Saje Natural Wellness

February 12, 2016

As far as I'm concerned, every trip to Vancouver warrants a pitstop at Saje.

A much cleaner alternative to Lush (both hailing from Canada), Saje boasts a pretty varied line. Sure, there are bottles of oil, skincare, bath salts, etc... But they also have some seriously effective holistic remedies. My favorites include their yoga mat cleaning spray, clay comfort wraps, nebulizers (fancy word for machines that continuously spew a mist of aromatherapy). And my hands down, holy grail product would be their roll on headache remedy. As a chronic headache sufferer, this magic wand takes the edge off long enough for my ibuprofen to kick in.

Below is my latest haul...

Bars of  fragrant soap that double as shampoo! — Bars of fragrant soap that double as shampoo!

A trio of tin candles with impressive fragrance throw (Tanta is by far, my favorite of their fragrances).

The most luxurious bath salts with a scent that lingers in your home long after you've pulled the plug.

Sanitas Vita K Eye Cream

February 3, 2016

Based in Colorado, Sanitas is a green skincare company that's been quietly doing its thing as more and more green lines crop up. And by "thing" I mean, pumping out serious products with a powerful ingredient list deserving of a line in a dermatologist's office, sans the worrisome additives. Their Glycolic Toner means business, I'll wince from the sting at first application. And this eye cream is no lightweight, either. It boasts ingredients like Vitamin K, long hailed as an effective ingredient against dark under eye circles, Horse Chestnut for blood vessel integrity, Rubin for circulation and Vitamin E to nourish and heal. Besides getting enough sleep, water and exercise, there aren't any magic elixirs for dark under eye circles -- but this comes pretty close.

Pharmaca / $24.99

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I've tried a few clean lash serums and two weeks in, this bottle ($19) has been the best by far. Applied with a lash spoolie, my lashes are softer, fluffier, and less apt to break from curling. While I don't necessarily believe it creates new lash growth, it definitely boosts the lashes you have. I am realizing how brittle and stumpy my lashes were from overenthusiastic curling and dry, crunchy mascaras that hold the curl We condition our hair, why not our lashes?

These days, my self-care has been all practicality. Enter another one of those does-it-all products: cleanser, moisturizer, cheekbone gleamer and body oil.

What all lip balms should look, taste and feel like. This one is courtesy of @livinglibations

It smells like honey, gives pretty, polished lashes, but ultimately flaked on me by the afternoon. I so wanted to love this, but it's sadly not a repeat buy for me.

Signal boosting my favorite clean beauty discovery of the year so far. @josephinecosmetics from makeup artist + entrepreneur Sholayide Otugalu (shown in last photo) makes the BEST liquid eyeliner I've found. Will post on that later. For now, check out her luxe, solidly formulated line. And please, stockists, add @josephinecosmetics to the list of brands to consider carrying.

Made body scrub with the little ones. Expired ground coffee, cardamom, cloves, along with almond oil, and a few drops of vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils. One could add sugar or sea salt as well, but a great way to utilize expired pantry items. Thrifty as it was, this kitchen sink project smelled divine.

Swatches of @kosas liquid eyeshadows. Unique formula dries to a powder, and does a decent job of locking in. The flamboyant colors, however, take some time and skill.

Gucci Westman came out with a mascara and I was thrilled to try a sample. Its a maximum volume kind of mascara, holds a curl better than most, but by afternoon, I have a smattering of flakes beneath my eyes. I so wanted to love it, but at $62 a pop, I'm somewhat relieved I don't.

@hereticparfum continually satisfies my thirst for luxe, unusual scents. This duo doesn't disappoint, and bonus: it's on sale at @credobeauty . i Pretty is a polished, fizzy citrus. Somehow ladylike and unisex simultaneously. And Dirty is just pure sex. Think Thierry Mugler Angel without all the candy notes.