• Ingredient Glossary & Guides
    • The Best Beauty Ingredients You Will Love Glossary Guide
    • Skincare Ingredient Guides
  • Beauty
    • Better Beauty Sleep
    • Beauty Expert Advice
    • Clean Beauty
    • Cosmetics
    • How to…
    • Discontinued Clinique
    • Makeup Tools & Brushes
    • Science of Beauty
  • Haircare
    • Hair Growth
    • Hair Growth Devices
    • Hair Maintenance Products
    • Hair Styling Tools
    • Haircare Tools
  • Skincare
    • Adult Acne
    • Anti-Aging
    • Skin Devices & Topicals
    • Skin Tools & Devices
    • Science of Skincare
    • Waterless Beauty
  • Contact
  • About
    • About Our Features: How Our Product Reviews are Unique
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

Style Chicks

Expert Beauty Reviews | Skincare Ingredient Guides

You are here: Home / Archives for Lifestyle / Health / Exercise

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

October 13, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Nature’s Rite promotes Muscle Honey as The Pro-Athlete’s Secret which, at first blush, might make sedentary me seem like an unlikely candidate to use and benefit from this product. But my daughter Courtney suggested I give it a try, and from the first use I became a fan.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The honey is a light gel with nine herbal ingredients including comfrey for tissue mending, Witch Hazel for increased muscle fiber lubricity, Arnica Montana to support healing, Juniper Berry to flush lactic acid, Sweet Marjoram for cramp relief, White Willow Bark for pain relief, Peppermint leaf for circulation and physical support, Devil’s Claw for joint support and Ginseng for energy enhancement. Additionally, there is carbomer for gelling, Optiphen as a preservative, and TEA for pH adjustment.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The directions for use is to rub liberally on the body over areas you will exercise and also post workout for enhanced recovery.

My interest in using the product stems from experiencing ongoing muscle pain and soreness associated with injuries sustained in two motor vehicle accidents occurring during the past two and a half years. The road towards achieving the maximum recovery possible has involved much treatment and physical therapy, where this former couch potato became a conscientious exerciser.

Over the course of these last 30+ months I’ve tried many over-the-counter and two prescription topical medications to try to ease both inherent (to the injuries) pain and post-physical therapy sore muscles. Additionally, joint pain from the auto accidents is a daily problem I’ve tried to alleviate with creams and gels. And, while I did experience minor relief with some of those preparations, the degree of help was not sufficient for me to tolerate over time the objectionable aspects such as burning, odor, greasiness and even staining of my clothes and sheets.

For me, Muscle Honey proved to be superior to the preparations formerly used in both results and ease of use. The gel is relatively thin which makes it easy to spread, not runny or difficult to control. It dries very quickly and is not sticky, nor does it leave any residue. When applying it has a very subtle herbal fragrance, the combination of which is most pleasant. When dry you would not notice the fragrance unless you were right up to the applied area and made a point to try to detect it.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

There is no burn or sting such as one might experience in other topical products whose ingredient lists contain menthol or capsaicin. Though made for use with exercise, you don’t have to worry that it will sweat off.

I make a point to wash my hands after applying any topical, having been (literally) burned by accidentally rubbing my eye with fingers that had residue from creams, gels or ointments containing menthol or capsaicin. It seems to me a good practice even with this product, although the risk of any untoward effect would seem much less with Muscle Honey due to the lack of those ingredients or other common irritants in the formula.

As mentioned at the top, each of the herbal ingredients has a particular benefit for helping muscle tissue. Combined, the effect seems more than the sum of the parts. Since it doesn’t have any ingredients that work by irritating the muscles and overlying skin, you won’t notice an instant response, but after a few minutes, I sensed what might be termed a relaxation of the muscle. Joints also seem calmed by the formula.

I use Muscle Honey on my right-sided injuries from neck to toe, and it has helped them feel more like my less affected left side. It’s especially useful on areas where the injury is primarily muscular but has even provided some temporary relief of a pressing problem, muscular involvement and referred pain due to a shoulder tear. While, of course, no topical preparation or even ingested meds can replace the need for surgical repair, there is no question that, by addressing the muscular component of the problem, my daily function of the area is improved for a time.

I apply Muscle Honey to most of the affected areas once a day, but if there is a reemergence of pain or soreness in any area I apply to that spot again.

Even using the Muscle Honey on five to six areas one or more times a day for awhile now, the 6.8-ounce container still seems at least half full. I’m not sure how my usage would compare to that of an avid athlete, but the 6.8 ounces would probably last a reasonable length of time for many users. I intend to continue using the product I’ve checked and see if from about fourteen dollars up to twenty dollars for this 6.8-ounce container, similar to what I’ve paid for other drugstore products marketed for the same use.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Of course, it is always wise to check symptoms with your doctor to avoid masking a serious underlying issue, but, if yours is the muscular pain and soreness associated with exercise or other common causes, you might find this product a good alternative to many others whose negatives outweigh their positives. Before using any product, read over the ingredient list and make sure that there are no conflicts with any medications or conditions you have.

I truly am thrilled to have found this amazing gel! Find Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey at MyNaturesRite.com .

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrFkJPzr-g[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Body, Exercise, Gym Beauty Bag, Health
Tagged: Exercise, Fitness, Health, Muscle Soreness, Muscles, natural, Natural Product, Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

How to Drink More Water: THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

October 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment

BEAUTY & WATER:
One of the best beauty-enhancing daily habits you can have is to drink lots of water. It keeps your skin glowing and unclogged of toxins; it gives you energy, and it helps manage weight gain. You really can’t beat the dewy glow from being well-hydrated. This is not news by any means, but it is worth discussing because accomplishing this basic beauty habit is easier said than done: guzzling your daily water intake can seem unappealing when compared to drinking delicious coffee and sugary beverages.

But it is a worthwhile beauty goal. According to a recent study, 20% of women that drank 1.5 liters of water daily saw a reduction in wrinkles after six weeks. In another study, people reported clearer skin and less acne within a week of drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. So how much water should you drink and what can help make that water appealing enough to meet your water consumption goal?

HOW MUCH WATER TO DRINK?
There are various opinions on how much water one should consume daily. For the sake of your skin, it is typically 4-5 glasses a day. This is the amount needed for your organs to function properly and remove toxins from your body, including the skin. This amount also helps with clearing acne. The amount of water required varies a bit from person to person based on your weight and other health issues. As a general guide, you are hydrated enough if your urine is a light wheat color. If not, you are dehydrated, whether you feel thirsty or not.

To avoid dehydration, keep sipping water throughout the day.

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE: HOW TO MAKE IT A DAILY WATER DRINKING HABIT APPEALING
Some people like to add a slice of lemon or infuse their water with fruit. This is helpful to make your daily water intake taste more appealing. But the biggest aid to making daily water consumption easier is often the temperature of the water: chilled water is energizing and refreshing, especially after a workout or on a hot day. Cold water is just easier to drink. It is also helpful for burning extra calories: your body burns more calories with cold water than drinking tepid, warm or hot water.

The Coldest Water Bottle is an easily portable water that keeps water at a cold temperature, providing access to icy-cold water that stays at an even cold temperature all day. It is not just a water bottle with an ice core center insert that keeps the water cooler inside the bottle. The Coldest Water Bottle keeps water at a constant ICE COLD temperature for up to 25 hours, and any ice in the bottle stays in ice form during that time.

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
Made of stainless steel, it is a long-lasting, quality water bottle that does not need to be frequently replaced like plastic bottles. It uses double wall insulation with materials designed to keep water cold for more than 25 hours with no sweating. It floats in oceans and pools and its 99% of cup holders, so you have no excuse NOT to get your daily water intake. BPA and toxin free, it is safer than other water bottles that can quickly harbor bacteria (and odor) within its’ plastic walls.

It is made for athletes but is suitable for any environmentally conscious person who wants to carry cold water with them throughout the day or for a late-day workout. The Coldest Water bottle is intended for lifetime use.

PUTTING COLDEST WATER BOTTLE TO THE TEST
THE PROBLEM: The gym I belong to has ice-cold bottled water chilled in a vending machine for $2.50 a bottle, and each pilates class or gym session I would typically need two of these 12-ounce bottles. And sometimes after a particularly busy class, the vending machine runs out of water entirely. I tried to bring my bottled water, but I wanted the *COLD* water during and after my workout. The problem is, I go to the gym after work, so if I bring water from home, it would have to stay cold for about 11 hours by the time I get to the gym.

TESTING THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE: Turns out, the Coldest Water Bottle keeps water cold for a very long time, it keeps water cold all day and keeps a full bottle cold for a late-day workout. The ice cubes stay as ice cubes; they don’t substantially melt. I filled the bottle with ice cubes and cold water from the tap at around 7 A.M. Ten hours later the ice was still in ice cube form with no melting or “sweating.” In the meantime, the bottle sat in the warm car without the benefit of air conditioning. When I drank my water at the gym, almost twelve hours later, it was still ice cold! Pretty impressive. The leftover ice stayed unmelted afterward until I dumped it out when I got home that night, a few hours after my workout, probably hour 16 at that point. Very nice!

 

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaymAIT94uw[/embedyt]

 

CONCLUSION: A sturdy, well-constructed water bottle, just fill it with water and ice and go. Carrying a Coldest Water Bottle will remind you to drink water and keep track of how much you are drinking. It is the perfect bottle for athletes, Mom’s with thirsty kids, campers, beach-goers, or anyone who wants to have access to cold water during the day. I also find it useful for keeping some cold water in a car during the summer to stay hydrated in the case of unexpected delays or emergencies.

The Coldest Water Bottle is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective choice, saving you from buying repeated plastic water bottles. The stainless steel is sturdy without being too heavy to carry in my bag. Since I have had the bottle, I have remembered to bring water with me each day, and it stays ice cold in my bag while I am in transit. The bottle does not leak, so it is safe to put in your backpack or briefcase. The stainless steel naturally is bacteria resistant, which feels cleaner to transport around places like the gym. Since I have had the Coldest Water Bottle, I stay hydrated at the gym, at work, and I haven’t had to buy chilled plastic bottled water when I am out. A very worthwhile investment that saves both the environment and saves money on bottled water costs.

Find this great bottle at TheColdestWater.com

 

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

 

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Body, Exercise, Food, Gifts, Gym Beauty Bag, Health, How to..., Skincare
Tagged: Exercise, Health, Skincare, THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE, Water

Exercise: Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

September 25, 2016 · Leave a Comment

If you go to a Yoga studio, you may have seen or used Yoga Blocks and straps before. If you are trying Yoga or Pilates or some simple stretching exercises at home by yourself or with an instructional DVD for the first time, a block and a strap are a worthwhile investment for keeping proper form and reducing the risk of injury. Using at-home exercise tutorial videos at great but it is easy to unknowingly develop bad form. Recently I tried a Cielo Yoga Block and Strap that help me retain good posture.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

WHAT IT DOES
The Cielo Yoga Block and Strap is an excellent set to modify poses, provide support, stability or balance during yoga and pilates. If you can’t reach far enough or you have difficulty holding form or retaining balance, a block or strap can help. Cielo blocks and straps are made from waterproof and eco-friendly materials.

WHO IT IS FOR
They are ideal for:

  • Beginners
  • Those with weak posture or alignment, weak core strength
  • Those with an injury
  • Those with balancing problems
  • Those undertaking a challenging new pose and want to make sure to retain proper form and alignment
  • Women at all stages of a pregnancy and post pregnancy as the body needs more support, and the center of balance is constantly changing.
  • Those with hypermobility who have difficulty getting a good stretch

THE CIELO YOGA BLOCK

QUALITY
Two issues concern me when selecting a yoga block: sizing of the block and the whether the material is suitable for comfortable, yet grounded use.

SIZING: The block is 9x6x4 inches. By positioning the block, there are three height options for customized support. Laying flat on the thinner side I find useful for sitting on, placed upright lengthwise gives support to the hands when stretching from above, and I want to retain the ability to balance.

COMFORTABLE GROUNDING: My ideal yoga block is comfortable enough to use but not so soft that it has too much give to be stable. This Cielo Yoga block is durable non-slip, hard foam material that has some cushion without being too soft. Gentle on the hands, it is comfortable to use to bear weight upon with just the right amount of give to be comfortable for the wrist when grounding down yet hard enough to still maintaining proper positioning.

USE
The Cielo block is helpful to sit on during exercises that typically one sits on their feet. I find the block gives me a better alignment. I like to use the block between my knees or thighs to hold proper alignment of my legs for Wheel or Bridge pose. The Cielo block stayed steady and provided some lengthening balance for my lowered hand on the block during Revolved Triangle; it creates the longer line of the intended triangle shape and gives better opening when I can hold the pose longer.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

THE CIELO YOGA STRAP

QUALITY
It is well made and durable, no wear and tear from my pulling, tugging or bearing weight on it. It is comfortable and easy to grasp. It is long enough to use for arms or legs or to wrap around the core and shoulders to maintain posture, especially for beginners or after sustaining an injury.

USE
The 1.5” x 8-foot strap is a very useful tool for keeping the core in place or ensuring proper form for beginner poses or difficult poses. If you are working on improving posture, this strap is very helpful. For beginners or those with posture issues, the wrapping the strap around the waist and shoulders provides a reminder of keeping proper alignment.

I find the strap particularly helpful in my stretches when I am very tight as well as when attempting new poses and positions, or when I just can’t reach far enough for stretches like Cow Face Pose. The strap helps me keep even posture, form, and alignment. I get a deeper stretch in my hamstrings and back and keep better form when I use the strap during a forward bend. If you are unsure of your posture and alignment during a Downward Dog pose, a strap is very helpful. And a Hammock Pose can be enhanced with the use of a strap to keep the tension out of a stretch. My favorite stretch with a strap is the Legs Up in the Air Pose, after a long day this releases tension in the back after just a few minutes. I like to do that one before bed for better sleep at night.

I also find the strap useful to wear while sitting at the computer in my home office; I tend to slump and this helps me keep proper posture when sitting.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

CONCLUSION: Straps and blocks are not just for Yoga newbies, they can help make your body feel better and maintain form longer. Cielo Yoga straps and blocks are eco-friendly, waterproof material with comfortable give that is still firm enough to ground down and maintain stability, the block and strap provide stability and balance to aid my alignment for deeper poses and stretches.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Exercise, Health
Tagged: Body, Cielo Fitness, Cielo Yoga Block and Strap, Exercise, Fitness, Yoga

Health: Naturalico Shiatsu Neck & Shoulder Massager

August 10, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Naturalico Shiatsu Neck & Shoulder Massager

Naturalico Shiatsu Neck & Shoulder Massager

I try to get a professional massage as often as I can, but there are times that a quick, at home massage will have to do. There are a lot of massage devices on the market, and it is a bit like Goldilocks – some are too hard, some are too soft. Finding a massager with just the right amount of pressure is hard, and even if it is the right amount of pressure, getting it in the right position is tough. This is why I love the Naturalico Shiatsu Neck & Shoulder Massager.

While Neck and Shoulder are in the name, it can be used on multiple parts of the body. My favorite spot in on my feet, after a long day in high heels. It massages all the soreness out of my insoles and even my ankles. And it can go all the way up the leg too for post-workout soreness.

One thing that differentiates this massager from others is that it has 3-D contouring to fit around your neck and shoulders better than other massagers. It fits the contours of your neck as opposed to being a flat surface that you have to lean into, which defeats the purpose of relaxing your muscles during a massage. This is a very nice feature.

I have a long commute home and frequently get stuck in traffic. One of the other big points in favor of this massager is that it comes with a car adapter. So if I’m feeling sore from a long day, being able to use this in the car is a great feature. I’m looking forward to using the soothing heat feature when the weather turns cold, as well.

I am very happy with this highly versatile massager. Find it at Amazon.com.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM0iYVdtF0s[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for testing and review purposes.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Body, Exercise, Gadgets, Gifts, Spa Economy
Tagged: Massage, Naturalize Shiatsu Neck & Shoulder Massager, Relaxing, Spa, Workout

  • Newer Entries
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Previous Entries

Search Style Chicks

Pages

  • About the Style Chicks
  • Contact Us
  • Discontinued Clinique Products Guide Lost Clinique You Love
  • The Best Beauty Ingredients You Will Love Glossary Guide

Review + Guide Topics

  • Accessories
  • Adult Acne
  • Anti-Aging
  • Beauty
  • Beauty Expert Advice
  • Beauty Tools + Devices
  • Better Beauty Sleep
  • Black Friday & Cyber Monday
  • Body
  • Clean Beauty
  • Cosmetics
  • Curly Hair Care
  • Decor
  • Discontinued Products
  • Entertaining
  • Essential Oils
  • Exercise
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Food
  • For the Home
  • Fragrance Free
  • Gadgets
  • Gifts
  • Green Beauty
  • Gym Beauty Bag
  • Hair
  • Hair Care Devices & Tools
  • Hair Growth
  • Hair Growth Devices
  • Haircare
  • Health
  • How to
  • How to…
  • Ingredient Glossary
  • Ingredient Guides
  • J-Beauty
  • Jewelry
  • K-Beauty
  • Life Hacks
  • Lifestyle
  • Makeup
  • Makeup Tools & Brushes
  • New Products
  • News
  • Organic
  • Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatments + Conditioning Remedies
  • Product Review
  • Product Updates
  • Science of Beauty
  • Science of Skincare
  • Sensitive Skin
  • Sephora
  • Shoes!
  • Skin Tools & Devices
  • Skincare
  • Spa Economy
  • Style
  • Tea
  • Technology
  • Things I want
  • Travel
  • Unscented
  • Vanity Table
  • Waterless Beauty
  • Weddings

Welcome to Style Chicks

Since 2007, we are your trusted source for expert hair and skincare reviews, in-depth ingredient guides, and info on hard-to-find and discontinued beauty products. Whether you're looking for smarter skincare choices, hair growth options, clean beauty cosmetics reviews, ingredient glossary, better beauty sleep, hair care tips, beauty how-to guides or trying to track down your holy grail favorite, we’ve got you covered.


Copyright © 2007 - 2025 STYLE CHICKS