Style Chicks

Expert Beauty Reviews | Skincare Ingredient Guides

You are here: Home / Archives for Skin

Health and Beauty: Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

· Leave a Comment

Last week I eagerly clicked a link on what models were drinking to achieve their luminous skin during NYFW. It was…green tea. Didn’t we know this already? Whether you are new to the skin and health wonders of green tea or a tea devotee, you should definitely try Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea.

OVERVIEW: This is a tangy and crisp Green Tea, perfect for the end of summer, beginning of autumn.

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

WHY WE LIKE GREEN TEA:
On average, we try to drink two cups of Green Tea per day. Green Tea makes for glowing, youthful skin; as it reduces inflammation (such as puffy undereye bags), rids the cells of aging free radicals and helps boost the metabolism resulting in more energy and weight management. Green Tea also has health benefits for heart and brain health and is considered beneficial for cancer prevention.

The Green Tea that one drinks can make all the difference in gaining benefits. To get real beauty and health benefits from Green Tea, it takes two things: 1) find a reputable company that produces safe, quality, fresh green tea from whole leaves, not “tea dust” and 2) find an enjoyable flavor you will enjoy drinking consistently

FINDING A REPUTABLE GREEN TEA COMPANY FOR QUALITY TEA:
Two key considerations when seeking a good tea brand is the quality of the tea and the safety of the tea.

TEA SAFETY: StyleChicks recently reviewed the Coastal Tea Company, and we were very impressed with the efforts they take to produce tea that is not only high quality, fresh whole leaf tea, but they strictly regulate their production to sell only small-batch, fresh tea with no trace of radiation or lead. Tea leaves, like other vegetation, is subject to soaking in the nutrients from the ground. Sometimes that ground contains metal traces including lead, and some areas where tea is grown have been subject to high levels of radiation. Coastal Tea Company takes extensive measures to avoid both risks, see more about the Coastal Tea Company here in our review of their Mango Green Tea.

TEA QUALITY: The most value from Green Tea comes from fresh, full leaves containing the highest levels of EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) and polyphenols (the chief antioxidants). These high levels are not found in green tea “dust,” or the leftover remaindered older teas. Look for loose tea that has large, fresh pieces of dried leaves visible within the tea mix and a low amount of “dust” in the mix. Any inclusions to flavor the tea, such as dried fruit, nuts, or petals, should be generous in size and fresh. A fresh tea has a tasty, full aroma.

FINDING A FLAVOR OF TEA YOU LIKE
It is important to find an enjoyable flavor of Green Tea because Green Tea is for some, an acquired taste. It may, in fact, not be YOUR cup of tea if you don’t enjoy drinking it. Green Tea can taste somewhat vegetal, and often requires some sweetener or flavoring to enhance it, especially for someone new to drinking full leaf, fresh green tea. Fresh Green Tea has a richer, fuller taste than many commercially pre-bottled, pre- sweetened sugar drinks with Green Tea as an ingredient.

WHAT MAKES COASTAL TEA COMPANY GINGER MINT GREEN TEA SPECIAL?

Coastal Tea Company’s Ginger Mint Green Tea is a 100% loose leaf sencha green tea blend with dried ginger pieces, lemongrass, and Moroccan Mint. It has a crisp taste without being too tart or bitter. The Ginger is nicely tempered by the mellow Moroccan Mint, which surprised me as a tasty combination of flavors. The Lemongrass was a surprise enhancing ingredient in this blend because typically lemongrass tastes just plain grassy to me. But in this tea blend, playing off the other flavors, it is quite good – sort of a crisp tanginess without being bitter. For those new to Green Tea, a small amount of sugar or honey could be added, but even our non-Tea loving friends and family have enjoyed this blend.

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

INCLUSION: Any inclusions to flavor the tea should look fresh as well. The chunks of ginger are plentiful and big. They are full, solid chunk slices, not gritty partial crumbling shards of ginger. How they appear in the pictures is how the tea looks poured directly out of the bag. The lemongrass pieces are plentiful and unbruised. The mint leaves were large pieces of fuller leaves. Notice how all the pieces of tea and inclusions are in good shape, they look fresh and there is no tea dust.

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

NATURAL FLAVORS: Coastal Tea Company uses all natural flavorings. There are no chemicals or additives; the flavor comes just from the inclusion ingredients, in this case, the Lemongrass, Ginger and the Mint.

TASTY: Not everyone likes the taste of Green Tea. This Ginger Mint has a crisp, tangy taste; the sweet Moroccan Mint balances the tart taste of the ginger surprisingly well.

FULL LOOSE LEAVES: The tea is actual large leaf and full leave pieces, leaves, not dust or remaindered tea. This is the freshest type of tea, the best of the batch, and it holds the most anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits.

PREPARATION
Bring water to almost the boiling point but not a full boil. This makes Green tea brew better and tastes less bitter. Don’t over steep the brew, brew for no more than 2 – 4 minutes.

The tea has a lovely, pale yellow hue and tastes of ginger, lemongrass, and Moroccan mint. I got a second full-pot brew out of the same leaves that were just a flavorful as the first.

CONCLUSION: A tasty, natural tea that has all the benefits I look for in a green loose leaf tea without any of the risks associated with some loose leaf tea brands. I am impressed by the strict standards and precautions Coastal Tea Company undertakes to ensure their teas are fresh and safe.

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

Coastal Tea Company Ginger Mint Green Tea

 

Find this tasty tea at Amazon.

 

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYyVSm2UCG8[/embedyt]

 

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!

What We Love About Morganna’s Bellatox for Dehydrated Skin

· Leave a Comment

My skin became seriously dry this week. Despite wearing adequate amount of sunscreen, the high UV index took a toll, and I have been so busy that I haven’t been properly hydrating. On top of that, I emptied out the last of my La Mer, which is usually what I use to save my face when it gets this dry.

So I am thrilled that I have Morganna’s Bellatox to use on my skin. As we all know, Parisian Girls do skincare right. Easy but effective. And that is precisely what Bellatox is.

Morganna's Bellatox for Dry Dehydrated Skin

Morganna’s Bellatox for Dry Dehydrated Skin

Despite the name, Bellatox doesn’t have botox, or any toxin, for that matter. It has natural ingredients that hydrate the skin and plump wrinkles, so they are far less visible.

Bellatox is unique because of four primary ingredients. These are Hydrolized Vegetable Protein, Spilanthol, Imperata Cylindrica, and Hyaluron. These four ingredients provide the following specific beauty benefits:

SMOOTHING & LIGHT DEFLECTING

Hydrolized Vegetable Protein is what gives the skin an appearance of instant smoothness, especially on wrinkles and imperfections. It has a light deflecting property that makes light bounce off the surface of the wrinkle or imperfection, so the eye sees a smooth surface. It covers a multitude of beauty “sins” including enlarged pores, discoloration, wrinkles, crows feet and the tiny lines around the mouth; all these items seem less obvious upon application.

REDUCTION IN FUTURE WRINKLES AND CRINKLES

Spilanthol is a safe, pre-emptive way to combat wrinkles. It does this with a topical anesthetic that relaxes the tension muscles that have the contractions that result in wrinkles. This is different from Botox injections that stop natural muscle movement. Spilanthol only impacts involuntary contraction muscle reactions, which is what causes wrinkling around the eyes, the “eleven lines” between the eyebrows, and frown lines.

DEEP MOISTURIZATION FOR 4 HOURS:

Imperata Cylindrica is a common weed in some areas of the world. In the beauty world, it is known for the ability to deliver deep moisture to the skin extendedly for four hours. This is part of why the skin appears so very dewy upon Bellatox application, but it is not greasy or sticky like some moisturizers.

PLUMPING, MOISTURIZING, AND ASSISTING ACTIVE INGREDIENT ABSORPTION: HYALURON

Hyaluron is better known to many as Hyaluronic Acid, which is naturally occurring in the body but diminishes as we age. Hyaluron is an instant plumper: it plumps up wrinkles to that they appear smaller or non-existent. It also plumps the lips, giving a youthful, pouty, wrinkle-free look. Hyaluron plumps the skin by drawing moisture and holding it there: which makes it a perfect pairing for the moisture laden Imperata Cylindrica. Hyaluron can hold up to 50 times its’ weight in water, making your skin about as dewy as you can get. It is one of my favorite go-to ingredients in skincare. Hyaluron has another beauty benefit for long-term results that being the ability to draw active ingredients deeper into the skin, via the water molecules, than the ingredients could reach on their own. That means the moisture reaches a deeper layer of the skin, as well as the Spilanthol can pre-empt deeper appearing wrinkles.

RESULTS

After the first day I used it, my skin had a vibrant, dewy glow, like it was lit from within. Several people complimented me on how good my skin looked during the day. It has a serum consistency, and it isn’t sticky under sunscreen, Vitamin C serums, or makeup. I loved how evenly and smoothly my concealer, powder, blush and foundation applied over the velvety surface.

Although after a few uses, when I wear the Bellatox, my skin does not need complete foundation coverage, so I often opt to skip foundation entirely except for on a few areas such as my dark undereye circles and an occasional blemish. I allow about 5 minutes before applying my makeup, but you could apply your makeup as soon as your sunscreen dries down over Bellatox.

Find this fantastic product at Morganna’s Alchemy.

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.

Why Morganna’s Bellatox Is Excellent for Dry Dehydrated Skin

· Leave a Comment

My skin became seriously dry this week. Despite wearing adequate amount of sunscreen, the high UV index took a toll, and I have been so busy that I haven’t been properly hydrating. On top of that, I emptied out the last of my La Mer, which is usually what I use to save my face when it gets this dry.

So I am thrilled that I have Morganna’s Bellatox to use on my skin. As we all know, Parisian Girls do skincare right. Easy but effective. And that is precisely what Bellatox is.

Morganna's Bellatox for Dry Dehydrated Skin

Morganna’s Bellatox for Dry Dehydrated Skin

Despite the name, Bellatox doesn’t have botox, or any toxin, for that matter. It has natural ingredients that hydrate the skin and plump wrinkles, so they are far less visible.

Bellatox is unique because of four primary ingredients. These are Hydrolized Vegetable Protein, Spilanthol, Imperata Cylindrica, and Hyaluron. These four ingredients provide the following specific beauty benefits:

SMOOTHING & LIGHT DEFLECTING:

Hydrolized Vegetable Protein is what gives the skin an appearance of instant smoothness, especially on wrinkles and imperfections. It has a light deflecting property that makes light bounce off the surface of the wrinkle or imperfection, so the eye sees a smooth surface. It covers a multitude of beauty “sins” including enlarged pores, discoloration, wrinkles, crows feet and the tiny lines around the mouth; all these items seem less obvious upon application.

REDUCTION IN FUTURE WRINKLES AND CRINKLES

Spilanthol is a safe, pre-emptive way to combat wrinkles. It does this with a topical anesthetic that relaxes the tension muscles that have the contractions that result in wrinkles. This is different from Botox injections that stop natural muscle movement. Spilanthol only impacts involuntary contraction muscle reactions, which is what causes wrinkling around the eyes, the “eleven lines” between the eyebrows, and frown lines.

DEEP MOISTURIZATION FOR 4 HOURS:

Imperata Cylindrica is a common weed in some areas of the world. In the beauty world, it is known for the ability to deliver deep moisture to the skin extendedly for four hours. This is part of why the skin appears so very dewy upon Bellatox application, but it is not greasy or sticky like some moisturizers.

PLUMPING, MOISTURIZING, AND ASSISTING ACTIVE INGREDIENT ABSORPTION: HYALURON

Hyaluron is better known to many as Hyaluronic Acid, which is naturally occurring in the body but diminishes as we age. Hyaluron is an instant plumper: it plumps up wrinkles to that they appear smaller or non-existent. It also plumps the lips, giving a youthful, pouty, wrinkle-free look. Hyaluron plumps the skin by drawing moisture and holding it there: which makes it a perfect pairing for the moisture laden Imperata Cylindrica.

Hyaluron can hold up to 50 times its’ weight in water, making your skin about as dewy as you can get. It is one of my favorite go-to ingredients in skincare. Hyaluron has another beauty benefit for long-term results that being the ability to draw active ingredients deeper into the skin, via the water molecules, than the ingredients could reach on their own. That means the moisture reaches a deeper layer of the skin, as well as the Spilanthol can pre-empt deeper appearing wrinkles.

RESULTS

After the first day I used it, my skin had a vibrant, dewy glow, like it was lit from within. Several people complimented me on how good my skin looked during the day. It has a serum consistency, and it isn’t sticky under sunscreen, Vitamin C serums, or makeup. I loved how evenly and smoothly my concealer, powder, blush and foundation applied over the velvety surface. Although after a few uses, when I wear the Bellatox, my skin does not need complete foundation coverage, so I often opt to skip foundation entirely except for on a few areas such as my dark undereye circles and an occasional blemish. I allow about 5 minutes before applying my makeup, but you could apply your makeup as soon as your sunscreen dries down over Bellatox.

Find this fantastic product at Morganna’s Alchemy.

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.

Health: Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

· Leave a Comment

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

Most of the time, we think of digestive health when we think of probiotics, and they are great for that purpose. However, a lot of the other amazing effects that Probiotics have are often overlooked. For instance, probiotics can help with energy. Additionally, since probiotics assist your body in detoxifying, they are wonderful for skin. For these effects, I looked for a good brand of probiotics, and Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics seemed especially promising.

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics is a quality formula. Many probiotic formulas only contain a few strains of good bacteria, but this formula contains eighteen high potency strains. Additionally, it contains prebiotics. I have tried using prebiotics and probiotics in the past, but they have been different pills at different times of day, so being able to take two pills once a day that contains both prebiotics and probiotics is nice. And since it is a time-release formula, it doesn’t wash through your system fast; it works to keep your system running well all day.

I have been kind of dragging in the past couple of weeks. I’ve been busy, and it has been taking its toll. After a few days of the probiotic, I noticed that I had more stamina. Not enough that I felt like running 10 miles every morning, but enough to be noticeable. I wasn’t doing anything else that could account for my extra pep, so I think it is likely the probiotics.

Likely due to being tired, my skin started looking a little dull before taking the probiotics. I tried all of my usual creams etc., but when you are tired, it shows on your skin. After a few days on the probiotics, I noticed the color started returning to my face. More impressive than that, I noticed that my skin was less congested. So, if you are a fan of facials, consider this probiotic as a nice add-on for achieving clear skin.

One of the things I like about Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics is that they are wheat-free. While I don’t have a gluten sensitivity, I do recognize that wheat is hard on the body, and I try to be moderate in consuming it in foods. However, it doesn’t make sense to ingest it in a probiotic! I never really thought about it until I saw that Ultra 50 Probiotics doesn’t have wheat, and then went and checked other brand’s probiotics, and sure enough, they do contain wheat. So if you do have gluten sensitivity, then this is definitely the brand for you! I am, however, definitely lactose intolerant, so the fact that it is also lactose-free is a definite help. It would make even less sense for me to take a probiotic that contained an ingredient that made me sick to my stomach.

As far as digestive help, I noticed that my stomach seems a little flatter this week, so taking this probiotic is a definite help there!

I am happy to have found a superior formula like Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics. It’s an easy way to add potent probiotics to your diet!

Find Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics at Amazon.

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

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.

Copyright © 2007 - 2026 STYLE CHICKS