Naturalla Beauty

This Week's BEST Green Beauty Sales (Black Friday/Cyber Monday)

21 November 2018

Is anyone else totally overwhelmed by how early all the sales started this year? I usually put this list up on the Thursday, but I already feel like I'm way behind in posting it today! This year, I've just included what I think are the best of the best sales. My list is in no way all-inclusive, so if there's a store/brand you love that's not listed, they probably have a sale happening this weekend too! I'll also likely be adding a few more throughout the week/weekend as more sales pop up.

If you're shopping from Canada, be aware that Canada Post is still turning away international packages because of the postal strike. For that reason, I've included a 🍁 for stores/companies that ship from within Canada and a 📦 for ones that I know have other, non-mail shipping methods available.

Apoterra Skincare
20% Off Storewide
Free Herbal Steam with $75+
Code: THANKFUL
When? Friday to Monday

🍁Batty's Bath
Studio Clearance Sale (Select products up to 60% off)
Code: N/A
When: Now, While Supplies Last

The Choosy Chick
15% Off Storewide
NEW Green Beauty in a Bag Set (Supports Living Beyond Breast Cancer)
Code: THANKFUL
When? Now through Monday

Morrocco Method: 5 Elements Shampoo + Diamond Crystal Mist

12 November 2018

I've tried a lot of natural shampoos in my day, and Morrocco Method may just be the most unconventional one yet. And, I love it. Morrocco Method products are plant-based, vegan, raw, paleo, non-GMO, soy- and gluten-free, and are handmade in the USA in small batches from natural and wildcrafted ingredients.

The shampoo line was developed around the five elements: fire, earth, air, water, and ether. Although each individual shampoo has a recommended hair type, the company suggests rotating between all five kinds for best results. I was sent Morrocco Method's Travel Set of 5 Shampoos and I've been doing just that for the last few months.

The Five Elements:

Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo (Fire Element) – The most clarifying of the five, for all hair and scalp types. Raw apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH of the scalp, regulates oil production, and stimulates blood circulation to the scalp.

Earth Essence Shampoo (Earth Element) – Intended for normal to oily hair and scalp. Natural clays remove excess oils from the hair and scalp.

Pine Shale Shampoo (Air Element) – For normal to dry hair and scalp, dandruff, and scalp irritation. Restorative pine shale oil, approved in Europe as an effective dandruff treatment, reduces inflammation, calms scalp irritation, and helps with flakes, itchiness, and dryness. (Note: MM’s pine shale oil is sourced from reservoirs beneath the earth’s surface – extracted without fracking -- and is not the same thing as crude shale oil.)

Sea Essence Shampoo (Water Element) – The most moisturizing of the five, for normal to dry hair and scalp. Kelp, blue-green algae, and protein-rich spirulina offer hydration, repair brittle strands, and promote hair growth.

Heavenly Essence Shampoo (Ether Element) – For normal to damaged hair and scalp. Hemp seed oil and prickly pear extract condition the hair and scalp, and help restore shine and luster to dry or damaged hair.

Active + Affordable Serums from Mad Hippie

5 November 2018

The green beauty movement may have started as a somewhat grassroots community focused on basic, natural ingredients, but as popularity and demand have grown, I’ve noticed a definite shift towards an amalgamation of those original green beauty tenants and more scientific approaches and ingredients. One thing I've been asked repeatedly is for product recommendation for affordable natural "active" skincare and with the slogan, "More Actives. More Results." and a price point that tops out at around $35 USD/$45 CAD, Mad Hippie Advanced Skin Care more than fits the bill. The company’s dual focus on safety and efficacy means that products are made with clean ingredients and are packed full of anti-aging actives that deliver proven results. Each product is formulated to contain several active ingredients that complement one another and work together in synergy.

I’ve best testing out Mad Hippie’s Vitamin C and Vitamin A Serums for the last few months and I’m finally ready to give my full take on these two products: feel, performance, and results. Keep reading for all the details!

Vitamin C Serum

The Vitamin C Serum combines a skin-brightening blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. There’s been a considerable amount of research done on the compounding antioxidant effects of these three ingredients and you may recognize the trio from certain well-known mainstream products.

Sensitive Skin Picks from Batty's Bath

30 September 2018

Long time no blog, I know, but I’m excited to be back today with a review of two new-to-me Batty’s Bath products. Batty’s Bath, a Canadian company based in London, Ontario, has quite the extensive product range and is quickly becoming one of my favourite Canadian skincare brands. The company focuses on creating effective natural and cruelty-free products that really deliver on their promises. Batty’s Bath first became known to me through their successes working with acne-prone skin, but I was especially intrigued to see what the company could do for sensitive skin when they launched their new Calendula Line last year. The Calendula range was specifically developed for an employee with challenging reactive skin and rosacea, and a lot of time and care went into formulating these products.

I’ve been trialing two of the three main products in the Calendula Line and, after incorporating them into my routine over the last 2+ months, I feel confident saying that both are uber-gentle, soothing products, perfect not only for delicate, reactive, and sensitive skin, but also for just about anyone during this transitional time of year heading into the colder, dryer fall/winter months. Keep reading for more details…

Calendula & Cucumber Cleanser ($34.95 for 5 oz)

The Calendula & Cucumber Cleanser* is a cream cleanser with a true lotion consistency. It feels luxe and is extra soft to massage onto the skin. Batty’s Bath describes the cleanser as a one-step double cleanse, combining an oil cleanser and cream cleanser into one cohesive step. I agree, in that you can definitely use this product as your only cleanser – no double cleansing necessary – but since I legitimately enjoy the process of double cleansing, it hasn’t completely eliminated that from my life. For no makeup days or days when I’m only wearing face makeup, I will often cleanse with just the once with the Calendula & Cucumber Facial Cleanser, but for eye makeup, I do still prefer pairing it with an oil cleanse step or dedicated makeup remover.

Oneka: Conscious Canadian Hair + Body Products

1 August 2018

After hearing rumblings about Oneka on and off for the last several years, I was very excited to connect with the company at this year’s Toronto Holistic Beauty Expo. Oneka, whose name comes from the Mohawk word for water, is a Canadian personal care company based in Frelighsburg, Québec. The line, founded by Philippe Choiniere and Stacey Lecuyer, prides itself on creating natural, sustainable, and biodegradable personal care products that work with the environment rather than damaging or polluting it. Oneka operates their own organic farm where they focus on permaculture -- creating systems and methods that are permanently beneficial to the environment and society -- and sustainable production.

I’ve been testing out some minis over the last several weeks, and I’ve got to say, I’m pretty smitten with what Oneka has to offer! Keep reading for all the details…

Shampoo ($14.99 for 500ml)

Oneka’s shampoos and conditioners all contain a blend of organic burdock root, clary sage, nettle, rosemary, dandelion, and horsetail -- herbs that support strong hair and a healthy scalp. The shampoo is gentle, lathers easily, and cleans well without stripping the hair. Day-to-day it works fantastic as a one-and-done wash, but if I’ve used a lot of hair products, I will go back and shampoo a second time to make sure everything comes clean.

Conditioner ($14.99 for 500ml)

Of the trio, the conditioner has probably been the biggest standout for me. Rich and lush without feeling heavy or greasy, it does a fantastic job moisturizing and defining my curls without weighing anything down. If anything, I’d say it even seems to ever-so-slightly boost volume and bounce, all while imparting a nice slip. A small amount goes a long way too!

Shower Gel ($14.99 for 500ml)

With a similar herbal infusion to the hair products, plus the addition of soothing calendula extract, Oneka’s shower gels are specifically designed to be extra gentle on the skin. Like the shampoo, the shower gel creates a foamy lather that rinses away easily. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean without any dryness or irritation.

Inika Makeup: Certified Organic, Vegan, Cruelty Free + Halal

18 July 2018

Inika is a popular Australian natural makeup brand that’s been on the green scene since 2006. The entire line is mineral-based and certified cruelty free, vegan, and halal. Many products also hold Organic Food Chain Australia certification, indicating that they contain a minimum of 70% certified organic ingredients. I’ve been testing out the Light Trial Pack, which includes samples sizes of the Inika’s most popular base products (in shades suitable for light skin), and I want to share my thoughts on those items, along with a a couple other Inika products I’ve been using for quite some time.

Certified Organic Pure Primer

I’m not a big face primer user and the Pure Primer hasn’t radically changed my mind. A hydrating primer made with hyaluronic acid and organic oils, it moisturizes and does create a nice base for makeup, but, much like the Nude by Nature primer I reviewed in the spring, I don’t notice it doing anything more than my regular skincare, so, for me, it seems like an unnecessary extra step. If you’re someone that enjoys a hydrating primer under makeup, I expect the Pure Primer would be a bigger hit. I’ve dabbled with using it as an under eye primer and I do like it for that purpose. The extra moisture the primer provides helps concealer blend out a little easier, especially if some time has passed between applying eye cream and doing my makeup.

Lightweight, Skin-Quenching Hydration with One Love Organics Skin Dew

2 July 2018

One Love Organics, to me, is one of the long haul, OG natural skincare brands. They’ve been around for years, but they continue to innovate and create new and fantastic products all the time. I’d had my eye on the Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream ever since it launched in 2016, so when I saw it as one of two featured products in the April Art of Organics box -- selling for less than the cream's retail price alone -- I was quick to grab it.

Skin Dew ($58 USD for 2.1oz) is an EcoCert certified organic lightweight moisturizer made with more than 50% pure organic coconut water. In addition to hydration, coconut water offers a high mineral, amino acid, enzyme, and antioxidant content to nourish skin. It does not have the same comedogenic properties as coconut oil, so even those sensitive to the oil -- myself included -- can often benefit from products containing coconut water or juice.

The cream also contains:

Cupuacu butter, rich in polyphenols to condition skin.

Sunflower, acacia, watermelon seed, and jojoba oils for lightweight, protective, sebum-balancing moisture and defense against environmental stresses.

Phytic acid sourced from rice to reduce dryness and help soften the appearance of fine lines.

A European Hand Cream Edit ft. Aurelia, Benecos, Alva + Lavera

11 June 2018

There are few things I love as much as a good hand cream, and while I’ve found some solid favourites over the years, the product junkie in me is always up for seeing what’s out there and trying new things. I’ve been testing out several new-to-me hand creams over the last few months and, while none of them have quite overtaken my longtime favorite -- the Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream -- I have discovered some good ones, including a new lightweight favourite that’s perfect for the warmer months or for those times when you just don’t need as intense of a lotion.

Keep reading for a full breakdown on the six European hand creams I’ve been experimenting with recently...

Alva Hand Cream + Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream

These two hand creams are my first products from German-made Alva and I like them both a lot. The richer Sea Buckthorn formula is my favorite of the two, mainly for its fresh lemony scent, but also because, made with shea and cocoa butters, it feels a little more nourishing. The original hand cream smells mostly like tea tree oil to me, with just a hint of citrus coming through underneath. Both creams moisturize very well and absorb reasonably quickly too.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Aromatic Repair & Brighten Hand Cream

The Aromatic Repair & Brighten Hand Cream promises to hydrate and nourish skin while helping diminish dark spots and pigmentation. I don’t have dark spots or pigmentation on my hands so I can’t speak to those claims, but as a moisturizing product, it’s pretty fantastic. The hand cream is thick but not heavy, and feels very healing on dry, dehydrated, or chapped skin. It’s also great on dry cuticles. The cream isn’t oily or greasy, but it does take a minute or two to fully sink in. The scent -- a blend of vetiver, ylang ylang, lavender, patchouli, bergamot, juniper, rosemary, and lemon -- is herbal, floral and just generally lovely. This is definitely one of the more strongly fragranced natural hand creams I’ve used and the scent does linger on the skin. At £28/$52 USD for 75 ml, it's a pricey hand cream, but if you have the money and want to splurge, it's a beautiful product.

StixBrands: Portable + Travel-Friendly Body Care

1 June 2018

Despite carrying an oversize purse, I only allocate a small amount of space to beauty products, so anything I carry with me needs to be fairly small and compact. I first discovered SoapStix, StixBrands' first product, several years ago -- I even blogged about them way back in 2012! -- and I still use and refill that same bottle to this day, so I was pretty excited to try the company’s newer offerings when they reached out to me earlier this spring. Along with more SoapStix scents, StixBrands now makes a sunscreen (SunStix) and lotion (SkinStix), both, of course, in the company's signature portable stick/tube packaging. All StixBrands products are made in Canada and are designed to be portable, non-toxic, and environmentally safe.

Packaging

Lots of companies make travel-size items, but what’s unique about StixBrands products is the shape of their bottles. The tubes are long, thin and roughly the size of a large marker or highlighter. The bottles are secure -- no leaking! -- and they all come with a spray top dispenser.

Curly Girl Review: Phillip Adam Curly Hair Shampoo

22 May 2018

It’s been a while since my last curly girl post, but I’m excited to bring them back this spring, starting with today’s review of the Phillip Adam Curly Hair Shampoo*. Phillip Adam is a Canadian hairdresser who’s worked in the hair industry for nearly 50 years. His desire for clean and high-performance hair products led to the creation of his own eponymous line of safe and effective hair care and body products. The entire range is biodegradable, cruelty-free, and made without dyes, parabens, SLS, petroleum by-products, GMO’s, or gluten. The majority of products, including the Curly Hair Shampoo, are also entirely plant-based and vegan.

The Curly Hair Shampoo ($15 CAD for 12 oz), specifically created for us curly folks, is intended to leave hair cleansed but also sufficiently conditioned to define and control curls. It’s a spin on the company’s bestselling Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo, only in this one, the apple cider vinegar has been replaced by an extra dose of pea protein and guar to add a little weight and help control frizz. In addition to curls, the Curly Hair Shampoo is also recommended for colour treated, dry, or damaged hair.

I really like it. My hair needs moisture, like all curls, but it also has a tendency to get greasy at the roots and can be easily weighed down by heavy products. The Curly Hair Shampoo strikes that perfect balance for me: it cleanses the scalp thoroughly and does a great job cutting through any product buildup, but doesn’t leave the actual strands feeling dry or stripped. The shampoo lathers extremely easily as well -- definitely top tier of all the natural shampoos I’ve used -- and as a result, I need less product to get my hair clean.

New at the Drugstore: Nude By Nature

14 May 2018

I’ve always advocated for more accessible natural products, so as soon as I heard that Nude By Nature, a well-known Australian natural mineral makeup line, was launching exclusively in Shoppers Drug Mart this year, I was pretty excited. Up to this point, our only widespread healthy “drugstore” makeup options in Canada have been Burt’s Bees and a select few Physician’s Formula Organic Wear products, so this is a huge step forward. Nude by Nature markets itself as high performing natural formulas free from synthetics, silicones, talc, and parabens. The entire line is 100% naturally derived.

I’ve been trying out four products over the last several months -- three purchased by me and one that I received free from ChickAdvisor -- and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this new Canadian launch. Keep reading for my take on everything...

Perfecting Primer ($32 for 1oz)

I don't typically use a face primer, so if I hadn't received this mini from ChickAdvisor, I doubt I would have tried it on my own. The Perfecting Primer is silicone-free and has a similar consistency to a light lotion or moisturizer. It's invisible on the skin and creates a good, hydrated base for makeup application, but I haven't found it does anything more than my normal skincare routine. I did a side-by-side comparison one day with the primer on one half of my face and just my regular skincare on the other and both sides looked and wore exactly the same throughout the day. Without the silicones, the primer doesn't do any intense pore-filling or smoothing and I haven't found it prolongs the wear of my makeup either. I don't think it's a bad product, but, for me, it just feels like an unnecessary extra step. I've also read a lot of comments about the primer's strong fragrance, but I've noticed very little scent at all.

Perfecting Concealer ($24 for 0.2oz)

Dark under eye circles are one of my biggest skin woes, so I’m always up for trying concealers that promise lightweight and luminous coverage. The Perfecting Concealer is a squeeze tube liquid concealer that checks both those boxes, but I have somewhat mixed feelings about it on the whole. Overall, I like it a lot. Coverage is fantastic and it does a great job brightening the under eye area without looking heavy or cakey. I’ve also used the concealer to cover blemishes and redness and it works well for those purposes too.

Sample Stash #20: Deluxe Mini Edition

2 May 2018

It’s been a long time since my last sample stash post, but I’ve been using a fair number of minis recently, so it seemed like a good time to bring the series back. There’s only so much information you can gain from a small sample sachet, but deluxe samples and trial size minis can give you a great impression of a product without a big commitment.

Good Medicine Beauty Lab Purity Perfectly Clear Skin Tonic

When I first received the Purity Skin Tonic (in my October Goodbeing Box), I disliked the scent enough that I could barely bring myself to try it, but six months later, either the scent has mellowed or my nose has, as it’s no longer an issue. I still get a hint of pool water, but it’s not acrid or offensive, and the product now smells mainly fresh and a little herbal/minty. It works incredibly well on my skin too! The tonic combines soothing, anti-inflammatory, and clarifying ingredients and I notice my skin is smoother and my pores look a little more refined since using it regularly. It’s safe to say that Good Medicine Beauty Lab is firmly back on my wishlist and I’ll certainly consider a full size of Purity once I’m done with the mini.

Andalou Naturals Probiotic + C Renewal Cream

I’ve written about how disappointing some of Andalou’s reformulations have been for me, and unfortunately this is another product to add to that list. The old version of the Probiotic + C Renewal Cream was one of my favorite moisturizers -- I’ve gone through at least two or three full pots of it -- so when I needed a new moisturizer, I thought I’d give the new incarnation a try. In terms of scent and feel, the two are very similar, however the ingredients have changed considerably and so has the effect of the new cream on my skin. One of the most significant changes is that sunflower oil, which used to be the second ingredient, is now lumped in at the end, amongst small percent ingredients like hyaluronic acid and calendula extract. The new formula uses a higher amount of glycerin and lists its first oil, jojoba, as the fifth ingredient. Ultimately, the new version left me with minor congestion on my cheeks and seemed to have my skin producing more oil throughout the day. Definitely not something I’ll be purchasing again.

CLOVE + HALLOW: A Trio of Fantastic Lip Products

21 April 2018

CLOVE + HALLOW burst onto the green beauty scene last year and I’ve been swooning over their gorgeous products and classy branding ever since. I had the opportunity to test out some of the company’s best selling lip items recently and I’m excited to share my thoughts on everything. (Spoiler: they’re all pretty amazing!)

Brand Background

CLOVE + HALLOW was founded by professional makeup artist Sarah Biggers after her own health challenges convinced her to eliminate conventional makeup and personal care products in lieu of healthier, clean alternatives. When she ultimately wasn’t able to find makeup products or shade ranges that she was completely happy with, the idea for CLOVE + HALLOW was born. As the brand's website states, “Clove + Hallow was founded to marry clean cosmetics with the swoon-worthy aesthetic, performance, and shade range of your favorite conventional brands at a price-point that doesn’t cause sticker shock.” What more can you ask for? The line is 100% cruelty-free and vegan and combines natural ingredients with minimal safe and well-researched synthetics. [Find out more about C + H’s Clean15™ formulation and ingredient guarantee HERE.]

Let's get right into the products…

Angelic Lip Glaze

The lip glazes are non-sticky lip glosses that pack a pretty serious amount of pigment. The glosses come in a twist-up pen with a brush applicator and are rich, creamy, and moisturizing. The formula is thicker and more substantial than many glosses and, as such, the color lasts longer on the lips -- I get a good three hours before I need to think about reapplying. The lip glazes also offer moderate shine -- they're not the shiniest gloss out there, but nothing to scoff at in that regard either.

Alaffia Everyday Shea Hand Soap: A True Holy Grail

31 March 2018

Hand soap may not be the most glamorous product out there, but, it’s a staple that most of us use multiple times a day and, as anyone with severe dry hands or eczema can attest, finding the right one can be pretty vital. I featured Alaffia's Everyday Shea Hand Soaps in January’s Cheap Products Worth Splurging On post and I’ve mentioned them a few more times on Instagram, but, as I was getting ready to swap out my latest empty bottle for a new one, I felt like I was doing a disservice to one of my favourite products by not giving it the dedicated blog post that it so deserves.

The Everyday Shea Hand Soaps ($5.39 USD for 12 ounces) have a pretty traditional gel consistency and they easily produce a rich lather. And, most importantly, they do a fantastic job cleansing without over-drying or stripping the skin. My biggest hand soap challenge is the kitchen, since cooking can have me washing my hands upwards of six or eight times within a 30-45 minute period. With other soaps, this has sometimes ravaged my hands, particularly during the winter, but the Everyday Shea Soaps are a glorious wonder product that delivers on both the cleaning AND hand care fronts.

Rocky Mountain Soap Company: 4 Customer Favourites

23 March 2018

I've been a longtime fan of the Rocky Mountain Soap Company -- no surprise if you’ve been here for long! -- so when I was asked if I’d be interested in reviewing some of the company’s best selling products, my answer was an immediate (and enthusiastic) yes. I've used a fair number of Rocky Mountain’s products over the years, but, as it happened, all but one of these items were completely new to me. All Rocky Mountain Soap Company products are completely natural, cruelty free, and handcrafted in the company’s eco-friendly Canmore workshop, and these four items are vegan as well.

Transformative Cleansing Oil

I love a good cleansing oil as a first cleanse in the evening and the Transformative Cleansing Oil fills that role perfectly. With a base of sunflower, jojoba, and rosehip seed oils, it removes makeup like a champ and wipes away easily without any oily residue. Skin is left feeling clean and moisturized. The formula, which also includes anti-inflammatory arnica, restorative chamomile, and soothing calendula extracts, glides across the skin easily and feels very gentle too.

And, it also smells beautiful -- a mix of blue chamomile, rose, and sandalwood that turns oil cleansing into the best kind of sensory experience. I don’t always tolerate rose scents very well, but, to my nose anyways, the rose isn’t the prominent scent here and I haven’t had any issues. All in all, a fantastic product and definitely something I’ll consider buying again.

A Year of Empties {Part #4: Makeup}

4 March 2018

Makeup is always the tiniest of empties categories, but since I've been collecting these for so long, I've actually accumulated a fair number of products to share!

BASE

I’m a big fan of Everyday Minerals's mineral foundations and the Matte Base in Ivory (1N) has been my go-to since last summer. I'm working through a second jar now. I also used up a mini jar of the The All Natural Face Mineral Foundation in Porcelain Kissed By Honey. Also a solid product, though probably not something I'll buy again since there are other mineral foundations that I prefer.

The Ecco Bella FlowerColor Face Powder in Fair is my favorite powder for setting liquid or cream makeup. It offers little in the way of coverage, but has a beautiful, natural finish. Definitely something I intend to re-buy in the future. The Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Powder in Geisha is another good one -- medium coverage and super quick to buff onto the skin. I think the ingredients have changed since the last time I purchased it, so I'll have to check into that before I buy it again.

I also tried samples of several liquid bases. I had similar issues with the Pure Anada Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain and Smooth & Conceal Liquid Foundation in Arctic Alabaster as I did with their moisturizers -- they sat on top of my skin and, as such, didn't look natural. The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue in Opal is a well-loved product, but I found it a little dark and a lot too luminous. I'm all for glowy skin, but this crossed the line into oily for me. I also wasn't wowed by the 14e Cosmetics Aloe Nourish Sheer Tint in Birch (1.5). I don't remember there being anything wrong with it per say, but I didn't like it enough to pick up a full size.

MASCARA

The Pacifica Stellar Gaze Supernova Mascara, which I used two tubes of, has become my new go-to mascara. It's good and black, non-irritating to my sensitive eyes, and reasonably water resistant. The other two were total flops: the Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Work It!, because it was practically invisible and still managed to smear all over my glasses despite stay-put claims to the contrary, and the BareMinerals Lash Domination Mascara, because while it looked and wore fine, it also seemed to make my lashes considerably more sparse during the two or so months that I used it. Ingredients leave a little to be desired in the Bare Minerals too.

EYELINER

You wouldn't think brown pencil liner would be something to be picky about, but there you have it -- there's actually quite a bit of variation across brands! The Lily Lolo Brown Eye Liner Pencil, a dark brown with a creamy formula, is a definite favorite. The Pacifica Fringe Natural Eye Pencil was a little too light and warm-toned for my liking -- disappointing because the black from the same line is one of my favorites. The Honeybee Gardens Smoking Gun JobaColors Eye Liner is the most beautiful metallic cool taupe shade, but I'm not too impressed with the new ingredients since these were reformulated (and renamed), so it’s not one I’ll be replacing in my collection.

EYE SHADOW + EYE SHADOW PRIMER

The Lavera Eye Shadow Base was just okay. It worked well at preventing creasing, but I found that colors tended to mash together over it, so it’s not ideal for more complex eye looks. I also finished a couple no longer available indie eye shadows: Shiro Cosmetics Baker’s Boy, a beautiful shimmery gold, and Detrivore Cosmetics Contamination, a perfect warm matte medium brown. I love wearing colors like this blended out in the crease.

LIPS

Clearly I use a lot of lip balm! The Crazy Rumors Raspberry Sherbet Lip Balm and Wedderspoon Peppermint Lipcare are two great ones that I've bought many times over. The Epic Blend Hemp Mint Lip Balm and Eco Lips Apricot Peach POGO Lip Balm were also good, although the shape and sturdiness of the latter left a little to be desired. I used up one tinted balm: the Everyday Minerals Tinted Lip Balm in a mystery color (the label's worn off), which was the most perfect mauvey-nude. My one gripe with Everyday Minerals is how frequently they discontinued their color products, which was the case with this one. There's a new incarnation of the tinted lip balms, but nothing that looks very similar color-wise.

I didn't finish the Eco Lips Peppermint Mongo Kiss Lip Balm, but I'm tossing it because I had a reaction every time I used it. The only ingredient that was new to me was the mongongo oil, so I'll definitely be proceeding with caution with any other mongongo oil-containing products! I'm also finally chucking out my Vapour Elixir Lip Glosses in Enigma and Twinkle. I loved these glosses, but they've been long discontinued so it's well past time I got rid of them. I'm not sure how Vapour’s doefoot glosses compare, but they're on my to-try list!

BLUSH/MISCELLANEOUS

The Silk Naturals Lovelace Sheer Blush was one of my first blushes and it’s one I loved right to its very end. The Sheer Blush formula offers medium pigmentation and blends like a dream, and Lovelace, which is advertised as a dupe for Nars Deepthroat, is a beautiful shimmery peach. I've got a new jar sitting pretty in my cart for my next Silk Naturals order. I also sampled a few Everyday Minerals products: Berry Berry Luminous Blush, which I loved but which was no longer available by the time I got through the sample, Let's Pink About This Luminous Blush, which was just okay, and the Peach and Yellow Primers, both of which I like using to set or prime under eye concealer. I have a larger size of the Yellow Primer that I'm currently using. I also used at least one pack of the Blum Naturals Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues, basic blotting papers that I keep in my purse for midday touchups.

And that's a wrap on this batch of empties -- I'm so happy to finally chuck all these out!

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