Naturalla Beauty

Know Your Ingredients - KYI for short - is a wonderful skincare line offering minimally processed and whole food skincare made from nutrient-rich ingredients like argan oil and shea butter.  I was first introduced to the line in 2013 (see my reviews here and here) and it's a brand that continues to impress me.  KYI's founder, Samantha Addonizio, is passionate about creating simple skincare that really works -- something that truly comes through in each of the company's three multi-functional products.  

It's that time again!  I didn't use up that much stuff this month, but I was able to finish off a couple products I'd been wanting to be rid of, so I'm happy about that.  I also used up some makeup and cleared out my open mascaras, which is always a good thing.  Here's a look at February's empties:



KYI Unscented Sweet Almond Softening Oil*   [Review]
I really like the entire KYI line and the Almond Softening Oil is no exception.  It's gentle, very hydrating, and more affordable than a lot of other comparable body oils.  The Unscented version is just almond oil, so I wouldn't go out of my way to re-buy it, but I do want to pick up more of the Chamomile Lavender - my favorite KYI scent - at some point.

Also, in case you missed it in the sidebar, you can save 10% off any KYI purchase with the code "NB10." Code is valid through the end of April. 

La Mav Cranberry Bio Exfoliating Scrub*   [Review]
This is a great face scrub.  It does a good job exfoliating without ever feeling harsh or overly abrasive, and my skin always looked extra healthy and luminous after using it.  I like to try new scrubs - in fact, I don't know that I've ever bought the same one more than once - but I did really enjoy this one.

Earthbody Brighten Cleanser & Mask
I got this trial size in one of my first Petit Vour boxes and I think it's one of the best products they've included to date.  Described as a "superfruit enzyme powder," Brighten takes Moroccan rhassoul clay and elevates it to a higher level with thirteen different plant and fruit powders.  I never tried it as a cleanser, but I loved using it as a mask.  I can't justify buying another mask until I go through a few of the other ones I currently have, but I'll miss having this in rotation in the meantime.

Shiro Cosmetics Default Lip Balm
Default is the untinted version of Shiro's Intertubes.  I loved the (now discontinued) Intertube formula, so when Shiro released an untinted version a few years ago, I rushed to buy several of these pots.  Unfortunately, I never thought it worked as well in a pot.  Depending on the temperature in your home, it tends to be very solid, making it difficult to apply.  I also found the texture of these specific ones to be somewhat gritty and chunky, and although it was probably just crystallized shea butter, I didn't enjoy it.  All in all, even though the actual formula worked great on my lips, I'm not sorry to see the end of these.

Boo Bamboo Line Lifting Face Cream*   [Review]
I mentioned I was trying to use this up in last week's What I Do With Products I Don't Love post, so it shouldn't be too surprising that I'm happy to see the end of this cream.  I used most of the pot as a body moisturizer, and while I ended up actually enjoying it that way, I wouldn't buy it for that purpose alone.

Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
I don't use much hand sanitizer, but I like to carry one in my bag for those "just in case" moments.  This is my favorite - and really the only one I buy - because I like the ingredients, the gel consistency and that it's non-sticky and doesn't smell like alcohol.  I also love how tiny and compact the bottle is.  

Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex
Another of my favorite products to come in a Petit Vour box!  My skin went a little haywire towards the beginning of the winter and Pure is the product that calmed it down. Made without essential oils, fragrance, alcohol or other irritants, Pure instead contains shea butter, marshmallow root,  plantain, self heal and more, and is one of the most soothing moisturizers I've used.  Definitely a product I can see myself purchasing in full size in the future.

The All Natural Face Olive Squalane Oil
More costly squalane oils from Indie Lee and Peter Thomas Roth have garnered a lot of positive attention, so when I spotted this rollerball from The All Natural Face selling for a mere $5, I couldn't resist adding it to my most recent order.  As it turns out, it didn't do much for me.  From everything I've read, squalane is supposed to be non-greasy and quick to absorb, but I found the opposite with this - it felt heavy and just sat on top of my skin, never really soaking in.  I'm still curious how the more expensive squalane oils might compare, particularly the sugar cane-derived Peter Thomas Roth one, but this one was not a hit.

Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Foundation in Geisha   [Review]
I think I've gone through four or five pans of this foundation in the last couple years and it's still one of my favorites.  I love how natural it looks on the skin, as well as how incredibly quick it is to buff on in the mornings.  It works great on its own, but can also be used to add an extra layer of coverage on top of cream or liquid products.  I've heard the foundation has been slightly reformulated, which is always a little concerning, but I've got one more pan I'd previously bought before I need to worry about that.

Pollen & Wax Apollo Cleansing Milk   [Review]
Another product I'm happy to be done with!  Apollo just didn't work for my skin in any way, shape or form.  I tried it as a daily cleanser, a weekly exfoliant, and even on my body, and it left me consistently underwhelmed.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Vanilla Candy Cane Soap (mini)   [Review]
This soap came in a holiday kit and I liked it a lot.  It lathered well, smelled great, and didn't dry out my skin.  The Vanilla Candy Cane scent isn't available right now, but I'd buy it again next Christmas.  I'm also curious to try other Rocky Mountain Soap scents.

Une Beauty Skin Glow Pencil in G02   [Review]
This pencil, topped with a little Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar, has been my favorite under eye concealer combo for the last couple years, so I was pretty gutted when Une discontinued this product.  I had a brief happy dance moment when they re-released it (in the bigger stick I'd always longed for too!), quickly followed by more disappointment when I realized they didn't re-release this particular color.  I'm still on the hunt for a replacement, so if there are any great under eye concealers I need to try, please leave them in the comments!

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara
My old standby, favorite mascara.  I love pretty much everything about this, but especially that it doesn't irritate my eyes or smudge.  I've somehow accumulated a ton of new mascaras to try, but I've bought too many tubes of this to count and I'm sure I'll go back to it again.

Lily Lolo Vegan Black Mascara*   [Review]
And, my new favorite mascara.  This gives impressive volume - the best of any natural mascara I've used - and I love it about as much as the Zuzu Luxe.  My only slight complaint is that the tube got used up/dried out pretty quickly.  I'm strict about tossing mascaras after three months - four tops - and I rarely have a mascara actually dry out or feel empty in that time, but the Lily Lolo started feeling dry and became harder to work with right around the two month mark.  It was still usable for a few more weeks, but not nearly as awesome as when it was fresh.  I just received a replacement tube in the February Petit Vour box (full write up on that box coming very soon!) and I'm sure, despite its shorter lifespan, that I'll buy it again in the future as well.  

The black mascara is back in stock and I still have a Lily Lolo discount code, if you're wanting to try this or anything else from Lily Lolo - "naturallabeauty" will get you 20% off sitewide (US website only).  

Benecos Just Black Multi-Effect Mascara
I had the weirdest experience with this mascara.  Every time I wore it and went outside in the sun, I'd see black spots.  Finally I connected the spots to this mascara, but it was pretty disconcerting before I figured out what was causing them!  I really don't understand it either, as the mascara itself wasn't anything special.  It didn't make my lashes significantly longer, darker, or thicker than any other mascara, so I don't understand why the Benecos was so much in my line of vision.  I only ended up using this a handful of times, and I haven't touched it since the summer, but it's completely dried out now, so it's got to go!

Have you finished any products recently?  

February
Skincare: 6 (Lip Balms: 1)
Body/Hair: 2 
Makeup: 5
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 2
Makeup Samples: 0

2015 Total
Skincare: 10 (Lip Balms: 3)
Body/Hair: 9
Makeup: 5
Skin/Body/HairSamples: 13
Makeup Samples: 2

Latest empties post ever?  Pretty much.  I had this almost completely drafted and ready to go Monday and then got hit with what I thought was food poisoning, but later realized - when the rest of my house came down with it a couple days later - was some kind of nasty stomach virus.  Either way, it meant I wasn't able to get this up until now.  So, somewhat belated, here's what I finished up during October:



The Honest Co. Honest Wipes*
Technically these are diaper wipes, but not having anyone in diapers, I used them to remove makeup instead.  I can't speak to how well they work for diapering, but they were only so-so on my face.
Repurchase? No.

KYI Unscented Argan Oil Serum with Vitamin C*   [Review]
I really like how minimal the ingredients in KYI's products are, and this serum is no exception.  Made of just argan oil and vitamin C, it's a great oil for hydrating and brightening the skin.  The serum uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an oil soluble form of vitamin C that's much more stable than the more frequently used ascorbic acid, so you don't have to worry about the vitamin C breaking down or degrading the formula.  Initially I used this as a face serum, but after setting it aside for a few months, I ended up using the second half of the bottle as a body oil.  
Repurchase? Not right away.

Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser   [Review]
I've raved about Kahina's cleanser many times, but it really is one of my all time favorite cleansers.  It's gentle, creamy without being overly heavy, and the 200 ml bottle lasts ages!  It also removes makeup - even toughies like mascara and eyeliner - and thanks to blue tansy and neroli essential oils, smells pretty darn amazing.  I would (and frequently do!) recommend this cleanser for almost anyone.  
Repurchase? Yes!

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo   [Review]
Another favorite of mine, this shampoo is one of the best I've found for my curly hair.  I've gone through multiple bottles before and just recommitted to a giant 24 oz. bottle of the stuff.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Earthpaste Lemon Twist Toothpaste   [Review]
This fall marks two years of using Earthpaste, but this was my first tube of the Lemon Twist flavor.  I enjoyed it while I was using it, but since switching back to one of the mint ones, I realize the lemon doesn't leave your mouth as fresh as the other flavors.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably not this flavor.

Scentuals Goat Milk Mint Soap*   [Review]
I've really enjoyed using this soap.  It lathers well, smells great, and doesn't dry out my hands.  It's also lasted me longer than any other bar soap I can recall!  Seriously, I've been using this same bar of soap since the summer and I've still got a small sliver hanging on in my soap dish.  Yes, I generally only use bar soaps on my hands, but that's still significantly longer than other soaps last me.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  I prefer to buy palm oil free options.

Frangipani Regenerating Flower Cream*   [Review]
A nice cream made from a nourishing base of rosewater, almond oil, rosehip seed oil, and beeswax.  I didn't love the floral scent and I found it a little too rich for my face, but I did enjoy using it on my hands and legs, especially before bed.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  

Pollen & Wax Lapiz Facial Toner   [Review]
It's really hard for me to find a toner that blows me away and sadly, this one just didn't do it.  I ended up repurposing it as a spray deodorant for days when I'd shaved.  My Weleda deodorant, which contains alcohol, can sting quite a bit after shaving, but Lapiz's gentle blend of aloe, calendula, lavender, and chamomile was soothing and did a pretty decent job keeping odors away as well.
Repurchase? No.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara   [Review]
I can't even count how many tubes of this mascara I've gone through over the years.  It may not be the most dramatic mascara out there, but it doesn't irritate my eyes and once it's on, it doesn't go anywhere, which makes it the one I always come back to.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Hurraw! Mint Lip Balm   [Review]
If you like tingly peppermint lip balms, Hurraw!'s mint balm is for you.  It's not my favorite for winter - both because of the cooling peppermint tingle and Hurraw!'s thinner formula - but I can see myself possibly buying it again in the spring/summer.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Epic Blend Hemp Mint Lip Balm   [Review]
In case you couldn't tell that I like mint lip balms, I managed to finish two in the same month!  Epic Blend's balm packs a seriously minty punch, but, unlike the Hurraw!, it doesn't make your mouth feel cold or tingly.  Epic Blend balms give a lot of moisture and also have that perfect balance where they protect your lips, but don't feel waxy or heavy.   I'm a big fan!
Repurchase? Yes, definitely.



Kaia Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloth 
I like how convenient the individually wrapped cloths are for carrying in your purse, but there are other wipes I like more.    
Repurchase? Probably not.

Dr. Bronner's Spearmint Peppermint Shikakai Soap (sample)
From other reviews I'd read, I didn't have very high expectations for this soap, but I ended up really liking it.  It didn't dry out my skin and the Spearmint Peppermint scent was nice and fresh.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Suki Creamy Foaming Cleanser (samples)   [Review]
I have a tendency to hoard samples, so even though I knew I liked this cleanser, I'd been resisting using these samples.  I think calling this a foaming cleanser is a bit of an exaggeration, but it does lather slightly.  I like it, but I'm not sure I like it enough to commit to a full sized bottle.  
Repurchase? Probably not.

Suki Pure Facial Moisture - Balancing (samples)   [Review]
Another victim of sample hoarding.  I'd previously found the Balancing Oil very helpful for "time of the month" skin, so I'd tucked these away in case of a skin emergency.  When I finally pulled them out, my skin was not at its best, but not at its worst either.  These samples gave me about a week's worth of oil, but sadly, I just didn't find the results anywhere near as spectacular this time around.  
Repurchase? Not sure.

Weleda Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash (samples)
I liked this, but I'd probably be more likely to buy one of Weleda's creamy body washes over this, since I like a few of those scents a lot more than the Calendula.  
Repurchase? No.

Weleda Skin Food
Skin Food is one of those cult products that I think almost everyone is familiar with by now.  It's a thick, somewhat heavy moisturizer, so not something I'd expect to get a lot of use out of in the summer, but I've actually been reaching for it quite a bit.  My elbows have been extra dry recently and it's been working well for them.

Know Your Ingredients Argan Oil with Vitamin C Serum*   
I rediscovered KYI's serum (originally reviewed here) when doing some organizing.  It's a great face serum, but in true blogger fashion, I'd moved on to testing other things and it had ended up being pushed to the side.  With One Love Organics' Vitamin C Body Oil in the back of my mind, I decided to try it on my body one day, and the rest is history.   A little goes a long way and it leaves my skin super soft and hydrated.    

Evolve Gentle Cleansing Melt
I've wanted to try Evolve for ages, so when I saw the Gentle Cleansing Melt for half price in a Naturisimo sale, I rushed to snatch it up.  It's a cleansing balm, but it's pretty unique in that it also fully emulsifies when you add water.  I'll have a full review up in the next week or two, so I don't want to go into too many details here, but suffice it to say, I love it.

Pure + Simple Face Colour in Taupe
Pure + Simple's Face Colours are multi-use powders that can be used anywhere on the face, lips, or eyes.  I originally bought Taupe thinking I'd be able to use it as a contour, but it has a slight golden sheen and doesn't work as well for that purpose as I'd hoped.  I have worn it as an all-over bronzer to warm up my face, but my favorite way to use it is as an eye shadow.  It's not clear in the photo, but I've actually made quite a dip in there!  Taupe is the perfect medium brown to use in the crease or as a transition color to blend out almost any eye look.  There's better pictures of the color, as well as swatches, in my original review.

Mineral Fusion Liquid Lip Gloss in Polished
I didn't have a clear lip gloss in my collection, so I could just about justify adding Polished, which I received in a swap a couple months ago.  It works with any and all lip colors and I really prefer glosses in squeeze tubes like this, since they give you such better control over the amount of product you're using than a regular doe foot applicator.  The gloss itself has a light berry scent and gives a good amount of shine without any stickiness.  It also leaves my lips feeling comfortable and hydrated.

What products have you been loving recently?

There's no getting around it: I'm pretty picky about scents.  There are a lot of times that I find myself loving everything about a product EXCEPT how it smells.  Inspired by that, plus the "Best of 2013" lists that are popping up everywhere, I want to talk about some products that I think smell amazing.  And, while the scents may be what got these products featured in today's post, the best part is that every single one of them is also fantastic beyond just how they smell!



Deep Steep Candy Mint Foot Cream
A combination of refreshing peppermint and sweet cocoa butter have this cream smelling like delicious candy canes.  It's rich but rubs in easily, so although it's marketed as a foot cream, I find it equally good on my hands.  

Ella's Botanicals Lemon Meringue Hydrating Lotion
Another dessert-y scent, Ella's Lemon Meringue Lotion blends together lemon and vanilla and smells like delicious lemon cake.  It's also completely non-greasy and moisturizes like a dream.

Young Living Stress Away
I can't imagine doing a list of smells without including some kind of essential oil.  Stress Away is a blend of vanilla, lime, copaiba, cedarwood, ocotea, and lavender that smells pretty phenomenal.  It's sweet but also a little woodsy from the cedarwood and is great for destressing and relaxation.  

Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser   [Full Review]
I've raved about this cleanser several times now, but I'm not sure I've fully expressed just how much I love the scent!  It's a hard one to describe - soft, sweet and a little floral, but also fresh and kind of herbal.  The main scent notes are neroli and blue tansy.  

Skin Essence Organics Chocolate Mandarin Hand & Body Balm
Made with cocoa butter, mandarin, and sweet orange, Skin Essence's balm smells exactly like a Terry's Chocolate Orange.  It's also intensely hydrating and great for sealing in moisture.  It can be a little greasy when you first apply it, so it's great for right before bed, when you can let it soak in and work its magic without having to immediately touch a million and one things.

Nourish Organic Almond Vanilla Body Wash   [Full Review]
Nourish's body washes are creamy and quite moisturizing and the almond vanilla scent is so yummy!  It's sweet but not sickly and makes me feel like I'm washing myself with cake batter.

KYI Lavender Chamomile Sweet Almond Softening Oil   [Full Review]
KYI's Softening Oils are fantastic body oils and the lavender chamomile scent is hard to top.  I mostly smell chamomile, with just a hint of lavender.  It's soft, relaxing and soothing - especially perfect at night.

Lina Hanson Global Body Serum   [Full Review]
Another citrus and vanilla scent - although this time it's yuzu, grapefruit, and vanilla - Lina's Global Body Serum smells like the grown up version of Ella's lotion. It's still decadent, but less of a foodie scent.  The serum is also packed with oils that heal and nourish the skin and is one of the quickest absorbing body oils I've used, making it a great time saver too!

Weleda Sea Buckthorn
I've mentioned multiple times how much I adore Weleda's Sea Buckthorn products.  The scent is bright, fresh and citrusy, and always reminds me of The Body Shop's Satsuma, which I loved as a teen.  (Keep in mind that I haven't actually smelled Satsuma in years, so I could be completely wrong about the resemblance.)  I like the whole line, but my top picks are the body wash and hand cream.  


Somewhat ironically, compiling this list ended up being kind of eyeopening for me.  Before this, if you were to ask me what kinds of scents I gravitate towards, I'd have been quick to identify fresh, citrusy, or minty ones.  So, it surprised me how many of my favorite smells are pretty sweet.  Nothing too sugary or candy-like, but sweet nonetheless.  Funny how that turned out!

What kinds of scents do you enjoy most?  Any standouts?




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