Like vinegar and baking soda, castile soap is extremely versatile. Carolina Castile Soap is just that. These soaps are made from a mixture of oils (mainly olive) as well as cocoa butter. Many if not all of the oils included in the making of soap are organic. No fake dyes or scents are used in the soaps and they do not contain sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate as many big name brands do. Carolina Castile Soap is also animal and environmental friendly, a big plus! They also do not use false foaming agents, something that can not be said about many soaps/shampoos/etc. found in big box stores. After all, it isn't the suds that clean. ;)
As mentioned earlier, castile soap is very versatile and multi-purpose. Here is just a small list of some of its uses:
Shampoo - Hand Soap - Dog Shampoo - Laundry Detergent - Face Wash - Dish Soap - Mopping Floors - General House Cleaner - Cleaning Wipes - Vegetable Rinse - Carpet Cleaner - Dishwasher Detergent - Shaving Cream - Baby Shampoo/Wash - Body Wash - Bathroom Scrub
While Carolina Castile Soap offers many fragrances available on their website, I was sent the Gentle Unscented variety to review (plus share an awesome DIY) and giveaway. This specific castile soap is made with 7 ingredients. SEVEN. Plus, I can pronounce all of them. I'm told by a very wise one (thanks momma!), that if you can't pronounce the ingredient, it probably ain't good for ya! In case you're curious, here is the ingredient list:
Organic Olive Oil - Organic & Fair Trade Cocoa Butter - Organic Coconut Oil - Citric Acid - Potassium Hydroxide - Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - Water
So anyway, my first goal was to create a shampoo recipe. I scoured Pinterest to find a recipe and gave a few a try. I just made enough of each for a single use to test them out. It turns out that there were things I liked and didn't like about each. Therefore, I took it upon myself to try my own combinations to see what I liked best. Please keep in mind that all formulas work differently with individual body chemistry. If this doesn't work for you, try tweaking the recipe until you find something that does. I will post substitutions below the recipe for you to experiment with. Lastly, don't freak out when you mix your ingredients and see that they are a consistency between water and shampoo, this is normal. I actually prefer this over the cream/gel as it isn't so heavy for your hair.
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Castile Soap
1/4 Cup Distilled Water
1/4 tsp. Vitamin E
5-10 Drops Essential Oil (I used Lavender & Orange)
Directions:
1. Pour all ingredients into a glass bowl
2. Gently stir to avoid excessive foaming
3. Store in a squeeze bottle (I just recycled an empty one)
4. Enjoy
Substitutions:
○ If you are missing ingredients, Carolina Castile Soap can be used alone
○ You may substitute the Vitamin E (though it helps preserve) with Aloe Gel for the extra moisture
○ Use all Lavender oil to soothe scalp, including helping w/ dandruff
○ Peppermint oil will provide an invigorating perk to your scalp as well as help with oily hair
○ Cedarwood provides an earthy, musky scent that may help w/ hair regrowth
○ Use any mixture of essential oils that you think smell nice
Then there's the fun part! Carolina Castile Soap was super generous in offering a 32 oz. Gentle Unscented bottle to one of my readers! Enter using the widget below.
32 oz. Carolina Castile Soap Gentle Unscented Giveaway
-Open to U.S. residents only-
-Entries will be verified-
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I received the castile soap complimentary for review purposes. Nonetheless, all opinions are 100% my own.
I absolutely LOVE trying new shampoos and conditioners so you can imagine how excited I was to have the opportunity to try this!
While a tiny detail, I was really pleased to see that all 3 items came shrink wrapped through the mail. I don't know how many times I have received lotions/shampoos/conditioners/other liquids in the mail and had them leaking everywhere. Such a pain to clean up. Also....I will tell you from my experience...you have to take the shampoo/conditioner top off to remove a foil piece. With my first use, I was wondering why it was so difficult to get the shampoo out. It turns out, the foil was partially opened and that made it hard to squeeze. Silly mistake! Anyway....let's get down to the nitty gritty!
Arvazallia Repair Moisturizing Shampoo:
This product is specially made to repair, restore and strengthen hair that has been previously damaged. It also helps lock in moisture and gives your hair a nice shine! While I do not often use much product or heat tools in my hair, it still shows a bit of damage. My hair is very long and tends to get tugged around on by kids, pets and who knows what else. While I probably haven't used the system quite long enough to notice a huge difference, in the short term, I have noticed that my hair is much more smooth and less frizzy. The shampoo is also Sulfate free and therefore is much more gentle on your hair. While not a make a break factor, the scent is also AMAZING! It is quite strong, so if you're sensitive to scents, you may not appreciate this. However, it has a very fresh, maybe slightly floral scent. My only very slight issue with this is that (aside from the foil issue above) it is still a bit difficult to get the product out. The bottle is quite tall and the product is thick enough to where it is a bit difficult to 'shake' to the opening. But then again....maybe I'm just picky!
-Purchase on Amazon-
Arvazallia Repair Daily Conditioner:
The conditioner is also made to accomplish the same goals as above, plus detangling. I really appreciate the fact that the brand also included argan oil in the conditioner as well as the shampoo. Double the oil, double the moisture. When it comes to detangling, I always apply the product and comb my fingers through my hair. With this conditioner, it was very easy to get the knots out and smooth my hair. As far as issues, the only thing I noticed is the very minor problem that I mentioned with the shampoo.
-Purchase on Amazon-
Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask:
Star of the show! Out of all three products that I was able to try, this was my favorite! Best deep conditioner I have tried by far. Once again, this was created for the purposes mentioned above. However, to me this works like something that would cost twice the price! You know that feeling when you go to the salon and get your hair cut? It feels super smooth and 'new'? That is what this did to my hair! Instantly when I applied it in the shower, my hair felt like silk! Plus, it is super easy to use! Just apply it, comb through, let it sit for a few minutes and rinse it out. Once dry, my hair had volume, shine, moisture and lack of frizz! I was so pleased with this product and will definitely purchase in the future!
-Purchase on Amazon-
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If you have damaged hair, this would definitely be something that you should try out. If nothing else, at least the deep conditioning mask! Or, if you're looking to start with sulfate free shampoo, or change your current, this product would be a great, affordable alternative!
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I received the mentioned products complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.
As you probably already know, I normally write product reviews about things that I am sent specifically to review. In this case I happened to win some products that I just really like. And so....I decided to write a review to clue all of you in. Via the Innersense Organic Facebook page, I was lucky enough to win a Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave in Conditioner.
Before even checking out the products, I was obsessed with the packaging! So simple, so...organic looking! This would make such a nice gift for someone! Please note that I do not know if all orders come exactly like this, but I assume it would be similar!
So....let's get down to the good stuff, shall we?
Shampoo
Yum! This stuff literally smells edible. When I first opened it up, I was instantly reminded of grapefruit. However, I believe the scent is actually orange based on the ingredient list. Either way, it smells phenomenal! Seriously like fresh fruit! The next thing that I absolutely love about this shampoo is that it is sulfate free! Yes, such a huge plus! Sulfate is so rough on your hair that this shampoo was already high up in my book.
When applying the product, the first thing that I noticed was that it doesn't get nearly as sudsy as big name brands. However, it does spread easily and evenly through your hair. Besides....it isn't the suds that clean your hair anyway...right? Who needs them!?
Conditioner
Then comes my favorite part! I always have a heck of a time finding a good conditioner. I have super long, tangle and frizz prone hair so a conditioner is a must for me! While the scent isn't as yummy as the shampoo, this stuff surely works wonders! Firstly...and I know this sounds weird, but I love the looks of the conditioner. It may be slightly difficult to see in the picture (click to enlarge), but there are tiny speckles of matter in there. It feels very natural, fresh and minimally processed.
As far as use goes, the conditioner is awesome at de-tangling! I was literally able to brush through my hair with my fingers after applying the conditioner. That's rare. Pretty awesome too! Not only that, but it really smooths your hair.
Leave in Conditioner
Last but not least! I have only used this product once or twice before writing this post, so I haven't formed much of an opinion yet. I do absolutely love that Rosemary Essential oil is one of the ingredients. I have recently gotten into essential oils and know that Rosemary is great for hair! I have high hopes for this leave in conditioner. After longer use, I will update you with more info on this product!
Overall, I was pleased with Innersense Organic in general. I will definitely be using their products in the future as well as recommending them to others such as YOU, my incredible readers! Big thanks to the Innersense Organic team for the win and especially Lauren for the kind emails and support!
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This product was a sweepstakes win with no obligation to review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Dog lovers unite!
I have a very special review for you. Organic Oscar was kind enough to provide me with a couple products from there line for my canine child, Missy! Before I start to review the products for you, meet Missy!
Missy is a 5 to 6 year old Cocker Spaniel rescue. As a pup, she wandered up to a neighbors yard, and being the animal lover that I am, all homeless dogs in the area are brought to my home. Well...it just so happens that this time, I decided to keep her! While taking her in for an app. to have some teeth removed, it was discovered that my baby has an enlarged heart and kidneys. It is thought that she may have been dumped as a puppy for this reason. Luckily, she is under the care of an incredible veterinarian and is being taken care of well! She has never shown any symptoms, but was put on medication just in case! Anyhoo, as you may or may not be able to tell by the photo, she is extremely camera shy! So...bear with me on these pics!
Now...onto my review. So....what is this stuff?
Missy had the same question!
Organic Oscar is an [obviously] Organic pet care line consisting of shampoos, conditioners, sprays and wipes to keep your doggy (or puppy) clean, itch free and smelling great! Created by pet lovers for pet lovers, Organic Oscar is an excellent alternative to many of the bath care items we are accustomed to using on our furry friends. This brand is great for dogs with sensitive skin and is toxin free. Please refer to this excerpt from the Organic Oscar website:
"Recent studies have demonstrated that people tend to take in more toxins by way of touch and inhalation than through the foods they eat. Skin happens to be the largest organ of the body and presents the largest surface area through which toxic chemical movement can occur."
What did I think of it?
Well, for starters, this is the absolute most adorable packaging that I have come across. While packaging doesn't make a product good or bad, it just makes it more fun and also makes it stand out above the competition.
When I think of 'oatmeal' as in the shampoo, I assume a thick, almost chunky consistency. I was slightly concerned as to how this would work on my pooch. Thankfully, the shampoo is nothing like that. Instead, it is rather thin and easy to apply. It also smells great! With a mild peppermint flavor, I love the scent, and I would assume the cooling effect that it has would feel good for Missy! The aloe conditioner has a nice, thick and creamy consistency. As far as scent goes, I really didn't smell much of anything which is fine as I wouldn't want it to over power the shampoo. Such a perfect combination for bath time!
Applying the shampoo and conditioner is super easy! It is thin enough that you only need to use a small amount at each bath. There is also hardly any suds while applying or rinsing. Missy tends to try and eat them (though I can't imagine they'd be appetizing) in most shampoos that I use on her. It can be a pain trying to keep her from lapping them up so that is a nice feature. Plus, you can actually see the water to tell how dirty (or clean) doggy was.
If I had one tiny complaint it would simply be that the tops of the containers are hard to get on and off. Once they are off, really...they don't have to be put back on. However, I just like the packaging, so I choose to struggle putting them on and taking them back off. Once again, just something very minor, but worth mentioning!
When all is said and done, I told myself that I wouldn't use anything on my pup that I wasn't willing to use on myself. Well, I didn't actually put any of this in my hair...but I did wash and condition my hands with it. My skin was extremely soft and smooth so I assume Missy's was the same! Knowing that she feels good after her bath makes me feel good about the product! How do I know she felt good? This is the first time after a bath and drying that she crawled up in the chair and took a nap. Typically she wants to 'rub' (I assume this is what she's doing) the shampoo/conditioner off on all of the furniture! Kudos to you, Organic Oscar
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I received the mentioned product complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Sara here, back at ya with another ADOVIA review! The first time it was a mask, this time it's Dead Sea Mud Shampoo! Sounds intriguing, right?!
A little background on the shampoo:
"ADOVIA's Dead Sea Mud Shampoo is formulated with pure Dead Sea mud and natural moisturizers such as Olive Oil, Grape Seed Oil and Aloe Vera. Dead Sea minerals present in the mud provide relief for a dry or irritated scalp and leave hair naturally moisturized, fuller and manageable. Vitamin E strengthens the hair root and Chamomile leaves your hair soft and flexible."
Scent:
One of the first things that people do when they get a new shampoo is smell it, right? Or is that just me?!
Anyhow, I didn't really know what to expect by seeing the color of the shampoo. It's an almost blue/gray pearly color (very pretty). The first time, I really didn't care for the scent. I thought it was almost a floral scent. However, the more I smelled of it, the better I started to like it. Now...I really don't think it's floral but more of a clean, fresh almost soapy scent. I really can't pinpoint one certain thing that it smells like. However, the scent is very familiar!
Use:
One big thumbs down for me. Literally...for ME! I wanted to show a picture of how the shampoo works and I completely forgot!
When you squeeze it into your hand, it's a bit more gel like than what I would prefer. I'd rather it be more on the creamy side. When you do apply it in your hair, it does get nice and sudsy. Yeah, yeah...I know the suds aren't what cleans your hair, but it gives me a piece of mind! Overall, not a whole lot different than a big name brand.
Results:
As usual, I let my hair air dry once I got out of the shower to get honest results. At first I really didn't think it was different than any other brand. It was however, very soft and smooth. It also seemed much easier to comb through my hair than with my regular shampoo. When I did really notice the difference was when I went to put my hair up into a ponytail! My pony felt so THICK in my hands! I don't know what it was in the shampoo or that that was even possible, but it was!
At $23, this is probably something that I would only buy on very rare occasions. While I really like the shampoo and its thickening effect, I just can't see paying that much for something that I use on a daily basis. It just isn't economical to me.
Though I would suggest that you give it a try at least once as it is very unique. You can find this product on Amazon!
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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.
