Naturalla Beauty

#NoBuyJanuary is officially over and I'd say it went exceptionally well.  I stuck to it and didn't buy anything beauty related for the entire month and the fact that it didn't end up being all that difficult, leaves me feeling pretty good about my spending habits.  I always strive for conscious spending, so I guess not spending anything at all is just an extension of that.  

Along those same lines, I want to talk about a few products that stood out as favorites while "shopping my stash" this past month...



Amala Brightening Toning Essence*
I did a full review of this toner back in November, and even though I liked it, in true beauty blogger fashion, I moved onto other things shortly after that.  So, what's so great about this product?  It completely lives up to its claims and brightens like nothing else I've tried.  However, keep in mind that it isn't something that makes your skin instantly look brighter or more luminous.  Instead, it brightens by improving skin tone and evenness over a period of time.  Since I last pulled it out, I've had a couple blemishes that left behind those charming dark spots and once I reincorporated Amala's toner into my routine, I could see a difference within about a week (of morning and night use.)  They still aren't 100% gone, but I'm confident that the toner is helping them fade. 

Nourish Organic Purely Unscented Body Butter
These body butters are the perfect consistency!  They're solid (though not overly hard) in the pot, but as soon as they touch your skin, they transform into a creamy butter.  I especially love slathering this rich, unscented butter all over my hands and feet.  It's been working wonders at keeping them soft and hydrated through all the cold weather we've been having.

Devita Moisture Tint in Light
I purchased this sample from White Rabbit Beauty and I really like it.  It's a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 and very minimal, light coverage, but it just about evens out the skin and leaves you looking incredibly glowy and healthy.  My favorite way to wear it has been with a light dusting of Honeybee Gardens' powder on top.  The powder adds a bit more coverage and takes down the dewiness of the moisturizer just slightly, to a point where I'm more comfortable with it.  Together, these make the perfect pair to counteract dull winter skin.  The color I've been using, Light, leans pretty golden/yellow, but the coverage is so sheer that it blends into my skin just fine.  

Homemade Lip Balm
The pink pot in the middle of the photo is a tinted lip balm I made a while back.  I don't remember the exact recipe, but I know I used a base of coconut oil and beeswax and colored it using a mineral blush sample.  It's really soft and lovely on the lips and pulling it out again this month has reminded me that I need to get back into the habit of making my own lip balms.

Vapour Organic Illusionist Concealer in 010*
This is another rediscovered favorite.  010 is a fantastic color match for me and while I've always loved it for under the eyes, I've just recently started using it for more spot concealing.  I apply it straight from the tube and just blend it out with a finger, so application is a breeze, and as long as I set it with some kind of a powder, it lasts all day.  I've also sheered the concealer out and used it as an all over light foundation (à la RMS Un Cover-up) and it works well that way too!

What products did you love in January?

In addition to the Hydrating Cream Cleanser, I've also been trying out Amala's Brightening Toning Essence over the last several weeks.  Toner is often an underrated step, but it's one that I've found can make a big difference to your skin.  Formulated with narcissus, algae extract from Norwegian kelp, and seven alpine herbs, Amala's toner is packed with active ingredients to balance the skin's pH and refresh and revive dull skin, while simultaneously improving and brightening uneven skin tone.  Narcissus and algae extract have been shown to slow down melanin production, helping to prevent future dark spots, while the seven alpine herbs (mallow, peppermint, cowslip, lady's mantle, veronica, yarrow, and melissa) work together to diminish the appearance of any dark spots or discoloration that you may already have.  

The toning essence comes in a pretty glass spray bottle, giving you the option to either spray it onto a cotton pad or directly onto your face.  It has a subtle scent of rosewater, but it's light enough that, even with my usual aversion towards florals, I'm not bothered in the slightest.  With glycerin as the second ingredient,  I was initially concerned my face would be left feeling sticky, but that isn't the case at all.  The toner is very light in texture and leaves my skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and ready for the next step in my routine.  

The brightening effect is immediate and my skin is visibly more radiant throughout the day.  I have a few dark spots left over from old acne breakouts and I've also noticed they are slightly lighter since incorporating the toner into my routine.  I imagine you could further boost its efficacy, in this regard, by using it in combination with other products from Amala's Brightening line. The Intensive Brightening Mask, Advanced Brightening Emulsion and Brightening Corrective Concentrate all use similar herbs and active ingredients, in what I would expect to be more concentrated formulations.  

Where to Buy: $56 from Spirit Beauty Lounge/Amala

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Water*, Zinc PCA, Alcohol*, Narcissus Tazetta Extract*, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum (Brown Alga) Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract*, Primula Veris (Cowslip) Extract*, Alchemilla Vulgaris (Lady's Mantle) Extract*, Veronica Officinalis (Heath Speedwell) Extract*, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract*, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract*, Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract*,  Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ribes Rubrum (Currant) Juice*, Buddleja Davidii (Summer Lilac) Extract*, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Rosa Damascena Flower Oil*, Helichrysum Italicum Extract*, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool   (*Ingredient Produced By Organic Farming)


Disclosure: Product provided for review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.  Post contains affiliate links.

Sometime in the last couple of years, my skin has gone from being more normal to oily to normal to dry.  It's a change I can embrace fully when it comes to not getting shiny throughout the day, but it has also meant adapting to a different cleansing routine.  Soaps and foaming cleansers that once left my skin feeling fine, now often leave my face feeling overly tight and dry.  I've definitely gained a greater appreciation for gentle, creamy cleansers!

Enter Amala's Hydrating Cream Cleanser from stage right...
  

Amala is a German skincare company that's been on my radar for quite a while.  The entire line is certified organic by NATRUE and the company prides itself on cutting no corners when it comes to the quality and purity of ingredients.  This focus definitely comes through with the Hydrating Cream Cleanser.

Amala's Hydrating collection is intended to replenish and sustain skin's moisture levels.  The entire line is rich in jasmine, renowned for its nourishing, smoothing and antioxidant benefits and the cleanser also contains white clay and papaya, which gently exfoliate to remove impurities and dead skin cells, whilst the jasmine and other ingredients hydrate and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier.

The cleanser has a rich, lotion-like texture and does not foam at all.  Instead, it glides across your face, gentling removing any dirt or face makeup.  It's a little less effective on mascara and eye liner, though it can be done if you don't mind a little extra rubbing around the eyes.  Personally, I prefer to pre-cleanse with an oil to remove any makeup, and follow with Amala's cleanser to deep clean my skin.




After rinsing the cleanser off, my face is left feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated.  My skin never feels irritated and I've experienced much less dryness heading into winter than in previous years.  In fact, smell is the only area where this product falls short for me.  Jasmine is not a favorite scent of mine and at times the cleanser smells overly sweet and cloying.  It's not enough to prevent me from using it and enjoying all the other benefits the cleanser has to offer, but it would likely deter me from repurchasing in the future.  

The Bottom Line
Amala's Hydrating Cream Cleanser is excellent for dry or sensitive skin, and I think it would also be great for almost anyone during the colder autumn/winter months.  Plus, if you're a jasmine lover, I really don't think you can go wrong here!  

In terms of price, Amala is definitely a luxury brand, but the ingredients and quality speak for themselves.  In fact, once you factor in the amount of product you receive, the price point is not unreasonable. $70 is a lot to spend on a cleanser, no doubt, but the cost-per-ounce of the larger, 8.1 ounce bottle, is only slightly higher than that of my previous favorite cleanser, Weleda's Soothing Almond Cleansing Lotion.  It will also last you quite a long time!  If you've got the money and enjoy high quality skincare, Amala is definitely a brand worth looking into.

Where to Buy: $48 from Spirit Beauty Lounge, $48/$70 from Amala

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract*, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Water*, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Xanthan Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopherol, Silver Sulfate, Fragrance (Parfum)+, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil*, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil*, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract*, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract*, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract*, Alcohol*, Eugenol+, Limonene+, Linalool+ *Ingredient produced by organic farming




Disclosure: Product provided for review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.  Post contains affiliate links.