Tag Archives: paraben free

MyChelle Deep Repair Cream

I purchased the MyChelle All Skin Types Sampler Kit and have been working my way thru it’s offerings. I recently over did it a bit with the retinol and had some flaky skin on my chin. Some say the flaking is a good thing but I don’t like it – I think the skin should be fresh and dewey often and that dry, flaky patches are not a goal. Some types of skin need the flakes to get results quickly, but I think everyone will get results from retinoids with regular, measured applications. However, I have sensitive skin and sometimes retinol can make the skin flake (especially if the same skin has a new scrub tested on it the morning after retinol is applied…).
I tried the Deep Repair Cream from my little kit to see if it would help and I used it every night until it was gone – I love it so much I’m probably going to go buy some at Rainbow now that I’ve used the last smidgen, even tho I’ve plenty of other moisturizers to use at night.

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Zia Men DualAction Face Lotion

Last month I told you about this product and mentioned that we got it along with the DualAction Face Lotion.
I said I was going to continue the test of this cleanser by switching his lotion to see if that helps, and sure enough, he’s no longer breaking out now that he’s stopped using this product. Makes me a little sad because I like a few other Zia products.

Here’s how he used it:
– With his face still wet from washing, he’d apply just a smidgen all over his face.

The upsides:
– It’s ingredients are relatively natural.
– It smells good – essential oils of sandalwood and ylang ylang, and a few others make a lovely scent that’s gender neutral.
– It’s very light – when applied, it soaks in quickly and well.

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Zia Fresh Cleansing Gel

I’ve been on a cleanser hunt lately. A couple of years ago, I found one I really love but when I recently inquired about it’s many months of absence from the shelf at Rainbow Grocery, I learned that they may be reformulating – sigh – so it may not be my favorite after it’s return.
Nevertheless, I continue on in my joyful hunt for the ever elusive perfect cleanser. Since I recently decided to try more Zia products, I figured I’d give their Fresh Cleansing Gel a shot.

Here’s how I use it:
Dry method: without wetting my face, I apply about a nickle sized amount to my face and massage in, adding bits of water as it dries. I continue to add water and massage until I’ve essentially rinsed it off. This method leaves my oily, makeup covered face (and eyes!) super clean and smelling great without feeling tight or dry.
Wet method: I wet my face and massage about a dime sized amount into my not so oily or makeup covered face (and eyes!) and rinse. This works well when I’m in a rush or it’s morning and I don’t need a super deep clean.

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Weleda Skin Food

I first heard about Weleda when I was in college. I hurt a muscle somehow and my European friend gave me the last of her Weleda Arnica tincture to apply to it and it totally worked.
[I hunted for it on the website but the medical part is really deep and I don’t remember exactly which one I had.]

Since then, I’ve noticed Weleda products here and there – when babysitting, the baby products; when hanging out with my hippy friends, the strange salt toothpaste (that I’m fascinated by but can’t bring myself to pay $7 for); on my seemingly eternal hunt for curl taming hair products, the Rosemary Hair Oil (review of that coming later).

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Zia Men HydraClean Face Wash

My boyfriend has really great skin and doesn’t usually need any of my help. Sometimes, however, he feels dry or wants something to wash his face with that isn’t as intense as whatever I’m using at the time. We were at Rainbow Grocery and I thought that this Zia product HydraClean Face Wash, for men, would work out for him. And it did for a little while.

Here’s how he uses it:
– Only in the shower and not for shaving. Just a quick wash with his hands.

The upsides:
– It’s got a lot of natural ingredients.

The Company

– It’s made by a San Francisco company that was started by one woman in her kitchen (power to the people! power to the women! power to local products!).

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Humphreys Non-Drying Cleansing Gel

I like to spend time in the product section at Rainbow Grocery just looking at the options. I’ve noticed Humphreys Non-Drying Cleansing Gel a few times and finally decided to try it. They make a witch hazel toner which I haven’t tried but I like witch hazel toner so I figured I’d give it a shot.

Here’s how I use it:
– 1/2 a pump lathered up a bit and massaged into the skin in the shower.

The upsides:
– I like the bottle – it’s blue (tho plastic, which I try to avoid buying new), it’s got a pump (which I love because then you can regulate your dosage), there’s a picture of a lady by a stream on the front. Not very valid upsides, I realize, but that’s why I chose to actually *buy* this cleanser in the first place (when I was trying to decide between several similarly formulated, similarly priced cleansers).

The not-so-upsides:
– The scent really bothers me and I’m not sure why except that it reminds me of a laundromat from my childhood.
– It doesn’t work well enough for me in terms of getting my skin clean. I thought that since it was a gel made for sensitive skin, rather than a cream, it would foam up and get my skin

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Origins Underwear for Lids Primer

Having recently re-discovered Origins products, I came across their eyeshadow primer called Underwear for Lids – The smoothing lid primer (not to be confused with Underwear for Lids – Delicate color for eyes)

Here’s how I used it:
– I walked into Macys with no makeup on and went to the Origins counter.
– There was no customer service rep there (10am on a weekday) so I found the Underwear for Lids and spent a bit of time trying to figure out which was the color and which was the primer.
– I found the primer, wiped it down well with a tissue (the same technique would have been used by the customer service rep, had s/he been there) and applied it to my lower lids.
– The first layer was a little thin so I added more to get the coverage I wanted – it was fun to use the lipstick-like stick

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Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk

In trying to fill out my reviews of Juice Beauty products (because I love their concept, their organic-ness & that they are made locally), I will embark on testing one of their cleansers.
I was recently given some samples of their Cleansing Milk and I tried it out once but don’t love it enough to try again.

Here’s how I use it:
– Get face wet, but not too wet.
– Apply one pump all over face & rinse.
– Repeat.

The upsides:
JUICE!
– I love that the base for all of Juice Beauty’s products is juice.

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Origins Ginger Souffle

org_028X01_short_lrg When my favorite perfume was discontinued, I started hunting around for a new one. I got many different testers of new perfumes from Sephora that didn’t work for me. Then I remembered that Ginger Perfume from Origins that, about 5 years ago, I’d put on my list of perfumes to try. This isn’t a review of that because I find perfumes to be rather personal and as hormones & lifestyle change, so does one’s preference in perfume; at least, that’s how it’s been for me. I always recommend getting testers and wearing it for a few days

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The Bodyshop Monoi Miracle Oil

bodyshop_monoi_miracle_oilMy frizzy, curly hair has led me to try many different substances to tame the frizz and define the curl. I finally found one that consistently works for me: The Body Shop‘s Monoi Miracle Oil
Obviously, I spend a lot of time looking at products. I always like to check out The Body Shop because I’ve known them since I was just a kid back when they still scented the products for you with their bulk perfume oils.

(if you also miss that tradition, there’s always Body Time if you’re lucky enough to have one near you.)

For over 20 years (O.M.G.)(I started young…) I’ve watched The Body Shop grow and change and am excited about their Community Trade campaign, of which, this is part.

Here’s how I use it:
– When I wash my hair once or twice a week, I make sure to put a good sized pool of the oil in my palm – about the size of a nickel on my pixie cut – spread it over my hands and then

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