Mouth-Watering New Green Products! SkinOwl's Eye Cream & Caru Skincare Co!

Some products I receive I'm just so excited to start testing out.  Such was the case with both SkinOwl's new Eye + and a completely new line for me, Caru Skincare Co.  

SKINOWL EYE +

A super refreshing, multi-purpose eye treatment
If you read my blog posts, you'll know that I love SkinOwl, as I reviewed their products only a few short months ago.  When creator, Annie Tevelin mentioned to me that she was launching her eye cream, I was all in and, judging from my Instagram feed where I posted a picture of the cream, so are many of you. 

THE CONSISTENCY   SkinOwl Eye + is super light and has a thick gel feel to it....comparable to the feel of a thicker pure aloe vera gel.  One of the reasons I am so smitten with this product is the fact that the gel maintains a cool temperature and feels so refreshing every time I apply it. It's recommended that you keep it in the refrigerator to activate the cucumber enzymes (increases circulation and minimizes lines and wrinkles) and I think that's a brilliant idea.   It's like applying fresh cucumber puree to your eyes.  I love it. $46

WHAT IT DOES & WHAT'S SO COOL ABOUT IT   From the SkinOwl site: "Transforms crepe-paper skin into healthy, resilient and firm skin around your eyes, cucumber de-puffs, aloe smooths and silkens."  What did I find? It makes the skin around the eyes soft and creates a smooth surface for makeup application. It feels wonderful on tired eyes and it definitely de-puffs. It feels like such a treat and I'm not just saying that.  This is so refreshing and can only imagine how helpful it would be for those on computers all day or super-exhausted moms. What's cool is that Eye + can also be used as an all-over face treatment.  I've been applying it to my forehead, cheeks and nose and I would love, love, love to have this in a larger size to use as an all-over treatment all of the time.  This is perfect for pre-makeup application. 

CARU SKIN CARE CO.

I am excited about this line.  There, I said it.  

The first time I heard about Caru was just a few weeks ago when Pemberley Jones opened her new online store and was carrying them.  Needless to say, I was intrigued.  I mean, who has more gorgeous packaging than this brand?  Uhm...no one.    AND what really makes their soap packaging even more incredible is that it's wrapped in biodegradable, handmade, 100% PCW paper label embedded with SEEDS!  Yep, that's right, you can plant the packaging.  Can you stand it?  

Pemberley Jones says:   "I love how much care Dominique, Caru's creator, takes to make the line as sustainable as possible.  From sourcing her ingredients to choosing minimal packaging that's still beautiful."

I have the Dry Skin Facial Kit ($43) which consists of Rock & Rose Facial Toner, French Green Clay Face Soap and Organic Jojoba Oil Daytime Moisturizer.   They also carry an Oily Skin Kit and a Chamomile Skin Rescue Face Kit for dry or weather-damaged skin. They come packaged in a gorgeous linen bag.  Boy, did they nail it on the packaging here!

Rock & Rose Facial Toner   I love a toner that doesn't dry out the skin.  This toner leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. I've been using it each time after I cleanse and absolutely loving how it removes any makeup the cleanser didn't get.  Although the name may lead you to believe otherwise, this toner does not smell like roses.  It has a bit of a sour smell to it, which I don't mind in the least as the ingredients and performance are so wonderful. I can't imagine everyone not benefitting from this toner - dry skin or not! $24

Ingredients: Rose (Rosa damasena) Hydrosol*, Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Hydrosol*, Rock Rose (Cistus ladaniferus) Hydrosol*, Hydrosol Blend*  *organic

French Green Clay Soap  I'm very sad that I'm almost finished with my bar of this soap. This is one soap that I can honestly say will not dry out your face.  BUT, my body is loving it, too.  I started out testing it on my face and then body.  It feels wonderful and is so pure. The scent is of lavender with pine.  Let's just say that I want more of this.  Oh, and this soap is vegan!  $9

Organic Jojoba Oil Facial Moisturizer   There's nothing like a pure face oil.  This incredibly affordable oil makes my skin so soft, I'm in love. I daresay that I would start recommending this to people who want to start on face oils but don't want the oily feeling or heavy price tag.  This oil is unrefined and certified USDA organic.  It provides an SPF of 4 (so it's great for layering with your non-toxic sunblock).  $10

*All opinions are my own, gosh darn it!

Toners! Who Doesn't Just Love A Great Natural Toner? Sanre Organic Skinfood, Herbal Grace Creations, GingerChi, & Dr. Alkaitis Trump!

I am a huge fan of toners.  I love using them to take off any residual makeup left after cleansing,  to hydrate before applying my moisturizer, to set my makeup and I also keep a few on my desk to hydrate throughout the day.  

SANRE ORGANIC SKINFOOD Rosy Fresh Toner

I buy this toner in bulk.  Seriously.   I am never without it and it's my go-to on a daily basis for many years now.   Why do I love thee?  Well, it's so moisturizing that I never even contemplate applying a moisturizer without spraying it beforehand. Check out the ingredients and tell me they aren't beautiful!  I love the fact that there's so many essential oils in here.  $25.99  (Sign up for their emails because they have great sales...and often!)

Ingredients:  Organic Rose Hydrosol, Organic Witch Hazel Hydrosol, Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Organic Rose Absolute Essential Oil, Organic Rose Essential Oil, Organic Green Tea Extract, Organic Chamomile Essential Oil, Organic Calendula Oil, Organic Arnica Essential Oil, Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil.   Certified Vegan.

HERBAL GRACE CREATIONS Queen of Hungary's Facial Toner

I'm a firm believer in the power of Apple Cider Vinegar.  Sure, it doesn't smell like unicorn breath, but nothing balances the skin quite like it and honestly, you'll get used to it, especially after you see the wonders it does for your skin.    I usually make my own, but it pales in comparison to this one.  The process by which Queen of Hungary's Facial Toner is made is pretty intense and I love the added ingredients of lemon balm leaf, calendula flowers, sage and more.  This is how it's created: "The toner is made by solar-infusing organic herbs in raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar for a three-week period. This enables the therapeutic properties of the herbs to extract.  After three weeks, the herbs are strained and pure rose water is added in equal proportion to the vinegar solution."  Yeah, this toner has got mine beat by A LOT!  I recommend this for those with problem skin, those in need of a good cleansing and those who wish to tone their skin.  $16. 

Ingredients:  Organic raw apple cider vinegar, Rose water, Organic lemon balm leaf, Organic chamomile flowers, Organic red rose petals, Organic calendula flowers, Organic comfrey leaf, Organic lemon peel, Organic rosemary leaf, Organic rubbed sage

GINGERCHI Rejuvenating Ginseng Toner

I absolutely love this toner and even suggested to GingerChi that they should be working on a natural fragrance based on it...I know it sounds strange, but it's that gorgeous. Anyway, this is such a wonderful toner that I dread finishing it.  The scent is perfection, as are the ingredients.  This toner is great for balancing the skin, hydrating and leaving it feeling refreshed and clean.  If you love a clean, fresh, ginger/citrus scent, you'll love using this.  To read a full review of GingerChi's products, click here.  $36

Ingredients:  Rose Water, Melissa Water, Ginseng Tincture*, Aloe Vera Concentrate*, Siberian Ginseng, NFF Moisturizer, Sea Silk, Eco Preservative, Essential Oil of Fresh Ginger. *Organic

DR. ALKAITIS Organic Herbal Toner

Ah, this is the good stuff.  My skin always feels super, super clean after using this.  The reason I love it? First off, the ingredients are perfect.  With a base of Aloe Vera, I find it to be a tad thicker than other toners and I love that.  This is a super effective and multi-functional product as it's a toner, astringent (that will NEVER dry out the skin) balances the skin and is also anti-inflammatory.  This can also be used as an after-sun tonic.  It's so cooling and refreshing.  I love it.  $55

Ingredients:  Into a base of organic Aloe Vera gel*, Witch Hazel and organic grain alcohol* (from the fermentation of organically grown grains), the following organic and wild-crafted herbs are blended: Greater Nettle*, Wild Chamomile flowers**, Myrrh**, European Elder blossoms*, Marsh Mallow*, French Lavender flowers*, Curacao Orange*, Benzoin**, Rosemary*, Wild Fennel** and Balm Mint*. Grapefruit* and Lemon* extracts. Sea Oak**, Atlantic Kelp** and Pearl Moss**. Also added are natural vitamin B and vitamin C complexes and 100% pure Essential Oils. * - Signifies certified organically grown. ** - Signifies ethically wild-crafted

Some of these products were purchased, some were generously given to me for review.  All opinions are my own.  I hope you find something you love here!

Who Knew I'd Fall In Love with An Oil Cleanser...or Ginger? I'm Constantly Reaching For GingerChi Since I First Tried It! Wanna win it?

GINGERCHI'S PURIFYING OIL CLEANSER $28

Hmm...how can I start this review?  The reason why I'm not sure is because I so love this handmade cleanser and really want to get the point across that it is very different from anything else I've ever used.  

With many cleansers I have to follow up with a toner because I'm just not trusting the cleanser to get rid of all of my makeup. With GingerChi's Purifiying Oil Cleanser, I take a little, massage it into my skin to loosen up makeup and impurities (eyes included) and then hold a warm washcloth over my face for a minute and then wipe it off. After using the cleanser, my skin is so soft, clean and because it's an oil cleanser (which I'm starting to think is thee best thing ever) it's super hydrated.  This oil cleanser really makes a lot of sense.  

WHY GINGER?
In a nutshell, GingerChi uses ginger for its healing properties, unlike many companies that use a ginger fragrance simply for scent.  Two of the many benefits of ginger include:

• Slowing the aging process as it's rich in antioxidants which prevent and repair damage from free radicals.
• Enhances skin tone as ginger boosts the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid

The scent is light and citrusy and the ingredients are awesome:  Camellia oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E and essential oils of fresh ginger, grapefruit and lavender.

GINGERCHI'S REJUVENATING GINSENG TONER $36

Beyond how it makes the skin feel, the smell of GingerChi's Rejuvenating Ginseng Toner is absolutely heavenly.  It smells like a light ginger tea with lemon. I adore.  Using this is an absolute pleasure for many reasons, but mainly because it's so refreshing, tones the face and is so pure. This is wonderful to freshen up during the day.

The ingredients sealed the deal for me, too:  Rose water, melissa water, ginseng tincture, aloe vera concentrate, Siberian ginseng, NFF moisturizer, sea silk, eco preservative, essential oil of fresh ginger.

Who do I think could benefit from GingerChi's cleanser and toner?  Uhm...everyone?  I just think that there's so many cleansers out there that are stripping the skin as opposed to adding hydration while cleansing.  So, if you're looking for an effective, handmade skincare line that is effective and smells wonderful, I say, you've arrived.  

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

The winners are:  Laura Brubaker, Sarah Weber, Lauren Pollicino. Congrats!

GingerChi has generously offered three (3) sets of their:

• .5 fl oz Face Cleanser
• .5 fl oz Face Toner
• .125 fl oz Face Serum
• 1 organic muslin face cloth
• Small muslin bag.  

I'm so excited for you to try it!

Maya Water: My New Natural Facial Mist That I'm Loving

I love spraying mists/toners on my face pre-moisturizer.  I just feel like it's important to have a moist face before applying a cream or my Kahina Argan Oil.  I've got many toners to choose from, but one of my favorite mists as of late has been Maya Water Energizing Norwegian Thermal Spa Water created by Maya Gulbrandsen, a super sweet beauty therapist and makeup artist in Norway.  The water is mineral-rich and pH neutral water from Skogshorn in Hemsedal, Norway.

I kept eyeing the mist on Spirit Beauty Lounge and finally ordered it when I had some space in my medicine cabinet, which some of you know, looks like part of the Spirit Beauty Lounge warehouse (btw, it's even more packed since this picture was taken).

So, I finally ordered the Maya Water in Organic Acai and I love it.  It feels great, keeps the skin hydrated and it's relaxing, as well.  Keep in mind, whatever Maya Water you choose, you're choosing the right one as each one can be used for all skin types.  My next one will be the Organic White Tea (rich in antioxidants).

WHEN DO I USE IT?

• Post washing my face (tap water has lots of chlorine in it and this hydrates)

• To set my makeup

• Throughout the day when my skin feels a little dry (I keep it on my desk)

• After pilates when I just want to cool down

• Before applying foundation

• After a facial mask

• And...I'm definitely going to have it in my bag at the beach (they have new travel sizes) and walking around humid NYC in a few months (great for skin exposed to pollution, too)

MAYA WATER ALSO GIVES BACK:

Maya Water is also helping schools and families in Africa by donating a percentage of each sale. The organization is called QuaWater and their mission is to deliver healthy drinking water at fair prices.  

Visit their site for more information on Maya Water as it's actually a very interesting read to see how she got the idea to start her company and all.  

Travel size:  70ml $26 or full-size: 150ml $40 

*I purchased this Maya Water in Organic Acai myself.   All opinions are my own.