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Top 5 Green Beauty Discoveries of 2014

General blogging practice would mean compiling a list of 14 products for 2014, but I decided to buck convention and stick to just my top five.  I was lucky enough to try out a whole bunch of fantastic products in 2014, but for the sake of this post, I want to focus on just the ones that really rose to the top and stood out to me over the last year.  The ones that, since trying them, I - cue the melodramatic music - would not want to be without.  


Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel
Dr. Alkaitis's Soothing Gel got rave reviews across the green beauty community this past year, so I knew I wanted to try it, but none of the bloggers that I'd seen review it had similar-sounding skin to me, so my expectation weren't actually all that high.  For me, this is a spot treatment product, not something I use all over - it's a little too drying for that - but I'm blown away by just how well it works.  If I put this on a blemish or pimple before bed, it's pretty much gone by the time I wake up.  I've been delaying purchasing the full size bottle, but I've nearly finished my first sample and I've already got another en route to me, so I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I succumb to the larger size.

 Pacifica Eye Liner Pencils
I wear pencil liner most days, but it's sometimes a struggle finding a good natural one.  You know, something that's pigmented and glides on easily, but doesn't smudge too much or slip down your face throughout the day.  I have two of the four Pacifica pencils - Jet and Bare - and I expect I'll give in and buy the other two at some point soon too.  These are lovely and creamy liners, but but they also stay put once they're on.  The one exception is that they aren't completely budge-proof in the waterline, but I've yet to find anything that is, so I'm okay with that.

 Hazelnut Oil
About midway through the year, I realized that many of my favorite oil blends were made with hazelnut oil and made it a mission to track it down individually.  It can be a hard one to find in its unrefined state - hazelnut oil for cooking is easier to locate, but tends to be roasted and/or refined - but it was completely worth the effort!  Hazelnut oil is moisturizing, but it's also very lightweight and has some astringent properties, making it great for balancing oil production and perfect for people like me that are prone to enlarged and clogged pores.  My skin just loves it.  I tend to mix a couple drops in with every other face oil I use now.

 Beautiful Curls Shea Butter Curl Reviving Tonic
I don't even know how many times I've written about this product, so I'm sure its inclusion here will surprise exactly no one.  I first bought this back in February, and I'm on my third or fourth bottle now.  I like using the tonic on second-day hair, since it does exactly what the name says - revives and refreshes your curls.  If you have curly or wavy hair, you really need to give this a try.  I usually buy mine off iherb or Vitacost (where it's an affordable $9 or less) but I recently spotted it at Whole Foods for only a few dollars more.

 Blush
Not a specific product, I know, but the broader category seemed appropriate, since this past year was fully the first time I really embraced wearing blush.  I'm very fair so clown cheeks are always a real concern, but I've finally realized what the right blush can do for your face and I can't imagine doing my makeup without it now.  My top blush picks?  Silk Naturals Abstract and Lovelace, The All Natural Face Tequila Sunrise and Desert Sand, and Lucy Minerals Juicy Peach.

Have you used any of these? What were your top natural product discoveries of 2014?
 Contains affiliate links.
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April Empties / Products I've Used Up

Another month gone by, can you believe it?  Time to talk about the products I finished up in April.  (And if I may, please draw your attention to the multiple makeup items that made it here this month. #proud)
  
Possibly the most haphazard, messy empties photo ever (Note to self: Don't take photos when rushing out the door and toss empties before checking how said photos came out)
Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Wash
Weleda's Sea Buckthorn scent is a favorite of mine and the body washes are great.  They're creamy, hydrating and pretty much perfect for the colder months, if not all year.
Repurchase? Yes, but not immediately.

 Acure Unscented Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Lotion   [Review]
I've talked about this lotion many times before, so I'm sure I don't need to clarify that I'm a fan.  In fact, I even recently featured it as one of my two holy grail picks in SugarPuffish's Natural Blogger HG series.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

 Frangipani Shea Butter Softening Lotion*   [Review]
This is intended as a super moisturizing face product, but I actually used most of mine on my body.  It's a whipped shea butter made with jojoba oil and neroli, geranium, and lavender essential oils.  It melted into the skin easily and, as the name suggest, was very softening on any dry patches.
Repurchase? Maybe. I have a few other shea butters to use up first.

 Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste   [Review]
Another repeat buy.  I like Earthpaste, but after about a year and a half of using it, I'm a little curious to explore what else is out there.  Sadly, on first glance at least, the availability of glycerin-free toothpaste doesn't seem to have improved much since the last time I looked - it's still pretty slim pickings out there.    
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

 Young Living Deep Relief Roll-On
This is a blend of peppermint, wintergreen, lemon, balsam fir, copaiba, clove, helichrysum, vetiver, and palo santo that's really great for any injuries, muscle soreness, or tension.  It feels very cooling and tingly on and helped a lot when I had shin splints a few years ago.  I like to keep it on hand for any aches and pains that crop up.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Foundation in Geisha   [Review]
I think this is my third pan of this foundation and you can see, I used every last speck.  It's one of the quickest foundations to apply - which I appreciate since I always seem to be doing my makeup in a hurry - and Geisha matches my skin really well.  I have the compact (which sells separately) as well, but I actually prefer keeping it in the plastic case that the refill comes in.  The compact somehow always manages to leak bits of powder everywhere.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.  [In related news, darker-skinned ladies will soon be able to enjoy this foundation as well - I hear Honeybee Gardens is getting ready to expand the color range with some new, deeper shades.]

 Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Foundation in Light   [Review]
If you're looking for a mineral foundation with very good, buildable, medium-to-full coverage, I don't think you can do better than Lucy Minerals.  I've not found another mineral foundation that even comes close.  I've had my jar for over two years (!) and I'm not sure if it changed color towards the end, or if I've gotten even paler, but I didn't feel like the bottom of the pot matched me as well as it did when I first bought it.  
Repurchase? Probably.  I think I'd have to go through color-matching with samples all over again though. 

DIY Finishing Powder
This was a homemade finishing powder I mixed up last summer after reading a series of rave reviews of RMS Beauty's "Un" Powder.  Despite the accolades, I have a difficult time believing that single ingredient products like "Un" Powder (or Make Up For Ever's HD Powder) can be all that different from the silica microspheres that you can buy from TKB Trading for under $2.  Here, I mixed some of Lucy Minerals' Lucy Light Finishing Powder with silica, in the hopes of making it a little better for oil control.  It worked well in that regard, but overall, I think I like Lucy Minerals' unaltered finishing powder a little more.
Make again? Probably not.

Une Skin Glow Pencil in G02   [Review]
I love this pencil for covering dark circles.  It's peachy and brightening and works very well under a light dusting of Silk Naturals' Sleep in a Jar.  I just wish they'd make a bigger, jumbo-sized pencil, since the combo of the two is on my face pretty much every day that I wear makeup.  
Repurchase? Yup.  In fact, I already had a backup waiting!

 Shiro Cosmetics Meowth Eye Shadow (sample)   [Review]
Meowth is a great shimmery cream that was perfect for highlighting the inner corner.  The name has been changed to Whiteout since I bought mine, but, as far as I know, the color remains the same.
Repurchase? I wouldn't place an order just for this item, but I'd definitely throw in it the next time I buy anything from Shiro.

 Cheeky Cosmetics Fairy Tale Eye Shadow (sample)   [Review]
Cheeky Cosmetics' eye shadows are great and Fairy Tale is a pretty, pinkish highlight color that I also liked using on the inner corner.  
Repurchase? Not sure.

 And that's it for April!  Have you tried any of these?  What products did you use up this month?
*Indicates press sample
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March Empties / Products I've Used Up

Have you ever tried explaining empties posts to someone outside of the beauty blogging/vlogging world?  Describe that you save your trash and photograph and write about it every month and wait for the blind confusion to appear on their face.   Honestly.

 These are some of my favorite posts - both to read and write - and I think they're great for final wrap-ups and mini reviews after using products for a good while, so I'm glad so many of you lovelies get it and feel the same.  So, without further ado, here's what I finished up during March:
  

 New Roots Organic Goji Seed Oil
I was given this at the CHFA trade show in the fall and was curious to see how all the goji berry hype would translate into an oil.  I'm happy to say it's all good here.  I've been big on mixing my own oil blends the last several months and I really liked including this one.  It's hydrating but not heavy and has a very mild scent.  
Repurchase? Yes.

 Nourish Almond Vanilla Body Wash*   [Review]
Nourish's body washes are creamy, non-drying and just a delight to use.  This was my first time trying the almond vanilla and it did not disappoint.  I usually have several body washes on the go at a time, so this took me a while to finish up, but it smelled delicious and made me feel as though I was lathering up with delicious cake batter every time I used it.  
Repurchase? Not right away, but yes!  I stocked up on body wash during Nourish's Black Friday sale, so I've still got a couple other new-to-me scents here to try before I'll be buying any more.  

 Nourish Unscented Body Butter
Another fantastic Nourish product, the body butter is the perfect consistency and did a great job keeping my skin soft and hydrated during the winter.  It's especially great for feet and on any super dry, itchy spots.
Repurchase? Definitely!

 Kirk's Fragrance Free Original Coco Castile Soap
I decided to pick this up after noticing that the one constant across most of my favorite bar soaps is coconut oil.  That said, while there's nothing wrong with this one - it's gentle and produces a good lather - I realize I like my soaps to have a little more pizzazz than this unscented basic.  The price, at right around the $2 mark, is pretty hard to beat though.
Repurchase? Probably not.

 Bath Petals Sicilian Blood Orange Shower Gel
I liked this shower gel at first, but at some point it began irritating and drying my skin out and got set aside.  The last 1/4 or so ended up relegated to makeup brush washing and other cleaning around the house.
Repurchase? Nope.

 Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-In Conditioner   [Review]
I really liked how this product worked as a refresher on second day curls, but I'm left waffling over the cost when my Beautiful Curls spray works equally well (although it doesn't smell quite as good) for 1/3 of the price.
Repurchase? Maybe one day, when I'm feeling flush.

 Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder   [Review]
This is a really great powder that's been a part of my everyday makeup routine for over a year now, regardless of what foundation I'm wearing.  Be it a cream, liquid, or powder, this finishing powder sets it, helps it last longer, and blurs minor fine lines and imperfections.
Repurchase?  Yup!  It's very likely.

 Crazy Rumors Cola Lip Balm   [Review]
Initially I wasn't a fan of the cola flavor at all, so this lip balm ended up languishing forgotten in a drawer for a long time.  Now that I'm making a concerted effort to use up any and all started lip balms, I dug it out to try again, and I have to say, the flavor's nowhere near as bad as I remembered!  It still wasn't my favorite, but it was completely useable.  Crazy Rumor's lip balm formula is always lovely, so I was glad to be able to make use of it.  
Repurchase? Yes, in a different flavor.

 Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara   [Review]
With a couple brief exceptions, this is the mascara I've been using consistently for the last several years.  It's not super dramatic, but it does the job without irritating my eyes or smudging or flaking.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

 Silk Naturals Lovelace Blush (sample)
Peach blushes are always what I reach for first and Lovelace is gorgeous.  It's a bright, vibrant peach, but Silk Naturals' sheer blush formula is super blendable, so it's still an easy color to wear.  The color is supposed to be a clone of Nars Deepthroat.  
Repurchase? Not sure.  I love Silk Naturals, but my skin is funny with their blushes.  Some days I'm completely fine wearing them and others they give me angry-looking red bumps and need to be washed off immediately.  Which is sad because the colors are SO pretty.
* Indicates PR sample
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January + February Empties / Products I've Used Up

I wasn't able to put together an empties post for January, so this one's going to be a bit of a doozie!  Even though #NoBuyJanuary is over, I've still been focusing on using what I have throughout February and it's always more than a little validating to be able to see some progress with these posts!


Hair
This batch is probably what I'm most excited about using up, since it really streamlined the products that are left in my shower.  The Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell (review) are still my favorite shampoo/conditioner duo for my curly hair.  I'm currently trying the mint ones, which are also nice, but I expect I'll go back to the Argan again afterwards.  The Organic Excellent Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner (review) were what I was using before discovering Acure, but about a year ago, there was a bit of an ingredients hooplah over whether the company was accurately disclosing ingredients and they've just been languishing in my shower ever since.  I wouldn't recommend these anymore, but I wanted to move them out, so I used the shampoo up as body wash.  I tried to use the conditioner as a shaving cream, but my skin was no longer a fan and reacted badly.  A search for alternate conditioner uses found many claims that conditioner will clean your drains, so that's what I tried to do with the bottom half of the bottle.  I'm not convinced it did anything, but I'm happy to finally have these out of my shower (and my life) all the same!

I used Desert Essence's Fragrance Free Conditioner maybe two times on my hair, but I loved it as a shaving cream.  I was all set to buy it again for that purpose, but the bottom of the tube was strangely congealed and lumpy and has turned me off it for the moment.  I'm exploring other options, but I'm sure I'll return to it at some point.  Intelligent Nutrients' Styling Gel (review) is a fantastic hair gel, but prices recently went up and at $14 for 2 oz. ($31 for 5 oz.), I'm not sure I can continue to justify the cost for a product I use up at a decently quick rate.  I'm trying out a couple less expensive options right now.


Body/Skincare
I've written about Earthpaste Toothpaste (review) and Acure's Unscented Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Lotion (review) many times before.  Both are firm favorites and I've already started on new tubes of both.  I love Weleda, but I'm a little conflicted on the Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream.  I adore the scent, but I do think the Pomegranate Hand Cream is a bit more effective.  Both absorb incredibly fast, but the Pomegranate keeps my hands feeling moisturized for longer.  

This is my second sample of Weleda's One Step Cleanser & Toner and I'm still a fan for morning cleansing.  It's great for refreshing the skin, without being harsh or drying.  Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil is a bit of a cult favourite, and while I wasn't 100% convinced at first, by the second half of the bottle, I was sold.  It wasn't enough hydration for my skin this winter on its own, but I enjoyed mixing it with other oils, most recently jojoba and goji seed.  This is the only rosehip oil I've used, and while I do believe the combination of fruit and seed oils makes it better than your average rosehip seed oil, the frugal part of me wants to try another, less expensive one before recommitting to Pai's.  


Makeup/Samples
At the beginning of #NoBuyJanuary, I mentioned wanting to use up a bunch of lipstick samples, but so far, Zuzu Luxe's Indulgence is the only one to bite the dust.  It was a pretty color - a plummy-red with gold shimmer - but I'm not a huge fan of shimmer on the lips, so I doubt I'll be buying the full size.  The black rimmed pot was an older homemade lip balm that had been forgotten, but it was something I quite enjoyed once I rediscovered it.  
Lucy Minerals' Juicy Peach Blush is a gorgeous pale peach that might just be my all-time favorite blush color.  I'm not sure how it would suit darker skin tones, but on my fair skin, it looked very glowy and natural.  The sample alone lasted me months, but I'll definitely be ordering the full size at some point.  Another thing I'll be picking up soon is Silk Natural's Splendid Perfecting Glow.  The Perfecting Glows fall somewhere between finishing powders and highlighters and I liked using the Splendid to brighten up under the eyes.  It was slightly yellow-toned and worked really well at boosting other concealers and making everything look more fresh and awake.  

 I managed to accumulate a number of Ella's Botanicals soap samples, but these are the last of them.  Skin Soother is very gentle and great for sensitive skin, or for dry, winter weary hands, which is how I used these last two.  I can't believe how many lip balms I've been burning through this winter, but at least I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed that process with these two.  Young Living's Vanillamint Lip Balm was a limited edition holiday flavour, but my favorite is still the lavender one, which is available year round.  Hurraw!'s Mint Lip Balm (review), while fantastic for indoor application, still isn't what I reach for before going outside and braving the elements.  The mint scent is very fresh and tingly.

 And that's it!  My usually packed shower is so uncluttered right now, I can't even believe it.  I guess the combination of focusing on finishing things up and not bringing in any new product for January helped me get through a bunch more stuff than usual!

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July-August Makeup Bag / Current Rotation

Since I didn't do one of these for July, I really wanted to take the time now to highlight a few makeup items that have been standing out from the crowd this summer.  Some of these will be no surprise I'm sure - I've been trying to shop my stash and use products I already have, so I haven't gotten much in the way of new or exciting makeup recently.  Here's what I've been enjoying...

Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Foundation & Finishing Powder
Lucy Minerals' Finishing Powder is pretty much my go-to setting powder with whatever foundation I wear, but I've gone back to using their foundation lately as well.  The foundation gives amazing, buildable coverage and the combination of the foundation and finishing powder stands up very well in the heat too.  My full reviews can be found here and here. 

 Ecco Bella FlowerColor Blush in Coral Rose
Almost two weeks ago, I found Ecco Bella on sale in a health food store that was stopping carrying the line, so naturally I had to pick up a few things to try.  The blushes are pressed without any silicones and are some of Mary (of Pure Makeup)'s favorites.  I've wanted to try them ever since she first reviewed them, so this was a no-brainer.  Coral Rose is a lovely medium pink that's completely matte.  

 The All Natural Face Cream Blush in Warm Earth & Touch of Peach
The All Natural Face's blushes make great multi-purpose products that can be used on lips, cheeks, and in the case of certain colors like Warm Earth and Touch of Peach, on the eyes too.  I like using Warm Earth as a liner and Touch of Peach is pretty all over the lid.  Touch of Peach makes a nice, subtle highlighter too.

 Ecco Bella FlowerColor Lipstick in Mauve Rose & Tuscany Rose
These colors aren't as identical as they appear in my swatch, but they are similar.  Mauve Rose is warmer toned and a little lighter, while Tuscany Rose is more of a cool-toned berry that's a little on the sheer side.  Both have a nice sheen to them, but no sparkle.  I've been wearing them, especially Tuscany Rose, pretty much every day since I bought them.

 UNE Beauty Skin Glow Pencil in G02
This pencil has been well loved, as you can tell from the small nub that's all that's left of it!  G02 is a great peachy color and is very brightening.  Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it anywhere that ships outside of Europe anymore, so I've started desperately trying to conserve the last little bit.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do when it runs out!  (Oh, beauty woes.)

(L to R) Ecco Bella Lipstick in Mauve Rose, Tuscany Rose, Ecco Bella Blush in Coral Rose, The All Natural Face Cream Blush in Warm Earth, Touch of Peach

 So, that's the makeup I've been loving lately!  What's stood out for you this summer?  



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Products I'd Repurchase: A Green Beauty Collab

Brianna from iluvjesse444 had the great idea of doing a green beauty collaboration highlighting our favourite products that we'd happily repurchase.  As much as I love testing new products out, there are quite a few favorites that I stay loyal to as well.  These are products that I use regularly - things I either can't imagine being without or things that I'll stray from temporarily before inevitably returning to.  I had a hard time choosing, but I finally narrowed it down to these fifteen.  A lot of these I've done full reviews on, so if that's the case, it'll be linked down below, should you be looking for more information. 

1. Yarok Feed Your Roots Mousse   [Review]
I might have a lot of hair products in rotation, but on a day-to-day basis, I'm really pretty basic.  Shampoo, conditioner, and this mousse to style with. Basically, it hits every single one of my bucket points for a styling product.  It defines my curls and gives a light hold without leaving any crunchy or sticky feeling, and though it smells great, the smell doesn't linger on my hair.  I've actually just purchased the full size of this after finishing up the mini, travel size I'd originally bought.

 2. Balm Balm Fragrance Free Multi Purpose Lip Balm   [Review]
Not only is this a great lip balm, but it really is multi-purpose as the name suggests.  It has a soft balm consistency that melts on contact with your skin and I've used it on my lips, random dry patches, all over my face, and even as a makeup remover.  Not surprisingly my tube is starting to run low, but I'll definitely be buying another when I run out! 

3. Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lipstick in Bavarian Creme   [Review]
I doubt I ever would have tried these lipsticks if I hadn't had a Sephora credit note to spend, but thankfully I did!  They're a little on the pricier side at $15USD/$19CAD, but I do think they're worth it.  In particular, I love Bavarian Creme, which is an amazing pinky-mauve.  It's that perfect "my lips but better" color on me.

4. Loose Mineral Eye Shadows
Although I can appreciate the convenience of pressed shadows, I really do love my loose shadows.  Pigmentation is generally not something you need to worry about with loose shadows and I really don't find them that much more difficult to work with.  Since I probably could have made a list of just the 15 eye shadows I would repurchase, this is kind of a cheat item.  Pictured here are a few of my top picks from Shiro Cosmetics, The Chequered Lily Apothecary, and Persephone Minerals (which is no longer around, unfortunately.)

5. Aura Cacia Organic Argan Oil   [Review]
Considering all the hype, I actually waited quite a while to try argan oil, but once I did, I was hooked!  I use it on my hair after every shower and occasionally on my face too, if it's feeling dry.  I also used it in the homemade body oil I made to combat winter dryness.  I haven't tried a ton of brands, but I really like Aura Cacia's oil and I'm fairly certain it's the one I'll be repurchasing once I use up my current bottle.  It's great quality, affordable, and I prefer the pump top to a dropper or other dispenser.

 6. Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder   [Review]
I know I've talked a lot about Lucy Minerals' foundation, but I don't think I've given enough love to their finishing powder.  I originally bought it to use in combination with their foundation, but recently, I've also been using it as a setting powder for a few other foundations.  It looks peach in the jar, but it goes on translucent, so it doesn't add any extra coverage or make you look cakey.  It just sets your foundation, extends wear time, and slightly blurs any imperfections or fine lines, making them less apparent.

7. Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach   [Review]
I use this under my eyes, pretty much every single day, whether I'm wearing a full face of makeup or not.  I'm one of those people who always has some degree of dark circles to conceal and this does a fantastic job brightening the whole under eye area.  I've been using it for nearly two years now and I've only just recently started on my second jar, so it's a product where a little bit really does go a long way!  On a slightly related note, I've also just recently discovered what I think is the dream team of undereye concealers: Vapour Illusionist Concealer + Sleep in a Jar.  More on that another time!

 8. Silk Naturals Lip Products   [Review]
Silk Naturals is also one of my favorite companies for lip products.  The majority of them are under $5 and the quality really is top notch.  I wouldn't repurchase every single colour I have, but there are at least a good 5-6 shades that I wouldn't want to be without.  Pictured here are Shrieking Violet Liquid Lip Gloss and Dame Buttercream Lip Glaze (which seems to be discontinued, rats!)  I've accumulated several more than I what I had when I wrote the original review - let me know if you'd be interested in seeing an updated collection post.

 9. Young Living Moisturizers   [Review]
Young Living's moisturizers have been favorites of mine for years now and I've repurchased them multiple times.  The Boswellia Wrinkle Cream used to be my top pick, but this winter, I really loved the Sandalwood Moisture Cream, so I'm not sure which one I prefer anymore.  Both of them are on the expensive side, but I haven't found another moisturizer I like as much as these two.

 10. George's Always Active Aloe Spray Mister   [Review]
This is another fantastic multi-use product!  I first bought it to use as a makeup setting spray, and while it works great for that, it's also become a much loved step in my daily skincare routine.  I use it morning and night, in between my toner and moisturizer.  It's great for adding an extra kick of hydration that gets sealed in when you apply moisturizer on top.  I also love using it before applying any facial oils, since it helps them rub in a little easier, much the same way that applying body oils to damp skin does.  If that's not enough, I've also used it in my hair and it's great for skin irritations and burns too! 

 11. Faerie Organic Forty Winks Eye Primer   [Review]
This is a fairly new discovery for me, but it's something I already can't see myself being without!  With Forty Winks, my eye makeup doesn't budge for a good 14 hours.  It also has super clean ingredients and is seriously the best eye shadow primer I've ever used.  

12. Lip Liners
When I hear people complain that natural lip colors/glosses/tints don't last long enough, I always point them to lip liners.  On their own, they aren't the most hydrating of lip products, but for times when I really want my lip colour to last, I always opt for filling in my entire lip with a lip pencil and then applying lip balm or a sheer gloss on top.  I especially love this technique for bolder lip colours, since you don't have to worry about them sliding around on your lips.  Pictured here are are Zuzu Luxe in Fraise and LUVU Beauty in Classic Red.

13. Zuzu Luxe Mascara in Onyx 
I hope you aren't sick of hearing me talk about this mascara!  It's a true black colour, thickens nicely, is decently buildable, lasts all day, doesn't smudge or flake, and doesn't irritate my eyes.  I've probably repurchased it ten or more times.  

14. Badger Balm Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in Creamy Cocoa
Along with the Balm Balm, this Badger lip balm is what I used to keep my lips hydrated through this cold winter.  It's creamy, super hydrating, and thick enough that it lasts a nice while on your lips too.  The Creamy Cocoa one has no added essential oils or fragrance, which lets the amazing cocoa butter smell shine through.  Love it!

15. Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent
This is another product I can't see myself being without.  Recently, I've been using it to mix up a homemade witch hazel and glycerin toner, but even when I wasn't using it on a daily basis, I still enjoyed using it as an occasional treatment.  Witch hazel is phenomenal for keeping your pores clean and there are also tons of other uses for it.  My favorite brand is Humprey's, which is literally just witch hazel extract in a small amount of alcohol.  I've actually just bought a new jumbo size bottle of this stuff!
So, those are my top choices for products I'd repurchase!  Do any of these make your repurchase list too? 

 Also, make sure you  check out the list of other green beauties participating in the collab by clicking here!




Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links.




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How Much Does YOUR Face Cost?

I first came across this tag on iluvjesse444's youtube channel a couple days ago and since then, I've seen it pop up on a couple other blogs too.  Basically, you total up the cost of your daily face - no skincare, just makeup.  It looked like fun and I wanted to see what mine would add up to.  I do switch up eye and lip products, but this is what's on my face on a given day.


1. Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Foundation in Light ($13.50)
    Natural looking and the BEST coverage I've found from a mineral foundation.

2. Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder ($13.50)
    Translucent powder that really helps your makeup last longer.

3. Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar Under Eye Concealer in Light Peach ($6.50)
    Peach-toned concealer.  Does a fantastic job covering any darkness or under eye circles.

 4. Lucy Minerals Blush in Juicy Peach ($2.50 for try it size)
    A nice soft peach blush - awesome if you're blush-shy like me!

5. Pollen Cosmetics Saddle Up Eye Shadow ($1.25 for sample size)
    A gorgeous medium brown that blends out beautifully in the crease.  Review/swatches 
    coming soon!

 6. Shiro Cosmetics Master Sword Eye Shadow ($1 for sample size)
    Glittery pale taupe.  Looks like a blend of silver and gold, all in one.

 7. Zuzu Luxe Mascara in Onyx ($16.70)
    My go-to mascara.  I've talked about this many times before!

 8. Silk Naturals Vegan Kisser Slicker in Figment ($4.75)
   A beautiful plum shade that I think, sadly, has been discontinued, as I can't find it on 
   their website anymore.  Silk Naturals still has a TON of other beautiful colors though.

9. My Beauty Addiction Pretty Lil' Puckers Lip Cream in Buff ($5)
    My new favorite glosses, these are moisturizing and super shiny.  Buff is pretty sheer, so 
    it works over almost any lip color.


And the GRAND TOTAL is $64.70.  Not too bad, especially considering these are all non-toxic and chemical free!


Now I'm curious, natural or not, how much does your face cost?  Leave a comment below or do the tag yourself.  Nosy girl is nosy and wants to know!


         
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Summer Empties

I always like reading these kinds of posts, but I just don't go through enough products to justify one every month.  Instead, I've decided I'm going to start doing one every few months or one per season, since I think that'll give me enough time to accumulate a few things to write about. Here's what I used up over the summer:


Face Naturals Acai Berry & Lime and Liquid Sunshine Body Cleansers (trial sizes): I reviewed these here.  To summarize, these are probably the best shower gel I've found to date.  The acai berry and lime is especially delightful - I am planning to buy the full size, but I want to get through a couple other products first.

Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder (trial size): On days when I wear makeup, I always finish by lightly dusting my face with this powder.  It makes a big difference in how long my makeup lasts on my face and helps prevents shine throughout the day.  The trial size alone lasted me months, but I've since purchased the full size.  Complete review can be found here.

Chequered Lily Apothecary Neverwhere Eyeshadow (sample): I really don't use up many eye shadows, even samples, so the fact that this made it in here at all says a lot.  This is one of my favorite eye shadows ever and I've since bought the full size.  It's a gorgeous brown full of pink and gold sparkles.  Not obnoxious glitter by any means, just a beautiful complex neutral shade.  (Check here for a swatch.)

Pollen Cosmetics Future Sunrise Eyeshadow (sample): I adored this color over the summer and it was on my eyes almost every day.  It's a soft pinky/gold that works beautifully for a more subtle eye look.  (You can get an idea of the colour here.)  Another one I've repurchased in full size. 

Shiro Cosmetics Longcat & Plain Intertubes: Shiro Cosmetics' intertubes are very moisturizing tinted lip balms.  Longcat is colorless with silver sparkles.  It's gorgeous either on it's own or layered over other products.  I love the formula so much that I asked Caitlin, Shiro's lovely owner, to make me a plain, untinted version, which I also managed to use up over the summer.  I have a backup of Longcat, and it turns out I wasn't the only one who requested a colorless one - Shiro has recently released one, and even better, it's on sale for $3.50 until the end of the month.  I'll definitely be ordering one!

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm: I always have at least one of these lip balms puttering around on my desk or in my purse.  I've gone through a ton of these over the last few years and this make two more over the summer!  A fantastic, basic lip balm. 

Nature's Gate Organics Neroli, Orange & Chocolate Mint Lipbalm: I'm not sure if Nature's Gate even makes this anymore.  (Confession: I've had it for years.)  Another decent lip balm - pretty moisturizing and smelled yummy, like chocolate and mint.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara: This has been my top mascara pick for the last few years.  It's fairly natural looking, but it can be built up with multiple coats.  My favorite part: it doesn't budge, so no need to worry about checking for raccoon eyes mid-day.  Usually I switch this out every 3-4 months, but somehow I managed to finish up two of them over the summer.

Young Living Deep Relief™: This is an essential oil blend of peppermint, balsam fir, clove, vetiver, wintergreen, lemon, helichrysum, and copaiba that works great for any aches or pains.  I got shin splints a few years ago and I still sometimes get pain in that area after exercising or wearing the wrong shoes.  This works really well when that flares up - it feels nice and tingly from the peppermint and eases any discomfort right away.   It also comes in a roll-on bottle, which makes for even easier application.

Organic Excellence Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner:  These didn't manage to make it into the photo, but I did finish them up over the summer.  They're awesome and I ordered backups as soon as these started getting low.  Also super affordable - at only $12.85, the shampoo literally lasted me 8 months!  I go through the conditioner a bit faster, both since I use more and because it's also my shaving cream of choice, but it's still a great value!  I have a full review here.

So, I know I'm a fan of empties post since they really show what products are liked enough to use to the very end, but what do you think of them?  Are they something you enjoy reading?


        

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