I ventured out to the spa a few weeks ago for a much needed facial. If you read my last post, you’ll know that, during the facial, I was dismayed to find out that my skin was on the dry side!
One of the products that was used and that I then purchased was the Emollient Wheat Germ Cream. I’ve been using it for a past several weeks and wanted to provide a short review on it for all of you!
Pure Creations Emollient Wheat Germ Cream
Ingredients
Pure Creations prides itself on incorporating natural ingredients in its products. You can see from the website’s description that the cream contains ingredients like organic wheat germ oil, almond oil, and aloe vera. While I wasn’t able to find a detailed ingredient list, after chatting with the folks at Pure Creations, I know that they do not use any potentially harmful or unnecessary ingredients.
Emollient Wheat Germ Cream
Usage
This is a thick, rich cream. A little bit goes a really long way. Personally, I would only use this on my skin during the dry winter months. I think it could be too much for my skin at other times of the year. I also like that this cream does not have a strong scent. (That’s the last thing I want before bed!)
Since my facial, I have used this on my skin before bed each night. It has helped me maintain that smooth polished feel in my skin.
Packaging and Price
Pure Creations’ packaging is simple and fresh. The jars are a good size. At $24.95 for a jar of this long-lasting cream, I think it’s a good investment.
Would I recommend this cream?
Yes, I would! It has worked wonders for me during this very dry winter. I continue to receive compliments on how smooth my skin looks. 🙂
The One Caveat
Just because this cream works for me, doesn’t mean it will work for everyone else. It’s always good to test a bit of any new product on your skin before diving in head first.
Do you use a moisturizer on your face or skin at least once a day? My guess is that most of you do, even if you are one of the lucky ones who does not suffer from dry skin. Assuming you do use a moisturizer, what do you use? Oil or lotion? Or, do you use a combination?
My Daily Routine
For as long as I could remember, I have used a moisturizer on my face. I have tried various different creams and lotions to treat my dry skin and keep it hydrated.
Then, some time ago, I learned how to put together a face oil. I tried it on my face and I loved it! I was so anxious about applying an oil to my face. Fortunately, it turned out great and I was so happy to have found a moisturizer to use on my face that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg at the store! Plus, I could make this on my own.
A few months ago, I tried a sample of Suti’s Nourishing Oil. I liked it even more than the one I had made. The scent was lovely and it made my skin feel great.
Finally, a few weeks ago, I had a facial. It was pointed out to me that my skin was a bit dry. What?! How could it be? It certainly didn’t feel dry to me! Yet, after an hour of exfoliating, steaming and moisturizing, I could feel a marked difference in my skin. It felt so smooth! I even received a few comments on how great my skin looked. I left the spa with a jar of Pure Creations’ Emollient Wheat Germ Cream that was used on my face. It’s a rich cream and good for moisturizing my skin during the dry winter months. I’ve used it once a day ever since the facial and my skin still feels great. Stay tuned to my blog for a full review on this product!
And all of this lead me to ask which is better, lotion or oil? Did I make a wrong turn when I started using a face oil?
Lotion
There are so many lotions and creams available on the market. They can have all kinds of additives, like Vitamin E and oils that are beneficial for our skin (my most recent favorite oil to use is Kukui Nut Oil). Lotions come in varying degrees of greasiness. The ideal lotion is one that doesn’t leave a greasy film on your skin.
Lotions are designed to penetrate the skin. This allows your skin to absorb all of the great ingredients in that lotion, thus replenishing the look and feel of your skin.
Oil
Body and face oils are used widely in certain parts of the world. Like lotion, they can contain oils that are beneficial for your skin. Where oils differ from lotion is that they tend to prevent moisture from leaving your skin. However, they are not necessarily designed to penetrate your skin like a lotion.
Check out these links to learn more about the differences between lotion and oil.
The best test I’ve found was on my son’s skin. Like many babies, he had dry spots on his skin in the first few weeks following his birth. I used a bit of coconut oil on them and for the most part, they went away. However, there were a few very persistent spots that the coconut oil simply would not address. On a whim, I tried a wee bit of lotion that I had made. It was very basic and did not have any essential oils in it. Surprisingly, it worked immediately and eliminated those pesky dry spots. I couldn’t believe it!
Oil vs. Lotion – The Verdict
So, which one is best? Well, it depends! Both oils and lotions have their place in providing extra moisture for your skin. Right now, I use an oil on my face in the morning and a cream on my face at night before bed. That combination has worked great during the dry months of winter. I have no doubt that I will have to change that routine when the weather warms up a bit and it’s not so dry.
I indulged in a second facial. The first one was so good, I just had to go back for more. This time, I chose a local spa that makes and uses their own all-natural, toxin-free products. The spa is Pure Creations. I tried two services while I was there.
The Pedicure
I started with a pedicure. I used to have pedicures every couple of weeks, especially in the summer time. However, once I became more aware of all the chemicals involved, I stopped and attempted to take care of my feet all on my own. Needless to say, they have suffered a wee bit. So, I had a pedicure at Pure Creations. They used their own exfoliating botanicals in the water, their own creams, and used a 5-free polish, Nubar. This is a great brand of polish that lasted quite a while on my toes and offers hundreds of different colours. The pedicure was lovely and my feet felt pretty again!
The Facial
I also had a facial. It was different from the first facial I had a while back, but fortunately, it was equally as relaxing and lovely. Once again, the products smelled great and moisturized my skin thoroughly. She started with a gentle sandalwood cleanser, followed by a green tea serum, and finished with a wheat germ moisturizer.
I love to support local businesses. Knowing that the team at Pure Creations makes their own products and ensures that each product is toxin-free is great.
Au Naturel Essence 