Brand Focus: Silkka Garden Apothecary

I've said it time and time again, I love discovering new Canadian brands. I feel as though Canadian brands don't often get recognized, despite having such fantastic products, and it's such a pleasure to see more brands putting themselves out there and getting recognition. Silkka Garden Apothecary has been raved about on several blogs around the globe, like Short, Small, & Sweet (USA), several times on Small Bits of Loveliness (Slovenia), and Elegantly Eco (Canada), just to name a few. It was only natural (pun intended) that with the brand's focus on pure, simple, and clean ingredients, that I'd have to try them out

Silkka is Finnish for pure and simple, and it's a nod to both my ancestry and the principles which guide the creations. While nature serves as inspiration, simplicity is always the intention. Using pure, natural ingredients known for their abilities to protect, heal and nurture the body's largest organ (our skin!), my goal is to create skincare products that are simple, beautiful and, most importantly, effective. As the old saying goes, less is more (and yes, this even applies to skincare).

Silkka products are handmade in small batches each week, using timeless ingredients from around the world. They'll always be free of harmful additives, and packed with good-for-you ingredients, like plant, nut and fruit-based oils and butters, essential oils, dried herbs and flowers, and unrefined Ontario beeswax. Product packaging is both recyclable and reusable (amber glass and tin), and packing materials used in shipping orders are always kept to a minimum. (And packaging material from supply orders are always re-used.)

Read more about Silkka here.

Liisa, Founder and Creator, gave me the opportunity to pick up a couple of products. I chose the *Blossom Hydration Mist ($15 cad/2 oz) and *Vanilla Love Body Oil ($21 cad/4 oz). The packaging of both items is lovely; dark glass bottles preserve the product housed inside, the labels and logo are so feminine and pretty, and the mister top/pump are perfection (more about that below). Also, both items only contain four ingredients..what!? Simplicity at its finest.

*Blossom Hydrating Mist: Balance mind and body with this delicate floral hydration mist. In aromatherapy Magnolia is lauded for its ability to relax and rejuvenate the spirit, and Chamomile its ability to comfort and calm. Aloe vera soothes and heals damaged skin, while Chamomile's anti-inflammatory properties calm redness and irritation. Pure botanical bliss for the skin and spirit.

Aside from the pretty bottle, the spray top is awesome. Not sure about the rest of the world, but I love when my toner provides a perfect all over mist with only one or two spritzes. This does that. It's.Just.So.Perfect. Yes, spray tops get me excited. It's the little things folks! Anyway....the hydrating mist instantly calmed redness, hydrated the skin, and set makeup. Sadly, the scent was not my favourite. The first ingredient is magnolia water, which if you know what that smells like, then you'll know what this smells like. For someone who had no clue, I didn't expect it to be as strong or linger for as long as it did. I used about a third of the bottle before I just couldn't do it anymore. On the plus side, Lisa from Glam Goes Green gets to enjoy it now! Scent is a personal thing and aside from that, this was a great toner/floral water.

*Vanilla Love Body Oil: Sweet, seductive vanilla. There's simply nothing more exquisite, more enticing; so much so that it demands centre stage in this gentle, lush body oil. Avocado oil provides long-lasting hydration, while oils of camellia and apricot are light and non-greasy, making Vanilla Love the perfect moisturizer for day and night use.

Be still my beating heart. Be still. I don't even know how to begin writing about this body oil as the thought alone makes my heart skip a beat. It smells like heaven! Like delicious vanilla. Edible vanilla. Walk around smelling like dessert vanilla. Want to smell like this all day, every day vanilla. Can't get over the scent vanilla. It is absolute perfection anddddd I think Liisa needs to create a perfume. Now that I've gone on and on about how amazing the scent is, how does it perform? On my super dry winter skin, it wasn't enough. It definitely needed to be layered, but I often find that with body oils. I also only used a tiny, tiny amount for fear of running out of this sweet smelling goodness. With the weather (hopefully) warming up soon, I'm certain that it'll be more than enough on its own. Regardless of needing to be layered, the oil absorbed incredibly fast without feeling greasy and the scent definitely lingered (which I was hoping it would). As for the pump on this bad boy, I prefer a pump that doesn't require me to actually hold the bottle, but I do like that it's virtually leak-proof making it ideal to travel with. I sense this becoming a regular item in my body care arsenal.

Get them here: Silkka Garden Apothecary 
*Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are entirely my own.
Blossom Hydrating Mist Ingredients: Michelia champaca (Magnolia) floral water, Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile) floral water, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe) leaf juice and Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.
Vanilla Love Body Oil: Camellia sinensis (Camellia) seed oil, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) kernel oil, Persea gratissima (Avocado) oil and Vanilla planifolia fruit extract.

Brand Focus: Mont Echo (Nature Divine)

This Canadian brand has been featured on my blog before. I've reviewed their Cleansing Cream, which I really enjoyed, so when Mont Echo contacted me and asked if I wanted to try their new Nature Divine range, I couldn't say no. Nature Divine is, what I'd consider, their more luxurious range that contains even more sea buckthorn oil than their other products. I opted to try the *Creme Divine ($42.95 CAD/50 ml) and *Eau Divine ($38.95 CAD/100 ml).

Sea Buckthorn Skin and Hair care products are formulated with our 100% Canadian-grown Sea Buckthorn seed oil, fruit oil and floral waters to ensure that our customers receive all the benefits of this extraordinary plant. Our Sea Buckthorn skin and hair products are handcrafted with high quality, certified organic, biodynamically grown and wildcrafted essential oils and floral waters that are never bleached or processed, conserving all of their nourishing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins and brilliant natural colours.

Read more about Mont Echo here.

*Creme Divine: Mont Echo’s signature anti-aging combination of Rosehips and Sea Buckthorn form the base for this rich and luxurious enriched moisture complex with therapeutic, regenerative & hydrating herbs. Particularly high in Vitamin C, this cream is formulated to benefit dry, mature and sensitive skin types. 

The small plastic pump bottle is great because of the fact that it's dark (preserving the product) and contains a pump (clean and easy to use). This cream boasts an impressive and beautiful list of ingredients like rose otto, shea butter, comfrey, and calendula, just to name a few. The smell is gorgeous and light, can't quite explain it but I do know that it reminds me of something that my mom used on her face when I was a kid. It's definitely not strong and doesn't linger. Unfortunately, when the temperatures dropped to -20 (and colder), my skin soaked this stuff up and begged for more. It just wasn't enough, even with an oil applied underneath or mixed in. Now that it's warmed up, it works much better and I love that it dries to a semi matte finish. It never feels heavy or looks greasy and creates a great base for makeup. I also love using it on my hands before bed! Although it's targeted for dry/mature/sensitive skin types, I think it would be great for normal and combo skin types as well.

*Eau Divine: Unique in the world, our Eau Divine Pure Sea Buckthorn floral water soothes and balances the skin while preserving and strengthening the protective acid mantle. Eau Divine is particularly effective in preparing the skin for the application of oils, serums and creams. It is extremely gentle and well tolerated by even the most sensitive skin.

Floral water is my jam, I love them! Given that I love sea buckthorn oil and I love floral waters, this selection only made sense. Sadly, it smells awful! My boyfriend, who has gotten used to herbal/natural type scents, was completely put off as well. Meaning..he was like, "wtf is that smell?". I then responded with, "my face". True story. AND if the scent alone isn't bad enough, the fact that it lingers makes it even worse. Of course, the scent has nothing to do with Mont Echo and is a personal preference. Since I can't stand using this on a daily basis because of the scent, I actually use it to mix up my clay masks. That way my skin still reaps the anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other benefits of the floral water. If you have the opportunity to smell this first or don't care about scents (bad/good), then this would be a product to consider.

Get them here: Mont Echo and these retailers.

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

Creme Divine Ingredients: Rosa demascena (Rose Otto) Flower Distillate*, Fucus vesiculosis (Bladderwrack) Extract, Aqua / Water / Eau, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Borago officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil*, Aloe barbadensis*, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea,) Butter, Althaea officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Extract*, Symphytum Officinale (Com­frey) Extract*, Calendula officinalis Flower Extract, Sambucus nigra (Elder) Flower extract*, Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) Leaf Ex­tract*, Avena Sativa (Oatstraw) Kernel Ex­tract*, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Extract*, Camelia sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Sorbitan Olivate*, Glycerin (Vegetable)*, Rosa demascena (Rose de Damas) Flower Oil, San­dalwood spicatum (Sandalwood Australian) Wood Oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, Citrus aurantium var.Amara (Bit­ter Orange) Leaf Oil, Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Extract**, Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract**, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil*, Triticum vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Lecithin (Soy)*, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Daucus carota (Carrot) Seed Oil* **, Rosa canina (Rosehips) Fruit Extract* **, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) Resin Oil* **, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage) Flower Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) CO2 Herb Extract* **
* Biologique / Organic ** Concentrated CO2 Extracts

Eau Divine Ingredients: Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn Floral Water)

Acure Balancing Rose + Red Tea Toner

Acure is one of those brands that the entire green beauty community raves about. Their products contain lovely ingredients and are incredibly affordable. That being said, most of their products also contain argan, which my skin hates. When Lisa, of Glam Goes Green, said that she was going to be carrying the line, I was thrilled. She's the first retailer in Canada to carry it! She kindly gave me a bottle of their *Balancing Rose + Red Tea Facial Toner (which doesn't contain argan) to try out.

The packaging of this toner is quite simple and nice; a white cardboard box with Acure's logo and product name, and a little fun design that matches the frosted glass bottle inside. I love when a toner disperses a beautiful fine mist and this one totally does! It's perfection. The toner itself is, sadly, nothing to write home about though. While it has gorgeous ingredients, like rooibos, calendula, chamomile, witch hazel, and rose water, my skin is left feeling tight and dry. I attribute that to the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of rooibos and witch hazel. This would definitely be a great toner for someone with normal to oily skin, or in more humid climates/months.

Retails for $15.99 USD/$24.99 CDN for 50 ml.

Find it here: Glam Goes Green & Acure Organics

Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Rooibos, Organic Calendula, Organic Chamomile, Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Bulgarian Rose Water (Hydrasol), Organic Glycerin

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

Brand Focus: Province Apothecary + Giveaway (CLOSED)

Earlier this year, I had heard a lot about Province Apothecary but never really came across it in stores. It wasn't until I attended a media event, for a Fresh Faced and Health Hut pop up, that I had the opportunity to truly experience the line and chit chat with Julie (Creator and brilliant mind behind PA).

After struggling with allergies and eczema all her life, Julie Clark began crafting natural, organic beauty products out of her kitchen in New York’s Hell's Kitchen. Despite her busy schedule as a costume designer and stylist, Julie found herself drawn to holistic skincare, using her time off to experiment with oils, waxes and herbs- all in pursuit of the perfect skin care regime. In 2010 Julie left NYC to study Aromatherapy, Holistic Health and Esthetics in Toronto. Here she formed the foundation of her skincare expertise, experimenting with raw materials and natural ingredients. 

For Julie, natural beauty goes beyond simply organic and wild-crafted ingredients; natural beauty means a pledge to helping clients feel good in their own skin. “I gather so much inspiration from my clients, the weather, and the seasons,” says Julie, of her individually-tailored approach to skin care. Her facial treatments often include hand-blended masks using local produce and seasonally appropriate, farmer-friendly ingredients. While PA has long outgrown the kitchen, Julie’s devotion to fresh, wild-crafted, seasonal, and organic beauty continues. Now a certified holistic esthetician and aromatherapist, Julie remains committed to innovation, sustainability, and small-batch skin care of the highest quality.

Read more about Julie and Province Apothecary here.

While I had received a few samples (mask, exfoliant, and lip balm) in my swag bag from the event, I really wanted to try other products from the range. Julie was kind enough to send me some items to play with and I must say, these products live up to the hype. Oh, and PA is also Canadian! Actually, Julie offers services, facials and custom perfume blending, at her Kensington location. If you're in the GTA, check her out.

Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover Description: Our Moisturizing Cleanser + Make Up Remover with Avocado & Raspberry Oil is great for all skin types. These hydrating oils remove make up & excess oil, restoring your skin’s natural radiance while gently cleansing without over-drying your skin or destroying its natural pH. Raspberry Oil stimulates cell turnover, rejuvenating skin. Bergamot Oil clears congestion. Frankincense tones the skin. Lavender heals blemishes and works as a restorative. This essential oil blend calms, reduces stress, and relaxes your parasympathetic nervous system. Our cleanser helps your skin stay nourished, balanced, and healthy.
Retails for $16.00 cdn/30 ml or $42.00 cdn/120 ml.

This cleanser is entirely oil based, with no emulsifier, and is an absolute pleasure to use! It's light fragrance makes you feel as though you're at an organic spa and the oils just melt away makeup with ease. It leaves my skin soft, nourished, well cleansed, and vibrant. I love that there are two size options available because the small one is perfect for travelling. The dark glass bottle ensures the oils stay fresh for as long as possible, and the pump ensures you use as little/much product as needed. Corpa Flora is still my favourite, but this is a very close second. I would 100% pick up the 30 ml bottle if I was going to be travelling or a full size to alternate with Corpa.

Invigorating + Balancing Toner Description: Our Invigorating + Balancing Toner with Geranium & Witch Hazel is great for normal, combination, oily, and congested skin. Our toner restores skin’s natural pH, shrinks pores and blemishes with the astringent properties of Witch hazel, reduces inflammation and redness with Rose water, stimulates and tightens skin with the essential oils of Clary Sage and Geranium, and heals and hydrates with Lavender and Calendula.
Retails for $14.00 cdn/30 ml or $40.00 cdn/120 ml.

This little bottle creates the finest of mists, it's literally perfection. The scent is an exact representation of the ingredients; clary sage, geranium, witch hazel, frankincense, all blended together to intoxicate your nasal passage and perk up your skin. After cleansing, morning and night, I'd spritz some on my skin before applying oils. I'd even use this as a morning cleanse on a cotton pad to, obviously, cleanse the skin and help with any blemishes that I may have going on. I will definitely be picking up the full size.

Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum Description: Our Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum with Neroli & Frankincense is great for all skin types: dry, normal, combination, oily, and mature skin. It replenishes your skin’s health while hydrating and stimulating skin on a cellular level. High in antioxidants and powerful anti-inflammatory oils, Neroli and Frankincense reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin tone. Jojoba balances skin’s sebum production, controlling shine and congestion. German Chamomile and Rose reduce blemishes, redness, and the appearance of scars.

Retails for $26.00 cdn/7 ml, $44.00 cdn/14 ml, or $76.00 cdn/30 ml. 

I have such a love/hate relationship with this oil. Sometimes I feel as though it works wonders and other times I feel as though it does nothing. Mind you, the weather is changing and my skin is becoming bipolar, so that could definitely be the reason I feel like this. Like the other two products, this one is very fragrant and a perfect representation of its ingredients/essential oils. A few drops is all you need and it quickly absorbs into the skin. Some days, this oil was more than enough for my skin, created the perfect canvas for makeup. Other days, I needed to layer a moisturizer over top. I'm not entirely sold on this serum, although I've heard many swear by it, so I'll update you all in an empties post.

Hang Over Remedy Description: Our Hangover Remedy is a handcrafted botanical tincture that uses traditional herbal methods to help alleviate nausea and headaches, while cleansing and toning the liver and detoxifying your body. It is an all natural blend of flowers, herbs, seeds, and roots, combined to ensure adaptogenic, tonic, carminative, and anti-emetic effects.

Retails for $16.00 cdn/30 ml.

If only this had been available in my early 20s, when I would party like a champ several times a week and sometimes even need to drag my hung over ass to work. Now, I don't really drink. Ever. I had all intentions of trying this out for its intended purpose during Canadian Thanksgiving, but I didn't drink. Then I meant to try it when my parents invited my boyfriend's family over for dinner, for the first time, but I didn't get drunk (even though I drank). Sigh! I decided to give this a go sober, and it was very refreshing and gave me the slightest of energy boosts. Hopefully I'll get hammered during Christmas, then update you in an empties post :P!

I'm a huge fan of Province Apothecary and now understand, and believe, all of the hype. Exceptional products, exceptional ingredients, reasonable price point. If you haven't already tried PA, I recommend getting your hands on some samples or minis. If it's not available where you are, come visit me in Canada and we'll get you some!

All products mentioned can be purchased through Province Apothecary and any of these stockists.

Time For a Giveaway!

Julie has kindly offered to giveaway one Hang Over Remedy to one of you guys. Now you can have that extra glass of whatever and beat that hang over the next morning, then let me know how it worked for you :). 

This giveaway is open to Canada and USA residents only, must be legal age of majority or have a guardian's permission to enter, void where prohibited by law. Contest closes on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen at random and announced here and through Twitter. Winner will have 48 hours to collect their prize. If I do not hear from the winner within 48 hours, another will be chosen.

In order to qualify, you must:

• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect or Email (on main blog page)
• Follow Province Apothecary and myself on Twitter
• Follow Province Apothecary and myself on Instagram
• Follow Province Apothecary on Facebook
• Join Province Apothecary's mailing list (for great promotions)
• Comment down below letting me know one of the wildest nights you had, where the Hang Over Remedy would have come in handy AND let me know which steps you have done and your corresponding email address, social media names, etc.

GOOD LUCK! - Congrats Heather, you won!

*Products provided with no mention of review consideration. All opinions are entirely my own
Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Jojoba oil*, Avocado oil*, Evening Primrose oil*, Raspberry Seed oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Rosemary leaf extract, and therapeutic essential oils of: Bergamot, Lavender*, Frankincense* and Petit grain. *Certified organic ingredient. Our Bergamot is Bergamotene-free (not photo-toxic).

Invigorating + Balancing Toner Ingredients: Aqua, Rose flower water*, Witch Hazel Water*, Lavender flower water*, Calendula flower extract*, and therapeutic essential oils of: Geranium Oil*, Clary Sage Oil*, Frankincense Oil and Rose Otto. *Certified organic ingredient.

Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil*, Pumpkin seed oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Avocado oil*, Grape seed oil*, Pomegranate oil*, Raspberry seed oil*, Sea buckthorn oil*, Calendula oil*, Rosehip oil*, Borage oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Therapeutic essential oils of: Neroli, Frankincense, German chamomile, and Rose otto.*Certified organic ingredient.

Hang Over Remedy Ingredients: Ethyl alcohol, Water, Milk thistle seed, Ginger root*, Peppermint*, Black Horehound, Fo-ti, Centaury, Meadowsweet. *Certified organic ingredient.

Brand Focus: Pai

Pai is a brand that has been well loved on my blog. I've reviewed them here, here, and here, and am so excited to tell you about a few more products that I've tried of theirs.  A few months back, I attended a Fresh Faced event in which I received the *Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. While at the event, I met Marissa (Canadian Pai Educator) and she was kind enough to send me the *Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner and *Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream.

I adore the Pai logo and packaging. All of their creams/lotions/cleansers/scrubs come in airless pumps that ensures freshness and eliminates the possibility of wasted product, whether it be from leakage or just not being able to get the last bit on the bottom. What Marissa informed me of, which I thought was incredibly cool, is that all of the ingredients are stored at different temperatures to ensure optimal benefits. So basically, before the product is made in a super clean facility, all of the ingredients are received fresh and kept fresh so that the end user (you and I) reaps the full benefits of each and every ingredient. Talk about dedication to creating quality products!

Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser: Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser gently removes dirt, makeup, and other impurities. Bursting with omega 3 and vitamins A, B, and E, it replenishes the skin's moisture barrier, leaving it soft and supple. Suitable for all sensitive skin types, this cleanser is detergent- and alcohol-free, so it won't dry out or irritate your skin. Also suitable for use around the eyes to remove even waterproof mascara. Retails for $50 cdn/usd for 100 ml and $70 cdn/usd for 200 ml.

The texture of this cleanser is lovely, it's not too thick or too thin. Just right. Apparently I'm Goldilocks. It melts away any and all traces of makeup without much effort, and leaves my skin feeling super soft and well cleansed. The light scent isn't overpowering, nor does it linger, making it great for all. I'm saving it for when it gets colder, as my skin is the most sensitive then, and will decide then whether it's love or not.

Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner: Pai Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner is unique in that it contains pure "living waters" extracted directly from the rice plant. Rich in amino acids, vitamins, and trace minerals, with regular use they help to cleanse and purify combination skin types. These natural elixirs have the exact pH and biochemical balance of healthy skin, giving unparalleled skin affinity while improving the appearance of tone and texture. Retails for $56 cdn/usd for 50 ml.

How fancy does "living waters" sound? Gosh, makes me feel like I'm spraying my skin with magical fairy dust. From my understanding, "living waters" means that there's no added vitamins and minerals. Whatever is in the rice plant at time of extraction, is what's in the toner. This toner smells unique, and by that I mean that it's not a strong scent but it doesn't smell very nice. I really enjoy using this morning and night, after cleansing, and find that it leaves my skin soft, calm, and refreshed. The only downside to this toner, besides the price tag, is the fact that it doesn't provide a fine and even mist. The spray apparatus (is there a better term that I can use?) just spits toner at me. For a more even application, I apply it to my face using a cotton pad or my hands.

Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream: Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream is formulated to soothe and hydrate easily irritated skin types. This silky, rich cream is the ultimate multitasker for very dry or out-of-condition skin. Calendula is a gentle and soothing oil for daily skin nourishment, and comfrey supports the skin's natural repair functions and protects its moisture barrier. Additional organic plant oils and butters soften and hydrate while the high levels of essential fatty acids in echium help to promote suppleness. Retails for $26 cdn/usd for 100 ml and $40 cdn/usd for 200 ml.

This is my favourite product of the three!!! Can you sense my excitement?!?! For starters, I don't notice a scent. Maybe I just got used to it but if it smelled like much of anything, I'd know and I'd tell ya. It sinks right in, without any effort and instantly soothes, calms, and hydrates my ezcema patches. Magical. Since I constantly wash my hands at work, they need that extra moisture and love that only Pai has been able to provide without any greasy feeling. I wish they made a purse friendly bottle or tube, because I'd love to have it in my purse at all times.

Pai is a spectacular brand that I think everyone should try at some point, whether it be treating yourself to a full sized product or just picking up some samples.

All products mentioned can be purchased through Pai (you can change the country and search stockists in your area), Fresh Faced, and Clementine Fields.

*PR samples. All opinions are entirely my own.
Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser Ingredients: Organic rose water, water, organic camellia oil, organic castor oil, organic sweet almond oil, coconut- and corn-derived emulsifier, organic shea butter, organic vegetable glycerin, natural vitamin E, corn extract, basil extract, organic lavender oil, organic geranium oil, organic may chang oil, organic rose oil, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet).

Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner Ingredients: Rice plant water, organic aloe vera, organic rosemary water, vegetable glycerin, aspen bark extract, radish root extract.

Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream Ingredients: Purified water, organic sunflower oil, organic olive oil, organic shea butter, coconut-derived emulsifier, organic vegetable glycerin, organic jojoba oil, organic plum kernel oil, organic comfrey extract, organic calendula extract, corn-derived emulsifier, echium seed extract, natural vitamin E, organic jasmine oil, organic orange oil, corn extract, basil extract, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet).

Andalou Naturals Clementine + C Illuminating Toner Review

I'm addicted to toner, it's no lie. I love floral waters, but there are times when I want to try a toner with more than one beneficial ingredient. Since my mom loves this stuff and it was on sale for $8 CAN on well.ca, I thought what the hay! Excuse my secret, unintentional, rhyming talent. Andalou Naturals is a great brand and while they're not Canadian, their products are affordable, easy to find, and work rather well.

Description: Fruit Stem Cell Complex, superfruit antioxidants, and Vitamin C, work as powerful cell energizers to target hyperpigmentation and UV damage, improving skin tone and texture. Aloe vera effectively hydrates and oxygenates, balancing pH, and stimulating circulation for healthy luminosity.

 I buy brightening products and can't even tell whether they actually brighten or not. Major fail on my part.  In my defence, I haven't used it long enough and I don't think a toner will have that much of a impact. Either way, I love it as a toner. It comes in a plastic spray bottle, which is rather sturdy and probably great for travelling with. I haven't experienced any leakage or malfunctioning of the spray apparatus (fancy word, huh?). It sprays a beautiful fine mist that kinda excites me more than the toner itself. I hate when spray bottles splat large droplets all over your face and it feels like you just washed it again. A fine mist is a must! It smells just like tangerines, very refreshing in my books, and it hasn't irritated my sensitive skin at all. I use this at night mostly, but on occasion I enjoy a mid day refresher with it. This is a fantastic toner, highly recommend, and both my mom and I would 100% repurchase. I plan on trying more products from the brightening line.

Retails for approx. $10 CAN/ $12.95 USD for 6 fl oz. Can be purchased through Well.ca, Andalou Naturals, and other retailers worldwide.

Have you ever tried this toner or anything from Andalou Naturals?

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Lauric Acid, Fruit Stem Cell and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Citrus Clementina (Clementine) and Cucumis Melo (Melon) Extracts, Glycolic Acid, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*†, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) and Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oils*
*Organic
† Fair Trade

Weleda Refining Toner Review

I received this little special treat when I ordered a few Pangea items from Saffron Rouge. I adore ordering from them, despite the high required subtotal in order to get free shipping, and you can read about my very first experience with them here. Anyway, I love toners and I love free stuff so how excited was I to get this?! Pretty excited!

Description: This refreshing natural facial toner purifies your skin and refines the pores after cleansing. Balanced skin begins with Biodynamic® iris root extract in our Weleda Refining Toner, which regulates moisture balance at the visible surface of your skin. Mildly astringent organic wild rose leaf extract in this natural facial toner clarifies your skin while organic lemon juice, high in vitamin C and mildly astringent, refines the pores. The subtle, fresh fragrance of natural essential oils in this natural facial toner revives your senses.

Enter shattered excitement. Weleda killed it like a frat boy at a kegger..and not in a good way...or is there a good way? I dunno but dang! This burns! I knew it would, since the second ingredient is alcohol, but I hoped and I hoped some more that it would be amazing. I love that this toner comes in a dark blue bottle and has a dropper, controlled pouring people, that's what it's all about. Downside is that the bottle is so heavy that I can't imagine travelling with it. The product itself burns upon application and leaves my skin red and dry. I've tried using it on my body (chest, shoulders, back) and although it works slightly better, my skin is still left irritated. Pardon my alcohol references, BUTTTT this smells like lemon vodka. I can hear and feel my nose hairs sizzle when I catch a whiff of this stuff. While I love a little lemon vodka in my lemonade, I do not love it on my skin. Many of Weleda's products are winner, however, this one is not and it's not something I'd purchase in the future.

Retails for approx. $19.99 CAN for 100ml. It can be purchased at most health food stores, as well as through Weleda.

Have you ever tried this toner? If yes, did you enjoy it? If no, would you give it a try?

Dream Organics Rose Water Review

Dream Organics was started in 2005 and they focus on sourcing the best organic ingredients, from all over the world, for their products. Their line is limited to rose and lavender water, body splashes and a perfume. I received this rose water in my February Seasons Box and have actually fallen in love with it!

Description: There really isn't one, I took the following from Seasons Box:
Each rose water is crafted from the distillation of premium organic Bulgarian rose petals, infused with a rare organic rose essential oil.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this toner/facial mist because of the scent. It does smell very much like roses, which I don't like, but luckily the scent doesn't linger. It's soothing, refreshing, hydrating, and works well as a makeup setting spray. The packaging is so stunning, the prettiest toner bottle I think I've ever seen. It's basic and simple, yet incredibly posh with the frosted bottle, silver spritzer and cap, and beautiful logo. You can feel the quality of this bottle when you hold it in your hand. That being said, I do wish it was a finer mist that came out of the spritzer. It's not bad, can be a little wet or uneven when sprayed. Beautiful packaging, beautiful product, and that definitely reflects in the price tag. I wouldn't repurchase due to price, however, I plan on reusing the bottle!

Retails for approx. $19 - $22 USD for 60ml. Can be purchased through Seasons Box or Dream Organics.

Have you ever tried any products from Dream Organics?

Rose Water Ingredients:

Organic Rose Hydrosol (Rosa Damascena) (Bulgaria)
Organic Rose Hydrosol is a product made from the distillation of roses. To make rose flower water rose petals are placed in a stainless steel container. Steam is then injected into the container. The steam releases the water and the oil from the rose petals then we collect the flower water and essential oil. The remaining water contains fully emulsified essential oil and is called a hydrosol. Hydrosols have unique, gentle, therapeutic properties that are well-suited for all ages. A celebrity favorite on the red carpet, try it and see what the critics are raving about! We guarantee this will be your new favorite rose water beauty product!

Organic Rose Oil / Rose otto (Rosa Damascena) (Bulgaria)
Organic Rose oil is a rare precious organic essential oil made from the distillation of roses. Thousands of petals are steamed to extract one ounce of Organic Rose Oil. Women have used Rose Oil for skin for centuries for the many health and skin care benefits. Rose oil contains organic antioxidants that fight bacteria on the skin. Organic Rose oil, also called Rose Otto, can reduce stress, clear your complexion, improve poor circulation, and uplift your mood.

Unboxed: February "Love Yourself" Seasons Box

This is the first box that I've ever received because there are literally no natural beauty boxes in Canada, until now. I won this beautiful box from Kendra, vlogwithkendra on YT, and was so excited to receive it! If you haven't checked her out yet, you must! She's absolutely stunning and does a variety of videos like hauls, tutorials, follow me around, etc. I adore watching her videos.

Seasons Box is available to US and Canadian residence for $29.95 + $4.95 shipping (USD), which is kind of expensive but you get 3-4 full size products. They say, "We strive to introduce you to luxurious environmentally conscious products that meet our highest quality standards and that will stimulate your senses. Each month we carefully compile 3-5 luxurious full size seasonal must-have products for your home, body, and spirit. Each month's box is completely different and each box is tailored to one season (Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn), or Seasonal Holidays and Occasions". Umm, how fun is that!? Tailored to each season and perfect for those who love natural products in general? Sign me up. From what I've heard, people can collect quite a number of samples from beauty specific boxes. A box like this would limit those because of the range of products and they're full size, so you're likely to start using them sooner instead of tossing them in your samples drawer.

Now, lets see what came in the February Box!

Products received:

• Galerie Au Chocolat Fair Trade Bar in Crisped Rice - DELICIOUS, fair trade and Canadian! 

• Dream Organics Rose Water - Not a fan of the smell of roses and this sure smells like it. I love the packaging, it screams luxury. I haven't used it yet but it'll be used to set makeup.

• Kaia Naturals Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths - We all know how I feel about cleansing cloths, but these look promising. 

• Bambu Earth Sugar Cookie Body Scrub - I was most excited for this scrub because I love products that smell like dessert. When I first opened it, it took me by surprise. The almond essential oil is so strong that it kinda smelled like gas. After taking a few more sniffs, I realized it was the almond essential oil. It's not what I expected, but not bad. We'll see how I feel about it once I use it.

• Perfume Essence Breathe Bath Bomb - Haven't used it yet but it smells lovely. It has Eucalyptus, mint, rosemary and lavender essential oils.

Verdict: I am so impressed with this box. I love how they package the box with a bow matching the theme, the products are neatly secured, every product is full size, and everything is natural and eco friendly. Also, if you go to their website, you can see what the next box will consist of. I think that's great because if you're not really interested in the products, you can skip that month. I will 100% be purchasing a box in the future.

Thanks Kendra and Seasons Box for the giveaway!

What do you think about Seasons Box? Have you or would you try them out? 

Essencia Lavender Floral Water Review

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been posting much this last week, I've been so busy with school. Posts might be few and far between this month but I will do my best to at least get 1 - 2 a week up.

Now for the purpose of this post, the review!

My all time favourite lavender water, and floral waters in general, are the ones from Pretty. They're lightly scented, hydrating and wonderful. My only issue with them is the price, approx. $16 CAN for 90 ml can get expensive if used daily. My mom had picked up the Essencia floral water to use as a toner, but passed it over to me for a couple of reasons.

Description:  Adapted to all skin types, lavender’s antiseptic, cleansing, skin healing and softening action fights imperfections. Effective against burns and skin disorders and acne. Relieves insect bites and stings, and gives new life to tired limp hair.

The Good:

• good value for money
• reusable glass bottle
• pure, no alcohol or fillers
• great for setting makeup

The Bad:

• smells awful
• too heavy to travel with, sometimes even to hold
• not a fine mist
• not hydrating

Verdict: My mom originally passed this on to me because she couldn't stand the smell. I honestly cannot even describe it using my weird references. The bottle is great because you can reuse and/or recycle it but I found the odd shape and weight uncomfortable to use. I had a hard time holding it and misting it with one hand, even when it came down to the last few uses. The price point is fantastic at under $15 CAN for 180ml but it fell regardless. I used it to remove excess cleanser, oil and makeup as well as set mineral makeup and while it did the job, it wasn't as hydrating as other lavender waters that I've used. This is the first floral water from Essencia that I have tried but can tell you that I won't repurchase or try a different one.

Retails for approx. $15 CAN for 180ml. Can be purchased at most health food stores.

Have you tried any of Essencia's floral waters?

Ingredients: 100 % natural hydrosol, from plant’s distillation; no alcohol

Pure Potent Wow CHILL Aromatherapy Mister Review

In my November Haul, I picked up a toner because I needed one. I need everything I buy, that's what I like to tell myself. But really, I needed a new setting spray/toner to set my mineral makeup on the daily. I had never seen Pure Potent before but really liked the ingredients and decided to give it a shot, so glad that I did!

Description: Use as a toner, during a work-out, while stuck in traffic, long distance drives, and perfect for air travel, hospital visits, golf games and even tense situations…the list goes on! Our misters are safe for kids, pets, babies and the elderly.
Take the time to chill out and refresh with Certified Organic and Wild Essential Oils of Spearmint, Lavender and Blue Chamomile.

The Good:

• amazing ingredients
• refreshing & great as a pick me up throughout the day
• sets mineral makeup
• doesn't irritate my skin
• wakes me (and my skin) up
• scent doesn't linger
• Canadian company! Woohoo!

The Bad:

• smells too much of spearmint

Verdict: I love it! It does everything I want it to do. While I don't enjoy how strong the spearmint scent is, I do like how it wakes my face up by making it slightly tingle.  Not a bad tingle, just a little "hey wake up!" tingle. That whole tingle thing sounded way better in my head. I use it to set mineral makeup, obviously, but I also like using it when I'm super tired because of how refreshing it is. Not sure what else I can say about it besides go get you one! I will definitely be trying out a few of their other blends in the future.

Retails for approx. $14.99 CAN (not sure what I paid) for 120ml.  I purchased mine at Big Carrot, however, it can be purchased online at Pure Potent as well.

Ingredients

Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel Toner Review

I love toners, they have so many functions.  They're great to remove any excess cleanser, refresh skin, restore PH balance, set mineral makeup, cleanse skin in the AM or on a day when you're not wearing makeup, allow oils/serums/creams apply better, etc, etc.  After finishing my Pangea toner (sad face) last month, I decided to pick this one up since I've used it before and already know my skin enjoys it. Witch hazel is a natural astringent which is great for acne and other skin conditions, however, it's not as harsh as alcohol based toners.

Description: Stay Cool as a Cucumber, Whatever the Weather. THAYERS® Alcohol-Free Cucumber Witch Hazel with Organic Aloe Vera Formula Toner cooling essence has a deliciously serene effect on the body. Experience our formula for serenity now! • Fragrance-Free • Paraben-Free • Naturally Preserved • Hypoallergenic. 

Review: I love how soothing and non-drying this toner is.  I like to mix it with my Pretty clay mask for its astringent properties to help with any acne that I have.  The toner comes in a plastic bottle, however, the cap is not travel friendly.  It can easily open and/or leak causing a mess in your bag.  It happened to me, I'm just warning you.  It smells like fresh cucumbers, which I like because it's not a strong scent and doesn't linger but I've added a few drops of lavender essential oil to give it extra oomph!  I enjoy using it after I work out or during the day, as a cleanser, when I have no makeup on but feel my skin needs to be cleansed. I also use it nightly to remove excess makeup and cleanser, it works like a dream.  It doesn't strip my skin and leave it feeling dry, just soft and refreshed.  This toner also lasts a really long time and it super affordable for the size.

The alcohol free toners come in Cucumber, Unscented, Rose Petal, and Lavender.  Thayers also has toners with alcohol that comes in Original, Lemon, Peach, and Medicated. I have personally tried Cucumber (obviously), Rose Petal, Lavender and Peach.  Cucumber is by far my favourite because the scent is very light.  I find the other to be seriously obnoxious, they're just too strong smelling and Peach has alcohol which is drying and irritating to my skin.

Retails between approx. $9 and $13 CAN for 355ml.  I purchased mine at Healthy Planet, however, you can find it at just about any health food store or online retailer such as Well.ca.  Check out Thayers for more info.

Which Thayers toner have you or would like to try most?

Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Certified Organic Filet Of Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Vegetable), Hamamelis Virginiana (THAYERS® proprietary un-distilled Witch Hazel) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate.