Mission Essentials is an all-natural, organic skin care line that I am thoroughly testing for all the Bionic Beauties out there.

The first product I tested? Their 100% natural Eucalyptus Soap.  The smell is unbelievable and completely refreshing, perfect for a quick morning shower, and the bar never leaves a residue.

Currently testing: All-natural Eucalyptus Soap by Mission Essentials

I fell immediately for this soap, but I wondered if the smaller size would last, as so many organic soaps don’t withstand shower steam.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that more than 3 weeks passed and my bar was still quite usable!

Yet another plus- every mission essentials soap contains 50% olive oil and are wrapped in environmentally conscious biodegradable wrappers.  I must say, mission essentials really is taking skin care to a higher level.

There are two options for bar sizes: a 7 oz. bar for $10, or a 3.5 ounce bar for $5. If Eucalyptus isn’t your thing, check out the other soap varieties- Lavendar/Shea, Lowcountry (this bar is not only packed with yummy scents, but is also looks like a work of art!), Aspen, Balsam and Cedar, and Patchouli. See? There is a variety for everyone! All the soaps are available for browsing and buying on Mission-Essentials.com.

Ingredients include: Olive oil, lavendar/shea butter, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender & cinnamon essential oils combined with wildcrafted botanicals of sage, cedar, pinon and juniper.

Stay Bionic,

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

Here are the latest fabulous beauty and cosmetics free samples that I’ve rounded up from across the web-o-sphere.

Grab a free sample of Eau Duelle perfume by “Liking” their page on Facebook, then click the Welcome tab and you should see a free sample link.

Kroger’s website is offering freebies of John Frieda Luxurious Volume hair care. Sorry, but this free sample is only valid in the following states: AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV.

Dry skin? Snag a free sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue body lotion to prep your skin for the upcoming dry winter months.

Print this coupon, take it to your local Sephora inside a JCPenney store, and you’ll get a Meaningful Beauty Deep Cleansing Masque free sample! This coupon is valid until October 16, 2010.

Grab a free compact/cosmetics mirror to toss in your purse for on-the-go touchups from Zoom Tooth Whitening and Discus Dental. Just click the link on the left hand side by the picture of the makeup mirror compact.

Print this pdf coupon and bring it to your local Sephora inside a JCPenney store, and you’ll get a free sample of Viva La Juicy perfume/fragrance by Juicy Couture. Offer is good until November 15, 2010.

For licensed hair stylists only: Get a free sample kit of Clairol Professional liquid hair color. I had some troubles with this one – the Captcha spam prevention image just kept “disappearing” and wouldn’t refresh… just be warned, this sample and the website coding seems to be set up a bit poorly.

Enjoy, Bionic Beauties!!

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

Sometimes you just need a good scrubbing…  Try this super simple DIY recipe for any skin type!

• 1/2 of an orange
• 4 tablespoons of cornmeal

Oranges are jam-packed with beneficial Vitamin C and natural astringent properties!

Instructions to mix it up~

Squeeze the orange juice and pulp into a bowl and add the cornmeal.
Mix the ingredients into a paste.
Then just apply the mixture on your freshly washed face and/or body, scrub gently for 2-3 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water, tone (optional), moisturize as desired and you’re done!

Stay Bionic,

Continuing Bionic Beauty’s “Three Years of Powerful Beauty” celebrations, one of my favorite skin care brands, Jeune D’Age Organics is sponsoring an absolutely wonderful giveaway worth over $165!!

One lucky Bionic Beauty is going to win a Jeune D’Age skincare gift set that includes:

• Serum box – Packed with CoQ10, DMAE, Hyaluroan, Acai, and Vitamin A. This facial serum is not only good for you, but it’s packed in a cool box that you can plant and it’ll sprout wildflowers! Don’t miss Bronnie’s full review of Jeune’s serum.
• Marin Toner – Both Bronnie and I LOVE this toner… it’s packed with lots of extra product and lasts forever!
• Facial Cleanser – Not only does it cleanse but it also gently exfoliates. Check out Bionic Beauty’s review!
• Body Lotion – This body lotion will protect and soften your skin this summer and is also perfect for fall!
• Pumpkin Peel – Jeune’s Pumpkin Peel is one of their newer products. It’s designed to help with skin cell turnover and clear out pores.
• Argan Oil – Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave, you know Argan Oil is one of the new leading skin care ingredients. Many companies use diluted amounts in their products, but not Jeune D’Age. Their Argan Oil is 100% Pure!

How do you enter to win Bionic Beauty’s Jeune D’Age Organics skin care giveaway?

Simply leave a comment below telling me about one of Jeune D’Age’s ingredients that interests you. Name the ingredient and why it is used in their skin care products. This way we can all learn a bit more about what we are putting on our faces and bodies!

The Rules: One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from the qualified entrants and will receive the Jeune D’Age Skincare set, as detailed above. Approximate retail value is $166.70. To qualify for entry, you must follow the entry rules as outlined in this post. This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only. Please enter only once; duplicate entries will be detected and discarded. Entry deadline is July 30, 2010 at midnight USA ET. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Bionic Beauty and contacted via email. *Please note that I will never share your email address with anyone! I only use your email address to contact you if you are a winner. If you do not enter a valid email address, you will be disqualified.

Please don’t forget to sign up for the Bionic Beauty blog newsletter (or you can subscribe in your favorite RSS reader). This way you can easily keep up with the free samples, product reviews, beauty and makeup news and giveaways offered on the blog.

Good luck Bionic Beauties!!

FTC Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Jeune D’Age Organics Skincare in honor of Bionic Beauty’s Third Anniversary. All opinions in this article are based on my own personal experience and were not influenced by any source. I received no compensation for this giveaway. Feel free to read Bionic Beauty’s disclosure policy for more information.

This week’s Bionic Asks…
What hair and body care products are currently stashed in your shower?

To kick things off, here’s my list:

Hair Care

• Freeman Papaya & Lime Shine shampoo
• Freeman Papaya & Lime Shine conditioner
• Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak deep conditioner
• Morrocan Oil Moisture Repair shampoo
• Morrocan Oil Moisture Repair conditioner
• Morrocan Oil Restorative Hair Mask deep conditioner
• Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Hair Masque

Body Care

• Elemental Herbology Beach Prep exfoliating body scrub
• Nature’s Gate Papaya body wash
• KO Denmark Jasmine & Neroli organic body wash
• Cactus & Ivy Citrus Mint Acai Body Glow (my body scrub review)
• ClarsSkin underarm cleanser
• Herbaria Soaps’ Lycopene Tomato all-natural bar soap
• Cactus & Ivy’s Spearcalyptus all-natural bar soap (my review)

Face Products

• Korres “Materia Herba” organic face wash
• Lexli Skincare Acne face cleanser
• YBF Skincare Prep – exfoliating facial scrub

As you can see, my shower is crammed full of things I am currently testing for future reviews!
Now, it’s your turn!

One of my favorite companies, Cactus & Ivy, recently started making all-natural, hand made soaps.
All I can say is YUM. I am a sucker for homemade bar soap. There’s something nice about going back to the feel of the square soap, the scents that are so much stronger, and so much more pleasant than most shower gels… and these new Cactus & Ivy soaps are simply perfect.

My new soap love from Cactus and Ivy!!

There’s a soap for everyone. My personal favorite is the Spearcalyptus mostly because I’m a fangirl of anything that has Eucalyptus as a scent layer. The chunks of Spearmint and Eucalyptus leaves in the bar are amazing for exfoliating!

And even my super sensitive facial skin was a-okay with the Serene Face and Body bar. No scent, just simple, all natural ingredients that don’t cause reactions on your skin. If you like plain and simple, this is your soap!

Calendula Sunshine is so pretty I almost didn’t want to use it! It’s perfect for a morning shower… It’ll wake you up with a citrusy scent.

All the bars lasted for weeks in my shower…

longer than most drugstore soaps, and definitely longer than those overpriced and melty-super-quick-craptastic Lush soaps (but that’s just my opinion, I know I’ll probably get some blowback from the Lush fans out there, but I just can’t see the draw on their products. They aren’t natural, they cost a bazillion dollars, and are high-maintenance. The stores make me sneeze and every product I’ve tested made my body and/or face breakout like mad.)

Anyhow, back to Cactus and Ivy… If you are looking for an incredible addition to your shower routine, I highly recommend this new soaps.

Definitely a Bionic Buy!

Cactus and Ivy soaps range in price starting a $5 a bar. Serene Face and Body is $5.50; Calendula Sunshine $5.50; and Spearcalyptus is an affordable $5!

Other varieties include African Black Soap, Tea & Tree Face Soap, and Monkey Wrench soap for those tire-flat-fixing, NOS-installing, header-upgrading woman or man in your life. Oh and the Monkey Wrench soap works great for gardeners, horsey-stall cleaners, and all those messy jobs that we love, but our hands don’t.

Now the best part… Bionic Beauty readers get an exclusive Cactus & Ivy discount for a limited time!! Get 15% off your entire order at Cactus & Ivy! Enter coupon code BionicSoap at checkout. Offer expires at midnight ET on March 31, 2010.

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

Now that you all know my fave beauty products from 2009… it’s time to share some super-special news about a few of the brands!

In honor of being named on of “Bionic’s Best of 2009″, Jeune D’age Organic skincare has offered Bionic Beauty readers an EXCLUSIVE discount! Enter “BestOfBionic” (without the quotes) at checkout and you’ll get 25% off your order! Sorry but it’s only open to USA residents. This discount expires on February 14th at midnight US ET.

Seriously ladies, this line rocks. You won’t regret it. Bionic Bronnie and I are both hooked. Have questions on what you should try, or the products themselves? Leave your questions in the comments section below and I’ll get them over to Jeune D’age (or just use their contact form). Happy shopping!!

Besides having wonderful makeup, Robyn from Purely Cosmetics also runs a beauty blog. She’s currently holding an amazing giveaway…

for a full size bottle of Perricone’s High Potency Eye Lift serum. I know this line is on many a woman’s wish list, but also on the “I don’t have the budget for that” list (it normally costs $95 for a 1/2 ounce bottle). So here’s your chance to win a bottle! It’s simple to enter, just comment and you’re golden. More entries for those who tweet, Facebook, etc. Read her article for details.

And now for some lovey themed quotes to get in you in, or out of the mood, for Valentine’s Day. For the record, I asked my dog to be my Valentine. He accepted with a “Woof”. So now I have a Valentine and don’t even need a special makeup look or dress!
For the jaded, Vday’er…

“Happy endings are just stories that haven’t finished yet.”
~Jane Smith, from the movie Mr & Mrs Smith.

And here’s one that truly speaks to me, since I believe our society has lost the definition of true love. So many people approach relationships as something disposable- like a rental agreement or a car that they’ll own for 5 years and trade in…

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
~St. Augustine

Feel free to share your favorite finds from the week, quotes that you love, or plans for Valentine’s Day in the comments below!

I hope all the Bionic Beauties out there have a fabulous rest of your week and a happy Valentine’s Day, and whatever that may mean for you.
Stay Bionic,

Last week I introduced you to the L’uvalla Organic Skin Care brand by reviewing their Balancing System. For ladies looking for help battling the signs of aging skin, I also tested their Age-Defying System.

During my review period, I found the L’uvalla Age-Defying System to be as incredibly gentle as their Balancing System. And that’s saying quite a bit since many anti-aging products can really create a flare up for sensitive skin types

Bionic Bronnie reviews the L'uvalla Organic "Age Defying" skincare regimen.

The Age Defying System

The Cleanser: A milky hydrating cleanser that gently removes makeup and pollution from our environment without drying the skin. The active ingredients also help will skin cell sloughing, which in turn encourages new cell growth. The end result is clean, smooth and hydrated skin. This face wash also has strong aromatherapy properties using Lavendin Oil to quiet the mind, lift mood, balance mood swings, and encourage restful sleep. Other standout ingredients include: Sunflower Seed Oil, Betaine, Hazel Seed Oil, Lotus Flower, Orange Peel, Meadowsweet Extract and Ginseng Root. The Hydrating Milk Cleanser comes in a 7 ounce plastic flip-top bottle.

Eucalyptus Toner: This toner utilizes Eucalyptus Leaf Extract to renovate and purify skin. The Eucalyptus Leaf Extract combined with Yarrow Oil work together for strong aromatherapy benefits to invigorate, soothe, and can assist you through major life changes such as menopause. Additional toner ingredients include: Maris Salt Extract, Sage Oil, Niaouli Leaf Oil and White Lotus.  This toner was by far my favorite of the two from L’uvalla. It feels wonderful on my skin! Like the toner in the Balancing System, the Eucalyptus toner is also pH balanced and it really helped clear up the splotches on my face. I used a cotton pad for application, but since it’s pourable you could use your fingers, a sponge, or anything in between. Just be sure to keep them in the glass bottles- glass is inert and won’t react with anything packaged in it. I truly appreciate the incredible amount of thought L’uvalla put into each ingredient in this toner… everything in it has a documented purpose.  Packaged in a 6.7 ounce cobalt-blue glass bottle.

Regenerating Age-Defying Day/Night Cream: Designed to nourish and hydrate aging skin.  The essential aromatic oils are Rosewood and Thyme- known to balance the mind and body, strengthen nerves, aid in concentration and combat exhaustion.  The ingredient list for this face cream is long, but a few of the highlights include Argan Oil, Hazel Seed, Palm Kernel, Castor Seed, Rosewood, Rose Geranium Flower, Wheat Germ Oil, Cypress, Thyme, Chlorophyllin-Magnesium and Bitter Orange. This lotion is a real workhorse with intensive moisture (great for winter, dry climates, or normal to dry skin types) and can improve skin texture, smooth fine lines, and reduce puffiness.

Is this face cream effective as an anti-aging skin regimen? In my opinion, I feel that long term use may help reduce signs of aging including fine lines, dull skin, puffiness, etceteras. But even the face cream on its own is deeply nourishing and packed with so many wonderful natural ingredients!  My favorite skin care products typically don’t have a list of additives and L’uvalla certainly fits that bill.

Here’s a helpful tip I picked up while testing the L’uvalla products- the company suggested mixing the two moisturizers/cream in a half and half ratio. It worked great for my combination skin. You could alter the mix to your own custom needs depending if you want more anti-aging benefits, specific moisture levels, and so on. The L’uvalla customer service was fabulously helpful in getting my ratio right.

Other L’uvalla Products
The dual-use Eye and Lip Cream is similar to the Day/Night Creams in L’uvalla’s regimens, except it’s a bit more concentrated. With an SPF of 20, it’s perfect for day use; then just use your Day/Night Cream at night.  Due to my sensitive skin, I usually have a hard time finding a sunscreen that doesn’t irritate my face. L’uvallas Eye/Lip Cream didn’t cause any burning… I didn’t know that was possible! It works as a physical-barrier sunscreen (which are effective immediately and block all the sun’s harmful rays; as opposed to chemical sunscreens which take around 30 minutes to work and must be absorbed by the skin… hence the occasional burning.) against UVA and UVB rays. I love it!

In summary, the entire L’uvalla Skin Care product line is a wonderful skin regimen. It works well with other products. In my opinion, you just can’t go wrong if you have some L’uvalla in the bathroom! Don’t forget Bionic Beauty readers can enter coupon code BIONIC25 at checkout to get 25% off your entire purchase (valid until December 22, 2009) ~and~ later this week check back for L’uvalla Skin Care giveaway!

The L’uvalla Age-Defying skincare regimen runs $109.22 and it should last you about 3 months.

~Bionic Bronnie

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

Simple Skincare has been very popular for years in the UK, and now the line gradually making its way to the United States. Their new “Kind to Skin” collection is aimed at getting skincare “back to the basics” with gentle products that are perfume/dye free. The full line includes six items, but I’ll be reviewing the Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel.

This face wash is 100% soap free and contains Vitamin B5 to retain skin’s moisture. When I used the wash, my skin felt very clean and soft, but not moisturized. But since it’s just a face wash, you’ll be following it up with your regular face lotion anyhow. The ingredients are minimal, none are animal derived, and even though there are some big chemically-type names listed, they are mostly naturally derived as well.

The product is marketed as “pH balanced” however, the actual pH number is not listed. If you’ve read my other reviews on Bionic Beauty then you’ll remember how much controversy there is among skincare brands and what “pH balanced” truly means. So in summary, I do wonder if this face wash is pH “balanced at a neutral 7.0″ or at 4.5-5.5 which is ideal for facial skin.

I think this product works fine as a face wash, and it’s very affordable! Personally, I recommend that you follow up immediately with your preferred face lotion/oil/moisturizer.

The Refreshing Facial Wash sells for $7.99 for a 5 ounce bottle. UK and Australian ladies can find Simple at your local drugstores or supermarkets. In the USA, you can order them from Duane Reade drugstore.

Facial Wash Gel ingredients: Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Hydroxide

Stay tuned because in a few days, I’ll be reviewing Simple’s Kind to Eyes makeup remover!

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

I recently spent a fair amount of time testing products from L’uvalla Organic Skin Care which originated in France.  I’m truly impressed by the quality and high standards held to all their face products. L’uvalla skin care would be a great line for anyone, but especially those Bionic Beauties who have very sensitive skin.  When I first started testing L’uvalla, they patiently taught me about why your daily skin care should be pH balanced.  As a result, I will always consider the pH value when testing new skin care products.  L’uvalla considers skin’s natural “sweet spot” pH value, which falls in the 4.4 to 5.5 range, when formulating all their products. Many soaps and cleansers have a very high pH level, which is where I learned and understood why a toner is so important (even though it’s the most overlooked skincare step). I also love this company’s 100% certified natural, organic, vegan and animal-friendly philosophy.

Bionic Bronnie reviews the L'uvalla Organic "Balancing System" skin care regimen

I frequently have skin irritations or flare-ups while product testing and it leaves my skin raw and sore. Throughout my L’uvalla testing, it never burned or irritated.

L’uvalla has two basic skin care systems (or regimens): Balancing and Age-Defying.  Each system has three steps- cleanser, toner and moisture cream. To complete the offerings, there is a nice daily sunscreen and eye/lip cream that can be used with either system.  L’uvalla also incorporates unique aromatherapy benefits into each product to further enhance the skin care experience.

L’uvalla’s signature ingredients include-

• Lotus Flower Extract: Used to cleanse, purify, act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. When considered from the aromatherapy perspective, the Lotus Flower is said to relax the soul.
• Moroccan Argan Oil: Rich in Vitamin E, essential fatty acids. This is one of the most buzzed about skin care ingredients in recent years.

The Balancing System

Foaming Facial Cleanser: A gentle, deep-cleansing and purifying face wash that removes makeup and impurities. This is intended for congested or oily skin.  It contains the signature Lotus Flower extract, Betaine, Bilberry, Madder Root, Rose Geranium Oil with a hint of Orange. This cleanser is a joy to use- foamy lather and is gentle enough to let the product stay on my face for a minute or two (for an even deeper cleaning). I felt a slight tingling, but it was pleasant and refreshing! 3.4 ounce bottle.

Balancing System Toner: A pH balancing Orange toner that is safe for sensitive skin and just about any other skin type.  It contains Bitter Orange Leaf and Lotus, Verbenia, Peppermint, Horsetail Leaf, Alfalfa, and Mistletoe. This toner calmed and soothed my skin, leaving a feeling of freshness and comfort. The toner comes in a beautiful cobalt-blue glass bottle (6.7 oz).

Balancing Day/Night Cream: A moisturizing cream that purifies and balances skin without clogging pores or leaving a heavy residue. Packed with powerhouse ingredients including Palm Kernel Oil, Hazel Seed Oil, Argan Oil, Lotus, Thyme, Clove, Bitter Orange and Cinnamon to name a few! It is a very clean, soft, gentle and effective moisturizer.  This is one of the kindest moisturizers I have ever used on my skin. It’s gentle and effective, and didn’t produce a hint of irritation on my delicate skin. 1.4 ounce tube.

If you have sensitive skin and hesitate to invest in a new skin care brand, I highly recommend L’uvalla’s Balancing System. It is high quality, gentle, and can even help reduce irritations and sensitivities. To save you even more money this holiday season, L’uvalla is offering Bionic Beauty readers an exclusive discount! Enter the coupon code BIONIC25 at checkout, and get 25% off your entire purchase (valid until December 22, 2009).

L’uvalla Balancing System costs $101.62 and will last you 2-3 months depending on personal use.

Next week I’ll provide a thorough review of L’uvalla’s “Age-Defying System” which is perfect for women looking for help battling lines, loss of collagen, and other problems common to aging skin. Plus you’ll have a chance to win an entire system from L’uvalla. Stay tuned!
~Bionic Bronnie

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.