Beauty Review: St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Lotion & Blemish Control Face Wash

I can remember when I first started having to wash my face with a blemish/acne control wash. Being a teenager and taking a trip with your mom to the store for acne wash is confusing. There are SO many different kinds, scents, colors, ingredients in each one.

I didn’t know where to start. I was IN THE CLOUDS. I would pick up a bottle, examine the package and “description.” I didn’t know what was what at that age other than the packages were pretty.

BUT wait, stop for a second. There was one that caught my eye. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub (ONLY $3.99). It wasn’t drenched in “here looky looky” type of bottle. It’s simple yet elegant and of course BLACKHEAD and ACNE scrub all in one? Yes!

I was very excited to be able to work with St. Ives. I ended up receiving two items: St. Ives Blemish and Acne Control wash and the Intensive Healing Lotion.

The Face Wash Review

This is definitely the best scrub on earth. It says you can use it 4 times a week, but I use it more. I have oily skin, so I need something to keep the oil from seeping deep into my pores and becoming blemishes and blackheads.

 

My pores stay smaller, blackhead free, oil/ shine free, and SO SMOOTH. I love that it makes me feel so fresh faced. The scent really does smell like apricots>>YUM! The scent lingers awhile too.

It thoroughly cleanses the skin and exfoliates the dead skin away so you’re left with nothing but a perfectly flawless complexion just after a week (or so depending on how bad your blemishes are).

I love exfoliating my skin but most exfoliation is harsh and leaves redness and irritation behind. The St. Ives Apricot Scrub exfoliates with Walnuts. Not only do they exfoliate naturally, but they help renew your skin cells- banishing the old dingy cells, and bring all new bright and beautiful cells to the surface!

You can definitely see an extreme difference in your skin when using this! Blackheads are gone, oil GONE, and my skin feels so healthy and rejuvenated. There’s nothing like a scrub that works, smells delicious, and costs under $5.

It’s such a great blemish wash that it has been one of their four Award Winning Products.

Key Ingredients

• 

  APRICOT »

  APRICOTS are known to contain one of the highest levels of carotenoids (think vitamin A) and super-effective antioxidants. All of this natural power might seem, well, too powerful, but they are actually quite gentle and nourishing and they help make fresher, more nourished skin beautifully possible.

• 

  CORN KERNEL MEAL »

  CORN KERNEL MEAL is actually flour ground from dried corn. It’s a soft, but gently powerful all-natural exfoliant that promotes skin cell turnover and regeneration. Cornmeal makes softer-feeling, fresher skin possible.

• 

  WALNUT »

  WALNUT is known for its hard shell, but when it’s ground, it becomes an amazingly effective, all-natural exfoliant ingredient in our scrubs. Not only are walnuts plentiful on the planet, they also help newer, healthier skin come to the surface.

Buy It: St. Ives Blemish and Blackhead Control Face Scrub  at your local Walmart, Target, Kmart.. and other convenience stores for under $5.

 

 

The Lotion

Keeping you and your skin looking and feeling fresh. Made with natural ingredients, and hypo-allergenic. Proven to help heal even the most severely dry skin, St. Ives Intensive Healing Lotion is clinically proven to lock in moisture for 24 hours. Helping to maintain skin’s moisture. Exclusive natural moisture complex includes olive leaf extract, cranberry seed oil, and grape seed oil.

Fresh, better, naturally. St. Ives is dedicated to bringing you the best of nature with formulas that delight the senses as they leave your skin with a soft, fresh feel.

 

My Review

Tanning at the salon brings very bronzed, brilliant color but it can also dry out the skin. I’ve recently gotten very dry, itchy, “ashy” skin when my skin isn’t properly hydrated.

“ANY” lotion just doesn’t do the trick. Some are too thick and don’t soak in very well. Some are too thin and watery and don’t hydrate for very long. I wanted something that could give me the hydration I needed without any fuss.

St. Ives has always been a favorite of mine. They have great products that are very affordable. When I use this lotion I know I am getting nothing but the best!

I’ve taken some out of the bottle and put in a travel bottle and take it with me to the tanning bed. I love rubbing this on my skin and feet after I tan. It doesn’t add to the “scent” that tanning lotion smells like after you’ve tanned. It feels invigorating and is so refreshing to my dry skin!

It feels so silky, creamy, and luxurious. I love that there is absolutely no greasy residue or build-up. I have been faithfully massaging this into every single part of my body when I wake up, after tanning, and before bed.. I can’t help but love the lovely creaminess.

Every summer I have issues with my skin drying out after a day in the pool with the kids. The chemicals and chlorine dry it out, and I can’t wait to see how this helps! I know I won’t be battling the dryness for long!!

It has a light, hypo-allergenic fragrance that is dermatologist tested and proven to keep even the driest skin moist all day! The natural ingredients is exactly what keeps the skin moist, soft, and helps to repair it.

Most lotions that claim to be “moisturizing” only MASK the dryness. They aren’t really doing anything other than that. This amazing St. Ives lotion uses cranberry to help repair the dry skin and mango seed oil to protect your skin from further dryness.

Key Ingredients

• 

  OLIVE OIL AND OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT »

  OLIVE OIL AND OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT: Both of these ingredients are rich in skin-softening glycerides, which means they not only cleanse gently, they can help to improve your skin’s appearance with easily absorbed moisture. They also offer multiple benefits:

• 

  CRANBERRY »

  CRANBERRY is already a proven antioxidant ingredient found in juices, and now cranberry seed oil can be equally effective for your skin, too. This small berry unleashes a unique, all-natural balance of Omega oils to help moisturize, condition and repair your dry skin. Prepare yourself for softer-feeling, smoother-looking skin.

• 

  COCOA BUTTER »

  COCOA BUTTER is known for its gentle, island scent, but that’s just the beginning. Rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and essential minerals, this soothing emollient helps to heal and moisturize skin that’s seen more of the elements than shade.

• 

  GRAPESEED AND GRAPESEED OIL »

  GRAPESEED is known to be an intense skin healer as well. Add to that the naturally occurring antioxidants to fight free radicals, and the result? Your skin can feel significantly moisturized and healthier. GRAPE SEED OIL contains a high level of natural linoleic acid, which helps to maintain your skin’s health. This powerful, yet gentle ingredient helps to moisturize dry, cracked skin, so it not only feels healthier, it feels beautiful too.

• 

  100% NATURAL MOISTURIZERS »

  100% NATURAL MOISTURIZERS, which St. Ives sources from plants, form the basis of all triglycerides that make up essential oils. Glycerin is a great example; it’s an excellent moisture-holding helper for your skin and keeps it smooth-looking.

• 

  MANGO SEED BUTTER »

  MANGO SEED BUTTER is known as the “apple of the Tropics” because it’s rich in beta carotene, essential fatty acids and skin-loving vitamins A and E. This ingredient also makes it ideal for helping to treat dry skin and protecting it from future dryness.

Buy It: St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Lotion at your local Walmart, Target, Kmart.. (Under $5)!

 

You can join in on our commitment!

One of our goals is to get more materials that can be recycled… recycled. Here’s some guidance on how you can help to recycle our products.

Step 1: Locate the recycling number on our product package to find out what can be recycled and where to take it

Step 2: Carefully cut the end tubes off and rinse out the containers

Step 3: Keep the cap with the tube when you recycle the packaging

Step 4: Recycle it!

Connect with St. Ives on Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

MadeFromEarth Natural Skincare Review

The Vitamin C Moisturizer contains the highest possible concentration of Vitamin C in a skin care product. The moisturizer is designed to protect, repair and moisturize. Vitamin C encourages collagen production, which brightens and softens the skin. It may be worn under sunscreen, since Vitamin C boosts the effectiveness of the sunscreen. While the Vitamin C Moisturizer is excellent at helping prevent sunburn, it can also aid with hyperpigmentation, which is a discoloration of the skin from frequent sun exposure.

The Vitamin C Moisturizer may also be used to restore elasticity and prevent wrinkles and fine lines.

2 oz.

Directions:

Moisturize daily for normal and dry skin. For oily skin, use three times per week. Gently smooth over face and neck in circular motion.

About our Ingredients:

The combination of MSM wih Vitamin C is excellent in boosting collagen production and creating healthy new skin cells. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a key ingredient in the Vitamin C Moisturizer, which is an organic compound with impressive benefits. Overtime, this will improve the complexion of your skin. Coconut oil is known for being an effective moisturizer for dry skin. It delays the appearance of fine lines, and moisturizes without irritation. Coconut oil is excellent for speeding up healing process of bruises by repairing damaged skin cells. Evening prime rose oil is a great anti-inflamatory for skin conditions, such as rosescea or dry, itchy skin. It hydrates and moisturizes the skin while also brightening the skin tone without causing any irritation.

My Thoughts*

I have been using this for about a month. Because I have oily skin, I can only use this every other day because it has extreme moisturizing agents in it. It has coconut oil in it, so it has repairing agents that help speed up healing of bruises and other skin problems.

My skin had some old discoloration from acne scars from when I was a teenager. This has lightened the discoloration to where it can’t be seen at all. It has left my skin extremely hydrated and moisturized. 

This helps create moisturizes without any irritation or redness. It helps with the effectiveness of my sunscreen. When I am going swimming, I can put this on <All over my body> and then put the sunscreen on and it doubles the effectiveness of it.

I also like to use this on my kids under their sunscreen. They love being outside, but lately it has been VERY hot and the UV rays have doubled. They have very fair skin and they burn very easily. I want them to be safe from sunburn as much as possible.

I have dry, itchy skin most of the time. I have bought and used plenty of products to help with the dry itchy skin on my legs. Some have worked, others haven’t. This does though. It helps seal in the moisture with the Vitamin C.

This is available for purchase from the MadefromEarth website.

Vitamin C Moisturizer $54.99

 

Our Lavender Calm Soap contains relaxing essential oils and plant materials designed to soothe your skin and calm your senses.

Lavender’s natural properties soften and cleanse, while providing aromatic wonders to lift you to a peaceful place. The calming properties of the lavender flower are recommended and gentle even for the most sensitive skin types. A must have for those seeking harmony and tranquility in the shower.

About our Ingredients:

Our lavender ingredient is formulated with a 100% vegetable base and enriched with plant roots to create a soothing and calming bar soap. The lavender is organically harvested using sustainable methods and is free of any harsh detergents and sulfates.

My Thoughts*

This soap is absolutely amazing. The smell of Lavender is absolutely calming and refreshing. Not only does it help the skin, it also smells great in the bathroom. It’s so fragrant that as soon as you walk in the bathroom, you can smell lavender.

The more you use it, the more fragrant it makes your bathroom. I received 2 bars of the lavender soap, so I use one especially for handwashing in the bathroom and the other in the bathtub for face washing use.

Adam works outside. He is a foreman for our local tree-trimming service. They travel to surrounding counties in Kentucky and Tennessee, so his day is long, hard, and extremely hot in the summer. The first thing he does when he comes in is shower and wash his face.

Other bar soaps are drying to your skin and can leave it feeling like you have rubbed sandpaper across it.  This isn’t drying at all. It soothes and relaxes while making my skin feel absolutely amazing.

LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE the smell.

This is available for $6.50 on the MadefromEarth website.. Lavender soap

All of MadefromEarth’s products are completely 100% natural and organic. You will never find synthetics or chemicals inside these products.

 

As I have said numerous times before that putting chemicals on your face, body, or in your hair can turn potentially dangerous when using chemically induced products for long periods of time. They can start to seep through your skin and through your scalp and cause you harm.

So organic products are better for your health and wellbeing than chemical products.

About MadeFromEarth

We are a forward looking company that specializes in organic skin care products. Our goal is to enable people to make the right choices about the right skin care products.

We limit our line of products to just the best the organic market can offer in face treatments, body lotions, hair, bath and lip balms. It has been our honor to work with the best eco-friendly, environmentally conscious and recognized people in the health and beauty industry. Our company is based on the same healthy values from the day we started: excellent customer service for high quality and healthy ingredients. It is our objective to continue to grow by providing exciting new formulas and treatments to serve our healthy customers.

Our Surprise

We were surprised at how many synthetic chemicals are being used in skin care products today, most of which are added as a preservative. For example, other companies use organic ingredients and then mix them with chemicals for preservation (a preservative). A study, reported in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, found parabens to be the most common cosmetic preservative present in significant amounts in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tumors. Cosmetic chemicals accumulate in the body’s fatty tissues, where they can remain for years and damage your cells. Made from Earth uses a natural preservative system to preserve our precious organic ingredients - and we found our natural preservatives are great for your skin, like Jojoba and Vitamin E.

be an educated consumer

Healthy Ingredients = Healthy products

Our line of organic skin care essentials contain the highest possible levels of organic ingredients and fruits. We have searched the entire USA for ingredients that meet our earth-friendly requirements and are hand-selected to provide you with exceptional skin care. You will find our complete ingredients listed prominently on each product page. No catchy phrases or deceptive marketing – our ingredients speak for themselves.

Our ingredients / plants are from organic farms. There are no toxic ingredients in our products. There is no diluting or watering down of our potent organic plant ingredients. There is no synthetic coloring agents or fragrances, or paraffin and other petroleum products are permitted. Preservatives from synthetic sources are not permitted, such as Parabens (propyl, methyl and ethyl). Lastly, all manufacturers must provide a certificate of organic certification from either of these three certifying agencies:

We are 100% farmed and sourced in the USA.

Our facilities are FDA Registered under high standards of quality control. We also manufacture using a certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility. Being cGMP compliant means we encompasses the full spectrum of Microbiological Testing, including Aerobic Plate Count, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing, and Accelerated Stability Testing.

Partnership: Caring Consumer

In our manufacturing processes we only use cruelty-free products. Unfortunately, even today, hundreds of thousands of animals are inappropriately treated to provide product tests for shampoos, cleaners, cosmetics, and other personal care items. We are against this, and will not work with any partners or providers that associate with that type of conduct.

Made from Earth is in full support of initiatives and an active member in pushing for proper legislation in Washington DC. We work with more than 50 endorsing campaigns and thousands of grassroots supporters to lobby congress and our leaders to provide safelty and regulate the removal of harmful ingredients from skin care products on the market today.

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all products were sent for review purposes only. All opinions are mine and 100% completely honest.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jessica

Hugo Naturals Bath & Body Review

I was sent 7 items from Hugo Naturals Vanilla & Sweet Orange Line of Beauty and Bath Products as well as a body polish from their Brown Sugar- Kumquat line.  Their products are gluten free, paraben free, cruelty free, and made in the U.S.A.

Foaming Hand Soap- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
$7.99

I am always washing my hands. As a mom- I have kids who are constantly spilling stuff and getting stuff on them AND me. As a crafter, I need to wash my hands quite frequently because of the paint or whatever I’m crafting with getting on my hands.
My kids also needed something they could wash their hands with after they get done using the bathroom. They are 5 and 3, so it made it a TON easier on me because it had the pump action top. They can push it down by themselves and they loves that it comes out all foamy.
It rinses off totally clean without any residue left behind like many liquid soaps or too drying like bar soaps. I love the smell of the Vanilla & Sweet Orange, it smells like an orange dreamsicle to me. I LOVE orange dreamsicles. So YUMMY. The scent isn’t overpowering either.



Hugo Naturals Lip Balm- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
I always keep chapstick on hand, ALWAYS! I never go without it. There are so many that I’ve tried.. some I like, some I would rather not use again. As far as lip balms go, I rate this as one of the highest.
It smells amazing, the Vanilla & Sweet Orange scent: “Dreamsicles again” I love. I have never used a chapstick or anything else that smelled like this until Hugo Naturals. I LOVE it. I also love that they offer a variety of items with the same smell.
This chapstick doesn’t taste, which is a plus for me. If it did taste, I might actually take a bite of this one.. lol. It smells absolutely divine. It doesn’t stay on for hours and hours, but I didn’t expect it to. That’s why I keep in in my pocket, so I can reapply when needed.
It goes on smoothly, lasts awhile, and keeps my lips super hydrated. It has a sheen like a gloss, and is amazing when put on. I love that I can put this on under or over lipstick and it makes my lipstick look so naturally moisturizing.


Hugo Naturals Body Butter- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
$12.99

My Thoughts*
I have to say that this isn’t the best body butter I’ve ever used before. Although it does take away from dryness on my feet, knees, and other troubled areas, it leaves behind a greasy/oily feel. That’s partially okay though, I just wash my hands after I’m done applying it.
I usually use body butter on my hands while I’m crocheting because the yarn tends to dry. I don’t use this though because it makes the crochet tools slip out of my hands because of the oily feel.
It works perfect on my dry feet though. I can put this on after the shower, put on my socks and my feel do not have a chance to dry up before my next shower.


Hugo Natural Bar Soap- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
I love that this soap is so easy to lather up. It almost feels like a body wash instead of a bar of soap.
Leaves me squeaky clean and smelling great. I don’t usually use bar soap, but thought I’d give it a try. It looks so awesome (because of the color) sitting in the bathroom. Looks decorative. So I put this out as a hand soap for people to wash their hands after going to the bathroom.
Everybody was complimenting me on the smell and how clean their hands felt. Even Adam uses this to wash his hands and face after he gets off work and thought it cleaned his face very well. (He usually uses body wash also).

Hugo Naturals Massage & Body Oil- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
Comforting. A vegan, cruelty-free blend of almond, jojoba and essential oils to soothe and restore your skin and your mood. Our rich and soothing blend of sweet almond and jojoba oils is enriched with vitamin E and scented with a dreamy and delectable blend of vanilla and citrus essential oils. While this nourishing blend is ideal for massage, it's also the perfect restorative for those days when your skin needs a little extra care and hydration.
My Thoughts*
AS I’ve said before, I have Keratosis Pilaris nicknamed “chicken skin” for a reason. When I found out I had this, I was prescribed Retinol A Cream. The Vitamin A naturally smoothens skin. I couldn’t afford $80 for a small tube, so my doctor recommended body oil mixed with Olive Oil.
Instead I have been using this mixed with Sprout Skincare’s CREAM and I have seen noticeable improvement in a week. I love this product.
It’s recommended that you use this straight out of the shower to hold In the moisture from the shower, but you can use it on dry skin also. Before I go to bed, I pour a about a teaspoon of this in my hand and spread it on my thighs and follow with the Cream from Sprout.
I have always been self conscious about this, hardly ever wearing shorts or a bathing suit. It kind of looked like a bunch of ingrown hairs or small pimples and they itched like poison ivy. Now they are almost completely gone without any trace of them being there at all.
They will never be “Gone” out of my life. They’ll come back if I stop using this treatment. I will certainly continue with this regimin because it is a TON cheaper than buying the Retinol A cream. (and SMELLS WAY better too) =)
My skin feels so soft and supple and smells amazing. It is lightweight and absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue. It leaves a nice healthy glow and doesn’t stain my clothes.
You can also add a few drops to your warm/hot bath water to soften your skin while you bathe, then add some more when you get out. I love the way this smells and feels.



Hugo Naturals Effercescent Bath Salts- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
Transform your bath into a luxurious and therapeutic spa experience. Lusciously bubbling blend features not one, but two mineral-rich salts—Dead Sea and Himalayan pink—to reduce tension, ease muscle discomfort and soften skin. To Use: Add a handful of salts to warm,running bath water. Relax and enjoy. Never Any: parabens, phenoxyethanol,SLS, PEGs, propylene glycol, petroleum products, artificial colors or synthetic fragrances.
My Thoughts*
I really liked this bath salt. As my water was running for my bath, I put in maybe a quarter of a cup (from the lid) into the running water and it immediately begin to fizz up. After awhile, I poured even more in there just so I could relax a little longer.
Hey- I don’t get that privilege very much.
My bath water smelled amazing. It didn’t overpower and I couldn’t smell it for VERY long after my bath, but that’s why I have the body oil and lotion, right?
It gives off such a relaxing natural beautiful smell that make me want to stay in my bath forever.. but the water got cool and cool water and I just do NOT work out so well..

Hugo Naturals All Over Body Lotion- Vanilla & Sweet Orange
$9.99
Super-moisturizing shea butter enriched with pure botanical extracts—for deep hydration that feels simply amazing.
This lotion is remarkably and wonderfully moisturizing. It is light and doesn’t leave my skin oily or greasy. It isn’t TOO thick but it isn’t watery either. It’s the right consistency for a lotion.
I keep this in my crochet bag. This keeps my hands VERY hydrated. I love crocheting but the constant touching of the yarn dries my hands. I needed something that would help me and it’s awesome because of the push down lotion top. I don’t have to put the yarn down to get a dab. I can just press, lotion up, and continue crocheting. LOVE IT!

Hugo Naturals Body Polish- Brown Sugar Kumquat
Tantalizing blend of sugar and powerful emollients gently exfoliate and moisturize while vitamin E and oat extract add suppleness and radiance. Leaving your skin velvety soft and thoroughly rejuvenated.To Use: Stir well, then massage in a circular motion into thoroughly wet skin.
My thoughts*
This has a really nice smell (you can smell the brown sugar) with a touch of the kumquat I guess (I’ve never smelled it before). It leaves my skin really soft, smooth, and supple.
It also puts a bit of oil in the bathtub, so I would recommend that you wash your hair and do whatever you need to BEFORE using this. I already had washed my hair, but I kept thinking if I hadn’t how oily my hair might become with this in the water.
It was a bit hard to stir at first. I did it with the handle of my razor. You need to mix it up because all the scrubbing particles sink to the bottom and leave an oily substance at the top. So, you need to mix this well before use.
About Hugo Naturals




Find them Online:
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Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, I was sent products for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% my own and not influenced in any way.

Jessica

Sprout Skincare Review

I received two products from Sprout Skincare. I received the exfoliant and the cream. You can tell that these are made by batches because they have the date of made and who made them right on the side of the tubes.


The Exfoliant:
I am a HUGE exfoliant fan. I have had huge pores since I was a teenager, and I have tried everything in the world to make them smaller or at least keep them cleaner on a regular basis. Before they had all these organic exfoliants, I ended up stripping my skin and burning it out, while making my skin problems way worse than they were because I was using too many acid and chemical products.
Now that I have discovered the beauty and the healthiness of natural, organic products- my skin is so much better, and so much more healthy than it used to be.
The exfoliant made me kind of suspicious at first. WHY? because it wasn’t like any other exfoliator I have ever used in my life. It was a crunchy crumbled up powder. I had never used crumbles, only gels or creamy lathery exfoliants. You pour some of the crumbles your hand, put it under the faucet and then rub it in. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I went with it.
I followed the instructions to scrub my face and neck. I did end up getting it in my mouth, around my lips and just about everywhere because I wasn’t used to it. It didn’t taste all that bad though, it tasted like oatmeal with salt  on it.  I left it on for a couple of minutes while brushing my teeth and getting a towel out for a bath.
Let me tell you- I ended up getting used to putting it on after the first time, so I didn’t get it anywhere besides where it was supposed to go! It worked miracles on my skin. It ended up leaving my skin GLOWING like never before. After using this and putting my toner and moisturizer on, my skin felt like a million bucks.!
My makeup went on smoother, and stayed on longer. The more I used it, the less pores I could tell were there. They didn’t actually shrink, but they did seem SO much cleaner. I was using exfoliants almost every day, skipping it here and there, but not now. I am only using this about twice a week and have seen a significant difference.
I could probably use this everyday and it not burn my skin out, dry it out, or make me look all red and puffy, but there isn’t a need to. The only products in this exfoliant are Atlantic sea salt, organic oat flour, and organic almond flour which seem to do the job using it only twice a week.
All of Sprout Skincare’s ingredients are all-natural and organic. They are actually so pure that they can be eaten without harming you. I do use my Lady Soma Antioxidant Berry Facial Masque here and there, but I use this every week. I love it. It doesn’t have a fragrance other than like a hay smell, which I seem to find relaxing. =)
I didn’t understand how much to use at first, but after getting the hang of it, I realized it doesn’t take a large amount at all. So the 4 oz. bottle should last at least 4-5 months, depending on how frequently you see the need to use it!
You can purchase this product for $28.00 on the website here
About the exfoliant:
Sprout’s Exfoliant is pure kitchen-cabinet awesomeness. We take organic oats and almonds, grind them until they’re not too rough but not too soft, add mineral-rich sea salt harvested from coasts nearby, and voila: a simple, nourishing, super-effective exfoliant that leaves your skin soft and glowing.


The Cream
This cream is AMAZING! It has no smell at all. It is subtle and natural, no extra fragrances. It doesn’t leave my skin oily or greasy like some creams seem to do. My clothes don’t end up sticking to my skin and it’s awesomely hydrating.
I have said this many time before- I have Keratosis Pilaris, which is nicknamed chicken skin for a reason. It leaves small reddish bumps all over my thighs and the back of my arms. There isn’t a cure, although it CAN be managed.
I looked it up online and found out that Retinol A cream cures it. The Vitamin A is a natural skin smoother and DID rid my skin of the bumps, but after paying $80 for a small tube that didn’t last long at all, I was looking at other options for myself. My doctor told me that Olive oil mixed with Nivea Body Oil would work, but I never
When I received this, I automatically thought of the “Chicken Skin”. I thought maybe at least it would reduce the appearance of the bumps or take away the redness associated with it. To my amazement it started doing both. I could tell a difference in the bumps within the first use. The second use and beyond was greater and greater reduction of the bumps and the redness wasn’t there AT all. My skin was smoother, more hydrated, and not one but greasy.
This can be used ALL over your body. I hate having dry skin, so this was tried EVERYWHERE. I loved rubbing this on my feet and putting on my socks. It kept my feet from drying out ALL day. It is a little too thick to try on my face, but other than that—I loved it every other single place I put this!! Hands, feet, knees, and especially loved it because it got rid of the “chicken skin”! And the best part about it that it’s HALF the price that the tube of Retinol A cream was and lasted twice as long (I still have more than half of the cream left after a month) and within a month the tube of Retinol was gone!
About the Cream:
This is the mother of all Sprout products. You know how lots of lotions and moisturizers leave you needing more, like ten minutes after you put them on? That's because they use water as a base. When it evaporates, you dry out all over again. Sprout Cream starts with wild-harvested shea butter we get from an incredible Fair Trade women's cooperative in Ghana. We add some organic extra-virgin coconut oil and organic extra-virgin olive oil. So it's extremely rich, sinking deep into the skin and staying there. But since all the ingredients are totally non-comedogenic, it won't clog your pores, meaning it's just as awesome on your face as it is on your body.


About Sprout:
These products are made in small batches by real people in Brooklyn, New York. They are ethically sourced and support small farms.
At Sprout, we use the simplest possible blends of whole, high-potency ingredients to create products that truly work. A lot of companies toss around the phrase "all natural" these days. Unfortunately, labeling laws for personal care products are extremely lax, and in our experience, "all natural" almost always translates to "not-at-all natural." We created Sprout Skincare to be an absolutely, positively, 100% truly all-natural line. Our products are made simply using only the purest quality ingredients we can find. And because we believe every business has a responsibility to preserve a sustainable environment, all of our ingredients are either certified organic, Fair Trade, or sourced from small family farms.
We created Sprout primarily to help people have healthier skin naturally. But if that were the end of the story, we probably wouldn't be as passionate as we are about what we do. Our goal was bigger: to make products that contribute not just to the health of our customers, but also to the happiness of our communities and the well-being of our planet. So when we say "holistic," we mean we're a company that always takes a wide view. But we also mean that we preserve the integrity of our ingredients, keeping them as near to their whole, raw state as possible and making each product by hand simply, using only traditional methods.
Find them on Facebook, Twitter, and they even have a blog.
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Products were sent to me for review purposes only, I wasn’t compensated in any other way!

Thanks,

Jessica

Loving Eco Review

I received two products from LovingEco. I received the Blissoma Solutions Fresh Mild Rice Natural Face Cleanser and the Sprout Skincare Cream. Both products are totally organic, natural products. I love that the customer service was very friendly and shipping was fast. They only sell nontoxic good for the earth products!! LOVE LovingEco. They feature new products by new brands daily/weekly and have a sale on them!!

Will definitely keep them on my to-buy from list!! Loved everything about the company, the products they have, and the service they offered.

Blissoma Solutions Fresh Mild Rice Natural Face Cleanser

This is a very unique cleanser because it doesn’t have soap, it’s actually a non-soap cleanser. This is made for all skin care types, for everyday use (twice daily). You can use this morning and night.

It is very popular for balancing out problem skin and helping to heal it. “Organic, whole brown rice flour and willowbark extract gently exfoliate while super-gentle, emollient organic oils of Apricot Kernal and Sunflower moisturize. Skin is cleansed, hydrated, and nourished instead of stripped. Infusions of organic Chickweed and Rose tone and freshen circulation to flush away toxins. It has a wonderful, citrusy, essential oil scent beloved by men and women and is also mild enough to be used on children.”

I really like that this is made in small batches from fresh botanical ingredients. This is a 4 ounce bottle (mine came with a dropper) and is a month supply when used twice daily. You squirt 2-3 dropperfuls into your hand and massage into your skin. Then rinse with warm water and pat dry with a hand towel. This removes all daily impurities from your skin.

I love that is is completely natural and organic, and has no perfume smell at all. I have combination skin- oily in some parts while dry in others. Most cleansers with chemicals irritate my skin, so natural was the best choice for me. Not only is i t better for my skin and health, but also better for the environment.

My skin has been smooth, plump, soft, and extremely HAPPY after using this rice cleanser. I have never used a rice cleanser before, and truly enjoyed the experience.

This took all the makeup off with NO greasy smearing mess behind! Wish I had a GIANT bottle of this..  ;D

I have just learned last year that chemicals in beauty products (lotions, shampoo’s, and face cleansers) are truly damaging overtime. They seep into your skin and can lead to cancer, infertility, and hormone problems. SO this year one of my New Year Resolutions was to go completely natural when it came to my beauty routine.

Thankfully, I have found some AMAZING products that I will stick to, and use from here on out. This being one of them. No brittle, flakey, red cracked skin here!!

 

Sprout Skincare Cream

This Cream can be used for your face, hands, and feet. This is totally organic and natural and will not clog pores or leave any greasy residue behind. It is the perfect size to slip in a makeup bag, a purse, or overnight bag.

Most creams use a water baseline when manufacturing these, but Sprout doesn’t. The thickness makes it last WAY longer than any other moisturizing cream, lotion, or butter that I’ve used before. A little bit goes a long way, and I can already tell that in the winter this is going to be VERY useful for my skin. When I get cold, it seems like my whole body gets chapped. It’s unbearable because my skin dries out and starts peeling.

I also have a skin condition on the back of my arms and on my upper thighs. It’s called Keratosis Pilaris, nicknamed chicken skin because it produces tiny red bumps. The only thing that I have found that takes the rash like bumps away is Retinol A Cream (prescribed) but it’s very expensive.

I started using this on it when I received it, and was amazed when it started working. It took the bumps away, the itchiness, and the dryness that comes with it. I loved it, and it’s way cheaper than paying $80 for a Vitamin A cream.

It smells like uncooked cookie dough, but isn’t quite as sweet smelling. The consistency is a whipped cream balm. I wasn’t sure what to expect when using this on my face. I mixed a small amount with a Renewal Serum and it was enough to completely moisturize my face and neck without leaving a greasy feeling.

I will definitely be buying this again.! It helped with dry skin, dry hands, the “chicken skin” and everything in between. There’s nothing like getting out of the bath and rubbing some of this into my dry feet. :Heaven:

About:

LovingEco was founded by two women who are passionate about making a difference. Both are committed to giving back and each cares deeply about the environment, the health of women and the future of our planet. We have built a strong team of the best, brightest and committed to the vision of style for change. We know that other women care, and also love style. This site is for all of our women friends, social entrepreneurs, leaders, students, fellow moms, and fashionistas (men too!) who also do not want to compromise on style and wish to create a more conscious and less toxic world.

Follow them online:

Twitter

Facebook

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored review, all opinions are 100% my own. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.

 

Jessica

Kristine’’s Shower Review

 

I was blown away with all of these products. I have never used a soap that did so much for my skin. Kristine’s Shower offer handmade body care items that are TOP quality and made from organic ingredients. She was kind enough to send me five products to review, and I have to say.. I loved them all!!

What I received:

• Aloe Vera Body Whip
• Bar Soap
• Bath Bomb
• Shea Butter Body Frosting

Soap Bar

These soaps start @ $1.99. They smell absolutely AMAZING, and what they can do for your skin is astonishing. I have never really been a big soap fan. I usually use body wash because soap leaves my skin really dried out. This soap was NOTHING like that. I was very impressed with this soap.

It is tightly wrapped in plastic, which keeps it from breaking into pieces. The design is AMAZING. The colors inside of it make it look so beautiful. It lathers and bubbles up very well, which was surprising for a soap bar. It smelled delicious. My skin was left soft and very smooth. Nice step for a body wash girl.

The best thing about these bars are that they are made in small loaves. The smaller loaves produce a better quality soap. 1 loaf of her soap makes 8 bars. I love that she makes so many different designs. They are all made with the best vegetable and nut oils to give you healthy glowing skin.

I love that you get so many choices in her shop. You can choose which scent you want and what size soap you would like.!!

Ingredients:  Saponified oils of babassu, coconut, palm kernel, avocado, sunflower, castor and shea butter, ultramarines, clays & oxides (for coloring) and fragrance.

Price depends on your soap selection. Check the site here for price information.

 

Bath Bomb

Bath Bombs are absolutely my favorite bath product. I do not usually get to soak in the tub very much. Having two kids under 5 means VERY quick showers and half shaved legs.. LOL

But when I do get the chance to relax, I definitely want a bomb. They leave your skin feeling so soft, smooth, and scented. It’s a smell that you can’t get from lotions, soaps, perfumes, or body wash. It’s like a natural smell that clings and lingers to your body.

 

Aloe Vera Body Whip - Vanilla Sugar

The Aloe Vera Body Whip is amazing. It smells just like vanilla frosting. The consistency of the formula is better than some high quality lotions I’ve used. This says a lot about her business. She is here to make her customers happy. She isn’t just throwing the cheapest ingredients together to try and “fool” us.

All of these products really are top quality and smell heavenly. The Body Whip is a stunner. It is very well made, and perfect for dry skin. I have dry skin and it’s hard to find something that works without it being too thin, or too thick. I needed something that would stay put without having to wait 30 minutes or having to towel dry my body after. Most lotions and body butters will seep through your clothes leaving oily spots.

Ingredients: purified water, shea butter, coconut oil, e-wax nf, grain alcohol, aloe vera gel, fragrance & coloring

Ingredients:
Baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, shea butter, coconut & palm oils, fragrance & coloring.
2.5 oz each - 2 inches in diameter

Sugar Scrub

This was my FAVORITE. It has such an awesome feeling on your body. You can actually FEEL it exfoliating your skin. I used this everywhere. I used it on my face as an exfoliate and cleanser, and I used it on my scalp before shampooing to rid my hair of flakes.

I used it on my legs after shaving, which DID make my smooth hairless legs last WAY longer than usual. Usually I have to shave every other day because I have rapid hair growth. Having something to help with this was fabulous. Being a mom and not having adequate time to check for missed spots, I usually don’t find out until I put on shorts or capri’s that I have a long line of hair sticking up.. UGH.

With this I took the time to make sure I got it all, and then rubbed this on my skin. I don’t know how it does it, but I will definitely be buying more of this in the future.

I’m not sure why, but my kids thought this was candy. I guess because of the different colors and the way it smelled. SO..needless to say, this is in my bag that hangs from the shower rod.. LOL

 

About Kristine’s Shop

Quality since March 2002!

Once you've tried my products, there is NO substitute.

You will always receive quality products from Kristine's Shower & I wouldn't have it any other way!

100% Soap Bars

Using handmade soap changed my skin forever. Not only are the bars beautiful to look at, but they smell good and what they do to for your skin cannot be described!

Prices start at $1.99!

 

 

Chances are the person who helps you will be the store’s owner, a local resident who will entertain your request for a price break even if it isn’t advertised. And the sales associates of small businesses are usually determined to ensure that your shopping experience is one you’ll want to repeat because they know that their livelihoods depend on giving you good customer service.

 

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine. I wasn’t compensated, although I did receive products in exchange for an honest review..

 

Thanks,

 

Jessica