LPN’s August Faves: Natural Beauty & Lifestyle

It’s that time of the month (no, not that one – ha ha). Time for another monthly faves post on all that I’m loving in the natural beauty & wellness space. Today’s post is a combination of beauty, skincare, food and music. A lovely little curated collection of some beautiful things for you to enjoy as much as I have.

LPN’s Summer Yoga Flow Playlist on Spotify: Love Flow 

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While I’m writing this post from my yoga mat in the yard, I thought I should start off with giving you a link to the playlist I’m listening to right now (or rather, this month). After finishing my yoga teacher training in July, I have been feeling musically inspired and have created a few new yoga playlists. Here is my latest blend of contemporary pop mixed with some mantra and yogic beats. Not only have I been flowing to this playlist on my mat, I’ve also been listening to it at work, and … well, while blogging :)

Hope you enjoy the compilation both on and off the mat! If you like it, you can follow me to get updates when  create new a new yoga (or other) playlist. <3

Natural Perfume Fave: Abel 100% Organic Perfume in Tonic 

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged on natural fragrance… and that might be because it’s hard to find 100% natural fragrance that is fab. Well, Abel has done it again (they did it before here). New Zealand based 100% organic natural perfumery has come out with Tonic a beautifully crisp and earthy scent that is perfect for the “anti-floral” babe. The blend of lime, peppermint and bergamot plus the vetiver and sandalwood are a perfect combo. For me, I love woodsy and fresh scents on my skin and Tonic is a dream. Also what I love about Abel? Their scents are unisex, so you or your man can wear this delicious scent.

270344437Wait Kate, did you just refer to a perfume as delicious? Well, yes. Because it’s so darn natural you can literally drink it. The ingredients? Lime oil, bergamot oil, peppermint oil, vetiver oil, ginger extract, palmarosa, West Indian sandalwood, vanilla absolute & food grade grain alcohol. So yes, if you were to technically drink this and add it into your mojito, you should (as Abel puts it) “sip responsibly”. :)

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The wooden case is handcrafted made from old Amsterdam canal beams  – oh, and there is only 1693 bottles available globally. Need to have this fragrance in your life (or on your skin)? Shop below.

Where to Buy:

Online at Abel Organics Online for 92 Euros

Natural Body Butter by Miztera – The Wonder Butter

New on the green beauty scene is Miztera. Specializing in body butters and taking care of that body of ours, MIZTERA is different for another little reason: MIZTERA products do not contain water or any perservatives. Instead, they are composed of rich, nourishing vegetable, fruit and seed butters and oils. So, not only do they smell delicious & feel luxurious (the Wonder Butter is my favourite with the base of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E). Needless to say, they are deeply hydrating, good for anywhere on the body, and for all types of skin (especially sensitive ones).

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Scoop out a little of the hardened product and melt it directly on your skin for some of the most beautiful and natural moisturizing you’ve ever had. And you’ll smell pretty darn edible too! Also, since it nourishes so deeply, I would recommended for very dry skin, dry patches of skin, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, and other skin irritations that need a little extra love.
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Where to Buy:

Online at MIZTERA for $22.99 USD

Summer Blusher Fave: Kjaer Weis in Embrace

The perfect summer to fall transition blush? Kjaer Weis’ cream blush in Embrace.  I have been wearing this pretty pink all over the down – day, night, with bronzer and without – it is the perfect nudey (yup, I said nudey) pink for a healthy and natural looking glow. I might as well have just come out of a yoga class after I blend this pretty stuff on my cheeks.  532067_in_pp

As usual, Kjaer Weis’ products are natural, and packaged in their beautiful reusable stainless steel compacts. Below you can see the colour in natural light on fair skin. It’s a really pretty natural tone. I blend mind in with my fingers but often use a brush to put the colour onto the apples of my cheeks first.

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Where to Buy:

Online at Eco Diva Beauty for $56 USD

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 Stiff Dry Brush from iHerb

No, I wasn’t dry body brushing outside – but the flower was pretty and looked better than in my dark bathroom. :)

IMG_0866Dry skin body brushing is no secret on the pages of LPN – read a full post on it here. If you are not familiar with the practice, essentially it’s a detoxification: it removes the dead skin cells laying on top of your skin that create that dull appearance, but over a longer period of time you can also achieve many other beauty and health benefits. By increasing your body’s circulation to the skin, you are helping to eliminate wastes more quickly (another reason I do this before I shower). Additionally, dry brushing is used to help combat cellulite. Remember we want to get rid of cellulite, not only because it looks less than pretty, but also because the fat tissue stored in cellulite is actually filled with toxins that your body is having a hard time ridding itself of.

Learn more about dry skin brushing here. 

Where to Buy

iHerb has very affordable dry body brushes (under $5 USD) – **order using the code MEP206 to receive a discount off your purchase :)

Navitas Natural’s Maca Powder from iHerb

One of my favourite superfood additions this past month has been my maca powder. I’ve put this stuff in my smoothies for a long time, but lately I’ve been feeling a little lethargic and needed an extra boost. Therefore, this Incan, raw and organic superfood has been making it into my daily smoothies.

IMG_0858What about Maca? Maca, and more specifically the root of the plant, has a long history as a superfood. The maca root was prized throughout the Incan empire for its adaptogenic-like qualities that enable it to nourish and balance the body’s delicate endocrine system, and to help cope with stress. It also energizes naturally, without the jitters and crashes of caffeine, and it can aid in reproductive function, helping to balance hormones and increase fertility. While I’m not looking to increase my fertility, I have been taking it to help balance my hormones and provide me with ah bit more energy.

Where to Buy:

Online at iHerb for $31 USD for 16 oz or $13 USD for 4 oz – **order using the code MEP206 to receive a discount off your purchase :)

Eye Highlighter: Modern Minerals Eyeshadow in Seychelles

I love highlighters – especially when it comes to the eyes. There is nothing like a good brush and some highlighter to make your eyes pop. This beautiful mineral eye shadow is the perfect late summer highlighter with its fine pink hints and shimmers that has a base of opalescent beige and soft lavender. It’s lovely. Really lovely.

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I used this under my eye brows and on the inner corners of my eyes, as well as dotted in the centre of my eyelid and blended around the centre of the eyelid. It leaves a bright-eyed look, even if you didn’t have enough sleep after a late Saturday night out ;)

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Online at Modern Minerals for $12.50 USD

Mala of the Month: Mala Collective’s I am Love Mala

I was given this mala earlier this year from a very special friend. It was given to me in a time I needed healing of the heart, and some deep, radical self-love. So why is it ending up in August’s faves? Because I still use it almost daily – whether that is wearing it or meditating with it, I have well used this beautiful rose quartz mala necklace.

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The pink gemstone is known for its ability to open the heart, enhance creativity, and heal emotional wounds and broken hearts. Rose quartz is considered “the love stone” but it’s also believed to be beneficial to the circulatory system and aid in relieving anxiety.


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Mala Collective conveys the finest handcrafted mala beads from a very special place in my heart, Bali, Indonesia. All their pieces are handmade to specific spiritual numbers with beads by Aum Rudraksha Designs in Bali, Indonesia. The jewelry is sustainably harvested, fairly traded, and ethically produced.

The mantra “I Am Love” is a simple reminder to be kinder to myself and others – use it while meditating with this beautiful necklace (or just wear it as a gentle and lovely reminder that you are love). If you prefer the sanskrit mantra for your meditation, you can use Aham Prema (ah-hum pray-mah), Sanskrit for “I AM Divine Love.” And you know what? You are. 

Where to Buy:

Online at the Mala Collective for $140 USD

Aham Prema, loves <3

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K