Nana Joes Granola

I always appreciate healthier snack options, so imagine my excitement when I learned about the vegan, certified gluten-free granola from Nana Joes. Based in San Francisco, founder Michelle Pusateri and her team make each small batch by hand. 

The grain-free Urban Blend ($11; 10oz) is an awesome blend of crispy coconut, chewy dried fruit, seeds and nuts. There is no refined sugar; the amount of organic maple syrup is just right, not too sweet. If you can't have oats in your diet, you need to try this.

For those who can tolerate oats, the Cluster Blend - Cashew & White Peach ($9; 14oz) is just delicious. It comes with little bites of unsweetened dried peaches, which you can mix into the granola or eat them straight from the packet. Like the Urban Blend, it has the perfect combo of spices to make it yummy without being too rich or heavy.

 Grain-free Urban Blend.

For portable convenience, there are granola bar options. I can see myself stashing several bars of the Swell Grain Free Bar ($3.50) whenever I'm traveling. It has a coconut base, almonds and cocoa nibs to give a boost of energy whenever you need it. The Big Wave Bar ($3.50) has crunchy bits of quinoa, mini chocolate chips, almond butter and cranberry. I don't normally like cranberry but these are infused with apple juice so it adds a hint of tartness. Both are available in a package of 6 or 12 bars ($20-40). 

Available at www.nanajoes.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Clarins Spring Beauty Preview

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Clarins media breakfast at the Four Seasons in San Francisco. I got a chance to catch up with my dear friend Natalie from Coquette while learning about the latest spring launches from the venerable Parisian beauty brand.

Image credit: Clarins

I got to check out the limited edition Face Contouring Palette ($42), which includes a blush, highlighter, and bronzer. Both the blush and bronzer are super pigmented and they won't fade for a long time, even without primer. The highlighter is a bit too muted for me but I like that it's not shimmery. You can read my reviews on the rest of their spring makeup here. 

 

The Hydra-Essentiel skincare line was also introduced, which I had covered back in January. We got a chance to try the refreshing Hydra-Essentiel Cooling Gel ($48), which is going to be a hit for summer. The soothing gel will be so comforting when temperatures hit the 90s. 

Last but not least, the new Body Fit Anti-Cellulite Contouring Expert ($70) seems like a great way to get in shape for summer. I've never tried anti-cellulite products before but I'll share results if I see any. 

There are a couple more new makeup items I'll be reviewing in the next month so stay tuned!

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

True Botanicals Travel Size Body & Hair Care

True Botanicals fans can now get travel size body and hair care! These sturdy, TSA-ready bottles are available as a shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion. If you love floral notes you'll enjoy their signature Fresh scent. For those new to the brand, it's a great way to check out these items if you don't want to commit to a full size product.

I've already tried the Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner ($11 each; 2 oz) so I knew I'd be pleased with the Nourishing Wash ($11; 2oz). There's not too much foam and unlike some body washes with a goopy formula, it washes off easily without having to scrub off the excessive soapiness.

The Nourishing Lotion ($14, 2 oz) is perfectly balanced. It's rich enough to condition the skin but not too heavy to sit on the surface. I love the non-greasy texture—no need to wait for it to soak in before getting dressed. The scent is so decadent it can double as a light perfume! 

Available at truebotanicals.com.  

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Jane Iredale Spring 2017 Makeup

Today, Jane Iredale is launching their spring 2017 mineral makeup collection. 

The warm shades in the Peaches & Cream Bronzer Refill ($44) is very pretty and easy to blend. Use each color separately or combine them for a gorgeously natural flush. You can also use this as an eyeshadow for a delicate daytime look. 

I really like the ultra creamy texture of the Candid In Touch Cream Blush ($28). Macadamia esters and beeswax help make it exceptionally moisturizing so it's gentle enough on sensitive skin. The warm rose neutral is also flattering on most skin tones. 

I just love the velvety texture of the PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple ($30). The spring collection includes  Soft Kiss and Pink Quartz. Soft Kiss has a matte mauve, shimmery port wine and shimmery smoky brown. Despite the two shimmery colors I found that after blending them together the final result is more on the matte side.

Pink Quartz

I much prefer the shimmery finish of Pink Quartz, which includes a matte light pink, shimmery soft pink and shimmery cool plum. Both trios are finely milled and pigmented, making it easy to achieve the smoky eye. 

Soft Kiss

The PureMoist Lipstick ($25) is available in Susan, a soft cool pink, and Lisa, a rose beige. Susan is cheerful and flattering; I can see this one selling out temporarily for this season. Lisa was too dark and brown for me, but if you want something more vampy it will do the trick. 

PureMoist Lipstick in SusanPureMoist Lipstick in Lisa.

Available at janeiredale.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

S4 Skincare Replenished Mask

S4 Skincare just introduced their new Replenished Mask ($84.50), which I think is great for cellular turnover. It features plant stem cell extracts, which co-founder Shelley Costantini sources from organically grown red clover, wheatgrass and broccoli. Super cool, right? I've also known Shelley for a long time and she's always spot on about all things related to skincare and beauty. 

This nutrient-dense mask is suitable for those with dry, reactive skin like mine. I was happily surprised that the lactic acid didn't irritate my face all that much. It only tingled a bit for 3 minutes—a major win for me. Since it contains fresh plant actives you will need to refrigerate it and use it up within a month. For best results you should also use the mask 2-3 times a week. 

As of today there's still a flash sale so it's $10 off the retail size (sample size is $5). There's also a free shipping code (MASK00) if you act quickly. 

Available at www.s4skincare.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

SK-II R.N.A. Power Eye Cream

SK-II and Japanese skincare fans will covet the new R.N.A. Power Eye Cream ($135). An upgrade from the Essential Power Eye Cream, this one contains the Radical New Age complex as well as two new ingredients to resist wrinkle formation and enhance skin surface renewal: chlorella extract and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. 

As with all SK-II products this one features their signature Pitera essence. Lupine-alfalfa extract and palmitoyl dipeptide-7 are also added to firm up eyelids, nourish the under eye area, and smooth fine lines around the corner of the eyes. After six weeks of continual use expect to see a 10% increase in skin firmness.

I love the lightweight texture which makes it easy to wear under makeup. The fragrance is very light so it's good for those sensitive to heavy scents. Overall this is a solid eye cream unless you have really dry skin. 

Available at www.sk-ii.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.