Beauty Tips from Arm & Hammer

Arm and Hammer Beauty TipsWhen I think of uses for Arm & Hammer baking soda I usually only think of two things, a box sitting in my fridge to deodorizing it and chocolate chip cookies.  When Mom Central asked if I would like to join their Arm & Hammer blog tour I was overwhelmingly excited!  If you know me, you know that I love to find new uses for every day products and I never knew that there are so many uses for baking soda.  I am going to share with you what I have learned and I think you will find a new love for baking soda too!

Uses I already knew that baking soda was great for:

  • Treatment for insect bites

Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply this natural salve to the affected area.

  • Cleaning hair brushes

Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking hair brushes in a mixture 1 tbs of baking soda in a small sink full of warm water.  Rinse and allow to dry.

  • Natural soft scrub

I learned this mixture when I was pregnant and afraid of the harmful fumes of regular products.  For light cleaning, sprinkle water and baking soda and scrub with a damp sponge.  For extra cleaning umph make a paste of baking soda, coarse salt, and dish liquid soap.  Let the mixture set on your dirty surface for a few minutes then scour off.

  • Natural deodorant

Sprinkle baking soda under arms to absorb odors and feel fresh.


Beauty treatment ideas for baking soda:

  • Facial glow

Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water (1 part oatmeal is optional).  Cleanse skin as usual followed by this gentle scrub.  As with all scrubs be sure to avoid the eye area.  Rinse with warm water.

  • Brightening manicure

Dip brush in baking soda and scrub nails and cuticles.  Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.  Rub in a gentle circular motion over hands and fingers to exfoliate and relax.  Rinse clean with warm water and apply polish as usual.

  • Pedicure foot soak

Dissolve 3 tbs of baking soda in a basin of warm water and soak feet (a drop or two of lavender or your sent of choice is nice too).  Gently scrub tired feet with a paste of baking soda, water, and brown sugar for smooth feet.  Towel dry and apply a rich moisturizer and cotton socks for ultimate softness.

  • Soothing bath soak

For a relaxing bath experience, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath.  This will neutralize acids on your skin and help wash away oil and perspiration.  You will feel refreshed and your skin will feel silky smooth.

 

I have to tell you that Arm & Hammer gave me a very nice gift basket!  It came with a box of Arm & Hammer, a shaker of Arm & Hammer, a glass tea cup, tea, a manicure set, nail polish, a head band, soft wash cloth, and a few other little goodies.  I loved trying out the foot soak and manicure for myself!

 

My husband will tell you that I adore and need beauty products…they are what I like to call “pamper me products.”  They aren’t items that are needed to get ready each morning but they are things that make me feel good about myself.  I can’t go to the spa everyday, I choose not to spend money on manicures and pedicures but I like to feel good about the way I look.  I’m not alone, am I?  The time I spend taking a long bubble bath gives me the renewed energy and enthusiasm I need to keep up with life’s daily tasks.  I am happy to now have a nice pamper-me-product without a large price tag.

 

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Arm & Hammer and received a beauty basket to thank me for taking the time to participate.

KraftMaid: Define Your Style

KraftMaid Logo

While our kitchen is a nice size with, not huge but nice for us, it could certainly use a make over.  I would love for someone to rip down the wallpaper and paint it a lovely shade of blue.  As much as I would love this done I can’t force myself to undergo such a huge project.  Who knows, maybe maroon and hunter green will come back in style someday?

I would also love to have darker cabinets.  Ours our nice and simple but I would just like the color to be a little warmer.  Friends of ours have taken the painstaking job of refinishing theirs and wish they had never started.  It has taken them months and although the finished product looks awesome I don’t want to commit that much time to my cabinets.  I’ve thought about replacing them but figured the cost would be astronomical.  Surprisingly, KraftMaid cabinets (which are sold at Home Depot and Lowes) are affordable.  While I may not go in and buy new cabinets right away it’s fun to imagine which ones I would get and maybe start saving for new ones someday.

KraftMaid Kitchen

I LOVE this kitchen!

Speaking of dreaming and imagining my kitchen remodeled, I just heard word that KraftMaid has recently launched an online inspiration board tool.  This fancy tool helps normal homeowners, like you and I, bring their dream kitchen to life at a fraction of the cost of custom cabinets.  To make things even better, KraftMaid also launched their latest collection of cabinets, cabinet doors, hardware, and bathroom fixtures.  Can it get any better?  Yes!  They are also hosting their “Define Your Style” contest, where you have the opportunity to win a $50,000 kitchen remodel!!!   To enter all you need to do is create and share your style using the KraftMaid inspiration board tool.  I think it sounds like fun!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of KraftMaid. Mom Central Consulting sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Don’t Fret the Sweat

My whole family, use Unilever deodorants and I was happy to be invited to participate in the Unilever Deodorant Blog Tour.  I received a sample of the Degree Girl deodorant and we love it!  The scent is sweet and much more pleasant than what I used as a teen.  It gives great protection and comes with a glittery lid. 🙂

Don't fret the sweat

From DontFrettheSweat.com:

Your child is going through changes and, whether or not you’re ready, their body is trying to tell you something. Increased hormones are causing noticeable differences now, like growth spurts and strange new odors.

To better understand all the physical and emotional changes your child is facing, we’ve assembled an amazing team of professionals. As mothers, leaders and writers, these experts are here to offer advice and help you get a handle on the mysterious world of tweens. It’s important to know that fostering their self-reliance now, will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Help your kid face these new opportunities with confidence. The first step is showing them that the right deodorant will free them from odor, embarrassment and discomfort.

Rather than just tossing your tween a stick of deodorant you can now visit the resources Don’t Fret the Sweat is graciously giving us.  They have some great tips to use as a starting point for the discussion on the body change of perspiration. This is definitely a website worth bookmarking for later use!

Check out the variety of products Unilever has to help you and your tweens stay dry and confident:

  • Degree® Girl antiperspirant /deodorant is dermatologist-tested and body-responsive. With great 24-hour protection, Degree Girl gets girls through every OMG moment with confidence – and has now added another bold scent to its lineup – new Degree Girl Friends Forever.
  • New Degree® Women Natureffects deodorant provides highly effective odor protection, with a fragrance inspired by natural ingredients like honeysuckle and tea tree oil.
  • Dove® Ultimate go fresh antiperspirant/deodorant is uniquely formulated to respond to a girl’s body.  It offers effective 24-hour odor and wetness protection that keeps girls confident all day. For an added burst of freshness, try the matching body mists. Both are available in the deodorant aisle.
  • Dove® Ultimate Sensitive Care gently cares for a girl’s sensitive skin. It’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, so she’ll get non-irritating protection and care for her skin.
  • Suave 24-Hour Protection is an invisible solid that gives girls the 24-hour protection they need at a price tag parents will appreciate.
  • Degree® Men, available in four fragrances, guarantees odor protection and is the first deodorant with Silver Ion Technology.  Silver Ions are high-tech odor fighters so effective that they are used by sports brands, the military and even space agencies to fight odor in their performance apparel.

So, what are you waiting for?  Check out their site, find the deodorant for you and print off valuable Unilever coupons!  Visit Facebook.com/DontFretTheSweat for more tips and money saving offers.

Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by One2One Network on behalf of Unilever.