Review: E.L.F. Essential Flawless Eyeshadow

Sea Escape Palette

Many drugstore brands are tested on animals, but did you know that there are a few cruelty-free budget brands? One of these is Eyes Lips Face (E.L.F.), which is sold at stores such as Walgreen's and Target. While I usually stick to their mineral line, I decided to test out the E.L.F. Essential Flawless Eyeshadow to test out brighter pressed vegan shades, which can be hard to find in many natural lines.

Pros:

• Available in brighter shades
• Very affordable ($2)
• No parabens
• Colors can be worn together or alone
• Vegan and cruelty-free

Review: Acure Day Cream

As a makeup artist, I often get asked about moisturizers for use under makeup. A good day moisturizer needs to be light enough to hydrate without leaving skin oily. Day moisturizers can also be mixed with powder foundations for DIY liquid foundations. So selections a quality product is crucial. One great pick? Acure Day Cream.

Pros:

• Absorbs quickly
• Yummy fruity scent
• Many organic ingredients
• Claims to help fight lines (wrinkles)
• Retail availability
• Gluten-free and vegan
  

Review: Beauty Without Cruelty Natural Eye Pencil

Delft Blue Pencil

When it comes to eye makeup, I look for some of gentlest products available. I wear contacts and have sensitive eyes, so I can't tolerate harsh products. Fortunately, there are some eyeliners on the market that are both gentle and high-quality. One of these is the Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) Natural Eye Pencil.

Pros:

• Smooth, creamy texture
• Sharpens easily
• Rich color
• Will smudge if desired
• Gentle ingredients
  

Review: Acure Superfruit + Cirtus Argan Oil Bar Soap

No matter how many fancy body washes, shower gels, or scrubs I try, I always go back to bar soap. Bar soap is a great, simple cleansing product that helps me keep my showers shorter and conserve water. It is indispensable, yet somehow hard to get just right. Acure Organics has a great bar that doesn't wear down too fast or too slow - it's just right. It's called the Superfruit + Cirtus Argan Oil Soap.

Pros:

• Yummy fruity scent
• Non-drying
• Mostly organic
• Doesn't wear away too quickly
• Retail availability
  

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

Review: Lily Lolo Vegan Mascara

There are a lot of great vegan mascaras out there, but most of them have a very soft, natural finish. This seems to satisfy a large number of consumers who seek out these products due to allergies or environmental concerns. However, as a makeup artist and beauty fanatic, I like a mascara with a little more "oomph:." I want one that lengthens, thickens, and helps define lashes - one that provides a more bold look. Enter Lily Lolo, a U.K. company. They offer a vegan mascara that not only looks snappy but instantly gives you that extra boost.

Pros:

• Volumizing formula
• Beautiful packaging
• Gentle ingredients
• Gluten-free and vegan
• Provides a bold finish

Review: Gourmet Body Treats White Ginger Hand & Foot Scrub

When I moved to Austin, I found that my skin became drier. Products like scrubs and exfoliators suddenly became very useful, as they help remove the dead skin and reveal bright new skin. One of these exfoliators is Gourmet Body Treats White Ginger Hand & Foot Scrub

Pros:

• Yummy sweet ginger scent
• Gentle ingredients
• Made with organic sugar
• Helps exfoliate skin while providing moisture
• Easy to apply
  

Review: Ecco Bella FlowerColor Lipstick

I've recently heard that FD&C dyes are from coal tar, and some people recommend avoiding them. I like to play it on the safe side, so I was shocked to discover just how many "natural" brands use FD&C dyes, particularly as a replacement for carmine in vegan lipsticks. It seems it can be tough to get certain shades of red and pink without either carmine or FD&C dyes, but a few companies have managed this feat. One such line? Ecco Bella's FlowerColor Lipstick.

Pros:

• Over 10 vegan shades
• Gentle formula
• Gluten-free/no FD&C dyes
• Sleek black packaging
• Smooth application
  

Review: Benecos Nail Polish

Vintage Red

I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish. It seems like every time I decide to start wearing it, I take up a new hobby like playing the ukulele--which just happens to destroy polish. Most nail polishes chip off after a couple of days on my hands, and only a few have ever risen to the challenge of daily wear and tear. One of these special contenders is Benecos Nail Polish, which claims to be long-lasting and chip resistant.

Pros:

• Long-lasting
• Chip resistant
• Smooth, silky finish
• 5-free: No formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, phthalates or colophony
• Large variety of colors
• Vegan and gluten-free

Review: Acure Superfruit Cleansing Gel

It would be nice if my blemish problems were limited to my teen years, but, unfortunately, they never seemed to vanish entirely. I have combination skin, so I seek out products that help with oil control in all the right places (forehead, nose, and chin). Acure sent me their Facial Cleanser Gel (Superfruit and Chlorella Growth Factor), which is targeted to combination and oily skin types. I put it to the test.

Pros:

• Contains many organic ingredients
• A little goes a long way
• Lathers well
• Pleasant fruity scent
• Cleanses without drying
• Vegan and gluten-free
  

Review: Zosimos Botanicals Lipstick (updated formula)

Like a great work of art, many cosmetics require iteration to reach their full potential. Sometimes a company listens and incorporates customer comments, reformulating products to create something even better. Zosimos Botanicals is one such company, and they recently reformulated their lipsticks to be even creamier than last time I reviewed them. Read on to see how the new version stacks up.

Pros:

• Creamier formula
• Broad color range
• Eco-friendly refills available
• Sample sizes offered
• Gentle formula with organic ingredients

Review: Annmarie Gianni's Sun Love

Annmarie Gianni recently sent me a product called "Sun Love," which appeared to be a sunscreen. After testing it, however, I discovered that this creamy, zinc-based sunscreen is more like a tinted moisturizer that offers sun protection. So just how does Sun Love perform?

Pros:

• Yummy chocolate-lavender scent
• Gentle, zinc-based sunscreen
• Includes several organic or wildcrafted ingredients
• Lightweight, tinted formula
• No "sunscreen smell"

Review: Acure Organics Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner

I tend to be loyal to certain hair products. I have long hair that has a tendency to tangle, so I am particular about my conditioners. I was excited to try Acure's Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner, as I'd heard good things about the line.

Pros:

• Vegan and gluten-free
• Safe for color-treated hair
• Shampoo lathers well
• Conditioner leaves hair soft
• Fresh, lemony scent suitable for men or women
• Made with many organic ingredients

Review: Gourmet Body Treats Beauty Box

If you love to try new beauty products, monthly subscription boxes can be a fun way to get new samples on a regular basis. Fortunately, there are vegan boxes as well. Gourmet Body Treats recently started offering a monthly beauty box filled with vegan cosmetics and skin care products.

Pros:

• Vegan and gluten-free
• Gentle ingredients
• Made in the USA
• Variety beyond cosmetics
• Comes with a website discount
• Good value
  

Review: Gabriel Color and Zuzu Luxe Lip Liner

Gabriel Lipliner in Red

As a makeup artist, a good lip liner is an essential component of my kit. Unfortunately, lip liners are often neglected in natural makeup lines - especially the reds. I sought out Gabriel's lip liners when searching for a true vegan red, and I wasn't disappointed.

Pros:

• Vegan and gluten-free
• Offered in a range of colors
• Retail availability
• Gentle formula
• Smooth texture
  

Review: Haut Minerals Brightener

Brightener in Pink

I was delighted to discover Haut Minerals, an all-vegan cosmetic company based in Canada. They offer a variety of products using fun ingredients like Canadian Glacial Marine Clay. One of these products is their brightener, which can be used similar to a concealer or a highlighter.

Pros:

• Great coverage
• Vegan and gluten-free
• Available in multiple colors
• Samples offered
• Gentle formula

Cons:

• May be hard to find locally

Summary:
I love how this highlighter comes in several shades, so you can create looks customized to your skin tone. White is great for highlights, and pink is ideal for balancing gray and dark spots like under-eye circles. Yellow balances out redness, such as blemishes and rosacea. Beige is generally good for mixing with the other tones or providing blemish coverage. The brighteners are fairly thick, providing good coverage that should stay put well when sealed with powder.

The formula is very gentle, rating a low 1 on the EWG Skin Deep database. It uses locally-sources Canadian clays and this product is also gluten-free. While the company is based in Canada, they offer free shipping to the U.S. on orders over $100. The packaging was fun, including paper flowers. If you're not ready to make an investment in the line, they also have samples of this product and several others. If you're looking for a gentle concealer or highlighter, I recommend picking up some samples from Haut.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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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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Review: Zuzu Luxe Lipstick

Temptress

I'm pretty particular when it comes to lipsticks. Any products that requires reapplication multiple times a day (due to my many meals and snacks) has got to be worth the effort. I've tried many sticky, waxy, and foul tasting sticks and they don't make the cut. One that rises above the rest is Gabriel's Zuzu Luxe Lipstick.

Pros:

• Smooth, creamy colors
• Retail availability
• Includes one of my favorite reds
• Vegan and gluten-free
• Attractive tubes
  

Review: Brooklyn Grooming Serum

It's not uncommon to see a woman with a medicine cabinet full of lotions, potions, and oils, but what about a man? Men have long been ignored when it comes to skin care, and only recently have companies began expanding beyond the usual "shaving" products. Lines such as Brooklyn Grooming offer stylish, organic products that men will be proud to display on their counter tops. Read below for my review of their Commando Facial Serum.

Pros:

• Organic ingredients
• Vegan and gluten-free formula
• Very gentle
• No added scents or fragrances
• Absorbs quickly
• A little goes a long way
  

Cons:

• A bit of an investment

Summary:
This facial serum absorbs very quickly. I recommend using the included eyedropper to apply only a small amount at a time. Serums are great night treatments, as they can help provide moisture overnight. This product is the "Commando" scent (a.k.a. unscented; it only smells of the organic oils). The scent is very mild and suitable for ladies as well. There are also scented varieties available.

This product is very gentle, rates a low 0 on the EWG Skin Deep database. It has only a few simple, organic ingredients. While the price tag may seem a little high, you're really only using a few drops at a time, so the bottle will last a long time. Also, the value is quite good, considering you're getting organic oils--and not cheaper types like olive oil. Brooklyn Grooming claims that, with regular use, this serum can even help slow down skin's natural aging process.

This serum absorbed quickly without leaving a residual smell. It seems quite effective. I loved the presentation, including the marketing materials, the packaging, and the sleek website. When marketing skin care to men, I think this is an essential component of the business, so I commend them for taking it seriously. If the price seems a little high, this company does offer two sample sets: the vial kit and beard oil sampler. If you're looking for a nice gift for a man or just want great skin care, check out Brooklyn Grooming.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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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.