Happy Bathing

While i'm usually drawn to reviewing soaps, I stumbled upon a perfumery that caught my attention. With their magical concoctions and creative names, I had to have my mittens on some Alkemia Perfumes . 

This perfumery is located in the beautiful college town of Amherst, Massachusetts and ships their product worldwide

Since I have been craving everything autumn this month, I felt that vanilla was a perfect choice. Not only is it versatile, it's straight up sexy. According to The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Men tend to be more attracted to women who wear scents that resemble those of baked goods! 

Strange, but true. 

Anyway, I was so excited to get my beautiful little sample pack of vanillas in the mail that I practically squealed when I looked in my mailbox. I was even more excited when I opened them up.

My cat was too. 

(Today i'll be reviewing my two FAVORITES)

The first one that I tried was Vixen

"A captivatingly shapeshifting blend of sexy white amber and luminous late summer night blooming florals awakened by warm caresses of autumnal spice, golden musk, varietal apple peel, sugar pumpkin, jasmine tea, and a whisper of woodland mosses."

This description hits the nail on the head. I can't think of a single perfume more fitting for November than this one. With its deep, dark spices, this scent made me want to grab my coat and  thermos of apple cider... and maybe even a pair of stilettos. 

If you're into spicy scents, this is the one for you.

Vixen is bold, sweet and sharp tongued. 

You can get yourself a 5ml. bottle for $12.00 here

Calaveras de Azucar (Sugar Skulls)

"Hauntingly sweet sugar skulls nestled against a backdrop of sugared white ambers"

This ghostly scent probably raised my blood sugars about a hundred points or so (I feel the 'Beetus coming on) With sweet and sticky notes of melted sugar and deep, rich tones of woodsy amber, Calaveras de Azucar smells like Dia de los Muertos.

In short, this scent is gorgeous. Its feminine and light. If your a fan of sweet perfumes, Sugar Skulls is for you. 

I honestly loved this scent and will keep it in my arsenal of secret woman weapons. 

You can get a 5ml. bottle for $12.00 Here. 

(More to come from Alkemia! Stay tuned) 

And as always,

Happy Bathing!

Before I even begin... Happy Belated Fathers Day! It's been a while forever since my last post, so I apologize for leaving you hanging.

Today, I've got a special treat for you all the way from Uptown Normal, Illinois; Natural Mystic, Inc.  

This soap company has some  pretty spectacular suds and is far from "Normal" (see what I did there?)

With soft suds and purifying scents, Natural Mystic knows how to deliver an enjoyable product that I have been totally enjoying for the past couple months. 

In fact, i loved these soaps so much that I used them within the first month that I had them.

  "Dragonfly recipe - 96-98% natural"

"Dragonfly is our line of nearly natural soaps. These soaps contain fine fragrances formulated especially for handmade soap in addition to or instead of essential oils, and a couple of them contain FD&C pigments that add swirls of color through the soap. The soap formula is a rich blend of olive, coconut and palm oils, with plenty of shea butter, too. These soaps were developed for their scent, and for their creamy, luxurious lathers."

Deby's Dragonfly Recipe : Vanilla Bean

Ingredients: Made from Olive Oil, distilled water, coconut oil, palm oil, sodium hydroxide, shea butter, fragrance, rosemary extract, (antioxidant)

Vanilla Bean has to be my absolute favorite soap. 

Lather = suds up immediately after coming into contact with water. 

Scent = dark, seductive and sexy vanilla.

Vanilla Bean packs quite a punch. With a dark and musky aroma, this soap is perfect for date night or a night out on the town with the girls. Since it has such a perfect scent, I didn't have to put any perfume on. 

Something that struck me right away was that the soap genuinely smells like fresh vanilla bean pods and not the synthetic vanilla scent that goes into drugstore soaps. 

I completely recommend this bar to anyone who loves the earthy dark scent of fresh vanilla on their skin. I know I do!!!

 You can get a 4oz. slice of Vanilla Bean for $6.00: Click Here

   Happy Bathing!

Okay, this one's long overdue!

About a month ago, I received a bar of "Hibiscus and White Amber" soap from a husband and wife duo company by the name: The Old Tyme Soap Shop. Located in Maine for the summer months and then in Florida for the winter months, Dick creates all of the soap molds and lazy Susans while Janet mixes up fresh batches of awesome soap.

To give an example of how awesome it is; Immediately after unwrapping this soap, my friend took a knife and cut a chunk off for herself so that she could keep the scent in her purse! 

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor Oil,Fragrance Oil.

With a milky consistency and a scent that I can only describe as "pretty", this soap makes my skin smell wonderful for at least 8 hours after washing myself with it. Whats even better is that it pairs well with perfume oils with an amber or vanilla base. yum! 

Point blank, it smells exactly how it sounds. Tropical, relaxing and feminine. It reminds me of the time I enjoyed a cold drink on a beach in the Yucatan. Good good good. 

Not only does it smell great, it has a nice opaque lather that doesn't need much force to get started.

I recommend getting an Exfoliating EcoPouf from ecoTools

I like them because they're 100% Recycled and keep you from using up all your soap! ...and only $2.49 USD

So, if you love getting clean and smelling great, go and get this bar of soap! 

You can get a palm sized chunk for $4.50 Here:

You can also contact them at: [email protected]

Happy Bathing! 

Tonight I am reviewing one of my favorite hand soaps (it can be used as a body bar too due to its mild formula) This little treat is Blue Yonder Soaps' "Red Palm & Sea Buckthorn" soap.

The Review:

I consider this soap to be one of my favorite hand soaps to display next to my sink. Not only does the soap look beautiful sitting in a glass dish, but the soap actually suds bright orange. Since the color does not stain your hands, I suggest this little bar to make washing hands fun for your children. The color is also festive and can be used during your holiday festivities. With Christmas on the way, I highly suggesting buying this soap for yourself or a loved one -Not only is it beautiful and fun, but it is moisturizing and contains healing properties!!

I highly suggest this soap! Especially if you have scent allergies or have skin that requires mild cleanser!

Some things you should know about Blue Yonder Soaps is that they contain ABSOLUTELY NO:

-Fragrance, Preservatives, Gluten, Phthalates, Parabens, Sulfates, Silicones, Triclosan, Hidden Chemicals, Animal Ingredients, Animal Testing

A little bit about "Red Palm & Sea Buckthorn":

"Mild hand, body, or face bar.

Measures 2.5x2.5x1 and weighs about 3.8ozs.

Not your ordinary Red Palm Soap, it has been formulated to be extremely mild.

Red Palm Oil is high in carotenes (a precursor to Vitamin A) and the antioxidant tocotrienols (Vitamin E).

Sea buckthorn contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and has been used for centuries for all sorts of skin ailments."

Ingredients: Organic Sunflower, Organic Red Palm, Organic Palm Kernel, and Sea buckthorn Oils, Distilled Water, Sodium Hydroxide, nothing else.

$6.00

Purchase here: http://blueyondersoap.com/store/#!/~/product/category=3981550&id=17169294

Contact: [email protected]

Today, I bring you a company from Boca Raton, Florida who's mission is to bring non-chemical, non-cancerous cosmetics to consumers, giving them a healthy alternative to cosmetics that traditionally have a long list of carcinogens printed on the back. 

I really LOVE No-Miss!!

I got home today, opened my mail and found these lovely canisters of shimmer and shine. This last week hasn't been too good for me, so finding these made my day.

(Me wearing No-Miss eye-shadows in Tallahasse Tan, Ferndale Fawn, and Party Hardy) 

the first product that I tried was their Natural Mascara in black. This is a nice product. Not too runny but not too thick. It works well and gives a very natural look to eyelashes, making them thicker and longer without weighing them down, or making them waxy. 

Official Description:

All day for stronger longer lashes. Made with Herbal Extracts. Run, smudge, flake, clump and cruelty free. Uses a full brush.

Enriched with Vitamin E and Aloe

Non Drying Condition Formula

Color made from the Earth

Polymer Free - Talc Free - Lacquer Free

Fragrance Free

Safe for contact lens wearers

No animal testing

You can buy a No-Miss Mascara for $15 

Here: http://www.nomiss.com/proddetail.php?prod=mascara

  I paired this mascara with the Natural Liquid Eyeliner in black. At first, I wasn't convinced. After opening the tube and swiping it on my eyelid, I was sold.  The black isn't harsh or overdone. The color is soft; almost a gunmetal grey. 

The brush is the perfect length. Not too long and not too short, it has the ability to paint a fine, exact line. 

It also glides on smoothly, which makes putting on makeup much more enjoyable. 

This little eyeliner comes in a variety of colors to suit all of your moods. 

Official Description:

Made with Herbal Extracts

Enriched with Aloe and Vitamin E

Color made from the Earth

Safe for contact lens wearers

Fragrance Free

Here's another in Brown.

(This brown is exquisite! It's very auburn and warm) 

The liquid eyeliners can be bought for $15 

Here: http://www.nomiss.com/proddetail.php?prod=eyeliner

I also was able to try three fantastic eye-shadows!

The first was Tallahasse Tan. This eye shadow is brilliantly shimmery with a rich suntanned feel. Looks awesome on because of its crushed jewel quality over the skin. 

and here's the back 

The second one I tried was Party Hardy

With multicolored body glitter within the pigment, this eye shadow most definitely feels like a party when applied to the eyes. (this one works best with primer) 

LOVE

The last eye shadow I tried was Ferndale Fawn

This light, shimmery beauty looks wonderful as a light accent in the corners of the eyes and underneath the brow. 

All three of these eye shadows fully surpassed my expectations. They are thick, pigmented and only require a tiny amount to be seen. 

To be quite honest, these worked better than my shimmer MAC shadows. 

These are not small either! They are the size of a mineral foundation container. (almost 2" in diameter!) 

These eye-shadows are excellent and come in at least 40 different colors!!!!! 

If you would like to buy yourself one of these colors, you can get them for $8.99

Here: http://www.nomiss.com/proddetail.php?prod=eye-shadow

(If you click Click to view all eye shadow colors. it'll show every single shade offered!) 

So if your in the mood for awesome, cruelty-free makeup, look no further than No-Miss! 

Happy Bathing! 

Today I have a treat for you all! Two perfumes created by the indie perfumery 'SaraWen Perfume Art' - a company that sells only vegan/cruelty-free perfume oils!

I'm an avid fan of Sherlock Holmes, and am very honored to have been able to review these two perfume oils.

Logical Delusion (Moriarty Inspired) - Right off the bat, I could smell the Nag Champa in this lovely creation - it is a strong enough note that I recognized it before checking out the scent notes on SaraWen's etsy page (found here) 

This perfume oil is unisex, and almost has a powdery exotic scent to it. 

The official description to this perfume oil states: 

A dangerous and cunning blend of poisoned tea, tobacco, and gunpowder, with a hint of nag champa and absinthe. Beware, Holmes!

This is a strong, masculine perfume oil - with almost a seductive, opium/absinthe den quality to it. 

The perfume oil is not sticky, nor is it oily. It is not overpowering and can be subtle depending on how much you put on. 

This is a perfect homage to Sherlock Holmes; especially to Moriarty. 

Logical Delusion can be purchased here (opens in new window) 

4.5 ML Roller Bottle (carefully wrapped in tissue paper) $12.50 

Sample Perfume (10-14 Applications) 1.5 ML purchase here $4.00 (opens in new window)

Logical Deduction (Sherlock Holmes Inspired) -The official description on SaraWen's etsy page states:

Sophisticated notes of bay rum, Earl Grey tea, and tobacco, with a hint of leather and dark chocolate. This is a unisex fragrance inspired by Sherlock Holmes, and is reminiscent of a gentleman's Victorian parlour. 

And the description really hits the nail on the head! I can envision a victorian parlour while smelling my skin - very musky, and masculine. Unisex, but I would suggest buying this for a male friend (Yuletide is coming up, hint hint!) 

This perfume oil has a sweet powder-like scent to it, and you can really smell the Earl Grey tea, bay rum, leather and tobacco. A little goes a long way, as this is a strongly scented product.

This perfume oil smells like it's from another time era, and you will too! 

I can just imagine Sherlock lounging around in his apartment, smoking a pipe, and working out a crazy case! 

Logical Deduction can be purchased here (opens in new window) 

4.5 ML Roller Bottle (carefully wrapped in tissue paper) $12.50 

Sample Perfume (10-14 Applications) 1.5 ML purchase here $4.00 (opens in new window)

NOTE:

These two perfumes are distinctive and completely different from each other. If you like sweet, strong powdery leather & tabacco scents; I would suggest Logical Deduction.

(Once again, here's my cat.. He loved the smell of these!)

Today, I bring you a small soap company by the name of "Jody's Soaps and Such" from Antigo, WI 

When Jody first started making bath bombs, it wasn't a hobby. In fact, she was only trying to find ways to delicately moisturize her one-year-old grandson's severely dry skin. After a while though, she realized that making these fizzing wonders was more than just a hobby... it was a passion. 

Let me start off by stating that I absolutely LOVE bath bombs. 

When I was little, I thought  that they were literally going to blow up my tub, so I avoided them at all costs. Now I know better.

If you're not sure what a bath bomb does, let me explain:

A bath bomb is a ball of wonderful things that you throw into your tub when its full. It can contain a number of surprises like sparkles or colors in the center, so when it fizzes in your tub, it unveils them as it gets smaller; making your tub a fantastical relaxing wonderland! 

I had the immense pleasure of trying several of her creations, all of which were FANTASTIC. 

Bombshell 

'

"Bombshell" was the first fizz that I tried, and the one that I loved the most!

Bombshell is an awesome fizz that smells both fruity and floral at the same time!

When I first plopped this into the tub, I knew my bath was going to be excellent!

As it started to melt away, the oils of the ball started to spread throughout the tub (awesome moisturizing by the way!)

Then like a bomb, beautiful body glitter started to pour from its center, making the bathwater awesome in itself.

Bombshell was so moisturizing that I didn't need to apply lotion after getting out of the bath which I love. 

All of these fizzes had unique characteristics. 

The lavender fizz literally had dried lavender blossoms in it for extra scent. 

Rubber Ducky Bath Bomb Fizz with Whipped Soap ($4)

Here's a bath bomb that I've never seen before. It is a fizz with soap and a rubber ducky on top. It smells great, and its a wonderful idea for a bath gift. Just like the hot cocoa mixes in a mug, this creation is an awesome addition to any stocking

Throughout the season, these fizzes change their scent and shape! 

Not just for soaking, these fizzes have soap included, so you can wash yourself and soak at the same time! 

Although I was unsure about the whipped soap at first, I grew to like it very fast after meeting it. it's texture is soft like frosting, so it's easy to work up a lather.

You can grab some of Jody's creations here: 

https://www.facebook.com/JodysSoapsAndSuch/app_259525164100619

(she's always rotating them, so grab these while they last!)

Happy Bathing! 

 (Don’t mind Damien, he likes to check out the soaps once in a while)

Today, I give you Jinny’s Handmade Natural Soap from Hope, British Columbia, Canada!

With “essential oils, organic herbs & flowers”, these soaps strive to be beautifully natural in a world of poison… and it shows.

Their soaps are all unique, some even embossed with shapes like angels and roses. Unique, playful and seriously displayable. 

Lemongrass Cleansing Bar 

Official Description:

This lemon grass refreshing bar is made with natural oils(coconut, olive, palm, sunflower, canola, jojoba, avocado, grapeseed), natural essential oils(lemon grass, orange sweet, tea tree, lavender), cocoa and shea butter, kaolin & green clay, vitamin E & C and lemongrass. Approximately 130g

Here’s a soap to keep stocked in your guest bathroom - gift basket. 

This bar of lemongrass cleansing soap is wonderful. Although it may look simple, its most definitely not. It’s smell is rich and its lather intense.

Not only does it smell great and lather well, it has pieces of lemongrass within it for added exfoliation.  Right when I touched it to my skin, I knew it was meant to be.

I usually don’t recommend cutting up soaps as it may take away from the lathering effect… but, this soap lathers so well that you may benefit from it!

You can get yourself a bar of the Lemongrass Cleansing Bar for C$4.99 

(4.99 CAD=5.08846 USD)

Here:  https://www.facebook.com/jinnyshandmadesoap/app_251458316228

Today, I'm reviewing a company from Eden Prairie, Minnesota named Delvaux Soaps & Sundries. 

Delvaux Soaps not only makes people cleaner, they also donate 5% of every order to Leukemia Research. They are also Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.... 

Wow, someeeeoneee's got good credentials! 

Their soaps come in three varieties:

Sparkling, Exfoliating, and Chunky.

The "Sparkling" type will leave a bit of a shimmer on your skin. The "Exfoliating" type comes with jojoba beads throughout and the "Chunky" type will moisturize your skin with a milky consistency and large colored chunks of color. 

But today, i'm focusing on one of their delightful sparkly soaps!

Sparkling Black Rose Soap

Hands down, the best rose scented soap I've ever used. 

Before I even opened the brown, cardboard casing, I knew that me and this soap would be BFF's. 

With its deep dark floral quality and shimmered body, this bar of soap has a personality all its own. 

While i'm usually not a fan of extremely floral soaps, this one is just earthy enough to be magnificent. It's velvety dark tone of red pairs almost seamlessly with the darkness of the scent, making this combination of senses very enjoyable. 

This soap also has a nice, calm lather. After i'm out of the shower, I use a little rose oil as perfume and then i'm on my way!

I cherish this soap... and if you love roses... you will too!

You can Buy a bar of Sparkling Black Rose Soap for 5$

Here: 

http://delvauxsoaps.com/#ecwid:category=3559681&mode=product&product=15116673

Today, I bring you a soap company from Duncan, Arizona. They have a wide variety of products, including laundry soap and fabric softeners! 

Introducing: Turquoise Cowgirl Soaps

"My soaps are all handmade, I carry olive oil, sunflower oil and goats-milk based body and hand soaps, scrubs and soaks in addition to my new line of natural household products including laundry soap, antibacterial sprays and dish soaps as well as cleaning products. Everything I make and carry is natural and chemical free. "

Although i'm not an environmentalist, I still feel good when i'm making good choices; recycling, composting.... and using Eco-Friendly laundry soaps! 

Since it'll be hugging my skin all day, I like to know whats in it. Luckily the ingredients on this bottle are very short and pronounceable. 

Laundry Soap

Official Description: 

ALL NATURAL laundry soap is made using castile soap, borax, washing soda, essential oils and water. This great product is free of chemicals and synthetic conditioners and cleaners. Safe enough to use on baby clothes, but strong enough to use on your husbands work clothes.

Ingredients:

Water, Washing Soda, Borax, Castile Soap, Essential Oil. 

I really enjoyed using this soap in my laundry. Since it doesn't have much of a scent, its perfect to use on clothes belonging to hypersensitive noses. 

This soap is super concentrated. With only three tablespoons a load, all I had to do was measure it out and put it in the wash. 

Quite honestly, I was afraid that it wouldn't get my clothes clean because of how little I put in. I somehow automatically assume that if I use a lot, it'll get cleaner. 

This soap forced me to use less and I'm glad that I did. My clothes were clean, soft and easy on the planet. 

You can get an 8oz. bottle of laundry soap for only $3

Here: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoiseCowgirlSoaps/app_135607783795

(she has a Facebook shop, so make sure to log in!) 

Apple Pear Fabric Softener

Official Description:

This softener makes your clothes super soft and smells great. You can choose from apple pear, rosemary mint or vanilla passion

Ingredients

Distilled water, distilled white vinegar, conditioning agents and essential oils.

This fabric softener is interesting in the was you go about using it. Instead of pouring it directly into my wash, while wasting the whole bottle, I was instructed to mix 2 tbsp into a 1/4 cup of water... once again, saving a massive amount of product. 

This softener is lightly scented, making for a pleasantly scented load of clothes, rather than an overbearing perfumery. 

The apple/pear mixture smells fresh, soothing and simple. When my clothes were dry, they were warm, soft and smelled wonderful. 

I would recommend this softener to those of you who want your clothes soft, without the crazy fragrance enhancers. 

You can get an 8oz bottle of Apple Pear Fabric Softener $3

Here: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoiseCowgirlSoaps/app_135607783795