What's in my makeup bag - Spring/Summer 2014

I generally like to keep my makeup fresh and minimal, but even more so in the hot Californian summer! Here’s a peek at the things I carry around with me:

Rohto Ice Eye Drops: Spring and summer means allergy season and dry eyes, and these eye drops really do the job.  My eyes literally feel refreshed and moisturized after using these drops, but warning:  “ice” is a very apt description, it’s such an extreme cooling effect that it almost borders on a sting, so you may need to use it a couple of times before you get used to the sensation.

Les Anis de Flavigny Rose Breath Mints: I used to eat these all the time when I was little, so they bring back memories of my childhood. They’re called breath mints, but there is no mint! They are rose-flavored breath candy ( for lack of a better word) with an aniseed in the middle, which tastes like liquorice. The taste is not overpowering, in fact, it’s quite delicious, and it makes your breathe smell like roses – what’s not to like?

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in “Tipsy”: This blush goes a long way – I’ve been using it for about 2 years now and have barely hit pan. While Tarte is not THE MOST natural brand, it still uses generally amazing natural ingredients and this blush scores a 3 on the EWG skin deep guide. Tipsy is a lovely peachy-coral shade which is perfect for the warm weather as it gives me a healthy and natural glow.

Dr. Hauschka’s Volume Mascara: This is an amazing mascara that truly does add a lot of volume and impact. I especially like that it doesn’t give me the spider lash look. It does smudge a bit after a few hours of use but that’s something I’m okay with, given the natural ingredients and quality of this mascara.

Zuzu Luxe Liquid Eyeliner in “Raven”:  This is one of the most pigmented liquid eyeliners I’ve used and its ingredients are amazing. Basically a win-win all around!

Primal Pit Paste in “Vanilla Lavender”: I keep the trial size of this deodorant in my bag because it is discreet and perfect to bring with you in case you need to reapply on-the-go, which you most likely won’t because this deodorant is amazing and really works! The scent is heavenly ( I like lavender, in case you haven’t noticed) and since using this, I’ve noticed my underarms are a lot smoother and softer, which I believe is due to the coconut oil and baking soda in this deodorant.

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in “Pink”: I have been loving this lip gloss for a while - read an in-depth description of it from a previous post here. It’s sheer and light – therefore perfect for Spring and Summer.

Ilia Lip Conditioner in “Arabian Knights”: I’ve been wanting to try Ilia for a while now and the lovely Liz from “Smells like Green Spirit” recommended this shade to me – so glad I got it! It’s a sheer but buildable red currant color – very natural and it adds a nice warmth to the face. It’s versatile because you can wear it at work, but can dress it up by adding more layers for a vampy night look.  I will definitely have to try more Ilia products soon!

RMS Un Cover-Up in “22”: The packaging makes this perfect for on-the-go! I use this as a concealer; it blends well and looks very natural. It can be layered for a heavier coverage but I have noticed that this leads to creasing and settling into the fine lines around my eyes, so I avoid that by only using a little, which is really all I need. There is a slight scent to it that reminds me of sunscreen, but it’s barely noticeable.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: This has been a staple in my bag for many, many years now. I’ve used several eyelash curlers and nothing compares to this one!  My eyes look instantly open and more feminine when I use this - it’s crazy what a difference this can make to a bare face. I’ve noticed my eye lashes stay curled longer with this curler as opposed to others and this helps mascara work better. While on the pricey side, it’s built to last, works incredibly, and is certainly worth every penny.

What’s in YOUR makeup bag? And do you have any suggestions for organic blushes?

FTC: all items purchased by me!

DIY Lavender Coconut Body Scrub

It's been quite a while since I've blogged, and I promise I have some fun posts coming up! In the mean time, head over to the amazing Peaceful Dumpling website for a DIY Lavender Coconut Body Scrub recipe I created with some of my favorite all-natural ingredients! It's both healthy and indulgent at the same time. View my post here

Acure Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo Review

I wasn’t planning on doing a review but after using this Acure moisturizing shampoo, I just had to show it some love! I’ve attempted to go as green as possible with my haircare routine but it’s hard to find something that works on my thick and generally unruly hair, and I have yet to find the right ratio of the no-poo method that works for me.  I’ve been using this shampoo for 3 weeks now and my hair feels soft and silky, even when it’s still wet/damp, which is unusual because usually at that stage it’s very dry and frizzy and generally resembles a tumbleweed on my head. I normally have to put some argan oil in my ends but with this shampoo, it’s not necessary - which is a great time-saver! It also has an amazing scent similar to almonds, but more specifically like amaretto cookies so it creates an aromatherapy experience in the shower. The cherry on top is that it scores a 1 in the EWG skin deep database, so it’s an all-around amazing and guilt-free shampoo!

Ingredient list:

Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Rooibos, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Vera Leaf Juice, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate (from Coconut), 100% Naturally-derived Betaine (from Sugar Beets), Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (from Coconut + Amino Acids), Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (from Coconut + Amino Acids), Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Sugar Conditioner), Sodium Levulinate (from Corn), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Guar gum conditioner), Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Organic Fair-Trade Certified™ Olea Europea (Olive) Oil, D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (vitamin E), Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) seed oil, Organic Curcubita pepo (Pumpkin) seed oil, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Argania spinosa (Argan) Stem Cells,  glycerophosphoinositol lysine (from sunflower), Almond Extract, Cinnamomum aromaticum (Cassia Bark) Oil

FTC: purchased by me!

Insanely Easy Room/Aromatherapy Spray

Want to know how to make a super easy yet extremely fragrant room freshener/aromatherapy spray with just two ingredients? Keep reading!

For this DIY you will need:

• An empty spray bottle
• Some H2O
• An essential oil of your choice (I like peppermint, lavender, or sweet orange)

How to:

All you have to do is fill an empty spray bottle ¾ of the way up with water and then add at least 20 drops of oil, and shake vigorously!

Note:

I use empty spray bottles left over from toner or other beauty products – just make sure to clean it out with warm water beforehand to make sure any left other product or scent does not remain.

I use the Aura Cacia brand of essential oils because the quality is great and they are widely available, including your neighborhood grocery stores. Peppermint oil has an energizing effect, lavender relaxes you, and sweet orange just smells amazing.  It is always fun to experiment with unusual scents as well!

This room spray is essentially free if you have any old spray bottles and have some essential oil around.

Uses:

A small bottle of essential oil goes a long way and has multiple uses, for example rubbing some peppermint oil on your temples helps with headaches, so it’s a handy thing to have around the house in either case. I like to add additional drops into my spray, and it still lasts me for around 5-6 bottles of room spray so it’s a lot more cost effective than buying a bottle from the store. It can also be used as an air freshener, ie in your kitchen or bathroom, or use it for aromatherapy by spraying it on your pillow or entire room if you’re trying to relax. I like to spray this before bedtime, it really does make a difference!

I hope you give this easy DIY a try!

FTC: not sponsored, all ingredients were purchased by myself

An Ode to Coconut Oil

I had always heard about the benefits of coconut oil for your hair, but it wasn’t until very recently that I discovered that this oil is truly a multi-purpose product for health and beauty!

First, let’s start off with the healthy properties of coconut oil. Organic, cold-pressed coconut oil contains an abundant amount of lauric acid ( around 40%) which is amazing because the only other natural source of this acid is breast milk – aka something that’s not accessible to most of us ;). It has antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties and not only is it extremely helpful when taken internally because it prevents infections and viruses like the flu, but it also has antiseptic and healing abilities when applied externally.

Internal Use:

I have been mixing a teaspoon of coconut oil with hot water and lemon and I drink this in the mornings. This is a quick and easy way to consume coconut oil in order to reap its health benefits, otherwise coconut oil can be quite heavy when taken straight. This drink is also a great way to detoxify and help your liver. I have noticed that I have more energy and feel more awake when I drink this, which says a lot because I am usually dependent on coffee to be a functioning human being in the mornings! I am slowly trying to incorporate up to two tablespoons of coconut oil into my daily routine as the taste and texture (while delicious!) does take some getting used to. Simply adding coconut oil to your tea or coffee is another alternative for those that do need some caffeine.

I’ve also started using coconut oil to “oil-pull”. This is the process of swirling a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for around 20 minutes . This helps to clean your mouth by getting rid of bacteria, improves your dental health, and even removes stains from your teeth. I tend to have sensitive gums which feel “itchy” and irritated at times and I’ve noticed that this sensation goes away after I oil-pull.  Just be sure to spit out all the oil and rinse your mouth out afterwards with water – and never gargle or swallow the oil as it is full with bacteria!

External Use:

Because of its anti-bacterial and moisturizing properties, coconut oil is great to use on your skin!

It is very useful in removing bacteria and nourishing your skin, for example, from cuts and scrapes, or dry cuticles and hangnails. I get extremely dry skin in the winter time, especially on my hands  and I’ve noticed that when I would apply coconut oil overnight, my cuticles and hangnails would be extremely softened and the irritation and redness would be gone. I also use it as a face moisturizer when my skin is really dry – but I do this sparingly because it’s a very heavy moisturizer and there are some reports that it can block your pores. I have personally never had a problem with this but everyone’s skin is different.

This is also a great moisturizer to use all over your body, and can also be used as a shaving gel! It helps with dandruff as well – simply massage the oil onto the affected area and allow it to soak in!  Additionally, it’s an important ingredient in DIY lip balm...or you could even just use it by itself on your lips.

What type of Coconut Oil should one use?

It is important to get organic, extra virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil in order to gain all the anti-bacterial and health benefits, otherwise, many of these health properties are lost in the refining process.

I am currently using Artisana Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil and Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (as you can see I’m almost out of it!). Both of these are amazing and go a long way – a quarter-sized amount of solid coconut oil is enough to cover both my hands and a little past my wrists (when melted). They were both around $10 USD, which is great considering how many of your products can be replaced by just one jar of coconut oil! There are other brands you can find at your local health store and online, but just make sure they are cold-pressed, organic, and extra-virgin if possible!

PHEW! That was a lot of information! Not sure if you’ll be able to remember it all? Check out and save this handy infographic from Pinterest for a break-down of all the benefits of coconut oil!

Are there any other ways that you use coconut oil? Let me know in the comments!