Naturalla Beauty

Transformative Cleansing Oil

Are you a body oil convert?  Personally, I switch back and forth between lotions and oils, but I've been having a moment with body oils recently, and two in particular: the Wellbeing Body Oil from Sukin, and the Detoxing Body Oil* from Flora Remedia*. 

General body oil gospel is to apply oils onto wet skin before toweling off, but my first priority post-shower is always my hair.  As fellow curlies can attest, letting curly hair dry too much before styling only results in unnecessary frizz and struggles, so my routine is always hair, then face, then body.  As a result, I prefer more lightweight body oils that don't require soaking wet skin to absorb properly.  I still want my oils to pack a moisturizing punch, but they also need to allow for some versatility in application.

Both of today's picks are just fine to apply onto mostly dry skin, and that's how I usually use them.  If I'm feeling fancy, I might mist myself with some kind of hydrosol or aloe spray before going in with the oil, but more often than not, I just slap them on and go.  Neither one leaves me feeling greasy or requires any significant wait time before pulling clothes on.


I really like Sukin products and the Wellbeing Body Oil has been on my mental wishlist for years, but it wasn't until I spotted it severely discounted at Winners that I finally took the plunge.  Now that my bottle is on its last legs, I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to finally get my hands on it!

The Wellbeing Body Oil has Sukin's signature vanilla-orange scent.  Citrus and vanilla is a fairly common scent pairing, but I think Sukin's version is one of the best.  It's sweet and pleasantly reminiscent of creamsicles, but also elegant and not overly young or sugary.  To draw a couple comparisons, I'd say Sukin's aroma is lighter and more citrusy than the Rachel's Plan Bee products and much less sweet than Andalou Naturals' candy-like mandarin vanilla line.  For me, it's a very wearable scent.  I enjoy the smell when I use the oil and I can smell it on my skin for close to a day, but it doesn't overwhelm the senses or cause me any problems.

The oil itself is a nourishing blend of sunflower, jojoba, rosehip, marula, evening primrose, avocado, sweet almond, wheatgerm, and soybean oils that's further enhanced with soothing calendula extract and vitamin E.  I could do without the soy oil -- it's just generally not an ingredient I love -- but the product as a whole is beautiful.  It's a medium weight oil, but one that sinks in very nicely, even on dry skin.  It does a fantastic job moisturizing and leaves skin feeling extra soft and silky.


Flora Remedia uniquely blends together plant based ingredients, essential oils, and flower essences to create products intended to help you feel your best -- mind, body, and soul.  Along those lines, the Detoxing Body Oil promises to do more than just moisturize the skin.  The act of massaging in any oil helps stimulate the lymphatic system, which in turn contributes to normal and healthy detox processes and Flora Remedia has formulated their oil with thoughtful ingredients to maximize these benefits.  The product description specifically talks about reduced cellulite and water retention, but since I don't deal with a lot of either one, I'm not comfortable judging it on those criteria.  Whether or not you observe any clear detox perks, the oil makes a fantastic body moisturizer!

I think the liquoricey scent will be a little more polarizing than the Sukin, but I, for one, like it a lot.  With essential oils chosen for their detoxifying benefits as well as their fragrances, the oil contains a distinctive mix of grapefruit, fennel, rosemary, lemon, and juniper, but the predominant scent, to my nose at least, is without a doubt the fennel.  It's sweet, fresh, and liquoricey.  I don't find the fragrance lasts on the skin beyond a few hours, but liquorice and fennel are such love-it-or-hate-it tastes, so I think a lot will come down to that preference.

The oil has a lightweight base of sunflower and safflower oils that, again, absorbs very well into the skin.  I think the Detoxing Body Oil would be a great choice for someone newer to moisturizing with oils or for anyone who usually finds oils too heavy, as it has a lovely light and nongreasy feel on the skin.  The oil also contains crab apple, impatiens, and larch flower essences, which offer extra feel good benefits.
  
Whether you're a longtime body oil convert or a newbie, you can't go wrong with either of these!  Both smell great, moisturize well, and absorb easily into the skin.  As an added bonus, the Flora Remedia Detoxing Oil also offers potential detox and mood boosting benefits.

Have you used either of these oils?  What are your favorite body oils?

Created to hydrate and protect skin in Telluride, Colorado's dry mountain climate, TellurideGlow's Alpine Pure Oil* ($45 for 2 ounces) is a rich oil comprised of high quality cold-pressed and unrefined plant oils.  It's almost entirely organic and is completely vegan, cruelty free, free of GMO's, made in the USA, and both packaged and shipped using recycled and recyclable materials.

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The oil launched earlier this year and I've been testing it out over the last couple months.  It couldn't have come at a better time, as colder temperatures are just starting to roll in here, bringing with them drier autumn skin needs.  The culmination of more than 2 years research, formulating, and product testing, Alpine Pure Oil is a blend of 24 potent botanicals: a mix of rich plant carrier oils and fragrant essential oils.  Several of my favorite moisturizing oils are included: jojoba, rosehip, argan, sea buckthorn berry, tamanu, and watermelon seed oils, to mention just a few.  These aren't just cheap filler oils, but rather potent, antioxidant- and nutrient-rich ingredients to deeply nourish and feed the skin.

Alpine Pure Oil is multi-functional (check out all the suggested uses here) and formulated for "face, hands, body and soul," however the first ingredient is coconut oil, which I know my face doesn't love, so I've predominantly used it as a body oil.  It glides on smoothly -- on both wet and dry skin -- and sinks in quickly, moisturizing and protecting the skin without any kind of heavy oil residue.  A hint of mica also leaves skin with a pretty radiance.  Nothing overtly sparkly or shimmery, just a nice subtle glow.  I've also used the oil in my hair, running a few drops through the ends to moisturize and tame frizz, and it works great for that purpose too.

The scent is a mix of seven essential oils: geranium, lavender, ylang ylang, neroli, frankincense, roman chamomile, and sweet orange.  Geranium is definitely the strongest note and although I'm not typically the hugest geranium fan, I've been enjoying the oil nonetheless.  The scent isn't overpowering or heavy and the intense florals are nicely balanced with the earthier frankincense and the fresh zippy orange.  

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The Bottom Line
A lovely oil that doesn't scrimp on quality ingredients.  It offers intense hydration and I enjoy using it as both a body and hair oil.  If your skin tolerates coconut oil better than mine, I expect it would make a great face oil too.

Deal Alert: US shoppers will receive a free travel size oil with any order placed on the TellurideGlow website in October.  International shipping is available on Amazon.

Rachel's Plan Bee has been on my radar for quite some time, so when Rachel reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in trying some products, I had a bit of a fangirl moment.  After composing myself, I was quick to sign on.  

Why was I so excited?  In the company's own words -

"We are a small family business on a mission to make your skin happy.  We create natural and pure recipes packed with love that deliver skin softening goodness combined with excellent customer service and a promise to always do better for our customers and our community.  It's all about doing work that we love, sharing it with you and revealing the inner beauty found in all of us."

It doesn't get much better than that, am I right?  

All Rachel's Plan Bee products are made with wholesome, natural ingredients and are free of parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, gluten, and artificial colors and flavours.

Keep reading to find out what I thought of the Body Polish and newly launched Body Oil.


Original Body Polish*

I think I can count the number of times I've actually bought a body scrub on one hand.  Not because I don't enjoy them, but because I tend to mix up my own at home instead.  Let me just say: Rachel's Plan Bee blows pretty much every scrub I've ever made out of the water.  

I love both of these!  Used either together or individually, I think they're great products.  The texture of the Body Polish is pretty near perfect and I love the multitude of scents available.  It would be great to see more scent options for the oil in the future too.  And maybe even - dare I say it - an unscented one.  

Have you tried anything from Rachel's Plan Bee?

Lina Hanson's Global Body Serum took the green beauty world by storm last year and Lina's hit the mark again, this time with a baby product.  The Global Baby Serum launched this past Mother's Day, and while this blend was created with delicate baby skin in mind and is gentle and safe enough for newborns, it's also perfect for adult sensitive skin and anyone in search of a gentle, unscented body oil.  It's even recommended for pregnant bellies and new mamas, since several of the ingredients increase skin elasticity and help treat stretch marks.

The star ingredient is kalahari or watermelon seed oil, which is high in essential fatty acids, but still has a light feeling on the skin.  Watermelon seeds are harvested by women's co-operatives in West Africa, using fair-trade practices that support entire communities.  Camellia seed oil, harvested from the same plant that produces tea leaves, also stood out to me in the ingredients list.  This oil, most well known for its use by Japanese geishas, is extremely soothing, suitable for the most sensitive skin, and full of antioxidants.  Other ingredients include safflower, jojoba, sunflower, apricot, and grape seed oils.  To eliminate potential allergens, the blend is free of both essential oils and tree nut oils.

The oil feels very light going on, but still manages to hydrate really well.  I'm well aware that body oils don't always get enough love from me, since, although I appreciate the results they give, I can't always commit those extra few minutes straight out of the shower to massage an oil into damp skin.  Not a problem with the Global Baby Serum.  It's an oil, yes, but it's a dry oil and absorbs quickly and fully, even on completely dry skin.  Damp skin will make the oil spread a little further, but either way - on dry or wet skin - there's no greasy residue left behind.  

And, it's fantastic on more troubled skin too.  My legs had been reacting to something and were irritated and very itchy right around the time the sample of Lina's oil showed up at my door, and this beauty soothed my inflamed skin like nothing else.  The oil is also truly fragrance free, with no detectable scent to my nose.   

The Bottom Line
The Global Baby Serum is an excellent choice for babies, expectant mothers, and anyone else looking for a gentle, quick absorbing, unscented body oil.  The deceptively light feel hides a highly moisturizing, nourishing treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  

Where to Buy: $35 from Lina Hanson, Spirit Beauty Lounge

Ingredients: Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) seed oil, arthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, camellia oleifera (camellia) seed oil*, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, tocopherol (non-gmo)


Disclosure: Product provided for  review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.  Contains affiliate links.

The Mystic Masala is a great Canadian brand that brings together a unique combination of Ayurveda and aromatherapy.  Ayurveda is an ancient wisdom and healing practice born in India more than 5000 years ago.  To simplify a complicated philosophy, Ayurveda is about finding and maintaining balance in the body, mind, and spirit.  The approach identifies three life energies or doshas - pitta, vata, and kapha - which are all present, to varying degrees, in everyone.  Once a person identifies their main dosha(s), they can use that information to better identify practices to guide their physical, spiritual, and mental health.

The Mystic Masala combines these Ayurvedic principles with natural and nontoxic ingredients and sells a diverse range of products.  The line was started by Glynnis Osher, a teacher, practioner and author with a strong background in both Ayurvedic study and aromatherapy, and currently includes candles, soaps, massage oils, and aromatic malas.  Products are available on the company's website, but will soon also be available in their first retail store, opening in Vancouver in April.

I was sent a few things to try, so keep reading for my thoughts on those.  (There's also a giveaway at the end!)

Tridoshic Tealight Tower*

"A pure Ayurvedic aromatherapy candle with 100% essential oils and lead-free cotton wicks. Hand poured in Canada.  Anytime you need the tranquility of nature, inhale this amazing scent, sprinkled with rose petals, you will welcome such beauty. "

Finding candles that are both gorgeous and nontoxic can sometimes be a challenge, but The Mystic Masala has really nailed it with these!  Unlike traditional paraffin candles, soy wax candles do not create harmful, carcinogenic fumes or exhaust and the soy used to make them is a renewable resource.  The candles are also biodegradable and burn slower and cooler than paraffin, which means your candles will have a longer burn time.  

The Mystic Masala's Tealight Towers are sets of 12 tealights housed in an elegant, cardboard tube.  The Tridoshic dosha is intended for those who recognize an equal balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  The candles are scented with geranium, spikenard, and bergamot essential oils, and they've won over even my generally non-floral loving self!  It's a bright scent that smells floral, but also quite light and refreshing, and the sprinkling of rose petals on top of each candle is a beautiful touch as well.

Tealight Towers are also available for the other three doshas, and Tridoshic candles are also available as votives, travel tins, and in glass jars.  

Massage/Body Oils*

"Our naturally exquisite Ayurvedic body oils are made at a womens’ fair trade cooperative in Nepal. The herbs are sustainably wildcrafted assuring the highest quality ingredients and care. These contain only highest vibrational oils without any additives or preservatives. Beautifully gentle for daily massage of body and face. A routine of daily self-massage is an essential part of an Ayurvedic practice to restore and balance your unique skin type."

I received samples of all four oils, plus the scalp and hair elixir, and I've been enjoying trying them all out over the last couple weeks.  I'm curious to learn more about Ayurvedic massage, but for now I've just been using the samples as I would other body oils.  What I think is especially unique about these is that each formula differs not just in the essential oils and herbs, but right down to the base/carrier oils, which have also been carefully selected to best suit each dosha.  

I've enjoyed using all of them, with the exception of the Pitta blend, whose scent I did not get on with at all.  My favorite is the Kapha oil, an energizing blend of lemongrass, ginger, and black pepper essential oils in a base of olive, mustard, grapeseed, and Vitamin E oils.  It's also infused with wildcrafted lemongrass, haritaki, and neem.  I haven't had a chance to use the Thousand Petals Scalp Elixir and Hair Oil yet, but I'm excited to give myself a scalp massage on my next at home spa day!

SpiceLove Aromatic Love Oil*

"An exquisite and ridiculously sexy new love oil created from our just-arrived essential oils from France, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and India. Just wait until you sniff this gorgeous blend!This exquisite 100% pure essential oil blend boldly expresses the beauty and sensuality of the white lotus flower—nelumbo nusefera, known as ‘sacred lotus’—masterfully melding with French ylang ylang, Indian rosewood, African myrrh and a drop of Indonesian patchouli, all in a carrier blend of organic almond/sunflower oil."

The Mystic Masala's new SpiceLove Perfume Oil is the final item I was sent.  It's a sweet floral scent with a hint of woodsy spice that I think would appeal to a lot of people, but I'm concerned it's a little too much for my scent-sensitive self.  Instead, with The Mystic Masala's go-ahead, I'm going to be giving it away to one of you lovely readers.  (It's brand new, of course!)
  
The giveaway is international and will run until next Monday, March 31 at midnight.  To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter widget.  Enter once or as many ways as you'd like!
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I love simplicity in skincare and KYI, short for Know Your Ingredients, is a brand that delivers just that.  The company prides itself on making minimally processed, whole food skin products with wholesome, natural ingredients and no unnecessary additives.  I featured KYI's Argan + Vitamin C Serum in a wishlist post way back in March and when I reached out to the company, they were extremely generous and sent me their whole line to test out!  I'll be reviewing all three products over the next few weeks, but first up, I bring you the Sweet Almond Softening Oil.