June Favorites

1. Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Peppermint Castille Soap

I received a sample of this in my June Pink Moment Bag and I picked another one up from Whole Foods. I love peppermint body care items - the scent and the tingle makes me feel awake and happy.

2. Julep Nail Vernis in Sarah

Sarah is a sheer pink coral with iridescent glitter. Julep nail varnishes are 4-free, meaning that they don't contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP. I like them because they're much more chip resistant than other brands I've tried.

3. Essie Nail Polish in Geranium

When I saw this at CVS I had to get it - it's a spectacular pink-orange-red that's more on the red end. It's very cheerful.

4. Julep Nail Vernis in Lily

This is a bright color that is great to wear on the toes. What can I say - I really enjoyed nail polishes this month. :)

5. Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes

I've been using a bunch of baby wipes while cleaning. They make day-to-day light cleaning very easy. Whenever I have a free moment I'll wipe down surfaces with a wipe, which allows for more time between deep cleanings. When I launch a more serious attack on my counters I make a solution that's half white vinegar and half hot water, then add some of Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap.

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

This blush makes me feel very summery. It's kind of a blush/bronzer hybrid, which I like because I'm very pale. Because it's not a true bronzer, I get some glow without looking orange.

I've also been really enjoying the new Maroon 5 CD. I've loved Maroon 5 even since their first album was released in 2002, a couple of years before "Harder to Breathe" was played on MTV. My favorite songs so far are "One More Night," "Lucky Strike," and "Tickets."

~ Susan

January/February Favorites

These are my favorite products from January and February. I'm still loving my past favorites, especially the Intensive Hand and Body Creme and Healing Salve from Rainwater Botanicals.
Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms

I loooooooveee these! They are so moisturizing and so lovely! My favorite it the rose - it is very natural but deep color.

Everyday Minerals Finishing Dust

This stuff is the only thing that keeps the shine at bay. For more info, check out my previous post.

Bare Minerals Ready 2.0

I'm loving these eye shadow duos in "The Enlightenment: Guru & Namaste" (above) and "The Promise: Aspire & Vow" (below).

These are the perfect neutrals for work. They give just a little little oomph to my look without making me feel self-concious about my makeup.

Spa Ritual Hand Serum

The weather has been getting a bit warmer where I live, so my hands don't need as much moisture as they did. This light serum gives the perfect amount of hydration for this time of year. It's not too oily or greasy - I can type on a computer minutes after applying the serum without leaving behind a residue on the keys.

Goody Spin Pins

These are awesome! These are perfect for days when I have no time to do my hair (which is... every day), but don't want to look like a bum (almost every day).

~ Susan

November Favorites

I've been without internet for the past couple of weeks, and now I am SO glad to have it back! Here are my favorites from the month of November.

Tarte Full Coverage Foundation

This is the only foundation I've been wearing recently. It gives me the coverage I want without making my face look cakey of streaky. It feels moisturizing without making me constantly aware that I've got a "mask" of makeup on.

This is only available from qvc.com, and it comes with a brush, which I don't use. I'm hoping that when I'm through with this tube it will have be sold elsewhere, because I'd rather not get a brush I'm not going to use every time I buy this. /: It's pretty comparable in texture/feel to the smooth operator Amazonian Clay tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 that Tarte sells which is available at a lot more places. The foundation has more coverage and staying power.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush

Mostly, I love the colors they have of these blushes. I also like that they require little thought when applying - one sweep on the cheeks, and I'm good to go. My favorite shade is Exposed, though I own a few others.

I know that Tarte isn't as pure as many other natural companies, but I think they're a good transition for people who are just starting to pursue greener and cleaner makeup choices (i.e.- people like me =D)

Bare Minerals Ready Eye Shadows

These shadows are very smooth and have a really good color payoff.

Trader Joe's Tea Tree Shampoo & Conditioner

I was having a crazy hard time finding a shampoo and condition with really good ingredients. There were a bunch that were almost perfect except for fragrance. Finally, I found these, and I couldn't be happier. Also, these are pretty cheap - $3.99 a bottle. Not as a cheap as say, Suave, but a lot cheaper than the other natural options I was looking at. The bottle says that Trader Joe's worked with a professional boutique to create this - I think it might be Giovanni something or other. They have a tea tree line which looks very similar to this one. Most of Trader Joe's products are created by another company and differ only in packaging and price.

These feel a bit different from other shampoos and conditioners in the shower; my hair feels kind of dry... even though it's wet. Maybe it just feels really clean. As soon as my hair is dry it feels extremely soft AND non-oily. I would continue to purchase these even if I wasn't concerned about ingredients. I wash my hair at night, it air dries while I sleep, in the morning I brush it once and then I'm good to go. No other products needed. :)

Rainwater Botanicals - Herbal Herbal Healing Salve & Intensive Repair Cream

I've been loving all of the things I got from Rainwater Botanicals - especially the moisturizers/salves. My top favorites are the Herbal Healing Salve, which I use on my hands to keep them soft in this cold weather, and the Intensive Repair Cream, which I've been using on my legs. The scents are nice but not overpowering, and they make my skin feel truly moisturized. I've already repurchased both of these.


This past month's dislike: my difficulty with finding a good, facial skin care routine. I've just been washing my face with Tea Tree Soap, and that's it. Maybe that's all I really need. It's definitely the cheapest skin care routine I've had in a long while!

~ Susan

September Favorites

I don't have a lot of favorites this month, just a few products that I continually reached for.

1. J.R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve in Lemon

I love how this smells. I rub in some sort of cuticle treatment whenever I watch T.V.

2. Everyday Minerals Blush in Sand Cherry and Lucent Powder in Wet Sand

This has been my no-brainer cheek combo for September. I use Sand Cherry as my blush and Wet Sand as a highlighter.

5. Yes To Carrots C Me Blush Lip Tint in Ready Red

I haven't really been feeling full-on lipstick. This give my lips some color, but I don't have to worry about it traveling off my lips during the day.

I can't believe September is over - it barely feels like fall. Here's hoping that fall weather settles in for good before the end of October!