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 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 8/10 http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/01/17/heritage-products-rosewater-glycerin-review/ http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/01/17/heritage-products-rosewater-glycerin-review/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:54 +0000 Dawn http://dawnandkirby.porchswingmedia.com/?p=3779

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

Wanna see what I got?

I haven’t shampooed my hair in months, and it’s definitely healthier for it. Still, I can always get on board with something that will make my hair smell like something other than…hair. That’s my one complaint with using only baking soda: it smells like nothing at all.

Either none of my friends or family can take a hint, or a neti pot isn’t an appropriate gift. Either way, I finally bought myself one that isn’t raggedy and plastic.  As long I stick to distilled water, I won’t have to worry about the elusive brain amoeba.

I have a feeling this book is gonna rock my world.

I guess I can finally stop stealing Danielle’s. Also my hair will thank me for this.

A few drops of this + argan oil = the perfect moisturizer. Danielle taught me this.

Learning is fun, y’all!

Dry Shampoo, Neti Pot, Book 1, Argan Oil, Essential Oil, Book 2.

I’ll be reviewing and/or discussing my experiences with all of the above very soon.

I recently read a little about the benefits of rosewater, and I was prompted to pick up a bottle of the above mixture during yesterday’s visit to the health food store. It’s a combination of water, rose oil, and vegetable glycerin. I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to be using this stuff, so I’ve just been splashing a bit on my face after cleansing and before moisturizing.  I’ve only used it twice so far, so I’m hardly ready to review it. We’ll see how it goes!

Have you ever tried rosewater? If so, when and how did you use it? Did you love it? Hate it? Do tell!

While I had fun experimenting with the oil cleansing method (as well as moisturizing with a mixture of oils), I can honestly say that I’m glad to be using my old favorites again–Karen’s Botanicals Perfect and Gentle Cleansing Lotions. With these guys, I don’t have to worry about proportions or adjustment periods…and sometimes leaving out the guesswork is just what I need.

For those of you who are interested, the mixture of oils I used was equal parts grape seed and castor oils with a few drops of argan oil. In the future, if I come back to the OCM, then I’ll probably use a little less castor oil.

Are there any brands or products from which you can’t stay away? We all have them; I’m sure of it.

Do:

• Moisturize just as frequently and cleanse just as sparingly as you would otherwise (paraben-free moisturizers and soap-free cleansers twice a day are a must for this girl).
• Try a nourishing homemade mask, like this dreamy strawberry and honey one.
• Apply a small amount of tea tree oil to the blemishes no more than twice a day.
• Drink plenty of water and unsweetened green tea.
• Eat a fiber-rich diet. Think beans, berries, greens, and squash.
• Change your pillowcase every couple of days (especially if you’re one of those free spirits who sleeps in her makeup)

Don’t:

• Deprive your skin of the moisture it needs with excessive washing and insane amounts of tea tree oil.
• Pick, prod, or poke. It will always make matters worse. I promise.
• Go overboard with coffee, alcohol, or soft drinks. I try to avoid these altogether when my skin’s at its worst.
• Hang out by the mirror. Seeing your skin in distress will only make you stress.
• Drown your sorrows with milk chocolate and potato chips.
• Sleep on the same pillowcase for several nights in a row (call me crazy, but I swear by this simple change of routine).

How about you guys? Any tips and tricks of your own to share?

When Stevonne from Beija-Flor Naturals contacted me about trying the company’s Beija-Flor Naturals Amazon Anti-Oxidant Treatment, I was intrigued. Stevonne was remarkably upfront about the product’s ingredients, and with good reason—they’re pretty stellar. After seeing such impressive ingredients, I was expecting a lot from this product…and I wasn’t disappointed!

Ingredients (provided in the Beija-Flor Naturals Etsy Shop)- “Murumuru Butter, Cupuacu Butter, Cocoa  Butter,Tucuma Butter, Rice Bran Oil, Passion Fruit Oil, Vitamin E, Acai Oil”

This preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gave it a very low hazard score of 0, with none of the individual ingredients having hazards scores above 2. The only ingredient I left out was tucuma butter, since I couldn’t locate it in the database.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens and petrochemicals.

Product Description(provided in the Beija-Flor Naturals Etsy Shop)- “Face moisturizer that shows results in the first use. Smooths rough areas, lines and wrinkles and gives a healthy glow to skin. This facial butter kicks the butt of any anti-aging product on the market today! Our all natural blend of Brazilian butters are a non-greasy blend of Cupacu, Murumuru, Tucuma, Cocoa Butter, Passion Fruit, and Acai extracts that liquefy upon contact and absorbs into skin quickly.

This product is full of antioxidants that decrease cell destruction, which in turn combats the aging process. The Amazon Antioxidant Treatment is a great night cream or daily moisturizer, and safe to use under makeup. The natural cocoa fragrance of the ingredients will make you do a little samba!”

Price- $12.95 for a 2.5 oz glass jar.

Performance- To be honest, I wasn’t completely shocked to discover that I absolutely love this treatment. It’s probably hard to go wrong with such a dreamy mixture of oils and butters.

I’ve found this product to be a real miracle worker in the following areas:

• elbows
• under my eyes (I’m young so I hardly have any lines under my eyes to begin with, but this treatment has made even the tiniest lines seem less obvious).
• knees
• feet

Scent- This product has a nice, nutty scent; it also smells a little like chocolate (probably because of the cocoa butter). You won’t hear me complaining!

Rating- 10/10

Along with their body oils and butters, Hello Mellow also sent me a Balance Bath Salt to try. As with the other products of theirs I tried, I was very impressed!

Ingredients (provided at hellomellow.com)- “pink himalayan sea salt, dead sea salt, epsom salt, dendritic salt, essential oils of bergamot, orange, and chamomile… and love.”

The preliminary report I created in the Cosmetics Database gave this product an impressively low hazard score of o.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of artificial fragrances/colors, parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals.

2. It’s cruelty-free.

Product Description (provided at hellomellow.com)- “BALANCE centers your being with a calming wave of harmony. bergamot, orange and chamomile help you find middle ground and level you out.

perfect for travel or for a bath or two of our majestic bath salts. they detoxify and tone your skin, reduce muscle soreness, regulate sleep, decrease stress, and leave your skin soft and silky smooth. melt away the stress of the day and soak in the magic and wonder of the himalayans.”

Price- Only $6 for a 2-shot container or $36 dollars if you feel like splurging on a 20 oz container.

Performance- I was a little worried that the large chunks of salt wouldn’t dissolve easily in a hot bath, but with a little massaging from my feet and hands they disappeared in no time. Like the Rusalka bath salt I recently reviewed, the scent of this product was apparent and inviting but not at all overwhelming. After taking an uncharacteristically long bath with this salt, I felt sufficiently relaxed and my skin was mega soft. Also, I was delighted to discover that this product didn’t leave my tub slippery at all.

Scent-  This bath salt has a relaxing, mild citrus scent that reminds me a little of a hot cup of tea.

Rating- I’m gonna subtract a point since $36 is a little more than I’m used to paying for bath salt. Otherwise, I haven’t a complaint in the world. 9/10

Hello Mellow’s luxurious body oils aren’t the only way to achieve softer than soft skin. Their body butters are pretty dreamy as well! Today I’ll be reviewing Uplift and Unwind.

Ingredients (provided at hellomellow.com)-

Uplift: avocado butter, mango butter, and essential oils of grapefruit and vanilla and love.

Unwind: avocado butter, mango butter, and essential oils of benzoin, cedarwood and vanilla and love..

The preliminary reports I created in the Cosmetics Database give these products both low hazard scores of 0!

Some great things about these products:

1. They’re free of artificial fragrances/colors, parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals.

2. They’re cruelty-free.

Product Description (provided at hellomellow.com)-

Uplift: your skin will happily devour these nutrients while your senses luxuriate in our simply sweet, subtly soothing, UPLIFT blend. this feel-good scent of pink and white grapefruit with a hint of warming vanilla will shift you into your happy place in a single application

Unwind: ready to unwind? UNWIND soothes your soul with a calming breath of tranquility.
our blend of cedarwood, benzoin, and vanilla seduces you into a mellow state of being.

Price- $6 for a mini container, $22 for a 2 oz container, or $30 for an 4 oz container.

Performance-  You know those pesky little dry skin bumps that sometimes appear on your forearms/just above your elbows in the coldest months? Well, these body butters made mine disappear completely within the first two days of using them. In keeping with the themes of the names, I used the uplift in the morning and the unwind before bed. The scents suited each time of day perfectly (see below), and the consistency was rich but not annoyingly thick. They both immediately melted into my skin and made it so soft without leaving the greasy residue that often accompanies body butters. Now that’s impressive!

Scent-  The website describes the scent of uplift as subtly sweet citrus of pink and white grapefruit with a hint of vanilla, and it describes the scent of unwind as lightly earthy with a hint of sweetness. That seems about right to me!

Rating- 10/10 for each of these lovely little guys