Organic Fundamental Face Cream from Earth Turns *Product Review*

 

Recently, I have had the amazing opportunity to try a few products available at Earth Turns, which happens to be a friendly company that carries a variety of high quality products like supplements and natural/herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. At this moment, I've been enjoying the pleasure of using a product from there called the Fundamental Face Cream.

Before I get into the review for the Fundamental Face Cream (which I'm loving, by the way), I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.

What Makes The Fundamental Face Cream so Fantastic
The Fundamental Face Cream is 100% natural and contains organic ingredients, nutrients and antioxidants that fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. This is one of the most important things I look for in a face cream -- it absolutely must moisturize my skin well without leaving too much residue behind, without interfering with any makeup application and lastly, it must have some type of anti-aging properties. Brownie points because it contains my all-time favorite ingredient & remedy for anything -- Aloe vera.

The Fundamental Face Cream does everyone of those things in the most rich & creamy way! I really adore the texture and consistency of this cream. It makes applying it to my skin a real pleasure. I enjoy seeing it almost melt into my skin instantly, like butter and leave a nice, supple appearance behind.


Aloe vera soothes inflamed skin, promotes healing and is a natural anti-bacterial.

Organic Cacao Seed and Shea butter provide intense hydration and Cacao Seed butter protects and conditions skin. Shea butter has antioxidant properties, can reduce scars and other marks. It contains Vitamins A & E, and can help reduce UV radiation damage.


Organic Soy Lecithin an emulsifier that promotes moisturization.


Organic Rice Bran Extract contains antioxidants, is an anti-inflammatory that prevents aging.


Organic Tremella Mushroom is rich in Vitamin D, can help fill in places where wrinkles form, and improves skin complexion and overall appearance by promoting Hyaluronic Acid production in skin. Moisturizing.


Organic Pomegranate Oil an antioxidant that supports cell function and regeneration. It can improve skin's texture and might help with hyperpigmentation.


Organic Grape seed Oil is an anti-inflammatory that soothes skin. GSE contains antioxidants -- which help prevent damage and repair previous damage,  -- rich in Vitamins C, D, E, and Beta Carotene and essential fatty acids. This ingredient can help minimize scars, prevents acne and definitely prevents aging signs, as it helps restore collagen. It can even help with excessively oily skin by balancing it.

Organic Marshmallow Root Extract helps skin regenerate from damage, helps reduce inflammation.

More Reasons I Love The Fundamental Face Cream

• Free of PEG's, BHA, Mineral Oil and Petrolatum
• Completely safe & impressively effective.
• Makes my skin appear plump, healthy and clear
• Doesn't interfere with my makeup application
• Hydration is one of a kind with this Face Cream.
• Feels silky and velvety, goes on without sticky or greasy residue left over.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Fundamental Chemical-Free Organic Shampoo Review

I've just had the lovely opportunity to try a few products that are available at Earth Turns, who happen to be a very friendly company that carries a variety of really amazing quality products like supplements and natural or herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. I've recently been trying various samples of their product (like the "Relax Already that I recently reviewed) and this new, chemical-free shampoo. 

Before I get into the review for this interesting shampoo, I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.
 

Fundamental Shampoo is a chemical & SLS-free shampoo with organic ingredients designed to restore hair's shine and body. 

Obviously, as with any natural shampoo, you're going to experience little to no lather. This sometimes means you feel the need to use more product than normal, as I do, so when I dumped an entire hand-full of shampoo in my hair, I was shocked to learn that with the Fundamental Shampoo, that was not necessary! The stuff actually lathers as good as any typical shampoo! So, I kicked myself for wasting so much.

Something I love about Fundamental Shampoo is my hair always smells, feels and looks totally clean, even though I didn't use sulfates to clean it.  The shampoo has a minty scent that does not stay in hair.

 I once thought that natural shampoos that did not contain some sort of harsh sulfate couldn't truly clean my hair. I think we've all been kind of brainwashed as to what the real definition of clean is. It seems we've been thinking that "clean" means stripping all of our skin and hair of anything and everything. If any little natural oil was leftover (which cannot be seen when you first wash the hair with Fundamental Shampoo) is considered dirty.

In fact, my hair feels, looks and smells just as clean as when I use the average drug-store shampoo.

Another plus is that the scent of the Fundamental Shampoo is "acceptable" by either gender (male or female.)

After using the Fundamental Shampoo, my hair was different in texture and appearance. It had more fluff/volume than it normally does, which can be a great thing when hair is flat.

My ends, while they appeared a lot fuller than normal (plus!), they felt a tiny bit drier than they do when I use a good leave-in conditioner, but I made sure to use my leave-in the next night when washing my hair with Fundamental Shampoo  & that helped my ends a lot. I normally always use the leave-in since my ends have some damage, but I skipped when I used the shampoo for the first time because I wanted to be sure I could get the best idea of how this shampoo does. 

I do want to make it clear that I love this shampoo! I really do. My hair actually felt cleaner than it does with other shampoos, and I have been able to skip a day between washes (I normally do that) without my hair looking oily at all the last day. Very impressive.


Benefits of the Ingredients in Fundamental Shampoo
With ingredients like saponified olive oil and coconut oil, the Fundamental Shampoo is nicely moisturizing for hair, and will help with damage and promote shine.

Ginger extract is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, which makes it great for sensitive skin. Ginger extract may also be a useful remedy for hair loss and can make the hair stronger & healthier. Ginger plus olive oil makes a great dandruff remedy, so since the Fundamental Shampoo contains both, it'll be useful for that too. 

Honey, a natural anti-bacterial is an all-around amazing ingredient for health in general, which is why I try to consume pure, raw honey at least 5 times a week, daily when I can. As for hair, though, honey may be useful for preventing hair loss since it helps hair to retain moisture, and it's conditioning. It also makes hair shiny.

Comfrey Root Extract is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, too. It also prevents dryness, is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and may stimulate hair growth. The plant protein Mucilage in Comfrey is a foaming agent, which gives the Fundamental Shampoo a bit of sudsy-ness, it also softens hair.

Grape Seed Extract is an anti-septic and anti-inflammatory that may also be helpful for hair loss. GSE contains antioxidants, which help prevent damage and repair previous damage.

Rosemary Extract, an anti-microbial and anti-fungal with some scientific evidence showing that Rosemary oil may be able to help with hair growth. Rosemary extract will help soothe any scalp irritation and keep it clean while also preventing dandruff

Burdock Root Extract helps promote healthy scalp and hair. The Vitamin A, Mucilage and essential fatty acid content in Burdock helps nourish and strengthen skin and hair. It can also provide relief from itchy, inflamed and dry scalp problems.

What I Love About the Fundamental Shampoo:

• Cruelty Free. Fundamental Earth products have been approved by Leaping Bunny & PETA as cruelty free products.
•  The shampoo contains organic ingredients and vitamins.
•  Is nourishing to hair
• Won't damage hair at all as it's free of toxic chemicals, sulfates, parabens, etc.

• Maintains hair's pH balance.

• Doesn't dry out scalp

I can't say that I would actually go so far as to totally switch to this shampoo at this moment in my life. Mostly just because at $11 something for a full sized bottle, considering how much shampoo my hair uses, it just wouldn't be affordable right now. However, I have checked around and it appears that it's as much as $5 elsewhere online, so I certainly cannot complain about the $11 price for it at Earth Turns, especially with free shipping on top of it. I would certainly jump all over that offer when my usual budget allows just a bit extra spending, though.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Relax Already - Magnificent Herbal Sleep Aid from Earth Turns

I've had the lovely opportunity to try a few products that are available at Earth Turns, who happen to be a very friendly company that carries a variety of really amazing quality products like supplements and natural or herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. I've recently been trying samples of an herbal sleep aid they carry called "Relax Already." 

Before I get into the review for the Relax Already supplement (which I'm loving, by the way), I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.

Relax Already is a dietary supplement manufactured in America, by StoneAge Wellness and designed to not only help you sleep, but also to relax your muscles and relieve stress. If you've never used a natural or herbal based sleep product, then you'll be in for a big surprise because ingredients like Valerian root, passion flower and lemon balm are highly impressive sleep and relaxation aids. These ingredients also help relieve stress wonderfully and relax tense muscles.  What I love most about Relax Already is that I can take them and sleep amazingly well, but they don't leave me feeling out of my head or sluggish.  Also that they're so safe, natural and without negative side effects is a main reason I like them. Store-bought sleep aids have always left me feeling really out of it, and the effects leave me sluggish and irritable the next day. With such clean ingredients and effective herbs, Relax Already never leaves me feeling off or sluggish. In fact, I've woken up feeling better than I typically do. And you just can't beat the deep, relaxed sleep that comes about 40 minutes after taking it.

Taking only once capsule of Relax Already put me to sleep gently for about 6 hours before I ever woke up. After waking and having a snack, I went back to bed and read for a few minutes before falling back to sleep for another 4 hours. Waking up was easy and I felt wide awake once I'd slept off Relax Already's awesome effects. I didn't even remember dreaming for those first 6 hours. 

What Makes Relax Already so Effective:
Relax Already contains 100 milligrams of magnesium per serving. Magnesium itself is helpful for getting sleep since it relaxes the muscles.

A serving of Relax Already contains 1150 milligrams of ValFlora, StoneAge Wellness' proprietary blend of Valerian Root, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Chamomile & Cramp Bark.  This kind of blend is sure to relax and promote sleep due to Valerian Root being an anti-anxiety herb as well as a centuries old sleep remedy.

Lemon Balm also has anti-anxiety properties and reduces stress, improves appetite, eases pain and discomfort, promotes sleep, eases bloating, gas and indigestion. When combined with herbs like Chamomile and Valerian (just like in the Relax Already supplement), Lemon Balm is soothing, calming and promotes relaxation.  Lemon Balm also has antibacterial properties. It also may improve cognitive function and help with Alzheimer's symptoms.

Passion Flower has a calming effect and has been used as an aid for insomnia and anxiety.

Chamomile, with its mild sedative like effects have also been used for centuries to promote calming, help sleep and reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Cramp Bark  is a muscle relaxant and anti-spasmodic Cramp Bark, interestingly enough, also relieves uterine cramping.

Note: Many of the herbs in this product are helpful for digestive pains and discomforts, too.

The rest of the ingredients:
Vegetable cellulose (capsules), rice flour, vegetable stearate.

What I Love About Relax Already:

• No artificial ingredients.
• Safe and impressively effective.
• Vegetarian, and the capsules are made of vegetable cellulose.
• Free of wheat, dairy, soy, corn, sugar and yeast.

•  Earth Turns' Price for the product. It's rare to see a supplement with these ingredients for such a decent price. At the moment, a bottle of 60 capsules is available on Earth Turns for only $11.49. That's coming from me, a big tight-wad.

• The manufacturer of Relax Already, StoneAge Wellness uses tested ingredients for purity and ingredient potency.

•  Relax Already is manufactured to cGMP (current Good Manufacturing) standards. You can read more about what that means here.

How to use Relax Already:

The packet says to take 2 capsules about 30 minutes before bedtime. I find that I only need one capsule to get the job done.

 Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

LifeStraw Go Review -- Turn Dirty Water Clean!

LifeStraw Go (from Eartheasy)

What is LifeStraw?

LifeStraw is part of a line of other water-filtering/survival products, created (by Vestergaard Frandsen) to make clean water available at any time --removing  99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% waterborne protozoa, you could get water from virtually anywhere!  

(Such a noble product that it's even been nominated for the LifeStraw creator won an Index Awards!)

LifeStraw Go includes a cup (with its own awesome qualities, to be mentioned later) with a built-in "LifeStraw," which means you can fill up your bottle with any water and drink it right away. As the name suggests, the "straw" is also a filter to filter away the impurities and bacteria and loads of other junk that may be found in water. Genius. Purely genius!

How to Use

Even better, it requires no knowledge to use (right up my alley!) You simply scoop up your water from any pond, stream or river & screw the lid/straw back on and drink away! After each drinking "session," unscrew lid & blow through straw to expel dirty water.

Back-side with instructions, information about LifeStraw Go

Note:  LifeStraw has a natural "brake" on the flow of water -- as a controlled flow between 100 ml to 150 ml per minute is needed to get the maximum benefit of the bacteria killing effect.

Also, as expected with any carbon type filtering, you will have tiny black flecks in the water. It's just the carbon, which is harmless, and if you've ever used a filter at home that uses this technology (most all do), then you'll be familiar with it. Simply spit out the first couple of swigs. 

Why I wanted a Life-Straw Go
I'm an avid water-filtering kind of girl, which may be obvious considering I've reviewed various water-filtering products (including one for pets, for Pete's sake!) here in the past. I take my clean water seriously! In fact I haven't drank a drop of tap water in years because I know all too well what's in it.
 

I used the typical filters that you find in Wal-Mart. Not to mention the cupboard full of random water filtering bottles I've purchased -- yes, I've got them all. 

But the difference between those and LifeStraw Go is that those "leading brands" do not remove bacteria, but only some minerals, chlorine, etc, (and even that has been under question.) But I could not ever, under any sane circumstances fill up any of those filters/bottles with just any water and be able to consume it without big health risks.

LifeStraw, on the other hand, was created with a lot more power (and safety, health for that matter) in mind. 

However, LifeStraw will not remove heavy metals, fluoride, iron, arsenic and possibly other heavy metals.

If it were possible for LifeStraw to have any downside to it whatsoever, this would be it -- that it doesn't remove heavy metals and fluoride. I only say that because I'd love to use LifeStraw Go every day, just for daily use and fluoride is in drinking water (even if you filter it. Unless you use reverse osmosis or a water source that does not have added fluoride). I've been trying to get as much fluoride out of my entire life as possible. However, this cannot be considered a downside to this product because it was intended for drastic situations, to save lives.

But, it makes me think if the creator of LifeStraw were to ever consider making a product for daily, house-hold use, to filter our tap, then I am positive it would be loved & I'm positive they would want it to be as great as possible at removing all harmful things.

LifeStraw is more suitable because again, it's created to keep you hydrated through drastic situations where the only water nearby is lake or something. Yes, my dear preppers -- it is like a dream come true!

Let me elaborate on just how incredibly fantastic LifeStraw Go is...

Its filtering capacity is 264 gallons (1000 liters) is incredible! Note: Saline water through the LifeStraw would reduce effective life to 350 litres.

 I could use it even when I'm not in a dire situation, but feel like the water available isn't as clean as it could be.  It truly is a life-saving product that can be well, life-saving in many events.


"LifeStraw GO filters water down to 0.2 microns without the use of chemicals. When the filter has reached capacity (264 gallons) it will stop taking in water. Since the water filter is detachable, you can simply purchase a replacement filter when the filter has reached capacity.  The bottle can be reused indefinitely, saving waste from disposable plastic water bottles."

Features/Fantastic Qualities

LifeStraw Removes most micro-organisms that are common causes of waterborne disease.  

 LifeStraw kills disease-causing micro organisms which spread diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, and Cholera. 

The Following Bacteria & Protozoa are removed from Water using LifeStraw:

Bacteria:
Escherichia coli
    Campylobacter
    Vibrio cholerae
    Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    Shigella
    Salmonella

Protozoa:
    Giardia lamblia (Beaver Fever)
    Cryptosporidium Parvum
    Entamoeba histolytica

LifeStraw has been rigorously tested to surpass EPA standards for removing E. Coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium oocysts, and many other waterborne contaminants.

How Does LifeStraw do All of This?

Note the silicone mouth straw.

 LifeStraw uses something called PuroTech (patented) Disinfecting Resin (PDR) to kill bacteria on contact. 

(If you're like me & never heard of this 'technology and are severely fascinated with how it works, you can read all about it here.)

A view of the bottom of the "straw" tube. This is the visible part of the filter. The other end which attaches to the lid is the same.

On top of that awesome PDR stuff, LifeStraw also uses Textile pre-filters, which  remove particles up to 15 microns. And also the typical and useful active carbon, which traps and holds particles such as parasites.

Other Features:

• Filters up to 264 gallons or 1000 liters of water down to 0.2 microns

• LifeStraw Go (the straw tube inside the water bottle) comes with a carabiner attached so you can carry it on a belt-loop or wherever.

• Holds 23 oz.

• Zero aftertaste as it contains no chemicals or iodine

• The geniuses who created LifeStraw products really have health-consciousness because the bottle is BPA-free tritan. The mouth straw is made of food grade silicone, which is nice and squishy (meaning it is comfortable and I admit, kind of fun) to use and won't clank against my teeth. 

Food grade silicone is one of the safest materials around as it is non-porous and will not harbor bacteria and is safe to use internally (that doesn't mean you can swallow the silicone mouth piece, though!)

• It's truly leak-proof! I can carry it around in my purse and not have spillage.

Even more details:

LifeStraw expires one year after the usage start date. That's based on a calculation of 2 liters (or 700 liters total) of water daily.

However, amazingly enough, "usage beyond that date will not deteriorate existing water quality."

Fall in love with the manufacturers of LifeStraw even more:

For each LifeStraw you buy, one school kid in Africa receives clean water for a whole school year.

In the review world, I'd give the LifeStraw products a 10 on 1-10 rating scale, if not more! This is because the products were designed with reality and actual safety in mind. This product is saving lives, it's affordable and it can allow a year's worth of drinking water consumption for one person (per straw.) This is a life-changing and life-saving product, and it warms my heart to see the company providing this handy tool to those in need (like the kids in Africa.) This is a genuine company who have hearts. I'm in love.

Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment Review

In this review, you'll read about the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment. To read about the Somatique facial cleanser click here.

 In my last post, the Somatique Facial Cleanser review, I promised a review for the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment, and a lot of you expressed a huge interest in it, so I'm going to be as detailed and thorough as I possibly can in this post. If any questions are left unanswered, don't hesitate to ask away. 

 Put briefly, Somatique's Stretch Mark Treatment is designed to help prevent stretch marks with its awesome, organic, effective ingredients like Shea butter, jojoba oil, tamanu oil, Vitamin E, coconut oil, aloe vera and beeswax. However, it can also be used to help fade existing stretch marks. This is why I wanted to use it. I don't have any new marks, but have had old ones since my teen years.

Now that I've had a month of use with this stuff, I'm going to tell you all about it. I'll start with my results.

My Results Using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment

I should start by telling you that everyone is going to be different with these things. Results are likely to vary greatly between individuals. I personally have probably moderate stretch marks. Not severe like you may see immediately after giving birth or something of that nature. My stretch marks are deep, though. My stretch marks are mostly on my legs and sides/obliques. They appeared on my inner and outer thighs as well as lightly on my calves during my teen years. I'm 24 now, so they've been with me for a while.

It's been around 1 month since I began using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment cream. As of the time of writing, I've seen a possible change in appearance of my stretch marks (those on my outer thighs.) However, the change, if any, is so minor that photos weren't useful here. I will certainly continue use and photograph any results after more time has passed. I wish so badly that I could've had some noticeable results by now, but the "after" photos would look identical to the ones you see labeled "before."  

At times, though, when looking at the stretch marks on my outer thighs, they seem less noticeable. The marks on my sides, the ones that are the deepest, are still just as bad as before. Hopefully, the change will appear soon as I continue to apply the cream twice daily. I won't give up hope just yet!


Things to Keep in Mind:

 I assume folks who have new stretch marks may see a quicker improvement than those who've had them much longer. I don't know if this is true, though.  I also have minor stretch marks that aren't as deep or as many on my chest. During the time I've been using the Stretch Mark Treatment, I've focused on the worst of the areas -- my thighs and sides. I've even taken photos before and after for you guys.

These are my "before" photos. If any change does happen, and the marks show any sign of improvement, I'll include the "afters".

 I didn't want to get too graphic, considering the marks appear in areas that are under my clothing, so I simply took some up-close photos of the skin to give you readers an idea of what I started with. I figure this may be helpful in some way, and better than just words.

Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment pictured on the left

I began using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment immediately when it arrived to me, which was around the end of February. I apply to clean, dry skin nightly and sometimes in the mornings, too.

The Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment  impressed me with its super rich, thick and highly moisturizing properties. It healed my dry skin areas (which are pretty much on every body part I have) within the first week of use. 

So far, I've seen an improvement in my skin's softness. It's never been this smooth and soft! Or this moisturized, either. I actually took a liking to this stretch mark cream as an intensive moisturizer and skin smoother, too. I realized quickly that even if I didn't receive an improvement in my stretch marks, I'd be happy with the softness of my skin alone.

What I Love About Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment:

•  Safe for pregnant & nursing women
  

•  Organic, safe and effective ingredients

• Highly moisturizing and leaves skin smooth.

• Improves skin elasticity
  

Ingredients and Their Benefits:

 Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Sunflower Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Octyl Palmitate, Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Organic Beeswax, Matrixyl 3000, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Organic Jojoba Oil, Tamanu Oil, Organic Borage Oil, Organic Flax Seed Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Rose Hip Oil, Vitamin B5, Arnica, Organic Lavender, Organic Calendula, Organic Chamomile, Grapeseed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

Like most of the Lady Soma products I've used, the stretch mark treatment is also high in antioxidants, which help promote elasticity.  antioxidants are responsible for not only preventing damage to the skin, but also repairing it, too.  

Jojoba Oil: It's rich in Vitamin E (antioxidant!), which means age-prevention. Restores skin's natural pH balance. 

Works as an anti-inflammatory (so that's good for redness and irritated areas, including psoriasis and eczema). Softens and smooths texture of skin (and hair), acts as an incredible moisturizer, without clogging pores. It restores skin's  normal  oil balance. Jojoba oil is hypoallergenic and safe to use on all skin. Also has fungicidal properties. It's been touted for its acne scar and stretch mark fading abilities. 

Tamanu Oil: Has also been used widely in the removal of stretch marks, and has some evidence to back up its efficiency: 
"BioScience Laboratories conducted a study of Tamanu oil's ability to improve the appearance of scars. The results showed that when Tamanu oil was applied to the scarred area twice daily for nine consecutive weeks, scar length decreased by an average 0.28 centimeters and the and width was decreased by an average 0.12 centimeters."
 Source: Botanical.com
 
It's also been used to treat many skin conditions. It has anti-microbial properties

Coconut Oil: Also well-known for its use in stretch mark treatment. Coconut oil has amazing skin benefits (and internal ones, too!) It has anti-fungal, anti-septic,  anti-microbial properties and more. It's a decent moisturizer, helps with skin problems, protects against UV rays,

Aloe Vera

Ya'll know I have to refrain from getting too excited when I talk about healthy, awesome ingredients like aloe. It has been my life-saver in more ways than just skin-related (IBS - candidiasis). Aloe has so many benefits for us, internally and externally. It's soothing to any kind of irritation, it helps heal and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

How it Feels

I wanted you guys to get an idea of the cream's awesome creamy, rich texture, so here's a photo of the actual cream.

As you'd expect in a product that contains so many awesome oils, this has a somewhat greasy feeling right before its fully absorbed into the skin, and that's something I do love -- the cream will fully absorb into skin leaving behind little residue. The residue that may be left behind usually ends up absorbed as well after some time, then I'm left with soft, smooth skin. It's not nearly as greasy as you may expect, but it's thick and rich, which makes it even better! A thin, watery cream would never be enough for stretch mark treatment.

The little glass jar comes with 4 oz of cream, and since it's so thick and rich, it takes a little more than a quarter sized drop to cover my thighs. In fact, it takes about a tablespoon full to cover a thigh. I'm not sure this would be a product that'll last throughout a whole year or anything, but so far, I have at least a several month supply left.

Now, I have to admit it -- I've been in love with the way this stuff leaves my skin so perfectly soft and hydrated that I couldn't resist but to use it on my face! I know that sounds insane, but the ingredients are safe and healthy, so they shouldn't cause any issues. My skin was just so incredibly dry that when I seen how well it worked on my thighs, I had to try it on my face, too and I was pleasantly surprised with the results!

 I guess I can also admit that during a rub-down of my stretch mark areas, I realized how perfect this cream would also be on dry feet, so.... Yeah, I used it on my feet one night, too. Hey, who could blame me? They felt so great! I slipped my socks on, and my feet have been softer ever since that one application of the stuff.

Then I decided it was best to not get too carried away and use it all on my non-stretch-marked body parts.

Disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

RZO Kava Drink for Relaxation

When life hands us lemons, stressful individuals don't always know where the hell to even find the pitcher to make the lemonade in. Forget trying to make the lemonade! Stress is huge. It can be overwhelming, and add a dose of fear to the mix and then you get anxiety. Then you're really a mess and at this point, why even bother with the blasted lemonade. You need something stronger.

Image source: Holistifit.com

I don't know about you herbal-lovin' fellas but I've taken a big interest in Kava lately. I have been dealing with more stressful events than I have in years. If ever, all at once. It was beyond overwhelming and I was getting lost. Usually, things let up and you get going and move on. Back to normal. But when the crap just keeps piling up (you know, those times when as soon as you fixed the first huge stress, you run into another one, then before you even fix it, another one has hit you in the head like a ton of bricks) it's easy to lose yourself. And your mind. 

That is how I was feeling.

And as always, when I start having trouble in any area, I look to herbs to help out. This time, it was clear that these stressful events were not going to clear up quickly, and neither was my mind. I wasn't even feeling like me. So, I done some research and started considering trying a few different herbs, one of them being Kava to help take the edge off while I am battling with these recent events. 

Basically, I've desperately needed to just calm the F down.

That is what lead me to relaxation in a can -- a very tasty way to relax, too I must say.

Thankfully enough, after hearing about RZO Kava, I was able to get a few to try out, and they just so happen to arrive here a day or two before we were leaving for vacation! Perfect time to relax! Kava also reduces anxiety, as well as other things that I will discuss near the bottom.

So, I hauled a couple of these babies with me, and I actually had the most wonderful time ever. The best vacation I have ever had. Not only because of Kava, but it sure did help to keep my mind at ease, which is usually the part that makes a vacation stressful for me -- my dang mind!

Now, you know what the RZO Kava drink does if you've read this far -- it relaxes you. I've experimented with this awesome tasting Kava Beverage a little bit this week to see what works best for me, personally and I will share my experience and my partner's with you. Then, I'll discuss more about Kava -- the active ingredient in RZO Kava Relaxation Drink.

TASTE
After doing a little research on Kava, I waited until I was in the bed at  the hotel we stayed in in Panama before I popped open the can. I was expecting an herbal, somewhat icky taste, but RZO Kava actually has a very, very pleasant taste. In fact, I found it hard to put it down, even once I got to the point of total relaxation. This is the same thing that happens each time I open one!

RZO Kava has a very citrusy taste -- the ingredients include orange juice, apple juice,  lemon juice and lime juice, so that would explain why.

I didn't taste much of the apple juice, but the orange is what stood out to me most. It doesn't taste like Sunny D or Tang -- and is not as thick as either, and far more delicious than both. It's thin, slightly tangy, but refreshingly sweet. Perfect.

I haven't noticed any herbal taste except for when I drank a RZO Kava drink at room temperature, and it was very subtle.

 The can says it's best when chilled, and that's true. The taste is a little more pleasant when chilled, but it's not bad at all when at room temperature, either.

What It Makes Me Feel Like
 Now that's what you want to know, I'm sure. Kava is no joke. It can cause a "mild state of euphoria." 

I knew that prior to drinking it, which was one reason I wanted to in the first place, but I really wasn't sure what to expect from the RZO drink. 

I figured since I am a bit sensitive to herbs and drugs that have sedative effects, I would feel relaxed at the least. Perhaps sensitive isn't the word. I sleep easily, though and do feel tired easier than others when I take things like herbs with sedative effects. Heck, I'm the only person I know who gets tired from taking MSM! It gives other people energy. Not me. Note: I don't have ADHD or ADD or anything like that, just easily tired, I guess. I really don't know how Kava would effect someone with ADD or ADHD, but I do think it would relax even them, at least a little bit.

Okay, moving on. 

The first time I drank the RZO Kava Relaxation drink, I was already very tired from the 8-hour long trip to Panama. So I crashed right to sleep quickly, without even fully finishing the drink. It put me in a really quickly relaxed state, though, which I wasn't totally sure would happen given the pressure and stress I was feeling prior to leaving.

Since I was already in the bed, reading a book on my kindle as I drank the RZO Kava, and especially since I fell asleep so soon, I didn't pay much attention to anything but how tired and relaxed all over I felt.  My limbs felt heavy, and like they did not want to move, even if I wanted to. I wouldn't say I felt anything like paralysis, though so don't worry. It is not that intense. Just super relaxing. 

In fact, the first night I tried the Kava drink, my partner told me that I had my Kindle rested on my thighs and was sleeping, and would quickly open my eyes and start trying to read again, then fall right back asleep! He's been joking with me ever since saying it looked like I was thinking "must read! Must read!"  I thought this was kind of funny because I didn't remember ever opening my eyes back up.


                                                                                                 The 3rd night we were there, he said I was smiling really    big in my sleep -- so I this stuff must've been helpful for increasing my mood from stressful to happy.

    Image source: kelihasablog.wordpress.com   Me after drinking RZO

Oh, and due to this extra stress (and my years long battle of endometriosis and IBS on and off) I was feeling a lot of stomach problems around this time. So, I was of course worried that they'd be a bother to me on our vacation. The first night I drank it and laid down, I told my partner that it seemed like it calmed my stomach, too, even though I'd felt icky and bloated all day. The next day, my stomach was calmer than it had been in 2 weeks. 

I was right about it being the RZO Kava drink that soothed my stomach because later, I looked into it and read that it actually helps with stomach discomforts! It only gets better and better. It's also helpful for headaches (something else I deal with regularly), arthritis, infection, asthma, etc.

Note: I really haven't paid much attention to whether or not RZO Kava has improved my migraines, but I've been using it as well as a host of other supplements and have experienced less of them in the last month. I can't say if it's the Kava or not, though. But I'm happy to have some relief either way. I'm absolutely positive it would be relieving for a mild headache, though! Especially a tension one, considering how un-tense and great I feel when I drink RZO. I would pretty much bet on it bringing some relief to mild headaches. I'll try it next time I have one.

The other times I drank the RZO Kava drink, I was able to finish the can before passing out -- being back home made it easier. I really enjoy drinking RZO Kava Relaxation when I'm in bed reading a good book on my Kindle -- not that I'll remember what I read the next day, but it's enjoyable at the moment! Ha. Ha. No, the RZO drink won't make you drunk-like or cause you to lose memory really (I don't think), but being so tired and relaxed does slightly have this effect on me. 

Some nights, the effects of the Kava are way more intense feeling than others. For instance, last night, I crashed big time. I finished the drink and grabbed my Kindle planning to read, but before I even unzipped the Kindle from its case, I must've fell asleep because I woke up with it beside me -- never even taken out of the case or turned on! I sleep hard and well when I drink these, too. So that's one big positive about the RZO Kava drink -- those who have a little trouble sleeping well or staying asleep will benefit greatly from this! 

And those of us who do sleep decently, but are tense or un-relaxed in our sleep benefit just as well because it causes your body to fully relax, including the mind, which was my biggest problem. I can sleep, but my jaws and other parts are so tense I often wake up with them aching! I also sometimes sleep less well because my mind is still going like I am awake. RZO Kava has been more useful than anything for this, including sleeping aids and even high doses of melatonin.

Another effect I have noticed a couple of times is that I will feel just ever so slightly... high. High really is not the word for it because it's not that intense, but definitely sedated. Definitely. It's a good drink for someone who doesn't need super strong meds to conquer insomnia, but for someone who just needs extra boosts relaxing and sleeping well. 

Of course you don't have to drink RZO right before sleeping, but I prefer to since it would certainly make me less useful any other time of the day! As the can says, it may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery -- totally agreed. I don't think I would drive long distances after drinking a whole can of this stuff. Not if I am already tired.

It's not quite as strong as say Kanna to me, but the next best thing. With Kanna, the relief I notice in my mind and muscles is almost instant. With RZO Kava, it's very similar. If you've ever taken small doses of Kanna or perhaps felt a sedative effect off of Valerian root, this is somewhat a similar effect as RZO Kava.

The can does say "it chills you out, it calms you down, it gives you a buzz..."

My partner and I both agree with those statements. I personally would say the "buzz" is very minimal, though. I mean, I have noticed it on most occasions where I've drank a can of RZO, but not anything like what you'd expect from marijuana -- not that I am endorsing that or anything at all. Just trying to give you a good idea of what RZO Kava makes some people feel like. 

As I said, I sleep nice and hard when I've drank RZO. The only times I've woken up throughout the night is when I have a big, huge urge to urinate -- I can't even swallow my own spit before bed without having to go pee in the middle of the night!

I was surprised it was able to calm me and my spinning mind down so much, so that part alone makes RZO Kava a must for stressful times.
My Partner's Experience with RZO Kava Relaxation

My partner drank an RZO Kava a while after having a beer and said "when you drink that RZO stuff, does it F you up?" Apparently, pairing it with alcohol does increase the effects, and for him, quite drastically. 

He has serious trouble sleeping. I'm talking this guy wakes up a million times a night. He's uncomfortable in every way when he sleeps -- no matter what mattress! And RZO Kava helped knocked his hiney out for a full night's sleep.  He said he felt a big buzz, although he'd only had one beer.

He loves the RZO Kava, as do I. The sleep is incredible, and we always welcome good sleep!

It's funny, on RZO's website, it says even "die-hard Red Bull fans" will enjoy RZO. It's funny because my partner is the perfect example of this! He really is a die-hard Red Bull fan. I'm serious. You guys really have no idea. He is one of those! Ha Ha. And he loves Kava -- a drink that does the opposite of what Red Bull does. 

As for me, I am not that much a fan of the Red Bull stuff considering what it was originally created for (I encourage you to go look that up! You will be very shocked, if you don't already know) and because of the effects of those awful ingredients.  I do have a couple of sips of his every once in a while, so I'm a bit guilty of it, too! That's a post for another day, though.


P.S. There is no crash or hangover after drinking RZO Kava. None that we have noticed, anyway. We both wake up feeling just fine. Something to note though -- we both take these trace mineral drops (in our water) and it seems to combine with RZO Kava to increase deep sleep when we've been using the mineral drops and drinking RZO Kava. Not sure if there's anything to it, but it was interesting that we both did notice something of a difference. 

Brief summary on What Kava Does:

Obviously, it relaxes you, calms your mind, reduces stress, pressure and can help with depression. It also reduces muscle tension and has a sedative effect. 

Besides that, and despite Kava being an herb that makes you relax, it actually promotes mental clarity and patience, says RZO. No wonder I felt so engaged in my reading on the nights I actually stay awake long enough to read!

Another interesting thing about Kava -- it can help with fatigue! It does make you sleep better, but something about it also is supposed to help with fatigue. I figure since using it before bed helps you sleep so well, it makes sense that you'll feel less fatigued throughout the day. 



I encourage ya'll to visit RZO's "About Kava" page and read what all they have to say on it. It's very interesting, and I'll include a bit of it here. 

Something I read on their "About Kava" page that really stood out to me, something I think would be good for all to know this quote:

“Your head is affected most pleasantly. Thoughts come cleanly.

You feel friendly…never cross…You cannot hate with kava in you.”

-Tom Harrison, Savage Civilization, 1937

Kava has been used for over 3,000 years to improve relaxation while not messing with mental clarity. This is what I love about Kava! There's no hazy-mind or hangover-like side effects. It's like you've naturally been relaxed like never before. Not like a drug-induced relaxation, if you have ever experienced that. Kava is far more pleasant. 

Kava also leaves you with an overall sense of well-being -- something else to praise Kava for as other things do not do this. OTC sleeping meds are nothing compared to the pleasant effects of Kava. They don't make you feel good like Kava does. 

As I said earlier, Kava also reduces anxiety, helps you let loose a little bit (not like you would with alcohol), relieves soreness and tightness in the muscles. 


It's also been said that Kava helps people communicate with others better. Besides being helpful for anxiety and stress, it also is a diuretic, and helpful for urinary issues, too. 

The diuretic part means you may have to take a trip to the bathroom before going to bed if you've drank RZO right before, like me. It helps to go right after I have the RZO, so I can sleep through the night.




RZO Kava Relaxation contains no alcohol, no caffeine, and no added sugar! These are good because I don't really care to drink alcohol these days. I just don't feel it like I used to, and really don't need it. Kudos to RZO for not throwing in added sugars! One can contains 100 calories, if you care. 

More benefits of drinking RZO Kava:

RZO Kava contains 1800 IU of Vitamin A, 30 milligrams of Vitamin C. 15 milligrams of Polyphenols.

115 milligrams of Kava extract (an effective-for-most dose, which is a big positive because a lot of companies slap a word like "relaxation" on a beverage, yet the amount of active ingredient is so low that it does little good. More points to RZO for putting in a great amount of Kava.

If you look at the full list of ingredients, you just might be as impressed as I was. RZO contains natural flavors and has not added in any harmful, crappy ingredients. RZO contains 80% juice.

Ingredients list:
Orange juice, apple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, water, juice concentrates, water, natural flavors, Kava Extract, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Stevia, Reb A Blue California, Oxyphyte Natural antioxidant apple powder extract and apple juice powder, beta carotene (for color.)

Note: The last ingredient, Beta Carotene -- that is what gives the RZO drink its light orange color.

Who is RZO?

RZO is the company that manufactures RZO Kava Relaxation. They are a Hawaii- based company who has obviously done their research and created a tasty drink that is effective in helping people relax as well as calming the mind. I. am. Impressed. 

Safety of RZO:

If you're like me and like to do your research before consuming something new, you're in luck because RZO includes a good bit of information to questions like these concerning their Kava drink. 

On their website, it says
"RZO is very safe. Kava is not addictive, there is no tolerance build up, and the FDA could find no link between drinking kava and any medical conditions. In addition to the kava, the ingredients are all-natural."

Kava also hasn't shown any damaging effects to the liver, unlike alcohol. I think it could be a really fantastic alternative for someone who drinks often and wants to cut back. 

I could be wrong, but I was a somewhat heavy drinker years ago -- not an alcoholic, but I overdid it any chance I got, which was often. That is why I make the statement that it may be possible to help those who want to cut back on alcohol. I would've found a Kava drink like RZO to be very useful back then. 


On their "About RZO Page" you can read a lot of interesting information and answers to questions, including the safety of Kava and how the company began.