Brand Focus: Fitglow Beauty

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

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

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

Read more about Fitglow Beauty here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Magical: The Body Deli Radiance Enzyme Superfood Peel

Magical just about sums up my feelings on this product. Is a review even necessary?
Earlier this year, I raved about The Body Deli Living Hair Shampoo. When I was at Husk (now Detox Market) picking up another bottle of that good stuff, I decided to pick up the Radiance Enzyme Superfood Peel. I love me a good peel and the ingredients in this one just spoke to me. They said, "buy me right now. You will love me forever, or until I run out". At $55 cdn for 2 oz, I hesitated. Then I gave in.

This Superfood Synergy Infusion brings your skin back to life. These concentrated enzymes gently resurface skin texture with imported, active Manuka honey. Fresh, raw superfoods are blended with therapeutic grade MANUKA HONEY. Manuka Honey is known for its healing and skin regenerative benefits. PROBIOTICS and PLANT ENZYMES help to gently refine skin texture. Superfoods high in Vitamin C such as ACEROLA BERRY and CAMU CAMU feed and nourish at the cellular level. With regular use, skin transforms into a healthier and more illuminated complexion.

Like damn, do you not want to run out and buy it right now with that description alone?! 

This green mask is magical, did I say that already? It has the same texture as honey would; thick, sticky, and hard to spread. I like to spritz my face with toner and then apply a thin layer on cleansed skin, 1-2 times a week, and leave it on for 10-20 minutes. Since there's no tingling or burning that happens, like with traditional peels, I leave it on until I feel like washing it off. Once removed, my skin is glowing! It's more even toned and even textured, brighter, and as soft as a baby's bottom. I also like (and this may not be for everyone) that the honey crystalized a bit. It allowed me to gently exfoliate my skin, while applying, which allowed the ingredients to work their magic even better.

Since incorporating this mask weekly, my skin has never looked better. As mentioned above, it's more even toned and textured, brighter, softer, blemish free, and I feel good going out without makeup. And by without makeup, I mean wearing just mascara and brows. Ladies, you understand. Brows and lashes are essential.

Get it here: The Body Deli (visit to view other retailers) and Lilou Organics.

FRESH INGREDIENTS: New Zealand +20 UMF Active Manuka Honey, L. Acidophilus, L. Bulgaricum, L. Leichmanni, L. Lactis, L.Caseii, L. Caucasicus, L. Fermenti, L. Plantarum, L. Brevis, L. Helveticus, B. Bifidum, B. Subtilis, B. Licheniformis, S. Boulardii, Amalase, Protease, Lipase, Papain, Bromelain, *Acerola Berry, *Camu Camu Berry, *Barley Grass Juice, *Wheat Grass Juice, *Oat Grass Juice, Spirulina, Chlorella, Dunaliella, Kelp, Dulse, *Carrot Juice, *Beet Juice, *Brocolli Juice, *Kale Juice, *Spinach Juice, Graviola, Goji Berry, Hawthorne Berry, Schizandra Berry, Nopal Cactus, Citric Acid.

* DENOTES ORGANICALLY GROWN (The latest ingredients lists are posted online and may change from physical product labeling.)
*This product DOES NOT require refrigeration. To extend the potency and preserve the fresh ingredients store in a cool room away from direct sunlight.

Brand Focus: Sempirra

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

Sempiira: A large fire deliberately set for a constructive purpose

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

Read more by about Sempiira here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brand Focus: Pure Daily Essentials

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

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

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

Read more about Pure Daily Essentials here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOVE: The Body Deli Living Hair Shampoo

There isn't one thing about The Body Deli that I don't like. Sure they're a bit pricey, but you get products that are full of gorgeous fresh, raw, and organic ingredients. These ingredients literally feed your hair, scalp, and skin. I have wanted to try the shampoo for-freakin-ever, but the fact that my scalp hates most products and it's expensive, held me back from taking the plunge. It wasn't until I read rave reviews from NatuRia and Ana Goes Green that I just knew I had to give it a go. Worst case scenario, I end up with a really expensive shave cream, right?

THE BODY DELI is the pioneer for fresh, raw, organic skin and hair care. Our master “Cosmetic Chefs” lovingly handcraft premium quality products in small batches daily. Our products deliver real results because we use the purest and most potent raw and organic superfoods available. Experience a higher level of nourishing your body.

The key to our superfood face and hair care products’ effectiveness is the potent “raw” living state of the products’ phytonutrients. Clinically tested actives are combined with fresh organic living botanical superfoods that synergistically provide unparalleled dermal regenerating results. Bio-active cells of high potency, organically grown superfoods are isolated to deliver superior cellular nutrition, which builds stronger, healthier cells and accelerates cellular turnover.

Read more about The Body Deli here.

Living Hair Sprouted Mineral Greens Shampoo: Made with potent Sprouted Mineral Greens and is formulated to rejuvenate hair follicles to encourage rapid hair rejuvenation and regrowth. The raw, living, sprouted greens and fresh botanical juices feed the hair shaft with vital proteins, minerals, and enzymes to bring the life back to dull, lifeless hair. Living Hair's micro-nutrients make hair flourish, increase shine, impart incredible volume, and enhance the hair's natural highlights. Our formulation is for all hair types and is safe for color treated hair. $25 cdn/8 oz.

I'm obsessed! I adore the minty scent of this shampoo, it's invigorating and leaves my hair smelling fresh. It has yet to irritate my dermatitis and, in fact, I find it has lessened the symptoms (flakes, smell, etc). The bottle is perfect for travelling with because it is a dark coloured plastic, that protects the fresh ingredients, and has a lockable pump. The actual shampoo is green and full of incredible ingredients, like wheat grass juice, kelp, comfrey, maca, yarrow, and the list goes on and on. For some, this shampoo may not make the cut as it doesn't lather much, but damn does it work well. The best way that I have found to use it, is to apply two pumps onto wet hair, work that in, and then apply another two pumps to get a really good lather. Then I just let it sit and work its magic while I wash my body, and rinse out at the end. End result? Super soft, healthy, manageable, voluminous hair. The only thing that I haven't noticed is rapid hair growth, which isn't that big of a deal.

I highly recommend trying a sample of this shampoo, you won't be disappointed. For reference, I have lots of hair but it's fine, straight, and oily.

Get it here: Husk, The Body Deli, and these retailers.

Ingredients: *Aloe Vera Juice, Antioxidant Micro-Clustered Water, Decyl Polyglucose (Corn Sugar Derived Surfactant), Sea Salt, *Shea Butter, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vegetable Glycerin, *Barley Grass Juice, *Oat Grass Juice, *Wheat Grass Juice, *Dandelion Leaf Juice, *Kale Juice, *Spinach Juice, *Carob Pod, *Maca Root, Spirulina, Kelp, Chlorella, Icelandic Kelp, Dulse, Nori, Bladderwrack, Papain, Bromelain, *Chamomile, *Calendula, *Yarrow, *Horsetail, *Comfrey, *Yucca, *Melissa, *Oat Protein, *Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, *Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Essential Oils of *Rosemary, *Peppermint, *Spearmint, Lemon Verbena, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Natural Preserative System) (* Denotes Organically Grown Ingredients)

Sniff This: Poppy Jane Candle Co.

Candles have never really been by thing growing up, despite the fact that my mom was (and still is) a candle hoarder. Within the last few years I've gone from not caring about candles, to being obsessed with the candles from Bath and Body Works, to not being able to stand them (BBW candles) anymore. So, began my journey into natural candles; pure essential oil fragranced, beeswax/soy wax, cotton wick, hand poured with love candles. Although I haven't tried many different brands, I can say that the few I've tried did not fragrance a small room, let alone a house. My assumption was that natural candles suck. Plain and simple. That was until Poppy Jane Candle Co. came into my life.

Poppy Jane Candle Co. was launched by Erin Lundeen exactly one year after she and her sister said goodbye to Fig+Sage--the blog that brought them international recognition within the natural products industry.

With a love of all things natural, a DIY attitude and a firm belief that quality is much better than quantity, Erin started making all-natural candles as a hobby that quickly turned into something more in the winter of 2013. She began sourcing, blending, concocting and testing the most natural ingredients she could find into truly pure aromatherapy candles. And thus, Poppy Jane Candle Co. was born. 

Erin is a native Californian, born and raised on the Central Coast. She, her husband and their 3 children {Sören, Anika Jane and Märit Poppy} love spending their days soaking up the sunshine, geocaching, gardening and enjoying the great food & wine culture in the area. Erin and Karl work as a team, working on all design aspects of the business. Erin sources the raw beeswax from a local beekeeper, hand-blends the top-quality essential oils and pours the candles in small batches in their workshop. Every candle that leaves our workshop is a labor of love, made with the best ingredients we could find.

Up until a few months ago, Poppy Jane only shipped within the USA. When they began shipping to Canada, Erin contacted me asking if I wanted to try out their products and provide feedback. I was basically a happy little guinea pig. Erin sent me the *Aromatherapy Candle Travel Tin Gift Pack ($35 USD/3 x 4 oz candles) and it arrived within a week or so. Talk about fast shipping! Aside from the beautiful packaging that it came in, the tins themselves are adorable and great for travelling with, and the candles actually fragrance an entire room but are not at all overwhelming or overpowering.
Description: Here it is! The perfect way to give Poppy Jane as a gift or a sampler to find out which PJ scent is your fave. Includes your choice of three of our 4 oz. travel tins. A better value than buying each candle separately and all packaged up in a kraft box with polka dot tissue paper!

Breathe Deep: This aromatherapeutic Breathe Deep candle is designed to clear your head and energize your mind. We blended refreshing oils like Eucalyptus and Peppermint and added a woodsy touch of Rosemary and Tea Tree with a crisp citrus note to top it all off. The result is a truly pure candle that is sure to wake you up and open up your sinuses while enhancing mental clarity. So go ahead, take a deep breath.

Obsessed! Seriously, this candle smells in-freakin-credible!! The description is spot on, in terms of the scent, and I find that it really does open up my sinuses when I'm stuffy. My favourite time to burn this candle is while I'm doing yoga. After all, in yoga it's all about the breath. Breathe Deep, namaste.

Sleep Tight: This special blend was created to promote calm and relaxation before bedtime. Lavender essential oil promotes relaxation, lemongrass essential oil helps facilitate deep rest and calms the mind while marjoram essential oil can help relieve insomnia. Our favorite ingredient in this candle is Roman Chamomile which does all of the above--it is our all-time favorite essential oil!

Oh yes, how could anyone not have at least one candle loaded with lavender and/or chamomile to burn right before bed? I love lavender, so I had hoped that this would smell more like it than it actually does, however, the blend of all the essential oils is just lovely. Personally, I smell the zest of the lemongrass and the chamomile more than the other oils. It's beautiful before bed and have burned it several times since receiving it to help me sleep.

Gin +Tonic: When it's not apropos to pour yourself a stiff drink (say, during a hectic work day or at noon while you're home with the kids) we have just the solution for you! We've blended juniper berry, lime and other delicious citrus oils together to create an uplifting and refreshing aroma, then added it to our creamy blend of 100% pure soy wax and beeswax. The result is a cocktail in a can, minus the impaired judgement. Cheers!

Cheers is right, my friends! My life (both personal and work) has been a hectic work day for the entire month of March. I've been on the go non-stop and so, to avoid actually drinking, I've been burning this baby. Even though it's called Gin + Tonic, sniffing it makes me want a vodka lime. Actually, just thinking about it makes me want a vodka lime. Vodka lime anyone?? While the lime really stands out here, the marriage of juniper berry and lime is perfect and great for anyone who likes an uplifting citrus scent.

I'm so impressed with these candles. They have exceeded my expectations and raised the bar for natural candles. Thank you Lilly (Genuine Glow) for the introduction and thank you Erin for giving me the opportunity to try them. Sadly, shipping to Canada is absolutely insane. I find that's always the case when a brand begins shipping here, however, that's no fault of theirs as shipping to/from/within Canada is ridiculous. I truly love these candles and if shipping wasn't so crazy, I'd without a doubt pick up a couple of full sizes. If you live in the USA, go buy these right now. Just go.

Get them here: Poppy Jane Candles Co.

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

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)