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Summer Moscow Mule Recipe: Wild Raspberry & Watermelon Featuring the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set

August 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Looking for the perfect drink for an end of summer party or festive occasion? There are always the quintessential classics, but it’s fun to customize some drinks with a new, signature twist. Summer is filled with such luscious fruits, the perfect opportunity to change up some of our favorites! One drink that’s especially adaptable is the Moscow Mule. You only need a few key elements for a successful Moscow Mule, and the rest of the ingredients allow for creativity and customization. Our current Moscow Mule obsession? Raspberry Watermelon Moscow Mules! See our recipe below.

The inspiration for this summer drink comes from two things: the wild raspberries are out in full force the garden this time of year, and we want an excuse to use our new pure copper Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set

Serve an end-of-summer Moscow Mule in these Kamojo Copper Champagne Flutes

WHY A PURE COPPER DRINKING VESSEL IS IMPORTANT FOR MOSCOW MULES

While you can serve a Moscow Mule in just about any kind of glass, copper is preferable. I prefer the Kamojo Moscow Mules because the pure copper has a tarnish resistant coating, so they stay beautiful and shiny without having to polish them, making them easy to clean. We previously touted what we love about the classic mug style Kamojo Moscow Mules in a beginning of summer Moscow Mule recipe, Kamojo also makes a copper champagne flute set for a festive, more formal, or celebratory event.

Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flute

I also like the pretty hammered pure copper with its’ tarnish-resistant high-shine and the beautiful shape, it adds something to the overall visual appeal of the drink and looks so distinctive!

The beautiful hammered copper pattern

The hammered copper of the Kamojo Champagne Flutes looks beautiful in many festive occasion tablescape color palettes

What’s a good type of drink to serve in a copper champagne flute? As a rule: if it’s bubbly or fizzy – copper kicks that carbonated or bubbly action it up a notch: any seltzer, soda, beer and of course, champagne or prosecco. Also, if it’s a drink best served cold, copper is your best bet.

The reason for this is copper does two things: it quickly makes cold ingredients colder, and bubbly ingredients bubblier. That’s why a copper vessel is a key to a good Moscow Mule, especially for a summertime drink.

Pure copper immediately chills the drink and keeps it cold on contact

Copper also enhances the flavor of some ingredients, enhancing the crisp, citrus and sour notes of go-to ingredients like ginger, lime, and cucumbers.

The pure copper in the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set enhances the flavors of mint, berries, lime, and ginger and even makes vodka taste better

INGREDIENT CHOICES

A key ingredient to a Moscow Mule is ginger beer. Ginger adds the kick to the mule and is generally obtained from ginger beer or in a pinch, a quality brewed ginger ale. The ginger ale is sweeter, the ginger beer is tarter and for some, might need the addition of simple syrup. I also like to add a thin slice of fresh ginger as part of a garnish or muddled at the bottom of the drinking vessel, or if you prefer your drinks a bit sweeter, a ginger simple syrup can be used.

Copper enhances the taste of fresh ginger and ginger beers and ginger ales

FRUITY INCLUSION OPTIONS

Lime and ginger are the core classics of the mule, and plenty of fruits taste great with both of them.

Copper enhances the lime and berries taste and increases carbonation of ginger beers and ales

Store bought and wild raspberries are abundant and delicious this time of year.

Reed’s brews both a gluten-free ginger beer and ginger ales with real cane sugar and they are pretty good in mules. Their raspberry ginger ale has all the kick and fizzy features of a ginger beer. Raspberry Ginger Beer or Ale makes sense in a mule, as so many of the ingredients in a Moscow Mule taste great with raspberries: raspberry and lime, raspberry and mint, raspberry and ginger. But it still needs something to make it more summer, and a bit juicer and sweeter: like watermelon!

Ice cold Ginger Beer or Ale blends well with summer fruits and vodka

Raspberry Ginger Ale or Beer brews taste great in a fruity Moscow Mule when paired with fresh berries, mint, and lime

But lots of fruit combinations work: blackberries, lime, plum or pear and cantaloupe is a delicious alternative option, the cantaloupe and plum sweetly temper the ginger and the blackberries add a nice sweet but tart note. Or another option that goes surprisingly well with the ginger is lemon and fig!

Cantaloupe mellows the sharp ginger and citrus notes, mint and blackberries add a subtle sweet taste to the blend

Substitute cantaloupe juice for watermelon juice in the recipe below, and pair it with blackberries

Cantaloupe and blackberries paired with lime, mint and ginger taste wonderful in a copper flute

Summer fruits peak Ginger Beers and Ales and contrast nicely with the citrus flavor of the lime. Any berry works wonderfully to add some flavor to this traditional drink

THE STYLE CHICKS WILD RASPBERRY MELON END OF SUMMER MOSCOW MULE RECIPE

Just in time for your final farewell end-of summer soirees, summer picnics, a signature drink for summer weddings and celebrations, and for your end of summer blowouts.

Ready to make a summer fruit Moscow Mule?

INGREDIENTS:

crushed or soft ice (see recipe below)
Wild or purchased raspberries (or blackberries if preferred)
watermelon
mint sprigs
2 ounces vodka
4 ounces of ginger beer or tart ginger ale (we chose Reed’s Brewed Raspberry Ginger Ale and skipped the simple syrup)
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
fresh ginger (optional)
1/4 ounce simple syrup (optional)

Summer watermelon, fresh ginger, lime, combined with raspberries and mint fresh from the garden make for tasty combination

DIRECTIONS

Juice the limes. Set aside remaining lime slices for garnishing.
Make watermelon juice. Put watermelon chunks in a blender, discard pulp if desired, pour the juice into a jar or glass, put aside.
Muddle together a few raspberries, and lightly press a mint leaf and a thin slice of ginger (if desired). Pour the resulting mix into the copper mule.
Add the lime juice over the muddled mix.
Fill mule champagne with crushed or slushie ice, over the muddled mix. Halfway through adding ice, I like to toss in a few more berries and then another squeeze of the lime to fully infuse the drink.
Add the vodka
Add the melon juice
Add the ginger beer
Add simple syrup if desired for sweetness
Garnish with plenty of fresh mint sprigs, berries, lime or even a small watermelon wedge if desired!

Garnish with plenty of mint sprigs!

Close-up aerial view of the raspberries, mint and lime garnish in a Raspberry Melon Moscow Mule served in a Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flute

ALTERNATIVES

Some may prefer a “neater” approach to mix the lime juice, vodka, melon juice, and in a shaker with the spent limes and giving the mix a good shake, then pour that shaker mix through a strainer into the ice filled mule glass, and then add the ginger beer to the mule.
Adjust measurements to taste, some extra lime particularly enhances the berries and watermelon!

Extra lime enhances the berry and watermelon flavors, we added a halved lime to each mule

SOFT ICE

Notice reference to soft ice above. Soft ice is not as hard as ice cubes, but harder than slushie ice. It is often served at Drive-In type restaurants, which remind me of the summers of my youth.

Due to the lovely flute shape of the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set, you may prefer crushed or soft ice. It is easy to make yourself at home with a big bottle of carbonated water like seltzer water.

Fill smaller to medium-size ice-cube trays with the seltzer, let them set a few hours. Right before using them, give them one or two hard whacks to break them up a bit. While soft ice tends to melt quickly in a regular drink, the copper mules keep them suspended in soft ice form for much longer without melting.

The Wild Raspberry Melon Moscow Mule in the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flute

CONCLUSION

So many events and milestones are worth celebrating, engagements, promotions, graduations, weddings, just to name a few. Champagne is often the go-to libation for celebrating, but it is fun to change it up a bit with a mule themed drink, and it still feels festive and celebratory when served in Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set.

A traditional bakery not far from the Yale University Campus, we get all our special occasion cakes here! From now on, any event or celebration worthy of a bakery cake qualifies as an excuse to use the Kamajo Copper Champagne Flutes

Kamajo Copper Champagne Flutes are ideal as wedding flutes for the bride and groom or even the entire bridal party, or to serve appetizers such as shrimp cocktail.

Summer fruit-filled Kamojo Copper Moscow Mules Champagne Flutes: Icy cold, satisfying, festive, and definitively summer!

WHERE TO BUY

Find the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0LN1YQ/

Find the Kamojo Pure Copper Mug Set (seen below and featured here) at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X8YPS1H

Try Komojo Pure Copper Moscow Mules Mugs with matching coasters for a refreshing summer drink

Kamojo Copper Mugs

Style Chicks received the Kamojo Moscow Mule Copper Flutes Set in exchange for our unbiased review. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Preserve your Hair: LOMALUX DANDRUFF PILL

August 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Like many StyleChicks readers, you likely invest time, effort and money into your hair to make it look its’ best: cut, color, highlights, conditioning and quality-hair care products, tools and treatments that don’t damage your tresses. But fifty percent of people have some dandruff. Dandruff shampoos are brutally drying and damaging to hair and can undo the look of an otherwise well-maintained, healthy mane.

We take vitamins to improve our skin, how about a natural remedy for better scalp skin? Nobody thought of this until LomaLux invented the all-natural LomaLux Dandruff Pill.

“But I wash my hair anyway“, you may say, “Why not just use a dandruff shampoo?” There are beauty pitfalls to dandruff shampoos that compel us to opt for a dandruff pill as an alternative treatment to both better solve our flaky scalp woes *and* maintain our well-coiffed locks.

A BETTER SOLUTION

We tolerate dandruff shampoo due to a lack of options. Fortunately, LomaLux Dandruff Pill provides a natural alternative treatment for both dandruff and psoriasis plus the redness, itchiness, dry and tight-feeling scalp, and the inflammation associated with both conditions. This patented mineral technology safely and effectively stops dandruff in its’ itchy, flaky tracks.

Want a natural alternative to harsh and stinky dandruff shampoos? LomaLux Dandruff PIll is an all natural alternative remedy for the flaking and itchy scalp associated with dandruff.

ADVANTAGES OF LOMALUX OVER OTHER DANDRUFF REMEDIES

LomaLux controls dandruff without the drying and irritating effects of dandruff shampoos. It also tames psoriasis on the scalp that typically requires strong, expensive somewhat risky medications to treat, but without side effects. This natural remedy is steroid-free, gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan.

LomaLux is an all natural, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free formula

THE PROBLEM WITH DANDRUFF & DANDRUFF SHAMPOOS

Most dandruff shampoos work on the premise that dandruff results from a yeast-like fungus on the scalp that in some people, causes overproduction of skin cells. These cells make itchy flakes that trap natural oils underneath. Trapped oils mean greasy roots and the actual hair isn’t getting the natural moisture it needs to stay youthful and healthy-looking. So now there are two problems: flaky, red, greasy, itchy scalp and overly dry, lifeless hair lacking naturally protective oils.

Our dandruff shampoo beauty grievances are three-fold:

WHY GOOD DANDRUFF SHAMPOO SMELLS SO BAD
To work, a dandruff shampoo must contain at least one of these ingredients: coal tar, zinc pyrithione, a sulfur/salicylic acid or ketoconazole. There’s no hiding or perfuming-up any of these effective but super smelly ingredients. You’ll smell like a dandruff-sufferer, likely even after rinsing the shampoo out.
DANDRUFF SHAMPOO DRIES & DAMAGES HAIR
These shampoos aggressively dry out scalp flakes and your hair along with it. Rehabilitating already natural-oil deprived hair from said shampoos is a tall order: if the shampoo is strong enough to treat dandruff, then hair has been weakened, stripped of moisture and left porous. Compensating conditioners like Coconut Oil also get on the scalp, and the oil barrier traps and feeds the dandruff problem.
DANDRUFF SHAMPOO: THE HAIR COLOR & HIGHLIGHTS LIFE-RUINER
A vicious cycle, coloring hair irritates the scalp and kicks dandruff into high gear. But dandruff shampoo strips hair dye color. DIY articles on how to remove unwanted hair color suggest using dandruff shampoo to deliberately strip the dye. Even if only used directly on the scalp, dandruff shampoo strips the roots, leaving hair color uneven.

HOW LOMALUX DANDRUFF PILLS WORK

LomaLux Dandruff Pills work like vitamins and are a natural remedy clinically proven to safely combat dandruff by stimulating the body’s healing response. A combination of mineral ingredients encourages the body to disrupt the cycle of too rapid cell-production that results in inflammation and flaking. Then the scalp can start to heal itself.

WHY CONSIDER A HOMEOPATHIC SOLUTION FOR DANDRUFF?

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole, if dandruff is due to other health problems, it treats the root of the problem, not just masks a symptom. The same health imbalance that causes dandruff can also be causing psoriasis, sensitive skin, eczema, or acne. Dandruff shampoo doesn’t address all of these, but homeopathic remedies do.

Natural, alternative remedy for stopping dandruff within 12 weeks

LOMALUX DANDRUFF PILL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

If one hasn’t had a homeopathic remedy before, the ingredient names likely sound unfamiliar. Even though they are low-dose, when combined in the right proportions, they can be a powerful remedy without risks. Here is what they are and what they do:

Kali Bromatum works on the bacteria that creates cysts and eruptions, notably, the itching, scaling, and redness associated with dandruff and psoriasis. When you feel an itchy, red pimple-like bump at the start of a psoriasis breakout, this is what Kali Bromatum tackles best to stop it.
Kali Muriaticum treats potassium deficiency, it works for the itching and burning sensation of hair follicles and reduces surrounding dry and white scales.
Kali Sulphuricum is a cell salt. Cell salts stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms by supplementing mineral deficiencies and imbalances. Frequently used to treat colds, it works for both flaking and reducing later stage inflammation, which helps break the dandruff cycle.
Natrum Muriaticum is sodium chloride or table salt. It regulates body fluid balances and reduces oily, itchy and burning scalp skin.
Sulphur a common component found in Biotin, it disrupts skin eruptions and inflammation associated with psoriasis and dandruff. Homeopathic remedy indicates that if your scalp feels particularly itchy at night or you are experiencing hair loss due to the severity of psoriasis or dandruff, then Sulphur is particularly helpful.
Calcarea Carbonica is calcium from oyster shells, it stops the white, crusty scales and helps the kind of dandruff where it hurts to comb your hair due to the sensitivity of the inflammation. Is often recommended homeopathically if the scalp feels itchy enough to scratch upon waking up in the morning.
Niccolum Sulphuricum is a form of sulphur that temporarily relieves the scaling, flaking, redness & itching associated with Psoriasis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, and Dandruff.

LomaLux Dandruff Pill Ingredients

Other ingredients include Fumaric acid, found in beverages, baking powders, and in pudding mixes. Fumaric acid esters have immunosuppression properties and are commonly used to treat psoriasis in several European countries.

Organic Spirulina Powder is an impressive natural algae that contains a host of vitamins and minerals important to hair and skin, including several immune boosting, dandruff fighting B vitamins.

THE HISTORY OF LOMALUX

LomaLux pills were developed by a dermatologist for his patients, and it proved a highly effective preventive measure. The LomaLux Dandruff Pill has been tested extensively in clinical studies with strict objective evaluation standards to determine efficacy. Visit their website to see links to published testing results.

DIRECTIONS

These pills are taken daily. How many pills you take is determined by your weight in order to provide you with customized results.

LomaLux has a customized dose determined by body weight

Weight Daily Dosage

50 – 100 lbs. (2) Pills Daily
100 – 150 lbs. (4) Pills Daily
150 – 200 lbs. (6) Pills Daily
200 – 250 lbs. (8) Pills Daily
Over 250 lbs. (10) Pills Daily

Swallow whole at bedtime or in the morning on an empty stomach. Do not eat or drink anything but water for 1 hour after taking.

RESULTS: PUTTING LOMALUX TO THE TEST

My dandruff tends to flare up after I color my hair. I tried a more expensive brand of dandruff shampoo, but it was still taking a toll on my hair, leaving it dry and rough.

I take 4 LomaLux pills daily, each night before bed. There is a slight blueberry taste. So far I have taken the pills for about a month and can start to see improvement in visible flaking and dry scalp so that I can stop using dandruff shampoo and use my preferred shampoo. I have not experienced side effects.

My customized LomaLux dose is four pills a day. They taste sweet like berries

The double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study, as published in Alternative Medicine Review, showed major improvement takes about ten weeks. For many, just breaking the dandruff cycle is enough to put an end to dandruff, dry scalp, oily roots and dry hair.

CONCLUSION

A natural remedy for the safe, effective treatment of dandruff and psoriasis, LomaLux Dandruff Pill is a low-dose homeopathic treatment that when taken daily, leads to a flake-free, healthy scalp. Suitable for teens and adults, LomaLux has none of the drying or irritating side-effects of dandruff shampoo on hair and you can use the shampoos, hair coloring, and styling products of your choice.

If you invest in your hair, don’t ruin it with harsh, drying dandruff shampoos, treat the problem at the source with a natural, safe remedy that works without damaging your hair or smelling of dandruff shampoo.

Wishing you a good hair day, every day!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find LomaLux Dandruff Pill at http://www.lomalux.com/shop/loma-lux-dandruff-pill and at select Walgreens in the Vitamin Aisle!

Style Chicks received LomaLux Dandruff Pill in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours

GIFTS & ACCESSORIES: BOUTIQUELOVIN Gold Dipped Clear Quartz Gemstone Pendant Necklace

August 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Love natural quartz crystal stones and want to incorporate them into your jewelry collection to add some boho chic? Do you like the variance seen in one-of-a-kind natural elements that have unique, distinctive features? The BOUTIQUELOVIN gold dipped raw clear Quartz Gemstone crystal pendant necklace has a large focal piece raw crystal with natural variances in its’ shape and texture and floats on a 30-inch chain. Ideal for gift giving or for yourself.

A closer look at the pendant piece

BOUTIQUELOVIN NECKLACE APPEARANCE: BOHO CHIC

The pendant is a large clear raw quartz crystal pendant with a gold dipped copper fastener band.

Focal piece close up

The larger size of the quartz crystal looks visually appropriate and proportion for the longer, 30-inch drop. Each raw crystal is unique, slightly different in cut, size, and shape and each has natural structural variances or inclusions that add character.

Like most natural elements, this raw quartz crystal has unique variations in size, shape and structure that give it character and a beautiful natural appeal

Natural variances in structure reflect the surrounding colors and light

Gold dipped copper construction securely holds the raw quartz crystal

CRYSTAL PENDANT: A large focal piece such as this raw crystal quartz looks visually proportional with “big” design elements such as bold colors and large prints. The raw crystal reflects the colors in the outfit in an impressionist look, making it a very versatile piece to compliment many outfits.

The large focal piece of the quartz pendant looks visually proportional with bright colors and big prints

The chain is 30 inches with interval gold small bead-like links every few inches. It is a subtle design feature that adds some interest to the chain while not overpowering the focal piece.

The 30-inch chain design

CONSTRUCTION

The crystal is held in place by a gold dipped copper band pendant on a chain. The clasp is a lobster clasp that is secure and sturdy. The chain is flexible and doesn’t catch on my hair or pinch my skin when it bends.

Clasp

USES

In addition to being a unique gift or piece of jewelry for your own collection, the crystal pendant can work as a long necklace, a pendulum or a balancing piece for room decor. It goes with casual clothes or is suitable for a daytime dressy occasion event such as a garden wedding or reception. It looks good in outdoor and indoor lighting and reflects the light in a subtle way, not blingy.

Lovely when worn to an outdoor garden reception. Elegant and unique with bold color dresses

As seen in indoor lighting

Close up in indoor lighting

PACKAGING

The necklace arrives well packed for shipping and comes in a drawstring plush velvet pouch bag with the BoutiqueLovin logo on one side.

Velvet drawstring gift bag

AS A GIFT

It is ready for gift giving, this necklace is ideal for your boho chic friend, as a bridesmaid gift, for a teen or nature-loving friend or a friend who loves distinct pieces of jewelry that by their nature have one-of-a-kind pieces.

CONCLUSION

A piece for someone who loves natural pieces yet enjoys distinctive design, this raw quartz crystal works with both casual and dressy clothes and compliments many outfits. A well-made piece of sturdy construction, it makes an ideal gift for someone who loves minerals, crystal quartz, or natural gifts with a distinctive look. Each piece is unique and contains natural variances, structures, and shapes which lend to its natural beauty.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the BoutiqueLovin Gold Dipped Clear Quartz Gemstone Pendant necklace at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019A4361

Style Chicks received the BoutiqueLovin Gold Dipped Clear Quartz Gemstone Pendant necklace in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Better Beauty Sleep Naturally: Avinol PM

August 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Sleepless nights are a big beauty problem. If you can’t get enough sleep, skin quickly looks lackluster and dull. The eyes are bloodshot with dark undereye circles. It’s bad enough to be sluggish, cranky, drowsy and in a mental fog, but sleep deprivation can have serious risks. Despite health (and beauty) risks, many are reluctant to resort to prescription sleep aids, and with good reason. But Avinol PM has come up with an effective sleep aid containing natural, safe ingredients that you likely regularly ingest in food and drink. When these ingredients are combined, they make for an effective sleep-enabling cocktail.

Avinol PM is made of all-natural ingredients, like Chamomile

We’ve all been there: work, stress, sickness, or for some other reason, we just can’t get to sleep. We wake up sluggish the next day, and you’d think you could easily get to sleep the next night, but somehow, the bad sleep pattern continues. Many of us reach for common remedies, such as a glass of warm milk or tea, but when these don’t work, we may seek an over the counter remedy, and for many of us, that remedy is preferably a natural one, or at least a non-addictive one.

But just because something is natural doesn’t automatically mean it is safe. Many of the ingredients in Avinol PM and Avinol Extra Strength are probably familiar and consumed in other foods you regularly eat. You may notice these foods relax you or even make you a bit sleepy. When combined together, even in small dosages, they enable much better sleep.

All natural ingredients in Avinol PM

AVINOL PM INGREDIENTS

These ingredients are:

5-HTP is an amino acid from tryptophan, the stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy. I was fuzzy on what exactly 5-HTP was, but it turns out tryptophan is in plenty of foods including cheddar and swiss cheese, fish, lean meats, poultry, peanuts and peanut butter, soy products, turnips, collard greens, sunflower seeds, and roast pork. The body synthesizes tryptophan to 5-HTP and triggers the body’s melatonin production.

If someone isn’t sleeping, generally this tryptophan amino acid is in short supply, making one’s “internal clock” feel off, leading to feeling sleepy in the day, wide awake and wired at night. Have you experienced that? If so, 5-HTP can help.

In layperson terms, the end result is 5-HTP does two things: first, it signals the body to stop working and being wide awake like it is daytime and tells it to prepare to go to sleep soon. Second, it cues the Melatonin.

Melatonin is a brain produced, naturally occurring substance in the body that cues the feeling of being sleepy. Melatonin is available at natural health food stores, but it is difficult to regulate when taken alone, and without 5-HTP telling your body it is time to sleep, it may be useless. But when paired with the right ingredients, it can effectively emulate the body’s own sleep triggers. If your body hasn’t had enough 5-HTP, it doesn’t have enough Melatonin, which is why it is helpful taken together.

5-HTP and Melatonin together address most sleep problems by triggering the body’s natural sleep mechanisms and telling the body it is time to sleep. Other sleep aid ingredients found in Avinol PM are more effective when the body is not actively resisting sleep or doesn’t feel sleepy. These ingredients include:

Chamomile has long been known to be a relaxing herbal remedy, most commonly consumed as a cup of tea to promote relaxation and restful sleep.

Avinol PM contains relaxing Camomile to promote restful sleep

Avinol PM contains relaxing Chamomile to promote restful sleep

Hops are a flower that is the flavoring and stability agent in beer. They impart the beers bitter, zesty, or citric flavors. Hops have been used as a sleep aid due to their somewhat sedative effect. The sedative effect of hops can be seen from the relaxing sensation experienced when drinking a non-alcoholic beer. For the naysayers on the merits of hops alone, not the beer’s alcohol content creating relaxation, there are studies (see The sedative effects of hops (Humulus lupulus), a component of beer, on the activity/rest rhythm by L. Franco). The important takeaway is that hops alone aid in relaxation and sleep without the hangover from alcohol.
Lemon Balm is a flowering herb added into beauty preparations, drinks, teas, candies, ice cream and even desserts. It is a common flavoring in fish dishes and lemon balm pesto. It has a has a minty taste and lemony smell. Used in aromatherapy, it has a long history in alternative medicine as a sleep aid.
Passion Flower Powder contains Chrysin. Chrysin is a flavonoid found in honeycombs, some mushrooms, and in chamomile. Passion Flower tea is used in folk medicine as a sleep-aid tea, taken just before going to bed.
L-Theanine is part of what makes matcha tea a superior cup of green, there is much more L-Theanine in matcha. Also found in green and black teas, and some mushrooms, it behaves chemically very much like lemon balm extract to reduce stress, and promote a mindful state of relaxation. It’s like a relaxing cup of Matcha without the stimulating caffeine properties of matcha before bed.

Avinol PM contains L-Theanine from green tea leaf. L-Theanine is best known for being in Matcha Green tea. Avinol PM has the relaxing feel of a bedtime cup of Matcha without the stimulating caffeine.

Orange Peel, or the zest, is used in numerous foods and drinks for an intense citrusy flavor. If a food, candy or dessert has a notable citrus flavor or a natural orange glazing, it probably contains orange peel zest. Some examples include Orange Chicken, Cranberry Orange Scones, and citrus-based mandarin salad dressings. The peel contains enzymes and flavonoids that promote sleep.

Have you ever added the Orange Peel or zest that flavors some of your favorite citrus recipes can make you sleepy?

Did you know the Orange Rind or “zest” that part of the orange peel that is grated off to flavor some of your favorite citrus recipes can make you sleepy? Avinol PM contains Orange Rind to promote sleepiness.

WHAT AVINOL PM DOESN’T CONTAIN

Herbs can be as powerful as chemical medications. I prefer that Avinol PM’s 5-HTP is NOT combined with some of the natural remedies seen in some commercial 5-HTP preparations such as Valerian root and St. John’s wort. While these both can be useful for various neuro problems and have helped many people, they are highly potent and, are in my opinion, overreaching for someone who just needs to restore sleep patterns. Many of these 5-HTP’s combos that contain other potent herbs like St. John’s Wort are often geared toward someone who has problems with serotonin under-production, not sleep promotion.

I like that Avinol PM ONLY contains what is necessary to get restful sleep if your sleep issues are relatively straightforward, and that there is a separate, stronger formulation of Avinol PM called Avinol PM Extra Strength for more complex sleep issues when more potent herbs are warranted.

AVINOL PM EXTRA STRENGTH

Avinol PM Extra Strength contains all the ingredients of Avinol PM, plus Valerian Root and GABA.

Valerian Root has been used for centuries for relaxation, sleep, and blood pressure regulation. How it works is unclear, but it likely encourages the brain to release GABA and relax, similar to the principle Avinol applies to Melatonin. Valerian Root is considered somewhat comparable to Valium in how it works.

How do you know which one to take? If you already have discussed your sleep issues with your doctor and you know you benefit from Valerian Root due to diagnosed medical problems, Avinol PM Extra Strength is a viable and safer option to consider before resorting to heavily sedating, prescription sleep medicines.

That Avinol has two formulas to distinguish between the simple need to break a bad sleep pattern from the more serious and complicated diagnosed Sleep Dysfunction secondary to a more serious medical issue where prescription sleep aids are often the norm, is a big selling point to me. It makes me more comfortable that what I do take best meets my sleep needs.

Avinol OM Extra Strength also contains potent Valerian Root and GABA

PUTTING AVINOL PM TO THE TEST: HOW DID I SLEEP?

Having researched and felt assured that the ingredients were safe for me personally and no ingredient was addictive, I was ready to give Avinol PM a try.

Avinol PM is a single sub-lingual tablet that melts under your tongue just before going to bed. It’s bigger than a dime but smaller than a quarter.

Place one Avinol PM tablet under your tongue and let it melt before bed

I didn’t experience the side effects that can come with prescription sleep medications, such as grogginess in the morning or excess difficulty waking up and I drifted off to sleep naturally, not feeling like I was knocked out.

My sleep felt more natural, which is different than a chemically induced sleep. I don’t like the idea of being SO deeply asleep that I could not be easily awoken by my alarm clock or a noise in the house, which was not the kind of sleep that Avinol PM induces. Avinol PM is restful and more normal feeling.

I also experienced a more consistent result with Ativol PM than when I have attempted remedies such as melatonin pills alone or drinking a cup of relaxing tea or warm milk before bed. I like the idea of a pre-measured, regulated amount in pill form that ensures helpful levels for steady sleep each night until I restore a sleep pattern back to normal. And I really like the lack of side effects or addictive ingredients.

Each bottle contains 30 pills, more than enough to restore better sleep patterns.

CONCLUSION

All of us experience bouts of sleepless nights or various reasons. Once a bad sleep pattern starts, it is hard to catch up and reset the brain back to normal sleep rhythms. For whatever reason one does not wish to take a prescription sleep aid, Avinol PM can help restore restful sleep patterns using natural ingredients that are safe, familiar and non-addictive. Rest well, Sleeping Beauties!

WHERE TO BUY AVINOL PM

Find Avinol PM at http://www.avinol.com

Find Avinol PM Extra Strength at https://www.vitaldepot.com/products/avinol-pm-extra-strength

BARGAIN-HUNTER TIP: Deals on Avinol PM can also be found on Amazon, and at times at Groupon

Style Chicks received Avinol PM and Avinol PM Extra Strength in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

HOW TO USE RETINOL: WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING

August 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Have you experienced this? Retinol suddenly becomes too irritating to your skin to continue use? Don’t quit Retinol, learn how to apply retinol without irritation.

MY STORY: I start using retinol and within a few days, my skin is SO smooth and refined. My dermatologist said to use it only every other day, the directions say spread a pea-sized amount into a thin layer all over the face. But, the results are so good, I assume myself special, directions surely don’t apply to ME. So I use more. Because if a little is good, more will be better, right?

So I dab on extra, thinking with a bit more retinol, soon I won’t even need to wear any foundation! I’m convinced I’ll have to explain suddenly looking so young, so fresh, so dewy. And then… OUCH! all kinds of irritation, tightness, redness, and peeling. What happened?

Google and the dermatologist tell me that I have, like so many before me, inadvertently given myself an at-home chemical peel burn from too much Retinol. Nothing helps. I had to take a couple weeks off of retinol for my face to repair. Boo. Yet, somehow, I never learn and repeat this pattern whenever I am on prescription retinol.

Many who try retinol have fallen into the trap of thinking that we’re special and the directions do not apply to us, thereby more is more. You know what? You ARE special. But not about Retinol. Everybody is the same to Retinol.

WHY RETINOL IRRITATION HAPPENS AND HOW TO FIX IT

Retinol is a powerful cell-turnover agent that demands your respect for how it works: if skin cell-generation occurs too rapidly, young, fresh skin is revealed, which is why you look so ridiculously young, it is for all intents and purposes, baby skin. But it’s also about as sensitive as baby skin and it’s not ready to be exposed to excess retinol, which is why your lovely skin suddenly becomes irritated and burns when more retinol is applied.

And don’t feel so superior just yet you rule-followers who adhered to the directions and put on the exact prescribed amount, you aren’t immune. Not only is “more” not more, the prescribed pea-sized dosage packs a peely-faced, red, itchy wallop too. Skin builds a small retinol tolerance after a few weeks, and cell-turnover happens at a slower rate. The same dosage of product suddenly causes surface irritation. Thin-skinned areas have problems first, but these are also the areas that wrinkle first, so it’s tempting to over-treat them with retinol. So how does one get all the retinol goodness without the irritation and burning? BUFFERING.

LAW OF THE BEAUTY UNIVERSE: Pure Retinol must be buffered or else you will have to take constant breaks due to irritation. Or better yet, avoid irritation altogether by using a pre-buffered retinol product like Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains all natural moisturizers to buffer its’ 2.5% Retinol

TOP TIPS TO BUFFER YOUR RETINOL

1. ALWAYS APPLY MOISTURIZER AND PLENTY OF IT

Some prescription retinol such as Renova or Atralin has an emollient base that tricks you into thinking you don’t need a secondary moisturizer, but you do.

Prescription retinol can be deceptive: it looks emollient but still requires lots of moisturizers to tolerate its’ powerful effects

INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO BUFFER RETINOL

If your skin is already irritated or very sensitive, apply moisturizer first, then retinol.
If your skin is normal, mix your retinol directly into your moisturizer and apply it together.
If you’ve been on retinol for more than one month, apply retinol first, then moisturizer on top.

WHAT MOISTURIZER SHOULD I USE TO BUFFER MY RETINOL?

Your moisturizer may be unknowingly contributing to your irritation. What moisturizer should you use to buffer? I prefer as natural and simple as possible because there’s already plenty going on with just the retinol. Does your moisturizer contain brighteners, Vitamin C or exfoliating ingredients? Stick with gentle ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Jojoba, and Sunflower Oil which are all very soothing and nourishing to the skin. The problem is due to the consistency of these natural moisturizing agents, you look a sticky and oily mess after a direct application and makeup application is out of the question.

A product that has saved me a lot of grief in the tricky retinol and moisturizer buffering department is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer. It contains a prescription level 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C and has a host of hydrating natural moisturizers all in one product, so it is gentle enough to use twice a day without every getting irritated.

Highly moisturizing Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains soothing and hydrating natural moisturizers to buffer the retinol

Even if I over-apply, I haven’t gotten irritated even ONCE in months of use, which means I never miss a dose or have to take time off from Retinol. If you don’t want to worry about combining retinol and moisturizer or just don’t want the hassle of multiple products, Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer is a no-fail, highly effective and emollient one-stop shop that contains all the hydrating nourishing buffering moisturizers including Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Jojoba, Sunflower Oil, Vitamin E, plus soothing Green Tea and the moisture powerhouse Hyaluronic Acid.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains all-natural retinol-buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E

2. RE-EVALUATE OTHER SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Do you use Vitamin C Serum, AHA, glycolic, skin lighteners, peels, or scrubs? Even harsh washcloths and sponges or sonic facial brushes, these are all potentially too harsh now for your delicate retinol-treated skin. Retinol is already doing all the peeling and exfoliating for you, you just have to keep your skin clean and moisturized, nothing more.

Vitamin C Serum during the day and Retinol at night is touted as the standard for skin renewal, this is true, but this requires even more intensive buffering. Master retinol use first before adding in Vitamin C Serum.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer has so many soothing and hydrating moisturizers that it can buffer BOTH its’ prescription strength Retinol and its’ 20% Vitamin C Serum when applied TWICE a day with ZERO irritation

3. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

Yeah, it is exciting to see Retinol’s rapid skin renewal, but less is actually more with retinol because if you have to take two weeks off to heal from overuse, you lost more than you gained in zealous overuse. Even if you buffer, don’t use retinol more than once a day. The exception to this would be a buffered retinol product, such as Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, that can be used twice a day due to it’s pre-buffered highly moisturizing ingredients.

When it doubt, apply as little Retinol as you can, and apply more moisturizer than you think you may need.

Retinol requires powerful moisturizers to buffer its’ irritating effects. Before finding the all-in-one Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, I often had to use expensive moisturizers like Creme de La Mer Concentrate to counteract the dryness that retinol causes. Lordsbury gives a better result, is faster and far more cost effective

CONCLUSION

Don’t give up retinol due to irritation! Retinol is a powerful resource for removing wrinkles, brown spots, acne scars, discoloration, and refining overall skin tone. It is exciting to see changes in your skin! But buffering retinol is MANDATORY to be able to use it consistently without irritation. While buffering your prescription retinol with moisturizers or hydrating serums can make a world of difference in tolerating your retinol program, an easy no-hassle alternative is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer. It contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, which is the lowest level on the prescription dosage scale, but Lordsbury can be used twice a day, it contains 20% Vitamin C and it comes pre-buffered with skin moisturizing, hydrating, youthifying nourishing ingredients that take the guessing work out of buffering your retinol. This way, you never miss a dose or have irritated skin.

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/

Lordsbury Retinol+C has 2.5% Pure Retinol plus several moisturizers all in one bottle for one step skin care

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.