I’ve been using Sophyto’s Daily Skin Rejuventation Collection for a little over two weeks, and my skin is loving it! I’ll be reviewing each product in the collection in the order that I use it. First up is the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser!

Ingredients (provided at sophyto.com)- “Aqua (spring water), coco-glucoside, *pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, *sucrose, *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice powder, levulinic acid, *alcohol denat, glyceryl caprylate, *olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, glycerin, sodium hydroxide, sodium dehydroacetate, ascorbic acid *Organic, 95% of the agricultural ingredients are produced organically”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a hazard score of 2. There are no individual ingredients with hazard scores above a 2.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens and artificial fragrance/colors.

2. It contains organic ingredients.

3. It’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Product Description(provided at sophyto.com)- “A sublime airy mousse made from concentrated orchard apple extract and raw sugar cane to offer a totally natural solution compared to harsh glycolic acids. The fruit acid foam works upon contact with skin to gently, yet effectively remove cellular build-up revealing a much fresher, glowing complexion.  Because this cleanser does not contain overly rich foaming boosters and sulphates, it requires little to no agitation when rinsing, so suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, including rosacea and acne. AWARD FINALIST “Best Eco Beauty Finalist” 2011 CEW Awards. Always guaranteed to be free from artificial fragrance, colors, fillers and parabens. pH 5 for a normal skin range.”

Price- around $25 for a 150 ml bottle.

Performance- I was a little hesitant to try this product since I’ve had limited success with anything other than cream cleansers, but it was surprisingly gentle and didn’t dry my skin out like I’d anticipated. The mousse-like consistency didn’t even need to be massaged into my skin for me to feel like it had done it’s job, and the tiny bumps I sometimes experience when experimenting with different cleansers were nowhere to be seen! I firmly believe the impressive performance of this product had plenty to do with the additional Sophyto products I used afterwards. Reviews to come!

Scent-The scent is so mild that it’s not easy to describe. It smells clean and also a little like a green apple. I’m for it!

Rating- I’m subtracting a .5 for the hazard score of 2, so 9.5 it is!

I rarely regret my decision to avoid shampoo, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally miss the scent of freshly-washed hair. Hair that smells like nothing can get pretty boring, and without that just shampooed look/feel/scent, I often forget when I last used baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Because of this, I tend use baking soda more frequently than is necessary. This is both wasteful and not so great for my already dry hair.

Amber, my talented hairstylist, often mixes a few drops of peppermint essential oil with the water she uses to spray my hair.  I’ve taken note of how awesome it makes my hair smell when she does it, but it didn’t occur to me until very recently that this might be a solution to my problem. When I saw an unused spray bottle in my bathroom cabinet and realized that I also had peppermint oil, I decided to give it a try the next time my hair needed a little freshening up.

It worked so well that I’m kicking myself for not trying it sooner!

Do you have any other tips for making hair smell great without shampoo?

I recently began using Sophyto’s Daily Skin Rejuvenation Collection, so I’ll be reviewing some or all of the products individually in the future. It’s far too soon to give a definitive opinion, but my skin isn’t revolting against me yet (which is always a good sign). Be on the lookout for the reviews!

And be on the lookout tomorrow specifically for a recipe that will rock your worlds.

]]> http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/01/26/upcoming-reviews-sophytos-daily-skin-rejuvenation-collection/feed/ 1 http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/01/25/5-finds-for-valentines-day/ http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/01/25/5-finds-for-valentines-day/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:50 +0000 Dawn http://dawnandkirby.porchswingmedia.com/?p=3839 Whether or not you approve of/celebrate Valentine’s Day, it will be here before we know it. I, for one, am pretty pumped! Here are a few V-day related treasures that have caught my eye lately:

I can’t be certain until it’s on my finger, but this heart ring might be perfect in every way.

I’m really bad at giving massages (I’ve been made fun of too many times to count), but receiving them poses few or no problems.

My feet would be right at home inside these crochet slippers.

Vanilla moon and mystic dragon’s blood would be my two picks for Valentine’s Day soap scents.

What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate-covered strawberries? It’d be the worst; that’s what.

I plan to make and send so many sewn paper valentines, much like the ones above. Maybe I’ll receive or or two as well. ; )

Are you planning ahead for Valentine’s Day? I’d love to hear about the special crafts or gifts you’re making!

Sources: Ring, Salve, Slippers, Soap, Cards, Strawberries.

Cover Girl’s NatureLuxe Collection came out last year in the spring, but I only recently became aware of its existence since I tend to avoid this brand like the plague. I happened to see a display on a recent trip to the store with my grandmother, and I immediately made a mental note to do some research.

The green packaging (I’m speaking only in reference to the color and not Cover Girl’s environmental awareness or impact) was a clever move on their part, since most of us associate green with all things natural. And if that doesn’t effectively lure unsuspecting consumers in, then the inclusion of the word “nature” in NatureLuxe certainly will…right?

Don’t be fooled, ladies. Sure, the foundation might contain comfrey root and rose hip extract, but it also has fragrance, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, and octinoxate. Oh, and I could keep going.

Surprise! The gloss balm isn’t any better. It’s full of petrochemicals, dangerous preservatives, and vague ingredients like fragrance, propylene glycol, propylparaben, octinoxate, parrafin, and artificial colors. If you ask me, all the shea butter and coconut oil in the world don’t right those wrongs.

Come on, y’all. Let’s act like we’ve got some sense and stick to the products that actually represent nature.

Image Source

What’s a girl to do when she can’t justify splurging on henna but her hair is looking especially mousy? Well, this girl buys the cheapest box of ammonia free dye she can find and puts it to good use. I know, I know. The ingredients are pretty gross, and dying at home is risky. I don’t plan to make a habit of it, though, and I did manage to skip the included conditioner (which was full of parabens) and follow up with argan oil instead.

Also, I’m pretty happy with the results:

I know, I’m the worst…but I do have some fun posts on the way, including:

• Five Finds for Valentine’s Day
• the next installment of Nearly Natural
• several product reviews
• a stupidly good hummus recipe, concocted by yours truly
• a super secret and awesome giveaway (look for it some time next week)!

• I’m excited to try this natural hair colour mask to hopefully make mine a little less dull.
• Need a reminder of which ingredients it’s most important to avoid? This article made me realize that I definitely need to update/add to my ingredients to avoid page.
• This story about fragrance that a reader shared with Alexandra and Siobhan is both scary and inspirational.
• I need to take a page out of Rachel’s book and simplify my home.
• Caitie’s top makeup products of 2011 post is full of cosmetics I’d like to try!
• This infused witch hazel seems extra fancy.

Remember my recent post about giving rosewater and glycerin a try? Well, I pretty sure I’ve been using it long enough to form an opinion…which means it’s time for a review!

Ingredients (provided on product packaging)- “Vor-Mag Water (water that has been vortexed and magnetized to raise the energy to a higher vibration that we believe to be more beneficial), Natural Vegetable Glycerin and Hydroessential Rose Oil.”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a hazard score of 0. I can definitely live with that!

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens.

2. It’s free of pesticide residues.

3. It’s cruelty-free.

Product Description(provided at lamazon.com)- “Certified. Soothing and old-fashioned. Skin lotion you can trust. Harsh weather defense.”

Price- around $5 for a 4 oz. bottle.

Performance- I’d be lying if I said that this product altered my skin dramatically. It wasn’t hydrating enough to use in the place of my current moisturizer, but it was certainly a nice addition. It didn’t make my skin look especially radiant, but it did feel a good bit softer. I wasn’t disappointed, but I wasn’t amazed either.

Scent- Believe it or not, it smells like roses.

Rating- 8/10

It looks like I’ve managed to find another dud in the wide world of natural toothpastes. Is anyone surprised?

Ingredients (provided at luckyvitamin.com)- “Phtyoplenolin® (Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract), Bio-Chelated Extracts of: Calendula Flowers, Chamomile Flowers, Echinacea Tops, Gotu Kola Whole Herb, Prickly Ash Bark, Olive Leaf, Grapefruit Seed, Black Walnut Green Hulls and Green Tea Leaf, Essential Oils of: Peppermint, Oregano, Lavender, Clove, Eucalyptus, Thyme and Cinnamon Bark, Bio-Saponins™ [Yucca spp, Quillaia (Quillaia saponaria) Bark, Sarsaparilla Root, Wild Yam Root], Folic Acid, Co-Enzyme Q10, Aloe Vera, Chlorophyll, USP Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Calcium Carbonate, Silica.”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a hazard score of 2. The only ingredients with hazard scores above a 3 are clove oil and cinnamon bark. Additionally, I couldn’t find ingredient matches for sarsaparilla or wild yam roots.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of Preservatives, fluoride, alcohol, synthetic solvents, sodium-lauryl-sulfate, artificial sweeteners, colors, and dyes.

2. It’s cruelty-free.

Product Description(provided at luckyvitamin.com)- “Nature’s Answer PerioBrite Toothpaste Cool Mint a low abrasive toothpaste, does more than clean teeth – it supports periodontal health. Dentist formulated Periobrite contains soothing organic herbs well-known for their cleansing action, while CoQ10, Folic Acid, Oregano, Cinnamon and Clove promote tissue and gum health. As part of an oral health program, PerioBrite naturally whitens teeth while leaving your breath fresh and clean, energizing your whole mouth with a cool, sparkling minty-fresh sensation. For best results, use with PerioCleanse, PerioWash and PerioRub. Daily brushing helps promote healthy teeth and gums.”

Price- around $4.00 for a 4 oz. tube

Performance- Since the ingredients aren’t half bad, I really wanted to like this toothpaste. Unfortunately, the flavor reminded me a little too much of the way pine sol (or maybe some other scary household cleaner) smells. Also, it didn’t freshen my breath as much as I would’ve liked. Obviously, the breath freshening factor kind of makes or breaks a toothpaste. Overall, I wasn’t a fan.

Scent- an odd combination of citrus, mint, and something not quite identifiable

Rating- 6/10. I subtracted 2 points for the odd flavor and another 2 for this product’s inability to adequately freshen my breath. The solid ingredients and the fact that it’s cruelty-free earn it 6 points.

I’m on a quest to find the perfect toothpaste, and it isn’t going very well. Today I’ll be reviewing a product that I just finished: Kiss My Face Triple Action Aloe Vera Gel Toothpaste.

Ingredients (provided at kissmyface.com)- “Sorbitol, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Water, Xylitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternafolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Ubiquinone (Co-Q10), Stevia Rebaudiana Extract, Flavor, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice), Xanthan Gum, Menthol, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Chlorophyllin- Copper Complex, Potassium Sorbate.”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a hazard score of 4. Obviously, this isn’t ideal. The ingredients with hazard scores above a 3 are flavor and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate,

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s fluoride-free.

2. It’s sulfate-free.

3. It contains organic ingredients.

Product Description(provided at kissmyface.com)- “Brushing with great tasting natural aloe gel helps prevent plaque and tartar build-up that can cause gum disease, bad breath, discoloration, and cavities. Natural formula features cool Mint freshness, natural whitening, Co-Q10, Tea Tree, Herbal Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Organic Aloe Vera and is free from Fluoride and SLS.”

Price- Around $5.95 for a 3.40 oz. tube.

Performance- The taste and and performance of this product are nothing short of ideal. The  sweet, minty flavor makes for long-lasting fresh breath, and the consistency of the gel isn’t too thick or too thin. Unfortunately, the problems I have with this toothpaste are with the ingredients and not the performance.

Scent-Sweet and minty, like the taste.

Rating- 7/10. I’m subtracting 3 whole points for the high hazard score, which might seem like a lot…but I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day and inevitably end up swallowing a significant amount (not to mention what is absorbed by my gums). Above all else, I need for my toothpaste to be safe.