Hot, hot summer is here, and so are a lot of great new clean beauty releases! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that summer is my favorite season. Many of these new products have arrived at the perfect time – my hair is dried out, I need travel-size everything, and there isn’t a better time to test out effective nontoxic deodorants.
A few readers/followers have asked me about the new Rahua Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner, and I promised to test it out. I am a devoted user of their Color Full and Voluminous shampoos and conditioners, so even though I didn’t think this release would be “for me”, I was sure it would be great. I was wrong – it is for me! I have an oily scalp and dry ends, so many moisturizing hair products leave me looking like I fried a chicken in my hair, but not this duo! My hair is left soft and smooth, but also full of body, and not at all weighed down. A note: because I have an oily scalp, I only applied the conditioner to my ends, but for those with more dry/coarse hair, I recommend applying it from roots to ends and leaving it in for a few minutes before rinsing.)
Agent Nateur makes some of the best nontoxic deodorants in the world, but until now, I couldn’t use them because my skin is sensitive to sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). I was so excited when they released (holi) stick deodorant sensitive. I’ve been using it for a few weeks, and it works very well for me; no itchy rash, and when I apply it in the morning after showering, I don’t need to reapply for 24 hours. Its pretty scent has notes of neroli, patchouli, and cedar wood – but I promise you won’t smell like cheap incense. The totally natural fragrance is very subtle.
I am also a huge fan of Vapour AER Next Level Deodorant, which is the only nontoxic deodorant that does contain baking soda that, for some reason, does not irritate my skin at all. Vapour recently re-released their cult classic Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in chic new glass packaging. This hydrating foundation totally blurs imperfections on the skin, just like a soft focus lens (hence the name). It leaves skin looking luminous and dewy, but not greasy, and you’ll only need to use a setting powder if you have very oily skin, like me. Atmosphere Soft Focus comes in 12 shades that match skin easily because of the formula’s light, silky consistency. And, in addition to the beautiful coverage it gives, this foundation is actually nourishing. A Pumpkin and Papaya Complex brightens the skin along with organic Camellia, and the formula is infused with Vapour’s face-specific infusion of soothing Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi, and calming Lotus. Also, if you or a friend just can’t quit the not-at-all-bare-beauty-approved Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, this clean formula is a dead ringer. (P.S. I wear S123).
Indie Lee just launched the cutest travel-size versions of her best selling Brightening Cleanser, COQ-10 Toner, and Squalene Facial Oil. The gel-like Brightening Cleanser is great at removing even stubborn eye makeup, and if you let it sit on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing, it acts like an exfoliating mask. It leaves skin, soft, bright and clear. COQ-10, Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid in the COQ-10 Toner balance skin’s pH and make any serum or oil you use afterward even more effective. The squalene in the Squalene Facial Oil is derived from olives (not shark liver, as with many conventional beauty brands), and it tackles discoloration and dullness without ever feeling greasy. It’s suitable for all skin types, too! (Click here for other travel favorites.)
Ilia recently launched True Skin Serum Foundation, and I loooove it. I was never a “foundation person” until some discoloration a few years ago forced me to start testing them out. (I usually wear Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation.) This formula truly does blend skincare and makeup, which I really appreciate. Aloe leaf, rose hip, jojoba and marula oils soothe irritations tame redness, and plump fine lines, and this buildable formula can either act like a tinted moisturizer, or a full-coverage foundation, depending on how much you use. It’s great at blurring imperfections, and it melts into skin, which gives a more realistic look than so many other foundations. Another new release from Ilia is their Limited Edition Summer Essential Face Palette. The warm, glowy colors are all multi-use cream formulas, so they can be worn anywhere on the face, which makes summertime primping a breeze.
If you follow me on Instagram, (@barebeautyblog) you know we are soon moving across town to the home we recently built. You know I am going to smudge the $#!+ out of that place with a sage bundle! #goodvibesonly. I was recently introduced to the genius White Sage Smudge Spray by From Molly with Love. For those of you who don’t like burning sage, this room spray is the perfect alternative to clearing stuck, negative energy from a space.
All of these products are available at AILLEA Beauty!
Thank you to AILLEA Beauty for partnering on this post. All opinions are my own. I’ve never falsely given any product or site a good review in exchange for money, and I promise I never will.
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