Summertime Cleansing with Fresh

I recently got to hang out in my fave neighborhood in NYC Union Square where Fresh made an appearance in a really awesome truck sharing the amazingness that is their number one product Soy Face Cleanser (which I am a huge fan of) The line looped around the block in the dead of the heat but that didn't stop anyone from getting their sample of Soy Face Cleanser, a great beach bag, as well as the lip moisturizer that I also swear by all year round. By mistake I went into the store, I know what you're thinking how'd you do that? I always fall victim to amazing products and wanting to try out everything so I stopped in and trying out their brown sugar body scrub which left my hands and forearms smelling amazing and skin feeling smooth. So of course I had to pick that up and you should to. Here is a chance though to win a 1000 dollar Fresh Shopping Spree. To win check out Fresh on Facebook check out this Fresh Contest Video which explains how you can enter to win. HURRY! CONTEST ENDS TOMORROW! 

                   
                                Fresh Facebook Campaign from kelly loudenberg on Vimeo.

Here are some pictures of my time at the Fresh Truck

REVIEW: Merlot Natural Grape Seed Skin Care

I've been on a crusade lately to get my family and friends who believe whole heartedly that "Black don't crack" to realize that it does and it will, if you're not caring for it with the right products. Everyone needs to understand that while there are some expensive skincare products there are inexpensively priced ones that don't skimp on the goodness. I've come across some really great skincare that not only cleanse, and moisturize but also provides treatment such as skin tone repair, anti wrinkle, and some protection from the sun.

  Merlot Natural Grape Seed Skin Care was first introduced to me at the HBA Expo 2 weeks ago and I was very impressed. Out of their line of seventeen products I've used three that have been proving themselves quite nicely if you ask me. 

 The cleanser which is soap free doesn't leave my skin greasy, gentle enough around my eyes and leaves my skin feeling not dry.

I'm not a huge fan of body scrubs because I hate feeling as if I just lathered on body oil in the shower. But after  using Merlot's Microdermabrasion Body Scrub I didn't have to take another shower with my normal shower gel because my skin felt clean and soft. 

In this hot blazing summer that we've been having thus far my desire to put on makeup has certainly took a downturn mostly because I produce more oil in the summer and have to slather on SPF more than any other season. What's awesome about this moisturizer is that one it contains SPF, two it is moisturizing and three it delivers on its promise as being non-oily. No joke I'm impressed and amazed that I can have a facial moisturizer be moisturizing and non-oily at the same time. This right here is a MUST HAVE! 

PROS:

Moisturizer

• ANTI-AGING 
• SPF 15 
• FRAGRANCE FREE
• NON-OILY

Cleanser

• SOAP FREE
• REMOVES IMPURITIES

Body Scrub

• HELPS FADE SCARRING
• MINIMIZES AGE SPOTS
• EVENS OUT SKIN TONE
• SMOOTHER & FIRMER SKIN

(with continued and consistent use of course) 

Ladies and gentleman alike I'm so very much in love with what I've tried so far that I'm giving Merlot Natural Grape Seed Skin Care a stamp of GO GET IT RIGHT NOW Miss Merli approval. I would recommend this for All Skin Types.  The face cleanser retails for 15.00, the moisturizer 15.00 and the body scrub 15.00... but guess what? Unbeknownst to me the entire site is on sale so you can get all of their products HALF OFF! So I'm going to get my eye cream and exfoliating scrub to round out my facial routine. HURRY! The sales ends July 4th and its online only! 

*Product was provided for review purposes*

Miss Merli's 50,000 Thank You's Giveaway

Hey Beautiful People,

      50,000 views later and Miss Merli In NYC is still going strong. There have been some hiccups along the way but never the less you're still hanging on every word and viewing every picture and for that I'm so very glad and in debted to all of you. So how do I thank the very best readers in the world... With a GIVEAWAY! This time around I want to share with you a line of skincare that I love to love called Me & The Girls. 

Me and the Girls created by Sharon Hackney, offer superior moisture-rich organic skin care products for women and men of all ages who DREAM of beautifully radiant, ageless skin. It is no wonder Sharon who is 40+ years of age doesn't look a day over 30. 

Daily I search for the very best products to heal skin ailments that I have and to preserve my skin. I think I hit a jackpot here with Sharon's Me & The Girls line of skincare and I want to share that with  you guys. 

Enter below and share with others From June 26th-June 29th Daily I will be choosing one lucky reader and announcing via Facebook and Twitter .   

 The Contest Rules are the following:

1. You Must Follow Me & The Girls on Facebook and post on their wall I Heart M&TG leave your name along with the wall post (Mandatory)

2. Follow OrganicSkinChic on Twitter

3. Tweet the Following: Enter @MissMerli 's 50,000 Thank You's Giveaway for a chance to win a Foot Scrub and Pedicure Toll Set from @OrganicSkinChic

4. Leave a Comment in the Post leaving your Name, twitter handle and email address so you may be contacted if you're the winner5. For an extra entry leave a comment below saying what you'd like to see more of on Miss Merli in NYC.

*Note* If you don't follow the rules you won't be in the running please make sure you follow all the rules!  Thank you :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summertime Skin Care

For someone who deals with serious ezcema issues in the summer, I take great care to not just put anything on my skin. It's necessary for me to find products that not only take care of the discomfort but also protect my skin from other issues that can be brought on by exposure to the sun and other elements. Here are some of the skincare products that are essential to your summer routine

· Repêchage Travel Size Eye Rescue Pads with cooling relief for tired eyes. Made with green and black teas, cucumber, and chamomile these ingredients are rich in natural anti-oxidant. These natural infusions combined with moisture replenishing, anti-aging powers of seaweed make Repêchage Eye Rescue Pads the ultimate "10 minute vacation” for eyes. ($9 repechage.com)

   

  Travel Size Algo Mist- Hydrating Seaweed Facial Spray for moisturizing and pH balance. A unique combination of seaweed concentrate, Vitamin C and Gingko Biloba extract to help eliminate the appearance of fine lines and tired skin due to dryness, air travel, sun or exposure to cold. ($15 repechage.com)

 
Naila MD CALM Cleansing Gelee a gentle, non-drying deep cleanser with algae extract to firm, invigorate and add moisture to the skin. ($29.95 shop.nailamd.com)

What's Makeup If Your Skin is Bad?

Dr. Naila Malik a top dermatologist in the field gives us some great tips specific your skin type and lets us know why Exfoliation is necessary. It is my opinion as an artist that makeup is not to cover problems its purpose is to accentuate your beautiful features.  So skincare to me is the most important thing to me. Let Dr. Malik school you.

Exfoliation helps keep the skin surface free of debris and oils, increases skin surface circulation and improves skin texture, pore size, surface irregularities, discoloration and even fine lines—but did you ever think to customize your exfoliation based on your skin type?

 Dry | Both gentle mechanical exfoliation with a sonic brush and low dose AHA's or BHA's are good options. By removing the dead cells and debris, your moisturizer will go on smoother for more effective skin hydration. Stick with the gentle brush and low strength AHA's or BHA's. 

Sensitive | Gentle mechanical exfoliation works well for most people with sensitive skin. It takes away the risk of potential allergy with any chemical method, although extremely sensitive skin can get irritated even with the gentlest touch. The Clarisonic brush is good for sensitive skin, which provides gentle exfoliation and has been tolerated by most patients with sensitive skin when used 1-3 times a week. Be careful to examine the skin's response to determine the frequency of use.

Enzyme peels with fruit acids (Dr. Malik uses pumpkin peel for some of her sensitive skin patients) as ot work well for most people with sensitive skin.

Oily/Acne-prone | Oily skin with occasional breakouts or non-inflammatory acne can be exfoliated both mechanically and chemically with AHA's or BHA's. Treat skin with acne like sensitive skin, over stimulation with chemical or mechanical exfoliation can exacerbate inflammatory acne.

Normal | Regular exfoliation with mechanical brush cleansing 2-3 times a week and occasional exfoliation with AHA's once every 4-6 weeks works best for normal skin.

A great cleaner that I personally love is Naila MD Ageless AHA Cleanser here is some more information about it

Product Recommendation | Naila MD AGELESS AHA Cleanser (shop.nailamd.com) with glycolic acid to dissolve dirt and excess oils, refines pores and improves texture of skin. Ingredients like aloe and green tea extract calm skin, while the exclusive Cellular Repair 

Complex restores the skin's natural glow.

Baby It's Cold Outside: How You Moisturizing and Cleansing?

Hello Beautiful People,

       Would you believe that October 29th brought us our first snowstorm  of the season... Did the fall autumn leaves even fall yet? Crazy right? Well I thought to myself I have to now go through the process of pulling sweaters, coats, boots and everything warm and "sniff sniff" put the summer clothes away. Even some of my facial routine changes but two things that don't change for me is my Amande Pomme Compote Exfoliante Sweet Peel (FacialScrub) and Pure Shea Butter by L' Occitane, which just happens to be from my favorite place in the world France! I first discovered both items while studying abroad and made my stop in Paris. I walked into L'Occitane En Provence after being diagnosed with Eczema which is triggered by the sun and had to fully revaluate my beauty routine. I told the sales person what I needed and without hesitation she pulled the Shea Butter, which was amazing! Not only would it be good for my skin but it began targeting the rough spots on my body like my elbows, feet, and knees. She also said that I could use it on my face where I had been burned (Hyères sun wreaked havoc on me). She also show me the facial scrub and I was in love with the smell, the texture as well as how it made my face feel after using it. I hated so many other scrubs because either they were too harsh, or two creamy and left my skin feeling dirty and greasy still. With the Sweet Peel I get so many great benefits, from anti-aging skincare, tightened pores and the smell is simply yummy. (I love great smelling things What!). So now as we change seasons I reminisce on the wonderful Provencal Summer of 2008 and my silky skin thanks to these two amazing pieces in my beauty regime. Trust me if you have any skin ailments like I do or have sensitive skin this is what you need in your life.