Naturalla Beauty

It's officially one week to Christmas, so what better way to wrap up this year's gift guides than with some last minute gift ideas?  Maybe someone new got added to your list or maybe you just weren't able to find that perfect gift for someone.  Either way, you're left scrambling for a gift at the last minute.  Most of your online options are exhausted at this point, but don't worry - there's still hope!  For these last minute picks, I stuck with brands that are pretty widely available, although - as always - that may vary depending on where you're located.

Local Handmade Soap
Handmade soaps make a great gift, and I always think locally made ones are THAT much better.  If you're in Ontario, two of my favorites are Ground Soap and Mamma Oceania.

Gabriel / Zuzu Luxe Makeup
Gabriel and Zuzu Luxe make some of my favorite green makeup products and since they're stocked at Whole Foods and other natural food stores, they're pretty easy for many of us to get our hands on!  These two brands rarely disappoint, but my favorites for gift giving are the Zuzu Luxe liquid eyeliner and the lipsticks from either line. 

Andalou Naturals Get Started Kits
I tried a lot from Andalou this past year and they've quickly become one of my favorite inexpensive skincare brands.  The Get Started Kits are a great way to sample a variety of products and contain everything your recipient needs for a basic skincare routine.  The sets are available for each of the four ranges: Brightening, Age Defying, Clarifying, and Sensitive, and like everything from Andalou, are non-GMO project verified, and free of the regular nasties.

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil
Rosehip oil is great oil to begin with and Pai's Bioregenerate Oil takes things up an extra notch.  Made from both the seed and fruit oils, it offers enhanced regenerative properties and more antioxidants than the seed oil alone.  It's also sourced from GMO and pesticide-free rosehips and is CO2 extracted, not cold pressed, which offers a longer shelf life and better preserves the properties of the plant.  

Hugo Naturals Bath Products
Hugo Naturals has a great range of bath products that are perfect for creating a bath/pamper kit.  We don't always get the seasonal/Christmas scents near me - though if you can track them down, the Vanilla Peppermint is lovely - but I can always find the regular bath bombs and bath salts.  They might not be quite as festive right off the bat, but it's nothing a little gift wrapping can't fix, and they're just as great in the bath! 

DIY / Homemade Goodies
Homemade gifts are extra special and even if you're not a DIY expert, it doesn't take a lot to make your own scrubs, lip balms, body butters, or body oils.  There are TONS of easy recipes online and you probably already have at least some of the ingredients on hand.  Track down some pretty jars or bottles, make a nice label, and you're good to go! 

A Gift Certificate
In a pinch - or for those extra hard to shop for people - a gift certificate is a great option.  Lots of green beauty retailers are offering them this year, including The Detox Market, Spirit Beauty, and The Choosy Chick. 

And that's a wrap on this year's gift guides!  In case you missed any, you can find all six guides HERE. 

I've used face oils almost exclusively since discovering them, but when the cold weather hit this year, oils alone just weren't doing the trick.  My skin didn't feel dry, so it took me a while to clue in to the fact that my fine lines suddenly seeming more pronounced and a worse overall skin texture could both be signs of dehydrated skin.  It amazes me how much of a difference adding in a water-based moisturizer has made!  I'll have more on my full skincare routine soon, but for today's sample stash post, I want to focus on a few of the moisturizers I tested during this dry spell.  All are very gentle and formulated specifically for sensitive skin, but there are some notable differences between them as well.



Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex
I actually had two samples of this - one from a Petit Vour box and one that I received in a Foxy Mango order - so I was able to test this out for close to a month and get a good feel for it.  Blissoma products are always packed full of herbal goodness and this is no exception.  With shea butter, marshmallow root, plantain, self heal, heather, and lots more, Pure is an excellent product for soothing redness and irritated or inflamed skin and it's been a pleasure to use.  It's a thick, substantial moisturizer, but it melts into the skin beautifully and actually ends up feeling quite weightless.  The formula is unscented, but it does have a very herbal scent from the ingredients.  Definitely a product I could see buying in the future.  

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturizing Cream
Trilogy's Very Gentle line is fragrance and essential oil free and the moisturizer is intended to soothe and protect the skin barrier while deeply hydrating and comforting the skin.  The cream instantly eliminated any redness on my face and I also noticed less redness over the course of the day.  It felt pretty rich - though not overly heavy - and did take a couple minutes to fully sink in.  I'm using one of Trilogy's other moisturizers now, but I might come back to this one in the future.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream and Heavenly Night Cream
I'm not usually one for rose scents, but these ones - which were something of a sweet, candy-like rose - were surprisingly okay.  And, I liked the creams themselves too.  Both were soothing and quite hydrating, while also absorbing quickly.  I preferred the Day Cream over the Night, as I noticed a bit of a slimy coating when I wet my face in the mornings after using the Night Cream the night before.  I didn't have any adverse skin reaction in the few days the sample lasted, but I worry that whatever the coating element is might cause one with longer use.  The Day Cream was a little lighter in texture and didn't leave any kind of coating on the skin.

Pai Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream
I always want to love Pai, but their products sometimes just don't do it for me.  I think this is one of the richer moisturizers in the line and it felt too heavy for my skin.  The jasmine scent - although light - wasn't my favorite either and didn't help to endear this product to me.  I'd be curious to try a different moisturizer from the line, but this one wasn't a hit.

Green Beaver Green Tea Facial Cream
Green Beaver is good for affordable, basic skincare and the Green Tea Facial Cream was no different.  There's nothing wrong with it - it's a decent unscented, lightweight moisturizer - but there are other moisturizers I like a lot more.  

Have you used any of these?  What do you look for in a moisturizer?

Badger Organic Balm Sampler ($29.99)
I think really highly of Badger - both because of their high quality products and the way the company is run.  Whether you're buying for someone who's already familiar with these balms or someone who hasn't tried them yet, the Balm Sampler is a great way to give six of the company's most popular balms a try.  The kit comes with 0.75 ounces each of the Classic Badger Balm, Cuticle Care, Sleep Balm, Sore Muscle Rub, Aromatic Chest Rub, and Foot Balm, packaged in a 100% recycled paper box.  

LuSa Organics Nourish and Lavish Gift Collections ($32.50 and $48.00)
I became aware of LuSa Organics through following Rachel's personal blog, Clean, which I've read for a couple years now.  LuSa makes natural bath, body, and baby products and is a true family run business.  The Nourish Collection (pictured above) comes with a soap, sugar scrub, body oil, and holiday ornament diffuser, while the Lavish Collection includes all that, PLUS fizzing bath salts and an allover body balm.  Both sets are available in your choice of two holiday scents: Clementine & Clove and Frankincense & Myrrh.  

Pai Rosehip Collection: Intensive Nourishing Facial Kit ($50)
Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate oil is pretty iconic at this point and the Intensive Nourishing Kit is a great opportunity to get it, plus the limited edition Bioregenerate Face Mask, which is described as a "buttery, ultra-hydrating treatment [that] quenches thirsty skin, helping to accelerate cell repair for instant rejuvenation."  Sounds pretty great, right?  You also only pay $10 more for the set than you would for a solo bottle of the rosehip oil, so it really is a fantastic value as well.

Balm Balm Lip Balm Cracker (£15.25)
The Lip Balm Cracker is a great way to try the entire range of Balm Balm's tube lip balms.  These are wonderful multi-purpose balms that can be used not only on your lips, but also on your cuticles, face, and anywhere else that needs a little extra care.  The Frankincense Cracker, which comes with Balm Balm's complete Frankincense skincare range, looks lovely as well.

Bare Minerals READY to Go Complexion Perfection Kit ($49)
Bare Minerals is what I class as a borderline natural company, but they do have some products I feel comfortable using.  The Complexion Perfection Kit is an ultra-portable palette  of Bare Minerals' READY pressed products.  Colors vary - there are eight sets to choose from - but each palette includes a Foundation, Touch Up Veil, Bronzer, Luminizer, and Correcting Concealer, as well as a mini Precision Face Brush and mini Tapered Face Brush.  The concealer has some ingredients I don't like, but even if you weren't to use that one item, I think the set is good value as a whole.  

Kaia Bamboo Tapioca Beads ($38)
The Bamboo Tapioca Beads are a dry powder that you activate with some kind of liquid - anything from water to tea, honey, an oil or liquid cleanser - and then use as either a cleanser or face mask.  The beads, which smell fresh and citrusy, gently exfoliate, leaving behind super soft and smooth skin.  Kaia has given the beads a makeover for the holidays and they now come adorably packaged with a small vial of moringa oil and a tiny wooden spoon.

Juice Beauty Best of Juice Beauty Set ($48)
I haven't actually tried anything from Juice Beauty before, but their holiday sets tempt me every single year.  The Best of Set is a 10-day advent-type gift that comes with ten of Juice Beauty's best-selling products.  You get full sizes of the Green Apple Age Defy Handcream, SPF 8 Lip Moisturizer and Reflecting Gloss in Fig, plus various samples from their skincare line.

Yarok Holiday Quartet ($32)
This quartet, which I believe is exclusive to EcoDivaBeauty, comes with travel sizes of Yarok's mousse, leave-in conditioner, hairspray, and shine serum.  I've used two of the four and have only good things to say.  Yarok is definitely one of the best when it comes to natural hair products. 

Blissoma Aromatherapy Candle Gift Trio ($45)
Candles always make a good wintertime gift and Blissoma's 100% botanical, vegan, natural, and anti-allergenic candles are a great choice.  Made of clean-burning soy wax, they use a cotton wick and contain no dyes, synthetic scents or burn extenders.  The candles, which burn for 20-25 hours each, are small batch poured with completely hand blended scents.  Pictured here are the candles in Peace, Love and Calm, but there are also two other trios: Balance, Happiness and Energize and Celebrate, Delight and Harmony.  

Lily Lolo Laid Bare Palette ($34)
Lily Lolo has really stepped up their game recently with a classy rebranding and awesome new pressed makeup products.  With wearable neutral shades (both matte and shimmer) and a good sized mirror, the Laid Bare palette is a great alternative to the ever-popular Naked palettes, only more portable (it's only about 4.5 inches long) and without the nasty ingredients.  I've barely had mine for 24 hours, so I can't speak much to how it wears, but if you have someone on your list that's struggling to transition to natural makeup - or someone who needs some convincing to make the switch - this might just be the ticket.  There's also a second palette, the Enchanted Palette, which features darker, smokier shades and a mix of neutrals and colors.

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you check out Part 1 of my Gift Guide, and keep an eye out for the last part, coming on Friday.  

I wasn't able to put together an empties post for January, so this one's going to be a bit of a doozie!  Even though #NoBuyJanuary is over, I've still been focusing on using what I have throughout February and it's always more than a little validating to be able to see some progress with these posts!



This batch is probably what I'm most excited about using up, since it really streamlined the products that are left in my shower.  The Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell (review) are still my favorite shampoo/conditioner duo for my curly hair.  I'm currently trying the mint ones, which are also nice, but I expect I'll go back to the Argan again afterwards.  The Organic Excellent Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner (review) were what I was using before discovering Acure, but about a year ago, there was a bit of an ingredients hooplah over whether the company was accurately disclosing ingredients and they've just been languishing in my shower ever since.  I wouldn't recommend these anymore, but I wanted to move them out, so I used the shampoo up as body wash.  I tried to use the conditioner as a shaving cream, but my skin was no longer a fan and reacted badly.  A search for alternate conditioner uses found many claims that conditioner will clean your drains, so that's what I tried to do with the bottom half of the bottle.  I'm not convinced it did anything, but I'm happy to finally have these out of my shower (and my life) all the same!

I used Desert Essence's Fragrance Free Conditioner maybe two times on my hair, but I loved it as a shaving cream.  I was all set to buy it again for that purpose, but the bottom of the tube was strangely congealed and lumpy and has turned me off it for the moment.  I'm exploring other options, but I'm sure I'll return to it at some point.  Intelligent Nutrients' Styling Gel (review) is a fantastic hair gel, but prices recently went up and at $14 for 2 oz. ($31 for 5 oz.), I'm not sure I can continue to justify the cost for a product I use up at a decently quick rate.  I'm trying out a couple less expensive options right now.


I've written about Earthpaste Toothpaste (review) and Acure's Unscented Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Lotion (review) many times before.  Both are firm favorites and I've already started on new tubes of both.  I love Weleda, but I'm a little conflicted on the Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream.  I adore the scent, but I do think the Pomegranate Hand Cream is a bit more effective.  Both absorb incredibly fast, but the Pomegranate keeps my hands feeling moisturized for longer.  

This is my second sample of Weleda's One Step Cleanser & Toner and I'm still a fan for morning cleansing.  It's great for refreshing the skin, without being harsh or drying.  Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil is a bit of a cult favourite, and while I wasn't 100% convinced at first, by the second half of the bottle, I was sold.  It wasn't enough hydration for my skin this winter on its own, but I enjoyed mixing it with other oils, most recently jojoba and goji seed.  This is the only rosehip oil I've used, and while I do believe the combination of fruit and seed oils makes it better than your average rosehip seed oil, the frugal part of me wants to try another, less expensive one before recommitting to Pai's.  


At the beginning of #NoBuyJanuary, I mentioned wanting to use up a bunch of lipstick samples, but so far, Zuzu Luxe's Indulgence is the only one to bite the dust.  It was a pretty color - a plummy-red with gold shimmer - but I'm not a huge fan of shimmer on the lips, so I doubt I'll be buying the full size.  The black rimmed pot was an older homemade lip balm that had been forgotten, but it was something I quite enjoyed once I rediscovered it.  
Lucy Minerals' Juicy Peach Blush is a gorgeous pale peach that might just be my all-time favorite blush color.  I'm not sure how it would suit darker skin tones, but on my fair skin, it looked very glowy and natural.  The sample alone lasted me months, but I'll definitely be ordering the full size at some point.  Another thing I'll be picking up soon is Silk Natural's Splendid Perfecting Glow.  The Perfecting Glows fall somewhere between finishing powders and highlighters and I liked using the Splendid to brighten up under the eyes.  It was slightly yellow-toned and worked really well at boosting other concealers and making everything look more fresh and awake.  

I managed to accumulate a number of Ella's Botanicals soap samples, but these are the last of them.  Skin Soother is very gentle and great for sensitive skin, or for dry, winter weary hands, which is how I used these last two.  I can't believe how many lip balms I've been burning through this winter, but at least I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed that process with these two.  Young Living's Vanillamint Lip Balm was a limited edition holiday flavour, but my favorite is still the lavender one, which is available year round.  Hurraw!'s Mint Lip Balm (review), while fantastic for indoor application, still isn't what I reach for before going outside and braving the elements.  The mint scent is very fresh and tingly.

And that's it!  My usually packed shower is so uncluttered right now, I can't even believe it.  I guess the combination of focusing on finishing things up and not bringing in any new product for January helped me get through a bunch more stuff than usual!

January's spending ban is already more than half done!  I've really started to get into it this week.  I've re-homed a couple products and identified others that I want to finish up quickly. I've also gone through a good number of samples, although I'll probably hold off on writing about most of those until they can be featured in various Sample Stash posts.  

As for spending, I still have yet to buy anything beauty-related this month.  My inbox has been inundated with emails about January sales and while I've given several of them a browse, I'm still holding strong.  It's been a busy month, so I also haven't just reallocated that money into other spending, which is what I half expected to happen. 

#NoBuyJanuary also seemed like a great time for another DIY post.  It's been a while since my last one!  Let's talk about mixing your own face oils and serums...



As much as I love the many gorgeous oil blends being made by green skincare companies, I also love the both the creative element and flexibility of mixing up my own.  Face oils are probably one of the easiest things you can DIY and the results can be pretty phenomenal.  It's also a great way to use up oils that individually might not do everything you want them to.  

Sometimes I combine oils in a bottle, but more often I just mix a few different oils in the palm of my hand before each application.  

Just stir together and apply to your face!

Most recently, I've been combining equal parts of:

Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil - contains both rosehip seed and fruit oils and is one of the most concentrated rosehip oils on the market.  High levels of Trans Retinoic Acid act as a "natural retinol" and converts to Vitamin A without causing irritation.  Rosehip has been proven to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage, and fine lines.

Goji Seed Oil - is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, which protect and repair the skin.  It also contains large amounts of vitamin E that helps neutralize free radicals and improves skin elasticity and firmness.  

Jojoba Oil - is a liquid wax that closely resembles your skin's own sebum.  It's both moisturizing and good for helping regulate oil production.

The combination of the three has been keeping my skin happy and healthy for about two months now.  It hydrates well and also absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue.  



And the best part of making your own face oils/serums? 
You can use almost any oils you like!  I recommend using oils that are organic, when possible, as well as cold-pressed and unrefined, since these retain the most nutrients and are extracted without chemical additives.  

Some other basics to keep in mind:

Individual Qualities of Each Oil
If there's a specific skin concern you're trying to address (ie. acne, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, etc.), what oils are best for it?  Also consider the 'feel' of the oils - are they light in texture or heavy?  How quickly do they absorb into the skin?    

Do you want to include essential oils and/or herbs?  
Both can be used for fragrance and/or their individual properties.  If you don't mind taking the time, it's simple to infuse your oils with dried herbs.  When selecting essential oils, I recommend avoiding citrus oils (and others) that increase sun sensitivity.

Will you need to include a preservative?  
If your blend is just oils, then the answer is probably no, although you may want to include antioxidants like Vitamin E or rosemary extract to prolong shelf life. 

Now, go forth and blend your own face oils!  Super easy and you just might be surprised by how great it turns out...

I'm always eager to pick up new samples to try, but I'm not nearly as good at actually using them.  The result: a mild case of sample hoarding.  With that in mind, I'm starting a new series of Sample Stash posts, which will be a chance to share mini reviews as I use things up.  Obviously I can't know how something performs long term from a foil packet, but I can give my first impressions and whether it's sparked my interest enough to buy.   

First up...cleansers!



Oy! Cleanser, Make-up Remover & Moisturizer
For something marketed as a cleanser, make-up remover, and moisturizer, I'm disappointed to report that this product failed me on all three counts.  It struggled with mascara and didn't touch my eyeliner, even after two cleanses.  It also left my skin feeling tight and dry, so I really don't see how it could be used as a moisturizer.  Considering that the scent was not a hit either - some kind of artificial/cleaning product orange - I'm writing this one off as a complete flop.  

Weleda One Step Cleanser & Toner
A part of me has always shuddered at the thought of this product - a 2-in-1 Cleanser and Toner - but I may have judged it too harshly.  It's a watery cleanser with a refreshing lemony/citrus scent.  I wish the consistency was a little thicker - it's as thin as water - as I'm not 100% sure how to work with a cleanser like this.  I end up pouring a little into my palm and then massaging it onto damp skin and rinsing off, but inevitably some gets lost down the drain in the process.  Even so, I do quite like it, particularly for morning cleansing, when it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed.  I'm currently working through a second sample, but I'd consider purchasing a full size in the future.

Pai Camelia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
Since this is a popular product with a lot of other green beauty bloggers, I was expecting great things, and for the most part, it didn't let me down.  It's a thick cream cleanser that leaves skin cleansed, soft, and happy.  It also removes makeup pretty easily.  The only sticking point for me is the smell.  I don't generally enjoy rose scents, and while this one wasn't overly strong or unbearable, I don't know that I'd purchase the full size as it stands now.  If Pai released another scent, I'd be all over it!

Sibu Beauty Balancing Facial Cleanser
Sibu's cleanser has a gel consistency and tiny particles that gently exfoliate.  It lathers a little but isn't harsh or overly stripping.  I really don't feel strongly about this one either way - I guess it just failed to wow me.  


So nothing that'll usurp my Kahina Cleanser's spot as "favorite cleanser," but I enjoyed trying these four nonethless.  I may yet buy the Weleda, but I doubt I'll be bringing home any of the other three.  Have you tried any of these?  Any other cleanser recommendations?

My skin is usually pretty easygoing, but a few weeks back, while trying out a couple new cleansers, it decided to rebel.  Suddenly my face was super dry, irritated, and even sore!  As I mentioned in my recent Skincare Tag post, my first response to troublesome skin is always to scale back to as simple a routine as possible, so that's what I did, using just a few key products...



Weleda Soothing Almond Cleansing Lotion
I tried a sample of this cleanser towards the beginning of the summer, and even though I liked it, I didn't end up buying it at that time.  But, as soon as my skin started acting up, I rushed out and snagged a tube right away!  With only seven basic ingredients, it's probably the gentlest cleanser I've ever used.  I just wish the tube was bigger, so it would last longer! After about 3 weeks of use, mine is about 3/4 done.   Regardless, I'm sticking with it for now and just ordered a second tube.  Weleda's Soothing Cleansing Lotion certainly lives up to its name and is incredible for soothing dry, sensitive or irritated skin.

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil + Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
I'd previously been using a couple different oil blends, but in the spirit of using simple products with minimal ingredients, I immediately switched to using just these two oils.  When I first tried it a few months back, I wasn't completely sold on Pai's rosehip oil, but I'm glad I gave it another chance!  Rosehip oil has numerous benefits and it's great for repairing various kinds of skin damage.  Mixed with a couple drops of jojoba oil for extra hydration, it worked amazingly well.  My skin was calmed and moisturized while it gradually got back to its normal glow.

KYI Whipped Shea Butter Mask
My skin always responds well to shea butter and this mask was a miracle worker when it was acting up!  Made with only shea butter and jojoba oil, it eased any tightness or discomfort I was feeling, even when my skin was at its most irritated.  It also visibly soothed redness and irritation within just a few minutes of application.  I enjoyed slathering it on fairly thickly at night, but a more conservative amount made it completely workable during the day too, even under makeup.

Young Living Omegagize
I'm a big believer that your skin is a reflection of what's going on inside your body, so even though my skin troubles were triggered by testing out new products, I wanted to address them internally as well.  I was already taking Young Living's Omegagize, a great omega-3 supplement made from pure fish oils, but I increased the amount I was taking and noticed my skin felt less dry after just a couple days.

These five products were amazing during my mini skin crisis and even though my skin is back to normal now, they're ones I'll happily keep in rotation.   What do you do when your skin acts up?  Any miracle products I should know about?



Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links to iherb.

Spring is finally in the air and I wanted to share a few products I've been loving lately...

It's that time again!  My last empties post was back in the beginning of December, so this is what I've finished up since then.  There are even a few makeup empties ahead!  (Yup, I'm far too excited about that.)



Face Naturals Pomegranate Scrub (sample)
Face Naturals is one of my favorite companies for body care products, but I'd never tried their scrubs before, so I was excited to see this sample in one of my orders.  I wasn't crazy about the pomegranate scent, which is very sweet and candy-like, but the scrub itself was lovely.  Perfect amount of scrubbiness and a great texture - neither too oily or too dry.   

Madara Moon Flower Tinting Fluid (sample)
I'm glad I was able to try a sample of this first, because it was far too dark for my skin.  I ended up looking orange and oompa loompa-like.  Also smelled kind of funky to me.  

Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator (sample)
This is a lovely scrub.  Looking at it in the jar, it looked pretty smooth and I wasn't sure it was going to exfoliate as much as I wanted, but it really does a fantastic job!  It starts out as more of a gel, but it turns kind of milky on your face and it left my skin feeling incredibly soft.  I'm not going to be purchasing this right away as I just got another scrub, but I would definitely consider it in the future.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Snuggle Eye Shadow
I actually used up an eye shadow!  Darling Girl makes fantastic shadows and Snuggle is a great low maintenance colour that you can basically just sweep on and go.  It was on my eyes pretty much every day a couple summers ago, which is how I went through most of the jar.  I still have a ton of other eye shadows, so it isn't something I'll be repurchasing right away. 

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach
This is on my face almost every single day and I've already picked up another jar.  I still haven't found an under eye concealer that I'm 100% happy with, but Sleep in a Jar comes pretty darn close.  It's a powder concealer and I wouldn't say it gives full coverage, but it really does a great job brightening up any darkness in the under eye area.  I've also used it on the occasional blemish and it works fairly well for that as well. 

Zosimos Botanicals Fuschia Lip Gloss (sample)
Zosimos' mini lip glosses are an adorable way of sampling colors if you don't want to risk not liking the full size.  Fuschia is a cool pink with a slight blue reflect and I really did enjoy it, but full sizes are $16 and the minis have recently gone up to $5, so I doubt I'll be repurchasing.  It's a nice gloss, but I can get an equally nice, full size gloss from Silk Naturals or My Beauty Addiction for under $5, so I just can't justify the price right now.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara
As most of you probably know, this is my favourite mascara.  Not a whole lot new to say about it, but I will mention that it survived a trip through blizzard-like weather a couple weeks ago without smudging or running at all.  I try to switch out my tube about every 4 months, so here's another one biting the dust.

Blum Naturals Fragrance Free All Purpose Wipes
I don't use wipes on my face very often, but I did enjoy using these on occasion.  Really, I think I used most of them cleaning blog swatches off my hands and arm.  The last couple wipes did end up drying out before I used them, but for the most part, they stayed pretty moist.

Organic Essentials Organic Cotton Balls
Whenever possible, I prefer to use organic cotton balls on my face.  They really don't cost much more than regular cotton balls and I like to avoid any chlorine or other chemicals found in the regular ones.  These are also quite large, so I end up breaking them in half and only using half at a time, which helps them last longer.


Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent
I talked about this in my winter skincare routine, but basically, I've been mixing witch hazel with essential oils (to mask the witch hazel smell) and using it as a toner.  The pores on my nose have a tendency to get clogged and dirty and I've noticed a huge difference since I've been using the witch hazel.  I've already bought a new (jumbo size) bottle.

Bubble & Bee Squeezed Lime Shower Gel
This is a great shower gel that really does smell just like cutting into a fresh lime.  It also lasted an incredibly long time - I started out using it straight on a loofah, but it's super concentrated, so I ended up diluting it in a foamer bottle too, which worked equally well.

Organic Excellence Wild Mint Conditioner
I debated whether or not I should include this one.  Organic Excellence used to be my shampoo and conditioner of choice, but they aren't a company I feel comfortable using or supporting anymore.  In case you missed it, there's been some question of whether or not the brand is disclosing full ingredients, and after emailing back and forth with them a few times, I'm not confident to say either way.  (If you're interested, you can read more about the issue here.)  Unfortunately, I did purchase a new bottle of the conditioner right before all this came out, so while I'll probably use that up, I won't be buying it again.


And that's all for this time!  I love doing these posts, since I get genuinely excited finishing products up.  It's also intensely satisfying watching the empties pile up until I have enough for a post.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.  (Or am I?  Let me know in the comments!)

If you read my winter skincare routine, you already know that I've added Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil to my nightly routine.  Rosehip oil can be extracted from either the seed or the fruit of the plant, and Pai's oil contains both types.  It's also extracted using CO2 supercritical extraction, which is supposed to deliver the complete and concentrated properties of the plant much better than simple cold pressed oil.  According to Pai, this method also extends the shelf life of the product from cold pressing's six months to a full two years.  Rosehip oil is high in vitamin A and has been proven to be effective on scars, sun damage, fine lines, and stretch marks.  I've mentioned before that I have two small lines on my forehead and they're what I was mainly hoping to target with this product.  Keep reading to see how they fared! 

Product Description
Pai BioRegenerate™ Rosehip Oil is rich in concentrated Trans-Retinoic Acid, an essential fuel for the skin's natural repair function.
Rosehip is the ultimate skin multitasker. With regular use, it conditions the skin, improving skin firmness and elasticity.

Refines appearance of damaged skin and fine lines.

High levels of Trans-Retinoic Acid delivers Pro-Vitamin A to the skin without causing irritation.

Most concentrated Rosehip Oil on the market today.

Ingredients
rosa canina (rosehip) seed extract*, rosa canina (rosehip) fruit extract*, mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin e)
*Certified Organic by the Soil Association

Price
$35 for 1 fl oz

My Thoughts
I've tried applying the oil as an all over face oil, but I prefer to focus it just in certain areas of my face.   Like I said, I have those two pesky fine lines on my forehead and also some redness and what I think are broken capillaries around my nose.  Most nights, I put a single drop on the back of my hand and with clean fingers, just dab it onto those two spots.  When I've applied the oil all over my face, it sinks in pretty quickly, but in focusing it on such small areas, the skin in those places ends up more saturated, so it takes longer to absorb.  I've only been using it at night, so it's not an issue - I apply it before bed and it's completely absorbed by the time I wake up. 

To me, the oil smells like a souped up, super strong cup of rosehip tea. That said, I've had three other people smell it and they all claim it smells kind of like chocolate.  Personally, I don't smell chocolate at all, but there you have it.

In terms of results, I'm having a hard time judging if it's made a difference on my fine lines.  They aren't terrible to begin with and I find they're more and less visible at different points in the day anyways, depending on how hydrated my skin is.  Right after I wash my face, for instance, even before I apply any toner, oil, or moisturizer, they're barely noticeable, and then throughout the day, they become more visible as my skin gets a little drier and makeup starts to settle into them.  If I had to guess, I'd say that yes, the lines have gotten smaller in the month I've been using Pai's rosehip oil, but it's hard to say for sure. I can say with a lot more certainty that the oil has definitely helped with the redness and broken capillaries around my nose.  These are something I pay attention to concealing every day and I've definitely noticed there is a lot less to cover up since I've been using the BioRegenerate Oil.

The Score
8/10

The Bottom Line
Pai is a great brand that really seems to care about making effective products without compromising on ingredients.  I love that their entire line is targeted specifically for sensitive skin and that the Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil is certified organic.  I wish it had made a more dramatic difference with the lines on my forehead, but it's very possible they just need more time.  The oil has definitely improved the redness and broken capillaries around my nose and I'm going to continue using it.  I'll keep you all posted - hopefully I'll have more to report back on after using this product for longer!