Review: Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

I first heard about luxury skin care line Tata Harper from celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson. With such high prices, I wondered if there was something magical in their products. The ingredient list looked very natural, but was excited to test out their Regenerating Cleanser to see if it was worth the hype.

Pros:

• Certified vegan
• Lovely scent
• May help clear up skin
• Gentle exfoliation
• 83% organic ingredients
  

Review: Now Solutions Green Tea & Pomegranate Day Cream

I tend to be very discerning when it comes to facial moisturizers. I have normal to oily skin, so I seek out lotions that are light and not too oily. I also prefer lotions that absorb quickly, so I can wear them under any type of makeup. One product that meets these requirements is Now Solutions' Green Tea & Pomegranate Day Cream.

Pros:

• Light, fruity scent
• Affordable
• Absorbs quickly
• Made with organic aloe vera leaf gel
• Light enough to wear under makeup

Review and Giveaway: Montagne Jeunesse Vegan Masks

Four vegan options for ladies

Facials, masks, and other treatments tend to be popular in Europe, while they are often relegated to spas and beauty nights here. A professional treatment can be quite expensive, so I prefer to pamper my face with at-home masks. Montagne Jeunesse, a company from the U.K. makes a line of affordable face masks, including several vegan options.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Retail availability
• Convenient packets
• Effective
• A variety of vegan options

Cons:

• Safety ratings vary

Summary:

There are also two vegan options for men.

The performance of these masks is quite good; they seemed to leave my skin feeling cleaner, tighter, and not too dry. Each mask is designed for a particular purpose, so you can target certain skin conditions or prepare for a special event. While I have reviewed a Montagne Jeunesse mask before, I was glad to see that the company has several vegan offerings. One type that was new to me was the peel-off mask, such as this Green Tea option. The peel-off mask had a texture similar to shampoo and almost applied clear. I made a fairly thick layer of it, and, once dried, it actually peeled off quite well.

After doing a sampling of ratings on the EWG Skin Deep database, these masks average about a 3. I was glad to see that parabens were removed from the formula recently, so the company clearly is interested in keeping their products fairly gentle. However, at such an affordable price, I was not surprised to see ingredients such as propylene glycol and FD&C colors, which come in around a 3 each on the EWG Skin Deep database.

If you are looking for these masks in the store, I saw some by this brand at CVS and you might also want to check at Ulta. The manufacturer will soon launch a U.S. store for more convenient ordering. To note, vegan masks include the Green Tea Peel Off Masque, the Red Hot Earth Sauna Masque, the Cucumber Peel Off Masque, the Apricot Scrub, the Mens' Dead Sea Mud Masque, and the Mens' Peel Off Pore Cleansing Masque, all of which are also gluten-free. To note, the mens' masks have a similar performance, but scents are tailored to the genders. If you're looking for a fairly gentle face mask that is affordable and suitable for home use, check out the vegan options from Montagne Jeunesse.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Giveaway:
I have a Montagne Jeunesse Vegan Skin Care Bundle (assembled by Montagne Jeunesse) available to give away to one lucky reader! One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. Just leave a comment through the Rafflecopter widget below stating your skin type. Additional entries are available for posting this giveaway Twitter (this can be done daily for up to one additional entry each day, also using the widget so you get credit). Contest ends 12/17/13 at 12:01 AM EST. Best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Review: Ren Skincare Rosa Centifolia Facial Cleansing Gel

I was sent several products to review by the skin care line REN, which I had initially seen in a Sephora store. Although REN's products were priced higher than other lines, I wanted to put them to the test to see if they performed better or were more gentle than the competitors. One of the products I tried was their Rose Centifolia Facial Cleansing Gel.

Pros:

• Left face feeling clean but not dry
• Gentle on sensitive skin
• Light rosy scent
• Relatively gentle ingredients

Review: Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Foaming Facial Wash

When it comes to drugstore cleansers, I usually shy away. Ingredient lists are full of chemicals, and many of the products are tested on animals. While in a local Walgreen's, I was surprised to find a cleanser that not only looked natural based on the packging, but it also wasn't tested on animals and didn't contain some of the usual suspects in the ingredients list. What was it called? Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Foaming Facial Wash.

Pros:

• Cleanses without drying
• Fragrance free
• Retail availability
• Forms a nice lather
• Affordable (especially at Walgreen's)
  

Cons:

• May melt during transport

Summary:
This fragrance free face wash doesn't smell like much, except perhaps witch hazel. It is easy to use and lathers up for easy cleaning. I was pleased to see that the parent brand uses no animal ingredients, in addition to their no animal testing policy. The ingredients are much better than most drugstore brands. This wash rates
a low to moderate 3 on the EWG Skin Deep database, which is weighed down by the use of quaternium-15.  I found it gentle on my combination skin, and the witch hazel helps with occasional breakouts. The bottle says "all skin types," but I would amend this to "normal to oily," as it doesn't seem as well suited to dry/mature skin types. If you're in the drugstore and looking for a vegan, cruelty-free face wash, this is an affordable and effective option.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Disclosure notice: This product was purchased by the reviewer using a mail-in rebate. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Review: Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion

There comes a time in almost every woman's life when she realizes she has her first wrinkle. I'm of the belief that it's better to age gracefully and naturally than to try to defy nature with plastic surgery, but that doesn't mean that I don't want a little help keeping my skin elastic and youthful. Weleda has a line of Wild Rose products for those who are starting to show their first lines, and who want a little extra TLC. One of their products is the Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion.

Pros:

• No synthetic fragrances
• Lovely rose scent
• Light enough to wear under makeup
• Gentle firming effect
• A little goes a long way
  

Review: Derma E Age-Defying Eye Creme

Anti-aging skin care is serious business. Many companies charge exorbitant prices promising solutions to the smallest wrinkles. Derma E offers a more affordable line with excellent natural ingredients that is also 100% vegan. Read on for a review of their Age-Defying Eye Creme.

Pros:

• Light, pleasant fragrance
• Helped firm and tone skin near eyes
• Light enough to be worn under makeup
• A little goes a long way
• Silky texture
• Relatively affordable for an eye treatment