Pangea Organics is known for its organic, natural, fair trade, cruelty-free products. I recently tried the Egyptian Calendula & Blood Orange cleanser, and although I didn’t think it was quite right for my combination/oily skin, I think it would be perfect for dry or mature skin. It gives your skin a wonderful soft feeling, and it has tons of good-for-you, natural ingredients. It cleanses dirt and makeup without stripping your skin of moisture. I think I’m just addicted to getting my skin squeaky-clean and exfoliating the hell out of it. I’m sure Lea (the esthetician) would tell me to stop, but I can’t!

The vegan cleanser’s skin-softening properties come from: coconut, olive, jojoba, primrose, almond, hemp and sunflower oils, as well as shea butter, cocoa butter and vegetable glycerin. Whew! That’s a lot of moisture! It also has lavender, chamomile, calendula, rosemary and blood orange oils.

Calendula (AKA pot marigold) is one of the best skin-healing herbs that has traditionally been used for bruises, cuts and scrapes. Studies show that it has an anti-inflammatory, healing effect on skin and can be helpful for acne.

Check out this great story about calendula from Horizon Herbs:

“Miss McGlaughlin was supervising the playground on a summer afternoon when one of the first grade boys suddenly began shrieking and running around in circles. She quickly determined that he had been stung by a yellow jacket on the upper arm. Casting wildly about for help, her eyes fell on the calendula flowering against the south wall of the school. She pulled the boy over to the flower bed and picked a large blossom, popping it in her mouth. Having heard that masticated calendula quickly relieves the pain of bee stings, she was ready to give it a try. But the flower tasted funny. As she spit it in her palm and applied the soothing mash directly to the sting, she realized that she had chewed up a fat, black ‘calendula bug’ along with the flower. The injured boy had quit crying and was observing her with rapt curiosity. He’d never seen anyone eat a bug before . . .”

Blood Orange cleanses your skin and supplies nutrients such as Vitamins A and C, which tone, smooth and brighten your skin. Antioxidants protect from future sun and environmental damage. Side note: blood orange juice is also really good for you – Morgan recommends drinking it daily!

All in all – great stuff for mature, dry and/or sensitive skin. Check it out!

Press sample was provided for the purpose of review.

I’ll be the first to admit how much I love lying in the sun and soaking up its delicious rays, but I’m also smart enough to recognize the inherent risks associated with such a sybaritic indulgence. So, what’s a heliolatrous gal to do?  Should I simply hide my ashen legs underneath multiple layers?  Why would I want to do that, when I can have a healthy Jergens Natural Glow, instead.  As an additional bonus, my favorite formula–the firming daily moisturizer–may also help reduce the appearance of cellulite. What beach bunny wouldn’t love that?

For best results, here’s how to apply (courtesy of Jergens.com):

• Always apply to freshly cleansed skin–this will help the moisturizer become fully absorbed.
• Smooth on evenly and thoroughly, just as you would with any daily moisturizer.
• Use sparingly on knuckles, knees, ankles and in between fingers and toes; these areas are dry and will absorb more of the product.
• For a natural look on the back of hands and top of feet, gently feather the product toward fingers and toes.
• For a natural look, apply the product to the tops of your arms and then blend around to the underarms.
• Rinse excess residue from the palms of hands, between fingers and around nails.
• As with any moisturizer, allow drying for several minutes before you dress.
• Avoid getting wet for at least three hours after initial application.

Another thing to remember: exfoliation isn’t just for our faces!  After subjecting the skin on our bods to the harsh, drying effects of winter wind and indoor heating systems, now’s the perfect time to channel your inner snake and shed those icky dead dermal cells.   Not only will your skin feel better, you’ll also haven an easier time distributing Natural Glow (or any other self-tanner) evenly–which means you’re a lot less likely to wind up sporting a pumpkin-hued “tan”.  Check out the FAQs for a pretty extensive list of hints and tips.

I realize this product may not be everyone’s idea of a Summer Must-Have, but regular and careful use of this terrific moisturizer from cruelty-free drugstore favorite Jergens has helped me achieve a healthy glow which looks–and feels–almost as good as an old-fashioned tan.

Jergens Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer

Definition retrieved from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary .

The hottest new trend in the cosmetics industry is perfect for this time of year. Not too long ago I wrote a post with products to help combat winter dryness (or, as was my case as I was living in the Caribbean at the time – air conditioning dryness or any other kind of skin dehydration). Well, even though A/C is drying I moved back to Canada less than a week ago and already I can tell how much dryer my skin is – getting out of the shower it’s imperative that I moisturize straight away or else risk that weird scaly skin look. Moisturizing lotions can feel greasy, particularly when you’re putting clothes on top of freshly-moisturized skin.

So what’s the solution? Dry oil. It does actually helps to get rid of dryness: dry oil is so called because it literally dries instantly on your skin so you don’t get that greasy after-effect. Dry oil, says Emmy Brooks, who is in public relations for AHAVA (a great cruelty-free brand), “rapidly absorbs to instantly moisturize skin without leaving an oily residue.” Perfect!

Speaking of AHAVA, I contacted Emmy because this brand makes one of the best dry oils that I have tried. AHAVA Multi-Vitamin Dry Oil ($36, ahava.com) also, as the name suggests, incorporates vitamins and anti-aging antioxidants (such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils) to help impart a glow to the skin. Emmy says: “[It] is a blend of light and nourishing oils… [T]his treatment helps combat the signs of aging while restoring skin to a soft, silky and supple condition. Skin is revitalized and glows with healthy, natural moisture.”

Sounds great, right? I found that this product works best when applied after a shower, when the skin is somewhat warm and moist anyway. By the way – the smell is divine. In Mandarin – Cedarwood scent, it’s like having a spa in your own bathroom. Which makes sense, as the product is part of AHAVA’s Pure Spa line, a relatively new collection which includes eight products that are made with essential minerals and natural antioxidants to revitalize skin and provide a younger-looking appearance. It is the use of essential oils in this line that I love – all the products smell so great.

If you want to know more information, read on, as Emmy shares some insight into why the products work so well: “Powered by Ahava’s patented Mineral Skin Osmoter™, a powerful blend of 21 essential minerals, and the natural anti-aging benefits of Dunaliella Algae – a unique plant indigenous to the Dead Sea region, and loaded with high concentrations of beta-carotene and essential vitamins – these products provide countless health-promoting benefits as they promote healthier and younger-looking skin.”

Give the products a try – particularly the dry oil – and help AHAVA and Guiltless & Glamorous prove that you don’t have to be cruel to be kind.

Guest post by: GiGi

Nurture My Body – Cleansing Milk or Cream Cleanser

The gentle Cleansing Milk facial cleanser has seaweed extract and aloe vera gel to soothe sensitive skin. It leaves your face feeling smooth and moisturized. It’s made for normal to oily skin, but personally I think it’s better for normal to dry skin. It has a high level of moisturizing ingredients and it also has organic herbal extracts and essential oils to dissolve dirt and kill bacteria.

For extra dry skin, try the Cream Cleanser with avocado, coconut and safflower oils, as well as organic extract and essential oils like comfrey, chamomile and rose. Both cleansers have an EWG rating of zero – the best you can get!

Komenuka Bijin – Facial Moisture Cream and Skin Care Cream

Japanese company, Komenuka Bijin has a great Facial Moisture Cream for normal to dry skin. It is thick but not at all greasy and has a simple, but effective list of ingredients including rice bran, rice oil, aloe, squalene and Vitamin E.

It also contains collagen for its moisture and anti-aging properties. Collage is made from gelatin, so please note that the product is not vegan (but, it has not been tested on animals!).

Patyka – Huile Absolue Organic Serum

Patyka makes a luxurious oil that can be used on face, cuticles, hair or body. It’s made with squalene, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, rosewood oil, olive oil and many other skin-nourishing ingredients.

You can use it on your face as a night treatment, but it actually absorbs very well, so you can even use it during the day or as a makeup primer. You can use it on your cuticles or to tame frizzy hair. It also smells wonderful!

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Of course, I realize the importance of applying a daily lotion. The skin on our bodies takes so much abuse. Not only is it losing moisture all day, but the sun, wind and pollution are damaging it too. Personally, my dry and scaly arms and legs having been begging for attention.

And Ella’s words were just the push I needed in the right direction. It was time for me to start taking more time for me, and believe it or not, body lotion was exactly what I needed. But it had to be the right body lotion. I decided to try Jergens Naturals Extra Softening Moisturising Lotion. It’s from Jergens’ UK division and it’s delightful.

It has a creamy, yet lightweight consistency with a sweet buttery fragrance. It absorbs quickly and helps my skin feel velvety smooth.

It contains 95% nautral ingredients, which make my skin feel soft, never greasy. Shea Butter relieves roughness and holds in moisture. Yogurt softens and restores the skin’s pH balance. Soy extracts contain vitamin E and provide antioxidant protection. It’s also paraben free.

I’ve been applying this lotion after my shower every day, as well as throughout the day, and my skin has never felt better. This is definitely a habit I can get used to.

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