Pangea Organics Review

I've been saving this review for such a long time but I'm so happy that I'm finally able to share my thoughts on this clean, natural and organic skincare brand.

Pangea uses natural (of course!), organic, and raw ingredients. Their products are always handcrafted, organic, cruelty-free and fair-trade whenever possible. So what makes using organic ingredients important? Organic ingredients contain 30% more antioxidants than those who don't. This means good news for our skin! These values are what intrigued me to try Pangea Organic products.

Canadian Pine with White Sage Body Wash:
I mentioned this product in my monthly favorites because it really did surprise me as to how much I love this product...especially the smell. I'm usually not one for uni-sex smells. I typically like sweet floral scents so I didn't think that this body wash would be for me. However, as soon as I used this in the shower I immediately felt a therapeutic calming effect. This not only smells fantastic, but this body wash has a natural foam (hallelujah!) which makes it perfect for shaving. If you've been using natural products for a while, you'll know that a natural foam in a body wash is hard to come by. At least it has been for me! 1 bottle (8 Fl oz) should last you approx. 90 washes.

Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Mask:
I'll admit, the name sold me on this mask. It contains everything that I like and is full of antioxidants. This mask is perfect to give your skin a refreshed glow. I love using this right after a clarifying mask to calm down my skin and add radiance to my skin tone! I've mentioned this before on other blogs, but if I feel like this would work perfectly with the Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub. Both of these products have a delicious deep green color. Hopefully in the near future I can test these two products out together and write a review! As much as I love this mask, the only downside for me is that I feel like I need to use a lot more product than I'm used to in order to get a good coverage.

Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Beam & Cranberry Facial Scrub: 
Although I only received a sample of this product, I was able to try it a few times. I was happy that a little went a long way. It was gentle enough on my sensitive skin but still effective enough to help get rid of blackheads. Again, the names of these products always incise me! Cranberry and geranium oil provide a brightening effect. This is something as I look for as I have acne scarring, I find that natural skin brighteners help fade those scars.

Turkish Rose & White Tea Eye Cream: 
My skin loves anything with rose in it! This is a nice basic eye cream that can be used daily and nightly. It will work for those with signs of aging as well as those who want to prevent wrinkles. I found that this eye cream added hydration but also helped reduced dark under eye circles and puffiness. So far I have enjoyed using this product but am hoping to get a full size soon to better understand the product!

Have you tried Pangea products before? What are your thoughts? Next on my list is to try their Balancing Oil. I want to see how it stands up next to the Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil!

Natural Konjac Sponges Review & Giveaway!

Konjac sponges have been all the rage lately, and for good reason! So what are they? Konjac sponges are made from Konjac which is native to Asia and has been used primarily as a food source due to its high nutrition content.

Konjac sponges are extremely gentle and are beneficial to all skin types including sensitive skins. They are 100% natural, biodegradable and contain natural antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin. The benefits of using Konjac sponges is that they deeply cleanse while balancing pH levels of the skin. They gently exfoliate the skin that will enhance an even skin-tone but will also leave your skin feeling smoother.

I've tried Konjac sponges in the past and have loved them. So I was more than thrilled when the Natural Konjac Sponge Company contacted me! At only $10.50 per cleansing sponge, I think that these are a great tool that should be included in everyone skincare routine. Soon I'm going to be trying their body sponges.

The two Konjac sponges that are included in this giveaway are ones that I've tried in the past and have loved!

Green Tea Konjac Facial Cleansing Puff: 
Handmade in Japan this sponge will benefit all skin types as green tea contains natural antioxidants and anti-bacterial agents that suppress acne-causing bacteria. Green tea will also help to reduce redness and swelling caused by acne.

Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Facial Cleansing Puff:
This sponge is best suited for those with oily or problematic skin. The sponge infused with charcoal effectively draws out dirt, oil, and other impurities that can cause blemishes.

This giveaway is open internationally, enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May Empties

Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloths: 
Kaia Naturals remains to be my favorite cleansing cloths. I've tried other cloths since this, and I always feel like I need to wash my face after. I love that these are ultra-soft and are soaked in hone! You can read my full review on this product here.

Red Flower Ocean Moisturizing Body Lotion: 
I received this deluxe size sample in the Saffron Rouge Inner Circle Box for April. I loved its unique scent and has left me wanting to try more Red Flower products.

Intelligent Nutrients Leave-In Conditioner:
I loved this leave-in conditioner. The travel size lasted me month and was my go-to product when my hair was unmanageable.

The All Natural Face Fix-It:
I've had this product since last summer. I used it as an all over face mist or I used it to help my eyeliner from TANF last longer. I would just spray this onto my brush and it worked perfectly for helping the gel liner last longer. 

Stila Perfecting Concealer:
Okay guys, this is a really old product as you can probably tell. Although I won't be repurchasing it because of its ingredients it lasted me such a long time (and I use a lot of concealer) and blended perfectly.

Farmhouse Fresh Splendid Dirt Mud Mask:
Although not a true natural product. This mask was amazing! It smelt like pumpkin pie and was the perfect detoxifying mask.

Geisha Ink Loose Mineral Foundation: 
I loved this foundation for the longest time. It was the one the converted me to mineral foundation. But now I have a new love...Lily Lolo Loose Mineral Foundation!

Would you like to try any of these products? There are a few that I will definitely be repurchasing!

May Favorites

May has been an excellent for month for me for discovering and trying out new products. I've never done a favorites post before, but these are so good they are worth the mention!

Pangea Shower Gel - Canadian Pine with White Sage:
I received this as a PR sample and before smelling this, I wasn't too interested in this particular scent. However, I was so surprised when I lathered this up in the shower. The essential oils in this wash smell so therapeutic and calming. I look forward to using this each time I go in the shower because it feels like I am at at a spa. I'll be doing a full review on Pangea products within a few weeks!

Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil:
Ages ago I watched a video on youtube as to how Dr. Hauschka cured this woman's cystic acne. The normalizing day oil was her 'miracle product'. Ever since then, I've been wanting to try this product. I was very lucky and ended up finding a whole bunch of Dr. Hauschka products at Winners (aka Marshalls), this being one of them. This product is a must have for summer as it helps regulate oiliness. I'll soon be doing a full review on all of the Dr. Hauschka products that I bought!

INIKA Creme Eyeshadow Champagne:
I received this in the Saffron Rouge Inner Circle box for April. I've been using this every day since! It has become a staple in my everyday makeup routine as it is the perfect base for eyeshadow and is the perfect highlighter for under the brows.

Kris D'Amour Soothing Body Treatment Butter: 
I had heard so many good things about Kris D'Amour products that when they were having a sale, I couldn't help but purchase something! This body butter is so thick and luxurious, I'm using it everyday. The best part is that it smells like panettone! Stay tuned for a full review on Kris D'Amour products as I received some good sized samples with my order.

Routine Cream Blackberry Betty: 
This is a local product (made in the city closest to me!). I was immediately drawn to this deodorant because it smells like berry cake! It's made with fantastic ingredients and actually works! For me, it works as well as Schmidt's deodorant!

What are your favorites this month? 

Lavina Skincare: Barbary Fig Seed Oil & Organic Argan Hair Oil Review

                                                                                                                                                            

Lavina Skincare is a Toronto based company whose firm believe is that “Health is Beauty”. They offer customer’s non-toxic, natural, & organic products.  They kindly contacted me and sent me two products for review, their Barbary Fig Seed Oil and 100% Pure & Organic Argan Hair Oil.

100% Pure and Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil:

This is the first that I had ever heard about Barbary fig seed oil. It contains more Vitamin E than any other oil in the market and actually contains 150% more vitamin E than Argan oil! This oil is best suited for hormonal skin types and is able to fights wrinkles, diminish under the eye dark circles, reduces rosacea, soothes sunburns, and calms inflammation. I've been typically using this product for my under-eye circles and it’s been so hydrating and it really does reduce the appearance of dark circles. I’ll admit, since I started using this oil I've forgotten to put on under-eye concealer numerous times because I simply just didn't need it! I love that this oil comes on a roller as I find that it doesn't waste as much product and is easy for application, especially for under the eyes.

 

Ingredients: 100% Pure, Cold Pressed and Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil. Contains no parabens, no preservatives, no fragrances, and is not tested on animals.

100% Pure and Organic Argan Hair Oil: Ah Argan Oil, the miracle oil that we've all come to love due to its benefits on our skin and hair. I’ll admit, I've tried Argan oils in the past for my hair and always felt that the consistency wasn't right. It was usually much too heavy. However, Lavina’s Argan Oil reminds of the Josie Maran Argan Oil that I love. It has a beautiful consistency that is hydrating and nourishing on my hair without being too heavy.

Have you tried Barbary Fig Seed Oil Before? 

Eczema Friendly Soaps: Featuring The Rocky Mountain Soap Company & Osmia Organics

As some of you may know, I have extremely sensitive skin. I not only suffer from mild acne but I also suffer from eczema, something that I've had to deal with since I was a little kid. Usually taking showers is the worst when you're having an eczema outbreak. The hot water can irritate eczema and even make it worse. Also, not using the right soap can affect this condition. Here are some natural soaps that I've been using recently that don't irritate my eczema:

Rocky Mountain Soap Company Pumpkin Soap: The Rocky Mountain Soap Company has been around (where I live) for as long as I can remember. Well before I was interested in natural products. They are located in my hometown and other cities close to the Rocky Mountains. Their Pumpkin Soap uses pumpkin pulp to sooth the skin and wheat germ to gently exfoliate the skin (not too harsh for my sensitive skin!). This soap also contains sweet almond oil for deep moisturizing.  I love having this soap handy not only because it's soothing to my eczema but because it gently exfoliates.

Osmia Organics Oh So Soap: I was thrilled when Osmia kindly sent me some goodies for review, the Oh So Soap being one of them! Osmia is well known for their excellent craftsmanship in soap making. This soap is made with olive oil and mango butter for a deliciously creamy, soothing soap. It is excellent for people with eczema, psoriasis, or even for babies. This is probably the most gentle, moisturizing soap that I have tried. I use this on days when I do not want an exfoliation on my skin. I received a good sized sample from Osmia but once I'm out I was definitely be purchasing the full bar! Seriously though, does Osmia ever disappoint?!

Do you have sensitive skin? Do you suffer from eczema or any other skin conditions?

May Wishlist

This months wishlist is all about pure luxury. With spring in full bloom and summer just around the corner, I picked a handful of products that have rave reviews, beautiful ingredients, and promising results.

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion $39: Pronounced "Pretty Potion" this miracle cream was created by a celebrity makeup artist to conceal minor imperfections such as cellulite, stretch marks and varicose veins. It is no surprise that this miracle cream uses all natural ingredients! This really does seem like the perfect product for summer!

Laurel Facial Serum Sun Damage Repair $72: Laurel (formerly Sequoia Beauty) recently got a makeover, one which I love! Their new packaging catches my eye every time and I can only think of "luxury" when I see it. With summer just around the corner, Laurel's Sun Damage Repair Serum seems like a must have!

YULI Pure Treatment Mask $65: YULI is one of those brands that everyone seems to love. While I am a YULI virgin, I am determined to try some of their products soon. Even those outside of the green beauty niche tell me that YULI products saved their skin! This detoxifying mask seems perfect for my acne-prone skin.

Lina Hanson Global Face Serum $85: The Lina Hanson Global Face Serum seems like one of those products that we need in our skincare routine. It is a staple that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduces inflammation and skin irritation, and improves your overall complexion. The essential oils used in this serum help to elevate mood, relieve anxiety, and promote a sense of positive well being. This sounds like a perfect way to start every day! 

Inika Certified Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation $52: After receiving my first Inika product in the April Saffron Rouge Inner Circle Box, I fell in love. Their cream eyeshadow has now become a staple in my everyday makeup routine. I am so impressed with the overall quality of their products, I can't wait to try more! 

Kari Gran Lip Whip Tinted $15: I've been seeing this brand everywhere lately and I've been hearing great things about their lip whip. This is a beautiful everyday lip balm that can be worn alone or paired with a lipstick. The color of these lip tints look absolutely beautiful! 

Kahina Eye Cream $65: Kahina is another one of those brands that just looks like pure luxury! I haven't been fortunate enough to try their products yet, but what a better way to start than to use their delicious eye cream. It boosts collagen production while decreasing puffiness and dark circles!

What is on your wishlist this month?