Naturalla Beauty

Alva Hand Cream + Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream

The Bottom Line

2016 hasn't been my most productive year blogging, but there's still been no shortage of trying new products!  It's been a bit of a mixed bag recently -- not everything has been the hugest hit -- but I think it's equally important to share the "just okay" products as the ones I fall head over heels for.  Today's batch includes a mix of skincare, body care, and nail products.


Rocky Mountain Soap Vanilla Mint Hand Cream
Vanilla Mint is one of my favorite scents from Rocky Mountain Soap, so when I noticed they added a hand cream to the Vanilla Mint lineup, I knew I had to try it.  I reviewed the Apricot Hand Cream last year and while I loved the cream itself, I had minor issues with the scent, which had a tendency to turn a little funny on my skin.  I happily don't have any problems with the Vanilla Mint and this cream has become a favorite hand moisturizer.  Just like the Apricot, the Vanilla Mint Hand Cream is rich and emollient, but also soaks into the skin quickly without leaving behind any greasy film or residue.  My cuticles got super dry when temperatures first dropped here last month and the hand cream had them healthy and back to normal within a couple days. 

Oro de Sonora Organic Jojoba Oil*
I've used jojoba oil on and off for years, but I usually just buy whatever brand is on sale at the time on iHerb or Vitacost.  Using the Oro de Sonora these last several months has really cemented for me how significant quality differences can be between different brands of oils.  Oro de Sonora's jojoba oil is coming directly from experienced jojoba growers in southwest Arizona where jojoba oil is the only thing they produce.  It's certified organic and expeller pressed, as well as filtered and rested to eliminate any impurities.

The oil itself seems richer and more alive than other jojoba oils I've used.  It's not richer in the sense of being a heavier oil, but it seems like it delivers more intense nourishment to the skin.  It also has a more noticeable scent -- though nothing offensive or overly strong -- which has me rethinking just how much processing other, virtually scentless jojoba oils go through.  Jojoba oil is super versatile and because it's very similar to the natural sebum produced by our skin, it's suitable for all skin types.  I like using it for both oil cleansing/makeup removal and as a gentle moisturizer, and the Oro de Sonora oil works great for both purposes.

Meow Meow Tweet Grapefruit Baking Soda Free Deodorant
This deodorant is a cult favorite in the green beauty sphere, and while it works well for odor protection, I'm not blown away.  My main gripe is that the deodorant repeatedly separated during the summer, despite never leaving my air conditioned house.  I tried to remix it at the time, but I must not have done a very good job as once I got about halfway down the jar, the texture became a lot more solid.  I mixed in some extra oil -- the Oro de Sonora jojoba actually -- and while it smoothed it out somewhat, the texture is still not as nice as the first part of the jar.  The deodorant also has a tendency to leave significant white marks on black and dark clothing, which is a big pet peeve for me.  It undoubtedly does keep you smelling good, but, overall, I think there are better options out there, including Meow Meow Tweet's baking soda version, which I liked a lot a couple years ago.

Mineral Fusion Gel Top Coat + Nail Polish Remover
The Gel Top Coat was recommended by a couple people on Instagram and I've been really happy with it.   It has a decently large brush and a thicker consistency -- but not in a gloopy way -- that easily applies a thick layer of topcoat onto the nails.  It dries to a lovely glossy, glass-like finish and I do think it helps keep polishes on longer.

The Nail Polish Remover, on the other hand, has me less impressed.  It removes polish okay, -- though not as easily as the Priti NYC remover I was using previously -- but it also tends to smear the color onto the skin all around the nail while doing so.  The scent -- some kind of floral mixed with a typical remover smell -- isn't horribly offensive, but again, it's not as pleasant as the Priti.

The remover also gives me this strange cold feeling, almost as if I'm rubbing ice cubes on my nails.  I've never experienced it before, although a quick google search taught me that it's apparently not all that uncommon with nail polish removers.  I don't wear a ton of nail polish and will certainly use the bottle up now that I have it, but next time I'll either try something new or go back to Priti.



Have you used any of these products?

I'll be the first to admit that products like hand cream often fall by the wayside here during the warmer months, but as soon as temperatures drop, you better believe I start slathering them on again like nobody's business!  My most recent pick?  Rocky Mountain Soap's Apricot Hand Cream ($11 for 50 ml/1.69 oz).


The formula and overall feel of the cream is lovely.  It has a silky, creamy consistency that feels rich and hydrating, but it also doesn't take long to absorb.  I wouldn't say reach for a touchscreen immediately after using the cream, but you're good to go within two to three minutes.  

The hand cream is loaded with nourishing ingredients like sunflower, olive, jojoba and apricot kernel oils and mango and shea butters, and I've found it very effective at keeping dry, papery hands at bay this fall/winter.  It also contains date palm extract, a powerhouse antioxidant with proven anti-aging benefits, and honey extract, a gentle humectant that helps the skin absorb and hold onto moisture.  

I'm not crazy in love with the apricot scent, but there's nothing wrong with it per say.  Smelling the cream straight out of the tube, it's very fresh and fruity and I love it, but once it touches my skin, my nose also picks up a kind of milky note that I'm not as crazy about.  It's not an offensive scent by any means, just not a favorite for me either.  

The Bottom Line
Rocky Mountain Soap Co. is a great Canadian company and I'm really happy with how well the hand cream works.  It's rich and moisturizing but doesn't leave you with greasy hands or unable to touch anything for a prolonged period.  I'd likely opt for a different scent next time, but it's a product I can definitely see myself buying again!

I don't remember ever using hand cream until two winters ago.  Temperatures can drop pretty low here, but it never bothered my hands...until suddenly it did.  There's been no turning back since and for someone who didn't use handcream for most of her life, I've managed to amass quite an arsenal these past couple years.  Each one serves a (slightly) different purpose and they all come together to keep my hands soft, healthy and hydrated through the cold months and all year long.



The Day Time Troopers
Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Hand & Nail Cream + Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie*
Whether I'm running around or spending time on the computer, for daytime I need a hand cream that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my hands greasy, sticky, or coated.  Both of these fit the bill and are also small enough to easily tote around in my bag.  I find the Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie does a slightly better job moisturizing in the moment, but the Tropical Bergamot Hand & Nail Cream has a longer lasting effect and therefore requires less re-applications throughout the day.   

The Before You Step Outside Protector
Weleda Calendula Weather Protection Cream
I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but - with or without gloves - my hands seem like they start losing moisture the second I step out into the cold.  The Calendula Weather Protection Cream is really intended for protecting babies' faces and lips from harsh weather, but it also works great on hands.  A water-free formula with a similar consistency to petroleum jelly, it creates a protective (but non-occlusive) barrier that helps to seal in moisture.

The Healing Helper
ZibaDel Natural Manuka Honey Skin Cream*
When I haven't been super diligent, the Manuka Honey Skin Cream is the perfect product to reach for.  The consistency is somewhere between a cream and a balm and it's phenomenal for healing chapped or cracked skin and other small skin ailments.  

The Overnight Treatment
Northman Heavy Hand Balm*
Despite the name, the Heavy Hand Balm is really more of a thick cream than a traditional balm.  It's very effective at softening dry hands, but it's pretty rich and heavy and I find it a little sticky on my hands at first, so it's a product I reserve for right before bed.  If you're looking for something truly unscented, this is also great in that regard.  

The Boosters
Weleda Skin Food + Acure Marula Oil
For those times when I want to doctor my own hand cream concoction, I like to incorporate Skin Food and/or Marula Oil.  I love Skin Food on dry elbows and feet, but I find it to be so thick as to be difficult to work into the hands on its own.  Instead, I like to mix a small dollop into another, lighter cream.  The same goes for Marula Oil, which is great for adding an extra shot of moisture to any of the other products on this list.  

Clearly dry hands are not welcome 'round these parts!  What's your favorite hand cream?