Favourite Natural Beauty Brands | Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos

Hello, T.O. & fro readers! I'm Lindsay and I blog at Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos. When Mar and I discussed my post topic, I told her that I was most comfortable writing about beauty: I am in no way a professional, but simply love learning about and experimenting with beauty products and skincare. I spend an inordinate amount of time researching and discussing cosmetics- it's my greatest hobby.

Today, I'm discussing two of my favorite beauty brands that also happen to be natural!

TARTE

I’m all about drugstore makeup, but some brands are worth the splurge. Tarte is one of them. I’d been a BareMinerals fanatic for years and, after trying Amazonian Clay, I immediately converted. I’m sorry, BareMinerals fans, but Tarte’s product is better. The brand also claims to be all natural and cruelty-free; their products are made from ingredients like clay, maracuja, and pomegranate, while still remaining glamorous. I’m slowly building a Tarte arsenal full of foundation and brushes and mascara. It's all wonderful and beautiful. Don't want to commit to one thing? Try the Discovery Set (below). 

All photos courtesy of tartecosmetics.com 

Sweet Kisses Lip Set // Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara // Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation // The Slenderizer Contouring Brush // Lipsurgence Matte Lip Tint // Cheek Stain // Tartlette 101 Discovery Set //  

LUSH

Lush is my skincare and shower go-to brand. Not only are Lush's products some of the best on the market, the company is committed to using fresh ingredients and safe synthetics and believe in transparent communication when discussing both components. I was introduced to their famous bath bombs a few years ago and consider them one of my favorite products of all time! They leave my skin feeling incredibly soft (and don't stain the bathtub!). The shower gel, hand cream, and cleansers are all fabulous choices as well! Their wrapped gift sets make perfect presents for the ladies in your life; I'm especially fond of their holiday-themed packages! Check out my favorites below.

Added bonuses: they're currently running a campaign called #banthebead to raise awareness regarding the harmful environmental effects of microbeads, which are found in many face washes.They suggest using natural exfoliants such as nuts and shells instead. Also, many Lush products are sold in black pots which are made of recyclable plastic. For every five empty, clean pots you bring back to Lush, you'll get a face mask free!

All photos courtesy of lushusa.com 

Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask // Angels on Bare Skin Balancing Lavender Cleanser // Dark Angels Charcoal Cleanser // Flying Fox Shower Gel // Big Blue Bath Bomb // Space Girl Bath Bomb // Glamorous Lipstick // Helping Hands Hand Lotion // Hello Sunshine Gift Set              

Have you tried either brand? What are your thoughts?

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Thicker Hair with L'Oreal #FibralogyWorks

One thing I was never blessed with was thick hair. This thin, straight, mousey mane of mine definitely isn't my strongest asset. But you know someone who does have good hair? Blake Lively.  That girl has it together, and apparently her trick is L'Oreal Paris Fibralogy shampoo and conditioner. So, when I recently received my very first Influenster Voxbox to review, I was beyond excited! The Voxbox contained full-sized samples of L'Oreal Paris Fibralogy shampoo and conditioner, as well as the thickening booster. If this product is good enough for Blake, it must be doing something right.

The Fibralogy product line is L'Oreal's first thickening haircare line. Infused with the power of Filloxane, it deeply penetrates the hair fibre, remaining for up to 10 days. After 5 applications, hair should be fuller and more luscious. 

So what did I find? First of all, this product smells fantastic.  For a store brand, it does not smell cheap or too chemically. After the recommended 5 washes with this product, I noticed a slight boost in thickness and volume after blow drying with a round brush. It also left my hair feeling clean and soft. That being said, the increase in thickness wasn't enough for others to notice. Damn. 
The verdict: While I may not have seen increase in thickness I was hoping for, I am happy with the product and will continue to use it for the smell and how soft my hair feels. It is my goal to incorporate my haircare products into my all natural routine, but at around $5-6 cdn per product, it also fits into the budget. And that, I can't argue.
Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own. Please remember, what works for me, may not work for you.

Vitamin C & Your Skin

While we know it for helping kick the common cold, did you know that vitamin C also plays an important role in maintaining healthy, resilient skin? This powerful antioxidant works by ridding skin of free radicals and protecting it from environmental aggressors like pollution, stimulates the synthesis of collagen and helps minimize scars, fine lines, and wrinkles. 

I will admit, I was no stranger to the tanning beds in my younger years. Even though I've always been, as my mom would say, a "moley kid", I thought I was resilient and would never see the effects down the road. Was I wrong. Over the past couple of years, I've started to see the repercussions of sun worshipping on my face, with a new freckle or dark spot popping up every once in a while. Freckle is just a nice word for sun damage folks, and I don't like it one bit. 

I was clueless to the fact that vitamin C plays such a huge role in healthy skin. Sure, I take my daily multivitamin and vitamin C pills, but applying a topical vitamin C serum to the areas of concern, never crossed my mind. I was recently provided with a sample of OZ Naturals vitamin C serum, and it has quickly become part of my daily skin care routine. When you think serum, you often think thick and sticky, but this serum is the exact opposite. The serum goes on evenly and smoothly, and once dry, can be applied under your daily moisturizer. OZ Naturals combines the highest quality Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid to create a potent antioxidant that helps protect and brighten your skin throughout the day. It works deep down below the skin's surface to aid your skin in naturally producing more collagen, something we lose as we get older. In addition, hydration is improved thereby plumping up skin cells to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. While it is still a little too early to see any changes in skin tone or elasticity, I'm liking what I'm feeling so far. 

This product is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten-free, and GMO-free. Even though you should see results right away, give the serum 30 days to work its magic. This product is safe for use on all skin types and will not clog pores. It does not contain an SPF and should not replace your daily sunscreen. Interested in purchasing OZ Naturals vitamin C serum? Click here. 

*The product featured in this post was provided to me for review and Powered by BrandBacker. All opinions are 100% my own.

Whipped Body Butter with Essential Oils

According to the calendar, spring is officially here. But even though the date may be inching closer to April, the weather in my neck of the woods makes it feel like we're still stuck in February. The awkward transition from season to season is brutal on my skin, and just because winter is coming to a close, doesn't mean that my skin won't continue to suffer.

As I continue my journey to stray away from the store-bought lotions and potions, and to instead incorporate all natural products into my beauty routine, I recently stumbled across a recipe for an all natural whipped body butter. After all, the rest of my skin needs some loving too. This recipe is so simple and only contains three ingredients: coconut oil, vitamin E and essential oils. All of which will make your skin sing.

3 Ingredient Whipped Body Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vitamin e oil

6 drops frankincense essential oil

6 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1.  In a double boiler on medium-low heat, combine all ingredients and heat until melted.
2.  Allow mixture to cool completely (i.e. place bowl in freezer for 10-15 minutes).
3.  Place cooled mixture in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl.

4. Using whisk attachment, whip on high speed 6-7 minutes or until whipped to a light, airy consistency.

5.  Spoon whipped body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly.

6.  Store at room temperature, or refrigerate if your house is warm enough that it melts the oil.

You can use any combination of essential oils you wish when making your own body butter. However, the combination of lavender and frankincense in this recipe is very pleasing on the nose - almost an earthy aroma, but not in a overpowering kind of way. These oils also come with added health benefits. Frankincense essential oil helps fade stretch marks and scars, has anti-anging properties and is effective as an antiseptic and in reducing stress. Lavender essential oil is effective in treating acne, provides relief from pain in muscles and joints and reduces mental stress and anxiety.  Both perfect additions to your "its no longer winter, but its still not spring" skin care routine.

I recommend applying this body butter right after the shower. It is oily, so allow it to dry on your skin before putting on your clothes. Since running out of my go-to facial moisturizer, I have also started using this body butter in lieu. While it may not be suitable for everyone's face since as it is a little oily, it works on the dryness of mine. Not to mention, when applying makeup, it glides on smooth and evenly, and it almost acts as a primer, setting my face for the rest of the day.

Have you tried essential oils? What is your favourite scent and use?

Young Living essential oil samples for this recipe were provided by Dwelling Simple Essentials. To learn how to get started with essential oils, check this out, and for more information, go here and here. 

Batty's Bath: Patchouli Facial Moisturizer

This month I'm welcoming Batty's Bath back to t.o. & fro! Batty's Bath is a botanical skin care and soap company based in southern Ontario and every single product is lovingly hand-crafted using planet-friendly, people-friendly and animal-friendly ingredients. 

I recently purchased my first order of Batty's Bath products and after almost a month of use, I am in love! But, in order to know which Batty's Bath products would suit my skin care needs, I first has to do my research. So, I dove into Batty's website and blog  which are full of extremely useful tips for people all all skin types, including Q&A, customer product reviews and plenty of videos and helpful articles. I started with the skin mapping guide  which helped determine the internal factors playing a role in my skin care issues. I knew I also needed a new moisturizer, as the one I was previously using, along prescribed from the dermatologist, was most likely loaded with chemicals. So, I used Batty's chart to help find the perfect moisturizer for my skin... 

Super simple and helpful, right?

After following the chart, I determined the best moisturizer for me was the Patchouli Facial Moisturizer. While it took my skin a few days to get over the shock of moving from a chemical-loaded moisturizer to a natural one, I'm almost a month into use and have not been disappointed one bit. I'm not surprised that it is her current #1 seller.

Infused with patchouli essential oil, this formula is specifically made for sensitive and problem skin. This thick, rich, and creamy moisturizer penetrates deep to rejuvenate and nourish your skin without leaving it feeling greasy. A little bit of this moisturizer goes a long way because of the robust nature of this formula.

I have to agree with Batty that the patchouli oil is what makes this moisturizer. After applying in the am and pm, not only does my face feel moisturized and rejuvenated, it also smells fantastic. I've even got a few compliments from coworkers, and have got my sister-in-law hooked as well.

Here are some of other benefits of the oil...

• excellent at calming acne prone skin
• heals inflammation, acne, dermatitis, sores, eczema, and other skin conditions
• beneficial for mature, oily, and combination skin
• helps to regenerate healthy new skin sells which is important for healing skin and scar tissue
• excellent for stress-related emotional imbalance including anxiety, nervousness and anger, proving beneficial for those who suffer from stress-related breakouts
• smells fantastic - aroma is uplifting, balancing/stabilizing, regenerative, and slightly hypnotic
• great to use in mediations for calming restless and non-stop thoughts 

To learn more about the Patchouli Facial Moisturizer and the rest of her line, visit her website here.

Interested in trying some of Batty's Bath skin care products? Sign up for the Batty's Bath newsletter to receive a free shipping code! Stay tuned for her North American free shipping day on December 1, 2014, just in time for Christmas :) 

Other Batty's Bath posts:

Introducing Batty's Bath

Behind the Scenes at Batty's Bath

Batty's Bath Skin Mapping

Where to find her:
Website  |  Shop  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Photo(s) of the Week

This post is dedicated to my amazing mom on her birthday. 

Happy birthday Mom! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but instead will have a glass of wine on your behalf :)

This past week while Steve was out of town, I ventured out past my bed time to photograph Venus, Jupiter and the moon.  The result?  Loneliness because I was missing my partner in crime to share the beauty with (tear.), but also many many beautiful photos!  So, since I've had a hard time choosing just one, here they are... 

Photos taken at Point Woronzof Park and Earthquake Park.