Lotions and Oils for Your Health

I received the following products in exchange for a review on my blog. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Just as your skin absorbs lotions and oils, it also absorbs nutrients. I never really thought about this until I started using lotions that contain vitamin supplements in them, like the Vita Sciences vitamin D3 cream that I recently reviewed. As I’ve use new skincare products, I’ve looked into the health benefits of each. The following are products that I’ve recently tried:

• Vita Sciences Maxabsorb Melatonin Sleep Cream: Your brain produces melatonin naturally to help you sleep. Some people use it, according to MedlinePlus, to help them fall asleep, to treat headaches or to treat tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Vita Sciences’ melatonin cream delivers 3 milligrams of melatonin with each pump.
  
  I generally take up to 2.5 milligrams of melatonin when I can’t sleep. When I have insomnia, I’ll take up to 5 milligrams. I found that one pump of the melatonin cream didn’t really make me feel sleep. More relaxed, yes, but sleepy, no. Two pumps, however, knocks me out. I usually use one pump and then wait 1 to 2 hours before using the cream for the second time. This makes me wonder if my body absorbs melatonin tablets better than the cream. If you’re new to melatonin, you may benefit from the cream.
  
  
• VitaSciences Maxabsorb Vitamin B 12 Cream: Other Vita Science creams that I’ve used are white and scent-free. This B12 cream is pepto-pink and smells like peppermint. Actually, to me, it smells like peppermint bubblegum at first, but then fades into a pennyroyal or catnip scent. Either way, I like it.
  
  One pump of this lotion delivers 320 micrograms of methylcovalamin (vitamin B12), 120 micrograms of niacinamide (vitamin B3) and 10 micrograms of folic acid. The MedlinePlus states that vitamin B12 is vital for DNA synthesis and cell health. The best sources of it come from animal sources, such as meat, eggs and dairy products. People who are older or have digestive disorders may not absorb enough B12 in their foods.
  
  A report on the Neuropsychopharmacology website states that vitamin B12 affects melatonin production in the brain, helping you feel more alert and awake. Because of this, I use B12 in the morning. My skin quickly absorbs the lotion and it doesn’t feel greasy.
  
  Vitamin B3, according to MedlinePlus, is good for controlling high cholesterol and helping those with circulation problems, migraines, diabetes, brain health and those who feel stressed. The site points out only niacin, not niacinamide, helps reduce cholesterol. I’ve noticed that since I started using the B12 cream, I have been in a better mood.
  
  
• La Beauté Pure Vitamin C Eye Gel: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps your skin, connective tissues and bones. It also promotes healing. The National Institutes of Health states that vitamin C helps the body produce collagen. This eye cream is 99 percent natural and 72 organic. It contains 5 percent vitamin C, as well as aloe vera, jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid. When you use it regularly, it helps reduce puffiness and dark circles.
  
  The gel smells and feels like another eye gel that I tried in the past. It has a light citrus scent and provides soothing, light moisture. I use the gel during the day and a more moisturizing product at night.
  
  
• Skleer Skin Conditioning Gel: Skleer is a product that comes out of South Africa. It uses eucalyptus, caraway, tea tree, cinnamon and cardamom oils to heal, nourish and correct your skin. You can use it on your face and body to treat acne, dermatitis, dry skin, insect bites, minor burns, hives, sunburns, sunspots and rashes.
  
  I was hesitant to use Skleer on my face because of all the potent essential oils in it, even though the manufacturer states that it’s ideal for delicate skin. I’ve used eucalyptus oil for ear infections, for example, and it feels as if some is sticking a hot dagger in it. I’m happy to report that I did not experience any skin irritation when I used Skleer. I tried it as a facial cream a few times, but found that it didn’t deliver enough moisture for my needs.  It also felt too sticky for my liking. I do like to use it every day, however, for dry patches of skin.

• Nura Natural Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil: Rosehip seed oil is one of my favorite facial moisturizers to use. Oil on my face? Yes! It only takes a few drops to moisturize your whole face and it’s light on the skin.
  
  Rosehip seed oil naturally contains antioxidants (e.g., lycopene), vitamins (e.g., vitamin C) and essential fatty acids. It helps heal your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. According to the Huffington Post, ancient civilizations used rosehip seed oil for its healing properties. You can also use it on dry scalp to relieve itchiness.
  
  Nura Natural’s oil comes in a dark bottle with nice a nice floral label. Like other quality rosehip seed oils, the oil is dark yellow and does not smell like roses. It works exactly as I expect it to work. I recommend rosehip seed oil to everyone.

What types of healing lotions or moisturizers do you like to use?

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review on my blog. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on an Amazon.com link and make a purchase.  

Moisturize Dry Skin When the Weather is Cold

The following is an advertorial. I received the products mentioned in exchange for an honest review on my blog. This post contains affiliate links.

I have no idea what the future has in store for me. But, when the weather starts to get chilly, I know one thing for sure: cold weather = dry skin. For years, I used to just slather moisturizer all over my face and hands without a second thought. This year, I'm more thoughtful about my approach to keep my complexion clear and my skin hydrated and glowing.

How to Moisturize Dry Skin

1. Drink

Moisturized skin starts from the inside of your body. Drink at least 8 cups of water a day to keep your body and skin -- the body's largest organ -- hydrated. While this step may seem way too simplistic, it's one of the most vital.

2. Prep

Before moisturizing your skin, you must prepare it by getting rid of excess dirt, oil and bacteria. Vivant Skin Care's Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Wash. The wash helps rejuvenate the skin, as well as treat acne, hyper-pigmentation (discoloration). In addition to using it on your face, you can use the wash on your body and hair.  

Because I have sensitive skin, I like that the wash contains acids derived from natural sources (i.e., almonds, grape seed, kiwi fruit and green tea) instead of harsh benzoyl peroxide. The product's scent reminds me of a gentle shampoo and it has a great lather. I use the wash day and night and recommend it if you want to prevent acne or minimize your pores.

Another product I use is InstaNatural's Deep Cleansing Facial Oil. You may think, "Wash your face with oil?! What the..." But, yes, you can wash your face with oil. This deep cleansing oil is a dry oil, so it cleans and moisturizes at the same time.

This oil is my go-to eye makeup remover. I have some mascara that's impossible to remove with regular eye makeup removers, but the Deep Cleansing Facial Oil does the trick. It completely dissolves the mascara, something that other oils I tried couldn't do. It also doesn't dry out the skin around your eyes when you use it.

Another thing that I like about the cleansing oil is its floral smell. It reminds me of Rodin's Olio Lusso, a similar facial oil that my skin likes, but is out of my price range. When I use InstaNatural's oil, I experience the same benefits as the luxury product, but at a fraction of the price.

3. Mask

Every once in a while, I like to use a facial mask to help remove dead skin cells and impurities from my skin. Azara Organics' Seaweed Facial Mask and Body Wrap does just that without drying out my skin. Harvested from the Atlantic Ocean and tested for quality, the seaweed mask naturally helps reduce inflammation and remove toxins.

The smell of the seaweed powder reminds of an aquarium. It doesn't smell fishy; it smells like the beach. I had a bit of trouble getting the powder-to-water ratio just right at first. After I figured it out, I left the mask on for about 15 minutes. When I washed it off, my skin felt soft and smooth. If you like natural masks, this is a good one.

4. Tone

When you wash your face with warm water, the pores on your face naturally open up more. A toner helps minimize your pores and clear out excess dirt and bacteria. I also like to use it when the skin on my face feels gross.

InstaNatural offers a Vitamin C Facial Toner that you can spray directly onto your face or onto a cotton ball (to wipe on your face). The toner has a nice citrus smell, moisturizes your skin and prepares it to absorb serums and moisturizers.

I thought the Vitamin C toner was the best I had ever used until InstaNatural sent me a toner made from Moroccan Rose Water. I love its smell! I can't decide which toner I like better, but I do wish the rose water toner had a spray pump on the bottle.

5. Nourish

Before I moisturize my skin, I apply serums that  help nourish it. Two that I recently used are hyaluronic acid serums with vitamin C and green tea from Morea Naturals and Body Merry. While both serums performed equally well, the serum by Morea Naturals seemed a bit silkier. It also comes in a pump bottle instead of a bottle with a pipette.

Body Merry also makes a Pro-A Serum that you can use in combination with its hyaluronic acid serum. Derived from vitamin A, the retinol serum helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. What I like best about it, though, is that it helps keep my skin clear.

Foxbrim sells a Complete Anti-Aging Moisturizer with vitamin A (retinol) and antioxidants. I'm all for products with retinol (I can't get enough). I feel, however, that this product doesn't deliver enough moisture to my skin, so I use it as a serum. The product feels nice on my face and my skin absorbs it quickly. 

InstaNatural sells the Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum, which contains retinol, vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin C. Who knew that you could absorb so many vitamins through the skin? It also contain salicylic acid, which helps keep your complexion clear. This product blends my favorite skin-nourishing ingredients, eliminating the need to have a bunch of little bottles.

InstaNatural also let me try its Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) Anti-Aging & Skin-Lightening Serum. The serum is great for all skin types and gives your skin a boost of moisture before you apply a facial moisturizer. The nice thing about this product is that you only need a tiny squirt of it for your entire face, and the anti-aging properties also help you maintain a clear complexion.

6. Moisturize

My skin cries out for moisture after I wash it. Adovia has a great line of skin and hair care products, including its Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Cream. This product is a rich moisturizer that has ingredients like Dead Sea salt, vitamin C, collagen and lactic acid. While I like how the cream feels, its scent is a little too strong; it reminds me of soap. The smell, however, isn't so bad that I won't use the product.

Foxbrim has a nice Vitamin C Lotion that complements its anti-aging moisturizer. The product contains ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, green tea and MSM. I like to use this lotion when I need a light moisturizer, like on warmer days, or if I plan to use supplemental moisturizing products.

Right now my favorite moisturizer to use is the Dr. Song Organic Rosehip Oil. I use it day and night and on my face, hands and feet. Rosehip seed oil is a dry oil, so it doesn't clog your pores or leave your skin feeling greasy. One aspect that I like is that you only need two or three drops of oil for your entire face, so the bottle will last you a long time.

7. Treat

Despite all the moisturizer and serums that I use, I sometimes need some extra oomph in areas where my skin is particularly sensitive or delicate, like around my eyes. Yalmeh offers the Super Youth Eye Cream and Glory Eye Bright Gel. Both product combat dark under-eye circles, puffiness and fine lines using natural ingredients, such as aloe vera.

The eye cream is much richer than the gel. I think I prefer it over the gel, but I like the gel's packaging better, as it comes in a tube. The gel smells nice and works as a light moisturizer. One thing I noticed, however, is that the gel smells just like Foxbrim's eye gel, which I reviewed several months ago.   


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on an Amazon.com link and make a purchase.