Brand Focus: Fitglow Beauty

How I came to discover Fitglow is a bit of a long story with no short version. All I'll say is, small world. Fitglow is a Canadian brand started only a couple of years ago by Anna Domi. Anna is a down-to-earth, beautiful, and smart business woman who just draws you in. I've met her once, briefly, and literally couldn't help being drawn to her and wanting to know her whole story. Her beautifully and chic packaged products and colours are hard to resist, so hard that I had to purchase the mascara and a gloss.

Fitglow Beauty was started as a personal dream to find effective natural products that would not irritate rosacea-sensitive skin while providing effective ingredients to fight free radical damage and slow down the effects of aging.
Understanding that our skin absorbs what we put on it was critical to developing a skin care line that both nurtures the skin and provides a beautiful transition to makeup. From start to finish, Fitglow Beauty products work together to bring out your best.

Our line of makeup and skin care are always cruelty-free, natural, non-toxic and are the result of our passion for everything we do.

Read more about Fitglow Beauty here.

Good Lash Mascara ($25 cdn/8g): Create super VOLUME and LENGTH without toxic chemicals or parabens. Good Lash natural formula with Organic Rice Bran Oil coats lashes with VITAMINS and ANTI-OXIDANTS enhancing the condition of your lashes and promoting growth. GLUTEN FREE/ MERCURY FREE.

This mascara darkens, lengthens, and volumizes my lashes really well. It doesn't irritate my eyes, flake, peel, and only minimally transfers after a 7+ hour work day (keep in mind my lids are crazy oily). It's completely vegan but does contain phenoxythanol, which doesn't bother me since most of my products don't contain it. Plus, mascara goes near your eyes and should be well preserved to avoid bacteria growth (aka eye infections). I absolutely adore the natural bristle brush, they tend to make lashes look nicer and is generally more comfortable to use.

One thing to note is that my tube dried out so quickly. I noticed the texture change within a couple of weeks of opening it and within two months, it was dry. Lisa, from Glam Goes Green, told me to let the (closed) tube sit in warm/hot water and that would help, it totally did! I was able to get another couple of weeks from the tube. Either way, it's a fave of mine.

Good Gloss in Nudie ($24 cdn/15g): Treat your lips to super shine and nourishment with Good Gloss natural formula with certified Organic COCONUT OIL, SHEA BUTTER and JOJOBA. This advanced gloss will hydrate, enhance and protect lips without petroleum-based ingredients.

This nude gloss is the perfect nude that looks gorgeous alone or over top of lipstick (of any colour, really) and on any skin tone. It's comfortable to wear, moisturizing, long wearing, and offers pretty good colour pay off for a gloss. It is slightly sticky, but I feel like that is what helps make it long wearing. It boasts incredible ingredients, like coconut oil, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil, all very nourishing for that pout. I'm not a huge fan of the cocoa butter taste, but it is mild. Will definitely be picking up Jam (purple shade) for the Fall/Winter!

Please note that since purchasing these products, the packaging has changed and the line has expanded. They now have lipstick and a contour shade, oh-em-gee. Hold me back!

Get it here: Fitglow Beauty, Glam Goes Green, Anise Apothecary, and these retailers.

Good Lash Mascara Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Oryza Sativa Wax (Rice Bran Wax), Olea Europea Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Vegetable Source Cetyl Alcohol (Coconut), Coernica Cerifera (Carnauba Wax), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla Wax), Vegetable Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Acacia Gum, Black Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Aminomethyl Popandiol (Ph Adjuster), Phenoxythanol (Preservative).

Good Gloss Ingredients: Ricinus Communis Castor ) Oil, * Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Bis Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate, Cera Alba (Bees Wax), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax,Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter)*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , *Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), *Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, *Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, *Cinnamomum Zeylancum (Cinnamon) Bark Extract, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, *Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, *Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, *Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, *Citrus Grandis (Grape Fruit) Seed Extract May Contain : Titanium Dioxide

(CI- 77891)Iron Oxides (Cl-77499), (CI-77491), (CI- 77492) Tumeric Powder Kaolin Mica

Brand Focus: Sempirra

Whoa, has it really been two months since my last blog post? Summer/work/life/the usual has been crazy! I'm happy to be back and have several posts coming at you over the course of the next couple of weeks. Promise.
A long while back, on Instagram, I started following Sempiira. They posted a picture of their Patchouli Lime Deodorant. Right away I commented on how delicious it sounded. Being such a huge fan of patchouli (total hippie), and loving the refreshing scent of lime, how could one resist? One could not. They reached out and offered to send me a deodorant, but surprised me with a cleansing oil and serum as well. P.S. Does anyone else find the labels exotic, Moroccan almost? I love it.

Sempiira: A large fire deliberately set for a constructive purpose

We are longtime best friends dedicated to creating luxurious organic health and beauty products using only the highest quality ingredients. All of our products are free of pesticides and preservatives and we use only pure essential oils for scent. Everything is handmade in our studio in Williston, Vermont. We value and support local, fair trade, and sustainable practices.

Read more by about Sempiira here.

*Patchouli Lime Natural Deodorant ($16.50 usd/75ml): Coconut oil’s natural anti-bacterial properties prevent odour while arrowroot and baking soda absorb odour and wetness. Pure essential oils keep you smelling great all day.

This deodorant smells like a friggen hippie dream! The patchouli and lime combo is so delicious, you have to smell it. Sadly, it didn't work out for me. With ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, arrowroot powder, baking soda, and the essential oils, I thought for sure it would keep me dry, stink free, and smelling..well, delicious. It made my underarms feel wet and sticky upon application, and I was stinky within an hour of application. After trying it for a week, I gave up.

*Cleansing Oil ($28.50 usd/100 ml): Our balancing facial treatment gently dissolves makeup and impurities without disrupting your skin's natural moisture balance. Castor oil cleanses and fights inflammation while safflower and jojoba nourish skin without clogging pores. The natural anti-bacterial properties of frankincense and lavender prevent blemishes as rosewood soothes redness and irritation for radiant, healthy skin.

Cleansing oils are amazing. They break down makeup and sunscreen beautifully, leaving your skin clean and refreshed. This cleansing oil is housed in a clear glass bottle, with a pump and plastic pump stopper (to prevent bag pumping while travelling). It's definitely thicker than most, probably because of the high castor oil content, and the frankincense essential oil dominates the lavender and rosewood. Because of the high castor oil content, which is known for its deep cleansing and detoxifying ability, this cleansing oil dries out my already dry skin. I tried it on and off for about a month before calling it quits. Would recommend to those with acne prone, oily, or normal skin.

*Matte Hydrating Serum ($26.50 usd/25ml): This silky green serum high in chlorophyll and omega fatty acids provides daily moisture without an oily feel. Great for all skin types. Our non-comedogenic serum helps to eliminate blackheads and reduce pore size with its high linoleic acid content. Hemp and rosewood are anti-inflammatory, reducing redness and evening skin tone. Argan oil’s high tocopherol and fatty acid content nourish and protect for soft, glowing skin.
I didn't have the opportunity to try this serum (housed in the same clear glass bottle with a pump) as my skin hates argan oil, but my mom absolutely loves it! She says that it leaves her skin hydrated, but not greasy, and it sinks in like a dream. She also mentioned that a little goes a long way and would totally repurchase (which is a big deal since she's an even bigger skin care junkie than me).
All in all, this brand didn't work out for my skin/pits but the beautiful minimal ingredients are sure to be a hit for many. Get it here: Sempirra

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

Patchouli Lime Natural Deodorant Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Baking Soda, Beeswax, Organic Essential Oils

Cleansing Oil Ingredients: Organic Castor Oil, Organic Safflower Oil, Organic Jojoba, Organic Frankincense Essential Oil, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Sustainably Wild-Harvested Rosewood Essential Oil

Matte Hydrating Serum Ingredients: Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Safflower Oil, Organic Argan Oil, Sustainably Wild-Crafted Rosewood Essential Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E Oil

Brand Focus: Pure Daily Essentials

Discovering new products is fun, but discovering new Canadian products is even funner! That's a word, right?

Pure Daily Essentials is a small home-based business in Langley, British Columbia. We are committed to providing all natural skin care products working with ethical ingredients. All of our products are paraben and chemical free. 

Being small, all of our products are handcrafted in small batches and made fresh to order. We respect that what goes onto your skin, goes into your body! We are environmentally friendly and are against animal testing. We test all products on ourselves and family members.

Read more about Pure Daily Essentials here.

*Makeup Remover ($16.95 CAD/50 ml): Our all natural Make-Up remover easily removes all make-up without rinsing. Remove all traces of eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara with this gentle natural eye make up remover but also use it as a dual cleanser for the rest of your face. It's gentle enough for all skin types and won't dry your skin or clog your pores. 

This makeup remover is light, effective, gentle, soothing, calming, and wonderful. With oils like sweet almond and olive, and extracts of comfrey, calendula, and chamomile, it's no surprise why. It easily removes makeup, smells heavenly, and doesn't break me out. I enjoy how fluid it is and those that cleansing oils with castor will understand what I mean, as castor oil is pretty thick. Of the four products that I had the opportunity to try, this one is hands down my favourite.

*Revive Hydration Mist in Sandalwood ($14.95 CAD/60 ml): A refreshing and nutritious tonic of all natural skin care ingredients blended to provide hydration and balance for your skin, while counteracting the damages from environmental influences; it regulates your skins natural oils. This skin tonic is made with healing essential oils such as Sandalwood essential oil to help soften skin by increasing and restoring its ability to retain moisture. Using this tonic after cleansing, prepares your skin for the ultimate experience of whichever Pure Daily Essentials moisturizer you choose. 

This mist feels really nice on the skin, is refreshing, and hydrating but I don't enjoy the scent. It's a combination of geranium, sandalwood, vetiver, palmarosa and ylang ylang. If you're into either of those, or all of them, then you'll love this. 

*Gentle Oatmeal Scrub ($24.95 CAD/60 ml): Our oatmeal face scrub is made without harsh chemicals that often strips away too much of the skin. This all natural cleansing and exfoliating scrub is gentle enough for everyday use and is the basis for every effective facial care routine. Our oatmeal facial scrub, made with plant granules such as Lavender and Chamomile flower tops, will polish the skin just enough to rid dead skin cells without irritating the skin.

I was really hoping that this would replace my beloved Angels on Bare Skin by Lush, but it's completely different than what I was expecting. It's oilier, as you can see from the picture, and chunkier. While I do love how soft it makes my skin feel and the fact that I don't need to moisturize after using it, I do wish it wasn't as oily and the oats were ground up more. Still, this scrub is gentle yet effective, and a little goes a long way.

*Lavish Hydration Lavender ($26.95 CAD/250 ml or $11.95/60 ml): The best body lotion to deeply balance, soften and delicately scent the skin with the aroma of Lavender. Our rich and luxurious all natural body lotions are formulated with botanical infusions that are known to revitalize, rejuvenate, and nourish the driest of skin. Full of fatty acids, antioxidants, and a concentrated blend of vitamins and minerals, we worked with the earth to create a luscious treat for all skin types.
This is my least favourite of the bunch. I chose it because I love lavender, but the ylang ylang and geranium essential oils completely take over. Also, the lotion doesn't fully absorb and leaves me feeling greasy. It definitely boasts a list of impressive ingredients, like coconut oil, sunflower oil, calendula, chamomile, and comfrey, so it's unfortunate that it didn't work for me. 
Get it here: Pure Daily Essentials and these retailers. *Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Makeup Remover Ingredients: Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) root extract, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) flower extract, Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile) flower extract, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender).
Revive Hydration Mist Ingredients: Aqua, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, Santalum album (Sandalwood) oil, Cymbopogon martinii (Palmarosa) oil, Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver) oil, Cananga odorata (Ylang ylang) oil. 
Gentle Oatmeal Scrub Ingredients: Avena sativa (Oatmeal), Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) flower tops, Matricaria recutita (Chamomile) flower tops, Plantago lanceolata (Plantain) leaf extract, glycerin, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf extract, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender), Styrax benzoin.
Lavish Hydration Lavender Ingredients: Aqua, helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, Cera alba (Beeswax), Calendula officinalis (Calendula) flower extract, Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) root extract, Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile) flower extract, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis (Orange peel) oil, Cananga odorata (Ylang ylang) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf extract, Styrax benzoin, Prunus oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil, Glycerin, Sodium borate, Xanthan gum, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Brand Focus: Kari Gran

Kari Gran is considered the Little Black Dress of skin care because of its simplicity. The line consists of only three skin care products, a *Cleansing Oil ($30.00 USD/100 ml), *Hydrating Tonic ($35.00 USD/100 ml), and an *Essential Serum ($60.00 USD for 30 ml) that work in combination with each other and are suitable for all skin types. They also have *Lip Whips ($15.00 - $20.00 USD/7 ml), that come in various tints (including untinted) for soft, luscious lips, as well as mineral makeup for a flawless complexion. All of the skin care products and lip whips come in gorgeous, black, glass bottles that are certainly sturdy and elegant.

Kari Gran is an eco-luxe, all-natural skin care brand that provides a simple, elegant and clean solution for everyday skin care. Kari Gran products draw on plant and essential oils as the essence of a good skin care regime, combined with a holistic approach to skin care health.

 Read more about KG here.

Lip Whip in Tinted and Naked: A perfect everyday lip balm that complements the Kari Gran skin care system, the Lip Whip contains a soothing combination of ingredients. Handy in the purse, in the car or on the night stand, Lip Whip is beautiful alone or paired with lipstick and gives lips a sensual, glossy, moisturizing boost. Available in Peppermint and Cinnamon-Pimenta Berry. 

I'll start by saying that the Tinted contains carmine and is strongly cinnamon scented, both of which don't excite me. I haven't used it more than a couple of times. Naked, on the other hand, is divine. I keep the little glass pot on my nightstand and apply nightly. It leans minty but there's still a cinnamon kick to it, is super moisturizing, and feels lovely on the lips. A definite must try if you have dry lips or even if you don't!

Cleansing Oil: The Cleansing Oil contains a blend of natural ingredients formulated to deep clean while balancing the skins natural oil production. It is designed for use once daily, during the evening cleanse. Massage onto dry skin (wonderful and relaxing!), and then steam off with a hot (not scalding) washcloth, whisking away impurities.
I love cleansing oils and certainly enjoy trying new ones. KG makes a lovely smelling cleansing oil that consists of sunflower oil, castor oil, avocado oil, lavender oil, and vitamin e. This cleanser melts away the day (and makeup) with ease, all while the lavender calms the mind and soothes the soul.
Hydrating Tonic: Our hydrating tonics are a blend of soothing ingredients containing no alcohol. They will not strip or dry your skin like traditional toners. Available in Lavender or Rose, you can also mist it on any time for a pick-me-up if your skin is feeling parched. It also does a nice job of setting mineral makeup. A wonderful multi-tasker, use alone or with the serum to create your custom moisturizer.
As someone who has a toner/floral water/tonic obsession, it probably comes as no surprise that this is my favourite product of the range. It smells like lavender goodness and feels nice on the skin. My dilemma with this product is that it's expensive, especially since I can't control misting at every opportunity.
Essential Serum: The Essential Serum is a potent blend of 15 plant and essential oils known for their nourishing properties, plus a boost of natural Vitamin E, providing customizable levels of moisture to the skin. The Essential Serum is the quintessential multi-tasker; it can be used in the morning and evening. For your evening treatment, double the amount you use during the day. It can also be used on the neck, décolleté and eye areas. In addition, for those who use mineral powder foundation, the Essential Serum can be mixed in the hand with the powder to create a tinted moisturizer.
While this serum contains a variety of skin loving oils, like calendula, jojoba, sunflower, avocado, and arnica, it also contains rosehip. Rosehip oil in large or consistent doses, irritates my skin. That being said, I do use this oil a couple of times a week, at night, as a treat. In the morning, my skin is clear, soft, even, and glowing. The scent is floral, given that it contains essential oils of ylang ylang, jasmine, and rose, but isn't overwhelming and doesn't linger for too long.
I can't say that this line blew my mind (due to the samples being so small), but it did impress me and I would certainly consider picking up a full size of the Cleansing Oil and Hydrating Tonic. 
Get it here: Kari Gran
*Products provided for review consideration, all opinions are entirely my own.
Lip Whip Ingredients:  Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor Seed) Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Camellia Oleifera (Camellia Seed) Oil, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) & Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Oil, Tocopherol (Non GMO Vitamin E from Sunflower), Wildharvested Pimenta Racemosa (Pimenta Berry) Oil, Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon Bark) Oil or Organic Mentha X Piperita (Peppermint) Oil.  Tinted lip whips may contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine.
Cleansing Oil Ingredients: Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor Seed) Oil, Organic Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil, and Tocopherol (Non-GMO Vitamin E from Sunflower)
Hydrating Tonic Ingredients: 100% fractionally distilled Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera Leaf), Organic glycerin (Vegetable Glycerin), Organic Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil  or Rosa Damascena (Rose) Oil

Essential Serum Ingredients: Organic Camellia Oleifera (Camellia Seed) Oil, Organic Rosa Canina Fruit (Rosehip Seed) Oil, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Organic Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive), Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) & Organic Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Oil, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive) & Organic Arnica Montana (Arnica) Oil, Organic Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil, Wildharvested Boswellia Sacra (Frankincense) Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Oil, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Oil, Organic Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn Seed) Oil, Organic Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil, and

Tocopherol (Non-GMO Vitamin E from Sunflower)

Brand Focus: ZAYA Oils (+Giveaway: CLOSED)

If I haven't said the following enough, I'll say it again, I love finding local brands! Canadians make some incredible products and many of my favourite skin care and makeup items are made right here, eh. I was thrilled with Anna, one of the beauties behind the brand, reached out asking if I wanted to try out some products. They are based out of Toronto and handcraft each of their beautiful oils using only wild-harvested and organic ingredients. I had the pleasure of meeting Anna at the Green Living Show earlier this year and wow, what a friggen beauty! Her skin was flawless, along with the other two ladies (whose names I forgot because I'm a horrible person).

Anna offered to send whichever oils appealed to me, and based on the ingredients and scents, I picked the *Eye Oil ($69.90 CAD/30 ml), *Face Oil ($59.90 CAD/50 ml), *Belly Oil ($49.90 CAD/100 ml), and *Body Oil ($43.90 CAD/100 ml). All of them came housed in dark glass bottles with pumps, for freshness and easy dispensing, and gorgeously packaged inside of a chic cardboard box with their corresponding characters. While I don't leave the boxes on my dresser, because I like to keep it minimal, these boxes have worked well to store larger pieces of jewelry that are kept in my dresser. I absolutely adore the packaging and appreciate the effort to create an artistic piece that can be re-purposed.

Our strong belief in natural skin care is blended with our passion for elegant beauty. We create them in desire to remind women that their beauty has countless number of faces. To inspire them to bring out their natural beauty, to be different, but irresistibly charming and elegant every day! 

All our products are created in Canada (Toronto) in our own facility using only natural, wild-harvested and organic ingredients. The product compositions are thoroughly developed by the team of PhD chemists who have 15 years of experience on the natural skincare market. No synthetic ingredients ever cross the doorway of our manufacturing site. Our manufacturing is cruelty free and not harmful for the environment.

Like many responsible businesses nowadays we are trying our best to use only recyclable and environmentally friendly materials to package our products. The carton boxes we use are made of 100% recycled paper [and can be used as a jewelry box]. Our bottles are made from beautiful high quality dark violet glass that offers optimal protection against the ageing processes that are released by visible light. So, you can make sure that the potency of our blends will not decrease over a long time period.

Read more about ZAYA Oils here.

*Eye Oil Rosewood "The Magestic One": This oil blend was specially created to nurture and restore the delicate areas around your eyes. When applied in the morning, it hydrates the skin, helping your eyes look fresh throughout the day. When used in the evening, it gently removes makeup, while revitalizing and nourishing the skin. 

Since I've started incorporating more oils into my skin care regime, I've found that my eyes don't get nearly as dry as they used to. That means that I no longer use creams or oils specifically designed for the eye area. Still, I decided to try out this oil for its intended purpose. By day 2, I had already forgotten to apply it. Now, I use one to two pumps to breakdown and remove eye makeup at night. The combination of sweet almond, rice bran, and macadamia nut oil leave my lashes and eyes well moisturized, even after removing with a cloth, but never feels greasy or heavy. The sweet and floral scent of rosewood is gorgeous and subtle. If you're into eye products, this is definitely one to try.

 

*Face Oil Rosewood "The Stunning One": This oil blend was specially created to delicately moisturize the skin without leaving the greasy feeling on your face. Carefully selected combination of oils deeply moisturizes your skin giving you a radiant glow

Ohhh how I love this face oil. It is loaded with sesame, evening primrose, grapeseed, and sweet almond oil, yet never feels greasy or heavy on my skin and absorbs quickly. The scent of rosewood is beautiful and I rarely get whiffs of geranium, which is a scent that normally bothers me. I apply one pump, in the P.M., to love my skin while I sleep. When I wake up, my skin is plump and well nourished. In the morning, I mix half a pump with a dime sized amount of moisturizer to create the perfect base for makeup. It hasn't irritated or broken out my sensitive, hormonal skin. Instead, it's helped calm redness, reduce dry patches, and even out my skin tone. Gorgeous, gorgeous oil and definitely my favourite of the four.

*Belly Oil Vanilla & Petitgrain "The Loving One": Specially created for Mothers-to-Be this oil blend nourishes your skin and maintains its natural elasticity. So comforting to the skin, it relaxes your body and soothes your mind. Pamper yourself and your little bean!

Before anyone asks, I'm not nor was I pregnant. I selected this belly oil based on the scent alone and I'm glad so that I did! The warm, smokey, and slightly spicy blend of vanilla and petitgrain make this oil a delight in the colder months and before bed. A little goes a long way, it absorbs into the skin with ease, and leaves the skin well moisturized. It contains sweet almond, rice bran, apricot, and macadamia nut oils, plus a few others, which I find to be rich enough to moisturize but light enough to properly absorb. Apricot kernal oil is actually one of my favourites!

*Body Oil "The Alluring One": Specially selected combination of oils keeps your skin hydrated and balanced. Giving your body a boost of nutritive energy this blend promotes the firm and smooth appearance of your skin.

This body oil is slightly thicker, due to the avocado and castor oils, but still absorbs really well. I absolutely love the combination of rosemary and grapefruit, it's fruity but still fresh and herbal. I have only been using it for about a week, but think it'll definitely be a love of mine through the warmer months, mainly because of the uplifting scent.

Get them here: ZAYA Oils, and these retailers.


GIVEAWAY TIME! - CONGRATS SHELBY!

• Follow ZAYA Oils on at least two of the following: Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook.
• Follow Live It, Love It, Green it on Twitter and/or Instagram.
• Comment below telling us how your incorporate oils into your daily skin care routine, as well the names associated with the social media outlets in which you followed us on.
• Open to residents of the the USA and Canada only.
• Must be legal age of majority or have permission from your parent(s)/guardian(s).
• Winner will get to choose any two products of their choice, which can be view here.
• Winner will be chosen by ZAYA Oils and announced on social media.
• Contest will start on Tuesday, May 12th and end at 11:59 P.M. EST on Wednesday, May 27th, 2015.

Good luck!

P.S. If you like patchouli, the hair oil smells delicious. I was worried it would smell too much like ylang ylang, but was pleasantly surprised when I sniffed it at the Green Living Show.

*Products provided for review consideration. ZAYA Oils was kind enough to offer one of my readers the opportunity to try out two of their products. All opinions are entirely my own.

Eye Oil Ingredients: Prunus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil*, Oryza Sativa (rice) bran oil, Macadamia Ternifolia (macadamia nut) seed oil*, Punicagranatum (pomegranate) seed oil, Triticum Vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, Aniba Rosaeodora wood (rosewood) essential oil. 

Face Oil Ingredients: Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) seed oil*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) oil*, Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed oil, Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil*, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) germ oil, Camellia oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Aniba Rosaeodora wood (Rosewood) essential oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) essential oil*.

Belly Oil Ingredients: Prunus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil*, Oryza Sativa (rice) bran oil, Prunus Armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia (macadamia nut) seed oil, Sesamum Indicum (sesame) seed oil*, Triticum Vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Vanilla Planifolia (vanilla) CO2extract*, Citrus Aurantium (petitgrain) essential oil*

Body Oil Ingredients: Prunus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil*, Oryza Sativa (rice) bran oil, Macadamia Ternifolia (macadamia nut) seed oil, Triticum Vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Persea Gratissima (avocado) oil, Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil*, Citrus Paradisi peel (pink grapefruit) essential oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary) essential oil*

*Organic

Brand Focus: Gemstone Organic

Gemstone Organic is a very special and unique line created and founded by Debra Haugen. Whether you believe in the beneficial properties of gemstones and crystals or not, you can easily enjoy the other amazing ingredients and reap their benefits. I don't have a crystal or gemstone collection nor do I really have a concrete opinion on them, but the concept of the brand and limited number of ingredients is what really encouraged me to try out the products.

These unique essences are created from select crystals and powerful gemstones.
The energy of the earth, fire, water and air are all carried in the gemstones as they are being weathered and formed. Infused into purified and ionized water they create a highly vibrational, pH balanced H2O. Gemstone Essences offer your skin a revitalizing energy similar to mineral springs, which have been used for centuries as a regenerating modality for both internal and external healing.

Read more about the Gemstone Organic by reading this letter from the Founder, Debra Haugen.

They were kind enough to send me samples of the *Organic Calendula Gem Hydrosol and *Ruby Creme. Ruby was the only one that didn't contain coconut oil and my skin gets very irritated during the colder months, so it seemed like the perfect fit for me.

*Organic Calendula Gem Hydrosol (with Quartz Crystals): Healing and gentle for all skin types, use on abrasions, sun burns and skin disorders, fresh herbal and slightly floral scent, and infused with Quartz Crystals to renew and refresh body and spirit. Along with containing Quartz Crystals, this Hydrosol is Gem Essenced using color coded stones to work in conjunction with the plant, bringing its full healing potential to you. Keep these Quartz Crystal points long after you Hydrosol is gone!

Retails for $22.95 USD/4 oz, $14.95 USD/2 oz, or $10.95 USD/1 oz. Available in Calendula, Rose, Lavender, Wild Sage, Ylang Ylang, and Helichrysum.

I love calendula and I love hydrosols, seems like a match made in heaven no? It is! The mist that comes out of this little blue bottle is super fine and lovely. I hate when a toner/hydrosol basically spits in your face instead of evenly distributing the mist. The refreshing scent is both calming and uplifting, and I feel as though it instantly calms my skin when it's a bit red. The quartz crystal is actually at the bottom, you can hear it when you shake the bottle. Since I didn't receive a full sample (the tiny bottle pictured above only came about 1/4 full, if that), it was used up within a week of receiving it. Based on the short amount of time that I had to use it, I really enjoyed it and will be purchasing a full size once I use up some of the toners and floral waters that I currently have.

Ingredients: Calendula floral water/hydrosol and Quartz Crystal.

*Ruby Creme:  Organic Ruby is a face and body créme perfect for extra dry skin and skin conditions. Made with Gemstone Essence from Ruby and other select Crystals this créme raises skin temperature promoting circulation and the elimination of toxins, improving skin disorders. It is our only créme with Shea Butter and it's high Vitamin A content soothes dermatitis. Essential oils from Lavender and Sandalwood enhance blood circulation and are anti-inflammatory to the skin. Lemongrass and Neroli essential oils give this créme a fun and bright citrus scent.

Ruby is our Fire & Passion Créme. It connects your Root and Heart Chakras and brings wisdom in teaching you how precious you are. The oldest healing uses for Ruby gemstones have been found to be cleansing the blood of toxins. Ruby ignites your creativity with vivid strength, vitality and confidence. 

Retails for $24.95 USD. Available in Ruby, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Jade, and Gold.

I. Love. This. Creme. Face creams are really hard for me to try, I'm always worried that they're going to break me out or mess up my skin, but this one blew me away. The scent of lemongrass is mild but uplifting as I inhale while massage it onto my skin every morning. The creme quickly melts between my fingers and applies beautifully to the skin, leaving a demi matte finish. Not quite matte, not quite luminous. Just perfection and a great base for makeup. It also immediately calms down my skin and takes down any redness, seriously! This little jar is jam packed with amazing ingredients to help nourish, heal, calm, and moisturize the skin. Oh, and don't be fooled by how small the jar is because a little goes a very long way. This jar also wasn't full, however, I still have some left after using it for a couple of months.

Ingredients: Hemp Oil*, Rose Water*, Gemstone Essence, Shea Butter*, Beeswax*, Capuacu Butter*, Babassu Oil*, Borage Oil*, Black Seed Oil*, Aloe Vera Powder*, Lavender*, Lemongrass*, Neroli* and Sandalwood* Essential Oils

*100% USDA Certified Organic

I am incredibly impressed by this brand and their products, and would 100% recommend to anyone. The cremes don't necessarily need to be used on the face, they can also be used on the body to help alleviate or keep skin ailments at bay, as well as soften super dry skin. One thing that I will note is that international shipping is a bit steep. If you live in the USA, shipping is free (I believe) so you're golden.

All products mentioned, and more, can be purchased through Gemstone Organic.

Have you ever tried this brand? Is there a particular product that you'd love to try of theirs?

                                                         

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