reviews


Kumani Essentials Shea Shower Moisturizing Face & Body Wash review

Kumani Essentials is a fabulous new beauty company which creates all-natural body care, hair care and skin care products which are “Fair Trade Certified!” Love this! Kumani Essentials collection of 100% organic beauty products offer unisex skin care which promotes healthy, younger-looking skin with natural Shea butter and other ingredients.

Kumani Essentials products contain fair trade certified Shea butter along with aloe leaf juice, antioxidant-rich white tea extract, moisturizing jojoba oil, protective argon oil and additional natural ingredients.

The company was created by women, for women, but the products are unisex which is what makes Kumani Essentials extremely amazing. Shea Butter happens to be known as “Africans Women’s Gold” and it is hand-crafted by women who have been passing down the process for thousands of years through generations of women. Many times, harvesting Shea Butter is the only source of income for many of these women.
Kumani works diligently with Fair Trade US and the Western African nation of Burkina Faso in order to ensure they are meeting all guidelines of a certified fair trade cooperative. Kumani is able to pay the women top dollar for their Shea Butter product which ensures better nutrition, healthcare and education for the women and their families. Love this!

“At Kumani Essentials we pride ourselves on the fact that we have not only created a line of effective, high quality beauty products, but we also give back and support a deserving group of women.” –Deborah Pilla, Founder of Kumani Essentials.

I was fortunate enough to be given a sample of Kumani Essentials Shea Shower Moisturizing Face & Body Wash to try. The body wash has been absolutely amazing. As someone who swims and spends a lot of time outside, I need a body wash which is effective in removing chlorine and air pollutants while retaining moisture in the skin. Kumani’s product does the job and leaves my skin squeaky clean and moisturized. Love it!

Kumani Essentials Shea Shower Moisturizing Face & Body Wash received five out of five stars from Bay Area Fashionista 

Kumani Essentials Shea Shower Moisturizing Face & Body Wash is priced at $26. For more information about Kumani Essentials, please visit kumaniessentials.com

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*We received a sample of Kumani Essentials Shea Shower Moisturizing Face & Body Wash for review. Receipt of this sample did not influence our review of the product. Everything contained in this article is the opinion of Cathy at Bay Area Fashionista and should be taken as such. For more information please read our disclaimer.


Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation review and launch announcement

Laura Mercier has announced that they will be launching a new, oil free foundation on April 1, 2012. This exciting new make-up product is in line with Laura Mercier’s “Flawless Face” collection. The new, Oil Free Supreme Foundation is going to be available in twelve shades and includes vitamin-rich, soothing and anti-aging ingredients. Love that!

Laura Mercier was sweet enough to send me a sample of the new Oil Free Supreme Foundation so that our readers and I could see for ourselves how fabulous this foundation really can be. I tested the foundation and loved it! As someone with combination skin which is exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis, I found the foundation long-lasting with ample coverage. In addition to fabulous coverage, my face stayed matte-no afternoon shine! Love it!

Here are a few key points about the Oil Free Supreme Foundation by Laura Mercier from Laura Mercier!

KEY CLAIMS

-Oil-free, non-drying, lightweight formula glides on evenly on to skin and does not settle into fine lines.

-Visibly minimizes the appearance of pores for smoother skin.

-Buildable coverage, from moderate to full, evens skin tone.

-Provides a soft matte finish.

-Longwearing formula (lasts up to 8 hours) feels lightweight and comfortable on skin.

-Silicone-free, fragrance-free, non-greasy.

 

KEY INGREDIENTS

Aloe Bardadens – soothes and refresh skin.

Green Tea Leaf Extract – provides antioxidant and astringent properties.

Vitamin E – provides moisturizing properties.

Vitamin A – provides antioxidant and moisturizing capabilities and helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Panthenol – a hydrating agent that improves skin’s natural moisture balance.

Silica – porous mineral absorbs oils, visibly smoothes skin.

 

HOW TO USE

Laura’s Technique:

Shake well before using and apply to face with Laura’s Foundation Sponge or fingertips. For best results, use with a Foundation Primer.

SKUS: 12 (Porcelain Ivory, Blush Ivory, Warm Ivory, Sunny Beige, Vanilla Beige, Golden Beige, Shell Beige, Tawny Beige, Honey Beige, Suntan Beige, Toffee Bronze, Rich Sienna)

STATUS: Permanent (all shades)

SRP: $42.00

SIZE: 1 oz./29 ml

*The verdict is in. Laura Mercier’s new Oil Free Supreme Foundation has earned five out of five stars for a flawless, shine-free face. Fabulous!
Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Supreme Foundation can be pre-ordered from Laura Mercier’s website atlauramercier.com.

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*Bay Area Fashionista received a complimentary sample for consideration. We were not required to write a review of this product due to receipt of a product sample. Receipt of this sample did not influence our opinion. For more information, please read our disclaimer.


Salon Grafix Healthy Hair Nutrition Conditioning Cleanser review: the “anti-shampoo” revealed

Salon Grafix is a new hair cleansing brand which uses natural ingredients that do not strip hair of its natural oils and shine. This affordable hair care line claims to be the “anti-shampoo,” so of course, I was intrigued  As a swimmer, and person who loves to be outdoors, I not only battle with chlorinated hair, I battle with dry and sun-damaged hair; especially in the warm summer months. The thought of a hair cleanser which could restore my hair’s natural health and shine sounded like the ultimate beauty product!

Salon Grafix was generous enough to send me a sample of their “Healthy Hair Nutrition Conditioning Cleanser,” which sounded perfect for my outdoor hair woes. The cleanser is meant to replace all of the hair care bottles which many of us store in our bathroom showers; the shampoo, the conditioner and the weekly deep-cleaning shampoo. As a busy working Mother of three, the thought of cutting down my hair care time sounded like a godsend!

The first time I tried Salon Grafix “Healthy Hair Nutrition Conditioning Cleanser” I followed the instructions on the back of the bottle for long hair. Thankfully the bottle warns consumers that Salon Grafix’s Conditioning Cleanser does not lather like ordinary shampoos. If the warning was not there, I would have been very confused! I worked the hair cleanser into my hair and let it sit for a few minutes, per the instructions on the bottle. I could already tell in the shower that my hair felt better; after just one use!

I blew my hair dry and purposely did not use any styling products in order to see if my hair was dry or nicely conditioned. Sure enough, my hair felt more conditioned than it had felt in years! The ultimate test was to see if this clean and healthy look remained for the entire day; or would I look like a grease monster by 3pm.

As the day wore on, I continued to run my hands through my hair and check myself in the mirror. No greasy head! In fact, when I woke up the next morning, my hair was still clean and fresh! It seemed too good to be true, so I continued to use the product for two weeks in order to see if there would be any sort of build-up or if my hair would adjust and return to its’ dry state.

After two weeks, I am excited to announce that my hair looks healthy, clean and shiny! Yay! I no longer have to do a weekly deep cleanse in order to strip the chlorine from my hair, plus my hair has a new and healthy shine which the sun normally dulls. In fact, I have noticed my hair is easier to comb when it is wet. I am hooked! I no longer shampoo and condition, I now cleanse J

The verdict is in! Salon Grafix Conditioning “Healthy Hair Nutrition Conditioning Cleanser” earned a perfect five out of five stars.

Salon Grafix Condition Hair Cleanser is priced at $8.49 and can be found at CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and other select retailers. Please visit salongrafix.com

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*I received a product sample of Salon Grafix Conditioning Hair Cleanser in citrus crème for consideration. Receipt of this product did not influence my review or opinion. I am under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative. For more information, please read our disclaimer.