Review: Acure Day Cream

As a makeup artist, I often get asked about moisturizers for use under makeup. A good day moisturizer needs to be light enough to hydrate without leaving skin oily. Day moisturizers can also be mixed with powder foundations for DIY liquid foundations. So selections a quality product is crucial. One great pick? Acure Day Cream.

Pros:

• Absorbs quickly
• Yummy fruity scent
• Many organic ingredients
• Claims to help fight lines (wrinkles)
• Retail availability
• Gluten-free and vegan
  

Review: Acure Superfruit Cleansing Gel

It would be nice if my blemish problems were limited to my teen years, but, unfortunately, they never seemed to vanish entirely. I have combination skin, so I seek out products that help with oil control in all the right places (forehead, nose, and chin). Acure sent me their Facial Cleanser Gel (Superfruit and Chlorella Growth Factor), which is targeted to combination and oily skin types. I put it to the test.

Pros:

• Contains many organic ingredients
• A little goes a long way
• Lathers well
• Pleasant fruity scent
• Cleanses without drying
• Vegan and gluten-free
  

Review: Giovanni Soothing Unscented Facial Cleansing Towelettes

Sometimes it can be inconvenient to wash your face the traditional way. Whether you're at the gym, running errands on a hot day, or traveling, facial cleansing towelettes can be a convenient way to refresh. I tested out Giovanni's Soothing Unscented Facial Cleansing Towelettes on a recent trip to Hawaii.

Pros:

• Gentle ingredients (some organic)
• Cleaned and removed eye makeup
• Convenient to use
• Retail availability
• Unscented formula

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: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream and Night Cream

Night Cream

I used to have one moisturizer that I used mainly at night. At the time, I lived in a fairly humid climate. When I moved to drier climates, I found that I had to adjust my skin care routine, especially in the winter. Companies like Weleda make it easy to choose lotions for day and night, offering several sets for different skin types. They offer a pair of Pomegranate Firming Day Cream and corresponding Night Cream, designed for mature skin.

Pros:

• Lovely scent
• Leaves skin feeling soft and supple
• Very hydrating formulas
• A little goes a long way
• Retail availability

Review: Tarte Cosmetics Maracuja oil

Argan oil and coconut oil may be household names, but have you heard of maracuja oil? Cosmetic line Tarte Cosmetics, sold in stores such as Ulta and Sephora, offers Pure Maracuja Oil as a multi tasking product great for skin and hair.

Pros:

• Very gentle
• Absorbs quickly
• Multi tasking product
• Lovely bottle
• Light scent
• Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)
• Very moisturizing
  

Review: Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser

Exfoliation is a great way to keep your skin glowing, but many of us forget to incorporate it into our normal facial skin care routine. What if there was a way you could exfoliate and cleanse at the same time? Sibu makes this possible with a Balancing Facial Cleanser that uses exfoliating beads so your face is gently scrubbed with every wash.

Pros:

• Exfoliator and cleanser in one
• Pleasant citrus fragrance
• Leaves skin soft and clean
• Won't dry skin out
• Handy pump bottle
  

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: Hurraw! Balm Lip Balm and Tinted Lip Balm

When I first set out to test vegan lip balms, I thought they would all be pretty similar. Whether they come in a jar or a tube, lip balms seem to have few distinguishing qualities. I was delighted to discover that all these years I had been wrong; there was one lip balm that was different than the rest: Hurraw!

Pros:

• Buttery texture
• Comes in a variety of fun flavors
• Hip, stylish packaging
• Oval tube
• Simple, organic and raw ingredients
• Vegan and gluten-free

Review: Enfusia Spa Bar

I'd first heard on Enfusia when a vegan friend recommended their Bee Friendly Lip Balm, and I was curious to try other products in the line. Enfusia is made in my current home state, Texas, and is both a vegan and a gluten-free line, which caught my attention. A rep from the company was recently handing out samples of the Spa Bars at my local Whole Foods, so I took them home to test them out.

Pros:

• Wears down slowly
• Nice fragrance
• Leaves skin feeling clean, not dry
• Simple ingredients
• Gentle on skin
  

Review: Lunaroma Blemish Healing Blend

There are dozens of topical acne treatments on the market, but a much smaller variety of natural alternatives. The vast majority use tea tree oil, and this one is no exception. However, Lunaroma's Blemish Healing Blend is also a treat for the nose with its lovely herbal scent.

Pros:

• Easy roll-on applicator
• Pleasant herbal scent
• Gentle ingredients
• Helps treat blemishes
• A little goes a long way

Review: Lunaroma Soft Smooth Shave

When I moved to drier climates, I found that shaving cream became essential to getting a perfect shave. There aren't nearly as many natural shaving creams on the market as there are shampoos, especially when it comes to feminine scents. Lunaroma offers a Lavender Chamomile shaving lotion that is a treat for the senses.

Pros:

• Pleasant lavender fragrance
• Many organic ingredients
• Gentle formula
• Leaves skin soft and smooth
• Helps achieve a closer shave
  

Review: 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream

Note: Packaging has been updated
since photo was taken.

Caffeine is a beloved component of many American lifestyles, though mostly as a beverage. 100% Pure utilizes the benefits of caffeine in their Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, which incorporates both green tea and coffee to help treat the eye area. How does it compare to regular eye creams? Read on and find out.

Pros:

• Improved undereye texture
• Very gentle, mostly organic ingredients
• Pleasant tea/coffee scent
• Light enough to be worn under makeup
• Easy to apply
• Relatively affordable ($19)

Review: Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil Moisturizer

If you're tired of having lotions, potions, creams, gels, and everything in between, it might be time to simplify. Fortunately, there are a products on the market that are designed to serve multiple needs, from treating split ends to moisturizing your face and body. One example is argan oil, which Josie Maran sells as an organic moisturizer.

Pros:

• Very gentle
• A little goes a long way
• 100% organic
• Multi-tasking product
• Available in multiple sizes
  

Review: Eco Lips Bee Free Vegan Lip Balm

I have tried many Eco Lips products in the past, and I was delighted to see that they made an option for vegans. This balm, called the Bee Free Vegan Lip Balm, is like your old standby lip balm with one fun twist: a lemon-lime flavor.

Pros:

• Fun lemon-lime scent
• Soft, melty texture
• Hydrating on dry lips
• Affordable
• Many organic ingredients

Cons:

• May be hard to find in stores

Review: L'uvalla Anti-Wrinkle Eye/Lip Cream

When you start to notice fine lines and wrinkles, sometimes you want more than a simple eye moisturizer. There are dozens of eye creams on the market with anti-aging claims, but L'uvalla's Eye/Lip Cream sets itself apart with its organic ingredients and aromatherapy. Is it worth the price?

Pros:

• Thick, creamy texture
• A little goes a long way
• Very moisturizing
• Can gradually help reduce the appearance of fine lines
• Contains many organic ingredients
• Gentle formula

Review: Desert Essence Facial Cleansing Pads

Note: Packaging has been updated since photo was taken.

When looking for an affordable, natural solution to my teenage blemishes, I first turned to the brand Desert Essence. It caught my attention, as it was one of the few skin care lines carried in Trader Joe's. While my usual grocery store changed when I moved, I still seek out products such as their Facial Cleansing Pads at local health food stores. Read on to find out why.

Pros:

• Easy to apply
• No need to buy extra cotton pads
• Affordable
• Retail availability
• Pads retain moisture well
• Contains several organic ingredients
  

Cons:

• Sometimes stings a little

Summary:
After many years, I have found Desert Essence to be an affordable, readily available, and gentle solution to my occasional blemishes. The Facial Cleansing Pads are no exception. I love how they stay moist almost indefinitely in this tight-sealing jar. I use them as a toner, and only add the blemish treatment if I'm dealing with a more intense breakout. The tea tree oil mix stings lightly, but the effect goes away quickly and this product really works. The pads are also gentle, with the current formula rating a low 2 on EWG's Skin Deep database. I enjoy the convenience of the pads - no dumping toner onto cotton pads and no spills. When I travel, I take a few in a zip-top bag, as the container is a little bulky for travel. If you're looking for a convenient, effective toner and treatment for blemishes, these pads are a great option.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

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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