CJ's BUTTer Body Products (are awesome)

I've always had an obsession with lotions and lip balms - just ask my poor mother whom I was constantly asking for money to buy more Lip Smackers.  Because in my young and inexperienced view, if you're going to use them, you really should have one in each flavour/scent, right?  As I've grown up (a bit), had children, and learned more about which ingredients are better for our bodies (or at least, which we would do well to avoid), I've developed different criteria by which I judge the products I use.  This is especially true for products I use on my children's skin.  The skin is the largest organ in (on?) the body, and anything you put on it absorbs into your bloodstream sooner or later.  And so, I try to minimize the number of products I apply to their skin.  This means a product has to be effective (so I don't have to reapply all the time), and free of known harmful chemicals (such as parabens, pthalates, SLS, etc).  CJ's BUTTer is all of these things, and more.

When I committed to cloth diapering full time (instead of part time), one of my first questions was what to do about diaper cream?  I was used to being able to slap on a disposable anytime a bit of redness appeared, and then it wasn't an issue to use an effective zinc based cream.  While I've tried a number of different creams, I had always heard rave reviews about CJ's BUTTer.  So you can imagine how excited I was to be asked to try a number of CJ's products for this review.

I decided to request the sampler of 8 individual BUTTErs, so I could try some different scents, and so I wouldn't end up with a whole tub in a scent I did not love.  As it turns out, that wouldn't have been an issue - the scents were all lovely!  Of the 8 varieties that I tried, my favourites were Lullaby Baby Lotion, My Pixie Pie, and Oatmeal, Milk and Honey.  The EO Carribean Therapy blend was also amazing.  CJ's Original BUTTers  are made with shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, lanolin, beeswax, cocoa butter, Vitamin E (derived from soy) and gluten-free colloidal oatmeal.   The scented ones are scented either with Essential Oils/Blends, or pthalate-free synthetic fragrances (they disclose on their website which ones are scented using which method, and it's worth mentioning that the synthetic fragrances used do not come with an ingredient list except that they are indicated as being pthalate-free).  The BUTTer goes on so smoothly and is (at room temperature) exactly the right consistency to spread on a squirmy baby's skin - it goes on quickly and evenly.

I've used it to successfully treat mild redness in the diaper area (we've been blessed with few diaper rash issues), but I think one of the best things about CJ's BUTTer is how versatile it is.  I use it on my own knuckles, which for some reason (frequent hand washing associated with cold/flu season, perhaps?) are always dry and cracking, and although they aren't cured yet, they are in much better shape now than they were a month ago.  My son has a dry patch of skin (maybe eczema, but I'm not sure as we've never had it diagnosed) on one of his hands, which I had been treating nightly with various creams and balms, but it wasn't til I started putting CJ's BUTTer on it a couple of times a day that I really noticed an improvement.  I wish I could say it was gone for good, but I suspect I'll have to wait for the warmer weather before that becomes a possibility.  One patch of dry skin it has kept completely in check is my daughter's cheeks.  She has has a cold for a while and along with it, the crusty nose and red cheeks. But every time she sleeps, I put a dab of the BUTTer on her cheeks and under her nose, and over the course of a few days I saw her skin return to its normal baby-soft condition.

I also had the opportunity to try the CJ's BUTTer Lip Balm, which is unbelievably creamy and smooth, and has a long-lasting effect.  And unlike many commercial formulas, if you lick your lips, you're not stuck with some gross fake taste on your tongue.  It just tastes mildly sweet (I have the unscented version).  One last treat in my reviewer sample kit was the CJ's BUTTer Creamy Lotion.  The Creamy Lotion had a refreshing cool and creamy feeling to it, went on smoothly and absorbed quickly, and left a delicious scent (I tried Coconut Lime Dream, Monkey Farts, and Apples & Spice).

I am thrilled to let you know that you can now buy CJ's BUTTer Body Products right here in (OK, near) Halifax, NS - from CJ's All Natural - HRM.  Check out their Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/pages/CJs-All-Natural-HRM/251573734922333, view the list of scent descriptions here http://tinyurl.com/6mlfzrf, or take a closer look at the product options and price list here http://tinyurl.com/7pmqkss.  Even better, Andrea has generously offered to give away a 4oz tub of CJ's Original BUTTer (winner's choice of Monkey Farts, Warm Vanilla Cake or Apples and Spice scent - retail value of $9.95).  To enter, you must "Like" her Facebook page, and leave a comment ON HER WALL to let her know you're there via Geekmommy Reviews and what scent you would like if you win.  Contest open to NOVA SCOTIA residents only (sorry, out-of-towners), and winners who can't arrange to pick up the BUTTer in HRM will need to pay shipping to their home.  But hurry, contest closes April 22nd.  And hey, if you don't win, you can take advantage of an Earth Day special 10% off sale, good from April 18th - 22nd, by emailing your order to andrea@gettingtonatural.ca and mentioning the sale.

If you've used CJ's products, what is your favourite scent & product?  I personally can't wait to try their Peppermint Lotion, which has peppermint and tea tree oils in it, and is supposed to be great for tired feet AND for an alternative to conventional petroleum based "vapo-rub" type products.

And don't forget to "Like" CJ's All Natural - HRM on Facebook and comment on THEIR wall as I mentioned above for your chance to win a 4oz tub of BUTTer!