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Product Review: Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion

April 10, 2012 by JD

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion Ingredients List

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $$ ($10-$20) – Available at Burt’s Bees, Drugstore.com, and Walmart.
Scent: Lemongrass
I Like: that it’s an all-natural acne treatment lotion. Great for use as an aftershave as well.
Not a fan of: the thick, somewhat sticky feel.

Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a reliable all-natural acne treatment if used daily. Its active ingredient is salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory compound sourced from willow bark. Because this product contains salicylic acid and provides no sun protection, I suggest combining it during the day with your go-to SPF lotion to obtain the benefits of both moisturizers. Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion also works well as an aftershave due to its anti-inflammatory properties – this especially applies to those who frequently suffer from razor burn or razor bumps. One drawback is the lotion’s texture – my face felt a bit sticky and tight immediately after application. I suppose it’s one of the trade-offs of using an all-natural moisturizing acne treatment. The product has a light lemongrass scent – slightly herbal and lemony. I suggest trying this face lotion if you want to manage occasional breakouts. Its relatively low one percent salicylic acid content may not be enough to make a noticeable difference for those with highly problematic skin.

Posted in Acne Treatments, Moisturizers: Face, Shave Products | Tagged acne treatment, Aftershave, Burt's Bees, Face Lotion, pimples, razor bumps, salicylic acid, willow bark, zits | 2 Comments »

Product Review: Murad Man Face Defense SPF 15

March 28, 2012 by JD

Murad Man Face Defense SPF 15

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.5%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Oxybenzone 2.0%
Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chitosan Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $$$$ ($30-$40) – Available at Murad, Ulta, and Amazon.
Scent: very subtle hint of geranium.
I Like: how the lotion is light and easily absorbed. Keeps the skin moisturized without that greasy feeling. Not tested on animals.
Not a fan of: the paraben preservatives.

Murad’s Face Defense SPF 15 lotion for men moisturizes well without leaving my skin feeling greasy, which is relatively rare for a sunscreen. The lotion absorbs quickly, almost immediately after applying. Its scent is hardly noticeable – those with a keen sense of smell might detect a hint of geranium. This lightweight facial sunscreen does not come cheap – a two-ounce tube lasting 1-2 months costs $33. If you have the disposable income to spend on an effective, non-greasy facial moisturizer with sunscreen, try using Murad Man Face Defense SPF 15. You just might like it.

Posted in Moisturizers: Face, Sunscreens/Sunblocks, Videos | Tagged beauty, Face Lotion, face moisturizer, Male Skin Care, Mens Grooming, Murad, review, SPF, style, Sunscreen | Leave a Comment »

Product Review: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

March 21, 2012 by JD

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Ingredients

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $$ ($10-$20) – Available at Walmart, Target, and Walgreens.
Scent: Fragrance free
I Like: how rich and easily spreadable the cream is. Moisturizes body and face. Effectively treats dry, irritated skin. A good value.
Not a fan of: the petroleum-based ingredients.

Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream is a fantastic gateway moisturizer for those who are not too concerned about how natural their skin care products are. This widely-available unscented cream effectively moisturizes dry, sensitive skin on the body as well as the face. Its consistency is extremely thick – similar to that of Crisco, but nowhere near as greasy. What impresses me most about the cream is how quickly it alleviates dryness. The product leaves behind a slightly greasy film, but it becomes hardly noticeable ten minutes after application. If you’re still using your girlfriend’s synthetic berry-scented lotion, you should consider moving on to a fragrance-free alternative such as Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream. It does a better job at moisturizing without making you smell like an air freshener.

Posted in Moisturizers: Body, Moisturizers: Face | Tagged body cream, Cetaphil, dry skin, Face Lotion, moisturizing cream, review, Sensitive skin, unscented | Leave a Comment »

Product Review: Beta Naturals 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil

March 16, 2012 by JD

Argan oil for acne, skin, face, hair and more. Beta Naturals Argan Oil review.

Beta Naturals 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil

Argan oil for acne, skin, face, hair and more. Beta Naturals Argan Oil review and ingredients.

Beta Naturals 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil Ingredients

Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Price: $$ ($10-$20) – Available at Beta Naturals and Amazon.
Scent: None.
I like: how well this product moisturizes without leaving your skin greasy. It is all-natural and absorbs easily into the skin.
Not a fan of: nothing. This is a phenomenal versatile moisturizer that works particularly well for those with dry skin.

Argan oil might be the single most nourishing natural skin care ingredient available on the market. My research into this awesome extract eventually led me to launch a skin care company. Prior to starting Beta Naturals, I couldn’t find a lot of information relating to men on the use of argan oil. If you’re a guy and this is the first time you’re hearing about argan oil, then it is my absolute pleasure to educate you on its benefits. I love how versatile Beta Naturals Pure Argan Oil is. I use it in the morning as a naturally soothing aftershave and before bed as a nighttime moisturizer for the face and eye area. The high vitamin e content in this product helps the skin recover quickly from shaving. Essential fatty acids make Beta Naturals Argan Oil an ideal anti-aging product as well. Don’t let the word “oil” fool you into thinking it is thick and greasy – on the contrary, the consistency of the product is very light and absorbs easily into the skin. Any initial shine dissipates quickly. It does not clog pores and works well at regulating oil production – my skin does not overcompensate and produce excess oil whenever I use the product. Beta Naturals Pure Argan Oil has no scent, nutty or otherwise, and won’t interfere with any fragrances you might be wearing. The one ounce bottle may seem small, but it packs a punch – a little goes a very long way in moisturizing – I usually just rub 1-2 drops between the fingertips and apply. Now that I have opened your eyes to the wonderful world of Beta Naturals 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil, are adventurous enough to try it?

Posted in Acne Treatments, All-in-One Products, Beauty Oils, Eye Gels and Creams, Hair, Moisturizers: Body, Moisturizers: Face, Shave Products | Tagged argan oil, argan oil acne, argan oil Amazon, argan oil for face, argan oil for skin, argan oil hair, argan oil review, Beta Naturals argan oil, dry skin, eczema | Leave a Comment »

Product Review: Bulldog Natural Skincare for Men Original Shave Gel

March 14, 2012 by JD

Bulldog Original Shave Gel

Bulldog Natural Skincare for Men Original Shave Gel Ingredients List

Bulldog Original Shave Gel Ingredients

Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Price: $ (under $10) – Available at Bulldog, Abe’s Market, and Whole Foods Markets.
Scent: Natural masculine blend of patchouli, lime and other citrus oils.
I like: the natural ingredients and gentleness of the product.
Not a fan of: nothing. This is a fantastic shave gel without the harsh synthetic ingredients generally found in many shave gels and foams

Bulldog Natural Skincare’s Original Shave Gel does one thing incredibly well: it provides a clear, thick layer of protection between my razor and skin without the use of synthetic fragrances that can typically irritate sensitive skin. The scent is the same as other Bulldog products – a natural blend of citrus and patchouli. Considering its reasonable price of ten dollars and that it’s made in England with some awesome ingredients, this shave gel is a great value and definitely worth trying.