Spa Therapy Vegan Deodorant in Summertime

 

Earlier this summer I embarked on a journey to find the perfect natural deodorant. I tried Lush’s Aromarant first, which was ok but I stilled felt I could do better.

Enter Spa Therapy’s Vegan Deodorant in Summertime!

I’ve  been wearing this deodorant for a week and I love it. The scent is fresh with slight floral hints. Not too over powering but definitely strong enough to hide any sweaty pit odor. It doesn’t interfere with the sweating process but rather neutralizes odor causing bacteria. One of my issues with Lush’s deodorant was its rough application. Spa Therapy’s deodorant  goes on silky smooth and clear so you don’t have to worry about those unsightly white marks on dark clothing (don’t you hate those?!)

The deodorant is also vegan. Here’s a list of ingredients from Spa Therapy’s Etsy shop:

Propylene Glycol: A humectant and fragrance carrier
Purified Water
Sodium Stearate: A stearic acid salt used as a nontoxic stabilizer.
Vegetable Protein: Neutralizes odor causing enzymes. Protects against chapping and irritation
Hydrogenated Castor Oil: An emollient and carrier oil
Isosteareth-2: A fatty-acid that works as an emulsifying agent
Salicylic Acid: antiseptic agent derived from the willow tree. Prevents pores from clogging up
Steareth-100: An emulsifier, to help keep t ingredients mixed.
Chamomile Flower Extract: An anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic and soothing herb
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: A healing emollient with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties
Grapefruit Seed Extract: An antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. Used as preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea & Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: Preservatives with broad fungicidal activity – non paraben preservative
EDTA: An amino acid that improves product stability
Fragrance
Free of aluminum or bactericides.

I am very pleased with Spa Therapy’s Vegan Deodorant. I’m loving the Summertime scent but there are plenty of scents to choose from. 

I will continue my quest though. I’ll let you know what else I find!

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Fun in the Sun

Mavens, I’ve been away for too long! This summer has been a busy one for me but I didn’t want you to think I had forgotten you. Here are some of what I’ve been up to for the last couple of weeks:

Visiting my Parents in Florida – I hadn’t been back to Florida in quite some time so I was very excited to head over there for a week. It was gorgeous! Super hot and balmy. We went to the beach every day and I ate tons of delicious barbeque and west indian food. It felt really great to disconnect from the rest of the world and hang out with family. My mum has an impressive backyard garden which consists of mango trees, banana trees, papaya trees and several other tropical fruit trees. The one plant that still amazes me is this little pineapple tree (bush? plant?) pictured below. Isn’t that the cutest thing?

Reading – During my relaxing vacation in Florida I got lots of reading done. I’m a huge bookworm but lately I’ve found that I don’t get to read as much as I’d like to. Here are some great books to check out:

1. The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green by Starre Vartan – great book full of fantastic green advice

2. Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano – love, love, love this book. It’s become my unofficial rulebook!

3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates – now that I’ve read the book I can check out the movie. I’m weird like that – must read the book first!

4. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz – I’ve just started this book and so far I am enjoying it. Good, easy read.

Making oodles and oodles of soap – I’ve been quite busy churning out soap. I’m really pleased with how they’re turning out and am super excited to make more. I recently listed 8 new soaps to my Etsy shop. They’re olive oil based and contain other yummy ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. Below is a picture of my fave of the bunch – it’s Kumquat scented which is such a fresh, tropical scent. Check them out – I think you’ll like them as much as I do!

Habitat for Humanity – I’ve always wanted to do Habitat for Humanity which is a charity that builds affordable houses for low income individuals. I finally got my chance last weekend. Me and two of my friends worked really hard all day putting up wood siding. It felt fantastic doing something that I knew would directly benefit someone in need. I would definitely do it again. If you’re looking for a way to give back I would suggest looking into Habitat for Humanity for sure.

So before heading out to my Habitat for Humanity build site I tried Burt’s Bees Natural Sunscreen. I hate to say it because I loooove Burt’s Bees but I did not like this sunscreen. I had to take it right back to the store. It didn’t rub in very well and left my skin completely white. To make matters worse, it smelled funny. I was quite disappointed. 

Whew! It’s been a whirlwind summer so far but I’m having a blast. I should be back to posting more regularly now.

What have you been up to this summer? Do  share!

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Oh! Before I forget. I’m having a sale on my Etsy shop for this weekend. 20% off your entire order for this weekend only! Happy Shopping!

I’ve also recently been featured on some blogs: SatinDoll, Everyday Etsy and Ask Ms. Popular. Please take a look. Thanks!

Lush’s Aromarant Deodorant

Recently I’ve been reading all kinds of terrible things about the ingredients in deodorants/anti-perspirants. I’m not entirely convinced that my deodorant will give me cancer but I figure that the least amount of chemicals I put in/on my body the better. So I’ve set out on a little journey to find a good natural deodorant.

First up,  Lush’s Aromarant Deodorant. This Vegan deodorant bar is made with lemon tea and herbs to deliver fresh,  astringent cooling to sweaty pits (or feet). It’s also full of Bicarbonate Soda to help absorb ordors and neutralize the microbes that live on our skin and react with our sweat. It’s scented with Sandalwood oil to leave you smelling good. I was pretty nervous about saying goodbye to my old stand-by – Dove – but happy that I gave Aromarant a shot.  It smells fresh and left my armpits feeling cool. I first tried it out while vacationing in Chicago and it kept me smelling fresh for the whole day. However, it is not an anti-perspirant so if you’re a super Sweaty Betty, this may not be for you! Also, it comes in a huge block that sometimes dries out so the first couple of swipes can be a little harsh when applying it. Lastly, it’s not as powerful as my old Dove deodorant when I’m in super sweat mode like during workouts. Lush has about 3 other natural deodorants in different strengths so that you can find the perfect one for yourself. All in all, I like it. It works pretty well for me and I haven’t gotten any complaints of me stinking up the joint. But I think I will keep looking. I like a smoother application when it comes to deodorant.

So I will continue on my quest for the perfect natural deodorant. I will keep you all up to date on what I find! And if there are any that you’d recommend or that you’d like me to try, drop me a line and let me know.

What do you think? Are you switching to natural deodorant or are you happy with your regular one? What do you use to stay smelling like roses?

N-

VedaDUDE

VedaPURE, the MD created skincare line, brings us VedaDUDE for the men in our lives. Here’s what is included in the line:

 

Clean: Face Cleanser – Green clay, and Vitamin C create a synergetic blend that helps protect the skin against free radicals. The Vitamin C Esters absorb readily into the skin without stinging and the Green Clay makes this cleanser rich and effective in protecting the dermis from environmental toxins, aging and sun damage. 

Glide: Shave Gel – A shaving gel made with Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Bilberry extract and Organic Orange fruit extract makes this a refreshing and clear way to shave. The non-sticky gel glides on easily and stays clear and smooth for a protected shave, and washes off fresh and clean.

Chill: Face Moisturizer – A wonderful way to chill and moisturize with this balm of organic coconut and jojoba that leaves the skin feeling pure, refreshed and re-hydrated.

Splash: After Shave – Organic orange fruit, lemon and cranberry extract refresh and purify your skin after shaving while lavender distillate calms and soothes freshly shaven skin.

Father’s Day Shave Special – And now you can order a one-year supply of VedaDude Glide Shave Gel for your “dude” and they’ll replenish his stock every two months with a new bottle. An $120 value for only $100. 

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Great Fragrances for Men

I originally posted this last fall but I think that these colognes still apply as some as the best fragrances for men.

Need a new scent for your favorite man in your life? Well it’s a man’s world in the world of fragrance this fall as several brands unveil their plans for new male scents:

 First up: Givenchy’s music-related concept called Play. In developing the scent, perfumers were told: “Develop a note that’s going to be really original, and once you’ve got it, make two versions of it — one which will be pushing it even more toward originality and the other which is pulling it toward accessibility, making it fresher, easier.” As a result, two iterations of the woody fragrance were formed — Play and Play Intense. To visually differentiate the two, Intense has black outer packaging and Play, white. Justin Timberlake (yum!) fronts the advertising for the new scent. Play is to premier at the end of this month in France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the U.K., Russia, Greece and Kuwait. The rest of the world will get the fragrance in about a year. 

 

Also from Givenchy comes Pi Neo, due out in the U.S. at the end of this month. The fragrance, which is being billed as a Space Age scent, is a riff on Pi, which the house launched in 1998. Givenchy Pi Neo’s juice is a combination of natural ingredients and synthetic molecules exclusive to Givaudan. Pi Neo has top notes of Italian bergamot and mandarin orange, a heart of cedar and patchouli and a base of amber and vanilla. Each of the accords includes a patented, futuristic note. The top note carries Toscanol, an anise-like ingredient intended to give the fragrance energy. In the heart, Safraleine is intended to enrich the woody accord and to add hints of leather, spice and tobacco. The base of the fragrance has Cosmone, which lends a fluidity and hint of ambergris to the scent. 

 

Parfums Christian Dior hopes to tap into a new male consumer — with Dior Homme Sport, due out this fall. The fragrance from the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand, targeting men ages 25 to 40, will be the fourth in the Dior Homme collection, which first kicked off in September 2005. 

Elizabeth Arden hopes to bring added urban appeal to department stores this September with 9IX Rocawear, the first fragrance to be launched under its Rocawear license. In November 2007, Arden signed its fragrance licensing deal with Rocawear, the clothing label cofounded by hip-hop mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in 1999 and now owned by Iconix Brand Group Inc. Carter continues to be involved in the business and retains creative control over the fashion, and Arden said that Carter had a strong hand in developing the fragrance — but 9IX is not intended to be “a Jay-Z celebrity fragrance,” said Ron Rolleston, executive vice president of global fragrance marketing for Elizabeth Arden.

In tandem with Guerlain’s 180th birthday, the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand is introducing a men’s scent, Guerlain Homme, in the fall. The idea was to “reinvent Guerlain fragrance for men,” said Laurent Boillot, president and chief executive officer of Guerlain. “Let’s create it like it was the first one — the first Guerlain Homme fragrance. That’s simply why we rapidly came up with Guerlain Homme as its name.” Guerlain Homme was conceived with a younger consumer in mind. The citrus, aromatic woody juice was created around ingredients similar to those found in a mojito — namely, lime, mint and rum notes. There’s another accord of bergamot, green tea and geranium notes and a facet of cedar and vetiver notes, among others.

Parfums Kenzo is banking on flower power again for its new men’s scent, Kenzo Power, due out starting at the end of August. It is the seventh fragrance for guys from the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand and comes eight years after its blockbuster Flower by Kenzo women’s fragrance. The new fragrance will be introduced in North America, Europe, Russia and Australia between the end of August and early September. In the U.S., it is to be launched exclusively in Bloomingdale’s and in Canada in The Bay.

This oriental-woody fragrance for men, created by Japanese Hanae Mori, The top notes reveal sparkling and luminous citrus and lavender with a hint of nutmeg. The heart is floral and pure with jasmine, iris, grassy notes of lily of the valley and intoxicating Bulgarian rose. The base is composed of moss, cedar, Tonka, powdery vanilla, gourmand touch of chocolate, and amber. 

So head out and get something nice for your husband, boyfriend or best gay friend! My own personal favorite it Hanae Mori HM. What men’s colognes do you like?

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Every Man Jack

I know I usually focus on women’s beauty products but men need a little pampering too – especially with Father’s Day just around the corner (June 21st). So this week we’ll be paying extra special attention to the men in our lives so we could make them just that much sexier.

Every Man Jack has an impressive line of products made from high-quality formulas and natural ingredients that are not only affordable (the line’s available at Target) but will also keep your man feeling like a man. The line ranges from soap bars & body washes to shaving kits & hair  products. Also the packaging is fantastic! It has a really great masculine appeal and is very clean and simple. Here are some of my fave products from Every Man Jack:

Tallow Free Body Bars – Vitamin-enriched body bars will cleanse, soothe and condition your skin while protecting against dryness. They’re made from 100% vegetable base with mineral extracts and contain no parabens, oils or tallow so even our hunky Vegan men can appreciate them! Available in Signature scent, Tea Tree and Cedarwood

 

Citrus Body Scrub – This exfoliating body bar and body wash will gently scrub your man’s skin leaving him feeling clean and smooth. The fresh citrus scent will invigorate the senses and the wheat bran will help scrub dead skin away. Sounds yummy!

 

Shave Gel & Shave Cream – The rich gel formula comforts and protects the face for a close shave. The soothing formula hydrates and heals the skin leaving it looking fresh and healthy. Contains menthyl which lubricates skin to reduce shave friction, marine extracts to soothe and moisturize and aloe & Vitamin E to heal and protect. Available both in the signature scent as well as fragrance free.

 

Every Man Jack Kits – Can’t decide what to get your man from Every Man Jack? Well then just get one of their kits which offers a sample of all they have to offer. Choose from the Shave Kits, Body Kits, Starter Kits (pictured above) and Skin Kits. They also make Travel Sized Kits. They’ve thought of everything!

So Mavens, what do you think? What products is your man using now? Do you think he’d enjoy Every Man Jack? I’m definitely going to be buying this for the fiance!

N-

Summer Styling Tips for Curly Hair

I stumbled upon this great post on The Organic Beauty Expert about keeping curly hair moist in the summer time. As a curly-haired bella myself, I thought it would be great to share these tips with you:

Kinky, curly or wavy hair? Summer styling tips from Urbanbella.com (written by The Organic Beauty Expert)

Summer can wreak havoc on hair, and curly hair is especially vulnerable.  Curly hair is naturally drier than other hair types.  Between the sun, heat, humidity, and chlorine, curly hair needs special TLC to stay looking smooth and gorgeous!  Keneesha Hudson, curly hair expert and owner of Urbanbella the curly, kinky, wavy hair salon & apothecary in Atlanta) shares her best summer hair tips to keep hair happy and healthy!

NOTE: I’ve left Kaneesha’s tips whole, but added green product choices for ya!

How to Fight Frizz!

Naturally frizzy hair is best controlled while it is wet.  Frizz can be greatly reduced by applying frizz control gels and mousses right after you have rinsed out any hair conditioner, essentially while your hair is still wet.  You do NOT want to towel dry your hair, as the friction of the towel against your locks just adds to frizz.

For the summer months, you want any frizz control product to be as lightweight as possible. The ingredient you want to look for in a good gel is Polyquaternum, a polymer that makes the strands of hair bond together and give a nice hold.  The result is hair that looks sleeker, and more defined, as opposed to frizzy strands flying all over the place!

Green choice (not organic, but more natural ingredients): Jane Carter Solution Condition & Sculpt

Can Your Hair Handle the Heat?

Everyone’s first reaction when dealing with frizzy summer hair is to whip out the straightening iron.  This leads to heat damage and just makes hair dryer and frizzier.  If you must use heating tools, be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect your locks.  Look for thermal protectant products containing amodimethicone and dimethicone.  These ingredients provide a protective film on the hair cuticle that prevents water loss and keeps the cuticle from cracking and breaking.  Apply these products to hair before heat styling.

Green choice: John Masters Organics Sweet Orange & Silk Protein Styling Gel

Don’t Sweat It!  

Whether you’re hitting the gym, or just window shopping in 90 degree heat, the sweat from your scalp will lead to hair oiliness.  When you don’t have time to take a shower (and remember that over washing will lead to more dryness) the best way to fight oiliness is by using a refreshing spray.  They leave hair feeling and smelling fresh and clean as well as adding volume without requiring a shampoo.

Green choice: Erbaviva Relax Room & Body Spray

Limp Locks 

To keep curls bouncy and plump, use products that contain keratin, a natural thickening protein found in hair.  This product can be found in thickening shampoos and volumizing sprays.These products also thicken and lift hair with natural alcohols such as Beetroot Alcohol.

Green choice: Suki Hair Daily Shampoo

Chlorine Damage Detox  

Chlorine sucks up the sebum (your hair’s natural oil and protective barrier) from the hair, leading to dry and cracked hair cuticles.  Before you get in the pool, pre-treat hair with a conditioner that contains oil extracts.  The chlorine will suck up the oils found in the conditioner before it soaks up the natural oils in your hair.  This significantly reduces chlorine damage.  Apply the conditioner or spray liberally, concentrating on the ends of hair.

After you expose your hair to chlorine, wash it with a chlorine specific detoxifying shampoo to remove chlorine.  Because shampoos like these can be slightly harsh, I recommend following up with a soft, gentle moisturizing shampoo that  restores moisture to the hair. Finish off with a great, moisturizing conditioner.

Green choice: Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Lisa’s Hair Elixir

Heat-Free Styling Tips!

Try these tips for air drying:

Use lighter styling aids such as mousse and light gels for faster air drying time.  Gently squeeze excess water out of the hair after applying styling aids to reduce air drying time.  Remember, avoid towel drying!!

Some really cute hair styles can be achieved without having to put a hair dryer, straighter, or curlers to your hair.   The three I mention below give really beautiful beach beauty waves that work with summer humidity and heat instead of fighting it:

–       While hair is still wet, apply your light gel or mousse, and simply wrap hair into a bun on top of your head.  After hair has dried at least 60%, remove bun and you’ll have soft and beautiful waves.

–       Another way to achieve that beach-y look, twirl damp hair around your finger, applying styling gel as you go along.

For the easiest way to get those waves, simply put your wet hair in braids, let dry, unbraid and voila!

Green choice: John Masters Organic Shine On

(written by The Organic Beauty Expert)

Do you have curly hair? What are you using to keep it moist especially in the summertime?                                                                                                                                     N-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Have a Winner…

Congrats to Caroline and Caramel Diva, the lucky winners of my Blog Anniversary Giveaway. I’ll be emailing you shortly to get your addresses so that I can ship out your Luxuriously Rich Hand Cremes. 

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

N-

Happy Birthday Beauty Maven!

The Beauty Maven Blog turns 1 today!

woot!

One year ago today I embarked on this little journey to share my thoughts on all things beautiful with the world. I’ve learned so much and made so many new friends a long the way. It’s fun to see how far this blog has come since the very first post.

To celebrate my baby blog’s birthday, I’ll be giving away Safiya Beauty Luxuriously Rich Hand Creme to 2 lucky winners! Just leave a comment below and a random number generator will select a winner on June 8th.

And in the spirit of reminiscing, here are 9 of my fave blog posts from the last year:

Beauty Maven of the Week – Angelina Jolie

Honey Bunny

Lancome Oscillation Video Review

Lipstick Queen

Beating Winter Skin #4 – Must Try Products

Lush Product Review – Angels on Bare Skin & Tea Tree Toner

Juice Beauty Review

Best Tinted Moisturizers

Oil Cleansing Method

Here’s to the next year. Enjoy!

N-

Oil Cleansing Method

I recently received an excellent question about the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM):

I was wondering if you have tried the oil cleansing method for your skin?  I saw some videos on youtube about it but because my skin is prone to breakouts I am a little afraid to try it.

 

Yes. You can absolutely use the Oil Cleansing Method on acne prone skin. I found a lot of great info about OCM at Prissy Green. The common misconception is that oil causes acne. Oil alone does not cause acne – other factors like age, hormones and prolonged clogging of the pores of trapped bacteria, dead skin cells and dirt are the actual contributors to acne. The natural oils your skin produce are there to protect and heal your skin. Most oils are actually good for your skin.

Most people use castor oil or extra virgin olive oil as a base for their oil solution. Castor oil is great at drawing out the dirt and bacteria trapped in your pores, while healing your skin. Extra virgin olive oil is great for normal and dry skin types but not ideal for oily/acne prone skin types because it is a heavier oil. Other effective oils to use are Grapeseed Oil – which is light and known for its astringent properties,  Jojoba oil – a great moisturizer, Avocado oil, Apricot oil, Hazelnut oil, and Evening Primrose oil – which are all known for their non-comedic properties.

Of course you would need to experiment and find which blends work best for you. Here’s some sample ratios to start out with:

Normal Skin – 50% Extra Virgin Olive Oil & 50% Castor Oil

Dry Skin – 75% Extra Virgin Olive Oil & 25% Castor Oil

Oily/Acne Prone Skin – 60% Castor Oil,  20% Jojoba Oil & 20% Grapeseed Oil

Sensitive Skin – 60% Castor Oil, 20% Jojoba Oil &  20% Apricot Kernal Oil

• Now that you have your oil blend together, here’s what you do:

 

1. Gently massage your oil blend onto your face. Massage for about a minute if you have a clean face and for 30 seconds if you are wearing makeup.
2. Take a warm washcloth and drape it over your face. The steam will open up your pores and allow the oils to draw out the dirt and bacteria.
3. Wipe the oils off with the washcloth, massage some oil into your skin again and repeat. You can repeat this step as many times as you like.
4. When you’ve finished steaming gently start wiping the oil away. 
5. Once you’ve wiped all of the excess oil from your face, rinse with cool water and pat dry.

 

You can find these oils at Whole Foods or any natural food store or you can buy them in bulk online at From Nature With Love. Here are two links to more great information about the Oil Cleansing Method:

http://www.prissygreen.com/2009/04/oil-cleansing-method-for-alll-skin.html

http://leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com/oil-cleansing-methodocm-for-soft-smooth-and-glowing-skin/

So what do you think? Have you tried this method before? Is it something you think you may try in the future?

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