Keeping Skin Summer Fresh with MBeze!

Here in Denver, we have had one of the hottest, stickiest summers I can remember.  Keeping my skin hydrated and fresh-smelling without the heavy, waxy residue left over from most lotions has been tough... that is, until I found MBeze!
MBeze is a natural skin care and cosmetics company that has a great line-up of everything you could need to keep skin fresh and soft, like body and facial oils, fragrances, and deodorants.

Once Bitten Natural Body Oil

This natural body oil is incredibly lightweight and absorbs immediately - so no sticky residue!  It also smells amazing, with apple blossom, vanilla and a hint of lime, it smells really fresh and not overly sweet; perfect for summer!  On top of all that, it has Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E in a natural oil base to help soften and protect skin.  According to MBeze:

"Each hand-poured blend contains oils that are full of vitamins and known for their ability to break up scar tissue, reduce & prevent stretchmarks, regenerate skin cells, and moisturize to maintain a soft and healthy glow."

Wow!  That is one hard-working body oil!  I love applying this oil after showering; it leaves my skin soft and smooth all day with gorgeous scent that really lasts.  It also works great any time my skin needed a little pick-me-up or some additional glow.

Ife Natural Perfume

The Ife Natural Perfume smells sweet and is kind of... addictive.  This pthalate-free fragrance comes in a coconut and jojoba oil base, and it smells mainly like strawberry, with musk and sandalwood to make it a bit more grown up.  It layers really nicely and comes in a small roll-on, perfect for touching up throughout the day.  Berry scents don't normally smell good on me, but this perfume smelled really natural and made me feel like I'd been running through a field of strawberries!  Even as it wears down, it leaves the softest hint of strawberry on the skin.  So pretty!!

MBeze has several different fragrance options to choose from, and also offers a non-scented option in the body oil for those of us that prefer our own scent.  Check them out and tell me what you think!

Devita Skin Care Review

Devita is a natural cosmeceutical skin care company based out of Arizona. They make all-natural, vegan, paraben-free and PETA certified products for face and body. From my experience, it's hard to find a natural line of skin care that is also effective. Devita, being a cosmeceutical brand, has found the perfect balance between efficacy and remaining natural! They use cutting edge peptide technology and combine it with well-researched vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts for powerful results.

The DeVita product line uses organic Aloe Vera as a natural and dynamic delivery system - allowing their active Vitamins, Botanicals and Peptides to penetrate and get to work within the skin. You'll find Aloe Vera as the first or second ingredient in almost every one of their products. What you won't find in any products are preservatives. I asked DeVita how this was possible, and here's what they said:

Boots Organics Review

My skin has been the definition of bipolar lately. One second, it's happy and glowing with not a blemish in site, and the next it's dry and flaky, covered in blackheads and blemishes. Argh!! I was experiencing the latter while in my local Target the other day, perusing the skin care aisles for a miracle product to save my face when I landed on the Boots Organics line. I couldn't argue with the price point (all under $15!) and after a quick review of the ingredients in the Organic Hydrating Face Cream, I tossed a jar in my cart along with a tube of the face scrub, body wash and body cream from the same line. One week later, I am in LOVE!

The Organic Hydrating Face Cream has saved my life... ok, maybe not my life, but at least my face! I used it the same night I got it and woke up to visibly calmer, smoother skin. Not wanting to get too excited over the immediate results, I stuck with it for the next few days and nights, and my skin has continued to get better. I've even noticed a reduction in blackheads!

Natural Perfume

I LOVE perfume. I'm sure it comes from my mom, who always has at least 10 different perfumes on her dresser, and always smells amazing. Unfortunately, it turns out that perfumes contain some very hazardous chemicals, which are not regulated by any health agency. In fact, fragrances are even exempt from disclosing ingredients, as they are considered a "trade secret". To make matters worse, because perfume is usually applied directly to the skin (the largest organ), the skin ends up absorbing many of these harmful chemicals, which accumulate in the system.

To avoid the toxicity of synthetic fragrances, many people are now turning to natural fragrances. Thankfully, natural fragrances have come a long way from the hippy, patchouli-esque scents that many of us associate them with. Here are some of my favorite natural perfumes that also pay attention to being earth-friendly in their operations and packaging:

LaVanila - if you like soft, sweet, fruity perfumes, this is for you! This fragrance line is based on natural Madagascar vanilla, which they blend with other natural essential oils and topical antioxidants. They offer a full line of aromatheraphy candles, and body care, including deodorant - this happens to be my absolute favorite natural deodorant (and I've tried LOTS of brands!).

Leila Lou -if you like feminine, floral scents, you will love this natural perfume by Rosie Jane (who also makes adorable cosmetics!). This perfume is a very flirty floral, and wears beautifully throughout the day. Everything in the line is minimally packaged in 100% recyclable materials, and has a great give back program that gets

you free product!

Auric Blends - if you like more earthy, musky fragrances, you'll find just what you're looking for here! Using all natural essential oils, Auric Blends creates a wide array of roll-on fragrances, solid perfumes, and incense for both men and women. A little bit goes a long way with these products, and the price point is amazing! They also provide samples, so you can try the whole line and find your favorite.

If none of these sound like what you're looking for, you can always create your own fragrance using individual essential oils. You can find these at your local health food store, and they're usually pretty affordable, so you can experiment and create your own signature scent!

Have you found your favorite natural perfume?