Andalou Naturals, Shower Gel, Mandarin Vanilla

Today it is my favourite shower gel,  Andalou Naturals, Shower Gel, Mandarin Vanilla. To be fair, I am slightly obsessed with tangerines so this was probably always going to be a winner but it also smells so fresh. It doesn't smell too sickly or like it's full of chemicals, instead its just like sticking your nose in a tangerine, aka great. I love fruity scents in the shower in the morning as I think they really help wake you up and this does exactly that. It's thick, rich and combined with Vanilla which acts as an effective all over cleanser. Soft and gentle it moisturizes skin. There's no doubt that this will leave your skin a wonderful aroma of tangerine with a tiny hint of vanilla.

                        

Where to buy? I bought this gel in iHerb. iHerb is the best online store for all your natural beauty products. Named #1 online supplement store by ConsumerLab.com. 4 years in a row!

Real Techniques - Giveaway

Are you familiar with iHerb? It is an online store that sells everything from groceries to supplements. I love iHerb for their fabulous prices. iHerb is teaming up with me to give away set of brushes Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman that I reviewed recently!

This is open worldwide with a few caveats:
An international winner will be responsible for paying any additional customs taxes/duties on the prize. The winner needs to register to iHerb.com in order to claim their prize. While iHerb will take care of shipping costs, the winner needs to be in a country that iHerb ships to. To see if iHerb ships to your country, go to iHerb.com, add a product to the shopping cart, and then click the drop down Country menu below the shopping cart to see if your country is in the list.


To Enter:

1. Register at iHerb, if you don't have an account already, you'll automatically get a $5 discount too.

2. Follow me with Bloglovin or GFC.

3. Leave your name and email address when you leave a comment so that I can contact you if you win.
4. If you’re a reader outside of the USA, please tell me your country.
This giveaway closes on May 31, 2012 at midnight. The winners will be selected from random.org.
Good luck!

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman, Core Collection

The Real Technique brushes by Samantha Chapman seem to be a hot topic at the moment. I like the Pixiwoo girls, and have always been really intrigued by these brushes every time Sam and Nicola used them in their videos. I decided to purchase the Core Collection, costing $17.99 for 4 brushes at iHerb.com. The price of the set is pretty reasonable when compared to the likes of Mac's brushes however they are not as cheap as brands such as Eco Tools.

If you want great quality brushes, for an amazingly reasonable price then I can really recommend these. The brushes are made out of a lightweight metal with a black rubber bottom and feel sturdy, the bristles are Taklon and are nice and soft on the skin, I also haven't experienced any shedding. The brushes in this set are a metallic looking copper color, and her name and the type of brush is printed on each one. These are nice quality brushes and the small size makes them perfect for using on all areas of the face.


For the core collection, the foundation and concealer brush are narrow, soft and tapered but the two brushes from this set that really stand out are the smaller sized blusher brush - it's perfect for adding a bit of contour under the cheek. The larger, domed top powder brush is large but dense enough to buff foundation into skin to finish. 

Contour Brush: It is very soft and fluffy and has a slightly domed shape. Recommended to use for applying highlighter, I also like to use this brush to apply bronzer. 

Pointed Foundation Brush: This is a pretty standard foundation brush and probably the brush I have used the least from the set, however it's always handy to have an extra foundation brush on hand. 

Detailer Brush:It is a smaller slightly pointed brush that recommended for use with concealer or lipstick. Also it great for targeting individual blemishes that may need a bit of extra concealing. 

Buffing Brush:  It’s very soft and great size. This is my favourite brush from the collection and the one I use the most. I have found it great for buffing in foundation and powder blushers as well as face powder and highlighter, it's a very versatile brush and the flat head helps produce a flawless finish.

I have to say I love these brushes and the buffing brush has found it's way into my everyday make up routine. I'm not a make-up expert, so wouldn't feel happy spending a fortune on a brush set - but these are the ideal balance of excellent value for money and high quality. It’s nice to have brushes which are more affordable and it means you can buy more too!  )

Shea butter, coconut oil and toner

As you know, I love iherb and order from them quite regularly. I use iherb because they have most of my favorite brands, carry a wide variety of products (yay for 1 stop shopping!!), FREE shipping on orders of $20 or more, and their prices can’t be beat – often 10-40% below retail!! They also ship internationally to over 180 countries(FREE shipping on orders of $40 or more) as well as APO addresses.

Another fun thing about iherb.com is that they always send free samples with your order and that’s not all! You can also choose 1 additional FREE SAMPLE to add to your order – most people don’t know this!!  I like being able to try samples before buying a whole jar of something. There’s nothing worse then spending $20 only to find out you don’t like it or it doesn’t work for you!!

Here is a look at a one of my most recent orders including links for more info and to purchase if you are so inclined.

Now Foods, Shea Butter price: $7.63

Great Shea butter for this price. Works super at deeply moisturize my dry skin, I use it at night after a shower, apply to the elbows, knees, heels.

Jarrow Formulas, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil  price: $11.87  

Using for cooking and for my hair.  Perfect as it is as pure as you can get and without any additives.. I haven't used any essential oils with it yet for massaging purposes but I will soon ...I would highly recommend!

Thayers, Rose Petal Witch Hazel, with Aloe Vera Formula, Alcohol-Free Toner  price: $7.66

I used this toner for the first time last night and again this morning and I have to say I really like it! It has a cool refreshing feeling when applies to the face and, most importantly, it truly does tone and shrink pores. In addition to this, it also cleans out blackheads and gives your skin a soft feel, as well as a healthy glow.

Products of Burt's Bees

There are ingredients that you will never find in any Burt's Bees product. Things like petroleum, which is not a renewable resource and can be toxic. Sodium lauryl sulfate, which is a harsh, aggressive ingredient used in most cleansing products like shampoo. All products contain natural ingredients and a few of products contain ingredients derived from animals such as beeswax, royal jelly and milk.
Company never conduct product or ingredient tests of any kind on animals.

I got these at iherb.com , here’s the direct link with $5 off, if you new costumer.  I believe  you can also find these at target.

Products that I have tried:

Burt's Bees, Beeswax Lip Balm

 I got it from iHerb and got hooked. This burt's bees lip balm, it moisturizes my lip really well. No cracks anymore. The highlight of this one is the peppermint oil that gives a strong ‘tingle’ when you apply it and the smell of peppermint.  The downfall for me is sometimes I get a bit sick of the smell.

Burt's Bees, Res-Q Ointment

I use this ointment on my lips, after shaving (bikini line), never had that result with other moisterizers and it smells great too. I love this ointment! :)

Burt's Bees, Hand Salve

I love this product. For me this is the best hand moisturizer. My hands were really soft after it finally absorbed. I think this is best to be used at nighttime, especially in winterbecause it is pretty oily.  It takes a couple of minutes until the product absorbs into my skin, but it works really well once it does. It has a strong smell that reminds me a bit of herbal, medicinal stuff with a touch of eucalyptus, which I happen to like a lot.

Burt's Bees, Repair Serum

I have oily-combination skin, but my skin sometimes feels dry especially in winter times. I use it on my eye and mouth area. The effects, are wonderful! Serum good moisturizing dry patches. The texture is a thin oil. It has a strong lavender smell that is cut by the other oils I think this is best to be used at fall and winter. I love it)

Keep reading my blog !

Xoxo)))Lily...

My asian scincare

I decided to try the Asian skin care, which is now becoming very popular. In general, I liked it, but only confuse the ingredients are: SLS, parabens and other harmful ingredients (

Kanebo Naive Deep Cleansing Oil (Olive) is an olive oil cleanser that penetrates deep down into the pores to remove dirt, oil, and make-up while restoring the natural moisture of skin. This oil cleanser even removes layered mascara beautifully and will leave your skin feeling softer, smoother, and instantly rejuvenated. Transparent liquid, light herbal scent. Contact with water the oil is converted into white milk. Very nice spread on the skin. The eyes do not sting. The skin does not dry. Very clean, even waterproof mascara. 
Ingredients: Mineral Oil, triglyсeril (Caprili,capric acid), triizostearat PEG-20glyceryl, REG-7-glycerilcocoat, water, olive oil, oil of Australian walnut flavor.

Kose softymo Acne Washing Foam contains disinfectant Iso-propyl methylic phenol to remove bacteria that arises breakouts. Rich foam runs into pores to remove impurities and sebum, preventing the appearance of acnes, while Houttuynia cordata extract hydrates skin. The foam is thick, white with pearl color, with a specific smell (Excellent foaming and economically expended. Foam is very soft and dense. Cleans so that the washing foam from the face of the hand does not slide over the skin and clings to it , this feeling I did not like. Foam suitable for skin with obvious problems of acne, and for the healthy - it will be unnecessary.

Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Skin Lotion

Hyaluronic lotion 500ml Moisturizing lotion with hyaluronic acid. Perfectly moisturises, removes flaking. A dense, clear liquid, odorless.Unnecessarily long enough volume to the face only need a few drops.
Ingredients: water, glycerin, butylene glycol, maltitol, hypericum perforatum flower / leaf / stem extract, arnica montana flower extract, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) seed extracthamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark / leaf / twig extract, vitis vinifera (grape) leaf extract, hedera helix (ivy) leaf / strem extract, sodium hyaluronate, xanthan gum, hydroxyethylcellulose, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium citrate, citric acid, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben.




Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream # 21 20ml SPF42 PA+++ -  I was really excited to use this product after hearing so many good reviews about it. I’ve been using it now for 2 weeks and it hasn’t broken me out so far. Covering a Perfect Cover BB Cream is quite dense,distributed the face perfectly, consumption is small. Resistance is good. The only negative - frosting. When applying it is, but it quickly disappears. This is a great product for summer! It’s light, and doesn’t melt off like most liquid foundations. It is a big plus to the Perfect Cover BB Cream is a high SPF factor. Because of my skin care is an acid such SPF is very relevant.

Ingridients: Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEF/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Arbutin, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Hydrolysed Collagen, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Caviar Extract, Adenosine, Algae Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide 3, Chamomila Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol. MAY CONTAIN [+/-; Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

I hope you liked my review, follow me on Bloglovin!

STEVIA

Stevia is a dietary supplement that is derived from the plant Stevia Rebaudiana which is grown for its sweet leaves. Derived from a plant, Stevia is considered more natural to its counterpart artificial sweeteners which are chemically formulated. But we also don’t have a ton of research on the long-term effects of this product either. However, Stevia, native to Central and South America, has been used in these countries for years. In June 2008, the World Health Organization’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, a panel of food ingredient safety experts, concluded that Stevia is safe for use as a general purpose sweetener. The Committee set a safe daily intake of 0-4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight as steviol glycosides.

I've used all types of sweeteners, artificial and natural. This is a great find and this brand is without a doubt the best. I love this sweetener. this sweetener by NuNaturals is good for increasing the sweetness in beverages like tea or even lemonade. I like the way it improves the taste of these different beverages, and I also really like the health benefits of using this product over sugar.

The packets are really convenient to bring along in my purse to sweeten my coffee or tea to restaurants or coffee shops.

I used Stevia Powder in my cupcakes and they were very tasty!

I use plain yogurt, frozen fruit, defrosted and some Liquid Vanilla Stevia to make a wonderful simple dessert.

I highly recommend this sweetener to have in your cupboard for a calorie-free option for sweetening some of your foods. Try it.

I buy this stuff in iHerb.com. 

Never shopped at iHerb before? Use the code EVO218 at the checkout and receive$5.00 off your first order. About iHerb

Now, through the end of Monday, May 14th, iHerb is offering 10% off orders of $60 or more. Or, receive 5% off orders totaling less than $60. You can see these discounts applied automatically when you sign in to your iHerb account. (These discounts are not valid in combination with certain other discounts and promotions.)

Reviva Labs, Vitamin K Cream

This special Vitamin K formula helps fade and clear bruises.
Recent research has proven that Vitamin K, in the proper formulation, can dramatically minimize the look of bruised or reddened skin.
Special formula helps fade and clear bruises; helps improve appearance of broken capillaries, spider veins, rosacea, and any reddened, irritated areas on the face.

No animal ingredients. No animal testing. Paraben free.

Reviva Labs, Vitamin K Cream $13.68

I bought this cream for bruising and scarring from shots and acne. If I hadn't tried it I never would have believed that this product works. I've used for two weeks -  think it does help the skin tone. Gradually removes  bruising and scarring,  improves complexion.  The dense texture, but is absorbed very well. Great for my oily-combination skin.

Perfect cream for the price! I am really satisfied :)