Saturday, October 20, 2012

Angelic Soaps and Gifts Review

In this post i will be reviewing all of the products that i have received from Angelic Soaps and Gifts...

These products include:

*Cherry Almond Soap
*Sky Blue Soap
*Lemon Grass & Sugar Cane Scrub
*Lavender Bliss Shea Butter Lotion
*Shea Butter Body Pudding (Love Spell &Lavender Fragrances)



I came across Angelic Soaps and Gifts at Naturally Flyy Detroit a while back and then on Facebook i kept seeing lots of positive comments on her various products so i inquired on a few products  that i haven't tried yet and Dieshawn so kindly blessed us with a big package of goodies <3 font="font">

Thanks to Dieshawn my once poor outlook on shampoo bars have changed for good since i received a sample of one from Angelic Soaps and Gifts! Her shampoo bar is THE BOMB to say the least! I love how her products are all either 100% natural/organic or composed of mostly great ingredients... Click here to reflect on our initial post/review on Angelic Soaps and Gifts.


I will begin with the Cherry Almond Soap Bar





Product Description

Handcrafted with conditioning African Shea butter and moisturizing oils of Palm and Coconut, Scented with the fragrance of tart cherries and the nutty aroma of ground almonds.  4-4.5 ounces

Ingredients

Cocconut oil,Palm oil,Olive oil, Shea Butter and Fragrance oil crafted by the cold process method of soapmaking

Color: Redish with grit

Scent: Cherry
Consistency/Texture: Hard soap with grits
Cost: $4.75 per 4-4.5 oz bar

Pros:

-For those of you who like really gritty products this is jam packed with gritty goodies
-This soap lasts for a few months with frequent use
-The Cherry scent is captivating and lasts for a nice long time and the whole bathroom is filled with the nice, light, and fresh scent at all times that the soap bar is in the shower
-The grit present is of a moderate-hard nature which really exfoliates
-This soap is filled with nice moisturizing elements

Cons:

-For me the soap has pinch too much grit
-Needs maybe a pinch more of a moisturizing agent
-A really good deep moisturizer is needed after or else you skin will be super dry

My Feelings:

I must say that the first thing that caught my attention was the amazing fragrance :) This is strictly a body soap for sure as when you have a fragrant product it is not good to apply this to sensitive areas or the face. I have sensitive skin and this soap worked great with me and really helped my dry/rough spots. I loved everything about this soap and have had to get more since and can say that Ive been faithfully using this soap line ever since i got it i have not tried anything else :) These soaps are greatly priced and the more that is bought the more freebies you get <3 nbsp="nbsp">

Next up is the Oatmeal Soap Bar in Blue Sky Scent




Product Description

Exfoliate and take away those dead skin cells and moisturize with the gentleness of ground oatmeal and African Shea butter.  4-4.5 ounces

Color: Beige-ish with particulates

Scent: Fresh with a hint of oat and a hard to pin point yummy-ness
Consistency/Texture: Soft/smooth yet
Cost: $4.75 per 4-4.5 oz bar

Pros:

- The smoothness of this soap is nice and unique as it also has oats and other particulates in it which add a nice texture
- The scent is unique and light and it stays present softly on the skin thereafter and isnt noticed otherwise
-The oats make this soap incredible! Its got great slip and the oats arent scratchy, yet they are still moderately invigorating
-This soap lasts for months with frequent use and has been great on my sensitive skin
-It has nice moisturizing elements

Cons:
-None note worthy

My Feelings:
This soap entered my regime second to the Cherry Almond soap which gave it definite tough competition since i fell in love at first sight with that one. The Blue Sky Bar had a completely different nature than the Cherry Almond and this fact alone made way for a new fav body soap second to the Cherry Almond.  I LOVED the oat element in this soap. Im not sure exactly what blue sky is supposed to smell like but i like it :) The smoothness is on point and its different texture on top of the smoothness just adds a whole other dimension to its greatness. I must say i love this one too and am using it up currently <3 font="font" nbsp="nbsp">

Lemon Grass & Sugar Cane Scrub



Product Description

TBA- This product hasnt been released to the public yet :)

Ingredients
Cane Sugar, Ground Peppermint, Lemon Grass Essential Oil, Apricot Essential Oil and Grapeseed Oil.

Color: Like a greenish brown beige
Scent: Lemon grass with a hint of mint
Consistency/Texture: Like wet gritty sand with slip
Cost: TBA

Pros:
-This is a completely organic and natural product
-It is very exfoliating
-You can feel this penetrate your pores near instantly even after months of using it consistently
-If you love gritty scrubs this is for you!
-Ive been using this for months now and there is still months left in it :)
-Scent is just heavenly and near edible

Cons:
-The jar always leaves a mess where i set it
-There could be a smidge less sugar and a bit more of a wet agent
-Unless you consistently have a mixing tool at hand the oils settle at top and grit settles at bottom

My Feelings:
To begin with i was excited to try a new product VIP style and when i received this i was thrilled because ive been searching for a great natural face scrub but no one sells them that i could find. So by looks i didnt know what to expect result wise due to the appearance but i dove right in after i gave it a good mixing and by first finger scoop i was hooked. The scent of lemon mixed with peppermint is just explosive and my pores feel the same way.  Right as the air hits my face after application my pores just tingle and its super refreshing.  My skin is immediately softened and stays softened and clean there after. A light coating of the natural oils stay on my face there after too which i view as marvelous because moisture is being well retained thereafter rinsing and blotting.  My face is normally acne prone and very dry so this product has come in and saved my faces life as it is not near as dry as it used to be and my acne is clearing up! On the other side of the street i do believe that this should come with a mixing tool or possibly have a bit more oil in it as it kind of under powers the cane sugar.  The container is messy when in use and not in use so i keep it in a shower caddy in my shower where it doesnt leave a mess. If the oils and cane sugar were merged a little more with less settling NATURALLY id be just that much more in love. Overall this is my fav face product i have ever tried in my life, in all literal senses. <3 font="font" nbsp="nbsp">

Shea Butter Body Lotion in Lavender Bliss





Product Description
Handcrafted with conditioning African Shea Butter and moisturizing Jojoba oil.  Our elegant skin softening body lotion has a silky soft feel and sinks into the skin leaving behind smooth silky skin.  

Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Glycol Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Isopropyl Palmitate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Dimethicone,Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Honey Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba) Extract,DMDM Hydantoin,Fragrance oil

Color: White with a tint  of purple
Scent: Lavender/flowery
Consistency/Texture: Light to medium/Creamy
Cost: $6.50 per 6oz

Pros:
-Light weight and creamy
-Nice and fresh scent
-It has a nice after feel
-This has a lasting time of about 2 months depending on usage
-Its non greasy, non oily and is smooth
-Great deal for its cost

Cons:
-I cant say that this product is organic or natural because it has a few not so great ingredients in it
-Id like for the lasting period to be longer than as is between having to buy more
-It would be great if the moisture element stayed present longer
-I believe that the cone and the formaldehyde ingredients inhibit this lotions potential greatness

My Feelings:
I have been searching for a good lotion for myself for a while and since being blessed with this one i am on the fence.  I like it but i don't.  I like the texture, scent and overall feel. Just wish there weren't so many different ingredients and that the bad ones were omitted. I can say that my skin was soft there after use but the softness just went away after a while.  This lotion does have alot of good ingredients in it. I can say that i liked this lotion way better than any other Ive tried despite its less desirable's   


Whipped Shea Butter Body Pudding



Product Description
Our whipped African Shea Butter is handcrafted with unrefined African Shea Butter that's been used for centuries to protect the skin and to help ease irritations caused by acne, eczema and psoriasis. Along with Almond oil and essential oils, our whipped African Shea Butter is all whipped together to pamper and nourish your skin.

Ingredients
Shea Butter,Grapeseed oil and Fragrance oil

Color: Light beige-ish
Scent: Shea buttery ( I received the love spell scent and the Lavender scent and they smelled true to their name)
Consistency/Texture: Medium/Hard but it melts to heat or friction
Cost: $8.00 per 4oz/$16.00 per 16oz

Pros:
-This is PURE and organic
-It is in a hard form but liquifies by friction or heat so that it can be used to preference in various forms
-The normally putrid pure shea butter smell is nicely covered by the fragrant oil
-This is good for wrinkles, rough spots and dry skin
-A little goes a long way
-Fair priced for the amount

Cons:
-The raw shea butter scent is still present through the fragrant oil which may not be pleasing to those not in favor of it
-The term "whipped" would make one think of maybe whipped icing or something that has a fluff to it but this is definitely hard in nature not so much so whipped
-This can only be used as a "spot" product as it doesn't spread onto the skin well for major coverage

My Feelings:
Ive been searching for a good whipped shea butter for a while that has the yucky scent of raw shea butter omitted and that can be smoothed on as easy as lotion can.So in summary Ive had high expectations for finding the right shea butter whip for my daughter. This one in particular i really liked the fragrant oil choices that i was sent (love spell and lavender).  I use it for my elbows, knees, dry spots and on my feet.  I like it for the purpose i use it for and it seems do work well on my areas in need. I cant use this for anything else because of its lack there of in spreading power. I got passed my issue with the scent of the raw shea butter underneath the fragrance but Im just not satisfied over all with this shea butter. I am still in search of my ideal whipped shea butter that is soft in nature. I know this is a body product but i decided to try it in my Divas hair because of its texture and my idea. So here are some pics of its results before and after.


I used this only on the last 4-5 inches of her hair and i spritzed a few sprays of distilled water along with it to help smooth it in. This acts as a sealer/definer in her hair and ive used this multiple times for this purpose and surprisingly its quite alright, especially with the use of beads and rubber bands. I also found it decent as a baby hair tamer.


I am very thankful to have been blessed with this opportunity to review these products from Angelic Soaps and Gifts and we send a HUGE thank you and hug to Dieshawn <3 font="font">

Diva R's Mommy-Kim

Friday, October 5, 2012

Honeysuckle Natural Haircare Line


A while back i received the opportunity to review a few products (at my expense) from Honeysuckle Natural Hair Care Line... I had stumbled upon them through Face Book and noticed an out pour of raving reviews so i thought it was worth the try.  At this time they only had a few products to try so i decided to buy a sample trio which consisted of the Buttercreme Hair and Body Whip, Daily Shea Moisturizing Cream and Citrus Leave In Conditioning Spray.  


(My camera just could not get a great picture)

Before i begin i must note that the circular tub contains the Buttercreme Hair and Body Whip and my focus for this review will be on the Citrus Spray and the Buttercreme Whip, as the Daily Shea just wasn't possible on Divas hair at all. 

This trio retails for 3.00 each for 3oz containers + shipping...

Product Descriptions

Citrus Leave-in Spray

A refreshing & energizing conditioning spray used to detangle, hydrate, moisturize, and revive curls

Suggested Use: Shake vigorously. Saturate hair as needed or apply directly onto scalp to relieve dryness & itching. Use to refresh wash-n-go styles, hydrate dry curls, detangle prior to styling and prior to sealing ends with oil. Works great on natural hair for braid-outs, twist-outs, and roller setting.


Buttercrème Hair & Body Whip

This thick & creamy butter is great for moisturizing & smoothing any hairstyle. Works great on children’s hair. It has an Organic Shea Butter base and is infused with citrus extracts for a lovely, sweet fragrance

**Also great as a moisturizing body butter

Suggested Use: Soften cream by rubbing in palms of hands. Distribute cream throughout hair or directly onto scalp as needed. Use to smooth edges and ends and also on sectioned hair for roller setting, braiding, etc.  Also great for stretch marks, blemishes, dry skin, etc.




Daily Shea Moisturizing Crème

A creamy cousin to Buttercreme Hair Whip in a lighter content.  Great for setting & wrapping hair, and as a daily moisturizer.  It has an Organic Shea Butter base and is infused with citrus extracts for a lovely, sweet fragrance

Suggested Use: Distribute cream throughout hair or directly onto scalp as needed. Use to smooth edges and ends and also on sectioned hair for roller setting, braiding, etc.                                                                                           


 (The above descriptions were copied from Honeysuckle hair Care Lines Website)                 


Our Review 

Color: All three products are a white-ish color
Scent: Citrus Spray smells citrusy/ like a cleansing product, Buttercreme smells like a buttery citrus mix, and the Daily Shea smells just like the Buttercreme
Consistency: Citrus Spray is cloudy and has particulates, Buttercreme is like a medium type cream, Daily Shea feels like clumpy sand
Cost: $9.00 + shipping for all three

*My reviews are expressed from my SOLE & (sometimes the Divas) opinions through trials and error from extensive and varying use of the products*

Pros- 
Citrus Spray: This spritz has great light moisture effects, it has a nice light and summery scent.  Its cloudiness adds to its effectiveness as the particles are fine enough to spritz well and they don't show up on the hair, in fact they just soak in :) I have to use about 4 spritzes of this for it to coat her hair which is inches below her shoulders now, which i consider to be a lightly generous amount.  I've never had to re apply this, as i feel it stays well in place through a whole day and beyond the night.  The light fresh scent is traceable throughout its use in a pleasant degree. It is children friendly in its complete nature, the Diva says it smells like oranges. It is non greasy, non oily and is suitable in my opinion for all natural wavy/curly hair types.

Buttercreme Whip: This product surprised me and proves that looks can deceive.  I like this as a sealer and is a fav of mine when it comes to styling. Its not to light so that it wont penetrate, yet its not so heavy that it becomes a grease bomb. My daughters hair absorbs this very well and instantaneously. I go to this product when I'm using beads/rubber bands. Its got the perfect texture for my daughters wavy/curly/fine/sometimes frizzy/poofy/unique hair. It is a well taming product which does its job for days on end without need for re application. A little goes a super long way and it performs great in a style and on loose curls. This is a great universal product from my experiences.

Daily Shea Moisturizing Cream: This product is intended for use on the hair but i quickly tried it as a skin care product due to its different nature.  I began to like this as a dry spot cream. It smooths in on the skin  well and the grit will dissolve after a minute or so of rubbing. The scent is fresh and clean and stays lightly in place over a days time.

Cons- 
Citrus Spray: Nothing negative to note.
Buttercreme: Nothing negative to note.
Daily Shea: This one was the only one to get unsatisfactory ratings which over rule the positives that i found unconventionally. This is a HAIR product specifically, and we could not use this as a hair product at all. In fact upon 2 uses i omitted it as even being a back up product because the sandy grit was just horrible in the hair... For us specifically the grit looked like salt or little white bugs when applied to my Divas hair... Which water couldn't even smooth out well, i had to fight to get it out of her hair actually. It is chunky, clumpy, gritty and just an out right mess and didn't work for us at all. Not to say that others couldn't benefit from trying this, its just not a good product for super fine, thin and loose curls from our trials. I resorted to trying this as a skin product to make use of it and it was OK for that and did make my skin feel nice, smooth and nicely fragranced but it ended at that. In general i was immediately put off upon opening the package to find a slimy mess inside which covered all of the products, as the lids on the containers were taped on allowing for wiggle room inside the container during mailing.

Feelings-
I really like the immediate fragrance of all three products, the spray is pleasantly unique to itself while the two tub products are very similar in scent and its hard to pin point with wording but its fresh and heavenly. The way the spray has clouding particles and how it settles when it sits for a while were pluses in my book as this is an indicator that there are no un-natural preservatives which make the products ingredients congeal.  It also indicates that when spritzed there will be an output of extra moisture in more than just a super liquidy form, making for a longer lasting effect. I'm very impressed by this spritz and i use it as a light after styling moisturizer or a curl quencher when the divas curls are loose. The Buttercreme texture reminded me of a Shea butter in harder form by sight, but as i scooped some out the texture had more of a creamier/lighter/whipped feel to it and it smoothed out quickly as i rubbed it in my fingers but not too much to where a grease is left, yet just enough to spread evenly and over a nice distance without a need for a huge amount. The Daily Shea is a gritty/sandy appearing and feeling product which i was immediately put off by as products like these that remind me of sand usually perform as such when it hits the hair. Upon rubbing this between my fingers i noticed that the grit didn't like to disappear and since my daughter has fine thin hair i felt this could give a negative experience, which it ended up doing just that.

So here are some pictures from our experimenting...

This first collage is of a Pigtail/Braid Out Style AFTER application of distilled water and the Buttercreme whip (lightly applied)...

This collage below is showing the style AFTER application of distilled water, Buttercreme Whip and the Citrus Spray respectively.


I'm pleased with the above FOCUSED ON products and would buy again from Honeysuckle Hair Care.  (I could not get a good detailed picture of what the Daily Shea looked like in her hair so i explained it the best i could above for visuals sake.)


Diva R's Mommy-Kim