Clean Beauty’s Newest Vitamin C Oil

Happy Spring Friends!! Today is going to get all the way to 77 degrees!! That is a big deal for us in CT.  🙂  I hope everyone is doing as well as possible considering the times we live in these days.  So many decisions and debates out there.  To vaxx or not to vaxx?  The list goes on.  But you came here to my blog for a bit of sunshine right?!?!  Little escape from the real world.  Today’s post I want to talk about a brand new product that I had the opportunity to test out before it came to market.  So grateful for the incredible brands that trust me and know that I will always give it to you like it is.  Also grateful for you my reader who trusts me to do that as well.

Image from Wikimedia

Day Squad Face Oil

Without further adieu…ta da! Pleni Naturals launched their newest product called Day Squad Face Oil.  Let me give you some details:

• This oil is infused with the most stable and lipid soluble form of vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) which easily absorbs without any irritation.
• It’s sidekick tomato fruit extract works with the vitamin C to protect from UV and environmental aggressors.
• Turmeric Oil is another ingredient used in the Day Squad Oil that brightens skin and helps keep a clear-looking complexion with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Vitamin C & Sunscreen

I must admit I had no idea the connection between vitamin C and sunscreen.  If you were under a rock with me LOL and didn’t know I got you!  Allyson Owens (Founder of Pleni Naturals) says that there are a few studies out there that say that Vitamin C amplifies sunscreen protection.  What?!?! Well I believe my girl Allyson but I wanted to find the research myself so that I give you the background information.

We pretty much by now know that vitamin C protects and treats against photoaging, hyperpigmentation, and increases collagen production.  When used in the morning vitamin C  also ‘works to combat exposure to free radicals and ultraviolet light throughout the day‘.  Now this is the part that I didn’t know.

According to a 2013 study “sunscreens block only 55 percent of the free radicals produced by UV exposure…To optimize UV protection, it is important to use sunscreens combined with a topical antioxidant…Under laboratory conditions, it has been shown that application of 10 percent topical vitamin C showed statistical reduction of UVB-induced erythema by 52 percent and sunburn cell formation by 40-60 percent.”   Holy Cow!! Sunscreens block only 55% of free radicals!!  So in terms I can understand they go together like margaritas & tacos, chips & salsa, Oprah & Gayle, ok you get my drift.  LOL!  As a Real Simple article pointed out they are great alone but together they are a power couple.  Now what?

Green Glam Girl Review

I was gifted a bottle of the Day Squad Face Oil a few months before it launched.  So I’ve been using the oil for about 3 months now.  This post is not sponsored although it does contain affiliate links.  This is my honest review!

Long story short, I love the Day Squad oil! LOL!  Right off the top let’s talk about ingredients. Nothing but the best of organic and natural ingredients.  No junk!  Now I know what you’re thinking “Francesca please, I don’t want to add another oil, serum or cream to add to my morning regiment.  Ain’t nobody got time for that!”  Seriously I get it.  That is one reason I love this oil. The Day oil combines the moisturizing and the vitamin C step!  It can be used as your last step in your routine.  Now I will also mention that it is an oil and not a serum.  Serums tend to be more potent than oils so if you need something stronger go with a serum.

As we discussed above, what makes SPF more effective is adding this gem right before applying your favorite SPF (this is mine).  So if you are using at night which you totally can, that can be it if you want.  For during the daytime my routine is:

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Day Squad Oil (5-6 drops, although I tend to do a little less and it’s perfect)
4. SPF

Done and dusted, as one of my favorite British Peloton instructors says!   Also, I really like the scent profile. It reminds me an extremely expensive oil I’ve tried in the past. 😉  According to Allyson “scent is coming a tad from the raw materials and also the essential oils turmeric, carrot and neroli”.

My skin feels so good and it truly does seem glowy.  Let’ talk price.  Vitamin C serums and oils can run you a range of prices.  The Day Squad Face Oil is $48 which I think is a good bang for your buck.  I’ve been using the same bottle for about 3 months.  

That’s it for now!  Again thank you to Pleni Naturals for putting out such amazing products that never compromise our health.  Pleni Naturals products are Made Safe Certified.   So you can trust its the best of the best ingredients and always safe.  If you try the Day Squad Face Oil please hit me up and let me know what you think.  GreenGlamGirl15 saves you at checkout!

Thank you for being here!

*Affiliate Links used.  Opinions and thoughts all my own.

 

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All Natural Luxury Shampoo Worth The Splurge!

[dropcap]Hello[dropcap] Beauties! I’m back with another part of our bodies that we can make the clean switch from conventional products! HAIR!! Yes ladies if you don’t know already but the shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, gel and whatever else we typically put in and on our hair, can contain scary toxic chemicals.  So let’s chat!

Sometimes we focus a lot of our attention on skincare.  Which of course is great.  But we often neglect our skin’s distant cousin…hair care!  Also, the fact of the matter is hair care needs just as much attention.

We have pores on our scalp so what goes on our hair goes into our bodies.  Plain and simple!

Common Chemicals in Hair Care

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) identified chemicals in hair care products that may be detrimental to human health and the environment.  For example, I read recently that many hair products that are marketed toward African-Americans contain ingredients like parabens, phthalate, or DEP, they are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, early puberty and preterm birth.  WHAT?!?! That is not ok! So what are some of these ingredients to look out for and avoid??

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

2. Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients

3. Propylene Glycol (active ingredient in antifreeze)

4. Phthalates

Thankfully there are products out there without the nasty ingredients that harm your health and also perform.  Check out my following review of a natural luxury shampoo and conditioner worth splurging on!

My Choice For All Natural Shampoo

Evolvh SmartColor Shampoo and Conditioner

Holy Cow is this stuff amazing! I have curly, thick and dry hair.  So for my weekly blow outs its an hour appointment and lots of heat to get my mane flat.  I know I know! I haven’t embraced the curls.  Maybe 40 will be the year I do.  Anyway that is for another blog post!  A few weeks ago my mom and I attended the grand opening of The Detox Market in NYC and met Boris Oak, founder of Evolvh.  He is such a lovely person.  We talked a lot about hair and products obviously.   He told me of their new products SmartColor shampoo and conditioner.  So they very generously gifted me a package of goods to try.

I’ve been bringing the shampoo and conditioner to my hair stylist Kayla to use on my hair for the past few weeks.  She is always so sweet to use whatever new non toxic products I have.  Which brings me to the subject of bringing your own products to the salon.  Absolutely!! I’ve been doing that for a few years now.  Lately I have brought in a few different brands for Kayla to use on me but Evolvh SmartColor really stood out.

My hair was visibly softer and blow drying time was cut dramatically.

So I have been highlighting/dying, getting blow outs and flat ironing my hair for a long time.  Longer than I’m willing to admit. Kayla and I were amazed. Evolvh delivered on performance!  Which can be hard to find in green beauty.  It’s like the ‘white whale’ in my husbands words. LOL!

This is an eco-luxe natural shampoo and conditioner that gently cleanses color treated hair and prevents fading by infusing vital nutrients deep into every strand for supreme color retention, eliminating breakage and frizz, and restoring every strand to optimal health with soft, smooth texture, sublime hydration for bounce and movement, and gorgeous shine.  Yes I’m serious your hair will be singing!  I had my friend next door try it out.  Because I was thinking “is this just me?” “Am I being dramatic?” Nope!  She came over today to return the products and she was blown away.  Her hair is similar if not a little more challenging type then mine.  She was hooked.  Her hair looked and felt so soft.  It’s truly a winner!  These are luxury items definitely worth splurging for.

Lets talk about the ingredients.  The key ingredients are:

✓ Kiwi Seed Oil hydrates hair without weighing it down.

✓ Amino Acid Tyrosine increases color retention.

✓ Almond Oil improves the shine and strength of your hair.

NOT Made with:

❌ Silicone

❌ Sulfate

❌ Paraben

❌ Panthenol

❌ Phthalate/musk

❌ Petroleum/mineral oil

What is Evolvh SmartScent?

Full disclosure time!  When I saw that there was ‘Parfum’ in the ingredient list, not going to lie but my eyes bugged out! So I inquired because that was a red flag to me.  I want you to have all the information as well and be informed.  Thank goodness for Chrissy at Evolvh for putting up with all my questions.  According to Evolvh the scent in their new products is the SmartScent:  “SmartScent contains a blend of natural essential oils and clean aroma molecules, and was developed by EVOLVh in partnership with the leading natural fragrance and essential oil producer to create what we believe is the cleanest and most sustainable approach to scent in hair care.  These signature scents are used in EVOLVh products only, and we are proud to be at the forefront in developing healthy approaches to scent in hair care.”

Also they are conforming to all international labeling guidelines now, which require them to label scent either “fragrance or “parfum”.  They will be updating their website soon with more scent information, but in the meantime you can read about SmartScent below.  With that said this may not be the product for the purists among you.  That is ok with Evolvh and that is ok with me!  We all have to make our own decisions on what we will use and what we absolutely won’t.  So for me I’m ok with these products and will continue to use.

SmartScent Facts:

✓ Made using natural ingredients/essential oils

✓ No Parabens

✓ No Phthalates

✓ Not tested on animals

✓ No GMOs

✓ No Biohazards

✓ Safe ingredients (IFRA compliant and CA Prop 65 compliant)

✓ Petroleum-Free

✓ Made in USA

Where to Buy Evolvh?

Their other lines of natural shampoo and conditioner from Evolvh are UltraShine and SmartCurl. So now they are a full service hair care company! Covering all of your needs.  You have to check them out for yourself.  SmartColor is available on their EVOLVH WEBSITE  and you can SAVE 15% OFF by using discount code: GREENGLAMGIRL15

Also, check out other clean beauty products I love here.

*Affiliate links used.  Opinions and thoughts always my own! 

Best Organic Makeup Remover For Sensitive Skin

[dropcap]So[dropcap] I’ve been getting a few questions about organic makeup removers and I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about one of my favorite products I’ve been using and loving.  That product is 2016 Glamour Beauty Award recipient  One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleanser.

It is a cleansing oil and makeup remover! What a combo!

Talk about multi-tasking winner.

Best Organic Makeup Remover

So I’ve been using One Love Organics Vitamin B cleanser for about 2 years now.  I was instantly hooked right out of the gate. Truth be told that I was a little iffy at first.  I had been struggling with 30′ something acne and the idea of  cleaning my face with an oil?!?! WHAT?? I was looking for a non toxic cleanser that was strong enough to remove makeup but gentle on my sensitive skin. The Vitamin B Enzyme delivered on a few levels.  Also, not only does it cleanses gently but it removes the toughest of make-up, I’m talking eye make-up specifically.   Most cleansers sting my eyes but not the Vitamin B cleanser.  This non-stripping, clean-rinsing formula features papain, a fruit enzyme that helps to exfoliate and soften, and a natural Vitamin B complex to detoxify and tone.  Use it by itself or the first step in double cleansing.  I like to apply it at the end of the day,  then use a warm cloth to remove.  It gives you a light exfoliation and deeper cleanse.

Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Pexels.com

Above all One Love Organics is free of all toxic ingredients.  I inquired recently about the “fragrance” ingredient and they got back to me right away.  Here’s what they said…”It is third-party certified by ECOCERT to be 100% natural.  It is derived from essential oils, isolates and aromatic plant extracts only.”  It smells like an island paradise in a bottle.

Where to buy?

Finally, I’m guessing your next question for me is where can the best organic makeup remover be found? Look no more,  Integrity Botanicals is an online green beauty store founded by Terri and her husband Marc Hall.  After the birth of her son, Terri devoted herself to the Green Beauty industry and helping to educate customers on beauty products that were healthy, luxurious and full of integrity.  She truly has done that!

Thank you for stopping by beauties! ~ Francesca

Check out other clean beauty products I love here.