LUSH Cupcake Face Mask

      Back again! After a long move across the country, I am back and ready to share my thoughts on a new product. Today I will be talking about the Cupcake Fresh Face Mask by Lush Cosmetics. I was able to trade in my empty black Lush pots for a free face mask (follow this neat little link to learn more https://www.lush.ca/5-Pot-Program/5-pot-program,en_CA,pg.html) and opted to try out Cupcake (because hello? Who doesn't love chocolate and cupcakes?!)

Lush has this to say about their Cupcake Fresh Face Mask:

Cupcake is our one Fresh Face Mask that was created for a bit of fun. At the time, our inventor’s daughter was a young girl having slumber parties with her girlfriends every weekend, so he whipped up a chocolate mint mask for young, oily skin (officially solidifying him as the coolest dad ever). If you suffer from oily or spotty skin, slather it in this cocoa concoction. With spearmint oil to cool, vanilla absolute to calm redness and Rhassoul mud to deeply cleanse- Cupcake is a sweet savior for young faces. Smothering yourself in chocolate for clearer skin? Every teenage girl’s dream.

      Being 22 going on 23, I can't quite call myself a teenager anymore, however my skin has not caught up to the rest of my biological clock and insists on keeping the lovely teenage charm of being combination/oily and acne-prone. So naturally, I tend to gravitate towards these masks that promise helping get rid of my spotty complexion with the hopes of a miracle product. For me, this was sadly not one of those products.



This face mask retails for $6.95 for 2.1oz and does need to remain refrigerated when not in use.

      Off the bat, the mask is thick and dense in texture and a beautiful dark chocolate brown in color. Upon taking a scoop out of the pot, I found it to be somehow even more thick than anticipated and difficult to spread on my skin. The smell is not quite as pleasant as I was hoping with a product named "Cupcake", however my cupcake standards are set pretty high (Lol!).

Here we have a before shot from the mask; as you can see I am (always) struggling with a few unappealing and unwelcome little bumps and zits.

      After taking a nice warm shower to open up my pores (hence the wet hair), I scooped a bit of product onto my hands and applied to the face. Truthfully, I am unsure if it was the cold temperature of the mask or the overall consistency, but it was fairly difficult to apply smoothly. It was very difficult to get a creamy texture, and I didn't really want to have big clumpy pieces on my face to dry so I warmed it up a bit and made it work.

*Side note: I have used the Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask (which I LOVED) and the consistency of that mask was much creamier and easy to blend*

      This mask did dry pretty thick and had a couple large clumps in it, and it was decently fragrant while drying. The chunkiness doesn't bother me as long as its a natural product (which obviously this was), but the fragrance was fairly annoying. This was one of those products that I eagerly awaited washing off.
      It washed off after a nice warm and thorough rinsing, which is a plus. However my face didn't have that soft and clean feeling that I crave after rinsing off a skin treatment. Just as sad is that over the weeks that I used this, I did not notice any difference in my breakouts or oiliness (boo).

      Overall, I will not lose hope in Lush's Fresh Face Masks! However this Cupcake just did not live up to it's glorious name and expectations in my personal opinion.

Thanks so much for reading!

Xoxo,
MK

Get Gorgeous Herb Tea for Clear Skin

 

Tea time!

This was my very first tea purchase from Republic of Tea, and I haven't looked back since! The "Get Gorgeous" Herb Tea for Clear Skin is part of their Be Well Red Tea Collection, which are made with rooibos and are caffeine free. I'm not going to lie to you, I originally picked this up for the super adorable pink container with inspirational beauty words (I now repurpose the cans for makeup brush holders!)

 

Here's what Republic of Tea has to say about Get Gorgeous:

Herb Tea for Clear Skin - Let's get one thing clear. True beauty comes from within. But when it comes to clear skin, some of us can use a little help.
   So here's good news: this organic, rooibos-based, naturally caffeine-free tea blend is brimming with antioxidants - your skin's best friend*.

 

 
 

 

Here's my little backstory:

I have struggled with acne since I was about 15. I have been using a 3 step skincare routine since I started highschool, and have taken advice and steps from doctors and dermatologists alike. I had finally got most of it under control within the last few years (aside from those pesky time of the month and stress visitors). At long last I discovered that eating poorly was taking its toll of my skin and the rest of my body, and I picked up this tea in hopes of helping along the path.

 

At first I was skeptical about drinking anything that promised to help with acne. After all, acne was on the exterior, so applying things topically seemed like the only way (WRONG)

.

Get Gorgeous contains:

Organic Rooibos (leaf), Orange (peel), Hibiscus (flower), Chamomile (flower), Red Clover (flower), Chaste Berry (fruit), Burdock (root). Other Ingredients: Natural Pomegranate Flavor

 

Personally, I find this tea to be light enough that I don't crave any sweetener or other additions. The tasting notes are dead-on to the description:

Subtly sweet, organic rooibos has a hint of earthiness in this all-herbal blend, it takes on a berry-like flavor with the brightness of orange peel and tart, flowery hibiscus to produce an invigorating cup of tea with a fruity undertone.

 

 

It's an enjoyable sip of berry/fruity without feeling like you are sipping down a fruit basket (don't care for overly sweet fruit teas, myself). Lately I find myself dropping a few mint leaves in my cup for an added herbal zing, and it has been great!

 

This tea cleans all of the toxins that eventually seep into your skin right out! Yes, in my personal experience with this tea I will tell you that it has a slight detoxing effect. I find myself in the bathroom more often when drinking Get Gorgeous. However, after flushing out all of these pimple seeking toxins, I feel cleaner and my skin doesn't look so bumpy and upset!

 

Overall, I think that with clean eating, plenty of water, and drinking some Get Gorgeous you can start the journey to kicking your blemishes to the curb.

 

You can check out Get Gorgeous and other reviews here:

http://www.republicoftea.com/get-gorgeous-herb-tea-for-clear-skin/p/V00725/

 

Thanks so much for reading!

If you have tried this blend, what did you think of it?

Happy Sipping <3

Get Lost Herb Tea for Weight Control

Winter brings a lot of things; fuzzy sweaters, delicate snow, and lots and lots of hot tea. This winter I was able to finish up a few cans of Republic of Tea varieties, including this Get Lost tea from their
"Be Well Red Tea" collection.

 

Personally, I'm a big fan of this collection. I adore drinking tea, so why not drink some that will benefit your health in some way or another (while providing cute names and packaging). I have sampled around half of the Be Well collection, and will be sure to provide feedback on them as I reach the bottom of the canisters.

 

I purchased this Get Lost tea 2 summers ago to help with my wedding fitness goals. I would alternate this teas with my other teas on workout days in my attempt at slimming and trimming. Looking back at things, I think it might have been wiser to order a tea from their "Get Active" collection, but the past is the past.

 

Republic of Tea has this to say about their Get Lost blend:

Herb Tea for Weight Control - Losing weight is all about moderation, expending energy, curbing sugar cravings, and being well. That's why, if you're thinking thin, this caffeine-free blend is for you.

Based on health-promoting, organic rooibos, it includes tropical banaba leaf, cinnamon and carob which satisfy the appetite, assisting craving control*. Carob and gymnema leaves help to tame your sweet tooth and the urge to indulge.

 

 

In my sipping, I found that this tea wasn't in my normal flavor palette. It was not typically herbal-y, nor was it sweet. The cinnamon is the more predominant taste, so drinking it in the summer did not really appeal to my seasonal taste buds. It was more of a semi-bitter tea in my personal opinion, and occasionally used honey as a natural sweetener in my cup.

Often I found myself sipping this tea with an evening or afternoon snack, something small to curb my constantly hungry appetite. This tea did seem to accomplish the goal of curbing my hunger for a short time, which is the description and goal of this particular blend.

I did save about 1/3 of the can for the following winter, which I did enjoy in the cinnamon-directed seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, however as far as teas aiding in weight loss was concerned, I had found a few new blends that gave more of a detoxing effect that I was really searching for.

Overall, if you are searching for a less-than-sweet tea for enjoying in between meals without spoiling your entire appetite with something less nutritious, this would be a great tea for you. If you are looking for something with immediate weight loss results (such as a teatox), I would suggest searching for another cup.

 

Check out Get Lost tea and other reviews here:

http://www.republicoftea.com/get-lost-herb-tea-for-weight-control/p/V00730/

Thanks so much for reading, and

Happy Sipping! <3

 

Jason Nourishing Apricot Pure Natural Deodorant Stick



Hello again everyone!

    Today I am going to be doing a review on a new deodorant stick I have been testing out recently. I picked up the Jason Nourishing Apricot Pure Natural Deodorant Stick a little over a month ago at a local natural foods store while it was on sale. Originally $7.49, I managed to pick this up on a 20% sale, making it about the same price as my usual deodorant.

    After browsing the market of natural deodorants, I was finding that the majority were either fairly expensive or had unorthodox applications (I can't say I'm currently adventurous enough to try applying powder deodorant). I had previously seen these Jason deodorants at a drugstore and hadn't really thought much of them, but decided to give it a shot after making the decision to begin straying away from the common aluminum containing sticks and roll-on's I had become accustomed to.

    The need for a new deodorant was decided after noticing I was getting more and more little red bumps (possibly ingrown hairs) in my underarms while using my Ban Deodorant Roll-On. I began to think that my deodorant was starting to clog my hair follicles, thus creating these pesky little annoyances. I tried multiple scents of the product, including unscented, but the bumps remained.

 

Jason describes this product as follows:

Our Pure, Natural Deodorant is clinically tested to effectively control odor for all day protection. Naturally sourced Zinc Ricinoleate, Corn Starch, and Baking Soda neutralize odor while Grapefruit Seed Extract, known for its antimicrobial properties, helps fight odor-causing bacteria. Natural Apricot Oil and nourishing Vitamin E give you softer, smoother underarms.

 

    "Softer" and "Smoother" were just the words I was hoping to find on a deodorant, so this one really hit the mark. Not to mention, an Apricot deodorant seemed like such an enjoyable scent compared to the many sticks of "Powder Fresh" I've used before.

 

    The following day, I opened the stick and was pleasantly surprised that the apricot scent that it advertised was just as lovely as I had anticipated. It isn't a typical "fruit" scent you would normally smell, as it doesn't give off that strong citrus or berry smell that many artificial scents produce. The scent is very light and sweet, almost floral, but comes off very clean.

 

 

    It applied very smoothly, and I was extremely delighted to find that it did not leave any white residue on my underarms! (I have quite a few black shirts, and the white residue factor is the reason I switched from stick to roll-on a few years ago).

As the day progressed, I felt fresh and the unwanted B.O. seemed to stay away.

 

However.

 

    The following day I had to go back to work, and this is where the trouble began. You see, I work in a gym, more specifically; the pool. As a lifeguard at in indoor pool, I work in a room that fluctuates between 83 and 86 degrees F, and it is fairly humid. After being at work for a few hours, I began to smell an odd scent on me. It wasn't the sweaty underarm smell that you get from working out, but it definitely had the underlying smell of B.O. mixed with an unattractive floral scent. It reminds me of a rotting fruit or some decaying flowers that have sat out for far too long. Further into my shift, I began to feel a slight dampness in the underarm portion in my shirt, and my hopes for this deodorant seemed to deteriorate.

 

    I decided to continue to use it, in hopes that it would be able to help my underarms from the previous conditions my Ban left them in, before switching back to something that would give me bumps while preventing the sweat. Luckily for me, my Jason Deodorant came through with the promise of softer and smoother underarms, and my ingrown hair bumps have been very scarce! I cant definitely feel that the overall texture of my skin is more even, and they are considerably softer. The darkness that can be caused by some deodorants use is also nowhere to be seen!

 

     While this deodorant was a lovely scent and is made with natural-based products, it was not an antiperspirant, and thus it isn't going to help me on my days where I know I will sweat (such as at work). However, I do think it is important to note that nowhere on this product does it say it helps prevent sweating, and it is clearly a deodorant and not an antiperspirant.

 

    Since finding that this product was not 100% meeting my needs, I have since began alternating it with an unscented Ban Roll-On depending on my activity for the day, which seems to give me the best of both worlds; the lovely scent and the softening properties of the Jason Nourishing Apricot Natural Deodorant for everyday enjoyment, and the sweat-preventing properties of my Ban Roll-On (without the overrated Powdery Fresh scent).

 

    This seems like a very good deodorant to wear in the winter, when sweating seems to lessen, and the softening properties would keep your underarms fresh and moisturized. However, I may be putting this one on the shelf during the warmer summer months and continuing the search for a sweat-busting deodorant.

Anyone find a natural-based deodorant that you would recommend? Please do share!

 

 

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day <3

 

Xoxo,

MK



LUSH Roots Hair Treatment

    Hello blogger world! This is my very first blog post here, and I am very excited to get started in this amazing beauty blogger community <3

On to the point, this is going to be my review on LUSH Cosmetics Roots Hair Treatment.

This product is described as follows by LUSH:

Fine, thin hair? Don't despair! We've got a hair and scalp treatment just for you. You'll feel the tingling and cooling sensations of fresh mint infusion and minty oils (peppermint and spearmint) as they go to work revitalizing the scalp, because healthy hair starts at the roots! Extra virgin olive oil and honey soften and condition hair to make it shine without weighing it down. Give dull, fine and thin hair volume and shine by treating it with Roots.

 

    For use, it is suggested to use about a quarter of the pot for short hair, and half of the pot for longer hair. LUSH suggests:

 

Apply into scalp and roots, working through to ends of hair. Massage scalp for 15-20 minutes while the product gets to work. Shampoo out and lightly condition if needed.

 

    So, the first thing that I noticed is the texture of this product. Roots is easily the thickest hair treatment that I have used so far. It is a very thick, white cream, which to me would say that a little could go a long ways. Personally I have breast length hair, and I find that about a fifth of the pot per use works for me.

 

    That being said, I apply this product by sectioning off about 1 inch wide sections at a time, applying it directly to the scalp and massaging it in. Once I have covered my scalp, I take a small amount, rub it in between my hands, and distribute it from the roots to about my ear. After about 20 minutes, I rinse and do my regular hair routine of shampooing and conditioning.

 

    I find Roots to be a really fresh and invigorating staple to my haircare routine. LUSH describes it's aroma to be "uplifting", and I could not agree more. As soon as you open the container, the smell of mint strikes you, and you can practically feel its tingling abilities in your nose. Once applied to the scalp, this same minty sensation is felt almost immediately. The treatment is thick, so unlike oil treatments, it only is going to go where you place it. By applying the product directly to the scalp, the stimulating properties are going to open up the hair follicle and allow better opportunity for growth.

 

    Massaging the scalp is something I have really gotten good results from, which I can definitely say works wonders when using this product. Aside from the benefits of massaging the already invigorating peppermint oil into the scalp to promote growth, massaging in the thick cream really helps it absorb, so it leaves the hair extra soft. 

 

    Ingredients like honey and olive oil are going to help condition the hair and promote strengthening. While I don't find this product to be anywhere near as strengthening as my keratin based products like the Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask, the conditioning properties are something that deserves a mention.

 

    My hair is very dry and prone to tangles and breakage, which is not helped by the crisp Alaskan air, but I was beginning to find that my shampoo was drying my hair out to an extreme and causing me even more damage. By using Roots before washing, my hair is given extra moisture and softness to retain even after shampooing out the treatment. I notice that my hair doesn't tangle and break off as much when I have used Roots before hand, which saves me from having to go on the hunt for new shampoos.

 

    As far as the volumizing aspects of this product are concerned, I find that it isn't anything spectacular or near the amount of volume achieved by a root lifter. However, it really helps to clear the scalp of any buildup when washed out which I think could really help those with brittle hair as clarifying shampoos that add volume can be really harsh to fragile and damaged strands. 

 

    At $19.95, this is an affordable hair mask (compared to masks like Redken, Moroccanoil, and Macadamia Natural Oil), and depending on your hair length and personal preference of amount to use, this treatment could be used around 4 times. Usually I alternate this treatment with oil treatments, so I find that I only use it once or twice a month.

 

    This product has really helped me along my journey to grow long, healthy hair, and I will be continuing to repurchase it.