What's In My Shower

As a daily ritual most of us partake in, I fully believe that showering should be an indulgent experience.  And when I say this, I don't mean expensive.  Indulgent, to me, means using products that make you feel expensive. While my shower routine is actually quite simple at the moment, these following products make me feel pretty fancy.

I love the smell of rosemary and this shampoo and conditioner combo by Avalon Organics does it well. If I'm being honest, though, the conditioner half of this pair is moot when it comes to moisturizing. It's reminiscent of my experience with Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque. However, they both volumize like no one's business, which is what they claim to do. No serious complaints here.

This soap by Nubian Heritage is a true gem. The chai scent is very light, unlike many other heavily spiced renditions of the drink. Rose extracts add a touch of sweetness. This soap is seriously one of my favorite shower finds in a while! 

And as usual, my in-shower skincare routine consists primarily of Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, a konjac sponge and the occasional manuka honey facial.

What about you all? What's in your shower?

Wednesday Roundup

Sorry, you all.  I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've had the chance to do a Wednesday Roundup.  It's actually one of my favorite segments on this here blog but, unfortunately, I just haven't had the time to do one as of late.  However, now that I've found a couple hours to spare, I want to tell you what I consider to be some of this week's best discoveries.  Enjoy!

The Toronto Mayor
For those of you who don't follow social media or watch much television, Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, has become a bit of a running joke in the media.  Not only did he admit to smoking crack, but he admitted to doing it while in a "drunken stupor."  I'm not much for political or social commentary, but this guy is just too funny not to talk about.  Check out this nice little BuzzFeed compilation of Rob Ford, "The World's Greatest Mayor" (and ignore some of the dirty language, please).

*Photo via huffingtonpost.ca

Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
This once highly respected beauty cure-all has been catching a lot of bad press as of late. Sure, it may not be sustainably produced like many more "natural" salves or balms, but sensitive skin like mine can really find refuge in this non-irritating product during the cold winter months.

*Photo via unilever.com

One thing you should know before using petroleum jelly is that it is an occlusive agent, meaning it does not actually moisturize, but rather it traps in moisture. Vaseline is best used on damp skin or over another balm or oil. I've been using it as an eye cream at night.  I simply apply it to my damp under eye area after getting out of the shower and it seals in some of the moisture from the water. Also, a few swipes on dry cheeks before stepping out into the cold can prevent windburn. For those of you that really hate the idea of using a petroleum-based product, I've been told that Waxelene is a good alternative (though I've not actually tried it myself).

Celebrities Without Makeup
No, I'm not trying celeb-shame by advising you to check them out without their makeup on, but I AM, however, trying to remind you that even seemingly flawless celebrities need concealer.  Check out this post on Daily News for a welcomed reality check.

*Photo via nydailynews.com

Alrighty, folks...that's all I've got for today.  Have the happiest of Wednesdays!

Etsy Finds: Charcoal Detox Mask + Spot Fix by The October Union

You all may remember the interview I did with The October Union's Kimie Rosenthal just a couple weeks ago.  In that interview, I mentioned ordering some of her products and I'm here to give you the 4-1-1 on Kimie's Charcoal Detox Mask + Spot Fix.

Charcoal, for most people, conjures images of summer barbecues rather than skincare, but I assure you that the stuff used to grill your burgers is not the same as what The October Union is using in their face masks. So stop thinking Kingsford and start thinking elegant cosmetic charcoal.

Charcoal is actually a highly prized skincare ingredient, admired for its purifying properties. Currently, Kimie uses willow bark charcoal in the Charcoal Detox Mask + Spot Fix, but she will soon be switching to coconut shell or bamboo charcoal, depending upon which is more sustainably harvested.  Could this brand get any better?

But back to the mask... We all know my skin is super picky, so I asked Kimie to remove the cayenne pepper and cinnamon and a few other ingredients.  While I actually do like cinnamon in some occasional facial applications (see this previous post), I figured it might prove to be more than my skin could handle in combination with the charcoal.  Perhaps I'll brave it for my next jar, though, and leave every ingredient in, especially since I've had such great results with this mask.

Pretty products on a dirty window sill... Sorry about that!

What I love about this mask, specifically, is its use of charcoal and himalayan pink salt to deeply cleanse.  I swear my face takes a breath of fresh air after I've removed it. Not to mention, a little goes a long way.  You can mix a teensy bit of this mask, which comes in powder form, with the liquid of your choice (I like chamomile tea, manuka honey or Wildroot Botanicals Rose Geranium Hydrosol) and it will cover your whole face.

At $10 per 2 ounce jar, the Charcoal Detox Mask + Spot Fix is a great product at an equally great value.  I highly recommend that you purchase it, and you can do so here or here.

Kimie also sent over two samples, one of her Love + Kindness Balm and the other of her Pomegranate + Cocoa Tinted Lip Salve.  Both of these products were amazing as well, but I'm especially in love with the Tinted Lip Salve.  It's got the perfect hint of color and moisturizes so well, which is definitely something I need on these cold fall days we've been having as of late.  You can buy these two products here or here.

Tell me everyone: have you tried The October Union's products?  What do you think?