Turby and John

Apricot Mango Eye Cream, by Skin

Ingredients- Apricot kernel oil, Jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, mango butter , olive oil, vitamin E oil, vegetable emulsifying wax, distilled water, glycerin, grapefruit seed oil.  (The first five ingredients are certified organic, and I love that there are so few ingredients in this product.)

Product Description (provided at Carenonline.com, where I ordered this stuff)- “For those who want a truly natural, organic eye cream, free of fragrance, harmful chemicals and even essential oils, this is it!   This is a rich, fabulous eye cream that even the most sensitive will find gentle and easy to use. It has Apricot kernel oil for the sensitive skin around the eye area to smooth and regenerate, jojoba oil for exceptional absorption, mango butter to help heal, protect, aid in wrinkle reduction, and to soften the skin, and macadamia nut oil to moisturize and  help protect the skin. This eye cream goes on creamy but not greasy, yet continues to moisturize the skin around your eye area all day.  Light enough to use during the day under your make-up but rich enough to use as a night cream.”

Price- $24.95 for 1 ounce, and 1 ounce may not seem like a lot, but since it’s only meant for the very tiny patch of skin underneath the eye..this stuff is gonna last forever.

Performance- This cream is ideal for using right before bed. I used it in the morning as well, but it tends to make my eyeliner not stay on as well as it normally does. Overall, I’m into it. Since I’m only twenty and don’t actually need eye cream yet, I don’t have much to say about its effect on fine lines.  I’m really just using it as a preventative measure.

Scent- I expected this to smell really fruity because of the name, but it actually has a really delicate milky/floral scent that can only be detected when first applied.

Rating- This eye cream deserves at least an eight. Two points were deducted since it makes my eyeliner kinda smudgy.

Boar Bristle Hair Brush

I cannot say enough positive things about the boar bristle hair brush that I recently purchased. It makes my hair shiny, soft, and waaay more manageable. Honestly, I did not expect to see much of an improvement in my hair, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Every review that I read before purchasing one said that it evenly redistributes the oils in your hair (from the scalp to the ends, where it’s needed to prevent and repair split ends), but I was still skeptical until I tried it.   It has  actually improved the overall texture of my hair. Also, it was in the neighborhood of eight dollars.  Success!!

BUT:

If your hair is super fine or super thick, then steer clear of this  product.  Fine hair tends to fly in several different directions when brushed with a boar bristle brush, and thick hair may have tangles that a boar bristle brush can not easily conquer. I have normal hair, so it works like a charm form me.

It’s winter weather every few days around here and, needless to say, my skin gets pretty dry.  Kirby started using the coconut oil that I used to make deodorant and toothpaste (reviews to come) with, and he mentioned it improving the condition of his hair.  Following my next shower, I covered my body (with the exception of my face, neck, and chest) with it.  Here’s what I think:

Performance- It makes my skin feel like soft, smooth heaven, and my (perpetually ashy) legs still feel moisturized at the end of the day.

Ingredients- It’s straight up coconut oil.

Price- I can’t remember the exact price. It has been a minute since I bought it, but prices on the internet range from five to twenty dollars. If you use the kind found in the cooking section (Mine has shrimp on the label. I don’t prefer it.), like me, I have a feeling it’s closer to five dollars.

Scent- It’s a very, very light coconut scent. It is in no way overpowering, like tanning oil or a sno cone. I can’t really wear perfume because it usually makes me feel sick, but I could probably rub this inside my nostrils and be fine. That’s not a bogus situation either. Sometimes excessive blowing of the nose will call for such extreme measures.

Rating- I’m thinking nine. I’m deducting one point because when it’s really cold I have a little trouble getting it out of the container.

Sometimes choosing health and beauty products is tough. Here are some tips that I try to keep in mind when shopping for them.

1) Always read the ingredients. Check out the ingredients that you’re curious about on the Cosmetic Safety Database, and see what they have to say about it. I link this website often because I use it so often. Also, it’s legit. Research it for yourself if you see it necessary. After using the site for a while, you’ll start to recognize the names of certain chemicals that are potentially harmful. This may or may not make you feel smart.

2)Know what natural means as far a health and beauty products are concerned, which is not much. More often than not, when something is “derived from” something that was once natural…it ceases to be natural. If you cannot pronounce the ingredient in question, it’s a good idea to do some research before buying it.

3) Know what organic means, too. The word organic really has little or no positive implications alone. It’s always smart to look for an indication on the label that the product is “certified organic”.  Unless a product is not confirmed to be organic, then it would only be logical for the product to have a certification. It’s common sense, y’all.

4) Remember that “green” does not always imply quality ingredients. Maybe it makes me a shit head, but I’d much rather the products I use be good for me than the environment. I’m all for a recycled bottle that is biodegradable…but it’s not a necessity.

5) Don’t be stubborn. If a particular product does not work for you, then it really doesn’t matter if it has awesome ingredients. Always read reviews and buy trial sizes when available. There’s nothing more disheartening than having eight ounces of twenty dollar conditioner that you feel obligated to use even though it makes your hair look like turds. A great review site is MakeupAlley, but they have a pretty limited selection of reviews for products with minimal and simple ingredients.

Karen's Botanicals Calendula Rose Facial Cream (otherwise known as ham city)

Scent- Usually, scent is not the most important aspect of a product for me.  When the product smells like ham, however, scent becomes a big deal. After applying this a few nights ago for the first time, I contemplated washing it off because of the smell. I decided against it, for the sake of this review.

Performance- This stuff is very moisturizing, and (smell aside) it makes a wonderful night cream. When I wake up after wearing it all night, my skin feels super soft.

Ingredients (as listed on the website)- Sunflower, Olive oil infused with Rosebud and Calendula blossom, Calendula extract, Aloe Vera gel, Jojoba oil, Emulsifying vegetable wax, Beeswax, Mixed Tocopherols (non-GMO certified Vitamin E oil), Borage seed oil, Evening Primrose oil*, Borage seed oil, Rosehip seed oil, Blue Chamomile essential oil, selected essential oil blend.

(All of the ingredients except for the mixed tocopherols and the selected essential oil blend are certified organic.)

Product description (given on Carenonline.com, where I purchased it)- “A rich nourishing cream formulated for normal to extremely dry skin types, including sensitive skin. Made with super soothing calendula and blue chamomile oils, enriched with Evening Primrose and Borage Seed oils. Skin loving olive oil and healing aloe vera combine beautifully with rosehip seed oil–a powerful tool in the fight against hyperpigmentation (otherwise known as age spots). Very lightly scented with pure floral essential oils.”

(To be made more accurate, the last sentence should say “Very lightly scented with pure floral essential oils, and very powerfully scented with something that smells like ham.”

Price- $25.50 for a 1.7 oz container (luckily, I  only purchased the sample size for four dollars.)

Rating- I’ll give this product a six. I subtracted three points for the ham business and one for the price.

This morning I decided that I needed some red lipstick.

Why:

• special occasions
• putting it on and immediately wiping it off can sometimes leave a nice/subtle shade that looks somewhat natural
• because I can

Consequently (and perhaps unfortunately), I picked up the reddest and cheapest shade I could find at Walmart this evening.

Rimmel Lipstick (shade: Red Hot)

Either this lipstick totally blows, or I just discovered that I have the kind of lips that do not agree with lipstick. Picture a clown’s mouth. There you go.

Also, the color is nothing to write home about. It is a little too orange when applied for my liking.

The bright side:

It was only four dollars, and the put on and wipe off method still works pretty well.

Since I am about to run out of conditioner and facial cleanser, I ordered some more online today. I also got some eye cream, because even though I love the miracle conditioner mentioned in my previous post…I want something specifically formulated for the sensitive area underneath my eyes.

Karen's Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser

The best word to describe my skin is combination, but it’s definitely more dry than oily. This stuff is recommended for dry skin, but it’s winter time and I do what I want.

Opas Soap Ojai Lavender Conditioner

I decided to get the lavender instead of the palmarosa (as stated in my big long list post) because the former allegedly stimulates hair growth. We’ll seeee.

Skin's Apricot Mango Eye Cream

This stuff looks delicious, but it probably isn’t.

I also got try me sizes in Karen’s Botanicals Refreshing Lemon Mint Cleaner and Karen’s Botanicals Calendula Rose Facial Cream. I’m pumped! Get ready for some very informative reviews.

side note: My badass history teacher has made it painfully obvious to me that, until now, I have not had a good history teacher.

Henceforth, I will be steering this blog in a single direction. Posts will consist of extensive product reviews, health and beauty advice,  and the occasional herbal remedy. I will be sharing both good and bad experiences with homemade face masks and the like. In the event that I buy a pretty dress, however, I will not hesitate to post about it.

To kick things off, I’ll review a wonderful lotion that I just discovered.

Tate's Natural Miracle Conditioner

I recently got a rash on my chest. Who knows why? I have super sensitive skin sometimes..but within three days of using this stuff (I got a not-so-small free sample from the health food store), the rash had completely disappeared. I’ve been using it as an eye cream as well, and it gives me the appearance of being well-rested even when I’m not. I haven’t used it as a hair conditioner yet, but I have a feeling that results would make me very happy.

Price: An 18 oz pump is around $26.00, and a 5 oz bottle is around $8.00 where I purchased it.

Ingredients: mountain spring water, apples, strawberries, rose, lemons, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, boysenberries, oranges, cloves, ginger, pineapple, blackberries, celery, cherry bark, oak bark, orchid, marigold, hazel nut, pine needles, coconut, chamomile, jasmine, calendula, parsley, thyme, papaya, eucalyptus, passion flower, cinnamon, geranium, nutmeg. (WOW!)

On a scale of one to ten: nine, and the price is the only reason it’s not ten.

I bought this stuff for my sister for Christmas because she really wanted some, but I didn’t try it for myself until about a week ago. I intend to buy the biggest bottle I can find tomorrow when I go to the health food store where I bought hers.

• There is something downright debilitating about allowing my hair to grow.
• I am not cut out for classroom discussions; I am, however, cut out for classroom nodding.
• The shit town in which I live is slowly suffocating me.
• Yoga before bed puts me right to sleep.
• I am taking a class on Graphic Novels, and it is interesting.

Jack Black All-Over Wash for Face, Hair, & Body

The product pictured above was another Christmas present for Kirby. He says that it’s fairly moisturizing (which is pretty important since he has very dry skin in the winter months) and that he really enjoys the scent.  It does smell great; it’s a very masculine scent. I’m tempted to use it, but I never follow through because I’m not sure if I would enjoy smelling like a man.

I probably would.

This product is paraben-free, sulfate-free, and has certified organic and vegan ingredients…if you’re into that sorta thing.