Naturalla Beauty

Happy US Thanksgiving!  For those of you celebrating, I hope you're having a great day with family and friends.  For the rest of us, this weekend isn't anything special, aside from the shopping.  (Did you know: apparently a million of us Canadians will call in sick to work tomorrow to go shopping?!)

And if you aren't up for facing the crowds, there are always the online sales!  Is it just me, or do those start earlier and earlier every year?  I usually put this post up Friday morning, but since my email has been BLOWING UP with sales since Monday, I'm hustling to get it up a day early.  I'll update throughout the weekend as more sales are revealed.

As I do every year, I've used a heart (♥) to indicate Canadian stores/brands.  
ABE'S MARKET
Select Products Up to 50% Off
Friday

ACURE ORGANICS
50% Off (Code: CYBER2015)
Free Unscented Argan Oil Towelette with $100+
Monday

THE ALL NATURAL FACE
20% Off (Code: CYBER2015)
Friday through Monday

AQUARIAN BATH
15% Off (Code: GreenFriday)
Friday

AURORA BEAUTY
20% Off + Mystery Gift (Code: GB20)
Free US/Canada Shipping $50+
Now through Friday

BALANCED GURU
30% Off (Code: THANKSGIVING)
Friday

BLISSOMA
Free Timeless Vitamin C Serum with $150+ (Code: SHOPSMALL2015)
Saturday and Sunday

BRIJA COSMETICS
25% Off (Code: BLACKCYBER25) Excludes Titanic Collection
Free Netflix & Chill Eye Shadow with $30+
Friday through Monday

BUFF HER
25% Off (Code: THANKFUL)
Now through Sunday

THE CHOOSY CHICK
15% Off (Code: THANKS15)
Free US shipping over $40
Friday through Monday

CLEMENTINE FIELDS ♥
Free Vapour Courtesan mini blush with Vapour purchases of $100+
Friday

CONSCIOUS BEAUTY
20% Off (Code: HOLIDAY)
30% Off $100+ (Code: HOLIDAY100)
Now through Monday

CONTENT BEAUTY & WELLBEING
15% Off (Code: BLACK)
20% Off £85+ (Code: BLACK20)

CRAZY RUMORS
All Lip Balms $1.99 (reg. $3.49)
Friday

THE DETOX MARKET
$10 Off $100+ (Code: GIVE10)
$30 Off $200+ (Code: GIVE30)
$100 Off $400+ (Code GIVE100)
Free Shipping
Now through Friday

$10 Off $100+ (Code: GIVE10)
$30 Off $200+ (Code: GIVE30)
$100 Off $400+ (Code GIVE100)
Some products discounted HERE (link goes live Monday)
Monday

ECO DIVA BEAUTY ♥
30-40% Off Select Items HERE (Must login/register to see deals)
Friday through Sunday

FITGLOW BEAUTY ♥
Select Items Discounted
Friday and Saturday

FLOURISH BODYCARE
Buy One Get One Free (No Code)
Saturday

FRESH FACED ♥
$10 Off $100+ (Code: LOVE10)
$30 Off $200+ (Code: LOVE30)
$50 Off $300+ (Code: LOVE50)
Now through Friday.  Cyber Monday Sale to be revealed.  

GABRIEL COSMETICS
30% Off Skin Care (Code: Skincare30)

GLAM GOES GREEN ♥
Up to 40% Off Select Items

GNARLY WHALE
40-50% Off Select Gift Sets (Prices already discounted)
30% off Everything Else (Code: BF302015)
Surprise Gift Card ($5-50) with $35+
Free US Shipping $50+
Friday through Monday

GRAYDON ♥
Free Limited Edition Lotion with $50+ (Code: BlackFridayCyberMonday)
Now through Monday

THE GREEN JUNGLE BEAUTY SHOP ♥
15% Off (Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Now through Monday

GRESSA SKIN
Free Bare, Radiant and Regal Lip Boosts with $100+ (No Code)

HERBIVORE BOTANICALS
20% Off (Code: BF20)
Friday

HOLISKIN
25% Off (Code: BFRIDAY25)
Friday through Sunday

HOLLY BETH ORGANICS
25% Off (Code: BLACK FRIDAY)
Free Shipping
Friday

THE HONEST CO.
Discounts on Bundles (Details HERE)
Extra $10 Off for 1st Time Customers through this referral link

HONEYBEE GARDENS
15% Off (Code: BFRI15)
Free North American Shipping
Friday

HYNT BEAUTY
30% Off (No Code)
Now through Monday

IHERB
10% Off (No code)
Extra 10% Off Bath & Beauty (No Code)
Extra $5 Off for 1st Time Customers (Referral Code: ITI429)
Now through Monday

INDIE LEE
20% Off (Code:GiveThanksTake20)
Now through Monday

INTEGRITY BOTANICALS
15% Off (Code: THANKS15)
Free Mini of Vitner's Daughter Serum with First 20 Purchases of $100+
Free Minis of Vitner's Daughter Serum + Bottega Organica Eye Illuminate with First 10 Purchases of $200+
Friday through Monday

INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS
Free US Shipping
Friday through Monday

JUICE BEAUTY
Select products discounted
Free US shipping
Friday and Saturday

20$ Off + Free US Shipping (Code: CYBER20)
Sunday and Monday

Free Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift Algae Mask with $75+ (Code: EL2015)
Free Green Apple Hand Cream with $35+ (Code: GREEN2015)
Now through December 31, 2015

KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY
20% Off (Code: KAHINA20)
Friday

KARI GRAN SKIN
Deals on the Hour
8AM-5PM PST Friday

LANI HAIR
15% Off (Code: Blackfriday)
Friday

LAUREN BROOKE COSMETIQUES
Free Gift with Every Purchase (Details HERE)
Free Bonus Gift Cards with Gift Card Purchases
Friday through Sunday

30% Off (Full Size Items Only)
Monday

LEVERT BEAUTY
20% Off (Code: SOCIAL20)
Every 25th order wins a Kjaer Weiss Glow Kit
Friday through Sunday

LIPPY GIRL MAKEUP ♥
20% Off (Code:BFRIDAY)
Friday

LOVE LULA
15% Off (Code: FRIDAY)
Now through Tuesday

MABROOK & CO. ♥
20% Off (Code: blackfriday)
Friday

MAHALO SKIN CARE 
25% Off Gift Sets (No Code)
Thursday

MARIE NATIE ♥
30% Off (Code: BLACK15)
Now through Sunday

MEOW COSMETICS
20% Off (Code: GRAVY)
20% Off + Free Worldwide Shipping for $40+ (Code: CatsLuvTurkey)
Friday

MEOW MEOW TWEET
20% Off (Code: ROBOCAT)
Monday

MY MANE CARE ♥
20% Off (Code: FRIYAY20)
Friday

NATURISIMO
15% Off (Code: BLACK15)
20% Off £100+ (Code: BLACK20)
Free Worldwide Shipping
Now through Tuesday

NOURISH ORGANIC
50% Off (Code: GREEN50)
Free Travel Eye Cream with Any Purchase
Free Tote Bag with Any Gift Set Purchase
Friday

25% Off (Code: CYBER25)
Free Travel Eye Cream with Any Purchase
Monday

NUCIYA ♥
$15 Gift Card with $80+
$25 Gift Card with $125+
$50 Gift Card with $225+
$75 Gift Card with $300+
Free US/Canada Shipping $65+
Free Worldwide Shipping $100+
Friday through Monday
NUWORLD BOTANICALS ♥
40% Off (Code: SHOP40)
Now through Monday

NYL
25% Off (Code: THANKS25)
Friday through Monday

PAI
Free Treatment Collection with Any Starter Kit (No Code)
Friday through Monday

PARKDALE BUTTER ♥
20% Off (Code: BLACKFRIDAY)
Friday

PEMBERLY JONES
15% Off (Code: GRAVY)
Friday

PETAL & POST ♥
40% Off Select Products HERE
Friday through Monday

Free Shipping
Monday

PLANT APOTHECARY
30% Off (Code: WITHLOVE)
Free US Shipping
Now through Friday

PROVINCE APOTHECARY ♥
25% Off (Code: SUPERSALE)
15% Off Facial Gift Cards
Friday through Monday

RACHEL'S PLAN BEE
2 Free Lip Balms + Free Bee Cream Mini with $49+ (Enter FREEGIFT49 in comments at checkout)
Free Mini Collection Gift Set with $100+ (Enter FREEGIFT100 in comments at checkout)
Now through Friday

Free US Shipping $49+
Now through Christmas

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOAP
Free 6 Soap Gift Set with $50+
Friday through Sunday

SAFE & CHIC
20% Off (Code: THANKS)
Now through Monday

SILK NATURALS
5% Off (Code: smallbiz5)
Now through December 4, 2015

SKINNYSKINNY
25% Off (Code: HOLIDAY15)
Friday through Monday

STARK SKINCARE ♥
15% Off (Code: itsonlywednesday)
Now through Saturday

TATA HARPER
Free Travel Size with any Full Size Purchase (No Code)
Free You Are Loved Collection with $250+ (Code: LOVED15)
Free US Shipping

VITACOST
$10 Off $70+ (Code: THANKFUL4U)
Extra $10 Off $30+ for 1st Time Customers through this referral link
Now through Sunday

W3LL PEOPLE
20 % Off (No Code)
Free US Shipping
Friday through Monday

WELEDA
25% Off (Code: HOLIDAYS)
Friday through Sunday

WELL.CA ♥
Select Products up to 75% Off
$10 Off Next Order with $100+
Extra $10 off $40+ for 1st Time Customers (Referral Code: NB10)

WHITE RABBIT BEAUTY
All Makeup on Sale (prices already discounted)
Free Crazy Rumors lip balm in every order
Now through December 31, 2015

YOUNG LIVING
20% Off Select Items (Canadian list HERE, US list HERE)
Now through Monday

ZABANA ESSENTIALS
20% Off $50+
Free US Shipping $50+
Friday through Sunday

ZAO ORGANIC
40% Off (Code: BLACK40)
Friday

100% PURE
40-65% Off Mystery Bags
Friday

Did I leave out any great ones?  Share the sale love + leave them in the comments!

One of the things I first set out to do with this blog was to show that great healthy products can be found at any price point.  Higher end brands are wonderful and I'd want to say otherwise, but I hear from so many people that they can't switch to natural/non-toxic products because of the financial cost involved, something that I rarely think is actually true.  

Yes, natural products cost more, but they don't have to cost a lot more.  

With that in mind, I decided to do a spin on the $20 Makeup Challenge that used to be so popular on Youtube.  If you aren't familiar with it, it basically involves shopping for a full face of makeup for under $20.  For the green version, I've upped the budget to $40, which I think is reasonable.  It's high enough to make the whole thing possible, but low enough that it's still a challenge staying under budget.  

I also didn't go shopping just for the sake of the challenge and instead opted to use things I already had.  These are tried and true products for the most part, not items I picked up just for the challenge or because of their inexpensive price tag.  



It all came together pretty well as a simple, everyday kind of look.  Not actually all that different from what I'd wear on an average day, pulling from my entire makeup stash. 



And, now for the price breakdown of everything I used.  To make things extra difficult, I limited myself to full and mini sizes - no samples - but those are, of course, another great way to try things on the cheap. 

Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Powder in Geisha $9.34
Alba Fast Fix for Undereye Circles $4.79
ELF Mineral Eye Brightener $1.99
Brija Cosmetics Blush in Regulation Hottie $5.50
Shiro Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Housewife and Homunculus ($3.50 x 2) $7.00
Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara (after mail-in rebate) $5.99
Silk Naturals Kisser Slicker in Berry Crush $4.50

TOTAL: $39.11

My budget ran out without an eye primer, so I ran a smidge of the Fast Fix for Undereye Circles across my lids instead, which actually worked surprisingly well at keeping everything in place all day.  I slightly missed having an inner corner highlight and some kind of brow product, but I still think it worked out well, all said.  My only other issue was the CC Mascara, which I'm not a fan of, but Physician's Formula has other Organic Wear mascaras that are the same price and much better.  

I've tagged a few people on instagram, but I'd love to see anyone + everyone join in and share the love for affordable green beauty!  If you do participate, make sure to leave a link in the comments so I can check it out.  

The selection of men's products in the green beauty world is nowhere near as extensive as what's out there for us ladies, but there are still a lot of great options.  For this week's gift guide, I've gathered all my favorite green beauty picks for men.  I don't know if it's just the men I know, but I've always found it's a whole lot easier to get a guy to try a product specifically marketed at his demographic, so with that in mind, all of these are either products specifically sold for men or, at the very least, are very gender neutral in appearance.
Ursa Major Daily Skin Care Kit
Ursa Major makes excellent skincare for either men or women, and both the simplicity of their line and their clean aesthetic and branding make them perfect for men.  The Daily Skin Care Set contain everything your man needs for a complete skincare routine: the company's Face Wash (my favorite!), Face Tonic, and Face Balm, as well as 20 Face Wipes.  If you're looking for something a little smaller, the Travel Skin Care Set is another great option.

Schmidt's Deodorant
If your guy has yet to switch from conventional deodorant, Schmidt's is absolutely the way to make a convert out of him.  It's one of the strongest and most effective natural deodorants out there, but it does have a high baking soda content, so sensitive pits beware.   Cedarwood + Juniper is the most typically masculine scent, but there are four other options - including unscented - as well.

Holiskin Beard Oil Sampler
A lot of companies have started offering beard oils, but what I love about Holiskin's sampler is that it lets your guy try out minis of five different ones.  The kit also includes a $10 off coupon he can redeem on the purchase of any full size beard oil, or, maybe amp the gift up even further by switching that out for your own coupon that he can redeem with you for a full size of his favorite.   

Shea Moisture for Men
Shea Moisture's men's line has a good range of products and their affordable prices and wide availability make it easy to put together a custom gift set for any man.  A number of the products in the line do contain Japanese honeysuckle extract, but the two pictured above, the Three Butters Styling Pomade and Tea Tree After Shave & Bump Preventer, among others, do not.

Lip Balm
Everyone uses lip balm, am I right?  For men, I recommend the Stark & Son Matte Lip Balms from Silk Naturals, which moisturize with a completely matte finish, and the Rebel's Refinery Skull Lip Balms, which are rounded, egg-shaped balms like EOS, but look a little more badass thanks to their skull packaging.  Both are sold in a few different flavors.

Badger Deluxe Wet Shave Set
Badger's products are always top notch and the Deluxe Wet Shave Kit is a great gift for the man who's serious about shaving.  It includes a high quality shaving brush and artisan-crafted bowl, as well as Badger's Pre-Shave Oil, Shave Soap, and After Shave Face Tonic.  

Max Green Alchemy Hair Styling Products
Max Green Alchemy products have a light, herbally smell and work great for both men and women.  Whether your guy uses hair gel, paste, or pomade, they've got you covered - with multiple options to spare!
  
Poo Pourri
If you managed to miss Poo Pourri's viral advertising campaign a couple years ago, this somewhat ridiculous product is basically an essential oil spray that gets misted into the toilet before you go number two.  The idea is that it creates a film on the surface of the water that traps odors below, so "you can go and no one else ever has to know."  Yes, you could absolutely DIY something similar, but the Poo Pourri scent names and overall branding make it such a fun gag gift.

What green beauty gifts would you suggest for men?

I'm regularly asked about natural treatments for eczema and dermatitis, and while I always do my best to help, it's not something I have much personal experience dealing with.  November is Eczema Awareness Month in Canada, so I thought it was the perfect time to bring in an expert.  Jennifer Roberge is the owner of The Eczema Company, an online store providing natural eczema treatments for kids and adults, and is also the writer of It's An Itchy Little World, a blog dedicated to integrative methods of treating eczema, allergies, and asthma.  

Jennifer is great at looking at eczema - and all the challenges it brings - from multiple different angles.  Most recently, in collaboration with food allergy singer/songwriter Kyle Dine, she created The Eczema Song, hoping to bring fun relief to kids and parents coping with the daily stresses of eczema.  Check out the song below and keep reading for a Q & A with Jennifer.  I asked her to answer a few questions about herself and the company, and to offer some tips for anyone currently struggling with eczema.



Can you tell us a little about yourself and how The Eczema Company came to be?