Pharmacopia — A Great Brand of Herbal Elixirs!

Pharmacopia creates natural aromatherapy products that are as good for the soul as they are for the body! Pharmacopia’s mission is, “We believe what you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat! We shun the use of artificial colors, fillers, fragrances, synthetics and parabens. Instead we pack our products full of healthy, plant based, nourishing ingredients like shea butter and sea algae.” The products I’ve tried are:

Rosemary Bath Salts ($8.99 USD 6 oz) -are blended with essential oils of peppermint and eucalyptus to refresh and revitalize while easing sore joints and muscles. Tossing some into my bath sooths the aches from my day and truly relaxes. The ingredients include; epsom salt and essential oils of rosemary, lavender and juniper.

Lavender Hand Cream ($10.75 USD 2.70 oz) –is an organic shea butter hand cream that is  paraben free.  The wonderful scent is an aromatic blend of lavender and Roman Chamomile. I really like it because it leaves my hands soft and smooth.

Herbal Lip Elixir ($7.99 USD) — is my favorite of the products I tested. It’s 100% vegan,and includes chamomile and tangerine to make it as brightly fragrant as it is soothing. This is great for dry, chapped lips and feels fantastic on!
 
Check out the Pharmacopia site to learn more about and to purchase these affordable and luxurious products at www.pharmacopia.net. Enjoy!

Yes to Carrots New Lip Tints and Lip Glosses

Yes to Carrots, creators of fabulous natural skin and hair products have just release lip tints and lip glosses. They are 95% organic and paraben and phthalate free, so you can feel guiltless about your pretty lip color!

C Me Blush Lip Tints (approx. $4.49 USD), are like a lip balm with a hint of color.   They nourish  and protect the lips with organic vegetable extracts, vitamin E, coconut, jojoba & sunflower oils, shea butter, and beeswax. Mineral pigments add color naturally. They are available in six fresh colors; Sunset Pink, Natural Smile, Cotton Candy, Coral Sunshine, Chocolate Kiss and Ready Red.

C Me Shine Lip Glosses (approx. $6.49 USD) are shiny, non-sticky glosses that are perfect for every day. They contain essentially the same good for you ingredients of the tints, but offer a more polished look. They also are available in six colors; Flirty Pink, Carrot Kiss, Cocoa Loco, Playful Nude, Rose Bliss and Red Hot.

Both the lip tints and glosses have a minty scent and feel a little tingly on. For the price, they are a very good buy! Visit the website at www.yestocarrots.com to learn more and find a retailer near you.   

My 5 Top Finds in 2009 — So Far…

 

I am so excited, as this is my 100th blog post! I started my blog in September 2008. But since January, I have received lots of fantastic products from fab companies to sample and review. I have looked back and found my 5 very favorite products or companies. These items are so good, I would definitely purchase them!

1. Lipstick Queen Big Bang Illusion Gloss ($20.00 USD www.lipstickqueen.com) — is probably the best gloss I have tried. Its light reflecting particles create the illusion of fuller lips without irritating ingredients. And it is creamy, not sticky. FAB!

2. Anything from Kenzo (www.kenzousa.com)! From their fragrances to their skincare items, Kenzo is all about quality and just plain fabulosity! Their scents are very subtle and fresh, like the Eau de Fleur de The – Tea (1.7 oz , $55.00 USD).

3. EcoTools (www.parispresents.com/EcoTools_s/36.htm) Makes the most wonderful — and affordable — makeup brushes and tools and are created from recycled and sustainable materials. I’m really digging the Foundation Brush ($5.99 USD) and the Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki Brush ($7.99 USD) right now, but their are so many to choose from!

4. Tigi Love, Peace & The Planet line is a really fantastic eco-friendly line for your hair. The Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner($19.95 each USD) smells out of this world! It’s not up on the TIGI Website yet, but it should be soon.

5. LUSH (www.lushusa.com) makes lovely fresh handmade bath and beauty items. I really love their bath bombs! What a fun treat. But they also make quality skincare and haircare.

These are just a few of my favorite products that I have tried. I have been so lucky to love almost everything that I have received. You are welcome to peruse my blog for other awesome items that you haven’t tried yet!

Announcing 100th Blog Post Giveaways!

Hi all! Tomorrow (April 27th) I am going to write my 100th blog post! I have been reviewing beauty products since September of last year and I am loving it more each day!

To commemorate the occasion, I am having 3 different giveaways. They are:

EcoTools Recycled Brow Grooming Kit ($11.99 USD) and Bamboo Powder Puffs ($1.99 USD). EcoTools makes great eco-conscious cosmetic tools. I reviewed the brand in a post on March 29th — http://tiny.cc/VMhLp

It Cosmetics Smokin’ Hot Legs Kit ($69.00 USD) and My Youthful Smile in Kiss Me Now ($32.00 USD) It Cosmetics knows how to make the best of any feature. Check out my review of their my sculpted face on March 23rd —   http://tiny.cc/lVhRQ

Yes to Carrots new C Me Blush Lip Tint in Chocolate Kiss ($4.49 USD) and C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Flirty Pink ($6.49). These are brand new products that I have not reviewed yet, but will this week. Yes to carrots makes fantastic natural and organic products that are as good for you as they feel! Check out my reviews on some of their other products at http://tiny.cc/BTfq5 and http://tiny.cc/psr1R

So how do I win these fantastic products, you ask? SO easy! Just leave a comment on any  of my posts past or present starting 4/26 (today, yes on this one, too!) through 5/2. I’m going to old-school it by writing all entries down and having each of my 3 lovely daughters pick a name from a bowl! I will then notify you by email and get your mailing address. Good Luck!

Pamper Yourself with Carol’s Daughter

I have begun the think about Mother’s Day (May 10th) and what I’m going to get for my mother and mother-in-law. Being a beauty blogger, I love giving products that I have tried and enjoyed. Great hint for your mom or other cool lady you love — Carol’s Daughter!

Talk about pampering! The products from this line are rich, luxurious and soothing and are made from natural ingredients. I recommend trying and giving some of these goodies:

Almond Cookie Shea Souffle ($13.00 – 30.00 USD) — This is a whipped body butter. If you love the scent of almonds, this is a good one!  The fragrance is a combination of almonds blended with marzipan, sandalwood and musk. It goes on almond-y and dries down to a powdery scent that lingers all day. Even when I’m not wearing perfume, people comment that I smell so good! And it leaves my skin VERY soft.

If your looking for a highly pigmented lip gloss, try Candy Paint ($13.50 USD).  – I like that this moisturizing gloss is not too sticky and that the  color is well pigmented. It is infused with natural ingredients such as grapeseed oil, shea butter, aloe vera extract and vitamin E to hydrate, condition, protect and soothe your lips. The gloss comes in 15 shades, so their is a great selection.  I really like the Bubbling Brown Sugar which is a shimmering bronze that is much darker in the tube then on. Very pretty!

Tui Hair Smoothie ($19.00 USD) — This is essentially a hair mask that you can leave on a few to about 15 minutes to get the conditioning that you need. It is rich in essential oils and Shea and Cocoa butters that provide moisture and protection. My hair gets very dry and frizzy in the Kansas City humidity and I find that this really helps. And like that its paraben-free and doesn’t include petroleum, mineral oil, or artificial color.Visit the website at www.carolsdaughter.com to check out these and other fantastic products. Enjoy!

Kiss My Face Potent and Pure Face Care

 

Kiss My Face makes natural and organic skin care. I was lucky enough to try items from their Potent & Pure line. The system was created by combining scientific knowledge with botanicals, vitamins, extracts and minerals. Potent & Pure is safe for sensitive skin and does not contain parabens, phthalates, SLS, artificial colors and fragrances, and is not tested on animals.  

The products I tried are:

Start Up® Exfoliating Face Wash ($15.00 USD) “Cleanse and exfoliate skin with organic ingredients. Clarify, cleanse and luminize skin with this revitalizing blend of natural green tea and other pure renewable plant sources, many certified organic. Gently exfoliate with natural fruit acids.” Contains Natural Fruit Acids, Lemongrass oil and green tea.

Shea Soy Facial Cleansing Bar ( $13.00 USD ) – “Gently cleanse and calm with organic ingredients. This creamy, fragrance free bar contains organic oils, shea butter and aloe to moisturize while you cleanse. Your skin will feel fresh, smooth and hydrated.” Contains shea butter, aloe and soy oil.

Cell Mate® Face Crème & SOF 10 Sunscreen ($21.00 USD)  – “Lightly moisturize and protect skin while reducing the signs of aging with organic ingredients. Instantly enhance skin tone, reduce fine lines and protect from environmental stresses. Antioxidant vitamins and botanicals soothe and revitalize throughout the day while natural mineral sun block helps protect skin.” Contains titanium dioxide, lavender and horsetail.

Eyewitness™ Eye Repair Crème ($19.00 USD) –  “Reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness with organic ingredients. Smooth the appearance of wrinkles and moisturize the delicate skin around your eyes. Natural and organic oils and butters leave skin looking hydrated and rejuvenated.” Contains hawthorne Bery exrract, shea butter and rose hips.

So Refined® Jojoba & Mint Facial Scrub ($15.00 USD) –  “Exfoliate and polish the skin’s appearance with organic ingredients. This non-drying, natural humectant gently exfoliates and purifies skin by removing dirt with organic jojoba beads and other natural and organic herbs and plant oils. Helps skin look visibly younger and refreshed.” Contains jojoba beads grapeseed oil and mint.

Pore Shrink™ Deep Cleansing Mask $15.00 – “Organic ingredients detoxify skin and diminish the appearance of pores. This deep cleaning clay mask helps to remove oils and bacteria from the skin. Cloves, tea tree, lemongrass and other natural, organic and aromatherapeutic® botanical extracts clean and smooth skin’s appearance. Contains bentonite clay, teat tree oil and lemon grass oil.”

I really liked both the face wash and the cleansing bar. My skin is combination, so both worked for me. The face wash smells citrusy and is refreshing. The bar is very mild. Both left my skin clean and fresh-feeling.  Also very cleansing, (and exfoliating) is the facial scrub. This smells very minty and feels great on. Once its rinsed off, my face is very smooth.

My favorite product is the cleansing mask. I love clay masks. They get rid of all of the gunk in the pores. Plus it is green and I got to chase my 5 year old around screaming, “Green Mommy Monster”, so that was a plus!

Probably my least favorite was the face cream. Since it does contain sunscreen, it left a white film on my face that took a while to soak in. I had to wait a bit in the morning to apply my makeup. Besides that, it is a nice cream as is the eye cream.

I really recommend this line. It is very good for you and affordable, too. Check out the website at www.kissmyface.com to check out the Potent & Pure line and other great products. They also have a store locator so you can find a retailer near you.

Want to Cover the Grays Naturally? Try Clairol Natural Instincts

Natural Instincts' Golden Cappuccino
Natural Instincts' Golden Cappuccino

 

For my last review in my hair-stravaganza week, I decided to review a home hair color. In this crazy economical climate, I need to cut at lease a few corners when it comes to beauty. Clairol, a leader in the home hair color arena, is a good one to try.

A few weeks back, I attended a webinar on home hair color featuring Clairol’s Natural Instincts (approximately $9.49 USD). It touted Natural Instincts non-permanent, ammonia free color as a healthy alternative to harsher products. The color lasts through 28 shampoos and is gentle enough to be used once a month.

Something interesting that was featured on the webinar is that you can use a shade that is lighter than your natural hair color, and it won’t change the color, but enhance it.

So far I have tried Golden Cappuccino from the Golden Shimmer collection. It is a dark golden brown that is very pretty. It gave my hair a warm, golden tint. Next I am going to try Clove, a medium ash brown. It’s a very pretty cool color that will add a different hue to my hair.

To check out the different colors and types of Natural Instincts as well as other Clairol hair color, visit the website at www.clairol.com.

Let Your Hair Go Green with the TIGI Love, Peace & the Planet Collection

Love, Peace & The Planet Collection
Love, Peace & The Planet Collection

 Hi all, welcome to my Hair Extravaganza Week! I am reviewing only hair products this week at Forty, Flirty and Fabulous! 

Tigi is introducing it’s Love, Peace & The Planet eco-friendly line. This line of six products is made from natural, paraben free, and mostly organic ingredients that are as good for the planet as they are for your hair!

The products are:

Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Shampoo ($19.95 USD) — This is the BEST hair scent ever! When you first sniff the bottle, the smell of mint is dominant. But when you shampoo, the cranberry and orange infuse the shower with this incredible fragrance! This is great for the scent alone, but the organic aloe leaf juice, organic geranium, organic lavender and rosemary seed extracts and organic jojoba oil make this shampoo both cleansing and softening.

Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Conditioner ($19.95 USD) — Same fantastic scent as the shampoo! The conditioner includes organic aloe leaf juice, organic olive fruit oil, organic white tea leaf extract,  and organic glycerin. This product claims to moisturize, impart shine and help fight humidity. My hair does seem less frizzy when I use it.

Let it Be Cherry Almond Leave-in Conditioner ($18.95 USD) — This product has a creamy, comforting scent and is great when you don’t have time to condition in the shower or need an extra moisture boost. The ingredients include: mucor miehei and shiitake mushroom extracts, glycerin, organic shea butter and organic hibiscus and horsetail extracts.

Freak of Nature Lavender Citrus Eucalyptus Volumizer & Thickener ($18.95) — This is a good product for me since my hair is rather thin. The scent is nice but strong, you can really smell the Eucalyptus! I rub this into damp hair, making sure I get the roots, then blow dry. The ingredients include: organic Japanese green tea extract, organic pomegranate extract, organic nettle, organic glycerin and wheat amino protein.

Eco Freako Cherry Almond Texturizer ($22.95 USD) — This texturizer paste includes carnauba, soy and beeswax, hydrolyzed wheat starch, hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed wheat protein plus organic safflower oil, organic shea butter and organic jojoba seed oil. It adds shine and texture and you can mold your hair into fun and funky ‘dos.

Free Ur Mind Cherry Almond Firm Hold Hairspray ($22.95 USD) — This hairspray gives a firm hold without feeling sticky. The ingredients include: organic lavender, chamomile, geranium and aloe vera gel, panthenol and essential oils.

I highly recommend this line for healthy, green (haha) hair! Check out a TIGI retailer near you!

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Collection

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying
Jurlique Purely Age-Defying
 

I love organic and natural skincare; plus I love anti-aging products (a little help doesn’t hurt anyone!). Jurlique’s Purely Age-Defying Collection (Formerly the Biodynamic Beauty Collection) is both! It is comprised of herbs and flowers from certified organic and biodynamic farms in South Australia. These unique blends are as follows:

Serum ($75.00 USD) and Night Lotion ($55.00 USD): This blend includes Rose Gallica, Licorice Root, Black Elder, Chamomile, Pansy and Violet extracts, which work together to combat the appearance of redness and fade discolorations to brighten the skin. The Serum renews the skin while the Night Lotion restores. 

Refining Treatment ($35.00 USD) :This blend includes Calendula, Witch Hazel, Echinacea, Spilanthes, Horse Chestnut, Pansy, Sweet Violet, Daisy, Dandelion, Chickweed, Self Heal and Soapbark Tree extracts, which work together to soothe, cleanse and refine the skin to reveal a glowing complexion. This is a natural skin polisher that exfoliates the skin.

Eye Cream ($45.00 USD) :  This blend includes Arnica, Euphrasia, Daisy and Spilanthes, which work together to help combat puffiness and help fade discolorations to brighten the skin.

These products have a light, herbal scent and are very gentle on the skin. I have been using them for a few weeks and my skin is very smooth. I have broken out just a little bit, but my skin looks good!

My favorite products from the line are the Refining Treatment and the Eye Cream. The Refining treatment is a really great scrub that gets rid of all of the dead skin and impurities. And the Eye Cream! Wow, my eyes look smooth and very young right now! I definitely recommend the Eye Cream because its a really effective natural product!

To purchase these items, visit the Jurlique website at www.jurlique.com. Enjoy! 

    

Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss

Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss
Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss

 

Looking for a lip gloss made with natural ingredients? Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss ($16.00 USD) is a great choice! Korres is a Greek company that makes all natural products ranging from skincare, haircare, body products and cosmetics.

This moisturizing gloss comes in 10 different shades. I have Nude which is a sheer pinky beige. It is a great every day color, but this gloss also has dramatics shades such as Red and Fuchsia.

The gloss is infused with Vitamins A & C, cherry and jojoba oil. It is not made with parabens, sulfates, petro-chemicals or GMO.

To see all that Korres offers, check out their website at www.korres.com or to purchase in the US, go to www.sephora.com.