Rants & Raves of the Beauty Obsessed

Self confessed beauty junkie. I love anything that has to do with personal care ranging from handcrafted artisan soap to luxury brand cosmetics combined with writing & having an opinion on everything I try, jumping on the blog train just seemed natural as I love reading other peoples blogs about everything beauty. Thanks for stopping by :)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Calling all insomniacs like yours truly!

Lovey, the Lavender Lamb, IsabellaCatalog.com A natural way to fall asleep or calm down and relax. Cuddle with this adorable little lamb and moms, don't forget to get one for the kids too. I have the WORST insomnia in the world and aromatherapy helps miraculously. When my nerves get frayed I whip out my essential oils, and they really do help. However I find they won't work unless you LET THEM. Bottom line. Away from home and need a wonderful, portable roller? For one of the BEST lavender oils I have ever smelled head to Daybreak Lavender Farm for one of their aroma synergies. To relax, Daybreak's lavender is a synergy of a secret blend of 5 different essential oils from different lavender plants as there is quite a few types of lavender and Daybreak nails it with their house blend. However for sleep I personally use and advise as they do to get the Mysore sandalwood which is blended with a touch of luxurious Rose Otto. This will send you off to sleep with a smile as Mysore sandalwood is the best in the world & a rare commodity. http://www.daybreaklavenderfarm.com/store/AromaSynergies-pr-16687-c-400.html . I swear by these along with every single one of their products because I am literally obsessed with this company!!!! The handmade soaps, creams, and lotions are beyond decadent. The skincare systems are phenomenal. This indie company does everything first class, and everything is made from scratch. Yes, the prices are expensive but they use the best ingredients and don't skimp.....ever. I will order from Daybreak as long as they are around. I know a LOT about handmade soaps and they are simply one of the best out there. For a relaxing shower purchase one of their Blooming Aromasoap bars in Fresh Lavender. The name is such because the aroma blooms with the heat of your shower and fills the entire bathroom. Aside from aromatherapy benefits I love these for the skin loving ingredients which are high lathering and moisturizing as these soaps contain 11% unrefined shea butter as well as cocoa butter. Daybreak also has a line of 33% shea butter soaps, yes 33%!!!!!! There are even goat milk soaps in the 33% shea butter line. Could your skin love you more? Daybreak Lavender farm makes some of the most luxuriant handcrafted soaps and are a favorite indie bath & body company of mine. One of my top 3 go to soapmakers and I've tried TONS of different artisans. If you love lavender as much as I do, you will fall head over heels for Daybreak Lavender Farms. Sweet dreams and happy bathing my darlings. XOXO

Sunday, January 22, 2012

tarte 100% Pure Cold Pressed Maracuja Oil from the Amazon - QVC.com

tarte 100% Pure Cold Pressed Maracuja Oil from the Amazon - QVC.com So back in November I gave you all a tease about my little wonder product, my latest beauty Ah-Ha!, Tarte's Maracuja oil which I am still clutching in my hands greedily in the early morning of December 22nd 2012, Happy New Years by the way my darlings :D! However back to business Maracuja oil beautifully if I may say presented to us by Tarte. Now most of you are probably going to or are already scratching your heads, what in the heck is Maracuja oil? Well in laments terms ladies and the intelligent gent or two out there, Maracujua oil is simply oil from the seeds of the passion flower fruit. Now I can hear some of you grumbling well I can get Maracuja oil from my GNC for a whole lot cheaper or this other supplement place. Some of you are right and some of you are wrong because what makes Tarte's' Maracuja Oil so special? Where it's harvested! Who is harvesting it! Is it Fair Trade?!  Under what conditions are they being collected and taken to have this amazing oil pressed until they finally fill our gorgeous purple bottles with the bamboo and gold topper batting her powerful eyelashes.....look at me, use me! Let me make you more beautiful my darling!!! Seducing us to use it from out of our vanities or bathroom counters? Well ladies, as anyone who knows anything about Tarte knows the lovely eco-friendly company's founder, Maureen Kelly is a GENIUS!!!! Bringing us all these innovative, pristine, and powerful ingredients from her trip down the long, long, ancient, did I mention long Amazon River? Jewels of the mighty Amazon River and surrounding rainforests. C'mon! No one knew diddly about Amazonian clay before Maureen discovered it's amazing multifaceted powers to benefit ALL skin types in SO many different mediums? Illuminating serums, tinted moisturizers which I will add Tarte's Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer is the best damn tinted moisturizer in the industry right now. None of the powerhouses of makeup can hold a candle up to Smooth Operator and I mean NONE!!!! I had oily skin in my teens to mid 20's that turned to what it is now at 34 combination, one of the most frustrating skin types to have because I now have to tend to both oily girl and dry girl skin issues. But if that's what I have to endure to have 19 year old men asking me out because they think I'm about 24 or 25, I'll damn well take it! HAHA! Now back to the Maracuja oil. It's light golden in color, has a natural slightly veggie/nutty scent about it which I've read some complaints about but come on now. You don't use skincare for the way it smells, and it's not even a strong smell, which dissipates as soon as it's applied to the skin. Did anyone go to use Tea Tree Oil for their acne issues smell it and think "YUMMY! I wanna just drink this stuff!"? Now This oil can and should be used as as a serum under moisturizer except for on very oily girls who can use it alone as moisturizer. Cleanse your skin, I currently use Pangea's cleanser for normal/combo skin or an organic handmade soap. Next tone, as an esthetician it shocks and drives me crazy the amount of people out there that don't get it why they need to use a toner after done washing! Now pay attention ladies.....especially you non toners! When we wash our skin we are throwing the PH of our skin out of whack. Now get some good cotton, organic is best if you can afford it, however spray your selected toner for your skin type onto the cotton pad and wipe the skin clean with it. What you are doing is re-balancing your skin's PH levels, wiping off remaining traces of cleanser or dirt, as well as prepping your skin to receive and absorb either your serum, our Maracuja oil for those of us lucky enough to have it and then moisturizer over it much better so the actives can delve into the deeper layers of the dermis and go to work. If your skin is dry, normal, mature, and/or damaged, you will want to use Maracuja oil as a serum before you moisturize. Combo girls feel it out, what I do is since I now have makeup optional skin since using Tarte on my facial skin exclusively, in the a.m. I will apply my moisturizer or Smooth Operator tinted moisturizer with.....TA DAAA....Amazonian clay after I feel the Maracuja oil sink into my skin. I even apply my Maracuja oil on my eye area making it all the more beneficial before applying my Pangea eye cream and my peepers are smooth, soft, and relaxed with no lines in sight. I've laughed and continue to laugh a whole lot in my life and have very little evidence of it. Now remember genetics plays a large role in that but so does the fact that I have always been on the wagon of PREVENTION! Now how is my skin you ask since I last left off? Smoother. Brighter. Reduction of monthly flareups. Reduction of pesky blackheads. Glowing skin, Comfortable, even happy skin. A marked reduction in sun damage and the pesky marks leftover from the good old 'pregnancy mask' that some of you other ladies that are mothers can identify with. I have....roll the drums.......found an AMAZING looking organic skincare company that I will be trying after I'm done using up all my Pangea called Angel Face Botanicals, if I don't get derailed by another line that is. This off the charts fabulous indie company has managed to get mentioned in Cosmopolitan, as well as Bazaar Magazines. Had the honor of top two finalists for about.com's Best Indie Skin Care People's choice awards. Won Fast Company Magazines Best of Artesian Cosmetics. The list goes on, I mean just numerous notable magazines and beauty and eco-chic blogs. The owner is known as the 'Spa Goddess' for good reason, this amazing creature doesn't utilize one single filler in any of her marvelous formulations. Prices are also very reasonable, a full size starter kit of best selling facewash, toner, and moisturizer goes for only $55.00 while the travel size of the same set is still friggin big is only $35.00. Also the perk of a 1st time purchase discount when you sign up for the newsletter. It just doesn't get any better! Honest, chemical free skincare with some impressive ingredients and makeup from Tarte that is truly good for your skin. Seriously! Skincare disguised as makeup!!!! MUSIC!!!! And I think to myself......what a wonderful world.............
XOXO Till next time my darlings!