Naturalla Beauty

Happy New Year!  2014 was a challenging year for me.  The first half was spent feeling trapped in a job I wasn't happy at, only to be laid off - for unrelated reasons - from said job during the summer.  Since then, things have been pretty scattered.  I've done a few temp positions, but I'm not really sure what I want to be doing career-wise, which makes it difficult to know what jobs to even apply for.  So, for 2015, I'm hoping for less stress and more clarity (and security) on the work front.  I hope the new year brings you what you're looking for as well.   

Now, how about some empties?



Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
Jojoba is a very handy oil to have on hand.  I use it on both my face and body, to remove makeup, and in face masks and other DIYs.  I don't think I used this particular bottle up quickly enough though, as the very bottom started to smell a little funky.  It didn't seem off or rancid, but it developed a noticeable scent, where the first 7/8 of the bottle was basically unscented.  
Repurchase? Yes, but not right away.

Skin Essence Organics Nourish Moisturizer   [Review]
Nourish was my first face oil love, and I'm still a fan.  It's hydrating but not heavy, and includes my beloved hazelnut oil, along with a bunch of other great oils like rosehip and jojoba.  I really liked this smaller 10 ml bottle too, as the larger 30 ml size has gone off on me before I could use the entire thing up.    
Repurchase? Yes, after I've used up a few other face oils.

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner   [Review]
I don't even know how many tubes of this conditioner I've gone through, but it's still one of my favorites.  I like the almond scent, plus it moisturizes my curls really well without leaving them feeling heavy, coated, or weighed down.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Hush & Dotti Original Cleansing Balm (sample)  [Review]
As cleansing balms go, I quite enjoyed this one.  It removed makeup easily and wasn't waxy, so it wiped away very cleanly.  I also liked the spicy eucalyptus/clove scent and even used it as a moisturizing balm on extra dry patches a couple times.  I generally prefer oils or cream cleansers over balm cleansers though.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion (sample)
I really like these samples for toting around in my bag.  The tiny tube is about the size of a lip gloss, so they fit in even the smallest of purses.  The lotion itself is nice too - hydrating, very lightly scented, and great as a hand cream - although I've yet to be inspired to pick up the full size tube.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Epic Blend More Moisture Unflavored Lip Balm*   [Review]
I discovered Epic Blend's lip balms this past year, and they quickly became some of my favorites.  All their formulas are great, but if I had to pick, the More Moisture line is probably my favorite.  And I especially like the Unflavored one - it smells slightly sweet but very neutral, and it has none of that yucky oil taste that some unflavored lip balms have.
Repurchase? Yes, I definitely will.

Nürish Organics Best Scrub Ever*   [Review]
Loved this!  The scrub has a soft cream base, but it exfoliates very thoroughly with microdermabrasion crystals.  It's a pretty intense exfoliation, so I wouldn't recommend using it over active breakouts or more than once or twice a week.  
Repurchase? Yes, but not immediately.

And that's a wrap!  Not too many empties in December, but that's just how some months go.  

I'm also doing Tamara of Rainbow Feet's Green Survivor Challenge this month, so if you enjoy seeing empties, you should follow me on Instagram.  The idea of the challenge is similar to a no-buy, only rather than a set amount of time, we aren't allowing ourselves to buy any beauty products until we use up 2 makeup, 3 skincare, and 5 body items.  I've got a couple things nearing the bottom already, so I'm pretty confident I can manage it! 

How did it get to be the 4th already?  So, I'm a few days late, but here are my empties for July.  Not a lot of full size products, but plenty of samples/minis, so I guess it's okay.  



Nourish Coconut & Argan (wth Hibiscus) Body Wash
I love Nourish's body washes and this scent is my new favorite.  It smells much less like coconut than I was expecting, but instead, it has the most gorgeous tropical/floral fragrance that makes you feel like you're on a sunset beach.  Love! 
Repurchase? Definitely.

CeeCee & Bee Cocoa Butter Soap in Rosemary Mint and Lavender (minis)
I won these in a giveaway a while back on Natural Kath.  I really enjoyed the first one I used, but I left the rest wrapped up together, and after a couple months, all the scents blended together and the remaining soaps all smelled kind of bland and the same.  Still nice to use, but I was a bit disappointed in the scents after that.
Repurchase? Not sure.

Shiro Cosmetics Default Lip Balm
Default isn't available anymore, but it used to be Shiro's colorless Intertube.  I purchased several tins a couple years ago, as they were a little cheaper than the tubes, but it's really not ideal packaging here.  The formula is shea butter-based and if it's cold, it's way too solid to use with your fingers.  It worked fine in the summer, but I'm just as happy to have used one up!
Repuchase? No.  Not available anymore anyways.

Weleda One Step Cleanser and Toner (samples)
I've gone through a lot of samples of this, and I still really like it.  The 2-in-1 name turned me off for a while, but basically it's a multi-funtional product that you can either use on a cotton pad, or as a rinse off cleanser.  I like using it in the morning, when my face just needs a little refreshing, but I still like to wash it off like a normal cleanser and follow with the rest of my regular skincare routine.
Repurchase? Yes.  I'll pick up a big bottle eventually!

Silk Naturals Translucent Cloud Finishing Powder (sample) 
There are a lot of Silk Naturals products I love, but their finishing powders just don't stand out to me.  I've tried a few different formulas and none of them have blown me away.  
Repurchase? Very unlikely.

Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste   [Review]
Still using Earthpaste, almost two years in!  I've tried all the flavors now and I think Wintergreen is still my favorite.
Repurchase? Yes.

Silk Naturals Make Waves Curling Gel (mini)   [Review]
Really great product.  It does a good job encouraging curls/waves, and it holds up better in humidity than any other natural product I've used.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Pollen Cosmetics Off-White Wedding Eye Shadow (sample)
Pollen Cosmetics was only around for a short time, but they made some fantastic eye shadows.  Off-White Wedding was a great creamy highlight shade.
Repurchase? Not possible.

SoapStix   [Review]
If you're looking to avoid using the junk in public washrooms, SoapStix are a brilliant way to easily carry healthy soap in your purse.  The soap is just a very watery castile soap, but it comes in a handy spray bottle, about the size of a marker.  
Repurchase? No.  The soap itself wasn't anything special, but I did refill the bottle with some diluted Leap Organics body wash.  

Nürish Organics Washed Away Cream Cleanser & Makeup Obliterator   [Review]
I was a little conflicted on this product when I first wrote my review, but I think it was mostly the name that was tripping me up.  As a cleanser, it works well and I especially enjoyed using it once I rediscovered my Dr. Sponge last month.  It removes foundation and other face makeup, but does struggle with tougher things like mascara and eyeliner, so I don't think "makeup obliterator" is quite deserved.   
Repurchase? Probably not.  There are other cleansers I like more.

One Love Organics Supercritical Chia Seed Oil (sample)
I love eating chia seeds, but the oil was just okay.  It moisturized, but I didn't notice anything else.  Also smelled a little fishy to me.  
Repurchase? No.

Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloth
I've used a few of these now, and while they aren't my favorite wipes (those would still be Boo Bamboo), I've gained a new appreciation for them, thanks to the individual packaging.  I had to get some tests done last month, and after half an hour face down on a pillow, I was pretty glad I'd had the forethought to stick one of these in my purse to clean up my smudged mascara.  
Repurchase? Maybe.

Weleda Calendula Face Cream (sample)
I like Weleda's face creams, but I'm not the biggest fan of how the Calendula line smells.  It worked fine, but for that reason, this isn't one I'd buy in full size.
Repurchase? No.

Lina Hanson Global Baby + Global Body Serums* (sample)   [Review + Review]
When it comes to oils, I'm pretty well convinced Lina Hanson can do no wrong.  The Global Baby serum, made with antioxidant and vitamin-rich watermelon seed oil, is the perfect unscented treat for sensitive skin.  The Global Body Serum is a little richer and more indulgent.   It also smells phenomenal - like the most delicious creamsicle you'll ever eat.  
Repurchase? Yes, I plan to.

Homemade Cinnamon Orange Body Oil   [DIY Recipe]
Body oils are probably the easiest thing you can DIY (although I can't promise they'll compare to the magic of something like Lina Hanson.)  The cinnamon orange scent of this one was definitely more appropriate for fall/winter, but I'd made it ages ago, so it seemed about time to use it up.  
Remake? Sure, though maybe not this exact blend.

Pollen & Wax Roses & Roses Complexion Clay + Gold Petal Face Serum (minis)
I've been waiting to post my full review until Pollen & Wax reopen, so because I don't want to spoil that, I'll just say these were both great.  
Repurchase? Maybe.

It's that time again: empties!  I couldn't fit everything into one photo, so I guess this was a good month for finishing things up.  Sometimes I feel like these posts are just rehashing reviews or other blog posts, but this time around, there are several things that never quite made it to other posts, so it should be interesting...



Nürish Organic Rejuven-EIGHT Day Cream*  [Review]
This day cream's impressive ingredient list features manuka honey,  raspberry seed oil, blueberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil, pomegranate extract, and broccoli seed oil - to name just a few.  It's a soothing, lightweight moisturizer that's great for reducing redness.  I did find it left my skin a little shinier than usual when used in the morning, but I had no problem using it at night, so I enjoyed it that way.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  I'm really much more into face oils these days.

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz  
There's a full review forthcoming on this product, so I won't go into too many details here.  I've been searching for a less expensive replacement for my much loved Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel, and the Spiral Spritz is my favorite so far.  It's a light, aloe-based hair gel that works really well for scrunching curls.  It gives a light hold and doesn't leave hair feeling crunchy or sticky.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

South of France Lemon Mint Liquid Soap   [Review]
This is my second bottle of this castile soap, which I mainly used as a body wash.  When I bought it, Lemon Mint was the only scent that was made with only essential oils, but it's since been discontinued.  I'm not sure if the newly overhauled South of France line has any products without fragrance.  
Repurchase? No longer available.

Deep Steep Tangerine Melon Body Lotion
Tangerine Melon is my favorite Deep Steep scent, but even so, I found this lotion a little too heavily scented for me.  Compared to the body butter, the lotion is lighter and rubs into the skin a lot easier, but it also has retinyl palmitate (retinyl palmitate + sun exposure has been linked to cancer.)
Repurchase? The body lotion?  No.  This scent in other products?  Very likely.

Deep Steep Lavender Chamomile Hand Cream
This was a extra tester I was given at work (points to you if you noticed the 'try me' sticker in the photo.)  I liked the hand cream, but it feels very similar to Deep Steep's body butters, so I'm not convinced it's worth spending roughly the same amount for a tube 1/3 of the size.  If you want something small to carry with you, go for it, but otherwise, I'd recommend just buying the body butter.  
Repurchase? Probably not.

Now Foods Vanilla Lip Balm   [Review]
I was pretty unimpressed with this balm initially, but I pulled it out again recently in my quest to finish up all my started lip balms and it was decent.  It's on the waxier side - the first ingredient is beeswax - but once you warm it up a little, it's pretty nice.  It's definitely not a one-swipe balm, but if you don't mind taking an extra minute or two, it does a pretty good job.   
Repurchase? Probably not.  There are other lip balms I like more.

Kynk Shea Moi
Shea Moi is a raw, whipped shea butter, enriched with rice bran oil and scented with lemongrass and geranium.  I think I got a funny batch, as this smelled burnt and I know from selling Kynk at work that they don't all smell that way.  The burnt + lemongrass combo reminded me of a barbecue, so it got delegated to my feet, where I wouldn't smell it as much.  The actual product worked well, but the smell totally turned me off.  
Repurchase? No.

Kynk In the Raw
In the Raw is pure, raw shea butter that's been whipped to a lighter consistency.  This had a little of that burnt smell too, although much less than the Shea Moi.  Looking at Kynk's website just now, they do say that "shea butter has a slightly smokey and nutty aroma acquired from traditional extraction methods," so I guess that's what I'm smelling in these, although I've not experienced that with any other shea butter products.  
Repurchase? Probably not. I think I'll try whipping shea butter myself though, as the lighter texture was really nice.



Boo Bamboo Makeup Remover Wipes*   [Review]
As face wipes go, I think Boo Bamboo's are the cream of the crop.  They remove every speck of makeup - even mascara and eyeliner - without a struggle and have never bothered my skin in the slightest.  I prefer not to use wipes on an everyday basis, but if I was buying them for a special occasion or travel, these would be the ones I'd buy.   
Repurchase? Very likely.

Kaia Juicy Bamboo Bamboo Cleansing Cloths
After the Boo Bamboo, I was on a bit of a wipes kick and dug these out of my sample box to try.  They do an okay job removing makeup, but they also left my face feeling a little dry and irritated. 
Repurchase? No.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap (samples)
An old favorite and something I always keep on hand.  I used these two samples to clean my makeup brushes, but there really are a million and one uses for Dr. Bronner's.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  The unscented is still my favorite.

Priti NYC Soy Nail Polish Remover Wipes   [Review]
I've been consistently impressed with these wipes, so it was a sad day when I found a polish that this wipe could not beat.  We all know glitter polishes are terrible for removing, and Priti's wipe could not budge Color Club's Apollo Star.  I'm not sure if it was just a question of needing more actual product than the wipe holds or just a horrible polish to remove, but I ended up doing a two step process with Suncoat's Gel Remover, followed by Sante's remover on top of the Priti wipe, and it still was a struggle to get off!  
Repurchase? Possibly.  I still have several wipes left, but I think I want to try the liquid remover next time.

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach   [Review]  
I'm not sure if this is my second or third jar of Sleep in a Jar, but needless to say, I'm a fan.  I used to use it on its own, but these days I prefer using it to set another, cream concealer.  It doesn't give a ton of coverage, but it's excellent at brightening up the under eye area.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Silk Naturals Perfecting Powder (sample)
I generally use powder foundations, but I like using a finishing powder on top of certain parts of my face.  The Perfecting Powder was fine - did the job - but it didn't stand out much either.
Repurchase? Not sure.  I have a few samples of other finishing powders I want to try first.

Urban Minerals Foundation in Missus Multicultural (sample)*   [Review]
Urban Minerals is a local-to-me mineral makeup line with a focus on accommodating all skin tones.  What's unique about the foundation - beyond the extensive color range - is that it includes a whole host of skin-friendly ingredients like nettle, aloe, chamomile, calendula, marshmallow, sea buckthorn, and white willow bark.  When I first wrote my review, I thought Missus Multicultural was my best match, but I may need to revisit that, as coming out of this long winter, I think it was a little too dark for me.
Repurchase? Not right away.  I have several other mineral foundations I want to work through.

Cee Cee & Bee Café Mocha Soap
I was lucky enough to win four travel size Cee Cee & Bee soaps in a giveaway from Natural Kath and of the lot, Café Mocha is the one I gravitated to first.  It's palm oil free, and produces a rich, creamy lather that smells like a yummy mix of coffee and chocolate.  Coffee grounds also provide a light exfoliation.  Just a personal preference, but as someone who generally only uses bar soap on my hands, I've realized I much prefer smooth soaps, without any exfoliating particles, so I found myself wishing it didn't have the coffee grounds.  
Repurchase? Probably not this specific one, but there are a couple others Cee Cee & Bee soaps I've got my eye on.

Nuka Lime Spearmint Green Tea Soap
Nuka is an Ontario company whose palm oil free soaps are sold in bulk at my Whole Foods.  I bought this way back in December and used half the bar then, before deciding it was too drying on my hands.  Now that the weather's warmed up, it's been quite lovely and I haven't found it drying at all.  The blend of lime, spearmint, and green tea also smells fantastic.  
Repurchase? Very likely, but only in the warmer months.

Picture by Good for Me, Good for You

There's something so nice about supporting local companies, so when I saw Hephzibah of Good for Me, Good for You and Karen of In My Humble Opinion's #InMyBackyard posts, I knew I had to join in.  The idea is to feature companies that are local to you or "in your backyard".  

Happily, Toronto's green beauty scene has been growing by leaps and bounds recently and new lines seem to be popping up all over the place.  Obviously I can't mention them all, so I've narrowed it down to six of my favorites.
Nürish Organics

Photo credit

Nürish's line was designed to provide effective skincare that enhances the body's own healing mechanisms.  Ingredients are, of course, natural and also mainly organic.  As of now, I've used four of Nürish's eight products and I can tell you they really work.  I first fell hard for Best Scrub Ever (which really is one of the best scrubs I've ever used) and Daily Glow was unbeatable through the polar vortex weather this winter (plus, check out the packed ingredients list on this baby! )

Skin Essence Organics

Photo credit

Skin Essence's product line is a little more basic, but still very effective.  The standouts for me are definitely the serums - great blends, and again, the ingredients are predominantly organic.  In particular, I think I'll always have a soft spot for Nourish - which I fully credit with turning me into a face oil lover - and Facial in a Jar is one of those great, versatile products that works as both a mask and scrub.

Pretty

Photo credit

My skin always responds best to simpler products, which is why I love Pretty's philosophy that "less is more" when it comes to skincare.  You won't find any mile-long ingredients lists here, but not to worry, Pretty's products still include plenty of powerful ingredients.  The Pure Radiance Day Cream continues to impress me - it's works beautifully as both a moisturizer and makeup primer - and if you're curious about powder cleansers, the Black Tea and Raw Cocoa Facial Cleansing Grains are also worth a look.

Graydon: Clinical Luxury by Nature

Photo credit

Graydon focuses on creating pure, plant-based products that are just as effective and luxurious as those from a mainstream luxury brand.  The company also makes a point of sourcing organic, Canadian ingredients whenever possible.  So far, I've only tried the Face Food Mineral Mist, but The Cleanser and The Putty are firmly on my wishlist and are sure to make their way home with me one of these days.

Ella's Botanicals

Photo credit

Moving into body care, Ella's has a great lineup of soaps, balms, and lotions.  I've enjoyed a lot of the line, though my tops picks would be the super gentle Skin Soother Bar and deliciously-scented Lemon Meringue Lotion.  There are also rumblings that a face line is in the works.

Pure + Simple

Photo credit

Pure + Simple has their own extensive line of skincare, haircare, body care, and makeup and also has three spa locations to accommodate all your green beauty treatment needs.  I'm a fan of the Eye Brightening Cream (I did end up buying the full size after my review) and the multi-use Face Colors, which, depending on color, work equally well as blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow.

I'd love to know what companies are local to you.  If you do (or have already done) an #InMyBackyard post, feel free to link it in the comments below!

Towards the end of last year, I was sent a few products from Nürish Organics and after being thoroughly impressed by everything, I knew I had to try their cleanser.  A well-timed Saffron Rouge sale was all it took for me to take the plunge with Washed Away...

"A gentle yet very effective cream cleanser enriched with quinoa protein and rich tropical butters. Leaves the skin feeling clean and vibrant. Wet face and massage a pea-sized amount to remove makeup or just to cleanse the face at the end of a long day. Can be used to obliterate even the toughest waterproof eye makeup."

As a cleanser, I like it.  It's a little runny - more of a milk consistency than a cream - but it's gentle and leaves my skin feeling clean, if maybe the slightest bit drier than I'd like.  As a makeup remover, I'm less impressed.  It does a good job removing face makeup, but it struggles to take off mascara and eye liner.  Yes, it gets it off in the end, but it takes 2-3 applications and more rubbing than I'd like for such a delicate area.  (I'm not talking about anything waterproof either!)  The scent was also just okay.  A blend of bergamot, petitgrain, lemon, orange, rosemary, neroli, and ylang ylang, it smells very sharp to me.  Not at all citrusy, like one might expect from the ingredients, but instead, more of a floral/herbal cross.  

Using Washed Away to remove swatches from this post

All clean!

The Bottom Line
More succinct than usual, but I think that covers everything.  Washed Away was a so-so product for me, though I'd still recommend other products from Nürish's line.  Best Scrub Ever is my favorite scrub at the moment and Daily Glow is a great oil that's stayed in rotation these last few months as well.  

Have you tried anything from Nürish?  What's your favorite makeup remover?  

Where to Buy: $23 from Nürish Organics, Saffron Rouge

Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oleosomes*, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside*, Glyceryl Oleate*, Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, Leptospermum Scoparium (Active Manuka) Honey*, Mango Butter (Mangifera Indica) Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Tocopherols (Full Spectrum Naturally Sourced Vitamin E), Cetyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Sclerotium Gum, Citrus Bergamia (Bergamot) Oil*, Citrus Bigarade (Petitgrain) Oil*, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Oil*, Citrus Sinesis (Blood Orange) Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Oil*, Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata) Oil*, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid.  [*Denotes Organic]

Photo from Nürish Organics

Right from the start, Daily Glow caught my eye.  After all, aren't we all looking for skincare products that will help us find that illusive glow?  Nürish's antioxidant serum claims to fight sun damage and early signs of aging, while promoting healthy, glowing skin and after testing it out for several weeks, I'm happy to report that it really has made a noticeable difference in the overall radiance of my skin.  

Daily Glow is a combination of 20(!) antioxidant and vitamin-rich oils that are combined in such a way as to amplify the individual benefits of each oil.  The blend contains a couple of old favorites - argan and carrot seed - as well as some I hadn't tried before - sea buckthorn and pumpkin seed.  It also includes antioxidant-rich raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate seed oils and essential oils of rose, jasmine, geranium, neroli, chamomile, rock rose, and matricaria.  As many of you will know, I'm not generally a floral scents kind of person, so I was initially a little wary, but happily, while it smells floral, Daily Glow isn't just another run-of-the-mill rose scent.  The neroli and chamomile tone down the sweetness of the rose and jasmine and the overall scent is floral, but also fresh.  I wouldn't say it's my favorite scent ever, but it's not anything that would prevent me from using and enjoying the serum.

In terms of performance, I've accumulated more than a couple face oils over the last few months and Daily Glow is definitely one of the most hydrating.  It's not heavy, but it isn't a light, airy blend either.  I've been loving it this fall/winter, but I wonder if it might be a bit much for oilier skin types.  Just a couple drops satisfies my normal-to-dry skin and leaves my skin looking healthy, and dare I say it, glowy.  The oil absorbs quickly and also layers well with other serums and moisturizers, should you be so inclined.  I usually use it by itself, but on exceptionally dry nights, I've used it under Rejuven-EIGHT with equally great results.  

The Bottom Line
I've been very happy with everything I've tried from Nürish (see my reviews of Best Scrub Ever and Rejuven-EIGHT), and Daily Glow is no exception.  It's a heady blend of oils that delivers just what the name promises: a healthy glow.   Anti-aging benefits are a little harder to gauge, but given the number of potent oils packed into each bottle, I'm pretty confident it's got things well covered in that regard also.  

Where to Buy: $62 from Nürish/Saffron Rouge

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Argania spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Vitis vinifera (Ruby Red Grape) Seed Oil*, Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*, Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Punica granatum (Pomegranate Seed) Extract*, Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract*, Neroli Oil, Daucus carota sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil*, Jasminum grandiflorum (Jasmine Flower) Extract*, Rosa centifolia (Rose) Flower Extract*, Pelargonum graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil*, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil*, Cistus ladaniferus (Rock Rose) Oil, Cera alba (Beeswax)*, Tocopherols (Full Spectrum Naturally Sourced Vitamin E). (*Denotes Organic Ingredient) 



Disclosure: Product provided for review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.

Even though I've fallen hard for face oils over the last several months, there are still times when I want that familiar, comforting feel of rubbing in a cream moisturizer.  On my nightstand recently: Nürish Organics' Rejuven-EIGHT Day Cream.  

Photo from Nürish Organics

Rejuven-EIGHT is, if you'll excuse the pun, a nürishing moisturizer that's packed with ingredients that protect and regenerate your skin.  A combination of pomegranate seed extract and anti-oxidant rich oils of red grape, carrot seed, raspberry seed, blueberry seed, cranberry seed, and broccoli seed deeply hydrates your skin and minimizes free radical damage.  These ingredients also protect against future environmental stress and sun damage.  Manuka honey (OMA 16+) moisturizes and is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.  It's also known to repair damaged skin and support skin cell regeneration.  Last but not least, rhassoul clay - rich in silica, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, and sodium - evens skin tone and improves skin clarity, texture, and elasticity.

As the name suggests, Rejuven-EIGHT is intended as a day moisturizer, but I actually prefer using it at night. It's lightweight, sinks in quickly and provides a good base for applying makeup on top of, but I found that my skin ended up more shiny than usual midway through the afternoon on days when I used Rejuven-EIGHT as a morning moisturizer.  Nighttime use, on the other hand, means I can liberally slather on as much cream as I want and my skin has a full eight or more hours to soak up all the antioxidants and other nutrients the moisturizer has to offer.  Despite it's light feel, I gather it was just a little too much moisture for my skin during the day, as I've had no further issues with excess oil or shine since switching to using it at night.  

The Bottom Line
Rejuven-EIGHT may not have worked as well as I'd hoped as a day cream, but I love using it as a nighttime moisturizer!  It smooths on easily and works well, both on its own or in combination with a face oil, and in the morning, I wake up with glowy, soft skin.  I've also noticed less redness since I started using this product.  The ingredients are predominantly organic and it smells lovely - sweet and a little fruity.  It's a subtle scent that's never overpowering and dissipates within a few minutes of application.  Definitely a hit in my book!

Where to Buy: $49 from Nürish/Saffron Rouge

Ingredients: Purified Water, Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oleosomes*, Decaglyceryl Decaoleate (Vegetable Source), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Fruit Butter*, Cetyl Alcohol (Vegetable Source), Leptospermum Scoparium (Active Manuka) Honey*, Moroccan Lava (Rhassoul) Clay, Glycerin (Vegetable Source), Stearic Acid (Vegetable Source), Beeswax Wax*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate Seed) Extract*, Vitis Vinifera (Ruby Red Grape) Seed Oil*, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil*, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil*, Tocopherols (Full Spectrum Naturally Sourced Vitamin E), Sclerotium Gum, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil*, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil*, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid. (*Denotes Organic Ingredient)



Disclosure: Product provided for review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.