Top Her Couture

COMMON INGREDIENT TERMS All labels from food to skincare to supplements are composed of scientific names and each name has a specific trait, affect, or value to the product it is attached to. So what is all the fancy jargon? See some #skinchemistry broken down. Humectant - keeps in moisture Solvent - liquid used to dissolve other substances to create a solution Emulsifying -helps to blend ingredients that would otherwise not mix together like oil and water Chelating - substance whose molecules can form several bonds to a single metal ion. Chelating ingredients help products from spoiling or by removing metal ions that would otherwise interfere with the solutions affect. (www.scifun.org, 2017) Solute - dissolved in the solvent Emollient – skin softener Surfactant - substance which tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. What other ingredient terms do you see often either on a label or in market...

 There are so many options now-a-days!  From diapers to toys to themes to photographers.  I have seen stories of people posing as photographers [yes, even infant photographers].  It can be scary in this day in age & you can only read so many reviews! We have had the pleasure of working with Photos By Alyssum three times now.  She is easy to work with.  Offers varying sessions for every budget even with limited mini sessions fairly frequently. If you are looking for days old to grown family - she is your gal.  Located in Castle Rock and willing to travel within the immediate vicinity. Clean, Crisp & So Much Fun!!

An estimated $239 million dollars will be spent this year alone on collagen supplements. The promise of more youthful, plump skin just being a scoop or pill away! (Marshall, 2019) Does this 2020 fad look promising and what questions are being raised to its efficacy? While 2019 started the fad, 2020 is sure to kick it into high gear with powders, foods, pills, and complete supplement lines devoted to this ‘fountain of youth’. Collagen holding the body together in a lattice of scientific processes and structures while also helping with the healing of joints, tendons, skin, and -bones. (Marshall, 2019) Treatments like micro-needling and other laser procedures increasing as they offer slight trauma to the skin signaling our bodies to increase collagen production and generate new skin tissue(s). The treatments starting at $300 are out of reach for some especially with the recommendation of a treatment every 4-6 weeks for optimal results. This is where the collagen supplements come in...

#WISHFUL - Looking Passed the Marketing & Dissecting the Ingredients ". . . is a gentle, yet powerful exfoliating scrub infused with a combination of pineapple and papaya enzymes, BHAs and AHAs that leave the skin with a healthy glow. Tried and tested by #HudaKattan herself, this three-in-one revolutionary scrub reveals smooth, radiant and glowing skin in seconds. Thanks to its unique combination of fruit extracts, acids, and soft exfoliants, this scrub promises long-lasting results in just 10 days. The lightweight, milky texture gently buffs away dead skin cells and impurities for immediate results that also makes the perfect canvas for seamless makeup application." $39 for 3.38 fl oz WATER/AQUA/EAU. The H2Oh1 CELLULOSE. Humectant BUTYLENE GLYCOL. Humectant PROPYLENE GLYCOL. Maintains temperature and allows active ingredients to penetrate ALCOHOL. Help other ingredients penetrate skin but also can cause irritation and drying 1,2-HEXANEDI...

As we get a jump start on the new decade, we think of our New Year's Resolutions - - Resolutions?  I prefer New Year's INTENTIONS.  With that, the number one thing we hear is losing weight, getting fit or some other health kick👟👟.  With the intention to start a healthier you why not take those lost pounds and add them to your wallet? With the rise in internet sales, there are a lot of great cash back sites like Rakuten, MyPoints , EBates to name a few.  These sites offer points or cash back on each purchase made from 1000s of stores-majority being from online purchases.  But what about the in-store purchases? I decided to try Ibotta .  This is an app with similar perks to the above sites but also offers in-store purchase cash back at places like Sprouts, Whole Foods, Target, King Soopers, and more!  This was the first I have found to offer cash back on grocery items, restaurants, alcohol, and more in-store/in-app purchases.  I average a...

Shopping, gifts, travel, wrapping, trees, tinsel, dinner preparation - the list goes on and on come the holidays.  We often are so 'wrapped' up in our to-dos that we often dismiss the bell ringers freezing outside collecting donations or forget to grab cash to put in the church basket.  Maybe you aren't like me in this sense, but are unsure how to give more and do it more frequently [not just during the holiday time]. Did you know you can have Amazon donate on your behalf every time you purchase an eligible product from them? log into smile.amazon.com using your regular Amazon credentials. It may prompt you with a pop-up box to pick your charity. If it does not prompt you, there will be a small. orange SUPPORTING banner under the search bar. If you Hover over it, it will pop-out a box.       5. Select from thousands of charities.  As you can see, I support Dreambuilders Inc in Englewood, CO which funds go to help Uganda children with scho...

Have you ever wandered into Buy Buy Baby, infant/kids section, or other little person aisle and felt overwhelmed with the selection.  So much so-you second guessed every toy, playpen, and wet wipe that you had on your registry [or were thinking about purchasing yourself]? Here are some of the baby things we got the most use out of [and are still using 8 months in]: Baby Einstein Gym : $50 - What we loved about it was how it converts through baby's developmental stages.  Great for back play, has a tummy time pillow to help support while baby's feet tap on the piano, our daughter loves the mirror and other accessories that can be hung in a variety of ways, and then convert the piano for sitting.  We started our LO in this play yard at three month-now 8 months and still having a blast! Vtech Sit to Stand : $35 - This also has a lot of converting making it a great addition to our toy box.  We started using at 6 months as our daughter is quick to get the wheel...