One Love Organics Sample Kit Review

One Love Organics has been getting a crazy amount of attention, both inside and outside of the green beauty community, for their skin perfecting line of products. I was lucky enough to win a sample set, back in May, from The Daily Beauty Blotter and have finally worked my way through the samples.

Description: A cute little sample pack of our entire line, A Little Love Sample Pack includes single use samples of Easy Does It Foaming Cleanser, Brand New Day Microderma Scrub and Masque, Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm, Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster, and Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum. Included: 1.5 ml sample of Easy Does It Foaming Cleanser, 4 ml sample of Brand New Day Microderma Scrub and Masque, 4 ml sample of Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm, 1.5 ml sample of Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster, and 1.5 ml sample of Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum. Note: This sample set includes a informational card that tells you what to use and when to use it, it also lists ingredients.

I'm always hesitant to start using new products because my skin so easily freaks out. Plus, I figured I should use this kit solely, to really get an idea of how they work in conjunction with each other. It's rare my entire skin care routine is comprised of one brand.

Easy Does it: I've tried a sample of this cleanser before and wasn't a fan, but for some reason I really liked it this time around. The best way (that I've found) to use it is to dampen your skin, apply a little cleanser to it, then add a little more water to emulsify. It left my skin mostly makeup free and super soft. Wasn't expecting that from a foaming cleanser!

Skin Savior: When I think of OLO, I think of this Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm. It has a million and one uses and everyone raves about it, but I didn't enjoy it at all. I tried it as a cleanser, and while it worked, I found it too heavy. I tried to use it on dry/dehydrated patches on my face and found it never absorbed nor did it help get rid of the patches.

Brand New Day Scrub: This scrub/mask is really nice. I tried it as a scrub and as a mask, both times my skin was left super soft and bright.

Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster: I loved this stuff! I found it really brightened up my skin and woke it up in the morning. I would even apply it at night, before going out, and it just made my skin glow.

Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum: I didn't quite use this, to be totally honest. I stuck with my tamanu and sea buckthorn mix at night because it works for keeping blemishes at bay. I will likely give it a go or pass it along to my mom. Either way, I will give you a mini review in an empties post.

While I was using the cleanser and Morning Glory serum, my face was absolutely glowing. What I did find, is that once the cleanser ran out and I was using the serum with a different cleanser, it didn't quite produce the same results. I won't be purchasing full sizes of anything right now, however, I am very glad that I got to try this sample set and highly recommend giving it a go.

I (believe) this set retails for $4.95 USD and has free shipping. US residence can pick it up through One Love Organics. I'm not sure if this set is available in Canada or anywhere else in the world.

Have you tried any of the OLO skin care? Any faves?

Ingredients
Easy Does It Cleanser: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract

Skin Savior: organic cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil, organic glycine soja (sweet soy) seed oil, organic beeswax, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, salvia hispanica (chia) seed extract, avena sativa (oat) extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel wax, simmondsia chinesis (jojoba) seed oil, organic vanilla planifolia fruit extract, tocopherol (natural, non-gmo vitamin e)

Brand New Day Scrub: Organic Zea Mays (Corn) Starch,Organic Pisum Sativum (Sweet Pea) Flour, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Organic Ananas Comosus (pineapple) fruit extract, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, proprietary natural and organic fragrance compounds

Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster: organic wild raspberry leaf, organic lemon balm, and organic sweet mint, capric/caprylic triglyceride, organic essential oils of lemon, ylang ylang and peppermint

Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum: citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride (and) phoenix dactylifera (date) seed extract, organic rosa damascena (rose) oil, citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, organic boswellia carteri (frankincense) oil, organic cymbopogon martini (palmarosa) Oil, tocopherol (natural vitamin e)

TAG: Skin Care

The lovely Ana, Ana Goes Green, tagged me to do this...tag. I've always had a love for skin care and, as an aesthetician, I know the importance of finding a good regime. Seeing as I love tags, I was super excited to do this one.

Describe your skin care routine in 5 words.

It's really hard not to copy Ana's answer to this one because it was bang on, but I''ll just add to it.

Simple, gentle, calming, nourishing, and effective. Regardless of skin type, you should always keep your routine fairly simple and always use products that work to maintain your skin's moisture levels without irritating it.

What’s your skin type?

Dehydrated, sensitive, and hormonal (imbalance). When I say hormonal, I don't mean I get breakouts only  during my period. I can get and generally have a bit of acne along my chin, jaw line and neck. It's not extremely horrible and I find it actually clears up when I'm on my period, imagine that.

What’s your favourite skin care product?

I honestly don't have just one, don't make me choose! Fine, toner and facial oils. I love toner year round as a refresher, cleanser (on no makeup days), makeup setter, etc. Facial oils are so nourishing to the skin and they have the ability to heal, correct, and protect.

Top blemish zapper.

Clay & honey mask and/or tamanu & sea buckthorn oil. Both work well alone or in combination with each other.

Face wipes yay or nay?

Ugh *cringe*, nay. If I'm desperate, then I'll use one but I won't enjoy it.

High-end skin care or high-end make-up?

Skin care for sure!! Skin care is a daily thing for me and my true love.

What’s the most unusual skin care product you've tried?

There is no such thing as an unusual skin care product...or maybe there is...I have no clue. Can I say pass?

You’re in a pharmacy and can only pick up one item – what is it?

Aloe vera juice/gel/liquid. It can be used as a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and skin soother all in one.

Tell us your top skin care tips:

Be good to your skin. It's essential that you use gentle products and keep your skin care routine simple. From someone who loves trying out new things, I know that sometimes all the stuff I try/use causes me to breakout, dry out and get blotchy. Why complicate your daily routine with too many products?

Be sure to exfoliate regularly. If you use a very gentle exfoliator or a silicone pad (like Sephora's), you can likely exfoliate daily. If you're using a more abrasive scrub or acid, try only using it 1 to 3 times a week.

Masks, masks, masks. They're great for degunking your skin and/or hydrating your skin.

Facials oils are a must. They're perfect for use at night when your skin is looking to reboot itself after a long day of fighting off free radicals, pollution, weather, etc, all while allowing your skin to breathe still.

These are my three favourite facial oils, powerhouse facial oils. They work wonders at keeping my skin clear because of their ability to fight acne, UV damage & prevent/fade acne scars. 

Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, Fruit Oil & Tamanu.

ADORE this Sephora Silicone pad for gentle, yet effective, cleansing & exfoliating. I use it morning & night, my skin loves it.

I tag all of you, and make sure you link to it below so that I can read them. I also tag: Marcella (Naturally Marcy), Caitie (Naturally Beauty), Vivi (Eco Beauty Secrets), Jana (Small Bits of Loveliness), Alexis (Green Beauty Bunny), and Sarah (Sugarpuffish).

xo

Pure+Simple Algae Serum Review

A couple of months back, my beloved P+S Face Colour in Glow broke. They quickly offered to send me a replacement, along with some additional goodies. I've really enjoyed most of their products and was super excited to get to try out more things.

Description: A light Algae based serum for all skin types.This versatile product can be used as a serum or alone as a moisturizer for oilier skin types.

• Sea Algae helps skin retain water while Oat Beta Glucan soothes
• Green Tea with antioxidants and vitamins make it particularly effective for stress and weather damaged skin

My skin is super dehydrated, all year round. It's so damn annoying because I stay hydrated and eat (fairly) well. Can't I just have perfect skin? Is that too much to ask for!? Woooosaaa, dramatics over. This watery, slightly sticky serum glides on the skin with ease. It has an odd smell, that I can't quite describe, but it doesn't linger at all. I really enjoy applying this over oils and under sunscreen to help with the dehydrated patches on my face because of how it really seals in moisture. It also works as a fab base for my makeup. I can definitely see how it would be an ideal moisturizer for oily skin, it provides a really great amount of hydration without making skin feel or look greasy/oily. It's also fantastic for those with sensitive skin or dry/dehydrated skin, like myself, because of how soothing and hydrating it is. It never tingles or burns my face.  The packaging is great, a little heavy for travel, but it seals to prevent spillage. It's also reusable and the pump keeps it from getting contaminated. The only downside, for some maybe, is that it contains Japanese Honeysuckle. It's a lovely serum and I look forward to seeing how it performs in the cooler months.

Retails for approx. $27.45 CAN for 50 ml or $47.27 for 100ml. Can be purchased through Pure+Simple.

What serum are you currently loving and why?

Ingredients: Water, Sea Algae Extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Barbensis (Aloe vera) Leaf Juice, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot kernel) Oil, Oat Beta Glucan, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic acid), Sodium PCA (Amino acid humectant), Wheat Amino Acids, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Extract, Panthenol (Provit. B5), Hydroxyproline (Nonessential Amino Acid), Rose Damascena (Organic Rose) Flower Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Butter, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat germ) Oil, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate (Vit. A), Tocopherol Acetate (Vit. E), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vit. C), Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Superoxide Dismutase (Enzyme), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Organic Foraha) Nut Oil, Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Extract, Urtica Dioica (Organic Nettle) Extract, Lecithin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Organic Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annus (Organic Sunflower) Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Citric Acid.
*These were sent to me to try with no expectation of writing a review. All opinions are my own.

Naked Organix Tamanu Cleansing Bar Review

I'm a soap and body wash lover, but lately I've been really into using soap. Probably because I have so much to use up. However, that didn't stop me from adding this this gem into my shopping cart to get free shipping from Well.ca. What really pushed me to get this, was the fact that it has tamanu in it and I LOOVEEEE tamanu. It has great antibacterial properties which is great for acne prone skin (whether you're oily or just get hormonal breakouts).

Description: Naked Organix Tamanu Cleansing Bar offers a concentrated plant-based formula to protect, repair and moisturize face and body. Hand crafted in small batches and contains only the finest quality organic, wild-crafted ingredients. NO Parabens • NO SLS • NO Gluten • NO Petrochemicals • NO Pthalates • NO Synthetic Ingredients • NO Fragrance

I originally bought this to use on my face because of the tamanu, but it dried out my face with the very first wash. Since my skin is dehydrated enough, I decided to use it on my body and it works like a freakin dream! I tend to get breakouts on my chest, shoulders, and back, and they have significantly reduced since using this soap. I mean, I'm sure the sun and lack of stress has helped a bit too. It provides a nice creamy lather, cleanses your skin well and washes away with ease. There's no strong scent, just smells a tad of tamanu, which is ideal for those who don't like scents or are sensitive to them. I will say that it's not super hydrating, so you may need to apply a moisturizer or body oil depending on your skin. I can definitely see myself repurchasing once I use up the million other bars of soap I have.

Retails for $5.99 CAN for a 4oz bar on Well.ca. Can also be purchased through Organix South.

The bars come in 5 types: Neem, Tamanu, Kukui, Sea Buckthorn, & Argan. Which would you like to try most?

Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil*, Sodium Hydroxide, Aqua/Water/Eau, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) +, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract.
*Certified Organic

Crawford Street Lemon Deodorant Cream Review

Since running out of my (failed) DIY deodorant, I decided to give this little guy another go since it's been sitting around since my April Seasons Box came in. It's been super hot here, like 40 degrees hot with nothing but humidity, what better time to test out the power of a deodorant? I'm the first to raise my hand, or maybe I shouldn't, in admittance to having pit odour. I don't sweat TOO much but I do stink, especially in warm temperatures. Did this keep me stink free? *enter suspense music*

Description: This citrus scented cream deodorant is completely natural and it works! It includes over ten essential oils that are deodorizing, antibacterial and antifungal. No aluminum, no parabens, no yellow shirt stains! Crawford Street Lemon Deodorant Cream is mentioned in Gill Deacon's book: "There's Lead In Your Lipstick"

I really wanted to love this Canadian made deodorant and really wanted it to work for me, but it just didn't. For starters, I don't enjoy the strong herbal lemon scent and find it smells weird when it mixes with my "natural scent". On a mildly hot day, it keeps me stink free for a couple of hours without needing to reapply. On a hot 30+ degree day, it keeps me stink free for all of a few minutes of being outside. I guess since it has moisturizing ingredients, it just gets really wet and sticky. When I combine this deo with Dr. Mist, it lasts most of the day. What a lovely surprise! I guess it does work, sorta, just not on it's own. The formula is really nice, it's creamy and applies beautifully on the skin. It didn't leave any white residue under my arms or on my clothing. Who wants deodorant marks on their clothes? Nobody! Or maybe you do, maybe you like that look and that's fine. No judgements here. All in all, this deodorant just isn't a winner for me. Since I've heard of others having good luck with it, I do recommend giving it a go if you are in the market for a new deodorant. Plus, we're our own worst critics and I'm super paranoid about BO.

Retails for approx. $12 CAN for 60ml. Can be purchased through Crawford Street or their other retailers.

What deodorant works best for you in the brutal summer heat?

Ingredients: Cetearyl alcohol, Sodium cetearyl sulfate, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa butter), Sodium bicarbonate, Cornstarch, Citrus limonum (Lemon) oil, Citrus racemes (Grapefruit) oil, Citrus aurantifolia (Lime) oil, Citrus sinensis (Sweet orange) oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) oil, Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) oil, Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress) oil, Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove bud) oil, Origanum compactum benth (Oregano) oil.

Best Smoothie/Juice Ever - My Fave Recipe

I have been juicing ever since my parents got the NutriBullet, a few months now. While I love trying new juices, I tend to stick to ingredients that I enjoy eating. If I won't eat it, I won't drink it! Simple. Lately, I've been making this one particular juice that I just can't get enough of. It's delicious, nutritious, and easy to make.

What's in it?

• 1/2 banana
• baby spinach
• baby kale
• frozen fruit
• water
• raspberry lemonade (this is what makes it taste soooo good)

I prefer baby spinach & kale, but you can buy them by the bunch if you prefer

I don't measure anything, I just pack it all in the little NutriBullet cup and hope for the best. Put 1/2 banana, kale, spinach, water and lemonade.

This shows how much water I put. I then put lemonade to the MAX line.

 BLEND!

Totally forgot to take a picture, but I put about a handful of frozen berries in and blend again.

TA-DA, brown unappetizing looking smoothie! lol. I have since (today, literally) made this with just 1/2 banana, baby kale, baby spinach, 3 mint leaves, water and splash raspberry lemonade and it is even MORE delicious!!!!!!! I didn't think it was possible. It's extremely refreshing, detoxifying and just the perfect amount of sweetness.

Let me know if you've tried this and/or what your favourite smoothie/juice recipes are.

Sappho Cosmetics Single Pressed Shadows + Blush Review

My plan to write several Sappho reviews, in a row, failed miserably. I already did a review of their fabulous concealers back in June, go read that one first :). There's long been debates (in my head) about whether loose shadow is better than pressed. Personally, pressed is just way more convenient and easier to travel with. Grab and go people, that's what I like. I was pretty excited to see that JoAnn had sent me a customizable palette with several shades of her pressed shadows + a vegan blush.

Bottom L to R: Norma (gold), Turtle (pale pink), Raven (black), Beckitt (green), Chloe (pewter), & TUTZ (blush)

Description

Norma: This soft hilighted gold eyeshadow pairs beautifully with our new deep plum shade Patricia. Use as a lid color  or under brow accent. Subtle and sexy.

Turtle: This mixed pink ivory eyeshadow can augment any makeup

Raven: Raven is a deep pigmented black with the slightest touch of dark blue. Used wet as a liner or dry as a shadow or liner this color is a must for every kit.

Beckitt: Light and airy greens are one of this season's biggest trend. Beckitt is a gorgeous  shimmery sparkly green that looks great against sun kissed skin in the summer and looks festive in the winter.

Chloe: This satiny pewter shade is fantastic for day makeup, and especially great if you want a smoky eye that is not harsh but adds just the right amount of drama to make a statement!

TUTZ Pressed Blush: Introducing our new VEGAN TUTZ BLUSH. Bring light and life to your face with this soft pink blush with a slight blue undertone! To create this blush, various amounts of carefully selected inorganic minerals are ground together, then mixed with almond oil and pressed into a cake. These minerals are of the highest quality and therefore have great depth of pigment, colour and tone.

I'm going to start with the customizable palette, it's alright. It's not the best quality, but I do enjoy the transparent cover that allows me to see what's in it. It also closes pretty tightly, which means that I don't have to worry about it opening while traveling. Is it something that I would drop more than a few bucks on? No. I can appreciate that it's available though, instead of assuming that everyone has a magnetic customizable palette at home. 

Now, the shadows themselves are really nice and their descriptions describe them perfectly...except Raven. I do find they vary in pigmentation intensity though, they're not all amazing across the board. They apply very smoothly given that they feel ever so slightly chalky, they can be built up, and are easy to blend. I'm not sure how long they wear because shadows don't last very long on me, unless I'm using a primer like Urban Decay or Tarte. TUTZ is a vegan blush that is soooooo, so pretty! It's a plumy pink that can be worn with so many different looks, sheered out for a wash of colour or built up for a more dramatic cheek. It also applies really smoothly and is easy to blend.

L to R: Norma, Turtle, & Raven

L to R: Beckitt, Chloe, & TUTZ

My absolute favourite shades, from this palette, are Norma and Chloe which pair beautifully together or alone. Chloe is a stunning pewter shade that I've never seen before and it's the most pigmented of all the shades. Turtle is nice as a wash of colour to neutralize any lid discolourations and it's matte, perfect for lazy days. It would also be perfect for mature women that don't like to wear much makeup. My mom really likes the way Turtle looks on her. Raven was disappointing for me, it's not very pigmented at all. I basically had to build it up below so that you could actually see it. I think this batch might be a dud because it can't even be used wet. I do sometimes apply it on the upper lash line, over liner, just to help the liner last longer. Beckitt is a very pretty shimmering green that I very rarely wear on my lower lash line for a pop of colour. If you love to wear colour, Beckitt would be a perfect shade to start with because it truly is a stunning green. 

All in all, I think both the shadows and blush are worth checking out if you want to treat yourself. Chloe is one that is a must in my collection now. 

Retails for a steep $20 CAN/shadow and $24 CAN/blush.  You can purchase them from Sappho Cosmetics or one of their many retailers across Canada.

Have you ever tried Sappho's pressed shadows? Which shade appeals to you more?

L to R: Norma, Turtle, Raven, Beckitt, Chloe & TUTZ

Ingredients

Norma: Mica, Laurly lysine, Capryl/Capric Triglyceride , Zinc stearate, Zinc oxide. Certified organic Simmondsia Chensis (jojoba oil), Certified organic Argania Spinosa kernel oil.

May contain =/- iron oxides, (CI 77489, CI 77492, CI 77499) Titanium dioxide ( CI 77891) Manganese violet ( CI77742) Ultramarines ( CI77707), Ferric ferrocyanide ( CI77790) Tin oxide ( 77861)

Turtle: Mica, Laurly lysine, Capryl/Capric Triglyceride , Zinc stearate, Zinc oxide. Certified organic Simmondsia Chensis (jojoba oil), Certified organic Argania Spinosa kernel oil.

May contain =/- iron oxides, (CI 77489, CI 77492, CI 77499) Titanium dioxide ( CI 77891)Manganese violet ( CI77742) Ultramarines ( CI77707), Ferric ferrocyanide ( CI77790) Tin oxide ( 77861)

Raven: Mica, Laurly lysine, Capryl/Capric Triglyceride , Zinc stearate, Zinc oxide. Certified organic Simmondsia Chensis (jojoba oil), Certified organic Argania Spinosa kernel oil.

May contain =/- iron oxides, (CI 77489, CI 77492, CI 77499) Titanium dioxide ( CI 77891) Manganese violet ( CI77742) Ultramarines ( CI77707), Ferric ferrocyanide ( CI77790) Tin oxide ( 77861)

Beckitt: Mica, Laurly lysine, Capryl/Capric Triglyceride , Zinc stearate, Zinc oxide. Certified organic Simmondsia Chensis (jojoba oil), Certified organic Argania Spinosa kernel oil.

May contain =/- iron oxides, (CI 77489, CI 77492, CI 77499) Titanium dioxide ( CI 77891) Manganese violet ( CI77742) Ultramarines ( CI77707), Ferric ferrocyanide ( CI77790) Tin oxide ( 77861)

Chloe: Mica, Laurly lysine, Capryl/Capric Triglyceride , Zinc stearate, Zinc oxide. Certified organic Simmondsia Chensis (jojoba oil), Certified organic Argania Spinosa kernel oil

May contain =/- iron oxides, (CI 77489, CI 77492, CI 77499) Titanium dioxide ( CI 77891) Manganese violet ( CI77742) Ultramarines ( CI77707), Ferric ferrocyanide ( CI77790) Tin oxide ( 77861)

TUTZ Pressed Blush: MICA,LAUROYL LYSINE,CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE,ZINC STEARATE,ZINC OXIDE, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS ( certified organic JOJOBA) OIL), Certified organic ARGAN OIl (ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL).MAY CONTAIN +/-:IRON OXIDES (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492,CI77499)TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007)

*These were sent to me by Sappho for my honest review.

Pure+Simple All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 for Oily/Impure Skin Review

It's no secret that I love Pure+Simple. I think that they have fantastic products and they're Canadian! I always get super patriotic when it comes to Canadian companies. When they had a 5o% off swap sale for some long weekend here in Canada (can't remember which one now), where you brought in (up to 5) empty skin care containers from any brand in exchange for half off any Pure+Simple skin care replacement, it only made sense for me to dive into their sunscreen selection.

Description: Natural sun protection that purifies and balances the skin’s natural oil production using sage.

• Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) Free
• SPF 30
• Broad spectrum UVA&UVB protection
• Purifies and balances the skin’s natural oil production using sage
• Non-greasy formula
• Can be used with a moisturizer or alone
• Great makeup base
• Does not leave a white residue

Warning: life story ahead. When I had gone into one of their locations, I immediately started smelling the different sunscreens. I know that sometimes P+S products can be a little too fragrant due to the EO in their products. Having heard great things about the Oily/Impure Skin SPF, I took a whiff and wasn't entirely put off by the strong sage fragrance (definitely lingers for most of the day) that tickled my nose. Here's where the confusion started, I put some on my hand and rubbed it in. It was fantastic! Not greasy, no white cast, and felt as though it would be enough moisture for the warm months ahead. The girl working there began telling me that the formula has changed and that any of the bottles with the little pink circle saying "new water resistant formula" was the new one. Apparently, only the 100ml was the old formulation. Not wanting to invest, in case I had a reaction to it, I started reading the ingredients of both sizes to see the difference. There was no difference. Odd. I asked her about it and she wasn't really sure. I took the, low $10, risk and bought it. How disappointing! It is thick, greasy, leaves a white cast, and isn't a great base for makeup because of the fact that it doesn't blend well on the skin. I've tried applying it in sections and building it up, doesn't seem to help. After weeks of playing with this sunscreen, I can't figure out how to best apply it. I now use it on my arms, even though it leaves a white cast, just to use it up. I am super disappointed in this product and wouldn't recommend, but my love for Pure+Simple remains strong.

Retails for $18.95 CAN for 50ml, however, it is now discontinued.

Have you tried any Pure+Simple sunscreens?

You can see the white cast along my wrist and where my finger and hand connect. 

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (6%), Zinc Oxide (6%) Inactive Ingredients: Deionized Water (Eau), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Xantham Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea Extract), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil.

Happy Canada Day + June 2013 Favourites + Giveaway!!

Happy Canada Day!! It's a little late in the day, but I mean it just as much as I would have this morning. This month, I have quite a nice selection of products that I have been loving and a wonderful surprise at the end. Jumping right into it...

Makeup

Revolution Organics Lip Gloss in Truth - review here - I've been loving this lip gloss on it's own and over a lipstick. It just adds a beautiful sheer pink wash of colour to enhance bare lips or whatever lip product that I have on.

Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Valentine - review here - This has been a definite favourite this month. I've been using it with the Truth lip gloss for a gorgeous summertime lip that goes with any look.

Sappho Cosmetics Concealer in Neutrality - review here - I have been reaching for this constantly. I apply it on any imperfections or redness, apply powder, and I'm done.

Physicians Formula Fake Out Mascara - review to come - LOVE this stuff. Even when I don't wear makeup, I'll apply some of this to my top lashes and it makes them look fuller and my eyes more awake.

Skin Care

ilike St. John's Word Eye Contour Cream Sample - I LOVE this eye cream! Oddly enough, I was going to toss it out when I got it because I thought I wouldn't like it for some whatever reason. It hydrated, plumps, and doesn't cause milia. Between this and the Dr. Alkaitis one, I much prefer this one.

One Love Organics Morning Glory Serum Sample - This serum is divine. It really does wake-up my skin and give it a glow. It smells slightly minty and has worked wonders are brightening my complexion.

Consonant The Perfect Sunscreen SPF 30 - review here - This has been my go-to sunscreen this month because of the fact that I can make it into a foundation or use it alone to even out my skin tone.

Body Care

Bee 23 Hotty Body Balm in Mango Mornings - review here - I cannot get enough of this stuff and need to apply it after my daily shower. It absorbs wonderfully well to moisturize my skin without any greasy after feel. LOVE!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

In honor of Canada Day and my love for this balm, the beautiful Michelle, from Bee 23, is going to give one lucky reader a Hotty Balm of their very own! You can choose between Honey Love, Lazy Afternoons, or Mango Mornings. This giveaway is only open to those living in Canada and USA, and you must be 18+ years old or have your parents permission. Contest will be open until Friday, July 12th, 2013 11:59 pm EST, I will then pick a winner using random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their balm, if they don't then I will pick another winner.

In order to win you must:

1. Follow my blog via Bloglovin, or any other way located on the right of my blog
2. Follow Bee 23 on Facebook (BEE 23 Natural Beauty Products)
3. Follow Bee 23 on Twitter (@BeeFree23)
4. Follow me on Twitter (@EcoChicBeautyD)
5. Comment letting me know which "scent" you'd prefer, what your Twitter name is, what your Facebook name is (if different than Twitter), and leave me your email so that I can contact you if you win.

Good Luck!
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Congrats Katt B on winning the Hotty Body Balm! xo