Christina Alyce Beauty

I didn't intend to publish two empty product posts so close together, but I've been busy using up lots of stuff in preparation to move! Now that we're all settled into our new home (as brief as it will be for me- I'm moving again in October!) I have some time to talk about the products I've been working hard to use up.

Body

Schmidt's Sensitive Deodorant in Lavender Tips - This was the only scent I enjoyed from my Schmidts Sensitive Deodorant Sampler, but I really really did enjoy it! This was my daily go-to from the day I opened it until it was gone. I have a lot of other deodorants to get through before I repurchase this in full size, but it's definitely on my repurchase list! I didn't have any irritation whatsoever with this formula, which something I do have trouble with in the original formula. I also want to note that I have been seeing tons of Schmidt's at TJ Maxx and Marshalls lately! No sensitive formula spotted yet, but I have seen every scent and size in the baking soda formula. It's so much more affordable there! I think I might do a post sharing my best natural beauty TJ Maxx find soon, because they seem to have some wonderful stuff lately!

The Dirty Goat Avocado Body Wash - This jar had been sitting in my bathroom closet much longer than it should have. I don't know why I let it sit so long, because once I started using it again, I really enjoyed it! The label rubbed off and I can't find the product listing online anymore so I can't attest to how "clean" it is, but I do know it was unscented and felt very gentle on my skin, and the avocado base was moisturizing. The texture was like a dense whipped soap that didn't foam, but rinsed away easily.

Scrubs - I'm going to group the Fig + Yarrow Coffee Scrub and Prim Botanicals Debauchery Detox body scrub together, because I just did a review of them both here. I have been using scrubs so much lately to keep my skin glowy and smooth during shorts season!

Face

Florapothecarie Rose & Green Tea Toner - Yes, I'm still working through my massive toner collection! I am nearing the end on two more right now, which I should finish just in time for cooler weather, when I'll be switching to my more hydrating mists. This was a really nice toner for summer, and I have a review here.

Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy Mask (not pictured) - I had been using this regularly last winter, but put it aside a couple of months ago in favor of a couple of my masks that have more antioxidant ingredients. I picked it up again a couple of weeks ago to finish off the last couple of applications, and now I want to repurchase it again! I was in the middle of a really bad breakout, and my skin looked infinitely better after using this three nights in a row. For a full review, click here.

Teeth

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.