Review: YSL Top Secrets All-in-One BB Cream

I just returned from a trip to Burbank, CA and while I was there I happened to stop at the Sephora store in the Hollywood & Highland complex.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular ... just checking things out to see what was different from our Canadian stores.

As I wandered around the store, I came across the Yves Saint Laurent section.  I've become a big fan of YSL's products over the past couple of years and am never without my Touche Eclat luminizing pen.  I have yet to find an American BB cream that is as good as the Asian BB creams, and when I saw the Top Secrets All-in-One BB Cream, I was skeptical.

According to YSL, this all-in-one BB cream will hydrate, conceal, correct, protect and prime.  It promises to prime the skin to conceal imperfections with non-stop hydration for all complexions.  It is available in 3 shades (clear, medium and dark) and has an SPF of 25.

I've been using Skin 79's Hot Pink Super Plus BB cream for a couple years now but I hate having to order it from sellers on ebay (you never know if you are going to end up with a fake).  I've previously used Chanel's Vitalumiere moisturizing foundation, which I love for evening out the skin tone, but I am constantly looking for a lighter coverage that I can put on quickly to go run errands.

I gave the YSL all-in-one BB cream a sample at the Sephora store and was VERY pleased so picked up a tube.  By the way, it's not cheap by any means ($50 Canadian as compared to $35 for the Skin 79).

I used this cream over the next few days and I was pleasantly surprised that it not only gives a similar radiance as Vitalumiere, but it's a lighter consistency and yet provides the same benefits as a foundation.   So much in fact that I no longer have to use a foundation - and that I consider a score.   The color blends well and is fantastic for discoloration and acne.  I haven't noticed the color correction yet, but it's too soon to tell yet.

Overall I'm really happy with this product.  It has enough coverage were I wouldn't need foundation over it.  It's a little pricey but TOTALLY worth it.  I like to use this, then YSL's Touche Eclat under my eyes, and follow up with a dusting of the .Laura Geller Balance n' Brighten baked powder to give it a matte finish.  I get so many compliments!!

If you're worried about the price, I say go for it - you won't be sorry!!

Jamberry Nails is Here!

Jamberry Nails began with a simple idea of helping women everywhere find a new way to express themselves.  It grew into the easiest way to get noticed and complimented all day long.  Jamberry Nail Wraps are so easy to sell and you'll be doing your own self-marketing.  Wear the Jamberry Nail Wraps and people are naturally going to want to know "Where did you get your nails done?"  That's when you share what you do.  You can sell this anywhere (family, friends, co-workers, etc) and the sky's the limit.  Believe in yourself that you'll succeed ... and you will!  (especially with support from Jamberry Nails and my team).

You'll have the fun and flexibility of working for yourself and earning extra income  selling one of the hottest new products in Canada.  If you're already been wearing Jamberry Nail Wraps, you know they are extremely contagious.  You'll find people naturally interested in purchasing the nail wraps for themselves, making selling them that much more easy.

Now is the perfect time to join this ground-floor business opportunity.  This business is perfect for stay-at-home-moms, stylists, makeup and skin professionals, nail techs, students, business owners, "beauty school dropouts", network marketers, men (yes men!), etc.  Basically this opportunity is for anyone who is looking to supplement their current income or start a brand new career.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Started?
Your consultant kit is $119 + S&H ... that's it!  No autoships, no monthly quotas or inventory needed.  You'll get everything you need to start your business.

You'll Receive:
~ Consultant kit (see below)
~ An instant replicated website so you can take orders immediately.  Your website is FREE for the first three months - then only $10 US per month thereafter. (Your replicated site comes with a backoffice where you can place orders, track your commissions, enter parties, get support and training from Jamberry Nails plus lots more)
~ You'll be paid 30% commission on your sales and also receive a 30% purchasing discount
~ You can earn bonuses, free & discounted products, awards, recognition, etc - especially in your first few months.  There are several goals you can earn rewards from should you reach those milestones in the beginning.
~ You earn generous commissions from team sales as well, should you choose to sponsor a team
~ Access to the Jamberry Nails Independent Consultants Facebook Group
~ And so much more!

How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
Jamberry Nails offers 30% commission on personal sales.  By becoming a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant, you also get a 30% discount on your nail sheet purchases.  You will be given the opportunity to sponsor new consultants and build a team.  If you decide to build a team, you can earn sponsorship commissions as well as group bonuses for reaching monthly sales goals.  Jamberry Nails offers up to 19% sponsorship commissions, which is one of the highest in the industry.

Aside from personal sales and sponsorship commissions, you also get the chance to earn up to 5% volume bonus depending on your level of leadership.  By reaching personal and group monthly sales goals, you can earn bonuses and recognition from the company.  Jamberry Nails offers a very attractive but realistic and attainable compensation plan for those who are interested in starting their own business.  With my help as your Sponsor, I'll give and assist you in whatever sales and team goals you have.

Jamberry Nails Consultant Kit

Your Jamberry Nails New Consultant Kit will include:
~ 50 Catalogs
~ 50 Brochures
~ 100 Order Forms
~ Rubber Cuticle Pusher
~ 50 Orange Sticks
~ 5 Crystal Files
~ Mini Heater
~ Alcohol Wipes
~ Consultant Guide
~ 3 Buffers
~ 3 Sets of Scissors
~ 50 Sample Cards
~ 1 Sheet of Jamberry Nails
~ Credit to Order 3 Sheets of Nails of Your Choosing
~ 3 Months of Use on Your Personal Website

Full Training and Support:
When choosing a direct sales company to join, you need to take the first step - finding a sponsor.  My main goal is to adhere to Jamberry Nail's mission and help women feel beautiful and achieve financial freedom.  I'm committed to helping you rise to the top and achieve your financial goals and aspirations.

You'll have your own personal cheerleader.  When you achieve, we all achieve - and when you need a "pick me up", we are all here to do just that.  You won't be left alone or be in this business by yourself (unless that is something you want) - no matter how well you're doing.  Commitment is what you should expect and what you'll receive.  No more feeling like you are just another number or forgotten about.  It's time to be a part of a team where you matter!

Assistance in achieving your goals - whether it's reaching a certain rank, increase in sales, personal development, etc, you'll be given assistance.  Everyone needs to have a "why" - why are you doing this business?  Why do you want to succeed?  It can be because you are looking to get out of debt, you want to support your children, inspire other women, be a part of a movement, go to college or just make more money.

Exclusive training - once you become a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant, you'll automatically receive training from Jamberry.  However, you'll receive additional training and marketing tips in social media, relationship building and so much more from me and our team.

Whether you like doing actual home parties and events, or just want to strictly do your business online, you'll receive coaching and assistance the entire way.

You'll receive exclusive access to our team's Facebook Group where you can ask questions, get tools, tips and strategies to get your business going.  You may not need the support, but it's there for you to take advantage of no matter if you are new to a home-based business or a seasoned veteran.  

Gone are the days of nails that chip and flake after only a few days! Gone are the days of mani/pedis that take all afternoon and most of your cash, too! Jamberry Nails arm you with style and confidence, while demanding very little of your time or money. 

Click here to join the nail revolution!

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment, or message me at BonnyL@Live.com

What is Shakeology Really Supposed to Do For You?

So, what is Shakeology really supposed to do for you?? While each person's body is unique and different, we have come up with some short summaries of effects that anyone taking Shakeology on a regular basis should experience.

Antioxidants: Shakeology contains some of the most potent antioxidants: flavonoids and phytonutrients such as spinach, blue green algae, carrot powder, strawberry powder, and vitamins E and C. These help to prevent free radicals from oxidizing and destroying cells. The ingredients in our antioxidant blend such as pomegranate, acai berry, camu-camu, goji, and blueberry also have powerful antioxidant effects to support your immune system and help protect your body from normal inflammatory response.

Energy: Shakeology contains a range of B vitamins and trace minerals, like zinc and magnesium, from whole food sources that regulate metabolism and increase energy. Shakeology also contains maca root, an adaptogen herb known to promote endurance and stamina. Check out our Ingredient Spotlight on maca root to learn more.

Digestion: The Shakeology non-dairy prebiotic and probiotic blend contains fiber and different enzymes like amylase, papain, cellulose, and lactase, which all support digestion. These ingredients aid in breaking down food molecules into smaller molecules that can be properly digested, so all of the nutrients can be absorbed into your system.

Mood: One scoop of Shakeology provides 100% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin B12. B12 is often linked with good mood maintenance; B vitamins are also essential for the production and proper functioning of neurotransmitters like dopamine, crucial to the experience of pleasure. Shakeology also contains cacao, which is very high in phenylethylamine (PEA). PEA acts as a neuromodulator to enhance one's mood.

Detoxification: Many of the ingredients in Shakeology (spirulina, chlorella, flaxseed, barley grass, spinach) contain powerful detoxification compounds such as chlorophyll and alpha-linolenic acid. These ingredients may help rid the body of environmental toxins such as smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products, and pesticides. They also aid in liver detoxification. Shakeology also includes kamut grass, an ingredient coined "nature's most powerful detoxifier." This grass has been known to cleanse the body and detoxify the cells to restore health and vitality. Immunity. The antioxidants, bioflavanoids, and flavanoids in Shakeology work to support immunity. Some of these ingredients include ashwaganda, acerola cherry, rose hips, and goji berries. The goji berries in Shakeology are one of the richest sources of antioxidants; not only does goji berry promote eye, reproductive, and circulatory health, but it also supports your immune system and promotes longevity!

Satiety/cravings: The protein, chromium, and nutrient-dense calories from superfoods in Shakeology work to help decrease your appetite. Chromium is important because it helps maintain blood-sugar levels, which reduces sugar cravings and promotes fat metabolism. Plus, protein-rich meals are a great way to keep you feeling full, longer!

Complete nutrition: Each Shakeology ingredient plays an important role in feeding your body on a cellular level, but it is important to remember that the synergy of the 70+ ingredients working together is what truly fuels your body to keep you looking and feeling your best.

So there you have it! That's a snapshot of all the wonderful things Shakeology does for your body. We could literally write a book on these potent ingredients, but sometimes a cheat sheet is just what the doctor ordered. If you commit some of the aspects of this article to memory, then the next time someone asks you, "What does Shakeology do for your body?" you'll be able to provide them with more specialized information than, "It's the Healthiest Meal of the Day! It helps you lose weight, curb cravings, lower cholesterol, and increase energy." This is all true, but at the end of the day, Shakeology is SO much more than that!

For more information on Shakeology - you can visit their website

Melaleuca….Are they really a green company? I beg to differ….Clearly Toxic!!!!

A while ago (OK, actually about 18 months ago) I was on a journey to find a job I could do from home. A friend mentioned she had something I might like and to make a long story short, I was introduced to Melaleuca. I thought hmmm, I can buy safe products for my family and also make a business out of this.

I was told they don't use harsh chemicals and their products are green and natural. They've got it all - over 350 products ranging from cleaning supplies to personal care products and vitamins. You are basically switching stores and buying your necessities from Melaleuca - which by the way are supposed to be much higher quality, and cheaper - than what you get at Walmart. Plus they are safer for the environment and your health.

The first thing I didn’t like about this company was that I had to sign up to purchase 35 product points a month, which seemed a lot for my family. Oh yeah, and if you didn’t order, you had to have a back up order on file and they would automatically send you that and charge your card.

Well I decided to give it a try, and found we did like the products.

I tried building a business, and at first found a few people to enroll as customers. One of the big things Melaleuca pushes is there is "no selling, no inventory, no large investment" so a lot of people seemed interested. That was until they had to call into a phone presentation to find out what the business actually was. A lot of people felt it was a scam.

I soon found out that it was more work than it was worth, as the average amount you make from "introducing someone to the company" was only $2.45.  In order to make any sort of residual income, you need to get hundreds, if not thousands of people enrolled.

Now, one of the friends I told about the Melaleuca green products got back tome with some interesting info. She had been doing some research into the ingredients in the products and found that Melaleuca wasn't so green after all.

One of the personal products she was looking at was the Koala pals for her sons and the Renew Body wash for herself.

Some of the ingredients:

PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate, is not safe to use on injured or damaged skin. There is also a strong evidence of being a human skin toxicant and is a primary skin irritant. Not good for everyday use, only limited use.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine, is a skin sensitizer – an agent that can induce allergic reaction in the skin or lungs. Again not safe for everyday use, only safe for limited use.

Fragrance, is a known human immune system toxicant. Also has a score of 8 for high hazard.

Other toxic ingredients included in these products were - Benzyl Alcohol (a solvent), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (a synthetic scent ingredient associated with allergies and contact dermatitis), and Amylcinnamyl Alcohol (known human immune system toxicant/allergen).

After hearing this, I went and checked a product I absolutely LOVE - Sol-U-Mel. To my surprise, the first ingredient in Sol-U-Mel is SD Alcohol 40B - which is a mixture of ethanol with a denaturing agent. For those that don't know, ethanol is considered broadly toxic and linked to birth defects following excessive oral ingestion. Now most people won't drink Sol-U-Mel, however Melaleuca is proud to say they don't need to put safety caps on their products as they are safe. I don't think Sol-U-Mel is all that safe now!!

I could go on and on about the ingredients on these products but how can a “wellness” company sell products like these? This company is definitely not a green company. They claim that Johnson’s baby wash is harmful and toxic. Well most of the ingredients in Johnson’s is also in their koala pals and Renew body wash.  A lot of their labels don't even list the ingredients included in a product!  That to me is a red flag right there.

If you are using any of the Melaleuca products, I urge you to read the labels and do your homework. Seriously grab this list of chemicals. Then look at the products in your home like your deodorant, shampoo, mouthwash, baby lotion, hand creams, household cleaners and make up. See if they contain any one or more of these products.

Sorry Melaleuca, unfortunately I will be cancelling my Melaleuca membership and looking for something truly safe for my family.

Beauty Starts on the Inside

It's no secret a healthy diet and active lifestyle does wonders for your appearance. Not only does eating clean help you keep the weight off, but it also enriches your beauty. When you take care of yourself your health radiates from the inside out!

Good nutrition naturally nurtures healthy, glowing skin to help keep it free of acne. That's why many skin-nurturing beauty products on the market have ingredients like citrus, acai berries, camu-camu and other potent superfoods in them; these ingredients are as good for you insides as they are for your exterior.

Good nutrition also can do wonders for strengthening your hair from heating products you may use every day and it also supports healthy growth and texture. Finally, when you're eating right you may also notice your nails become stronger, grow faster and maybe don't crack and break as often.

This is all thanks to good nutrition! So what should you be eating to enrich your hair, skin and nails? Here are a few ingredients that are great for all of the above. You can find these ingredients in many foods at your local grocery store and you can find all of them in Shakeology.

Biotin: Helps promote the health of hair, skin, and nails.

Bromelain: Helps support damaged tissue especially after a burn.

Chlorella: Phytonutrient that helps support healthy skin.

Citric Acid: Helps provide antioxidant protection for the skin.

Folic Acid: A deficiency may cause gray hair.

Cocoa: Antioxidant support for healthy skin.

Gingko: Antioxidant support for skin and promotes healthy circulation.

Goji Berry: High in antioxidants which help minimize damage from free radicals that injure cells and can damage DNA.

Grape Seed Extract: Used to protect collagen and elastin in skin (anti-aging).

Green tea: Comes from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant, which is rich in polyphenols, antioxidants and that detoxify cell-damaging free radicals in the body.

Magnesium: Can help cells repair faster.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Helps reduce signs of aging, skin disorders, and gray hair.

Papain: Taken from the fruit of the papaya tree. It is used to help promote healing for a variety of skin conditions.

Schisandra: Helps to prevent aging.

Vitamin A: Is often used to help skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, wounds, burns, and sunburn.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Used for treating acne, maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. It also has anti-aging properties.

Vitamin B6: Beneficial for acne and various other skin conditions.

Vitamin C: Powerful antioxidant that can be used to help repair and firm the skin.

Vitamin E: Can help to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Collagen is a primary component of your skin and may help prevent scarring from wounds and acne.

Vitamin K: Helps promote healing and helpful for mild bruising and swelling.

Wheat Grass: Rich in phytonutrients that may help to prevent gray hair.

To learn more about Shakeology visit myshakeology.com/CoachBonny

Back on the Bandwagon - Part 3

Now in addition to my Shakeology (which my hubby also loves by the way), I've committed myself to trying  Beachbody's Insanity workout program.  I talked to friends who have done it - and yes it is intense, but I am determined.  Plus my hubby is going to be doing it with me!!

Tonight was our first experience with Insanity. They were right - it is insane - I felt like I was going to die!!  But I did my best (as did hubby) and here were my results (no laughing please) ... 

I honestly didn't think I was THAT out of shape.  I know it can only get better from here ... so wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on how things go

Back on the Bandwagon - Part 2

Back when I started my weight loss journey, I was anxious to try Shakeology - I had heard so many good things about it. 

Now unfortunately Beachbody doesn't offer "samples" of their shakes - unless you can find a coach who is willing to ship one of the individual packets to you.  You can buy these individual packets on eBay, however, be prepared to pay an arm and leg for one packet.  So to try it, you just have to bite the bullet and buy either a bag or a box of individual packets. 

It is a bit pricey ($120 retail) but if you sign up as a coach (distributor) you can purchase it for 25% off.  But even at that price it's still rather pricey.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to paying money for something that is a superior product, however, I don't want to have to force myself to drink the shakes just for the benefits if I don't like the taste.  I think most people would agree with me on that point.  

When I started to look into Shakeology, I had heard all the stories about how "magical" it was, and I have to say that did peak my interest.  I like that it has all the vitamins and minerals included (I hate to take a bunch of supplements) and love that they have a chocolate flavor option.  So, off to Ebay I went - and found someone who had the single packages for sale for a reasonable price - YAY, I could finally try it!!

While waiting for my "samples" to arrive, I signed up on the TeamBeachbody website - read through the forums, etc. and got a bit anxious when I read that people hated the "new chocolate taste".  Apparently Beachbody had changed their formula and the awesome chocolate flavor was no longer (sad face) - the new "superfood" formula was crap compared to the old formula.  The old formula tasted very much like a chocolate milkshake whereas most people who tried both the old and new formulas did not like the new formula.  General consensus is that the new formula tastes horrible and has a bad aftertaste.

Well, since I hadn't tried the first one, I thought what the heck ... I'll give it a go.   I admit it did have a bit of an aftertaste, however, mixing it with chocolate milk and honey seemed to mask that aftertaste somewhat ... it wasn't horrible by any means.

In reality, I'm just trying to lose the rest of the weight I need to lose, eat healthier and Shakeology seemed to be perfect for me.

When researching Shakeology I had heard that the vegan Strawberry was much better than the "new chocolate", so back to Ebay I went.  I was able to find someone who would ship it to me for a reasonable price and once I tried it, I absolutely LOVED it!!

... continued in part 3