Out of Africa Heals Skin and Helps Schools

Bathing suit season is upon us. (Unless you live in the Midwest and are still wearing a parka.)

While some will obsess over weight, the rest of us are itching at the thought of our skin exposed to anyone and anything other than our dog. Dry skin, eczema, psoriasis―even those red bumps every dermatologist claims to be incurable plague millions of women.
 

A Solution For Your Skin

Out of Africa, in partnership with a number of women's cooperatives in Benin, West Africa, harvests the finest shea butter each year by hand selecting shea nuts with the lowest acidity levels. Why? Well, this hand selection provides the best healing and nourishment for your flaky-ass skin. Compared to other natural butters or oils, shea butter contains far more of the vitamins and other valuable phytonutrients essential for healing.
 
These are just a few of the stellar qualities of our new friend Out of Africa:

• 100 percent natural, no parabens or sulfates
• Vegan and eco-friendly
• Absorbs quickly into skin without the greasy residue of beeswax or mineral oil-based products.
• Excellent for treating eczema and psoriasis

What's In It For Schools?

Out of Africa not only treats skin, but they also help School Children Unite by providing education through the revenues from shea butter sales. In fact, five to 30 cents from each product sold is contributed to help provide medical care and education to the children in West Africa. Plus, job opportunities are provided to the local women's cooperatives through Out of Africa’s factory in West Africa, allowing co-ops to provide income, health benefits and education to families in the community.

Bitchworthy: Shea butter should be a creamy color; shea that is pure white is highly refined and may no longer contain maximum healing properties. Shea butter should never be green, extremely hard or greasy.
 
So what's their latest mission?

Giving you a chance to win part of their skin care collection! The package includes Out of Africa's Lemon Verbena Hand Cream, Lemon Verbena Body Lotion, Grapefruit Body Wash, and Strawberry, Vanilla, and Peppermint lip balms. To enter for a chance to win, just leave a comment below telling us what your biggest skin care challenge is. Easy enough.

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner! Congrats Reanna! *

Juice For a Good Belly

Food trends are happening faster than you can say Kombucha.

Between the flax, chia and hemp seeds, it’s hard to keep track of the health news. But one thing is for sure, probiotics are not a come-and-go fad.

So treat your belly to something good.

GoodBelly is a certified organic* vegan juice that contains live and probiotic cultures to balance the tons ‘o good and bad bacteria in your body. It contains no dairy or soy, and it ain’t yogurt.

Studies have shown that Lactobacillus plantarum 299v—the very strain in GoodBelly—promotes digestive health and supports the immune system when consumed daily.  Since 70 percent of the body’s immune system dwells in the digestive tract, a properly functioning digestive system is essential to maintaining overall health, and keeping your body from feeling rundown.

The deelish juice blend comes in a bunch of yummy flavors including Pomegranate Blackberry, Cranberry Watermelon, Mango, Blueberry Acai, Strawberry, Lemon Ginger and Vanilla Chamomile. And GoodBelly also comes in "shot form" for brainless measurement—just rip the tab and throw one back.

Win a Box of GoodBelly To-Go

Want to treat your belly? GoodBelly is giving away FOUR 12-day supplies of GoodBelly, and ONE 12-Day supply plus one box of GoodBelly To-Go. To enter to win, just leave a comment below telling us why your tummy needs this goodness and we'll choose five lucky winners.

GoodBelly is available at major retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Safeway, Sprouts, Raley’s and more. For more details, check out Goodbelly.com.

* All of GoodBelly's products are certified organic with the exception of the Black Currant flavor and the coconut water*

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winners! Congrats Paige, Dylan, Megan, Kimberly, and Tina!

Featuring new uber-eco 4x laundry detergent

It feels like you’re always doing laundry.

Just when you’ve fluffed and folded the last of the loads, you’re throwing another pair of skivvies in the hamper and cursing Laundry Sunday.

You're not alone. In America, we do 1,100 loads every second. So, it’s in our best interests (and the planet’s) to ensure we’re not soaking our wardrobe in toxic chemicals.

Seventh Generation , the pioneer of all things green and healthy, is at it again, giving away a Free & Clear Starter Kit to one healthy bitch!

The prize includes a bottle of Seventh Generation’s new 4X laundry detergent (pictured above), which comes in a bottle made of 100 percent recycled cardboard and newspaper. Compostable and recyclable, this baby represents the packaging of the future.

Plus, the 4X formula is twice as concentrated as the 2X detergent, which means it does the same amount of loads (a whopping 66!). Last but certainly not least, it cuts water and energy use for transportation in half and reduces plastic packaging by 66 percent.

Laundry Sunday ain't looking so bad, after all.
 
The winner will get all of these goodies:
 
Free & Clear Starter Kit

• Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
• Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
• Natural 4X Concentrated Laundry Liquid
• Natural Fabric Softener
• Natural Fabric Softener Sheets
• Natural Powdered Laundry Detergent
• Natural Dish Liquid
• Rinse Aid
• Automatic Dishwasher Pacs
• Natural Multi-Surface Concentrated Cleaner

To enter to win the Free & Clear Starter Kit, all you have to do is leave a comment below and give us your favorite laundry tip. It doesn’t matter if your grandma passed it on to you, or you just made it up. Lay it on us.

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner - congrats Coree ! If you didn't win this time, don't worry. We've got lots more giveaways coming up on Healthy Bitch Daily!*

Here’s why Healthy Bitch Teri needs Eat Cleaner:

“Ummm... is it bad to admit that I just rinse my veggies under the tap, wipe with a towel, and start chopping? Yup, that's the routine. Sometimes I use the salad spinner. Maybe that flings all the germs off?”

Sadly, no. Now, no more abusing the salad spinner, Teri!

If you didn't win this time, don't worry - we've got lots more giveaways coming up here on Healthy Bitch Daily!

Make sure your produce is pesticide-free

Chances are, your healthy salad is dressed in more than balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil.

In fact, it could be sporting a number of accessories including pesticides, fungicides, dirt, debris and surface waxes. That's why your mama was always on your ass to wash your fruit before chowing down (oh, and to terrorize you right into your teens).  

Sadly, good ol' water still leaves a lot of muck on our produce. So, Eat Cleaner has developed an all-natural product that banishes the bad stuff without affecting the taste of your favorite fruits and veggies.

Naturally Clean

We know, we know — this isn't the first time we've introduced you to Eat Cleaner (Trust us, honey. There's more in it for you than there is for us.) Their products are made of a blend of fruit acids, plant-based cleaners and antioxidants, and they certainly don’t mess around. Eat Cleaner kills E.coli and Salmonella within two minutes, inhibits browning and helps produce to stay fresh longer. They're also convenient to boot, available in wipes, ready-to-use sprays and concentrates.

Win A Clean Kitchen Kit!

Eat Cleaner is giving away a Clean Kitchen Kit to one lucky bitch! The winner will receive the following goodies:

• Eat Cleaner Wash + Dryer Kit with BONUS one year magazine offer
• 30-Ct.  Eat Cleaner Individual Wipes Tray
• 40-Ct. Eat Cleaner Wipes Canister
• 8 oz Fruit + Vegetable Wash
• Reusable Produce Bag

To enter, drop a comment below telling us what you usually use to wash your fruits and veggies. There's no right or wrong answer!

Stop by and say hi ...

If you’re planning to attend the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California this upcoming weekend, be sure to drop by and say what's up.

Yes, that's right. I'll be signing copies of my cookbook, Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, at the Kaeng Raeng Detox Booth (5438 in Hall E) this Saturday, March 12 between 1pm and 3pm.

Natural Products Expo What?!

Natural Products Expo West is a trade show where a bunch of bitchworthy brands assemble to show off their wares. Attendance is a bit pricey ($325), so if you’re not in the natural products industry, don't sweat it.

Win A Signed Copy Of My Cookbook

If you're not able to attend the Expo, you can still win a signed copy of my newest book, Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below telling my girls and I what natural product you can't get enough of.

As for all of you who will be attending this year's Expo—hope to see you Saturday afternoon at the Kaeng Raeng Detox Booth. Until then ...

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner! Congrats, Polly!*

Kim Barnouin
After five years atop the Skinny Bitch phenomenon, author Kim Barnouin has grown as a cook, a nutritionist, and a mom. Now she delivers the “Ultimate” cookbook for everyone looking for a healthier way to feed themselves, their families, and friends.

There were so many tales of water bottle woes, we had trouble choosing winners.

Here are five of the best stories you posted:

"Okay, so I was attempting to do dishes last night, and one of my attempts was putting water bottles in the dishwasher. I put the dishwasher on heat dry (by accident!), and when I went to put the dishes away, I realized I had melted two of my water bottles :-(  Then to top it off, my other waterbottle is starting to chip and peel. I've had it for quite awhile...I'm in desperate need of a new one!"
- Megan

"I dropped my Whole Foods BPA-free water bottle in Sephora and it broke!  It contained 32oz of water, which went everywhere. It was sad and completely humiliating! I like the size and top on this one, because it can be carried separately. I am going to have issues from lugging my water around in my purse if I don't cut that out!"
- Dawn  

"My current water bottle is plastic. My dog decided to take it off the counter one day and chew on the straw. After cutting off the part she chewed on, I am unable to get all of the water out of my bottle when I drink! This glass one sounds awesome!!"
- Stacy  

"I would love a new water bottle... my last two were epic fails! The first one was an aluminum bottle - it was cute and seemed to work, but it had a pressure issue, which caused it to explode water randomly, usually all over my car or my desk. So not ideal. The next bottle seemed to be better - it was a BPA-free bottle, and I loved it - super cute color, easy to clean, but talk about leaks! Again, so not ideal when you're constantly throwing your bottle into an expensive purse as you go...  To sum it up, I have tragically ruined 3 checkbooks and 2 purses due to this issue, soooooooo... Hook a healthy bitch up! ;)"
- Keira  

"I would love this water bottle, not for me, but for my little sister Anna. She is actually pregnant right now and was due February 22 - so the family is anxiously awaiting little Willow Ava's late arrival! She and her husband have made sure to be picky and choose BPA free toys, non-toxic paint for the baby room, glass baby bottles, organic diapers and bedding. The list could go on and on, however, they have been so consumed with a little one on the way, my sister has had to put her needs aside and drinks from this disgusting 3 year old plastic water bottle because she refuses to buy bottled water (due to being the earth hippie nature girl she is)! Please help me out in getting a new mommy a healthy, brand new glass water bottle that she deserves!"
- Lizzy

Congratulations, ladies!

Win a bottle for Mama from Bloume baby 

Your baby has standards.

Petroleum-infused pacifiers are out; BPA-free teething rings are in. Your kid was never one for pesticides … you better believe he expects organic cotton bedding, chemical-free baths and natural sunscreens.

Luckily, you can find it all at Bloumebaby.com.

All Things Organic

Bloumebaby.com is an online store featuring natural, organic and sustainable products for baby and mama, founded by mom and entrepreneur Annie Totten (yeah, we’ve talked about this awesome mama before). Just a few minutes cruising her online shop of clothes, toys, bedding, towels, body care, furniture, and diaper bags, 
and you’ll wish you could jump back in the crib. And if you live in the Los Angeles area, you can check out the flagship store in Manhattan Beach.



Teethe On This

You don’t have to be a mama or a mama-to-be to go gaga over today’s giveaway. You just have to be thirsty.
 Bloume baby is giving away five of its 16oz Lifefactory water bottles (the grown-up versions) to five healthy bitches!

Win A Lifefactory Water Bottle

Lifefactory’s reusable glass bottles are wrapped in a BPA-free silicone cover that prevents breakage for all you clumsy gals. To enter to win, comment below and tell us why your last water bottle bit the dust.

Healthy Bitch Meg needs a solution to her boyfriend’s sleeping problems stat. Check out why she needs a PILLO1 pillow:

“OMG!!!! My boyfriend needs this pillow! I recently moved in with him and we switched over to my mattress, which is much softer then his. He has been having the worst sleep of his life since I moved in. He gets awful pain in his neck and shoulder area, and guess who has to rub it out!! Yes, ladies... me!!! Please, please I don't want to have to buy a whole new mattress for him to be comfortable. Besides I love my fluffy mattress! If this pillow works for him, I am blogging, buying, and spreading the word!!”

You’re a good girlfriend, Meg! We’ll do our best to restore harmony to your little love nest.