Bisous de Provence Lavender Triple Milled Soap from Trader Joe's

Purchased (Unaffiliated Links)

As you know by now, I am a huge fan of the French Milled soaps at Trader Joe's, and if you are a fan of lavender, then the Bisous de Provence Lavender Triple Milled Soap from Trader Joe's is an absolute must-have. At $3.99 for a 7 oz. bar, this French soap lasts a very long time. The lavender aroma is really beautiful without being overpowering, and it is such a joy to use.

This 100% pure vegetable bar is enriched with shea butter, and it is filled with lavender flowers that serve as a gentle exfoliant. It is paraben-free and it is free of artificial colors. 

Overall Assessment: What a wonderful lavender soap, and it is definitely worth picking up on your next trip to Trader Joe's if you love lavender!

$3.99 for 7 oz. from Trader Joe's (Unaffiliated Links). Purchased all views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

The Beauty & Style Spotlight Team Late Summer Week in Review

You may own a pair of sandals you think were the same as the iconic pair worn by Jackie Kennedy.  But, did you know another company actually made those for her?  Learn more from Marsha in the Middle. 

Could you use a new fragrance recommendation to ease your way into the autumn? Allison from Never Say Die Beauty suggests a complex, magical fragrance featuring iris and violet that will lift your spirits for the coming season!

Nancy from Nancy's Fashion Style discusses fun ways to style thrifted, pre-loved, secondhand outfits. Perhaps The Thrifty Six group will inspire you to buy pre-loved clothing!

If affordable luxury interests you, then Renpure shampoos, conditioners and body washes will delight you. Lola's Secret Beauty Blog highly recommends their truly wonderful products.

Did you know your smile is one of the most powerful parts of your beauty routine? In this article, Barbie’s Beauty Bits highlights how a confident smile boosts both beauty and self-esteem.

The minimal all-black or all-white outfit is simple and always stylish. But do you know how to make a neutral monochrome outfit look special? Angie from Your True Self Blog gives a style tip that answers that question.

Organic Essentials Moisture Replenishing Shampoo & Hair Masque Review

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links)

I just discovered a wonderful haircare brand, Organic Essentials (OE), that makes lovely cruelty-free and vegan products that are effective, a treat to the senses and a joy to use. 

About OE,

Our journey began with our founder who envisioned an affordable, natural, organic hair care formula suitable for all hair types. Over the years, it became abundantly clear that money did not necessarily guarantee quality products that nurtured and nourished one’s hair. With the ethos of sourcing all natural, organic ingredients and with the ideology that no hair type is beyond help, our founder began testing and experimenting with different ingredient blends to ensure a product that was exactly what it claimed to be – vegan, organic, clean and transformational.

All of our ingredients are sourced from micro farmers around the world. The majority of our sourcing and manufacturing however, takes place in Southeast Asia in our continual attempts to obtain the purest of ingredients and process them as close to the source as possible. Taking a different route from conventional wisdom, our shampoo does not rely on chemically cleaning your hair. Rather, our collection of complimentary products seek to nurture and strengthen hair follicles from roots to ends. With staples such as Coconut, Ginseng extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat protein, Argan oil and a multitude of healthy seed and oil extracts scientifically proven to improve scalp and hair health, we aim to deliver top quality products to you in the convenience of your own home.

We are a cruelty free, chemical free, environmentally friendly and ethically sourced brand who believes in the potential everyone’s hair has. We have made it our mission to help our partners and patrons find hair care solutions for all hair and scalp related issues. The shine in your hair is what we aspire to. The bounce in your curls is our reward. Our famously inclusive collection ensures that no matter what type of hair you have, you will find your perfect match at OE Hair Care.

Moisture Replenishing Shampoo with Ginseng Extract & Wheat Protein ($25.50 for 8.5 oz. from Organic Essentials): This delectably scented shampoo, which smells like toasted coconut, is such a treat to the senses. The gentle and non-stripping formula, which rinses clean without any sort of residue, boasts a satisfying lather. It thoroughly cleans the hair, never weighs it down and leaves the hair and scalp comfortably hydrated.

According to Organic Essentials,

Gently cleanses, repairs and revitalizes hair back to health. Plant-derived ingredients that help to restore the balance of your hairs natural PH level. Adds fullness, luster and maintains healthy hair and scalp.

Made from 97% Organic plant-based Ingredients. Has no Sulfates, Parabens, Paraffin, Synthetic Colour, Phthalates, Gluten, Mineral oil, Propylene, Synthetic Fragrance. Not tested on animals.

Active Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Provitamin B5, Ginseng Extract

Organic Argan Kernel Oil.

Organic Essentials Moisture Replenishing Hair Masque with Moroccan Argan Oil ($35.00 for 8.5 oz from Organic Essentials): This richly hydrating and conditioning masque works wonders on dry and damaged hair without weighing it down. Filled with nourishing ingredients, it deeply moisturizes the hair and scalp leaving them comfortable and rejuvenated. Furthermore, hair is left silky smooth, manageable and frizz-free. It has the same wonderful toasted coconut aroma as the shampoo, and it is likewise a joy to use. Simply apply the mask to freshly washed damp hair, leave on for 30 minutes in a plastic shower cap, and then rinse.

According to Organic Essentials,

A rich blend of organic unrefined shea butter and restorative natural oils, this formula is designed to deeply moisturize, strengthen, and revive dry, brittle, and damaged hair.

Select Ingredients and Their Attributes:

• Argan Oil: Is extremely high in Vitamin E and intensively conditions both the scalp and hair.
• Pro-vitamin B5: Is a water-soluble vitamin and acts as a humectant, improving hair elasticity.
• Bran Oil: Contains Ferulic acid and Esters, which stimulate hair growth. Also rich in Antioxidants and Vitamin E.
• Jojoba Oil: Nourishes and protects hair strands from losing moisture and breakage.
• Perfect for restoring hair back to its healthiest state.

Click on picture above to enlarge ingredients.

Overall Assessment: I am really impressed by the efficacy of these two products, and they are working wonders on my dry-leaning naturally curly hair. I am so impressed, in fact, that I am quite interested in further investigating their other products.

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links). All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Must See TATCHA Gift With Purchase of $175.00+

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Tatcha is having a wonderful Gift with Purchase now! Receive a Tatcha Longevity Serum and choose a targeted treatment duo on $175.00+ purchases. Use code: TREAT25 at checkout. The Offer is valid through August 23 at 11:59 PM PT, or while supplies last.

Enjoy a complimentary 75ml Essence plus your choice of a mini serum with $175+ orders with code: TREAT25. Promotion valid through 11:59 PM PT on 8/23/2025. Qualifying gifts are while supplies last and are subject to change. Promotions and discounts cannot be applied to previous purchases, gift cards, taxes, shipping or processing charges or combined with any other coupons or discounts. Valid on in-stock items only. Cannot be used on orders that include any items on Subscribe & Save or "Curate Your Own Set". Qualifying amount is the subtotal of the purchase and does not include taxes, shipping or gift wrapping. Gifts with purchase are not eligible for return or exchange. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered or ineligible use of offer and to modify or cancel this promotion due to system error or unforeseen problems.

Renpure Affordable Luxurious Picks for the Hair & Body

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

It always astonishes me when I find seriously affordable cruelty-free haircare and body care products that are effective and a joy to use. I say this, in part, because I have been known to spend a small fortune on luxury haircare products to pamper my naturally curly hair. I am delighted to report that Renpure is a cruelty-free haircare and body care brand that makes gentle, effective and very affordable products.

Renpure Biotin & Collagen Thickening Shampoo ($7.48-$9.99 for 24 oz. from iHerb, Amazon, Walmart): This nourishing shampoo neither strips, nor weighs hair down, and instead offers volume without being over done (read: not 1980s big hair). 

According to Renpure,

Renpure Biotin & Collagen Thickening Shampoo is infused with nutrients to help fine hair look and feel thicker and fuller. Our Biotin & Collagen Shampoo contains a blend of Vitamin B7 (Biotin) and protein (Collagen), created to give you the appearance of full, healthy-looking hair.

Features:

•  ZERO Sulfates, Parabens, Dyes, Gluten, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol
•  pH Balanced
•  Made from Recycled Plastic
•  Animal Test Free (PETA)

Directions: Apply shampoo to wet hair, lather, and rinse. Use shampoo with Renpure Biotin & Collagen Conditioner.

Key Ingredients:  

• Biotin (Vitamin B7)
•  Hydrolyzed Collagen
•  Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
•  Coconut Oil

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine*, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MIPA*, Glycol Distearate, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch*, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract*, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride*, Glycerin*, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid*, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool.*

Renpure Biotin & Collagen Thickening Conditioner ($7.48-$9.99 for 28 oz. from iHerb, Amazon, Walmart): This conditioner is seriously hydrating and emollient, but it rinses clean and it neither strips, nor weighs down hair. It nourishes, fights frizz and fly-aways, makes hair manageable and gives it added volume without ever being overdone.

According to Renpure,

Renpure Biotin & Collagen Thickening Conditioner is infused with nutrients to help fine hair look and feel thicker and fuller. Our Biotin & Collagen Conditioner contains a blend of Vitamin B7 (Biotin) and protein (Collagen), created to give you the appearance of full, healthy-looking hair.

Features:

•  ZERO Sulfates, Parabens, Dyes, Gluten, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol
•  pH Balanced
•  Made from Recycled Plastic
•  Animal Test Free (PETA)

Directions: After shampooing, apply conditioner through hair. Wait 2-3 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Use conditioner with Renpure Biotin & Collagen Shampoo.

Key Ingredients:

•  Biotin (Vitamin B7)
•  Hydrolyzed Collagen
•  Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
•  Coconut Oil

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetyl Alcohol*, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract*, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein*, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride*, Citric Acid*, Glycerin*, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool. 

Renpure Oat Milk & Ceramides Sensitive Skin Body Wash ($7.50 for 24 oz. and $14.99 for a 2-pack from iHerb, Amazon): This lightly fragranced body wash boasts a very satisfying lather and it leaves skin soft and moisturized, rather than dry and irritated. This body wash is perfect for anyone, but it is formulated especially for people with sensitive skin.

According to Renpure,

Renpure Oat Milk & Ceramides Body Wash is infused with Oat Milk to soothe and calm sensitive skin, and Ceramides to restore the skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture. This gentle cleanser hydrates dry, sensitive skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and comforted. Our naturally derived body washes care for your skin and care for the planet without the use of harmful ingredients.

This cruelty-free formula for sensitive skin is naturally-inspired and free from mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfates, parabens, silcones and gluten.

At Renpure, we believe that everyone deserves beautiful skin, without compromise. Our pump and bottle are both 100% recyclable, making sustainable choices easier. After rinsing, drop the whole package into the recycling bin.

Click to enlarge to see ingredients.

Overall Assessment: These three products are effective, very affordable and they are a real pleasure to use. 

Press Sample (Affiliate Links). All views expressed are categorically my own. 

Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

It's The Balm Diggity All Natural Lip Balm Review

 

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

I love using lip balms, and wear them all of the time, and therefore I am always excited to try a wide variety of them in an effort to keep my lips soft and moisturized. It's The Balm Diggity makes wonderful lip balms with only 5 ingredients– beeswax, jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter and natural flavors– in a variety of delectable flavors. I have been using Orange Julius, Piña Colada and Shirley Temple scents, and they are such a delicious pleasure to use. They are emollient, ultra-moisturizing and fun to use. I use them sparingly as a lipstick base and I use them generously alone. These are a great addition to my lip balm collection, and I will undoubtedly use them down to the very last swipe!

About It's The Balm Diggity,

Welcome to It's The Balm Diggity! We believe that less is more, which is why our All-Natural Lip Balm is crafted with just five simple ingredients. Experience the purity and effectiveness of our balm, designed to nourish and hydrate your lips without any unnecessary additives. Embrace the beauty of simplicity with us!

We believe in simplicity and purity. Just five natural ingredients, our lip balm offers unmatched softness. Experience quality and treat your lips to gentle, natural care. Embrace the beauty of nature!

It's The Balm Diggity is the creation of a 4th generation farmer, Sean Morrissey. He grew up in Stark County, Illinois, where his family has cultivated the earth for over 70 years. To continue to foster our natural world, Sean became a beekeeper. Not only did Sean want to create value through the profound benefits of pollination and honey, but in the beeswax as well. With a bit of research and hard work Sean quickly learned how to transform the beeswax into a key ingredient for many cosmetic items, primarily lip balm. Borrowing a little bit of throwback slang from his sister for the name, and a little bit of know-how from the family, “It's the Balm Diggity” was born!

According to It's The Balm Diggity,

Experience the perfect blend of creamy and moisturizing goodness with our premium lip balm. Infused with the nourishing power of coconut oil and shea butter, It’s The Balm Diggity Lip Balm ensures your lips stay soft and hydrated all day long. Our unique formula includes beeswax and jojoba oil to lock in moisture, providing a lasting barrier against dryness. Plus, our lip balm is enhanced with natural flavors, giving your lips a delightful and refreshing scent. Pamper your lips with the best – choose It’s The Balm Diggity Lip Balm for a truly luxurious and effective lip care experience.

Features:

• Our All Natural Lip Balm is meticulously handcrafted using Beeswax, Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, Shea butter, and Natural flavors to lavish your lips with moisture and hydration.
• Beeswax is a natural ingredient that helps soften lips and maintain moisture.
• Jojoba oil closely resembles the natural oils produced by the skin, making it an excellent moisturizer for the lips.
• Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids which deeply penetrate the skin providing intense hydration.
• Shea butter is creamy and moisturizing and helps to maintain youthful-looking lips.
• The Natural Flavors provide captivating essences and aromatic notes.

Overall Assessment: Lip balm enthusiasts, if you love natural and limited ingredient lip balms, then these are absolutely worth trying.

$8.99-$9.99 for 3-Pack from It's The Balm Diggity and Amazon (Affiliate Links). Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Brook37 The Atelier Fujian Jasmine Tea Review

Press Sample (Affiliated Links)

I have been drinking loose leaf Jasmine Tea since I was a kid, and I remember my mom brewing pots of this magical and aromatic tea, and I have been utterly enchanted by it for as long as I can remember. The delicate scent and delightful taste always embodies the warmth of my home growing up. I recently started drinking Brook37 The Atelier Fujian Jasmine 7-Scented Jasmine & Biluochun Harmony, and this delicious tea transports me back to the tea my mom brewed when I was a child. This delicate and aromatic tea is smooth with a gorgeous jasmine flower taste that is perfectly balanced and sweet. It is an extraordinary treat to the senses. I deeply inhale its glorious scent before I sip it, and the entirety of the experience is otherworldly. This tea is every bit as delicious as the wonderful tea that I recall from childhood.

According to Brooke37 The Atelier,

Introducing Fujian Jasmine, a tea that embodies grace, craftsmanship, and nature’s finest aromatics. Grown at an elevation of 800 meters on the pristine slopes of Fujian Mountain, the Biluochun base tea is renowned for its curly leaves with silvery-white hairs and a vibrant, spring-fresh character.

After harvest, the delicate green leaves are carefully transported to a jasmine farm, where they are blended with freshly bloomed jasmine flowers not once, but seven times—a traditional scenting process that spans several days. This method infuses the tea with a deeply layered floral fragrance while preserving the natural sweetness and fresh green notes of the Biluochun.

Tasting Notes:

Delicate jasmine aroma

Fresh bean and vegetal tones

Sweet, lingering floral finish 

About Brook37 The Atelier,

As a tea atelier, Brook37 seeks out the most exotic, delicate and boldest teas, sourced directly from exclusive tea bushes in the world’s finest gardens. Behind our unique tea selection are our female founder and an all-women production team that disrupt the stagnated, male-dominated world of tea. Brook37 is proud to bring fresh thinking and an ethical and sustainable mindset to all we do. Our unparalleled tea selection of flavors, aromas and colors from around the world, along with exquisite packaging help you choose a positive and aspirational lifestyle.

We connect with the best tea producers in the world: those with generational knowledge, modern thinking, and those who also share our values in quality, accountability and sustainability. We travel to these tea estates, we wing, laugh and share stories, we understand the lives of those in the tea community, and we work closely with them to make the best tea for the people and our planet.

We center around quality, people and planet in every stage of our value chain. We align ourselves with values that we strongly believe in and became Rainforest Alliance and Plastic Negative certified before we even launched. We are always in the forefront of addressing important issues like climate change, economic inequalities, and diversity & equality.

We believe in transparency as one of the most important drivers to earn trust from our consumers. With every purchase you make, you will be notified with the dollar amount that will be donated from Brook37 for environmental and social causes.

Brook37 wants to break long-established barriers by having a woman CEO in an industry that is primarily led by men with generational wealth. Brook37 also believes that women can lead and grow a brand as efficiently, if not better, than men. 90% of our workforce, including our tea sommelier is woman.

Mou Dasgupta is the founder of an American tea brand Brook37 Tea Atelier. Mou is known to be a trendsetting disrupter and is determined to disrupt the status quo of the American tea industry by bringing the highest quality tea to the discerning American consumers. She is a tea connoisseur and has always been in search of high quality teas that are hard to find in the USA. Recently she left her 25 years of corporate leadership career in the financial services industry to pursue her own dream; to build her own American brand, Brook37.

Features:

Leaf Style: Curly leaves with white hairs

Elevation: 800 meters

Process: Scented with jasmine flowers seven times

Brewing: Steep 3 grams of tea leaves at 185°F filtered water for ONLY 30 secs

Cold Brewing: Ratio: 1L water + 5g tea, Refrigerate 4-6 hours. Add lychee for natural sweetness

Fujian Jasmine is a tea of rare finesse — delicate, aromatic, and exquisitely refined, offering a serene floral escape in every cup. Let each sip transport you to the misty mountain gardens and blooming jasmine fields of Fujian.

Overall Assessment: If you love jasmine tea, then this one is definitely worth trying.

$18.50 for 1.76 oz. from Brook37 The Atelier, Bloomingdale's and Amazon (Affiliated Links). Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Crate & Barrel Up to 60% Off Sale

(Affiliate Links)

Crate & Barrel is having an up to 60% Off Sale across all of their departments, and there are so many amazing products included in the sale. I regularly shop their sales., and I have found some of my most prized items for my kitchen and home from them.

UP TO 60% OFF STEALS OF THE SEASON: Select furniture, outdoor furniture, decor, rugs, entertaining, Crate & Kids items and more on sale for a limited time only (not valid at Outlets). Clearance items available while quantities last. Final sale items sold as is; no returns, exchanges or repairs. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, except free shipping (where applicable) and earning rewards or special financing.

UP TO 60% OFF CLEARANCE: Clearance items available while quantities last. Final sale items sold as is; no returns, exchanges or repairs. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, except free shipping (where applicable), and earning rewards or special financing.

50% OFF DORM ESSENTIALS: Select bedding, bath, rugs, pillows and throws on sale for a limited time only. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, except free shipping (where applicable).

Visit: www.crateandbarrel.com

Currently on Sale at Nordstrom

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Nordstrom is offering up to 50% OFF the on so many items across all departments! Check out all of their new markdowns! 

Visit: www.nordstrom.com

Shop by Department:
Sale: Beauty | Women | Men | Kids | Home

Women's Clothing | Women's Shoes | Handbags & Accessories

The Beauty & Style Spotlight Team Mid-August Week in Review

The Boxwalla August Beauty Box featuring WYLYS and CLE is perfectly curated, and it includes amazing skincare and makeup. Lola's Secret Beauty Blog gives this box an A+!

Nancy from Nancy's Fashion Style, who almost always wears black, is wearing an orange and green wrap dress with ruffles, and she is feeling confident in colours.

What beauty trends are actually worth the commitment? From microblading and lip blush to lash lifts and delicate tattoos, long-lasting beauty trends are having a moment, and Barbie’s Beauty Bits discusses which of them are worthwhile.

Mature skin? Dry skin? Allison from Never Say Die Beauty is trying out Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Collection including the new Pro-Collagen Peptide Firming Eye Serum. Paula’s Choice seldom disappoints!

Teal is a universal color that looks good on everyone and it can easily go from Summer to Fall. Angie from Your True Self Blog shows you what colors go best with teal, resulting in some really sensational outfits!

Marsha is not a fan of cooking or grocery shopping, and she gave a popular subscription meal box a try. Read her review at Marsha in the Middle.