haul // 100% Pure - Spring/Summer 2015

So, if you've perused my blog at all you may have realized that I LOVE my 100% Pure products.  In my ever-continuing search for all natural & pure skincare and makeup, this brand has been a staple for me.  They are a great company with amazing products that only have wonderful ingredients. I hadn't placed an order in some time and had been eye-balling their new water foundation so I decided to go ahead and get a few things. Well, a few things led to quite a few, but to be fair a couple were restocking purchases of items I now can't live without. :) Okay, let's get into it! 


Red Wine Resveratrol Eye Cream - 1 fl. oz.
 


The first time I tried this eye cream it was a free gift with order.  Since finishing that up, I've been using their Coffee Bean Eye Cream which I also love, but decided to switch it up.  I felt like I needed more wrinkle defense and less depuffing.  It's a rich & creamy, off-white cream and a little goes a long way.  I apply under my eyes in the morning after moisturizing and I apply under and on the lid at night, again after moisturizing.  It's not a miracle cream but I do notice that my fine lines are less noticeable and my eye area is smoother since using this. 


Fruit Pigmented Long Lasting Concealer: White Peach - 0.1 oz



This was a repurchase. I was on the search for a NATURAL moisturizing, yet long-lasting under eye concealer and this. is. it. my friends.  P.S. - You can also use it all over your face.  I have the world's driest under-eyes and every long-lasting concealer I've tried has accentuated this. Majorly. Horribly.  But this stuff is fantastic!  It's creamy but doesn't look shiny.  I can even set it lightly with translucent powder and still no crepe eyes, amazing!  If you don't set it, I'd say it could last a good 6 hours in normal indoor conditions, and if you do I've noticed it can last around 9.  If you do have oily skin, I'd definitely suggest setting it.  When it does start to wear away it's very natural and not noticeable, not patchy or streaky, like other brands.  I lightly apply under my eyes with my ring finger (I find this helps it melt in better than a brush) and on any spots after my foundation.  Then I lightly set with the translucent powder.  One more thing to note:  This is NOT a full coverage concealer.  With two "coats" I get a nice medium coverage.  But I prefer this, since I lean toward a more natural look. 


 Fruit Pigmented Healthy Skin Foundation: White Peach - 1 fl. oz. 
& 
Sheer Water Foundation: White Peach - 1 fl. oz.



I have been using a natural mineral foundation for years and love it, but I started noticing that my skin is getting drier as I get older.  During the past 6 months, my skin was looking dull and flaky even after exfoliating and applying moisturizing masks, etc.  I started using my tinted moisturizer from 100% Pure, which made my skin look better, but I desired a bit more coverage day to day.  That's where these foundations come in.  My intention was to mix them together.  I had read that the full coverage was indeed full coverage and the water was light, so in my mind mixing would get me medium coverage.  Obviously, haha.  Anyhow, I ordered both and have since been LOVING the combo.  It took a couple applications to find out the right ratio, but I have been liking just a bit of the full-coverage (about a lentil-sized amount) to a full squirt of the water.  I always make sure I apply my 100% Pure primer first and a few spritzes of rose water before applying the foundation mix.  It spreads more easily this way.  My skin glows now and I love it!! 


Black Tea Long Last Liquid Eye Liner - 0.23 fl. oz. 



 I haven't experimented much with this product yet. To be truthful, it intimidates me.  Haha.  I'm just not used to a liquid liner and need a little practice.  But I plan to perfect it!  Anyhow, I love that this liquid liner is all natural and made from micronized black tea leaves instead of harsh synthetic dyes.  It looks like a rich black color and pretty opaque.  It also claims to be long lasting and smudge proof.  I definitely hope so, since that is usually an issue for me and my oily eyelids. 


Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze: Lychee - 0.088 oz.

 I don't wear much lipstick or even any lip color, so when I do I love products like this.  Something moisturizing that gives a sheer wash of color.  There are many colors to choose from in this line, from cool pinks to corals to mauves.  Lychee is a mauve pink with warm undertones. It's one of those "my lips but better" colors.

Creamy Polish: Watermelon - 0.5 fl. oz.



From this purchase, I was probably most excited to get this product.  100% Pure recently added a natural nail polish line to there products.  All are "10-free" - free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients, which is the cleanest I've seen.  I chose this color because it got a lot of good reviews and because I don't have this color in my collection yet.  It's called Watermelon, but I think it pulls more orange than pink, and it also has micro shimmer in it.  I love it, it's a prefect color for spring/summer.


Because of my order total, I also got a free gift, the Vitamin C Serum, a $38.00 value!  I actually have wanted to try this product but wasn't willing to pay the price for it, so this worked out in my favor.  I've been trying this serum out for several weeks and, though I can't definitively say if it's making a difference in my skin, I have noticed that my skin is generally more bright and clear than it was before. I'll have to reevaluate once I finish it.


Also, I haven't included prices because 100% Pure recently went through some price increases, so check out the website for pricing info.

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 Well, that's it for this 100% Pure Haul.  Let me know if you've recently tried out any of their products, what you're loving or not, or what you're looking forward to trying out.  Next on my list... the new Eye Creamsticks and some more nail polishes!

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haul // Vitacost & Lucky Vitamin

If you're not familiar with Vitacost, it's a website that sells a large selection of discounted beauty & personal care, health & wellness, food, and home products, most of which are natural.  They often have sales and if you belong to Ebates, they offer 4% cash back when you shop on Vitacost.com.  Vitacost also offers free shipping for orders over $49.  Since I only buy from there every two months or so, I definitely meet that threshold. Lucky Vitamin is a similar website that sells many of the same things as Vitacost, but also some that differ... hence, why I made an order from both.

If you missed it, I shared my first Vitacost order here.  Again, I enjoy seeing what other people purchase, so I thought I'd share what I buy in case anyone out there is as nosy as I am.  ;)  And I also think it's a quick way to get some ideas on new things to try.

You may see a few repeats, but I have quite a few newbies in here as well.  Okay, let's get started with the items from Vitacost!

[ from left to right ]

1. Devita Age Defying Moisturizer - 2.5 fl oz - $19.99 - I've previously used the Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30, which is a really nice moisturizer for day, so I figured this would be a great am or pm moisturizer.  It's light and a bit more sheer than the Solar option.  I can't really comment for the "Age Defying" part yet, but so far I really like it.  I've been using it in the mornings since it's wintery & cloudy most days right now.  If you're looking for a light moisturizer without sunscreen that has fantastic natural ingredients, give this a try.

2. Acure Organics Argan Oil - 1 fl oz - $6.99 - First off, what a great price, especially since they sell this at Target and health food stores for $11-$12.  I have previously used Josie Maran Argan Oil and liked it just fine, but it's $16 for .5 fl oz... yeah, that's a lot.  So after finishing the JM one I went in search of a better option on Vitacost... and this is what I settled on.  It's still organic and has all the wonderful skin/hair benefits, but with a much better price tag.  I have replaced my jojoba oil, am & pm, with this Argan oil for about the last 2 months (I have already gone through 2 of these!) and now use it just at night after I cleanse and apply serum.  My skin drinks it up and I feel like my skin texture is smoother and more plump.

3. Kiss My Face Creamy Face Cleanser Clean For A Day - 4 fl oz - $9.69 - I had heard several natural beauty bloggers mention this cleanser, one of which is Shannon Sullivan, and rave about it.  Now I can see why.  It has pure and organic ingredients, is super gentle and smells like a creamsicle! I have been using this in the morning with my new Dr. Sponge (see below) and the combo leaves my face feeling amazing.  It's clean, but not tight or squeaky. I don't use this at night so I can't say, but it supposedly removes make up too.

4. Aura Cacia Nourishing Organic Cocoa Butter - 4 fl oz - $5.29 - I purchased this item to use in my DIY recipes, specifically my homemade deodorant (which I will be sharing shortly!). It's 100% organic, certified fair trade and deeply nourishing for skin, plus it smells like chocolate!

5. Heritage Products Rose Petals Rosewater Body Splash - 8 fl oz - $5.99 - This was my third fourth time purchasing this rose water, becasue I LOVE it so much.  It smells great (if you like roses) and it moisturizes my skin so well.  It really drinks it up.  I spray this on my face after cleansing and after applying my mineral makeup.  I also spray it on during the day if my face is feeling parched or my makeup is looking a little dry.

6. Nourish Tea Organic Happy Matcha - 80 g - $22.49 - I have been wanting to try matcha green tea for some time.  I'm not sure what held me back but, after talking to a friend who had just started to drink it and loves it, I decided to give it a try.  And, whadda ya know, I love it too!  It's creamier than my regular loose-leaf green tea and a much deeper green.  This brand is 100% organic and also very finely ground so there is no grittiness what-so-ever.  I love that I'm now getting the full benefits of the leaf. 

7. Andalou Naturals Turmeric plus C Enlighten Serum Brightening - 1.1 fl oz - $19.99 - This is another one of those products I have seen several natural vloggers talk about.  Brianna from iluvjesse444 mentioned how it has helped clear her face of excess redness.  Well, I have the same issue and it has some amazing ingredients, so I thought I'd see what it can do for me.  I apply it am & pm right after cleansing and before moisturizing. 

8. NuNaturals Pure Liquid™ Clear Stevia™ Glass Bottle - 2 fl oz - $9.49 - This is now my fourth time ordering this.  I've completely switched from stevia packets (unless I need to bring it with me) to this clear liquid stevia.  I use it in my tea, oatmeal, homemade jam and in baking.  It works great and there is no bitter aftertaste. 

9. Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub Sea Kelp plus Chlorella Growth Factor - 4 oz - $7.89 - Okay, I don't want to be redundant, but this was another product that got great reviews on YouTube.  I'm kind of a facial scrub snob, if you will.  A scrub must have a lot of very fine granules for me to use it more than once.  I don't care for those scrubs that have only a few granule bits here and there or the ones with soft exfoliating spheres (seriously, we know they don't do anything to dry skin bits).  So when this one got so much attention and I heard someone describe it to my liking, I had to give it a go.  I've only used it twice so far, but I really like it.  Besides the awesome green color and the great health benefits of the ingredients, it also feels more like the scrubs I desire.  I plan to use it about 2 times a week, so we'll see if it helps to deep clean and brighten my face.

10. Honey Gardens Organic Raw Honey - 16 0z - $13.09 - Well.  To be completely honest, I ordered this honey because my fav {Madhava Natural Sweeteners Organic Very Raw Honey} was out of stock. :( But I have to say this one is also raw, organic and very tasty.  I mostly use it for washing my face, so this one seemed a good second choice.  Since ordering this though, I have stopped washing my face with honey and only use it in DIY masks.  I think when I finish this jar I want to try real Manuka Honey for it's even more amazing health benefits.

 11. Nature's Way Alive!® Once Daily Women's Multi-Vitamin Ultra Potency - 60 Tablets - $10.99 - I've been taking these for around a year now and I love them.  I've actually lost track of how many I've ordered.  If you're looking for a natural whole food vitamin that isn't too expensive, try this one out.

11. Vitacost Extra Virgin Certified Organic Coconut Oil (Non-GMO) - 54 oz - $23.99 - I LOVE this coconut oil.  We use so much in cooking and personal care that I like to get the largest size I can, especially since coconut oil has pretty much an infinite shelf life.  After trying several other brands I found this one on Vitacost and haven't purchased anything else since (it also lasts forever, this is only our second one).  It's unrefined, organic and non-GMO, which is what I look for in my oils.  It's also a great price, considering others I've tried were about $10 for 16 oz.

12. Andalou Naturals 1000 roses Rosewater mask Sensitive - 1.7 fl oz - $11.96 - This is another new item I've heard great things about.  I have dry, sensitive skin, especially during the winter.  Sometimes I feel like I could use a hydrating mask, as opposed to a clarifying one, so I decided to give this a try.  I'm glad I did, it makes my skin so smooth and plump.  Plus, it smells subtley of roses and has a fun whipped texture.

 

Okay, now for the items from Lucky Vitamin...

[ from left to right ]

 

1. NOW Foods Rose Hip Seed Oil - 1 oz - $4.48 - I purchased this to use in an all natural beauty DIY that I hope to share on here soon. 

2. Dr. Bronners Magic Pure Castile Soap Organic Rose - 16 oz - $9.89 - I've been purchasing Dr. Bronner's castile soaps for years now, they are great.  I jut ran out of my lavender scent (the peppermint is wonderful too) and have been wanting to try the rose, so I got it!  I use this stuff quite a bit... as a hand soap and in DIY cleaners, but there are many more uses out there.

3. YS Organic Bee Farms - Fresh Bee Pollen Whole Granules - 16 oz - $16.89 - I recently read about bee pollen and it's role in treating allergies when taken orally (among other things) and thought I would give it try.  I have terrible seasonal allergies and would love to lessen there blow to my system.  I've just started working my way up to the recommended dosage, so I'll let you know what I think after I have been taking it for a bit.

4. LuckyVitamin Natural Vitamin E 200 IU - 100 Softgels - $6.99 - I also purchased this for a beauty DIY, coming soon!

5. Giovanni - Shampoo Colorflage Daily Color Defense Perfectly Platinum - 8.5 oz -  $6.07 - A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of the violet shampoo I have been using for the past few years.  It was not a natural brand and have been planning to find a more natural option once it ran out... problem was, it was a huge bottle I got in a sale at Ulta years ago and the frugal side of me couldn't throw it away until it was done.  Anyhow, I ran across this Giovanni option and decided to give it a try.  It's still not the most natural but it's not nearly as toxic as the previous one I was using (according to the EWG's cosmetic database).  

6. Dr. Sponge - Konjac Facial Sponge Original - 0.3 oz - $7.88 - I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but this was another item I had heard several vloggers talk about.  Most mentioned that it was a plant-based facial sponge that gave extra gentle exfoliation.  With my dry skin, I feel like I need to exfoliate daily, but my Clarisonic or even a washcloth was a bit too harsh for that, so I was all about trying this.  I will say that after using it every morning for the past two weeks, I don't ever want to be without this sponge... ever. again.

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 Well, that was everything!  Again, I hope you enjoyed this kind of post.  If you have any questions about anything I've shown here, please leave me a comment below and I'd be happy to give you more of my thoughts!

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Websites like Vitacost & Lucky Vitamin have the best selection of vitamins, herbs, supplements I have found.  Better yet, they offer discounts of up to 75% on over 30,000 items, and free shipping on orders over $49.

If you're interested in placing an order with Vitacost and/or Lucky Vitamin, feel free to use my links below:

 Vitacost - save $10 off you first purchase! 
Lucky Vitamin


And if you'd like to sign up for Ebates please use my friend referral link.

haul // Vitacost

I watch a lot of YouTube vloggers who focus on natural health & beauty and many share their Vitacost purchases, which they refer to as hauls.  I also shop on Vitacost and love seeing what other people buy.  Yes, that's right, I'm super nosy.  Haha.  But anyhow, I thought maybe I'd share what I buy in case anyone out there is as nosy as I am.  ;)  I also think it's a quick way to get some ideas on new things to try.

If you're not familiar with Vitacost, it's a website that sells a large selection of discounted beauty & personal care, health & wellness, food, and home products, most of which are natural.  They often have sales and if you belong to Ebates, they offer 4% cash back when you shop on Vitacost.com.  Vitacost also offers free shipping for orders over $49.  Since I only buy from there every two months or so, I definitely meet that threshold.

So, enough chatting, let me show you my latest order!

[ from left to right... oh and don't mind Lexi snoozing on the sofa in the background ;) ]

1. George's Always Active® Aloe Spray Mister - 8 fl oz - I love using this as a face refresher and as a spray before I apply makeup.  I will be doing a post soon on a DIY face mist/setting spray that includes this and some of the other items here.  :)

2. Seabuck Wonders Organic Himalayan Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil - 1.76 fl oz - You may have heard about Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil...well, this is it's even more amazing sister!  You can also take this internally, but I use it as a boost to my facial moisturizer.  I apply one drop of this mixed with a few drops of Jojoba or Maracuja oil at night after washing my face.  It's health and skin benefits are amazing. Just be aware it will tint your skin slightly yellow after applying, but it sinks in and disappears after a couple of hours and/or overnight.

3. Heritage Products Flower Water Gardenia - 4 fl oz - I've never tried this spray before, but I bought it to use in a DIY project.  It's aroma is stress relieving, and gardenia has been shown to provide deep replenishing and restructuring to skin.

4. Heritage Products Rose Petals Rosewater Body Splash - 8 fl oz - This was my third time purchasing this rose water, becasue I LOVE it so much.  It smells great (if you like roses) and it moisturizes my skin so well.  It really drinks it up.  I spray this on my face after cleansing and after applying my mineral makeup.  I also spray it on during the day if my face is feeling parched or my makeup is looking a little dry.

5. Madhava Natural Sweeteners Organic Very Raw Honey - 22 oz - I use honey to wash my face in the morning and was using this raw honey, but decided I wanted to try something different when that one ran out. They are both organic and raw, but the first one was a light yellow, and had a very creamy spreadable texture, where as this one is a dark amber and is very crystallized.  This gives me a bit of exfoliation when I wash, so I seem to like that better, so far.  Oh, and it tastes great too!

6. NuNaturals Pure Liquid™ Clear Stevia™ Glass Bottle - 2 fl oz - I use stevia packets in my tea and oatmeal, so I thought I'd give these stevia drops a try as an alternative and for in baked goods.  I've only tried it in my tea, so far, but it worked great and there was no bitter aftertaste.

7. Edward & Sons Let's Do Organic Gluten Free Coconut Flour - 16 oz - I first used this one, which I liked, but just thought I'd try Edward & Sons since it was a little cheaper.  I use it to make GF pizza crust and pancakes, and so far they both have turned out great!  This one is a tad lighter in color than the first one I tried, but that's the only difference I've noticed.

8. Vitacost Biotin -- 5000 mcg - 120 Capsules - Not much to say here... I've been buying Biotin at my local Target for years.  This is the same thing, but way less expensive.  Biotin promotes hair, skin and nail health.

9. Vitacost 100% Pure Cedarwood Oil - 1 fl oz - I bought this to use in some of my natural DIYs.  It has a woody, masculine scent that mixes well with vanilla.  It's considered to be grounding, calming and balancing.

10. Nature's Way Alive!® Once Daily Women's Multi-Vitamin Ultra Potency - 60 Tablets - I've been using these for about 6 months now and this is my third bottle.  I was using One A Day Energy before which has caffeine and Guarana in it.  I'd been wanting to switch to a more natural whole food vitamin for some time and then came across this one on Vitacoast. I definitely feel a difference and I actually have more energy with this one.  It's a little more expensive, but I think it's worth it.

11. Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour - 44 oz - This mix is all natural, wheat free, dairy free & kosher, and is specially designed for those sensitive to wheat and gluten.  Which I tend to be.  I just tried this for the first time in banana bread and it turned out great!

12. Desert Essence Organic Jojoba Oil - 4 fl oz - I've been using Jojoba oil for a couple of years now.  At the moment, I am using it to cleanse my face (using the oil cleansing method) and moisturize afterward.  From what I've read, Jojoba oil is very similar to the natural oils in our skin, so using it can help regulate oil overproduction since your skin thinks it's properly nourished already.  I've used different brands before, like NOW and Aura Cacia, which were good.  But I decided to try Desert Essence becasue it was, again, a little less expense (specifically the organic version) and it still got great reviews.  I try to only use organic carrier oils since they are going to be seeping into my skin.

 

13. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - 1 lb - For some reason this bugger escaped my photo session... I think it's because I was too excited and immediately took it in the bathroom to try it out..lol.  Needless to say, it was worth it, becasue this stuff is amazing!  It's simply 100% natural calcium Bentonite Clay, which has many uses, but I got it to use as a deep pore cleansing face mask.  All you do is mix it with water or apple cider vinegar, apply, let dry and then rinse off.  You'll have brighter, softer skin in just 20 minutes.

 Well, that was everything!  I hope you enjoyed this kind of post.  If you have any questions about anything I've shown here, please comment below and I'd be happy to give you more of my thoughts!

And if you're interested in placing an order with Vitacost, feel free to use my link and save $10 off you first purchase!