Things I love about 100% Pure: 1. They use fruit pigments in their cosmetics 2. They are really affordable 3. They are sold on QVC which has a really great return policy and it’s super easy to buy from them 4. They make FABULOUS palettes!!! The Pretty Naked Face Palette comes with a great natural blush color, 2 very light cream/brown eye shadows, and 2 cool pink lip pots. It also includes a mirror but no brushes. The blush color looks very natural and pretty. The eye shadows are very light, with the cream color working as a highlighter and the other brown as a base shade (too light for me though). The lip crèmes are like lipsticks in consistency and look when they are on, but require a lip brush for application since they are in the palette form. They pair great with the blush…one matches the blush exactly and the other is more of a mauve color. It also comes with a black mini mascara (see my review on the mascara here). It’s quite a steal of a deal at $31, considering all that’s included. This is also a great way to try the mascara before buying the trio or the full size. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes a natural look; it would also make a great starter set for girls just starting to wear makeup. It's waitlist only right now...get on the list, that's the only way I was able to get mine!
BUY IT!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
100% Pure Cocoa Pigmented Chocolate Eye Palette
To go with your new mascara you’ll need some new eye shadow, and this palette is a great one to try. It’s organic rice powder instead of talc, and it’s pigmented with fruit and cocoa. I’ve discovered that eye shadows made with rice powder require a slightly different application technique. Instead of sweeping the color across your lid, try dabbing the brush to apply. For those of you who like a more subtle eye shadow than the highly pigmented mineral eye shadows, this is a perfect option. The palette is a large round shiny purple tin made of recycled aluminum and has a large mirror on the underside of the lid. It’s kind of hard to open if you’re in a hurry or have lotion on your hands, and it doesn’t fit in my little makeup bag, but it’s really pretty and different. There are 6 full size eye shadows inside—3 in the gray/purple family and 3 in the brown/green family. All are fabulous and fun to try! It's currently out of stock on QVC.com, but check back frequently.
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
100% Pure Ultra Lengthening Mascara Trio
I’ve heard a lot about how terrible Chemically Independent mascara is, so I was hesitant to try it. I dipped my toe in the water by buying 100% Pure’s Ultra Lengthening Mascara Trio because it’s relatively inexpensive ($21) and has 3 trial sized mascaras. (Has anyone noticed how expensive Chemically Independent mascara can be??? This is a good deal.) It comes with 3 colors: black tea (blackest black), blackberry (black purple), and blueberry (black blue). Blackberry looks like black brown indoors, and the blueberry is NOT electric blue so don’t worry, it’s subtle. I hadn’t ventured into colored mascara since I borrowed my best friend Brittany’s blue mascara in between classes in the 6th grade; the colors were pretty for something different, but black is still my staple.
This mascara is great! I mean it’s not DiorShow, but for everyday wear it’s perfect. To test, I put 100% Pure on one eye and Maybelline Volum’ Express on the other. I couldn’t tell a difference! If I looked really close it seemed that Maybelline made my lashes look a little longer and 100% Pure found more lashes making them look fuller. At the end of the day there were little black specks close to the 100% Pure eye, so there is a little flaking over the course of the day. It doesn’t come off until I wash my face, but I don’t even need to use eye makeup remover, which is great.
BUY IT!
This mascara is great! I mean it’s not DiorShow, but for everyday wear it’s perfect. To test, I put 100% Pure on one eye and Maybelline Volum’ Express on the other. I couldn’t tell a difference! If I looked really close it seemed that Maybelline made my lashes look a little longer and 100% Pure found more lashes making them look fuller. At the end of the day there were little black specks close to the 100% Pure eye, so there is a little flaking over the course of the day. It doesn’t come off until I wash my face, but I don’t even need to use eye makeup remover, which is great.
BUY IT!
Friday, January 2, 2009
MOP C-Curl Curl Defining Cream
Modern Organic Products (MOP) is a haircare line for those of us who may be a little hesitant with leaving our hair up to nature. ;-) MOP doesn't contain the worst offenders (i.e. no parabens, artificial colors, etc.) but it definitely contains some chemicals. I decided to try MOP after my failed attempt at completely Chemically Independent shampoo and conditioner from Aubrey Organics. Usually, my Curly-Q self sticks pretty religiously with Ouidad products, which are AMAZING but not completely Chemically Independent (some products are better than others). So I decided to try MOP's C-Curl Curl Defining Cream, which I found easily at Ulta. This is a thick curl cream with a lot of hold (for a curl cream). It keeps frizzies at bay and holds without the crunchy look. It's pretty heavy, and the instructions suggest mixing with Glisten Shine Drops or Curl Refreshing Spray for added slip, so I may try that. I love that it protects color with a UV shield. Overall I'd say definitely try this one--it's a good alternative to using soooo many chemicals on your hair (and if you have curly hair you know what I mean).
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
Blue Q Get Real Mint Lip Balm
Blue Q's Get Real line is natural beauty with attitude. From the people who brought us the brands Dirty Girl, Total Bitch, and Virgin/Slut, Blue Q's Get Real line promises "No Fake Crap". I love the edgy marketing, and as lip balms and glosses are my weakness, I picked this up on my last trip to Ulta. Get Real Mint contains no petroleum--only good stuff for your lips. It has a slight minty smell/taste but it's not overbearing. It keeps my lips nice and conditioned. I like to wear it at night before I go to bed because it doesn't have any sun protection. I do wish it had some menthol in it--I love the tingly feel of menthol on my lips.
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Juice Beauty Organics To Go
According to Juice Beauty, our skin absorbs up to 64% of what we put on it. That's why Juice Beauty is completely Chemically Independent (i.e. no pesticides, parabens, petroleum or propylene glycol derivatives, no harsh surfactants or sulfates, no artificial colors, phthalates or synthetic fragrances). Organics To Go is a sampler kit containing: Cleansing Milk, Antioxidant Serum, Hydrating Mist, Oil-Free Moisturizer, and Sensitive Green Apple Peel. It also comes with a cute little washcloth mitt made of organic sustainable bamboo. The sizes of the products are large enough and contain enough product for you to actually see results before you have to buy the full size, and yet are very travel friendly and completely TSA-approved. This is a perfect way to try Juice Beauty and a great value at only $29! I picked mine up at Sephora, and if you are a beauty product junkie like me that makes it an easier transition than seeking out a new health food store. ;-)
Cleansing Milk
Generally I prefer a foaming cleanser (something about the foam makes me think it's cleaning better--I know, I know...) but this one is fantastic. It smells like apples. And not the fake Jolly Rancher or appletini "green apple"...I'm talking like if you just put your nose into a bushel of just-picked ripe apples on the farm. Yes, like that. It takes a little getting used to, but I love the freshness of it now. The Cleansing Milk removes makeup (most of the time...a couple of times I've had to wash my face twice) including eye makeup (didn't have to even use eye makeup remover--wow). It leaves my skin feeling hydrated, not stripped. It is very mild and gentle. The first ingredients are the juices of organic white grapes, red raspberries, and aloe.
Antioxidant Serum
The Antioxidant Serum has DMAE (for firming, tightening, and wrinkle reduction), alpha lipoic acid (antioxidant), and peptides (anti-wrinkle) with the first few ingredients being the juices of organic white grapes, oranges, and aloe. Definitely some proven age-fighters in this one! I really like this stuff, with one caveat: it's sticky. I mean, check out the ingredients--fruit juices and aloe. Of COURSE it's sticky! Duh! The first couple of nights I noticed it because I stuck to my pillowcase, and I was like, "oh this can't happen this is ridiculous" but then maybe I got used to it or just didn't use as much and now I think I'd purchase the full size. I guess the benefit of having a generous amount of product is that you can get over your initial misgivings. ;-) That said, you will run out of Antioxidant Serum way before any of the other products in the kit.
Hydrating Mist
Ah, toner. I wonder what you are for. Generally I mean, not necessarily in this kit, because I really like this toner. You can spray it directly on your face instead of using a cotton ball, which is really earth-friendly of your clean and toned little self. Again with the grape juice and aloe as the base ingredients, with added vitamins E, A, and C to hydrate and balance. I love having vitamins in my products as they are proven age-fighters. I didn't like the spray application at first...I think I was kinda ball shy...like I wanted to duck or at the very least flinch at all that flying at my face. But again there was enough product thankfully for me to overcome my apparent latent dodge ball anxiety and now I like the spray. And it's refreshing!
Oil-free Moisturizer
LOVE. Finally a lightweight, Chemically Independent moisturizer that is oil-free and WORKS. If you are just starting to venture into natural skincare, the thought of oils in your moisturizer might scare you into sticking with your old chemical cesspool standby. If you are this person, try Juice Beauty's Oil-free Moisturizer! The first ingredients are the juices of organic apples, white grapes, pomegranates, and aloe. There are also added vitamins A, B5, E, and C. It's lightweight but still moisturizing enough for my normal/combination skin (even in the winter). It's slightly sticky (see Antioxidant Serum above) but I really don't notice it. My only complaint is there isn't a drop of sun protection, and I like for my moisturizer to have sun protection to prevent premature aging and sunburn. BUT Juice Beauty does offer moisturizer with SPF 30 in three options: non-tinted, tinted light, and tinted medium. So I'm going to have to try that.
Sensitive Green Apple Peel
This is a hydroxy acid peel made from organic apple, lemon, and grape juices and raw cane sugar. I made a similar peel at home using these ingredients from a recipe in Gorgeously Green. The Juice Beauty version is thicker and more of a mask while the home version was a liquid toner consistency. I prefer the Juice Beauty version for the scent and it also keeps longer. Leave this peel on for up to 10 minutes and rinse (use once a week). It turned my skin red and I didn't notice much of a difference in my skin afterwards (perhaps because I use a scrub regularly). Generally I like the way peels make my skin feel but the glycolic acid and salicylic acid ones are too harsh for my skin. This is definitely one to try if you are in the same boat, but I don't feel like it really made a big difference.
So overall, I really love Juice Beauty Organics To Go. It's a great value and great for trying out the line or traveling. It smells great (very fresh, but may take some getting used to), it works well, and it has some great ingredients. I've noticed that my skin looks more luminous since I've been using it. Not oily or shiny at all, just a healthy youthful glow. And even as I've tried out other products in between, I keep going back to Juice Beauty when I know I really want something to work. How's that for some "juicy" details??? ;-)
BUY IT!!!
Cleansing Milk
Generally I prefer a foaming cleanser (something about the foam makes me think it's cleaning better--I know, I know...) but this one is fantastic. It smells like apples. And not the fake Jolly Rancher or appletini "green apple"...I'm talking like if you just put your nose into a bushel of just-picked ripe apples on the farm. Yes, like that. It takes a little getting used to, but I love the freshness of it now. The Cleansing Milk removes makeup (most of the time...a couple of times I've had to wash my face twice) including eye makeup (didn't have to even use eye makeup remover--wow). It leaves my skin feeling hydrated, not stripped. It is very mild and gentle. The first ingredients are the juices of organic white grapes, red raspberries, and aloe.
Antioxidant Serum
The Antioxidant Serum has DMAE (for firming, tightening, and wrinkle reduction), alpha lipoic acid (antioxidant), and peptides (anti-wrinkle) with the first few ingredients being the juices of organic white grapes, oranges, and aloe. Definitely some proven age-fighters in this one! I really like this stuff, with one caveat: it's sticky. I mean, check out the ingredients--fruit juices and aloe. Of COURSE it's sticky! Duh! The first couple of nights I noticed it because I stuck to my pillowcase, and I was like, "oh this can't happen this is ridiculous" but then maybe I got used to it or just didn't use as much and now I think I'd purchase the full size. I guess the benefit of having a generous amount of product is that you can get over your initial misgivings. ;-) That said, you will run out of Antioxidant Serum way before any of the other products in the kit.
Hydrating Mist
Ah, toner. I wonder what you are for. Generally I mean, not necessarily in this kit, because I really like this toner. You can spray it directly on your face instead of using a cotton ball, which is really earth-friendly of your clean and toned little self. Again with the grape juice and aloe as the base ingredients, with added vitamins E, A, and C to hydrate and balance. I love having vitamins in my products as they are proven age-fighters. I didn't like the spray application at first...I think I was kinda ball shy...like I wanted to duck or at the very least flinch at all that flying at my face. But again there was enough product thankfully for me to overcome my apparent latent dodge ball anxiety and now I like the spray. And it's refreshing!
Oil-free Moisturizer
LOVE. Finally a lightweight, Chemically Independent moisturizer that is oil-free and WORKS. If you are just starting to venture into natural skincare, the thought of oils in your moisturizer might scare you into sticking with your old chemical cesspool standby. If you are this person, try Juice Beauty's Oil-free Moisturizer! The first ingredients are the juices of organic apples, white grapes, pomegranates, and aloe. There are also added vitamins A, B5, E, and C. It's lightweight but still moisturizing enough for my normal/combination skin (even in the winter). It's slightly sticky (see Antioxidant Serum above) but I really don't notice it. My only complaint is there isn't a drop of sun protection, and I like for my moisturizer to have sun protection to prevent premature aging and sunburn. BUT Juice Beauty does offer moisturizer with SPF 30 in three options: non-tinted, tinted light, and tinted medium. So I'm going to have to try that.
Sensitive Green Apple Peel
This is a hydroxy acid peel made from organic apple, lemon, and grape juices and raw cane sugar. I made a similar peel at home using these ingredients from a recipe in Gorgeously Green. The Juice Beauty version is thicker and more of a mask while the home version was a liquid toner consistency. I prefer the Juice Beauty version for the scent and it also keeps longer. Leave this peel on for up to 10 minutes and rinse (use once a week). It turned my skin red and I didn't notice much of a difference in my skin afterwards (perhaps because I use a scrub regularly). Generally I like the way peels make my skin feel but the glycolic acid and salicylic acid ones are too harsh for my skin. This is definitely one to try if you are in the same boat, but I don't feel like it really made a big difference.
So overall, I really love Juice Beauty Organics To Go. It's a great value and great for trying out the line or traveling. It smells great (very fresh, but may take some getting used to), it works well, and it has some great ingredients. I've noticed that my skin looks more luminous since I've been using it. Not oily or shiny at all, just a healthy youthful glow. And even as I've tried out other products in between, I keep going back to Juice Beauty when I know I really want something to work. How's that for some "juicy" details??? ;-)
BUY IT!!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Juice Beauty SPF Tinted Lip Moisturizers
Juice Beauty is a Chemically Independent company specializing in organic skincare. They are easy to find in the natural section at Sephora, which means you can test out the products before you buy. Yay for Sephora!
Juice Beauty's SPF Tinted Lip Moisturizers is a 3-pack of mineral-tinted lip balm with SPF 8. My 3-pack contained one clear lip balm and 2 cool pinks. "Joyful" is a pale bubble gum pink with shimmer that very unfortunately looks like something from the 80s. Seriously, back in the frosted hair and acid-washed jeans days. "Playful" is a sheer mauve with shimmer. They all smell/taste terrible though IMHO...perhaps a combination of the SPF and the rest of the ingredients? I love the idea of having a tinted lip balm with SPF--it's perfect really. Sun protection, smooth lips, and a little color. But I think we can do better than this.
Juice Beauty's SPF Tinted Lip Moisturizers is a 3-pack of mineral-tinted lip balm with SPF 8. My 3-pack contained one clear lip balm and 2 cool pinks. "Joyful" is a pale bubble gum pink with shimmer that very unfortunately looks like something from the 80s. Seriously, back in the frosted hair and acid-washed jeans days. "Playful" is a sheer mauve with shimmer. They all smell/taste terrible though IMHO...perhaps a combination of the SPF and the rest of the ingredients? I love the idea of having a tinted lip balm with SPF--it's perfect really. Sun protection, smooth lips, and a little color. But I think we can do better than this.
Foundation Shade Comparison
We all know how difficult it can be to find the perfect foundation/concealer shade for your skintone. It can be even harder with Chemically Independent cosmetics because many are only available online, so you can't try it at the store before you buy. So I've attempted to take a picture of some of my recent foundation/concealer reviews sampled next to each other so you can see the differences among them. This picture was taken indoors with only natural light coming through a window. 1. Suki Liquid Formula Concealer in Flax 2. NVEY ECO Organic Moisturizing Liquid Foundation in 513. 3. Zuzu Luxe Oil-Free Liquid Foundation in L-03. 4. Zosimos Botanicals Concealer Stick in Beige Linen. 5. 100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer in White Peach (light). Hopefully this will help guide those of you with light/cool skintones. :-)
100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer
100% Pure is the only cosmetics line that uses fruit pigments instead of minerals or synthetic colors. Since the pigments of fruit contain all the good for you antioxidants, seems like a great idea! And fun! Something different! You can buy 100% Pure body wash, lotion, and scrubs online or at a few stores like Ulta and The Limited, but most of the cosmetics can only be found on QVC. There are lots of cute, fun palettes and combos to try, too. 100% Pure is completely Chemically Independent, with ingredient lists reading more like organic recipes than skincare/cosmetics. Their image is young and fun, so step aside boring product lines!
I purchased the Tinted Moisturizer in White Peach from QVC.com. It comes in 3 shades, all of which are medium shades, but White Peach is the lightest. It is definitely on the darker side for my fair skin and I can only wear it in the summer or when I'm wearing sunless tanner. The consistency is much like light coverage foundation, and you can apply it to achieve sheer to light coverage. It is blendable, but you have to watch it near the hairline. It has SPF 20 UVA & UVB sun protection. It's not moisturizing enough for my combination skin to use alone (without another moisturizer) in the winter, but probably would be in the summer. I think this would be great for the summer, but I'm not sure it'll last that long...the bottle says to use within 6 months of opening. There's so much product though that you'd never use it all within 6 months! For tinted moisturizer this is one of the best I've tried, but there needs to be additional shades to choose from--just one shade lighter would be perfect for me.
BUY IT!
I purchased the Tinted Moisturizer in White Peach from QVC.com. It comes in 3 shades, all of which are medium shades, but White Peach is the lightest. It is definitely on the darker side for my fair skin and I can only wear it in the summer or when I'm wearing sunless tanner. The consistency is much like light coverage foundation, and you can apply it to achieve sheer to light coverage. It is blendable, but you have to watch it near the hairline. It has SPF 20 UVA & UVB sun protection. It's not moisturizing enough for my combination skin to use alone (without another moisturizer) in the winter, but probably would be in the summer. I think this would be great for the summer, but I'm not sure it'll last that long...the bottle says to use within 6 months of opening. There's so much product though that you'd never use it all within 6 months! For tinted moisturizer this is one of the best I've tried, but there needs to be additional shades to choose from--just one shade lighter would be perfect for me.
BUY IT!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Why are Chemically Independent products so boring???
Ready for a blog-worthy mini-rant?
OK so my main beef with Chemically Independent products is that they are B-O-R-I-N-G. I love all the marketing that goes into products by Bliss, Benefit, Smashbox, etc. They are FUN! My second complaint is that there isn't as big of a selection. For example: foundation that comes in only 2 colors. YEAH, like THAT's gonna work. Third, the products (mostly) do not work as well as their chemical cesspool counterparts, and let's face it, that's the most important thing of all. We need FUN cosmetics that WORK and aren't going to give us cancer. Is that too much to ask???
OK so my main beef with Chemically Independent products is that they are B-O-R-I-N-G. I love all the marketing that goes into products by Bliss, Benefit, Smashbox, etc. They are FUN! My second complaint is that there isn't as big of a selection. For example: foundation that comes in only 2 colors. YEAH, like THAT's gonna work. Third, the products (mostly) do not work as well as their chemical cesspool counterparts, and let's face it, that's the most important thing of all. We need FUN cosmetics that WORK and aren't going to give us cancer. Is that too much to ask???
Zosimos Botanicals Concealer Stick
I received a sample of Zosimos Botanicals Concealer Stick with a purchase from The Nature of Beauty. Zosimos Botanicals is a fantastic small company that is totally Chemically Independent and eco-conscious. The concealers come in the same colors as their foundations, which makes it easy to either match the shade to your foundation, or go one shade lighter for your concealer. They come in stick form like chapstick, which seems like it would be very convenient, but the consistency is a little too hard. To apply you have to push relatively hard, which ends up pulling your skin in the delicate eye area, which everyone knows is a big no-no for preventing wrinkles. Even using a finger to collect the concealer and then applying it that way made for a lot of tugging. It's not very easy to blend because of the consistency. However, it does cover red areas and using a slightly lighter color than your foundation brightens the eye area well. There is no clumping in fine lines. Perhaps using a concealer brush would work better, but then that negates the handiness of the stick.
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
NVEY ECO Organic Moisturizing Liquid Foundation
I received a sample of NVEY ECO Organic Moisturizing Liquid Foundation from The Nature of Beauty. I'm still (and always) on the lookout for the perfect liquid foundation. NVEY ECO Organic Moisturizing Liquid Foundation is definitely for dry skin. Most liquid foundations have a pretty liquid consistency, but this one is very creamy. I have shade 513 (light with pink undertones), which is very light for fair skin. It matches if I am not wearing sunless tanner, but is still a little on the light side, so try this shade if you have very porcelain skin. I like for my foundation to even out my skin tone and cover red areas, which this foundation does not do well. I put it on and it seems to disappear (more like a creamy tinted moisturizer). It does not settle in fine lines though, so might be good for mature skin. Unfortunately, it's just not for me!
Suki Intensive Brightening Cream
After trying Suki's Balancing Mini Skin Care Kit, I decided that perhaps some of the products from her Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit might be a better fit. So I tried a sample of Moisture-Rich Cleansing Lotion and a sample of Intensive Brightening Cream (get a 10-pack Suki sampler for $10 here).
Intensive Brightening Cream has the age-defying ingredients vitamin C and natural collagen. From the website: "Use this super-rich, ultimate daily moisturizer to even, brighten, richly de-puff & protect. Professional grade blend of antioxidants, polypeptides, natural collagen & skin brighteners deeply penetrates into skin cell layers to help increase luminosity, prevent free-radical damage, retexturize skin’s surface & stimulate collagen production." I'll take it! It's never too early to prevent aging--most women report seeing the first signs of aging around their eyes before age 30. So if you're in your mid-20s, prevent now! If you are over 30, you really need these age fighters.
This light moisturizer smells like roses (kind of old lady-ish...sorry Suki!) but is not so fragrant that it's off-putting. It does everything you'd expect a moisturizer to do, but since I only had a sample packet I can't comment on the longer use effects that the website claims. I love that you can use this as an eye cream too--simplifies my routine. This is definitely something to try if you want a moisturizer with anti-aging benefits, but I wish it had sun protection in it to prevent further sun damage from UVA and UVB rays.
BUY IT!
Intensive Brightening Cream has the age-defying ingredients vitamin C and natural collagen. From the website: "Use this super-rich, ultimate daily moisturizer to even, brighten, richly de-puff & protect. Professional grade blend of antioxidants, polypeptides, natural collagen & skin brighteners deeply penetrates into skin cell layers to help increase luminosity, prevent free-radical damage, retexturize skin’s surface & stimulate collagen production." I'll take it! It's never too early to prevent aging--most women report seeing the first signs of aging around their eyes before age 30. So if you're in your mid-20s, prevent now! If you are over 30, you really need these age fighters.
This light moisturizer smells like roses (kind of old lady-ish...sorry Suki!) but is not so fragrant that it's off-putting. It does everything you'd expect a moisturizer to do, but since I only had a sample packet I can't comment on the longer use effects that the website claims. I love that you can use this as an eye cream too--simplifies my routine. This is definitely something to try if you want a moisturizer with anti-aging benefits, but I wish it had sun protection in it to prevent further sun damage from UVA and UVB rays.
BUY IT!
Suki Moisture-Rich Cleansing Lotion
I'm still glowing. Is it because of the Moisture-Rich Cleansing Lotion, or because I just found out that Suki is reading my blog? HA!
After discovering Suki's Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, I was on the lookout for an equally awesome cleanser without the exfoliation to alternate it with. So I ordered a 10-pack sampler of Suki products and chose the Moisture-Rich Cleansing Lotion as one of the samples. (If you do this, I'd recommend ordering more than one, since there is only one application in each packet--it will give you a few more tries to see if you like it.) This cleanser is mild, smells good, and removes makeup without stripping my skin. What more could I ask for?
BUY IT!
After discovering Suki's Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, I was on the lookout for an equally awesome cleanser without the exfoliation to alternate it with. So I ordered a 10-pack sampler of Suki products and chose the Moisture-Rich Cleansing Lotion as one of the samples. (If you do this, I'd recommend ordering more than one, since there is only one application in each packet--it will give you a few more tries to see if you like it.) This cleanser is mild, smells good, and removes makeup without stripping my skin. What more could I ask for?
BUY IT!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Suki Balancing Mini Skin Care Kit
Suki is a sophisticated line of skincare and cosmetics that uses only the purest ingredients. Suki's list of Chemically Independent and environmental ideals is mind-boggling, including cruelty-free, recycled materials, vegetable inks, glass instead of plastic, and no petrochemicals just to name a few. Having used several of her products now, my impression is that the products are very high quality using only the best ingredients and marketed toward a more mature audience. Marketing is not excessive, packaging is simple, and the products themselves are very unassuming. Depending on your style, you may find this refreshing or just boring. ;-)
Suki's Balancing Mini Skin Care Kit is a great way to try out her skincare products. She also offers a Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit for maturing or dry skin. I like to mix a few of the products from each kit to customize my skincare regimen. Included in the Balancing Kit: Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, Transformative Cleansing Clay, Concentrated Balancing Toner, Balancing Day Lotion, Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing, Velvet Moisturizing Cream, Delicate Hydrating Oil, and Butter Cream Healing Salve. I've already reviewed the Butter Cream Healing Salve here, but the others I'll go through individually. The products come in tiny glass vials (except the Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser which comes in a larger 1.0 fl. oz. glass jar and the Butter Cream Healing Slave which comes in a small packet). The glass vials are unique (so refreshing not to have plastic, really), but don't really contain enough product. You won't see any appreciable difference in your skin in the time that it takes you to use up the product, but you'll probably be able to decide whether you want to purchase a full size and give it a shot.
Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
One word: YUMMY. If you love sugar scrubs, you will LOVE Suki's Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. It smells like lemon drops! The instructions say to "add water if desired", but you won't get the foaming action unless you add water and it's really pretty rough if you don't add it. But it only takes a small amount of product plus water to create a great foaming, exfoliating cleanser! It also removes makeup pretty well. Now I myself am not a fan of sugar scrubs (due to the stickiness and mess around the cap from the sugar) but this stuff is fantastic. I wouldn't use it as a daily cleanser (although you could) but I'd use it a few times a week for exfoliating. If it came in a larger size I'd use it in the shower as an exfoliating body wash--the large sugar granules would be perfect for that. Buy a full size for $30!
Transformative Cleansing Clay
This product is targeted toward improving blemishes and purifying the pores. It's probably the most acne-solving product in the kit. I have combination skin and rarely breakout, and since it's winter I've been a little dry, so this product wasn't really for me. It can be used in 3 ways: cleanser, mask, or spot treatment. However, the instructions for cleanser state to smooth onto face and leave for 5 minutes before rinsing. I prefer for my cleanser to just go on, take off makeup and cleanse, and come right back off (who has time to leave it on for 5 minutes every time you wash your face?). And maybe I just didn't use enough of it (b/c it's in a tiny vial and I was trying to ration it?) but it didn't take off makeup too well. I think this would be better used as a mask (wash face first to get rid of makeup and then apply and leave on for 10-15 minutes). I tried this approach, but didn't really see a difference in my skin (but to be fair I only used it once or twice, and I didn't see a difference with another traditional clay mask from Esthederm that I purchased from a spa, so maybe clay isn't for me). I can't comment on the blemish spot treatment aspect, but seems like the white willow 15% active salicins and the antibacterial zinc would be great for acne.
Concentrated Balancing Toner
What is the purpose of toner? I never use toner anymore. Anyway, there isn't really enough product in this tiny vial to figure it out. There are maybe 2 applications. I can say that it is alcohol-free, so it doesn't have the burn, and it contains white willow 15% active salicins and vitamin C polypeptides to calm and soothe inflammation. Oh, and it smells good. But I'm not a toner girl. Give me a mild cleanser, a moisturizer/anti-aging serum/SPF-containing combo, a great eye cream, and an exfoliating cleanser to use a few times a week and I'm good.
Balancing Day Lotion
This moisturizing lotion contains white willow 15% active salicins and natural retinol to reduce inflammation, balance oil production, and moisturize. For me it isn't moisturizing enough, especially in the winter, so I'd leave this one to oily or acne-prone skin (which is mainly what it's for, so I don't know why I'm complaining). It smells like roses in a middle-aged anti-aging serum or grandma kind of way. A lot of Suki's products smell like roses, and I'm not a fan of rose or floral scents in general.
Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing
This one really threw me for a loop. It is pure plant oils, vitamin E, and essential oils. OIL for your face! WHAT?! Is anyone else confused about this? What about all the oil-free stuff we've been taught? I guess that applies to mineral oil or oils that are of lesser quality, because Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing is straight up oil. Apparently it actually balances oil production. Who knew? Needless to say, it took me a while to get over the shock and actually use this on my face. After the Balancing Day Lotion wasn't moisturizing enough for me I tried a little of this. I've found that it does the job of moisturizing my combination skin that's a little drier in the winter. I just use a TINY bit. This vial will last me forever--go figure. I won't be purchasing a full size though b/c I like my moisturizer to have sun protection in it.
Velvet Moisturizing Cream
This is a light hand and body lotion that smells WONDERFUL. I just said I normally don't like floral scents, but this one is fantastic. It also leaves my hands feeling extremely soft and smooth. If you are looking for something that isn't heavy and thick but still smells and works great, try this product. You can buy the full size for $27.
Delicate Hydrating Oil
This is a body oil. Has anyone ever used body oil? Again, I've always been taught that oil-free is the way to go, so the closest I've ever come to slathering myself with oil is suntanning oil and Avon Skin So Soft back in the day. Well, Delicate Hydrating Oil feels like that. Greasy and oily. The oil doesn't really sink into the skin the way a lotion does, so you're just shiny and greasy afterwards. The vile of oil was one total body application and smelled like rose oil but nuttier. Slick. Eeew. Well at least I learned I'm not an oil kind of girl.
Final thoughts: great ingredients in these products, but since it's winter and most of us tend to be a little drier this time of year, you might want to try the Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit instead of this one. If you are a teenager, have oily skin, or you usually have a few blemishes, try this kit.
Suki's Balancing Mini Skin Care Kit is a great way to try out her skincare products. She also offers a Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit for maturing or dry skin. I like to mix a few of the products from each kit to customize my skincare regimen. Included in the Balancing Kit: Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, Transformative Cleansing Clay, Concentrated Balancing Toner, Balancing Day Lotion, Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing, Velvet Moisturizing Cream, Delicate Hydrating Oil, and Butter Cream Healing Salve. I've already reviewed the Butter Cream Healing Salve here, but the others I'll go through individually. The products come in tiny glass vials (except the Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser which comes in a larger 1.0 fl. oz. glass jar and the Butter Cream Healing Slave which comes in a small packet). The glass vials are unique (so refreshing not to have plastic, really), but don't really contain enough product. You won't see any appreciable difference in your skin in the time that it takes you to use up the product, but you'll probably be able to decide whether you want to purchase a full size and give it a shot.
Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
One word: YUMMY. If you love sugar scrubs, you will LOVE Suki's Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. It smells like lemon drops! The instructions say to "add water if desired", but you won't get the foaming action unless you add water and it's really pretty rough if you don't add it. But it only takes a small amount of product plus water to create a great foaming, exfoliating cleanser! It also removes makeup pretty well. Now I myself am not a fan of sugar scrubs (due to the stickiness and mess around the cap from the sugar) but this stuff is fantastic. I wouldn't use it as a daily cleanser (although you could) but I'd use it a few times a week for exfoliating. If it came in a larger size I'd use it in the shower as an exfoliating body wash--the large sugar granules would be perfect for that. Buy a full size for $30!
Transformative Cleansing Clay
This product is targeted toward improving blemishes and purifying the pores. It's probably the most acne-solving product in the kit. I have combination skin and rarely breakout, and since it's winter I've been a little dry, so this product wasn't really for me. It can be used in 3 ways: cleanser, mask, or spot treatment. However, the instructions for cleanser state to smooth onto face and leave for 5 minutes before rinsing. I prefer for my cleanser to just go on, take off makeup and cleanse, and come right back off (who has time to leave it on for 5 minutes every time you wash your face?). And maybe I just didn't use enough of it (b/c it's in a tiny vial and I was trying to ration it?) but it didn't take off makeup too well. I think this would be better used as a mask (wash face first to get rid of makeup and then apply and leave on for 10-15 minutes). I tried this approach, but didn't really see a difference in my skin (but to be fair I only used it once or twice, and I didn't see a difference with another traditional clay mask from Esthederm that I purchased from a spa, so maybe clay isn't for me). I can't comment on the blemish spot treatment aspect, but seems like the white willow 15% active salicins and the antibacterial zinc would be great for acne.
Concentrated Balancing Toner
What is the purpose of toner? I never use toner anymore. Anyway, there isn't really enough product in this tiny vial to figure it out. There are maybe 2 applications. I can say that it is alcohol-free, so it doesn't have the burn, and it contains white willow 15% active salicins and vitamin C polypeptides to calm and soothe inflammation. Oh, and it smells good. But I'm not a toner girl. Give me a mild cleanser, a moisturizer/anti-aging serum/SPF-containing combo, a great eye cream, and an exfoliating cleanser to use a few times a week and I'm good.
Balancing Day Lotion
This moisturizing lotion contains white willow 15% active salicins and natural retinol to reduce inflammation, balance oil production, and moisturize. For me it isn't moisturizing enough, especially in the winter, so I'd leave this one to oily or acne-prone skin (which is mainly what it's for, so I don't know why I'm complaining). It smells like roses in a middle-aged anti-aging serum or grandma kind of way. A lot of Suki's products smell like roses, and I'm not a fan of rose or floral scents in general.
Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing
This one really threw me for a loop. It is pure plant oils, vitamin E, and essential oils. OIL for your face! WHAT?! Is anyone else confused about this? What about all the oil-free stuff we've been taught? I guess that applies to mineral oil or oils that are of lesser quality, because Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing is straight up oil. Apparently it actually balances oil production. Who knew? Needless to say, it took me a while to get over the shock and actually use this on my face. After the Balancing Day Lotion wasn't moisturizing enough for me I tried a little of this. I've found that it does the job of moisturizing my combination skin that's a little drier in the winter. I just use a TINY bit. This vial will last me forever--go figure. I won't be purchasing a full size though b/c I like my moisturizer to have sun protection in it.
Velvet Moisturizing Cream
This is a light hand and body lotion that smells WONDERFUL. I just said I normally don't like floral scents, but this one is fantastic. It also leaves my hands feeling extremely soft and smooth. If you are looking for something that isn't heavy and thick but still smells and works great, try this product. You can buy the full size for $27.
Delicate Hydrating Oil
This is a body oil. Has anyone ever used body oil? Again, I've always been taught that oil-free is the way to go, so the closest I've ever come to slathering myself with oil is suntanning oil and Avon Skin So Soft back in the day. Well, Delicate Hydrating Oil feels like that. Greasy and oily. The oil doesn't really sink into the skin the way a lotion does, so you're just shiny and greasy afterwards. The vile of oil was one total body application and smelled like rose oil but nuttier. Slick. Eeew. Well at least I learned I'm not an oil kind of girl.
Final thoughts: great ingredients in these products, but since it's winter and most of us tend to be a little drier this time of year, you might want to try the Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit instead of this one. If you are a teenager, have oily skin, or you usually have a few blemishes, try this kit.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Zuzu Luxe Oil-Free Liquid Foundation
I received a sample of Zuzu Luxe Oil-Free Liquid Foundation in a shipment from The Nature of Beauty. Zuzu Luxe is a vegan cosmetics line. The Oil-Free Liquid Foundation comes in a range of 9 shades from L-03 to L-24. What? Exactly. There is no description of the colors, so I'll do my best to describe L-03, which is the shade I have. L-03 is the lightest shade available, and is perfect for my fair skin if I'm not wearing sunless tanner. It has cool undertones. The foundation has a great liquid texture, evens out my skin tone, and has a nice matte finish. I love that it's oil-free, since many Chemically Independent products contain plant essential oils. It is everything you'd expect from a traditional liquid foundation, with one exception: it dries quickly, making it a little difficult to blend. The ingredients list titanium dioxide, which makes me think it has some sun protection, but that is not advertised anywhere, so I'm not sure if it has SPF or not. Generally I'd recommend this product for those of you who don't like powdered mineral foundation or tinted moisturizer, since it's very similar to traditional liquid foundation and has a great matte finish.
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
JASON Ester-C Ultra-C Eye Lift
JASON Ester-C Ultra-C Eye Lift is an eye gel with vitamins C & E, aloe vera gel, and rosehips. Claims from the box: brightens and lifts tired eyes, hydrates, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. This gel is a little sticky, presumably due to the aloe vera gel, and at first I didn't like that (I'm used to an eye cream, not an eye gel). However, after a couple of weeks of use I've come to appreciate the slight stickiness as it does seem to lift my eyes slightly and it doubles as an eyebrow gel to tame any wayward hairs. One thing I noticed immediately upon first use is that it seemed to make the skin under my eyes feel thinner, which kind of bothers me. I haven't noticed any dramatic changes in the few weeks I've been using it, but it does seem to have a lot of great ingredients so I will continue using at least until I finish this bottle. One big plus is that this is available at Ulta, so it's convenient!
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Zosimos Botanicals Eye Shadow Mineral Powder
Zosimos Botanicals is a small company that is completely Chemically Independent, cruelty free, and green (their plant is 100% wind powered!). Since they are really only available online, you can buy samples of nearly all of their products. I purchased 3 samples of their Eye Shadow Mineral Powder in the brown shades: Bronze, Natural Brown, and Branch. The samples are $2.00 each but you get a small zip-lock bag of product that lasts a long time--definitely long enough to decide whether you want to purchase the full size (and then some).
This eye shadow is AWESOME. It is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, and these colors are appropriate for either day or night depending on how much you apply. I really love the Bronze--it has a shimmer to it and makes my blue eyes pop. I have been using the Bronze or Natural Brown as an all over lid color with Branch for darker contrast color (it is a very dark brown). There is significant creasing after a few hours of wear, which I have noticed with other Chemically Independent eye shadows as well, so I'm starting to think there aren't any out there that are really long wearing. This would not deter me from buying the product though because it is in every other way fantastic.
Another great thing about Zosimos is that there are coordinating eye liner pencils and eye shadow sticks in the same colors. I'm definitely going to try the eye liner pencil in Branch. The eye shadow sticks are worth a look--I may have to try that next. Looks like a chubby crayon pencil for your eyes--seems like it would be a fast application.
BUY IT!!!
This eye shadow is AWESOME. It is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, and these colors are appropriate for either day or night depending on how much you apply. I really love the Bronze--it has a shimmer to it and makes my blue eyes pop. I have been using the Bronze or Natural Brown as an all over lid color with Branch for darker contrast color (it is a very dark brown). There is significant creasing after a few hours of wear, which I have noticed with other Chemically Independent eye shadows as well, so I'm starting to think there aren't any out there that are really long wearing. This would not deter me from buying the product though because it is in every other way fantastic.
Another great thing about Zosimos is that there are coordinating eye liner pencils and eye shadow sticks in the same colors. I'm definitely going to try the eye liner pencil in Branch. The eye shadow sticks are worth a look--I may have to try that next. Looks like a chubby crayon pencil for your eyes--seems like it would be a fast application.
BUY IT!!!
Honeybee Gardens Odorless Nail Polish Remover
Honeybee Gardens Odorless Nail Polish Remover really has no scent whatsoever. Woo hoo! No more being accosted by heavy fumes! I used this to remove my usual O.P.I. nail polish (as the Honeybee Gardens Nail Enamel just fell right off on its own--terrible). It was a little harder to remove the polish, especially at the edges, but the difference was barely noticeable. You can purchase a sample size for $2.99 to see if you like it.
BUY IT!
BUY IT!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Honeybee Gardens WaterColors Nail Enamel
Ah, nail polish. My love. Back in the day I painted all 20 nails myself with multiple coats every week. For about 10 years. That’s a lot of toxic chemicals, girls! YES they are absorbed through your nails. I used to make jokes about how many brain cells I was killing with the fumes…sigh. Anyway, now I know better. I don’t usually paint my fingernails, but my toenails have to have some bright color on them or they just don’t look like my feet. Is anyone with me on this???
When I found that Honeybee Gardens had their WaterColors Nail Enamel in Manhattan on clearance for $1.99, I thought hey this would be a great time to try it. Their website states that they made a bad batch—it’s too thin, but once shaken it revs right back up to normal nail polish. So I was sucked in. WaterColors Nail Enamel comes with a full sheet of instructions—apply cuticle cream, use 2 coats, and let it dry overnight. I applied 2 coats, but the polish was seriously lacking shine, so I topped it off with a clear top coat of my usual brand. It was dry to the touch within the hour (took a little longer than my usual polish) and I let it dry overnight. After my shower in the morning I noticed the polish looked a little chipped, so I bent down with a fingernail to inspect, and lo and behold it WAS chipping! Then to my horror, I slid my fingernail underneath the polish and it slipped right off! The whole nail worth of polish! Just like peel-off polish! And toenail after toenail this happened. I had to completely re-do my pedicure with my trusty O.P.I. What a waste of time. Incidentally (as if it matters), the color was described as a “striking ruby red with real flecks of gold”, but it was more like dull redish brown. I wish I had thought to take a picture, but I was just so distraught by the whole experience I wasn’t in my right mind. ;-)
When I found that Honeybee Gardens had their WaterColors Nail Enamel in Manhattan on clearance for $1.99, I thought hey this would be a great time to try it. Their website states that they made a bad batch—it’s too thin, but once shaken it revs right back up to normal nail polish. So I was sucked in. WaterColors Nail Enamel comes with a full sheet of instructions—apply cuticle cream, use 2 coats, and let it dry overnight. I applied 2 coats, but the polish was seriously lacking shine, so I topped it off with a clear top coat of my usual brand. It was dry to the touch within the hour (took a little longer than my usual polish) and I let it dry overnight. After my shower in the morning I noticed the polish looked a little chipped, so I bent down with a fingernail to inspect, and lo and behold it WAS chipping! Then to my horror, I slid my fingernail underneath the polish and it slipped right off! The whole nail worth of polish! Just like peel-off polish! And toenail after toenail this happened. I had to completely re-do my pedicure with my trusty O.P.I. What a waste of time. Incidentally (as if it matters), the color was described as a “striking ruby red with real flecks of gold”, but it was more like dull redish brown. I wish I had thought to take a picture, but I was just so distraught by the whole experience I wasn’t in my right mind. ;-)
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