Westman Atelier Spot Check Brush Review

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Westman Atelier Spot Check Brush is a magic wand, and that is not an exaggeration! This was my final Westman Atelier brush purchase, and now I have the entire set of brushes. These brushes were, without question, a sizable splurge, but this particular brush was actually quite affordable at $38.00.

This small and pointed brush head was conceived to offer spot coverage for blemishes, discoloration (hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation), broken capillaries, redness, dark circles and anything else that you wish to deemphasize. 

It effortlessly and deftly navigates the smallest areas of the face with precision, and it offers a perfected version of your own skin. The synthetic nylon bristles are densely packed, and firm enough to effectively apply foundation or concealer, but not so firm as to be rough against the skin. The bristles themselves are silky soft and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. The short handle, coupled with its perfect weight, makes this a very efficient tool. I have washed it numerous times, and it has not shed a single bristle. 

Gucci posits that she uses a "Pointillist Concealer Technique" wherein she dips the brush into her Vital Skin Foundation, and then taps three times so that there are no visible edges to the spot that she has sought to conceal. It is a brilliant method, and it is easy and foolproof.

According to Westman Atelier,

Targeted coverage just where you need it. Inspired by Gucci Westman's spot check method for flawless skin, this pointed brush tip conceals imperfections and pigmentation, making it an ideal companion to Vital Skin Foundation.

Luxurious and durable, each brush is handmade in Japan by the most prestigious brush maker in the world using cruelty free, super soft nylon fibers and sustainably sourced birch. Thoughtfully designed shorter handles make for easy, effortless application. Cruelty-Free.

Features:

Artisan Design: Handmade in Kumano, Japan using traditional techniques from the most prestigious brush maker in the world. 

Lacquered Handles: Crafted with the finest sustainable hardwood birch from a Forest Stewardship Council certified forest in Eastern Europe. 

High Performance: Luxurious and durable. Finely tapered nylon fibers feel ultra-smooth with optimal density, softness and function. 

Their brush-making process is cruelty-free.

Gucci's Notes:

This little brush is my secret for creating the absolute best and most beautiful skin. It's always, always in my kit.

Dip the Spot Check Brush into your Vital Skin Foundation stick and dab anywhere you need precise coverage, using a light stippling motion to layer and build. 

For flat red marks and spots, start with a lighter shade of Vital Skin Foundation to neutralize pinkish tones, then follow with a slightly deeper shade on top for a true second skin effect. To diffuse brown spots or raised bumps, skip the lighter shade and go straight for the slightly deeper shade.

Finish by using a fingertip to gently 'tap, tap, tap' on top of the area with a fingertip. This helps Vital Skin settle seamlessly into skin. 

A dab of translucent powder, dabbed directly on top of the spot with a featherlight motion, helps coverage last throughout the day.

The flat surface area effortlessly picks up and deposits foundation and concealer.

This brush is perfectly shaped, and boasts dense, and yet remarkably soft bristles.

You can see that the tip is pointed to get into tight spots and to cover very small spots efficiently.

The nylon bristles are soft, and yet extraordinarily effective and efficient.

"Handmade in Kumano, Japan using traditional techniques from the most prestigious brush maker in the world. The lacquered handles are crafted with the finest sustainable hardwood birch from a Forest Stewardship Council certified forest in Eastern Europe."

The brush is just a little over 4 1/2" in length

Size comparison top to bottom: Westman Atelier Blender Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Powder Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Foundation Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Baby Blender Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Spot Check Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Eye Shadow II Brush, (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Eye Shadow I Brush (Reviewed HERE), Westman Atelier Lip Brush (Reviewed HERE).

Overall Assessment: I can't begin to express how impressed I am by this hardworking brush, and if you love quality handcrafted makeup brushes, you will really want this beauty in your collection.

$38.00 from Sephora, Credo Beauty, Violet Grey, Net-A-Porter, Cos Bar, Harrods, The Webster, Selfridges and Bergdorf Goodman (Affiliate Links).

Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own. Copyright © 2021 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Westman Atelier Blender Brush Review

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Sometimes when I splurge, I really splurge, and such was definitely the case when I recently bought the Westman Atelier Blender Brush. When Gucci Westman, who is a very accomplished celebrity makeup artist, launched her eponymous makeup line I was immediately drawn to her luxury cruelty-free clean makeup and vegan brushes. That I am a bit of a makeup brush magpie comes as no surprise to any of you, and her brushes simply looked too incredible not to try. Fortunately the Sephora Beauty Insider Sale offered me the perfect opportunity to pick up a couple of these brushes. They are very expensive, but the quality is absolutely outstanding. Each brush is handmade in Kumano, Japan using traditional techniques for every brush made. They are constructed from ultra soft nylon fibers and sustainable hardwood birch handles from a First Stewardship Council certified forest located in Eastern Europe. Westman Atelier's brushes feel soft and smooth against the skin, they are perfectly balanced and comfortable in the hand, and the shorter handles give each brush maximum control and maneuverability. 

I was secretly hoping that I would like them, but not love them, and that I would be satisfied with the two brushes that I purchased, but alas these two brushes have fed my obsession with Westman Atelier, and now I am eagerly awaiting the next sale to purchase a few more.

Westman Atelier Blender Brush is a multipurpose blending brush that does so much more than blend. This is one of my most coveted brushes that I reach for every single day. Yes, it blends exquisitely, and I really mean exquisitely, it is one of those rare brushes that can coax the most from the products being applied and blended– even those products that may not boast the highest quality. It blends foundations, powders, blush, bronzers and contouring products flawlessly and seamlessly, but it also does an exemplary job applying bronzer, highlighter and blush as well. It is essentially the most extraordinary short-handled flat-top kabuki-style brush that I have ever tried (and I have quite a few). The densely packed head of ultra-soft synthetic hairs is soft, but also extraordinarily effective in applying and blending makeup. If it weren't prohibitively expensive I would purchase a second one so that one would be dedicated to foundations and the other to color makeup products for the face. It is worth noting that the synthetic hairs do not absorb the products used, and therefore there is little to no waste. 

This brush is ultra-lush and unbelievably luxurious. It works beautifully with cream, liquid and powder products, and it picks up, deposits and blends to perfection. It effortlessly creates a more natural no makeup look, or facilitates more dramatic effects.

This brush is very easy to clean, and after having washed it numerous times, it hasn't shed a single bristle.

According to Westman Atelier,

An essential blending brush and the ideal companion to Super Loaded Tinted Highlight. The chiseled, face-framing shape envelops cheeks beautifully and intuitively guides your hand in an upwards motion to perfectly enhance cheekbones. 

Features:

- Made with cruelty-free, super soft nylon fibers.

- Artisan Design: Handmade in Kumano, Japan using traditional techniques from the most prestigious brush maker in the world. 

- Lacquered Handles: Crafted with the finest sustainable hardwood birch from a Forest Stewardship Council certified forest in Eastern Europe. 

- High Performance: Luxurious and durable. Cruelty-free nylon fibers feel ultra-smooth with optimal density, softness and function. 

- Our brush-making process is cruelty-free.

Gucci's Notes: "Brushes are my most important tools. I think of them as an extension of myself, and it’s an absolute luxury to work with an extraordinary brush. Start at the base of your cheekbones and work in a circular or sweeping motion. This unique brush will naturally guide your hand upward, leaving skin looking instantly polished and refined."

The Westman Atelier Blender Brush is 5 1/4 inches in length.

Note the densely packed head.

Luxurious and durable. Cruelty-free nylon fibers feel ultra-smooth with optimal density, softness and function.

Overall Assessment: I wish that I could tell myself that this brush is nice, but nothing special, and that I would use it because I spent a small fortune on it (even on sale), however, this brush has single-handedly fueled my obsession with this Westman Atelier. I also purchased their Baby Blender Brush and will review it soon, but I will tell you right now that it is miraculous as well. As soon as there is another sale, I am purchasing more of Westman Atelier brushes (and makeup). A+++

$125.00 from Sephora, Credo Beauty, Violet Grey, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-A-Porter (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own. Copyright © 2021 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Boxwalla April Beauty Box Review: Spring in Spain Featuring Twelve Beauty

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Boxwalla's eco-luxe beauty boxes are an extraordinary value, and the products themselves are nothing short of spectacular. Their carefully curated cruelty-free green beauty boxes are a tremendous value, with steep discounts, and they feature truly covet-worthy luxurious, and sustainably crafted beauty products. 

The April Beauty Box: Spring in Spain | $49.95: A Beauty Box for the luxury loving skincare nerd, this box lets you experience the most effective and exquisite beauty products that harness the potency of plant-based ingredients. 

- Bi-Monthly Delivery

- Free U.S. Shipping

- Effective Plant-based Ingredients

- Always Cruelty-Free

The Boxwalla April Beauty Box is themed: Spring in Spain. The box contains two full-sized products from Twelve Beauty, with a retail value of $287.00.

1) Twelve Beauty's Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil ($215.00 value)

2) Twelve Beauty's Nutritive Repair Emulsion ($72.00 value)

About Twelve Beauty,

Twelve Beauty was founded by Pedro Catalá in 2012. In addition to degrees in Botany and Pharmacy, Pedro has a Masters in Cosmetic Science and a Ph.D. in Natural Formulation Technologies. He also teaches Natural Formulation twice a year at the University of Siena, in Italy. He is very passionate about sustainability and conservation, not only by sourcing only sustainable ingredients but also by donating his time and money to conservation efforts.

His general approach to skincare tends to focus on barrier repair and preserving a healthy skin barrier, and he advocates a very conservative approach to exfoliation. His view is that mature skin cells aka corneocytes are necessary for proper barrier function and that we shouldn't be in a rush to get rid of them. 

Twelve Beauty's Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil ($215.00): This is an extraordinarily lightweight and fast absorbing oil that has the soft and luscious texture of velvet when it contacts the skin. It harnesses the power of unsaponifiable oils that are "a fraction of plant oils that are a concentrated source of nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and are really great for repairing the skin barrier in a short about of time." 

This oil is formulated for most skin types. For oilier skin types its employment of  linoleic acid, helps to reduce the amount of sebum that tends to settle in the pores, but for dry skin it bolsters moisture retention, and people with sensitive skin will note that it strengthens the skin barrier to protest the upper layers of skin.

For my normal/combination skin, this gorgeous oil reduces the production of sebum in my t-zone, deeply nourishes and fortifies my skin, softens the appearance of fine lines and leaves it refreshed, hydrated, silky-smooth and luminous. This oil has the most faint herbal aroma, but it very pleasant and it fades away once it has been absorbed.

According to Twelve Beauty,

A unique lightweight facial oil based on nature’s best-kept secret: Unsaponifiable oils. This special fraction of the purest and most expensive plant oils is naturally brimming with active ingredients, which have been hand-blended to preserve their potency and integrity. Hugely soothing, deeply hydrating and proven to repair the skin’s barrier function, this regenerating oil helps to restructure the epidermis – Boosting radiance, deeply hydrating and restoring youthful vitality and healthy suppleness.

About Unsaponifiable Oils,

Unsaponifiables are very different from the original oils that they are extracted from - they do not have the triglycerides and oleic acid that may be present in the oil. So for example, Olive oil unsaponifiables are not heavy like olive oil, wheatgerm unsaponifiables contain no gluten, and so on. 

Pedro notes that Unsaponifiables are not new in the Beauty industry He mentioned that in a 1950s Dermatology conference in Switzerland, they spoke about Unsaponifiables and their benefits. However, they are not often used in commercial skincare because they are very complicated and expensive to extract. Moreover, they are difficult to manipulate and can become rancid if not used in a well-formulated product by somebody with extensive knowledge about them. 

According to Pedro, he does the following: 

1) He calculates the precise amount of antioxidants to stabilize the unsaponifiables. 

2) The Unspaoinifiables have to be worked with and manipulated in a vacuum and a dark environment. 

3) It is also important to note which oils these are blended with to ensure that they remain stable. Over a period of about 18 months, Pedro also measured the Peroxide index to ensure that his calculations were right and that there was no oxidation of the formula (he also tested the unsaponifiables with random oils and noted that they went rancid- so choosing the right oils to blend with these is paramount to ensuring that the unsaponifiables remain stable, effective and beneficial).

Filaggrin is a protein that is present in mature skin cells in the upper layers of the skin (which is one of the reasons Pedro believes in minimal and gentle exfoliation). Once Filaggrin finishes its life cycle, it releases Amino acids that are part of the Natural Moisturing Factor (NMF) of the skin that maintains an optimal level of epidermal moisturization.

Directions: Massage a small amount into clean skin, morning and/or night. Customize by mixing 2-3 drops with your serum or moisturizer.

Select Ingredients and Their Attributes:

Pollen: Rich in amino acids, enzymes, sugars, magnesium, zinc and vitamins, and acts a skin revitaliser

Glycine (Soybean) Oil Unsaponifiables: from a wholly sustainable source: potent unsaponifiables: which act as a soothing skin conditioner

Olive Oil Unsaponifiables: Contains verbascoside which is a potent radical scavenger – ideal for counteracting oxidation and preventing premature ageing

Wheatgerm Oil Unsaponifiables: restructures the skin by protecting some key proteins in the upper layers of the skin which then increases production of molecules essential for the formation of the skin’s own Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF).

Sunflower Seed Oil Unsaponifiables: is the ultimate moisturising agent due to its lipid-replenishing ability, which deeply soothes the skin. It also stimulates the synthesis of epidermal key lipids.

Ingredients: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil*, Squalane, Pollen Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables*, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil Unsaponifiables, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil Unsaponifiables, Dicaprylyl Ether, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Tocopherol*, Trihydroxystearin, Mentha Spicata Leaf Oil*, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil , Salvia Sclarea Leaf Oil*, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil*, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis Leaf Oil*, Eletaria Cardamomum Fruit Oil*, Geraniol*, Nerol*, Aniba Rosaedora Stem Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Bark Oil*, Citrus Limon Peel Oil*, Linalool*

Twelve Beauty's Nutritive Repair Emulsion ($72.00): This creamy and emollient lotion has a luxurious silky texture that indescribably melts into the skin without leaving behind any residue whatsoever. Best described as an emulsion, which contains lipid and hydric components, it is a complete moisturizer. It boasts an antioxidant-rich formula that protects the skin against free radical damage, and it soothes, calms and hydrates the skin. The nourishing selection of nutrient-rich ingredients heal and nourish the skin while you sleep. When I wake up my skin is noticeably more vibrant, hydrated and rejuvenated.

According to Twelve Beauty,

A real hero product, this rich yet fast absorbing cream repairs and restores skin while you sleep. With a powerful combination of ingredients rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and phytosterols, this cream helps to regenerate and strengthen the epidermal barrier.

Skin Type: Sensitive – Normal – Dry

Directions: Use morning and night to feed your skin the nourishing hydration it craves around the clock. Or, supercharge with a few drops of the Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil to create the ultimate skin barrier boosting remedy. NOTE: Can also be used as a rejuvenating night cream for combination or blemish-prone skins.

Select Ingredients and Their Attributes:

Theobroma grandiflorum seed butter: restores moisture and elasticity, as a result, the skin is left soft and comfortable. It is packed with polyphenols.

Spent grain wax: consists mainly of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid required for regeneration of the epidermal permeability barrier. This is excellent for dry, irritated and sensitive skin.

Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter extract: improves skin softness and protects skin while easing irritation.

Buddleja davidii leaf extract: offers protection against uv. It is also an effective anti-oxidant.

Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin*, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter*, Glyceryl Laurate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Spent Grain Wax*, Butyrospermum Parkii Extract*, Glyceryl Laurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*, Artemisia Umbeliformis Extract*, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract*, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract*, Peucedanum Ostruti-Iium Leaf Extract*, Tocopherol*, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*.

Overall Assessment: The value of this beautifully curated box is staggering, and these two Twelve Beauty products are utterly extraordinary. A+

*THIS IS A SUBSCRIPTION* You will be charged immediately when you purchase. Automatic renewal occurs every two months until you cancel. Make sure to cancel before the 20th of the preceding month. The April Box will ship in April. 

To order your Boxwalla April Beauty Box visit: www.theboxwalla.com  

$49.95 (a $287.00 value) from Boxwalla (Affiliate Links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2021 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Boxwalla June Beauty Box Review: Three Ways to Savor Summer (With a Little Help From My Friends)

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Boxwalla enthusiasts know that Boxwalla's eco-luxe beauty boxes are an extraordinary value, and that the products themselves are nothing short of spectacular. Their carefully curated green beauty boxes are a tremendous value, with steep discounts, and they feature truly covet-worthy cruelty-free organic beauty products. 

BEAUTY BOX June Box | $49.95: A Beauty Box for the luxury loving skincare nerd, this box lets you experience the most effective and exquisite beauty products that harness the potency of plant-based ingredients. 

- Bi-Monthly Delivery

- Free U.S. Shipping

- Effective Plant-based Ingredients

- Always Cruelty-Free

The Boxwalla June Beauty Box is themed: Three Ways to Savor Summer (With a Little Help From My Friends), and this extraordinary box ships in June. There are three brands in this Box and three full sized products. Retail Value: $185.00!

Nini Organics Natural Detox Foam ($52.00 value): This delectable detox foam is an ultra-finely milled powder cleanser, with a luscious minty aroma, that transforms into a creamy dreamy foamy mousse with a few drops of water. While you could certainly mix it in a bowl, I prefer to cup my hand and mix it with my finger, and then apply it directly to me face. Boxwalla posits that it can be used as a first cleanse if you aren't wearing makeup and a second cleanse if you are.

The coconut-based foaming agent gives this cleanser its creamy texture and the green clay deeply cleans the skin. Ingredients such as white willow bark gently exfoliates and helps fight acne without stripping the skin. This magical powder is filled with nourishing and antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as neem, spirulina, broccoli and baobab extracts, camu camu and goji that leave skin soft, smooth, supple and luminous.

According to Nini Organics,

Natura Detox Foam is a unique water-free foaming cleanser supercharged with detoxifying dried vegetables and super antioxidants. A super gentle foaming agent derived from Coconuts helps create a super effective foaming cleanser. Broccoli powder rich in vitamin C & A helps to mop up all the daily pollutants and free radical damage whilst Organic Baobab powder helps promote skin’s collagen formation, boosting skin’s natural elasticity and smoothness. White Willow Bark contains salicylic acid which gently exfoliates your skin helping to fight acne / hormonal breakouts leaving your skin feeling fresh and looking radiant. Organic Goji Berry powder is rich in antioxidants helping to further reduce environmental damage.

Directions: Use 2/3 times a week as a recharging cleanser designed to give your skin a full detoxifying cleanse. Add a small amount to the palm of your hand, slowly add droplets of fresh water to create a supercharged foam ready to deeply & effectively cleanse your skin. Apply in circular motions onto dry skin adding more water to activate more foam, massage in for around 30 seconds before washing off with cold water for a more refreshing feel.

NINI Tip: Mix with our Coffee & Cacao Face Scrub for a more exfoliating cleanser or use as a second cleanse to our Halo Cleansing Elixir. Can also be used as a second cleanse to any existing routine. 

Please Note: The subscriber bottles will come in the newly designed outer boxes that are under production.

Ingredients: Sodium cocoyl isethionate (coconut foaming agent)**, Sodium bicarbonate ***, Citric acid**, Montmorillonite (Green Clay)**, Spirulina platensis powder (Spirulina)*, Azadirachta indica leaf extract (Neem)*, Spinacia oleracea leaf powder (Spinach)*, Brassica oleracea italica extract (Broccoli)*, Adansonia digitata fruit extract (Baobab)*, Lycium barbarum fruit extract (Goji Berry)*, Myrciaria dubia fruit extract (Camu Camu)*, Maltodextrin**, Salix alba bark powder (White Willow Bark)*, Mentha spicata herb oil (Spearmint)*, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil (Rose Geranium)*, Citrus aurantium flower oil (Neroli)**, D-Limonene****, Linalol****, Citral****, Geraniol****, Farnesol****. *Organic or Wildcrafted **Natural ***Aluminium Free **** Naturally Occurring

Pai Skincare Sea Aster & Wild Oat Instant Calm Redness Serum ($78.00 value): This serum has the texture of a lovely light and emollient water-based lotion, and it is formulated to calm and soothe skin and to reduce redness and irritation. Furthermore, it nourishes and hydrates, pampers sensitive skin without any irritation and it leaves it comfortable, soft, supple and luminous. It has a very very light herbal aroma, but it is so faint that it isn't detectable on the skin.

According to Pai,

Our Instant Calm Redness Serum is expertly formulated restore calm and confidence to reactive complexions. This lightweight and hydrating serum is enriched with Sea Aster, a flowering plant that actively calms troubled skin and reduces visible redness and blotchiness. Combined with Wild Oat, rich source of Oleic and Linoleic fatty acids, it helps to comfort areas of dryness and soothe sensitivity. To reduce flare-ups caused by dehydration and dryness, this ultra gentle formula is carefully balanced with filtered water.

This serum is free from ingredients thought to dry or irritate redness, Eczema and Rosacea-prone skin, including: Alcohol (denat.), Benzoyl Peroxide, Synthetic Fragrance, Methylisothiazolinone (MI), Phenoxyethanol and Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate.

As well as instantly calming flushed skin, Sea Aster also strengthens surface blood vessels to improve and prevent redness over time.

Directions: Massage 1 pump into clean skin at night.

Boxwalla asserts: I use this after a toner/hydrating mist and under an oil and cream/balm, as you would a hydrating water based serum. It also layers beautifully under Monastery Aloe. It is very versatile - If you experience redness, in addition to using it as a serum, you can also dab on red areas after your skincare routine. It is also useful to layer under more active serum if you want a bit of a buffer while using active serums.

Ingredients: Full Ingredients (INCI): Aqua - Purified Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water* - Orange Fruit Water, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract* - Oat Extract, Glycerin - Organic Derived Vegetable Glycerine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate - Naturally Derived Emulsifier, Cetearyl Alcohol - Naturally Derived Emulsifier. Aster Maritima/Tripolium Extract - Sea Aster Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate - Hyaluronic Acid. Carya Ovata Bark Extract - Hickory Bark Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil* - May Chang Oil, Adesmia Boronioides Flower / Leaf / Stem Oil* - Paramela Oil Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil* - Sunflower Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - Naturally Derived Emollient, Acacia Senegal Gum - Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum - Xanthan Gum, Sodium Levulinate - Naturally Derived Preservative, Sodium Anisate - Naturally Derived Preservative, Glyceryl Caprylate - Naturally Derived Emulsifier, Tocopherol - Natural Vitamin E, Lactic Acid - pH Regulator, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract* - Rosemary Leaf Extract.

Naturally occurring in essential oils: citral*, limonene*.  Certified Organic by the Soil Association (*Organically produced 79% of product). Suitable for Vegans. Not tested on animals. Nut free formula.

African Botanics Marula Botanical Hand Cream ($55.00 value): The ultra-emollient luxury oil-infused cream boasts a refreshingly creamy lightweight texture that sinks into the skin immediately and doesn't leave hands in the least bit greasy. If you adhere to the belief that one needs to use thick and greasy hand creams in order to stave-off and heal dry and chapped hands, then you will be astonished by the efficacy of this ingenious hand cream.  In fact, I think that it is more accurate to classify Marula Botanical Hand Cream as a cutting-edge antioxidant-rich anti-aging serum/cream hybrid that protects, nourishes, hydrates, soothes, brightens and repairs the skin with great efficacy.

Not only are my hands soft, supple and ultra moisturized, but they are left with the type of pronounced luminosity that I have only ever experienced in luxurious serums and beauty oils for the face. The delectable warm and earthy scent heightens the sensory experience of using this luxe hand cream, but it does fade soon upon application, and therefore won't pose a problem for those among you who prefer scent-free products.

It is noteworthy that the formula is very concentrated, and the effects are very long-lasting– therefore a single tube goes a very very long way.  If you treat yourself to one new body product this season, then African Botanics Marula Botanical Hand Cream should be at the top of your list. I kid you not, this hand cream is that extraordinary.

According to African Botanics,

Formulated to regenerate, repair, deeply hydrate, soothe, even skin tone, brighten and restore comfort. Reduces dark spots and lightens with Swiss Garden Cress. Protects and fights aging with Alpine Rose plant stem cells, plant peptides and Hyaluronic Acid while promoting healing.

Packed with a bespoke blend of wild-harvested African oils, exotic butters and moisturizing botanicals that naturally soothe, soften and deeply hydrate while combating dryness and the appearance of age spots. Sinks deep into the skin and delivers vitamin rich restorative hydration providing an uplifting and calming aromatic experience with Wild Rosemary Leaf and Cape Rose Geranium. Quick-absorbing treatment leaves hands soft, soothed and well protected.

A unique combination of antioxidant and omega-rich Marula, Baobab and Kigelia oils calm, hydrate and increase skin elasticity. Mafura, Mango and Shea butters nourish, soothe and help reduce inflammation. Green Rooibos Tea and Swiss Garden Cress, rich in phytonutrients help reduce age spots, pigmentation and even out skin tone. Hyaluronic acid, Alpine Rose Plant Stem Cells and plant peptides visibly smoothe, strengthen and enhance the lipid barrier function to protect and maintain moisture.

Ingredients: Aqua (Spring Water), Aloe Ferox (Bitter Aloe) Leaf Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula)* Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Decyl Oleate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)* Butter, Mangifera Indica (Mango)* Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Trichilla Emetica (Cape Mahogany Mafura)* Seed Butter, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Lecithin, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab)* Seed Oil, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Globularia Cordifolia Ferment, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Tea Extract, Cyclopia Genistoides (Honeybush) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexapeptide-3, Pelargonium Graveolens (Cape Geranium) Essential Oil, Rosarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Leaf) Essential Oil, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Essential Oil, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E). *Organic and Wild-Harvested Ingredients.

Overall Assessment: Not only are each of the products in the June Box extraordinary, but the value is unbelievable! I highly recommend Boxwalla June Beauty Box: Three Ways to Savor Summer (With a Little Help From My Friends). A+

*THIS IS A SUBSCRIPTION*  You will be charged immediately when you purchase. Automatic renewal occurs every two months until you cancel. Make sure to cancel before the 20th of the preceding month. The June Box will ship in June.

To order your Boxwalla June Beauty Box visit: www.theboxwalla.com  

$49.95 from Boxwalla (Affiliate Links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2020 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Boxwalla June Beauty Box Sneak Peek: Three Ways to Savor Summer (With a Little Help From My Friends)

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

The Boxwalla June Beauty Box is themed: Three Ways to Savor Summer (With a Little Help From My Friends), and this extraordinary box ships in June. My full review is forthcoming, and you will see it very soon, but here is a sneak peek of what's in this amazing box.

There are three brands in this Box and three full sized products. Retail Value: $185:

1) Nini Organics' Natural Detox Foam ($52): The Detox foam is a finely milled powder. With a few drops of water it transforms into a creamy, foamy mousse. It uses a mild coconut based foaming agent along with deeply cleansing green clay to cleanse the skin. It also contains very nourishing ingredients like neem, spirulina, broccoli and baobab extracts, antioxidants like camu camu & goji. There is also white willow bark that gently exfoliates skin. Even though it is an exfoliating cleanser, it leaves the skin very nourished, soft, smooth, supple and glowy.

Use & Notes: Use just a few drops of water and mix (I usually just mix in the palm of my hand but you can use a bowl as well). You can use this as a first cleanse, if you aren't wearing makeup or a second cleanse, if you are. I like to use it a couple of times a week.

Please Note: The subscriber bottles will come in the newly designed outer boxes that are under production. 

2) Pai Skincare's Sea Aster & Wild Oat Instant Calm Redness Serum ($78): This is a light lotion-y serum, water-based serum, that is very calming and soothing. It contains sea aster which calms skin the skin, reinforces the skin barrier and also inhibits the cutaneous neuropeptides that cause the skin to flare up, thus helping to reduce redness. It also contains wild oat which is rich in fatty acids and soothes reactive skin, helping to protect it against environmental irritants.

Use & Notes: I use this after a toner/hydrating mist and under an oil and cream/balm, as you would a hydrating water based serum. It also layers beautifully under Monastery Aloe. It is very versatile - If you experience redness, in addition to using it as a serum, you can also dab on red areas after your skincare routine. It is also useful to layer under more active serum if you want a bit of a buffer while using active serums. 

3) African Botanics' Botanical hand cream ($55): This is a lightweight hand cream that is quick absorbing and non greasy. In addition to moisturizing hands, it also helps even out the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation, repairing and regenerating skin. It combines ingredients like aloe ferox, marula oil, baobab oil, shea & mango butters with green rooibos. tea, swiss garden cress, alpine rose plant stem cells, plant peptides and hyaluronic acid. Together it provides protection & hydration while repairing the skin.

Use & Notes: Since this cream is so lightweight, it is especially lovely to use in the day as it is really easy to reapply regularly throughout the day after washing hands (without having to wait long for it to absorb). It is wonderful to use overnight as well. However, if it is winter where you live, you can also layer this under a thicker balm.

*THIS IS A SUBSCRIPTION*  You will be charged immediately when you purchase. Automatic renewal occurs every two months until you cancel. Make sure to cancel before the 20th of the preceding month. The June Box will ship in June.

To order your Boxwalla June Beauty Box visit: www.theboxwalla.com  

$49.95 from Boxwalla (Affiliate Links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2020 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser for Gently Exfoliated and Hydrated Skin This Winter

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser is a truly fantastic cleanser that I have been using for quite a while now, and it remains one of my most reached-for wonder-products. I generally prefer lathering cleansers, but this one with its light creamy consistency, that is filled with gentle and refined exfoliating particles, is one of my all-time favorite cleansers. It gently exfoliates dead skin cells, unclogs congested pores and it hydrates, rather than strips and dries out the skin. Many moisturizing cleansers leave behind a greasy film, but this leaves behind no sort of unpleasant residue. Skin is left soft, smooth, supple and luminous. It has a very faint fruity aroma, presumably from the essential oils blend, but it is not in the least bit overpowering, and it does not linger. I have only ever bought this cleanser in the glass bottle, but they now have a plastic tube as well– which is undoubtedly better for storing it in the shower or for traveling.

Tata Harper, whose eponymously named skincare brand is handcrafted on her farm in Vermont, first sought to create a natural skincare brand as a response to her step-father's cancer diagnosis. This propelled her to examine, and learn about, all of the potentially harmful multisyllabic ingredients in all of her personal care products, and to ultimately create products that were healthy and luxurious.

According to Tata Harper,

This gentle exfoliating cleansing treatment acts as a 4-in-1 product to thoroughly cleanse and improve glow while purifying, minimizing the appearance of pores and helping to protect the skin’s natural hydration balance. Free of soaps, alcohols and detergents, this cleanser clarifies with fresh enzymes, clays and essential oils, while microspherical beads polish the skin and reduce appearance of blackheads – all without stripping the skin of moisture. Skin is left feeling balanced, hydrated and glowing. Minimizes the appearance of pores. Deeply cleanses and decongests the skin.

Features:

• 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin.
• 82% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming.
• Natural Cosmetic certified by Ecocert Greenlife according to Ecocert Standard.

Tips from Tata Harper: Apply it on dry skin and massage into skin using circular motions, then focus on highly congested areas during a second buffing cleanse.

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Cetearyl alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, Sorbitan Olivate, Oryza sativa (Rice) Extract*, Lactobacillus/Punica granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Aqua/Water, Coco-glucoside, Cetearyl glucoside, Kaolin (Rose Clay), Sclerotium gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Salix alba (Willow) Bark Extract*, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Phytate, Denatured Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Aroma**, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool *Ingredients from Organic farming **Clinical grade essential oils blend.

Overall Assessment: This is such a perfect cleanser for the winter, it exfoliates and hydrates and leaves skin remarkable soft and smooth. I use it a couple of times a week during the colder months of the year, and my skin couldn't be happier.

$42.00 for 1.7 oz. and $84.00 for 4.1 oz. from Tata Harper, Space NK, Sephora, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Cult Beauty, The Detox Market, Credo Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, goop, Bloomingdale's, Selfridges and Bergdorf Goodman (Affiliate Links).

Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.
Copyright © 2020 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

BOXWALLA FEBRUARY GREEN BEAUTY BOX TEASER FEATURING VOTARY

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

All of you already know the extent to which I am smitten with Boxwalla, and the eco-luxe skincare brands with which they collaborate. I am so thrilled about their February box, that I had to share a preview before I post my full review.

Boxwalla enthusiasts know that Boxwalla's eco-luxe beauty boxes are an extraordinary value, and that the products themselves are nothing short of spectacular. Their carefully curated green beauty boxes are a tremendous value, with steep discounts, and they feature truly covet-worthy cruelty-free organic beauty products.

BEAUTY BOX

February Box | $49.95

A Beauty Box for the luxury loving skincare nerd, this box lets you experience the most effective and exquisite beauty products that harness the potency of plant-based ingredients. 

- Bi-Monthly Delivery

- Free U.S. Shipping

- Effective Plant-based Ingredients

- Always Cruelty-Free

The February Box features two products from the cult favorite British brand Votary (Total Retail Value: $212): Super Seed Facial Oil ($110) and Super Seed Nutrient Cream ($102).

1) Super Seed Facial Oil ($110): "A fragrance-free, deeply nourishing & calming oil serum made with a beautiful blend of 22 seed oils including omega-rich pumpkin seed, cranberry, raspberry, chia, pomegranate, cherry, carrot seed and more! It minimizes fine lines, increases the skin's elasticity and makes the skin healthy & glowing!"

2) Super Seed Nutrient Cream ($102): "A soothing and protective cream with a luscious texture that melts into skin. Made with a blend of 22 seed oils to nourish and moisturize skin as well as hyaluronic acid for lasting hydration. Leaves the skin plump and healthy, with an almost matte, non-greasy finish."

*THIS IS A SUBSCRIPTION*  You will be charged immediately when you purchase. Automatic renewal occurs every two months until you cancel. Make sure to cancel before the 20th of the preceding month. The February Box will ship in February.

To order your Boxwalla December Beauty Box visit: www.theboxwalla.com  

$49.95 from Boxwalla (Affiliate Links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2020 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.