Beecology Review & #Giveaway

About:

About six years ago David Rzepka agreed to let a co-worker put a beehive on his family farm. When life events kept him from tending to it, David became a beekeeper.

He found bee science and culture fascinating, and soon began researching bees and attending workshops at The Ohio State University agricultural campus. David also came to realize how connected the bees' world is to ours - any changes in our environment affect their environment as well. H began to think about the foods we eat, the chemicals we use, and the impact these factors have on bees and on us. That's when the idea hit him: he wanted to make natural skincare and hair products using honey, beeswax, and other ingredients that are good for us and our world.

This is the philosophy behind Beecology. Today he and his family produce a full line of natural products - lip balm, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion - that help people keep their skin and hair healthy the natural way. All products are made in the USA!

Thoughts from Carli:

I received three products to review from Beecology...Cucumber and Green Tea Hand & Body Cream, Moisturizing Body Wash, and Honey & Out Morning Soap. If you've read my blog at all you know that there are a few things I like in a product and any product needs to meet at least one of the categories in addition to being a great product: be natural, be thrifty, give back to the community. I am happy to report that you can check off all three for Beecology!

First lets talk about the products. I love the smell of cucumber, I just think it smells clean. But the hand and body cream is nice and thick as well. When a lotion feels thick in your hand but dries well and doesn't feel cakey on your skin it's a winner in my book. There is shea butter in the lotion so that may account for some of it. Mmmmm....shea butter.

The moisturizing body wash I tried is the lavender with bergamot. What I really like about it is that it lathers well. Some natural body washes have no lather to them. While I know that lather doesn't really mean it is getting you cleaner, I do insist on a good lather. So yeah!

But my favorite has to be the Honey & Oat Morning Soap. I don't know if it's intended to be used on your face but that's what I do (just don't get it in your eyes). It's moisturizing and I love that it has oat in it. Here's the thing, I've been sick for two weeks with a sinus and double ear infection. Normally when I blow my nose this much and have all this going on my nose is dry, scabby, and crusty. I know that was probably TMI but it's true. I was using the Morning Soap during this particular bought and I did not have any problems. the moisturizing properties really kept my skin in great condition. In also believe that the exfoliation from the oats helped as well. At any rate, I love the way my skin feels!

Thrifty. Let's discuss. I feel like I would pay this much or more for products with junk in them. The Hand & Body Cream is $12.99 for a 6 oz bottle, the body wash $8.99 for 8 fl oz, and the soap $5.99 for a 5 oz bar. I've reviewed enough natural products to know that this is great pricing. I'm willing to spend that for what you get. Boy, do I wish that I lived near one of the retail shops so I could browse, sniff, and buy. I guess I'll just have to be happy with the online shopping!

Beecology gives back! They have a charitable arm called Sweet Year.org. You can even help decide how the charitable giving is distributed! Check out the site, it's a lot of fun and really quite, well, sweet.

Buy It:

Go to Beecology online to shop or visit one of the retail shops mentioned above. You're skin will do a happy dance!

Win It:

One lucky reader will win the same grouping of products that I received. Sounds awesome, right? Enter through the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway