Today, I'll be reviewing a minty trio of products from Cactus & Ivy. Mint is a very welcome and utterly appropriate theme for summer, when I'm writing this review, though it's equally welcome in the winter. The refreshing and cooling properties of anything minty are much sought after by people like me, who swelter away in their un-air-conditioned homes during heatwave after heatwave in hot, humid and, at times, downright jungle-type summer weather.

Before I begin the review of the products, I have to make mention of Cactus & Ivy's logo, which is so fun and clever. This company has obviously been thoughtful about their branding, as well as their packaging, which is fresh, clean, and modern. Okay, now that we're done with the design geek portion of the review, on to what you're really here for…a review of the actual products.

My minty Cactus & Ivy products arrived carefully packaged in green organza bags, which made for a very good first impression. Being a lover of lip balm, I had to try the mint "flavored" Lip Service Lip Balm first. I was pleased with its smoothness, its emolliency, and its peppermint flavor, which made my lips slightly tingly in an ever so pleasant way. What impressed me most, though, was the lip balm's staying power. After wearing it for at least an hour, my lips still felt as though I'd just applied it. Now, that's the sign of a quality lip balm.

Next, I tried the cleverly named Spearcalyptus Body Soap. Love that name! Speckled generously with both mint and eucalyptus leaves, this soap impresses with its interesting appearance and would make a perfect gift for anyone who appreciates handmade soap. The leaves also create a gently exfoliating bar, and the formulation is wonderful, with a healthy, bubbly lather. I could swear that my skin was left feeling not only soft, but with a touch of chill from the spearmint and eucalyptus oils in the soap. Of course, I may have been so into my minty experience at that point that everything made me feel refreshed and slightly tingly.

I was excited to try Cactus & Ivy's Peppermint Tree Foot Balm, which comes smartly packaged in what I'd typically call a "deodorant tube". This product is the perfect solution for "summer feet". You know how it goes - in the summertime, you walk around barefoot for the majority of the time, and your feet suffer for it. They're dry, calloused, and downright cranky about how you've been treating them. I say, bring on the Peppermint Tree Foot Balm! Because of its smart packaging, the balm is a breeze to apply. No mess, and no cleanup. Its scent is refreshing (a healthy balance of peppermint and tea tree oils) and intensively moisturizing.

Though Cactus & Ivy's site is currently under construction, I recommend that you keep checking in on a regular basis so you can snap up some of their quality, mint scented (and other) products as soon as possible. They obviously value quality, both in their packaging and in the products themselves, which makes them a keeper in my book!