Deodorant Reviews: Before I started the Soapwalla Challenge, I had already tried the Mint Mist deodorant when it was called Coconut Mint Mist. I believe it is still the same exact product, but the name and label has changed. Mint Mist Deodorant Ingredients: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil; Organic Jojoba Oil; Organic Cornstarch; Baking Soda; Organic Beeswax. Organic essential oils: Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Lime and Tea Tree. Now alone, this deodorant doesn't really do it for me. I love the mint scent, but I had to re-apply it multiple times a day due to smelling like a dirty hippie, and it didn't really help at all with sweating. BUT, because I got a rash from Soapwalla, I decided to order it again, along with the Clay Silk Deodorant. Clay Silk Deodorant Ingredients: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil; Organic Jojoba Oil; Bentonite Clay; Organic Unrefined Beeswax; Organic Cocoa Butter; Organic Arrowroot Powder; Organic Tea Tree Oil; Organic Rosemary Oil Extract. I also tried the Clay deodorant alone, and basically had the same results as the Mint Mist. Bummer right? WRONG. I got the brilliant idea to mix the two together. HELLO results! It doesn't work just AS well as Soapwalla, but it DOES work when you mix both! Now, you are probably asking yourself "Why the heck would I buy two deodorants when I can buy one?". Great question, but since I got a horrible rash from Soapwalla, I wanted to find something that worked just as well. Here are some pros & cons of these two deodorants:
Pros:
- Both deodorants, like most of Chagrin's products are Certified USDA Organic!
- Each deodorant costs $7.75, totaling to $15.50, which is only $1.50 more than ONE Soapwalla deodorant.
- The mint scent happens to be my favorite. It is refreshing.
- If you mix the two, it does help with sweating!
- I only had to re-apply when running around like a crazy person for 9 hours during Restaurant Week. Normal people that do not work in a kitchen will not experience this :D.
- Delivery of the products is very prompt!
- There are other scents available.
- No rashes.
- These products are not something you can pick up at a local store, you must order them.
- In order to fully work, in my experience, you have to order two different deodorants.
- They don't work AS well as Soapwalla.
- It is a cream, so you have to scoop it with your finger and apply it to your underarms, which means you'll need a sink or a towel near by to clean your hands off.
Clearly the pros outweigh the cons, and overall I am happy with these deodorants! I did stumble across a natural deodorant from an online store with probiotics that has rave reviews that I would like to test out. But, for now, I'd say the Soapwalla (and alternatives) Challenge is over for the time being! Yay :).
Now for Acure's Eye Cream: This is the first product from Acure that I have tried. I'm actually going to pick up a few more of their other products at Sprouts this week, since they are 25% off for this ad week. Thumbs up to that! Ingredients: Organic Acai, Organic Blackberry, Organic Rosehips, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Calendula officinalis, Organic Chamomile, Fair Trade Certified Organic Rooibos, Organic Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Fair Trade Certified Organic Theobromo Cocoa (Cocoa seed) Butter, Organic Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) Oil, Organic Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE (vegetable derived), vegetable glycerin, Organic Helianthus annus (Sunflower) Oil, Infusion of Organic Calendula in Fair Trade Certified Olea Europea (Olive) Oil, Organic Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella Growth Factor) extract, Leontopodium Alpinum (Edelweiss) Stem Cell, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), 100% natural vitamin E, Organic Oenthera biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Potassium sorbate (food grade preservative). Before I tried this cream, I had been using Devita's Eye Cream for a year. Why did I switch? Well, for one thing they were out of it the three times I tried to get it at Sprouts, and I didn't feel like ordering it online. The other reason was that I realized it had Retinol in it, which isn't exactly good for you. So, Acure was staring me in the face at Sprouts, and I went out on a limb to try it! I'm actually quite pleased that I did! I have been using the cream for about two weeks now, and alongside using my Mun Skin's Nighttime serum (which I am absolutely in love and OBSESSED with), I have definitely seen results! The skin around my eyes is a lot smoother, and instantly less puffier when applied. The area also feels more awake when applied as well. As for dark circles, I'm not sure if it is the mixture of this cream and the Mun oil, but mine are looking less noticeable too! Overall, I like the cream. It is a great daytime cream for under your makeup. I'm not sure that I will fully switch to it from Devita, as I may try some other creams first before I stick to a new cream for a while. That being said, I am going to promote Mun Skin's No. 1 Aknari Nighttime Dream Youth Serum again!! So many people have been commenting on my skin since I started using it, and I even got one of my good friends Lorraine addicted to it as well! Some days I honestly feel like I don't need to wear any makeup because of it! Not to mention it has sold out at 3 different online retailers since I first blogged about it. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not :D!
Reader Awareness: If you are starting to wonder what exactly is in all of your products, PLEASE check out www.ewg.org/skindeep. There are over 76,000 products in their database. They list every ingredient, and give it a ranking of how toxic it is. You might be surprised as to what you put on your skin! (Make the switch to green products!!) Their main site also has a ton of great information about green living too! Check it out!!
Coming up this month: I am currently working on/researching a gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipe! I have an awesome recipe with gluten that I made last year, so I am trying to convert it! Next product review will be comparing natural and organic mascaras! I just ordered another brand, so I will be testing them out in the coming weeks! Happy Fall everyone!! I just decorated, and am so happy I purchased cinnamon scented pine cones. Ahhhmazing! I am also helping out with/making all the food and goodies for my friend Michelle's baby shower, so I will post anything that is gluten-free! Keep on reading, and spread the word if you enjoy it!! Thanks!