May 2014 Empties!

Oh boy have I finished up a good chunk of my stash this month. I apologize now for a couple of the dark pictures, I took them late at night in order to be able to toss this stuff out for garbage day. Anyway, let's get to it!

Alaffia Neem & Shea Butter Scalp Recovery Shampoo - This shampoo worked brilliantly in the colder months. I tend to have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp, all year round, with dandruff on top of that in the winter. This helped clear up my scalp immediately and then stopped working. Will give it another go next winter.

Shoosha Baby Calm Baby Massage Oil - review here - This was a fantastic cleansing oil (for face) and moisturizing body oil, however, I hated that the bottle cap always leaked. Definitely not travel friendly and just plain annoying. Still, it was lovely and I would repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk - review here - Ignore the fact that the picture shows that this bottle is not completely empty, it is now. Loved and still love this cleanser so much. The scent was beautiful, it made my skin so soft and helped calm any redness that I had going on on my face. My only issue is that the pump stopped working (again!) at about the point displayed in the picture. Will 100% repurchase this cleanser, once I use up some of the others that I have in rotation.

Andalou Naturals Lavender Shea Hand Cream - I purchased this when the contact dermatitis on my hands, now confirmed ezcema, cleared up with hopes that it would keep my hands clear. Sadly, it irritated my eczema and so I ended up using it as a body lotion. It smells beautifully of lavender and moisturizes well but, I will likely not repurchase.

Aubrey Men's Stock Pine Deodorant - review here - Despite the spray apparatus constantly not functioning properly and the bottle randomly leaking, this worked great for me in the stink department. It is strongly fragranced and contains alcohol, however, it also contains calming ingredients like calendula and arnica. Would definitely repurchase.

Living Libations Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste - review here - Holy moly batman, this toothpaste made my teeth glow. Who knew teeth could glow? I guess anyone who's been using this toothpaste. The flavour isn't my favourite, neem *gags*, but it worked incredible well and I noticed a positive change in my teeth. I've picked up a different toothpaste in their range and see myself repurchasing this one again.

Living Libations Sea Buckthorn Shampoo - review here - Sea Buckthorn is one of my favourite oils, so naturally I had high hopes for this shampoo. It left my hair feeling oily and my scalp itchy. The scent was delicious and I enjoyed using it as a body wash though. Will not repurchase.

SBT Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil - review here - Speaking of sea buckthorn oil....This staining and oompa loompa orange oil was used diluted with other facial oils and in smoothies. As a supplement, it was great. As a skin care oil, it was also great but I much prefer the seed oil. Will not repurchase.

Osmia Spot Treatment - This worked as amazingly well as everyone said it would. I loved how little the bottle was, perfect for tossing in my bag, and smelled really nice. Will likely repurchase.

The Body Deli Blueberry Resurfacing Cleanser - review here - Ahh, this cleanser was a lovely weekly treatment for my face. It smelled incredible and worked well to chemically exfoliate my skin. The tiny bottle lasted me about 5 months, money well spent. Haven't decided whether I will repurchase or go for the scrub in the same family.

Tamanu Oil - review here - Love, love, love. Won't rave about it or say too much besides the fact that I will be repurchasing.

Batty's Bath Skin Support Serum - I didn't do a full review of this brand because I didn't find that it actually did anything for my skin. Couldn't think of what to say besides, "it didn't work". Recently, the owner told me that it takes several months for this serum to work because it treats internally instead of externally. Either way, I had hoped to see some sort of positive change. Won't be repurchasing.

*Blissoma Clay Renewal Treatment - review here - Oh sad, sad day. I heard my heart break when I finally scooped up the last bit of this amazing product. What can I say? It worked so well at fighting blackheads, acne, scars, and just keeping my skin suppppper soft. Shipping to Canada is a little high, so hopefully I can pick up another jar during a sale.

Batch Naturals Multipurpose Cream - review here - This cream was well loved by my elbows, knees, and especially feet. Towards the end it did start smelling weird, so I had to toss it. May repurchase once I use up all the other balms and creams that I have.

Province Apothecary Detoxifying + Clarifying Clay Mask (sample) - PA is a very lush Canadian brand with a beautiful collection of products, this mask being one. Aside from the smell of the Canadian Algae, which I couldn't stand, it worked really well at pulling impurities to the surface allowing me to extract them better. Yes, I squeeze my own face sometimes. Won't be purchasing the full size. 100% Pure Burdock & Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo (sample) - While I'm not looking to stray from my beloved OM shampoo, I need a weekly clarifying treatment that doesn't involve me having to make it. Since it is a small sample, I haven't fully formed an opinion on it. I have a couple more to use, perhaps next empties I'll have more to say about it. Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Lovely (sample) - This shade is very similar to my well loved W3ll People Universalist #7 Creamy Peony, however, the texture is much smoother and leaves a gorgeous sheen on the skin. Now that I know that I love the formula, I may need to pick up Blossoming...or...all of them? W3ll People Universalist #1 Creamy Pink (sample) - This is a total dupe for Nars Orgasm, without the chunky glitter fall out, and is stunning! Not sure I love it enough to pick up the full size but I enjoyed using this sample up. The All Natural Face Diva Stix in Milk - Tossing this out because I never use it.  Phew, done. That's what I've used up this month. Let me know below what you've gone through in May.

January 2014 Empties!

This month has been a fun one for empties because I've managed to finish so much, as you can see below. #NoBuyJanuary really forced encouraged me to use up samples and minis, as well as finish off products that were just about done. Don't be fooled though, I still have a boat load of stuff to get through.

This picture made me feel like a garbage hoarder haha

Here's what I've finished this month...

Coconut Oil - I mostly cook or eat this delicious goodness, but I also used it in this body butter. I've already repurchased.

Deep Steep Body Wash - review here - This was such a great body wash. It was fragrant without being overwhelming, nourishing, lathered well on a loofa, and felt very luxurious. I really enjoyed this particular scent, but will be trying a different one. Will be repurchasing.

Alaffia Scalp Recovery Shampoo - This wasn't actually a full bottle, it only had a few uses in it. My friend wanted me to try it to see if it would help my scalp dermatitis and dandruff. It did! I already picked up a brand new bottle.

Pretty Skin Savior Oil - review here - Body oils are wonderful and this one was no exception. It smelled lovely and moisturized well. Once I get through some other body products, I may repurchase this or one of their other oils.

Earthpaste Toothpaste in Peppermint - review here - There's not much to say about this product, it's the only toothpaste I use. Already repurchased.

*Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream - review here - This month was exceptionally cold and my hands (and entire body) were craving more moisture. This hand cream smelled nice and absorbed well, but wasn't moisturizing enough for me. I found myself constantly reapplying, hence why I finished up a tube in less than a month. May repurchase in the warmer months.

Weleda Calendula Face Cream - review here - I love this stuff soooo much. It's great for hands, face, and body and moisturizes so well. I especially love that it's small and light enough to carry in a small purse. Will definitely be repurchasing because I can't be without it.

Badger Sleep Balm - review here - This was a skin savior this month. I applied it to super dry bits like knees, elbows, feet, face, and hands just before bed. Not only did it fill the room with the beautiful fragrance of lavender, it also left my skin super soft. Might repurchase at some point.

*Pure Anada African Gold - review here - This marula oil infused shea butter was perfect for this DIY body butter and by itself. I loved using it all over, including my face, to help with any dry patches. Will very likely repurchase next Winter.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner (not pictured) - review here - Went through another bottle and still love it! Will be repurchasing.

Tamanu Oil - review here - Ahh, my love for tamanu oil runs deep. I was heart broken when I used up the last drop and may, or may not, have shed a tear. My goal with facial oils is to use them all up before repurchasing, that way I can decide what works best for my skin and what should be repurchased. I just made up that goal recently, but I see myself repurchasing very soon.

*Lina Hanson Global Body Serum - This body serum smells so amazing, it's the perfect scent. Vanilla with a hint of citrus, delicate and feminine. I didn't do a full review because the few times that I did use it on my body, I broke out badly. I actually received this months ago, before I discovered (100%) that argan doesn't agree with me. I have been using it on the ends of my hair and can't even describe how intoxicating the scent is. I hope Lina makes a perfume oil with this scent, minus the argan. Will not be purchasing the full size although you should for the scent alone, if you can use argan.

*Aroma M Camellia Hair Oil - review here - What a sexy scent this hair oil has. It made me feel so sexy when I used it. It worked just as well as Lina's body serum did on the ends of my hair. I've since started using marula oil instead and much prefer it to both of these. Will not be purchasing the full size.

Dr. Hauschka Facial Toner - This was sent to me by the lovely Cori, from Well Beauty Blog, and it was nice. I've tried it before and enjoyed it. I go through toner rather quickly though and don't love it enough to spend as much as it costs. Will not be purchasing the full size.

One Love Organics Vitamin D Active Moisture Time Release Mist - This was a two time use sample that didn't really give me a good idea of whether I liked the product or not. It's very unlikely that I'll be spending $40 CAN on the full size though.

*Corpa Flora Rock'n Rose Exfoliating Facial Powder - review here - I love Corpa Flora products and have purchased full sizes since that review to prove it. This was a very gentle, yet effective exfoliating powder. I much prefer chemical exfoliants though. Will not be purchasing the full size.

S.W. Basics Exfoliant - review here - Hands down my favourite physical exfoliant.ever. It just worked so well for my skin without irritating it and it smelled like oatmeal. If I ever purchase a scrub in the future, it'll be this one.

The All Natural Face Cream Blush in Cotton Candy - review here - My favourite and, obviously, most used ANF blush shade. The purple worked with my naturally red cheeks without enhancing the redness. Since discovering that I can't use these blushes anymore, because of the argan oil,  I'm glad that I finished at least one. Won't be repurchasing.

*Pure Anada Mascara in Black - review here - This mascara kinda sucked at first, it was too wet for my liking, but amazing once it dried up a bit. It was great wet as well, but I found it separated my lashes too much for my liking. This mascara held up in Jamaica (hot as hell) and in the cold. It didn't flake, smudge, run, or transfer unless I fell asleep in face plant position. I won't do a full review now, but I will say that I purchased another tube.

The Body Deli Blueberry Cleanser Sample - This cleanser surprised me. It's full of fruit acids, which is what I consider a chemical exfoliant. I used this sample every second or third day as an exfoliator, left it on for a minute or two and washed it off. My skin was left noticeably softer and even toned.  I purchased a mini bottle back in December, love it!

The Body Deli Almond Cleanser Sample - Really wanted to love this cleanser. It smelled delicious and cleansed well but I didn't find it anything spectacular. Perhaps the sample was too small or I just like other cleansers more. Won't be purchasing the full size.

Evanhealy French Rose Clay - I've had this sample in my collection for months and months. I decided to use it recently, since my skin freaked out and grew little people pimples all over. What a fantastic clay mask! It never dried out my skin, even though I used it three days in a row, and helped to calm the acne down. I may pick up the full size at some point, may.

Suki Intensive Nourishing Masque Sachet - Another item sent to me by the beautiful Cori. I didn't like this at all because of the nasty film it left on my skin. My face felt super greasy and uncomfortable. The Suki range hasn't been a hit with me. Will not be purchasing the full size.

*Rahua Conditioner Sachet - Monique, from Anise Apothecary, actually gave me this along with the shampoo sachet to try. I wasn't impressed by the conditioner, it didn't seem to do anything for my hair at all. Will not be purchasing the full size.

Red Flower Purifying Body Wash in Icelandic Moonflower and Italian Blood Orange - Both of these smelled lovely, one floral and one citrusy. They foamed up on my loofa beautifully and left me clean without drying out my skin. I prefer Deep Steep though and won't be purchasing full size.

Done, done, done!

*PR SAMPLE

Reveal My Stash #3 - Skin Care: Exfoliants, Masks, & Oils

Does the skin care stash reveal fun ever end?! It ends here my friends. This is the last of my skin care and the section that I'd like to shrink down, big time. I'd mainly like to shrink down the exfoliants that I have, it's more than I need or care to have. In this post, I'm not going to explain how or why I use each individual product.

*Sweet Leaf Bath Co. Adzuki Bean Rice Bran Face Polish, One Love Organics Brand New Day
& S.W. Basics Exfoliant

These are my physical exfoliants that I don't use that often. Physical exfoliants basically require an ingredient (ground almonds, oats, salt, etc) and your hands to gently massage the skin to remove any dead skin cells. I find this irritating to my skin, especially in the colder months. Out of all 3 of these though, the S.W. Basics seems to be my favourite.

*Shamanuti Pumpkin Enzyme Masque &
The Body Deli Blueberry Fusion Cleanser (which I use as a mask)

Chemical exfoliation is the use of enzymes or acids to eat away at the dead skin cells on your face and my favourite form of exfoliation. Yes, it can irritate the skin as well but I find these work best for me. Call me crazy!

Wedderspoon Manuka Honey, Pretty Ginger & Cypress Soothing Mud Mask, Evanhealy French Rose Clay,
& *Yula Organics Seaweed Facial Masque

Not much to say about these. Manuka honey, clay masks, perfection. That's all.

Hedd Wynn Tamanu Oil, Skin Essence Nourish Oil, Corpa Flora Eclat Citrouille, *Shamanuti Face Oil,
Myra Aso 100% Marula Oil, & *SBT Seabuckthorn Seed and Fruit Oil

I loveeeeee oils! I use em morning and night, switch em up, and mix em up! This is my favourite section in my skin care collection and I wouldn't change a thing, except add more oils haha.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my collection of body, hair and skin care products. Will definitely be revealing my makeup stash too, keep an eye out for that. *PR SAMPLES

Faves Friday! - New Series

My attempt at doing a Faves Friday every Friday has already started off poorly. It's Saturday, as you all know, and that's that. I will be better prepared next week, promise!
Anyway, I will be doing a weekly faves in place of a monthly one because I was big time slacking on those. I also think it's easier to remember what I've been using and loving weekly vs. monthly. Every week I'll choose the top 3 products that I've been loving, excluding this post as I'm covering the last two weeks, and tell you why. Blah, blah, blah. Shall we just start now?

One Love Organics Vitamin B Active Moisture Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover - review here - This stuff is amazing! It removes makeup beautifully without drying out my skin AND having to do a double cleanse. 

Skin Essence Organics Nourish Moisturizer Serum - review here - I have mixed feelings on this product, but do find it moisturizes incredibly well. I've been loving it mixed with the next fave.

Tamanu Oil - review here - I'm almost running out of this bottle and will NEED to repurchase whether it's still #NoBuyJanuary or not because it's a staple for keeping my skin happy. Skin Essence mixed with this has been very nourishing, especially with the extreme weather killing my skin.

*Therapi Orange Blossom No. 3 Honey Moisturizer - review here - What a beautiful moisturizer! I have been using it morning and night for an extra moisture boost. It's great alone, when my skin isn't so dry, but has been working even better with oils underneath or mixed in. It creates a beautiful base for makeup and deeply nourishes at night. 

*Pure Anada Pressed Foundation in Very Fair - review here - This foundation is amazing. My cheeks have been tomato red and this works to cover that up without having to apply too much. I'll use this shade if I'm doing a full face of makeup and Light on "no makeup" days. Love applying it with the EcoTools bronzer brush.

*Sappho Concealer in Neutrality - review here - This neutral pinkish shade has been working well under my eyes. I finally gave up my favourite Origins concealer and while this isn't as good, it works. Neutrality makes me look more awake and polished.  I apply it with the Real Techniques domed shadow brush. Oh Sudz is on my radar though!

That's what I've been loving for the last 2 weeks. What have been some of your faves lately?

*PR Sample

My Current Skin Care Routine (Morning & Night)

I've recently discovered that I haven't done a skin care routine since June 2012 and a lot has changed...like almost everything has changed. Being a product junkie, it's difficult to do an actual "routine" post because I'm always trying new things. That being said, these are the products that I have been consistently using over the last 2 months. Aside from the regular dryness around my nose and cheeks, my skin hasn't looked this good in a long time. For reference, I have combination to dry skin that's very sensitive and I get hormonal breakouts. Please keep in mind that what works for me, may not work for you. Also, I like to apply Pure Anada's *African Gold (not pictured below) on any really dry patches whether it be morning or night AND I change my pillow case and hand towel every 3 days (2 if I'm breaking out).

MORNING:

I rinse my face with warm water and then go over it with Pretty Triple Rose floral water on a cotton pad. While my face is still damp, I apply tamanu oil mixed with SBT sea buckthorn seed and fruit oils to make my own super amazing blend. I let that sink it for a couple of minutes before applying a moisturizer. I haven't been using one particular moisturizer consistently. I finish off with Graydon *SPF 30 Sun Cream and move on to makeup.

NIGHT:

First, I remove any makeup with Corpa Flora *Beaute Divine Oil Cleanser and their Shoo-Foo cloth. I then do a second cleanse with Andalou Naturals Probiotic Cleansing Milk and French Pink Clay konjac sponge, from Konjac Sponge Company (review to come), to ensure my skin is super clean and lightly exfoliated. I spritz Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner, current fave, before applying Corpa Flora Eclait Citrouille Antioxidant Night Cocktail. If I don't wear makeup, I skip the first step.

TREATMENTS:

Every other morning, I apply a layer of Wedderspoon's 100% Raw Manuka Honey all over my face (including under my eyes) and let it sit for at least 20 minutes if not longer. Manuka honey seems to really hydrate my skin and reduce redness. It also has antibacterial properties making it ideal for breakouts. Twice a week, I use REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask for a lovely chemical exfoliation and once a week, I'll use Pretty's Ginger & Cypress mud mask (a long time fave) to detox and deeply cleanse my skin. I tend to mix the mud mask with whatever I feel like that day; honey, water, aloe, floral water, etc.

That's it! I've been trying to keep it as simple as possible to avoid my skin spazzing out. I must say that I've had fewer breakouts and more even toned skin since sticking to this routine. 

Do you like to keep your skin care routine basic? What's been working for you?

*PR sample

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

Green Beauty Collab #1: Products I'd Repurchase!

The lovely Brianna came up with and coordinated a fun Green Bloggers collab. To see a list of who participated and read their post, click here. I absolutely love posts and videos that involve talking about products, whether it be a tag or not, because it allows me to see what others are enjoying and introduces me to brands/products I wouldn't have otherwise tried. For this specific collab, I needed to pick only 10-15 products that I basically couldn't live without. There are several products that I'd repurchase, but only a few that I actually do. After days of deliberating, hair pulling and cursing, I've finally decided on the products that I'd absolutely repurchase without hesitation. For the record, I could have been way more dramatic than that :P.

Body/Hair Care

Coconut Oil - I use coconut oil regularly. I use it to deep condition my hair, remove makeup, cook, hydrate my skin and just sniff because it smells delicious! It is, without a doubt, an oil that I will always have on hand.

Hugo & Debora Naturals Handcrafted Soap - I have raved about these soaps time and time again. I love how hydrating they are, the scents available, ingredient list and how available they are to me. I have tried other soaps and I have yet to find one I like better. I usually always have a couple of bars on hand, right now I have 3.

Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap - This brand is just amazing. I love that they use organic and fair trade ingredients, they're available everywhere, they offer great scents (including unscented), they lather well and can be used for a million and one things. I personally enjoy the citrus, eucalyptus and peppermint scents because of how uplifting and invigorating they are. I use this soap to wash my stinky bits, makeup brushes, bathroom sink and tub, and as a hand wash. I find that it can be a bit drying, so that's why I don't use it as a body wash. I pretty much always have a bottle on hand.

Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo - This is a new love for me and one of the first shampoos that I have actually repurchased immediately after finishing up it up. It has a citrusy lime scent, lathers nicely, deep cleans and works amazingly well for removing hair oil treatments. As long as I do oil treatments, this will be in my shower.

Weleda Skin Food - Do I even need to explain why I love this? It's a cult favourite. I use it as a hand cream but also apply it to dry areas of my body when they need some TLC.

Skin Care

Pangea Egyptian Calendula & Blood Orange Cleanser (not shown above) - This is the cleanser that I keep going back to. I have repurchased time and time again, and just reordered yesterday. It's the only cleanser that I can use on lazy days to remove my makeup (instead of using an oil first), smells nice, keeps acne at bay, doesn't dry out my skin and lasts a very long time. I absolutely love it.

DeVita Solar SPF 30 for Face - I never thought that I'd find an SPF that doesn't break me out, but I did! It doesn't smell like anything, is so light, hydrating, doesn't leave a white case and works. It's pretty expensive here, around $35 CAN but it's well worth it.

Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel Toner - This toner is so affordable, gentle and hydrating. It removes all traces of dirt, oil and cleanser. It's a great pick me up and makeup setting spray. I've gone through several bottles of this stuff and it's always on hand. I actually stopped using it for about a year, probably to try other toners, but I'm so glad that I decided to buy it again.

Weleda Baby Calendula Face Cream - Two Weleda products? Geez. This is a brand new love and one I see myself keeping around. It is so moisturizing but never leaves me greasy. It helps soothe the skin and, I think, control acne as well. The smell does linger but it's not overwhelming. I really like using it on my arms and anywhere that tends to get red or irritated. Love, love, love.

Sea Buckthorn Oil - I don't enjoy the bottle of the New Roots one, so I wouldn't repurchase this particular brand but I love sea buckthorn oil in general. It has a tea, almost rosehip, type smell. It absorbs beautifully into the skin, hydrated, softens and just feels wonderful. I love trying new oils but I think this one will be in my permanent collection for a while.

Tamanu Oil - This is a miracle oil! I'm still on my first bottle of this (and sea buckthorn) but I love the combination of the two on my skin. Tamanu has fantastic healing properties which makes it ideal for using on acne (which I get), as well as cuts and bruises (I'm clumsy). The smell is a bit strong but I've gotten used to it.

Makeup & Misc.

Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm - These lip balms are my absolute faves. I have 3 on the go right now and reach for them all the time. They're so moisturizing, big and affordable.

Pure+Simple Blush in Glow - The most perfect raspberry colour I've ever found. The formula is a little soft, as you can see above, so it's slowly cracking but I LOVE this blush so much. I wear it alone or over top of a cream blush.

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Solid Perfume - I was on the fence about this solid perfume because it doesn't last very long but I've fallen in love. It's a multi use product really. I use it to freshen up, tame brows and tame frizz. I love the entire Indian Coconut Nectar line.

The All Natural Face Cream Blush - These blushes are amazing! They do vary in texture and the colours online are different but if you end up loving the colour you get, these are a total win. They're super affordable, blendable, natural looking, dewy, moisturizing and last a while on the skin.

That's it! Have you tried any of the products mentioned or have any must haves yourself? Let me know!

Shea Terra Tamanu Oil Review

I love me some oil! I have raved about coconut oil, which is still amazing and I love it, but wanted to play around with other oils as well.  You don't know what's going to give you the best results unless you play a little. Oil party anyone?

Description: Shea Terra Organics' 100% Pure Tamanu Oil from Madagascar has nothing added and nothing taken away so you get maximum anti-acne, anti-aging, and anti-bacterial benefits. Shea Terra Organics' 100% Pure Tamanu Oil is flown in from a Madagascar forest saving project. The oil continues to work more effectively against bacterial and fungal infections than many anti-biotics. It has an amazing ability to help promote the formation of new tissue which makes it perfect for those suffering from acne, rashes, sunburn, insect bites and eczema, not to mention as a daily standby for razor nicks to speed healing and avoid scarring as well as anti-aging.

The Good:

• wonderfully hydrating
• reduces acne
• multi use product
• quickly heals any cuts or burns
• great amount of product
• dark coloured bottle preserves the oil
• doesn't stain clothing or sheets even though it is a yellow coloured oil

The Bad:

• smells awful
• not a fan of the dropper. A pump would be less messy and easier to control the amount. 

Verdict:  I have been using this for the last month or so and have seen great results. I first began using it morning and night but now I just use it as a night serum and wake up with less acne, redness and my skin is radiant. If only I could stop touching my damn face now! Ugh, I have a problem which involves me constantly touching my face for no reason which then spreads bacteria which then causes acne.  You'd think I'd better right? I do, I just have a problem!  I also use it on any cuts or burns that I get and it works like a dream! The smell does linger and it is quite strong, beware lol. I absolutely hate the dropper and wish I had the option of a pump.  Online they show it as having a pump but Healthy Planet only had droppers. This oil is pretty thick so it gets all around the dropper instead of just in it and makes a mess on the bottle and releases too much oil.  You only need 2 - 3 drops for your entire face, neck and chest. I really like this oil and would definitely repurchase. I would only repurchase Shea Terra's version if the bottle came with a pump, otherwise I'd find a different one.

 

Retails for approx. $24 CAN for a 2 oz bottle.  Can be purchased in store at Healthy Planet or online at Shea Terra.

Have you heard of or tried Tamanu Oil?

Ingredients: 100% Pure tamanu oil

Shea Terra Organics Haul!

I vaguely remember hearing about Shea Terra months back and honestly couldn't remember them until I came across their products at a local health food store, Healthy Planet.  I went home and started looking at their website, as well as reading reviews on all of their products.  I knew I had to pick up a few things to try! 

Just wanted to give you guys a little background on Shea Terra before telling you what I picked up.  Shea Terra Organics was founded by Tammie Umbel.  Tammie looks to source the wonderful ingredients in her products by helping preserve wildlife habitats and being the backbone of economic sustainability for many families across Africa.  She does that by working with cooperatives and conservation groups.  It's great to know that these products are great for us and the environment.

I picked up the Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser, African Black Soap Bar and Tamanu Oil from Healthy Planet and ordered the Burbon Vanilla Whipped Shea Butter and Rooibos & Berries Mini Whipped Shea Butter from Shea Terra.  I am loving all of these products!  I have been using the black soap items for about 2 weeks now.  I received the whipped shea butters a couple of days ago and will say that I didn't expect the mini to be so small.  That was the only piss off for me and I say piss off because I was pretty upset when I opened the box and realized I (my boyfriend) paid like $8 CAN for this tiny little pot of lotion.  I suggest that you pick a scent you think you might like and just get it because the scent isn't as strong once applied on the skin and dies out throughout the day.  Aside from over charging for the mini, I'm pretty happy with my purchases and will do a review soon!

Have you tried Shea Terra before?

Purchased this after I did this post