Burt’s Bees Soapbark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream

Stop the presses. After raving about Bee Ceuticals products (which I still love, fyi) I found a product to supplement my skin care regime: Burt’s Bees Soapbark and Chomomile Deep Cleansing Cream. While Bee Ceuticals is very gentle, and nice for daily cleansing, sometimes you need something with more oomph! I use a microdermabrasian system, but I’m talking about something that feels like it’s cleaning deep down in your pores, and this does. I have sensitive, combination skin, and this is what I think of it.

Things to love: The cool, tingly way it makes your skin feel. You can tell it’s really working. It cleans so well, I don’t have to remove any of my makeup before I use it. It’s also 97% natural, which isn’t bad. My sensitive skin doesn’t react to it at all. And the price is great. A six ounce tube is approximately $8.

Less than perfect: This won’t be my twice-a-day-every-day cleanser because it dries out my skin a little. When I don’t use it every day, it’s great–like a cleansing booster. I recommend following it up with a very hydrating moisturizer or a night cream.

Final analysis: For the price and results, I love this product. When used to supplement my regular skin-care regime, it’s perfect for me so far.

Posted by: Catie

BeeCeuticals Organics

I have been searching since I was twelve for a cleanser that I love. I was told that you have to stick with something nine months to see results (not true, by the way). I dutifully stuck with drug store, boutique, and health-store cleansers for nine months to a year and a half, hoping against hope that I would find something that works. Everything I tired dried my skin out, or left it oily, or didn’t help with my scattered breakouts, or made them worse. After all this time, I’ve found a line that I love: BeeCeuticals.

I heart BeeCeuticals. From the picture of the happy honeybee on the packaging to owners Julie and Richie Gerber’s mission, to the results of the skin care line, these products are great. BeeCeuticals is an all-natural, totally eco-friendly skin care line that uses honey as a primary ingredient. I’ve tried the cleanser and toner so far, and I’m ready to stock up on the rest of their products.

Things to love: This product is good for your eco-conscience. BeeCeuticals is a totally carbon neutral operation! They use Green-e certified wind and solar power and they offset their shipping emissions with carbonfund.org. As far as what the line does for your skin, my roommate said it best when she said that the products aren’t too much. In fact, they promote new cell growth! I have extremely sensitive skin, and I’ve never had an issue with them. The product are, of course, non-toxic, which is a bonus if you have kids that like to get into your stuff. This is also a gender neutral skin-care line, though men might feel that the packaging is a tad femme. Another huge plus? It’s also way cheaper than my previous skincare regime. I’m accustomed to paying $20 for a bottle of cleanser, $15-20 for toner, and a lot for moisturizer. At my natural grocery, the products range from $7-25 and come in large sizes so they last.

Less than perfect: I don’t know how this works with major complexion problems–my skin is generally pretty well behaved excepting some blemishes on my chin area. It may be that it’s not quite enough for someone with heavy acne or lots of blemishes or blackheads.

Final analysis: I’m in love! I can’t wait to try all the rest of their line. I’ll update when I try out the moisturizers to let you know how I like those.

Posted by: Catie

Burt’s Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream

This is the second installment in my quest for the perfect eye cream.  For my other eye cream review (and more to come), click here.

Why I’m on an Eye Cream Quest:  My eyes are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather, and if the delicate skin around my eyes is not properly moisturized, it gets scaly – literally scaly.  I’ve spoken to my doctor and several cosmetics consultants who all gave me the same answer: my skin is reacting as though I was not using any moisturizer whatsoever.  But I was!  But I do!  It turns out that the pores around your eyes are smaller than the rest of the pores on your face.  Eye creams are specially formulated to be finer than regular facial moisturizers in order to be properly absorbed by that fine eye skin.  However, not all eye creams are created equal!  Apparently my eye pores are very, very small, and some eye cream formulas are not quite fine enough for my skin to absorb.  Therefore, some eye creams sit atop my eye skin for hours, eventually evaporating into the air.  Unfortunately, I cannot determine at the time whether the cream has been absorbed or evaporated, and it takes at least a week of using a product to determine whether or not it is effective.  Consequently, I have tried many, many different types of eye cream and would love to share my experiences with you. 

About 7 months ago, I went on an all-natural cosmetics makeover.  Because I had not yet discovered the Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy by my house, I scoured the Bartell’s shelves for affordable natural products and ended up with an entire stash of Burt’s Bees facial care.  I have mixed reviews about the whole experience, which I’ll likely expose to you at a later date.  The Burt’s Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream retails around $15 most places.

Things to love:  This stuff is 98.75% natural and contains a laundry list of good-for-you ingredients that you can find on the Burt’s Bees website.  Because it’s so natural, this product is great for people with chemical sensitivity, and I’ve read several rave reviews to the effect.

Less than perfect:  The texture of this product is like a cross between Vaseline and cream; therefore, giving it a very glossy finish that looks great alone but is impossible to apply just prior to eye makeup application.  It was so thick and moisturizing that I started using it only before bed.  Also, after about a month of use, my eyelid scales returned!  Oh no!  This means that the little moisturizing particles weren’t quite small enough for all of my tiny eyelid pores, and my eyelid was thirsty even under the layer of the cream.

Final analysis:  Most people don’t have my tiny eyelid pore problem, but the inability to apply it under eye makeup would have been a deal breaker for me in any case.  However, if you have very sensitive skin and don’t wear eye makeup because of it, this might help you get the moisture you need without irritating you.  It’s also cheaper than most natural eye creams.

Posted by: Lynnette

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy

For the past year and a half, I’ve passed the Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacyon 45th Street in Seattle countless times.  Tucked back off of the street on the first floor of the Wallingford Center, it’s difficult to see into the windows without looking silly.  Consequently, I had learned to quell my curiousity by ignoring its existence.  Meanwhile, I’d scoured the shelves at the Bartell’s and QFC across the street, searching intently for any decent natural products to offer my skin and home.  Occasionally, I would venture to the pharmacy section of the local Whole Foods but would rarely buy unfamiliar products.  Why would I spend such a premium if I don’t know if it’ll work?

Yesterday, I finally ventured into the Pharmaca in response to a mailbox ad I received last week.  The colorful newsprint featured many of my favorite and familiar natural brands and quickly convinced me that I’ve been needlessly scouring shelves at other stores for far too long! 

Things to love: 

• Selection.  Everything from candles, greeting cards, fitness, supplements, teas, prescriptions, home care, pet care, soaps, lotions, make-up, skin care, hair care, chocolates, books, magazines, and more.
• Staff.  These ladies were incredibly helpful and responsive to my questions.  They knew about each product and also suggested alternatives, citing pros and cons for each.  I really appreciated the customer service and personal attention I witnessed them give to me and to all of the other customers – including a 10-year-old girl wanting to know the differences in types of chocolate!
• Cosmetics & Skin Care.  This was likely my favorite part of the store.  They carry Dr. Hauschka’s, Avalon Organics, Astara, Zia, and many others that I don’t remember.  However, I can say that they have the full spectrum of price ranges, which I definitely appreciate.  They also have a “Makeover Bar” with a full set of cosmetics and products to try right there with the assistance of a staff member.  I was looking for a good eye cream.  Instead of trying to sell me the cream right there, she sent me home with several different samples and told me about each.  I really appreciate the opportunity to try these premium products before making the monetary commitment.  They also give the same sample treatment with all of their cosmetics and skin care products, and I can guarantee that I’ll be back!
• Price.  While most of the products are premium in comparison to those at the local drug store, the prices are very reasonable compared to other retailers for the same and similar items.
• Pharmacy.  The pharmacy accepts most insurance carriers.  While I haven’t tried this out, I intend to do so the next time I need to fill a prescription. 

Less than perfect:  Pharmaca is currently only located in selected areas of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington State. (Check out the website for specific locations.)  Unfortunately for those of you who live outside these areas, the Pharmaca website doesn’t contain a product list or links to featured brands.  You’ll have to stick to alternative means of obtaining great natural brands.

Final Analysis:  I’m sold and never want to walk into a normal drug store ever again.  If you’re into natural products, this is definitely something for you to check out.  If you haven’t tried many natural products, this is a great place to get started with the help of their knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Posted by: Lynnette

Dr. Hauschka’s Mascara

I’ve been wearing contact lenses since I turned thirteen and mascara for about as long. Since then I’ve been searching for the perfect mascara: one that won’t clump, flake, or irritate my contacts, and one without scary ingredients. I may not have found my perfect mascara, but I like Dr. Hauschka’s much better than anything I’ve tried to date.

Dr. Hauschka makes high-end, natural beauty and skin care products. Guilty confession: I was inspired to try this stuff because I heard that Julia Roberts was a fan. It’s not readily available at big-name pharmacies, however. In Chattanooga, I buy it at Greenlife, but you may need to order it online if your natural grocery doesn’t have a large beauty department. The mascara comes in a sleek tube and is available in black, brown, and royal blue and is also available in a “volume” version.

Things to love: the mascara doesn’t dry out — all day. Your lashes look fresh until you wash the stuff off at night. I’ve only tried the black, but it’s a pretty, rich color that looks very natural. It also feels good on and is never stiff. I rarely see any flaking, either. According to Dr. Hauschka, the mascara actually nourishes your lashes with organic plant extracts. I’m particular about what I put near my eyes–much more so than the rest of my face–and so the natural ingredients are a huge plus for me.

Less than perfect: this mascara isn’t cheap. At $23.50 a tube, you’re definitely making an investment. I think it’s worth it, but for some it’s a definite budget-buster. Another strike against it is that is comes off very easily, which can lead to smudging at the first hint of moisture. On the plus side, the smudges clean up easily and the mascara comes off without a trace before bed.

Final Analysis: For me, this is a worth-while beauty splurge. I love the way the product feels on my lashes, and it doesn’t have that funky mascara smell. Especially for you ladies with sensitive eyes, this a great product.

Posted by: Catie