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Review: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost ($47 CDN) is a new lightweight gel facial moisturizer that is water-based, packed with marine antioxidants as well as free of phthalates, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfates, gluten and parabens!!!
The first time I tried a gel moisturizer was two years ago when I was in Hong Kong. I remember being enthralled with the rose scent and wishing thatI could have re-purchased the product when it finally finished, but I was NOT willing to pay exorbitant customs charges and could not find a local supplier ☹
A few weeks back, when I saw an advertisement for Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost on the Tarte website, I was hyped to learn it would be available in the Canadian market soon, because I couldn’t wait to test out this gel moisturizer. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost was released alongside a line of other skincare (including SPF and a cleansing gel) as well as make-up products and brushes. The packaging for these items is super cute – gold embossing on turquoise, pink and purple!
The moisturizer comes in a jar, which I prefer, since I can use as much as I need. However, be mindful not to leave lidded products open for too long as this usually compromises on their quality. The moisturizer is thick, clear and has a strong floral (lavender) fragrance.
Once I applied the gel onto my freshly washed and toned face, I noticed that it felt very refreshing and hydrating. It also absorbed quickly and easily into my skin.
I had no issues applying my regular makeup routine on top of this moisturizer although I did find that I looked “shinier” (the moisturizer I was using prior is advertised to reduce pores and sebum flow, and to be anti-shine and mattifying). I also used this as a PM moisturizer and found that my skin remained hydrated throughout the night.
Although I am not sure I will disregard all moisturizers I have used before (nor can I say that I will refrain from trying new products on the market), I can safely say that since I’ve been re-introduced to the world of gel moisturizers, I don’t know if I could return back to cream moisturizers. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost really provides a boost of hydration to my skin and feels refreshing and light. Not to mention, this gel is packed with anti-oxidants.
Currently, Rainforest of the Sea Drink Of H2O Hydrating Boost is only available either at Tarte.com, Sephora stores, or on Sephora.com.
If you’ve had experience with this product, please share your thoughts.
Post originally featured on: https://empirikalsolutionz.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/review-tarte-rainforest-of-the-sea-drink-of-h20-hydrating-boost/
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Best Vegan Sunscreen for the Lazy Girl
Can you believe Memorial Day is only two and a half weeks away? Summer is calling our names! Whether you’re vacationing on the beach, traveling back home or hanging out with your buddies, you want to look and feel your best during this unofficial kick off to summer. These products make packing a breeze, keep hair and skin beautiful and more importantly protect your skin from the sun.
Check out some of our favorites!
Natural/vegan alternative! Nature’s Gate Aqua Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen ($11.50/Whole Foods) A trusted alternative for sun protection, Nature’s Gate Sun Care is safe and gentle for the entire family. Infused with natural botanicals, Nature’s Gate Sunscreens are formulated with responsible and effective ingredients that help protect skin against UV exposure while soothing and hydrating skin. Water resistant (80 minutes). Vegan, Fragrance Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Oxybenzone Free, Cruelty Free
Natural/vegan alternative! Nature’s Gate Face Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Sunscreen ($11.49, Whole Foods): It is essential to have a good SPF in your beauty regimen! Infused with natural botanicals, Nature’s Gate Sunscreens are formulated with responsible and effective ingredients that help protect skin against UV exposure while soothing and hydrating skin.
Natural/vegan alternative! Nature’s Gate SPORT Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($11.50/Whole Foods) Vegan, Fragrance Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Oxybenzone Free, Cruelty Free. Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Zinc oxide 6.9%
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Vegan Makeup: Osmosis Goji Berry Liquid Foundation
Osmosis Colour Mineral Cosmetics is proud to launch their Long Wear Liquid Foundation Line for all skin types. Featuring 8 shades, these incredible foundations give light to full build able coverage while gliding on smooth for an even, flawless complexion. A true long wear formula, each Osmosis Colour Long Wear Liquid Foundation is water resistant and will never make skin appear oily or too dry. Instead, each foundation provides a semi dewy finish that’s sure to last all day.
After each use, skin will look natural, luminous and lifted. What makes it so is the Goji Berry Blend Extract (lycium barbarum fruit extract) as it is a powerful antioxidant and skin conditioning agent. Goji berry extract includes amino acids and proteins to aid skin cells in regenerating. These orange-red berries, also referred to as wolfberries, are considered by some to be a veritable fountain of youth.Shades: Fair, Golden Light, Golden Medium, Honey, Natural Light, Natural Medium, Beige Dark and Olive.Price: $45 -
What will you get in your mystery Beauty Box from @vegancuts?
Have you heard of wine-of-the-month clubs? Have you heard of those clubs and wished that, instead of wine, there was a beauty-products-of-the-month club? Vegan Cuts offers just that with their Beauty Box. If you are a beauty products connoisseur and you are a conscientious shopper who prefers to use non-animal tested products, this is the right club for you!
Among the goodies you might receive are:
The Color Club nail polish featuring winter colors
Everyday Minterals’s matte blush
SoapBox’s liquid Black Soap made with shea butter, aloe, and jojoba oil
Lavishy’s faux leather coin purse
Sign up to receive your very own Beauty Box, with the next one shipping in February. And if you can’t wait till then, enjoy browsing and shopping for other vegan products from Vegan Cuts. There’s something for everyone from beauty products to snacks to cute accessories.
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Serious Snack Alert @Baresnacks
They say an apple a day keeps the Dr away and I think apples are one of the most versatile fruits out there. I asked Janice why she loves apples so much and she said there are tons of variety, textures, sweetness, tartness and they are juicy and filling. That’s good enough for me. But my confession is that I don’t know how to BITE an apple, my teeth are not strong and my mouth is small. I have to – have to! – eat apples, sliced and cored. Yes, I know.
There is a new snack in town! It is called BARE and you can include this in your daily snacking if you want to ‘bare’ your midriff this spring summer, far away I know… BARE snacks are made 100% from natural ingredients and its new Crunchy Chile Lime Apple Chips and Crunchy Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips have only 50 calories of deliciousness per serving – perfect for healthy snacking!
These are NOTHING like the soggy apple rings you can get at health food stores. This is way better. They have rad flavors that makes it anything but boring. It does not compromise the delight of apples in any artificial way and no two piece is identical.
Bare Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips – Sweet tooth mavens will love the mouth-watering sweet and salty apple chips.
Bare Chile Lime Apple Chips – Apple chips that offer a spicy kick of flavor in every bite.
If you want something less ‘trendy’ – try classic favorites like Cinnamon, Fuji Red and Granny Smith.Living in the Big Apple, you have to be open and sensitive to receive all the inspiration this city is giving you. These snacks inspired this outfit! After sparkling apple cider and a ton of Black Friday pre Cyber Monday shopping… I present to you… what the Bare Snacks Sweet Baked Apples Dipped in Caramel & Sprinkled with Sea Salt would look like in an outfit! Why not 🙂
BARE’s line of All-Natural Apple Chips have no saturated or trans fat, added sugar or sodium! All BARE snacks are gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified, kosher, vegan and are free of added sugar, preservatives, lactose, cholesterol and trans-fats.
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Cure your Post-Thanksgiving blues with @Nasoya Tofu Tandoori Masala
If you need a break from Thanksgiving leftovers, I’ve got a great recipe for you to help switch things up: Tofu Tandoori Masala.
Though the original recipe calls for chicken or fish, I decided to take a new, even healthier approach with tofu. I used a package of Nasoya Organic Extra Firm TofuPlus. The consistency was perfect for this recipe and it tastes delicious, plus it’s fortified with vitamins B2, B6, B12, D and Calcium.
I took the tofu out of its packaging and padded it dry with a paper towel before cutting it into six 1/2 inch pieces. In a large ziplock bag, I prepared the marinade of plain yogurt (1 cup), lemon juice (4 tablespoons), ghee/oil (1/4 cup), cardamom (1 teaspoon), and Tandoori Masala spice mix* (a mixture of coriander, cumin, cardamom, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, chili, nutmeg, mace, paprika, star anise, and salt). Mix up all of these ingredients in the bag until well blended, then add the slices of tofu. Put the sealed bag in the refrigerator for at least a few hours, but I recommend leaving it overnight to really maximize the flavor.
After the marinade process is complete, remove the tofu slices from the bag and place them in a baking dish. I used some of the marinade to slightly submerge the tofu pieces and put it in the oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. I was also able to save and reuse the remaining marinade for another batch of tofu the next day. The results are so awesome, I completely forgot to take a photo of the final dish. Honestly, it was that good! The flavors from the spices and the creaminess of the tofu are an unbeatable combination.
There are four types of Nasoya TofuPlus including Organic Extra Firm TofuPlus, Organic Sprouted TofuPlus, Organic Black Soybean TofuPlus, Organic Firm TofuPlus. I can tell you from experience that all of them are very tasty and a great substitute for meat. More information and recipes can be found at nasoya.com.
*The original recipe was provided by the good folks at one of my favorite small spice shops on Manhattan’s 1st Avenue called Dual Specialty Store. They’ve got all sorts of spices, teas, and other treats you may have never known existed and it’s totally worth the visit if you’re into obscure ingredients and experimenting in the kitchen. If you’re in New York, I highly recommend picking some up there, but you can also find a recipe online (like this one here) or order it directly from Dual Specialities online.
