Three products that I LOVE!!!!!!!

I'm not sure how many of you have heard of the brand Luvena, but it is definitely a God send!  In previous posts I have mentioned that I use Summer's Eve wipes and body wash on a daily basis.  However, after such a long period of usage the products began to dry my skin and cause the infamous skin issues that I was ever so determined to prevent.  I decided to search around for a product similar to Summer's Eve with less harsh ingredients, but with more ingredients that would be proactive in maintaining the natural flora in and around my private area.  In my search I came across a brand named Luvena, and this brand happens to be labeled as "natural".  To be honest, I'm not quite sure if the FDA has even defined what the usage of the word "natural" means with regards to the products labelled with it, but I have used and will be reviewing three of Luvena's products below.

The first product of the three that caught my eye are the prebiotic feminine wipes.

The picture above happens to be a box of their individually wrapped wipes.  I must say that having these wipes individually wrapped has come to be very convenient at times.  Most times are when I'm working out and won't have a chance to shower prior to running errands.  I can just remove one or two from my purse or pocket (since they are very compact) freshen up and go on with my day.  This definitely prevents most types of skin break-down due to sweat sitting on ones skin for a long period of time.

Individually wrapped wipe

Size of individually wrapped wipe with respect to packaging

Individually wrapped wipe after being removed from packaging

Full size of the individually wrapped wipe with respect to packaging

Luvena also has another set of the same wipes packaged similar to that of baby wipes, as pictured below.

These wipes can be used in the same manner, but since the entire package of wipes will be exposed to additional bacteria and environmental elements each time the package is opened, I would opt to use these at home (for example on night stand, in bathroom, etc.)

Multiple wipe packaging

Size of the multiple pack wipe with respect to the two different packages

LEFT:  individually wrapped wipe size, and RIGHT:  multiple pack wipe size

Another Luvena product that I keep handy is their body wash, which is pictured below.

The smell is great, with a gel consistency, and it's clear in color.  I tend to use this wash on days that are a little more active than others.  For example, on heavy workout days, heavy intimacy days, or during menstruation.

Body wash poured into my hand

Consistency of body wash

Consistency of body wash

Consistency of body wash

Now to the good stuff...these products are considered "prebiotic" because they include...

• Lactoferrin - a multifunctional protein that can be found in human milk and cow milk.  Human colostrum or the newborn's first milk has the highest concentration of lactoferrin.  As a side note, colostrum is very significant for newborns as it gives them antibodies to assist their immune system in fighting off bacteria and viruses.  The inclusion of lactoferrin in these products helps to maintain the normal flora balance in areas that are prone to bacterial overgrowth and subsequent skin break-down.  Just to give an example of its benefits, lactoferrin was given to mice with weakened immune systems and oral ulcers via their drinking water.  After consumption, the number of yeast strains, as well as the size of their oral ulcers had decreased.

• Lactoperoxidase - an enzyme usually secreted by mammary, salivary, and mucousal glands that functions as a natural antimicrobial.  To give an example of its benefits, it has been used in preserving food, cosmetic products, and eye drop medications.

• Lysozyme - an enzyme that attacks the cell walls of bacteria such as Bacillus and Streptococcus.  

• Pramoxine Hydrochloride - an antipruitic or anti-itch agent that temporarily relieves burning, itching, and discomfort associated skin irritation or inflammation.

In my mind, I immediately confuse prebiotic with probiotic!!???  So, just for my clarification

• Probiotics - are live bacteria found in yogurt and other diary foods or pills, and
• Prebiotics - are enzymes that assist the "good" bacteria with growth.

With the inclusion of the above ingredients, the products seem to have "bad" bacterial overgrowth under control, which has the potential to leave room for the "good" bacteria to overgrow...this is where use moderation comes into play.  So, if you start to utilize the wipes too often in conjunction with not allowing the area to dry, there is a possibility that you could experience "good" bacterial overgrowth...enters the the infamous "yeast infection"!  Yeast infections in my opinion are the most annoying, inconveniencing infections EVER...I digress...they cause a lot of irritation that can lead to skin breakdown.  The question becomes...are these products worth the moderation headache?  The truth is...I can't make that decision for you...hoooooowever, I can share what works for me and my ideology behind it.  

I KEEP all three products in my home at ALL times, and I also have these products scheduled for automatic re-order every 30 days.  As if that's not enough to slant your view...I choose these products because:

1. they conveniently prevent instant skin breakdown after workouts and intimacy marathons when instant showering isn't optimal,
2. they also prevent skin irritation due to my body's excessive self cleaning mechanism and ovulation discharge,
3. when thorough cleansing is needed (during menstruation, at the end of my day, etc.) the body wash is "money", and
4. MOST importantly this prebiotic formula/combination is available in two compact and convenient forms for use anywhere I may need them.

So, in case I didn't make it apparent before, I will gladly accept a few random yeast infections versus frequent, multiple, predictable, and preventable skin irritations and/or other infections.  My skin is very sensitive with a natural bacterial equilibrium that is easily imbalanced...over the past year Luvena has earned my thumbs up :)

On another note, just as I share the sweet side of these products, I must share the sour side as well.  Here are a few issues regarding the products that I would like to share briefly:

• The body wash has lanolin as an ingredient, which can cause eczema flares or skin irritation. 
• The wipes have tea tree oil as an ingredient, which can be used topically to kill bacteria and to minimize inflammation.  On the flip side, tea tree oil can dry the skin out.
• Luvena products have been a little hard to come by for the past few months due to an issue with their claims of being prebiotic.  You can read about this topic at the following websites Women's Health Law Information, The United States Dept. of Justice, and Class Action News.

Please discontinue the use of any product that causes irritation or discomfort.  As always, thank you for reading and until next time :)  Please feel free to comment, repost, and follow.