Category — Reviews

This is the long-awaited part two of my organic eye-cream experiment. (Here is part one where I featured Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Gel) What can I say? I think I’m in love… Yes, I’m positively developing a love affair with Dr. Hauschka products. And this eye cream is so perfect for my eyes, that I’m struggling with words that would adequately convey the depth of my appreciation for finally finding a cream that does precisely what it promises, without any side effects.

I’m practically hyperventilating from the excitement.

Ok, catch my breath. Let’s do a review.

Product name:
Daily Revitalizing Eye Cream by Dr. Hauschka

What and who is it for:
“A light, hydrating daily treatment. Firms and smoothes the eye area to minimize fine lines.” It really is for everyone, and especially so for those with sensitive skin.

About the brand:
Given the popularity of my “brand overview” articles (eg: Jurlique, Weleda) I am intending to write an extensive Dr. Haushka brand overview ASAP. For now, please see the “about the brand” section of my review of Dr. Hauschka “Quince Day Cream”. But, in a nutshell, this is a company heavily influenced by anthroposophical ideas of Rudolf Steiner, and therefore it uses pure organic and biodynamic ingredients, as well as does its part in being eco-consious and globally friendly. The company manufactures a very comprehensive cosmetics line that includes both organic skin care and makeup products.

Price:
Around $50 for the tube. But it is worth every penny and you need so little per use that it will last for ages!

Certifications:
100% Certified Natural by the BDIH.

Packaging:
A recyclable aluminum tube. The tube is coated with a food-grade resin, so aluminum does not come in contact with the product.

Reading the ingredients:

These ingredients read like “who is who” in the nature’s apothecary. Avocado for vitamins (especially Vitamin E – best for anti-aging) and fatty acids, rose flower water to soothe and treat most sensitive of skins, pineapple for lighting, hydrating and smoothing… The list goes on. It really does read like food for skin!

Water/Aqua, Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil, Rose (Rosa Damascena) Distillate, Glycerin, Alcohol, Pineapple (Ananas Sativus) Extract, Beeswax/Cera Alba, Althaea Officinalis (Marsh Mallow) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea) Oil, Hectorite, Sweet Almond (Prunus Dulcis) Oil, Rose (Rosa Gallica) Petal Extract, Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) Kernel Oil, Lecithin, Jojoba (Buxus Chinensis) Oil, Mango (Mangifera Indica) Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Nut Oil, Shea (Butyrospermum Parkii) Butter, Seabuckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides) Oil, Carrageenan (Chondrus Crispus), Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Geraniol*

Other claims:
‘With Dr.Hauschka Daily Revitalizing Eye Cream the skin around the eyes feels relaxed and nurtured, and premature wrinkles are prevented. It is a refreshing relief for the tired and overworked eye contour area.”

Scent:
Very subtle and hardly detectable. Just as I like it

Texture:
Light and creamy.

What does it actually do:
It is extremely light and fast absorbing. Not even for a second did my eyes have the usual “bloated” feeling other creams cause. I could blink, stare and wink with no problems. Nor did they look shiny as if I painted glasses on my face (an occurrence not so unique with eye creams I’ve used in the past). And it wasn’t greasy either, so it is make-up ready. I don’t have too many lines under my eyes – thankfully I’m still in the “prevention” mode , but my companion (who, as I mentioned at the beginning of this experiment, is in her very young early fifties) is raving about the smoothing action… In fact, when I asked her to tell me what she thought about this cream (compared to Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Gel) which she liked a lot, she had just one word: “Better!” Now, that’s saying something, given all the praise that Jurlique received from her. I tried to get her to elaborate, but it was all “good” and “better” and “nice” and “gentle” and “working”… Hardly cohesive (positive emotion overwelmed her vocabularly too), but the gist was obvious.

Cons: Given my glowing review I feel like I need to provide a con, just so I don’t seem too biased. And I’m really trying to find one. Still trying… Really trying… Perhaps I could say the price, for as I mentioned above it can come to $50. But is that really a con? I mean, that cream lasts a very long time, and the price is quite normal as far as eye creams go. And you are getting real quality here… For your eyes. With no preservatives. Or colours. Or other suspicious little chemicals that other companies like to add just so my eyes can experience the different shades of scarlet…

I’m just trying to be objective here…

And, by the way, my companion is still using the sample pack. It’s that tiny little-paper-square thing. She’s stretched it for two weeks already… A little goes a long way. So yah, it might be slightly pricier than some other choices you’ve seen, but calculate it over its useful life and you are talking pennies a day…

So no… No cons.

Verdict:
My thesaurus is not providing me with enough positive words to describe how happy I am with this eye cream. Cause I am really happy with it. And I’m seriously considering writing a “thank you” letter to Dr. Hauschka.

And as to the comparison with Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Gel? Dr. Hauschka is the clear winner. At least in my view

A great discovery, a great discovery! Finally! An organic, USDA certified, non-petroleum lip balm! Am I in heaven or am I in heaven? And no, you don’t have to shell out a fortune either…

Say “Yeah!” to “The Merry Hempsters Organic Lip Balm”!

Yeah!

Ok, here is my mini review:

This comes in a tiny tube, just like chapstick. Net weight 4g. I paid $3.99 Canadian, and it is worth every penny. I am putting this on my chapped lips, and I don’t have to constantly worry as to what happens when it ends up on my food. It’s a food grade item. Just look at the ingredients: Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Essential Oil of Orange, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E.

This balm is long lasting. It comes in a few flavors: peppermint, spearmint, lemon-lime, orange, vanilla, cinnamon… I went for the orange one, cause I was in a citrussy mood :-). The smell on my lips strongly reminded me of orange popsicles – it was both orangey and fresh.

The Merry Hempsters also have a vegan version, though that one is not certified organic, but most of the ingredients look good anyways. And all the products use certified organic hemp oil as base.

There was also another lip-balm option (at the store, where I was shopping…): “Dr. Bronner’s and Sun Dog’s Magic Organic Lip Balm”.

It’s also certified organic by the USDA. I saw these in two flavours: “naked” and “peppermint”. There are more flavours available from the manufacturer, so it’s a matter of what your health store carries. I haven’t tried it yet, cause I just couldn’t visualize what “naked” would taste like. If anyone has experience in that matter, give me heads up ;-).

I have also learned that Badger has a line of lip balm that is now USDA certified organic. It’s called simply “Badger Certified Organic Lip Balm”.

These lip balms contain about 99% organic ingredients, and come in a range of flavours such as Vanilla Madagascar, Pink Grapefruit, Lavender & Orange, Tangerine Breeze, Ginger & Lemon and Highland Mint. They also have an unscented version.

Badger’s other lip balm line is the Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm line, which contains organic cocoa butter (which makes it sound so yummy, I can’t wait to try it out). According to Badger it contains over 70% organic ingredients, and they are hoping to have it USDA certified 95% organic by the end of 2008. That line has flavours like Cool Mint, Sweet Orange, Lime Rocket, Coffee Roast and Creamy Cocoa. Kudos to Badger for their organic efforts.

I think these are some pretty good options. Simple, over the counter, and not expensive. And certified organic (or almost there).

I definitely believe that if there was just one spot on your face where you went organic, it should be your mouth. That stuff touches your food. You smack it of your lips. You leave it on your partner’s mouth…

So be good. Buy organic. You have choices now. Lip-smackingly good ones…

So this is the first of the promised reviews: Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Gel. I gave it a fair try. Three days. My companion gave it almost a whole week. Thus you’ll benefit from two unique experiences.

My companion and I come with different skin care needs. I am just about to step into my thirties. She’s crossed the fifty barrier. I’m looking for prevention and moisturizing. She’s looking for maintenance and wrinkle smoothing. We both have dry skin, but mine is way more sensitive. (In fact, if you know any one with more sensitive skin then mine, I’d like to meet them. That’s why I’m so obsessed with organic skin care and organic makeup — I figure my chances of having reactions are minimized.)

But let’s get to the point. Here is the review:

Product name:
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Gel (formerly known simply as Eye Gel)

What and who is it for:
“Rebalance Oiliness, Dryness & Maintain Balance”. To be applied on the eye area. Day or night.

About the brand:
I already wrote a very extensive overview of Jurlique brand. Jurlique uses biodinamic and organic ingredients, which is why they are in the organic skin care category. Jurlique is a well respected brand. Jurlique is a premium priced brand. More details are in the previous post.

Price:
It is currently at $121 US at amazon.com and most online stores I searched for 30ml bottle. (But judging by how little you need per use — see below — this bottle will last for ages.)

Packaging:
It’s a glass pump bottle.

Reading the ingredients:
The new packaging (since the name change) have shown a few new ingredients such as PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride and various PEGs (PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate, PEG-20 Stearate & Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate). According to Jurlique, the ingredients have not actually changed from the past, but the “global norms” of listing ingredients have required them to lable this way now. Jurlique maintains that pegs are safe, but they are “striving to develop all new products to be free of PEGs”. I hope they strive faster…

Other claims (from the package):
“A potent botanical concentrate, rich in the living energy of arnica and eyebright which help to firm, brighten and renew the delicate eye area vitality”.
“Our herbs and flowers are gently tended and harvested by hand on our certified organic and biodynamic farms.”

Scent:
The scent is pleasant, and not all too strong. I found it reminiscent of field flowers.

Texture:
A very watery gel.

Our opinions/experiences with this eye gel:
My companions is very pleased with the product. She finds that the gel feels really “fresh” and “cool”. It absorbs really fast, so she is able to apply it as she is getting ready to go to work, and put on makeup right after. The makeup does not smudge. She finds the gel comfortable – her eyes are not watering and not swelling. The product is very economical – just a tiny bit is enough. In fact, she has already managed to stretch the trial pack to almost a week. Now, it must be added that she works in a very hot environment, therefore her concern was that a heavy cream would leak. This is not the case with this product. She is very satisfied that despite the heat, nothing is watering. And she sais that the wrinkles are smoothing out. Basically, I think she’s got sold on Jurlique. When I asked her what I should write, she was very adamant that I write something positive. And she is pretty picky, so that’s saying something.

My experience has been a little less euphoric. I agree that it feels “fresh” and “cool” and absorbs really fast. I also agree that it is very economical – I needed the amount equivalent to a nail-tip. But the first time I applied it, my eyes got just a bit irritated towards the end of the day. I couldn’t figure out if it was due to seasonal allergies, or the cream. So I gave it two more chances. The second time my eyelids didn’t get irritated, but neither did they get any “smoother”. The third time I used it I felt ok at the beginning, but then there was some kind of tightness of the lids. The way my skin feels after a shower. So my conclusion is that it does nothing to me at best, and is somehow tightening/drying to my eyes otherwise. I will not be investing in it, cause I don’t see the point. But, as I’ve said before – I am an extremely sensitive case.

Verdict:
If your skin is not overly sensitive, and you are looking for a light eye care solution for a hot summer day – this product is likely for you. Especially if you intend to put makeup on right after application. Of course, provided you can afford it. But if you have very sensitive eyes, try a sample first. No point in taking such an expensive risk. I believe that most stores that carry Jurlique have little sample packages. Whole Foods definitely does. So try it out, and then decide for yourself.