Naturalla Beauty

Doing regular empties posts has made me a lot more aware of consistently using products until they're finished and I've actually managed to use up a good number of things this month.  I even somehow managed to finish four (!) different lip balms!




Face Naturals Vanilla Mint Body Lotion (sample)   [Review]
This is one of the best lotions I've used.  It doesn't contain any water, just lots of nourishing oils and butters, so it's intensely hydrating.  It also absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you feeling greasy like a lot of other water-less lotions.  It's a little pricey at $25, but you need less product, so I figure it basically evens out.  This sample of the Vanilla Mint was included in one of my orders and I'm a little mixed on the scent.  I loved it in the jar and I think it'd work really well for something that gets washed off, like shower gel, but it became overly sweet and cloying on the skin. 
Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.

Sassy Minerals Eye Shadow in Panache (sample)   [Review]
Sassy Minerals isn't around anymore, but they used to be connected with Lauress Cosmetics and last I heard, some of the Sassy colours were now available through them.  Panache is a pretty peach that used to be a favorite, but when I pulled it out again this month, I found it leaned a little too orange for my liking.
Repurchase? No.

Shiro Cosmetics Intertube in Longcat   [Review]
Longcat is a white/silver shimmer in a clear base, but I used it more around the house as a lip balm than as a lip color.  I've gone through several tubes before and never had this issue, but in this one, the shimmer wasn't incorporated evenly.  It was very light at the top and then full of shimmer and gritty towards the bottom.
Repurchase?  Maybe.  If Shiro releases more dye-free colors, absolutely.  Otherwise, probably not, since I've found other, cheaper lip balms I like just as much.  I also still have one more backup of Longcat to get through.

Silk Naturals Vegan Kisser Slicker in Shine
This is another lip gloss-type product that I used in place of a lip balm.  The Vegan Kisser Slickers are very moisturizing and amazing for winter chapped lips, though they have a really soft consistency that makes the tube disappear quickly.
Repurchase? Probably not.  I like it, but again, I've found other, cheaper lip balms I like just as much.  I also still have one more of these to use too.

Badger Creamy Cocoa Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
I only discovered Badger's Cocoa Butter line this past winter, but they've quickly become my favorite lip balms.  (It even made its way onto my list of 15 products I'd repurchase.)  These are almost twice the size of an average tube of lip balm and I managed to whip through this one in under three months, which I think says a lot!  I love cocoa butter, both for its moisturizing properties and because of the smell.  The Creamy Cocoa is unscented, so that delicious chocolate smell comes through unimpeded.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Balm Balm Fragrance Free Multi Purpose Lip Balm   [Review]
This was another new discovery this winter.  It can be used as a lip balm, but it also works great for lots of other things.  I used it on my rough elbows and even slathered it all over my face a couple times.   You can see I cut open the tube to get to every last bit!
Repurchase? Yes.  

Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
I'm not really big on hand sanitizer, but it does have its moments.  I mostly use it at work, since I can't always get to the bathroom to wash my hands normally.  Young Living uses alcohol and essential oils instead of antibacterial nasties like triclosan.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Blûm Naturals Fragrance Free All-Purpose Cleansing Wipes   [Review]
I don't use wipes much on my face and I'm not sure it's worth having these around just for cleaning up blog swatches, but that's what they end up being used for most.  The canisters do tend to dry out if you have them open for too long, so next time I think the individually wrapped ones will be a better choice for my infrequent use.
Repurchase? Maybe, but not right away.

Egyptian Magic (sample)
Egyptian magic is a popular product, but it's one that I really don't understand the hype about.  I used it on my feet, and while it did leave them soft, it wasn't anything spectacular.  Plus, the smell was horrible!  I'm not sure if my sample had gone off or something, but it just smelled bad and sort of fermented.  It also didn't soak in well and made my feet feel uncomfortable and tingly.  I have another sample hanging around here and I don't even want to touch it.
Repurchase? No.

Weleda Weather Protection Cream (sample)
The Weather Protection Cream is from Weleda's baby line and just as the name implies, it's intended to protect your baby's skin from harsh weather.  I used it on my feet instead, and it worked really well for that too.  It took a while to sink in, but I just threw on socks before bed and woke up to incredibly soft feet.  I think it'd be perfect for protecting my hands in the winter too, as they usually end up getting dry and chapped.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably not until next winter.

Weleda Skin Food (two samples)
Skin Food is another very hyped product in the natural beauty world and this time I completely understand why!  It's a heavier lotion, so not something I'd use all over, but it's perfect for those extra dry spots like your feet and elbows.  I find a lot of Weleda products are too heavily scented for me, but happily, I don't have any problems with the Skin Food. 
Repurchase? Yes, I already bought a big tube.

I also gave my makeup a bit of a spring cleaning this month and a few things are headed for the bin.  I figured I might as well include them too!



SweetPea and Fay Ultra Pigmented Lip Glosses   [Review]
I don't think SweetPea and Fay makes these anymore, but I really liked them!  I hadn't reached for them in a while and when I pulled them out this month they were completely dry.  I've never had lip gloss dry up like that, even after more time, so it's a little odd.  

Darling Girl Cosmetics Lip Balm (sample)
I got this in a blogger sample pack and I guess it didn't impress me, since I just never reached for it.  It's started to smell funny now, so it's got to go!

Burt's Bees Cream Eye Shadow in Trust
This is from Burt's Bees' old makeup line, which I think is from way back before the company was bought by Clorox, and it's just dried up now.  I don't use them much anymore, but I'm still hanging onto a couple of the old lip shimmers from the same time period (they seem fine, honest!), but the metal tins aren't very airtight, so they're definitely drying out too.  


It feels great to use all these things up and get rid of some products that just aren't good anymore too!  Have you tried any of these?  Does anyone else remember Burts Bees' old makeup line?  And am I the only one who did not like Egyptian Magic?  

One product I've never been fully satisfied with are highlighters.  Either they're too shimmery and you look like a disco ball or they're too subtle and I can't even tell I've applied one.  With that in mind, you can imagine how excited I was to discover these two highlighting gems in a most unexpected place - my own eye shadow drawer!  Inika sent me two of their crème eye shadows to try, and while they're lovely as eye shadows, where they really shine, if you'll excuse the pun, is as highlighters.

First, let's talk packaging.  The crème shadows come in small squeeze top bottles and are very easy to use.  I like to squeeze a small amount onto the back of my hand and then use my fingers to apply it to either my eyes or the high points of my face.  You can also mix a small amount into your foundation for an all over glow.  



I received Champagne and Pink Cloud, two beautiful light shades.  Champagne is a pale gold and Pink Cloud is an icy, cool-toned pink.  Both of them have a luminous, satin finish without any actual glitter particles.  I've never before understood that natural, 'lit from within' glow that people talk about with highlighters, but these really do deliver just that.  On me, Champagne blends seamlessly and looks the most natural, but I could see Pink Cloud being a good match for some skin tones too.

(L to R) Inika Cream Eyeshadow in Pink Cloud, Champagne

(L to R) Inika Cream Eye Shadow in Pink Cloud, Champagne (blended)

Even though I use these most as cream highlighters, they're also lovely as eye shadows.  I find they work best as a light, sheer wash of color, since when you build them up, they become more difficult to apply evenly and can start to look a bit patchy.  If you want more opacity, your best bet is to apply multiple thin layers, allowing the shadow to dry in between each one, but even then, it can be tricky to get an even color.  I should also mention that, like a lot of other natural cream shadows, these are not crease proof.  I've worn them both with primers and without, and while I experienced some creasing either way, I get better results when worn over bare skin.  

The Bottom Line
If opaque, crease-proof shadows are a must, these may not be the product for you, but if you don't mind a little creasing or are in the market for an everyday highlighter that perfectly straddles the line between subtlety and glitz, Inika's crème shadows are definitely worth a look.  The only downside I can come up with is the $25 price tag.  They're definitely on the more expensive side, but since they do double duty as both a highlighter and eye shadow, I do think they're worth the money.  

Have you tried anything from Inika?


Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mica, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii(Shea) Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Natural Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis(Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado)Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunis Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Iron Oxides(CI 77491), Iron Oxides(CI 77492), Ferric Ferrocyanide, p-Anisic Acid, Water, Sodium Hydroxide

Disclosure: Product provided for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.

Spring is finally in the air and I wanted to share a few products I've been loving lately...

If you're interested in natural and non-toxic makeup, you've probably heard of Vapour 
Organic Beauty.  They've won numerous awards, are worn by celebrities, and are one of the better know healthy makeup brands out there.  Vapour was kind enough to send me a few products to review and I've really enjoyed trying them out over the last few weeks.  I already mentioned the Illusionist Concealer in my recent post on under eye concealers, but I was also excited to receive the Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector and Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation, since these two are something of cult favorites in the natural beauty community.  Keep reading to find out if I thought they lived up to the hype!



Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector
The Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector has the texture of a light, slightly runny moisturizer.  It smells fruity with a hint of something else I can't quite put my finger on.  The scent is nice, but not at all overbearing.  I've been using s902, which is recommended for fair to medium skin with neutral or pink undertones, but I think almost any skintone would be able to wear this shade.  Vapour describes the Skin Perfector as, "a 3-in-1 moisturizer, primer and no-color foundation," and I think that's pretty accurate.  In a lot of ways it acts like a moisturizer, but it also goes one step further and really makes your face look more polished and radiant.  There's no real coverage, but it does manage to color correct minor redness and discoloration.

My favorite way to use this has been on its own, with just a little concealer in any problem areas.  Stratus gives an incredibly natural finish and truly doesn't look like you're wearing makeup.  To be honest, I don't notice much difference using it as a primer under liquid or cream foundation, but I've experimented with using it under mineral foundation and mixing it with my All Natural Face Cream Foundation to make more of a tinted moisturizer, and I really like using it both of these ways.  That said, at $54, it's definitely on the pricier side, so I've mostly been saving it to wear on its own on light, 'no-makeup' makeup days.

Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation
I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, but I really like my skin to look like skin.  Vapour's Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation has the same lovely, light consistency and smell as the Skin Perfector, but it unfortunately hasn't worked as well for me in other ways.  It feels very much like a thin moisturizer as you apply it, and it's almost as if my skin drinks up that moisture and leaves the pigment from the foundation just sitting on top of my skin.  I've tried multiple ways of applying it, both with my fingers and a few different brushes, but I haven't been able to get rid of that foundation look.  It's not that it looks cakey - it really doesn't - but it very noticeably looks like makeup on my skin.  It's funny, because I've seen this foundation recommended, even by male bloggers, as the exact opposite.  I've used it both with the Stratus Skin Perfector and on its own, with similar results.  I also had minor issues with it transferring, even after being set with a powder.  

In terms of colors, I feel like the shades run a bit darker than they look online.  I was sent s110 (for fair skin with pink undertones), which is probably the same shade I would have chosen myself based on the photos on Vapour's website, but it's a little too dark for me.  Still, even though it looks super dark on my hand, it manages to sheer out and blend into my skin fine.  I would probably go down a shade if I had the option, but s110 is still completely wearable. 

Illusionist Concealer
The concealer is another big hit with me!  I've seen other bloggers criticize the coverage, but I really think this is a top notch product.  It conceals well - be it redness, blemishes, or dark circles - but it doesn't look heavy or cakey.  010 is the perfect match for my skin and it blends in effortlessly.  It's also super brightening, which definitely helps under the eyes.  This is actually the first cream concealer I've found that really works under my eyes, so that alone has me extra impressed!

For application, I find I get the best results from warming it up on the back of my hand, then applying it directly from the tube to my under eye area.  After that, I just gently tap it in with my fingers.  It does need to be set with a powder, or else I find it shifts around a little throughout the day.  My one small complaint is that it does tend to settle into the lines under my eyes about halfway through the day, but that's easy enough to fix.  And, considering how much I love everything else about this concealer, it's not something that would stop me from buying it in the future.

(L to R) Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector in s902, Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in s110, Illusionist Concealer in 010 The Bottom Line There's no doubt that Vapour Beauty carries a luxury price tag, but I think most of their products are worth it.  I already love the Elixir Lip Gloss, and the the primer and concealer are becoming fast favourites too!  I'm a little more iffy on the foundation, but I haven't completely written it off either.  (Maybe I'm applying it wrong?  Feel free to jump in with any tips!)  I'd recommend trying the foundation out in person if you can, or else ordering samples, before investing in the full size.  As for the rest, you can play it safe with samples, but I don't think you'll be disappointed if you opt for full sizes right off the bat!

Have you tried anything from Vapour Beauty? 




Disclosure: Product provided for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.

About a month ago, I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Osmia Organics' Facebook page.  I was excited to win, and even more so when I found out I'd won one of their luster lip glosses.  This is a product I already had my eye on after reading about it on a few different blogs, so I was excited to be able to try it out for myself!

Finding a concealer with good ingredients that will actually cover my under eye circles has been an ongoing search for me.  I still haven't found that one miracle product that does the job perfectly on its own, but I have discovered a few products that have been working really well in comination.  As an added bonus, they're all reasonably priced, so you won't break the bank, even if you end up trying all three!  

(L to R) Vapour Illusionist Concealer in 010, UNE Skin-Glow Pencil in G02, Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach

I didn't actually use up many products in March, but instead of holding onto the empties for any longer, I figured I'd do a post now anyways!  I'm often impressed with the number of products in other bloggers' empties posts, since this is pretty typical of what I get through over the course of a month.