Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo-  This product has a hazard score of three on the Cosmetic Safety Database. The good news: it’s not linked to cancer (phew!) and it’s intended for frequent use, which leads me to believe that it’s intended for people with oily hair. I certainly felt like it got the job done when it came to cleaning my hair.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner- Like the Kiss My Face Shampoo, this conditioner also has a hazard score of three. It isn’t linked to cancer either. Rosemary Mint Conditioner never weighed my hair down like some other conditioners tend to do. It might be perfect for oily hair.

John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo and Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner are two of my faves. They literally gave me salon hair. The problem: I can’t find them on the Cosmetic Safety database, and when I search the ingredients individually there are a few that are linked to cancer. I still feel like the hazard score of the shampoo would be lower than a five, though, and I’d also recommend it. The conditioner might be too heavy.

Another option would be to cut back on shampooing and see if your scalp begins to produce less oil, but I feel like my friend (like me) has probably already tried this countless times.

My last suggestion would be to occasionally use baking soda instead of shampoo. Danielle swears by it. Even though she has dry hair, I’ve tried it before and it really does cut down on the oil.

I hope this at least helped a little! If anyone else has any suggestions or recommendations, then please feel free to say so.

Image Courtesy of Amazon.com

Aside from shampoo, conditioner, and the occasional leave-in moisturizing treatment, I don’t put many products in my hair. After smelling John Masters Bourbon Vanilla & Tangerine Hair Texturizer, though, I knew that I had to at least try it. I had pretty high expectations after using and loving John Masters Organics shampoo and conditioner.

Ingredients (provided at johnmasters.com)-”Ricinus communis (castor seed) oil, glycerin, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter,* sorbitol, panthenol, vanilla planifolia (bourbon vanilla) fruit oil,* citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower oil,* citrus reticulata (tangerine) peel oil,* citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil,* tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C), ascorbic acid, phytic acid

* NOP Certified Organic”

While I couldn’t find this product on the Cosmetic Safety Database, none of its ingredients are above a two…so I guess that’s a good thing.

Product Description (also provided at johnmasters.com)- “This extra-strength hair texturizer is perfect for shaping hair into any desired style, from the “bed-head” look to smooth and silky. Castor oil, glycerin and 5 certified-organic oils add incredible shine and texture. Safe for color-treated hair.”

Price- $21.00 for a 2 oz jar

Performance- This product does exactly what it advertises. It gives my hair texture. I just apply a pea-sized amount to wet or dry hair. I also feel like this product makes my hair a little wavier than it ordinarily is, which is a nice change.

Scent- The scent of this product is my favorite thing about it. It smells like an Orange Creamsicle. How dreamy is that?!

Rating-  It’s a little pricey, and for that I subtracted 2 points. Otherwise, I’m a big fan of this product. It definitely deserves an 8.

Click the link to get  your own jar of John Masters Bourbon Vanilla & Tangerine Hair Texturizer.

I really enjoy buying health and beauty products, even when they're not for me.

Danielle and I love the way Mrs. Meyers Clean Day cleaning products smell, so I bought her some Geranium-scented room spray.  I hope she uses it in the kitchen just once so I can get to experience it. Is that selfish? Fragrance is the only questionable ingredient listed, but I figured that she’d be okay with it since she wouldn’t be spraying it on her body. I also tend to assume that fragrance in products that are supposed to be natural would be less harmful than fragrance in Tommy Girl or some other ridiculous perfume.  Still, I could be totally wrong. I’ll admit that.

I also got Danielle some John Masters Organics Dry Hair Nourishment & Defrizzer. The ingredients look so dreamy (jojoba oil, olive oil, evening primrose oil, flax seed oil, lavender oil, cedarwood) bark oil, rosemary leaf oil). And they’re all organic!

I have never used any MyChelle products, but Guava Orange Vanilla chapstick sounds super tasty. Also, the ingredients are both safe and vegetarian.

Everyone needs treats on their birthday, right?

I decided that Danielle needed some Bob’s Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix so that she would have an excuse to use her new KitchenAid stand mixer (that bitch!) I’m not allergic to gluten and neither is she, but I like that this cake mix is dairy and trans fat free.

That Pumpkin Flax Granola was mega cheap, and I couldn’t pass it up. I may have test-tasted it. It may have passed the test. I figured that Danielle could put it in her desk at work for snacking or something. I mean, I guess she has a desk?

Since Danielle tends to like lemon-flavored anything, I bought her a Lemon Zest Luna Bar and a lemon-flavored LaraBar. From everything I’ve read, Luna Bars are vegan, which is nice. They’re also packed with fiber, protein, iron, folic acid, and other stuff that is often missing from women’s diets. I can usually count the ingredients in  and given LaraBar on one hand, and this particular LaraBar has exactly five ingredients. I can get on board with that.

As an afterthought, I made her a little birthday headband out of a huge spare button and an orange headband that I had lying around.

That headband did not want to act right while I was taking the picture.

My boyfriend is good at what he does.

Kirby made Danielle an adorable birthday card.

Here's Danielle's basket full of birthday goodies.

Hopefully I can talk Danielle into reviewing the hair oil, lip butter, and room spray!

Also, pay close attention to all the sweet ingredients you’re about to encounter.

The Answer’s PMS Clear Facial Mask- I’ve yet to find anything that completely gets rid of pre-period breakouts. I guess this stuff could be the ticket.

Ingredients- French green clay, Fullers Earth clay, green tea, and papaya extract.

Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Hair Creme- I actually just ordered this hair creme, and I can’t wait to try it. Needless to say, a review is on the way.

Ingredients-Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Ethanol, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Organic Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol.

Ennecence Clean Escape Shower Gel- This stuff looks fancier than bar soap. I’m intrigued.

Ingredients- Saponified oils of virgin coconut*, olive*, and jojoba*, glycerin, vegetable gum extract, aloe vera*, argan oil*, sweet orange*, grapefruit*, and patchouli* essential oils, and rosemary extract*. *Certified Organic

John Masters Organics Herbal Cider Hair Rinse and Clarifier- I’ve had thoroughly positive experiences with John Masters Organics shampoo and conditioner, so I’m eager to try something else of  from these guys.

Ingredients- Vinegar (apple cider),* aqua (water), chamomilla recutica (chamomile) flower extract,* calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract,* camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract,* rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf/stem extract,* urtica dioica (nettle) root extract,* potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, citrus medica limonium (lemon) peel oil,* citrus aurantifolia (lime) peel oil*. *Certified Organic

Skin’s Cranberry Orange Salt Scrub- I use Skin’s Apricot Mango Eye Cream at night, and I like it.

Ingredients- Sea salt, cranberry powder*, jojoba oil*, olive oil*, mandarin essential oil*. *Certified Organic

For the past two years or so, I had been passionately searching for a shampoo and condioner that satisfied, met, and maybe even exceeded all my expectations.  I was actually not asking for much. I just needed something free of parabens(a type of preservative) and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates(a cleaning agent) that would also make my hair look fabulous. I learned very quickly that regardless of what the bottles tell you, most “natural” hair products will absolutely make your hair look like turds. The shampoos made my hair feel too clean, and the conditioners did far less than condition. I threw away an embarrassing amount of half-used Nature’s Gate, Burt’s Bees, Jason, and Kiss My Face shampoo/conditioner bottles until I read some great reviews and ordered John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo and Lavender & Avocado Conditioner about a month ago. Feast your eyes upon these simple and lovely bottles:

Hello, soft hair.

Basically, I am thrilled with the results. I am almost excited to finish off these bottles, because that means I can try the Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo and the Citrus & Neroli Detangling Conditioner.