APIVITA Bee Radiant

APIVITA’s Bee Radiant line illuminates your skin with that natural “dewy” look without making your skin feel super oily and overloaded with products.  What I truly love about this line is that it extracts the core foundation of  APIVITA’s nomenclature by bringing it into existence with products.  Derived from the Latin words Apis (bee) and Vita (life) which translates into APIVITA, “life of the bee”, the Bee Radiant collection in all three of their products contains their patented propolis extract.

Propolis comes from APIVITA’s own Beehives.  Being beekeepers of their 200 beehives,  APIVITA control’s the elements in which the bees are exposed.  Changing their locations twice a year to accommodate the seasonal shifts of blossoms among herbs, trees and trees bearing fruit.  This allows the bees to “produce honey, pollen and royal jelly free of pesticides, antibiotics and chemical residues” (APIVITA Beekeeping).  By controlling the environment the bees are exposed to, APIVITA creates products without all the pollutants that can damage your skin.

Bee Radiant Age Defense Illuminating Serum with orange stem cells & Vitamin C helps to penetrate into the skin, defending it against harmful environmental stressors that age the skin.  The serum, a thin, milky substance, resembling the texture, consistency and color of the inside of a milk thistle stem, glides on smoothly into the skin.  A strong, masculine aroma mixes well with the vitamin  C blends of bergamot, green tangerine, grapefruit and the orange stem cells that made my skin smell fresh as the products absorbed into my skin.  As soon as it touched the skin, it illuminated it, rid any dull, lackluster, tired looking skin from my face.  Designed to treat fine lines and combat external elements that prematurely age the skin, I knew my skin was in good hands.  It left my skin feeling moisturized and hydrated from the wild rose tea that is infused within it.

BEE RADIANT Age Defense Illuminating Serum receives 5.0 Stars!APIVITA 5-Action Eye Serum was tricky at first for me to use.  The serum was extremely thin the first few times that I pumped it out to use around my eyes.  I tried to catch the serum as it drizzled off of my pinky and placed it around the orbitals of my eyes.  My eyes didn’t look so tired and quickly awoke as I continued rubbing in the serum.  It didn’t take long for my eyes to soak in the serum.

APIVITA calls the eye serum 5-action because it delivers 5 actions to the skin:  1.)  Firmness 2.) Smoothed Wrinkles 3.)  Hydration  4.)  Signs of Fatigue and 5.)  Dark Circles.  The tackiness within the serum creates both the firmness around the eye and the adds the hydration to the eyes that they need.  The smoothness around the eyes is created by the copper complex ingredient that helps against aging the skin and helps to treat fine lines.  The tiredness and dark circles are treated by the white lily and ginseng that help to produce the illuminating look around the eyes.

I found by my third time I used the serum, to shake the bottle first.  After I shook the bottle, the ingredients blended together and when I pumped out the serum, it came out in a more thick, creamy substance which was ideal to apply around my eyes.

5-Action Eye Serum receives 4.0 Stars.

I really liked the ingredient components that made Bee Radiant Age Defense Illuminating Cream with Orange Stem Cells (Light Texture).  Made with the same ingredients as the Bee Radiant Age Defense Illuminating Serum with orange stem cells & vitamin C, the Illuminating Cream delivers the same age-defying properties that help to fight against environmental pollutants and premature aging and comes in both light texture for oily skin and rich texture for dry skin.

Milky in color, texture similar to pudding, the Bee Radiant Cream felt nice in my fingertips but once when I started applying it into my skin, the cream became harder to rub in.  I had to continue rubbing the cream, over and over into the skin, waiting for the heat from application to warm up the product to melt into my skin.  I used a smaller amount the second and third time for applying it and had the same result every time.  Although when it was once applied, my skin was radiant, illuminated in the mirror and felt like a matte texture on my fingers but looked dewy and glowed beautifully.

I love creams placed in jars because they look like the classic, retro “cold cream” the fashionable, glamour cream. APIVITA shines in elegance as always when it comes to packaging.  The only thing that was missing from this packaging was a reusable applicator.  I had an applicator that I used when I retrieved the product from the jar.  This keeps the product free from cross-contamination of using fingers.

Other than the hard application of the cream into the skin and a reusable applicator for sanitation purposes, this product stays true to its name and illuminated my skin with age defensive properties.

*Skincare tip: A little bit goes a long ways.  More bang for your buck!

BEE RADIANT Age Defense Illuminating Cream with Orange Stem Cells Light Texture

Receives 3.o Stars

The BEE RADIANT line is a great anti-aging line and the skin receives the best results by using all 3 products together.

 

Best Skincare Products for 2015

Congratulations to all the companies who’s product/products made this year’s Best Skincare Products for 2015!

Drum roll please…

1.  Best Gel Cleanseri-imageaglesscleanser

I-Image Ageless Total Facial Cleanser

This is an anti-aging cleanser designed for most skin types, due to the glycolic as one of its active ingredients, it may cause a little irritation to overly dry or sensitive skin types.  This foaming gel cleanser when lathered onto the skin will deeply cleanse any impurities on the skin and give the skin a refreshed, tightening feeling after being cleansed.  An ideal cleanser for treating aging skin, or a thorough cleanse to prep skin for a night out on the town.

2.  Best Cream Cleanserfacialcleansingcreamahanaturabisse

Facial Cleansing Cream + A.H.A by Natura Bisse

Great for most skin types, Natura Bisse’s Facial Cleansing Cream + A.H.A (Alpha HydroxyAcids) is a cleanser and a mild exfoliator in one.  Enriched with the soothing and moisturizing benefits of Aloe Vera and the active ingredients of natural fruit acids, this creamy cleanser will leave skin revitalized and glowing.

3.  Best Oil Cleanserbaboroilcleanser

Babor Cleansing CP HY-OL

Great for all skin types, not only does this wonderful facial oil cleanser remove away the grime and grit from your skin, it also nourishes it without stripping your natural oils on your face.  Contrary to what some may believe, oil cleansers deliver a gentle cleanse to the skin and won’t break you out.  This is a great cleanser to use before bed, for it easily removes any makeup worn for the day and nourishes the skin with rich oils without any preservatives.

4.  Best Tonerhyrdo-geltonernaturabisse

 

The Cure Hydro-Gel Toner by Natura Bisse

The combination of the soft floral scent, with the cooling, watery gel texture, delivers to the skin a healthy dose of a hydrating toner.  Absorbed quickly into the skin, this toner gives your skin the perfect pH quench that it needs to balance your skin after a great cleanse.

5.  Best SerumemerginCvitaminCserum

emerginC Vitaimin C Serum

A highly stable vitamin C serum, this serum is sure to treat and protect your skin.  Vitamin C is one of the greatest anti-aging products for your skin because it fights against free radicals, which age your skin, hydrate the skin and naturally protects your skin from the sun’s rays (a very small percentage).  The vitamin C is able to stay stable because it is locked away in little globules within the serum, once the serum is dispensed for use, the vitamin C becomes active.  Use this serum everyday, after you tone and before you moisturize the skin.

6.  Best Chemical ExfoliatorEmerginC Triple Threat Peel

emergin-C Triple Threat Peel

Formulated with these acive ingredients:  “Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Vitamin C, Retinol, Green Tea and Fig Extract” (emergin-C’s ingredient list), there is no wonder this chemical exfoliant delivers the best exfoliation for the skin.  Great for anti-aging, acneic, dry, oily, combination skin, the Triple Threat Peel by emergin-C is exactly that on the skin.  It delivers an even tone to the skin while removing impurities on the skin, also providing the skin with that perfect “glow”.  This is a wonderful product to use before an event, or to just provide your skin with a mild chemical peel weekly.  *Do not use on sensitive skin because it may enhance more sensitivity to the skin.

7.  Best Mechanical Scrub for FacefacescrubwitholiveApivita

Face Scrub with Olive-Deep Exfoliating Cream by Apivita

Gentlemen and Ladies, you will fall in love with this face scrub.  Great for men who have facial hair with tendencies of ingrown hairs that nestle just under the skin and need a gentle buffing to uplift the hair from its pore.  Wonderful for ladies that need a refreshing, resurfacing scrub to leave the skin revitalized and with an smooth, even tone on the face.  A cooling menthol scrub on the skin that both sexes will find therapeutic and soothing from the essential oil of Lavender and the gentle exfoliation from olive seed powder.

8.  Best Mechanical Scrub Exfoliator for Bodyapivita_royal_honey_sea_salts

Royal Honey Body Scrub with Sea Salts by Apivita

A walk into a foraging field of delight is how I feel every time I used this scrub.  The subtle scents of honey mixed with the earthy undertones of a blossoming meadow, delight the senses as this scrub is applied to the body.  Made with Dead Sea Salts and the Greek Sea Salt Mesologgi, this incredibly formulated product scrubs the impurities off of the skin while simultaneously moisturizing it with the rich Royal Honey and vitamin E oils.  The best part about this scrub is unlike other scrubs, when you are scrubbing the skin, particles don’t fly all over the place, which in return will keep most of the product on your skin while scrubbing and not on the surrounding area where you are scrubbing your body.  Best application on the skin is in the shower, while your skin is dry, then rinsing your skin off with water afterwards.

9.  Eye CreamStemCellEyeComplex-NaturePure

Nature Pure Stem Cell Eye Complex

Your eyes will thank you when you treat them to Nature Pure’s Stem Cell Eye Complex.  Derived from the stem cell’s of the Swiss Apple, Soy Isoflavones, Acai Berry and Resveratrol, this eye cream will actively treat the skin around your eye instantaneously when applied.  A little warm tingling may occur as the active ingredients go to work on your skin replenishing it from wear and tear.  This eye cream helps to fight against those fine lines that tend to creep up on us during the years.  Stem Cell Eye Complex can not reverse damage done around the eyes but it will do its best as a preventative measure for antiaging.

10.  Best Eye GelAcademieEyeContourGelLiposomes15ml

Academie Eye Contour Gel

With Liposomes, Silicon, Sea Collagen and Rose Extract as its key ingredients, Academie’s Eye Contour Gel does such a great job at reducing puffiness around the eyes, treating fine lines around the eyes as well as soothing tired eyes.  Great eye gel to treat tired and overworked eyes.

11.  Best MoisturizerStemCellsFaceComplex-NaturePure

Nature Pure Stem Cell Face Complex

Made with the same great active ingredients as Nature Pure’s Stem Cell Eye Complex, this facial moisturizer is a great anti-aging product.  It helps to repair and restore your skin’s natural chemical design.  Your skin will feel moisturized as well as revitalized, leaving your skin with a healthy appearance.

12.  Best BB Moisturizercuresheercream

The Cure Sheer Cream by Natura Bisse

Once you go BB (Beauty Balm), you never go back.  Natura Bisse has eloquently designed one of the best BB creams in the skincare market.  Their highly-effective protein based formulation leaves the skin richly moisturized with sheer elegance.  The tinted cream biomimics your skin’s natural skin tone, blending in wonderfully, perfectly covering minimal imperfections on the skin.  Not only is this BB Cream moisturizing, it also has an spf of 20 to mildly protect your skin from sun exposure.

13.  Best MaskCell-Reboot-Ageless-Mask

Cell Reboot Ageless Mask by Stemology

This mask should be in everyone’s household for this upcoming year in 2016.  Made with real, ethically developed, human stem cells, this mask helps to treat hyper-pigmentation, fight against aging, revitalizes the skin and just like the name states, helps to “Reboost” the cells within the skin, furnishing life back into the cells within the surface of the skin.  The organic shade of brown, recaptures natures deliverance of sustainability for our carbon makeup.  Once when applied to the skin, the skin undergoes an awakening and a slight tingling sensation may occur.  You will notice a difference within your skin after one use, a difference of revitalization within the skin.

14.  Best Body LotionDecleor_confort-ref165000-glow-new-pump-646x765

Decleor-Aroma Confort-Systeme Corps-Hale Progressif Hydratant

A moisturizing lotion that won’t leave an oily residue on the skin.  Ablsorbed nicely into the skin once upon application, you will notice the floraly scent of Magnolia remaining on the skin along with a slight golden-hue.  A mild skin bronzing effect will rest upon the skin giving the presence of vitality and youth.

15.  Best Body Creamoligomer-wellbeingbodycream

Oligimer Well-Being Body Cream Sensation by Phytomer

Made with trace elements and minerals this body cream by Phytomer creates “Well-Being” within the skin.  Being able to optimize the cells restructuring, this cream allows the skin to strengthen its natural barrier.  The oil produced naturally within the skin maintains its efficacy and creates a balance of integrity, creating harmony within the structure of the skin.  The skin is left feeling supple and highly moisturized.

*Disclaimer.- These products were rated to be the best over hundreds of products that I used this year.  They are my own ratings and findings of the best products for 2015 based off best delivered results not only on my skin but what I saw on other consumers skin as well.  Opinions are my own.

Apivita Does It Again- 3 Wonderful Products for the Skin

apivita_splash_logoAPIVITA is one of my favorite top 10 skincare lines.  I have yet to be disappointed by one of their products.  Originated by two Greek pharmacists, Nikos and Niki Koutsiana, in 1979, “APIVITA has developed and established over 300 natural, effective and holistic products for the face, body and hair, formulated with beekeeping products of high nutritional value, extracts of Greek herbs and pure essential oils, as well as many green innovations and patents.” (Direct content from APIVITA’s website)

honey-beesAPIVITA’s name was derived from the Latin word’s of Apis (bee) and Vita (life) which means, “life of the bee”.  The Koutsiana’s actually started the developing stages of APIVITA in 1972, inspired by the Honey bee society.  Honey bees are extremely important to economic growth in our society.  They are vital pollinators and work hard at making sure to keep fruits, nuts and vegetables in our diets.  (Read more on the importance of Honey Bee’s attribution to our economy here)  APIVITA is one of the leading “Green Cosmetolgy” skincare companies in the world.  They have their own beekeeping farms in Greece and practice ethical standards in making sure that they only take, “40% of the beehive’s production, leaving 60% of the honey on the honeycombs.”  They also protect their beehives by only intervening “with the use of essential oils and natural extracts.” (APIVITA’s Beekeeping Standards)

bee-propolis-250x250Honey is not the only derivative Honey bee’s produce, they also create Propolis.  Propolis is the resin made by the sap collected from the Honey bees combined with the their own discharge and beeswax.  This mixture of the sap and the Honey bee’s dishcharge, spawn a sticky -colored (color varies on the tree coloring where the sap is collected) product, called Propolis,  that is used as a coating to build hives.

Propolis is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and a rich antioxidant for the skin.  APIVITA’s products are carefully developed with their own cultured Propolis.  Specifically created with Hippocrates philosophy of a “healthy mind in a healthy body”, APIVITA has based their formulations with the Greek philosopher’s ideals about the “NEED for HARMONY between the INDIVIDUAL, SOCIAL and NATURAL ENVIRONMENT” (The Hippocratic Ideal).

Three of their products that I will be reviewing today are all made with their home-grown Propolis.  They are:   Natural Serum-Radiance, Aqua Vita-24 Hour Moisturizing Cream Gel For Oily/Combintation Skin and Aqua Vita-24 Hour Moisturizing & Revitalizing Eye Cream.

apivita-natural-serum-radiance-enNatural Serum- Radiance with bilberry & vitamin C.

 This serum has 96% Natural Ingredients in it, which is an extremely high percentage for a skincare product that is both effective and of good quality.  Bilberry is a a berry that grows on low shrubs, relative to other shrub-growing berries, it is similar in color and shape to a blueberry.  The bilberry is fortified with vitamins B, C, and E which are restorative, healing and nourishing agents for the skin.  Reservatrol, discovered to contain one of the best known anti-aging properties for the skin, is also found in bilberries.

This serum when I first saw it, threw me off guard.  It looks like the froth of a heavy cream and for a serum, I’m used to seeing more transparency but then I rubbed it in the palms of my hands and it was so smooth and delightfully scented with a uplifting citrus scent, that I quickly got over my prejudice of what I believed a serum should look like.  When I applied it on my skin, it was effortless, the serum melted into the pores, creating a nice vibrant appeal.  APIVITA named it as “RADIANCE” but it is not the typical radiance that I would envision with that term.  The radiance is subtle, underlying, and lifts the skin tone to a healthy appearance.  There is no “glow” with this serum, there is “life” with this serum, providing great nutrition for the skin.

The only downside to this product is its packaging.  The tiny, jade-coloring glass jar is absolutely beautiful.  I love the container with the droplet lid, I just don’t love that the droplet is impractical.  I had to continuously dip the droplet in the serum, only to receive a smidgen of it on my hand.  It became somewhat of a nuisance after awhile.  I just ended up turning the jar upside down and allowing the serum to fall into the palm of my hand, which seemed to work better.

APIVITA’s Natural Serum Radiance receives 4.o Stars only because of the packaging.

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aquavitaeyecreamApivitaAqua Vita-24 Hour Moisturizing & Revitalizing Eye Cream with chaste tree & ruscus.  This eye cream has 95% of natural ingredients in it, yet again, another high percentage of nature for your skin.  Chaste tree is indigenous to the Mediterranean and is great for hormonal balance.  When used topically on the skin, the Chaste tree’s extracts help to   moisturize, soothe and firm areas where it is applied.

Fun Fact:  The Chaste tree’s stems and leaves used to be eaten as an anaphrodisiac to help suppress “lustful yearnings”.  Also known as “Monk’s Pepper”, it was used as an anti-libido medicine for Monks to aid their attempts to remain chaste (Uses and benefits of the Chaste Tree).

Ruscus is one of my favorite ingredients for microcirculation.  It helps to treat blood circulation within the body, as well as swelling and water retention, which is great for puffy eyes.  This product feels similar to the Natural Serum Radiance, just a little thicker.  I can smell the earthy scent of the Chaste tree when I waft it under my nose, otherwise, the scent is very mild.  When I apply it to my eyes, I feel the Ruscus in cool effect, literally.  Ruscus naturally has cooling properties which help with its microcirculation.  Not only is this eye cream great to treat puffy eyes, it is also good for tired eyes that need a little rejuvenation.

APIVITA’s Aqua Vita 24 Hour Moisturizing & Revitalizing Eye Cream receives 5.o Stars.

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apivitaaquamoistruzer

 

Aqua Vita 24 Hour Moistruzing Cream-Gel for Oily/Combination Skin with Chaste Tree and Propolis.  This product smells like a cross between the citrus scents of the serum and the earthy aroma of the eye cream.  Very well crafted, I would recommend this product to anyone who has excessive oily skin, even mild oily skin that someone wants to keep regulated.  The gel part of the moisturizing cream shines in this product.  I apply oil to my skin daily and sometime’s I look like a sweaty, greasy catastophe but not with this moisturizer I don’t.  It doesn’t create a mattifying look on my skin like other products do for oily skin and that is what I truly like about this product.  I want to keep the glow on my skin and look healthy and vibrant and this product delivers that.

APIVITA’s Aqua Vita 24 Hour Moisturizing Cream-Gel for Oily/Combination Skin receives 5+ Stars.

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Use all three of APIVITA’s products together for best results.  After cleansing the skin, apply the Natural Serum Radiance on the skin first, then the Aqua Vita Eye Cream followed by the Aqua Vita Moisturizing Cream-Gel.

Express Beauty with Green Clay

expressbeautygreenclayThis is a mask you want to keep in your back pocket to pull out for a rainy day.  Great for deep cleansing the pores, this mask will lift out any impurities lying within the skin and not leave your skin so dry, that you looked like you aged 10 years when you take it off.  Express Beauty with Green Clay is one of the best clay masks on the market.

There are a huge variety of clay masks on the market and they all are meant to perform the hard-earned task of stripping the skin of excess sebum and remove impurities on the skin.  The problem with a lot of the clay masks on the market, is that they tend to leave your skin extremely dry.  It is hard to come by a clay mask that can deliver wonderful results and keep your skin within a healthy, functioning, moisturizing level .

Apivita not only provides deep cleansing to the skin but they are also able to provide the skin with rich proteins from the Wheat Protein, soothing properties from the Chamomile extract and Organic Aloe Vera, added moisture from the Sunflower Oil and regeneration from the Lavender Essential Oil.

Use this product to treat a mild active acneic breakout,  to treat skin that has been exposed to environmental elements such as cigarette smoke, poor air pollution, a long night out and ingrown hair.  Great to use a few days before an important event to cleanse and purify the skin.

Apply directly on skin after cleansing and leave on for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse off with cool water followed by a moisturizer or sunscreen.

Apivita Express Beauty with Green Clay receives 5 Stars.

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Apivita Shine & Revitalizing Hair

apivitashinerevshamconWhen I decided to strip my natural brunette hair color to go blonde, in no way did I think about the severe damage I would be doing to my hair, at least to the extent as to which it sadly became.  Washing my hair was a task and miserable.  My hair felt like a dry, lifeless mop on top of my head.  Combing thru my hair became quite the challenge and frustrated me so much that I would just throw it back in a couple hair ties and call it good.  Finding the right shampoo and conditioner was a must… and then along came Apivita to save the day.

Made with honey and citrus, Apivita’s Propoline- Shine and Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner-is the most gentle, softening, detangler duo that not only smells like a sweet summer’s day but also leaves my hair manageable to comb thru and gives it a beautiful shine.  It has proven to exceed my expectations on treating my extremely damaged, dry, blonde hair.  If it takes care of my hair this good, being that is in a fragile state, I could only imagine the wonders it would do to all kinds of hair.  This is one shampoo and conditioner combination that everybody should have in their shower.

apivitashampoo

 

Apivita Shine and Revitalizing Shampoo receives 5 Stars.

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apivitacond

 

Apivita Shine and Revitalizing Conditioner for All Hair Types receives 5 Stars.

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Face Scrub with Olive

imageApivita has created one of the best exfoliations with the grains from olives. Both men and women will love this scrub. It is a creamy exfoliating scrub filled with great cleansing, purifying, soothing yet awakening ingredients. Your skin feels renewed but does not feel dry like how other mechanical exfoliations tend to leave your skin. The salicylic acid in Apivita’s scrub will help to treat non-active acne and give the skin a nice, deep cleanse. What I like most about this product is the cooling effect it has on your skin from the menthol.

This is a great scrub for men because it helps to soften the hair on the face allowing for a clean shave.  Just apply the scrub on the tips of your fingers and scrub the opposite direction of the hair follicle. This will help to loosen the hair from the skin.

Men could use this scrub everyday and the skin would not get irritated.  I would recommend women using it every other day just because women don’t have the facial hair growth that men have and it might irritate the skin if used everyday.

Face Scub with Olive by Apivita receives 5 STARS.  5stars1