addicted: tata harper replenishing nutrient complex

I’m a sucker for beautiful packaging, but I’m an even bigger sucker for beautiful packaging that contains a phenomenal product.  Case in point: Tata Harper.  Her line of 100% natural and non-toxic luxury skincare is so gorgeous to behold I almost don’t want to use it.  Oh but I do, I really do.  Her Replenishing Nutrient Complex is more than just a facial oil serum that brilliantly delivers a boatload of vitamins and antioxidants to your skin for a radiant complexion; it’s also a yoga retreat/massage/spa-day in a bottle.  The heavenly scent is incredibly grounding – one deep breath (or a few, because it’s so good I can’t stop) leaves me feeling calm, centered and happy - and the combination of the cool roller ball with the silky oil is unbelievably soothing.  If that isn’t enough, this Vermont-grown-and-handcrafted product actually does everything it says it does: my skin is more hydrated, less irritated, and definitely more glow-y.  My only complaint is that this oil is indeed habit-forming.  I just tell myself that there are worse addictions to be had.

natural deodorant that WORKS.

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i cannot tell you how many dollars i have spent trying to find a natural deodorant that works.  partly because i literally cannot remember and partly because i'm trying to make a point that i have tried many, many natural deodorants with quite disappointing results.  the deodorants from Soapwalla and Osmia Organics are pretty good, but i'm not a huge fan of the rub-your-deodorant-in-with-your-fingers method - call me crazy.  thank goodness then, that i read an interview with makeup guru Kirsten Kjaer Weis wherein she raves about Real Purity deodorant.  i immediately placed my order, because what's one more when you've already tried 8 others?  well, this one put those 8 others to shame.  TO SHAME.  those 8 others should not even be allowed to exist in the same world as Real Purity.  i have no idea what makes this one different from all the rest, but it is.  not only does it, er, deordorize, but it somehow works as an antiperspirant as well - something that no other deodorant has ever done, at least for me.  as an added bonus: it smells amazing.  clean, fresh, not cloying or overpowered with lavender.  and just a word to the wise: buy a second one for your significant other.  they will steal yours.    

the holy grail of makeup: kjaer weis

after finding out i was pregnant almost a year and a half ago i vowed to throw out all of my chemical-laden makeup and start over with healthy, non-toxic brands.  my go-to store at the time, sephora, really only offered a couple of legitimately non-toxic brands so i was forced to buy my makeup at whole foods, unaware that better options existed.  the makeup there was okay, but nothing special (in my opinion, the brands full of chemicals and preservatives just worked so much better) and i was never able to find a good foundation match for my skin (fair with pink undertones).  recently, frustrated with my makeup-free-stay-at-home-mom face and in search of a new hot pink lipstick (baby steps, schmaby steps), i came across what i like to think of as my beauty savior - the blog beauty by britanie.  through britanie's blog i discovered brand after brand of gorgeous, healthy, highly-functioning makeup.  best of all, her blog led me to spirit beauty lounge, which is basically the sephora of non-toxic makeup and offers sample kits of six products for $25 (with a $5 off coupon for your next order).  

my reviews of these makeup and beauty lines will be coming soon but for now i will leave you with just one: my holy grail.  kjaer weis is, by far, the best makeup i have ever used.  the foundation is creamy and weightless with the perfect semi-matte, dewy finish.  it is certified organic, free of artificial ingredients and contains luxurious ingredients such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil and jojoba seed oil.  the foundation feels amazing on sensitive skin and the shade "like porcelain" is a perfect match for a fair, rosy complexion.  it is easy to apply by hand or with a foundation brush, but my favorite way to apply it is with the beautyblender sponge applicator, which gives a light airbrushed, almost flawless appearance.

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the kjaer weis cream blush in desired glow is the most amazing shade - part bronzer, part blush - and perfect for giving a healthy, sun-kissed glow to fair skin.  

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the organic eyeshadows are so richly pigmented and velvety smooth - they are easy to blend and wear beautifully without creasing.  cloud nine is the perfect allover lid shade and earthy calm is fantastic as eyeliner as well as for creating a smoldering, smoky eye.

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oh yes, and did i mention the refillable (read: eco friendly!) compacts are absolutely stunning?  heavy in your hand (so maybe not ideal for the makeup bag in your purse), mirrored, and decidedly sexy.  i would expect nothing less from a makeup line produced in italy.  

at $54 for the cream blush, $44 for the eyeshadow and $68 for the foundation this stuff is not cheap.  but you're paying for the compact, and that is half the price.  the refills are only $26, $22 and $40, respectively, and as any good makeup junkie knows, that's actually quite reasonable. 

tip: some kjaer weis products can be purchased online at beauty bar and they pretty much always have some sort of coupon code available for a 20% discount or similar.