Skin Care Review: Perfectly Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

A few years ago, I vowed to make my beauty routine as healthy as my meal planning. Artificial colors, fragrances and fillers simply no longer had a place in my makeup bag. Little by little I've been replacing my skin care, hair care and makeup products with healthier options.

Photo by Angela Tague

Today I'm here to share a 100% vegetarian skin care product from Perfectly Pure. This line's new Hyaluronic Acid Serum helps facial skin retain moisture. In turn, you enjoy more supple, full skin that's soft and hydrated. Bonus!

I love the thick, creamy texture and the easy-to-use pump on the little glass bottle. I can easily apply the serum with my finger after washing and exfoliating my face. The serum isn't oily or heavy, so it absorbs fully, leaving my skin moisturized and feeling wonderful.

Perfectly Pure's Hyaluronic Acid Serum is also made without:

• Parabens
• Petroleum
• SLS
• Artificial Color
• Artificial Fragrance

Have you tried using hyaluronic acid serum? Let me know what you think of this type of skin care product in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Perfectly Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge from Puritan's Pride and Perfectly Pure for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

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Review: Perfectly Pure Rose & Witch Hazel Skin Toner

Photo Credit: SXC

When I was a young girl, I spent most summer days at my grandparent's house. I loved learning to cook with my grandma and how to fly a kite with grandpa.

But oddly enough, one of the things I remember most was taking long hot baths in their cotton candy pink bathroom. The smell of rose oil-infused skin care products filled the room, instantly making me feel relaxed.

When I opened a bottle of Perfectly Pure Rose & Witch Hazel Toner, I was transported back to those fond memories. This alcohol-free skin care product made with aloe vera, rose oil and witch hazel cleanses, moisturizes and refreshes the skin.

It's a perfect fit for my dearest Whole Foods Living Readers because this skin toner:

• is alcohol-free
• is made without parabens, petroleum or SLS
• doesn't contain any artificial colors
• isn't tested on animals
• is 100% vegetarian

For the last several weeks I've been applying the toner to my face using a cotton ball. When I use this product after swimming in a chlorinated pool the tight, itchy feeling disappears from my skin. I also use it after showering to give my skin extra hydration during these windy, pre-winter days.

Perfectly Pure Rose & Witch Hazel Toner makes my skin feel soft and hydrated. Although I have sensitive skin, this product has not caused any skin irritation. And my favorite part? The lingering rose oil scent.

Do you have a favorite scent that takes you back to your childhood? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Perfectly Pure Rose & Witch Hazel Toner mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge from Puritan's Pride and Perfectly Pure for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

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Perfectly Pure Coconut Products Make My Hair Super Shiny

It's no longer a secret; I am totally in love with products made with coconut oil. It's super hydrating, easy to use and best of all it fits into my natural lifestyle filled with whole, natural products.

Perfectly Pure products. Photo by Angela Tague

Last week I professed my addiction to coconut oil in "From Kitchen to Beauty Bag: I'm in Love with Coconut Oil", so you can imagine my delight when Puritan's Pride sent me a box of hair and skin care products made with...wait for it...coconut oil!

For the last few weeks, I've tucked my usual bath time products in the cupboard and concentrated on giving the Perfectly Pure line of coconut beauty products a good test. The results were fabulous! (So good that I'm still using them!)

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Shampoo: The fresh, robust coconut scent of this shampoo instantly calms me. It really does remind me of cooking with coconut cream or dipping my toes in the warm sand during a visit to the beach. After washing with this shampoo exclusively for a few weeks, my hair is soft, hydrated and super shiny. Since I swim in a chlorinated pool regularly, it's no easy feat to keep my hair from looking dry and brassy. Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Shampoo really did perform well!

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Conditioner: Of course that great shampoo has a helpful conditioning partner. I've been using this conditioner after each washing to ensure my long hair gets enough moisture. I've even been using it when I con-poo (that's washing your hair with conditioner only) after swimming. The thick, creamy texture stays put so I can let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Wash: I've also been testing out the coordinating coconut body wash and lotion. The body wash has the same indulgent coconut scent as the hair care products. The body wash foams into a rich lather making it perfect for both cleaning and as a shaving foam.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion: After bathing, I've been nourishing my skin with the equally delightful coconut body lotion. It absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft and protected from the dry fall air. Unlike some body lotions, Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion doesn't irritate my legs and arms, so it's a great option for people with sensitive skin.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil: When I have time to really moisturize my whole body, I dip into a container of pure coconut oil. Perfectly Pure's formula is creamier than several grocery store brands of coconut oil I've tried in the past. The semi-solid oil smooths on easily and melts on contact with my skin. I've been using the coconut oil as a protectant in my hair when I go swimming, to moisturize dry feet at night and to add extra shine to dry hair during styling. Just a tiny dab of coconut oil on the ends of my hair gives my tresses a healthy appearance.

All of the products mentioned above are:

• cruelty-free / not tested on animals
• vegetarian
• Free of artificial colors
• Paraben, petroleum, SLS-free

The Perfectly Pure coconut oil is also free of minerals oil and artificial fragrances.

Have you tried these products or ventured into coconut oil-based beauty products? Tell me about it below in the comments! And if you want to get your hands on these great products, visit Perfectly Pure online.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Perfectly Pure products mentioned in this blog post were provided free of charge from Puritan's Pride for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

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From Kitchen to Beauty Bag: I'm in Love with Coconut Oil

Photo Credit: SXC

You all know about my love affair with olive oil. Well, now there's a new cooking staple I adore: coconut oil.

You know it works wonders when I've considered buying a jar just for the bathroom.

No, really!

I recently joined an aquatic exercise class. Hey, trying all these yummy foods for my blog isn't always friendly on a girl's waistline, you know? When I realized how much the chlorinated pool was drying out my hair and skin, I knew I had to turn to my favorite natural moisturizers, oils.

Coconut oil wins hands-down. It's less expensive than jojoba oil and smooths on like a creamy lotion, making is simpler to use than olive oil. (I still love olive oil, but coconut oil is so much easier to apply!)

So, here's how I've been adding coconut oil to my daily beauty routine:

• I comb a teaspoon through my hair before swimming to maintain my hair's soft texture.
• I use the oil as a lotion to naturally hydrate my skin and repel chlorinated pool water.
• The oil works great as a facial moisturizer and creamy lip balm.
• I also smooth the oil on my dry feet at the end of the day to ward off unsightly cracked heels.

So, tell me, how do you like to use coconut oil, either in the kitchen or the bathroom? I think I'm going to have to start buying this multi-tasking oil by the case!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Lotus Moon Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleanse Review

Photo by Angela Tague

When I think of a lemon-poppy seed combo, I immediately think of muffins. Not skin care.

So, when I was asked by Lotus Moon to give its Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleanse a try, I thought, why not? If it smells as good as muffins, I'll be thrilled.

I believe in full disclosure, so here's the fine print. I was given a free 4 oz. sample of this product for review purposes. I was not compensated monetarily and all views are my own.

Back to the good part! Have you ever used a powdered cleanser? This was my first attempt, and I was pleasantly surprised. You simply pour 1/8 of a teaspoon of the powder into the palm of your hand, add some warm water and rub your hands together to create a foaming facial wash.

At a glance, I think this type of cleanser would be perfect for gals who travel a lot. Even if the container opened during a flight, you wouldn't ruin anything with a leaking, sticky gel.

The facial cleanser has a mild, sweet scent, much like muffin batter. Bonus! As I smoothed it on my face, I could see the poppy seeds. These little black specs help the cleaner to foam and enrich the skin with vitamin E. The cleaner also has a noticeable yellow tint from the stone ground cornmeal which helps gently exfoliate the skin. There's also jojoba beads and lemon peel powder to nourish and cleanse the skin.

I really liked how this cleanser felt on my skin. It wasn't overly rough like some exfoliating cleaners, yet there was enough texture to know my skin was getting a deep cleansing. After massaging the foam into my skin with circular motion for about 30 seconds, I rinsed my face with cool water.

My resulting skin was soft, clean and, the big bonus, not rashy. (My sensitive skin doesn't respond well to cleaners filled with artificial fragrances and fillers.) Lotus Moon's Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleaner is 95% organic, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and formulated for all skin types.

This is one beauty product that has earned a front row spot in my bathroom cabinet.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Honey Face Mask Review: Check Out all the Sticky Sweet Details!

Photo Credit: Angela Tague

I've read honey is just as good for you on the outside as the inside. As a natural antibacterial, it helps clear away acne-causing bacteria. As a humectant, honey moisturizes the driest of skin.

So, when I was approached by Lotus Moon to give its USDA certified Organic Honey Purifying Masque a try, I was elated. Here's the fine print. I was given a free 2.5 fl. oz. sample of the facial masque in exchange for my honest review. So, here it is!

Applying the Honey Masque
The dark, golden gel smooths on easily. I thought it might be sticky or drippy, but it was not. My only complaint is the masque initially has a very strong odor that reminds me of whiskey. As it dried on my skin, the odor went away.

After 20 minutes, I washed away the masque using warm water, as suggested by the manufacturer. There was no peeling needed, like some heavier facial masque products. The honey, aloe vera, oat extract, rooibos tea extract and jojoba oil in the product hydrated and balanced my skin, since it doesn't feel oily or dry.

Honey Facial Results
After the treatment, my skin felt soft and smooth. Later in the day I went swimming and am happy to report that my skin still felt hydrated and soft even after the exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water.

Since I've always wanted to try a homemade honey facial, reviewing this product was really a fun task. The Lotus Moon product was much less messy than working with pure honey and fits into my Whole Foods Living lifestyle. Lotus Moon doesn't condone or use animal testing and all of its ingredients are FDA compliant and paraben-free.

So, have you ever tried a honey facial? What did you like or dislike about it?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Ayurda Skin Care Products Make North American Debut

Following a whole foods lifestyle extends beyond the kitchen.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to reduce chemicals in my cosmetics bag. So, I'm often researching the equivalent of whole foods for my skin. While doing some research for one of my articles on Daily Glow, I came across information about Ayurda Skin Care Products. Although I have not tried this line of cosmetics, I'm intrigued.

The organic facial cleansers, exfoliants, body cleansing gels and skin moisturizers were released in North America at the start of the new year. Previously, the ayurvedic products were only available to women in Australia and New Zealand, according to BioMed Reports.

Flowering lavender.
Photo from Wikimedia.

Caring for the Earth

The company does not test its products on animals or use animal by-products. In addition to being cruelty-free, no artificial fragrances, dyes, parabens or synthetic fillers are used in the products. Women with sensitive skin due to allergies or illness may tolerate Ayurda USA products better than chemical-filled body care products. Ladies with dry skin can benefit from the products lack moisture-wicking alcohol.

A Less Irritating Option

The company not only grows the plants and herbs used in their skin care products, they also process the plants and create the formulas with a holistic approach. Cold-pressed oils, wild herbs, organic plants and natural fragrances are used. This is a welcome change from lab-created chemicals and pesticide-laden plant products used in non-organic beauty products.

A Natural Approach

Ayurda USA is also environmentally conscious. In addition to making products that will naturally biodegrade when placed in a landfill, the company uses recycled packaging, according to the company website. Women who are advocates for reducing and reusing will appreciate the company's desire to decrease waste and utilize post-consumer content.

Have you tried Ayurda USA Products? Please let me know what you think -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela