Naturalla Beauty

I recently had the opportunity to try out several products from Frangipani and after using them for almost two months, it's past time I wrote about them.  Frangipani is an Indianapolis-based company making affordable, natural, plant-based skincare.  The line was started in 2008 after Tracy Land was downsized from her job at a software company.  As someone who'd already created products for her own skin, Land took the opportunity to launch Frangipani.  Today, the line is available in a number of health food stores (including Whole Foods) and includes body care products, as well as face products for five skin types - balanced, hormonal, stressed, environmental, and mature.  The website describes the five types so you can easily select the products best suited to your skin.  

Due to the number of products, I'm splitting this into two parts.  Today I've got my thoughts on the cleansers and serums and I'll do a separate post on the moisturizers and balms.  



Refreshing Face Wash
Sad to say, the Refreshing Face Wash is the one Frangipani product that my skin just did not get along with.  I've learned that creamy cleansers work best for my somewhat sensitive skin, and in contrast, the castile soap in this face wash just left my face feeling overly tight and dry.  I can see it working better during the summer or for oilier skin types.  

Ingredients: cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, citrus aurantium amara (neroli) floral water, pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) floral water, gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate (natural preservative), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil, citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, citric acid, tocopherol (Vitamin E)


Exfoliating Face Gel
Definitely a favourite out of everything I tried from Frangipani!  Jojoba beads are suspended in a base of aloe vera gel, with just a touch of olive oil castile soap, making for a lovely, super gentle exfoliant that leaves my skin feeling clean, plump and hydrated.  The perfect choice for anyone looking for a gentle, non-irritating face scrub.  I've been alternating between this and Nürish Organics' much more intense Best Scrub Ever for about a month now and they are absolutely the most perfect balance for one another!

Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (miller), olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, hydrogenated jojoba oil (jojoba beads), gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate (natural preservative), melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil, potassium sorbate, citric acid, xanthan gum, tocopherol (Vitamin E)


Toning Serum
Frangipani describes this as the serum for "people with balanced skin who know they need crucial vitamins to keep skin healthy."  With apricot and jojoba oils and essential oils of neroli, rosemary, ylang ylang and thyme, it's a nourishing serum that absorbs quickly, but still manages to be very hydrating.   

Ingredients: prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, tocopherol (Vitamin E), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, cananga odorata macrophylla (ylang ylang) flower oil, thymus vulgaris (thyme) oil


Protective Serum
A little heavier than the Toning Serum, the Protective Serum is a blend of apricot kernel, avocado, and evening primrose oils that's been great for my skin heading into the colder months.  Recommended for sensitive skin, as well as for rashes, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis, this is definitely a calming blend.  Carrot seed and lavender oils soothe irritations, protect against future environmental stress and also provide anti-aging benefits.  

Ingredients: prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, tocopherol (Vitamin E), dacus carota (carrot) seed oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil


The Bottom Line
Overall, I've been really happy with these products.  The cleanser didn't work for me this time of year, but I'll be hanging onto it to try again come spring.  The Exfoliating Face Gel is lovely and both serums are great, although the Protective Serum has been the clear winner for my skin this fall. 

And it's not over yet!  Stay tuned for my take on a few more Frangipani products in Part #2...


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.

Not a whole lot used up in November, but since I don't relish the thought of hanging onto these things any longer, I'm doing a post now anyways!



Nourish Exfoliating Body Polish   [Review]
A nice, gentle scrub.  Not very abrasive at all - I was even using it on my face at one point!  Different scent options would make it even better, as this unscented one just smells starchy and cornmeal-esque, which kind of wore on my nerves after a while.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Blitzen and Surfrider   [Review]
Darling Girl eye shadows are some of my favorites!  Both of these were light peach shades, which you may have noticed I wear a lot.  Blitzen was a favorite, and while technically discontinued, Susan, DG's founder, found some hanging around that I was able to snatch up.
Repurchase? Blitzen yes, Surfrider, no.

Ella's Botanicals Skin Soother Beauty Bar Soap (sample)
I think I've tried almost all of Ella's bar soaps now and the Skin Soother is definitely my favorite.  It has a different base than the rest of them - olive oil instead of canola - and I like it a lot more.  As the name suggests, it's very gentle and soothing.  It's technically unscented, but it has a delicate, slightly sweet smell that's quite lovely.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Citrus and Unscented (samples)
Dr. Bronner's is always a staple.  I regularly use it to clean my makeup brushes, hand-wash any delicates, and for a multitude of other jobs as they pop up.  The citrus scent isn't my favorite.
Repurchase? Unscented, yes.

Badger Creamy Cocoa Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Love, love, love this lip balm!  It's great all year, but especially awesome in the winter, as it really coats and protects your lips against the cold.  Creamy Cocoa doesn't have any added scent, letting the cocoa butter really shine.
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Essential Oils Thieves
A blend of clove, cinnamon, rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils that's great for the immune system.  I got hit with a cold in the beginning of the month and finished this bottle off while fighting it.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

I've developed quite a fondness for creamy cleansers of late, and one that rushed right to the top of the list is from Kahina Giving Beauty.  If you aren't already familiar with it, Kahina's line is based around organic, ethically sourced argan oil and all of its products combine high concentrations of the nourishing, anti-oxidant rich oil, along with other high quality, effective natural ingredients.  As the name suggests, Kahina's ethos also incorporates giving back and 25% of the company's profits are donated to causes that improve the lives of the Berber women who harvest and extract the argan oil used in the company's products.  These women's signatures also grace Kahina's sophisticated packaging.  

A couple months ago, Clementine Fields' co-founder, Ingrid Doucet, very generously sent me a couple products to try out and I'm ecstatic she chose to include Kahina's Facial Cleanser.  The cleanser contains aloe vera and argan oil to help keep skin hydrated, willow bark to gently eliminate toxins and impurities, and papaya enzymes to brighten and lightly exfoliate.  The ingredients combine together beautifully to create a creamy cleanser that I'd wager is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.  It has a milky consistency that just glides across your face, but it isn't so thin that you risk losing it all down the drain.  

I usually prefer to remove any makeup first with an oil, but in a pinch, Kahina's cleanser does the trick, even on stubborn mascara or eyeliner.  The cleanser is scented with neroli and blue tansy, also known for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, and it's not a stretch to say that it smells incredible. It's a light, fresh and slightly sweet scent that somehow manages to be both simultaneously relaxing and refreshing.




The Bottom Line
Kahina's Facial Cleanser is an excellent product that thoroughly cleanses without drying or stripping the skin.  It's a gorgeous cleanser that I think would work for a variety of skin types.  I've been sadly scraping the dregs of my bottle this week, but happily Clementine Fields came through, again, with a well-timed flash sale that I rushed to take advantage of: 

For the rest of today, get 15% off all Kahina products, as well as Zoe Organics and Ursa Major for Men.  

Where to Buy: $56 from Clementine Fields (currently on sale!), Kahina Giving Beauty

Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, aqua, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, glycerin*, leuconostoc (radish) root ferment filtrate, cocoglucoside, coconut alcohol, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract*, glyceryl oleate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, lauryl glucoside, vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, sclerotium gum, citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil*, chamomila recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, tanacetum annuum (blue tansy) flower oil*, hydrogenated lecithin, p-anisic acid, PCA, xantham gum 
*Ingredient from Organic Farming 



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.

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope those of you who celebrate are enjoying your time off.  I don't brave Black Friday shopping in person, but I'm always up for a good online shop.  I've been seeing so many amazing deals pop up that I thought it'd be helpful to compile them all into one list.  I'll update this as I hear about more and if you have any to add, leave them in the comments!

Afterglow Cosmetics
$25 Off Orders Over $75, $100 Off Orders Over $199 
Friday and Monday Only

Alima Pure
Free Black Mascara, Mulberry Lip Tint and Makeup Bag with $70 Purchase 
Now through Monday

Amala Beauty 
20% Off Orders Over $150 (Use Code: MONDAY2013)
Monday only

Au Naturale Cosmetics
30% Off (Use Code: ANGIVING)
Friday through Monday

Beauty Sage
20% Off + Free Shipping (Use Code: GOBBLE)
Now through Saturday
22% Off + Free Shipping (Use Code: CYBER)
Monday only

Brija Cosmetics
30% Off Orders Over $20 (Use Code: FRIDAY2013)
Friday through Monday

By Valenti Organics
10% Off (Use Code: BLACKCYBER)
Now through Monday

Cheeky Cosmetics
20% Off (Use Code: CHEEKYMONDAY)
Now through Monday

Clementine Fields
15% Off Kahina Giving Beauty, Zoe Organics, and Ursa Major for Men (Use Code: flash15)
Friday and Saturday 
*Kahina's cleanser is amazing.  Enough said*

CV Skinlabs
15% Off (Use Code: blackfriday)
Friday only

Darling Girl Cosmetics
20% Off (Use Code: GOBBLEGOBBLE)
Friday only

Dr. Sponge
10% Off (Use Code: CYBERSAVE)
Monday only

Ecco Bella
25% Off Orders Over $25 (Use Code: EBCYBER)
Monday only
*The lipsticks and blush are some of my favorites!*

Fresh Faced
15% Off (Use Code: NOVFLASH)
Friday only

Gabriel Cosmetics/Zuzu Luxe
30% Off (Use Code: cyber30)
Monday only

Hip Apotheca
30% Off (Use Code: BLACK30)
Friday through Monday

Honeybee Gardens
Free Shipping (Use Code: CYMON)
Monday only

Juice Beauty
Free Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer with $50 Purchase (Use Code: BFS13) 
Now through Saturday
Free $100 Mystery Gift with Orders over $100
Monday only

La Bella Figura
15% Off Modern Radiance Concentrate, Barbary Fig Renewal Serum & Skin Aficionado
Free La Curacio Lip Treatment with Orders over $50, Free 5ml Daily Elements Defense Face Oil Over $100, Free 1 oz. Bohemia Verde Aromatic Hair Elixir Over $300.  
Free 5ml Travel Therapy with Purchase of Istanbul, San Miguel or Positano Perfume
Monday only

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques
25% Off Full-Size Items (Use Code: disc25)
Friday to Monday    
*I'm totally eyeing these new Pressed Eyeshadow Duos*

LUVU Beauty
30% Off (Use code: THANKS)
Friday through Monday

Marie Veronique Organics
20% Off (Use Code: CYBERMONDAY)
Monday only

Nature of Beauty
20% Off (Use Code: CYBER20)
Monday only

Naturisimo
10% Off + Always Free Shipping (Use Code: HAPPY)
Now through Sunday

Nourish Organic
50% Off + Free Shipping Over $50 (Use Code: GREEN50)
Now through Friday
25% Off (Use Code: CYBER25)
Monday only

Nyl Skincare
20% Off + Free Gifts with Purchase (Use Code: HOLIDAY20)
Now through Monday

Organic Beauty Talk
25% Off + Free US Shipping
Now through Friday

Osmia Organics
15% Off + Free US Shipping Over $75
Monday only

Pai Skincare
Free Kukui Brightening Set with $90 Purchase (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAYONE)
Free Kukui Brightening Set + Free Rosehip Nourishing Set with $180 Purchase (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAYTWO)
Now through Monday

Pangea Organics
Buy 1, Get 1 Free + Free Shipping over $100
Now through Monday

Priti NYC
50% Off (Use Code: BLACKOUT)
Friday only

Saffron Rouge
20% Off Suki, Dr. Hauschka, Living Nature, The Body Deli, and W3ll People
Now through Monday

Silk Naturals
7% Off (Use Code: snowflake7)
Now through Saturday

Spirit Beauty Lounge
$15 Off Orders Over $150, $40 Off $250+, $70 Off $350+ (Use Code: THANKYOU13)
Now through Monday

Splurge Skincare
15% Off (Use Code: THANKFUL)
Monday only

Tropical Traditions
$10 Off (Use Code: 111328)
Now through Sunday

True Natural/Lavera/Benecos
20% Off Orders Under $100, 25% Off Orders Over $100 (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Friday through Monday

Truth in Aging
20% Off Orders Over $75 (Use Code: THANKS20)
25% Off Orders Over $250 (Use Code: GIVING25)
30% Off Orders Over $500 (Use Code: SAVINGS30)
Free Mystery Bag with Purchase over $150
Now through Monday

Vapour Organic Beauty
30% Off (Use Code: blackfriday13)
Now through Monday
*You really can't go wrong here, but I especially love the concealer and glosses!*

Vitacost
$5 Off Orders Over $55 (Use Code:5BUCKS)
$10 Off Orders Over $75 (Use Code: 10BUCKS)
$15 Off Orders Over $100 (Use Code: 15BUCKS)
Now through Monday

W3ll People
20% Off (Use Code: cyber13)
Monday only

Weleda
25% Off + Free US Shipping Over $50 (Use Code: FRIDAY)
Friday and Saturday

White Rabbit Beauty
All Makeup on Sale (discounts already marked) + Free US Shipping on Makeup Only Orders
Now through Dec. 31
*White Rabbit Beauty is always my Zuzu Luxe connection!  Lots of other great brands too*



Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links.  You don't pay more by buying through them, but it does helps support Naturalla Beauty.