Apto Skincare Turmeric Mist with Witch Hazel

Present! Sticking with what I said yesterday, I'm here for a postie post. In between re-watching Game of Thrones. I have decided I am going to watch the entire series again. I've tried before and usually only watch the first season before I lost interest. It's just I keep thinking of the ending and asking myself if I really want to go through it again. But I made it through True Blood so I can make it through GOT.  I'm actually on season 2...so progress. And I have just fallen back in love with the dialogue (the later seasons the dialogue was straight trash with a few exceptions), the characters- kinda. On this rewatch I just am side eyeing the Starks. I love the Starks. They are my favorite- with a few exceptions.  But the decisions and choices they make sometimes make me scratch my head in wonder. Also on this watch through I am questioning how I began to root for some of the characters I hated given how deplorable they were (Jamie, Theon). And I also wonder how I ever liked Daenerys. I liked her in season one until I read the books- then she became insufferable . Anyway, I could go on and on so I'll stop and we shall talk facial sprays. 

Apto Skincare claims: 

Made in New Jersey

When I think Turmeric, I think of Ayurvedic Skincare. I didn't even read the description and I see that I was right now that I have read it. Back in the day I used to do a mask with turmeric, clay, yogurt, honey...and I loved it. Brighter, smoother skin. I need to bring that back.  

Anyway, I bought this in between an order for another skincare product I bought that was on my list to try so I ordered this to use until that came in. But this was on my list to try for a while to. 

We will talk packaging. I've tried a lot of skincare mists- most come in plastic bottles. Tried one in glass. This is the first one to come in metal. And I'm loving it! The bottle is 100% recyclable aluminum. Which I is better for the earth-especially when using already recycled aluminum although I don't know if this is.  It doesn't leach microplastics and can be endlessly recycled. I love to see it! I believe even the sprayer is mostly aluminum with a little plastic. 

You get 8 oz of product. It works as any other mist although I believe the sprayer could be more fine. I was  most curious about the scent- I love turmeric but I don't want to smell like it. Luckily this just smells like rose water. It's really lovely to use. I keep mine in the fridge so it's extra refreshing. I like to use it 1-2 times a day. 

It is pretty hydrating. And a bit sticky. I don't really notice unless I touch my face though. Makes a nice base for makeup. 

Makes my skin look healthy, adds a touch of hydration, and just overall feels like a treat. You can use it to set make up but I didn't use it that way. I want all those good ingredients to go directly on my skin, not on makeup.

And it has great ingredients! The second ingredient is turmeric root extract. We have banana extract, oat extract, calendula, rose water, witch hazel,  and on and on! 

Ingredients:

Now my favorite thing- the price! I think this is one of the most affordable mists....you get 4 oz for $6.00. It's comparable to a Lush mist (Breath of Fresh Air, Tea Tree Water,  and Eau Roma Water)  but you get a better price. This works out to $1.50 an ounce while Lush ends up being around $4.24 an ounce. If you like a toner water- I say it's worth a try!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir Review

I just had a massively large breakfast so I'm feeling extra sluggish and a bit lazy so figured I would use the time to write a few posts. This is my first purchase from the Caudalie brand- besides  I have used a sample of theirs before. In looking a little more, it's a french family owned brand. I like seeing that. Sometimes you get tired of absolutely everything being owned by L'oreal or Estee Lauder. Based on that I want to try more.

Caudalie claims: 

Skin type : all skin types

Need : radiance

Texture : Mist

Key ingredients : Grape Extract, Peppermint essential oil, Rose essential oil, Rosemary essential oil, Orange blossom water, Lemon balm essential oil 

Use : day and night

What is it? 

Beauty Elixir is a Caudalie cult product that visibly enhances the complexion's glow,tightens the look of pores, and sets makeup. The iconic mist is vegan, cruelty-free, and 100% natural. A favorite among celebrities and makeup artists worldwide, the Beauty Elixir is the ideal setting spray between layers of makeup for a long-lasting and smooth finish. Spritz at the office during that lull for a quick pick-me-up, or in the evening to refresh your makeup!

Also available in 100ml full-size.

Visible results 

• 100% saw pores tightened immediately after use*

*Clinical test, % of satisfaction, 21 women, results observed immediately after application.

Formula: 

• 100% natural origin ingredients
• Dermatologically tested
• Vegan

Did you know? 

Created in 1997, Beauty Elixir was inspired by a recipe of the youth elixir used by the Queen of Hungary in the 17th century, who was known for her radiant complexion. Mathilde Thomas wanted to reinterpret this infusion of plants for the skin. Today Beauty Elixir is a must-have for celebrities and make-up artists worldwide.

Sustainability Commitment 

Fully recyclable packaging designed using recycled plastic and glass, more respectful of the planet*.

It is a pricy product for what is essentially a facial toning spray. From what I read, it's one that went viral on social media. 

There are a lot of things I like about it. First up, it comes in a glass bottle. I haven't tried a lot of misting sprays but a good majority of them come in plastic. So it's always nice to see glass. So the packaging is A+. I think it came in a box but I'm guessing I threw it out. The sprayer is a mister. It's ok. I keep thinking it only comes out of one side though so I think there is room for improvement- especially for the price. But major points for the glass bottle. 

The spray itself is like any other spray. But it does have a unique scent. It smells like it's scented entirely with essential oil. Mainly it reminds me of if you mixed peppermint with something like lemongrass. The scent is ok.  You do want to make sure to shake it...otherwise the oils will not get mixed in.

But that peppermint. It's tingly! The first few times I used it it felt like it was burning my skin and I thought I would have to repurpose it. My skin seems to have gotten used to it and now it just feels extra refreshing. 

I do think it has helped tighten up my pores and my skin seems a bit brighter. It lays well under and over makeup...and seems especially nice for combination/oily skin. I have a few bottles of MAC FIX+ and I prefer this over that as a skin base because it more oily/combination skin friendly. It can't replace entirely though because I sometimes use the MAC one with eyeshadow to maximize the color in some shades. But strictly skincare wise, this is a winner. 

One downside is I seem to have breezed through the spray. I've been trying to use it everyday (sometimes 2x a day!) and it just get's used up to fast. But maybe I'm over-using it! 

The website does mention the spray was created in 1997 and inspired by a Queen of Hungary from the 17th century. I wish they delved more into that- what Queen? What did she look like? Tell me more! I love information like that. I even tried to quickly search for who they might be talking about and I've got nothing that fits. 

Ingredients: 

aqua/water/eau, alcohol, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower water, parfum (fragrance), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, glycerin, commiphora myrrha resin extract, styrax tonkinensis resin extract, melissa officinalis leaf oil, citral, linalool, limonene, geraniol, citronellol, vitis vinifera (grape) fruit extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, tocopherol, farnesol, benzyl benzoate.(403/001)

The ingredients are great! No complains from me. If you avoid essential oils this is probably one you want to avoid. 

I do also recommend reaching the product page before purchasing because the FAQ has some great and helpful information.

I really do like this..the only thing really stopping me from picking it up and repurchasing is the price. If you are looking for something similar but slightly more affordable, I think Lush could be a good place to look (Eau Roma and Breath of Fresh Air) , I've tried a few of their facial sprays and really liked them. 

Plant Therapy Lavender Hydrosol Review

 I just finished phase one of some cookies I am going to bring to work. I'm only making a small batch because I'm feeling super lazy. I'm doing double chocolate cookies. I don't think I've made double chocolate before (maybe?) so I will see how they come out. The cooke dough was pretty delicious though.

Anyway..Lavender Hydrosol. 

Plant Therapy claims:

• Soothes dry, itchy, and irritated skin
• Calming to the mind & body
• Helps cleanse minor cuts & scrapes

• Distilled from the flowering tops of the Lavandula angustifolia plant, Lavender Hydrosol's deep, earthy aroma is reminiscent of a lavender field after a heavy rain. While the scent may differ from Lavender Essential Oil, they share many of the famously calming characteristics that we know and love. Its calming and cooling properties on the mind and body make this hydrosol an ideal bedtime companion; safe for the whole family, spray Lavender Hydrosol on bedsheets and pillowcases to help wind down after a busy day.

  Great to support healthy skin, Lavender Hydrosol can help soothe discomfort from occasional redness, irritation, bug bites, sunburns, and more. It is often used for baby care to help with discomfort in the diaper area.

  Hydrosols are the aromatic remains following a plant’s steam distillation process. They consist entirely of cellular botanical water, which includes unique water-loving (hydrophilic) compounds that provide each hydrosol with distinct characteristics and benefits. While sharing many commonalities with their essential oil counterpart, their molecular makeup is unique enough that hydrosols often have very different aromatic profiles compared to the oil.

  Made from 100% naturally-derived ingredients, this product includes 98% organic Lavender hydrosol. To ensure the safety of this product and prevent microbial growth, 2% preservative is added (Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate & Water).

I've had this forever. I keep it in the refrigerator and I think that's why I don't use it as much as I want. Also I tend to save it for certain uses. 

It doesn't smell anything like Lavender. It smells a little odd. Like grout or something. But it's not a bad smell and it's grown on me. 

Some of its uses are soothing dry, itchy skin. I haven't really used it for that purpose but I do like using it as a refreshing facial spray. It adds the lightest moisture to my skin and it's something I feel is really good for the complexion.

Supposed to be calming. I can't really say I have noticed a difference but...maybe.

And it's supposed to be good on cuts and scrapes. I agree with that. I mostly use it on burns though. Lavender is supposed to be really great for any kind of burn...and I tend to burn myself often. The most memorable was reaching into the hot oven to grab a sheet pan out of it. I was very absent-minded that day. I grabbed for this-sprayed t a few times and then forgot about it. I didn't get any further issues and don't when I use this stuff. 

I do really want to try it as a bedtime spray and spritz all over my blankets and pillows- but in my mind that seems like it would be such a waste so I haven't. I feel like I have to use it on my skin to not be wasting money. Maybe one day I will bring myself to try it that way. 

I've had mine over the year shelf live so I should probably try to use it up within the next few months- I do keep it in the refrigerator so hopefully that extends it's life. 

It's 100 percent natural. There are other facial sprays that have all kinds of junk in them- if you want simple and all natural-a hydrosol is definitely the way to go. Nothing but 100% Lavender Water.

This is my fourth hydrosol. I've used and reviewed Rose, Chamomile, and Helichrysum and so far, I really like them. I don't think they are a must have but they can come in handy for some things. 

Lush Tea Tree Water Toner Review

Last toner from Lush- except the toner tabs. I haven't tried those yet. Maybe in my next order. Not sure when that will be though since I'm trying to use up all my Lush products- or most of them before I go and order more. Or before the big sale at the end of the year. Also I am trying to mix up the brands I try so it's not always the same things.

Lush claims:

Refreshing and cleansing

Spray directly onto your face for a quick refresh or spritz onto a reusable cotton pad and swipe over skin to remove any traces of makeup or cleanser. Use with other clarifying products such as Herbalism fresh cleanser and Cosmetic Lad fresh face mask for rejuvenated, clear skin.

I generally really like the Lush toners. I saved this one for last because I was trying to use it when the weather was hot. I thought it might help keep oil bay and just be refreshing in general. 

I don't use this as regularly as I used the other ones, I find I really want to make sure I use it in the daytime  as opposed to the others because they seemed more like night time toners. Also because I look for oil control in the daytime. I am actively greasy at night when I go to sleep because I love layering Shea Butter on for it's anti-aging properties. 

Anyway, it does exactly what I want it to do. It's refreshing in the AM and does help to keep oil at bay. Also due to the Tea Tree it really feels like I'm doing something extra cleansing for my skin. 

The scent is not as tea tree like as some other tea tree products. I'm actually finding I've grown to like the scent of Tea Tree. So I do like this. 

Does it help breakout? Eh...no not particularly. Or maybe I don't use it often enough for that. Not sure. Could be worth trying for acne prone skin. 

I always love the Lush packaging but I find some of the spray nozzles work better than others. This didn't spray evenly, it seems it only dispensed out of one side. It's also not that fine of a spray but overall a minor annoyance. 

Ingredient list is short and simple. I love the ingredient list. Also worth noting this wouldn't be too hard to DIY myself.

Ingredients: 

Tea Tree Water, Grapefruit Water, Juniper Berry Water, Limonene, Perfume, Methylparaben

Would I buy this again? I would! I don't think it's a must have but I do like using it in the summer. It's nine euro, so about nine dollars for me with the exchange rate...under the $10 price that I prefer for each facial product. Of course, the bigger size is a better value so I would even consider that.

Lush Eau Roma Water Review

I've been a lazy blogger lately. I think because I've been paying a lot of attention to the Depp vs. Heard trial. It's a crazy one because it couldn't be more obvious she is making everything up as she goes along. 

The content people are able to produce from the trial is amazing. I should get on Tik Tok. My favorite of this clip is the carpet/sofa re-enactment, both of them. And the one about the Amica cream. Which...it's Arnica cream. That lawyer can't read. Oh and the dog objecting to the bee comment...

Anyway..back to the Eau Roma Water.

Lush claims: 

Skin soothing floral infusion

Spray directly onto your face for a quick refresh or spritz onto a reusable cotton pad to remove any traces of makeup or cleanser. Use with other soothing products such as Angels on Bare Skin and Celestial for soft, calm and hydrated skin.

I already used and reviewed the Breath of Fresh Air toner...which I have to say I'm a fan of. Surprisingly I was really a fan of that one. And I think I like this one almost as much. 

First thing I noticed is the sprayer was better on this one. It produced a nice mist unlike the other one, so I spritzed it all over which probably used it up quicker. The other one I sprayed into my hands and pressed into my skin. I like this bottle better though...seems to apply quicker misting it on. 

The second thing I noticed is the scent. It smelled more floral at first, not sure if I'm used to it, but it's much less floral now. I really like the scent...just a fresh (faintly floral) scent. It's very calming and feels more like an aromatherapy product. 

But I do notice some skin benefits. It adds a little bit of hydration and isn't greasy. It's not drying either- no alcohol and no alcohol scent. I'm not a fan of toners with alcohol. Too harsh and drying on the skin.

I feel like it helps maintain a better overall even skintone. I still have terrible dark marks on my chin but pretty much nothing will help them but time and me leaving them alone. It also seems to keep my skin a little smoother- one side of my face can look a little textured sometimes. Especially if I'm not using exfoliating things on it. I ran out of all my mild exfoliates and my skin stayed the same. A little smoother. A little brighter and had a little glow. 

You could probably use it in your hair, or to mist your makeup brushes to blend out foundation etc. I tend to not but it's an option.

I really like it though.

I bought mine half price...maybe $8. The US price is $13. Not horrible. I would prefer $10 or less The large size is $26. Which at least you get a ton. More bang for your buck too! 

I love the ingredients! Doesn't get more simple than that...I could probably even just mix Rose Water and Lavender Water and make my own for a better price

Ingredients: 

Lavender Water, Rose Water, Citronellol, Geranoil, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben,

This and the Breathe of Fresh Air are my favorite toners. I haven't tried a ton...but if you want something gentle that smells fresh and natural...this might be worth trying.

I just wish the bottle qualified for the free face mask recycling program.

Up next, the Tea Tree Toner.

Samples Review: Senna Cosmetics Soothing Primer, Senna Cosmetic Makeup Remover, MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance Base Primer

 Quick little post on some samples I've used up recently.. I don't have anywhere near the amount of samples I used to have. Maybe I'm just ordering less? Probably not. 

Senna Soothing Toner- I'm not big into toners. I know they are great for professional skin/makeup prep and returning your skins PH balance. But they mostly do a lot of nothing for me. So I tend to save my money. I will buy a hydrosol though. They are all natural and have multiple uses. This was nice, but not nice enough that I would spend the $32 on it. It has a light menthol scent. It was hydrating. No drying alcohols. I think it's one of the better toners with better ingredients than most you come across. It has Royal Jelly, Olive Extract, Chamomile, Grape Fruit Cell Extract, Green Tea Extract, Vitamin A and E, Pomegranate Extract, Fennell Extract, and Oat Root Extract. It it had a lower price I might be more likely to buy it.

Senna Makeup Remover- This remover is $30. I have never paid that much for a remover, but if I was going to, I would never get this. It doesn't work. It's less effective than just using water. It just smudged and smeared but did not remove and it took a while to get it to the smudge stage. Terrible. It boasts being oil free...but it's 2022, we aren't scared of putting oil on our skin anymore. I wouldn't even pay $2 for it.

MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance Base in Radiant Yellow

All my primers have been sitting unused. I've had this sample for a little while now. I've used it a few times now as well. It's a nice little sample for sure. I think it does do what it says...but that price tag. MAC used to be more affordable. Per MAC it's a "A silky gel primer for all skin types that is designed to hydrate and refine skin, while adding a luminous glow." I agree. It definitely adds a radiance to my skin that's apparent under makeup. Mostly it looks radiant with a little oil breakthrough...but not as bad as I thought it would be on my oily skin. I probably wouldn't purchase it though unless I was experiencing dull skin or had a foundation that really could use a boost of radiance. For now, I just don't need it. It does seem to smooth pores a little bit which is nice. Skin looks smoother and makeup does go on smooth as well.

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner Review

I need to blog to distract myself from shopping for stuff I don't need. I feel like that's what I've been doing all day. Actually it is kind of stuff that I need.. in a way.

Anyway...let me get started.

Lush claims:

If your skin is feeling a little drab or dry, give it a pick-me-up with this soothing aloe vera and rose spritzer with hints of cleansing rosemary and mineral-rich sea water.

Give your skin a new lease on life with a blend of sea-inspired ingredients. A gentle spritz of sea water, aloe vera gel and rose absolute soothes, cools and hydrates stressed-out complexions and works wonders to calm redness too. You won't find any alcohol in our toners—just kind and caring ingredients to help you feel your best!

I wasn't really interested in trying the Lush toners so soon since I found hydrosols from Plant Therapy. But a sale can change my mind really quickly. I ended up picking up three of them and decided to start with this one.

Which I have really been enjoying. 

It makes me feel like I'm somewhere on the ocean with the waves spraying in my face. You kinda get the saltiness of the sea and a really nice freshness. I think this smells better though. IDK how they did it. But for me it's really quite an experience. 

Other than that, I do feel like it contribute a little glow to my skin, and clearer looking skin. Maybe the Aloe is helping to fade some of the marks on my face? Or maybe it's my imagination. Only the lighters ones though, not the deeper ones on my chin.

What I really like about it is that it feels very hydrating without making my skin look greasy. I've actually sprayed it on when I was a little greasy and it matted my face down but kept the glow  This is the first spray I've found that does that- not that I have tried a ton.

I've used it to wet my brush a little when applying foundation/blending. It worked well for that but I felt like I was wasting it and should be using something a little cheaper.

The packaging is ok. It's not included in the Back to Lush- 5 empty pots- free face mask thing. I'm not the biggest fan of the sprayer. It's not a fine mist whatsoever, so I tend to spray it in my hands and then press it into my face.

It's much more refreshing if you keep it in the fridge but I tend to just keep it in the bathroom because I'm too lazy to walk up and down the stairs for it. 

You can use it in your hair. I haven't tried it that way yet. And you can spray it on your body. Which is also refreshing but I tend to feel like I am wasting it. Maybe as an occasional treat? 

The ingredients are excellent. Just look at them! I love that the Aloe Vera Juice is fair trade. 

Ingredients:

Spring Water, Sea Water, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Fragrance, Carrageenan Extract, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Oil, Rosemary Oil, Seaweed Absolute, Limonene, Linalool, Methylparaben.

I really tried this out thinking I wouldn't like it that much. I really, really, really like it. It's about $11 for the small size and $23 for the larger size. Pricey if you are springing for the larger one, but I could see myself buying another one eventually. Especially if I can catch it on sale! 

Plant Therapy Organic Helichrysum Hydrosol Review

I need a distraction from looking up and shopping for things I don't need so blogging it it. What am I shopping for? Duo Chrome eyeshadows. They are always my favorite shades in whatever palettes they have come in and I've had a palette MAC palette with empty slots for almost forever...so I figured I would fill it out a little bit..but I really don't need to/shouldn't. Maybe I will just start slow...

But back to the review at hand. 

Plant Therapy claims:

Distilled from the flowering top of the Helichrysum italicum plant, our Organic Helichrysum Hydrosol is USDA Certified Organic and bottled without any additional additives, ensuring a completely pure and natural product. With a honeyed, herbal, earthy aroma, Organic Helichrysum Hydrosol is helpful for soothing skin irritations from outdoor pests, plants, and other threats or irritants. It also works well as a toner to help purify and balance the skin as well as ease dryness or redness. Use this hydrosol as a cold compress to help soothe sore muscles. 

Hydrosols are the aromatic remains following a plant’s steam distillation process. They consist entirely of cellular botanical water, which includes unique water-soluble compounds that provide each hydrosol with distinct characteristics and benefits. Use these gentle, delicately scented waters directly on the skin for individuals of all ages, spritz onto water-safe fabrics, or add to your favorite DIY body care formulations. 

We recommend that all hydrosols be stored in the refrigerator from the time of purchase.

I've never used Helichrysum Essential oil because it's expensive and I haven't really felt I need to add it to my already out of control collection  but the hydrosol is a little more affordable at $12.95. I also usually only have one hydro at a time ( right now I have Lavender too). I like hydrosols. They are like all natural toners/room sprays that are good for a variety of things. 

Some of them smell great. This one smells like BBQ. It really is strange smelling. But it's not super strong and the smell dissipates pretty quickly. 

So what is it good for? 

Bug bites. Although I haven't really tried it for that, I'm sure it would be amazing on bug bites. I don't have any problems with dryness or redness...so IDK about that. I'm sure it is amazing for that though. I've read of other people having good luck with it for dry and red skin.

I have found it's good for mild pain. Very temporarily, at least during the day. Sometimes I do a lot more jumping around/up and down the stairs then my body would like me to do. And it can bother my knees. When I'm not being lazy I grab this out the fridge and spray/rub it on. The cold is very nice and soothing. And really does soothe pain. I find the effects wear off if I don't sit down somewhere It does have the best effect if you apply it right before bed. I wake up with my joints feeling brand new. 

That's my most favorite use for it. Other times I'll use it like a toner. But the BBQ smoky smell is not my favorite smell to have sitting on my face. But I will sometimes just spray it on for some refreshment and because it is good for your skin. 

It works nicely on burns, any kind of scrape or cut/boo boo. Definitely heals everything quickly. 

Despite the smell, I really like it and after I try all the other ones, would definitely repurchase. I think it might a staple. Who knew?

Plant Therapy Organic Rose Hydrosol Review

 Once upon at time I hated Rose scented things. Mainly because there's not a lot of things that compares to smelling a real rose on a summer or spring day. Do roses bloom in spring? IDK. I think they do. Anyway over the years I have found a few things that measure up to my expectations of rose scented things. And this hydrosolis one of them. It's heavenly! 

Plant Therapy claims:

Distilled from the Rose plant at the highest level of purity to produce a Rose Hydrosol that is USDA Certified Organic.

Hydrosols are the aromatic remains after the steam-distillation process occurs. They are an excellent complement to essential oils because they are gentle enough to be used directly on the skin and are safe enough to use on children and pets.

Rose Organic Hydrosol smells just like a fresh Rose garden and brings a sense of well-being and peace to the senses. Use it as a room or linen spray to help assist with emotions when feeling down or stagnant.

Rose Organic Hydrosol is a wonderful addition to a warm bath when dealing with lower body upset. You can also spritz it on before leaving the house for a fabulous perfume that is light and floral that smells amazing!

Use as room or linen spray to help assist with emotions when feeling down or stagnant. Rose Organic Hydrosol brings a sense of well-being and peace. Add ¼ - ½ cup of Rose Organic Hydrosol to a warm bath to relieve lower body upset.

I spent a few years of my childhood picking and playing with Roses. In my pretend world they were food. I spent a lot time squeezing the "juice" and using the petals as "food' in my pretend world. I think I did that when we lived in Turkey but I'm not 100% sure. Anyway...that's what this smells like. It smells authentic and I love it!

You can use it to take a bath with. I can't be bothered wasting it that way. But I'm sure it would be nice. You can even use it to mist your linens. It would probably be really nice that way too. I just can't bring myself to do it.

I reserve strictly as a facial spray. I'm not sure it does anything for my skin. It's supposed to be good for calming skin. And adding s a little hydration. 

Mostly I use it as an aromatherapy boost. I keep it in the fridge and spray it whenever I need a little pick me up. It's very calming..and I would say makes me feel peaceful like they say. 

My favorite thing about it is the ingredients. It's nothing but Hydrosol- the water leftover when they distill the absolute. No preservatives. No extra junk. Just pure rose JUICE.

There are lot of rose scented makeup sprays on the market. I haven't tried this over makeup or as a refresher spray just because I don't want to waste the "benefits" of the spray by having it absorbed by my makeup. I want all the rosy goodness direct on my face. 

It is organic. Which is probably ideal...to avoid all the pesticides that can be sprayed on roses and therefore in the spray.

It isn't cheap at $16.95. I got mine during a sale. Not sure exactly how much I paid...but I would say it's worth it. If I didn't feel compelled to try the other hydrosols and have such a long list of other things from the brand , I would probably just buy the big bottle at $40 the next time they have a sale 

No doubt a favorite and I would definitely recommend giving it a try! 

Monoprix Brume Eau Minerale Hydrating Facial Spray Review

Blog time...because there's not much else to do. I bought this facial spray last summer when we went to Strasbourg, which is a beautiful city. We ended up walking in the downtown area and of course I had to check out the drugstore. Evian is the most known one in the USA and they did have that one, but I went with the cheaper one. They are very cheap already in France and  Germany at no more than 2-3 dollars. Way overpriced in Sephora. 

Anyway, I do like these....even though they are essentially a water spray.

I use a lot of facials oils/butters and like to mist this one before applying the heavier oils because they absorb easier. I also do find them helpful to spray on skin irritations or burns. I don't know why it's any different from regular water or if it's all in my head, but I do like it. 

They are also nice in the summer when it's super hot outside to spray on the face to cool you down. I don't carry it around in the winter months but in spring/summer I will throw it in my bag. 

You can spray it on you face after makeup, but I don't find it to get rid of the "powdery" look. Not like a makeup setting spray would do because it is essentially just water. It can take away some of the oiliness in my skin though. So that's another reason I like having it in the summer months. 

As for hydration purposes, if you have dry skin this isn't really going to moisturize your skin. I don't know if it claims to be hydrating- I can't read French but I thought I would mention it. 

There's no scent at all. Which I do like....I used the Mac Fix Plus before this and found the scent overwhelming. Although I do wish they would make options like Lavender or Peppermint. Natural scents. 

Overall, not a necessity. I probably won't get the chance to purchase this one again since I've only seen it in France. But I have noticed other brands popping up (off-brand- but it's only water anyway) so more than likely I will always have a can of this on hand. 

Random: 

Pics I took of the cathedral in Strasbourg. It was breathtaking. I really want to go back! 

Plant Therapy Chamomile Roman Organic Hydrosol Review

I go through phases of being really into skincare. and then other times I don't give it a second thought. I faithfully wash my makeup off every night...I can't get into bed and go to sleep without washing off my makeup. But I have a couple of weeks in between where I will skip all the extra stuff like masking, toning, etc.

Right now I'm back into skincare. I was considering trying on of the subscription boxes where they send you the Korean skincare masks...but I'm really into DIY masks and I'm not too thrilled about the ingredients. I may still try one in the future just because I think they are fun.

Makeup Facial sprays are everywhere these days. I wanted to try a more natural alternative to things like MAC Fix Plus, the Urban Decay sprays, etc. Because you inhale a lot of the ingredients when you spray it into your face. I thought I would try out hydrosols to start.

Plant Therapy claims:

Distilled from the Roman Chamomile plant at the highest level of purity to ensure a 100% pure, premium hydrosol that is USDA Certified Organic. Hydrosols are the aromatic remains after the steam-distillation process occurs. They are an excellent complement to essential oils because they are gentle enough to be used directly on the skin and can be used on children and pets. Roman Chamomile Organic Hydrosol is known for its calming properties. It is very calming and soothing to the skin and can be used on both children and adults to soothe when irritation occurs. When applied over the skin, it can provide a comforting and moisturizing effect that feels amazing. Roman Chamomile Organic Hydrosol is the ideal hydrosol for baby care. Mist on baby’s bedding to promote calmness and is gentle enough to use on a baby’s bottom for occasional irritation in the diaper area.

I'm not the biggest fan of chamomile. I've tried chamomile body washes, butters, the tea, etc. It's supposed to be really calming. I just don't like the scent or the taste. And I don't think it has that much calming effect for me at this point. 

But they had this as a five dollar add on- down from 12.95 and I just went for it. 

I use it as a regular facial spray. Maybe my skin is softer, slightly smoother? It can help soothe minor skin irritation. It is slightly hydrating in the summer months. I found I really liked to apply this instead of a heavy moisturizer since my skin is really oily. And I keep in the refrigerator so spraying something cold on my face is super nice when it's hot and muggy outside.

I do love that they include a flip top and a sprayer, so it's easy to use and you don't have to worry about switching

They do recommend using it as a calming room spray, but it smells nothing like chamomile. It smells like grout to me. Like a freshly tiled bathroom. Idk if that's how its supposed to smell or if that's just how mine smells. 

But I'm not sure it does anymore for my skin than a simple DIY Chamomile tea that I could brew, let cool, put in a spray bottle, and use it pretty much the same way.

It does seem to settle down a powdery look....although lately I haven't had too many issues with my skin looking powdery. I usually forget to powder. Whoops. 

I don't know. I'm not sure if I would buy it again because I just don't think it has done enough for me. I do still want to try to Rose and the Lavender Hydrosol though. Maybe those will smell better. 

Random:

I bought a Lancome perfume this weekend and got a whole cute bag with a couple of samples. I've been wanting a new bag but I can never find one that's cute enough to buy. This free one was too cute though...and can't beat the price!