All Natural Soaps and Bath Bombs by Body HI

It was a sad day leaving Maui after such a gloriously sun soaked vacation there this past December, but on our way to the airport  I made a dash into a little gourmet market as we made one last pit stop. There, I found these beautiful handmade soaps on display, and decided to bring their aloha home with me. Rosemary and Sweet Orange Castile Soap with French Gray Salt, and Soothing Lavender with Buttermilk caught my eye and I am so glad I bought them. They are some of the best soaps I have ever used. But before I start in on how wonderful they smell and what a lovely lather they create, I would like to say that they are just so cute! Each bar comes in its own pouch and a card that provides a list of ingredients. (Everything is 100% natural!)

Continue reading “All Natural Soaps and Bath Bombs by Body HI”

Evan Healy saved my skin.

My skin was acting strange this summer. It was simultaneously dehydrated and oily, and was not soft to the touch. I always drink lots of water, so I figured a search for an all natural skincare line that would address my skin’s needs was in order. Evan Healy’s line, eponymously named evanhealy, had been on my radar for nearly a year, but I’d never fully explored her website much less try her products on my skin. Honestly, I don’t know what took me so long.


The evanhealy website is full of great information and void of gimmicks. It’s all about less is more, pure ingredients, beautiful scents, and consumer education. You’ll find a link to audio files on the evanhealy website that describe many of her products and how best to use them. After being duly impressed with Evan’s philosophy -“the less you interfere with the skin’s own ability to achieve balance, the better”- I decided to reach out to her about my skin troubles. She recommended her Rose Face Care for my dermal woes and was generous enough to send me a kit for review on Scent Hive.


If you’ve read my “About” page, you know I don’t do negative reviews. My primary focus here is on products made by indie, all-natural-ingredient-using artisans and I have no interest in creating negative press about a small business, especially in this economic climate. So I love, or at least like, everything I mention on Scent Hive. In the case of evanhealy, I love (and adore, and treasure) this line because my skin loves this line! The Rose Face Care Kit was the ideal recommendation for me since its primary action is to “re-establish a healthy hydro/lipid balance to combination skin,” which is what my skin so desperately needed.


My love affair started with the Rose Cleansing Milk. It’s a smooth, clay based cleanser that lathers slightly and smells of fresh rose geranium and a touch of rosewood. Coconut oil, white kaolin clay, aloe vera and rose hip oil create a soothing cleanser that gently removes dry skin. My skin feels clean and supple after its use and the lingering scent allows the pampering feeling to last a little longer.


The love only grew as I discovered the Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum in Rose and its ability to hydrate my skin and make it glow with such a small amount. In the morning, its effect is like a primer, giving a smoothness to the application of my tinted moisturizer and boosting its hydration. At night, I apply the Rosehip Serum after spritzing with evanhealy’s Rose Geranium Facial Tonic Hydrosol which nourishes the skin with antioxidants. When I use the serum and hydrosol together, I wake up with hydrated, well rested skin.


For added moisturizing, the Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer is exceptional. First off, it smells amazing. The vetiver is earthy and grassy while the rose and rose geranium are floral and luxurious. I have been using less than a pea size amount mixed with my tinted moisturizer on days that I need a little extra hydration and it not only does that job, but imparts a dewy finish that looks healthy, not greasy.


Finally, the love continues for the French Rose Clay Mask, a clay powder that you mix with water to create a paste. Of all the evanhealy products, this was the one I was skeptical about. I’ve used many masks over the years, a few have been helpful but never extraordinary, so when I applied a thin coat of this clay mask I didn’t have high expectations. I was proven wrong as my skin was clearer and softer than I had ever remembered- save for post-facial smoothness. Rhassoul clay (Moroccan lava clay) apparently lives up to its reputation as a detoxifier, exfoliator, and glow enhancer. I’ve also added a small amount of the French Rose Clay Mask to the Rose Cleansing Milk which augments the milk’s exfoliating action and boosts its lather. I like this routine after a hard work-out or a really long stressful day.


So there you have it. My new skincare love that’s all natural, mostly organic, and lovingly made. Yesterday morning I ran out of the Rose Cleansing Milk and felt a little panicky. My skin has responded so well to the evanhealy regimen, that I hated to miss even a day. Thankfully, I had placed my order just in time. My package arrived yesterday afternoon with a full bottle (as well as full sizes of everything else from the Rose Care Kit). The way things are going, I don’t think I’ll ever be without it.


Reviews of Evan’s Puja fragrance line and bodycare will follow. I also bought a Blue Face Care Kit with my order as it seems perfect for transitioning into the colder months when my skin leans dry and sensitive. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Rose Face Care Kit is $29.95 at evanhealy.com. It provides 7-10 days of treatment.

Posted by ~Trish

Disclosure: A Rose Face Care Kit was sent to me for consideration by Evan Healy. The opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

Share

My Favorite Body Wash is on Sale! Oracle Organics 35% Off.

A couple months ago I reviewed Oracle Organics Body Wash and declared it near perfect and I’m standing by that claim. It truly has become my favorite body wash for all of the reasons I mentioned in my earlier review. The lather is amazing, really lush and foamy. The top screws off easily making the #2 plastic bottle a snap to clean and recycle or reuse. And of course, the scents are fabulous. My first experience with Oracle Organics Body Wash was their Earth scent, a vetiver/patchouli blend with a hint of fir that is deep, earthy and warm. Its comforting redolence was ideal for 4bthose cold and rainy spring days of March and April (and let’s face it, here in the northwest we’re still having some in May). But looking onward to summer, I wanted to try some of their floral offerings.

 

Organic Garden was an obvious choice. Rose geranium is the primary note in this body wash, accompanied by subtle hints of lavender, lemon, and rosemary. I often shy away from rose geranium as its strength can be very overwhelming to the point of being headache inducing if used with a heavy hand. Michelle Gomez, creator of Oracle Organics, has showed restraint with this blend so the brightness of rose geranium can shine without overtaking the Organic Garden experience. 

 

I also gave Soothing Lavender a try which is a lavender, green tea and rosemary blend. While the rosemary in Organic Garden yielded mere wisps of its herbal nature, in Soothing Lavender, it’s a standout. The fresh, aromatic, and herbaceous qualities of rosemary and lavender compliment each other fluidly. 3cAnd depending on how rosemary interacts with your mind-set or possibly the time of day, I could see this body wash being soothing or invigorating. I love Soothing Lavender, and Michelle makes it in her massage oil as well, but I would only recommend this scent to those of you who love rosemary.

 

Speaking of the massage oil, Michelle added some of it in my last order for me to sample, and I give high praise for it as well. She sent the Strengthen Massage Oil which has rosemary and spearmint and it’s wonderful for achey muscles. The oil itself has great slip, only a little is needed, and it would also make a lovely after-bath moisturizer. In my first order I got the Ginger Lime Sugar Scrub and I also recommend that. Be aware that it’s strong on the ginger. I’ll be trying the citrus or mint next go around, but the scrub itself is wonderful. 

 

So now for the sale details!! Everything in the store is 35% off. Michelle is about to have a baby so she is closing her online store starting in June and will re-open once she gets settled being a new mama. When she does, she will be fully stocked including new items. When you put your item in the shopping bag, you will see the sale price reflected. For instance, the Body Washes that were $12 are now $7.40. The Sugar Scrubs that were $11 are now $7.15. As you can see, the prices are fantastic for this line of organic body care! I really can’t recommend Oracle Organics strongly enough and now is definitely the time to check them out. You can read here about the details of their green and ethical philosophy

 

Oracle Organics, available at their website

Posted by ~Trish

Photos from Oracle Organics website

Share