The Green Product Junkie: March 2014

"I'm just going to say it: I love everything from Julie Clark's Province Apothecary line and I'm really bummed that I'm finished testing it. Yes, this gorgeous skincare from Toronto worked perfectly for me. This line is totally complete with everything you need. It's effective, pure and feels perfect on the skin."

MOISTURIZING CLEANSER & MAKEUP REMOVER

I want this. I want the full size and I want it now. I was absolutely taken with this cleanser from the first time I used it. Why? The oils in this decadent cleanser feel so completely wonderful as you massage away your makeup and/or dirt o' the day. Then, use a warm washcloth to gently wipe the cleanser off. The best part? There was never any need for any toner to remove any leftover makeup as this cleanser breaks it all down. This feels like a real treatment...hydrating and cleansing at the same time. I'm highly recommending this! $42

INGREDIENTS: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Jojoba oil*, Avocado oil*, Evening Primrose oil*, Raspberry Seed oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Rosemary leaf extract, and therapeutic essential oils of: Bergamot, Lavender*, Frankincense* and Petit grain. *Certified Organic

REJUVENATING + HYDRATING FACE SERUM

What can I say about this face serum? It's so hydrating, feels wonderful going on and leaves your skin super soft. With some stellar ingredients like Pomegranate and Raspberry Seed Oil, Seabuckthorn and Borage, you know you're getting the real deal. I loved applying this after the Province Apothecary cleanser. The scent is of Frankincense and if you love that, you'll be in heaven. $76

INGREDIENTS: Apricot kernel oil*, Pumpkin seed oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Avocado oil*, Grape seed oil*, Pomegranate oil*, Raspberry seed oil*, Sea buckthorn oil*, Calendula oil*, Rosehip oil*, Borage oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, & wild-crafted essential oils of: Neroli, Frankincense, German chamomile, and Rose otto.*Certified Organic

NOURISHING + REVITALIZING MOISTURIZER
Another home run here. I applied this moisturizer after letting the face serum absorb for a few minutes. With 95% organic ingredients and 5% wild-crafted ingredients, this moisturizer is super pure and feels outta this world. It hydrates without feeling greasy, it's light and gets the job done. I would say the consistency of this moisturizer is of a light cream. I can imagine that this would be great for all skin types. $24

INGREDIENTS: Water, Rose flower water*, Apricot oil*, Jojoba seed oil*, Grape seed oil*, Emulsimulse (Vegetable wax), Calendula oil*, Evening primrose oil*, Rose hip oil*, Carrot root oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Rosemary seed extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Grapefruit extract, therapeutic essential oils of: Lavender, Neroli, Frankincense, Immortelle, and Rose otto. *Certified Organic

DETOXIFYING + CLARIFYING CLAY MASK
I love a great mask. I also love one that can work with all skin types. When I first tried this mask, I mixed it with water and found that it really left my skin clean and bright, but since I'm super dry, it felt a bit tight (using the mask in this way would be awesome for an oiler skin). So, if you have drier skin, Julie recommends mixing it with plain, organic yogurt. DISCO! Sure enough I had bright, soft skin that was clean and fresh-looking. As creator Julie says on her site: "Clay detoxifies; tightening the skin and reducing the signs of aging. Wild crafted algae nourishes the skin, regenerates cell growth, and stimulates collagen production, and Maple sugar moisturizes; giving your skin a healthy glow and smooth tone." Although this contains Maple sugar, the seaweed powder gives this great mask its scent. $58

INGREDIENTS: Rhassoul Clay, Kaolin Clay, Canadian Algae*, BC Glacial Marine Clay and Maple Syrup*. *Certified Organic

THE PERFUMES
It can be somewhat of an arduous task to write about scent, but with Province Apothecary's helpful list on their website, choosing one of Julie's delicious scents should be very, very easy. I was sent No. 14, No. 19 & No. 30 and loved all of them. No. 19 was a huge favorite, though. I think the sampler pack is brilliant and I recommend you look into it if you're looking for a new natural fragrance.

*I was kindly given these products to test and all opinions are my own. I loved 'em!

Wow. If there's one thing you need to know about Kahina Giving Beauty's Night Cream, it is this: it is nothing like any other night cream you've ever tried before.

Why? The main reason being is that it is incredibly smooth and light. Yep, that's right, light. Whenever I think Night Cream, I picture a heavy cream that will sit on my face for the entire night, hydrating it, but not really allowing my skin to breathe, which is the exact reason why I don't usually use one. This cream is the polar opposite; so soft to the touch and spreads so easily, it's a true joy to use. I find myself reaching for it for daytime use, but for the purpose of review, I stuck to what it was created for: nighttime.

The main super-potent anti-aging ingredients are argan oil and red wine grapes. The first ingredient? Aloe vera leaf juice. If you're looking for more hydration, this cream can be used in conjunction with Kahina's stellar Argan Oil (which I'm a huge fan of) or their serum. I've been mixing the night cream with my argan oil, nightly.

So, what will this cream do for you?

Build collagen to firm and lift
Improve tone and texture for more even, radiant skin
Minimize appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Soothe irritation and decrease redness
Hydrate and moisturizes for smoother, softer skin
Protect skin from environmental free radical damage that causes further aging

Katherine, the creator of Kahina, told me that it took two years to develop this cream...well-done, woman! I'm so happy that she thought outside the box and re-created the idea of what a night cream should be...hydrating, soothing, smoothing, but without all the heaviness. My skin is so soft and so completely hydrated, I'm hooked. Boy, am I going to be taking out my sad rags when this is finished, it's awesome. This is a definite re-purchase!

Oh, and keep in mind that 99.98% of the total ingredients are from natural origin and 78.68% are from Organic Farming...cool, eh? 50 ML $105

*I was generously given this wonderful Night Cream for review. All opinions are my own, gosh-darn it!