Product Review: Hyalogic Scar Serum from Natural Healthy Concepts

On March 4, 2018, I started using Hyalogic Scar Serum on a scar that is from a burn several years ago. It was a really bad burn and left behind quite a line on my left hand. I was hoping to find a product to reduce the appearance of this burn on my hand. I have been applying this product to my scar every morning and night for nearly 8 weeks. You can see the photos of my scar below:

Scar - March 4, 2018

Scar - April 20, 2018

These photos haven't been doctored at all. No filters or "cleaning up" done to either photo. It may be hard to tell but to me, the scar is lighter. The skin is softer and I can't feel the line as much on my skin. For older scars, like this one, the product may take 3-6 months to fully see results. I'm only at the two-month mark.

Hyalogic Scar Serum is a blend of ingredients that work to smooth, soften and reduce the appearance of scars. Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) combine to manage scars and encourage healthy-looking and feeling skin. This formula is odorless and absorbs quickly into the skin. What do all these ingredients do for the skin?

Hyaluronic Acid ~ Acts as a filler for skin and has a plumping effect that lessens the noticeability of most types of scars. 

Allantoin ~ A natural ingredient known for moisturizing and softening skin.

Panthenol ~ A gentle, water-soluble vitamin that delivers moisture and helps hydrate, soothe, and support skin. 

The scar serum bottle has a pump feature so you can quickly pump out a small amount onto your fingertip or the area you are applying it to and rub in it. Because of the small bottle, it is easy to find space on your counter and keep it accessible for use twice a day.

I can definitely notice a difference in that particular spot on my skin and am now wondering if I should be applying the serum to the whole top of my hand rather than just the spot of the scar! I will continue to use the product for the next few months, with the expectation for my scar to reduce in appearance even more.

To see all the Hyalogic brand of products, check out their page on the Natual Healthy Concepts website, HYALOGIC.

Natural Healthy Concepts  is a vitamin and supplement website with a blog that features articles by a certified nutritionist on the most important topics in the natural health industry, such as blessed thistle, turmeric root, and collagen.

Other posts you may like:

Derma-E Scar Gel from Natural Healthy Concepts




I was provided this product for free in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion.

Product Review: Derma-E Scar Gel from Natural Healthy Concepts

I tend to accidentally burn myself whether I am cooking or doing my hair. I have several scars on each hand and I can tell you exactly where each of them came from... an oven rack, the curling iron, the straightener, a baking sheet, etc. A few of them are more noticeable than others and I wouldn't mind finding a way to reduce their appearance. At the end of February, I burned my pinky finger on an oven rack. I had quite a scab that didn't clear up as fast as I would have liked.

A couple weeks after the burn - March 1, 2018

I began using DERMA-E Scar Gel on March 1, twice a day. This scar gel is paraben free and naturally helps reduce the appearance of scars, burns, and stretch marks. The formula of herbal ingredients helps break down scar tissue to encourage new skin growth. Click HERE to see the list of ingredients. 

For new burns, it recommends applying the product twice daily for eight weeks, so I'm only about five weeks into the application process. But the burn has definitely healed and the skin is clearly in the process of new growth. There is no longer a scab and the skin surface is smooth. The scar gel comes in a 2oz container. The gel is clear and has a small order much like a natural lotion. I scoop out a pea-sized amount and apply it to my skin during my morning and bedtime routines. It absorbs quickly into the skin and isn't greasy or sticky. Often after a burn, there will be an indentation for a long time and then a scar. I really think this scar gel is helping to avoid that part of the process. I can not feel any dent in the skin where the burn was. My skin is smooth and soft and the dark, purplish spot is reducing in color every day.

April 1, 2018

I am thrilled with this skincare product and wish I would have had it to use on previous burns. It is easy to apply and since you use such a small amount, this product will last for a long time. Since you do have to scoop out the product, I recommend using a swab to get the product out or make sure your finger is clean to not contaminate the product.

Natural Healthy Concepts (NHC) is a website that offers vitamins, supplements, and skincare products as well as a blog that features articles by a certified nutritionist on the most relevant topics in the natural health industry. Some of the topics include the use of essential oils, Vitamin B12, Turmeric, and Chyawanpraph. The website is easy to navigate and offers various categories for ease of search for specific products or health topics. The blog offers interesting articles related to topics for maintaining your health.

Derma-E is an eco-friendly skincare line on the NHC website that offers products to support your skin and maintain its natural beauty. This Therapeutic Derma-E Scar Gel is one of many skincare products this line offers. To see the whole line of products, click HERE.

I was provided this product for free in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion.

Cuddle up with a Cup of Adagio Tea and a Good Book

source

I can't think of a better way to spend a free evening or long weekend than with a book and a cup of tea! I absolutely love sitting in my favorite chair, under my cozy blanket, with a book in my hand and a cup of tea sitting next to me. I have typically purchased tea at my local grocery stores, but for the first time, I was able to try loose teas. This gourmet tea bursts with flavor and I savor every sip.

I was given a gift certificate to purchase an assortment of teas from Adagio Teas. The teas I chose included hot tea, cold tea, and limited edition teas. It's taken me a couple months to work my way through all the varieties and I can't say anything negative about any of them. It's super simple to make the flavored iced teas and I appreciated having them in the fridge during our early warm days of fall.

Then as the days grew cooler, I couldn't wait to try some of the unique blends of gourmet teas. I loved that I could purchase a small sample size tin and try out some of the tea blends without committing myself to a whole bag. I think my favorite so far has been the Drink Me blend of caramel, vanilla, and raspberry. I also liked that it was decaffeinated so I could drink it later in the evening.  Even though I really liked the Berry Blast Tea, my husband did not. But, that meant I got to have the whole pitcher to myself. I also really liked the White Peach Iced Tea.

There are so many varieties of tea blends for every flavor and mood. I love having a variety of teas at my disposal for just the right mood. I've found that brewing tea is somewhat of an art. Brewing temperature and the length of brew time make a difference in flavor. Also, since these are loose teas, you either need to purchase an infuser, a special brewer or tea pouch to brew the tea. I used a mesh ball that I already had, but can tell I need to get something different as the loose tea sometimes slips through the holes.

I am completely satisfied with my Adagio Teas purchase. Their website is easy to navigate and by signing up for emails you can receive helpful tips on how to best prepare your teas. The shipments of teas arrived quickly and well-packaged. Each purchase you make earns rewards toward free product later. Their teas would make excellent Christmas Gifts, especially their unique blends like these Gilmore Girls Tins or seasonal sets. These Holiday Tinsel Teas (pictured at the top of this post) would make the perfect stocking stuffer! Pair the tea with a book and a cozy blanket and you have a wonderful gift for someone special.

Thanks to Adagio Teas for providing free product in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion. If you click the links above, you will be taken to their website.

Product Review: Cave Tools Grill Tongs

Cave Tools is the go-to source for all your grilling needs. I've also tried their Rib and Roast Grill Rack and Kabob Set that you can see HERE. We grill once or twice a week and even more during the summer months. So, finding high-quality and user-friendly grill tools makes grilling easier.

A couple weekends ago we tried these Grill Tongs from Cave Tools. Our first impression when I took them out of the box and showed them to my husband was that they were large and heavy. Right away, I was unsure if I was going to like them or not because of the size and weight of the tongs.

The above photo is a good picture of the size of the tongs compared to my hand and the grill ( a Weber Charcoal Grill). The Grill Tongs are really uncomfortably large for my hands and even my husband's hands. The Grill Tongs are heavy and a bit awkward to use as well. The length of the Grill Tongs does keep you farther away from the heat source though.

They work well with the end up or down and you can easily grab the meat. But again, it's awkward because the tongs are heavy. They also come with a metal wrap that locks the tongs together. This is also hard to put on and off of the tongs and it doesn't attach so you could easily lose the metal clasp, but you could also store the tongs without it too.

Yes, these are high-quality Grill Tongs and yes, they do a good job. They are easy to clean up and are dishwasher safe. But, for us, a regular pair of tongs are much easier to use and store.  Even though we have been impressed with other Cave Tool products in the past, these Grill Tongs were not a hit with my husband or me. Be sure to visit CAVE TOOLS website to see all the great grilling products they offer.

You can get 15% off your purchase of the Cave Tools Grill Tongs by entering the code at checkout through this link below: TONGS15

You can also find them on Amazon by clicking the photo below:





This post contains affiliate links, If you choose to purchase through those links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. This review is my honest opinion. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com .

Product Review: Stainless Steel Water Bottle

I don't go anywhere without a bottle of water. I always have one in the house and if I leave, it's as important for me to grab as my purse, phone, and book are. I try to stay hydrated throughout the day and the best way to do that is to keep water close by. Sometimes, I don't mind if the water has gotten to room temperature, but especially during the hot summer months here in Iowa, I want my water cold, ice cold.

The INSPIRED HOME LIVING STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE is perfect for on-the-go water needs. I added ice to my water bottle during my latest shopping/errand running day. It was a sunny 80-degree day and I kept the water bottle in my car all day while I was in and out of stores. There was still ice in my bottle 7 hours later after shopping, but all the water was gone because I had drunk it all.

This Water Bottle holds 24 ounces of water. You don't want to fill it too full as the water will spill over once you put the lid on. This water bottle could also be used as a thermos to refill your coffee cup throughout the day. It is great at keeping your beverage cold or hot because of the stainless steel inside and out.

It doesn't have a "tinny" taste and even though it is heavier than other plastic water bottles, the benefit of keeping your water ice cold outweigh that.

The only downside for me was the drink opening. The diameter of the opening is 1 1/2 inches. It is a bit bigger than I typically like and frankly, I prefer using a straw. But, for the last two weeks, I have used this water bottle exclusively, to see if I could get used to drinking out of the opening and I did. I got used to it and didn't mind it as much as I thought. If you were really bothered by the opening, you could use this as a thermos to keep your beverage hot or cold and then pour into a different cup.

The cup fits in my van's cup holder, but not tightly. Since it doesn't taper down at the bottom, it sat up towards the top of my cup holder. But as you can see, in the top photo, it still fit ok. Overall, this water bottle is a hit for me. Since it has a tight seal, you could throw it in your beach bag for extra water throughout the day and not worry a bit about it spilling. Plus it will stay cold!

You can get your own Stainless Steel Water Bottle at 15% off by entering this code: SWB15OFF

If you'd like to purchase the INSPIRED HOME LIVING STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE, click the photo below:





This post contains affiliate links, If you choose to purchase through those links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. This review is my honest opinion. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com .

Product Review and Promo Code: Brazilian Hammock Chair

Summers under the big shade tree in our backyard will be so much more enjoyable with our new Brazilian Hammock Chair. I can't tell you how excited our whole family is about this chair. I have a feeling we will all be fighting over it this summer.

This is an oversized hammock chair in green and blue stripes. It is quite durable and extremely comfortable. You can sit upright or spread out the fabric and lay flat in it while swinging in the breeze. We chose to hang ours from a tree in our backyard, but it could be hung on porches or decks as well. It's light so you could move it around and take it with you if you go camping, you just have to have the mechanisms to hang it. It does not come with the materials used to hang it, but they were easily found at our local home store. My husband had it hung up in less than half an hour. 

This hammock will make the perfect reading spot for the summer. I can't wait to enjoy it...if I can ever get my daughter out of it!

If you'd like to get your own Brazilian Hammock Chair, use promo code HAMMIHL1 for 15% off at checkout by clicking HERE. If you have Amazon Prime, you can get free two-day shipping and have this item for just over $20. 

Thanks so much to Breakthrough Premium Products for sending the product for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase this product through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com.  

The Perfect Valentine for Your Child - I See Me Books

As a child, I had a few personalized books that had my name and the names of my family in the story. I remember one was a farm story and it was my favorite. Since my name isn't spelled the "usual" way, anytime I had anything personalized with my name spelled correctly was exciting.

Giving your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor a book personalized with their name and the names of their loved ones is a special and unique way to mark a holiday or special occasion. If you are looking for that special gift,  i See Me! is the perfect place to check out all the great ideas for every occasion.

I chose the Valentine Book that i See Me! offers for my great-niece who is three for the purpose of this review. She loves books and since she has a name that isn't extremely popular, I'm thinking she will love having this book read to her and hearing her name.

This Valentine Book is just one of the MANY gifts offered on their website. They also offer personalized books for birthdays and every day reading as well as ones perfect for giving at baptisms. Other personalized products include lunchboxes, puzzles, coloring books, placemats, stickers, and growth charts. These would also make the perfect gifts to fill a child's Easter baskets with. A personalized book would also make an original new baby gift or a memorable first birthday gift.

I really love this Valentine book because like the other personalized books, I can choose the people I want to include in the story, I can list multiple people in one sentence so I can fit more loved ones into the story. It shares the message of love with the child. It's repetitive which children like hearing read to them and the repetition helps with their ability to start recognizing words and the rhythm of words in a sentence. I also love that you can include a photo of the child at the beginning of the book which will get them even more excited to read a book about them!

I had so much fun creating this book for my niece, Isla, and wish I could be there to see her read it for the first time. I hope it is a book she will keep forever and enjoy reading time and again.  What greater gift is there to tell a child over and over again how much they are loved? I don't think there is anything better than that!

Stickers are also included with the book. This is a nice touch and the stickers are very high quality. She can use them to decorate papers or make a collage to hang in her room.

I have reviewed these i See Me! books before and I am still extremely happy with these products. Their website is easy to use and offers the ability to really make these books as personalized as you would like. From the dedication page to the ending, you can really make it as specific as you want including a personal message to the child. I received this book pretty quickly and expect that would be the same for you. It arrived in less than the two weeks expected for delivery, but with specific holidays I would try to make sure you have plenty of time to receive the item. The process was extremely simple and the book arrived well packaged with no bumps or rips in the pages or stickers.

Celebrate Valentine's Day, Easter, or maybe just brighten up these dreary winter days with a fun, personalized gift from the i See Me! line of products. For more on all their products, be sure to follow them on the various social media accounts and see all the great ways customers are using and giving their products:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Google+
YouTube

I will be linking up this review on Booking Mama's regular Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. This is a place for bloggers to share posts related to children's and YA books. You will find spotlights, reviews, and sometimes even giveaways by clicking HERE, every Saturday.



Thanks to i See Me! books for providing this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. 

#BringHappyHome with Jessie Steele and a Recipe

I absolutely love to bake, but it seems I never get to do it as much as I want because I don't have the time. Holiday baking is my favorite because I love taking some of our favorite treats to all our family gatherings.

This weekend I hosted the high school Madrigal singers after one of their performances and so I wanted to make a lot of cookies for them. So, as soon as I arrived home from church on Sunday, I got right to work. 

Jessie Steele (featured in Sex and the City 2 and in many live-casts from Magnolia's Bakeries) is wanting people to get back to bringing families together over the holidays through family meals and sharing goodies. Jessie Steele is the market leader in fashionable aprons by focusing on celebrations, femininity, style, and happiness. Her aprons, bags, totes, and kitchen textiles would make the perfect gift this holiday season! She offers aprons for adults as well as children like this cute Gingerbread Man Apron! 

I received this fun Paris Print Apron to wear during my holiday baking this season and I just love it. It's light and is fun to wear. I love the ruffles and the bow that set it off. This particular pattern has mini Eiffel Towers all over the apron. I can pretend I'm baking in Paris, right? What I like about this apron is that it is a heavier fabric, but NOT heavy. Does that make sense? I have another apron that I used to wear all the time but it is heavy. After wearing it for a couple hours, my neck gets sore from the weight around my neck. I wore this Jessie Steele apron for 4 hours and never even noticed. 

When I am starting a baking marathon, I love getting everything out at once so I am not constantly going to the fridge or cabinets to get an item out again. I can't imagine baking without my KitchenAid Mixer. It is a necessary item for marathon baking!

The first recipe I knew I wanted to make are my Grandma Hazel's Spritz Cookies. They are a requirement at our family Christmas. Grandma Hazel is my mom's mom and she would have been 100 this year, but sadly passed away when my mom was just 17. But, mom always told me that she would make these every year for Christmas and I want to do the same. They are a delicate cookie that is bite size and gives just a bit of sweetness. The other fun part is you can change up the flavors so easily and really have fun with it.

You do need a cookie press for this recipe. I use this one from Pampered Chef, but you could also try THIS ONE from Kuhn Rikon which is very similar.

Your cookie press will come with various plates to insert that will create different patterns of cookies. My favorites are always the flower, the wreath, and the Christmas tree.

Once you press them onto the pan, you can add sprinkles or sugars before baking. Since they are such a small cookie, they only take a few minutes to bake up. I set my timer for 6 minutes and that was perfect. (Except for the batch I completely forgot about and didn't hear the timer and they were quite burnt!) You can add food coloring to the dough also. I like adding green to the dough when I make the trees.

I also love to make cut-out sugar cookies. I always get compliments on them and even though I am not talented at decorating, they are still delicious. I love using my mother-in-law's cookie cutters when we make our Christmas cookies. She has been in heaven for 10 years this week and we still miss her presence every day.

My secret to making the cut-out sugar cookies is I use the Betty Crocker mix. I know, I know...I should be making them from scratch, but this recipe is so easy and delicious why recreate the wheel. These whip up super fast and I can have sugar cookies in the oven in just minutes. Once they cool I can frost/decorate them up in no time.

Our kids even love to help decorate the cookies so it can really be a fun family time activity. Each child can choose their cookie cutter shape and decorate "their" cookies however they want. My tip for you though is to make sure you bake the same shape of cookies together in one pan. That way the cookies will all bake up at the same rate. For example, candy cane cookies are skinny and bake up quicker than these bell shaped cookies. You don't want your cookies to have brown edges. 

Using my new Christmas plate from my dear friend, Becky makes the holidays even more special. Seeing all the kids in our home having fun and enjoying the cookies made my heart overflow with joy.  If there would happen to be any leftovers, you can place both of these in a container between layers of wax paper and freeze them til your next gathering.  They will stay fresh like you just baked them.

GRANDMA HAZEL'S SPRITZ COOKIES
3/4 Cup Butter
1/2 C Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
2 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Cream Butter and Sugar until fluffy, beating well. Add egg and extract, then beat until fluffy. Gradually add dry ingredients. Beat well. Put dough into cookie press and press onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Decorate with colored sugars and sprinkles if desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes watching closely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies depending on your chosen shape. 

Additional variations include:
Chocolate Cookies: Add 1 Tbsp cocoa with 1 tsp of water.
Add Peppermint or orange extract for a different flavored cookie

I hope your holidays are full of laughter, the joy of being with family, and delicious food. May you have the merriest of Christmases and a new year full of blessings.

To see all of Jessie Steeles products, check out her website, HERE.

I will be linking up this post on Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking. Every Saturday she offers a place for bloggers to share any kind of food-related posts such as book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. To see all the posts, click HERE. 

Thanks to SheBlogs and Jessie Steele for sending me this apron and helping to promote #BringHappyHomefortheHolidays. This is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase a product through some of the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Product Review: FramedArt.com

With the recent remodeling of our home, I was in need of new artwork for our walls. Just at the right moment, I had the opportunity to review my experience with FramedArt.com. I had a really hard time narrowing down my choices. But, since I still wasn't sure what I was going to do with our new areas, I narrowed it down to a fun print that completed my wine corner.

We have a wine fridge and since it isn't really decorative, I wanted to dress up the area a bit. I have an old glass jug that I put wine corks in and found this neat sign at a local shop in town. I needed something to tie the whole look together.

When you visit FramedArt.com, there are a plethora of options for you to choose from. It would be extremely overwhelming if you didn't have some sort of sense of what you were looking for on the site. So for me, I knew I was looking for framed wine prints and entered that in my search.You can filter your searches by color, style, subject matter, size, and shape. So, once I chose wine prints, it then offered me red, white, champagne, or corkscrew. Since I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for, I looked through all my options.

Once you find the print you like, then you can choose the mat and frame you want.

It can be overwhelming, but the picture actually changes once you select a color of mat or frame, so you can visualize what the print will look like in your frame and mat choices.

The process is really very simple and quite reasonable. The print, mat, and frame I purchased was just under $74.00 and arrived well packaged. I can't speak to delivery time since I was going through a different process than you would if you ordered directly off the website.

The other neat feature of this website is you can search by artist. Once I chose the "Good Wine" print, I also clicked on the artist, Marla Rae, which took me to a page with all of her artwork. If you find an artist you really like, you can see everything they have to offer on FramedArt.com. In fact, I found another print of hers, that I will definitely be getting soon!

I am so thrilled with this artwork and how it brings my wine corner together. I would highly recommend purchasing art through FramedArt.com the next time you are looking for some artwork for your walls.


A post from today, 2 years ago - The Last Two Days of the 10-Day Give
A post from today, 5 years ago - Children's Book Review: Lucy the Dinosaur: Nice to Meet You By Joey Ahlbum



Thanks to FramedArt.com for providing this product for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review.