May 2015 Empties!

Here we are again. You, me, my trash, and the excitement I feel to share what I used up with you. Empties are my favourite to write and my most read. Lets do this!

Mega Food Blood Builder - These whole food vitamins are incredible. These specific ones contain iron, B12, vitamin C, and folate, and have helped increased my iron levels. I've been taking them for over a year now (not this one jar) and can honestly say that I feel a difference when I take them. Will be repurchasing, though I'm totally trying to find them on sale.

Clean Well Foaming Soap in Lavender - Love this antibacterial hand soap. It contains thyme oil to kill bacteria, is gentle, and smells nice. Sadly, it is no longer available in Canada. Maybe it's not as clean as we though? Dun, dun, dun...the plot thickens. If you guys know why it's not carried in Canada anymore, let me know.

*Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo - review here - Didn't like it as a shampoo but loved it as a shave gel/cream/thing. It didn't have much of a scent and didn't cause any irritation when shaving. Wouldn't repurchase.

The Body Deli Living Hair Shampoo - review here - Love! Smelled like minty greatness (not too strong though), full of living/raw/organic ingredients, left my hair and scalp feeling lovely, and I enjoyed it. Already repurchased.

Wedderspoon Manuka Honey - This stuff is golden, literally. I love using manuka honey in my DIY face masks, or even on its own as a face mask because it is antibacterial and brightening properties. Wedderspoon sent me an organic version a few months back, so I won't be repurchasing right away, however I have already bought and gone through several jars of this magical stuff.

Pure Anada Hydrating Toner - I picked this up, on a whim, at the Big Carrot some months ago and loved it for setting my makeup. It didn't have a smell, which is nice, and worked well to to prep my skin for makeup and set makeup. Will likely repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner - review here -  Surprise, surprise, I went through another bottle and am already going through another. It's my fave, what else can I say?

Andalou Naturals Radiant Skin Polish - review here - This was probably my favourite physical exfoliant ever, and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally like scrubs. It was a harsher scrub that could easily be "sheered out" (do those words work with scrubs?) by adding more water. It left my sensitive skin feeling soft and smooth, never irritated. Would repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Super Goji Peptide Perfecting Cream - I sense an Andalou theme, anyone else? This range just works so well for my skin. I have had the most difficult time finding a facial moisturizer that doesn't give me red bumps all over my forehead. Then, this one came along. It smelled faintly of oranges, was light enough to wear under makeup, yet moisturizing enough to smooth out dry patches. I can't even explain how much I love this cream, I'm already on my second jar.

Badger Balm Joint Rub - This balm was a Godsend when I was working at a spa, my whole body needed this ish after days of back to back clients and it immediately relieved pain. Sadly, the texture, colour, and scent changed and it needs to be tossed. I would repurchase, preferably in a smaller tin if available.

NBW Marigold Magic Body Scrub - When I worked at the spa, this was the only scrub that we used for manis and pedis, the texture was perfect. It contains shea butter, which held the scrub together without the oil separation happening. Because of my positive experience with it, I decided to buy a small version from Glam Goes Green. While the smaller version was still awesome, it did have a lot of oil separation. Because of that I would recommend and repurchase the full/bigger size of this scrub over the mini.

*North Hill Soap Company Soap in Happy Hippie - review here - This soap definitely made me a happy hippie with it's patchouli scent and exfoliating properties. I wish I was able to find this soap in more shops as I would 100% repurchase it.

*North Hill Soap Company Soap in Sea Goddess - review here - Not my favourite. It was more scratchy than exfoliating and just didn't excite me. Products need to excite, know what I'm saying?

*Kari Gran Cleansing Oil - review here - Really enjoyed using this cleansing oil. It removed makeup and left my skin super soft. Would consider purchasing the full size.
*Kari Gran Hydrating Tonic - review here - Ugh, I loved this. I didn't want to because it's pricey but I can't say no to a good facial mist. Would consider purchasing the full size.
The Body Deli Living Hair Conditioner - Since I love the shampoo, I thought that I'd try a sample of the conditioner. The sample was enough for two uses and I didn't find it to be as special as the shampoo. It felt like it washed off and didn't actually condition. Wouldn't purchase the full size.
Ilia Lip Conditioner in Arabian Knights - review here - After almost 2 years, I've finally used up this lip conditioner and if I've learned anything, it's that you should use your lip products and not save them for special occasions. Anyway, I loved this moisturizing berry toned lip conditioner from Ilia. It was easy to wear year round and the intensity was buildable. After two years, I'm over the tinted lip conditioners. I've been transitioning to lipsticks and lip pencils, and prefer a less glossy formula.  
Cheeky Cosmetics Mineral Shadow in Midnight - review here - This navy blue mineral shadow worked well when doing a smokey eye and as a liner, but it's now a shade I lean towards often. I mean, it took me two and a half years to finish this sample.
That's my trash! Let me know if you see anything you love, hate, and/or want to try.
*PR samples

May/June/July 2014 Faves!

I have been big time slacking on these favourite posts, but i've managed to narrow it down to the items that have stood out to me most over the last three months. All of these have been well loved, as you might notice if you've already seen my empties.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Cream in Light - Sometimes I adore this CC cream, other times I don't. For the most part though, it has been a favourite. It provides medium to full coverage while leaving a dewy finish. On really hot days, it needs to be set with a powder or it makes me look greasy. The colour matches me well, but oxidizes quite a bit. Overall, great introduction to CC creams for me (it was the first one that I've tried/used).

Sappho Liquid Foundation in Leisha - review here - This is a long time favourite of mine. It provides beautiful coverage without ever feeling heavy/cakey. It's like a better second skin.

FitGlow Lipgloss in Nude - I purchased this from Anise Apothecary a couple of months ago and have fallen more and more in love. It's a mauve-ish nude shade that looks great over any lipstick or over my natural lips. It's a slightly sticky formula, but that makes it last even longer. It's also super moisturizing.

*Earthlabs Raw Mascara - Anise Apothecary gave me this mascara to try and I'm so glad they did. It's awesome! No clumps, flaking, smudging, transferring, or burning. Lasts all day long, even on super hot and humid days.

*Queen of the Hive Peppermint Lip Balm - This stuff works incredibly well, tastes great, and I love it. The only thing that I don't like is that when it gets hard, it tugs at the lips a bit.

Wedderspoon Manuka Honey - Do I really need to explain this favourite? It's a holy grail skin care item for me. I use it to mix clay masks and on it's own, just works wonders for my skin.

*Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream - I've been using this as a hand cream and it instantly soothes the ezcema on my hands. It's been a friggen dream come true and I may even like it more than the actual hand cream. I also use it on my legs as they can get super itchy and dry.

*evie Lovingly Pure Toning Rose Water - review here - I am obsessed. I love the smell, how it works, the bottle, the misting top, just the whole thing. It's so expensive that I'm still debating on whether or not to splurge. I guess if I love it this much I really should eh?

Odacite (Pa + G) Papaya and Geranium Pure Elements - These serums are a game changer. They're meant to be mixed with other oils/serums/face creams. I've seen great results, in terms of brightening, with this particular one.

Badger Balm Joint Rub - If you've ever been looking for a natural rub for sore muscles and joints, may I introduce you to this miracle worker. As someone who's constantly hunched over (I know, I know. Pull those shoulders back!), bending, standing, sitting, for long periods of time, my body needs a good rub every now and then. This has gotten me through some long days at work, days I wouldn't have made it through otherwise. Never discontinue this item Badger!

Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea - This tea...this tea tastes incredible AND puts me right to sleep! A must try if your mind goes into overdrive at night :). Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you've been loving. *PR SAMPLE

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

December 2013 Empties - Beauty Edition + A Love Note

As this will be the last post of the year, I thought I'd get a little sentimental and sappy. Thank you so much for all of your love and support this year. The comments left on my blog, love notes through email, and interactions on social media encourages and motivates me to continue blogging and strive to make this blog better. With that said, I wish you a very Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, health and wealth.
Sap time over.
Ah, I love ending off the year having finished so many full sized beauty products. This will be my last post until the new year and what better way to end 2013 than with an empties beauty edition post?!
Jumping right in!

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk - review here - What a fantastic cleanser. I don't think I realized how much I enjoyed it until I finished it up. It smelled great, cleansed well (after already removing makeup), and was very affordable. My only beef is that the pump stopped working when there was about 1/4 of the product left. Was super fun trying to use up the rest...it wasn't fun at all, that was sarcasm. Would repurchase though. Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner - review here - Love! Already repurchased. Pretty Triple Rose Floral Water - review here - These are my favourite floral waters ever. I didn't love the rose scent, since I'm not a rose fan but it worked well as a morning "cleanse". Repurchased in Chamomile.

George's Aloe - no review - This product has been a favourite of many green bloggers for months. I didn't do a full review because there's no point. I used it in masks and as I would a toner or floral water. It was nice and the price point was fantastic, but it won't be a repurchase.

Weleda Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash - review here - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. This was the ultimate multitasking product for me. It worked as a shampoo, body wash and AMAZING hand wash. I will repurchase for sure!

REN Glycol Lactice Radiance Renewal Mask - review here - My heart broke a little when I finished this baby up. It was such a beautiful mask that produced results and even though it contains phenoxyethanol, I would repurchased if the price was right. 

*Odacite Hydration Masque Sample - review here - I tried and wanted to love this mask, however, it just didn't do what I expected it to do...like hydrate.

*Delizioso Skin Care Dead Sea Mud Mask - review here - This actually dried out before I could finish it, so I added a little bit of water and used what I could before it grew a furry family. There are other mud/clay masks that I prefer though. Won't repurchase.

Badger Balm Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in Mint - review here - One of my fave lip balms. I hate how cocoa butter lip balms change texture in extreme weather, which is what happened with this one. I've already used up 2 and have another left. Will likely repurchase at some point.

Ladybug Jane Sweet Strawberry Lip Balm - review here - Ugh, the taste of this balm is delicious and it's vegan! Will definitely repurchase.

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Solid Perfume - review here - I've had this for months and months, it's lovely! Worked as a perfume, brow wax, etc. Will repurchase at some point.

*aroma M Camellia Body/Bath Oil - review here - This body oil is lovely, except for the scent. It's a little too floral and mature for my liking but, the oil itself absorbs and moisturizes beautifully. Won't purchase the full size.

Deep Steep Hand Wash in Honeydew Spearmint - review here - Great scent, great ingredients, not great for my dry hands in the cold months. Would repurchase in the Summer.

*Corpa Flora Beaute Divine Cleansing Oil - review here - Gorgeous cleansing oil that lasted me a very long time. Removed makeup without irritating or breaking out my skin. I'm using something else now and will likely purchase the full size in the future.

Konjac Sponge Company - no review - I tried so hard to write a review on this sponge but, whenever I sat down I just couldn't type anything. It's a lovely sponge that works to remove makeup and cleanse the skin with or without cleanser. I still prefer my Sephora pad though. Won't be repurchasing.

That's it for my last post of the year! Are you ending off 2013 with a lighter bathroom? Let me know what you finished off this month.

*PR SAMPLES

Badger Aloe Vera SPF 15 Review

A few months ago, I won another Noah's Natural Foods Facebook giveaway. The giveaway was this Badger SPF 15, which I was so excited to win because I really wanted to try their sunscreens. I've heard nothing but rave reviews and have loved every Badger product that I have of tried thus far. Well, ladies and gents, this is another product from Badger that doesn't disappoint....entirely.

Description: Safe, Effective & Responsible. After years of research, formulating, and testing, we’re pleased to offer our mineral sunscreen lotions that meet our high standards for safety and efficacy. Badger's new Aloe Vera Mineral Sunscreen Lotion follows in the healthy tradition of our original sunscreens by using only the safest, purest ingredients. It features a light, moisturizing, USDA Certified Organic Aloe Vera lotion base that is perfect for daily use on face and body. Like all of Badger's sunscreens it offers broad spectrum protection using only non-nano Zinc Oxide. This is a good option for those who found our original mineral sunscreen creams too heavy for everyday use.

• Non-Comedogenic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
• No Added Scent - Contains Organic Ingredients
• Broad Spectrum protection from UVA & UVB rays using the mineral Zinc Oxide - NO Oxybenzone, Octisalate, Octinoxate, Avobenzone, or added Vitamin A.
• Light, nearly invisible lotion base rich in Certified Organic ingredients.
• BPA & phthalate-free tube from 40% PCR recycled #2 plastic.
• Formulated and developed for everyday use on face & body, alone or under makeup.

First off, the packaging is a super cute designed squeeze tube that's travel friendly. Aren't all of Badger's products adorably packaged? Not much else to say there. Although I am pleased with this sunscreen, I do have a few minor negatives that I'm going to start with and follow with a positive. Try and keep up with this (probably) confusing review. CON: It's only SPF 15. I wear mineral makeup anyway, which offers additional sun protection, but I would have loved a higher SPF. PRO: They do have an SPF 30 of the same aloe based SPF and in their defence, I won this so it's not their fault. CON: It has a weird unscented scent/I don't know scent which I seem to be the only one who understands what that means. PRO: It's perfect for those who are sensitive to scents and it doesn't linger all day. CON: It does leave a very slight white cast on my face and if I'm dry, it clings to the dry patches. I also find that to avoid a white cast, I have to apply the sunscreen in sections which is pretty time consuming. PRO: It's not as bad a white cast as some other sunscreens. It can definitely be fixed with some powder. I just wonder if the SPF 30 version will create even more of a white cast.  This sunscreen is very creamy yet blends fairly well in general. Am I contradicting myself? Yes, read on. I have used it on my arms and decollete and found that it left no white cast, probably because I rub a little harder in those areas than I do my face. While it doesn't break me out and does work well under makeup, it's not quite as lovely on the face as the DeVita Facial SPF. Sorry Badger, but it's so hard to beat a gel-like textured sunscreen. All in all, I wouldn't purchase their SPF 15 (because I prefer 30) but would love to and would likely purchase one of their SPF 30 sunscreens for use on my body. Perhaps a kids vanilla tangerine dream? I'm a kid at heart, what can I say! I do recommend trying out their sunscreens, if you haven't already, and if you prefer SPF 15 then this is a good choice for you.

Retails for approx. $19.99 CAN for 87ml. You can check out the Badger website to order or to find out where to purchase, but it's pretty much sold in every health food store.

What is your favourite Badger sunscreen?

My hand looks like a little gnomes hand here, not sure what happened lol

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!

Badger Seabuckthorn Apricot & Pomegranate Antioxidant Hair Oil Review

I love hair oils and I usually make my own. They're fantastic for scalp and hair health, in my opinion. Marcella has a sick obsession with Badger and kindly sent this to me to try out. This is another winning product from Badger! They can do no wrong!

Description: Daily life takes a toll on the hair: sun, wind, earth, water, pollutants, and styling can impact hair health. Badger’s here to help restore the balance – let us pay the toll for you! Treat your hair to vitamin and antioxidant-rich oils and extracts, and watch the shine and luster return to overworked hair. We’ve selected our most powerful oils to deliver naturally occurring vitamins A, B, C, E, and K to nourish and replenish hair. Seabuckthorn and Pomegranate promote hair strength and elasticity, and Apricot is a potent emollient, imparting moisture and shine. Rosehip possesses regenerative properties, helping hair to return to its healthiest state.

This oil is beautiful! First off, I love the packaging. The oil comes in a sturdy, leak proof (so it seems), clear glass bottle with a pump. The pump is convenient because you can dispense as little or as much as you want/need and it's not messy. It smells like seabuckthorn oil but sweeter. If you haven't smelled seabuckthorn before, it smells very similar to rosehip but not as intense. The smell doesn't linger at all once washed out. It applies really nicely to the hair and scalp, leaves them both nourished, smells nice, washes out great and doesn't weigh down my fine hair.

I like using this treatment twice a week because my scalp hates me and my ends are damaged. I put a few pumps in my hand and fully saturate my scalp and hair, massage my scalp for a few minutes, and then tie my hair in a bun. If I'm leaving it on overnight, which I usually do, I put a towel on my pillows and rinse out the morning. I do wash my hair twice, to remove it all, only because my hair is so fine.

I highly recommend this oil and would definitely repurchase!

Retails for approx. $22.99 CAN for 2 fl oz.  You can purchase directly through Badger or your local health food store.

Have you ever tried any of Badger's wonderful hair oils?

Badger Highland Mint & Sleep Balm Review

Marcella from Naturally Marcy sent me these lovely Badger balms in our swap. She has introduced and gotten me addicted to Badger and now I must try everything of theirs! Ugh, thanks Marcella...

Description Highland Mint:  Delightfully portable & refreshing hydration for lips and body. These little tins are like your best friends - you can take them anywhere, and they'll never let you down! Perfect in a pinch for cuticles or elbows, or anywhere dry skin patches may appear. And of course, they keep your healthy lips smiling!  

Description Sleep Balm: A dreamy night balm rich with precious oils to calm, encourage, cheer and relax poetic Badgers and other restless wanderers. Badger Sleep Balm doesn't make you sleepy: the sophisticated blend of essential oils helps quiet your thoughts and clear your mind, then you fall asleep naturally. Rosemary is the traditional herb for clear thinking, confidence, and memory. Bergamot is mentally uplifting, and Ginger is strengthening and confidence-inducing. Balsam Fir is refreshing, like a walk in the woods, while Lavender is the traditional sleep herb: fresh and relaxing. This balm is perfect for those nights when you can't seem to stop the mind chatter!

The Good:

• portable tin, take it anywhere!
• both smell delicious
• affordable
• clean & simple ingredients
• hydrating
• soaks into the skin
• not greasy

The Bad:

• nothing

Verdict: These balms are absolutely fantastic and I have no idea why I never tried them before. I keep the mint one in my bathroom and the sleepy one by my bed to apply on elbows, knees, hands and lips. Both are incredibly hydrating and my skin just drinks them right up. I'm not sure if the Sleep Balm actually aids in falling asleep because I've been sleeping like a champ since starting school but it smells SOOOO good. The scent is light, beautiful and soothing that I sometimes open the tin just to smell it. Funny enough, Marcella told me she does that and I laughed at her....now I'm doing it! Their Cocoa Butter Lip Balms are definitely preferred for use on my lips but these tinned balms are great for the body. I highly recommend trying them out, if you haven't already, and I will be purchasing them once I use these up...or if I happen to be at a store that has them lol.

Highland Mint retails for $3.99 USD for 0.75oz and Sleep Balm retails for $5.99 USD for 0.75oz or $9.99 USD for 2oz.

What's your favourite Badger product?

Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in Mocha Cocoa Review

The wonderful Marcella, from Naturally Marcy, sent me this lip balm in our swap and I cannot put it down! I see badger products in most health food stores, and in blogs, but never really thought to try anything from them. I am so happy that she sent me this to try because I think it's going to be a must have from now on.

Description: A Little Magic for your Lips! Our dreamy Cocoa Butter Lip Balms come in a larger .25oz stick with a magical Badger on the label! These creamy lip balms feature rich, Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified^TM Cocoa Butter, which has the sultry fragrance of dark chocolate. Our Cocoa Butter is traditionally processed at low temperatures, allowing the butter to retain its natural, health-giving properties. Flavored with all natural steam distilled essential oils - no artificial sweeteners or fragrances. We may be a little biased, but these are some of the best lip balms we've ever tried! (We think you'll probably agree.)

The Good:

• larger than most lip balms
• incredibly hydrating
• smooth application
• amazing ingredients
• great value for price

The Bad:

• scent/flavour

Verdict: I  LOVE this lip balm! It's larger than a traditional balm both in weight and width (see below) which makes application smooth and easy. It's incredibly hydrating, beats out the Antipodes Lime Leaf and Cocoa Butter lip balm hands down. The weather has been darn cold in Canada and it's the only balm that I've been reaching for. The only down side, is the scent. While I'm starting to like it more than when I originally smelled it, I can see myself getting sick of it eventually. Chocolate and coffee scented anything,especially lip balms, don't tend to tickle my fancy as much as mint and peppermint do. Luckily, Marcella sent me the Mint one too! It smells a little like chocolate as well, thanks to the wonderful cocoa butter, but the mint is prominent. I will definitely purchase when I use these up. Go pick one up!

Retails for approx. $6 or 7 CAN for .25oz. Can be purchased at most health food stores or from Badger directly.

What are your favourite Badger products?

Base Ingredients: *Theobroma Cacao (Organic & Fair Trade CertifiedTM Cocoa) Butter, *Olea Europaea (Organic Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), *Ricinus Communis (Organic Castor) Oil, *Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Extract, and CO2 Extracts of *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Organic Rosemary), *Rosa Canina (Organic Rosehip), & *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Organic Seabuckthorn).
Mocha Cocoa: CO2 Extract of *Coffea Arabica (Organic Coffee).
* = Certified Organic

Swap with Naturally Marcy - Additions

Marcella received some, unwelcome, messages about how I had spent more than she did on our swap. That is extremely rude and also the reason why I put up a little disclaimer on my original swap post.

Without going into too much detail and dragging this on for too long, we both had sent each other one item that had been used that didn't work for us. We asked if the other wanted, said yes, and that's that. I sent her the Andalou Avo Cocoa Skin Food Mask which was practically full because I had only used it a couple of times. They were additions (not included in our budget) and I guess that's why it may have appeared as though I spent more.  We both discussed the swap, products and hurtful messages and she wanted to send me an additional item.

Turns out, she sent me a whole bunch of stuff. Gosh, swaps are stressful lol. I loved everything I originally received and didn't expect to receive FOUR additional items.  It was completely unnecessary but I am very much thankful. You should all write on my post how she spent too much now! Seriously!

Here are the additional items that she sent, that I received a couple of hours ago (literally):

Badger Seabuckthorn Hair Oil: Smells awesome and I will be using it tonight.

Badger Sleep Balm: This smells like lavender, but sweeter. She knows me too well because I sometimes have trouble sleeping, so hopefully this will help.

Badger Highland Mint Balm: I love mint lip balms!! Can't wait to try this.

Badger Cocoa Butter Cool Mint Lip Balm: I have a review of the mocha cocoa coming soon and I am obsessed with these lip balms. I put this one on already and love it!

Thank you so much Marcella for the additional items and for introducing me to Badger! I have a feeling that I'm going to have a new addiction lol :)

xo