Naturalla Beauty

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!  

Kiss My Face Moisture Shave

The one good thing about waiting so long to write up my empties is that I actually had time to accumulate a decent pile of finished makeup!  Using up makeup takes forever, but it's always so satisfying, isn't it?  Here's everything that I finished off in the last few months:

  

Face
Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream makes a nice lightweight base.  It offers minimal coverage, but has a pretty, glowy finish.  Natural Glow, the lightest shade, was a great color match for me too.  The scent is the one negative of this product, although by midway through the tube, I was mostly used to it.  The CC Cream smells strongly like petitgrain, which if you aren't familiar with it, has quite a grassy/herbal scent.

I didn't notice any skincare benefits or reduced dark circles from Alba Botanica's Fast Fix for Undereye Circles, but it works pretty well as a yellow-toned color corrector.  It's a little sheer, so most often I used it layered under another concealer.  Alima Pure's Luminous Shimmer Blushes are a fantastic formula and Guava, since discontinued, was a beautiful shimmery peach.  I wish it was still available -- it was a great natural, easy-to-wear color!

Eyes
Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara is a longtime favorite of mine -- I've probably used 15 or 20 tubes of it over the years!  It doesn't give the most dramatic lashes, but it's great for a natural look and doesn't smudge or flake at all.  I've even made it through a few snowstorms with intact lashes with this guy!  The Ashley Morgan Cosmetics Black Mascara (now Purely Lulu) was a new discovery for me and a great one!  It's very black and creates beautiful, fluttery lashes.  Both mascaras are also good for sensitive eyes.

Zuzu Luxe's Russet Eyebrow Pencil was, I believe, my very first brow purchase.  I found the color slightly too warm-toned with my natural hair color, but since henna-ing my hair the last couple months, that warmth became a positive.  Color aside, Zuzu's brow pencils have a good, solid formula that goes on nicely and lasts the entire day without budging.    

I still have a ridiculous number of eye shadow samples, but at least I finished off a few more!  Silk Naturals Nekkid Eye Shadow, a supposed dupe for MAC Naked Lunch, is a shimmery pink/pale rose gold.  It's a great all-over the lid shade.  Cheeky Cosmetics Espresso Eye Shadow, a rich and pigmented matte dark brown, was another hit and fantastic as a powder eyeliner.  Lucy Minerals' Creamy White Eye Shadow is a powder, but one with a super creamy feel, similar to the company's foundation, and I liked it a lot as a brow bone highlight.  I used up samples of Silk Naturals' Beach Bunny and Malibu Miss, both technically bronzers, as eye shadows too.  Both are mid-toned warm/yellow browns -- one shimmery, one matte -- which are exactly the kinds of colors I wear in the crease most days, and the sheerer bronzer formula made blending super easy.  Since I'm not much of a bronzer wearer, I was happy to move the samples out this way instead.

Lips
I hear so many people say that they never get through lip balm, but that's clearly not an issue for me!  Rachel's Plan Bee's Lip Balm completely saved my lips last winter when nothing else was working and I'll always have a soft spot for it for that alone!  I prefer the Peppermint to this one, the Natural Flavor, but both are fantastically nourishing and buttery.  I also really enjoyed the Duckish Grapefruit Lip Balm.  It has a slightly heavier formula -- although not uncomfortably so -- and makes the perfect protective lip cover for braving the cold.  This is what I've been wearing for late night winter dog walks where the temperature is regularly around -10°C.  The Savannah Bee Co. Wild Blackberry Beeswax & Propolis Lip Balm was also great.  Less of a heavy hitter than the first two, but it still worked well and the blackberry scent is fantastic -- sweet and fruity without smelling fake or cloying.  Compared to the other three, the Sierra Bees Organic Unflavored Lip Balm was a little unimpressive.  Sierra Bees is one of iHerb's own brands and the lip balms are both certified organic and super inexpensive.  I have nothing bad to say about them -- they're good balms and the price alone (currently $2.95 for an 8-pack!) always has me tempted to throw a pack into my cart, but I realize there are other balms -- like the other three here -- that I like more. 

Nails
Priti NYC's Soy Nail Polish Remover is my gold standard for nail polish remover.  It removes polish well, doesn't dry out nails or cuticles, and it has absolutely no nasty polish remover smell.  I have mixed feelings about the Suncoat Nail Polish Remover Gel, a gel that you're supposed to spread onto the nails and let sit for 2 minutes before wiping off.  By itself, you need to reapply many times to fully remove polish -- really not worth the time or effort -- however as the first step in removing tricky glitter polishes, I did like it.  I'd leave the gel on for closer to 5 minutes and then remove it and go back in with a regular liquid remover like the Priti NYC.  I'd never recommend the Gel Remover on its own, but it definitely helpful in breaking down difficult glitter polishes.  I loved the Pacifica Gloss Top & Base Coat at first, but it was ultimately disappointing.  You can't really tell in the photo, but the bottle is only about halfway done and it doesn't work at all anymore.  The polish is gloopy and has started to dry on the nails with bubbles and divets.  I'm kind of bummed to chuck it, but it's basically unusable at this point and just ruins otherwise good manicures/pedicures.  

And that's a wrap!  I'm so happy to finally get rid of all this beauty trash!

I finally cleared out my overflowing bag of empties this past long weekend, so next I want to talk about a few products that really stood out to me over the summer.  Summer favorites are always a little bittersweet since, obviously, summer is over, but at the same time I'm excited to share these products!  



Botanical Butter Spring Chamomile Butter*
Moisturizing oils and butters abound in the green beauty sphere, but the really good ones still manage to stand out from the masses.  Botanical Butter's Spring Butter is one such treat. A decadent mix of shea, cocoa butter, and coconut oil, the Spring Chamomile Butter is extra rich and nourishing and it smells phenomenal too!  As the name suggests, the predominant scent is chamomile, but it's also sweetened up a smidge with a hint of jasmine, lavender, and neroli.   A firmer butter, this isn't the kind of product I find myself slathering all over my body, but rather something I like to use sparingly on extra dry spots like my feet and elbows.  It's been doing a fantastic job keeping my tootsies sandal-ready this whole summer and I expect it will perform just as well heading into the colder months too.  

Silk Naturals Close Up Illuminating Powder
I can get behind an intense highlight on occasion, but for day-to-day, I much prefer a more natural glow, which is exactly what Close Up provides.  Intended as a toned-down MAC Lightscapade --with a much cleaner ingredients list, of course -- Close Up is a delicate cream with a soft gold and pink glow.  It gives a subtle sheen with absolutely no glitter.  According to Silk Naturals, the Illuminating Powders can be used all over the face to perk up a dull complexion, but I prefer the effect when Close Up is concentrated just on the high points of the face, as you would use a traditional highlighter.  It's subtle but still noticeable (at least to me!) and truly gives that candlelight, lit-from-within glow that everyone is always talking about.



Holiskin Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser*
I first reviewed this cleanser in the spring and I've only fallen harder for it since.  The Sensitive Skin Cleanser smells like fresh, rich chamomile, which we've already established I adore, and melts away makeup -- and sunscreen too -- like nobody's business.  Made with a blend of organic or wildcrafted apricot kernel, camellia seed, meadowfoam seed, and castor seed oils, it's a cleanser that's gentle enough for the most delicate skin, but also perfectly suited to virtually any skin type.  The texture/viscosity is thick enough that the oil isn't at risk of running off your face, but it's still thin enough to offer great slip and glide over the skin easily and without any excess catching or tugging.  Just an all-around amazing oil cleanser and definitely a new favorite of mine! 

What products did you love this summer?

I love a good luxury product, but I dislike the assumption that green beauty has to cost a lot.  Fact is, with a constantly expanding market, today there are great healthy options available at any price point.  With that in mind, today's post features some of my very favorite inexpensive picks.  These are all items I've bought more than once and are products I'll continue to purchase in the future.  Prices might run slightly over $10 depending where you shop, but all items should be very affordable anywhere.



Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
I've tried a lot of natural shaving products over the last few years and I always go back to Kiss My Face's Moisture Shave.  It's not a foaming product, but with a light lotiony consistency, it spreads easily, provides good slip for a razor, and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.  My favorite is the Key Lime for its zesty citrus scent that's fresh and not at all overpowering.  

Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint
I've raved about these crayons several times before and they're still one of my very favorite lip products.  For me, they're the perfect combination of color and comfort -- sheer tints in a moisturizing, balmy base.  My absolute favorite is Glisten (warm caramelly nude), but I also love Glow (bright pink) and Shimmer (coral with a subtle sparkle).

Nourish Organic Body Wash
Nourish has a horrible habit of discontinuing my favorite scents, but I still constantly rebuy the body wash in whatever scents I can find.  As with all Nourish products, the body wash is made with top notch ingredients and is USDA certified organic.  It has a creamy, pearly consistency and a castile soap base and is really unlike any other body wash I've used.  Particularly if you have dry skin or are in search of something a little gentler and more moisturizing than your average shower gel, I highly recommend checking these out!

Humphrey's Organic Witch Hazel
If you're looking for an affordable toner, I highly recommend making your own with witch hazel.  Witch hazel, if you aren't already familiar with it, is excellent for balancing oil production and cleaning and refining pores, and can easily be infused with herbs and blended with essential oils and other ingredients.  This one, from Humphrey's, is a witch hazel astringent with 14% organic alcohol, but I prefer that to a lot of the preservatives found in alcohol-free witch hazels.  

Silk Naturals Sheer Blushes
I love a lot of Silk Naturals products, but the blushes just might be my very favorite.  The Sheer formula offers buildable color that's easy to work with and blend, so you never end up with accidental clown cheeks.  My longtime favorites are Lovelace (a dupe for Nars Deepthroat), Abstract, and Tchotchke, but with a huge color selection, there are so many great options!  Some shades do contain dyes, so if, like me, that's something you avoid, make sure you read the individual ingredient listings.  

Andalou Naturals Argan & Sweet Orange Shampoo + Conditioner
I discovered these earlier this year and I'm already working on my second bottles of both!  Of all the natural shampoos and conditioners I've used, this duo has probably the closest feel to conventional products.  The shampoo lathers easily and rinses clean, and the conditioner moisturizes without leaving any kind of residue behind.  Together, they leave my hair soft and bouncy with great curl definition, and while I wasn't sure about the sweet, candy orange scent in my hair at first, I've actually grown to really love it.  

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm
I have a few favorite lip balm brands, but I think Crazy Rumors is the one I've repurchased the most.  Not every flavor has been a complete success for me, but I love the actual balm formula, and I enjoy having so many different flavors to choose from.  My top picks?  Raspberry Sherbet and Plum Apricot.  

Acure Argan Oil
Argan oil is a great multitasking oil packed with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.  I buy it specifically to use in the ends of my hair, but without fail, it always also ends up on my face and body.  There's significant quality variation amongst different argan oils on the market, and I think Acure's oil is one of the best at an inexpensive price point.  

Deep Steep Foaming Hand Wash
With an ever-growing assortment of scents, Deep Steep makes a great healthy Bath & Bodyworks alternative.  Personally, I can't always deal with strongly scented lotions and creams, but I can (and do!) get behind the foaming hand washes.  They have great ingredients, clean well, don't dry out your hands, and smell fantastic.  They're also super affordable (even the double size refills bottles are under $10!), and because they foam, a bottle of soap goes a lot further than you might expect.  Keep an eye out for seasonal scents at Winners and TJ Maxx.

What are your favorite inexpensive green beauty finds?

Tuesday I covered all the body and hair products I've used up in the last three months, but I've still got skincare and makeup to discuss today.  There's a lot to talk about, so I'll try to keep it short, but if there's anything you'd like more information on, I'm happy to answer in the comments!



Holiskin Chamomile ACV Facial Toner*
Holiskin really emphasizes simple formulas made from high quality ingredients, and this toner, a blend of Roman chamomile hydrosol and raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar is exactly that.  Apple cider vinegar toners are a bit much for my skin every day, but I enjoyed using this a couple times a week.  Repurchase? Maybe.  I'm on a homemade toner kick at present.

Province Apothecary Invigorating + Balancing Toner with Rose & Geranium

Andalou Naturals Probiotic + C Renewal Cream // Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream
Andalou Naturals makes great basic and affordable moisturizers and these two, both part of the brightening line, are my favorites to date.  The Probiotic + C Renewal Cream is lightweight and absorbs super quickly, while the Purple Carrot + C Night Cream is significantly richer, but still not heavy.  The Night Cream truly did have me waking up the next morning with more luminous skin, but its grape juice-like scent took a little getting used to.  Repurchase? Yes.  I've still got mini tubes of both of these, but I would rebuy one or both in the future.  

Face Wipes
I'm not a fan of using face wipes on the daily for environmental reasons, but sometimes needs will.  The drain in my bathroom sink has been having issues the last few months (clearly it's all glamour, all the time here!) and since it does better without a lot of oils or makeup going down, I'm reluctantly using wipes for the time being.  I still use a separate oil cleanser/makeup remover to make sure everything comes off, but instead of using a washcloth, I wipe it all away with a disposable wipe.  Then, I follow up with water and a second cleanser as usual.  

Both the Kaia Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths and the Boo Bamboo Skin Balancing Makeup Remover Wipes are made of bamboo, which from everything I've read biodegrades within a few months, so there's that at least.  The Kaia cloths smell better and feel a little more luxurious, plus I love the fully closeable container, but they're also more expensive and sting my eyes.  Otherwise, the two are fairly comparable - both remove makeup decently well, don't irritate my skin, and are Canadian-owned companies.  Repurchase? Boo Bamboo, yes.  These are probably my favorite wipes and, as a bonus, I can usually find them discounted at Winners.  Kaia, I'm not sure.  

Young Living Lavender, Peppermint + Frankincense Essential Oils
MLM's get a lot of flack in the green community, but I've only had positive experiences with Young Living and will continue to purchase from them.  Whatever your thoughts on the business model, my bottom line has always been quality and I believe YL sells some of the highest quality oils available.

I use all three of these on a regular basis.  Lavender and frankincense are two of my favorites for just about any skin concern, and I also use lavender for headaches, de-stressing, and relaxation.  Peppermint is great for digestive upsets, congestion, muscle pain, and again, headaches.  Repurchase? Yes.  These are staples for me and I've already replaced all three.

Lip Balms
Finishing lip balms is never an issue for me!  I loved the Rachel's Plan Bee Peppermint Lip Balm, which Rachel kindly sent me when I mentioned I was having issues keeping my lips protected in the cold weather this winter.  It strikes that perfect balance between a healing balm that treats any damage already there and a more occlusive, protective formula that blankets your lips in such a way as to prevent further chapping.  

The Sierra Bees Tamanu & Tea Tree Lip Balm tasted awful - like straight up tea tree oil - but I did get used to it, and I have no complaints in terms of how it worked.  The Sierra Bees lip balms are generally a great formula and, taste aside, if you're someone who deals with cold sores, I think this is a great option as both tamanu and tea tree oils are great preventatives.  I don't personally get cold sores, so I'll likely stick to the other, yummier flavors in future.  

I like Epic Blend's lip balms a lot too, although the Pineapple- Mint* is not my favorite from them.  Part of the vegan line, it's a little thinner and more slippery than the company's other two formulas, and although the pineapple and mint pairing worked, it wasn't a flavor I'd necessarily rush back to.
Repurchase? Rachel's Plan Bee, definitely!  Both the Sierra Bees and Epic Blend I'd buy again in different flavors.  



Tinted Lip Balms
I've been making an effort to use more colored lip products and have managed to finish off several tinted balms as a result!  Ellovi's Tinted Lip Butter came in a Petit Vour box a while back.  It has the same great formula as their original lip butter and gives a nice subtle red color to the lips, courtesy of an alkanet root infusion.  

Brija Cosmetics' Jelly Balms are a moisturizing, softer lip formula, so they get used up pretty quickly, but I enjoyed this one while it lasted.  Sparkles, a shimmery peach, was a limited edition color with added cocoa butter, and I'm not sure if it was the slightly different formula or the more subtle/nude color, but it worked a lot better than, Yvonne, the other Jelly Balm I have, which tends to go on a little patchy.  

The Yes to Carrots Colorbalms are long discontinued, but I do like them.  Peachy Keen was a pretty orange/peach, but Soft Plum leaned a little more brown than I like one me, so I used it mainly when I was at home.  I finished Peachy Keen completely, but started getting a slight reaction from Soft Plum and gave up on it with about a third still left.  
Repurchase? Yes to the Ellovi.  Neither this particular Brija color or the Yes to Carrots are sold anymore.

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara
This was a good mascara! It was very black, provided good volume, and didn't give me any problems with irritation, smudging, or flaking.  I don't have anything negative to say about it, but at the same time there are other mascaras I like more.  Repurchase? Probably not.

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Finishing Powder
I got this as a freebie from Lauren Brooke a long time ago and I loved it!  The tiniest bit did a great job diffusing fine lines and never left skin looking dry or makeup cakey.  Repurchase? Maybe.  I'm using a different finishing powder now, but I'd definitely consider buying this again in the future.

Silk Naturals Tchotchke Sheer Blush
I love the Silk Naturals blushes!  Tchotchke was a pretty nude-pink, but it had a bit too much shimmer for me.  Some days it was okay, and others, my cheeks had a slightly metallic sheen that I wasn't crazy about.  Repurchase? Not this particular shade.

Eye Shadow Samples
My loose eye shadow stash is ridiculous, so I'm still actively trying to work through some colors.  Thing is, even samples tend to last 10-20 uses, so it's taking a bit of time!  I love Cheeky Cosmetics eye shadows, and all three shades - Moroccan Sunset, Sugarplum, and Mauvelous - were beautiful.   The other three, from Pollen Cosmetics, Persephone Minerals, and Sassy Minerals, were also great, but none of the three companies are in business anymore from what I can tell.  Repurchase? No, but only because I have still have so many eye shadows!  I'd come back to Cheeky Cosmetics when I do need more.