Argan oil blend from Destiny Boutique

Even though my bathroom is chock full of oils and serums, I couldn't resist grabbing this puppy recently.  It was the list of ingredients in addition to the argan oil that sold me.  In particular I'm interested in frankincense lately and what it can do for my skin, and this not only contains frankincense but also has carrot seed, fennel, myrrh, anise and lavender essential oils.  All terrific for dry/mature skin. Unfortunately for me, I smell the anise the most, which out of the list is my least favorite smell (black licorice is my kryptonite).  However its smell is growing on me and I'm finding it to be more comforting than off-putting. Plus in addition to being great for the skin, anise is reputed to heal the heart, so I suppose my nose will just have to deal!

I like that Destiny Boutique uses raw and unrefined argan oil sourced conscientiously through UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and that the label itself is biodegradable (in fact the label contains seeds you can plant. Unfortunately for those poor little wildflower seeds I do not have a green thumb so their future is a bit uncertain, but I love the concept!)

My (not so) dirty little secret...

It's time for me to come clean (ba dum chah!) and confess that I may have become a bit of a soap hoarder over the past several months.  I've completely abandoned liquid bath gels in favor of all natural bar soap (and actually bar soap typically will contain fewer ingredients which I like). I rationalize the excess I've squirreled away in my closet by saying to myself that it doesn't expire, that if I get into a pinch I can use it as hostess gifts, and in the meantime it's an added bonus that my t-shirt drawer smells lovely now.

My current fave was a lovely gift from a French friend who brought me a trio of donkey milk soap back from the South of France (thanks Nathalie!).  At first the idea of rubbing donkey anything on my body was a bit repulsive - I'm not going to lie.  But something about it being a French donkey made it a bit more palatable, especially as I imagined the donkey lazily spending its days lolling around in lavender covered fields of Provence.  I mean, this donkey probably has a better life than I do, let's be honest.  But I quickly became a sucker not only for the adorable packaging, but also the terrific moisturizing benefits.  Plus, the first bar in the package was a Patchouli scent, so I knew it was meant to be (not pictured above because it's happily ensconced in my shower at the moment).  I can't wait to try the Lavender and Eucalyptus scents.

Plantlife also makes some great all natural bar soaps. I love the Patchouli (of course), the Anise/Clay and the Sandalwood.  They also make an Argan face/body bar that I'm eager to try. I've tried soaps on my face in the past (Dove and Cetaphil) and found them to be too drying, but as soon as I give these babies a whirl I'll come back and update this post.  It would be nice to have a two in one for travel especially, so fingers crossed!

A day at the Ren Faire

It's been about 20+ years since I've been to a Renaissance Fair (Faire?)- probably making an annual visit as a child with hippy parents was enough to guarantee I'd never want to go back as an adult (cross reference late in life patchouli interest).

However the times, they have a' changed, and I must admit, I had a blast at one in Maryland this weekend.  Chomping on an enormous turkey drumstick and drinking copious amounts of ale while bag pipers droned in the background was a surprisingly delightful way to spend a Saturday (and the situational dressing was fun too!)

(I'm wearing RMS uncover-up in #22, Lip2Cheek in Smile, Revlon creme shadow in Not Just Nudes, and Lipstick Queen Sinner in Berry)

NEED...THIS...NOW! Wild at Heart bags

The designers behind brand Wild at Heart have this to say about their line:

"Rachael Moore and Chrissy (Bang Bang) Bray spent years creating their own makeshift Hands-Free Bags before they realised - the world needs a range of strap-on leather bags.Dedicated to creating comfortable and beautiful designs, Wild at Heart is about freedom and self-expression."

Now perhaps when you hear the words "strap-on" and "leather" in a product description it may bring to mind a slightly (umm..) different type of product, but all I know is, I NEED the below waist bag (and perhaps one of the fringey arm band bags...ahem, friends and family, hint hint birthday hint hint) like I may never have needed a bag before.  Fringey bum bag, come to mama!!

http://www.wildatheartbags.com

Everything's coming up roses!

I've gotten into rose hydrosols recently as a prep for applying oils or serums on my face post cleanse. Not only is the smell addictive, but rose hydrosols are anti-inflammatory and can help sooth redness.  Its antiseptic and astringent properties are also great for helping calm and heal acne prone skin.

Decant it into a smaller purse size spray bottle and drop it in your bag to give your skin a quick pick me up on hot summer days (add aloe for a great sunburn soother).  You can also spray into your hair for both moisturizing and scenting or onto your pillowcase before bed.  So many great uses!

On my mind today: Neroli essential oil

When I think of Neroli, images of Cleopatra lounging in her private bath immediately come to mind.  And indeed the flower and oil was highly regarded by ancient Egyptians for its mind, body and spirit benefits.

Extracting the oil is a laborious process, and thus, it's typically not inexpensive. It takes about 1000 pounds of orange blossom flower to make 1 pound of Neroli oil. The regenerative benefits of Neroli are the reason people have successfully used it to treat acne, stretch marks and broken capillaries.  The overall therapeutic properties are: Antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-infectious, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, deodorant, hypertensive (lowers blood pressure).

I can't wait to work this into my beauty routine! On my fall wish list is H. Gillerman's blend which contains a couple other ingredients I'm very interested in these days in terms of how they can help calm my rosacea - rose otto, helichrysum and rosehip.

The full ingredient list is as follows: 100% organic neroli, petitgrain, rose otto, helichrysum, carrot seed essential oils; jojoba oil, avocado oil, meadow foam seed, rosehip seed, evening primrose oils; non-GMO vitamin E.

Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter and Color Quench Lip Tint

I picked up these little cuties recently and so far am obsessed with them!

Coconut features prominently in the ingredients, and the vanilla coconut lip tint (pictured on right) is a warm coconutty treat on the kisser. I also picked up the Vanilla Hibiscus (pictured on left), which leaves a light sheer pink color on the lips and is rich in avocado and coconut oil.

The Bronzing body butter is a lovely subtle shimmer with just a hint of color. I'm pretty fair and it works well on my skin tone.  Also, a little goes a long way. The sea algae and coconut oil in the ingredients feels very hydrating and isn't tacky or greasy on the skin.  It's a perfect way to relive the beach days of summer and sneak a little tropical into Fall.

According to Pacifica: "Our skin care and color is formulated without: Animal testing, animal ingredients, FD&C color, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, mineral oil, petroleum, peanut oil, triclosan, and other ingredients you do not want on your skin."