Naturalla Beauty

Not a whole lot used up in November, but since I don't relish the thought of hanging onto these things any longer, I'm doing a post now anyways!



Nourish Exfoliating Body Polish   [Review]
A nice, gentle scrub.  Not very abrasive at all - I was even using it on my face at one point!  Different scent options would make it even better, as this unscented one just smells starchy and cornmeal-esque, which kind of wore on my nerves after a while.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Blitzen and Surfrider   [Review]
Darling Girl eye shadows are some of my favorites!  Both of these were light peach shades, which you may have noticed I wear a lot.  Blitzen was a favorite, and while technically discontinued, Susan, DG's founder, found some hanging around that I was able to snatch up.
Repurchase? Blitzen yes, Surfrider, no.

Ella's Botanicals Skin Soother Beauty Bar Soap (sample)
I think I've tried almost all of Ella's bar soaps now and the Skin Soother is definitely my favorite.  It has a different base than the rest of them - olive oil instead of canola - and I like it a lot more.  As the name suggests, it's very gentle and soothing.  It's technically unscented, but it has a delicate, slightly sweet smell that's quite lovely.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Citrus and Unscented (samples)
Dr. Bronner's is always a staple.  I regularly use it to clean my makeup brushes, hand-wash any delicates, and for a multitude of other jobs as they pop up.  The citrus scent isn't my favorite.
Repurchase? Unscented, yes.

Badger Creamy Cocoa Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Love, love, love this lip balm!  It's great all year, but especially awesome in the winter, as it really coats and protects your lips against the cold.  Creamy Cocoa doesn't have any added scent, letting the cocoa butter really shine.
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Essential Oils Thieves
A blend of clove, cinnamon, rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils that's great for the immune system.  I got hit with a cold in the beginning of the month and finished this bottle off while fighting it.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

I've developed quite a fondness for creamy cleansers of late, and one that rushed right to the top of the list is from Kahina Giving Beauty.  If you aren't already familiar with it, Kahina's line is based around organic, ethically sourced argan oil and all of its products combine high concentrations of the nourishing, anti-oxidant rich oil, along with other high quality, effective natural ingredients.  As the name suggests, Kahina's ethos also incorporates giving back and 25% of the company's profits are donated to causes that improve the lives of the Berber women who harvest and extract the argan oil used in the company's products.  These women's signatures also grace Kahina's sophisticated packaging.  

A couple months ago, Clementine Fields' co-founder, Ingrid Doucet, very generously sent me a couple products to try out and I'm ecstatic she chose to include Kahina's Facial Cleanser.  The cleanser contains aloe vera and argan oil to help keep skin hydrated, willow bark to gently eliminate toxins and impurities, and papaya enzymes to brighten and lightly exfoliate.  The ingredients combine together beautifully to create a creamy cleanser that I'd wager is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.  It has a milky consistency that just glides across your face, but it isn't so thin that you risk losing it all down the drain.  

I usually prefer to remove any makeup first with an oil, but in a pinch, Kahina's cleanser does the trick, even on stubborn mascara or eyeliner.  The cleanser is scented with neroli and blue tansy, also known for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, and it's not a stretch to say that it smells incredible. It's a light, fresh and slightly sweet scent that somehow manages to be both simultaneously relaxing and refreshing.




The Bottom Line
Kahina's Facial Cleanser is an excellent product that thoroughly cleanses without drying or stripping the skin.  It's a gorgeous cleanser that I think would work for a variety of skin types.  I've been sadly scraping the dregs of my bottle this week, but happily Clementine Fields came through, again, with a well-timed flash sale that I rushed to take advantage of: 

For the rest of today, get 15% off all Kahina products, as well as Zoe Organics and Ursa Major for Men.  

Where to Buy: $56 from Clementine Fields (currently on sale!), Kahina Giving Beauty

Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, aqua, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, glycerin*, leuconostoc (radish) root ferment filtrate, cocoglucoside, coconut alcohol, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract*, glyceryl oleate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, lauryl glucoside, vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, sclerotium gum, citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil*, chamomila recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, tanacetum annuum (blue tansy) flower oil*, hydrogenated lecithin, p-anisic acid, PCA, xantham gum 
*Ingredient from Organic Farming 



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.

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope those of you who celebrate are enjoying your time off.  I don't brave Black Friday shopping in person, but I'm always up for a good online shop.  I've been seeing so many amazing deals pop up that I thought it'd be helpful to compile them all into one list.  I'll update this as I hear about more and if you have any to add, leave them in the comments!

Afterglow Cosmetics
$25 Off Orders Over $75, $100 Off Orders Over $199 
Friday and Monday Only

Alima Pure
Free Black Mascara, Mulberry Lip Tint and Makeup Bag with $70 Purchase 
Now through Monday

Amala Beauty 
20% Off Orders Over $150 (Use Code: MONDAY2013)
Monday only

Au Naturale Cosmetics
30% Off (Use Code: ANGIVING)
Friday through Monday

Beauty Sage
20% Off + Free Shipping (Use Code: GOBBLE)
Now through Saturday
22% Off + Free Shipping (Use Code: CYBER)
Monday only

Brija Cosmetics
30% Off Orders Over $20 (Use Code: FRIDAY2013)
Friday through Monday

By Valenti Organics
10% Off (Use Code: BLACKCYBER)
Now through Monday

Cheeky Cosmetics
20% Off (Use Code: CHEEKYMONDAY)
Now through Monday

Clementine Fields
15% Off Kahina Giving Beauty, Zoe Organics, and Ursa Major for Men (Use Code: flash15)
Friday and Saturday 
*Kahina's cleanser is amazing.  Enough said*

CV Skinlabs
15% Off (Use Code: blackfriday)
Friday only

Darling Girl Cosmetics
20% Off (Use Code: GOBBLEGOBBLE)
Friday only

Dr. Sponge
10% Off (Use Code: CYBERSAVE)
Monday only

Ecco Bella
25% Off Orders Over $25 (Use Code: EBCYBER)
Monday only
*The lipsticks and blush are some of my favorites!*

Fresh Faced
15% Off (Use Code: NOVFLASH)
Friday only

Gabriel Cosmetics/Zuzu Luxe
30% Off (Use Code: cyber30)
Monday only

Hip Apotheca
30% Off (Use Code: BLACK30)
Friday through Monday

Honeybee Gardens
Free Shipping (Use Code: CYMON)
Monday only

Juice Beauty
Free Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer with $50 Purchase (Use Code: BFS13) 
Now through Saturday
Free $100 Mystery Gift with Orders over $100
Monday only

La Bella Figura
15% Off Modern Radiance Concentrate, Barbary Fig Renewal Serum & Skin Aficionado
Free La Curacio Lip Treatment with Orders over $50, Free 5ml Daily Elements Defense Face Oil Over $100, Free 1 oz. Bohemia Verde Aromatic Hair Elixir Over $300.  
Free 5ml Travel Therapy with Purchase of Istanbul, San Miguel or Positano Perfume
Monday only

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques
25% Off Full-Size Items (Use Code: disc25)
Friday to Monday    
*I'm totally eyeing these new Pressed Eyeshadow Duos*

LUVU Beauty
30% Off (Use code: THANKS)
Friday through Monday

Marie Veronique Organics
20% Off (Use Code: CYBERMONDAY)
Monday only

Nature of Beauty
20% Off (Use Code: CYBER20)
Monday only

Naturisimo
10% Off + Always Free Shipping (Use Code: HAPPY)
Now through Sunday

Nourish Organic
50% Off + Free Shipping Over $50 (Use Code: GREEN50)
Now through Friday
25% Off (Use Code: CYBER25)
Monday only

Nyl Skincare
20% Off + Free Gifts with Purchase (Use Code: HOLIDAY20)
Now through Monday

Organic Beauty Talk
25% Off + Free US Shipping
Now through Friday

Osmia Organics
15% Off + Free US Shipping Over $75
Monday only

Pai Skincare
Free Kukui Brightening Set with $90 Purchase (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAYONE)
Free Kukui Brightening Set + Free Rosehip Nourishing Set with $180 Purchase (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAYTWO)
Now through Monday

Pangea Organics
Buy 1, Get 1 Free + Free Shipping over $100
Now through Monday

Priti NYC
50% Off (Use Code: BLACKOUT)
Friday only

Saffron Rouge
20% Off Suki, Dr. Hauschka, Living Nature, The Body Deli, and W3ll People
Now through Monday

Silk Naturals
7% Off (Use Code: snowflake7)
Now through Saturday

Spirit Beauty Lounge
$15 Off Orders Over $150, $40 Off $250+, $70 Off $350+ (Use Code: THANKYOU13)
Now through Monday

Splurge Skincare
15% Off (Use Code: THANKFUL)
Monday only

Tropical Traditions
$10 Off (Use Code: 111328)
Now through Sunday

True Natural/Lavera/Benecos
20% Off Orders Under $100, 25% Off Orders Over $100 (Use Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Friday through Monday

Truth in Aging
20% Off Orders Over $75 (Use Code: THANKS20)
25% Off Orders Over $250 (Use Code: GIVING25)
30% Off Orders Over $500 (Use Code: SAVINGS30)
Free Mystery Bag with Purchase over $150
Now through Monday

Vapour Organic Beauty
30% Off (Use Code: blackfriday13)
Now through Monday
*You really can't go wrong here, but I especially love the concealer and glosses!*

Vitacost
$5 Off Orders Over $55 (Use Code:5BUCKS)
$10 Off Orders Over $75 (Use Code: 10BUCKS)
$15 Off Orders Over $100 (Use Code: 15BUCKS)
Now through Monday

W3ll People
20% Off (Use Code: cyber13)
Monday only

Weleda
25% Off + Free US Shipping Over $50 (Use Code: FRIDAY)
Friday and Saturday

White Rabbit Beauty
All Makeup on Sale (discounts already marked) + Free US Shipping on Makeup Only Orders
Now through Dec. 31
*White Rabbit Beauty is always my Zuzu Luxe connection!  Lots of other great brands too*



Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links.  You don't pay more by buying through them, but it does helps support Naturalla Beauty.

It's taken me a couple weeks to get to it, but I was tagged by Nicole of EcoChicBeautyDiva to do the Green Beauty Characters Tag, originally created by Sonya of Life in Blush.  Here goes nothing!

Photo courtesy of NatuRia Beauty

1. On my nightstand you’ll find: I'm not using a nightstand right now, so these things are scattered around my room instead, but if I were, it would have a mug of water, lip balm, a couple essential oils, hand cream, and rosehip seed oil (which I like to mix into the hand cream.)


2. The literary character I’m most like is (take this quiz and share your answer!): Hermione from Harry Potter, apparently.  "You are smart, witty, and love a challenge. You use rationality and reason in all things. You are measured and stable and you don't let people push you around."


3. I’m currently obsessed with: Holiday shopping, finding the perfect bronzer, figuring out life things.


4. My favourite superhero is: Wolverine!  You can't really go wrong with Hugh Jackman, can you?


5. Favourite beauty product of 2013: It's a toss up between Une's Skin Glow Pencil and my beloved face oils.


6. If I could have dinner with anyone dead or alive it would be: I'm drawing a blank here, so I'm going to pass.  Will have to update this when I think of someone!


7. Winter is coming – how do you prep your skin for battle? I've been slathering on extra oils and topping it off with a cream moisturizer or balm when necessary.  I've also been extra diligent about dry brushing pre-shower.  


8. My perfect date night makeup consists of: Some kind of shimmery neutral eye and a soft (sheer) red lip.


9. My go-to skin-beautifying snack/drink is: Staying hydrated in general, but more specifically drinking coconut water.  My skin is visibly glowier when I drink it regularly!


10. My TV boyfriend is: Not sure anyone more recent qualifies, so let's stick with an oldie but a goodie: Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.


11. If my evening clutch could only hold one beauty item it would be: Either lip balm or whatever else is on my lips.


12. One beauty tip I would pass on to my real/fictional daughter: Good skin comes from the inside out.  Do the basics: stay healthy, eat well, drink lots of water, etc. and your skin will reap the benefits.


13. The most nostalgic item from my childhood: I still have a couple dresses from when I was small.  Just because.


14. My favourite TV show of the moment is: This one is harder than it should be!  There are a few shows I keep up with, but I'm not really LOVING any of them just now.  


15. My favourite quote is: I'm really struggling over all the absolutes in this tag! I don't know if this is my most favorite quote ever, but it's one I like: 

Instead of tagging anyone specific, I'll just leave this open to anyone who wants to join in.  If you do, make sure to link your post in the comments so I can read it!

Nürish Organics is a local-to-me skincare line, based right here in Toronto.  The line was created to provide effective skincare that could perform deep restoration on damaged, sensitive skin and the company's formulations use natural (and mainly organic) ingredients to encourage and enhance the body's own healing mechanisms.  I've been trying out a few products from the line and I'm eager to share them with you, starting with the scrub.  Scrubs are probably my favorite skincare item, so you can imagine my excitement at trying a product named Best Scrub Ever.



Best Scrub Ever looks like an unimposing cream, but it's made with alumina oxide crystals - the same crystals that are used in clinical microdermabrasion treatments.  The crystals are completely smooth, which eliminates the risk of scratches or microtears that can occur with many other manual exfoliants.  Adrianne, Nürish's founder, cautioned me against overusing the scrub - in terms of frequency and hardness of scrubbing - and both have proven to be apt advice.  The microdermabrasion crystals are super fine and even though the scrub feels gentle as you're using it, once washed off, it's clear just how intense of an exfoliation treatment Best Scrub Ever really is.  My skin can be sensitive and I imagine it would be easy to overdo it, so I've been limiting my use of the scrub to about once a week.  I'm also careful how much pressure I use when massaging the product on my face.

Considering its intensity, it's worth noting that I've experienced absolutely no irritation since I've been using this product.  Other scrubs can sometimes leave my face feeling stripped or even raw, but that's never been the case here.  Best Scrub Ever is packed with nourishing ingredients like soothing shea and cupuacu butters and healing tamanu and avocado oils, and it really does achieve that perfect balance between efficacy and comfort.  It also smells fresh and minty and leaves your skin with a slight tingle, even after rinsing the product off.   


Bottom Line
Best Scrub Ever definitely has me impressed!  It's a beautifully formulated scrub that's effective but never harsh and I'm confident it would suit almost all skin types.  If you like more intense exfoliation or scrubs that you can tell are really working, this is definitely a product worth looking into!

Have you used anything from Nürish Organics?  Stay tuned over the next couple weeks for my thoughts on a couple other products I've been trying out.

Where to Buy: $53 from Nürish/Saffron Rouge.  

Ingredients: Purified Water, Alumina Oxide Crystals, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Cetearyl Olivate (and) Sorbitan Olivate*, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter*, Soy Lecithin, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil*, Tocopherol, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Seed Oil*, Sclerotium Gum, Mentha Arvensis (Cornmint) Oil*, Hedychium Spicatum (Ginger Lily) Oil*, Copaifera Officinalis (Copaiba) Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid. (*Denotes Organic Ingredient)



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.