Demure Mineral Make-up

Photo Taken by Theresa Gonzales

YES! Ladies and Gents! I am finally getting on to reviewing Make-up! This is not a full or even a legitimate review because I'd like to advertise Demure's Mineral Make-up Holiday Sale that you CANNOT miss!!! Most of their products are now 50% off or more! 


Visit Demure Mineral Make-up Website! Make sure you are on the Holiday Page. You can tell when the price changes match the ones I have listed Below:

-$16.00 Blush Powder are now $8.00!
-$12.00 Eyeshadows are now $5.00 each
-$25.00 Foundation Powders  $10.00 each
 
(Regarding Picture: only 4 are Demure Brand Make up) 

 As soon as I get the $100 order I placed in I will go and do swatches of the BEAUTIFUL pigmented shadows and blushes! So excited :3

Nubian Heritage Bar Soaps

Product Review: Hello my Eco-Bloggers! I'm going to skip my excuses for not producing frequent posts (-__-). Much apologies, but I still have many future entries to compose!!! Anyway I want to advertise and review this product that I just found around the beginning of 2012 at the Bellingham Food Coop in Washington State, called Nubian Heritage. I first came across their Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Lotion and it smelled so, amazing I can't even--you just have to buy it or go to a hippie store and try it for yourself. It smells so deliciously subtle, not overbearing like most scents, it is just right! Well, I first purchased the Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Bar w/ Neem Oil Bar soap.  The soap is 5 oz. e 141 g ranging from $2.85 USD to $4.99 USD I have seen online and in stores. Anyway I was so delighted that the Bar of soap had small bits of I assumed bark? Whatever it was, it exfoliated my skin thoroughly without need of a loofa, however on some reviews, people have complained that the texture was too harsh, but I disagree. The soap is very creamy and nondrying, but the scents are what compels me to buy more and of course the natural/organic formula. I also love that this Brand always includes a FYI historical fact of the ingredients on the packaging. For instance, I will list descriptions of the two Nubian heritage Bar soaps I have in my bathroom.

Photo Taken by Theresa Gonzal

Mango Butter Soap Shea & Cocoa Butters with Honey & Cornmeal:
The indigenous people of the tropical rainforests have long used mango butter to moisturize, restore suppleness and protect the skin against environmental stressors. The seed of the mango fruit, first cultivated on the Indian subcontinent and in eastern Asia more than 4000 years ago, is revered for its moisturizing benefits. Mango butter is rich in Vitamin E, carotenoids and antioxidants which help promote healthy skin.
-Nubian Heritage's Mango Butter Soap is an all-natural, non-irrititating cleanser of pure vegetable butters, essential oils and organic herbs. Mango Butter naturally seals in moisture and provides environmental protection without clogging pores, while Cocoa and Shea Butters heal, reduce the degeneration of skin cells and improve the elasticity of damaged skin.
Ingredients: 100% Vegetable Soap, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Coconut Oil*, and/or Palm Oil, Theobroma (Cocoa) Butter*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Mineral Pigment or Vegetable Color, essential Oil Blend

Raw Shea Butter Soap with Soy Milk & Oils of Frankincense & Mrryh:
-Historical references to Shea Butter, a staple of African phmaracology, date back to the reported Shea Butter caravans of Cleopatra's Egypt. Frankincense, known for its toning and anti-aging properties also has aroma-therapeutic benefits promoting mental strength, clarity, and balance. Myrrh, as a superior cosmetic ingredient in ancient remedies, can be dated to a Ebers papyrus (circa 1580 B.C.) recipe for a facial mask.
-Our traditional Raw Shea Butter soap is rich in essential vitamins and nourishing ingredients, including Vitamin E, Soy Milk, and Cocoa Butter infused with a special essential oil blend of Frankincense, Myrrh, Cardamom, ginger, and Black Pepper, which add skin-healing properties and an aromatic experience.
Ingredients: 100% Vegetable Soap: Raw Butyrospermum Parkii (Chea Butter)*, theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) See Butter*, Coconut Oil* and/or Pal Oil, Soy Milk, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Extracts of Frankincense and Myrrh, Vegetable Glycerin, Essential Oil Blend, Mineral pigment or Vegetable Color

Courtesy of Africa Imports Website

Also on the Nubian Heritage Packaging is the story of how Nubian Heritage arose:
Nubian heritage is the brainchild of two New York street vendors. In 1992, fresh out of college and without jobs, Rich and Nyema embarked on a mission to produce luxurious natural products from traditional African recipes with Organic and Fair Trade ingredients. Today Nubian Heritage offers hundreds of culturally authentic natural products inspired by global ancient healing philosophies. Although Nubian Heritage products are no longer made in bath tubs, little else has changed; the company still makes its products itself, still uses fair trade and organic ingredients and still invests in community commerce.

Each bar of soap has slightly different ingredients depending on what was used in the soap. However, there are no synthetic ingredients, harsh chemicals, and no animal testing.The Nubian Heritage website is down right now because of construction,  so I can't list all the different types of soap other than what I have googled and used. You can purchase Nubian Heritage on many online stores like amazon, ebay, etc. Okay this may be an incomplete list on what is out there regarding current Nubian Heritage Soaps:
-Mango Butter Soap Shea & Cocoa Butters with Honey & Cornmeal *
-Raw Shea Butter Soap with Soy Milk Frankincense & Myrrh *
-African Black Soap with Oats, Aloe & Vitamin E
-Black Seed Soap with Apricot oil & Wild Honey
-Carrot and pomegranate Soap with Calendula Extract and Cranberries
-Goat's Milk and Chai Soap with Rose Extracts
-Indian  Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Bar w/ Neem Oil Bar Soap *
-Lemongrass and Tea Tree Soap with Orange Peel
-Coconuts & Papaya Bar Soap with Vanilla Bean
-Olive Butter Bar Soap with Avocado and Green tea leaves

* I have Used and Abused :)

Thank you for your interest enjoy this information and go buy Nubian Heritage some soap! They make excellent gifts. perfect to try out for the Holidays. Au revoir!

Argan Stem Cell + CGF Facial Mask

Courtesy of Acure Website accessed 11/2/2012

Product Review: Ladies and gents! I must, share with you this wonderful product! Acure's Argan Stell Cell Facial Mask with Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF)! This Facial Mask comes in a 1 oz glass jar and it costs $15.99 on Acure Organic's Website. I Love this product I use it 2-3 times a week before I go to bed, the next day the pores on my face look tighter and smaller and my skin tone looks even, it is an AMAZING product. Unlike most mud/clay masks that grips your face tight as it dries, this facial mask does not.  This facial mask has similar ingredients and a similar "green" smell like Acure's Brightening Facial Scrub (a previous review). So let us refresh again what are the benefits of Chlorella? On the Acure Organic's website it states, "Chlorella Growth Factor CGF" is clinically proven to protect collagen and elastin fibers from enzymes that destroy them..1 By protecting the collagen, CGF acts as a repellant to free radicals by protecting your skin from aging faster. Your skin will look and feel younger with prolong use of products that contain CGF. Also, what are the benefits of Active Stem Cells? "Active Stem cells contain all the beneficial markers that a specific plant carries. Being able to isolate and amplify these benefits up to 1000 times their natural bioavailability makes stem cell science so unique."2 On a previous post, listed the benefits of fruit and plant stem cells on a previous blog post covering Andalou Naturals Omega Glow Serum. Fruit and plants contain stem cells which provide a diverse benefits for the skin. So the"Active Stem cells"that are contained in Acure's Argan Stem Cell + CGF Facial Masks are very potent. Let us look at the benefits of Argan Fruit Stem Cells:

Argan Fruit Stem Cells
Argania Spinosa fruit stem cells, derived from the ancient Berber tree from Morocco, are designed to delay the depletion of dermal papilla stem cells, effectively revitalizing dormant root cells and accelerating the natural repair process to combat chronological aging of hair follicles.

Argan Stem Cells:

Photo Taken by Theresa Gonzales

• Penetrate follicular pathways
• Delay the depletion of vital stem cells
• Stimulate dormant root bulb cells
• Accelerate natural repair processes.3

Go forth and try this mask out! If you are uncertain of buying this right away always ask for a sample before buying when you find this mask at a wholefood store if it is allowed. Au revoir, my eco friends.

Product Ingredients: Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Rooibos, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Vera Leaf, French Green Clay, Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (from coconut + amino acids), Vegetable Cellulose Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (from coconut), Chlorophyll, Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa extract (Chlorella Growth Factor), Glucono Delta Lactone (sugar enzyme), Fair Trade Certified Organic theobroma cacoa (Cocoa) butter, Carageenan (algae), Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) seed oil, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), spinosa (Argan) Stem Cell, Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) oil, and Sage and Spearmint Essential Oil Blend.3

Yes to Carrots Lip Butter Melon with Shea Butter

Photo Taken by Theresa Gonzales

Product Review:
This has been my second buy from the Yes to Carrots Brand! I bought this .15 oz/4.25 g lip balm for $3.49 at Target. I LOVE MELON SCENTS (essential oils, perfume, candles), but to be honest, I should have known better about purchasing fruity/sugary Lip Balms because as time goes on, they become too sweet to bare. Now this is just how I think, everyone has such unique skin characteristics that not everyone reacts the same to similar products. So it is always great to test the waters on how products work for you specifically. When I first popped this baby open it did smell like melons, but as you use it, they tend to just smell sweet and become more grainy. This is not my go to type of lip balm, I do like the organic and natural ingredients. However, like I mentioned I am just not into fruity/sweet lip balms, if you are, then this is the lip balm for you! It kept my lips moisturized for around 2-3 hours before I needed another application. This lip balm has a very light texture. I had no experiences of skin irritation or oily feel. Enjoy :)

Product Ingredients: (Right on the Package) Cocos Nucifera Coconut Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Beeswax, Flavor, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract*, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis (Melon) Seed Extract*, Cucurbita Prepo (Pumpkin) Seed Extract*, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract*, Limonene, Linalool, Citral *Certified Organic Ingredient

Soothing Touch Vanilla Chai Lip Balm

Photo Taken By: Theresa Gonzales

Product Review:
The packaging says Soothing Touch in Vanilla Chia Lip Balm with Organic Cocoa and Shea Butters. This product is Vegan safe! So that is a plus for you Vegans.This is the first time I purchased a Lip Balm from this Brand and when I was perusing  around their website  I was very happy to see that they have other products as well. When I first popped open the cap and smelled this, it was so yummy that I went ahead and bought it despite it costing almost $5.00 at checkout! (I had a gift card at the time). Anyway, despite the wonderful, warming scent it had of vanilla and cocoa--maybe a hint of cloves too! Well, I found the texture on my lips to be a bit more grainy than I wanted and was used to. Usually I would moisturize my lips with a lip balm to enhance how my lips would look when applying lip stick, lip glosses, and the like. However, this lip balm did not sit well under other lip make-up products. So that is fine, I decided to use this balm more by itself. In the end sadly, it is not my go to lip balm and for the price it discourages me to buy it as a regular lip balm when I can only use it one way. Now I use it sparingly, only when I feel like smelling that vanilla/cocoa mixture. I think this would be perfect during the cold months when you'd could snuggle with your significant other, he or she would really love smelling your face when you are wearing this ;D. Ciao bella!

Product Ingredients:
High Oleic Expeller Pressed Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Oil, *High Oleic Expeller Pressed Sunflower Seed (Helianthusannuus) Oil, Castor (Ricinus communis) Oil, *Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Flower, *Olive (Olea europaea) Oil, *Grapeseed (Vitisviniferia) Oil, *Expeller Pressed Apricot Kernel (Prunus armeniaca) Oil, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), *Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Butter, *Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) Butter, Candelilla (Euphorbia cerifera) Wax, Soy Wax, Stevia (Eupatorium rebaudianum bertoni), Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Essential Oil, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) EssentialOil.Certified Organic Ingredient.1

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub

Photo Taken By:
Theresa Gonzales

Product Review:
Greetings Eco Fashionistas! I am sooo sorry I have gotten so bogged down with my new job. Well I want to talk to you about this amazing facial scrub I just stumbled upon at our local Organic Grocery that had samples of this. I fell in love instantly. On the packaging it says : Moroccan Argan Stem Cell + Chlorella Growth Factor Brightening Facial Scrub-all skin types-gentle exfoliating antioxidant scrub to stimulate new cell growth. (On a previous post, I have listed the benefits of using facial products with fruit/plant stem cells). You are probably wondering what are the benefits of Chlorella? On the Acure Organic's website it states, "Chlorella Growth Factor CGF" is clinically proven to protect collagen and elastin fibers from enzymes that destroy them.1 Acure's  Brightening Facial scrub not only remove impurities from your skin, but also slows the aging process on the elasticity of your facial skin, keeping your skin healthy and younger naturally.
True to their word, the exfoliants are from sea water and it feels very gentle on sensitive facial skin. The "green" smell is so refreshing with a hint of mint! As I rinsed it off my face, there were little suds. Afterwards my face felt fresh and clean, I HAD to buy this product. I have only used it twice this week with the sample. I bought the full bottle, 4 fl oz. for $11.99 on sale, normally this product goes for$14.99 in stores and on the Acure Organics website. I have bought an Acure Moisturizer, so I will do a review on that in the future. Have fun saving the Planet one little step at a time :).

Product Ingredients:
(Typing this right off the packaging) Organic Curoxidant Blen (Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus Fruitocsus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Fair Trade Certified Organic Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos), Organic Calendula officinalis (Calendula), Organic Matricaria reculita (Chamomile), Organic Aloe Barensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, French Green Clay, Organic Lemon Peel Granules, Saponified Organic Cocos nucifera (Coconut Oil), Cellulose Gum (Vegetable), Fair Trade Certified Organic Olea eropaea (Olive Oil), Organic Ascophyllum nodsum (Sea Kelp), Theobromo Caco (Cocoa) Powder, Organic Chlorela pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor), Chlorophyll, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Carageenan, Argania spinosa (Argan) Stem cells, Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Essential Oil Blend of Salvia officinalis (Sage) and Mentha spicata (spearmint).

Andalou Naturals: Omega Glow Serum

Photo Taken by Theresa Gonzales

Product Review:
Hello lovies! Sorry I have not been posting recently. Anyway I must say this is the very first time I have tried Andalou products. In my opinion I just think they have tasteful packaging. I bought the Andalou Naturals Omega Glow: Facial Concentrate in a 1.9 FL oz product around 5-6 months ago for under $20 (I know pretty pricy!). The serum is a moderately viscous clear fluid with a subtle sweet smell. You only need 1-2 full pumps to get enough of the product around your face and neck.  I have been using this in the AM and PM right before my moisturizer. Now, I've heard of people mixing their serums with their moisturizers, but serums are very concentrated and so I just like the thought that my skin drinks up all that good stuff before putting on the moisturizer so I don't "shock" my skin. I am prone to buying anti-aging stuff although I am in my early 20's, I know this angers alot of people that are older than me, but I just think that I should be trying to do preventative things now than waiting until symptoms actually do occur. On that note, I of course was attracted to this product because of its fruit and stem cell derived ingredients and their advantages. For more information on the benefits of fruit stem cell I have provided a link here that takes you to Andalou's website. I will also copy and paste some of the information below.

Fruit Stem Cells in your Skin Care:

Apple Fruit Stem Cells
Malus Domestica fruit stem cells, from the Uttwiler Spatlauber apple varietal, are rich in
phyto-nutrients, proteins, and long-living cells. This unique composition of self-renewal growth characteristics awaken dormant skin cells, making them behave like younger cells, while enhanced longevity properties contribute to healthy cell duration and age-delaying protection.

Apple Stem Cells:

• Stimulate healthy cell renewal
• Protect longevity of skin stem cells
• Delay senescence of essential cells
• Slow chronological aging of skin

_____________________________________________________________

Grape Fruit Stem Cells
Solar Vitis fruit stem cells, from the rare Gamay Teinturier Freaux grape, are characterized by extremely high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers, enhanced by the interaction of special epigenetic factors and metabolites to help protect the skin and epidermal stem cells from UV radiation and premature photo-aging.

Grape Stem Cells:

• Protect skin stem cells against UV damage
• Increase the skin's UV tolerance
• Maintain healthy stem cell characteristics
• Defend against aging from prolonged exposure

_______________________________________________________________

Argan Fruit Stem Cells
Argania Spinosa fruit stem cells, derived from the ancient Berber tree from Morocco, are designed to delay the depletion of dermal papilla stem cells, effectively revitalizing dormant root cells and accelerating the natural repair process to combat chronological aging of hair follicles.

Argan Stem Cells:

• Penetrate follicular pathways
• Delay the depletion of vital stem cells
• Stimulate dormant root bulb cells
• Accelerate natural repair processes 1.

Product Ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Lauric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Juice*, Vegetable Glycerin, Fruit Stem Cell and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Hyaluronic Acid, Olive Squalane, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Glycopeptide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glyceryl Monolaurate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Polyphenols, Borago Officinalis (Borage), Rosa Canina (Rosehip), Linum Usitatissimum (Flax), Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) and Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oils*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter*, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis, and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*†, Laminaria Digitata (Kelp) Extract, Allantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus (Guar) Gum*, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil*
*Organic
† Fair Trade
Made naturally without GMO’s, gluten, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Verified Gluten-Free 100% Eco-friendly, Vegetarian & Cruelty-Free 2.