Indie Spotlight: Bonnie Brae Soaps

Hello my beautiful readers! It is Sunday I hope you guys had a good 4th of July. Boy have I been busy! I apologize for my super long delay in reviews/ articles it has been crazy busy these past few weeks. However, I finally got a chance to sit down and write. What better day than on a Sunday? Sundays if I am not busy is the day I take the opportunity to pamper myself and after these past couple days I have been needing it. I met a wonderful person who owns a nice shop and after the owner and I got to talking I was sent a mystery box in the size "Supersize Me". Because of this I had the perfect reason to pamper myself today.

This is what I got:
- 2 oz Skip to the Loo Spray
- 2 oz Unscented Body Butter
- 1 oz Mango Madness Sugar Scrub
- 1 oz Mud Mask
- 1 oz Winter's Remedy Hand and Lip Salve
- 4 oz Energized Bar Soap
- 2 oz Dirty Hippy Bath Bomb

When I first saw this I had a good chuckle, because when you get a beauty box you don't expect a toilet spray. Especially one that works. If you are not familiar with this type of product the store bought brand has graphs and pictures for your educational purchase. Click here This product is no different although I never tried the other product. I am a little embarrassed to talk about this product but before you go to the bathroom you spray it and then once you are done there shouldn't be any evidence. Well to my surprise there wasn't any smell expect the lemongrass and trust me when I say that is an accomplishment!

Would I buy this myself? Yep, oh yeah no one wants to have a stinky bathroom after you use the restroom. I can image myself having this out in the guest bath because you never know when duty calls or even if I go to a friend's house save yourself a bit of embarrassment.

        

The next thing I want to talk about is the body butter, this is probably the most interesting body butter I have ever used in the best possible way. Now you are probably asking what on Earth is this person talking about?! Well, if you look at the picture above it beautifully piped body butter and at a glace you would think it is soft and pliable, but it is not. It take a nice push to get a bit of product off and then the most interesting thing happens once your skin touches it, it slowly melts and becomes easily spreadable.

Another thing that makes this unique is that it starts a bit greasy and dries ridiculously quickly into a baby powder like feel. I swear to you it is like body butter magic. My skin feels wonderfully nourished and soft, now this was a mystery box and I did get it in unscented so I cannot vouch for the fragrance oil's longevity or intensity which was probably the biggest bummer in the whole box as I am not a huge fan of the pure cocoa butter scent. To my luck I did have a vial of perfume oil left over so I poured a drop in it and mixed it in and worked reasonably well with it.

Would I purchase this myself? Yup, I so would, obviously I would pick a nice scent because the formula is worthy of keeping 2 or 3 full size body butters in my stash. To be honest with you I have more full size sugar scrubs than I do Body Butters.

        

Speaking of sugar scrubs what is an indie spotlight without a sugar scrub to test? Let's start out with the lovely scent Mango Madness. For starters it smells delicious, it smells fruity and to be honest with you it smells exactly like those tiny fruit bits you get from those fruit on the bottom yogurts. To me it is an exact scent of mango and a hint of peach, I swear I have the scent fresh in my mind from those yogurts.

The texture of the sugar scrub is like if you took pudding and added a boat load of sugar making it creamy but grainy this would be the texture of this sugar scrub, it honestly feels nice to the touch. Now when I rub it all over my body it has a medium to course exfoliation and at the same time it feels creamy and it dissolves into a extremely thin oil lotion layer. Once you rinse off you are left with a light fragrance on your skin accompanied by thin oil layer on your skin. Once you let it absorb into your skin and pat dry the layer disappears but you are still left with moisturized skin and a hint of fragrance. Definitely a top favorite of mine.

Would I purchase this myself? That is a no brainer of course, I love sugar scrubs they are all unique. I would own this scent and others full size.

        

Now I have a small confession to make I haven't used a face mask in I swear at least 2-3 years I can't remember exactly when I stopped be regardless it has been a while. Receiving this product sample made me a little giddy inside as I always in the back of my mind wanted to form a weekly regimen of treating my face to something good for it.

As you can see in the picture above I applied a thin layer all over my face and let it sat there for 15 mins. Most of the time when a product gives a time frame I always go for the middle time, am I the only one who does this? This dead sea mud mask felt very nice and dried within 5 mins in my face, I luckily had no allergic reaction to it (I had a nasty allergic reaction to the cult classic mint julep) and rinsed off with warm water once I reached the 15 minute mark.

Once I took it off the first thing my roommate noticed was the fact my face looked a couple shades lighter, which meant the mask took a lot of dead skin off my face and revealed a fresh new face. My face felt soft and smooth I applied my current night cream over my face after another 10 mins of allowing my face to rest after the mask. The next day I had two tiny pimples on my face which means the masked pulled out all the impurities deep in my skin.

Would I purchase this myself? Considering the fact I have no facial mask currently heck yes. There are so many skin benefits to using a dead sea mud mask that I could list them all and be here a while. Overall I am very impressed with this face mask and would not hesitate to get a bigger size.

        

Even though I have been in the bath and body hobby for quite sometime there are some things that I still haven't tried or haven't invested in; salves are one of them. This cute little tin can pack some moisture. I use the balm as a cuticle balm and it seems to be working wonders. Prior to this I haven't had anything to make my super dry cuticles a little less dry but now I do and boy has it worked!

My fingers look healthy, and nourished. I used it as a lip balm it worked well, using the balm as lip balm gives thin layer of balm. Not sticky or slick or even waxy just right. For my personal preference since it is a pot I prefer tube products so I won't continue using it as a lip balm but this balm has so many good ingredients there isn't anything you can't use this for.

Would I purchase this myself? This little pot lasts a while so not right now but I will once I run out but I am no rush. This is perfect for any place in your body that needs a little TLC.

Next up on the list of things I got is the Energy soap bar, I love this citrus scent it truly does invoke energy in me when I smell it. I said this once but I will say it again indie bar soaps are my favorite bath products ever this bar is no exception. The lather is light and bubbly and it leaves an ever so slight scent lingering in your skin. There is not much to say about this bar of soap except pick one up in any scent you like with your purchase and you wont be disappointed.

Would I buy this again? Yup, probably would eventually test her whole line of scents. Pick one (or two) up in your order and you will be happy you did.

Lastly the Dirty Hippie Bath bomb, sadly I wasn't able to try this as we are in the process of cleaning and fixing our bath (my long hair clogged it badly). But when I do I will update this review (I'll let you guys know) and talk to you about it. It smells good!

Well there you have it that is my review of Bonnie Brae Soaps, overall I am highly impressed with this brand and it's products. The mask, the sugar scrub and the body butter are definitely my top 3 in the box. I need to buy a scent version of the body butter so the texture is so amazing, and of course you know me and my sugar scrub addiction I need to have them all in every scent.

I have good news the owner has kindly given me a discount code for you guys to use through labor day! The code is SIMPLYIVY15 and you get 15% off of $20+ you can buy it here. I would highly recommend taking advantage of this there are some gem of items here. Until tomorrow beauties.

Disclaimer: I was sent these products exchange of an honest unbiased review. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the code or link provided.For the full list of disclosure please click here.

Edited by myself if you notice any spelling or grammatical errors let me know.

Indie Spotlight: Crafty Phases

Hello my beautiful readers! I am back and ready to tackle on a new spotlight. I really do love doing these, it is my way of giving back to both my readers and small business owners. I just wanted to let you guys know I am very appreciative of the opportunity I have been given.

I like to expand my knowledge of brands out there, so I join a boatload of maker groups. I do want to make my own one day but that day isnt today. So as I gain knowledge on how to make stuff I meet the makers behind the brands. Well someone posted a picture of REALLY good looking sugar scrubs and well you know what happened after that ;). It was all a blur all I remember is a box being shipped to my doorstep.

I did NOT expect to this this many wonderful items to test!

This is what I got:
- 4 Lip Balms (French Vanilla, Rootbeer, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Frozen Margarita)
- 1 Full Size Sugar Scrub in Honeydew Pear
- 2 Sample Size Scrubs in Mango Papaya and Hummingbird
- 3 Sample Size Soaps (Fruit Loops, Lavender Lemon, and Lemon Rose)

Let's start with the wonderful lip balms, I only tried two White Chocolate Raspberry and Frozen Margarita. I am leaving the other two for either a swap or put them away for a huge giveaway (Both are brand new never touched but we shall see). Out of all the lip balms I have tired lately (I've tired at least 10) this has the most powerful scent. Which if you LOVE the scent (which I do) it is great.

Now let's talk formula, this is one of my smoothest and buttery feeling balm I have had tired in a while. This doesn't have too much a grip but like I mentioned before I press my lip together A LOT. So for that reasons I love feeling my lips glide. This wonderful lip balm glides wonderfully on the lips and stays a good while. My lips always feel soft and smooth every time I apply it. I really like this a lot. One of my most used balms.

Would I purchase this myself? Yes, in fact I would build a collection of them. This is one of those products you should add to your cart. Period.

Photo courtesy of Crafty Phases
Next, the reason why I got this box: the sugar scrubs. The three scents I got are great fruity and yummy, my favorite is a Honeydew pear although the other two are close seconds. The scrubs have a apple sauce consistency and have a very potent fragrance. I love that, because after I used my scrub the scent last for HOURS. I could even smell it under ANY lotion or body butter I put on mind you it was a hint if the scent but it was still there.

When I apply the scrub it has a medium to course exfoliation depending on how hard you rub in, the scrub feels oily and nice. After the sugar dissolves and you rinse off you are left with a semi thick oily layer. Which I mentioned time and time again I love. After you pat dry you are left with a fraction of the oily residue and after about 3-5 mins it absorbs into your skin. My skin feels soft, smooth and smelling wonderful. I really like this scrub a lot.

Would I purchase this myself? Yup, I would in fact a little goes a long way so when you buy one it will last a while. The owner did a great job.

Photo courtesy of Crafty Phases
I love handmade soap a lot there are millions of possibilities whether it is different scent, formula, or colors. The one I tired was Fruit Loops, it smells divine.

The soap has a creamy bubbly lather that I am quite happy with. In fact it is one of my top creamiest soaps, I am weird I prefer a creamy lather rather than a light and bubbly lather. Does that make sense? Probably not but it makes sense in my head.

Would I purchase this? Yes I would, I love keeping stock of handmade soap I haven't used normal store bought body products in months now and it is a good thing!

There you have it that is my overall impressions of Crafty Phases. I am very happy I got to try these products I found a new lip balm to obsess over and I found a new sugar scrub with a powerful scent leftover. Total win win. You can order from there facebook page here. Until next time beauties!

Disclaimer: I was sent these products exchange of an honest unbiased review. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the link provided.For the full list of disclosure please click here.

Edited by myself if you notice any spelling or grammatical errors let me know.

Indie Spotlight: Third Day Soap Garden

Hello my beautiful readers! I am back with another indie spotlight. I have so many companies to test out for you guys I am getting a bit behind, I promise to do at least two reviews a week.

Here today I have a company who from the moment I saw the website I was impressed with the overall presentation of the website and the products. It looked super high quality like someone put a lot of love, time, and money into this company. You can tell they believe in their products. One of the things as I mentioned many times is I am in love with sugar scrubs so the first thing I did was look to see what they have. Boy, was I impressed. The first thing that caught my eye was the Black African Soap Scrub. The more I looked into the more I wanted it badly.

Fast forward a couple days later and the owner Cynthia Hills (A sweetheart by the way) was offering a blogging opportunity. The job was simple pick 2-3 items from the site and review them for a bit of exposure. You guys have no idea how overjoyed I was when she said she would work with me. I literally internally squealed. What I LOVE about this company is that the owner grows all her herbs she uses in her garden. How cool is that? So she knows exactly whats he is putting into her products and she always tells me she does intensive research as to why an is in her products and the benefits it gives them.

I Picked:
- 4oz Walnut and Oatmeal Soap
- 3oz “Smooth Operator” Shea Butter Body Mist Massage Oil
- 6oz Black Soap Scrub

The soap is bigger than this i cut my bars in half
Let's start out with the soap bar, as I mentioned previously one of the things I usually pick out from a company is a bar soap and if I have the money a sugar scrub. I love bar soaps more so than cream or whipped soaps. Just something about holding the bar and the thousands of possible recipes and ways to work with the soap makes me excited.

The soap smells lovely I can tell it is naturally scented meaning no fragrance oils just the pure scent of the ingredients and essential oils. This bar is made up a lot of ingredients some including argon oil, shea butter, coconut oil to name a few. It is chuck full of skin loving ingredients so there are so many reasons of fall in love with the soap just based on that.

The lather is a soft, creamy, and silky, I enjoy using this soap a lot. I don't use a loofa as I am the only one using the soap I just do soap on skin contact and words cannot express my love for this soap. The scent is light and rich it pairs well with it's bubbly creamy lather. I am highly impressed.

Would I purchase this myself? Yes, heck yes I already was eyeing up her Lavender and Rose as well as her Chocolate Rose soaps. Not only do they look beautiful I can only imagine the scent to it. I highly recommend picking one up if you plan on ordering.

The next thing I picked up was one I normally don't pick up from vendors but I wanted to take a risk and well it paid off. The smooth operator shea butter body mist oil is honestly on a whole different level than the traditional lotions and body butters I use. To start off it is a suuuuper light oil. It absorbs super quickly 5 mins MAX (with a thin layer which is all you need!).It makes me skin feel smooth and has a light fragrance, I can't really put a name of the scent (bad nose!) but it is light, refreshing and NOT overpowering at all.

There are so many ways you can use this oil, I personally like to use it two ways: flat out on dry skin and as a shower oil using right before I get out on wet skin. Both ways have its purposes and I personally love it both ways. Let's start with dry, I pour a little on my hands rub together and rub all over my body and let it sit for about 5 mins and by the time I put on my clothes it has fully absorbed. I love this for summer days when you don't want anything too heavy on your skin or for days when you want extra moisture the fast absorbtion allows you to use this and a lotion or body butter.

Using it as a shower oil lets you use the water and the steam to trap the moisture in the skin, I LOVE using it this way. By the time you towel off your body has absorbs most of it. This is perfect for on the go days when you need to get out the door quickly and need to spend time hair or makeup. My skin always feels really soft, in addition to feeling soft based off her website description "the formula promotes younger looking skin. Evens the skin tone and provides UVA/UVB sun protection. Smooth’s wrinkles and stretch marks. Tames cellulite and High in antioxidants." I only used it three times but I will monitor any skin healing and update you guys.

Would I purchase this myself? Yes, oh yes! My only thing is when I do I will ask to have a spray nozzel. It will disperse an even amount of product and waste less. I notice that with the squueze I accidently use too much sometimes, not a big deal as I have a body spray that I am almost out of which is the same size and just switch caps. Other than that small little grip I highly recommend getting this oil.

If you know me I am going to save my favorite thing for last the black soap scrub! yay! This scrub has African soap inspired soap chunks throughout the scrub. A quick google search lead me to this article on the amazing benefits of black african soap. As you can see it has so many good skin loving benefits I am so happy to own this.

The scrub has a unique scent I haven't smelled it before sadly I am bad at describing it but take my word for it it's good. The scrub is a medium to course exfoliation depending on you how rough scrub. The scrub melts into a semi-thick oily feeling lather. Out of all the scrubs I own it isn't the heaviest oil residue left over it isn't the lightest in honestly it is happy medium. Usually with scrubs that leave a reside I don't use lotion that day unless I need the extra moisture.

Would I purchase this myself? Of course, not only that I would eventually try to own ALL her scrubs. She has two I am eyeing up Citrus Bliss and Strawberry Smoothie. Her scrubs are always packed with good ingridents. Another product I HIGHLY recommend getting in your order.

So that is my review of the three items I got from Third Day Soap Garden. Overall I am highly impressed with this company and I could not have been more happy that I got to review the items that I got.

There so many items I still want to try. For example I want the whole Strawberry Smoothie line(Body wash, scrub,lotion) and the Citrus Bliss line (Body wash, scrub and lotion), oh oh and the “Hair Soul-Beautiful” Leave in Moisturizing Conditioner.

My list can goes on and on, she even has a Subscription box service so you can try her goodies every month. You really cant go wrong with Third Day Soap Garden. In addition to all that she has FREE shipping with orders over $30 no coupon code needed! How cool is that?! Go check her out here

Disclaimer: I was sent these products exchange of an honest unbiased review. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the link provided. For the full list of disclosure please click here.

Indie Spotlight: Love and Lotus

Hello my beautiful readers I'm back today to review a lovely company that just launch their website! I met the owner in a soap making Facebook group and someone invited her to come to a group that I mentioned before here called "What's Indie Bath". After she came aboard she did a mini giveaway and handed out some tester boxes to a few amount of people to feedback purposes. Of course, me being a handmade junkie I couldn't resist getting one.

Her package came with 7 lovely items:
- 2 Whipped Body Butters in Acai Mangosteen and Coconut Lemongrass
- 1 Whipped Sugar Scrub in Blood Orange Peppermint
- 1 Facial Wash in Sea Goddess
- 1 Lip Scrub in Coconut
- 1 Lip Balm in Coconut
- 1 Flip Flop Balm in Lavender Honey

So let's start out with the two whipped body butters. Both smell divine especially acai mangosteen oh my goodness words cannot describe my obsession with this scent. It is AH-MAZ-ING. The coconut lemongrass smells heavy coconut (which I love) with a lemongrass undertone (I am not a fan of lemongrass but it's too bad with the coconut.) Both scents are the same body butter formula so there is no difference between them except for the scent.

The whipped body butter has the consistency of thick and creamy lotion. It feels refreshing to put on after a nice shower or during the day, it soaks into your skin super quickly. To be honest it is my second quickest absorbing lotion I have. The scent last for hours and it is such a good scent I HIGHLY recommend everyone to pick up this whipped body butter in Acai Mangosteen I PROMISE you, you will not be disappointed.

Would I buy it full size? HELL YES. I love the formula AND the scent it is a total WIN WIN. I plan on obtaining over the next couple weeks multiple scents in this body butter. A must try for anyone looking to buy from this company.

As I mentioned in this post I have formed a mini addiction to sugar scrubs so to try a new sugar scrub you can imagine my gleefulness.

One thing I like to mention is in a million years I would of NEVER thought Blood Orange and Peppermint would be a match made in heaven. Like seriously this scrub smells really good. A unique scent combo I haven't seen anywhere else. I can't describe the uniqueness of it you will just have to trust me on this one.

The best thing about this scrub is that you can literally grab a nice piece of the sugar scrub it has a nice denseness to it and when you use it its very creamy and in my opinion it has a mild exfoliation. After about a couple seconds you get a very nice lotion like lather and it feels very softening on the skin. Once you rinse off you are greeted with very soft skin. There is no oily residue on this one for those who are not too keen on it. Which I don't mind I love my scrubs either way. It just means I can slap some of that whipped body butter on some more.

Would I buy it full size? Uh yes! Like that even needs to be said. I love all types of sugar scrubs everyone I try is unique from the others. Another one on my must try list.

I have been out of the loop for a long time when it comes to skin care routes because of this I am always on the look for the best facial wash to start using daily. I am very happy a face wash was included in my package. The foaming facial wash in Sea Goddess is one of the most interesting indie items I have tried. It is very crumby and clay like in texture. I usually get slightly bigger than a pea size squish it in my hand add a bit of water to form a paste and rub all over my face. It truly does foam up into a medium thick lather.

Not only is the texture interesting but so are the ingredients! It is made with REAL sea kelp and other skin loving ingredients how awesome is that? I took this from their facebook "Sea kelp has a high content of silicon, vitamins & minerals. Helps strengthen skin and tissue." This is what I love about handmade makers they put lots of skin loving ingredients into their products and it shows in the results.

My face feels so smooth it contains little bits of apricot seeds for a gentle exfoliation which is safe for everyday use. My skin usually feels "tight" with store bought cleaners and this one DIDN'T. I only used this twice but I can see a small difference in the overall look in my face. Would I buy full size? Yes, in fact I may use it as my everyday cleanser and start my skin care routie with that! I definetly recommend trying it.

Photo courtesy of Love and Lotus
As I mentioned in a previous post I do not have much expreiance with Lotion bars, I usually am a body butter type person but I am always open to the idea of finding one that suits me. The scent I got was Lavender and Honey and boy did it smell good. Like serious get it in all the products. The lotion bar was easier to apply than most I have tired, however it was not as smooth as I would of liked it to be. It did help when I used it as a shower lotion bar but again not by much.

The lotion bar absorbed super quickly a huge plus but ultimately I am more of a body butter type person. If you like lotion bars then you will LOVE this seriously it works really well. My elbows started getting dry and I rubbed this bad boy on and it is soft again.

Would I buy full size? Not sure most likely no however this does not mean I do not recommend it. In fact I know lots of people fan of lotion bars who would love this. THe ingridents are good and the forumla is actually good too. Personal Perferance I perfer lotions.

Photo courtesy of Love and Lotus
Last but certainly not the least is the coconut lip sugar scrub and lip balm set. Oh boy! Where do i start with this little piece of heaven. You would think with my obession with sugar scrubs I have a collection of lip scrubs but alas I do not. Right off the bat both smell really good I got coconut for both items.

The scrub is nice and light it took off my dry skin from my lips and made it super soft. I am not gonna lie after I toweled off I licked the remaining residue of the scrub. It is very tasty. Another lady is our group who also is testing it out had her little girl eat the whole thing.

The lip balm is a semi thick slick creamy. Smells great and last a long time. I been testing out a lot of lip blams lately but this one is the one I reach for the most. From the scent to the feel it is just perfect.

Would I buy it? Yes, oh yes. Best part is this is already full size so when it's gone I'll definately pick it up again. There are so many flavors to choose from, there is something for everyone.

And there you have it that is my review on a new company on the rise named Love and Lotus. Overall I am very pleased with my package, so much that I already ordered a couple items full size! Words cannot express how happy I am with this company. I hope you guys check her our here.

Disclaimer: I was sent these products exchange of an honest unbiased review. There is no incentive for myself if you use the link provided. For the full list of disclosure please click here.

Handmade with Love: Jewelry Edition ft. Alice's Treasure Box

Hello my beautiful readers! I hope you are having a fantastic day! I am always on Facebook, and with that I am always on the lookout for the next thing to fawn over. While helping a friend get a bit of recognition I stumbled upon a handmade promoting group, in here I found a lot of things handmade from clothes to bath products to jewelry and everything in between. When I say that there are so many talented people creating beautiful things with their bare hands I truly mean it.

So upon scrolling through various vendors I found one lady named Alice who was having a small sale on her owl bracelets. Her company name is Alice's Treasure Box. I went to her Facebook page to see her selection and boy there was so many to choose from to the point where she only had 2-3 styles left she was selling out fast with this mini sale. So out of the three styles I saw I choose this beautiful lilac, gold and white combo and boy the pictures barely did it justice!


Photo(left) courtesy of Alice's Treasure Box
So I paid $9(Reg. $12) plus $3 shipping which I felt was very reasonable and was excited to received my purchase. And once I did I ripped my package apart in excitement. The bracelet is just as beautiful as it is in the pictures. It has an elastic band so it fit my big wrists yay! It is not uncomfortable and it is very stylish! I highly recommend this cutie.

Would I purchase from her again? Yes, I am already planning on buying the same bracelet for a friend just different colors and additionally I've been looking into her lovely looking sets.

I spoke to the owner who is so kind to offer me a deal for my readers if you mention this blog you get 20% off your order! You can check her out here. Just mention this blog or my name (Ivy) and she will discount you off your first order!

Do you know anyone who makes handmade Jewelry? Comment below to let me know!

Also don't forget about my giveaway (click here) going until April 2nd.

Disclaimer: I purchase these products on my own. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the discount code provided. For the full list of disclosure please click here. This post was edited by me.

Latest Obsession? Sugar Scrubs ft. Empty Nest Naturals

Hello beautiful people! If you are anything like me then you know the cycle of obsessions. At first it was buy all the makeup, then buy all the nail polish, now it has evolved to buy all the indie bath products I can get my hands on. Well, within that obsession I have formed a mini (heh) addiction to sugar scrubs. I currently own 5+ full size scrubs and I am always open to adding more.

A few weeks back someone in the Facebook group “What's Indie Bath” posted about another Facebook group sale, so me being excited to try any and all indie products, said what the heck let me see what's available. The group was called “Empty Nest Naturals Group” and boy, did it go fast! A lot of things were selling out quickly I did not know it was a popular brand despite me just finding out about it.

So being a person on a budget I was able to grab up a 4-5 oz. sugar scrub in the scent Love Spell (A Victoria Secret dupe) for $8 including shipping. It was a good deal. I was so happy and I patiently waited to receive it. It arrived super quick… 3 days tops. I take afternoon showers and I’m lucky that my mail lady comes in the afternoon so I ran into the shower to test it out soon after it arrived at my front door.



What I LOVE about this scrub is that it is very sticky and put together you can literally grab a chunk of it without it falling apart. It holds itself together really well. It is an abrasive scrub so I would not recommend using it every day. It polishes your skin really well so it is best to use once or twice a week. The sugar takes a very long time to fully dissolve and in some parts it never fully dissolved. This is perfect in my eyes because it gave me more than enough time to fully scrub my entire body and wash it off.

Once you wash off there is a slightly oily residue if you read my last post you know I love that! But what makes this so great it is that it is 75% less oil residue than my previous review. What does this mean? It means the people who don’t like that will be able to use this. By the time you get out of the shower and pat dry your body has absorbed 90% of it! My skin feels really soft after using this scrub and the scent lasts for a very long time. I am very happy with this purchase!

Would I buy this again? Heck yes! In fact I would buy a couple in at least 2-3 in different scents. Which her scent list is pretty big. I contacted the owner to see if she had any specials going on and to my luck she does! If you enter the code Blog15% you will get 15% off your order. Isn't that awesome? You can purchase her scrub and any other products right here.

What are some of YOUR favorite scrubs? Comment below to tell me I might purchase it to try it out.

Also don't forget about my giveaway (click here) going until April 2nd.

Disclaimer: I purchase these products on my own in a group sale. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the discount code provided. For the full list of disclosure please click here. This post was edited by my friend Daniela.

Indie Spotlight: Peaceful House Wife + Giveaway(Ended)

Hello everyone! I'm back and I am hoping you are having a good day. I have been testing out my order from Peaceful House Wife for a couple weeks now. I had the pleasure of meeting and dealing with a very kind and thoughtful owner. She was having a 30% off sale at the time and I was able to snag up a scrub that I've wanted to try. A couple of days after I placed my order, the owner Jenny messaged me saying that someone had stolen the package from her front porch, she quickly wanted to compensate me for the delay and this is what I ended up with. (Brush not included lol)


        

So this is what I got from the top(left picture):
1 - Full size soap in Peppermint Vanilla(It is cut in half in the picture)
1 - Lip Balm in Citrus Burst (which I am wearing as I type)
1 - Full size 2oz lotion bar in Coconut Lime
1 - Full size 4oz (Mislabeled) Vanilla Honey Chai Tea Sugar Scrub.

The picture on the right is a previous order I made with a tester discount code.
1 - Full size soap in Vanilla Honey Chai Tea
1 - Sample size Vanilla Honey Chai Sugar Scrub
1 - Sample size Peppermint Mocha Body Butter

So, if you put two and two together, you would have figured out the sample scrub I got in my first order led me to the second. So, let's break everything down into what I think of each item.

        
Photos courtesy of Peaceful Housewife
First, let's start with my first order the Vanilla Honey Chai Tea soap. Let me just say - when I first got this soap I immediately wished I could drink it! It smelled so good! So good in fact, that when I closed my eyes to smell it I thought it was iced tea. It makes me think of lazy summer days drinking iced tea in the back yard.

What I love is the REAL chai tea in this including chai tea bits. Isn't that awesome?! Because of this the soap itself is very slick and soft and the chai tea imbedded inside made the soap turn more into an exfoliation bar rather than an everyday soap. If you use a loofa or a washcloth then this would be no problem but if you are like me and use it straight up it would be too harsh for everyday use.

This is perfect for days when you want to wash and exfoliate at the same time. I would not recommend using this alongside a scrub, it may be too harsh for some people. Having said that, it is a mild to medium exfoliation depending on the pressure you use.

Would I buy this again? Yes I would but I am not in a rush because I personally would rather just use the scrub as it is my favorite.

        

Photo(left) courtesy of Peaceful Housewife
The next thing I am going to review is... you've guessed it the Vanilla Honey Chai Tea scrub! Out of everything I have received I am head over heels in love with this product. If I could only buy one thing from Peaceful Housewife over and over and over again this would be it. I first tried it in the sample size I received in my first order. It had melted in the box due to the hot Florida sun but I tried it anyway. It felt so good in my hands I just HAD to get the full size to experience the real thing.

Fast forward a couple weeks later, when I finally took the plunge, I was so giddy with glee when the package came with my scrub and all the extra goodies. Personally, I was not expecting the extras she had sent and thought that was very professional. I immediately went to take my shower. The scrub arrived in a pool of oil with the sugar and chai tea leaves on the bottom. I honestly did not care and took a small scoop of the sugar scrub and rubbed!

The oil blend was so lovely and the loose scrubs made for the gentlest exfoliation I ever had. I secretly like the look of having chai tea leaves all over your body. I know! I sound so weird but something about it felt right. After I rinsed off I was greeted with a delightful oil film all over my body that not only did I smell SO GOOD, but additionally my skin felt so moisturized. I skipped any type of lotion for the whole night.

After a day the scrub hardened and I picked it up 2 days after my first use. I got a plastic knife to mix in the hardened oils with the scrub portion and it finally got back to its original consistency. I used it again - obviously the scrub was a lot harder and firmer it allowed me to get a deeper exfoliation. The sugar dissolved after 45 seconds but again I was left rubbing around the tea leaves. The leaves are much milder after a couple seconds of use leaving once again with a body full of leaves and a delectable oily film.

Now, to clarify, after I rinsed off and patted dry a lot of the oil film is lost, but what remains is a more mild oil residue which I personally love my scrubs to leave. Most people don’t like this oily residue but I think it’s so important for hydrating your skin. It only takes about 5 minutes to absorb and 20 minutes to fully absorb. My skin is silky and scented with a delicious aroma for hours to come.

Would I buy this again? HELL YES. As soon as I am done an order will be placed. I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who is in the market for a new scrub to obsess over.

Photo courtesy of Peaceful Housewife
If you guys are anything like me, then you probably have tried almost all the of lip balms under the sun. My childhood days of Lip Smackers and Bonnie Bell, to the more popular brands like Chapstick, EOS, and everything in between. You name it and I have tried it. Well we all know mainstream products may not be the best thing for you. So I like turning to indie brands. Who wouldn't want a truly natural lip balm that is actually good for you? Well I do, and it is right on my lips as we speak.

The lip balm I received in my package is phenomenal. Now a small random fact about me: I tend to out of habit press my lips together a lot and move them all around, because of this some lip balms wear out quickly. I prefer semi-waxy feeling lip balms which this one is. Having said that, out of all the lip balms I have tried from indie brands (I have one store bought brand of lip balm I love to death and I have no plans on breaking up with them anytime soon) this one is the one I am reaching for the most.

The scent I got is Citrus Burst and, boy, it could not have been a better pick as it is one I would have picked myself. After two swipes I am left with a semi-wax thickness that lingers surprisingly for hours. I don't have to re-apply that many times. It absorbed into my lips after about 2 minutes and what is left is light grip of product and I could not be any more pleased. It is made with real beeswax, Shea butter, and a couple more lovely ingredients. I could not praise this product highly enough. For someone who lip balms magically disappear from her lips after 20 minutes this is just happiness in a tube.

Would I buy this again? Absolutely, In fact when I make my next order it will included this lip balm and the scrub. I recommend full-heartedly. It truly does give you silky smooth kissable lips.

One of the samples I got in my original order was a body butter, however because I missed the truck and it was left in my mail box for my landlord to get the next day, it melted into a pool of oil (that's what Miami's heat would do to ya) that never got back to its original form. Because of this I will not be reviewing it; I cannot review a product if it is not in its original form. Otherwise I would be giving you the wrong impression.

        
Photo(left) courtesy of Peaceful Housewife
Next, I would like to discuss with you the 2 oz. lotion bar in coconut lime. Now tiny disclaimer: this is something I do not have much experience with. I had a one from Lush a long time ago and it was so long that I forgot how to use one. Anyways, the scent was ok I am not in love with coconut lime. Coconut yes, lime not so much. At first I tried to use it dry, warming it up in my hands for a bit and tried spreading across my body. I am afraid to say it was a bit hard working with it. I couldn’t get it to spread evenly all over my body it was a bit of a chore.

Now, I can say this when I finally managed to get it all over my body it made my skin feel nice, and heck, my ashy elbows were not ashy anymore so the product works well. I can say this, going in a hot shower and applying it right before I got out the shower did help spread it a bit but not by much. For those who live in a warmer climate this is GREAT for shipping. Some lotion bars arrive melted or soft. I believe this one will not. If it were up to me I would make the bar a little softer but I understand why it should remain as is. If it was softer it would melt during transit but that is nothing 20 minutes in the fridge can’t fix.

Would I buy it again? Maybe. Not in a rush a little goes a long way and this baby will last. I am more of a body butter type girl but for those who love lotion bars I can totally see someone snagging this up. If I do snag it up in the future it will definitely be another scent.

Photo courtesy of Peaceful Housewife
Lastly, I would like to review the Vanilla Peppermint soap. Out of everything I buy from indies soap will always be my go to. I would most likely buy a soap from a company before I buy anything else. I love the simple nature of this soap. It smells like peppermint with a hint of sweetness. When I take my shower the whole bathroom smells like peppermint. It is refreshing.

The soap like the chai tea is a slick and slippery feel to it, which I like. It has a good amount of bubbles and a light thin lather. There is not much to say about it other than it feels nice to wash with and with this soap I personally like to wash my face in the shower with it (I currently don't have a skin care routine yet). I put it on my face let it sit for a couple minutes as I wash my body and it starts to tingle which I really like. My face feels nice afterwards soft and smooth.

Would I buy it again? Yes. This particular soap? Most likely not, as I don't buy the same soap twice unless I REALLY love it. It seems her soaps are consistent - meaning they are close to the same formula with minor changes meaning if she offers a different scent or style I'd snag it up.

Well, there you have it! This is my full review of my experience with Peaceful House Wife. Overall, I like the company as a whole, from great customer service, good packaging and great products I am overall a happy customer. I HIGHLY recommend this brand and I encourage you to purchase from her. You guys obviously know if I could only buy one product I'd have to give it to the Vanilla Honey Chai Tea scrub. Seriously go buy that stuff you won't regret it.

To purchase her products go here and Jenney has given me permission to use the code SIMPLY10 for 20% off your whole order! Isn't that awesome?!

For those of you who made it through my whole entire review. Jenny has also given me permission to host a mini giveaway for $10 gift certificate. yay!!! Since this is my first blog post I will make it suuuuper simple. Comment below what you would purchase with a $10 gift certificate and/or what other indie bath company I should try. All comments will be entered in a random generator. That's it! Open to US residents currently.

Disclaimer: I purchase these products on my own expect the throw in as compensation for someone stealing my original box. All opinions on my own. There is no incentive for myself if you use the discount code provided. For the full list of disclosure please click here. Edited for typos it by my friend Beth and Daniela.