green beauty

June 2014 Beauty Favorites

Natural Beauty Favorites from June 2014

Published by Barbara Sandell
Beauty Favorites June 2014June 2014 Natural Beauty FavoritesI continue to chip away at my beauty product stash to make room on my vanity table for the new items I’m eager to try. Here is an overview of the products I enjoyed using during the month of June 2014. I purchased all these products myself and all prices are retail in USD. In many cases, I purchased the products at a discount as I’m usually on the hunt for a deal!
This product has a fairly think consistency and evens out the skin texture nicely. This is the lighter of 2 available shades. This color is a little light for me so on its own. I mix this product with Juice Beauty Perfecting Foundation in Sand to boost the shade closer to my NC25 complexion. Using both products together, I feel confidently nourished and protected.This product doesn’t provide a ton of coverage but it’s a great primer. It isn’t greasy and moisturizes very well. This is a great multi-tasker and I love that it’s SPF 30. $39 for 1.7 ounces.

 

This product has a nice consistency; not too think but not runny. I ordered the product online and couldn’t see how dark it was and it’s not the right shade for me. Sand is the middle color, in between Ivory and Tan. I decided to try mixing it with my Juice Beauty Cellular Repair CC Cream in Natural Glow and it worked out perfectly! I mix the 2 products on the back of my hand and apply it with my fingers. I use 1/2 pump of foundation and approximately about twice as much CC cream. I like the packaging and the pump dispenser. This product moisturizes, provides medium coverage and is fairly pigmented so you don’t have to use a lot. $35 for 1 ounce.

This lip product was included in Tarte’s Box & Go 2013 Holiday Set sold on QVC. I put the set on my wish list and my hubby tucked it under the Christmas tree last December. Most of the lip pencils in that set were too dark and bold for my current makeup routine but Precious is just right. Tarte describes this product as “a hybrid between a stain, glow and rich balm”. Precious is a light pink color is easy to apply and totally wearable for play or work. The product provides nice moisture, is slightly minty and provides a bit of a tingle. It was nice to bring this out of my winter makeup stash and use as a natural makeup look for summer. It’s great for on-to-go beauty for the beach or summer vacations. This color doesn’t appear to be available anymore but there are a number of nice shades and several different formulations choose from. Retails for $24.

 

I bought this face lotion as part of a Naturelle D’Argan set from a Flash site (Hautelook?) so it was a great value. This product is emollient but not greasy and moisturizes my face very well. The scent is somewhat earthy and not liked by but its just fine for me. By now, I know that many yummy smelling products contain ingredients I don’t feel great about using so the milder the scent, the happier I am. Boring, I know…. The packaging is convenient, great for travel and the product stays clean and protected. $39.99 for 1.34 ounces.

 

This product is nice and rich and works well on my “normal” (not oily or dry) skin under makeup. I love how the combination of facial moisture and sunscreen saves me time in the morning. The product is conveniently packaged and perfect for travel. I like creams in a tube (no chance to contaminate the product by sticking a germy finger into the whole container). There are some great botanical ingredients in this lotion. I’ve enjoyed Jurlique products for years and always found them high quality and effective. $58 for 1.4 ounces.

 

I  haven’t found a rich, makeup dissolving cleanser I like better than this one. This cleansing cream is thorough and doesn’t leave any makeup behind. Although it’s a powerhouse, it leaves my skin feeling clean and hydrated and not greasy or oily. I don’t feel like I have to wash again with an oil-cutting facial cleanser. This product removes foundation, lipstick and mascara like a charm. Check out my Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser Review Here. Holy Grail product. $45 for 100 ml.

 

Sulfate-free shampoos are notorious for not producing a lot of suds. I’ve gotten used to hand, body and facial washes that aren’t super foamy but I do enjoy the suds factor in my shampoo. I’ve tried a few greener shampoos and in my experience, this shampoo suds more than some. The small amount of suds is enough to help massage the product all over my scalp and into my hair. This product does the job and leaves my hair feeling very soft and healthy. This product and the conditioner are for chemically treated hair. I always buy products made for “damaged”/chemically treated hair because my hairdresser works a little magic in my brunette mane. The container has a convenient flip top and the price point is good @ $8.99 for 8.4 ounces.
This product is good at detangling just shampooed hair and doesn’t leave my hair feeling heavy. I really can’t smell coconut or hibiscus in this product or the shampoo. The packaging is handy as I find squeeze bottles and pumps best in the shower. I bought this conditioner and the shampoo at my local Whole Foods which was fun (it’s always a thrill to find products you can feel good about using at a local store versus having to wait days them them to arrive at your doorstep!). This product is priced the same as the shampoo @ $8.99 for 8.4 ounces.

@ 2014 curious babs

iHerb Haul

First iHerb Haul

Published by Barbara Sandell

First iHerb Haul

iHerb Blog First Impressions

First iHerb Haul

Check out what I got in my first iHerb haul! I ordered a number of products including 2 protein powders, liquid soap, body lotion, 2 deodorants and a toner. I hadn’t heard of iHerb until I started watching Ecoholic Beauty – thanks, Jess! This is one of my first green beauty hauls and I’m so excited! I got my order in 3 days which is amazing and I feel like to got a lot for what I spent ($74). I’ve been using the products for a little under a week and wanted to share my first impressions.

iHerb Haul First Impressions
I wanted some basic castile soap to clean makeup brushes and for an all purpose cleanser for the shower and the various sinks in our home. I was specifically looking for Dr. Bronner’s Almond Castile Liquid Soap. I didn’t see it so I took a chance on the Dr. Woods Pure Tea Tree Castile Soap with Organic Shea Butter. This is good quality product. I’m not a huge tea tree fan (a little on the antiseptic side for me) but the scent is mild enough and the product does the job. This soap was around $.30 per ounce which is about on par with Dr. Bronner’s. I’d say there’s about a 50/50 chance I will buy this product again. If I really need soap and I’m buying from iHerb, I may repurchase.

I have a protein powder fruit smoothie for breakfast 5 to 6 days a week. I find smoothies to be a great way to get nourishment into my system first thing in the morning and they’re oh so portable! Eating something healthy in the morning is an important part of keeping my daily eating in check and maintaining a stable weight.

It isn’t easy to find a protein powder that doesn’t contain stevia. Although stevia is supposed to be a more natural sweetener, things with stevia always seem too sweet to me and extra sweet things don’t help me keep my sweet tooth in check! I’ve used Jarrow’s Brown Rice Protein Powder in Vanilla in the past so when I saw that iHerb carries this product, it was a no-brainer to add it to my order. This protein powder is great! I don’t have a problem with the texture, it is not overly sweet (it’s stevia-free), it’s reasonably priced (about $.80 per ounce), has great ingredients, etc.. I also ordered MLO Natural, Brown Rice Protein Powder because I was curious about this product and wanted to try something new. At about $.63 per ounce, this protein powder is a good value and it seems to work just fine so there’s a good chance I’ll repurchase.

Here is my current smoothie recipe:
Mix all of this in a blender: 1 scoop of protein powder with 1/2 banana, 6 to 8 ounces of orange juice, 1/3 cup nonfat yogurt, 1/3 to 1/2 cup of fruit (my favorites are strawberries, blueberries and fresh pineapple) and 1/4 cup crushed ice. Whirl this in the blender for a good 3 minutes to make sure there aren’t any fruit lumps. Pour it into a shaker jar and enjoy!

I’m currently using Zion Health Adama Minerals Clay Dry Deodorant and I ordered another one since I’ll be out soon. I still love this deodorant the best out of the numerous natural deodorants I’ve tried. It isn’t sticky, doesn’t require you to wait to get dressed, keeps me dry throughout the day, doesn’t have a strong scent and is reasonably priced. I decided to try Alvera Aloe Almond Roll On Deodorant on a whim. I tried using this once. It has a strong smell I don’t really care for. so I don’t think I’ll be using this deodorant again unless. It wasn’t expensive (less than $4) so I may just toss it. You may ask why I bothered to try another deodorant if what I currently have works so well. Well…….you beauty product junkies out there can probably understand the compulsion to “hunt” for the next best product because “you never know” when you’ll discover a new favorite, right???  Whose with me on this one???

So far, I really like the Nature’s Baby Organics Face and Body Lotion. I hesitated getting a baby lotion but when I read the rave reviews, I couldn’t resist trying it out. This product is very emollient and I really feel like it’s nourishing my skin. It’s unscented and has a pretty attractive price point (around $1.10 per ounce).

I was completely out of facial toner so had to include some on this order. I struggled to decide which product to buy and ended up with Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Alcohol Free Toner. This is a no frills alcohol-free toner and I’m pretty pleased with it. It has a fairly mild rose scent, seems to do the job just fine and has a good price point (around $.70 per ounce).

What did get on your first iHerb haul? What products do you like to buy from iHerb? Do you have any yummy smoothie recipes to share?

-Barbara

May 2014 Beauty Favorites

Beauty Favorites from May 2014

Published by Barbara Sandell
May 2014 Beauty Favorites

May 2014 Beauty Favorites

As I discover the world of green beauty, I am using up the products already in my stash. I’m trending green on new purchases but need to use up what’s already in my stash.Deodorant is the first product I went “green” with. I’ve tried many natural deodorants over the years. I was almost settled on Tom’s when I read a review about Zion Health Clay Dry Deodorant.There isn’t a natural deodorant will will keep your underarms bone dry but what’s most important to me is to smell fresh throughout the day. This product is reasonably priced, easy to roll on and isn’t wet so you don’t have to wait to get dressed. I’ve been using this same container of deodorant for about 6 months and I swear I still have 50% of the product left. I’m close to declaring this my Holy Grail deodorant.

I dusted off my The Balm’s Frat Boy Shadow/Blush to give it another go for summer. This is an easy blush to wear – it provides natural looking color and goes on easily. The packaging is lightweight which is good for traveling. I brought my Laura Mercier Cheek Contour Brush back into rotation recently and it’s been working great with the Frat Boy Blush. This brush is just the right size for my face and deposits just enough color right on my cheekbone. I think I’ll experiment using this brush for contoure our in June.

Speaking of brushes, I wanted to give a shout out for the Real Techniques Dual Fiber Face Brush. I’ve been using this brush to lightly apply powder to set my foundation. The bristles are super feathery so it doesn’t cake on the powder for more of a a natural finish. The Real Techniques brushes are fantastic for the money.

The one product I won’t leave home without is corrector. The Graftobian Corrector in Soft Orange is marketed as a Blue Neutralizer and it pretty much cancels out my under eye darkness. This product works so well, I can even get by without layering a concealer on top.

I had never heard of Malloy makeup until I saw Emily from The Beauty Broadcast rave about it in one of her favorites. The Malloy Volumizing Mascara beefs up my lashes in one coat with its fluffy brush. It’s a thick consistency and I don’t notice any smearing throughout the day.

So many You Tube makeup gurus are gushing about Makeup Geek Eye Shadows. They are only $5.99 each so I couldn’t resist picking up a few to try them for myself. These eye shadows are FANTASTIC for the money; creamy and very pigmented. I ordered 4 colors and keep them in a Mac quad palate. Purely Naked is matte with a slight sheen and is great all over the lid and into the crease for an easy one shadow look. Vanilla Bean has a slight sheen for a subtle brow or inner eye highlight. Crème Brûlée is a great matte crease color and an alternate to Mac’s Soft Brown. Cocoa Bear is a rich matte reddish brown that works great for eyeliner and the outer “V”.

I found out about Mac’s Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer from one of Essie Button’s Monthly Favorites videos. Orange is THE go-to shade for summer and it just so happens that I’ve been obsessed with this lipstick for months. I like lipsticks that aren’t in your face bright or dark and can be applied without looking in a mirror. This lipstick is has a soft orange hue, has a slightly shiny finish and is totally wearable for my corporate job.

I’ve been using argan oil for about 6 months now and it’s superb. I stumbled across the Josie Maran Argan Love Your Skin Cleanse and Nourish To Go set waiting in line at Sephora. The set includes a trial size of Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil and Argan Cleansing Oil. This argan oil is silky on the face without feeling too greasy and the dropper makes it easy to control the amount of product dispensed. I’ve seen reviews that state that Josie Maran’s argan oil is more expensive than others but I love its consistency, it’s working well for me and the small size is perfect for traveling.

Product List

Skin Care

Zion Health Clay Dry Deodorant $7.49

Jose Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil $48

Makeup
Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Peach $25

The Balm Frat Boy Eyeshadow/Blush $21

Graftobian Corrector Soft Orange $9.50

Mally Volumizing Mascara $28 for 2 + shipping on QVC

Makeup Geek Eye Shadows Purely Naked, Vanilla Bean, Crème Brûlée, Cocoa Bear $5.99 each

Mac Lustre Lipstick in See Spray $15

Anastasia Duo Brow Powder in Medium Ash Brown $23 (I think it’s called Medium Brown now)

Brushes
Laura Mercier Angled Cheek Contour Brush $45

Real Techniques Limited Edition Dual Fiber Brush Set $19.99 for 3 brushes (Face, Contour and Eyes)

What were your favorite beauty products from May? Are you on a journey to go green with beauty?

pai front and box

Pai Camellia & Rose Hydrating Cleansing Cream Review

Published by Barbara Sandell

Pai Cameellia & Rose Hydrating Cleansing Creme Review

My face only needs a gentle cleansing in the morning so I’ve been experimenting with mild cleaners in the shower. As I mentioned in my Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque review, I’m gravitating toward products that don’t contain controversial ingredients. I used up a bottle of Caudalie’s Cleansing Milk which I liked quite a lot but wasn’t ready to settle down with it so I kept on looking. I started running into reviews of the Pai Camellia & Rose Cleansing Cream so I decided to give it a try. Below is some information from the container, packaging and Pai Skincare Website: http://usa.paiskincare.com

Pai Camellia & Rose Hydrating Cleansing Cream gently removes dirt, make-up and other impurities that build up on your skin throughout the day. Bursting with Omega 3 & Vitamins A, B & E, it replenishes the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving it soft and supple. The exfoliating muslin cloth lifts away dead skin cells to leave a smooth, even complexion. Suitable for all sensitive skin types, the Pai Hydrating Cleanser is detergent and alcohol-free, so won’t dry out or irritate your skin. Also suitable to use around the eyes to remove even waterproof mascara.

Skin Type: Sensitive, Anti-Redness, Dry, Combination, All skin types
Sizes: 100ml US $50 and 200 ML US $70 Includes muslin cloth (9 x 10 inches)

This product is free from irritating chemicals and ingredients including: alcohol (ethyl alcohols & alcohol denat), artificial fragrances, detergents (detergents including Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside), formaldehyde (including sodium hydroxymethylglycinate), parabens (including japanese honeysuckle), phenoxyethanol and propylene glycol.

 

Ingredients:
Camellia – Packed full of Omega 3 and Vitamins A, B & E, this rare oil has been used in Japan for centuries as a skin cleanser and conditioner.
Rose – Rose extract helps the skin retain moisture. Its rejuvenating and restorative properties make it particularly beneficial for damaged and lacklustre skin.
Other Ingredients: aqua, camellia sinensis seed oil*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil*, cetearyl alcohol (coconut-derived emulsifier), vegetable glycerine*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, cetearyl glucoside (corn-derived emulsifier), rosa damascena (rose otto) oil*, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil*, lavandula officinalis (lavender) flower oil*, litsea cubeba fruit oil* – may chang oil, mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin e), sodium laurel lactylate (from coconut oil), sodium anisette (basil extract), sodium levulinate (corn extract), lactic acid (derived from sugar beet), glyceryl stearate citrate (from sustainable palm oil)

pai with cloth
The Pai Skin Care Muslin Face Cloth is made from 100% unbleached, organic muslin cotton. Pai Skin Care muslin cloths have a gentle exfoliating action that leaves skin super clean and smooth and are designed for use with the Pai Skin Care Camelia & Rose Cleanser. Skin is gently exfoliated and renewed for a glowing and purified complexion.

My Experience With The Product
I started off using the product every morning in the shower. I spread one pump’s worth of cleaner over my wet face and neck for about 10 seconds. I let the shower rinse away the product. As I did research for this blog post, I learned that cleanser is supposed to be great at removing mascara and other eye makeup. I started using the product at night in addition to the morning and it worked out great! In the evening, I dispense one pump’s worth into my hands and massage the product into my skin for about 20 seconds.The facial massage gives you a chance to work out some tight face muscles and I like how it feels. I place my hands over my cheeks and spread the product over my face and neck. If I wore a lot of eye makeup that day, I spread another pump’s worth between my thumb and forefinger, close my eyes tightly and massage the product into my eyelashes and around the entire eye area.

I started off using cotton pads to remove the product, followed by plenty of water. I pump a tiny amount of product onto a cotton bud and remove any traces of eye makeup (there usually isn’t much except some eyeliner). When I first started using this product at night, I would follow up with a cleansing using Juice Beauty Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser (which I really like). After a few weeks, I gained confidence that the Pai product alone was removing all the makeup so I stopped using a second cleanser.

Conclusion
I like that the camellia, caster and sweet almond oil are the first 3 ingredients after water. The cleanser is white, scent-freee and non greasy. Although this product contains rose oil, it doesn’t smell like roses and is virtually scent-free. The container is attractive and the pump is wide and easy to use. The pump dispenses the correct amount of product and the plastic top keeps the product clean and dray. This cleanser leaves my face feeling clean, hydrated and not greasy.

This cleanser is great for morning or evening face cleansing. I settled on using this product at night since I need something really effective and it works so well for makeup. I didn’t care too much for using the muslin cloth at first. I thought it was a little scratchy and kind of a pain to use. Eventually, I decided to start using it more regularly, using it gently every other evening. The cloth is a great way to exfoliate and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. It’s important to wash the cloth in the washing on delicate and it needs to be hung up so it can dry between uses.

This cleanser is fairly pricy but well worth it considering it’s a luxury, high quality product. It isn’t possible to see how much product remains in the bottle so it’s good to have a backup handy. I already repurchased the large size. Because I liked this product so much, I purchased 3 other Pai products: Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream, Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream and Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator. I will be reviewing these products when I’ve used them long enough to form a firm opinion.

Have you tried any Pai products and if so, what were your impressions?