Natural Grocers Haul

If you follow me on Facebook you probably already know that I have fallen in love with a store called Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. It's amazing! My Mom and I discovered it last week when we went to Medford to go shopping. The town I live in has ZERO shopping (besides Wal-mart and Fred Meyer) so we have to drive 1 1/2 hours to go to the mall or get some good food. We saw this store a few trips ago but had yet to go in until last week and have now visited twice. I was SO surprised to see an entire section devoted to natural beauty and personal care products. It was seriously AMAZING, and that's an understatement. I was so excited and overwhelmed.



I got a few things and I asked on Facebook if you wanted to see what I got and several of you said yes, so here we go!

• Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (have you ever tried this? I have used it once so far and I'm undecided on it... do you like it?)
• Hugo Naturals Effervecenst Bath Salts in Sweet Orange and Vanilla (these are for my Mom!)
• Puremedy Acne Relief
• Travel Size Shikai Yuzu Shower Gel (I'm going on a trip next week so this is the perfect size!)
• Badger SPF15 Sunscreen Lip Balm
• Portland Bee Balm in Oregon Mint
• Derma E Refining Vitamin A Oil
• ZUZU luxe Cream Brow Pencil in Russet
• Acure Organics Sensitive Facial Cleanser
• The Seaweed Bath Co Unscented Powder Bath
• Travel Size Dead SSea Warehouse Amazing Minerals Mud Mask
• Glass Spray Bottle (to make my natural makeup setting spray)
• 9 ounce LifeFactory bottle (it's the perfect purse size and it matches my biggest one!)

Have you ever been to a Natural Grocers? You can find one near you by clicking here. Or have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you think of them OR leave me a comment telling me what beauty products you have purchased lately! I'd love to know what you have picked up!

(FTC: I bought these products with my own money. This post is not sponsored.)

Talk About Skin Care - Niora Naturals

I, like many of you, am no longer a teenager or even a young adult (I think 27 just counts as a regular old adult, right?) but I still struggle with acne and breakouts while having to be more conscious about hydrating and protecting my skin to help keep signs of aging at bay. I don't have wrinkles yet, but I do have some fine lines and thinning skin. Most acne products, even natural ones, can be a little harsh for skin belonging to an adult. I tend to stay away from anything with the word "acne" in the title for that very reason but I have been using the Niora Naturals Acne Solutions line since the beginning of April and it has become an absolute staple in my beauty routine.

Niora is a cruety free and vegan Portland, OR (you all know how much I love to support companies from my home state!) based company that started in 1992 when chemist George Tindall began creating a line of natural anti-aging products. Two years later he met his future wife who suffered with adult acne that left her feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable with her skin and appearance. When he saw her frustration with the harsh and irritating acne products she used he set out to create an anti-acne product for her. After extensive research he developed a natural and organic product that exfoliated and cleansed pores with balancing the skin. His wife, Cindy, no longer has acne and now the rest of us can experience the joys of Alpha Clear.

The Alpha Clear Adult Acne Treatment is a pair of products designed to be used twice daily to clear adult acne, reduce the skin conditions that cause acne, and fight wrinkles. The duo is comprised of the Alpha Clear Cleanser and Alpha Clear Exfoliant. They are both made with natural alpha hydroxy fruit acids and other natural ingredients that help hydrate and exfoliate.



The cleanser is a thin milky lotion type of cleanser that needs to be applied onto skin that is only slightly damp, massaged in, and rinsed off (which it does beautifully). It has a scent, but it is light and really pleasant! I love the entire line but I'm especially obsessed with the cleanser! It's gentle and does a really great job cleansing my face and cleaning out my pores. The Exfoliant is a spray that you spritz onto your skin once your face is cleansed. It has no scent and is very easy to use and apply. I tend to only use the Exfoliant at night even though it can be used twice daily. I just find that my skin prefers it only once a day. I let it dry completely and then move on to the Alpha C Serum.



The Alpha C Serum is a serum that provides intense hydration without leaving skin feeling greasy, sticky, heavy, or overloaded with moisturizer. It feels super silky and lightweight on the skin. I can see results almost immediately after application - It brightens my complexion and gives me a radiant look. It makes my skin look and feel balanced and healthy!



The difference in my skin while using these products is very obvious and is even noticeable to those around me. I stopped using the Alpha Clear Cleanser, Exfoliant, and Alpha C Serum for about 2 weeks and my skin got really congested and awful. I am now back to using them religiously and will be ordering a new set very soon. These products are also affordable, which is a fact that I really, really appreciate!

You can learn more about Niora Naturals and their other product offerings by visiting their website here. If you're not interested in a line of products for acne you might be more attracted to their anti-aging line. You can also find Niora on Facebook and Twitter.

Talk About Sun Care - Goddess Garden

Once spring and summer hit I can't wait to get outside and soak up the sun and enjoy all that nature has to offer whether that be by floating around my pool, kayaking around a lake or down a river, hiking, or simply just taking my beloved pup for a stroll around the block. Warmer weather also equates to less clothing and more skin showing and it's extra important (although it's essential in the winter as well) to stay protected with some serious SPF. Summer should be all about having fun and making memories and who has the time to worry about what harsh chemicals you are slathering, or spraying, all over your body? I sure don't and thankfully I don't have to because I use Goddess Garden Organics and their powerfully natural sun protection products.

I first reviewed Goddess Garden way back in July of 2011 and the company has grown a lot since then. All Goddess Garden products are made with natural and organic ingredients and are Biodegradable, Reef-Safe, Cruelty Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, and Non-Nano.

The Sunny Face Natural Sunscreen with SPF 30 was rated an "EWG Best Sunscreen Pick in 2013 for its Superior Effectiveness and Non-Toxic Formula" and has become a sunny day staple in my beauty routine. This facial sunscreen can be used alone or under makeup. It is sheer and doesn't cause the ghastly white tint that so many sunscreens leave behind. It's very lightweight and not greasy or sticky. It doesn't have any added fragrance but it has a strong lavender scent that is not offensive to me or my extremely sensitive sniffer. It is made with Immortelle Oil and vitamins and antioxidants to help promote skin repair. It is very moisturizing and soothing! It is Water Resistant to 40 minutes, although I haven't personally tested that claim yet since the water is still a bit cold here in Oregon.



Here is the ingredients list:
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 19.0%
Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera*, Glycerin*, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Oil*, Iron Oxide, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum *Certified Organic

The other product I have been using, as well as the rest of my family, is the Sunny Body Sport Spray with SPF 30. This sunscreen comes in a recyclable, non-aerosol can. I find that once sprayed onto the desired area you have to massage the product in but once you do it's sheer on the skin. I don't find that it has a very discernable scent at all so it's great for those of us with sensitive noses. It feels a little bit sticky and tacky until it dries but once it does you're good to go! I love the spray format! It's so convenient for me but I know some people are worried about inhaling sprays like this. My only word of advice would be to avoid spraying this on your face and hold your breath when applying on your body if you're truly concerned. I personally don't mind.



Here are the ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 6.0%, Titanium Dioxide 6.4%
Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera*, Glycerin*, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Oil*, Iron Oxide, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum *Certified Organic

You can learn more about Goddess Garden and their offering of natural and organic UVA/UVB protecting products by visiting their website here. You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter.