WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Tone with Solow Style GIVEAWAY

Today we continue our special edition of Workout Wednesday with Jill McIntosh and Solow Style! Today, Jill is schooling us on how to get a shapely behind while strengthening and relieving back pain! And thanks to Solow Style, you could win the very stylish workout gear we showed off in last week’s post! Simply enter your favorite, active way to make your body feel good in the comments, and we’ll pick a random winner in next week’s edition. Enter by Tuesday, March 19 for your chance to win! Here’s Jill!

TONE Kneeling Seat Work

A high lifted seat is a great motivator for exercising, but also strengthening the gluteal and hamstring muscles helps you stand taller and offset back pain.  Added benefit: feeling better in your swimsuit!  Position yourself against a wall, like I am in the pictures above, and try these easy exercises.

Press your leg back 25 times

Curl your heal to your seat 25 times

Lift your knee up at a diagonal and do small lateral presses 25 times.

Alignment cues:

1. Arms straight and core stabilized as if in plank.  Use your abdominals to make sure there is no movement in your low back.
2. Curling your heel into your seat adds the benefit of toning the hamstring which helps lift your seat.  Make sure your knee stays behind your hip as you curl.
3. In lateral lifts keep your hips square and try to turn your foot out wider than your knee.  This will ensure that the pelvis stays squared and that you can truly target your seat.

GIVEAWAY WINNER Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil

Thanks to everyone who entered the Infinity Cream giveaway! We have selected Adele, and her lovely tip about using Infinity Cream to prevent blisters and make your collarbone glow, as our winner! Congrats, Adele! We're sure you'll enjoy your tube of Infinity Cream as well as a pot of our new Argan Creamy Oil Cleansing Treatment!

GIVING BACK Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all the Argan Beauties who entered our Giving Back Giveaway. We cherished all of your responses, and found Nancy's story of donating her mother's clothes to battered women's shelters especially touching.  Nancy, we love your realization that anyone could be in a rough situation, and we all rely on the graciousness of others. Giving back is such a beautiful way to show thanks for the blessings we have, and share them. Congratulations, Nancy. Your prize, Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20, is on its way to you.

GIVING BACK Giveaway

Did you know? JMC is all about “Luxury with a Conscience” because our products are made from good-for-your-body-and-the-planet ingredients. But there's more good to JMC than meets the eye (or the skin): we also give back to the community. Being kind and conscious really matters to us, and we know it matters to our customers, too. Here are some of the ways in which your JMC purchases help make the world a better place:

City of Hope & GOGO Mascara

Prettifying your lashes can help cancer survivors feel pretty too. For every tube of GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara purchased, our Give One Get One campaign donates another mascara to a City of Hope cancer patient or survivor. After 5,000 mascaras have been donated, the campaign continues to donate $1 per mascara to women’s cancer research at City of Hope.

Bear Naked Wipes

With the ice melting under their big, furry paws, polar bears need a little human help. You can give them that helping hand when you buy a pack of Bear Naked Wipes. A portion of each sale goes to the Natural Resources Defence Council’s Polar Bear SOS Initiative. 

Moroccan Women’s Co-Ops & Sustainable Harvest

In 2002, the Moroccan government helped establish women's cooperatives to manufacture Argan Oil--while providing Moroccan women with a steady income, fair wage, and healthy working conditions, as well as literacy and education classes. The co-ops also give women a sense of empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated society. Dedicated to responsible harvesting practices, reforestation projects, and environmental protection policies, this program helps preserve Argan forests and women's jobs. The purchase of Josie’s 100% Pure Argan Oil contributes to their success. 

Marocavie

Each time we source our 100% Pure Argan Oil, we donate a portion of our purchase price to Marocavie, a charitable organization in Morocco dedicated to improving economic, social, and environmental conditions in the Southwestern regions of Morocco, where Argan Oil is harvested. The organization works to improve education for children, provide socio-economic opportunities for families, and prevent the spread of the desert and rural exodus.

We know that you, our beloved customers, are out there doing good things for the world too. Tell us how you contribute to the well being  of others, and you’ll have a chance to win your shade of Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20. Just type your answer into the comments section. We'll announce our world-changing winner on Monday, July 30. 

BABY WISHES GIVEAWAY Winner

Hi Argan Beauties! I so enjoyed reading all of your messages of congratulations and wishes for my little Indi. She is already so full of life and spirit. While I loved each and every comment, Charlotte’s post really touched my heart in special way. Congratulations Charlotte, a bottle of my Argan Oil is on its way. Thank you again to everyone for your continued support. I am so grateful that my little jelly bean is surrounded by so much love each and every day.

With much love and joy,

Josie

P.S. That’s little Indi Joon in a bed of rose petals! 

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY giveaway winner

A big-bellied thanks! to all you moms-to-be who sent in your pregnancy workout tips. (Just in time for me to use them—baby #2 is due in just a few weeks.)  And big congratulations to Erin, whose tip to keep it moving made her the winner of our "For Two Fitness" giveaway contest. Erin, I know you ’ll look great breaking a sweat in your new workout gear. Send pictures, please!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY For Two Fitness Giveaway

Hello there, beautiful mamas-to-be!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pregnancy workout tips I've shared with you over the past few weeks. 

Today's the last day of our Workout Wednesday series with maternity activewear company For Two Fitness. To bring an extra happy ending to the series, "For Two" has generously donated one of their great rayon/spandex stretch tops AND a pair of their fab Ultimate Maternity Fitness Pants to be gifted to one lucky Chicological reader. 

I can personally attest to how cute and comfy "For Two" gear is. Check out the pic of me rocking my own outfit. 

Entering the contest is easy. Just share your favorite pregnancy workout tip as a comment to this post—and be sure to do it before midnight on June 5th. We’ll announce the winner on June 6th. 

With love and Lycra,

P.S. Here is some extra info about the outfit from For Two. I know you'll just love it! 

"Celebrate your shape - you're officially one Hot Mama! Add some fun to your workout in this bright, playful tank and Ultimate Maternity Fitness Pants from For Two Fitness. Whether you're sweating it out or just relaxing with that pregnancy glow, you'll stay comfortable and covered in our ultra-comfy, high-performance activewear.   The racerback style tanks features generous long length, our rayon/spandex four-way stretch fabric, and side ruching for a perfectly flattering fit as you grow. Pants are made from the highest quality brushed supplex/lycra blend, and the three-way belly panel lets you customize your fit and support.  This ensemble will become your go-to favorite for your entire pregnancy and beyond. "

31 WEEKS & MOTHER'S DAY winner

Thank you to all of you who entered our Mother’s Day giveaway. We loved reading your heartfelt and loving memories. Myda’s story of her family coming together on Mother’s Day in the wake of such incredible sadness to celebrate Mom brought tears to our eyes. Congratulations, Myda. Sounds like you have a truly amazing family. 

GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE Winner

Thanks to Stacey for giving us a fresh fresh take on a green beauty routine. A simple three ingredient recipe, this is a perfect scrub for spring. Congrats Stacey! We hope you love our 100% Pure Argan Oil. 

GREEN YOUR ROUTINE Giveaway

Happy Friday! Today I want to give you a few tips about greening your beauty routine. Even though the products you choose are important of course, there is also something to be said for getting a little DIY, too! Since my 100% Pure Argan Oil is, well, pure and just one ingredient, it's easy to incorporate into your favorite home beauty routine. There is also something to be said for what you don't use. Check out my tips. Plus:

I want to know, what are your favorite DIY recipes that incorporate my 100% Pure Argan Oil? The winner will get a free bottle!

Please comment below and include your email address. Only U.S. and Canada residents are eligible to win. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Friday, April 20. 

1. Try a Homemade Brightening Masque
I love beauty products, but sometimes a simple at-home treatment does wonders for the skin. One of my favorites is a yogurt masque. Simply take a quarter cup of your favorite plain, greek yogurt and use a paintbrush to apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. If it begins to dry out, drape a damp washcloth over your face to keep moisture in. Rinse, being sure to remove all the yogurt. The lactic acid in the yogurt will help dissolve dead skin and impurities, leaving your face looking bright and rejuvenated.  Be sure to moisturize with 100% Pure Argan Oil right after washing your face to nourish the skin. 

2. Get Dirty
If you wash and style your hair every day, you're doing a whole lot of work and putting an unnecessary strain on the environment. Instead, keep your blowout for a few extra days by using a dry shampoo. You can simply sprinkle it on your roots and rub it in to get rid of any excess oil. You'll save water and electricity by not washing your hair or turning on your blow dryer. Over time, your scalp will get used to not being washed every day and will stop producing so much oil. 

3. Say No to Synthetic
One of the most important things to me when I was creating my line was to ensure that my products contain no synthetic fragrance. Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates which can disrupt the endocrine system and damage the reproductive system. Essential oils are such an amazing alternative. Look for all natural perfumes, or go to the health food store and pick up a few of your favorite essential oils to create your own unique blend!