Darphynia's Diary

Our friends at Ethique sent us some amazing zero-waste, sustainable, eco-friendly hair and body care.  Everything they offer comes in compostable/biodegradable packaging, making their products truly zero-waste!  And, a portion of profits go towards charities, such as The Orangutan Project and International Animal Rescue .  If only all companies were as transparent.  Now, on to the review. 1.   Glow Solid Deodorant in Lavender and Vanilla For those of you who are looking for a natural alternative to deodorant, or something new to try out, this block is worth a shot.  This deodorant kept me odor-free all day, and the scent sticks-- well, it did for me.  The soothing lavender and warm vanilla adds to its positives.  The bar also travels well.  I have an old square tin that I pop the bar into when I head to the gym or wherever I travel.  Some natural deodorants don't last.  I've used sticks, pastes, and unpackaged solids. ...

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:  

Sorry for the dark image!  The flash just wasn't working out. My skin has been changing; also, the more I stress the more I'm break out.  My go-to product has always been calamine lotion.  I either mix it in my lotion or use it as a spot treatment, but I wanted to try something new.  Sunday Riley has a fantastic(ally expensive) serum, Good Genes , which I love because it works.  I went on to see what else she had.  I ended up buying Sunday Riley's UFO trial pack (no longer available) that included the UFO: Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil and travel-sized Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner in the hopes that my skin would clear up.  The texture of the toner is like a thick water-- definitely more water-like than gel-like.  Martian is lightweight and absorbs fast; smells a bit earthy and medicinal, but is tolerable.  The oil is your typical face oil, but it smells horrendous (to me anyway).  It could be the cumin seed oil coupled w...

I have been using Valentia 's Night Revive Retinol Serum for a little over two months.  It is meant to hydrate and rejuvenate skin, while fighting wrinkles, for a youthful, glowing look.  The serum comes with a drop applicator, and has a watery consistency.  The formula absorbs fast, and can be added to your nighttime moisturizer or used alone.  If you choose to apply this during the day, be sure to use an SPF.  You always want to protect your skin. I'm sorry.  I cut of the top of the bottle, but you can see the dropper lid in the photo to the right. Bottle, dropper cap, and serum.

My bottle had a misprinted date.  I did contact them, and everything was worked out. I have been using Valentia products for some time.  This review is for their Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer ($25.00/4oz here ).  Normally my reviews are done after 30 days, but there has been a lot going on, which I will address in a different post.  Therefore, this has been about two months in the making.  After my typical day and night cleansing routine I apply this combined with their Night Revive Retinol Serum.  The pump controls the amount of product dispensed.  Typically I use two to three pumps.  Texturally, this lightweight moisturizer feels similar to a light lotion, and has a slightly citrusy-floral scent.  I don't find that it makes my skin oily after it is applied, but every skin type is different.  This moisturizer absorbs fast, and I have noticed that my face looks more even, but I don't really feel a difference.  Ingredie...

  Face masks are a wonderful addition to any skincare routine.  I love to use them when I'm winding down for the night.  I was able to try out Valentia's new Skin Detoxifying Mask , and I LOVE it!  My skin is not sensitive, and is combination (oily T-zone, and dry around the hairline).  This vegan mask

Image courtesy of Valentia.com Valentia’s Lifting Serum is a lightweight, fast-absorbing cream that contains:   Seaweed extract, lactic acid, and argan oil.   Those are just some of the ingredients that help to make skin look its best.    I have been using this product for approximately 37 days, and have noticed a change in the texture and firmness of my skin.   My face feels slightly lifted, so I am hoping that continued use will yield even better outcomes.   You don’t need a lot during application.   I like to apply one pump after cleansing and toning during the day and night.   I pat it on my face, leave it for a minute, and then rub it in using circular motions.   This travel-friendly product fits easily into the quart-sized bag for carry-on liquids, and the glass bottle can be reused to house favorite ( Valentia ) skincare.   Follow them on Instagram and Facebook .   Try out their skincare, take a photo,...

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...

Image courtesy of valentia.com Image courtesy of valentia.com I have been using Valentia's True Glow Eye Cream twice a day, and their Plumping Hydration Mask once a week for the past 30 days. Sorry for the flash!  A close-up of the product. We will start with the hydration mask first.  I am a sucker for a good mask.  There are so many on the market that promise dramatic results, but don't really deliver on their promises.  I used the plumping hydration mask once a week after my normal cleansing routine .  Texturally the mask is a bit like a pudding/jelly hybrid.  It goes on cool and smells a bit sweet (fruity & floral) and medicinal.  For those who are more sensitive to scents, this may be a bit overpowering.  I left the mask on for 15 minutes, and then rinsed it off with warm water.  My skin felt tighter and was more hydrated after the first use, which was much needed.  The weather since D...

OZ Naturals has some pretty effective products that won't "break the bank".  I had a chance to test and review their Super Youth Eye Gel .  It is vegan, cruelty-free, and great for all skin types.  The pump allows to you get as much (or as little) product as you need.  At first I was taken aback because it has an oceanic smell to it.  That is due to the kelp and algae extracts in the product.  The eye gel also contains plant stem cells, peptides, and acid blends.   The gel is opaque, fast-absorbing, and non-sticky. The pump allows for controlled dispensing. It can take 30 days or longer before results being to really show, so I applied the product day & night for one month.  After my cleansing routine I applied a small amount under each eye and used a dabbing motion to make sure it sunk in.  The product absorbs quickly and stays matte.  I have dark circles under my eyes, so I was excited to finally try out somet...

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...

I should start by saying that this post should have been up long ago... about four months ago.  So, I extend my apologies to Sun Bum.  I can't believe that (1) it's November, and (2) it still feels like summer.  Since it is, I've been spending some extra time at the beach.   Before getting into my beach day with Sun Bum, there are some [awesome] things you need to know about their company.  All of the information came from their website ( trustthebum.com ), so all credit goes to them: Sun Bum (est. 2010) has created a top-of-the-line suncare, made for those who love (and live) in the sun.  In order to minimize the risk of skin cancer, Sun Bum has a wide array of sprays, solids, and liquids to protect every inch of your body (including your hair!).  You can even get awesome gear. All suncare products are, "... tested, approved, and recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation ," ( trustthebum.com ). Products courtesy of Sun Bum. Sun Bum at t...

I am always on the lookout for a high quality SPF brand, and I really love COOLA .  COOLA is an organic suncare company that focuses on quality suncare free of phthalates, parabens, petroleum, and paba.  COOLA also donates to the Melanoma Research Alliance and Healthy Child Healthy World .  To learn more about the company, click here .     They were amazing, and sent me a couple of products to try out.  One has the scent of plumeria (body), and the other is unscented (face).  Plumeria reminds me of strolling up and down the beach in Waikiki when my family and I went a few years ago.  Don't you just love when scents bring back happy memories?  The unscented face suncare is great because it absorbs fast and is not sticky.  Because it is unscented, it does not irritate my nostrils.  Sometimes, scented face products can be a bit nauseating, don't you think?     Plumeria SPF 30 for Body Unscented SPF 30 for Fac...