Acure Organics: A Review

I found Acure through one of my trips to Target. A lot of their products are readily available through Target or online. I prefer to make my orders from Vitacost since I also order other items from them at the same time. I have several of their products my favorites are their Clarifying Shampoo and the Brightening Face Scrub. I’ve also tried their Argan Oil Towelettes, Coconut Oil Towelettes, Argan Oil, and their Day Cream.I have repurchased the shampoo and face scrub several times at this point. Not only are both of those items very clean they are excellent and some of the best items I’ve found. I really haven’t found another shampoo that compares both in effectiveness and cost. The product completely cleans my hair of any oil or residue. This is the only clean shampoo I’ve tried that actually does that. The face wash is also an excellent product. It is very gritty so it is perfect for use in the shower when you want a little bit more exfoliation. I probably wouldn’t use it daily since the exfoliant tends to stick in my hairline, but when I’m showering this really doesn’t matter.I’m planning on doing a separate post comparing the makeup removing towelettes so I’m not going to go into too much detail here. However, I do enjoy the unscented ones and not the coconut ones. I’m not a huge fan of their Argan Oil. I find it doesn’t sink in very fast. I much prefer Ko & Humbles’ Argan Oil to this one. I probably won’t purchase this again if I ever get through this first bottle. Unfortunately the Day Cream is also in this vein. I have found that it never really sinks into my skin and just serves to make my face tacky. I would not suggest purchasing this product since every time put it on it interferes with the application of my makeup.Acure has some very excellent products that I absolutely love. I will continue repurchasing their Clarifying Shampoo and their Exfoliating Face Wash for a long time to come. Other than that I haven’t actually found much that I really enjoy. They are a great brand however to try if you’re looking for something that is easily accessible. Since you can purchase a wide variety of their products at Target they are a great choice for people who need something quick.

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.

FitGlow Beauty HiLight: A Review

I found FitGlow Beauty after several other bloggers and youtubers raved about their foundation, blush and new HiLight. I decided to get a couple of things to see if they really were as amazing as everyone was saying they were. I thought today I would discuss one of my absolute favorite products from them, their HiLight. This is one of my absolute favorite makeup products that I own. It is very rare in the Green Beauty community to have a pressed highlighter. Most of the time they come in cream or loose format which can get messy. FitGlow has cracked the pressed highlighter code though with this formula. It doesn’t have much kickup and the product goes on perfectly. One of the best things about this product is the fact it is a combination of sparkly gold highlighter and a more rosey champagne color. These pair perfectly for an absolutely beautiful look. The colors also look incredible on their own too! I will often only wear the rosy champagne color if I’m not going for an all out glam look and it still looks incredible.I cannot say enough good things about this highlighter. If you’re in the market for a new one I suggest trying this one out. You really won’t be disappointed. It is perfect for so many different skin tones and since you can mix the two colors you can get whatever level of highlight you’d likeI personally purchased directly from FitGlow. However, since they are a Canadian company you may decide you want to purchase from one of their US retailers. They have a list on their website of places where you can purchase.

Antonym Blushes: A Review

Over the last few months I’ve been collecting the blushes from Antonym Cosmetics. They have three different colors Peach, Rose and Copper. I have fallen in love with each of these colors for very different reasons.Antonym’s blushes are a unique blend since they start as a cream and are baked into a powder. This gives a very special feel and blend to the finished product that really makes it unlike any other blush I own. They blend beautifully on the skin and don’t go patchy after wearing them for a while.My personal favorite is the Peach. It is this beautiful, light, peachy-pink color that looks amazing on my light skin tone. This also is one of the best blushes I’ve found for my cheeks during the spring since it is very light.Rose is a great color when I have a little bit of tan or if I want a little more of a rosy cheek. I found that it was a little dark for me during the spring, but winter when I really want a darker cheek this is great. Copper is the shade that works least with my skintone. I find that I need to have A LOT of sun in order to pull this color off. If you have a darker skintone and darker hair it looks amazing. I used it on one of the actresses in a show recently who has a darker complexion and she looked absolutely incredible.I love Antonym’s blushes and I really think you will too. They are made with fantastic , clean ingredients and are a true treat for your skin. I also love their sustainable bamboo packaging. Not only is it gorgeous it is very ecofriendly. I suggest you try one of these blushes if you’ve been on the lookout for another non-toxic blush. These are sure to excite!

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.

Frosh Cleaners: A Review

In addition to trying to find cleaner makeup and skincare brands, I’ve been looking into green/nontoxic cleaners. Pond and Rory really love to lick things (the floor, walls and windows) so I’ve been searching for cleaners I don’t feel guilty using around them.  Frosh is a European based brand that uses less toxic cleaning chemicals, is cruelty-free and environmentally friendly.Frosh’s dish soap is the first thing we tried. I was incredibly tired of trying all sorts of dish soap and still covering our dishes in toxic chemicals. We’ve been using the free and clear dish soap and it is fantastic! Not only is it free of most toxic chemicals found in dish soap, it also works really well. They have a few other types of dish soap, but those contain parfum and colorants.We’ve also been using the Lemon Toilet Bowl Cleaner. This is an absolutely incredible product. We’ve been in the process of remodeling a bathroom so that toilet isn’t used on a regular basis. This leads to a lot of build-up and this product removed it all after just a few minutes of soaking.The last product I’ve been testing out is their PH Neutral Universal Cleaner. This is a super concentrated, multi-purpose cleaner. In order to use it correctly you do need to mix it with water before you use it to clean. It does a great job of getting gunk off my counter. It also makes an absolutely fantastic floor cleaner.I would highly suggest these three products. I would love to see Frosh come out with more free and clear versions of their products in the future but I will continue to use the great products they currently have!

Brija Cosmetics: A Review

Brija Cosmetics is the brainchild of the lovely Brianna. She founded Brija in 2013 and has turned it into a very successful company along with running her YouTube channel.  They have many different collections for you to choose from with many different colors and finishes. They also have recently started to offer a few skincare products through her Brija Skin line.I’ve made several orders from Brija over the last few months. Several of the products I’ve gotten from this company have become staples in my routine.  Brija offers blushes (loose and cream), bronzers, highlighters (loose and creams), eye shadows, lipstick and lip jelly. They also have several different eye primers, a lip balm and an eye balm.The eye shadows, blushes, bronzer and highlighters are all loose products.  The regular size products come with a sifter, the mini-products do not. The sample sized products come in a small plastic baggie.  All of the products are made without any nasty chemical ingredients, are non-toxic and very clean! You also receive a free gift with any purchase over $15 that is an unreleased or special release product.The color payoff of the loose shadows is average. While I don’t feel there is anything overtly special about the Brija shadows over any other green beauty loose shadows, I do enjoy the color offerings Brija has. However, I don't find myself reaching for loose shadows very often at the moment, I've mostly been a pressed powder sort of girl the last few months.I do however, love the fact Brija's collections are named after movies or TV shows. I love being able to say I have the Downton Abbey collection, Wanderlust collection and half of the Gilmore Girls collection. I think it’s a very exciting way to come up with a collection and unique to Brija. I’m very excited to receive her Alice in Wonderland inspired spring subscription bag, especially since that is the show I’m currently working on.One product I’ve come to absolutely adore is the Organic Eye Balm. I’d been looking for the perfect green beauty eye cream or balm for awhile before Brija released theirs. It is incredibly hydrating and I find my very dark under-eye circles are almost erased in the morning when I use this product. If you struggle with dark circles under your eyes I would suggest trying this product. It has made a huge difference for me (like not having to use concealer under my eyes difference) in the time I’ve been using it.Another staple of my makeup routine has become the Brija Eye Wax. This is a sticky base for your eyeshadows that really helps amp up their color and staying power. I always use this product now under any eyeshadow. It helps the shadows stay all day long and it also makes them brighter.There have been two of the loose products that I’ve really fallen in love with, these are the You Know Who… highlighter and the Sunrise Highlighting Powder. Both of them make for incredible highlights. I also find that they have a more silvery base so they seem to show up better on my skin tone and don’t wash me out as much. Both of these highlighters are must try products in my opinion.Brija is an excellent company. My one complaint is that it takes so long to get your order (2-3 weeks) since it is just Brianna. Every time I’m SO excited to get my order and it just kills me to have to wait so long for it. However, they do say that perfection cannot be rushed! And in the case of Brija Cosmetics I completely agree. This is one green beauty company you’ve got to try!

Commodity Perfume: A Review

I found Commodity Perfume at the end of last fall when I was trying to keep an eye out for any perfumes or sprays that weren’t formulated with parabens and phthalates. Unfortunately, there just aren’t many options out there for good, clean, non-toxic perfumes.One of the best things about this brand is that it’s available through Sephora. This makes it very easy to order and reorder items if you find something you like. While I really do love ordering directly through individual small companies, sometimes the convenience of Sephora or Amazon is worth it.This brand has structured their products differently than normal. To start off, you purchase their starter kit which is basically trial sizes of all the perfumes they offer. You then can try each perfume with your skin and see which scents really work for you. You can also try layering them for a more complex scent. You then go back, with the knowledge from the test kit, and can purchase travel or full-size products of the scents that worked best for you.They have a large array of smells that will appeal to almost anyone. While they are structured with the black scents being a little heavier and the white scents being a little lighter there is really no "men" or "women" feel to any of them. I could easily see wearing any of the scents in the kit and I think a lot of men would like to wear most of the white scents too. You can even layer the different scents to make a fragrance blend completely unique to you. (I suggest layering Rain and Wool, it smells like a thunderstorm in the country!)The one downside to this brand, in my opinion, it the fact they are very pricey. You will pay $99 for a full size (100ml) jar of perfume. As you can probably see this can get expensive quickly if you like more than one scent. However, since they are formulated without parabens or other nasty chemicals it really is a tradeoff. The travel size vials of the perfume have lasted me several months each so you can decide if this is the right type of brand for you to try.While I don’t have any plans to purchase additional items from this brand I may change my mind in the future if I got a gift card or good coupon to Sephora. The scents are luxurious and I have absolutely fallen in love with several of them. My favorites (the ones I own) are Rain and Wool. However, I’m also crazy about Gold, Tea, and Paper.  If you’re in the market for some green beauty/non-toxic perfume this would definitely be one to try.

Root Haircare – A Review

Root has been coming out with some fantastic products over the last few months and one of them is their new haircare line. I’ve been testing them out and I’m ready to introduce you to my two favorite products!My absolute favorite product from Root’s haircare line has to be their Hair Mask. It is incredibly moisturizing and will leave your hair silky smooth. I had moved away from using conditioner about a year ago because I couldn’t find one with really clean ingredients. However, this changed the moment Root came out with their Hair Mask. I will never go back to not using conditioner again!This was also the only conditioner I took with me on my recent European adventure. It helped keep my hair soft and conditioned while traveling. The other awesome thing is that you can not only use it as a conditioner in the shower, you can also use it as a leave-in conditioner to help give your hair more moisture during the day. While I prefer my Ko & Humble Argan Oil for this, the Root Hair Mask is perfect for traveling or if you don’t have the oil close at hand.My second favorite product would have to be the Hairspray. This is my holy grail of green beauty hairsprays. I had tried several before Root released theirs and nothing was working for me. The hold was either way too flexible or it made my hair sticky and gross. Root’s spray is perfect though. It gives you a fantastic hold while not being sticky at all. It is also very flexible in the first few minutes so I've found it makes an excellent styling spray too! I’ve really never used such a fantastic hairspray. If you’ve been searching for a non-toxic hairspray or styling spray this is definitely the one for you.While I have tried all four of the products in this line, I don’t really love the shampoo and the conditioner is good, but not as good as their Hair Mask. I highly suggest trying the Hair Mask and the Hairspray. The best part is you can purchase small trial sizes of any of the hair products to see if you like them first.

Root Skincare – A Review pt. 2

Root has come out with so many new skincare items in the last few months that have been completely amazing. I did a review on their skincare products back in July so I thought it was time to review some of their newer products. Here are three of my favorites that they’ve released over the last six months.Pomegranate SerumWhen this Serum came out I had no idea how much I needed it in my life. It is the perfect combination of anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients. I use this every morning under my moisturizer. I think in the summer it will be the perfect consistency for a moisturizer on its own. I gave my Mother a bottle of this and she’s hooked now too!Micellar WaterI had been searching for a natural/green beauty Micellar Water when Root released theirs. I fell in love pretty much instantly. I use this on a daily basis to cleanse and remove my makeup. I use it both in the morning and evening. In the morning I use it as a general cleanser before I use toner, the serum and moisturizer. In the evening I use it to remove my makeup before I wash my face with cleanser. It is definitely a staple in my skincare routine and will be for the foreseeable future.Eye Love You! Eye CreamThis is a fantastic product! It moisturizes the eye area while depuffing and helping with dark under-eye circles. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the darkness of my under-eye circles since I began using this product. If you’re in the market for an eye cream this is definitely one to try. You can even get it in a trial size if you’d like just a little at first.

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: Skincare and Haircare

So you’ve started your green beauty journey by switching out your toxic makeup for nontoxic options. Next up is haircare and skincare! I’ve compiled a short list of my favorite companies and products to give you a starting point to go off of.Root: This is one of my absolute favorite makeup companies and they’ve started offering great skincare and haircare options in the last year. They have incredibly clean products that do wonders for your skin and hair. My favorites include their Hair Mask, Hairspray, Micellar Water, Pomegranate Serum, Beauty Sleep Oil, Peppermint Toner and Lavender Moisturizer.Ko & Humble: They have some amazing moisturizing oils available. All of their oils are sourced from their natural habitat and are cold pressed to maintain integrity. I use their Virgin Argan Oil on my hands, face and the ends of my hair on a regular basis. It has especially helped protect my hair during the winter when I use heat tools to style.Herbivore Botanicals: I posted a review on this company last week so I don’t have much more to say about them. Check out my review here for a more in depth look at their products. My favorites from this brand include their Phoenix Oil, Lapis Oil and Rose Hibiscus Face Mist.Kosmatology: The formulation of their body washes and hand soap is amazing. I’ve tried a lot of clean soaps over the last year and Kosmatology is one of the best brands I’ve found. The wide range of scents they have available makes them perfect for anyone. My favorite scents are Herbal Fresh and Botanical Bliss.Acure Organics: The best thing about this brand is that it is available at Target! While they don’t have their entire line available they have enough you can try several different things to see what you like. I’ve really come to love their Clarifying Shampoo, Unscented Coconut Face Wipes and their Day Cream.Now you are well on your way to switching out your toxic products for nontoxic options! Let me know if you find any that you really enjoy that I should try. I’m constantly on the lookout for new products to try.

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!