Pretty by Nature » Botanical Products

Lip Balm Bonanza

Noel Boehm — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:56:09 +0000

In response to a recent request to give a little “best of” lip balm, lipstick edition. I sort of touched on the topic a while ago but I now have more to add to the list and thought we could just get it all out at once. Then maybe I will stop talking about it? Haha never. I won’t stop until lip balm rules the world.

Best lip balm in tube or stick form- We have a two way tie here. It goes to Dr. Hauschka’s Lip Care Stick and BeeCeuticals Beeyond Lip balm in regular. BeeCeuticals is a great wear anytime, go anywhere basic Chapstick replacement. It goes on so smooth and leaves your lips feeling incredibly moisturized for hours. Great for kids, teenagers etc. The Dr. Hauschka is a bit more expensive but it’s every bit worth it. Silky, not waxy and leaves a nice sheen on your lips.

Best lip stain- That would be hands down Suki color cream lip/cheek stain. It is the best stain I had ever tried, no matter the ingredients. The fact that it’s natural is just an added benefit. It’s so natural looking and absolutely non drying. It’s creamy and smooth and lasts for days. Okay not days but for a long time man. Most lip stains leave my lips dry and having to continually apply something over it to keep them moist. No need with this; it’s perfection.

Best restorative overnight lip balm- Lush’s Lip Service is just absolutely my savior. I tried this over the winter when I had a nasty cold that wouldn’t quit. After having to breath through my mouth for a few days my lips were wrecked. I applied this before I went to bed and my lips were as soft as butter, a baby’s butt or whatever tired saying you want to use.

That’s my current list in a nutshell, some oldies and some new things. I’m sure I will be adding to it and you guys will be the first to know. I need another hobby.

Via LUSH.com

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PlantLove: Celebrity Edition

Noel Boehm — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:39:36 +0000

Just in time for Earth Day, Cargo has some great new shades in their PlantLove collection. Their botanical lipsticks are packaged in a paper box that actually contains flower seeds that can be planted into the ground. Each of the shades in the collection was designed by, and I quote, “Your favorite celebrities.” Not my favorites. Do I want to wear a lipstick designed by Lindsay Lohan? Silly celeb obsessed nonsense aside, the colors are really nice. I could see myself in Sam by Denise Richards. I feel a little dirty now.

Photo via Sephora

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See Ya Later Alligator

Noel Boehm — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:49:20 +0000

I’m sick…again. This must be the Universe’s payback for being an insanely healthy child. My nose has been alternately running like a faucet or clogged like the kitchen sink after my husband does the dishes. Anyway my point is that my nose is all sore and more sensitive than normal, if that’s possible. Thank the heavens that I happen to have A’Kin’s Unscented-24 Hour Pure Moisture cream. It’s paraben and sulfate free and from and to my knowledge only available in Australia and the UK. I got it at Bare Naked Beauty but I don’t see that it’s available right now. It says it’s for “sensitive, allergy prone, fragile skin”. Um, do they know me? It’s really light but it does moisturize. I’ve been just dabbing it on every few hours. Things are looking up. At least today I’m able to sit upright without feeling like I’m going to pass out.

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Spots Be Gone

Noel Boehm — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:27:29 +0000

The adult acne I suffer from is quite different from the acne I suffered from as a teenager. I was able to use products with much harsher topical ingredients back when I was a daisy of a girl. Now if I use something that is too strong or has a bunch of baddies in it, my face feels like it’s on fire. It then in turn makes my problem worse because then my irritated skin breaks out. It’s a vicious circle. It’s also not a constant now. My breakouts seem to wax and wane depending upon my stress level. Funnily enough alcohol and Xanax do nothing to help my breakouts. Kidding. Please no one contact me about my alcohol and prescription drug problem. I mean I do have one, just don’t contact me about it.

I told you before about Boscia’s Willow Bark treatment stick, but I have a new crush. I’ve moved on to Korres Cinnamon and Thyme gel. We were a better fit; no hard feelings Boscia. It’s not me, it’s you. It’s paraben, silicone and mineral oil free. I’m all about the Korres. My problem is that I have an oily, like ridiculously oily t-zone and then seriously dry patches. So usually if it works for my t-zone, I then get the too dry and snake like, skin-shedding around my nose and cheeks. I must have done something really nasty in my past life. Anyway this gel sorta puts everything in balance. It just works and I don’t know how. I’ve been using it in tandem with my BeeCeuticals facial cleanser. I’m impressed. I will hold out and touch bases with you when I get to the week before my umm…woman time. That’s the real test. I’m a little self-conscious about the fact that it’s from the Korres Young Skincare Line but whatever. Better that than the old, leathery, saggy ass skincare line.

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Bare Naked Beauty

Noel Boehm — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:32:23 +0000

As I’ve said before, I get territorial about my new finds. I will selectively withhold information from people who I deem unworthy. No use throwing my pearls to the swine. In this case I have decided that my find was just too fantastic to keep to myself. In all of my benevolence I have decided to share it with you today. You should feel honored.

A few weeks ago while on a hunt for new products, I stumbled across the website for Bare Naked Beauty. They are an Australian company that practices what they preach. Proceeds from your purchases go to the development of renewable wind energy in Australia and to an orangutan adoption program. Yes, orangutans. I was blown away by pages of delicious Natural and Organic products that I had never even heard of before. I was giddy and my head was spinning. Two glasses of wine and a warning from El Jefe later, I had filled up my little cart. Well, and then removed a bunch of items. Okay…then put it back when he wasn’t looking. I finally narrowed it down to MyUtopia’s Rejuvenating Cleansing Oil and Est’s Vanilla Orange Velvet Lip Balm. Seriously, I’m not putting you on here when I say, my skin has never felt so soft. I have sensitive combination skin so it’s not like I can use just anything. This cleansing oil felt like I was pouring silk over my face and it had only the faintest fragrance. I could not stop touching my face, I know a big no-no. My skin was soft and moist but not oily and it lasted all day long. I want to marry this cleansing oil and have like ten thousand of its babies.

You know how I am about my lip balms so for me to say it’s good means a lot. It sincerely feels like velvet gliding over your lips and it makes me want to go steal some Girl Scout cookies. Picture me as Ann Margaret in “Tommy” only replace the baked beans with a vat of this lip balm. The product info says that it’s “highly lickable”…um yeah, that’s an understatement. I just want to take a spoon and eat it out of the cute little glass jar. As for the customer service can I just say *in my best valley girl voice* like oh my gawd, like they totally like rock like you know. I was expecting shipping from Australia to be ridiculous and really, it would have been worth it. But it was only $13 and some change, and it got here in about a week. I giggled with glee as I opened the box to find a bevy of samples and a hand written note in addition to my purchases. I will have to tell you later about the moisturizer sample I got..LOVING IT. By the way, the orangutang’s name is Bella. I big squishy heart them.

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Space.NK: Apothecary

Noel Boehm — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:26:42 +0000

I have been hearing so much buzz that last couple of weeks about this store, I finally decided to check out their website. They just opened their flagship store in Manhattan last year but they have been all over the United Kingdom since 1993. Just based on their online offerings I can’t wait until more brick and mortars pop up.

Susan Posnick’s Colorme looks too cool. It looks like a great on-the-run mineral makeup solution. I MUST have it. Space.NK’s own Relaxing Bath Oil is definitely on my list as well. Has anyone actually been there? Tell me about your experience please.

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Snakes on a Plane

Noel Boehm — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:03:03 +0000

It may just be my personality, but I hate it when something becomes so trendy that everyone has it. If I happen to discover something that I love, I get annoyed when the word spreads. Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t be telling you about this then. Okay, I will tell you but then I will have to kill you. Read on at your own discretion.

Alba products are pretty widely available these days. That’s reason enough for me to be leery but I tried their Very Emollient Body Lotion anyway the other day and they don’t lie. It is seriously emollient but what got me was that it was light at the same time. Like, how did they do that? It sticks to my skin and leaves it sheeny but not greasy. It made my feet so soft. The original scent is mild and pleasant but is so subtle it won’t compete with your fragrance. I’m infatuated with this stinking lotion. To steal my husband’s newest saying for something that just is what it is, “snakes on a plane”. Basic, reliable, good for what ails ya lotion.

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Spa Day Anyone?

Noel Boehm — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:58:38 +0000

Next month I am going to NYC to get into lots of trouble with my girls as a belated birthday present. We are going to eat, shop and completely indulge. In my attempt to “party like it’s 1999″, I will probably end up just drinking too much and fall asleep at 9:30. Sidebar: Have you ever tried Stoli Vanil and ginger ale? It tastes like a cream soda, making it way too easy to have a second…or a third. So as a preventative measure I am booking an appointment at the Spa and Wellness Center in Brooklyn. They tout themselves as the first Green Spa in New York. I plan on getting the Wellness Massage with Guided Visualization. I am v. excited about it,*Jumping up and down and squealing*. I need a full body massage like nobody’s business, so they better deliver. By the time I get there I will probably also need some serious detox. I will fill you all in on how it goes. Has anyone been there before? Rants, raves?

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Pass the Dutchie

Noel Boehm — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:54:47 +0000

There’s kind of a stigma that comes with saying that you try to live in an earth friendly manner. To a certain segment of the population, all that means is that you don’t eat meat or wash your hair, wear lots of tie-dye and eat tofu. While I do actually like tofu and was a vegetarian for several years, that’s as close as I come to that model. For this reason I am sort of leery of products that list a lot of essential oils and flowery type ingredients. It’s a little too obvious and often they have a certain aroma. I don’t want to walk around smelling like an Art History major from Berkley on my way to a DMB concert with my bros.

So my mother was heralding her most recent QVC find, Wen by Chaz Dean, and I was cautiously curious. It was the whole repulsion/attraction reflex. Hmm… looks kinda crunchy but also like a really good idea. The cleansing conditioner is sodium laurel/laureth sulfate free and chock fulla botanical ingredients. It won’t lather when you use it so you might think something’s not working right but that’s a good thing. The sulfates and detergent in most shampoos and conditioners strip your hair of natural oils and actually are harming your hair. I need all the moisture I can get so I thought it couldn’t hurt. Honestly, it does smell a little hempy, I can’t lie. I used the Almond Mint. I felt self-conscious at first but the smell does dissipate quickly. Surpirisingly it made my hair so incredibly soft and gave it a luster that I find hard to achieve during winter; I just couldn’t turn my nose up at it. I also used it on my son and it turned his frizzy mop into soft, individual ringlets. The packaging is pretty upscale so that appeals to my shallow side. I think I may now be a convert. I have to go buy a hackey sack now, crap.

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Break-Out Protection To Go

Noel Boehm — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:06:11 +0000

Boscia’s Willow Bark breakout treatment has been a life saver this week. I breakout at the drop of a dime. Stress, here come the blackheads. Not enough sleep, I look like I’m 13. So I made sure to pack it this week for our Christmas adventures. Oh and to follow up on our conversation from the other day, 13 hours in a car is worse than 4 hours on a plane. But not by much. Like by one ten thousandth of a point. If I hadn’t brought my handy dandy Willow Bark to go stick, I would be looking a lot worse today. I look bad, but not as bad as I would have. I use it as a preventative measure. I use it before bed when I have had a particuraly hard day. Oh so let me see, airplane travel during the Holidays while on my period (I know TMI) sounds stressful. While the bags under my eyes are so big you could smuggle a honey-baked ham, there have been non eruptions. Hooray for small miracles that come in lovely little tubes made especially for transport.

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