**REVIEW** Fractionated Coconut Oil by Majestic Pure

Since I'd never heard of a "fractionated" coconut oil before this one, let me explain what that is. Enter the trusty old copy/paste method of gathering info from the product description:

 Fractionated coconut oil is a fraction of the coconut oil from which almost all the long chain triglycerides are removed, thus leaving mainly the medium-chain triglycerides and making it an absolutely saturated oil. This saturation gives it a very long shelf life and greatly increased stability. In addition, fractionating raises the comparative concentration of Capric acid and Caprylic acid, thus giving it more of antioxidant and disinfecting effect. (my bold emphasis)

If you checked the links I provided for the different triglycerides, you probably were thinking, "Who knew?" (Or who cares, maybe.) If you are like me and always want to know a little bit more than your brain can absorb, you can also check this link that talks about MCTs vs Coconut Oil. I'll leave that right here for you. For now, let's move on to what I found in actually using this particular product.

 This is Majestic Pure's Fractionated Coconut Oil (or Cocos Nucifera if you like sounding well-read).

Apparently the whole thing about long shelf life is true. A label was attached showing the manufacture date and the shelf life of my product. I placed my order December 30 so I got a pretty fresh batch.

I got a little tangled up with all the information provided in the links about fractionated oil and maybe you did the same thing. I'm going to point out right now that this particular product is NOT intended for anything but external use. So don't go drinking it or cooking with it.

Since I can't drink or cook with it (heh heh), I have so far used mine in 3 ways: on my freshly washed and conditioned (and damp hair), on my freshly showered body and as a makeup remover. The hair use worked so-so. I think I overdid it. More about that in a moment. First -

As a Body Moisturizer:

When I used this after my shower, I wanted to see which way would work best. First, I used it on my still damp arms and upper body, then I used it on my towel-blotted lower body and legs. I actually like it both ways. Of course, it was a little bit easier to massage in on the dried parts. I have to admit that, when I had to blot after applying the oil to my still-damp skin, I was worried about my towel. No problem. Just as promised, the oil didn't stain the towel and it later washed just as clean as the rest of my laundry.

I love the way this made my skin feel right after showering. It's really, really lightweight, which is a nice change from some heavier oils that tend to sit on this skin and have to be blotted before you can dress. I like this better than cream-like coconut oils I've used because it's much easier to apply. It also is lighter and better absorbing than the jarred coconut oils. I actually liked the way my arms and legs felt after using this.

By the way, when I used this as a sort of lotion/regular moisturizer, it worked well, but it does leave a sheen for the first couple of minutes. I liked it okay, but not on my face just prior to applying makeup.  And this was great as a lip moisturizer!

As a Hair Moisturizer:

Remember that I used this on my hair right after washing and conditioning? Well, that might have worked better if I hadn't gone overboard.

When I put just a little (maybe a dime-sized puddle) in my palms, then rubbed my hands through my hair, I liked that it wasn't greasy. And I should have just stopped right there. I have a suspicion that I might have ended up with soft and moisturized hair, but I can't report that because... I always go one step too far. For some reason, I just had to add another couple "puddles" of oil to my hair. By the time my naps dried, I had a stiff and slightly oily mess. So, yeah, I think next time, I will stick with one "puddle", let my hair dry, then see what the results are. As it happened, I ended up just covering my hair with a scarf until I could re-shampoo. (I haven't had the chance to try the oil again because I just finished reviewing a hair dye and didn't want any more oil in my hair for that...)

I do want to try using this again on my hair because it's supposed to stimulate hair growth.

As a Makeup Remover:

One word for this one: Amazing. Seriously. It's light enough that you don't feel you are gunking up your pores when you slather it on. I generally apply a little to my fingertips and massage into my face, let it sit for a minute, then wipe with a baby wipe. It takes one application for all over and another just for my eye-liner and stuff. Best thing, my face is still moist from the baby wipe so, if I hurry, I can dab a little of the oil on to finish drying with the dampness. That's one way I can use the oil and still apply more makeup within a couple minutes. (Maybe I should always use a little water with the oil when moisturizing???)

The nice thing about removing my makeup with this is, if I'm lazy, I don't even have to apply my nighttime face cream after. The oil doesn't dry out my skin and, so far, it has not clogged my pores.

In Summary:

This oil does lack that delicious coconut fragrance. Of course, that is also a plus in some cases. Sometimes, you just don't want the fragrance.

You can't ingest this oil, so you don't get the "multi-use" factor that you can with "regular" coconut oil. (On the other hand, you can just keep this in your bathroom, dedicated to your skin care use.)

When I ordered this, it was priced at around a dollar an ounce. An ounce will go a long way and, then there's the whole 5-year shelf life thing. That makes it worth it for me. I can keep this in my bathroom without worrying about it spoiling. Then there is the guarantee:

(and the "external use only" warning!)

I like this for body moisturizing and makeup removal because it's not staining sheets and towels. It works great and the price is right. If you are into essential oils (as you know I now am), this is perfect as a carrier oil. I have not yet added it to my existing lotions and creams but I plan to try it. I want to see if it helps me stretch some use out the the ends of my lotions and such.

This is the first product I've tried from Majestic Pure, but I see that they have some other items I might want to check out.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Seaweed Complex Lotion (with Blue Green Algae)

To tell you why I wanted to try this lotion, I have to explain that I became fascinated with blue-green algae first as a nutritional supplement. That's because I heard that the algae might boost the immune system. I also saw mention of its energizing effects, among other interesting things. However, since I never got around to checking with my own doctors about this, I never tried it as a supplement.  

When I saw that this Seaweed Complex Lotion contained blue-green algae and "ocean minerals" (which sound like the same thing, right?), I wondered if the ingredients would be as good for my outside as claimed for my insides. I still don't know much about the nutritional properties, but I can tell you that I am loving what these ingredients are doing for my skin.

By the way, I like Foxbrim as a brand. I've tried many of their products and have never once had any problem with customer service, questions being answered, or anything - regardless of  however I have reviewed their products.

While I don't think that I would use this regularly as a body lotion (it's a bit too pricey for that), I do know that it works better than a few of my facial creams as a moisturizer. For one thing, the texture is perfect for the face.There's no "slick" feeling to it (which also means there is no sheen or shine left behind), and the lotion really blends right into the skin. That sounds weird because I'm trying hard to explain what I mean. When you apply the lotion, it doesn't rub or glide all over your face. It goes on and you can massage it for a few seconds before it's absorbed completely.

Another thing I'll saw about the texture of this lotion is that it's best to apply it in small dabs. Because it does absorb fairly rapidly, I am finding that it's best to apply in small patches - instead of just slathering it on. The moisturizing properties are so good (and this absorbs fast), that it's a waste to use more than you have to. 

Now. As for the smell. (And you all knew I'd get around to this.) I love it. Maybe because of the mention of blue-green algae and "ocean minerals", I detect a really nice "blue" scent that reminds me of those fragrances that mention "cool" and "ocean" and "blue". It's not strong, but it does linger a bit. I find it pleasant so I'm not bothered by it. I just wanted to mention it.

The bottle is nicely sized for use as a facial lotion (and the label directions are to use a dime-sized amount), but I can't justify using this for body care. At the current (moderate, sale) price, I would use it occasionally as a body lotion but, at the non-sale price, I couldn't justify that. The bottle is 1.7 ounces, which works for using dime-sized amounts at a time. (I personally used about 2 dime-sized amounts to treat my face. I applied those amounts by finger-dabbing spots of cream all around my dry spots before rubbing in.)

I like that I can tell the difference in the way my skin feels before and after applying. It leaves my face feeling nice to touch. My favorite thing about this lotion is that I can immediately apply any of my makeup over it. When I used a little, tiny bit of this behind my knee (to test it as a body lotion), the results were just okay. That could be because that part of my skin is drier than my face or (and this is what I'm thinking) I was too stingy to apply enough lotion on my leg... 

I'm going to do more reading up on how blue-green algae benefits the skin but, in the meantime, here are the claims specifically for this product:

• Age spots fade while filling in existing wrinkles. 
• Boost collagen production. 
• Restore firmness and youth to skin elasticity. 
• Leave your skin clear, smooth and glowing.
• Restorative and healing agents from ocean 
• Perfect for all skin types. 

And, as for what the respective ingredients offer (their description, my linkage):

The answer from nature... Ocean Mineral Lotion includes:
+ Phytochemicals - Effectively prevents premature aging of the skin.
+ Polysaccharides - Essential building block for skin repair and renewal.
+ Organic Spirulina (Blue Green Algae) - Reduce skin inflammation while boosting antioxidants and defending against free radicals.
+ Hyaluronic Acid - Unmatched natural moisturizer for plump and smooth skin

Last (and always most important), Foxbrim guarantees a full refund of your money if you are not happy for any reason.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Pure Body Naturals Organic Argan Oil

Let me just say right up front that I'm pretty impressed with Pure Body Naturals. No surprise that I really like the other product I've gotten from them to try out.

Of course, argan oil  generally is getting to be quite popular for its uses in hair care and beauty routines. In some places, it's even used in and on food. I didn't know that before. When I opted to try out this Organic Argan Oil by Pure Body Naturals I was most interested in the products moisturizing properties for hair, face, skin and nails - as it's promoted for.

I do like using oils in my beauty routine and this one worked really, really well on my dry fingernails and hands. It worked much better than any cuticle oil I've ever tried. For my hair, it was just a little bit too heavy. I have naturally kinky/curly hair and when I used this as a leave-in oil, it weighed down the curls.

It was a wonderful skin moisturizer (especially after a warm bath) so, after about a week, I started to re-think the way I could use it for my hair. Instead of trying to put it into my dry (or semi-damp) hair as a leave-in, I used it as a rinse-out conditioning treatment. And... SCORE! I think I mentioned recently how I have damaged my hair into stubborn dryness... Well, this oil really helped add some moisture and shine that lasted after my hair was dry from the rinse. It also worked as a hair softener. I was pretty pleased with that.

The argan oil has omega 3s that are so good for the skin. For facial use, the oil worked well (in my case) as a makeup remover. It's much cheaper than the makeup-removing oils that you can buy at the drugstores, and it worked so much better. Since I was wiping it off using my usual baby wipes, my skin retained enough of the oil for a moisturizing effect without the heaviness I got just using the oil as a leave-on treatment. Just like with my hair, it was too heavy for me unless I used it moderately.

If you have a different skin type (or even a skin issue, such as eczema) you might want to work out your own ways of using the oil to get the benefits. I can tell you that I do like using it on my legs and the backs of my thighs - especially when I'm going to be wearing hosiery - to keep my skin from drying out and feeling abused.

I did use the oil as an overnight facial moisturizer. I applied it sparingly and, by morning when I washed (baby-wiped) my face, my skin felt soothed and ready for my daytime face cream. I also plan to try it as an after-treatment when I use my konjac sponge. By the way, I did notice that, if you do want to wear it as a daytime moisturizer, you may want to blot well before applying matte makeup.

Since this bottle is so big (4oz), I am going to be using some of the oil to mix and use with some of the stronger essential oils I'm trying out. I'm going to love having a Sweet Orange-scented/argan mix for my after-bath moisturizing...

Once again, I have to give Pure Body Naturals credit for standing behind their product with a Lifetime 100% money-back guarantee. Simple, direct, and good.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** pureSol Konjac Facial Sponge

You might remember my saying that the Konjac fiber was going to be a trend. Well, I have now been lucky enough to try Konjac more than once. This time, I tried the Konjac Facial Sponge

from pureSol.

Good thing in a small package

I can't help but think that these are perfect stocking stuffer gifts!

As I just said, this is not the first Konjac sponge I've used. The Konjac fiber seems to be a beauty care wonder-find and I just know it's going to trend in 2015.

This sponge by pureSol is a quite small and handy. I do prefer something a little bigger because I tend to be clumsy with small items, but my friend loves this one especially for its size.

shown dry & still in plastic wrapping
(along with the handy hook)

On top of the amazing things this does for your skin, another thing to love about the Konjac sponge fiber is that it's natural, and is eco-friendly. This particular one is produced to be softer and better suited to super-sensitive skin (again, my friend loves this part the most).

It's so gentle that I opt to use it only on my face and neck because it wouldn't be as exfoliating for the rest of my body. Where the other sponge I tried is big enough (and more exfoliating) for all-over use on a once-weekly basis, this one is perfect for regular use on extra-sensitive skin. It is shaped nicely for working around the contours of the face. My personal routine is to use this sponge daily to get ride of the blackheads and pores around my nose area. I use the other sponge less often.

It took quite a bit of soaking for this sponge to soften up for use and it didn't expand very much once it was ready. Even though the fiber is soft and gentle, the sponge is very firm and seems like it will last quite a while.

There are lots of reasons that folks are going to love what this sponge does for their skin but there are additional positives:

1. Natural fibers (biodegradable), and
2. No added chemicals
3. Cruelty free & vegan
4. You can compost the sponge, (try adding it to your flowerpot)
5. Even the packaging is 90% compostable

Another nice little touch was the suction hook for handy attachment. For me, I like the idea that this sponge is effective but still gentle enough for daily use on my face. I can see a difference in the amount of icky blackheads on and around my nose. 

Check out more about the sponge on Facebook and on pureSOL's site. They also have a Konjac sponge that's infused with bamboo charcoal.

When you start hearing all about Konjac next year, remember that I predicted the trend! 

Peace

--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair

My Influenster Vox Box came the other day so I got to try out Vaseline's Intensive Care Advanced Repair.

my thanks to Influenster

When I first looked over the label, other than wanting to rap the rhyming name of this lotion ...

Gimme a beat!

"Intensive care

Advanced Repair"

see the little droplets?

... I noticed that that the product is contains "micro-droplets pf Vaseline Jelly". That put me off a little because I always get a too-shiny look from Vaseline Jelly. I don't like that too-shiny look. For one thing, I am too dark skinned to walk around shining like new money. (My nickname is Penny, after all...)

Because I am all about giving peace products a chance, and because having a shine that will wash off is not the worst thing that can happen and because I took an especially warm shower that dried out my skin... I went ahead with the dry skin test.

Oh, yeah. Forgot to tell you about that. Included in my Vox Box was a little "diagnostic tool". Okay, that might have come out sounding too techy. The tool is really just a card with a couple of detachable strips to test the Before and After state of my skin. It was pretty cool.

my skin wasn't too bad..

While I liked this when I first put it on, I did feel that it was not nearly moisturizing enough. I mean, this is winter time when my skin tends to dry out LOTS. I did go ahead and continue to use this for the week, just to give it a fair trial. Surprisingly, the more I used it, the better it seemed to work. By about Day Three, I noticed that my knees (one of the "ashier" parts of my body) didn't seem as dry by bedtime. My elbows didn't do quite as well. They weren't as dry as usual, but my glycerin does better (and that may be because I tend to lean on my elbows when sitting at a table to write or read). Still, I like the overall results of this lotion after some regular use.

The one thing I don't like is that this is a little bit shiny on the skin when applied. It takes about fice or six minutes before that shine goes away. I still detected a little bit of a sheen afterwards. That fading of the shiny-ness might be from the lotion absorbing into the skin.Maybe? However, as far as effectiveness, I didn't get immediate results, but there was improvement with regular application. I wasn't crazy about the smell, but it's not very strong and it does fade.

My feet are the absolute desert of my body. That was sort of an accidental test for how this lotion works better with continued use. Since I was using the lotion on the rest of my body, I also used it on these dawgs of mine. Every night, I moisturize my feet either with glycerin or petroleum jelly, then put on socks. This will allow me to get through most of the next day without having to re-moisturize my feet. While I was testing out this lotion, I skipped the other products because, well, basically I'm lazy. By bedtime, I just want to get bedded down quick as I can so I can watch TV and crash. What I noticed after a few days of using the Intensive Care is that my feet were still pretty decent by the next night. I still used more lotion and the socks, but there was that improvement.

For my body care needs, I don't think that I will trade my regular moisturizer for this one, but I am going to keep using it on my feet.

If you are willing to give this a try, make sure to give it at least a few days before you judge results. It could depend on the type of climate you live in. In ours (cold outside, too warm and dry inside), I needed time to get results but once I did, well, I was kind of impressed. I do wish the lotion didn't leave that shine though.

Peace
--Free

**UPDATE** My sister used this for a couple of days and says she doesn't like it. She says it's nice when it goes on but does not last long at all. The main thing she doesn't like is that it feels "thin" to her. She actually uses another Vaseline lotion so I was surprised when she disliked this one.  The other lotion she uses is her favorite because it lasts so long and leaves her hands soft even after washing.

DISCLOSURE:
I received this product at no cost in exchange for a fair and honest review.

***REVIEW*** UNi Rose hip Seed Oil

Since I am trying to go more and more "natural" in my approach to diet, health and cosmetics, I love that I'm getting to try a variety of that type of product. As I blogged about, I tried my first rose hip oil a few weeks ago. Once I got used to the smell, I could appreciate the benefits of the oil. I stopped using it on my face because it was a little too heavy for that area. I did start using it on other parts of my body that tend to dry out: elbows, knees, my dragon feet...

I recently received another bottle of rosehip oil to try out. This one is from UNi brand. First I wondered if there would be that much of a difference. I mean, rose hip oil is rosehip oil is rosehip oil. Right? Well, pretty much, but this latest one has a much milder smell than the first brand I tried. While the benefits are likely to be the same, I think that it's easier to use one that doesn't smell quite so strong.

From Chile

One thing I know now: I do like using rose hip seed oil. I like that it not only softens my skin, but tends to absorb into it and last longer than some other oils I've tried. Compared to coconut oil, the rosehip oil lasts a bit longer. Also, because it stays in its liquid form, it's a lot less messy to apply. This particular brand comes with a dropper which makes it even easier to apply.

One thing to mention: I got this from Amazon (via my Tomoson membership), but when I checked the brand's site UNi (or UniPurity), I could only find information for their argan oil. Maybe the rose hip seed oil is a new product for them (?) At any rate, here is the info I pulled from the product page on Amazon:

PREMIUM INGREDIENT 100% CERTIFIED USDA AND ECO CERT ROSEHIP SEED OIL.
NO ADDITIVES OR FILLERS. Imported and sourced from their natural environment in Chile, bottled here in USA.
NATURAL SOURCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS INCLUDING OMEGA- 3, 6, and 9. HIGH IN VITAMIN A and C. EXCELLENT REMEDY FOR SKIN CARE AND MAINTENANCE.
100% FRAGRANCE FREE
Super fine, easily absorbent and does not leave behind any oil residue. Non-greasy and super light. Leaving your skin feeling soft and look radiant.
Multi-purpose oil for all skin types that promotes healthy skin and hair care. Use alone or in conjunction with other daily moisturizers. Treats winkles, scars, stretch marks, rashes, burns, acne, dry skin, dermatitis, age spot, brittle nails, psoriasis, eczema, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, dry and damage hair, and anti-inflammatory.
NOURISH YOUR SKIN FOR A HEALTHIER AND SMOOTHER TONE. LOOK RADIANT AND BEAUTIFUL ALL THE TIME!
SATISFACTION GARAUNTEED. TRY IT RISK FREE TODAY! SEE AMAZING RESULTS WITHIN DAYS. NO HASSLE MONEY BACK.

If you look up "Rosa Canina" on Wikipedia, you'll get to see a photo of actual rose hips. I'll save any jokes about that...

By the way, this product is not to be ingested. It's for use on the skin and hair only.

Now, I haven't used this particular brand on my hair yet, but last night I did use it on my scalp. For some reason (probably to do with my not drinking enough water), my hair and skin have been drier than usual. My scalp is so dry that it was starting to get itchy. I used just a tiny bit of this oil on the center, sides and near the back of my scalp. That did immediately relieve the itching. I'm going to repeat that process later this week and then do a 15-minute wrap with a warm, damp towel. For now, I am impressed at the relief I got from applying the oil to my scalp.

So, yes, this is a great oil. Like I said, it's not as strong-smelling at some other brands and, I'm Phappy to say, it is priced (on Amazon) cheaper than others I've tried. Unipurity has a money back guarantee.

I want to mention also that I've seen other online info that suggests refrigerating rose hip seed oil and keeping it from a lot of direct light.

Last of all, and not directly related to this product review, I wanted to include a little bit of general information. With this whole trend I've been on of trying to use organic products, I decided to check out some terminology used on the label here:

• Organic - in this context, is basically derived from living plants (instead of from chemicals). I guess.
• Unrefined - When it comes to anything other than good manners, this term is tricky. I'm going to refer you to a source I checked when I started looking at other products. Take a look at what the author here says about coconut oil. I like the clear explanations used in breaking down terminology we see so much of these days.
• Omega - When you see "Omega acids" on a label, just think "fatty acids." I like how these fatty acids benefit the body when taken internally, but I wanted to understand what they do when used topically. Apparently rose hip seed oil is high in these fatty acids. I still haven't found much other than the basic info that discusses the use of rose hip seed oil for common skin concerns (sunburn, eczema, etc) and its moisturizing properties. If nothing else, I like the moisturizing factor.

By the way, did you know that rose hip is known by many other names? I was amazed at the list of them:

Apothecary Rose, Cynorhodon, Cynorhodons, Cynosbatos, Dog Rose, Dog Rose Hips, Églantier, Fruit de l’Églantier, Gulab, Heps, Hip, Hip Fruit, Hip Sweet, Hipberry, Hop Fruit, Persian Rose, Phool Gulab, Pink Rose, Poire d’oiseaux, Rosa alba, Rosa centifolia, Rosa damascena, Rosa de castillo, Rosa gallica, Rosa Mosqueta, Rosa provincialis, Rosa canina, Rose Hips, Rosa lutetiana, Rosa pomifera, Rosa rugosa, Rosa villosa, Satapatri, Rosae pseudofructus cum semen, Rosehip, Rosehips, Rose des Apothicaires, Rose de Provins, Rose Rouge de Lancaster, Rosier de Provence, Satapatrika, Shatpari, Wild Boar Fruit.

This Unipurity brand is the mildest-smelling rose hip oil I've heard of. It's reasonably priced and the product is certified organic. That it is doing a great job of keeping my newly pedicured feet soft (not to mention how it's relieved my dry elbows and scalp) is extra-nice.

Peace
--Free

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Products I'd LOVE to Review

First a little personal note:

I'm in the midst of re-re-locating. I'm going to be living between family homes for a while. I will actually reside in Anchorage, but because of my awesome family support system, I will be able to get to Iowa every few months for a few weeks. This takes the stress off of me while I wait for an affordable place here in Anchorage (and shame of this city for not having enough affordable housing for singles!); my healthcare team is here, so I don't have to be anxious about that; I will get to see my little brother and sister often enough that we don't go into bonding withdrawals; and, most of all, I get to save money for when a place opens up here. Who else has family like mine!????

Oh yeah. These guys were a good family too.

Now, because I am (almost literally) moving in about 5 different directions at once, I have been slacking on the product reviews. I have a couple of new products in transit but, in the meantime, I thought it would be fun to talk about products I'm just SO wanting to try. (Maybe someone will see this and I'll get an offer to try out a few of these.)

You think I'm kidding? Nope.

• Anything from this brand. I did get a tiny sample of the Immune Perfect Continuous Hydration, but not enough to really test it over a few days. From the little bit I did try, I loved it. They have a special offer on a "dry skin treatment" (including the Continuous Hydration) that I'm just drooling over...
• "Love Curl Moisture Milk" by Camille Rose Naturals just sounds so yummy. My hair was almost too hydrated from the Iowa humidity, but the mineral-laden tap water also dried it out after shampooing. Now that I am back in Alaska, my body clock has re-adjusted but my hair is still confused! (Also, I kind of like the story of the product's founder.)
• And because I'm a little hair-obsessed right now, I'm also wanting to dry this Hair Dew by Oyin Handmade. I wish I knew their story. 
• TUKKA Naturals interests me because - well, it's for "naturals". Like me. I want to try this  conditioner and this duo. And, of course, I want to try this shampoo. (Aren't the names interesting?) Once again, I love the story.
• Getting away from the hair thing (sort of), I came across this quite by accident. I love the idea of using oils on my skin. I had never heard of Caiaué oil before this. One thing I can tell you is, I'm sure I will like the orange scent better than I do that of the rosehip oil (which works great, by the way)... I found that there is not as much info out there about this oil as I expected because it's better known as the trademarked name of Ojon oil. The company selling it on Amazon has this site. Huh.
• This is a little embarrassing to share, but I have bad feet. I don't mean "bad" as in crooked or anything like that. I mean "bad" as in I don't take the best care of my feet as I should. I have corns and calluses that could frighten a podiatrist. My calluses get so bad that I find it painful to walk barefoot on hard flooring. We have wood floors throughout the house here. Yeah. So... Now, I do soak and scrub and moisturize my feet like a fetishist, but if I miss one week of not doing all that, those calluses grow right back like a petri dish experiment. So, this product is on my radar. It even comes in an "orange". What caught my eye? That it's supposed to eliminate calluses in mintues. Oh, yeah. This one is on my radar for shu-ah.

Well, there's my little product Wish List. I didn't even add on all the makeup I want to try. That would make for a loooong list. There are all sorts of BB and CC creams and new lips stains I want to try out. I think I'm going to have to make some vendor suggestions to Tomoson.com

If any of you have had a chance to try any of these products (or any products from these brands), I'd be interested to get your take on how they work.

Peace
--Free

**In Depth REVIEW*** Nature's Best Vitamin C Serum (PART II)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. Okay, here goes Part 2 of this review of Nature's Best Vitamin C Serum.

First, let me say that I like the glass dropper that came with the serum because it keeps me from wasting any of the product. My next favorite thing: my moisturizer seems to work better when applied after the serum. You guys know how I am about my moisturizers!

Let's pause a moment

Before I give you my opinion, let me say here that I wouldn't use this product if I were not at the age I am. If you are young, I don't recommend using anti-aging products. Also, no matter what your age, before using anti-aging products, you should try regulating your nutrition and water intake to see if that is what your skin really needs. (By the way, I have already done these things. I am just at an age when I do need something to help my skin retain the moisture I get from adequate water intake and good nutrition.)

Now, on to the review of this particular product:

Am I noticing a difference in my skin? Some.

It's been just 8 days (and the guarantee is for after 45 days), but I can tell that my skin is less dry at the end of the day and first thing in the morning. Before this (especially in the summer), I sometimes would apply a bit of moisturizer during middle of the night bathroom trips. I hate for my skin to feel tight and dry.

I have some age spots (as you can see), and I can tell that they were not as noticeable after using the serum for just over a week. Also, my forehead lines seem to be fading (and I almost can't tell I have them once I apply my face powder).

The best way to tell if an anti-aging product is working is to ask someone who will be honest with both praise and criticism. For me, that "someone" is my sister! She says that she can tell a little bit of difference after this week. She said my lines seem "softer".

I'll take that.

For myself, I really like that I am seeing any results. I'm not seeing drastic results, but I am seeing more than I have with other products. And it's only been 8 days. I've tried other anti-aging products that didn't work at all - not even after months of trying them out - or that, if they do work, I'll never be able to afford to find out. I'm going to keep using this to see what happens in a few more weeks. (Then I'll do Part 3.)

Best of all, this is a simple and easy product to use. It doesn't take add a lot of time to my regular daily facial cleansing and moisturizing routine - which is a good thing because, otherwise, I might not bother to use it!

So, yep, this is something I would recommend to my "peers" (notice I didn't mention ages!) for a couple of reasons:

1. Excellent customer service
2. Product is not outrageously priced
3. It lasts a long time
4. It comes with the no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

Here is what my forehead lines looked like on the 14th:

On the 14th

On the 14th

Here is what they looked like this morning:

Today (8 days)

Catch you up on the latest when I check back in another few weeks.

Peace
--Free

**DISCLOSURE**
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

***In Depth REVIEW*** Nature's Best Vitamin C Serum (PART I)

This is the first part of a 3-part review for Nature's Best Vitamin C Serum from Mystelic. I will do the second part of the review when I've used this product for about 3 weeks, then I'll do the third and final part in June - about three weeks before my birthday.

comes with a little stopper
to make application easier.

I'm pretty excited to try this for several reasons:

• I've got a birthday coming up next month that starts with 5 and ends with 3.
• I manage to do a lot of smiling, despite life & it's worries. And all that smiling is showing up in the corners of my eyes and around my mouth!
• In the past few years, because of my illness and the meds, I gained 60lbs and have now lost 40 of those pounds. My face joined my body in the game and went from "elfin" and "aquiline" to "round" and "chubby". And that pendulum is now swinging back to the thinner version of me.
• I've always had youthful skin and I really want to keep my face at thirty, even if my body insists on celebrating every freaking birthday...
• You'll see why I'm trying the product when you get a look at the pics posted below!

Also, right off the bat, I like what that this product is vegan (even though I'm not!) and not tested on animals. Yay. Nothing had to suffer for my vanity. Another plus: read the disclaimer at the bottom of this post. Now, on to my pre-use expectations as I begin using today (note the date of post):

• I want to see some change in skin texture (less dry, a little plumping).
• A decrease in the wrinkling around my mouth and outer edge of my eye-line.
• An overall better make-up free look to my skin.
• Any improvement that I can get with the fine lines.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Directions are simple enough

I actually have heard of all the ingredients!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            What the product promises to deliver (paraphrased): 

• Clinically tested & proven to stimulate collagen, reversing the effects of aging.
• Highest quality Vitamin C serum available on the market. Guaranteed to work.
• Serum will remove toxins & create collagen, diminishing fine lines & wrinkles.
• Organic ingredients make the product perfect for all skin types (dry, oily, sensitive).
• Mfd in the USA by a top of the line FDA certified cosmetics lab.

Customers are advised to use the product for 45 days, then check for results. If not happy with those results, that's when that money-back guarantee kicks in. (I want to finish the review before my birthday, so, I'll give it 5 weeks. Close enough!) 

And.........Here we go!

These are pics of my face on this day, before I start using the product. I tried to do with and without makeup, before and after applying the product and my regular moisturizer (Anew). 

Ewwww... no makeup to hide the imperfections!

Not as bad in B&W! Note the smile lines at my mouth.
(Looking at the pic,I'm sure not smiling now!)

Better. Much better with some color,
even without makeup.

Ewww Pt 2! Hate the age spots.

All makeup removed from this area
to show mouth lines. Ugh!

This is with product and moisturizer,
 but no makeup.

Creepy eye! LOL

Lines & pores! Oh, my!

Forehead lines.
(Gotta do a dye job on the hair.)

MAKEUP! Yes!!! I should super-size this pic!

That right there, posting those closeup/no makeup pics? Sheer act of bravery! By the way, as far as how my skin feels - when I first applied it, I realized that it does dry fairly quickly. It goes on smoothly with a sort of slick feeling. When my skin dried, there was a very subtle tightness, which felt similar to when I use a toner product. Once I applied my moisturizer, my skin felt normal. 

Peace

--Free

***DISCLAIMER: I recieved this product free of charge to try for this review, but was not otherwise compensated.***

• 
  

***REVIEW*** Barielle Moisturizing Day Cream

Barielle Moisturizing Day Cream (with "Resveratrol") is a very reasonably priced product that I found at Sally Beauty Supply.

At first I thought that resveratrol was just a made-up word that was slapped on the jar to make me think this stuff just must be good for my skin. Man! I was floored when I saw that it is an actual, um, something. Specifically:

a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi.

I guess now would be the time for me to learn to pronounce it correctly instead of as "reverse-a-troll"! 

In addition to the fact that this cream is cheaper ($10.99) than those of other brands I've used (Avon, Clarins, etc.), it's pretty good stuff. It's better than the Correctionist* that I first chose when I was at Sally's recently, but not as good as the No7 by Boots*. The Correctionist was a couple dollars more ($12)  in price and the No7 was more expensive by half ($22), so...

As to how well this cream works, I have to say that is is very moisturizing without being heavy or "sticky." My skin right now is at a very dry stage (adjusting to summer weather), so this is good. If you have less dry - or combination - skin, I suggest trying one of the other Barielle face creams. 

day, night, eye, skin polish - oh my!

They have a bunch of skin care products. For this one though:

PROS:

• Price is excellent for the 1.5oz/42.5mL jar ($12 online)
• Shea butter is one of the ingredients
• While "fragrance" is listed on ingredients, I barely noticed any scent
• Because the cream is very rich, it takes just a little to apply to whole face
• There was no visible shine to my skin after applying

CONS:

• No sunscreen
• Jar was not as full as I expected (settling issues, maybe?)
• The brand is not one I've seen locally anywhere else except at Sally's

Now, I didn't exactly read the entire Wiki on resveratrol, but I did notice the note about it's effect on the skin:

The oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet radiation is one of the main causes for premature skin ageing. The photoprotective effects of several polyphenols known for their antioxidant properties, including resveratrol, have been investigated in silico and in topical application conditions.

That's a plus, I suppose - now that I even know about the stuff! Apparently, there are even supplements you can consume. Who knew about all this? WebMD has information on the supplements, by the way.

Peace

--Free

* I will be posting reviews on Correctives and No7 soon.