Kari Gran Lip Whip (I’m obsessed with the tinted in the cinnamon “flavor”) – purchased
Hurraw! Moon lip balm & Kapha lip balm (purchased)
Osmia organics Luz Enzyme facial soap*
Josh Rosebrook tinted nutrient day cream with SPF (sample)
De Mamiel restorative cleansing balm*
Josh Rosebrook Lift hair texture & volume*
*gift for review from Integrity Botanicals
I’ve found my new favorite home for natural beauty: Integrity Botanicals. After I placed my first order for the Meow Meow Tweet deodorant, I placed another one, and then also received a few things directly from Terri, one of the founders, to review based on her suggestions. And since they offer free samples with every order, I’ve found quite a few things I loved and will buy.
First, an update on the meow meow tweet deodorant. It may have reached the point in summer where it’s losing its efficacy; on a particularly hot day this week, I noticed a little odor, which is something I haven’t noticed at all since I started using it. No big deal, I may just start using it twice a day during the rest of the summer, just to be sure. Another thing though – it DOES stain/make white marks on my black Elizabeth Suzann Marlena dress and my Eileen Fisher linen tank right at the sleeve openings. It seems to have more to do with the placement of the sleeve openings more than anything else – I haven’t noticed any issues with any other tops. It’s very annoying, and even with regular washing, it doesn’t come out, so I will have to use a brush or something and work harder to get the white out. But then, even if I do, the minute I wear them, it’ll happen again. Of course, I could use my Lush powder deodorant on those days I want to wear those items.
Now, my cleansing routine. I contacted Terri and asked for her advice on a double cleansing routine, since I mentioned that even with my very minimal makeup, I was having a hard time removing everything with just one cleanser. I also wanted to transition to completely natural products. She recommended and sent me the De Mamiel restorative cleansing balm to use first, and then finish with the Luz Enzyme soap. I’ve been using both for several weeks and couldn’t be happier with the results.
Basically I apply the balm after warming it a bit in my fingers and massage my face a little, then I put a warm wet washcloth on my face for a second and wipe everything off. This is where I try to remove eye makeup as well, and it works, but not without rubbing my eyes more than I probably should. Then, while my face is still wet, I rub the soap directly on my face, then use my hands to distribute it everywhere, then rinse it off. Squeaky clean!!
I did email Terri to ask her about eye makeup remover and she sent me a sample of the Elizabeth Dehn + One Love organics cleansing oil to try for that. I use that in place of the cleansing balm when I have eye makeup and it’s effective, but I might just go back to using something “stronger” so I don’t have to work so hard, which I know isn’t great for your delicate eye area. I don’t know yet…
I follow cleansing with rosehip oil mixed with Evan Healey’s Immortale spray and Shiva Rose’s glow face balm (which I’ve bought twice already, I LOVE THIS STUFF) at night. More on those products/routine on this post >
For day, I followed that with the Josh Rosebrook tinted day cream, which I LOVED. I only had a small sample of that, so it’s long gone, but I found it nicely hydrating and it provided ok coverage. On days when I used it I wasn’t really concerned with coverage, so I didn’t use anything else on top, but it would be a nice base for RMS un-cover up since that doesn’t have SPF. I’m definitely going to order this.
I also got a sample of Kari Gran Three Sixty Five SPF28. I liked it okay, but it wasn’t hydrating on me at all, so I prefer the Josh Rosebrook. Terri also sent me to review this Babo Botanicals sheer zinc sunscreen spray because I was looking for a natural sunscreen, and I really like it. I used it at the lake in Arkansas, and found it VERY effective. My mom was a little heavy handed on my back, so it took quite some time to rub in, but overall, I didn’t find it greasy or yucky at all.
Some more things I tried and love:
Kjaer Weis lip tint in dream state – LOVE THIS color, and how soft and lovely the cream is going on. I like to use it with something a little creamy, like over the Kari Gran lip whip after I’ve been wearing it a while. I’m not sure I’ll order it, because it’s really expensive, but I like it. And I love that you can order refills for all Kjaer Weis stuff.
Rahua voluminous shampoo & conditioner – I got small versions of these with my first order and they’re almost out, so I’ll re-order them. So excited to have found an excellent natural shampoo/conditioner!
Josh Rosebrook Lift hair texture & volume – Terri sent me this to review after I asked her advice on a styling product for more volume/texture. I have used it with mixed results, honestly. I need to try it more consistently, AND from what I know about volumizing products, you really need to activate them with heat, and I don’t dry my hair after I wash it. I will do that now though, especially since my hair is shorter, it definitely needs more texture.
Hurraw! Moon lip balm & Kapha lip balm – I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE!!!!!!! The moon lip balm especially is incredibly hydrating for night time; I wake up and still feel like my lips are soft and supple. I’ve never felt a better stick lip balm – I’m switching to Hurraw exclusively for this now. I can’t wait to try the sun protection version and maybe one or two of the tinted ones.
Kari Gran Lip Whip – I ordered two of these in my last order and use them at home throughout the day and I never feel like my lips are dry. I particularly love the cinnamon flavored one 🙂
Now, I’m searching for a natural eye cream – any suggestions for that?
What are your favorite natural beauty cleansers?
I actually like an eye serum. I have used both Earth Tu Face and a sample of Kahina Serum recently and liked the results, those are on my to buy list.
I’ve been using Hurraw Balm lip balms exclusively for 5-6 years now and I love them! I’ve figured out which flavours I love and then usually try a new one or two when I put in my order too. My fav is definitely orange and vanilla is pretty good too. I buy them directly from their website.
I love Josh Rosebrook’s eye product. I use it at night and day only when I am someplace w drier weather. It’s very light and is one of the only products that doesn’t irritate my eyes.
I use and love Lift. I spray my hair after washing it (at night) and then finish it off w heat the next morning. I also use it as a refresher on days I don’t wash and then use a little heat as well. It gives my very fine hair texture.
I use Trilogy organic products and won’t use anything else since discovering them. They have skincare, haircare and body products.
I love beauty posts! I’m not familiar with the Hurraw balm, and I love a good lip product for overnight, so I’ll check this out. I bought a bottle of the white Josh Rosebrook Day Cream and the zinc is very calming for my skin, though I need more moisturizing and use it over another cream. For night, I love Rosemira’s Rich Moisturizing Cleanser & Night Cream, though I only use it as a cream. I haven’t found a natural eye makeup remover that really removes my mascara easily. Coconut oil does nothing for me. I’m still using the Simple Micellar Water until I can find something completely natural, though it’s very gentle and doesn’t burn my eyes. And my favorite serum, that I use day and night, is Mullein & Sparrow’s Immortelle & Myrrh Facial Serum. It’s so amazing that I wish I could drink it. 🙂
I love your haul and your reviews. I am trying desperately to switch to natural/cruelty free products, but it is so expensive to take the trial and error approach. I recently bought a few products from Indie Lee because I love her ethic (and I am a sucker for good packaging), but am not convinced that it is doing my skin any favors. Though she has sold me on going back to using a toner. I am looking for a good cleanser that I can use with my clarisonic (which I went back to as well…I don’t think it works for me). I was thinking about trying one of the Osmia bars with clay. I may try switching to One Love Organic’s B (oil based) cleanser in the winter.
I have tried many, many eye creams and have not found a natural one that is moisturizing enough for me. I also haven’t found haircare products. Would love to hear more on these.
Oddly, my skin love Biossance, which I first heard about here. Not the fancy version for the face, but the basic original squalane version. And I am very happy with everything Kjaer Weis I’ve tried. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, so it is worth it for now.
As far as hair care, I have tried many natural products after figuring out that I don’t tolerate Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) well. I am fond of John Masters Organics (which is available at Whole Foods and even Ulta), but my favorite is really Giovanni (which is fairly easy to find in stores….I actually normally can find it in large pump style bottles at TJ Max). I’m not fond of their newer “2chick” line, but their original line of products. Their tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner is great for oily hair, but they also have “as smooth as silk” shampoo and conditioner which gets rave reviews from people with dry highly texturized hair (the also make products targeted at “normal” moisture needs). It took me awhile to accept that one of the more reasonably priced “natural” hair care lines worked the best, but sometimes you need to offset the expensive eye creams you get off Esty that totally didn’t pan out.
Hurray for the Hurraw! I thought you’d like it. I’m just as obsessed with the Kari Grann Cinnamon. I want to try some of her other ones, too. I never got chapped lips this winter…even with a cold! And I put the leftover balm on the tip of my nose at night because I have “allergy nose”!
My only problem is that you’ve got quire an expensive cleansing routine. I’d have a problem with spending that much, but of course, you can do what you wish! I’d spend that much on the Josh Rosebrook or Kari Gran Sunscreen, tho. And Kjaer Weiss’s refills aren’t bad. It’s just pricey the first time you buy them.
yes, you’re right – the cleansing routine itself is rather expensive. BUT, i think both items will last forever. the bar soap doesn’t ever seem to shrink at all, especially if i try not to leave it wet. and i use just a teeny bit of the cleansing balm every time (sometimes alternating it with other cleansers, if i’m not wearing makeup at all) and have a ton left.