Keeki Review and Giveaway

"Love yourself, Love the planet" 

Keeki’s Roots

If you're a mom, what do you do when the non-toxic, organic cosmetics you're looking to buy for your children don't seem to exist?

If you're Natalie Bauss and Katy Scheffler, two West Michigan moms, friends, and entrepreneurs, you create Keeki Pure and Simple products and start a successful business while you're at it.

Keeki Pure and Simple is the brainchild of Bauss, 40, who lives with her family on an organic farm in Ada, and Scheffler, 39, a Rockford mother of three. The two were introduced by a mutual friend who thought their entrepreneurial aspirations might mesh.

Bauss, a California native with 20 years experience as an esthetician and a background in international sales and marketing, had been checking out reference works from the library and conducting exhaustive Internet searches in her quest to make wholesome products for her own friends and family. "I started out creating recipes in my kitchen from things we'd grown on the farm, just experimenting," she says.

Scheffler, an intern architect by trade, was reading labels at the health-food store in her efforts to find products that would be compatible with her daughter's need to be gluten-free. "I live in suburbia and I'm trying to get a handle on this whole organic lifestyle trend just like other moms. When I realized what I was looking for wasn't out there, I wanted to change that," she says.

Why Organic & Gluten-Free?

Keeki™ Pure and Simple has chosen to use as many organic raw materials as we can get our hands on. We have done this because organic products are made with ingredients that are grown and produced without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers and other chemicals; only ‘good-for-you’ elements of the earth. By using only ‘good-for-you’ components, organic products have a low impact on our environment and are also healthy for our bodies. The skin is the largest organ of our body… Keeki™ pledges to help you maintain your skin with ‘good-for-you’ products that are made in the USA and are 100% cruelty free. We do not use any parabens, phthalates, or any other toxic ingredients.

For this review I was sent the following products to try. I enjoyed them all and hope that in the future I can add them to MBG's inventory! 

Minty Vanilla Cooler Certified Organic Lip Balm

Food-Grade Ingredients:

*Organic Beeswax

*Organic Macadamia Nut Oil (Macadamia integrifolia)

*Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera)

*Sweet Almond Oil (Prunis dulcis)

*Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

*Organic flavor compounds

*Certified organic by the USDA*

My Take-I have never admitted this to anyone but my husband, but I have a lip balm habit that I just can’t/don’t want to break.   I feel dry/bare without something on my lips to keep them moist.  I have tubes everywhere-cars (don’t leave one in there when it’s hot-it’s devastating to an addict like me) I never cared for putting lipstick on all the time but when I did it had to be super moisturizing like a tinted lip balm is. 

My addiction started as a child when I was in the hospital when they gave me Carmex ($10 back then) for my chapped lips. From then on I had to put it or something moisturizing on my lips every night before bedtime. I used Vaseline, ChapStick, lip gloss, flavored lip balms and then on to brands like Burt’s Bees. Changing from flavored to BB or any other natural brand meant the flavored lip balms were no longer around.  It also meant no more stolen kisses from my husband because he wanted some of my lip balm before bed. Even though I always had to put more on afterwards, I missed those kisses.  I feel I can say I am somewhat an expert on them so with that said, this is now my favorite lip balm. It’s moist, cooling with the of minty vanilla that tastes good to boot! Even though it’s all natural and tastes (yes, I had to lick my lips) as good as it smells and you could, I don’t recommend eating it! This is now my go to lip balm which says a lot. Welcome back stolen kisses!! 

Keeki™ Non-toxic Nail Polish, Base Coat & Top Coat

Keeki™ Nail Polish, Base Coat & Top Coat is Gluten-Free, Toluene, Formaldehyde and Phthalate FREE, Vegan, Safe during pregnancy, Made in the USA, 100% biodegradable and available in 16 colors to choose from!

My Take-Simple to use without the toxic smell. You just use it just like any other nail polishes. My nail polish arrived a little thick but because it is water based, all I had to do was add a couple DROPS of water and I was good to go. 

Instructions-Keeki does recommend to first clean your nails with Keeki Nail Polish Remover so that it  takes off any oils that are on the nail bed. Then apply a thin coat of Keeki Base Coat. This is a must-it helps the polish to cure to the nail. Wait a few seconds then apply two thin coats of Keeki Nail Polish ( I was sent Grape Soda), then follow with Keeki Top Coat. Use the blow dryer on low setting for a few minutes to set the polish.  Why use a blow dryer?  Because non toxic polish does not contain harmful chemicals,  the heat from the dryer really helps bond the polish to the nail bed.  Keeki Nail Polish will become resistant to warm, soapy water in 20-30 minutes and scratch and chip resistant in one hour. Removes best with Keeki™ Nail Polish Remover.

It went on very easy which made it simple to put on my 16 month old as well.  I was able to quickly swish each coat on her and even follow through with using the blow dryer.  I don’t own any but there is no way I would have been able to do that with regular nail polish. It's thicker and it always took too long to dry. A thin layer is all it took for any of the coats. When there was some slight chipping, all I had to do was brush on a thin layer to cover it up. Looked good as new and not lumpy or thick where the touch up was done. 

Keeki Natural Fingernail Polish Remover

Keeki™ Nail Polish Remover is non-toxic, safe to use, and Acetone Free.  It contains none of the solvents that could offend your nose or harm our atmosphere. Aloe Vera and Vitamin E are added to supplement the natural oils that protect your nails and cuticles.

My Take-This was fantastic. No odors and it didn’t leave the tips of my fingers  white like the toxic kinds can. It didn’t dry out my cuticles either.  I will say that it does take some extra time to remove old polish, not quick like acetone, but that is something I don’t care about. I took a cotton ball with polish remover on it, held it on each nail bed for a few seconds and then started to rub all polish off. For Gracie I let most of hers come off on its own which made it easier. 

If you prefer non toxic options, have brittle nails, problem nails or allergic reactions to unhealthy polishes and removers, you will love Keeki™ Nail Polish and Nail Polish Remover.

BUY

Save 20% off of one item by using the code take20.  Code is valid until May 1, 2011. 

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive A giveaway gift pack that will include one of each of the following- Keeki Nail Polish Remover, Keeki Nail Polish, Keeki Top Coat, Keeki Shimmer Stick and Keeki Lip Balm-Valued at $40.73

RULES

This contest is open to the US only. You have until 8:00 A.M. EST March 14, 2011 to enter.  Please visit Rules for more information.  Be sure to leave your email address in EACH comment. ALL entries will be verified.

MANDATORY ENTRY

PUBLICLY (not anonymously) follow MBG’s Blog on GFC PLUS sign up for Keeki’s Newsletter that can be found on the right side of their homepage.

EXTRA ENTRIES 


If you make a purchase during this giveaway, give yourself 5 extra entries-comment in each that you did. You will need to send me a copy of the confirmation email (minus acct info).

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BONUS ENTRIES for BLOGGERS

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to your post-3 extra entries!

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Many thanks to Keeki for sponsoring this GREEN giveaway!

*Disclaimer: The product(s) mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for an honest review and for being featured on 

My Baby’s Green, the Blog