Lemongrass Spa with Shantelle

Hello, readers! Today I just want to give a little shout-out to Lemongrass Spa! January 3rd, I signed up to be a sales consultant for Lemongrass Spa, as a side job. I had recently won a prize from a Facebook party, and also been hearing great things about the products from some of my relatives and friends.

Spa Party Success Kit

The thing that made Lemongrass Spa an option to me is that they believe in natural, organic, fragrance-free, gluten-free, and non-toxic products. I put a lot of importance on health and using as natural of products as you can! And so does Lemongrass Spa, so that made it a good fit for me. Though not all of their products are a 100% natural and organic, they advertise as 97%-100% natural and they say no to:

• sodium lauryl sulfate
• petroleum byproducts
• parabens
• phthalates
• propylene glycol
• synthetic fragrances
• nanoparticles

Some products, such as their mascara, deodorant, hair spray, and body spritz are all-natural. Other things, like lotion, use preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, because lotion (and other items with water in them) will mold if you don’t use a preservative. My mom used to make her own lotion, but she did have a few cases of mold, even when we refrigerated the lotion! So if you don’t feel like making your own lotion, or don’t want to deal with the worry of mold, Lemongrass Spa lotion is a much better option than the mainstream stuff you’re finding at Walmart or Bath and Body Works that is full of chemicals!

If you are just not comfortable with the non-natural preservatives that Lemongrass Spa uses, try check out 100% Pure’s lotion. I believe they *might* be completely natural. I don’t know if they have actual lotion, but they have a hand cream and there’s no water. I don’t know what differences no water makes … maybe it’s heavier? (And that’s why it’s called cream and not lotion?) Anyway, they are a little more expensive – their 2 oz. is $15 while Lemongrass Spa’s 8 oz. + 2 oz. is $18.

On the website, the ingredients for each item are listed, so you can look through them and know what you’re getting. If you’re a fanatic like me, you can also google the ingredients that you don’t recognize! *grins* This site is very helpful for looking up ingredients unknown to you.

Lemongrass Spa is more expensive than your run-of-the-mill skincare and beauty products. But you have to remember that they strive for natural and organic and quality! Overall, I think they are decently-priced when compared to other natural beauty/health companies such as Young Living, 100% Pure, Burt’s Bees, and Beauty Counter.

So far, I love their mascara! It smells yummy and applies smoothly. I am trying to switch to more natural make-up products, so using Lemongrass Spa’s organic matte black mascara makes me happy. I know that it doesn’t have any harmful chemicals and toxins in it, it doesn’t irritate my eyes, and overall I just feel really good about using it!

Ingredients: aqua (water), organic matricaria recutita (chamomile) hydrosol, organic cera alba (beeswax), organic copernicia cerifera (carnauba wax), organic coffee arabica (coffee) powder, organic oryza sativa (rice) extract, organic helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, organic zea mays (corn starch), natural shellac wax, organic citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel extract, organic citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract.

I’ve also tried their facial oil cleanse, which has been a great experience thus far. I don’t have a fancy face-cleaning routine, but I’ve been wanting to start something because I get some rough patches and red blotches on my face. Lemongrass Spa’s Facial Cleansing Oil has felt so nice on my face, and it works good as a make-up remover.

Handmade with the following ingredients: helianthus annuus* (sunflower) oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, persea gratissima* (avocado) oil, argania spinose* (argan) oil, d-alpha tocopherol (sunflower vitamin E), sorbitan laurate, polyglyceryl-4 laurate, dilauryl citrate *organic

Even more pleasing, is their facial gel, mist, and creme trio. Like I said, I don’t have a big facial cleaning routine. But, since I received these products with the starter kit, I figured I may as well use them! And it’s been so fun! Lemongrass Spa’s facial set for normal to dry skin is amazing. It smells lovely and leaves my face feeling soft, moisturized, and clean.

Cleansing Gel for Normal to Dry Skin

Ingredients: aloe vera gel, coconut oil olefin, coconut oil betaine, lemon extract, avocado oil, grapefruit seed extract, food grade potassium sorbate, vitamins A, C (Citric Acid) and E (tocopherol), calendula extract, essential oils of juniper, cypress, cedar wood, frankincense, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, geranium, rose, sandalwood, lavender, basil, chamomile, and cardamom

Hydrating Facial Mist

Ingredients:Purified water, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), jojoba oil, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) essential oil, vitamin E oil, rose geranium essential oil, jasmine essential oil.

Face Creme with Botanicals

Ingredients: distilled water, (aloe barbadensis) aloe vera gel, emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerin, emulsifying conditioner, (olea europea) olive butter, (mangifera indica) mango butter, (simmondsia chinensis) jojoba oil, allantoin, (oenothera biennis) evening primrose oil, (tocopherol) vitamin E oil, botanical complex, (lavandula angustifolia) bulgarian lavender, (pelargonium graveolens) rose geranium, (daucus carota) carrot seed oil, pomegranate seed extract, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol (optiphen).

The Tea Tree Facial Soap is absolutely splendid! As well as the Spearmint Eucalyptus Hand & Body Bar Soap. So soft, moisturizing, and smells very good and clean. They remind me strongly of the homemade soap that my mom and I have made. I love them so much! A thousand times better than the store-bought soap bars (such as Ivory)!

Ingredients: (elaesis guineensis) palm oil, (cocos nucifera) coconut oil, purified water, grapeseed oil, (prunus amygdalus) almond oil, (kaolinite) kaolin clay and (melaleuca alternifolia) tea tree essential oil

Ingredients: elaeis guineensis* (palm) oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, mentha spicata* (spearmint) oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, eucalyptus globulus* (eucalyptus) oil, mentha spicata (spearmint) leaf, vegetable glycerin (and) ultramarines *certified organic

Lemongrass Spa’s Body Polish is divine! *winks* My mom recently hosted a at-home party for me (which was a delightful time of fellowship, food, and talking all things natural and fun!) and we did a hand scrub trail. First we used the Prebiotic Hand Wash – which is awesome! Love this natural liquid soap option! Then we exfoliated our hands with body polish. I really like the smell of the Lavender Mint and it made my hands shockingly soft! I was not expecting them to feel so nice! Lastly, we used a Lotion. Grapefruit Bergamot is probably my favorite.

Ingredients: aqua (water), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) gel, sea salt, algin (kelp), citric acid, glycerin, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, citrus sinensis* (sweet orange) essential oil, citrus paradisi* (pink grapefruit) essential oil, cymbopogon flexuosus* (lemongrass) essential oil, melaleuca alternifolia* (tea tree) essential oil *certified organic

Ingredients: : (sodium chloride) sea salt, (olea europaea) olive oil, (prunus amygdalus dulcis) almond oil, (prunus armeniaca) apricot kernal oil, (lavandula angustifolia) lavendar flowers, (mentha piperita) peppermint leaf, (mentha piperita) peppermint essential oil, (gingko biloba) gingko leaf, (lavandula officinalis) lavendar essential oil, (vitis vinifera) grapefruit seed extract, (tocopherol) vitamin E oil

Ingredients: aqua (water), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) gel, prunus dulcis (almond) oil, behentrimonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol, vegetable emulsifier, citrus paradisi* (grapefruit) oil, glycerin, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), tocopherol (vitamin E), stearic acid, citrus aurantium bergamia* (bergamot) oil, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate *certified organic

Their shampoo works awesome for my hair so far! I use the Botanical Shampoo for Normal Hair, and then just plain white vinegar for a conditioner. My hair is soft and silky and no snarls! I’m so excited that I found a shampoo that is natural with no synthetic fragrance that works for me! This shampoo is unscented, but they also have a Cherry Almond Shampoo as well as a Rosemary Shampoo Bar.

Ingredients:aloe vera gel, coconut oil olefin, coconut oil betaine, lemon extract, avocado oil, palmitate, citric acid, tocopherol, sodium benzoate, glucano lactone, grapefruit seed extract. Essential Oils of juniper, cypress, cedarwood, frankincense, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, geranium, rose, sandalwood, lavender, basil, chamomile, cardamon.

My mom has been using the Healing Elements Balm on my baby brother’s rash, and it has definitely been helping and softening his skin. I look forward to trying more of their balms!

Ingredients: prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, vanilla platifolia extract, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cera alba (beeswax), mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), calendula officinalis (calendula) extract, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, non-nano zinc oxide, tocopherol (vitamin E), citrus grandis* (grapefruit) seed extract, lavendula angustifolia* (lavender) essential oil, anthemis nobilis* (roman chamomile) essential oil

I am excited to try many more of their products, including but not limited to: hair and body spritz, prebiotic facial wash, Hydrating Facial Mask with Pomegranate & Seaberry Seed Extract, deodorant paste, charcoal facial mask, lipstick, nail care, Pink Brightening Flawless Color Concealer, and bug spray!

You can shop now from my website! ❤

Also, like & follow my Facebook Page to see all the new products, hear testimonies, and get the memo about Facebook parties!

Join Lemongrass Spa for only $20.20 this year and receive a started collection of their five top-selling items!

Also, check out their January/February 2020 Bliss Box for $36 + FREE shipping! Box of Chocolates is super fun and perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift, or spa day with your girl friends!

 

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God and Your Health

I think it’s time to have a conversation about health.

I know it’s a craze and you might get irritated by all the talk about natural, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, no MSG, essential oils, sugar-free, and so on and so forth.

Some people like to say: “I have Jesus. All I need to know is that He loves me.” But if you are using that as an excuse to be lazy about theology, I want to remind you that Christ is not a sparkly accessory to add to your life. He is Master.

He is master in every area of life. So He is master when it comes to health. Have you surrendered this area of your life over to God?

When you think of God, do you think of an obese, ignorant, slovenly dressed man with a careless attitude?

I don’t think so.

So the question is, why do we, as His children – His representatives on this earth – think that we can be gluttonous, slovenly dressed, lazy, ignorant, and careless?

Ephesians 5:17-18

¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

I believe that God wants us to be healthy. In body, mind, and soul. This life isn’t simply for our pleasure, but for His glory! And heaven isn’t some dreamy, hazy realm. We’re going to live. So we better start learning how to live right now. Here on earth. Do your research. Study. Be wise. Be responsible. Be Christ-like.

No, you can’t eat whatever you want. For one, the Bible expressly says that gluttony is a sin. And two, your body is God’s temple! I think that’s a very good reason to be serious about taking care of your body and eating good, wholesome foods!

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 & 19-20

¹² All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³ Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Philippians 3:18-19

¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 

Have you thought about what you’re putting into that temple?

What are you putting into your mouth? High fructose corn syrup? MSG? Sugar? Canola oil? Tobacco? Have you considered whether these things are affecting your ability to do the kingdom work God has called you to? Whether you’re fighting fatigue, stomach aches, obesity, depression, headaches, irritability, frequent flus, or lung cancer, are you thinking about God’s glory when you eat, or only your pleasure?

If you can’t give up certain foods for the sake of your health – for the sake of the temple of your God – then it appears you have erected an idol.

Yes, food can be an idol. And I, in fact, believe that food is a very big idol to many Americans.

It is a sin to choose food over kingdom work. Food over submission to God. Food over kindness and sacrificing for your neighbor.

Proverbs 3:7-8

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Eating unhealthy food can affect our ability to love God and love people well.

And don’t just consider your current state of health, consider the future. Do you know the ingredients of the things you’re consuming? Have you looked into how they affect your body? Will they have a negative effect on you ten years down the road?

Proverbs 31:17

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

What about what you’re putting on your body? Shampoo? Lotion? Soap? Hand sanitizer? Perfume? I’ve heard so many stories of women who were really struggling with health issues and things, and after getting rid of shampoo with parabens or some such in them, they experienced a lot of healing.

How about vaccines? Have you looked up what’s in them? Did you know about aborted baby parts being used in vaccines and for vaccine research? Are you doing your due research, or are you blindly trusting your health (perhaps your children’s health) to doctors who may or may not know what’s in the vaccines they are giving out? And may or may not care?

I think these are important things to think about! Weigh the risks. What if vaccines do cause autism, chronic migraines, SIDS, etc.? What if the junk in many shampoos and perfumes (and plastics) do lead to female problems, infertility, and inability to maintain a pregnancy? What if all the artificial stuff put in processed food does make the risk of cancer higher?

I believe a Christian does well to consider these things and make thoughtful choices. We make wise, mature choices, and then trust the rest to God. Yes, we may die tomorrow. Or we might live to a ripe, old age.  Only God knows and He is in control. But it is our responsibility to make good choices concerning health.

Saying: “I’ll eat what I want, smoke, drink, and do whatever I want with my body … and when I die, I’ll be with Jesus! Don’t you want to be with God?” is perhaps just an immature way of declaring: “I don’t want to be disciplined and obedient. I want to do what I want, regardless of the consequences or what God has to say.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 15:30-34

³⁰ And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³² If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

No, we are not going to just do what we want because we’re going to die anyway. We have something to live for! Christ! Our precious Lord and Heavenly Father! And our dear brothers and sisters in Him! We do not have to live in ignorance. We have a choice. We can either sleep in ignorance and shame, or we can awake to righteousness and truth. We can seek Him. We can make a choice to consciously make life decisions – big and small – for His glory.

It is to God’s glory that we take care of the bodies He intricately wove together in our mother’s womb.

This is not about being paranoid or obsessed. To me, being healthy does not mean obsessing about my weight, having a hot “beach body”, or saving myself from death and destruction. It means making choices about how I eat & live that are honorable to my Creator God! It means being self-controlled. It means using the incredible mind God gave me instead of just following what everyone else does. It means living to bring glory to Him – in the little things and the big things! It means being passionate about His kingdom and my part in it.

So what are you going to choose?

Perhaps God wants you to serve Him faithfully for a hundred years. So you better get in shape, and give up those doughnuts and cigarettes, friend!

Pray. Study the Word. Love on people. Laugh! Move your body. Go on a walk. Work out. Limit your screen time. Read some good books. Try some new recipes. Limit sugar. Cook wholesome foods. Go to the chiropractor – get your spine all in order so that your body can signal and function properly. Research vaccines, parabens, microwaving food in plastic, fake sugar, and the like. Get wisdom. Make informed decisions. God gave you a beautiful, complex brain … use it for the sake of your health! For the sake of the Kingdom. For the sake of Truth. For the sake of His glory!

3 John 1:2-3

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Politics, the Medical World, and More

Hello, dear readers. I recently watched a Youtube video that inspired me. It inspired me to get real. So, just briefly, I want to talk about those touchy topics that some of us like to avoid – politics, the medical world, and more.

President Donald Trump

Building a Wall

Voting

War

Illegal Immigrants

Racism

White Privilege

Sexism

Toxic Masculinity

Feminism

#MeToo

Rape Culture

LGBT Community

Hate Speech

Socialism

Police Brutality

Pay Gap

Gun Control

Abortion

Birth Control

Vaccines

Antibiotics

New Age

Harry Potter and Witchcraft

What do you think about all these subjects?

The world can be a confusing place. We have passionate, vehement opinions being thrown at us from every direction. The media shows us terrifying or horrifying stories that make us inclined to believe this or that.

But, before you make up your mind on something, I want to encourage you to stop. Stop and research. Stop and think.

As Christians we are called to be in the world, but not of it.

John 17:14-18

¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Romans 12:2

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So yes, I believe we should have an opinion about the world, our culture, and the practices around us. We should be involved in politics and social issues. But no, we should not look like the majority of the people around us.

If you are following all the ideas and movements that the secular world is, I would plead with you to stop and examine your life and your beliefs.

You should not look like the world.

Don’t blindly follow or agree with something because it sounds good and that’s what the rest of the people are rallying behind.

That is being ignorant, passive, selfish, and careless.

And I don’t think any of those four adjectives should describe a Christ-follower, at least in a general sense.

Acts 5:29

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

We should be wise. Knowledgeable. Strong. Set-apart. Loving. Caring. Informed. Compassionate. Vigilant. Steadfast. Faithful. Truth-seeking. Passionate. Bold. Hopeful. Selfless. Hardworking. Courageous. Different. Godly. Biblical.

Matthew 10:16

¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Stop buying into everything the media says and the culture tells you, and start digging into God’s Word. And I don’t mean surface-level digging … “Oh, Jesus ate bread, so gluten-free stuff is just a bunch of nonsense.” Whether or not the gluten-free lifestyle is a bunch of nonsense (I’m gf because of allergies, so I’m not saying it is!), that is just a very lazy way to approach things.

I mean dig deep. Study the Word. Study God’s character. Study science and biology. How did God create your body to work? What does God say about caring for our bodies? Study the food you eat, the shots you get, the products you use and figure out what exactly you’re putting into your body. Study history, politics, and economics. What logically makes sense if we look at the patterns and rise and fall of nations? What does God say about government, justice, and our part in it?

We need to stop thinking that our lives are just peachy and start learning about the world we live in instead escaping into other worlds by binge-watching TV shows.

This is not a game.

As Christians, we are called to live with purpose. Live intentionally. Take action. Make a difference. Love fearlessly. Fight for righteousness, justice, and truth.

We should not sit back and let wicked men dictate what our society looks like … Even going along with it because, oh, it sounds pleasant, peaceful, and safe. It sounds right and good.

What if you found out that some of the movements you’re supporting were really destroying people instead of helping them like you thought?

• Abortion is about fighting for women’s rights!

But millions of babies are being ruthlessly slaughtered in the process. What about their rights? They are humans and this is murder.

• We need to love everyone! Support gay pride and the LGBT community!

But such lifestyles are actually harmful and destructive – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – to the individual. There are studies showing that people who get transgender surgeries feel even more empty, depressed, and desperate than before – oftentimes committing suicide. How is it loving to push them – especially children! – into this? While God loves these people, their sin is bringing His just wrath. It is unloving of you to support their lifestyle.

• Police brutality! We have too many bad policemen!

But don’t you understand how many good policemen we have? And how they put their lives on the line daily for your protection and comfort; they’re the first one you go to when in an emergency; they see horrible things you’d never want to see, etc. … and that your careless slander may encourage criminals to carelessly take policemen’s lives? Do you know how many police are murdered, and that they might actually need your support and prayers for protection??

• #MeToo! Always believe the woman!

But do you know that sometimes the man is innocent (shocking, right??), and his reputation, career, and life is sent into upheaval because we want to cater to vicious and vindictive women?

• People who are anti-vaccine are murders! They care nothing for their children! They are pure evil!

But have you ever talked to these people personally? Have you studied vaccines, health, the medical world, and our bodies in depth like they have? Do you know that some of the vaccine industries support abortion in the most awful of ways by putting pieces of aborted babies in their vaccines? (Can you be radically, truly pro-life and also pro-vaccine? Something that I think we, as Christians, need to seriously ponder.) Do you know about the anti-vaccine people’s concerns that vaccines are actually dangerous for their children, whom they love fiercely and want to be healthy and protected?

We need to wake up. Know what’s really going on in our community, country, and world. We need to be a bright, healing light by the way we’re involved in politics and social issues.

Micah 6:8

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

So I would encourage you to take a few minutes to watch this video, and check out the other Youtube channels I mention below.

I’m not saying that Republican equals Christian. I’m not saying patriot before Christ-follower. I’m not saying my views are all for sure right. I’m not saying that these Youtube channels are spot-on and have everything together. But they give you something to think about. Something counter-cultural. Something radical. Something intriguing and honest and raw and real and hopeful. Something against the norm.

(Just for your information, not all of these channels are Christian (but probably the majority of them come from self-proclaimed Christians), some of them do contain some language, and I have certainly not watched all the videos! So I’m not saying that I agree with everything presented in these channels. But they’re a way to do some research beyond what the media is telling us!)

Faith and Politics (Christianity and Politics)

***

Michael Spann

The Culture Project

Answers in Genesis

The Bible Project

Tipping Point With Liz Wheeler on OAN

Allie Beth Stuckey

The Patriot Nurse

PragerU

The Daily Wire

Brandon Tatum

Dr. Dale Brown

The Chat with Priscilla

Genesis Apologetics

Candace Owens

Hoover Institution

Patricia Dickson

Dr. Josh Axe

Students For Life

***

2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.