A Perfume Organic - Review

I used to love perfume when I was younger. It started when I was in grade school with Love's Baby Soft a sweet powdery scent that I spritzed myself with daily. Then it was the ever popular "Body Splash" from various stores. In high school I tried everything from tropical coconut and pineapple scents to my ever staple vanilla. I love vanilla. I love everything from the sweet cupcake vanilla, to the deep earthy vanilla. And as I've gotten older the latter is my preference. 

I had a not-so-clean scent from a certain big box beauty store that I loved until the past few years. It was warm and sexy, I loved everything about it except that it made me sneeze. Now I'm not talking a tiny little "achoo". I'm talking a full blown multi-sneeze attack. Yes, attack. I would be gasping for breath and running for the nearest sink and soap to get the scent off my skin. Not exactly what I wanted out of my daily perfume experience. When I apply perfume I'd like it to be a pleasant thing.

So I got a lovely little sample of A Perfume Organic's  Mejica. I could have bathed in that sample.I finally bought it this winter as a Christmas present to myself and I'm so glad I did. I adore the smell of it. It just makes me happy. Mejica is described on the website as a "blend of three vanillas, rare resins and spices". It is a warm spicy heaven.

Now I'm not the best at describing scents as I'm just delving deeper into that realm but, I'll give it a whirl. On first application Mejica is very bold and spicy. It's a familiar spice and always reminds me of my beloved chai tea. I can pick out a few of them like clove, nutmeg and cinnamon. Then as it wears the warm sweetness of the vanilla comes in mixing with the spiciness. The finish (dry-down?, someone correct me if I'm wrong) is vanilla and something musky. But not a heady musk just soft. I find Mejica wears close to the body which I like. I've never been a loud perfume person. I really only want just me and Mr. Bunny to smell it. Well, and the occasional person I think would appreciate it. 

 

So if you like perfume I would surely check out A Perfume Organic. Amanda Walker is an amazingly talented Perfumer and is sure to have something for everyone. On my list for summer is to try Urban Organic.   

Mejica runs $65 USD and can be purchased at these retailers.

My Favorite Face

I have to tell you, I have two faces. Now don't worry I'm not a circus act.

Let me explain.
At work I sell a different makeup line that what I tend to use on my days off. My day off face just wants to be relaxed and pretty but not trying too hard. My work face has to last through 8 hours of indoor heating, mag lamps and steam. It's got to have staying power. But more on my "work face" in another post. This is about my twice a week favorite face. The products I tend to use on my day off help me achieve that "no makeup" look while still looking put together. These products together make me feel glowing and awake but not over done.

L to R top : Jane Iredale Clarity In-Touch Blusher,
rms beauty living luminizer and "un" cover-up in 11 ,
vapour organic beauty Stratus #902, Atmosphere Luminous Foundation in 115 and
Aura Multi-Use in Spark
Bottom three: vapour organic beauty mesmerize in flash, Modern Minerals in Uma and
Josie Maran GOGO mascara

Swatches!!

Top to bottom: vapour organic beauty Stratus #902, Atmosphere Luminous Foundation in 115, 

  rms beauty living luminizer and "un" cover-up in 11, Jane Iredale Clarity In-Touch Blusher, 

vapour organic beauty Aura Multi-Use in Spark,

vapour organic beauty mesmerize in flash, Modern Minerals in Uma

All products purchased by me. Products purchased at Spirit Beauty Lounge

and at Vapour Beauty

100% Pure Sunscreen

This right here is a non-negotiable for me. I will not leave my house without some form of sun protection on my skin. The 100%Pure Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydration SPF 20 is an absolute favorite of mine. Being an Esthetician allows me to try a myriad of sunscreen but this is my Holy Grail.

What I look for in my sun protection is something that is both a moisturizer and sunscreen (who can be bothered with two steps?!). It also must be a full spectrum coverage (UVA/UVB) and preferably with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. That being said this product checks all the boxes for me. It's a light to medium weight moisturizer with full spectrum UVA/UVB coverage from 15%Titanium Dioxide and 10% Zinc Oxide.It's light enough that in the summer it's my only product in the morning but now in the dead of the mid-west winter I can apply a moisturizer under it and feel hydrated all day. Protected and moisturized, it's a win all around . I don't get wrinkles from dryness and hopefully won't get hyperpigmentation (sunspots) from UV exposure. Everything a girl could ask for right?



This product is available from the 100% pure website for $26 USD

Active Ingredients: 15% Titanium Dioxide
10% Zinc Oxide
Inactive Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Juice)1, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Beeswax, Extracts of Organic Camelia Sinensis Leaf (White Tea) 2, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary), Origanum Vulgar Leaf (Oregano),Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf (Thyme), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) and Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark (Cinnamon)

RMS Beauty

One of the first things I purchased when I got into trying to find the most amazing natural makeup and skincare was the rms beauty "un" cover-up*. This is a product I love and adore. It feels like you are doing something nice for your skin every time you put it on.

The color I ordered was "11". At first I wasn't sure that it would be quite pale enough. I'm very fair but with a bit of a warm or yellow undertone. I find most products designed for pale skin are far too pink to look natural on me. I was pleasantly surprised when my order from SpiritBeautyLounge.com came and the color seemed perfect!

The consistency is thick, not unlike a concealer but blends seamlessly with the texture of my skin. At first I used it sparingly like a concealer hiding under-eye circles, covering up odd blemishes and redness. Now I use it often as a both a concealer and foundation. Applying a thin layer to areas where I need only minimal coverage (cheeks and forehead) and building up the coverage where I need it ( dark circles, redness).

This in my opinion would be best for people with normal to dry skin. Oilier people may find it a bit too cloying on the skin. The coverage is light to medium depending on how you apply.

Below are some photos of the product. Now I have used this most recent one for several months so forgive its state but I tried to make it as presentable as possible.

Beautiful packaging. Nice sturdy glass container.

Clearly a well loved product
Swatch of product



You can find rms beauty at rmsbeauty.com and at spiritbeautylounge.com
The "un" cover-up runs $36 USD

*product was purchased with my own funds.