I remember just being totally blown away by Dave Asprey's Bulletproof Radio podcast no. 90 with Andy Hnilo back in January 2014. Andy had been hit and run over by two SUVs fracturing 7 ribs, collapsing a lung and a serious compounded fracture to his jaw. He spent 9 weeks with his jaw wired shut. Did I mention he is a model, athlete and actor? What was mind blowing as I listened to Andy Hnilo on the Bulletproof Radio episode, was the resilience and exuberant amount of gratitude that radiated from his voice. His journey to recovery was just flat out inspirational. It marked me. Many years later I would see the youtube video of this episode and truly realise how remarkable his story was. There is no trace of an accident on a physical level as his face is truly a model of perfection but most importantly there is no trace of a broken spirit, only resilience rooted in gratitude.
Now, Andy really worked for his recovery. Taking nutrition seriously and focusing only on nutrient dense foods like: Deer Placenta, Raw Egg, Raw Vison Liver, Colostrum smoothies. Hands down, total respect! His morning tonic is composed of Tumeric, Cayenne Pepper, Silica, Zinc. L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, He Shou Wu, Pearl Powder, Aloe Vera and Sea Salt. We share the love for sardines and I quote him "I'm a BIG sardines guy." Through his perseverance and discipline for nutrition and exercise, he got himself back on a runway within 3 months of the accident. This is what he had to say when asked the infamous question by Dave Asprey " What are the top 3 recommendations to kick ass in life at everything you do?" He answered "Positive Self Talk & Visualisation, Expressing Gratitude and lastly, You are the people you surround yourself with."
So Andy Hnilo's skin radiates health, vitality and has no signs of accident scars. During the podcast he talked about about how he had been experimenting with clays for some time and given people's curiosity about his skincare routine which includes the use of his special clay mix 3x week, he decided to commercialise it thus the start of Alitura Naturals. At the time of listening to the podcast I immediately thought "I need to get my hands on this stuff." I was however living in Brazil and so it was not until this past visit to Miami, Florida that I managed to finally get my hands on the infamous Andy Hnilo Alitura Clay Mask but also a bottle of the Alitura Moisturiser. He has come a long way from the original podcast back in January 2014, when he was hand mixing the Clay Mask in his apartment! Today, his ALL NATURAL skin care line includes lots of different goodies including a fragrance called 'Presence'. So here is my review of the much anticipated Alitura Clay Mask and the Moisturiser which I decided to try too.
Alitura Clay Mask. From the moment the shipment arrived I could not wait to finally try it out. I got the whole family involved from my sister and mom all huddled in the kitchen mixing the right portions of water and clay. Steaming water to open the pores before the application. There we were all three of us with green faces, waiting for the mask to dry. The verdict? We were left with noticeably softer skin afterwards. Both my sister and I gave it a dumbs up while my mom experienced some redness but she does have very sensitive skin. The mask smells EARTHY which might not be everyone's cup of tea but for us it was just fine. Since then, I have gone ahead and tested the mask with a touch of Apple Cider Vinegar per the recommendations which adds to the intensity. However, I can imagine if you have sensitive skin this is probably not a recommended option for you. The Alitura Clay Mask comes only in one size 201 grams (Note: its now available in travel size too), which is a pretty big tub. I really wish they had a travel version. I can envision myself travelling around with this massive tub for an entire year before I need a replacement order. A little goes a long way! It will set you back 79 USD but its worth every penny given the abundant size and the quality ingredients in the Clay Mask starting with 10% High Potency Vitamin C (highest quality on the market), Fresh Water Pearl Powder, 1st 6-hour Milking Grass-Fed Colostrum ( I kid you not!! AMAZING!!!), American Ginseng, Rhassoul Clay, Illite Clay, Calcium Bentonite Clay, Kaolin Clay and Organic Kelp Powder. All ingredients which can be pronounced and eaten if necessary. Lets not forget that skin care is about nourishing the largest organ of your body.
Alitura Moisturiser. From the moment I lathered the moisturiser on my face it felt decadently lush and instantly gave me a natural glow. It also smells divine! At the time I was in Miami which is synonymous for air conditioner and I found consequently I had to re-apply during the day, so I wondered whether the formula could be a little thicker. However, once I was in Europe though without an air-conditioned environment I easily got by with a morning and evening application which is what I am normally accustomed to. I also perceived my skin had to get used to the drastic change since I have used Kiehls' moisturiser for years and their products although positioned as "natural" have loads of ingredients I am unable to pronounce nor would I ever want to eat them! In contrast, the Alitura Naturals Moisturiser ingredients sound like things straight out of the menu of a fancy high-end organic restaurant. Just read through the list and judge for yourself. Ingredients: Purified Hawaiian Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Beeswax, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Raw Organic Wilelaiki (Christmas Berry) Honey, Organic Bee Propolis Extract, Organic Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, Organic Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil, Organic German Blue Chamomile Essential Oil, Organic Sea Buckthorn Essential Oil, Wildcrafted Calendula Essential Oil, Organic, Carrot Seed Essential Oil, Wildcrafted Vanilla Essential Oil, Royal Jelly. When was the last time you could clearly make sense of ALL the ingredients in your skin care products.? Exactly! You have to hand it to Andy for going out of his way to select only the best ingredients for his line of products. Despite the fact that I tend to go for travel size on self care items, moisturiser is the one exception as its the one thing that is not so easily replaceable while you are on the road. So I went for the 100 ml (3.38 oz) size at 79 USD. When compared to a bottle of Kiehls' Super Multi Corrective Cream sized at 2.5 oz and costing 84 USD, Alitura's Moisturiser is also great value.
Alitura Naturals are products with integrity and passion and if they are good enough for Andy, given his high standards well then they're good enough for me! GET 20% OFF with MSPETIT Promo Code at checkout.
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