Well... Here goes!

Hi guys! Welcome to my new blog. I'm so ecstatic about starting this up, but it would be a lie if I didn't say I was also a bit nervous. 

 So I plan on bringing you a whole smorgasbord of posts. I actually had a different beauty blog and youtube channel over a year ago, but it just didn't embody my whole vision, so I thought I'd start anew. Although I enjoyed my beauty blogs before, I thought I would include a new cruelty-free policy. That's right. Now bunnies were harmed in the making of this blog. Although I fricking love discovering new products and adding to my collection, it just didn't feel right to sacrifice the lives of little critters. As a vegetarian, it didn't make sense and it really pulled at my conscience. So now we are going to have so much fun discovering new more responsible products. 

 Aside from this I also have a whole slew of other posts I'm planning. I am a devoted yogi and I lead a pretty active lifestyle, so you can expect to see some recipes, health tips, pinterest reviews, and workout posts as well. Basically, anything and everything is up for grabs! For a better sense of who I am and what to expect, please click on that "about me" page up top! I am always hungry to find new cruelty-free products, so if you find a good one please shoot me a comment and let me know! A fun part of this blog project is learning from you as well, so I would love to hear from you! Let's do this :) 

 Evy

Battle of the Brands: St. Ives Apricot Scrub vs. Lush Ocean Salt Scrub

Alrighty, so here’s the lowdown on these two exfoliators.  First of all, I’ll start by saying that I have been a loyal user of the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for years.  I mean, what’s not to love?  It’s quadruple free: oil-free, sulfate free, paraben free, and cruelty free.  It won’t break the bank (around $5 for 10 oz tub).  You could probably pay for it with couch and car change. Well… surprise surprise, but it turns out that there’s actually a lot not to love.

Okay, so it all started when I walked into a Lush store (here comes trouble). For anyone unfamiliar with the company, they are a completely cruelty free line using natural ingredients.  I absolutely trust the company for their exemplary products and knowledgeable staff so I kind of just let them run with it and show me anything and everything (free samples?  I think yes).  When it came up in conversation that I was a loyal user of the St. Ives scrub, said helpful employee quickly explained the damaging effects of the product.  Apparently the scrub can flare up acne and create sensitivity as well as (here comes the scary part) aging your skin in the future.  She then proceeded to show me the much more expensive Ocean Salt scrub from their line ($21.95 for 4.2 oz/ $35.95 for 8.8 oz).  After trying it on my skin, there was no denying that the newly exfoliated patch of my arm was baby smooth; however, I was not exactly ecstatic about the price difference.  Color me skeptical, but I broke out the smart phone and googled her claim simply to find…. Drum roll…. Lush employee was right.

So apparently the exfoliant used in the apricot scrub is actually comprised of ground up walnut shell.  As you can imagine, these broken up pieces have sharp little edges that basically knife your skin peeling off the top layer and exposing your tender new skin to bacteria and UV rays.  Now enter Lush Ocean Salt scrub. The exfoliant in this lovely black tub is comprised of… you guessed it, sea salt.  These granules are actually much rounder and gentler in comparison.  Luxurious avocado butter in the product is just an added bonus that helps to soften your skin. 

Fast forward to now.  I’ve been loving my new scrub and use it every single morning.  I used to only use St. Ives twice a week, but with the new gentleness… just go crazy!  Now I also swear by Lush’s Vanishing Cream as a moisturizer, although it definitely breaks the bank, there’s no denying that it’s the best.  It just so happens that combined with the Lush scrub that precious vanishing cream can be used much more sparingly. 

Alright, so I’m sure you already know what my verdict is on these products, but by far hands down Ocean Salt wins.  The moral of this story guys is be kind to your skin.  Adults spend sooo much money attempting to press pause on the aging process.   Why not spend a little more now so that you can spend less later?

Still need to use up that apricot scrub?  Don’t worry, your body skin is much tougher and can handle the extra abrasiveness.