Darphynia's Diary

A little un-boxing photo, literally. First off, how wonderfully simplistic is Herbivore's packaging?  It's minimal, crisp, and the containers are reusable.  The products are also vegan, natural, and cruelty-free.  For the entire month of August I used Herbivore Botanicals exclusively, with the exception of an added SPF in the morning.  I had read great things about them and wanted to see if their products were really worth the hype.  My day and night routines consisted of:  

Image courtesy of valentia.com Valentia has some pretty effective products that are made in the USA and are also vegan friendly.  Their Royal Rose Hydrating Serum is one of them.  It is a lightweight, lightly-fragranced serum that delivers soothing hydration to skin.  I have been using this product day and night for the past 30 days, and am quite pleased with the results.  One pump is all my face needs.  After cleansing and toning I applied one pump of the serum, patted it all over my face, then rubbed it in.  The formula is fast-absorbing and virtually weightless.  I noticed a hint of rose scent, but that quickly dissipated.  Damask rose essential oil is one of the ingredients in the serum, which is known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.  Vitamin B, which reduces sunspots and hyper-pigmentation, is also included, as well as primrose oil for moisture along with its other quality ingredients.  Within the secon...

About the Brand It is a new year, and a new brand, derma e , is now available at Target .  Derma e is a vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free and petrolatum-free skincare line that has been family owned and operated for the past 30 years.  The product line, which can be found in retailers such as Whole Foods and ULTA,  Derma e uses "green chemistry" to create high-quality products.  "What is green chemistry," you ask?  It is a process they use by fusing plants, vitamins, and other naturally powerful ingredients with modern science.   "The award-winning line features doctor-developed, consumer-tested and clinically-tested face care, body care and treatment products," ( dermae.com , 2015). About the Product:  Firming DMAE Eye Lift  Video courtesy of derma e Derma e 's Firming DMAE Eye Lift is a multi-action eye cream that is doctor-developed, and is made to tighten, lift, and firm the s...

OZ Naturals, thus far, has had wonderful, effective, cruelty-free products.  Their Ocean Mineral Cleanser is a gentle, lightly-foaming cleanser that contains rich minerals, Vitamin E, and other natural & organic ingredients.  This cleanser is free from parabens, sulfates, and alcohol, which helps make it safe for sensitive skin. Image courtesy of OZ Naturals I have combination skin; an oily T-zone and drier skin around my hairline.  I have been using the cleanser as part of my daytime and nighttime skincare routine (in place of my usual products), both with and without my Clarisonic.  A dime's worth is all I need to cleanse my face.  In the time I have been using it, which is almost a month, my skin has felt refreshed, clean, balanced, and clear.  I still get the odd breakout (thanks to my medication), and the weather still has an effect on how dry certain areas are, but overall my skin is balanced.  I have not had any issues with the cleans...