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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REN is a company for which I have the utmost respect, and I would actually love to try all of their products–if only money were no object

But I do have a wonderful little sample that I did try and quite liked–before I realized that it contained: Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein.  And for us gluten-free gals, that simply won’t do.

I will however keep seeking out some other fabulous REN products to try, of course, in the future I had better be sure to carefully read the label!

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 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.

So I have been using the Dr. Hauschka products for a few days now, and I really don’t have an results yet. Each day I hope that my skin is less oily, and perhaps it is a bit, though I may simply be hoping for it to be less oily.  My skin looks good, though I am not sure whether it is improved, slightly less radiant than before or just the same.

I do miss my regular face wash, the Seafoam cleaser, it foams so nicely, the Dr. Hauschka Cleasing Cream is just not the same.  The concepts of using a daily toner and facial oil do intrigue me, and could become staples of my routine. 

One  aspect of the Hauschka philosophy continues to trouble me: they believe that because cell regeneration happens overnight no skin products should be applied to go to sleep.  Night time regeneration is no new concept, that I fully believe in.  But then, if not at night, when am I to use my anti-agers?  And even more confusing, I just received a mail sample of a new Dr. H repair product, to be used at night.  Hmmm.  This is all so confusing.