Spoiler: they're just as luscious, moisturizing, and creamy as the originals. Keep reading for all the details!
Showing posts with label body butter. Show all posts
Indie Brand Feature: Ellovi Revisited
19 January 2019
I first reviewed Ellovi back in 2016, and I've been a big fan of their butters ever since. Ellovi embodies simple elegance -- beautifully packaged, sophisticated formulas handmade from just six ethically-sourced natural ingredients. The company recently did some rejigging of both the butter formulas and their packaging, and sent me a few of the new versions to try out.
Spoiler: they're just as luscious, moisturizing, and creamy as the originals. Keep reading for all the details!
Spoiler: they're just as luscious, moisturizing, and creamy as the originals. Keep reading for all the details!
Etsy Gems: Maman Sucre Bath + Body
6 December 2016
Etsy is teeming with brands promising natural Lush-type dupes, and while there are definitely some great finds, there's also a lot of greenwashing to keep an eye out for. Which is why I'm so happy I discovered Maman Sucre bath and body products earlier this fall. Maman Sucre's handcrafted products are all vegan and cruelty free and are also free of GMO's and synthetic color and fragrance. Everything is made with clean and natural ingredients and is scented only with pure essential oils.
The Etsy shop is full of bath and body treats -- definitely give it a browse! -- but I'll run you through the specifics of the four items I've been trying out + my thoughts on everything.
Pumpkin Spice Bath Bomb*
We're on the tail end of Pumpkin Spice season -- my fault for not publishing this sooner! -- but I'm all for stretching spicy fall scents as long as possible and Maman Sucre's Pumpkin Spice Bath Bomb is just the thing. It isn't a sugared up or headache-inducing fake pumpkin scent, but rather a warm blend of sweet spices reminiscent of quality homemade pumpkin pie.
The bath bomb bubbled really nicely and created a great bath. Alongside standard fizzing ingredients like baking soda and citric acid, Maman Sucre's bath bombs also feature nourishing grapeseed and coconut oils that lend moisture and leave the water feeling a little softer. The bath bombs are colored with natural clays and mica, and the Pumpkin Spice Bomb is a pretty pale orange color with some gold shimmer running through it.
If the Pumpkin Spice window has already closed for you, Maman Sucre has plenty of other options too. How good do Avocado Butter & Citrus and Sandalwood Vanilla sound??
Sparkle + Bronzing Body Butters*
The body butters are whipped moisturizers made from organic shea butter and grapeseed and coconut oils. Both varieties have a light moussy texture in the pot that melts into the skin easily. They moisturize without any heavy, greasy feeling and leave behind a pretty shimmer.
Of the two, I definitely prefer the Sparkle Body Butter, both for it's lighter color and more subtle scent. The Bronzing Butter has a stronger floral fragrance and the color is more noticeable on my fair skin. Both are equally good moisturizers, so it really comes down to scent/color preference.
Sugar Scrub*
I only used a small scrub sample, but I really liked it. I'm not entirely sure which scent I tried -- I think the Lemon Jasmine -- but it smelled fresh and delightfully citrusy. The sugar has a pretty fine grain, so while gentle, it also does a thorough job exfoliating the skin. The ingredients include grapeseed and coconut oils, but the consistency is drier than that of a lot of other scrubs. For anyone who tends to find natural scrubs overly oily, or who just doesn't want to deal with a slippery shower floor, these scrubs would be a great option.
The Bottom Line
Maman Sucre's bath bombs, made without synthetic fragrance or dyes, are the real standout for me. The other bath and body products are great too and I quite enjoyed the sugar scrub, which has a drier and less slippery texture than a lot of other natural scrubs.
If you're in or around Austin, Texas, you can also find Maman Sucre at a few different markets this month -- more details are available on the company's Facebook page.
The Etsy shop is full of bath and body treats -- definitely give it a browse! -- but I'll run you through the specifics of the four items I've been trying out + my thoughts on everything.
 |
| Photo Credit |
Pumpkin Spice Bath Bomb*
We're on the tail end of Pumpkin Spice season -- my fault for not publishing this sooner! -- but I'm all for stretching spicy fall scents as long as possible and Maman Sucre's Pumpkin Spice Bath Bomb is just the thing. It isn't a sugared up or headache-inducing fake pumpkin scent, but rather a warm blend of sweet spices reminiscent of quality homemade pumpkin pie.
The bath bomb bubbled really nicely and created a great bath. Alongside standard fizzing ingredients like baking soda and citric acid, Maman Sucre's bath bombs also feature nourishing grapeseed and coconut oils that lend moisture and leave the water feeling a little softer. The bath bombs are colored with natural clays and mica, and the Pumpkin Spice Bomb is a pretty pale orange color with some gold shimmer running through it.
If the Pumpkin Spice window has already closed for you, Maman Sucre has plenty of other options too. How good do Avocado Butter & Citrus and Sandalwood Vanilla sound??
Sparkle + Bronzing Body Butters*
The body butters are whipped moisturizers made from organic shea butter and grapeseed and coconut oils. Both varieties have a light moussy texture in the pot that melts into the skin easily. They moisturize without any heavy, greasy feeling and leave behind a pretty shimmer.
Of the two, I definitely prefer the Sparkle Body Butter, both for it's lighter color and more subtle scent. The Bronzing Butter has a stronger floral fragrance and the color is more noticeable on my fair skin. Both are equally good moisturizers, so it really comes down to scent/color preference.
Sugar Scrub*
I only used a small scrub sample, but I really liked it. I'm not entirely sure which scent I tried -- I think the Lemon Jasmine -- but it smelled fresh and delightfully citrusy. The sugar has a pretty fine grain, so while gentle, it also does a thorough job exfoliating the skin. The ingredients include grapeseed and coconut oils, but the consistency is drier than that of a lot of other scrubs. For anyone who tends to find natural scrubs overly oily, or who just doesn't want to deal with a slippery shower floor, these scrubs would be a great option.
The Bottom Line
Maman Sucre's bath bombs, made without synthetic fragrance or dyes, are the real standout for me. The other bath and body products are great too and I quite enjoyed the sugar scrub, which has a drier and less slippery texture than a lot of other natural scrubs.
If you're in or around Austin, Texas, you can also find Maman Sucre at a few different markets this month -- more details are available on the company's Facebook page.
*Press sample
Duckish Natural Skin Care: Handmade Bath + Body Treats
23 September 2016
Duckish is a Canadian skincare company handcrafting natural and cruelty free bath and body products in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company reached out to me over the summer and very kindly sent me their Starter Bundle, a customizable kit containing all five of Duckish's bath and body products in your chosen scents. I'm eager to share my thoughts on everything!
Shea (Unscented) Body Butter
Let's jump right in with my favorite of the five products! My soft spot for unscented body moisturizers is no secret, and this rich blend of shea butter, grapeseed, coconut, olive, and jojoba oils is just the ticket for dry or irritated skin. I have a small self-diagnosed patch of eczema on one foot that doesn't tolerate many products, but I had no problems using the Body Butter on it. In fact, it even went one step further and worked very well at soothing both the itch and actual sensitivity when it flared up briefly last week. And, it works great on ordinary dry skin too.
The Unscented Butter smells faintly of unrefined shea butter, but it's mild and only noticeable as you're first applying it. If you prefer a scent, Duckish's Body Butter is also available in Lavender, Pink Grapefruit, and Tea Tree varieties.
Mint Bath Salts
I'm not the biggest bath person, particularly in the warmer months, so when I noticed Duckish includes the Bath Salts in their DIY Pedicure Kit, I was inspired to use them as a foot soak instead. Made from a mix of four different salts -- sea salt, dead sea salt, pink Himalayan salt and epsom salt -- as well as almond and coconut oils, the bath salts dissolve easily and add a light dose of softening moisture to your water. The Mint scent is a blend of peppermint and eucalyptus -- two of my favorites -- and it smells wonderfully invigorating. Just sniffing the package completely clears my sinuses, so I bet it will be a fantastic one to have on hand once cold and flu season hits!
Lavender Bath Bombs
With little lavender petals on top, these were so cute I hesitated to actually use them! Again, I'm no bath expert, but the bath bombs fizzed nicely and made the water soft and a little milky. They smelled more fresh and herbacious than heavily flowery -- my preference for lavender scents -- and I enjoyed using them. I don't think you can purchase the bath bombs individually right now, but they come in a few of Duckish's different bundles and sets.
Lavender Mini Lotion Stick
A lot of solid lotions rely heavily on waxes, but Duckish's Lotion Stick feels more like an oil in solid form. Solid in the tube, it melts into the skin immediately on contact and, although it contains beeswax, leaves behind no waxy coating or heavy residue, just soft, silky smooth skin. I especially love using it on my legs, and it's also wonderful for spreading on the backs of your hands when you need moisture without greasy fingertips. Like the bath bombs, the lavender scent is very fresh and I can also smell a little bit of the olive oil coming through. The purse-friendly mini size is great too -- perfect for carrying with you on the go!
Grapefruit Lip Balm
The Bottom Line
The Starter Bundle is a great way to get a feel for Duckish's line and to try a number of products at a small discount. The Lotion Stick and Body Butter were my favorite discoveries and are the two items I'd put my money towards first, but there really wasn't a dud in the bunch. The Bath Salts were a close third, and I think, along with the bath bombs, they'd be a big hit with bath lovers. The lip balm is also great and is something I expect I'll get a lot of good use out of come winter.
Shea (Unscented) Body Butter
Let's jump right in with my favorite of the five products! My soft spot for unscented body moisturizers is no secret, and this rich blend of shea butter, grapeseed, coconut, olive, and jojoba oils is just the ticket for dry or irritated skin. I have a small self-diagnosed patch of eczema on one foot that doesn't tolerate many products, but I had no problems using the Body Butter on it. In fact, it even went one step further and worked very well at soothing both the itch and actual sensitivity when it flared up briefly last week. And, it works great on ordinary dry skin too.
The Unscented Butter smells faintly of unrefined shea butter, but it's mild and only noticeable as you're first applying it. If you prefer a scent, Duckish's Body Butter is also available in Lavender, Pink Grapefruit, and Tea Tree varieties.
Mint Bath Salts
I'm not the biggest bath person, particularly in the warmer months, so when I noticed Duckish includes the Bath Salts in their DIY Pedicure Kit, I was inspired to use them as a foot soak instead. Made from a mix of four different salts -- sea salt, dead sea salt, pink Himalayan salt and epsom salt -- as well as almond and coconut oils, the bath salts dissolve easily and add a light dose of softening moisture to your water. The Mint scent is a blend of peppermint and eucalyptus -- two of my favorites -- and it smells wonderfully invigorating. Just sniffing the package completely clears my sinuses, so I bet it will be a fantastic one to have on hand once cold and flu season hits!
Lavender Bath Bombs
With little lavender petals on top, these were so cute I hesitated to actually use them! Again, I'm no bath expert, but the bath bombs fizzed nicely and made the water soft and a little milky. They smelled more fresh and herbacious than heavily flowery -- my preference for lavender scents -- and I enjoyed using them. I don't think you can purchase the bath bombs individually right now, but they come in a few of Duckish's different bundles and sets.
Lavender Mini Lotion Stick
A lot of solid lotions rely heavily on waxes, but Duckish's Lotion Stick feels more like an oil in solid form. Solid in the tube, it melts into the skin immediately on contact and, although it contains beeswax, leaves behind no waxy coating or heavy residue, just soft, silky smooth skin. I especially love using it on my legs, and it's also wonderful for spreading on the backs of your hands when you need moisture without greasy fingertips. Like the bath bombs, the lavender scent is very fresh and I can also smell a little bit of the olive oil coming through. The purse-friendly mini size is great too -- perfect for carrying with you on the go!
Grapefruit Lip Balm
I use lip balm countless times a day, so while I'm always up for trying new ones, I'm also a little picky about the ones I reach for. Duckish's, which is rich and buttery with just a slight waxy feel that really keeps the product hanging onto your lips, definitely makes the cut. I think it will make a fantastic cold weather balm since that same waxiness really seals moisture in and offers great protection against the elements. I wish the grapefruit scent was a bit stronger as I find the olive oil competes with it a little, but it's not a deal breaker.
The Starter Bundle is a great way to get a feel for Duckish's line and to try a number of products at a small discount. The Lotion Stick and Body Butter were my favorite discoveries and are the two items I'd put my money towards first, but there really wasn't a dud in the bunch. The Bath Salts were a close third, and I think, along with the bath bombs, they'd be a big hit with bath lovers. The lip balm is also great and is something I expect I'll get a lot of good use out of come winter.
*Press sample
Ellovi Butter Review + Giveaway
13 April 2016
Who says you need a long and complicated ingredient list to make a gorgeous product? Certainly not Ellovi, a brand that embodies simple elegance with body and lip butters made of just six ethically sourced and wild harvested ingredients. Ellovi products are vegan and cruelty-free, made in California, and free of water, preservatives, and fillers.
Ellovi's butters aren't new to me, but I've been trying out two new-to-me varieties: the Blossom Butter* and Mint Chocolate Lip Butter*. Keep reading for more on these two, plus stay tuned till the end to enter for a chance to try them yourself!
Chamomile Blossom Butter
Chamomile and citrus are two of my favorite scents, so picking this butter was a no-brainer. Delicately scented with mandarin and Italian chamomile essential oils, it's a beautiful floral and fruity mix that's perfect for this time of year. There's also an underlying sweetness that comes through from the coconut oil.
The other three ingredients (in case you were keeping count!) are mango seed oil, shea butter, and non-GMO corn starch. All this goodness blends together to create a rich body butter that's extremely nourishing to the skin, but not greasy. Mango seed oil often gives products an amazing dry oil feel and I do find Blossom absorbs a little better and leaves a slightly drier finish on the skin compared to Ellovi's Original Butter - without mango seed oil - which I've used previously. It's no less hydrating than the original, but, because it absorbs so well, it's a product I'm happy to slather all over my body, whereas I often find myself reserving richer butters like this for just extra dry spots like feet and elbows.
The butter is beautifully packaged in a heavy glass jar and, because it's so rich and concentrated, a little bit really does go a long way.
Mint Chocolate Lip Butter
With similar ingredients, it should come as no surprise that Ellovi's lip butters are just as fabulous as the body butters! The Mint Chocolate, specifically, is a blend of mango seed oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, cocoa oil, and peppermint. Without any waxes, it's a little softer than many other lip balm formulas, but extremely smooth and buttery.
The Mint Chocolate scent, reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream and After Eight bars, is just delicious. It's sweet and yummy, but in a very "real" way -- not at all fake or candy-like. The mint gives just the slightest tingle to the lips when first applied, and the balm does a great job keeping my lips feeling soft and smooth all day long.
Giveaway
Ellovi is generously offering up this same pair for one of you to try! Follow the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ellovi's butters aren't new to me, but I've been trying out two new-to-me varieties: the Blossom Butter* and Mint Chocolate Lip Butter*. Keep reading for more on these two, plus stay tuned till the end to enter for a chance to try them yourself!
Chamomile Blossom Butter
Chamomile and citrus are two of my favorite scents, so picking this butter was a no-brainer. Delicately scented with mandarin and Italian chamomile essential oils, it's a beautiful floral and fruity mix that's perfect for this time of year. There's also an underlying sweetness that comes through from the coconut oil.
The other three ingredients (in case you were keeping count!) are mango seed oil, shea butter, and non-GMO corn starch. All this goodness blends together to create a rich body butter that's extremely nourishing to the skin, but not greasy. Mango seed oil often gives products an amazing dry oil feel and I do find Blossom absorbs a little better and leaves a slightly drier finish on the skin compared to Ellovi's Original Butter - without mango seed oil - which I've used previously. It's no less hydrating than the original, but, because it absorbs so well, it's a product I'm happy to slather all over my body, whereas I often find myself reserving richer butters like this for just extra dry spots like feet and elbows.
The butter is beautifully packaged in a heavy glass jar and, because it's so rich and concentrated, a little bit really does go a long way.
Mint Chocolate Lip Butter
With similar ingredients, it should come as no surprise that Ellovi's lip butters are just as fabulous as the body butters! The Mint Chocolate, specifically, is a blend of mango seed oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, cocoa oil, and peppermint. Without any waxes, it's a little softer than many other lip balm formulas, but extremely smooth and buttery.
The Mint Chocolate scent, reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream and After Eight bars, is just delicious. It's sweet and yummy, but in a very "real" way -- not at all fake or candy-like. The mint gives just the slightest tingle to the lips when first applied, and the balm does a great job keeping my lips feeling soft and smooth all day long.
Giveaway
Ellovi is generously offering up this same pair for one of you to try! Follow the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Press sample
Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Vanilla Candy Cane Mini Tray
17 February 2015
Mid-February isn't too late to write about holiday gift sets, is it? I actually got this set on my birthday, at the end of January, without any plans to blog about it, but it ended up being too lovely not to. Rocky Mountain Soap Co. is a Canadian bath and body company founded on the principle that nature provides everything we need for beautiful and healthy skin. The company believes that body care should be beneficial to our health and psychological well-being and has even launched an entire Toxin-Free Movement to help spread information about ingredients and how to shop clean.
I've checked out Rocky Mountain Soap's website numerous times in the past and even tweeted with them on Twitter, but with stores only in the Western provinces, my birthday was the first time I came across their products in person. I wasn't sure where to start until I spotted a lone Vanilla Candy Cane Mini Tray in the store's sale section. Vanilla and mint scents are some of my favorites, so finding this - and on sale to boot - made it an easy decision. The Mini Tray came with mini sizes of the Vanilla Candy Cane Body Butter and Bar Soap and a full size Vanilla Candy Cane Lip Butter. It also included a card redeemable for a free bar of soap in one of their stores, which I will certainly be hanging onto until I - or someone I know - can make it to one of the ten Rocky Mountain Soap stores in person.
Vanilla Candy Cane Bar Soap
I'm always excited to discover new palm-oil free soap options, so this was probably the item I was most eager to try in the kit. It didn't disappoint. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent is the mildest in the soap, and while I wouldn't object to it being a little stronger, it's still there and quite delicious. The soap creates a good, rich lather that feels soft and non-drying on the skin and it's also lasted a good bit longer in my soap dish than expected, considering its compact size.
Vanilla Candy Cane Body Butter
Solid body butters can be tricky, but Rocky Mountain Soap has really nailed the perfect lotion bar consistency here. It's solid without being waxy, so it smoothes onto the skin easily without dragging or feeling sticky. It's also not overly oily and sinks in beautifully. My favorite thing to do with this has been to use it as a hand butter, since the tube packaging makes it so easy to smear on the backs of your hands and quickly rub in. The product absorbs nicely, so you don't end up with greasy hands or needing to wait more than a minute before you can touch anything. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent is a gorgeous mix of cool peppermint and sweet vanilla that I can smell on my skin for a few hours after application, and the body butter leaves anything it touches super soft and hydrated. The smaller, mini size is also perfect for carrying around with you and using on the go.
Vanilla Candy Cane Lip Butter
The lip butter feels very similar in consistency to the body butter and is beautifully rich and buttery. I notice a slight peppermint tingle on my lips, but nothing over the top. We've had -25° temperatures here the last several days and while admittedly I haven't been spending a lot of time outside, the lip butter has done a great job protecting my lips when I have ventured outdoors.
The Bottom Line
I've been impressed with all three products, so I'm pretty confident this won't be my last experience with Rocky Mountain Soap. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent - which is phenomenal - was a limited release for the holidays and isn't currently available, but all three of these products - and the Mini Trays - are sold year-round in other scents. With a large assortment of products and many varied scent choices, I sort of envision Rocky Mountain Soap Co. as a healthy alternative falling somewhere between Bath & Body Works and Lush. I'd love to visit one of their stores one day, but in the meantime, I will content myself with their website, plus the products stocked at The Big Carrot here in Toronto.
I've checked out Rocky Mountain Soap's website numerous times in the past and even tweeted with them on Twitter, but with stores only in the Western provinces, my birthday was the first time I came across their products in person. I wasn't sure where to start until I spotted a lone Vanilla Candy Cane Mini Tray in the store's sale section. Vanilla and mint scents are some of my favorites, so finding this - and on sale to boot - made it an easy decision. The Mini Tray came with mini sizes of the Vanilla Candy Cane Body Butter and Bar Soap and a full size Vanilla Candy Cane Lip Butter. It also included a card redeemable for a free bar of soap in one of their stores, which I will certainly be hanging onto until I - or someone I know - can make it to one of the ten Rocky Mountain Soap stores in person.
Vanilla Candy Cane Bar Soap
I'm always excited to discover new palm-oil free soap options, so this was probably the item I was most eager to try in the kit. It didn't disappoint. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent is the mildest in the soap, and while I wouldn't object to it being a little stronger, it's still there and quite delicious. The soap creates a good, rich lather that feels soft and non-drying on the skin and it's also lasted a good bit longer in my soap dish than expected, considering its compact size.
Vanilla Candy Cane Body Butter
Solid body butters can be tricky, but Rocky Mountain Soap has really nailed the perfect lotion bar consistency here. It's solid without being waxy, so it smoothes onto the skin easily without dragging or feeling sticky. It's also not overly oily and sinks in beautifully. My favorite thing to do with this has been to use it as a hand butter, since the tube packaging makes it so easy to smear on the backs of your hands and quickly rub in. The product absorbs nicely, so you don't end up with greasy hands or needing to wait more than a minute before you can touch anything. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent is a gorgeous mix of cool peppermint and sweet vanilla that I can smell on my skin for a few hours after application, and the body butter leaves anything it touches super soft and hydrated. The smaller, mini size is also perfect for carrying around with you and using on the go.
Vanilla Candy Cane Lip Butter
The lip butter feels very similar in consistency to the body butter and is beautifully rich and buttery. I notice a slight peppermint tingle on my lips, but nothing over the top. We've had -25° temperatures here the last several days and while admittedly I haven't been spending a lot of time outside, the lip butter has done a great job protecting my lips when I have ventured outdoors.
The Bottom Line
I've been impressed with all three products, so I'm pretty confident this won't be my last experience with Rocky Mountain Soap. The Vanilla Candy Cane scent - which is phenomenal - was a limited release for the holidays and isn't currently available, but all three of these products - and the Mini Trays - are sold year-round in other scents. With a large assortment of products and many varied scent choices, I sort of envision Rocky Mountain Soap Co. as a healthy alternative falling somewhere between Bath & Body Works and Lush. I'd love to visit one of their stores one day, but in the meantime, I will content myself with their website, plus the products stocked at The Big Carrot here in Toronto.
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