ZIA Natural Skincare Product Review
Written by Curry Matalucci Tuesday, 20 April 2010 20:04
I’ve taken more time than usual to evaluate the products for ZIA Natural Skincare for a variety of reasons. Mostly, they arrived at a rather hectic time, managing a new work schedule, getting ready for Easter, planning birthday parties. As I read the ingredients in the product names, Sea Tonic Aloe Toner with Cypress, Sea Tonic Rosewater & Aloe Toner, Moisturizing Cleanser with Soybean, Bamboo Exfoliant with Rice Bran, Herbal Moisture Gel with Black Currant Extract, I started to get an Eastern Zen feel and a little peace and enlightenment is just what was needed! Here is what I learned.
Sea Tonic alone brings soothing thoughts. It is said that there is a bit of every mineral on Earth dissolved in ocean water. That is something that links all continents and heals the body physically and emotionally.
I believe, however, the great minds at Zia were referring to seaweed extracts and aloe that re-mineralize and heal the skin. Rose water has been used for centuries for its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, in addition to its aroma therapeutic benefits. Aloe is known for healing and hydrating. Soybean also hydrates and calms. Cypress and ylang ylang are used for aromatherapy, balancing oils, and reducing redness with an added benefit of lowering blood pressure.
The Zia Natural Skincare products do rate higher than zero on the Environmental Working Group’s Toxicity Database. Ratings from 0-2 are considered low hazard. Ratings from 3-6 have a moderate hazard and 7-10 is a high level hazard. All the products listed rate a 3, which is mild, chemically speaking. Any problems noted were related to individual allergies and mild skin irritations. The above products are both alcohol and paraben free, not to mention free of artificial colors, fragrances, phthalates, formaldehydes, aluminum, sulfates, MEA, DEA, TEA, petrolatum, and mineral oils.
Paraben was a new word for me, so I will share what I found. Parabens both occur naturally and are manmade. They have bacterial and fungicidal properties and are available at a low cost, making them ideal as preservatives for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, they also mimic estrogen and have been found in breast tumors. There is no causative link established, but lots of caution and proposed research for prolonged exposure.
Organic companies are wonderful for many reasons. They generally work to bring healthier products to the consumer. They try to make a positive environmental impact. They attempt to educate the public and they believe in what they are doing. Zia is no exception. Zia strives to help rebuild natural resources while reducing their carbon footprint. They utilize wind-power, buy their ingredients locally, use recycled materials for packaging, and they do not test on animals. A portion of all their proceeds goes towards planting trees with American Forests’ Global ReLeaf Project. Please learn more about them at
www.zianatural.com.
As for the listed products, here is my experience:
Sea Tonic Aloe Toner with Cypress for oily skin - It is a lovely skin refresher. It’s a clear and very light spray. It has a woody smell, not the green smell of leaves in spring, but very reminiscent of bark in sunshine. The toner is designed to calm and soothe skin and reduce redness. After cleansing, moisten the skin with the toner and apply the Herbal Moisture Gel while the skin is damp. The toner helps aid absorption of the gel. It has a cool feel that doesn’t dry out the skin. It did visibly reduce redness, but I am still looking for something that evens my skin completely.
Sea Tonic Rosewater & Aloe Toner with ylang ylang for normal/dry skin - It is also a clear spray with a light scent, tangibly more “wet” than the Sea Tonic Aloe toner with Cypress. It seems to hydrate the skin cells and hold in the moisture.
Moisturizing Cleanser with Soybean for dry skin - It is a creamy, white, gentle cleanser that feels like a lotion. It leaves skin feeling very soft and smooth.
Bamboo Exfoliant with Rice Bran for all skin types - This is by far the BEST exfoliant that I have tried to date, hands down. It is very creamy, light green with a mild scent. It is gentle and effective. The “grit” is very fine almost like sand, but it is not harsh at all. It is loaded with exfoliate. After massaging for roughly 30 seconds, my skin came out clean and smooth without any dry spots or irritation. I felt polished – a very pleasant experience.
Herbal Moisture Gel with Black Currant Extract - Another pleasant surprise. It’s a light tan gel in a pump dispenser. It absorbs very quickly and leaves no oily feel, and best of all, no residual shine. I was able to use it with my usual powder foundation. It did not itch, clog pores, or irritate. Twelve straight hours of comfortable moisture, I can’t ask for better than that.
I have to admit, with so much natural antiseptic, aloe, and soothing oils in these products, I wondered about their healing properties. Like every busy mom, occasionally I burn myself on the oven door. The gel certainly didn’t take any sting away from my burn, but in the course of a week, it did keep the skin from scabbing and scaling and I was much more comfortable than I would have been without trying my experiment. It’s just something interesting to pass along.
All in all, I am very impressed with the products and the company. Zia doesn’t promote their personal “story” as much as they set an example by their actions and their products. Can we all rise to the challenge of making a positive impact in the world?
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