Brand Focus: Lyck Natural Bodycare

I'm back! It has been a busy, busy few weeks and I finally have some time to reconnect with you all and review a lovely Canadian brand. Lyck Natural Bodycare is from the beautiful British Columbia and is formulated with 6 key things in mind, which is basically their philosophy.

All about you
You are the reason we are here. We believe you deserve to feel incredible in your own skin... We offer you body care as beautiful and unique as you are.

Lyck engages your senses
It is not enough for Lyck products to be effective at the clinical level. We take an artisan approach to all our product formulations. We believe that our creative use of raw ingredients, unique, juicy scents and incredible textures will indulge your senses, spark memories and engage your core emotions every time you experience a Lyck product.

Lyck believes in being genuine
We use only the highest quality ingredients to create decadent skin care for you. All the elements used are of the highest grade available or certified organic and selected from reputable providers around the globe. Naturally refined, fairly traded Shea butter, raw organic sugar, pure essential and organic vitamin rich vegetable oils are only a few of the luxurious ingredients we use to create Lyck body care creations.

Sustainability
We feel passionate about creating a long term sustainable business. We use only biodegradable ingredients, 100% recyclable packaging and shipping supplies. We actively support local and organic agriculture; we are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on our beautiful planet.

Lets get real
No harsh synthetic chemicals are used! To keep the integrity of all ingredients, we select real and raw materials and use production practices that dont harm the delicate nature of these ingredients. In doing so, you reap the greatest benefit each ingredient offers.

Kick out the cruelty
Lyck Body care takes a zero tolerance approach to animal cruelty.

You can read more about Lyck here.

I was sent their *Fantastic Face Serum, *Glossy Box, *Lipbutter, and *Bodybutter. All ingredients will be listed at the very bottle of this page.

Vanilla Coconut Creme Bodybutter Description: Experience a decadent, yet light, whipped body butter. Made with organic Shea and cocoa butter with skin nourishing botanical oils, these lush butters will not only hydrate your dry spots, but keep your skin supple and sweet. Lathers on rich and quickly absorbs into the skin, giving a powdery soft touch, not greasy like some butters. Lyck Body Butters aren't whipped full of air like some of our competitors products and ours come in generous 118ml / 4oz sizes ... our butters are the real deal! Try them once and we are sure they will be one of your favourites!! Warm and sweet Vanilla melds beautifully with creamy tropical coconut for this mouthwatering treat. Retails for $25 CDN for 118 ml.

This whipped goodness holds true to its description; nourishing yet leaves a powdery soft finish. I never, ever feel greasy but always feel super moisturized. On top of leaving my skin feeling super soft, it also smells amazing! Vanilla and coconut are two of my all time favourite scents, however, they're also the two scents that can sometimes mix weirdly with my body chemistry. Sadly, while the intoxicating scent transports me to tropical paradise in the tub, it smells like plastic coconut on my body. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you've probably never experienced it and will get on great with this scent (if it tickles your fancy).

Also available in Sweet Cheeks Cherry, Pink Lemonade, Oh My Mandarin, Exotic Kiss, Eve's Garden, and Birthday Suit (unscented).

Crushed Berries Lipbutter Description: Everybody loves lip butter. Lavish your lips with these vitamin rich, creamy butters. All natural and organic. No junk! Retails for $12.99 CDN.

Oh-em-gee, these lip butters are incredible! I tend to stay away from beeswax, mainly because I find it leaves my lips more dry than anything, but I can't get enough! I have this pot in my bathroom and apply it every single night after getting ready for bed. When I wake up, my lips are incredibly soft. This lip butter also tastes absolutely divine, just like berries. Love, love, love.

Also available in Black Licorice Raspberry, Candied Orange, Lemon Lips, and Vanilla Mint.

Glossy Box Description: Glossy Box is an innovative after care product using completely natural ingredients to combat inflammation, redness and ingrown hair associated with waxing and shaving. This rich cream dries to a powder like finish to not only protect you from unwanted irritation, but to also provide an anti-chaffing barrier to keep you dry and fresh. The scent is reminiscent of fresh cucumber and Tahitian gardenia. Retails for $29.99 CDN.

As an aesthetician who waxes ladies 'down there' on a daily basis, I was intrigued by this product. As a lady who gets waxed 'down there', I can't say it did much for me or I just didn't notice. Perhaps this would be ideal for someone who gets super irritated or suffers from ingrowns. The scent was also a little much for me.

I can't actually find this Fantastic Face Serum on their website, sorry. Despite coming in a cheap, plastic pump bottle, the pump works really well and has never leaked. Still, I'd love to see this oil in an amber glass bottle. It's chock full of amazingly nourishing and anti-aging ingredients, such as shea oil, evening primrose oil, pomegrante oil, and borage seed oil. When it was cooler, I'd use a pump in the morning before applying my makeup and my skin was perfectly primed. Now that it's hot as hell here, this is a bit too heavy for my skin. If you have dry and/or mature skin, or live in a cold or dry climate, this might be ideal for you. It smells faintly of roses and the scent doesn't linger.

I've been pleasantly surprised with Lyck and think it's another fantastic Canadian brand to add to your wish list.

Products can be purchased through Lyck (they ship internationally) and in store at Anise Apothecary.

*Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Vanilla Coconut Creme Body Butter: shea butter*, fractonated coconut oil, grape seed oil*, sunflower seed oil*, tapioca starch, 100% natural/flavor blend*, vitamin e.  *100% natural + organic.100% naturel organique

Crushed Berries Lip Butter: canadian cera alba (beeswax), ricinuscommunis (castor) seed oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, caprylic/capric triglyceride (fractionated coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit*, flavour oil/essential oil*

*100% natural + organic.100% naturel organique

Glossy Box: Arrowroot Powder, mica, carnauba wax, monoi de Tahiti (coconut oil & Tiare Flower), organic coconut oil, hazel seed oil, cucumber oil, glyceryl sterate, cetearyl alcohol, sodium stearyl lactylate, and vitamin e

Fantastic Face Serum: meadow foam seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) oil, olea europea (olive fruit) squalene, helianthus annuus (and) beta carotene (carrot tissue) oil, punica granatum seed (pomegranate) oil, orbignya oleifera (babassu) seed oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, blue starflower borago officinalis (borage) seed oil , essential oil blend of pelargonium graveolens oil (rose geranium), cymbopogon martini (palma rosa) oil, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) oil, santalum album (sandalwood) oil. *100% natural + organic.100% naturel organique

Brand Focus: Living Libations

I'd like to thank Sonja, from Life in Blush, for my new current obsession with Living Libations. Her rave reviews have really encouraged me to take the next step from website stalking to actually placing an order. Not sure that this beautiful Canadian line needs much of an introduction but, here's one anyways.

The beautiful Nadine

Living Libations Skin Care Created by Nadine Artemis, botanical muse shaping effable plant-light into palpable consecrations to blush senses and muse imaginations... 

The official biography of Nadine Artemis begins when she first pulls out flasks of essential oils to recreate Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps for a school science fair project. These botanical-inclinations led to took her on adventures creating organic healing balms, reviving elixirs and perfumed poetry for the natural yearnings of many, receiving glowing reviews in the Hollywood Reporter, New York Times and the National Post. Nadine has addressed gatherings at conferences, television and so on.

Read more about Living Libations here.

After much deliberation, I decided to pick up a travel sized Seabuckthorn Shampoo, Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops, and Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste.

                            

Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste: Our Neem*Enamelizer ToothPaste keeps your salvia levels balanced and alkaline, ensuring that tooth enamel stays healthily mineralized. This alkalinizing polish combines cinnamon, coconut oil, saponified olive oil, neem, and sodium bicarbonate. Squeeze a tiny pearl of Neem*Enamelizer ToothPaste onto a dry toothbrush for fortifying results. Avoid while pregnant.
Retails for $16 CDN/USD for 15 ml or $30 CDN/USD for 25 ml.

I'll just start by saying that this toothpaste tastes absolutely awful! If you've ever taken a whiff of neem then you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, the baking soda leaves behind a bitter taste and sometimes makes my skin red. I'm a messy brusher, sometimes it gets on the outside of my lips. Go ahead, pretend like that never happens to you.... Aside from that, it is hands down the best toothpaste that I have ever used. My teeth are noticeably whiter, cleaner, and my gums are less sensitive and hardly bleed at all whilst flossing. It is quite pricey, but totally worth it for a healthy mouth. I've had this little jar for a couple of months now and still have some left. You only need a tiny amount on a dry toothbrush for your entire mouth, morning and night. For fear of running out and having to use anything other than Living Libations, I recently picked up a jar of their Healthy Gums Clay Toothpaste. I've only used it once, but I can tell you that I much prefer the fresh peppermint taste of the Healthy Gums Toothpaste over the Neem Enamelizer.

Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops: Our Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops formula is a milder, gentler version of our Healthy Gum Drops for children. Organic ingredients of seabuckthorn berry, jojoba, peppermint, rose, clove cinnamon, oregano, tea tree and thyme linalool to deeply clean and get in between each tooth. Add a drop to toothbrush, mouth rinse, massage into gums, or glide a drop over dental floss to cleanse the tiny spaces in between the teeth. Created for Children under 9 years.
Milder version of our effective Healthy Gum Drops formula. Retails for $15 CDN/USD for 5 ml or $45 CDN/USD for 15 ml.

Okay, so I'm clearly not under the age of 9 but I was scared that I'd hate the taste of the adult gum drops and figured that I couldn't go wrong with a, "milder, gentler version". Logical thinking people, that's what I'm all about. This a step in my oral care routine that I've never had before and never thought I'd need. I mean really, gum drops? The more that I read about the benefits of each carefully blended essential oil, the more I needed them in my life. No regrets here! Years of brushing too hard has caused a few of my gums to recede a bit, so I have been massaging a drop (morning and night) on those specific areas. What a difference! Between these drops and the toothpaste, most of the sensitivity that I was experiencing is gone! These drops also leave my mouth feeling supa dupa fresh. 

Seabuckthorn Shampoo: Ordain your mane, consecrate your crew, and bless your hair in the botanical wisdom of our Seabuckthorn Shampoo. Undress your tresses from chemical duress withtried and true herbal infusions that benefit all hair types. This shampoo will glorify your luscious locks and is beautiful for babies, children, as a bubble bath, and body wash too. Retails for $7 CDN/USD for 1 oz, $25 CDN/USD for 120 ml, $40 CDN/USD for 250 ml

I was especially excited, and disappointed, by this shampoo. The ingredients are exceptional and it's intoxicating scent is hard to deny but, it didn't work for my hair at all. With fine, straight hair and dermatitis on my scalp, I was left feeling itchy and my hair looked greasy by the time it was done drying. It's a very runny consistency and doesn't lather all that much, which is normal for truly natural shampoos. I can't get over the minty, earthy, sweet, scent of this shampoo. It's gorgeous! While I couldn't use it as a shampoo, it made for a fantastic body wash. Given my hair situation, this is still a shampoo worth checking out.

Living Libations is a line that I look forward to exploring more of. Their beautifully hand-crafted products and high quality ingredients have already won my mouth over and I'm sure will win yours as well. I highly recommend checking out their website, as it is chock full of useful information including a break down of the benefits of each ingredient used and even videos.

Living Libations does ship internationally. You can also find their products at The Big Carrot and Healthy Hut Boutique.

What's your favourite Living Libations product?

Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste Ingredients: Cinnamon, coconut oil, saponified olive oil, neem, sodium bicarbonate, and spring water.
Wild Child Gum Drops Ingredients: Organic ingredients of seabuckthorn berry, jojoba, peppermint, rose, clove cinnamon, oregano, tea tree and thyme linalool
Seabuckthorn Shampoo Ingredients: Organic and/or wild crafted ingredients with pure spring water: herbal infusions of calendula, red clover, oats, coltsfoot, horsetail, comfrey, nettles, chamomile, and bladderwrack seaweed in golden jojoba oil; yucca and coco-protein to saponify; orange wax; supercritical extracts of seabuckthorn berry, sage, and rosemary; and essential oils of grapefruit, peppermint, vetiver, and lime.

Brand Focus: Blissoma

I first heard about Blissoma from Brianna, iluvjesse444, ages ago and have had my interest piqued ever since. With high shipping costs and too many other products to get through, I held back. A couple of months ago, Blissoma reached out and offered to send me some products. Obviously I wasn't gonna say no! They were kind enough to send me the *Mild Rice Facial Cleanser (which I didn't know I was getting), *Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask, and *Clay Renewal Treatment.

Blissoma is the elegant marriage of herbal form and function, created by the explorative mind of a scientific artist [Julie Longyear]. When right brain meets left the result is botanical innovations that really work. I am proud to bring you the result of nearly a decade of my life's work exploring the healing and enhancing possibilities of plants. 

Read more about Julie here. 

Description: Organic, whole brown rice flour gently sweeps over the skin using natural grain fiber to effectively remove dirt and provide energizing B Vitamins. Willowbark extract provides a rich source of natural salicins that exfoliate by dissolving dead skin cells and also discourages bacteria buildup on skin. And using the principle of "like dissolves like" the emollient organic oils of Apricot Kernal, Hemp, and Sunflower mix with the dirty skin oils on your face and lift them, leaving vitamin-rich, soothing nourishment behind. Skin is cleansed instead of stripped. Infusions of organic Chickweed and Rose tone and freshen circulation to flush away toxins. Retails for $31.99 USD for 4 oz.

This cleanser is something special. Considering that it has acne fighting ingredients, like willowbark, and the brown rice acts as a physical/mechanical exfoliator, it's gentle and not at all drying. Even with daily use, morning and night, my skin felt soft, clean, and clear. The scent isn't my favourite, it's citrusy with a kick of grass. Luckily, it doesn't linger and isn't overpowering. The bottle is fantastic! It's so light, sturdy, and the pump dispenses product well, and locks for easy travel sans spillage. If you're looking for a cleanser to remove makeup, this isn't it. I use this as my morning and second cleanse. Fabulous product!

                           

Description: Our thickest, richest recipe yet, this formula is manna from heaven for dry, stressed, sensitive, and inflamed skin. Anti-reactive herbs blend with a generous helping of restorative oils, oatmilk, and cupuacu butter to rebuild skin from deep within. Retails for $33.99 USD for 2 oz.

Oatmilk, mushrooms, and cupuacu are all heaven for sensitive and dry skin. The balm-like texture of this mask makes it easy to melt on to your skin and feels like a super rich smoothie for your face, guess it kinda is. When I first received this, my skin was quite irritated. The second that I applied it, my skin instantly calmed down. By the time I removed it completely, my skin was incredibly soft and most of the redness gone! I was using this mask once a week, but now that it's warm out, I just use it on my cheeks whenever they feel a little irritated and/or parched. Oh, and this has virtually no scent. Truly perfect for those with sensitive skin.

Description: This item is one of our top recommended products for troubled and acneic skin types. Clogged pores are one of the prime reasons for acne flareups, and Refine keeps pores open. Willowbark gently dissolves away dead skin cells even without scrubbing, which can aggravate very sensitive skin. The clays and minerals soften pores and encourage them to detox properly. The Zinc content also manages bacteria on the surface of the skin and topically soothes. You can dot it on a blemish and leave it on overnight for intensive antibacterial and calming results. No matter what your skin type our formula is just the addition to your weekly regimen. And our already-mixed formula means no fuss for you and always the right consistency. Retails for $30.99 USD for 2 oz.

I saved the best, and my favourite, for last! I was a little worried about this mask at first, I thought for sure it would dry me out, because of the acne fighting ingredients like rhassoul clay and willowbark, or break me out, because of the high zinc content. Luckily, it does neither! I've been using this mask twice a week since receiving it and have noticed a significant change in my skin. It's brighter, has less breakouts, smoother, and more even toned. It has a very grainy texture, which I like because I can get a double POW of exfoliation where needed (aka my chin, jaw line, and forehead). If you have combination, oily, acne-prone skin, this is the product that I would most recommend from the line. 

Blissoma was also kind enough to send me these mini toner samples, which were alright. I don't tend to stray far when it comes to toner but, they both felt nice and I enjoyed keeping them in my bag to use as a mid-day refresher. Both retail for $25.99 USD for 4 oz.

The entire Blissoma range has been very impressive and well enjoyed by my skin. If you have easy access to the brand, I'd highly recommend trying them out. I'd like to think that they're fairly priced, mid range really, for how far each product goes. I've been using all three products for two months now and they're still going strong.

Can be purchased through Blissoma.

What's your favourite Blissoma product or which would you most like to try?

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

Mild Rice Facial Cleanser: Infusion of Althea officinalis* (marshmallow), Stellaria media* (chickweed), Plantago major* (plantain), Rosa damascena*, Arthemis nobilis* (chamomile), Glycerin*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Oil*, Oryza sativa* (brown rice), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cocos nucifera (coconut) Oil*, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernal Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Salix alba* (willowbark) extract, Cannabis sativa (hemp) Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Echinacea purpurea Extract*, Populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract, Essential Oils of Lavandula angustifolia, Litsea Cubeba, Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa), Canarium luzonicum (elemi), Boswellia carterii (frankincense), Vetiveria zizandoides (vetiver), Xanthan Gum, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract, Grain Alcohol*+essential oils in this product contain: linalool**, geraniol**, limonene**, citral**

*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils

Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask: Avena Sativa (oat) Kernal Milk*, Infusion of Passiflora incarnata* (passionflower), Astragalus membranaceus* (astragalus), Plantago major* (plantain), Prunella vulgaris* (self heal), Hypericum perforatum* (st. john's wort), and Porphyra umbilicalis* (nori seaweed), Glycerin (vegetable origin), Theobroma grandiflorum* (cupuacu) seed butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate and Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernal Oil*, Extracts of Grifola frondosa* (maitake mushroom), and Ganoderma lucidum* (reishi mushroom), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Perilla frutescens Oil*, Soy Lecithin*, Aspen Bark Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Adansonia digitata (baobab) Oil*, Punica granatum (pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum *from Certified Organic Agriculture

Clay Renewal Treatment: Infusion of Foeniculum vulgare* (fennel), Stellaria media* (chickweed), Lavandula angustifolia* (lavender), Rosa damascena* (roses), Porphyra umbilicalis* (nori seaweed), Ruscus aculeatus* (butcher’s broom), Rhassoul Clay, Apium graveolens (celery) Juice*, Cocos nucifera (coconut) Oil*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Zinc Oxide*, Cannabis sativa* (hemp) Oil*, Vaccinium macropacrpon (cranberry) Seed Oil*, Rubus ideaus (red raspberry) Seed Oil*, Extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice), Symphytum officinale* (comfrey), and Salix alba* (willowbark), Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside, Extracts of Olea europaea* (olive leaf), Echinacea purpurea*, and Caldendula officinalis*, Essential Oils of Litsea cubeba, Commiphora myrrha, Pelargonium roseum (rose geranium), Citrus reticulata (mandarin), Lavandula angustifolia, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cedrus atlantica (cedarwood), Grain Alcohol*, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract citral**, xanthan gumEssential oils in this product contain: limonene**, citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool***
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils

Adaptive Energy Toner: Water, Infusion of Rhodiola rosea*, Ocimum sanctum* (holy basil), Trifolium pratense* (red clover), Lonicera japonica* (honeysuckle), Calendula officinalis*, and Avena sativa* (oatstraw), Cucumis melo (cantaloupe) Infusion*, Grain Alcohol*, Aloe barbadensis Juice*, Essential oils of Pelargonium roseum (rose geranium) and Citrus bergamia (bergamot) FCF
Essential oils in this product contain: citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool**, limonene**
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils

Intense Hydration Toner: Infusion of Calluna vulgaris* (heather flowers), Avena sativa* (oatstraw), Arctium lappa* (burdock), Equisetum arvense* (horsetail), Plantago major* (plaintain), Taraxacum officinale* (dandelion), and Symphytum officinale* (comfrey), Water, Grain Alcohol*, Aloe barbadensis Juice*, Cucumis sativus (cucumber) Infusion*, Glycerin, Essential oils Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa), Canarium luzonicum (elemi), Boswellia carterii (frankincense), Vetiveria zizandoides (vetiver)
Essential oils in this product contain: linalool**, geraniol**, limonene**
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils

Brand Focus: Schmidt's Deodorant

There has been a boat load of buzz surrounding Schmidt's and so, naturally, I was extremely excited when Jaime (Creator and Founder) offered to send me a jar. My journey for the perfect, or close to, deodorant has been tough. I definitely sweat but, it's the under arm odour that bothers me most. Being an aesthetician, it's important that I stay fresh all day. I mean, nobody wants to catch a whiff of BO while getting a facial. Jaime was kind enough to send me *Bergamot Lime and *Lavender Sage.

Bergamot Lime: Reminiscent of a summer’s day with its bright citrus scent, Bergamot + Lime is a true pleasure to wear. The essential oils lend additional disinfectant and skin healing benefits.

Lavender Sage: The clean, herbaceous fragrance of Lavender + Sage is tranquil and soothing. Antioxidant and antiseptic properties complement this top-selling deodorant.
While I haven't actually tried the Lavender Sage scent yet, both smell incredible. Their descriptions are spot on and you can be sure that you'll get the scent that you were expecting. I love the glass jars and labels, though they are slightly heavy. The product itself is as fabulous as the rave reviews claim. It keeps me stink free all day long, even on busy days at the spa. Sadly, it irritates my underarms with continued use. Not nearly as bad as PurelyGreat, but enough to need to rotate it with a baking soda free deodorant. I did try using an apple cider vinegar and water solution prior to applying the deodorant and it worked, but I'm too lazy to keep that up. I also tried applying a thin layer of coconut oil first, that didn't work for me. In terms of application, an adorable baby spatula is provided to help scoop out the rather firm product which then takes a little warming up between the fingers to soften. Obviously, it then gets applied to your lovely pits! A whipped textured deodorant would be ideal, however, I'm not bothered by the firmer texture since it's all skin loving goodness (aka shea and cocoa butter). Now that I think about it, it could probably be put in a traditional deodorant stick. Hmm. All in all, I'm super impressed! These bad boys contain great ingredients, smell delicious, work to keep stink away, and are reasonably priced.

Retails for $9 USD/$10 CDN for 2 oz. Can be purchased through Schmidt's and any of these retailers.

Have you found your holy grail deodorant yet or will you be giving Schmidt's a try? What scent appeals to you most; Cedarwood Juniper, Ylang-Ylang Calendula, Lavender Sage, Bergamot Lime, or Fragrance Free?

This is how much I use for both of my underarms. If I didn't react to baking soda, I'd likely apply a bit more.

Bergamot Lime: Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil, Citrus aurantifolia (lime) essential oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Humulus lupulus (hop) extract

Lavender Sage: Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Salvia sclarea (clary sage) essential oil, Lavandula (lavender) essential oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Humulus lupulus (hop) extract

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

April 2014 Empties!

Where did April go? It zoomed by so quickly. I'm sorry that I've been MIA, it's been super busy at work (which is fantastic) and blogging has been on the back burner. What better post than an empties to kick off May though, right? Let's take a look at my trash.

One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil - review here - Since the pump on the original bottle stopped working, I transfered the rest over to a jar for easy use. This cleanser smelled delicious and worked incredibly well for removing makeup. I have a few other cleansing oils on the go right now, so I won't be repurchasing at the moment.

*SBT Seabuckthorn Tea Cream - review here - I really loved how light, yet moisturizing, this cream was. It didn't irritated my skin or break me out at all, which is a total bonus in my books. I may repurchase at some point.

*OM Organic Matter Shampoo Level 1 - review here - Obsessed with this shampoo! It left my hair clean and moisturized, and didn't irritate the dermatitis on my scalp at all. Already repurchased.

Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil - This is probably my favourite coconut oil. It tasted like coconut but, it had more of a buttery taste that made it perfect for pancakes and other cooking. Already repurchased.

*Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream - I wasn't a huge fan of this cream. The scent was overly sweet and it lingered all day. It also took some effort to work it into the skin. Won't be repurchasing.

CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture - review here - This cream was very disappointing. Considering it's steep price tag, I was hoping it would be my holy grail moisturizer. It's lotion like texture would be ideal for warmer months but, it didn't deliver on the claims it made. Won't be repurchasing.

NBW Healing Balm - review here - LOVEEEEE! This balm worked like a dream on my hands and any other skin ailment that I had pop up on my body. Already repurchased.

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm in Pineapple Peppermint - Meh. I guess I'm not much for flavoured lip balms because none of the flavours available, at my health food store, tickled my fancy. Scent/flavour aside, the balm had a really nice texture. I liked that it remained smooth even when it was left in the car on a super cold day. Won't be repurchasing.

Clean Well Sanitizing Hand Wipes - These were handy to keep in my purse but, they smelled strongly of thyme oil (which is the main antibacterial oil used to kill germs). I've purchased the vanilla orange scent, in the tub, and it still doesn't smell very nice. Nonetheless, they work well and I'd repurchase. *Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser (sample) - This cleanser worked well to remove makeup and didn't leave my skin dry. It also had a mild scent, which is unusual for Tata skin care. Not sure I'd pick up the full size. *Tata Harper Restoritive Eye Cream (sample) - I felt like this gave me milia and I didn't notice a difference in fine lines or moisture levels. I've gone back to using oils. *Shamanuti Creme No.1 (sample) - This cream smelled awful! The scent lingered and even got on my dog (from cuddling) and my pillows. Even though it left my skin beautifully moisturized, I had to wash it off because of the strong scent. La Bella Figura Purifying Mask (sample) - This mask was as beautiful as I've heard it was. It left my spots (and skin) calm and I found it helped speed up the healing time of my breakouts. Once I use up some masks, I will very likely pick up the full size. On A Branch Soaps in Breathe - review here - The eucalyptus in this soap was very uplifting and awakening. I had purchased it because of the clay, was hoping it would help with breakouts on my shoulders and back, but it dried out my skin. Perhaps in the hot Summer months it would have worked better for my skin. Repurchased in another scent. BeautyBlender - Love this sponge for blending out my foundation. I've had this one for about 4 or 5 months and thought it was time to toss it. Got backups for Christmas and already started using a fresh sponge! *Dr. Sponge Green Tea Sponge - review here - Still not fully in love with these sponges. It worked amazingly well at removing my makeup on a lazy day, but was irritating with continued use. May or may not repurchase. That's all I've finished up this month ladies and gents! What have you used up? *PR SAMPLE.