Showing posts with label Green Beauty. Show all posts

Morrocco Method: 5 Elements Shampoo + Diamond Crystal Mist

I've tried a lot of natural shampoos in my day, and Morrocco Method may just be the most unconventional one yet. And, I love it.  Morrocco Method products are plant-based, vegan, raw, paleo, non-GMO, soy- and gluten-free, and are handmade in the USA in small batches from natural and wildcrafted ingredients.   

The shampoo line was developed around the five elements: fire, earth, air, water, and ether.  Although each individual shampoo has a recommended hair type, the company suggests rotating between all five kinds for best results.  I was sent Morrocco Method's Travel Set of 5 Shampoos and I've been doing just that for the last few months. 


The Five Elements:

Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo (Fire Element) – The most clarifying of the five, for all hair and scalp types.  Raw apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH of the scalp, regulates oil production, and stimulates blood circulation to the scalp. 

Earth Essence Shampoo (Earth Element) – Intended for normal to oily hair and scalp.  Natural clays remove excess oils from the hair and scalp.

Pine Shale Shampoo (Air Element) – For normal to dry hair and scalp, dandruff, and scalp irritation.  Restorative pine shale oil, approved in Europe as an effective dandruff treatment, reduces inflammation, calms scalp irritation, and helps with flakes, itchiness, and dryness.  (Note: MM’s pine shale oil is sourced from reservoirs beneath the earth’s surface – extracted without fracking -- and is not the same thing as crude shale oil.)

Sea Essence Shampoo (Water Element) – The most moisturizing of the five, for normal to dry hair and scalp.  Kelp, blue-green algae, and protein-rich spirulina offer hydration, repair brittle strands, and promote hair growth. 

Heavenly Essence Shampoo (Ether Element) – For normal to damaged hair and scalp.  Hemp seed oil and prickly pear extract condition the hair and scalp, and help restore shine and luster to dry or damaged hair. 

Nayelle Probiotic Skincare: Nature's Best Kept Secret?

Most of us are familiar with dietary probiotics, but did you know that these same friendly bacteria also offer topical benefits for your skin?  In the same way that maintaining healthy flora in the intestine is key for good health, maintaining healthy levels of good bacteria on the skin is important for effective barrier function and overall skin resilience, and can help with numerous skin conditions including acne, eczema and rosacea.

Nayelle Probiotic Skincare is a brand new Canadian skincare company that just launched this past November.  The line, created by experienced biochemist Peter Jurkemik, focuses on melding scientific research and natural ingredients.  In particular, Nayelle highlights four core ingredients: probiotic goat milk kefir, sea kelp, snow mushroom, and glacial clay.  These four are combined with other great ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, and bamboo to create products that are both natural and effective.  Nayelle is also Leaping Bunny approved cruelty free, gluten free, and 100% Canadian owned and operated.

I had the chance to test out Nayelle's complete line over the last couple months, so I'm going to run through each of the products and my thoughts and experiences.



Cleanse: Gentle Exfoliating Glacial Cleanser
Described as a mild cleansing cream enhanced with gentle exfoliating bamboo and glacial oceanic clay, the Exfoliating Cleanser feels very soft to the touch, but in fact offers a pretty thorough exfoliation.   I actually find the exfoliation to be a little too intense for my skin on a daily basis, but I enjoy using it as an occasional product once or twice a week.  The combination of purifying clay and finely milled bamboo adds a delicate grit to an otherwise creamy cleanser.  It foams up slightly with water, rinses away cleanly and doesn't dry out the skin.  

FYI the cleanser does contain phenoxyethanol, if that's a concern for you.  The remaining three Nayelle products are phenoxyethanol-free.

Hydrate: Probiotic Moisturizing Day Cream // Rejuvenate: Probiotic Anti-Aging Night Cream
The two moisturizers are, in my opinion, the real stars of Nayelle's range.  Both are creamy, moisturizing, and all around lovely, and combine the full fusion of Nayelle's four core ingredients.

Tremella or snow mushroom is one of the richest plant sources of vitamin D and is an ingredient commonly used in Asian skincare.  It draws water into the skin in much the same way as hyaluronic acid, but, with a smaller particle size, it's able to hold onto even more water and is also able to penetrate the skin more easily.

Probiotic goat milk kefir contains beneficial bacteria that help strengthen the skin's natural barrier function, thereby helping skin hold onto moisture more effectively.  Lactic acid and vitamin A found in goat milk also gently slough off dead skin and increase cell turnover.  

Sea Kelp is rich in antioxidants that stimulate collagen production and skin regeneration on the cellular level.  Nayelle uses a fermentation process that concentrates the nutrients in the kelp and increases their bioavailibility so they can readily be absorbed by the skin.  

Glacial Oceanic Clay is a clay originally formed by the movements of glaciers over 14,000 years ago.  It's harvested from the remote northern shores of British Columbia and is rich in over 60 minerals including iron, calcium, and magnesium.  Clay not only exfoliates and purifies the skin, but also delivers nutrients and helps regulate oil production.

Hydrate, Nayelle's day cream, is lightweight and sinks into the skin quickly.  It contains additional lactic acid, beneficial for acne and hyperpigmentation, as well as anti-aging concerns like fine lines and wrinkles.  Hydrate creates a fantastic moisturizing base that works well by itself and wears well under makeup too.

Rejuvenate, Hydrate's supercharged night counterpart, is richer, but still silky smooth.  It's intensely moisturizing but doesn't feel heavy on the skin.  Both creams have a mild orange scent and leave my skin looking bright, plump and hydrated.  I struggle with visible pores on my nose and cheeks and I noticed a difference within the first three or four days of incorporating this moisturizer duo.  The pores were less noticeable and I found my skin looking just a little more perfected overall.  I also love the airless pump bottles these two come in -- they look sleek on a vanity and also do a great job protecting the ingredients and keeping the products fresh.

Purify: Glacial Oceanic Clay Facial Mask
Most of my face masks are dry powders that require mixing, so Purify, which is ready-to-go in a tube, is fantastic for when I'm a little shorter on time.  The main ingredient is, of course, glacial oceanic clay, with a few other additives to keep it moist and creamy.  It goes on easily, dries within eight or ten minutes, and does a good job detoxifying the skin and pulling any unnecessary junk out of your pores.  The mask leaves my face looking bright and healthy and doesn't overly strip or dry out the skin.  Like the rest of the Nayelle line, it features orange essential oil and smells lightly citrusy, though my nose also picks up some earthy/oceany notes from the glacial clay.



The Bottom Line
The two probiotic moisturizers, both made with all four of Nayelle's core ingredients, were the main standouts for me, but I do like the line as a whole too.  Cleanse is a nice exfoliating cleanser, although I prefer it more as an occasional scrub than an everyday face wash, and Purify is a good gentle detox mask.  

If you're interested in making a purchase, definitely take advantage of Nayelle's end of the year sale, on now through December 31.  Everything is discounted (individual products + the complete regime), plus get free shipping within Canada and the US. 

And, because this is my final post before the holidays, I want to wish everyone a fantastic Christmas, Chanukkah, New Years, and any other holiday you may celebrate this time of year.  Thanks for reading Naturalla Beauty in 2016!  I hope 2017 brings us all lots of health, prosperity, and happiness :)


*Press sample
Contains affiliate links

Black Friday / Cyber Monday Green Beauty Deals Galore!

Happy US Thanksgiving!  For those of you celebrating, I hope you're having a great day with family and friends.  For the rest of us, this weekend isn't anything special, aside from the shopping.  (Did you know: apparently a million of us Canadians will call in sick to work tomorrow to go shopping?!)

And if you aren't up for facing the crowds, there are always the online sales!  Is it just me, or do those start earlier and earlier every year?  I usually put this post up Friday morning, but since my email has been BLOWING UP with sales since Monday, I'm hustling to get it up a day early.  I'll update throughout the weekend as more sales are revealed.


As I do every year, I've used a heart (♥) to indicate Canadian stores/brands.  

ABE'S MARKET
Select Products Up to 50% Off
Friday

ACURE ORGANICS
50% Off (Code: CYBER2015)
Free Unscented Argan Oil Towelette with $100+
Monday

THE ALL NATURAL FACE
20% Off (Code: CYBER2015)
Friday through Monday

AQUARIAN BATH
15% Off (Code: GreenFriday)
Friday

AURORA BEAUTY

20% Off + Mystery Gift (Code: GB20)
Free US/Canada Shipping $50+
Now through Friday

BALANCED GURU

30% Off (Code: THANKSGIVING)
Friday

BLISSOMA

Free Timeless Vitamin C Serum with $150+ (Code: SHOPSMALL2015)
Saturday and Sunday

BRIJA COSMETICS

25% Off (Code: BLACKCYBER25) Excludes Titanic Collection
Free Netflix & Chill Eye Shadow with $30+
Friday through Monday

BUFF HER
25% Off (Code: THANKFUL)
Now through Sunday

THE CHOOSY CHICK

15% Off (Code: THANKS15)
Free US shipping over $40
Friday through Monday

CLEMENTINE FIELDS ♥
Free Vapour Courtesan mini blush with Vapour purchases of $100+
Friday

CONSCIOUS BEAUTY

20% Off (Code: HOLIDAY)
30% Off $100+ (Code: HOLIDAY100)
Now through Monday

CONTENT BEAUTY & WELLBEING

15% Off (Code: BLACK)
20% Off £85+ (Code: BLACK20)

CRAZY RUMORS
All Lip Balms $1.99 (reg. $3.49)
Friday

THE DETOX MARKET
$10 Off $100+ (Code: GIVE10)
$30 Off $200+ (Code: GIVE30)
$100 Off $400+ (Code GIVE100)
Free Shipping
Now through Friday

$10 Off $100+ (Code: GIVE10)

$30 Off $200+ (Code: GIVE30)
$100 Off $400+ (Code GIVE100)
Some products discounted HERE (link goes live Monday)
Monday

ECO DIVA BEAUTY ♥

30-40% Off Select Items HERE (Must login/register to see deals)
Friday through Sunday

FITGLOW BEAUTY ♥

Select Items Discounted
Friday and Saturday

FLOURISH BODYCARE
Buy One Get One Free (No Code)
Saturday

FRESH FACED ♥

$10 Off $100+ (Code: LOVE10)
$30 Off $200+ (Code: LOVE30)
$50 Off $300+ (Code: LOVE50)
Now through Friday.  Cyber Monday Sale to be revealed.  

GABRIEL COSMETICS

30% Off Skin Care (Code: Skincare30)

GLAM GOES GREEN ♥

Up to 40% Off Select Items

GNARLY WHALE

40-50% Off Select Gift Sets (Prices already discounted)
30% off Everything Else (Code: BF302015)
Surprise Gift Card ($5-50) with $35+
Free US Shipping $50+
Friday through Monday

GRAYDON ♥

Free Limited Edition Lotion with $50+ (Code: BlackFridayCyberMonday)
Now through Monday

THE GREEN JUNGLE BEAUTY SHOP ♥

15% Off (Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Now through Monday

GRESSA SKIN
Free Bare, Radiant and Regal Lip Boosts with $100+ (No Code)

HERBIVORE BOTANICALS
20% Off (Code: BF20)
Friday

HOLISKIN

25% Off (Code: BFRIDAY25)
Friday through Sunday

HOLLY BETH ORGANICS

25% Off (Code: BLACK FRIDAY)
Free Shipping
Friday

THE HONEST CO.
Discounts on Bundles (Details HERE)
Extra $10 Off for 1st Time Customers through this referral link

HONEYBEE GARDENS

15% Off (Code: BFRI15)
Free North American Shipping
Friday

HYNT BEAUTY

30% Off (No Code)
Now through Monday

IHERB

10% Off (No code)
Extra 10% Off Bath & Beauty (No Code)
Extra $5 Off for 1st Time Customers (Referral Code: ITI429)
Now through Monday

INDIE LEE

20% Off (Code:GiveThanksTake20)
Now through Monday

INTEGRITY BOTANICALS
15% Off (Code: THANKS15)
Free Mini of Vitner's Daughter Serum with First 20 Purchases of $100+
Free Minis of Vitner's Daughter Serum + Bottega Organica Eye Illuminate with First 10 Purchases of $200+
Friday through Monday

INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS
Free US Shipping
Friday through Monday

JUICE BEAUTY
Select products discounted
Free US shipping
Friday and Saturday

20$ Off + Free US Shipping (Code: CYBER20)

Sunday and Monday

Free Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift Algae Mask with $75+ (Code: EL2015)

Free Green Apple Hand Cream with $35+ (Code: GREEN2015)
Now through December 31, 2015

KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY

20% Off (Code: KAHINA20)
Friday

KARI GRAN SKIN

Deals on the Hour
8AM-5PM PST Friday

LANI HAIR
15% Off (Code: Blackfriday)
Friday

LAUREN BROOKE COSMETIQUES

Free Gift with Every Purchase (Details HERE)
Free Bonus Gift Cards with Gift Card Purchases
Friday through Sunday

30% Off (Full Size Items Only)

Monday

LEVERT BEAUTY
20% Off (Code: SOCIAL20)
Every 25th order wins a Kjaer Weiss Glow Kit
Friday through Sunday

LIPPY GIRL MAKEUP ♥

20% Off (Code:BFRIDAY)
Friday

LOVE LULA

15% Off (Code: FRIDAY)
Now through Tuesday

MABROOK & CO. ♥
20% Off (Code: blackfriday)
Friday

MAHALO SKIN CARE 

25% Off Gift Sets (No Code)
Thursday

MARIE NATIE ♥

30% Off (Code: BLACK15)
Now through Sunday

MEOW COSMETICS

20% Off (Code: GRAVY)
20% Off + Free Worldwide Shipping for $40+ (Code: CatsLuvTurkey)
Friday

MEOW MEOW TWEET
20% Off (Code: ROBOCAT)
Monday

MY MANE CARE ♥
20% Off (Code: FRIYAY20)
Friday

NATURISIMO

15% Off (Code: BLACK15)
20% Off £100+ (Code: BLACK20)
Free Worldwide Shipping
Now through Tuesday

NOURISH ORGANIC
50% Off (Code: GREEN50)
Free Travel Eye Cream with Any Purchase
Free Tote Bag with Any Gift Set Purchase
Friday

25% Off (Code: CYBER25)

Free Travel Eye Cream with Any Purchase
Monday

NUCIYA ♥

$15 Gift Card with $80+
$25 Gift Card with $125+
$50 Gift Card with $225+
$75 Gift Card with $300+
Free US/Canada Shipping $65+
Free Worldwide Shipping $100+
Friday through Monday

NUWORLD BOTANICALS ♥
40% Off (Code: SHOP40)
Now through Monday

NYL

25% Off (Code: THANKS25)
Friday through Monday

PAI
Free Treatment Collection with Any Starter Kit (No Code)
Friday through Monday

PARKDALE BUTTER ♥

20% Off (Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Friday

PEMBERLY JONES
15% Off (Code: GRAVY)
Friday

PETAL & POST ♥

40% Off Select Products HERE
Friday through Monday

Free Shipping

Monday

PLANT APOTHECARY

30% Off (Code: WITHLOVE)
Free US Shipping
Now through Friday

PROVINCE APOTHECARY ♥

25% Off (Code: SUPERSALE)
15% Off Facial Gift Cards
Friday through Monday

RACHEL'S PLAN BEE

2 Free Lip Balms + Free Bee Cream Mini with $49+ (Enter FREEGIFT49 in comments at checkout)
Free Mini Collection Gift Set with $100+ (Enter FREEGIFT100 in comments at checkout)
Now through Friday

Free US Shipping $49+

Now through Christmas

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOAP
Free 6 Soap Gift Set with $50+
Friday through Sunday

SAFE & CHIC
20% Off (Code: THANKS)
Now through Monday

SILK NATURALS

5% Off (Code: smallbiz5)
Now through December 4, 2015

SKINNYSKINNY
25% Off (Code: HOLIDAY15)
Friday through Monday

STARK SKINCARE ♥

15% Off (Code: itsonlywednesday)
Now through Saturday

TATA HARPER

Free Travel Size with any Full Size Purchase (No Code)
Free You Are Loved Collection with $250+ (Code: LOVED15)
Free US Shipping

VITACOST

$10 Off $70+ (Code: THANKFUL4U)
Extra $10 Off $30+ for 1st Time Customers through this referral link
Now through Sunday

W3LL PEOPLE

20 % Off (No Code)
Free US Shipping
Friday through Monday

WELEDA
25% Off (Code: HOLIDAYS)
Friday through Sunday

WELL.CA ♥
Select Products up to 75% Off
$10 Off Next Order with $100+
Extra $10 off $40+ for 1st Time Customers (Referral Code: NB10)

WHITE RABBIT BEAUTY

All Makeup on Sale (prices already discounted)
Free Crazy Rumors lip balm in every order
Now through December 31, 2015

YOUNG LIVING

20% Off Select Items (Canadian list HERE, US list HERE)
Now through Monday

ZABANA ESSENTIALS
20% Off $50+
Free US Shipping $50+
Friday through Sunday

ZAO ORGANIC

40% Off (Code: BLACK40)
Friday

100% PURE
40-65% Off Mystery Bags
Friday

Did I leave out any great ones?  Share the sale love + leave them in the comments!





Contains affiliate links


Green Beauty Wishlist: The Spring/Summer Edit

I've been on a low-buy since the beginning of the year and I've got to say, five months in, I'm pretty proud of how well it's been going!  I realize that budgeting and limited spending is a lot more effective for me than going on a total no-buy or spending ban.  Being able to spend - even conservatively - doesn't leave me feeling horribly deprived, which takes a lot of the pressure off and makes the whole process much less stressful.  It's kind of like the difference between a lifestyle change and the ups and downs of binging and dieting.

Regardless of spending, between reading blogs and scrolling through my Instagram feed, I'm constantly adding products to my wishlist.  Here's a look at what's caught my eye recently:




Under Eye Concealer
I'm still struggling to find a replacement for the discontinued Une Skin Glow Pencil I used to love.  Most days, I only wear concealer under my eyes, so I tend to like something that is illuminating and lightweight, but also decently long wearing.  I'm currently debating between three: da lish Illumination Concealer, Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer, and Studio 78 Off We Go Concealer.  I really don't want to accumulate any more concealer rejects than I already have, so if you've used any of these - or have any other concealer recommendations - I'd love to know.

Aquarian Bath Tooth Powder
In my ongoing search for more glycerin free toothpaste options, I keep coming across Aquarian Bath's tooth powders.  The powders have a non-abrasive base of food-grade Bentonite clay, activated charcoal  and myrrh powder and unlike a lot of other tooth powders, do not contain any baking soda, which can - over time - damage tooth enamel.   The clay and charcoal have detoxifying properties and help to wash away bacteria, while myrrh powder has been shown to improve gum health.  I'm torn between the Mint and Berry Hibiscus flavors - both sound pretty great!

Trilogy CoQ10 Eye Concentrate
Along with a concealer, I've yet to find an eye product that I've been happy with in regards to both dark circles and puffiness.  I've enjoyed Trilogy products in the past and the CoQ10 Eye Concentrate - which claims to brighten and tone with CoQ10, caffeine, licorice root, and horse chestnut - sounds very promising.

Josh Rosebrook
Josh Rosebrook products have phenomenal ingredients and are packed with unique botanicals, and while they've been on my radar for quite some time, I've yet to actually try anything from the line.  Lift is a hair texturizer and volume spray that's garnered rave reviews across the board since it's release earlier this year.  The Moisturizing Cleanser is a pH-balanced cleanser made with aloe, African black soap and various plant oils and herbal infusions that has been on my wishlist for considerably longer.  I'm nearing the bottom of a couple other cleansers, so it's sprung to mind again recently.

Pacifica 7-Free Nail Polish
I've been using the Gloss Top & Base Coat for several weeks now and I like it a lot, which has me eyeing up a couple of Pacifica's actual polishes now.  Pictured above are Turquoise Tiara, a turquoise cream that looks perfect for a summer pedicure, and Unicorn Horn, a sheer, irridescent/pearly color that I think would be pretty both on its own and over other polishes.  

Have you used any of these?  What goodies are on your wishlist this summer?

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