Friday, June 26, 2015

Acure Facial Cleansing Gel - Another amazing non-toxic facial wash!!

Check out Acure's sweet-smelling, refreshing facial cleansing gel:


Acure Facial Cleansing Gel, recommended as best for combination and oily skin, is a very emollient cleanser that easily removes dirt and makeup from the face, but without drying the skin out. In fact, it has such a thick, slippery quality to it, that it leaves skin already feeling lightly moisturized after cleansing, much like Acure's "normal to dry skin" cleansing cream reviewed in Part 1 of this spotlight. This article is a two-part spotlight on Acure's facial cleansers. If you missed Part 1, click here to read about Acure's Facial Cleansing Crème.

Acure's Cleansing Gel smells wonderful, like sweet citrus, and the formula is a transparent yellow color. As is the case with all other Acure products, this cleanser is fair trade certified, paraben free, vegan, synthetic fragrance free, silicone free, phthalate free, gluten free and made with food grade ingredients. Check out the skin-loving and organic ingredients in this facial cleansing gel:

Organic Curoxidant™ Superfruit Blend [(Organic Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Calendula Oficinalis (Calendula), Organic Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile), Fair Trade Organic Aspalanthus Linearis (Rooibos)], Lauryl Glucoside (Vegetable Derived), Decyl Glucoside (Sugar Soap), Organic Olea europaea (Olive Oil), Organic Chlorella Pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Glucono Delta Lactone (Fermented sugar), Marrubium Vulgare (White Horehound) Stem Cell Culture, Echinacea Stem Cell Culture, Fermented Resveratrol Extract (Probiotic), Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Olea Europea (Olive Leaf) Extract, Potassium Sorbate (Food Grade Preservative), Citrus Limon (Lemon) Essential Oil, Citric Acid


Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Acure Facial Cleansing Crème - an amazing non-toxic facial wash!

Acure Facial Cleansing Crème is amazing and leaves skin feeling plump and refreshed:



When it comes to organic facial skincare, Acure is really becoming a leading presence in the natural and non-toxic beauty world. Acure’s facial care products, including cleansers, masks, toners and moisturizers are, simply put – fabulous! They leave skin refreshed and rejuvenated. Acure’s facial cleansers are yet another set of Acure products being featured on this blog because they are so effective and the ingredients are really fantastic, food-grade, toxin-free and derived from fair trade sources.

Acure Facial Cleansing Crème has a green, creamy and thick texture that cleanses the face easily and leaves skin feeling soft and plump. I almost feel like I don’t need moisturizer after using this thick, nourishing cleanser because it’s so moisturizing in itself and doesn’t strip skin of its natural acid mantle. In fact, the formula almost feels like a face mask, and gives users a sensory, aromatic experience via the refreshing spearmint and lemongrass essential oils present in the ingredients. This cleanser’s formula, recommended for normal, combination or dry skin, is paraben free, vegan, synthetic fragrance free, silicone free, phthalate free, and gluten free. Check out the amazing organic, skin-nourishing ingredients in this facial cleanser:

Organic Curoxidant™ Blend [(Organic Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Calendula Ocinalis (Calendula), Organic Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile), Fair Trade Organic Aspalathas Linearis (Rooibos)], Decyl Glucoside (Sugar Soap), Organic Aloe Barbensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Fair Trade Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Olivoyl PCA, Sodium PCA, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive Oil), Glucono Delta Lactone (Fermented Sugar), Organic Chlorella Pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Cetearyl Glucoside, Vitamin E, Marrubium Vulgare (White Horehound) Stem Cell Culture, Echinacea Stem Cell Culture, Fermented Resveratrol Extract (Probiotic), Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Olea Europea (Olive Leaf) Extract, Potassium Sorbate (Food Grade Preservative), Essential Oils of Salvia Ocinalis (Sage), Lavandin, Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemongrass), Mentha Spicata (Spearmint).


Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Zion Health Adama Ancient Minerals White Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner

An exceptional, coconutty shampoo and conditioner duo by Zion Health!
Zion Health Adama Ancient Minerals White Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner

Love the smell of coconuts? Love it in your hair? Personally, I'm a huge fan of that glorious smell of coconut oil when I buy a jar at Trader Joe's and open it. With Zion Health's Adama Ancient Minerals White Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner, my hair smells just like that jar of coconut oil! I already use coconut oil as a hair treatment all on its own by smothering my hair in the oil about once per week, but this shampoo and conditioner duo really seems to have the same effect on my hair, with just a single wash!

Other than coconut oil, the other most beneficial ingredient in this amazing shampoo and conditioner is clay – and you can see that in the formula when you squeeze it out onto your hand. The texture is definitely a bit different from most shampoos and conditioners, but surprisingly, the emollient quality and lather is wonderful. It’s so easy to clean the hair with this formula! Best of all, this shampoo and conditioner duo leaves hair looking super shiny, voluminous and clean. And the fresh, yummy coconut oil smell lasts for two days! For best results, I like to use a squirt of Zion Health’s Adama Ancient Minerals Leave-In Conditioner in my hair, directly after washing and gently towel-drying my hair.

Zion Health is definitely a company to try for natural beauty fanatics!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

A no-nonsense biodegradable body scrub by Teadora!

Teadora Illuminance Dual Function Scrub Treatment is a true at-home spa treatment!



Teadora Illuminance Dual Function Scrub Treatment is a no-nonsense body scrub by one of my favorite natural beauty brands! Teadora just doesn’t seem capable of disappointing – every single one of their products that I have tried has been exceptional. I say this scrub treatment is “no-nonsense” because the scrub power is really amazing – without scratching the skin, it provides an incredible micro-massage on the skin’s surface, through the organic Brazilian sea salt and other biodegradable “scrubbers” in the ingredients. The other natural oils and extracts in the ingredients nourish and sooth skin. There is even coffee and caffeine extract in this scrub, which are known to boost skin's elasticity.

This scrub leaves skin smooth, rejuvenated and revitalized. The scent is invigorating as well, with notes of ginger, lemon, flowers and earthiness. This is definitely the most effective and luxurious spa-quality body scrub that I have ever used.

Check out the company's website for more information about this eco-conscious, amazing brand! Companies like Teadora really deserve to be making good business, because they use truly good, healthy and natural ingredients, but they also care about the environment and obtain ingredients that are fair trade sourced, sustainably harvested, carbon reduction focused, recyclable and biodegradable.


Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Zion Health's leave-in conditioner nourishes hair - and it's free of toxic stuff!


Zion Health Adama Ancient Minerals Leave-In Conditioner gets a definite 5 star review:


Zion Health Adama Ancient Minerals Leave-In Conditioner

As someone who is always on the look-out for great, effective hair products that are free of toxic ingredients, I wanted to share a review of the leave-in conditioner produced by a new company that I've come to know a bit in the last few weeks - Zion Health. This company is a California-based natural cosmetics brand that creates wonderful, effective, toxin-free skin care and body care products. Clay seems to be their go-to ingredient in all their products, and since clay has been used as a healing and nutritive additive for thousands of years, that's a good hint that at least the company's choice of ingredients is smart!

Zion Health Adama Ancient Minerals Leave-In Conditioner is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a great, nourishing leave-in conditioner. But most importantly, this leave-in conditioner is free of parabens and other toxic chemicals. It has the consistency of a typical conditioner that you would use in the shower to wash out. When I first squeezed some out onto my hand, I wasn't sure how it would make my hair look without washing it out - but the formula molds into the hair really nicely. It leaves a subtle gloss and actually keeps the hair from getting tangled throughout the day. I actually liken this to a light styling product, because it's all you need to keep the hair de-tangled and lightly in place for a day or night out. The clay in the ingredients also has the added benefit of protecting the individual hair strands from breaking. The conditioner also smells refreshing and lovely - scented with grapefruit essential oil. Zion Health's Leave-In Conditioner can be used on wet or dry hair, with equal effectiveness.


Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Introducing Pixi nail color in "Coral Cantaloupe"

Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe" - amazing, vibrant color!

Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in natural light

Though I’m the kind of gal who enjoys breaking free of fashion trends, preferring instead to do my own thing most of the time, one fashion trend that I found irresistible last year was the bright neon bikini trend! I would see so many women in bright orange, pink and coral bikinis and swimsuits, and I just love how a flash of neon color looks on tanned skin or dark skin tones in general!

So, naturally, I was also super pleased with the neon orange nail polish trend last summer. I don’t think I’m the only one who loves neon nail color, because the trend has continued into this spring and summer too, and I’m seeing countless nail polish companies releasing ads with at least one super bright, neon shade!

Which brings me to Pixi’s brand new 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe" that I’ve recently tried. I absolutely love this color! It’s a bright peachy coral that really has an amazing change of depth, depending on the lighting! It goes from a pastel peach color in medium light, to a bright neon coral in either really dim light or outside in the sun. Because of the complexity of this awesome color, I included a set of photos (below) revealing the color in different light, both in the bottle and swatched on a sheet of paper. It’s really a perfect, bright shade for the spring and summer! It has a gentle golden shimmer that is visible in certain lighting.

One of the coolest things about Pixi nail color is the way it dries. It has a matte finish and almost has more of a papery feel than most nail polishes I have tried. It applies nice and thick and spreads easily, but also starts to dry fast, so one should be aware of that when applying the color to avoid messing up the job by moving too slowly. Two coats on each nail should last at least three days without chipping. I use my hands a lot, so I’m usually happy with just two days wearing one nail polish – and honestly, even the less toxic options are not totally natural, so I prefer to only keep polish on my nails for 2 or 3 days at a time anyway. Pixi’s nail colors are free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP.

 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in inside lighting
  Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in natural lighting
  Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown with flash
 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown in natural lighting
 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown in inside lighting

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Paraben-free & Non-toxic eyeliner? Try Pixi by Petra's Endless Silky Eye Pen in "BlackNoir"

A less toxic option for a truly high end eye liner by Pixi:


Pixi by Petra endless eye pen in "BlackNoir"; on nails: "Coral Canteloupe" 3-free Pixi nail color

Good eye liners are tough to come by. The main gripe with most eye liners tends to be a hard application, where the tip of the pencil tends to be too dry and difficult to apply. I’ve been a sucker for silky, smooth eye pencils that glide on like butter, but stay put on the eyes, and have deep pigment. For the last year, my go-to “less toxic” brand of eye liners have been the Tarte Beauty eye liners. But since trying this Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in "BlackNoir" (pictured above), I may have found another new eye liner favorite. If you are eyeing the nail color that really wants to steal the show in the photo, that is the vibrant "Coral Cantaloupe" 3-free nail color also by Pixi - stay tuned for an upcoming review of that awesome neon shade!

As their title suggests, the Pixi Endless Silk Eye Pens really do glide on like silk. They are easy to smudge for a gorgeous smoky eye look, or can be applied with the lightest swatch over the water line for a very subtle eye enhancement (because the pencil is so easy to apply, just the lightest touch against the eye will offer deep pigment – so you don’t need to press hard whatsoever). The formula of this eye pen also sticks to the eye very well after a few minutes of allowing it to settle. It is also quite water resistant, but also comes off easily with a dab of makeup remover or facial oil.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens come in several beautiful and vibrant colors besides the black I have tried, and based on the online reviews, all the colors seem worth a try! Find out more about these eye pens by clicking here. The hypoallergenic formula is free of toxic chemicals, parabens, mineral oil and preservatives.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Zion Health deodorant uses clay instead of aluminum

A shout-out to a lovely natural and aluminum-free deodorant by Zion Health:  Adama Clay Dry Deodorant in "Original Silk" 


Adama Clay Dry Deodorant - aluminum and paraben free!

Zion Health is a natural cosmetics brand that produces a few different lines of products, including toothpaste (which is wonderful – click here for a previous review of Zion Health’s Clay Bright Toothpaste), body care, hair care and facial care products. All of Zion Health’s products include clay in the ingredients, which is a seemingly miraculous ingredient with oh-so-many health benefits!

Being a huge advocate for natural deodorant use, I wanted to mention Zion Health’s wonderfulAdama Clay Dry Deodorant. This deodorant, in the "Original Silk" scent, is aluminum-free, paraben-free and contains no propylene glycol. Just check out this lovely, short list of ingredients in this deodorant:

Montmorillonite Clay (Kanwa), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Extract, Alpine Lichen Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Chamomile Extract, Cellulose Gum, Myrrh Gum Extract, Witch Hazel Distillate, Propanediol (Corn Derivative), Sodium Stearate, Yuzu Citrus Essential Oil Natural Fragrance, Purified Water.

The Yuzu citrus essential oil, that dominates the scent profile of this deodorant, is derived from a Chinese evergreen tree. This essential oil is not only super refreshing and sweet, but it’s also extremely delicate (great for those sensitive to strong smells) and has the added benefits of calming nerves and anxiety. I personally love how the formula of this deodorant glides on. It reminds me a little bit of Tom’s of Maine Deodorant, but Adama Clay Dry Deodorant is less sticky than Tom’s. Both are equally effective. I did find that this deodorant needs to be re-applied after any strenuous activity or on a hot day – but this is not an issue for me, since basically all natural deodorants sometimes need an extra swatch throughout the day! And I would rather do that than ever put aluminum-based products under my arms again!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Organic and biodegradable options are the way to go with your monthly flow!

Organyc feminine care products:
Organyc maxi pads: organic and biodegradable

This is an article for the ladies. I figure since most of my readers are female, that I will touch on something that I'm personally passionate about, and that I feel we should all try to do to help alleviate the weight of synthetic materials and plastics in our landfills, and even more importantly – in our oceans. Even though maxi pads (yes, I’m going there) are just one teeny part of the synthetic junk we throw into the garbage can every month, I feel like it’s important to support companies that make organic and biodegradable products, so that our monthly waste breaks down like it’s meant to. Organyc (box of maxi pads pictured above) is a company that has come up with a full line of organic cotton feminine care products that are also biodegradable. Most importantly, these products are effective, light and super comfortable - which can be expected from organic cotton.

Those who are sensitive to some of those popular synthetic brand name feminine care products, easily found in pharmacies, have the option of grabbing for an alternative option that works just as well as a brand like Always, but is better for you and the environment! Organyc products can now be purchased at CVS, and the more of us that support companies like this one, the cheaper these organic options will become because the demand will be there. Find out more about why organic, non-bleached and biodegradable options are the way to go with your monthly flow: Click here to read about Organyc’s misson and about the reality of most popular brand name feminine cares products.

Please leave comments below about your favorite non-synthetic feminine care products! Let's start a discussion and demand more of these kinds of products, like Organyc feminine care products, over the vast majority of synthetic choices we have as women - because, hey - a pile of billions of synthetic pads and tampons that will take hundreds or thousands of years to biodegrade is not the kind of mark we want to leave behind in our world. At least, not anymore!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!