About a month or so ago, I decided to try out Melaleuca's skincare line. I had finally run out of my Boscia products, so it was time to make the switch or continue with what I was already happy with.
Boscia is a preservative-free skincare line that uses amino acids to cleanse the skin without stripping. I discovered it a few months before I became pregnant with Ethan, and continued using it throughout my pregnancy with fantastic results. I never had the typical problems skin problems that plague most pregnant women. The ONLY problem I ran into was the price tag. A 5oz bottle of the cleansing gel runs $26, add $24 for the balancing tonic and $36 for the moisturizer (that's if you opt to go with just one for both day & night, instead of $36 each for two different ones); that leaves a total of $86 for my facial regiment before taxes. I would spend this amount roughly every other month, so that's over $500 a year in skincare products (plus, I would occasionally splurge in a mask or polish). That's a lot of money, so I figured I would give Sei Bella a try. Worst case scenario, I would go back to the high prices of Boscia.
I ordered the Sei Bella Necessities Skin Care line. It came with three full-sized products for $45 - that's almost HALF as much as I was spending on Boscia (plus the sizes of Sei Bella's products are larger)! They also sell a five product set that runs $75, which is still an $11 savings compared to the three products I was buying. I have combination skin, so I chose the Refining cleanser, Hydrating toner and Daytime Delivery lotion. The first thing I noticed was that all of the products smelled fantastic! They had a spa-like quality that I loved. The facial cleanser did a great job of cleaning the make-up from my skin. But, what I REALLY liked was that it cleaned my eye make-up off gently. I had run out of my eye make-up remover, so I put the smallest dab of the cleanser on my fingertips, gently applied to my eye area and rinsed. I use a water resistant mascara, and I have never had a facial cleanser that removed it like that - no scrubbing or rubbing. (I have since ordered the Sei Bella eye make-up remover, and love it!) The toner felt as nice as Boscia, but smelled better. The lotion felt luxurious - fairly different from Boscia. I was concerned that I might break out or that my skin might not react favorably over the course of some time, but after a solid month, my skin still looks and feel great. I feel like my make-up wears better over the Sei Bella lotion, too. Speaking of make-up, I recently started trying out the Sei Bella liquid foundation (but that's for a different review!).
CONCLUSION:
I am absolutely in love with this skincare line! It has treated my skin very well, and my pocketbook even better. I will continue to buy these products and rave about them! :)
To see how toxic your skincare and make-up products are, check out: www.ewg.org/skindeep
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Mommy is Making Money, again!
So, I received my 2nd check with Melaleuca. It was not as nice as the first one, but that is because I didn't do much in April. My 9-5 job has kept me stressed out and very busy. I signed up my Mom, and that was it. So, my check was $32.12. But, that is $32.12 that I didn't have before!
I am also taking a new approach with my Melaleuca business. In first couple of months, I got to know the company. I tried out a variety of products (as I plan to continue), and have slowly been converting my home as I run out of the traditional products I have been using. I have introduced some of my friends and family to Melaleuca, and some have taken the plunge with me. Now that Melaleuca is no secret, I have decided to hit the business road. I would love for anyone who is interested to join me. If you think you even MIGHT be interested in changing your home for the better, let me know. There is zero risk and I will be with you throughout the journey. My original goal was to make my home a healthier environment for my family, and maybe make a few bucks on the side. Now, I want to grow a business. It's going to take a lot of work, but I have an amazing team. Every "sign" in my life is pointing in this direction.
My job is stressful. I put in long hours, without much reward. Sound familiar? I am so very grateful for my job, don't get me wrong. It pays the bills and allows my family to live comfortably. However, now that we have Ethan, I have started thinking more about my long-term goals. Do I want to work in HR for the rest of my life? Do I want to go back to school? Do I want to take some time off to stay home with my family, or go part-time? So many questions... My life is so consumed by work and trying to squeeze in a healthy home life that I haven't had time to stop and even think about the answers. And, then I realized that that is the answer. My life is passing by at such a rapid speed that I can't keep up. Ethan's infancy has disappeared, and I can't get it back. He will be a toddler soon, and then we'll be on to planning our next child in a year. My quality of life has to change. That is what I am looking to do with Melaleuca. I want to have options, and still provide for my family. If this is something you might be interested in, I encourage you to join me. As I said before, I am part of an amazing team and I am excited to see where this open door takes me.
To be continued... :)
I am also taking a new approach with my Melaleuca business. In first couple of months, I got to know the company. I tried out a variety of products (as I plan to continue), and have slowly been converting my home as I run out of the traditional products I have been using. I have introduced some of my friends and family to Melaleuca, and some have taken the plunge with me. Now that Melaleuca is no secret, I have decided to hit the business road. I would love for anyone who is interested to join me. If you think you even MIGHT be interested in changing your home for the better, let me know. There is zero risk and I will be with you throughout the journey. My original goal was to make my home a healthier environment for my family, and maybe make a few bucks on the side. Now, I want to grow a business. It's going to take a lot of work, but I have an amazing team. Every "sign" in my life is pointing in this direction.
My job is stressful. I put in long hours, without much reward. Sound familiar? I am so very grateful for my job, don't get me wrong. It pays the bills and allows my family to live comfortably. However, now that we have Ethan, I have started thinking more about my long-term goals. Do I want to work in HR for the rest of my life? Do I want to go back to school? Do I want to take some time off to stay home with my family, or go part-time? So many questions... My life is so consumed by work and trying to squeeze in a healthy home life that I haven't had time to stop and even think about the answers. And, then I realized that that is the answer. My life is passing by at such a rapid speed that I can't keep up. Ethan's infancy has disappeared, and I can't get it back. He will be a toddler soon, and then we'll be on to planning our next child in a year. My quality of life has to change. That is what I am looking to do with Melaleuca. I want to have options, and still provide for my family. If this is something you might be interested in, I encourage you to join me. As I said before, I am part of an amazing team and I am excited to see where this open door takes me.
To be continued... :)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Other (nonMelaleuca) Homemade Concoctions
I have to brag about my other homemade concoctions & remedies. Not everything I am doing to be more natural is a "product" of Melaleuca. While I am being very conscious of buying items that are environmentally friendly, made in America, and better for my family; I am also making as much as possible myself.
Most people who know me know that I make my son's food myself. I am not interested in purchasing baby food from the store shelves, regardless of how "safe" it is (even if Melaleuca sold baby food, I would still make my own). I also cloth diaper my little guy - SO MUCH cheaper than disposable diapers, better for the environment, and seriously cute! Michael calls them "Ethan's sumo wrestler undies".
I recently discovered making my own cooking spray. Use one part oil and about five parts water in a spray bottle (I got mine for $1 at Target). I use EVOO or pecan oil, but you could use whatever your favorite oil is (organic, of course). When you want to use it, just give it a couple of shakes and you're ready! No need to use Pam or Great Value with all of their preservatives!
Another fantastic, versatile product is coconut oil. Use it in place of EVOO for a healthy, different flavor while you're cooking (UH-mazing with fish). And, it is a fabulous moisturizer for your skin. That's right! Rub coconut oil on your knees, elbows, everywhere! It's also safe for use on baby. I love that Ethan and I always smell like summer. I recommend using it right before you crawl into bed every night. My skin has completely transformed from using coconut oil in addition to Melaleuca's Renew lotion. My feet have NEVER been this soft.
Clean hard water stains from your shower with lemons! Obviously, you could also use Melaleuca's UH-MAZING Tub & Tile. You know, the stuff that took a 5 year old stain off of my shower wall.
Vinegar is also a fantastic cleaning agent, especially when mixed with baking soda. However, if you don't like the idea of your house smelling like vinegar, Melaleuca offers some wonderful solutions to clean your home in a "green" but affordable fashion.
There are so many easy and simple ways to make your home a better place for your family. I will continue to make posts about other homemade concoctions as I come across them. Feel free to email me yours! Kristen.Hathcox@gmail.com
Most people who know me know that I make my son's food myself. I am not interested in purchasing baby food from the store shelves, regardless of how "safe" it is (even if Melaleuca sold baby food, I would still make my own). I also cloth diaper my little guy - SO MUCH cheaper than disposable diapers, better for the environment, and seriously cute! Michael calls them "Ethan's sumo wrestler undies".
I recently discovered making my own cooking spray. Use one part oil and about five parts water in a spray bottle (I got mine for $1 at Target). I use EVOO or pecan oil, but you could use whatever your favorite oil is (organic, of course). When you want to use it, just give it a couple of shakes and you're ready! No need to use Pam or Great Value with all of their preservatives!
Another fantastic, versatile product is coconut oil. Use it in place of EVOO for a healthy, different flavor while you're cooking (UH-mazing with fish). And, it is a fabulous moisturizer for your skin. That's right! Rub coconut oil on your knees, elbows, everywhere! It's also safe for use on baby. I love that Ethan and I always smell like summer. I recommend using it right before you crawl into bed every night. My skin has completely transformed from using coconut oil in addition to Melaleuca's Renew lotion. My feet have NEVER been this soft.
Vinegar is also a fantastic cleaning agent, especially when mixed with baking soda. However, if you don't like the idea of your house smelling like vinegar, Melaleuca offers some wonderful solutions to clean your home in a "green" but affordable fashion.
There are so many easy and simple ways to make your home a better place for your family. I will continue to make posts about other homemade concoctions as I come across them. Feel free to email me yours! Kristen.Hathcox@gmail.com
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Month 3 - Price Comparison
April went a little differently. I picked up some items I needed, and decided to try more of the vitamin line. Let me add a little disclaimer... I have never been good about taking vitamins. I buy them and then forget about them for the most part. This is because I gag on them, and then they make me feel like crap. After testing out the Vitality 4 packs in my Value Pack from the first month I joined Melaleuca, I was shocked at how well the went down and how well I felt on them. So, since I could elect to receive the multivitamin and calcium for free this month, I decided to try their fish oil and a couple of other items. I love how I feel on them, and will continue to order. I added in what I have tried out before in my price comparison. I may not have necessarily bought vitamins this month, but I am extremely happy with Melaleuca's line.
So here is my breakdown for April:
I feel like I should also mention a few other things. The Renew lotion is comparable to Eucerin, which would be closer to $25 for 20oz. However, I was previously using Bath & Body Works, so that is what I put the price up against. With regards to the fiber, there are 114 servings in the Metamucil container, but it would take FOUR servings to meet the amount of fiber in one serving of FiberWise. The Fiber One bars only have 5g of fiber, where the FiberWise bars have 6g or 9g of fiber (depending on the bar). Also, I didn't need toothpaste at the moment, but they had a sale going on. It's not like I won't need toothpaste again in the near future! ;) And, I ordered the reusable pumps for my clothing softener and brightener since they are so much more convenient than the caps.
Even though I am showing savings in the form of dollars, there is also a savings in quality. Melaleuca offers Whole Foods quality at Walmart prices. You have a better chance of scoring a trip to the moon than convincing me that Power Crunch or any other exercise bar is better than my Access bar. And, the fact that I would need FOUR servings of Metamucil to equal ONE serving of FiberWise? Metamucil tastes like crap, too. There are so many fillers and dyes mixed in with the products that you buy in conventional stores. It is a sad truth. But, I'll step down from my soap box and let the above numbers do the talking here. :)
Next up! Home remedies and concoctions that anyone could do right now, with or without Melaleuca in their homes!
So here is my breakdown for April:
| MELALEUCA PRODUCT | PC PRICE | WHAT WE PAID | PRICE | WHAT WE WOULD'VE BOUGHT |
| EcoSense Laundry Reusable Pump (x2) | $3.98 |
$3.98
|
$0.00 | n/a |
| Tooth Polish BOGO |
$7.78
|
|||
| CoolMint w/Flouride | $3.89 |
n/a
|
$6.96 | Arm & Hammer PeroxiCare (2-pack) |
| Fresh Mint |
$3.89
|
n/a
|
$6.96
|
Arm & Hammer PeroxiCare (2-pack) |
| CoolMint w/Flouride |
$3.89
|
n/a
|
||
| Fresh Mint | $3.89 |
n/a
|
||
| Vitality Pack w/Oligo - Women |
$19.99
|
$0.00
|
$19.58 | GNC Womens Ultra Mega Active ($13.33)* & Calcium ($6.25)* |
| CellWise (antioxidant supplement) | $15.99 |
$15.99
|
$29.99 | GNC Cellular Antioxidant Defense |
| Luminex (St. John's Wort supplement) | $17.94 |
$17.94
|
$13.33 | NOW Mood Support w/St. John's Wort* |
| Vitality Coldwater Omega-3 (fish oil) | $14.99 |
$14.99
|
$25.95 | Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil |
| Access Exercise Bars (Choc. Coconut Kraze) | $14.99 |
$13.99
|
$20.90 | Power Crunch - Vanilla |
| Renew Skin Therapy - Value Size | $15.99 |
$15.99
|
$15.00 | Bath & Body Works Body Cream (see formula below) |
| Body Satin Body Polish | $7.69 |
$7.69
|
$10.00 | B&BW True Blue Body Buff (divided to equal amount) |
| Attain Strawberry Shake (x2) | $29.98 |
$29.98
|
$70.00 | Lean 1 - Strawberry (x2 from Amazon) |
| FiberWise Drink - Peach | $20.99 |
$20.99
|
$12.84 | Metamucil Fiber Supplement - Orange |
| FiberWise Breakfast Bars Pantry 2-pack |
$18.15
|
$18.15
|
$9.96
|
Fiber One bars - 2 pack |
| Florify (x2) | $27.58 |
$27.58
|
$59.98 | GNC Ultra Probiotic Complex 25 (x2) |
| Subtotal | $195.05 | $301.45 | ||
| Shipping & Handling | $15.49 |
n/a
|
||
| Sales Tax | $17.55 | $27.13 | ||
| TOTAL | $228.09 | $328.58 | ||
| TOTAL SAVED THIS SHOPPING TRIP: $100.49 | ||||
| * Calculated out to equal cost for a month's supply | ||||
| B&BW Formula = Buy 3, Get 2 free, plus 20% off (max sale price I could get) = $30 for 40oz total of lotion | ||||
I feel like I should also mention a few other things. The Renew lotion is comparable to Eucerin, which would be closer to $25 for 20oz. However, I was previously using Bath & Body Works, so that is what I put the price up against. With regards to the fiber, there are 114 servings in the Metamucil container, but it would take FOUR servings to meet the amount of fiber in one serving of FiberWise. The Fiber One bars only have 5g of fiber, where the FiberWise bars have 6g or 9g of fiber (depending on the bar). Also, I didn't need toothpaste at the moment, but they had a sale going on. It's not like I won't need toothpaste again in the near future! ;) And, I ordered the reusable pumps for my clothing softener and brightener since they are so much more convenient than the caps.
Even though I am showing savings in the form of dollars, there is also a savings in quality. Melaleuca offers Whole Foods quality at Walmart prices. You have a better chance of scoring a trip to the moon than convincing me that Power Crunch or any other exercise bar is better than my Access bar. And, the fact that I would need FOUR servings of Metamucil to equal ONE serving of FiberWise? Metamucil tastes like crap, too. There are so many fillers and dyes mixed in with the products that you buy in conventional stores. It is a sad truth. But, I'll step down from my soap box and let the above numbers do the talking here. :)
Next up! Home remedies and concoctions that anyone could do right now, with or without Melaleuca in their homes!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Smart Shopping
We all want to be smart shoppers. From watching the sale ads to clipping coupons, there are plenty of ways for us to get the items we need and save a few bucks in the process. I definitely watch for sales, and I've done a little coupon clipping. But, I always end up feeling like I put in more effort than what I save. PLUS, I always end up leaving the store with more than I went in for. Since joining Melaleuca, I have become a better shopper without even trying! And, I would like to share the 2 biggest reasons:
1. Obviously, I am going to Walmart and Target less than before (for Walmart, it has been non-existent so far, minus one time that Michael went in a rush for *GASP!* produce. He has since learned to not make that mistake again!). This has saved me from impulse shopping.
2. I am adding items to my Melaleuca basket as I go, the month before my order.
Let me explain... I make my orders based on what I need. As I go through each month, I start adding items to my basket that I anticipate I will be needing soon. I also add items that I would like to start trying or switch to from what I currently use. For example, I noticed today that I will be needing antiperspirant next month, so I logged in and added it to my basket. In about 2 months, I will need to decide if I want to try Melaleuca's Sei Bella line of skincare, or stick with what I have been using for over a year now. I added it to my basket knowing that I might not need it next month, but to keep it in the forefront of my mind. When it comes time to place my order next month, I will add anything else I need at that time and review. I may decide that I don't need items that I thought I did, or I may not have run out of whatever I thought. Either way, I can use that opportunity to really evaluate what my household needs and adjust my order accordingly. When I shop at Walmart or Target, if the item makes it into the basket, there is a 99% chance it won't get removed prior to checkout. Since I am usually trying to get in and out as quickly as possible, I never really took the time to evaluate what I was buying - was the the best quality, biggest bang for my buck, did I REALLY need it?
By shopping this way, I have not only saved money, but I have freed up some to purchase better perishable items for my family. I have been making Ethan's food, and it is very important to me to buy local & organic whenever possible. This has allowed me to be able to afford to do that, and put the best possible food on the table for my family.
I am currently working on my next money saving post from my April order, so stay tuned!
1. Obviously, I am going to Walmart and Target less than before (for Walmart, it has been non-existent so far, minus one time that Michael went in a rush for *GASP!* produce. He has since learned to not make that mistake again!). This has saved me from impulse shopping.
2. I am adding items to my Melaleuca basket as I go, the month before my order.
Let me explain... I make my orders based on what I need. As I go through each month, I start adding items to my basket that I anticipate I will be needing soon. I also add items that I would like to start trying or switch to from what I currently use. For example, I noticed today that I will be needing antiperspirant next month, so I logged in and added it to my basket. In about 2 months, I will need to decide if I want to try Melaleuca's Sei Bella line of skincare, or stick with what I have been using for over a year now. I added it to my basket knowing that I might not need it next month, but to keep it in the forefront of my mind. When it comes time to place my order next month, I will add anything else I need at that time and review. I may decide that I don't need items that I thought I did, or I may not have run out of whatever I thought. Either way, I can use that opportunity to really evaluate what my household needs and adjust my order accordingly. When I shop at Walmart or Target, if the item makes it into the basket, there is a 99% chance it won't get removed prior to checkout. Since I am usually trying to get in and out as quickly as possible, I never really took the time to evaluate what I was buying - was the the best quality, biggest bang for my buck, did I REALLY need it?
By shopping this way, I have not only saved money, but I have freed up some to purchase better perishable items for my family. I have been making Ethan's food, and it is very important to me to buy local & organic whenever possible. This has allowed me to be able to afford to do that, and put the best possible food on the table for my family.
I am currently working on my next money saving post from my April order, so stay tuned!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
REVIEW: ProFlex20™ Shake – Classic Vanilla
| GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified 100% Whey Protein-Vanilla | Melaleuca ProFlex20™ Shake – Classic Vanilla | GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified 100% Whey Protein-Vanilla | |
| PRICE | ~ $40 (Amazon) | $16.99 (Melaleuca) | ~ $40 (Amazon) |
| PRICE per gram* | $0.030/gram | $0.037/gram | $0.030/gram |
| Serving Size | 3 scoops (79g) | 2 scoops (31g) | 2 scoops (52.67g) |
| Servings per container | 17 | 15 | 25.5 |
| Calories | 280 | 150 | 186.67 |
| Calories from Fat | 10 | 40 | 6.67 |
| Total Fat | 1g | 4.5g | <1g |
| Sat. Fat | 0.5g | 1g | <0.5g |
| Trans Fat | n/a | 0g | n/a |
| Cholesterol | 20mg | 10mg | 13.33mg |
| Total Carbs | 7g | 11g | 4.67g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 5g | <1g |
| Sugars | 2g | 2g | 1.33g |
| Protein | 60g | 20g | 40g |
| Sodium | 350mg | 75mg | 233.33mg |
| * More accurate price breakdown since the serving sizes are not exactly the same. | |||
The first row is from the Wheybolic label, while the 3rd row shows how I use the Wheybolic protein - 2 scoops instead of 3. At first glance, it appears that the Wheybolic is the better choice - more protein, less fat per serving, etc. However, the sodium is significantly higher. I also know that Melaleuca uses better ingredients that are closer to nature. I also have to think about how much protein do I really need. It is better to get your protein from natural sources - meats, beans, etc. But, if I need to utilize a different source (like a protein powder), how much do I really need? To answer this question, I had to do a little more research. After reviewing several medical and bodybuilding websites, I came to the conclusion that anything under 30g at one sitting is absorbed at the highest efficiency. Anything over, and you're going to be looking at some waste. You also need to take into account how much protein you have had over the day, or plan to have. In general, you should ingest 1g of protein for every pound you weigh. If you are eating a high protein diet, then you may not need a protein powder with a higher protein count. Basically, it depends on the individual and their needs.
CONCLUSION:
In general, I personally need a powder with more protein because I am not good at making sure I get enough every day. But, before I could even get that far, I wrote off the ProFlex based on taste alone. Using the ProFlex protein would save me a little money, and I feel like the ingredients are of a higher quality, but I just don't like the taste. For this race, the Wheybolic wins. Sorry, Melaleuca - ya just can't win 'em all!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Edit to "Shake your money maker!"
As always, I want to be completely honest. So, I will need to make an edit to the previous post regarding my commissions with Melaleuca. I received my first check from them today, and...
I made $8.45 more than I anticipated. Not much, but hey! It's more!
~~~~~~~~~~~
I also want to take a moment to address an easy assumption that people have made when they hear that I am promoting a wellness company. I am not participating in a multilevel marketing company (like Mary Kay, Amway, etc.). I did not have to purchase a crapton of products and try to sell them to everyone I know. All I do is tell people about the awesome new online store I have discovered, and set up an account for them if they are interested. Each account holder is responsible for their personal order only.
If you're like me - fall in love with the products and want to tell everyone that there is a place where you can get Whole Foods quality products at Walmart prices - then, I can help you tell all of your friends and make some referral money. It's a win-win!
 |
| I cannot, for the life of me, get this thing to upload correctly. Sorry! |
~~~~~~~~~~~
I also want to take a moment to address an easy assumption that people have made when they hear that I am promoting a wellness company. I am not participating in a multilevel marketing company (like Mary Kay, Amway, etc.). I did not have to purchase a crapton of products and try to sell them to everyone I know. All I do is tell people about the awesome new online store I have discovered, and set up an account for them if they are interested. Each account holder is responsible for their personal order only.
If you're like me - fall in love with the products and want to tell everyone that there is a place where you can get Whole Foods quality products at Walmart prices - then, I can help you tell all of your friends and make some referral money. It's a win-win!
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