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Consumer Warning: Zora Cosmetics

Posted on: July 23rd, 2012 by veggiebeauty 10 Comments

*EDIT: 8-20-12: Less than on month later, this company has come back with a new facebook page and are still selling the same soap dyes as eyeshadow. https://www.facebook.com/ZoraBeautyShop

*EDIT: 7-24-12: Zora Cosmetics has taken down their shopping cart and facebook page and says they are going to reformulate their products to ensure customer safety. Glad to hear this, and I will be monitoring their progress.

Okay, now usually I don’t come on here openly bashing independent makeup companies. I am a reasonable person and like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I make my own cosmetics, so I understand how confusing some of the requirements can be from the FDA. That said, when I started up my business, I didn’t take making cosmetics lightly. It took me about 6-8 months to research, save up the money, and develop products before I even thought about opening up my shop.

Cosmetics are products that are going to be used on the skin and around the eye; people can get sick or damage their vision if you don’t take precaution with the ingredients you use and don’t include thorough ingredient lists for each product on your website. I also list what items are approved for just as an extra safety precaution.

I found out about a new cosmetics company named Zora Cosmetics that is just starting out via my facebook page. I found out that they were listing their products as vegan friendly even though they were including ingredients such as: carmine, silk powder, whey-milk in their ingredient listing. This is something that really bothers me…if you are going to list an item/product as being vegan friendly, shouldn’t you do research into what being a vegan is actually about? Any quick google search will tell you that vegans do not use or consume any dairy/animal byproducts. So this was the first red flag I noticed about their company. She responded by simply deleting carmine and whey-dairy off her lists of ingredients, never explaining how she could so quickly and easily “re-formulate” her products in a short amount of time, especially when they were still listed as being for sale?

Here is a screen shot of her ingredient list, which she said is accurate for all of her current products. Notice the removal of carmine, whey-dairy. These were on her list as of Saturday night, now they have been removed. These are not common ingredients used to make eyeshadow, and I know this as a cosmetic formulator:

A quick scroll down on their facebook page shows a model wearing NEON GREEN eyeshadow. This filled me with concern because this is very similar to what happened with Glittersniffer cosmetics a year or two back. Lela was using soap dyes (ingredients not approved for cosmetic use) in her eyeshadows. These ingredients are not approved for use in cosmetic products AT ALL in any form. Many people, including myself, tried to inform her of the trouble she can get into and how damaging this will be to potential customers. She deleted all of our concerns and comments, and we were being reasonable and expressing normal customer concerns. She gave the excuse that she’s only 16 and she’s allowed to make mistakes.

Okay, you’re sixteen? You aren’t allowed to have your own paypal account unless you are 18 years old first off. Secondly, it doesn’t matter what age you are…if you are selling unsafe cosmetic products you will have to pay the consequences when one of your customers reports you to the FDA for using ingredients for their unintended purposes. Not only does she not list base powders, she doesn’t reference what dyes, ultramarines, iron oxides she uses…she doesn’t even list mica, which is a very common ingredient in most cosmetic items.

There are many wonderful and safe vegan cosmetics from independent sellers, but you need to be aware that there are also people out there who do not put their customer’s safety and concerns first. Because Zora Cosmetics refuses to own up to their errors, won’t list accurate ingredients, and is continuing to claim their neon pigments are eye safe, I have no choice but to warn others about their company. This is not me being a “hater”, I simply don’t want independent cosmetics sellers to get a bad reputation because certain companies don’t do their research and are willing to put their customers in harms way to create neon eyeshadow. And yes, I understand that the European Union has different standards as far as neon pigments go, but this is referring to a shop that is based in the U.S., selling their items to U.S. customers. This is the reason Sleek Makeup cannot sell the Acid palette legally in the U.S.

Here is a screen shot of colors she currently has for sale, as of this post. There is no way that several of these do not contain soap dyes or at least lake dyes that are not eye approved.

Here is the statement, directly from TKB Trading, a popular cosmetic wholesale supplier that many companies get their ingredients from. They openly state that using soap dyes for cosmetics is dangerous:

“The colors are not cosmetic-grade and so may not be used in cosmetics, but they are great for soap. They have been tested by Duke University and verified to be “non-toxic”.

6/11/2011 Update: Despite the fact that we have already advised people that the product is not cosmetic grade, and the label on the product so states, we consistently hear of people reselling this powder and advertising as OK for use in cosmetics. This includes: eye shadow, bath bombs, lotions, shampoos, etc. TKB Trading, LLC emphatically reasserts that this product is not approved for cosmetic use. It may only be used in soap, which is not a cosmetic per the FDA. In order to put a stop to the misuse of this product, we are adding a “required” checkbox which states that you understand these facts.”

Non-Eye Safe Dyes that Zora Cosmetics appears to be using (as of this post):
Lime Green- TKB Neon Green (Not approved for cosmetic use)

Neon Yellow-: TKB Neon Yellow (Not approved for cosmetic use) or Cosmetic Fluorescent Yellow (USA: General cosmetic uses, not Eye.)
EU: All cosmetics, including Eye.

Perfect Pink- TKB Neon Pink (Not approved for cosmetic use) or Cosmetic Fluorescent Strong Pink (USA: General cosmetic uses, including Lip but not Eye.
EU: All cosmetics, including Eye.)

Orange Red- TKB Cosmetic Fluorescent Red Orange (USA: External cosmetic uses, not Lip and not Eye.
EU: All cosmetics, including Eye.

Epic Orange- FD&C Yellow 6 (Not Approved for use on the eye) or Neon Orange (Not approved for cosmetic use)

Here’s another article I found on Zora Cosmetics from another concerned blogger:
The Miseducation of Zora Cosmetics

It really annoys me that these kind of business pop up all of the time. Many of these companies think its easy to start up and run a cosmetics business; it takes a lot of research and creativity to create safe and affective cosmetic products. Selling and creating cosmetics is not something that should be taken lightly; consumers that are concerned with people’s safety have a right to speak up and inform other consumers to beware of companies who think they can get away with using soap dyes in an unintended fashion.

Guest Post: Top 5 LUSH Products for Father’s Day!

Posted on: June 13th, 2012 by veggiebeauty No Comments

Check out Saoirse Cassidy’s beauty blog, Not a Boy, Not Yet a Woman. she is a subscriber of mine interested in cruelty-free beauty. She offered to write a guest post to help out the vegan men in our lives because, really, its hard to know what to buy for the men in our lives for father’s day.

It is hard enough to buy gifts for that man in your life, especially if he is vegan. With Fathers Day coming up this issue is very prominent. Lush does not spring to mind as it seems more popular with women, but there is plenty of choice for the manliest of men to enjoy! I will give you short reviews of five of the products I have tried that I feel would make good Fathers Day gifts. From bath and shower to skincare and shaving, Lush does it all! These are just five of the many different types of product Lush does. Firstly, Shower gel:

The Olive Branch shower gel. This is a personal favourite of mine. Sweet orange and bergamot. A hug in a bottle. Though this fragrance has a bit of a sweet tooth it is still unisex. Subtly citrus-y with an interesting twist! It envelops you with calming soft lather as you cleanse and prepare yourself for another day, wether it be under the Tuscan sun or in an igloo in Alaska (I hear you can see Russia from there!)

Not everyone likes liquid gels to clean themselves. Lush also offers a variety of soaps that can be cut to size depending on how much you need or want to spend. Though all the soaps are delectable, my top pick is:

Figs and Leaves soap is my number one masculine/unisex soap. Although a lot of fig scents are artificial and sickly sweet, you do not have that problem here. Figs and Leaves is a delicate scent of Rome (pairs well with The Olive Branch). It is creamy and lathers well. It smoothes, soothes and gently exfoliates. And is mild enough to be used on the face!

But what if your father prefers to unwind in the bath after a long day of playing catch? Baths are often thought to be the domain of women and honeymooners. Luxurious bubbles and candles may set the mood for romance, but baths also help soothe aches and pains. Here is my top pick for a vegan bath bomb:

Geophyzz, it may seem like a plain bath bomb, but it is a journey for the senses. From the sea salt to the pine it will soothe the mind and body. This little ball of meditation is the perfect remedy for a hard days work! And no confetti or rainbow explosions included! Just a delicate green water, the colour green promotes healing and calming.

Bubble bars are a solid bubble bath. You just crumble them under running water and the froth up with soft, scented bubbles. They can be used alone or in tandem with bath bombs to create a bath cocktail. My top choice of bubble bar is:

Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds is a huge chunk of blue and white patchouli and frankincense heaven. Perfect for the father who spends his days with his head in the clouds. These bubbles are a woody and earthy relaxing treat!

Fragrance wise you have a whole host of choices! Gorilla Perfumes is an offshoot of Lush and is available in their stores. I will only give you the readily available perfumes. Some limited perfumes are available in certain stores and at certain times. My top choice of perfume:

Breath of God is a divine experience. It blends the feminine and the masculine to created a stunning scent. The feminine fruit and neroli blossoms blend with smokey vetivert and sandalwood created a sensory journey throughout the day. At first sniff it is very herbal and deep. But as it sinks into the skin it lightens and softens, revealing the more playful feminine side. The scents are balanced so well that this is a perfect unisex scent that whispers prayers against your skin.

I hope this guide some use to you this coming Fathers Day, and maybe even Fathers Day next year. You do not have to use this list, it is just a guide and personal opinion. I would recommend you go into a store and sniff the items and put together a personalized blend that suits your fathers style.

Have fun, and all the best to all the daddy’s out there! We love you more than we will ever tell you to your face!

Saoirse.

Review: Beauty Without Cruelty

Posted on: July 6th, 2011 by veggiebeauty 2 Comments

I personally contacted the animal friendly cosmetics company, Beauty Without Cruelty, to ask if they’d like me to do a review for any of their products. I was interested in doing a review for this company because I think they need more attention in the beauty community. Not only are they a cruelty-free company, they are focused on creating quality vegan products using ingredients that are good for the skin. I was sent their fragrance free body lotion and a tube of their vegan lipstick, one of the most difficult to find items in a vegan makeup lovers collection.

The lipstick shade I selected to try was Natural Infusion Moisturizing Lipstick in the shade Ripe Cherry. The first thing I noticed was the packaging; its gorgeous with their famous swan heart logo pattern on the tube. The packaging is sleek and black, definitely high-end quality. They don’t use any artificial flavorings in the lipstick, so you will taste a bit of the jojoba oil, but I personally enjoy products that are more natural. The formula of the lipstick is less emollient than I’m used to, but once applied it stays on the lips for a good 4-5 hours without touchups. I’d compare the feel and wear a bit to a matte lipstick, but it does have has a bit of shimmer to it. It is not a drying formula, although I’d recommend applying a bit of lipbalm underneath to keep the lipstick from sticking to dry spots on the lips. The color is a vibrant, buildable bright pinky warm-toned red; it’s a perfect shade for the summer nights out on the town. Its hard to find vegan red lipsticks, so this shade is a winner for me. In the future, I’d like to try out different finishes and colors. If I had one criticism, I’d like to see the company have better online swatches so its easier to decide on your color selection as well as the formula of the lipstick.

The next product I was sent to try out was their fragrance-free lotion. The lotion is made of natural, organic ingredients. It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or fragrances which were the main reason I wanted to try this product out. I have very sensitive skin and it’s hard to find fragrance lotions. This product is completely free of animal byproducts and the only smell that is detectable is the natural fragrance of the oils included in the lotion. On the bottle, it suggests adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil of choice, which is a great idea! The lotion sinks into the skin rather quickly, which makes it great for everyday. It is moisturizing without being greasy; also, because its fragrance free, it won’t interfere with any perfume you decided to wear. I’m not sure if its’ moisturizing enough for super dry, winter weather, but I think this will be my go to lotion for the spring and summer. Its reasonably priced for the quality of the product, so I definitely see myself repurchasing a full size of this product when the sample runs out.

This company has great customer service and sound ethics which are important factors to consider as a contentious consumer. I feel good buying their products, especially since they are one of the original companies who were dedicated to ending animal testing in the cosmetic industry. Not only do they not test their products on animals, most of their product line is entirely vegan! They have a full line of color cosmetics as well as skincare and haircare. I definitely intend on purchasing more from this company in the future and I hope you will consider checking them out at their website: www.beautywithoutcruelty.com

Review: Ecco Bella Flowercolor Foundation

Posted on: July 6th, 2011 by veggiebeauty 2 Comments

I’ve been testing out this product for the last few weeks, and I have to say my skin is loving the natural ingredients in this! I was originally interested in trying this product out because I was looking for a more natural alternative to a chemical based color foundation. I have sensitive skin, so it is essential for me to use gentle skincare products. I also have a very difficult skin type; I have an oily t-zone and flaky chin and forehead.

Ingredients
Active: Titanium dioxide. Organic aloe vera gel, glycerine, isopropyl palmitate (from palm wax), saccharide isomerate (natural sugar), organic sunflower oil, TEA palmitate (from palm wax), kaolin, magnesium silicate (a natural mineral), organic extracts of chamomile, calendula, cetyl alcohol (emulsifier), lecithin, flower wax, iron oxides, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance.

The ingredients in this product were the main reason I decided to purchase this product. I am familiar with all of the ingredients and can actually pronounce them! Foundation is a something you wear everyday, over the entire surface area of your face. Your skin is your largest organ, and drinks up the ingredients in the foundations you wear. Many liquid foundations contain known carcinogens and harsh chemicals, so keep that in mind when you are shopping for your cosmetics.

UVA/UVB Protection
I’m now in my mid twenties, and I want to insure that my skin stays fresh, young, and cancer free. I also tend to break out if I apply too many products underneath my foundation, so I try to look for products that already contain UVA/UVB protection in them. Using multi-tasking products helps you save money too! Ecco Bella’s Flowercolor Foundation contains SPF 15 from the Titanium Dioxide; this is decent amount of protection for normal, everyday use. If I’m going to be outside for long periods of time, I would need to apply a higher SPF sunscreen though.

Color Selection
I’m fairly impressed with the color selection on this product. The colors tend to be more neutral, leaning a bit more towards yellow toned skin if anything. The color I selected is their lightest shade, Bisque. This is the perfect summer shade for my light skintone. I don’t know if it would be light enough for my skin in the winter months, but I could always mix in a lighter tinted moisturizer, like my Kiss My Face TM in Manilla. There are seven colors in this product line: Bisque, Ivory Porcelain, Light Beige, Natural, Linen, Tan, and Mocha. This foundation has a great range of colors from pale to the darker skin-tone range. I would recommend purchasing a shade lighter than you think you’d need.

Cruelty-free & Vegan
This foundation is 100% Cruelty-free and a vegan product, which is always a requirement for me!

Overall Impression 4.5/5
I wear Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer underneath this product, which helps prolong the wear of this foundation. On its own, it lasts a good 5 hours without touch-ups which is a fair amount of time. The finish has a natural glow to it, without making my skin look greasy. I like to apply a translucent powder of top to keep the finish more natural. It evens out my skintone, probably because of the moisturizing ingredients (glycerin and aloe vera gel). This makes it perfect for my combination skin, as I get a balance to my skin without having to apply too many products underneath, which can contribute to breakouts.

This product definitely gets points for being made of natural ingredients, and I don’t feel bad about wearing this product everyday. It is a water-based formula and doesn’t clog my pores or cause breakouts at all, I’m very pleased! If I could offer any criticism, I would suggest that Ecco Bella get rid of the original formula of this foundation, as it still contains parabens. Make sure to get the Flowercolor formula if you puchase this product. It is also a bit on the pricey side at $22.50 retail. The most affordable price for this product is on the website, vitacost.com, at $15.31. Most drugstore foundations cost this amount, so I personally think its worth spending a bit more money on, especially since it also contains SPF and moisturizes the skin, in addition to creating a more even skintone. It is a medium coverage foundation, and it is buildable without looking cakey. This is definitely a holy-grail product for me!

Review: Beauty Without Cruelty

Posted on: May 21st, 2011 by admin No Comments

I have a full review at my blog: veggie-beauty.blogspot.com Ingredients: Natural Infusion Moisturizing Lipstick (Ripe Cherry) $22.95: jojoba oil, castor seed oil, cadellila wax, oleic/linolelic/linolenic polyglycerides, D&C Red 6 BA, caprylic/capric triglyceride, titanium dioxide, mica, carnuba wax, D&C Red 7 CA, stearalkonium hectorite, vitamin E, D&C Red NO 33 AL Lake, Red Iron Oxide Beauty Without Cruelty Hand & Body Lotion, Fragrance Free 16 fl. oz $11.99: Aqua Infusion of:, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) (Organic), Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Flower, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Extract (roman chamomile), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (organic), Glycerin (Vegetable), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Allantoin (Comfrey Root), Panthenol (vitamin B factor), Sodium PCA, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil (Organic) (flax), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Arnica Montana (Montana Flower) Extract (in organic olea europeaea oil), Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Flower Extract (in organic olea europeaea oil), Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Seed Oil (tamanu), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) (organic), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (green and white tea), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyglycerin, Magnesium …

Vegan Foundations are Tough to Find!!!

Posted on: May 11th, 2011 by veggiebeauty 5 Comments

Finding vegan liquid foundation that is affordable and paraben-free is a daunting task. As a vegan beauty blogger, it is my goal to search till I find my holy grail vegan foundation to help myself and to help all of my readers.

Here are some products I’ve tried:

The Stila One-Step Makeup was okay, but its really yellow toned and I’m about as fair as they come so it really doesn’t work for me; it also has a very thick texture and you have to use your fingers to pat it in. I also don’t like Stila’s customer service. They were rude to me when I was inquiring about which of their products were vegan and which weren’t. They were very curt and simply responded “we cannot claim vegan.” How arrogant does that sound? Very unhelpful and they took ages to get back to me, and they didn’t want to help me in the first place. Also, just look through the ingredients on their foundations…full of preservatives and chemicals that aren’t good for the skin and our bodies.

While I do like the color and coverage of ALDI’s Lacura foundation in transparent, its more of a dewy finish and causes me to break out when I wear it, and again it has the same points against it as Stila does as far as chemicals and parabens. It is very cheap though, $3.49, but I can’t guarantee 100% that its vegan, although the ingredients appear that way. I’m starting to lean more towards products that are certified vegan, but those again are very expensive usually. I am, however, willing to spend more money on foundation that doesn’t break me out, is cruelty-free and vegan, provides natural coverage, and matches my skin tone. If my skin is non-irritated and less prone to break out, I won’t need as much foundation (that’s how I’m going to look at it).

The next product I’ve tried (and still enjoy) is the Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer in Manilla. It is light enough, no parabens, and its vegan. It does have a watery texture and doesn’t provide enough coverage for me (but it is supposed to be a lighter product). It is in no way moisturizing, its more of a light, matte foundation. I think this is a good mixing product if your foundation isn’t light enough or too thick. I currently use it as a base for mineral powder foundation, which seems to provide a decent coverage but can look a bit too overdone for everyday use.

I decided to purchase some Ecco Bella Flowercolor Natural Foundation in the shade Bisque (their lightest shade) on vitacost.com. On their official website, the foundation is about $22.95, which, to be fair is cheaper than most high end foundations. But, vitacost.com sells it for about $15.31, which is a super deal. With shipping, it only costed about $20, which is very doable in most people’s budgets. If you are going to spend more $ in your makeup routine, put it towards foundation!

Bisque actually appears like it will be light/cool toned enough and reviews on makeupalley.com seem to confirm this as well. The reviews were mixed on the quality of the foundation for the price, but I’m willing to give them they benefit of the doubt because this company, by far, have the most natural list of ingredients I’ve seen for a liquid foundation for the most affordable price. Its also a water-based foundation, which is my favorite formula, especially for the summer months. It provides UVA/UVB protection (SPF 15) which is crucial for good skincare. I will probably need to find a more potent sunscreen if I’m going to be outside for long periods of time though. I also like that its in a squeeze tube so you can get every last bit of product out, and its much more sanitary than a pour top bottle.

I will update all of you when I receive the product and have a chance to wear it for a couple of weeks (I like to give a skin product a good length of time to test because skin can take awhile to show irritation and breakouts from products.) I’m cautiously optimistic about this product, only because I’ve been disappointed so many times in the past. Let me know what kind of foundation the rest of you vegan makeup lovers wear!

Vegan Products: Physicians Formula

Posted on: March 10th, 2011 by veggiebeauty No Comments

I am in the process of contacting Physicians Formula to verify if a few other products/ingredients are vegan. I do have a list of their vegan products that I have currently verified to be vegan by researching their ingredients via the Physician’s Formula website. I really commend them for putting all of their ingredients on their website; it makes research much easier for me and more convient than trying to sort through ingredients in a crowded drugstore. The reason I didn’t include a lot of the Mineral Wear line is because the brushes supplied with some of the products are made out of animal hair, so I dont consider those to be vegan (or cruelty-free for that matter).

*Disclaimer: I am not a scientist and cannot verify a product’s safety. Check all of the ingredients on the Cosmetic Database before use:

Eyes:

Brow Definer Automatic Brown Pencil (all shades)
Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio (automatic pencil liners) all shades
Eye Definer Automatic Eye Pencil (all shades)

Face:
Mineral Wear Talc-Free Liquid Foundation (all shades)
Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Pressed Face Powder (all shades)
Concealer Twins 2-in-1 Correct and Cover Cream Concealer
Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Pebbles
Mineral Wear 100% Face Brightener (all shades)

Bronzers:
Healthy Wear Bronzer (all shades)
Bamboo Wear Bamboo Silk Bronzer Refill (all shades)
Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer (all shades)

Makeup Removers:
Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Makeup Remover Towelettes
Oil-Free Eye M/U Remover Pads for Normal to Oily Skin

First Impressions: Stila One Step Makeup (Fair)

Posted on: March 9th, 2011 by veggiebeauty No Comments

Here’s what Stila says about this foundation:

Primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one easy step! This skin-loving formula combines the benefits of four complexion-perfecting products with 100% mineral pigments to deliver one high performance, high definition, long wearing, luxurious formula. The medium coverage foundation is buildable and blendable and leaves skin looking flawless.One Step Makeup is energized with Stila’s Youth Revival Bio-available Mineral Complex – 15 ionically charged minerals that read and react to all your skins needs.

I just got Stila’s One Step Makeup in the shade fair. It retails for $44, but amazon.com sells its for $18. I’m trying out vegan foundations, and I thought this one sounded perfect for me. It is a multi-purpose product, perfect for days when you just want to get out the door as quick as possible. It includes primer, foundation, concealer, and sets to a powder finish.

You do have to apply it with your fingers…its much too thick to apply with a brush, but it blends out amazingly and doesn’t look cakey or streaky. The trick is to pat it into the skin, not to rub too hard (this is what Stila recommends to do anyway). It covers up redness and acne scarring really well too; it probably helps that it has a slightly yellow undertone, but it really blends into the skin and looks natural. I’m not sure I’d say that it completely covers up all of my acne, but its not a full coverage foundation so I didn’t expect it too. I honestly hate the look of full coverage foundations; I prefer to use concealer on trouble spots for a more natural look anyway. I will update you guys if it makes me break out or if I get super oily, but so far so good.

Ingredients: Dimethicone, Water (Aqua), Isododecane, Hydrogenated Didecene, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Tribehenin, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tropolone, Methicone, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Edta, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Kaolin, Malachite Extract, Illite, Montmorillonite, Smithsonite May Contain (+/-) Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499) .

February Favorites 2011

Posted on: February 26th, 2011 by veggiebeauty No Comments

The LA Color Craze polish is called Current:) Where to buy Natural Minerals: myworld.ebay.com Live version of “Stinkfoot” by Frank Zappa 1974 www.youtube.com Borscht Blog Post: veggie-beauty.blogspot.com FTC: I purchased everything myself.

Top 10 Beauty Products of 2010

Posted on: January 1st, 2011 by admin No Comments

I’ve seen pretty much every beauty blogger on youtube and beyond compiling their favorites of 2010. It seems a fitting way to bid adieu to the old year I suppose. I’m usually not one for jumping on the bandwagon, but I like to chart my progress. When I look back a year from today, it would be nice to have a time capsule of what I used in 2010 to keep myself feeling fabulous. I know I’ve already come leaps and bounds in my “makeup journey” (yes I said it, and yes I know that its corny). I know that 2011 will bring new brightly colored pretties and hopefully my holygrail vegan foundation and powder for my super porcelain oily combination complexion from hell.

(*Disclaimer: Everything featured in my blog was purchased by moi, or gifted from a friend. I’m not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned, nor do I wish to be.)

1. Dr. Bronner’s 18 in 1 Hemp Peppermint Castile Soap 16 oz. $8.99 : This soap has come in so handy for me. I use it for most everything…as a face wash, body wash, to clean my makeup brushes. I’m sure in a pinch I could use it to do my dishes and as a toothpaste, but that last option doesn’t sound too appealing. I’ve heard you can use it as shampoo, but that it makes hair stringy and strips it of its oils. That’s the only downside I can think of. The cryptic religious writing all over the body is a bit weird, but endearing (I admire passion, and Dr. Bronner had loads of it to spare). Oh, and the peppermint oil is a bit shocking to, shall I say it, some “sensitive” areas…girls you know what I mean. So next time I may go with the lavender for a body wash, and just use the peppermint for everything else because peppermint is one of my favorite scents. The tree-hugger in me also loves that its fair-trade, vegan, and of course organic! It most importantly, it doesn’t leave that slimy residue behind that many soaps have.

2. E.L.F. Stipple Brush (Studio Line) $3: This is another multi-purpose item that I use everyday…I seriously don’t know how I did my makeup without it. I will definitely be buying more of these in the future when ELF has another one of their glorious sales. It works well for applying a thin layer of foundation and helps me conserve my product as a little bit goes a long way when using this brush. My favorite uses for this are with pigmented mineral blushes and cream blushes. It makes the finish natural and keeps you from looking like you stepped out of an 80′s Motley Crue video .

3. NYX single eyeshadow in Sparkle Cedar $3.50: I not usually one for sparkle, but I always found myself gravitating towards subtly dramatic shadow this year. Its a perfect lid color on me, its super affordable, and it works for day/nighttime looks, depending what colors you pair it with in the crease. I’ve heard its a dupe for MAC’s Smoke and Diamonds, but don’t quote me on that. Its the perfect shimmery, beigey, tan/taupe color that is universally flattering on most skintones.

4. Ecotools Bamboo Eye Brush Set 6 Pieces $7.99: This set, by far, is the best bang for your buck as far as affordable, cruelty-free makeup brushes go. Ecotools is readily available at drugstores, its very affordable, and the quality can’t be beat for the price. I really don’t mind the short handles on these brushes, it helps me get closer into the mirror so I can actually see what the heck I’m doing. They are super soft, and my personal favorite is the highlight brush, although I do use it for blending instead of its intended purpose.

5. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I get a 16 oz. bottle of it as ALDI grocery store for $3.99!): This year, I’ve been focusing my skin care are more natural, less harsh products. Olive oil has been a life saver for my combination crazy ass skin. My skin flakes and it breaks out constantly, so its pretty much a nightmare. This stuff helps me even out my skin, removes my makeup, including my eye makeup. My eyelashes have grown in thicker since I’ve started using this! I like to use this right out of the shower, and it soaks beautifully into my skin. My one caution…make sure you throughly remover any left over oil on the surface of the skin with toner so you don’t have break outs.

6. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha: I know that the Milk Jumbo Pencil gets all of the love in the beauty community, but I seriously use this as base for my lid colors at least 3 times a week. Its simple, no frills, metallic brown colors that makes everyday neutral looks pop. I highly recommend it!

7. E.L.F. Luscious Liquid Lipstick Bark $1: I can’t count how many of these I’ve gone through this year. Its the perfect, wearable mauve with the slightest bit of brown. Its my idea of a what a nude lip should look like. Its not sticky, it has a vanilla mint flavor, and did I mention its only $1?!

8. E.L.F. Studio Blush in Blushing Rose $3: The ELF studio blushes are my absolute favorite blushes of all time. They are vegan (no crushed beetle shells for me, thank you!) beautiful and buildable colors. They last a really long time too for a low end blush. I have a bunch of them, but the one I used most this year would have to be Blushing Rose. It gives a nice, glowy flush to my cheeks. Stunning, especially for the fall/winter.

9. NYX I Dream of Nevis Palette $8.99: I could probably use this palette everyday…the colors are perfect for cool toned gals like myself. There is a nice range of matte and satin colors, and I use the deep brown in my outer v quite frequently. The quality is the same as the single shadows, and you get more bang for your buck at 5 shadows for under 10 dollars. The only shade I could do without would be the super glittery silver. Beware, or you may end up looking like a disco ball.

10. ELF HD Powder $6: A good translucent powder is a must for setting the undereye. This also helps my makeup last longer and keeps the oil slick at bay. Its more pricey than most of the ELF line, but I seriously have been using the same container for over a year now, and still have a good bit left. A little goes a long way with this product…the trick is to not overdo it or you will look ashy and sickly. I reach for this EVERYDAY, not kidding.