Hello Stranger! I hope you’ve been doing well, it feels like I haven’t checked in here in ages (6 days. That’s it. My sense of time passage is seriously warped).
Today I wanted to delve in to the first in this year’s series of favorites posts. I’m excited! I love favorites posts! So let’s kick this thing off and talk about a few hair care and skin care products.
Since we’ll be talking about skin care here, I have relatively dry, sensitive skin. In the warmer months I’ll become more of a normal/dry combo skin type.
Favorite Hair Treatment – Coconut Oil
This is a two time winner in this category! As you might have noticed, my hair is of a rather unnatural hue. While I find that to be delightful, color treating takes a toll and when combined with heat styling, things can get really hairy (I’ll be here all week folks! Try the veal! Actually don’t try the veal. Veal is disgusting and horrible.). Luckily coconut oil does actually help keep my hair healthier and I can definitely tell a difference when I skip it for a few weeks.
I purchase my coconut oil from the local organic food store but I noticed recently that even Walmart carries coconut oil so you can find it anywhere!
Favorite Body Oil – Monoi Vanille Oil
Another two time winner!
I like to use this oil two different ways: 1) This is my favorite method particularly in the winter and I use it as a moisturizer right after showering. It doesn’t sink in but it really soothes dry skin and smells amazing. 2) It’s also great IN the shower before you dry off and because you have to emulsify it with the water on your skin, it doesn’t create such a heavy layer of oil and I then just blot my skin dry (this is a great option if you shower in the morning and don’t want to leave trails of oil on everything you touch. Unless of course that’s your thing. In which case, go on with your bad self!)
Favorite Body Lotion – Fortune Cookie Soaps Whipped Cream
2015 was undoubtedly the year of exploring the indie beauty world and the very first indie purchase that I made was the Fortune Cookie Soaps Whipped Cream in the Butter Beer scent from The Wizard Collection (Also, holy run on sentences Batman!). This formula was absolutely delightful. It was incredibly moisturizing, left a protective barrier but never felt greasy and it also smelled amazing. I do feel the need to state that I’ve only tried this single scent so far and it was HEAVILY scented. Like make your whole house smell kind of scented. So you’ve been warned.
2014 Favorite Lotion – gud Body Butter
Favorite Eye Makeup Remover – Clinique Take Off The Day Cleansing Balm
Another first time winner! Clinique cleansing balm is a game changer for me. It removes ALL of my eye makeup with no tugging or pulling or rubbing, I don’t have to use a cotton pad, I don’t lose eyelashes, it doesn’t break me out, it completely removes sunscreen, a little bit goes a long way, and it doesn’t leave a film on my face after rinsing OR dry my skin out. It hits every single one of points I look for in a makeup remover. Basically my only complaint about this product is that it costs $30.00 which is pricey for a cleanser. Honestly though it’s completely worth it.
2014 Favorite Eye Makeup Remover – Sweet Almond Oil
Favorite Sunscreen – Banana Boat Baby Sunscreen
Second time winner!
I have to make a quick confession here. This last year I was horrible about sunscreen application on a daily basis. I just couldn’t handle the itchy skin and kind of stopped wearing it unless I know I’m going to be outside for a portion of the day. I just can’t with the skin irritation and the white cast and the greasiness. It’s too much I tell you!
That being said, when I do wear sunscreen I still faithfully reach for the Banana Boat Baby sunscreen in SPF 50. It’s a purely physical sunscreen (Chemical sunscreen is a major skin irritant for me so I try to avoid using it unless absolutely necessary) and out of all of the multitudes of sunscreens that I’ve tried, this is the least irritating to my skin. It does leave a bit of a white cast (I think any physical sunscreen will do this) and it does require a setting powder if you’re not into the sweaty look. So not a full fledged win but better than a lot of the alternatives. Man, that’s like the worst “favorites” write up ever!
Favorite Face Mask – NOW Moroccan Red Clay Mask
Another second time winner!
I buy this red clay powder from the local natural food store but I believe it’s also available at The Vitamin Shop.
I use this clay mask every few weeks or just when my skin is starting to break out. It keeps my skin clear and is less drying than Queen Helene Mint Julep mask (which is what I use if I’m pressed for time since it doesn’t require mixing). I swear by this stuff and would be interested to know if folks with combo or oily skin also have good luck with this mask. Let me know if you’ve tried it!
There are two categories that I had favorites in last year that are blank this year:
Favorite Facial Oil – 2014 was Argan Oil which is still a nice oil but I stopped using it at the beginning of the year out of sheer laziness and found that I didn’t particularly miss it. I’ll still use it occasionally if I am having a very dry skin day but I definitely didn’t use it often enough to put it into my favorites.
Miscellaneous Skin Care Category – 2014 was Raw Honey which I had previously used when I was recovering from over use of a retinol cream. It did help sooth my skin and I’ll use this if my skin is reacting to something but as with the argan oil, I didn’t use this often enough for it to make it into my favorites.
You can find the 2014 Skin and Hair Favorites here if you’re interested in a flash back.
I did try a few new skin care items this last year but I’ve really been trying to pin down a streamlined skin care routine that doesn’t change too much so I’ve been searching for items that I can purchase and just know that they’ll work for me. This favorites post is full of such items! Maybe next year I will have found actual moisturizers and serums and such that are “favorites” worthy but in the meantime, the hunt for the perfect routine continues.
What were some of your favorite skin care or hair care products this last year? Did you discover anything new that blew you away? Do you tend to stick with something if it REALLY works well for you or are you tempted by the allure of exciting new products?
I’ll add links to the rest of this years favorites posts as I write them.
Gym Bag Makeup 
Well you have been on vacation so it’s hard to get back into the swing of things, I’m sure.
How do you use the coconut oil in your hair? I bought a jar last year and have yet to try it. Do you use it like a mask? How long do you leave it in for?
What does Butter Beer smell like?!
The Clinique Cleansing Balm is in my stash waiting to be opened – after I’m done my Muji cleansing oil (LOVE that stuff) then it’ll either be the Clinique OR the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish… decisions, decisions!
I’m the same as you – I prefer physical sunscreens but it’s hard to find ones that are good for the face. The one I like currently is from a Canadian natural brand called Consonant Skincare and it’s a physical sunscreen – it has a slight tint to counteract the white cast. And it doesn’t look greasy either, really nice formula. I should have included it in my 2015 discoveries, now that I’m thinking about it, dangit.
I wrote about it here, along with a few other physical sunscreens – maybe one of them will be of interest to you:
https://stashmatters.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/its-summer-solstice-lets-talk-about-sunscreens/
I do use it like a mask. I scoop out a dollop (1-2 Tbsp will suffice) and work it into my hair and scalp then I just clip my hair into a bun and do housework or yard work and let it do it’s thing for a few hours.
In this particular case it smells like buttered rum (smells exactly like butter and rum if you’ve never tried it before). It’s really nice!
I’ll have to look into Consonant Skincare to see if I can get my hands on it in the US. That sounds exactly like what I’ve been looking for! Thanks for the recommendation!
Sephora Canada just started carrying that Consonant skincare… so I’m not sure if they’ll have wider distribution.
I’m going to try the coconut oil hair mask this weekend! 😀
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it!
Let me know how you like the coconut oil as a hair mask!
Mmm, great list! =) I never would have thought of half of these. Coconut oil in the hair is definitely something I’ll have to try!
Let me know what you think when you do try it. It’s a messy hair mask but I dig it anyway 🙂
Well, since I was oil pulling a bit last night, I actually did coat my scalp in my coconut oil while I was at it. My scalp is normally extremely dry and itchy and covered in dandruff and it got rid of the dryness after I washed it out, so I’ll definitely have to try it as a real mask again! Thanks so much for the rec =)
That’s exactly how I started using it too! Dang dry skin is everywhere. Also, I need to start oil pulling again, it’s oddly satisfying although I’m still on the fence about whether it is legitimately helpful or if the benefits are all in my head.
Lol, sounds like most health fads! At least there’s benefit in placebos. 😉