HAIR | Wise - Canadian, Healthy and Eco-Conscious #CBBgetsWise

I always love supporting Canadian brands and if they are green and eco-friendly it is even better! Based in Montreal, Quebec, Wise launched just this past September and began when a barber colleague noticed that a number of his clients were seeking eco-conscious and healthy hair products. 

This is a men's care line that I am tempted to call "green beauty" as all packaging is recyclable, ingredients are free of artificial fragrances and colors, MEA, DEA or TEA, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and products are vegetarian (there is beeswax in the pomades).  I loved the minimalist packaging and dishwasher-safe jars the moment I saw them and though I couldn't really use all of the products, my husband gladly became the guinea pig!

HAIR | Silky without the Silicones with the Briogeo Rosarco Oil

In honor of Earth Day this month, I will be making an extra effort to feature healthy and green beauty brands that I have been loving and/or have been introduced to in recent months. Green is HOT right now and though I would never consider myself one of those people who preaches "go the green way or the highway", I am starting to make voluntary conscious changes in my beauty routine and diet that are better for my health and the environment. I almost think of it as doing my civic duty as a citizen of the Earth. Now natural may not always be better, but if it turns out to be better for everyone in the equation of biological survival I will welcome it with open arms!

I was first introduced to New York City-based green haircare brand Briogeo, through the subscription Ipsy three years ago. The product inside was the "Don't Despair, Repair!" Deep Conditioning Mask and after giving it a go, I thought "Well, where can I get more?!" I had no idea where to get Briogeo in Canada and let the idea go until it became available through The Detox Market. In addition to the deep conditioning mask, The Detox Market also carried the Rosarco Oil* (30mL/$35.00 CDN) which at first I didn't think anything of, but then I realized that this was a hair oil without a SINGLE silicone in it. The reason for silky smooth hair is often silicone and while I don't mind them as much on my hair, I always wondered if there was a hair oil that could give me the same shine without the 'cones. We are about to find out!

MAKEUP LOOK | "Office Chic" with Maison Jacynthe

I'm as office chic as I can be with my mermaid hair in today's Maison Jacynthe look! I work in a pretty conservative environment and deal with vendors who are pretty serious so in the last two months I have received comments of praise and wonderment that I have been "allowed" to get away with this. Honestly, you only live once and if you actually style "fun" coloured hair and not let it look grubby, you can wear a suit and look perfectly presentable. Obviously I don't wear blue or green lips to match as the hair is enough, but it has been interesting to see how people react!

SKINCARE | Les Soins de Jacynthe Cleansing Oil, Eau Florale de Rose & Le Sérum Review

I swore late last year that I would be much more selective about the skincare that I use and review, but when I was faced with reviewing a few products from Les Soins de Jacynthe, I was immediately intrigued by the fact that the products are 100% natural and created by Quebec-based health and beauty guru, Jacynthe Rene. I was not familiar with Jacynthe or the brand and finding information and/or reviews proved to be quite difficult. The main resource I had were reviews from other blogs and at the time I was asked to review even those were scarce. Thankfully a number of Canadian beauty bloggers have given the lowdown on this brand and the results are overwhelmingly positive!

SKINCARE | Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask (Plus Honey Blossom Limited Edition!) Review - BHA and AHA All in One!

I have been waiting for this moment a long time. My first skincare review from Tata Harper Skincare. Seeing as how I have the entire product line, where to start seemed somewhat daunting, but I think the easiest way to begin is with the very FIRST product I tried - The Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask* (30mL/$80.00 CDN). This was the Elle Award Winner and voted one of Instyle's Best Beauty Buys in 2015 and when I was at the Tata Harper Farm and head office in Vermont (here), this was the product that everyone said I needed to try first. For anyone wary of starting a whole new skincare regime, what I call "peripheral" products such as masks, tend to be a nice way to get to know a line. I hope that because I once worked for Tata Harper that I can provide you all with an inside look into the company and give you THE MOST MASSIVE rundown on what the products are like as well as cool ways to put your products to use for your skin!

MAKEUP LOOK |Elate Clean Cosmetics Pressed Eye Colour, Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Charm and Universal Creme in Elation Review & Swatches

Today is EARTH DAY! Last year I had a bit of a countdown of products, but wasn’t quite as organized this year so instead I wanted to feature a Canadian, all natural, vegan brand that I just recently discovered through blogger friend She’s So Eco. Natural makeup can be hit or miss as formulations that are natural AND provide pigment and texture we all love is tough. Elate Clean Cosmetics is based in BC’s capital city of Victoria whose products immediately caught my eye with their West Coast wooden accents and ethereal, yet naturally beautiful looks that were being created. You can imagine how “elated” I was when I reached out to Elate and they agreed to work with me on a makeup look for Earth Day!

SKINCARE REVIEW | Odacite – Fresh, Luxurious and Shipped From the Lab to Your Door!

Just because I work for another skincare company does not mean I will be excluding myself from trying other brands and sharing my honest to goodness experiences! I love the science of skincare and will never lose that spirit of discovery when it comes to any brand so let us partake in some new skincare shall we? Odacite (play on the French word “audacity”) was founded by Valerie Grandury after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. In an effort to detoxify her environment, she changed her diet and of course, her skincare regime. Try as she might, the products she came across never had manufacture dates which made her wonder how long the active ingredients would retain their efficacy thus giving rise to the “freshiency date”, batching products without the need for any synthetic preservatives and shipping right to your door. Places like The Detox Market that carry Odacite, refrigerate their products on site to ensure freshness. Also, the liquid base of all Odacite products is never water, but fresh, organic aloe vera juice which I thought was super cool.

EVENT | Where the Magic Happens: Tata Harper Farm (VERY PICTURE HEAVY!)

This post has been a long time coming, but many of you know that a few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit the farm where ALL Tata Harper skincare products are produced, batched and formulated. Skincare has an incredibly special place in my lipstick-filled heart and what makes this company special to me is the TRULY 100% natural formulations and the artisanal story and science behind each product. The words “natural” and “organic” are used very loosely now with regards to food and beauty products so what I love about Tata Harper products are that they have gone above and beyond to set themselves apart and add transparency to what “natural” truly means. Having each product certified by Eco Cert, the American Vegan and Vegetarian Associations as well as being made without a single drop of synthetics is already HUGE when it comes to skincare.

Wondering where this magical farm is? It’s in Vermont. Canadians, do not be ashamed to whip out your Google Maps because that’s what I had to do! Located in the east, in the Maritimes of the United States and home to apparently some of the best maple syrup and skiing out there (although my Montreal-born hubby disagrees with the maple syrup point)! The flight to Vermont was far from direct and while I failed to mention the people at Tata Harper that I was afraid of flying, seeing the farm was well-worth the week of apprehension.

HAIR | Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Coconut oil has been the talk of the town for the last couple of years now that many of us are trying to “live cleaner” (haha, I said it) when it comes to diet and cosmetic product usage. I, myself, have started cooking with coconut oil and have been amazed at how flavourful food can be with it! We just did a chicken stir fry last night with coconut oil and it tasted amazing! Coconut oil is something that can practically be used for ANYTHING and although I am not quite ready to use it raw in my hair, I am willing to try it in a more “civilized” manner in the form of shampoo and conditioner. After using Live Clean’s Age Resist line for all of February and enjoying it (review), I moved on to the new Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner* ($6.99 CDN each) which contains nothing other than coconut oil along with Vitamin C, E, Provitamin B5 and milk and rice proteins to gently cleanse, while hydrating hair.   

 

Compared to the Age Resist line, the Coconut Milk S & C were MUCH lighter in consistency and I didn’t have to take extra precautions when it came to thoroughly rinsing my hair. I don’t normally like the scent of coconut thanks to Banana Boat sunscreen, but this was very subtle and not at all overwhelming.

Final Verdict: Switching from Age Resist to Coconut Milk, I didn’t really notice much of a change in my actual hair. When it came to my scalp, I did notice some of the dryness come back which made me think that the Age Resist line hydrated my scalp a bit more. You have seen my hair in makeup posts from the past month so you can tell that my hair has been just as shiny and healthy as before. Just because of the way my scalp is now, I don’t believe the Coconut Milk line will be enough for me :-( 

HAIR | Live Clean Age Resist Collection Review

Oh my! It has been EONS since I have done a hair product review! For awhile there, it was shampoo after shampoo, but I started getting REALLY selective after getting my hair coloured. When I was approached by Live Clean to try some of their haircare, keeping my colour intact while nourishing my now drier hair was my main priority and they reassured me that the Age Resist Collection would be perfect for my needs. With the same eco-friendly formulations as Live Clean’s other haircare lines, Age Resist targets the symptoms of aging hair like: dullness, lack of shine, dryness and loss in hair density. Apparently, your hair is BEST in your 20s and starts to lose some of its natural lustre in your 30s thanks to a decrease in sebum. Seriously, in Biblical times when we all lived until 40, we wouldn’t have even seen the need for a haircare line like this one! I actually have noticed consistent dryness in my hair even before colouring it and although I have my favourites, I still find myself having to switch up my haircare a bit every month or so. I’ve never believed that hair can “get used to something”, but it really does seem to happen…

REVIEW | Rocky Mountain Soap Company Toxin-Free Liquid Crystal Deodorant in Tea Tree, Lemongrass and Lavender

When it came to eco-friendly bath and beauty products, the Rocky Mountain Soap Company has long been on my radar as they are a Canadian company (from Canmore, Alberta) and was one of the first natural companies I had heard of, but alas was not available as a store front in BC…until NOW! Last November, RMSC as I will now refer to them, opened two locations in BC – one in Metropolis at Metrotown and the other in the Vancouver Bentall Centre. If you haven’t checked out the stores, they are so bright and inviting that you’ll have to stop and browse.

Last month, I was introduced to RMSC’s Liquid Crystal Deodorant line in three different scents: Tea Tree*, Lavender* and Lemongrass*($8.50 CDN each) and along with the hubs, have been putting them to the test for more than a month now. RMSC deodorants are made from crushed potassium alum which naturally prevent odor-causing bacteria from growing in our arm nethers.

SKINCARE REVIEW | Cleanser Wednesdays with Kaia Naturals 100% Natural Bamboo Tapioca Beads

Bear with me as I struggle to blog on my husband's computer which is a Mac while I have been an avid PC user. I also don't normally use the Blogger WYSIWYG to write in so things might look ugly in terms of spacing. Since receiving the blue screen of hard drive death on Tuesday night and not having anything scheduled, the second installment of Cleanser Wednesdays is coming to you just a wee bit late.

I first heard of Kaia Naturals in 2012 when I received a sample of their Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths in one of my very first Glymm boxes. Three boxes of cleansing cloths later, they still reign as one of my favourite cloths to use, but now there's a new way to cleanse that has a MUCH longer shelf! Kaia's new Bamboo Tapioca Beads*($38.00 CDN)  is an anydrous or waterless cleanser. You can add water, face oil, green tea or even yogurt to cleanse and exfoliate your skin! Pretty cool, right?

Petit Vour | July 2014 “Summer Loves” Beauty Box

Don’t laugh because this may be a summer box, BUT it is also my second to last Petit Vour even though I was heartbroken to end my subscription. Many reasons have gone into not talking about this box until now and if any of you were to look at my blogging history for July, it was probably one of THE quietest months for me thanks to a super terrible work situation and it’s funny how I can actually “feel” how unhappy I was through those July posts. Well, THAT took a turn for the personal so I’ll regroup and bring this post back to a really awesome Petit Vour box!

Good Earth Beauty | Chocolate Lip Scrub and Strawberry Lip Balm

I talk about “natural and organic” beauty products a fair amount and although I wouldn’t call myself an eco-blogger, I do have my eyes peeled for stores and products that give me the option to be a little more healthy in my beauty choices. Good Earth Beauty is a family-owned business that prides itself on carrying only natural and/or organic beauty products that are cruelty-free.

Good Earth Beauty carries a variety of brands including my favourites: 100% Pure, Cheeky Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Lippygirl, Priti NYC, Weleda and Vapour Organic Beauty.

*Earth Day* Smith Farms | Hair and Body Oil

Today I have a product that I really enjoy using in the warmer summer months as I like to keep my moisturizing and hair care routines as simple and let’s face it, lazy as possible! What am I talking about? I’m talking about the Smith Farms Hair and Body Oil ($19.99) made by a wonderful Canadian family-run and owned company in Quebec. I have spoken highly of this company in the past with most recently reviews of their Vitamin Rich Hand Cream and Marshmallow Face Cream. On top of being organic, natural and just plain good for you, Smith Farms also has wonderful customer service!

One third each jojoba, sweet almond and sunflower oil this light and fast absorbing oil is as good for your hair as it is for your skin. Enriched with vitamin E and honeysuckle essential oil, this multipurpose oil is as decadent as it is hardworking.

This is like an all-purpose oil as in addition to the hair and body, it can be added to bathwater as well for one of the most fragrant baths ever! You can see from the ingredients that there is not one scary ingredient in this oil with 98% of the ingredients being truly organic. The scent of this oil is sweet like sweet almond, but lightly floral because of the honeysuckle flower extract. It actually smells quite similar to Lise Watier’s Sensationelle Dry Oil.

Final Verdict: This oil is hydrating and yet so incredibly light on the skin and hair. I do not use this on my skin in the winter as it is not quite enough for me, but this is wonderful on my hair as a moisture treatment or for some extra shine. It smells so wonderful that I feel like I have to hoard it, but I really should just learn to be liberal and enjoy it!

Some other favourites from Smith Farms include their Beer Soap and Moisture Lotion!

*Earth Day* Crawford Street Skincare | Lemon Deodorant Cream

I first discovered Crawford Street Skincare thorough the Seasonsbox subscription service and was pleased to find out that 1) this company is based right in Toronto, Ontario and 2) all products are free of petrochemical derivatives, such as mineral oil and petroleum, parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, artificial dyes and fragrances. One of my favourite products from Crawford Street Skincare is one of their top sellers and is the Lemon Deodorant Cream ($12.00).

This citrus scented cream deodorant is completely natural and it works! It includes over ten essential oils that are deodorizing, antibacterial and antifungal. No aluminum, no parabens, no yellow shirt stains!

*Earth Day* Kiss My Face | Peppermint Foot Scrub

So far, I’ve talked about earth-friendly products for your lips, underarms, kitchens and teeth, but we can’t forget about our beloved feet! My feet probably stand to take the most abuse and I tend to forget about them because I cover them up with slippers and socks and it’s out of sight, out of mind!

I started using Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Scrub ($8.95) a couple of weeks ago to see how my feet would respond to some extra TLC and low and behold, I think I might be ready for sandal season!

*Earth Day* Tom’s of Maine | Cavity Protection Spearmint Toothpaste

Toothpaste seems like a bit of an odd thing to talk about on a nail art and beauty blog, but our teeth are an incredibly important part of our bodies and we need love too! I have a crazy obsession with toothpaste and always have at least two tubes hanging around just in case. Oral hygiene goodies tend to excite me and with Earth Day just around the corner, why not introduce an eco-friendly toothpaste to keep our smiles cavity-free and pearly white?

Tom’s of Maine Cavity Protection Toothpaste ($5.99) is an ACTUAL toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association so it’s not just some random household toothpaste. It actually does work to prevent and reduce tooth decay while naturally sourced fluoride acts to remineralize soft areas in teeth before they can turn into cavities. Overtime, this toothpaste promises to strengthen tooth structure and make enamel more resistant to decay.

*Earth Day* Kiss My Face | Liquid Rock Roll-On in Lavender

I am extremely particular about my deodorants as I am very selective about how they smell. While I may love sweet scents in my moisturizers and perfumes, I absolutely despise them in deodorants! I always feel an incredible aversion towards the end of every stick and because of that started using crystal or salt sticks which have no fragrance. I also prefer not to use antiperspirant as I feel like as human beings, we are meant to perspire (even if it can be incredibly inconvenient or just downright embarrassing!)

I have been using Kiss my Face Liquid Rock Roll-On in Lavender ($5.99) for the past month straight and have been enjoying both its odour-absorbing abilities as its all-natural ingredients that have kept me scentless all working day!

*Earth Friendly* Kiss My Face | Shimmer in Ruby

When it comes to my lips, I really try to make sure that what goes on them is good for me because whatever is on my lips is going to end up getting ingested and in my system. I’d rather not have something harmful on my lips IF I can help it. With Kiss My Face Shimmers($4.95), not only are my lips exposed to only earth-friendly ingredients, but also a healthy dose of vitamins A and E that serve to repair and protect my smoochers!