Shopping My Stash #3 (November 2017)

Hi Lovelies,



Welcome back! And welcome if you are new here 💕💕💕

Shopping my green beauty stash #3

So, these series of posts where I tend to use what I have versus shopping for new products, aka shop my own stash, has proven to be one of the most viewed posts, so I think it struck a chord with you too. The idea is simple, pick products from your own stash and try to use as much as you can during the month, with a goal to finish some of them off. This is not necessarily a repeat of favourites posts, as some items are used to be used and won't be repurchased. I am always clear about that and the reasons why, and I hope you appreciate that.

Green Beauty Samples

Samples

I posted this post on my IG a little while ago in a bid to publicly shame myself into using them up or doing something about them! This photo you see right here is about 1/10th of the samples I have to go through, and it is proving to be difficult to use them up - in our busy day to day life I tend to grab trusty favourites versus wanting to try anything new, and I find myself not wearing make up most of the time. I need to try harder. But these sneaky thingies are making babies when I am not looking, I swear! 

Amazing green beauty balms

Mahalo Balms

I was a lucky duck to win one of those rare Mahalo giveaways a year ago, and I had the pleasure to use three products from the range. While two of them are long gone (and in my "to repurchase" list in my head) I still have the original Mahalo Balm which is nearing a year and technically past the use-by date (don't try this at home, kids!), so I am very aware it might spoil very soon. So I need to go through this pretty soon. I also acquired a full size of Rare Indigo balm that was half full via green beauty swap with Italian blogger, and I only have about half a teaspoon left. I treat it like it is made of gold or something, it is so so precious to me, as it is amazing for my dermatitis prone skin! I will cry tears of a crocodile when it is gone, when both of them will be gone I should say. Between the two of them I will only repurchase one, and even that at a stretch - they are wildly out of my price range. All Mahalo range will be a permanent fixture in my stash once I will come into money. That is one brand worth splashing out for.

Pacifica Dreamlit brightener and Transdecent concealer

Pacifica Under Eye Brightener in Dreamlit and Concealer in Light

These I got via LLABP as I was so curious to try them for the longest time ever. I hit major pan or Ere Perez concealer I loved many months previously, and I fancied a change. Yes, I read countless reviews on these Pacifica products and knew these are probably not the fullest coverage and that they crease. And guess what? They are light coverage and they do crease. Now it is your moment to say "I told you so!" I guess I should have paid the attention to the reviews and just re-order the trusty fave. But all is not lost, the concealer went to my daughter who doesn't have as much of under eye darkness as I do, so she will probably use it up. And I will keep the Dreamlit as the colour match is actually pretty good for me - it is a bit more salmon-y in colour and that works well for canceling the blue. One swipe does not cover all I want to cover, and two layers tend to crease pretty quickly, so what I started doing with this, I put one layer or Dreamlit on and then I put  Alima Pure powdered concealer on top, which didn't impress me either, but as a combo, this seems to be working well. The powder concealer sets the liquidy Dreamlit as well as giving some extra coverage I need. If you don't have bad undereye darkness like I do, please be my guest, these might be your best products? Link here.




Lotus Wei Infinite Love

This too I treated like a liquid gold - it smells amazing and for me, this flower remedy works like magic - I really feel the difference when I use Lotus Wei products versus when I don't. And they somewhat helped me heal my emotional traumas I endured this year. I have a full review on these wonderful flower remedies on my blog, but as it is an old post, hit the search box for it. I am very sad to say I will no longer buy these - I can't afford to. We are one income family, so my play budget in next to non existent, so to splash out of flower remedies is an ultimate extravagance that only few people get. Lotus Wei products prices went up twice since my review came out, and now they are definitely out of my reach. I can only afford a couple of luxury products per year, and obviously I will choose Mahalo Rare Indigo versus this. I am very sad to let Lotus Wei go, and I will definitely resume them once I will come into money.



Nyr Hand Cream

This is the hand cream I am using exclusively for the last two years. Wonderful company, the cream works great, but at the same time I am after something new. Besides I started using excess of facial oils on my hands, so after finishing it up, I will put this particular hand cream on hold for a little while, but I can say I recommend it if you are looking for good hand cream, you can get it from my NYR page.




Balm Balm Frankincense Hydrosol & Lip Balm

Both of these came via Love Lula beauty boxes, and despite the stinky smell of Frankincense hydrosol, I loved it enough to get the second bottle of it. I find it amazing for my dermatitis prone skin & calming inflammation. The first time I got it, I mixed it with the remains of Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator I had at a time, I found it too sweet on it's own, so they balanced each other perfectly, this time around I am embracing it on it's own. (link to buy it here) The lip balm is 100% organic, which I always appreciate. I didn't find it amazing as a lip balm, as it does not stay on as long as I would like it to, but I really liked it as a lip mask, you know, piling it on and letting it stay on for an hour or so. Get it here.

Natural and nourishing lip balms that stay on the lips - Flying Wild, Hurraw, Fruu

Nourishing Lips Balms That Stay On The Lips, aka my Current Holy Grail Lip Balms 

That would be three of them - Rosemary and Honey one by Bees Flying Wild, Moon Balm by Hurraw (get it in Love Lula) - those two are tried and trusty favourites, used for years and repurchased over and over. Newer addition is Fruu, but it seems to be holding up very well too, and I am excited for this. My lips really suffer in harsh conditions, and I need something that stays on for hours. All of them are budget options, which makes me happy. What are your favourite lip balms for winter? Please share them below or join the discussion on my IG page here. 


So that is it for today. Don't forget to enter mine and Bloom Ocean giveaway, you still have three days to go. My followers also can enjoy discount with them with a code "greenlife" valid until the end of the year! And if you want to, you can also shop at Love Lula and get 15% off until 2nd December. I am about to make second order later today. I decided I need to get cordyceps supplement to boost my immune system. 

What are you using these days? And what did you guys get during Black Friday madness? I shopped small (and local where possible) and I am currently deciding on whether to make a blog post out of it or not - the thing is, I stocked up only on the things needed, so it would make a rather boring blog post compared to some of others. I think. We shall see.

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Lots of Love,
Renata.

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Shopping My Stash #1

Hello Lovelies,



Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Green beauty things I am loving Fall/Autumn 2017

With your permission I will start a new monthly segment in my blog called “Shopping My Stash” where I will list five to seven natural beauty products I am reaching for everyday. This isn't just another version of Favourites post, as the items won't necessarily be faves, some of them I will be using to use it up, and I will always be clear about it. So it will be a mixture of new things, trusty faves and things I want to use up for some reason or another. I don't know about you, but new things are always My Favourite Things, especially when it comes to make up or fashion items, and I tend to either wear them to death or fall out of love with them after some time, hence they don't always make it into my Faves, which I post quarterly. No? Just me then 😊

OK, let's start, shall we? Let's see what I'm reaching for in September.

DrHauschka Rose Day Cream 

Amazing moisturiser for my uber sensitive and dermatitis prone skin. I’ve resisted for ages but now that I have it, I am so loving it! Review to come soon, and I feel this will be a repurchase for life. Wish it would be slightly cheaper though. It's £30.50 for 30ml in Love Lula, link.
*Update a few weeks later. Review can be found here and I am so impressed with this cream, it was repurchased at least five times in this year alone. And it made into 2017 Best Products, no less! 

Ere Perez Arnica Concealer in Light 

I have a review on this if you want to see, link here. Stocked in Love Lula, it's £16 for whopping 10gr. I was told this duo is being discontinued and is replaced by single colour pots, but at this moment I can still see it for sale in Love Lula. I love this concealer - sticky, yes, but it gives me much needed full coverage for under eyes, and the darker color in the duo is what I’ve used the most. I hit pan on it about two months ago and am well on the way of finishing it, but one eagle eyed lady informed me that the new single pots contain propylene carbonate, I checked the ingredient on EWG and it rates at 1, but I am yet to research it further and see if I am OK with it or not. My second option is to go back to Hynt Beauty Duo Perfecting Concealer, which is also full coverage concealer I am in love with, but it tends to crease a bit more. I am torn. Help please! 

Glossworks Nail and Cuticle Oil

This came in Love Lula August Beauty Box - while everyone else got Glossworks nail polish and 3in1 top coat, they couldn't ship it to me due to health and safety reasons (how frustrating!) so I got this nail and cuticle oil instead. At first I didn't think I'd get much use or pleasure using it, but I find reaching it for it every single evening! Which is surprising to me, because for one, I don't paint my nails on a regular basis, nor I purchase separate product for cuticles - so far I used to use any random oil I happened to have on hand at a time. Now I have a proper product. It's £12 for 9ml in Love Lula.


Rahua Voluminous Shampoo 

Post Living Libations True Blue Spirulina shampoo, this I am trying next to see how they will compare and if I will like it as much. I haven't had much look with budget green beauty shampoos, so I am hoping and not so hoping I will like it. Hoping because I want to find great shampoos to recommend you guys, and I am also apprehensive because it is priced at a luxury price point - so it would be an expensive habit to keep up. (It's £28 for 275ml link here) At the moment I am hiding it from my family - way to go mama! What? I give them everything, can I just keep one thing for myself? 😁
*Update a few weeks later. I have reviewed this shampoo in detail since, and you can find it here. I have tried a couple of other natural shampoos since, but this remains a firm favourite that also made it into my 2017 Best Products post.



Madara Daily Defence Ultra Rich Balm For Skin Protection From Dryness And Extreme Weather Conditions

First of all, can you believe that's the name? Say that three times fast! Joking aside, it is a good balm I can constantly using as a hand cream now I have the heating cranked up. Anyone else with the heating on? I feel Mother Nature is going crazy.. I love this balm, and I bought one more for my mom, and she raves about it too. It's £15 for 60ml, link here. It is Eco Cert certified, good ingredients, and now I want to try more from the brand! Tell me what I should try next? 


So that is all for this post, ta ta for now and see you here shortly. New posts every Monday and extra posts every week too!




           You can shop LoveLula website here.


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Lots of Love,
Renata.

 Want to check out my skincare reviews? Click here. Interested in make up reviews? Click here. All my body care and hair care reviews live in this post. Diy inclined? Even if not, you might enjoy my super-simple-minimal-ingredients-DIYs here. You are welcome.

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ISUN Skincare Soothing Relief Balm Review

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

ISUN Skincare Soothing Relief Balm

Isun Skincare is a line I have become truly enamoured with. As I use it more and learn more, I am amazed. The mission of this company is a noble one close to my beliefs. Bunnie Gulick has founded a company with skincare that will truly change your routine, and I am really happy it is available on our shores too. Let's look at the Isun mission:

To create true, high performance products in harmony with nature and our bodies that do no harm. To produce the most advanced, highest integrity wildcrafted organic and natural skin care products teeming with life and energy, for the purpose of restoring, rejuvenating and giving pure vitality to one’s skin, senses, health and total well-being.

You may have read two reviews of ISUN Skincare products I have posted already, and what's more, I was very excited to partner with ISUN Skincare UK for a giveaway, which was happening on my Instagram page, so make sure to follow mine and the brand's pages as not to miss out. Psst, there are more to come, so stay tuned! Spoiler alert much? Might be so, but everyone loves giveaways, don't we?

ISUN Skincare was the only skincare line I took away with me when I went away for a month, and I am happy to say it worked great and my skin was happy and clear. Over time I will review all the products I own, which are Chlorella Algae Mask, Coco Cucumber Cleanser, Saphire facial oil, Peptide Eye Cream, Rhassoul Refining Exfoliant and you can see my thoughts on wonderful serum that is Emerald Sun Hydrosol here. I am so happy and blown away by the whole range, and needless to say I want to try everything!

Today we will look into Soothing Relief Balm more closely. It is intended for all skin types, especially beneficial for sensitive and hyper-sensitive skin (hello, me!) It has multiple uses for it and I will touch on it in just a second. Description says "A
soothing, calming and cooling balm that supports rapid and effective repair of inflamed and sensitive skin conditions while it moisturises and protects tissues. Gives a feeling of immediate relief from burns, bug bites, plant stings while it provides healing to irritated or damaged skin". I agree with all of it! To me it is worth it is weight in gold as it saved my skin (and my daughter's skin) multiple times. Even though most of us tend to associate and use balms in winter to protect our skin from harsh conditions, I think this is a great summer product too, as it heals, soothes and cools the skin. Great for burns, stings, seasonal allergies or as after sun product. You will get 50ml of product in dark Miron glass jar.

Shall we look into ingredients?

Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil; Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, Calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, Chamomilla recutita (chamomile) flower extract, Symphytum officinale (comfrey) root extract, Lavandula intermedia (lavender) flower extract, Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) leaf extract, Centella asiatica (gotu kola) leaf extract, Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, Helichrysum arenarium (helichrysum) flower extract, Urtica dioica (nettle) leaf extract, Olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, Plantago major (plantain) leaf extract; Rosa damascena (rose) distillate; Beta-glucan (oat-derived); Glycerin; Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit water; Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf; Ozokerite (mineral wax); Helichrysum arenarium (helichrysum) flower extract; Populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract; Tocopherols (vitamin E); Cetearyl alcohol, Cetearyl glucoside (vegetable wax); Xanthan gum; Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil; Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid concentrate); Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf (concentrate); Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract.

Let's look into some of the ingredient's effect on the skin, shall we?

Virgin Coconut Oil

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial antioxidant with regenerating and moisturising properties.
Effect - calms, cools, repairs, moisturises, purifies and protects skin. Provides natural sun protection and has a natural coconut aroma.

Beta Glucan 

Stimulates fibroblast cells and collagen. Supports skin’s own immune system against bacteria, free radicals and UV rays.
Effect - firms, soothes and hydrates skin. Reduces sensitivity and promotes healthy, clear skin.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has been used for a host of purposes since the ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality.” 

Effect - it acts as a moisturiser, treats sunburn, acne, fights aging, helps with skin inflammation and so much more. 

Cucumber Water

It is a well known remedy for sunburned skin, which is equally beneficial for eczema and reducing inflammation. 

As you can see, it is coconut based product, but it didn't cause me any breakouts or other trouble, while straight up coconut oil does. There is something magical in this formula, and it gives me confidence to try more coconut based face products, whereas in the past I used to avoid them like plague. As you can clearly see, the ingredients are all natural and gorgeous - from what I can tell, all ISUN Skincare products are truly natural and wonderful, and I came to trust this brand 100%. If they came out with a new product and gave it to me to test without disclosing it's ingredients, I would happily accept it, as I could guarantee it wouldn't have anything in it that would be harmful to the skin. This brand is a rare gem in today's market full of greenwashing products. Obviously check for any ingredients you might be allergic to.

This was the product I got the most use out of while away and I will tell you why exactly. It came in handy on multiple occasions and I took it away with me everywhere. Because of the climate change my skin went a bit haywire in the first couple of days, and the normal skincare wasn't working or helping much, and accidentally glutening myself on my first day didn't help either. So I reached for this balm and it worked like magic. All my angry red splotches were greatly diminished in just a couple of hours. My skin was almost back to normal the next day, when normally it takes nearly a week for it to calm down, so I was really chuffed I took this balm away with me. After that I made sure to avoid all the foods I should avoid and apply Soothing Relief Balm as a part of night skincare routine, and my skin was happy! You can use this balm post sun too, and all three of us, my mom, kid and myself made sure to do so after sun exposure.
Another area where the balm really came in handy was on my daughter's legs, she got bitten by bugs on her legs badly (and her constant scratching made it so much worse) so after applying some natural antiseptic I treated the skin with this wonderful soothing balm, and it provided fast relief. 
I must admit I forgot my hand cream, and I certainly didn't want to buy anything non natural, so I used this balm as a hand cream every night too, and my hands were so so soft. I think this balm is perfect all rounder and as you can use it so many different ways, it is worth every penny in price. Not to mention it's all natural gorgeous ingredients of course!

Get it from ISUN Skincare UK

Also available from Dutch Health Store 

So that is my post for today. Have you tried this product or any other ISUN product? What are your thoughts on them? Please share, I really want to know.

More posts & ISUN products review here.
Lot's of Love,
Renata.

Please make my day and like and share this or any of my posts on social media, thanking You in advance! 💕

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Balms, amazing balms

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

My collection of balms 

Let me tell you one thing, balms are the bomb, and if you haven’t experienced these little beauty miracle workers, you are seriously missing out! They should be your best friend if you are fellow dry and sensitive skin gal like moi, but all skin types can use them regardless. Skin acting up? Reach for a balm. Chapped lips? Had too much sun? Reach for a balm. Want to protect your skin against elements? Want to deeply soothe, hydrate and nourish your skin? Reach for a balm. You get the idea. I am obsessed with them since discovered them a few years ago, and it is something I always have on hand. You are guaranteed to find a jar or two at any given time in my house, and it is something I always travel with as well, because it is a multi use product, and it is just perfect too soothe and rehydrate cabin air parched skin. Heck, even when my face dermatitis was at it’s worst, Neals Yeard Remedies balm was one of the very few products my skin would tolerate, so I immediately purchased a full size of it once my sample ran out, and thanks goodness I did, it was one of the very few things that calmed the skin and reduced the insane itching. Those who have or had dermatitis or eczema, know perfectly well how uncomfortable and painful it is, and why not try all natural balm instead of those nasty steroid creams your doctor is prescribing you? Your skin will thank you.

Balms can be used on the face or just about anywhere you want to soothe, calm and deeply nourish the skin, it can be used on the lips, hands, dry elbows, or any dry patches on the skin, you can put them on the feet or all over the body if you wish. Well, that would be kind of expensive, but if that is what you want to do, go for it. It’s your call :) It can be used on the face (especially for dry skin people) and I often use one instead of the night cream, if I see that my skin needs it. The are specific balms for the face/body/lips or all over universal balms, so there’s something for everyone to choose from. You can also remove your make up with it, the same way as you would with oil cleanser, you would take a small amount of it, put it on the slightly dampened face, massage it into a skin for a few minutes and then remove it with a hot cloth. Face balms often come with organic cotton (or other fabric) cloths, so make sure to utilise those. You can use it on the chapped lips, to soothe the skin around the nose if you have a cold and constantly blow your nose, it can be used as a cuticle cream, hand cream, eye cream in a pinch, although I would advise to to use it at night, to avoid that oily feeling on your hands/skin. I also use it on the ends of the hair if I am out of the hair oil, but it is up to you if you want to do that or not. All I am saying that these wonderfully emollient skin loving beauties are a true multitaskers and can be used all over. The ingredients also range wildly, the base is often cheaper oil in a form of safflower, olive, coconut oil ( please check that it’s not mineral oil, more on it later) and then they have other active oils, botanical extracts or essential oils added. Plain balm will soothe, protect and nourish the skin (because that’s what they are made for) throughout day and night, but if you want let’s say antiinflammatory action from your balm too, then look for antiinflammatory properties containing balm. 
 This might be TMI for some of you, but I hope this will help some fellow mum with a newborn or a toddler out there, but I want to add that balm was exactly the thing that healed my daughter’s nappy rash when nothing was helping and we were in and out of the doctor’s office for two months, and all she was doing was prescribing stronger and stronger steroid creams to a few weeks old baby! I was at the end of my tether when I reached for my balm, and a miracle happened - overnight the rash was two times less red and angry and even shrank in size, and previously it was only getting bigger. It was sorted in less than a week, and I thanked God for this miracle product.
Oh, did I mention that it can be used as a mask too? Just keep it on your skin for about 30 mins and go relax in the meantime. Read a book or treat yourself to a lie in. You won't believe the change in your skin, and it will stay this way for a couple of days. You will also hardly need a foundation, as your skin will look so good without it. Speaking of foundation, one little tip, you can also mix balm with the mineral  foundation if you want to, just think of it, you will get great coverage while your face will be protected and nourished by a balm. Try it and let me know how did you like it?
Are you addicted to chapstics? Well, chapped lips aren’t cute; neither is becoming a slave to applying a product that doesn’t do it’s job. Ditch the conventional chapstics that are all petroleum based and filled with hair raising chemical, and move onto a natural lip balm made with beeswax, natural oils and maybe some essential oils for added goodness and nice smell, these natural lip balms will offer you all-natural, deeply nourishing hydration that actually heals.

Balms are made out of oils and plant butters plus beeswax (or carnauba wax for vegans) to solidify them, although I must correct myself and say they aren’t rock solid, but rather pliable and easy to use. Thicker and more emolient, “balmy” in texture. The ingredients in them vary wildly, and my advice to you would be to always flip the box or a jar and look at the ingredients, always look for the most natural ingredients you can find, you literally should understand every single ingredient in them. The reason I am saying this is because some companies cheat and use mineral oil as a base, with only a small percentage of active ingredient and still charge a hefty price for it. My hair stood up when i was about to purchase one popular balm with fermented paw paw in it, thanks goodness I checked the ingredients first! Needless to say I skipped it and decided to take my money elsewhere. Sadly a lot of “greenwashing” is happening and I always advise people to be informed consumer and always always check the ingredients list. We won’t go into the law loopholes and loose definitions of “natural” and “organic” labels, allowing chemical laden  products to be labeled as so, this is another post for another time, and in the meantime let’s get back to the balms. Where was I? Ah, the ingredients of the balms. Here’s the thing - balms are waterless, meaning they can last up to a year without the need for any preservatives (yay or what?) so you should only see some beautiful oils and waxes in the ingredient list, plus some essential oils or some “actives”, but that depends on the brand/balm. The simplest balm I have has six ingredients, and I love it! It is olive oil based with beeswax and some bee products, but as I just mentioned, this varies from brand to brand, so do your little research first to find the product perfect for you. Another balm I own is  rosehip oil based, and although it is significantly more expensive, it is also worth every penny, because a little goes a long way with balms, a 50ml jar lasts me about a year with frequent use. Prices range from 3.99 to over a hundred, so there is something for everyone for sure. Go organic if your budget lets you, but then again, do your research first, organic does not always equals big bucks, I found organic balms for as little as 6.99 for 30ml jar. I am going to purchase one of them and see how do they compare to my beloved balm I currently own.
I almost forgot to mention that you can make your own balm too, and it is pretty easy. If you can make your own pancake batter, you can make a balm too. There are tons of recipes on the internet, including my blog, and you can use as little or as much nourishing ingredients as you like, because this is your balm and you make the rules! Just remember to pour it into totally dry sterilised jar to avoid mold and bacteria growth.
Keep this post in mind for the upcoming winter, balm is exactly the thing that will protect your skin against the cold. Apply it 10-20 minutes before you leave the house and you will be good to go. I only wish my mom would knew it, because we never used any, and let me tell you, frostbite is never cute or pleasant. Then again, in summer it is good post sun, so it is a fabulous all rounder and I don't know how I lived without it!

So there you go, my two cents on balms and it's uses. Have you tried balms and what are your favourites? Please share with me, I would love to know! 


Lots of Love,
Renata. 


P.s. All products shown here were purchased with my own money or won in a giveaway. One is PR sample. This post was intended to go up as blog post on one US brand page, but not seeing it published there six months on, I take it back.

Mahalo Review

Hi Lovelies,

Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Gorgeous Mahalo products

Where do I even begin?? I was late to the Mahalo party, and I would have missed out on it at all, if I didn’t win their Instagram giveaway! I still can't believe my lucky stars, as I used to be the girl who never won anything in her life, and now this happened! I am extremely grateful and thankful. Mahalo was the brand on my radar and I always wanted to try it and see what the buzz is all about, everyone in the green beauty community seems to love it and l am yet to come across a bad review. The thing is I am living La Vida Broka life right now, so I thought these products were forever out of my price range, but I am changing my way of thinking - I would much rather invest into something I know will be working for me, rather than buying and testing ten different budget options. As well as blogger, I am your regular consumer, so as much as I want to continue to bring content to you guys, I don't need to chain test every single product on the market, right? Especially as my uber sensitive skin protests wildly if I do so! This whole line is aimed at people like me, with problematic skin, and let me tell you it is amazing for dermatitis and other skin irritations! Not only that, their products are wholesome in a holistic way, it will work on so many levels, your skin will be nourished, calmed down, fed and happy!

Now, let's break it down to the individual products and see my thoughts on them, shall we?

Want my thoughts in a nutshell? The products are amazing and I think they are worth every single penny. I don't say this lightly, products have to go the extra mile to impress me, so hear me out!

Mahalo Bean Mask

The Bean Mask

This is a gorgeous product, but do I need to say that? All Mahalo products gorgeous! Again, this mask has beautiful ingredients, and it does work on so many levels, your skin will be left nourished, smooth and happy, all the irritations and red patches you had will be gone and your skin will stay plump for a few days afterwards. Definitely treat yourself if you get the chance! The only thing I found to be a slight con, is that the mask is kind of thick and a bit hard to spread, so in order to thin it out a bit (and make the mask go further, not gonna lie), I mixed it with a bit of rosewater or toner. But that is not even a con, I hate to say anything that would be perceived as negative about this product, so let's make it into a positive thing - it’s a good thing that the mask is in concentrated form, it is up to you however way you will use it! (P.s. this mask is coming out spring or summer 2017)

Ingredients:

Not currently on the website as this mask is not up for sale yet, but I am sure the ingredients are all natural and amazing! Have no doubts about that.
Update a few months later:
As the mask is launched already, I can update the post with the ingredients list:
mel (Hawaiian raw honey)*, theobroma cacao (raw cacao) powder*, santalum paniculatum (Hawaiian sandalwood) powder*, bambusa arundinacea (bamboo carbon charcoal) powder, red morrocan rhassoul clay, camellia japonica (thea seed) oil*, coffea arabica (green coffee bean) oil*, coffea arabica (coffee) hydrosol water*, leuconostoc ferment filtrate & lactobacillus ferment, hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus) flower*, curcuma longa (turmeric) root*, zingiber officinalis (ginger) root*, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)*, non-gmo mixed tocopherols, haematococcus pluvialis algal (astaxanthin) extract, solanum lycopersicum (tomato lycopene) extract, leontopodium alpinem (edelweiss) extract*, salix nigra (willow) extract*, beta vulgaris (beet root) extract*, curcuma longa (turmeric) supercritical extract*, hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) supercritical extract*, daucus carota (carrot seed) supercritical extract*, cinnamomum zeylanicum (ceylon cinnamon)*, rosmarinus officials (rosemary) supercritical extract*, eugenia caryophyllus (clove)*, coffee arabica (coffee) supercritical extract*, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil*, theobroma cacao (cocao) absolute, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot fcf) oil*, vanilla planifolia (vanilla) extract*, elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) supercritical extract*, santalum paniculatum (Hawaiian sandalwood) oil*, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil*, phytosterols, psidium guava (guava) extract, potassium sorbate, citrullus lanais (watermelon) extract.

Mahalo Vitality Elixir

Vitality Elixir Serum

Now, the thing is, I discontinued the use of facial oils prior to winning this, as it is known that dermatitis hates oils, and I kind of didn't want to admit this, as facial oils and not creams were the exact thing I used for so many years previously. So I was a bit apprehensive that I wouldn't get much use out of it. Oh boy, how wrong I was! Not only my skin LOOOVES it, it also helps with dermatitis! It is the only facial oil that goes on my face these days, and needless to say I never want it to run out! I mix it with my favourite facial cream of the moment, Neal’s Yard Remedies Palmarosa one and my skin is ready to face the day! If I am feeling extra dry, I will add this oil neat but that very rarely happens these days, this is a winning combo for me, and I don't want to test any other products right now, my skin is looking and feeling the best it has been in a really long time! So there you go, that is a big claim and a testament in one.

Ingredients:

calophyllum inophyllum (polynesian tamanu) co-op grown oil*, salvia hispanica (chia seed) organic supercritical CO2 extract**, aleurite moluccans (kukui) nut oil*, nigella sativa (black cumin) organic supercritical CO2 extract**, daucus carota (carrot seed) organic supercritical CO2 extract**, hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) organic supercritical CO2 extract**, curcuma longa (turmeric) organic supercritical CO2 extract**, helichrysum italicum (immortelle) flower oil*, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil*, boswellia carteri (frankincense)oil*, citrus aurantium var. bergamia (bergamot fcf) bergapten-free, non-photosensitizing oil*^, rosa centifolia (rose de mai) flower oil*, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), non-gmo mixed tocopherols

Mahalo Balm

Mahalo Balm

This gorgeous orange coloured pot brings me so much joy and much needed TLC to my winter parched skin, I am telling you! Isn't the color everything? I admire it every time I open this jar. I wasn't a big balm user until last year, but I am making up for the lost time, mind you! The balm has turmeric in it, which is one of my favorite ingredients when it comes to skincare right now, and I assume it's what gives it's distinctive orange color too. I use it on the dry patches on my face or all over. Kiss goodbye to winter parched skin with this beauty. And it can be used as under eye balm. How fabulous is that?
Update many many weeks later - I discovered it is amazing at healing sports chaffing (Mr Green Life In Dublin experience, not mine) so I wanted to let you all know.
 

Ingredients:

macadamia integrifolia (macadamia) oil*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil*, persea gratissima (avocado) butter*, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter*, vitis vinifera (grapeseed) oil*, calophyllum inophyllum (Polynesian tamanu) oil*, cera alba (beeswax)*, rosa rubiginosa (rosehip) supercritical extract**, aleurite moluccans (kukui) oil*, prunus amygdalus dulci (sweet almond) oil*, azadirachta indica (neem) oil*, calendula officinalis (marigold) flower*, hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus) flower*, symphytum officinale (comfrey) leaf/root*, hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) supercritical extract**, daucus carota (carrot seed) supercritical extract**, non-gmo mixed tocopherols, curcuma longa (turmeric) supercritical extract**, citrus aurantium var. bergamia (bergamot fcf) oil*^, lavandula augustifolium (lavender) oil*, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil*, santalum paniculatum (Hawaiian sandalwood) oil*, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil*, jasminum grandiflorum (Hawaiian jasmine) extract*

Unfortunately I won't be able to afford all these products, so this will have to let go of Mahalo Balm, even though I don't want to let it go! Even though Rare Indigo balm is more expensive with less product in the jar, it is amazing for inflammation, so it kinda does double duty, and that is why I will be investing in it, and I hope it will last! With my zero income and 110€ price tag, I need it to last!

Mahalo Rare Indigo Balm

Rare Indigo Balm
Hear this out - two samples worth of it impressed me enough to include into 2016 Favorites! I have no words how much I love this product, I never want to run out of it! The first sample was provided by gorgeous flame haired beauty Sasha from Balanced Beauty Bristol, and I fell in love hard! It is amazing for calming and treating my dermatitis patch, and any other red patches that you might have, it helped me so much with the seasonal change, when my skin was freaking out. And I was freaking out running out of sample too, thinking what I am going to do now, when the Universe provided me with another sample, and so much more! I am talking about the giveaway here of course. It has amazing ingredients and it pretty much the only thing I plan to invest in in the 2017. Of course no one could stretch the whole year with buying just one product, I meant to say I am willing to compromise in so many other areas in order to have this. This is a must for me, for life! One little thing to add though, this balm is time sensitive, so it is best if you used it within a year.
Update many many weeks later: I discovered that it heals scalded skin in no time at all! (Experience is mine this time) I managed to scald myself with a hot steam from the pot and accidentally touched the pot too. Dumbass! I just ran some cold water over my hand and continued with the dinner and the usual errands, but as the day went on, my skin got more red and more painful - my whole fleshy part of the thumb was turning into red sore, so I reached for this balm over anything else, and you know what? within minutes the redness and the pain went down. I went to sleep after applying some more of it, and I woke up with my hand almost back to normal - I have no pain and just little red patch where the flesh touched the pot - amazing!! This to me confirms even more that it is worth every single penny and I will be sure to invest in a full size of it once I will be done scrapping the sample. I wish I had taken a "before" and "after" pictures to show you. I was actually thinking about it, but as it happened in the evening with the sun down, the light was poorly, so I didn't, I am kind of perfectionist in that way. Blogger's problems, much?? 😄
  

Ingredients:

cannabis sativa (hemp seed) oil*, astrocaryum murmuru butter*, orbignya oleifera (babassu) butter*, sclerocarya birrea (virgin marula) oil*, vitis vinifera (grape seed) oil*, camellia japonica (thea seed) oil*, aleurites moloccans (kukui) oil*, euterpe oleracea (acai) oil*, in-house biodynamic proprietary infusion (astragalus, chamomile, comfrey, gromwell, hibiscus, indigo)*, polygonum tinctorium (indigo) extract, achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil*, matricaria chamomile (chamomile) oil*, helichrysum italicum (immortelle) oil*, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil*, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot fcf) oil*^, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil*, boswellia frereana (frankincense) oil*, rosa damascena (rose) oil*, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), daucus carota (carrot seed) CO2 extract*, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C ester), non-gmo mixed tocopherols, vanilla planifolia (vanilla) oil, rosmarinus officials (rosemary antioxidant) CO2 extract, iris pallida (orris butter) oil.

Vacation Glow (sample)

This is a body oil, very nice and luxurious. The cute sample bottle provided me with one use for half a body application, so I can't claim to have a firm opinion on it and what it does to the skin. It is definitely softening and the smell is gorgeous. Also it sinks in really fast leaving no residue on the skin whatsoever, so if you are afraid of using body oils thinking they will leave you greasy, this is the one for you.

I won't be able to treat myself to this either, but I am ok with it, the way I see it, I am happy to invest in skincare, but I have to choose the hardest working products that would be the best for me. But if you are a luxury lover looking for amazing products to treat your skin, this is a product for you. 

Ingredients:

Again, not currently on the website. I think this is a seasonal product and will be up for sale once the summer will grace us. Correct me if I am wrong.

My thoughts and the verdict:

I am in love! And I know this is forever love. I am so glad to have gotten the chance to try out these products, otherwise I might have missed out on such an amazingness. I am very happy to change my mind and go from frugalista to being happy to invest in my skincare, because it is your skin after all and it deserves the best attention after all! Maryna’s creations are just wonderful and I have never come across a line of products that EVERYTHING would work for me and give me zero reactions. And Maryna herself is the sweetest woman ever! I am entering into the long haul relationship with these amazing products from the sunny Hawaii. The call is strong.

Happily for me and my fellow green bunnies in the EU, these amazing products are available here too in a few online shops, such as Alyaka and a few others (the list can be found on Mahalo website) but I must also say that my products were sent directly from the Hawaii and I didn't get any custom fees.

It sort of became of tradition of mine to end my review posts with a wishlist from the brand I am reviewing, and in this case it is very short and simple - I want EVERYTHING! Maybe starting from the Unveil cleanser, because that beauty is calling my name like no other. And I just found out it touted as one of the Top Five Cleansers by Vogue, can't be better than that! Maryna, thanks for making me a very happy woman, you have my eternal gratitude. And thanks for making amazing products! I feel like Maryna knows my skin, I have never come across a line of products that would work so well on me. Even though I am very sensitive to essential oils (another reason I was apprehensive), I haven't had any reactions at all, so I am confident that anyone can use and enjoy these amazing goodies.

So that is all for now. Have you tried Mahalo and what are your favorite products from the brand?

Lots of Love and Aloha!

Renata.