Avalon Organics Balancing Shampoo with Sweet Orange and Bergamot

As I wrote about recently, I was searching for a new shampoo. I had struck out with my first  choice and exchanged it for an Avalon Organics product I had never seen before: Balancing Shampoo with Sweet Orange and Bergamot. It features neem extract and nettle leaf and that is what truly sold me on the product.  

I have a dirty secret: my scalp gets itchy and flakey this time of year. The heaters running full blast, the crazy Texas weather (sunny 70's one day, frigid 40's the next) and my overactive sebaceous glands all work together to create a problem that is annoying and embarrassing. I have dark hair and if I scratch a nagging itch just a little I create little flakes that stick to my hair exposing my problem. 

I have used great products for my scalp before but none that I can afford regularly. I had started to think this was something I was just going to have to deal with--until now. 

It's strange because I can't find mention of it anywhere on the internet, even on the Avalon website and I'm not sure why that is, but since I couldn't find official info and pictures I have to show you the shampoo in it's natural habitat: my shower. 

So far I am really loving this shampoo. It smells great (though sadly, not as great as the Root 66 Shampoo) and makes my scalp feel refreshed and my hair feel shiny and bouncy: exactly what I was looking for in a shampoo. My scalp is feeling much less itchy and dry. I am really happy this mysterious product came out! When my Giovanni conditioner runs out I will be buying the Avalon Balancing Conditioner too. 

* Application tip: Be sure to massage the shampoo fully into the scap to get the maximum balancing benefits.

*DIY tip: Follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse to further help balance and soothe a dry and itchy scalp or to remove hair product build up. 

Price: $7.99 for 8.5 oz. at select Whole Foods Market locations.

Update: Pai Skincare Geranium and Thistle Moisturizer One Week Later

Last week I reviewed the Pai Skincare Geranium and Thistle Moisturizer. Everyone should be aware that aside from a negative reaction, either an aversion to the smell or texture or something like contact dermatititis it is very hard to form an opinion about a product until you have used it for a length of time. (months)

I know a lot of consumers buy a product and expect nothing short of a miracle the very first time they use it--which just isn't realistic. 

I thought at first that the Geranium and Thistle Moisturizer was too light for this time of year but after using it daily all week I realize that it is very mattifying (thanks to the thistle)  and for my skin, that's a good thing. If the moisturizer can help  balance my oil production than I will experience less congestion and with the bacteria-fighting manuka oil, it attacks existing breakouts and clogged pores. 

I have noticed that a lot of the congestion on my cheeks is smoothing out but my skin does not feel dry or stripped. 

I think this one is a keeper! (now if they would just carry it at my local Whole Foods!)

Hated It: Giovanni Root 66 Max Volume Shampoo

I was in need of a new shampoo and conditioner and saw that my local Whole Foods had Giovanni hair care on sale.( $5.99 for 8.5 oz down from $7.99) I've always loved Giovanni: I like their packaging, the products are very affordable and perform well. (one downside: they have a REALLY obnoxious and frustrating website)

I was excited to see an unfamiliar bottle:I know this is embarrassing to admit, but I was sold when I saw the fuchsia dots on the logo.
( it's my current favorite color.)

I have long, fine, snarly hair that tends towards the oily side. I also prefer to shampoo about every other day but would love it if I could get away with two or three times per week.

The first time I used the shampoo I was completely captivated. My hair felt slick and drenched with moisture immediately. I couldn't believe how nourished it felt so quickly.

I hesitated when I followed up with conditioner--I usually only apply it to the bottom half of my hair, away from the roots but it DID say "root 66" and was specified for "limp and lifeless hair" so I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it.

After blow drying I preened in front of my bathroom mirror--my hair was a glossy, silky mane and smelled fantastic, like ripe mangoes.

The very next morning, however my vanity was crushed when I saw the flaccid, oily strands that were plastered to my forehead. I attributed it to the fact that I had applied conditioner all over my hair instead of the ends, like I normally do.

The next time I showered I was careful not to apply conditioner willy-nilly, convinced that would do the trick and I could go on loving my new products, but the same exact thing happened. Frustrated and confused I flipped the bottle over to read the ingredients:

The offending ingredient jumped out at me: dimethicone. Silicone derivatives coat the hair making it feel smooth and shiny but do not actually nourish it like natural oils such as jojoba. Coating the hair weighs it down immensely which makes it an odd choice for a shampoo for limp hair.

To test out my theory that it was the shampoo that was causing the problem I used a different shampoo the next time I washed my hair. I used the Giovanni conditioner like usual. (it doesn't contain dimethicone) My hair was shiny and smooth and did not get oily for a record three days.

As much as it pained me I exchanged the shampoo, something I hardly ever do. I just knew I wouldn't use it. I love the way silicones feel but I would much rather use a product that is actually feeding my hair instead of just pretending, and ultimately causing it to be in worse shape than it was before.


Ingredients:

INGREDIENTS: Aqua (Purified Water), With *Mango (Mangifera
Indico), *Kiwi (Actinidia Chinensis) Fruit Extract, *Papaya (Caroca
Papaya) Fruit Extract, *Plumeria (Plumeria Aculifolia), *Aloe Vera
(Aloe Barbodensis), *Horestail (Equiselum Arvense), Awopuhi
(Zingiber Zerumbel), *Soybean Protein (Glycine Soja), C12-14
Olefin Sulfonate (Cocunut Derived), Cocamidopropyl Betaine,
Polyquatenium 7,  Dimethicone,  Polysorbate  20,   PEG -8
Caprylic/Copric  Glycerides,  Panthenol  (Pro-Vitamin  B5),
Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyelhanol, Fragrance With Essential Oils,
*Certified Organic by Guaranteed Certification Services
No Animal By-Products and Cruelty Free



Bottom Line: Very disappointing. And by the way, what
IS a "horsepower expander" anyway??!

Front label panel:

ROOT 66
MAX VOLUME
SHAMPOO
PureOrganic Technology
for limp, lifeless hair
with horsepower expanders to increase body
and shine while infusing weightless texture
giovanni
ORGANIC HAIR CARE
8.5 fl oz  e 250mL

Review: Pai Skincare Geranium and Thistle Moisturizer

Pai Skincare (Maori for "goodness") is an organic line from England and certified by the Soil Association . I recently tried the Geranium and Thistle moisturizer. From the description, it seemed perfect for my skin:

*From the Pai website:
"Geranium and thistle work in perfect unison in this light organic moisturizer to clear and re-balance congested or combination skin. Apply to face and neck as required. "

The first thing I noticed was a mild cooling sensation, from the geranium apparently:

*Geranium
"This common garden plant has a cooling and calming effect on the skin, making it great for balancing combination complexions. "

I love geranium and am thrilled anytime it is featured in a product. This moisturizer also contains manuka oil which is another huge favorite of mine. It had a nice lightweight texture and penetrates quickly without greasy residue. It may be a bit too light for me for this time of year but may be great for warmer temperatures. I haven't used it long enough to experience any reduction in congestion but if I notice a difference I'll definitely write about it. I'm always looking for the holy grail of products that will keep my naturally bumpy skin baby-smooth.

The texture and aroma of this product really reminded me of Grateful Body products and like Grateful Body products they are handmade in small batches. The pump makes it easy to dispense the proper amount without contamination from hands or air. My husband really liked it, the smell was not overly feminine despite the geranium aroma.

Price: £22.00 ($30) for 30ml

Ingredients: Purified water, geranium water*, jojoba oil*, corn-based emulsifier, thistle oil*, borage oil*, vitamin e, manuka oil*, rosemary antioxidant*, geranium, juniper*, lavender*

*Certified Organic

Where to Buy: Online at www.paiskincare.com

Great Video!

My friend Marie did a video for Elephant Pharmacy on how to smooth wrinkles on your neck. There not that many great alternative aging references but Marie is a wealth of information. She was a co-worker of mine there and she is brilliant.

Be Good to Your Whole Body Podcast: Libido and Medicinal Plants

Just in time for Valentine's day, there is a podcast on the Whole Foods blog covering ways to increase libido using medicinal plants.

Mara Fleishman interviews Chris Kilham (aka Medicine Hunter) author of over ten books the most recent being: Hot Plants: Nature’s Proven Sex Boosters for Men and Women.

Plants are powerful and effective and can quickly and effectively boost libido as well as increase overall health and wellness. Chris is widely respected in his field and has conducted medicinal research in over 20 countries including India, China, Siberia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Vanuatu South Pacific, Lebanon, Syria, Ghana, Austria, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, Morocco and the US.

Go check it out and surprise your sweetie with your...newfound knowledge!

Dead Elephant: Elephant Pharmacy Closes After Six Years

In 2002 I decided to rent a space and open a skincare studio. I was in no way ready to do so, but I took the plunge anyway. Painted Ladies Skincare was open for about six months and I learned a lot about failure and humility from that experience.

I needed a new job and wanted to take a break from practicing esthetics on a spa level for a bit. I found an ad on Craigslist for an esthetician needed for an integrated pharmacy. I had no clue what this meant but I applied anyway.

I had a phone interview and they asked if I had any natural skincare experience. I was Aveda-certified and so I said yes, thinking that I did, in fact have tons of experience. But, I had never heard of any of the brands the interviewer threw at me: Lavera, Logona, Dr. Hauschka, MyChelle...um, what?!

I had a great face-to-face interview a while later and was convinced that I had the job in the bag. I was stunned when I received a letter telling me thanks...but no thanks. I saw a week later that the job was still posted online so I sat down and wrote a letter telling them that they had made a HUGE mistake in not hiring me. It was soul-crushing but--it worked. I was hired and started training immediately.



I love working for start-ups, everything is new and exciting and wide open for opportunity. The building on North Shattuck was completely empty when I started and I worked many hours helping set up shelves, stock products and sweep up dirt.

I quickly became passionate about this new (to me) approach to heath and skincare and gave many interviews to various newspapers and radio stations. It was so much fun connecting with various professionals under one roof. I learned about Chinese medicine and Ayurveda and diabetes management. There was an Eastern pharmacy and conventional Western Pharmacy so I also learned about complementery treatments.

When I got married I had my bridal bouquet made at Elephant. I loved the culture and my co-workers and spent many hours talking to the very interesting founder, Stuart Skorman.

I worked at Elephant for two years and wore many hats: esthetician, skincare educator (I taught classes every week) bodycare manager, buyer, trainer. When I left I had earned a really good amount of stock options that I hoped would pay off at some point.

*From www.sfstation.com
Elephant Pharmacy, one of the East Bay's fixtures in alternative retail, is a supplier of everything from pragmatic Walgreens-type products to alternative health, beauty, and lifestyle commodities from around the world. Elephant Pharmacy offers over 100 free events and classes per month that are led by local practitioners. Every Sunday in May, licensed aesthetician Jennifer Tanner offers a free seminar in making spa products: teaching participants how to craft their own moisturizers, lip balms, and more. Moreover, complimentary makeup consultations and applications happen every Sunday from 12-6 pm.

I was sad to leave and thrilled when I was asked to help write their skincare training manual from my new home in Texas. I also spent the first summer I moved here consulting for Elephant and traveling first to Iowa then to Alabama to set up mini-Elephant stores inside Saks-owned department stores.

The original plan had been to expand rather quickly, but after six years there were only four Elephant locations. I read from time to time that they were in trouble financially and I always hoped they would work it out. I was saddened but not surprised to hear from a friend that they had finally folded due to the current economic downturn.

I have so many fond memories of my time at Elephant Pharmacy and I learned so much. I sometimes regret going out on my own and opening Painted Ladies so soon but if I hadn't have failed at that venture than I would not have gotten a job at Elephant and became a holistic esthetician.

Berkeley, California holds so many happy memories for me and a lot of them include Elephant Pharmacy. I rode my bike there every day in the sun and the fog and the drizzly rain. I sold makeup and skincare and met so many wonderful people and was exposed to many ideas that have shaped who I am today.

I wish they could have made it and I hope that one day they will be able to re-open. The thought of visiting Berkeley without going into Elephant Pharmacy is really sad to me.