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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Nude By Nature Review

Hi Lovelies,

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

Nude by Nature make up - review by Green Life In Dublin

Today I am coming at you with another brand review, and what's more exciting, these products are all available in Ireland! Yay or what?

But let me start from the beginning, and I can't wait to tell you all about these products, show you the swatches and all! Love reviewing clean make up goodies, and I hope you will find it helpful and interesting? The brand in question is Nude by Nature, Australia's nr1 mineral make up brand! I had my eyes on the brand for ages, their products seem so beautiful, and let me tell you, they didn't disappoint! One item in particular impressed me very much, and I will save that to the last.

Eyeshadows - Natural Illusion Pressed Eyeshadow in Coral and Rose Natural Illusion Eyeshadow Trio 

Coral was the love at a first swipe, the colour is my new fave! Whenever I am doing my make up, this is what my hand always reaches first, and I have to remind myself to use other products. So happy to have this shadow in my life, even if I use this shadow alone on the lids, the look always comes pulled together and it looks like I made a ton of effort, when in fact I didn't. And I am a big fan of that. It is really smooth and pigmented, and it lasts all day, and I don't use a primer! It also does not crease, which is fabulous, I am definitely a fan of this product, you just got to love a fact that I can put it in the morning and can basically forget about it for the whole day and it will still look fine at the end of the day. Don't we all want that? This is so much better than my Lily Lolo and some other shadows I own, and I definitely will be switching to those from now on, and it makes me want to check other colours too.Single shadows come with a mirror too, which is always a bonus. See it swatched below.
Rose trio is in a sleek compact, with a cruelty free brush and as much as I like the fact that you can get away with only this if you are a minimalist, but I also should mention the fact that some shadows are more pigmented than others. Nonetheless, you can create an array of fabulous looks with them. My favourite from the lot is the darkest shade, which I often use on the outer corner of my lid when using Coral - the look is suitable to both day and night, and you can always go in with more darker shades if you want. I am not a make up pro, far from it, but these shadows are so easy to work with, they practically blend themselves and it makes me look like I know what I am doing :) 
You can also see Coral at the end of this blog post - on my eyes coupled with Nude by Nature mascara. I should also say that you get three 2grams shadows in the trio, but the single shadow pots house 3 grams of product. As always I will include the ingredients list, so you can peruse if you are comfortable or not using these. No scores on any products in EWG, but I checked a couple of ingredients separately (POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE,DIISOSTEARYL MALATE) and they came out as non toxic, getting a score of 1 (out of 10). You have 24 months to finish up the product, which is awesome. Single shadows retail for 16€ and the trio is 28€ which is really not bad. 

Ingredients:
MICA, LAUROYL LYSINE, TAPIOCA STARCH POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, ZINC STEARATE, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, TERMINALIA FERDINANDIANA (KAKADU PLUM) SEED OIL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRUS GLAUCA (DESERT LIME) SEED OIL, SANTALUM ACUMINATUM (QUANDONG) FRUIT EXTRACT, FUSANUS SPICATUS (SANDALWOOD) KERNEL OIL, MAY CONTAIN: +/- [CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), C.I. 77491 (IRON OXIDE), C.I.77492 (IRON OXIDE), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDE), CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES), CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS), CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET)].

Swatches of Nude by Nature make up in the daylight, no editing, no filters

Touch of Glow Highlight Stick in Bronze
Well, I have to admit this looked scary at first, especially having in mind that I am at all times palest, but I really warmed up to it - a highlight stick with  active natural ingredients, including the native Australian Kakadu Plum, known for its abundant Vitamin C content, Quandong and Desert Lime to help provide antioxidant defense? Yes please! True to my style I tested it in a multiple ways, from using it as a cream eyeshadow, to using it as a bronzer. And I like it a lot. Come summer and it might be as well my favourite product. Tube packaging is really sleek and portable. I am a (new) fan. The price of this is 20€ and you get a whooping 10grams or 0.35oz of product. 

Ingredients:
ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, MICA, TRIOCTYLDODECYL CITRATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, CETEARYL CANDELILLATE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, DIPENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAHYDROXYSTEARATE/TETRAISOSTEARATE, GLYCERYL ROSINATE, BEHENYL BEESWAX, CITRIC ACID, CITRUS GLAUCA (DESERT LIME) SEED OIL, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, FUSANUS ACUMINATUS (QUANDONG) SEED OIL, FUSANUS SPICATUS KERNEL OIL, LECITHIN, LINOLEIC ACID, MONTMORILLONITE, OLEIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, PHYTOSTERYL CANOLA GLYCERIDES, POLYGLYCERYL-3 POLYRICINOLEATE, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, STEARIC ACID, TERMINALIA FERDINANDIANA (KAKADU PLUM) SEED OIL, TOCOPHEROL, TRIETHYL CITRATE, TRIOLEIN, XANTHAN GUM, MAY CONTAIN: +/- [C.I. 77491 (IRON OXIDE), C.I. 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE)].
(this is true for BRONZE, for other variations check their website for ingredients).

Nude By Nature Mascara - fast becoming my favorite! Does not flake!

Allure Defining Mascara
I saved the best for the last! After making the hearbreaking decision to not repurchase my nr1 natural mascara (see my reasons here) I thought I will will be years since I will discover my next perfect mascara that does not smudge or flake (my biggest pet peeves) since I tested sooo many mascaras prior to finding my former favourite. But I was saved from months and years of disappointments, because this mascara is like a God sent! Ingredients are not as clean as 100%Pure, but I am ok with that, because a) this mascara is available in Ireland and I can get it sans international shipping and dreaded custom fees,and b) this mascara truly does not flake nor smudge. I am walking a lot, and I am up agaist elements daily (famous Irish rains and #stormdoris, anyone?) and this mascara held up perfectly, I never had it run my cheeks, no flaking ever, and I am three weeks into testing this. I will update this post if it changes for the worse, but I have high hopes for it, and so far so good! It retails for 20€ aand you get standard three months to finish it after opening. Note - this is not a vegan mascara. I should also state that it does not give me that amazing false lashes effect I used to get from my former mascara, it is more like "natural" look mascara, but I am ok with that too. If I want to, I can always add drama with the lash fibers or purchase lash conditioner, but for everyday, it is fine. See it below together with Coral shadow I love so much. Do you like the look?

Ingredients:
AQUA, CERA ALBA (BEESWAX), LANOLIN, HYDROLYZED CORN STARCH, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, POLYGLYCERYL-8 OLEATE, CANDELILLA/JOJOBA/RICE BRAN POLYGLYCERYL-3 ESTERS, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, SILVER CITRATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, CARRAGEENAN, PALMITIC ACID, GLUCONOLACTONE, SODIUM BENZOATE, STEARIC ACID, GALACTOARABINAN, CITRIC ACID, GLYCERYL UNDECYLENATE, PANTHENOL, GLYCERIN, CITRUS GLAUCA (DESERT LIME) FRUIT EXTRACT, SYZYGIUM LEUHMANNII (LILLI PILLI) FRUIT EXTRACT, TERMINALIA FERDINANDIANA (KAKADU PLUM) FRUIT EXTRACT, MAY CONTAIN: +/- [C.I. 77491 (IRON OXIDE), C.I.77492 (IRON OXIDE), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDE)].

Nude by Nature eye make up 

This review post is a collaboration between myself and Debenhams Ireland and that is exactly where you can get Nude by Nature products, online only though. I am so happy Ireland has started embracing natural beauty and we can finally get it in the big department stores. Well done Debenhams, I will be back for more! I am eyeing up their blush, foundation, concealer and a couple of brushes, these products have been calling my name recently.

Have you tried this brand and what are your favourite products? Please share with me, I would really love to know!


Lots of Love,
Renata.

Green Beauty Items Spotted in TKMaxx

Hi Lovelies,

Today I am coming at you with a short post (that is picture heavy of course) on what you can find in the beauty section in your local TKMaxx. This has been my secret weapon for years, and I I hope more of you will discover this great place to shop (and save a bit of money). This is especially great for people like me, when you have no Wholefoods or Detox Market or any place indeed where you can get anything your heart desires under one roof in your city and green beauty items in the regular stores are far and few in between (and for some reason the most expensive items from the brand).

I know not everyone is a fan of TKMaxx, as many people don't like the store in general, but even if it's you, you can still come in for a couple minutes to check the beauty section only, because let me tell you, whoever is doing the buying for the beauty section, gets two big thumbs up from me! Don't ask me how this works and why the items are often cheaper than everywhere else, but one thing for sure, they are not expired and there's nothing wrong with them, so don't be afraid and go for it.
I am including a ton of pictures of products I spotted on my last visit to the store this weekend, but things vary from store to store, so I cannot guarantee you will find the same stock all over Dublin, and these things are not a permanent stock either, so if in doubt, grab it while you can! Some things do reappear, but mostly they are one offs, and I had may cases where I would fall in love with something I got from TKMaxx, to never find it there ever again, and in some cases the products end up being too expensive to get online due to the high shipping costs and extra custom fees that I loathe so much. As always, there are plenty of "greenwashing" brands and products sitting next to the truly natural ones, so make sure to read the labels. If it has a long list of ingredients you can't understand nor pronounce - put it back. Look for minimal list with the purest possible ingredients.
So, what did I find in the shop? Lots of goodies from Zatik, Good Things, DrBronners, John Masters Organic, Absolis Patyka, Mama Mio, Organic Surge, Balance Me, Tisserand, Deep Steep, EO Essentials, Neom, Cowshed, Korres, Westlab products - all that you would possibly need- skincare, haircare (make up is more sparse, it is always full of Bare Minerals which I no longer use because of bismuth oxychloride, but I have spotted Burts Bees lipglosses and Ecotools brushes and lashes with their non-formaldehyde glue). Make up wise, I have spotted and/or bought PurMinerals, BellaPierre and Organic Wear by Physicians Formula before, but as I already mentioned things come and go so grab a bucked load of the good stuff while you see it, it certainly won't be there on your next visit!
You can also find some truly natural food items that are often organic in the food section, but that area is always very messy and you have to root around to find the good stuff. I saw some good ayurvedic teas, organic coffee and honey (this I could not pass) and coconut nectar, as well as organic lemon curd and coconut oil. They also have green cleaning products, but I do not touch that section with a barge pole since my dermatitis was trigered by Ecos liquid detergent bought there. 
Btw, sorry for the crappy pictures, not my usual style, but I couldn't arrange stuff in an artful displays (obv) and I decided not to touch/crop the pictures in order of them to remain the same size, but I still wanted to illustrate the blog post visually instead of just me talking here. So I hope you will excuse my pictures here.

So, my green beauties, on your marks, ready, steady, go!
Joking aside, have you ever bought anything in TKMaxx when it comes to green beauty? How did you like it? I hope more of you will give this shop a chance, because all of us benefit from it, if we buy it there, the shop will see it as a growing trend and will increase the choice, and more customers is always a good thing for the brands. A true win-win situation!

*Update 09.05.16
My finds in Blandchardstown branch - dozens of clean beauty items, brands include Tisserand, SkinFood, Urbanveda, Gud, Revive, Balance Me, Korres, Soap & Scent, By Nature, Sukin, Bee Good, Lanoline (not a brand I am familliar with, but I think ingredients were good? I sspotted the whole Manuka line), organic rosehip oil RosehipPlus, also Yes To Carrots and Bare Minerals (I personally don't use the last two brands mentioned, did not suit me).

*updated 26/06/16

As you can see, I also found Korean sheet masks, plenty of them, I know these are getting very popular here now, so I just wanted to mention them. I also saw too many organic food goodies to mention, and on the way out I saw vegan leather Mat & Nat handbags!

Verdict? Go visit your local TKMAxx :) Don't go, run!

So that is all for now.

Lots of love,
Renata.