Wednesday Roundup: Etsy Style

I love Etsy. I love it so much, actually, that I have an entire segment on the blog called "Etsy Finds." This is pretty much Etsy Finds today, just the Wednesday Roundup Edition. Also, instead of the typical Etsy Bath & Beauty finds, today I'm going to focus on style (i.e. clothes, jewelry and other accessories). Check it out!

ljcdesigns
Inspired by bold Indonesian fabrics, ljcdesigns has created some incredibly fun, colorful clothing and accessories. Right now I've got my eye on a pair of her pom pom shorts. They'll be perfect for Spring Break!

*Photo via ljcdesigns

makepienotwar
If you're looking for simple jewelry that you can wear everyday, makepienotwar most certainly has something for you. If you know me personally, you know that my favorite pair of earrings is this huge pair of hammered gold hoops I bought forever ago. Well, I just found these hammered gold triangle hoops on makepienotwar and I'm thinking they'd be a nice change up from my usual circular hoops. Cute, right?

*Photo via makepienotwar

Ana K.

So, I will probably never be a full time large clutch carrier for convenience purposes, but dangit, they always look so cool. These large, real leather clutches from Ana K. in Greece would be a perfect statement piece for any outfit, or if you're so inclined, they could be perfect for everyday use as well.

*Photo via Ana K.

Are you an Etsy Addict like myself? What are some of your favorite shops?

Wednesday Roundup

Buenos días, as they would say if we were in Mexico (and, oh, how I wish we were).  While this week has been just about as busy as the last few, I am excited about my little getaway to Chicago this weekend where I'll be watching my boyfriend run in the Men's Health Urbanathalon®.  It should be a good time.  I know it's supposed to be pretty chilly there, but I've got my chunky sweaters and I am so ready for it...and the Chicago-style hot dogs and pizza. Yum!

So, what have I got for you all on this lovely Wednesday?  Let's see...

Sugar Paper LA 
Sugar Paper, Los Angeles designs some adorable little notebooks that make your average Mead notebooks look somewhat inadequate.  I always keep a small notebook in my purse for ideas and things, so as soon as I've filled my current one up, I'll be hitting them up for a new one.  For some reason, their aesthetic seems kind of Lauren Conrad-y to me and I am so into it.  Also, starting on October 27th, they will be sold at Target for a limited time. Yay!

*Photo via sugarpaper.com

InStyle: Amy Poehler  
I kind of cracked up when I read Amy Poehler's recent "On My Mind" in Instyle and I thought it was just too good not to share.  I love how she doesn't take herself too seriously and I personally think it's good practice to laugh at yourself at least once a day.  Thankfully, I'm pretty clumsy, so it's not too hard for me.

My picture is a little too small to read, so here's the best quotes:

"My daily beauty regimen... like any young woman, I cover myself in whale oil, put on a pair of wax lips and head out the door..."
"What do I keep in my purse? A tiny man.  He hands me things as I need them.  My monocle, my mustache-- you know, the basics."
"I wore Stella McCartney... All her pieces feel special and match my signature accessory: a fake solid-gold hand."


Etsy Addicts Anonymous
Ok, so I'm officially addicted to Etsy.  I recently purchased three things from there in one week, so get ready for some serious Etsy Finds, plus an interview with The October Union's Kimie Rosenthal!

That's a lot of product and little embarrassment...

So, that's all I've got.  Have you all anything to share on this fine Wednesday?

Quick Thoughts: Primal Pit Paste

My search for the perfect all-natural deodorant started after I had already found a pretty decent eco-friendly formula.  I say "after" because my mom shamed me for using a deodorant that I had to apply using either my fingers or a popsicle stick (ok, yea, it was a little weird) and it was then I realized what I really wanted was a natural deodorant that I could apply like the mainstream deodorants in stick form.

*Photo via primalpitpaste.com

Enter Primal Pit Paste, the best thing to happen to armpits since... well, deodorant. *Disclaimer: I'm not really a sweaty person, so I can't claim that this will keep each and everyone of you dry all day.  But, what I can say is that if I apply my Primal Pit Paste in the morning around 9 a.m., I'm still smelling fresh around 7 p.m.  Surely it would give those of you with more active sweat glands at least five to eight hours of wear.  Plus, Primal Pit Paste offers a "Strong" variety, as well, which I have yet to try.

The lavender scent of this deodorant is amazing.  Sometimes lavender can give off a cleaning-supplies-vibe, but Primal Pit Paste in Lavender just smells really fresh.  For those of you that aren't into lavender at all, they also offer Thyme & Lemongrass, Spice, Orange Creamsicle and Unscented for the sensitive pits out there.

At $10.95 a stick, this might be what some would consider an "investment deodorant", and the grit from the baking soda and arrowroot powder may take a bit of getting used to, but finding a deodorant in stick form that doesn't contain all the usual bad-for-you chemicals (which you can read about here), that actually works, is really priceless.  Buy your Primal Pit Paste here or here.


Have you found a natural deodorant formula that you really enjoy (stick form or otherwise)?

Wednesday Roundup

Good morning, all! Welcome to the newest segment on Simply Skin Deep.  "Wednesday Roundup" is basically a post on anything and everything interesting/fun/sad/exciting/etc. that I've come across in the past week.  Sometimes it may be beauty relevant, other times it could just be a picture of my favorite coffee mug.  It's a toss up!  Let's see what I've found this week...

50% Off SITEWIDE on Tobi.com
Why, oh why? I decided to start budgeting myself this month and then Tobi goes ahead and makes it nearly impossible.  Ladies, you'd be silly not to take advantage of this sale.  Check it out here.

I found my dream tote for $30
For the past few weeks, I've been contemplating the purchase of a linen and leather tote, similar to what you see below.  Unfortunately, the one you see below costs about $79 here on Etsy, without adding the shipping costs.

*Photo via ottobags on Etsy

Luckily enough for me, I found a similar bag at the GAP Outlet in Hebron, Ky., for $30!  I seriously love it when stuff like this happens.
 

Just so perfect!

The Best Day Ever for Caffeine Addicts
I'm not sure what's going on, but apparently the scientific community is out to prove that coffee and tea actually aren't that bad for you and I am loving it.  According to Glamour, it turns out that the caffeine in coffee and tea reduces your risk of skin cancer. So drink up!

The best news I've read all summer.

Lexington has a juice bar!
This is only really pertinent to my Lexingtonian readers, but it looks like our little piece of Kentucky has joined the modern world.  The Weekly Juicery, now open on Old Vine Street, is serving up some delicious, freshly made juices.  I'd be lying, though, if I told you I was only in it for the juices.  They also sell Hurraw lip balms and the S.W. Basics line, amongst other things.

Pineapple Passion

Well, folks, that's our first Wednesday Roundup.  What do you think?

Introducing "Etsy Finds"

As many of you could have guessed, I am a huge Etsy Bath and Beauty fanatic. I have found some incredible brands on Etsy and each shop owner I have spoken to has been extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. I just love the personal aspect of chatting with someone from whom I've just ordered a product. Since I find myself ordering more and more products from Etsy, I've decided to start labeling all Etsy purchases with "Etsy Finds". It's kind of a new "blog series", if you will.

Additionally, I am going to label these "Etsy Finds" as such so that those of you who prefer my mainstream brand posts (i.e. Josie Maran, Garnier Fructis, Living Proof, etc.) will be able to find those more easily. It's going to keep everything a bit more organized!  

I will be heading out on vacation here soon (tomorrow actually), but I have a couple more posts planned before then. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and that your weekends are equally fabulous. Talk to you soon!

Etsy Finds: Anya's Herbals

             My skin has been freakishly clear for the past two weeks, but like an idiot, I've stopped drinking coffee and started using a new cleanser all in that 14 day period so I can't tell you what's responsible for this sudden clarity.  All I want to know is can I start drinking coffee again, because it's this fab new cleanser working its magic, or do I need to quit coffee forever? What to do, what to do...  I'm hoping the new cleanser is responsible for my clear skin because I've been faithfully drinking green tea every morning for the past two weeks, and let me tell ya, I am so over it.  Plus, a study was recently done that suggests green tea leaves absorb an abnormally high amount of lead from the soil. Yay!  Lead poisoning!

           
                 However, you probably are less interested in lead poisoning and more interested in the cleanser I previously mentioned.  It's called the Raw Honey and Turmeric Cleanser and it was created by a woman named Anya Messina of Anya's Herbals on Etsy.  Not only is Anya super kind and helpful, she truly knows her stuff.  The package in which I received my cleanser contained a printout of her company's philosophy and information on her "8 Botanicals Blend", which is described as a "proprietary blend of 8 locally grown and gently extracted healing agents, this remarkable formula is at the heart of all our products".  These ingredients are: bearberry, cinquefoil, common mallow, cranberry, ground ivy, lavender, soapwort, usnea lichen and wild rose.  Each of these ingredients has something special to offer, such as blemish healing or moisturizing properties.  This cleanser also contains raw honey that is gathered locally, which makes it better than most other cleansers, in my opinion.  Plus, I am sort of addicted the smell and the way it gently cleanses without stripping my skin.  Anya hit the nail on the head with this one. 
            In addition to receiving this cleanser, I also got a sample of Blossom soap* from Anya's Herbals.  This soap not only has a gorgeous floral scent, but it also has a beautiful, marbled look to it.  It cleanses beautifully, and like the cleanser, leaves your skin feeling clean, not stripped.  I am just completely thrilled with every I received in this Etsy order.  If you are looking for a natural cleanser, soap, body lotion, mask or other skincare item, I highly recommend checking out Anya's Herbals. You won't be disappointed!

 The * denotes a product which I was sent free of cost.  Reviews will remain objective, regardless of how the product came to me.

Etsy Finds: The Gnarly Whale

       A couple weeks back in my "What I Want Today: Etsy Edition" post, I mentioned a brand called The Gnarly Whale.  The brand features 100% vegan and cruelty free products ranging from hair detangler to lip balm.  The main product of theirs that I've been lusting after is their Beach Waves spray.  Like most products geared toward providing you with the coveted "beach goddess" look, this spray is based heavily on sea salt (mediterranean sea salt, if we're talking specifics), but it also includes conditioning ingredients such as aloe vera and coconut oil.  The directions say to "spray liberally over wet hair [and] let dry".  I did as I was told and I am pretty pleased with the results.  My hair is already naturally wavy, so the Beach Waves spray wasn't totally responsible for creating my waves, but it did magnify them.

   
         I bought this Beach Waves spray in a two pack which includes two 4 oz. bottles of a Beach Waves spray and a Detangler for about $12.50 on Etsy.  I have been just as pleased with the Detangler as I have been with the Beach Waves.  The ingredients in both products are extremely simple and don't require a scientist's translation for the average user.  Also, The Gnarly Whale offers an amazing selection of scents for every product.  I chose Coconut Lime Verbena, a scent I find very appropriate for the summer.  So all in all, two thumbs up for The Gnarly Whale!  Check them out here or here.

What I Want Today: Etsy Edition

       My beauty wishlist is/ always has been/ always will be rather extensive.  I am constantly researching and discovering new products, which in turn leads to the addition of at least 1 new product to "The List" a day.  Ever since I've found the Bath & Beauty section on Etsy, I've upped the ante to about 3 new products a day.  I probably only end up buying 1/10 of everything on my list, but it's just fun to keep tabs on what I'm liking at the moment.  The following Etsy products have caught my eye with their packaging, natural formulas, and overall brand aesthetic.  

The Gnarly Whale Beach Waves- $12: They had me at coconut lime verbena, one of my favorite scents ever.  I haven't given in to the whole beachy-waves-trend yet, but I am coming dangerously close to committing with this one.

Good4You Apricot Rose Scrub Mask- $8: I dare you to check out Good4You on Etsy and not be tempted to buy at least one item.  Not only are the items all natural, but Jes, the shop owner, also gathers the majority of the ingredients locally and illustrates her own labels.  That's a whole new level of dedication to beauty.  This particular scrub includes skin-loving ingredients, such as honey and bentonite clay, and can be used as either a scrub or mask.

Aucocisco Naturals Face + Body Wash in Cedarwood Orange- $19: I've already purchased the Parsley + Rice Cleanser from this brand (it just arrived, reviews to come!), but not long after I made my purchase, this baby popped up on my radar.  I love a multi-tasking product and I love blood orange.  This whole brand just exudes natural perfection.  Their labels are clean and simple and their products are no different.

Have you ventured into the world of Etsy beauty yet?  What is your fave Etsy beauty discovery?