Archive for organic skin care
Have a Piece of Pai
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s more American than apple pie? Nothing really, but I’ve recently found out England does quite well too with pie….well not exactly pie, but “Pai.” 
Pai is an organic skin care line designed especially for sensitive skin. You know the kind…the kind of skin which reacts to the slightest ingredient. I have this kind of skin sometimes…I know I am sensitive to a product or ingredient when I get red bumps! I was excited to try Pai skin care for a few reasons.
They May Be On to Something…
Europe has much stricter regulation for cosmetics than we do here. They have banned tons more toxic ingredients in cosmetics than the US. In fact, many of those ingredients are still used in America skin care lines. When are we going to catch up to the European high standard of cosmetic ingredients?
I recently reviewed a French skin and hair care line and when I had the opportunity to try Pai, an English based line, I gladly offered up my face as a guinea pig. What I really liked about Pai was that their products are specifically made for people with skin sensitivities…and I know a lot of you experience this. Their skin care products are 100% chemical free, with no irritants such as artificial fragrances, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol and parabens. Sometimes even when you read ingredient labels for natural or organic products, it may still be hard to understand what you’re reading. Pai was the first skin care company to list and explain all their contents on the label. This is even more important for those of us who have reactions to ingredients. Pai uses organic ingredients and is certified by the Soil Association so you know their products definitely stand up to scrutiny.
Let’s Skip Right to the Pai
I used two products from the Pai line, the Chamomile and Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream and the Camelia and Rose Organic Cleanser. I also received the Organic Muslin Face Cloth..more about that later! I can honestly say that I adored the Chamomile and Rosehip Skin Cream. Very rarely do I ever use a cream to the last drop and this is exactly what I did with this. It was so light and moisturizing, with a really lovely delicate scent. I used it after the shower and when I applied it to my skin, it felt as though my skin instantly drank it up, saying, “Gulp, gulp!” My skin felt so nourished with these pure ingredients. Here are a few and their benefits:
Chamomile: A member of the daisy family which contains azulene, a soothing anti-inflammatory substance
Rose Hip: skin healing fruit of the rose plant, rich in omega 3 and 6, vitamin C, works together to regenerate skin
Here are the rest of the easy to understand ingredients:
purified water, chamomile water*, apricot kernel oil*, corn-based emulsifier, jojoba oil*, rosehip oil*, thistle oil*, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, chamomile extract*, rosehip seed extract, corn extract, manuka oil*, rosemary antioxidant*, lavender oil*, rose geranium oil*, basil extract, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet)
I also liked the Camelia and Rose Organic Cleanser. The directions on the bottle said to wet face, massage the cleanser into skin, and remove with a warm wool face cloth, so I used the Pai Organic Muslin Face Cloth…the cloth was a bit rough for me and I ended up getting eye makeup on it. So I washed it in the washing machine. Big mistake. It shrank and was about as small as a slice of cheese. So thereafter, I just used a wet, warm washcloth to remove the cleanser. My face was left so moist and smooth unlike many cleansers which can dry out your skin after washing. It’s good for everyday cleansing and is a great makeup remover too. The ingredients rock! Here’s what the main two ingredients can do for your skin: 
camelia: oil with omega 3, vitamins A, B, C, and E, used in Japan for centuries (have you ever seen a Japanese woman’s skin? Gorgeous!)
rose: retains moisture, tones, and hydrates
rose water*, water, camellia oil*, castor oil*, sweet almond oil*, coconut and corn-derived emulsifier, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, corn extract, basil extract, lavender oil*, geranium oil*, may chang oil*, rose oil*, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet)
Overall, my piece of Pai was extremely enjoyable. I loved what these products did for my skin and the fact that their ingredients are in plain English and safe for my body both inside and outside. They are ok for vegans and somewhat affordable too. The 4.2 oz cleanser is $35 (also available as a sample size for $8, love that option!) and the 1oz. cream is $38 (you can also get a trial of this too.) I used the entire bottle of cream (using it twice a day) and it lasted me 3 months! So you can see a little goes a long way….don’t overdo it when applying moisturizer!.So have you decided to indulge in a little Pai yourself? Head on over to usa.paiskincare.com to have yourself a piece.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Disclaimer: This review consists of my honest reflections and experience while using Pai Skincare. I was not paid for this review, however I did receive products free for review.
A Gift From the Bees
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A very busy bee!
Most of the time when I am outdoors and I see a bee, I run! Many people are allergic to the sting of bees (I think I am, so therefore I run!) but have you ever thought about just how useful bees are to us? Not only do we get honey from bees, but we can also use the other magical substances bees produce to have healthier bodies and skin.
A Miracle for Skin
Have you ever heard of Sweet Blessed Bee Magic? Probably not….I hadn’t either. The name alone makes you think of a beautiful flowered meadow full of fuzzy black and yellow bees pollinating flowers. It’s a fantastic organic skin cream with immense therapeutic properties. It’s a golden colored, creamy substance that is just heaven to rub into skin. Not only does it moisturize even the dryest skin, it heals as well. It can be used for burns, cuts, rashes and skin irritations. The ingredients are like nature’s medicine for your skin. From their website: “Bee Magic is packed with naturally occurring bactericides, germicides and anti-inflammatory properties that actively begin cleaning, healing, protecting and soothing the affected area.” I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Sometimes I find I get a little redness or bumps on my skin…not sure from what, be it a heat rash or irritation from the elements. I rubbed some of the Bee Magic cream directly on my leg where I had the bumps. Within a few days, they were gone! I even used a few times when I had overindulged in the sun and had a bit of a sunburn. It soothed my skin so well! I can attest to the healing powers of this amazing product.
Bees give us many gifts.
Use it on everything!
Not only is it a healing balm, but it’s also a wonderful daily moisturizer for all skin types, even babies! I used it on my face as well as my body and the feel is just so luxurious. Your skin is reaping the benefits of so many beneficial compounds! What’s in Bee Magic? Not that much but what it does contain packs a healing punch: organic extra virgin olive oil, organic beeswax, organic honey, propolis, organic bee pollen and royal jelly. These are live, active, ingredients. They are not processed but are their purest form so you can get all the health benefits. Just what does each ingredient provide? Here’s just a sampling of what each ingredient can do:
Simple, pure ingredients make Bee Magic so effective.
Organic extra virgin olive oil- contains the antioxidant Vitamin E, promotes soft and supple skin
Organic beeswax- full of nutrients, locks in moisture, fosters cells and protects skin from damaging environmental factors
Organic honey- I’ve posted about the many rich benefits of honey. See the post here.
Propolis – cures burns, skin infections, and lesions effectively because of it’s anti-bacterial properties (scientific studies backs this up)
Organic bee pollen- reduces inflammation, soothes itching and moisturize dry skin
Royal jelly- contains B-complex vitamins, minerals, vitamins A, D, E, enzymes, 18 amino acids, and antibacterial and antibiotic compounds. Promotes youthful skin.
Are you convinced?
If you weren’t thinking Bee Magic was a miracle product before, are you now? The ingredients are so extremely therapeutic and in the making of this product, bees are not harmed at all. I believe they were put on the earth to do what they are doing and why shouldn’t we benefit from their gifts? However, if you’re vegan and only use vegan products, I wouldn’t recommend this one for you. But just to reassure you, the great folks behind Bee Magic lovingly handcraft their product giving thanks to the blessed bees for their “heavenly golden healing nectar.” Check out the The Medicine Mama for great insight into how Bee Magic is made.
So bottom line, how much is it?? Well, a 2 ounce jar is $16.99 (sold in stores) and a 4 ounce jar is offered online for $29.95 with free shipping. I took to keeping a small container near my bed and whenever I felt a little dry skin or irritation, I’d spread some on. I literally loved this cream and I really think you would too. Give it a try. By the way, I am not even an affiliate of Bee Magic and will not receive any commission by promoting it. This is just a product I truly believe in, adore and feel as though anyone who used it will benefit in tremendous ways. See my video below!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Real Purity Organic Skin Care: “Face Food for Thought”
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The beauty of nature with Real Purity
My absolute favorite skin care company is Real Purity, a family owned company who truly believe in putting YOU first. Many people have never heard of them, yet they’ve been around for many years. It is the best kept secret in organic skin care….and now I am about to share that secret!
For those of you who don’t know, even though it is not on their labels, Real Purity is organic. They have also signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. They are working on the labeling and entering all their products into the Cosmetic Safety Database…a daunting task indeed. In addition, they have just launched their new website: http://www.realpurity.com! There are many exciting things in store for Real Purity and I am very grateful to be a part of them.
I’ve previously posted reviews of some of my favorite Real Purity products including mascara and holistic deodorant. Not until now have I gotten a chance to try out the skin care line. After using the products for about 8 weeks, I am extremely satisfied with the results and the performance of the products. Safe ingredients combine with performance to make some very unique skin care products. Once you start using Real Purity, you may not want to ever use anything else. Real Purity cosmetics are formulated with you in mind. Their motto is always, “People before profit.” They’ve consulted with Naturopathic Doctors, Biochemists, Clinical Nutritionists, Enzyme Therapists, Natural Estheticians, and Master Clinical Herbalists to bring you safe, healthy products. Real Purity never tests on animals. This is not necessary when you know the ingredients are from nature.
And now on to the good stuff!
The products I used from their skin care line included:
Cleansing Lotion
Cleaning Milk
Honey Almond Scrub
Facial Masque Dehydrated
Creme Supreme
For some of the products, I was sent a sample…for the rest they were full sized products I continue to enjoy now.
Cleansing Lotion/Cleansing Milk
I liked both of the cleansers….probably leaning more toward the milk cleanser, as milk is incredibly soothing and exfoliating for the skin. Both of the cleansers cleaned my face completely, rinsing clean and leaving my face feeling soft and moisturized. My face did not feel dried out like it sometimes feels after washing my face. the Cleansing Milk also contains aloe and other natural ingredients. The Cleansing Milk is priced at $17.99. The Cleaning Lotion is $15.99.
Check out the ingredients in the Cleansing Milk:
Purified water, proprietary blend of organic fruit & nut oils, organic vegetable glycerin, organic milk, organic hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), organic aloe vera, organic botse™ (organic plant preservative system)
Honey Almond Face Scrub by Real Purity
After cleansing, it’s always a good idea to exfoliate with a good facial scrub, at least once a week. Many scrubs on the market today are extremely rough on the skin. When you use face scrub, it should gently exfoliate, not strip the skin completely. Enter Real Purity Honey Almond Scrub. When I first opened the jar, I didn’t know whether to put it on my face or eat it! It smells wonderful and when I used it, a bit did get in my mouth and it was sweet! The main ingredients are honey (there’s the sweetness!) almonds, and oatmeal. Now you can see why I wanted to eat it! This scrub is creamy and feels lovely on the skin. After using this organic scrub priced at $14.99, my skin felt like it had been pampered.
Here are the Honey Almond Scrub Ingredients:
Oatmeal, Raw Honey, Natural Vegetable Glycerin, Kaolin, Purified Water, Almond Meal, Almond Oil, Corn Meal, Apricot Kernel Oil
Delicious! Now you know why I wanted to eat it….no harmful chemicals, preservatives, or additives.
Me wearing my Real Purity "blue" face masque
The third step in my Real Purity facial was the Facial Masque Dehydrated ($17.50.) It’s designed specifically for dry, dehydrated skin. It is a lovely light blue color and smells very fresh. You rub it into your skin evenly, wait 20 minutes, then rinse. Unlike other facial masques, it does not dry on the skin, which to me is a good thing as I do not like that tight mask feeling at all! Again, the ingredients are organic and safe:
Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Glycogen, Mucopolysaccharides, Phyto Elastin, Phyto Collagen, Natural Clay, Evening Primrose Oil
Most of those ingredients are identifiable….except Mucopolysaccharides. Those are simply long chains of sugar molecules naturally found throughout the body. Phyto Elastin and Phyto Collagen are incredible anti-aging ingredients which moisturize and protect the skin. Evening primrose oil is high in fatty acids, great for firming skin and moisturizing dry skin. Real Purity’s scientists know exactly which ingredients to combine to help our skin look younger and more beautiful!
Super moisturizing Creme Supreme
By now, my skin was incredibly clean and glowing! There was one more step, however. After cleaning, exfoliating, clarifying…what’s next? Adding moisture, of course. My absolute favorite product I tried is Creme Supreme. This is like the “Bentley” of skin creams. It’s delicately scented with raspberry and nourished my skin unbelievably. After using it for 8 weeks, the patchy dry spots I tended to get around my mouth (in the smile lines) disappeared! Every morning after I cleanse, I use Creme Supreme and I can honestly say I look forward to putting it on. Again, phyto collagen protects with it’s anti-aging properties and sea kelp detoxifies the skin and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Peep the rest of the ingredients:
Purified Water, Safflower Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Glycerine, Sea Kelp, Phyto Collagen, Raspberry Nectar, Comfrey, Hops, Limetree, Rutin
This is a fabulous moisturizer I can see myself using for forever! It sells for $45 for a 1 oz jar. Don’t let the price scare you, a little goes a long way. I’ve had it for 2 months and it is barely even 3/4 of the way done yet!
My glowing skin...after using Real Purity organic skin products.
After using Real Purity skin care, I can honestly say my skin looks and feels better than it ever has. I use the scrub and mask at least once a week and the Creme Supreme every day. I feel good about using their products because I know each and every ingredient is from nature and will benefit not only my skin but my health too. My motto is, “If i can’t eat it, I won’t put it on my skin,” and Real Purity products meet this requirement. I came close to eating the face scrub! They prove that effective products are possible, without the use of toxins. As they say on their website…
Purity you can see-
Purity you can feel-
Purity that is real-
Simply…Real Purity®
Now that you know all there is to know about Real Purity skin care….do you want to try them out? Well, you can because I have partnered up with RP to offer you an incredible giveaway. You can win each and every product I reviewed today. Stay tuned to Toxic Beauty Blog on Wednesday for more details on how you can win a complete Real Purity skin care set, including the Milk Cleanser, Face Scrub, Masque, and, Creme Supreme! You do not want to miss this!!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Robin
