Pages

Just Natural Hair and Skin Products Review


Just Natural is a new brand to me so I'm so excited to write this review! They kindly contacted me a few months ago and asked if I wanted to review some of their products. Right away I was so impressed by the extensive list of products on their website. They have products for EVERYONE. They have hair care products for all types of hair including African hair. They also have products for all skin types including acne, anti-aging, and  psoriasis. It was so hard for me to narrow down what products to try but here's what I picked: 

Just Natural Leave-In Conditioner: I'm always on the hunt for a leave-in conditioner. Sometimes I like using multiple leave-in conditioners including a spray and a cream. For only $26.99 you get this huge tub (16 fl oz.) of product. I do find this a bit heavy for my hair currently as we are in the summer months but this does come in handy when my hair is being stubborn. I can see myself getting tons of use out of this during the winter months and even using this as a hair mask! Next I am going to try their spray detangler.

Just Natural Heat Protecting Hair Treatment: Ever since I went back to my roots and dyed my hair brunette, I've been loving to blow dry it straight instead of leaving it naturally curly. I've have since been on the hunt for a light weight, natural leave in-conditioner. This has been the answer! Another good sized product (8 oz) for $26.99

Just Natural Manuka Acne Treatment: I LOVE this product! It contains key ingredients such as manuka oil, tea tree oil, basil essential oil, jojoba oil, and karanja oil. Full list of ingredients here. Since manuka oil is the base for this treatment it is very heavy and doesn't absorb too fast. I use this after toning at night and I wake up with refreshed, bright, and clearer skin. I will definitely be repurchasing this as soon as I use up this bottle. With that being said, I am always very generous when applying this product and I still have a ton left!

Just Natural Acne Spot Treatment: This spot treatment is also such a beautiful product. It is highly concentrated with a gorgeous blend of oils to help heal acne spots quicker. I also find this spot treatment to be a bit on the heavier side so I use this at night. The combination of this and the acne treatment make a huge difference in the overall appearance of my skin!

Acne Facial Day Cream (sample): I've been using this face cream during the day (of course) and it has been lightweight and fast absorbing! While this was a nice product to use during the summer, I don't think that it would have enough moisture for my dry skin during the winter months.


I am beyond impressed with this brand and I already know that I will be purchasing some new products with them. The price range and size of products are all fantastic. I love how they have something for everyone!


Have you tried Just Naturals before? What are your thoughts on this brand? 




Golden Milk aka Turmeric Milk


I stumbled across this drink and quickly became intrigued because Turmeric Milk comes from Ayurvedic practices. Turmeric is used to help with sore throats, colds, flus and even stomach aches. Since turmeric is high in antioxidants it also works to boost immunity, maintain cholesterol levels and to regulate metabolism.

This warm, spicy and nutty drink is best consumed before bed because it is comforting and relaxing. The original recipe that I started using was from Nutrition Stripped, although I've added a few of my own variations! Since this drink is easy and quick to make I can see myself enjoying this often, especially as the weather starts to cool down. 



Ingredients: 
2 cups of almond milk 
1 tablespoon of honey
1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil (optional) 
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg 
small pinch of black pepper and grated ginger

***adding black pepper with turmeric enhances your body's absorption of turmeric by 2000%!***

Instructions:
Pour all ingredients into saucepan, bring to a light boil and drink warm 





Next time I make this drink I am going to add a touch of vanilla and cardamon! Have you ever tried golden milk before? What are your thoughts on this drink?  




Arya Essentials Review


Ayra Essentials is inspired by ancient Ayurveda. Their products contain pure botanical ingredients that are used to heal, rejuvenate and nourish the skin. All of their products are handcrafted in small batches in Brooklyn and contain no parabens, GMOs, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrances.

Face Oil*: 

This beautiful luxurious oil is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skins. It contains a delicious blend of essential oils and herbs such as:

                                                                                      Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba)
Seed Oil 
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond)
Oil 
Centella Asiatica (Brahmi)
Oil 
Rosa Rubiginosa (Rose Hip Seed)
Oil 
Santalum Album (Sandalwood)
Oil 
Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) ExtractTocopherol (Vitamin E)Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi)
Oil 
Azadirachta Indica (Neem)
Oil 
Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang)
Oil 
Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil


Together these ingredients work together to boost collagen production, prevent aging and to reduce visible signs of wrinkles. I found this oil to not only look beautiful, but it felt beautiful as well. It is fast absorbing, non-greasy and full of skin loving ingredients. I do quite enjoy the natural scent but I feel that it might be too strong for some. After using this oil my skin always felt refreshed, balanced, and vibrant. 



Body Oil*:
Another beautiful oil which has a slightly more mild scent that will leave the skin hydrated and refreshed. This oil again contains a beautiful blend of oils such as: 



Sesamum Indicum (Sesame Seed Oil)
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut  Oil)
Citrus Aurantium (Neroli Oil)
Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper Oil)
Centella Asiatica (Brahmi Oil)
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli Oil)


Coconut and Sesame oils keep the skin radiant while essential oils of Rosehip Seed, Neroli and Brahmi help to regenerate cells, delay aging, and boost collagen production. Again this oil is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skins. As with most oils, I applied this body oil directly out of the shower while my skin as still wet. I again found this oil to be fast absorbing and hydrating. It also left a pleasant scent on my skin throughout the day!


Do you have a favorite skincare line that is based on Ayurveda principles? What are your thoughts on Ayra Essentials?

*Indicates PR Sample 


A Night With MIYU: Prettea Little Tea Quartet Review & Interview with the MIYU Founder



MIYU Beauty {pronounced mee-you} is a natural union between tea & beauty.  MIYU combines scientific advancement in skincare with ancient Chinese beauty wisdom. Their collection consist of two unique pairings; Hydrate Mi Pairing and the De-Stress Mi Paring.  Included in each is tea and a beauty essence (part serum, part facial mist). 

MIYU Beauty kindly sent me their Prettea Little Tea Quartet for review. This four piece introductory tea and skincare kit contains the following:

Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence (15 ml)
1 De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence (15 ml) 
2 Sachets of Hydrate Mi Beauty Tea
2 Sachets of De-Stress Mi Beauty Tea 

The entire collection is gorgeous. The tea's taste divine, with my personal favorite being the Hydrate Tea as it contains rooibos tea with goji berries, rose petals, snow pear essence and candied pearls. The De-Stress Tea is also beautiful as it has peppermint, licorice root, organic chamomile blossoms, and candied pearls. 

Although the facial mists are not 100% natural, they do contain good holistic ingredients. All ingredients are listed at 4 or under on Cosmetic Database which I can also appreciate. I found the facial mists to be a perfect refresher throughout the day or to use before my daily moisturizer. I love that they are not only a mist but combine the same concentrated, nourishing ingredients that a serum has. 

Here are the list of ingredients for the Beauty Essence: 
Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence: water (aqua), pentylene glycol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed pearl protein, camellia sinensis leaf extract, paeonia albiflora root extract, hydrolyzed viola tricolor extract, rosa centifolia flower extract, lycium chinese fruit extract, garcinia mangostana peel extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, sodium PCA, panthenol, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, proline, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, arginine, threonine, sorbitol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, phenoxyethanol, betaine, polysorbate 20, disodium EDTA, ethylhexylglycerin

De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence: water (aqua), pentylene glycol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed pearl protein, camellia sinensis leaf extract, paeonia albiflora root extract, saccharomyces/zinc ferment, saccharomyces/iron ferment, saccharomyces/copper ferment, saccharomyces/magnesium ferment, saccharomyces/silicon ferment, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract, taraxacum officinale (dandelion) rhizome/root extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, sodium PCA, panthenol, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, proline, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, arginine, threonine, sorbitol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, phenoxyethanol, betaine, polysorbate 20, disodium EDTA, ethylhexylglycerin





Interview with MIYU Beauty Founder Connie Tai 


What inspired you to start MIYU?                                     
When I was living in New York, I began developing skin sensitivities in ways I had never seen before.  At the time, I was doing product development for another beauty brand, so I had access to some of the best products in the industry.  However, nothing seemed to settle my irritations.  I turned to my father for inspiration because he was just in the middle of building his own pharmaceutical company using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  I started to take an interest in this field and began reading more about Eastern philosophies and its approach on health.  I quickly came to appreciate that our health and ultimately our skin is affected by so many external factors including diet, sleep, stress, etc, something we don't address enough in Western culture!  For this reason, Eastern medicine teaches us to match what you do on the outside with what you do on the inside.  When I looked around me, I realized that today's beauty products are too narrowly focused.  An ideal beauty ritual should not be limited to just creams and lotions.  Rather, it should also encompass the lifestyle choices that you make, all which may have a material impact on your skin.  I wanted to create a line that would target lifestyle-inflicted skin concerns from the inside out, while marrying Eastern philosophies with the latest in skincare technology.  I wanted to redefine our current idea of "skincare" and expand it to include "self-care".  The result is MIYU - a beautiful line that pairs teas with skincare to nourish the complexions from the inside out.  
Photo Credit: MIYU Beauty

Your products are beautiful! What motivated the elegant design of the MIYU line?
Thank you so much!  I found that many skincare brands that boast some serious science tend to have very clinical-looking packaging.  Although the science behind our formulas are also robust, I wanted the packaging to look different than any other skincare brand.  I wanted the products to look so pretty, that you would want to display them on your vanity.  And what can I say, I'm a sucker for pretty packaging!  As you can probably tell, I love intricate detail and soft pastels.  Much of my influences have been drawn from my trip to London, Paris and Japan several years back, because I was so impressed with the thought and attention they put into their packaging.  

Facial mists & tea pairings are such a unique and creative idea! What inspired this idea?
I wanted to create pairings of beauty essences and teas that address specific lifestyle concerns rather than skin type.  The reason for doing so is because I discovered through my research that more than 80% of skin aging is due to environmental and lifestyle factors, while only 20% is genetic!  I found this statistic extremely empowering because environmental and lifestyle factors are well within our control!  Our beauty essences are a unique hybrid between a serum and a facial mist, delivering the nourishing and treatment benefits of a serum, but dispensing as a convenient and refreshing mist!  The reason why I chose to pair beauty essences with teas as opposed to any type of face cream is because I wanted a product that you can switch out easily as your lifestyle concerns change.  Since our pairings are beauty boosters to your existing regimen, you can swap them out as you please without overhauling your existing routine.

I love the fact that you’re Canadian and originally from the same city as me! What influence (if any) did Canadian and New York culture have on MIYU? 
It's always nice to meet a fellow Edmontonian!  Canada definitely influenced my affinity for tea - we have such a big tea culture here!  I also like to think that we incorporate the friendly, heart-warming Canadian spirit into MIYU, through all our interactions with others - be it customers, suppliers, retailers or partners.  New York has influenced me tremendously in terms of art, design and how to NOT be afraid to push the envelope and embrace innovation.


MIYU Beauty Webpage


As you can tell I'm totally head over heels for this line and it's founder Connie. I think that this is a beautiful line that would be perfect for events like bridal showers. In the future if I ever do open up an brick & mortar store for Nuciya I would love to have this for my customers during a customer appreciation event. What are your thoughts on this unique line? 








Petit Vour Luxury Vegan Beauty Box - July 2014 Review



This is my second month receiving the Petit Vour Luxury Vegan Beauty Box and I am yet again thrilled with the products received. This months box was the Set Sail collaboration with Logical Harmony. All items in this box are items that Logical Harmony personally uses and recommends.

Here's what's included in the July box:



LVX Nail Lacquer in Lolli (Full Size): 
This 5-free nail lacquer comes in a beautiful soft pink. Something which I'm so happy about because it's a color that I'll wear all the time! I have a soft spot for light, feminine, easy to wear colors.

Schmidt's Deodorant in Lavender & Sage (Deluxe Sample): 
I am really happy that this was included in July's box because I have used Schmidt's deodorant in the past and loved it. This deluxe size sample was the perfect size for me to take camping!

Pelle Beauty Facial Oil in Luxe (Deluxe Sample): 
This Canadian made beauty oil retails for $68 for 30ml. This is a natural anti-aging face oil containing 10 plant based floral extracts and botanicals. This sounds super lovely and I cannot wait to try it!

Modern Minerals Eye Shadow in Cherish (Full Size): 
This highly pigmented eye shadow is a beautiful mauve color that I've been wearing and lovely. It's highly versatile and can be used as a crease contour or all over the lid.

Shop the July Box 

I'm really happy with the selection and versatility of the products recieved in this months box. For only $23 a month for Canadians I really think that this box is a good value!


What is your favorite beauty box subscription service?