Walmart Is Spotlighting Black-Owned Brands

 I thought I would pass this along. Walmart is putting a spotlight on black-owned beauty brands. This is great for those of us looking for hair and skincare targeted to our specific needs. 

And, here's the thing: just because the brands are "black-owned" that does not mean they don't have products for all hair and skin types. 

Look at all these beautiful people

Since I have been working on streamlining my personal beauty routine, I've tried not to be lured into buying every new thing that comes along. However... LOL. Looking through this section of items on Walmart's site, I am seeing brands I never heard of before. I may have to snag one or two items over the summer.

One day, I'm going to put together a post listing all the beauty brands I've come across. I've found some amazing products from K-beauty, Afro-beauty, and Euro-beauty. I need to do a big ol' link list. In the meantime, take a gander at the Walmart list.

Something in every category

By the way, I only noticed a few weeks ago that some products on Walmart's site are eligible for subscription purchases. I guess they are keeping up with Amazon's Subscribe & Save option.

Well, now you know. I am going to scroll through some of the items but I'm sticking to my new streamlining method. I don't buy anything new in a category until I have used up what I already have. But the first thing I do want to try will be from the Pardon My Fro brand! 

Peace

--Free

The Best Moisturizer (If You Can Afford It)

 A long while back - maybe as far as 9 or 10 months ago - I got a package in the mail with a full-sized trial of Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque. It was part of some promotion that I might have signed up for and forgotten about. At any rate, I tried the product, found it kind of heavy and oily, and put it away. And forgot about it.

Thank you whoever for this
lovely full-sized product

Back in July, when I had used up my Loreal Age Perfect and the weather here was getting too humid for using any of my several pure oils - Babassu, Marula, coconut, Sesame, Olives, etc. - as a facial moisturizer, I reached for the Dermalogica again. And let me tell you something...

This is the best moisturizer I have ever used. It goes on slightly oily but, true to its name, it just melts into your skin. 

This is the amount I tested on the back of my hand

This is how it looks melted by body warmth.

This is a few moments after I rubbed the oil into my skin

The very first time I used it, I purposely used the tiniest dab because I wanted to see what it felt like. That tiny dab turned out to be enough to moisturize my whole jawline and cheek. Because it did feel oily at first, I was trying to dab it around the rest of my face so that the oil wouldn't be so concentrated. And I stopped there to do what I should have done first: read the label. 

Huh. So I was supposed to blot this? Well, I didn't and, after the couple of moments it took to read the label, I realized no blotting was needed. The masque had truly melted totally into my skin. My face felt amazing - very supple and kind of velvety. There was only the very slightest sheen as a sign of the oil. A nice sheen, healthy and natural, not oily and acne-prone.

Right away I made up my mind that I was going to switch from everything else to this product as my go-to moisturizer.

My niece happened to call while I was still admiring how nice my face felt. I told her about the masque. She said she wasn't sure but that she thought that Dermalogica was kind of a pricey brand. I said that it couldn't be that pricey because someone had sent me this bottle free in the mail. She laughed and said to go check Amazon. So I did. And child!

That might not faze some people but I heard my wallet screech a little when I saw the price. I told my niece and she wanted to know if I'd really gotten a full-sized product. I double-checked and, yep, for months, I'd had a bottle of liquid gold just sitting unused in my bathroom cabinet...

Sixty-five dollars is really a lot for me to spend on a face moisturizer. I've gotten tight-fisted in the past when I've had to spend around twenty bucks to re-stock the L'Oreal Age Perfect. I once even got a little mad when the drug store raised the price of Babassu Oil to almost eight dollars.

But.

This moisturizer is so good even in such a small amount that I could see myself wanting to buy more. I've been using it almost all summer and the bottle still seems to be mostly full. It's hard to tell because the covering is opaque but it does feel full to me. Anyway, all I need is a couple of dabs in the morning and a couple at night. I should be able to get at least another couple of months' worth of dabs. It's definitely worth the price. I go through the 1.2-ounce jar of Age Perfect every couple of months.

I think what I like most about this Melting Masque is that I get the benefits of an oil-based moisturizer without the oil sitting on top of my skin. The one other oil that is good this way is Marula oil but it's hard to find a good quality brand. The one brand I love tends to be unavailable on a regular basis. And pure Marula oil is not cheap. Also, for some reason - probably hormonal - my skin does not always love Marula.

Maybe I will have to save up so that I can re-stock this Melting Masque. I could do that on a once-a-year basis. I'll be happily sliding into my 62nd year next June. I'm not body vain so I don't mind being a little more, um "plump" but if I do not want dry skin. Not on my body or my face. I just wish good facial moisturizers were as affordable as body lotions...

Anyway, if you ever heard of this Dermalica and balked at the price, I can tell you that my broke a** thinks it's worth it.

Peace

--Free

But wait! There's more:

Weirdly, the ingredients list for this masque is a combination of some of the oils I use individually. I'm not sure why the product is so much more absorbent than when I use those oils separately. Maybe it's due to the additional items listed or the blending process. Straight from Dermalogica, here is the list of ingredients with a caveat:

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, C13-15 Alkane, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Silica Silylate, Glycol Distearate, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Plankton Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Glycol Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Water/Aqua/Eau, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Gondoic Acid, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene

Dermalogica is dedicated to maintaining the accuracy of the ingredient lists on this website. However, because ingredients are subject to change, we cannot guarantee that these lists are complete, up-to-date and/or error-free. For an accurate listing of ingredients in each product, please refer to your product packaging.

(I highlighted the oils that I use or have used individually at some point)

By the way, I've thought about who might have sent this product to me and I am now almost sure that I filled out a form online somewhere for the freebie. But in thinking about buying more, I found that by subscribing to the product on the brand's website, I would get free shipping and a gift. So that's an option.

Looking Back on 2019 Reviews

I'm late doing this because I forgot to schedule the post Anyway...
Here are some products from 2019 (and a few from before) that have made a lasting impression on me

Of all the beauty stuff - hair, makeup, skincare - I have almost too many I want to mention, but let me try to hit the mains:

Curel HydraTherapy & Garnier SkinActive Moisture Mask  are both from this review. Love both products and still buy the Garnier on a regular basis (check recent posts).

With all the rage about Asian skincare products, I want to mention the KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil and Kikumasamune Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture. I like them both but have to use sparingly. The oil will break me out if I use too often and the lotion is great but has that yeast-like odor...

This toner from Whal Myung is awesome, but... I cannot afford to indulge. If you can budget this in, you might want to.

The Aquafor Body Spray and Pantene Foam from this beauty box will always be in my arsenal.

Lumify Eye Drops are pricey as gold but so worth it. Haven't found anything that comes close.

I'm sorry, but the more I think about the FabFitFun box, the more ridiculous it seems to spend $50 on a box of random items of possible regret. I will stick with my $5 mood-lifting Walmart and Target boxes. If I had $50 a month to toss away, it would be on vape devices.

I have not ordered any skin or fragrance oils from Piping Rock in a long time. They usually have good products at good prices but when you get a stinker, they don't care. Customer service is everything, people.

I use Pumpkin Seed Oil or another good oil almost every night as a cuticle treatment and I use it on my hair when it gets ridiculously dry. This or another oil mixed with emu oil is so good on cuticles.
Greek Remedy Oil is another multi-purpose oil. It smells so good and is soothing just before bedtime. I also love their soap and foot cream.

I haven't used this beauty brush since I don't know when. I'm not good about keeping up on batteries for things. It's one of the reasons I haven't gotten a milk frother - the affordable ones are all battery operated. Ugh!

I have tried a few different brands of Magnesium Oil but the basic product is so good for helping me to relax and sleep through the night. I've recommended this to friends and family members.

By the way, I still get the Walmart Beauty Box and have no regrets (most of the time). It's a five-buck-for-handling deal so you can't beat it.

   

For around the house

Cosco 2-Step Steel Folding Step Stool (Can't recommend this enough. I use mine at least 3 times a day.)

I have not been able to kill this little coffee pot. It's so perfect for me as a single. When it wears out, I plan to get another just like it.

I probably don't have to mention that the Instant Pot is a fave. I did upgrade to a larger size. Best thing for singles and families.

Flour Sack Towels for the kitchen are essential. If you get a good brand, they are so worth having.

The Eco-Friendly Reusable Towels are... they are good if you don't mind replacing them fairly often. Once they have been washed about 5 times, they start getting lint-y and kind of gross. I kept some old ones to wipe up floor messes but I don't want them near my dishes once they get too worn. Honestly, I prefer using paper towels at this point.

This steam cleaner is the business. I don't use it as much because it's sometimes easier to just wet mop the floor, BUT... it's great for steaming to disinfect things. Also, I use it to clean the floors when they are super icky from a spill or on the carpet to kind of fluff it up. The only con to this is setting it to use and then dumping any leftover water.

The seller replaced this food sealer once and I still use it probably 5 times a day. Seriously. As a single person not wanting to waste products sold in large quantities, this is a must.

The stick blender is another love of mine. I use this almost every single day - or twice a day - to make smoothies, add stuff to my coffees, or to prep food for cooking. (I just realized that I never reviewed it here I'll have to do a quick post on it!)

I am in LOVE with my Dutch oven. Of all my cast iron, that's probably my favorite.  Nah. I can't pick a favorite piece of cast iron!

Okay. Another year has rolled around so let's talk about this juicer... So I am not doing all the juicing I thought I would. I hate cleaning a juicer. I hate dealing with the mess of juicing. Fruit is so freaking expensive in the winter. And blah blah blah. I need to sell this thing and get me a good milk frother for my coffee.

And pantry & fridge

I still do a large part of my grocery and household shopping online. Hy-Vee went and raised their delivery rates and that sucks, but, still...

I'm still a huge fan of Monk Fruit Sweetener. I do my coffee black most of the time now, but use the sweetener in green smoothies to take off the edge...

While I haven't gotten any more Golden Tea, I am using my regular Tumeric in my a lot of my food and coffees and teas. 

The Hoosier Hill Farm All American Whole Milk Powder and the heavy Cream are both worth it. If you are single or need to store a lot of milk for kids, this is the best way, IMO.

I cannot rave enough about having some Manuka honey around - any good quality raw honey.

After having this fresh nutmeg, I don't think I can do with canned variety anymore. I like the fresh so much that I am looking for other spices to get. Just getting bougie!

While I still love using Miracle Berries, I haven't been buying any. The prices are not great for using these on a regular basis and the quality from purchase to purchase can be iffy. Still, this is something I use every now and then.

And the vape life...

I am still on the vape. I love it. I don't think I have had a cigarette craving in a few months now (and I am close to 2 years quit! I am to the point now where I can go days using only zero-nic juice but when I get cranky...

The Voopoo Caliber vape pen let me down, design-wise. It's still a great device but the center pin is a mess. I still use it but I have to use my Smok Beast tank with it to connect to that pin. Booooo, Voopoo!

The Boulder Rock Vape Pen is still one of the best (and cheapest) devices. Love this thing, but I gave it to my sis in law.

The Voopoo Alpha Zip is probably the most discreet pod device I've seen. For something this sleek and streamlined, it's a good vape. So Voopoo can do something right.

Speaking of good vape devices, this SMOK Veneno is still a workhorse after all this time. Love it, love it, love it.

I still use this regularly. The Uwell Caliburn gets a lot of hype and it is a good device, but it's only a Juul-killer because of the quality of the device - Juul still has the best juice that ever was. Not that it's easy to buy anymore...

The writing and the random

If you have not checked out Bibisco's software for writers... well, just do so.

And I am still using my Livescribe pen, yes, I am.

I no longer use CBD oil or Kratom anymore. I don't trust the variations in quality. I vape because I only use juices tested sources, so I'm sure not going to risk messing with other random things.

There are more faves and regrets among the reviews of the past year, but I don't have the patience to sift through the old posts. This year, I hope to do as much actual blogging about life as I do posting reviews.

Peace
--Free

And for the music today,  a little bit of Beth Hart

This song should end up being a classic

**Quick Post** Hair & Skincare Tip

Sometimes, when you know something, you assume everyone knows that thing. Assumptions are not useful so I'm popping in to share a simple beauty tip with you all. This is for men and women. Here goes:

If you tend to have dry hair or skin, maybe try some of this:

this just happens to be the brand I ordered this time

It doesn't have to be that specific brand. I'm thrifty and have used several brands - all priced under $5. This just happens to be the one I ordered this time around.

You can use this right out of the bottle if you want or you can add it into your other hair and skin products. I rarely use it straight except for on these dry feet of mine. I like to add this to leave-in hair products and skin lotions. I almost don't know what lotion without glycerin feels like.

Glycerin is a humectant. It is ultra moisturizing. Straight out of the container, it feels thick and greasy. Don't freak. Once applied to dry skin, the greasy part goes away leaving a soft and dew-like feel.

Like I mentioned, I rarely use it right out of the bottle on my hair. That's only because it takes patience to apply it. My hair is kinky-curly and thick. When I apply straight glycerin, I have to take my time and apply it to really small sections. That's because you have to smooth the thick glycerin into the hair. It's a pain in the tail, but totally worth it. Applying to damp hair is easier. Mainly though, the easiest way is to apply when mixed in with some leave-in conditioner.

You can use glycerin on your lips and cuticles and rough elbows. I'm not sure of people can be allergic to it so... use common sense and maybe test-swatch or something.

I've been using glycerin for a while, but I did not know until recently that it seems to help perfume last longer on the skin. Score.

So there you go. I've reviewed different brands of glycerin before but assumed most people knew the general benefits. A neighbor of mine never heard of using it for the beauty benefits. It's cheap and versatile, which is why I keep some around.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil

When I learned about (and fell in love with) the Kikumasamune Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture, I also heard of the Speedy Cleansing Oil. The oil is featured on the product page for the lotion and both are often featured together on other sites. As with the lotion, I can't read much of the label.

I can read about 6 words here :-)

I am happy to say that the oil works just as well - or even better - than described. I have already been using oils to clean (and moisturize) my face for years. I've used whichever of my fave oils I have around - olive, vitamin e, jojoba, pumpkin or watermelon seed, coconut, castor, etc. Depending on which oil I've used, I've had to add another oil or mix with water to thin it out. The Speedy Oil is a one-step deal.

The ingredients in the Speedy Oil as shown on the Amazon product page are simple. When I was looking for other reviews, I found a wonderful resource (which I will be checking out on a regular basis now that I've found it) called My Dad the Chemist. The blogger, Emily, provided such a detailed overview of the ingredients that I'm poaching:

• mineral oil: an oil that has been found to help improve softness of skin and lend benefits to the skin moisture barrier function, according to this scientific review
• peg-8 glyceryl isostearate: an emulsifier that helps mix the water and oils in this formula together
• cethyl ethylhexancate: an emollient
• cyclomethicone: another emollient
• jojoba seed oil: has been shown to help provide anti-inflammatory benefits for skin, according to this study
• isostearic acid: a surfactant, which helps the oils in this formula wash off when you apply warm water
• glycerin: moisturizer/humectant
• phenoxyethanol: serves as a preservative in many personal care products

 (source: My Dad the Chemist)

(Oh man! I am so getting in touch with Miss Emily!)

I've talked before about how I "listen" to my skin. Within minutes of using most products, I can tell whether or not my skin likes it. If something dries me out, oilies me up, or irritates me in the slightest, I'm done. There are only a few brand items that I can use on a regular basis that don't cause one of those problems. This is why I usually stick to whipping together my own concoctions. Well, I'm glad that I found this Speedy Oil.

The price on this is super affordable - more so than mixing up my own blends - and the 230ml bottle is generous. That's almost 8 ounces and it only takes a very little bit to cover my entire face and neck. When I need to, I can purchase a refill pack.

Another benefit I discovered with this is that I find myself massaging my face more when applying. The texture is so smooth and soothing that I can't help but spend at least a couple of minutes doing a vigorous massage.

When I use my own oil blends, I have to be careful to remove most of it so as not to cause a breakout. The Speedy Oil wipes off well with a tissue or baby wipe and doesn't leave behind any clogging residue.

One thing I do want to point out is: do NOT use the oil near your eyes. I got some on my waterline and had some irritation for a couple of days. Now I just keep about a quarter inch away from my eyes when I am massaging this in.

I'm pretty thrilled with the product. Having discovered this and the Kikumasamune really makes me want to look at more Asian skincare products. Too bad the makeups are never in my shade range!

Peace
--Free


P.S.
I was chatting with a friend about this product and she mentioned that she too loves Asian products of all kinds. She lives in a major U.S. city that has one of those huge sub-city "Little Asia" market areas. I remember going there when I visited her some years ago. I wish I had focused more on shopping than eating! She is going to see about scouting out some products for me. Also, for those of you are interested, Reddit has a category for Asian Beauty. I will be checking that out for sure.

**REVIEW** Target Summer Beauty Box

The Target "Hello Summer Beauty" Box just arrived and I am way more impressed than I expected to be. I think you remember me saying much the same about the Walmart Beauty box for Spring 2018. (By the way, the Walmart Summer box is on the way.) So let's just dive right in and see what the Target box had to offer this month. By the way, you are going to begin to see a theme as we run through the samples...

1. The presentation was very nice and I hate that I tossed the pretty interior tissue before I got a better photo. Please notice the generous sizes of the items.

shipping was SUPER fast

Expires in about 2 weeks though!

2. Much like with "fancier" boxes, the enclosed card details each product and even includes useful tips and bits of info for some items. That was a really nice touch. The $3 coupon is good for an in-store or online Target purchase of $15 or more of cosmetics, skincare or haircare. My only issue with this is that the coupon expires in a couple of weeks.

1.75oz sample
full size = 7.69

3. This Don't Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel is the only thing in the box that I didn't like. I kinda have an unpleasant history with Aunt Jackie and I'm glad I got to try this before I wasted money on it. This was a really generous sample though. I used it (as directed for best results) on washed and still-damp hair. It goes on a little glue-ey but it did help elongate the curl. Only problem is that it made my hair feel as if it had been shellacked. I literally ended up spraying on some water to unstick pieces of my hair because I would have ripped out chunks trying to comb it with my fingers. I just sprayed on some of the next product to see if that would help.

3.3oz sample
full size = $5.99

4. The Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Leave-In Treatment is a really nice treat. I've been kind of ambivalent about S.M. products. When they are good, they are awesome, but when they flop, they flop hard. This leave-in is amazing. It smells good without being overpowering and it cleared up that stiff mess left behind by the Aunt Jackie's. The scent is of a light coconut-water. This is on my list to pick up when I use the coupon. Good stuff and, I'll say again: it smells delicious. I can't wait to try this again after I've washed the Jackie's gunk out of my hair. If it softened my hair like it is, I can't imagine what it will do on clean hair.

2oz sample
full size = $5.99

5. The Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Cream is another new favorite. I don't buy a lot of Cantu products, but they scored with this cream. I love leave-in repairing treatments and I love one that moisturizes as well as this one. Like with product 4, this one has the light scent of coconut - very light. The cream is rich enough that it takes only a bit to treat my hair.

1.75oz each sample
full sizes = $4.59 each

6. I will go ahead and tell you that I love Palmer's products so, even though, I haven't tried these samples of the Coconut Oil Formula Shampoo and Coconut Oil Formula Repairing Conditioner, I have tried Palmer's shampoo and conditioner before (and it might have been these). Getting these samples just reminded me that I haven't used Palmer's in a while. I definitely will be replacing my products with these when I need more shampoo and conditioner again.

4 pcs sample
full pack 24pc = $3.49

7.  The Scunci No Damage Elastics for Thick Hair are perfect for this box. Since the theme is thick, curly, and dry and or damaged hair, a no-damage hair tie is genius. Of course, I cut my hair and still haven't grown it out enough to use these! 😁

0.5oz sample
full size = $7.99

8. Being down here in Iowa where the weather is so humid and changeable between hot and cold, you feel as if you're being sous vide, you need good odor and wetness protection. This Clinical Strength soft sold from Secret is good stuff. I've used Secret before and even though I try to use mostly natural odor protection, every now and then, a gal needs her Secret. This one is scented "light and fresh" and is nice.

Other than that gunky funky Aunt Jackie's, I loved this box. Did you pick up on the coconut theme? Usually, the Target boxes sell out so fast you can hardly grab one. I think that a lot of people were surprised by the afro-hair themed products in this one. If you are interested, there were still some of these boxes left on the website when I checked last night. There is also a Target box for men (which is only $5). Nice.

Now that I have gotten rid of Birchbox, Walmart is the only subscription I still have. Maybe I will be able to catch the Target box when it comes back around.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** Clairol Nice and Easy Permanent Hair Color

Remember back when I raved about the Walmart Beauty Box?  Well, while I liked everything in that neat little $5 box, I had a couple of favorite items. One was the Foam Conditioner by Pantene (of which I plan to buy a full-size when I'm in need of more conditioner), and the other was the Nice and Easy Hair Color that I was able to get FOR FREE with the generous coupon provided.

Question: When you buy something that is less than the coupon amount, why don't you get the change back? Just saying. The coupon was for $8.99 and I think the product I got at Walmart was priced at $6 and some change. Oh well. The important thing is, I found the product and was able to use it.

Normally, I've used L'Oreal's Colorsilk hair coloring (Dark Soft Brown or Brown Black shade). The price is what attracted me several years ago (even in Anchorage, I didn't have to pay more than $4 for a box) and I found it easy to pick the right shades for my hair so just stuck with it. Had it not been for the coupon, I never would have tried the Nice and Easy. I'm SO glad that I did. So let's talk about this.

When I have dyed my hair with the L'Oreal, I always liked the results, but until now, I never noticed that it was slightly harsh on my hair. It doesn't strip my hair or totally dry it out and I love the conditioner that comes in the kit. Next to the Nice and Easy, though, I have to say the L'Oreal is not as good. There was more of a conditioning effect with the N and E and the color was definitely richer and covered the grey better. The one downside is that, because I am not used to the color charts for the N and E, I went a little too dark... As in, instead of the soft off-black or brown-black I was going for, I ended up with crow-black results. I have since tossed the box, but I want to say that I got the Dark Brown to put on my own Dark Brown hair.

This is what my hair looked like pre-Clairol coloring:

And this is my Jackie Chan Black hair post coloring:

I was going to re-color it to tone down the black but my neighbor told me that it's actually very flattering. I don't photograph well so you don't get the full effect. That color is the same color as my eyebrows.

After coloring and conditioning, my hair was very soft and manageable. The color was very dark and it covered every inch of my grey. I can tell that this dye penetrates much better than the L'Oreal. After I use the L'Oreal, I can rinse some of the dye out a day later. With this dye, there is no residual loss of color so soon after coloring. As a matter of fact, the next time I use this dye, I have to be more careful not to get any on my skin because this stuff stains more than the other brand.

So yeah, I do love this brand and I'm going to be switching away from the L'Oreal. Now if I can just find the best shade.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant

I can't believe that I am just now getting around to blogging a review of this deodorant.

That is Lavanila, a natural and aluminum-free deodorant that I started using back in mid-May. As you know, I love vanilla anything so that is the scent I chose, but there are several types and fragrances to choose from. Before you do select a scent, check user reviews. I love the one I chose, but I did see some users/reviewers who did not like the grapefruit choice at all. I haven't tried that one so I can't chime in.

The reason I actually tried this deodorant is that I was getting tired of the crystal type I was using. With that one, I always had to dampen it before using. This one works just like any other cream stick deodorant. Just keep in mind that it is ONLY a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. But, boy, does it work overtime as a deodorant.

Although I wanted this particular one because I love vanilla scents, the fragrance with this isn't very strong. and that's just fine with me. I plan on trying some of the other natural deodorants so that I can do reviews, but I like this one so much that I will probably use it as my regular choice. Since it is natural, but works so well to control odor, I was interested in the ingredients:

• aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe juice, water/aqua)
• alpha-glucan oligosaccharide (sugar derived)
• carrageenan (seaweed derived)
• hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) extract 
• inulin (artichoke derived) 
• loncera capifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract 
• lycium barbarum fruit extract (goji berry) 
• melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) flower/leaf/stem extract 
• propandeiol (corn derived) 
• saccaromyces ferment 
• sodium stearate (coconut derived)
• stearyl behenate (coconut derived)
• usnea barbata (lichen) ext

Wow. I'm not familiar with most of those. I expected to see magnesium (in some form) on the list. I will have to compare those ingredients to the ones listed for other natural deodorants.

Here are the things I like most about the product:

1. Goes on very, very smoothly (even better than "regular" stick deodorants).
2. Does seem to condition.moisturize the skin (as product page states).
3. Keeps the "funk" away - even on hot days, days at the gym, etc.
4. I've personally had no skin problems from using it.
5. Though mild, the scent is nice & not as acrid as those in store brands.
6. Is lasting a long time. After 3 months daily use, I have at least another 3 months left.

Here are the things that I like least:

1. Because of the moist texture (which is almost damp), I have to let it "set" for a moment after applying.
2. Though I like that it conditions the skin, I'm not crazy about the initial damp feeling.
3. I really wish it had some antiperspirant protection.

For those who care, apparently, this product is vegan (as are some of Lavnila's other items). As far as I can tell, Lavanila doesn't carry an antiperspirant. Dang it. I was surprised to find that this is the brand that produces the Lavanila scent I tried years ago (and loved, but forgot about). I just have to remember that the brand is Lavanila - not Lavanilla. 

The brand also makes body butters and sun protection products. I ordered from Amazon, but if you go to the Lavanila site, you can sign up for product discounts. Be sure to check out their "Our Story" page.

I'm happy that I found the product and, like I said, I'll probably always use it now. However, I will be doing reviews on similar items.

Peace

--Free

**RESOURCES** Hair, Bath & Beauty Brands (you might not have heard of)

While working on my book proof, I'm not posting much other than resources and lists.

Here's a list of haircare, bath and beauty brands that you might not have heard of. I know that some of them are new to my ears. Check them out and, if you do, please let me know what you think.

• Qhemet Biologics is totally new to me. Like their tagline: Ancestral care for modern naturals".
• Besame Cosmetics. "Inspired by the golden age of Hollywood".

• Whipped Goods. "Plant-based & handcrafted".
• Abnormal Beauty Company. Site and "DECIEM" (word? acronym?) a bit confusing to me.

• Becca Cosmetics. I've only heard about the brand. 
• BlackUp "Makeup expert for women of color". (I like that Sephora carries the line. I do still hate Sephora's customer service, though.)

• BH Cosmetics. I love their prices and foundations.
• Mary Kay. You've heard of them, but the shade ranges might surprise you.
• Fashion Fair. It's been a while since I've tried it, but I need to.

That's a good start. I will have to add to the list later. For now... back to writing.

Peace

--Free