Feelgood Style

I think I am inadvertently on the quest for the perfect soap because lately that’s what I have really been sampling and testing.

This round of sampling has me trying out Pomega5 Oil of Life Cleansing Bar which has changed names since I first receive the product for review and is now called the Lemongrass Clarifying Cleansing Bar.

Lemongrass makes more sense because it smells like lemon not pomegranate.

So far I like the scent and the way it foams. Read the rest of this entry »

I had the chance to sample Dr. Dobbs‘ Tomato Complexion Soap and I have to admit I was skeptical. I thought- Tomatoes? In soap? And this is supposed to do wonders for my skin? I don’t know about all that.

And then I tried it.

I am no longer skeptical. In fact I am ordering another bar…or two, right now. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m just gonna put it out there: I have always had really oily skin and large pores. Consequently, much of my brain space in high school was not so much occupied with how toxic the ingredients were in my oil controlling face powder as it was with whether the hot foreign exchange student would kiss me for the first time on an evening when I forgot to (re)apply the aforementioned powder because then he would get a close-up look at the oil and the pores and I would subsequently be subjected to an unsolicited lesson in how to say “My God woman what is wrong with your face?!” in Italian, thus forcing me into hiding for the next three years, with nothing to keep me company but Sassy magazine and my angst-ridden poetry about bad skin and why I hated Europeans.

Ahem. Moving on. Read the rest of this entry »

Odds are, wherever you happen to be this week, you’re cold. Personally, I had the good fortune of ringing in the New Year in Fargo, North Dakota. Yes, I’m serious. And yes, it was cold, the kind of cold that freezes your lips in place so that conversations can only take place indoors after a cup of scalding hot coffee. It’s also the kind of cold that wreaks havoc on your skin. After only one day in Fargo, running from car to store to car to mom’s front door, I had nasty little red patches on the corners of my eyes where tears appear in a desperate attempt to protect the eyeballs from turning into snowballs. I also had a little beard of white flakey skin under the corners of my mouth. Not sure what causes that, and don’t much care as long as I can make it go away.

Anyway, many years of experience battling godforsaken winters in Fargo, Minneapolis, Vermont and Maine have taught me nothing if not how to heal remarkably dry, chapped skin, and to prevent it from happening again. Fortunately, the best products I have found to combat the cold fall handily into the Natural & Organic Skin Care category. Read the rest of this entry »

When considering whether to wade into the experimental waters of eco-friendlier makeup and skin care, consequently taking on the hassle and expense that always accompany such decisions, you’ll likely find yourself creating a mental list of pros and cons. To complicate matters, misinformation in the beauty industry abounds on both sides of the fence, making it hard for a glamour-lovin’ gal to know what to do. From…ahem…creative uses of the word “organic,” to beauty writers poo-pooing the idea that anything could be toxic enough to warrant ditching semi-permanent lipstick, it’s no surprise many would-be green beauty consumers are confused and conflicted.

To help you sort it all out, I have outlined and, I hope, dispelled three common green beauty myths. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve had the chance to review a lot of natural/green bath and beauty products over the past year but none of them have compared in the long run to Indigo Wild’s Zum Goat’s Milk Soap. Read the rest of this entry »

For some of us, the season is a constant battle against dry, irritated skin.  Sure there are lots of heavy moisturizers out there, but it can be difficult to find the one that does the trick.  Some leave you too slippery, while others cast a strange chalky effect.  Certainly not what we are looking for during the most festive (and social) time of the year.

Now, I have written many an article here on Feelgood about dry skin and the many wonderful products on the market to help with this particular condition.  But (for those of you prone to plenty of natural oils) please bear with me, I think I am on to something here.

This latest concoction was something I stumbled upon over lack of time and forethought.  After exfoliating my body with a mixture of sugar and milk in the shower I went to apply my usual body lotion.  Realizing it would not be enough hydration for my freshly sloughed skin, I added a squirt of body oil.  Later that night I realized that my skin was still super silky and soft and well nourished. Read the rest of this entry »

Garden Girl Skin Care Productsare completely natural bath, body and beauty products that are completely free of phthalates, parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and mineral oil. Read the rest of this entry »

Peacekeeper Cause-Metics offers make up on a mission. They are the first company to donate all of their after tax distributable profits to Women’s Health Advocacy and Human Rights issues. Read the rest of this entry »

As it finally warms up from two consecutive weeks in the single digits here in Colorado, my skin has already taken a beating this winter. In search of the perfect moisturizers and lotions, here are a list of some of my favorite choices this winter.

1. Alba’s Original Emollient Lotion $16.99 for 32 oz (available at Target) is ideal for the no fuss, no frills kinda gal who needs a moisturizer that lasts all day.
2. Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion $9.00 for 6 oz (available at Whole Foods) nourishes skin with Royal Jelly fit for the Queen Bee herself. It even gives you a little shimmer for the holidays.
3. Jergen’s Naturals Daily Moisturizer $6.00 for 16.8 oz (available on Amazon) is great for the glamazon on a budget who wants a natural moisturizer with staying power. This new lotion has a great smell and comes paraben free (finally).
4. Earth Mama Angel Baby Body Butter $24.95 for 8 oz (available online) is the gold standard for expecting mothers trying to avoid itchy skin and unsightly stretch marks.

No matter what budget or climate, it’s nice to see a lot of the big box retailers offering more natural and organic beauty products. I found a great selection of organic, paraben-free and natural products, including some of my favorite brands, like Alba and Burt’s Bees, at Target over the weekend.