Sparkled Beauty

Continue on from Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal line, I want to highlight the 3 best sellers in their growing family of body washes.

Worth repeating that Live Clean body washes cleanse and hydrate the skin well, with subtle fragrances, 100% vegan and eco-sensitive. I have a hard time picking one over the other, so choose the one that suits your skin type with the scent that speaks to you the most.

Since scents are very personal, and I am not good at describing them, I would focus on the formula of these body washes and suggest a sniff test at the store.

The Coconut Milk moisturizing body wash restores moisture balance in the skin with Vitamins B, C and E, minerals and protein to bring elasticity and renew vitality to the skin.

The Exotic Nectar Argan Oil replenishing body wash is antioxidant rich to improve skin's texture and elasticity.

To me, the scent is a little more delicate and slightly more appropriate for cooler weather, but that does not mean you can't use the product all year round.

The Fresh Water hydrating body wash targets drier skin with Vitamin E and Hyaluronate Acid, which I will enjoy much more this winter.

I do realize body washes do not stay on the skin that long and neither do the scents, but they offer relaxing moments in the shower, and if they have additional nourishing properties, I am all for that.

Again, another great selling point with Live Clean body washes: affordable price range - $4.99 for 500ml bottle.

As temperature drops lower in the last month, I still tried to hang on to deliciously summer-scented body products for comfort but also had to start using ones with better hydration and comforting effects.

I have featured Live Clean on the blog in the past for their reputation of being completely vegan, eco friendly (98% plant derived), SLS/ Sulfate/ Phthalate/ Petroleum/ Silicone/ Dye/ Paraben/ DEA/ Phosphate free with their bath & body and hair care products.

Talk about comfort, oatmeal has been used in Live Clean's baby products for a long time thanks to its antioxidant and natural healing properties and now is introduced to adults' line with certified organic vanilla and chamomile to nourish the skin.

I was sent 2 products from this Vanilla Oatmeal line, meant to bring moisture to normal skin. I found the scent soothing with a light whiff of vanilla but it does not linger long after the products are washed off the skin.

The soothing body wash lathers quite well, then gently cleanses and softens the skin, leaving it smooth and moisturized. A good everyday non-drying body wash with no gimmicky effects.

The price point is great, as the norm with Live Clean products - $6.99 for a huge 500ml bottle, which will surely last months.

The soothing liquid hand soap, with additional Vitamin E and Panthenol, has similar, probably a tad thicker, creamy texture, which feels comforting to the hands.

I have got so used to the foaming hand soaps from BBW over the summer, so a creamy soap is a nice change and feels more appropriate as Fall then Winter arrives.

500ml is quite a large size for hand soaps, plus the $4.99 price tag, this Vanilla Oatmeal hand soap does strike a great bargain.

I was sent Live Clean Coconut Milk shampoo and conditioner for review a while back. Once testing was done, Squirt, who is quite a big fan of the coconut scent, has taken over.

I am not complaining. The products offer the moisturizing and strengthening properties of coconut oil, enriched with Vitamin C, E and Provitamin B5, milk protein and rice protein that help prevent breakage and seal in moisture.

To add, they are creamy, with thicker texture. The shampoo lathers well and the conditioner rinses well. Our hair dries to that soft and light feeling of clean and good smelling hair. The shower smells good too, every time.

It also helps that they are natural, plant-based with certified organic botanicals, eco-friendly and free of harsh chemicals, Petroleum, Paraben, Silicone, Phthalate and Phosphate.

The bottles are quite big (350 ml), retail only $6.99 each. Give them a try if what they are and what they offer fit your needs.

I have to admit, I quite neglect my hair, and don't go beyond shampoo/ conditioner very often. I only learned recently about Live Clean Apple Cider Vinegar clarifying shampoo (for all hair types).

The shampoo is meant to remove the chemical build up that hair products left behind, thanks to the organic apple cider in the formula.

The vinegar's high acidity and powerful enzymes also support a healthy scalp. Recommended daily use for oily hair, weekly for other hair types.

I like the feeling of my hair feeling lighter and more alive after a clarifying shampoo, even when I don't use many hair products. It smells quite nice (not a vinegar type of scent, luckily), lathers enough, so I now try to commit to it every week :)

Completely vegan, no animal products, paraben/ phthalate/ phosphate/ SLS/ Sulfate/ petroleum and DEA free, safe for the environment. Another basic and clean product to add to your hair routine.

Ingredients: Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed xtract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit, Acetum (Vinegar), Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, etc.

The bottle is big - 12oz/ 350ml, only costs you $6.95 at Shoppers, Uniprix, Walmart, Target and Rexall.

I was recently introduced to Live Clean Fresh Face, a drug store skin care line that offers eco-friendly, plant-based and pH-balanced products.

With the goal to be "gentle, pure, calming and soothing, no more complicated than necessary", the line is enriched with Orchid extract, vitamin C and certified organic botanicals (Lavender, Cucumber, Chamomile, Milk Thistle, Mallow, Aloe and Buckthorn).

The products are 98% plant derived, Petroleum/ SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)/ Sulfate/ DEA (Diethanolamine)/ Paraben/ Phthalate and Phosphate free. Great for even sensitive skin.

There are 3 new additions to the line this season, all have a light refreshing scent, noticeable at application only though.

This is the Hydrating creamy cleanser (for normal to dry skin), with kaolin clay to unclog pores and brighten dull skin. Suggested use: morning and night.

This is the oil-free and "clean" cleanser for those lazy days when you don't require bells and whistles for your skin. The product also does a decent job at removing my face makeup. Since I do not use cleansers on the eyes, I can't confirm if it removes mascaras and long wear liners.

A few tips from the brand that I thought worth mentioning:
- wash your hands before washing your face
- use a dime-sized amount of cleanser, with lukewarm (not hot) water
- when rinse, don't forget your hairline and jawline
- pat (don't rub) your skin with a soft and clean towel leaving it slightly damp, apply moisturizer immediately.

Ingredients: Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/ Stem extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower extract, Silybum Marianum extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/ Leaf/ Stem extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower extract, Jasminum Officinate (Jasmine) extract, Frangula Alnus Bark extract, etc.

The bottle has 6oz/ 175ml, retails $14.99.

Next, the 24 hour Hydrating day cream (for normal to dry skin).

Infused with a moisturizing complex developed from beet roots, the product is supposed to offer intense hydration for 24 hours. I can confirm the "fast absorbing and non greasy" part but find the 24 hours claim unnecessary since we all reapply moisturizer after washing our face at the end of the day.

Despite the name (day cream), it does not contain SPF and is suggested to be used morning and night. It pairs well with the cleanser above.

Ingredients: Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/ Stem extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower extract, Silybum Marianum extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/ Leaf/ Stem extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower extract, Jasminum Officinate (Jasmine) extract, Frangula Alnus Bark extract, etc. 

The tube has 5oz/ 150ml of product, retails $19.99.

Lastly, the Refreshing facial wipes.

Meant to cleanse the face (and neck, not recommended for the eye areas) of excess oil, makeup and impurities, the wipes require no rinsing afterward, which is convenient.

I use the wipes mostly to freshen up after cleansing the face, not to remove makeup by itself. I find them a little dry (not enough liquid in the pack) but have good exfoliation power.

Ingredients: Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/ Stem extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower extract, Silybum Marianum extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/ Leaf/ Stem extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower extract, Cycnoches Cooper (Orchid) Flower Leaf extract, Ascorbic Acid, etc.

There are 30 wipes in the pack, sells for $9.99. alcohol and oil free

Let me show you the texture of the 3 products. From L-R: Hydrating creamy cleanser, 24 hour Hydrating day cream and Refreshing facial wipe.

I find them comfortable to use and hydrating enough through the day. I do pair the day cream with an anti-aging serum/ a BB cream since my skin needs more than basic skin care.

Other products in the line:
- Foaming daily cleanser, Refreshing facial Toner, Smoothing facial scrub
- Soothing daily moisturizer, Nourishing night cream, Repairing eye cream, Glowing daily serum, Anti Aging Recovery cream.

Live Clean Fresh Face is available at Walmart, Target, Shoppers, Rexall, Pharmasave and Overwaitea.