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’ll get around to trying the Oil Cleansing Method eventually, but for now I’ve got a big bottle of Green Tea Toxin Cleanser that I cannot stop using.

Ingredients (provided at madefromearth.com)- “Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Green Tea, Milk, Organic Lavender Distillate, Organic Roman Chamomile Distillate, Rose Distillate, Grapeseed Oil, Witch Hazel, Vitamin E, Polysaccharide Gum, Organic Honey, Vitamin C Ester, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate), Black Willowbark Extract, Neem Oil, EDTA, Rosemary, Citric Acid.”

Since I couldn’t locate this product in the Cosmetics Database, I’ve linked to each ingredient individually above. The only ingredient listed on the website with a hazard score higher than a 2 is Vitamin A, and it has a high hazard score of 8. Since this product is a cleanser and is not ever on my face when I’m in the sun (and since retinyl palmitate is most dangerous when exposed to UV light), I have accepted this ingredient’s presence in this product and feel okay about it. There are a couple of ingredients listed on the bottle that are not listed on the website (maybe because a recent reformulation?), and they are as follows: Emulsifying Wax NF (4), Vegetable Glycerin (0-no data), Phenoxyethanol (3-4, depending on usage), and Mannan (0).

Some great things about this product:

1. It contains organic ingredients.

2.It’s cruelty, paraben, and sulfate free.

3. The bottle is made from #1 plastic and can easily be recycled.

Product Description(provided at madefromearth.com)- “Green Tea is a base antioxidant. Our healthy cleanser is enhanced with vitamins A, B, C and E. Since it contains no chemicals, the cleanser is hypoallergenic and non-irritating for people with sensitive skin. The Aloe Vera base in the cleanser combines with Green Tea to provide an antioxidant boost to remove free radicals restoring healthier skin. This product does not contain the typical surfactant or detergent ingredient that most cleansing gels contain; it is a chemical-free gentle cleanser.”

Price- around $16.00 for an 8 oz. bottle.

Performance- Between this product and Karen’s Botanicals Gentle Cleansing Lotion, I’ve been completely converted to soap-free cleansers. My ordinarily combination skin has ceased to be especially dry or oily, and breakouts have been at a minimum. My favorite way to use this product is as a mask, which I’ve been doing each night before bed. After applying the cream to my face and neck, I wait three minutes or so before rinsing it off with warm and then cool water. My skin is so soft when I’m done that I feel like I’ve been treated to a day at the spa! While in the shower, I simply massage this product into the skin on my face and neck for about 30 seconds and then rinse.

Scent- It has a very faint aloe and lavender scent.

Rating- I’m subtracting 2 points for the questionable ingredients, but this product easily earns the remaining 8 points. 8/10.

Image Source

This Care2 article about the Oil Cleansing Method left me wanting more information, so I checked out this page that explained it even further. Now that I’m somewhat informed, I kind of want to try it!

For those of you who have never heard of it, the Oil Cleansing Method is based around the idea that the more oil you strip from your face (with soap), the more oil your face will produce. This excess oil your face produces will result in the blemishes you’re trying to avoid. Cleansing your skin with a mixture of castor oil (the cleansing oil) and the nourishing vegetable oil of your choice (such as grape seed, jojoba, olive, or sunflower) is the best way to avoid blemishes because you’re working with your skin’s natural oil production rather than against it. Some people, like the writer of the Care2 article, also add a little essential oil to their oil mixture. This is optional.

The idea of the OCM wasn’t entirely foreign to me prior to reading these articles; Danielle experimented with cleansing her face with oil a while back. I was just closing a chapter in my life (or skincare routine) which included washing my face three times a day with bar soap and rarely moisturizing. I thought she was absolutely crazy. Now that I’m using a soap-free cleanser, moisturizing twice a day, and my skin has never looked better, the OCM seems like the logical next step. Maybe I’ll slowly incorporate it into my routine and love it, or maybe I’ll try it a few times and hate it. Regardless, I’ll definitely let you guys know how it goes!

Have you ever heard of the Oil Cleansing Method? Better yet, has anyone tried it?  I’m curious to hear your thoughts and experiences.

When I heard Danielle raving  about her two new Karen’s Botanicals products, I knew I had to try them for myself. We have similar skin types and look for the same things in cleansers/moisturizers, so I figured they’d be right up my alley. Also, I’ve tried and loved several of Karen’s products before. In the process, I learned that her gentle and safe ingredients are hard to match and even harder to beat. For these reasons, I was positively giddy when Karen agreed to send me her Gentle Cleansing Lotion and Perfect Lotion in the mail for review. Below is my review of her Gentle Cleansing Lotion, and coming soon is my review of her Perfect Lotion.

Ingredients (provided at karensbotanicals.com)-”Distilled Water, Witch Hazel, Vegetable Glycerine, Coconut Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Balm of Gilead buds*, Extracts of Burdock* and Sage*, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Xanthan Gum, Rosemary Oil Extract, Clary Sage Essential Oil. *Denotes certified organic.”

You can probably guess by simply reading through the ingredients, but this product receives a hazard score of 0 on the Cosmetic Safety Database.

Some great things about this product:

1. It contains organic ingredients.

2. It’s free of parabens & sulfates.

3. It’s soap-free, which is exactly what the sensitive skin on my face needs.

4. Did I mention that it has a hazard score of zero?

5. This product, and all of Karen’s Botanicals products, are cruelty-free.

6. The bottle is #1 plastic and can be recycled in Lake Charles.

Product Description (provided at karensbotanicals.com)- “A very gentle, soap free, and lotion-like cleanser for all skin types. Excellent for use as make up remover. Leaves skin feeling dewy and soft. With natural salicylic acid from Balm of Gilead buds. Non-foaming cleansers are pH balancing, mild, and effective for all skin types: oily, dry, mature, sensitive, and normal. Botanical oils and extracts dissolve excess oil and give skin increased flexibility and suppleness. Very lightly scented with pure, steam distilled Clary Sage essential oil. Massage ½ to 1 teaspoon into face for a minute, then rinse with lukewarm water.”

Price- $12.50 for a 4 oz. bottle or $18.00 for an 8 oz. pump. Since I’ve only been using about a dime-sized  amount each time I wash my face, I have a feeling this stuff will last for a while…which makes the price seem very reasonable, in my opinion.

Performance-My former facial cleanser was a little too drying for my skin type, but this product is just right. It cleans my skin without making it feel squeaky clean or tight. I’ve been using it both morning and night with increasingly positive results. I no longer feel the need to apply extra moisturizer around my nose and mouth after cleansing, and the small dry skin bumps that I occasionally suffer from are nowhere to be found. When I feel the need to exfoliate, sometimes I add a little of Karen’s Botanicals Exfoliating Cleansing Grains into the mix and gently massage my face with a wash cloth. Hello soft, glowing skin!

Scent- The product description says this cleansing lotion smells like Clary Sage essential oil. Since I’ve never smelled Clary Sage essential oil on its own, I can neither confirm nor deny these claims. I will say this, though: I’m reminded of Earl Grey tea (which happens to be my very favorite black tea) when I wash my face with this product, and I love every second of it.

Rating- I cannot think of a single thing I’d change about this product. The ingredients, performance, scent, and price are all fantastic, so 10/10 it is!

Would I purchase this item again?- Of course! I’d be crazy if I didn’t.

*This product was provided by Karen’s Botanicals; the opinions were provided by me.

Image Courtesy of Acureorganics.com

I’m the kind of person who finds a great moisturizer and sticks with it, but I love trying new facial cleansers. In the past several months I’ve tried and loved two others: Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser and Aubrey Organics Vegecol Facial Cleansing Lotion. Despite my contentment with my cleansing lotion, I was eager to try something new when I received Acure Organics Olive+Mint Facial Cleansing Creme in the mail for review.

The following product was given to me by the kind people at Acure Organics, but my opinions were given to me by no one. : )

Ingredients (provided at acureorganics.com)- “Organic Curoxidant™ Blend (Organic Acai Berry, Organic Blackberry, Organic Rosehips, Organic Elderberry, Organic Nettle Leaf, Organic Cranberry, Organic Goji Berry, Organic Raspberry, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Blueberry), Organic Calendula officinalis, Organic Chamomile, Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Yerba Mate, Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Emulsifying Wax NF (Vegetable), Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Cocoa Seed Butter, Organic Safflower Seed Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Glyceryl Stearate (vegetable derived),  Lauryl Glucoside (vegetable derived), Decyl Glucoside (sugar soap), Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Olive Oil, Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Essential oils of Sage, Lavandin, Lemongrass, Spearmint.”

I couldn’t find any of Acure Organic’s products on the Cosmetic Safety Database, but after searching the suspicious-looking ingredients individually..Emulsifying Wax NF has a hazard score of four and a large data gap, which isn’t at all ideal.  Potassium Sorbate only has a hazard score of one, but it isn’t my fave since it’s a preservative, has a large data gap, and is linked to cancer.

Lauryl and Decyl Glucosides, which both sound suspicious, have hazards scores of zero but also have large data gaps. Chlorella Growth Factor and Fermented Sugar both have zeros and large data gaps as well.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s vegan.

2. It’s sulfate, paraben, phthalate, PEG, petroleum, silicone, and cruelty-free.

3. The bottle is #1 plastic, so I can recycle it in Lake Charles!

Product Description (also provided at acureorganics.com)- “This extra-gentle, creamy facial cleanser features the moisturizing benefits of Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Olive Oil and Cocoa Butter, the antioxidant power of Blackberry and Blueberry and the mild cleansing of mint. It quickly removes makeup, dirt and impurities without stripping the skin’s natural acid mantle. Great for even the most sensitive skin.”

Price-$14.99 for 4 oz.

Performance- Here’s the thing. I need a cleanser that isn’t going to dry out my skin at all, especially in the winter months. It doesn’t even need to foam; I just want something that I can rub on my face that makes my skin soft and gets rid of a day’s worth of oil and dirt. The last two cleansers that I used succeeded in doing that. This cleanser is a little more drying than I’d like. It smells wonderful and my skin is indeed soft after using it, but I’ve noticed that I need to use more moisturizer afterwards, especially around my nose and mouth.

Scent- Olive and mint are definitely present in the scent of this cleanser, but there’s something else that I can’t put my finger on. I think that it reminds me a little of a sweet and delicious Thai dish that I’ve had before. Red Curry, maybe? Don’t let that deter you. The scent is still very pleasant. I’m a weirdo sometimes.

Rating-  I’m subtracting one point because the ingredients could be better and another because this cleanser is more drying than my skin is accustomed to…8/10

Would I purchase this product again?- I have friends whose skin I think this cleanser would be ideal for, but for my skin…it’s just a little too drying. Someone with consistently oily and/or combination skin would love this stuff. I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to giving it as a gift!

Click the link to get your own bottle of Acure Organics Olive+Mint Facial Cleansing Creme!

Happy MLK Day, everyone!

Total Beauty is a great place to go for reviews of popular natural health and beauty product brands, but I tend to look elsewhere for skincare advice and the like, since they don’t exactly specialize in natural products. For example, in the list that I’m going to tell you guys about, they link to both Aveeno and Lush products as store-bought alternatives. Neither of those brands are exactly known for having safe ingredients.  Lush actually bothers me more as a brand than Aveeno, because I feel like a lot of people remain willfully ignorant of their crappy ingredients because the slogan tells them that they’re buying “fresh handmade cosmetics.” Anyway, I’m on Total Beauty’s mailing list, and I couldn’t help but be interested in one of the links in yesterday’s newsletter. I checked it out, and there are so many potentially awesome recipes for health and beauty products in their list of Natural Homemade Beauty Care Tips. The aloe vera facial cleanser, pineapple sage facial mask, and cucumber-honey toner all look positively dreamy. I can’t wait to try them and tell you guys all about it. You guys should try some too and tell me about it! A lot of the ingredients seem extremely easy to come by.

Here’s some of what the Environmental Working Group has to say about Retinyl Palmitate:

“Retinyl palmitate is an ingredient composed of palmitic acid and retinol (Vitamin A). When exposed to UV light, retinol compounds break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause gene mutations, a precursor to cancer. Recently available data from an FDA study indicate that retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. FDA also raised a concern that extensive, daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman’s body a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to the developing fetus.”

Read more of what the EWG has to say. Also, here’s a link to a list of all the relevant articles on the EWG website.

This website, however, seems a bit skeptical of the dangers of Retinyl Palmitate. It links to several studies concerning Retinyl Palmitate which are, for the most part, way over my head. Most of the studies seem to either be suggesting that adverse effects of Retinyl Palmitate are unlikely because of the unique, specific, and extreme conditions in which the studies were done or that there is not enough evidence to make the assertion that it’s dangerous.

As usual, I’m just as torn as I was in the beginning.  My research wasn’t entirely fruitless, though. I may not purchase sunscreen with this ingredient in the future, but I’m no longer afraid to use my facial cleanser that contains Retinyl Palmitate. Any residue from my face wash should be taken care of (ie: removed) by my toner before I go outside. Still, I’ll definitely try to avoid the ingredient in any and all products that are exposed to sunlight.

What she said:

“Can you recommend a good face moisturizer that’s not too expensive? My skin varies from oily to dry, but in the colder months it’s pretty consistently dry.

I’ve been using a Bobbi Brown moisturizer. I like it, but I’m looking for something more natural and less expensive.”

What I said:

First, I told her that we actually seem to have similar skin. Mine also gets very dry in the winter, so it’s reasonable to assume that what works for me might also work for her. I explained to her that her seasonal dry skin is just as aggravated, if not more so, by the facial cleanser that she is using as it is by the moisturizer. I suggested these two cleansers, telling her that they both clean my skin without drying it out:

Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser (Hazard score of 0 and around %12.50 for 4 ounces)  and Aubrey Organics Vegecol Facial Cleansing Lotion ( Hazard score of 2 and around $15.00 for 8 ounces)

Then, I told her about my favorite moisturizer of all time. I explained that it was more like a gel than a lotion, but that it effectively moisturized my face without making it look oily or breaking me out.

Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Aloe Vera Lotion (Hazard score of 1 and around $14.00 for 4 ounces)

I also gave her a link to a moisturizer that I use that works well for dry patches.

Tate’s Natural Miracle Conditioner ( around $7.00  for 5 ounces and, while it’s not located on the Cosmetic Safety Database, it still has very good ingredients. It’s basically just water, fruits, spices, and flowers. “Tate’s the Natural Miracle Conditioner has no dyes, no gluten, no colors, no iodine, no glycols, no sulfates, no parabens, no fragrance, no phosphates, no pesticides, and no animal testing.”)

Image Courtesy of Aubreyorganics.com

The decision to stop using bar soap to wash my face was one of the best that I’ve ever made. Before buying this product, I used Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser, which is a product that I also adore.

Ingredients- (provided at aubreyorganics.com)- “Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Castile Liquid Soap, Horsetail Extract, Calendula Oil, St. John’s Wort Oil, Coltsfoot Extract, Coneflower Extract, Linoleic Acid (Vitamin F), Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Carrot Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E), Organic Lemon Peel Oil ”

This Facial Cleansing Lotion received a hazard score of two on the Cosmetic Safety Database. The single ingredient with the highest score was, of all things, Vitamin A! It has a hazard score of five, which was news to me, but this causes me very little concern since it’s the next-to-last listed ingredient (which would lead me to assume that it makes up an almost negligible amount of the product) .

Product Description (also provided at aubreyorganics.com)- “Custom-made for skin that needs special attention, this extra-mild, low-scent formula soothes and hydrates sensitive facial skin as it cleanses..”

Price- $13.55 to $15.oo for eight ounces, but this was another steal that I found at the health food store in Lake Charles that just closed, so I snagged it for around $8.00.

Performance- The Vegecol Facial Cleansing Lotion is great for several reasons. I only need to use a pea-sized drop to wash my face, so it’s not something I’ll be needing to purchase every other week. It makes my face super soft and leaves behind no residue.  I also enjoy that it’s made for sensitive skin, which is a type of skin that I never fully realized that I might have until now.

Scent- It doesn’t really have much of a smell; I assume that this is because it’s formulated for people with sensitive skin. I’ve no complaints in the scent department. As far as I’m concerned, no scent at all is much better than something that is heavily-scented (especially as far as facial products are concerned).

Rating- If you read my blog even occasionally, then you know that I don’t give out perfect scores very often, but this product absolutely deserves a 10. I contemplated subtracting 1 point for the one questionable ingredient, but the performance silenced any of my doubts.

If this product sounds like it’s up your alley, then get your own bottle of Aubrey Organics Vegecol Facial Cleansing Lotion today!

Karen's Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser

Ingredients- Olive Oil, Saponified Olive Oil, Distilled water, Extracts of Melissa and Rosemary Oil, Lavender Essential Oil (The olive oil and saponified olive oil are organic.)

Product Description (Again, provided at Carenonline.com, where I ordered the product)- “A gentle cleanser that leaves skin feeling supple, fresh, and thoroughly moisturized. Pure organic, virgin olive oil gently deep cleans the pores and moisturizes the skin. Saponified olive oil provides a gentle foaming action to wash away the excess oil, leaving your face feeling clean and soft. Highly concentrated; a little dab will do.  Olive oil has regenerating power on the skin tissue and has the ability to regulate the natural moisturizing system of the skin. Olive oil smooths and softens the skin and is great for stimulating and healing the skin by toning up and firming it. Essential oils of Melissa, Rosemary and Lavender soften, purify, and stimulate skin cells”

Price- $12.50 for four ounces, and as my Jr. High gifted teacher would’ve said: A little dab will do.

Performance- Since the bottle did not tell me this, I had to find out on my own. You should really shake this stuff up before you use it. Otherwise, it will not lather. I’m guessing that is has something to do with the ingredients separating, which is a common problem with “natural” products. After I realized that I needed to shake it, I was thoroughly pleased with the product. I wash my face twice a day now because I can without it drying it out. My skin does what it wants, but for now I am even seeing fewer blemishes.

Scent- This product smells exactly as the ingredients would suggest: lavender, rosemary, and olive oil..in that order.

Rating- 10 all the way! I almost said 9, but it is not the product’s fault that I was left in the dark about the need to shake it.