Jeepers (it's Christmas) in July Giveaway!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received product and/or compensation in exchange for this review.

Welcome to the Jeepers in July Giveaway!

Thank you to our host: MamatheFox.com and co-hosts: 

The Mommy Island and The Kids Did it All

I also want to thank the folks at SKINourishment for their long-time support of Green Grandma and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway! SKINourishment is a 20-year-old skincare company created by aromatherapist and Easter medicine practitioner Polly Glasse. Their best known products include the climbOn and crossFIXE brands, popular among well-known athletes and everyday natural-minded sports enthusiasts (of which, I admit, I am not one). But, I love the products and have sung their praise throughout the years. And I'm not stopping now!

I received their new line of skin products -- POLYN® skin care -- made using 100% plant-based ingredients, and let me tell you, I love them. So much so, that when I ran out recently, I went online and ordered more. They've got a great deal going on right now, which I'll let you in on in a bit. First I want to tell you why I love this line.

Starting with the Invigorating Face Wash, which makes my 60-year-old dry, dry skin feel amazing! The fresh scent does, indeed, invigorate the senses. 

I follow up by dabbing a small amount of the Cooling Under Eye Serum underneath my eyes, along the dark circles and across the puffy bags that have accompanied my countenance for decades. While the circles and puffiness have not disappeared (I'm telling you, it's hopeless!), they have decreased dramatically, particularly the circles. And you only need the tiniest amount -- just a small drop. Seriously.

Finally, I squirt a few drops of the Regenerative Face Serum onto my palm and spread it across my face and neck. The result is satiny smooth skin. I do this before I go to bed and for the first time in years, I'm not waking up with sandpapery skin. 



Glasse combines aromatherapeutic formulations in these products, providing "therapy in a bottle™."

The bottles themselves are something special as well. Aside from the Face Wash, the other products come in beautiful MIRON glass bottles from Switzerland. The deep purple/black glass prevents light from getting in and compromising the food-grade ingredients. My only disappointment was that they didn't come with caps to use after the product was gone and I no longer needed the pump. I'd love to reuse these beautiful bottles with a twist-on cap.

All of the POLYN skin care products are Certified 100% Vegan and Gluten free. And none of them contain any GMOs (take that, Monsanto!). All ingredients are disclosed on their packaging and there are no synthetic ingredients. PLUS, they are certified Cruelty Free by PETA. 

Seriously, what's not to love about this line?

And, if you enter, you just might win the Essential 3 Face Line with an added bonus! Bought separately, the 3 products are valued at $93.97, plus the $11.95 Illuminating Face Oil. Remember the deal I mentioned earlier? Well, if you act relatively fast, you can snatch up this set of 4 products for a mere $39.95 through their exclusive TV Special. Just click here for details.

Even if you decide to buy a set while the special is good, you can still enter to win. There's nothing wrong with having back-up product for when you need it. And this would make a great gift for anyone concerned with what they're putting on their skin.

Enter below via the Rafflecopter. The giveaway is open to US only, 18 and older. NOTE: Winner has 48 hours to reply to congratulatory email before an alternate winner is chosen.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

GG Interview Series: Will Reynolds Young of SKINourishment

On Tuesday, I featured an interview with Katie Vance of Wise Wife Soaps. In my second installment of the GG Interview Series, I'm thrilled to showcase one of the male followers/sponsors of our largely female community. 

I met Will Reynolds Young a couple of years ago at the Allegheny County Green & Innovation Festival. He was selling some of his company's wonderful toxin-free products. I approached him and asked him if he'd be interested in my doing a review. Without knowing me or my blog (although I think he did a quick check on his smart phone), he agreed and asked me to select a few products. I did so and a new fan of his was born. While I like many of the products, I am especially enthused about the deodorant, which I order again and again (a shipment is on its way to me right now, as a matter of fact).

Will did not hesitate to offer a $25 gift card for my 5th Blogiversary Giveaway (be sure to check it out here), not did he hesitate when I asked him for an interview. Here's a chance to get to know one of my sponsors:

Green Grandma Interview Series: Will Reynolds Young of SKINourishment

GG: What motivated you to get involved with SKINourishment?

Will: I literally grew up with what we know now as SKINourishment. As I was growing up, I would visit the offices that were originally in the back of my aunt's house. On my visits, I was able to see the passion and love she put into not just the product, but everything else she did. I knew that's exactly what I wanted. I wanted to share the love and passion she embodied with the world and put my own spin on it. I recognized the need for a technical mind to be added to the crew, and slowly paved my way. 

GG: So how long have you been with the company?

Will: Technically, I have been with the company almost two years in my current position, and about four years on a lighter basis. I would like to think I have always been with the company since I literally grew up as the company grew up in many ways.

A young Will was really interesting in mixing his own skin care products in shampoo bottles. Needless to say, I found out that I should stick to the technical side of things and leave the mixing to the master!

GG: What were you doing before you decided to work for them full time?

Will: Sticking with the entrepreneurial spirit of the family, in 2011 I started my own company to distribute SKINourishment products. Throughout 2011 and 2012, I attended over 40 events in the Pittsburgh region and acquired wholesale and retail customers. In mid-2012, I was approached by my aunt to join SKINourishment on a regular basis. You can read a bit more about that by clicking here.

GG: What is your favorite part of the job?

Will: I love interacting with fans of the brand via social media and in real life. In addition, I love to meet new people and have the opportunity to introduce them to the product.

GG: That aspect of your personality shone through the first time I met you. Your enthusiasm is evident, so what makes this company stand out from its competition and why is that important to you?

Will: When I think of natural skin care or organic skin care and the market that it has become over the last decade, I kind of giggle to myself.

Personally, I find our approach to skin care to still be way ahead of the curve across world markets. We don't use any synthetic ingredients at all. Today you will find companies not using synthetic fragrances, but that simply puts us at less than 1% of the skin care companies across the world. In addition, every synthetic ingredient is tested on animals. Therefore, companies that use synthetics can still claim they don't test on animals where their ingredients are still tested on animals.

GG: Really? I wasn't aware of that, but it makes sense. What you're saying is that a company can state they don't do animal testing, but the ingredients that come from somewhere else are tested on animals from the supplier.

Will: Right. And we don't stop there. Aside from not using any synthetic ingredients, we also don't use any fillers, parabens, or perfumes. And all of our products are free of GMOs.

The amount of knowledge I have gained about the cosmetics and skin care market over the last few years, is insanely mind blowing. I can't even begin to tap into the wealth of knowledge my aunt has about this subject, but I sure try.

GG: Of all of the products you sell, Will, what are your three favorites?

Will: That's a tough question. I have fallen in love with so many of our products for different reasons. I think if I had to choose, it would be climbOn Creme, RIDICULOUS! Spray, and SKINourishment SPA Face Tonic. I use the climbOn Creme for everything from out of the shower to wind burn. RIDICULOUS! is great for pre-workout, post-workout, after long days on your feet, long car rides, and more. Finally, the Face Tonic is insanely refreshing and energizing.

GG: These are great suggestions for the winner of the giveaway who will have a $25 gift certificate to spend on your site. Moving away from the products, let's get more personal. Who inspires you?

Will: I have been extremely fortunate to have several inspirations close to me in my life.

• My mother: She ran a small business called Kate and Allie's Cafe and Catering. She loved to share her passion for food at work and at home.
• My father: It's simple -- He will do anything to help his friends and family.
• My Uncle Steve and Aunt Joette: They married young, started a family and a business and, against all odds, succeeded through love, passion, and hard work. They operate their business on trust and integrity, building it solely through word of mouth.
• My Aunt Polly: She constantly and consistently overcomes all odds. From having a woman-owned business to entering the billion dollar brutal cosmetic market, through everything, she just does it.

GG: You're right. You are quite fortunate to be surrounded by such inspirational people. With your commitment to safe personal care products, I can't help wondering if it carries over to other parts of your life, such as your food choices, etc.

Will: Working for a company that values healthy living in terms of cosmetics has certainly changed the way I look at everything I do. From reading ingredient labels more closely to finding more ways to be active, it has truly helped me become a better person. 

In the last year, I started to tackle my long-term stomach issues, being far more aware of what my body wants and doesn't want. I find myself not needing caffeine to function, and generally making healthier choices.

I learned overall that being honest with yourself about your choices is the most important thing. Taking care of your body should always be a top priority.

GG: Good lessons to learn and impart. So what three ingredients do you avoid at all costs?

Will: Personally, I do everything in my power to stick to our company policy that if it's not something you can eat, then your shouldn't put it on your skin. It doesn't get more simple than that.

GG: I know you don't have any children at this point, but was wondering if you were to have kids, would you cloth diaper them?

Will: I have two cousins; one who did cloth diaper their child and one who didn't. I can't think about kids right now, let alone decide if I would choose to cloth diaper them.

GG: Before we close this enlightening interview, why don't you give us one fun fact about you?

Will: One time I slept through a fire alarm going off in our apartment complex. I woke to a firefighter and my father standing there. Needless to say, I am great at sleeping!

***

Don't forget to check out the 5th Blogiversary Giveaway for a chance to win some Wise Wife Soaps products and a whole bunch more prizes valued at $500+.

The Big 5 Year Blogiversary Giveaway!

What do you get when you combine 

16 awesome sponsors and a 5 year blogiversary? 

A GIANT GIVEAWAY!

Sponsored by 

Natural Products Network

and

Earth Mama Angel Baby

with donated prizes from:

Funkins

Holistic Parenting Magazine

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Wise Wife Soaps

SKINourishment

Happy Baby Company

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic

 HankyBook

Soapbox Soaps

Lynne Dempsey

BANDY Woodworks

Petbrosia

Eat Cleaner

So here's the deal. I launched this blog on August 20, 2009. Since then, the community has grown and changed. I am ever grateful to all the new members, and enormously thankful to those of you who've been with me from the start (and have chosen to stick around!). 

To honor all of you, I joined with the above sponsors to offer you a one-of-a-kind giveaway. Unfortunately, and sadly, because of some of the sponsors stipulations, this giveaway is open to those of you in the US only. Of course, if my Canadian friends, and there are quite a few of you, have US connections, you can always enter and have your prizes shipped to a US address.

Rather than giving away various items to various people, this year, I'm offering the entire prize package to ONE lucky community member. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and Rafflecopter and announced here on the blog on Wednesday, September 3rd. I will also email the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond. If I do not receive a reply by then, an alternate winner will be chosen. Fair enough?

And to sweeten the pot, I am including a $50 VISA gift card, taking the value of the giveaway to over $500! 

Here are the prizes:

• Natural Products Network -- a mystery box of natural beauty products valued at $50
• Earth Mama Angel Baby -- Herbal First Aid Bundle
• Funkins -- 5 Funkins (cloth napkins for kids)
• Holistic Parenting Magazine -- a one year subscription
• Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino of the Best Ever You Network -- 2 copies of her inspirational book, Percolate (1 for you and 1 for a friend)
• Wise Wife Soaps -- a basket of toxic-free goodies, including soaps, a lavender roll on perfume, spicy bay rum roll on perfume, and lavender beeswax lotion
• SKINourishment -- a $25 gift certificate
• Happy Baby Company -- a $25 gift certificate
• Ava Anderson Non Toxic -- a $25 gift certificate 
• HankyBook -- a three-pack of HankyBooks  
• Soapbox Soaps -- body wash, liquid soap, and a bar of soap
• Lynne Dempsey -- 2 books signed by the author -- Take the Dog Out (#1 Best Seller in Children's Pet Books) and Numbers! Take the Dog Out (Volume Two)
• BANDY Woodworks -- Party of Four hardwood rack for wine bottle and four glasses (wine and glasses not included)
• Petbrosia -- a 3 lb. bag of customized dog or cat food
• Eat Cleaner -- a 32 ct. bag of travel wipes and an 8 oz. bottle of fruit and vegetable wash
• Green Grandma -- 2 copies of Vinegar Fridays (1 for you and 1 for a friend) and a $50 VISA card

Didn't I tell you it was an awesome giveaway?! Enter on the Rafflecopter below. The contest runs through midnight on September 2, 2014. Entering is simple. You get one entry for each page you like or account you follow. Grab 1 or all 32 entries. Then get an extra 10 for sharing the giveaway on Twitter and another 10 for commenting below. While I don't usually do mandatory entries, I'm making an exception for this giveaway and am requiring everyone who enters to join the Green Grandma FB community. For those of you who are already part of the community, this is a freebie for you.

I hope you will discover some amazing new products by visiting the sponsors' websites.

Have fun and 

Good Luck!

When you're done with all these entries, make sure you enter to win 

a $500 Southwest Gift Card by clicking here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsors will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, or Instagram. Contact greengrandma@comcast.net if you have any additional questions or comments.