Product Reviews

The charcoal idea didn't work out...for me.  It does work for a soft look, but I like my eyes to be more dramatic.  Oh well, experimenting is fun.  So here's some recent makeup purchases: Aveda mineral tinted moisture, Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer, Urban Decay Stardust, and blinc mascara. 
In a previous post I mentioned a mineral powder I was using as foundation and that I needed to get a moisturizer for the winter.  Well, I dropped that foundation and it went flying all over the room in many many pieces.  So instead I bought a moisturizer and foundation in one- Aveda's mineral tinted moisture Inner Light (I use Aspen).  It also has an spf of 15, which you need even if it's not summer!  It goes on really light, so it doesn't have a lot of coverage, but it does work to moisturize and even skin tone.  I needed new concealer so I went to the Urban Decay display because typically that's the first place I go when I need anything makeup related.  I love Urban Decay because they make my life easy by labeling which of their products is vegan.  I got the Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer (in Dream).  I mostly use concealer for under eye darkness and this one offers a lot of coverage and the yellow undertones offset the purple under my eyes (if you use concealer to cover red blemishes you'll want to look for something with a green undertone).  Since my charcoal experience didn't work out I needed a new black shadow (that I use as an eyeliner).  My local Urban Decay was out of the one I've used in the past (Deluxe in Zero) so I decided to try something new and got Stardust in Void, which is black with a lot of shimmer.  I like it a lot and it's fun to have a little sparkle for the holidays.  I also needed a new mascara and I am always trying a new mascara every time because I have yet to find one I absolutely love.  I had heard about blinc on a vegan blog so I thought I'd try it.  Their slogan is "Stop painting your lashes...tube them!"  It creates tubes around your lashes to lengthen and thicken them.  It's water resistant and smudge resistant.  But with hot water and makeup remover it comes off easy, the tubes actually slide off making it look like your eyelashes have all fallen out!  I like it because I don't end up with mascara all down my face when I go to hot yoga. 
Well I think my highlights are done processing so I better go wash them out!

Product Review, mascara

I don't know about you, but I feel like I am in a constant search for the perfect mascara.  When I was younger I found a Revlon one I really liked, that was soon discontinued.  Since becoming a vegan it has severely limited my mascara choices since most makeup companies, even if a lot of their other products are vegan, don't make a vegan mascara.  Maybe this will make my search easier because I have a smaller search area?  Maybe.  Anyway so far I have tried two kinds, Gabriel Color and Tarte Lash Hugger.  Gabriel Color, http://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=3&ParentCat=7 , I bought at Whole Foods.  I liked the consistency a lot, it went on smooth and lengthened a little.  The problem is when I teared up, which I tend to do because I like onions, if the mascara got in my eye it stung, A LOT, and that would just make me cry more!  Recently I purchased Tarte's Lash Hugger from Sephora,
http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-lash-hugger .  The tube is made from recycled aluminum and the packaging was also made from recycled material and there was a bunch of other natural good stuff about it that you can read on the website.  It's ok, but I'm still continuing my search.  It makes my lashes look significantly longer (and I already have pretty long lashes), a co-worker even commented on them the first day I wore it.  But I guess in order to build upon itself to make your lashes longer it has to clump up a little, so it doesn't have the smooth sleek look that I like my lashes to have.  I'll keep using it, because it was expensive and it's not horrible, but look for a review of a whole new mascara in a couple months.

Product Review, good and bad

I love Paul Mitchell, so when I saw that they had a new organic line I wanted to try it.  I've only tried one product, so I'm not judging the whole line on this, but I wasn't a fan.  What I tried was the mousse.  It made my hair feel dry and crunchy.  Actually I find that most mousses do this to my hair (which is fine but full, color treated, short, and curly) and really I wouldn't recommend mousse for curly hair, but like I said I wanted to try it.  So what would I recommend for curly hair?  Aveda's Be Curly Curl Enhancer.  I LOVE this stuff.  I recently ran out, and being broke I have been trying many a combination of products I have around my apartment, but nothing works.  Here's what I love about Curl Enhancer: it creates smooth frizz free curls and it feels like there is nothing in your hair.  I am currently dying my hair an intense red, and to try to keep my color vibrant I wash it as little as possible, so it is important that I use product that doesn't feel heavy and built up in my hair.  Curl Enhancer is the perfect product for my needs, and I really need to go buy some more.

Product Review: Pacifica Solid Perfume

I was never really a perfume girl, especially not flowery girly perfumes.  If I wore anything it was usually a men's cologne or I'd steal a spray of my friend's Dior Hypnotic Poison.  But over time I have come to dislike the smell of artificial perfumes, they just smell like chemicals.  Pacifica is natural, organic, and smells delicious.  www.pacificaperfume.com My favorites are Tuscan Blood Orange and Brazilian Mango Grapefruit, I'm a sucker for citrus.  And the best part about the solid perfumes is you can toss them into your purse without fear of spillage.  If you're used to synthetic fragrances these don't smell as strong and don't last as long.  Personally, I'd rather you not be able to smell my perfume from across the room, but that's me.  Also, synthetics can cause bad allergic reactions and the build up of them over time destroys your immune system.  Here's a quick article:   http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=222   and if you want to learn more about it a quick google search will provide So while your $70 department store perfume might make you feel like you smell good, soon you'll be feeling bad due to your weakened immunities. Pacifica is typically $9 a pot and will leave you smelling and feeling amazing.

Product Review: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment

I'm a big fan of Paul Mitchell, not only do they have great, professional products, but they're also big on giving back to the world.  For example percentages from their sales of Tea Tree products are donated to American Forests to plant trees.  Check out paulmitchell.com to learn more about that program and the other things the company is committed to.  Anyway, product review...Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment.  I realize this is a little late since winter is pretty much over and that's when most people get dry scalp.  But dry scalp can also be caused by other factors, such as medication.  So if you need a dry scalp treatment I recommend this one.  Use it after shampooing.  The smell is invigorating and you can feel the tingle on your scalp as you massage it in.  It's really refreshing and works great!  Paul Mitchell makes an entire Tea Tree line, some of which include other fragrance blends like lavender.  So if you like to be refreshed and rejuvenated in the shower by your bath products, check it out.