The Healthy Deodorant

There's a lot talk about harmful ingredients in body products these days, so I decided to switch my deodorant to a more natural alternative. In the past I've tried the crystal salt rocks and they've been a complete failure. You have to get the rock wet and it is just weird.

I almost gave up trying when I heard about Lavanila Laboratories. They call themselves "The Healthy Deodorant," and is 100% natural with no aluminum and no parabens.  It contains essential oils, anti-oxidants and "beta glucagon technology."

I'm not sure what all those things are, but I sent my husband to Sephora to buy it for me. He smelled all the different scents and said they all smelled good.

I'm very happy with this product because it's not only more natural, but it smells great and works just like regular deodorant! All of the scents combine vanilla with some other scent. I chose the vanilla passion fruit thinking it would smell like a tropical drink (I know it's weird wanting to have my underarms smell like that), but it just smells fresh without any hint of vanilla sweetness.

All in all, I love that it doesn't leave a residue on your underarms or clothing. The deodorant works, and if you are interested in a natural alternative like I am, definitely give this one a try.

A Taste of Luxury

Do you like receiving packages in the mail? I love it! A couple years ago my husband paid for a Birchbox subscription for me because he knows how much I love receiving packages in the mail. For $10/month, you get 4-5 high-end beauty samples ranging from makeup, body products, lotion, perfume, hair accessories, nail polish, skincare and a lifestyle extra (candy, breath mints, tea, snacks).

To start your subscription you go to birchbox.com and request an invite. Once you are invited, you fill out a brief questionnaire about yourself and what kind of items you would like to receive. I don't always like the items that arrive in my box, but often discover new products and brands that I would have never tried or bought on my own.

Here is what I received this month:

• Stila Lip Glaze - 1.5 ml
• Supergoop!® City Sunscreen Serum
• Mighty Leaf Tea - Tea Pouches
• Agave Healing Oil Treatment - 2 oz.
• Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion
• Ghirardelli Intense Dark Cherry Tango

I really like the lip glaze a lot and am looking forward to trying the sunscreen--great size for my purse. I will also enjoy the teas and my husband or son will have the chocolate.  I'm not sure about the agave oil treatment, but it might turn out to be a great product. The lotion smells fine--I wish it smelled better--and will see how it leaves my skin.

Overall, I'm happy with this box.  Usually they are great to good, but sometimes I only end up liking 1 or 2 things. For $10 it's not too much of a gamble considering you might fall in love with a few things and at the very least, you'll get the excitement of opening your box each month!