Naturalla Beauty

This post is going up a few days behind schedule for a number of reasons.  First, I had it in my head I was going to film an empties video this month, but that clearly never panned out.  I've also been struggling with some general camera issues recently.  I've noticed - and you may have too - that for the last several months my photos aren't as crisp as they used to be, especially the right 1/4 or 1/3 of the picture which often ends up particularly fuzzy.  I'm no photography expert, so while I've been frustrated, I've brushed it off as operator error, but I'm wondering if it's really more of a hardware issue.  Any photography/camera wizards, please feel free to weigh in :)

Getting back on topic, lets talk about September empties.  If you aren't familiar with these posts, this is where I give final impressions of products I've used all the way up.  This month's batch is mainly body care, with a few skincare and makeup items as well.



Dr. Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash   [Review]
A really lovely hydrating body wash reminiscent of a lathering cream cleanser for your face.  Straight out of the bottle, the consistency was similar to that of a thin lotion, but with the addition of water, it foamed up pretty nicely.  If you're familiar with the Weleda Creamy Body Washes, this struck me as pretty similar - not altogether surprising when you consider the shared history of the two brands - and even smelled very close to how I remember Weleda's Citrus scent.
Repurchase? Not sure.  I'd probably choose the less costly Weleda ones instead.  

Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit Moisture Shave
The Moisture Shaves are my favorite shaving product.  You really can't beat the price and they do a great job.  If you're switching from a conventional shaving foam, there may be an adjustment period, but it's totally worth taking the time to get used to using a cream.  I loved how the Pomegranate Grapefruit scent smelled in the bottle, but on the skin, it was a little too sweet for my nose.  
Repurchase? Yes, but not in this particular scent.

Acure Unscented Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion   [Review]
This has been my favorite body lotion for several years now, but I've just started on a new tube in the new packaging and I feel like the formula has changed along with the tube.  The ingredients are almost identical - just a few additional extracts in the new one - but the consistency feels a lot more watery than the original. My sister hasn't noticed any change, so maybe I got a dud, but I'm pretty disappointed.  If anyone else has used this in both the new and old packaging, I'd love to know if you noticed any change in the formula! 
Repurchase? Not sure.  

Earthpaste Peppermint Toothpaste   [Review]
Another longtime favorite that I'm not sure I'll be buying anymore!  I went a couple days brushing with just water when I kept forgetting to move the new tube into the bathroom, and I'm convinced my teeth looked whiter during that time than when I started back using the Earthpaste.  I switched to the Peppermint flavor a couple months ago and I wonder if it's somehow - inexplicably - less brightening than the Wintergreen, which is what I've used for most of the last three years, or if Earthpaste in general has been making my teeth duller and less white without me noticing.  
Repurchase? I don't know.

Mamma Oceania Baby Clean Soap*  [Review]
The Mamma Oceania soaps are wonderful unscented soaps handmade in Toronto and the Baby Clean with chamomile, banana, kelp, and oatmeal is my favorite.  It has a slight creamy/clean scent - though there are no added scent ingredients - and is super gentle on the skin.  All the Mamma Oceania soaps are made without palm or canola oil and are very long lasting.  
Repurchase? Yes!  I'm swimming in soaps right now, but I definitely would.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Lemongrass Face/Body Bar
Rocky Mountain Soap is another great option for Canadian bar soap.  I love how many different options the company offers and the scents, which are noticeable but not overpowering, have never bothered me.  These are also palm oil free, but they do contain canola oil, which I don't 100% love.  The Lemongrass bar smelled super fresh and citrusy - not overly spicy - and was really lovely to use.  It's labelled for oily/combination skin, but wasn't drying at all.  
Repurchase? Very likely.  Again, not immediately, but it's one I'll keep in mind in the future.  

CleanWell All Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipe
I got this as a sample somewhere and I've carried it around in my purse for probably a year or more.  For my hands, I generally prefer a liquid/gel hand sanitizer, but these wipes are great for quick cleaning or wiping down surfaces.
Repurchase? Maybe.  



Acure Cell Stimulating Facial Mask (sample)   [Review]
As I've said many times before,  I don't generally find pre-mixed masks as effective as powder ones that you activate yourself, but I think they're good to have on hand for those times when you're in a hurry or just can't be bothered to mix something up yourself.  The Acure mask didn't do a lot for me in terms of cleaning pores or detoxifying the skin, but it did leave my skin looking fresh and bright.  It emulsifies with water so most of the product rinses off easily, but I found it tended to leave a slight film on the skin, so I recommend either washing it off in the shower or with a washcloth.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  I have a couple other pre-mixed masks on the go already, but I might come back to it next time I need one.

The Little Alchemist Cacao & Banana Face Glow
This mask came in a Petit Vour box towards the beginning of the year and I quite enjoyed using it.  It's a mix of raw cacao, banana, zeolite, clay, and a variety of superfoods, including acai, green papaya, spirulina, maca, and turmeric root.  As the name suggests, it left my skin fresh and glowy, but only if I spaced out my uses.  I try to mask twice a week and when I used this too close together - more than once every couple weeks - the second use didn't have much effect on my skin at all.  If you're someone with multiple masks to rotate between, it's great, but I wouldn't suggest buying it as your only mask.  
Repurchase? Maybe.

Nonie of Beverly Hills AHA! Brilliant Moisturizer*   [Review]
I really liked this moisturizer!  With 5% AHA from sugarcane and fruit extracts, it provides daily light resurfacing and leaves the skin baby soft.  I noticed tingling from the acids initially, but that dissipated after the first week or so.  This does contain coconut oil, but the balance with the acids meant that it didn't leave my pores congested or clogged like most coconut oil products do.  
Repurchase? Yes!  I'm using something else right now, but I would consider buying it in the future.

Karooch Meadowfoam Seed Oil
I bought this with the intention of using it in a DIY body oil (totally inspired by Stark's Meaowfoam Everybody Oil), but I ended up using it as a makeup remover instead.  It had a great light consistency that made it easy to spread across the skin, but I didn't like how it smelled - kind of seedy and salad dressing-like.  You could probably cover the smell up with essential oils, but I never tried.  
Repurchase? Doubtful.  I'm still curious to try the Stark oil though!

The Body Deli Melon Foaming Cleanser
This cleanser didn't do anything terrible to my skin, but it didn't do anything good either.  With stellar brightening ingredients like turmeric, licorice root, and vitamin B12 , I had pretty high expectations, but it consistently left my skin looking dull and tired.  I tried to use it as a body wash too, but it actually irritated the skin on my body, so I'm just tossing the last third or so of the bottle.  
Repurchase? No.



Everyday Minerals Base: Golden Fair (0W) Matte, Golden Ivory (1W) Semi-Matte + Ivory (1N) Jojoba (samples)
I'm finally nearing the end of all my mineral foundation samples!  I'm pretty confident that Ivory (1N) is my best color from Everyday Minerals and the Semi-Matte formula, with its natural finish, hint of a glow and slightly sheerer coverage than the Matte and Jojoba bases, is my favorite.  Golden Fair (0W) and Golden Ivory (1W) were both far too yellow for my skin.
Repurchase? Yes.  I'm waiting for a full size of the Semi-Matte in Ivory (1N) to arrive.

Cheeky Cosmetics Blonde + Light Brunette Brow Powder (samples)
These were a complete fail for my brows - neither color matched and they were so pigmented as to be difficult to work with - but I liked them both as matte eye shadows.  Light Brunette, in particular, made a great crease/transition shade.
Repurchase? For my brows, definitely not, but I might buy Light Brunette to use as an eye shadow.    


Total Products Used Up in September
Skincare: 3  (Lip Balms: 0)
Bodycare: 6
Haircare:  0
Makeup: 0
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 3
Makeup Samples: 5

Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 32 (Lip Balms: 8)
Bodycare: 34
Haircare:  10
Makeup: 11
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 62 
Makeup Samples: 29

Dr. Hauschka has something of a cult following, but my own experiences with the brand have included a lot more misses than hits.  So, I'm excited to have discovered something from the line I can happily recommend.  I received the Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash in the December holiday swap I did with Inga from Organic Beauty Blogger, but because of my propensity for hoarding shower products, it's taken me all these months to actually crack it open and give it a try.


I'm a big fan of creamy, moisturizing body washes, and this one is no exception.  With a consistency similar to a thin lotion, it reminds me a lot of the Weleda Creamy Body Washes - in fact, it even smells similar to their citrus one - but the Dr. Hauschka is perhaps a slightly more rich and indulgent version.  The wash doesn't suds up a whole lot, so don't expect crazy bubbles, but it has good slip, spreads easily on the skin, and does lather up a little with water.  

The Lemon Lemongrass scent is bright and refreshing.  I don't smell a lot of lemongrass or really any of the ginger Dr. Hauschka's website describes, but I enjoy the citrus elements and that the scent is pretty mild and not overpowering.  As for the toning and firming properties,  I can't say I've noticed a difference in the weeks I've been using the body wash, nor am I convinced that a wash off product like this can accomplish much, but I'm never opposed to the potential for firmer skin.

For me, the best thing about this product is just how touchably soft it leaves the skin.  I've even skipped moisturizing a couple times during the time I've been using this and, to be completely honest, I haven't noticed much difference in the hydration of my skin on those days versus the ones when I have taken the time to apply a lotion or body oil.  

The Bottom Line
The Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash has a great creamy and non-drying formula and I enjoy its light citrus scent as well.  It's been a great body wash during the summer and I think it would be excellent through the colder months too.  Particularly if you tend towards dry skin, or maybe just aren't an avid moisturizer, I think this is a great product to look into.
  

Here's what she included:

Dr. Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash
Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara (01 Black)
Organic Honeybush Tea

I haven't used many Dr. Hauschka products before, but I've read a lot of good things about the Volume Mascara and citrus scents are a favorite, so I'm happy to have the chance to try these out.

Tea is also always welcome here, particularly in the winter.  I know I tried Honeybush tea once, a long time ago, but I don't remember it that well.  I'm excited to give it another taste!

Thank you, Inga!