Edible & Effective: Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub Review

Lush is a world wide recognized brand that basically sells itself. While I'm not keen on all of their products and ingredient choices, I do like a few items. One of which is their Popcorn Lip Scrub, so delicious.

Description: Indulge in the sweet-and-salty taste of this delectable lip scrub. Sugar and fine sea salt exfoliate away dry skin while jojoba and coconut oils restore essential hydration to the lips for a smooth, softened pout. Use Popcorn on its own for a luxurious (and delicious!) lip treatment, or before applying your favorite lip color for perfectly soft, kissable lips. Just try not to eat it straight from the pot!

It tastes sooooo good. It really is sweet-and-salty which I'm such a sucker for! I love the little glass jar, which can be reused and is still light enough to carry in your purse/travel bag. Popcorn was a holiday flavour/scent that became so loved and demanded, that they made it part of their permanent collection. The sugar and salt help gently exfoliate dry chapped lips, while jojoba and coconut oil help moisturize. For $9.95 CAN, I find this little jar is well worth the price because it lasts a long time (I've had it for about 6 months and it's not even finished). I plan on attempting my own lip scrub once I completely finish this jar, but if you'd would rather just buy one that's already made, then I highly recommend trying out the Lush lip scrubs.

Retails for $9.95 CAN for .8oz/25g, can only be purchased through Lush.

What's your favourite lip scrub of all time?

April 2013 Empties Part 2!

I finished so many products this month, full size and sample size. I love the feeling of finishing up products and making space in my drawers. Generally, samples are reserved for travelling but I don't want them sitting around forever nor do I want to bring home empty sachets. Here are the samples that I finished up this month..

Primavera Hand & Nail Cream - I'm not usually a fan of ginger scents but this was really nice! It was light, fresh and the scent didn't linger for too long. It moisturized really well without feeling greasy or sticky. I adore my Weleda Skin Food though and, therefore, wouldn't purchase the full size.

Weleda Citrus Hydrating Lotion - This hydrates alright. I didn't think it was anything special and I didn't enjoy the super citrusy scent. It's not something that I'd purchase.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil - I just love this oil! It smells ever so slightly sweet, hydrates wonderfully and leaves my skin feeling amazing. I've already purchased the full size.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion - I finished 3 of these little samples and really wanted to love it. This smells just a little stronger than the body oil, which is nice, but I don't find it hydrates all that well on its own. I won't purchase the full size.

Cocoon Apothecary Petal Purity Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - I really enjoyed this sample. It doesn't have a very strong scent, but it does smell slightly like roses (which I normally don't like). It's provides a very gentle exfoliation, left my skin smooth and glowing. I'd consider picking up the full size.

Primavera Moisturizing Face Care Starter Kit (the 4 in the middle) - My mom and I weren't huge fans of this line. You can read the full review here.

John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair - I love John Masters hair products. Sadly, there was only enough in here to use once (maybe twice but I got a little product happy) and I couldn't tell if it did anything amazing for my hair. Not sure if I'll purchase the full size.

Suki Color Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain - I was setting myself up to hate this product because Suki usually smells so strong but, to my surprise, this didn't smell like much. I mixed in a little Alima Pure Warm 2 foundation to make it slightly more yellow, applied it with my hands and out the door I went. It didn't cover, just evened out my complexion and made it glow. It's pretty expensive, not sure I'd purchase the full size.

I made quite a dent in my samples, feels sooooo good! 

Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear what you thought.

April 2013 Empties!

Well hello there lovies! It's that time of the month again, not THAT time of the month but empties time of the month! As usual, I have gone through too many things and I'm just going to jumping right in.

Skin Care

Lush Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser - review here - I love this cleanser so much and it lasted me just under 4 months. I used it on my face and upper body to help exfoliate, control break outs and make my skin soft. I have not yet repurchased because I'm doing daily facials at school and really cannot use the additional exfoliation that this cleanser provides. I will repurchase at some point.

Tamanu Oil - review here - Tamanu oil is a must have oil for all skin types and conditions. It works well to hydrate and heal (acne, scratches, burns, etc). I have already repurchased.

Weleda Refining Toner - review here - I didn't finish this, I dumped it. I tried it, my mom tried it, my 16 year old cousin tried it, my friend tried it and we all hated it. We all have different skin types and conditions but found this to burn and irritate our skin. I will not repurchase.

Apricot Kernel Oil - no review - I'm not sure why I never did a review but I love AKO for moisturizing. I've used it in my hair, in my cleansing oil, as a moisturizer, etc, and find it works amazingly well without breaking me out. I will repurchase this as soon as I finish some of my other oils.

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - review here - Not getting into this again lol. I don't like it and I won't repurchase.

Body/Hair Care

Lush Massage Bar - review here - I really like the idea of these as a solid body butter but I cannot stand the smell of this bar anymore. It literally makes me nauseous every time I catch a whiff. I'm tossing it and won't repurchase.

Weleda Calendula Lotion - review disappeared - I know I wrote a review, but I can't find it now :S. It's really moisturizing and has a light fresh scent. Sadly, I went through this so darn quickly. I may repurchase at some point, but not right now.

Hugo Shower Gel in Vanilla & Sweet Orange - review here - This wash is absolutely fantastic! I love that it gently cleanses, lathers nicely, and smells nice. I'm sort of sick of vanilla & sweet orange scents now, and have so much soap to use up, but I'd repurchase one of their body washes again.

Hugo Shea Butter & Oatmeal Soap - review here - Hands down the best soaps that I have ever tried, not much else to say. I have a few Christmas scented bars that I'm using now and will definitely repurchase.

Badger Antioxidant Hair Oil - review here - Such a lovely hair oil. Both my hair and scalp enjoyed when I used this and it's something I'd repurchase.

Lafe's Crystal Deodorant - review here - This deodorant works, but...the crystal fell off the base and apparently potassium alum is a questionable ingredient. I will not repurchase.

Makeup

Alima Pure Lipbalm in Rhubarb - review here - I had such a love/hate relationship with these balms. They offer a limited number of beautiful shades but, the balm itself becomes gritty after awhile of use (when it wears down) which makes application uneven. I didn't even finish this balm because it was so soft and gritty that it literally felt like using an old glue stick except moisturizing. Know what I mean? An old glue stick starts to clump and not apply evenly? I won't be repurchasing.

Randoms

Pukka Cleanse Tea & Green Tea - no review - I love Pukka tea soooo much. Their teas are so smooth tasting and just beautiful to drink. Cleanse had a mild peppermint taste which grew on me and I'd definitely repurchase. Green Tea was just lovely and I've already repurchased it, along with Harmonise.

I debated on putting the next two in there, only because they are so random. I, personally, love seeing what brands and types of supplements others are taking and thought maybe there would be a couple of others who are the same.

Udo's Choice Flora Probiotic Super 8 Plus - no review - We've all heard about how great probiotics are for your digestion and overall intestinal health. This is my second month taking these and have noticed a massive change in my digestion. I take iron supplements, which can be hard on my tummy causing constipation, bloating and upset stomach. I'm not bloated at all anymore and am much more regular. You can read more about this particular probiotic here.

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Iron - no review - I've had low iron for many years now, even before I gave up meat. I've tried just eating foods high in iron and found it wasn't enough, so I take a supplement. This brand is fantastic because they're vegan, raw, and from what I was told, they're whole food. Whole food means the vitamins and minerals come from plant sources which means your body can better absorb it, correct me if I'm wrong. I really enjoyed these but I'm trying a new brand now. You can read more about this supplement here.

It's not over yet, I have a part 2 coming! It'll be the samples that I finished this month :).

What full sized products have you finished?

Weleda Refining Toner Review

I received this little special treat when I ordered a few Pangea items from Saffron Rouge. I adore ordering from them, despite the high required subtotal in order to get free shipping, and you can read about my very first experience with them here. Anyway, I love toners and I love free stuff so how excited was I to get this?! Pretty excited!

Description: This refreshing natural facial toner purifies your skin and refines the pores after cleansing. Balanced skin begins with Biodynamic® iris root extract in our Weleda Refining Toner, which regulates moisture balance at the visible surface of your skin. Mildly astringent organic wild rose leaf extract in this natural facial toner clarifies your skin while organic lemon juice, high in vitamin C and mildly astringent, refines the pores. The subtle, fresh fragrance of natural essential oils in this natural facial toner revives your senses.

Enter shattered excitement. Weleda killed it like a frat boy at a kegger..and not in a good way...or is there a good way? I dunno but dang! This burns! I knew it would, since the second ingredient is alcohol, but I hoped and I hoped some more that it would be amazing. I love that this toner comes in a dark blue bottle and has a dropper, controlled pouring people, that's what it's all about. Downside is that the bottle is so heavy that I can't imagine travelling with it. The product itself burns upon application and leaves my skin red and dry. I've tried using it on my body (chest, shoulders, back) and although it works slightly better, my skin is still left irritated. Pardon my alcohol references, BUTTTT this smells like lemon vodka. I can hear and feel my nose hairs sizzle when I catch a whiff of this stuff. While I love a little lemon vodka in my lemonade, I do not love it on my skin. Many of Weleda's products are winner, however, this one is not and it's not something I'd purchase in the future.

Retails for approx. $19.99 CAN for 100ml. It can be purchased at most health food stores, as well as through Weleda.

Have you ever tried this toner? If yes, did you enjoy it? If no, would you give it a try?

Green Living Show Haul!

I did a post on my day at the show, now here's a look at what I picked up. I didn't get much because if I hadn't of shown some restraint, I would have bought something from every single booth.

Skin Care, Body Care & Makeup

Ta-da! Look at all that stuff. Overwhelmed yet? I picked up...

• Ground Soap bars; Backbone which smells like cinnamon goodness and Lemme Bee Your Honey which is pretty lemony. Backbone was given to me by the lovely Angela. I think it was because I kept smelling all of the soaps so many times that she wanted to get rid of me...how embarrassing.

• Bee 23 Hotty Body Balm in Mango Mornings which is fantastic! I've used this the last two days, after showering, and I have absolutely no dry patches. My elbows and knees are soft like a baby's bum!  

• MarieNatie lip gloss in Love Struck which is gorgeous and tastes like cinnamon and sugar..basically dessert. I've blogged about these before and I'm pretty sure they've been in a couple of monthly favourites, they're great.

Then I got two samples; the white container is the Cocoon Apothecary Petal Purity Exfoliating Facial Cleanser which I've only used once and enjoyed, and the bar is Jaydancin facial bar cleanser which I have yet to use. I don't even know which "flavour" it is and they haven't tweeted me back. TSK TSK Jaydancin!

Tea & Food

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Pukka teas at one of the booths. This is hands down my favourite brand of tea because the blends are great, they taste awesome, they're fair trade and organic. I think I've mentioned before that my boyfriend enjoys plain green and white loose leaf tea. He judges me with his eyes whenever I pull out anything else but, since he was at my place and desperate, he tried their green tea and really liked it. Life story over, I picked up Harmonise and Green Tea (I think this is the same as Three Green).

Then, since there's food everywhere and I cannot not try it, my boyfriend and I fell in food love with Neal Brothers Organic Blue Corn Tortillas and Habanero Salsa. The Habanero salsa is actually hot. Mouth.On.Fire.Hot! I was like, "yah okay most food that's got hot written on it isn't actually hot". We tried it and there was a bit of a kick, so I picked up two. Once you eat a few, you REALLY start to feel it burn. If spicy is your thing, give this a try.

That concludes my Green Living Show haul. I'm really happy with what I picked up and will definitely do full reviews of the soap, body balm and lip gloss.

Anything in my haul tickle your fancy?

Green Living Show Toronto 2013 Pictures

As those who follow me on Twitter may know, I was at the Green Living Show in Toronto over the weekend. It was so much fun! There were so many booths to help you live a green life whether it be food, beauty, fashion, home or pet related. I didn't take too many pictures because I was literally overwhelmed, but I did take some of my favourite booths.

First stop, Giddy Yoyo. How can one resist chocolate at 10 am? I'm not normally a fan of dark chocolate, but this stuff was sooo delicious. They use natural, organic, fair trade ingredients and best of all, it's all raw! My boyfriend ended up picking up two bars (a banana and an orange flavoured), I think they were bars, which I happily helped him eat.

Bee 23 was next and aside from the beautiful owner, Michelle, the packaging totally suckered me in! It's so friggen cute. Michelle's passion for her products blew me away. It didn't sound like a sales pitch at all, it just sounded like she wanted to tell me about her company and how proud she if of it and the products within it. That, in itself, made me want to buy something (and I did).

Michelle

MarieNatie was a small booth, which I almost walked right by, if it wasn't for the beautiful makeup set up. It was really wonderful to meet Marie in person and chat a little. I picked up a gloss, although I wish I had picked up another one, but I had to quickly get out of there before I bought everything that she had on her! The products are so pigmented, great quality and beautiful.

These two beautiful ladies are from Sappho Cosmetics. Sappho is a natural cosmetic line with beautiful products and rave reviews on the liquid foundation. JoAnn Fowler is the creator of the line and a makeup artist herself. She's A-MAZING! Honestly, I had so much fun talking with her and hearing about how exciting her life is (regardless of whether she agrees on the exciting part). The booth was getting pretty busy but I managed to chit chat with the awesome girls there and JoAnne herself. She actually did my makeup. Jealous? You should be!

The lovely JoAnn (left) & (right) Kayla (who is bomb.com as well)

Botany Co. Eyewear is a really cool company that's straight out of Ontario (that's in Canada eh, for all you non Canadians). They make sunglasses out of bamboo wood. What!? You can't get any greener than that! Courtney is the founder and she is also, as you can see from her smile below, super enthusiastic about her product. She has some bad ass shades and she knows it. I'm definitely contemplating picking up a pair!

Courtney

Cocoon Apothecary is one I've reviewed on my blog before. It was nice to chat with Lane and find out more about the products, including how to properly apply the mud mask. Apply it to a wet face ladies and gents! They were giving out samples, I should have picked up more but, I only picked one up.

Lane sent me a better picture of the booth but for some reason it keeps showing up upside down, this one will have to do.

Last, but not least, Ground Soap. I love soap and was totally excited to check out this booth. The bars are massive and smell fantastic, I picked up two. Angela, the creator and owner, is really outgoing and (here's that word again) passionate. My boyfriend and I had fun chatting with her, hearing how she got her start, and smelling all of the bars over..and over..and over again. Her soaps can be used on the body, face and hair which is great for when you're travelling.

I can't remember what kind of bird this was, hawk? eagle?, but my boyfriend thought it was cool. There were also snakes....*squirms*. I swear one of the snakes kept looking at me, I had to walk away and therefore couldn't take any pictures.

There were a few booths that I missed due to all the excitement and overwhelming feelings over seeing so many green brands and products, such as Green Beaver and Health Hut. You can find a full listing of the exhibitors here.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my day at the Green Living Show. Haul to come! xo

Unboxed: April "Sweet and Lovely" Seasons Box

Yet another surprise Seasons Box has arrived at my door and I'm not complaining! If you don't know about them, you can check out my posts on the February and March boxes.

So far, of the three boxes that I have received, February has been my absolute favourite with April coming in second. Shall we see what goodies came in this months box?

Products received:

• Connected in Hope Shiromeda Spring Scarf - This scarf is gorgeous, I love it! I'd easily pay $20+ for two reasons; 1. The profits from this scarf go to a great cause; empowering women in Ethiopia. 2. It's great quality & stylish

• Crawford Street Skin Care Lemon Deodorant Cream - I was in desperate need of a new deodorant. My crystal deodorant works well for me but there is some controversy over potassium alum, which is the main ingredients, so I'm trying to get away from it. The first ingredient in this cream deodorant is alcohol, which was already disappointing. I applied it to freshly washed underarms and wore it to school on a cool day, I smelled within hours. I'm also not fond of the lemony fresh scent. 

• Ecotools Foam Applicator - Super interested in testing this puppy out. I'm currently testing out a new liquid foundation and this will come in handy, I can test both out at the same time! Clever, I know.

• Honibe Honey Drops - These are super neat, fantastic idea really. I have yet to try them, as I don't add anything to my tea but I think they'll come in handy for when I have a sore throat.

I still love the packaging, just so cute and eco-friendly. I've been keeping them all to reuse at some point. I'm really happy with this box. I think that the beautiful scarf alone is worth the price of the box, throw in the Ecotools foam applicator and you got yourself a happy camper (me). 

What do you think of this months Seasons Box?

DIY - Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser

This is my first DIY ever, I think. I love removing my makeup with oil because it really just dissolves and removes it well, as I'm sure many makeup wearers would agree with. To be honest, you don't really need to make any sort of mixture, you can use straight oil, but I like to incorporate other ingredients for added benefits.

What you'll need:

• carrier oil of choice
• castor oil
• essential oils (can be omitted)
• container/bottle to store it in

I originally made this makeup remover without castor oil, but heard that it's fantastic for acne prone skin and couldn't help but buy and throw some in there. The pump bottle is the one from Pure+Simple, it's 50ml, but you can use any bottle you want. I find (smaller) pump bottles so much easier to use, and I had it laying around :P.

Ready for the extremely difficult steps?

Step 1: Fill 3/4 of the bottle with your carrier oil
Step 2: Fill remainder 1/4 of the bottle with castor oil
Step 3: Add 5 drops each of essential oils (or skip this step) - I used lime for it's brightening properties and chamomile for it's soothing properties

You're done! Hard eh? This has been working really well for me and I notice a difference when I don't use it. It remove all of my makeup, helps clear up my skin, and keep it soft. I gently rub it all over my face to loosen and melt any makeup and then apply a wet warm towel to help draw out impurities remove the oil and makeup from my skin. I do this (the towel) a few times before cleansing with a regular cleanser. It may seem like a lot of work but washing off all of my makeup is such an enjoyable experience. It's like removing your bra when you get home from work, seriously!

What do you use to remove your makeup?

Dr. Bronner's Shikakai Soap in Lavender Review

I love Dr. Bronner's castile soaps and when I won this little gem from a Noah's facebook contest, along with a Dr. Bronner's bar soap, I was over the moon excited! Up until I won this, I was using Bath & Body Works antibacterial hand soap. I know *hangs head in shame*, naughty girl!  I was actually using that and the Bronner's castile liquid soap, depended on what was nearest to me really. I'm in love, love, loveee!

Description: Certified by the same National Organic Program that certifies food our pump soaps are smooth and luxurious with no synthetic detergents or preservatives. Organic Shikakai comes from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acadia Concinna and has been used for millennia in India as a gentle conditioning cleanser for both skin and hair. We extract the Shikakai in organic sugar and grape juice and combine with Dr. Bronner's unsurpassed castile soap base for rich emollient lather and moisturizing after feel.


This hand soap is as expected being a Dr. Bronner's product, awesome! The soap comes in a purple (for lavender, get it? *winks*) plastic bottle with the fun to read label. It's a pretty runny formula, but lathers well and smells beautiful. For the record, my boyfriend is all about the BBW scented hand soaps, but really enjoys using this one and enjoys the scent. It's not an overpowering or overwhelming lavender, but it's a definite lavender. Lavender, lavender, lavender, lavender, how many times can I say that in a sentence? It leaves my hands sooooo soft, clean and smelling like lavender. I couldn't figure out how to avoid using that word again. The only thing that I don't like about this soap, is that it leaves an oily film in my sink which means I have to clean it every couple of days instead of weekly. I love having a clean bathroom but hate actually cleaning it, anyone else feel the same? I would still definitely repurchase though.

Retails on the Dr. Bronner's website for $9.99 USD for 12 oz or $16.99 USD for 24 oz. I'm sure prices will vary depending on where you purchase it. This soap comes in 5 scents; Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Unscented & Lemongrass Lime.

Which scent would you (or have you) tried?

Ingredients: Organic White Grape Juice, Organic Sucrose*, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol

Camocare Organics Instant Radiance AHA Lifting Peel Review

Camocare Organics is a brand new company to me. I've never heard of or about them until hitting up the Big Carrot a couple of months ago. I couldn't find much about the history of the company and didn't receive a response when I emailed them, however, their website does state the following:

Every CamoCare® Organics product is formulated and produced to the highest standards of natural purity.

• All formulas contain at least 70% certified organic ingredients
• Clinical actives are from natural origin
• All products are naturally preserved
• No synthetic colors, fragrances or petrochemicals
• No formaldehyde donors, dioxanes, phthalates, EDTA, DEA/TEA, sulfates or animal-derived ingredients
• Full disclosure labeling according to INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) standards
• Vegetarian friendly and cruelty free
• No animal testing
• NPA (Natural Products Association) Certified

Description: This formula contains natural alpha-hydroxy-acids (AHA) from pure fruit extracts and other botanicals to safely resurfaces top skin layers and encourage healthy cell turnover. It can dramatically improve skin tone, texture and color as it smoothes the appearance of fine lines.

Can I just say that I find it so extremely weird that the company didn't email me back and that they don't have this product even listed on their website? Sketchyyyyy, just sayin! Anyway, for starters, the packaging is super cute. Comes in a white glass/porcelain (?) bottle with a silver cap. The product is a liquid, similar to a toner really. I put some on a cotton pad and wipe my face with it after cleansing and toning. If anyone has ever had a light chemical peel, you'll know what I mean when I say that it tingles the same way a peel would. My face does get a bit red when first applied, but it quickly tones down. Sometimes I'll go to bed like that, and other times I'll apply some tamanu and/or seabuckthorn oil. I use this about two times a week, on my at home facial days, and find it really helps to even the complexion and clear up any break outs. Has it helped with my fine lines? Excuse me while I go analyze them in the mirror....Not really. I don't notice a difference, however, we're always more critical of ourselves and expect miracle results. Women, we're so hard to please! I have been enjoying it and think this bottle is going to last me quite a while, but  I'm not sure yet if I would repurchase. 

I bought it for $26.99 CAN, on sale, at the Big Carrot.

Have you ever heard of or tried Camocare Organics products?

Unboxed: March "Spring into St. Patty's" Seasons Box

Let me start off by saying that when I received this box, it was a total surprise. I didn't order it or win it, and I honestly have no clue how I ended up with it. I did send Seasons Box an email to find out why I got sent it, but I haven't heard back. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that this was likely sent to me in error.

I absolutely lovvvvved the February box that I had won. If you don't know about Seasons Box, you should really check them out. For $34.90 USD (includes shipping), you get 3-4 full sized natural products for either your home or body. What's even better, is that you can preview the box on their website before ordering it.

Now, for the March box. I totally dropped the ball on this post because I actually received this mid March and accidentally threw out the card that came in the box. I'm not sure of all the exact names of the products (as listed on the card) and they're not yet listed on the Seasons Box website. If you're interested in any of the items, I'm sure it'll be up on the website soon. The March box came beautifully wrapped and packaged, once again, with a beautiful green bow. Inside was a card telling you about the month's box and products inside.

Products received:

• All Things Herbal, Naturally Irish Soap - This smells soooo good. It's a very refreshing and uplifting soap with essential oils of peppermint, spearmint and rosemary.
• Eco Friendly Umbrella - I have yet to use this, however, I love having a compact umbrella in my car for when it rains. It's also wonderful that it's eco friendly.
• The Octavia Tea Company Irish Breakfast Black Tea - I'm a big tea drinker, however, black tea doesn't normally tickle my fancy. It is loose leaf and I'm sure tasty, however, I haven't tried it yet.
• Oriental Lime Incense Cones - I think you put the cones in the little bowl to freshen up clothing, rooms, closets, etc. I'm not a fan of the scent and can't see myself using these.

March's box wasn't one that intrigued me at all. After seeing how amazing February's was, I quickly hopped on the website to see if March was worth buying and I knew it wasn't. I'm happy and thankful that it was sent in error, however, it was rather disappointing. April's looks amazing though!! I'm definitely considering that one.

What did you think about the March Seasons Box?

What's In My Toiletries & Makeup Bag?

I'm going to the cottage, this weekend, for one of my best friend's birthdays and thought it would be fun to show you what I'm taking with me. I haven't done a post like this since October and most of the products have changed, except for the actual toiletries bag. It may seem a tad excessive, or maybe not, but I have reasons for my madness.

Cleanse: I'm taking my Pangea cleanser because I used up everything else and this removes makeup beautifully. It also doesn't dry out or irritate my skin.

Tone: Dream Organics Rose Water is coming with me because it's gentle and I can use it to set my makeup or remove excess cleanser, makeup and dirt.

Moisturize: I honestly cannot live without my tamanu, seabuckthorn and Weleda calendula face cream. I kept asking myself, "do I really need all 3 of these?". Yes I do! They keep my skin happy. I'm also taking the DeVita SPF because we normally go for a long walk in the woods, if the weather is nice, and I need to protect my skin.

Eye Cream: Dr. Alkaitis is small and does a great job of hydrating.

For the sake of looking decent in pictures, I like to take makeup with me. It's rare I actually put any on, but I'm going to make it a point to do so this weekend!

Base: Of course I'm taking my Origins concealer, which I use under my eyes and on blemishes, and Alima Pure foundation, to even out the skin and give a little more coverage.

Eyes: Lash curler (hanging at the top of the bag) is a must. Even if I don't put on my zuzu mascara, I will always curl my lashes. I'm also taking my TANF eye primer, Youngblood quad (the perfect quad for me) and physicians formula eye liner to make my top lashes look thicker.

Cheeks: TANF cream blush in Touch of Rose. I just want a very natural and dewy look to my skin.

Makeup Brushes: To apply all of my face products I'm taking the RT buffing brush, pointed foundation brush, and contour brush. For eyes, I'm taking the Sigma blending brush, EcoTools shadow brush and an Alima Pure shadow brush which I use to buff the concealer under my eyes. These are pretty much the brushes that I use every single day.

Sometimes I will take a shower up there  and sometimes I'll just wash my stinky bits. In order to do so, I need soap, which I just realized that I didn't pack. Thank you post, otherwise I would have been screwed! I'll be taking the little sliver of Hugo Naturals bar soap that I have sitting in my shower. I'm taking a couple of samples of John Masters shampoo (lavender & rosemary, and evening primrose) to wash my hair if needed. I'm not taking conditioner because, like I said in the beginning, I can't be bothered to put things into little travel containers and I don't usually wash my hair up there. Lastly, my Weleda calendula lotion and Lafe's deo are coming to keep me hydrated and stink free (hopefully).

I'm also taking some other little things that aren't pictured here like a toothbrush, floss (I surprisingly floss every single day), hair ties, lip balms, lip glosses, etc, etc. I just wanted to show you the main things.

Hope you enjoyed!

Primavera Moisturizing Face Care Starter Kit Review

Oh my goodness, I've had this set for a while now and am finally able to do a review. I blame my mom, it's all her fault. I have never heard of Primavera until Britanie did a review of some products and hosted giveaway, which I luckily won. Primavera has been around for over 20 years and believe in creating products with a holistic approach. They strongly value their relationships with their employees, growers/suppliers and customers and are advocates of fair trade ingredients. To read more about them, simply click here.

Here's what I won!

Description: Naturally quench tight, thirsty skin with Moisturizing Face Care, travel-ready in an organic cotton cosmetic bag. 

Includes:
Moisturizing Cream Cleanser 15ml
Moisturizing Toner 15ml
Moisturizing Protective Lotion 5ml
Moisturizing Replenishing Cream 5ml

This little sample kit is totally adorable. I love the cotton cosmetic bag that everything came in and it's something that I'll use. I really wish that I had read the ingredients prior to entering the contest because all of these items contain willow bark, which I cannot continuously use. While willow bark is great for acne, it just irritates my skin and causes little bumps everywhere regardless of how little is in any product. That being said, I did use two of the four products and asked my mom to test the other two. She took forever to follow my order of trying them, this is why I blame her! Just kidding, I'm happy she even tried it for me. Not like she's going to argue with free stuff right? Who would. Ramble, ramble, review time! They all smell very similar, a light herbal scent that doesn't linger for too long.

Moisturizing Cream Cleanser: This cream cleanser stayed in my purse to use when I needed to remove my makeup at a location other than my home. I found that it didn't quite remove all of my makeup and that I'd sometimes have to cleanse twice. It did, however, leave my skin soft and hydrated. Willow bark aside, I didn't find it to be anything exceptional and wouldn't purchase the full size.
Retails for $28 USD for 100ml.

Moisturizing Toner: I really enjoyed this toner and found it worked well to remove excess cleanser, makeup, dirt and oil without irritating my skin. I used this in a couple of clay masks as well and it was great. I  wouldn't repurchase the full size though because of the willow bark in it.
Retails for $18 USD for 100ml.

Moisturizing Protective Lotion & Moisturizing Replenishing Cream: I tried using both of these continually, at different times and my skin got so bumpy and red (irritated basically) after the second day that I had to pass them over to my mama. She really enjoyed the scent but didn't find either hydrating enough for her. When I asked if she would purchase it, perhaps in the summer, she said no because there are other lotions that she likes better. I'm pretty sure that she's still stuck on her love for the Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream.
Protective Lotion retails for $40 USD for 30ml & Replenishing Cream retails for $42 USD for 30ml.

I really appreciate Britanie and Primavera hosting a giveaway and I'm sorry that I took this set from someone who might have had better luck with it. The set itself is only $20 USD, so I recommend giving it a shot anyway. They also have a revitalizing, balancing, and calming set.

Have you ever tried Primavera products? Is there a set you'd be most interested in?

Ingredients

Cleanser: Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil* org, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil* org, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (and) Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Glyceryl Stearate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Leaf Extract* org, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Xanthan Gum, Cyamposis Tetragonobla (Guar) Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopherol, Levulinic Acid, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Juice* org, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Silver Sulfate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil* org, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Alcohol* org, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract* org, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract* org, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool

Toner: Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract* org, Alcohol* org, Glycerin, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Leaf Extract* org, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil* org, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water* org, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract* org, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract* org, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool

Protective Lotion: Water (Aqua),Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil* org, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil* org, Glycerin, Distarch Phosphate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Juice* org,Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (and) Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org,Glyceryl Stearate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Leaf Extract* org, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolized Milk Protein, Xanthan Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonobla (Guar) Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil* org, Levulinic Acid,Tocopherol, Silver Sulfate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil* org, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Alcohol* org, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract* org, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract* org, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool

Replenishing Cream: Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil* org, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil* org, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)* org, Cera Alba* org, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vaccinum, Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Juice* org, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Leaf Extract* org, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Xanthan Gum, Cyamposis Tetragonobla (Guar) Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Levulinic Acid, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil* org, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (and) Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Silver Sulfate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil* org, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil* org, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract* org, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract* org, Alcohol* org, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract* org, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract* org, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool.