Moroccanoil Body Collection Review

While many are familiar with the Moroccanoil brand for its superior hair care products, some may not be as familiar with the Moroccanoil Body Collection. The brand was at the forefront of introducing consumers to argan oil for our hair and later launched a line of body care products based with the same infusions.

Perusing a sampling from the line, I can share my experience with key products from the Moroccanoil Body Collection. Behold Moroccanoil Body Buff, which is made with naturally exfoliating orange peel; this is an energizing, daily-use scrub that gently polishes away dead skin cells. Body Buff is paraben-free and offers the added benefits of argan oil blended with Vitamin E and nourishing avocado, grape seed, safflower, sesame and sweet almond oils rejuvenate skin with intense moisture. Moroccanoil Body Buff is an essential as we go into the warmer months.

Moroccanoil Body Butter is a luxurious, concentrated body cream that absorbs quickly upon application without leaving behind a greasy residue. This too is paraben-free and offers antioxidant-rich argan oil, shea, cocoa and mango butters melt together to deliver nourishment, while avocado, olive, squalane and pomegranate oils instantly soften and nurture skin.

Moroccanoil offers Moroccanoil Pure Argan Oil which can be used on the skin, nails and hair. The price point of this premium grade argan oil was quite pleasing and makes this luxe product easily affordable to all. The non-greasy oil provides multiple conditioning benefits for the face, body and hair making the multi-use product an intelligent investment. It glides on like silk and absorbs quickly for a head-to-toe moisturizing and pampering experience. And although Moroccanoil’s signature scent is delicious, Moroccanoil Pure Argan Oil is fragrance-free for which works exceptionally well when dealing with sensitive skin.

New to Moroccanoil, and rather essential for the mind, the Moroccanoil Candle with Glass Vase. Moroccanoil Candle  is crafted in France using premium European wax to softly illuminate and fill the space with the fragrance beloved by so many, creating a warm and soothing ambiance. Many of us won’t be able to jet over to the Mediterranean at whim, but oh how this candle captures the pure essence of the sand, ocean and sky! The Moroccanoil Candle is well crafted, offers a cotton wick that burns for 50 hours and the beautiful double wall glass vase is perfect for storing small personal items once the candle has burned through.

Earthen InstantPeel Facial Review

The facial peels that you receive at the dermatologist or at a spa can be massively expensive and recovery time is at least a few days. My mother has had two and with her experience, albeit good results, I was slightly apprehensive about testing out the Earthen Instant Peel Natural Dead Skin Remover at home. Or rather, I should state that my cousin was slightly apprehensive.

Kirsten has spent way too much time in the sun and the sun damage is evident. She’s only 29! After I did a little research, with Kirsten at my side, we discovered that Earthen Instant Peel is a non-irritating exfoliating peel filled with skin-loving natural ingredients. Each Earthen Instant Peel box contains six single packets and is 10-minutes of well spent time. It is very simple to use – Kirsten used my facial steamer for five minutes (you can actually use this in the shower, I just happen to have a facial steamer that I love), you take one Earthen Instant Peel and apply product to your face. Earthen Instant Peel does the rest!

Small balls of dead skin began to form on Kirsten’s face and after about 15 minutes she rinsed off the Earthen Instant Peel with warm water. One application was like night and day for her skin! No irritation or redness, just lovely soft and rejuvenated skin. Kirsten still has a bit of work to do with more twice weekly applications (so, check back for an update)! Enclosed inside the box are easy and direct instructions, which actually state to use in the shower. Earthen Instant Peel Natural Dead Skin Remover is available online at Amazon!

Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum Review

I’ve written about my cousin Krissy on several occasions, using her as my “model” for specific skincare products. Well, today’s review is for Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum and Krissy is back! Krissy is only 29, but she’s really neglected her skin by failing to use sunscreen and by her own admission not really bothering with any skincare regime until she began to notice problems.

Through my “day” job as a features coordinator for a large health and beauty media outlet, I see 1000s of serums. Many of these serums are intended for anti-aging needs and many of them fall so short on their claims. With my previous experiences, I wasn’t expecting too much from Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum. Would this time be different from the others? I could only hope.

I shoved the bottle of Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum at Krissy and she began her adventure by researching each of the clearly listed ingredients. All are amazing for the skin. And Aurora Cure is paraben free, dye free, not tested on animals, and organic! So, the first night … Kirsten applied the serum as directed (Directions are clearly stated on the bottle) and reported that there is a really lovely; calming light scent. Below is the before and after of Kirsten for one full week of use! She is thrilled with the way that her skin looks.

Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum Features:

• Safe For All Skin Types
• Fast Results
• Organic
• Cruelty Free

Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum lists for $49.99 and sells for $23.95 on Amazon! FYI: Did you know that Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that is clinically proven to boost collagen production?!?

Hypnotic Skinssentials Natural Skin Care Review

Some Pop Culture Shock readers know that I’m an editorial coordinator for a large beauty and lifestyle blog. Obviously I see a ton of skin care and beauty products and a ton of them claim to be natural. So, I wasn’t really expecting to be too impressed by Hypnotic Skinssentials Natural Skin Care. But, I did go into the review with an open mind.

Oh my, have you ever seen those “unboxing” videos on YouTube? Of course you have! And I’m so happy that I didn’t have to do one because there was no way that I could have stopped myself from ripping the box open and diving into the products! I could smell the deliciousness before I even opened the box! That, my friends, is only the beginning. Let’s go through each product that I received and don’t get jealous … these natural and chemical free luxury skin care products are actually affordable!

1. Cleopatra Milk Bath Powder is $26.00 and smells so good. You can literally see the rose petals in the bath powder! As soon as I opened this, I wanted to stop everything and go relax in the bath. Sadly, work must be done so this is on the agenda for later!
2. Mimosa Natural Body Scrub is $19.00 and also smells like a bit of Heaven. Let me just tell you that every item here smells amazing! I was a little concerned about the body scrub because of my psoriasis. Hypnotic Skinssentials recommends that you massage this onto dry skin starting at your feet and moving up. To error on the side of caution, I used this on my feet and legs and happily (very happily) it left my feet and legs smooth without any irritation. So before my lovely milk bath, I’ll be using this all over.
3. Hypnotic Natural Body Butter is $19.00 and is one of my favorites from Hypnotic Skinssentials. This is a thick and creamy body butter that smells great and absorbs quickly. It was so soothing on my sensitive skin!
4. Rose and Chamomile Milk Organic Face Cleanser is $17.00 and is meant to be used in the morning ands the evening, as you would with any face cleanser. This has a lighter scent, which is fine by me because I don’t like heavily scented face cleanser. I found the Rose and Chamomile Milk Organic Face Cleanser to be effective and it left my skin feeling smooth and soft.
5. Fresh Exfoliant Natural Body Scrub is $17.00 and is for dry/mature skin. I had Grans test this out. She stated that it is lightly scented, left her face feeling supple and wanted to know where I got it because she wanted more!
6. Herbal Natural Spray Skin Toner is $17.00 and is a real skin wake up product! I love the scent, which smells fresh and clean. It is a perfect pre-moisturizer and yes, you need to you a toner on your skin!

The Hypnotic Skinssentials lists every ingredient for its products right on its website and there are no parabens, sulfates, preservatives or icky stuff in their products! I couldn’t be happier with this skin care company and I am excited to try more products from them. Did I mention that they are a cruelty-free brand? Stop by Hypnotic Skinssentials online! 

HYPNOTIC SKINSSENTIALS is a Vancouver based, chemical free company. Every item is hand made, PETA approved and Hypnotic Skinssentials is a member of the Canadian Health Food Association.

100% Pure All Natural Rose Water by Lotus Knot Review

My grandmother, whom I’ve mentioned often and disclosed her age (no, she didn’t kill me), has used Rose Water as part of her skin care regimen since she was a young girl. Oh, in case you didn’t know my grandmother is 75-years-young. Grans has a degree in horticultural, but has known about the healing properties of plants for all of her life. She has always had a garden, always grown herbs and flowers and always encouraged me to utilize plants for varying maladies versus running to Big Pharma.

I wish that I had paid more attention when I was younger, but it’s never too late to start and I listen to my Grans without question. This is a woman who knows her roses and her rose water. So, I knew that taking the 100% Pure All Natural Rose Water by Lotus Knot to Grans was going to be a true litmus test as to the quality and efficacy of the product. I loved the Lotus Knot Rose Water immediately. The smell is better than others I’ve tried that have cost at least three times the price.

I found Lotus Knot to be refreshing and calming, but what do I know? Surprisingly, my grandmother (the naysayer) gave this product her extremely discerning approval. We both agreed that the fragrant Bulgarian Damask Rose petals were the perfect choice for this skin-loving tonic. Lotus Knot Rose Water is the perfect toner for after you wash your skin, as it immediately brings your skin back to the proper pH balance. It is ideal for skins, hair, nails, and as a mid-day pick up. I have lost my bottle of 100% Pure All Natural Rose Water by Lotus Knot to my grandmother, but I’m okay with that.

100% Pure All Natural Rose Water by Lotus Knot Features:

• No Chemicals or Preservatives
• Non-GMO
• Spa Grade
• Multi-Use … Skin, Hair, Nails, Antiseptic
• All Skin Types
• 30-day Guarantee

The 100% Pure All Natural Rose Water by Lotus Knot lists for $40.00 and is currently on sale for $15.20 on Amazon. So, I’m off to buy another bottle while this amazing skin tonic is still on sale!

ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth by Green Heart Labs Review

There is a lot to love about the ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth, and a lot to love about the company behind the product -- Green Heart Labs. But, let’s begin with the packaging. The ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth arrived in a biodegradable bag (Yeah!) and enclosed with the Exfoliating Cloth was a recyclable card with an explanation of what the Exfoliating Cloth does and instructions for proper use.

The ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth is well designed with even stitching and large for full body exfoliation. The material is slightly coarse, but not so much that you feel like you’re using a brillo pad on your skin. Now, as for that actual test I had Austin use this. It was a great litmus test because, let’s face it, guys do not take the time to exfoliate despite that fact that they need to! More men than women suffer from backne and the ExfoliMATE is perfect for all of those hard to reach places on our bodies.

ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth by Green Heart Labs Features:

• Size - 34” L x 12” W
• Able To Reach Tough Area Like Back, Shoulders and Butt
• Gentle Exfoliation For Glowing Skin
• Made From Green Fiber
• Biodegradable Packaging
• Loofah Fibers Allow For Less Use Of Product (Cost Effective!)
• 60 Day Money Back Guarantee

You can check out the video for Austin’s full review. But I can tell you that he was happy with the look and feel of his skin after using the ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth. Based upon the feel of the cloth and the size, I am buying one for myself and one for Mister Hubs. The ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth that I received was Green Heart Labs Exotic Animal Print, which I love, but Mister Hubs … not so much. Happily the ExfoliMATE Magic Exfoliating Body Cloth is available is Green and Purple!

I mentioned at the beginning of this review that I was impressed with Green Heart Labs and there are several reasons. Included in my package was a card with a direct email if I need to customer support, as well as a sample of the company’s Super Shea Moisturizing Lip Balm Mini in Juicy Apple (On Sale For $3.99)! These are really nice touches, but it is the philosophy of Green Heart Labs that has won me over. On the company’s “About” page, they have a mission statement that is very much inline with my own beliefs.

“We believe that everyone should have access to natural skincare products that really work. We also believe that everyone should feel confident in their own skin from head-to-toe.  We select only ingredients of the highest quality. Our formulas are always free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and cruelty. Because we put nature first, we strive to limit our environmental impact and are truly green at heart.”

The ExfoliMATE | Magic body exfoliating cloth, Exotic Animal Print normally sells for $24.99 and is currently on sale for $14.99. You can find the Exfoliating Cloth and all Green Heart Labs Products online at Green Heart Labs!

Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides Review

Ceramides have caught a lot of buzz for their anti-aging properties. However, not all ceramides are made the same and if you’re looking for an effective one you need to do your research. While many ceramides are animal-based products, which we feel are less effective, Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides are plant-based.

Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides help to boost skin’s moisture retention, which tends to become a problem, as we get older. But, retaining moisture in the skin can be an issue for anyone – even those of us who are in our 20s and if you want to have great looking skin later on in life, start taking care of it now!

One issue that I see time and again, regarding skin, is that men tend to ignore a good skin care regimen. Guys are just as prone to issues as us ladies and that’s why I enlisted our beloved Austin to review Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides. It’s my thing … trying to get the guys to take their skin care seriously! While you guys may think that you’re immune to wrinkles … surprise … you’re not!

Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides Features:

• Improves Overall Skin Health
• Contains Potent Blend Of Vitamins A, C, D & E
• Plant-Based Compounds
• Helps Reduce and Reverse Signs Of Aging
• Vegetarian/Vegan Blend
• Lactose, Soy & Dairy Free
• Made in the USA
• BPA-Free & Recyclable Bottle

Austin works outdoors, where his skin is exposed to sun and other elements. Getting him into a solid skin care regimen wasn’t exactly easy, but I convinced him and when I asked him to implement Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides into his daily routine he was hesitant. After one week, he changed his tune and now has his girlfriend using it! Evergreen Pure Phytoceramides are available on Amazon for $23.97!