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