Elate Cosmetics: A Review

I found Elate Cosmetics through Instagram last year and was just enamored by their beautiful products. They are a Canadian based company that specializes in Green Beauty and clean makeup. I purchased their Mattifying Powder, Bronzer, Mini-Wonder Creme, Mascara, Tantric Lipstick and one of their Eye Shadow Trios. Some of these products were knockouts that I will continually repurchase and others were just ok.My favorite of all the products I purchased was the Mattifying Powder. It is an absolutely fantastic powder that keeps any any all oil at bay when paired with my 100% Pure Mattifying Primer. I use this on a daily basis and will continue to repurchase the refills when I run out. So far I haven’t found any powder quite like this one. The only drawback is that the powder has a slight yellow tint to it, so you may need to compensate with your foundation or bronzer.The mascara is another of the products I really liked. While it is no LilyLolo or Root mascara, it is definitely one of the better ones I’ve found. This mascara does not flake off my lashes so I like to pair it over my Honeybee Gardens mascara (which flakes like crazy). Between these two mascaras my lashes are thick and long. If you’re just looking for a lengthening mascara this one would work for you.I was not impressed but not really unimpressed with the bronzer and wonder creme. Both of these items are nice but I have found better options that I prefer. The lipstick and eyeshadow trio I was sadly unimpressed with. The lipstick is reminiscent of Au Natural’s in that it is very hard and doesn’t spread over the lips nicely. The pressed eyeshadows are similar to Hynt Beauty’s in that they don’t blend well and are WAY too pigmented to not blend. While the colors on each of these are very nice I probably won’t repurchase either of these items since I have options I absolutely love from Root.Elate Cosmetics is a fantastic Green Beauty brand that you should absolutely try! I highly suggest purchasing their Mattifying powder and their mascara. With USD to CAD exchange rates it’s like getting a discount! Shipping is also super fast, taking into consideration that you are shipping Internationally if coming to the US. I think you’ll love this brand as much as I do if you try them out.

Antonym Foundation: A Review

I found this company a while back and I’ve posted a review of their Blushes so I thought I would post a review of their foundation line. I am a color Light in Antonym’s foundation. The foundation is ecocert certified organic, certified vegan and free of most harmful chemicals. The one issue I’ve run into with this foundation is that it contains talc. Talc, if not sourced correctly can be a carcinogen. However, they say theirs is sourced directly from Italy which is commonly assumed to be safe.I really love this foundation. It is fantastic for days when I want a lighter foundation but still complete coverage. I don’t get as many complements when I’m wearing this as I do when I wear Root’s foundation, but people still seem to love the way this lays on my face.  I typically wear it over my 100% Pure Mattifying Primer and it stays all day long. Since it contains talc it keeps the oil down and works well with that primer.The packaging on this is amazing. It is so adorable in addition to being made from eco-friendly bamboo. It looks so incredible in my drawer and I love taking it places. It is also a great conversation starter since it is so cute.I would suggest at least getting a sample of this foundation if you can to try it out. Since they have several color options you will want to figure out your color match prior to ordering. You can typically get sample sizes from Integrity Botanicals or Citrine Beauty.

Lilylolo: A Review

I was so excited to find LilyLolo a few months ago. They are a European green beauty brand that is now available here in the US. They have a full range of beauty products, but here are the three products I’ve really put to the test over the last few months.Mascara: This is my holy grail mascara! It makes my eye lashes look absolutely incredible and it is also Vegan. It lengthens and volumizes my lashes like no other mascara I’ve ever tried before. It is also the perfect texture when coming out of the tube. I’ve found some mascaras can be really wet or dry and this one is perfection. It also doesn’t flake off my lashes after a long day.Pressed Blush: I really can’t decide if I actually like this blush or not. I like the color and the fact that it’s pressed, but I’m just not sure. This blush seems to wear off faster that most of my other blushes. It also seems to have a heavy scent that doesn’t really agree with me. I also have to be very careful if I purchase a blush from them since a lot of the colors contain carmine which I’m allergic to.Setting Spray: I’ve been looking for a green beauty setting spray that actually works, and this one certainly does! One thing I’ve had an issue with is some of the other setting sprays I’ve tried where the sprayer nozzle just squirts out and all over your face. This one provides a perfect, even mist all over your face when you use it. It also helps your makeup to last the entire day. I find that I only need to use two or three sprays to set my makeup for the entire day.I love several of the products I’ve tried from LilyLolo and there are several I’m not as crazy about. I will definitely be repurchasing the mascara and setting spray. I have several other products from them that I don’t really feel that I’ve tested out thoroughly so once I decide on them I’ll definitely post about this great company again.

100% Pure Primers: A Review

I’ve tried several primers in my quest to find a clean beauty one that actually works. I thought I would review two of my favorites from 100% Pure. They have two different types of primers, the Mattifying Primer and the Luminous Primer. There is definitely a primer for every skin type!The Mattifying Primer is my personal favorite. As we move towards summer I tend to have more issues with oil and sweat. I have found this primer to be excellent at controlling oil and sweat on my face. I also don’t have any issues with it clogging my pores or causing me to break out.The Luminous Primer is fantastic for my skin during the drier months when tend to have issues with dry patches. This does an excellent job at providing my skin with a little bit of life when it’s extremely dry. I cannot however, use this when I might sweat at all since it causes my foundation to slide around if there is any sort of excess oil.You can see the difference between the primers in this photo. The Mattifying primer is on the left, the Luminous is on the right. You can see how the Luminous one provides just a hint of a sheen beneath anything you’re wearing on top. The Mattifying one really just mattifies anything over it to give you a very even base.I love each of these primers, however the Mattifying primer is by far my favorite. I will continue to repurchase this item since I use it every day. I will probably not repurchase the Luminous primer since I cannot use it for most of the year. These are both excellent, clean, green beauty products that you need to try!

Green Beauty – Top 5 Green Beauty Products

I figured a great way to end this Green Beauty week would be to talk about my five absolute favorite products.  If you try any of the product I’ve suggested over the last week, in my opinion, these are the stars of the show.Lilylolo Mascara: Best mascara I’ve found yet. It adds length to my lashes while increasing their dramatic look. While I love my Root mascara, this one is absolutely my favorite. If you’re looking for a less toxic mascara this would be one of the first I would suggest to you.Antonym Cosmetics Blush: These blushes are well worth the money. They are incredibly buildable and come in several different shades so they fit any skin color. While the Rose blush will look good on absolutely any skin color the Peach and Copper shades are also very complimentary.Root Micellar Water: You need this product in your life. It is the best makeup remover I’ve ever tried. It is great for nights when you’re just too tired to wash your face. It is also an amazing remover to use before you cleanse your entire face.Root Pomegranate Serum: Moisture and anti-aging components all in one fantastic serum. I cannot tell you how much I love this product! It has seriously improved my skin since I’ve started using it on a daily basis. I won’t be caught without this again.Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Oil: If you have trouble with acne or spots this is the best oil I’ve found to date. While I don’t typically deal with spots, this is the best rescue treatment. I like to take it with me when I travel since that’s when I seem to have the most trouble with spots.I wish you the best of luck with your Green Beauty journey. Personally I find it great knowing that I’ve lessened my toxic exposure by switching to better products. I’m constantly on the lookout for new products to try so always feel free to suggest products you think I might enjoy trying.

Green Beauty – Getting Started: Makeup

So you’ve checked out your makeup and realized how many toxins are in them, but where do you go from here? You won’t find many non-toxic or green beauty brands at Sephora so where do you look? Well, armed with your new found knowledge and a little bit of leg work you can find some absolutely incredible makeup products!One fantastic place to start is actually on Instagram. You can find a lot of great companies by searching #greenbeauty or #nontoxicbeauty . However, if you’re not on Instagram you can find companies by googling green or nontoxic makeup.  If you don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for companies you’re just interested in a couple places to start, I have several companies that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with that I highly suggest you try.Root: This was one of the first green beauty companies that I found on my search. I fell in love with all their amazing products and they just seem to be getting better with each product they bring out. Some of the best makeup products I’ve found from them are their pressed products, Lipgloss and Setting Silk.Brija Cosmetics: This is a newer company to me, but they have a few products that have quickly become daily favorites in my makeup routine. All of their products are very clean and have great wear time. My favorite products include their Eye Wax, You Know Who highlight and Finland lip jelly.Lilylolo: This is a European brand that is now available here in the US. They are EcoCert certified and therefore has very clean ingredients. Since the EU regulates cosmetic ingredients far more strictly than the US there are far fewer nasty ingredients contained in the products. One thing to watch for though, is they do use Carmine as an ingredient in some of their products. My favorites from this brand include their Vegan Mascara, Contour Duo and their Setting Mist.Antonym: I fell in love with their blush the instant I tried it. It applies beautifully and is super buildable for great coverage. While their foundation powder contains Talc, I find it applies beautifully and if I don’t use it too often it doesn’t dry out my skin. My favorites from this brand include the Rose Blush, Peach Blush and Foundation in Light.100% Pure: This again is a relatively new brand to me but there are several of its products I like to use on a regular basis now. The products are fruit pigmented which means there are no dyes used, it makes for a very clean product. One thing to be aware of, is they use Japanese Honeysuckle Extract in a lot of their products. My favorites include the Mattifying Primer, Cocoa Bronzer and the Luminizer.These are just a few of the many green beauty companies that are out there. I post reviews on different companies and products every Wednesday. So if you’re interested in seeing what new companies I’ve come across check back every Wednesday. Or you can also follow me on Instagram for green beauty inspiration!

Green Beauty - Basics: Why Switch?

If you’ve followed the blog for a while you’ll know that I am a huge fan of green products. I’m constantly on the hunt for new companies and products to use. I thought I’d give you all a little overview on why I decided to switch to green products and some of the ingredients I try to avoid.To begin with, I have SUPER sensitive skin. I’ve always struggled with finding products that don’t irritate and that I can use consistently. I’ve struggled with this in all areas from makeup to hair/skincare and cleaners to laundry detergent. This week I’m going to be discussing green beauty with you. I have found several companies and products that I absolutely love and I can’t wait to share them with you!I have tried pretty much every different sort of makeup, and with my sensitive skin it always ends up irritating me. I just ended up assuming that I wasn’t ever going to be able to wear makeup, and that I would have to rotate my skincare for the rest of my life. I started reading ingredients to try and identify what I was allergic to. Have you ever read the ingredients on your skincare or makeup? Well if you want to open Pandora’s box go ahead and stop right here and do so…See! Do you know what half those ingredients are? I certainly didn’t! I decided it was high time to switch from ingredients I can’t pronounce to things healthy for my skin. Here is a short list of things I try to avoid:Silicone – this is a common ingredient in haircare or makeup products. Silicone sits on the top layer of the skin impeding its ability to let the skin breathe. It keeps the moisture contained within the skin and will often cause breakouts or acne flare ups if used with sensitive skin. I’ve found my skin to be much clearer when I don’t use products that contain this ingredient. If you’re checking labels you need to keep an eye out for –cone –conol –siloxane, Dimethicone is the most common ingredient you will see.Parabens – studies have linked parabens to increased occurrences of breast cancer. It disrupts the reproductive and endocrine systems. They are used as preservatives in makeup and skincare items.SLS – Sodium Laurel Sulfate, it is a product commonly found in skincare, toothpaste, bodywash, and haircare. It is a detergent and surfactant that give the product lather. Some studies have indicated that SLS is a possible carcinogen and can disrupt hormone levels.Phthalates – this helps other ingredients dissolve into a consistent solution. However, studies have shown that it disrupts the reproductive and endocrine systems. It will often show up in a product under “fragrance” since that is so vague.Carmine – this is actually an ingredient used by many “natural” makeup companies to get a vibrant, true red color. It is made from crushed up beetle shells. It can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.These are just a few of the MANY ingredients I try to avoid. I have made it a habit to read the ingredients list on any new product I’m interested in and research anything I don’t recognize. I would suggest you get in the habit of doing this too. It will help you decided what it right for your family and what you want to keep them from using. In addition to avoiding these chemicals listed above, I also try to make certain my beauty products are gluten free, cruelty free and vegan. This just helps me narrow down products when I am searching since I know they have a higher probability of not containing anything I avoid.Tomorrow we’ll be discussing getting started on switching over to green beauty products, ie which are the most important and what you should switch first. Our bodies are exposed to so many harmful chemicals every day, the more of these chemicals we can take out of our regimen the healthier and happier our skin will be. You will also find that when you begin taking the irritants out of what you apply to your skin, the happier your skin will be.Is this something you’re passionate about? Let me know below!

Dollup Case - A Review

I have to tell you, I’m absolutely in LOVE with my Dollup Case! It is so handy to have when I’m going on a trip because it fits just about everything I could need inside and keeps it safe. The idea behind the Dollup case is to keep your brushes and pressed products together inside one hard backed case for safety and convenience.  It also contains a mirror that lets you easily apply your makeup while on the go.One of the features I adore on my case is the fact it holds SO many brushes, powders and lipsticks. You have different sized loops on the left side if the case so you can hold a bunch of different sized items. I can easily hold my kabuki brush, eye shadow, liner and eyebrow brush. A mascara, lipstick, powder foundation, setting powder, powder eyeshadow and a concealer; and that’s only on one side!The other side is a magnetic sheet that will hold any pan products you may have. In the photo I have a pressed foundation, blush, brow pomade, cream concealer and nine different pressed shadows. There is even more room to add things if you have other products you want to travel with. It is covered with a large mirror that keeps the pressed products in place and safe.This is an excellent palette for traveling. I will be taking it to Europe with me next month. However, it is pretty heavy so that is one consideration if you’re trying to travel light. I can fit pretty much anything I would need for doing my makeup while traveling in this case.I purchased my case directly through Dollup Beauty.  You can also purchase them through Root. If you shop through this link you’ll get a code for 10% off your first order over $25. They are a made in Iowa and features synthetic leather.

Root: Pressed Pigment - A Review

If you’ve been following the blog for a while you’ll be familiar with my favorite green beauty brand Root. I’ve done several reviews on their makeup, their skincare and they are constantly in my monthly favorites. This month I wanted to give you a short review on one of their newest product releases, their pressed eye pigments!I am absolutely in LOVE with these shadows. As you can tell from the photo they are intensely pigmented. They blend so beautifully together you can pretty much create any look you want. The shadows are magnetic so they are easy to add to a Z-pallette. I have several other pressed shadows from different companies and none match up to the wear, pigment and lack of fallout that Root pressed pigments offer.Root is constantly releasing new colors. Currently they have mostly neutral colors with a few crazy colors (pine green, light pink, gold and silver) thrown in. However, this combination they have released so far makes it really easy to create versatile shadow looks. I personally LOVE to combine Cocoa in my crease, Pine on the outer corner and Cleo on my inner lid. This is pretty much my favorite shadow combo right now. Check out my Instagram if you’d like to see a photo this look in action.If you shop through this link you’ll receive 10% off your first order! Seriously! Root’s shipping is crazy fast too. Whenever I order I typically receive my order the next day since I live so close. These pressed pigments would make the most amazing Christmas present for that person on your list who loves makeup. It also helps that there aren’t any nasty chemicals in their products so you can feel good about gifting it!

Vapour Organic Beauty - A Review

I’m constantly on the lookout for new green beauty products and companies. Most of the time I really love them, however, this is not the case with these products. I debated if I really even wanted to post a negative review here on the blog, but I want to be honest with you about the products I try, especially when it comes to if I like them or not. I personally purchased Siren Lipstick in Magnetic and Elixir Plumping Gloss in Mischief from Vapour Organic Beauty.The one thing these products had going for them was the packaging. The packaging on the lip gloss and lipstick are absolutely beautiful! The lipstick comes in a very sturdy tube and is the perfect size to stash in your purse or handbag.  The lip gloss has a beautiful aluminum top, but the brush like applicator is incredibly messy.Aside from the packaging I didn’t like these products one bit. The colors are OK, but they are only a tiny bit pigmented once you put them on your lips. I also found that I had a bunch of feathering around my lips after just a few minutes of wear. I would absolutely have to wear liner if I used this on a regular basis.My first complaint is that Vapour has very few Carmine-free products. If you’re not familiar with carmine: it is a natural red dye made from crushed up beetle scales. Companies who create natural makeup will often use it to achieve a red color. While I don’t have a huge reaction to carmine, I do itch enough to want to avoid it (I also find the idea of it disgusting). It is not Vegan, so if you are worried about it look for companies who are listed as Vegan and make sure to carefully read ingredients.My biggest complain though is the smell/taste of these products. I literally can’t keep them on my lips for more than a few minutes at a time! The smell reminds me of grape cough syrup and the taste is nasty and pretty bitter.Sadly I won’t be purchasing any other products from them and I may not even keep the ones I already have. Next time I see my sisters I plan on seeing if either of them can stand the smell and taste and if they do I’d give them these products.

Au Naturale Lip Gloss - A Review

A couple of weeks ago I posted a review of a new Green makeup company I’d found, Au Naturale. I really love some of their products and if you’re interested in switching to natural, safe makeup they are a company I would certainly suggest trying. I had purchased a few other products that I hadn’t had time to fully test out before my post. Since I’ve been using them regularly I thought I would post a review of them.These are two additional lip glosses that I’ve been using for the last few weeks. If you’ve been reading my recent posts you’ll remember that I absolutely loved Au Naturale’s Lip Gloss in Poppy. I showcased it in my August Favorites and raved about it in my review.One thing I love about these lip glosses is the fact they are crazy pigmented and there are so many different color choices. When I switched to natural makeup I had the hardest time finding crazy lip colors. Most places stuck with the reds, pinks and nudes. I really love to rock a crazy lip some days though and these glosses give me the perfect excuse to do so.The formulation of this gloss is great. I find it stays on until I wipe it off either on purpose or from eating. When wearing this gloss your hair will stick to your lips if there is a strong wind, just like when you were a teen. I absolutely love the formula, it is everything I remember a lip gloss being.Lip Gloss: Deep CoralI absolutely love this color. It is a deep pinky coral color that compliments any skin tone. As we are heading towards fall this is a great in between color that will get you used to something a little darker before you fully move onto that plum or dark cherry winter lip.Lip Gloss: RavishThis is a very daring color. I wasn’t sure about it at first but it actually looks incredible with my light skin tone. When worn this color looks hot pink and would be a GREAT summer color. It is crazy bright and will definitely draw attention to your lips. I have to be in the right mood to wear this color, but when I do I definitely feel gorgeous.I highly suggest trying Au Naturale’s lip glosses. I love them and I hope you do too. If you are thinking about placing an order, Au Naturale has given me a code for 25% off your entire order to share with you! Simply put “whimsy25” in at checkout to receive the discount. The code is active through November 1st. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Things I’m Loving – April Edition

Here are a few things I've really been enjoying this month:

Root Makeup:Earlier this week I posted a review of Root Makeup. I am absolutely in love with this makeup company! Read my full review HERE. I reviewed five of my favorite Root products I suggest you purchase. They are, Pearl Powder Foundation, Setting Silk, Sadie Blush, Tan Rose Eyeshadow and 100% Line Eyeliner.Check out Root’s website: www.rootpretty.com  for more awesome products and be sure to use the code “whimsy” at checkout for FREE SHIPPING on any order!

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks:These colors have been awesome this spring. My two favorites are Shocking Coral (870) and Power Peony (720). These are vibrant lip colors that are perfect to wear in Spring and Summer. I purchased mine at Target but they are available anywhere Maybelline lipsticks are sold.

White Barn Lilac Blossom Candle:I’ve had this candle for several months but I’ve been waiting for “Spring” to start burning it. The smell of this candle is heavenly! If you love lilacs, and I do, this candle is for you. It is like having your window open and a flowering lilac shrub right outside.I am currently burning the three wick candle, but you get the same smell with their single wick or even the Wallflowers in this scent. One additional perk of this scent is that you get all the lilac smell without any of the pollen that makes you sneeze!

Handy Hubby: Table Box:I don’t know if you saw this post a couple weeks ago but this is one of my favorite things that Alex has done recently. This is the perfect decoration for putting flowers in on my table. It has the added benefit of serving as a napkin holder too! Check out my post for a step by step if you’d like to make one of your own.In Dreams – Peter Hollens:Every month I seem to be telling you about another Peter Hollens song that I’ve fallen in love with. This month the song I’m suggesting you listen to is In Dreams, it is from the Lord of the Rings trilogy and is absolutely amazing. Go check it out on Loudr or YouTube. 

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This post has not been sponsored, all opinions are my own. I have not received compensation in any form for the writing of this post.

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Root Makeup - A Review

A couple of months ago I heard about a fantastic small Makeup company called Root. They are a small Iowa based company that specializes in natural, vegan, gluten free Mineral makeup. Root products are created especially for sensitive skin and are made in the USA. According to their website:

“We use only the best natural ingredients & none of the commonly used fillers by other mineral makeup companies. Bismuth Oxychloride is one of the most common fillers used by our competitors. If you've ever had a bad reaction to a mineral makeup it most likely contained Bismuth Oxychloride. By removing this harsh filler we leave you with JUST the minerals you want on your face in the first place.”

My personal makeup journey has been one fraught with pain…literally! Due to my hyper sensitive skin I stopped wearing makeup several years ago. I was having adverse reactions to the stuff I was wearing and could not find anything my skin liked. I tried everything from Almay to Bare Minerals and nothing worked, I was still having itchy reactions no matter what I used. My routine pretty much got down to putting on lipstick/balm, mascara, concealer and maybe eye shadow. I even tried making my own makeup in an attempt to have things to wear, I’ve posted some of these recipes here on the blog. This grew old after a while though, since I didn’t really love smelling like cinnamon, beet powder and ginger. The combination tended to give me headaches.However, this has changed since I found Root. My skin is so very happy with all the Root products I have tried so far. I will never go back to any other product again! I love all the different colors and the vibrancy in all their products. I find that Root products last WAY longer on my face than anything else I have ever tried (I have a tendency to rub my eyes throughout the day and it causes my makeup to rub off).

One unique offering that Root has is all of their powder products can be worn as either a powder or as a liquid. You simply tap your powder foundation into its lid and wet it with a drop or two of water. This gives you fantastic coverage no matter what type of foundation you prefer.Today I am reviewing five of my favorite Root products. While I have tried many more I feel these products are the best places to start if you are looking for a new mineral makeup. I will of course keep you readers apprised of any products I try in the future that I end up loving.Root has generously offered a FREE SHIPPING coupon code to the readers of Housewife’s Whimsy. Simply visit their website: www.rootpretty.com and use the code “whimsy” at checkout for free shipping on any order. This is the perfect time to try Root if you’ve been waiting. You will seriously never find a better, all natural, makeup than this.What about you? Have you tried Root makeup and loved it? What are your favorite products? Is there something you really wish they offered? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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Pearl Powder Foundation:Root’s Pearl Powder is the product that started it all. This powder is seriously the best foundation I have ever used. I prefer to use it dry but the wet coverage is also amazing. They have several different color options so if you haven’t used this before you will want to order samples to find your perfect color match. I had the privilege of stopping by their store in Waverly, Iowa and being color-matched by one of their employees.My Pearl Powder is a 6. The color blends seamlessly with my skintone. I am highly impressed by the extent of their color options available. On their website they have instructions on how to pick your perfect color. This foundation provides a perfect base for the rest of my Root products. I use a Kabuki brush to put it on dry but Root also sells a Pretty Blender if you prefer that method.One thing to note is that while Root does not list an SPF on their packaging they state on their blog that their product does contain an SPF:

“We get asked all the time whether our makeup contains SPF.  The answer is yes!  Our Pearl Powder Foundation, Bronzes & Setting Silk contain titanium dioxide or aloe powder which are natural sunscreens, however we do not label our makeup with a SPF.Why?  It wasn't an easy decision to leave out a specified SPF but after researching we found studies that showed NO makeup can truly guarantee the SPF they put on their label.  This is because makeup is unique in that everyone uses a different amount & applies it differently.  That being said we don't use an added sunscreen for normal daily wear but always recommend wearing a sunscreen under your makeup if you plan to be in the sun for an extended period of time.  Follow the directions on your sunscreen & apply it first, then apply our makeup over top for even more sun protection.”

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Setting Silk:Root’s Setting Silk was one product that I was on the fence about originally. At first I used my Pearl Powder on its own, and while it worked well and I had no complaints I decided to try the Setting Silk since they recommend it. This product is a translucent powder that goes on over your foundation and under your blush/bronzer.I was astonished at the difference I saw using the Setting Silk over my foundation. Not only did I get a more uniform coverage, I actually felt a difference in the “dryness” of my face throughout the day. I was very surprised when I wore the Setting Silk on a warm day and my face stayed way drier than normal and I still had foundation on at the end of the day.I highly recommend you purchase this product, although it is not necessary, you will feel a huge difference the days you wear it.

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Sadie Blush:In my opinion the Sadie blush is one of Root’s best colors yet. Most of their previous blushes have been pretty HOT pink. And while those colors are also amazing, the Sadie blush is the best blush color I have ever used. It is a peachy pink color and goes on pretty lightly but with plenty of color coverage. It is fantastic for when you are going for a natural face.

This is one of Root’s Spring 2015 colors and it is a must have for your makeup collection. I certainly hope this product stays around past Spring!

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Tan Rose Eyeshadow:Tan Rose is the best eyeshadow color I have every found. It is the perfect combination of beige and pink and is pretty much my dream color. It is one of the first Root products I tried and it totally hooked me. Root eyeshadow has amazing coverage and is quite long lasting. Like most of their products you can apply this product either wet or dry.

I love to pair the Tan Rose eyeshadow with Root’s Merlot eyeshadow. This gives you a great neutral dramatic daytime eye. If you only purchase one shadow from Root Tan Rose should be it!

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100% Line Liquid Eyeliner:This eyeliner is amazing. Once you put it on (and it dries) it Does. Not. Move. I have a nasty habit of rubbing my eyes throughout the day and every previous liner I’ve used has flaked and rubbed off throughout the day.Root’s liner is completely different, it is practically impossible to remove. However when I go to remove this at night with Coconut Oil it comes right off! The only downside to this eyeliner in my opinion, is that it only comes in black right now! I personally prefer to wear brown liner, but I’ve definitely been wearing black since I found this product. The applicator on this product is a felt tip on a long applicator. It is very useful and easy to use.

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This post has not been sponsored, all opinions are my own. I purchased all of the products I reviewed today. I have not received compensation in any form for the writing of this post, I simply found a product that I really love and wanted to share with you!

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DIY: Makeup Brush Roll

I finally replaced the makeup brushes that I’d had for about 8 years.  When I bought the new ones I wanted a better way to store them. I’d just been storing my old ones in my makeup bag and they got all dirty from the powder. I looked at Sephora and saw makeup bag rolls and decided that was how I wanted to store my new brushes.However, I didn’t want to spend the money to purchase one of those, especially not when they looked so easy to make. So I decided to try my hand at making one of these and I found it was way easier than I first imagined!If you are looking for a neat way to store your brushes then this might be for you. I also made it out of washable fabric so when it gets suitably dirty I can just pop it in the washing machine and its as good as new.I made mine with a sewing machine. If you don’t happen to have one you could easily make this by hand, it will just take a little while longer.Start by hemming your top piece of fabric. This will be what holds the brushes onto the makeup roll. You want to hem the top of this before you sew it onto the makeup roll, you won’t be able to do this after you sew it together.

Next take two pieces of fabric cut to the size you want your makeup roll to be. Mine ended up being about 12 inches high by 16 inches wide.  Place the two sides you want showing against each other. Place the piece you hemmed earlier in between the two pieces of fabric. You also want to put your ribbons on the inside now. Place the longest parts of the ribbon between the two pieces of fabric leaving a small bit outside the edge.Sew the edges of the makeup roll together, leaving a small hole in a corner. Trim the edges to about ¼ of an inch.

Turn the bag inside out so that all of the right sides are showing, pulling it though the small hole that you left.Sew the hole shut with a short seam.

In order to store the brushes you need to sew seams to hold the brushes in. I took my brushes and measured the size of the holes that I wanted. I marked them with a pin and then sewed a straight seam at each of the intervals needed.

After I finished mine it turned out so well that I made two more for each of my sisters! These are super easy and would make great gifts for anyone who wears makeup. If you want to be able to fold the top portion of the makeup roll over your brushes be sure to factor that into your measurements.