Two Girls and a Bar of Soap

Gift Giving B&B the Handmade Way!

2011-01-15T12:40:00.004+01:00

Well, well, well, finally we're dusting off the blog after the Holidays, and starting the New Year (Happy New Year!!) but I'm doing so with a post related to the Holidays, and all the gift giving that goes on.

I have a pretty good stock of B&B products, cause I usually either buy some extra stuff to have handy in case I need to put a gift together, or buy it with an intended person on mind, or use the extras I get sometimes on packages to give as gifts!

This Holidays, I realized it would be a good idea to put together a lil gift for my older nephew's girlfriend, something for my sis-in-law and while I was at it, I realized I needed something for my friends Irene and Gema too... So, I started thinking, and decided to grab a few of the B&B goodies I have around, and get them in assorted into gift baskets. Since I had no baskets around the house, I got some plastic/poly containers (the ones you get with food/fruit) and some nice wrapping paper, and voilá! I got three lovely gift sets!

This is the one I made for Laura, my nephew's girlfriend:

A Spa Therapy body lotion, a Right As Rain Lavender Happy Feet cream, a soy candle from Mrs Tattooed Geek (Etsy shop closed), a cupcake bath fizzy from My Other Princess (she's closed shop too, I'm gonna be hoarding my stash from now on!), one of Sweet Petula's mini soaps and a Spa Therapy lip balm!

This is the one I made for my friend Irene:

A Spa Therapy body mist, the must have Lavender Happy Feet cream from Right As Rain (her Peppermint cream is brilliant too!), the Pink Champagne soap from Two Rivers Soaps, a Spa Therapy bath melt, a cupcake bath fizzy from My Other Princess, a soy candle from Mrs Tattooed Geek and a Body Language Soaps lip balm!

And here you can see my sis-in-law opening her package and my friend Gema's face of surprise and delight when she saw hers!

Proof that giving handmade is always the right answer!

Madd Style Cosmetics NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH!

2010-10-15T20:20:00.008+02:00

We are really excited about this launch, for obvious reasons. Mo from Madd Style already rocked out lip bombs and other goodies and when I reviewed them, I loved them, and had a lot of faith in Mo, and her company. So when I learned that Mo was going to expand her line, and make a full like of cosmetics, I thought there would be no better plan, then to help her launch her newest line!

Well folks, today is the day! Tonight, Madd Style Cosmetics pigments will be available in the Etsy shop! Mo sent me some samples of the pigments in advance, so I could do a review on them for you all. You all know that I love mineral makeup, and since I have tried so many in the past, I figured it would be just another "eh" and tell you all that it is just about the same as all of the others that I have tried, and said they were amazing! (because in general, mineral makeup IS amazing! LOL!) This is not the case at all, I can happily report! Not only are these pigments amazing, and highly pigmented, but after completing 3 looks, I can for the first time say........ these pigments are VERSATILE! Yep, there I said it. Not only are the colors wild enough to be used for some tricked-out wild color on your face, but pretty much any of them can be softened for a daytime of office look. Not many companies can pull that off. You either get a very matte, light colored pigment for a soft, more neutral look, or a high pigment color that is almost impossible to tone down! Which is fine if you know what you are looking for, and have a lot of practice in the makeup applying front! But most girls out there need to switch it up, and a lot do not have the means to own two complete sets of makeup. Here is your solution.

All of the pigments I received are highly pigments, and have a huge WOW factor. The color is amazing, and really pops. Blending was amazingly easy (sometimes with other products, I get sticky drag with my brush, which drives me BATTY!) and the color lasted on my eyes all day.

Mo also is offering collections, like a Halloween collection, which marries a pigment with some of her amazing lip products, and a Jem collection where every color is chalk FULL of holographic glitter! Her pigments range in colors, from bright teal, to deep blue, purple/brown, to chalk-full-o-glitter highlighters!

Now, here is a Two Girls FIRST! Not only did I review the amazing pigments for you all, but I also got a chance to interview Ms. Mo Love, the creator and owner! She is not only an amazing business owner with some of the best customer service that I have come upon, but she ALSO is an amazing makeup artist, and has her own You Tube Channel full of makeup tutorials showing how she gets HER flawless application! So without further adieu......

1) Who are you, and tell us what you do.
I am Mo... and I am basically awesome. Lol. Let's see...well, when Im not working full time at the "day job", I am running Madd Style... bustin out kick ass vegan cosmetics for your face.

2) What inspired you to create a complete cosmetics line?
It's funny, I originally started an Etsy shop (sewing) to help fund my absurd makeup addiciton... and also to help pay for my wedding. I've always been a "do-it-yourself-er" and after spending months trying to find the perfect vegan lip balms, to no avail, I decided to make my own! Needless to say, they were an instant hit and from there the business grew rapidly! Ive always wanted my own makeup line ever since I was a kid, so, it only seemed logical to head in that direction. So, basically, my inspiration for a complete cosmetics line is... brains. It's just made sense for me to do it... oh, and then there's that "passion" thing. lol

3) Why is it so important to you to keep your products vegan?
I myself am a pescatarian, however I definitely took the cruelty free pledge well over a decade ago and will never go back on that. I strive to ensure my products are vegan because of my morals. I didn't get into this business to make money, I got into it to provide safe, cruelty free products at a very reasonable price to help give people like myself more options. Veg Head's need love too.

4) What is your favorite product in the current line? What color would you say is a "must have"? It all started with lip bombs... that will forever be my first love of my brand. lol. Right now I am rockin these pigments... hard. I love them all. My favs tight now are Glitter and Doom and Aja from my new Jem and the Holograms collection. A "must have" is definitely XRay Spex... no matter how subtle or bold you like your look, this will be perfect for everyone. I am anticipating it to be one of my best sellers. As well as Mr. Roboto... but daaaaamn, he's like BANG! on your face!

5) Where do you hope to see your company in 5 years?

Sitting on top of the world, hopefully. Im an "all-in" kind of gal and plan on doing this for the rest of my life... 5 years from now I hope to be a household name... at least in homes where awesome things take place.

6) What are some tips for ladies (or gentlemen) that are a bit apprehensive about makeup application? What helped you when you were first starting out?

YOUTUBE! YOUTUBE holds the key. Tutorials galore. It is a great place to start checking technique, application, products, brushes... you name it. If you don't have access to a computer (the how are you reading this?!) I would recommend going to you local makeup counter or beauty school and get a free overview (plus makeover!) with a worker/student. For me, my painting skills definitely kick in to high gear when Im doing my makeup. Also, I've always been bold and experimental so having the confidence to pull off certain looks is just ingrained in me. But I definitely think confidence is the key to making any makeup look go from "meh" to "wow"....

7) Any last words?

Whatever you are... be a good one.

We totally love Mo, and 110% stand behind Madd Style Cosmetics. Run over to her Etsy shop, and toss her a heart (and order some amazingness while you are there) then head on over to her Facebook page for all updates, sales, specials, giveaways, and an amazing group of fans that will make you feel right at home!

Review Zombify by Zoe Zombie!

2010-10-01T21:41:00.008+02:00

Since the beginning of our friendship, both Pili and I have been fans of a little shop on Etsy called Gothcupcake Creations, run by the awesomely talented Marycakes (whom we both adore as a friend, as well!). She makes rad accessories, is vegan (and likes to share her awesome recipes with us!), and is our go-to girl when it comes to things gothic! So when we found out that Mary was going to be launching her mineral makeup line, we knew that we were just gonna have to let all our readers know what we thought of her pigments!

Mary's collection is small, but is in the process of growing. One of the major issues that I have with other makeup companies that are handmade, is the lack of quality control when it comes to recipes. The color that you fall in love with may never be able to be duplicated again, because a lot of creators do not write down exact recipes for the amount of each pigment base color they put in each finished product. I have been assured this is NOT the case here, as Mary is also irked by this, and has made it her goal to create the best pigments she can offer, while upholding the amazing customer service that all of her customers have been receiving for years on Etsy.

When I finally got a glimpse of The Zombify line, the first thing that came to mind was the old line of Coffin Colors. Coffin Colors was a highly successful gothic-based pigment line on Etsy a few years ago. The only downside to the colors that they carried, is that all of them were mattes, and none of them were very highly pigmented (which is rad if that is what you are into, but there was not a lot of variety). Zombify broke that barrier with the collection that she currently has. I purchased Wasabi and Carbonite as testers, so I could do this review.

First, and foremost, Mary's customer service was STELLAR. Her shipping was fast, accurate, and the pigments arrived well packaged. You have an option to get a sifter in your pots, or if you prefer, they can come without a sifter. I went without, because sifters sometimes drive me batty, but that is a personal preference, and I like that she has the option for her customers to choose! I immediately swatched the colors on my hand, and was actually surprised at the vibrant colors that they were, without being overpowering, which was a fresh change for me! You can go pretty neutral with either of these color, or by adding more pigment onto your brush, it can become more vibrant! Wasabi has actually become one of my staples, as I love the sick green color that it is. It is not quite lime, but not a dark green either. It is perfect with my skin tone, and I have seen a lot of other customers post pics with it on, and it looks AMAZING on all skin colors.

My sensitive eyes had no issues with the pigments, and they lasted all day, with no creasing when I wore it over a primer! Better yet, the consistancy of the actual pigments themselves was amazing. A lot of the time, pigments become clumpy, and have chunks in them. My Zombify pigments have no clumps or lumps in them. They blend amazingly well, and the pigmentation in the actual powder is really good.

The thing I love more then everything about the Zombify by Zoe Zombie line is that I think there is something for everyone. She has a bright fuchia called BRAINS!, a dark violet/blue called Concertina, and more neutral colors like Jareth (a smoky purple) and Pikachu, which is a soft yellow. She also rocks reds and oranges (Hellfire and o-Positive) like no one's business (which if you shop vegan, you know is VERY hard to do, as mostly all reds cannot be vegan, because of the presence of carmine).

So head on over to Gothcupcake's shop, show her some love, and while you are at it, stop by her Facebook page for the latest updates, and to get the scoop on new color and collection releases!

Dead Sea Clay Whipped Facial Cleanser by Spa Therapy Works!

2010-09-14T12:11:00.002+02:00

Hello everyone!

As I promised last week, here I am again, with another review!

This time, I'm reviewing something that unfortunately is no longer available at the shop, or at least, not for now.

You all know about my love affair with Spa Therapy Works' facial care line, and how her facial soaps, velvet cream, night repair and antioxidant toner are my staples every day. Well, last year I asked Jus for another set of samples of them all for my travels, and I also asked to include a sample of a new product she had back then, the Dead Sea Clay with Meadowfoam oil whipped facial cleanser. I got it and tried it once, but then for some reason it got placed into another cosmetic bag, and I forgot about it completely.

Well, a few weeks ago, I happened upon it again, and tried it, and completely fell in love with it! It's amazing! Lathers greatly and leaves the skin so clean and soft! It's not just like a cleanser, it's also like a quick mask! Since I only have a sample size, I don't use it daily, but only when I want to add a lil boost to my routine. I have dry skin and it cleanses up, but doesn't dry up my skin at all, and I just love how silky it feels after wards!

So, I spent a few good minutes going thru Spa Therapy's sold items, till I found one of the original listing for it, and here's what Jus said about this cleanser:

"Combined with Dead Sea Mud, Natural Sea Clay, Meadowfoam Oil and Lavender Essential Oil, this face cleanser cleans, revitalizes, clarifies, protects your skin and removes excess oil and dead cells from your skin's surface. It also leaves your face feeling soft and silky, giving you a fresh, healthy appearance."

I intend to ask Jus if she plans to bring it back to her shop any time soon, cause I'd love to have some more once my small sample jar runs off. Luckily a lil goes a long way, and it'll still last me for a while... I'll keep you posted!

Lip Tints, handmade lipstick, by Body Language Soaps!

2010-09-07T11:24:00.003+02:00

Finally back to the blogging routine!

It's been a while since I've shared some of my new discoveries in the bath & beauty handmade world, but I'm finally here, and with plans for more! I'll be attempting at least a weekly post from now on!

Any of you readers, already know that I've made the switch to handmade mineral make up, and I'm really glad I did! But once thing remained that I still was using that was not handmade, what was that? Lipstick of course! I hadn't found any lipstick out there on Etsy (always my go-to place to buy handmade) that enticed me to buy it, that is, till Lindsay from Body Language Soaps got her lip tints out!

At first, she started offering them in a pot, and then started offering them also in an even more lipstick-y way, in a roll-up tube! I decided I really needed to give it a try, so I ordered myself some Sweet Venom in a pot, and loved it! It adds some colour, but it still doesn't look too artificial, which is great for me, since I've long lost the will to use bright and bold lipstick colours, though now Lindsay have loads of bold colours available too.

I liked it so much, that I ended up ordering two more, but this time in roll-up tube format, that is very convenient! I love how easily it glides on the lips, and since you apply it directly, it can look a lil darker and more full of colour than if you apply it with your fingers. I got First Kiss, Bitten and Andromeda, and I absolutely love all three!

These aren't ultra-permanent lipstick (I always wonder what those are made with, to stick around like that!) so they'll wear out if you eat, drink or kiss, but that also happens with any regular lipstick. And I'm more comfortable knowing what I put on my lips, since Body Language Soaps is a member of the EGCG, so she always lists her ingredients. Just note, they're not vegan.

In short, I've found my perfect replacement for lipstick, so from now on, all my make up is handmade! And if you want to go the handmade route for all your make up, or just like trying new things, you better give them a try too!

Quick update! The Safe Cosmetics Act and EGCG.

2010-08-27T05:40:00.004+02:00

Hey everyone! Brooke here, and just thought I would pop by to say hi! We both have been really busy, me with the shop (what else is new) and Pili had her love come to visit her for a while (she lives and Spain, and he in India! Talk about long distance love!) So needless to say, now that school is back in session we should be getting more reviews in the next week or so.

I did however, want to take a minute to bring up two things that I felt we should let our readers know. The first, is in regards to H.R. 5786, the Safe Cosmetics Act, a new bill that was recently introduced here in the US. If it is passed as it is currently written, most if not all of the shops you see featured here will be forced to close their doors. Which for us, and the handmade industry, would be devastating. This link will explain a little better what the bill would mean to the industry.

We would love it if our awesome readers would join us in signing the petition protesting this bill. You can do so here. We love the shops we feature here, and are excited to try new ones, so the thought of this bill being passed makes me really sad, and worried for the future of handmade products.

On a bit of a lighter note, I also wanted to shed some light on an amazing Etsy guild that both Pili and I love deeply. They are the Etsy Green and Clean guild. Their focus is truth in advertising, and full ingredient disclosure. The guild consists of Etsy shops that specialize in soap, perfume, cosmetics, and herbal products. I feel pretty confident to say that any shop that is a member of EGCG is a good bet to get amazing products, with amazing customer service. If you check out their blog, you will see that their roster consists of a good majority of out tried and true favorites! They usually have some amazing sales, scavenger huints, and swag packs during the holidays, as well, so keep your eyes peeled.

The reason I bring this up, is because people are always asking me "Hey Brooke, what is a good _________ *fill in the blank*" Nine times out of ten, I refer them to do a search using the term EGCG on Etsy. So say I am looking for shampoo bars, I would type in "EGCG shampoo bars" Or for cupcake lotion I would do a search for "EGCG cupcake lotion". I have a dear friend who is SEVERELY allergic to milk, and anything containing dairy protein. This comes in useful should you have allergies, or sensitivities. Some Etsy sellers omit ingredients or will just not list them at all. This is a tried-and-true way to find what you need, and be confident that you know what is in your product!

Until next post,

May all of your days be filled with delicious bubbles!

MADD STYLE UBER BOSS LIP GLOSS~ Bringing you One Step Closer to AWESOME!

2010-07-30T04:31:00.008+02:00

I admit it. I have a bit of a lip gloss/balm addiction. I will be up front about it, it is true. I cannot leave the house WITHOUT a tube of lip stuff in my pocket or bag. So when Mo from Madd Style offered for me to do a test run on some of her shop goodies, I totally jumped at the chance. Wanna know why? (Well, besides the lip product addiction..) Mo is customer of Glittersniffer, and LITERALLY her makeup application is quite possibly the most flawless, amazing thing I have EVER laid eyes on. So much so, the Glittersniffer fans like to call her "Miss Awesome". SO someone that is THAT passionate about face products has GOT to make some killer lip balms!

So Mo was so kind to send me a press pack, which she is using to help get the Madd Style word out. I was SO excited when it got here, I ripped right into that sucker! She sent me so much product, that I actually am going to split this review into 3 parts, as there are three separate products that I would like to cover individually.

The first product that I tried, actually, out of the bunch, is the Uber Boss Lip Gloss. Now, do not be fooled, This is NOT only a lip gloss, but she offers then in a ton of different flavors, and most of them are actually TINTED! I have them in Spanish Fly (a SUPER glittery clear gloss flavored like Margarita) Paradise (coconut peach non-glitter berry stain) S Berry Lemonade (super glittery clear in...... Strawberry Lemonade) and Pink Poison (light pink watermelon). Now....the samples I got are in pots but she also does them in want tubes, which actually, are more sanitary, so I am gonna need to snag some of those ASAP.

Now, down to the product......I LOVE the fact that she offers so many different choices. There are glosses that are tinted, not tinted, glittery, not glittery....SO there is something for everyone. My personal favorite is the Spanish Fly, but last night, I went out with my girls, and wore the Paradise, and it was amazing as a night out gloss. I could have even layered some Spanish Fly over it for some glitter, so really, you could mix and match, and make your own MADD STYLE! They stay on fairly well, but I carried my pot with me for reapplication after eating or drinking. The BIGGEST thing I love about the gloss, is that it is not all sticky, and weird. It goes on smooth, and is not all gloppy. It stays ON your lips, and does not drip down your chin, which is the WORST, and this literally is the first gloss I have found that can pack THIS much shine and glitter, that is not a sloppy mess. And believe me, I have tried them all!

Now, here is something that is almost as rad as Mo and her lip gloss! She is running specials now in her whole shop, and a bunch of her listings have 100% of the proceeds going to the Cancer Fund of America! How SWEET is that! So run on over to her shop, and toss her a heart, then keep your eyes peeled for specials being listed all month! Or you can fan her on Facebook to be the first to know about specials, and sales!!!!!

Spicing up Your Grill......Etsy Style! With Cook Outside The Box!

2010-07-16T05:08:00.000+02:00

For Father's Day this year, I wanted to do something a little different for Greg. He is not the "gift" type at ALL, we don't ever really give gifts. But I thought I would kill two birds with one stone, and get him a little something to fuel his grilling obsession, and allow me to try and review one of the amazing spice shops on Etsy! Purchasing food products on Etsy can seem a little daunting, but let me tell you, I have found every experience to be amazing. Maybe I need to do reviews of some of my other favorites someday, but for now..... Cook Outside The Box!

I searched long and hard, as there are a few pretty established spice shops on Etsy. I chose COTB because of a few factors. One being their presentation. I did not want to go for a magnetic spice board, because of space limitations, and the fact that I did not want to overwhelm Greg at first ( Even though they HAVE them in the shop, and Greg now says he WANTS one!! LOL!) I wanted to try a sampler, and the one I finally decided on had a bunch of spice rubs for barbecuing, which was packaged in a small tin container. This was the perfect set to try a little bit of everything, and the best part was that it contained jerk seasoning, which is Greg's favorite! So I went with the Dry Spice Rub Kit.

The kit was shipped to me VERY quickly, and arrived in perfect condition, so no worries there. When I gave it to Greg, he was VERY excited to try the rubs out, and we promptly made some jerk rub pork that night! DELISH! It was a very good blend, not too spicy, but not too bland, like a lot of jerk rubs can be, which is disappointing. The thing we both INSTANTLY liked, is that there is a photo of what the spices are, in the order they are in the box, with a list of the names, and all the ingredients in each mix, along with what items that particular mix would be good on! Perfect for budding grill masters like Greg!

Since then, we have tried almost all of the rubs, even mixing one or 2 into handmade burgers! We have not been disappointed in ONE single spice mix we have tried! SO now we are making a list of full sizes that we want to purchase. And LOOK at the jars they offer! They not only have tins that are magnetized (for hanging on a tin board, or on the fridge) but they also offer these amazing glass hexagonal jars with magnetic lids! So you can safely store your spices, AND have a modern arrangement that is sure to be a conversation piece at your next get-together!

And barbecue spices are not the only ones that Cook Outside The Box offers! The also have everyday spice sets, tons of international sets, chai sets, herbal tea kits, and also make-a-meal kits! They really make it easy and functional to feel like a master chef in no time at all! I would highly recommend Cook Outside The Box as a wonderful gift for anyone that is difficult to buy for like Greg. He talks to all of his friends about his new spice kit, even! Congratulations COTB, you have converted my husband into an Etsy lover!

Essential Care for a nurse after night shift!

2010-07-14T15:00:00.004+02:00

Hello again!

In this entry I'm gonna share my care routine after night shift, when I do go to sleep in the morning, most of the products are handmade, well, all expect for one, and I've been looking for a good handmade replacement, but I can't seem to find one!

Here are all the products I use: a tired legs lotion, a high hydration moisturizer for my face, intensive lip therapy balm, hand cream and feet cream.

The tired legs lotion is the only one of all the products that is not handmade, but from a supermarket brand, and at least is not tested in animals... I have been looking for a similar product on Etsy, but I haven't really found anything like this... It gives a super fresh feeling to your legs when you massage them with it, and soothes my poor tired legs after a 10 hour shift!

I also change a lil my regular facial routine, instead of using my Velvet Face or Night Repair, I go for the Pure Hydration facial creme from Dress Green, since it's a very thick & highly hydrating cream that helps my skin recover from the dryness at work with the heating or AC, and it doesn't feel right to me to apply a night cream at 9 am, even if I'm going to sleep then!

I spend most of my work hours going around the ward, and my Happy Feet cream from RightAsRain Creations is a must for me every day after work, even more so after night shift, and even though since I have my Crocs my feet don't hurt, they do get tired! And this cream is pure bliss for them!

Dry air at work, due to heating or AC translates on dry face, and particularly on dry limps, and though I always have a lip balm with me, I always do some extra care when I'm going to sleep after work. I use the Intensive Lip Therapy balm by Mirasol Farm, and it works like a charm! No more waking up with chapped lips, and I've also noticed that it works great when I get my stress rash in my upper lip, so it never gets as bad as before, no more using cortisone creams for it!

And last, but surely not least, it's taking care of my dry and damaged hands. As a nurse, I wash my hands hundreds of thousands of times in each shift, both with regular soap & water, but also with the alcohol-based solutions, and even though they're great for killing germs, they aren't kind to my hands! So, I use my hand-saver cream from Mirasol farm, the Sweet Orange Calendula Cream, just the thing to daily treat my hands and help them recover!

Heart J Creations -- Soap From The Heart

2010-07-13T04:36:00.001+02:00

I am always searching for new soaps. I admit, I have an addiction. I LOVE finding new scents,new colors, and new shops. So during a search on Etsy, I stumbled across Heart J Creations. I was intrigued by the very organic look of the soaps. Now, if you know me at all, you KNOW I am a color FIEND, and for me to think something is interesting that is a bit plain...well, it mostly never happens. But I am also a firm believer in the though that a plain look can sometimes be hiding something spectacular! And this is the case here.

The first purchase I made was for a soap sampler. I am a SUCKER for samplers, because it means I do not have to decide on just one or two items, I can have a little variety! Plus, a sampler is only$6.95! And I knew that if I fell in love with the soap, my love affair would not break the bank, most of her soaps are around 4$ a pop! Amazing price for a full 5 oz of soap each bar!
The soap got to me VERY quickly, and Jodi sent me a convo as soon as my soaps had shipped, which I LOVE! Now, here is the kicker. When my sampler got here, I was SO surprised! This set was amazing, and would be PERFECT for a hostess gift, or for gift giving on the holidays! It contained 7 VERY large slices of soap, all tied with a neutral cord. One of the things I really liked about the set, was that there was a card attached which identified the scents of all of the soaps in the pack! Which was really good for me, because I was planning on trying some of them on Gory, and if it was really floral, I knew Greg would have an issue with it. So we stuck with the Oatmeal Milk, and Honey (one of our all-time favorite scents on ANYTHING, for G-Pants).

Now. All of this sounds pretty amazing already, right? Well, my friends, it gets BETTER! Not only does the soap SMELL amazing (it is NOT overwhelming, which I sometimes really appreciate), but a lot of the soaps have oatmeal or other exfoliating ingredients in them. This is especially good in my house, because I used the soaps at my kitchen and bathroom sink, and when you have boys, you NEED a soap that is able to scrub kool-aid stains off skin, grease from under nails, and other junk and goop the boys get into.

Also, I really need to mention, this soap will LAST YOU FOREVER! Seriously, I still have my second bar of Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey at my kitchen sink, and it has been WELL over 2 months! The soap keeps well on a wooden soap dish, it lasts and lasts, and is a workhorse when it comes to cleaning, but not so harsh that it will leave you feeling dry! Your skin is left feeling soft, clean, and not dry at all.

I am very excited to share this shop with all of our readers. I know I will be back to Heart J Creations to purchase more soaps in the very near future, and I plan on getting a sampler set for my mom for her birthday, as she keeps commenting on it when she uses it while visiting! I urge everyone to head on over, and grab a sampler pack (at $6.95 that is a STEAL!) and tell her that the Two Girls sent you!

Orglamix's Whole Grain Mineral Powder

2010-07-12T12:34:00.003+02:00

It's been such a long time since either Brooke or myself have posted here!

*clears out cobwebs and dusts off a bit*

Both me & Brooke have a few entries on the works, but since life has a tendency to get in the way of blogging (even more in Brooke's cause, with the whole running a business, taking care of her kids and catching some sleep every now and then), I've decided that I'll start the ball rolling with a small blog entry about my latest love in the make up world!

I've already blogged about Orglamix's make up before, and you already know that her shipping and customer service are absolutely top notch! So this time I'm just gonna rave about the perfect find for a lazy make up lover like myself. I do like going out looking good, but half the time I can't be arsed to go through the whole routine of primer, foundation, veil, etc just for a run for coffee with friends or dinner with my bff on a Wednesday... So, I used to go out without any make up at all.

As of late, I dunno if it's the fact that I've been a little burnt out at work, haven't been sleeping too well, and have been feeling a bit more tired than usual, the bags under my eyes have become more noticeable, and if I go out for lunch after working night shift, I do have a bit of an undead sort of look, so what to do without going through the whole make up routine? Well, I saw this new product at Orglamix called Whole Grain Self-Adjusting Mineral Foundation and when I read that "The unique light-reflecting ingredients instantly brighten, creating a gorgeous, 'soft-focus' appearance that smooths fine lines, fine lines, shadows and imperfections, so skin glows with good health." I thought - why not give it a go?

Well, I got it, and gave it a try first time I went out during the week for a lil shopping and coffee with one of my friends. I just used some concealer for under my eyes and Whole Grain for the whole face, as I would with a regular veil, but unless a veil or rice powder that looks white till you blend it, it just blends with your skin tone instantly. So at first, you don't seem to notice much of a difference, and you don't look like you're wearing make up, but you sure look better, and in my case, no more undead look!

So now, my super quick routine for going out consists on just concealer and Whole Grain, I get to look good without looking like I have make up on me at all! And since it's fast and with no fuss, I have no reason to be awfully lazy about it, and go out looking like the undead! I'll reserve the whole routine to look all properly dolled up for going out at night!

Now, I just need Orglamix to offer the Whole Grain in their XL size!

Pink Quartz Minerals, an amazing Mineral Foundation!

2010-05-12T03:58:00.004+02:00

I am here to admit it to the world: I am a makeup idiot. I totally do not wear makeup unless I can get someone to put it on for me because ~~I will lose an eye if I do it myself~~ I have a hard time blending stuff, or if I am forced to do it for another occasion and my girlfriends are not around, I try, and mostly fail. So for me to try something like a powder foundation was a stretch. I kept seeing those late-night infomercials about Bare Minerals, and thought it looked really easy to try! Heck, even a monkey could do it, I bet! SO I went on line, and looked at pricing. Then I realized that I would just have to stick with the foundation that I have had for 10 years, that is oily, and smashes all over my clothing.

But, after Pili's review about Pink Quartz Minerals corrector, I decided that I needed to look more into this shop! Well, lo and behold, she makes foundation EXACTLY like Bare Minerals! Well, not exactly, dare I say BETTER!?!?!?! Here is the deal, not only does Pink Quartz Minerals offer an amazing array of primers, foundations, veils, and other mineral makeup, but the way she offers her foundation is pretty amazing. Here is the run-down:

Pink Quartz Minerals offers foundation kits. Some of her kits include a kabuki brush, which is essential for the application of her foundation. The kabuki brushes are vegan, which is HUGE to me. I did a ton of researching, and I cannot verify if Bare Minerals brushes are vegan, but my guess would be no. Since they do not state other wise, I am sure they are not, as it would be a really big selling point.
Pink Quartz Minerals has a really rad array of shades for their foundation. Bare Minerals only has 6 shades, but PQM has 21!!! And if she does not have the shade you need, she will CUSTOM mix you a shade! How AMAZING is that?!?!?!
On the topic of shades, here is the biggest, and most amazing selling point, and the main reason I went with PQM. She offers kits that offer samples first. What does this mean? Well, in the notes to seller, you let her know what general skin tone you have (olive, pale, sallow ect) and she will send you some samples (with your kabuki brush if you ordered one) so you can try them out, and pick the one that matches your skin! THEN, you just shoot her a convo on Etsy, and she will send you a full size foundation in the color that you ALREADY know matches you! THIS.IS.AMAZING.
She offers a new refill in her shop, so when you are out of foundation, instead of re-ordering a whole listing, all you have to do is order a refill vial for $10.50 (You need two of these if you have a large jar) and dump it into your pot! SO MUCH better then re-purchasing a kit, or another jar, so much more cost-effective, and SO GREEN!

So, since her foundation is so amazing, you must think that maybe I am biased, because this is the only mineral foundation that I have tried? Well, let me tell you, I have gads of friends in the Etsy community that love her foundation, eyeshadow, correctors, and primers! Pili loves her, as well! The foundation does not settle in the creases of my face, and does not feel dry. It is weightless, and pretty amazing.

I hope you all get a chance to grab some of this amazing foundation. Like I said, I really am NOT a makeup expert, but Pink Quartz Minerals makes it pretty simple for me. The coverage is amazing, and it makes my mommy face look less zombie-like, and more rock-star! The price cannot be beat, and her customer service is pretty amazing, as well!

It has arrived, it is here, it's our own shiny blog button!

2010-03-13T17:28:00.003+01:00

Hello there everyone!

Having a nice weekend? I sure hope so! I'm gearing up to full force after my vacation with the bf, and this entry is proof of it!

Brooke and me had been thinking about making a blog button for this our loved B&B bloggie, and I decided that I'd work on the image necessary for it during my vacation, where I'd have much more time free to find the perfect spot for the perfect shot! And the perfect spot was the bathroom in our room at the Alila's resort in Goa (seriously, what a bathroom, and what a bathtub! Glorious!). The props used for the shot are 3 super cute bath cupcakes by My Other Princess (see previous blog entry about her here).

So, without further ado, I bring to you, the Two Girls And A Bar of Soap blog button!

If you have ever been featured in our blog before, feel free to grab and show it off, you can even add it to your Etsy listings if you feel so inclined!

And of course, if you love our blog, feel free to grab it too!

My Other Princess Bath'n'Body!!

2010-03-03T08:40:00.004+01:00

Well, hello there!

I know, I know, it's been a while since either Brooke or me have updated the blog, but since Brooke has been buried under a ton of custom diaper bags, and I've been pretty busy at work and then on vacation... the blog has been feeling pretty lonely as of late.

But, here I am again, ready to rave about my latest love in the world of B&B! Cupcake fizzies (or also know as cupcake bath bombs)!

First of all, I have to send up a word of warning, these are NOT edible, and buying them and leaving them around the bathroom may result in bubbly conversations with the guilty soap-eater significant other... (No, I'm not exaggerating, both Brooke & me know what I'm talking about...).

I discovered "My Other Princess" shop on Etsy simply by looking for bath bombs that would ship internationally, and when I saw the amazing looking CUPCAKES in her shop and the fact that she was willing to shop worldwide, I was completely sold! The only question remaining was which of the many awesome scents to try first!

She has both mini sized cupcakes in sets of three and full sized ones that are sold individually, as well as mix and match sets where you can choose your custom scents.

I went for three sets of 3 mini sized cupcakes in Dulce de Leche, Blackberry and Cinnamon Bun!

Dulce de Leche cupcake

Blackberry cupcake

Cinnamon Bun cupcake

The first one I tried was the Blackberry cupcake, and Oh My! the scent is amazing!! And even if they have added almond oil for that extra punch of moisturizing in your skin, the bathtub does NOT become oily or awfully slippery, and I should know, cause I had a bath just last Sunday with three cupcakes!! That was cupcake heaven!!.

These cupcakes have become not only my favourite treat for taking a relaxing bath, but also a favourite prop to photography! They're a serious treat to not just your skin, but also the eyes! (Unfortunately not a treat for your mouth, but hey at least you're saving yourself calories right there!). They've been featured in my other blog button, and they will be featured in our shiny, soon-to-come, Two Girls And A Bar of Soap button! (More news on that on a soon-ish to come blog entry right here, so stay tuned!).

Right now, My Other Princess is celebrating her 1 Year Etsyversary, so every purchase from her shop from March 1st to March 6th will be added to a drawing for a $10 gift certificate for her shop! Go check her shop NOW!

Rose of Sharon Acres Tooth Chips Teeth Soap

2010-02-09T05:05:00.001+01:00

In my quest to be really green, and buy completely off Etsy for all my toiletries, I was really dreading the whole toothpaste issue. I love my listerine, and I literally brush about 4 times a day. Sad, really, but true. I love to be minty fresh. But I was determined, and after some research, and asking around on the Etsy chat boards, I decided about a year ago to try Rose of Sharon Acres Tooth Chips.

Now, I know what you all are thinking. SOAP!?!? Ew. TOTALLY not cool, it is like washing out your mouth with soap!

Not true. I have major gag reflexes, and I actually love the tooth soap. It cleans really well, leaves my teeth SO much more clean feeling then they have ever been before, and there is not a ton of sudsy junk going on when brushing!

So, when you are using the tooth soap, the routine goes like this:

1. wet your toothbrush
2. take one tooth soap "chip" and bite between your molars.
3. use the wet toothbrush to scrub with the soap.
4. spit, and rinse!

That is IT! And when I am done, my teeth are SO clean, it is really amazing There is a bit of an aftertaste, but it is by no means offensive, or bad. I have really sensitive teeth, and enamel problems, and since I have been using the tooth soap, even my dentist has seen a difference! And I also have to add. I have been using the soap for over a year now, and in that WHOLE year, I have not had ONE cavity. NOT ONE! And I was pregnant for 9 months, and we all know that babies leach nutrients from their mommies, and leave their teeth weak. Mine were NOT!

Rose of Sharon Acres is really informed about tooth products, and the dangers of over the counter formulas, and rather then get really wordy about it here, here is a blurb from the shop, about it.

"Research....I discovered through in the book "Good Teeth from Birth to Death" by Dr. Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D., Chemistry and Fluoride Researcher that bar soap was actually one of his recommendations to good strong teeth.

This is an excerpt from that book: "Reenamelization of the teeth occurs when they are clean. All toothpastes make a barrier of glycerine on the teeth which would require 20 rinses to get it off. A good solution for clean teeth, which I have used for 5 years, is bar soap. Wet the brush, swipe the bar two or three times with it, then brush the teeth thoroughly and the gums gently. Rinse with water three or four times. All oils are washed off the teeth and the gums are disinfected. The bacteria are killed by the soap. The teeth are then ready for reenamelization with calcium and phosphate in the diet. The enzyme adenosine diphosphatase delivers phosphate to the enamel surface. Do not use liquid soaps. Their different composition is harmful to the protoplasm.

Reenamelization is necessary on a daily basis because the enamel leaches slightly with water as well as the bones over decades leading to holey bones and holey teeth even in the absence of acid attack. Without reenamelization, we could never have good teeth."

I would highly reccomend trying out the tooth soap. Rose of Sharon Acres offers a smaller 2 oz container of chips, for around 9$ if you want to try it out. And literally, 2 oz can get you a few weeks of use!

I moved. Just an FYI.

2010-02-09T04:50:00.002+01:00

I moved blogs, over to Wordpress. Come follow Brooke Van Gory over there! ;)

Wonderful Men's review!

2010-01-08T15:26:00.000+01:00

So, since Pili is pretty much the queen of handmade shopping, and she has an awesome-tastic boyfriend.......it should go without saying that she has "forced" him into using handmade products. Seriously, if you ever get a chance to go and read all the previous posts on Pili's blog, your jaw will drop. She gifts handmade like it is cool, and does an awesome job!

So now Gaurav has gotten in on the reviewing act, with his review of Flying Bird Botanicals! He reviewed the teas, and shaving kit! I think he did an amazing job, and really, it was refreshing to read a man's point of view on a bath product! It also solidifies my thoughts that I may be able to make Greg use some handmade Etsy items, too!

Hey, I can dream right?

So head on over, and check out his review, it really is very thorough, and very well written!

SkinJourney's Serums

2010-01-02T17:27:00.004+01:00

Second day of the New Year, how's everyone faring? Got rid of the hangover?

I started the day with Aunt Irma's arrival, so I could be better, but such is life, nothing that tea & ibuprofen can't manage!

After Jussara from SpaTherapyWorks stopped making her serum, I started looking around Etsy for a serum that would help my skin look the best. This year is the year I'll turn 30, and though I still look younger (I can easily pass by 23 or 25, or younger if you believe the assistant of my Amsterdam-Detroit flight that thought I was the unaccompanied minor of the flight... he even asked to see my passport), I still want to look younger than my age for as long as I can!

The first thing I started looking for was an eye serum, because with my changes of schedule as a nurse, working night shifts, then back to 8 to 3, or 3 to 10, the lack of sleep and all that, bags under my eyes were getting a lil too common for my liking. So that's when I turned to a shop I had eyed for a while: Skin Journey and their Bright Eyes serum!

Bright Eyes is full of nutrients for the skin and since it's in gel formula is non-greasy, very easy to absorb and since it comes with a pump, you only have to use a lil bit. I first got a sample size of it, and a little does go a looong way, so I'm sure the full size bottle will last a lot, and in perfect condition since it never gets in contact with the air, so none of the ingredients can get oxidized and lose their properties. I've been using it since the summer, and it's been a great help getting rid of the puffy eyes after working night shift! As a rule, I always use it as the last part of my facial care routine, on top of the moisturizer.

After trying the Bright Eyes serum, I started wondering about Skin Journey's Anti-aging Firming Serum, and after a friend of mine using it and recommending it, I thought I really had to give it a try. It also comes in a container with a pump, so ingredients don't degrade and as the Bright Eyes serum, a little does go a long way! It's a thick cream, that melts great with the skin, and it contains DMAE (according to reseach it helps smoothing out lines and evens out the complexion), Squalane and Vitamin E. It's always recommended to use the serum right after the toner and before the moisturizer. I've been using it for over a month, it makes my skin feel silky and I'm really pleased with the results!

So now, these two serums have been added to my daily facial care, both in the morning and at night! If you want to know and read more about them, in both their Etsy listings there's the full list of ingredients for each!

Body Language Soap's amazing facial masks!

2010-01-01T17:54:00.004+01:00

Happy New Year!

I'm hoping you all had a great beginning of 2010, and had a fun & safe New Year's Eve!

If your plans involved a lot of partying & make up and not sleeping enough, your face and skin are gonna be in need of some extra facial care, and what better than some awesome facial masks?

I have to make a confession, I love trying new facial products, and one way to get to my heart is scent, why? Cause I always smell everything first! From soaps, lotion, masks to make up! But my obsession with facial care products shouldn't come as much of a surprise, after all I'm one of the Two Girls with a bar of soap, right? Right ;)

Well, these two facial masks I've got & tried this week are so amazing that I pushed back everything I had in my list of blogs pending to make to talk about them! Wondering what masks could have impressed me that much? They're Body Language Soap's Triple Comfort & Parisian Glow!

This masks are dry masks, what does this mean? This means that they're in powdery form, which means you have to mix them yourself, which means a lil extra work than your usual store bought masks, but it also means that they're preservative free, and that means no harmful chemicals, and no expiry date! You mix them right the moment you are going to use them, AND you can use different liquids to mix them with, depending of what you have handy or your skin type, which means an even more personalized facial care!

The Triple Comfort mask has to be, scent wise, my favourite! It has chamomile, calendula, comfrey and ginger, and it does smell like a nice & comforting cup of tea! I'd recommend this mask for days when your skin is dry or looks tired and need of some extra care. Like on a day after a long night, like today.

I mixed it with milk, cause I have dry skin with a tendency to get dehydrated easily. I had a few issues finding a bowl that'd be a good size for mixing it, but the mixing up is really easy if you add whatever liquid you decide to use for it in very small quantities at a time, remember you are gonna make a paste for your face, not the entire neighborhood! I left the mask on for approximately 10 minutes (recommended 10-15 min) but I didn't time it, I just grabbed a book and read for a while to pass the time.

When I scrubbed off the mask with warm-ish water I looked at my skin and wow, was I impressed! My pores looked waaaaay better than before! And I mean WAY better! So I thought, okay now here's a keeper! And of course, I knew I needed to try the other mask and tell you guys all about it!

So, though for dry skin is not recommended to use a mask more than once a week, it had been so long till I had used facial masks, that I thought that twice a week my skin wouldn't mind it. So the next day I used the Parisian Glow mask. This one has French Green Clay and Green Tea Powder with essential oils that make it an awesome detoxifying mask!

This one I mixed with Greek Yogurt (well, the yogurt was part of my breakfast, and I thought, why not?) and this time I timed it a lil better, I left it on the entire duration of Iron Maiden's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and that's over 13 minutes . Once again, I was thoroughly impressed! Glowing skin and barely noticeable pores! Another must have! Ideal mask to leave your skin looking amazing for any special day/occasion!

Final words? Get one of these masks, or both, or even all of them! Lindsay from BodyLanguageSoaps also has three more masks: Zebra Face (detoxifying for acne prone skins), Lavender Soothing (for sensitive skin) which I think Brooke should try and Pomegranate Power Clarifying, that I think it's the one I wanna try next!

My favourite Mineral Make Up!

2009-12-31T18:21:00.011+01:00

*Edit 16 January 2011: Due to recent and not so recent but ongoing events & information, we apologize to any of our readers that we might have turned into buying Glittersniffer Cosmetics and have had to deal with more than poor customer service and unsafe products. Here at Two Girls And A Bar of Soap no longer use or support any of her products, and urge you to read GlitterSniffer Complaints for more information*

Hey there! Happy New Year's Eve & Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I last updated this blog myself, but thankfully Brooke has been keeping it more up to date!

Since, I'm now on holidays, I do plan to update more often, and I have two more blog entries already planned, so stay tuned!

This blog entry is going to be about my discovering and love of mineral make up, more specifically about handmade mineral make up!

I started buying and completely made the switch to only mineral make up this year, and I wanted to share with you the three brands that I love and their products: GlitterSniffer, Pink Quartz Minerals & Orglamix.

The switch to mineral make up not only has resulted in a renewal for my love of make up, but I've also learnt a lot of new things about how to make sure you look your best and not like you're wearing a mask!

One of the things I've learnt is how important is to use a primer, for it prepares your skin for the application of the rest of the make up, helping it go on smoothly & helping it stay on for longer without fading.

I got my Porcelain Face Dust Primer from Glittersniffer cause I felt like experimenting a lil, and I completely fell in love! You just have to mix a few sprinkles of it with your usual moisturizer and apply it, and ready to start playing with the rest of your make up!

It's usually recommended that you use whatever correctors and/or concealers you want to apply. I usually just go with Pink Quartz Minerals Goldenrod corrector for under my eyes, since it's a corrector for dark spots, age spots, and any purple-ish you may have around your eyes. It's my best friend when I wear make up after working night shift.

Then goes the foundation. Mineral powders should be applied lightly and letting the first layer of it settle properly before applying a second layer, if you really think you need it. One more thing that makes a lot of sense but I never really thought about before is that you need two tones of foundation during the year, one for winter, when your skin is whiter, and one for summer, when it is more tan. I have Pink Quartz Minerals' Grace for the winter, and Orglamix's Bamboo for the summer.

After foundation you can (& should ) use a veil or rice powder, cause it'll help the foundation settle and will give you a smoother look, and will reflect the light away from the wrinkles or lines, giving you an effective "airbrushed" look as Lela from Glittersniffer calls it. I have Pink Quartz Minerals' Translucent Veil, Glittersniffer's Doll Face Rice Powder & Orglamix's Rice Sake Matte Powder, and love the three of them! This is one step I can't do without, and I sometimes just wear the veil on its own for an instant "good look" effect!

I usually put on my eye-shadows after the veil, but you can apply the veil afterwards, on top of them, cause even if it looks white, it doesn't add any colour. Talking about eye-shadows, you can get AMAZING eye-shadows from any of these three sellers, I can asure you, you'll love them!

Before putting on eye-shadows I've discovered a specific primer from Orglamix that makes your eye-shadow POP and that also ensures that will last for a looong time! I don't put my eye-shadows on now before applying some Magnetism eye primer!

And lastly, for the superb glowing effect, you need to try the Highlighting & Perfecting Powder from Glittersniffer. For a glowing look you should apply it under your eyebrows, under your eyes and under your cheeks. This will give your make up the final touch and will help you shine!

After this post about make up, with recommendations to help you look your best on New Year's Eve, tomorrow I plan to write a new blog entry about facial masks!

Happy New Year!

And the winner is!!!!!!!

2009-12-19T03:30:00.003+01:00

I swear I just can't make this up.

Brookiellen is the winner.

Cause.....

She is #1!!!!!

No, really, Random.org picked #1.

So Brooke, you have 24 hours to claim your prize!

Congratulations!

CLOSED!!!!!!!SUPER HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY! Self-Inflicted DIY Bath and Body gift basket!

2009-12-14T03:29:00.004+01:00

***this giveaway has been closed**

I have been so excited about this giveaway for some time now, ever since I talked to Heather about doing it. The time has FINALLY arrived! This is YOUR chance to WIN a huge gift basket of awesome bath and body products from one of my FAVORITE sellers, Self-Inflicted DIY! And you wannt know what I am totally JEALOUS about? tons of the stuff I WANT TO KEEP! It is killing me, but I am so excited that I get to share the love with our readers here at Two Girls!

Heather startted making soaps and bath products a little over a year ago, and Pili and I already loved her from DIY Scene. So it was just the next step for me to try out some of this soap she was yakking about. WELL, lemme tell you what. I am not one to be completely sold on a product from the get-go. This time it was different. I am being completely honest that I have only once used something OTHER then her soap on Gory since the day he was born. Once. For a week. Never again.

When Gory was diagnosed with contact dermatitis, and eczema, the doctor was actually AMAZED with how LITLE of his skin was actually flaking off. She told me that I should be using oatmeal soap, and I told her about Self-Inflicted, and even SHE was amazed! It works wonders on Gory's skin, on my skin, hell- we are just a Self-Inflicted family!

Greg and I worked on compiling a list of why we love her soap so darn much. Here is what we came up with:

Heather creates the soaps in small batches, and that ensures that all her soap is mixed really well, and evenly. We have purchased soaps from other shops, and sometimes, you can tell the ingredients have settled weird, or unevenly. NEVER with Self-Inflicted. They are always perfect.

The scents she has are AMAZING! If you want to know what Gory smells like, seriously, grab a bar of her Vanilla Bean. Yep, that is what he smells like! Like a little vanilla cupcake! Greg SWEARS it is the only soap he will use for Gory, and Greg really cannot STAND any of my DIY stuff. THis is the only product he loves. So I guess it is husband approved! ;)

She has amazing customer service, and will work with you if you have any special requests, or concerns. All her products are handmade with lots of love, and all ingredients are vegan. So no animals were hurt in the making of your soap, or it's components!

It is amazing for sensitive skin, even WITH the scent! Both Gory and I have SEVERLY sensitive skin, and her soaps are VERY fragrant, and neither one of us has EVER had a problem, nor has anyone that I have given her soap to.

So, on with the giveaway! Heather has so generously given us a large collection of amazing products for us to give to one lucky reader! You will have a few ways to enter, and the more entires you have, the better your chance is to win!

Included in the giveaway package are as follows:

1 bottle of Vanilla Buttercream Bubble Bath
1 large snowflake Oatmeal soap in Drunken Christmas
10 Mini Olive Oil Soaps in Drunken Christmas
1 Soy Wax candle in a decorative Snowman Mug in Maple Pecan scent
*with a tag that is completely recycled, and contains flower seeds in it! Just plant the ENTIRE tag in the spring, and you have a ready, made garden!
1 Croched Bath Sets in Tan made from Organic Cotton
(this includes 1 drawstring Soap Saver bag, 1 Washcloth and 5 Face cloths)

I have packed all of these goodies in a cute round peppermint candy box! Perfect for a gift FOR YOURSELF! Seriously, the winner will not want to give this away, bellieve me!

Want to win? Here are the ways you can enter!
*leave a seperate comment for each entry, please!

Head on over to Self_inflicted DIY's Etsy shop. Take a look around, and come back here, and leave a comment telling us what item YOU would love from Santa under your tree this year!
This entry must be completed first, or all other entries will not count!

Heart Self-Inflicted SIY's shop on Etsy, and leave your Etsy name as a comment.
Follow Self-Inflicted on Twitter
Follow Self-Inflicted's blog
Follow Two Girls and a Bar of Soap blog publicly.
Make a purchase from Self-Inflicted and recieve 5 extra entires! Leave one comment PER entry!

Tweet about the giveaway! Up to 4 tweets per day allowed, come back and leave a comment linking to each tweet!

Win a bath and body gift basket from 2 Girls blog and @self_inflicted full of tons of smelly goodies! http://bit.ly/8mrafl #giveaway #Etsy

This contest is open worldwide. The giveaway ends December 18 at 8PM CST. Winner will be chosen via a random number generator, and will be notified promptly. Winner will have 24 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Shower Treat Soap Review and Giveaway by Jessie Kaitlin!!

2009-11-03T05:51:00.000+01:00

My good friend, and fellow twitter-er (is this correct?!?!?!) Jessie over at Moma Lovebug just posted a review WITH a giveaway for Shower Treat Soap's laundry detergent! Remember when we reviewed them over here at Two Girls when we got some samples in our EGCG swag bags? Well now is your chance to win some to try yourselves!

Head on over to Moma Lovebug, and check it out! Then hop on over to Shower Treat Soap's blog, and follow them too to keep up to date on the going on's over there!

Flying Bird Botanicals Baby Bird Head-To-Toe Wash

2009-10-30T04:46:00.001+01:00

It took me a while to finally break down and try a handmade baby shampoo. We all know I love the soap I use for Gory, and really, I will use it until the day he can take a shower on his own. But shampoo was a different ballpark for me with the baby. I had read all sorts of horror stories about how they put analgesics in the shampoo to make them tearless, and I was NOT down with that. AT ALL! To be honest, it scared the pants off me. So for the first few months, I was using some "tearless" junk someone gave us at a shower. It smelled really bad, and it took FOREVER to rinse off his melon! So I started my search.

The search finally lead me to Flying Bird Botanicals on Etsy. They are an organic company out of Washington State, and their shop announcement had me hooked from the first read.

welcome to flying bird botanicals... offering pure and wholesome solutions for your life and health. we use only the finest organic, wildcrafted, fair trade and locally grown herbs, oils and butters to create our fine herbal delights. we never use anything artificial in any of our products, only pure, delicious, natural ingredients. everything we create- from our luxurious creams to our original tea blends- is handcrafted in small batches to ensure the highest quality. every aspect of the creation of our products is carried out with thought and intention... from our family to yours.

They also say that they love working with mothers, and pregnant woman to offer custom care for the whole family. How wonderful, and thoughtful! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! They actually have a whole line devoted to expectant mothers, and babies! All natural, all organic, simple ingredients! Plus they are all vegitarian, and do not animal test! I decided to grab a 4 oz. of the Baby Bird Wash as a trial.

The package came very quickly, was wonderfully packaged, and I could not wait to try it! I used it for the first time that night. The first shot, I think I overdid it a bit. Really, a TINY drop of the soap will wash a whole baby. Not just his head! Upon finding this out, I realized that the 4 oz bottle will last me for a LONG while! How awesome! And it smells FANTASTIC! It is softly scented with sweet orange and local lavender angustafolia essential oil, and HOLY WOW is it amazing! Paired with my cupcake soap that I use on him, he is all snuggly and ready for bed as soon as he is dried off!

The big test with Gory, however, was allergies. He is like me, and has allergies. He is highly allergic to disposable diapers, disposable wipes, and laundry detergents. So I tried it, and braced myself for the worst. Well, after a week of using the wash every night, I am proud to say it passed the sensitive Gory test! So much so, that I even use it in my handmade diaper wash solution, now!

Now tht I love Flying Bird Botanicals so much, I can;t wait to try their other products! They sell a Baby Bird Bottom Spray that would be awesome for the diaper bag, organic teas, medicinal salves, and some wonderful looking theraputic care items (I am eyeballing the rose water toner!).

Hop on over and take a look! They are currently offering a Flying Bird Baby Powder sample with any Baby Bird Purchase! They have wonderful baby packages, as well as mommy and baby packages, as well!

Banning the stinky boy pits

2009-09-29T16:44:00.002+02:00

As you know, one of my previous blogs was reviewing the various natural deodorants that I have used, and the ways I have pushed their breaking point! Well, also being a mommy, I want the best for my kiddos as well. This would not only be limited to the handmade soaps and shampoos that I use for them, but also their laundry detergent (Rockin Green or BUST!) dish detergent, and yes.....deodorant.

Now.....I do not know how many of you are familiar with a 9 year old boy's pits. And I am not sure any of you WANT to be familiar with them. Cause believe me, I wish I was not. There are not words to describe the stench that comes from a pre-teen boy's body, not to mention the SMELL that comes out of their pits as they go to give you a hug after running around at gym the last class of the day.

BUT, there was no way I was going to subject him to wearing something that has aluminum in it, or anything that could harm him, his body, OR his skin! The product needed to be "boy friendly" and none of this "my mom is a weirdo" stuff, that would have his friends rolling their eyes, and calling me a granola.

First, I did a search on Etsy for "masculine smell" , and came across this Pink Parchment Soap. They had a scent called Bay Rum, and said it is a favorite with men. SOLD!

But what about his pits? This was gonna be a rough one. I then stumbled across Soap. Yep, plain and simple. They make a deodorant called Ban Stinky Armpits. PERFECT! Cause that is EXACTLY what I needed to do! But they make ANOTHER one called VANQUISH Stinky Pits, which is a bit stronger then the previous one! Sold! I purchased the Black scent, and waited.

When both the soap and deodorant came, both actually arrived quite quickly! The Bay Rum soap worked PERFECTLY in the shower, and Evan loved the smell! It also lasted quite some time, which is a plus when the boys are using it, because they will scrub and scrub to no end in there, and then the soap will be gone in less then a week!

The big test was the deodorant. Evan is VERY difficult to get to do ANYTHING in the morning, and forget telling him to take his vitamins, or put on deodorant! But he is actually excited to put this stuff on! It smells good, but not overpowering! I feel good, knowing it is safe, and does not have aluminum in it. He does need to re-apply it once or twice during the day, as I do also, with mine from Spa Therapy Works, but that is the price you pay for being safe! Plus, Soap now offers Mini Pit Love, which are travel sized, so I think I might grab some of those, and toss it into his backpack for at school!

I would reccoment Soap and Pink Parchment to anyone that has a young son or daughter. Really, buying handmade shold not just be all about pampering us, but also, our kids!

Worthy Soy Candle - Travel Sized Tin Candles!

2009-07-17T21:23:00.006+02:00

This blog has been a bit abandoned as of late... But life has been hectic, even more for Brooke than for me, so the blogging fun takes a back seat sometimes.

But, today I'm having a day off and I've felt like blogging again, so decided that it was about time that I updated our blog!

Today's entry is gonna be about Soy Candles, and specifically about the amazing Travel Sized Tin Candles that the awesome Erica from Worthy Soy Candles custom made for me!

I love having tin candles for when I'm going on trips, they're safer than regular candles, since they burn inside the tin, so it's more rare that they would cause a fire in the room, and they're mess free!: take the lid off, lit candle, enjoy; and if it doesn't burn all in one go, you just have to put the candle out, put the lid on and toss it back into your luggage!

I went looking all around Etsy for travel size tin candles, and I found myself with very FEW options, for one, I wanted a small size, like 2 oz tins, and... I barely could find any sellers that would ship to Spain... I was a bit bummed, but I then I thought about asking Erica from Worthy Soy Candles.

I had bought a sample set of her tea light soy candles before, and I loved the scents and how cleanly they burnt, and I know she's willing to ship to Spain. So I decided to ask her if she was thinking of adding travel tin candles to her shop. Erica said it was on her to-do list, but she didn't know when she'd get at it, but if I wanted, she could work on a custom order for me.

YAY! I went over her scent list and tried to pick just 4... I managed, but wow, she has such a huge list of scents available it was very hard narrowing it to just 4!

When the package arrived it smelt so well! No need to open it or look at the label to know what it was! Even the postman commented on how well that package smelt! And the box looked so cute too!

I got my 4 2oz travel tin candles in Plumeria, Ocean Breeze, Rain Water and Moon Lake Musk. And I also got me a sample size Earth Angel tea light.

Both Ocean Breeze and Rain Water have that calming, soothing scent, that reminds you of the shea shore, or a rainy day. They are really clean and refreshing scents.

Plumeria is a bit of a more girly scent, and also a vacation scent, since the smell of this tropical flower can transport you to the tropics and the beach!

And Moon Lake Musk is avery alluring, enticing scent, absolutely perfect for a romantic getaway or a romantic night!

I really can't wait to try them all on my next trip!

Spa Therapy's Oil Free Scrubs

2009-06-19T16:59:00.004+02:00

You might be wondering... Where have you girls been as of late? Well, I can tell you we haven't forgotten about our love for handmade Bath & Beauty products, but life has a way of getting in the way of blogging!

With summer almost officially here (Solstice is this Sunday), and the summer heat having been around for quite a while, at least over here, I thought it would be nice to share with you one of my latest B&B purchases and crush: Spa Therapy's Oil Free Scrub!

I have tried a few scrubs and body polishes, and so far, all have been nice and not too harsh, I want to remove dead cells, not the ones that are in good condition, thank you very much!

When I saw Jussara's new line, I decided to give it a try, since I was almost all out of body scrubs, and I was intrigued not only by the fact that it was oil free, but also by the look of the scrub's texture. Going with the summer's theme, I decided to order the Frozen Margarita scented one!

The first thing I really like about this scrub, without even opening it, is the jar, wide and regular, easy to access, and you won't have to fight to access the last bits of the scrub on borders or angles, so that's a score for me.

The scent is fresh and lime-y, perfect for refreshing you in the shower, and the texture is very different from the regular scrubs, and more like a body polish, since it's got a finer grain texture, almost like a whipped soap, consistent but almost fluffy!

The best about this consistency is that it spreads very easily on the skin and foams very well, creating a nice scrub-y but lather-y feel! And even better, a lil does go a long way!

All in all, a very recommended product, and if Margaritas are not your thing, you also have Summer Smoothie and Turkish Coffee (for those who need the coffee to wake up in the shower!).

I know I don't think of going back to the regular scrubs any time soon!

Skin Journey; Destination: Happy Feet!

2009-05-26T18:48:00.004+02:00

You might be thinking, feet again? But feet are icky!!

I'm not a particularly feet=icky person, but I sure haven't really been caring as much as I should, or as well as I should for my feet. But that's changing with the wonderful range of handmade products I've found!

I've already told you about the amazing cooling cream from Right As Rain creations that I've just ordered (in 4oz size!) and the fantastic foot herbal milk bath from Morgan Street, but today I'm gonna talk about another two products I've found that compliment those perfectly!

I've had the Skin Journey etsy shop for a long time in my favourites, but during the EGCG Easter Egg Hunt, I browsed more the shop and added a few products I really wanted to try to my favourites, and did the usual bit of reading around: profile, shop policies and feedback. And during one of her special SNS sales, I got a really nice discount on her foot care products!

I got the Overnight Foot treatment and the Stimulating Foot scrub a week ago, and after trying them I have to give them TWO big thumbs up!

My routine has been combining them with the 15 min milk bath with warm water (I recomend not too warm water, just warm enough so the feet don't feel the shock of the water too much).

Then 2 mins scrub-a-dub lower legs and feet with the Stimulating Foot scrub (it has pumice stone and jojoba beads, which are very exfoliating, but very mild at the same time, and doesn't feel harsh at all for the feet).

And then for the final treat, 2 or 3 times a week, use the Aloe & Hydroxy Acids Overnight foot treatment for very soft skin! This is a very thick cream, and a little goes a long way! You don't need much for each feet, but it's better if after applying it, you put some cotton socks on and off to sleep you go! You'll find yourself in the morning with healed, softer skin (and less icky feet!).

For the rest of the days, I'd still recommend using the cooling foot cream at night, cause it'll moisturize and sooth tired feet after a long day!

That has become my routine for my feet care, twice a week, milk bath, scrub & overnight cream, and for the rest of the days, nightly dose of cooling cream! And I can assure you, I have HAPPY FEET!

EGCG Swag Bag: DressGreen!

2009-05-18T20:07:00.005+02:00

Both Brooke and myself have been on a quest of trying to find the PERFECT moisturizer for quite a long time, and apparently we got it sent home, in sample size, with the EGCG Swag Bag!

I have tried a variety of creams, body butters and lotions, from Lollibomb's whipped body frosting that was a bit too thick for me (and somehow ended up leaving my skin a bit dry nonetheless), through some other body butters and whipped body frostings and lotions. Of all the body frostings I've tried my favourites are Spa Therapy's, but they are a bit greasy, and take a lil to be absorbed, not much, but not instantly either, so I just reserve them for the thick of the winter, when my skin gets very dry, and the lotions are nice, but sometimes my skin needs something a bit thicker... picky much, huh?

Well, I got a sampler of DressGreen's body cream in EGCG Swag Bag, tried it and OH LA LA! Thick but not too much, spreads very easily, and best of all, absorbed instantlly!! You might be wondering why is it so important for me, but I don't want to have to wait for the skin to absorb the moisturizer for long, or if in a hurry, having to fight the jeans up cause they get sticked to the legs!

After using up all the sample, I had to ask Brooke if she had tried it, and she had, and not only that, she was as in love with it as I was! Four thumbs up, then!

I decided to go and order the full, 8oz size and although she didn't have the Pomegrante Juice scent at that moment, I went for the Blackberry Sage one, and also decided to indulge myself and get to try her Lip Lush, a lip balm with some colour & shimmer.

The package arrived today, and the body cream is as brilliant as the sample was, and I love this scent too! I want to try the Orange Blossom one next!

The Lip Lush is available in 4 different colours: Sultry, Sassy, Tricky and Lusty. I got myself Tricky, with a coppery brown shimmer, and I must say I love it! I love the fresh smell of it, the taste it leaves, it's not a foodie taste/scent, but smells & tastes nice and fresh, and not one of those waxy/oily tastes you get sometimes in lip balms that contain beeswax or different combination of non-vegan oils. It does give a lil bit of colour and shine, perfect for a lil dolling up for your everyday and informal needs! I'm already planning to get another, as soon as the shop is open again!

Lauren (DressGreen's owner and one woman show) was also so kind as to send me a sample of one of her facial soaps, that I intend to try this week.

Stay tuned for more reviews of awesome B&B products by Brooke & yours truly!

MorganStreet Patisserie!

2009-05-17T16:42:00.004+02:00

As you probably have already gathered, I'm always on the lookout for handmade products to substitute the regular shop-bought products that I use, and the search always leads me to amazing new products that I can't live without afterwards!

My latest search was foot & hand care. I was looking for handmade products that would leave my hands and feet soothed and moisturized, and presentable for any outings!

A pair of those products came my way by pure chance in the EGCG Swag Bag, and then lead me to compliment them with other products I had been eyeing for a while in MorganStreet's shop!

Checking Etsy regularly has it's rewards, but I have found that Twitter is a wonderful tool to find out about your favourite sellers' sales; that's how I found out about Sharon offering 20% off in her shop, and that's how I pounced on the chance to get me some more hands & feet care goodies!

When I got my package, I feel in love with the lovely packaging, totally like getting a present, all nicely wrapped and presented! I got a Herbal Milk Foot Soak, a Lemon Manicure in a Jar and a Cuticle Balm.

What I tried first were both the Manicure in a Jar and the Cuticle Balm. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I have pretty dried out hands, work related, and also have a tendency to munch on the bits of skin that peel off around the nails, and the unkept cuticles, as a nervous or boredom related tick. I have been using both products daily for a week, and I so can see a difference in my hands! The Manicure in a Jar has a wonderful texture, it's a scrub & a hand-butter all at the same time! You just need to massage and scrub a bit of the cream into wet hands, rinse & pat dry and your hands feel sooooo moisturized! The cuticle balm has a wonderful refreshing scent with lemon, rosemary & tea tree, and moisturizes both the nails & cuticles without being greasy at all! For the perfect handcare, I compliment them with the Mirasol Farm cream, and my hands are feeling better than ever!

The Herbal Milk Foot Soak I've tried a few times, and even if the first time I tried it (as soon as it arrived) it felt nice and refreshing, it showed its true colours when I used it after a long night out wearing high heels! Oh my! I could almost hear my feet say "Aaaaaaaaaaaah, niiiiiiice!" when I got them in the warm water with a pair of teaspoons of this. Throbbing tired feet went to instantly soothed feet! Once rinsed and dried, I complimented it with the RightAsRain foot cream, and instant Happy Feet! What's even better is that the morning after, no tired or achy feet at all... This has become my feet's best friend after going out with heels!

Next, I have to try Sharon's Peppermint Sugar Foot Scrub for ready-for-summer feet, and now I'm on the lookout for a Tired Legs cream, lotion or gel... Wish me luck!

EGCG Swag Bag: Shower Treat Soap

2009-05-15T22:39:00.006+02:00

Alright, I know some of you are rolling your eyes at me, thinking YEAH RIGHT! She is all green, that dirty hippy, of course she would LOVE the handmade laundry soap they sent in the swag bag. But let me tell you a secret. I live with 3 boys, my husband, Greg, who is NOT a fan of handmade AT ALL (makes me wonder...) my 9 year old son Evan, and Gory, who is almost 3 months old. Now, for myself or Gory to try something that is new, and handmade is a no-brainer. For Evan to try something that is handmade, a little difficult, but pretty easy when bribing is involved. But Greg? Not on your LIFE! This is the guy that showers with nothing but Irish Spring (YUCK) and has big brand-name loyalty that is outrageous!

So when I spied that I had gotten some of Shower Treat's laundry soap in the swag bag, I got ALL nervous! I had the soap hearted for who knows HOW long, but did not have the guts to try it yet. I thought to myself "Really, how good can it be? I mean, laundry detergent is just that, heavy duty, strong enough to get rid of the grime of the gnarly boys that I live with, and make it seem to the outside person that they are clean and smell good!" Right? I mean, that is the point of laundry soap, to clean the clothes, and leave them fresh smelling. And that had me worried. What if I try it and it does not work? I have to do the whole load over again, that would suck. Well, let me put your mind at ease.......

This soap works AWESOME! Laura has been making soap for over 12 years, and she knows how to make quality products that will stand up to the rigors of family life. This powered soap is made of simple ingredients, not a huge long list of crap that I cannot pronounce, let alone know what the chemicals are, like in store-bought detergents. So I sat and thought, if we wash our clothes in detergent from the store, and it has all of these chemicals in it, how much is left on our clothes, for our skin to absorb off our clothing? I totally feel safe washing the baby's clothes in it, as well as the rest of the family's!

Now, back to the hubby. Greg is the one that usually does the laundry around here. Do not misunderstand, I said DOES, not fold or put away. But he washes them. So I thought there would be a HUGE problem with getting him to *gasp* try something handmade and new to wash our stuff in. It took some convincing, but finally he caved. Now, I need to forewarn some of you, this is a POWDER laundry soap, not liquid. It is not gonna get all foamy and bubbly (but this will make it compatible for your HD washing machine). But it will gently wash your clothes, and leave them smelling really fresh and clean! There is no need for fabric softener in the dryer or washer, either, it leaves the clothes THAT soft. You can even purchase some with essential oils or fragrance oils in them. In the swag bag there was Rosemary Peppermint. Now...not only did it make my laundry smell amazing, but while the wash was in the dryer, it made the HOUSE smell amazing! Not really strong, but a slight fragrance that was noticeable, and very refreshing! And even more surprising, my husband LOVED IT! He really liked the soap, and the clothes were surprisingly clean!

You can find the laundry soap for sale in their Etsy shop. They offer a sampler set, if you are undecided if this soap is going to work for you, which I would recommend to start off with. Also in their Etsy shop, they have dish soap and liquid dish soap. Those are next on my list to try!

*Thanks to Pili, who took the pictures of her soap for me to use for this review. I can review soaps all day, but ask me to take a picture, and I fail!

EGCG Swag Bag: Mirasol Farm

2009-05-07T17:40:00.005+02:00

If you haven't got yourself an EGCG Swag Bag, you surely are gonna be regretting it as you keep on reading the reviews that both me and Brooke are gonna keep on posting.

Today is the turn of Mirasol Farm's Sweet Orange & Calendula cream. When I got the swag bag, I was wondering what sort of a cream it was exactly, a facial cream, a body moisturizer? So I went onto checking the Etsy listing and saw that it was a cream for dry skin that does it all!

I decided to give it a try as hand cream, why specifically for the hands? Well, I'm a nurse, and I can tell you I have quite dry hands because of it. After all that hand washing at work, with not the most skin-safe solutions sometimes, and now with all the recently added alcohol-based antiseptic solutions. They're all great to get rid of bacteria in the hands, which in turn it's better for the patients, but not that good for the hands, trust me.

I started using the cream as a night repair cream for my hands, since it's a thick cream that takes a lil to be absorbed, so you can't really apply it and continue typing in the laptop or doing other things without leaving a bit of a residue. But it is an amazing cream, very rich and highly moisturizing! And it also has a fantastic frangance, from the essential oils of calendula and sweet orange, and I have to say I love love love the scent!

My hands wake up in the morning feeling much better and softer! And of course, since it was a 2 oz jar, it's gonna last quite a while!

If you have dry hands too, or need an extra punch of moisturizing and soothing, for a pregnant belly or very dry skin, you need to give this cream a try!

EGCG Swag Bag: Right As Rain Creations

2009-05-06T15:18:00.004+02:00

As Brooke already told you, we both marked our calendars to make sure we could grab one of the fantastic Swag Bags by the EGCG Etsy Street Team.

When I got it, I was amazed at the amount of products and the size of them! Very generous-sized samples, and some full sized too! I started my way to trying them all, lil by lil, and also, my way to taking pictures of them all!

One of the very first things I started using was the Peppermint Foot Cream, by RightAsRain Creations. I had been looking over Etsy for a moisturizing & refreshing foot cream, and had a few of them in my favourites, so when I got this one, it couldn't have had a better timing!

It's a 2 oz wide jar, so you can dip in without fuss, and the texture is thick but creamy, and non-sticky. Doesn't leave a greasy residue in your hands after applying it, and a lil does go a long way! After checking her shop, I saw it was one of the two sizes she offered, so it was not just a sample!

Since first try I've fallen in love with these cream! It goes on smoothly, smells so refrenshingly of peppermint that all of you, not only your feet, feel rejuvenated! Once applied it gives a very cooling feel, which is perfect for tired feet! I can't wait to use this after a night out wearing heels, cause it has worked great on my tired feet after a long night at the ward!

I've loved this cream so much that I'm already looking at buying the two available sizes at her shop, the 4 oz for keeping at home, and the 2 oz for travelling purposes!

If you're looking for a cream to soothe and cool your poor tired, dry, mistreated feet, this is it my friends!

First of MANY EGCG reviews! Sweet Creek Herbs soap!

2009-04-27T15:41:00.004+02:00

So, Pili and Iwere REALLY excited to hear that the Etsy Green and Clean Guild was going to be offering their swag bags again for spring! We both marked our calenders, and waited patiently. Well, in the meantime, the EGCG also announced that as a promotional event, they were going to be sponsoring an Easter egg hunt, where you go through participating shops, and search for the hidden eggs in the listings! (hearting stuff along the way, of course!). So not only did I WIN one of the Easter egg prizes, but I also ordered a swag bag and they both arrived on the SAME DAY! Talk about a fun filled night! I sniffed and tested my way though some of the goodies, took some pictures, and started making a list of items that I was going to review. I had never heard of Sweet Creek Herbs before any of this, and I got an unscented olive oil bar in one bag, and a chamomile shampoo with silk bar in the other!

Well, you all know me, I see unscented and I think "HEY! I can use this on Gory! He can test it!"I don't even know where to start with this soap. The pediatrician had told me at Gory's 1 month check-up that using olive oil on his skin may help with his dry, problem skin. This kid is allergic to EVERYTHING, from laundry soap, to diaper wipes. So I tried out the soap on him to see how it was gonna fly. I LOVE this soap! It goes on smooth, there is not much lather, but it almost melts into the skin. It is not "oily" but more like the consistency of an ointment in dry bar form. Gory's skin is not a heck of a lot better, and I am now using it on my dry legs! I really have to say, that this soap is almost like a miracle for dry, rough skin! I even told my husband, I was SHOCKED at how much this soap has helped both of us! Really, it is pretty amazing!

The shampoo bar, on the other hand, well. I am probably not the best person to test that one out. I tried it, but with my SO severely damaged hair, it literally made it feel like wet noodles. The smell of it was AWESOME, but the way it made my hair feel was not so good. I am thinking of making Evan try it on his gross head, maybe it will smell better then his gross 9-year-old boy smell!

There will be many more EGCG reviews to come, as this is the first of many, but I literally HAD to run over to tell you all about this AMAZING olive oil soap that Sweet Creek Herbs makes! You will be pleasantly surprised!

What's that? My armpits smell, you say?

2009-04-06T16:21:00.005+02:00

OH! They smell GOOD?!?!?!?!?!? Well, my friends, there is a reason behind this. I have deodorant on! And not just any deodorant, but HANDMADE deodorant off of Etsy! Yep, there are fabulous sellers on Etsy that help me ensure that my pits are smelling so fresh, you would never guess that the products were made in their home kitchen, and not in a plant!

My journey for deodorant started a little over a year ago. I had known that I had a lump in my left breast for a few years now, but being the moron that I am, I did not tell my doctor. Suddenly, I was married, pregnant, and realized that IF there was a problem, I should have it taken care of. They removed the lump, it had "suspicious cells" in it, and I was told by my doctor ( a very renowned breast care specialist) that the best deodorant for our bodies, as women, is one that is aluminium FREE. Yep, they put that nasty stuff in all of the stuff you can buy at the drugstore. It will clog up your pit pores, and cause all sorts of nasty junk up in there. It is the ingredient that actually stops perspiration (the wetness) in your pits, but if you really think about it, aren't we SUPPOSED to sweat a little bit? I mean come on, that is the chemical equivalent to coating your pits in Vaseline and saran wrap, and jogging 20 miles! ICK!

So I began my search for deodorant on Etsy, cause I figured, since I get all of my other bath products there already, I KNOW someone will make aluminum free products! And viola! I found out that one of my already favorite shops, Spa Therapy Works, makes a LOVELY deodorant! AND it is VEGAN! Score! So I grabbed the Pink Cupcake scent,and gave it a whirl! Now, here is the thing, you will sweat a little. But that is NATURAL! And I can tell you, being a sweaty mother fletcher myself, this was me biggest concern, walking around with wet spots for all the world to see. So I wore it for a week. Nothing. THEN I wore it for my wedding (I know, BIG step in my deodorant relationship!) and it held on! THEN I took it to Jamaica with me, and I was SOLD! I do usually have to re-apply about 1/2 way through the day, but that is a small price to pay for such a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT in my deodorant! I felt good, my pits did not sting, or get dry and they smelled AWESOME! The scent lingered lightly all day, so I would know that my pits had not failed me. Absolutely amazing! I was sold, so I told all of my girlfriends over at DIYScene. They were all skeptical. A few decided to try it. Then a few more. I was starting a revolution! RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WANT VEGAN DEODORANT THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU! My mom and dad now wear it, as well as my 8 year old son (thank GOD! His pits STINK!!!!!)

So about 4 months ago, I decided to see what other shops were on Etsy to try out their pit products. I saw that Gudonya Too carried some, called "Stinky No More", and they had COTTON CANDY scent! BINGO! Love that smell, and I figured it would be good for the winter. I do have to say, that even though I love this brand as well, it does sting a bit when I apply it. I think it might just be my skin, however. It smells AWESOME!

Then, the real test came. I was 9 months pregnant. I knew that labor would be intensive, and I would need a deodorant that was up to the challenge. Also, for my stay in the hospital, I was gonna need something that was going to help with the strange odors that my poor body would be producing as my hormones went haywire! I brought both brands with me, and opted for Spa Therapy Works for the labor itself, and Gudonya for the aftermath protection! I was not let down! In the 6 hours I was in labor, I did not need to re-apply once! And when I grabbed my newborn for the first time, my crazy DIY-obsessed brain actually SNIFFED a pit to make sure I was still good, knowing that I was going to have to write a review in the near future!

So, if this review does not convince you to try one of the two deodorants I have found on Etsy, I am not sure anything will. Go ahead, run to the drug store, buy some cheap, chemical loaded crap, slather it on your pits, suffocate your skin, but don't come crying to me when you have lumps, and are miserable with itchy, flaky pits! Try it, I SWEAR it is the best product you will find!

Glittersniffer Cosmetics!

2009-03-29T21:31:00.012+02:00

I've always loved buying and wearing make up, not as an everyday event, cause I can be too lazy for that, but as a fun part to get all dolled up when going out.

When I was younger, I used to go out a lot more and that also meant I used to wear a lot of more make up, and I used to be pretty good at it, particularly eye make up. I was even pretty daring with the eye make up, with bold or dark colours, and mixing a bunch of colours.

This past few years, working in my current ward means having just one weekend off each month, it also means I'm not particularly keen on going out most of the time, I'd rather stay home, watching a movie, or going out just for dinner, and for that, I usually don't wear make up.

And somewhere in the past two years I decided to make the switch to mineral make up, and that makes a real change to the way you use the make up, completely different from the way you use the base or foundation, to the way you apply and combine mineral eye shadows.

Recently I came across a new shop for mineral eye shadows, through non other than my dear DIYscene forum: Glittersniffer Cosmetics, run by the lovely Lela. Since I've had good experiences with mineral make up on Etsy, I decided to check her shop, and asked her if she shipped to Spain, and not only she was awfully nice, but she also offers international flat shipping rates!

I decided to go for one of her samplers, 15 samples of her eye shadows for just $10 in resealable zipper bags, and let me tell, that's a very convenient way of getting samples, cause I could fit all her samples in my travel make up pouch!

The chance to try my hand at getting myself all ready for going out happened during my latest trip to India, when I attended a wedding with Gaurav's family. After all the shopping for nice Indian clothes for the wedding and the sangeet (the whole experience of an Indian wedding will probably be featured in a blog entry on my other blog), I decided I'll get my hair straightened for a different look, and Gaurav's sis suggested I got my make up done there too, but I decided I will try my hand at using mineral make up.

Since the suit I got was black with a golden-brown embroidery, I decided to go for Pam and Universe eye shadows, using Pam in all the eyelid, and Universe to give a slight smoked style look to the corner of both eyes, and I must say it looked pretty good, if I can say so myself!

Here you can see a pair of pictures Gaurav took, two close ups of the eye make up and one where you can see the whole ensemble, make up and clothing all together.

After falling in love with the eye shadows after using them, I decided to go back to her shop and grab a few full sizes of her eye shadows, and found a special offer for members of the DIYscene forum, where you could get 3 full sized eye shadows for $10! I decided to try three new colours, and went for Angry, Redrum and Kush, and I must say I love them! I can't wait to try them all!

If you want to try some of her amazing mineral eye shadows, from primers to eye shadows, she's now offering an amazing SALE in her shop, check it out!

All photographs courtesy of Gaurav S.

The Amazing Bare Bumm Bath!

2009-03-27T16:03:00.011+01:00

So, here in the world of Two Girls and a Bar of Soap.....we love our soap. It's a given. And between Pili and I, we both agree that this featured seller is one of the best there is to have. So much in fact, that we had to decide between the two of us WHO got to write the review. I won!

So, without further adieu, let me introduce:

Bare Bumm Bathworks!

This shop is run by my wonderful friend Dianne. since being introduced to her amazing soaps over a year ago, let me first say this. I have tried MANY other shops on Etsy, and some that are NOT on Etsy. There is really no shop that compares with customer service, size of soap bars, and the satisfaction that you get when you realize that the fragrance from this soap lingers gently on your skin, for hours after you are gone bathing! This is rare, not many soaps do this!

My latest purchase from the shop included Carribean Beach and Acai and Mangosteen. When they both arrived, I could SMELL the goodies from outside the packaging, which is always secure, and my soaps have never been broken or smooshed. Not only did I get the two HUGE bars that I bought, but she usually includes yummy extras of newer scents that she is going to be offering! This time, I got Pineapple Rush, Banana Taffy, and Chocolate Coconut Yummies! she also included some unscented and Lavender soaps for Gory, by 1 month old! (he already smells pretty good, like all babes do, but now he will be SQUEAKY clean!)

Now, here is the thing about Bare Bumm soap. It LASTS! Shower after shower, bath after bath, this soap will last WELL over 3 weeks in my shower! Which is unusual, as I have other shops that I love, but NONE of them have the power to stay around for more then a week, give or take a few days.And at right around five bucks a five ounce bar, that is really saying something! You can't even get that much for that little with a store bought bar of soap!

Also, back in May of 2008, Dianne told me that she was doing the wedding favors for her daughter's wedding. I had just gotten done planning mine, and I was bummed that I could not give MY wedding guests some Bare Bumm soaps, so since I was helping plan a friend's wedding, I decided to use Dianne to make the favors for the shower! Everyone loved them SO MUCH, that the bride even used Bare Bumm soaps for her actual wedding favors, as well! I am sure if you just shoot a convo over to her, she would be HAPPY to help you out!

Both Pili and I will continue to purchase Dianne's amazing soaps, and we are glad that we have such a wonderful seller that provides such amazing products, as well as some of the best customer service I have ever gotten! So run on over, and grab a few bars! Remember, you have the right to Bare Bumms!

Spa Therapy's Facial Care Line

2009-03-10T15:00:00.008+01:00

Well, well, well, well! Finally I got to write my first review and contribution to this blog!

As a woman, you keep on getting bombarded on TV and magazines and the like with all sort of facial products that promise to keep you younger for a longer time, trying to make you feel the need to look like you were 25 till the day you die. All those products tend to be filled with an obnoxious number of chemicals, most of which the regular customer has no clue what they do, and if they're safe for their skin.

I started using my first moisturizer when I was 16, and decided to go for a French company that claimed all products were made using the best of natural products, and very few chemical products, called Yves Rocher. I kept using it till after turning 25 I started hearing about the whole "once you turn 25 you need to start using anti-wrinkle cream" and about the convenience of getting into a proper facial care routine, with the use of cleanser or soap, toner and the anti-wrinkle cream... Mind you, I've always looked younger than my age, so at 25 I wasn't particularly worried about wrinkles, but working as a nurse takes big toll on everything, included the skin, and you are more prone to bags under the eyes if you work night shift a week every month.

I started looking at other options, feeling not enterily too keen on starting using anti-age or anti-wrinkle cream, so when my favourite B&B shop on Etsy started offering a facial care line, I jumped at the chance and tried it all! First I had a conversation with Jussara, the owner of Spa Therapy, about what she'd recommend, and she was amazing explaining all about her products!

I decided to order a complete facial care set, with a facial soap, toner, serum, day cream, night cream and facial scrub. Let me tell you, I had tried a number of soaps to wash my face, but after a pair of days I had stopped using them, my skin is not particularly problematic, a bit on the dry side, with a pair of pimples sometimes before my period, the only complication of my skin are the times when my atopic dermatitis starts to have a field day when I'm horribly stressed. When that happens, any chemicals can only make it go worse...

I started using my Patchouli Mint French Green clay soap and from day one I loved it! The lather, the smell and how soft my face feels after using it! I have tried another of her soaps, the Dead Sea Mud soap, and although it's a really nice soap, I very much prefer my Green mint soap. It helps my skin a lot when my dermatitis threatens to appear, and my skin doesn't feel dry or patched, and I don't feel lazy about using it, so I can stick more easily to the day & night routine.

After that comes the Antioxidant Aloe PH Balancing Herbal toner, and this toner feels so fresh in my skin! It cleans up all the impurities or rests of lather on my skin, and makes the skin ready for the serum and/or the day cream. It doesn't feel harsh for the skin and seems quite moisturizing in itself. It does help making your face even cleaner after the soap, and prepares the skin to absorb the serum and the cream afterwards.

Now after the toner you can either apply the serum that will help your skin absorb the cream better, or go straight to the moisturizer. I like applying the serum cause it helps with the bag under my eyes, and whenever I come home from working night shift I always apply it before going for my morning nap.

Now, depending on morning or night, you go for your Velvet Day Cream or the Night Repair Cream to finish your routine. The day cream is a thick but not greasy cream, it feels really light when applied but VERY moisturizing! It's not one of those creams when you have to wait for long to apply your mineral make up cause it won't look good otherwise. My skin literally drinks the stuff and feels truly velvety to the touch afterwards! The night repair cream is thicker than the day cream, but it's absorbed equally well, and the skin looks positively glowing and refreshed the morning after.

Now, once a week, it's always recommended to use a facial scrub, to get rid of impurities and clear off dead skin cells. I tried a pair of Spa Therapy's scrubs, and I must say that I'm absolutely in love with the Pink Grapefruit and Guava facial scrub! It has a very fine grain, salty and feels very cleansing and scrubby, but not rough at all, completely non-abrasive. You can also leave it for a few minutes and it'll act as a mask. Once you clean it off, you feel your skin absolutely soft and radiant!

All in all, highly recommended line of facial care, I've always been rather lazy with my facial care, and now with all this wonderful smelling products, I'm looking forward to my twice a day facial care routine.

You can even try the facial care in small sampler sets to see if it works well for you, or even use it as your travelling set, cause her samples comply to the new rules for hand luggage liquid items. I know my set has been to a few airports without a problem! And it's always helpful to have it in your hand luggage, in case the suitcase goes missing by any chance!

Also, if you have any doubts about which of her products would be better for your skin type, you can always ask Jussara, she will always be more than happy to help!

I have found a way to stop fighting my kid to take a bath!

2009-02-12T02:32:00.004+01:00

So, my our fellow DIYScene team member, Heather, from Self_Inflicted_DIY started a new venture this winter, with her new shop, Serenity Soap N Shower. So of course, I had to weasel my way over there to grab some of her products to review for the blog, because I am ALWAYS up for a new shop!

So I ordered 2 items, the Body Mist in Vanilla Bean, and the Oatmeal Soap in Vanilla bean. It came VERY quickly, and packaged well in a priority package! She even send some yummy extras for me to try (and blog about, since I WARNED HER! LOL!). I got some bath salts in Fudge Brownie, some bath melts in LoveSpell, bath bombs in cinnabun, exfoliating mini soaps in vanilla cupcake WITH blueberry seeds in them, and some mini vanilla bean skull soaps!

So...where do I begin. First off, let me tell you this. My son galloped into the room within SECONDS of me unwrapping all of the goodies, sniffing like a hound dog. Then he INSISTED to be the first person to use the stuff. Now mind you, this was at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday! So of course, being the boy mom that I am, THRILLED that my stinky son wants to actually BATHE, I said yes. Since then, he has gone through almost all of the bath bombs, salts, and melts. He also just had me order more soap! I am amazed! Astonished! SHOCKED!

So the next day, after he had taken 2 baths, one with the bombs and Oatmeal Soap, and one with the salt soak and the oatmeal soap, I finally got my turn. That morning, I used the oatmeal soap for my shower. I was a bit concerned about the oatmeal, because it felt really grainy in my hand, but hear me out. Have you ever gotten a bar of soap that says it "gently exfoliates" and then it proceeds to sandpaper your skin off until you feel like screaming? Yep, we have all been there. But not with this soap! After I got done bathing, my skin felt softer then it has in a very long time, and I SMELLED good! The smell stayed with me, but it was not overpowering, it was gentle. I loved it! So Then I spritzed some of my body spray on, and was on my way! The spray was the same thing! Not overpowering, but light, leaving a sweet scent in the air! I loved it!

Now, since my son was taking a nightly bath, and all seemed good in the house, I finally decided to cave. I DETEST taking baths. I think they are weird. Give me a shower any day of the week, and I am good, but NO THANK YOU baths! Ick. The thought makes me shiver. But I decided, well, I have to review this stuff, and I can't base it all on an 8 year old, so why not bite the bullet? Plus, being 8 1/2 months pregnant, my doctor told me that soaking would help with my swelling, and help my skin. So I ran some hot water, melted some of my bath melts in there, and climbed in! At first, it looked like there was oily stuff in the bath, and I COULD NOT figure it out. But it smelled so good, and my legs felt relaxed, so I settled in. Well, let me just tell you, if there ever was a miracle sure for itchy preggo bellies....the bath melts are IT!!!! I climbed out feeling moisturized, and not at ALL greasy! It was amazing!

I am completely sold on Serenity Soap N Shower. Her products are well made, smell delicious, and are a good bang for the buck! Some shops charge you an arm and a leg for a bar of soap that will last a week TOPS in a shower, but this bar has lasted us well over 20 showers, and is not even 1/2 way gone! Highly recommended!

Gudonya Too- The glory of having a dog clean your tresses!

2009-02-04T15:51:00.005+01:00

In the world of handmade bath and beauty products, the makers of lotions, soaps, and the like are overabundant. Really, I have some old tried and true favorites that I keep going back to, but in reality, there are MANY to choose from! But when you bring up hair care products....well....that is few and far between. I started to search Etsy and the rest of the Internet, to try and find a shampoo and conditioner that would be able to properly care for my SEVERELY damaged hair.

As a little background, let me start off with the problem I was facing. I have long hair, past the middle of my back. I have been dying it since I can remember, and not dying like "Oh, let me see if this new shade of brown will look good with my new tan sweater!" but more along the lines of "Wow! I wonder if the fluorescent green with the hot pink tips will clash with my studded leather jacket?" So any sort of chemical treatment I would put on my hair involved extensive bleaching, followed by lots of dye and pigments, most of which need to be applied VERY frequently to keep up the color intensity. Currently, my hair is dyed black on the bottom layers, with the top layer being a bleached-out platinum blonde. Literally, the blonde is, as my hair girl puts it "enough to ALMOST strip the hair off your head!"

So, my hair needed help, and lots of it. Plus, I needed something that would NOT strip any of the color OUT of my hair once I had dyed it. In comes Gudonya Too. Their feedback on Etsy is impeccable, and I had heard from Nicole and Redd, both from DIYScene, that their shampoo was VERY different, but awesome! So I figured, hey, what can it hurt?

I ordered the Salty Dawg Creme Shampoo in Wild Strawberries scent. The fact that they touted the scent as "not that plastic strawberry scent that most products have" I was sold. I also ordered the Intense Hair Conditioner, in the same scent. When thy came in the mail, I was so SHOCKED at the packaging! It was so well packaged, in a first class envelope with another sturdy cardboard box inside! There was NO WAY this stuff was getting smooched! They also added in a little free sample of soap, that they also carry in their shop!

I immediately ran to the shower to try out my new goodies. The Salty Dawg IS very different. Think a salt scrub for your hair. When I first put it on, it was very grainy, and did not go anywhere. But the instructions that came with it said to add water after you apply it to your hair. I did, and BOOM! Suds like I have NEVER had before! I mean, you literally only need a tiny little dab of this stuff, even on my long hair, to give you enough bubbles and suds to do the job! And them smell is fantastic! Kinda like jumping into a strawberry margarita! The texture of my hair after I rinsed was unique. If you have ever been swimming in the ocean, and gotten out, and let your hair air dry, that is how I can best explain it. Your hair is so squeaky clean, if you wanted to just leave it unconditioned, you would for sure get that tousled, just went surfing look! With the conditioner (which smells just as good, BTW) my hair feels and looks about the healthiest it has been in a very long time! The conditioner does not leave my hair all greasy looking, but it is also not one of those conditioners that make you wonder if you might have forgotten to even put the conditioner on!

All in all, I have to say, I am sold on Gudonya's hair line. They have many other scents that I can't wait to try, as soon as my current Salty Dawg has gone doggie heaven! Even more exciting is the fact that their hair line is so popular, they are planning the opening of the Gudonya Too Dawg Shop, dedicated to their hair care line!

Clean. Stay.
Good dawg!
RUFF!

Welcome! A small introduction!

2009-02-03T15:53:00.006+01:00

We thought we would start our blogging adventure here with a small introduction. You can find out individual blogs over there on the side, but this blog is the collaborative effort of two friends hundreds of miles apart with a love of handmade bath and body products binding them together! So now, without further adieu.....drum roll please!

Pili

Hi, my name is Maria Pilar, but all of my friends call me Pili! I am a long time connoisseur of everything DIY, and have become a HUGE fan of all DIY bath and body products. I work as a nurse in Madrid, Spain, with my spare time spent traveling with my boyfriend, and reading. All of my products I have tested not only on myself, and carried with me on my travels, but are also used by my many friends and extended family that I have given gifts of handmade products. I am well known in the handmade world as a customer to some of the biggest names in DIY, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge as a customer with you!

Brooke

My name is Brooke, and I am a DIY-a-holic! I am also the owner and designer at Crossbones Couture, a clothing and accessories company. As of 2009, I have taken the handmade vow to NOT purchase anything bath and body related that is NOT handmade! I am so excited about doing this blog with my good friend, Pili, as I feel that it will not only help spread the goodness of using DIY products, but it will be a fun adventure as well!

If you wish to have your bath, body, makeup, or home products featured in this blog, please send us an e-mail. We LOVE learning about new shops, and trying out new products!