Green beauty and eco lifestyle blog
Hi Lovelies,
Welcome back! And welcome if you are new here xoxo
How are you all doing? I hope you are well? Now that the sun is out and my SAD has lifted, I feel so much better and feel the zest for life coming back. It also means I got interested in my products so much more, so therefore I have been testing lots, sifting through what’s good and what’s not – and sharing the best with you! Ready to get started? I thought you would never ask 🙂
Hi Lovelies,
How are all of you? I hope You are well?
Sunshine and improving weather had me all interested in make up again, so here I am putting together this simple and yet pretty natural make up look for you. Special shoutout to Live In The Light (Code GREENLIFEINDUBLIN15 saves You 15%) who exclusively carries Pure Anada products and has sent me new lip & cheek rouge by Pure Anada to try. I chose a shade Isabella* and I am absolutely in love with it, can’t put it down ever since discovering it.
If you follow me for quite some time, you will know that I have so much love for Pure Anada, I have used their make up for years and they are always featured in my Yearly Favourites. Pure Anada products are really pure with no fillers, minimal beautiful ingredients, and they do work beautifully, so if you want a nutshell of a review, here it is – I am in love with the products and I will be back. And I need to purchase multiple backups of their mineral foundation as I never want to be without it! They do samples for only about a dollar of nearly all the products, and they are really generous samples, they will give you about two weeks of use I would say? And in that time you will definitely be able to make up your mind if the product is for you or not. My first order was full of samples, and I came back for full sizes for nearly everything, and I think you won’t regret it too. They say if you are ordering only samples, you can use the code “samples” to bring your shipping cost to only 2$ – so see if it works for you. It didn’t for me, but I am an international customer, plus the shipping is very affordable at round 7€ (that’s 10 Canadian dollars for you), so I didn’t mind too much.
I am not sure if all of their products are vegan, but they clearly state it in the description if they are. The company also does skincare and body care, as well as nail polish and adorable sets for little princesses.
I also wrote about Live In The Light online store too, all will be listed at the end of this post for those of you interested. For now, shall we start talking about the make up? I thought you will never ask!
Continue reading “Pure Anada Natural Make Up Look & Products Reviews”
Hi Lovelies,
Welcome back! And welcome if you are new here xoxo
Umm, a little confession here – despite being so happy with the latest Love Lula beauty box (not one but two make up products, you people!) I am sort of late posting about it.. Insert blushing emoji here. Love Lula is the only subscription box I am getting, and I am really happy with it. I’ve been getting it close to two years now, and I have to say they do a very good job at including a good variety of products that are a delight to discover. Continue reading “Love Lula Beauty Box March 2019”
Hi Lovelies,
Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome ???
Today I am coming at you with a short post on what you can find in the beauty section in your local TK Maxx, or TJ Maxx for my US green beauty sisters. This has been my secret weapon for years, and I I hope more of you will discover this great place to shop and save a bit of money too. This is especially great for people like me, when you have no Wholefoods or Detox Market or any place indeed where you can get anything your heart desires under one roof in your city. A good few stores are now jumping on the natural beauty bandwagon, but when you actually look into the selection, it is oftentimes very expensive or just plain greenwashing brands and products. So what’s a gal to do? Apart from going online, check out TK Maxx! Continue reading “Natural Products in TK Maxx”
Hello Lovelies,
Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome xoxo
So, with Mother’s day fast approaching, you might be wondering what to get that wonderful mom of yours? Let me help – I feel it’s best if I chose all products from one stop shop to save you time, and what better shop than Love Lula*? I will also keep this post short and sweet as not to take up too much of your time. I chose the products I love and believe would make a good presents. Most of them have reviews, and if they don’t, they are on the way. Existing reviews will be linked down below in the case you would love to read more in depth about products. Continue reading “Natural Mother’s Day Gifts – All From Love Lula”
Hello Lovelies,
Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome xoxo
A quick post for today, a collection of my green beauty make up swatches (and links to the reviews where apt) I have had over a course of few years. Be prepared for way for swatches coming your way on my IG, Facebook, & Pinterest too – after spring cleaning my stash I collected all the samples I own, and instead of just throwing them away, why not be of service for all of us and post a series of natural products swatches? I myself find them crucial, because vast majority of my make up comes from online – from LoveLula, Citrine Natural Beauty Bar, GlowOrganic Brighton, PureAnada, and a few other retailers.
Hello Lovelies,
Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome xoxo
How are all of you, I hope you are well?
I had my eye on Sarya Couture MakeUp as soon as the brand appeared in Love Lula* – it is a couture cosmetics line created with the finest natural and organic ingredients, so naturally it called my name. Imagine my delight when Love Lula asked me if I’d like to try some of the products – are you guys kidding me, yes please! After a little while of testing the products, here I am with my first impressions review and a make up look. Want to know more? You are in the right place!
Continue reading “Sarya Couture Make Up First Impressions Review & Make Up Look [AD]”
Hi Lovelies,
Welcome back! And welcome, if you are new here xoxo
How are all of you? Now that the weather is getting warmer day by day, I was in the mood for new make up goodies – all natural of course! So imagine my delight when Lavera came forward wanting to send me a few make up goodies from their newly launched Spring 2019 collection – that was a sign, no less 🙂 Yes please!
Oh, please excuse me, but I have to add this disclaimer before we start:
As per new rules for bloggers, all the products sent to us for our consideration are now classified as an [AD] – nonsense if you ask me, but who’s asking me. If you have been following me for some time you know I always disclose what products were sent to me, but this does not make it an [AD] – an AD is advertisement post where you would actually be paid to talk about those products, am I right?
So we would be on the same page – this post features products both sent to me (marked with *) as well as bought with my own moolah. I am not paid to do this post, this is all my own doing, and the opinions are mine and mine alone.
Let’s just start with introducing Lavera as a brand for those of you who might have not heard of them – it is a brand widely known here in the Europe, but not so much in the US, I find? I have so much respect for the brand founder Thomas Haase, who made it his mission to make organic and natural cosmetics accessible for everyone everywhere – and that was more than 20 years ago! One of the true green beauty pioneers, no less.
Defying all his critics, Thomas started developing effective cosmetics with a 100% natural basis, founding the company Laverana and the brand lavera on November 23, 1987. The company name Laverana already reveals that the brand and company are inextricably connected, as “lavera” stands for “true” and “na” for “natural cosmetics”. In a time when everything revolved around chemicals, Thomas discovered his lifelong dream and dedicated his life to a vision of “organic and natural beauty care for all”. Since 1988, he has been developing the natural personal care market and leading Laverana as its founder and executive partner. The driving force behind Laverana since its foundation remains its goals of democratization, differentiation, and internationalization. Mr. Haase isn’t interested in only being a short chapter in a book: he wants to make history, as well as a lasting impact on the world of personal care products. Does all this make your heart sing? It sure does for me!
Lavera promises 100% Natrue certified natural cosmetics – free of synthetic preservatives and fragrances. 100% of their products are tested for skin compatibility and are dermatologically approved. Never tested on animals though, Lavera is against animal testing. Every product is researched, developed and produced in Germany. All ingredients are fully declared on packaging, INCI card or website. I suggest you go over those, as Lavera is fully transparent with what’s important for consumers, they clearly state if the product is vegan, gluten free, suitable for pregnant ladies use, etc.
I am very excited to let you know that Lavera added 59 colour cosmetic product to the range of existing ones. You can expect new formulations, new design and completely new products! 22 new face products, 21 eye product, plus 16 new lip products – exciting, huh?
Now, let’s get into the post and my first impressions of the product – I have had about a week to play with the new goodies, but the good news is, make up isn’t like skincare where you would have to test it for 4-6 weeks to see results and make your opinion on it. Shall we get started? I thought you’d never ask 🙂
First thing first, foundation – I applied this new  Lavera Soft Liquid Foundation (in Ivory Light)* which has this Green Anti-Pollution Complex, promising to protect skin cells from air pollution and counteracts the effects of free radicals with natural anti-oxidants and organic algae, which should lead to a fresh, radiant skin. I agree, the skin definitely looks radiant. The consistency is similar to a light runny lotion, but please have in mind you will have to work rather quickly blending it in – it sets fast. The shade is ever so slightly too dark for me right now, but I reckon it should be a pretty good colour match for me in the summer. For now I just make sure I blend it down my neck too. You might need to set it to avoid it settling in your pores, and I should also add there’s fragrance in this foundation too, which is kind of strong at first, but fades away eventually. Please keep that in mind if you are avoiding fragrance. It is suitable for vegans, contains no carmine or lanolin, no gluten either. Suitable during pregnancy. Staying power is pretty good. I will list all the ingredients of all the products, as well as swatches at the end of this post if that’s OK with you. Next I moved on to the eyes and did a super simple, one-shadow-all-over look. I applied Beautiful Mineral Eyeshadow in Light Sand* – perfect for a daytime if you ask me! Next I applied Soft Eyeliner in Black and Natural Definition Mascara – it has an interesting brush, something I have never seen before. It has twice shorter wand with spiky bristles, see the photo down below. The description promises definition, volume and separation, and while I love the look it gives me (long and definitely separated lashes), I don’t see much volume if I am honest. That’s totally fine, I will go on to get a different mascara next time, probably Intense Volumising Mascara or Butterfly Effect Mascara? With my eyes done, I applied Soft Lipliner in Pink 02 to outline my lips, and the last thing I do is apply a Beautiful Lips Colour Intense Lipstick in Coral Flamingo both on my lips and cheeks, sort of like a multiple. I didn’t have any Lavera blushes on hand, and this is one easy way to have a pulled together look in no time. The lipstick is nicely pigmented, creamy and easy to work with, but for some reason it pulls brown on me, not coral. I added a bit of the eye shadow as a highlight too. I will admit, this a bit out of my comfort zone with this look, especially having in mind that these photo are untouched. You guys know I don’t do Photoshop or even filters, what you see is what you get with me. I do it for you, see how much I love you guys? Not the easiest thing to do for a woman on the (very) wrong side of 30s with dermatitis prone skin! See how much I love you guys? Do you like this look?
INGREDIENTS INCI: Water (Aqua), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Glycerin, Alcohol* denat., Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Lysolecithin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Tricaprylin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract*, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract*, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract*, Fucus Serratus Extract*, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Xanthan Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Silica, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Limonene**, Benzyl Salicylate**, Linalool**, Geraniol**, Citral**, Citronellol**, Benzyl Alcohol**, Benzyl Benzoate** * ingredients from certified organic agriculture ** natural essential oils
INGREDIENTS INCI: Tricaprylin, Magnesium Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Trihydroxystearin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract*, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract*, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract*, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract*, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Alcohol*, Water (Aqua), Fragrance (Parfum)**, Limonene**, Geraniol**, Linalool**, Citronellol**, Citral**, Benzyl Benzoate**, [+/- Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Ultramarines (CI 77007)] * ingredients from certified organic agriculture, ** natural essential oils
INGREDIENTS INCI: Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Mica (CI 77019), Canola Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Glyceryl Caprylate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate * Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture ** Natural Essential Oils *** Fair Trade
INGREDIENTS INCI: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract*, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract*, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract*, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract*, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Alcohol*, Flavor (Aroma), Limonene**, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Ultramarines (CI 77007) * Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture ** Natural Essential Oils *** Fair Trade
Ingredients INCI: Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Maltodextrin, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, [+/-Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742)] * Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture ** Natural Essential Oils *** Fair Trade
INGREDIENTS INCI: Water (Aqua), Alcohol*, Dodecane, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pullulan, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Cellulose, Hectorite, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Sorbitol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Trehalose, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Limonene**, Linalool**, Citral**, Geraniol**, Citronellol**, Benzyl Benzoate**, [+/- Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77499)] * Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture ** Natural Essential Oils *** Fair Trade
And now for the promised swatches:
Have you tried Lavera natural cosmetics? What is your favourite product? Please tell me so I could check them out! One little side note, their So Fresh Mineral Rouge Powder in Columbine Pink is close dupe to Nars Orgasm – see this blog post to see 20 more natural versions of it. With swatches and everything! I worked hard on that post 🙂
P.s. Please make my day and subscribe & share this or any of my blog posts on social media – it helps to get the green beauty word out and for that I Thank You!
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Hi Lovelies,
Welcome back! And welcome, if you are new here xoxo
Today is the day I will spill one of my beauty secrets – I will reveal how you can stop your concealer from creasing. It is a common complaint I hear in the green beauty world – as natural concealers lack the silicones that are in conventional products – and the silicones are exactly the thing that makes the conventional concealers glide so smoothly and also fill in all the crevices, aka fine lines, to give the appearance of smooth perfect skin (but remember, it is only that – an appearance, while it hurts your skin in the long run!)
We won’t go into all those nasty ingredients that are lurking in the conventional concealers and foundations, that’s another post in it’s own, for another time. Since the natural counterparts don’t have those silicones I’d just mentioned, they perform a bit differently, and this is one of those learning curves you will have to get used to it once you will go au naturale 🙂
Don’t worry, the switch is so worth the extra effort – natural concealers are full of natural ingredients that are good for the skin, like coconut oil, aloe, nurturing oils and butters, depending on the formulation. So you will get not only pigment, but skin care benefits from them as well, as I don’t know how about you, but I can rest at night knowing I am doing my skin no harm, only goodness. Having said all that, oftentimes the complaint is that they are creasing – and this is where I am coming to help!
Before you ask, my favourite two concealers are Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting Concealer & Ere Perez Arnica one. I have reviewed both on my old blog, you will find reviews linked at the end of this post if you want to see more information on them. In my concealer I am looking for the full coverage first and foremost – I don’t get the point of sheer coverage concealers, if I apply the product and can still see my capillaries and dark circles, what’s the point of it, right? I have been a fan of Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting concealer (available from  Glow Organic Brighton in UK) for a good number of years now, ever since it went through branding change and several packaging changes. Remember Christopher Drummond liquid concealer in a pump bottle? Yes, that’s what I am talking about. Nowadays is it not creamy liquid but rather balmy, and it comes in a glass pot that you swirl your finger in to apply. Still great coverage, and I still regard it as my nr1 – as you can imagine, I have tried a few in my days, but I always go back to this no matter what. Is wasn’t when I first started using it. Anyways, my shade is somewhere in between of light and medium, and as medium is getting too dark by the day (l am getting paler by the day) I need to get another pot in light very soon. Hynt Beauty is an amazing brand with wonderful ethos – and I keep meaning to get more of their products to try and review for you guys. Everything is really natural, and intentionally so, because Meryl, the founder of the brand is a breast cancer survivor – and that’s how the brand was born. Whoops, getting a bit sidetracked here. Can you tell I love to talk? Especially when it comes to all things green beauty?
Side note – please let me know your favourite natural full coverage concealers, so I could check them out!
Now, let’ s get to my actual trick of trade, shall we? There are three steps to it, and it is all really simple, I promise you that! You know I am all about simple and effective, right?
Moisturise your under eye area really well.
This stop is not negotiable for me, as a lady on the wrong side of 30s, this is something I never ever forget. It is best if you gave it a few minutes to sink in, especially if you are using under eye oils or balms. I recommend this step even if you are gorgeous peachy skinned twenty something. (if you are gorgeous twenty something and reading this, more power to you, the earlier you start taking care of your skin, the better).
Don’t over apply! Another major mistake most people make, and IÂ too have been guilty of it in the past. Yes, it is tempting to blob it on, especially if you have a lot to cover – and trust me, I get it, I too have been guilty of burning my candle from both ends or not drinking enough water (drink enough water and trust me, you will see the difference!). I have extremely dark circles that are hereditary, and no amount of green smoothies/ exercise /sleep or products can cure, and I have acres of it, real estate! Yes, I know I am a lucky gal. So a concealer is a must for me – seriously, if you saw me sans any make up on, the first thing you would ask if I am sick or tired. No, and no, just my life story. So, yeah, less is more when it comes to the concealer – apply a very thin layer and step back to see yourself in a mirror, it really helps to see yourself a step back and not in one of those zoomed in mirrors. More often than not, you will find that one layer is enough. If you can’t see any concealer, go ahead and bin that product, green beauty world has better products, I promise you! If you really need that second layer, promise me you will be VERY light handed with it. You can set or bake your concealer or not, your choice.
OK, now we are mid day, you are working or running around and you catch yourself in a mirror, and shock horror, you notice that concealer is all creased, the under eye are looks all dry and all this is making ten years older than you are. Fear not, I have just a tip for you – and you can thank me later. I would suggest that you carry a miniature eye cream or oil with you. All you need to do is to gently pat a teeny tiny drop of oil or eye cream over the concealer and TA DA, you are looking perfect again! I carry either my beloved Bella Aura eye cream, which is wonderful and sinks in in seconds, not disturbing my make up; or some lightweight face oil (serum) decanted into teeny tiny cutesy 2ml roller bottle you see in the photo. That all there is to it, told you it will be simple! Not only you will fix your make up mishap, but you will give your skin a hydration boost, which it will appreciate. (and thank you if it could talk). By the way, I have found that using face mists doesn’t work in this case, while it might work for the whole face, I found it either moves my concealer or makes my mascara run, which is so not a good luck! So be a pro and cover your eyes when misting.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading!
If you want to read more of my tricks, see here. . For Ere Perez concealer review see this post, for Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting Concealer review, see here.
Enjoy my content? AÂ tip into my PayPal Tip Jar -Â will get You my eternal gratitude and more awesome green beauty reviews Your way! I weed out all the greenwashing products so You won't have to.
Hello Lovelies,
Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome xoxo
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