it started with a deodorant. i had been on a quest to find a non-toxic variety that actually worked. after trying a handful of brands that left me -for lack of a better term –ripe by about 2:00 p.m., i finally tried primally pure (per the recommendation of this post) and -cue angels singing- my pit plight had been resolved. okay enough arm pit talk, sorry. but in all honesty, i’ve been a loyal purchaser of the brand’s sensitive version of their natural deodorant for just over a year (i prefer the lavender scent) and recommend it to anyone and everyone every chance i get.

recently the brand improved some of their product formulas, including my beloved deodorant. the new version contains a smaller amount of baking soda (smaller than the original formula but a little more than the sensitive variety) and is fortified with kaolin clay (powerful detoxifier) and non-nano zinc oxide (soothes irritation and combats odor). it also comes in shiny new packaging! other available scents include lemon grass, tee tree, geranium, unscented, and their new(ish) charcoal variety. each deodorant is offered in a 1.7 ounce or 2.5 ounce version, making them perfect for travel! and while they are definitely more than your standard store-bought varieties, the $12/$18 (respectively) price tags are 100% worth it when you stop to think about what the natural formula is doing for your health.

the kind team at primally pure sent me a few more of their all-natural products to try and after using them exclusively for my skincare routine for the past week and a half, i can whole-heartedly say, they have revolutionized my skin. as i’ve mentioned before, my skin has been problematic since my teenage years. i did a round of accutane which kept the breakouts at bay, but they came back in my mid-20’s. i was on spironolactone for about four and half years to combat the most recent resurgence of hormonal acne but stopped the medication last fall when we decided to start trying for a baby (you can’t be on it while trying to get pregnant/during pregnancy). unfortunately as feared, my skin has had a rough time adjusting ever since. despite multiple trips to the dermotologist and my naturopath in recent months, the glycolic products, prescription topical acne medicine, vitamin supplements, and even tata harper’s holy grail of skincare line have been no match for this stubborn problematic skin.

so when primally pure sent me their highly touted products, i really had nothing to lose. and i’m beyond thrilled to say that i’ve already seen major changes in such a short period of time. so today i’m sharing more on my current skincare routine, information about the individual products themselves, and the order in which i apply everything.

after i remove my eye makeup at night, here’s the order in which i treat my skin:

cleansing oil for oily skin (c/o)

organic ingredients: castor oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, baobab oil, tamanu oil, essential oils of orange, lavender, geranium and peppermint

benefits: made with a blend of oils known to detoxify the skin and dissolve impurities without drying it out and forcing the skin to over-produce oil/sebum (which can lead to a vicious cycle of ongoing breakouts). specifically formulated for oily/acne prone skin.

my take: i had heard about the oil cleansing trend (you can read more about it here) but had been nervous to try it for myself. why would i want to put more oil on my already oily skin? turns out, it’s a game changer. by massaging the natural oils onto your skin, the oils are able to penetrate pores and dissolve grime and build-up that can lead to break-outs. i take a quarter-size amount and massage it into my skin for about sixty seconds (like a mini facial). then i take a warm washcloth and place it over my face until it cools, gently wipe off the excess oil (and impurities) and voila, clean, glowing skin. i have completely replaced my normal facial cleanser in favor of this oil. with how good my skin looks and feels, i’m a total convert.

p.s. it also comes in dry skin and normal skin varieties.

everything spray (c/o)

ingredients:  lavender hydrosol*, distilled water*, witch hazel*, aloe vera juice*, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar*, magnesium oil, radish root ferment filtrate, essential oils of lavender* and tea tree*

*denotes organic

benefits:  organic lavender hydrosol soothes and calms irritated skin, organic witch hazel (an astringent) tones the skin and reduces inflammation, organic raw + unfiltered apple cider vinegar (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral) balances pH levels and contains powerful healing enzymes, organic tea tree essential oil disinfects and organic lavender essential oil heals and regenerates, magnesium oil is especially beneficial for skin health.

my take: after my oil cleansing, i usually take a quick shower. when i get out, i shake the everything spray bottle a few times and spritz four to five pumps all over my face and let it air dry. while it feels a little tingly (i’d imagine from the apple cider vinegar), it’s not overwhelming and leaves my face feeling taut and clean. its smell is aromatic -with hints of lavender and witch hazel shining through. i’ve used toners in the past, but never consistently. this one actually feels like it’s doing something; further penetrating my pores and balancing everything out. apparently it can also be used to prevent ingrown hairs after shaving or as a quick refresher to your underarms after a long day. perhaps that’s why they call it everything spray! 

p.s. it comes in a 2 ounce or 4 ounce version, if you want to store the former in your purse or in your carry-on toiletry bag.

fancy face serum (i purchased this one on my own)

organic ingredients: tamanu oil*, hazelnut oil*, neem oil*, pumpkin seed oil*, sea buckthorn oil*, argan oil*, baobab oil*, jojoba oil*, pomegranate seed oil*, elemi essential oil*, lavender essential oil*, cypress essential oil*, frankincense essential oil*, carrot seed essential oil*, helichrysum essential oil*, thyme essential oil*, lemon essential oil*

benefits: helps to diminish fine lines, scarring, age spots, discolorations and more. read full benefits of each ingredient here.

my take: after reading the glowing reviews on primally pure’s website, i actually ordered this with my regular restock order of the lavender deodorant before i was sent the rest of my goodies. after educating myself in its healing properties, i was intrigued to try it for myself. i will say that the smell is a little off-putting at first, but it’s to be as expected given its ingredients (see above). if you can get over that, this stuff is real good. it’s best used at night so the skin has time to soak it in while you sleep. i did notice that it left a bit of a yellow stain on my pillow case but with natural ingredients, the discoloration came out with one rinse cycle. i truly believe that this product, along with the aforementioned routine has changed the texture and nature of my skin (healthier eating habits have also assisted i’d imagine). after the everything spray has dried, i add 4-5 drops to my hand and massage it all over my face, making sure to massage the oil until it has been completely absorbed. of the products in the brand’s collection, this serum is definitely one of the most expensive but not only does a little go a long way, based on my research, it’s pretty comparable to other serums in the marketplace.

p.s. primally pure also offers a version safe for expectant/nursing mamas.

in the morning, before i apply makeup, i splash some water on my face, then apply the blue tansy beauty cream, and this sunscreen.

blue tansy beauty cream (c/o)

ingredients:  tallow from grass-fed cows*, pure emu oil, jojoba oil*, essential oils of blue tansy and geranium*

*denotes organic

benefits:  azulene, the blue component in blue tansy essential oil soothes irritated and inflamed skin and powerfully combats inflammation. tallow from grass-fed cows uniquely resembles the makeup of our skin cells (both are comprised of roughly 50% saturated fats) and contains a high content of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K (nutrients that are nearly impossible to find in plant oils in a balanced combination with their activators). pure emu oil has robust anti-inflammatory properties and is often used to treat inflammatory skin conditions including acne, eczema, and psoriasis. this oil penetrates deep to moisturize and soften fine lines.

my take: don’t let the blue color scare you, once rubbed in, the cream offers no coloration. much like the serum, a little goes a long way, so i take about a dime-sized amount and rub it all over my face in the morning before my makeup routine. the tansy scent is almost minty and refreshing and the consistency is buttery across my skin. i also have noticed that using it as a base allows the tinted moisturizer to spread more evenly. similar to the cleansing oil, this beauty cream has replaced my moisturizer.

i was also sent primally pure’s almond vanilla body butter and their all-natural dry shampoo -specifically formulated for those with lighter locks.

almond + vanilla body butter (c/o)

ingredients: organic tallow from grass-fed cows, organic extra virgin coconut oil*, organic mango butter, organic shea butter*, organic sweet almond oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic arrowroot powder, organic beeswax, organic almond extract, organic vanilla absolute

*denotes fair trade

benefits:  tallow from grass-fed cows (rich in Vitamins A, D, E and K, anti-inflammatory conjugated linoleic acid + antimicrobial palmitoleic acid) deeply moisturizes the skin. organic mango butter, shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and extra virgin olive oil provide an extra boost of nourishment.

my take: it’s a good thing these ingredients are safe to eat, because i’ve contemplated licking my fingers straight from the jar (not really, but it smells like cake icing!). similar to the body cream, a little goes a long way -i usually take a scoop and rub it between my palms for a minute to heat it up so application is easier. i apply this to my legs right out of the shower and then i basically smell like a cupcake all night long. i’ve been a cocoa butter lotion wearer for years and this is very reminiscent with the added bonus that all of the ingredients are natural and organic.

p.s. available in a 4 and 8 ounce version.

dry shampoo for light locks (c/o)

ingredients:  arrowroot powder*, kaolin clay, cocoa powder*, baking soda, essential oils of grapefruit*, lavender* and peppermint*

*denotes organic

benefits:  kaolin clay and organic arrowroot powder absorb moisture while adding texture and volume.
made with organic essential oils of grapefruit (has natural cleansing properties), lavender (soothes the scalp) and peppermint (stimulates hair growth).

my take: as an avid user of dry shampoo (i only wash my hair once a week), i was happy to find an all-natural alternative that actually works. it didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or sticky and added a little volume. bonus, it smells good, too!

p.s. the dry shampoo is also available for dark locked gals and comes in a 1 or 4 ounce versions. again, the 1 ounce would be perfect to stow away in a purse for a midday touch-up.

 

if you’ve made it through the entire post, yay for you! i feel pretty passionately about this brand so i wanted to give it its due. if you’re looking to “green” your beauty routine, i can’t recommend primally pure enough. let me know if you try any of their products, i’d love to know what you think!

 

though these products were gifted to me, all opinions are my own. 

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