Burt’s Bees Liquid Lipstick: Review and Swatches

I’m already a huge fan of Burt’s Bees Lipstick but when I tried the new liquid formula, it was hard to believe that color this vibrant is 100% natural.

The only thing better than the luscious texture and healing emollients is the gorgeous shade selection. There are 12 trendy hues to choose from ranging from rich berry, vivacious red, mauve, rose, coral and nude – I love them all!

The velvety pigments contain conditioning apricot and babassu oil blended with shea butter and essential fatty acids that deeply moisturize, soften and protect. If you really want your pout to pop, apply generous layers to enhance opaqueness while using the applicator point to define and accentuate. The glistening shine has a plumping effect for a little extra drama.

Like most cream formulas, expect some transfer with extended wear and during meals. Aside from having to reapply throughout the day, there is minimal smudging and no staining.

The rich autumn colors are my favorite but the coverage and consistency seems to vary. Some shades are dense and apply prominently in one coat while others are sheer, a tad slippery and vivid – similar to saturated lip gloss. I wouldn’t classify every pigment as “liquid lipstick” but they are pretty.

The pink tones are soft, easy to wear and flattering on all complexions.

In the neutral spectrum there are 3 hues that range from light, medium and deep – a little something for everyone.

If you’re looking for chemical-free lipstick that looks great and feels fantastic, you should definitely give these a try. The formula isn’t flawless but the organic extracts nourish dry lips in all climates and won’t melt in your purse.

The lipsticks retail for $15.99 each at Whole Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, amazon.ca, Walmart, London Drugs and well.ca. You can also check them out at burtsbees.ca.

Silk Naturals Mineral Eye Shadow Review

When I find products that are affordable, great quality and safe it keeps me going back for more. In March I reviewed the beautiful mineral eye shadows from Silk Naturals and today I have even more gorgeous colors to share.

Silk Naturals is a company that strives to create homemade beauty products with more natural ingredients including vegan and gluten free options. The loose pigments are my favorite items from the brand because of the vivid, vivacious colors! These shadows are highly saturated, easy to build and there are over 275 shades available! With so much variety it is difficult to pick favorites and the swatches online do not express the amazing multi-dimensional shimmer, deep rich hues and smooth texture.

The shadows come in small jars with a sifter top that is easily removable and each 5g jar contains about ¾ teaspoon of pigment. With these shadows a little goes a long way and the texture is soft, fine and easy to apply for non-creasing, long-wear coverage. They are also available in matte, shimmer and glitter finishes.

The shades I have are:

*Loaded- a rose gold

*Kick- this purple is not as solid as the others; it is slightly transparent with a layer of pretty glitter

*Vandal-deep shimmery blue

*Element- a true Midas gold that is yellow based

*Rouge- light shimmery blue

*Swamp-  matte, light green, (a bit darker than lime green)

*Burnout-shimmery, deep burgundy/plum

*Magpie- shimmery blue/silver (but up close it seems to contain flecks of sea foam green!)

(swatched over Silk Natural's Stick em primer)

My favorite blue shadow called Paranormal is from this brand and I love how easy they blend. I prefer loose pigments because the color pay-off is usually more intense than the pressed variety and provide a wider range of saturation to play with. When paired with Silk Natural’s Stick em primer the shadows adhere well to skin and look stunning!

If you are new to loose shadow I recommend using the following method of application:

1. Refrain from applying face makeup such as: foundation, concealer, blush etc until AFTER you complete your eye makeup. This reduces the chance of fall-out messing up your makeup.

2. Use a flat shadow brush and dab it into the pigment

3. Gently knock off excess shadow on the side of the jar to help prevent fall-out

4. Using small dabbing motions press the pigment onto the lids starting at the center and working your way out.

5. Build up the color to your desired saturation

(Lid color: Loaded)

This brand has something for every skin tone and satisfies every preference; whether you like neutrals, medium tones or brights. There are also colors available for every season and occasion and the shimmer colors catch the light and look beautifully iridescent in the summer. I definitely recommend trying these pigments and they make a fabulous gift for any makeup lover! They retail for just $4.50 each and you can check out the website by clicking HERE.

 **Disclaimer: These products were provided for review. 

Ko Denmark Body Oil and Face Serum Review

This winter I have been loving essential oils for skin care so today I have another review on some natural oils for use on the face and body.

Ko Denmark is a skin care line that is founded by a woman named Henriette who utilized her knowledge of botanicals and her family’s ancient skin care secrets from their garden in Denmark to create some wonderful products.

The first product I am going to review is the jasmine - neroli - rose body oil

The oil can be applied to clean, damp skin to lock in “the body’s natural moisture.” It can even be used in the shower before you step out or as an indulgent massage oil! 

Ingredients

This oil contains: sunflower oil, apricot oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, aloe, vitamin E, olive oil, rose, rosemary and neem.

I always read the labels of products I put in or on my body and if there are minimal amounts of quality additives it can mean the difference between purchasing a product or leaving it on the shelf. I like this oil because unlike many drugstore moisturizers it actually contains beneficial components instead of synthetics.

How it Works

After taking a warm shower the oil feels luxuriously moisturizing and the scent has fresh, botanical aroma therapy benefits. After application I can feel trace amounts of oil on my skin until it dries. Because it is meant to be applied on damp skin the oil absorbs slowly due to the water barrier but feels pleasant and lasts long. I even add a few drops to my body lotions for more hydration. A nice deep tissue massage is also a wonderful way to allow the ingredients to seep in and relax tense muscles.

The only thing I would recommend is adding a dispenser because pouring the oil from the wide bottle opening can get a bit slippery. 

This body oil retails for $42 per 150 ml you can find more information by clicking HERE

The next product I am going to review is the jasmine – neroli – rose anti-aging rosehip & evening primrose face serum

Description: “Luxurious anti-aging face serum designed to help calm dryness and reduce fine lines. Primrose has the ability to clear the skin and rosehip has a high concentration of fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A to promote cellular metabolism.”

The face oil contains many of the same natural ingredients as the body oil and has a pleasant, mildly fresh herbal scent. It has a medicine dropper applicator which is ideal for dispensing the oil and contains no parabens, mineral oil, perfume or animal ingredients. 

I primarily use this oil before bed  because I don't use oil based products under my makeup. This oil provides instant soothing relief for dry skin. You only need 2-3 drops to hydrate the entire face. The more you use the more shine and product you will see on the skin but eventually the oil absorbs, dries and becomes less noticeable. It is also great for dry hands and moisturizing the cuticles. I use a tiny bit on my eyelashes before bed to help nourish the hair and promote growth. 

These essential oils do not clog pores or cause acne but rather nurtures the skin with vitamins. The moisture lasts all night and by morning my complexion looks healthy and dewy.

This face oil retails for $38 per 30 ml you can find it HERE 

For more information on Ko Denmark products you ca visit their website at: KoDenmark.Com

You can also find them on:

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

**Disclaimer: These products were provided to me for a sponsored review courtesy of Ko denmark. All opinions stated in this review are my own and based on my experience with the products. Results may vary based on individual use.**