Showing posts with label $$$$. Show all posts
Showing posts with label $$$$. Show all posts

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Review: Au Naturale Organic Creme Foundation

Creme foundation in Sand
There are dozens of vegan powder and liquid foundations on the market, but what if you want something with a little more coverage? Whether you're looking to spot-conceal, hide pigmentation imbalances, or simply like a creamy formula, sometimes the ordinary foundations won't cut it.

Cream foundations are versatile products, but they are often hard to find in gentle formulas - let alone vegan versions. Fortunately, Au Naturale offers a Creme Foundation made with organic lavender oil that is gentle and offers full coverage.

Pros:
  • Gentle formula
  • Includes organic ingredients
  • Can double as a concealer
  • Offers SPF 15
  • Buttery formula
  • Full coverage

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Review: Coola Face SPF 20 Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Moisturizer

Mineral sunscreens tend to include either titanium dioxide and zinc, or zinc only. What if you're zinc sensitive? Coola makes a Face SPF 20 Unscented Mineral Sunscreen with titanium dioxide only.

Pros:
  • No "sunscreen smell"
  • Water resistant (40 minutes)
  • Contains organic ingredients
  • Lovely packaging
  • Moisturizing formula
Cons:
  • A bit of an investment
Summary:
This sunscreen is very easy to apply. It comes in a fun aqua blue tube and absorbs quickly, leaving little scent behind. It provides broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection and it a moisturizing formula. The active ingredient is titanium dioxide only, which is a plus for those who are zinc sensitive. The ingreidents are fairly gentle, as this product rates a low to moderate 3 on the EWG Skin Deep database. It comes in a lovely box and there is a great website that lists other bonuses like bring TSA friendly and recycle friendly. While it is more expensive than other sunscreen moisturizers, it is a high-quality formula that is particularly unique in that it doesn't contain zinc. If you're zinc sensitive and looking for a sunscreen, check out this one from Coola.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value


Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Saturday, March 1, 2014

Review: Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer

Packaging was updated and name
has changed since photo was taken.
One popular modern look is makeup that leaves a "glowing" finish. This look is often associated with youthfulness and fresh skin, and it is often imitated in cosmetics by adding light-reflective "shimmery" particles. Tarte makes a moisturizer that has a shimmery finish: their Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer.

Pros:
  • Leaves a soft glow
  • Tinted for sheer coverage
  • Absorbs quickly
  • Moisturizing
  • Shimmer is subtle

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Review: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream and Night Cream

Night Cream
I used to have one moisturizer that I used mainly at night. At the time, I lived in a fairly humid climate. When I moved to drier climates, I found that I had to adjust my skin care routine, especially in the winter. Companies like Weleda make it easy to choose lotions for day and night, offering several sets for different skin types. They offer a pair of Pomegranate Firming Day Cream and corresponding Night Cream, designed for mature skin.

Pros:
  • Lovely scent
  • Leaves skin feeling soft and supple
  • Very hydrating formulas
  • A little goes a long way
  • Retail availability

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Review: Korres Quercetin and Oak Anitageing Primer

One of the most essential tools in makeup artist's kit is a primer. This is especially important when using eco-friendly and natural products, which tend not to have the chemicals and preservatives that give the "long-lasting" effect in some conventional products. Silicone-based primers have gained a lot of popularity recently, but sometimes they can clog pores. Korres makes a Quercetin and Oak Primer that is gentle and effective, while providing anti-aging benefits.

Pros:
  • No silicone or mineral oil
  • Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Absorbs quickly
  • Light, pleasant fragrance
  • Retail availability
  • A little goes a long way
  • Helps makeup last longer
Cons:
  • A little pricey ($33 for 1 oz)
Summary:
This is the primer I trust enough to use on my clients. I have been looking a long time, but I haven't found many other primers that absorb so quickly or work as well. It can serve as a moisturizer on its own, but it is also light enough to be worn over moisturizer and under liquid foundation (as long as adequate time is allowed for absorption). It smells lovely and hasn't bothered a single client; many have, in fact, asked what it was that smelled so nice. This product rates about a 4 on the EWG Skin Deep database, which is low-moderate. I would love to see a fragrance-free version in the future, perhaps to help bring the rating even lower. However, I am delighted that it is a vegan formula and is still gentle on the skin. This primer is one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it for everyday wear.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value


Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Review: Haut Minerals BB Cream

I haven't worked with a lot of BB Creams, as I haven't found many natural or vegan versions. When I recently did a search, one of the only vegan products on the market was made by a Canadian company called Haut Minerals. They graciously sent me a sample of their BB Cream for review.

Pros:
  • Contains many organic ingredients
  • A little goes a long way
  • Fresh formula
  • Available in a variety of shades
  • Very hydrating
  • Water-resistant
Cons:
  • May be a little oily for some skin types
Summary:
BB Creams differ from foundations because they are often focused on improving skin while providing light coverage, and foundations provide more coverage but usually don't offer the same multi-tasking benefits. This particular BB Cream has a thick texture, so you only need a little to get light coverage. I found applying with a brush, as recommended, was the best way to get an even application without waste. Also, I tried applying refrigerated and when thawed. My refrigerator is pretty cold, so it was a solid and needed to be warmed in my hands before application. I think applying after waiting a few minutes to thaw would also be effective.

The cream, once applied, is very water resistant and provides light coverage. It had good staying powder both on its own and under makeup. However, I have combination to oily skin, and I found this left a very dewy finish. I used a powder to reduce shine, as I prefer a matte look.  The BB Cream is a fairly gentle formula, filled with many organic ingredients. However, when I ran it through the EWG Skin Deep database, it came out at a moderate 5, mainly due to the use of malic acid, glycolic acid, orange extract, and emulsifying wax. I suspect a 5 is a little high.

The cream arrived with cute paper flower decorations, and my package came with a fun lollipop. I loved these touches, which made me feel special. I was glad to see that Haut offers sample, regular, and large sizes of the cream to suit a variety of shoppers. The cream isn't cheap, but it is organic and relatively affordable, considering the quality of the ingredients and small amount needed. This cream seems to have one big advantage that sets it apart from other natural products: the water resistance. This makes it an ideal choice for wet or underwater photo shoots, which is great for makeup artists.  If you knew about the shoot and the models ahead of time, you could also stock up on samples in the right shades.

The color range is decent, and vanilla was a fair match for my fair skin. The coverage is light enough that you don't have to have an exact match for a natural look, similar to a tinted moisturizer. However, you could cover with a tinted foundation or finishing powder if you wanted more coverage. If you're looking for a vegan BB Cream, particularly one with water resistant properties, this is a nice option.


Product Ratings (out of 5)

Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value


Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, why not sign up for our email list and get posts by email? Or if that's not your style, stay in the loop with an occasional newsletter instead.

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