#No-nobuyJanuary

As in the double negative is a positive...

I think I'm one of the few who hasn't attempted the #nobuyJanuary.  I love the idea of toning down on the consuming part, but I think January is too much of a moody month to go really dramatic on a no buy. I hope everybody who was on the #nobuyJanuary that it has been succesful; I'll might try in Februari or March :)

Left is a jar of Lyonsleaf Beautybalm. It's organic, and a multitasker. What I like about this balm is that you can use it as a oil/balm cleanser: I've been trying to cleanse with coconut-butter but I'm not that fond of it: it reminds me of cooking too much.  I hope this balm will be a better option for me.

On the right is a sample set of Kris d'Amour of face & body products. I cannot believe how generous the large bottle of Bath Oil is. I'm really loving his Soothing body butter and already ordered a larger size. There's still a discount code for 30% going on with "JANUARY2014". Samples are free but you'll pay for shipping.

 I'm also waiting for the Jill Stuart '14 blush in Tulip Fields 08: it has dainty flowers decorated on it

It will be my second Jill Stuart blush: I'm not always into pure prettiness but this time it wowed me over. And I love the delicate powder of JS: subtle radiance and a glow of colour.

Birkinbagbeauty's Best of 2013: Body

I have featured a lot of body-products, hair-related products and other potionalities in 2013. So here is the list of my favourites [also with some newbies]:

Nails:

I became familiar with Ciate thanks to UK Fashion magazines' GWP. Ciate nailpolishes stand out for: 1. fab coverage even after 1 coat 2. dries fast 3. superb colours 4. longevity. I got the Ciate Advent-set and found some favourites: Pillow Talk is the more-than-just-a-neutral Mauve that suits both warmer & cooler oufits. Cutie Pie for that creamy basic that looks luxe without being too fuzzy.

Perfume

In autumn I regretted not been able to find my yearly fragance-infatuation. Then I remembered testing Caligna in the exquisite Parisian l'Artisan Parfumeur shop during summery 30°C weather and liking it. Testing it this winter in colder weather made me even love it more.

I know, showing a paper sample doesn't show that much enthousiasm...But Caligna only comes for the hefty pricetag of €120, which needs some more sampling before I will resist that #nobuy.

Body Moisturizers:

Darphin Nourishing Satin Oil with Ginger and delightful vanilla fragance has been one of those 'special occasion' luxuries that moisturizes as a dream and fragances you so softly. Yes, I'm getting poetic about this and it needs a better review. 
This Works Really Rich Firming Lotion is one of the few (nicely) fraganced products that work when I'm supersensitive: with the added bonus of putting tons of moisture on the dry parts. I have a partial fondness of jasmine so that makes it wonderful for hydrating the body.

Hair:
Oh dear, I've been completely obsessed by reconstructing my hair (see here). Conclusion beginning '14: I have some hair again...!  It's not perfect yet, but it is a major improvement on the sad 'do I used to have.

I've started Phylia [de M] Connect mid '12 and the result is that my the hairgrowth from that time, an estimated 25/30 cm, is full and thick. It's literary 'gettin' it to your roots': the vitamins and the minerals. I haven't been using it since spring but I think it has been the key to my healthier hair.

Hair Styling:

Healthier hair needs some direction, aka styling. I'm still a sensitive person and not everything on my head agrees with my picky scalp. I consider Rene Furtherer Volumea a gorgeous natural alternative on volumizing my 'do, adding some wonderful gloss as a bonus.

Tools:

Since my new hairstyle my priorities switched from 'smoothing out damaged hairs' into 'extra volumising the fresh hairs': that needed a fabulous blowdryer! Reviews gave such positive marks on both T3 (superexpensive) & Parlux 385 (under €100) that I went for the last: also for the cute array of colours!
This latest version is both lightweighted and has a industrial motor inside (techie story here). In my non-techie terms: I love the various settings, heats-'n-coolnesses, and with the right techniques & styling products I'm able to experiment more with hairstyles.

These have been my 2013 body favourites and I could probably list a ton more, but I'll keep it relatively simple with "the excellent of class '13".

Used Ups

"The satisfaction of an emptied cosmetic bottle" 

During summer and (pre) autumn period I have been gladly using these up:

1. Elemental Herbology body lotion in Neroli & Rose Damask:

Originally a part of a set that includes a bodywash. The consistency of the bodylotion is ok, although it is not the most rapidly absorbing one. I didn't like the scent: somewhat a stale, watered rose and I could not pick up any of the uplifting Neroli essences.

2. Osea Undaria Algae Oil for body:

Not the cheapest around but once really effective for reversing post-beach (sun) damage and I believe it has lightening/age-reversing properties. This is probably not merely a clue as the Osea site says:

"rich in organic botanical oils, sea minerals and antioxidants. This is the ultimate skin repair loaded with luscious seed oils--acai, babassu, passion fruit, sesame--and Undaria Algae, to deliver powerful antioxidant vitamins and essential fatty acids to dry, sun-damaged skin."

 It's not quite cheap for $38 but it will give you 180 ml/6 oz and this oil lasts long. My only pet-peeve is that I got it from Canada and customs has been charging this seller for two times in a row, which makes it more expensive and the wait longer. This is the reason I have been experimenting with other bodyoils lately otherwise I'd repurchase.
 

3. Pukka Nourishing Face Oil

"a restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin" (Pukka site)

Indeed! I had this oil 'hanging' in my closet for a while. During August I suddenly experienced really bad skin with new dry spots and my older scars became apparent again. I forgotten the oils for nighttime due to summer but I gotten this one in. Initially, the organic Rose Otto essences felt slightly irritating on my highly agitated skin, but my skin adapted to it the second and ongoing days. 

Short story: my skin has improved hugely and I'm so glad I had it around!

4. Aurelia Revitalise & Glow Serum

First review here. I finished a second bottle with is a claim of effectiveness for itself. I will review it more accurately soon.

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, - See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, gently fragranced with rose and rose geranium.
Avocado and pomegranate for essential nourishment.
Calendula and rose otto for a radiant glow.
Nourishing Face Oil contains Omega Oil Formula, a fortified signature blend of Ayurvedic herbs which helps revitalise tired skin.
- See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, gently fragranced with rose and rose geranium.
Avocado and pomegranate for essential nourishment.
Calendula and rose otto for a radiant glow.
Nourishing Face Oil contains Omega Oil Formula, a fortified signature blend of Ayurvedic herbs which helps revitalise tired skin.
- See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

5. Collistar Face Magic Drops Self Tanner

Original review here. Also, this has been my 3rd bottle and has been a skinsaver during the (fake)tan season. I have tried some other facial self-tans but Collistar gives the most natural & healthy tanned result.

Intelligent Nutrients Anti-ageing Body Elixir

Since summer is almost officially over there is the luxury to hide our bodies in our comfortable clothes again.

However, let's not forget to pamper our bodies after doing us a favour during summertime, and still being our loyal servants under more layered autumnal wear:

I bought some Intelligent Nutrients body-elixirs, read oils, because of the rave reviews on the organic beautyblogs (here & here), were on sale at feelunique, and I actually wanted something with organic wholeness. 

[I still use non-organic oils too: I will review Darphin's gorgeously fraganced Huile Nourissante soon] 

And there is the packaging that spells out joy, or peacefulness: dependant on the type of oil you have.

motivating words imprinted in the cardboard packaging

I picked two aromas: Restore & Attune.

Attune, according to the site, smells like "High summer in a greenhouse".

Restore, is meant for "mental rehab & refuge" and smells like "A haute bohemian".

various proof of certificated organicness

The bottle is a green glass and has a hygienic pump-dispenser that pumps out small-enough amounts to dose your oils:

The list of ingredients is a total powerhouse of various precious oils:

 

This oil is absolutely not marketed as a dry oil, but the result was a wonderfully dewy-but-dry texture of my arm after 2 minutes:

 

Verdict: I think it is too early to draw conclusions yet, but I really like the two oils. "Attune" is more of the "happy oil" that is perfect on chirpy days, and the other is wonderful when I have the "tired blahs" and need some serious "restore".

Availability: There full-price again on feelunique.com, however, Beautybay.com has a slight discount going on right now.

Fave Summer Oils: Face, Hair & Body

I think oils are often limited to winter...

Such a waste because the best oils can be superb for the warmer summer period:

So I am going to discuss a couple of my fave summer oils!

FACE: Aesop Fabulous Face oil

half-way on the Aesop Fabulous!

Perhaps this one is a tad too heavy for the summer period. Some might like a lighter oil, something I will discuss soon.

For me the reason I picked up on a slightly heavier oil is the unsteady skin I had for a while: I gotten more eczematic, dry spots because of the change of weather and a weaker diet. Balming up with a heavy oil on the dry spots makes my skin look smoother in the morning.

I have been discussing the psychological effect of scent in various posts (eg here) and this one really agrees with me. Night-time oils should feel like a harmonizing and comforting blend, and perhaps not everyone's is into lavender so it's often still personal. Aesop Fabulous Face oil has Ylang Ylang as it main (scentual) proponent and I love the sensual and drowsy effect of this essential oil, which makes it easier to relax and drop off to sleep.

HAIR: Leonor Greyl Palm Oil

This oil has a weird consistency in that certain temperature between solid (hard) & liquid (melting) that I just have to show here below ----->:

When it is solid it is perfect for travelling on hand-luggage only (lots of European discount airlines) because it will not count as a part of the poor 100ml anti-vanity strategics the airports maintain these days.

I kind of like this oil for it's moisturizing properties too, and it's divine scent that I can detect as something Tiara-esque. However, for a better review I will guide you to Pink Sith, which connected her fantastical mind to a fairytale of hairness to it (here).

One warning: it does take a clarifying shampoo to take off the pre-oiled tresses and not ending up in a post-shampood-but-still-oily-mess! Which is slightly the downside to this oil: Sometimes I like a plain macademia/argan oil often just as much, but those perennial liquids count as a part of the 100 ml impecunious-ness the vain & often beautiful have to compromise on when travelling by handluggage only. So for that sake, and the perfect scented concoction, I take this beauty along.

BODY: Caudalie Huile Divine (divine oil)

I placed this multitasker under body because I still needed to fill this category.

Besides, body includes face & hair anyway, and this one does as well.

Defined as a grape oil,  It's also a dry oil and therefore penetrates quickly after applying.

It has a floral fragance with I'll define as tropical paradise (ofcouse, scentual preference is always subjective). However, it's quite heady so I personally would not plunge it on my face that fast due to my sensitive complexion.

Besides smelling & feeling divine (though not completely natural nor organic), it's quite friendly to the environment too:

I only have this sample (perfect for the hand-luggage vanities) but I will get a larger bottle soon.

That sums up my fave 3 summer oils for 2013 at this time being...

Always curious for more vanity adventures, I might add more until the end of summer is near and will blend into autumn...