balm

May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon

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The Beauty Balm Concentrate – Tranquil, Intoxicating and Deep Calm

May Lindstrom says, Our balmy blue enchantress greets your skin with cool serenity, melting on touch to a fluid potion that tenderly envelops you in the most decadent azure calm. Mystical blue tansy eases feelings of emotional anxiety while releasing heat and providing nourishment and relief to delicate, inflamed and irritable skin conditions.

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Ingredients: Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, *** Butyrospermun Parkii (Shea) Butter, *** Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, *** Sclerocarya Birrea (Virgin Marula) Oil, Calodendrum Capense (Yangu) Oil, * Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Oil, * Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil, * Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, ** Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil, * Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Oil, * Vanilla Planifolia CO2 Total Essential Oil, Schisandra Sphenanthera CO2 Fruit Extract, * Helichrysum Italicum (Immortelle) Oil, Ravensara Aromatica Oil

* Certified Organic **Wild Harvested  ***Fair Trade, Raw & Unrefined

When I was first intrigued by this product and glanced through the ingredient listing, I saw Shea & Cacao Butter and instantly ruled it out. Then I met May at two separate events and she assured me it wont wreak havoc on my skin. I took a leap of faith, and I’m glad I did!

There is no simple way to explain why Shea & Cacao Butter in this formualtion isnt causing my skin to congest, so I reach out to the Beauty & Brain of this brand, yes May herself. May explains,

The Blue Cocoon’s adaptability to all skin types – including those prone to acne and congestion – has much to do with proper respect to ratios in the blend of beautiful ingredients.  The cult status of Blue Cocoon being skin saviour can be attributed largely to using both of these ingredients in their entirely raw, unbleached and non-deodorized state – rare, even in the natural beauty world. By using ingredients in their raw, unbleached form it ensures the integrity of properties of each ingredient making this balm a potent and effective option on the market without compromising the intended purpose of each ingredient.

Most often, Shea butter is refined, bleached and deodorized. It’s nearly white and practically odorless and incredibly easy to work with. However at May Lindstrom, utmost and gentle care taken is taken in the process of creating each micro batch.

The Blue Cocoon is housed in a heavy black opaque glass pot which can be reused upon completion of product.

In the pot, the aroma exudes the richness of cocoa layered with an edge of distinct sharpness of exotic lands (Myrrh and Frankincense). On my skin upon application, the Lavender and Vanilla note come off stronger in a very good way.

 

 

The texture and consistency is that of a luxurious balm thats melts on contact with skin (due to body heat). Well here, I’ve held the balm on my finger for few seconds and you can see how balm is melting due to my body heat. Plus also give credit to the heater which was on High!

In general, it can be used absolutely any time, however I like to finish my nightly skincare routines with this. Alternatively in the morning, after toner stage and while the skin is still slightly moist I push this balm into the skin (another tip from May). My skin immediately absorbs it with no residue or layer of oil on top of skin.

The Results: Well my skin is left wonderfully hydrated, plump and helps with skin’s resilience. I use this in particular when my skin may have a monthly eruption as it works wonderfully as an anti inflammatory. Calms down angry unsettled skin. On some ruthless winter nights, where the heating takes a toll on my skin I apply double layer of this balm. It almost protects it from any harshness in the environment.

Now, it is no secret, it is prohibitively expensive, and many have complained about why it’s so expensive?! But here’s one lens to this, consider dissecting the ingredients list. The Blue Cocoon has some lush ingredients like Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Myrrh, Immortelle… some of these are by no means cheap ingredients. Now in saying so, these would be bought wholesale, so the cost of these per pot is not as much. Followed by the cost of concocting the product itself, covering any incidentals/ operational overheads, packaging costs, building in shipping costs, and adding a rather generous mark-up for profit.… the final price adds up to $180 (recent price hike from $160). Beyond ridiculous and not justifiable in a market where creative artisans are coming with new formulations which are not only competitively priced but also capable of out performing.

1.69 oz. / 50ml – $180

HHW.com

xx

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Unsung Heroes

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So we try new products every now and then but then some products continue to work tirelessly in the background without much limelight or acknowledgment or appreciation. I’m not referring to products we road test and write reviews about. These heroes quietly work away in background without whom we may find ourselves handicap to carry out our daily menial skincare and makeup tasks.

So here’s a list some of my absolute Super Heroes without whom all the new lovely skin or hair care products would lose its charm!

  • Muslin Cloth – Sheer Awesomeness to remove makeup with balm or oil cleanser
  • Flannel/Face Cloth – same as above and also steam my face to open those pores and thoroughly clean them. This method is such a source of relaxation….Nirvana (refer to Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm review)
  • Shampoos I don’t like for my mane – just because they dint cut it for my tresses they move onto next most important thing, cleaning my makeup brushes. Not only they smell great, it cleans them thoroughly, conditions the bristles and mostly doesn’t make my frugal ass feel guilty of wasting a product!
  • Cotton tips or Q tips – to smudge eyeliners/shadows, blend eyeshadow, cleaning or sharpening lines around eyes (yes strong winged liner, I’m talking to you) and bleeding lips (not literally…obvs!)
  • Paw Paw ointment – dry or cracked lips, heels, elbows, knees, cuticle, burns, rash you name it.
  • Birchbox Boxes or Shoe boxes – helps me organize small sample sachets, sample pots, travel stuff etc
  • Sample containers – once the sample is tried tested or plain thrown, I thoroughly wash the containers and use them when I travel. Small, light, portable and can squeeze only as much I need for a trip!
  • Tweezers – my BFF…need I say more?

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I’m probably still doing them injustice by grouping them in one post, but let’s vow to start here and I shall continue to deliver them persistent words of appreciation, kindness and glorify them till cows come home!

My life without you fellas is incomplete and dysfunctional. Just because I don’t say love you every day doesn’t mean I don’t value your existence in moi life. Know this in your heart till your last breath, I have always and will always love you, admire you, respect you and cherish you till my last breath.

<Completely carried away with emotions…>

xx