Three years ago when I knew we were gearing up to start trying to get pregnant, I started slowly making better decisions about what I would put into my body. I started seeking out more natural products that didn’t contain junky junk like paraben and sodium lauryl sulfate because I didn’t want anything harmful to enter my bloodstream. I slowly started eating better, and watching what I used to clean our home. This is not to say that I avoided Cheetos as much as I should have but that’s another post entirely. Small steps people! This slow attempt at a transformation was because I knew my body needed to be in tip-top shape in order to grow little Campen 2.0, and I wanted to do it to the best of my ability. The only thing I regret about all of my preparation is that I didn’t know about Novena Maternal Skin Care, which is Vegan, cruelty-free and Organic and designed specifically to help preggo mamas be as healthy and beautiful as possible. Well my lands who wouldn’t want that?
I received a few products to sample and even though I am not pregnant, I do have some slight skin discoloration as a result so I was excited to see if the brown pigment spots around my eyes and mouth would fade or disappear all together. Ah pregnancy, the gift that keeps on giving! This line is also ideal for nursing mothers, as anything applied to the skin eventually enters the bloodstream. But my line of thinking is this: if a product is safe and recommended for gestating women, wouldn’t you want to use it even if you’re not expecting? Why not be safe and healthy regardless? I actually have a friend who uses that as a rule of thumb for staying healthy, but instead of “What would Brian Boitano Do?” it’s “What would a pregnant woman do?” Works out well.
First up was the Organic Cucumber Cranberry Eye Gel (30 ml $30.00) and let me just say, it has been my mission in life to find the perfect eye cream/gel. I have puffy dark circles under my eyes and I dream of one day having taught and refreshed eyes much like any model on the cover of a magazine, photoshopped of course. I’ve tried creams and gels and I fall firmly in the gel camp. The creams moisturize yes but I like the gel for the cooling and taught aspect. The directions say to use one pump but I found that to be too much. Half a pump worked great and hey, it makes the bottle last longer too! I used it day and night and it really does make my eyes feel refreshed. Now, is it a miracle product that somehow erases the last eighteen months of sleep deprivation? No. But does it make me look a hojillion times more refreshed and jovial? Oh you better believe it.
I also was able to try the Organic Fruit Face Wash (120 ml $28.00) which came not a moment too soon as my other face stuff had just run out. Side note: I LOVE it when that happens. Another side note: I love washing my face. I geek out reading the ingredients so I can know what kind of magical experience I will have when all the gunk gets wiped away. I eat up all the promises made about ‘newer, younger looking skin!’ and adjectives such as ’supple’ and ‘firmer’ and ‘dewy’. I am a marketing savant’s key demographic. So I was clearly pleased as punch when I read Novena’s description of this face wash. All those ingredients are things I could, in theory, eat! So my face could be a yummy organic smoothie of goodness in theory, if you choose to make food analogies when describing facial care products. Which I do apparently! When I used it it didn’t make my face tight and dry like some other washes out there. The first few times it didn’t really get rid of all of my make-up and I was pretty bummed. But then I read the directions. FOUR PUMPS! I was only using two and it clearly mattered, so take it from me–go straight to four pumps and you’re golden.
The last product I was given to sample was the Organic Skin Care Spot Brightening Moisturizer (120 ml $28.00). This was what I was the most excited to try because of the aformentioned pigmentation around my eyes (thanks Theo! Mommy loves you!). Now, let me say that the discoloration isn’t dark enough for anyone else to see, especially if I have make-up on. And lemme tell ya, if you’re going to see me I WILL be wearing make-up. My husband even claims he doesn’t know what spots I’m talking about, but they are there and they shouldn’t be thankyouverymuch. So I might have globbed a little extra on in my ‘troubled areas’ and watched them like a hawk for any change or variance. I honestly think I see a difference, but since everyone else around me is all “Wha? Guuuurl what choo talkin’ bout?” it’s hard to get a second or third opinion. So just trust me. It’s not a Magic Eraser for your face but it does even out skin tone and reduce visible pigmentation. It’s not a heavy lotion by any means so it won’t weigh you down or cause break-outs. I did find that my make-up didn’t go on quite as easy since it was so light, but it wasn’t horrible by any means. I guess I’m used to being a greasy monkey. Don’t judge.
Novena Maternity Skin Care was voted one of the top five organic maternity products in 2009 by Fit Pregnancy Magazine. That’s pretty sweet. They also offer samples of each of their products if you want to dabble first before making a purchase. Each of these three products fall under our Splurge Worth category and I think if ever there is a time to indulge it is when you are pregnant or a new mom.
Novena Maternity Skin Care is generously offered their 5 Product Kit consisting of the three above mentioned items in addition to their Organic Citrus Blemish Lotion and Tangerine Cocoa Belly Butter Cream all in a cute pink insulated bag. This is valued at $135.00! If you’re pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant or KNOW someone who is pregnant, you’ll want to enter this amazing giveaway.
To enter, leave a comment on this post (mandatory) letting me know why you’d like this product kit. You can get extra entries by:
–Following us on Twitter (@livespend) and mentioning the contest : “Organic Novena Maternity Skin Care #giveaway valued at $135.00 @livespend http://tinyurl.com/pez3k7” and be sure to come back and in a separate comment leave the link to your tweet
–Blogging about it and in a separate comment leave a link to your post.
–Subscribe to our RSS feed and comment letting us know. If you already subscribe, mention that in the comments.
–Referring others here and they tell us you sent them (“Sam sent me!”) both you and the person you referred will get a BONUS entry!
Contest will run until September 21st, 11:59 pm CDT. For full information on how we run our contests, see our Disclosure policy.
Jen
This looks amazing!
September 14th, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Jen
I subscribe! :)
September 14th, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Kelly
I would love this! I’m in my second trimester with my second child, and my skin needs HELP!! :)
September 14th, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Melissa
Oh, PERFECT, you guys. I have 7 weeks to go in this pregnancy (yipes!) and my already uneven olive-ish skin developed more dark spots over the summer despite my best efforts with sunscreen every day. I would love to try these products and know that they’re good for me AND baby!
P.S. I also subscribe. :)
September 14th, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
Melissa
Also Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/melissity/status/3991493976
September 14th, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
Margare Imecs
I subscribed!
Thankx!
September 14th, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
Margaret Imecs
I follow!
September 14th, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
Margaret Imecs
Tweeted!
@margaretimecs
September 14th, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Margaret Imecs
I’m a nursing mother, after my pregnancy I have lots of discoloration and brown pigment spots on my face and neck.
This product sounds great, I would love to try it!
Thanks!
September 14th, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
Carolyn Barnett
This would be a perfect gift for a friend of mine for Christmas.
Thanks for the chance.
September 14th, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Carolyn Barnett
I follow on twitter as carolynishis and i tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/carolynishis/status/3997316654
September 14th, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
Carolyn Barnett
I blogged this giveaway.
http://carolynishis.blogspot.com/2009/09/enter-our-135-novena-maternity-skin.html#links
September 14th, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
Carolyn Barnett
I subscribe via rss feed as carolynishis@gmail.com
September 14th, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
Mary
I’m trying to get pregnant, so this is great. I also subscribe already to your RSS!
September 15th, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Kate
I’ve been thinking alot about possible # 2 lately….I’d love this!
September 15th, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
Kate
Also tweeted!
http://twitter.com/katekono/status/4014271925
September 15th, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
iheartgreen
So, I’m neither pregnant nor plan to be anytime soon. BUT, I am invited to a baby shower in 3 weeks, so I am tangentially associated with pregnant people. So, reasons for wanting this mainly revolve around wanting luminous skin. As many pregnant people often have.
September 15th, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Lisa G.
^^Haha, I totally thought this was gonna end with, “I want to give the coolest gift at the shower.” (sorry, don’t enter me into the drawing…I just won something recently so I want to give others a chance to win; also I’m not pregnant and probably won’t be anytime soon.) Best of luck to all entering!
September 15th, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
brittany baker
i would love this because im pregnant and i need all the help i can get taking care of my skin!
September 16th, 2009 @ 12:07 am
Yevgeniya Silina
What an amazing giveaway!
I would love to win this for my friend, she is a nursing Mummy and she really needs this. ( “Margaret Imecs sent me!”)
Thanks!
September 17th, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Beyond Alice
Oh, I would LOVE to win this!!! I’m in my first trimester, and already my skin is having issues. And the tiredness is making puffy circles under my eyes. Oh, I hope I win!!!!
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Beyond Alice
And I’m following @livespend, and I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/beyondalice
(Sorry…I don’t know how to link to just the one tweet?)
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Beyond Alice
I subscribed to your RSS feed, yay! :)
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
It’s a giveaway!!! « Beyond Alice and Through the Looking Glass
[...] Novena Maternity Skin Care Giveaway [...]
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
Beyond Alice
And as much as I don’t want competition…I wanted my shot at an extra entry. :) So, I blogged about this giveaway!
http://beyondalice.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/its-a-giveaway/
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
kakaty
I’m newly prego and looking for new all natural skin poducts to try – this line sound perfect!
September 17th, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Katie A
Those products sound amazing! Especially the eye gel. Need.
September 18th, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
Jeanette Raposo
Awesome giveaway!!! Please enter me! ( “Margaret Imecs sent me!”)
September 20th, 2009 @ 11:07 am