Tag: body wash

Brand Spotlight For The Guys: JĀSÖN Natural Cosmetics

Not to say you ladies won’t want to steal these goodies, but I think Jason Natural Cosmetics is right up a guy’s alley. The natural, but effective products are a look good/feel good kind of situation. And the packaging is largely clean and masculine.

JĀSÖN, meaning healer in Greek, was started in California in 1959. The founders’ mission was to create products without the prevalent harsh chemicals while still preserving efficacy. Some of their core products were:

shampoo fueled by Apricot Oil and Wheat Protein for a naturally aromatic and gentle clean
body lotion with natural Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to soothe and smooth skin
and a whitening toothpaste powered by peppermint oil and bamboo powders.

I had my male testing team try out a couple products and they were universally pleased. First up was the Jason Natural Cosmetics Natural & Organic Satin Shower Body Wash, Tea Tree Melaleuca. First, a word of caution: don’t go in expecting this to work as or smell strongly of Tea Tree. It is more defined by its nourishing ingredients, Vitamin E & Pro-Vitamin B5. The tea tree oil and Aloe Vera subtly purifies and balances skin. I particularly love the giant containers (30oz) this body wash is available in – perfect for families.

Another member of my team checked out the Jason Natural Cosmetics Shampoo and Conditioner, Thin-To-Thick Hair & Scalp Therapy. I too deal with scalp issues so I naturally had to give it a test run myself as well. We love the botanical scent. It approaches herbal but is totally pleasant. Both Shampoo and Conditioner add volume and strength hair with Biotin, Panthenol & Natural Proteins. The Shampoo has a rich later and the plant proteins add shine and bounce. The Conditioner weightlessly strengthens and fortifies with Vitamins A, C and E, preventing split ends.

Also, in the Thin-to-Thick product line, the guy tested out Jason Thin to Thick Scalp Energizing Elixer. Almost like a serum for the scalp, my tester enjoyed using this at night as it is ever so slightly oily. The elixir revitalizes with biotin while natural folic acid and lactic acid help stimulate hair growth and prevent future hair loss. He said his hair was unusually soft and manageable the next morning.

As a note, I have also been a long time fan of Jason Natural Cosmetics Pure Beauty Oil, 5,000 IU Vitamin E Oil (see original post here). When my skin or cuticles need a little extra care, I turn to this nourishing (albeit a little messy) oil containing Black Currant, Evening Primrose, Macadamia Nut and Borage essential oils. It is a truly intensive treatment if you need to heal skin quickly.

All JĀSÖN products are committed to their “Code of Honor”:

Select safe, wholesome, natural ingredients
Rigorously test every formula to ensure safety and efficacy
Never test on animals
Constantly innovate and improve

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Five Favorite Scrubs for Spring

I can rattle all sorts of reasons for scrubbing it up this time of year: self-tanning, time of renewal, glow-y skin, silky legs, and on and on. Yesterday was the first day of spring after all. Down with strep throat this week, I’ve being playing spa at home while I recover. All in the name of research, right? Before you run out and stock up your shower for a new exfoliator or body polish, I wanted to share my five favorite scrubs I am reaching for right now.

Elemis Spa Home Tranquil Body Polish takes me back to an amazing spa (now long gone – RIP) I used to visit that featured Elemis products. The line is elegant and exotic all at the same time. This polish has fine granuals made of natural rice that actually have a pretty active exfoliating effect. There is no greasy residue but the formula does contain Cupuacu butter to smooth and condition. Essential oils of patchouli, mandarin and ginger add to the spa-like effect – absolutely love this fragrance. This scrub is great for prepping legs for a self-tan. Available at here.

AHAVA Smoothing Body Exfoliator also has a to die for fragrance but the formula is slightly different with a gommage texture. I actually like how this prevents the scrub from sliding around while you work it into the skin. The Dead Sea plant extracts and granules, actually quite large, but very gentle, clear skin and improve circulation. I particularly like this for those stubborn bumps on the back of my arms. Available at AHAVAUS.com and Nordstrom.com.

Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub is what I’m turning to for my mug these days. This enzyme scrub is super gentle but still sloughs away flakey and dull skin. Both fruit enzymes and walnut shells work as exfoliants while botanical extracts calms skin. The formula is made with at least 70% organic ingredients. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.avalonorganics.com.

Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Exfoliating Body Wash will send you straight to the South Pacific. We are having a little seasonal cool down this week, so I am counting on this body wash to keep me in the spring mood. As an exfoliating body wash, this is slightly more gentle while still using Pacific seas salts to detoxify and exfoliate. The citrus scent is great for a little boost in the AM. My skin is super soft post-sudsing up thanks to Jojoba, Macadamia, Avocado and Sweet Almond Oils. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.albabotanica.com.

bliss fatgirlscrub provides a little slim down – who wouldn’t want that? While the Himalayan pink salt exfoliates, the peppermint-scented formula tightens skin. The action promotes circulation, reducing fluids that cause lumps and bumps under the skin. And the removal of dead skin preps skin for any other slimming products that you use post-shower. Available here.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

What’s In My Shower These Days

You probably aren’t shocked to find out my shower is full to the brim with beauty goodies. Every day, I grab for something different. But there are those favorites that I keep buying again and again, using every bit to the very last drop. Here’s my current shower MVP list:

H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel is doing a darn good job getting me ready for spring time. The fruity, invigorating scent reminds me of being at the beach in high school without any of the cloying sweetness. The Black Currant Extract and Fruit Enzymes improve skin tone and texture. The best part? The Vitamin E capsules – tiny, jelly like balls that burst with just a bit of pressure that add crazy softness to my skin.

Tokyo Milk Eiffel Tower Soap from Neiman Marcus are almost too pretty to use. But eventually, I couldn’t resist and ripped that pretty paper to reveal a heafty bar of delicious smelling soap. The triple milled soap is made from a pure vegetable base and scented with the finest perfume. I get great lather while Shea Butter provide moisture. The Eiffel Tower scent is a blend of Linden, Honeyed rose, Wisteria petals and White musk.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel is my new go-to shower face cleanser. While it doesn’t have my beloved foaming action, I love the way it can remove every bit of makeup and dirt. It has a fairly strong floral, cucumber-like scent – sounds odd, but it is actually delightful. Papaya and Grapefruit Extracts are provide exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids to deep clean pores. Love using this with my Clarisonic.

Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula is a relatively new addition and I constantly scratch my head why the classic formula didn’t make its way into my shower sooner. My hair was looking a little dull – no excuse for that – I never color it and always use this heat defense serum. Well, the problem was residue. Used once a week, this shampoo and remove all that gunk from shampoos, conditioners and styling products.

St. Ives Revitalizing Pear & Soy Body Wash, another bargain hit from St. Ives that really works. Soy and Pear not only make this formula smell great, but also moisturize skin. Like H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel, the fragrance is getting me in the Spring mood. The soap lathers but without leaving that dry, tight feeling. And around $3, you can beat the price.

NEST Fragrances Personal Care Products

I’m pretty sure I’ve actually uttered the words “I wish I could just bathe in this candle”. Well, NEST Fragrances heard me! They recently launched Body Washes and Body Creams from some of their most iconic scents: Bamboo, Grapefruit, Moroccan Amber, Moss & Mint, Orange Blossom and Wasabi Pear. I am most thrilled with the authentic replication of the fragrance. They didn’t alter or adapt the fragrance, so if you love Grapefruit, that is absolutely what you will get when you pick up the Grapefruit body cream or wash.

Just like all their products, NEST has fashionable packaging down. I love the way these products look in my shower or by my bed. The body wash formula is impressive. It doesn’t strip moisture, is gentle on my sensitive skin and actually conditions. Aloe vera gel soothes and silk proteins provide moisture balance. Coconut, corn and oat-derived cleansers get the job done without irritation. There is nothing better than waking up with Grapefruit in the shower.

The body cream is luxurious and rich. You can expect long-term, lush moisturizing. Shea butter, French plum oil, grape seed oil and jojoba provide nourishment. The cream also contains aloe vera to soothe. They even threw in vitamins to condition and protect. My favorite scent, Moroccan Amber is perfect at bedtime with its cozy and calming notes. These are both now available on NeimanMarcus.com. Free shipping with code JULYFS.

Beach Body Summer Picks

Here’s a round-up of some of my favorite skin-savers I have found this summer:

1. Bliss Blood Orange+White Pepper Soapy Suds: I love a good lather (especially after a hot day), and bliss does it right. But at the same time, it doesn’t dry out your skin. They throw in aloe and vitamin E so soften your skin. I love this for a spicy bath, but it also works great in the shower. And the scent can’t be beat.

2. VI Derm Exfoliating Body Wash with 15% Glycolic and Body Lotion with 15% Glycolic: Those nasty red bumps on my arms and legs are never pleasant. But they are especially bothersome in the summer with tanks, swimsuits and shorts de rigueur. I used KP Duty this winter with some success, but my new favorite weapon against Keratosis Pilaris (50% of Americans have it) is glycolic in the form of body wash and lotion from VI Medical. The citrus scent is delightful and this stuff works wonders. Be careful – glycolic can make you more sensitive to the sun’s harmful rays.

3. AHAVA Mineral Suncare Sun Protection Anti-Aging Moisturizer, SPF 50: You have already heard me go on and on about quality sun care protection and how necessary it is. So I won’t repeat here. But what I also love about this sunscreen is the addition of minerals, vitamins and moisturizing agents. It takes the anti-aging mission a step further and makes my skin look better.

4. Giovanni Cool Mint Lemon Salt Scrub with Crushed Mint Leaves: This vegetarian scrub is like magic. Not only does it smooth, soothe and regenerate skin in the shower. It continues to cool skin long after you have dried off. This has to be an all time summer MVP, especially during these triple digit days down here in Oklahoma.

5. SKIN SO SOFT Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Towelettes: Bugs hate me and I hate them. Not only do they love to bite me, but I tend to have the most unattractive reaction with itchiness and red bumps. This travel-safe repellant has been my savior. It is completely effective, doesn’t smell obnoxious and keeps those suckers (literally) away.