Stars & Sage: Everything I Avo Wanted!


Remember how much I raved about Stars & Sage back in June?  Well, recently I included this service in a roundup of the best ethical subscriptions for a guest post over on Life In A Breakdown, and now I am back to show even more love to this bath ritual beauty box!



While I have noticed that Stars & Sage has not included quite as many bath potions in their recent editions as there were in my first delivery, this is still solidly one of my favourite boxes since they a) include tons of lesser known artisan brands, b) focus on bathtime wellbeing, and c) provide a really well-thought out booklet that has all the info about your products, a step by step guide to 'A Mindful and Unapologetic Me-Time" ritual, and even a suggested Spotify playlist!

This month's Stars & Sage theme of Green & Avocado was a little more broad than my May box, but I think in the end it worked really well.  I do think I actually prefer the card's catchphrase "Greens Have Gotten Sexy" as a theme, but that's just me being creatively fussy.  So what greens are inside the July collection??

Fennel, peppermint, avocado, lime, chlorphyll, and jade just to name a few!

All this green goodness is cruelty free and all natural, and everything is vegan except the Nathalie Bond lip balm (which contains beeswax).  Plus, there are loads of organic ingredients featured which is always welcome - you all know my love for an all ethical approach!

So why 'greens'?  Stars&Sage write "Your goodies will turn your bathroom into a fresh & yummy sanctuary from salts, to precious facial oil watch the Greens treat your skin & let bath potion & Jade feed your mind."

In my opinion, peppermint is the perfect ingredient to feature in the summer since it is super cooling, and avocado is just so bright and cheerful that it kind of makes sense to celebrate the unique "berry."  So for me, this month's focus is a refreshing change from the 'hydration' and 'seaside' themes that are making the rounds.  And the products themselves set this box apart even more.


1. TRUE Nourishing Avocado & Evening Primrose Facial Oil (30ml, £13.50)


TRUE is British brand that promises transparency with every product they create.  Their skincare range is COSMOS certified organic, 100% natural, suitable for vegans, and is cruelty free.  Not only that, but they pride themselves on being inclusive, meaning this brand is not limited to just those who can afford to pay for ethical beauty.  TRUE facial oils are just 13.50, but come with all the benefits of a high end product!

I adore a high quality face oil, and so far I have been impressed by TRUE's avocado and evening primrose blend.  The oil itself is a lovely goldenrod colour and smells freshly floral.  I thought this would be a little heavy for my skin, as pure avocado oil is moderately comedogenic (pore-clogging) and has been slick in my previous experiences.  I tend to reserve this green goodness for my hair, as it is super nourishing but fairly rich.  However, TRUE surprised me by being incredibly light and sinking in almost immediately.  There was no greasy feeling left on my face after use, just soft, smooth, and glowing skin!

Also, I found out you can actually buy this from Holland and Barrett, meaning this is one product that is super accessible!  I will definitely be looking into the Rehydrating and the Balancing oils when this bottle has run out, and I hope to see TRUE create even more products in the future.

Ingredients: *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, *Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, *Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, *Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, *Citrus Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Peel Oil, * Pogostemom Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, *Cymbopogen Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, *Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vitiver) Oil, *Calendula Officinalis Extract, **Limonene, **Linalool, **Geraniol, **Farnesol, **Citral, **Benzyl Alcohol
*Organically grown ingredient
**Natural component of Essential Oils


2. The Salt Parlour Lime & Avocado Salt Scrub (60g, £4.95)


The Salt Parlour scrubs are always stocked up in my cupboard, as I love how simple and effective they are.  'Energise' in particular is a lovely refreshing and mouth-wateringly zesty!  Green in colour, I think everything about this blend is bright and cheery.  The lime acts as antiseptic and astringent, and helps sort out any blemishes, and avocado soothes itchy irritated skin, and together they form the perfect tag team for acne-prone or tired complexions.  Energise is one of my favourite scents from The Salt Parlour and is really effective at waking me up and making me feel rejuvenated.  I love breathing in the citrus steam and always look forward to the next time it is scrub-day!

You can read more about The Salt Parlour and check out the rest of the range in my Brand Spotlight.

Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Lime Oil, Dead Sea Salts, Organic Sulfur.





3. BAO Skincare Avocado Orange Face Polish (50ml, £14.00)


Who ever would have thought avocado and orange pair up so well!?!

BAO Skincare is based in Bournemouth, and Beth, the creator, has developed a clear winner with this face polish.  Not only is it cruelty free, all natural, and vegan, it is super affordable!!  It smells incredible, like an orange creamsicle from childhood, and has a texture that is pure perfection.  Whipped into a cloudlike consistency, this polish is the most gentle and luxurious facial exfoliant I have ever come across.

Like I have mentioned in the past, I am not super keen on facial scrubs.  They tend to be too harsh, with a coarse grain that is not good for your more delicate skin on the forehead, cheeks and chin.  None of this fits BAO Skincare's Face Polish.  This lightweight formula is super gentle, and uses bamboo to carefully buff away dead cells.  While you scrub, nourishing oils simultaneously work to provide necessary moisture that soothes and heals.  Would I recommend this for sensitive skin?  Yes!  Would I recommend this to anyone who loves a pamper?  Yes yes yes!  Honestly, everyone should give this one a go, and I personally can't wait until I can explore the range even more.

Ingredients: Orange Water, *Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Argan Oil, Baobab Oil, Bamboo Exfoliant, MF Emulsifier, VE Emulsifier, Cetyl Alcohol, Gylercine, Sweet Orange Essential Oil, Bergamot Essential Oil, Frankincense Essential Oil & Preservative Eco.
*Organic Origin


4. MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion (10ml, £4.00)


This is possibly my all-time favourite bath oil -- it is so unique and stimulating, nothing else I have tried quite compares.

I have never used a bath oil as luxurious, calming, and downright magical as this 'potion' by MOA.  The smell is intoxicating -- the fullness of the peppermint is perfectly complimented by fir needle, fennel, and sweet birch, and the cooling tingles it leave on the skin is perfect for sore muscles.  Plus, like all MOA's products, this is free from all those nasties found in a lot of other bath oils.  No parabens, added perfumes, alcohol, or other irritants, so your bath can be a truly relaxing experience.  I know I have talked about this before, but this is a product I make sure is always at the ready in my cupboards. 

Overall, the MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion gets five out of five stars from me, and when my current one runs out, I will without a doubt be moving on to my fourth full size bottle!

And if you are interested in testing out more MOA products, you can find my full Brand Spotlight here.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (sunflower) Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita (peppermint) Oil, Foeniculum Vulgare (fennel) Oil, Laureth-3, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) Seed Oil, Achillea Millefolium (yarrow) Extract, Abies Sibirica (fir needle) Oil, Betula Lenta Bark (sweet birch) Oil, Tocopherol, CI 75810 (chlorophyll).


5. Nathalie Bond Peppermint Lip Balm (7ml, £6.00)


Nathalie Bond featured in the first box I received back in May, and since I loved those goodies so much I was excited to try out another product.  However, when I saw the lip balm contained beeswax I was less pumped up -- while I am not totally vegan, I am trying my best to cut out unnecessary animal products.  But since I hate to waste things, I decided I would use this up.


The lip balm, like all of the brand's products, is 100% natural and is also 99% organic.  There are no synthetic nasties in the formula, just pure ingredients like peppermint, cocoa butter, and calendula.  The scent is uplifting and minty without being overpowering, and does not last more than five or so minutes before dissipating.  The balm itself though lasts much longer, and does soothe and moisturize the lips really well.  It does feel pretty waxy though, and I would much rather a smoother and more delicate texture.

I think in the future I will pass on this specific product from Nathalie Bond, but I know they make some gorgeous stuff so I will definitely be returning to the brand to test out more organic goodies.

Ingredients: cera flava* (beeswax), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil*, calendula officinalis flower*, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil*, mentha spicata (spearmint) herb oil*, tocopherol (vitamin e).
*/COSMOS organic ingredients/ingrédients issus de l’agriculture biologique. Natural component of essential oil/composant naturel des huiles essentielles: citral, geraniol, citronellol, limonene, linalool.

6. Jade Face Roller (£7.00)


Usually Stars & Sage include two crystals in your bath ritual box, but this month they have opted for a jade face roller instead.  I can't lie, I was definitely missing the crystal element as that is part of what sets this subscription apart from others, BUT I was also super excited about having a jade roller all of my own to try out.  These ancestral Chinese skincare tools have been making their way around the social sphere, and it seems everyone and their mother has one except for me!  Well, not anymore!

The jade stone is renowned for its spiritual connections and healing properties.  The mineral is meant to be useful for solving dreams, boosting creativity, gathering tranquil wisdom, and is believed to help open one's heart.  And in skincare??  Jade rollers "are meant to boost blood circulation, reduce swelling, and help your skincare products penetrate deeper through a skin massage.  The increase in circulation can also help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles."  Those are some serious benefits!!  And even better, the coolness of the stone head is the perfect pick me up in this heatwave!

While it is too soon to say definitively if this has helped my skin in any significant and lasting way, I will admit that face is looking less red and dull than it has been recently.  I can't wait to see how I get on after a few months of using this jade face roller!



For the ritual, the booklet follows the same format as the May one -- first using the bath potion for a long soak, breathing in the oils from both that and the open salt scrub, then exfoliating your body and face, and finishing by massaging the facial oil into the skin with the jade roller.  So simple, but so delightful.

Overall, I really love this box.  In total the contents are worth £49.45, which is really great considering so many up and coming names are represented here alongside the more established ones.  Even though I was disappointed there was not a standalone crystal included this month, the face roller is absolutely lovely so I can't be too upset.  And the fact that every single product is free from nasties makes me SO happy.  I will be using every single item, and I can't wait to see what the next collection brings (actually - I have just had a peek and it looks fab!).

I want to know which item had you most excited, and what you would LOVE to see from Stars & Sage in the future -- let me know in the comments!

9 comments

  1. Oh wow these all sound lovely. My body scrub is running dangerously low. I think you have just helped me find it's replacement. I love the sound of the salt and avocado salt scrub.

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    1. I've tried all of The Salt Parlour's range and they're all brilliant - and they're really affordable!

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  2. This sounds like a really interesting brand, I keep hearing about face rollers and wondering if I need to try one out - I love they normally include crystals though I think I need to give this box a whirl.

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  3. The face polish sounds right up my street. I definitely need to check this out and give this box a go x

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  4. I live in Bournemouth and have never heard of BAO Skincare - love supporting local businesses so will definitely look them up

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  5. What an amazing selection of products all in one box! I would love to try the face roller as I've never experienced one and the MOA fortifying bath greens sounds divine. Best of all is that they are good for you and the environment !!

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  6. Anything avocado always gets me! Such an amazing product line - natural and organic.

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  7. So many amazing products, I love anything with avocado in it!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  8. I'm a bit weird as I don't really like avocado to eat, but love it as a skincare ingredient and aroma. One of my favourite Lush products is their avobath bath bomb.
    This is a range I will definitely be looking out for.

    Helen
    Tea in the Tub

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