Sebastian Signs Review and Giveaway

Prizes: 5 lucky winners will receive the Purusa Dream Extract (a $28 value) from Sebastian Signs.

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Getting a good night's rest is the most powerful and preventive medicine. Not only it is essential for one's health, but it also nature's best beauty treatment.

Here are some of the reasons why:

Your body produces the most human growth hormone during the first three hours, which is beneficial for skin and hair repair. Melatonin, a hormone that is also a skin-protecting antioxidant, increases during the middle of sleep. Your skin's temperature reaches its lowest point and your muscles relax, giving skin its deepest recovery during the last three hours of sleep.

Many of us have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, though. While prescription sleeping pills might lull you into a blissful slumber, using them regularly can cause death or develop certain types of cancer, research suggests. This is why more and more are turning to a natural alternative. The latest to hit the shelves are pillow sprays.

Purusa Dream Extract ($28) contains soothing ingredients that can whisk you away to dreamland - Sandalwood, organic Clary Sage, and Bergamot. The scent is strikingly reminiscent of lavender, which is another soothing ingredient that is ideal for insomnia.

Just mist your pillows and sheets and let the scent lull you into dreamland.

I received their Goat Milk Soap in No. 17 and No. 35 ($7 for each; also available in No. 44 Sage and Lavender), which are luxurious hand crafted soaps that are free of detergents and other harsh chemicals. I love both, but my favorite is the No. 17. It has hints of dark chocolate, sandalwood, and vanilla that makes this soap irresistible and unique. The No. 35 has more of a floral scent is gorgeous and earthy - bergamot, coriander, Bulgarian rose absolute, and French jasmine. Most importantly, these soaps leave the skin feeling well pampered and moisturized.

I also received their Perfume Oil in No. 17 and No. 35 ($50 for each; also available in No. 44), the same scents as the hand-crafted soaps. Again, I love both! Also, I wear both regularly. However, No. 17 remains as my top favorite.

No. 17 contains top notes of dark chocolate that will dissipate after 20 minutes, leaving you with an intoxicating veil of sandalwood and vanilla absolute. You might also be able to detect a hint of evocative of Nag Champa incense.

No. 35 has top notes of bergamot, coriander, and fresh green notes. A body with sensual florals such as Bulgarian rose absolute and French jasmine, with a beautiful dry down of white woods, ambers and a hint of vanilla bean.

Disclosure: The product(s) in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.

The giveaway will conclude on March 15th.

Beauty Box 5

Once a month, receive the beauty box from Beauty Box 5 ($12 - $100) with 4-5 samples delivered directly to your door. Your beauty box will contain products to include makeup, skin care, hair care, fragrances and a few other surprises!

Learn more about your samples directly on their site! How-to’s and beauty tips and tricks will be available right at your fingertips.

Hair Styles for Valentine's Day

Here are top date night styles hair tips from Nicholas Penna, Jr., owner and lead stylist at Salon Capri in Newton and Dedham.

Sock Bun (Also Known as the Ballerina Bun)

This styling trick plays up the volume of thin and fine hair types for ample up-dos.

· Start by blow-drying hair with a natural bristle brush.

· Once hair is dry, apply a dime-sized drop of smoothing serum to the shafts and ends of hair. Nick recommends Shu Uemura’s Silk Mesh for added shine and softness.

· Using a fine-tooth comb to smooth out bumps, slick hair back into a high ponytail at the crown of your head and secure it with an elastic.

· Cut off the end of a clean, unwanted sock (where your toes would be), and roll it up into a donut shape.

· Place the sock around the base of the ponytail so that it is tight against your head.

· Tilt your head slightly forward and spread your ponytail evenly around the sock so that half of your hair is toward the top of the sock, pointing toward your forehead, and half is at the bottom, pointing toward your back.

· Use a second hair elastic to wrap and secure hair around the outside of the sock, creating a ballerina-bun at the crown of your head.

· Twist remaining hair in one direction and use bobby pins to tuck and clip the ends underneath your bun.

· Finish with a light application of hairspray. Nick swears by Shu Uemura’s Sheer Lacquer.

Sleek, ‘Wet-Inspired’ Hair

This look relies on styling products to create a slicked-back, wet appearance.

· Start by combing through wet hair with a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles.

· Add a walnut-size dollop of styling balm to the top half of wet, tangle-free hair.

· Brush your hair towards the back of your head with a fine-tooth comb and secure it tightly with an elastic.

· Twist hair gently (Nick recommends one full turn for medium to long hair), and wrap it into around the base of the ponytail to create a round bun.

· Use bobby pins to secure the end of your ponytail and tame fly-aways.

· Run a fine-tooth comb through the top of your hair up to the bun to smooth over any bumps.

· Finish with a generous amount of an extra-hold hairspray. Nick loves Shu Uemura’s Sheer Laquer.

Bouncy, Volumized Hair

A modern take on “pageant hair”; full, voluminous hair is an easy way to add sex appeal to your style.

· Start with a classic blow-dry using a round, natural bristle brush and a palm-full of volumizing mousse. Nick recommends Shu Uemura’s Fiber Lift.

· Once hair is dry, add volume to the top of the head by teasing the hair using a hairspray and a round brush.

· After the desired volume is achieved, curl hair away from the face from end to root with a large barrel curling iron. Nick uses a two-inch barrel to achieve big, bouncy curls.

· Using a dime-sized drop of smoothing serum, rub your hands together and gently run your fingers through the curls to separate them. Shu Uemura’s Silk Mesh is Nick’s favorite. · Finish the look with light hair spray and you’re red carpet ready!

Smooth and Sleek Hair with a Center Part

While voluminous hair is hot this season, so is sleek and straight. Center parts are making a comeback!

· Start by parting wet hair directly in the center of your head using the edge of a fine-toothed comb.

· Dry hair with the nozzle attachment of your blow-dryer, and a natural bristle brush, pulling hair and the dryer downward to smooth out hair.

· Apply a pea-sized drop of smoothing serum from the shafts to the ends of your hair. Nick recommends Shu Uemura’s Silk Mesh.

· Run a straightening iron through your ends to straighten out any waves and voila, you have a classic look for day or night!

Lavanila’s Vanilla Passion Fruit Review

Lavanila’s Vanilla Passion Fruit scent is infused with natural aphrodisiacs! This fragrance is a crisp, tropical explosion of Passion Fruit, Guava and Peach Nectar steeped in warm base of Sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla. Created by master natural perfumers and backed by research, this love-attracting scent is uniquely infused with a romantic blend of powerful aphrodisiacs valued for their seductive properties. The collection includes The Healthy Fragrance ($39 - $58), Healthy Roller Ball ($19), 2-in-1 Shower and Shave ($14), and Body Butter ($20). Lavanila products can be purchased at Sephora retail stores, Sephora.com, and Lavanila.com.

The Healthy Fragrance - Vanilla Passion Fruit is a delightfully succulent fragrance that perfectly captures the essence of a tropical vacation without the expense and travel. It's coyly sexy, feminine, and sophisticated. It is perfect to wear on a romantic date or simply a scent that will get him to notice you without appearing overzealous.

Blue Lotus, Clary Sage, and Juniper Berry are included in the botanical fragrance blend. These ingredients are known to attract love and rekindle passion, and there are studies that even back this up! Blue Lotus is extracted from the Egyptian Blue Lotus Flower. It promotes balance between the mind, body, and soul. Clary Sage acts as an estrogen balancer for women. It can either imitate or stimulate a sexual hormone or mimic a human sexual odor. Juniper Berry is the sauciest of them all. The warm and feisty aroma creates a sensation of heat, which increases the chemicals that lead to sexual attraction.

The Healthy Body Wash 2-in-1 Shower & Shave Vanilla Passion Fruit doesn't only gently cleanses the skin, but it also provides a soft, silky shaving experience! I prefer using this over most shaving creams since they clog up razors easily. Plus, it doesn't contain the sulfates and other harsh ingredients that traditional washes and shaving products have. It provides a healthy dose of anti-oxidants and vitamins that will promote soft, touchable, and healthy skin.

The product(s) in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.