Pachy is the perfect product for my pits! My review of Rustic Maka Pachy Deodorant.

Going green with your health and beauty products is a very positive thing both for yourself and for the planet. But in the process of cleaning up your routine, some synthetic products can be really hard to find a natural alternative to. For me, deodorant was that product. Natural deodorant creams are effective, but I don't like having to use my fingers to apply them. Sticks are my preference, but they either dry my underarms out, or are not effective enough to even get me through a sweaty yoga session at the gym. So when Beauty Box 5 included a natural stick deodorant in their Limited Edition Eco Chic Box, I was willing to try it, but didn't have the highest of hopes that it would actually work for me. How wrong I was.

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"Pachy" is the Polish word for "underarm", and also the name of this incredible natural deodorant from Rustic Maka, a green company who believes when it comes to personal care products, less is more.

Mission statement:

"Rustic Maka is a Michigan-based company with a mission to develop healthy personal care solutions, made with carefully selected, good-for-our-bodies, made-in-nature, organic and vegan ingredients."

Pure. Simple. Organic.

Ingredients:

Manihot Esculenta (Arrowroot) Tapioca Powder,* Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit,* Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil,* Aluminum-free Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax 

*Certified Organic Ingredient

I received a full size of the scent "Wild Meadows" in my Eco Chic Box and fell in love from the first use. The formula is simple yet effective, able to control sweat and odor without irritating, drying or chafing my underarms. It is firm, but warms quickly to the touch to glide on easily without crumbling. I even love the tube, which is made with recycled materials. The bottom twists up and down easily, and the cap also twists on and off so that I can toss it in my gym bag without a care. At 3.2 oz, Pachy is bigger than your average drugstore deodorant. I've had mine since early October, and after applying it once daily since then I still have plenty left, though I did take advantage of a Black Friday discount to place an order last month for more!

I ordered a few full sizes of Naughty Butter (the unscented version), a spare of the fresh Wild Meadows I loved, and this nifty sampler with lip balm sized sticks of five of Pachy's six available scents. One of these will now always reside in my makeup bag in case of emergency :). I find the scented deodorants to be mild yet lovely, each one uniquely aromatherapeutic.

Rough Rivers: 

Advertised as the deodorant in the line meant for men, this one is scented with bergamot. It is fresh, clean, and I think it is unisex since I like the scent very well, too.

Wild Meadows:

Fresh, sweet and scented with bergamot and vanilla, this is the first Pachy I tried and still my favorite of the scents.

Naughty Butter:

I often prefer unscented products, which is why I ordered full sizes of this one. It has a faint waxy scent in the tube, applies scentless, and works just as well as any of the others to keep body odor at bay.

Sweet Lemonade:

I love the tart, tasty scent of this option, too. Scented with orange peel, lemon peel and vanilla, it is bright, uplifting and is great for preteens just discovering the need for deodorant and older, smellier customers alike.

Calming Fields: 

The lavender and spearmint in this deodorant make for a calm, grounding scent that I really like! The rest of the scents are very subtle, but this one is just a little stronger than the rest for those who may have more odorous armpits or like to be able to smell their deodorant throughout the day.

Rustic Maka also makes a Morning Breeze deodorant scented with lavender, spearmint, orange peel, lemongrass, and vanilla. This one wasn't included in the trial pack or Black Friday sale because $2 from every one sold is donated to Angels of Hope, a charity supporting children diagnosed with cancer and their families. A beautiful cause, and a beautiful-sounding scent that I plan to order soon.

Pachy is the perfect product for my pits!

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned. These products were paid for by eco Birdy. All opinions are my own!

Purr-fect facial care from Meow Meow Tweet!

I guess you could say I'm a dog person, since I share my home with two dogs but no cats. However, there's this one beauty brand out there that I think is pretty well purr-fect (pun intended). I'm talking about Meow Meow Tweet!

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Come on, how stinkin' cute is that packaging?

Meow Meow Tweet is a small batch apothecary run by founders Tara and Jeff in Brooklyn, NY, who create by hand some truly wonderful vegan products using only the purest ingredients.

MMT has a great range of items to choose from - insect repellent to body oil, a very popular deodorant cream to a lovely salt body scrub - but today I want to focus on five products that can be individually added to your current facial routine, or could make up a purr-fect (sorry, it's just too good of a pun to use only once in a post.!) routine of their own: simply named Face Cleanser, Face Exfoliant, Face + Body Toning Mists, Face Oil and Cocoa Skin Cream. For stock pictures, ingredients and usage of these products, click here!

Face Cleanser

While I don't particularly care for the juniper and mint scent of this cleanser (juniper just isn't my thing) I do really love the deliciously creamy texture and thorough cleanse it gives! I was a little nervous to try it at first since it contains castile soap, which normally dries me out really bad. My fears were for nothing, however, because it doesn't strip the moisture from my face, but all the dirt, sweat, makeup etc are stripped away like they were never there at all.

Face Exfoliant

Here is an exfoliant like no other; rather than a harsh scrubby product this one is soft and soothing. Made with ingredients of oat, walnut hull, chamomile flowers and kelp, this is so perfect for sensitive skin that needs just a little exfoliation and a lot of calming. Not only does it smell absolutely delicious, like sweet, warm oatmeal, it leaves my skin free from dry, flaky patches, so soft and smooth. I like to leave it on after exfoliating sometimes, so my skin can really soak up the anti-inflammatory benefits of that chamomile.

Face + Body Toning Mists

This amazingly refreshing toner comes in three options and I have happily spritzed myself with all three!

Bergamot Vetiver

I should really love this one since it is the option designed for dry skin, but the earthy-earth aroma is not for me. Still! The smell fades fast and it works just as well as the other three.

Geranium Basil

Best for oily skin, the minty scent of this toner is better, and I love that it is non-drying yet mattifying, perfect for oily skin indeed.

Palmarosa Cedar

This sweet and woodsy option for normal to dry skin is my fave! I love using this it as a super simple morning spritz-and-wipe cleanse when my sensitive skin needs a less is more approach. It is perfect for misting anywhere on the body, anytime of day to boost dry or tired skin and is the ultimate refreshment for my face when I leave it in my fridge before use.

Face Oil

This medium consistency face oil is simple, yet full of exceptional ingredients, making it perfect for all skin types. It's another earthily scented MMT product that you either enjoy right off the bat or learn to live with once you discover that you don't want to live without the smooth, soft, absolutely glowing face that results from 2-3 drops of this liquid gold. It is non-greasy when used alone on oily skin, and dry girls can benefit using it under a moisturizer such as the lovely one below.

Cocoa Skin Cream

Leave it to me to fall absolutely in love with the product that wasn't necessarily even meant for the face! I gotta say, though, this stuff is as perfect as it gets when it comes to the needs of my super-sensitive skin. The shea and cocoa butters deeply moisturize, the coconut oil nourishes and keeps bacteria at bay, and hempseed oil (an oil incredibly similar in lipid structure to the body's own sebum), allows the cream to completely and effectively be absorbed with no greasy sheen left behind. This cream is simplicity at it's finest, and did I mention that the smooth chocolatey scent is just heavenly?! Firm in the jar, it melts deliciously at skin temperature to glide on silkily smooth before sinking right in. It can even be used on cuticles, lips, and any other dry patch you can find on your body. I've actually adopted Cocoa Skin Cream into my everyday routine, to moisturize my face on top of a drop or two of my favorite serum.

Can I please have permission to make another silly pun joke??

These minis are the cat's meow!

=^^=

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned. These products were paid for by eco Birdy. All opinions are my own!

What's that lovely perfume lurking on my wrists?! My review of Lurk perfume oils + some exciting news!

Earlier this month, I saw a picture on Facebook that literally made me squeal with delight! Below is that picture.

Lurk has announced the upcoming launch of eau de toilette versions of two of their amazing scents. Today, I dropped by their website and discovered that their launch date is set for November 4th. And the two scents?

BS003 & RSW005

Yayy!!

Anyway, with this new, exciting information, I thought it would be a fun time to share my review of Lurk's perfume oils..

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"Lurk perfume oils transcend gender, age, race, attitude and affliction."

There are currently five unique yet obviously related scents in Lurk's line, all hand-blended in small batches by Anne Sanford in SoHo NYC. Take a look at this beautiful sample set of mine..

AS01

Notes of cedarwood, tuberose and sweet rose come together with a hint of spice to produce this slightly viscous yet subtle scent.

This is a warm, sweet fragrance, just lovely. Reading the description before testing the scent, I predicted that the tuberose would cause the rose to be one of those "fashionable" powdery rose scents, but that couldn't be further from the truth. This perfume has a certain greenness to it that I love.

BS003

Dry woods mix with crisp citrus notes and sweet bergamot to produce this effervescent yet balanced set.

Uplifting and fresh, the bergamot and lemon create a juicy citrus peel scent. The note of black pepper sits noticeably in the background, giving further intrigue and a subtle spicy dryness to the citruses. 

PRJV1

Expansive layers of jasmine and rose with fresh petitgrain. Raw, unrefined, possibly debaucherous, definitely pleasing.

This may be the greenest jasmine scent I have ever smelled. Usually, jasmine is soft and sweet, occasionally cloying. Not this one! Perhaps it is the presence of rose that keeps this scent so fresh and green, yet still floral and undeniably feminine.

RSW005

Warm sandalwood and earthy rose produce this androgenous scent. Smooth with a crisp citrus finish. An essential scent to slake even the most parched perfume palette.

Rose is the main note in this perfume. Sandalwood gives a warm, inviting backdrop in which the rose can shine in all it's beautifully lush glory.

TBPV1

Sultry florals blend seamlessly into a base of resinous black pepper. An antidote for the fragrance jaded.

This is a beautiful, soft tuberose perfume, and probably the sweetest tuberose I've ever met. You know how some people put salt on their watermelon? I feel that the same concept applies here in that the black pepper note serves to further sweeten the tuberose.

~ ~ ~

Each perfume oil is subtly scented, the kind of perfume you wear as an indulgence for yourself. It is not likely that anyone around you will smell it on you unless they get close, really close. The scents do (excuse the pun!) lurk on the skin for hours though. I have applied some to the insides of my elbows before going to work and could still faintly detect it at the end of my shift nearly 10 hours later!

Previously, the only sizing available for these babies was a 1/8th of an ounce rollerball for $55 each. I still haven't seen a size amount for the two sprays, but hopefully they are quite large as BS003 will be selling for $185 and RSW005 for $225. Seriously, come on November 4th! I soo want one or both of those sprays :)!

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned. All opinions are my own!

One Love Organics Essentials To Go Deluxe Travel Kit.. a review of some OLO gems!

"We embrace the simplicity and knowledge that you can achieve more with less."

This is one of the founding principals of one of my very most favorite green beauty brands: One Love Organics.

Founded by lawyers turned green advocates, Suzanne and Chase LeRoux, OLO uses only plant-based ingredients in their simple yet sweet line of multi-functional products. Everything is hand-made in small batches on St. Simmons Island off the coast of Georgia.

OLO's line is more or less complete, but occasionally they switch things up and change the contents of their travel kit. The one I am reviewing today is the kit that is currently available at the time of this post.

OLO Essentials To Go Deluxe Travel Kit: $65

     Cost Breakdown

• LOVE cosmetic case: $18
• Easy Does It 2.25 oz / 67.5 mL: $9
• Brand New Day 0.5 oz / 15 mL: $12
• Love Springs Eternal 0.2 oz / 6 mL: $14.75*
• Skin Savior 0.5 oz / 15 mL: $15*

The *starred items are estimated prices because OLO does not sell them alone like they do with the first three items. Either way, my estimated value of the kit is $68.75, so it is still a good deal and excellent way to get a taste of OLO.

The kit includes a well-written informational/instructional card.

Now! Let's talk about the products themselves, shall we?!

For stock pictures and full description, usage and
ingredients of the four products, click here.

LOVE cosmetic case
 Going back to OLO's statement on simplicity, this well-made bag gives a perfectly accurate first impression of the skincare about to be discovered within.

Easy Does It Foaming Cleanser

 This is THE most gentle foaming cleanser I have ever met. Usually, foaming cleansers are drying, stripping and not for me. But this, this cleanser is for me with it's happy yellow color, faintly appley scent and the way you only need a little bit to get lots of silky soft foam. I've tried it on a spinning face brush, a konjac sponge, and even just with a washcloth, and it always cleanses gently and effectively. It even works for cleansing my hair and body without stripping moisture, but dry haired girls will need to condition afterwards if using it to shampoo.

Brand New Day Microderma Scrub and Masque

 I love a good powder-to-paste and I love this one in particular! I shake the silky powder into a hand and it smells delicious, like sweet pineappley, tropical goodness. I add water and this silky powder turns into a superbly effective enzymatic scrub that rids my face of every flake and leaves me soo smooth and soft. Bonus! It can also be mixed with honey, yogurt, etc, to create a softening, exfoliating and firming masque. My sensitive skin has no problem using this daily.

Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum
 I already know I'm going to love a serum when the first listed ingredient is "watermelon seed oil". I used to have the driest of the dry facial skin, but about a year ago developed hormone issues that caused cystic acne on my chin and jaw. A serum (not this one) with a base of watermelon seed oil literally saved my complexion. But I will share that story another day! Suffice it to say that this serum is perfect for any skin type. It is softening for dry skin, purifying for oily, and adds a lovely glow that dull and/or aging skin will love. And did I mention the beautiful neroli scent?

Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm
 Balms are my favorite forms of moisturizers. I just love the smoothness, the way they start out solid then melt from the heat of my fingertips. I love how I only need a teensy bit because they spread such a long way. This is actually the balm that began my love affair with all things balm. The honeyed-citrus scent is soo amazing, uplifting, and I only need the tiniest bit to give glow and moisture to my entire face for hours on end. OLO recommends using Skin Savior in conjunction with Easy Does It as a "double cleanse method". Skin Savior first on the face to remove all traces of dirt and makeup, then Easy Does It to gently cleanse, follow up with Love Springs Eternal serum and, for dry-skinned gals, some more Skin Savior. Magic, I tell you. It also works wonders on dry hair ends, cuticles, etc, and gives a lovely dewy glow to the face when mixed with mineral foundation. Love. Love, love.

Whether you are new to OLO or already love the brand, the Essentials To Go Deluxe Travel Kit is a treasure for all.

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned. All opinions are my own! 

i tried this thursday: NEW Satori perfume oil from Lina Hanson, my review + Global Face Serum, too!

I am a junkie for green beauty products; I want to try EVERYTHING! Thursdays will probably end up being my most common and favorite blogging day because my eBay business allows me to try samples of so many different and wonderful products. Welcome to my first product review, my first I Tried This Thursday!

Lina Hanson.

The creator of one of green beauty's most beloved face serums.

Photo Credit

That's right, I'm looking at you, Global Face Serum, you beautiful, beautiful serum, you! If you've never tried this, you MUST go out and find yourself a sample because your life is incomplete if you've never experienced this. If this serum is new news to you, you can read the description of key ingredients to understand why this serum is "global" here.

This serum is super spreadable, and it absorbs quickly and completely, leaving your complexion healthy and glowing. Plus, the neroli and vanilla scent is just beautiful. Want to know about another beautifully scented Lina Hanson product?? Please allow me to introduce to you the new, the incredible..

Satori

Lina Hanson's brand NEW perfume oil!

Satori will be available for purchase this fall, exclusively from Lina Hanson's own website. Lucky me, thanks to a spectacular Friday deal from the blog No More Dirty Looks, I was able to get my greedy hands on a preview sample vial that I want to tell you all about!

My little sample vial, in a pretty polka dot pouch, just waiting to be opened and adored!

My order included an informational printout detailing all you need to know about Satori. You can read it in it's entirety here.

Let me just begin by saying that I really don't think Satori smells anything like the Global Face Serum, but that's not a bad thing at all since I have decided I am IN LOVE with this perfume oil as it is. I dab a little drop on my wrists and the fragrance opens with a savory, spicy ginger that tickles my fancy and my nose when I stick it straight to my wrist to inhale. The yuzu perfectly tempers the ginger, giving it some citrus-ey sweetness so that the ginger doesn’t overwhelm. The sandalwood grounds the fragrance with a warm woodsiness. At first, the vanilla is nowhere to be found, but after about an hour makes it's stunning and sweet debut as ginger fades into the background so that the vanilla can shine center-stage. Satori is noticeable, but never overwhelming, and lasts on my skin approximately four hours, the average time to be expected from a perfume made with natural ingredients.

Satori is a beautiful scent, created with the high quality and care that Global Face Serum led me to expect from Lina Hanson.

Buy it soon, you may find your new signature scent :).

Disclosure: I am not sponsored or affiliated with any brand mentioned. My opinions are my own!