Lushie 4 Lyfe: Lush's BB Seaweed Face Mask, D'Fluff Shaving Soap, and You Snap The Whip Body Butter

It is no secret that I love Lush products. So when I had five empty black pots, I headed straight over there to get some more that I could use up and turn in for another free face mask.

I ended up getting BB Seaweed at the recommendation of the Lushy girls (who are always amazing). It's made with seaweed, honey, rose, and aloe vera so it's not only soothing and moisturizing but it smells amazing. This mask didn't leave me feeling dried out like some others do, but left my face feeling really soft and silky. I was really really pleased and I can't wait to continue using it. Plus the joy of hearing WHY IS THERE SEAWEED CRAP IN MY FRIDGE from my father is totally worth it.

Second pick is D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap. First off, this shit smells so good you want to eat it. I'm serious. My boyfriend kept smelling my legs like a freak. Plus, I have never been left so silky smooth after a shave. No razor burn, no missed spots, only clean and smooth and strawberry-scented skin. Loving it that I may as well go back and buy a huge pot of it now because I'm never gonna use another shaving cream ever again.

I love me a body butter, so I went with You Snap The Whip this time instead of King of Skin. It's got charcoal in it, which is the new thing for beauty products - charcoal soaks up impurities, so its great for a deep clean. Plus, this little beauty has exfoliating stuff in it too, so you're cleaned, scrubbed, and moisturized all in one. And let me tell you, I am about that life. That's the goal right there.

All in all, it was a successful mini-Lush haul. No regrets here.

Foam Party: Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel Sensation

I acquired this in possibly the best way possible: for free, on the street.

The Rituals girls were just....gifting them. It was amazing. I was on the way back to the office from lunch and they were there on the corner giving away free shower gel. Bless Soho, man. They were also running some instagram contest at the same time, so I guess this was a promotion. But it worked, because it did get me interested in the brand and wanting to go back for more. So good job, Soho Rituals store.

Most importantly, this shower gel is the coolest. It's not your average Dove or whatever. I think most people don't really think about their shower soap even though they should. So you just slather it on, rinse it off, and be done with it. But cleansing the rest of your skin is just as important as cleansing your face, and especially for me and my dry skin, it's important to take care of my whole body.

Ritual's Zensation sets itself apart because it foams. And it's so boss.

It starts as a gel and as soon as it hits water, it foams up and gets all creamy bubbly. This is great for two reasons: one, because it makes me feel like a kid again. Two, because a little bit really goes a long way, and you can use a dime sized amount to cover your whole body. Zensation smells clean and fresh (it doesn't have a really distinct scent so it isnt overwhelming and won't conflict with all your other smelly products) and  does leave me feeling clean and silky.

But honestly, it's just fun to play with foamy bubbles in the shower. I am all about that.

Confessions of an Arbonne Consultant

I went to my first Arbonne party a few months ago when my friend Julie announced that she had become a consultant. And I was a bit skeptical - from what I'd seen, it seemed geared towards old ladies who wanted anti-aging crap. And I'm 26, I'm not quite there yet. 

I was pleasantly surprised. 

The party started with Julie's sponsor introducing the business, and then we got to try some products. I was shocked at the range of products that Arbonne offers - I had no idea that in addition to skincare, they also offer makeup, diet supplements, and products for men. And it isn't overwhelmingly geared towards the anti-aging crowd. There are a lot of great products, and honestly I feel much better about my money going to support my friend than to some Corporate Conglomerate. 

The RE-9 system (pictured above) is basically their starter skincare regime kit - it's cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and a night cream. It's a lot of shit but I mean, most people use at least half of those products anyway, and I like the idea of having a system with similar ingredients so they all work together in harmony. The formulas are smooth and creamy, they don't smell like anything in particular which is great, and your face really does feel great when you take care of it properly. 

I also ended up buying  the Nurturing Day Lotion moisturizer from their FC5 line because it had 20 SPF, which I've been happy with so far. I went with the Sparkling Citrus Sugar Scrub because I am a sucker for sugar scrub, and its fucking great. It's oily so it leaves your skin super duper soft and smelling nice and fresh and lemony and I dig it and use it all the time.

But don't take it from me, take it from Julie, my Arbonne Consultant:

What got you interested in being an Arbonne consultant? 
When I met my sponsor I was 9 months pregnant & definitely looking for something more in my career. I've worked side-jobs before, and Arbonne offered an extra stream of income on my own schedule. Her success inspired me that this could be a full-time job & business, not just a fun hobby.  She was able to quit her teaching job, which I would love to be able to do and work from home with my daughter.  The brand is amazing, and I was already spending money on personal care products- as a consultant I would receive a 35% discount + turn an expense into a profit.

What do you think sets Arbonne apart from other beauty brands?
Our stand-out quality is our motto: "Pure, Safe, and Beneficial". Arbonne products are natural and botanically based, not filled with the toxic and petroleum ingredients found in most other beauty brands. Our nutrition line is vegan & gluten-free, nothing is tested on animals- these are all things people are looking for today.
We also offer more than just beauty products, we have a market for everyone- men, babies, health & wellness, you name it!

What is the benefit of hosting an Arbonne party and buying through a consultant? 
Party hosts receive wonderful rewards such as the option of being "consultant for a night" and getting our 35% discount on their purchase. We also offer hosts package options that will give them $100+ worth of free products.  There is the added perk of having a fun night with friends & being able to try our products for free!...Buying from a consultant gives you the benefit of becoming a preferred client (20% discount), and being first to know about any special sales your consultant is offering.  You get to buy products you're already using from family & friends instead of giving your money to faceless corporations.

What are your favorite Arbonne products?
I LOVE our Intelligence CC cream- it has built-in primer, moisturizer, and color correction; provides lightweight coverage for everyday wear, and gives you a dewy "glow"
I'm a huge advocate of our ABC baby line; it cleared up my daughters dry patches in days, after months of using Aveeno & Burt's Bees to no avail.
Our FC5 facial scrub gives you a nice exfoliating cleanse.
I enjoy our pomegranate fizz sticks added to water for a natural boost of energy to replace daily coffees.

What products would you most recommend to people who have never tried Arbonne before?
 Our most popular line is our RE9 anti aging skincare.  Cleanser, toner, day/night cream, lift gel, eye creme- it offers something for every facial need, and makes your skin look & feel beautiful!  The cellular renewal masque gives an amazing glow & tingle the following morning
Our makeup primer is a best seller- feels like silk on your skin to prep it for flawless makeup.
Our FC5 daily shampoo/conditioner doesn't lather & strip hair; and Pure Vibrance line nourishes color-treated hair.


Use consultant ID 21331334 to order through Julie and try Arbonne for yourself!

A Rose By Any Other Name: Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer

It takes a lot for me to want to break up with my favourite moisturizer. I really love Fresh's Soy Moisturizer - it works for my dry skin and has SPF. But it's fuckin pricey, dude. And it's seriously hard to find. Sephora doesn't seem to be carrying it anymore, so when the Fresh store by my office closed down and I ran out of supply, I was forced to go hunting for a new moisturizer. 

Enter: Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream . Swoon. 

Because of my amazeballs nighttime moisturizer (see this post), I really don't have to use a moisturizer every morning (I know, I know, I should be putting SPF on my face everyday. Death is coming. Whatever.). Korres offering is the perfect balance - where Origin's Night-A-Mins is thick and creamy, Korres is light and airy - like putting silk on my face. It's so soft and smooth you barely feel a thing, yet it's keeping me well moisturized and balanced. Plus, it smells like roses. 

It's a little less expensive than my usual too, so this might be a repurchase. If it had SPF, that would be even better, but I live a vampire life anyway so not a huge loss.