I Tried It: Bottega Organica + a Giveaway!

You know I have so much love for the W.E.L.L. Summit and something that was a treat upon little treats was a sample in the luxe gift bag, a little sample of the Bottega Organica face balance. The stuff is what dreams are made of. I had to know more about this brand so I totally reached out to them. The great thing about green/clean/eco beauty is that it is becoming easier and easier to find but now that there are more brands offering these safe, non-toxic options, you've got to be interested to see what they are about! I'm super happy that I discovered Bottega Organica for a multitude of reasons. First of all, they're creating their products on a farm in upstate NY, not far over the Massachusetts border, like, hello dreamy. If I didn't have a newborn, I'd take a day, make an appointment and see what they're doing all over there. And then there are the fantastic products. Seriously.

They were nice enough to send me some products to try out. In my rotation now are the Bottega Organica Nourish Face Oil, Calm Face Mist and the Body Contour Formula. Each fits into my current beauty lifestyle seamlessly. Post pregnancy motherhood has been different this time around and so I've sort of been searching for new items that fit my new needs. I have to say that I love each and every one of these products for different reasons.

The Calm Face mist is definitely something I use daily and would recommend for general use. It's a cucumber mist that cools and soothes, something I have needed for my face's tendency to dry out during the day and the most recent occurrence, post partum blemishes and blotchiness. I haven't been wearing a ton of makeup lately so this spray has been on hand for use whenever I feel like I need it.

The Nourish Face Oil is on par with the quality face oils/serums that I've tried and use regularly. Rosemary, lemon balm, grape leaves and French lilac deliver skin-purifying and soothing antioxidants to the skin. The smell is delightful. If you know me, you know that scent, or lack thereof depending on the product, is a big deal to me. I don't like something on my face that I will smell all day and inevitably annoy me. The nourish face oil has a light lavender smell with a hint of herbiness which pleases this Mama. Moreover the oil doesn't sit greasy on my face. It soaks in nicely, allowing me to move on with my face routine, moisturizer then makeup (if I'm feeling adventurous) with no problems with absorption.

I specifically requested the Body Contour Formula because the thing that I've most been searching for in the eco-natural-green beauty realm is a product that I can use to combat my cellulite prone areas. This product touts "Pure organic chili peppers are rich in capsaicin molecules that enhance micro-circulation in cellulite-prone areas while peppermint stimulates and energizes the skin. This synergic action favors deep tissue penetration and rejuvenation from the activity of prawn sage and natural vitamins from carrot and apricot." I was intrigued. The smell is killer, like I love it, so good. I've been using it after my morning showers and it works as a basic body oil. The only difference to what I might daily use is that it is a darker orange color and does include chili peppers which could sting if you get it in your eyes so I would caution that. That being said, I really do feel like this is going to be one of my faves, if not my favorite body oil. It's really a high quality product and I'm already dreading running out of it!

Bottega Organica wants to share what they're creating with Prim and Propah readers! Are you excited? Well, you should be! One reader will be able to win the following Bottega Organica products: one bottle of Nourish Face Oil, a bottle of Comfort Hand Balm and also a sample strip of some of their most popular products (Cleanse face oil, Morning face oil, Redefine eye contour serum, Cherish face balm, Comfort hand balm.) all a value of over $130! Enter in the Rafflecopter below. US residents only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Tried It: Arya Essentials Face Oil

I received a sample of Arya Essentials Face Oil in my WELL Summit gift bag. There was no agreement that I would write a review or any type of stipulation given when I received the sample... it was simply put, SWAG! The fact that I reached out to the brand to write this review should reflect how much I friggin' love the Arya Essentials Face oil. It is truly one of my new favorite beauty products in my ever evolving routine; tweaking and trying new things to find my perfect beauty balance. It is most definitely on the higher end of the types of oils that I would use but that's why I am here to tell you that this is like my "Sexy, Getting Ready" face oil, like when I want to feel luxurious.

Based on the brand research that I have done, Arya Essentials is big on keeping true to Ayurveda, which is a type of alternative and complimentary medicine originating in India. Considered the oldest holistic healing system, Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. I am a firm believer in promoting good health, so a brand that full embraces that must have the right idea but has to have the product to back it up.

I have only had the opportunity to try their face oil but from the second I got a whiff, I knew I was in love. The oil does have natural fragrances so if that is something that deters you normally, you may not like the Arya face oil but I simply love it and the smell. I am not getting any younger so the fact that this oil includes Amla (or Indian Gooseberry) and Brahmi (or Herb of Grace) to boost collagen and make my wrinkles look less like a part of my face, really appeals to me. The oil applies very thinly and absorbs quickly, so you're not waiting around to stack on your other products if that is a part of your routine. I've found in my use, the oil does well on it's own, even in these Winter months but does allow for a moisturizer and even makeup to be applied after, with nice results.  A full size bottle retails for $95 which is a little more than I think I would normally spend but like I said, this is my face oil that makes me feel luminous and not going to be for my every day. Let's say that the hubby gifts it to me, well, then I might be using it more often but part of me likes having that something special to rotate in an out of the routine when I want to treat myself.

INGREDIENTS

Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis, (Sweet Almond) Oil, Centella Asiatica (Brahmi) Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa (Rose Hip Seed) Oil, Santalum, Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ocimum, Sanctum (Tulsi) Oil, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil

• PARABEN FREE
• GMO FREE
• SULFATE FREE
• SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE FREE

You can find Arya Essentials on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I Tried It: BeautyCounter

A couple of months back, I saw Beautycounter come across one of my social feeds and very shortly thereafter, a girl I went to High School with, knowing that I'm really trying to embrace green and clean beauty, contacted me about the Beautycounter brand. She'd recently became a consultant and seemed really passionate about the brand so I was like, sure, let's talk Beautycounter! She offered me the opportunity to try some of their best selling products so I could see the quality and safe ingredients that they use when making their essentials. How does Beautycounter compare to other brands that I'm currently using? Well, honestly, they're right up there and they're not totally overprices so I think what they've got going, is an excellent way for the green beauty movement to reach more people. Being educated is part of their mission and educating others is why I'm talking green beauty so, I appreciate what they're doing.

I've The Rose Water Uplifting Spray: You may recall that this spray made it into my Winter Skin Must Haves and it's for good reason. I keep this on hand now because my skin is dry and sometimes needs a pickmeup. I KNOW this is going to be clutch come Summer when it's hot and sticky; this will be a cool burst of freshness for this sweaty glistening lady.... and the good news? When I'm spritzing and the toddler comes along, I don't have to worry about giving him a little spray.  Check out BC's ingredient selection process here.

Another item that I tried, and loved, was the Uplifting Day Cream: it does everything you want in a moisturizer. It smooths and softens. It didn't leave my skin feeling greasy and it wore beautifully under makeup and over my face oil. I don't know that I would completely replace my moisturizer for the UDC but it's definitely a quality product, with a pleasant light scent, that would be a great addition to anyone's beauty regimen.

Something that I can foresee being a "purchase" for me, would be the Everyday Shampoo and Conditioners. I am a HUGE sucker for anything citrus but more importantly, this clarifying shampoo made my hair feel instantly cleaner after some definite build up had occurred because of my "purple" shampoo (no, I'm not a shampoo purist, yikes!). I don't wash my hair every day but this pair will work it's way into my rotation because I've been looking for a perfect clarifying shampoo and this checks a lot of boxes for me in general.

There are many more products that Beautycounter has to offer, including a new baby line that intrigues me so I might just set up a party for family and friends. No matter how much I talk to my family about natural beauty products, I get the feeling that it might not be completely sticking. I think it might be time to bring in some outside help... tell me, have you tried any of the Beautycounter products?

You can follow Beautycounter on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Livy Love Designs

I happened to be trolling Twitter one evening and happened upon Diana Smith of Livy Love Designs tweeting about her graphic designs on Etsy. Obviously, I jumped at the chance to receive one of her prints for the new house, more specifically my craft and sewing nook. In looking for the right piece to hang in your personal spaces, you want something warm and inviting, reflecting your personality and interests. I think one of the best places to find these types of prints is most certainly Etsy. Here is where artists like you and I, go to share with the world the labors of love... Diana is no exception. Her little creations are cute and capture a sweet and fun loving personality. If that describes you, you might want to check out her work: