Christina Alyce Beauty

Today I'll be exploring the brand that has made me ditch shower gel. I spoke about my newfound appreciation of bar soap in my brand focus of Lather of The Land, and it has only continued to grow after being introduced to a wonderful Oklahoma based brand called Dulce de Donke. What began as a quest to find a cure for a little girl's autoimmune disease, blossomed into a handmade soap company and conservation effort of the critically endangered American Mammoth Donkey. Dulce de Donke soaps feature donkey milk as their star ingredient, sourced from their very own American Mammoth Donkeys. The family behind Dulce De Donke breeds the wonderful animals to bring up their population, utilizes their precious milk to keep their little girl healthy, and then every remaining drop of milk goes straight into the decadent soaps.

I was sent two bars of soap, Rosemary Mint and Charcoal. Each contain a base of saponified olive oil, coconut oil, and of course, donkey milk. These rich oils and soothing donkey milk are hydrating on the skin, and don't strip you of your natural oils. My dry skin loves such a gentle soap, and donkey milk is wonderful for psoriasis and eczema. Because of the donkey milk and oils, this these soaps are high in fatty acids which help to keep the skin plump and youthful.



With such skin loving ingredients, some of these soaps are fabulous to use on the face, as well as the body. I personally don't do very well with coconut oil products on my face, but if you don't have such a sensitivity, acne and oily prone skin would probably adore the Charcoal soap. Activated charcoal gives this black bar it's drawing properties. Charcoal can bind with the impurities in your pores, drawing them out and clearing your complexion. Combined with the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of clove and lavender essential oils, this soap makes for a simple yet effective acne cleanser. Though I don't use this on my face, I have had great success in clearing the acne on my back and shoulders.

Rosemary Mint is probably a soap best designated to the body (or at least not rubbed directly on the face) because it is very scrubby, and has strong but refreshing rosemary and mint scent. This soap is perfect if you're trying to streamline your shower routine and nix the sugar scrub - it's wonderfully exfoliating on it's own. I also really enjoyed the scent of this soap for the summer because the peppermint is so cooling on hot days, it makes your body tingle! The rosemary oil is also a fabulous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, making this the perfect soap to do some repair work on your skin after a long day in the sun.

Both of these soaps lathered beautifully, cleansed effectively without stripping, and had absolutely heavenly aromas. They felt like a truly luxurious shower product, while being ecofriendly and low waste. I am totally prepared to ditch plastic shower gel bottles after trying out these soaps, and I cannot wait to explore more of the scents! Saundra has done some wonderful work on these soaps, and I highly recommend them!

Products that truly make a positive difference in the appearance and health of your skin can be a challenge to find and afford. High performance ingredients are often costly, and even these luxury lines can be poorly formulated, leaving much to be desired for the price you have to pay.

The founder of Blissoma, Julie Longyear, believes in the importance of sourcing pure, potent ingredients and her masterful understanding of the skin and cosmetic chemistry shows in her finished products. She is a wealth of information, and helped me choose two wonderful serums to help my acne.

I have been on the quest for clear skin for what seems like an eternity, but in reality it's been about 4 years. In that time I have tried and essentially thrown away money on useless products. I never imagined I would eventually find my holy grail serum, much less one for $34! Blissoma's Smooth A+ Correcting Serum is that exact product that I've been searching for. I love that this product uses some less common ingredients to treat acne, instead of the typical tea tree oil, which is incredibly prevalent in natural acne treatments, and my skin does not particularly care for. Instead, Smooth A+ focuses on ingredients like rose, goldenrod, coriander, yarrow, and fennel for their antiseptic and soothing properties. One aspect I look for in acne care is gentle and soothing ingredients, because acne is essentially an inflamed, irritated pore. Attacking a spot with harsh ingredients will only further irritate the pore. With soothing ingredients like olive leaf, licorice, and heather, the pore has a chance to calm down and start healing. Something else that Smooth A+ offers that I don't often see in other acne products are ingredients like niacinamide which actually prevents breakouts in the first place, and prevent and reduce signs of aging and sun damage. For someone like me who has noticed a little bit of aging over the last year, this is an important ingredient to incorporate into my routine. Organic carrot and helio carrot CO2 lend the regenerative effects of beta carotene to increase cell turnover rate for faster healing and youthful skin. Smooth A+ contains no heavy oils, instead it features lightweight jojoba oil which makes it the perfect formula to wear in the daytime under makeup, or to layer under other products in the evening. I use Smooth A+ in the morning and evening. I love that I can barely feel it on my skin, and it has a beautiful fresh scent of frankincense, bergamot, and rose.

The second product I was sent is Restore: Deep Healing Oil Serum. I settled on this product because after so many years of attacking my skin (not only with harsh products, but I pick at my skin too) my complexion is a little worse for wear. Vitamin E oil is fantastic for diminishing old scar tissue, and Restore contains two sources of vitamin e; cranberry seed and grapeseed oil. Omega essential fatty acids from Evening Primrose oil and Pomegranate oil work wonders on inflammation and are both great antioxidants. Because much of my acne is caused by hormones, ingredients that are hormone balancing such as evening primrose and pomegranate work beautifully with my skin. Restore is a wonderful option for preventing aging and sun damage, with antioxidants and sun protection from tamanu oil and red raspberry oil. For existing signs of aging, Calendula CO2 can regenerate skin. I use Restore almost daily, only in the evening. It is such a smooth and soothing product, that it is my favorite part of my routine. The green scent is therapeutic and comforting. This product is most definitely an oil, and does not disappear into the skin the way Smooth A+ does. This does not bother me because I like the additional layer to trap in moisture, and it is not heavy or greasy feeling by any stretch.

Since adding these two products to my routine, I have noticed an immense change in my skin. I began using them during one of my worst breakouts ever, and after about 6 weeks I had an entire week with not a single blemish. Not one. That is an incredible accomplishment, because prior to that, I have not gone a single day without acne since I was 19. I have had a few breakouts since then, but they have stayed under control. I have noticed my breakouts clear much faster than they previously did as well, and overall my skin looks more youthful. I am so happy with the results I have seen, and I can't wait to explore more of the brand. I'm also excited to share that Blissoma is offering a 30% off sale to email subscribers on June 16th and 17th! This sale is especially important because Julie is trying to buy the beautiful building that is currently the hub of Blissoma. The sale is the perfect opportunity to try the brand and help Julie achieve her goal. I am curious to try the products Tone, Awake, and Flawless, as well as stock up on Smooth A+, so I can't wait for the sale!



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I have been away for too long! I have just finished up my busy season at my day job, and I have what seems like a mountain of lovely products that I have so generously been sent over the last few months, as well as a few I have purchased myself, that have patiently been awaiting review! Finally the time has come to start chipping away at it all.
First is a brand focus of an Etsy shop called Lather of the Land. Stacy reached out to me at the beginning of the year to see if I would like to sample some products, and after a browse through her instagram feed, I knew I would adore her products. She sent me a beautifully packaged Sample Box, which sells for $10 and includes a soap, sugar scrub, (you may choose your scents) and a body butter all nestled in a keepsake wooden box. She also included a tiny candle for me to try out.

Rose Soap
Before I even finished opening the shipping box, I was greeted with the strong fragrance of rose, from a beautiful piece of Stacy's Rose Soap (seriously, go look. All of her soaps are stunning.). This swirly pink and cream slice of soap is a rose lover's dream, it contains rosehip seed oil, rosehip seed powder, and rose essential oil.
Rosehip contains Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant and helps to protect the skin from damage, which prevents signs of aging. It also contains retinol to reduce existing signs of aging, such as hyper pigmentation or sun spots. Rose essential oil is emollient and anti-inflammatory, which makes it perfect for dry and sensitive skin, and is effective at treating acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
It also incorporates soothing rose clay, which has made it the perfect accompaniment to my Takesumi Deodorant Detox, which recommends washing with a clay based soap.
I have only recently been enjoying bar soap, because previously I had only used soaps that were incredibly drying. This formula is so enjoyable to use though, because it is made with nourishing shea butter, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil. It lathers luxuriously, but doesn't strip the skin at all. I am definitely a bar soap convert! All I needed was a luxurious, natural formula.

Coffee Exfoliating Sugar Scrub
Have you ever smelled a product and wished it was edible? The Coffee Exfoliating Sugar Scrub makes me salivate. To me, it smells like a cup of coffee crossed with a rich chocolaty cake. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but I am most definitely a coffee scrub-er. I have tried many scrubs over the years and coffee based ones always stand out to me. This one is up there with my favorites! Coffee is so beneficial to the skin. It not only provides antioxidants, but it increases circulation and does wonders for cellulite. The combination of organic coffee grounds and raw cane sugar offer a gentle yet effective exfoliation that leaves your skin soft and smooth. The coconut oil locks in moisture from the shower, keeping you hydrated. I love this product for my body, but I would not recommend it for the face. Sugar is too coarse for the delicate skin on the face, and coconut oil is comedogenic and commonly causes breakouts. Sugar and coconut are perfectly ok for the rest of the body though, and his makes for a superb body scrub.

Cocoa and Shea Unscented Body Butter
I have mentioned many times on my blog how my skin is just. so. dry. I don't know what I would do if it weren't for creams and lotions and butters. Lather of the Land's body butter has some of my favorite ingredients. Almond oil, avocado oil, and shea butter absorb beautifully into the skin because they are highly penetrative, to offer their lovely softening effects. Heavier oils like coconut and cocoa butter create an occlusive barrier on the skin to trap in moisture. To get the most out of an oil based body butter, it is best to apply while the skin is damp, to lock in the hydration. I prefer to use this in the evening before bed, because it does not absorb completely, and leave my skin greasy. When I wake up in the morning, it absorbs and my skin feels soft and nourished


Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed Lather of the Land. From the homemade packaging, straightforward ingredients, and delicious scents, this is a really lovely brand. It may not be perfect for those who wish to avoid fragrance oils, but for those who are not concerned about FO's will find the formulations are natural and high quality.



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I was lucky enough to win my very first Instagram giveaway a few months ago, and came away with a fantastic travel set from Florapothecarie. The Deluxe Travel Gift Set retails for $55, and contains 5 handmade, all natural, and vegan beauty products, as well as a beautiful handmade makeup bag. The packaging is beautiful- sleek labels, and clear glass jars which are my personal favorite. The set is semi-customizable, with your choice in scent of body scrub, type of mask, and a choice of either a facial toner or hair spray. The set always comes with Florapothecarie's best-selling deodorant cream and body butter, and you will not be disappointed with those two, trust me.


For my body scrub, I chose the Orange Sugar Scrub, and the sweet tropical orange aroma is absolutely mouthwatering, and the perfect pick-me-up this winter. The ingredients are simple- just cane sugar, jojoba oil, coconut oil, orange peel powder, vitamin , and orange essential oil - but it is so effective at sloughing off dry skin and leaving your body soft, smooth (it helps with cellulite!) and hydrated. I love sugar scrubs because they are just coarse enough to get the job done. I would definitely purchase a full size of this product in this scent, and I am curious to try out the Green Tea salt version as well.


The next product I chose was the Rose Clay mask. I had three masks to choose from, but I already have the Chocolate one which was featured in a Goddess Provisions box (and is totally dreamy), and I passed on the Charcoal option because I already own a handful of charcoal masks from other brands. So, I settled on the pretty pink-tinted Rose mask. The Rose Clay Mask is intended for all skin types, but is a particularly good choice for sensitive skin. It contains just three ingredients, rose kaolin clay, dehydrated coconut milk, and powdered rose hips. The ingredients gently exfoliate, cleanse, and mineralize the skin, leaving you with a radiant complexion. The mask is very simple to use, just scoop some out, mix with water until it forms a paste and apply. After 10-15 minutes, it's ready to rinse off. I did not have any irritation with this product like I do with other clay-based masks, nor did I have any breakouts. I do prefer the chocolate version though, because my skin did feel brighter and more hydrated after that one. The chocolate mask is a great option for those with mature skin.


The final of the 3 customizable options is the Rose + Tea Facial Toner, which I had to pick over the hair spray, only because I am a complete toner addict! I go through toner like water, so I will never pass one up when offered. Florapothecarie's toner is intended to balance and hydrate the skin with ingredients like rosewater, aloe, and witch hazel, while green tea gives the skin a boost of antioxidants. Toners are so important after cleansing to return the skin's pH to a healthy level, and before moisturizing to help products absorb more easily into the skin. I love that this formula uses classic and time-tested ingredients like witch hazel and rosewater to accomplish that. It leaves the skin feeling balanced and prepped for products to follow.



The fourth product in this set is the best-selling Deodorant-Cream, which shares it's gorgeous scent with the Orange body scrub. I am very hard to please when it comes to deodorant, because many just don't do the job. Luckily, this one preforms just as well as brands like Schmidts in regard to odor control, and I much prefer Florapothecarie's deodorant when it comes to the scent, and how it feels. My underarms can be sensitive to baking soda in deodorants, but I find that with Florapothecarie's product, I have no irritation whatsoever. I love that this product contains essential oils like tea tree combined with arrowroot powder to fight bacteria, and the coconut oil and shea butter base is incredibly moisturizing.


The fifth and final product of the bunch is the Whipped Body Butter, and this is by far the stand out product for me. I absolutely adore the natural cocoa butter scent, it is so simple and comforting. The combination of cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil is perfect. A small scoop of product instantly melts into a luxurious oil and spreads easily onto the skin. I reserve my little jar for the worst of my dry skin days, because it packs quite the punch, and dry patches are soothed and moisturized instantly. I always keep plenty of lotions and creams on hand, but this one out- preforms them all. I will absolutely be purchasing a big 8oz jar of this when I finish mine!
I am so thankful to have won such a fantastic variety of products (and adorable travel pouch!), and I am so excited that I have discovered some new all-time favorites. This set is such a treat, and I love that it can be customized to suit anybody. I think it makes a great introduction to not only Florapothecarie's brand, but to natural skin and bodycare as a whole because the ingredients are pure and the resulting products are truly top-notch.

A couple of months ago, I had to do a complete overhaul of my skincare routine. I had been using exclusively Lush products, but if you've taken a peek at my previous post, you will know why I stopped using their products. After lush, I had a very brief foray into Korean skincare because I had heard glowing reviews about so many products, but my experience ended up being completely frustrating, with the worst breakouts I have experienced in my entire life (which is really saying something, as I have struggled with hormonal acne for the past few years). So after giving K-beauty a fair try, I returned the products that I could, and decided to go back to absolute basics. I wasn't wearing makeup, I cleansed with water only, I toned with a mix of apple cider vinegar and water, and moisturized with a homemade mixture of aloe vera gel and oils. Slowly, my skin started to improve, but I had to admit, I needed a better method of cleansing.
Over the winter when I was very much into Lush, I followed quite a few Lushie instagram accounts, one of which was Erica, @thedirtygoat. I had actually purchased a Lush scrub from her, way back then, but knew she also made her own products for skin, hair, and body, as well as wax melts and even the occasional product for pets! By the time needed a skincare revamp, I had been following her for a few months, and her delectable products would pop up on my feed from time to time, and I knew The Dirty Goat had to be my first stop.
It was really quite difficult deciding what to get on my first visit, because not only had I been depriving myself of new skincare products for weeks at that point, but she just had such an array of beautifully photographed products tempting me on the site. I selected three items for my first order: the Gentle Facial Cleanser, Method Oil Cleanser, and the trial size Probiotic Deodorant in Yuzu scent. The latter two products will most definitely be reviewed in future posts, but today we will focus on the Gentle Facial Cleanser, because it was the item I had initially set out for.
The liquid cleanser comes in a 2.45oz plastic bottle, which is lasting me quite a while, because I mostly only use it in the evening, and you just need the smallest amount. It is a castile soap and shea butter based cleanser, and it does need a good shake before each use. As stated in the product description, it does not contain surfactants, which is fantastic. Surfactants are what make a product lather and foam, and will strip away your natural oils which will leave you face, hair, or whatever you use them on dried out, unbalanced, and will most likely lead to an overproduction of oil (that's how we get caught in the vicious cycle of needing to wash our oily hair everyday, or finding our faces an oil slick by noon- surfactants!). This cleanser, on the other hand, cleanses with castile soap, which lathers enough to get you clean, but won't leave your face a desert. The shea butter offers a lovely creaminess and some extra moisture, while orange extract dissolves sebum, evens out skin tone, and combats acne. Goji berry extract contains vitamin c and amino acids to help the skin retain a youthful, plump glow.
I really like this cleanser. It leaves me feeling clean but not dried out, and it keeps my skin clear and radiant. I really look forward to future purchases from The Dirty Goat, (I've already been back once!) because she has such a great selection, including a soapless cleanser that I would love to try for my morning cleansing.
Overall, I am incredibly happy with the quality and ingredients of everything I have tried, and she gives out generous samples too!


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