Category Archives: Bath & Beauty

beauty and bath product reviews

Review: Ten Digit Creations

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As with most anything cosmetic and personal aesthetic related, I discovered Ten Digit Creations through one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Grey, who praised their lilac fragrance. I love lilac and find it a bit of a challenge to find, with lavender being the reigning scent of purple blooms. My first order from TDC consisted of Lilac and Honeysuckle, and my second Dream Weaver and Serendipity.



Ten Digit Creation Roll-On Frgrance


Scent: Lilac – the aroma of a freshly blooming lilac bush

My Thoughts: Exactly as described and utterly flawless. Along with Honeysuckle, this is the scent that gets noticed and complimented the most.

Scent: Honeysuckle – the sweet aroma of honeysuckle nectar

My Thoughts: Exactly as described. This scent brings back very fond memories of me playing on our property in Pennsylvania, ruining my father’s freshly planted honeysuckle plant by popping off their heads and sucking the nectar straight from the source. Ah, to be young and have such a disregard for the beauty if nature. Along with Lilac, this is the scent that gets noticed and complimented the most.

Scent: Dream Weaver - rich teakwood mixed with oriental floral notes, followed by undertones of mossy amber, sandalwood, and acacia

My Thoughts: As soon as I read “teakwood” this was in my shopping cart. I LOVE teakwood, it’s my favorite earthy scent and this formula does not disappoint. It’s a richly sultry scent, perfect for date nights, evening events or when I want to an an extra bit of sizzle to an evening in with Boyfriend. Probably my favorite out of the four, and the fragrance I wear most at night.

Scent: Serendipity - top notes of tangy lemon and jasmine; followed by middle notes of lily, rose petals, African violet, and daylily; sitting on base notes of cedarwood, patchouli, and musk

My Thoughts: I bought this because of the combination of two of my favorite floral scents (jasmine and rose) with patchouli, a scent I treasure deeply. This is the most “perfume-y” of my collection, a very alluring day time scent, perfect for big daytime events like weddings or when you want to smell radiant as you’re out and about.

Formula: What sold me with Ten Digit Creations is the fact that all the fragrance is mixed with is jojoba oil. That’s it. I’m in love, sold, thank you, come again!

Application: They come in 1/3rd fl. oz in a little glass bottle with a roll-on applicator. I’ve never had issues with them and I love their size because they fit right into any purse I have. The scents are long lasting but not suffocating. People have always positively commented on the scents where I am wearing Ten Digit Creations, more than any other fragrance I have ever worn.

Cost: Each roll-on fragrance is $6.00 (shipping $2.00) and that’s a darn steal for what commercial perfumes with all of their chemicals and allergy-inducing toxins cost.

Variety: There are over seventy-five scents to choose from and you can read about them here. Ten Digit Creations also sells body butter/lotion, soy candles, cold process soap, lip balm, incense, and more.

Overall: I will continue to make purchases from Ten Digit Creations and they are my go-to company for fragrance recommendations. While I have enough sampler perfumes from commercial companies to choke a number of large mammals with, they mostly wind up in the garbage bin.

Glass of Win patent-not-pending pie rating system finds Ten Digit Creations:

Five out of five pies!


Find Ten Digit Creations:
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Review: Bunny Butt Apothecary

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Back in July my friend Liz got hitched and I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid. See, it’s good to push your friends into dressing up like Sailor Mars for Senior year spirit day! Anyway. Liz bought each of us brides maids a wonderful Etsy-filled goodie bag. My matryoshka bag (wheee, Russian dolls!) held some seriously bad-ass stuff including two 2.0oz jars of lotion from the company Bunny Butt Apothecary.





Now, I know what you’re thinking: OMG, how distasteful to review a gift!

Well, I thought about that but it came down to this: I LOVE this lotion and I’d love to promote Bunny Butt, so why not?

I like this company because of their philosophy about life and the business of body care products. An excerpt from their about us section:

“The short story? With the increasing popular focus on a natural lifestyle, the widespread misconception has arisen that “natural” is always better, gentler, and more effective. This is sometimes true, but just as often false. Natural ingredients can be just as likely to elicit an allergic reaction as synthetic ones–for example, if you happen to be allergic to lavender, even the finest Bulgarian lavender oil won’t do you any good–and the idea that “natural” always equals “safe” is really quite a silly notion. Natural, organically grown poison ivy will still give you a wicked rash.”

Well, I concur! It’s nice to know there are companies out there who aren’t adding to the saturation of the “natural” product hype while still making quality products on their own.

All right, onto the products! Liz gave me two whipped cream lotion samplers. They came in a cute drawstring bag with the bunny butt logo on it, but I have somehow misplaced said bag and am not willing to tear apart my freshly cleaned room for the purposes of a picture. You will just have to use your imagination ;)

The two scents I was given are:

Atomic Cherry Amaretto (now called Cherry Bomb) – “An explosion of wicked cherry with a base of deep almond–-this baby will make your nose hairs curl!”
It really does smell like candied cherries, with just enough almond to rein it in. A fun scent I normally would never go for on my own but am glad someone else did so I have it to smell like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. <3

Sandy Rose – Scent description no longer available from the website, but it reminds me of antique shops with overstuffed Victorian furniture, tea with grandma and walks through gardens. It’s like the perfect combo of baby powder and roses. I’m sad they no longer offer it. It’s a gorgeous scent.


Bunny Butt Apothecary:
- Offers whipped cream (body lotion), tinted mineral/lip balms, vegetable protein deodorant, body polish/scrubs, bar soap, and fragrances.
- Most of their items appear to be vegan
- Prices range from $4.50-$15.00 excluding shipping/taxes.
- They frequent bazaars for direct purchases, so be sure to check out their main website for upcoming shows.

Bunny Butt Apothecary | Bunny Butt on Etsy

Review: The Fay Farm

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When I first arrived in Seattle, I was racing through Pike Place Market on the hunt for clever outfits for my Street Style post. I only had a limited amount of time so I was rather brief with the people I was able to feature. When I stumbled on Savori & Flower, two artists selling their wares, a kindly man named Michael they were sharing their booth with teased me that I ought to take his picture, wasn’t he hip looking enough for my blog? =P

I asked him for his card to check out his goods (as I did not have the time to browse) and he asked what my favorite scent was. Instantly, I replied, “Lilac.” Michael faltered and so I gave him a back up, “Honeysuckle.”
Nodding, he handed me a 2 oz. glass jar of orange honeysuckle scented shea body butter.




Ingredients: Shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, beeswax, rosemary extract (a natural preservative), essential & fragrance oils.

The scent is heavenly; just like orange blossom honey. The texture is like a grainy, fine butter and it applies like silken cream. A little goes a very long way and my hands are well moisturized for hours.

Definitely a good idea to have a few minutes after the application to let the moisturizer really sink into your skin before you touch anything or put on clothes.

Their business card and website boast “Organic Farm Fare & Handcrafted Products” They specialize in goat’s milk and shea butter products including lip butter, lotion bars, liquid & bar soap, and are also well known for their Healing Hemp Salve, an excellent topical treatment for Psoriasis, Eczema, Ichthyosis, burns and bug bites.

Would I purchase products from The Fay Farm? Absolutely.

If you are in the Seattle area, swing by The Fay Farm booth every Thursday-Sunday or order online at The Fay Farm

Review: Sugarpill Costmetics

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Sugarpill Cosmetics is the neon hued sparkly brainchild of Amy Doan, whom I’ve known of through her internet moniker Shrinkle since 2004-ish. Amy’s style and creations has been a mainstay on the DIY scene for a number of years, easily recognizable for its wild, outrageous clash-but-match colors. Sugarpill is no different; it is a tidal wave of intense, vibrant color. Amy was kind enough to send me a generous helping of her products to use for this review.

Firstly, let’s be real: I am a make-up dummy. I barely learned about things like primer within the last year or so. I am in NO way someone who pretends to know what’s what, just a girl who digs a bold look when she steps out.

Shipping & Packaging: Amy and I happen to live within a solid morning’s drive of one another (or half a day if you drive like a granny), so I can’t comment on shipping EXCEPT to say that Sugarpill does ship worldwide at very good prices! The contents arrive in a durable box stamped with a cute sugarpill kitty and inside is a plethora of hot pink tissue along with the products, all nicely packaged in custom designed Sugarpill boxes, stickers and business cards. STICKERS! Ooooh ~ Okay, back to the make up.

The product themselves are PACKED to the brim, so be aware when you open your loose eyeshadow! I’ve had a few mini spills already. On the plus side, you get exactly what you pay for (5 grams of loose eyeshadow is exactly 5 grams), but on the downside – whoa, spillage! I urge you to open them over a paper surface so if there is any spillage, you can just slide it right back in the jar.


The goods in their custom packaging


Received Loose Eyeshadow: Asylum (rust red), Absinthe (bright green), Junebug (gemstone green), Starling (bright teal), Magpie (pewter blue), Royal Sugar (sparkly violet-blue), Hysteric (bright purple), Goldilux (opaque gold), Lumi (sheer snowy shimmer)

Sugarpill Cosmetics


Received Pressed Eyeshadow: Dollipop (vivid pink), Buttercupcake (intense yellow), Midori (green), Afterparty (bright blue) *not pictured*, Poison Plum (royal purple)

Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadows


Favorite Colors:
Junebug – I never would have thought I’d come to love a dark green as much as I love this color. It’s classy and unique.

Magpie – I knew I wanted Magpie when Amy first revealed the colors. Blue is not usually my color, but this pewter-blue is just stunning. Like Junebug, classy, elegant and unique.

Goldilux – I love opaque gold! Glittery, bright and bold, this is THE top gold loose eyeshadow, hands down.

Starling – I surprised myself loving this blue, but it’s great on its own or combined with the majority of the other colors.

Honorable Mentions:
Asylum – Probably the best red you will find in eyeshadow form. It’s not over-the-top fire engine red, it’s not pinky or too orange, either. It’s a solid rust without the brown. I have no other way of explaining it, but it is perfect for the clubs or that classy charity event to match the red with black overlay evening gown (as I wore it).

Absinthe – I love a good lime green, and this is strikingly vivid lime that definitely gets recommended.

Least Favorite:
Lumi – Sheer shimmer just isn’t my cup of tea. Makes a nice highlighter though.

Buttercupcake – I’m not into yellow on its own, but this is a good yellow for mixing.

Midori – Too standard of a green for my liking.

Application: I’m learning as I go, but I highly recommend a good primer for the loose eyeshadow and to apply them wet. I find, for the loose powders, if I do not have a sturdy primer or if I try to apply them dry, they loosen and leave streaks on my cheeks and parts of my eyelid above the crease (you can see this in some of my images). I haven’t had this happen every single time, but this is why I emphasis a good primer.

Lasting Power: Pressed or loose shadow, Sugarpill lasts a LONG time. I’ve worn them from just a couple of hours to all day and evening with little signs of wear.

Removal: The easiest eyeshadow/make up I have ever removed in my life. A couple of quick swipes from a make up remover wipe and it’s gone!

Looks: Here are a few looks I took pictures of while testing out Sugarpill.

Blues+Violets




Starling matches my blouse exactly!



Top: Dollipop Bottom: Royal Sugar mixed with Hysteric

Rainbow





Lumi – Asylum – Buttercupcake – Midori – Afterparty – Hysteric – Dollipop


Purchasing: Shadows run $12 a pop, a fair price because, as I said earlier, you get your money’s worth in quantity as well as quality. Shipping is $5 flat rate, which I have mixed feelings about because if I only want to order one color I would hesitate. I’d try to go in on a bulk order with some friends and maybe get enough folks to buy-in to reach that FREE shipping on orders of $75 or more.

Overall, I simply adore Sugarpill. It’s also handy to have met the girl behind the make-up, to know that Amy is truly passionate about quality control and what her customers have to say about the products. That kind of personal touch is rare with big-name companies, and I’m more than happy to pass on the standard fare in favor of some indie business love.

Learn More
Sugarpill Cosmetics
Other Sugarpill Reviews
Sugarpill Tutorials

Review: BalmBox on Etsy

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image courtesy of BalmBox



I follow Brandy Blessing aka Indy Grrrl on Twitter, and last week she tweeted about rose flavored lip balm at her Etsy sister store BalmBox. Five minutes later, it was MINE! I love all things rose scented & flavored – bath salts/bombs, rose water, candy – and I jump at most opportunities to experience new rose items. While not my favorite flower, there is something classic and timeless about the rose and its fragrance inspires happy memories.

Brandy shipped the balm out pronto! I purchased the lip balm on March 10th, she shipped from Balitmore on the 11th, and I had it here at home in Los Angeles by the 13th.

The balm arrived in a bubble mailer, decorated with stickers and inside had the most adorable little clear plastic box tied with a sheer fuchsia ribbon, stuffed with not just the lip balm, but red paper grass, a kitten pin and a handwritten, personalized note. Though I’d have been happy receiving the balm alone, it is these personal touches that really make BalmBox stand out. It’s very telling about the individual behind the business.




The rose balm has just the perfect combination of scent and flavor, and goes on smooth & creamy without being thick and globby. The rose lingers on my lips and oh, does it smell so good! The tube wrapper is professional, clearly labeled with both logo and flavor so as not to get mixed up with the other dozen balms I have floating around.

Lip balms are perfect for individual use, stocking stuffers, gift bags for birthdays, wedding/baby showers or just a little token of appreciations for no occasion in particular. If rose isn’t your groove, try out other flavors from BalmBox including: Chai tea, lavender chamomile, circus peanut, chocolate mint, and more!

In short, I definitely recommend BalmBox and I look forward to many more purchases in the future. Indy grrrls truly do it best!


Related
Indy Grrrl Productions (jewelry Etsy shop)
Indy Grrrl on Blogspot
Indy Grrrl on Facebook
Indy Grrrl on Twitter

Review: My Other Princess on Etsy

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Pumpkin Pie bath bombs


When I was putting together the first Shopaholic Saturday blog I ran across these tasty looking mini cupcake bath bombs from the Etsy seller My Other Princess. Knowing they would be just the perfect little gift, plus I can be a greedy monster and keep one for myself, I hurriedly bought my favorite scent, Pumpkin Pie!



Her shipping was amazingly fast and when I opened the parcel, I could smell the pumpkin spices through the cellophane she used to wrap each mini cupcake, tied with the perfect orange ribbon.



Unwrapping the one I would use, I was surprised to see just how detailed the mini cupcake is! A paper wrapper, orange “frosting”, even mini black & orange sprinkles! They really do look like bite-sized cupcakes, ready to pop in your mouth (ha ha, but don’t!).


Say your prayers, little bath bomb!


I placed the mini cupcakes in my walk-in closet – and wouldn’t you know it? My closet was soon filled with the mouth-watering aroma of pumpkin pie (and still smells like a delicious pie shop!) However, aesthetic admiration was soon over for my mini cupcake friend, and it was time to take a bath!


“I’m melting, melting! Oh, what a cruel world.”


The mini cupcake bath bomb took a nice and leisurely time to fizzle out. It didn’t make the bathwater terribly fragrant, but I did only use one and a mini one at that, so if you want a truly aromatic bath I’d say go big and use ‘em all OR buy her regular size cupcake bath bombs! Using one mini is great for a subtle aroma and, of course, fun!

I definitely recommend cupcake bath bombs by My Other Princess. She also makes Shea butter soaps, sea salt bath soaks, sugar scrubs and more. I follow her on Twitter, too! She keeps her followers updated on all of her shop’s goings on.