skin cells, which is why it works so well.  It almost literally helps "turn back time" on aging and damaged skin.
For heavily damaged skin you can have your doctor prescribe a topical cream like Retin A that is a Retinoid with a much higher dose than it's over the counter cousins.  However, you don't need a prescribed Retinoid to get really great results.
This Retinol 2.5% Cream by Uptown Cosmeceuticals is a great example of a skincare product that can give you results almost as good as those prescription brands.  It just might take a little longer, which is some cases might be better.  Retinol at a prescribed dose can actually leave skin red and irritated.  Using Retinol at a dose of 2.5% means it will gently help fade discolorations from sun damage, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and it can even reduce the size of pores that have enlarged due to clogging or sun damage.  Plus, it can even help increase collagen production!
If you find that you have sensitive skin do a test patch to make sure that you are not overly sensitive to the Retinol.  Once you know you are good to go start adding the Retinol 2.5% Cream by Uptown Cosmeceuticals to your nightly skincare routine.  I recommend using on your face, neck and decollete.  Just make sure to wear sunscreen during the day while using ANY Retinol product.  You don't want to undo all the hard work that the Retinol!
This worked really well on some Melasma spots that I have and of course I always use Retinol to help keep my fine lines and wrinkles at bay!

You can find this Retinol 2.5% Cream by Uptown Cosmeceuticals on Amazon.com

 

 This is not a sponsored post. I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

Rain Chain by Toil in the Soil

*Rain Chain by Toil in the Soil

I have always wanted one of these Rain Chains!  While it doesn't rain a ton where I live we do get pretty good storms when it does so I am patiently waiting for one of those storms too really see it in all it's glory!  In the meantime, I had to test it out with the hose so I could get the full effect of the waterfall sounds as the little pails fill up.  I don't know why but I have always liked the idea of Rain Chains versus a usual gutter downspout.  So much prettier visually and I love the sound that the Rain Chain makes.

This Rain Chain by Toil in the Soil is a really cute design that adds a little something special to our back yard.  We have some wind chimes that are made out of a similar copper material and also feature butterflies as well so they almost look like they are a matching set.  They look really nice hanging next to each other.  However, I'm thinking I need to get one more of these Rain Chains by Toil in the Soil so I can hang another one on the opposite side of the house too!

You can find this Rain Chain by Toil in the Soil at Amazon.com...

 

 This is not a sponsored post. I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

PainAway Essential Oil Blend by Phytopia

*PainAway Essential Oil Blend by Phytopia

I have tried a few other lovely essential oils blends from Phytopia, the SlimWay Grapefruit Essential Oil Blend, Stretch Mark Remover Essential Oil Blend, Tranquility Essential Oil Blend and now this PainAway Essential Oil Blend and I have really enjoyed all of them.  The two standouts are the Tranquility Essential Oil Blend and this PainAway Essential Oil Blend.

I have really been enjoying using this PainAway Essential Oil Blend.  While it doesn't give you that "icy hot" feeling like most traditional pain creams you do feel a nice cooling sensation and it definitely provides some serious relief for tired and achy muscles.  Not only does it help soothe tires and sore muscles but the blend of Evening Primrose, Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Lavender Essential Oils smells amazing which I'm sure helps melt away the tension and stress too.

My favorite way to use this is as a massage oil for my back and neck.  I have a lot of back and neck issues and having my husband massage this PainAway Essential Oil Blend feels incredible, especially if it's right before bed.  It really helps me relax which also means I sleep better as well.

I highly recommend trying any of the all natural and organic Essential Oil Blends from Phytopia, they are seriously amazing!

You can find this PainAway Essential Oil Blend by Phytopia or any of their other Essential Oil Blends on Amazon.com...

              

 This is not a sponsored post. I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

Parachute Hammock by Native Spring

*Parachute Hammock by Native Spring

There is just something about a hammock that is so relaxing, am I right?

This Parachute Hammock by Native Spring is the perfect hammock to just put up in your backyard or to take on a camping trip!  The great thing about this hammock is that it rolls up into a convenient drawstring bag so you can really take it anywhere!

I love having this set up in our backyard.  It becomes the perfect spot to take an afternoon nap or to sit and read a book while supping on my favorite cocktail.  However, since it's so easy to pack up into it's little bag I also love that we can take it camping with us too!

The hammock itself is really lightweight but also extremely durable.  It's also well made and even has triple stitching for additional support.  Technically this is a single person hammock but the fabric is nice quality 100% parachute nylon and has a capacity up to 600 lbs.

This hammock doesn't come with Hanging Hammock Tree Straps but I found some nice, inexpensive ones on Amazon that work great!

You can find this Parachute Hammock by Native Spring on Amazon.com as well as the Hanging Hammock Tree Straps...

    

I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

Yoga Wheel by Lotus Brands, Inc.

*Yoga Wheel by Lotus Brands, Inc.

As many times as I've done Yoga and Barre3 I have yet had the chance to use a Yoga Wheel.  When I heard it could do great things for people with back pain I knew I had to try it out for myself.
My first impression of this Yoga Wheel by Lotus Brands, Inc. was that I was surprised at how sturdy it was.  It supposedly can hold up to 450 lbs of body weight which is really impressive. The outside of the wheel is covered in a soft, comfortable padding and the wheel itself is really well made.  This is definitely a nice piece of Yoga equipment that I will have for years to come.
I will admit that it took me a few times to really get my balance so that I could use it to stretch out my back.  However, once I got the hang of it and knew where I needed to place it then it became really easy to use.  I have had to work my way up to the recommended 10 minutes but it has really helped keep my back pain in check.  I love using it first thing when I get home from work to really de-stress and relieve the tension.  It really gives a good stretch to my spine and surrounding muscles.  You can also use it in much the same way that you would use a foam roller but a Yoga Wheel provides me with a much deeper stretch.  I also enjoy using it right before I go to bed.  I find that when I use it before bed it also helps me sleep!

You can find this Yoga Wheel by Lotus Brands, Inc. over on Amazon.com...

 

 This is not a sponsored post. I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

Ceramide Moisturizer by Serum Ceuticals

*Ceramide Moisturizer by Serum Ceuticals

Since my skin has a tendency to run more on the oily side I usually reserve intense moisturizers to use primarily around my eyes and on my neck and decollete.  However, I do like to use a more intense moisturizer after I do a chemical peel or microdermabrasion to help keep my skin irritation to a minimum.

I found this Ceramide Moisturizer by Serum Ceuticals worked perfectly to help shorten the time it normally takes my skin to return to normal after doing a TCA Deep Chemical Peel.  This Ceramide Moisturizer helped soothe and nourish my skin.  It also helped reduce the amount of dry, flaky skin often associated with doing a chemical peel.  It even provided some much needed deep hydration for my fresh and new skin.

If your into doing any sort of peel or microdermabrasion I would recommend getting some of this Ceramide Moisturizer by Serum Ceuticals to have on hand.  I think spending the extra money to have a moisturizer that helps shorten then down time after a peel or microdermabrasion is well worth it.  This moisturizer also worked wonders on my husband's Eczema so I would think it would work well for any skin that is dry, dehydrated, inflamed or irritated.

You can find this Ceramide Moisturizer by Serum Ceuticals on Amazon.com...

 

 This is not a sponsored post. I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I think my readers would enjoy also. All opinions are my own. 

This post may contain affiliate links which will help support my blog and I thank you in advance for your support. If you do not wish to use my links, no hard feelings, just do a search for the product and or brand on the interweb!

Survival Paracord Bracelet by GikPal

*Survival Paracord Bracelet by GikPal

As an avid hiker and camper safety is always something that is on my mind.  There is always the possibility of taking the wrong trail while hiking and ending up lost and being prepared is essential.  Lately, I have been taking things a little more seriously and adding items to my backpack that will come in handy for those "just in case" moments.  Naturally, when I saw this Survival Paracord Bracelet I knew it was something I had to have.

This is no ordinary bracelet.  This is a 5 in 1 survival tool and it's genius!  It is made from durable Paracord that can be disassembled and used for rope in an emergency.  Plus, contained in the buckle portion is a whistle, fire rod and fire scraper which can also double as a knife.  Like I said, genius!

While this bracelet is probably made more with a man in mind since it's a little big for my woman size wrists I think it's something anyone who hikes, hunts, or camps should have.  You can also just simply attach it to a backpack or any other gear if you didn't want to wear it as a bracelet.  You can also choose from all black or army green if your picky about color.  My husband and father have already requested one for themselves that they can use for hunting so it looks like I will be ordering more for gifts!

You can find this Survival Paracord Bracelet by GikPal on Amazon.com...

 

 I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review using Tomoson.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I enjoy using personally and that I believe will be good for my readers.  Press Sample.  May Contain Affiliate Links.  All Opinions Are My Own.