Kamamak Cosmetics review+swatches

I didn't get a chance to post this yesterday for day 4 so I'm pulling double duty today! Here is the first of two posts! Lovelies, meet Kamamak Cosmetics based out of British Columbia.

Kamamak is an aboriginal owned, mineral based, paraben free color cosmetics line. Infused with the native culture of north america....a modern, fun, sophisticated, take on cosmetic art. Be creative....set your inner artist free. (from their homepage)

The adorable packaging is also made of recyclable material. They are also big on having absolutely no parabens in their products, making them safe to use. 

I was lucky enough to be able to try some pressed mineral eye shadows and have swatched them here for you.

On the left is Foxy. This colour is quite a nice neutral beige with a frosty finish. It reminds me quite a bit of Urban Decay's Sin. It makes a great highlighter as well as a base.

On the right is Night Owl. In its pressed form it actually looks more like a mauve. But once swatched it takes on a more dark mauve type colour. Easy to blend and perfect for a contour or mid-lid colour. 

I also had the chance to try a Natural Lip Tint in Pink Diamond. My flash kinda makes it hard to see. Pink Diamond is actually quite sheer but the shine is definitely there! That might be why my picture turned out so bright! It was also non sticky, easy to use. It felt like it was actually good for my lips, keeping them soft and supple. I'd definitely pick up a few more colours! 
Please check out Kamamak Cosmetics!


I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. 

Empire Lush Swatches+ Review

Happy Purrrs-day, Lovelies! Mick's doing his favourite thing in this picture: napping. He's so relaxed, he doesn't even realize his other legs hanging out!

Welcome to day 3 of Canadian Beauty Businesses. I'd like to do an eye shadow and swatch from some wonderful products from Empire Lush. A big thank you to Sarah from Empire Lush for letting me share with you.

Empire Lush does custom synthetic dreads and has just recently started with mineral makeup. I'm going to do an upcoming post on me trying dreads out for the first time pretty soon! For today, let's take a look at a pair of Empire Lush Dust eyeshadows.

On the left is 24 Karat. Yes, a gold that blends so well. This would be great on its own or as a base color. Its got enough neutrality to wear during the day and enough glitz for a night out!

On the right is All That Glitters, one of the best sellers. You can probably tell why. This colour is great to use as your canvas and to blend. Its also the perfect highlight shade for just the corner under your brows. With an eyeliner brush, you could also use this colour to line the inner corners of your eyes to make them appear bigger.

Empire Lush Dust eyeshadows is very highly pigmented and they all blend really well. Please check out the Empire Lush etsy store and take a gander at all the pretty colours! Also stop by the Facebook Page

I was sent these products for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Crush Cosmetics Swatches+ Review

Happy Hump Day Lovelies! And hurray for the second day of Canadian businesses in beauty! oH Canada! Today I would like you to check out Crush Cosmetics. Based out of Vancouver, BC, Crush Cosmetics is run by Kym and Kristina. The etsy shop is absolutely eye candy to behold: lots of  vegan-friendly makeup. Not just limited to eyeshadows, they also have a line of pressed mineral blushes, lip glosses and lip balms, as well as bath teas and solid perfumes. So a lot of variety is packed into this cute little etsy store! You could create a whole look from Crush Cosmetics products alone. Sounds like the makings of a future blog post ;) I was given the chance to try two lovely eye shadows and have swatched them for you below.

On the left is My Immortal: an indigo blue with purple under tones. This colour looks quite complex  once on and I really like that. Everytime I put this on, I see something new :)

On the right is Lush: a kind of pinkish copper with a bit of a taupe undertone. I like my neutrals and this is definitely a colour you could rock out both day and night. At least I do ;) It also serves as a great backdrop for your lids.

Please check out Crush Cosmetics' etsy store and their blog as well. Thank you for letting me try your wonderful eye colours!

I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Firestarter Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches

Happy Tuesday, Lovelies! In honour of Canada Day, I have decided to do some all Canadian business spotlights. This Tuesday, I'd like you to meet Firestarter Cosmetics out of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Firestarter Cosmetics makes vegan friendly eye shadows and lip balms. They also have a fun assortment of beauty and bath products as well. They have a popular bath salt mix called Erupting Bath Ammunition!

I would like to share some swatches of some eye shadow I bought recently. I was pretty blown away by the colour payoff.

Left to right:
Dragonfly: A beautiful shimmer mix of brown, green, and gold. This colour is being discontinued so you'll have to hurry!

Metal Mouth: from the Ignite your Style collection. It is a frosty metallic.

Night Sky: A shimmery blue.

These beautiful colours are very pigmented and cruelty free. I'm especially in love with Dragonfly. Its so beautiful, I like wearing it during the day.
I'm sure if you go to the shop, you'll find something that you'll love to wear! Check out Firestarter Cosmetics.

I bought these products for my review.

Unmentionably Cheeky Subscription Review

Lovelies, I need new panties. Better yet, I want my panties delivered to me in discreet packaging, every month at an affordable rate. And they have to be cute! Too much to ask? Not so, if you are an Unmentionably Cheeky member. :) For $11/month, you get a trio of cheeky panties to cover your own cheeks (not the ones on your face please). But using the code SUMMER at checkout gets you locked in at a rate of $8/month! Sound too good to be true? Check out my cheekies! ;)

All three of these cheekies came in a beautiful pink mailer that was discreetly packaged so only you know what they are. The panties themselves are also really good quality. They have sizes XS,S,M, and L and will soon have XL and XXL. They do include a size chart so you can accurately choose the cheekies for you. They ship to the US and Canada right now. And if you every need to ask questions or cancel or just chat, they customer service is unbelievably good. Check them out and try a few pairs today. You won't lose your underwear over it! haha....Lame I know :S

Let's get Cheeky, Lovelies!

Check them out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UMCheekyand follow on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/UMCheeky.


Unmentionably Cheeky Logo from http://panties.umcheeky.com/

This package was sent to me for the purposes of review. I have since signed up for this subscription paid for by myself.

KarmaFace Eyeshadow swatch + review

Karma

Noun

(in Hinduism and Buddhism) The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in... Destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.

........or listen to Justin Timberlake's 'What goes Around'. 
Lovelies, I had the pleasure of trying an eye shadow from the KarmaFace Cosmetics company. A Canadian brand! oH Canada! And if they sound familiar, they are also one of the featured brands of BeautyGram.

Brandi from KarmaFace also believes in doing good: (from etsy shop)

Get your dose of luxury cosmetics and good karma! $1 from every Karmaface product purchased is donated to YWCA Canada. 

$5.00 from every product in our HELPING HAND collection is donated to the related non-profit. 

Not just now, but always and forever. We are founded on the principle of 'paying it forward.'

Another company that is Beauty with Heart! I will be showing you the eye shadow, Alley Art.

Alley Art, at first glance, looks like a gunmetal grey. It is light, blendable makeup. And is shown without the use of primer on my wrist. I really like that its neutral enough for day wear yet can be made sultry for the night. I don't really wear greys but I tried this for a daytime look and I was surprised at how much I liked it. 

I need to go rack up some Karma points and what fun it would be to do it with makeup? :) Lovelies, visit KarmaFace!

I was sent this product for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Pelle Beauty Review

Lovelies, I recently had the chance to try out Pelle Beauty products and regiment. I`d like to share it with you. Big Thanks to Marnie :)

Pelle Beauty is a beauty care line that takes what we put on our skin very seriously. Our skin absorbs a lot more then we can imagine and so what we apply everyday does matter. Pelle Beauty is vegan friendly and free of parabens and mineral oils.

From left to right 

Citrus Facial Mist: This toner is alcohol free so it does not dry out your skin. Instead, it refreshes and hydrates. It is formulated with plant extracts and essential oils. I used this after cleansing and it was gentle. It didn't burn or tighten my skin after uses. It can also be used as a makeup setter.

PelleClean Gentle Cleansing Gel: This cleanser is great for sensitive skin. Its not harsh and I found it really relaxing to use. It is also good at removing any water based cosmetics. There are no sulphates. It is also free of synthetic dyes or fragrances. Just apply to a wet face, massage and rinse with warm water.

PelleInfusions Facial Concentrate Balancing: This little guy has double duty; its a facial oil and serum. After cleansing, I left my face a little damp and added a few drops and gave myself a little facial massage. Why use this? It is all the moisturizer you need down to its simplest, purest form. No lotions or emulsifiers needed here! The essential oils and plant extracts will deliver the nourishment your skin needs. This is also great for all skin types.

Stellar Multitasking Facial Concentrate: A small bottle, a bunch of uses! There are 5 different uses listed on the product page and a hint that there are still more to be discovered! Stellar is a light weight facial oil concentrate. It is formulated essential fatty acids and antioxidants; meadowfoam, babassu, black current, neroli, sandalwood essential oils and many more. It is a light weight weight moisturizer. It can be used as a makeup remover pre-wash. It makes an excellent makeup primer and facial mask primer. It can also be used to groom and condition your eyebrows. I also was brave and added some to my hair and I am loving the smell. I definitely am glad to have discovered Stellar!

Visit the Pelle Beauty website as there are more products for all kinds of skin types. 



I was sent these products for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. 

Mud Puddle Hair Wash Review

Lovelies, I have always wanted to take a mud bath. Or a dust bath. I have always wondered how getting that dirty could be clean, or considered a pamper treatment!

Now, Onyx gives herself a dust bath almost everyday. And she does look like she's having fun. I decided I wanted in on the action. No, i didn't proceed to roll around the garden bed after her. Instead I discovered:

Mud Puddle Hair Wash, a proudly Canadian product.

Here is a gander at the texture. Its so squishy, I love it! This hair rinse is bentonite clay-based and infused with essential oils. Its 100% Vegan and cruelty free. No SLS or other artificial preservatives. Its as easy as massaging it into your scalp and hair and rinsing thoroughly. You only need a table spoon or so of product. When I was using it, I realized how non-messy it was to use. I wasn't having goop sliding down the back of my neck or dripping onto my forhead, shoulders, or ears. It only went where I wanted it to go: my scalp and hair. And it doesn't look it, but it smells like citrus. I rinsed out my hair and it felt clean and fresh. I would recommend following up with a leave in conditioner or hair oil. I had great success with this product. You should try it to! Check out Mud Puddle! Give your tresses a treat ;)

I was sent this product for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. 

Bio Seaweed Gel review

Happy Wednesday Lovelies! I must tell you something you may already know. I am no nail artist. My unsteady hands lead to smudges and chips. I'm not a great manicurist. So if along comes a product that makes life easier, I am all over it. Enter Bio Seaweed Gel: Unity All-In-One Colour Gel. This gel nail polish can be used without the use of a UV lamp. This also already contains your base, top, colour, and nail strengthener. It is formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, DPB or BHA. Bio Seaweed Gel was formulated in the US but is a proudly Canadian company. oH Canada! I was sent some bottles to review and I'd like to share the results with you.

Voila! This is Electric which is a hot coral colour. This polish is so simply to use! First, I cleaned off my nails with some rubbing alcohol. I applied one thin coat to my nails. Then I walked out to my patio and let the sun cure my nails. I must have waited a minute and they cured pretty fast. I repeated with another coat and cured in the sun. I think it took about 5 minutes when all was said and done. Easy and quick. And my nails did not chip. This is definitely some professional grade polish for at home use.

Here is the other colour I was sent, Lucky Charm. To remove, you need to soak your nails in an acetone based nail polish remover for 5-10 minutes. You would do this the same way you can remove glitter polish. Soak a cotton ball with remover, place on nail and wrap a piece of tin foil around the tip of your finger to hold in place. I have not removed my polish yet as I'm having too fun a time wearing it and telling people about it! The Unity colours last typically for about 7 days. They do sell a base and top coat with different finishes. These will also help the polish last longer, up to 14 days. Each bottle of Unity Colour retails for $18 on their website, Bio Seaweed Gel. This is definitely something an on the go girl can use! Lovelies, take a trip to their website and tell me, what colour would you like to try? They are also having a huge giveaway!

Get the Soap!: Pure Naturalis Soaps review

Lovelies, I have come to appreciate the handmade soap. I truly appreciate the fact that my skin is nourished and not irritated after using a bar. I appreciate the time and care put into each creation. I've come to appreciate that soapmaking is not just a science (saponification) but also as an art form. I like to look at bars of soap just to admire them. They are like useful little pieces of art. Today I invite you to gaze and admire at a few of handmade soaps from Pure Naturalis. The pictures I took don't really do these any justice :(

At the top left is the Fresh Air Soap : Sea salt, eucalyptus, mint, and rosemary. I like how it has distinct layers and it looks like a real rock that you'd find on some rocky beach. It's gritty texture is also great for exfoliating.

At the top right is the Star Anise Soap. Made with clays and star anise essential oil. This smelled strongly of black licorice! I like me some licorice from time to time. You can even see little pieces in the soap.

At the bottom is the Lavender and Oatmeal Soap. Made with Organic Oatmeal and Lavender essential oil. Oatmeal not only is good to eat, but is great for your skin. I find myself choosing soaps with oatmeal in them more often.

At the top is the Milk and Honey Soap. Made with fresh full fat milk and honey. It looks like it should be hanging on the wall somewhere! And it was such a treat to use. Honey is also one of nature's little hidden gems.

At the bottom is the Olive and Oatmeal Unscented soap. It really doesn't smell like anything. It also contains organic oats. This soap would be perfect for people who don't like scents with their soap. Good for sensitive skin.

Thank you, Slavka, for letting me try your beautiful soaps. Please check out her shop and buy your own little piece of art! Use code NEW10 to get 10% off your order! 

The products were sent to me for review and the enjoyment of my skin. All opinions are mine own.

Ipsy Bag and TopBox June 2013

Happy Meow-day, Lovelies! I love it when two things I love come together and create a loveable force. For example, Mick and my favourite cozy couch blanket. Combined, they are cute and cuddly and snuggling is twice as nice! I also feel the same way when Ipsy and TopBox arrive together. 

 On the Wild Side: Ipsy June 2013

This month's ipsy theme was bringing out your wild side. I love the bag this month! I see a lot of items I can use.

 Nyx Mosaic Powder

JCat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette in Suzie: I haven't read too many good reviews so far about this. Glitter is not something I do everyday, but I will give this a spin this weekend

 psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo travel size: I have been using dry shampoos lately and am excited to find this in my bag. Its supposedly the original dry shampoo.

Cailyn Cosmetics Line Fix Gel eyeliner in Purple. I think its cute it comes with its own brush!

Starlooks LipLiner in Tickle Me Pink: I was so relieved to see I had received this colour and not Tipsy. I actually already have Tipsy from my Feb Starbox. 

I can't say I've hated any of my ipsy bags since I signed up. Ipsy is one of the best deals at $14.95/month. You can sign up here! 

Topbox June 2013

I didn't choose any of the Prive boxes this month as they didn't really interested me. Sometimes its is just nice to be surprised. And I am glad I got in on this month's TopBox. I received:

Pari Beauty Colour Cubes. These are stackable cubes that contain loose powder eyeshadows. They are really just fun to stack!

Belvada Cosmetics mini eyelash curler

Benefit Cosmetics Sugarbomb Lip Gloss. I really like this shimmery pink gloss.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Fairy Lashes Mascara. I had heard of this company before so I am curious to see what their products are like. I also have been diligent with my mascara expiry dates. Every three months, I open new tubes :)

TopBox is my favourite and (possibly the only) Canadian beauty box I sub to. Its $12/month plus applicable taxes. 

Georgina Naturals Review

Happy Caturday, Lovelies! You can never leave your spot on the couch for too long, otherwise, you will find its been taken!

Lovelies, I had to the wonderful opportunity to try some awesome, natural skin care products from Georgina Naturals. Run by Bonnie and is based right out of Ontario, Canada. oH Canada review! 
The packaging has a bit of a regal touch. And the names of the products are downright clever! Let me show you:

From left to right:

Face Tomorrow Moisturizing Toner- Face Tomorrow is a unique liquid moisturizer that tones and refreshes tight, dry skin- leaving your face soft and beautifully hydrated.

Make My Day Calendula Day Cream- Start your day off right with this nourishing, fragrance free daily moisturizer, made with soothing calendula oil and unrefined wheatgerm oil. Rich in natural anti-oxidants and vitamins A,B,D, and E. Make My Day is your perfect daily sidekick for be

Outta My Face Soap Free Cleanser-Say goodbye to oil, makeup and grime with this gentle nightly cleanser. Soap-free and made with pure witch hazel extract to help soothe your skin without leaving it dry.

I told you, right?! Every time I read the names it makes me smile a little. And smiles are also a natural way to take care of yourself and your skin!

I use the outta My Face Soap-free Cleanser first, by soaking a cotton pad or ball and then giving my face a good massaging swipe. It did not dry out my skin at all. You can rinse after using the cleanser, but I did not feel any need to do so. My skin was clean and dry enough.

Next, I put a few mLs of Face Tomorrow Moisturizing Toner in the palm of my hand and massaged into my face. You could use a cotton pad if you really wanted to. But it is formulated to be used alone. You just massage it onto your face and let it dry. It doesn't dry out your skin and I really like that. 

The finishing touch is adding just a tiny dab of Make My Day Calendula Day Cream. This cream seemed heavy to me so a little goes a long way. And it smells like a cocoa drink to me! It definitely had my face soft and moist the whole day through.

Take a stroll through the Georgina Naturals etsy store and see what lovely natural surprises await you. :)

I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. And I can't stop sniffing the day cream.

The Balm, Baby!: Bee's Knees Bodyworks Lip Balm Reviews

 As I've mentioned before, I love anything for the lips. My first ever lip balm obsession came when I was about 8 and young and in love cherry chapstick. I carried it around with me just about everywhere. I loved the cherry smell and the way it smoothed my lips out. I've always had a pair of dry smackers so I suppose the lip product obsession makes sense. 

Today I'm going to show you some lovely balms from Bee's Knees Bodyworks

Lip Therapy in Margarita. First off, lime margarita to a tee! One sniff and I'm almost on vacation, haha. The Lip Therapy Balm is a highly emollient healer. It contains avocado, sweet almond and coconut oils.

This the Satin Lips Luxury Lip Treatment. It contains macadamia nut oil and shea butters to nourish and soften. It also has some mint in it. It actually tingle on your lips! It is also slightly tinted with pink mica for a little flush colour.

This is my definite favourite out of the three. This is the Lip Balm Shimmer Stick in Buttercream Frosting. Smelling sweetly of birthday cake icing! This balm keeps lips smooth and moisturized with Shea and Cocoa Butter and oils such as Macadamia nut, Jojoba, Vitamin E and Castor. It also contains a sheer golden blush for a beautiful hint of colour for naked lips. I have swatched it below. Its a hint and a beautiful hint at that! I use this when I don't feel like lipgloss or lipstick. I love how it makes my Lips feel.

Check out the Bee's Knees Bodyworks shop for more balms in scrumptious flavours and pick up a few :) 

These products were sent for review purposes along with my purchase. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Scrubuxry Review

Lovelies, sometimes a little attention to detail can take something from nice to luxury! I'd like to introdue you to Scruxury. Run by Maggi Bruce and based in Saskatchewan. Scrubxury specializes in handmade scrubs and skin care products. Check out her etsy shop and I dare you not to find yourself watering at the mouth. Maggi sent me a few samples for me to try and I think she spoiled me!

On the left is Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Salt Scrub. I had never actually used a salt scrub before. From her store, I learned that salt scrubs actually provide a better exfoliation than sugar. They can also be used as bath salts. Strawberry Rhubarb pie also screams summer! I found it grittier then a sugar scrub which was great. My skin also felt soft and very clean after.

On the right is French Lavender Sugar Scrub. This sugar scrub was actually a little more solid so it was easy to use. The aroma also delighted me to my surprise. I like lavender but I don't love it so this was pleasant.

I also had a chance to try (not pictured) Earl Grey Tea Whipped sugar scrub. In my opinion whipped sugar scrubs provide the best of both worlds. You get great exfoliation and the softness of a gel or cream. I don't drink Earl Grey tea all that often but I sure can show an appreciation for it now!

I also had a chance to try (not pictured) a Love Spell Sugar Scrub cube. The aroma that came from this little guy was amazing considering it fits in the palm of my hand. I was able to hold it in the shower and get a good scrub on all over. I like the convenience of the cube. It could also help you waste less if its already cut into portions.

Please check out Scrubxury and treat your self :) Also great pampering gifts!

Fight the Funky Smells!

Whew! I'm not sure what Mick is smelling but I really hope it wasn't me or Sean! Lovelies, let's tackle some BO. With the warm weather months upon us, the need to stay cool and fresh is the season's challenge. I personally, do not like the traditional, aluminum stick deodorant. I'm not comfortable with the idea of putting aluminum compounds on my skin everyday. I am also one of those women who have to use clinically strong deodorants as genetics has blessed me with extra sweat glands. I hate the white stuff it leaves on me and my clothes. I began to search for alternatives. I'm happy to say I'm off stick, drugstore deodorants and would love to share my new findings with you. The picture below is how they sit our our dresser currently. It's not pretty I know, but I live with a boy!

I shall go from left to right.

Purely Great Women's Cream Deodorant in Lavender
This deodorant I found during a search for more natural solutions. And Purely Great is a Canadian company! I emailed them and they sent me this sample. And I'm really glad they did! The cream has to be mixed a little before application, using a popsicle stick or similar. It starts to thin a little once you get it going. Using the stick or your fingers, take a dime sized dollop and spread on your under arm area. It melts with your body temperature and absorbs in seconds. This lasted all day for me. Like 8-10 hours all day for me. I was dry as a bone and smelled of lovely lavender. The formula was thick and I think that it helped last longer. This is definitely my favourite out of the bunch.

Crawford Street Skincare Lemon Deodorant Cream
You may remember I received this in the April Seasonsbox. Crawford Street Skin Care is a Toronto-based company. This creme is a lot thinner. It has a really fluffy texture. You don't need a whole lot, just a dime sized dollop. Your body temperature helps melt and absorb it into your skin. The lemon smell is also fresh, kinda like a tart lemonade. I found this one to only have about 6-8 hours of lasting coverage. The smell also becomes more subtle as the day goes on. I definitely do like this one as well but I don't think I'd wear it if I was going to do some heavy sweating or be out all day.

Margarita Bloom's Untamed Dame Lemon Pound Cake Deodorant
Margarita Bloom is a beauty & bath company which is vegan, cruelty free, and has some bombshell vintage beauties! (Sometimes, I like to go to the website and look at all the pictures of queens and fair ladies and pinups. Gorgeous!) Lemon seems to be a popular scent! This definitely smells like its namesake. Lemon and sugar and cake, yum! It comes in a stick form so all you have to do is glide it on. Really handy if you are in a pinch for time. I love the scent of this one a lot, but like the Crawford Street deodorant, I found it did not last as long. I got about 6-8 hours of coverage before I could feel my sweat glands restarting. I still use this baby though!

Botanical Therapeutic Liquid Crystal Deodorant
Botanical Therapeutic is one of the collections available from Carina Organics, a BC based company. I like the quickness and convenience of sprays but had never had much luck with them. So i jumped at the chance to review this one! You spray your under arms about 4-6 times each and then let it dry. Or if impatient like me, rub a little to help the absorption process. It then forms a layer of protection from odor causing bacteria for 24 hours. I read the ingredients and the only things in it are purified water and natural mineral salts. I wouldn't say I was sweat-free for 24 hours. It was really more like 10-12. The spray is unscented and as such, so were my pits! No smell is better then bad smell any day is how I look at it. So I do like this one for the rushed mornings or the quick touch ups.

So Lovelies, let's fight the funky smells with these new weapons I have discovered!

The Natural Beauty Box: WTF

Now, I am rarely stunned when a subscription disappoints the hell out of me. Heck, I was a Glymm subber! The Natural Beauty Box has failed to rebound after the December/ January disaster. I really wanted them to succeed. I really loved the boxes in the beginning. Somehow, I don't think I can feel that anymore. All that there is left to do is wait until August, which will be the end of my subscription. It is $30/month to subscribe to this ridiculousness. I do not recommend this subscription at all. April and May have been sent together which, on paper, sounds like a pretty good deal. April was extremely late and they failed to communicate at all, let alone effectively, with their customers until the end of May. (WTF?) So when the two arrived together, I actually was excited. Then I opened them.........

April Box

Top Left to right:

Oatmeal Chai Natural Soap Bar sample from Arachnes Demise- $1.50 
Naturalana Dry Shampoo/Dusting powder sample-$4
Naturalana Foot Ease Foot Scrub Sample-$1.17

Middle Left to Right:

Green Visions Aromathereapy bath & shower gel- $1.25
Into Blue lotion sample- $1
pldbody Peppermint Fizzie sample- $1
Abbalope Natural Soap Sample-$0.50

Bottom left to right:

Herbolution Calendula Chamomile Cleansing Grains sample- $1.60
Opale Essence All Natural Mineral Eye Shadow sample- $1.50
FyreWurk Shop votive candle- $1.75

Total=$15.27

May Box

The Bath Cafe Tart Melt sample- $1.60
Cheeky Chickie Soap sample- $0.88
Earth Angel Minerals Butter Cream Skin Balancer sample- $1.50

Plus Facile Natural Bath Salt sample-$2.00
Passion Moon Potions Perfume sample vial- $0.85
Sycamore Boutique Lip Tint- $2.95
and Under eye cream sample-$2.95

Molly Rose Balms lip balm sample- $0.63
Holitic Owl Owlchy Ointment Sample- $1.00
and Body Butter Sample- $1.00

Total= $15.36


Both of these boxes total what it costs for a month subscription. I'm not sure if they are changing their business model and now promoting indie artisans or etsy shops. And I'm all for small and independent business. A lot of these products do sound wonderful and I am excited to try them. But where in the hell did TNBB mention to their paying customers they were doing this? What happened to the note: 'btw we're buying itty bitty samples for you guys and charging the same, already outrageous price.'? Hey girls, for the $30 some customers paid for this, I could have done a better job putting this box together. This is unbelievable.  If you had any customer base before, they will virtually disappear now. This now definitely feels like a scam. The website hasn't even made mention of any changes and still promises the deluxe 10-15 samples per box. Where is the deluxe in either of these boxes? The full sized votive candle? Votive candles are small by definition. I for one will be glad to be rid of this service come August. TNBB, don't even think of trying to send me an invoice to renew my subscription in August as I will be ripping it up and contacting Paypal ASAP. 

Ecco Bella Review +(closed) Giveaway!

Hello, Lovelies! Today I'd like to share with you a brand I discovered that is natural and organic intelligent beauty: Ecco Bella (from the website)

Ecco Bella was started to provide cruelty-free organic cosmetics and natural skin care products. The effort grew to include products derived from organics and vitamins. We are so glad you have joined us in this mission. Indulge yourself in organic cosmetics and natural skin care products that offer a pure and beautiful experience, while helping to conserve our planet and protect its animals.

I just had to check them out and share with you!

This is the Enlightenment Collection. I have the compact closed in the pic at the top of my post. It's very cool looking, its also got texture. And an added bonus: this compact is reusable! The pots are interchangable and you can order different colours of eye shadows and blush pots or pans from their online store. I have swatched the colours below. I wore these exact colours for a night on the town and was very pleased with the results. The pigmentation lasted all night (primer used).

This is the Long Lasting Lip Crayon in Malt. I actually used this as a lip liner. It goes on thick yet smooth and the pigmentation is great. It is also smooth enough to wear alone on your entire lip. I have it swatched below as well.

From left to right:

Ecco Bella Long Lasting Lip Crayon in Malt

Mystic eyeshadow, can also be used wet or dry, for eyeliner

Celestial eyeshadow

Purity blush and highlighter

One of my Lovelies is going to win their very own Enlightenment Compact! Earn your entries below! Remember, any invalid entries are disqualified and you must complete both mandatory entry options 1) Sign up for the Invincible Spirit giftcard, you get $10 to spend on the website. (why wouldn't you sign up?!) and 2) Like Ecco Bella on Facebook, to win. I will be checking! Open to Canada and US only please. Good Luck Lovelies! :)


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Tashodi Handsoap and Cream Review

Hello Lovelies! I need to give some applause to Tashodi's  Hand Wash and Creme. Tashodi is a bath & bodycare company based in Toronto, ON. Their products feature organic natural products. Another great thing to note: a lot of the materials they use, such as essential oils, are fair trade. (from their website)

Tashodi believes that taking time to nurture ourselves through a regular self-care ritual creates a sense of inner peace that carries us with grace and purpose throughout our day. Our Fair Trade practices ensure that all individuals from producers to harvesters are paid a fair price for the work they do. In keeping with our passion for ethical and sustainable business practices, we’re proud that our products are 100 percent Canadian made.

That being said, another oH Canada! review :)
I have never had much luck with liquid soaps. I cringe when I'm in a place where there are only liquid soaps. They dry my hands out severely to the point of dry itchy skin. On some occasions I get redness and severe irritation. I was embarrassed to have anyone even see my hands in public. So I tend to avoid liquid hand soaps. 

Ocean Minerals Hand Cream and Green Coffee & Citrus Hand wash

I approached the hand wash with a little caution. It felt like any other hand soap, I suppose. Gooey, thick. It gave a good lather too when the time came. The smell was unique. Neither coffee nor citrus dominated the scent. They were both equal and not overbearing. After rinsing I waited for that dry, itch feeling I always get after using a liquid hand soap. It didn't happen. Hmm... I began to notice a change in my hands when I was using the hand wash more frequently. My skin was actually better. I'm not kidding. My hands actually felt soft and supple. No red spots! No itch! :O The hand wash contains essential citrus oil and antioxidants from green coffee. Those would be the heroes!
The Hand creme was a treat to use after. I'd say the quality of this creme is on par with ones those use at the beauty parlour to massage your hands when you get a mani done. The cream was so silky, I give myself a hand massage ever time I use it. Its actually quite relaxing. The Ocean Minerals scent actually had a more spearmint smell to it. It was refreshing. The Hand Cream contains pure shea butter for deep moisturizing. Another hero!

I still can't believe it when I look at my hands and see smooth skin. My hands are fixed! Thank you, Tashodi!

I was sent these products for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. My hands are happy.

StarBox May 2013

Can I just say, I love the StarBox? I was so good this month and didn't look at any spoilers. So this StarBox was a big surprise for me. And it did not disappoint! StarBox is $22/month and features 3-4 full sized makeup products from the StarLooks line. What did I get this month?

Eyebrow Shader Compact. This compact has pretty much every colour you would need to fill in, sculpt your brows. From light to dark colours. It also serves as a great smokey eye combination if you decide to use them as eyeshadows.

Cream Blush in Emphasize. I was a little wary of the colour as it looked soooo dark. I've swatched it below and I actually like it once it gets blended well into your skin.

Pigment Luster in Cinnamon Toss: I don't use pigments very often but this is a cool chesnut brown with flecks of gold in it. I might have to start using pigments.....

I always look forward to getting my StarBox. Always on time, great customer service, great products. Thinking about getting another beauty sub after being burned by a few lately (what is going on??!) Try StarBox and stop being disappointed! :)

For Dear old Dad..........

Everytime my dad is over and Onyx is atop the cat tower, she does her little 'Come rub my belly and give me all your attention!' pose. She lays back, paws curled, eyes big and cute. It is really hard to say no, so my dad always gives her a little rub between the ears or on the belly. And for some reason, she never freaks out or scratches him or growls at him. She's such a good grand-kitty! It might also be because my dad gives them treats when he is cat sitting for us. Lots of treats!

A Father's Day Gift Idea 

I always try to get my dad something he can use but still have fun with for Dad's Day. I always pass on ties and mugs and stuff. I've gotten him BBQ stuff over the years. But I always look for new gift ideas. So I came across this gift idea from Demeter Fragrance Library and I thought I'd share it with you. 
Why not get Dad a fragrance that can trigger some good memories? A favourite smell? A favourite time? I thought I would check it out.

They have some pretty masculine scents! And who better to help me choose one for my dad then my husband? From left to right, we sniffed!:

Gin & Tonic: I was a little afraid this would have someone smelling like a drunk.....but I was totally wrong! It had a very masculine, sea and citrus smell. No alcohol smell here. It was my husband's favourite out of the three. 

Mahogany: This didn't smell like a heavy wood like I thought it might. It had a more earthy, spice smell to it. It was very simple and I liked it. I think my dad will too. He wears colognes very similar to this one. 

Oud: I've never heard of this scent before and I thought it was maybe supposed to be Mud? It had a very spicy, cinnamon smell to it. It was definitely interesting to try and figure out since I didn't know what it was. Its definitely the sweetest of the three as well.

I had fun trying out these different scents and my dad will be the proud owner of one come June 16.

Demeter Fragrance now has a $19.99 flat shipping to Canada. This will also include duties and taxes so there are no extra fees for Canadian customers. Hurray! :)

I love how Demeter scents are simple and get the olfactory working. How about you? Check out Demeter Fragrance Library. What scent would bring some smiles to your dad's face?

I was sent these products for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.