Beauty Review: Acure Organics Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor Gel Cleanser

Features

• Purifies and cleanses without drying
• Removes makeup
• Helps maintain skin’s natural acid mantle
• Food grade ingredients
• Great for combo to oily skin
• Paraben free, Vegan, Synthetic fragrance free, Silicone free, Phthalate free, Gluten free
• Fair trade certified ingredients

This gentle cleanser is a non-soap organic face wash. It has a gel texture, although it does soap up. It comes in a white plastic bottle with a flip top, so it’s easy and convenient for those groggy mornings when you can barely keep your eyes open.

I love the design on the packaging and bottle. It’s green and hot pink bubbles around the side! I love that every product they make has a different design, which makes it LOOK awesome on my shelf!

It smells heavenly—YUM—fruity. It smells like a mixture of tangerine, mango, and grapefruit. If that doesn’t wake up those groggy eyes, I don’t know what will. It’s a great morning starter.

It works on two levels. One to clean the dirt and oil from your face, and second to wash all makeup off. It leaves my skins super soft, radiant, and smelling amazing. I love how refreshing and invigorating it is.

It has antioxidants in it that helps to maintain your skin’s natural acid mantle while activating new cell growth. All this without exfoliating! How awesome!!

It only takes a very small amount to wash both my face and my neck. I also love that it not only clears blocked pores, but it is proven to NOT reclog them.

It’s a vegan product that is sulfate and cruelty free, has no parabens, PEGs, petroleum, phthalate, or silicones. Wash away the worries! AND worry lines with this amazing Superfruit and Chlorella Growth Factor Cleansing Gel.

I don’t WANT to wear makeup. I want to go without it if I want. When you have acne, it makes your self esteem drop to the lowest rod on the totem pole. You wear makeup to cover the blemishes, and makeup ends up making it worse.

I’m glad that this not only cleanses, but it’s natural. Nothing to dry the skin out, break it out even worse, cause redness, or irritation. It smells good enough to eat, and smaller than a DIME size washes my entire face. Who could ask for more?

Buy it for yourself:

 Acure Organics Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor Gel Cleanser

Connect with Acure Organics:

Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Citrus Clear Face Cleansing Products

Citrus Clear is a company devoted to making skin cleansing products that are also GREAT for the environment as they are for your skin. You’ll not find any chemicals or anything harmful in the ingredients.





Tangerine Tingle


They sent me three products to review. The first product is the Tangerine Tingle. This is built to repair! It is designed to remove dead skin cells, while enabling a clearer, brighter complexion.

Tangerine Tingle $12.75
About it: The Tangerine Tingle Face Scrub can be used as a face wash or a face mask. The longer you leave it on, the more it tingles! The tingling action is from the ingredients in the scrub doing two things. One, removing dead skin cells and two, stimulation production in new, fresh skin cells. It contains gentle exfoliating ingredients which remove oil, dirt and impurities. It contains glycolic acid which exfoliates dead skin cells and keeps pores from clogging. Lemon oil helps improve and brighten complexion.
There are two ways that you can use this. You can use this as an exfoliating face wash, OR you can use it as a mask. To use this as a wash, you wash your face with warm water, and apply with gently circular motion to exfoliate the skin. As a mask you apply this and leave it for 2-4 minutes and rinse with cool water.
I love the packaging of these items. This comes in a 2 oz. glass jar with a tangerine label on the top of the jar. As I opened the jar, the first thing I noticed was how great it smelled. It smells JUST like tangerines!
This is awesome for using in the morning. The fresh Orange/Tangerine fruit smell is refreshing and invigorating. It wakes up my senses and my face. I use this more as a mask then as a wash, although before I wash it off, I make sure to rub it around my face to exfoliate.
The longer it’s on my face, the more it starts to tingle. I love putting this on my face before I start my day, it FEELS amazing. My skin just feels so clean and refreshed after. I can tell that the combination of these three items not only repair damaged skin, but also keep the acne at bay.
I’ve had really oily skin since I’ve started tanning. It’s where I sweat in the tanning bed, so I make sure to exfoliate every other day with this and continue with the rest of the Citrus Clear line!
Lemon Grove Antibacterial
Acne Wash

This is built for controlling the acne. Designed for acne-prone skin. Exclusive citrus formula fights acne and kills bacteria.

• maximum strength
• prevents breakouts
• amino acids and vitamin C
• Organic Ingredients

Control Acne Wash $34.99
About it: Control Acne Wash clears acne, blackheads and oily skin with an uplifting note of citrus. It's a powerful face wash for oily, acneic, problematic and combination skin. The formula contains a mix of the most potent citrus and acne fighting ingredients that will reduce acne and excess oil from facial skin. The ingredients are designed to penetrate pores and fight acne causing bacteria. The vitamins and minerals remove excess oil and keeps pores from clogging.
Directions: gently wash face with warm water. Massage lightly onto skin paying attention to oily, acne prone areas. Rinse. Can be used twice a day.

This is the second thing I use in the morning (AND use it at night as well). This is a thick, yellow gel like face cleanser that DOES smell like lemons. It can be used by itself, or following the Tangerine Tingle.
It suds up very easily, so you don’t need very much at all to get your entire face and neck (possibly 1/2 pump.) The bottle is glass with a pump action top that locks closed when not in use.
This is awesome for cleansing the face of all bacteria (which causes blemishes and acne). I don’t get a LOT of acne, but I do get SOME. I do get a LOT of pesky blackheads on my nose though, which I hate.
I noticed that the oil coming from my nose pores wasn’t as bad when using this. I could easily squeeze the blackheads out after using it. Usually there was too much oil for me to do so. I could get some of them out, but not all. Within two days of using this, my blackheads were almost all gone.


Grapefruit Acne Spot
Treatment

This is also built to control acne. Spot treatment to heal, fight, and fade acne. Convenient size for portability for anytime, anywhere acne control.

• Salicylic acid dissolves oil
• Minimizes pores
• prevents breakouts

Grapefruit Acne Spot Treatment $12.99
About it: This spot treatment contains a maximum strength dose of salicylic acid to treat existing and prevent future breakouts. It even prevents the formation of blackheads. It contains 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract and vitamin C. This is the best defense against breakouts of acne. It's designed for use right on the spot where the acne breakout has occurred. It may be used up to 5 times per day to clean away the oil and heal the site of the acne.
Directions: Apply to target area. Can be used multiple times per day. For face and body applications.

The grapefruit acne spot treatment is also a thick gel. You need VERY little because it only goes on spots where you have blackheads or blemishes that are already existing.
This can be used on your face AND body blemishes, AFTER cleansing but before putting moisturizers, lotions, or toners on. I use this after I have used the Tangerine Tingle and the Acne wash.
After I squeeze the excess blackheads from my nose, or pop any remaining blemishes- I rub this into it. It burns for a second, but then it sinks in and starts smoothing the skin out.
I was happy with all 3 products- and the best thing about them is that they are organic and don’t cost an arm and a leg.!

Connect with Citrus Clear:

Facebook & Twitter



Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Acure Organics Facial Toner (Rose + Red Tea)

 

Kiss surface shine and excess oil goodbye, all without drying your skin out with Acure Organics Balancing Facial Toner Rose & Red Tea. My skin has gotten extremely oily since beginning the tanning routine in January. My skin was already oily, but now it’s even worse. I can FEEL the oil just seeping out. I try to wash my face more than twice a day and use this toner to keep the oil at bay.

I love the fact that this comes in a spritz, so I don’t have to use cotton balls or pads to apply it. It’s quick, easy, and convenient. I love how refreshing and invigorating it smells and FEELS on my skin. I have been using this on a nightly basis (as well as in the mornings and after visiting the tanning salon).

It smells amazing (like rose water) which surprised me because it has witch hazel in it, and usually witch hazel takes over any other fragrance that’s in a product. With this one though, it doesn’t. All I can smell is roses.. Ahh..how nice.

It’s alcohol free and certified organic. It contains organic witch hazel and rooibos to minimize surface shine, because it stimulates and balances the oil production on the face. It’s also great for soothing redness and irritation.

 

Buy It: The Acure Organics Balancing Facial Toner Rose & Red Tea for $15.99

Connect with Acure Organics on Twitter and Facebook

 

About Acure Organics:

Designer Kristy Guerra founded Acure Organics as a way to honor her grandmother, who battled breast cancer for over 10 years. Kristy wanted to help raise money for breast cancer research and awareness while also providing healthy products that promote healthier living and a greener planet. The result of her extensive ingredient research is this safe, beautiful, pure, potent line of nutrient-rich organic beauty products that are affordable and accessible to all! Best of all, Acure Organics proudly donates $1.00 for each product sold to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation™

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub

I have been addicted to the Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub since the first time I used it. It’s a natural face scrub that has ingredients from the “sea”. It works like a charm every time.

Yes, it looks like baby poop, or sea slime—but it feels SO amazing on my skin. I’ve been dealing with extra oily skin since beginning tanning as much as I could in January. I can “FEEL” the oil just seeping from my face.

When I talk on my touch screen phone, there is oily residue on it afterward. It’s from all the sweating at the tanning bed, it’s kicking my already oily pores into overtime work.

I’m glad that I found something that actually helps though. I’d been noticing REALLY large, severe blackheads on my nose. I tried every type of scrub imaginable, with NO effects. Until this one that is.

Within one use, I can tell that there isn’t any oil left over, my skin is nothing but soft and feels amazing. The pores were getting smaller within the first week, and I could tell that the blackheads were being kept at bay just within the first 2 uses.

I KNOW that this is something that I can’t live without! I had tried blackhead strips, acne medicine, and everything in between to try and get rid of the blackheads. I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup, but I was seriously wearing concealer on my NOSE to hide the blackheads before I found this scrub.

This isn’t a mask- You wet your face, apply this, scrub with fingertips or washcloth, and rinse off. The kids call me the “hulk mommy” when they see me with this on my face. Aidan my son said “She’s the hulk mommy, uh-huh she’s green”.  Made me laugh..

You can use this up to 3 times a week for an effective, safe organic scrub. It’s great for all skin types (even sensitive skin). It stimulates new cell growth, to exfoliate the old skin off, and help build new cells.

My skin has really made a drastic change since using this! It’s amazing and I love it!

Buy it for YOURSELF: Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub for $14.99

Connect with Acure Organics on Twitter and Facebook

 

Jessica Renee

Review: AnnMarie Gianni Skincare: Repair Serum

I have worked with AnnMarie Skin Care before, and thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity yet great results of every single product they make. Everything is 100% all natural and works extremely well.

So when they sent me the AnnMarie Gianni Repair Serum, I was dying to try it. I’ve been tanning almost daily since January—and sweating inside the tanning bed (not to mention the UV exposure) was breaking me out and damaging my skin.

The repair serum is meant to repair and replenish sun damaged and mature skin., I’m  not even 25 yet, but I already have sun-damage due to my “obsession” and love for tanning.

Not only that- but all the stress, sleepless nights, and emotions from having a very premature son (16 weeks early). The difficulties surrounding his birth sent my emotions in overdrive. Then just a short year later—finding out I was pregnant again (not planned) and thinking I was probably going to go through the premature thing YET again. I didn’t though (thank GOD).

I’ve always had really huge pores on my nose, and in those giant pores come TONS of hard to get blackheads. So for years I spent a TON of time and money buying strong concealers and foundations to cover the blackheads and “under-eye” bags.

I ended up receiving a travel-sized sample of the Repair serum and ended up making it last almost 3 weeks (20 days). It is recommended 30-40 days to see a real improvement because your cells have to turn-over and replenish themselves.. but just in those 20 days I could see a huge difference in texture and tone of my skin.

Although I wash my face daily, use blemish fighting cream, toners, and all that good stuff—the bumps (NOT totally blemishes) would appear at the base of my jawline and run up to my earlobes. With the repair serum, they seem to be kept at bay (which I LOVE).

I bet the entire 40 days would have my skin looking QUITE amazing, if I do say so myself. There are many, MANY anti-aging products being pushed into our faces—making us think that we need to goop on a ton of chemicals to erase the lines, wrinkles, and sun damage—and it just isn’t true,

If you look at the ingredient list on most of those packages, you’ll see tons of ingredients that you CAN’T even spell. The fancy packaging isn’t fooling anybody! Chemicals in skin, body, and hair care SEEP into your skin and hair follicles and can actually DAMAGE you more than it helps.

AnnMarie KNOWS this and that’s why she uses nothing but natural ingredients in her skin care line. I SO love her AND the entire skincare line for that!

This Repairing Serum is an orange/yellow colored liquid that soaks right into the skin. I use it after I’ve cleaned and toned my skin for the night, and only have to use a very small amount.  It is very moisturizing- my skin is still silky soft when I wake up the next morning.

I love that it helped revitalize and replenish my sun damaged skin without leaving an oily residue. The smell of the serum is very pleasant—smells like hints of flowers, with a stronger smell of Jasmine than any other.. DOES smell wonderful and natural!

The price of the products are a little steep, but you’re getting nothing but completely ORGANIC, natural ingredients so I understand the pricing—natural products are more expensive to buy, but totally worth it.

The Ingredients:

Love, Aloe vera juice; Uva Ursi (and) Licorice root (and) Amla berry extract; Citrus-derived Stem Cells; Jojoba oil; Castor oil; Vegetable glycerin; Helichrysum extract; Aspen bark extract; Rosehip seed oil extract; Rosehip oil extract; Seabuckthorn berry oil extract; Essential oils of Lavender, Sandalwood; Superoxide dismutase; Hyaluronic acid; Xanthan gum; Rosemary oleoresin.

“Our Repair Serum is carefully formulated to transform your skin naturally. Using vegan stem cells derived from oranges, we have created a new way for your skin to build collagen, repair itself and prevent aging. This active blend of stem cells, along with Superoxide dismutase (SOD) -- a powerful antioxidant -- will make a noticeable difference in aging skin when used continuously over the course of 30-40 days. This serum is high in Vitamin C and has the essential oils of Lavender and Sandalwood, which are skin-lightening and balancing.”

Buy It: AnnMarie Gianni Repair Serum 15ml for $54.95

 

Jessica Renee

Jack Black Men’s Grooming Care Review

I received 4 items from the Jack Black’s Men Grooming Line. Adam needed something to help him. His face hair grows back so fast and so thick that it’s hard to keep it in line. He shaves and within the next day, he has stubbles again. I figured if we could get something that helped to smooth the hair down that maybe it would help him.

Industrial Strength Hand Healer

This rich, non-greasy formula contains Vitamin A and E and Eucalyptus to heal heal and soothe dry, chapped, cracked hands. Any guy who works will appreciate the heavy-duty benefits. Macadamia Nut Oil penetrates and improves unsightly cuticles. The PureScience Formula licks in nature’s best-using healing botanicals and organic ingredients, with no parabens, fragrance or colorants.

To use: apply a nickel size amount to hands and cuticles anytime they feel dry or rough.

My Thoughts*

Adam works all day using his hands. He is a foreman for a tree-trimming service in our area as well as Northern Tennessee. He is used to having rough hands, and would never even think about using one of my lotions that tend to smell like brown sugar, flowers, or anything that smells like a woman.

There aren’t many men care/grooming products on the market. Not many that actually appeal to men anyway. Adam seemed to like this. Although there isn’t a fragrance listed, you can smell the natural products in this. It smells manly..

Because of the sunflower seed and Vitamin A & E, it is a natural skin healer and soother. The vitamins are natural skin smoothers, and help to keep the skin soft and from cracking. He says it even stays on after he washes his hands!

Supreme Clean- Triple Cushion Shave Lather

Supreme Cream provides a rich, luxurious lather that lifts whiskers up, away from the skin for a smooth, ultra-close shave. Triple cushion technology, with three protective, hydrating layers of Macadamia Nut oil, Glycerin and Soybean oil, means super close razor glide and a superior cushion of protection against razor burn, irritation, nicks, and cuts. The PureScience formula is paraben-free, colorant-free, fragrance-free, and dermatologist tested.

My Thoughts*

This looks like a fancy looking whip cream that shines. Adam put this on before shaving and there wasn’t any knicks, cuts, or razor burn at all. I was amazed at how well this worked and how little he had to use. He used about a quarter sized dollop and it spread over his entire 5 O’Clock shadow and the strays.

The razor seemed to just glide over it without any mishaps. He said that this worked better than any shaving cream that he had used, including name brands. When he buys shaving cream, he goes through it in no time. His hair grows WAY too fast, so he has to shave almost every day.

Not only did this products work well, but it gave him a closer and smoother shave, so he didn’t have to shave as much and risk razor burn, ingrown hairs, or missed spots.

I liked that he loved using this. Even the packaging looks manly in it’s deep blue coloring and white lettering. We will definitely be buying these products again in the future!

Face Buff Energizing Scrub

Face Buff deep-cleans and smoothes your skin, clearing the way for a closer, easier shave. Menthol and Vitamin C wake up tired skin. Small scrubbing particles open congested pores and sweep away deep-down oil, dirt and dead 85skin cells, helping to prevent ingrown hairs and minimize shaving irritation.

To use: apply a dime-size amount of Face Buff to wet face and work around in circles. Don’t rub too hard- the power of the scrub is built in. Rinse with warm water. Use 3-4 times a week before shaving.

My thoughts*

This is an extremely nice buffer and deep cleanser for men. Adam doesn’t use this everyday like the Daily Facial cleanser, but he does use it quite often. Not only does this clean extremely well, but it’s like an exfoliator for men.

Adam really needed this. He works outside all day in the heat, so naturally he sweats like something awful. He uses this to get the deep down dirt and old skin off so that he doesn’t have blackheads or breakouts from the oil.

This is a liquidy type of buffer, and you can feel the cleanser beads inside it. This is what exfoliates the skin and gets all the dirt out. He only needs a dime size amount to get his entire face clean.

It smells amazing as well. His skin feels so smooth and smells so completely clean. The thing about this is, you aren’t supposed to scrub really hard because the scrub part is built in with the beads!

This is supposed to be 3-4 times a week before shaving (and before you use the shave lather). It reduces the amount of ingrown hairs that grow as well as helps reduce razor irritation and burns.

Adam said it worked extremely well, and that he liked the smell of it. It smells like menthol, but it does help to perk up the skin and reduce redness and irritation as well as razor burns. It is also awesome at helping get the closest shave that a man can manage. This helps keep their hair from growing back too fast and reduces the amount of times they have to shave each week.

Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser

Pure Clean is a unique 2-in-1 facial cleanser and toner that removes deep-down dirt and oil for a clear, smooth, shave-ready skin.  Formulated with sulfate-free surfactants derived from coconut and oat, the rich lather gently cleanses without over-drying. Leaves skin clean, hydrated and fresh.

PureScience Formulas lick in nature’s best to please even the most sensitive skin-using a blend of naturally derived surfactants and certified organic ingredients, with no parabens, fragrance or colorants. And, always dermatologist tested.

Adam has used this every single day for over a month, and he still has almost an entire bottle. I was amazed when I picked it up to clean the counter, how heavy the bottle still was. He said he didn’t need very much at all to wash his face.

He comes every day and washes his face and hair and then showers either right after or if he has to go to the post office to turn in his paper work, after he gets back. So he was glad to have something that works easily and quickly.

Regular soap dries his face out, so he was usually using either my face wash or body wash. He gets woodchips, dust, and grime all over his face and in his hair.

I was excited to give him these treats, because he deserves something that he can use that looks and smells manly. He was using whatever he could grab at the time to get his face clean and all the woodchips and dust off, so I put this right by the sink.

He likes it and has religiously stuck to using it daily. He really likes it, and I am glad he likes it. This gently cleans his face without leaving it oily (like when he was using the body wash), or leaving it dried out (when he used the bar soap). This is a rich lathered face wash that washes clean and leaves his face smooth!

I am glad that these products are sulfate-free and are certified organics. They are also made in the United States, which is also a plus to me. There aren’t any chemicals or fragrances either. Although you can smell the natural products inside the products.

I really loved all of these products. I didn’t USE them, but Adam did and he did nothing but praised them. He told all his friends about them, and seemed to want to keep using them for cleansing AND shaving.

Men need something to add to their grooming without smelling “all girly” as Adam says. He enjoyed using the products and I’m excited that he found something that he liked!

Disclosure: Items were sent to me for review purposes only. This post isn’t sponsored or influenced in any way. The opinions are 100% mine and totally honest.

 

Thanks,

Jessica

Saffron ROuge Review ♥ #Mineral

I was very lucky to be able to work with Saffron Rouge.
About
 Saffron Rouge:

Saffron Rouge is the first beauty retailer in the world to focus exclusively on organics.
Offering over 1,000 of the world’s finest organic beauty & aromatherapy products, Saffron Rouge is North America's #1 online destination for organic skin care, cosmetics and aromatherapy.
Founded in 2002, Saffron Rouge is comprised of a group of beauty experts that are passionate about organics. We take great pride in only selling the best and purest beauty products. Our goal is to operate a website where consumers can shop carefree because they know that everything we carry is truly organic.

The Inika Pure Primer.

The website states that "INIKA Pure Primer consists of certified organic Aloe Vera Leaf juice, Jojoba and Lemon Myrtle to help offer the skin protection and hydration prior to makeup application.
It creates an even canvas for foundation application and improves the staying power of your makeup.
Containing certified organic essential oils – Lavender, Lemon Myrtle and Jojoba for nourished and hydrated skin, the primer calms and soothes the skin and offers protection and hydration.
Perfect for dry/normal skin, INIKA Pure Primer can be worn alone or under other foundations."
This primer is amazing. You can feel the hydration/moisture of this when you put it on your skin. I have really weird skin. some spot are oily, where other parts are dry. This primer not only helped hydrate the dry parts (where mineral make-up usually flakes off) but it also kept the make up on ALL DAY.
This created an even canvas for me to work on. It go on smooth like a lotion or regular moisturizer. The makeup seemed to glide on instead of ball up and end up coming off after awhile. This is a certified organic primer, which makes it 10x better than regular. All the natural products do WONDERS for your face!! Loved it♥
The Inika Natural Perfection Concealer

INIKA Natural Perfection Concealer is perfect for camouflaging imperfections in the skin. The light whipped mousse texture blends easily creating a flawless base. It hides blemishes, dark circles and pigmentation and helps to even out skin tone. Light reflecting properties reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This concealer comes in 2 different colors, which are light and medium,

I received the medium concealer sample. I liked it, although it didn’t cover ALL of the blemishes I was hoping to cover. It was a little more liquidy that I expected, but it DID cover up the different parts of skin on my face (color spots). It didn’t cover up acne though. I had a zit I was hoping to cover up, and it didn’t do the trick. I could still see the redness of it, which I was trying to cover.
After I put the liquid and mineral foundations on, it WAS gone. It may have been just because I have really deep pores. I always have. So I read the website on application and it said you could apply this AFTER foundation, so I did. I tried to cover up that same zit, and guess what- IT WASN’T noticeable at all.
So, if you are trying to cover up color spots, use the concealer BEFORE, if you are trying to cover up acne, you can use it AFTER to do the trick. . It went on smooth, nice, and very silky. You can either use your fingertip or brush (I recommend the brush) to apply this. You can apply this before or after your foundation (or alone).
This was VERY good at covering dark circles under the eyes. It seems I always have them now. To be able to get any work done, I have to stay awake after the kids go to sleep because through the day they are like very hyper tornado’s tearing through the house, and I don’t get any time alone. There is a downside to staying up late- Dark circles that make the overall appearance of your face look grey and diminishing. This worked greatly to cover up the fact that I am a night owl and barely get any sleep. =)
The Inika Mineral Foundation

From the Website “INIKA Liquid Mineral Foundation is packed full of organic antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Formulated with certified organic ingredients that provide intense hydration while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it blurs the line between moisturizer and foundation.
Aloe vera leaf juice and jojoba are combined with shea butter, calendula, argan and chamomile oils to soothe, hydrate and moisturize the skin, especially after sun exposure. Tamanu oil is added as a powerful anti-microbial agent and is known to help aid with the appearance of scarring, pigmentation and sunburn. Macadamia nut oil nourishes the skin. Renowned antioxidant green tea extract is known to help diminish the appearance of wrinkles.”
This liquid mineral foundation comes in 4 colors (Beige, Cream, Honey, and Tan). I received a sample of HONEY, and was absolutely thrilled with it. It felt like a second skin. I didn’t have problems with it being darker or lighter in certain spots. It held on and stayed longer than any other liquid foundation I’ve ever used (including non-mineral).
Most liquid foundations (and non-liquids) made me look like I had layers and layers of makeup on even though I didn’t. I hated that. I would have to put lotion on over top of it and gently pat with a towel or washcloth until it evened itself out.
My skin felt fresh and supple. I didn’t even feel like I even had makeup on. Which is a total PLUS. I hated high school where so many girls looked like they had rolled in doritos. There makeup was VERY visable and not their skin color. With this foundation, you don’t have to worry about that. It blends in very well to the skin and covers up old acne scars. I don’t have many and they aren’t deep, but I hated putting concealer on them and then putting makeup on.
What an awesome foundation. I absolutely love it, and WILL be adding it to my daily makeup from now on. Beautiful skin, beautiful face all because of a simple foundation!!
The Inika Mineral Powder Foundation

INIKA Mineral Foundations are a concealer, foundation and powder in one with the added benefit of SPF15 protection. You can achieve an absolutely flawless finish without clogging pores or irritating skin. The foundations are not diluted with cheap fillers and harsh chemicals, making the pigments very dense and pure.
The purity of INIKA Mineral Foundations also makes them a fantastic choice for people with skin conditions such as acne, scarring, rosacea or pigmentation. The pure pigments provide a simple and effective way of covering these conditions.
Minerals are inert, stunting the growth of bacteria. Titanium and zinc oxides contained in INIKA Mineral Foundations have soothing and calming properties for the skin. Mica reflects light from the face, creating a soft, smooth and more radiant skin. Mica contains hypo-allergenic properties that help cover up the appearance of redness.
Only a very small amount of product is required to achieve natural and beautiful coverage. Your foundation will last longer than ever before. The foundations are gentle enough to use after cosmetic and facial procedures. They are water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your foundation moving if you perspire. All this achieved with such a light finish that you won’t even feel like you are wearing makeup!
INIKA Mineral Foundations are 100% certified vegan and certified cruelty free and suitable for all skin types.
Available in 8 different colors, so you can find the perfect match for your skin tone. I received PATIENCE, which is a medium type foundation. This is a miracle product. It goes on smoothly, which is a plus. Usually I have a problem with mineral foundations rubbing off in my dry areas and having to reapply later in the day on my oily parts (combo skin).
This product never ONCE failed me. I used nothing but this.!! I have to say- I was amazed once again!! It didn’t fade away after an hour like most minerals. You couldn’t tell I even had makeup on, which was AWESOME. Who doesn’t want perfectly flawless skin that actually looks REAL?
I didn’t want it to look like I had makeup caked on my face or have a discoloration, and I didn’t. It is VERY close to my skin color, although it is a litter darker (but what I wanted). Even though it IS slightly darker than my natural skin, you can’t even tell. I just didn’t want to get something that was going to make me look pale and sick all the time (so I tend to always go slightly darker) as I can always add a little moisturizer to it if it is TOO dark. But I never had that problem with INIKA. All the products  I received I was VERY impressed with and WILL feel slightly less of a person if I don’t get them in the future.
I mean, HEY, who can go from the best of the best to NOT the best? LOL

The Inika Mineral Bronzer

Use INIKA Mineral Bronzer bronzer to create a sun-kissed glow. The bronzers are inspired by the feeling you have when your skin is kissed with a natural glow from the hot summer, sand, longer days and wearing your favorite summer dress and heels. This product exudes the freshness and playfulness that comes from this bright, warm, happy season. With INIKA Mineral Bronzer, you will look like a sun goddess without the tan lines!
This Mineral Bronzer is available in 4 colors.

I received the Sunloving Mineral Bronzer, and fell in love (& lust). I used this all over my body to create a bronzed look. I have tanned skin, but my legs usually go un-tanned. I gave up the tanning bed long ago.. This gives me the glow I need without having to subject myself to harmful UV rays.
Start with a tiny amount and work up the layers from there. It is easier to add than to try and buff out if you have used more than what you should. I put some in a small bowl and mixed it with lotion, and used it as an all over body tint. Works very well. Just what I needed.♥ It isn’t too orangey or look fake tanned.
On your face you just buff on with the fantastic vegan kabuki brush to see the tan building evenly on your skin. You can choose to apply it to your cheekbones, nose, and chin- or add it all over your face. Goes on very smooth and gives such a natural beautiful color.
(TIP) You may want to use a separate brush for your bronzer and actual mineral foundation. I messed up and used the same brush at first and it didn’t work out too well for me. I wanted to add my mineral foundation and THEN add the bronzer, but the Kabuki brushes are SO awesome that they hold the foundation/bronzer deep in the brush.. so make sure to rinse and dry the brush or get another brush all together.
Suki Eye Shadow and Concealer Brush

This large application brush uses high quality, cruelty-free fibers allowing for easy application of eye shadow and concealer.
Are you tired of dealing with a concealer that leaves your face uneven and your hands all yuck? No more. This brush is the answer for you. You have ultimate control over WHERE your concealer/shadow goes without making a mess of yourself.
It is VERY worth it to get high quality brushes. Rubbing make-up on with fingers or the applicators that come with it is just NOT the same. Putting makeup on with the applicators will usually leave your shadow/concealer at risk for coming off very soon or crumbling.
Using this brush was AMAZING. I used this as both shadow and concealer brush as well as to put on the liquid mineral foundation. I LOVED how this brush felt against my skin. It feel practically like silk. It ISN’T made of animal hair though. It is all natural organic brush that makes you FEEL classy all through the day.
I tried both. Using the brush and NOT using it. I could tell a HUGE difference. My fingers were sticky when I didn’t use the brush, my makeup looked clustered in spots, and just overall looked amateur. Using the brush made me feel like my makeup was airbrushed on.
I felt my face OVER and OVER and just couldn’t grasp the fact that I actually had makeup on. It was AWESOME. I loved everything about it. The fact that it’s natural and that it gives me smooth, beautiful, and pulled together makeup. =)

Inika Kabuki Brush

Inika Kabuki Brush is made from 100% synthetic materials and wood from sustainable forestry. Specifically designed to use with vegan minerals, this brush creates an air brushed finish.
To protect brush, cleanse regularly using a chemical-free shampoo. Lather and rinse until the water runs clear and stand the brush to dry naturally overnight.
I have had this brush for about a month now, and I love it. Usually short brushes like this tend to lose their hair and don’t work very well after awhile. The bristles are ALL still intact and it hasn’t even shed one bristle. It is very soft to the face and soaks up the mineral powder/bronzer very well. I didn’t have to keep swirling it around inside the containers to collect more powder/bronzer.
You just circulate it over your face and the powder makes it way back to the tip of the brush to give me an overall healthy looking face. It is thick but not scratchy like many other brushes that I have used. It gives flawless beautiful skin, without all the clumping in spots while missing others.
I was VERY impressed. You tap the foundation or bronzer into the lid of the container and swirl it around. This heats up the minerals and gives you a better application for a longer wear.
As with any brushes, you need to keep them clean for a better use. If you don’t bacteria could grow inside your brushes and eventually break your skin out. This brush is VERY easy to clean. I get a small bowl and fill it up with warm/hot water, (I then use natural shampoo or body wash) to clean it, and then rinse with cool water. Then lay it on a towel for an hour or so and then put it back where it goes. (Or you could wrap it in a baby washcloth or dishcloth and put it up, but you do want to give it some air)..
Keeping your brushes clean not only help your skin (keeps your skin cleaner, clearer, and free from break –outs) but it will help your brush last way LONGER. I definitely recommend dipping into those pockets and going for something that costs a little extra because you GET a LOT extra.
EVERY single product that I received from Saffron Rouge was high quality products that last longer than so many others that are the same price or even higher. I loved them. Loved the companies customer service. They were very nice, quick to respond, and very helpful. Shipping was very fast and VERY cute. It came wrapped in a silk red ribbon for elegance. Who DOESN’T want to open something THAT elegant and beautiful? This company definitely goes the extra mile to make the customer happy- VERY happy =)
More about the company:
In order for a product to be sold at Saffron Rouge, it must meet the following criteria:

1. It must have at least one of the organic body care certifications, or provide sufficient evidence to Saffron Rouge that they are using certified organic content as much as possible.
2. Saffron Rouge considers products that contain even one Black List™ ingredient not acceptable for sale.

This way we can guarantee that all the products available at Saffron Rouge are free of toxic synthetic ingredients, synthetic colors, fragrances and preservatives, and are never tested on animals
Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and their Blog.
Discloure: This isn’t a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine, and not influenced in any way. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica Renee

Organic Body Care Recipes Review (Book Review)

I was fortunate enough to receive the Organic Body Care Recipes Book from Storey Publishing.

The skin care and function of the skin is explained exceptionally well in this book. When you know why something is important, you are more than likely to want to do it. If instructions are muddled and hard to comprehend- there won’t be very much success. This book is clear and precise about EVERYTHING it explains.

The recipes seem very easy to make, although there are ingredients listed that you aren’t just going to find laying around your house. you will have to look them up and buy most of them from health and beauty stores or online. This is a great book though if you are WILLING to go that extra step to stay healthy, or are looking to start your own beauty business.

The book first starts with ingredients and WHY they are important. This helps you get a feel for what you should be using and what you need to purchase. It explains in deep detail about the effects of this on your skin, how it can help, and what they are best used in. For example- Oatmeal (ground into flourlike substance) is best used for face and body scrubs, powdered cleansers, masks, and bath bags.

There are a lot of essential oils involved, but this book clearly states why. When you know why something is needed, you are more than likely to KNOW the benefits and how to use it in other recipes in the future.

One of my many New Year Resolutions this year was to go organic. Be more green in every aspect in life. After researching all the negative impacts on commercial projects on my health, was the reason I wanted a change. Most of the chemicals in commercial can HURT you, possibly leading to cancer, infertility, and hormonal problems down the road. The skin absorbs the chemicals in shampoo, lotion, bath products, and everything else that comes in contact with it.

You’ll have to work your way up to making ALL of these. you will just want to start with one or two first. Then when you get comfortable with those, you can progress further into more advanced and making different types. you don’t want to jump in making tons of different ones right off the bat, or you could become confused.

This is a great book and I tend to keep it on my bookshelf for life. I want to continue my handmade business into also offering natural beauty products. I will have to wait until I move into a bigger house because there is NO way I have room for another hobby at this point, but it something I would love to do.

There are tons of companies becoming earth friendly, and offering organic products- but if you could make them in your own home and KNOW exactly how the process is done, and what ingredients are involved- wouldn’t you? I would like to invest in an inexpensive blender just for making these.♥

I know I do. This is a book to flip through over and over, and use many times. It’s like an encyclopedia for healthy and beauty products. I have never in my life seen so many different choices in recipes. The ingredients are clear and state exactly how it is good for your skin or hair..

So, if you’re thinking this is something you would like to try out..

You can buy this book @ Amazon

 

 

About:

Radiantly healthy skin, hair, feet, hands, eyes, and nails. Commercial beauty products make this promise every day and live up to it with varying degrees of success. Stephanie Tourles offers a better solution to everyone frustrated with the endless cycle of expensive, synthetic, famous-name cosmetics that often fall short of expectations. Take control of beauty treatments with homemade products that use safe, nourishing ingredients to pamper the body and soothe the senses.

Tourles, a licensed esthetician, herbalist, and aromatherapist, has developed 175 recipes that are fun, simple, and immensely satisfying to make in home kitchens. Her natural beauty treatments deliver the results promised by department store brands — skin, hair, and nails that glow with vitality and inner wellness. Lotions, scrubs, toners, balms, and masks polish and balance the skin, soothe current problems, and prevent future ones. Shampoos, rinses, and conditioners tone the scalp, boost highlights, and leave hair soft and shiny. The book's whole-body coverage also includes recipes for hand and footcare, nail treatments, shaving cream, and even popular spa treatments such as microdermabrasion exfoliants, detox and cellulite soaks, ayurvedic oils, and herbal cold salves. Most important, there is never any doubt about the purity of these ingredients!

Each formula is clearly presented in recipe style, with notes on prep time, storage, and uses. Many products can be customized according to personal needs, whim, or mood, and they all use readily available, natural ingredients. Organic Body Care Recipes is a natural treasure for every body.

 

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% mine. I wasn’t compensated, although I received a product in exchange for an honest review.

 

Jessica

Diane Lai Natural Skin Products Review #organic #natural

I was fortunate enough to get to work with Diane Lai products for a review.

I was sent 4 items for review. I received the Soothe All natural moisturizing cream, rejuvenate all natural daily moisturizing lotion, the body wash, and the Moist Lip Balm (unscented).

The Moisturizing Cream-

 

it has a clean soap smell and comes in a plastic bottle with a pump action top. It only gives as much as you need out of the pump. It doesn’t overload you with so much that you have to wipe it on a towel or washcloth.

I not only used this as a face moisturizer, but as a make-up tool. I went to get me some new foundation. I was in a hurry and chose one that is a little darker than my face. You can tell too, so I used this as help.

I would squirt some foundation on the sponge, squirt the cream on top. Rub them together, and it cut back on the color. Just enough that I needed. It was exactly the shade of my skin. I really liked it.

You can use the cream not only for adults, but for kids and babies as well. This is an organic product with no chemicals. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could use this as a soother for rashes in babies.

 

The Rejuvenate Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Also comes in a plastic bottle with a pump action top. It is a larger bottle than the cream, and gives you more when you pump the lotion out. Most lotions these days have tons of dyes and fragrances that contain chemicals you would never even think twice about putting on your skin.

Now that most consumer’s are going towards organic and natural- the companies are hearing the calls. They are creating safe to use products that contain nothing but organic, natural products that not only help your skin but is good for it.

The lotion isn’t greasy, or very watery. It seems to have the substance that I need as a lotion. I am ALWAYS seen with a bottle of lotion in my purse. I hate having dry hands, it gives me goose bumps. This pump action lotion makes it easy to throw in my purse and head out the door.

I don’t have to worry about it squeezing out in the bottom of my purse, or the bottle busting. The top closes perfectly around the pump top, so it doesn’t just pop off.

It doesn’t have a fragrance, it just smells like a “clean” smell. I also used this on the bottom part of my hair as a “fly away” tamer. The organic products keep hairs in place and keeps them from frizzing up on me. Because it is lightweight, it doesn’t give my hair a weighed down look.

I loved both of these products. I thought the product was VERY high quality and was awesome because I can also use it on my kids.

The Body Wash

The Body wash is made with shea butter, lavender oil, Pomegranate extract, leaf extract, and ginseng extract. You can smell the citrus mixed with lavender when you pop the top of the easy squeeze bottle.

It is clear, which means no dyes or synthetic fragrances. It is thick (but not too thick) and silky feeling. It suds up well, making bubbles easily. It is awesome that I can use the same body wash for myself and my kids.

I usually buy a separate for them because of all the additives in mine. I also squirted a little under the water for a bubble bath for them, and it worked well. Not filling the bath with suds, but enough they could splash and play.

The Moist Lip Balm (Unscented)

It is made with fruit oil, honey, coconut oil, organic white beeswax, and olive oil.

The Lip Balm did keep my lips moist. I always have dry lips. I tend to also carry a couple chapsticks around in the pocket of my purse. I lick my lips, they dry out and crack. They end up burning, which I hate. I don’t mean to make my lips dry out, it’s just a habit I’ve had for awhile now.

I had to press down on my lips harder than normal because it is all natural products, but it did work well. It didn’t break up or fall off in the tube, so it is blended quite well. I wish it had some kind of soothing effect, like a mint blended in, but this chapstick is just for everyday use, and not for extreme chapped lips.

I love that these products have no dyes, no chemicals, no synthetics inside. I love that they are all natural, organic products that are safe to use even on the baby. It is hard to find a product that you can use on both.

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post. All opinions are my own, and not persuaded in any way, I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.

 

Jessica