As a tween I thought that a good facial routine meant wash, tone and spot treat.  But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve invested more in good cleansers and moisturizers than astringents or toners.

I have tried a few out here and there over the past few years, and recently decided to give
100% Pure Organic Peppermint Green Tea Facial Toner
a try.

It immediately surprised me since it has no alcohol, but has the same cool “burn” of the Windex colored toners of my past.  But whether or not it anti-ages, brightens, protects and repairs as recommended is still to be determined.  I’ll keep you posted!

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You may have noticed some recent updates to the Naturally Dah’ling site.  Included in those are the Sircuit Skin Crystal Creme Conditioner that I mentioned earlier this week, and Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Moisturizer with SPF 15.

Months ago owner Karen Behnke gave me a generous sample of the moisturizer. Recently I’ve pulled that sample out to use and simply cannot stop touching my face since–I just can’t believe how soft my skin is!

I am even more surprised that this light, easily absorbed cream with SPF is so smooth and silky.  Usually I find products with SPF to be heavier, or milky.  But not this little gem.

So when you do need that extra SPF protection, Juice’s Moisturizer w/ SPF is gluten-free and a great way to go!

Exciting stuff! I may have a new addition to place on Naturally Dah’ling tomorrow: Juice Beauty’s Oil Free Moisturizer.

Months ago I received some generous samples from Juice Beauty’s founder Karen Behnke at the Global Green Green and Gorgeous Event. While I did love my sample of the Hydrating Mist, I quickly realized that it contains “oat extract” so was unable to add it to my routine.

But the Oil Free Moisturizer was a wonderful light weight face cream which would be great for the summer and especially for men (sorry fellows, but technically speaking you have larger pores and more oily skin). I’ve e-mailed Karen to ask about the product’s Vitamin E and what it is sourced from.

I’ll keep you posted on the results!

I’ve started trying out some of my samples and have these reports thus far:




100 Percent Pure Body Cream-It’s no secret, I already ADORE this product, but I don’t usually look beyond my fav. scent of Honey Almond. So the Fuji Apple and Coconut are new to me, and unworthy of stealing the crown for My Favorite Scent. The Coconut is nice, not too sweet or powerful, and the Fuji Apple is somewhat sweet, and not overpowering, but neither will be stealing the spot from my top scent. All of these scents, however, are gluten free!

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser-This is a product I’ve sampled before. After a solid recommendation I once purchased a trial kit of Suki’s very highly regarded products. While there were some hits and some misses, this was one product that I did like, but just did not love. It’s a unique product in that it is a sort of sugar scrub for the face, which also foams. But in my opinion the sugar could be ground finer and I believe I’d prefer if this product were more of a paste than it is now. As far as the ingredients state, this product is gluten-free, though I would contact the company to be sure.

The other samples that I’ve recently tried out are some from Ann Marie Borland. I tested out the four part Regeneration Series and was actually quite impressed. What I am not impressed with, however, is a) the fact that I’ve contacted their company and had great difficulty in reaching anyone to verify that these products are in fact gluten-free, and there are enough ingredients in each to want verification and b) if shopping online, you cannot simply order from Skin Botanica, but have to use Drugstore.com or the Borlind Boutique which frankly, is not quite so easy to find.

So what ever became of my Dr. Hauschka skin care trial?  I fell completely off the wagon.  I do adore so many of Dr. Hauschka’s products, but in my hasty packing for a Thanksgiving trip, I only grabbed some samples of the 100% Pure Organic Healing Balm and knew that my brother would have plenty of Sircuit Skin products on hand at his place. 

My skin was immediately softer and more supple, leaving me infinitely grateful to be using the Healing Balm again.  I can see how the toner is a nice addition, and would’ve been good to have while travelling, but I did sneak a bit of my new Naturopathica Environmental Defense Mask along with me, and used that to spot treat any blackheads or spots. 

What surprised me the most, however, was when I saw my mom.  I hadn’t seen her since the summer, and her skin looked positively radiant!  My mom is nearing 60 and looks like she’s in her 40s, she absolutely has great genes, but her skin was different since I’d last seen her.  Her skin was soft and glowing, and I had to know how! 

Surprise!  Mom’s been using the 100% Pure Organic Healing Balm for the past few months.  She absolutely loves it, and was telling everyone at Thanksgiving who was willing to listen.

So all in all, I am back onto my regular skin care routine, though maybe I’ll give the Hauschka facial oil and toner another try. Either way, I adore Dr. Hauschka’s bronzer, mascara, eye liner and lipstick. And I’m sure he has plenty more amazing products to offer that I’ve yet to try.

I have blogged often about 100% Pure products.  Their totally natural, fruit pigmented cosmetics and skin care really are uniquely formulated for incredible levels of effectiveness.  So when I received an e-mail about their one hour special on QVC, I marked my calendar.

The morning show has passed, but there is still another chance.  QVC will re-air the program about these amazing products and their patent-pending fruit pigmented formulations tonight at 9pm EST and 6pm PST. 

This is a great chance to learn about some truly groundbreaking natural products–plus, the entire line (except the mascara) is gluten free!

Click the product picture to purchase or check out my reviews in the Make-Up and Skin Care sections of www.NaturallyDahling.com .

After trying to figure out what to do with the nice glass jar which formerly housed my 100% Pure Lavender Seafoam Cleanser , I finally found a brilliant use!  I gathered up a small collection of bottles and jars which I have been saving.  I then filled them halfway with water and trimmed down a few flowers for each.  This clean, uncluttered, eco-friendly look brightens my day every time I see it!

A brilliant product, in a fabulous package!

I hardly know whether to eat or apply these lovely lippies, as they are not only 100% natural, but also vegetarian and gluten free!  100% Pure Fruit Pigments - Sheer Strawberry and their 100% Pure Lip and Cheek Tint Sugar Plum actually use fruit, vegetable, seed and flower pigments to attain their gorgeous array of colors.

100% Pure Lip and Cheek Tint Sugar Plum is unlike messy alternatives which stain the area of application–leaving you with a doll face.  Instead, I have found their shea and cocoa butter formulas leave my skin moisturized, enhanced with color and perfectly bendable in case I am not sure just which ”flavor” I am in the mood for: a flirty light pink, a pop of bright color or a flattering natural shade.

As for lip glosses, ones as good as these are incredibly hard to find.  My ultra-sensitive lips are often chapped and peeling just a few hours after applying a lip product.  But these natural, gluten free glosses really are very moisturizing and nourish my lips.  Plus, these glosses leave being a gorgeous wet-looking shine sans sticky goopiness.

I utterly adore the Sugar Plum Sheer Lip and Cheek Tint for a flattering dose of enlivening color.  And the Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss in Sheer Strawberry is so close to my natural lip color, but with such a lovely, glossy shine I can not stop peeking in mirrors to admire my gorgeous glossy lips once it’s applied.  Of course, a pairing of the two is a simply marvelous combination, dah’ling!

**All 100% Pure Products are Gluten Free

Recently, I have discovered two swampy green looking skin saviors which have become utterly essential to my mornings: with breakfast I consume one glass of Amazing Grass Green Superfood mixture, upon showering I wash my face with 100% Pure Lavender Seafoam Cleanser . Perhaps my Louisiana heritage has guided me in adding swampy green mixtures to my day. But then, whatever (is green, gluten free and) works, right?

(Click the image for purchase) 
 
To be honest, I am not a fan of raw fruits or veggies, and so a glass of swamp green liquid is not something I tasted willingly. However, once I braved a sip of (gluten free, organic) Green Super Food mixed with apple juice and water I came to really like the taste, and the goji energy it gave me was amazing! Plus, vital to my skin clarity and radiance is the wheat grass blend, which helps to naturally clear my body of toxins through the digestive tract, so they do not process out of my skin, which can cause annoying acne.

After energizing and nourishing my body, I then go for a deep facial cleansing with the swamp mud looking 100% Pure Lavender Seafoam Cleanser (gluten free). At first glance, this facial wash is quite deceiving, but a quick sudsing with it produces an amazing, deep cleaning lather. My pores have never been so clear, and my skin feels utterly clean sans stripping.

So at first sight, yes, these two morning rituals of mine do appear a bit unappealing, with their swampy green colors. But if you can conquer the color, the results are far worth it. Amazing Grass Super Food mixed with a bit of water and apple or cranberry juice is a power packed formula to feeling great, staying healthy and looking amazing. 100% Pure Seafoam Cleanser is like a gentle, yet utterly effective daily facial–your pores will love you for it!  So get over your fear of swampy green beauty already, and try these two gluten free, organic beauty marvels. Green beauty doesn’t get any better than this!

**Amazing Grass Green SuperFood and 100% Pure Organic Lavender Seafoam Facial Cleanser are Gluten Free