I am so so so excited to write this blog post! I first tried Rustic Maka in 2016 and have loved this company ever since! They are a small natural deodorant and body care company based out of Michigan. Their products are vegan certified and cruelty-free. I am so happy with their mission to find and use ingredients that are clean and great for your body. This company does not use Aluminum which blocks your pores, not allowing sweat to leave your underarms. Rustic Maka uses natural ingredients that allow your underarms to breathe while neutralizing odor. Are you ready for this? Let’s get into the products!

The very first deodorant I tried from Rustic Maka was the “Calming Fields” natural deodorant. I also currently have a bottle of this scent. Calming Fields really is such a calming scent of lavender and spearmint. This scent is feminine and fresh. I am not a florally kind of girl, but this deodorant is not overpowering at all. It is very balanced. I have only used the original formula in this scent, but they do have a baking soda free formula as well. Another big positive for this deodorant is that it stands up to my day of moming. I usually do not need to reapply deodorant throughout the day. I have always reapplied (even with conventional deodorant) prior to working out, but other than that I don’t need to reapply with the Rustic Maka deodorant. I love how clean Rustic Maka’s ingredients are! Check these out:

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Powder*, Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Shorea Robusta (Sal) Butter, Zinc Ricinoleate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Bambusa Arundinacea (Bamboo) Stem Extract, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil
*Certified Organic

The second deodorant that I tried from Rustic Maka was “Rough Rivers“. I had been using this deodorant for a couple weeks, and then it was stolen. My husband confiscated it LOL. This scent is very unisex to me, even though it does say it’s a mens deodorant on the label. Rough Rivers is a blend of citrus and nuttiness. It’s not heavy, it’s very fresh. Both me and my husband love this scent! Rough Rivers comes in the original formula, NOT the baking soda free formula. Here are the clean ingredients:

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Powder*, Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Shorea Robusta (Sal) Butter, Zinc Ricinoleate, Citrus Bergamia (Bergamot) Oil (Bergaptene-Free), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Bambusa Arundinacea (Bamboo) Stem Extract
*Certified Organic Ingredient

The most recent scent that I have been using is the “Mystic Garden CBD” natural deodorant. This has become an instant favorite of mine! I absolutely love the smell of this one. You can smell the hemp, but it also has fresh almost minty notes to it. Mystic Garden is another deoderant that I would say is perfect for men and women. The ingredients list contains “natural fragrance” which I chatted with the company about. They said that it is a blend of essential oils and plant based isolates. No harmful synthetic fragrances would be used by this company. This one I was not able to find on the site, so I’m not sure if it’s available yet.

I have also tried one of Rustic Maka’s bodycare items. I have been using the “Purify Exfoliating Mask“. If you follow me on Instagram you have seen my face mask pictures, and know that I am a face mask addict. So of course I had to try Rustic Maka’s face mask! This mask comes as a powder that you mix with water to activate it, and then apply it to your face. It contains mineral rich clays and activated charcoal that help detox your skin. When you put it on, you massage it on in circle motions. You seriously only need this on for a minute or two like the label says. I then gently wash it off with warm water and a soft cloth. The Purify mask left my skin smoother than any other mask I’ve used! I truly feel like it gets all the dead skin off and leaves my face silky smooth. Then I continue with my skincare routine of toner to seal in moisture, and serum with full spectrum SPF.

Something that I think is so cool is that you can use this mask on your face and you can also detox your underarms with it. Rustic Maka has a “Detox Underarm Care System Kit” that contains the purify mask along with a cleansing product and a moisturizing primer. Love that it is a multi-use product!

Ok, here we go! I am so excited to say that I will be giving away one deodorant to 2 winners! I will give away one on Facebook, and one on Instagram. The scents that I am giving away are “Calming Fields (Baking Soda Free Formula)” and “Rough Rivers (Original Formula). Head to my Facebook page “The Lil Things Blog” and my Instagram “@thelilthingsblog” for details on how to enter!

Thanks so much for reading! Like, comment, and share this with your friends!

The past few days I have been going to doctor appointments that have made me think about my mouth injury from high school. Which led me to think about my dental health and the products that I use. I have tried many toothpastes searching for something to replace my conventional favorite. I also went on a search for mouthwash options. I narrowed it down to three favorite “toothpastes” and one favorite mouth rinse.

Toothpaste

The first favorite I’m going to talk about is “David’s Natural Toothpaste”. This is definitely the most expensive of these tooth products, but I REALLY liked this one. It gives you nice minty breath and leaves you feeling super clean. David’s toothpaste is vegan, gluten free, and cruelty free. There are a couple of things that are really cool about the packaging and production of this toothpaste that sets it apart. The metal tube is 100% recyclable unlike conventional toothpaste tubes. The paper for the box is sustainably sourced, and is also created using 100% wind power. How cool is that?! Definitely a top pick of mine!

The second product I’ll chat about is “Crunchy Mama Bear’s Remineralizing Tooth Powder”. This is completely different than anything I have ever tried for my teeth! Due to the injury I sustained in high school, my teeth aren’t the healthiest. I have a retainer that has 3 fake teeth on it that has slowly caused my other healthy teeth to slowly decay (because I wear my retainer 24/7). I wanted something that would help remineralize or heal that decay. So I decided to give this powder a shot. It is this dark gray powder that smells like Cinnamon. It took a little getting used to because it doesn’t foam or feel like a conventional toothpaste, but it ended up definitely being a favorite of mine. My teeth felt very clean and whiter after using this product.

The last toothpaste I will talk about is the “Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint All-One Toothpaste”. This paste is very accessible because I can pick it up at Target. I have also found it when I go to ROSS! I love getting a little bit of a deal on what I buy. This toothpaste has a good peppermint taste to it, and leaves my mouth feeling clean. It is made of 70% organic ingredients. If you are looking for a more affordable but well performing option this would be it.

Mouth Rinse

While using the David’s Natural Toothpaste, I started using “Dr. Brite Cleansing Mouth Rinse in Mint”. I absolutely loved this combo of products. This rinse was not harsh at all! With conventional rinses I always felt like my mouth was burning, but not at all with this one. It’s free of so many harsh chemicals that you would usually find in your rinses and contains lots of organic ingredients. Dr. Brite mouth rinse is also vegan, gluten free, and cruelty free.

BONUS

The other part of my dental routine that I decided to throw in here is the “Dr. Brite Whitening Pen in Mint”. I always wanted to use strips or something like that to get a whiter smile after my injury, but never did it. So glad I didn’t use those conventional whiteners now. But I saw this pen on Instagram and right away wanted to try it. I have not tried the apple flavor since I am deathly allergic to apple, but the mint flavor is great! You guys…this pen really works! I can tell a difference just after a couple days of using it. This pen is also made of lots of organic ingredients just like the mouth rinse. This pen has super clean ingredients and works, so it is definitely a must try.

Thanks so much for reading! Have you tried any of the products I talked about? What’s your favorite? Comment below 🙂

 

Do you carry lip balm with you everywhere? I do! I am that person who has one next to my bed, in my purse, in my backpack, and sometimes in my coat pocket. I’m obsessed. In this blog I’m going to breakdown which lip balms have been my favorites since switching to healthier options.

First up is “Osmia Lip Doctor“! One thing that makes this lip balm unique is that it has NO essential oils in it. Most green options I have found contain essential oils. This is perfect for those with sensitive skin (like me). I loved that this balm was smooth and absorbed into my lips really well. Also, you get a good amount of product for the $12 and it is made of very clean ingredients.

Another favorite was the “Splurge Lip Buttah”. Splurge is now 28 Litsea. So the comparable product would be the “28 Litsea Petala Balm“. The lip buttah is so buttery on the lips, it just melts when you apply it. I love putting this balm on at the beginning of applying makeup, so that my lips are super soft when I go to apply lipstick. This balm is your average size for about $7 and has great clean ingredients.

Next up is “Dr. Bronners Peppermint Lip Balm“. I pick mine up from Target for just under $3. It is super affordable and easily accessible. This lip balm is made with all organic ingredients and beeswax. This is the one I keep in my purse 24/7 and always take it on the go. I love the mintyness and how moisturizing it is.

It’s wintertime and our lips could use a little hydration. These lip balms would be my go to products, and are ones that I own and use regularly. Thanks so much for reading. Like this post and share.

I’ve been really excited to share the December 2017 Glowing Beets box with you all! I look forward to getting this box every month, and I really enjoyed the December box! I am an affiliate with Glowing Beets, and share my 100% honest thoughts about the boxes. If you want to subscribe, enter “TLM10” at checkout and it will save you 10% on your first box!

Johnny Concert Eyeshadow Brush

How chic does this brush look? I absolutely love the look of it! To me the matte black handle and the black and white brush makes it look amazing. This brush is vegan and cruelty-free. It is so incredibly soft too. Another great thing is that it is $6! I have been shocked at what makeup brushes cost in the past, but this one is definitely more affordable.

Johnny Concert Amplified Eyeshadow in Skull

The second product in the box was a full size Johnny Concert eyeshadow in SKULL. It’s a slightly off-white metallic color. It is very glittery to me, so I would wear it on top of another color. I also thought it added a good highlight to the inner corner of my eye. I was very impressed that this eyeshadow is made of lots of organic ingredients. It’s also free of talc, synthetic fragrance, parabens, dimethicone, and lots of other bad ingredients. This eyeshadow is vegan and cruelty-free. Overall it’s a great clean product.

akar SKIN Nutrient Boost Eye Serum

This is a power packed little bottle. The Nutrient Boost Eye Serum is 100% organic and wild harvested. It has ingredients like goji, pumpkin seed oil, rosehip seed extract, and then Shiitake mushroom extract (which I have never noticed in a product before). This serum is not floral smelling at all, it is very earthy/musky. The price tag is high, but you literally only use 1 drop so the serum will last a while. My under eye area soaked this right up, one of the better eye serums that I’ve tried.

akar SKIN Ruby Tint Lip Butter

I opened this little jar up and immediately thought of jelly. It has more of a gel like consistency, than other lip butters I have tried. You just need a small amount to nourish and hydrate your lips. Just like the eye serum, it is 100% organic or wild harvested. It is pretty sheer, so there isn’t a lot of tint to it. It’s a great natural color. I like that it is not super pigmented. It has a floral-citrus scent. Overall, a really great product that melts onto your lips.

Such a great December box full of good quality products! Can’t wait for the January box! Don’t forget to enter “TLM10” at checkout for 10% off your first box. What kinds of products do you like to read reviews on? Comment below. Thanks so much for reading!

In my October review, I got to announce that I am now an affiliate with Glowing Beets. Glowing Beets is a monthly subscription box of non-toxic and cruelty-free products. I have been a customer for 2 years, and because I love it so much I wanted to share it with you all! If you want to sign up for a subscription, you can use my code “TLM10” at checkout for 10% off your first box. This is a 100% honest review of the products that I received in the November box.

Plaine Products Shampoo & Conditioner

The first products up are the Plaine Products Shampoo & Conditioner in Rosemary Mint Vanilla. I absolutely LOVE the packaging of these two products! They came in little 2.5 oz metal bottles. Love the idea of cutting down on single use plastic bottles by refilling these. They also refill the full size products. These products are vegan, cruelty-free, biodegradable, sulfate free, and color and kid safe. These two contain lots of natural and organic ingredients. The smell is amazing! It’s a very clean and refreshing scent of Rosemary, Mint, and Vanilla.

Ok so performance-wise, I have used the shampoo & conditioner once (I will use it again after the holidays). After washing my hair, conditioning it, and letting it air dry, my hair felt super dry for the most part. Then behind my ears on the underside of my hair it did not get it clean. I have had this issue with a different brand of natural shampoo before. For the moment, I was not impressed with the performance. I know some products your body needs to adjust to and kind of balance itself out, so I will definitely use the entire bottle of each product and update you all!

Abbey Lane Farm Lip Balm in Chocolate Mint

So buttery! This stuff is so moisturizing. I love really rich and melty lip balms, and this one is just that. I got the chocolate mint flavor which is very refreshing. The chocolate part is not super overpowering which I like. This lip balm is also a good mix of natural and organic ingredients. This lip balm contains beeswax. If you love buttery lip balms, check out Abbey Lane Farm.

Graydon Face Glow

Graydon Face Glow is a tinted primer and illuminator. Man this stuff is illuminating! I put this product on under my makeup as a full face primer, and it gave me such a glow. I like to glow, so I loved it! The scent of it is almost a powder fresh vanilla type scent to me (there is no baby powder in it). I like that it isn’t a floral scent. I also love that the ingredients list has lots of fruit extracts.

My one drawback to this product is that it is tinted. This product would work for me during the summer after I get some sun. I cannot use this during the winter though because it made my face darker than my neck and body. So I will pull this product back out in the summer!

St. Alabaster La Belle Vie Soy Wax Candle

Ok so I am a candle-aholic, and was so excited to see a candle in the box! Bonus this candle has a wooden wick which makes it crackle and have that cozy glow. The candle has a pretty strong scent. It is a yummy smelling citrus scent of pineapple, rosemary, and lime. The packaging is a glass jar with metal lid, and a paper with the Glowing Beets coupon code that can be put in your garden and it will grow. Love that idea of making the paper have multiple purposes. The other great thing I read about this company is that you can take your empty candle jars to “Belle Vie” to recycle them. So cool to see companies cut down on waste.

This was a great box to get to try new things, even if they aren’t the best fit for me. I love trying new things! I love the mix of body care, home care, and beauty in this box. Thanks so much for reading my honest thoughts about the November Glowing Beets box! Have you tried any of the products from this box?

Glowing Beets is a monthly subscription box that I have purchased for the past two years. I get so excited to receive it every month, and seriously love it! You receive about 3-4 products that are either full size or deluxe samples. Each product is carefully picked so the box includes clean, cruelty free, and quality items. I love the mix of skin care, body, and cosmetic products. The box costs $29.95 + $5.99 shipping.

Ursa Major Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum

The first product in this month’s box is the Ursa Major Vitamin C Serum. I have been wanting to try this brand for probably a year (not joking). There is whole line of skin care for men and women. This serum is full of organic ingredients and is very clean. It has a fresh, musky floral, and citrus scent. This is a lightweight facial serum that really brightens and hydrates. You only need a super small amount, so this bottle will last a little bit. It retails for $54.

Moondani Natural Breath Mist- Mystical Mint

Next up I got the Moondani mint breath spray. I was so happy to see this in the box, and to discover an alternative to gum or sprays filled with chemicals! The ingredients are clean or organic. When I first sprayed it in my mouth it was intense (because I don’t usually use sprays), but after a minute it had a nice refreshing taste. There was a small taste of fennel, but mint was definitely the prevalent flavor. It retails for $12.99. Overall, a very crisp and refreshing mist to keep in my purse for when I’m on the go.

True Moringa Simplicity Facial Oil

This month I got a second face oil, the True Moringa facial oil. This one is pretty cool because it came in a roller ball packaging, which I have never seen before. It is made of only cold pressed moringa oleifera seed oil. This oil has a unique scent, almost like a musky nutty smell. I really like it. This oil absorbs very quick and didn’t leave my skin feeling greasy at all. Definitely one to check out if you aren’t into floral scented face oils! It retails for $26 for a 1 oz bottle.

2 Year Customer Appreciation Gift:

Kari Gran Lip Whip- Currant

I was so so excited to receive this little gift! Just like with Ursa Major, I have been wanting to try this lip whip for the longest time. I got the lip whip in the color currant which is a dark berry color with a slight shimmer. It has a thick consistency, and adds a good tint of color. This is such a moisturizing product! The ingredients are organic and clean. The whip retails for $21. Another thing I really love is that Kari Gran is based out of Seattle! I love discovering products that are local to me.

That wraps up my review of October’s box. I just became an affiliate with Glowing Beets which I’m sooooo excited about! If you sign up using my code I will get a perk. I always want to keep everything 100 with you! I am promoting this subscription because I love this box, and pay for it every month. It allows me to try a variety of products and fits my family’s budget. My code is “TLM10” which will get you 10% off your first box! Enter it at checkout when you sign up on www.glowingbeets.com.

Thank you so much for reading this! Have you tried Glowing Beets?

A couple of weeks ago I was sent samples of “Keep Me Safe Organics” face cleanser, moisturizer, and mud mask. This blog post is my 100% honest review of those small samples that I was sent.

“Keep Me Safe Organics” (KMS) is a multi-level marketing company that is dedicated to creating “non toxic” products. The company wants their advocates to be able to balance family and business life, while using “safe” body care and cosmetic products. Some products have more organic ingredients in them than others.

The first product that I tried was the “Whipped Citrus Antioxidant Cleanser”. This cleanser has a very refreshing citrus smell that helped me wake up a little bit when I washed my face in the morning. The consistency is very creamy and smooth. It foams a little bit, but not a ton. I like when cleansers aren’t super foamy. There are a couple of ingredients that I am not 100% sure about. The cleansing power, feel, and smell are great!

The next product I tried was the “Rejuvenating Glacier Mud” mask. If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen that I love face masks. This mask from KMS felt really good! There is only one ingredient: Silt (Fresh Water Glacier Minerals). I put it on after washing my face, left it on for about 5-10 minutes, and then washed it off. It wasn’t a heavy mask which I liked. I just needed a thin layer for it to do its thing. It tightened up pretty quickly as it dried. My face felt super smooth and clean after wearing it!

The last product I tried was the “Whipped Citrus Moisturizer”. I applied it after cleansing my face and doing the mud mask. I really liked how this moisturizer applied. It is super creamy, and absorbed into my skin pretty quickly. It didn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or weighed down which I loved. And the smell has a very refreshing citrus scent! Just like with the cleanser, the ingredients are not all organic.

My final thoughts are that some of the products from the company look amazing and are full of organic ingredients. Others didn’t have many organic ingredients in them. I think that this company is trying to create great products that are safe for you and your family, and create better options. If you are a purist and only want the cleanest ingredients, you will need to read the ingredients list on each product from KMS. The products I tried performed great, and I personally might get a bottle of the mud mask.

I received the products from Sabrina Liguori and you can shop from her site “KMS Toxic Free Beauty” if you want to purchase any products!

My favorite season of the year is SUMMER!!! Nothing beats the warm weather, sun, and get togethers with the people you love! Today I want to share with you the beauty favorites that I used this summer. Let me just say I was shimmering all summer.

First up is the “Gaffer & Child Hydrating Serum” which I did a Favorites Friday post on a little bit ago on my Instagram. I apply this after I wash my face, to keep it hydrated and healthy during the dry warm weather. I love this serum because it doesn’t make me feel greasy or weighed down on my face. I use 3 drops and pat it onto my face, so a few drops go a long way. I usually wear it without makeup over the top, but on days I do my makeup I just let it dry before applying my BB cream. It is made of organic and cold pressed oils, and also includes botanical extracts. I can definitely smell the lavender in it, but it isn’t an overwhelming floral smell. Another thing I really love is that part of each purchase goes toward the cause of ending animal abuse.

A product that I apply right out of the shower, especially after shaving my legs, is the “Forager Shimmering Body Oil in Stargazer“. This body oil is very moisturizing and absorbs into my skin quickly. Very important to me that I don’t walk around feeling greasy or oily. When I first saw the bottle, I thought it was going to be waaaaay too sparkly. When applied to my skin though it is a nice amount of shimmer, not too much and not too little. I feel like the smell is a little musky with a splash of fruit. I love the smell. Stargazer is made of a hydrating oils and essential oils. One really cool thing about Forager is that you can send your empty bottle back to them and they will give you a discount on refilling it!

Another area that needs hydration during the summer is my lips! I constantly have dry chapped lips, so finding a good moisturizing lip balm is very important to me. I have also done a Favorites Friday of this product on my Instagram, but it continues to be my favorite. I love the “Me & The Girls Beneficial Organic Beauty Lip Moisturizer in Mentha Revive“! On the tube it says it is a lipstick base and topper, but I use it even when I’m not going to wear lipstick. I have just found this to work really well for me, and the fact that it is made from organic ingredients makes it that much better. I also like the minty smell and the slight tingle from the spearmint essential oil.

Summer is the time for beach waves. My favorite hair product this summer has been the “Captain Blankenship Golden Waves Sea Salt Shimmer Spray“! This spray gives you a voluminous textured look, while giving your hair a subtle shimmer from gold mica. There are only a handful of ingredients in it, many being organic. Love this stuff to create a quick hair look, whether it is a voluminous ponytail or beachy waves.

As for makeup I have liked a bronzy look this summer. I am in love with the “Teri Miyahira Beauty Explore Bronzer“. I did a full review on the subscription box that I received this bronzer in, so you can search for my Teri Miyahira review from last month. This bronzer is a subtle brown, not a dark orangey brown. It’s definitely a good tone to give my face a little bit of definition and warmth while looking pretty natural. Teri’s products are always vegan and cruelty-free, as well as petroleum, talc, and synthetic preservative free.

And lastly, to add a little bit of shimmer to my makeup look I am loving the “Free Love Beauty Illuminating Oil in Ice Queen“! It is made up of a couple of ingredients and nourishing organic oils. Ice Queen is a bright strong highlight, so a little bit of this stuff goes a long way. I apply it in the same places that I would apply a pressed powder highlight. I’ve been trying to put into words what it smells like, but I just don’t know how to describe it haha. I’m pretty sure it’s the rosehip oil that you smell the most. So it’s more of a musky smell to me, which is great. You can apply this oil to your whole body if you want, but I just use it as a highlight.

Thank you so much for reading! What has been your favorite clean beauty/body product this summer?

It has been about a week and a half since I received the July Teri Miyahira Beauty box, and I’m in love! Teri Miyahira Beauty is a makeup line that is 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free. Teri also doesn’t use petroleum, dye, synthetic preservatives, and talc. Every box that I have received has been a great value and had a good selection of products. This box has been one of my favorites so far!

“Push Beyond”

Each box comes with a card that has product descriptions and ingredients on one side, and then a cute motivational design on the other side. Love the idea that she makes them inspirational and can be kept to decorate with. I loved the design of this months card!

“Seek” Powder Illuminator

With Teri’s powder products a little goes a long way. This illuminator is dense (trying to come up with the right word) and very pigmented. It is such a pretty rose gold color! Looking at the compact I was worried it would be too dark on my fair skin, but on the skin it is the perfect rosy highlight!

“Explore” Powder Bronzer

Loving this tone on my skin! It has a cooler tone to it than most bronzers I have seen, which is what I have been looking for. It gives a subtle warmth to my face and sculpts at the same time. The “Clarity” bronzer that was in an earlier box was too dark for my skin, so receiving this lighter more subtle bronzer made me super happy!

Reset Hydrating Fruit Enzyme Mask & Exfoliant

If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen my posts about loving face masks. I was sooooo excited to get a deluxe sample size of Teri’s Reset mask. It smells citrusy, and also has a strong banana scent to me. The consistency is very creamy and smooth. I like that it wasn’t extremely exfoliating and scrubby. This is a great mask to use during your self care time.

Vegan Rose Gold Face Artist Brush

How cute is this brush? I love the look of Teri’s rose gold makeup brushes! This face brush has a dense flatter brush that is so soft. It would be perfect for applying foundation or even using to apply the face mask that came in this box. I have a couple of her brushes and have loved each one of them.

Teri Miyahira’s makeup line is definitely high-end to me. It is not cheap, but you get great quality products with cleaner ingredients.

Thank you so much for reading! What is your favorite Teri Miyahira product? Comment below! 🙂