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Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Blissmobox: Skin ‘n’ Hair Care

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blissmobox, eco-friendly, green, health, pictures, products, review

23 October 2012

Ready for the belated August blissmobox low-down? Here goes! The options for that month were Skin ‘n’ Hair Care, Lunchbox Snacks, or Pristine & Clean.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for august's blissmobox: skin'n'hair care, lunchbox snacks, or pristine & clean

The three choices for the August blissmobox.

Since I had just gotten a box of snacks and I wasn’t particularly interested in excuses for cleaning, the beauty box was perfect! When I opened the box, I was greeted by a sampling of items for just about any skincare need, ranging from practical to pampering.

Wellinhand Action Remedies, Therapy Oil – The most practical of them all, this little oil is great for all kinds of skin conditions ranging from cuts and burns to soreness and pain. I haven’t really had any skin conditions that I can test it out on, but the soothing herbal scent with a slight hint of sweetness already indicates to me it has some of the healing properties of herbs. I almost didn’t see the sample when I was looking at the info sheet, so it would have been nice if there had been a more decent size included.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Pumpkin Renew Cream, Unscented – This is a rich and creamy face and neck cream that is gentle and soothing. It has a thicker consistency than a lot of other moisturizers and even feels a a bit elastic. It’s really nice! I also love that the pumpkins they use come from their very own garden (or so it says).

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion, Comforting Vanilla & Sweet Orange – Can you say YUMMY?! The combination of the sweet and citrus elements in this lotion remind me of a delicious orange cupcake! It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling whenever I put it on and it’s almost like getting a dose of comfort food.

Giovanni Eco Chic Hair Care, Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Ultra-Sleek Shampoo – This shampoo has a really nice smell that I think is something like macadamia nut? I can’t quite pinpoint it, but it’s familiar and nutty. The shampoo is pretty runny as you can see, but it’s also creamy and rich. I love the subtle sweet scent that lingers and makes using this shampoo feel like a luxurious experience!

La Fresh eco-beauty, Instant Body Soother – I wasn’t too sure what to do with a “body soother” at first, but then I discovered that it is PERFECT for after a workout. The minty smell gets deep in your lungs to really refresh while it cools and soothes your skin! It’s downright pampering. 😉 These moist towelettes are just moist enough to gently clean away some of the grime on your skin, yet aren’t so wet that you have to wait for the residue to evaporate. La Fresh is really water-conscious in how they produce their products, which I totally love!

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

Yuzen August 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: almonds, beauty, eco-friendly, face cleansers, food, green, healing balm, health, home, nuts, pictures, products, review, skincare, snacks, soap, sunscreen, tea, yuzen

08 October 2012

Wondering about the second Yuzen box? Never fear! I’m here to show you what came in it and give you the low-down on each item. This time around, the color scheme was yellow and there were six fantastic brands included.

Yuzen is $26 per month and comes with around 5 or 6 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – Lemon Verbena All Purpose Soap Bar: As I was opening the box, I got a hint of this soap bar’s clean scent wafting up. It’s a huge full-size bar that will last me a LONG time! The wrapping was a nice smooth texture and it wasn’t glued too strongly together, so opening the packaging was actually a pleasant experience. I’d heard great things about Mrs. Meyer’s products, so I was pretty happy to get a chance to try it out. The soap suds nicely and gently cleans your entire body.

Cowgirl Skincare – Desert Recovery Cleanser: This is a fun new brand I hadn’t encountered before! The smell of the face wash is soothing and slightly sweet – maybe rose? It’s perfect for washing away whatever managed to accumulate on your face and doesn’t strip your skin of moisture. It’s meant for dry, aging, or sensitive skin but it’s useful for any type of skin. The container reminds me of elixirs from a Western (or maybe it’s just because their name is Cowgirl :-P). Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, anyone?

Organic India – Tulsi Original, Lemon Ginger, Sweet Rose, & Sleep teas: I enjoyed each one of these Tulsi teas! I’ve never heard of Tulsi before, so I was definitely intrigued by this “holy basil of India” that is incorporated in Ayurvedic practices. It’s apparently popular as an herbal remedy and has both general health and medicinal values.

It didn’t taste much different to me than normal teas, so it’d be easy to substitute them in while still enjoying the taste of tea, yet getting the added (healing) benefits of tulsi. With a name meaning “the incomparable one” how could you not give it a whirl too?

Coola Suncare – Cucumber Mineral Sunscreen for Face: Haha! Funny that just like the first Yuzen box, I happen to already use one of the products included. This is that particular product from this box and I’m more than happy for another! In fact, I happen to have one at Panda’s and one at my parents’ now so I can protect my face wherever “home” is. The cucumber scent is so relaxing and the sunscreen absorbs into the skin well, with no greasy layer to worry about. It’s perfect for your face and hands. Don’t forget to apply it to your neck too, if it’ll be exposed!

Olomomo Nut Co – Chai Bliss Almonds: Oh yum! Talk about wonderfully fragrant and oh so delicious. These almonds are covered in a sweet layer of vanilla and cardamom flavoring that is just delightful. I don’t normally like to eat nuts, but if they all came like this, I could definitely incorporate them into my routine! Plus, who doesn’t want a product made with love? (See ingredient list, hehe.)

Tilvee – Calendula & Comfrey Healing Balm: WOW. Not only do I love the usefulness of this product, it smells wonderful too! I can hardly get enough of it. It’s basically what you’d put on for anything adverse that happens to your skin, whether it be cuts and scrapes, rashes or sunburn, even plain old dry patches! Not long after getting it, I actually got a scratch and I applied it until my skin healed. Worked great, though it’s not meant for eliminating scars. Still, my skin would have scarred horribly had it not been for this healing balm. I’m obsessed and I use it on just about all skin conditions that ail me. Oh, and I absolutely love that it comes in stick form for easy application and ultimate portability!

Yuzen July 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, dried fruit, eco-friendly, energy mists, face scrubs, face towels, food, green, hand towels, health, pictures, products, review, salt, skincare, snacks, tea, yuzen

02 September 2012

Wow, another month is upon us and I think it’s high time I shared what exactly came in that first Yuzen box that I was so thrilled about. I must say, it set the bar high and really got me pumped for what’s to come, month after month. Luckily, they definitely didn’t disappoint with their second one in August and I’m confident that the upcoming September box will impress me yet again. Not only did I get quality products that look good, smell good, and make me feel good, I can feel safe using them knowing that they’ve been vetted for environmental & health factors.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Lotus Wei Energy Mists – Joy Juice, Infinite Love & Quiet Mind: These lovely scents were first to entice my senses. There were three of the six variations, with each meant for encouraging a different kind of energy. Joy Juice is tangy and bright (how do they manage to make a scent smell “bright” right? Yet somehow that’s exactly what it is). I’m guessing that the citrus elements are what make it that way. Infinite Love is sweet and warming with various rose elements. Meanwhile, Quiet mind is fresh and gentle with a certain kind of herb-y fragrance. Each is definitely fittingly named for its purpose. Interestingly enough, I actually prefer to mix the scents rather than use them individually to enhance a certain element.

Kopali Organics – Mulberry: I tried these as soon as I was done taking pictures of all the products in the box (boy, it’s tiring work!). They’re soft and chewy, with a little bit of crispness from the seeds. They kind of reminded me of something I can’t quite place… they’re sweet and tangy with a little bit of an aftertaste/feel. You know that slight itchiness you get in your throat sometimes? Yeah, that’s what happened to me. Overall I liked them, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy them. Definitely a nice little sweet snack to pop in your mouth in lieu of something more sugary like candy.

Primavera – Revitalizing Face Scrub: To start with, this bottle looks and feels great! I love it when it’s pleasing just to pick up an item. Plus, I was really drawn to the interesting cap it has – very unique design that I appreciate. The scrub makes use of jojoba wax beads, whatever that means (they feel wonderful). The beads are a nice tiny size and very smooth; I don’t feel like my skin is being sanded away.

Teatulia – Lemongrass & White Tea: I am a huge tea fan, so I definitely appreciated getting to try a new brand that’s so ec0-friendly to boot! I LOVE the fact that the bag and pyramid pouch that the tea come in are compostable, which means I can bury everything the tea came in. The lemongrass flavor was just fragrant enough without being too grassy and the white tea flavor was a nice tea that you could brew a little darker or lighter to preference. Both went down smooth and were well-put together. Plus, the silky pyramid bags are totally fun. Also good that they don’t use those bleached strings, which I hear leave a LOT of waste in landfills (more than you’d ever imagine a little bit of string could cause).

PeopleTowels – Bee Sweet: Ah this is SO adorable!! I love it, and as you can see in the top right of the collage, I actually have two of these already from my days with Opportunity Green. There are so many places you can keep a little hand/face towel handy though, so I could always use an extra. Plus with this cute messaging, it brings a smile to my face every time.

HimalaSalt – Fine Grain Shaker: I’m a sucker for things that come in mini and I this falls under that category! I really enjoy the smaller size salt shaker and for the longest time I didn’t want to open it and ruin it. When it came time, I used a chopstick to poke it in and tasted it raw… I’d call it “earthy” (in addition to salty of course). Compared to idoized salt, this is more pure and you can taste the grounded element in it.

And finally, if you’re interested in reading the message from Ted & Jen and the info they included about each product, click on this image and zoom in.

Hollywood sunset

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: beauty, los angeles, nature, pictures, sunset, view

06 August 2012

view of sunset from griffith observatory with hollywood sign just visible on the right

From Griffith Observatory, you get a great view of sunset. On the right you can just make out the Hollywood sign.

Cotton candy clouds

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: beauty, nature, observation, pictures

10 February 2012

Sometimes I come outside at just he right time of dusk and witness this brilliant display of color. It happened to me today when I left work and in this picture, when I was coming out of Target this weekend. If you don’t get the shot right away, it’ll be gone in 20 seconds!

A feast for your skin

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: beauty, pictures, products, skincare

21 January 2012

Right before the holidays, I suddenly found myself in possession of a lot of skincare items! I am excited to try all of them out and see what works for me.

first burt's bees goodie bag i got, with shea butter hand repair cream, pomegranate line-smoothing eye cream, burt's bees wallet, res-q ointment, peony lip shimmer, face towel, lemon butter cuticle cream, pink blossom tinted lip balm, watermelon lip shimmer, beeswax lip balm, aloe body lotion, royal jelly eye creme, and royal jelly day creme

I ordered a grab bag from Burt's Bees, which was supposed to include 14 random items. When I received this and found it wasn't quite complete, I emailed them to complain.

second burt's bees goodie bag i got, with shea butter body lotion, weather-proofing lip balm, sweet pink lip shine, burt's bees wallet, res-q ointment, caramel lip shimmer, face towel, lemon butter cuticle cream, pink blossom tinted lip balm, watermelon lip shimmer, baby bee dusting powder, milk & honey body lotion, and royal jelly day creme

I didn't hear back for a long time, but suddenly got an email saying my items were re-shipping for free! So I got another bag, with some repeat items, but also many new ones. 🙂

bare minerals items ordered from sephora, including deep cleansing foam, purely nourishing moisturizer, mineral veil, face brush, blemish therapy, and blemish brush

I also treated myself to a kit of skincare products from Bare Minerals.

Pamper Me Fabulous at Terranea

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: beauty, events, experiences, nature, pictures, sunset

02 December 2011

terranea rentals overlook the ocean and an island in the distance

A beautiful view from the small golf course at Terranea Resort.

pamper me fabulous event inside terranea resort ballroom

There were lots of vendors at the Bazaar portion of Pamper Me Fabulous. The power even went out twice!

beautiful cliffside view at terranea resort

For lunch, I took a break and strolled along the gorgeous coast.

enjoying a stroll along the cliffside at terranea resort

I was basking in the beautiful day at a fantastic location.

backside of main building of terranea resort

The lawn area was used for fitness courses, while everything else was inside that building.

cottages for rent at terranea resort overlooking ocean

This will be a future vacation spot!

seagull sitting on concrete post in ocean

The seagull had quite a nice perch, watching things like that sailboat out in the distance.

waves crash along coast line at terranea resort trail

A wonderful trail brings us down to water level to enjoy the waves.

Hmm, I wonder what kind of berry that is? Reminds me of yumberries.

Terranea Resort offers a lot of natural beauty, like this sunset over the ocean!

Visions of a sunset

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: beauty, nature, pictures, sunset

05 October 2011

So the window may be dirty or the shot may be dirty, but something about these colors still evokes an awe of the beauty of a sunset.

view of sunset from plane, through a dirty window

Fame

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: beauty, behavior, experiences, future, opinion

27 March 2011

Practically speaking, I’ve never wanted to be famous. Not in the Hollywood starlet kind of way anyway. Of course I’ve fantasized about it from time to time, but when it comes down to it, it’s just not something I’m interested in. I don’t want paparazzi following me around taking pictures/videos of of me whenever I try to go about my daily business. I don’t want to have to have body guards or publicists. And I certainly don’t want to feel like I need to “look good” every time I step out of the house. It’s just too much upkeep!

I’m mostly talking about the kind of celebrities who get their fame from being in entertainment. They’re the ones surrounded by glitz and glamor (and always having to keep up with the demands of that lifestyle). People judge them on their looks and follow their every move. They are judged on every aspect of their lives, from their relationships to their physiques to their actions. It feel like almost every instant, eyes are on them, watching, recording, judging.

Why is it that we obsess over these people? Who cares if they went grocery shopping, played with their kids, or went for a run? It’s insane and I’m glad I’m not a part of it. With this sort of attention comes the constant pressure to look presentable whenever you leave your house, never argue with people, and basically be a vision of perfection. Every single day. Why the general population seems to expect that celebrities must be wonderful all the time baffles me. We’re all human and we can’t get things right all the time.

The famous lifestyle is a sort of lifestyle that just doesn’t work for me. I am perfectly happy to dress down and be comfy when I’m out and about. I wear light makeup about twice a year and I can’t imagine going through a whole routine every morning. I work out whenever I get around to it and I don’t really notice my fluctuation in weight. I don’t care about brand names and can’t recall the maker for any given item I own. I lose my temper, I get annoyed with people, and I argue when things really strike a chord with me. Sometimes I sleep in and get to things late. I spill liquids, stain my clothes, and get crumbs everywhere. Back in college there were times when I didn’t make it to class.

If I was famous, I’d get judged for every single one of those “mishaps,” which to me are really the normal course of life. I’d much rather be known by name and not by face, for that kind of fame usually comes with a more meaningful contribution to society (not that performers can’t have meaningful contributions). Contributions to literature, science, academia, business… these are the types of things you get recognized for in a paper or on a building, not on TV. And that’s the kind of thing I want to be known for some day.