Midori Spring’s Ceremonial GOLD CLASS Matcha Review

Midori Springs recently reached out to me, asking if I'd review their green matcha powder. I took a look at their website and was happy with what I saw so I said yes! So here's my review.

Midori Spring’s Ceremonial GOLD CLASS Matcha contains only 1 ingredient: organic matcha green tea powder. It is certified GMO free, vegan, organic and made in Japan.

This stuff is GORGEOUS and smells delicious.  I mean, look at that vibrant green color! And it's all natural; colour comes from high amounts of chlorophyll!  You can read about how they get their matcha powder here. I love how much info their website has.

I originally brewed it according to the directions but yuck! Way too strong. I prefer a lot more liquid. My favorite way to enjoy matcha powder is in a smoothie or as a latte!

On this particular day I made a delicious latte. Yum!! Definitely loved the flavour of the Midori Springs matcha and would recommend it.

Here it is compared to the Vitacost matcha powder I had. Whoa.

 MATCHA 101

1. What is Matcha?

Matcha is a fine green tea powder used for drinking or cooking. It is different from loose leaf teas because the whole tea leaf is consumed instead of just the infusion. Matcha comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis. To learn more about the production process please click here.

2. What are some health benefits of Matcha?

• Increase in energy – Matcha is an energy booster due to the combination of caffeine content and other natural properties.
• Reduce stress and improve mental alertness – Matcha has an abundance of the unique Amino Acid L-Theanine. Matcha may contain up to five times more of L-Theanine than the common green teas. L-Theanine creates alpha waves in the brain to promote relaxation and alertness.
• Improve metabolism and help with weight loss – Matcha is close to zero calories and helps burn calories four times faster than average. Matcha also lowers cholesterol and blood sugar and does not raise insulin levels.
• Boost immune system and reduce inflammation – Matcha has the highest rated ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) compared to many fruits and vegetables. Matcha also contains a specific Catechin called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCg). EGCg is most widely recognized for its cancer fighting properties. Research has found that Matcha contains over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea on the market.
• Help the body cleanse of harmful elements – When the tea leaves have shaded sunlight, this causes a tremendous increase in chlorophyll production. The resulting high levels of chlorophyll in Matcha acts as a powerful detox machine capable of naturally removing heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body.

3. How much caffeine is in a cup of Matcha?

A cup of Matcha (using 1g of Matcha powder) has 35mg of caffeine compared to a cup of coffee sitting at 95-200mg of caffeine. Since Matcha contains L-Theanine, drinking Matcha has a calming and relaxing effect.

SOURCE

You can purchase this product here!

Review of Gorgous for Good + My Skincare Routine

If you know me, you know I try to go the more natural route; keep things closer to nature. Obviously I am not perfect at it and try harder in some areas of my life than others but I do make a conscious effort.

I cleaned up my skincare routine a few years ago although I've never really stuck to one specific routine or set of products for long. I spent most of the past 6 months doing the oil cleansing method and was really liking it as far as how my skin looked (mind you pregnancy has given me very clear skin since my breakouts have always been hormonal) but I did feel like maybe I needed a bit more. I turn 28 this year and so "anti-aging" products have been of more interest to me. That said, I believe your lifestyle plays a bigger part in how you age.

So anyway, a while ago I came across this book called Gorgeous for Good by Sophie Uliano. It really stuck out to me because her approach is more holistic and she believes in treating yourself right from the inside out- things I agree with! She also promotes a more plant based diet.  So I pre-ordered the book and as soon as it arrived I read through it very quickly! I loved it!! I keep recommending it to people. It's such a great approach to beauty and health.  She does a great job of explaining different ingredients like what they do, which she avoids completely, what synthetic ingredients are and which ones are safer etc It was exactly what I needed.

Gorgeous for Good had a 30 day plan in it which includes a skin care routine (she has DIY recipes or you can purchase products on your own) as well as a food plan (she also has recipes!). While I haven't committed to that, I did add a few items to my skincare routine based on her suggestions and have stuck to using them. Again, I'm pregnant so my skin is different right now but I am loving the routine I have. I worried it'd feel like too many products but it doesn't! They all work together well and I feel great about the ingredients in them.

Note: My skin is pretty normal but does tend to lean oily. I do find it to be a bit sensitive so I've always been picky with what products I use (well, in the past 5 years anyway). I stopped breaking out while pregnant but before it was usually in the chin area so I knew it was hormone related.

My morning routine:

Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub: This is not meant to be used every day, more like 3x a week so I alternate between this and a konjac sponge. I was worried this scrub would feel too harsh because I've had that problem with others but so far no issues! It's this cool dark green colour and very gritty. You only need a tiny amount! I also like the smell...sorta like berries and the ocean. haha
Dew Puff (konjac sponge): I have been using these for over a year now and love them! I often recommend them to people. They can be used with or without a cleanser. They are hard so you run them under water to soften. They exfoliate but it's SO soft, not like a scrub or anything else I've experienced. I love how gentle they are.  There are zero chemicals, they're naturally PH balanced, totally natural etc
Lemongrass Spa Hydrating Facial Mist: Just a great toner product with clean ingredients. I skip it some days or I'll do a spritz of rose water instead but I've been using it for a long time without any problems. I'm almost out of it and will probably make my own using rose water, witch hazel etc Homemade toner is really easy!
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum: I'm new to Mad Hippie products although I'd heard of them before. Sophie Uliano recommended the ones I bought on her blog. I'd been considering a vitamin c product for quite a while now, just wasn't sure which to get or if it really did have anti-aging abilities.  This product makes my skin feel wonderful and has a nice light citrus scent. I'm very happy with it so far.
Acure Organics Moisturizer: Another Acure Organics product because I love this brand! Target even carries it now. It's such great quality and not overly expensive. My only complaint with this moisturizer is that it doesn't contain SPF (and I'm still on the hunt for the right facial sunscreen) otherwise I love it. It smells like oranges and is so refreshing to use in the morning! It's a very thick lotion and you only need to use a tiny amount. It's definitely very moisturizing. It's probably my favourite moisturizer to date minus the SPF thing.

My evening routine:

Coconut oil: Plain coconut oil works amazingly well to remove makeup. I sometimes use a tiny bit all over my face or just on my eyes. Easy peasy. I recommend using one that is organic and unrefined (same things as virgin or extra virgin).
Lush Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser: This was gifted to me around the time that I was working on this skin care routine. I decided to use it as my evening cleanser. It exfoliates but with ground almonds (the texture is more like oats) and clay so it's very gentle and I haven't had any problems using it every day. It has a very strong lavender scent which is nice in the evening since it's very calming. It's a pretty big tub and you only use a pea sized amount (plus some water).  This particular product of Lush's contains all natural ingredients.
Derma E Evenly Radiant Overnight Peel: This was a product I'd owned for a while and was happy to see that Gorgeous for Good did recommend using something with APA's in it (she explains what that is!). I alternate between this and the Vitamin A Serum.
Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum: Vitamin A aka Retinol is another anti aging ingredients I'd been interested in but hadn't committed to until reading Gorgeous for Good. This serum is to be used every other day at first and then it can be used every day but I like to alternate between it and the Derma E product since they each have benefits. I supposed I could use both every day but that hasn't felt necessary. This product is especially great if you have sun damage which, let's be honest, most people do!
Derma e Hydrating Eye Cream: In the book, she says you can often skip an eye cream if you have a really great moisturizer but I already owned this so I've just continued to use it. I will say I noticed a visible difference after using it the first few times! I was surprised.
Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum: This is made of just great oils! I love oils. If you've never applied an oil to your face, I understand why you may feel hesitant but do it! Oil fights oil plus it's moisturizing. Adding oils to my skin care routine is the best decision I've made yet for my skin. I love how this particular serum feels on my skin. It's not overly greasy and it absorbs really well.

PS All of the products I use are vegan and from cruelty free brands.

PPS Check out the Gorgeous for Good website! She does a lot of product reviews which is very helpful since the book doesn't talk about specific brands.

Review: Lunatick Cosmetic Labs

I can't remember how I discovered Lunatick Cosmetic Labs but I started following them on Instagram a while ago and fell in love!  Made in the USA, vegan, cruelty free, super pigmented...  yes please!

I ordered the eyeshadow palette in "Relic" as well as an Apockalipstick in "Grave Heart Shift" (because I'm obsessed with purple lips right now!).  "Relic" looked like a great mix of gold/brown/neutral shades which are what I wear the most. If you really want natural shades though, check out this palette! I love the convenience of palettes, having all of the shadows in one place. It's slim pickings for vegan palettes out there though!

So let's take a look at my new pretties!

Love that it came in its own box!

Ingredients are listed on the removeable packaging.

I thought this was great!! I hate when I can't travel with palettes (coughWETNWILDcough) so this solves that problem.

PRESSED EYESHADOW PALETTE "Relic"

Coffin shaped case. It's very solid and feels well constructed. My only complaint is that there is no closure (magnetic or otherwise) to help secure the lid. I went to pick this up one time and it fell open causing the pressers to go flying and my nail to stab one of the eyeshadows, oops. If traveling you'd definitely want to make sure this is secured!

I wish the pressers were all one piece but do love that they are included. I find it easy to have them sit on the palette while I'm using it.

Indoor light

From top to bottom:  Elemental, Scripture, Lovelace, Ruins, Ascendant

Outdoor light

From L to R:  Elemental, Scripture, Lovelace, Ruins, Ascendant 

The eyeshadows are on the softer side and are very pigmented. My swatches were done without any primer. They apply SO beautifully! They are opaque but blend nicely and stay put. I definitely want to purchase more! I purchased the "pressed eyeshadow palette" option but there is also a "loose eyeshadow stacker" option (not sure what they look like as there is no pic provided on the website)  They each retail for $35.  You can also make CUSTOM palettes which is so cool!

APOCALIPSTICK "Relic"

Outdoor light

Very opaque, creamy and matte.

Blended out

Swatch

I really like the applicator. This is definitely a lipstick that requires a mirror to apply. I found that it really stayed put once applied. It's not once you can really do much blending with and it is meant to be worn very opaque.  I would describe it as a blue based purple which gives it a bit of a gothic feel.  Personally, I think the online swatch makes it look lighter than it is in person. Apocalipsticks retail for $9.

The only other purple shade I own is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar "Rollergirl" so I wanted to compare the two. As you can see, they are very different!  Besides the shades being different, the texture is as well. "Rollergirl" allows you to build up the colour so you can wear it a bit sheer or fully opaque where as "Grave Heart Shift" goes on very opaque.  OCC Lip Tars are also double the price.

Left: Rollergirl Right: Grave Heart Shift

Blended out. "Grave Heart Shift" becomes a bit patchy this way.

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchases! I will definitely buy from Lunatick Cosmetic Labs again. I ordered on Feb 5th and they arrived Feb 10th so shipping was pretty quick within the US (I live in Cali. They are made in Wisconsin). Shipping cost was $6.

Aloha Review

I thought I'd do a review of a newer health product from the brand Aloha. I paid for these samples myself but am including a referral link. If you use it, we each get $5 credit! Win win. These are free samples but shipping is $5.

Aloha is a supplement company that sells "whole foods powders" which can be added to any liquid. They also sell a pack of supplement pills. What makes them unique is that they offer monthly subscriptions where you receive this products in the mail! What drew me to Aloha was the ingredients. I think they are very impressive! Read on to check them out and see what I thought of the taste (because hey, that matters too!).

The Daily Good packs come in three flavours; Original, Berry Blend and Chocolate Cacao. I thought these packs were a very generous size for being a free trial! There are 6 packages per sample box.

First up, Berry Blend. I really like using this in smoothie bowls. It's not overly sweet tasting but definitely has a berry taste. This one contains black currant juice which is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants.

Next we have Chocolate Cacao. I love that this has cacao instead of cocoa. Cacao is the raw form and is a powerful superfood. On it's own it is very bitter which is probably why they've added coconut sugar and maple sugar. This still has a "green" taste but I love the chocolate flavor! Great for making a healthier chocolate milkshake with frozen bananas!

Finally, we have the Original blend; a dried green juice. If you use the whole pack, it has a pretty earthy taste so you may want to start with less and just see what your preference is. Again, I use these in smoothies. I don't really like the taste of any powders mixed in just water.  I really enjoy this one for my green smoothies!

 Overall, I definitely recommend giving Aloha a try! These are a great way to pack in some nutrients without needing to buy a ton of ingredients. I don't use them all the time but love having them on hand. The ingredients list is super healthy and while they do have a 'green' taste, it is smooth and delicious.

What do you think, going to give them a try?

Review: Petite Vour July 2014

I've reviewed Petit Vour before and I am back with another! I took some time off from subscribing (and have done so again) simply because I don't want to have more products that I can really use but guyssss Petit Vour is the best! They do such an amazing job of finding quality products that are cruelty free, vegan and not full of nasty carcinogens.  Read on to see what goodies July held!

 As you can see, the full size LVX nail polish more than paid for the $15 price of Petit Vour! 

First up, Schmidt's! I had mixed feelings about receiving this. Happy because it's AWESOME; best  natural deodorant I've used but sad because I know from the one I already own that it contains baking soda which gives me a rash in my pits. I can still use it, just not every day.  As long as you do okay with baking soda, I highly recommend this. Full sized ones (this is a mini) come with a little spatula thing which helps get the product out. It warms up to your touch so you mush it on your fingers and then apply it.  During the Winter it took a bit more work but now in Summer it's basically soft right away.  The Ylang Ylang + Calendula smells sooo good! It's not overpowering and I think ylang ylang is a pretty sexy scent. The other one I have, Bergamot + Lime is also delicious smelling but is much stronger. They hold up great through my workouts and last all day!

Next we have Modern Minerals in the shade . This is a super pigmented eyeshadow and I had no problems with application. Sometimes loose eye shadows can be a bit messy to apply but not this one! Definitely a brand I'd want to buy more from. Check out the swatch before! No primer and it's still very vibrant. 

I've been following Pelle Beauty on Instagram for a little while now so I was so excited to receive a product! This is my first of this brand and I'm hooked. I wasn't sure I totally loved the smell at first but it really grew on me. I love face oils but tend to save them for the evening since they can make my skin a bit greasy (I have oily skin, if you're wondering). But this one I can apply in the morning and even put my makeup right on top of it and my skin absorbs it beautifully! I even saw a tip on the Pelle Beauty Instagram where you can mix this with a mineral foundation to create a liquid foundation...and it works!! This is one I will probably purchase a full size of.

I may not collect nail polish anymore but my digits are still always painted so new nail polish is always fun. It's nice to receive a higher end one like LVX because I myself don't really like to spend more than $10 on a bottle. I will say, I was a bit disappointed. Pale pink nail polish is notoriously tricky though. They tend to apply patchy and this was no exception. It was definitely still wearable and looked really good, just not the BEST formula I've seen. As far as wear time, it was good but not amazing. It started chipping on day two but just small bits. I kept it on for 5 or 6 days until I felt like it should be changed. It reminded me of Zoya polishes except it's about double the price. I won't hold it against LVX though because I don't doubt their other shades could be amazing.