February Beauty Obsessions

Happy February! I couldn't let the month of LOVE go by without sharing some new beauty discoveries that had me at hello!  Self-care = Self-Love in my house:).

The winter months are usually mild around here in Central Texas but this year has been brutal (by our standards at least).  Check out these winter beauties for some serious body hydration (both lux and budget friendly options), gentle cleansing, gorgeously hued lip treats, and sensuous personal aromas.  Read on for the details and an Exclusive Discount Code!

​#1 Let's start with the foundation of skin care - Cleansing.  This month I was delighted to receive the Boreal Forest Soap from Province Apothecary in the "Best In Show 2017 - Indie Beauty Expo Box".  Honestly, I have never been disappointed with any of Julie's creations and this was no exception. The aroma evokes images of a wintery pine forest covered in snow and its woodsy/herbaceous essential oils and just makes me feel snuggly inside!  It is also extremely gentle and free of synthetic fragrance, additives, or any artificial ANYTHING. I highly recommend this for anyone who washes their body:). It will turn your shower into a walk through the forest - just take a deep breath and say AHH!


​Full Ingredients: Olive oil^*, Water, Cedarwood oil*, Black Spruce*, Pine*, Fir Balsam oil. ^Saponified *Certified organic ingredient

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Whipped Body Cream $25

#2 and #3 - Now for body hydration.  
My first pick is for my discerning friends on a budget. This whipped body cream goes to show that quality, small batch green beauty does not always have to have a hefty price tag. The Whipped Body Cream by new-comer Bright Body combines rich organic butters/oils to soothe your skin and seal in hydration.  Essential oils of lavender, lemongrass, geranium, and tea tree combine for a light garden-fresh aroma that isn't overpowering- just refreshing.  This formula is on the rich side so make sure to apply to slightly damp skin to get the best penetration and to prevent TEWL (Trans-Epidermal Water Loss). I have noticed a dramatic improvement in the moisture level of my skin and I've only been using it for less than 2 weeks!

A simple formula that performs beautifully (and a little goes a LONG way) and still leaves room in the budget to try out their all natural, baking soda-free deodorant which is next on my list! Check out the entire Bright Body line for quality, cost effective, and non-toxic daily essentials.

Full Ingredients: organic shea butter, organic castor oil, organic coconut oil, organic sesame oil, organic jojoba oil, vitamin E acetate, lavender essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, geranium essential oil, tea tree essential oil.

         
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                                       (no minimum purchase)  Get Your Bright Body HERE!

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Boundless Solid Oil $88

My second body pick is the equally impressive 8 Faces Beauty Boundless Solid Oil. This just screams luxe. The formulation is a sophisticated blend of organic butters/oils and adds in more exotic elements such as Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Baobab, Sea Buckthorn, and Amla Fruit- which is an antioxidant powerhouse.

This omega fatty acid packed 'solid oil' is indeed solid at room temperature but quickly melts upon contact with your skin.  The blend of citrus and lavender essential oils is lovely, light, and soothing.  The formula soaks in perfectly when applied to warmed skin after a bath/shower. This hydrator is aptly named 8 Faces due to its myriad of uses.  It can be used as a body hydrator, makeup primer, after sun-care, and haircare just to name a few! Perfect as a one-stop-product for travel and easy to get through TSA in your carry-on since it stays solid until application (unless the AC goes out, then you might be out of luck!).  Definitely splurge worthy for the savvy traveller.
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Full ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Butter*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Emblica Officinalis (Amla) Fruit Extract*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Kernel Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Lecithin*, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil*, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil*, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil* Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil* * organically produced ingredient
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​Both of these options are fabulous. I personally have been switching off between them but using the 8 Faces more on sun-exposed areas of my body (décolleté, neck, arms) due to it's regenerating benefits.  The Bright Body has been absolutely fabulous on my legs (especially post-shaving), elbows, and my kids love it too! 

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Lip Colour Serums $42

#4 Next is Lip Hydration!  If you've been following along on Instagram you know what a HUGE fan I am of the semi-new Lip Colour Serums from FitGlow Beauty.  Each formula is the perfect blend of bendable color, shine, and the most delicious aroma.  Seriously, you'll want to just lick your lips all day- they will smell like a dessert. Go ahead and lick away! They are 98% organic with no synthetics, toxic ingredients, FD&C Colorants, or synthetic aromas so you know you won't be ingesting a bunch of YUCK.



​I have tried nearly every color (only one to go!) and I honestly wear every.single.one. Sometimes all in one day.  They are that good!

The formulas walk the line of transparency and lush pigment in the most perfect way.  They are not gloopy, messy, or sticky while leaving your lips in better condition day after day. I loved these so much that I brought on the FitGlow line at my skin care boutique- Orange Blossom Skin Care just for them!  Of course, now I'm in love with their Goodlash + Mascara and foundations too but that's for another post!  The colors above and below from left to right: Juice (a burst of strawberries and sunshine), Bliss (shimmery champagne), Ever (which is a lovely berry and not nearly as dark as it looks in the tube) . You can't go wrong with any of these colors - all gorgeous, organic, and simply divine.

Full Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Vegetable Collagen, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Sterols Beta Vulgaris Rubra (Beet Root) Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Root Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil & Lecithin & Yeast Extract (Organic Plump)*, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E) Sorbic Acid, Vanilla Extract May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI77499), (CI77492), (CI77491). *CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

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Cologne Travel Collection $42 ($12 individually)

​#5 Personal aroma is something that I've done without for a long time.  Back in the day I used to LOVE my Chanel, CK, Angel, insert toxic synthetic perfumes here... until one day I stopped cold turkey.  Within a few months I could no longer tolerate synthetic fragrances and as they say "when you know better you do better" (thanks Oprah!).  Since then (approximately 10 years ago), I haven't really delved into aromas until now.  

​Fast forward to today and I can't recommend this Cologne Travel Collection from Ojai Wild enough.  It contains each of their 4 aromas so you can try them out for a good while before investing in the full size. I am torn between wanting to save each spritz for a "special occasion" and wanting to completely bathe myself in them! 

I am currently in love with the Juniper Berry which they describe as "combines the extract of fresh juniper berry needles with notes of cedarwood Texas, Hawiian sandalwood, morning coffee and fresh petitgrain Corsica" - that perfectly sums it up. It is warm, comforting, and I can't stop smelling my wrists.  I can feel my blood pressure decreasing with each long inhalation- THIS is what personal aroma should be- pure, unadulterated, non-toxic, and therapeutic for the senses and soul.

My only wish is that natural aromas would last on the skin as long as synthetic.  This is just a fact of life though and I'll happily spritz my way into nirvana all day long.  

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Do you see any favorites here? any you are eyeing? Share your thoughts with me!