Loving the Ritual of (Good!) Karma from Rituals Cosmetics!

"Ritual of Karma" TryaBox

As a member of Tryazon: www.tryazon.com, the really excellent sampling program, I have been privileged to enjoy several "TryaBoxes" of Rituals Cosmetics bath products, and I think this one – the “Relaxation at Home” Ritual of Karma set- is my favorite! I actually learned about Rituals through Tryazon, and was first able to enjoy testing their Ritual of Sakura, with its delightful light cherry blossom scent that really brought back our Honeymoon days in Kyoto, Japan for me, and then their Ritual of Dao set, and I thoroughly enjoyed them both- and reviewed them on this blog: Ritual of Dao:  http://southernwestvirginia.blogspot.com/2019/11/rituals-for-holidays-creating-dao-spa.html  Ritual of Sakura: http://southernwestvirginia.blogspot.com/2019/09/rituals-sakura-collection-delicious.html 

This time I had the opportunity to try the Ritual of Karma https://www.rituals.com/en-us/collection-story-karma.html, and I was seriously quite excited, as heaven knows we could all use some Good Karma right now, right?!  But I Was wondering: what does Karma (the good kind, naturally) smell like?! Spoiler Alert: Good Karma smells GREAT! Scented with Holy Lotus and White Tea, the Ritual of Karma fragrance is in the floral category, but way more interesting than “just” a floral scent. All the products truly smell delicious, and I truly look forward to getting into the bath with them!  The philosophy behind the “Ritual of Karma” products is that, “according to ancient Hindu belief, living with good intent attracts good karma. Say good words, think good thoughts, do good deeds, and keep the circle positive, because ultimately, you reap what you sow!” Sounds like just what we all need right about now, yes?! The Ritual of Karma collection aims to help you immerse yourself in the positive vibes of summer all year round, instantly enhancing your mood, and making you radiate "positive vibes", as well as a great scent!

There's a delightful little video on You Tube that shows how the Ritual of Karma can make you feel: https://youtu.be/B-YfvlRp7p0

Ritual of Karma Sugar Scrub

I have especially grown to love Rituals' Sugar Scrubs and Foaming Bath Gels, so I was delighted to be able try the Ritual of Karma Sugar Scrub:   https://www.sephora.com/product/rituals-the-ritual-karma-body-scrub-P463648, and Foaming Bath Gel:  https://www.sephora.com/product/rituals-the-ritual-karma-foaming-shower-gel-P463647,  as well as the Body Cream:   https://www.sephora.com/product/rituals-the-ritual-karma-body-cream-P463649, and the three products really make for a delightful “spa” experience at home! It is “relaxation in a box”! Add a bath tub pillow, a scented candle (and yes, there is a Karma Candle...), and a glass of wine, and you are All Set!

This would be a GREAT gift for a good friend, too- I can't imagine anyone not loving this- and as Rituals products are not overly expensive, you can afford to treat friends, as well as yourself! 

The Ritual of Karma Sugar Scrub, which is enriched with holy lotus, almond oil, and jojoba, is an absolute delight! I not only use it on my body- especially feet and knees and elbows- but as an exfoliator on my face and neck- it's that good! I MUCH prefer sugar scrubs to salt scrubs, as they never burn the way salt can, and so I truly enjoy Rituals' sugar scrubs. The scrub is made with fine sugar that has just enough exfoliating power to be effective without being rough, and it dissolves into your skin quickly and leaves it feeling silky smooth.

Ritual of Karma Foaming Bath Gel

The Ritual of Karma Foaming Bath Gel is super creamy and deliciously sensual! I have used a lot of bath gels in my time, and I have to say that Rituals makes the ones I like best! Their gel-to-foam technology is truly unique, and their foaming bath gels are the creamiest, and most luxurious ones I've ever used!

The Ritual of Karma Body Cream is rich and luxurious, but not greasy, and it absorbs super-fast. I use it all over, immediately on getting out of the tub (I'm a Total Tub Soak Gal...), and I especially like to use it on my feet, and then put on comfy socks to help it absorb...

Ritual of Karma Body Cream

I love to layer scented products, to make the fragrances last as long as possible, and so I am planning to treat myself to more products in this line: I especially want to get the Karma Candle, Hair And Body Mist, and the golden Body Shimmer Oil, which looks amazing!

Rituals products just launched on Sephora in September: https://www.sephora.com/brand/rituals, but if you want to see ALL the products they have, and ALL the different Rituals (and there are lots!), go to the Rituals website: https://www.rituals.com/en-us/home, which also has an Outlet page with discounted products from lines that they no longer have on the regular site: https://www.rituals.com/en-us/outlet

Another great thing to note is that Rituals products are happily free of the bad stuff, such as sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, and they contain less than one percent of synthetic fragrances. And their products are also cruelty-free!

I can honestly and highly recommend Rituals products, as well as Tryazon- its a Lot of fun being a member, and getting discover and try great new products like these- and share them!

Have you tried any Rituals products or given them as gifts? 

What are your favorites? Tell me in the comments!

And if you're not yet a member of Tryazon, you can sign up here: www.tryazon.com

Rituals for the Holidays: Creating a Dao Spa Bath Experience!

Ritual of Dao

I was recently and very happily selected by Tryazon to try a selection of bath and shower products from Rituals: The Rituals for The Holidays "Ritual of Dao" line, and it has been a delightful experience! Earlier this fall I got to try several of the Ritual of Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossom) scented products, and I loved them, as the scent is divine, and using them brings back wonderful memories of seeing the cherry blossoms in Japan, so I was Very happy to get to try several of the Dao products, which are scented with the light and subtle fragrance of White Lotus, and contain Yi Yi Ren, an herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for skin nourishing and healing, among other things. Rituals products are truly unique, and every Rituals Collection is based on a different philosophy; the Ritual of Dao collection is based on the Chinese philosophy of creating a balance between Yin and Yang, and a "harmonic flow" that relaxes, calms, and reduces stress. I have used Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years for my health, and found it to be truly excellent and reliable- it has 3,500 years of history behind it!- and Dan and I spent an amazing month traveling through China last year, and so this concept intrigued me, and as I could Really use some tranquility in my life right now, the idea of slowing down with a warm, scented bath was VERY appealing! I find fragrance very powerful, and I love to use perfumes, bath oils, home fragrance, candles, and other scented products to remind me of happy experiences! I have to say that the Ritual of Dao bath products do let me enjoy some wonderful and romantic memories of our time in China!

A village on the Yangtze River...

Rituals of Dao

The Dao Gift Box that arrived was lovely, elegant, and "upscale", and it would obviously make a delightful holiday present for just about anyone!  
The four Dao products included in my box that I tried were the Shower Oil,  Foaming Shower Gel, Moisturizing Shampoo, and Body Cream, and together they really do make for a lovely, relaxing "spa" bath experience! 
The Dao fragrance is very light and delicate, and is thus a great gift-giving option; I think that anyone who was gifted with these products would be extremely pleased- I know I was! 

The Ritual of Dao Be Kind To Your Skin Body Cream has the lovely, light, and calming White Lotus fragrance, and I love the richness of the cream. The Rituals Body Creams don't irritate my skin or make me itch like many other creams do, and as I like to “layer” scented products, so the fragrance lasts as long as possible, I use this as a hand cream throughout the day (I keep it in my office), as well as using it as a body cream after bathing.

Since I like to layer scented products, I really enjoyed using the Ritual of Dao Moisturizing Shampoo. The scent is gentle and subtle, and I was Very happy that it's safe for color-treated hair, and free of parabens, sulfates, and silicone. It's enriched with Argan Oil, as well, and makes a creamy lather. As I didn't get the conditioner (yet!), I use a leave-in conditioner after I shampoo, as my hair needs the added moisture...

I LOVE the Ritual of Dao Shower Oil! I had never tried a Ritual Shower Oil before, and I really love this. I have always enjoyed using scented bath oils, and this is a great product to create a true “spa” bath or shower experience! The oil is creamy and moisturizing and leaves my skin silky (not greasy), and the Dao fragrance is delicate and relaxing. I like to “layer” all the Dao products, so I use this and the Shampoo, and then the Body Lotion after bathing. 

The Ritual of Dao Foaming Shower Gel is my favorite Rituals product! Rituals' foaming cream shower gels have become my favorite bath and shower gels, as they are so luscious and creamy and moisturizing! They are really the best shower/bath gels I've ever used. The Dao White Lotus fragrance is light and calming, and this cream gel is the "star" of my Dao Bath Ritual!

As I mentioned, my husband and I were lucky enough to spend some time in China last year, and using these Ritual of Dao bath products creates a lovely "me time" experience that brings back some wonderful memories, especially of a romantic cruise we took on the Yangtze River, and the small villages we visited!

Do you use scented products to bring back memories? 

Let me know in the comments!

Rituals Cosmetics  #ritualsusa #shareyourslowdown #tryazon Tryazon 

On the Yangtze River...

A village on Yangtze River in China

On the Yangtze River in China...

Tongli, a Chinese "Water Town"

Dan and I in Tongli on the water... 

On the Yangtze River...

With the LeShan Buddha...

On the Yangtze River...

A Sweeps & Contests THANK YOU- and sweeping tips!

This post is a GREAT BIG THANK YOU!
As my five faithful readers know, I am a terrible sweeper and contest-enterer. The first time I entered a contest- Oil of Olay's "Most Romantic Summer" contest back in 2002- I actually won it- a totally fabulous trip with hubs to The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders in Arizona that included plane tickets and spa treatments- and that fueled what has become my late-night hobby- and one that sure beats Candy Crush or Farmville for lucrative time-killing! LOL Yes, sweeping has it's downside- I get 1900+ emails a day I have to actually go through (because you are ONLY notified of a win via email...), but in the process of sweeping, I also learn a lot about new products, and there are lots of things I now want that I never even knew Existed until I saw them in a sweeps! LOL And yes, my friends made fun of me... until I started winning trips with plane tickets! So far I've won 6 trips with plane tickets, which Dan and I have enjoyed the heck out of:  thanks to sweeps and contests, we've had amazing trips back to Israel and Vietnam, Chile, Arizona, California, and Virginia!
And so, as 2016 draws to a close, I want to thank the great people and companies who made my fabulous "wins" possible, and, in many cases, treated me (and my husband) to things we Never would have been able to enjoy otherwise! PLEASE shop with these great companies- they all make terrific things that you'll love, and that will make Great gifts for the people you love!

Happy Dan and his fabulous Big Green Egg!

My first BIG Thank You goes to Tabasco, as, thanks to them, I won my chef husband THE Ultimate Grill-Smoker- a fabulous, medium-size Big Green Egg! And it came with a Nest, Eggmates, BBQ tools, starters and even organic charcoal, so (after reading the directions and watching videos and putting it together), he could get right into smoking us some fabulous, Memphis-Style Dry Rub Brisket! This was THE best "Big 7-0" birthday present for Chef Dan ever!

Chef Dan making a Dry Rub Brisket in his Big Green Egg!

Amazingly, I also won $160 in fabulous steaks and seafood from Certified Steaks and Seafood! I got us an amazing assortment of Prime and Wagyu filet mignons, Bermuda & Canadian lobster tails, crab claws, and andouille sausage for Chef Dan to make- and he's making some of them right now for our New Years Eve supper! 

My next BIG thank you goes to Vitruvi Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, as I won a glorious gift certificate for their excellent, natural essential oils, which I LOVE! I keep a diffuser on my desk in my office, and enjoy blending the oils to create a really pleasing and healthy environment around me while I work! My aromatherapy oils are like a "chemistry set" for Big Girls! :-)

My diffuser and some of my Virtuvi essential oils...

Some of my Vitruvi essential oils and sprays...

I won a Delicious November Bokksu box of Japanese snacks and teas, which was so much fun and yummy! (I blogged about it here: Bokksu - Enjoy Yummy Japan at Home every month!)  The November box was themed "Japanese Folklore" and included an artisan assortment of Japanese snacks and teas and a guide to explain everything! This is THE best gift for anyone who loves Japan- as we do! Our Bokksu box not only brought back wonderful memories of our honeymoon, 4 glorious days of which were spent in Japan, but gave us the chance to try new things and learn more about Japan, too!

My November Bokksu Box

I won a gorgeous ceramic artists palette from Stephen Quiller from The Artists Magazine, which I badly needed for my watercolors...

I won a Selfie Stick from Galbani- Italy's Favorite Cheese! 



I won PreHeels, a great anti-blister foot spray to stop my fave high-heels from irritating my tender toosties...

And from Vogue, I won a Gorgeous Vera Bradley backpack!













 I won a lovely selection of great travel beauty products from www.savvytravelers.com/

And a truly fun and stylish Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon "travel set" for my photo of my AbFab Kentucky Derby Evan Williams Mint Julep Jello Shots!

And two cool, fun vacuum wine stoppers from VINOPlease Wine Accessories and Tools:

I also won two glasses from Coors... (Obviously Not the Grand Prize LOL)

From Latina I won a set of Ouidad curly hair care products which are great for my curly hair!

I won a great assortment of natural beauty products from ThredUp, including lovely Earth Mama Angel Baby organic body lotion and other delightful products! 










And from SheSpeaks I won a Neutrogena Cleansing Set!

And then there was the Banana costume I won from Del Monte... No, this prize did NOT come with a trip to their Dole Plantation in Hawaii, but I entered it anyway... because I am, yes, bananas. LOL

And last, but not least, I FINALLY won Dan a car... There's just one little problem... :-)







Elisse's Tips for Successful Sweeping and Contest Entering:
1. Read the rules! If you are going to "waste time" on this, read the rules so you don't disqualify yourself!
2. Have an email just for sweeps and contests if possible, and check it EVERY DAY! This is a must. You will ONLY be notified of a win via email, and you will sometimes only have 24 hours to respond or you will lose the prize!
3. You WILL get 1000s of emails every day. You WILL be on every mailing list in the known universe.  Enjoy it. Think of it as "Market Research". LOL If that concept makes you crazy, sweeping is NOT for you!
4. Enter 100 a night. No kidding. This isn't luck, as many friends insist- it's entering 100 a night on average,  month after month after month... If you think of this as your "nighttime job" it will be less painful. LOL
5. Legitimate sweeps and contests will NEVER charge you ANYTHING to claim a prize you have won. You may have to send or fax in a signed affidavit, and you may get a tax form at the end of the year if the prize is larger than $500. But if anyone demands money from you to claim a prize you won they are breaking the law.
6. You WILL have to submit your name, address, phone, birthday, email, etc. in order to enter anything. If that is a problem for you, sweeping is NOT for you!
7. Sweeps are random drawings (like Lotto); Contests are based on skill. If you can write well, take good photographs, create art, make unique Pinterest boards, etc., contests can be very good- I have won a number of contests, including the trips to Chile, Arizona, and Virginia! Note: sometimes sweeps are designed to look like contests; again, read the rules to see if it's a random drawing or a skill-based contest.
8. The smaller the company (or blog or Facebook page) the better your odds. Blogs have great odds, because usually only a few hundred or a few thousand people enter, as opposed to the millions who enter the HGTV sweeps to win a million dollar home or the Ford sweeps to win a $40K truck.
9. Some are "enter only once" and some are "enter every day"; again: read the rules.
10. There are email lists of legitimate sweeps and contests you can sign up for which will deliver 100s of them to your inbox every day... 
11. Only enter for things you really want to win. I learned that the hard way! But remember: you may not win the Grand Prize $10K Trip to Vegas, you may win 1st Prize, which is a giant box of condoms- because the contest was sponsored by a condom company- and yes, that happened to me! You may also win a key chain, a toy car, or 2 beer glasses. Hey- it still beats Candy Crush. LOL
12. If and when you win a prize, be NICE to the great folks who sponsor these sweeps and contests! Don't forget that they do it to get business- so send them YOUR business and that of your friends and coworkers! Buy from them, blog about them, Facebook about them, Tweet about them, Pinterest pin them, and G+ them!
Good luck, and happy sweeping!

Bokksu - Enjoy Yummy Japan at Home every month!

If you (and/or your friends) love all things Japanese, as we do, especially trying new foods and treats, you are going to Love having a subscription to Bokksu!  

I recently received my November Bokksu box of Japanese snacks and teas, and am Totally loving it!  Bokksu is unlike any other Japanese snack box; the Bokksu folks are Really in love with Japanese snacks, and they handpick tasty snacks that people in Japan enjoy, and curate them into a unique and fun themed box each month. They source their snacks directly from the makers in Japan, so many of the artisanal snacks you get can't be found anywhere else! 

Enjoying my Foxtail Pastry and coffee!

The theme for their November box was "Japanese Folklore", and all the things they included were Very cool- and cute, too- with info about each one on the enclosed card- and so far DELICIOUS! (In the photo I was enjoying the yummy, flaky Kitsune "foxtail" pastry, which is iced with maple white chocolate, with a cup of coffee!

This is truly a Very cool (and not expensive) treat to enjoy- or give as a great holiday "foodie" gift- for Anyone interested in Japan! (And Especially if you- or they- live in a place like we do- rural southern West Virginia- where you cannot even Dream of finding these things!) Bokksu really created something special here; it's very well designed and thought-out-  and yummy! I'm truly impressed!

Adorable chocolate Panda cookies!

The adorable and totally delish chocolate "Panda" cookies, were also perfect with a cup of coffee- on top of being really yummy, they were totally "Kawaii" - or "super-cute", as Hello Kitty would say! (And they sent 4 packets of them!)

Bokksu is NOT expensive- I think it's a very good deal- AND the are having a special now, so go check it out:  www.bokksu.com

My Bokku Box and the info card that explains all the treats!

Each box comes with a guide so you know what everything is and "why"- which is almost the best part, since even when I've been lucky enough to live or visit places where there are Asian food stores, I almost never knew what to buy, as the packaging is almost never in English! LOL

My November box was themed "Japanese Folklore" and it included Organic Sencha Tea, the flaky Foxtail Kitsune Pastries with the maple/white chocolate icing, Kumamo "bear" cookies from Kumamoto Prefecture, the totally adorable Saku Saku Panda cookies, "Dream Animals" butter cookies, and savory/spicy ones I intend to have with a glass of sake (which you actually can get here in rural southern West Virginia, LOL): Hakata Mentai Shrimp crisps!

As my blog-followers know, Dan and I were lucky enough to have spent 4 glorious days and nights in Japan back on our honeymoon in 2008, and we truly love the food and culture of Japan. Having a Bokksu arrive at our door brought all the great memories back, and gave us the opportunity to try new treats, and learn stuff, too!
 Let me know in the comments if you try Bokksu, or get it as a great Hanukkah or Christmas present for that Japan-loving "foodie" in your life!