Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo Review

I'm really excited to share this review with you so let's jump right into it!

Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo is my new all time favorite must have. This stuff is seriously heaven in a bottle. Everything you want in a clean shampoo is right here. Intelligent Nutrients sums it up perfectly on their website: "anti-aging, antioxidant rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy and nourishing to the scalp, hair, body and mind." Formulated for all hair types, including color treated, this cleanser is a one-size-fits-all miracle without any sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.

Clean shampoo has honestly been one of the hardest things for me to find. Traditional shampoos are one of the most toxic products on the market (check this out to learn more). They strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it frizzy, dry, and dull. They're specifically designed to make you buy more products (conditioners, frizz serums, etc.) in order to fix the problem. No thanks.

For the longest time, I was happy with my Burt's Bees Volumizing Shampoo. Not the cleanest option on the market, but it was certainly a better alternative. It gave life to my fine hair and didn't leave me oily the next day. But recently, Burt's Bees decided to change their formula     a decision that has upset many longtime users. This "new and improved" version is actually pretty horrible which led me to try something new.

IN's Harmonic Shampoo is similar to a cleansing conditioner, very creamy and moisturizing. It has a wonderful minty aroma that feels refreshing, especially during these hot summer days.  Surprisingly, it  does suds up a bit as you work it into your scalp, something that's usually absent in clean shampoos due to the lack of sulfates. After you rinse it out, you can immediately feel the difference. My hair felt silky soft, a feeling that lasted until my next wash. Best of all, it passed the greasy test, even with my extra fine hair. IN also makes a Harmonic Conditioner, but I don't feel the need to try it since I'm ecstatic with the shampoo by itself. Perhaps those very dry, coarse hair would find it helpful.

All in all, I believe I've found my perfect shampoo. I'm assuming many others feel the same way since it's sold out on most of the popular clean beauty websites. Spirit Beauty Lounge still has samples available, while Amazon seems like one of the few to have the full bottles in stock. Definitely worth it!



Have you ever tried any of Intelligent Nutrients' products? What's your favorite clean shampoo? Leave some comments! :)

Evan Healy Rose Cleansing Milk Review

Alrighty, here's review number two!

I've always been an exfoliating addict. If I'm not scrubbing off the top layer of my skin, then it doesn't feel clean. Trouble is, this isn't exactly so great for your face. Despite all the hype about exfoliation being the key to a great complexion, scrubbing excessively can do some serious damage. The top layer of your skin, called the epidermis, essentially acts as a shield, protecting your skin from the elements. Now, I'm not entirely opposed to the occasional sugar scrub, but moderation is key! Once a week, at most, is enough to get your clean fix.

Anyway, in my quest to exfoliate less, I decided to invest in a gentle cleanser. Evan Healy's Rose Cleansing Milk seemed to be a good fit. I have bipolar skin: one minute it's oily and I'm breaking out, the next I'm dry and flakey. It can't make up it's mind. This cleanser is designed to remove make-up and impurities without disturbing the skin's natural pH balance. Full of plant oils and floral water, this cleanser is chock full of good things for your skin.

So how does it measure up? Well, so far so good. I've been using it for the past few days and my skin feels super soft and balanced. The consistency takes a little getting used to. It basically feels like you're washing your face with lotion. But I have to admit, it feels rather luxurious. The rose scent is a little on the strong side. My mom, who detests the smell of roses, gave it a try anyway. Both of us enjoyed the cleansing, but still felt we needed to moisturize afterwards. I figured with such a creamy cleanser, I wouldn't feel the need to moisturize. Regardless, I was happy with the product and will continue to practice gentle cleansing :)

John Masters Organics Bare Unscented Body Lotion Review

Good morning everyone! Yesterday, I made a trip to Whole Foods to restock some beauty goods and decided to give a few new ones a try. Obviously, I haven't been able to give them all a whirl yet so all this week, I'll be blogging reviews about them and other products that have yet to be shared with you lovely readers :)

To get started with my Review Week, I'm going to start with John Masters Organic Bare Unscented Body Lotion. I absolutely adore this stuff! I've only had it for less than 24 hours and I already know that it's gonna be a staple in my bath and body routine. I'm a tad bit obsessed with keeping my skin super soft, especially during the harsh winter. And if I'm gonna slather stuff on my entire body, I really prefer for it to be unscented. But sometimes, unscented smells...well, kinda gross. But not this one. This is what unscented should smell like. It's so light and non-greasy     it literally disappears into my skin without any residue. And this morning, I woke up to baby smooth skin. Everything I want in a body lotion.

Okay, so $16.50 may be rather pricey for a body lotion, but I swear to you, it's a luxury that's totally worth it. Made with 9 certified-organic extracts and oils such as sunflower, coconut, and lavender, this body lotion is equipped to handle the driest of skin types.

So there you have it, the first of many reviews. So far so good. I hope all of my other purchases are just as good as this one. Stay tuned for more reviews from brands such as Tarte, Acure, Josie Maran, and Evan Healy.

Why I Heart Suki: My Quest For Clear Skin

Okay, this isn't exactly breaking news. I've been loving Suki for quite sometime now, but I've never actually blogged about it. Absolute madness!

Made with nothing but the best ingredients, Suki Kramer's natural cosmetic line delivers some serious results. The company is extremely passionate about clean cosmetics. They support fair trade, local sourcing, and organics. Everything is 100% cruelty free and made fresh by hand (goodbye carbon output!). Their formulas are housed in beautiful glass jars to avoid icky plastics. Recycled stock is used for packaging while everything is printed with vegetable based inks. Their suppliers are carefully chosen based on environmental practices. They seriously cover it all.

So what has Suki done for me?

Well, everyone has their skin woes. Mine was acne. Stubborn, self-esteem-robbing acne. I used everything, both chemicals and naturals. You name it, I used it. It was the most frustrating thing ever. There were days that I would just cry simply because I hated my skin. It was that bad.

Then I came across Suki after reading about oil therapy for acne in The Green Beauty Guide. Essentially, the theory suggests combating acne with healthy, non-clogging oils, like jojoba. It sounded crazy to me, considering us acne sufferers have been taught that oil causes acne. But I gave it a go. The book recommended Suki's Balancing Pure Facial Moisture. I also ended up buying Suki's Foaming Cleanser (their most popular item) and Balancing Toner.

After using Suki for a month or so, I saw a huge change. My skin was radiant. I still had some breakouts, but not as severe. I continued to use Suki, in addition to adopting other healthy skin practices. Today, my skin is better than ever, something I'm truly proud of. I've even gone to work without wearing make-up, a huge step for me. Suki really changed my life. It showed me the power of naturals and what they can really do for your skin.

Interested in Suki? Check out their website. They've got solutions for dry/mature skin, rosacea, cystic acne, and more!

What products have solved your skin problems? Have you ever tried Suki? What did you think?

Scotch Naturals Review

After hearing a bunch of hype about Scotch Naturals nail polish, I decided to give it a whirl. I purchased the cocktail trio which includes three polishes, a base/top coat called 'On the Rocks', and a nail buffer for a grand total of $48.99. A bit pricey for my liking, but hey, it was a birthday gift to myself :)

Pictured colors: Lochness Mystery, Morning Glory Fizz, and Leprechaun Lynch

When it comes to nails, I'm not really a traditional color kind of girl. I stay far away from reds and pinks. Luckily, Scotch has some fun colors to choose from (they currently have 17 total). Pictured above are the shades I ended up choosing.

Perhaps it was my screen's resolution, but I was kind of disappointed by the 'real-life' color. Lochness Mystery was darker than expected while Morning Glory Fizz and Leprechaun Lynch were much paler in person. They were still pretty, just not what I expected. But I guess that's what you get when you shop online.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Scotch's polish, they're completely non-toxic and composed of only a few ingredients: water, acrylic polymer emulsion, butoxy diglycol and non-toxic colorants. Pretty impressive, right? Best of all, they barely have a scent at all.

So how does Scotch measure up? Well, I have mixed feelings. The consistency is great, much thinner than traditional polishes, making it easier to apply (at least for me). It also dries wickedly fast, another great perk. However, the pigment is where my problem lies. 

Morning Glory and Leprechaun were very transparent, even after three coats. Granted, my painting skills are pretty crummy so perhaps a professional could do a better job. But check out Leprechaun on my hands. Not so cute.

Maybe I'll give it another shot with thicker coats. On the bright side, I really enjoyed Lochness Mystery. Fabulous color after two thin coats. Look at how awesome it looks on my toes (with my favorite Sanuk sandals, of course).

Overall review:

Pros: smooth consistency, dries quickly, decent staying power

Cons: a bit pricey, pale shades are too transparent

Recommended? Yes, but only for the darker shades :)

Has anyone else tried Scotch Naturals? What did you think of them?