Koru Naturals #2 (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)

Earlier this year, you may remember that I had the opportunity to review a couple of products from a company called Koru Naturals. (The previous review can be found here.)  During that time, I got to pamper myself with their Emu Oil and their Manuka Oil  and Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner. These review items were extremely popular in our household with not only myself but with my teenage daughter and my husband as well; so popular that we've placed a few orders to keep ourselves stocked up. Well, Koru Naturals is back and this time we were given the opportunity to review three more items: NZ Fusion Botanicals Skin Clear Creme,  Manuka Honey Propolis Soap and the High Strength Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream. 

About the Products:

Each of these products have very special properties to them.

The Manuka Honey and Propolis soap makes use of the moisturizing and skin protective properties of both honey and propolis (the resinous susbstance collected by honeybees from tree buds that are used by them to fill crevices and to seal honeycombs).  This soap claims to be a very gentle cleansing soap for the skin. We received a 4.93oz bar packaged in plastic wrap and a cardboard box.  There were no warnings on the packaging or on the website.



The Skin Clear Creme also makes use of raw, unpasturized Manuka
honey, East Cape Manuka oil, Kawakawa, Harakeke, Burdock Root, Thyme, and Canadian Aspen Bark to create a thick cream that claims to be beneficial to acne prone skin.  It also contains many essential oils as well as Organic Shea Butter. This product came in a 4oz plastic jar with a warning to not use on children under 12 years of age or during pregnancy. While not on the jar, the website states that this product should not be used by those allergic to honey, manuka oil or tea tree oil.

Finally, the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy oil combines Emu Oil, Blue Tansy, Arnica Extract, MSM and Aloe Vera. It also contains many other essential oil such as peppermint, black pepper, German and Roman Chamomile to create a deep penetrating topical run for minor muscle pains. This product  came in a 4oz plastic jar and contained a warning to keep out of reach of children and pets.  There are no warnings on the website in regards to this item, however, I feel it this is probably a slight on the website design as many of the ingredients should not be used by children under 12 years of age or by pregnant woman, much like the Clear Skin Creme.



Using the Products:

To say it was like Christmas when the package arrived is an understatement.  My husband, who was nice enough to pick up the mail for me before heading off to work, stuck around long enough to see what everything was.  We all ripped into the package like a kid in the candy story, excited to see and smell everything that had arrived.  Everything smelled so wonderful!!!  Before rushing out the door, he informed me that he had first dibs on the soap as he wanted to use it when he got home from work.

Because each item has a specific use, we decided that all of us would enjoy the use of the honey and propolis soap.  Because of the ingredients in both the Skin Clear Creme and the Emu oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream, none of the children in the house were allowed to use them.  We decided that for the purpose of this review, the Skin Clear Creme would be used by my husband who has battled with acne on his back for many years.It was decided that I would personally use the Emu and Blue Tansy oil cream for pain I have associated with my neck.

As it turned out, both my husband and I ended up using the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream.  My husband is somewhat educated about essential oils and their usages since I use them frequently for various ailments so when he complained about a sore back after a hard day at work or sore legs after his latest PT test, he didn't blink and eye when I grabbed the cream.  Afterwards, he admitted he noticed a marked difference in the soreness he had experienced earlier in the day.  This was after I actually asked him - the fact that he hadn't complained about the soreness at all after I applied the cream told me it worked well for him.  The next time he had a sore back, he asked me to rub some of the cream on him so it was apparent he felt it worked..

As for my own experiences with the cream, I found it worked amazingly. I am prone to daily muscle cramping in my neck. Typically, I treat this pain with a combination of OTC medications and heat therapy and typically go through an entire bottle of pain killers fairly quickly.  For the first few days of using this product, I was using it probably twice a day on my neck. It spreads well and soaks into the skin quickly without leaving the skin feeling oily.  While it doesn't create a hot/cold sensation like many OTC muscle rubs, I would feel a marked decrease in the muscle pain I had felt and my neck muscles were no longer knotted up.   I also noticed after a few days, I wasn't reaching for it nearly as much as I wasn't needing it nearly as much.  After about a week, I realized that I was only reaching for it every other day.  This is a very big improvement for me as I am usually popping pain killers and heating up my neck wrap every day before this.  I've instead just reached for this cream, rub a small amount onto my neck and in about 20 minutes, the pain has diminished to such a degree I don't even notice it.  This is a product where a little goes a long way and even after multiple uses, I used very little of the product so this one jar will likely last a very long time.  The cream is very thick, blue tinged and has a very faint smell that reminds me of pickles (but not unpleasantly so).

As for the Skin Clear Creme, we did notice a slight improvement in the condition of my husband's

back but we're not sure if this is from the creme or just a natural process.  We did notice a significant difference in the angry redness on his back, just not much in the way of actual decrease of eruptions.  However, the creme makes for a very nice lightweight moisturizing face cream.  It has a very subtle but clean sent although I can't really put my finger on what it smells like, is lightweight like a lotion and is light beige in color.  Since I began using the Emu Oil offered by Koru Naturals months ago, I haven't had any issues with breakouts on my face so I cannot say how the product would have worked on blemishes on the face but I can say that it does make your skin feel extremely soft and silky after using it. This is another product where a little goes a long way and this jar will likely last a long time even with daily use.  We will continue using the product on my husbands back in hopes that over time, his back will continue to clear up. 

Lots of soapy goodness

The Manuka Honey and Propolis soap proved to be a huge hit with everyone in my house.  Everyone loved it.  It lathers up surprising well and leaves your skin feeling extremely soft.  Both of the lil kids beg to use the soap every time they take a bath and I had to retrieve it multiple times from my teenagers bathroom.  It is gentle enough to be used as a face cleaner and removes makeup well. It also works really well for shaving.

It also moisturizes really well and leaves the skin with a very sweet honey aroma.  Again, this product is long lasting and even with a family of five using it almost constantly, it's still almost the same size as when we received it.  Even my husband, who normally likes a more "manly" smelling  soap has been using this soap. Our bottles of body wash have all been put under the cabinet and I have a feeling they will only come out again if we run out of this wonderful soap before we can order a replacement later down the road.

Final Thoughts

To say that my family has fallen in love with Koru Naturals would be an understatement.  When I asked my husband and my teenage daughter if they had anything they would like to add to my review in regards to Koru Naturals, both said the same thing - "They're Awesome!!".  Beyond just the reviews, I've placed my own orders for products from them and I have found that their customer service is first rate, very helpful and that each product has been top quality.   I can already see that each of these three products will be in future orders, especially the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Cream as it's worked wonders on my neck.    I've personally recommended products from Koru Naturals to friends and family in the past and will continue to do so in the future, they are just that good.

To learn more about products offered by Koru Naturals, be sure to visit their website as well as their Facebook and Pinterest pages.

Be sure to check out the other Crew members reviews by clicking the banner below. In addition to the Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Cream, members also reviewed Argan Oil and Sandalwood Hair Tonic, Emu Oil Shampoo and Emu Oil Leave-in Conditioner, and Manuka Honey and Manuka Oil Facial Cleanser and Manuka Honey, Tamarind and Manuka Oil Facial Toner. 

Koru Naturals (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)

When it comes to homeschooling our kids and maintaining a household, there's usually one thing we as a busy mom completely forget about – OURSELVES. With all the hugs, kisses and endless love we supply our family, we need some pampering too. I had the opportunity to pamper myself over the last few weeks while reviewing products from KoruNaturals : their EmuOil and their ManukaOil  and Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner.

The Products

Koru Naturals is a company located in North Carolina that specializes in skincare and hair products made from natural ingredients such as manuka honey, manuka oil, emu oil and lanolin from New Zealand and they do not test their products on animals.

When the package arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find recycled packaging peanuts. It was nice to have a company who uses the name “Natural” using a packaging material that is Earth friendly. That made a great first impression. In the package I found a brown bottle of Emu oil and bottles of both the shampoo and conditioner.

1.Emu Oil Premium Golden  - 2 oz bottle of  100% Grade A traditional Australian Aboriginal Emu Oil (unclarified).  Koru Natural's website states this oil is non-comedogenic (meaning it does not clog your pores),  hypoallergenic and contains no preservatives or additives.


2. Manuka Oil and Active Hanuka Honey Shampoo - 8 oz bottle. 
with made with natural ingredients such as Aloe, Rosehip, Peppermint, Jojoba, Manuka oil and Manuka Honey (a full list of ingredients can be found on Koru Natural's website in case allergies are an issue

3. Manuka Oil and Active Manuka Honey Conditioner - 8 oz bottle made with many of the same ingredients found in the shampoo. Again, a full list of ingredients can be found on Koru's website. 

First Impressions

My husband hijacking the goods.

The shampoo and conditioner smelled amazing!! My husband, upon smelling them, declared that he was going to be the first to use them as soon as he got home from physical training (he's in the military). Sure enough, as soon as he came home he hopped in the shower and proceeded to use them before I had a chance. However, he did admit that he just did a "wash and go" job and did not take the time to leave them in his hair for the recommended 3-5 minutes. However, he said he enjoyed the smell a lot and enjoyed how shiny his hair was after using it and I enjoyed running my hands through his freshly washed and extremely soft hair.

The Emu oil itself does not have a smell. It is a very viscous oil with a white cloudy sheen to it. A little goes a long way and it made my hands feel nice and soft after testing a few drops on them.

That night I personally used the emu oil as a carrier oil for a muscle rub made from essential oils for my sore lower back. I found the oil spread nicely over my skin, soaked into my skin very quickly and did not leave a greasy residue. I mixed 6 drops into a small container and put in three drops of my muscle rub essential oil (EO) blend and this was enough for 2 applications to my back. 

I also began using the emu oil also on my face that night after reading that emu oil is great for younger looking skin. (Hey, what can I say, I'm no Spring Chicken and will do what I can to fight the age clock.) Also,  I have been fighting with severe acne on my chin area after quitting smoking 3 months ago and heard oil therapy was good for clearing it up.  I mixed three drops of emu oil in my hand along with 1 drop of Frankincense EO . The oil soaked into face very quickly but was still enough to cover entire face. My face did not feel greasy afterward and after the oil soaked in I did not feel anything indicating that the oil had been there. My face did not feel wet or tacky.

The difference was almost immediate. After the first initial use, my face felt a lot softer.

 I ended up using the Emu oil every night before bed for the entire review period.

The next day I used the shampoo/conditioner for first time. I quickly noticed the shampoo does not lather up like what I am use to but this is not the fault of the shampoo (but more the fillers in the other store bought shampoos).. Did I mention this stuff smells amazing??  The peppermint oil produces such a invigorating experience and I would not recommend using this product right before bed.   After using the products for the first time and my hair had air dried, my husband commented my hair was the softest he had ever felt it, even though I had used harsh bleach on it less than 2 weeks prior. 

Initially I used the shampoo/conditioner every other day but by the end of the review period I had cut down to washing my hair twice a week due to my hair was not producing as much oils.

Final Impressions after Using For A Month

They say a picture is worth a thousands words, so I guess I should let the pictures speak for themselves:

The above picture was taken two days before I started using the Koru Naturals Emu Oil on my face. While most of them are hidden by the gobs of heavy makeup, you can see several eruptions on my chin and near my mouth..  

30 Days Later - I need to learn to smile ;)

30 Days later and severely in need of a dye job ;)   But no makeup. As you can see, the problem area where my chin was a minefield is no longer an issue. My skin looks clear and bright and although you can't tell from a picture, it is very soft.  I don't normally post pictures of myself without makeup, but this one I actually wouldn't mind people seeing because I don't see problem areas in need of covering up.   I do believe that I will be using Koru Natural's Emu oil as part of my nightly skin regiment for a very long time.

As for the shampoo and conditioner, my entire family loves them and has said I will have to continue to buy it as we come close to running out. However,  I should also mention that once you realize that it does not lather up the same way that chemical laden shampoos normally do, you'll use much less of the product. I also noticed that I did not have to wash my hair as much as normal as my hair stayed grease free for longer periods of time. (My daughter also noticed this with her hair. My husband washes his hair after PT regardless).   With three people using both hair products for the past month, we still have well over half a bottle remaining .

My only complaint in regards to the hair care products is that the wonderful smell does not seem to last very long.  The smell seemed to dissipate within a few hours and could no longer be smelled.  However, I'm sure this is probably due to the fact that Koru Naturals uses natural essential oils to scent both the shampoo and conditioner as opposed to stronger chemical fragrance that other companies use. I guess it's a trade off: natural ingredients that are healthy for your hair or longer scent caused by harsh ingredients. After how soft our hair has become after using the shampoo/conditioner, I think I can handle it ;) 

Koru Naturals has an entire line of products available on their website in addition to the Emu Oil and the Shampoo/Conditioner set.   They can also be found on Facebook and Pinterest.