Close
Showing posts with label vapour organic. Show all posts

The End of #NoBuyJanuary + January Favorites

#NoBuyJanuary is officially over and I'd say it went exceptionally well.  I stuck to it and didn't buy anything beauty related for the entire month and the fact that it didn't end up being all that difficult, leaves me feeling pretty good about my spending habits.  I always strive for conscious spending, so I guess not spending anything at all is just an extension of that.  

 Along those same lines, I want to talk about a few products that stood out as favorites while "shopping my stash" this past month...

Amala Brightening Toning Essence*
I did a full review of this toner back in November, and even though I liked it, in true beauty blogger fashion, I moved onto other things shortly after that.  So, what's so great about this product?  It completely lives up to its claims and brightens like nothing else I've tried.  However, keep in mind that it isn't something that makes your skin instantly look brighter or more luminous.  Instead, it brightens by improving skin tone and evenness over a period of time.  Since I last pulled it out, I've had a couple blemishes that left behind those charming dark spots and once I reincorporated Amala's toner into my routine, I could see a difference within about a week (of morning and night use.)  They still aren't 100% gone, but I'm confident that the toner is helping them fade. 

 Nourish Organic Purely Unscented Body Butter
These body butters are the perfect consistency!  They're solid (though not overly hard) in the pot, but as soon as they touch your skin, they transform into a creamy butter.  I especially love slathering this rich, unscented butter all over my hands and feet.  It's been working wonders at keeping them soft and hydrated through all the cold weather we've been having.

 Devita Moisture Tint in Light
I purchased this sample from White Rabbit Beauty and I really like it.  It's a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 and very minimal, light coverage, but it just about evens out the skin and leaves you looking incredibly glowy and healthy.  My favorite way to wear it has been with a light dusting of Honeybee Gardens' powder on top.  The powder adds a bit more coverage and takes down the dewiness of the moisturizer just slightly, to a point where I'm more comfortable with it.  Together, these make the perfect pair to counteract dull winter skin.  The color I've been using, Light, leans pretty golden/yellow, but the coverage is so sheer that it blends into my skin just fine.  

 Homemade Lip Balm
The pink pot in the middle of the photo is a tinted lip balm I made a while back.  I don't remember the exact recipe, but I know I used a base of coconut oil and beeswax and colored it using a mineral blush sample.  It's really soft and lovely on the lips and pulling it out again this month has reminded me that I need to get back into the habit of making my own lip balms.

 Vapour Organic Illusionist Concealer in 010*
This is another rediscovered favorite.  010 is a fantastic color match for me and while I've always loved it for under the eyes, I've just recently started using it for more spot concealing.  I apply it straight from the tube and just blend it out with a finger, so application is a breeze, and as long as I set it with some kind of a powder, it lasts all day.  I've also sheered the concealer out and used it as an all over light foundation (à la RMS Un Cover-up) and it works well that way too!

 What products did you love in January?


* Denotes press sample.  
Post contains affiliate links.
Posted by at 14 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vapour Organic Beauty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(L to R) Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector in s902, Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in s110, Illusionist Concealer in 010

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

 Have you tried anything from Vapour Beauty? 


Disclosure: Product provided for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.
Posted by at 17 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Covering Dark Circles: Natural Concealer Stars

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


Vapour recently sent me a few products to try and the concealer has, hands down, been my favourite.  It's creamy and lightweight, but it also has a good amount of coverage.  I like to warm it up on the back of my hand and then apply it directly from the tube.  Then, I just blend it in with my fingers for a nice, natural look.  Super easy application and it does a great job covering my dark circles without looking cakey.  I have it in 010, which has been a great match, since it's light enough for under my eyes, but not so light that I can't use it in other areas too.

I can't even tell you how long I've been looking for a natural beige or skintone colored eyeliner!  My skin is pretty pink-toned, so without anything on my waterline, it sometimes looks like my eyes are red and irritated, even when they aren't.  It's been a bit of a conundrum, since I don't generally like darker eyeliner down there and I find white looks too harsh for everyday.  But no longer!  UNE's Skin-Glow Pencils are marketed as brightening concealers, but they work brilliantly in the waterline.  The pencil is incredibly soft and creamy, so it just glides on effortlessly.  To help it last longer, I like to dry my waterline with a Q-tip before applying it.  If I skip this step, it's more prone to smearing and tends to end up all over my lower lashes (really not the best look!)  I chose G02, the second from lightest shade, since in swatches, it looked more yellow-toned than G01.

Most recently this was included in my products I'd repurchase post, but I've talked about it many times before.  In fact, it's probably my most worn makeup item.  Even on days when I wear no other makeup, it's not uncommon for me to dust a little Sleep in a Jar under my eyes for some added brightness.  I wear Light Peach, and while it's by no means a full coverage product, it gives some coverage and does a phenomenal job diffusing any darkness in the under eye area.  I've worn it by itself for over a year now, but more recently, I've been enjoying using it in combination with the Vapour concealer.   Since it's a powder, it works to set the cream concealer and also adds a little extra coverage and brightness.

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

The Bottom Line
I'll be the first to admit that I find it pretty absurd using three concealers under my eyes, but the combination has really been working for me lately.  All three are great products and I'd recommend any of them either individually or together.  They're all pretty brightening, which is perhaps why they work so well under the eyes, but they all also offer a good amount of coverage.  I haven't tried the UNE pencil anywhere other than the eyes, but the Vapour and Silk Naturals are also effective at covering up redness or blemishes, so you can absolutely use them elsewhere on your face as well.

What's your favorite concealer?  I think it's safe to say I'm pretty stocked up for the time being, but I'd still love to know!



 Disclosure: Vapour Illusionist Concealer provided as a PR sample.  All other products purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.




Posted by at 14 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Best of 2012: Lip Products


Eye shadow was definitely my first makeup love, but 2012 is really the year when I've gotten more into lip products.  My collection has really grown this year!  In honour of that, I've picked out my top 10 lip products.  Rather than sorting them further, I've just chosen the best of the best - lip balms, lip glosses and lipsticks - and I'm including them here, all together in one post.


(L to R) LUVU Beauty Classic Red, LUVU Beauty Blush, Honeybee Gardens Karma, Honeybee Gardens Soft Kiss, Bare Minerals Bavarian Cream, Silk Naturals Figment, Vapour Organic Beauty Enigma, My Beauty Addiction Buff, My Beauty Addiction Party Girl, Revolution Organics Freedom, Cheeky Cosmetics Siren, Cheeky Cosmetics Pink Champagne, Shiro Cosmetics Binary Love, Shiro Cosmetics Longcat
LUVU Beauty Lip Liners 
I love supporting Canadian companies and LUVU Beauty is another great one.  In particular, I love their lip liners, which are both pigmented and long lasting.  Classic Red is, as the name suggests, a bright, classic, pinup red.  Blush is a natural rosey shade that works well under a variety of lip colours.  More swatches can be found here.
(L to R) LUVU Beauty Classic Red and Blush, Honeybee Gardens Karma and Soft Kiss
Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Lipstick
Honeybee Gardens has quickly become one of my favourite makeup brands.  They sell consistently great products at very affordable prices.  You can also find many of their products discounted on sites like iherb and Vitacost.  The lipsticks are creamy and available in a fantastic range of colours.  Karma is a wearable peachy nude and Soft Kiss is a beautiful baby pink.  I have more swatches of these lipsticks here and here.

 Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lip Color
I haven't tried many products from Bare Minerals, but their lipsticks are definitely a hit!  Bavarian Cream is a fabulous pinky mauve that almost matches my natural lip colour.  It's the colour I grab when I want to look polished without putting a lot of emphasis on the lips.

Silk Naturals Vegan Kisser Slickers
If you've been reading for long, you already know how much I love Silk Naturals' different lip products.  The Vegan Kisser Slickers are my new favourites, since unlike the regular Kisser Slickers, they don't contain beeswax and they're that much softer and meltier on your lips as a result.  Unfortunately Figment is no longer available, but there are a bunch of other colours.  I even like using the clear one in place of lip balm!
Bare Minerals Bavarian Cream, Silk Naturals Figment, Vapour Organic Beauty Enigma, My Beauty Addiction Buff and Party Girl
Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Lip Gloss
Even though Vapour Beauty is one of the better known healthy makeup brands, the elixir glosses are a pretty new discovery for me.  They're hydrating, super glossy, not at all sticky, and they smell delicious too!  Enigma is a gorgeous, slightly shimmery plum/mauve that makes a perfect everyday lip colour.  

 My Beauty Addiction Pretty Lil' Puckers
My Beauty Addiction is a fantastic indie brand.  They have a big range of products, including these thick, creamy lip glosses.  Pigmentation varies: some colours are very pigmented, while others are more on the sheer side.  Party Girl is a bright pink and fairly opaque.  Buff is a sheer, shimmery nude.  More colour swatches can be found here.

 Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss
Revolution Organics' glosses are a little pricier than some, but they're worth the splurge.  Freedom is described as a true strawberry red.  It leans slightly pink, which makes it easier to pull off, even if, like me, you find red lips a little intimidating.  I also have Innocent, which is a sheer baby pink.
(L to R) Revolution Organics Freedom, Cheeky Cosmetics Siren and Pink Champagne, Silk Naturals Binary Love and Longcat

Cheeky Cosmetics Organic Lip Gloss
Another Canadian pick!  These glosses are vegan and on the thinner side, but they still do a great job keeping your lips hydrated.  They also smell delightfully pepperminty.  Siren is a striking deep berry and Pink Champagne is a shimmery nude.

Shiro Cosmetics Intertubes 
Intertubes are Shiro's version of tinted lip balms.  From what I've seen, many of the coloured ones rival a lipstick in terms of pigmentation, but several of them do contain FD&C dyes, so bear that in mind.  The two I have are both dye free and give your lips a sheer wash of shimmer.  Binary Love is gold and Longcat is silvery/white.  I also have the plain, untinted version, which is a phenomenal lip balm.

Young Living Lip Balm 
For a basic, no frills lip balm, Young Living is still my top choice.  The lavender, in particular, is my favourite.  I wouldn't even venture to guess how how many tubes I've used up over the years!  It's incredibly moisturizing and it's also a great, relaxing scent to use right before bed.
Have you tried any of these?  What were your favourite lip products this year?

         
Posted by at 2 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wishlist Wednesday: Makeup Edition

I don't know about you, but for me, one of the dangerous things about reading beauty blogs and hearing about so many fantastic-sounding products is that it can make me want to spend spend spend.  Instead of just giving in to this, I try mull things over by keeping lists of things that catch my eye.  That way, I can come back to them in a bit and see what I actually want to buy and what was more of just a fleeting whim.

 I thought it might be fun to share a few things that are currently on my makeup wishlist. 






Andalou Naturals All in One Beauty Balm 
(Sheer Tint with SPF 30)
BB Creams are all the rage these days, and while I've come across a couple others from more natural brands, Andalou's is the first I've found with an ingredient list I'd be comfortable using.  This promises to renew and brighten the skin while providing sheer coverage and SPF 30 sun protection.  Priced at only $19.95, it's pretty affordable too!









Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer and Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss
Vapour is one of those brands that I've heard amazing things about for years and yet somehow I've never managed to try.  Generally I'm really happy with how my Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar performs, but there are days when I'd like a little more coverage, which is where this concealer would come in.  As for the lip gloss, I don't think I've ever used a plumping gloss before and I'm intrigued.  Not gonna lie, most of Vapour's line is pretty tempting!






Mineral Fusion Bronzer/Highlighter in Luster
I don't see Mineral Fusion's products talked about much, but I played around with their eyeshadows the last time I was at Whole Foods and I was happily surprised - they're smooth, creamy and nicely pigmented.  Unfortunately, on closer ingredient examination, the eyeshadows contain phenoxyethanol, which I prefer to avoid, so I've switched my fixation to this gorgeous bronzer/highlighter duo, which,  delightfully, is phenoxyethanol free.





   




Sheswai Nail Laquer
I've been all about browsing nail polishes lately, and these two from Sheswai have perked my interest.  Fersure is a deeper red, perfect for fall, and Stoned is a beautiful pebble gray/mauvey nude shade.  Both are colours I could see myself reaching for a good deal.









What products have caught your eye lately?  And am I the only one who keeps lists of things to potentially buy at a later date?  I'd love to know if you do this too! 



        

Posted by at 10 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales

If you've been reading my blog for long, you probably already know that I'm a big sale shopper.  Here in Canada, Black Friday isn't nearly the huge deal that it is the States, but I'm still not a fan of the crowds on days like this, so I'll be restricting any shopping this weekend to online.  There are tons of companies with amazing sales this weekend.  Here's a list I put together of ones that I'm going to be sure to check out.  In addition to getting great deals on quality products, in shopping these instead of the mall, you'll also be helping support small businesses.


Darling Girl is still in my backlog of companies to review, but Susan's eye shadows are amazing - definitely some of my favourites.  November 24 at 6pm to November 25 at 10pm CST, get 20% off site wide.  Refunds of 20% will be sent by paypal within 24 hours of purchase.  Plus, one in five orders will contain a raffle ticket good for $5 off your next purchase!

Detrivore makes my go to eye shadow primer, not to mention beautiful eye shadows and blushes.  November 24 to 26, get 50% off orders of $20 or more with coupon code 'Black Friday'

I haven't tried anything from Face Naturals, but I keep hearing great things about their products.  November 22 to 25, get 20% off and free shipping with coupon code 'save20.'  Alternately, 'body40,' will get you 40% off body scrubs. 

Lauren Brook Cosmetiques
I've been wanting to try their cream foundation.  Now through December 31, get free shipping on all orders.  You can also get 15% off with coupon code 'sweetholiday11' and all purchases of $50 or more before December 25, will also receive a $10 gift card.

I've been eying Morgana's tinted lip balms since they were released - finally going to order a few to try out! 4 Day Sale begins November 24 at 11:30pm PST.  $2 lip balms in slimline tubes, $5 gel lipsticks, 50% off lip balms in regular tubes and new limited edition glosses, quantity discounts on cream lipsticks, and various other specials.

Persephone Minerals
Persephone makes some of the most gorgeous duochrome shadows I've ever seen.  November 24 to 28, coupon code 'BFMADNESS' will get you 30% off on both Artfire and Etsy.  Orders of more than $30 (after discount) will receive a full size mystical highlight or stardust shimmer powder of your choice.  Orders $31-50 will receive 2 full size mystical highlight or stardust shimmer powders of your choice, and Orders of $51 and up will receive 3 full size mystical highlight or stardust shimmer powders of your choice AND a 25% off code for your next purchase.


Sassy Minerals
You can find my Sassy swatches here.  Sassy is combining websites with their other brand, but until they do so, they are offering 15% off to decrease inventory.  Coupon code will automatically show up in your cart, but you need to submit it to receive the discount.  Not sure how long this will run.

Another of my favorite companies for eye shadows.  You can find my swatches here.  November 25 to 28, get 30% off orders of $30 or more.

Possibly my favorite all around indie company.  Amazing selection of lip products, not to mention other makeup, skin care and hair care. Not a sale strictly speaking, but 1 in every 20 orders placed between November 19 and December 4 will receive a FULL REFUND.

Sugared Beauty's Happy Face scrub has been calling my name for months.  November 24 to 28, receive a free product of your choice with any purchase of $15 or more.  Up to $15 value!  Make sure to mention what you'd like as your freebie in the notes to seller.

Another company I've been wanting to try for quite a while.  Prices can be a little steep, but November 24 to 28, get 30% off with coupon code 'blackfriday.'  Excludes samples.

My favorite source for Zuzu Luxe/Gabriel products, but they also carry tons of other brands including Alima Pure, Priti NYC, and 100% Pure.  Makeup and more on sale November 24-January 1st. 


This is in no way a complete list of all the sales going on this weekend.  A few other great lists of this weekend's sales:

If you're celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, I hope it's great!  And to anyone headed out shopping tomorrow, good luck...you're far braver than me! :)



         

Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)