Skin Juice Super Fruit Indulgently Rich Body Cream Review

While spring might have already arrived in some countries, it is definitely still winter in Canada. This means my skin needs a hydration boost because the weather has been harsh and really drying. This is therefore the perfect time to bring out the heavy duty body cream. If you are still enduring winter conditions or simply if you have quite dry skin, meet your new hero, the Skin Juice Super Fruit Indulgently Rich Body Cream.

First of all, I love the bright yellow tube, it’s perfect to combat winter blues and I just smile every time I look at it. Indulgently rich is the perfect description for this cream, it is super thick and rich, so it has a really comforting feel on dry skin. It is hydrating, but unlike many other lotions/creams it takes longer to absorb and deeply nourishes the skin.

I personally like the heavier texture because it gives you time to really massage it in. The formula is very natural with a few organic ingredients as well and includes things like shea butter, apricot kernel oil, turmeric, kakadu plum and sunflower seed oil. It has a citrusy scent (it goes well with the packaging) which I’m not a huge fan of, but the cream is so nice I don’t mind it. Skin Juice is an Australian brand and I can’t wait to try more of their products since they all look super cute and the formulas appear really nice.

I purchased the Skin Juice Super Fruit Indulgently Rich Body Cream from Nourished Life and it is also available on the Skin Juice website (both offer international shipping).

Jar Body Africa Body Scrub Review

The harsh winter conditions we are currently experiencing in Canada have both been great, with lots of beautiful snow but also frustrating as the cold as left my skin feeling dry. This pushed me to take a trip down memory lane to rediscover some of my favorite body scrubs, my number one product to tackle dry skin. The Jar Body Africa Body Scrub was one the first to come to mind when it comes to powerful exfoliators.

This body scrubs is made with ground coffee, pink Himalayan sea salt, coconut oil, sugar and other types of salt. First of the scent is important to address, it is described as being coffee and vanilla but it only smells like coffee to me which is a scent I don’t enjoy. That being said, the combination of ingredients offers such a thorough exfoliation I can overlook the coffee scent (tough you might really enjoy it).

Even though it contains coconut oil, you cannot feel any oiliness on your skin, it is in fact a very dry scrub and it will not leave a residue on your skin. This makes it perfect to use before self-tanners or if you are after a deep exfoliation, the gritty texture really removes dead skin. Personally I much prefer this kind of scrub to oilier ones and just follow it up with a good moisturizer, hydrating your skin afterwards is essential. One thing I noticed however is that frequent use can leave my skin feeling dry. This is common with all salt based scrubs for me, which is why I prefer sugar ones, so I try to only use it once a week and use something more gentle if I feel like I need more exfoliation throughout the week.

The Jar Body Africa Body Scrub is a really efficient product, it works really well (you don’t need to scrub for hours) and you need very little at a time so the bag should last you quite a long time. I bought mine from Nourished Life for 22.95$ (they offer international shipping) and it is also available from the Jar Body website (Australia only). 

Herbivore Calm Bath Salts and Pink Clay Cleansing Bar Soap Review

I feel like Herbivore has been all over the internet for a while now and I couldn’t help being curious about this natural skincare brand. The packaging looks super pretty and the ingredients are appealing, what’s not to love! So, all in the name of research I tell you, I picked up two things from the brand to test out: the Calm Bath Salts and the Pink Clay Cleansing Bar Soap.

First let me start by saying I love the packaging for the bath salt, they come in a pretty simple glass jar and the quality is very nice. You could easily re-use it for something else when you’re done with the products. The Calm Bath Salts have a lovely ylang-ylang and vanilla scent, it’s both very unique and pleasant. In the jar, these smell really strong, but I actually can’t smell them much in the water. However, I still love using them because they really soften the water (my skin is less dry than after a regular bath) and I find the experience relaxing. I might try the Detox ones in the future but the Calm bath salts are a definite repurchase for me and I think they would make a great gift too!

I love the simplicity of a good bar soap and the Pink Clay Cleansing Bar Soap is stellar! It has a light floral-citrus scent (geranium and blood orange) and creates a creamy soft lather. It contains coconut and olive oil along with French pink clay to gently cleanse and soften the skin. Herbivore claims you can use it on your face too and while I used mine for my body I did try it on my face a few times and it left my skin clean without any tight feeling. So in a pinch this is a great multitasker. I was actually surprised by how long the bar lasted, especially for such a soft soap. Overall, the Pink Clay Cleansing Bar Soap is very pleasant to use and it leaves your skin feeling soft. You can’t ask for more from soap! Herbivore does have two other bar soaps in their range, the Bamboo Charcoal and the Blue Clay. I can’t wait to try them too.

I have to say, so far I have been super impressed with Herbivore products and I cannot wait to try more from the brand. Everything I mentioned is available on the Herbivore website and you can have a look at their stockists’ page to find local and online retailers.   

Summer Lush Haul

I have shown brilliant resistance when faced with my local Lush store in the past weeks (I had too many body products to finish at home), but my streak ended when I went in just to purchase a gift for someone. Two days later, I was back in the store picking up a few things I needed. The typical “I’m almost out of shower gel” you know… Granted, I didn’t do major damage but I thought you might enjoy a peek at my little haul and read my thoughts on the products.

The Whoosh Shower Jelly was the reason for my visit to Lush, it’s been years since I’ve used one and it seemed like the perfect summer product. Whoosh has a pleasant citrus scent that really wakes you up. I like putting mine in the fridge so it’s extra cooling on the skin when I use it. This is a really fun product to use, it really refreshes your body after a long hot day. I think it would be brilliant went traveling to help keep your head clear from jetlag.

I have been looking for a dry shampoo to bring in my carry-on when I travel and the No Drought Shampoo is perfect! The little bottle is super portable and the dry shampoo works nicely. It absorbs oil well and makes my hair look clean, I can easily see this being an essential after long-haul flights. However, it is quite white so if you have very dark hair you might want to test it out first to make sure it doesn’t leave you with any white residue. I haven’t had any issue with this myself, but many reviews on the Lush website recommend using it at night to avoid this.

The last thing I bought is the Yuzu and Cocoa Shower Cream, the Bubbleroon in this scent is a favorite of mine so when I saw this shower cream I just had to try it. Yuzu and Cocoa is hands down one of my top 3 favorite Lush scents, it smells like a delicious patisserie. This is a lovely creamy body wash and I love the bright yellow color. It actually makes me smile every time I use it.

Before leaving I also picked up the newest edition of the Lush Times (their free magazine) to catch up on all the new releases. All the products mentioned are available in Lush stores and on their website. 

Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash and Regenerating Body Lotion Review

Weleda is a natural skincare brand that I always see in stores, but for some reason I never tried their body products (except for their body oils). I finally took the plunge a while back and gave the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash and Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion a try. Keep on reading to know all my thoughts on the products!

First, let me start by saying these both smell amazing! They kind of smell sweet and slightly citrusy (they contain neroli), it’s actually quite hard to describe, but the smells is really great. The Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash has a nice lotion texture so it truly is creamy. It leaves the skin feeling nice and soft, it really nourishes the skin without leaving any oiliness behind. Also, I love that despite being SLS-free it lathers nicely. I really enjoyed using this, the formula is so lovely I am really tempted to try another scent!

The Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion is something I’ve had my eye on for a long time and it did not disappoint. It smells just as nice as the body wash and I love that the bottle has a pump so the ingredients really stay fresh. Plus the little cap it comes with is super travel-friendly. Onto the formula, the lotion has a very light texture, almost like a milk. It’s super easy to apply and the cool thing is, as you rub it in, it almost turns into an oil and feels super nourishing. However, don’t worry it won’t leave you feeling oily, it actually absorbs quickly into the skin. I was super impressed by the level of hydration it provides, making it a great product to use year-round. Even though it’s summertime my skin has been feeling a bit dry so I think I need to pick another bottle of this up. Just like the body wash the lotion also comes in loads of other scents so you can mix it up.

The Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash and Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion are available on the Weleda website, in many health food stores and from Nourished Life.

Caudalie Weekend Haul

I have a little Caudalie haul for you today. I went to one of my favorite drugstores with my mom over the weekend and had a lovely time shopping. Unlike the other drugstores near me this one has a Caudalie counter and there stocks (in all brands) are really up to date, so it’s always fun to have a browse. Over the past months, I have been mostly using organic and natural products, but I couldn’t resist picking up a few things from Caudalie. I love their branding and packaging, it seemed perfect for spring!

I was actually planning on getting another soap from them but they did not have any left and I think it has been discontinued, hopefully they’ll bring it back in the future. I decided to turn to their shower gels as a replacement, I really enjoyed the Pêche de Vigne shower gel in the past but this time I went for the Thé des Vignes one. It has a richer, warmer scent that is very pleasant. Honestly they all smell incredible and I plan on working my way through them all.

Next is the Lip Conditioner, I couldn’t leave without getting a new one of these. This is one of my all-time favorite lip balms, it makes the top 3 easily. It’s very moisturising and nourishing but the finish isn’t too glossy. My lips just love it and it is quite affordable for such a great product. Also (not that is really matters) it smells amazing, kind of sweet and fruity.

Lastly I got a new Grape Water Spray, I have run out of my other facial mists and this one is super refreshing. Unlike other mists that are just water, the Grape Water actually adds a bit of moisture and does not dry your skin has it evaporates. The mist itself is very fine so you can use it over makeup and it just feels lovely. I really enjoy using it to wake me up if I do a lot of work on the computer.

All the products I have mentioned are available on the Caudalie website and at their counters. 

Blisume Frangipani Hand and Body Wash Review

More and more products are being touted as two-in-one, hand and body washes are a big part of the trend, but in most cases I find the design does not really work. Blisume has managed to make a lovely natural option that really works. So let’s talk about the Blisume Frangipani Hand and Body Wash.

This is a lovely natural body wash packed with antioxidants like rosehip and is free of sulfates and other chemicals like phthalates. The formula is a light gel that foams up really well, always a nice surprise when using a sulfate-free product.  It makes you feel clean without drying the skin, but it does not leave any residue behind. I have not actually really used it as a hand wash but because the gel is so light it would work really well.

This brings me to one of my favorite things about this product: the design! I love the look of the bottle, it’s chic and classic, but the bright pop of color makes it fun and a bit different. I could totally see this in hotels or spas! The pump is also wonderful, it’s as easy to dispense product on a loofa as it is on your hands. It doesn’t squirt too much product or shoot it out at a weird angle. This is a simple detail but it really makes the product work as both a hand and body wash.

The only thing I didn’t love about this product was the scent. Because I picked the frangipani one, I was expecting something sweet and slightly tropical but it doesn’t smell like that at all. It has kind of a weird citrus scent, it’s not bad but I’m just not a fan of citrus scents in general. Luckily because it’s phthalate-free the scent doesn’t linger. I will be repurchasing this shower gel in the future, just in another scent (probably the vanilla one).

The Blisume Frangipani Hand and Body Wash is available on Nourished Life and the product is actually offered in a variety of scents so I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking. You can also read more about it on their website. 

The Honest Company Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion Review

I am a big fan of The Honest Company, I briefly mentioned their products before in this post and since then, my love for them has only grown. I mostly just use their cleaning products, but I also really enjoyed the personal care products I tried (more about their discovery kits here). One of the stand outs for me is their Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion.

Let me start this review by saying I have not used this lotion on my face, I strictly use it as a body lotion and it is fantastic! The Honest Company has recently relaunched their body lotion to include 3 new ones to the range (the Purely Simple is the classic one) and they have repackaged them in lovely colorful tubes. The formula contains great ingredients like organic olive, shea and jojoba oils as well as aloe, calendula and chamomile. The lotion is fragrance-free, but I find the chamomile gives it very mild and pleasant scent. It is also free of silicones and parabens (read more about the ingredients here) and the formula is biodegradable. On a side note, I love how clear and informative the Honest website is, ingredients lists are detailed and easy to find and they also offer great information about the different products. 

As far as body lotions go, this one has a very unique texture. The lotion is quite light but as you rub it in, it gets a gel like quality that reminds of applying fresh aloe straight from the leaf. It feels very refreshing and soothing! It is formulated for those with sensitive skin so it’s super gentle, but still leaves you with soft skin. I used up my entire bottle and it made my skin super smooth and hydrated. I also found it helped with the little bumps I sometimes get on my arms. Overall, I was really impressed by this body lotion, it delivers nice results and I love how it has a clean ingredients’ list but is still affordable. I plan on trying out the other versions soon (probably the apricot one) and I can’t wait to see how they compare.

The Honest Company Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion is available on the Honest Company website. I believe they do have authorized sellers in different countries (Indigo is one in Canada) so you might want to contact their lovely customer service to see if you can get it in your country. 

Victoria’s Secret Açai Weightless Body Oil

Spring is finally here and I, like pretty much everyone else, long to wear dresses and sandals again. That also means you’ll want to do some damage control on any dry skin winter left you as a little souvenir. Scrubs and lotions are a must, but sometimes you need to bring out the heavier artillery i.e. body oils. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on the Victoria’s Secret Açai Weightless Body Oil, one of the newest additions to the brand’s body care lineup.

This body oil relies on Victoria’s Secret Cotton Moisture Complex and acai berry to hydrate the skin and protect it with an antioxidant boost. It also contains a mix of sunflower, argan and grapeseed oils, a combination that makes the product feel very light and nice to apply. In fact, I was surprised at how pleasant the oil was, it almost has a dry finish so it absorbs really quickly and does not leave you feeling greasy. A very nice formulation if you are a bit afraid of body oils, or if you hate the feeling of having a heavy film on your skin.

So texture aside how does it perform? Well I can’t say that I was blown away by its moisturising abilities when used on its own. It’s not super hydrating, but it works nicely on top of lotion to really seal moisture in. After playing with it for a while, I discovered it actually worked best on dry skin (not after a shower) and really gives you nice a moisture boost and leaves your skin feeling super soft.

All that aside, there is one thing this oil does better than most and its making you skin look amazing. I kid you not, this makes your legs look so soft and smooth, it’s incredible. As I mentioned the oil as a dry quality to it so it doesn’t feel oily, but it leaves this gorgeous sheen on the skin, just like you see in a lot of ads. It would be the perfect product to use before a night out! Plus it has a lovely light fruity scent that smells divine. It’s actually one of my favorite Victoria’s Secret scents ever!

The Victoria’s Secret Açai Weightless Body Oil is available in Victoria’s Secret stores as well as on their website and it comes in both a regular and a travelsize (shown above). 

The Olive Oil Skin Care Company Manuka Honey Soap

In yesterday’s haul, I mentioned a little wonderful soap I got from Nourished Life. Generally speaking, I feel bar soap does not get as much love as it deserves even though there are so many great formulas out there. Also bar soap generally comes in less packaging than shower gels (no plastic) so it’s better for the environment. Why not make the change if you can or at least alternate so you can reduce your overall plastic consumption. If you are looking to try a great one look no further than the Olive Oil Skin Care Company Manuka Honey Soap.

This natural soap is handmade and only contains 100% saponified Australian extra virgin olive oil with fresh goat’s milk and Australian Manuka honey. On the box, the brand claims they are using a traditional way of making soap and their recipe really intrigued me. You see, years ago my mom told me a story about how my great-grandmother used to make her own soap using different ingredients and flowers from her garden. Apparently she had the softest skin ever, which I thought was impressive because most commercial bar soap make your skin feel dry. Well, according to my mom, this soap from the Olive Oil Skin Care Company smells and feels exactly the same as the one my great-grandmother used to make! How amazing is that!

The soap doesn’t have much of scent, it simply smells natural and quite neutral. It doesn’t smell of honey and don’t worry you can’t smell the goat’s milk either so the very light scent is gender neutral. On its own it doesn’t lather much but you can get a nice non-drying lather when using it with a loofa. This Manuka honey soap actually leaves my skin feeling so much softer and smoother than other soaps and shower gels. Quite surprising considering its minimal ingredients list.

So the formula is amazing, however because the results are so different it means the formula also feels different. Now I know this won’t sound like a good thing, but I promise it is: the soap is quite slimy. Don’t worry the lather is not, but the bar itself as a little slime-like quality to it, a bit like touching fresh aloe vera straight from the leaf (but not as bad). Don’t let it put you off, this is such a great product! Another thing in favor of the formula is that it lasts for a long time. I have been using mine for weeks and it’s still going strong. So there you have it, a perfect soap that is natural, long-lasting and affordable! It doesn’t get much better than that.

I got my Olive Oil Skin Care Company Manuka Honey Soap from Nourished Life and it is available from the company’s website as well. 

Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub

For most of us, Sunday is the perfect pamper day to get ourselves ready for the week ahead and while I think it’s nice to do the same during the work week as well, there is something special about Sundays. In order to get my skin super soft and smooth I love using a great scrub, I find it’s a very invigorating treatment and my favorite by far is the incredible Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub.

Caudalie brought out the Crushed Cabernet Scrub after it was developed as part of their spa treatment at the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa in Bordeaux, allowing us to recreate the spa experience at home. It is made of brown sugar, honey, grape seeds and essential oils that come together in one of the most luxurious and efficient scrubs I have ever used.

I love sugar scrubs in general but sometimes they leave me wanting for a bit more you know? I just need more exfoliation and the sugar melts too quickly. Well with this Crushed Cabernet Scrub you get all the skin softening benefits of brown sugar as it melts, but then you are left with all the grape seeds so you can really buff away any stubborn roughness and dry skin. The combination of ingredients is actually nicely moisturizing so your skin feels supple afterwards but it does not leave any oily residue making perfect to use before applying self-tanner. The unique formula also makes it super long-lasting because you only need a little to get great results!

You can get the Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub from their website, Caudalie stores, Sephora and Feelunique. 

Saavy Naturals Jasmine Natural and Organic Body Wash and Natural and Organic Body Cream

I briefly mentioned Saavy Naturals back in December when I talked about Christmas giftideas. Today I wanted to go into more details of my two favorite products from the brand. Saavy Naturals offers natural body care products (with some organic ingredients), but what sets them apart from other brands on the market to me is their scent selection. You don’t have to settle for basic scent like coconut or lavender, they offer a wide range of scents in all their product like mango and green tea. Everything smells AMAZING and the variety is what keeps me from going back to synthetic products because you cannot get bored by using the same old scent. My favorite is their Jasmine scent, so let’s talk about their incredible Natural and Organic Body Wash and Natural and Organic Body Cream in the Jasmine Range.

The body wash has the best formula out of all the natural products I have come across. Usually sulfate-free body washes don’t lather up very well and you need to use a lot to get clean. Well this is one creates the most luxurious fluffy lather but it’s not drying at all! It’s amazing stuff really. A little goes a very long way and the jasmine scent is divine, it has a bit of sweetness that prevents it from being too heady. Really this scent is unbelievably good and I don’t think I’ll get tired of it. It’s that lovely.

As for the body cream, it is everything I want from a richer moisturizer. The texture is very creamy but not thick so it’s easy to apply and it won’t leave you feeling greasy. It feels like you are wrapping yourself up in a cashmere blanket. The shea butter makes this cream very hydrating and gives it serious skin softening properties. Best thing is though, the more you use it, the better your skin feels and look! The effects are long-lasting so it’s not just your typical quick-fix. Just like the body wash, it smells great and I love that it comes in a bottle with a pump instead of a pot, it makes it easier to apply and store.

I am seriously in love with the affordable Saavy Naturals and their Jasmine Naturaland Organic Body Wash and Natural and Organic Body Cream are the stuff dreams are made of. You can find them online here and I have seen the products in local health food shops. 

How to Keep Dry Hands at Bay this Winter

When the cold weather hits sometimes just using hand cream does not cut it. My hands have been super dry lately and even though I apply hand cream multiple times a day, I felt like I needed a boost. So I have put together the perfect combination for a super moisturizing night treatment that will keep cracked skin at bay!

First you need a good quality hand cream, not just something with loads of silicon that makes your hands feel soft, you need emollients and ingredients that can actually hydrate the skin, not just coat it. For this purpose I love the Innisfree Hand Creams, they contain loads of great ingredients like shea butter, olive and coconut oil as well as different antioxidants like orchid and green tea extracts. They are really good for daily maintenance but combined with the product below you get an even richer treatment. 

The trick to boost your hand cream is to add The Honest Company Organic Healing Balm and mix them together for extra moisture. This balm contains loads of great organic oils like sunflower, olive and tamanu as well as chamomile and beeswax for an all-around soothing and nourishing product. The reason why I do this treatment at night is because the balm is very rich. You could use it on its own, but it can make your hands quite oily which is why I love to combine it with a cream to get all the benefits without any drawbacks.

This treatment really helps keep my hands soft and I feel like they don’t get as dry during the day! You can get Innisfree Hand Creams from their website, the ones shown above are from the limited edition 2015 Green Christmas Perfumed Hand Cream Gift Set available here. As for the Honest Organic Healing Balm, you can find it on the Honest website.  

Innisfree’s 2015 Green Christmas Collection: the Perfumed Hand Cream Gift Set and the Jeju Camellia Body Butter

Well the holidays are over and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We finally got some snow, a heaping 30cm in one day, it was lovely and it’s helping stay in the holiday spirit for a bit longer. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you some lovely products from Innisfree’s 2015 Green Christmas Collection: the Perfumed Hand Cream Gift Set and the Jeju Camellia Body Butter.

The Perfumed Hand Cream Gift Set comes with 3 full size hand creams in Warm Woods, Sweet Holiday and Snowy Tree. The set comes in a gorgeous red box that is very festive and each hand cream is decorated with its own cute design. I love the metallic packaging and I just think they look very luxurious and Instagram worthy. The actual hand creams are as good as the regular ones, super moisturizing and non-greasy. Innisfree actually makes my favorite hand creams and I love all 3 scents in this set. They all smell good but are not overpowering or too Christmassy.

The JejuCamellia Body Butter comes in this super cute little box decorated with little biscuits and candy canes and the design is also on the lid. I love how sweet this look without being too Christmassy so it won’t look out of place in a month or two. As for the body butter itself, it is super creamy and rich feeling, but it melts into the skin instantly leaving it super soft and smooth. I was actually really impressed by this, it is the perfect product to keep your skin hydrated this winter.

Innisfree really knocked it out of the park this year with their Holiday Collection and all the body care items are perfect for the cold months ahead. The collection also includes makeup items like cushions and lip balms which you can view here. The entire Innisfree 2015 Green Christmas Collection is available on their website and they also have great promotions going on for the New Year.

I hope you’ll have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and that 2016 will be filled with love, joy and happiness. See you all in the new year! 

Last Minute Christmas Gifts with Saavy Naturals

I like getting all my Christmas shopping done early to avoid the crowds, but sometimes you have to do some last minute shopping. Whether it’s because you didn’t have time before or are simply looking to add to your existing gift, I found little things from Saavy Naturals that should please everyone.

I discovered the brand a few weeks ago and I love their natural and organic body care products. They have a wide range of scents to choose from and everything I have tried so far has been great. Everything is fragrance-free but they use essential oils to create rich and deep scents for their products that make the experience super luxurious. Also everything is beautifully packaged and looks expensive even though this is in fact an affordable natural brand.

The first thing I would recommend is their Jasmine Natural Coconut Oil Candle. This candle made with organic wax has the most amazing jasmine scent: floral with a hint of sweetness for lush combination. It comes in a chic glass jar and it burns really smoothly. I was also surprised by how powerful it is, you don’t need to burn it long for a room to smell lovely. Saavy Naturals also offers their candles in three other scents, you can see the whole selection here. 

Next is their Natural and Organic Bar Soap Tahitian Vanilla and Kukui, I have not tried mine yet but I think it looks so pretty. This would make a great stocking stuffer or a nice addition to a set you can put together. Based on the ingredients, I think it will be hydrating and you can’t go wrong with a delicious vanilla scent. 

I think the candle and soap make the perfect pair for a relaxing evening. The beautiful packaging is also something anyone could appreciate because it adds a little something special to the products. The body washes and body creams are also great if you want a more substantial gift. 

You can get Saavy Naturals products from their website, though with Christmas being so close I would recommend going to a store that carries the brand (locate one here). I found mine in Avril, but I have seen them in other health food stores in Canada. 

The Green Beaver Company Cranberry Body Lotion

Back in October, I mentioned in this haul a new body lotion that I fell in love with. Well I am super happy to finally introduce you all to it: The Green Beaver Company Cranberry Body Lotion. I could not be prouder to introduce a great Canadian brand to the blog.

The Green Beaver Company is an amazing brand I recently discovered, they create natural and Ecocert certified organic skincare products. They make everything in Canada and source their organic ingredients from Canadian farms, I think these are such a great and sustainable practices. Using organic body products is very important to me and I love how it has great effects on my skin and is also really good for the environment. The body lotion was actually just relaunched in a new super cute bottle with a pump and it now contains a whopping 86% organic ingredients. I think many people believe this kind of products are very expensive, so I love that The Green Beaver Company products are super affordable so the decision to change my routine was easy. 

Now for the lotion, it contains nourishing organic cranberry seed oil along with willow herb and sweet fern to make your skin super soft. I was surprised by how smooth and hydrated my skin felt after using it because it is quite a light lotion. There is no greasy feeling, it absorbs very quickly though (like most natural lotions) it can look a bit white when you first put it on, but it disappears as the lotion skins in.

The Cranberry Body Lotion is fragrance-free but the cranberry seed oil gives it a very light and pleasant cranberry scent that does not linger for too long. There is also a coconut and a lavender version if you prefer those scents.

I really cannot recommend this lotion enough! I am so impressed and in love with it because I can actually see a difference in my skin, it doesn’t just give you hydration it truly makes your skin smoother and it’s made with ingredients that are good for you.

The GreenBeaver Company Cranberry Body Lotion is available in many stores across Canada (locate the nearest one to you here) and you can also get it on their website, they ship to Canada and the USA. 

An October Beauty Haul: Lush, Sephora and more

Well I guess this is what happens when you don’t go shopping for weeks. I finally went to the mall last week after my list of things I needed buy got a bit too long. I did get a bit caught up in Bath and Body Works, but otherwise it was a successful outing. Today, I wanted to share with you my latest purchases and the new releases currently in stores.

First up is Bath and Body Works, I originally went only to get new hand sanitizers but I let myself be tempted into a few more things. I first pickup 3 PocketBac Sanitizing Hand Gels in Crisp Morning Air, Winter Wonderland and Sunlight andApple Trees, I love how these smell amazing and don’t leave your hands feeling sticky. I told myself I would not buy anymore candles because I have quite a few already. However the new fall/winter scents were so nice that I decide to get two of the Mini Candles in Sweater Weather and Frosted Cranberry. These are tiny but a great way to experience new scents without investing in a large candle and I love how they now come with little lids just like the bigger ones. Frosted Cranberry has been a favorite of mine for years, the light fruity scent is lovely and different from typical holiday scents (it’s very fresh). Lastly I got a Nourishing Hand Cream in Crisp Morning, this scent is my favorite from Bath and Body Works, it is just so light and crisp, I wish they did a candle in this. To be honest, this is no my favorite hand cream because I don’t find it very nourishing, but it works as a quick fix and the smell is just divine. 

Next I hit up The Body Shop to get a bottle of my trusted Tea Tree Oil. I always have it to use as a spot treatment, it works brilliantly. Continuing with the skincare, I stopped by Sephora to get a new favorite of mine: the Caudalie Lip Conditioner. This is an amazing lip balm, I was not blown away at first but once you go through the waxier top layer, you get a super nourishing and moisturizing balm. It is in my top 3 Caudalie products and it is also surprisingly affordable. As I was about to pay I noticed Sephora had a cute little mini set of the lip conditioner and a mini hand cream that retailed for the same price as the lip balm alone. Who doesn’t love a great Sephora Bargain. 

Last but certainly not least, I stopped by Lush with no other attention than just having a look at the new releases (mostly the little golden Halloween pumpkin), but as always I couldn’t leave empty handed. For some reason, I was really craving something sweet smelling so I went for the Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon to get loads of bubble and relax with the light and sweet scent of oranges and chocolate. The other thing I picked up was the Snow Angel Luxury Bubble Bath, this smells like marzipan and turns your water into a super moisturizing soak that doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily. They are both so lovely, I might have to go back for more!

So there you have it, my most recent purchases. There is actually also an amazing organic (and affordable) body lotion, but I forgot to take a picture of it. It’s in my bathroom because I’ve been using it every day. I promise you’ll hear about it soon. So, what new things did you get recently or what is on your must-buy list of the moment?

Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion

For the past two months, Caudalie has been my go to brand for all things body care. While soaps and shower gels are easy to review I like giving body lotions a longer tryout to really see if they improve my skin. Today I can finally share with you my thoughts on the Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion.

According to Caudalie, this lotion will hydrate and firm your skin with the help of antioxidant grape polyphenol and ginkgo biloba to activate micro-circulation. Texture-wise, this is a light lotion that absorbs quite easily, though I find it stays on the skin a little longer than other ones. As for moisture I think it is pretty decent, but honestly if you have very dry skin you might want to have a look at the Vine Body Butter (here) instead because the lotion offers light hydration.

As you might be able to tell I was not initially blown away, that is until I paid more attention to my legs. See the ginkgo biloba extract is supposed to help give you the appearance of firmer skin because it helps increase micro-circulation which helps with water retention. I was super impressed to see how it really made my legs look firmer and slightly slimmer. With those results I am really interested to try their Contouring Concentrate (here), an oil that focuses on drainage and circulation.  

Now this is a decent body lotion, but there is one thing I really don’t like about it: the scent. This is very heavily fragranced and I am just not a fan of it. Honestly, except for all of the Vigne scents, I don’t really enjoy Caudalie scents. This one has a very strong fragranced natural scent and I thought it was quite overwhelming at first. Now that I am used to it, it’s fine but I would recommend smelling it first if you are sensitive to fragrance.

All in all I love the effects of the Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion, but I cannot say it is my favorite. I think the Contouring Concentrate might be worth looking into if you are looking for a firming product more than you are a moisturizer.

The Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion is available from their website and stores as well as in Sephora. 

Caudalie Divine Legs

Fall might be upon us but that does not mean you have to say goodbye to your summer glow just yet. After all, there are still many days of lovely warm weather ahead. If you are looking for a way to boost your natural skin color or tan, than look no further than the Caudalie Divine Legs. 

This is an amazing tinted lotion that will give your legs (and the rest of your body) a beautiful sun-kissed look. Unlike self-tanners this is super easy to remove, it will be gone after a shower so you don’t have to worry about having dark spots or streaks on your skin for days. The lotion applies nicely and dries almost instantly so it should not stain your clothes and you don’t have to wait hours for the color to develop. It is super quick and convenient when a special occasion comes up or if you feel like you could use a boost of color. As the name suggests, the Divine Legs is scented with the Divine fragrance, a lovely warm scent that envelops you.

What makes me love the Divine Legs so much is the color, it is the most perfect shade! It looks super natural, just like a real tan would: never orange or muddy. I have very fair skin so finding a product that works for me and is not too dark is key for a believable look. As you can see in the bottle, the lotion is quite shimmery but don’t worry you will not look like you are covered in gold glitter. In fact, the shimmer is not visible on the skin, it simply gives a beautiful healthy glow to the skin. Honestly, the swatch does not do this justice, but believe me it makes your skin look amazing, like you have just been on a holiday. 

Now, there is one thing I am not too sure about and that is the lasting power. I noticed that if any water go on my skin while wearing the lotion, it would just disappear and leave that spot color-free. Obviously this is an issue if you want to go to the beach or if it is supposed to rain. However from reading reviews, no one else seemed to have this issue, so I am not sure it is a common problem. Maybe I just got a bad/old bottle, my local Sephora does not have the best product turnover. Nonetheless, I still think this is an amazing product and the color alone will make me get a new bottle next summer.

You can get the Caudalie Divine Legs is available from the Caudalie website, Sephora, Feelunique and any other retailer of the brand. Also I you should have a look at the cute commercial they shot (English version here and French version here), I loved it so much it is the reason I decided to try it in the first place. 

Caudalie Fleur de Vigne French-Milled Soap

Caudalie has well stolen my heart with all its lovely body care products and I plan on introducing you to the range in a series of reviews. To get us started I thought it be good to start with one of the most affordable product from they offer, the Fleur de Vigne French-Milled Soap.

The traditional soap bar has lost its popularity over the years, with shower gels being more convenient and more moisturizing. But for some reason, I just love getting a bar soap from time to time and I really enjoy how they last much longer than shower gels. This Caudalie soap however, is in a league of its own.

It is a plant-based soap with skin nourishing ingredients like shea butter and grape seed oil. After every use, my skin is left soft and clean instead of stripped and there is no suds residue. This is one of the rare bar soaps that actually moisturizes the skin in such a way that you can feel it. It contains no sulfates so it is very gentle on the skin. This also means it does not foam as much as other soaps, but the lather it produces is not harsh and it actually feels nice and luxurious to use.  

Lastly it is massive, about twice the size of regular soap so it will last you forever. It is scented with the lovely Fleur de Vigne fragrance a very green and fresh scent that is super refreshing and relaxing at the same time. This is my favorite scent from Caudalie! Now you should know that while you can smell the fragrance when you are using it, it does not linger on the skin. I personally like this because you get to enjoy all the invigorating properties of the fragrance but you are assured it will not clash with any lotion or perfume you choose to wear after.

The Caudalie Fleur de Vigne French-Milled Soap is not available on their website, but I was able to pick mine up from a Caudalie counter at the drugstore so I suggest you go have a look in your closest retailer.