NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

[lyravega]

I don't think we have one of these yet... But, if I'm wrong, please do correct me.

I've been wanting to make this thread for a while now, but as it usually is... Life got and gets in the way. But, better late than never, huh?

I've been enjoying many natural skincare products for the last 15 years or so, on and off ( mainly facial oils and balms, but masks, treatments, and body oils and balms, as well. ) I even used to make my own for years ( years ago ) as good natural skincare products were not a very easy thing to obtain. You'd have to try and hunt down quality ingredients and make stuff yourself most of the time. And, that was quite a task! It makes me happy to see that there is so many wonderful products widely and easily available lately. It makes things so much easier! 🙂

Natural skincare performs better for me personally. I love and enjoy using it. My skin adores it. I love the idea of it and behind it. So, I wanted to make a place for us natural skincare lovers to talk about anything natural skincare as I see there are many others out there that are interested, or already in love with it, as well. So why not have our own little place on here? 🙂 So we can share our experiences ( good and/or bad ), loves, favorite products, favorite brands and their news/new launches, discus things, share our daily routines, talk DIYs if anyone is into that, why not? Anything really.

By "natural" skincare here I'm talking about skincare made mostly or completely of ingredients available in nature, like plant-derived ingredients, minerals... You know, the whole nine. 😉

Anyway - feel free to join in! You don't have to be a natural skincare lover exclusively. Everybody's welcome!

A word of caution... For those who are new to natural skincare, proceed with caution. Inform and educate yourself really well on everything you are interested in trying and putting on your skin. Natural does not mean it won't hurt you! And, it certainly doesn't mean it's safe. Some natural ingredients can be irritating for some people. Go with what's good for you, don't force anything on your skin just because someone said it is good. Do patch tests. Be smart. People prone to allergies should pay careful attention to what they use on their skin.

 P.S. I am not completely and 100% natural, nor I imagine I ever will be as I do love me some other stuff, as well. But mostly, yes.

[veronika23]

I've been meaning to come back to this tread for a while now with a few things I've been testing.

The Body Deli mask kit:

This is a great trial kit. Don’t let the size of the mask fool you because you can certainly get a few applications out of all of them. I’m not done trying them all yet but so far so good. In general I reacted pretty well to all the ones I’ve tried. I had a bit of redness after I tried the Fruit Enzyme Smoothie Masque one but it went away fast enough. Very impressed with the Glacial Mineral Mud Masque (done this one / 5 applications). This definitely helped in reducing some small pimples I had them even eliminating white heads. yuck I know.

The Body Deli Vital-C serum:

Love the smell of this one! My skin does appear more radiant but I want to finish this product to see how the results are after using a full bottle. The pump can be tricky and shoot out product everywhere... so that's the only down side.

I was also give tiny samples of other Body Deli products and I think I liked them enough to get bigger trial sizes but that will have to wait because I have too much stuff. I did use some of their skin care line years ago and liked it... yadda yadda yadda... stuff happened and now I'm back trying new products...  I do still use their body care line and it remains at the top of my list.

Eminence Couperose-C Serum:

It’s a gel like formula, very light feeling on the skin but I didn't see a difference even after a few uses. It did not appear to do anything for my redness.

I also tried products by Argentum and Precious Skin Elixirs that I needs to re-test and currently trying some LeahLani products. I think the Mahina elixir might be a winner!

[Magycmyste]

So, this month's Beauty Heroes box is.....

::drumroll::

Mahalo's The Bean!!!

I'm not entirely certain how I feel about this. I really like the Bean mask So much so, that I got myself a backup. Now I'll have two. Does anyone know what the shelf life on this is?

Also - another brush! Yay!

I also want that bamboo spoon to scoop out masks with. So far, I've been using a plastic ice cream tasting spoon that I'd washed. It works, but doesn't quite have the same feel as the pretty, ceramic mask bowls. I almost feel like it takes away from the serenity of the experience (but - it's clean, at least!)

[lyravega]

Wow! Nice!

@Magycmyste  You should contact Mahalo direct about the shelf life of The Bean. They are very nice, helpful, informative, and usually quick to respond. I even had Maryna herself replaying to my emails on a few occasions.

[Llgc]

@Magycmyste I think the shelf life is quite short given the ingredients, but if you don't dip around in it and just pop it into the fridge until you use up your current jar(s), it should be okay! 

I got this month's box and I'm going to be storing it in the fridge between uses! 

[Mochapj]

Looks like the Bean is the Beauty Hero this month.  I don't subscribe to this box, but I'm a huge fan of this product!

[Llgc]

Love the bean, definitely not disappointed in getting it this month! 

The mask brush though... I've used them before, and to be honest I just don't like using brushes to apply my face masks. Maybe I'm a bit weird, but I like using my fingers in mask applications. 

[lyravega]

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Llgc wrote:

Love the bean, definitely not disappointed in getting it this month! 

The mask brush though... I've used them before, and to be honest I just don't like using brushes to apply my face masks. Maybe I'm a bit weird, but I like using my fingers in mask applications. 

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@Llgc  Well, if that's weird, you are not the only weirdo around here. 😉 I don't like using brushes for applying my masks, either. I definitely prefer my fingers for that.

[mrsbaine]

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Mochapj wrote:

Looks like the Bean is the Beauty Hero this month.  I don't subscribe to this box, but I'm a huge fan of this product!

---

Timing is everything @Mochapj! Since you've been talking about the goodness of this mask, I've been looking into it, but ever pulled the trigger. I finished the Petal Mask this month and was thinking of picking this up. Glad I do subscribe! And I can always use a masking brush! 

[veronika23]

@mrsbaine  the scent is very overwhelming for me too! I definitely prefer the bean mask for that 😄  Just make sure your skin is real wet when applying it, if not it will be difficult.  I sometimes mist the JR HA to help with that. 🙂

[mrsbaine]

@veronika23, I learned to love The Petal. I started to see some of the benefits after some time. The smell was so overwhelming to me though. I'm hoping the Bean makes my face as soft as the Petal did! 

[veronika23]

@mrsbaine  that's cool!  I love this mask too! Definitely one of my favorites.  I also own and love the petal one 🙂

[Magycmyste]

Oh, timing. 😄

[lyravega]

The Detox Market

[fairlywell]

I am so torn on this. I would snap it up, but I have a 2/3 container of honey mud already, and the other thing I would buy is Blue Cocoon - which has been in heavy rotation but probably 3/4+ full. It's probably best not to risk things expiring before I can use them. 

[amandarogers]

YES!!! 100% agree and am so glad this group exists and that I found it!!

[lyravega]

OFFER VALID FROM 6:00am PST on 7/26/17 through 11:59pm PST on 8/01/17.
Cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit one per customer.

[Magycmyste]

Also, for one day only:

(BTW, apparently when they say "up to," they actually mean "minimum." The FLASH15 code would not work on a $132 purchase).

I wanted to get Cell Energy and Combo Skin - ended up splurging on Clair de Lune to reach the $90 threshhold, and got Combo Skin for Free, and got the $10 off to bring it down to $90. 🙂

I have to admit, I am very pleasantly surprised by how much I love the scents of these serums. I was a little hesitant about Cell Energy and A Summer in Hossegor because I'm not a huge fan of certain fruity scents usually (I can deal with blueberries, but I have issues with ripe papayas), but I figured I could deal with them if I liked the results. But I didn't notice them at all in these. In Cell Energy, I got the blueberry, but I got the jasmine more, and the blueberry tinge just made it softer and prettier. A Summer in Hossegor almost smells spicy to me, which I love (of course, the first couple of times I tried it, I think it was after I'd already tried the Bl+Ca serum - I'm glad I do like cumin!), and the lavender in Clogged Pores is absolutely beautiful!

[lyravega]

"@lyravega I can understand why!

This is a longshot, as I've never found anything else that really worked, but I'm really hoping Cell Energy can do something towards getting rid of my scars. I talk about hyperpigmentation, but a lot of it is old acne scars, along with some tweezer scars (I'm a little OCD when it comes to pulling hairs out of my chin. In my head, if I can feel them, I can tweeze them, and I will try). I have been trying to get better about that, but I'm hoping Cell Energy may be able to help a little with renewing my skin and helping it recover from all that. Of course, if not, I'll just enjoy the scent. :D"

@Magycmyste  Scars, I don't think so. No skincare will really help with scars. Especially those old ones. I have some, too, and they'd definitely need some laser, or whatever else specialized kind of treatment at the derm's. But, I don't care about that. They don't bother me. So, I am not really familiar with all possible procedures.

Hyperpigmentation "scars", it could. Mine definitely look diminished, but I can't say it is only thanks to the Cell Energy. But, it helps a lot with making my skin looks its best. And, that's why I adore it! My skin definitely looks more even toned, brighter, smoother and just very nice all around, hyperpigmentation diminished... when using Cell Energy. I wake up to almost completely clear, beautiful skin, so much so that on a few occasions my husband asked if I had makeup on. 😄 ( Yeah, I roll out of the bed with my makeup already on! Aren't they the cutest?! ) But, what really helped me with those hyperpigmentation scars, and even some texture, was/is - the combo of acids and vitamin c.

[Magycmyste]

@lyravega I can understand why!

This is a longshot, as I've never found anything else that really worked, but I'm really hoping Cell Energy can do something towards getting rid of my scars. I talk about hyperpigmentation, but a lot of it is old acne scars, along with some tweezer scars (I'm a little OCD when it comes to pulling hairs out of my chin. In my head, if I can feel them, I can tweeze them, and I will try). I have been trying to get better about that, but I'm hoping Cell Energy may be able to help a little with renewing my skin and helping it recover from all that. Of course, if not, I'll just enjoy the scent. 😄

[lyravega]

@Magycmyste Nice picks!

I agree with your Cell Energy scent description ( and, the rest of them, too ). Jasmine is definitely the dominant note. And, it smells so divine! ( I need it in a perfume version! 😄 ) I adore jasmine! Both, the scent, and what it does for my skin. My skin simply adores it! It's one of my fave ingredients in natural skincare. And, Cell Energy is my favorite Odacite serum.

[k617]

I just tried a foil sample of Tata's Regenerating Cleanser...while I LOVED how smooth it left my skin, I just couldn't justify adding a cleanser to my routine that I can't use daily...it has grains in it 😞 And ever since using quite a comprehensive suite of chemical exfoliants, I simply have no place in my routine for a physical exfoliant.