Tag: natural

Mineral Fusion Concealer

While I have many treasured concealers, I generally prefer formulas with a silky consistency packaged in a tube like these. But in certain situations, I prefer a compact. I love throwing a compact in my purse. And non-liquid formulas are much better for travel.

Enter Mineral Fusion’s concealer duo. Also must be noted, this works beautifully in matching as you can blend shades to find your perfect match. The duo also is great for transitioning between seasons as the natural coloring of your face changes.

I’ve been using the Neutral shade and leaning towards using the darker color under my eyes. I blend both shades to cover blemishes and conceal around my nose. And the lighter shade makes a great eye shadow base on my eyelids. What I most appreciate about the formula is the compact actually transforms into a smooth cream for the most seamless coverage. I never get creases or cakeyness.

And lastly, I cannot tell you how many questions I get about natural and vegan products. So, I am happy to report that this concealer is:

100% Vegan
All-natural
Hypo-allergenic
Never tested on animals
Paraben, Phthalate, SLS, & fragrance-free
Whole Foods Premium compliant

Available at Whole Foods Markets, drugstore.com and MineralFusion.com

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Brand Spotlight For The Guys: JĀSÖN Natural Cosmetics

Not to say you ladies won’t want to steal these goodies, but I think Jason Natural Cosmetics is right up a guy’s alley. The natural, but effective products are a look good/feel good kind of situation. And the packaging is largely clean and masculine.

JĀSÖN, meaning healer in Greek, was started in California in 1959. The founders’ mission was to create products without the prevalent harsh chemicals while still preserving efficacy. Some of their core products were:

shampoo fueled by Apricot Oil and Wheat Protein for a naturally aromatic and gentle clean
body lotion with natural Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to soothe and smooth skin
and a whitening toothpaste powered by peppermint oil and bamboo powders.

I had my male testing team try out a couple products and they were universally pleased. First up was the Jason Natural Cosmetics Natural & Organic Satin Shower Body Wash, Tea Tree Melaleuca. First, a word of caution: don’t go in expecting this to work as or smell strongly of Tea Tree. It is more defined by its nourishing ingredients, Vitamin E & Pro-Vitamin B5. The tea tree oil and Aloe Vera subtly purifies and balances skin. I particularly love the giant containers (30oz) this body wash is available in – perfect for families.

Another member of my team checked out the Jason Natural Cosmetics Shampoo and Conditioner, Thin-To-Thick Hair & Scalp Therapy. I too deal with scalp issues so I naturally had to give it a test run myself as well. We love the botanical scent. It approaches herbal but is totally pleasant. Both Shampoo and Conditioner add volume and strength hair with Biotin, Panthenol & Natural Proteins. The Shampoo has a rich later and the plant proteins add shine and bounce. The Conditioner weightlessly strengthens and fortifies with Vitamins A, C and E, preventing split ends.

Also, in the Thin-to-Thick product line, the guy tested out Jason Thin to Thick Scalp Energizing Elixer. Almost like a serum for the scalp, my tester enjoyed using this at night as it is ever so slightly oily. The elixir revitalizes with biotin while natural folic acid and lactic acid help stimulate hair growth and prevent future hair loss. He said his hair was unusually soft and manageable the next morning.

As a note, I have also been a long time fan of Jason Natural Cosmetics Pure Beauty Oil, 5,000 IU Vitamin E Oil (see original post here). When my skin or cuticles need a little extra care, I turn to this nourishing (albeit a little messy) oil containing Black Currant, Evening Primrose, Macadamia Nut and Borage essential oils. It is a truly intensive treatment if you need to heal skin quickly.

All JĀSÖN products are committed to their “Code of Honor”:

Select safe, wholesome, natural ingredients
Rigorously test every formula to ensure safety and efficacy
Never test on animals
Constantly innovate and improve

Three Dry Skin Saviors

Sometimes you have to bring in the big guns. When my skin is seriously dry, I turn to these three guys to get me back on track:

Mustela Cold Cream is technically for infants but who cares!? It is packed with almond oil and nutrients and gentle enough for the youngest of skin. The lotion is on the thicker side with a beach-y scent.

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream is a rich balm that seriously gets me glowing (I also love it for cuticles and as a salve on scrapes and burns). This huge tub will last you forever.

Weleda Skin Food is one of those natural cult-classics. I use this rich lotion everywhere – especially after a marathon dish washing session. But don’t hesistate using this on the face, elbows and even your lips. Lavender, rosemary and sweet orange oil give it a botanical and invigorating smell.

KORRES Volcanic Minerals Volumizing Mascara

I remember my first experience with KORRES – I was trolling the aisles of Sephora with my good friend in New York City on a winter day about 10 years ago. We stumbled across a small display with the most decadent body butters (which I was hooked on for years). Since, I’ve fallen hard Korres Lip Butter in this shade. And now you can add a mascara to that growing list.

First, a little about KORRES. The company is rooted in Greece with a commitment to natural skincare, color and body products. Evolved from the oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens, KORRES today strives for environmentally friendly formulas.

Their newest mascara is derived from volcanic soil to give the deepest, darkest color. While the product discription talks a lot about volume, I’ve found length is where this formula prevails. The glossy, luminous finish with a natural look is perfect for the spring “not too done” look. It leaves my lashes feeling conditioned, but still wears well throughout the day. The tapered brush head has cross-hatch bristles, making it easy to get even those small lashes in the bottom inner corner.

Polymers derived from Sunflower Seeds adds luminosity and depth to deep obsidian black color. Cotton extract mimicks the strength of cotton fibers, improving the strength of your lashes while you wear the mascara. And Vegetal Waxes, Thyme Extract, Quackgrass, and Marine Algae extracts condition and hydrate.

Available at Sephora.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Brand Spotlight: Tata Harper

I’ll be honest… if there is a brand I have been lusting after, it is Tata Harper. I had a little mini-facial at NYFW way back in September 2011 and never quite got the brand out of my mind. I will never forget hearing that Tata herself manufactures all her products on a 1,200 acre farm in Vermont. How cool is that??

Tata Harper developed the line with the health of women wanting to look beautiful in mind. The products are all 100% natural and non-toxic from ingredients grown on the farm and thoughtfully sourced from around the world. The natural, fragrant nature of these products are soothing just in themselves. Tata oversees all the R&D, marketing, distribution and formulations. The packaging is fresh and luxe – how often to you find “feel good” products that look so stunning on your vanity?

The Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser is one of those cleansers that is not really designed to remove makeup, but is so gentle and creamy, my sensitive & dry skin eats it up. There are no detergents or alcohol in the milky formula. Fueled by minerals and French clay, the cleanser can get into pores and remove dead skin. White Willow Bark exfoliates while Pomegranate extract acts as an antioxidant. And the Neroli and Bergamont make cleansing a fragrant pleasure.

Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer is silky and luxurious. This liquid lotion packs as much of a hydration punch as a thicker cream. Long lasting moisture is provided by Jojoba and Vitamin E while Oleosomes from Safflower helps retain moisture and improve the skin barrier. Natural Hyaluronic acid takes hydration to the next level. Fresh Rose and essential oils, including sandalwood, magnolia, and geranium help foster radiant, plump and fresh looking skin. After application, I almost feel a slight tightening as if my skin is protected and reinforced.

The most intriguing products I tried was the Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex. This serum comes in a vial with a roller ball that you are directed to roll over your face and neck. The ritual of application almost became addicting as the cool metal ball acts as a massager. This goes on over your moisturizer (so I guess it isn’t really a serum). The thin liquid is absorbed into my skin almost immediately, lending to a radiant complexion. Alfalfa extract gives you a dose of vitamins A, B, C, D and E, working to improve hyper-pigmentation. Rosa Rubiginosa seed oil contains a trans-retinoic acid working against fine lines. Carrot Oil and Borage Oil calm and freshen the skin. Lastly, rose otto adds just a very slight fragrance.

Tata also has a collection of aromatherapy treatments. Appropriately so, I’ve been trying out Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment. I can’t believe how addicted I am to this – I reach for it all the time. The roller ball dispenser is designed to be applied to pulse points to calm and promote relaxation to the mind, body and spirit. Sweet, honeyed linden, rose otto, bittersweet neroli and frankincense really do conjure a relaxed state of mind. When things are really tense, I take a moment to apply to my palms, cup them over my face and take five deep breaths. And good news: you can use this as many times as needed throughout the day. I truly believe even the thoughtful act of doing something to calm the mind makes for a healthier spirit.

Shop for the above Tata Harper products here:

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Me & The Girls Lavandula Revive Food Scrub and Softening Creme

Yikes, my feet are looking rough. I know it is only January but pool time will be here before you know it. And I have some work to do on these tootsies. I was recently introduced to a natural skincare brand, Me & The Girls. Sharon Hackney, Me & The Girls Founder and CEO, has crafted a line up of organic, vegan products housed in a beautiful AND eco-friendly packaging. With an eye towards trying to stay non-toxic and chemical free, I had to give some of the bath products a whirl.

I’m a sucker for anything lavender so I immediate dove into the Lavandula Revive Foot Scrub during my latest bath time. It is an intense scrub that still manages to revitalize. The organic sugar cane exfoliates while the spearmint butter crème base gives a minty tingle. I’m not pool ready yet, but this is certainly helping.

Post bath, I slathered on Lavandula Revive Foot Softening Creme, loaded with Cupuacu Seed Butter and Avacado Oil. The calming lavender scent is balanced out with just a hint of mint. Slip on some comfy socks and let that stuff go to work. Not only did my feet feel better, but the moisturized skin was easier to care for and looked better.

Also, as a side note, I am also hooked on Limonum Sugar Body Scrub – these guys know how to do a good scrub! You can find Me & The Girls goodies at shop.meandthegirls.com.