Zakia's Moroccan Ghassoul Clay Mask & Giveaway!

(**This post is powered by Brandbacker; I received a free sample for review, however all opinions are my own**)

Today I am really excited to tell you about Zakia's Morocco:  MOROCCAN GHASSOUL CLAY MASK POWDER.  I have been trying to find new products that I love and this one is a new must have on my list.  I liked this much better than the last face mask I tried.  This one comes in powder form but they include super easy directions with it.  All you have to really do is add some water and mix to a consistency of thin cookie dough.

It went on super smooth and didn't sting or burn like the last one either.  It tingled a little as it dried, but that just could have been the feeling of it drying against my skin.  I have very sensitive skin and this didn't leave my skin red at all!  I used it right before bed and when I woke up and looked in the mirror, my skin looked like it had a great glow to it.  Even my husband noticed!  It seemed to help a lot with my blackheads and really toned out my skin.  It doesn't have much of a smell, which I really like.  I'm very sensitive about smells.

Moroccan Ghassoul Clay Mask - A weekly mask with natural and organic clay from deep inside the Ancient Atlas Mountains of Morocco are the perfect skin treatment for cleaning, detoxifying, toning and rejuvenating. A facial mask treatment made from Ghassoul clay can be relaxing and give your skin a new healthy glow. Ghassoul clay's most impressive properties in skin improvement are its capacity of absorption and adsorption due to its high level of ion exchange. Ghassoul is a mineral rich, light brown clay that blends extremely well with water making its application to the face and skin a smooth and delightful experience. Use on skin and hair - it even makes for a fabulous shampoo; mix a small amount of powder in your favorite shampoo - wash and rinse. Super cleansing!

These are the features as listed from their site:

PURE AND NATURAL - This exquisite all natural and organic detoxifying clay is unique in its composition, quality and purity; It is meticulously selected from ancient mineral-rich deposits, found deep within the fertile Atlas Mountains, and contains 100% pure Ghassoul

FAST ACTING - Simply mix with a little water to create a smooth creamy texture, then glide effortlessly over your face, neck and hair as desired; Within seconds, you will feel a gentle tightening, as the intense detoxification begins to absorb impurities and harmful substances, cleansing

STUNNING RESULTS - You can expect a buttery soft, smooth and toned skin complexion, free from dryness, blemishes, blackheads and blocked pores; Your hair will feel light, manageable and conditioned, with curls defined and frizz controlled; Eczema, psoriasis, and acne are treated and calmed without stripping your skin of essential natural oils

MULTI-PURPOSE - Our Spa grade Ghassoul Clay is a versatile and multi-purpose daily cleanser that can also be used as a detoxifying face mask, skin conditioner and hair restoration treatment; It delivers one of the world's most powerful deep pore facials WITHOUT harsh chemicals, and can be applied daily to even the most dry, flaky and sensitive skin

I did not try the hair mask yet, but I am definitely going to give that a try.  Zakia's Morocco is also offering 10 Gift Certificates of $50 each!  You can enter below with their giveaway form!  BUT if you don't win they are also offering 20% off for my readers with the code: ZMBLOG-201.  All orders over $35 have free shipping too!

Trying out a couple new beauty products

My amazing husband gave me the "night off" from mom duties, so I could have a little me time.  I definitely needed it.  I decided to pamper myself a bit with a few of the trial sized products that have been building up in my "to try" drawer.  I save all of the little trial size things that come in the mail or are given to me in one place until I finally get around to trying them....is that weird?  Am I the only one that does this?!  Probably.  ANYWAY, I tried out a couple new products and wanted to tell you what I thought about each one.

Lately I have been hearing people talk nonstop about different masks that they've tried so I wanted to give one a shot.  I've seen Mud Masks advertised all over the place, from commercials, to blogs, to magazines.  They seem to be everywhere!  I have never actually tried a mud mask before, so I was pretty excited to give this one a shot.  Here is the one I ended up trying:

Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask

Benefits: (taken from their Amazon site)

Renowned anti-aging properties tighten pores, reduce wrinkles and lines and promote youthful, healthy, natural skin. A weekly mud-mask will diminish and heal the most common skin issues including Blemishes, Acne, Breakouts, Pimples, Blackheads, Eczema and Psoriasis. Use as a facial mask, spot treatment or full body mask

 My opinion:  I had never used any sort of mud mask before so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Since it is a MUD mask I think I was expecting a sort of musty gross smell, but I was very pleasantly surprised when it had more of a eucalyptus scent to it.  I also expected it to be very gritty and rough, but it has a smoother texture to it.  It was nice and thick and went on very easily.  Because it has eucalyptus oil in it, it has a tingling feeling at times.  When I first put it on it actually felt like it was stinging my face (which made me pretty nervous) but then after a minute or two it lessened to just a cool tingle.  After I washed it off, my face felt very refreshed, but it did dry out my skin a bit.  After about 10 minutes I felt my face again and it was REALLY soft.  I didn't notice any "glow" right away which I was a little bummed about.  I also didn't notice any change in my wrinkles/lines or pores, but I've only used it once so far.  Maybe after a couple more times I will notice more of a difference.

Beyond The Zone Smooth Criminal Masque (for hair)

Benefits:

Hydrates dry, frizz-prone hair.  Smooths the cuticle and improves manageability 

My opinion:

This conditioning hair mask smelled SO GOOD (kind of like cocoa butter, I think). That being said, it didn't really do much for my hair at all.  It actually made my hair feel dry; which doesn't make any sense.  I wanted to love this one but I didn't.

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion

Benefits:

Moisturizes instantly no sticky feel, with 24 hour plus moisture

My opinion:

I was really skeptical about this one.  I just didn't really understand it, I guess.  But it surprised me and I ended up really liking this a lot.  My skin felt so soft after my shower and still did the next morning when I woke up.  I will definitely purchase this in a full size.

( I received a free full sized product of the Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask  from Brandbacker for review, but as always all opinions expressed on this blog are my own.)

Have you ever tried any of these products?

Review: Valentia Even Glow Vitamin C Serum

As much as I would like to pretend that I didn't just turn thirty this past year, I have to face the facts:  I'm not getting any younger and neither is my skin.  I should have have taken better care of my skin when I was younger but I didn't.  One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to try to take better care of myself.  I've been exercising more, eating a lot healthier, and I even completely cut soda out of my diet.  Now I have to think of my skin too!

I wanted to find a product that was sort of a "multitasker".  I didn't want to have to spend a ton of time applying multiple products.  Valentia's Even Glow Vitamin C Serum has all of the things I was looking for in a face cream.

Here are the benefits of the Valentia Even Glow Vitamin C Serum, as listed on the Valentia site:

EVENS SKIN TONE: Vanquish dark spots and skin discoloration, replacing uneven and ill-textured skin with smooth, wrinkle-free skin that leaves you looking flawless and ageless.

INCREASES GLOW & RADIANCE: Revitalize your skin with essential fatty acids that leave skin smooth and radiant. Smooth skin capable of reflecting light will give your skin a youthful glow and a brilliant shine for that well-rested and refreshed look.

ABSORBS RAPIDLY: Moisturizes skin due to the capacity of the hyaluronic acid to absorb water, thereby increasing fluid between cells, giving your skin a smoother and younger appearance. This intense water absorption means no more dry, peeling or cracked skin, even in extreme weather.

BOOST COLLAGEN PRODUCTION: The presence of Organic Rosehip Seed oil increases collagen production so your skin retains the elasticity responsible for a youthful appearance and prevents skin sagging associated with aging. Enjoy smooth and supple skin that takes years off your appearance.

REDUCES WRINKLES & FINE LINES: Reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles with the help of our foundation 20 % Vitamin C. Special ingredients such us Sea Buckthorn oil plump up the skin, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles in the skin so it is smoother, clearer and younger.

I have been using it for almost a week now and I have to say that I am pretty happy with the results.  Even after the first time I applied it, I noticed my skin was a lot softer and more radiant.  It covers with just the smallest amount of product and doesn't leave an oily residue afterwards.  It only took a couple seconds to absorb into my skin and dry.  After that you can apply your makeup as you normally would.

I am a person that is very sensitive to smells so I was a little nervous about what the smell would be like, but it was actually a very light, refreshing orange smell.

As for fine lines and wrinkles, I've only noticed a little bit of a difference, but like I said, I've only been using it for a little less than a week.  I have noticed slight results around my eyes and forehead already.

I have to admit that I don't know too much about the benefits of natural ingredients but I found this really helpful list on Valentia's website, just in case you are curious about some of the ingredients:

Skin Super Oils

Sea Buckthorn Oil and Rosehip Seed Oil –
These oils work in tandem to promote skin hydration and then lock in moisture. When combined with Vitamin C, all three ingredients exist harmoniously to combat free radicals, protecting your skin from future signs of aging to prmote more beautiful, youthful looking skin.

Additional Ingredients:

Resistem (Plant Stem Cells)– Protects against stress-related aging while promoting skin detoxification. A French study has demonstrated that Resistem improves dullness of the skin 67% when applied in comparison to a placebo, also reducing skin inflammation by 23% after just two short months. This means that your skin will regenerate more quickly as it is protected against environmental stressors in a gentle, sensitive manner.

Hyaluronic Acid (Botanical) – Allows your skin to retain more moisture than before while simultaneously increasing elasticity and firmness. The Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology conducted a study with 15 female volunteers ages 35 to 65 to demonstrate the effects of Hyaluronic Acid. After only two short months of use, all 15 volunteers showed demonstrated improvement in skin rejuvenation.

Green Tea: The catechins contained in green tea are a potent antioxidant which also contribute to the overall anti-inflammrtory, and anti-irritant benefits of this ancient health and beauty secret.

Protect your skin and combat wrinkles and uneven skin tone with a natural daily serum.

Specifically formulated as a very potent antioxidant treatment for all skin types, a solution to counter the ill effects of environmental stress and aging, our Even Glow Serum can help.

Have you ever tried this product?  What's your favorite facial product?

* I recieved a free product of Valentia Even Glow Serum for review from Brandbacker, however all opinions are my own.*