1) A pouch made to hold soiled, reusable menstrual pads: both useful and adorable. Am I the only one who hates using public restrooms when I’m on my period? This little guy could only help matters.

2) This body wash has a pretty impressive list of ingredients, and I can get behind almost anything that smells like geranium.

3) I love the way my Lotus Garden Soy Candle makes my bedroom smell and feel. Being surrounded by such a lovely scent all day long would be mega dreamy.

4) I’m almost out of my Indian Healing Clay, and Skin has yet to disappoint me with their ingredients and performance.

5) This should come as no surprise, but I’m a sucker for natural sleep aids.  And look at that precious heart infuser spoon!

Sources: Wet Bag, Shower Gel , Solid Perfume, Clay, Sleepy Time Special.

What about you guys? Have any wish lists you’d like to share?

I had a lot of fun online window-shopping for this post. As a result, Five Finds is going to become a regular occurrence on Turby and John. Expect a health and beauty themed Five Finds post at least once every other week! I’m also toying with the idea of devoting Friday’s posts to healthy food-related articles and/or healthy recipes.  It would be appropriately named Foody Friday. We’ll see!

Today’s post is less about Christmas gifts and more about advice. My friend Kristen recently had a couple of questions for me about moisturizer and eye cream. I decided address most of her questions in a post since they all seemed pretty relatable.

Her Problem:

She told me that she’d been using Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face and Eye Creams for several years, and that she had no problems with them other than their price and her lack of knowledge concerning their ingredients.

She asked me if I had any suggestions for a more natural moisturizer and eye cream, as well as whether or not I knew of another reliable place that rates health and beauty products and their ingredients (since she couldn’t find her current moisturizer and eye cream in the Cosmetic Safety Database).

My Response:

I told her that I didn’t know of or use any other sites to analyze the ingredients in products, since the CSD has such an expansive list of ingredients. I did send her links to another site I came across that used some sort of system to rate her current moisturizer and eye cream, since she seemed curious about the ingredients. I was sure to tell her that I was unsure of the site’s reliability.

I searched for a couple of the ingredients from her current moisturizer and eye cream on the CSD that I was pretty sure were hazardous, and found that Cyclopentasiloxane (an ingredient in the eye cream) and Myristyl Myristate (an ingredient in the face cream) were both linked to cancer.

I suggested that she try Karen’s Botanicals Rehydrating Aloe Vera Lotion, since it’s my absolute favorite moisturizer, hands down, and it only has a hazard score of one (not to mention that  it’s way less expensive than Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream).

I gave her two recommendations for eye cream, Skin’s Apricot Mango Eye Cream and The Answer’s Ideal Eyes Anti-Aging Eye Cream,  both of which have great ingredients and are about half the price of Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Eye Cream. I told her that the former is better as an evening eye cream since it tends to smear eye makeup and the latter is better for daytime use specifically because it makes my under eye area sort of glowy, which is something that I actually love.

Hopefully my advice helped Kristen, and perhaps it will help a reader or two as well!

Image courtesy of Acureorganics.com.

I’ve proclaimed my love for moisturizing and moisturizers time and time again, so I was obviously excited when I received my very own free bottle of Acure Organics Energizing Body Lotion in the mail. I’m just as excited to review it.

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, Mango Ceylon, RooibosTea, Organic AloeVera Leaf Juice, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cocoa Seed Butter, Organic Safflower Seed Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE (Vegetable Derived), Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Sunflower Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Infusion of Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower in Fair Trade Certified Organic Olive Oil, Valencia Orange Essential Oil, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Red Mandarin Oil, 100% natural non GMO Vitamin E, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Clove Bud Oil”

I couldn’t locate this product on the Cosmetic Safety Database, but the two ingredients that made me curious,  Cetearyl Glucoside and Glyceryl Stearate, have hazard scores of zero and one, respectively. I’m not crazy about Potassium Sorbate, which has a low hazard score of one but is also linked to cancer, but preservatives are necessary sometimes, I guess. :-/

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s vegan.

2. It’s cruely, paraben, sulfate, and gluten-free.

3. It’s formulated without synthetic fragrances.

Recyclability- This plastic bottle is a 1, which means that I can recycle it in Lake Charles. Yay! We can only recycle ones and twos. I think that’s pretty ridiculous.

Product Description (also provided at acureorganics.com)- “Rough day? Late night got you feeling like a zombie? Break out of that funk with this uplifting lotion that restores brightness and rejuvenatues your spirits. Non-greasy formula so that much needed coffee won’t go flying out of your hand! Vitamin C you later stress!”

Price-$9.99 for 7 ounces. That’s kind of a steal.

Performance-  I’ve mentioned before that the sensitive skin on my chest is prone to breakouts, right? I’m pretty sure that I have. This lotion is gentle enough for my chest, but it’s also rich enough for my ashy legs. That’s saying something. It’s a rare occurrence that I find a lotion that I can use on my entire body with no problems. What’s gentle enough for my chest and neck usually isn’t moisturizing enough for my legs, arms, tummy, hands, and feet. And what works for those areas is usually too heavy for my neck and chest.

Scent- Remember the Grapefruit Pom Body Lotion that I recently reviewed? To me, this Mandarin Orange + Mango lotion smells a tiny bit like that, but it’s sweeter and with a longer lasting scent. I wouldn’t say that this stuff actually smells like mandarin oranges or mangoes; it’s mostly just sweet and citrus-y. It manages to smell warm and spicy on some level too, if that makes any sense at all. I’m into it.

Rating-  Lovely scent+Reasonable price+Good ingredients+Even better performance= a well-earned rating of 10. My only complaint is that this lotion isn’t sold in a bigger bottle, because I’d totally buy it.  I’m gonna have to try the other scents; I just know it!

Image Courtesy of Carenonline.com

I moisturize at least once a day, so lotion is a pretty important part of my beauty regimen. I’ve been using  and loving Skin’s Apricot Mango Eye Cream for while now, and I was understandably excited to give Skin’s Grapefruit Pom Body Lotion a try.

Ingredients (provided at carenonline.com)- “Sweet almond oil*, jojoba oil*, virgin coconut oil*, pomegranate seed oil*, cocoa butter*, glycerin, grapefruit essential oil*, vegetable emulsifying wax, distilled water, vitamin E oil, grapefruit seed extract.

*Certified organic”

The product received a hazard score of one on the Cosmetic Safety Database. Vitamin E oil and Glycerin are the only two ingredients with a hazard score of two. The rest are a one or a zero. This products is not linked to cancer, reproductive/developmental toxicity, or allergies/immunotoxicity.

Product Description (also provided at carenonline.com)- “Ahhh! The invigorating smell of grapefruit and the extra special healing properties of pomegranate combine in this wonderfully moisturizing lotion. Sweet almond oil, loaded with vitamins to protect, nourish, soothe and soften, coconut oil to form a protective layer which helps to retain moisture, cocoa butter which has been used for many years to lessen the appearance of stretch marks and scars and vitamin E oil, all enhance this yummy lotion. A true Caren favorite!”

Price-It’s $16.95 for an 8 ounce bottle, but you can also get a try me! size (that’s approximately one ounce) for $3.95 from carenonline.com (which is what I did).

Performance- I quickly discovered that this product was perfect for moisturizing my neck and chest, which are two of the most sensitive areas other than my face that I apply lotion. Grapefruit Pom lotion effectively moisturized my neck and chest without making me feel greasy or causing a breakout, which is quite an achievement. I tried it on the rest of my body as well, but I typically prefer richer moisturizers for my arms, legs and tummy.

Scent- The scent of this lotion is mostly grapefruit and very little pom, but I’m not complaining or anything. I think it smells tasty! As a general rule, I’d much rather use a product that has a light, citrus scent than one that smells too sweet. Sometimes that can be nauseating.

Rating-  Good ingredients, pleasant scent and exceptional performance? What a combo! This product definitely deserves a 9. I subtracted 1 point for the price because, let’s face it. It’s a little steep, and I’m a little broke.

Image Courtesy of Delias.com

I ordered some adorable and on sale shoes for myself today, and I can’t wait to wear them!

A piece of news that is more relevant to this blog, however, is that I also ordered some health and beauty product samples by brands that I rarely or never review. The brands are Lily Organics, evanhealy, The Answer For Skin, and Skin; the products will be tested and reviewed shortly after they arrive.

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

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- 9 out of 10. The product lost 1 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 than 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.

Karen's Botanicals Rehydrating Olive Oil Cleanser

The best word to describe my skin is combination, but it’s definitely more dry than oily. This stuff is recommended for dry skin, but it’s winter time and I do what I want.

Opas Soap Ojai Lavender Conditioner

I decided to get the lavender instead of the palmarosa (as stated in my big long list post) because the former allegedly stimulates hair growth. We’ll seeee.

Skin's Apricot Mango Eye Cream

This stuff looks tasty, but it probably isn’t.

I also got try me sizes in Karen’s Botanicals Refreshing Lemon Mint Cleaner and Karen’s Botanicals Calendula Rose Facial Cream. I’m pumped! Get ready for some very informative reviews.