❤ Get in the Glow! ❤

I have never been really into body moisturizers.  Although for some unknown reason I loved to buy them then proceed store them under my bathroom sink indefinitely.  I have gone through short phases where I used them regularly, as I distinctly remember a Bath and Body Works Juniper Breeze stage in my teens and then later a little obsession with Nivea self tanning daily lotion.  If I remember correctly, "Juniper Breeze" smelled nothing like juniper (which is a stinky eucalyptus-like bush) nor of breezes, but more like a bizarre chemicalized sweetness untraceable to any natural compound, but I loved it back then.

Anyhow, with the exception of these little lotion excursions I have never consistently moisturized anything other than my face.  I always felt sticky and somehow "humid" after using body lotion so I tended to avoid it.  I especially hated the post-shower-lotion-dressing sequence that would have me stripping back down to towel off the offending muck before redressing in an alternative outfit that was less sticky.  I'm sorry, but I'm very tactile, I have no other way to describe it. A fold, or uneven seam in my sock would set off a gargantuan fit when my mom would put my shoes on, even at age two.  (Sorry mom, and thank you for always fixing my offending socks even though I made you late for work- love that about you)  Anyway! Back to my point- I hated lotion, but I love the sleek, shiny shins and shoulders look that a great moisturizing routine imparts.  Also, my skin can get really dry in the winter time.  And dry skin is not pretty or girly, and I aim to be both, so these days you will find me happily lubing up my epidermis with something a little more natural than Lubriderm. What's nice about options that are based on natural ingredients is that they lack things like silicone an dimethicone.  So you end up way less sticky and of course, healthier in the process.

Now let's talk about my faves.........

❤ Spectrum Organic Coconut Oil- Surprised? Seriously, this stuff is the best and I cannot get enough. You can do everything from baking cookies with it to using it to remove waterproof mascara (hey- I know waterproof mascara is not healthy but for goodness sakes I live in Seattle! I cannot run around looking like a goth suburbanite, so give me a li'l break).  I also use it to moisturize my face, lips and as an overnight treatment for my hair.  I even use it to add a little shine and polish to my lips, cheekbones, collarbones and shins.  All in all this stuff is fantastic, AND I get to smell like a giant coconut macaroon. Which, by the way is probably my most favorite cookie on the planet, especially when it's dunked in dark chocolate, yum! It's also under $10 for a giant container, you can buy it anywhere and has absolutely nothing in it besides coconut oil.  I even had a little nibble of it 'cause it smelled so good, and you know what, it tastes yummy too! (For some delish (vegan) recipes featuring coconut oil check out the Babycakes cookbook from the super famous NYC bakery- it's a favorite of mine)

❤ Mother's Special Blend Toning Oil- A beautifully moisturizing body oil that my very lovely longtime friend MrsKatherineA over at the www.getposhtopush.blogspot.com turned me on to.  Not just for mommies my friends, it's great for babies and grannys and everyone in between.  It soaks in and plumps your skin all while smelling nutty and naturally delicious.  Great to use damp right out of the shower too! Find it at your natural grocery store for about $15, no need to order it online. My brother tried to steal my bottle when we were visiting family in Texas and I had to lay the smack down.  He has always been one for secretly pilfering my beauty items.  Boys: just man up and buy your own! Who cares if it has a pregnant lady on the label? ;o) www.mothersspecialblend.com

❤ Bubble and Bee Body Butta- Yum! This stuff is like deliciously fluffy and sweet frosting.  It is all organic and scented with organic flavor oils.  You could seriously eat it, it's so pure-although I think you would have to log some serious miles on the treadmill to work off those calories.  Laugh if you must, but edibility is something I look for in lotions these days, think about it: you are pretty much coating yourself from head to toe, so really you want it to be something you would put in as well as on your body.  This stuff fits the bill and it comes in super yummy scents like raspberry vanilla and coconut lime.  They also just came out with a sugar and spice one for fall that I NEED to get my hands on. You all know I love Bubble and Bee and I think the proprietor Stephanie is great. She honestly cares about each product she creates, and so I love to support her efforts. Find it at www.bubbleandbee.com for $16/4 oz or $24/ 8 oz- but don't kid yourself- you need the 8 oz since this stuff is a little addictive.

❤ Wild Carrot Herbals Lord My Hands Are So Dry!- This is the cleanest "real" lotion I could find.  Why do I worry about cleanliness in real lotions? Because lotions have water, and items with water need have to have preservatives in them to avoid nasty bacterial growth. Ew- something to avoid right? I don't want it in my food and I don't want it on my body.  But potassium sorbate is the preservative used by Wild Carrot, and it is the only preservative allowed to be used in organic products.  So I figure it is the best of what's out there. This company is local for me, being made right next door in Oregon.  It has a naturally sweet, slightly spicy vanilla scent, and feels very moisturizing and not sticky.  I love that it is in a amber glass pump bottle that's pretty enough to keep on my bedside table.  That way I can lotion my dry little hands before bed all the while saying "Lord, my hands are so dry," as if He has nothing bigger to deal with, Ha!  It's about $16 for an 8 ounce bottle and for a lotion has some very nice ingredients including some organic oils and nut butters.  Find it at your local health food store or: www.wildcarrotherbals.com/. They also have a luminous lotion with a little shimmer in it, in case you're into that sort of thing for summer.  I know I am!

❤ Another DIY favorite that I should mention is to take a hunk of coconut butter and a little jojoba oil and even beeswax if you have it, and microwave or melt in a double boiler all of it until liquid and mixed together.  Then, let them set back up in the fridge or on the countertop overnight to make a naturally chocolate scented lotion cake. They sell these in Lush for like $15 filled with a bunch of extra toxic junk that you don't need or want.  Coconut butter is not inexpensive, but you can buy it in bulk over at Amazon or sometimes at health food stores. You can even use soap or candy molds to make pretty lotion bars to give as gifts or just for yourself. I love how quick and easy this is to use, and the fact that it's calorie-free chocolate.  Girls, you gotta love that- don't say I never gave you anything!


So there you are- a little tour of my supply.  Remember when looking for some of the best beauty solutions, sometimes we don't need to look any further than our pantries or refrigerators to find cheap and simple solutions just like our Granny's Granny used to use.  Avoiding chemical nasties = good for you and good for our environment. Also, never ignore the fact that what you are putting into your body is showing up on the outside.  You can't expect to have great results with any beauty regimen without getting enough veggies, water, sunscreen, sleep and vitamins. Also, don't ignore those omegas for gorgeous skin and hair, even vegetarians can get the good stuff now: NutraVege is a superior vegan source of Omegas www.ascentahealth.com/products/human/nutravege-200-ml.

Your skin as well as your entire body will thank you, believe me!

❤ Eco Belle Elle

❤ Lipstick & Glosses ❤

My close friend was telling me the other day how she just got rid of her two year old's pacifier.  They had planned to have a little ritual where they were going to set the pacifier free by tying it to a balloon.  They even had a children's book about being a big girl and saying goodbye to the pacifier (though in reality all their planning was for naught, and "pacie" was set "free" by being unceremoniously spit into the kitchen trash can). Though I didn't have a ceremonial goodbye. I do remember the day I got rid of my lipstick stash.  It was so sad!  I have to say: Connelly, my darling girl, I understand your pain.  Tossing those in the trash was a lot like losing an old, trusted friend.  I felt a little lost, a little empty.  I know it's just lip gloss, but you try it, it is a hard switch!

These days my lip product coffers have been thankfully refilled.  I have tried a lot of organic/lipsticks at this point so I feel pretty confident about reviewing my favorites...... So here we go!  These are all around $20 unless otherwise noted.

❤ Primitive- This is by far the best "natural" lipstick brand I have found.  The colors are beautiful and wearable.  It feels and smells like regular lipstick.  Like MAC shades it is vanilla flavored/scented, unlike MAC the vanilla is natural. It is moisturizing and it lasts a really long time.  In other words it really does rival regular lipstick.  I have the Sahara color and it is a perfect pinky nude. I also loved the Corsica color which was a slightly deeper and pinker nude.  I don't think you can go wrong with any lipstick from their line.  I am hoping that they come out with more colors soon, as they don't have a huge color range. The ingredients are fantastic too!

❤ 100% Pure-  I love the color options as they have a pretty large range, but honestly most of them are in the pinky/red/peachy range so if you are looking for something other than that you might have to look elsewhere.  I have yet to find a truly nude color from them, since most are more pink than nude.  That said I love all the colors and the one I got called Lychee.  Yeah it is more pink, but I really don't need 20 lipsticks in the same nude shade like I used to have.  I love the pigment content, soft creamy consistency and fruity scent of these lip glazes.  One of the best things about them is that as they wear off they leave a pretty stain on your lips that you can just reapply gloss over.  The pigments are from fruit sources instead of mineral sources, which I think helps the lipstick (actually called lip glaze) be a little more moisturizing. Makeup alley has a really good photo of the color swatches and I found the colors and descriptions to be pretty accurate on the website.  Watch out for other products containing Japanese Honeysuckle and Vitamin A- the Japanese Honeysuckle is one ingredient to always avoid as it is an estrogen mimicker and can also be tainted with other chemicals.

❤ Vapour- You all know I love my Vapour Siren lipstick- and the Possess color is the perfect neutral pale pink.  Think 1960's Bridgette Bardot kind of pink.  I love this formula, but I do wish it lasted a bit longer, although I am not willing to use the lipsticks with plastics ingredients just so I don't have to reapply.  I have three of the siren lipsticks and the colors are all really nice.  The scent is slightly citrusy and very nice.  Get 'em on the Vapour website or Spirit Beauty Lounge.

❤ Hemp Organics- this one has a really great ingredient listing, but I will admit, the consistency is a little drier than I would like.  Like many mineral lipsticks, the consistency is a bit different between different colors, attributed to the type of pigments being used.  I got the color Rose Quartz and it is a pretty pop of pink.  I really like their large range of colors, but hate the company website color images.  You can sometimes find these at Whole Foods.

❤❤ Gloss

❤ Burt's Bees Super Shiny Gloss- This is what I end up wearing most days.  Easy, slightly shimmery and super glossy, I just don't think you can go wrong with these little beauties.  They're affordable at $7 and easy to find, look no further than your local Target, or even Nordstrom Rack. I have three of the 6 available colors, including zesty red, which isn't really red, just a sheer darker pink that is like your lip color, only better.  I also have nectar nude, a shimmer pale peach and sweet pink which is a shimmery pale pink.  The ingredient list for this is good, though I can't vouch for all of Burt's lip products.

❤ Vapour Elixr Gloss & Elixr Plumping Gloss-  good nude glosses, though kind of sheer with not much color payoff.  The darker colors like entice and bitten have a lot more pigment, but all of them wear off quickly.  Good moisturizing qualities, yummy natural scent and nice to layer over the other lipsticks.  I have honor and pout, in the plumping variety.  They don't plump much and both are really pale nudes with honor being more pink.  In the Elixr Gloss I have twinkle, sultry and hush.  Sultry is definitely the most pigmented, with twinkle and hush being basically sheer.

❤ Eye Love You Nvey Eco ❤

So it has been a very busy and fun summer for me- however, I have not much time available to bond with my blog.  But now I'm back and I have some new and yummy products for you to try.......

I absolutely adore the Nvey Eco eyeshadows, I recently purchased the palette of five shades in Palette #3 and I am totally enamored of the colors, wearability, blendability and all around "conventional eyeshadow behavior." They are really finely milled so they go on beautifully and the shimmery ones are pearlescent, not disco glitter ball like some of the other mineral shadows I've tried.  In particular I love that they are pressed colors, something that is difficult to find in natural or organic makeup.  Hence, I am not decorating my countertop each morning with sprays of loose minerals.  I'll be honest, I love natural brands, but the loose powder thing really drives me crazy!  I always end up with way too much in the sifter tray, spill it on myself in the car when I am touching up, or the cap ends up unscrewing itself in my makeup bag and making a huge mess.  Needless to say I am thrilled with the packaging and ease of use of these shadows.  The fact that they really are fabulous colors and give conventional shadows a run for their money is the icing on the cake.  

Like many of you I was a lover of the MAC counter, in particular the eyeshadows.  Since I mostly only wear browns, I had a small treasure trove of everything from sparkly golden brown to dark espresso colors.  Hey- I'll be honest, I don't branch out much in my shadow colors these days.  In my teens and early twenties I was a little more "free-spirited" with my color choices.  Years later, when cleaning out all my old makeup I would come across these bizarre colors and wonder which of my alter-egos decided to visit the MAC counter for a day of shopping.  

Luckily for you if you're a little more adventurous like my former selves you can choose from a plethora of gorgeous colors from the Nvey line.  In particular I like the palettes- you get a lot of product, they are easy to travel with and I think they are a really good deal, with 5 colors for $63 on the Nvey site.  Although if you google them you can find the same palettes for $45.  

I also highly recommend the cake eyeliner.  I have it in brown and it lasts pretty much all day without smudging and really does rival my old fave: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Espresso.  I love it applied wet for a really clean and precise look, but used dry it does a great smoky eye too.  Surprisingly, it does a fantastic job of lining your waterline as well, better than any conventional pencil I've tried which always end up smearing all over and disappearing by the end of the night.  The cake liner will cost you about $25, and will last you seriously for years. (Although you should toss your makeup after a while to avoid icky bacteria buildup)

It has been a long search to find the right liner and shadows that compare to my old stuff, so here is a quick rundown of what I have tried........ They are still good clean options, but they didn't work for me, but they might for you if for some reason you don't agree with my opinions on the Nvey line.

Shadows:

RMS Cream shadow in Magnetic- beautiful color, super easy to apply with fingers and moisturizing, however it ended up super creased on me even with serious eyelid prepping beforehand.

Vapour Mezmerize Cream Stick Shadow in Charm- I actually love this shadow and still use it as a base, it does crease a little after a while and the color doesn't last all day, but it is still a great option if you like cream shadows. (I prefer powders myself)

Alima Pure Shadows- I tried about 20 different colors with their sample program and I absolutely love this company, their beautiful color line and the overall cuteness of their website, web content and packaging.  However, for myself I find that I'm not adept at blending these colors, they get really "muddy" on me.  Also, the shadows don't last on my skin for some reason.  (I would say I have normal skin- sometimes drier or oiler depending on the weather, but I don't break out really ever, so probably on the drier side of things.)  They have a fantastic sample program though, so try them out, they might be perfect for you, especially if you are willing to use a conventional shadow base. Urban Decay makes a fantastic one that I used to love- I'm sure the ingredients are sketchy at best though.

Liners:

Dr. Hauschka Liqid Liner in Black- Ouch ouch, it burns my eyes! Plus it lasted about 30 seconds until I curled my lashes and then pulled a houdini like disappearing act ending up on my Shu Uemura curler, even after ample (15 minute) drying time. 'Nuf said!

Honeybee Gardens Pencil Liner in Jet Set- nice color, probably would do a great smoky eye if you're into that, for me, it is waaaaay to smudgy.

Jane Iredale Pencil Liner in Black Brown- a good pencil liner option, pretty similar to my MAC liners, soft, easy to sharpen and wears pretty well.  If you prefer a pencil liner over the Nvey Eco cake liner than this is the one for you!

❤ Sunscreen ❤

Now that summer is well underway I wanted to touch base on an everyday essential: Sunscreen.  Sunscreen is an absolute must for me.  I wear a sunscreen lotion on my face, lips, neck and ears every single day, even in the winter.  If I am going to be outside for more than a few minutes, or if I am wearing a tank top or something bare I make sure to apply it to exposed areas.  I wanted to share a few tried and tested favorites with you.  These are all non-nano particle sunscreens, and have all been reviewed as a safe 1-2 rating on the EWG site.


❤ Badger Unscented SPF 30-  This was the EWG sunscreen review's top pick for 2010.  Though it is no holds the number one spot, it is still one of the top ranked sunscreens.  I like it since it only has a few ingredients and I know what each and every one is (without a dictionary!). Badger is great if you are going to be in and out of the water, since it is pretty thick and waterproof.  To avoid that lovely corpse-like white hue, I rub blob of it between my hands to sort of warm it up before applying it.  Also if you want to avoid the white cast I recommend applying in small areas- like one leg at a time, etc.  I like this one for the lake though, since it does seem to stay on well in the water.  Plus it is reef-safe! Always reapply it once you get out and towel off.  I like the scent, it is light, and smells slightly nutty and natural.  The only thing I dislike about it is it is rather oily, definitely not a light feel, so I typically use it only on the lake or when I'm going to get sweaty doing gardening or going for a run.  It has not caused me to have breakouts, even when used on my face.  It would be great for babies and children as well.  A 2.9 ounce tube will set you back $15 from Whole Foods.
ingredients:
Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
Other Sunscreen Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), and CO2 Extracts of *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn). * = Certified Organic


❤ Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30- this is a great everyday around town block.  This is the one that I used every day in Texas.  I had to wear something all day everyday there, since the sun was so intense.  I love this one since it is light, non-greasy and 82% organic.  It is water resistant, and I did swim with it on while I was down there with no problems, but I think I prefer the Badger for serious water sports.  It has a light lavender scent and goes on easily and is fairly sheer as long as you don't use too much.  I would caution applying too much in one area though.  It has a unique consistency and when you use to much it sort of balls up and peels off, if that makes sense.  This sunscreen has a pretty good rating on the EWG site, though it is a little lower in UVA coverage than the Badger, but since I will wear this one on a daily basis, I figure it outweighs the lesser coverage.  Since I would probably forgo sunscreen at all if I had to use the oily stuff.  They make a baby sunscreen that has excellent ratings across the board, so be sure to try that one out too! It is a big bottle 6 oz, and I paid $15 on sale for it at my local co-op.

ingredients:

Zinc Oxide . . . . . . . 6.0% Sunscreen
Titanium Dioxide . . 6.0% Sunscreen

Other Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Juice), Organic Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic Triglyceride, Lecithin, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Xanthan Gum, Vegetable Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Essential Oil.

❤ Devita Daily Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30- This is what I use on my face and neck every day. I have to admit it is not super moisturizing.  It is more of a gel-like moisturizer but I find it to be perfect under my makeup or with a bare face. It doesn't really smell and it is extremely light and non-comodegenic. So I think it would work well for a variety of skin types.  I love that it has zinc oxide only, which is the gentlest of the physical sunscreen ingredients and the one that you will find in most of the baby products.  Since it is micronized, it is completely non-white. This one is definitely a keeper! I bought mine on amazon, but you can find it at lots of natural or health food stores. It will cost you about $26 for 2.5 ounces. This one is labeled as being Vegan as well on the packaging.
ingredients:
Micronized Zinc oxide 19%. Inactive Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe vera gel), purified water, capric/caprylic triglcerides (from coconut oil), glycerin (vegetable), Hyaluronic acid (vegan source), glycerl stearate SE (derived from vegetable oil), stearic acid, lecithin phospholipid, tocopherol (Vit E), allantoin, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract.


❤ Other sunscreens to check out.......
Caribbean Solutions- Super light, reef friendly. I really like the light, sheer texture of this one. 
Mexitan Tropical Sands- Reef friendly and they have a high SPF option as well- I haven't ordered this one yet, but I would like to try the SPF 50 just to see if it is sheer or not.
Goddess Garden Sunscreen Spray- a much better option than those horrible aerosol sunscreens and easy to apply in those hard to reach areas. This one scores a little higher (a 3 I believe) on EWG scale since inhaling zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is a typically a no-no.  But this has better and safer ingredients than any other spray sunscreen out there.  Hint: Hold your breath while applying if you are truly concerned, but I still think this stuff is much better than using nothing.  Case in point, if you are like my brother who is always out surfing in the lovely San Diego sun and not wanting to ask some other dude to rub sunscreen on him then this is a way better option than burning!


Peace Love and Beauty,
❤ Eco Belle Elle

What I've Been Up To.....

Hi All! Sorry I have been MIA but I've been traveling!! Unfortunately summer has not come to Seattle, so I had to go find the sun elsewhere :o). I just got back visiting family in Austin and San Antonio and believe me when I say that they have more than their fair share of sun.

For those of you that didn't read my intro- I mentioned my struggle with vegetarianism, I admit I used to occasionally eat meat because I was forever replacing it with fattening things like cheese since I can't eat any soy products! I ate it maybe once a week and it was always organic- thinking that the animals were treated better (believe me they aren't). I am happy to report that I am not struggling any longer, the diet book Skinny Bitch cured me from ever wanting to eat meat again!! If you are looking for a push- then pick it up! Though prepare yourself, the chapter on meat is not a pretty one. I am a huge animal lover and I literally began shaking and tearing up when I read it. I think though if I can avoid meat Texas, I can make it anywhere- at several places the only "veggie" thing they had was a salad, and I still had to ask for no bacon!

I am happy to report that I am well into the reviews for organic perfumes, so I will begin to post those soon!

Hope you are all having a fun and relaxing summer so far!

❤ Eco Belle Elle

❤ Bubble and Bee Rosehip and Honey Face Wash ❤

You all know that I love my Bubble and Bee Pineapple Enzyme wash.  I actually tried the Rosehip and Honey first and didn’t love it so much.  I decided to review it anyway though, since I think it may work well for me in the winter and also for any of my beauties out there with extremely dry and sensitive skin.  The good: it is extremely gentle and moisturizing, lathers a little bit and you need only a small amount.  It smells simple like oatmeal and honey. 

The bad: I thought I would need the extra moisture that this wash provided, however, it just didn’t work quite right with my skin and I got a few blemishes as a result.  I would recommend this wash for very dry, very sensitive and aging skin.  It leaves a moisturizing film after using that would be wonderful for someone with the aforementioned skin issues.  Since it is getting warmer, these days I am drier on my cheeks and a bit oiler in my t-zone, which is a pretty normal combo. Since I have almost 3/4 of this bottle left, I fully intend on trying it again in the winter months when I suffer from tight, dry skin as a result of cold weather and depleted humidity from running the furnace constantly.  I’ll do a little update on it then.  For now, I think the Bubble and Bee website is extremely accurate in describing the usage and skin types their three face washes are design for.  The third is a cucumber based wash for oily and acne prone skin.  If in doubt as to which one to pick, just email their customer service department, they will get back to you usually in a few hours.

Peace, Love and Beauty

❤ Eco Belle Elle

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: Philosophy Purity Face Wash

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Bubble and Bee Rosehip and honey

Buy it: Bubbleandbee.com or naturaljoybeauty.com

Gonna lighten your bank account:$15

Cheers to: Gentle, certified organic ingredients.  Nice pump-style packaging.

Jeers to: Moisturizing level may be too heavy for some

Shop 'til you drop?: I will be sticking with their Pineapple Enzyme Wash for now

EWG score: 0!

Ingredients: Organic jojoba oil, organic honey, organic rosehip seed oil, organic coconut oil saponified, organic olive oil saponified, organic jojoba oil saponified, vegetable glycerin, organic guar gum, organic aloe vera juice, rosemary extract.        

That's it... No "Bad" Stuff!

Company low down: I cannot say enough great things: excellent customer service, fair pricing, certified organic ingredients and a truly knowledgeable developer and owner

BONUS POINTS: Cutesy labeling and packaging.  Plus since you really never have to question anything in their ingredient list, it is pretty much a no-brainer to shop from their site. 

❤ Bubble and Bee Pineapple Enzyme Face Wash ❤

If you have been reading my blog you know I love Bubble and Bee for their great products, ingredient cleanliness, excellent customer service and informative website and owner, Stephanie.  When I ran out of my old standby face wash: Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple.  It was time to search out something new.  I found what I was looking for in Bubble and Bees Pineapple Enzyme Face Wash. 

I love that it foams and that you only need the teeniest bit to get a really good lather.  It removes all traces of makeup and smells heavenly like tropical fruit and pineapples.  It cleans really well without leaving any of that tight dry feeling that I would actually get quite often with the Philosophy wash.  You can always tell if a facewash is right for you by noting the moisture of your skin right after washing.  Tight or dry? You need something that is more gentle and moisturizing.  Greasy or shiny within the hour? You may need something with a little more gentle cleaning powder. 

Even better than their edible scent, those pineapple enzymes act as a gentle chemical exfoliant.  So your skin is rosy and dewy each time you wash.  With daily use I have noticed my skin looks fresher and my t-zone pores are more refined.  I use this with a sonic facial brush, if you haven’t tried one, I highly, highly recommend getting one.  I will review the one I have been using on the blog soon.  For all you true purists, I know it is pretty inorganic to use a battery operated brush when you can use your hands to clean your face...... but after using one for the last few months I would not give mine up!

Even though I love wearing makeup, I want to be able to show off my skin without anything on it with confidence.  These days I am doing that regularly. (And getting compliments while doing it, which is just makes you feel good, doesn’t it?)  For most days, just a little under eye concealer and some bronzer for color and my face is prepped for the fun stuff! 

Always Bee Fabulous

❤ Eco Belle Elle

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: Philosophy Purity Made Simple Face Wash

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Bubble and Bee Pineapple Enzyme Face Wash

Buy it:  Bubbleandbee.com or naturaljoybeauty.com

Gonna lighten your bank account: $15

Cheers to: Gentle,(80%) certified organic ingredients and a delicious fruity scent.  Nice pump-style packaging.

Jeers to: Nada

Shop 'til you drop?: I would definitely buy this again

EWG score: 0, wow!

Ingredients: Organic coconut oil saponified, organic olive oil saponified, organic jojoba oil saponified, organic pineapple extract, organic tropical enzyme blend (pineapple, papaya, green papaya), vegetable glycerin, organic guar gum, organic aloe vera juice, rosemary extract. That's it... No "Bad" Stuff! 

Company low down: I cannot say enough great things: excellent customer service, fair pricing, certified organic ingredients and a truly knowledgeable developer and owner.

BONUS POINTS: Cutesy labeling and packaging.  Plus since you really never have to question anything in their ingredient list, it is pretty much a no-brainer to shop from their site.