What's in my Travel Bag!?

Some of you may already know, I went to Jamaica for a week. It was the first time in a couple of years that I went away and it was much needed. Most people have a hard time deciding what clothes to take, I had a hard time deciding what products to take! Thought I'd share what I decided on :)

Let's start with the most important, sun care!

If I were to do this post a few years back, you'd probably see a chemical filled SPF followed by a tanning oil. Having learned and finally realized how damaging UVA/UVB rays are, I took my sun care a little seriously this trip. I reapplied my sunscreen several times a day, especially after swimming.

DeVita SPF 30 Solar Body Block, *Graydon SPF 30 Sun Cream, Badger SPF 15 Aloe Sunscreen, *SBT Seabuckthorn Sunburn Salve (sample), and George's Aloe with peppermint essential oil

For skin care I took Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk,*Corpa Flora Beaute Divine, Grenadine and Eclat Citrouille, George's Aloe with chamomile and lavender essential oil, *Odacite Eye Cream (sample), and *SBT Seabuckthorn Tea Cream (depotted).

Since I was going to be spending countless hours in the sun, I knew my face would need a few extra treatments. Took Pangea Organics Matcha Mask and *Odacite Hydrating Mask to help bring my skin back to life after a day baking in the Caribbean sun.

For hair and body care, I really wanted to keep it simple. I used Weleda's Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash as just that and must say that it's awesome as a shampoo. I also took *Delizioso Passion Fruit Body oil, *Lina Hanson Global Body Serum (which I use/used in my hair), Weleda Pomegranate Body Oil, Bee 23 Hotty Body Balm (depotted), and Aubrey Men's Deodorant Spray.

Finished several of the products that I took, which you'll be seeing in my empties post :P. I'm debating on doing a makeup version of this post, let me know if you'd like to see that!

*PR samples

TAG: I ❤ FALL!

I'm back atcha with another tag! Stunner Ashley Nicole, Green Beauty Life, tagged me and I couldn't be happier that she did. Fall is my absolute favourite season and, I warn you now, we have very similar answers.

Favourite Fall lip product?

This is a toss up between Ilia's Bang Bang and Arabian Knights. I adore both and love that they can be built up for more intensity or sheered out.

Favourite Fall Nail Polish?

Since I don't often wear polish, I don't have one. Plus, I love nudes and dark shades so it would end up being impossible to decide!

Favourite Starbucks Fall Drink?

I'm not a Starbucks gal but....Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate! I limit myself to only one or two every Fall. 

Favourite Fall Candle?

Leaves from Bath and Body Works. Totally not natural and I didn't buy one this year, but I adore the scent.

Favourite Fall Scarf or Accessory?

Does a sweater count as an accessory? Love wearing all sorts of sweaters, and scarfs, but can't narrow it down to just one!

Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?

Haunted house for sure. Canada's Wonderland Halloween Haunt (or whatever they've changed the name to) is my favourite place to go every October.

Favorite Halloween movie?

Hocus Pocus, classic!

Favorite candy to eat on Halloween?

Peanut butter cups! 

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?!

I won't be dressing up this year.

What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

As the wise Ashely Nicole said, "Cuddling up with some hot tea, sweaters & boots!". Perfectly said girl!

I tag...

Call it Vanity

Sugarpuffish

Eco Diva

Elegantly Eco

and whoever else would like to do it!

If you decide to do it or have done it already, link it in the comments so that I can read it :).

Rave Review: Corpa Flora Discovery Set 21 Days - The 5 Essentials

Discovery sets are amazing and the perfect way to try out a brand without committing to (and investing in) full sizes. I came across Corpa Flora after reading an article, which I now can't remember the name of, and knew I had to try them. After reaching out to them, Celine was kind enough to send me the *Discovery Set 21 days “The 5 Essentials". 
Celine Champigny, founder of Corpa Flora water-free skin care products, was founded in early 2012 in Montreal, Quebec (Canada). She originally studied food sciences, but has worked over 20 years in academic research biochemistry labs at McGill and the University of Toronto. Celine has combined her interest in nutrition, free-radical warriors and cosmetics to build a simple and natural skin care line centered around treatment oils (as well as a powdered exfoliant) containing essential ingredients to nourish and restore the healthy glow of all skin types. Corpa Flora pays particular attention to the primary products that it uses, the majority of its ingredients have been certified as Biological either from Ecocert or the USDA/NOP. They use only 100% recyclable glass bottles and discourage over packaging. Less packaging = Happy planet. The company has made an ecological and economical choice aimed at promoting the product itself rather than the exterior packaging. There are no chemical nasties in any of the products and no animal testing is conducted.

Description: Now you can try CORPA FLORA botanical cocktails for 21 days. You will find in this Discovery Set "Beaute Divine" our camelia cleansing oil, "Grenadine" and Eclat Citrouille" our antioxidant and anti-aging botanical cocktails, our ultra-fine exfoliating powder "Rock'n Rose" and our ultra-soft bamboo facial cloth from Shoo-Foo. This discovery Set 21 days can be used as a beauty booster for all skin types , as a travel set or simply as the perfect gift for your best friend.

Beaute Divine Oil Cleanser (2 x 30 ml): I love me an oil cleanser for removing makeup and I love the light scent of this one. If I use the perfect amount, it rinses off with ease. I usually double cleanse (oil followed by a cream cleanser) but there are days where I'm just too lazy, so I appreciate how easy it is to wash off. It leaves my skin well cleansed and hydrated. Would totally purchase the full size! Full Size: $37 CAN for 120 ml/4fl oz

Grenadine Antioxidant Day Cocktail (8 ml): Nice day oil, but not my fave of the kit. I don't find it does much for my skin in terms of adding a glow or making it look any better. I still need to use a moisturizer over top, it's not sufficient on its own. Wouldn't purchase the full size. Full Size: $37 CAN for 30 ml/1 fl oz.

Éclat Citrouille Antioxidant Night Cocktail (8 ml): Obsessed! It absorbs beautifully and depending on how my skin is acting, I won't apply a cream over top. Sometimes I apply African Gold to any dry areas, but I usually find this oil enough. When I wake up, my skin is glowing, even toned, soft, and looks absolutely amazing! Already purchased the full size. Full Size: $37 CAN for 30 ml/1 fl oz.

Rock'n Rose Exfoliating Facial Powder (4 ml): This is a super fine powder that exfoliates really well. It's gentle enough for my sensitive skin, yet still effective. Leaves my skin super soft and bright. I wouldn't purchase the full size though because I prefer a chemical exfoliant to a physical one. Full Size: $23 for 30 ml/1 fl oz.

SHOO-FOO Facial Cloth: This facial cloth is SO soft and such a joy to use. It gently helps remove makeup (and the cleanser) without irritating my skin. I use it a few times before tossing it in the wash. I'm thinking about picking up a pack of three. Set of 3: $14 CAN

Overall, I'm very impressed with this line. When I received the set my skin was in a horrible state. It was dry and breaking out really badly. This set transformed my skin by restoring much needed hydration and helped clear up my crazy breakout. I find all the products smell lovely but are in no way over powering or obnoxious. I think it'd be ideal for all skin types, especially with Fall here and Winter coming. This set is supposed to last 21 days, however, I haven't used any of them up yet. In fact, a little goes a very long way. I'm still on my first bottle of cleansing oil. I highly recommend trying out this Discovery Set, you will not be disappointed. 

Discovery Set 21 Days retails for $51 CAN. Can be purchased through Corpa Flora, Serenity on the Humber Day Spa (got her hooked on these products), and any of their other retailers.

Have you ever tried Corpa Flora? Which product stands out most to you?

Ingredients

Beaute Divine Oil Cleanser: Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Oil *, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate**, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Extract* Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Oil,* Backhousia Citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (and) Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*. * Organic ** PEG-free emulsifier ECOCERT certified

Grenadine Antioxidant Day Cocktail: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil *,Camellia Sinensis (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil,* Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil (and) Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower extract, Punica Granatum(Pomegranate) Seed Extract *, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (and) Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil,* Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil*, Citrus sinensis dulcis(Orange) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Petitgrain) Oil*, Citrus Junos (Yuzu) Oil, Bachhousia Citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) Oil. *Organic *Organic

Éclat Citrouille Antioxidant Night Cocktail: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Camellia Sinensis (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride,Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil (and) Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) flower Extract (and) Plantago Major (Plantain) leaf Extract**,Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium)Oil*, Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense)Oil , Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract(and) Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*. *Organic **wild harvested

Rock'n Rose Exfoliating Facial Powder: Phasedus Angularis (Adzuki) Powder, Sodium bicarbonate *, Oat flour, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Petal Powder. *Aluminium-free

*Set provided for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Graydon - Clinical Luxury by Nature - SPF 30 Sun Cream Review

Sunscreen is super important and, while there are days that I forget to apply it, I try my hardest to apply it most days. Natural sun blockers that blend well and leave behind an invisible layer of UVA/UVB protection can be hard to find. Often times, a white cast is left behind which makes it unfavourable for those who are darker than a ghost or just don't enjoy looking like they're wearing white face paint. Look no further, *SPF 30 Sun Cream by Graydon is top notch and leaves no white cast! She also uses non-nano zinc oxide, which allows the zinc to sit on the skin as opposed to being absorbed into the skin.

Description: Blended with skin soothing, sun protecting zinc (a naturally occurring mineral) and a host of sun reflective carrier oils, this light textured cream with SPF 30 will infuse your face and body with the anti-oxidant protection you've been craving without any goo, grease or stickiness. We also use Green Tea in our formula which is rich in polyphenols (antioxidants that form part of the green tea leaves) and has been shown to provide internal and external protection from UV radiation and in turn, photo aging. You will enjoy re-applying this lovely unscented blend not only because it's so good for your skin when you're outside, but because it feels so good to put on. And guess what? This 'airless pump' allows you to use every last drop, so there's no product wastage. Plus it's a dream to throw in your bag or carry on luggage because it won't leak.

I've been testing this out for a few months now and, most recently, tested it on a sun filled vacation. Let me start with the brilliant packaging, I love airless pumps and this bad boy has one! The pump works so well, doesn't leak, and ensures that every bit of sunscreen stays fresh and bacteria free. The bottle is super light and easy to travel with. The ingredients list is chock full of greatness, including sea buckthorn oil (a personal fave), shea butter, aloe, and raspberry seed extract. All great for nourishing, soothing and loving your skin. The cream is white and a little a grainy at first with virtually no scent. There are times when I find it clings a little to dry patches, but for the most part it blends seamlessly and gives my skin an extra boost of hydration...which I need with the colder months here. I should mention though, it's not heavy or greasy which means all skin types could use it. When I first started using this, I was getting little bumps wherever it was applied and so I stopped using it. Then I gave it a go on my arms and same thing. Third time seemed to be a charm because It hasn't given me bumps or broken me out since. While in Jamaica, I used this on my face and neck daily and reapplied constantly. I'm happy to report that no sun burn in those two areas took place, which is a shocker because my nose and cheeks tend to burn first. I think it's great that this can be used on your face and body because it saves space in your bathroom and travel bag. While I personally find most natural sunscreen bottles too small for 7+ days in the sun with daily application and reapplication, this lovely sunscreen has a 240ml/8oz bottle option! Thank you vacation for giving me the opportunity to fall in love with this product. Definitely recommend!

Retails for $20 CAN for 50ml/1.7 fl oz or $33 CAN for 240ml/8oz. Can be purchased through Graydon or any of these e/retailers.

See the grainy texture?

Gone and no white cast!

Ingredients: purified water (aqua), zinc oxide (zinc oxide), cetyl alcohol (coconut product), stearyl alcohol (mixed plant), shea butter (butyrospernum parkii), cocoa butter (theobroma cacao), aloe vera (aloe barbadensis), cherry kernel oil (prunus avium), rice bran oil (oryza sativa), pumpkin seed oil (cucurbita maxima), buriti oil (mauritia flexuosa), sodium chloride (mixed plant), raspberry seed oil (rubus idaeus), seabuckhorn oil (hippophae rhamnoides), green tea (camellia sinensis), sodium lactate (sodium-l-lactate), rosemary co2 extract (rosmarinus officinalis L) and nothing else!
*Product provided for review consideration. All opinions are my own

SBT Seabuckthorn Sample Pack Mini Review + Thanksgiving Giveaway!

Canadian Thanksgiving is upon us! From my computer to yours, I hope you have a fantastic long weekend filled with family and food. Don't forget to be thankful and wear your stretchy/eating pants. In the spirit of this giving holiday, SBT Seabuckthorn has graciously sent me a sample pack to try and one to give to a lucky reader. They are a Canadian company, located in Peachland, British Columbia, who create products using the amazing sea buckthorn berry, seed and leaf. Before I get into the rules of the giveaway, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on a few of the products that I've tried from the pack.

22 Samples!!

This sample pack contains 22 generous sized samples, which consists of soap bars, tea, salves, and creams. I have tried:
Tea Scrub Bar: Smells like sea buckthorn oil and offers great exfoliation. I still prefer a dry brush, but this was a fun sample to use.
Sea Buckthorn Tea (bags): I love tea and really enjoyed this. I also have the loose leaf version, which is best for smoothies, but the bags are much easier to work with and convenient. It's not super strong in taste and goes down smoothly.
Berry Cream, Night Cream, Hand Cream & Skin Cream: I didn't enjoy these. I, personally, didn't find them hydrating enough for my face or body with the cold weather rolling in. On the plus side, neither irritated or broke out my sensitive skin.

Day Cream: LOVE this stuff! It's much more hydrating than the night cream and I find it's a fantastic base for my makeup. I'm still using the sample, sparingly, and might purchase the full size. We'll see how it works after my vacay, when my skin needs the most love.

Eczema Dermatitis Salve: These salves all have the same base, just different essential oils for targeted needs. This one in particular is great because it's helped alleviate the itching and dryness of the eczema on my hands, sinks in, and smells nice.  Diaper Rash Salve: If you follow me on Twitter, then you may already know that my underarms are raw and red from, perhaps, a new deodorant that I'm trying. So many lovely followers sent me suggestions on how to help reduce this torture going on under my arms. I remembered that I had this salve and along with aloe, it's helped reduce the redness and burning. Hopefully, it'll be completely cleared up by Sunday morning. If I had diaper rash or a baby, I have no doubt that this would work wonders.

Tea Scrub Bar, Shampoo Bar, & Sea Buckthorn Tea (bags)

Berry Bar, Juice Bar, & Tea Bar Soap

Berry Cream, Day Cream, Night Cream, Hand Cream & Skin Cream

11 Sample Sized Salves

Giveaway Time!

With Fall here and Winter not far behind (sorry, touchy subject?), this is the perfect time to try out SBT products (especially the salves). One lucky reader will get the entire box of goodies! This contest will run for 2 weeks - Friday, October 11th to Friday, October 25th, 2013 11:59 PM EST. It will be open to Canadian residents only. You must be 18 years of age or older, or have your parents permission. Please note that I will be away from October 13th to 20th, in that time any comments made will remain unpublished until I find wifi connection or return. Basically, don't freak out or post the same message if you don't see it up. Happy Thanksgiving and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congrats Heather!

S.W. Basics Exfoliant Review

S.W. Basics has been getting non-stop buzz for months now. Their simple and limited (5 or less) ingredients list has been well received by skin care lovers and minimalists. It truly is a basic line, as their name suggests, but don't think that makes it any less effective or awesome than others.

Adina Grigore, founder, began making products for herself. Having sensitive skin, she wanted to keep her routine basics without having to worry about any additional fillers that could potentially irritate her skin and be toxic to her body.

"At S.W. Basics, we make our products from scratch using only whole, high-potency ingredients. For us, less isn’t just more; less is everything. We’ve found that if we stick with only absolutely essential ingredients and don’t add a bunch of extra stuff, we don’t need to put a hundred things into our products. Using fewer ingredients means more potent skincare. We don’t water it down with cheap synthetics or exotic fillers. It also means that our products are more likely to be safe even on the most sensitive skin. That’s why everything we sell only has 5 ingredients or less. And they still make you look amazing and smell pretty. Another thing we take really seriously is the sourcing of our ingredients. We want our products to be as healthy for our communities and our planet as they are for our customers. That’s why we support sustainable agriculture by buying only from organic, Fair Trade, or small-farm sources."

Adina, gorgeous eh? - Image Source

I can't exactly remember how I got this mini sample of their exfoliant. I think they had a survey on their website and the first x number of people to complete it got a free deluxe sized sample. Being curious about the line, I jumped on this opportunity and got lucky!

Description: S.W. Basics Exfoliant is pure kitchen-cabinet awesomeness. They take organic oats and almonds, grind them until they’re not too rough but not too soft, add mineral-rich sea salt harvested from coasts nearby, and voila: a simple, nourishing, super-effective exfoliant that leaves your skin soft and glowing.

People talk about using baking soda as an exfoliant, and that's all fine and dandy if it works for you, but I really appreciate the soothing oats used in this little gem. It smells like delicious oatmeal and the combo of oats, almonds, and sea salt gives it the perfect amount of scrub without irritating my sensitive skin. It also leaves my face feeling soft and gives it a beautiful glow. It's one of the only powdered scrubs that remains effective (scrubby) until you're done exfoliating. Usually powdered scrubs, at least the ones that I've tried, feel like nothing once I add water to them. I pop some on my hand, wet my face, then dip my wet fingers in the scrub and massage it all over my face. It scrubs until I'm ready to wash it off! Am I the only one amazed by this?!  A little goes a long way with this scrub. If you're in the market for a new exfoliant, I highly recommend this one. It's suitable for all skin types, contains clean ingredients, great for travelling with since it's a powder, and affordable. Definitely curious about their other products now.

Retails for $12.00 USD for 1 oz or $28 USD/$30 CAN for 4 oz. Can be purchased from S.W. Basics or one of their fabulous retailers, including Fresh Faced and Clementine Fields.

Have you tried S.W. Basics? Any faves?

haha! They're so witty!

Ingredients: Maine sea salt, organic oats, organic almonds.