The Vine Vera Reviews website has a whole page devoted to Resveratrol which is an ingredient in every product they carry. Luckily I am a blogger, and for the benefit of my readers I contacted Vine Vera to try their Resveratrol products. Went to see a skin care specialist recently. Just wanted to do a double check on the health of my skin. You gotta do those every so often just to make sure everything is going ok, ya know? Well I was thrilled to hear these words come out of the esthetician’s mouth: ”Your skin is looking pretty good.” What lovely words to hear! I have been religiously using my Vine Vera products and ensuring I take great care of my skin on a daily basis. I am trying to make sure I drink TONS of water, eating healthy, not picking at my skin, washing my face morning and night – you know all the good skin care stuff. And let me tell you guys it is paying offffff! My skin is looking better than ever… brighter, more even. I am so excited with the results so far. I cannot wait until I can go completely makeup free! I’ll keep you guys updated on further progress!

Hello again guys! I just wanted to let you guys know about a different product line of Vine Vera‘s which I tried. Well, not me personally… I have really been enjoying these Vine Vera products so I got my guy the men’s collection to try out. It comes with 3 things: After Shave Balm, Renewal Mask and Renewal Serum. My man likes to keep things looking on point – shaves every other day, haircuts every week, takes his stuff to the dry cleaners- so I knew he’d enjoy some manly skin care products. Of course, he would never buy them for himself cuz obviously he is too macho to venture beyond the drugstore into a skin care store (hehe) so I had to buy it for him as a gift. Glad I did cuz he seems to be loving it so far. I am loving it also. I swear it actually makes his face so much softer. Ladies, don’t you hate to be kissed by a prickly face? You know, when your dude has a 5 o’clock shadow and is trying to actually be affectionate and your like nooooooooo… HAHA! Don’t get me wrong, getting the affection is awesome but having a scratched up face afterward is no fun! So I have come to the conclusion that this stuff has helped his face and beard/goatee/whatever to be softer. And that is definitely a win! Also, like the rest of Vine Vera products, the men’s line includes Resveratrol and anti-aging benefits. Hopefully, not only will he stay soft but he’ll keep his baby face Am I being a little cheesy? Sorry guys! But seriously the more I experience Vine Vera, the more I love their stuff. the products are pretty great.

Every several months or so there is a new and supposedly amazing cosmetic company that sweeps the beauty industry. This time I came across Vine Vera Skin Care. Lately ingredients related to anti-aging in skin care have been all the rage and Vine Vera is no exception to this. They use Resveratrol, a compound found in the skin of grapes, in all of their products. Some call it a rip off others say it’s a miracle skin care ingredient, which is it? In cosmetics, as with many other industries, all a company needs to do is employ an excellent marketing team and the world starts to believe they can pop a pill or apply a product to solve all their issues. Companies spend tons of money on their marketing department.  Listen guys, you cannot always believe the hype.

Just opened up the Resveratrol Merlot Collection received from Vine Vera

So let’s talk about this newest world-is-ending-because-its-so-awesome ingredient; Resveratrol. I have read and seen information about this ingredient on the net, in newspapers, on TV… its everywhere! I have heard such outrageous claims as it making you look 30 years younger. Or that taking it as a pill will turn back the clock on aging in the body by 30 years. Seriously? Please show me this person that has become 30 years younger. Well, scientists have done studies on flies and this compound was proven to extend their life cycle by 30 minutes which is equivalent to 30 years in a human… Does anyone else find this preposterous? A story about Resveratrol aired on 60 Minutes and next thing you know, here comes the onslaught of companies with Resveratrol products; pills, creams, potions, and more. Vine Vera claims to be bringing the fountain of youth to its customers. The products are sold at a price point that would make most people assume they are effective (aka pricey), but is Vine Vera a scam ??

Resveratrol Age Defying Eye Serum and Facial Serum

The Vine Vera website has a whole page devoted to Resveratrol which is an ingredient in every product they carry. Luckily I am a blogger, and for the benefit of my readers I contacted Vine Vera to try their Resveratrol products. Surprisingly, they didn’t try to shove whatever product they wanted down my throat. They were very aggressive but everything they told me ended up being helpful. They asked about my skin, explaining that for the best results they need to send me products that will be tailored to fit my skin type. I was game and played along. After a little bit of chatting about my skin I was told that I do not need to use the strongest products because I am still young. I don’t really have any wrinkles yet, just the beginning traces of some laugh lines. We agreed that something focusing on brightening and moisturizing would be best to deal with my leftover acne marks and uneven skin tone. They recommended the Merlot Collection for me – I was told it is the most widely ranging collection and perfect for starting a new Vine Vera beauty regiment.

The full Resveratrol Merlot Collection – it is quite extensive.

About a week later I received my shipment of the Merlot Collection. It was beautifully packaged and included the following products: Resveratrol Merlot Moisture Day Cream, Resveratrol Merlot Nourishing Night Cream, Resveratrol Merlot Facial Serum, Resveratrol Merlot Refining Peal, and last but not least, a cleansing kit with a Milk Cleanser and Radiance Toner. After this huge rant of an article I must tell you something shocking: this stuff seems to be actually working! I have been using it for over a month now and I see a difference in my skin. I have had to change up my makeup, I switched from heavy foundation to a lighter BB Cream and I’m thinking about switching yet again to a tinted moisturizer. For a girl who puts on a full face of makeup everyday this is exciting and serious stuff. I can’t say how effective the anti-aging portion would be on someone more mature, because as I said, I don’t really have any wrinkles yet. But the things that improved, which were implied when I talked to the company about which collection I should try, were delivered. My skin looks smooth and much more even.

The gold specks in the Resveratrol Refining Peeling shimmer beautifully.

Even though I will still treat new beauty products with a heavy dose of skepticism and I still can’t tell you that Resveratrol is a miracle drug, I definitely feel that Vine Vera has fulfilled its promise. I would love to what their products can do for someone that is more mature or has more serious skin issues. Maybe Resveratrol cannot actually make you many years younger but it seems that at least one company has been able to harness its power to make you look better. I’m still not sure about the 30 years part, for myself I will go with 5 years, maybe.

Trying out the Eye Serum from the Merlot Collection

07/05/2014 UPDATE

So it has been a couple months now that I have been using the Merlot Collection and I’m back to give you all an update. I haven’t run out of any of the products yet. Seems like they will last a long time. You don’t need to use a lot so that’s helpful. Though I think I might run out of the cleanser and toner soon because I use those twice a day and do not skimp. I really like this set, especially as a starter, because it includes all the basics that you need. I think this set would be really perfect for people who are young or those that have not really been paying much attention to skin care products before. It is a good introductory set of high end skin care. As I said in my review before I am happy with the improvements this collection made to my skin. All that being said, I think I would like to try some products which are aimed at targeting some specific issues with my skin. I did already lighten up my makeup routine because I felt like my skin was looking better and more even. My ultimate goal is to get myself to a place where I would not feel the need to wear makeup on a daily basis. I still have some pigmentation in different areas of my skin from acne and that is something I would like to focus on. But I am still very happy with collection, I just think I would like to work in some products specifically for pigmentation or dark spots. Regarding the anti-aging aspect: they say that the best things for anti-aging are taking preventative steps. I hope that by following a skin care routine religiously I will avoid a little bit, or at least lessen, the problems that most people associate with signs of aging – wrinkles, fine lines, saggy skin… I am getting close to 30 and see a lot of my girlfriends in their early to mid 30s starting to get Botox injections and things like that. While I am not against that I really hope that I won’t need that until much later. Not only do I try to do things more naturally, but I also am not thrilled with the thought of needles… If you must take my blood for medical reasons, fine, but why would I willingly let people poke me with needles? So, as you can tell, I will try to avoid needles as much as possible. Plus I wanna look like a real person when I am older. I mean, lets be honest, I want to look good and not look “old” when I am older but I don’t want to look fake and not be able to move my face! So I am betting on Vine Vera to help me out with that. Maybe in 20 years I’ll be back to update this post again, to let you guys know how that went. That will be the true test for Vine Vera! Haha.

I just want to let everyone know that any comments you write do not get posted immediately – they are moderated by the site admin before they show up. I’ve seen several comments from people worried or frustrated that their comments seem like they’re not showing up so I checked on this for you. The reason for the moderation/wait time is to combat spam. Apparently the amount of spam that gets into the comments is huge so Beauty Frizz admins go through each of the comments to make sure there isn’t a huge spam build up. I hope that clears up some confusion!

Hello Everyone – it seems that some people wanted more information about Vine Vera. I have seen several questions from you guys asking about things like where to get it or where to learn more information about the products. So I want to help you all out!

www.vineverareviews.com – this site as the name suggests has  vine vera reviews about the products. It also talks about the vine vera review products and collections in more details. You can go to each one and see what people have to say aobut it. They also have a pretty interesting blog which has good tips on skin care.

www.vineveracosmetics.com – this site focuses more on the ingredients Vine Vera uses in its products. The blog portions is very informational. They put up posts about different cosmetic ingredients and offer lots of different information on there. Its pretty cool.

www.vinevera.com – main site. If you want to purchase products this is where you go!

If you have any other questions you can as always post them in the comments below. I also got Vine Vera’s customer service number in case you guys wanna call them direct: 877-554-1777


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Hello everyone! A couple of weeks ago, I came across a brand called Truffoire. Since we’re always on the lookout for new products to review, I jumped at the chance of being able to review and declassify the mysteries of Truffoire, a brand that uses truffles – yes those yummy truffles – in its product formulation. I am personally very excited to do this, I never knew truffles could become so yummy for something other than my stomach! But before I dive into the world of Truffoire, I think it is fair to try and examine why they use truffles as their signature ingredient.

Truffles are mostly found in Western Europe, and the ones found in France are among the most coveted ones. What makes these prized ingredients so coveted is that they are extremely scarce, need to be specially extracted and are also among the most delicious things that you shall ever eat. But why skin care? I mean if something is so scarce, leave it be right? Well, turns out that truffles also have unique skin care benefits to offer. Certain studies have highlighted the potent anti-aging benefits of this ingredient, and this has automatically made it the center of attraction in the skin care world.

Now that we’ve put the truffle issue aside, let’s examine the products shall we? Before I start off with my product review, let me tell you that I have been using these products for two weeks now. So it might take some time before you start seeing similar results.

The first thing that I did when I got my hands on the White Truffle Collection was to try out the facial peeling. Truffoire says that the facial peeling has been designed to offer “a powerful facial cleanse that gently diminishes the appearance of built up dry skin”. If you’ve used deep peels, you’ll be well aware about the importance of choosing the right product. Get this wrong and you could end up with irritated or damaged skin. I think the White Truffle Facial Peeling is just perfect. It exfoliated a lot of dead skin, without being tough on the skin, and left my skin feeling flawless and beautiful. I do have a regular exfoliation routine, but I haven’t seen such a finish with any other deep peel.

Round 1 Results
Truffoire – 1, Critics – 0

The next product I added into my skin care routine was the White Truffle Eye Cream. The facial peeling was reserved for weekly use, but this eye cream wanted me to use it daily. The brand says that the cream “replenishes the way your eye area looks and works to diminish the appearance of puffy eyes” and I don’t think they could sum it up better. The product is buttery smooth and absolutely lightweight. It disappears immediately and doesn’t leave behind a greasy feel. After a couple of weeks with the eye cream, I can actually see a dramatic difference in my eye area. The dark circles have completely disappeared and the puffy eyes don’t look so uptight and puffy anymore. I am very impressed with this product. Just look at the picture. The product is sooooo smooth. The scent is very unique as well. It reminds me of truffles and I would say that it is a unisex scent.

Round 2 Results
Truffoire – 2, Critics – 0

I would have wished to review more Truffoire products, I promise to come back with some from their Black Truffle Collection later. Alas, my Truffoire journey must end with the White Truffle Day Moisturizer for now. After the kind of results that the first two products had to offer, I had very high hopes for the day moisturizer. After all, with ingredients like truffles and vitamins A, C and E, it really does set the bar high. The moment I opened the jar and took out some of the product on my fingers, I realized that this was a priceless jewel. The product is very lightweight, non-greasy and hydrating. It gave my skin a beautifully hydrated look, and I haven’t seen such results for a very long time. The smell is somewhat neutral and it isn’t too strong to make you feel uncomfortable. It offered a nice viscosity and great consistency. It also gives the right amount of moisture and soaks right into the skin. I think that the Truffoire day moisturizer is perfect for people with dry skin or for the summer months.

Round 3 Results
Truffoire – 3, Critics – 0

After using all three products for a couple of weeks, I began to notice a major change in my skin tone. It became more alive and looked brighter (if this makes any sense) and I would also think that it looks more flushed than before. Of course, in a good way. I haven’t seen any major effects on my wrinkles, but I feel that two weeks is still too early to see anti-aging benefits.

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Have you heard about stem cells? Before I came across the Introstem brand, I was vaguely familiar with it. I always knew that it was supposed to mimic other cells in the body and could be used to help treat all sorts of diseases. But other than that, I wasn’t too familiar for exactly what it could offer for my skin.

After getting introduced to the Introstem line, I realized that stem cells actually had a number of skin care benefits to offer. Since these cells act like chameleons in the body, they can mimic other cells. This property became particularly useful in skin care because it allowed stem cells to help the skin look younger, better and flawless.

The Stem Cell Activation Serum is one product that really interested me. The product box offers in-depth instructions on how to use the product. And I realized the hard way that a little bit is enough for your entire face. The serum has been formulated for regular use and it needs to be used as a part of the morning skin care regimen. I began using this product a few days ago, but the results are already quite evident. In fact, you should start seeing subtle differences from the very first application.

Better yet, the brand cares about your face and also about your eyes. So many skin care brands don’t have special products for the eye area, and I think that’s really sad. And it’s a bit crazy, considering the fact that the signs of aging usually appear around the eyes. So I was delighted to see the Stem Cell Defining Eye Serum and the Stem Cell Dark Circle Eye Cream. One for anti-aging and the other for removing dark circles. Now that’s perfection. I think adding both products into my regular skin care regimen should have me covered in the eye department.

Before I end this article, I have to say that the stuff already seems to be working. Despite using both products for less than a week, I can already see a major difference in my skin. My biggest issue was that I applied makeup on a day-to-day basis, and often forgot to wash it off at night. This meant that my skin had suffered from a lot of damage over the years and had gained an aged appearance. I cannot comment on the long term anti-aging benefits as yet, but the initial signs seem extremely promising. And as for other issues, the company actually delivered on its promises. My skin has begun to look smoother and so much more even.

I don’t know about you guys, but I will certainly want to spend my hard earned $$$ on brands that work, even if it costs me a dollar or two more, rather than wasting money on drug store brands which simply seem to compound the issue. Have any of you guys used Introstem products? If so, I welcome you to share your experience using the comments below.

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Every now and then our skin needs a bit of a pick-me-up to help it reach its most radiant potential. Changing up your skin routine, introducing new products, or even swapping out some of your tried and true faves for something new can all help give your skin the little kick it needs to really make it shine. I think it’s particularly important to try new products as the seasons change—what might work in the summer might not be great in the winter—and so I’m always looking for new products around the changing of the seasons. With a name like Queen B Vitamin C Serum, I thought this new product from Venofye might just be the perfect new serum for me this summer, and was pretty surprised by the results.

As you can tell by the name, this serum boasts some pretty impressive Vitamin C power, having two forms of the vitamin (Tetrahexyldecyl Abscorbate and Abscorbyl Palmitate) included in the formula. It also includes Bee Venom, an ingredient that I was very intrigued about. Compared to most high-end skin care products, this serum has a fairly short list of ingredients, and it’s thankfully paraben-free. It’s formulated to make your skin soft and radiant, and the package claims it’s supposed to intensify the results of the rest of the Queen Bee collection. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get my hands on any of the other face products from that collection, but even using it on its own, I was impressed by this serum.

First off, this serum smells absolutely delicious. I normally don’t really like any fragrance in my face products, but the scent is so light and is just perfect. The serum itself has a bit of a pearly quality as soon as you pump it out, so it’s no surprise that it goes on smooth and brightens the skin. There is a slight oiliness to it, but it goes on so smoothly and absorbs so nicely that I didn’t even notice this until about my fifth day of using it, when my hands just happened to be very dry when applying (it softened my hands beautifully). Instead of leaving greasy residue though, as most oily moisturizers would, the serum simply left my skin feeling silky. Honestly, I didn’t realize how awesome this serum is until I put it on my dry hands—I’m not at all suggesting you should ditch this as a face serum to use it as a hand cream (though if you happen to pump out a little extra, I’m sure your hands will thank you), but I’m thinking that this means it would be an absolutely wonderful serum to use in the winter. When the harsh cold is trying its best to turn your skin into scales, I think this serum would be the best thing you could do for your face.

The combination of a bathroom with better lighting and me paying more attention after this dry-hands incident made me notice that when you first apply the serum to your skin, you do see the oily properties, giving it a slight wet appearance, but once you rub it in, the wetness disappears and leaves just a slight shimmer. If I didn’t know better it would almost appear as if there were just the tiniest flecks of diamonds in the formulation, giving off a beautiful luminous sheen. As far as backing up its claims, I think this serum really nails it—my skin does feel softer, and I can’t imagine my skin looking more radiant than after application. I’ve been using it for just over a week now, and I can’t say there have been any major differences in my skin overall, aside from some added softness and brightness, but it makes me wonder about how awesome this serum would be with the rest of the line—particularly the Queen Bee Day Moisturizer that it recommends. Though I’m not too blown away for now, I’m excited to put this product aside for the next few months and bring it out again as my secret skin weapon for the winter, and I’m definitely going to try to get my hands on some of the other products from this collection!

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I’ve been using Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant for a few years now, and it’s probably my favorite skin care product that I own. From the very first time I used it, I was absolutely hooked!

Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant is a heavy duty skin hydrator. It can help to soothe sunburns and discomfort from shaving or waxing, and the key mix of petroleum, salicylic acid and Vitamin E gives you instant relief. It’s an essential not only for your skin care collection but also your medicine cabinet!

This product is also apparently an essential in many makeup artists’ kits. Not only can it help to totally smooth and rehydrate skin, it’s good for a lot of quick fix beauty tricks! From helping your eyelids and cheekbones shimmer and shine, to helping your eyebrows keep their shape like an eyebrow gel, or keeping your cuticles and nail bed healthy, this product is really a jack-of-all-trades.

In the winter, I put it on my lips every night before bed to keep them hydrated and to avoid those terrible chapped lips that I’m prone to. It’s perfect for dry elbows and other annoying dry patches that regular lotions can never seem to help. It works miracles on cuts and scrapes; it soothes them immediately, and if you put some on at night, the scrape will be practically healed by morning. Anytime someone comes to my house with a bandaid on, I make them put some Eight Hour Cream on it and they’re always amazed at the results.

The formula is very thick and you don’t need to use much at a time, which means one bottle lasts a good while! It doesn’t get absorbed fully into the skin—there’s a little stickiness on the surface—so it’s something you should really only use when you’re going to be home for a while. This might be a dealbreaker for some people, as it can get kind of annoying feeling that residue, but once you see the results you’ll forget all about that slight inconvenience! Another slight con for Eight Hour Cream is the scent, it’s not the worst, but it smells slightly more like an ointment than a beauty product. Once again, the amazing results totally outweigh that slight problem.

Even if you can’t think of a specific use for this product at the moment, I would recommend picking it up anyways. I’m so in love with this that I’m confident a day will come where everyone will need this in their home. It’s not too pricey, coming in at around $21 for 1.7 oz, and it’s totally worth every cent!

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Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of the Celestolite Jade Spectra Collection. The products were very hydrating and felt luxurious on my skin, and had a pleasant aroma that was not too heavy or too light. The elegant packaging of each product was truly breathtaking and immediately drew me into the experience of the collection before I even used the product.

The first product from this collection that I used was the Jade Spectra Night Capsules. The outer packaging was beautiful: a jade-hued container with silver and white accents. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and was surprised to find shimmering golden oval-shaped capsules. When opened, the product can be squeezed out. Much to my surprise, it was a gel that sparkled with beautiful gold flecks! I did not think that the entirety of the capsule was enough to cover my whole face, but it was more than enough. The gel blended beautifully into my skin and left it feeling fresh and soft with light scent of crisp green tea. I have to say that I was very impressed with this serum, and it ended up being my favorite product of the collection.

The next products I tried were the Jade Spectra Bead Serum and Bead Cream. Both were packaged beautifully in bright jade green containers with silver accents. These two products contained beads, which put me off at first. However, once I tried them, I was enraptured. The serum was light and airy with a clean scent with a hint of green tea. As I blended the serum into my skin, the beads within burst for a cooling effect that felt wonderful. The cream was also light and very hydrating with the same bursting effect in the beads. After applying both, my skin felt absolutely amazing and much of the redness I experience in my cheeks was gone. My soft skin lasted all day, even after makeup application and removal.

The final product from this collection was the Jade Spectra Mask. Like its sisters, the packaging was absolutely beautiful, with a bright jade green container accented by white and silver. The product itself was very delicate and more like a lotion than a mask and was lightly scented with a delicate green tea aroma. Rather than sitting on the skin like many heavy hydrating masks do, this mask soaked into my skin for a deep hydrating effect. It washed off easily, leaving my skin feel soft and smooth and not the least bit dry.

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It is distinctly possible that the Bare Escentuals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 has a permanent place in my makeup bag! My favorite shade is the Soft Linen. I have also tried the shade called Divine Wine but it’s a little too intense for me.

During the week, I use this as a fantastic eyeshadow base and on the weekends I use this by itself. Not only does it help my eyeshadow last absolutely all day, but it also helps even out the uneven tone of my ey[proelids and helps brighten the entire area.

The Soft Linen shade is a lighter shade of neutral and blends nicely into my skin. I do not use it for color, just to even out my skin tone, and prime for eyeshadow if I plan to wear any that day. It does have a beautiful matte finish but you could easily add a shimmer product on top.

The Divine Wine shade was a beautiful color but was just too dark for what I normally wear. For a pale-face like myself, it is a drama shade. If I could figure out how, it might make a terrific eyeliner but it seems that that would almost be a waste of the product.

The product is in a lip gloss type of container with a padded wand as an applicator. I prefer to dab the tip of the applicator with my finger and then pat the product onto my skin. I think if I applied it directly, it would go on too thickly.

It comes in a variety of shades, from light to dark, depending on your preference. I am tempted to try the Blushing Pink shade just because it looks so pretty in the swatch!

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The Ole Henriksen Power Peel facial trio set is hard to beat! It is a three-step at-home facial peel that combines both a physical exfoliation scrub and a chemical exfoliation peel. It’s a handy all-in-one kit really. The three steps are as follows:

• Almond Polish – This grainy exfoliator scrub is applied on cleansed skin, and helps remove the surface level flaky skin cells and prepares the skin for the peeling step.
• Lemon Strip – The peel portion of the facial regime; it relies on glycolic acid, lactic acid, and other fruit acids to smooth and refine the skin. This one you only leave on for two to three minutes before moving to the next step. I’m not sure I would try leaving it on any longer but everyone’s skin is different in its tolerance.
• Chamomile Comfort – Applied directly over the peel gel and then rinsed after about fifteen minutes, it helps soothe and calm the skin after the exfoliating steps.

My skin tends to be delicate and I’ve had no problems using this peel routine. The Lemon Strip step certainly doe tingle, as they predict, but I do not have any irritation afterwards. I would not use this more than once a week simply because it is a more intensive treatment. After I have finished, I tend to use an intensive moisturizer to nourish and protect my newly revealed complexion.

I like that the products come in little packets so that I know how much to use per step and per facial. I don’t have to worry about running out of one faster than the other. That irritates me with some products that are designed to be used together, but one always seems to finish before the other!

And always apply your sunscreen, especially after taking off that dry flaky skin!

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Philosophy’s The Microdelivery Daily Exfoliating Wash is one of my favorite physical scrubs ever. And believe me; I’ve tried a lot of them!

I think it is gentle enough for daily use, although I do not exfoliate on a daily basis. I usually use it every other day or so, when it is in my shower. You can definitely feel the diatomaceous earth granules when you wash but I do not feel that it is too harsh. My skin always feels super-smooth and soft afterwards. One of the best features is that it rinses clean. I have tried several other scrub products that always seem to leave some sort of film behind which in my mind defeats the purpose of exfoliating. It just leaves my skin comfortable and ready for moisturizer.

The product lathers slightly with water, but I would not use it strictly as a regular cleanser. I prefer cleansers that remove makeup including eye makeup, and we do not really want to exfoliate the eye area too much. That skin is already thin and delicate enough without using exfoliation products such as a scrub or a peel.

I feel that after using this, my treatments and serums and moisturizers seem to absorb that much better which just reiterates the importance of good exfoliation. It does give my skin a slight glow or radiance but has never irritated my skin or left it reddened.

Overall, this scrub is part of the Microdelivery collection which includes several other peel products as well. If you are looking for something a little more potent, do take a look at the Microdelivery In-Home Vitamin C Peptide Peel. It is an excellent weekly two-step booster peel that leaves your skin unbelievably soft and smooth.

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Another one of my go-to goodies is the Josie Maran Argan Balm. I have yet to find something it can’t moisturize!

I have used it under my eyes especially during the dry wintertime. I have rubbed it in and around my lips when that area gets dry and uncomfortable. It makes a terrific overnight treatment for my hands and cuticles and nails. I have even dabbed it on flaky spots on my face. All of these little treats improve my skin almost on contact, leaving it soft and smooth and velvety. I am sure it could work wonders on my poor dry feet, but I tend to hoard this magnificent moisturizer and do not want to use it all up on my feet!

It does come in several different scents, which are nice and light. Because of the natural ingredients in all of Josie Maran’s products, you do not have to be afraid of the scent unless you just prefer unscented products. Personally, I do not mind the scented versions, and find the lavender citrus particularly lovely. Then again, I love almost anything lavender scented!

I always have a tin in my medicine cabinet, and even one in my travel bag. I love multi-purpose products, especially for travel, and this is a favorite.

If you are unfamiliar with the Josie Maran line, do check it out. It is an argan oil based line of skincare, body care, and color cosmetics that bills itself as “luxury with a conscience”. The different collections are also offered through QVC and Sephora, as well as direct. All of these retailers offer certain specials and sets that are a great way to break into the line. Besides the Argan Balm, I would also highly recommend the Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil which is a little more creamy than the balm.

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The Green Beauty Cosmetics Sandalwood Face Mask is one of the products from an independent creator that I originally found on Etsy. I love the fact that I can pronounce all of the ingredients in the list for this product!

It is a dry powder mask that you mix with water, apply to the face, and rinse after about five minutes. As you rinse it off, it is recommended that you massage your face in small circles to get the most out of the exfoliating properties of the powder. If you have drier skin, you can also mix this with rosewater or a face oil before applying. I do like that since I mix the mask myself, I can easily control the texture and the level of exfoliation based on the ratios of my mixing. That makes it very easy to customize the mask to what my skin needs at that moment.

It does feel almost cool against the skin but that is normal because of the sandalwood powder. The honey powder is one of the excellent ingredients because of its healing and soothing properties.

This is not a treatment that I would use daily, although apparently the results are fantastic if you use it nightly for a week. I just use it as a periodic booster for my skin, and usually follow with a generous application of face oil to protect, nourish, and moisturize my glowing skin. I wake up almost radiant if I use this in the evening.

It leaves my skin surprisingly soft and smooth for as gentle as the product feels. I have never experienced redness or irritation with any of the Green Beauty products. Do be aware that the gram powder, or chickpea flour, could be an allergen if you are allergic to peanuts.

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If you are looking for a brand that supports you as a natural beauty both inside and out, perhaps you have been looking for Angel Face Botanicals.  These amazing products can also be found at Spa Goddess at Etsy.  The entire cruelty-free line is developed with ingredients that not only beautify our outside skin, but also aim to heal from the inside with positive energy and aromatherapy techniques.

One of my favorite products is the Shea Butter Balm, available in Bohemian Spice (with notes of citrus and cinnamon), Rose Garden, and Lavender.  Two of my most favorite scents in the world are Rose and Lavender, so I love to alternate those two depending on my mood.  Lavender is widely regarded as calming and soothing while Rose is purported to support emotional balance.  Both are excellent topically for skin health as well.

The Lavender Oil-Free Clarifying Serum makes a surprisingly good makeup primer.  It contains hyaluronic acid for moisturizing the skin and green tea to help balance oil production.  I find that it absorbs almost immediately and leaves your skin ultra-smooth.  You would need a tinted moisturizer or foundation with SPF to protect your skin.

On my wish list to try is the Strawberry Rose Vitamin C Serum.  With Strawberry Seed Oil and Rose Otto, the scent sounds heavenly and Vitamin C is known to help smooth out uneven skin tone.  I’m also very interested in the Honey Crystal Vitamin C Exfoliating Mask.  Microdermabrasion crystals help buff away dry skin while chamomile and helichrysum are known for calming and soothing the skin.

They also have body care as well as gifts and sets.  I have enjoyed the products I have tried and I am looking forward to exploring this organic skincare line further!

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The argan oil-based Josie Maran Cosmetics (also on QVC) seems to grow daily, in both followers and products.  In addition to skincare, they also offer hand and body products, hair care, and color cosmetics.  The brand itself focuses on what they refer to as “luxury with a conscience” which means to the best of their ability they try to use and advocate fair trade behaviors, sustainable ingredients, and environmentally friendly packages.  I have not had the opportunity to try all of their goodies, but here are three of my favorites:

• Argan Balm and Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil – I love love love both of these. There is not a section of skin that hasn’t benefited from them since I’ve owned it.  I believe I’m on my third tin of the balm now.  Most of the time I use the balm under my eyes and on my lips, and the creamy oil on my cuticles.  Both are particularly good to travel with because of the many uses!
• Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter – This is ahhh-mazing in the wintertime for my dry skin. I find it a little heavy for all-over use in these humid Texas springs but I keep it around as a treat for my hands when they need a boost.

I have yet to try their color cosmetics but I am looking forward to getting my hands on the Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation and the Argan Color Stick.  The powder looks great even for dry skin and the color stick works on cheeks and lips!

Granted, two of the items I didn’t like were the Argan Cleansing Oil (it stung my eyes and did not rinse cleanly) or the Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 (too greasy).  But that is all a matter of preference!

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Paula’s Choice (also available at other retailers like QVC and Nordstrom) is a brand committed to and focused on customer education above all else. Paula Begoun initially began with her Cosmetics Cop books, offering advice and product reviews, and her reputation grew from there.

While I do not own any of her books, I use her website as a review source for products I’m interested in trying. I do take the reviews with a large grain of salt since she sells an entire self-branded skincare line. One thing I do like about the brand is that you can purchase samples of almost any product, usually for around $1.00.

A few of the products I like include:

• One of my favorite products from the line is the Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser. Unfortunately, their website states that it will be discontinued this summer. I found it a lovely milky cleanser that removes makeup well. It foams lightly and rinses clean. I’m disappointed to learn that I will need to find a new one. Then again, I do enjoy trying new products!
• Another favorite of mine is the Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA. It is a deep exfoliating liquid that you apply like a toner. The morning after I use it (once a week), I’m always impressed with the way my skin looks and feels. It appears softer and smoother than it did when I went to bed.
• The cornerstone of their recommended skincare lines are the AHA and BHA Exfoliants. I have used the Skin Perfecting Two% BHA Lotion Exfoliant, and it really did seem to keep my skin clear and smooth.
• They used to have a very nice lip exfoliator cream but I can’t seem to find it anywhere on the site now.

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Lisa Brown Sami Lee/ flickr.com

Rodan + Fields was created by Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields who are world-famous for their primary creation, Proactive® Solution. The Rodan and Fields brand was originally founded as a department store brand, however, the majority of the products now are sold by Independent Consultants. Because their sales primarily come through the consultants, word of mouth is extremely important to the sales people and to the company itself.

This is not an inexpensive brand, but comparatively to the products that I have purchased and did not like, it could end up being a bargain in the long run!

I haven’t had the chance to try the line personally, however apparently the Three-Step Mini Facial is their consultants’ biggest sales pitch. This little sample set includes one packet of the Enhancements Micro-Dermabrasion Paste, one ampoule dose of the Redefine Night Renewing Serum, and one ampoule dose of the Redefine Lip Renewing Serum along with instructions. All of the products seem to have excellent reviews.

The line itself consists of four primary collections, Redefine, Reverse, Unblemish, and Soothe. There are also enhancements and additions that you can add to your regimen including massage tools and mineral makeup. The brand is more science-based than my normal skincare products but as time takes a toll on my skin, I have started thinking that science might offer me a better solution.

As I stated, this is not a cost-efficient brand unless you consider the fact that if it works for you, it would save money in the long run. Plus, they are consultant-based so that would be a great way to get a good deal plus make money on the side! I do wish there was an option on their website to find a consultant in my area.

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Perfectly Posh is an independent consultant based company that focuses on natural ingredients without fillers.  They even have a wide selection of vegan options if you prefer!  Likewise, they are proud of the fact that their products are made in the U.S.A.  It is a relatively new brand, founded in 2011, but it growing fast.  The products are focused on fun and pampering.  Most of us do not have a free day to spend at the spa, but almost all of us can find a few minutes each day to renew ourselves mentally and physically.

I had the opportunity to try this brand at a Women’s Expo through one of their consultants, and I couldn’t leave without two of the goodies!  I ended up purchasing a mint lip scrub and the vanilla and orange scented Healer Skin Stick which is a lotion balm stick.  One of the reasons I love the lip scrub is that once you have massaged the product over your lips to remove the flaky skin, you can simply brush or lick off the sugar crystals and you are left with a nice moisturizing balm.  The balm stick is terrific to carry with me because I can use it to moisturize almost anything, from my cuticles to my lips to my flyaway hairs.

My next order will probably include the Daily Grind Snarky Bar which is an exfoliating soap bar and the Whole Lava Love Volcanic Ash Face Exfoliator just because I love all things scrubby.  I will probably also end up with the PJs All Day Skindelicious Body Butter as well because I love the scent of lavender in almost anything.

The products do seem to change on a regular basis so if you find a favorite, make sure to stock up.

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By Eduardo P, via Wikimedia Commons

L’Occitane is a Provence-based brand that’s available through their website and stores as well as other retailers like Sephora and Nordstrom. In addition to being known for their skincare and body care products, they also pride themselves on sustaining the communities which provide these ingredients. One of the best ways to explore the L’Occitane brand is by collection.

• The Almond includes a beautiful shower oil as well as hand and body creams. It is one of the more popular scents.
• Their Verbena set is also very popular, probably due to the citrusy fresh fragrance. The shampoo and conditioner are surprisingly universal for almost all hair types.
• I am a huge fan of almost anything Lavender including theirs. Anything you pick from this line has that unmistakable fragrance of a fresh lavender field in the middle of the Provence countryside.
• I’m not too familiar with their Immortelle anti-aging skincare line, but based on the body products I have used, it would be deeply nourishing and luxurious to use.
• Their defining collections are the Shea Butter products. If you have heard of this brand, you probably heard of it through the shea butter. The shea butter soaps are wonderful as a hand soap. Two of my favorite products from the entire brand are the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Shower Cream (a delicious moisturizing shower wash) and the Pure Shea Butter which has more uses than I have discovered. I love carrying a little tin of this everywhere because you can use it everywhere. I mostly use it as a cuticle cream and a lip balm, but the only limit to the use of this little gift is your imagination.

They almost always have lovely discovery sets and free gifts when you are ready to experience this brand for yourself.

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Mike Mozart/ Flickr.com

No doubt we have all heard of the Bare Minerals powder foundations, available in Original, Matte, and the pressed Ready compact. The loose mineral powders are what started it all. On Sephora alone, there are nearly 19,000 reviews of the product with a total ranking of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Given the number of foundation products available on Sephora, that is pretty dang impressive!

But did you know that BareMinerals also offers other formulas as well? The Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream is similar to a tinted moisturizer while the BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation is closer to a traditional liquid foundation. Both of them include sun protection as well.

I have had a chance to try almost all of these different formulas, and most definitely have a preference. While thousands of people swear by the loose powders, I find them to be messy and do not provide consistent or even coverage for my skin. In addition, it is distinctly possible that my skin had a negative reaction to the powder however I am not willing to test the theory. I do like the liquid versions though. The Gel Cream was a little too greasy for my preference, but the Serum Foundation gives lovely coverage with a smooth finish.

They have also recently launched a new skincare line, but I have yet to try it.

Overall they are a fun brand with many options to choose from, from their almost 20 shades of loose powder foundation to the brightly colored Pop of Passion™ Lip Oil-Balm. They also have terrific starter kits if you are interested in checking out the brand.

While I do enjoy the liquid formulas that I try, I do not find this to be a brand that I return to frequently.

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I first discovered the Glory Boon brand through Etsy (the Glory Boon shop) and am quickly becoming a big fan! I have been trying to slowly eliminate chemicals from my diet as well as my personal products and Etsy has been a huge part of that for the personal product aspect. One thing I love about shopping on Etsy is that if you have a question and you contact the seller, chances are very high that you’ll receive your answer straight from the person that makes the products!

Glory Boon is a cruelty-free, small-batch company that prides themselves in producing natural skin care and cosmetics that are as good for you as they are beautiful.

The skincare collection includes cleansers, toners, scrubs, a cream, lip balms, and lip scrubs. They also have a set of fragrance oils, but I have not tried those yet.

The cosmetics are a far more extensive product selection. From foundation and concealer to eye and lip and cheek colors, you can create nearly an entire face from the brand! The Heal & Conceal cover-up stick is listed as a self-adjusting concealer and I find that it does blend decently well into my fair skin. The Dusty Rose Lip Gloss is the most amazing nude pink color. They do call it a stain, but I have not seen any staining properties on my lips. They recently released a Liquid Lipstick and I cannot wait to try the Bella color in this product! They even have highlight and contour sticks but that really is not my cup of tea. The cream blushes look beautiful but a little bright for my preferences.

Overall, I would highly recommend you take a look at this beautiful brand and take care of your beautiful skin with beautiful products!

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The tagline for Philosophy (also available on QVC) is “makeup optional skin” and I love this concept! They are not telling you to wear a ton of makeup and they are not telling you to wear none at all. They are boosting your skin’s health and appearance so that makeup becomes optional as fun instead of covering blemishes and signs of aging. What a wonderful idea to promote! I have not tried any of their more advanced anti-aging products, however, the basics are quite good.

• Their inaugural product is actually one of my favorite cleansers ever, Purity Made Simple, is terrific because the lightweight milky formula easily cleanses and removes makeup in one gentle step.
• The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash is a surprisingly effective yet gentle daily scrub. My skin cannot tolerate any scrub on a daily basis, so when I have this in my shower, I use it about every other day.
• The Microdelivery Peel, on the other hand, is a much more in-depth resurfacing treatment. This one is definitely not for daily use, but on a bi-weekly basis, it does leave my skin super-soft and smooth, and ready to absorb all of my treatment products.
• Last but not least, I love the original Hope in a Jar. It is a lightweight creamy lotion that absorbs immediately into the skin.
• Not directly skincare related, but I absolutely love the Amazing Grace and Pure Grace fragrance collections. I am not skilled at describing scents, however, I do notice that when I wear either of these I get “unique compliments”. People tell me that I smell good, not that they like my perfume.
• I wanted to try the Hope in a Jar A to Z Cream, their version of a BB cream, but it appears to have been discontinued.

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