Beauty Resolution #1 for 2017: Out with the Old before In with the New

Disclaimer: I purchased these.

I took some time over the holiday break to mull over what resolutions I want to make for 2017 when it comes to beauty and wellness, and the first one is: out with the old before in with the new. I doubt I'm alone in coming to the realization that I've got a butt load of beauty products. While there are still plenty of product haul posts and videos to be found in the blogosphere, there are an equal amount of "project pan", decluttering, and no-buy/low-buy posts and videos out there as well.

So, my goal is to finish up the products I have if I like them or chuck them if I don't before I buy anything new in the same product category. Some how, some way I need to slow down the cycle of rampant consumerism when it comes to purchasing makeup/skincare items. I also want to truly enjoy the items that I have instead of buying the next best thing. Cause there will always be a next best thing.

To that end, I'm combining an old product that has languished for far too long (Farmaesthetics Sweet Milk and Chamomile Facial Exfoliate) with a new product that is not quite right (on it's own) for my skin type - the Honey & Rosehip Organic Facial Cleanser from Bubble & Bee. I bought a sampler pack ($14.99) of Bubble & Bee's 3 facial cleansers during their big annual sale, and this one is targeted towards dry or sensitive skin.

A look at the ingredient list (below) lets me know that there are a lot of oils in the mix, and I did not feel like this worked for me as a second cleanser, which is how I wanted to use it. It did not rinse clean and I could feel the oils left on my skin, which means it really wouldn't work for me as a first cleanser either. Now, if you have really dry skin, this could be perfect for you. Mine is on the oily side however, so it wasn't a great fit and to be fair Bubble & Bee has this disclaimer under the description of the cleanser: This product also is highly moisturizing and contains primarily honey and oil. If you have anything but very dry skin,please order one of our other cleansers.  We always recommend ordering our sample pack first to see which cleanser best fits your particular skin type.  So I knew prior to purchasing the sampler set that this one was probably not for me, but I really like the ingredient list. You can even see the honey as the ingredients separate when the bottle sits for a while.

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, rosemary extract, organic aloe vera.

Sometimes combining an extremely moisturizing cleanser with an exfoliate is a marriage made in heaven, so I pulled out my neglected Farmaesthetics Sweet Milk and Chamomile Exfoliate to mix with the cleanser. And ya'll, I really like it. I do think it's a concoction best used prior to taking a shower, as there were remnants of cornmeal and milk in my hair afterwards, but I had nowhere to go, so whatever. This is me with major bedhead but nevertheless luxuriating in the prospect of 12 whole days off in front of me. 

The Sweet Milk and Chamomile Flower Facial Exfoliate ($28) is one of four different varieties offered by Farmaesthetics, and every time I look at the ingredients ( dried powdered milk*, fine yellow cornmeal & finely ground chamomile flowers*  (* indicates certified organic ingredients)) I think "I could make this". I could be delusional, but I definitely think you are paying more for the esthetic of the brand as opposed to the ingredients with this particular product. Mine is way past it's 2 year shelf life (original review here), but still appears to be fine. I do want to use both of these up though, and now I have a combo I like!

Bubble & Bee Body Butters

Disclaimer: I purchased these.

It's that time of year where I break out my heavy hitter body moisturizers, as falling temps and dryer air take a toll on my skin. Bubble & Bee recently held their Friends & Family sale, which I used as an excuse to replenish my stock of their organic body butters as well as pick up a Christmas gift or two for family, all at 30% off their regular $24.95 price.

If you are unfamiliar with Bubble & Bee Organic, it's a company based in Utah that makes natural and organic deodorants, body butters, soaps, lip balms, facial toners and cleansers, and well, lots more. I'm partial to their deodorants and body butters, although I did branch out and buy a few other products this go around, which I'll talk more about in another post.

I purchased the unscented version as a gift for Scrooge an aunt , but she has now decided we don't need to give gifts to each other this Christmas, so it will be staying with me. When I'm attending meetings at the hospitals I try to not wear scented products, plus on days I want to customize scent I think adding a few drops of my Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils to this will work quite well.

The Almond & Coconut is a gift for my mother, as I know she enjoys both of those scent notes. I have not smelled this particular scent yet, and I'm interested in how the cinnamon essential oil fits in.

For myself I chose the Peppermint & Vanilla and the Sugar & Spice scents. I finished my first tub of Sugar & Spice last year and it's the perfect scent for fall and winter. It's a seasonal scent that is not available year round, but I've truly not found a more realistic spice scent than this one - which makes sense seeing it does contain actual spices (cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger and brown sugar). The shelf life on these is listed as 10 months after opening, but I had one open for three years that did not go bad.

Peppermint & Vanilla sounded perfect for this time of year as well, and it smells minty and warm at the same time. Is that possible? The mint is the more dominant scent, yet there is an underlying richness that comes from the vanilla and gives it a bit more complexity.  I do find that the scent on this one fades after a few hours, whereas the Sugar & Spice fragrance lasts all day.

The texture is whipped yet dense, and since these are composed of various oils plus shea butter, will melt when exposed to high temperatures. I opted for the cold pack shipping feature as temps here in Mobile were still in the 80's when I ordered, and everything arrived in good order.  I find these are heavier than most other body butters, but they do melt/absorb nicely into the skin and their concentration is what makes them such heavy hitters when it comes to winter dry skin.  Their density is also because they are not water based, so a little goes a long way.

The label around the containers peels off, and on the inside was some info about nourishing your skin from within with their FlaxPro Flax seeds ($14.99). Since I did order a container, I thought I would show you that as well. I liked the idea of being able to eat these without having to grind, and they do have a nice nutty taste. I've added them to my smoothies and think they will make a nice salad topper as well.

Bubble & Bee Organic has periodic sales that you can be notified about if you sign up at their site. I've also got a 20% off code that was sent in my box "share20", so I'm passing it along to you (it is not an affiliate code and I get no benefit).  Sample sizes of many of the products are available, which is how I tried out their many deodorants before happening upon my favorite (Vanilla Orange).  The Vanilla Orange body butter is fantastic as well, but I've still got half a tub of that one ☺☺☺☺.  Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating!

Orange Vanilla Body Butter and Pit Putty Cream by Bubble & Bee

I've been a fan of Bubble & Bee's products for several years now, in particularly their body butters and their natural deodorant Pit Putty Creams. A recent scent offering in Orange Vanilla had me pairing both for a deliciously scrumptious scent that reminds me a bit of orangesicle cake. Yum.

Orangesicle Bundt Cake, source Simple Nourished Living

I noticed that this version of Bubble & Bee's 100% organic body butter had undergone a slight formula change from one I bought a couple of years back in the Sugar & Spice scent (review here), in that macadamia and olive oils are no longer in the mix.  I think that helped cut down on the greasy after feel I experienced with Sugar & Spice, although I love that scent to death. It's a go to cold weather body butter for me, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Orange Vanilla is still a dense body butter with exceptional skin conditioning ingredients, namely organic shea butter, organic coconut oil with retained coconut meat, organic jojoba oil, organic sunflower oil, organic vanilla extract, and organic sweet orange essential oil.  If the zombie apocalypse does come, I'm pretty sure I could eat these and be okay.

I know some people don't like having to apply cream deodorants with their fingers, but it's not a big deal to me.  I've had good success with the Bubble & Bee Pit Putty Creams in a variety of scents (you can previous reviews here and here), and Orange Vanilla's formula did not let me down.  I live in a semi-tropical, hot and humid climate and I find that I can get through an average day just fine with these. Do they keep me scentless when I'm mowing the grass in 90+ degree weather?  No.  Nor do these take me through say, 18 hours of wear. These natural deodorants do have their limits, but I like 'em.

The body butters come in two sizes, 4 oz for $16.95 and 8 oz for $24.95.  I just ran out of the 4 oz version I bought, and I'll be going back for more! The Pit Putty Creams are $10.85 and a jar lasts me about 3 months with daily use.

Body butter

Pit Putty Cream

Bubble & Bee Coffee Vanilla, Lemon Poppy, & Mint Tea Organic Soaps

Lemon Poppy, Coffee Vanilla, Mint Tea

I've got a thing for soap.  I will use shower gels, but I actually prefer a good bar soap.  I've been swimming in soap for the past few years, as I've got a family member that started making her own.  Occasionally though, I'll get tempted to buy soap even with my surplus, and Bubble & Bee is the most recent soap siren that got me.

Coffee Vanilla organic soap

I bought Bubble & Bee's Coffee Vanilla soap a while back just to round out an order.  When I got it, I was disappointed that it didn't smell like coffee or vanilla (maybe a bit like vanilla extract).  Despite my disappointment in the lack of fragrance, I then proceeded to fall in love with it.  It has such a creamy lather and I can see the little ground up vanilla beans in it.  So, when Bubble & Bee had a 30% off sale on their soaps, I bought another Coffee Vanilla, along with a Lemon Poppy and Mint Tea so that I could get the 3 pack deal.  There are actually 15 different soaps to chose from, including an unscented version.  

Lemon Poppy organic soap

The benefits listed for these soaps are:  100% natural, contains no water, contains absolutely no synthetic chemicals or estrogen mimickers, contains absolutely no synthetic detergents, completely free of synthetic fragrances and colors, lathers up really well, one bar lasts a long time, can be used in the shower or as a face and hand soap, vegan, no animal testing, gluten-free.

Mint Tea organic soap

The Lemon Poppy does indeed smell like a lemon poppyseed muffin and is supposed to be good for exfoliating.  I'm currently using Mint Tea, a refreshing combo of spearmint and peppermint that also contains french green and kaolin clay to draw out impurities.   The lather on this one is divine.  Of the Bubble & Bee soaps that I've used thus far, I do not find them drying, perhaps because they contain moisturizing vegetable glycerin. 

The soaps retail for $6 each at Bubble & Bee or you can purchase three for $15.  

Vanilla Coffee ingredients:  Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, vanilla bean fiber, organic vanilla extract, organic coffee extract, sorbitol (from sugar beets). 

Lemon Poppy ingredients:   Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol [extracted naturally from sugar beets], organic poppy seeds, organic lemon essential oil.

Mint Tea ingredients:  Organic coconut and palm oils saponified, vegetable glycerin, french green clay, kaolin clay, organic spearmint essential oil, organic peppermint essential oil.

Disclosure:  I bought these. 

Bubble & Bee Pit Putty Deodorant Creams Redux

What is this contraption, you may be asking?  Well, it's the summer packaging option for items that could melt in warmer climates.  Considering where I live qualifies as sub-tropical, that's a good option to have.

I've reviewed the Pit Putty Deodorant Creams here before, and thought I'd update since warmer temps have rolled around to see how this natural deodorant has held up.  I'm giving them the kind of endorsement that counts - I bought three more jars when my Spearmint and Tea Tree Oil Pit Putty cream ran out. 

My favorite scents from the sampler pack that I originally bought were Jasmint, Lemongrass, and the Spearmint and Tea Tree Oil, so I got one of each.  A 2 oz. jar costs $9.85 and a jar lasts me several months, so I'm good through the rest of the hot, humid summer. 

Jasmint smells good enough that I'd wear it as a scent.  The ingredients are organic shea butter, organic arrowroot powder, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, aluminum-free baking soda, organic jasmine extract, organic peppermint essential oil.  I've noticed that Jasmint is more prone to melting, but the consistency of the Pit Putty Creams is soft but solid.  I scoop out a slightly larger than pea-sized amount, spread on my arm pits, and I'm good to go.  Shelf life is 1 year. 

Pit Putty Deodorant Creams can be purchased online at Bubble & Bee.  If you are not a fan of the cream concept, they have deodorant sprays and sticks as well.  Bubble & Bee also has a deodorant guarantee/exchange policy (more details here) which is pretty cool.

I'm sure you are aware of this, but I always search for discount codes online, even if there is nothing on the actual web site I'm purchasing at indicating a discount.  I was able to find a $7 off $35 discount code that worked, which helped offset the $8 summer shipping charge. 

Bubble and Bee Organic Lotion Stick in Chai Guy

Did you know that some lotions contain up to 80% water?  I didn't, until I came across these 100% organic lotion sticks from Bubble & Bee.  There are a couple of advantages to these lotions sticks, including that they are airline permitted, they don't wash away like water based lotions, and are compact enough to stick in a jacket pocket should you be out and about sans purse.  I keep mine next to my computer desk at home and use it on the tips of my fingers, which tend to dry out in the winter. 

The scent I decided to try is Chai Guy, which smells like a chai latte!  I bought the Coconut & Lime scent for my mother, and she liked it so much she said she'd use it as a perfume.  They also have an unscented version which I got for my scent averse aunt.  I could see this option also working well for guys who don't want to smell like the other available scents of raspberry, lavendar orange blossom, pomegranate, or sunflower.  Or for those with sensitive skin, as the unscented version contains only three ingredients:  organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa, organic beeswax.  Performance wise, they do soften my skin  yet are not greasy.  At $7.99 per tube, these are an economical and convenient option for chapped feet, hands, elbows, or wherever you might need them!

Bubble and Bee Pit Putty Deodorant Cream

A while back, I decided I wanted to switch to a natural deodorant.  I'd heard vague things linking antiperspirants to breast cancer but was generally uneducated on the topic.  My thinking was more along the lines of "if I can find something natural that works, why not?"  So, I purchased one natural deodorant that was available at my drugstore, but was less than impressed.  Further searching on the web led to some good reviews on Bubble & Bee organic deodorants, who were about to launch some new deodorant creams in sample sizes, so out came the debit card. 

First off, it's helpful to understand the difference between an antiperspirant and a deodorant and a bit of biology.  There are two types of sweat glands, the apocrine and eccrine. The apocrine glands are scent glands that are located in the navel, armpits and groin. They produce a sticky but odorless sweat rich in fatty acids that bacteria present on the skin feed upon to produce the familiar body odor smell.  The eccrine sweat glands are found all over the body and produce a watery sweat that helps to regulate body temperature.  

Antiperspirants use aluminum to prevent your body from producing sweat.  Those concerned about the potential health risks of aluminum cite links between aluminum and the development of Alzheimer's, and a more in depth analysis of alum can be found here.  Interestingly enough, antiperspirants are considered over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, because they change the way the body does something - prevent the release of sweat.  As a drug, they are also regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Deodorants, on the other hand, neutralize body odor by killing or slowing down the growth of the bacteria that metabolize the protein and fatty acids that occur in sweat.  Many products contain both an antiperspirant and a deodorant.  Bubble & Bee organic deodorants do not contain aluminum and are thus not an antiperspirant.

So do Bubble & Bee deodorant creams work?  For the most part, yes.  I've had breakthrough odor at close sniff on a few occasions of wearing them, but not enough to consider the product a failure.  I doubt it was noticeable by anyone but me, as it involved directly smelling my pits at the end of a long day.  TMI, I know, but how else to test this product?  However, the true test will be during the long, hot and humid summers here and I have only had the product since October.  

Scent selection includes Geranium Lime, Jasmint (my favorite), Lemon & Clove, Lemongrass, Spearmint & Tea Tree Oil, and Super Pit Putty.  "Deodorizing Naturally" from Bubble & Bee points out that  we can have different kinds of bacteria on our skin, and different types of essential oils - Tea Tree, Clove, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Geranium, and Lavender - are particularly effective against certain strains.  While the essential oils don't kill the bacteria, they do slow them down, so matching the right essential oil to the particular bacteria on your skin can make a difference.  A sampler pack including all the scents can be purchased for $23.94, individual samples for $3.99, and regular size for $9.85 at the Bubble & Bee online shop.  You can see the difference between the sample and regular size below.  

Have you found a natural deodorant that you like or are you sticking with commercial antiperspirants/deodorants?

Bubble and Bee Organic Body Butter

 In my quest to find an effective natural deodorant, I learned about Bubble & Bee Organic, a company based in Bountiful, Utah.  The founder, Stephanie Greenwood, with a chemistry background and concerned about the "hidden ingredients" found in many products, decided to make her own products using simple, organic ingredients.  Stephanie is also the author of the blog Chemical of the Day, a very useful site for learning about the ingredients used in beauty products.  I've now purchased several Bubble & Bee products and the first I'll be reviewing is the Sugar & Spice body butter. 

This is possibly the richest body butter I've ever used.  The consistency reminds me of butter cream frosting and the smell of spice cake.  Or possibly any of the other wonderful things baked around Thanksgiving and Christmas...pumpkin pie, gingerbread cookies....but I digress.  I think the fact that brown sugar and spices are included in the body butter make this inevitable.  When first applied, you can actually feel a slight grittiness which must be the sugar and spices - but don't worry, they blend in quickly.  Those with sensitive skin may want to make note of this, however, in case of irritation.  Other scents are available in Coconut & Lime, Vanilla & Raspberry, and Jasmine.  I love that they also include an unscented version, which is perfect for those scent averse or for those in environments with a no scent policy (healthcare, for example).  I have smelled the Coconut & Lime and it would make a great summer scent.  Sugar & Spice became my go to holiday scent - it really is scrumptious. 

A possible down side for some may be that it is too rich.  This is a heavy body butter and if you don't like lotions that you can tell are on your skin, you may not like this.  You can see how emollient it is in the pictures here and how it leaves a sheen on the skin, which I guess could be great for bare summer legs and arms.  It could also possibly leave oil marks on delicate fabrics.  Personally, I find it perfect for cold winter days when I'm wearing my long johns and corduroy pants or bundled up in my fleece pj's. 

Bubble & Bee Organic Body Butters can be purchased in 4 oz. jars for $16.95 or 8 oz. jars for $24.95.  Or, if you want to sample before committing to a larger size, trial sizes are available for $3.99.  Since these are 100% organic and don't contain the preservatives found in many products, shelf life is listed as 10 months. 

Ingredients:  Organic shea butter, organic coconut oil with retained coconut meat, organic macadamia nut oil, organic almond oil, organic jojoba oil, organic olive and organic coconut oil infused with brown sugar and spices.