Showing posts with label EvanHealy. Show all posts

A Birthday Giveaway

I've been gathering goodies for this giveaway for a while and today - which just so happens to be my birthday - seemed like a good time to finally put it up!  It's nothing huge or extravagant, just a little something to say thank you to all of you who read my small section of the internet.  I really am grateful to everyone who takes the time!

Given the weather of late, tea seemed pretty appropriate, and I've also included some other things that I thought would be great to have during these last few months of winter, but also all year.  

Here's what's up for grabs:



The giveaway will be open internationally and the only requirement to enter is that you follow me in some way.  Enter as many or as few ways as you'd like using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Contains affiliate links

November Empties / Products I've Used Up

It's interesting to notice how much empties posts vary by season.  Temperatures dropped quite a bit in November here, so it's pretty fitting that this month's empties are heavy on really moisturizing products.  Here's what I finished up this month:


This is a great body wash.  It leaves my skin feeling very soft and hydrated and the Sweet Orange Vanilla scent is lovely.  I wouldn't go out of my way to use it as a shampoo, but it'll do the trick in a pinch.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Frangipani Toning Serum*   (Review)
With a simple base of apricot kernel and jojoba oils, this was the lighter of the two Frangipani serums I tried.  I liked it, but I have a lot of face oils hanging around and it's not one I found myself reaching for very often, so in the interest of both clearing some space and not having products expire on me, I ended up using it up as a body oil.
Repurchase? No.

I was initially a bit put off by the length the ingredients list on the back of this product, but there really isn't anything specifically worrisome there.  If you're used to more traditional foaming shaving creams, the lotiony consistency of the Moisture Shave might take some getting used to, but I really like it.  It nicely cushions the skin and allows your razor to glide easily.  You also can't beat the price - I paid roughly $6 on iherb for a generous 11 oz. bottle that lasted me months.
Repurchase? Yes!  I think I want to try the Pomegranate Grapefruit scent next though.  

Moor Spa Facial Mask*   (Review)
I enjoyed using this mask when I was short on time or when my skin was acting more sensitive.  It's gentler than a lot of other clay-based masks, so I think it would be especially suitable for drier and more sensitive skin.  It was also refreshing to have a mask all ready to go in a tube, versus the rest of my masks that are in powder form.  
Repurchase? Maybe.

This is a nice lotion with a thinner consistency that rubs in very easily, but it still manages to hydrate well.  The White Mallow products have no added fragrance, but the body lotion has a light, natural coconut scent from the coconut oil in it.
Repurchase? Not sure.  There are other body lotions I like more.

Raw Gaia MSM Beauty Spray*   (Review)
I mentioned in my review that I didn't find this spray hydrating enough to be considered a moisturizer - as the company markets it - and now that I've used it up completely, I have a better idea why that was.  The first 95% of the bottle was a light, watery spray, but once I got down to the bottom, I found all the rich oils.  I've used other products that required shaking before each use to emulsify them, but I guess shaking didn't do the trick with this one.  I really liked the watery, toner-like part, but I wasn't as impressed with the oils.  
Repurchase? If I knew some way to better incorporate the oil component, yes.  Otherwise, I'm not sure.

When I first tried this lotion over the summer, I found it very hydrating - even a little heavy - but when I came back to it in the colder months, it didn't quite do the trick.  Rubbing it on more recently, it felt pretty watery and seemed like it disappeared into my skin without giving much moisture.
Repurchase? I don't think so.

KYI's products are a great example of simplicity at its best.  The Unscented Shea Butter Mask has only two ingredients: shea butter and jojoba oil.  It's not significantly different from any other whipped shea butter, but it worked well as a regular moisturizer, a moisturizing face mask - as the name suggests - and also on any dry spots (elbows, feet, etc.)
Repurchase? Maybe.


EvanHealy's French Rose Clay is a favorite of mine, so I was curious to see how the Green Tea Clay would compare.  It has the same lovely, finely milled consistency as the Rose Clay, but I didn't feel like it was anything special beyond that. 
Repurchase? No.

I think the best part of this product is the smell.  It's like icing: a sweet and buttery vanilla scent.  It's also whipped - for 4-6 continuous hours, according to the EvanHealy website - to a beautiful fluffy consistency that really elevates it to a luxurious level above any other shea product I've used.  Much like the KYI mask, it's something you can use as a daily moisturizer or as a more intensive mask treatment, although I ended up using most of the sample on my body.
Repurchase? Probably not.  It's a pricey product to use as a body moisturizer.

RoseMira Organics Sweet Coconut Body Butter (sample)
I received this in a Petit Vour box a few months back, and while I enjoyed using it, it didn't blow me away.  It smelled good, but it felt very similar to moisturizing with plain coconut oil.
Repurchase? No.

Skincando's Balm is a multi-tasking skin salve that's recommended for everything from severe dryness and eczema to minor abrasions, razor burn, chafing, scars, jock itch, bug bites, and sun and wind burn.  I used the sample on my hands, which started to suffer when the temperatures dropped, and while it worked fine, I have other balms that I like more.
Repurchase? I don't think so.

As a whole, I like Silk Naturals blushes, but this wasn't my favorite shade.  Stellar is a pretty, shimmery pale pink, and while I like the color, I have some larger pores on parts of my cheeks, and Stellar's large amount of shimmer just made them more noticeable.
Repurchase? No.

I'm not a big fan of Green Beaver's shampoos and conditioners, so I ended up using this sample in place of shaving cream.  It worked okay, but I wouldn't buy it strictly for that purpose.
Repurchase? No.

Ella's Botanicals Skin Soother & Go Nuts Bar Soap (samples)
I know I've written about Ella's soaps a few times before.  I like the feel of both of these, but I'm not crazy about the canola oil in the Go Nuts bar.  The Skin Soother has an olive oil base instead, so I would (and have) bought the full size bar.  
Repurchase? Skin Soother, yes.  Go Nuts, probably not.

Have you tried any of these?  What products have you used up recently?

*Press sample
Contains affiliate links.

         

The Starting Over Tag (I Filmed a Video!)

Sarah from Sugarpuffish tagged me to do the Starting Over Tag, and since I first saw this tag on Youtube, I decided to try something different and film a video, rather than doing an ordinary blog post.  

Actually hitting publish on this post is a lot more nerve wracking than normal, because it's me + the internet in a new way, but what the heck!  Please excuse the choppy editing and general awkwardness.



If you don't want to watch the video, here's a quick rundown of what I chose.  Where applicable, I've included a link to my full review.

Skin
1. Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser   [Review]
2. Karooch Hazelnut Oil
3. EvanHealy French Rose Clay Mask   [Review]
4. Epic Blend More Moisture Lip Balm (Unflavored)

Hair

5. Acure Organics Moroccan Argan + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo & Conditioner   [Review]
6. Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz   [Review]
7. Beautiful Curls Shea Butter Curl Reviving Tonic   [Review]

Body

8. Nourish Organics Body Wash   [Review]
9. Acure Organics Unscented Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Body Lotion   [Review]

Makeup

10. Honeybee Gardens Pressed Powder Foundation (Geisha)   [Review]
11. Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar (Light Peach)   [Review]
12. Faerie Organic Forty Winks Eye Shadow Primer   [Review]
13. Darling Girl Cosmetics Eye Shadow (Blitzen + Harvest Moon)   [Review]
14. Honeybee Gardens Eyeliner (Smoking Gun)
15. Zuzu Luxe The Mascara (Onyx)   [Review]
16. Mineral Fusion Nail Polish (Amethyst)

Contains affiliate links

August Empties / Products I've Used Up

Not a ton of empties this month, but nearly everything is something I've either already repurchased or something I anticipate buying again in the not too distant future.  Here's what's headed to the bin this time around:



Suki Concentrated Balancing Toner (now the Concentrated Clarifying Toner)
I like the signature, lemony scent that most of Suki's line has, and the Balancing Toner was no exception.  It had a good, even spray and felt light and non-sticky going on - perfect for summer.  The trial size only lasted me about two weeks, but even in that short time, I noticed my pores looked cleaner and less visible.
Repurchase? Yes.

Vice1960 Facial Oil*   [Review]
Vice1960 was one of my favorite discoveries of this year and I particularly enjoyed this oil.  It's a gorgeous blend that includes hazelnut, radish, meadowfoam, and jojoba oils, and it consistently left my skin hydrated, glowy, and very clear.  The company is going to be launching five (!) new oils soon too, which is super exciting.   
Repurchase? Yes.

Aura Cacia Organic Argan Oil   [Review]
Argan was the first oil I really fell for and it's a still a staple in my haircare routine.  I use it on the ends  of my hair and also sometimes on my face too.  Aura Cacia's organic argan oil is affordable and the quality is generally great.  I've gone through multiple bottles without issue, but this particular one smelled strangely minty, even though it's labelled as 100% argan oil.  
Repurchase? Possibly.  I ordered Acure's argan oil this time, but I'd likely buy Aura Cacia's again too. I'm hesitant to order it online though, after the peppermint scent of this bottle.

Pure + Simple Eye Brightening Cream   [Review]
I wasn't completely sold on this eye cream when I wrote my original review, but I ended up picking up a full size jar anyways and slowly came to love it.  It doesn't do a lot for puffiness, but it's amazing on dark circles.  It's also gentle and very moisturizing without being heavy.
Repurchase? Yes.

Pretty Pure Radiance Day Cream   [Review]
I've enjoyed many of Pretty's products, but I think the Pure Radiance Cream is my favorite to date.  It's a rich cream, but it sinks in quickly and never leaves my face greasy or shiny, no matter how generously I slather it on.  It has a soft, neutral scent and is also the best base I've found for applying makeup.  It won't get rid of pores or fine lines like a silicone-based primer, but it does soften both, plus I think my makeup lasts better on top of this than anything else I've tried.
Repurchase? Definitely.

Peppy Galore Diva Face Moisturizer (sample)
I liked everything about this moisturizer except the vanilla scent.  Because of the smell, I actually ended up using most of my sample as a body moisturizer.  Peppy Galore has recently shut down, so I'm just as happy this didn't turn out to be a perfect product for me.
Repurchase? No.

Balm Balm Hibiscus Face Mask (sample)
Balm Balm's Hibiscus mask is a simple formulation made of just brown rice powder, hibisicus flowers, and rose geranium essential oil.  I think it'd be great for super sensitive skin that might not be able to tolerate other masks, but personally, I found it was so gentle that it didn't really do much at all.  The second time I used it, I boosted it with some green clay and I enjoyed the combination a lot more than I did this mask by itself.
Repurchase? Probably not.

EvanHealy Blue Rosehip Treatment Serum (sample)
I like EvanHealy's Rosehip serums, but in terms of what they do for my skin, I don't notice any difference compared to using a much less expensive, plain rosehip seed oil.  The Blue Serum is my favorite of the two though, purely because of the chamomile/lavender scent.  
Repurchase? No.

ZuzuLuxe The Mascara in Onyx   [Review]
Another tube bites the dust!  No matter how many other mascaras I try, I always come back to Zuzu.  It's gentle and doesn't irritate my eyes, plus it doesn't smudge or flake on me at all.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

And that was it for August.  I'm happy to use things up, as always, but I'm a little sad to see some of these products go!


*Press Sample
Contains affiliate links

EvanHealy French Rose Clay


It's no secret that I've become slightly obsessed with face masks recently.  There's just something lovely and luxurious about taking the time to pamper, treat, and nourish your skin, and any awesome skin results that come afterwards are just icing on the cake!  Clay masks are some of my favorites, but if left on too long, they can sometimes leave my face feeling tight, stripped, or sensitive.  Which is why I'm so happy to have discovered EvanHealy's French Rose Clay.  A simple blend of pink kaolin and Moroccan rhassoul clays, it's remarkably effective but also very gentle and never leaves my skin in any distress.

The powdered clay is extremely soft and velvety.  It's more finely milled than most clays I've encountered, which produces a slightly thinner consistency of mask.  I usually like to mix in a couple drops each of jojoba and frankincense oils, and then just enough water to hold it all together.  The mask feels cool and refreshing as you apply it and it's amazing at sucking all the gunk and oil out of your pores.  In fact, one of the gross-but-awesome things about EvanHealy's mask is that you can actually see the stuff that is being pulled out of your pores as the clay absorbs it, so there's no question as to whether or not it's doing something.

After washing the mask off, my skin feels soft, clean, and refreshed.  My pores look clear, any blackheads are gone, and I don't experience any redness or dry skin.  I still follow up with an oil and/or moisturizer, but that's as a regular part of my routine, not because I'm feeling a desperate need to infuse as much moisture back into my skin as possible.

The Bottom Line
If you're looking for an effective clay mask that's suitable for all skin types (even sensitive!), I don't think you can do any better than EvanHealy's French Rose Clay.  It's excellent at decongesting the skin and great for keeping pores clean and skin looking vibrant.  Even my Mom - who is usually pretty low maintenance with her skincare - is a recent convert.  The results speak for themselves and she's a fan now too!

Where to Buy: $21.95 from EvanHealy

What are your favorite masks?

July Empties / Products I've Used Up

As you've probably noticed already, Naturalla Beauty has a new look!  I'm not all that skilled in blog design or coding, so I finally decided it was worth spending a little money and hiring someone to get the site looking how I wanted it to, and there you have it! There are still one or two kinks to be worked out, so bear with me on those, but I'm super excited about it and really happy with how it all turned out.  

Back on topic: July empties!  I know everyone says this, but I can't believe it's August already.  This month has really flown by, but somewhere in there I still managed to finish up a good number of products:


Acure Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Body Lotion   [Review]
I love this lotion!  It's a great moisturizer that rubs in easily and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy or tacky.  I like that it's unscented (and without any icky unscented scent), but there are also other options if you prefer your lotions to be scented.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Green Beaver Grapefruit Facial Cleanser (sample)
Green Beaver is an affordable, Canadian line, and I was happy to get my hands on a sample of their gel cleanser.  It worked well, but sometimes left my face feeling a little tight and dry.  It also contains grapefruit seed extract, which isn't my favorite ingredient to be using all the time.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Foundation in Geisha   [Review]
This is one of my top foundation picks and something I've written about multiple times before.  I love that it can be used lightly as a setting powder or built up to a nice, flawless finish on it's own.  I should probably mention that while I love the powder itself, I do not recommend spending the extra money on the compact, which is not airtight and will leak powder everywhere.  I've been keeping my refill in the plastic packaging this time around, and while it's not especially pretty, it's an improvement - at least I don't have powder flying everywhere!
Repurchase? The foundation, yes, I already have.  The compact, no.

Blum Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues
These are pretty standard blotting papers, not a whole lot to say.  My only complaint is that even though the papers are standard sized, the packaging is quite bulky and cumbersome.
Repurchase? Maybe.

KYI Sweet Almond Softening Oil (samples)   [Review]
I've recently become something of a body oil convert, which I credit to a combination of these oils and Lina Hanson's Body Serum.  I'm still slowly working my way through a full size of the unscented softening oil, but these samples of the litsea cubeba and chamomile lavender scents got used up pretty quickly.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Sandalwood Moisture Cream
I've alternated between this cream and Young Living's Boswellia Wrinkle Cream for years and gotten great results from both, particularly when my skin used to be more acne-prone.  I've been trying out some new skin care recently, but I could see myself going back to this moisturizer in the future.  
Repurchase? Probably.

Peppermint Earthpaste Toothpaste   [Review]
Love this toothpaste!  It's glycerin-free and leaves my teeth feeling smooth and clean and my mouth feeling fresh.  The wintergreen flavor is my favorite, but the peppermint is good too.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm   [Review]
One of my favorite lip balms, this is moisturizing but not greasy, and it lasts on your lips really well.  I even used the end of the tube to keep my eyebrows in place. (Eyebrow gel - who needs it?!) 
Repurchase? Yes, definitely.

Evan Healy French Rose Clay (sample)
I regularly do green clay masks, but the pink, which is a combination of rose kaolin and Moroccan rhassoul clays, made a nice change.  It was a little gentler than the clay I usually use, but it definitely still did the trick.  I could also clearly see all the gunk it sucked out of my pores, which was fun, if a little gross.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion (sample)
Super gentle cleanser.  I love how simple the ingredients are and it left my skin feeling cleansed but not dry in the least.  It's probably the closest thing I've found to a cold cream, so if you're looking for a natural replacement, definitely check this out!  I used it like a standard cleanser, on damp skin and rinsed off, but I could also see it working when applied to dry skin and just wiped off.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap (sample)
Pretty standard stuff if you're into natural products, Dr. Bronner's has a hundred and one uses.  I used the sample to clean my makeup brushes.  I don't mind the peppermint, but I generally go for the unscented one.
Repurchase? Yes.

Ella's Botanicals Bar Soap in Chai Latte, Lavender Bliss, and Lemon Zing (samples)
Ella's is a lovely Toronto company, but I'm a little mixed on these soaps.  Ingredient-wise, I love that the soaps are made without palm oil, but I wish the company used something other than canola oil, since that brings with it a whole host of GMO concerns.  I also didn't like the lavender scent, but I enjoyed the chai and lemon ones.
Repurchase? Maybe.

What did you use up this month?