Clean Living
You might ask yourself why a chef, cookbook author and entrepreneur would join Arbonne and start selling the products.
Well, it’s not as far-fetched as you might think. I have always been committed to clean living.
#1 I am in the kitchen and around the grill all the time and cooking can be dirty work. I need products that that really work. Not just something to smell pretty, but products that really clean and protect my skin. And, those who know me, know that I have always been vigilant about taking care of my skin.
#2 Believe it or not, chefs don’t eat while they are cooking, for us, it’s work. So a lot of times, we end up eating a quick snack—sometimes just a spoonful of peanut butter and moving on. I love the vanilla Arbonne vegan protein powder that I can make into a shake with just ice and water. I always add a scoop of super greens too for good measure! And, if I have bananas on hand, I add half a banana because it tastes great and makes the shake super creamy. Sure, you can make a fancy shake with berries and almond butter, etc., but if you don’t have time, a simple shake is great and it’s filled with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
#3 I am one of those people who friends and family have always come to ask what kind of products to buy from skincare to mattresses, bed linens, towels, makeup as well as everything food and kitchen. I love all kinds of products and search out the best of the best for value, quality of ingredients, efficacy and the way it feels and smells—or doesn’t smell. This means that I am an informed and really experienced consumer, a.k.a. shopper.
And, like everyone I have unfortunately bought many things along the way that didn’t add up to the hype. That was not the case with Arbonne.
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I was introduced to Arbonne through a friend of a friend and I bought products in three of their categories, skincare, nutrition and supplements and makeup. Since I am no longer shopping at department stores like I used to do, I appreciated being able to speak with a consultant about the pros and cons of the products.
And then I received the products. They were so good, that I signed up to sell them myself. I was interested in the Arbonne products and the company itself. The company is 40 years old, based in California and owned by the French parent company Groupe Rocher. As a major Francophile, I was familiar with Groupe Rocher through the French brand named after the founder, Yves Rocher.
Arbonne is also vegan and a Certified B Corporation. If you aren’t familiar with a Certified B Corporation, it is a private certification of for-profit companies of their “social and environmental performance.” What that basically means is that the company supports the B Corp mission: to use business as a force for good, by balancing purpose and profit. Companies have an obligation to be accountable for more than just their bottom line and a long-term commitment to responsible business practices and partnerships.
I feel good spending my money with a certified B Corp. But even more importantly, I love the products.
There are so many products for Clean Living, Clean Skin and Nutrition Reset.
Here are a few of my favorites so far:
Sleep and Stress Game Changer:
Like so many people, I have had trouble sleeping since I can remember. I can fall asleep pretty easily but I can’t stay asleep and I am a light sleeper. I’ve tried everything from prescriptions to Melatonin to Benadryl, CBD, THC/CBD, hemp oil and nothing has helped until I started drinking the Inner Calm. For me, it is like a beta-blocker for stress and anxiety. It’s a game changer and I have been sleeping better than I have since I was 16!
This is the Arbonne website description:
“Feel less stressed. This vegan dietary supplement is formulated with sustainably-sourced Ashwagandha (a powerful adaptogen) plus sustainably-sourced Saffron to help you achieve a balanced mindset.◊ Featuring the tea-leaf derived amino acid L-theanine to help temporarily promote a sense of calm and relaxation, mix one scoop into any beverage without worrying about drowsiness or other unwanted side effects.”
SkinCare:
“Soft and dewy, clean, plump and smooth without feeling oily…” That is exactly what my skin feels like. I have always taken good care of my skin, and I have tried every line out there from drugstore Cetaphil to La Mer and beyond. I have sensitive skin and have never been able to use Retinol as an anti-aging ingredient. I was also tired of spending a lot of money on products that didn’t work. The last serum that I bought at a doctor’s office was $350.00 and I didn’t see any difference. I couldn’t wait to try the vegan “version of retinol” called Bakuchiol in the AgeWell skincare.
About Bakuchhiol from goop.com, In a twelve-week clinical study in The British Journal of Dermatology comparing bakuchiol and retinol, participants treated with bakuchiol saw major improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness. What they didn’t see, notably, were the undesirable effects associated with retinol, like irritation, redness, and skin sensitivity.
I bought the AgeWell kit with SPF and saw a difference in a few days. I also like that it is easy to use, there are only the basic steps: cleanse, tone—in a spray bottle!, serum, eye cream with caffeine to reduce puffiness, and a moisturizer for day with zinc-based 15 SPF and a moisturizer for night without SPF. Not complicated and it really works!
Bright Eyes:
Under-Eye Concealer: This is another one of those elusive products. I have purchased literally everyone on the market and none of them concealed my purplish under-eye color once it was patted into my face. Not only did The Real Conceal Liquid Concealer live up to it’s name! It covered the purple color, but it was smooth and didn’t dry out and flake or migrate into the fine lines. It also didn’t sting my eyes. And, it is not expensive. Say Yay! To a concealer that actually conceals!
Moist and Plump:
Lip Oil:
Nothing feels worse than chapped lips. I discovered long ago that you hardly notice your lips if that are moist and hydrated, but if they are chapped, they drive you crazy. I’ve used various chapsticks and lip glosses that actually make them drier—go figure?! For this reason, I am really picky about what I use in the daytime and before I go to bed.
Not drinking enough water can also cause them to be chapped, and if I go to bed without putting a heavy duty lip conditioner or “salve” on them, I wake up and they are dry.
I love the non-sticky lip oil from Arbonne that moisturizes and hydrates with no color or a little tint.
ENERGY:
Fizz Sticks
There is such a following for the Fizz Sticks that there is a whole Arbonne Fizz Bizz. To me, they are the real “Vitamin Water” filled with vitamins and minerals and natural energy.
According to the Arbonne website, they are ”designed to help increase energy levels while temporarily relieving fatigue, promoting alertness and enhancing cognitive performance, its vegan blend of Ginseng Root, antioxidant Coenzyme Q10, Chromium and B vitamins (including Riboflavin and Niacin) is joined by naturally-derived Caffeine from Guarana and Green Tea. Available in a variety of great-tasting flavors, this dietary supplement helps boost energy levels. Formulated without artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners; formulated without high fructose corn syrup, dairy or soy. Formulated without gluten.”
My sister—who is an M.D.—says that she can feel a good “buzz” from the Fizz Sticks and using the Arbonne products means that she can give up her daily Multi-Vitamin because she is getting all the vitamins and minerals from the Arbonne products.
Nutritional Reset:
I love this 30 Day Reset because it is easy to follow and it has been thought out for you and me! So we don’t have to cobble together everything we need. If you follow the program as a 30-day reset, it come with instructions on how to use it. Basically, 2 shakes a day plus one healthy meal that is 50% vegetables.
Once a Day Green Shake:
But as a chef and recipe developer who is cooking and tasting most days, I am using it as a way to increase my nutritional intake and as a 1-meal a day meal replacement. And, so I am packing all I can into my one shake and adding a scoop of the super greens.
CleanTox HERBAL DETOX Tea:
It is well known that Milk Thistle is good for detoxing your liver. I’ve taken milk thistle capsules for years as a way to combat my love for a moderate drink… and I really like the flavor of this herbal tea.
Arbonne created this tea to help support the liver and kidneys (the body's detoxifying organs). The tea has a mild pleasing flavor and is caffeine-free. It features Milk Thistle, Peppermint, Dandelion, Sweet Fennel, Elder Flower, Nettle Leaf, Parsley, Uva Ursi and Licorice.
My sister asked me to send her my routine, and I thought if she was interested in how I was using the products, you might be. Stay tuned for my skincare routine😊
Here is my Daily Arbonne nutritional routine:
Wake
Coffee + Collagen—I’ve done this for more than 10 years
Fizz Stick with 16 ounces of water and ice in a large water bottle—add Fizz with half the water and mix and then add more water, or you might have a volcano of fizz on your hands! I drink this after my coffee and throughout the day. Do not have more than 2 of these a day.
Make a Green Shake with 2 scoops of Vanilla or Chocolate Protein Powder and 1 scoop of Super Greens, ice, water and half a banana. Add probiotics to the shake, if using.
Around 3:00 p.m. Take Inner Calm with 6-8 ounces of water. The easiest way to mix it is by adding a scoop to about 4 ounces of water, use a handheld milk foamer like an aerolatte and mix well. Make sure your glass is 3x taller than the amount of water or it will splatter. Drink it all at once. If I am feeling stressed out or anxious, I take it immediately.
Around 5:30, I make a cup of tea with the CleanTox Milk Thistle and Licorice Tea. I also sometimes make this before I go to bed. I let it steep for 10 minutes and drink it warm, not hot. I love the taste of it and sometimes have 2 cups a day.
SWEET DREAMS—now that I have Inner Calm, I am sleeping so much better and not hitting the snooze in the morning!