NightCare Heel Treatment Kit Review
If you are a gal who tries to extend the life of a pedicure as long as possible, then you probably know the first thing that usually needs attention in between pedicures are your heels. I mean really, who has time to get pedicures weekly or even every Read more
Sun Bum Continuous Spray Sunscreen Review
With May being Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness month, now seems like the perfect time if any to talk sunscreen! As you may have read earlier this month, I was diagnosed with Melanoma just a couple of years ago. Life after Melanoma requires a lot more preparation when spending time Read more
Suave Moroccan Argan Styling Oil Review
Moroccan Oil is all the rage for the benefits of argan oil on both skin and hair. Suave's Moroccan Infusion line of hair care products aim to deliver incredible shine, softness and conditioning to your hair. I had the opportunity to try the new Moroccan Argan Styling Oil from Read more
EnvyDerm Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper
As I get older I notice the collagen making a prompt exit from my lips leaving them looking lifeless and thin. The best way to combat thinning lips (or if you have thin lips to begin with) is to keep them hydrated and to use a lip plumper. When Read more
My skin remains oily in the T-zone regardless of the season. I also still get the occasional blemish, despite my age, and blackheads…well let’s just say you’d think I’m having a party on my face sometimes. Sticking to skin care products that are right for your skin type help to diminish skin issues, which is why I was happy to try out Primavera’s new Clarifying Face Scrub. Read more
Lip balms are a must in my daily beauty routine. Regardless if I’m relaxing at home or heading out, I always make sure my lips are moisturized and protected. A lip balm for me must moisturize without feeling heavy and oily on my lips. Even better if it has SPF.
Infinity Sun Avance Balme lip care is a blend of the finest certified organic ingredients, including Organic Beeswax, Organic Vitamin E, Organic Essential Oils, Organic Rosemary Extract and Organic Calendula to soothe and heal chapped lips, keeping the lips moist, soft, and supple. And to top it off, all four flavors – Citrus, Coconut, Spearmint & Vanilla Bean, have SPF15. Read more
People throw around words like “natural” and “organic” a lot – how sure are you that your products are truly what they claim to be?
Recently, I started using Naturopathica skin care products. A brand based on holistic health, Naturopathica is a certified natural and organic skin care line, created with only the best natural ingredients. Just as importantly, the ingredients aren’t just natural – they provide results. At the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone wants? An all-natural lotion is worthless if it doesn’t moisturize.
I tested out two products: the Sicilian Bergamot Body Lotion and Shower Gel. Both the lotion and shower gel are rather lightweight – deceivingly so. The gel worked into a light, refreshing lather and the airy lotion that followed sealed in my skin’s moisture. The combination certainly did the trick after a few days of usage. I could probably reduce my lotioning (yes, I just made that a verb) to only once a day now, but the scent keeps me coming back for more. Read more
Massages after a long day or after a few hours at the gym are just heaven. And just pure bliss if the massage oil being used is therapeutic and smells divine. Eco-Beauty® by La Fresh have some amazing massage oils and I was lucky enough to be sent bottles of their Energize and Detox massage oils to use.
100% natural, these oils are a blend of olive, grape seed, jojoba, sesame and vitamin E; there is Chinese lemongrass essential oil for Detox and essential oil of Italian orange for Energize. Both smell heavenly! As a masseur wasn’t readily available to me, I used the Energize oil after a shower and yes, Energize it does! The orange aroma is invigorating and leaves a light refreshing scent on your skin that makes me sniff myself (not a good look in public), several times a day. I love that each bottle has a dropper so it’s easy to get the right amount of oil. These oils are so versatile; they can also be used in a diffuser or in your bath… Read more
I recently came across Lavanila Labs, an all-natural, healthy beauty company promising high-quality organic goods. Among a slew of other beauty products, Lavanilla Labs boasts a set of Healthy Deodorants. The collection of freshly-scented powder sticks promises long-lasting odor protection and powerful skin nourishment to boot.
I was immediately intrigued by the deodorant collection, mainly because they had some delicious names like Vanilla Grapefruit, Vanilla Lavender, and Vanilla Passion (and I mean, who wouldn’t want their armpits to smell vanilla-y fresh?). Aside from the names though, I wasn’t immediately sold. I was pretty skeptical at first because I’ve tried a small handful of other organic antiperspirants and deodorants, and no product has ever lived up to my expectations.
I decided to put the Lavender-Vanilla scented Lavanila deodorant to the ultimate test: a cardio workout. After a 3 mile run and about twenty minutes of free weights, I made my roommate smell me. Yes. I just said that. I made my roommate smell me after a good 50 minutes of working out.
I’m happy – and not to mention relieved – to say that Lavanila totally works! I wasn’t once nervous about the product not performing, and after a few days of use, I’ve even started noticing my skin feels slightly more moisturized. An added bonus? Lavanila deodorants seem to be slightly easier to get out of clothing if your hand happens to run awry while applying. Not that I would know anything about that, of course! 
Have you tried any Lavanila products? Share your experience with us in the comments?
Disclosure
EDIT: 4/23/2012
Not too long after this was posted, we received the following tweet:
Sara was kind enough to engage with us and said that it stopped working for her after about a month or so. At the time, Lavanilla was still working wonderfully for me….until this weekend, that is. One day I noticed that it completely stopped working, which is a total shame because I had high hopes for it. If you’ve had a similar experience, please feel free to let us know in the comments!
As I write this, it is snowing here in the Poconos. What better time to write about a skin care line based out of Hawaii? The best part was taking the picture of the tropical products in the snow!
I had the opportunity to try Kohana’s Wild Ginger Moisturizing Body Wash from their Hawaiian Rainforest Collection and Bamboo Lemongrass Body Buff from their Palaau Spa Collection. The Wild Ginger Moisturizing Body Wash smells of ginger and lime. It’s a scent that tends to awaken the senses. I love that the main ingredient is aloe–that told me from the start that this body wash was going to be soothing to my skin. And the Bamboo Lemongrass Body Buff is a delicious mix of what smells like lemon zest and sugar. The sugar, bamboo powder and oil concoction of Macademia Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Kukui Nut Oi and Lemongrass Oil create a medley of awesomeness.
All products from Kohana are natural, vegan, organic and cruelty-free. See all of their products at www.KohanaSkin.com. Have you used any products from their line?
When New Jersey-based bath and body company, DollyMoo, contacted me about trying their organic scrubs and body oils, I was nervous. I love when indie beauty brands contact me, especially when they are quasi-local to me, but always feel the pressure that they are crossing their fingers I’ll love their product enough to write about it to help them garner awareness. That pressure is always there for me because I understand what it means to be a start-up beauty business…and I know what it means when your budget is ridiculously small when it comes to sending product out for review. Why do I feel the pressure? Because there have been many times that the product is just not something I can endorse for one reason or another and it makes me feel sooooo bad.
Thankfully, this was not one of those times.
DollyMoo is created by two sisters, Amy and Nicci. They sent me Coconut Citrus in both their Body Scrub and Body Oil to try. And let me tell you, the smell alone makes you long for the warm summer sun, sipping something cold and refreshing while taking in the scents of the beach…wearing your SPF of course! The scrub combats dry skin without much of a fight, although if you have any scratches or cuts at all avoid using the scrub in those areas as this is a salt scrub (i.e. cuts will sting). While the scrub sloughs off dry, flaky skin, the oils seal in moisture. (Tip: It’s great to use prior to shaving!)
Application of the Body Oil only requires 1 pump (per leg, arm, etc.) It’s best to apply it as soon as you get out of the shower without skin being completely dry. This helps the oil seal in that moisture that is so very necessary in the winter when fireplaces, wood stoves and thermostats set high dehydrate the skin. It will feel a bit greasy at first (it is an oil after all), but I found that it absorbed into my skin by the time I was putting on my clothes.
Definitely a product line that delivers on its promises. Your skin will be hydrated and healthy and it will smell so good! Check out their products at www.dollymoo.com. Have you tried their collection?
It’s officially November, and I’ve finally traded in my signature iced coffee for a more autumnal alternative – green tea. Besides the sheer comfort that curling up with a hot cup of green tea brings, the drink has some incredible health benefits that range from weight management to powerful antioxidants.
Now, organic beauty brand Aperio has harnessed the powers of the drink to create beauty products that are as soothing as a hot cup of tea.
I had never heard of Aperio before, so I was excited to test out their goods. The brand’s goal is to promote skin health through natural ingredients — and all products are formulated without heavy chemicals, so you’ll feel good about what you’re putting on your skin. Especially during the winter months, there’s nothing I love more than a good exfoliator to slough off dry skin and get that summer-esque glow back.  I tested out Aperio’s green tea sugar body scrub and was pretty pleased – aside from smelling delicious, the scrub lasted awhile before it disintegrated so I was able to max out my scrub session.
After you’re done exfoliating, the in-shower softening cream is a great replacement for your run-of-the-mill shower gel. It’s both cleansing and moisturizing, and it doesn’t just sit on your skin as many shower gels tend to do.   Finish up the indulgence with a dollop of Green Tea lotion for a shea butter-y finish.
All three products together are a decadent little shower treat….not to mention you’ll be smelling of sweet green tea  after using them together. Who doesn’t love a little scent layering?
Aperio has a slew of other all-natural and deliciously fragranced products that won’t irritate your skin. Find them at www.aperionatural.com. Have you tried any of their products?
