Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream [review]

The colder weather brought drier skin. The natural, oil based moisturized I was using during the summer was just not cutting it. I needed something to hydrate and moisturize my skin. Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream is made from natural ingredients and is a good natural winter moisturizer to keep skin healthy and supple.

Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream     

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Contains organic and natural ingredients
Doesn't clog pores
Comes in a dark glass bottle

Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream is natural daily moisturizer made from organic and natural ingredients. The moisturized is oil based but looks like it has been whipped to get a white consistency. My other oil based moisturizers are liquid oils mixed together. This Day Cream is actually a cream. It has an off-white color to it due to the natural ingredients and olive oil base. Like the other Herbal Choice products that I reviewed, I really like that the ingredients list does contain only natural ingredients that I can pronounce and ingredients that I could get myself.

The day cream comes in a dark glass bottle with a matching metal lid. Another big plus because it is usually hard to find beauty products in glass bottles. The dark glass is important for protecting the natural ingredients from going rancid. Let's look at the ingredients list!


Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream Ingredients:
Organic olive oil, purified water (alkaline), wild harvested candelilla wax, organic sweet orange, organic geranium, organic bilberry leaf, organic burdock root, organic sage herb.
The ingredients list is one of the most natural that I have been able to find. I am very excited about this product and this company because of their commitment to high quality, natural products. Since the day cream does contain water and no preservative, the shelf life is on the shorter side. I would recommend keeping the day cream jar in the refrigerator to help prolong shelf life.

Results: The day cream feels lightweight on my fingers, but it goes on heavier on my skin.Just a little bit of the day cream is enough and I can easily spread it over my face. I do have to be very careful about how much I put on my face because my skin will start to look greasy. Some of the day cream absorbs after a while, but not all of it. That's why I feel like this day cream is great for the winter when you might want a heavier moisturizer. Another thing to note is that my skin turned a little red right after rubbing the cream on my face, but I think that's because I was rubbing the skin and not because of a reaction to the cream. The redness went away within 1-2 minutes.

Look to Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream for a truly natural day cream to moisturize your dry skin. The ingredients list is impressive and natural!

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Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser [review]

My skin care routine took quite a hit once the weather warmed up. The summer in Cincinnati was humid and my face was on overload with oil production. Close to the end of the summer, I realized that I needed to do a better job of cleaning my face. I signed up for a facial at my favorite local (natural) salon to kick start the cleaning process, but I needed natural products to continue at home. Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser is certified organic, lightweight, and effective natural cleanser.

Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser     

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Contains organic ingredients
Gentle, lightweight moisturizer
Doesn't clog pores
Comes in a dark glass bottle

Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser is a lightweight natural cleanser that is customized for different skin types. I like that this natural facial cleanser company offers several types of cleansers based on oily skin, normal skin, blemished skin, etc. The natural ingredient list is another big plus in my book! There are not a lot of companies, especially those that sell on Amazon, that offer such a natural list of ingredients.

The facial cleanser comes in a dark glass bottle with a pump. Another big plus because it is usually hard to find beauty products in glass bottles. I received a sample of the cleanser in a small dark glass bottle. The dark glass is important for protecting the natural ingredients from going rancid. Let's look at the ingredients list!

Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser Ingredients:
Purified Water, Organic Cleansing Blend (Organic aloe vera juice (preservative free), aloe castile liquid soap unscented (filtered water, organic coconut oil, potassium hydroxide* (used to make natural soap), organic olive oil, organic jojoba oil, rosemary extract, organic aloe vera), organic vodka, natural sea salt, organic moisturizing blend (organic olive oil, purified water, organic carnauba wax (plant based), organic sweet orange oil, organic jojoba oil, potassium carbonate (natural earth mineral)**, organic geranium oil, organic bergamot oil, organic bilberry leaf, organic burdock root, organic sage herb), organic olive oil, xanthan gum (natural gum), organic lavender oil, organic geranium oil, organic sweet orange oil), organic vodka, organic olive oil.

* Not present in final product, used to make natural soap.
** Not present in final product, dissipates during manufacture.

The ingredients list is one of the most natural that I have been able to find. I am very excited about this product and this company because of their commitment to high quality, natural products.

Results: The cleanser was very lightweight and most of it seemed to absorb into the skin on my face. It was easy to wash off because it wasn't greasy. I have been using oil based cleansers, so this cleanser was a little bit different. I did not feel like did much, but then I realized that this cleanser was gentle enough to not strip all of the natural oils off my face. This is a cleanser that I can see myself using on a daily basis because it is so gentle.

If you are looking for a truly natural cleanser with a great, natural ingredients list, Herbal Choice Mari Organic Facial Cleanser is your answer!

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Natural Super Green Food Supplement [review]

Super Green Food Supplement in Capsules is about the easiest way to internally take super green food. I have tried super green food powders in smoothies or super green food juices, but the super green food supplement in capsules is an easy and quick way to boost your nutrition levels. Supa Herbal Greens Original herbal green food supplement blend is made with organic ingredients, gluten-free and non-GMO ingredients, in a vegetable capsule.

Supa Herbal Greens Original       
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. I am not a medical professional. Please consult a physician before beginning any exercise program or taking a supplement. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease

The Good	The Not So Good
100% raw	Did not experience significant changes
Organic ingredients (other than veg capsule)
Non-GMO, Gluten-Free
Made in the USA

Supa Herbal Greens Original vegetable caps are made with GMO-free, gluten-free, and organic super green foods ingredients. The bottle contains 90 vegetarian capsules, which last 1 month. Recommended dosage is to take 3 capsules before or after meals. May be taken up to 3 times per day.

Supa Herbal Greens Original Ingredients:
Organic Super Green Foods (235mg):
  Alfalfa Grass (aerial)
  Barley Grass (aerial)
  Dandelion (aerial)
  Ginger (root)
  Ginseng (root)
  Parsley (aerial)
  Rose hips (fruit)
  Turmeric (root)
  Wheat grass (aerial)
  Garlic (bulb)

Organic Super Whole Complex (125mg):
  Celery (seed)
  Flax (seed)
  Pumpkin (seed)
  Sesame (seed)
  Sunflower (seed)

Organic Super Digestive Complex (80mg):
  Anise (seed)
  Caraway (seed)
  Fennel (seed)
  Ginger (root)

Organic Super Sea Greens (35mg):
  Kelp (aerial)
  Bladderwrack (aerial)
  Nova Scotia Dulce (leaf)

GMO Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, Dairy Free, Filler Free, Magnesium Stearate Free, Additive Free, Preservative Free super green supplement.

Supa Herbal Greens is a very concentrated herbal supplement. As the above states, the ingredients are high quality, organic, non-irradiated, and are additive free. Basically, you get 100% herbs within the capsule. I usually have a hard time finding natural supplements that are additive-free, especially Magnesium Stearate-free supplements, so I was really excited to try this brand. One of my goals for this year was to add more super green foods to my diet. The Supa Herbal Greens supplement is a great addition and I feel great about taking the supplement because of the organic ingredients.

I also like the ingredients combination of not only super green foods, but also raw seeds and nuts, garlic, and sea greens. I took 2 capsules per day and noticed that my energy did not dip as much as usual throughout the day. Otherwise, I did not notice a significant improvement. I bet if I took 3 capsules up to 3 times a day, my energy would be really high. My goal for taking this supplement is for preventative health.

The vegetarian capsule is a standard smaller capsule and it easy to take.

If you are looking for an easy way to take super green foods on a daily basis, try the organic Supa Herbal Greens green super food supplement.

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All Natural Peanut Butter [review]

Offering healthy and nutritious food to my family is very important to me. I strive to find organic and natural products. One of our favorite healthy snacks is apple with almond butter or peanut butter. I am an almond butter fan and my husband is a peanut butter fan, so we keep both in the house. Our son likes both! Pic's all natural peanut butter is made from Australian Hi-Oleic peanuts without additives.

Pic's Peanut Butter      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 

The Good	The Not So Good
All natural ingredients	Not certified organic
Glass jar (recyclable, reusable)
Great flavor

Pic's Peanut Butter is New Zealand's #1 peanut butter! It is made from High-Oleic peanuts. The peanuts are imported from Australia, roasted, grinded and sealed in jars within minutes of roasting. This maintains freshness and results in a fresh flavor. I am usually not a fan of peanut butter, even freshly ground, but I do like this High-Oleic peanut butter. There is just something different (better)!

 

The ingredients are simple, just the peanuts. The versions that are salted contain salt. I really like that there are no preservatives, extra oils, or sugar added.

The peanut butter is sold a few stores through the United States, but can definitely be found on Amazon. The jar is 2.2 lbs, which would be great to use for peanut butter recipes like Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins or Baked Peanut Butter BBQ Wings.

We have been using the peanut butter on pancakes and waffles, along with either organic fruit jam or organic maple syrup. My favorite way to eat Pic's peanut butter is on fresh slices of apple.

The peanut butter does need to be stirred, but it was easier to stir than my usual natural almond butter. One of my tricks for reducing the separation of natural peanut butter is to store the jar upside down. Most of the time, this reduces the amount of storing.

I would love to see this brand move toward organic certification to ensure no pesticides. In the mean time, I will be recommending Pic's natural peanut butter as a great natural alternative.

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Natural Ways to Support Your Heart [Giveaway + review]

Did you know that more than 610,000 people die each year in the US alone from heart disease? That is about 1 in every 4 death being from heart disease. Heart disease is prevalent in both men and women and has become the leading cause of death. Eating fish and fish products help to support cardiovascular function and reduce the incidence of heart disease. A diet high fish and natural fish oil supplements like Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2X are natural ways to support your heart.

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2X      
Nordic Naturals CoQ10 Ubiquinol          
The Complete Mediterranean Diet         

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  I am not a medical professional. Information about the products was sourced from the company website. Please consult your physician before starting a new supplement. I received the products for free to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% pure and natural
High concentration
No artificial preservatives

Fish Oil has become part of my diet again and I have even introduced it into my toddler's diet. While I prefer fish oil in liquid form, I do appreciate the convenience of the capsule form. Nordic Naturals is a brand that I keep purchasing because it is one of the front runners for high quality fish oils and supplements. The company takes great strides in keeping their standards high.

Ultimate Omega 2X Ingredients: purified deep sea fish oil (from anchovies and sardines), soft gel capsule (gelatin, water, glycerin, natural lemon flavor), natural lemon flavor, d-alpha tocopherol, rosemary extract (a natural preservative).

Ingredients are gluten-free, milk-free, artificial color free and artificial flavor free. The natural lemon flavor comes from lemon rind.

CoQ10 Ubiquinol Ingredients: organic extra virgin olive oil, soft gel capsule (gelatin, water, glycerin, carob color), ubiquinol, beeswax, d-alpha tocopherol, rosemary extract (a natural preservative).

Ingredients are gluten-free, milk-free, artificial flavor free. The label does not state that ingredients are artificial color free, so I wonder if the carob color is artificial or natural.

I feel confident about the ingredients list and the high quality of the ingredients in these Nordic Naturals supplements. I would like to see the company move toward more organic ingredients, though I do like that ingredients are non-GMO verified. I like that the ingredients list is simple.

Results: The supplements are easy to take. The Ultimate Omega 2X has a slight lemon flavor, but I did not find it off putting. Since I have started taking a fish oil supplement regularly, I feel like I am able to recover quicker from illness.

Cardiovascular Health: Starting with a Mediterranean diet and supplementing with high quality supplements is a great way to ensure a reduced risk in getting heart disease. In our house, we try to cook as much as possible, choose nutrition ingredients and cooking oils like olive oil, stay physically active, and supplement with natural supplements. Since we have history of heart disease and high blood pressure on both sides of the family, it is extremely important for us to maintain heart hearth. Dr. Ozner's book, The Complete Mediterranean Diet, was a good reminder for me about maintaining a nutritious diet full of whole foods! The book is also full of over 500 recipes that will help any family start a healthier lifestyle!

Nordic Naturals Coupon Code: HEART16 
Receive 15% discount on phone and web orders; free shipping on all orders over $25
Expires 05/01/16

Enter below to win a prize package from Nordic Naturals and Dr. Ozner!

Please use the Giveaway Tools entry form. Open to US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate, incomplete and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2X
Nordic Naturals CoQ10 Ubiquinol
The Complete Mediterranean Diet book
($130 RV)

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All Natural Katie is not responsible for companies/sponsors who fail to ship the prize. Nordic Naturals will be shipping the prize to the giveaway winner.

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Detox Your Skin with Natural Oils [review]

The transition from warmer temperatures to colder temperatures always results in my skin peeling. Dry winter air leaves my skin feeling dry and tight. This is when I start using a moisturizer that is on the heavier side. However, even using a natural heavier oil sometimes results in breakouts from clogged pores. This winter, I tried a new natural face care system. Amazingly Beautiful face oil serums are specialized for day and evening times to make your skin feel soft and smooth.

Amazingly Beautiful Oil Serum      
Daytime Oil Serum
Nighttime Oil Serum

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 

The Good	The Not So Good
100% natural oils	Not certified organic
Comes in a dark amber glass bottle
Works for all skin types

Amazingly Beautiful oil serums come in two bottles for an all-in-one facial care system. The day face oil serum is to be used in the morning and during the day. The evening face serum is to be applied in the evening and for overnight. The oil serums come in dark amber glass bottles, which is important to preserve the qualities of the natural oils. Each bottle lasts about 2 months.

Day Face Oil Serum Ingredients:
100% Pure Botanical oils of almond, orange, lemon, avocado and olive

Evening Face Oil Serum Ingredients:
100% Pure Botanical oils of almond, orange, lemon, evening primrose and apricot

The ingredients list is very simple and made from 100% natural oils. This is one of my favorite features about these serums. I know that I am putting only the best and more natural products on my face. Sebum is a natural oil that our bodies produce. Sebum is important for keeping the skin healthy, moisturized, and soft. Using natural oils are moisturizers is important because it feeds the skin what the skin wants. The skin balances out the oil and skin becomes healthy again. If skin is too dry or too oily, it is probably a result of using chemical cleaners and skin products that strip the skin of natural oils. When the skin can produce more oil, it overproduces and results in oily skin. Think about using a harsh soap or facial cleanser - the skin is usually dry and tight after using it. That is not how it should be!

How to Use: Only a few drops are needed for the whole face. I have been using about 3-4 drops. I put one drop on my index finger and start with my forehead. Then another drop for each of the following areas: nose, cheeks, chin. Use how much is needed, but just enough to cover the face. Gentle spread the oil and leave it to absorb. If there is any excess after about 5-10 minutes, blot it off with a tissue and apply less serum next time.

Will the Skin Detox? Maybe! If you have been using commercial chemical and synthetic facial products, then your skin might need an adjustment period while it re-balances the natural oil levels. The detox period can occur within the first 30 days, but should only last 1-2 days. Blemishes and pimples means that the skin is doing its job to remove toxins and build-up. I have been using natural products and other oils, so I only noticed a few pimples here and there. I think this was mostly related to me using a natural facial product on a regular basis and feeding my dry skin.

My Results: I have found the serums to be easy to use. I don't apply the day and evening oil serum every single day, but most days. I usually apply after a shower, after washing my face, or if my skin looks dry. This frequency is the best for my skin. Like I mentioned in the introduction, the skin on my face started peeled as the outside temperatures became colder, so I had to change my face cleaning and moisturizing routine a bit. My skin is now back to normal and I am using the oil serums again. I really like the subtle natural scent of the oils. The bottles are a great size for travel also.

If you are looking to detox your skin and rehab your facial care routine, I would highly recommend Amazingly Beautiful face oil serums. 

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