Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Talk About It - Beecology (+ closed GIVEAWAY)

I feel like I haven't done a skin or hair care review in quite a while so I decided that today was the perfect day to share my thoughts and opinions on the products of Beecology. They sent me quite a few products as well as some extra lip balms, which means that if you read through to the bottom of this post there just might be a little giveaway!

If you know me personally or have been following my blog for a while then you already know of my passion for honey. I think honey is a precious beauty resource so I love anything and everything honey based, which is why I was so intrigued by Beecology and their line of products. Beccology not only produces and sells a line of natural products made with honey, beeswax, and other healthy ingredients; they also give back through their charity, Sweetyear.org.

I first became interested in the company after reading about their Natural Honey and Botanical Sulfate-Free Shampoo and All-Natural Hair Conditioner. While I really like the shampoo, I wasn't as big a fan of the conditioner.



First of all, the shampoo smells so yummy! It's slightly sweet, slightly citrus-y, and slightly herbal, which combine to make a delicious smelling shampoo. It's formula is gentle and effective while providing the hair with brilliant shine and extra softness. The conditioner isn't necessarily bad, it just has a weird after scent that I don't like. I think it reacted strangely with my pH (which happens to me a lot). The conditioner seemed to moisturize my hair well enough but I couldn't get past the smell. My mother loves both products though.



My favorite Beecology product is their Hand and Body Cream, which I got to try in both the Original Honey formula as well as the Cucumber and Green Tea version. Both versions work exactly the same and the formula is so luxurious and rich. It's a very thick cream that is easily absorbed into the skin leaving it feeling hydrated and healthy, never greasy. This formula is perfect for this time of year! My skin has been a little dry due to the cold weather and this hand and body cream soothes my itchy skin. The original scent is a light, clean scent while the Cucumber and Green Tea version smells very fresh and like real cucumbers.



If your skin is feeling a little dull and needs refreshing then look no further than the Natural Honey and Peppermint Body Wash. This body wash leaves my skin tingling in a good way. It smells great, cleans well, and invigorates the skin with each use. It's great for morning use and has become one of my favorites!



I was also sent 4 bars of their soap to try out and review, although I have only used 3 of them. The one I haven't tried is the My Big Fat Greek Yogurt and Honey Soap, which has a juniper scent to it and I'm not a big fan so I'll be talking about the other 3, which are the Honey Oatmeal Morning Peppermint Soap (perfect for perking up skin), Honey Lavender Soap (which makes the perfect bedtime bar of soap), and the Dead Sea Mud Soap (deep cleansing while moisturizing). All 3 bars of soap have proven to be really effective, are lovely to use, and smell great!



The final Beecology product I got to take for a test drive is their Buzz Balm Peppermint Lip Balm. This balm is made with Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Shea Butter, Aloe Butter, CupuaƧu Butter, Olive Oil, Peppermint Oil, Acai Butter, Eucalyptus Oil, Clove Oil, and Tea Tree Oil. It's hydrating, soothing, and protective. It does smell a bit strong due to the oils but it's not offensive, only medicinal. I was experiencing very chapped and dehydrated lips before testing this balm and it really helped heal and protect my lips.

I was sent several extra lip balms so 5 of you will get the chance to win a Buzz Balm of your own! Check out the Rafflecopter below to enter to win.

To learn more about Beecology and their products, or to order some of your own you can click here to be taken to their website.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Talk About It - Alima Pure Black Tie Gala

One thing that never fails to excite me is when I go to my mailbox and discover a mystery package from Alima Pure. What does this package mean, you may ask? It's time for a new collection and I absolutely love and adore Alimas limited edition collections. Wait, let's get real; I really just adore Alima Pure in general, and their newest collection did not disappoint.

Alima Pures Holiday 2012 Collection is all about glamour, and is appropriately named Black Tie Gala. There are two separate parts of this collection, both of which are gorgeous. I really like all aspects of this collection.


The first is Black Tie Gala – Eye, which comes with 4 shimmery shadows that can be combined in many different ways to add a little dazzle and sparkle to any look. For $36 you get 4 full-sized mineral eyeshadows with a value of $50 in an Alima Pure signature gift box. These shadows are seriously pretty! They wear well and can be used in a subtle or dramatic way.


The Black Tie Gala Eye set includes:
Bijou – shimmering champagne
Minauderie – warm bronze
Ball Gown – mossy green with gold shimmer (while not a shade I would normally be drawn to, I'm really enjoying this eyeshadow since it's stunning!)
Stilettos – deep, smoky purple with silver shimmer


The second piece of the limited edition Holiday puzzle is Black Tie Gala – Face, which is comprised of a matte blush, shimmer eyeliner, and shimmer powder. This set also retails for $36, and has a retail value of $45. These 3 products go perfectly with the eye set, although they look lovely on their own as well.

The Black Tie Gala Face Set includes:
Chandelier Highlighter – peach shimmer  
Red Carpet Blush – warm matte rose (which is an absolutely beautiful blush that is super flattering and wearable. I'm in love with this blush!)
Tuxedo Eyeliner – very deep, blackened purple with shimmer 



 Alima Pure has created yet another collection worth looking into it. You can visit Alima Pure online by clicking here.

(FTC: Alima Pure sent me samples of these products to try out and review. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)