Spring Things Part 2: What I'm Loving from Saf Organics, Marie Veronique Organics, Valentina's Home-Brewed and Dirtea!

SAF ORGANICS (Gluten-Free)

Lavender Mandarin Cleansing Grains -  This is a line that's completely new to me and I have to say, I'm really loving the quality and performance of everything I'm testing out.  The first product I tried was the Lavender Mandarin Cleaning Grains and boy, do I wish I had more of this!  The name of this might be a little deceiving as I found these "grains" to actually be soft and smooth little balls of wonderful.  There's nothing rough or grainy about it.  Rubbed between damp hands, this product turns into a super creamy cleanser that I love.  It feels so pure, fresh and so natural, I would recommend this to everyone.  Oh, and it smells just heavenly!  And at $16, it's a steal. Gluten-free!

Ingredients: pruus dulcis (almond), cocos nucifera (coconut) extract, vegetable glycerin, bolus alba (kaolin) clay, emblica officinalis (marula) oil, (barbadensis) aloe extract, persea armeniaca (apricot) oil, proprietary blend of essential oils.

Spiced Orange Lotion Bars - These are delicious!  Truly.  Not only do they smell wonderful, but they are so moisturizing and feel so good going on that I'm seriously thinking you need this.  With super-hydrating ingredients like shea butter and oils like coconut, avocado and castor, your skin will feel so soft and look so dewy, it's going to be gorgeous on arms, chest and legs for the Spring/Summer months.  My boyfriend loves the scent so much, I've also been applying it to my neck nightly!  Gluten-free!  $10

Ingredients: butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, euphorbia antisphyllitica (candelilla) wax, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, persea americana (avocado) oil, ricinus communis (castor) oil, proprietary blend of essential oils. 

MARIE VERONIQUE ORGANICS

Pacific Lip Treatment  Calling this a lip balm just isn't right, as it's definitely a treatment for the lips.   If you're a lip balm addict or want subtly plumper lips, you're going to love MVO's new anti-aging Pacific Lip Treatment.  Their trademarked MVO LipPlump helps to maintain lip fullness.  This is so wonderful to wear due to the fact that it's so soothing, moisturizing and the scent is so light and pretty!   I keep this next to my bed and use it both on my lips and also on my cuticles...I love multi-functional products!  Oh, and it's a nice-sized (and beautiful) jar for $68.

INGREDIENTS:  Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, cera alba (beeswax), butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)*, MVO LipPlump™, euphorbia antisyphillitica (candelilla) wax, mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)*, trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) essential oil, polianthes tuberosa (tuberose) essential oil   *organic 

VALENTINA'S HOME-BREWED SPELLS & POTIONS

The Perfume Rollers - How is it that I loved the smell of every single one of Valentina's scents?  I've got Sunny Outlook (a citrus blend of Mandarin, Lemon and Ginger) next to my bed because I love to smell it before I sleep and True Love (Cardamom, Chocolate and Roses) in my handbag.  Prosperity and Psychic Detox hang out around the apartment, and unlike many other fragrances with pure ingredients, I find that these last and are very, very affordable.  $12.99  

INGREDIENTS: Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Rosemary Antioxidant, Proprietary Essential Oil Blend.

DIRTEA

Green Tea Scrub/Chia Tea Scrub - This feels like a real body treatment you're giving yourself in the shower.  A gorgeous dark green mossy texture of pure goodness that you rub all over yourself.  It's recommended that you keep this on your skin for a few minutes to let it work its magic, so I've been scrubbing up and shaving or doing something else to let some time go by.  I felt a slight tingle on my skin while I was applying this which I didn't mind at all as I felt it was working.  This left my skin super soft, really clean and fresh.  I recommend going over your skin with a soft cloth to make sure all of the product is removed.  Take note:  this can get messy, but it's just so much fun and it works, so who cares?  $14.95

INGREDIENTS:  Moroccan Mint Green Tea (Freshly Ground Loose Leaf Powder), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Water (Aqua), Sodium Chloride (Dead Sea Salt), Sucrose (Organic Cane Sugar), Metha Arvensis (Peppermint Oil), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E). 

*I was generously offered these products to test.  All opinions are my own.  This post contains an Affiliate Link.

the natural skincare transition made easy: marie veronique organics has everything you need in one place!

Okay, here's how the majority of my conversations go when someone approaches me about their desire to make the switch to "greener" skincare:

Me:

"Okay, well you can look into this brand, this brand and this brand..."

Them:

(heavy rolling of the eyes)

"Ugh, really?  Where do I get all this stuff?  I'm exhausted already.  

Can't I just buy everything from one brand?" 

My usual answer was, "Not really," but now that I've tried Marie Veronique Organics, I can simply answer, "Yes, you brat."  

Marie Veronique Organics is the perfect brand to do your one-stop shopping.  The kit that I tested, the Everyday Essentials Kit, was so easy to use that when I opened it up, I actually smiled.  There are two sizes for this kit - the full-sized at $175 and the travel size at $60.  I think the travel size is just right for trying out the line (but make sure to check out the deal below before ordering).   Now, I have pretty dry skin and I found that I wanted a little more hydration with this kit, so if you don't like a super heavy moisture routine, this will be great for you.   

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS KIT:

MVO Exfoliating Cleanser:  This opaque, gel-ish cleanser smells wonderful, cleans and refreshes the skin and has adzuki bean powder to gently, and I mean, gently exfoliate.  With the first three ingredients being green & white tea, adzuki bean powder and aloe vera juice, you can't lose.  It has a pretty, herbal scent.

MVO Mist:  This mist smells like tea and since the first ingredient is such, there you have it.  I love a good mist before my serums/creams.

MVO Face Oil:  The key ingredients in their Face Oil (from their site):

• Krill oil: Omega-3, 6 and 9 balance, this oil is an excellent source of astaxanthin, an extraordinary antioxidant, and phosphatidyl serine, which Korean scientists have dubbed the “anti-aging fat molecule.” 
• Argan oil: Rich in Omega-6 and 9, Vitamin E, carotenes, squalene, and phenols.
• Blackberry seed oil: High in natural Vitamin C as well as several types of Vitamin E and lutein making it an excellent ingredient for repairing damaged skin.

MVO Everyday Coverage SPF 30:  

This is where it really gets to be one-stop shopping.  Marie Veronique Organics makes tinted moisturizers with an SPF of 30.  The tints come in three shades:  Extra Light Tint, Light Tint (a bit more yellow in it) and Medium Tint.  I received the Light and Medium Tints, but think I could've probably used the Extra Light.  It feels smooth, texture is light and I loved the herbal scent.

FREE MVO DUET SAMPLER WITH PURCHASE!

This deal expired on 10/12/2013.

*All opinions are my own.  I received this kit to test.