Wilderness Poets Pure Vanilla Powder

Wilderness Poets Pure Vanilla Powder makes really good and authentic tasting vanilla powder which I have used for baking and making desserts, milk shakes and custards. I also add it to whipped cream. You can add it to raw food too if superfoods is your thing. It is just wildcrafted pulverized vanilla beans mad from sun dried vanilla pods. It contains no added sugar or alcohol, so you can better monitor the amount of sugar you use.

The vanilla flavor is really intense and instead of vanilla sugar or essence/extract you can replace them  in recipes with a small amount of this powder, like a third of a tea spoon.

 I really love the product and the tiny glass jar lasts a long time although I am an avid baker. The lid is a bit tight, but I guess it keeps the flavor better. I even prefer it over real vanilla pods because apart from the fact that they are too expensive for such a heavy user (basically you can put vanilla in any bake), they are messy and difficult to use. The seeds clump and get stuck in to your hands etc. But this powder form works like a charm.

RealTechniques by Samantha Chapman Your Base/Flawless Core Collection

Many makeup products like foundation, blush, powder and eye shadow require good brushes in order to get a smooth and even finish. RealTechniques by Samantha Chapman Base/Flawless Core Collection is a good starting set if you don't know what brushes you need and where to get started.
It includes four brushes:

• a contour brush for cheekbones when using a bronzer or powder
• buffing brush for everything: spreading liquid foundation or to apply blush on the apples of your cheeks etc.
• pointed foundation brush for foundation and 
• detailer brush for eye shadow. 

The names are printed on the brushes so you'll know what to use them for and what brush does what.

I love the brushes because they are of good quality. The bristles are soft, they don't shed and they stay in their shape. They are easy to wash with mild Marseille soap and luke-warm water and letting them air dry. After that they are as good as new.

The brushes come in a nice black case so you can easily restore them and take them with you.

Blistex Medical Lip Ointment

Especially at winter times as the air gets drier and colder, dry and chapped lips can become a problem. I for one has suffered for dry lips and repeated cold sores for some time before I decided to find a good cure. Something that would heal my lips and make them soft. Blistex Medical Lip Ointment brought instant results for me and my lips. It has many effective ingredients:

• To soften & moisturize: beeswax, dimethicone, glycerin & lanolin
• To heal the inflammation and ease skin irritation: Allantoin, Camphor
• To cool:Camphor & Menthol
• To relieve pain: Phenol

In a less than a week my lips appear smooth and moist again and chapping has stopped! I am really happy with the product. I applied it only once a day it clean fingers but it was enough. It is a nice little tube with some french pharmacy cool vibe to it. The cream is not too greasy, it tingles first a bit but it goes over soon. Not messy at all. The smell is a bit unpleasant, like some medicine but it creates an image of an effective product.

Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash

I have been looking for a good facial wash for oily/combination skin. Basic soaps, no matter how well scented and moisturizing don't seem to cut it because I want something more effective than that. I have found Earth Science's Clarifying facial wash very good. It does what it promises, that is it clarifies the skin and removes dirt and shine. So it gives a clear complexion.

 Often these kinds of products can dry out the skin but this facial wash leaves the skin soft although I am prone to sensitive, dry skin. What I love about Earth Science's clarifying facial wash is that it gives a thoroughly cleaned feel to my face and I can avoid break-outs. It is still gentle to the skin.

As it is sold at iherb, the product is includes cucumber, sea kelp, birch bark and lavender extract. It comes perfume-free and with scent. The wash makes a mild lather, especially if you don't use very warm water. The bottle is a handy pump so it is easy to get the right amount. A little pea size amount goes a long way. Don't be put off by the sodium lauryl sulfoacetate in the ingredients list. It is actually a safer, milder, non-skin irritating ingredient used to replace sodium lauryl sulfate. 
Find out more here

Jason Natural Nail Saver

Tea tree oil seems to be trending everywhere in the beauty world. And indeed, it has some fine qualities. First of all it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Therefore it is often used for products for nails, acne skin or cuts.

Jason Purifying Tea Tree Nail Saver promises to re-hydrate and revitalize dry nails and cuticles. I have been using it for my toe nails to get them more healthy-looking, and it seems to work. The nail grows better when the cuticle is moisturized and the nails have begun to get thinner and more natural-colored. The smell of tea tree oil is quite strong but fresh and it evaporates quickly. The nail saver is not too oily or messy and it is easily applied like nail polish with a brush. The bottle (15ml/0.5 fl.oz.) lasts a really long time. 

Ghirardelli Premium Baking Cocoa

I bake a lot and appreciate a distinct and deep chocolate flavor. I think compared to Nestle Toll House Cocoa (which I have reviewed earlier) this one is one notch more premium indeed. It is a non-alkalized cocoa, meaning that the acidity is not chemically reduced as in Dutch-processed ones. It is very dark, it doesn't clump very badly and it gives  a rich, an almost bitter taste of chocolate to my cakes and pies. What's good too is the fact that it is unsweetened so I can better control the amount of sugar I use. Just 100% pure cocoa.
Perfect!
The new soft, resealable package is easier to fit in the shelf than the old jar.
See more here

Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo for damaged hair

Giovanni shampoo is so good! Other people seem to have noticed Smooth As Silk's fine qualities too, as it  is constantly out of stock. As said in the title, this is a deep moisture shampoo for damaged- be it raspy or frizzy, dry or chemically -treated, basically worn-out-hair in need of some moisturizing, healing boost. The shampoo transforms the damaged hair into silky and soft again. It smooths the dry hair and gives back some healthy shine to locks.

I have chemically treated, bleached hair and the ends tend to get dry and raspy, but using this shampoo has helped me to moisturize them and get a healthier looking hair in-between salon visits. The formula is rather creamy and pearl-color and it lathers well in the shower. The scent has a lovely hint of Valencia's ripe oranges in it. It is really soft and feels gentle. There are no parabens, lauryl or laureth sulfate (an inexpensive but effective cleanser which is found to cause skin and eye irritation) or dyes in the product.

For even better results I use it in combination with the same brand's Smooth As Silk Xtreme Protein Hair Infusion hair treatment.

Overall, the shampoo seems rather safe only concern being the phenoxyethanol which was the ninth-most-prevalent allergen in patch tests (5.8%) but the percentage seems rather low. Here are the ingredients with some notes about their use and safety:

Aqua (purified water), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (safe hair conditioning agent), decyl glucoside(safe hair-conditioning agent), cocamidopropyl betaine (cleansing agent, foam booster), sodium cocoamphoacetate ( cleansing and conditioning agent, foam booster, from coconut), lauryl glucoside (repairs damaged hair), sodium cocoyl glutamate (safe, hair conditioning agent), sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate (mild cleanser), pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, *chamomilla recutita (matricaria) leaf extract, *citrus aurantium dulcis (valencia orange) extract, *citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract, *cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) extract, *echinacea purpurea extract, *ginkgo biloba extract, *glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *macrocystis pyrifera (sea kelp) extract, *mangifera indica (mango) extract, *salix alba (willow bark) extract, xanthan gum, glycol distearate (gives the pearly appearence), panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) (gives shine & moisturizes), citric acid, polysorbate 20 (emulsifier), potassium sorbate (a preservative to prevent microorganisms, instead of parabens), phenoxyethanol (preservative, might cause allergy), natural fragrance

*USDA Certified Organic

100% vegetarian ingredients.

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Lundberg Black Japonica Rice (454g/16 oz.)

Black rice is a real superfood. It is better than brown rice because it has higher amounts of vitamin E, which strengthens the immune system and protects cells from free radicals.The black color is an indicator of the antioxidants, just as it is with acai-berries and blueberries.  It beats though blueberries with its higher anthocyanin antioxidants.Anthocyanin antioxidants have been found to lower the risk of heart attack. It prevents the buildup of plaques in the arteries which is the most common reason for heart attacks. Anthocyanins also control cholesterol levels better than other food supplement available today. (http://www.naturalnews.com/)

The taste is quite dark, rich and nutty with a floral end-note. It is whole-grain so there's something to chew too. The rice is high in nutrients and and a good source of fiber (3 grams per serving). Moreover, it is gluten-free so it is suitable for those with celiac disease. Lundberg is a family owned farm which aims for farming in an environmentally sustainable way. The choose farming methods which conserve water, build soil integrity and support the natural ecosystem. Lundberg Family Farms participates in the US. non-profit's Non-GMO project and follow its practices for GMO avoidance. The non-GMO project seal means that the product is tested annually for GMO (http://www.nongmoproject.org/.)

To cook the rice bring 2 cups of water and 1 cup of rice to boil, put a tight-lid on, reduce the heat to low simmer and let cook for a good 40-60 minutes. Check towards the end of the cooking time if the rice needs more cooking or not. Remove form heat with lid on and let steam for 10 minutes. Then fluff with fork.

To prepare in a rice cooker, use same water-rice ratio. If rice is crunchy at the end of cooking time, it may be necessary to add 1-2 tbsp liquid and cook longer.

I cooked the rice on the stove in a saucepan without a lid for an hour in salted water and stirred it with a spoon from time to time. It sticks quite hard on the saucepan after cooking. The taste is good and has more complex and richer flavor than brown rice. The color of the cooked rice is between purple and black, so it will definitely make a dramatic looking dish for guests.

Black rice is quite versatile ingredient. It can be used for a starter as in salads, as a main course like in seafood dishes or as a dessert like in puddings. I have used it to make Nigella Lawson's Squid and prawns with chili and marjoram (minus the squid) dish as featured in Nigellissima. I couldn't find Italian black rice (riso venere) so I substituted it with its close relative for good results. 

The package is really handy, you can re-close the bag with a wide zip. It is quite pretty too and livens up the shelf with its yellow color.

Look here for more:

Ingredients: Eco-farmed whole grain black Japonica Rice

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 cup (dry) (45 g)
Servings Per Container: 10
	Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	150
Calories from Fat	15
Total Fat	1.5 g	2%
Saturated Fat	0 g	0%
Trans Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Sodium	0 mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate	33 g	11%
Dietary Fiber	3 g	12%
Sugars	0 g
Protein	4 g
Vitamin A		0%
Vitamin C		0%
Calcium		0%
Iron		4%

Kiss My Face Sunscreen SPF 30

This is a sunscreen for body and face. It absorbs well and doesn't leave an oily foil to the skin. It even moisturizes the skin with hydresia. It is water resistant for 40 minutes. The lotion is white and has no fragrance. It is made with oat protein and betaglucans so it should prevent signs of aging. It includes no parabens or nanoparticles.
A short guide to sunscreens here too. There are two kinds of different rays: UVB rays cause the burnt skin and UVA rays are related to skin cancer, aging and tanning. A good sunscreen has an SPF above 15 and contains ingredients that protect from both UVA and UVB rays (http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/understanding-uva-and-uvb)so Kiss My Face fills this criteria very well.

The active ingredients are:
 octinoxate 7.5% which protects from UVB rays.
 octisalate 4.5 % which screens UVB rays and  has water-resistant properties
 zinc oxide 3% which filter UVB and UVA rays. 

These are all accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Inactive ingredients include: Aqua, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, polysorbate-20, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, acrylates copolymer, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, xanthan gum, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oleosomes, avena sativa (oat) protein, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, carota sativa (carrot) extract, avena sativa (oat) betaglucan, glycrrhiza glabra (licorice) extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) extract, caprylic/capric triglyceride, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.

Remember to apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen 30 minutes before going out to the sun. Then reapply sunscreen every two hours about 2-3 tablespoons and after swimming or sweating or drying with a towel. Rinse off with water.

The shape of the bottle is really handy and it doesn't mess because the cap stays put. There has been no animal testing and even the tube is made with 35% of consumer recycled materials. It lasts quite long with 118 ml or 4 ounces. but it depends if you put it on the entire body or just on arms and neck.

I am really happy with the product.
Look here for more information

The Kiss My Face's Face Factor with SPF 30 is really good too. It doubles as a moisturizer and it is easy to spread. The tube is small enough so yu can throw it in your handbag and the cap is so tight that it won't mess the bag.

realTechniques by Samantha Chapman, retractable kabuki brush

Iherb is great for beauty products, too. I ordered this well traveling Kabuki brush from realTechniques by Samantha Chapman. The brush is soft and big and perfect for getting an even make up base. It also works well with bronzers, blushes and powders. The travel-size means that it is:
1) a bit shorter, but you can still get a good grip,
2) it has a cap, so it won't mess your bag and
3) you can twist the brush down like a lipstick, so it fits to an even smaller space.
It is basically a genius product with many benefits. Plus, it comes in nice and bright fuchsia color.

realTechniques by Samantha Chapman, retractable kabuki brush

Madhava organic coconut sugar

Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut palm tree's flower buds. The sap is then heated to evaporate the moisture. Palm sugar is a different thing. It is made of sap from Palmyra palm or date palms. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index (36) than white sugar (60) or brown sugar (65). It contains lots of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. In addition to this it contains vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6. Compared to brown sugar, coconut sugar has 36 times the iron, four times the magnesium, and over 10 times the amount of zinc.
The coconut sap which coconut sugar is made of contains 16 amino acids, the highest of which being glutamine. Glutamine is important for the health of intestinal tract, acid-balance and building body mass.

Madhava coconut sugar is dark brown and very finely ground but moist, almost sand-like.It doesn't taste like coconut flakes or milk. Instead the flavor reminds me of muscovado sugar or brown sugar in its deep sweet, earthy caramel taste. It can be used as 1:1 substitute for ordinary sugar in beverages or baking. I have used it mainly to replace brown or muscovado sugar or black treacle or dark syrup. Madhava coconut sugar's notes marry well with recipes including other dark, rich  flavors like  dark chocolate or baking cocoa, like in brownies or devil's food cake for example. The container bag has a zip closure, so the sugar won't mess the kitchen and the design is pretty cool and unexpected of a kitchen staple.

Madhava Organic coconut sugar