Naturalla Beauty

It's that time again: empties!  I used up a decent number of samples this month, but only four full sized products.  Keep reading for my thoughts on everything...

FULL SIZED PRODUCTS

George's Always Active Aloe Spray Mister   [Review]
I was in love with this spray initially, but I'm no longer convinced it does anything more than water.  It does work well for setting your makeup, hydrating or cooling your face, and helping oils/serums rub into your skin better, but since this ran out, I've been using plain water in a spray bottle, and I haven't noticed any difference.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner   [Review]
Love this conditioner!  This is the first summer that I haven't struggled with frizzy hair in the humidity and I credit a lot of that to Acure's shampoo and conditioner.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

South of France Lemon Mint Liquid Soap   [Review]
Really great as either a hand soap or body wash.  Lathers up well, smells fresh and lovely - lemony with a touch of mint - and does not leave your skin feeling tight or dry.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

(Seed) Grape Seed Enriched Body Lotion   [Review]
(Seed)'s lotion is on the lighter side, which was great for the summer.  It rubs in super easily and still moisturizes well.  The pump is a nice added convenience too! 
Repurchase? Maybe.

SAMPLES

Consonant Ultra Firming Eye Cream
Consonant was kind enough to send me a few samples after a conversation on Twitter, and this was the first one I reached for.  They recommended it for both under eye circles and puffiness, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to do much for my dark circles.  It does, however, take down puffiness like no other eye cream I've used.  This plus my Pure + Simple eye cream - which is great for darkness but falls short with puffiness - makes the perfect combination, but I'm not sure it's feasible to layer two eye creams in the long run.  I have a sample of Consonant's Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream to try next, so I'm hoping that one will end up being a better fit.
Repurchase? Probably not. 

Cheeky Cosmetics Honeycomb Eye Shadow   [Review]
I really like Cheeky Cosmetics' eye shadows, but Honeycomb wasn't a standout colour for me.  It's a pretty golden brown, don't get me wrong, but I have an abundance of eye shadow and it wasn't unique enough that I need to replace it immediately.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Face Naturals Peppermint & Tea Tree Deodorant
The mini deodorant is super cute and the perfect size for toting around, which I guess is good, since it's something that needs to be reapplied throughout the day!  Even on days when I do nothing, this deodorant doesn't get me through the day stink-free unless I use it more than once.  It's also the worst for getting deodorant marks on clothing.  It doesn't seem to matter how I put my shirt on, I always end up with an awkward white smear on it somewhere!  I've loved plenty of other Face Naturals products, but I really had to force myself to use this one up!  
Repurchase? No.

Dr. Bronner's Citrus Orange Pure Castile Soap
I'm pretty sure everyone knows Dr. Bronner's.  This castile soap is insanely multi-purpose and is a great product to have on hand.  Since it's so gentle, I used the sample to hand wash some delicates.  The citrus scent isn't my favorite, but it worked just as well as any of the other ones.
Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.

Himalaya Neem & Turmeric Face Wash
Himalaya is a new-to-me brand, but I was excited to try out this sample whilst hunting for a new cleanser.  I'm still curious to try more from the line, but this face wash just didn't work for me.  It's a gel cleanser that's difficult to wash off and it left my skin feeling tight and a little dry.  It's recommended for normal to oily skin, so it may work better for oilier skin types.
Repurchase? No.

Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this, since I usually choose unscented lotions.  It has a subtle scent that dissipates pretty quickly and I was completely fine with it. It's a little richer than my usual Acure lotion, which I imagine will be fantastic come winter.  And, I love that, unlike the Acure, it's a lotion I can actually buy in stores here.  
Repurchase? It's very likely.  

Black Rose Minerals Skink Eye Shadow   [Review]
Skink is another shimmery tan/light brown/gold and really lovely.  These kinds of shades are my favorite for an everyday eye and I'm starting to running low!  Definitely considering ordering a full size.
Repurchase? Maybe.

That's all for August!  Have you tried any of these products?

Brianna from iluvjesse444 had the great idea of doing a green beauty collaboration highlighting our favourite products that we'd happily repurchase.  As much as I love testing new products out, there are quite a few favorites that I stay loyal to as well.  These are products that I use regularly - things I either can't imagine being without or things that I'll stray from temporarily before inevitably returning to.  I had a hard time choosing, but I finally narrowed it down to these fifteen.  A lot of these I've done full reviews on, so if that's the case, it'll be linked down below, should you be looking for more information. 



1. Yarok Feed Your Roots Mousse   [Review]
I might have a lot of hair products in rotation, but on a day-to-day basis, I'm really pretty basic.  Shampoo, conditioner, and this mousse to style with. Basically, it hits every single one of my bucket points for a styling product.  It defines my curls and gives a light hold without leaving any crunchy or sticky feeling, and though it smells great, the smell doesn't linger on my hair.  I've actually just purchased the full size of this after finishing up the mini, travel size I'd originally bought.

2. Balm Balm Fragrance Free Multi Purpose Lip Balm   [Review]
Not only is this a great lip balm, but it really is multi-purpose as the name suggests.  It has a soft balm consistency that melts on contact with your skin and I've used it on my lips, random dry patches, all over my face, and even as a makeup remover.  Not surprisingly my tube is starting to run low, but I'll definitely be buying another when I run out! 

3. Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lipstick in Bavarian Creme   [Review]
I doubt I ever would have tried these lipsticks if I hadn't had a Sephora credit note to spend, but thankfully I did!  They're a little on the pricier side at $15USD/$19CAD, but I do think they're worth it.  In particular, I love Bavarian Creme, which is an amazing pinky-mauve.  It's that perfect "my lips but better" color on me.

4. Loose Mineral Eye Shadows
Although I can appreciate the convenience of pressed shadows, I really do love my loose shadows.  Pigmentation is generally not something you need to worry about with loose shadows and I really don't find them that much more difficult to work with.  Since I probably could have made a list of just the 15 eye shadows I would repurchase, this is kind of a cheat item.  Pictured here are a few of my top picks from Shiro Cosmetics, The Chequered Lily Apothecary, and Persephone Minerals (which is no longer around, unfortunately.)

5. Aura Cacia Organic Argan Oil   [Review]
Considering all the hype, I actually waited quite a while to try argan oil, but once I did, I was hooked!  I use it on my hair after every shower and occasionally on my face too, if it's feeling dry.  I also used it in the homemade body oil I made to combat winter dryness.  I haven't tried a ton of brands, but I really like Aura Cacia's oil and I'm fairly certain it's the one I'll be repurchasing once I use up my current bottle.  It's great quality, affordable, and I prefer the pump top to a dropper or other dispenser.

6. Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder   [Review]
I know I've talked a lot about Lucy Minerals' foundation, but I don't think I've given enough love to their finishing powder.  I originally bought it to use in combination with their foundation, but recently, I've also been using it as a setting powder for a few other foundations.  It looks peach in the jar, but it goes on translucent, so it doesn't add any extra coverage or make you look cakey.  It just sets your foundation, extends wear time, and slightly blurs any imperfections or fine lines, making them less apparent.

7. Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach   [Review]
I use this under my eyes, pretty much every single day, whether I'm wearing a full face of makeup or not.  I'm one of those people who always has some degree of dark circles to conceal and this does a fantastic job brightening the whole under eye area.  I've been using it for nearly two years now and I've only just recently started on my second jar, so it's a product where a little bit really does go a long way!  On a slightly related note, I've also just recently discovered what I think is the dream team of undereye concealers: Vapour Illusionist Concealer + Sleep in a Jar.  More on that another time!

8. Silk Naturals Lip Products   [Review]
Silk Naturals is also one of my favorite companies for lip products.  The majority of them are under $5 and the quality really is top notch.  I wouldn't repurchase every single colour I have, but there are at least a good 5-6 shades that I wouldn't want to be without.  Pictured here are Shrieking Violet Liquid Lip Gloss and Dame Buttercream Lip Glaze (which seems to be discontinued, rats!)  I've accumulated several more than I what I had when I wrote the original review - let me know if you'd be interested in seeing an updated collection post.

9. Young Living Moisturizers   [Review]
Young Living's moisturizers have been favorites of mine for years now and I've repurchased them multiple times.  The Boswellia Wrinkle Cream used to be my top pick, but this winter, I really loved the Sandalwood Moisture Cream, so I'm not sure which one I prefer anymore.  Both of them are on the expensive side, but I haven't found another moisturizer I like as much as these two.

10. George's Always Active Aloe Spray Mister   [Review]
This is another fantastic multi-use product!  I first bought it to use as a makeup setting spray, and while it works great for that, it's also become a much loved step in my daily skincare routine.  I use it morning and night, in between my toner and moisturizer.  It's great for adding an extra kick of hydration that gets sealed in when you apply moisturizer on top.  I also love using it before applying any facial oils, since it helps them rub in a little easier, much the same way that applying body oils to damp skin does.  If that's not enough, I've also used it in my hair and it's great for skin irritations and burns too! 

11. Faerie Organic Forty Winks Eye Primer   [Review]
This is a fairly new discovery for me, but it's something I already can't see myself being without!  With Forty Winks, my eye makeup doesn't budge for a good 14 hours.  It also has super clean ingredients and is seriously the best eye shadow primer I've ever used.  

12. Lip Liners
When I hear people complain that natural lip colors/glosses/tints don't last long enough, I always point them to lip liners.  On their own, they aren't the most hydrating of lip products, but for times when I really want my lip colour to last, I always opt for filling in my entire lip with a lip pencil and then applying lip balm or a sheer gloss on top.  I especially love this technique for bolder lip colours, since you don't have to worry about them sliding around on your lips.  Pictured here are are Zuzu Luxe in Fraise and LUVU Beauty in Classic Red.

13. Zuzu Luxe Mascara in Onyx 
I hope you aren't sick of hearing me talk about this mascara!  It's a true black colour, thickens nicely, is decently buildable, lasts all day, doesn't smudge or flake, and doesn't irritate my eyes.  I've probably repurchased it ten or more times.  

14. Badger Balm Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in Creamy Cocoa
Along with the Balm Balm, this Badger lip balm is what I used to keep my lips hydrated through this cold winter.  It's creamy, super hydrating, and thick enough that it lasts a nice while on your lips too.  The Creamy Cocoa one has no added essential oils or fragrance, which lets the amazing cocoa butter smell shine through.  Love it!

15. Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent
This is another product I can't see myself being without.  Recently, I've been using it to mix up a homemade witch hazel and glycerin toner, but even when I wasn't using it on a daily basis, I still enjoyed using it as an occasional treatment.  Witch hazel is phenomenal for keeping your pores clean and there are also tons of other uses for it.  My favorite brand is Humprey's, which is literally just witch hazel extract in a small amount of alcohol.  I've actually just bought a new jumbo size bottle of this stuff!


So, those are my top choices for products I'd repurchase!  Do any of these make your repurchase list too? 

Also, make sure you  check out the list of other green beauties participating in the collab by clicking here!