NatureShock: Cocoon Apothecary

Want to feel like a natural woman? With the wealth of natural beauty care lines cropping up, SugarShock wants to help you find only the best, so we're introducing NatureShock, a new feature spotlighting natural and organic beauty products. First up is Cocoon Apothecary, a lovely line of natural skincare based on essential oils. Now first let me say that the line was concocted by a good high school friend, Jessica Zinger of Kitchener, Ontario, so yes, I'm naturally biased. But I tried out these products with my innately discerning SugarShock sensibility and let me say, they surpassed my expectations. My faves: Kahuna Body Creme, a deliciously rich and silky lotion-y cream made with macadamia and coconut oils that melts into my skin without feeling greasy and smells of coconut and tropical verbena (a lemony aroma that's so refreshing); and Petal Purity Facial Cleanser, for a super-gentle clean that effectively removes all traces of makeup and is gorgeously scented with lavender and geranium oils. What's more, the products are vegan (and no, that doesn't mean you can eat them!). Vegan skincare contains no animal products and isn't tested on animals, which ranks high in my books. Cocoon also doesn't use synthetic fragrances or parabens, which means your skin has a better chance of taking in all the natural-ingredient goodness.