Green your routine and reduce your carbon footprint

There are many ways to celebrate the observance of Earth Day — which is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Today I’m bringing to you a few beauty and sustainable clothing options to support demonstrate support for environmental protection. Let’s keep our Mother Nature healthy.

Arvin Goods| Sustainable, basic apparel for men and women. Its mission to champion affordability with its $8-$25 price range, believing that sustainable fashion should be accessible to everyone. In the past year they’ve scaled from one material story – 100% reclaimed cotton that enables each pair of socks and underwear to save 50+ gallons of water – to three, also working with ECONYL® regenerated nylon in an active line of men’s boxer briefs, and Polylana® fiber (the only alternative to 100% acrylic and wool) in their newest collection of beanies. Fun fact: Their beanies are MADE IN CANADA!
My top picks? Sudio socks ($12), Bikini Bottoms ($18), Bralet ($18)

I’ve noticed and happy to see a rise in both natural skincare and beauty products using clean natural organic ingredients coming out to the market. Many good options out there right now for not irritating my already sensitive hive-prone skin.

100% Pure| Their mission is to make clean beauty/skincare accessible while being 100% cruelty-free, non-toxic chemicals, all while supporting animal-based charities. Starting on Earth Day, for every product purchased, the brand will donate one tree through the Trees For The Future organization (customers can choose between this or donating one bowl of dog food to shelter dogs in need). And on another note, the entire month of April, customers can bring 5 empty products to stores in exchange for 15% off their next product order as part of the in-store recycling program.
My top picks? The Cocoa pigmented bronzer ($38), and the Fruit Pigmented® pot rouge blush ($27)

Puristry| This is a brand I’m excited to try out more, and a new-to-me brand. They’re cruelty-free, vegan, gluten free and non-toxic. From now until April 30 11:59 PM PST,  purchase 2 products and save 10% on your entire order with code BUY2SAVE10; Purchase 3 products and save 20% on your entire order with code BUY3SAVE20; Purchase 4 products and save 40% on your entire order with code BUY4SAVE40 (Note: I’m just sharing the coupon codes, I do not have any affiliation with this brand other than receiving PR for this post)
My top picks? Vine Therapy Serum ($65), Yerba Mate Eye Cream ($48)

Boody Eco Wear| Clothing that is made using viscose derived from bamboo is always going to be incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s also moisture-wicking and thermo-regulating. The original bamboo used requires no pesticides, fertilizers or artificial irrigation to grow. The entire production process is closed loop so no water is wasted and is all recycled. Most of the garments are computer knitted so there is no fabric waste. The packaging is recyclable and printed with vegetable based inks.
My top picks? Full length leggings ($27), Padded Shaper Bra ($19.95), Racerback Active Tank ($36.95)

OSEA| Dare I say I’m saving my favourite for last? California made, family owned, 100% plant based and never tested on animals. Check out to see what’s not in their products. OSEA has been a leader in sustainable, clean beauty for over 23 years. OSEA is helping to balance our delicate marine ecosystem by hand-harvesting Undaria Pinnatifida Algae, which is classified as an invasive species. Over 94% of OSEA products are in glass. Those that aren’t, are in recycled plastic for safety reasons.
My top picks? Essential Hydrating Oil ($36) Anti-Aging Hand Cream ($38), White Algae Mask ($48), Anti-Aging Body Balm ($48)

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Rehydrating your summer skin

100pure-masksFor those lucky enough to have a summer basking in the that warm sunlight, I want to talk about bringing hydration back into your skin after all that fun in the sun. I don’t think I can include my fellow Newfoundlander friends in this, because the poor ol’ souls have been having the worst kind of summer all throughout July. Rain, drizzle fog (as it normally is in Newfoundland) but also unusually bitterly cold. At one point in July the forecast mentioned it was colder than the North Pole, and there was frost warnings. Oh man. Some glad I didn’t book a flight home this summer.

Back to summer-talk. I didn’t think I would enjoy the 100% pure products enough to be raving about them on my website the following few weeks. But here I am, praising them to whoever wants to listen. I’ll chat more about some of the other makeup I received too, which didn’t impress me as much as their skin care.

If you’re a long-time reader, you know I’m all about skincare products more than I’m into makeup. I don’t stray too far off my philosophy skincare regime, and will continue to use that brand. However, these masks have become a quick holy grail staple taking over precious real estate in the bathroom cabinet. Is there such a thing to over-do the hydrating mask? I sure hope not. At this rate, it’ll all be gone in a months time. Luckily, it’s not too expensive, especially if you use it 1-2x week unlike me, 4-5. Ha.

100pure-hydrating-mask100purehydratehydrating-mask-on-handAqua Boosting Hydrating mask ($32USD) is one of those products you use, where you can’t stop touching your face after you’ve rinsed it off. I’ve used it four times in the past week and the final time I used it I ended up leaving it on overnight for extra hydration. I tweeted that my face seriously feels smooth like butter after washing it off, or leaving it on overnight. I like those types of instant results.

This hydrating masks brings plumpness and life back into the skin, I really really really love the feeling it gives my skin. If I could buy everyone one of these masks, I would. I am definitely carting some of this back to Newfoundland for me for my Mom. Let’s hope she’s into skincare masks like I now am. By the way, if you ever wanted to buy anything from the 100% pure line, they offer free shipping all the time with no minimum, so that’s grand.

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Detox-mask-on-handHerbal Detox mask ($32 USD) is another great product, but if I were to suggest you get one or the other, I would opt for the hydrating one first. I feel like detox masks are nice but there’s definitely something different and intriguing to me about the hydrating one. I’ve used this mask just the once, and upon opening the protective seal on the end, I squeezed out a bit onto my fingers and . . . SPLAT . . . the darn stuff sprayed everywhere all over my mirror, sink, counter top even managed to fly all the way over to the shower curtain. Luckily it was wiped up clean in no time, but man — it’s definitely a finicky product to get out! Sorta gooie, sort of thick, it’s like it doesn’t know what it wants to be.

The detox mask has a tingly cold sensation on the skin after you first apply it with this amazing minty scent. I suppose that means it’s doing its job. It felt like your typical clay mask onto the skin, but this one almost sucks out the impurities from the skin, because there were some darker bits (almost Glam Glow style masks — but I’ve never used those) where I assume clogged pores were getting a good cleaning.

I’m one of those people who take off their facial masks and feel my entire face (with clean hands) and walk up to the most magnifying mirror trying to find what has changed in the last twenty minutes. Does anyone else do that? Expecting drastic changes immediately? I found it funny when I realized what I was doing.

Trader Joes watermelon juiceWhile you’re at it, you know being healthy and hydrating and all, grab some delicious watermelon juice from Trader Joe’s. It’s made with 2lbs of watermelon and 1/4 of a lemon. So there’s no added sugar, or any funny-bits. All natural. So basically yes, it tastes like squished up watermelon. Super refreshing, and a much better choice than my regular go-to sugary drinks. YUM.

Disclaimer: While the 100% pure masks were sent to me, I was not obligated to rave about how amazing they were. You can always trust my opinions!

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