The Organic Skin Co Makeup Review: Lip Service Lipstick

At the beginning of a new year I avoid making unrealistic resolutions that I’ll probably give up on in a few weeks. Healthy living is an ongoing journey that can be difficult in a world full of synthetic substances, pollution and stress. I make a contentious effort to improve my diet and break bad habits but sometimes it’s easier to start with small changes like drinking more water, taking the stairs, eating more veggies or using natural beauty products.

What you put on your body eventually ends up in your body so Organic Skin Co has created a variety of cruelty-free, vegan makeup and skincare infused with amazing ingredients. What makes this New Zealand brand so unique is their process of Supercritical Extraction - a method of harvesting plant nutrients in the purest way possible. The herbs and emollients are extremely concentrated (up to 50 times stronger than conventional extracts) so they deliver the full spectrum of nature’s benefits straight to your skin!

If that wasn’t good enough, the lipsticks are loaded with nourishing Calendula and Rosemary to condition, soften and smooth dry skin with no harsh fragrances or chemical aftertaste. The gentle formula is also free of parabens, gluten, talc and other irritating additives to keep your pout healthy and protected.

I don’t usually go for neutrals but Zen is a deep chocolate-y brown that accentuates my lips without washing me out. The finish is sheer, soft and natural.

The vibrant colors are lightweight, comfortable and buildable with a semi-matte satin finish that makes lips appear luscious! The texture feels more like a moisturizing balm, bathing parched skin in rich nutrients without feathering or transferring to teeth. Since the pigments provide sheer to medium coverage, it may take a few layers to achieve bold saturation but the healing formula keeps my lips supple, plump and replenished.

The Lip Service Collection includes 12 gorgeous shades but I chose my favorites – Ruby Red, Galaxy and Flame which has a subtle metallic sheen. These hues look ravishing on all skin tones and are perfect for all occasions.

If you’re looking for a classic pink, Blossom is stunning!

Swatches from left to right: Zen, Ruby Red, Flame, Galaxy and Blossom.

The company ships worldwide and also sells concealer, luminizer, blush, foundation, eye shadow, mascara and more! Visit the website at theorganicskinco.com.

Flickable Lip Gloss Review

And the award for cutest lip gloss of the year goes to (drum-roll please)... Flickable! Okay, so there may not be a real beauty award for this category but when it comes to adorable packaging, Flickable sets the bar pretty high. I was actually able to trick a few people into thinking these were candy, but the delicious lollipop lippies aren’t just about creativity, what’s inside is good too! The vegan, cruelty-free formula has officially launched in Canada with 5 delicious shades to compliment all skin tones.

In case you were wondering how they work - the lolly stick is the applicator and the candy ball holds the sheer, juicy pigment that glides on smooth and ultra shiny for a luminous finish. The non-greasy, moisturizing color feels more like a luxurious oil-gloss hybrid, enriched with a blend of nourishing jojoba oil, Vitamin E and meadow foam oil.

The lightweight, comfortable texture drenches lips in dazzling shine and alleviates dry skin for hours – much longer than the average lip balm. I also notice a cool, refreshing sensation and a slight plumping effect with no tingle or stickiness. The gloss helps prevent cracking, peeling and roughness so lips feel soft, healthy and replenished.

Each color has its own scrumptious scent and flavour (with no calories) and the subtle shimmer makes lips appear radiant.

Left to right: Fight for Your White to Party (Sugar Cookie), Toffee Talk (English Coffee), Do ya Pink I’m Sexy (Passion Fruit), Citrus How We Do (Tangerine) and Berry Off Red (Red).

Sometimes a girl just needs a boost of hydration without all the drama and these provide soft, translucent coverage with a faint tint. You can also wear them over your favorite lipsticks and use them to revive matte pigments when they become stiff. The formula is paraben and gluten free making it safe for sensitive skin.

The gloss retails for just $6.00 each at Hudson’s Bay locations and online at thebay.com.

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box Review

Vegan Cuts is a company that sells a variety of natural and cruelty free products including beauty items, fashion and food. Today I am going to be reviewing the Vegan Cuts beauty box.

How it works

This monthly subscription box offers a delivery of 4-7 cosmetic or skin care samples every month for $19.95. It is suitable for people who prefer environmentally friendly beauty products that are safe and mostly organic. The box ships out on the 17^th of each month.

I love natural products especially when they work, so I am reviewing the January beauty box. I received 2 full sized products, 2 medium samples and 3 small packets. The box comes with a card that lists all of the products with a short description of each.

Aubrey Organics NuStyle Organic detangler & shine booster

Aubrey Organics is a line I have come across before although had never used. This spray is certified organic and came in a 30 ml sample bottle. It is made with quinoa and protein to smooth tangles, strengthen the hair & cuticle, repair damaged ends, replenish the scalp and tame frizz. It also contains: aloe, primrose, lavender, orange, lemon, lime, eucalyptus and more.

This is a good sample for me because I have naturally curly hair that has its frizzy moments and takes a while to detangle. Although this product may come in handy I don’t care for the smell and I may need to use a lot for long thick hair. The full size bottle retails for $9.95 per 148 ml.

Ofra Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick

This liquid lipstick was one of the full sized products in the box and my favorite item. This color is called Plumas, a very pretty bronze shade with a slight sheen. I like the texture of this product; it reminds me of a smooth lip cream, very dense and pigmented although a bit thick. It glides on smoothly and looks rather matte on the lips. I love the smell; to me it resembles the scent of cake batter!

The liquid lipstick retails for $19.90 which is the price of the entire beauty box!

Bamboo Charcoal Dew Puff

Dew Puff konjac sponge is a product I have tried and reviewed before. If you saw that review you know that I like knojac sponges, they are great for gentle cleansing and making the skin feel soft. This sponge has natural antioxidants for blemish prone skin and was actually my favorite type of puff. The box contained a full sized konjac puff.

 The Dew Puffs retail for $7 each and you can find my full review on them by clicking HERE 

Primal Pit Paste

I have tried natural deodorants before without much success but they are healthier since they are aluminum free. This deodorant is a creamy white paste that you apply to the armpits to help control odor and keep fresh. It contains: shea butter, arrowroot, coconut oil, baking soda, thyme and lemon grass. The paste comes in different scents, the one in this box is called thyme and lemongrass and I don’t care for the smell, to me it is quite strong and resembles ginger. Although the paste looks white when you rub it into the skin it blends out for a translucent application.

The sample is .25 oz and the regular size is 2oz and retails for $8.95

Sample Packs

Also in the box were small sample packs of the Better Botanicals jojoba clarifying scrub and the coriander balancing cleanser. These products are jam packed with natural ingredients. The cleanser is suppose to “eliminate impurities, remove makeup and excess oil while refreshing and detoxifying the skin.” The scrub helps polish the skin and is gentle enough for everyday use.

The last sample is a small packet of Biao Beauty rejuvenating night cream; it is suppose to “rejuvenate and moisturize the skin.”

Final Thoughts

This box is not bad for those who have negative reactions to many of the chemicals found in most beauty products.  It is good for testing out natural and organic products in order to determine what works for you. Some products were a hit for me while others were not. I like the ingredients in most of these samples and I think if the box contained more makeup items I would have liked it even more.

You can find more information on this beauty box at: Vegan Cuts Beauty Box

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

Madison Street Beauty Mineral Eye Shadow Review

Today I am going to bring you a review on some stunning mineral eye shadows by Madison Street Beauty. This beauty company creates environmentally friendly, 100% natural, vegan cosmetics that are not only safe but absolutely gorgeous and great quality. Although I buy all types of makeup it is always an added bonus when I find a brand that I know is cruelty free and won't harm my skin.

I received these beautiful loose shadows in an array of vibrant colors. When you visit the website there are so many color options to choose from that I found it difficult to narrow down which ones I wanted! Madison Street Beauty has something for everyone, whether you like soft hues, warm tones neutral colors or bold shades they have you covered.

Sizes

These shadows come in 3 different sizes, large (2.5g), regular (1g) and sample size (0.5g). The different sizes allows you to get as much or as little color as you want. If you already know what colors are your favorites then the large jars are great, if you aren't sure what to choose then you can opt for the sample jars and get a large variety.

Price

Right now on the website there are a lot of shades on sale. The regular prices for these shadows are only $4.99 each (for the 1g jar) and some are on sale for $2. Madison Street Beauty has successfully combined high quality, safe eye shadows at extremely affordable prices. 

Lets take a look at the colors I picked...

Quality

These mineral shadows apply incredibly pigmented! Unlike some loose shadows that are hard to build up these apply smooth and if you pat them on it is very easy to build up the colors and blend them out. I always wear a good eye shadow primer under my eye makeup but when swatching these shadows on my hand they were so pigmented that I didn't even need to use a primer to capture the richness of the colors for the photos below.

Finish &Texture

I am already planning which holiday events I am going to wear these gorgeous colors to. The shade Ocean Coral has the most glitter particles and gives off a nice sparkle effect; the rest of the shadows have a velvety smooth metallic finish.

Packaging

Not only are these shadows long lasting but they don’t crease if you prime your eyelids and the jars have a sifter so you can control the amount of product that dispenses. The design is simple yet effective. For shipping I liked that the jars were shrink wrapped and secured because I hate it when my shadows are damaged and scattered into a mangled mess when they arrive at my door. The amount of product you receive per jar is determined by weight and the density of the individual shadow.

More Makeup!

Madison street beauty also sells: nail lacquer, blush, bronzer, concealer, foundation, lip balm, setting powder tools and everything is eco friendly! I would love to try out some more items from this brand because the shadows are amazing and I would definitely recommend them.

Glistening Emerald

I created this look using the color Emerald. This would be great option for Holiday parties, and events. It was simple to achieve this level of pigmentation, I actually used very little shadow and it produced an amazing effect. 

Stars & Storms

For this look I used the colors Silver Star and Storm. I think this rich blue is a beautiful hue and easier to wear than lighter shades of blue. Silver Star can be paired with almost any other color or used as a highlight to brighten up the eyes. I used an eye shadow primer and built up the color to achieve this deep blue saturation. 

Application

I am in awe at how beautiful and what great quality these shadows are. I recommend sifting out a tiny bit of product and dipping the brush into the jar. I also suggest using a good primer as your base and a flat eye shadow brush to pat the color onto the lid for less mess. My shadow remained looking great the entire day. I also recommend applying these eye shadows before applying any foundation, concealer or powder to your face so that you won't mess up your makeup if there is any fallout. 

You can find Madison Street Beauty on their website at - MadisonStreetBeauty.com

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