Fall-Out: Tropical Skin and Hair Savers

Tropical Skin and Hair Savers by elbonner featuring Malie Organics bath & body products

Well, I can safely say that I have had enough of cold weather. I had a cold and windy run this morning, and even though last week I got a teensy bit excited about fall stuff, I have totally gotten that all out of my system. I am now in full-on tropical mode and wishing for warmer weather, big flowers, palm trees, and warm water. No pumpkin spice concotion or Christmas cookie can give me the sort of joy I get when I walk out of my front door without having to wear a goddamn jacket. Layering is the worst; don't deny it! Even though my city is not going to turn into tropical paradise anytime soon (hurry up, global warming), there are still things I can do to make my life a little more "paradise" and a little less "please kill me, it's cold". Tropical ingredients are great for relieveing winter skin woes too; too much sun=dry skin just as too much cold/wind= dry skin. I can at least use some fabulously scented products to keep my skin and hair in tip-top shape so I'll be totally bangin' by summer's arrival!

Body

Organic Fiji Nourishing Lotion- A thick, yet wearable daily lotion that's good when you need moisture, but still need to put skinny jeans/leggings on. This will keep you just a moisturized as a thicker lotion due to the high fat content from organic coconut oil, but sinks in faster so you can get ready faster!

Hei Poa Monoi Oil- I will always sing the praises of monoi. It's great for skin and hair and I always have a bottle of this handy in the winter and summer time. In winter, I put it on under a body butter when my skin is really dry and unhappy and I'm taken away to a tiare-scented, moisturized skin paradise!

Macadamia Nut Oil- Excellent for dry or mature skin; oils are great for your body no matter what season it is. Macadamia oil is rich, but soaks in well to keep your skin flake free even in the coldest of places!

Malie Plumeria Beauty Oil- This really is a beautiful product. Made in Hawaii with native ingredients, Malie Organics makes you feel like you're miles away from dead leaves and dangerously aggressive holiday shoppers. This oil comes in all types of different scents, but plumeria is my favorite!

Saffron James Nani Perfume Oil- Don't spray yourself with alcohol-laden fragrances, use something that benefits your skin and lasts longer! You're going to be power blasted with full, Arctic-force winds until March, so why not use a perfume oil that stays on a smelling great. Saffron James makes the best perfume oils and are all based on famous Hawaiian scents. WIN-WIN!

Pure Fiji Body Butter- For when a lotion isn't enough, this super rich body butter comes in scents like coconut, pineapple, mango, and starfruit to keep you comfortable and smelling nice! Made with Fijian ingredients, it's the ultimate skin-based escapism!

Hair

Macadamia Oil Hair Mask- Rich moisture for wind and cold-damaged hair. Winter really sucks the moisture out of my entire being; my hair included. This masque is great on a cold, rainy Sunday when I can keep it in for a few hours to really let everything soak in.It works great in a pinch, too, and can give you soft, shiny hair after only having it in for a few minutes.

Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk- This thick cream is best when left on damp hair to dry naturally. It gives me soft, shiny waves without any gnarly dry ends. I also use this in my hair before and winter surf sessions to keep the cold salt water from double-destroying it. Smells AMAZING!

Alba Hawaiian Hair Products- I basically love the entire Alba Hawaiian line. I haven't tried one product that I wouldn't buy again and again. They're hair care line is great for everyday care; sulfate-free shampoos that don't strip moisture and light-but-moisturizing conditioners that don't weigh your hair down with too much product. Plus, they smell like what I believe heaven smells like. My favorites are the plumeria shampoo and gardenia conditioner. 

Winter can be a tough time for skin and hair, and super tough for those who would rather smell like a tropical flower garden than a cinnamon smothered Christmas tree. So if you're a fellow winter-hater, get some warm, tropical scents in your life and pray for warmth!

Tropicooler Than Anything: Comptoir Sud Pacifique

Tropicool: Comptoir Sud Pacifique by elbonner featuring a flower perfume

Every once in a while, a true miracle happens that reminds you what it's like to be alive again. That little miracle happened this week when I checked the "What's New" section of Sephora's website. I was scrolling through, not expecting anything out of the ordinary when I saw a familiar name. Like the name of an old friend I thought had disappeared forever; one I never thought I'd see again. But there it was, Comptoir Sud Pacifique, a name I thought was forever damned to them realms of fragrance nostalgia websites! Comptoir Sud Pacifique is a fragrance line based around the scents of French Polynesia and it has E. By The Sea smeared all over it. Their fragrances range from sweet tropical fruits, to warm coconut, to fresh aquatic notes that are like a olfactory vacation. Not only did I find they re-released my favorite fragrances of the past,but they are selling smaller, roll-on versions FOR $20!! I nearly had a coronary and then promptly bought one. I remember begging for these as birthday gifts in high school and smelling them whilst watching half-loaded Roxy surf videos in the early days of high speed internet. This is the perfect time for this release because these are the only summer scents you will ever need. If you are not really into super fruity fragrances, wait around a bit, because Comptoir Sud Pacifique did have some floral fragrances in the past and I'm hoping they will make a comeback too. If your Coco Mademoiselle or your Miss Dior Cherie need to pack a lunch, get yourself a Tahitian vacation for as low as $20 with Comptoir Sud Pacifique's amazing frangrances! Bon Voyage!

Comptoir Sud Pacifique Available at Sephora

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No Sweat: Summer Body Moisturizers

Summer Body Moisturizers by elbonner featuring a body moisturizer

I love summer time, but I also dread it, thinking about the hours I'll spend worrying about how sweaty I am. My outfit planning doesn't necessarily revolve about what's cute, but what won't show how drenched I am.

 (My conversation with myself daily. Original Here)

My other summer bummer is dry skin, and the whole sweat and dry skin thing just don't go. I felt like I couldn't wear a lotion during the day because it wouldn't let my skin breath, that it would just make me a bigger, sweatier mess. I was just using the wrong kind. Loading up my skin with thick creams to keep me smooth during the day only coated me like a rubber glove and made me overheat too easily. I finally saw the light and searched for lighter day moisturizers to add a bit of moisture without the sweat inducing hell I experienced with my winter lotions. Here are a few of my favorites!

L-R

Everyday Coconut Super Hydrating Body Lotion- A huge bottle to last you all summer, this lotion is all natural, light, but FULL of skin loving moisture. I can put this on and not feel like I'm inside an oven of sadness when out in the heat. It keeps me from looking scaley and flaky. 

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer- Spray it on, rub it in, and you're done. This is best when you know it's going to be a scorcher or you just can't be bothered to really apply lotion. Love this when I'm running late because it takes no time at all and isn't sticky or greasy.

The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Yuzu & Rice Body Milk- Similar to the vaseline lotion, but a little more moisturizing. Great for sensitive skin that needs some extra pampering. Bonus: it smells awesome!

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Puree- This lotion gives you a great citrus scent and light moisturizing effect that will last throughout the day. This"puree" is a mix between a lotion and a gel which makes it perfect for summer. It's very light, but keeps any flakiness at bay.

Hope this helps your summer moisture woes. It took me so long to figure out how to keep myself from looking a hot mess whilst still trying to stay moisturized. Stay cool everyone!

Make Me Beautiful: Monoi Oil

After my allergic reaction nightmare scab-face incident last week, I've been in tip-top form when it comes to skin care. And not just facial skin care, everywhere skin care. One of my very favorite ingredients for bodily skin care is monoi oil. Monoi is Tahitian gardenia flowers (tiare) that have been soaked in coconut oil. The flowers are then pressed, releasing their oils into the coconut oil created the ambrosia we call monoi. The best quality monoi is made in Tahiti where all the ingredients originated, and it is a wonderful thing. The best part is that it's pretty damn affordable and a little goes a long way. Monoi has just recently been recognized as a new skin care fad, but the practice of using monoi for massage and sun-damaged skin has been going on for hundreds of years by native Polynesians and Tahititans. There are a few products that are monoi based/centric that I totally love:

1. Monoi Tiare Tahiti: This stuff comes direct from Tahiti, costs $10 and even has a little tiare flower in each bottle. I use this on my hair as a mask when it's feeling dry and my skin when I need some serious moisture. Smells like a gardenia filled tropical paradise!

2. Carol's Daughter Monoi Hair Mask: Smells awesome and delivers some serious moisture. Great for after the beach or a cold day out.

3. True Blue Spa "Tahiti Sweetie" Body Lotion: Smells amazing and moisturizes really well. Great for after being out in the sun and before bed. I still feel moisturized when I wake up in the morning.

4. Hei Poa Lait de Monoi Tiare Spf 30: Don't smell like chemical laden sunscreen, smell like a Tahitian dream! This stuff protects and moisturizes so your day in the sun doesn't show up as premature aging or dryness. I love spray lotions too since they are much easier to absorb and this stuff has decent staying power.

Well, thats's my ode to monoi. I hope it gives you the extra push you need to try something new and natural that will do nothing but good for your skin and hair. There are a ton more products out there that contain this wonder ingredient and I can't wait to try more. Until then Vive le Monoi!

Body Oils: How I Fake Healthy, Moisturized Skin

Body Oils by elbonner featuring omorovicza

Girl, my skin is DRY! For real though, this time of year shrivels and flakes me up like a bag of dates I forgot about in the back of my pantry. It's not pretty, and that's why I turn to what I think is the best kind of moisturizer you can put on your body: OIL. Sweet, glorious oil that comes from a variety of sources, natural ones only! I have compiled a list of body and bath oils that I like to use when I'm feeling itchy and scaly.

1.  Nuxe Huile Prodigieuese OR- This stuff is good in the summer because it's a dry oil that has lots of bronze glitter, but this is great for nights out when you want to look sparkly and fabulous. 

2. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil- This is something you're supposed to add to your bath to make it moisturizing in the water as well as out. This smells like roses (duh) and feels lovely after a bath because you're not doused in oil, it just rests nicely on the skin. Also available at Sephora.

3. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Oil- Smells like grapefruit: SOLD. Nice and light, good for the daytime when you want a fresh smelling body oil that keeps you soft.

4. Aromatherapy Associates Perfect Partners- Two mini bath oils, one in a zingy citrus to wake you up and one in a soothing herbal scent for night? SIGN. ME. UP. These are great for travel when you're in a different place and just want something to help you wind down. Also great for business travel when you're just tired of watching America's Got Talent alone or stressful holiday trips to your new in-laws house and you're sick of spending time with people.

5. Origins Ginger Gloss Dry Oil Spray- This stuff smells like a goddamn ginger snap and makes you look like a Beyonce album cover: smooth, glowing, and "Sasha" fierce. Great scent for winter and summer; this is a dry oil spray so no greasiness, all fabulousness.

6. Heritage Store Aura Glow Skin Lotion- I use this as a makeup remover, moisturizer, and shave oil. It comes in like 15 different scents and in sizes from teeny tiny to dear-god-that's-a lot size. Needless to say, this is an all-around good oil for lots of things. This is made from peanut oil and is super moisturizing. Wouldn't recommend it for daytime use because it can get oil stains in your clothes (aka ruin them), but great before bed because it really soaks in when you're warm!

7. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil- You can get this stuff just about anywhere nowadays and I always have a jar in my house (two at the moment). I use this like I use the Aura Glow. It's a bit lighter than the Aura Glow and way better for hair. It's good in smoothies and for frying and baking. Just get a jar already!

8. Omorovicza Three-Oil Coffet- Swag, luxury, and high-end body oils. I just named three things I don't have, so this pick is more of a wish-list item. This company is super expensive which makes me think these oils make you a supermodel, look 20lbs. lighter, and magically speak fluent French. It probably doesn't do this, but I like to tell myself it does.

If you've got disgusting dry skin (like me!) go out and get a body oil. Your body moisturizes itself naturally with oil, so what better way to augment your poorly functioning oil glands by giving them a nicely scented boost!