Review by Adriana Perez.
Master Herbalist Kaitlyn Lockman founded Zen Society with a simple goal in mind: to foster a world free of chemicals and toxins, and to promote overall well-being.
Kaitlyn has dedicated herself to providing affordable, effective, 100% natural and eco-friendly beauty solutions to the everyday woman; she creates products that contain USDA Certified Organic ingredients, plant botanicals and fruit extracts. All Zen Society products contain at least 95% organic content, are certified vegan and cruelty-free by PETA, and are also free of sulfates, toxins, fragrances, parabens/preservatives, dyes, pthalates, mineral oils, gluten and GMOs.
The Zen Society commitment to healthy ingredients includes the use of oils that are cold pressed and unrefined, as well as the use of Fair Trade and locally harvested ingredients whenever possible. Zen Society is a proud signer for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and The Natural Pledge, and donates a percentage of each sale to Friends of the Earth.
I had not heard of Zen Society before, and was highly impressed with their commitment to healthy formulas. Thanks to the natural ingredients in all Zen Society products, all formulas are created on-demand because the shelf life of each (unlike most commercial products) is about 6-12 months.
I recently had the opportunity to try the Replenishing Macadamia Body Oil, which is described by Zen Society as:
A delicate and quick absorbing body oil that is great for sensitive skin. It provides antioxidants which deeply moisturize and promote a youthful skin complexion. This luxurious blend is rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein to help slow the aging process and restore elasticity to the skin.
The body oil contains:
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil:
- High in essential fatty acids
- Moisturizes, regenerates and conditions
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil:
- The high content of palmitoleic acid makes Macadamia Oil an effective antioxidant. (Especially good for dry/mature skin)
- It penetrates and hydrates the skin quickly
- Mild and gentle, almost like the oil (sebum) naturally produced by the skin
Rosa Canina (Rosehip oil) Fruit Oil:
- Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals
- Has natural antioxidant properties
- Studies illustrate that it helps improve skin elasticity, regenerates skin cells, slows down premature aging, reduces the formation of wrinkles, and reduces scarring
Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil:
- Natural anti-inflammatory properties
- Keeps skin moisturized
- Natural preservative
I like the versatility of this product and the fact that it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy reside behind. The smell is quite distinct, and in case you are not used to natural products that actually smell like what they are made out of, keep in mind that this oil truly does not contain artificial fragrances.
It has a somewhat stronger nutty scent (which makes sense since it is a macadamia nut body oil); to put it into perspective, it smells almost like a nice olive oil. The nutty smell does dissipate fairly quickly though, leaving your skin moisturized, supple and soft.
Kaitlyn recommends applying the oil one of two ways: either directly to dry skin or while in the shower (especially to elbows and knees). I tried it both ways and found there to be several benefits to each method – but I prefer applying it in the shower. Heat helps products to penetrate the skin better, and I feel as though the warm water really helped this process along. Another thing I found was that the oil made for an excellent close shave and left my legs feeling very soft. After my shower my skin felt even softer than when I had used the oil on my skin dry, and I didn’t have to apply any other moisturizing products.
As I mentioned earlier, this particular body oil is incredibly versatile. I’m a huge fan of pleasant smells, so I customized my bottle with a few drops of lavender essential oil to make a relaxing moisturizer that I apply at night before bed. You can easily do the same, and even get creative with a nice blend of oils of your own choosing.
Overall, I think this is a wonderful product at an excellent price point. You may purchase Replenishing Macadamia Body Oil for $22.00 at www.zensocietyskincare.com.
Review by Adriana Perez. Adriana is a Los Angeles esthetician who enjoys learning about ingredients in skincare and makeup. If she is not educating clients on ways to help them achieve beautiful, healthy skin, she is most likely running around LA trying to attend as many random concerts and festivals as possible.
