Alba -Lavender Deordorant

Alba -Lavender Deordorant with Baking soda and Lichen

I have been using this product for a few months . I am going to say I do not completley love it  but I also do not hate it.
 This deordorant is free of aluminum and propylene alycol. There is no artifical colors, parabens, phthalates or harsh sulfates. also no animal testing and is hypo-allergenic ! All of these things are great and what I am looking for in products that i try out.
 Now for the details . It is lavender scented-which is not a sweet smelling lavender like a candle or soemthing you would automatically think of.  It smells just like the lavender plant-not bad smelling by any means just not super sweet. It glides on super smooth and doesnt stain or leave any marks on clothing. Most days it kept any oder down  but some days by 4pm i had slight body oder going on , which i normally do not when i use my regular dove deordorant. I am not sure if this is how all  natrual deodorants are--so to solve this i just kept it with me and applied if need be.  i have read more then one place that when switching to a all natural deodorants that the flushing of the system and increased apocrine sweat gland activity results in increased moisture and sweat which undesirably interacts with odor-causing bacteria. so i am not counting this out that the oder will always happen.  The dislike that i had about this product is that it was sticky by the end of the day it felt like a light layer of glue ---i was not uncomfortable ,  this feeling was only if you touched it which i did becuase i am reviewing and need to find out all the things about the product .  when showering i did have to scrub a little more then normal to get it off due to this sticky consistancy.
 All in all this product has a lot of good traits that way out in my opion the one bad . That being said i would reccomend this product.

Stream2Sea mineral sunscreen (original and tinted)

Original/ Tinted Sunscreen

This review is of Stream2Sea original and tinted sunscreens .As always before I begin my reviews I like to go over background information that really brings home why I love or dislike certain products. So let’s jump right into it.

                An est. 14k tons of sunscreen enter our reefs. 1 drop of Oxybenzone in 6 swimming pools is enough to kill coral larvae. Oxybenzonbe, octinoxate,  octyl methoxycinnamte and endocrine disrupters  are found in many other sunscreens.  These can mimic hormones, reduce sperm count, reduce thyroid function and affect the functioning of glands and hormones. Common ingredients in body care products are absorbed into your body and are passed through urine, blood and breast milk. Some FDA approved ingrediants in body care products are linked to cancer, hormone imbalance, cellular damage and more.  85% of mother milk contained chemical UV filters ( oxybenzone, Avobenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate and octinoxate). 30 mins after applying sunscreens with these in them they can be detected in the urine.  Now to the effects on coral/reefs. Oxybenzone causes coral bleaching, DNA damage, impacts fertility , is a skeletal endocrine disrupter and contaminates coral, fish, bird eggs, sea turtle eggs and marine mammals. 

Most sunscreens and body care product come in plastic containers. These are made with phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic more flexible. They can be absorbed through the skin, stomach and lungs. It is generally used in soaps, body wash, shampoos and cosmetics.  All Stream2Sea products  utilize the sugarcane resin tubes ( except the lip balm- they are working to make that packing more sustainable ) making the containers biodegradable. 

Now for the part that you’ve all been waiting for the actual review. I tested out both the original and the tinted sunscreens. The original is white and the tinted is a “natural” color so it blends better with skin tones.  Neither of these products will burn your eyes. They are Mineral sunscreens. They contain non-nano titanium dioxide – a mineral that has UV protection properties. All ingredients are listed on the bottle – there are no surprises in what you are getting. They are water resistant for 80 mins. They are certified organic. And both have an antioxidant blend of green tea, tulsi, wakame and live leaf. I have found that neither one of these products were greasy- the tinted is “smoother” then the original. When applying a little goes a long way- apply a small amount and make sure you rub it in well. If it feels too thick you can rub a little water with it. (I will include the stream2sea application video for helpful tips and tricks).  It is preference which tint you choose if you don’t want to have a slight white glow then I would recommend the tinted , if you do not care then they both work they same. I tested them both out and about on the weekend while being in the sun for a few hours at a time. I also had reviews from family and friends that tested samples as well. And the conclusion is –no one got burnt and they all loved the product! To me I feel like you are getting more for your money with these sunscreens as I said before a little goes a long way- you are only using a small amount each time so the bottle will last you much longer then your average sunscreens, not to mention is it healthier for yourself and the environment.

 

 

Reef at risk -please take a moment to watch

Stream2Sea Leave in Conditioner

Stream2Sea Leave in Conditioner

This review is short but the start of my reviews from the many products that Stream2Sea sent me .
Stream2Sea lists every ingredient that is in their products. Listed below is what is in the leave in conditioner 

Aqueous Extracts of Camellia Sinenis (Green Tea) Leaf*, Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Tulsi) Leaf*, Alaria Esculenta (Wakame Seaweed)* and Olea Europa (Olive) Leaf*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dimethiconol Panthenol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cocodimonium Hydrolyzed Keratin, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Undaria Pinnatifida (Wakame Seaweed) Bioferment, Lactobacillus/Olea europaea (Olive) Leaf Ferment, Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein, Tocopherols, Panthenol, Fragrance (Naturally Derived), Sodium Benzoate
* Certified Organic

I have been using the leave in conditioner for the last three weeks. I used it everyday after showering and after pool days. The leave in conditioner is UV absorbent to protect your hair and also has keratin and panthenol in it that keeps hair strong. It detangles and Defrizzes –which if you have thick hair like myself is a huge benefit. Normally I fight to get the brush through my hair but with this product it glides right through with no knots. Humidity-no problem!, it keeps it all defrizzed .  I only had to use a very small amount; I would say dime size or less. It makes my hair shiny and smooth and never greasy unlike normal conditioners.  I have tried many different types of leave in’s and regular conditioners over the years and nothing compares to this. All the others left me looking like I never showered… gross. It also does not weigh my hair down at all. Some other interesting  things about this product (and all stream2sea products ) the bottle is made out of sugar cane resin, its biodegradable and is tested safe not only for us but for fish and coral larvae. I passed out a couple samples to my friends and the results were the same- its FANTASTIC! They loved it so much they bought a large sized bottle.  There is nothing bad to say about this product or its ingredients.

If you are interested in this product and more information on this company check out my last review and the ones to come as well as check out Stream2Sea.com 

Stream2Sea introduction

Steam2Sea graciously sent me a package of their many different products. I have been working on trying them all thoroughly before posting each review.
before I starting into my reviews I would like to give you a little background information. Steam2sea also provided me with amazing educational information that was both terrifying and fascinating. I will be referencing this throughout my many reviews.

All Stream2Sea products utilize the sugarcane resin tubes, except the lip balm ( they are working on making that packaging more sustainable)

Common ingredients in body care  products are absorbed into your body and are passed through urine, blood and breast milk.

Some FDA approved ingredients in body care products are linked to cancer, hormone imbalance, cellular damage and more.

An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen enters our reefs. 1 drop of oxybenzone in 6 swimming pools is enough to kill coral larva. 85%  of mothers milk contained chemical UV filters ( oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, octyl methoxyconnamate)

                Oxybenzone effects on coral:

-          Coral bleaching

-          DNA damage

-          Impacts fertility

-          Skeletal endocrine disrupter

-          Contaminates coral, fish, bird eggs, sea turtle eggs, marine mammals

Other sunscreens contain:

-          Oxybenzone

-          Octinoxate

-          Octyl methoxycinnamate

-          Endocrine disrupters

These can mimic hormones, reduce sperm count, reduce thyroid function and affect the functioning of glands and hormones.

                Phthalates: chemicals used to make plastics more flexible

-          Absorbed through skin, stomach and lungs

-          Used in soaps , body wash , shampoos, cosmetics, ect.

please take a second to watch the video below:

I have added a link at the top of my blog to Stream2sea's website and a coupon code for 10% off your purchase ..for after you read all of my reviews of course :)

stream2sea.com

Swipes-Lovin Wipes

Swipes Company was very generous and sent me a sample of the unscented wipes. I have attempted to use them in many different ways, but before I get into that let me tell you a little background on these wipes. They come in two different options –unscented and cucumber. They are made with 98% renewable resources, are biodegradable/ compostable and break apart when flushed making them sewer and septic safe. Yay eco-friendly! 100% of swipes fibers are derived from sustainable resources and they are paraben, chlorine and dye free. Swipes are made with limited ingredients that are natural and safe and not to mention cruelty free (certified by leapingbunny.org) .

Now to get into the testing. Duhnduhnduhn!

1. I used them as a personal wipe. As all women know that time of the month is a pain. I used swipes to freshen up and stay clean. They left no soapy residue, which many personal wipes do (yuck). This was a good fresh clean feeling. The wipes are also PH balanced making them perfect for this type of situation. Gentleman this wouldn’t be a bad purchase for you either. I also used them before bed to get what deodorant residue was left that the shower and soap did not remove. The swipes brought it right off.

2. Sunburn itching! Last weekend I got sunburnt on my arms and stomach. While I was at work I began itching , my lotion from that morning did not last. So I thought , ill give these swipes a try. I “ swiped” my arms and stomach and instantly the itching stopped and did not return. This is a use that is random and I did not think would work but did!

3. Make-up remover: I normally use a liquid make-up remover, but it leaves my face feeling slimy afterwards. This was another let me try the swipes moment., They’re all natural so what could it hurt? The swipes brought off every ounce of make-up I had on, even my waterproof mascara. They did not leave me feeling slimed either- the use of liquid remover will be no longer. Swipes have taken over!

In conclusion- I LOVE SWIPES! I am sure I will find many more uses for them and I will no longer buy any other kind of wipe but swipes!

To find out more and where to buy go to swipes.com and swipe on my friends J

 

Yeti Vs. Ozark Trail

Yeit vs. Ozark Trail
Cost :
Yeti : $29.99
Ozark Trail : $8

Starting off this review I figured I would start off by showing the cost difference. Depending on shipping and tax, or just tax if you buy them in store there is about a $22 dollar difference. I never mind paying more for something that I know will work, as sometimes you pay for what you get so to speak. This being said I tested them both. Yeti was up first. I have a 20oz tumbler that I filled with ice cold water at 7:30am before leaving for work. On a normal day I eat lunch around 12:30 then drinking some of the water in the yeti…still ice cold. As the day goes on I finish my water before I leave at 4pm and yes the water was still ice cold there had been no change since first thing that morning. Now I could be really technical and get a thermometer and get the exact temp change but ill just judge my touch and taste. The following day I used my 30oz Ozark Trail tumbler. Again filling it up at 7:30am and following the normal routine. From my opinion I could tell no difference. My water stayed ice cold all day. Not to mention I got a bigger tumbler for way less of a cost. In conclusion you’re paying for the name , so to each their own and buy what you what but if you want to save some of that money you work 40 hours plus for I would go with the Ozark Trail ..Same result at a better price , and lets not forget the most important part of this REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTIC!!!

Alba Botanica Sunscreen

First review of many to come : Alba Botanica
Starting off with the sunscreen selection. I tried both the Hawaiian and sensitive mineral sunscreens. Let me begin by saying WOW... I am extremely impressed.
the first thing that caught my eye about them was the facts that they bring to the table. Starting off is that they're reef safe, which means it does not harm inshore and offshore habitats. The list doesn't end there , they're biodegradable , do not test on animals, use 100% vegetarian ingredients, contain no parabens or phthalates, gluten free, no artificial colors or synthetic fragrances , and the skin cancer foundation recommends them. If that in itself isn't enough for you to give it a try I don't know what is.
Following this the sunscreen itself is not oily and doesn't leave you feeling slimed. I only had to apply once and was in the ocean all day , no sunburn at all that day. it rubbed in nicely and was very smooth. It is white when coming out of the tube but does not turn you white on application. I purchased these items at my local Walmart, to see where you can purchase them near you and for more information on the products available please visit albabotanica.com