Bubble & Bee Coffee Vanilla, Lemon Poppy, & Mint Tea Organic Soaps

Lemon Poppy, Coffee Vanilla, Mint Tea

I've got a thing for soap.  I will use shower gels, but I actually prefer a good bar soap.  I've been swimming in soap for the past few years, as I've got a family member that started making her own.  Occasionally though, I'll get tempted to buy soap even with my surplus, and Bubble & Bee is the most recent soap siren that got me.

Coffee Vanilla organic soap

I bought Bubble & Bee's Coffee Vanilla soap a while back just to round out an order.  When I got it, I was disappointed that it didn't smell like coffee or vanilla (maybe a bit like vanilla extract).  Despite my disappointment in the lack of fragrance, I then proceeded to fall in love with it.  It has such a creamy lather and I can see the little ground up vanilla beans in it.  So, when Bubble & Bee had a 30% off sale on their soaps, I bought another Coffee Vanilla, along with a Lemon Poppy and Mint Tea so that I could get the 3 pack deal.  There are actually 15 different soaps to chose from, including an unscented version.  

Lemon Poppy organic soap

The benefits listed for these soaps are:  100% natural, contains no water, contains absolutely no synthetic chemicals or estrogen mimickers, contains absolutely no synthetic detergents, completely free of synthetic fragrances and colors, lathers up really well, one bar lasts a long time, can be used in the shower or as a face and hand soap, vegan, no animal testing, gluten-free.

Mint Tea organic soap

The Lemon Poppy does indeed smell like a lemon poppyseed muffin and is supposed to be good for exfoliating.  I'm currently using Mint Tea, a refreshing combo of spearmint and peppermint that also contains french green and kaolin clay to draw out impurities.   The lather on this one is divine.  Of the Bubble & Bee soaps that I've used thus far, I do not find them drying, perhaps because they contain moisturizing vegetable glycerin. 

The soaps retail for $6 each at Bubble & Bee or you can purchase three for $15.  

Vanilla Coffee ingredients:  Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, vanilla bean fiber, organic vanilla extract, organic coffee extract, sorbitol (from sugar beets). 

Lemon Poppy ingredients:   Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol [extracted naturally from sugar beets], organic poppy seeds, organic lemon essential oil.

Mint Tea ingredients:  Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, french green clay, kaolin clay, organic spearmint essential oil, organic peppermint essential oil.

Disclosure:  I bought these. 

Immuno-Viva Renew Anti Aging Serum

I've been using a lot of topical oils lately.  I've got one to cleanse my face and another to condition my hair.  I've now found another oil based product that I've integrated into my night time skincare regimen, Immuno-Viva's Renew anti-aging serum.  It's composed of 4 different certified organic oils which are extracted via a patent pending cold press process, which helps to preserve the oil's powerful antioxidant properties.  I did some of my own research into the oils used and discovered that:

• Cranberry seed oil aids in the absorption and utilization of essential fatty acids in the skin, contributing to lipid barrier protection.  It also helps retain moisture in the skin.
• Red Raspberry seed oil, which is high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, is a superb antioxidant, has high levels of vitamin E, and is an anti-inflammatory.  
• Sunflower seed oil,  which is high in vitamins, A, C, D, and E, can be useful in treating acne, as it helps keep bacteria out of skin and moisture in.
• Black Cumin seed oil, which is a potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory,  has shown efficacy in treating auto-immune skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.  It contains over 100 different vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.   

The first thing that struck me about this serum is it's smell.  It's got some fruitiness, but it's also earthy.  I really like it, to the point that I keep sniffing my hands after putting it on.  I gave some to my mother to try, and she wasn't as crazy about the scent as I was, although she didn't think it was unpleasant.  She did like how quickly the oil absorbed and that it left her skin soft.  So, while the scent is a selling point with me, it may not be for everyone.

I'm happy that this is packaged in a brown bottle and has a dropper for application, which should help keep it both fresh and hygienic.  On the bottom of the bottle is a "best used by" date of 1/14, which gets another thumbs up from me.  It irritates me when organic or natural products are not clearly marked with an expiration date, as they do have a more limited shelf life than products containing preservatives. 

It may actually take me until the expiration date to use this up, as a little of this serum goes a long way!  I use 3 drops on my face, 3 drops on my neck, a drop on the back of each hand, and I do not feel like I'm skimping.  The serum absorbs into the skin fairly quickly with no greasy after feel or sheen.  I haven't experienced any irritation or more than normal breakouts during the 3 weeks I've been testing.  My skin feels soft and hydrated and I like using products whose ingredient lists I actually recognize and understand!  As for anti-aging abilities, that's hard to tell at this point, but I do plan on using this long term to give it every opportunity to perform in that area.  I've reached that age range, ya know.

Renew Anti-Aging Serum retails for $49.95 and is available online at Immuno-Viva.  Interestingly (to me, at least, as I used to rock climb), renowned climber Ed Viesturs took the serum and the Immuno-Viva botanical supplements with him to Antarctica to test.  He's the only climber in the world to summit all 14 of the world's highest mountains without using supplemental oxygen. He's a rock star in the climbing world, and don't tell anyone, but I may have a bit of a crush.

Ingredients: Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Organic Hellanus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract, Fragrance.

Disclosure:  I received a sample from PR for consideration.  All opinions are my own.

Eminence Garlic & Tomato Masque Review

 I've got a deep whitehead on my cheek that's been trying to work it's way up to the surface, and I've foolishly tried to speed up it's journey.  Foolish, because now I'm afraid it's going to get infected and/or leave a pit. After I realized my folly, I pulled out Eminence's Garlic & Tomato masque and applied pronto.  This is a masque made for oily, acne prone, and congested skin and one I turn to especially in warmer months, when my skin goes into overdrive.

This is what I consider to be an 'active' mask, in that I can feel it doing things to my skin.  It does have a distinct odor which some may find unpleasant, but I personally like it.  It contains odorless garlic which is an anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial that helps to get oxygen to the skin, sweet yellow clover which is a stimulant and anti-inflammatory, tomato puree and juice for anti-aging antioxidants, honey to moisturize and nourish, and St. John's wort as a anti-irritant to help sooth and calm skin.

You can actually see the tomato seeds in this one, as Eminence uses whole fruits and vegetables in their formulations.  All of Eminence's products are 100% certified organically grown and do not use commercial preservatives, which also means they have a more limited shelf life.  I keep this masque in my refrigerator when I'm not using it, as it's not one I use on a weekly basis, but more when I'm having a skin emergency.  I've had it for over a year and it's still good, but I'm guessing the usual shelf life is about 18 months.  I do wish they marked their products with expiration dates, my only complaint.

Using the enclosed applicator, I use about a quarter's worth mixed with a few drops of water.  Instructions say to leave on for 5-10 minutes, but I've left it on for up to 30 minute with no issues.  It dries down to a tight, matte texture and I use a warm, damp washcloth to help rinse off.   This masque can also be used as an overnight spot treatment, which I'll be doing on my cheek.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love Eminence Organics products.  They are quality - but you pay for it.  This masque retails for $48 and can be purchased at Amazon, dermstore, and other online retailers.  I got mine at a spa.

Ingredients:  Tomato Puree, Tomato Juice, Odorless Garlic Puree, Glycerin, Honey, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, St. John's Wort, Sweet Yellow Clover, Vitamin B, C, E, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Biotin, Benzoic Acid, Folic Acid, Sorbic Acid.

Disclosure:  I purchased this and have no affiliation with any of the companies mentioned.

Bubble and Bee Organic Lotion Stick in Chai Guy

Did you know that some lotions contain up to 80% water?  I didn't, until I came across these 100% organic lotion sticks from Bubble & Bee.  There are a couple of advantages to these lotions sticks, including that they are airline permitted, they don't wash away like water based lotions, and are compact enough to stick in a jacket pocket should you be out and about sans purse.  I keep mine next to my computer desk at home and use it on the tips of my fingers, which tend to dry out in the winter. 

The scent I decided to try is Chai Guy, which smells like a chai latte!  I bought the Coconut & Lime scent for my mother, and she liked it so much she said she'd use it as a perfume.  They also have an unscented version which I got for my scent averse aunt.  I could see this option also working well for guys who don't want to smell like the other available scents of raspberry, lavendar orange blossom, pomegranate, or sunflower.  Or for those with sensitive skin, as the unscented version contains only three ingredients:  organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa, organic beeswax.  Performance wise, they do soften my skin  yet are not greasy.  At $7.99 per tube, these are an economical and convenient option for chapped feet, hands, elbows, or wherever you might need them!