Product Spotlight - Natural Lip Balm

Marmalade Hills' Lip Balm is a beautiful child of thorough research and precise formulation. We have come a long way to get to this perfectly smooth, not too soft and not too hard, nutrient rich and vitamin packed lip balm. It is made of creamy beeswax, exotic butters, nutritious oils, soothing aloe vera juice and Vitamin E. Combined together in perfect amounts they protect, moisturize and nurture gentle skin of your lips. Our lip balms are great to wear under your favorite lipstick, I find it especially useful to wear under mineral base lipsticks as they are loaded with powdery pigments that can make your lips feel extremely dry.

You can never have enough lip balms...especially in winter!  My personal favorites: Tea Tree (perfect for chapped lips) and Grapefruit (fun and energizing).  Forget your petroleum rich chapstick, and get yourself a new best friend!  We promise to make you a convert!

Star Ingredients:
* Creamy Bees Wax is a natural emulsifier and it serves as protective coating that locks in moisture and nutrients on your skin.
* African Shea Butter has been praised for centuries in Africa and is very well respected now for its ability to moisturize and nourish dry, damaged skin. It has been clinically shown to provide benefits from just dry skin to many minor dermatological diseases (if you have a serious skin condition, you should see a doctor).
* Coconut Oil is the source of two of the most powerful anti-microbial agents found in any food substances. These are Capric Acid and Lauric Acid. They are the same acids that are found in mother’s milk and keep the baby protected from infections. When these are applied on skin, some microbes (good ones) present on skin convert these acids into Monocaprin and Monolaurin respectively, thereby replacing the protective acid layer on the skin. Finally, Coconut Oil is soothing on skin and highly penetrating.
* Palm Oil is high in fatty acids and leaving virtually no residue on the skin. An incredibly rich and intoxicating oil which gracefully shares it benefits in numerous food and cosmetic applications throughout the world.
* Almond Oil is one of the most useful, practical, and commonly used oils. It is great for all skin types as an acting emollient and is best known for its ability to soften, soothe, and re-condition the skin. Natural expeller pressed oil from raw almond kernels and exceptionally rich in fatty acids.
* Rose Hip Oil is one of my favorite ingredients. It is truly a miracle oil and it is extremely rich in essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) which help nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping to reduce wrinkles, tone and smooth roughness. Essential fatty acids are called "essential" because our body is not able to produce them, they must be obtained through the diet or through supplementation. Rose Hip Oil is recommended for scarred tissue and this makes our balms a perfect solution for chapped lips.
* The structure of Jojoba Oil closely resembles that of your own skin sebum and is readily absorbed without making the skin feel greasy or tacky nor does it clog the pores.
* Most people know first-hand the soothing relief of aloe vera on minor burns, cuts and bruises. These superb qualities also add desirable effect of our lip balms on chapped lips.
* And the last but not least ingredient is a Vitamin E oil. The benefits of Vitamin E for the overall good health of individuals are substantial. In particular, Vitamin E is very important antioxidant, regulator of Vitamin A and an excellent anti-aging agent that makes skin look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Some running facts

I'm on my last 4 weeks of training and still going strong!  At this point I feel like I know a thing or two about running.  Luckily I also have a great running mentor, who I turn for help from time to time.  He just happens to be our neighbor and Professor of Kinesiology, Health & Sport Studies at Wayne State University. Lucky me!  Makes me feel like I'm in good hands. But as running gets more intense and with many projects at work (I promise to share soon, as some are super exciting!), I have very little time to blog.  So today after my short mid-week 6 mile run I decided to make it short and sweet :) Here it goes:

• first 3 miles are a killer! I just want to stop.  After 20-25 minutes running is like flying;

• shortest runs are the hardest, because I know that the end is near, it's like "are we there yet?";

• I keep my pace better when running on concrete slabs.  Counting slabs and not stepping on cracks helps me stay focused;

• cotton tops, even the tiniest ones, suck!  They make me warm even on a cool day;

• running is not just getting out there in good running shoes.  You have to have a strong body to avoid injuries and to enjoy running;

• more than 7 hours of sleep lead to lazy runs (this doesn't happen often);

• dogs LOVE licking sweaty legs.

There you have it.  Weird but true...at least in my case.

Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous fall!
Till next time,
Liana.

 

My 16 mile run and what I didn't know.

Last weekend was my longest run ever!... this is how I’m going to start most of my posts from now on, because from now on I’m running A LOT.  I ran 16 miles (for some reason, when I hear this number, I think about cars). 

The run was everything I expected it to be – brutal.  After checking the weather a day before, I figured, I can start late since the new day promised to be cool, so I went to bed late.  Not doing it ever again…  I started my morning late, had pancakes for breakfast (not my usual choice), grabbed my 10 oz running bottle, energy gels and drove off to the park.  It was 11am.  The trail was already bustling with bikers, joggers, walkers and runners.  I’ve never been to this trail before and due to my curious nature, I was gawking and gazing at surroundings. 

It was great to be around nature, but, needless to say, I forgot to set my timer, oops.   As I was running mostly in shade and there was some breeze at all times, I didn’t feel hot.  I thought the run was normal, as usual.  What I didn’t take into account is that it was a VERY long run and it must be approached differently from regular runs.  After first five miles I had to swing by local Starbucks to refill my completely empty water bottle.  I had to do that three times.  By the end of the run my bottle had only a couple of sips of warm water in it, and I was still thirsty as hell!  On top of that and as a result of dehydration, I got a pretty bad cramp in my entire left leg, so my last mile I had to jog/walk/limp to finish my distance.  It hurt. It really did, but at that time I had no idea what was happening, why it was happening and how to prevent it.  

I thought I already researched and read everything I could about running and marathon training, but after that miserable mile, I read even more! 

Here are a couple of articles I found very useful:

Hydration Myths

Sodium and Potassium Balance

Muscle Cramps

Long Run Hydration

This weekend I’m running 18 miles in Detroit.  It is a training run on Detroit Free Press Marathon Course.  *gulp* Wish me luck!

In case you just joined me here, or you forgot why I am doing this to myself, here is a link to my motivation!

Till next time,

Liana.

Half marathon mark + natural energy gel recipe

Last weekend was my half way point in training.  That means I ran my longest distance ever - 13.1 miles or half marathon.  Looking back at it, it was not bad, but during my last couple of miles all I could think was “Why, 2 months ago, did I think this was a good idea!?!?!”   Now it’s behind me and I’m pretty amazed with myself.  I would never think my legs and my mind could carry me this far!  

For my route I didn’t do anything special this time, just tried to stick to low elevation and paved neighborhood roads vs. concrete, as I find it much easier on my body.   I did have to hit at least 10 traffic lights and make too many to count turn-arounds, which no doubt affected my pace... 

...but I ran, and that’s all that matters!

Once you start running distances over 10 miles it is recommended to take energy gels every 5-7 miles to help you keep going.   There is an endless selection of energy gels everywhere, but I always feel a little uneasy about “magical” energy boosting mixtures – their ingredient lists make me dizzy.  Plus, I couldn’t find anything with protein in it.  So I decided to make my own, natural energy fuel (big shout out to Pinterest for that).   Here it goes:

• 8 pitted dates soaked in warm water for few hours

• 1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil

• 1 TBS honey or agave syrup

• Sprinkle of sea salt

• 1 TBS chocolate protein powder (some suggest to include protein in addition to carbs, in order to avoid hitting “the wall”) 

• 2 TBS grapefruit juice

It came out perfectly and it tasted pretty good, I must say!   Bonus: I feel safe giving it to my daughter, who has been begging me to have some energy gels for her soccer games.

So that’s where I am at this point and from here, I start running some serious miles!  

Till next time,

Liana.

Must have product: Reveal - Resurfacing Booster. What makes it special?

 It is time to give a big shoutout to our Resurfacing Booster - Reveal. It is a must have item on my list, because it makes my skin firm, smooth, hydrated and supple soft! And I do feel the difference when I do not use it. What’s the secret? It is its main ingredient – DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol). If you haven’t heard about it yet from big name brands, let me shed some light on this miracle component.

DMAE - is a primary alcohol and therefore an organic compound. It is used in skin care products to help treat aging/sagging skin. It is also used in a form of a food supplement to help production of another vital chemical that helps nerve cells to transmit signals. Even though some sources claim that more scientific research is needed to determine true skin care benefits of DMAE, let me tell you based on my own experience, that I saw results and changes with my complexion just few days after I started using Reveal every day!
RESULT: What I noticed was smooth, more elastic and firm skin just after a few days. It was a very obvious change that I know I could not get by any other means like diet, exercise, good night sleep, lots of water or facials. One day it was just there and it never went away. I also notice when I skip Reveal for a day or two. On those days my skin is more fragile, has paper-like, flaky feel and more lines.
I am also sure that other wonderful ingredients that are blended into our booster contribute a good deal to a healthy feel of my skin. Here are few other signature ingredients worth praise:
Extracts of Organic Bilberry, Organic Sugarcane, Organic Sugar Maple, Organic Orange, Organic Lemon, Organic Cranberry – these extracts are full of naturally occurring Alpha Hydroxyl Acids (AHAs) that have been shown to promote younger, smoother looking skin by increasing the rate of skin cell renewal. Just like any fruit acid, these extracts also work as gentle, natural peel that help melt away dead skin and reveal new, younger looking skin beneath.
Hyaluronic Acid - substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. It works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues.
Alpha Lipoic Acid - vitamin-like chemical called an antioxidant. Yeast, liver, kidney, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes are good sources of alpha-lipoic acid. It works by helping prevent certain kinds of cell damage in the body, and also restores vitamin levels such as vitamin E and vitamin C.
CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10 is a substance similar to a vitamin. It is found in every cell of the body. Your body makes CoQ10, and your cells use it to produce energy your body needs for cell growth and maintenance. It also functions as an antioxidant, which protects the body from damage caused by harmful molecules.
Pro-Vitamin A, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C – those are all vital vitamins to help maintain your skin looking radiant and healthy not only outside, but also deep down on cellular level!

How does it feel? 

Reveal Resurfacing Booster has natural slightly off-white color and feels like a thin lotion. It is completely unscented with light aroma of rose water/distillate - its main ingredient.

Purpose: 

Main purpose of this product is to hydrate and moisturize your skin, minimize signs of aging and improve/renew overall complexion.

How to use it: 

After cleansing, apply toner of your choice (read why you shouldn’t skip this step here), then proceed with few pumps of Reveal. If you have dry or normal skin type, I suggest you top off Reveal with a few drops of Glow Facial Serum (my other favorite). TRICK: If you are looking for easier glide and more diluted moisturizer, apply your moisturizer immediately after toner, before toner evaporates from the surface.

Good news to those who have bought Reveal before: we have upgraded our pumps and they pump flawlessly now!

If you are using our Reveal booster now, I would love to hear your feedback.  If you haven't, I hope you give it a chance!

Till next time,
Liana.

Approaching half-way point...

With marathon date getting closer I catch myself thinking about all kinds of “what ifs”. Maybe I am subconsciously looking for an excuse? Just last week I panicked: “What if my passport is expired?” (The marathon crosses the border into Canada). Nope, passport is still up to date. Al of a sudden now, for some reason, running through almost one mile tunnel is really, really bothering me. I think, I may very well be running my fastest mile ever, just to get out of there! Eeek… So, to tune out my little voice I have decided to make a commitment and dedicate this personal challenge to a good cause. You can read up about it here and I hope it will resonate with you. I will be posting more on my training progress. But have no fear, Marmalade Hills blog will not become a running blog! I will try to keep a healthy mix of different topics. This weekend Michigan weather was finally cooperating and I was able to run 10 miles outside.

Nice and cool natural path.

This picture was an oops, but I decided to keep it anyways.  It's kind of cool in a different/informal way. 

We have some really beautiful, natural roads and hills in our area. But I am slowly running out of space. I have no idea what course I am going to take for my half marathon run. Finding a course would be my homework for this week, as well as making my own natural endurance gels. I will let you know how that goes!

Till next time,
Liana.

Summer skin care adjustments

It’s been a while since I wrote a post on Summer Skincare.  Since then, we have added new products and I have discovered my favorites that I can’t imagine my life without anymore.   I think I owe you an updated post.

This summer I am still fighting the same problems: extra oil, sweat and outdoor dust/pollution (nothing new here).  As hot weather moves in many people experience more breakouts due to increased perspiration, increased sebum production and more play-time outdoors.   In plain language: our pores get jam-packed with outdoor dust, sweat and oil (a.k.a. gunk).  That is why we recommend that you bump up usage of deep cleansing masques and daily cleansers.   As always adhere to standard three step routine:  cleanse, tone, moisturize.
Oily Skin:  feel free to wash your face on regular basis with our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash, as often as you wish.  Proceed with Iced Tea or Apple Twist toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe out the dirt, to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.  For oily skin type Sea Kelp Detox is a perfect pair.  In summer we recommend you use masques every 3 – 4 days (depending on your personal needs).  And since you don’t really need that much of your favorite moisturizer in summer, you can try the following:
a) skipping it completely;  b) doubling our nourishing toners as your summer moisturizer (our toners are made with gentle floral waters, conditioning aloe juice and slightly astringent witch hazel.  They should provide enough nourishment on a hot day);  c) use Resurfacing Booster as a light-weight summer moisturizer.
Dry or Mature Skin: use our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash in the morning and before bed.  Proceed with Rose or Lavender toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe off the dirt and to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.   For Dry and Mature type use Strawberry Fig Masque.  Try not to skip deep cleansing masques in summer, as your pores are exposed to extra elements.   And last but not least is your moisturizer.  There are a few things that you can try based on your personal needs and preferences:  a) after using your toner, apply thin layer of Resurfacing Booster all over your face, than treat certain spots (dry areas or deep wrinkles) with Glow Rejuvenating Serum – this is my favorite approach;  b) use Resurfacing Booster on its own as your main moisturizer;  c) use Glow Rejuvenating Serum on its own as your main moisturizer;  d) in any case try adjusting frequency of usage (every day or ever other day) and amounts (apply thin or thick, spread less or more).
Normal and/or Combinational Skin: use our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash in the morning and before bed.  Proceed with Apple Twist or Lavender toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe off dirt and to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.  Normal and Combination skin type people can use either one of our masques except for Sea Kelp Detox, as it has more absorbent clays and is made specifically for oily skin type.  Try not to skip deep cleansing masques in summer, as your pores are exposed to extra elements.   And last but not least is your moisturizer.  There are a few things that you can try based on your personal needs and preferences:  a) after using your toner, apply thin layer of Resurfacing Booster all over your face, then treat certain spots (dry areas or deep wrinkles) with Glow Rejuvenating Serum – this is my favorite approach;  b) use Resurfacing Booster on its own as your main moisturizer;  c) use Glow Rejuvenating Serum on its own as your main moisturizer;  d) in any case try adjusting frequency of usage (every day or ever other day) and amounts (apply thin or thick, spread less or more).

In general, adjust your makeup regimen to the summer climate and your outdoor activities as well. Select powder blushes and eye shadows rather than cream products because they are less irritating and more likely to hold up in hot and humid weather. Use mineral foundations that will double you as SPF protection.  Learn how to apply natural-looking, barely there makeup for those outdoor occasions.
Don’t forget to drink lots of liquids!

Cheers!

Till next time,
Liana.

New project!

I can't believe it's already July!  So much has happened with me and Marmalade Hills.  I promise to fill you in on everything.  We’ve traveled, launched new products, and acquired new accounts and friends!   But what I want to share with you today is one very special project of mine.  I am training for my first ever marathon!   I want to tell you how it all came to be and I hope not to bore you with too many details.  I feel like this experience is worth sharing, as I know it will inspire someone out there.

Here is how my training schedule looks like for the next 4 months:

I started running last spring.  One day I decided: I want a new project, set and break new limits, as well as feel and look good (of course).  I was also curious, what is this “running” trend all about.  Seems like, everyone is running in a race or a marathon, nowadays.   I was a pretty good runner back in my high school days, and this helped with confidence.  I started with jogging and after a few weeks of that, I felt like I wanted more.  After running my first mile I was alright, and that’s when I decided to invest in a new pair of good running shoes.  After a couple of months of occasional running and exercising I felt that I needed more!   And I started a new routine: one day run, one day workout.   You feel like with every workout or run, your body is getting stronger and helping you do that extra set of pushups or crunches.  No wonder I couldn't do more than 10 pushups at first, my body was one big blob of jello!  And then, once my abs, my back and my arms got a little stronger, I felt every muscle helping me get through few more pushups or crunches.  It’s pretty amazing and very rewarding stuff, once you notice some progress.  Just stick to it for couple of months, it will come and you will never be the same, I promise!  Exercise and strong body overall, is extremely important for running.  Why?  Because if your body is strong and can keep a good “form” (in other words support itself), there are less chances for injury, as you do not crash your blob of jello on your ankles and knees every step.  That is why I feel that occasional runners, who run here and there without regular upper body exercise, tend to get more injuries.  Unfortunately, that creates bad PR for running.  If you have been thinking about running, but afraid of injuries check out this article.   Without going into too many technical details and exceptions in one post, I have to leave it at this point and revisit this topic in the future.

Message of today: Need new project?  Buy a new pair of cute running shoes, go jogging and start light workouts, stick to it for two months… dirty dishes and laundry can wait!   

Please forgive me any typos, as my second pair of eyes left on a business trip :)

Till next time,

Liana.

Spa Conference and Expo

Couple of weeks ago I was at a spa conference and expo in Chicago.  Let me tell you, it was pure heaven!  Everything a girl could ask for: a little bit of shopping therapy, tons of demos, free samples and many, many cool beauty products and tools! Oh, and lets not forget about special night out with my hubby in one of the coolest cities in the world!
It was so great to feel the energy, to see some of the most famous movers and shakers of the industry, to pick up a few ideas for my business and to get inspired! Here are a few pictures from the event, hope you like it!

Till next time,
Liana.

What's next?

I had no idea that it will take me more than two weeks to bounce back to my normal pace.  For some reason, I just could not get going this year.  Last year ended with a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and low energy.  Most of it was because of my own fears and doubts.  I know, this may not sound like me, but everyone has their low moments.  We all go through growth spurts or stupors throughout life.  That was my moment and I have a feeling, it is not the last one.

Good news: we have doubled our sales in 2012, brought many new accounts, and worked on even more leads.  It was a great year and it went exactly as I planned and wanted it to go.   Bad news: with growth comes more responsibility and stress.  How can we grow our sales again?  Seems impossible because we already have done SO much!  Is it possible to work even harder, to be even more restless?  How can I lead, compete, innovate and stay on top of everything? If I want to bring help, how do I find people, train them, or organize my day-to-day operations to go smoothly?  All this requires nerves of steel, determination, hard work, inner energy, and optimism.  I know, my worries too shall pass, but I can’t help feeling overwhelmed with the general picture.  Of course, not to say that I was going to sit on my hands and wait for it to pass, ha!  The best way to approach any stupor is to map out a plan and get busy making it happen.  And that’s what I did, and now, I would like to share it with you.  Based on last year’s accomplishments come new needs. (You can take a peek at my personal plan here as well.  It’s pretty simple and there will be a post or two about my progress).

 My business plan for the year still needs a lot of work.  In the next few days it will be massaged into a flow chart of this type:

And then into a monthly/daily tasks chart, that will look like this:

Once the last chart is done, I usually become calmer, more productive, and less nervous about the future.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to finish it!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?  What tricks do you use?  I would love to hear them!  Don't be shy, you may help someone. 

Till next time,

Liana.