Celebrate Global Handwashing Day on October 15th with DIAL Rewards!

If you have kids, then you know the importance of handwashing: it's the best protection against disease, infection, and the unwanted "sharing" of colds and viruses!

To put it simply, handwashing with soap is a do-it-yourself vaccine!  

Q: How long should you wash your hands?

A: 20 seconds! 
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

You can help spread the word about Global Handwashing Day on October 15th. 

Join me in supporting Global Handwashing Education in developing countries by signing up at DIAL REWARDS. 
Use the code "WASH9" and Dial will donate $1 for every code entered (up to $50,000) to support global handwashing education.

Together, we CAN make a healthier world!

#saltsoap Adovia Dead Sea Salt Soap Review

I love soaps and scrubs made with Dead Sea Salt.  It's a wonderful cleanser, exfoliator, and soother of skin.  I've been using sea salt soaps for many years.  Adovia has some of the finest soaps and scrubs I've ever used.

The water of the Dead Sea is the saltiest water on earth with so much salt present that people literally float on the surface of the sea and can't sink! The sea salt itself has contains over 26 minerals essential for skin health and beauty such as Magnesium, Postassium, Calcium, Sodium and much more. Today Adovia is bringing this magical experience of bathing in Dead Sea salt to your bathtub with our Pure Dead Sea Bath Salt.  Our salts are harvested at the southern point of the Dead Sea - in Israel.  We pride ourselves in offering only the highest quality Dead Sea salts - 100% Pure with no additional processing or additives.  To prove that you are getting the genuine salts - straight from the Dead Sea we include a Certificate of Authenticity with every order.

This soap leaves my skin feeling bright, smooth, and clean. It does dry my skin a bit, but because I use moisturizer after washing my face, that doesn't last very long.

I like to use this soap in conjunction with other Adovia products for the best skincare results.

*** Infused with 100% Pure Dead Sea Salts from the Dead Sea
*** Dead Sea Salt Contains over 21 Minerals Key to Skin Health and Beauty
*** Deeply Moisturizing and Hydrating Soap great for Dry and Normal to Dry Skin
*** Dead Sea Minerals Essential to Skin Function Contained in the Soap Include Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc and More.
*** Great Value and Benefits for A Daily Moisturizing Facial Cleanser

DISCLOSURE:
I received Adovia Dead Sea Salt soap for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item.

Pick 1/73 Social Soap Review #Soapdotclub

I love trying new soaps with new fragrances! It always makes me feel like I'm at a Spa! So, I was really thrilled to have the chance to review a soap from The Soap Club.

They have so many deliciously fragrant soaps.  I lost count!  I admit, it took a while to pick a soap to try. I finally decided on Island Drift to remind me of Tybee.

It smells so good: hints of coconut, sea salt, and summer rain. I love it. It makes a nice, rich lather and feel cool and refreshing on the skin.

No way Happy Husband gets to share this! It's all mine!

The bar is HUGE! Three inches by three inches and one inch thick! It should last me until September. I wish my camera took better photos... *sigh*  It's a really pretty soap bar.

The Soap Club makes their soaps the old-fashioned way by cold-pressing.  Each soap is handmade, stirred, cut, and packaged. Great care is taken to ensure that each soap recipe contains the right amount of essential oils and fragrances.  This is what separates a 'good' soap from a great soap: quality and care.

Soap Club offers 73 Fragrances as well as soaps designed to appeal to men.  And some just for the ladies!

You may purchase the soap on the Soap Club website.

The Healing Tree Bamboo Charcoal Soap review and flash giveaway! Ends 6/8/14

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

You all know by now that I L*O*V*E soaps and am always searching for something new and original. I've found it!

I was recently given the opportunity to try Bamboo Charcoal Soap from The Healing Tree.   I'd never seen black soap before!  I wasn't too sure about it.

However, it smelled clean -- no over-powering fragrance.  I knew Mike would love it -- but would I? The answer is a resounding YES!  It lathers beautifully and leaves the skin feeling so clean and fresh.

Mike likes it because it seems to scrub away a hard day's work (being fragrance-free, it doesn't attract bugs when he's in the field). I like it because it's very soothing.

"Lets Your Skin Breathe Again"

Healing Tree Bamboo Charcoal Soap is high in absorbency so it draws dirt from deep inside the pores. Unlike normal soaps that only clean the surface of your skin, this soap can free up a lot of dirt that clogs deep beneath your skin especially if you have acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dry/cracked skin. Bamboo charcoal undergoes a firing process of 1,800 F to create high absorbency properties making it 4X more absorbent than wood charcoal. As a result, it cleanses your skin by removing years of accumulated dead skin cells.

With your pores re-opened, your skin will begin to begin to breathe again and naturally moisturize itself. There's no residue like other soaps, doesn't dry out your skin, and has no harmful chemicals. So if you want to feel what it's like to have your skin feeling like new, give this amazing soap a try!

Bamboo Charcoal Soap Benefits:
Remove Dead Skin Cells
Unclogs Pores
Smoother Skin
Natural Ingredients
Hypoallergenic
Detoxifying
Fragrance Free

Made with 4 simple Ingredients: Vegetable Oil, Water, Glycerin, and Bamboo Charcoal.
No Dyes | No Harmful Chemicals | No Animal Testing
Retail Value: $3.99

I highly recommend this amazing Bamboo Charcoal Soap for you and your family!

You may connect with The Healing Tree on their website and Social Media Pages:
Facebook, Google+, and @healingtreeshop on Twitter!

The folks at The Healing Tree have generously offered one of my readers the opportunity to try a bar of the Bamboo Charcoal Soap.

Just follow this super easy entry:  Must be 18+ and in the USA, Only (Alaska and Hawaii not eligible)

TO ENTER:  Leave a comment telling me something you learned about The Healing Tree Products!

Winner will be selected at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday June 8th!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Roundtree Organics Review and Giveaway Ends 2/28/14

Disclosure:  I received products for the purpose of this review.  I received no monetary compensation.  The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).

I'm sure you all know by now that I am a soap junkie aficionado.  It's true! I love soap and I especially love natural, organic soaps!

I am no fan of additives, preservatives, harsh chemicals and such.  I don't like them and they just destroy poor Mike's sensitive skin.

I discovered Roundtree Organics by happy coincidence. I was searching Etsy for natural soaps (we go through a lot of soap!) and found Nick's Shop! Lucky day!

The very first soap that caught my eye was The Outdoorsman: Organic Handmade Soap designed to combat All things Outdoors!

*Handmade item
*Materials: 
Organic Olive Oil, Raw Shea butter, castor oil, Organic Coconut oil, Organic Palm oil, Sweet Almond oil, Essential oils, Rosemary extract, Organic Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Citronella, Thyme extract.

I knew this was perfect for Mike.  He fights all kinds of bugs, ants, bees, wasps.  You name it -- the man's bitten by it.  It's also great for his super-sensitive skin.  The oils soothe his dry skin and help to ease his painful muscles and joints.

For myself, I chose the Organic Lemon-Lavender Handmade Soap with Exfoliating Dead Sea Salt.  Oh, how I wish you could smell this amazing soap and it's bright, natural citrus fragrance. The sea salt is perfect for washing dead skin cells away.  It leaves the skin soft and moisturized. 

*Handmade item 
*Materials: 
Organic Olive Oil, Essential Oil of Lavender, Essential Oil of Lemon, Dead Sea Salt, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E, Organic Palm Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract.

I love these soaps.  Made with care and lots of love, they are Handmade, Vegan (no animal by-products), and 100% Natural!  You won't find anything scary here.  

There are several more I intend to try in the near future.  The price is right: $4.99 for a single bar!  You may also buy them in bulk! 

You may connect with Nick and Roundtree Organics his Etsy Shop, Facebook Page, and @soapmakernick on Twitter.

Nick has very generously offered one of my readers the chance to win TWO bars of soap for their very own!  How cool is that?  Just follow the entry instructions below for your chance to enter to win!

***Please follow the instructions carefully.  Open to USA only. All entries are verified.***

Entry-Form

Honeycat Cosmetics - ENDS TONIGHT!

The Honeycat Cosmetics Giveaway ends TONIGHT!

Don't miss out on the fabulously purr-fect contest!

Terri

Honeycat Cosmetics Review and Giveaway, 4 Winners, Ends 2/6/14

Disclosure: I received products for the purpose of this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).

I admit it: I love to pamper myself. Long, leisurely baths... scented soaps and bath crystals... body foams and lotions. *sigh*

What woman doesn't want to feel like a princess?

Not long ago, I found the most seductive bath products: Honeycat Cosmetics.

These products are simply purrr-fect for relaxing, pampering, and seduction! OHH LA LA!

HoneyCat offers the most sensual products that you can imagine:
Shower gels, Soap, scrubs, creams, butters, salts, milks, and more! The fragrances are delightfully intoxicating. The feeling is luxurious!

 Honeycat Cosmetics also offers several Gift Sets:

1. All the Single Ladies

2. The Fishnet

3. Sex and the Kitty

4. Love at First Bite

5. Ms Claws Holiday Blues

Are those not the sexiest Gift Sets ever?

I was blessed to receive a package of assorted products:

Sweet Potato Pie Bubble Stuff

Chocolate Bath Melt Treats

Chick of The Sea Foaming Bath Crystals

Vanilla Cream Grooming Bar

I'm in Heat Whisker Slickers

I've never had such a great time trying products in all of my life! :)

You can connect with Honeycat Cosmetics on their Social Media Pages: @honeycattweets on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Blog.
You can subscribe to the Honeycat Newsletter for up-to-date news! I also suggest joining the Honeycat Club for some amazing surprises!

Click here to learn where to buy Honeycat Cosmetics

The lovely folks at Honeycat generously offered FOUR (4) of my readers a chance to win the absolutely fabulous On The Prowl Shower Gel:

Before you go out on the prowl, lather up with this delicious peach, brandy, and brown sugar shower gel. Loaded with mango butter, shea butter, vitamin E, and all sorts of skin goodies!...
Come on girls, get your prowl on! 
ARV: $16

For your chance to enter to win, just follow the entry instructions below.

Open to USA only, please. All entries will be verified.

Entry-Form

Shari's Bubbles 'n' Bling: Review and Giveaway, Ends 1/15/14

SOAP... I love it! I do, especially hand-crafted soaps!

I found Shari's Bubbles 'n' Bling on Etsy. Her selection of hand-crafted soaps and tub teas are amazing.

I was blessed to receive three of Shari's soaps:

1. Himalayan Salt Spa Soap - Vegan - Healing Facial and Body Cleanser

This bright, refreshing soap contains Himalayan pink salt, jojoba oil, meadowfoam seed oil, kaolin clay, sandalwood, coconut oil, olive oil, glycerin, rose, castor seed, apricot kernel oil.

This soap is extremely healing to the skin due to the high content of Himalayan pink salt. It is mildly exfoliating and great for both the face and body. This bar is vegan and the pure plant essential oils used create a light and relaxing unisex scent
.
Mike and I both like this soap for a brisk morning shower. You'll feel so clean and so refreshed. It wakes you up and gets you going with a smile!

2. Fresh-Cut Roses Soap

This soap has Skin-softening natural rose clay and white clay (kaolin). Richly supple with olive oil, coconout oil, sustainable palm oil, castor bean oil, avocado oil.

This soap is very mild and moisturizing. Topped with rose petals for a delightful, romantic touch. This soap has a nice, light TRUE ROSE fragrance that is not musty or over-powering. This is the soap that soothes my soul and my senses. It's perfect just before bedtime to relieve the stress of the day.

3. Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey Handmade Soap

Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Soap contains skin-softening goat's milk, honey and soothing oatmeal. Saponified oils of olive, coconut, organic and sustainable palm, castor and mango butter; goat's milk; silk; oatmeal; honey; fragrance.

This one is always a favourite. Rich texture and irresistible scent. It smells so good! This is the soap that Mike took for his own. His sensitive skin is so dry and itchy. He works outside as a Land Surveyor. This soap is soothing and moisturizing. He loves it.

Shari also makes wonderful Tub Teas. I received the C.A.L.M Tub Tea and it's so soothing.

 (C)hamomile (A)nd Oatmeal (L)avender (M)ilk

 Also contains mineral-rich pink salt from the Himalayan Mountains and top-quality Bulgarian lavender essential oil. It's time you pamper yourself and, more importantly, relax and feel the C.A.L.M. Tub Teas - 3 to a package. Soothing soak to the body and soul. Not for consumption!

Shari's Bubbles 'n' Bling is offering readers of Gathering My Roses a fantastic discount! A 5% discount on orders $10.00 or more. Just use this code: MYGiFT2YOU

You can connect with Shari at her Etsy Shop, on Facebook, Pinterest, and @soaperwoman on Twitter.

Shari has also generously offered one of my readers a fantastic Gift Basket filled with her goodies! How cool is that? Just follow the directions below for your chance to enter to win!

Open to USA only, 18+. All entries are verified.

Disclosure: I received soap and tub tea to facilitate this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).

Entry-Form

TrueBody -- Review!

Who doesn't love a good hot shower or a lovely, relaxing hot bath? I know I do. What I DON'T love is choosing the right soap. Too many chemicals... no lather... too oily... too drying...

Soap can be very confusing.

Mike and I both have dry skin -- but we need a light moisturizer, nothing heavy. Neither of us like over-powering fragrance, either.

Mike, especially, requires unscented soaps as he works outside (both winter and summer) and fragrance attracts bugs and insects.

When I discovered TrueBody Soaps I was delighted! These soaps are fragrance-free, lightly moisturized, and not at all drying! Heaven!

Our Story:

TrueBody Products was started by three friends who wanted to make good, healthy products at a fair price. We designed it to be the kind of company we've always wanted to work for—one where a commitment to useful products, happy people, strong community and a thriving planet supports the pursuit of a healthy bottom line.

Our Mission is to make products that:

*Contribute to a healthy lifestyle
*Are manufactured, packaged, marketed, distributed, used and disposed of in ways that are kind to the Earth
*Are fairly priced and widely accessible

The first time I used it -- I was so impressed. One of my pet peeves is bar soap that won't lather. Not an issue with TrueBody. This soap lathers quickly and it doesn't disappear. I never had to re-lather the wash cloth at all! Mike confirms. We've been using TrueBody Bar Soap for about 4 weeks and we are STILL using that first bar! It lasts quite a long time and that is something to celebrate.

TrueBody Soap:

TrueBody Soap is an all-natural, basic, everyday bar of soap.

•It’s unscented—which means there’s no added ingredient to mask any naturally occurring scent. In fact, there are only five ingredients—Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Vegetable Glycerine and Sodium Citrate—so it’s great for those who are sensitive to fragrance or other chemicals.
•Plus, it makes a great lather and lasts a long time.
•And, it comes in a 3-pack to provide better value while minimizing packaging.

Our Ingredients:

Unlike many conventional bath/beauty bars, TrueBody Soap is made without animal by-products, synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives. In fact, due to a revolutionary process, TrueBody Soap is one of the first bar soaps on the market that is vegetable-based and entirely free of EDTA, chelates or any other type of synthetic preservative. (Due to the necessary use of fat or oil to create soap, all bar soaps, even organic ones, currently contain some type of preservative to keep the fat/oil from going rancid over time.)

I am equally impressed with TrueBody's Facial Soap. TrueBody Facial Soap is rich in emollients and anti-oxidants to moisturize, soothe and soften.

It's also unscented, offers a rich lather, and leaves no residue on your skin.

As a 50 year old woman -- a facial soap which cleans without drying is important with me. I need all the help I can get! (Okay, stop laughing)

TrueBody Soaps are very reasonably priced and are found at many on-line and brick-and-mortar stores.

You'll get 3 bars of body soap or 2 bars of facial soap for approx. $5.50! That is an incredible value. The packaging is both simple and convenient -- you're paying for the soap not fancy, expensive wrap!

The folks at TrueBody are always eager to hear from their customers -- they appreciate your feedback and your ideas. To connect with them, you can *like* their Facebook page and follow them @truebody on Twitter

DISCLOSURE: I received a package of TrueBody Soaps for the purpose of review. I was under no obligation to write this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).

KIO KIO -- Review & Giveaway -- CLOSED!!!

CONTEST CLOSED!!!

What soothes and refreshes you? For me, it's a nice, long hot shower or bath... the soothing fragrance of body wash and soaps... followed by a lightly-scented body mist and silky body creme.

Your idea of heaven, too?

It's definitely the idea behind Kio Kio, a New Zealand based companmy that believes in pampering women with the finest ingredients available.

I was invited to try Kio Kio and jumped at the chance. Who doesn't want to feel luxurious?



I was sent the amazing Citrus Petal and Tarata Body Wash and Body Creme. This fragrance has a light, citrusy coolness that is so refreshing in the heat of Southeast Georgia. My favourite time to use it is at night, before bedtime. Oh, I sleep so well...



Tarata was traditionally used as a perfume in thermal pools to revive tired muscles. The Tarata tree has sweet, lemon scented leaves and flowers that were used as potent, scented healing oil when mixed with other native botanicals - and it was also sometimes used as an aphrodisiac!

Kio Kio has four very distinct fragrances, all inspired by the nature and beauty of New Zealand:
*Citrus Petal and Tarata
*Pacific Tiare & Ti Kauka
*Rainforest & Koromiko
*Frangipani & Puriri



From the Website:
Kio Kio’s range of natural bodycare products are designed to soften the stresses of modern living and restore tranquillity. To reinvigorate your body and mind. To take your precious small windows of time and transport you to a clean green land where all your senses are engaged - New Zealand.

Kio Kio believes in being as safe and as natural as possible in it's production:
They use no parabens, no Petroleum derivatives or by-products, no propylene glycol, PEGS, silicones, GMOs, artificial colours, synthetic fillers, isothiazolinone, DEA or TEA, IBPC, harsh detergents or surfactants.
Kio Kio has not commissioned or conducted any animal testing on any ingredients or products.

Kio Kio has generously offered one of my readers a chance to win *2* items of their choice! Just follow the instructions below for your chance to enter to win!

Open to USA only, please!

***NOTICE: You *MUST* leave your email address in the body of your comment or make your email address visible in your profile. If I cannot contact you -- you can't win!***

Please leave a separate comment for EACH entry!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Kio Kio and tell me which two items and which fragrances you'll choose if you win!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

1. "LIKE" (Fan) Kio Kio Beauty on Facebook.

2. Follow @KioKioBeauty on Twitter

3. Follow Gathering My Roses PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located on the sidebar)

4. Follow Gathering My Roses via Facebook Networked Blogs (Located on sidebar)

5. Become a fan of Gathering My Roses on Facebook (link on Sidebar!)

6. Follow @GeorgiaMist on Twitter

7. Tweet about this contest (no more than twice daily, please!)
@GeorgiaMist Win Kio KIO Beauty Products from Gathering My Roses! Ends 7/31/11 http://bit.ly/pVlwU6

8. Post about this contest on your blog and link back here!

9. Enter another contest on my blog and then come back and tell me which one.

10. Grab my button and post it to your sidebar or favourites page!

BONUS ENTRIES!!! -- Want *8* bonus entries?

1. Follow my daughter's new review blog Once Upon a Product Review (leave two comments!)

2. Follow Lizz on Twitter @onceuponreview (leave two comments!)

3. LIKE Once upon a Review on Facebook! (leave two comments!)

4. Follow Once Upon a Product Review via Facebook Networked Blogs. (leave two comments!)



Vote us UP on PRIZEY for a BONUS ENTRY!!!

This contest will be open from Saturday, July 16th until Sunday, July 31st. Winner will be announced on Monday, August 1st.

Disclosure: I was provided with two products from Kio Kio for the purpose of this review and giveaway. I received no other compensation. My opinion is based solely on my own experience and use of the items reviewed.