Empties February 2020

Press Samples & Purchased (Affiliate Links)

My plans to finish up a lot of products in February were thwarted by excessive traveling for work, coupled with testing out a lot of new products. Therefore,  I only managed to finish 4 products– of which three were full-sized!

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo ($58.00 for 13.4 oz. from SHU UEMURA, Sephora, Amazon and Birchbox): is described as a, "delicate formula that transforms quickly into a rich foam that effectively draws out the impurities and build-up on the scalp without stripping the natural oils. Leaves hair naturally radiant, soft and in balanced state – volumized and moisturized." This shampoo is made for dry scalp and hair, but it will do wonders for all types of hair. It is so gentle and non-stripping that my hair is manageable before I even condition it.  It deeply and gently cleanses the hair and scalp, and it hydrates without overdoing it. Hair is never left greasy or feeling dirty, but instead it feels nourished, moisturized and smoothed. Furthermore, my hair is left soft, supple and shiny when I use this shampoo, and for me that is something that I am generally only able to achieve with a richly moisturizing conditioner. Additionally, the scent is absolutely an intoxicatingly beautiful and refined fruity floral. Repurchase? I already opened another bottle!

Oz Naturals Vitamin C Facial Cleanser ($16.00 for 4oz. from OZNaturals): This is a very gentle and non-stripping cleanser that does a truly exemplary job. I left it in the shower and used it all of the time, but was struck by how quickly the tube was getting used. It turned out that it was a family favorite as well! Repurchase? It is on my must-buy list!

Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil ($115.00 for 4.1 oz. from Space NK, Sephora, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Cult Beauty, The Detox Market, Credo Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, goop and Bergdorf Goodman): One of my favorite body oils is this real gem from Tata Harper. It is a really lovely nourishing body oil that is a treat to the senses and the skin. I often use body oils in lieu of lotions, creams and body butters, but tend to layer them together when the weather is either quite cold. This delectable and decadent light to mid-weight oil is fast-absorbing, ultra-hydrating and leaves behind no greasy residue. The nutrient, vitamin and mineral-rich formula immediately moisturizes dry, dehydrated skin, and it heals chapped, rough patches and leaves skin silky smooth and luminous. It has a pronounced aroma from the essential oils blend. I am transfixed by its gorgeous scent, but if you are sensitive to lingering scents, you may find this one a bit more imposing until it fades away (which takes about 20 minutes on me). Repurchase? ABSOLUTELY!

Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover ($15.00-$62.00 for 1.7 oz. to  13.5 oz. from Lancôme, Nordstrom, Macy's, Ulta, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Sephora and Bergdorf Goodman): If you have sensitive eyes, as I do, or if you wear contact lenses, then you know the importance of an ultra-gentle eye makeup remover. I have tried so many eye makeup removers that purported to be gentle only to be dismayed when they made my eyes burn, sting and water– all of which often resulted in irritated, red eyes. That is not my idea of a gentle eye makeup remover, period! This is an ultra-gentle dual-phase eye makeup remover that removes every trace of makeup– including the most resilient waterproof formulas– and it does so without the need to tug or pull the delicate eye area. Furthermore,  it never stings or irritates my sensitive eyes, and boasts the added benefit of leaving my skin conditioned. I must also add that I am glad that this formula does not contain artificial coloring– there is no need for it, and frankly I prefer not to have it in a product that is supposed to remove makeup! Repurchase? I already opened a new bottle!

Overall Assessment: While I didn't finish as many products as I had hoped this month, I am happy that I finished what I did.

What did you use up, toss out, give away or return in February. Any real winners or losers to report? Do tell!

Press Samples and Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).

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

Last Minute Beauty Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

 Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

If you are still scrambling to find last minute gifts to give, and if you have stockings to stuff, I thought that I would share some amazing finds with you. All of these products are loved, and used, in my household, and are definitely worthy of consideration. 

Alora Ambiance Isola Reed Diffuser (Shown below. $60.00 for 8 oz. Reed Diffuser and $90.00 for 16 oz. from Alora Ambiance and from the official Beautyhabit Amazon Store): which is their most popular fragrance for good reason, is a delectable floral mix of gardenia, tuberose and fig. It is a light and airy fragrance without being too sweet, and it isn't in the least bit pungent. The fragrance might be likened to the experience of walking through a fragrant garden during a warm summer breeze– it is at once ethereal and deeply pleasurable. I have mine in my master bathroom, and each time I open the door I am greeted by its delectable aroma. 

Alora Ambiance also makes equally amazing candles. In fact, the Alora Ambiance Bimbi Candle ($50.00 for 9 oz. from Alora Ambiance): is a study in refinement and elegance, and it would not be an overstatement to suggest that it is a candle with which I am thoroughly transfixed and obsessed. The lovely aroma, which is a delectable blend of Bimbi Lavender, Chamomile and Bergamot, is a luscious composite of the three scents, and together they yield the most extraordinary citrusy floral that is neither too sweet, nor too assertive. The ultra-high quality soy candle, with a cotton wick, burns for about 50 hours, and it fills the air with the most intoxicatingly beautiful and calming aroma. Furthermore, the glass vessel is so beautiful that you will want to save it to display your makeup brushes or eye pencils.

NaturaBrasil, which is Brasil's number 1 beauty brand, works with communities in the Amazon to, "to develop the best natural ingredients for skin and hair – and to help keep the Amazon forest standing for generations to come." They engage in sustainable practices, and have created a whole beauty brand devoted to well-being. I have been using some of their bath & body, skincare and haircare products, which range from $9.00-$54.00, and their textures, aromas and efficacy make them such a joy to use. My current obsessions are their Cacau Body Scrub ($25.00), which has a delectable aroma and leaves skin unbelievably soft and smooth,  and their Maracujá Whipped Body Mousse ($24.00) which melts into the skin, leaves it soft, supple and moisturized, and it smells heavenly.

About NaturaBrasil,

NaturaBrasil is a natural and vegan beauty brand that works directly with communities in the Amazon rainforest (educating locals on best practices and business acumen) to sustainably source exotic Amazonian ingredients. Through this community program and many others, NaturaBrasil has saved over 635,000 acres of rainforest. With every purchase, a bit more of the rainforest can be preserved. Natura was recently named one of the 'Most Ethical Companies in the World' by Ethisphere Magazine and was honored with the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award. 

The brand is known not only for the quality of its beauty products, but also for its commitment to transparency, sustainability and the promotion of well-being (what Natura calls "bem estar bem"). What started in 1969 as a single store on the famous Oscar Freire shopping street in Sao Paulo has grown into Brazil’s largest single beauty brand and a major force in beauty throughout Latin America and continues to grow globally with the recent acquisitions of The Body Shop and Aesop.

Nubian Heritage Body Care products ($2.99- $14.99 from Nubian Heritage, Swanson Health, Target, Jet.com, Walmart and The Vitamin Shoppe): make some of my all-time favorite, and affordable eco-friendly bath and body products. Their Raw Shea Butter range and their new Peppermint & Aloe Bath Bombs rank among my most reached for this season. Their products are perfect as stocking stuffers, and to stock your bathroom for holiday guests.

European Wax Center Slow It Body Wash and Lotion ($20.00 each from European Wax Center): If someone on your gift list loves to wax, then the European Wax Center has a wonderful range of products to deter ingrown hairs, exfoliate the skin, and moisturize and pamper the skin. Their Slow It Body wash is filled with gentle exfoliating particles that leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple and it effectively deters ingrown hairs. Their Slow It Body Lotion is healing, nourishing, hydrating and very fast absorbing. These make great stocking stuffers or guest bathroom treats!

WEN by Chaz Dean ($15.00-$32.00 from WEN, QVC, and Walmart): Years ago, when I first discovered, and used, WEN by Chaz Dean– I was so thrilled to see the way in which his detergent-free non-lathering Cleansing Conditioners were so gentle and effective on my dry, curly hair.

My current favorite is the WEN® Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner which is described as, "a revolutionary step towards beautiful, healthy, shiny hair." You use it in lieu of your regular shampoo and conditioner, and it does an enviable job cleaning and conditioning the hair, and leaving it detangled, soft, hydrated, and it does not weigh it down or leave hair greasy. They also suggest that it can be used as a shaving cream, and I love using it in this capacity as well!

SUN BUM ($3.99-$19.99 from Sun Bum and Ulta): Sun Bum makes some of my family's very favorite sunscreens, but they also make some remarkable haircare products worthy of mention. 

My current favorite, which my husband loves too, is SUN BUM Texturizing Sea Spray, which smells like the ocean breeze and gives you tousled beach waves and extra body. It is lightweight, defines hair and prevents frizz. My husband loves it because it has a matte finish and enough hold to keep hair from getting too messy, but not so much as to prevent it from moving naturally.

OZNaturals ($15.48-$19.99 each from OZNaturals): I recently began using some products from OZNaturals, and I am impressed by the quality of their natural products, and their efficacy and inherent affordability make them very worth trying. They make perfect stocking stuffers, and would be wonderful to have in a guest bathroom over the holidays. 

I am currently rather obsessed with their Vitamin C Facial Cleanser ($15.49) because it is gentle, non-stripping and yet it thoroughly cleans the skin. Their Vitamin C + AHA Facial Serum ($19.95) exfoliates dead skin cells effectively, but instead of drying and irritating the skin, it brightens without leaving it dry red, or inflamed. They also have a wonderful Vitamin C + Sea Hydration Mask ($19.99) that banishes dry skin, and leaves it soft, deeply hydrated and brightened. I just started testing their Super Youth Retinol Facial Moisturizer ($19.99), and am excited to see whether their claim that it is gentle but effective, and that it "delivers visible results without the irritation, redness, dryness and flaking commonly associated with prescription and other retinol creams" turns out to be the case for my skin.

According to OZNaturals, 

We create high quality, effective and affordable skincare products that combine the best science with the power of nature. Cruelty-free and vegan, our products use carefully sourced ingredients and are formulated without the use of potentially harmful synthetic chemicals.

At the heart of all we do is a deep-rooted commitment to environmental sustainability and awareness. Our unique cold-process manufacturing methods are energy efficient and create a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional processes. In addition, OZNaturals sources raw, natural ingredients where harvesting helps support the economic health of the community. We believe we have a responsibility to our customers, our employees and our planet to protect and celebrate our natural environment.

Formulated without: Parabens, GMOs, Sulfates, Phthalates, Synthetic fragrances, Synthetic Colors, Petrochemicals, Propylene glycol, PEGs, Formaldehyde.

Passport to Beauty Sheet Masks ($18.50 each from Passport to Beauty): I am among the people who absolutely love sheet masks, and I am always so excited to try them out. Passport to Beauty sent me three to test, and I am pleased to report that they are wonderful.

Australian Beauty Secret Tea Tree Clarifying Face Mask has "natural antibacterial properties in the oil are great for clearing blemishes, while Centella Asiatica extract soothes the skin leaving it cool and refreshed."

Singapore Beauty Secret Bird's Nest And Pearl Lifting And Firming Face Mask is "a rich in Collagen and Vitamin C and is known to deeply nourish dry skin, while Pearl is rich in amino acids, antioxidants and signal proteins, protecting skin and boosting collagen regeneration. This amazing beauty secret will lessen the appearance of wrinkles and leave skin radiant, even and smooth."

Korean Beauty Secret Too-An Herb Revitalizing Face Mask "takes all of the amazing benefits used by the Korean women to the next level by blending it with revitalizing Ginseng extract for energy and Cinnamomum Cassia Bark extract, which helps to restore elasticity and vitality, improving your skins’ overall health. Follow this K Beauty secret and glow on with your day."

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Lip Hints Conditioning Lip Balm in Berry ($12.50 for 0.2 oz. from MyChelle, Amazon, and iHerb): This is a seriously delectable, nourishing and healthy, tinted lip balm that is ultra-moisturizing and healing. It has a light spearmint taste and tingle, but it is neither unpleasant, nor long lasting. It offers a beautiful shine and a very sheer wash of color, and it is completely non-sticky.

According to MyChelle Drmaceuticals,

A rich, melting balm with a decadent blend of Shea Butter and Coconut, Kalahari Melon, and Meadowfoam Oils for a soft, dewy look that is never sticky. This 4-in-1 lip treatment nourishes, soothes, deeply hydrates, and primes lips to maximize the wear time of your lip color, or wear alone for a sheer, gloss finish.

In formulating our Lip Hints™ Conditioning Lip Balm, we traded the synthetic waxes, artificial colors, fake flavors, and petroleum-based ingredients of traditional lip products for pure plant oils and waxes, essential oils, and natural extracts.

Made without Phthalates, Parabens, Sulfates, Silicones, Ureas, Artifical Fragrances and Colors, Petroleum, GMOs, and Gluten. FD&C Dye Free Color.

Ingredients: Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Beeswax, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Tocopherol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, Mica, Iron Oxides

Overall Assessment: I would be thrilled to receive any of these as a gift, and think that you just can't go wrong with any of these for yourself, or for the people left on your holiday gift list.

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Copyright © 2018 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.