Burt's Bees Essentials Kit Review

I'm a huge sucker for kits- must be the thought of trying different things all in one convenient packaging that gets me. :D I'm fond of Burt's Bees and have tried sampling their products before (Hello- $25 Holiday Grab Bag!). They now have several kits that make great gifts for friends, your mom (Mother's Day is coming soon!) or even yourself!

The Essentials Kit shown above contains an assortment of goodies for your lips, hands, face & feet:

* Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream 0.75 oz- This cleansing cream is great for my skin- deep cleaned it w/o leaving it oily after a few hours. I was rather surprised b/c it was a thicker cleanser than I normally would use. The bark is kinda interesting but it looks like it's doing its job well. Am definitely going to buy a backup of this!
* Hand Salve 0.3 oz - I already have this and like that it instantly gives my chapped hands, elbows, etc instant gleam and moisture. I've also discovered this for my heels too! Goodbye cracked heels!
* Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion 1 oz- The scent (and formula) is completely soothing and moisturizing. Love the milk & honey combo - it's a bit different from my body butters or my citrus-y lotions.
* Coconut Foot Cream 0.75 oz-It's time to wear those peep-toe shoes and flip flops, so no more cracked heels. If you're like me, you will also use the hand salve for your heels and use this coconut foot cream for the rest of your feet. It smells really nice, like you're on a tropical island! Great for travel too.
* Beeswax Lip Balm 0.15 oz- This lip balm is great for moisturizing your dry, chapped lips. This is probably one of their most classic items and anything with beeswax protects my lips from the wind, cold, and even heat sometimes! This all natural lip balm is one of many lip balms that I have stowed in my makeup bags.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Protect your Skin from the Sun: Smart Girls Who Surf

Protect your skin early by wearing SPF everyday! I have sensitive skin that is allergic to chemical ingredients for SPF protection, so I have to use products that only contain Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide (ingredients made for sensitive skin.) In preparation for the upcoming Earth Month in April, I want to share with you an organic sunscreen face stick that I tried from Smart Girls Who Surf.

Their Organic SPF 32 Sunscreen Face Stick has the following organic ingredients:

Active ingredients : Titanium Dioxide 8%, Zinc Oxide 2.5%
Inactive Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Castor oil, Organic Coco Butter, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Aloe Oil, Vitamin E, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, Organic Calendula.

Tips & Tricks to use...
With all the oils and moisturizing ingredients, it did not surprise me that when applied, the formula was creamier than expected since it came from a stick. The formula however does leave a bit of a white residue but if you spread it on your face, it will sort of absorb into your skin but still a slightly white cast is left on your face. It helps to let you know that you've applied the sunscreen but if you don't like the tint, you can definitely apply a bronzing powder for cover up.

For $13, this product is a great value for the product that you get. It's also convenient for your purse and TSA-approved since it's not a liquid! :) Great for the beach and on your spring break (see my Spring break must-haves here.)

Check out more products from Smart Girls Who Surf including their Mineral Sunscreen and Soothing Lotion.


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

SANTE Cosmetics come to America!

Natural cosmetics are the rage right now, at least in my beauty world. :) Consumers are more conscience and aware of what ingredients are in their products they're using and some actively seek out products that don't contain harmful ingredients. I was sent several SANTE Natural Cosmetics and was so excited to try them. SANTE is the top selling European brand and with the launch of SANTE AMERICA, these products are now available in North America. (Read more reviews here.)

Here's the 411 on these products:

	Foundation- Soft Cream Foundation. This is one of the best mineral-based foundations I have seen. It goes on smoothly and one pump is all I need to cover my face. Since wearing mineral foundations, I have actually been using less and less and focusing more on getting better skin. This really helps my skin to look "flawless" and moisturized as well! Perfect for the cold and winter season. Tip: One pump is all you need for face for minimal, natural coverage. ($17, USD)
	Eyeshadows- Their Eyeshadow Trio: rose wood 03 This trio will help you achieve the perfect everyday neutral look! The colors are incredibly silky and blendable so I was really impressed. I'm not a huge fan of their tiny applicator, so I would recommend using your own brushes. It is okay for on the go with a nice mirror on top. If you're packing light and can only carry a few items, this would make the cut. Looove the neutrals here! ($16, USD)
Nails- The nail polish packaging is quite unusual- it looks like a lip gloss' packaging right?! The colour I tried is French Pearl 03, a soft, pale pink natural shade perfect for a French manicure. I've worn two coats for the past several days and so far so good. The tips are getting a bit faded though, but overall, I love the sheen and colour! It costs $15 each, which is a bit pricey but keep in mind, the formula doesn't contain any formaldehyde and toluene- toxins in other nail polishes.
	Lips- I tried their Soleil Lipstick Balm SPF 15 in Magenta. It's a nice red/berry color to brighten your look. It's got natural jojoba oils and mineral pigments to get the perfect color. This winter, instead of looking so blah, get this winter berry color on your lips.. stay tuned for pics! ($7, USD)
	Eyeliner- Called Dipliner, I tried Sante's eyeliner in Sparkling Grey. The color is a darkish grey with minimal sparkles, so don't expect it to be super-glittery. The color was good and I really like that the brush is very precise so you can get the perfect "winged" look. It does driy rather quickly so it's important to use it quickly.. I wouldn't recommend this for newbies. (Available for $12)

Check out www.santeamerica.comto shop!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Thymes Agave Nectar Collection Review

Thymes has a stunning collection of bath and body products in unique scents that are inspired by nature. Their newest one- Agave Nectar- is a delicious super sweet citrus scent (grapefruit based)! If you're looking for something to energize and awaken your senses, then wash and moisturize your hands with the new collection from Thymes! ($12-$14, USD)

Although it may seem more fitting to have a citrus-y scent during the summer time, when it's dark outside and you have to get up- this scent will really wake you up in the mornings! It's super citrus-y comes from the fruity flavors of ruby red grapefruit, tangy guava, and lemon blossom! Not only do you get the moisturizing effects of the hand lotion from jojoba and sunflower oils, these products are formulated without mineral oils and parabens. It's a win-win!

The Thymes Agave Nectar collection carries this scent in other products such as candles, body washes and mists. These will also make a great gift for a house party.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Review: Josie Maran's Loves Nest kit

Josie Maran's Love Nest Kit is a new exclusive, limited addition to her collection at Sephora. It includes her favorites, 100% Argan Oil, Argan illuminizer, Argan color stick in Petal Pink and the GOGO Natural Volume Argan mascara. All of these products contain Argan Oil- found in argan trees in Morocco. This natural & organic oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids with anti-aging properties. It's great for moisturizing, clearing up skin and also calming your skin.

Josie Maran has teamed up with the City of Hope, a cancer care center, to launch its GOGO (Get One Give One) campaign for every GOGO Argan mascara..... After 5,000 mascara tubes have been donated, a dollar from each sale will be given to help City of Hope's research, treatment and education. I found this organic formulated mascara surpsingly pleasant to use because it really made my lashes stand out. Two coats and my lashes looked voluminous! A perk? It doesn't have an odor like most mascaras have.

Another piece from the Love Nest collection that I tried is the 100% Argan Oil, which is contained in a recyclable glass bottle. Its dropper makes it easy to dispense the oil a few drops at a time. I used it as a daily moisturizer at night (2 drops is all I need) but it can also be used for acne and stretch marks. Result? So far, clear, moisturized skin! (Read more reviews on TotalBeauty.com)

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Review: Lavera Sunscreen & Organic Cosmetics

Earlier this year at the PrettyCity.com's Green & Gorgeous event, I was introduced to Lavera sunscreen. Did you know that they are the #1 sunscreen in Europe? After using this for the past 2 and a half weeks, I know why! This natural formula feels light and not sticky at all. It contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to provide you SPF, this physical sunblocker does its job and is all-natural!

If there's one "beauty" related task you should do everyday, it really is to protect your skin and wear sunscreen. The Lavera Anti-Aging Facial Subscreen is easy enough to apply everyday and one that I am not allergic to! Hallelujah! Will I be stocking up on this? You bet- I can't risk getting a tomato-face burn after spending hours in the sun. :)

Lavera also has great natural, cosmetics that are paraben-free. Highly recommend these products b/c they contain organic ingredients and they work well! Especially lovee the glosses!

Lip glosses- These glosses are moisturizing and non-sticky. They don't have the chemicals that will make your lips feel icky, heavy and make you wonder what exactly is going into your system when you lick your lips. The clear gloss I tried made my lips look naturally shiny- nothing over the top, but gorgeous enough to wear everyday. The brighter red color in #6 will leave your lips berry stained and gorg!

Volumizing Mascara- The brown Volumizing Mascara really made my lashes thicker and stand out. I used this a few times without even curling my lashes though and although this mascara didn't give me volume with "curls" it did make it look thicker. Great formula that lasts all day without smudging! Eyeliner- This pencil eyeliner in Navy color is perfect to make your blue eyes pop, or to mix up your usual black/brown eyeliner routine. I found these to be pretty blendable so you can use it to create a smokey eye. I do have to say that if you have oily lids, you will need a primer! Also, it helps to set it with eyeshadow to make the color last longer.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)
Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Nature's Gate- Papaya Velvet Moisture Body Wash

One of my favorite HG products from the PrettyCity.com Green and Gorgeous event in June, is Nature Gate's Papaya Velvet Moisture Body Wash. How I never discovered this brand before is beyond me because they offer an extensive line of hair, oral, skin and even acne care with natural ingredients. I am going to check out my local Whole Foods next week to stock up!

The product I received in my PrettyCity.com goodie bag was the Papaya Body Wash. It comes in a pump, which is my favorite thing now (can't bother with flipping lids anymore, when I just do one pump and get my product) and the formula is amazing. It has a light citrus scent and leaves your body feeling soft and clean. Its formulated with papaya extracts to brighten dull skin, sweet almond oil for the great scent, and apricot kernel oil for moisturizing. This is paraben-free and vegan!! It's liquid-y, not gel-like at all, and when used with a shower pouf, it creates a luxurious lather. Available at drugstore.com for $7.49 US.

I couldn't help but browse the other Nature's Gate products on the drugstore.com, which is where you would have to get this unless your local health store carries this brand.
Some products I am interested in are:
- Glow Lotion Light- tinted moisturizer for a healthy, daily glow!

- Henna Shine Enhancing Shampoo for shiny hair!

- Lemongrass and Clary Sage Shampoo for enhanced volume and a boost!

- and of course, the Papaya Moisturizing Lotion, which got great reviews on TotalBeauty.com too!


Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com