Your skin can feel like a baby again, without resorting to those Heidi Pratt tactics of plastic surgery and other weird stuff! Picture: paulandaline on Flickr.

I am typing this after soaking in a bath, and luxuriously pampering myself with Shea Terra Organics products as though I were in a spa. I have a fluffy robe, and ambient music – I can fake the spa feeling! Especially when I have such amazing products at my hands. (Hands which are already feeling softer – but more on that later!)

We’ve mentioned the Shea Terra Organics line before, because it’s a brand we’ve used and absolutely trust and believe in. Also, almost more than makeup, at ShesSmart.com we care about healing and nourishing our skin (we would like to avoid all botox injections). We want to treat our skin from H-T (head to toe) as Tyra Banks would say when she tells her models to go about modeling. The best way to go about treating your skin is with natural products, or eco-friendly products as they say. Whatever you want to call it, if it feels good and works, and you can tell that it’s been brought to you through safe means and with safe ingredients – then all is well.

And all is GREAT with Shea Terra Organics. Seriously. Yes, I can namedrop and say that famous people like Angelina Jolie are vocal fans of this line. But better than that I can provide you with my personal experiences with the products. I talked with the company and told them that in the winter we really want to focus on dealing with dry skin patches, and just really making sure we are moisturized properly. So, I was then generously sent a kit of products to test that would help with that and other skin issues.

Before I get into the run-down review, I want to mention that the company was born out of the passion of a very wonderful woman, Tammie Umbel (the CEO and founder). What she’s done is find a way to provide jobs and income for people in Africa while helping people in the West get the very best in high-quality products (which are made from sustainable, 99% natural ingredients only). While the products help empower you to face the day with clearer skin, the sales of the products empower people in Africa to have better lives.

Shea Terra Organics Tsamma Melon “Light & Healing” Body Nectar: As with all products from this line, this is naturally fragranced. And man, why do they bother creating so many perfumes when something that’s already here smells so amazing? This body oil absorbs quickly (especially if you apply after a shower) and softens skin while leaving the linger of a delicious melon scent. It smells almost like a sweet cantaloupe, but better. Rather than letting the spray go wide in many directions, it is a concentrated amount that gets sprayed out. I find this actually makes it easier to apply to myself. You can spray it over areas and then rub it in with your hand, or spray some into your palm and then apply it like that.  There are four different Body Nectar Oil Sprays available, all that target a different issue from being anti-aging to toning. $22 (Body Spray)

Mint Marrakesh Indigenous Black Soap Elixir:  I am in love, sweet heavenly LOVE with the scent of this body wash. The scent wakes you right up. The black soaps from this line are famous for being amazing on your skin. Not only does it leave it totally cleansed, exfoliated and soft, but it helps heal acne, lessen sun damage and eczema. I’ve used Proactive before and this is definitely better for your skin. Proactive would dry my skin out and the chemicals smelled bad  – not to mention that the lotion has bleaching ingredients which sometimes transferred to T-shirts or pillowcases (and they expect you to be fine with putting that on your face!). $18 (Black Soap products)

African Lemongrass Indigenous Black Soap Elixir: I don’t love the smell of lemongrass, but it’s still a rather pleasing scent and it perks up your senses in the way that citrus scents do. The effects of the black soap are just as great as in the Mint Marrakesh. $18  (Black soap products)

Shea Nilotica: If you are looking for a product to drastically soften skin, and fade scars or stretch marks – this is it. When we first adopted shopcat I would hold her more often than she liked and I would receive the scars to prove it – right on my face or upper chest! Yikes. But Shea Nilotica came to my rescue and I saw results in a week.  $16 (Best healing lotion)

Shea Body Butters:  Rich and moisturizing just as you’d expect, what you might not realize is that the scents are totally unreplicated anywhere but in nature. And even then, unless you actually live in Africa you probably haven’t smelled them all. My favorite is the Pink Guava Pomegranate which is just sweet and light and beautiful. I also love the Lavender of the Khosian because, if you remember, the scent of lavender calms my migraines. Check out the Bourbon Vanilla and Miombo Mango, too.  $18 (Natural Body Butters)

Fair Trade Gourmet Divine Dark Chocolate: Why not treat your mouth a bit when you treat your skin? It’s totally allowed. Dark chocolate is a natural antidepressant, and loaded with anti-oxidants that fight cancer. “Shea Terra Organics promotes Divine Chocolate for its efforts to improve the condition of cacao growers in Africa. Not only are cooperative farmers paid more than others, but they also own more than 50% of Divine shares.” So, help people, get chocolate – and what’s more? This chocolate tastes heavenly. I especially recommend the Dark Chocolate Mint variety. (Organic Chocolate Bars)

30% Off Everything at Shea Terra Organics

From now until Jan. 30, 2010 you can save 30% off everything you find on our website. That is huge savings because you can’t find Divine Chocolates cheaper. So enjoy sweet treats while feeding your skin, too.

Shea Terra Organics has just launched 14 NEW products! From the Night Nourishment Nutrient Facial Serum to the  Hair Nutrition Hot Oil Growth & Repair Treatment. Check them out!

Use code JAN30 at checkout.

Shop the Site: Shea Terra Organics Website

Giveaway: THREE (3) winners will pick their own prize! This is courtesy of Shea Terra Organics!

IMPORTANT!
- You must be a subscriber of the She’s Smart daily newsletter.  If you win but are not a subscriber with a validated e-mail you forfeit your prize! This has already happened! If you win but haven’t followed the rules, you are disqualified. We thrive on organization!
- Your e-mail subject line should be: SHEA TERRA ORGANICS (And specify what you want.)
- Mail to shescontests@gmail.com with your name/address for each entry.
- Please note that you’re a subscriber in your initial e-mail.

Mandatory First Entry – Subscribe then Share! Mail me from your subscribed e-mail account and after visiting the website, tell me what product you’d like to win. That’s what you will win if you are chosen – so pick wisely!

Increase your chances of winning! You don’t have to do these in order – you can pick any of them, and often our winners are the people who enter the contests more than one way!

Additional Entry #1 Tweet! Provide your Twitter name so we can see if you’re following Jessica Rae on Twitter , and provide a link to you tweeting about this contest with the phrase “Skincare Giveaway”. Not sure how to show a link to a tweet? Just click on the date and it’ll provide you with the individual tweet you made.

Additional Entry #2 Stumble! Provide your StumbleUpon name – stumble this page or site.

Additional Entry #3 Blog! Provide a link to a blog post you’ve written about this contest of at least 100 words. This can be a blog hosted anywhere – blogspot, livejournal, etc.

Additional Entry #4 Blogroll us! Provide a link to a blog where you’ve put us on your blogroll. This can be a blog hosted anywhere – blogspot, livejournal, etc. It cannot be a nofollow link.

USA residents 18+ only, no P.O boxes. Winner chosen by random.org. The winner(s) will be e-mailed. The winner is picked on February 1st, 2010!

Good luck to all of you smart ladies, and have a sparkling day of genuine smiles. You KNOW that you deserve it. XO – Jessica, Eve, Nancy, Shopcat and Shopdog

She shops smart – she’s you! Smart shopping is always in style.

Yoplait Thick & Creamy lowfat yogurt

Shea Terra Organics Pink Guava Pomegranate Indigenous Shea Butter Dead Sea Salt Scrub: I got this as a gift where I reviewed it for another blog. This is a high quality scrub where the entire mixture is really combined well instead of parting when let alone (oil rising, etc). It lasts a long time and the smell of the pomegranate one is a smell that I love and haven’t smelled anywhere else. Body Scrubs
Smart Shopping Tips: When you buy from a quality company that’s doing good things for the world, you get a selfish burst of feeling good about yourself. This company is by far one of the best companies I’ve ever read about in terms of how they give back to the earth and people. In addition, the jar this comes in is really durable. When I was done with the product I rinsed it out and it looked totally new, and now I’m using it for my own mix of brown sugar and vegetable oil which I also use as my own handmade sugar scrub when I don’t have any other kind but really need some on my ankles or elbows (the winter months are cruel to my skin!) So, reuse!
Coupon Tips!: Sign up for the Shea Terra Organics newsletter and you’ll often get access and alerts about special deals.

John Mayer Battle Studies CD: John Mayer’s newest album. It’s amazing. He’s amazing. I may be drooling – and I don’t care. Pretty sure he’s seen drool before. Battle Studies
Smart Shopping Tips: Invest in good music.

Maybelline Express Finish Nail Polish in Brisk Berry: It’s a dark, dark berry color that can almost pass for red in the right light. I get sick of red nails if I want to paint them to be festive, and this berry-hue is exactly what I needed as a pick-me-up.
Smart Shopping Tips: I don’t see it for sale online so get thee to a drugstore!