Naturalla Beauty

April was another good month for empties.  I'm still keeping to a low-buy and working to finish things I already have in the hopes of (at least somewhat) streamlining my products, so it's nice to actually see some progress.  This latest batch includes staple products that I've featured many times before, some new things I've never written about, and even a few makeup items!




Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz   [Review]
Kinky-Curly's Spiral Spritz is great lightweight gel.  I think this is the fourth or fifth bottle I've gone through, and while I sometime need something with a little more hold to get me through the summer humidity, it's fantastic the rest of the year.
Repurchase? If you saw last month's iHerb Haul, you'll know I already did!

Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner   [Review]
This conditioner - and it's matching shampoo - are firm favorites of mine.  My hair needs a good amount of moisture and the Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner does the trick with just a small amount of product.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste   [Review]
I've been experimenting with other glycerin-free toothpaste options, but Earthpaste is still always on hand as my fallback.  I've tried all the flavours now, and the Wintergreen is my favorite.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream
Every since finding this $50 moisturizer for a steal at $12.99, I've been periodically stalking Winners for more Trilogy products.  No luck so far, but I'm still optimistic.  The day cream boasts a lot of great ingredients and I enjoyed using it, but it didn't have the magical line smoothing properties I was hoping for.  It's a great moisturizer, but I didn't notice a difference in my fine lines in the three months it took to go through this tube.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie*   [Review]
This is a nice hand cream.  It has a rich, buttery consistency right out of the tube, but easily melts into the skin and is absorbed quickly.  Ingredients like calendula and aloe vera feel very soothing, while avocado oil, cocoa butter, and sea buckthorn extract deeply nourish the skin.  I liked the lemongrass scent initially, but it did wear on me a little towards the end of the tube.
Repurchase? Probably not.  I'm pretty smitten with Andalou's hand creams right now.



Body Lotion Minis
With the intention of not hoarding samples, I used up all my lotion minis this month.  The Honest Face + Body Lotion is unscented and very fast-absorbing, making it the perfect purse hand lotion, but it's not something I'd want in a larger size to use at home or all over my body.  Weleda's lotions are pretty thin in consistency, but they do a great job moisturizing nonetheless and I love the scent of the Sea Buckthorn range.  Nourish Organics' Coconut & Argan Body Lotion isn't available anymore, which is a shame as I really enjoyed it.  Nourish's other lotions - from what I've tried - are a lot less rich and really don't compare.
Repurchase? Maybe the Weleda Sea Buckthorn.  The other three, I don't think so.

Bare English & Co. Vanilla Almond Lip Balm
Bare English have become one of my favorite lip balms these last several months.  The Vanilla Almond scent reminds me of marzipan and was just okay, but the actual lip balm formula was great, as always.
Repurchase? Other flavours, yes.  This particular one, probably not.

Young Living Tranquil
Tranquil is a mix of lavender, cedarwood, and roman chamomile essential oils that smells just incredible.  If you have any trouble falling asleep or turning your mind off, it's a great blend to have on hand.  The rollerball also makes for very easy application.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Acure Organic Argan Oil
I always run a small amount of oil through the ends of my hair after washing and pure argan oil is one of my favorites.  Acure's, which is both high quality and affordable, is great not only for hair, but also face and body.  I like to mix a pump or two into face masks, and also sometimes use it on my cuticles or other dry spots.
Repurchase? Yes, after I work through a few other oils.

John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler (sample)
John Masters' detanglers are lighter conditioners and they just don't do a whole lot for my hair.  The Citrus & Neroli did smell good though.
Repurchase? No.



Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss in Innocent
Revolution Organics' lip glosses are like a lip treatment and gloss in one.  They aren't the absolute glossiest product out there, but they're completely non-sticky and give a lot of moisture and a sheer wash of color.
Repurchase? Not currently available, but if the glosses are re-released, I definitely would.

Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 1 and Beige 1 (samples)
Alima Pure is the mineral foundation of the green beauty world, but I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed.  Both colours were a fine match for my skin - especially Neutral 1 - and the foundation looked good when I first applied it, but it disappeared off my face very quickly.  By lunchtime, my skin was shiny and I could see a good amount of redness coming through on my nose and cheeks, and by about 3PM, I might as well not have been wearing foundation at all.  I don't have oily skin and foundations lasting throughout the day is not something I usually have a problem with, so it was surprising.
Repurchase? No.

Vapour Organic Beauty Concealer in 010*   [Review]
Vapour's concealer is brightening, but has pretty sheer coverage.  The sheerness means you often need to build up a few layers to get decent coverage, but it layers nicely without getting cakey.  It does have a tendency to settle into lines under the eyes, but the luminosity is great in that area, so as long as you don't mind minor touch ups throughout the day, it does the job.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Cheeky Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Pink Champagne and Moonlit Rose (samples)  [Review]
Cheeky Cosmetics is a lovely Canadian mineral makeup company and their eye shadows are both smooth and pigmented.  I used Pink Champagne as an inner corner - and sometimes even face - highlight and Moonlit Rose was a great mauvey-pink lid and crease shade.
Repurchase? No, but only because I have other similar colours in my stash.

Earth's Beauty Satin Rose Blush (sample)
Earth's Beauty was one of the first companies I tried when making the switch to natural makeup, but it's not one that's ever impressed me very much.  Satin Rose is a pretty pale pink, but the blushes have an arrowroot base that makes them sheer and slightly chalky.  They also only last a few hours on the cheeks.
Repurchase? No.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Hope Blush (sample)
Darling Girl's eye shadows have been favorites for years, but this was my first time using one of their blushes.  Hope was a beautiful bronzy-peach that gave the skin a very natural, luminous, sun-kissed look.  It looks like it's been discontinued, but if you're looking for something along the same lines, Ecco Bella's Bronzer in Hibiscus gives a very similar effect.
Repurchase? No longer available.

Total Products Used Up in April
Skincare: 2 (Lip Balms: 1)
Bodycare: 3
Haircare:  3
Makeup: 2
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 5
Makeup Samples: 6

Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 13 (Lip Balms: 5)
Bodycare: 15
Haircare:  4
Makeup: 7
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 29 
Makeup Samples: 8

How are your holiday gifts coming?  I managed to cross off most of my list over the weekend, and was even able to take advantage of some of the great sales that were going on.  If you're still shopping, I've put together my yearly gift guide for green beauty lovers.  I decided to split the guide into three parts this year, so make sure you check back for the other two posts on Wednesday and Friday.  



Dr. Sponge Konjac Sponge ($8.50)
A konjac sponge is a great inexpensive gift for any skincare lover on your list.  Made from an Asian root, the sponges are an eco-friendly, fully compostable tool that gently exfoliates the skin whilst whisking away dirt, makeup, and other impurities.  Different varieties like green tea, charcoal, and aloe vera mean there's a sponge to target almost any skin concern you might have.

Gabriel / Zuzu Luxe Holiday Duos ($15.50 / $18.50)
These holiday duos are a great (and cute) way to try out one - or both - of these lines.  Depending which set you choose, you get either Gabriel or Zuzu's black mascara, plus one of four different lip glosses.  The sets cost roughly the same as one mascara or lip gloss, so you're getting a crazy deal on the pair.  

Rachel's Plan Bee Body Oil ($24)
This body oil, created at customers' request, is a gorgeous oil that's equal parts practical and indulgent.  It hydrates like a dream, but also feels super luxurious going on.  The scent is amazing too: a blend of citrus and vanilla that combines into a great vanilla cake/bakery scent.  It's sweet but not overpowering.

Hugo Naturals Holiday Soaps ($4.30-6.15)
Shaped like snowflakes and Christmas trees, these soaps would make great stocking stuffers.  The soaps are scented with essential oils and colored with mineral and plant pigments and are pretty readily available at Whole Foods and other health food stores.  I have the Vanilla Peppermint Snowflake in my bathroom right now, where it looks adorable and smells like a candy cane.  

Petit Vour Subscription Box ($15-30, varies by location)
Subscription boxes are a great gift for the beauty lover and Petit Vour is one of the best.  Each month brings a carefully curated selection of luxury vegan, cruelty free, and natural products.  Check out my past reviews/unboxings to get an idea of what comes in the box.

Crazy Rumors Festive Collection ($13.49)
Lip balm is a staple for almost everyone, especially in the colder months and Crazy Rumors are a great vegan choice.  The Festive Collection includes flavours like Candy Cane and Plum & Peppermint, which sound pretty perfect for this time of year.

Deep Steep Candy Mint Foot Lotion ($6-10)
I'm pretty sure this made it into last year's gift guide, but even so, I wanted to include it here.  Deep Steep's Candy Mint products smell like sweet peppermint and are lovely in the winter months.  The foot lotion is my favorite from the line - it's super rich and great on dry feet, and it's actually one of my favorite lotions to use as a hand cream too!  If you can get your hands on them, Deep Steep also came out with a couple limited edition scents for the holidays: Sugar Plum and Peppermint Vanilla (which actually smells pretty similar to the Candy Mint.)

Pretty Bath Fizzes in Chamomile Dream and Three Wise Men ($6.50 / $7.50)
Pretty is a small Toronto company with some of the cutest packaging around.  The Bath Fizzes use a base of baking soda and citric acid, along with moisturizing shea butter and coconut oil.  Whether you opt for one of the permanent scents like Chamomile Dream or a seasonal one like the frankincense-infused Three Wise Men, I don't think you (or your gift recipient) will be disappointed!

Vapour Organics Elixir Lip Gloss ($22)
If I had to pick one favorite lip gloss brand, I think it would be Vapour Beauty.  The glosses won't dry out your lips and they have a perfect, creamy consistency.  The packaging is elegant - with a brush as opposed to a regular doe foot applicator - and there's a great selection of colors to choose from.   

Have you already finished your holiday shopping?  Or are you a late shopper, just getting started now?   

Also, don't forget to check back for the final two parts of my gift guide later in the week!