Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer

Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer isn't going to make you high, but it is a lovely experience, non-the-less.  People see the hemp leaf on hemp products and think automatically, "There's pot in this lotion!"  That is not really the case.  While hemp is in the same family of plants as marijuana, it is not the same plant.  It says right on the back of the bottle in bold letters: THC-Drug Free.    

This lotion was definitely a surprise.  I've tried hemp moisturizers in the past and while they usually give great moisture, they tend to have a distinctly non-pleasant smell.  Well, unless you're into really earthy, herbal scents.  Which I definitely am not, as a general rule. 

However, the scent of Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer is amazing!  I can't really describe it that well.  It’s sweet, but not overly so, and a little fruity in a non-specific way.  I just looked up a little about the product and was shocked to find out that the original scent is actually floral and banana.  Who knew?  It definitely does not make me think of flowers or bananas from the start, but now that I know what it's supposed to be, I guess I can see what they mean.  Whatever it is, it's yummy! 

It is also a really great moisturizer.  It's perfect for any dry spots or just all over moisturization.  The scent lingers nicely.   They make several other scents, but I prefer the original.  It does its job, and it smells lovely.  You can find it online for a decent price.   

This lotion smells really great, it moisturizes well, and it does it all without parabens for a decent price.  Overall, a fabulous find.  I can't wait to explore more of their products. 

Scent: 4.5 (Pretty delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable; no parabens, but not organic.)
Ethics: 3 (I couldn't find essentially anything good or bad about the company.)
Price/Value: 4 (I found pricing online for between $15 and $20.  Totally worth it.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent moisturizer.)

Overall: 4 (Definitely a great daily use product!)

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a little intimidating overall.  I am a daily showerer, for the most part.  I can't really stand to not shower.  With my hair so long, I feel greasy almost immediately, even if others claim that I/my hair looks fine.  However, it is not always possible to shower when I would like.  That's why I love this little number I discovered a few years ago. 

If you've never used dry shampoo before, it may be time to try it.  Basically, it does what it sounds like it does.  While it doesn't really "clean" your hair as regular shampoo would, it absorbs oil and creates volume, and makes hair look almost as if it is freshly washed.  Your hair won't feel exactly as if you had washed it, but it will feel probably 75% better than it would have if you just didn't shower and didn't use anything.  And it looks probably 90% better than it would have.  Well it will as long as you use a good product.

Not all dry shampoos are created equal.  Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is the best I've tried, and I've probably tried at least four, maybe five brands.  Most other ones leave you smelling very strongly and unpleasantly of whatever they've decided to scent it with.  They can also leave a gummy or gritty residue, instead of absorbing properly.  If the product isn't great, or if it's applied incorrectly, it can be a disaster. 

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is definitely a life saver.  I highly recommend adding it to your "in a pinch" collection of products.  It doesn't have an overly strong smell like some of the other ones I've used, and it's got an excellent texture.  It can be great if you use it right.

I have two application techniques.  The first is for an all over fix.  I take the bottle and squeeze out a few generous puffs onto my hairbrush, then brush it through my hair.  I do this several times, concentrating on any greasy looking areas.  It was a lifesaver last weekend when I was going from a massage to a birthday party and didn't have time to shower.  If you apply it directly to your hair you might end up concentrating too much in one area, and getting white streaks or spots, so that's why I apply it via brush. 

The other technique I use is for spot treatments.  Sometimes I over-product my hair, or touch a strand too much with greasy fingers, or my skin is super oily that day.  If that happens, squirt a little powder on your fingers and spot-apply by grabbing the hunk of strands and smoothing down towards the tips.  Then brush to finish incorporating the product into your hair.  If it looks a bit powdery after either technique, simply smooth a little water over the area with your hands or brush.   Water has absorbed the powder after the powder has already absorbed any oil, so you still look great.  Brilliant! 

Scent: 3.75 (Lemony and not too strong, but I suppose could be better)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable.)
Ethics: 4 (I snooped Oscar Blandi's site a bit and found out nothing.  Product says no animal testing though.)
Price/Value: 3.75 (A bit less than $20 and it's a small bottle, but it's a great product and lasts a while.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent job for what it is, but it'll never be real shampoo.)

Overall: 4 (A great quick fix for day old hair!)

Secret Moments Island Escape Sheer Fragrance Mist by Victoria's Secret

Get it while you can!  I stopped by Victoria's Secret the other day when I heard that the semi-annual sale was on again and discovered one of my favorite scents in the clearance bin.  That usually means that they are discontinuing it!  I was so disappointed.   It looks like the entire Secret Moments collection is going out.  That's kind of sad, since I feel like it just came out pretty recently.  Like, within the last two years.  While I didn't like all the scents, the Island Escape scented items were fabulous.  Anyway, you'd better go pick some up while you can! 

The Secret Moments Island Escape scent is listed on the bottle as beachy coconut and sugarcane.  I can smell more sugar than anything but there is a light coconut note as well.  The Sheer Fragrance Mist is a burst of refreshing sweetness.  It's uplifting and so delicious that it gets instant attention whenever you refresh it.  I always get complimented when I wear it.  It is a mist, which means it won't last as long as a perfume would, but its so yummy it's worth the re-apply just to remind yourself how delicious you are.

The Secret Moments collection also carries a body lotion, a body cream, a scrub and a shower gel in each scent.  I didn't really like any of the other scents, but it's all personal, so check them out.  And, they're super cheap right now so it's the time to do it!  I don't mind paying for good quality products, but a deal is a deal.  And I enjoyed all the other items in the collection as well.  Sweet scent, sweet price.  Do it up.

Scent: 5 (Totally delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem decent, I don't see anything that I know of as unhealthy on the label.)
Ethics: 3 (VS doesn't have any obvious redeeming nor any really horrible qualities, that I'm aware of. )
Stay-ability: 3.5 (Lasts decently on skin and better on clothes)
Price: 5 (Right now it's a steal! Get it while you can!)

Overall: 4.25 (Sweet product, sweet deal.)

Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray by The Body Shop

I don't know about any other long-haired girls out there, but I cannot survive without detangling spray.  It is essential for life.  Lol.  Or for convenience anyway.

When showering, I have a specific routine.  I usually shampoo, rinse thoroughly, apply conditioner, and then when I'm done doing everyone else, I slightly wet my conditioned hair and comb the conditioner through it with a wide-toothed comb.  After detangling this way, I rinse, and wrap up my hair to get out of the shower.  Even though I take that extra step to help detangle, by the time my hair has towel dried a little bit in my wrap and I'm ready to comb out and style my hair, there is no way I can just easily glide a comb through it. 

As a result, over the years I've tried many different detanglers.  Most of the ones that you come across for instance in your local grocery store or "superstore" (i.e. Walmart or Target) are really designed for kids and do an okay job without anything fancy involved.  They are pretty much interchangeable and I would usually end up just dumping one into the other as I went and hoping for the best.  But four or five years ago I discovered the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray at The Body Shop. 

It actually used to be "Bilberry Detangler" but was reformulated in the last year along with the products that now have become the Rainforest Hair Collection.  The Body Shop has created its own Eco-Responsible, Eco-Conscious product label for items that it specially formats with health and the environment in mind.  The Rainforest Hair Collection has no sulfates, no silicones, no colorants, and no parabens. 

They created their own eco and health-conscious label because there is no set of universal international standards for beauty products.  So they started their own label to put on new or reformulated items that they took special care with to reflect those values.   They don't have many products with the label yet, but I feel that means they are respecting what they've created and aren't just throwing it on anything they feel might look or sound better with it. 

So yeah, back to the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray.  It was great when I had it and it was known as the Bilberry Detangler.  I thought that with the reformulation and the elimination of sulfates, silicones, colorants, and/or parabens from that collection that it would probably not work nearly as good and might go back to being just like any other detangler. 

I was honestly really impressed with the new formula.  It definitely works extremely well, and it only takes a few spritzes to make a difference.  Two sprays on top, two with my head flipped over to cover the underneath, and my wide-toothed comb slips right through.  It's amazing.  I highly recommend it for anyone who takes longer then thirty seconds to comb through their hair after towel drying it. 

Scent: 4 (Good, but very faint.  Can't really smell much.)
Health: 4.75 (The only thing it doesn't have going for it is organic ingredients.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop is a pretty decent company as discussed in previous posts.)
Does what it says: 5 (An absolutely fabulous detangler & light conditioner.)

Overall: 4.75 (Does a terrific job!)

LAVANILA Laboratories - The Healthy Body Butter - Vanilla Coconut

LAVANILA Laboratories has created a body butter that it deems "The Healthy Body Butter".  Sounded great to me!  I am a total vanilla person and always looking to be healthier, so I was obviously immediately interested in this product. 

The funny thing is that I completely hated the Pure Vanilla scented products that they make.  That scent is very very strong and floral.  I am not into floral vanillas at all.  I want like sweet, yummy, edible-smelling vanilla.  I find that funny too because I find vanilla as a flavor to be really boring, but as a scent extremely pleasant.  Makes no sense really, but there it is.

So anyway, after I was disappointed with the Pure Vanilla scent, I almost gave up on LAVANILA altogether.  But then I noticed that there was a Vanilla Coconut scent!   I clearly had to try it and when I smelled the deliciousness I clearly had to buy it.  If you don't like sweet scents, they also make a Lavender Vanilla and a Grapefruit Vanilla and a few others as well.

The body butter is not nearly as thick as (what I think of as) a normal thickness for lotions deemed "butters", but it is still very pleasant.  It is very rich, yet absorbs easily and is a great moisturizer.  The scent is pretty light and not overwhelming.   It's a great light butter for supple summer skin with a light beachy scent.  Fabulous and yummy!

Ratings:

 

Scent: 4.5 (Delicious but not too sweet or overwhelming.)
Texture: 4.5 (Smooth and creamy and easily absorbed.)
Health: 4.5 (The company seems dedicated to Healthy products!)
Ethics: 4 (Haven't heard anything about good works, but they do healthy well.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (A great light moisturizer with a great light scent.)

Overall: 4.5 (Dreamy!)

Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner

Burt's Bees is a great company to get natural products from.  According to their website, all of their products are paraben, sulfate, petrochemical, and phthalate free.  Sounds great to me!  I love several of their skin care products.

The Garden Tomato Toner is one of my favorites.  It's also one of my favorite toners out of all the toners I've tried.  And I've tried a lot of toners.  For example, I currently have five different toners on my dresser.  I know, I'm ridiculous.

I've discovered that lots of people haven't even discovered the wonderful world of toners.  They don't even realize how fabulous they are, and what they can do for your skin.  If you don't know, the purpose of a toner is to re-balance the PH of your skin after washing.  It also helps remove dirt and impurities (and soap residue) that you didn't even realize your cleanser had left behind.  It's amazing what can still be left behind after what felt like a thorough washing of your face.  The proof is on the cotton. 

So now that I've touted the virtues of toner, let me explain why Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner is fabulous.  It is formulated for oily and troubled skin, which those who know me wouldn't really say I have.  What I do have is skin that gets finicky about a week before "that time of the month".  The garden Tomato Toner plays an integral role in clearing up and/or preventing my little breakouts.

To use, place a cotton ball or pad over the open bottle and tip to moisten.  Swipe over your face and neck (avoiding your eye area), concentrating on problem areas.  Enjoy the soothing tingle.  Then get a little grossed out by the residue left on your cotton.  Repeat with another cotton or two until no visible dirt is left on the pad after swiping.  Use morning and night after washing and before moisturizing.

The scent of this product is very different from what I usually like, but it's earthy and vegetable-y and actually very soothing.  I really quite like it.  It makes the whole experience more natural feeling.

Overall, Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner is a great product to add to your skin care routine.  You can feel and see it doing great things for your skin!  


Scent: 3.75 (Definitely not sweet & lovely, but still earthy and pleasant.)
Health: 4.75 (Everything is natural & great, but not certified organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (Company seems very socially and ethically conscious.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (It's fab!  Will not solve all problems, but no toner will on its own.)

Overall: 4.75 (Very soothing, a great toner!)

The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain - Shade 01

The Lip & Cheek Stain from The Body Shop (shade 01) is a great yet subtle way to add lasting color to your lips.   I can't even begin to tell you how many people I've convinced to try it by talking about all it's virtues.  Because it's a stain, it works with any skin tone, by adding sheer color.  It's a dark red/pink tint but is very subtle unless you apply several layers.  

If you want just a little color, add one or two applications and go.  If you want deeper, longer lasting color, reapply several layers until you get your preferred color.  I recommend waiting for each layer to dry before adding another.  I usually add a layer, continue getting ready and then add another, continue getting ready...you get it.  The applicator holds a lot of liquid, so I usually scrape some off on the lip of the tube before applying.

It's supposed to be for both lips and cheeks, but I've never actually used it as a cheek color.  Something about using liquid for blush weirds me out.  I always just felt like it could never be even.  Why I feel better about being able to make powder even is beyond me.  But the color is great, so I'm sure if you're into liquid cheek colors, it would be great for you.

I always add a clear or slightly sparkly gloss for a lovely shimmer.   Also, the stain has no scent or taste, so if you grab a flavored gloss, you get an extra treat.

Overall this is a really classic product.  The color would be perfect for a 40's pin-up girl.   I don't wear lip color very often.  I usually save it for special dressy occasions.  When I do wear color, this is my choice the majority of the time.  I love it, and I bet if you try it you will too!  

Taste/Smell: 4 (Decidedly neutral.)

Health: 2.5 (It contains parabens.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop has some great values; check out more info here.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (Classic; can be subtle or more intense.)

Overall: 4 (Great for any occasion!)