Om Aroma & Co. Truffle Face Cream (for Normal Skin) Review

 

 

 

 

 

Image from Om Aroma & Co's website

Ingredients: Organic Avena Sativa (Oats) Kernel Meal Infusion. Carrier Oils of Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil*, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil. Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil* (and) Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil* (and) Extracts ofTuber Magnatum (White Truffle), Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo) Leaf*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender)*, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root*, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit*, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower*, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf*, Foeniculum Vulgar (Fennel) Fruit*. Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*. Emulsifying Wax NF (veg). Vegetable Glycerin. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit*. Stearic Acid (fr. Soybean). Tocopherol (Vit. E). Fragrance (100% Essential Oil). Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (1% paraben-free/formaldehyde-free preservative).

Price: $27 for 2 oz

Performance:  I first tried Om Aroma & Co products about 4 years ago when I purchased a small trial/travel kit which included this face cream and I remembered loving the products and the way my skin looked, which prompted me to finally order a full size version years later. The product has a light scent which reminds me a bit of white tea and berries. It is a light formula that sinks in quick. It is perfect to use in the morning under makeup and at night. For extra hydration at night, I like to mix this with a serum before applying. What I love most about this cream is that I can always count on it to get my skin back in order after hormonal breakouts or a bad reaction to a new product.

Would I Repurchase: Yes! (considering I already have). However, the price of this product is not usually the amount I am willing to spend. I did buy this as part of a set including a cleanser and eye cream. It is definitely a luxury product for me!

Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel Review

Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Juice, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) and Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Juices, Saccharomyces Xylinum (Kombucha) Black Tea Ferment, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestsica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Polyphenols, Lippia Citriodora (Verbena) Extract, Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass) Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil

Price: $12.95 for 6 fl oz

Performance: This face wash smells amazing! I really love citrus scents and it is usually a convincing factor for me when choosing which products to buy. Plus, my skin responds really well to citrus like lemon and lime. This is the perfect cleanser to me because it smells great, foams well and removes all makeup. It also never stings the eyes. I don't ever feel like my skin needs to be cleansed twice with this, no matter how much makeup I am wearing. The product is a gel so it's not a really runny, watery texture which makes it easy to foam up when rubbing it in. It is a clarifying cleanser which does really well at controlling oil but I did not see a noticeable difference in breakouts during the few months I used this. If you live where the weather is cold, this cleanser can be slightly drying so make sure to follow up with a good serum/moisturizer.

Would I Repurchase? Absolutely!

Review: Natural Deodorant from Tom's of Maine, Lavanila, Le Couvent de Minimes, Meow Meow Tweet

 

Toms of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant in Wild Lavender
Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Stearate, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zinc Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Laurate, Natural Fragrance, Humulus Lupulus Extract (Hops), Organic Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (Sunflower), Ascorbic Acid, Organic Cymbopogon Rexuosus Oil
Price: $4.29
Performance: This is the first natural deodorant I tried and I did not do any research before I picked this up. I think someone casually recommended it to me once so when I saw it I just assumed it would be great. I was wrong with this one. I'm sure it will work for some people but this did not do any odor control at all for me. This is similar to basic deodorants but I did not like the consistency, it felt very sticky and tacky when applied. Definitely not long lasting. I did some research after trying and saw other formulas of deodorants that Tom's offers that had much better reviews.This is a company with a great reputation in the natural industry and I have really enjoyed other products from them, including their toothpaste.
Rating: 1 out of 10

Le Couvent de Minimes Everyday Deodorant with Alum Stone
Ingredients: Water, Potassium Alum, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Gluceth 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Madarin Orange) Oil, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol
Price: $13.50
Performance: This deodorant comes in glass packaging with a roll-on applicator. I really love the packaging and labels- I think that might have been a huge factor in why I purchased this. Plus, I read many positive reviews. I have been using this for months and I can't even say if it is effective or not. Some days it works great at combating odor and other days it seems to not work at all. The formula is a liquid that takes forever to dry. I figured out that I have the most luck with this product when I apply one layer and let it dry while I get ready and add another layer right before I leave (which is more effort than I want to put into my pits in the a.m.) This also has a very earthy kind of scent which I can't really pinpoint. From other reviews I read, people seem to really love the scent but I didn't care for it too much.
Rating: 5 out of 10

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant in Pure Vanilla
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice (Aloe juice, water/aqua), Propanediol (Corn derived), Zea mays (Corn) starch, Sodium stearate (Coconut derived), Silica, Carrageenan (Seaweed derived), Stearyl behenate (Coconut derived), Citrus medica limonum (Lemon peel oil), Inulin (Artichoke derived), Saccharomyces ferment, Alpha-Glucan oligosaccharide (Sugar derived), Yeast beta glucan, Lonicera caprifolium (Honeysuckle) flower extract, Usnea barbata (Lichen) extract, Valeriana officinalis root extract (Valerian), Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) extract, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) flower/leaf/stem extract, Lycium barbarum fruit extract (Goji berry), Botanical fragrance blend.
Price: $8 for .9 oz, $14 for 2 oz
Performance: I am so happy I finally bought this. I had seen it at Sephora for so long but could not justify the price. However, I am so happy with the performance of this! It blocks odor completely and lasts the entire day! It applies similar to traditional deodorants and does not take time to dry. I feel like it also works pretty well as an antiperspirant. I do sweat some while wearing this but not much. The scent does not smell like vanilla as I would've assumed but it is pleasant and fresh smelling. It tends to rub off on dark clothing so I recommend applying it after dressing.
Rating: 10 out of 10

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream in Lavender
Ingredients: maranta arudinacea (arrowroot) powder, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, kaolin clay, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, lavandula officinalis (lavender) essential oil OR melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil
Price: $14 for 2.4 oz, or 1 oz trial sizes for $8
Performance: This deodorant has a whipped, creamy texture which I like. It is easy to apply and blend and does not feel wet or sticky. It does a great job at keeping me odor free and dry. It definitely lasts all day and you don't need to apply that much. I would say I like this as much as the Primal Pit Paste regular formula deodorant as the performance is pretty much the same but I think I prefer the consistency of Meow Meow Tweet's.
Rating: 9 out of 10

Cheat Sheet of my ratings of natural deodorants I've tried: (from favorite to least favorite)

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant
Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream AND Primal Pit Paste Regular Deodorant

Primal Pit Paste Strong formula

Primal Pit Paste Stick formula

Le Couvent de Minimes Everyday Deodorant

Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant

If you haven't already read my post on Switching to Natural Deodorant and my Review of Primal Pit Paste, check them out! 

If there are any natural deodorants you've tried I'd love to hear in the comment section!

Review: Comparison of Primal Pit Paste Regular, Strong and Stick Natural Deodorants

Recently I have been testing out many natural deodorants from several brands. I have tried three version of Primal Pit Paste which I will compare for you. Primal Pit Paste deodorants are well known as being a great performer in the natural deodorant world. They have a wide variety of scents as well as formulas. If you are new to natural deodorants, read my previous blog post on Switching to Natural Deodorant for some tips to get started!

Primal Pit Paste Thyme & Lemongrass Deodorant (Regular formula)
Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Aluminum Free Baking Soda and Essential Oils

Price: $8.95 for a 2 oz. jar (Primal Pit Paste sells trial size jars for $3.95)

Performance: I love the lemon scent which is strong. I personally love a strong scented deodorant that I can smell throughout the day so I know if it has worn off or not. This deodorant comes in a glass jar that you apply with your fingers which takes a little more effort than stick deodorants. The paste is not wet feeling so you do not need to wait for it to dry before dressing. I also have not had a problem with it leaving any residue on clothes.  As long as I apply the right amount to the entire pit, this deodorant will last all day. The scent of thyme and lemongrass lasts all day as well. You will still sweat with this deodorant because it is not an antiperspirant. However, other natural deodorants I have tried do leave me feeling a bit less sweaty than this one does. I really do love this deodorant and I know I do not have to worry about reapplying throughout the day to combat smelliness.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Primal Pit Paste Lavender Deodorant (Strong Formula)

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Aluminum Free Baking Soda and Essential Oils (contains more baking soda than the original for those who needer stronger defense against BO)

Price: $8.95 for a 2 oz jar

Performance: The scent of this deodorant is nice but is not as strongly scented as the lemongrass one. I do not smell the lavender scent at the end of the day but it is still working. The extra baking soda is not recommended for people with sensitive skin because it can cause irritation. I do find this to be a little irritating when rubbing it on, especially if I have just recently shaved. The extra baking soda does also help with keeping you more dry. So i sweat a bit less than I would with the regular formula.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Primal Pit Paste Stick in Orange Creamsicle

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Beeswax, Aluminum Free Bakins Soda, Essential Oils

Price: $10.95 for a 2 oz stick

Performance: I was the most excited about the scent of this product because I love orange creamsicles! But sadly, this one seems barely scented which might be because of the formulation. I also thought that this version would be super convenient since it is in a traditional stick form but it does not easily glide on. You have to let is warm up from the body heat in order to spread it on. So i usually end up rubbing it in the same way I do for the other jar versions. I do not feel that this one is as strong and does not last as long. It may be because I can't tell if I've applied enough. But i find myself needing to reapply only a couple hours into the day. I do not think that for me this version is worth $2 extra dollars, and I plan on trying the Orange Creamsicle scent in the jar formula for sure!

Rating: 6 or 7 out of 10

Petit Vour December 2014 Box & First Impression

I just signed up for a subscription for the Petit Vour beauty box comprised of luxury vegan skincare & makeup products which are also natural and nontoxic. I purchased a 6-month subscription for $90 ($15 a month if you sign up monthly). Here is a look at what was in the box and my first impression of this subscription.

What's in the December Box:

Blissoma Skincare  Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex

Everyday Minerals Matte Blush

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream

Trust Fund Nail Lacquer


First impression of Petit Vour's Subscription Box:

I am very impressed with the size of the samples especially for the price of $15 a box. I subscribe to Goodebox as well (on a bi-monthly basis) which costs $18 and their samples are generally smaller.
I really like the variety offered as well seeing that there is one makeup product, one nailcare, one bodycare and one skincare product. It's a nice box to introduce you to vegan. I had never heard of Trust Fund or Blissoma before I received these items but I was pretty familiar with Meow Meow Tweet which is bases in Brooklyn, and had been thinking about purchasing the deodorant so I'm very excited to have gotten this item. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this month's box. There's not one product I wouldn't use. I'm really looking forward to the next box already!

Switching to Natural Deodorant: Why you should & what you need to know

You may think that natural deodorants are for extreme hippies only, or maybe you don't think about deodorant at all. Maybe you have just been using the same deodorant & antiperspirant everyday because that's what you have always used since your first gym day at school.

This post is meant to encourage you to think about the ingredients in your deodorant, what they do and discover the potential harm of the products you put on your pits daily.

What's the harm?
There are many potentially harmful or toxic ingredients in the average drugstore deodorant/antiperspirant. Aluminum is used to block sweat but has been shown in studies to be linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer. Aluminum compounds can also cause hormonal disruptions. My advice would be to look for an Aluminum-free deodorant but make sure to read the ingredient labels because there may still be other harmful ingredients in it's place. Check out my previous post Ingredients to Avoid in Skin and Body Care Products to educate yourself on some ingredients to look out for.

No Sweat, No Problem?
Actually, sweating is important for your body to perform many functions. Which means YOU SHOULD SWEAT. Sweating is a major way for your body to rid itself of toxins, regulate body temperature, and help your body rid itself of sickness. So if you have been using an antiperspirant your whole life, think about how much toxic build-up you may have. The most important thing to know about switching to natural deodorant is that you will sweat, and it does take some getting used to. There is a sort of pit detox you will go through as your body transitions to the use of the natural deodorants.

Suggestions & Tips
Here are a few suggestions & tips I have if you are thinking about making the switch to natural deodorant:

1. Give yourself time to adjust and really test out the product. Natural deodorants do not perform the same ways as the ones you are used to and you may want to give up on it right away if you are a little sweatier or smellier than usual. I suggest trying out a natural deodorant on the weekend to see how it works. Also, keep the deodorant in your bag or bring it with you to reapply throughout the day if needed. Some natural deodorants can work just as well as traditional deodorants but may wear off quicker. I like to keep trial/travel size deodorants in my purse just in case. You will need to experiment with how much to apply and how often.

2. Read reviews or ask friends for recommendations. If you are not familiar with natural brands that offer deodorants start by researching products and reading reviews. Or if you know someone who uses natural deodorant, ask them which ones they love or didn't love. ( I will be posting a review in the next week or two of several deodorants I've been testing out).

3. You are probably going to have to try out several natural deodorants to find one that works with your body. Even if a deodorant has good reviews, it does not necessarily mean that it's right for you. Start by buying trial sizes or purchase from stores who have a lenient return policy in case the product does not work for you.

4. Be open minded through the process of switching to natural deodorant. The ingredients, textures and scents are going to be different to what you are used to. For instance, some natural deodorants are in paste form in a jar which may be a bit weird but they do work! The scents are most likely to be more natural and subtle since they are essential oil scents as opposed to artificial fragrances.

5. Feel free to do some more research into toxic ingredients and natural deodorants. I have simplified the important facts and experiences I went through in my journey to switching to natural deodorants, but there is much more information to read!