What She Wore Thursday

We were giving a special casual day at work on Wednesday (I'm not complaining!) so today was the next opportunity I had to wear one of my new finds from this past weekend's moving sale. 

Today I wore my new thrifted blouse, vintage bag, and previously thrifted flats (which are hard to see in these pictures. Promise they're cute!).

I am also wearing makeup samples from Real Purity. I was very impressed with the makeups color and longevity, especially for organic makeup! You can request your own free samples from their website here and will only pay shipping. Sure beats paying for one of those sample box subscriptions! #winning

*This post was not sponsored by Real Purity. I simply want to share my fun finds with you!

Etsy Shop Feature: EmmasNaturals

A dear friend recently gave me a set of EmmasNaturals for a gift and I LOVED them! The emollient bar, lotion stick, and lip moisturizer fit perfectly into my busy schedule and desire to live more naturally. My skin feels so nourished and my lips so moist after using these products, not to mention the yummy fragrances! (I have Caribbean Escape skin products and Creamy Coconut lip moisturizer.) The ingredient list is minimal and organic. I only wish that essential oils were used instead of fragrance/flavor oils. That being said, I would definitely order these for myself when I run out. You can purchase EmmasNaturals products on Etsy here!

*This is NOT a featured post. I just LOVE these product! Products featured with permission.

Natural Body Care Products

In this week's natural living class we made chap stick, a lotion bar, and deodorant. So exciting! To make these body care products you will need:

1. Coconut oil
2. Shea butter
3. Mango butter
4. Beeswax (best to use pre-shredded)
5. Vitamin E
6. Arrow root starch
7. Baking Soda
8. Essential Oils

Here are the recipes we used:

Chapstick

1/2 tsp. beeswax

1 tsp. shea butter

1 tsp. mango butter

10 drops essential oils of your choice

Lotion Bar

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 Tbsp. shea butter

1 Tbsp. beeswax

1 capsule Vitamin E (400 IU)

20 drops essential oils of your choice

Deodorant

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 Tbsp. shea butter

1 Tbsp. mango butter

2 Tbsp. beeswax

1 capsule Vitamin E (400 IU)

2 Tbsp. arrow root starch

2 Tbsp. baking soda

30 drops essential oils of your choice

We started by melting the beeswax, shea butter, and mango butter for the chap stick in a double boiler on the stove. Once the ingredients were melted we added our essential oils and poured the chap stick into containers. I wear contacts and have TONS of extra contact cases so I re-purposed some into chap stick holders. For this recipe I used 5 drops of lavender and 5 drops of orange, both are great for your skin.

Please note that it is important to not let your essential oils get too hot or they may start to loose some of their healing properties. You should add the oil once you have taken the jar out of the double boiler.

Next we made lotion bars melting the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in the double boiler. Once those ingredients were melted we added Vitamin E and essential oils. I used 10 drops of pan away and 10 drops of peppermint to make a "pain relief bar."

The deodorant was very similar. We melted the coconut oil, shea butter, mango butter, and beeswax in the double boiler. Then we added the Vitamin E, arrow root starch, baking soda, and essential oils. I used 10 drops of Mel A (tea tree oil), 10 drops of lemon, and 10 drops of peppermint. This combination will be antiseptic, bactericide, anti-fungal, and refreshing.

We poured both the lotion bars and deodorant into muffin wrappers but a recycled deodorant stick would also work very well.

If you are planning to use the same melting jar for each recipe it is important to save the deodorant for last. You don't want any left over baking soda (a salt) drying up your lips or skin!

I have really liked all of these products and would definitely make them again. The deodorant is AMAZING and I think I will quickly be making a permanent home for it in my bathroom cabinet.

For last week's natural living class on makeup click here.

Natural Makeup

Yesterday one of my girlfriends hosted the first of multiple natural living classes. The theme was MAKEUP, so naturally I was the first one there!

Using a few basic ingredients and recycled baby food jars we made a face scrub, moisturizer, powder foundation, powder bronzer, and a cream eye shadow.

If you'd like to join me in a more natural makeup routine you will need:

1. Arrow root starch
2. Cocoa
3. Cinnamon
4. Ginger
5. Paprika
6. Coconut oil
7. Baking soda
8. Lemon juice
9. Honey
10. Vitamin E
11. Essential oil(s) of your choice

Here are the recipes we used:

Exfoliating Face Scrub

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. lemon juice

4 Tbsp. honey

Moisturizer (Combo/Oily Skin)

4 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 capsule Vitamin E (400 IU)

10 drops essential oil (I used orange)

Heat 10 seconds in microwave to stir, let firm

Powder Foundation

1 Tbsp. arrow root starch

spices to color (I used 1/2 tsp. cocoa, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. ginger, and a smidgen of paprika)

Powder Bronzer

1/2 tsp. arrow root starch

1/2 tsp. cocoa

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Cream Eye Shadow

1/4 tsp. coconut oil

Bronzer powder to color

(3 parts powder to 1 part oil)

I really like the face scrub and moisturizer and plan to continue using them. The powder foundation and bronzer looked nice and went on well but weren't long lasting. The cream eye shadow was difficult to apply and immediately migrated to the creases in my eyelids, I probably won't use it again.

Do you use natural makeup? Feel free to share your favorite recipes and brands!

Inexpensive Makeup Basics

MAYBELLINE Are You Red-dy/Nicole by O.P.I. Heavenly Angels/Sally Hansen Almost Almond/MAYBELLINE Coral Gleam

I was ecstatic when I recently found these nail polishes and lipsticks on clearance at my local supermarket for about $3.00 each! Each of these is a classic makeup "wardrobe" builder, if you will, and I was happy to expand my current collection to include these basics.

What is the best makeup deal you've ever gotten? Have you recently added any new pieces to your collection?

My First Trip to Ulta

Last weekend Krista took Mom and I on our first trip to Ulta and it was AMAZING! I must have picked up ten things that I had to put back, but I did come home with a few new prizes; Physicians Formula eye shadow in "Classic Nude" for $10.99, China Glaze nail polish "Jamaican out" ON SALE for $4.99, and Covergirl lipstick in "hypnotic hypnotisee" ON SALE for $3.49. 

I had ran out of brown eye shadow a while ago (MY FAVORITE) and decided to try Physicians Formula because I loved that it was hypoallergenic, paraben free, and safe for contact lens. I loved the color of the China Glaze nail polish and picked it up because it was on sale. I was also in the market for a "nude" shade of lipstick and hadn't ever tried a Covergirl lipstick so again I decided to give this one a try because it was on sale.

My new finds.

Me wearing all of my new finds!

I really liked my experience at Ulta and plan to go back soon. Next time I plan to try the Ulta brand mineral powder and eye cream. Have you been to Ulta? What did you pick up?