Devonian GREEMU ("Green" Emu Oil alternative ~ A Review)

I don't know if you remember reading a review last spring featuring Emu Oil from Koru Naturals? I reviewed their Emu Oil and their Koolpurrie Balm, and we had very good success (mostly dealing with very dry, cracked, winter hands). This time, we were sent a "Green" alternative to Emu Oil... GREEMU by Devonian, an arm of Koru Naturals.

I have to admit that I prefer using plant-based solutions for skincare whenever possible. It just feels "cleaner" and fresher to me, so I was quite pleased to hear that the scientists at Devonian had come up with a blend of oils that compares with the make-up of the essential compounds found in Emu Oil.

The ingredients for GREEMU include Macadamia Seed Oil, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, and Rice Bran Oil. Obviously, if you have allergies to any of these, you would be wiser to stick with the Emu oil, but if not, you may wish to give GREEMU a try.

Because we had gotten past the "winter skin" issues this year before we received our bottle of GREEMU, I don't have any extreme photos to share like my previous review. I have been using a drop of GREEMU on areas that tend to be dry or rough, and it works similarly to the Emu Oil, although it takes a little bit more time to sink in.

My son (the major "Dry Skin" person in the house) is not enamored with the oil (he prefers a lotion or balm), and is not patient enough to let it sink in before needing to go do something with his hands, but when push comes to shove, next winter, you can be sure I'll be pulling out the bottle of GREEMU to soothe his cracked knuckles. ;)

I used GREEMU as an occasional hair/scalp treatment, and found no significant difference in its performance vs Emu Oil, but again, I prefer the "Green" version vs the "bird" version. ;) I also did an experiment, rubbing in a drop of GREEMU on one side of my face before bed (I am getting to the age when some of those fine lines and "pre-wrinkles" are beginning to show up). The next morning, I asked my daughter if she could tell a difference between the two sides of my face, and she correctly identified the right side, which was less "puffy/fine-lined" and smoother. Sounds like a winner to me! :)

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Devonian 
• Product: GREEMU
• Ages: Family
• Price: $10.80 for 4 fl.oz.

You can visit Koru Naturals/Devonian's Social Media Pages
Facebook and Pinterest

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Review Crew and see what others had to say about their GREEMU experiences. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Peppermint Essential Oil Review (Simply Earth product)

Hi Friends~

I'm going to be doing a few reviews that aren't my usual books, music, or homeschool-related over the next few weeks. The first one up is a peppermint essential oil by #simplyearth.  I haven't used essential oils for awhile, and my supplies have been rather lacking, so I was very pleased to be sent this oil for free, in exchange for my honest review.

Simply Earth is a new, small, family business run by two brothers. Their intent is to offer a high quality product at reasonable prices, with a percentage given back to organizations that help others. When they started they were giving 7.5% of their sales to charitable organizations. That has changed to 13%, although that is not currently reflected on all website pages just yet. I'm a bit of a sucker for organizations that do good! You can read their blog for more information about their "Cause of the month."

OK, on with the product...

Wintertime, sniffles, raising dust getting ready for the Christmas tree, and general allergies are all common in my family this time of year, and December 2015 is no exception! I have used peppermint oil in the past (Combined with a few others) to make a steam bath for really nasty sinus congestion, but we haven't gotten to that point (yet). However, my Middlest almost always has a stuffy nose/ feels "Allergy-ish"  and winter/hot-air heating doesn't help him out. I decided to try using some #simplyearth peppermint oil on a bit of cotton, which I put in his heating vent.

When I took the lid off of the 15ml bottle, I wondered about the potency of the oil, as it wasn't incredibly strong. Not to worry~ when the heat came on, and flowed over/through the Peppermint infused cotton, his room was filled with a lovely peppermint aroma, that even drifted down the hall. 18 hours later, and the scent was still there, but not as strong. 18 hours later, and the scent was still there, but not as strong.

I asked him if he thought it made a difference, and he felt that it definitely helped his "allergy" feeling/stuffy nose, and he was breathing more clearly (rather nice not to be using the menthol "inhaler tubes" all the time).  I felt that it was helping my lungs breathe a little better as well. I'm now adding peppermint oiled cotton strips to a number of our hot air outlets, which will hopefully continue to help with our respiratory issues, stimulate our brains a bit while doing schoolwork, AND make our house smell delightfully "Christmassy!"

Side note: as I mentioned, I haven't done much with essential oils for awhile, and there are many more options for purchasing than there used to be. It is important to note that Simply Earth's oils are 100% therapeutic grade and third party tested, which makes me fairly confident in their quality, and $6 a bottle for this peppermint essential oil is in line with what I was paying 18 years ago, when I first started to explore EO's.

I'm sure that I will come up many other good uses for this peppermint oil as I reacquaint myself with essential oil uses and safe practices, but this is making me happy for now.

Blessings~

Koru Naturals: creams and soaps from New Zealand (Review)

As I mentioned recently, sometimes the TOS Review Crew gets some fun stuff to review that isn't curriculum related. You may recall my review for Koru Naturals back in March. This time Crew Members all received Manuka Honey Propolis Soap, Skin Clear Cream , and one of the following:

• Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream, 
• Argan Oil and Sandalwood Hair Tonic, 
• Emu Oil Shampoo and Emu Oil Leave-in Conditioner, or 
• Manuka Honey and Manuka Oil Facial Cleanser and Manuka Honey, Tamarind and Manuka Oil Facial Toner. 

My box came with the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream

Because I have arthritis in my thumbs due to an old injury, I was interested to see how the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream would work for me. I can always tell when I'm over-doing it because the area around the joint where my thumb meets the wrist tend to get a little bit inflamed. This thankfully doesn't happen on a daily basis, but often enough that the opportunity to try something that might help seemed like a good idea. :)

As you can see on the label, the cream includes Emu Oil, Blue Tansy Oil, Aloe Vera and MSM. I had to look MSM up to see what it is...  Methysulfonylmethane is a chemical that occurs naturally in plants, animals and humans, and is used for chronic pain relief among other things.

Here are my thoughts, right off the bat~ this cream rubs in well, is smooth and not oily. I have to say that the scent strikes me as a little odd, simply because it is a mix of so many different essential oils and extracts... 21 additional essential oils and extracts to be exact. When I looked up a number of them (I didn't look them ALL up), I discovered that many of them are helpful for fighting inflammation and pain, which explains their use in this cream.

While I can't say it took all my pain away (eh... I have missing cartilage), I felt that the cream was beneficial in reducing general inflammation. I specifically didn't "massage" my hands, but gently rubbed the cream in to see how it worked, and I think there was definitely some relief.

Alright, on to the products we all received...

Out of the box~ the Munuka Honey Propolis Soap smells SO good~ very strong honey scent. It definitely leaves my hands feeling softer, although they still feel a little dry (Which is typical for my skin and non-liquid soaps). Another benefit, if you happen to have little boys who like to say they have washed their hands if the faucet has been turned on... it actually takes about the right length of time (The Happy Birthday Song, or the ABC Song sung one time through) to rinse the soap off... helps to ensure proper hand washing.
Again, I had to do some research, as Manuka Honey/Propolis was not familiar to me. Manuka Honey is produced in New Zealand by bees that visit the Manuka Tree. While all honey tends to have antibacterial properties, Manuka Honey actually has a rating scale to determine its potency. According to WebMD, to be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, manuka honey needs a minimum rating of 10 UMF. Honey at or above that level is marketed as "UMF Manuka Honey" or "Active Manuka Honey." The Manuka Honey used in this soap is rated 20...  The Propolis also has antibacterial qualities, and the benefit of this sweet-smelling antibacterial soap is that it doesn't appear to promote the "superbugs" that we've heard about. This would seem to be a great "kitchen sink" soap from the anti-bac point of view.

The final product we received was the Skin Clear Cream which is part of Koru Naturals' Manuka Skin care line. Because of the antibacterial qualities of Manuka Honey (and other ingredients, including tea tree oil*), this cream is recommended for problem facial skin. Just a note this cream has a fairly strong lemongrass scent.

This one I can definitely vouch for. I have occasional adult acne outbreaks, and was very curious to see how this would work for them. When I do have problems, they are fairly limited, and tend to run along the perimeter of my face~ my hairline (including the back of my neck, IN my hairline.. :/), just the edges of my cheeks, my chin, and well, then there is the nose. Thankfully seldom all at once! ;)

When I felt a pimple coming on, I dabbed it with a dot of Skin Clear Cream before going to bed, and then again in the morning. Repeating if necessary. Each time I used the cream, the pimple receded, and never became infected with pus. Hurrah for natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory products!

Products I received, the day they arrived

*Now, a note about allergies~ Each of the products above include something that may cause allergic reactions. I will mention that I do tend to take antihistamines daily, so if I did have some sensitivities, they seem to be largely taken care of.

• If you are allergic to honey (which is different from being allergic to bee stings), you might want to stay far away from these products. 
• If you have tea tree allergies, proceed with caution. I am typically fairly sensitive to tea tree oil (like, I often can't breathe when I come into contact with products containing teat tree oil...), and I didn't have any major problems with the skin cream. I also didn't use large quantities at once... I doubt I should use it as an all-over facial cream... 
• The Skin Cream in particular is not recommended for pregnant women or children under 12 years of age.  
• If you have general "scent"-sitivities, I can't promise you, but I didn't have any major problems with any of these products, and I tend to have a VERY sensitive nose and allergic (Asthmatic) reactions. Of all of the products, I would say the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream was the one I tended to keep furthest away from my nose. 

One more note~ the Skin Clear Cream is not a very solid cream, so use caution when removing or opening the protective plastic cover under the lid. There is a nice little tab to assist with this, but using a finger tip under the edge will help to break the liquid "seal" that seems to occur each time it's closed. 

I like the ability to use natural good to help heal and have enjoyed using these Koru Naturals products!
Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Koru Naturals
• Product:
• $19.20 Skin Clear Cream (4oz)
• $7.90 Manuka Honey Propolis Soap (4.93oz)
• $14.80 Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream (4oz)
• Ages: Moms/Dads, family, teens

You can visit Koru Naturals on Facebook and Pinterest

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Review Crew and see what others had to say about these and other products. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Koru Naturals~ a little Emu oil?? (TOS Review)

Now for something NOT curriculum or strictly homeschool related~ Members of the TOS Review Crew received a variety of products from Koru Naturals for Review. Everyone was sent a bottle of Emu Oil, and one of the following: 

Koolpurrie Restoring Balm, Pure Lanolin Lip Balms, New Zealand Pure and Simple Lanolin Cream, or Manuka Oil and Honey Shampoo and Conditioner. 

I was most pleased to receive the Koolpurrie Restoring Balm, as I was very curious to see how it would work on my 14 yo son's very dry and cracked hands. Every winter it is a fight to keep his hands moisturized and smooth.

You can see how terribly dry and cracked they are in the before photo, and how much better it looks in the after photo. They are a little red simply because he had recently rubbed the balm in, but you can see that the cracking and scabbing on all of the knuckles, and the extreme dry skin around his thumb looks much better! 

Before Koolpurrie Healing Balm

After a few weeks of Koolpurrie Healing Balm

 

Now as boys are boys, he's not terribly consistent at putting cream or lotion or balm on every day, but he did remember *most* days to use the restoring balm in the morning and the evening. Side note~ the "before" photo was when he was using other moisturizers on a similar basis~ he wasn't just ignoring his hands for them to get in this condition, so the only thing that changed between the first and the second photo was what he was using. 

One of the most important things when hands are in such a dry, cracked state is that whatever goes on not sting, and the Koolpurrie Restoring Balm fits that profile. 

Middlest appreciates that there is no specific "Scent" (feminine or otherwise) that he might be allergic to. He has also noticed that the balm doesn't make his hands feel cold when he puts it on, like traditional lotions do. The size of the balm container is very portable, and easy for him to toss in his backpack for day trips, and because it is a balm and not a lotion, he isn't worried about it leaking out all over everything. 

On to the Emu Oil~ This jar contains straight Emu Oil from New Zealand. While not recognized in the US by any overseeing organization, it *is* recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia as a traditional Australian Aboriginal natural oil. The oil is refined but not clarified, which allows it to retain the vitamins, minerals a naturally occurring Omega 3 and Omega 6 Essential Fatty acids. It is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. It is recommended for extreme dry skin, blemishes, and dry scalp among other uses.

My daughter and I applied it a couple of times to our scalp/hair before we showered~ Eldest as a treatment for dry, itchy, flaky scalp, and me more for dry, thin hair. We both felt a difference. She felt an improvement on her scalp. My hair, which is beginning to thin even more, as well as developing a little coarseness as more gray hairs appear, felt much softer after applying just a few drops to my hands, and running them through my hair about 10 minutes before showering. Note: we do not use shampoo, only conditioner, so depending on your hair care routine, your results may vary.

I also used a couple of drops on my dry "T" zone, and have noticed a cessation of flaky skin there.

A third use for the oil~ my youngest tends to get red, dry skin around his mouth (lip-licking and perhaps a little drooling when he sleeps?), as well as red dry skin around his nose with his latest cold and much nose-blowing. I have used a drop of oil around his mouth and on the sides of his nostrils before bed, and in the morning there is MUCH improvement.

One more note about the usefulness of Emu Oil~ a number of years ago when my daughter broke her nose and had a gash requiring 15+ stitches across the top, the doctor recommended using Emu Oil on it to lessen the scarring. Sure would have liked to have Koru Naturals Emu Oil back then to try out! (Side note... scarring was minimal~ the doctor who stitched her up did a great job!)
I have also heard Emu Oil recommended as a moisturizer/topical burn remedy for cancer patients going through radiation treatments.

I am always on the lookout for all-natural useful remedies, and in this instance, Koru Naturals delivers with their Emu Oil and Lanolin products.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Koru Naturals 
• Product: Emu Oil ($9.85 for 2oz bottle) and Koolpurrie Restoring Balm ($12.50) 

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Review Crew and see what others had to say, especially if you are interested in the other products I did not receive~ the Lip Balm, Shampoo and Conditioner and Lanolin Cream. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to allocate your budget.

Blessings~

Abe's Market ~ a Few Organic and Natural Gifts Under $25

I don't know if you've noticed the ad for Abe's Market over on my sidebar, but I have enjoyed a number of items purchased from this store, especially as I try to use more organic and natural items. If you are looking for some gifts that fit that profile, you might be interested to see a sampling of what is available at Abe's Market.

To sweeten the pot, all purchases made through December 31, 2014 will be shipped for free (no minimum), and all orders placed *before* December 17th are guaranteed to arrive by Christmas.

Organic and Natural Gifts Under $25

Foot Care Candy Mint Foot Polish By: Deep Steep $7.01	Canal Street Daisy Nail Polish By: Scotch Naturals $15.00	Small Herbal Healing Kit By: Elemental Herbs $24.00
Reclaimed Circuit Board Money Clip By: ecoxoxo $18.00	Chocolate Bar Variety Gift Set By: Wild Ophelia $10.25	Spice Tin Gift Box By: Sauce Goddess Gourmet $24.00
Small Change Pink/Vanilla Burp & Bib Set By: Kee-Ka Organics $25.00	Eco-dough By: eco-kids $19.99	Wool Felt Jewelry Kit By: Artterro $22.00

Check back on my blog coupons, which can be used on all items, including those on sale!

Blessings~

Shea how soft it is... (Review)

I am always on the lookout for natural products to use in my home, so I was very pleased when #Adovia Mineral Skin Care sent me a 1 lb tub of Raw Shea Butter from Cleopatra's Choice  from Africa, 100% Organic Grade A  pure, raw, unrefined.

Having never used pure shea (only having seen it as an ingredient), I wasn't sure what to expect. When my Amazon order came in, it was in a plastic tub similar to those found at the deli, with all the information on the lid.

My initial impression was that the shea butter was very... fragrant ... in a not entirely unpleasant way, just rather unexpectedly strong in an earthy sort of way. Apparently it is normal for good, natural shea butter to be strongly scented, and most products that use raw, organic shea mask the scent with essential oils. The scent was not a problem for me, as my main intention was to use it on my dry rough summer heels and feet in general~ far from my olfactory sensors~ However, the rest of my family wasn't quite as excited about that nutty, earthy scent on arms/elbows and hands, so we haven't used it widely just yet. 

Right out of the container it really does look like a tub of butter, with a similar texture to refrigerated butter (but at room temperature). I do plan to order some essential oils to add to the shea butter, whipping it to make a creamier texture for regular use, and possibly making some of my own body butters, combining with coconut oil and other natural ingredients. 

As far as quality, I have nothing with which to compare, but I can say that using it at night on my horribly rough, dry "summer" feet has made a difference, and my feet are much happier (softer and smoother) than they were before the shea butter arrived. 

Shea butter is a non-clogging, deep moisturizer for skin, containing Vitamins A, E, and F, and I look forward to seeing how it affects my son's dry skin, and my husband's psoriasis, once I have it properly scented. I love being able to use natural ingredients, avoiding all of the additives that are so unnecessary and often harmful, but so commonly found in many body and skin care products. 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for use, please leave a comment below! 

Blessings~

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.

A Few End of Year Nuggets for you~

I've taken a bit of a break from my blog~ Christmas, family, headaches (not related to Christmas or family, just poor timing), but wanted to make sure that you all get in on some specials that are going on right now, as well as sharing some posts that I have found interesting and timely.

Because we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, we are very happy to know that there are others who join us in that tradition.

The Institute for Excellence in Writing is offering gifts to those who register to receive them~ I have taken advantage of their 12 Days of Christmas offerings in the past, so can say from experience that this is worth checking out ~ here.

Since I don't regularly purchase protein powder I was intrigued by this post from Green Thickies that shows how to make a Protein Shake *without* Protein powder~ planning to try this one soon!

Money Saving Mom has a listing of 15 resources to help you get organized in 2014 (I'm not suggesting that any of you, my readers, are unorganized, but personally *I* find these helpful!).

Once I find a source for Citric Acid, I think that these DIY Toilet Bombs might be a project to try out, as I continue to search out natural alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals.

I will be back later this week, but in the meantime

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Blessings~

Woolzies Dryer Balls (Review)

As I become more interested in avoiding additives and things that can cause allergic reactions, I like to look for natural alternatives. Fabric Softener is one of those things that I have been purchasing less and less, as there are more and more unpronounceable ingredients listed on the box.

I've used tennis balls in the past to help "fluff" my down comforters and pillows, and I've had friends who have used a variety of "Dryer balls," so I was very intrigued by the opportunity to review Woolzies, the 100% all natural New Zealand Wool dryer balls, sold by Soft By Nature, Inc.

I received a package in the mail with this box of 6 XL wool balls. The package comes with full directions, and information on the dryer balls.

It is suggested to use all 6 balls in each load, so that is what we did. Using all 6 balls should reduce the drying time of each load of laundry by 25%, which is a great energy saver. My only "con" is that sometimes the balls "hide" in the laundry, and don't make their way back to the dryer until things are folded (fitted sheets are major culprits... ;))

What we have found~

• In comparison to other dryer balls/tennis balls, Woolzies are MUCH quieter. This is a huge benefit in my mind, as the regular "thunk! thunk!" of tennis balls (Or tennis shoes, way back...) can be very irritating. With Woolzies, it is an issue no more~ 
• I am pleased with the the "Softening" effect~ the fabrics aren't as stiff as normal (minus fabric softener)
• The Woolzies didn't entirely eliminate static cling, but it was better than without. 

I haven't tried it yet, but plan to add some essential oils to one or two balls to scent my laundry~ I will enjoy the option to have my own, genuine, scents for my laundry.

From the manufacturer~  Product Description:

Woolzies are 100% pure new zealand wool dryer balls that do everything that conventional fabric softeners do plus they reduce drying time by 25%. They are money back guaranteed to last for at least 1,000 loads!
Woolzies have no chemicals at all and are also hypoallergenic so are safe even for people with wool sensitivities.

You can visit Woolzies on Facebook and Twitter. If you are looking for a natural alternative to fabric softener sheets, Woolzies might be what you are looking for! :) 

Blessings~

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.