Current Favorites: Hair Care

Yarok Feed Your Moisture Shampoo:

About a month ago Yarok kindly sent me their newest shampoo for review! I've been a huge fan of Yarok products ever since I entered the green beauty world. Their newest shampoo is made with organic african black soap, argan oil, coconut oil, and hemp oil. It is 100% natural, vegan, and is perfect for curly or color treated hair (perfect, I have both curly and color treated hair!). When using this my hair feels perfectly clean. Sometimes when using natural shampoos it can leave your hair feeling like it needs to be shampooed 2-3 times. However, this usually does the trick for me just after one shampoo. Since using this shampoo my hair has felt so much more healthier and softer. A little of this product goes a long way. In a months time I've only used about 1/4 of this 12 oz bottle (I have a ton of hair!). The best part is that this shampoo has aromas of orange, ylang ylang, and rosemary. It smells so good. For some reason (don't ask why!) the scent reminds me of bubble gum!

Ingredients: Aqua (Vitamin Infused Water), Cocos nucifera (Saponified Coconut), Fair Trade Organic African Black Soap, Argania spinosa L. (Argan oil), Organic oils of Cannabis sativa (Hemp Seed), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba), Vitis vinifera (Grape Seed), Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel, Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose); Achillea millefolium (Organic Yarrow), Organic Guar Gum [aka guaran], Organic herbal extracts of: Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), Arctium lappa (Burdock), Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail), Salvia officinalis (Sage), Origanum vulgare (Oregano), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme), Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender), Mentha piperita (Peppermint), Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon), Citrus limonum (Lemon) Peel; Plant-Sourced Kosher Vegan Xanthan Gum and/or Manihot esculenta (Organic yuca starch) and Potassium Sorbate; may contain Elaeis Guineensis (Palm Kernel) extract, Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam seed oil) and acetic acid (vinegar); Organic essential oils of Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange), Citrus aurantium var. amara (Bitter Orange), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang).

100% Pure Honey & Virgin Coconut Restorative Conditioner: 
After falling in love with the 100% Pure Body Cream, I knew that I had to try their hair care. 100% Pure always has amazing ingredients and I knew that this conditioner would be perfect for my curly/color treated hair. This conditioner helps to detangle my hair while keeping it moisturized and nourished. I must admit, my hair has never been softer since using this shampoo & conditioner duo. This is a bit of a heavier conditioner so I would only recommend it to those with dry, damaged, and/or thick hair. I usually go through conditioner so fast but a little goes a long way for this product. I can see this bottle easily lasting me another 4 months! Best of all, this leaves my hair smelling like coconuts even when I'm out of the shower. This is the first conditioner to leave a lasting scent on my hair.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Organic Rose Hydrosol)*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Butter, Linum Usitatissimum (Organic Flax) Seed Oil, Glycerine, Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil, Ceterayl Alcohol, Mel (Honey), Citrus Aurantium Sinensis (Orange Peel) Fiber, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax) Extract, Pantothenic Acid (Pro-Vitamin B5), Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus (Kelp) Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Extracts of Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf, Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honeysuckle), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) and Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Fragrance) * Certified Organic

Have you tried any of these products before? What are your thoughts? 

Sappho Organic Cosmetics: Pressed Mineral Pigments Review

This is a long overdue review of the pressed pigments from Sappho Organic Cosmetics! After falling in love with their liquid foundation, I knew that Sappho had some of the best quality and standards for organic & natural makeup. While there are many natural, beautiful loose mineral eyeshadows on the market, there aren't many pressed pigments. Pressed pigments were something that I missed for the longest time since going green. I find them easier to work with and much more suitable for travelling. Sappho currently has 10 pressed eyeshadow colors and 5 blush colors. 

Bronze Goddess: A staple in every makeup bag. This is the perfect color to use as an all over bronzer for a sun kissed glow or as a contour. 

Minaz: A soft peach with shimmer. Looks great against sun kissed skin and is easily wearable for day or night. 

Deep Diane: A neutral, buttery shade that is perfect as an eye shadow base or a subtle under the brow highlight. 

Chloe: A fantastic satin pewter shade that works wonderfully for creating a smoky eye. 

These pigments have excellent color pay off, they're easy to blend and control (always a huge plus in my books!) Right now my favorite color is the Minaz because it looks so good with hazel eyes, it picks up all the right colors. I think that because Sappho products were created by a makeup artist, you know that theie products are going to have excellent quality. I also love that these pigments magnetically attach to a palette, so you are able to customize your own palette.

  Have you tried any products from Sappho Organic Cosmetics? What are your thoughts on these pressed pigments? 

Saffron Rouge Inner Circle Subscription Box - June 2014

Lately, I've been pretty happy with the Saffron Rouge Inner Circle monthly subscription box. It always has good value for luxury, organic & natural beauty products. It costs $24.99/month including shipping.

Primavera Energizing Ginger Lime Hand Cream - Full Size $27 

I was so excited to receive this in a full size! It's the perfect scent for summer (lime) and fits easily into my purse. The scent is so fresh, it's perfect for a pick-me-up!

W3LL People Bio Extreme Lipgloss - Full Size $23.75
I need to try more Well People products so I'm so happy that this was in this months box. This new product is a clear lip gloss that should be a staple in everyone's makeup bag!

The Body Deli Jasmine Tuberose Lotion - 2oz sample $9

The Body Deli is a brand that I have always been impressed by. I was happy to receive this deluxe size sample in a sweet, jasmine scent.

Ilike Lemon Cleansing Milk - .5oz sample $3

Ilike has been on my radar for the longest time. All of their products look delicious and this brand reminds me so much of Eminence, a brand that I love! I've already been using this cleansing and so far I am loving it. It is for unbalanced and problematic skin, and the best part is that it smells like lemon meringue pie! 

Vapour Aura Multi Use Blush - sample

This multi-use stick is just what I needed to test our Vapour Organic Beauty. This is another line that I need to become more antiquated with so I am happy to receive this sample!

Over the value of this box was $62.75. Overall another great month with great value! 

Lavina Skincare Giveaway! 10 Samples of Barbary Fig Seed Oil

Last month I wrote a review on the Lavina Barbary Fig Seed Oil. I loved it so much (and still do!) that Lavina kindly gave me 10 samples for a giveaway! Suitable for all skin types, Barbary Fig Seed Oil is high in vitamin E and Linoleic Acid (150% more vitamin E than Argan Oil). It's light and fast absorbing. You can read my full review on the Barbary Fig Seed Oil here.


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Giveaway is open internationally! 10 winners will be chosen!

Vegan Cuts May Beauty Box 2014 Review

I was so excited when I was contacted by the Vegan Cuts team to review their May beauty box! Unfortunately there was a bit of a delay when it came to receiving my box but the Vegan Cuts team was super helpful and was always fast to respond. Since by box was delayed I couldn't help but take a sneak peak at May's box. I was so excited because I knew that I would use every item included in this months box!

SKINAGAIN Vanish Lotion - Full Size $52: 
I was so thrilled when I found out that this was a full size product. Like most women, I have scars, stretch marks and of course the dreaded cellulite. I will definitely be using this regularly! 

Gourmet Body Treats Finishing Powder - Full Size $32:
This finishing powder is vegan (of course!), cruelty free, paraben free, GMO free, and made with organic ingredients. Finishing powder is a must have for me so I'll definitely be using this up.

Tallulah Jane Natural Perfume - Sample: 
I'm always on the hunt for a natural perfume so I was happy to receive this in this months box. While this smelled nice (subtle hint of lemon, with sweet scents of vanilla) it just wasn't for me.

Sevi Blue Yarrow Sea Salt Texturizer - 2.5 oz $4: 
I've been wanting to try a sea salt texturizer for the longest time since I have naturally curly hair. This is the perfect product for summer and I can't wait to use it! This is also priced so reasonably, if I like it I'll be sure to purchase it again!

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Lash Strengthening Mascara - Sample:
I've heard good things about this brand in the past but haven't yet tried their products. Natural mascaras can be a tricky thing so I'm curious as to how this one will work out!

Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Body Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 - Sample: 
Finding a sunscreen with good ingredients is hard to come by. I'm glad that this was included in this months box because of course this is perfect for summer. I'm interested to see how this works!


Overall I am SO happy with this months box. At only $20/box this is an amazing deal. The products were good sized. Nothing is more disappointing than opening up a beauty box and all the products are small. This was a really good surprise. What I also liked is that they had a product from all different categories. For example they had hair care, body care, makeup, etc.  I've seen beauty boxes in the past where you'll get two lotions (don't we all already have enough lotions!?). Another thing I liked is that most of these brands were new to me, I seriously love nothing more than discovering new brands!

What are your thoughts on the Vegan Cuts May Beauty Box? 

The official launch of Nuciya & a giveaway worth over $100!

It's finally here! I'm so excited to announce the official launch of Nuciya! Nuciya is an online store that focuses on natural & organic cosmetics. When venturing off into the world of green beauty I was frustrated when certain brands were not available to me due to not shipping to Canada or high shipping costs. I also wanted to share local brands (such as Routine Cream) with the rest of the world. I teamed up with my long term boyfriend Pavel Dolzhenko in order to create an online store! All brands are ones that I personally tried and recommend. 

Please note that currently we have all brands in stock except for 100% Pure as they are estimated to arrive in 2-3 weeks!

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First Prize: 

Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloths: My personal favorite cleansing cloths that are soaked in vitamins B12, C, E with honey and natural amuno acids.

Blissoma Fresh Mild Rice Facial Cleanser:  This ever so popular cleanser by Blissoma is made from organic brown rice, willowbark, Litsea Cubeba oil, chickweed, and rose making it perfect for normal, dry, and problematic skins.

Sappho Organic Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Hazey Dew:  A beautiful lip gloss made with organic oils, waxes, and butters this light pink lip gloss is sure to go compliment most skin tones.

Routine Cream in Blackberry Betty: Handmade in Calgary, AB, Canada this deodorant is a personal favorite of mine. It not only works well but it smells like berry cake!

MUN sample: MUN is well known...and for good reason. This extremely luxurious oil is safe for problematic skin as it evens out skintone, smooths fine lines, and prevents premature wrinkle formulation. I'm using this every night and my skin has never looked better!

Second & Third Prize:

The second and third winner will win one Routine Cream deodorant! This is a fabulous local brand that I'm wanting to share with the rest of the world! It is just too good to keep to myself!

 

Routine Cream Bonita Applebom Deodorant: A sweet smell with hints of lemon, apple, chocolate, nutmeg, and clove. To me this one smells like apple pie!

Routine Cream Bonnie n' Clyde Deodorant: Perfect for men or women this deodorant has subtle hints of cocoa butter!

I'm so excited to share this with you guys and to begin a new chapter in my life! This giveaway is open internationally as Nuciya ships worldwide!

Pangea Organics Review

I've been saving this review for such a long time but I'm so happy that I'm finally able to share my thoughts on this clean, natural and organic skincare brand.

Pangea uses natural (of course!), organic, and raw ingredients. Their products are always handcrafted, organic, cruelty-free and fair-trade whenever possible. So what makes using organic ingredients important? Organic ingredients contain 30% more antioxidants than those who don't. This means good news for our skin! These values are what intrigued me to try Pangea Organic products.

Canadian Pine with White Sage Body Wash:
I mentioned this product in my monthly favorites because it really did surprise me as to how much I love this product...especially the smell. I'm usually not one for uni-sex smells. I typically like sweet floral scents so I didn't think that this body wash would be for me. However, as soon as I used this in the shower I immediately felt a therapeutic calming effect. This not only smells fantastic, but this body wash has a natural foam (hallelujah!) which makes it perfect for shaving. If you've been using natural products for a while, you'll know that a natural foam in a body wash is hard to come by. At least it has been for me! 1 bottle (8 Fl oz) should last you approx. 90 washes.

Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Mask:
I'll admit, the name sold me on this mask. It contains everything that I like and is full of antioxidants. This mask is perfect to give your skin a refreshed glow. I love using this right after a clarifying mask to calm down my skin and add radiance to my skin tone! I've mentioned this before on other blogs, but if I feel like this would work perfectly with the Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub. Both of these products have a delicious deep green color. Hopefully in the near future I can test these two products out together and write a review! As much as I love this mask, the only downside for me is that I feel like I need to use a lot more product than I'm used to in order to get a good coverage.

Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Beam & Cranberry Facial Scrub: 
Although I only received a sample of this product, I was able to try it a few times. I was happy that a little went a long way. It was gentle enough on my sensitive skin but still effective enough to help get rid of blackheads. Again, the names of these products always incise me! Cranberry and geranium oil provide a brightening effect. This is something as I look for as I have acne scarring, I find that natural skin brighteners help fade those scars.

Turkish Rose & White Tea Eye Cream: 
My skin loves anything with rose in it! This is a nice basic eye cream that can be used daily and nightly. It will work for those with signs of aging as well as those who want to prevent wrinkles. I found that this eye cream added hydration but also helped reduced dark under eye circles and puffiness. So far I have enjoyed using this product but am hoping to get a full size soon to better understand the product!

Have you tried Pangea products before? What are your thoughts? Next on my list is to try their Balancing Oil. I want to see how it stands up next to the Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil!

Natural Konjac Sponges Review & Giveaway!

Konjac sponges have been all the rage lately, and for good reason! So what are they? Konjac sponges are made from Konjac which is native to Asia and has been used primarily as a food source due to its high nutrition content.

Konjac sponges are extremely gentle and are beneficial to all skin types including sensitive skins. They are 100% natural, biodegradable and contain natural antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin. The benefits of using Konjac sponges is that they deeply cleanse while balancing pH levels of the skin. They gently exfoliate the skin that will enhance an even skin-tone but will also leave your skin feeling smoother.

I've tried Konjac sponges in the past and have loved them. So I was more than thrilled when the Natural Konjac Sponge Company contacted me! At only $10.50 per cleansing sponge, I think that these are a great tool that should be included in everyone skincare routine. Soon I'm going to be trying their body sponges.

The two Konjac sponges that are included in this giveaway are ones that I've tried in the past and have loved!

Green Tea Konjac Facial Cleansing Puff: 
Handmade in Japan this sponge will benefit all skin types as green tea contains natural antioxidants and anti-bacterial agents that suppress acne-causing bacteria. Green tea will also help to reduce redness and swelling caused by acne.

Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Facial Cleansing Puff:
This sponge is best suited for those with oily or problematic skin. The sponge infused with charcoal effectively draws out dirt, oil, and other impurities that can cause blemishes.

This giveaway is open internationally, enjoy!

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May Empties

Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloths: 
Kaia Naturals remains to be my favorite cleansing cloths. I've tried other cloths since this, and I always feel like I need to wash my face after. I love that these are ultra-soft and are soaked in hone! You can read my full review on this product here.

Red Flower Ocean Moisturizing Body Lotion: 
I received this deluxe size sample in the Saffron Rouge Inner Circle Box for April. I loved its unique scent and has left me wanting to try more Red Flower products.

Intelligent Nutrients Leave-In Conditioner:
I loved this leave-in conditioner. The travel size lasted me month and was my go-to product when my hair was unmanageable.

The All Natural Face Fix-It:
I've had this product since last summer. I used it as an all over face mist or I used it to help my eyeliner from TANF last longer. I would just spray this onto my brush and it worked perfectly for helping the gel liner last longer. 

Stila Perfecting Concealer:
Okay guys, this is a really old product as you can probably tell. Although I won't be repurchasing it because of its ingredients it lasted me such a long time (and I use a lot of concealer) and blended perfectly.

Farmhouse Fresh Splendid Dirt Mud Mask:
Although not a true natural product. This mask was amazing! It smelt like pumpkin pie and was the perfect detoxifying mask.

Geisha Ink Loose Mineral Foundation: 
I loved this foundation for the longest time. It was the one the converted me to mineral foundation. But now I have a new love...Lily Lolo Loose Mineral Foundation!

Would you like to try any of these products? There are a few that I will definitely be repurchasing!