November Wishlist

*Click photo to enlarge* 

Finding and testing out new products is not only a hobby of mine but it has become my job (how cool is that?!). At Nuciya we're always looking to expand our product line in order to offer new and exciting products to our customers. While I've been lusting over many products these past few months, here are the ones that made the top of the list!

1. Cocoon Apothecary Starter Kit $30: 
I've been following this Canadian based brand for quite some time now. All of their products are biodegradable, cruelty-free, vegan, made in Canada, and are made with certified organic ingredients. Their eye-catching packaging and their fantastic list of ingredients make it hard for me to pick just one item to list here, so I've included their starter kit which includes their Rose Dew Facial Cleanser, Rose Dew Facial Toner and Rosey Cheeks Facial Cream. Their starter kit sounds like the perfect combination for my dry/sensitive skin!

2. Mitchell and Peach Kentish Coconut Scrub $65:
This super luxurious bath and body company crossed my radar a few months ago. I have been lusting over their products ever since. This company grows their own ingredients and hand blend their products. The Mitchell and Peach body scrub contains Coconut, Sweet Almond, Palmarosa, Ylang-Ylang and Lavender oil - what's not to love!?



3. Pure + Simple Hydration Serum $50:  I'm a sucker for Ayurveda based skin care lines and this is exactly what Pure + Simple embraces. They believe in living a holistic and healthy lifestyle. The Pure + Simple line contains skincare, makeup, body care, and even tea. It's hard to pick just one item that I would like to try but since winter is nearly here my skin is in need of some extra TLC. Their 100% vegan Hydration Serum contains key ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Kelp, Vitamin F, Phragamites Commuis Extract and Pria Cocoa Extra (used to reduce inflammation and skin sensitivity). 
4. Mario Badescu Silver Powder $12: Mario Badescu was a brand that I quickly wrote off because I assumed that their products didn't have good ingredients. After further investigation I quickly learned that a lot of their products contain non-toxic and natural ingredients. Many of their products sounds so appealing, especially the ones used to help treat acne. My favorite budget friendly product is their Silver Powder. This is an oil absorbent powder that helps to unclog congested pores. It prevents blackheads and promotes a healthier complexion. My dry/combination skin is almost always congestion and thus I get acne. This definitely sounds like a must have for anyone who suffers from acne!   5. Mu London Organic White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heel Cream $35:  This product speaks for itself. The name already makes it sound divine and the ingredients are even better. This award winning product seems to live up to it's name. I've been lusting over this product for the longest time, especially after reading so many rave reviews. These types of creams are a must for me during the winter months so hopefully I'll get my hands on this product soon!   6. Juliets Room Milk & Honey Vanilla Cardamom Hand & Body Lotion $21: That was a mouth full! But doesn't that sound fantastic? I tend to neglect my skin during the summer months but as soon as fall/winter approaches I can no longer ignore my dry, itchy skin. I simply can't ignore the rave reviews for this lotion or the delicious sounding scent. I think that this will have to be the next body lotion that I purchase! 
7. The Bathory - Invent Your Perfect Bath Soak $30:  I first saw this product on Savannah Wallace's channel on YouTube. I was immediately impressed with this company and what they offer. For only $30 you can custom blend your own bath soak. They have 3 different kind of blends - Soothe, Bask, and Detox. From there you can pick up to 3 essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and bergamot etc. I of course want to try all 3 blends but I'm mostly interested in the Soothe blend as it contains epsom salts, oatmeal, honey, and buttermilk. I think that this is such a great idea and is perfect for Christmas gifts! Did I mention that shipping  is only $5 worldwide and ships within 48 hours? 
8. Pura Botanicals Cocoa & Rose Luxurious Body Oil $36: I've been hearing a lot of buzz surrounding Pura Botanicals. Once I found out that this company is based in my hometown I knew that I would eventually have to give their products a try. I find that using body oil just out of the shower help keeps my skin hydrated, especially during the cold winter months. This cocoa and rose blend sounds heavenly! 

Nuciya on Youtube!

Laurel Whole Plant Organics: Travel Set Review

Laurel Whole Plant Organics is one of my favorite skincare lines. From the formulations to the beautiful packaging this whole skincare line just screams luxury. I'm a huge fan of travel sets, as it's not only great for travelling but also for testing out a new skincare line. Travel sets give you plenty of time to make sure that the products are working for you. The Laurel Travel Sets lasts approx 3-4 months and retails for $68. Each travel set comes with a cleanser, elixir, serum, facial exfoliant, and lip balm (love!). I ended up trying the Gentle Travel Set but ended up swapping out the Anti-Inflammatory Serum for the Balance Serum.

Normal/Dry Cleanser (30ml): This might just be one of my favorite items included in this travel set. My skin just adored this cleanser! It is lightweight, moisturizing, and best of all it removes ALL of my makeup. I found myself looking forward to using this cleanser day and night. The light scent seemed to always put me in a good mood, I couldn't get enough of it! It is very rare that I can find a light, creamy cleanser that packs a punch (aka: cleans my skin & removes my makeup, including eye makeup!). I look forward to purchasing the full size bottle of this and adding it to my daily skincare regime.

Normal/Mature Elixir (30ml): Toning will always be my favorite part of any skincare regime. It's not only the most important (restores your skins pH level & closes your pores) but it is so refreshing. To me a good toner must remove excess dirt/makeup from my skin and add a bit more hydration..thankfully this is exactly what this elixir does. I love that this elixir is non-alcoholic and therefore non-drying. It also contains beautiful yet beneficial ingredients such as Rose Geranium, Rose hydrosols, Witch Hazel, and Calendula - ingredients used to sooth, tighten and heal skin.

Balance Serum (10ml): I decided to trade in the Anti-Inflammatory Serum for the Balance Serum because I was testing out this travel set during the summer. During the summer months I tend to get oily around the dreaded t-zone area so I opted for the balance serum. With a base of jojoba oil this serum is perfect for oily, combination, and break-out prone skin. I love that only 1-2 drops of this serum goes a long way - making this luxurious facial serum more cost effective.

Almond Grain Exfoliant (10ml): I love this exfoliant as it isn't too harsh for my sensitive skin yet effectively removes dead skin cells. This exfoliant contains excellent ingredients such as oats, chamomile, nettle, and rose essential oil - making this perfect for all skin types. The sample included in this travel kit is enough for 2 uses.

Lavender Lip Treatment (5ml): This is by far my favorite lip balm of all time (I don't mean to sound cheesy when I say this!) Its buttery, nourishing, and soothing to the lips. A little goes a very long way, in fact I still have this sample but plan to buy a full size jar once I run out. This is definitely going to be a life safer for my lips this winter!

All in all I think that this is a fantastic value for $68. A luxury travel set that lasts 3-4 months is perfect for anyone looking to test out a new skincare line. With Christmas just around the corner (yikes!) these beautiful products come neatly packages in a gorgeous cotton Laurel bag. I can definitely see myself gifting this set to a few people this year!

Where to Buy: Nuciya.com

What are your thoughts on the Laurel Whole Plant Organics Skincare Line? 

My Daughter Fragrance Giveaway Hosted by Nuciya!

Since the beginning of my journey to switch to natural & organic products I have been on the hunt for a non-toxic fragrance. As if finding a good fragrance wasn't already hard enough (I'm super picky). Finding one made with high-quality, safe ingredients was even harder. Little did I know that just in my backyard resides My Daughter Fragrances (no really, we're only about 20 minutes away from each other!).

My Daughter Fragrances was created by Janey Ganson. She works with a fellow Canadian who currently resides in France to formulate the fragrances.

My Daughter Fragrances are feminine, elegant, and made with non-toxic ingredients. In fact these fragrances are made without:

Parabens
Phthalates
Colorants
Animal Products

You can really smell the use of high quality essential oils used in My Daughter Fragrances and this picky person fell in love with this brand from the first sniff.

To celebrate this new additon to Nuciya Natural Beauty we have teamed up with My Daughter Fragrances to host a giveaway! That's right, a full-size bottle (50ml) of the scent Joyful is up for grabs! The giveaway is open internationally and will end on September 29th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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