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 :-( 

NSPA International Beauty Giveaway!

As promised, one lucky reader will get to experience the bath and body goodness of NSPA Beauty! This giveaway is open internationally and will include the Vanilla Fragrance Body Mist, Raspberry Daily Fresh Shower Scrub (review here) and the Ultra Hydrate Cream (review here).

This giveaway ends Nov.17th!

Good luck!

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NSPA | Vanilla Fragrance Body Mist and Raspberry Daily Fresh Shower Scrub

I have such a weakness for bath and body products especially when they smell like dessert. Based in the UK, NSPA has created a range of skincare, bath and body products guaranteed to make even the busiest person slow down and take a chill pill. I love the smell of fruity things so if you’re like me, definitely take a look at NSPA’s Fruit Extracts line. Everything sounds so delicious that I would be having multiple bath time sessions every day just to be able to enjoy everything! All NSPA products are paraben-free and curated for all skin types including the most sensitive of skin.

Get Summer-Ready with Kiss My Face 4 in 1 Moisture Shave in Key Lime

I’m sure many of you have noticed that the sun has come out and we are experiencing summer weather a little bit earlier than usual (at least in Vancouver!). With summer weather comes showing more skin like toes and of course LEGS. Now that I’ve been consistently using the Kiss my Face Peppermint Foot Scrub to ensure that my feet are sandal-ready, it’s time to make sure that my legs are nice and smooth to compliment them!

The Kiss My Face 4 in 1 Moisture Shave ($7.95) is one of the most comprehensive shave creams I have ever used as it promises to soften, smooth, soothe and moisturize with every use. There is Vitamin E, aloe, olive and coconut oil to ensure that your legs get both a smooth and comfortable shave. I am using the scent Key Lime which also helps to get me in the mood for summer as I love the scent of anything citrus!

North American Hemp Co. | Hemp Holy Grail Body Lotion

Ever since doing a feature on Earth-friendly products for Earth Day, my spidey senses perk up whenever I spot a “healthy” beauty product. North American Hemp Co. specializes in hair and body products that, you guessed it, feature hemp seed oil as the ultimate cure to dryness! North American Hemp Co. products are all made in Canada (YAY!), cruelty-free, sulphate-free, paraben and DEA-free and gluten-free.
The hemp seed oil is certified organic and in the Hemp Holy Grail Body Lotion ($9.99) is the #2 ingredient so it’s right in there in the thick of it all! There is also shea butter, cocoa seed butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, green tea extract and chamomile extract for calming irritated skin.

This is a fairly large bottle of moisturizer and comes with a pump that dispenses just the right amount of product. I love pumps for body lotion, but I know that from an “empties” standpoint, it makes it very hard to get at the remaining amount!

 

The actual moisturizer is scented with what I’m guessing is the sweet almond oil? It’s sort of sweet and natural. I wouldn’t say I love it, but my husband seems to REALLY like it.

Final Verdict: I’m glad that I pushed past the scent because this moisturizer is AMAZING. It is quite thick in consistency so I thought I’d have to wait around for it to absorb, but nope. In about a minute the body lotion was absorbed and the thing I REALLY noticed was that instead of my skin feeling a little sticky from such a thick lotion, it was dry to the touch AND so hydrated! My legs especially are quite dry, but this body lotion took care of that and left me with silky smooth, moisturized skin. I felt like I was just touching a never-ending canvas of moisture. So yes, I loved this product and the price is incredibly affordable for a completely natural beauty product.

 

Try out North American Hemp Co. products at the following retailers! I know in the West, London Drugs also carries North American Hemp Co. products.

 

PR sample sent for review.

Skinue | Skincare Using the Power of Camel’s Milk and GIVEAWAY!

Have you guys heard of camel’s milk? Now, have you heard of using camel’s milk in your daily skin routine? I thought such luxuries were just for sheikhs of the Middle East, but because of Skinue, us “normal” folk are able to get a taste of such a foreign delicacy. Skinue was founded by Penelope Shihab who has a background in medical biotechnology. She is the CEO and founder of the only biotechnology firm in the Middle East and North African region. When I first read this, she already had my female alarm bells ringing. Girl power to the max!

The key ingredient in the Skinue skincare is camel’s milk or camel whey which is not near the bottom of the ingredient list, but at the top of it! The camel’s milk comes from the Royal Camels in Dubai and are maintained by the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates (they look absolutely adorable!) and is also used in drinks, chocolates and cheeses! What makes camel’s milk so special is that the whey proteins it contains are actually antibacterial as well as being hydrating. As you can guess, Skinue products are paraben-free and designed for all ages and skin types.

LAVINA | Barbary Fig Seed Oil Facial Serum and Argan Hair Oil

LAVINA Skincare is a new company to me and is based out of Toronto with their oils being ethically sourced from Morocco. The world of facial oils is still a relatively new one to me and as I have mentioned in previous skincare posts, it sounds somewhat foreign to hydrate your face with pure oil as opposed to a cream. In the current movement of wanting to keep things as “pure” and chemical-free as possible, facial oils are actually a great way to go because the list of scary ingredients is relatively short and you’re more than likely to recognize what you’re putting on your skin! Such is the case with LAVINA’s Barbary Fig Seed Oil ($29.99) which is one ingredient and it’s, you guessed it, 100% Pure Cold Pressed Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil! 

Barbary Fig Seed Oil (B.F.S.O.) comes from Opuntia ficus-indica aka prickly pear which is a type of cactus and is 100% paraben-free and contains more Vitamin E than any other beauty oil on the market. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that fights against environmental stressors and free radicals. This also makes it a wonderful anti-aging agent. There is also a crazy amount of linoleic acid which is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid ound in our cell membranes. Attention acne and rosacea sufferers! Linoleic acid is known for its anti-inflammatory properties when applied on the skin and is currently used in the beauty industry now for fighting acne. Also, feel free to rub it on sunburnt areas for relief!

With every purchase of B.F.S.O. comes a 10mL bottle of 100% pure organic Argan Hair Oil!

Petit Vour | March 2014 “Le Boutique”

The month of March brought the launch of an all new site and online store for Petit Vour as well as a pretty snazzy box! Read on to find out all about what was in March’s Petit Vour box!

Palmer’s | Skin Therapy Oil FACE–A Must Have for Dry, Angry Skin!

After using the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula on my body for a good chunk of the winter season and loving the massive dose of hydration and cocoa butter scent, I knew I had to try the newest product from Palmer’s -  Skin Therapy Oil FACE ($9.99 CDN).

Skin Therapy Oil FACE is an age-defying, multipurpose skin perfecting oil.  This non-greasy, paraben-free facial treatment is formulated with all of the same great ingredients used in the bestselling Skin Therapy Oil, but amped up with even more face-loving, anti- aging ingredients.Forget the past with this lightweight anti-aging facial treatment. Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil FACE is specially- formulated with the Cetesomate-E Complex to deliver targeted anti-aging skin care benefits directly to the face and rejuvenate skin, while restoring and brightening skin tone and texture.

Skin Therapy Oil FACE is formulated with all of the same ingredients as the Skin Therapy Oil, which is an all-over oil so it works for both the face and body. The FACE version of this oil contains extra oils like Sweet Almond Oil,  Sesame Oil, Coconut Oil,  Macadamia Nut Oil,  Apricot Oil,  Grapeseed Oil, Camelina Oil, Sunflower Oil, Rosehip Oil and Argan Oil that all act to lift and firm skin while improving any uneven skin tone and texture. This face oil also contains retinol (anti-aging) and vitamin C (antioxidant).

Blancreme | Strawberry Body Scrub and Strawberry Pomegranate Soufflé Body Cream

I was first introduced to the bath and body company Blancreme last month when I had the pleasure of meeting with the individuals responsible for bringing this delectable family-run company from France all the way to Vancouver. Blancreme is already fairly well-known in Europe and is just making its way into the Canadian market. The very first thing I noticed about each product in the line is the use of colour, scent and food-like packaging that IMMEDIATELY made me want to use/eat everything! It actually says on some of the bottles to not ingest because that’s how much like food these products resemble! Blancreme products are also paraben-free.

 

 

Today we will start with one of my favourite scents – Strawberry!

Eve Pearl | Dual Salmon Concealer and High Definition Dual Foundation with Swatches

I have talked about Eve Pearl before when I reviewed their Smudgeproof Liquid Eyeliner and really loved how thin and precise the brush was and today I present to you one product that I loved and one that I had to experiment with before, like Goldilocks, I got it just right! First up, I have the Dual Salmon Concealer ($39.00) followed by the High Definition Dual Foundation ($56.00).

High Definition Dual Foundation - This luxurious, lightweight cream foundation provides the most versatile sheer - medium – full coverage with a non-greasy texture that glides on the face, while allowing your skin to breathe.  The 2-shades of foundation blend into the skin and the universal spectrum of color in the pigments adapt to the skin tone and the changes caused by body chemistry,weather and sun exposure.

Dual Salmon Concealer - Revolutionary, counter-intuitive way to cover dark under eye circles with two shades: use the darker shade to neutralize blue undertones under the eye and highlight the inner and outer corner of the eyes with the lighter shade. 

*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 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!