Fresh therapies natural nail polish remover

Body care

Fresh therapies natural nail polish remover

October 27, 2016 / Body care / 0 comment

I’ve tried quite some natural nail polish removers and I’ve been keeping an eye on Fresh therapies for a while now. One of the reasons is the beautiful, elegant glass bottle that is quite unusual for a nail polish remover and secondly because it’s natural. I’ve found it in the one of my favourite shops Amazingy, that has a huge selection of natural brands.

When I received it, the bottle hasn’t disappointed me, it’s really beautiful! It is made from glass and it comes in a 50ml size. I like the entire design of the bottle and the minimalistic, zen-style label. Regarding the ingredients, Fresh Therapies nail polish remover has no acetone nor any other harmful ingredients. They are all biodegradable, mainly vegetable derivatives, safe for the environment and us too! This product is not tested on animals and is suitable also for vegans.

These are the ingredients of Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover:
Dimethyl Glutarate *, Dimethyl Adipate *, Dimethyl Succinate *, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Limonene, Citrus Aurantifolia, Citral, Linalool
* (Vegetable derivatives)

The nail polish remover has quite a strong smell, but not artificial. It’s rather a smell that I can’t define, it is derived from essential oils and described to have a smell of lime which I don’t get, but at least it’s not like the strong artificial acetone remover.

When I started to remove my nail polishes I have to say that is very, very efficient! I have removed polishes like Zoya, Sparitual and even a non-green one from Christian Louboutin that I received recently as a gift. I really wanted to try and remove this last one with a natural remover and it was a huge surprise! Honestly, I thought; “no way with a non-green nail polish”…I was wrong! I don’t use other non-green nail polishes, so I was really curious and it went away in a few seconds. Only a little bit of it on a cotton pad and I removed the entire hand of red nail polish! And my nails were completely ok, no yellow colour, no harm, no dryness. I’m really happy with this stylish nail polish remover and my nails too! 😉

Anyone tried it yet? Do you like it?

Special Thanks to Boris Gorjan for the photos!

Spring body care

May 29, 2016 / Body care / 2 Comments

Hi beauties! I have some new products to introduce you that I started to use recently and that I want to talk about. I was looking for some natural products for a simple spring detox body care and pampering. Some of them just crossed my way and was curious to try them.

Dr. Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Bath Essence

I was looking for an invigorating and refreshing shower treatment and got this one which is for the bath. Since I don’t have a bathtub, I tried it in shower and it functions great! I love the amazing smell of pure lemon that refreshes the mind and body quickly. It also makes the skin soft but not greasy. Love it and will try other scents from the collection. In every case Dr.Hauschka is among my favourites brands and I adore it! A good shower always regenerates me and makes me feel better.

Dry body brushing with natural vegetable fibers

I was searching for this kind of brush to start dry brushing my skin. Especially when the blood circulation is poor during winter and if you have dry skin, I recommend you to try this. Watch the entire tutorial here about how to brush your skin; the right direction is important because of the lymphatic system circulation. Since my skin was quite sensitive I decided to try this kind of brush on the picture, but later will try the other one that is even more rough and better to improve circulation. Usually they are from sisal and other natural fibers.

Weleda Birch anti-cellulite oil

I have read a lot of good reviews about this oil, although I was looking for another one but was out of stock. Basically I needed something to make my skin softer and more tonified and a basic oil to put Bach flowers inside for a detox skin treatment. I use this oil after the shower with massaging it into the skin on legs. It feels great and it has a nice smell. However, for a complete detox and for tonifying the skin we need to treat it from inside out, but a treatment with a good blend of natural oils feels great and helps to tonify the skin too.

Green makeup tip The first thing I do is dry brushing my body, then I follow with the lemon bath under the shower and conclude with this lovely anti-cellulite oil.

Konjac sponge for dry/sensitive skin

I also stumbled upon this sponge again. I already used one from another brand some time ago and now I wanted to try this one which is the original one. I have chosen the one for dry skin loaded with nourishing mineral rich red clay. I use it in the morning after my face cleanser and in the evening after I remove my make-up with the Facial cleansing balm and muslin cloth (I now use and adore the Suti one that will review soon). I really like the feeling that it leaves especially when the skin is dry, you can see instantly the difference; a smooth, radiant and hydrated skin.

Acorelle Eau fraiche – Silky rose

I wanted to try a natural delicate fragrance from Acorelle and chosen this one with roses. I really like the sweety scent that reminds of raspberries in its middle notes. It has essential oils of rose and geranium and it’s meant to bring confidence and enthusiasm, since they’ve given the name to the collection Les sensorielles, where the main point is to bring up positive emotions through the scent. In general I like the smell of it, the only downside is that is really, really delicate and it evaporates in a few minutes, especially on dry skin like mine. So I’m glad I have tried the small size. These fragrances contains NO phthalates, artificial colours or musk and NO synthetic chemicals.

Any favourite skin treatments from your side? Do you use any of these products? Let me know your thoughts 🙂

Apiterra organic cosmetic comeback

April 30, 2016 / Body care / 5 Comments

Fresh, organic and renewed comeback! Not only from vacation, but also from a brand that I discovered and reviewed a few years ago and didn’t hear ever since. I have found it now again in a renewed location in the beautiful Poreč, Croatia while on a vacation trip in Istra. For those of you who want to know more here is the link on my first review.

This time I have tried some other products and will review them here so you will get a bigger picture on their whole cosmetic range.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For all of you who wonder (like me) where to buy again Apiterra cosmetics (apart in their shop at Poreč), after your vacation stock has finished, you can simply email them (their email is also on the back of every package) and they will send you the catalog and ordered products wherever you are.

Apiterra cinnamon body scrub

I couldn’t resist the temptation of all the wonderful and TRULY organic scents that emanated from their shop. Although I am aware that I have to choose products not by scent but by my skin condition. This is what also the brand owners will thoroughly explain you when looking for a product. Visiting the shop is a great experience per se, also because of their great knowledge about skin, aromatherapy, plants and much more! I truly enjoyed the conversations and their great service.

This great body scrub is based on olive oil (truly organic olive oil produced by them!), sugar, beeswax, cinnamon and vitamin C with essential oils. The scent is amazing and effect on the skin after showering leaves you with a super soft skin, nourished and protected with a light layer of oils. Cinnamon is the key ingredient, that differs from their other 2 body scrubs, and thus is great for improving blood circulation and consequently detoxing the body (even from unwanted cellulite!).

Apiterra Virgo Organic Moisturizing face cream

Since I was looking to try something very hydrating after sun exposure, I decided to try this day cream among their 3 face creams for different skin conditions. Virgo day cream is made to hydrate and nourish the skin because of Olive oil and organic honey, while the 3 local and typical key ingredients Immortelle, Sage and Mint help as skin purificators to achieve a flawless, clean texture. This is a nice protective day cream that will act against any environmental pollutant, while giving your skin nourishment from nature.

Immortelle oil – Rich in minerals and vitamins that strongly regenerate and rejuvenate the skin. Removes spots, stains, flattens wrinkles, making the skin smooth, soft and toned.

Sage oil – called the queen of herbs for their wide medical properties (from latin: Salvia = salvare = rescue). Antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, soothes, heal and help with expanded pores.

Mint oil – deeply cleanses the pores while hydrating, tones the skin and stimulate circulation

Apiterra Body oil with carrot and walnut

After vacation we all want our skin to be soft and hydrated. As I already told you my favourite and innovative product for this is by far Apiterra Body chocolate that I reviewed here. But this didn’t stop me to try something else. I was advised to try their Carrot and Walnut Body oil for its ultra hydrating properties that help you maintain the suntan too. Because of beta carotene is also perfect to prepare your skin before sun exposure, which I find amazing!

Walnut oil – has regenerative and moisturising properties. Rich in cinnamic acid, which provides protection from the sun and accelerates the tanning of the skin. Rich in vitamin E and antioxidants.

Carrot oil – Rich in beta carotene which protects the skin from oxidative damage and accelerates tanning. Rich in vitamins A and C, nourishes dry skin, increases moisture, regenerates and prevents skin ageing.

This body oil is a true gem and a fantastic product based on ancient knowledge on how to treat the skin, especially to prevent sun damage. And who would know better than people who live on seaside since ever?

All these 3 products are packed in glass jars. Except the body lotion. I have chosen the one made from Immortelle and Calendula, also typical herbs from Croatian Mediterranean. I love its hydrating and soothing effect that it leaves on the skin.

You should also try their lip balm and soaps (made even for face!). I am really amazed again and again by this beautiful brand, who makes such great products, using local ingredients cultivated organically and simple recipes with just a few but wisely selected ingredients. Apiterra is the real synonym of TRULY ORGANIC COSMETICS. Big, big like again in Croatia!

Tattoo salbe

April 30, 2015 / Body care / 0 comment

My friend introduced me this lovely cream in form of balm when I needed some hand cream in a cold winter day. She has pulled out a nice package and what is more, I didn’t expect to find that super clean list with ingredients: Shea butter, lavender, mint and chamomile. Oh wow! And what a great feeling it leaves on the skin! Smooth and soft, with a delicate and pleasant scent. What is that, I was totally curious?

Tatto salbe! A dense balm with natural ingredients that takes care of your tattoo or any area with dry skin.

I also noticed the beautiful design and unconventional modern package with a retro twist. The tube has an accessory that helps you squeeze out every bit of the balm, which I find a genius solution! This product comes in form of a balm, although on outside it looks like a cream. In its texture and formulation is a balm (=salbe in german) that you have to massage into the skin, or even better on your tattoo. It was created for the purpose to care of your freshly made tattoo, but as myself, you can also use it on your hands, feet and dry skin areas. It is vegan and completely free of any toxic ingredients.The best thing is that they have made 2 sizes, a tube of 70ml and another small to take with you everywhere of 15ml. A little goes a long way because of its balmy texture. So from now on, you won’t need nothing else to take care of your pieces of art on your skin except this cute balm!

You can visit their super nice website and shop the balm here: tattoo-salbe.com

Good clean love – St. Valentine gift idea!

February 13, 2015 / Body care / 0 comment

St. Valentine is almost here and it’s time to remind us about love! Not just on a physical level, although we have to care about it, too! For all of you who search a special idea for your beloved one or even for yourself and your wellbeing, here I have a proposal from Good clean love: a beautiful set of 3 blends of oils, designed for the wellbeing in your most intimate moments. However, you can use the oils whenever you want. When I opened them for the first time I intuitively tried the Caribbean rose, which is for opening the heart (chakra, for those more spiritual of you). The delicate sweety scent of the roses brings you in a mood od self-acceptance and consequently when you accept yourself, you are ready to accept the other one in your heart too. This nice delicate scent is all about bringing you pleasant moments with yourself and your beloved one. Nice one to start you loving adventure!

Then I was captivated by the vivacious Indian spice, where the spices and mixture of oranges lift your spirit. It is described as an anxiety and stress remover, which I completely agree. Recommended for those who tend to be tense and not so confident in front of the other person.

The third one is called Origins and it’s a very earthy scent with smoky tonalities. Grounding, warm, relaxing are the keywords of this oil.

For those interested in ingredients; these oils are a blend of base Jojoba and Apricot oil, while the special mix of chosen essential oils (from ancient knowledge of art of love like Kamasutra where special blends of spices were used to enhance the spirit and the body) gives the aromatic touch that awakens the senses. Try the roll-on to experiment with 😉 Notice also that our senses are more awakened during the act of love so try the scents in that moments. It’s not the same 🙂

This set is a beautiful gift idea or suitable for those who want to try all the 3 scents before choosing the bigger bottle on its own. Because they have the roll-on, you can have them always with you and surprise your beloved one 🙂 I shop them at the super lovely Amazingy store!

As you can see Green make-up has also a new styling. It’s time to embrace novelties and love. Let me know your thoughts and please feel free to come and share your love and ideas on my new website too! Hugs, Dasha

Sugar waxing – part 1

December 10, 2014 / Body care / 0 comment

Acorelle review

I wanted to write about sugar waxing since a long long time and now it seems that the time to give some opinions in my reviews has come.

As you might know, sugar waxing is an ancient method of removing unwanted hairs that was used by ancient Egiptians and is traditional in oriental culture. I was very interested in it years ago, but I couldn’t find a salon where I’d try it at that time. First, I was very curious and I tried to cook the paste at home (it’s easy and very green regarding ingredients: sugar, water and lemon juice), but the experiment was unsuccessful because I heated it too much. You have to be very careful about the temperature and you also need skills to get used to the concept. So, absolute no for me.

Next, I tried the brand Sugar stripease which was quite a satisfaction, if I don’t consider the time and that you must have quite a lot of experiences in the technique. Otherwise the main downsides are: time and skill. So, I’d give it a 3 out of 5. The equipment is all included and is very good, because you can reuse the paper strips. If you have sensitive skin this product is quite gentle, especially in comparison with standard waxing.

In the meantime I also found a very good salon with a fantastic aesthetician who is very careful & professional, especially good if you have sensitive skin. The sugar technique that a professional can give cannot be compared to the one at home, except if you are very skilled and if you don’t have any problems to remove the strips on yourself, especially on sensitive areas. So, for me the technique done at salon is far the best and the quickest, although quite expensive. But the results are definitely worth the money.

Since I was very tempted by Acorelle products too, especially when I saw some of their products that caught my attention because the concept was a little bit different. I thought, if this will work for those times when you have less time, it’d be perfect. So I gave a try to all products from their waxing line. I’ll review 2 of them in this post.

Cold Wax Strips Underarm & Bikini Line

There are 20 strips in the package, but they are packed as 10 because they are 2 sticked together. So when you want one strip you have to use both of them. I will go straight ahead. I am absolutely disappointed with this product because I expected a quick and good solution. I don’t know who can love this product, in sense of which kind of hair can be removed… I say this because I have first warmed the strips enough and when applied to perfectly dry skin the feeling was exactly like applying an old scotch tape that doesn’t adhere anymore. The wax, that resembled to the glue and not to sugar wax remained in small quantities on my skin, while the strip almost fallen away because it didn’t adhered well. It removed just a few hairs. I had normal thick hair of medium growth. So here are the remained new strips that I won’t use again. The problem was also that the glue was so sticky that you couldn’t remove it except with lots of oil. Comparing to natural sugar wax I wouldn’t even say is natural. If any of sugar wax remains on the skin it goes away easily and quickly with warm water.

And here is what is written of course in small text: “Never use water, soap or alcohol to remove excess wax. Do not wax the same area more than twice.”

I was quite shocked to read this, admit that I haven’t read the small text at first and then I was surprised how that it cannot be removed simply with water from my skin. The effect is really unpleasant, like if you have some kind of strong glue attached everywhere, even on fingers and that cannot go away. There is a small ampule of oil included but it wasn’t enough to remove the remained wax.

Acorelle Royal wax

I had more hope when I saw this product. I thought this is it! But I was wrong…On this commercial everything looks just perfect, but the reality is another story. (I kept this in my mind too)

Here is the picture of my wax after using it for the first time. I have just put the spatula inside because it was already full of wax that dries very quickly. As you can see how it has dried, it looks really a mess.

As you can see from the spot and in the instructions is written too that you have to heat it only in microwave. I don’t have it so I did it in hot water and it was good, I obtained the desired honey-like texture. The process took me a lot of time, around 15-20 minutes until everything melted. You have to pay attention that the water doesn’t enter in. When you start using it, it starts to dry very quick and every single application is removed and cannot be reused again like when sugar waxing. It’s not a paste. It is liquid and you apply it on desired area and the leave it to dry. When dried you can remove it. But when it was dry the hair didn’t removed very well, especially on the legs. I managed to do the bikini, but it’s also quite painful and of course is not so good as in salon. After you have a lot of those dry pieces of wax left (couldn’t do a picture because my fingers were all so sticky and was hard to remove off the dry wax). It is a good idea to not use strips, but unfortunately for me didn’t worked at all. And the composition remained on the skin; the same like on the previously reviewed strips. You need the oil (which is not included!) to remove it from the skin. On the legs I had minor hairs 2-3mm and they weren’t removed. It was like the wax almost felt off when dry. It’s not similar to sugar waxing paste at all, in case you expect it.

However, If I had to give a rating to everything from 1 to 5 (5 = best), I’d say:

– Sugar waxing esthetician: 5 (no doubt the best!)

– Sugarstrip ease sugar waxing: 3

– Acorelle Royal wax: 1

– Acorelle cold strips: 1

This is not my finished review. I still have 2 products from Acorelle to try. Yes, I really wanted to give those products a chance. Will see in the 2nd part of the review.

And you, what do you think about sugar waxing? Which one do you use and like best?

Tell me more about your method please. Have you used any of these products?

A glimpse in summer: Apiterra hand-made cosmetics

September 5, 2014 / Body care / 20 Comments

We are more or less in autumn and vacations are over. Hope you’ve gained new energy to start again the new season! My vacations this year were surprising, not just relaxing. I unexpectedly discovered many small gems like beautiful places, boutiques with hand-made things (not just cosmetics), exhibitions and good food 🙂 One of those things was this lovely boutique with hand-made cosmetics that looks, smells and is divine for the senses! At first it just caught my curiosity because it was natural, but when I tried their products I was thrilled!

They are a croatian brand called Apiterra and they have 2 boutiques: one in Zagreb, the other one in Poreč. Unfortunately, they don’t have their website. But I can tell you, they have many beautiful products: from organic body oils, lotions, scrubs, serums, butters, deodorants, even organic honey with cinnamon for detoxing the body. What impressed me the most was the simplicity of chosen ingredients versus the final result which are divine smelling products that leave a great feeling on the skin. I bought a few products and I have found my best body butter till now. First I wanted to buy the lavender one, but when I tried the chocolate one, was blown away by its smell. I haven’t tried anything similar: not just chocolate but overall sensual and not too sweet smell. I wish I could send some of it to try 🙂 What is amazing is that this Apiterra Body chocolate (like it’s called) also works as a light tan product because it’s so brown (from cacao and walnut). I already had tanned skin and this butter was gorgeous on the skin; it gives moisture and that sheen, plus some nice natural colour to refresh a little bit the tan. And additionally it leaves that divine scent that feels like you wear natural perfume,aaah! This butter is a blend of extra virgin olive oil (which is a signature product from croatian seaside areas, like lavender and rosemary), walnut, carrot, honey, calendula, cacao and beeswax. All products are packed in glass jars or bottles which is great for the quality of those natural ingredients.

Another product which is also their best-seller as they told me is Apiterra deodorant, that comes in 3 scents. I took the jasmine one which is great and it leaves you fresh all the day without being sticky or greasy. The list with ingredients is simple: extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, coconut oil, sodium bicarbonate, essential oils, purified water.

I also couldn’t resist to the Apiterra face scrub made from flowers of calendula and sambucus, sugar, corn starch and extra virgin olive oil. They also have many other products for face. I tried a lovely serum for the face, moisturisers, oils. But will give a try to more of them next time because now my bathroom is loaded with tons of products.

Here is the picture of those 3 Apiterra products I bought: face scrub, body chocolate and jasmine deodorant

Some pictures of the boutique:

I’m really happy I have discovered some great hand-made products so close, in our “neighbourhood”. Congratulations!

New discovery on Etsy: Bumble & Company skincare

March 20, 2014 / Body care / 5 Comments

I like Etsy and it’s a great idea to have all small businesses and indie artists together at one place! Sometimes I find myself browsing through jewellry designers, adoring vintage pieces or just simply finding inspiration through beautiful things. In terms of beauty / make-up I still haven’t found anything that would really catch my attention, but never mind. And since I didn’t have any expectations, I was quite surprised when I got in touch with the lovely Julie from Bumble and Co, which is an independent cosmetics artisan who formulates by hand natural luxuries for face & body. I was attracted by the tasteful package and photos and ingredients as well. Julie has proposed me to try 2 of her products: the face cream and the lavender shampoo, which I’m reviewing below.

Bumble & Co HYDRATING FACE & NECK HERBAL CREAM

I’ve received a generous and beautiful packed (in a glass bottle) sample of this cream. After using it for a while and give a thorough opinion, I’d finally describe it as a perfect cream for spring/summer time for all skin types. In this time I had tremendously dry skin and so I needed an additional oil in every case. The texture of this cream is very liquid and light although it has many moisturizing oils; it reminds me of the Dr.Hauschka Moisturizing day cream. When applied it absorbs very quickly in the skin leaving the skin smooth but I’d say with an almost matte finish. Which is great for people with normal skin used as a light layer of make base. This cream has one of the strongest herbal smells that I’ve ever tried which can be a little bit too much for someone. But keep in my mind that I have a very sensitive nose 🙂 To conclude, I like this cream and the list with ingredients additionaly confirms my like. Here it is exactly as Julie has sent it to me:

Ingredients: pure distilled water, shea & kokum butters, oils of grapeseed, sweet almond, avocado, rice bran, jojoba, argan, camellia seed, hemp seed, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, rose hip, borage, evening primrose, carrot seed & helichrysum, calendula extract, vit e, stearic acid, e wax, beeswax, essential oils of lavender, geranium &rose otto, germall plus (a gentle, paraben free preservative).

Bumble & Co ORGANIC SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO (Lavender)

This is a product that I was quite curious to try since it was written on the label that is sulfate free. After using it for some time now, I have to say that I prefer it to my Lavera shampoo. When it comes to hair, the products I use are the less green of everything, because few years ago, when I started to research green shampoos to use, I haven’t encounter anything without SLS or cocamidopropyl betaine inside. However, times and products are changing and I admit, I’ll have to update myself more even in hair products. But since I have short hair and don’t use any styling products, I’m not so perfectionist on shampoos.

Coming back to this shampoo, first when I saw the label I thought, ok again SLS, but later when I did a little bit of research I found that it’s not actually SLS but a different ingredient that is gentler and also EcoCert approved. Below on the picture there is an entire list with ingredients:

While using this shampoo I realized that I prefer it to my old ones, because it cleanses the hair in a gentle way and it’s not so harsh to the skin. Sometimes when I wash my hair with Lavera my skin becomes slightly irritated. Here it wasn’t so and this made me really interested a little bit more in researching shampoos further. I’m not claiming that this is the greenest shampoo ever, but I did a step forward 🙂 Anyhow, because of other ingredients like oils, aloe juice and chamomile I give to this product a like as well!

To conclude, I think that these small brands like Bumble&Co with natural products are to explore and if they are good, I’m happy to promote them too.

My new discovery: By Nieves

January 2, 2014 / Body care, Skincare / 1 Comment

I’m glad to start the new year with a brand new discovery from the natural world!
Last year I got the opportunity to try some new natural products that I found really interesting and special because of their concept. What captivates me the most are the scents of these products, apart the lovely vintage look packages. It’s been a few months now that I use By Nieves products. I’ve got used to them and I really like them too, so I decided to review those products I use. Behind this special brand is Nieves, the founder and creative force, who has developed this handmade collection of natural products. Check their nice website for detailed information.

By Nieves Cloud of protection

I’m a huge fan of all sorts of fragrances; from body perfumes to house sprays and so I was fascinated the most by the description of this product. It sounds also a little bit esoteric, which is even more charming for me 🙂

I will start with the entire description of ingredients in this product:

Juniper Needle (Juniperus communis): Purifying for mind and spirit, psychological protection and healing. Included in many protection spells. Used in Egypt, ancient China and Tibet for purifying. Antiseptic, antimicrobial.

Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis): Supports detoxification, ritualizes space, purges negative energy. Included in many protection spells. Antiseptic, antimicrobial.

Eucalyptus (Eucaplytus globulus): Antibacterial, antifungal. Great for the respiratory system. Maintains and restores equalibrium, eases tension. Small molecular size helps it remain airborne for a long time.

Lisea Cubeba (Litsea cubeba): Mood elevating, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial and insect repellant. Lovely citrus note.

Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodora): Nourishes self-awareness, inner strength, confidence, and mental clarity. Grounding. Antiseptic, antifungal.

Benzoin (Styrax benzoin): Improves circulation, clears respiratory passages, antiseptic, and astringent. Delicious vanilla note.

Rose (Rosa damascena): Mood elevating, aphrodisiac, “Queen of essential oils” promotes love, focuses intention and unites the spiritual with the physical
Also Contains: Neutral Grape Spirits and Water

I adore this product everywhere, to spritz the room and refresh the air, and even to have it in my bag to uplift the mood with its special scent. The scent is refreshing and quite strong and it will be appreciated especially in winter time to disinfect the air and protect from viruses. I also like it because it’s a great natural alternative to hand sanitizers. Essential oils have a very high vibrational frequency and thus are the best kept secrets for wellbeing from ancient times. Fortunately, nowadays we are coming again to rediscover these old knowledges. This spray comes in a glass bottle in two sizes: 1oz. which is great for the bag and the bigger one 4.oz.

By Nieves The balm

In these days you find on the market a plethora of balms, but I’m rarely attracted by any. I must admit that this one has really captivated me because of its fabulous smell. Its texture is quite dense but not heavy on skin and it’s a great all-around product. There are infinite ways to use this product because although it’s based on oils, it absorbs quickly, without leaving the skin too oily. Apart using it on dry areas I also like it to put a little bit in my hair and even on the top of cheekbones for that radiant glow!

Here is the list with ingredients:

Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera): Moisturizes, protects, softens, contains Lauric Acid which has antibacterial, antiviral and general antimicrobial qualities.

Soy Wax (Glycine max): Imparts lightweight protection to the skin and is ideal for massaging muscles, joints, and tendons. Absorbs nicely with out leaving a heavy barrier feel.

Organic Sesame Oil (Sesamum indicum): Significant source of antioxidant Vitamin E and is a nourishing moisturizer.

Virginia Cedar (Cedrus atlantica): Balances and calms skin irritation and is said to help prevent urinary tract infections

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Skin regenerator. Normalizes skin. Reduces puffiness and irritation. Healing. Mentally restorative and relaxing.

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata var. genuina): Calming, uplifting aphrodisiac and euphoric. Balancing and regenerative for the skin.

Orange (Citrus aurantium amara): Creates a healthy skin tone and smells terrific! Uplifting.

As you can see the list is quite simple but powerful: a blend of natural vegetable oils and the right mix of essential oils that gives this product a divine scent. The balm comes in a beautiful glass jar in three sizes: 2oz. 8 oz. and sample size.

By Nieves C perfect skin

I got a trial size of this serum and it was more than enough to give an opinion (=very generous sample). Otherwise you find it in one 2.oz glass bottle. Until now I have tried many natural serums made of organic base and essential oils. This serum is very nice smelling, and it absorbs quickly. It leaves a light layer of fresh and moisturized feeling. Its scent is really citrus fresh and captivating, but when it comes to serums I prefer blends with even more beneficial ingredients and less scent. However, for hydrating your skin and give a boost to normal to dry skin, this serum will be a good solution. I would not recommend it to those with very sensitive skin if they don’t tolerate essential oils. I didn’t have any problems though and I used it also under my make-up.

Organic Evening Primrose Oil: Astringent and soothing, high in gamma linoleic acid an essential acid. Improves skins barrier functions.

Organic Sesame Oil: Small molecular size allows deep penetration. Protects from UVA damage.

Organic Jojoba Oil: Moisturizing oil that promotes suppleness and prevents loss of skin hydration. A traditionally revered cosmetic oil known for it’s superior penetrative and healing properties.

Squalane: Antioxidant oil similar to skins own surface lipids. Absorbs readily. Potent anti-aging. (plant source)

Ascorbyl Palmitate: Oil soluble vitamin C a very stable and available source of C for the skin. Potent antioxidant. Prevents damage from stress, sun, smoke(free radicals). Encourages healthy elastin and collagen. Minimizes wrinkles, reverses discoloration and smoothes scars.

Frankincense Essential Oil: Softens wrinkles. good for circulation, anti aging. Antidepressant, relieves tension and anxiety. Relieves melancholia and morbidity.

Organic Benzoin Resin: Reduces age spots, acne and scar tissue. Psoriasis and wounds are soothed. Relieves stress and nervous tension

Lavender Essential Oil: Skin regenerator. Normalizes skin. Reduces puffiness and inflamation. Healing. Mentally restorative and relaxing.

Rosemary Essential Oil: Eliminates toxins. Stimulating, astringent reduces wrinkles, heals acne, soothes eczema. Energizing and uplifting

Palmarosa Essential Oil: Reduces wrinkles, scars, broken veins and acne. Regenerates tissue. Regulates sebum production. Hydrating. Promotes a sense of well being.

Cedar Essential Oil: Prevents acne, soothes eczema. Grounding, calming, prevents anxiety.

Rose Essential Oil: Reduces scars, wrinkles and broken capillaries. Increases circulation. Cell regenerator . Aphrodisiac. Spiritually uplifting, antidepressant, euphoric.

There are also other products in the collection like: the organic herb and clay scrub and mask in powder called Face fix and Bath salts that I haven’t tried yet.

Have you ever tried By Nieves products? Share your thoughts, thanks!

Waxelene – the petroleum jelly alternative

October 24, 2013 / Body care / 0 comment

This time I’m going to present you a fabulous product that I’ve discovered just recently and that I didn’t know about until it was proposed to me to try it. And I’m so happy I had the opportunity to try this wonder! I’m talking about Waxelene which is a natural substitute for petroleum jelly. With its only 4 ingredients this product is a must-have for everyone, because it offers infinite ways to use it. It’s like the good old baking soda that is a multi purpose product 🙂 The difference with Waxelene is that acts like petroleum jelly but it’s based just on natural ingredients, so it does not clog the pores like petroleum products, because it’s naturally derived. ***

The ingredients: Organic soy oil, Beeswax, Natural vitamin E oil, Organic rosemary oil.

Yes, this is the list with ingredients! What I’m mostly amazed about this simple but powerful product is its texture and the smell. The texture is greasy and thick but not heavy and it absorbs quickly without leaving a too heavy layer on the skin. It does leave a “protective barrier” on the skin but without that ultra heavy feeling. And it is creamy and very easy to blend. I especially like its smell; pure honey! If you have ever smelled the honeycomb, you know what I’m talking about 🙂

Waxelene comes in a small tube (26g) like this mine is, or in glass jars of 57g (2 oz.) and 257g (9 oz). The small tube is great for traveling and having it always with you.

One of the best things about Waxelene is that it creates a waterproof barrier on the skin and so you can use it for many purposes. Here are some practical examples I found on their website:

– Put Waxelene on base of nails to prevent nail polish from getting on skin or
– For dying hair, apply Waxelene to skin around hairline and ears to prevent staining

Ain’t this great? One product that resolves so many situations! Be creative and you will discover endless uses of this product.

I’ll give you some examples of how I use Waxelene for beauty purposes:

– I wanted to try it for my often runny nose; it is great because it relieves the red nose and soothes the inflammed skin around it.

– It makes same wonders on lips, especially in cold weather and wind

– I love it for fixing the eyebrows and soften dry skin around them

– Good for dry areas of skin on face and body as well (like dry skin on elbows)

– Rub well a small amount on your fingers and then go through you hair to prevent static electricity in them

– I love to put a touch on the brow bone and on top of the cheeks to achieve the fresh & dewy make-up look

– it is said that is a great make-up remover too, but I haven’t tried it yet 🙂 Another idea to try it in case I don’t have at hand my make-up remover.

– I have used it also on a very dry flaky skin as a make-up base and it was a great problem solver. I’ve achieved a natural result and the skin was looking normal and healthy, not dry at all! It’s especially good for those who find mineral make-up drying or if your skin is very dry/flakey.

I will look forward to keep a jar of this product always at hand because it solves some situations really well and it’s a great substitute to petroleum jelly.

Here is the link on their website: waxelene.com where you can read many interesting things about this product, its uses from different people, about the company and the ingredients.

However, the uses of this product are endless and you should really try it and discover your owns!

Feel free to share with me your uses of Waxelene and if you use/know this product.

NOTE I love this product as a quick problem solver especially on very dry skin. But in general I recommend using this product just every now and then, in special conditions or like in my case when you have no time (like on photo sessions). The reason is because some people have issues with clogging pores. Although this is not the case for everyone; some people are prone to this issue, some are not. In every case, I still prefer to use oils, creams and lotions for everyday face & body care because our skin needs lots of hydration too.

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