I love a product that surpasses my expectations!

I had only just received an inquiry about Derma E products, when I received a sample of their Microdermabrasion Scrub packaged neatly with my Skin Botanica order.  But there are so many scrubs on the market, and few actually perform as promised.

Well, this trial was an absolute success!  I am utteryly adoring this beaded exfoliator.  It’s fabulous!

And as for the ingredients, I have provided a complete list below.  And here is a verifying statement regarding gluten in their products–I love, love, love that they are aware of the dangers of topical gluten for some of us:

Gluten Free

derma e® recognizes that some individuals with gluten intolerance may have an allergic reaction when gluten is applied topically. Most derma e® products are gluten-free, however the following may contain remnants of gluten such as oat extract:

• Stop Itch (Item #88300)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Magnesium Oxide, Silica, Volcanic Sand, Pearl Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate

For fine lines and wrinkles, I still swear by Sircuit’s Addict, but I’ve come to appreciate this little beauty for it’s pure magic!

For lighter, day to day beauty routines, I’ve left out my concealer in favor of this dark-circle-erasing under eye cream. Even when my dark circles are their darkest, I simply dab a bit on and apply my makeup as usual, only no need for any concealer under my eyes! Sometimes I’ll brush a bit of foundation powder over my eye area, but it’s nice to know I’m not just covering, I’m treating the area.

I also love that this eye cream doesn’t conjure up any little oil bumps in the under eye area, like some cheap imitations do.

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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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One of my very favorite boutique skin care lines, Amelia’s Soap Co., has added some amazing new items to the line.

I rave often about how I love Amelia’s soaps, and refuse to travel without them.  Well now Mrs. Janet Amelia has been mixing up even more delightful bath beauties to become addicted to!

Famous for her gentle, moisturizing, Crisp Citrus scented body bars, the line also now includes scents like:

• Sunny Morning Soap with Orange Peal and Rosemary Petals
• Chamomile Tea and Lavender Soap with Calendula Petals
• Energizing Soap with Crushed Rosemary
• Gardner’s Soap with Crushed Apricot Seeds, Lavender Buds and Rosemary
• Unscented Oatmeal Scrub Bar (Made w/ gluten-free oats)

Mrs. Janet has also added round and rectangular soap gift sets, face polish and soap packets, and gift sets that include soaps, face polish and lip balm.

Everything Amelia’s sells is gluten-free, and in her extensive “All Natural” selection, there’s just so many wonderful choices!

You can purchase these bathing beauties from Amelia’s @ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5518360&section_id=5690562

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.

I am in a wonderful state of skin shock!

At Tuesday night’s Gorgeous and Green, I was very fortunate to meet Karen Behnke, founder of Juice Beauty.  I have long been a fan of Juice Beauty’s Blemish Clearing Serum.  So when I heard back from a customer service rep that the products cannot be confirmed as gluten free, I was quite distraught about finding a replacement. 

On Tuesday night, however, Karen was shocked to hear this news and confirmed that the product is in fact gluten free!  She was unsure of how this misinformation came my way, and very appologetic, but most importantly, proud to review with me the organic ingredients she uses in her products, all of which are gluten free and !

Now, I have been blogging a lot lately about how nothing can ever compare to my 100% Pure Organic Healing Balm facial moisturizer, but last night I just may have found it’s match–and it contains an SPF.  A quick spritz of the Juice Beauty’s mist and application of moisturizer, and I woke up with soft, supple skin.  I’ll continue my trial to be sure, but I just may be loving these other Juice beauties already!

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.

Well, I am continuing my use of four of the five Dr. Hauschka products that I have been trying, but one, is sadly, already out for the count.

The Cleansing Cream is just not for me.  If you’re familiar with Jurlique’s Daily Exfoliating Cream, it is similar, though I actually prefer Jurlique’s.  The Cleansing Cream is a pasty consistency and is meant to be pressed into the skin to deeply cleanse while also exfoliating.  The issue is that I prefer a cleanser that a) also removes makeup b) goes a long way so I can also use it down into my decollage and c) can be used on the entire face which again, helps in removing makeup.  Plus, it contains wheat germ oil, which means, it’s probably not gluten free.

So I’ve moved on.  I am not trying the Sircuit Skin X-Trap Face Wash, which is a concentrated gel.  And to help remove all of the dirt and oil that’s built up, I am presently wearing my Environmental Defense Mask by Naturopathica.

I will continue to try out the Toner, Moisturizer and Facial Oil–until I simply can go no longer without my 100% Pure Organic Healing Balm, that is.  Seriously though, I do think there is something to using a toner and an oil.  Time will tell . . .