Company: Simplers Botanical Company
Product: Rose Therapeutic Hydrosol, and Perfume/Essential Oils 
Verdict: 5/5

If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a girly-girl at heart. Makeup, hair, frilly drinks, you name it, I love it if it has a touch of femininity. Now when it comes to girly scents- oh baby. Perfumes, candles, room sprays- I get all giddy just thinking about it. Fortunately for me, dreams do come true. Simplers Botanical Company is like a fairy-tale land for me. They source genuine organic ingredients from artisan distillers all over the world to offer 100% pure products for earthy-girlies (and boy-ies..) just like you and me!

They offer a range of sensual therapeutic hydrosols, to help help sooth emotional stress away with a variety of scents to fit your skin (and nose!) Rose, one of my favorite scents, is a perfect match for irritated, itchy red skin. Its natural healing properties helps calm and relax angry skin with its natural moisturizing properties. I apply the Rose Therapeutic Hydrosol whenever my skin is feeling extra dry, and after it soaks in the skin on my face feels instantly renewed and refreshed! This will definitely come in handy during the cold and winter months for those who have already dry skin! 

Simplers also offers beautifully scented perfume oils in four different flavors- Jasmine, Neroli, Rose, and Vanilla. You can apply these delicate perfumes directly to your skin, and bask in the soothing, relaxing, and calming properties each individual one has to give you. The Jasmine scent has definitely become my favorite go-to perfume. It has such a light, elegant floral scent that is enough to make me swoon! 

They also carry a huge variety of essential oils- which is something that completely tickles my fancy. Essential oils are so versatile and are great add-on for a luxurious at home spa night. Add a few drops of calming lavender into your bubbly-bath, light a few candles, lay back and relax, and let your troubles soak away while the relaxing aroma of lavender takes over your mind. 

Lavender isn’t your forte’? How about Chamomile? Peppermint? Orange? Simplers is sure to have something for everyone, check out their website here and get lost in the possibilities of scents you can experiences and the organic and natural therapeutic promises you can expose your skin and your body too! 

The Lowdown;

Pros

• Natural, Organic, therapeutic alternatives for a healthier mind and body! 
• A wide variety of beautiful scents, whether you want a bit of relaxation or a pick me up! 
• The hydrosols are perfect for all skin-types, and are a perfect alternative to thick lotions 
• Cruelty free!

Cons

• I truly don’t have a single complaint. Simplers is a wonderful way to help your mind and body relax, or wake-up!
  
  www.simplers.com 

Company: Solay Wellness
Products: Gentle Face Scrub, Detoxifying Mud Mask, and Organic Face Lotion 
Verdict: 5/5!

Do you ever look longingly at those commercials made for those beautiful, expensive spas (what an understatement..) where a beautiful lady is getting a facial, with creams that look as smooth as butter and exfoliators that seem like they were made fresh just for her? Yeah, me too. However, lucky for us beautiful ladies who just can’t afford their own signature exfoliator, there is a luxurious solution waiting to be discovered. 

Solay Wellness. A beautiful company made for beautiful women just like you! Their affordable spa-experience products are vegan, natural and handcrafted in small batches to help give you the healthy, happy skin you deserve. Because of their wide range of products, you’re able to come up with the perfect formula of a relaxing, at-home spa day.

One of my favorite ways to relax in a tub full of bubbles starts off with the Gentle Face Scrub. Mixed with the most luxurious ingredients of small organic jojoba beads, calcium bentonite clay, and a moisture enriched organic base, gives this luxury a beautifully rich, earthy scent. I massage this gentle blend in a small circular motion to already cleansed, warm skin (to help open up your pores). After about 3 or so minutes of gentle scrubbing I wash it off with a few splashes of warm water. My skin instantly feels refreshed and revitalized, like I have a whole new set of skin on!

Next, I grab my Detoxifying Mud Mask- a product that is enough to make me swoon. It has a deep, natural scent that instantly puts me into relaxation mode. I gently rub this creamy mask all over my face and mask, not missing a single spot. The texture is so creamy and smooth, I  swear I could just keep applying, re-applying, applying, re-applying… you get the picture. I like to leave this on for about 10-15 minutes- if I could I would live with it on, but that would just be silly (and a little unsanitary). 

After rinsing thoroughly I’m quick to grab the Organic Face Lotion. You thought those lotions on the commercials looked creamy? This is utterly divine. It smells fresh and feels even fresher. I gently massage this buttery delight (theoretical vegan butter of course) all over my face. I specifically love this lotion because of its light feel- it doesn’t make your skin appear or feel like grease (and I don’t mean the good John Travolta variety)

All in all, Solay Wellness is a company of virtue. Their products are high quality, and their values of natural, vegan organic, and handmade assets are a huge bonus! I really recommend checking out their website, and taking a snoop through their other luxurious products! 

The Lowdown; 

Pros

• Luxurious, spa-like products, without the sky-high price 
• Organic and natural 
• Handmade
• Vegan
• Not tested on animals 

Cons

• If you were to experience these products, I think you could agree that cons are nearly impossible! 

www.SolayWellness.com 

Company: Cocovogue by Maria Lani
Products: Serenity Bath and Massage Oil, Coco Moringa Cucumber Body Souffle, and Coco Moringa Spice Dry Oil Mist
Verdict: 5/5 

 As a full time student relaxation is very rare, but when I happen to have the chance to embark in an at-home spa experience, I definitely don’t take it lightly. Choosing products that are relaxing rather then overwhelming has proven to be a tough feat. But fortunately Cocovogue by Maria Lani has established a line of products that takes relaxation to a whole new level.

 After lighting a dozen or so candles and filling the bathtub with warm water I am ready to soak my troubles away. First, I add a few drops of Cocovogue’s Serenity Bath and Massage Oil to the warm water. After a period of time when I’m feeling a bit more relaxed, I like to step it up a notch and massage the Serenity Massage Oil wherever I feel I need it most (I have to warn you, this usually ends up in me massaging everywhere!). This beautiful Bath and Massage Oil has a perfectly formulated blend of holistic scents such as bergamot, juniper berry, sweet orange, and just the right amount of lemon grass to refresh your senses and relax your weary bones.

 After soaking for what seems like (and probably is) hours, I jump out of the tub and pat my skin dry. Afterwards I grab my Coco Moringa Cucumber Body Souffle (talk about yum!) and massage it all over my skin. This delicate lotion is enough to make me swoon! The light scent of cucumber lingers on my skin keeping me feeling clean and refreshed and my skin as smooth as silk.

 Last but certainty not least, I spritz the Coco Moringa Spice Dry Oil Mist onto my clean, dry skin, and lightly rub it in. I like this product specifically for after getting out of the bath, because it takes virtually no time to spritz it where I want, while it still gives my skin the appropriate amount of moisture it needs, and adds a  beautifully light, spicy aroma.

 I highly recommend checking out Cocovogue by Maria Lani’s webpage and snooping through the other products they offer, you will not be disappointed!

 The Lowdown;

 Pros

• They are delightfully scented – perfect for relaxation! 
• Super moisturizing
• They leave your skin smooth and soft, rather than oily
• They don’t test on animals!

 Cons

• I truly don’t have any con’s. These products do more than get the job done, and keep you feeling and smelling beautiful!

www.marialani.com

Cruelty Free at Home Spa-Day!

I’m going to be honest with you. I’m cheap. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, in-fact, I believe it’s quite a good thing. I buy almost all of my clothes from thrift-stores, and I love making my own face and body products at home. One of my FAVORITE things to do is have a mini ‘spa day’ with all natural, cruelty free products! It’s a cheap, effective way to relax and let your troubles wash away.

First, fill your bath tub with warm water. Light some of your favorite scented candles, put on some relaxing music and sit back and relax…

Step One; Cleanse

For a natural cleanser one or a combination of the following works great at getting rid of all the excess invisible grime on your face. Lemon juice works great for oilskin and is a natural cleaning agent. Witch hazel goes deep into your pores and not only cleanses, but it tones the skin as well. Believe it or not Olive Oil works wonders for cleansing your skin. Contrary to belief, it does not clog your pores, or add to the oil build up on your skin, it actually goes deep in your pores and washes away all of that excess dirt you want to get rid of. - So take a small amount of whichever you choose, and gently rub it all over your face in circular motions with your fingertips, NOT your whole hand. 

Step Two; Exfoliate 

Exfoliating your skin is the easiest way to keep the dirt on your face at bay. My favorite homemade exfoliator is a combination of white sugar (brown sugar if you have sensitive skin) a teeny amount of lemon juice, about two table spoons of honey, and a splash of green tea! Mix them in a small bowl, and apply to cleansed skin in a circular motion again, extremely gently with only your FINGERTIPS. Do not rinse off! I let this double as a moisturizing face mask, and I leave it on for about ten minutes or so. Rinse it off with a few splashes of water! 

Step Three; Tone

My absolute favorite thing to tone my skin with is green tea! A super cheap and natural way to even out your skin tone. All you need to do is boil some water, put the tea bag in a cup as if you’re going to drink it, and when it’s fully steeped just pour a little bit over a cotton pad and gently rub it all over your face and neck. Now, just FEEL how soft your skin is! 

Step Four; Moisturize 

To finish it off, I moisturize with a teeny amount of almond or olive oil on a cotton pad, and gently pat it all over my face. Allow it sink in, and now bask in how delectably smooth your face is! 

I usually indulge in this luxurious routine about once a month. It works wonders in relaxing my busy brain!