Review: Ruby Cup

Looking for a healthier  and more eco-friendly alternative for hygiene during your menstrual cycle, or maybe you're just tired of buying pads/tampons every month? Menstrual cups are a great solution, and I definitely recommend that you check out Ruby Cup.

Ruby Cup is a high-quality, 100% top medical-grade silicone menstrual cup that was designed in Denmark by three young ladies, along with experts from Coloplast, a world leading healthcare company. This little cup can be worn up to 12 hours before having to empty it, and is made to last a lifetime (or at least up to 10 years). Plus, every Ruby Cup purchase means a Ruby Cup is given to a Kenyan schoolgirl in need, helping to ensure that she can pursue her education without worrying about her period.

When I saw the “Buy One, Give One” campaign of Ruby Cup, it helped me feel like they really care about women. I like that they’re out to make a positive change in the world, and that’s a big reason that I decided to ask to review their menstrual cup. They were super-sweet about it, and have been very patient with me, as I’ve had some health issues that were slowing the review process down a bit.

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Healthier and Eco-Friendly

Why do I say menstrual cups are “healthier”? Well, a lot of menstrual pads and tampons that you can pick up at your local store have been processed with some questionable chemicals to make them pure white. And don’t get me started on the scented items…. Menstrual cups made from medical-grade silicone are hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

The “eco-friendly” bit? Well, you just boil a silicone menstrual cup and reuse it for up to 10 years or more, according to Ruby Cup. No more sending pads/wrappers/tampons/applicators to the dump. Plus, you’re not having to go to the store to stock up on more.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bashing all pads and tampons. There are some great companies that go a more natural route in their processing, and some even make washable pads that can be reused. Since this review is of a menstrual cup, though, that’s what I’m focusing on.

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Material

The Ruby Cup is made of medical-grade silicone. This means that it is phthalate-free, totally body-safe, and can be easily sanitized and used over and over.

For those who are wondering about the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, no worries. Menstrual cups, in general, have not been linked to TSS (generally linked to high-absorbency tampons and leaving them in too long). Silicone is not absorbent, and won't dry out the natural fluids that the body creates to help balance your pH. When that's thrown off, you're more at risk for a toxin-producing strain of staphylococcus aureus bacterium. A medical-grade silicone cup like this one can also cut down on the risk of a yeast infection/thrush.

If you need to use lubricant to insert the cup, only use water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants and silicone-based lubricants are not a good match, and could damage the cup.

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Design

• Capacity: 34 ml
• 
Cup length: 51 mm
• 
Total length: 68 mm

• Diameter: 45 mm

With Ruby Cup, there is only one size. Some companies produce sizes for before and after giving birth (a smaller and a larger version), but this cup is designed to be comfortable for everyone. I can say, as a woman who hasn’t given birth, it’s comfortable for me during insertion, wear, and removal. 

The stem has lots of raised dots to make it easier to grip, and can be cut to any length that feels comfortable to you. Since I never noticed the stem at the original length, I never cut mine. I like it longer, as it gives me a bit more to grip and prevents me from pinching the bits that I have that are a bit on the *ahem* curtain-y side, if you get my drift. The dots certainly help with grip, but the length helps just as much, in my case.

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How to Use Ruby Cup

Although pictures are great, I learn better by watching someone. So, below is a video on how to use the Ruby Cup.

Like she said, it can take a while to get used to putting it in. I think the trick for me was just figuring out the best technique. You may need to play around with the different folds and position yourself in various ways to find out what works out best for you.

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My Experience

I prefer to fold the cup in a “C” shape, but you should experiment to see what works best for you. I’ve found that the best insertion method for me is to stand with one leg out to the side and slightly squat. It might sound a little awkward, but it’s not. Doing it this way, it just pops right in. To make sure that it has opened properly, you might want to give the stem a twist.

Once in, I barely notice it at all. I can move any which way I want to, and it’ll still be comfortable for me. There’s been no problems with leaking, and I love it so much more than menstrual pads. No smell, no constant changing, and no mess in general. Plus, y’know, the money-saving bit is great, too. That means I can stock up on more chocolate and Fox’s Blackberry Hard Pear Cider for my bad days. The first and second days are usually the worst, however….

It may sound crazy, but using a menstrual cup seems to cut down on some of my cramping. I think it has to do with the fact that the walls of the cup prevent the menstrual fluid from flowing over as much of my inner walls, which causes less muscle contractions (IE cramping). Well, at least, that’s my theory, anyway. It doesn’t make a huge difference, but it’s enough for me to notice.

Emptying it is really easy. I just squat like a little frog, bear down a little to get the stem accessible (Be careful if you have longer lips. You may pinch them, along with the stem. Unfortunately, I speak from experience.), wiggle it down a bit to where I can pinch the base of the stem to break the suction-y seal of the cup, and pull it right out. I’ve never had a spill yet.

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Cleaning

During your period, you can just empty the cup out and give it a good rinse. Afterwards, be sure to boil it for 5 minutes to sanitize it. You can either do this in a pot of water on the stovetop, or in the sanitizer that Ruby Cup sells. I prefer to boil mine after my period, then once more on the day that I start next period. Although it just sits in a cotton bag for a month, I prefer to make sure it’s sanitized.

To prevent any buildup, use a soft toothbrush to gently clean around the writing and in the tiny holes before boiling. Don’t forget the cavity in the stem.

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Storage

Make sure to put the cup back in it’s cotton bag, or something breathable. Since it’s impossible for moisture to evaporate when the cup is stored in a plastic container or the sterilizer, there’s more chance for bacteria to grow.

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Lifespan

Ruby Cup states that the cup should last up to at least 10 years, with proper care. Some discoloration may occur, which they say is normal and won’t affect the integrity of the cup. I’ve used it for three cycles, and it hasn’t shown any sign of discoloration yet.

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Shipping / Packaging

My Ruby Cup was shipped in a pink environmentally-friendly bag. Since it came from the UK, there was a customs declaration on it that said “silicone cup”. Inside was a little cotton bag with satiny pink ribbon, which held my cup, instructions, and some other info.

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Opinion

I really love my Ruby Cup. It’s way less of a fuss. I’ve always been a little cautious of tampons because of the TSS thing, so I generally always used pads. With the cup, there’s no changing, no garbage, no bloody mess, no smell, and no leaking. That’s definitely enough to win me over. Plus, it’s been very comfortable. The only thing that I have to deal with is boiling it, and that’s fine with me. When I have my period, I don’t feel like fooling around with much; the easier, the better. Just keep in mind that it might not be that easy to get used to for your first cycle or so. After you get used to it, though, it’s a breeze.

I also love that the company isn’t just out to make a buck. They really care about women’s health and well-being. They’re the only menstrual cup manufacturer that I’ve seen that will actually donate a cup to someone who really needs it for each cup you buy. And you know what? That’s awesome.

So, many thanks to Ruby Cup for letting me review their menstrual cup, and for caring enough to make a positive difference in the world. ♥

And….. Going through their shop again to get a pic for the end of this review, I noticed that they have some goodies that I didn’t see before that are made of organic Fair Trade cotton. You just had to go and make me love you more, didn’t you? You’re making it very difficult not to fangirl over you….

 

 

 

FTC Statement: The Ruby Cup was provided to And The Dreaming Moon… for free in exchange for an honest review. No further compensation has been accepted. This has not affected the opinions expressed in the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm

Many of you may be familiar with Evolution of Smooth’s colorful little lip balms. They’ve been popping up in cosmetics departments and near checkouts for quite a while now. These little lip balms are 100% natural and 95% organic, along with being paraben-free, phthalates-free, petrolatum-free, and gluten-free. The sweet mint flavor even has stevia extract in it to help sweeten your smoocher.

The sweet mint flavor was actually the first of the EOS lip balm line that I tried. I’ve had many other minty lip balms, and I wanted to see how this one would stack up to the competition.

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Packaging

Depending on where you buy this, the packaging may differ slightly. I’ve seen it in both packaging options. I think it may also come in combo packs. The one that I bought was the one in the shrink wrap wrapper.

It had the company logo, stated that it’s 100% natural and 95% organic, stated the flavor and ingredients, and had the UPC code, along with a couple other things. This wrapper easily peels off.

 

 

You get 25oz (7g) of lip balm in it. Twist the two halves apart, and you’ll find a dome of the sweet mint lip balm inside. One side of the egg-like balm capsule is flat, and so is the bottom. You’ll find the EOS logo embossed on the top and bottom of the capsule. So, no matter if you have it laying on the side or straight up, the logo will always show.

One thing to note is that this lip balm does not have an expiration date printed or embossed on it. The medicated tangerine and SPF lemon drop flavors that I have from EOS actually have the expiration date embossed on the bottom. I’m not sure why they didn’t do that for this one. However, I bought this when they first started appearing in the stores. So, maybe they all have expiration dates embossed on them? I hope so. An expiration date is rather important.

As for the shape, it’s fine for throwing into your purse or bag, but it might not be as easy to fit in your pants pocket. And, even if you do manage to get it in your pants pocket, chances are that it’s going to look rather odd.

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Ingredients

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Limonene**, Linalool**.

*Organic.

**Component of Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

I have to say, most of the ingredients check out alright. However, I’m a little leery of limonene and linalool. According to the EWG Cosmetics Database, linalool is classified as a possible human immune system toxicant or allergen. As for limonene, it shows that to have high concerns for irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs).

If you have any skin sensitivities, I recommend you choose a different lip balm. I haven’t had any issues, but you may want to check out other options, just to be on the safe side.

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Smell / Taste

If you’ve ever crushed a fresh mint leaf, it’s about the same as that. Well, maybe it’s a little bit stronger than that. It’s not overpowering, though.

The taste is pretty much what I was expecting: sweet, tingly, and very minty. What’s interesting to me, though, is that the tingling lasts for about 30 minutes, as long as I don’t eat, drink, or try to lick it off.

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Texture / Consistency

The opinion of how this feels really differs between my husband and myself. I think it feels smooth and light, and leaves a thin coating without being sticky. However, if you ask my husband, he’ll tell you it feels heavy and will wipe it immediately off after I kiss him. He hates most lip balms and glosses that I have and tells me most of them feel gunky. There are very few that he doesn’t actually notice on me and won’t wipe off.

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Application

The application of this balm has been pretty easy. The dome shape makes it possible to just do both of my lips in one swipe. Plus, there’s no dealing with the balm going back into the container like the some tube balms that have a dial. That really annoys me…

Of course, this is going to get a little tricky when the balm starts to wear even with the top of the half that it’s in. At that point, you’re probably just going to have to use it like a pot balm and stick your finger in it, which isn’t really my thing, unless my hands have been freshly washed.

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Longevity

Naturally, the longevity depends on how much I eat/drink/talk/lick my lips during the day. I usually just reapply after eating. For the most part, it lasts for a pretty long time.

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Opinion

This is a great balm. The smell and taste are true - which is a big plus in my book – and it’s tingly and lasts for quite a while. Plus, it goes on smoothly and feels light, although my husband begs to differ. That being said, opinions may certainly vary. To give you a little better idea of what you’re getting, it’s fairly similar to one of the mint balms from Burt’s Bees, only sweeter and a little easier to apply. I didn’t really find Burt’s to glide on my lips as well as the EOS balm does.

Anyway, they have lots more flavors besides this, and they keep coming out with new ones. I’d really like to try their Alice in Wonderland set someday. Maybe you’ll see a review of it in the near future. We’ll see!

 

 

 

 

FTC Statement: The Evolution of Smooth Lip Balm was purchased by And The Dreaming Moon… This review has not been sponsored in any way, and the author has received no forms of compensation for this review. This has not affected the opinions within the post, and complies with FTC standards.

iVi Scents Going Out of Business Sale

Unfortunately, I have such sad news to share. iVi Scents, one of my favorite stores for body-safe (no parabens, phthalates, GMO’s, mineral oils, triclosan, or cruelty) bath and body products is going out of business… Everything is 50% off right now, and things have been getting close to selling out FOREVER!

Their soap is some of the best that I’ve ever bought. It smells wonderful, and fills the whole bathroom with scent even when not in use. ~ Come back home from a bad day. Smell the bathroom. Mmm…. Life is now 20% better.~ It lathers with little effort, and it’s great for my sensitive skin. They come in loads of awesome scents like Ozone, Sandcastle, Hawaiian Cake, Milk and Honey, and Peppermint Kissed. These are what I’ll be stocking up on soon.

They also have pretty awesome body butters, but they do contain silicones. Dimethicone, to be exact. At one point, they actually carried bath bombs, perfumes from Demeter Fragrance, and I think they had some lip balms, too.

So, why are they going out of business if they have all these awesome products? Well, once things were taking off to the point where the owner and creator of the line couldn’t supply the orders by herself, she moved to a lab. This eliminated the products besides the soaps and the body butters, and it also drove the prices up. Even though I adore her soaps, $6.99 per bar was just too much for my wallet. Unfortunately, I think maybe she just priced herself out of the market. (Or Apple went after her because of the lower-case ‘I’ in everything…) And now that she’s having a going out of business sale, the soaps are cheaper than they’ve ever been.

If you’ve never signed up with iVi Scents before, you can get a $5 eGiftcard when you signup for the newsletter, which is enough to get one of the soaps, with almost enough left over to get one of the towel treats. If you have any loyalty points accumulated on your account, now is the time to cash them in for gift cards.

I have no idea when the store is actually closing. There’s been very little information put out by the owner about the business closing. So, I guess, once everything is sold out completely, the site will be gone.

Review of the Handmade Lotion (Blue Candy) from School of Wash

School of Wash was created by a mother who wanted to make bath time cooler for her little one, and safer without all the toxins used in the the cosmetics industry. I may not have any children, but I can definitely appreciate fun products that are completely safe for my body. This is the sort of thing I wish existed when I was little. With so many scents to choose from, and no worries about the ingredients, I would have been in Heaven. And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have started puberty at age 9 (A lot of cosmetics have artificial hormones or chemicals that affect hormones, and have been shown to cause early development in children, among other issues).

Everything isn’t just for kids, though. There’s a separate line that deals with more indulgent things for adults like exfoliating scrubs, body butters, shave soaps, and more.

After I was accepted to review one of the handmade lotions, I excitedly set to scrolling through all of the scent descriptions to pick one out for myself. Oh..my..goodness.. The amount of scents is absolutely overwhelming! I started out with a list of ones that I would like, then kept narrowing that list into smaller lists. It took me so long to decide on a scent, but I finally settled on Blue Candy, formerly known as Blue Sugar. If you’re curious about exactly how each scent smells, check out their Pick-a-Scent pages. Their scents for kids and adults are different, so be sure to check out each page.

|   School of Wash Pick-a-Scent Page      |     SOW Rocks Pick-a-Scent Page   |

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Packaging

This lotion is packaged in an aluminum bottle with a black saddle pump. When it arrives, you’ll need to push and twist the pump to unlock it. The label shows the company logo, name of the scent that I chose, the ingredient list, and the address of the company.

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Available Sizes

• 2.5 fluid ounce (75 mL)
• 4 fluid ounces (120 mL)
• 8 fluid ounces (240 mL)

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Ingredients

Organic Aloe Juice, Coconut Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Palm Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Vegetable Glycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid.

I’ve been reassured that there no phthalates in the composition of the fragrance (“Fragance” is one of the many umbrella terms that can be used to hide a company’s scent-blend, which can include unsafe ingredients such as diethyl phthalate. Question everything.) Also, the Emulsifying Wax NF is plant-based, not petroleum-based. The only thing that I would like to point out is that phenoxyethanol can be a skin irritant to those who are sensitive.

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Scent

“Bright mandarin, caramelized sugar, and patchouli are intricately blended with licorice, lavender, and anise. In the middle are the distinctive aromas of coriander, cedar, and tonka. Creamy vanilla and citrusy bergamot finish of this tantalizing fragrance! This scent can naturally be worn by both boys and girls!”

I was happy to find that the scent description that I read on the site was exactly what I got. What comes through the most for me are the scents of lavender, anise and vanilla. Rubbing it in brings out the scent of the cedar, patchouli and coriander. After mixing with the natural chemistry of my skin over the course of the day, the caramelized sugar shines through and leaves me wanting something sweet to snack on. I think I can slightly smell the mandarin, and I’m not sure what tonka is supposed to smell like, so I can’t comment on that. Keep in mind that everyone’s skin chemistry is different, and that’s why the same perfume doesn’t always smell the same on different people.

What’s amazing to me is that my husband likes this scent. I was going back and forth on what scent to pick, mostly because this one has a anise (black licorice) tone to it, which is a scent that my husband always makes a fit over. Since I love anise, I decided I might as well treat myself, and I’m glad I did. Despite me being able to easily pick out the anise tone, my husband doesn’t notice it, and actually likes the scent of this lotion. I’m betting it’s because of the sweet scent of caramelized sugar and creamy vanilla that come through over the anise. He loves sweets and anything vanilla.

After putting it on in the morning, the scent lasts most of the day. I can definitely say that it’s easily smelled by others. My mother has told me that I’ve filled the entire car with scent, and it’s easy for her to tell when I have this lotion on. It’s not something that totally floors you, though. When wearing it, I’ll catch whiffs of it, but it’s not so pungent that it would be bothersome.

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Consistency

I would say that this is about the typical consistency of lotion. It’s creamy and light; something that’s thick enough not to drip or run off your hand, and won’t leave a heavy, greasy feeling behind. It spreads easily and soaks in nicely.

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Skin

This lotion leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft, without any greasy feeling. I’m happy to report no issues with skin irritation or allergic reactions.

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Opinion

I know that I used to be an iVi Scents fangirl when it came to scented lotions, but this lotion is just as body-safe with a longer-lasting scent. I have to say that I’m converted, and I’m not the only one either. School of Wash has loads of body-safe products besides lotions, and my mother has been wanting to go in halvsies on the I Need More SOW Perfume for some awesome scents for ourselves and a couple of my cousins. There are so many scents that I want to try… So, keep any eye out for future reviews for School of Wash products!

 

Go check them out!

 

 

 

FTC Statement: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review of Ma Mi Skincare Products

 

Ma Mi Skincare is a completely natural line of skincare products that have been clinically designed for the special needs and challenges that face women in early motherhood. Although I’m not pregnant, and never will be, I love this skincare set. No, I don’t stay up late with a crying baby, but I do stay up late working on reviews, thus the title of my blog. All these late hours that I keep means plenty of dark circles and tired skin.

I was sent a small gift pack that included the Reawaken Cleanser, Radiant Exfoliator, Satiated Moisturizer, and Night Shift Eye Serum. This set lasted a couple weeks, using it sparingly. I’m very pleased with how it made my skin look and feel. I’ve never really had a skincare set like this before, so I felt pretty pampered.

 

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Reawaken Cleanser

The Reawaken Cleanser has a nice smell to it. I’m not sure what it reminds me of, but it seems very familiar. It has a very flowery perfume smell to it.

The consistency is a little thinner than a normal gel cleanser. The lather could be a bit better. I usually need to use a couple pumps of it to get enough lather to clean my whole face. The nice thing is, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry like other cleansers I’ve tried.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Olive Oil Castile, Vegetable Glycerin, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Oil of Kumquat, Seaweed Extracts.

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Radiant Exfoliator

You’ll need to be careful with the Radiant Exfoliator. It’s pretty much the consistency of water, which makes it a little difficult to apply without a cotton ball, which is suggested. I, however, didn’t want to use a cotton ball because I didn’t want it to soak up the Radiant Exfoliator and waste it. A cotton ball is fine when just using cheap rose water to tone my face, but this is different.

The Radiant Exfoliator definitely works well. With it’s help, I’ve been able to get rid of some blackheads that I’ve had for years. This is because the Radiant Exfoliator helps shed dead skin cells. I usually look a little flakey after using it, and gently buff my skin with a towel. This helps to remove the dead skin cells and blackheads that were loosened up.

It has a slight metallic smell to it. I’m not really sure why, but it’s nothing overpowering or bothersome.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Glycolic Acid.

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Satiated Moisturizer

The Satiated Moisturizer is wonderful. It really doesn’t have any scent to it, but it’s very moisturizing. My skin soaks it right up.  It’s very creamy and, I’ll admit, feels a little oily when first applying it to my skin. However, once it soaks in, my skin is soft and not one bit oily.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

I’m a little leery of Laureth-7, since EWG Cosmetics Database says that it could contain potentially toxic impurities such as 1,4-dioxane. Just so you know, C13-14 Isoparaffin is derived from petroleum. Also, for those who have skin sensitivities, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin could trigger reactions.

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Night Shift Eye Serum

I love the Night Shift Eye Serum!

Being a girl of French heritage really stinks sometimes, mostly because of the dark circles under my eyes. My mother has that problem, too. Plus, me staying up late to write doesn’t really help the issue either.

The Night Shift Eye Serum is a wonderfully moisturizing gel that helps minimize the appearance of my dark circles. Mind you, I haven’t been able to get rid of them, but the Night Shift Eye Serum definitely helps.

I hadn’t told my mother I was using it, so when she asked if I had been getting more sleep or something, I knew it wasn’t just in my head that it was working. I let her know about it, and I think she’s going to look into getting some for herself.

This is one of the bottles in the gift set that still has a little left in it. You really don’t need much. One half a pea-sized squirt will take care of both eyes.

Ingredients: Seaweed Extract, Purified Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxido Reductases, Soy Peptide, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

For those who have skin sensitivities, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin could trigger reactions.

 

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Rating

 

Ma Mi Skincare has some great products, and most of the ingredients are pretty safe. Although my skin has had no adverse reactions, there are some ingredients that could cause skin irritation, and one that’s derived from petroleum. Paired with wanting the cleanser to lather a little better, I’d give this set a 4.5/5. Many thanks to Ma Mi Skincare for letting me test out their products!

 

FTC Statement: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Review of the Grapefruit Mint Soap from YesterYear Soap

 

A while ago, I was given the opportunity to review some natural artisan soap from YesterYearSoap.com. They handcraft all of their soaps, which contain the highest quality essential oils formulated specifically for soap. YesterYear Soaps are good, old-fashioned artisan soaps.

I was sent two random soaps. The first was a vanilla strawberry-scented soap, which you can read about by clicking here.

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Ingredients

olive oil, coconut oil, soybean oil

Whatever scent bar says it is on the wrapper is what other ingredients you can expect, in terms of oils, herbal bits, and other things. Since this one is grapefruit/mint, those are what oils and bits are in the bar. I can definitely see the dried mint bits speckled in it.

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Scent

I was given the grapefruit/mint soap to test out. Both scents are very noticeable, although the mint is stronger. The scent is strong enough to make my whole bathroom smell wonderful.

You know those days when you just feel gross? This soap arrived around the last couple days of my period. When I’m having my period, I usually lay around in pain indoors. Staying in all day makes me feel so gross, not to mention that signature period smell. Blech! The grapefruit/mint soap is great to wash that feeling away. The mint has that cooling effect, while the grapefruit adds a fresh, clean feeling. It’s very refreshing and makes me feel like I smell so much better.

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Lather

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates are usually what make soap lather so well. They’re also bad for your liver. This company doesn’t use SLS, and definitely doesn’t need it. When lathered with a shower poof, this soap turns into a thick, creamy lather that could almost be used in place of shaving cream/gel.

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Skin

My skin has not voiced any complaints; no irritation, itchiness, or anything. I will admit that my skin gets rather dry fairly quickly, and this soap is perfect for it. It’s rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients to smooth and soothe. Since there are no chemicals, dyes, or preservatives to irritate any allergies, those with sensitive skin should be fine.

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Packaging

The packaging is very simple. The bar is wrapped in shrink wrap, and has a paper label wrapped around it with the company name, logo ( as featured in the image to the right), ingredient list, and website. The bars are rather large and square. Mine didn’t fit in my shower caddy, so I sliced some of it off and let my mother try it. She loved it, too! 

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Rating

 

I loved the scent of this soap and how it made my skin feel. It’s a very fresh, clean scent, perfect for morning showers or a nice refresher. I would definitely recommend it. Many thanks to YesterYear Soap for letting me review this! 

 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Review of the Vanilla Strawberry Soap from YesterYear Soap

 

Some time ago, I was given the opportunity to review some natural artisan soap from YesterYearSoap.com. All of their scented soaps contain the highest quality essential oils formulated specifically for soap. And let me tell you, those scents are potent (in a good way)! I was given the vanilla strawberry soap to test out.

YesterYear Soaps are good, old-fashioned artisan soaps. There’s nothing artificial in them and they’re all hand-crafted. Being a part-time artist, that’s something I really appreciate. It’s nice to see companies getting back to a time when they really cared about the products and patrons.

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Ingredients

olive oil, coconut oil, soybean oil

Whatever the bar says for the scent is what oils, herbs, or other bits are used in the bar. Since this one is vanilla strawberry, those are what oils and bits are in the bar. There are small but visible pieces of dried strawberry and little flecks of vanilla.

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Scent

It really does smell just like strawberry. The sweet, fruity aroma is enough to make me want to eat the bar! There are some deep red bits that I’m assuming are dried strawberry pieces.

The vanilla, I think, is what really gives this soap it’s sweet scent. It’s almost like strawberries and cream. Actually, when I use it, it makes the bathroom smell like strawberry shortcake.  This soap is perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth.

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Lather

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates are usually what make soap lather so well. They’re also bad for your liver. Luckily, you have nothing to fear with this soap, and no lather to lose! Without the help of any harmful chemicals, it produces a wonderfully thick and creamy lather when I use my shower poof with it. Great if you’re too cheap to waste money on shaving gel for your legs like me.

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Skin

The oils in this soap are very nourishing. My skin has no complaints. This soap is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients that pamper my skin. For those with skin sensitivities, you should be fine with this soap. There are no chemicals, dyes, or preservatives to irritate any allergies.

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Packaging

The packaging is very simple. A paper wrapper with the company name, logo ( a classic beauty admiring herself), ingredient list, and website is wrapped around the bar, which has been wrapped in shrink wrap to seal it off.

The bars are rather large and square. I love the generous portion. It does seem like I get more with this soap compared to the usual bar of Dial that hubby gets.

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Rating

  

I would definitely recommend them! In fact, I’ll probably be sending this website, if not some of the soap, too, to my cousin. She’s also a natural beauty nut. Many thanks to YesterYear Soap for letting me review this! 

 

 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Beautiful Bamboo - Review of Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Compact

I was excited to see the new line and compact looked nice. I definitely need something durable because the compact that my Organic Wear Face Powder came in did not survive. One of the covers eventually ripped off the paper hinge… I’m rough on my cosmetics. I’m always in a hurry in the morning, so everything just gets pitched around.

Thankfully, since I’m trying out the new Physicians Formula® Bamboo Wear™ line, I can use something more durable. The Bamboo Compact is designed to replace all the other throw-aways that just end up as waste in a landfill. Instead of buying a completely compact every time you use up all of your makeup, the Bamboo Wear™ line consists of the empty Bamboo Compact (Mirror and brush included. By empty, I mean that there’s no makeup in it.) and Face Powder or Bronzer refills. Much better for the environment and less in my waste basket.

Bamboo is a highly sustainable material and very durable. It grows like fire (up to eight feet per day) and won’t break during even the most fierce winds and storms. Perfect for me. Plus, it’s a beautiful material and has become popular for use in household flooring. The compact has bamboo silk-screened onto the front of it and enhances the eco-friendly vibes that it puts off. Aside from the compact being natural, the brush is also made of 100% natural hairs with a 100% bamboo handle.

The compact is composed of two compartments; one which is designed to hold the powder refill and another that has an attached mirror and space to hold a brush. There are six small magnets within the compact. Two are for holding the powder refill in place, while the other four are for keeping the sliding compartments of the compact secure.

Directions for Use

Swivel the lid to open the top compartment in order to access the mirror and brush. Swivel again to reveal the bottom compartment and insert your powder refill pan into this compartment. It will simply drop into place in the cavity and will be held securely by two magnets in the bottom of the cavity. Once your powder refill is spent, just use the finger notch to lift the empty pan up. Swivel in reverse to seal the compact back up.

One Thing Bothers Me

The brush has a bad tendency of losing hairs. It wouldn’t be bad if it would have just been a couple, but I’d say mine has lost around 20 hairs. It’s really annoying.

Rating:

 

The only reason I’m taking off half a point is because of the brush losing hairs. It wasn’t really a big deal after the loose hairs came out, but it was annoying. After the first couple, I washed the brush out thoroughly to make sure all of the loose hairs were out. I haven’t had anymore problems since. Otherwise, it seems very durable and I love that it swivels instead of flipping like normal compacts.

 

 

FTC Statement: The Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Compact was provided by Physicians Formula® for free in exchange for a review. This has not affected the opinions within the review.

Sustainable Beauty - Review of Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill (Creamy Natural)

Hypoallergenic. Fragrance Free. Paraben Free. Dermatologist Approved. Non-Comedogenic. Oil-Free.

For a while, I had been using Physicians Formula® Organic Wear Face Powder (Translucent), but I was running dangerously low. On one of our regular outings, my mother and I stopped at Target to check out some of the makeup for each of us. Turned out she was looking for some face powder, too. Since very few companies have safe products (IE No parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, etc), my mom tends to get a bit flustered trying to find something safe.

I led her over to the section with Physicians Formula® cosmetics and promptly noticed the new Bamboo Wear™ line. Looking over the ingredient list, everything seemed fine. The package states that the product is, “free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances”.

Coverage: Unfortunately, I have some stubborn blackheads that have been with me for quite a while; and I’ve been searching for something that will help cover them up until I can get rid of them. Thankfully, the Bamboo Silk Face Powder covers them really well. It does a fair job covering any pimples I may get, too (Darn those pms pimples…).

Another thing, I pluck my eyebrows. Why? I have to. Thank you, grandpa, for giving me your eyebrows… Anyway, when those hair start to grow back in, that means little black dots. The Bamboo Silk Face Powder covers those pretty well, and I like to use the lighter part where the bamboo design is to highlight my brow bone. I love the fact that it covers those dots so well. If a face powder can’t do that for me, I’m returning it to the store.

Because the Bamboo Silk Face Powder is bi-colored, it helps to give my skin that nice, smooth look. The combination of two colors helps even out skin tone. If you have scars from pimples, chickenpox, or something else, this will help make your skin look more like it has one even tone of color.

How Long Does it Last?

My skin naturally tends to get oil towards the evening, but I haven’t had to re-apply the Bamboo Silk Face Powder. It really does seem to absorb the extra oil that my skin produces.

Appearance

I love the Bamboo Silk Face Powder. The first time I put it on, I did think my skin looked healthier. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just in my head, though. Reading that a product can do something can trick your mind into thinking it really does even if it doesn’t. However, when I met my mom later that day, she asked me what I had been doing to my skin and that it looked better. My mom is not one to lie or to say something just to make me feel better. She’s blunt, just like me. Also, when we went out to lunch with my old boss from the Painted Daisy art gallery, she said I looked good, too. Between the three of us, I think the Bamboo Silk Face Powder gets some pretty good ratings. 

How is it Sustainable?

The Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill is simply that, a refill. It’s nothing more than powder cake in a metal pan which is meant to fit in the Bamboo Compact. Bamboo is very sustainable and grows like fire. It can actually grow up to eight feet in one day! Bamboo is very durable and makes a wonderful reusable compact. Whenever you need more Bamboo Silk Face Powder, you just buy a refill. No wasted cardboard or plastic compact to throw out when the powder is spent. You just keep using the same one.

INGREDIENTS: TALC, MICA, BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER, DIMETHICONE, ZINC STEARATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, NYLON-12, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, LAUROYL LYSINE, CINNAMIC ACID, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ULTRAMARINES.

Wear Instructions: May be worn alone or over makeup. Lightly brush powder over face and neck to even out skin tone. For the most even application, be sure to tap excess powder from brush before applying. For best results on dry to very dry skin, apply moisturizer prior to using powder.

Available Shades: Translucent, Creamy Natural, and Beige

Rating:

Any powder that can cover my blackheads while being completely safe and sustainable is ok in my book. 

FTC Statement: The Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill was provided by Physicians Formula® for free in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

My Lip Stuff Could Be Your Lip Stuff! – Enter to Win a Random 6-Pack of Lip Balms from MyLipStuff.com!

Since my birthday, which is tomorrow (10/16) is coming up, I bring you a chance to win a random 6-pack of lip balms from My Lip Stuff! My Lip Stuff has hundreds of lip balms to choose from in addition to lip balms, they also have body butters, bath salts, linen sprays, and loads of other fun stuff. My Lip Stuff products are skin, earth, and animal friendly. That means they NEVER test their products on animals and use only the finest ingredients that are skin safe and environmentally friendly.

How to Enter

Please leave separate comments for each entry! Comment blobs not accepted!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to My Lip Stuff and tell me in the comment box at least one flavor that you would love to try.

Extra Entries:

• Follow my blog (comment to let me know)
• Grab my button located in the right sidebar (comment to let me know)
• Subscribe to my RSS feed (comment to let me know)
• Follow me on Twitter (comment to let me know)
• Follow me on Facebook (comment to let me know)
• Follow My Lip Stuff on Twitter (comment to let me know)
• Like My Lip Stuff on Facebook (comment to let me know)
• Tweet about it once per day.

The winner will be announced via Twitter on November 1st at 11am CST. Please make sure you are following me on Twitter so I can contact you if you win. If you do not have a Twitter account, please make sure to leave your email address in the mandatory entry. Open to US residents only.

Craving Caramallow Creme Cake - Review of the Caramallow Creme Cake Lip Balm from My Lip Stuff

Scent/Taste: Tastes like a delicious cream filled cake topped with a caramel marshmallow icing! Can someone please make me a cake like this? Mmm… If there is a cake like this, the whole thing would be crammed in my face in a matter of minutes.  The sweet scent of the cream is enough to drive me nuts, but throw in the caramel? *drools* The Caramallow Creme Cake Lip Balm makes me SO hungry for a sweet treat. Not recommended for those on a diet!

Seriously, this lip balm smells just like real food. Actually, all of the balms I’ve tried from My Lip Stuff smell like real food. It’s great! I mean, how many of you have tried those cheap balms in the stores that are supposed to taste like peanut butter cups or soda and have failed to deliver a real flavor?

Ingredients: sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, aloe vera, essential &/or flavor oil

Lips: Ok, this is not your average lip balm. Hubby hates when I put lip balm or lip gloss on because he says it’s gunky and calls it “lip goo”. This balm is really light, but very moisturizing. My lips feel soft, but I barely feel like I’m wearing anything. And my hair doesn’t stick to my lips when I use it! My hair always sticks to the lip gloss I have. (PS Just scraped the lip gloss out and recycled the packaging last night. I’m not using that old junk when I have nice new balms. Hubby used to wipe off my gooey kisses, but I have yet to see him do it with this balm.)

I only have to swipe it once over my top and bottom lip and I’m ready to go.  It’s almost buttery. You know how soft and smooth your skin feels if you use a massage bar? That’s the closest thing I can compare it to. I guess some people could find it to be oily, but I like it. It doesn’t wear off as quickly as regular lip balms do and keeps my lips softer for a longer amount of time.

Rating:

 

I love My Lip Stuff’s Caramallow Creme Cake Lip Balm! It’s all natural, not tested on animals and yummy enough to make me crave a caramallow creme cake even though I’ve never had one. My Lip Stuff has hundreds of flavors to choose from. Trust me, I know. I’ve gone through the entire list. Of course, that means a few more lip balms have tempted me. 

Others I would love to get:

• April Showers
• Bourjois
• Bread Crust
• Honeysuckle
• Orange Creamsicle
• Peace of Mind

My birthday is coming up (10/16) so if any of you feel compelled to buy me something… 

FTC Statement: The Caramallow Creme Cake Lip Balm was provided for free by My Lip Stuff in exchange for a review. This has not affected the opinions within the review.