LPN’s February Faves: Natural Beauty Products

Happy Sunday, Gorgeous!

I have some exciting news to start off the post today — LPN has turned 3 years old!! Can you believe it?!?!  

It has been such a blessed and blissed out ride, and I can’t wait to continue the journey. Thanks for being such loyal readers and sharing your thoughts as I give you mine. You are so loved <3

Now, onto more important business ;)

Despite having a crazy past couple months, I have had time to test many new products – and I’ve found a great deal of new love affairs that I’ll share with you here. I decided to take this weekend to sit down and tell you about some of my favourite finds and give you the low down on what natural beauty products are really making an impact. You’ll be happy to know there is a nice combo of skincare, cosmetics and even recipes in the post below :) Hope you enjoy.

Pursoma Ocean Potion Bath

Living the apartment life in Scandinavia rarely comes with the luxury of a bathtub, so I had to test this beauty of a product on my latest visit home (which happened to be last weekend – for 24 hours – but that’s another story). I got this packet of miracle from Eco Diva Beauty and had been waiting for the perfect bathtub to test it out in. Well, there’s no place like home, right?

All I have to say is WOW. This pure, raw, vegan bath was a lifesaver. I had been traveling for about 10 days around the US & Canada and had a serious case of jetlag. Natural beauty does not shine through on lack of sleep, let’s just say that.  This detox bath absolutely revived me, calmed me and detoxed me all at once. The sea salt stimulates circualation while the kelp is great for helping the lymphatic system get moving. The algae (Spirulina isn’t just for eating, baby!) is a detoxifier — heavy metals get out of here — and it also helps with reversing the damage of radioactive materials (very important if you’er spending lots of time on a plane like me, or in front of a laptop/cellphone – like, well, everyone).

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Needless to say, I soaked in this tub for about 20 glorious minutes, wrapped myself in a towel and went down to bed. I slept like the goddess of sleep – and trying to get over a 9 hour time difference, trust me, this is not an easy feat. I will be going back for this product again and again.

Where to Buy:

Global: Eco Diva Beauty for $12 USD / Pack

La Bella Figura: Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum

Another magnificent find was Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum. Worth the pretty penny, this eye serum is the real deal. Packed with nourishing argan oil, their famous Barbary Fig seed oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Tomato Seed Oil, Green Coffee Bean Oil, Rose Otto Oil, Blue Tansy Flower Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Oil, Palmarosa Oil & Lavender Oil (all organic), this is powerhouse ingredients-packed.

I first fell in love with this anti-wrinkle serum on a flight back to Norway from the West Coast of Canada. You might have seen it in this Instagram post. I used it during my flight, and I swear, my tired eyes and dark circles were not noticeable. It’s also a brilliant product for smoothing lines. The pure barbary fig seed oil comes from the seed of the cactus plant, and is a very rich source of vitamin E… and you all already know my love of organic rosehip seed oil – known for its rare, natural, plant-derived vitamin A content (read natural retinol, which has been known to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles)

La Bella Figura is known for sourcing wild, organic and pure ingredients – every hand-poured bottle or jar of nourishing balms and masks contain the active properties that are most beneficial to your skin. Again, a pure love skincare product. <3 This is a re-purchase for LPN (actually, I already have…)

Where to Buy:

Global: Eco Diva Beauty for $115 USD

Gem Stone Organic: Organic Rose Quartz Hydrosol

Based on my Instagram, you’ve probably noticed I’m a lover of gemstones, but who knew how powerful they could be in your skincare? Gemstone Organics is a brilliant raw, pure skincare company that uses the power of gemstones, flowers and herbs to create some pretty darn pure skincare. One of my favourites was their Organic Rose Quartz Hydrosol, which I fell head over heels for this past month.

Hydrosols are floral waters that contain the essence of the specific plant in each drop – they are the aqueous product of steam distillation and carry the intelligent vibration of plant impulses, giving them potent healing properties. They are similar to their counterpart the essential oil, but in a much gentler form making them ideal for use on even the most sensitive of skins. Hydrosols are commonly used as beauty waters because they balance your skins pH levels and make great natural astringents/toners.

At the bottom of each bottle is a crystal that you can keep for your own intentional living and self-love. Gem Stone Organic’s hydrosols are infused with Quartz Crystal which have been charged to aid you on your journey of healing and inner beauty. <3 Love this!

I have been using their Rose Otto Gem Hydrosol in the AM and PM and pretty much whenever else I feel like a little pick me up. Both moisturizing and toning, this hydrosol can be used both under and over makeup (during the day). It can also double as aromatherapy and a purifying room spray. Heck, you can even use it to deodorize your yoga mat!

Gemstone Organics also has as variety of beautiful creams (another fave I tried was their rose quartz cream – a beauty of a beauty product). The Rose Quartz cream was infused with lavender and rosemary and infused with rose quartz essence – it is perfect for resonating with your heart chakra. Oh, and did I mention the cream also doubles as an anti-aging tool? With coconut oil, beeswax and antioxidant packed babassu oil, it will help with fighting fine lines too. Talk about some self-love! <3

Where to Buy:

Shop the hydrosol online at Gemstone Organic 4 oz for $26 USD

Shop the cream online at Gemstone Organic for $37 USD

Skinny Skinny Organic Acne Treatment

I always get fussy skin around the holidays – the combo of bad sleep, long travel, crazy hormones and different food (read: sugar and not-so lovely beauty fats) usually wrecks havoc. I fell for this gem over the last holiday season and have been using it intermittently when needed ever since. Super gentle yet effective acne spot treatment is nothing short of amazing. An ultra-concentrated blend of only certified organic active ingredients, is antibacterial, moisturizing and balancing. The base oil – Babassu Oil – is a natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, while also boasting antioxidants and vitamins. The other botanicals in this treatment work to balance skin’s natural oil production to help combat even the most stubborn hormonal acne (can I get a Hail Mary?!). Oh and despite it being an oil, it is non-greasy and absorbs quickly into the skin.

In a nutshell, it calmed my trouble spots and took them away in a couple days. All of them. When they flared up again, out it came and overnight it made a difference. Without a couple days I was curing them with a dab here and there.

Where to Buy: 

Global: Skinny Skinny Online for $24 USD

Natural Beauty Alchemy: Make Your Own Organic Skincare & Cosmetics by Fifi M. Maacaron

Last month I got my hands on a copy of this masterpiece of natural beauty DIY recipes – and it has something for EVERYTHING in here. Some aboslutely brilliant recipes are in this book – not to mention some beautiful photography and tonnes of tips. Learn about ingredients, skincare, and create things like exfoliating cleansing gel, cracked heel balm, toners, anti-aging facial treatments and moisturizers galore – oh and the face masks.

I’ve shared below a lovely moisturizing mask for dry winter skin – this nourishing recipe comes right from the pages of the book. Hope you get your hands on a copy and enjoy as much as I have!

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Winter Rescue Mask contains full-fat cream cheese, which will restore some of the skin’s lipid mantle and help protect skin against weather-induced dryness. Wheat germ oil is extremely nourishing, moisturizing, and anti-aging, grapefruit juice will load your skin with antioxidants and vitamin C for a refreshed and younger-looking skin. Adding egg white is optional but strongly recommended if you wish to have proteins in your mask. Prepare this formula when your skin feels dry and tight, or routinely during winter and harsh weather months.

Ingredients

2 ounces (60 ml) full-fat cream cheese (softened; see below)
½ teaspoon honey
20 drops (1 ml) wheat germ oil
20 drops (1 ml) grapefruit juice
1 egg white (optional)
gauze strips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Allow the cheese to soften at room temperature—do not microwave. Flatten with a fork, and then add remaining ingredients one at a time while mixing with the fork.
  2. Spread with a spatula on clean face and neck, directly or between double layers of precut gauze strips. (Prepare the gauze strips ahead of time by laying gauze in double layers and cutting four rectangles for the forehead and neck and four circles for the cheeks.)
  3. Lie back or sit in a reclining chair and wait 15-20 minutes before removing gauze pads and rinsing off.
  4. Repeat this mask on a weekly basis to sustain results and protect the skin. Follow with the application of daily moisturizer and a sunblock.

Where to Buy

Amazon for $15.70 USD

Organic Essence Relentless All-Day Deodorant

Ok, you all know my love of Soapwalla’s deodorant cream – it’s been on at least 4 posts on LPN since we started way back in 2012. But I know a lot of people have had irritations with the baking soda content, or prefer not to stick their fingers in the pot. Well, I came across this brilliant company: Organic Essence. They make this recyclable tube and their formulation is nothing short of a new fave. My mom actually tested this product with me, and when she finished, she sent me a picture of the tube empty with a sad face and a text saying “the end of my favourite deodorant ever”.

Effective and gentle, makes this a new fave, while the scents are all essential oils. No nasties and nothing less than natural in this little tube of goodness. The one thing to be careful of is getting it on the outside of your sweater (like any other deodorant, of course). It’s white, just like the rest of them.

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Organic virgin coconut oil has dual duties – it fights odour-causing bacteria while conditioning and soothing underarm skin. So you’re actually smoothing out your skin under there while using the deodorant. Baking soda also neutralizes odour-causing bacteria and provides long-lasting, protection – yup it lasted more than a day + a power yoga class. It’s that good.

Where to Buy: 

USA: Organic Essence Online for $9.99 USD

Find global istributors here

W3LL People Bio Extreme Lipgloss

A lipgloss that is smooth and never sticky, tastes minty fresh and has a pigment made for the most natural “barely there” look – W3LL People’s Bio Extreme Lipgloss in Berry was a fave of mine this past month. I am loving that it’s free from the nasties (read: parabens, petrochemicals, artificial ingredients, silicones, nanoparticles, glycols and sulphates) plus it’s based on organic ingredients including coconut oil peppermint oil.

The colour is super pretty – and can become darker if you layer it – but I like pretty tame lip colours on my fair skin, so this was a perfect match for me this winter.

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W3LL People claim to be “hippie tested & diva approved” – which I love. It speaks true to values of LPN. That is, natural beauty products are not all herbs and flowers in our hair (although that can be fun too), they’re also for the girl that wants to get glam on Saturday night, sequins, stilettos and thick bushy lashes.

Where to Buy:

Global: Eco Diva Beauty for $23.50 USD

One Self by Capi Edgley: Hawaiian Flower Lei Oil & Balm Perfume

Hopefully you’ve read my post on the toxic ingredients found in artificial fragrance (yes, you Coco Chanel wearing beauty, this one is for you). So, I won’t go into the dangers of it here; however, I’ll share with you this absolutely gorgeous new fragrance that I am LOVING. It’s not tested on animals (important when it comes to fragrance), free from alcohol, parabens, phthalates, and any synthetic ingredients and it smells like.. heaven?

With a base of coconut oil and essential oils, this flowery and tropical blend is blissful. It’s perfect for the babe wanting a reminder of summer, or for those gals that are in parts of the world that are already enjoying the sun’s glorious rays on their faces (with a natural SPF, of course).

The scent is so delicate yet intoxicating. The purity of the ingredients won’t give you a headache, and the pretty portable packaging means you can take them on the go with you.

Oh and don’t even get me started on the gorgeous packaging. This is the perfect give for both yourself, or another lovely in your life.

Where to Buy:

Oneself Online including the Hawaiian Flower Lei Perfume Oil 10ml & Hawaiian Flower Lei Perfume Balm 7ml for $79.95 USD

Well beauties, I hope you’ve enjoyed this update.

See you soon with more natural beauty finds <3

X

K