Ingredients- (provided at drbronner.com)- “Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lemon Oil, Organic Orange Oil”

This product gets a satisfyingly low hazard score of 1 from the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database.

Product Description (also provided at drbronner.com)- “Our organic conditioning rinse is nourishing and effective without synthetic ingredients, and is certified by the same National Organic Program that certifies organic food. The USDA logo is your guarantee of organic integrity.  Organic Shikakai [“Shee-kah-kye”] powder comes from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acacia Concinna, and is widely used in India for soft shiny hair. Organic lemon juice, used traditionally in the west, rinses and tightens hair shafts for excellent manageability. Organic coconut, olive and hemp fatty acids moisturize for luxuriant hair.”

Price- $9.99 for eight ounces, which seems to be pretty standard for an all-natural conditioner.

Performance- The directions on the bottle suggest pouring two caps full of the product into a cup of water, pouring it over your head, and then running your fingers through your hair. I’d suggest combing your hair with a comb before you do any of this, especially if you tend to have a nappy head like me.  As long as I comb beforehand, I have no problems with these instructions.  Otherwise, it’s a pretty painful process. This rinse makes my hair feel super soft, which I obviously love. It also makes it smell delightful, which I’ll talk more about in a second.

Scent- The scent of this product is my favorite part!! It smells exactly like a big bowl of fruity pebbles sitting beside a sliced orange.  I might continue using this product even if I didn’t like the way it made my hair look, and I’m aware how ridiculous that sounds. What can I say? I’m a big fan of fruity pebbles (but I don’t allow myself to eat them, since I’d basically be eating a bowl of sugar).

Rating- 7.5 out of 10. I subtracted two points because I miss the seventy hairs that I ripped out of my scalp while combing in the conditioner with my fingers the first time I used it. I subtracted a .5 because it makes me want a bowl of fruity pebbles, and that’s an unhealthy habit to develop (regardless of how much I love fruity pebbles and the scent of this conditioner).

As promised, here’s a sick picture of my hand that is covered in poison ivy:

The scabby area just below my fingers was covered in blisters yesterday. I think the steroids are doing their job.

I can't believe I left this gem sitting in my cabinet for months!

For those of you who didn’t read my recent post concerning Brazilian waxes, I am/was considering trying  an at-home waxing kit. Fortunately, I found an old and mostly unused Intuition razor while packing up the toiletries in my bathroom cabinet. When I first bought it several months ago, I tried the intuition on my legs and wasn’t super impressed. It did about as good of a job as the disposable razors that I typically use for my legs. I guess I didn’t even bother trying it on any other areas. After rediscovering it and in an act of desperation, I tried shaving my bikini line with the Intuition. After experiencing no razor burn from the initial experiment, I used the Intuition on the entire surrounding area. I’m happy with the results, to say the least. There’s very little stubble or razor burn, and I didn’t just pay someone fifty dollars to look at my vagina and cause me physical pain. It’s also great for armpits! I’m smitten, y’all.

I typically shave with Dr. Bronners Classic Liquid Soap (My favorite scents are almond and citrus), but I’m not opposed to using a natural shaving cream if I’m feeling especially adventurous.

Ingredients- (provided at albabotanica.com)- Purified water, isopropyl palmitate, certified organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice(1), tocopherol (vitamin E), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, certified organic cocos nucifera (coconut)(1), calendula officinalis(1), chamomilla recutita (chamomile)(2) and camellia sinensis (green tea)(2) extracts, citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil, carbomer, peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, sodium hydroxide, vegetable glycerin, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, and botanical fragrance.

The Cosmetic Safety Database gives this product a hazard score of 4, which is neither great nor appalling. I’m not particularly crazy about benzyl  alcohol or potassium sorbate (both are commonly used as preservatives), and I very rarely use this cream shave for that reason. I’ve done some research on  the ingredients “peg-7 glyceryl cocoate” and “phenoxyethanol” and they’re not entirely safe either. Obviously, however, I’d use Alba every day of the week before using something like Skintimate.

Product Description (also provided at albabotanica.com)-”Enriched with jojoba, vitamin E, and organic botanicals, this highly concentrated, soap-free formula delivers a smooth and soothing shave with lasting comfort. A cool splash of invigorating island coconut and lime will enliven the senses like a tropical sunrise.”

Price- $6.45 for 8 oz. I’ve had mine for over a year, and I’ve only used about half of it. So I guess the price isn’t bad at all. ( Interestingly, the preservatives that make me wary of this product are also the reasons that I can safely use it for over a year.)

Performance- I love how smooth my legs are after shaving with this stuff, but I have to be very careful with the amount that I use. If I use too much, the product clogs my razor and the blades stop working.  A dime-sized portion is usually enough for each leg. It’s probably important to keep in mind that I usually don’t go a day without shaving my legs. Someone with furrier legs might need to use more, which would make it harder to keep their razor unclogged.

Scent- It smells like a fancy, tropical sno cone, and you’ll hear no complaints about that from me.

Rating- Six out of ten. I subtracted one point for the product’s tendency to clog my razor and three for the questionable ingredients.

I recently purchased Fennel Sage Toner for oily skin from Karen’s Botanicals after using Dawn’s Melissa Rose Toner and absolutely loving it.  I didn’t even realize that I should be using toner, until Dawn explained to me that it might help my oily oily skin.  I feel like Karen’s Botanicals toner is kind of a miracle product and I tell everyone about it.  When I have break outs, they clear up faster and my skin looks way less greasy at the end of the day.  I also really like all of the information that comes with the products I ordered.  I never knew the difference between a lotion and a cream or why one is better for my skin.

Ingredients (as listed on karensbotanicals.com)- “Sage leaf*, Calendula blossom*, Marshmallow root*, Nettle leaf*, Rosemary leaf*, Comfrey*, Fennel seed*, and fresh Parsley leaf* all infused with gentle heat and light from the sun and moon in Distilled water and Witch Hazel; Aloe Vera gel*, wildcrafted Benzoin gum extract*, selected essential oils. *Denotes certified organic.”

Product Description (also listed on karensbotanicals.com- “A refreshing astringent lotion formulated to reduce oiliness, tighten pores, and deep clean the skin. The unusual blend of Fennel and Sage creates a rich  scent reminiscent of anise and an herb garden in the mid-day summer sun. After washing, apply toner to face with a cottonball. Let it dry so that your skin absorbs all of the nutritious compounds supplied by the extraordinary and common plants listed below. Follow with moisturizer for a complete skin care routine. This toner has approximately 8% alcohol from the Witch Hazel. Relative to many other toners, this is a very low alcohol content. Excess alcohol in a toner can be damaging, drying, or irritating, especially to sensitive skin.”

Price- I don’t mind paying $12.50 at all for this wonderful toner.

Performance- I love this toner, but  next time I order some I will get the Melissa Rose Toner for combination skin.  Although the Fennel Sage Toner does make my skin prettier and less broken out, I think the Melissa Rose Toner actually helped my skin to be less oily at the end of the day.

Scent- I think it smells really nice and not at all like chemicals or old women like most facial products do.

Rating- I would give the Fennel Sage Toner a 9 only because I like the Melissa Rose Toner slightly better.

Selena has a cool blog. Check it out by clicking the picture, if you haven't already.

Pay special attention to that adorable little Aloe Vera plant hanging out on the bottle.

I know that I’ve discussed my potentially greasy face with you guys before. I have to be careful when choosing a moisturizer, and I  usually try (and fail) to steer clear of oil-based moisturizers (with the exception of eye creams).  When I read the description for this product, I knew that I had to at least give it a try.

Ingredients- (provided at karensbotanicals.com)- “Aloe Vera gel*, pure vegetable Glycerine, Melissa extract*;  Bergamot, Tea Tree, and other selected essential oils. *Denotes certified organic. Use within one year of purchase.”

Product Description (also provided at karensbotanicals.com)- “A clean, light, and cooling moisturizing lotion that absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling moisturized and supple without greasiness. Formulated for all skin types, it is especially effective for acne or oily skin because it contains no oils or butters. It is perfect for all skin types during the summer or in hot climates when oil based moisturizers are too heavy. Aloe Vera Lotion is also an excellent and soothing treatment for sunburn, inscet bites, and other dry or irritated skin as Aloe itself it is both moisturing and anti-bacteria.”

Price- $14.oo for four ounces, and even a small amount of research on natural moisturizers will prove to you how cheap this is.

Performance- After washing my face with Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser and toning my face with Karen’s Botanicals Melissa Rose Toner, I put a dime-sized amount of this in my hand and then pat all over my face. I put a little extra under my eyes in the morning ( I typically use Skin’s Apricot Mango Eye Cream at night), which makes me feel and look like I’ve gotten more sleep than I actually have.  And Karen’s not lying: this stuff is great for a sunburn or any other type of burn.  I’ve been occasionally applying it (alternating between it and Burt’s Bees Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil) to a burn that I recently got on my arm at work, and it’s healing very nicely. Before drying on my face and elsewhere, the Aloe Vera lotion tends to feel a little sticky, but this quickly fades as it dries.  Besides, anyone who has ever used Aloe Vera before knows that it can be sticky. The results are well worth the temporary stickiness. My skin feels tight in a good way after using it, and I’m experiencing minimal breakouts.

Scent- The sample smelled completely different than the full-sized bottle, which is puzzling but also a good thing.  The product in the full-sized bottle smells a little spicy like a dessert (specifically, a pie), but it retains the natural scent of Aloe Vera.  I find it to be a really clean scent.

Rating- Nine out of ten. The product lost one point for its fleeting stickiness. Regardless, this is my new favorite summer moisturizer.  To be fair, someone with extremely dry skin would probably need something a little heavier that this.  I feel like I always give Karen’s Botanicals products really high ratings, but I guess that says something about the quality of her products.

Mosquitoes are scared of me now.

I’ve always been the pretentious jerk at cookouts who passes up the communal bug spray.  I’m just too weirded out by all the chemicals; I can’t make myself okay with it, not even if it’s “just this once”.  Now that I have a natural alternative that works, I can bring my own and avoid seeming like a turd.

Ingredients- (provided at burtsbees.com) – glycine soja (soybean) oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) oil, thuja occidentalis (cedar) leaf oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, cymbopogon nardus (citronella) oil, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil, geranium maculatum (geranium) oil, tocopherol (vitamin E)

Product Description (also provided at burtsbees.com)- “Our 100% natural blend of bug-fighting oils repels even the most stubborn of pests. Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Citronella oils mix with 5 other oils that bugs hate, creating an all natural solution for keeping them away. Since there’s no DEET in this formula, it’s safe enough to apply with confidence to children and pets.”

Price- $8.00 for a 4 oz bottle

Performance- I haven’t been bitten by a single mosquito since I started using this before going outdoors. I went outside this morning before putting on the repellent and was almost immediately batting away mosquitoes and flies.  I came inside with three bites and applied the repellent before going back outside.  Neither Mosquitoes nor flies even came near me the second time around!  I am actually a little shocked by how well this stuff works.  A flying ant did bite my back while wearing it for the first time, but since my back was the only place where I did not apply it…I think that only further proves how well it works.  Also, siince it’s made from only oils, my skin is so soft after using it. It makes me kinda slippery since it’s so oily, but regular insects repellents do that anyway and they’re filled with chemicals.

Scent- I think that it smells like a citronella candle, which makes sense since citronella oil is one of the ingredients.  I find the scent to be rather pleasant.  I sniff my arms a lot while wearing it.

Rating-  I’d have to say eight. I subtracted one point for the slippery skin and another for the strong scent (which I don’t mind at all, but some people probably would).

Coastal Classic Creations Whispering Seas Mascara in black-

Product Description (provided by website)- “Our ‘Whispering Seas’ Mascara was created meticulously, ingredient by ingredient, eliminating any questionable toxic ingredient heretofore found in many mascara products. Made with the same high purity, filtered synthetic iron oxides we use in our shadows, our mascara is soft to the touch and is safe for contact lens wearers. Our mascara is not waterproof due to our omission of adhesives.  If you have oiliness in the eye area or live in a very humid climate, powder your lashes in between coats. The best application is to put on one coat, let dry, and then apply a second coat. You may need to apply a third coat after the mascara dries to achieve a thicker look.  There are no animal fibers in this product.”

Ingredients (as listed on website)-Purified water; high purity, synthetic, filtered iron oxide black; USDA Certified Organic avocado oil; candelilla wax; cetearyl alcohol; ozokerite; USDA Certified Organic sunflower oil; cetearyl oleate; sorbitan oleate; glycerin; honeysuckle flower extract; panthenol; USDA Certified Organic olive oil; olive fruit oil; vegetable fat (You can probably gather this from reading the ingredients, but Whispering Seas Mascara has a zero hazard rating in the Cosmetic Safety Database).

Price- $25.00

Performance- I never really feel like this stuff dries while I am wearing it, but I still don’t have a problem with it smudging. It pretty much stays in place.  The biggest perk of using this mascara is that it never clumps.  I actually put on several layers once just to see if it would, and I was still clump-free. Whispering Seas Mascara would be perfect for someone like my sister who occasionally picks off her mascara out of boredom/habit.  It comes right off without severing any eyelashes.

Here are my eyelashes coated in Whispering Seas Mascara.

Bare Escentuals Big Tease Mascara in blackest black-

Product Description (provided by website)- “Amplify your allure with arresting, eye-catching lashes. Our Big Tease Mascara adds oomph to your eyes, giving you fuller-looking lashes and an irresistibly mischievous glance.”

Ingredients (as listed on website)- Water, Stearic Acid, Beeswax (Cera Alba), PVP, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Diocide, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, D&C Black #2 (CI 77266)

I could not find Big Tease Mascara in the Cosmetic Safety Database, so I had to search the individual ingredients to make an assessment of how safe I think the product is. The highest rated ingredient (Triethanolamine) was a six, and I guess I can live with that since most of the other ingredients were ones and zeroes.

Price- $15.00

Performance- I’ve read so many negative reviews about this mascara.  A lot of people think that the double-sided brush sucks, but that’s my favorite part.  I like to use the longer side (meant for separating and lengthening) for the first few strokes, and then finish off with the shorter side (its purpose is to build volume). This mascara makes me feel very glamorous, and I like it.  I get asked if I’m wearing fake eyelashes more often when I’m wearing Big Tease Mascara.  I guess whether that’s a good or a bad thing is pretty relative.

Here are my eyelashes coated in Big Tease Mascara

Verdict- Clearly, the Whispering Seas Mascara has fewer, better ingredients, but the performance (and price) of the Big Tease Mascara ultimately wins me over.  I’d wear the former to the grocery store and the latter to a party.

The cute little pink guy is the Melissa Rose Toner. These bottles may not be easy to read, but they sure are pretty.

I have tried several different toners in the past few years, but I usually ended up throwing them away or simply forgetting to use them when the bottle was still half full.   I never really saw enough of a difference in my skin to continue using or purchasing them. But after buying and loving Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser, I decided to give her toner a try.  I wasn’t really surprised when I ended up loving it too.  The Melissa Rose Toner is for normal to dry skin.  I was reluctant to try the Fennel Sage Toner for oily skin (because I was worried that it would be too drying; my skin is more combination than oily), but my roommate recently purchased it after trying and loving my toner…so maybe I’ll get her to post a guest review in the near future.

Ingredients- (provided at karensbotanicals.com)  “Melissa leaf*, Rose blossom*, Calendula blossom*, Marshmallow root*, Nettle leaf*, Rosemary leaf*, Comfrey root*, and fresh Parsley leaf* all infused with gentle heat and light from the sun and moon with Distilled Water and Witch Hazel; Aloe Vera gel*, Vegetable Glycerine, wildcrafted Benzoin gum extract*, selected essential oils. *Denotes certified organic.” (p.s. Karen puts less alcohol in her toners than a lot of other brands. For this reason, her toners are less harsh. For example, Burt’s Bees Garden Tomato Toner made my skin very dry. Hers does not.)

Product Description (also provided at karensbotanicals.com)- “A refreshing astringent lotion formulated to clarify the complexion, tighten pores, and deep clean the skin. The enchanting and delicate scent of rose and lavender makes this toner a pleasure to use.”

Price- $12.50 for four ounces, and I’m pretty sure that’s a steal.

Performance- I put a little of this on a cotton pad after washing my face and before moisturizing in the morning and at night.  After using this for the first time, I could already tell that my skin looked less oily after applying moisturizer. I work at a restaurant, and my face sweats a lot. A sweaty face usually results in clogged pores, but I’m experiencing less blemishes since I incorporated this into my skincare routine.

Scent- Honestly, I think this stuff smells like a cabbage patch kid (which I love…how nostalgic!!!).  I’ve asked several people if they agree and, sadly, they didn’t smell a cabbage patch kid at all.  They all still seemed to find the scent to be pleasant, however.

Rating- I’m giving this stuff a ten. Anything that smells like my favorite childhood toy and keeps me from having a greasy face is alright with me.

To be fair, my hair has oily tendencies already. I probably didn’t need this treatment, but my ends were looking pretty damaged so I went for it anyway.  Someone with very porous hair that is more on the dry side (like my sister, Danielle) would probably have a much better experience with this treatment. I guess the point that I am trying to make is that greasy-haired girls should stay away from olive oil.

I used this very kind of olive oil, only it was organic.

Burt's Bees Fluoride-Free Whitening Toothpaste

After trying several different kinds of Tom’s of Maine toothpastes, I’ve come to realize that they are all flawed in some way or another.  Most of them have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (and not to mention fluoride: don’t even get me started on fluoride), and the ones that are SLS and fluoride free still don’t freshen my breath.  I’m a frequent flosser, a mouth-washer, and a tongue brusher…so I’m pretty sure that it’s no fault of my own.

After giving up on Tom’s of Maine, I decided to try Burt’s Bees Fluoride-Free Whitening Toothpaste. Since Burt’s Bees steers clear of SLS, I didn’t have to worry about finding that in the list of ingredients.  I was a little apprehensive; Burt’s Bees has let me down a time or two (Hair Repair Shea & Grapefruit Deep Conditioner was a big ol’ waste of my time).  Maybe my setting the bar low was a good thing, though.  I really love this toothpaste.  My mouth actually feels clean, and the taste is nice and minty.  After flossing, brushing, and rinsing my mouth with Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash, my mouth feels as great as it does after a teeth-cleaning at the dentist’s office. And it was only five dollars. What a steal!