You see that cute little kit up there? I had a stand-off with it at my local health food store not too long ago. I’d been wanting to try Weleda’s Almond Skincare for sometime, but I’m set on my current regimen and really didn’t need to buy it. But it’s cute and sweet, that little package of four generously sized skincare samples, and pink too. I began to back away from temptation, but not fast enough as the pink boxes in that simple brown box got the better of me. Next thing I knew it was sitting in my cart alongside organic yogurt tubes for my boys.

I decided to use the cleanser and moisturizers every day, forsaking my Dr. Hauschka and Kahina favorites, to give the Weleda Almond routine a fair shake. I have used the Cleansing Lotion at night and most mornings, the Moisture Cream for day, and the Intensive Facial Cream with the Facial Oil over that for night.

The big winner in the kit is the Almond Cleansing Lotion. In fact, I have already bought a full-sized tube to replace the now empty 10ml one from the set. There’s no scent to the cleanser, or any of the Almond products, and it performs very well in removing make-up and the day’s impurities while also soothing the skin. Its consistency is creamy, not milky, but is not so thick as to leave a residue. My skin always feels nourished, cleansed, and never tight after using the Weleda Cleansing Lotion.

The other product that I will probably replace with a full-size is the Almond Moisture Cream. It’s light but hydrates efficaciously and wears well under powder or liquid foundations. The Almond line is made for those of us who have sensitive skin, but would be appropriate for all skin types save for those with exceptionally dry skin. (You all might want something that provides a little more moisture). The Almond Intensive Facial Cream is not “intense” like the name suggests. I would have thought it to be thicker and less like a lotion. It’s similar in texture to Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream Light, and neither one gives me the hydration I need, especially in the winter months. I apply a tiny amount of the Almond Facial Oil to boost the hydration which definitely helps. My skin has never looked parched in the morning after using the Intensive Facial Cream and Oil combo, but I do prefer Dr.Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream (the original non-light formula) and Kahina’s organic argan oil as my nightly moisturizers.

Overall, I am duly impressed with this line, and have found a cleanser and day moisturizer to place on my already too packed bathroom counter. But I’m fine with that. Weleda uses only natural ingredients, including organic almond oil, in their products. This, combined with unscented, effective formulas make Weleda Almond Skincare a fabulous new find. Did I mention how freaking cute the pink packaging is?

Posted by ~Trish

The Weleda Almond Facial Care Kit is $14.99 at Weleda.com

But, having a natural beauty blog means staying open to new products, especially when there’s interest from readers. My HAIR post continues to be one of Scent Hive’s most popular, so here are more reviews:

Aubrey Organics is a brand that has long interested me, and I can’t express enough how much I appreciated turning a conditioner bottle over to read the ingredients and seeing this statement at the top:

100% Natural Ingredients. No Parabens or Petrochemicals

At the bottom you’ll find: No Animal Testing, Vegan, Biodegradable

So Aubrey covers a lot of bases, including many organic ingredients of course. Since my hair is thick, wavy, and leans frizzy, I tried the Rose Mosqueta Nourishing Shampooand Island Naturals Replenishing Conditioner for starters.

Rose Mosqueta Shampoo, is wow…super scented. Rose musk anyone? And the scent lasts all day long. So if that’s a deal breaker for you, go ahead and jump to the conditioner review. It’s not entirely a deal breaker for me depending on the day. If I want my hair to be my scent of the day, then I’ll go for it because this shampoo is high quality. It has an excellent lather, which is not to say it will be sudsy like a mainstream shampoo, but for a natural shampoo, it’s lovely. My hair felt well hydrated after using Rose Mosqueta and was shiny to boot. I only wish it weren’t so intensely fragranced. I’ll admit that musk is not on my preferred scent list so I might be a bit sensitive to it. But if you like musk, you will love this shampoo.

Aubrey Organics Island Naturals Replenishing Conditioner also gets high praise for its performance. It’s thick and rich and I love its first ingredient; coconut fatty acid cream base. Give me more of that in my hair please! I love running a comb through my hair when it’s being conditioned, and this allowed for smooth combing action. (Not quite as effortless as John Masters Organics Citrus and Neroli Detangler, but smooth nonetheless). With a name like Island Naturals, I was expecting a tropical scent of pineapple, mango, coconut or a hint of gardenia, but instead found mint and rosemary on my head. Fine by me, just not what I was anticipating. Indeed, you will find balm mint and rosemary oil in the ingredient list, with some coconut as mentioned above, but apparently the aromatic herbs are too much for the little island fruit (or seed to get technical). Regardless, my thick hair met its match in Island Naturals Replenishing Conditioner and will be in rotation among Giovanni 50/50 and John Masters Organics Citrus and Neroli Detangler.

Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner says it’s for “Dry Brittle Hair”, but I found Island Naturals to be far more hydrating. The Island Naturals Replenishing provided so much moisture, that fine hair might be too weighted down by it, but I think the Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner could be doable in a small amount. If you find that starts coating it too much, give Blue Chamomile Hydrating Conditioner a try, it gets rave reviews on the Aubrey website from the gals with thin, fine hair.

As for styling products, I’ve been keeping it simple with hair oil after the shower. My routine: Towel dry, 3-6 drops of oil rubbed all over the hands, distribute through middle of hair, ends, then hairline. Comb it. Wrap it up in a clip for a while. Done. I’ve discovered Weleda Rosemary Hair Oil and have found my new favorite styling product. No doubt that Dr. Hauschka’s Neem Hair Oil is a quality product, but Weleda’s helps tame the frizzies a smidge better and makes my hair just a bit softer. And the rosemary scent is delicious.

For some fun, not so serious hair care, give John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender a go. While it added too much body to my hair, it would be perfect for someone whose thin hair needs some life. Or if you’ve got some bedhead and need to give it a boost, spritz this on and refresh your hair with a lavender scent and a little wave.

If you’ve got some favorite natural haircare products, by all means, please share your discoveries by hitting the comments button below! And check out Stylecaster.com for some hair and beauty tips.

Posted by ~Trish

image from http://blog.vva.org/?m=200808

I’m continuing with my mind expansion, opening my world to new roses and the ones I didn’t know I loved so much. So read on for some lovely roses, as well as a great giveaway!

Demeter Vintage Naturals: Rosebush

Demeter has joined the natural perfume ranks with a fragrance line made from 100% natural essential oils. In fact, everything in the Vintage Naturals line is all natural save for 0.2% Bittex, a bitter taste agent used to denature the alcohol. The fragrances are limited edition, as the scents will vary from year to year depending on the character of the essential oil.

The character of Rosebush 2009 is definitely vintage. It has an antique feeling of strolling through an old library with its book lined shelves teeming with stories to tell. This is most likely due to its rose being experienced through a veneer of aging woods and wafts of chamomile’s haylike quality. Detour to the historic library considered, Rosebush stays true to its rose essence, especially in its drydown, and is definitely for the true classic rose lover. If that’s you, consider giving this natural rose a sniff. I’ll make it easier for one of you and send you a 15ml bottle of Rosebush if you leave a comment to enter the drawing! The winner will be announced on Monday, June 1st. The winner has been announced! Woops….I realized after the fact I wrote the wrong date. I have created a new giveaway to make up for my mistake!

Weleda: Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash

Next to Oracle Organic’s Body Wash, Weleda’s creamy body washes are my favorite. In fact, they would be in a dead heat for first place were it not for Oracle’s local edge. Weleda’s Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash is made in Germany and I have been making a concerted effort to buy more locally. But I do like to have a tube on hand when I crave its rambling rose bush scent. Like Daybreak Lavender Farms By U, 4 U Facial Oil that I reviewed in Part I, Weleda uses rosa mosqueta in this body wash that endows it with a “fresh from the garden” scent. The tube is bursting with the scent of the whole plant; petals, roots, stems, and thorns! The earthy creamy mixture creates a luxurious lather that foams very easily, which I appreciate. I just can’t deny that I want my soap to foam… a lot. I also use and love Weleda’s Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash for my boys, and myself.

Pacifica: Egyptian Bergamot Rose

I reviewed Egyptian Bergamot Rose in April, and even though I knew I was reviewing a rose fragrance, it didn’t fully register that I was enjoying a rose fragrance. My assumption that I was not a “rose person” was still clinging on, even though I was taking delight in what is undeniably a spicy, vanillic rose perfume. It’s amazing how steadfast beliefs about ourselves can be, even in the face of new information. It wasn’t until I actually took a step away from my experience that I realized, yes! I do love many rose fragrances. I have finally shed my rose judgement that they are too pedestrian and I will not turn my nose at something in the future just because it’s got rose in the mix. In fact, I just might embrace it.

In Fiore: Rose Noir

Now here’s a fragrance that will never be accused of being too pedestrian! Rose Noir’s blend of rose and oud is stunning and provocative and utterly gorgeous. Michelle Krell Kydd of Glass Petal Smoke wrote a beautiful piece on oud that is informative and thought provoking. I highly recommend reading it if you are interested in learning more about this fascinating essence that is created in the heartwood of the Aguilera tree when it is attacked by fungus. Isn’t that rife with metaphor? Like the lotus blossoming out of the muck!

I have written several times about Julie Elliott on Scent Hive. She is the owner and creator of In Fiore, and has done a fabulous job melding the oud with the rose in Rose Noir. I don’t want to say too much because I have written a review for Rose Noir in Sniffapalooza Magazine that is coming out in its next issue. So this was just a little teaser…you’ll have to stay tuned.

Demeter Vintage Naturals Rosebush is available at Sephora.com

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash is available at Saffronrouge.com

Pacifica Egyptian Bergamot Rose is available at Pacifica.com

In Fiore Rose Noir is available at infiore.net

Read on for Part I.

posted by ~Trish

The Latest Bloomer by pepperminte on esty.com