Christina Alyce Beauty: cosmetics

I rarely make new year's resolutions, and this article sums up why pretty well. So instead of actual resolutions, I thought I would share some general beauty-related goals that I am working toward. I have been working on most of these for a month or longer already.

Drink More Water and Less Soda I really struggle to drink enough water on a daily basis (many days I struggle to drink even half of what I should) and it leaves my skin and lips incredibly dry. I have also been reaching more for soda the past year than I ever have before, which is an incredibly unhealthy habit. Lack of hydration and increased sugar intake are a terrible combination for your skin! My office has an endless supply of water bottles so I have been trying to take advantage of this, and I have been doing okay. For my weight, I should be drinking roughly 77oz of water a day, so I split my day into segments and try to finish a water bottle within each allotted time period (for example, I try to drink one whole 17oz water in the morning, before lunchtime). I still have trouble meeting the goals every single day, but having more of a schedule does help overall. The weekends are much harder because I'm often out and about or drinking out of various sized glasses when I'm home. I would like to start using a reusable glass water bottle for more measured drinking on the weekends, and so I am producing less waste during the week.
Stick to a Consistent Skincare Routine 2016 was a roller coaster ride for my poor skin. I began the year as an avid Lush user, briefly switched to Korean skincare in the Spring, and then found a home in the world of natural and; nontoxic beauty for the second half of the year, all the while trying out 3 or 4 different forms of birth control in an attempt to get my hormonal acne under control. I rarely would use the same few products consistently, so of course with the hormonal side of things factored in, it's silly to expect that my skin would calm down and clear up. I have had a pretty set routine for a little over a month now, and I think I am beginning to notice some improvement in my breakouts, and I am determined to keep it up.
Stop Picking at my Skin This will undoubtedly be the most difficult goal for me. I have briefly mentioned before that I pick at my skin, and its more than just a bad habit. Dermatillomania is a compulsion defined as "the repetitive picking at one's own skin to the extent of causing damage." Acne and anxiety trigger my picking most, so I need to work on getting those two things under control, and to make a more conscious effort to not pick in the first place. Touching my skin certainly does not help my acne problem, so it's a bit of a vicious cycle- acne causes picking, which causes more acne in turn. I tend to mindlessly pick a lot in the car while I'm driving (not looking in the mirror, just running my fingers over my face, feeling for imperfections) and I have started to make an attempt to always keep both hands glued to the wheel so they can't wander.
Use Up Products I Have....and stop buying products I don't need. To say I love skincare and makeup is an understatement. Trying out new products is one of my favorite things ever, but unfortunately that leaves my bank account less than happy. I have accumulated quite the stash over the past few months, and I need to work through what I have. Luckily this goes hand in hand with #2, because if I'm consistent in the products I use, I will be dedicated to using up one at a time instead of jumping around and never quite finishing anything. This also will help me to really get to know products before I review them, and I can start making "Product Empties" videos for my YouTube!
Put More Effort into my Blog, YouTube, and Related Social Media I seem to go through periods where I am very creative and want to engage with other users on Instagram, and other times I feel uninspired and unfriendly. I can't expect to run successful social media accounts if I am not posting content consistently or interacting with other people. I have been trying over the last couple of months to "like" more photos on Instagram instead of just scrolling through, and It has helped my content so much. I gain more followers, get more likes, and always seem to attract more offers from companies to review products when I'm more engaged. Posting and expecting likes to just flow in is selfish, you need to be willing to share the love too. I have also created a Twitter account to hopefully interact with my readers more easily, and I want to revive my Tumblr and Facebook page so that I can connect with people over multiple platforms. And of course, a huge part of this is to create content I am proud of, and more of it. I want to become better at photography, and I want to take my YouTube beyond run-of-the-mill haul and unboxing videos. I want to post more consistently, with roughly one blog post per week, and 1-2 videos per month. I feel like I have started the year off on the right foot so far, with this being the 3rd post in two weeks, and I have just posted a new video to my YouTube. Of course, busy season at my job is just about to start, so I don't know how easily I will be able to keep up with posting for the rest of the winter, but I will try my hardest.

So there are some thoughts on the new year! Let me know below what your goals are for this year! I hope we can accomplish even more than we plan to. Good luck!

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Overhauling your skincare routine can be a daunting task, especially if you are completely new to the world of clean beauty, and unaware of what brands are out there. There's also the money factor. Glowy, smooth skin doesn't usually come cheap, so when a brand offers a boxed set of things to try at a pretty decent deal, you thank the skincare gods. I was happy to see that Fig + Yarrow, (one of the first clean beauty brands I had heard about) offers such a set. At $76, for 5 trial/travel size items it seems expensive, but if purchased individually, the total would be $88, so not a bad deal, especially if you can snag a coupon, or catch a sale. In case you wish to check out any of these products individually, I will provide links to each product listing as well.
Of course when buying a set there is the downside that one or two out of the several curated products may not be the right fit for you, but I find that for the value that comes with these types of sets and the small amount of each product you get, it's not that much of a loss. Besides, the odd product out can always be used in an alternate way than originally intended, gifted, or traded with a product junkie friend. I was lucky enough to be able to use all of the products in the Fig + Yarrow Facial Care Kit, without any issues and as you will see, I was quite pleased with everything.

Cleansing Nectar [1oz $12] [4oz $32]

My main focus in my skincare switch has been to find a non-foaming, low pH cleanser, and this product ticks both of those boxes. The Cleansing Nectar is meant to be a gentle cleanser for all skin types, that exfoliates and purifies the skin while leaving the acid mantle intact. I think it does a very good job of this, particularly for oily and acne prone skin, because it does not strip the skin.

It is formulated with lavender hydrosol, which helps to soothe the skin, along with aloe and ginko bilboa, which is also excellent at improving nutrient delivery. The cleanser exfoliates with a combination of manuka honey, apple cider vinegar, willow tree bark (salicylic acid) and dead sea salt, which all contain exfoliating enzymes. This is a purely chemical exfoliation process, so it is well suited for anyone with sensitive skin. There are no salt particles or other rough ingredients to be found in this formula. Calendula repairs damage, and green tea offers antioxidants. Licorice soothes irritation and redness.
I use this cleanser primarily at night. If I have worn make up during the day, I oil cleanse first, then wet my face with water, apply the cleanser to my face, and use either my hands or a konjac sponge to spread it around, then rinse and follow with the rest of my skincare. I have never felt stripped or dry when using this product, and I do not break out. I do think it does a great job of balancing the skin and healing/preventing further breakouts.

Facial Scrub [1.4oz $14] [2.8oz $22]

I love exfoliating, but like most people with sensitive skin, I have to be careful not to use any coarse products containing things like salt or sugar with sharp edges. A fantastic alternative to these more traditional ingredients, is a combination of ground oat flour and fullers earth. Ground oat flour cleanses, softens and soothes the skin, and even improves discoloration. Fullers earth also works to lighten skin imperfections, and detoxifies and exfoliates. Raw honey purifies, moisturizes, and contains enzymes that help slough of dead skin cells. While these ingredients are all gentle for sensitive skin, this product also contains a few extra soothing ingredients, to make sure your skin stays happy, like lavender, rosewood, and chamomile essential oils.

As you can see from the ingredients, this scrub works as a cleanser as well, so there is no need to use a separate product for cleansing with it. This is great news for your skin, because the less often you wash, the less you have to strip your natural oils. I will usually use this whenever it's time to exfoliate (I usually do so twice a week), and I rotate this with my Glowing Skin Cleanser from The Dirty Goat, depending on how much of a scrub I think I need. For extra- dull days, I do prefer my scrub from TDG. But overall, this is a great exfoliator. It is gentle and not rough at all. I do feel like it leaves a bit of residue behind, but it doesn't feel dirty, and I don't get breakouts from it. I find my skin looks plumper,, brighter, and more nourished.

Yarrow/Immortelle/Rockrose Complexion Water [1oz $14][4oz $42]

Fig + Yarrow offers two variations of this skincare set, the differences being found in the toner. I chose the Complexion Water formulated with yarrow, immortelle, and rockrose, because this version is supposed to help in regenerating skin cells, and soothing troubled skin. The key ingredients in here are gently astringent as well as anti-aging. I don't typically go for astringent products, but I have no problems with irritation or unbalanced skin with this toner. My only issue with this toner is that I don't care for the smell, which too earthy for me, but it does fade quickly. I don't like using fragranced products on my face, and I find that it is odd that this complexion water is also marketed as an aromatherapy product. I don't think the scent is overpowering, and the fragrance comes from natural essential oils, but I do think it is important to mention. But as I said, my sensitive skin does not have any problems when I use this.

Facial Serum [0.25oz $20][0.5oz $38]

As recently as a year ago, I don't think I had ever used a serum. I understood their purpose, but at the time I felt like I was getting all of the benefits I needed from the other products in my routine, and I would just revisit the thought of a serum down the line, once I got a little older and my skin needed an extra boost. Well, during my Lush foray and quest to try every single product they offered, I used a serum for the very first time and became hooked. I'm now a serum junkie, with more serums than any other type of product in my collection, and this one from Fig + Yarrow ranks right at the top.

It's easy for me to recognize when my skin loves a product, and I get all the telltale signs with this little bottle of magic. I get glowy but not greasy, instantly softer, smoother, with an all-around "good skin day" vibe.

It is made with a base of olive (squalane) oil, which my skin loves. It absorbs quickly into my skin, and feels incredibly silky. It contains vitamins A and E, and helps fight aging and repair sun damage. Rosehip oil is also very nourishing, containing fatty acids, vitamins E, C, and B-carotene. The combination of meadowfoam seed oil and jojoba oil traps in moisture to keep skin glowing, and rosemary essential oil helps to fight acne.

Yarrow Buttercream [1oz $28][2oz $48]

The final product in this set is the Yarrow Buttercream, which is described as hydrating and nourishing for dry and damaged skin. It contains many intensely hydrating ingredients, including aloe, almond oil, carrot seed oil, and shea butter, making it ideal for winter months or very dry skin. This can be used on the face or body, and makes a fantastic hand cream. It also has chamomile to soothe the skin and nutrient rich ingredients like grapefruit seed extract and rosemary leaf extract. This combination promotes cellular turnover, and collagen production, giving the skin a youthful, renewed look.

I have only used this product on my face once, because it is a little too rich for me in the summer months. I have loved it on my extra dry spots like my elbows, hands, and feet though. It hydrates beautifully and leaves your skin plump with long- lasting moisture. It does not carry much of a smell, so it makes a perfect unscented hand-cream.

I think this set gives a great selection of products, for all skin types. I feel like it has left me with a very positive impression of what Fig + Yarrow has to offer, and I am excited to check out some new skincare items from the brand, now carried at Target. I am impressed by the quality of everything I tried, and it certainly felt luxurious. My skin reacted well to everything, and I definitely plan to purchase a full size of the cleansing elixir and serum when I run out. I would highly recommend this set to any skincare lover, particularly those who enjoy higher end products and clean beauty.

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Full of Grace had been sitting on my wishlist for quite a while. When I first saw it in the catalog as a brand new Lushie, I was pretty intrigued. At the time, I was starting to incorporate a lot of natural oils into my skincare routine, so a bar that featured a plethora of gorgeous oils sounded like a dream to me. I let it sit on the back burner for months without purchasing because at first glance the price seems a bit steep for 20g of product, but I finally decided it was worth it and made the order. I’ve had this little serum bar in my possession for a week now, and in conjunction with my Coalface Soap, my skin certainly looks the best it has in months, if not years.

So many people tout this as a miracle for the skin- softening, reducing redness, scars, discoloration, even fine lines. While I don’t suddenly have skin as even and supple as an infant’s, I have absolutely noticed a difference. I apply this in the evening, as my moisturizer. So after cleansing and toning, I rub the bar either between my hands, or directly on my face (It’s all up to how I feel that day, both methods work equally well!) and smooth the melted oils into my skin. I love this before bed, because aside form having wonderful skincare benefits, the rose oil and chamomile blue oil are incredibly relaxing. I find the scent of this is quite similar to the Dreamtime Bath Melt, so it is definitely a calming scent, perfect for your evening routine.

As I stated, I use this in the evening as my sole moisturizer, but you can use this underneath or on top of another moisturizer if you have incredibly dry skin, or only on certain pats of your face that need an extra boost in moisture. It really depends on your skin’s needs, and I may layer this with another moisturizer later in the winter if I notice increased dryness, and in the summer I may cut back my use. I think that this is a very versatile product, and though it was formulated for dry, sensitive skin, I think many people can benefit from it, even if you only use it as an occasional treat. One way I would not recommend using it is under a mask, which is one method Lush suggests on the website- this seems quite silly to me, from an esthetician’s standpoint. Not only are you wasting a product by washing it off with your mask after 10 minutes, when you would reap so much more benefit by leaving it on for an extended period, but the oils in the serum also create a barrier of sorts, that will prevent your mask from being absorbed fully into the skin, hindering it’s full effectiveness. I’m really not sure why they recommend using it this way, but you will notice many more benefits to your skin when keeping the two steps separate!

So, what is it exactly that makes Full of Grace so wonderful for the skin? Aside from leaving out preservatives and filler ingredients, this serum is packed full of beneficial oils. Almond oil mimics the skins own natural oils, so it won’t clog your pores, and absorbs easily. Murumuru butter is known as a miracle butter. It’s highly emollient and hydrating, and it is wonderful for acne prone skin, as it is naturally antibacterial and anti inflammatory, and also boasts many antioxidants and fatty acids. Portobello mushroom is also incredibly antioxidant rich, and contains B and C vitamins, potassium, vitamin D and ergothioneine all of which show this is a good candidate for protecting the skin from damage Ingredients such as almond oil and murumuru butter broaden the market for Full of Grace, because while it is gentle and highly moisturizing, it has the potential to work well with oilier and acne prone conditions, as well as for anyone who is looking to protect their skin from environmental damage. I have not had any breakouts since using Full of Grace, and my skin is normally very acne prone.

Calamine powder, rose oil and infusion, and chamomile blue oil are all very soothing on the skin and should help with redness. I currently have a lot of acne in the healing stage, so my face is quite sensitive and I have a smattering of red along my jawline and temples. Since I started using this serum, I have noticed the healing process seems to be going much faster than usual and my redness is fading quickly.

I am completely enamored with Full of Grace so far, and though I have only been using it for a short time, my skin is softer, more hydrated, and feels wonderfully soothed. I would recommend this to all skin types, and it is totally worth the price!

Rating: 5/5

Price:

UK - £8.25/ 20g
US - $15.95/ 0.7oz
This is very inflated in the US, order from the UK and save almost $4!

Status: Permanant

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Murumuru Butter, Calamine Powder, Cupuacu Butter, Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Organic Almond Oil, Perfume, Fresh Portobello Mushrooms, Chamomile Blue Oil, Rose Oil, Tagetes Oil, Eugenol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl, Cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool

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Looking through the jar of Lip scrubs that my local Lush currently offers, I was disappointed to find that it was monopolized by the Bubblegum and Popcorn flavors, and not a Mint Julips in sight. I have nothing against popcorn or bubblegum, I just really didn’t like the sound of them as lip products. I had tried Bubblegum before, grudgingly, when a friend insisted, but it wasn’t for me. I loved the feeling and results of the scrub, so I set out to find Mint Julips, the one flavor that sounded truly delicious. I stood there digging through the jar at lush, and almost gave up hope before I saw the last little jar of minty glory that remained. I grabbed it, made my purchases, and almost ran to the car because I was so eager to try it.

Now, I highly recommend that you wash your hands before using this, or any other product that requires you to dip your finger into a tub. In my excitement I disregarded all I knew about product sanitation, dug in, and smeared the scrub all over my lips with my grimy finger, tarnished with a days worth of mall crawling. Stupid in hind sight, but we all have our moments. Either way, unhygienic or not, I was instantly convinced this was the most magnificent lip scrub I had ever and will ever try.

As with all of lush’s lip scrubs, this one is 100% edible. Made almost entirely of ingredients you would find in your kitchen, it contains just 7 ingredients - caster sugar, jojoba oil, vanilla extract, tagetes oil, peppermint oil, limonene, and flavor. We are all familiar with the flavor and uses for peppermint and vanilla in cooking, but did you know tagetes oil has been used as a seasoning since the ancient Inca? It as a minty flavor, and like peppermint, it is antimicrobial which helps to preserve your product naturally. vanilla is significant here because it contains antioxidants and also has humectant properties, which means it traps in moisture to keep your lips hydrated. Jojoba oil (pronounced like “ho-ho-ba”) also aids in keeping lips moisturized. And of course, caster sugar is what gives this scrub it’s sweet and scrubby properties.

I found this scrub to do a fantastic job at exfoliating my lips, especially because I was just getting over a cold at the time, so my lips were extra chapped. All you do is scoop out a small amount, and put it on your lips. You can then either rub the product in with your finger, or by rubbing your lips together. Remove the scrub by wiping it off, or (my preferred method) lick it off! You might find, especially if you choose to remove the product by licking, that your lips still feel a little dehydrated afterwards. I recommend following this product with a lip balm, I find that chocolatey Whipstick Lip Balm pairs very nicely with the mint. I find that I only need to use this a few times a week, so I imagine this tiny jar will last me a very long time

Rating: 5 out of 5

Price:

UK £5.50 for 25g
US $9.95 for .9oz

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Castor Sugar, Cold Pressed Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), Vanilla Extract (Vanilla planifolia), Tagetes Oil (Tagetes minuta), Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita), *Limonene, Flavor.*Occurs naturally in essential oils

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The moment I saw Fairy Dust, I knew I had to have it. I am obsessed with anything pink and glittery, so this was absolutely perfect for me. When I first saw this online, I had a dream sequence in my head of me sitting at my vanity in a silk robe, dusting my shoulders in this gorgeous powder with an old hollywood style powder puff. So, naturally, I ordered not only this gorgeous powder, but hopped over to Etsy and scoured the site for a powder puff and antique powder jar so I could live out this image of glamour.

About a week later, all three items had arrived, and I could finally try the powder and get its full effect. I poured the powder into my glass jar, I was overwhelmed with the gorgeous scent of bubblegum. I greedily dipped my powder puff into the jar, and carefully patted it all over my body. Once I was done, I felt like I had transformed into Princess Bubblegum. A gentle, sweet fragrance and subtle shimmer covered my skin, and it felt incredibly soft.

One of Lush's many dusting powders, Fairy Dust is only with us for a short time, as it is part of the Holiday collection. Though the bottle is small at only 70g, the contents are quite compressed and I noticed that even though I emptied what should have been 1/3 of the contents into my powder jar, the bottle still remained very full. A little of this goes a long way, and I can imagine this small bottle lasting a good 6 months, probably longer, even with daily use. I highly recommend that lovers of the classic Snow Fairy fragrance add on a bottle or two of this dusting powder to their annual order of shower gel, because while perhaps not a necessity, it will leave the scent of your favorite shower gel lingering on your skin all day. I found that after applying this after my morning shower, the scent stayed with me til the late afternoon. Unfortunately the majority of the luster disappeared after the first hour, but I can understand this being a positive aspect for those who don't want to look like a disco ball at 11am.

This silky powder contains corn flour, which means it is incredibly soft and smooth. While this is a wonderful product for absorbing excess oils (I've tried it as a dry shampoo and loved it!) cornflour has a relatively high oil content of it's own so it won't leave your skin completely sapped of oil. This powder is very versatile, and can be sprinkled into your shoes to keep them fresh, onto your bed sheets to give them a lovely sweet scent (I could see this being a wonderful use for a lavender scented powder!), as a dry shampoo, and really any other use you can think of. I really hope this returns next year, because it really does make you feel absolutely glamorous!

Rating: 4/5, only because the luster is not long-lasting

Price: £5.95 ($9.04)

Status: UK Exclusive, Christmas 2015

Scent Family:

Best Washes Wash Card
Bubblegum Lip Scrub
Candy Fluff Ballistic
Candy Fluff Perfume
Candy Fluff Dusting Powder
Fairy Dust Dusting Powder
Father Christmas Bath Bomb
Fluffy Egg Bath Bomb
Godmother Soap
Lush Mechanic Cold-Pressed Soap
Magic Wand Bubble Bar
Melting Marshmallow Moment Bath Oil
Mmmelting Marshmallow Bath Melt
Pink Easter Egg Ballistic
Snow Fairy Lip Tint
Snow Fairy Liquid Perfume
Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Snow Fairy Sparkle Massage Bar

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Cornflour, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Perfume, Synthetic Musk, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Citral, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Snowflake Lustre and Fandango Lustre.

Featured in this post:

Antique Fenton Glass Powder Jar from Hit of Miss Treasures on Etsy

Luxury Natural Merino Wool Powder Puff (mine is the Pink Crystal Handle version) from Soapsmith on Etsy

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Big Blue is one of Lush’s more popular bath bombs, often mixed with Sunnyside to create a shimmery turquoise cocktail known as “Mermaid Water”. I skipped the bubble bar and tried this strikingly blue bomb all by itself, and enjoyed every moment.

This ocean inspired bomb is packed full with wonderful treats from the sea. Nourishing Arame seaweed is used to detoxify, soothe, soften, and protect the skin against moisture loss. Unrefined coarse and fine sea salt are added for their astringent and cleansing effects, as well as beneficial minerals like sodium and magnesium. Sea salts are also thought to promote healing and contain anti-inflammatory and muscle soothing properties, which will be of benefit post-workout, to relieve menstrual cramps, and to reduce the pain of arthritis. I suffer from severe cramps as well as arthritis in most of my joints, so this bath bomb is truly a miracle for me!

This bomb also contains lovely ingredients that hail from dry land, such as lemon oil and lavender. Lemon oil brightens and cleanses skin, while lavender acts as an aromatic to promote relaxation as well as soothe joint pain. The combination of the two create a light, clean scent. The lemon oil is uplifting, while the lavender is calming, and the salt and seaweed give a hint of the sea.

I found this bath bomb very softening, and I felt refreshed, relaxed, and clean once I got out of the tum. My skin was lightly fragranced for a while afterward. I really enjoyed the relief this bomb brought my joints, and I will surely be repurchasing it as a staple in my stash. I know some people have concerns about the seaweed because it leaves behind quite a lot of it, and while this is not an issue for me, I can understand how it would be worrisome. An easy solution would be to drop the bomb into the oe of an old pair of tights and cut it off at the ankle, (or wrap it up in cheesecloth), secure the top, and drop it in the bath. this way, the bomb is free to dissolve in the water and release its nutrients, but the messy stuff stays inside the little sachet. It’s also a great way to recycle a pair of ruined tights!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Price: £3.50/$6.50

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Coarse Sea Salt, Fine Sea Salt, Perfume, Arame Seaweed, Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 19140.

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Yoga Bomb was the perfect bath bomb to set the mood for a lazy sunday morning. This slow fizzer has a chalky orange exterior, that takes quite a while to fizzle away to reveal the pastel turquoise and purple hidden within. If you like a bomb that’s pretty and colorful, but not over the top, this is perfect for you. After it has fizzed out, I noticed the vibrant orange waters had lots gold lustre glinting in the morning sunlight.

The mixture of sandalwood, ho wood, and olibanum (frankincense) oils was very relaxing and let off a woody and very slightly sweet floral fragrance. This reminds me of incense without the smoky element. I found that this scent paired beautifully with Karma soap, which I used to wash with.

Aside from a beautiful aroma, the aforementioned oils lend their cleansing, emollient, and toning properties, leaving you with fresh, softened skin. I also left the bath with lightly fragranced skin and just a touch of luster, which wore off throughout the morning and reminded me of my magically relaxing bath.

I would say this bath bomb is aptly named, and leaves you with the relaxed feeling you may have after doing a light session of yoga. I also thought it would make for a lovely meditative bath, as many of the oils found in this bath bomb are also common scents used to meditate to,

I really enjoyed this beautiful and relaxing bath bomb, and I look forward to using it again!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Price:

UK- £3.75
US- $8.95

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? Yes

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Cream Of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Cassie Absolute (Acacia farnesiana), Olibanum Oil (Boswellia carteri), Ho Wood Oil (Cinnamomu camphora), Sandalwood Oil (Santalum austro-caledonicum viell), Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Limonene, Eugenol, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Snowflake, Frosty Holly and Gold Glimmer Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicata, Titanium Dioxide, Colour 19140, Colour 42090, Synthetic Fluorphlogite, Colour 77492, Silicia), COlour 45410, Colour 42090.

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I was intrigued by the charitable aspect of this hand cream, and I was on the hunt for a new lotion to keep on my desk at work. This little black pot is full of nourishing ingredients, and 100% of the proceeds go towards various grassroots organizations. You can read all about the Charity aspect of the product and the company’s SLush Fund initiative here.

This lotion contains moisturising ingredients such as olive oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, shea butter and cocoa butter. This makes for a nourishing cream. I was a little unsure at first because it ends to be a little greasy if you put too much on, but overall it is very hydrating and it has a beautifully silky texture. I also find that the “greasiness” left behind feels more like a protective barrier against dehydration, which makes this a great cream for winter.

When I smelled this lotion for the first time, I immediately thought of a little Italian bakery I pop into from time to time. I’m not sure how the geranium, rosewood, ylang ylang, and vanilla essential oils combine to create that doughy, sweet smell, but I swear it does. The scent is quite strong when you first apply the lotion, but after 15 minutes or so, it mellows out to a gentle sweet fragrance, pretty much undetectable unless you put your hands right up to your nose.

I love the creamy luxurious feel and the charitable aspect of this cream. This is the first lotion I have tried from Lush, and I’m really excited to see what else they have to offer!

Rating: 5

Price: Small £6.95/$6.95 for 95g/1.7oz or Large £13.50/$25.95 for 240g/8.4oz

Status: Permanent, charity item

Vegan? Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Fair Trade Olive Oil (Olea europaea), Glycerine, Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Moringa Oil (Moringa Oleifera), Fair Trade Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Stearic Acid, Fresh Aloe Gel (Aloe Secundiflora), Fair Trade Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Triethanolamine, Geranium Oil (Pelargonium graveolens), Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeodora), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia), Cetearyl Alcohol, *Citronellol, *Coumarin, Geraniol, *Linalool, *Limonene, Fragrance . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

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I ordered this bubble bar while it was still a UK exclusive, so I didn’t have a chance to smell it before purchase. When it arrived, I was pretty surprised at the scent. On the website, it lists orange oil and patchouli oil as the main fragrances, so I was expecting something citrus and earthy, perhaps softened by the skimmed milk. When I took this out of the box however, all I could smell was a very clean floral smell reminiscent of laundry detergent or baby wipes. I am not a fan of floral, soapy smells in the bath - I much prefer something sweet and fruity, or earthy and spicy. Despite this, the bubble bar contained skin softening ingredients like skimmed milk and cocoa butter so I decided to give it a try.

I popped he bar in my strainer and stuck it under the tap.When trying a new bubble bar I usually use the entire thing, just to see how many bubbles it can produce. While this bar produced a good amount of bubbles for this bath, it probably would not be worth it to spread the bar across two baths, as it wasn’t an impressive amount of bubbles by any means, and about ¼ of them dissipated within the first 5 minutes before leveling off to a standard amount of bubbles for the remainder of the bath.

I did notice the scent of the bar amplified upon meeting the water. I really couldn’t help but imagine myself soaking in a bath fragranced with nothing more than laundry detergent. While this would make a lovely scent for clean clothes, I don’t exactly want to bathe in it. I feel like lush missed an opportunity here. Perhaps it is the patchouli that gives this soapy scent, though I would find it surprising. If so, I feel like almond absolute or almond oil would’ve done an excellent job in it’s place, creating a sweet, soft scent as well as contributing wonderful skin nourishing properties, and mingling beautifully with the orange oil. Out of the bath, this left a light, clean fragrance on the skin that lasted for hours, and was much more pleasant than the overpowering scent in the bath.

This bar did soften the bath water, and I feel like it did a decent job at softening the skin, though once I removed myself from the tub I felt incredibly soapy, so I had to give myself a good rinse under the showerhead to make sure my skin didn’t get dried out. I don’t usually feel the need to have a super thorough rinse after other bubble bars like The Comforter or the old formulation of Karma, so I feel like that is a good indication of just how soapy this bubble bar is.

Overall, I feel like this bubble bar was not suited to my tastes, but those who enjoy a fresh and lightly floral scent will adore this. It doesn’t make for the most exciting looking bath because the water stays clear, but it produces a good amount of bubbles when you use the entire bar and smells very clean.

Rating: 3, Ok, but not my taste.

Price: £3.75/ $7.95 ($2.15 more in the US, wtf!!!)

Status: Permanent Item, worldwide.

Vegan?: No, contains skimmed milk

Would I repurchase? No

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Skimmed Milk, Corn Starch (Zea Mays), Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Glycerine, Fragrance, Orange Oil (Citrus Sinensis), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Fair Trade Olive Oil (Olea europaea), Laureth 4, Silver Lustre and Silver Glimmer (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Synthetic Mica), Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Lilial, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

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I’m not going to lie, I was pretty disappointed in this product. I had never tried a LUSH deodorant before, so I was expecting a slightly more traditional consistency (meaning solid, yet creamy), but this was just a compacted powder, and it is so very messy. When I recieved the bar, the wax on the bottom had completely come off (2nd photo), so now whenever I put it down somewhere, it leaves a powdery pile behind, wasting tons of product.

I applied this after an evening shower, and the first thing I noticed, was the incredible stinging sensation- I hadn’t even shaved my underarms since the previous evening, so I can only imagine how painful this would be on freshly shaved or waxed underarms. I’m not sure which of the ingredients might have been irritating, though I suspect it was most likely the sodium bicarbonate, despite LUSH’s claims that it is a soothing ingredient. Also, the product is quite coarse, which I’m sure does not help.

As for protection against perspiration… again, I’m not too thrilled. I honestly didn’t feel like it did much to keep me dry. I rarely sweat, especially now that the weather is cooling down, but I felt that this did nothing to keep me dry- I actually felt consistently damp throughout the day, which does not happen even when I go without deodorant altogether!

The sole redeeming quality in this deodorant would have to be it’s scent. It’s deliciously citrusy and very clean smelling. Unfortunately, as with every other deodorant brand I’ve tried, it just doesn’t mix well with or mask my natural scent. As I stated, I’m not a sweaty or stinky person, but for some reason once I add a scented deodorant to the mix, some strange reaction happens and I just smell worse. I must just have some strange pheromone that doesn’t jive well with perfumes… so the search will continue.

So overall, I would not repurchase this should It be available in the Kitchen again, though I would suggest you to try it out for yourself before I say I wouldn’t recommend it, as everyone is a bit different. When looking at reviews for LUSH’s T’eo Deodorant, I saw many people who had the same problems as I did with Krysztal, but then there were others who absolutely raved about it. This is the type of item that you either love or hate, and I have a feeling that if you enjoy T’eo, you will likely enjoy Krysztal because they are very similar in composition. But, it was just not for me. I think I will give it a few more tries, experimenting with different methods of application, and keep you updated.

Rating: 1 out of 5

Price: £5.00 ($7.74) for 90g.

Status: Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? No

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of tartar (Tartaric acid), Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Black Wax (Specerit Black Z), Magnesium Carbonate, Cypress Oil (Cupressus sempervirens), Lime Oil (Citrus auranfifoli), Fresh Lemon Juice (Citrus limonium), Fresh Lime Juice (Citrus limetta), *Citral, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume.

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Christina Alyce Beauty

Cleansing Nectar [1oz $12] [4oz $32]

Facial Scrub [1.4oz $14] [2.8oz $22]

Yarrow/Immortelle/Rockrose Complexion Water [1oz $14][4oz $42]

Facial Serum [0.25oz $20][0.5oz $38]

Yarrow Buttercream [1oz $28][2oz $48]

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