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~

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~

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.

Don't We Feel BeeYoutiful! (Mineral Makeup Review)

I am a fan of many things natural, and NOT a fan of wearing most makeups (in part because they aren't natural....). I had heard of mineral makeup for a few years, but never got around to trying it (because, quite frankly, I don't tend to wear makeup much these days). However, I have been curious about mineral makeup in general, and was grateful for the opportunity to try it out, as part of The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew. The possibility of trying out makeup with a list of ingredients I could easily identify~ novel concept!  :D I was also interested in how my daughter would fare with it. She's not a makeup wearer either, but as a competitive Irish Step-dancer, at some point, makeup will become a little more necessary, so this seemed like a good time to try it out on her. :)

We received items similar to those in the photo above~ A Foundation Brush, Foundation (I chose Isabella),  and eye color (I chose Apricot Shimmer~ which I also used as a blush and Lip Color), a multi-purpose brush, and a small ziplock baggie with a sample of another eye color (I chose Harvest Oak). 

On of the fun things about this review (Since I'm not much of a makeup wearer...) was choosing the colors to request. After perusing the Foundation/Skin color chart, we were sent three of the tiny sample baggies of foundation to help us choose the correct shade for our skin. I had a girls' night out with a friend, and I appreciated her help in choosing the foundation color, as well as the 2 eye colors (There are 48 shades to  choose from, so help in narrowing it down was a good thing in my case!). The gold shimmer was certainly a temping option~ how fun.

However, because I tend to go au'natural, I wanted to choose shades that would be very earthy and natural looking for me. Apricot Shimmer seemed a to be a good multi-purpose choice for eye/lip/cheek color, and the Harvest Oak was a rich, darker shade for "eye-liner" purposes. 

BeeYoutiful Skin has a series of videos on their site that show how to apply mineral makeup, if this is something with which you are not familiar. I found the instruction to be very useful, as I felt I was a bit of a novice in this arena. ;) The powders are all 100% finely ground minerals with no fillers, so the amount necessary to "cover" is pretty tiny compared to traditional foundations.

Here is a before/after picture of me :

What I liked:  

• Lightweight
• Smooths out skin tones
• Color choices
• "Shimmer" in eye/lip/cheek colors
• Very "Natural" appearance~ not heavy caked-on look.

What I didn't care for

• Seemed to accentuate puffiness under eyes
• Accentuated large pores on my face (Can't see that in the pictures, really, but I noticed)
• The feeling that I was wasting minerals when applying to my face and a fine dust would come of the brush (Even after tapping it a bit)

and a before/after picture of my eldest:

Her thoughts: 

• "I don't like makeup! Any Makeup! Do we have to do this?"   
• "Do you have to take pictures?" 
• She did mention a little tingly sensation on one cheek after applying the foundation powder, so she may have a sensitivity to one of the minerals, but there was no rash or breakout. She also refused to keep the makeup on, and rinsed it off as soon as we were done with the photos. Funny girl! :)

My thoughts:

• I'm pleased that she's not into makeup in general, but upon occasion, when called for, I think that the mineral makeup is very light and natural, and creates a lovely polished look~ don't you agree?
• I'm happy to have an alternative to the makeups of my youth for my daughter. She's not terribly interested in wearing it at the moment, and that's just fine, but if she ever changes her mind, it's nice to know that this is out there for her.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: BeeYoutiful Skin a subsidiary of BeeYoutiful

Product:

• Foundation $25.00 for 2.35 g
• Foundation Brush $11.00 
• Eye/Lip Color $10.00 for .45 g 
• Combo Brush $6.50
• a small sample of a second Eye/Lip Color $1.00
• and a DVD with information on "How to apply" BeeYoutiful Mineral makeup

This mineral make-up is pure, 100% minerals with no fillers, and it is even gluten-free.

• Ages: Teens and moms... ;)

While we (or rather, *I* ) had fun playing around with the mineral makeup, as did some other TOS Review Crew members, there were a number of Crew members who received either a skin care package or a more "Health/skin care" package. Please consider clicking the banner below to read more about their experiences.  As always, I hope that you enjoyed this review~ it was a fun one for me to bring to you! :)

Blessings~

Disclaimer: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Review Crew Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."