Just the Goods

Being tired of having constant facial eczema that never seems to heal, my hunt for the perfect skincare moisturizer continues.  I decided to check out indie companies after trying out OhSudz and eyeing up Pumpkin and Poppy and Brija.  Simply putting eczema + natural into the Etsy search bar pulled up a fabulous new company, Just the Goods.

Check out the video below:

Just the Goods is can be found on either their website or their Etsy page.  The website also has links to many different social media platforms, including Facebook and Tumblr !  The first thing I noticed was the very professional website.  The products are easy to browse, with full descriptions and option local pickup available.

WHY BUY JUST THE GOODS?
- JTG has Champion Status as a member of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics with the Environmental Working Group.
- Leaping Bunny certified.
- Canadian based out of Winnepeg, Manitoba with sole proprietor, Milena.
- Detailed explanation on WHY customers are charged the amount they are for products, including shipping.  Find more here.
- Vegan friendly.
- Organic ingredients used whenever possible.
- All around VERY natural ingredients (see products below).
- Products handmade without artificial preservatives.
- Over 450 reviews on Etsy with a five star rating!

I purchased the vegan skin care set sampler in 'Dry Skin' with the 'Sweet Orange' lip balm option.  The set is available in either dry, sensitive, combination or oily skincare with four different lip balm options, including Sweet Orange, Peppermint, Lavender and Cardamom Lime.  It costs a flat $15.00 CAD.  Set includes a facial moisturizer, cleanser, toner, and lip balm.  Each product is 25mL, excluding the lip balm.  This set is toted to be free of sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals and phthalates ! Honestly, what more could you want in a skin care set?

But beware!  Shipping to Alberta was $11.00, and may go as high as $15.00.  Milena does not list her International shipping, but I cannot imagine.  Yes, she does explain WHY she charges that much, but even so - it is very steep.

Facial Moisturizer: Overall, I am very pleased with this product.  It has a more 'mousse-y' texture to it, which does make it hard to get out of the environmentally friendly, low cost, no-frills packaging.  It left my skin feeling soft and supple, without any irritation to my skin, including the eyes.  However, I do suffer from severe eczema and required more moisturizer from different companies on top.  Approximately 30 minutes after applying, my face felt dry and tight.  This product may be better for someone without severe eczema, and may in fact be good for myself during 'good' skin days.

Ingredients: distilled water, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, exthxylated sorbitan ester (vegetable based emulsifying wax), aloe barbadensis (aloe) leaf gel, vegetable glycerine, roman anthemis nobilis (chamomile) oil + santalum album (sandalwood) oil in simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil; tocopherol (vitamin e)

Cleanser: I will never touch this cleanser again.  It felt good on my cheeks, but as soon as it went near my eyes it burned terribly.  Nowhere on the Etsy page under the product description or on JTG's website does it state to NOT put the cleanser near the eye area.  The ingredients are incredible, and I believed that it would be safe as an eye makeup remover.  I was wrong, so beware.

Ingredients: distilled aqua (water), saponified organic sunflower oil + organic coconut oil(aqua, potassium oleate, potassium cocoate, vegetable gylcerin, potassium citrate, potassium palm kernelate, palm kernel acid), butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), rosa damascena (rose) flower distillate, kaolin clay, roman anthemis nobilis (chamomile) oil in simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, pelargoniun graveolens (geranium) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil

Toner:  I did not notice any difference when using this toner.  Granted, I am not too sure what to expect, but when using all three products, my face was FLAKY and noticeably dry, dehydrated and tight in the morning.  It hurt to open my eyes. 

Ingredients: alcohol-free hammamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, rosa damascena (rose) flower distillate, aloe barbadensis (aloe) leaf juice, vegetable glycerin, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pelargoniun graveolens (geranium) oil, roman anthemis nobilis (chamomile) oil in simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil

Conclusion: I am very thrilled about finding such a great company as JTG.  I highly recommend that you check out the products, but as for myself: I am clinging onto a thread of hope that other products may work for me, but will not continue using these samples.

Saffron Rouge Inner Circle Box - June 2014

I received my first Saffron Rouge Inner Circle beauty box for the month of June 2014 and so far I am stoked!  Upon receiving this box in the mail, I immediately sat down and filmed a video revealing my first impressions of the products.  You can see the video below, or keep reading for a written description.

This is how the Inner Circle box came packaged within a larger cardboard shipping box.  Inside there is a pamphlet detailing all of the products!

1) Primavera Energizing Ginger Lime Hand Cream - "Tap into the power of plant oils as ginger warms and energizes while lime gives you an uplifting attitude adjustment.  This cream nourishes your nails and cuticles while exhilarating your senses with every application for hands that are velvety soft, never slippery". 

Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil* org, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil* org, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)* org, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil* org, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil* org, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter* org, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Zingiber Officianale (Ginger) Root Oil* org, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract* org, Cera Alba*org, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Alcohol* org

Just as the description says, this lotion smells like lime with nice ginger after scents and has a very velvety texture.  It goes on very smoothly and does not leave your hands feeling greasy.  This will be a new go-to for me, as it fits well inside purses and my backpack and applies easily.  I can write after applying this lotion without having my pen slide in my hand, which is a huge bonus on those winter days when I am stuck in a dry classroom.  This was a full size product but does contain fragrance (parfum) which is a huge red flag and rates 8 on EWG.  However, I will continue using this product when my hands do not have eczema flare ups, as fragrance does not tend to affect them when they are healed.

2) ilike Lemon Cleansing Milk sample- "Remove makeup and impurities for  clear complexion without disturbing your skin's natural pH as you enjoy the fresh, lemony scent.  Bring something very special from Hungary into caring for your skin with ilike".  

Active Ingredients: Lemon, Apple, Corn Germ Oil, Lemon Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Fruit Acids, Citric Acid, Phenol Carbonic Acids, Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, Malic Acid, Pectins, Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, Bioflavonoids, Polyphenols, Fructose, Polysaccharides, Mineral Salts Trace Elements

INCI Ingredients: Aqua, Zea Mays (Oil), Glycerin, Pyrus Malus (fruit), Citrus Limon (fruit), Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Salicylate, Citrus Mediica Limonum (oil), Tocopherol (Vit E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Herb Oil), Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Limonene*, Geraniol*, Linalool*, Citral**components of essential oils

This cleaner is a milk, which means that it is preferred for those with dry or sensitive skin.  My face and neck and riddled with eczema, especially under my eyes and around my mouth/nose.  This cleanser was pleasant in that it did not burn my rough, sore eczema but instead soothed it while giving off a nice lemon scent.  After I pressed my face into a towel, it did not leave my skin feeling taught and stretched afterwards, the way that some cleansers will.   I did not notice any outstanding qualities for dry skin relief, and when I put on my Badger Damascus Rose Balm after, my skin was very itchy.  This may be because of the summer heat though, which has a tendency to make my eczema itch, so I do not attribute that to the cleanser.  Overall, it was lovely but a few more tries are necessary to see if it is actually helpful for my skin problems.   Be cautious if against salicylic acid (4 on EWG) 

3) The Body Deli Body Lotion - "You can never have enough body lotion - especially in the summer!  The Body Deli dishes up the most sumptuous assortment of bath/body products loaded with potent super foods and coconut water.  Tahitian Vanilla, Coconut Creme, Thai Lemongrass, Amber Vanilla and Jasmine Tuberose - oh my!  We are providing you with one of these gorgeous lotions in a mini and we're certain that you will be hungry for more!"

*Denotes Organically Grown Ingredients *Coconut Water, *Virgin Coconut Oil, Rice Bran Oil, *Olive Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Avocado Oil, *Grapeseed Oil, *Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Glyceryl Stearate (Palm Oil Emulsifier), Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil Emulsifier), *Dandelion Leaf Juice, *Kale Juice, *Spinach Juice, (*Wheat Grass Juice, *Oat Grass Juice, *Barley Grass Juice, all Gluten Free), *Carob Pod, *Maca Root, Spirulina, Chlorella, Icelandic Kelp, *Horsetail, *Comfrey, *Sprouted Brown Rice Protein Isolate, *Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Vanilla Bourbon, All Natural Coconut Food Grade Extract and Flavoring.

Yes, I am definitely hungry for more.  This creme smells incredible - very coco-nutty and light yet moisturizing for my dry body.  I have used it on my dry hands and it goes on nicely.  It is extremely fragrant, so keep that in mind when using.  I also tried it on my neck where my eczema was abundant and it did not burn or itch, and instead provided relief and was quite moisturizing.  The ingredients are very interesting and generally very natural and clean, although sodium benzoate did score a 3 on EWG.  

4) W3LL PEOPLE Bio Extreme Lip Gloss - "Encased in an uber lux, frosted tube with want applicator for ease and precision, the tingly blend of wintergreen, spearmint, and star anise will provide soothing nourishment to your summer parched lips.  New from our good people at W3LL PEOPLE, Inner Circle is featuring Natural but watch for 3 delicious shade options to choose from like Nude Rose, Berry, and Grapefruit in the very near future".  

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Silica, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succi- nate **, Mica (CI 77019), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (and) Organic Aloe Barbadenis (Aloe) Extract, Lysine, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Pro- prietary Essential Oil blend, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea)*, Roman Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile)** [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)]

*Certified Organic, **Eco-cert

I am not a fan of any mint flavoured lip product, at all.  But I was pleasantly surprised with this lip gloss, as the mint flavours are very subtle.  It is perfect for those who like a bit of scent in their gloss without being overwhelmed.  The gloss goes on nicely and smoothly to the lips without any previous product.  However, when I layer this gloss on overtop Honeybee Gardens lipstick, the applicator felt rough and the gloss was hard to apply.  It is hard to describe how it felt, but I kept having to dip my applicator back into the gloss for more for an adequate layer of shine over my lipstick as the amount on the applicator was not enough for even half of my lips.  It did look incredible over a lipstick though, offering just the right amount of shine to ensure my wet lips through the day.   May contain titanium dioxide and iron oxides.

5) Vapour Aura Multi Use Blush - "Multipurpose products just make sense and this one is quintessential for those hot months when you are showing more skin.  Infused with antioxidants and just the right amount of sparkle, swipe #225 Mystic over cheeks, eyelids, lips, shoulders, or décolleté for instant wow factor".

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Silica, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate†, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense)‡, Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil)*, Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Flower Petals* [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470)]

This blush is very shimmery and sheer, so be careful if you are looking for a more pigmented gloss.  Since it does come in stick form, you will need to buff it out with either your fingers or a trusted brush.  It has a very pretty pink - yet bright- with purple shimmer undertones.  I felt that it showcased my flaws on my cheeks, but that may be because it is my first time using a creme type blush.  It has a lot of glitter and iridescent shimmer, so beware if you are into matte blushes.