RL Linden & Co – A Review

I found this company when I was looking for additional natural deodorant options. I decided to try them because they have some fantastic reviews and I absolutely love trying products from new companies. I mostly ordered sample sizes from this company because they are very expensive. I’m very glad I only ordered samples because there weren’t many products I really loved for the price.Close to Me – Uplifting Deodorant SprayI found this to be a fine deodorant. It moderately deodorized my underarms and it did have a very nice and pleasant scent. I used this for part of my trip in Dallas last summer so it was definitely heat and sweat tested. However, I found myself having to reapply several times during the day when wearing this. The full size of this product is extremely expensive so I won’t be purchasing it and I probably won’t ever repurchase the sample size. I don’t really suggest you try this product unless you’ve tried just about every other natural deodorant and nothing has worked.Denver Inspired Perfume OilsAgain I purchased several of the sample sizes of these perfume oils. While they smelled extremely pleasant when first applied the scent hardly lasted any time at all. I don’t recommend these since I would have to reapply almost every hour in order to have any perfume on at all.La Bamba RosaI purchased the tube of this and I really think that was a good idea. Even though this didn’t really work for my lips, they seemed to be drier after continued use of this product, I did like the application from a tube rather than a tub. If you’re in the market for a new hydrating lip balm I suggest one of Root’s Pretty Balms or Red Apple Lipstick’s Ralley Balm. They will hydrate much better than this product.Thousand Petals Beautifying MistThis was the only product I really loved in my entire order and it was the free sample they sent with the order! I absolutely LOVED this hydrating toner mist. While the full size is quite expensive, I do plan on purchasing it once I’ve used up a couple of the open toner mists I already have on hand. This product smelled absolutely incredible, like walking through a rose garden. It also gave my face such an amazing refresh. I highly suggest you order a sample size of this to see if it works for you.

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.

Honeybee Gardens: December and January Buzz Box - A Review

I have to admit, after the November Buzz Box I was completely in love with Honeybee Gardens! I was so impressed by their wide range of products, and definitely the ones they put in the box.  I instantly knew that I wanted to get another of their boxes. I purchased both the December and January Buzz Boxes and I was overall impressed. I did not have time to post a separate review of the December box so I decided to review them both at the same time.The December box contained a full sized pressed foundation powder, two pressed eye shadows, an eye shadow compact, peppermint foot crème and an incense leaves set. I was highly impressed with this box. I found the powder shade to be perfect for setting my under-eye area. I hadn’t tried any of their other foundation colors before this so I think it turned  out pretty well for me just guessing at a shade.The pressed shadows came in taupe and antique cream color. The box also contained a neat little compact to keep them in. I find the shadows are highly pigmented and last for a long time if I prime my eye. The two colors really complement each other and look great on me.I found the peppermint foot crème to be a little on the greasy side. I probably wouldn’t purchase again, although it was nice the few times I tried it. I don’t ever use incense, but I could easily gift the package. It would make quite a lovely present for someone special.The January Buzz Box contained a full size mascara, a sparkly grey eyeliner, a set of three lip colors, kabuki brush and a beautiful artisan silver/faux-pearl necklace. I was sadly underwhelmed by this box. First off the necklace is absolutely beautiful and I’ve already worn it on several occasions. However, the other products really didn't impress me in the slightest.The mascara is adequate, it colors my lashes but does little to shape or volumize them. This is a fine mascara if I'm just using a BB cream and don't want any real shape to my lashes. If I'm trying to do any sort of look though, this mascara is not up for the task.Sadly like the eyeliner in the November box, the grey liner irritates my eyes to no end. I also had a TERRIBLE time getting it off, there was glitter around my eyes for days even though I cleansed several times with different products trying to remove it. However, I really did love the color when it was on. It is a deep sparkly grey that really accentuated my eye color.The lip colors I couldn’t even try because they contain carmine. It really bugs me when companies are listed as Vegan and they still occasionally use carmine in products. I am carmine sensitive, so when I purchase from a vegan company I really expect carmine free products. I plan on giving these to my sisters if they would like to try them.Lastly, the kabuki brush is nothing worth writing home about. I found the bristles too long and too sparse to actually nicely spread liquid product and too short and too sparse to nicely spread powder. I also found that it left streaky marks all through my foundation. I much prefer my Root kabuki brush since the bristles are slightly shorter and it is plumper.Overall Honeybee’s Buzz Boxes are a great product. I did contact the company and they said you can email them ahead of purchasing the box if you’re worried about certain ingredients (carmine) being contained. I think this is what I’ll do in the future.While I can’t suggest you go and purchase the January Buzz Box, I do suggest you try one in the future! They are a great value for what you get and it is a way to try new products from Honeybee that you might not think to try on your own.

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!

Au Naturale - A Review

In my continual quest to find safe, natural, green makeup I've found another brand: Au Naturale. They are a green makeup company based out of Green Bay Wisconsin. According to their website:

"Au Naturale Cosmetics is a luxury, professional-grade cosmetic range that offers essential, beautiful organic makeup options for consciously chic women throughout the globe. Our "good-for-you products" were born out of the passion and desire of company founder, Ashley Prange, who developed and formulated all products without any harmful, toxic ingredients, chemicals, parabens or heavy metals - unlike the majority of leading brands on the market today. Au Naturale offers a complete range of fun, fashionable, long-lasting color options that complement all skin tones, while delivering the goodness and benefits of all natural ingredients.Our cosmetics are hand-crafted and batched in Green Bay, Wisconsin, near the shores of Lake Michigan, by a dedicated team who pours much love, passion and attention into every product.All Au Naturale Cosmetics contain the highest quality organic ingredients and are safe for those suffering from conditions such as Rosacea, Celiac Disease, cancer or other skin sensitivities.From organic and paraben-free lipsticks and lip glosses to foundations and blushers, crème and powder eye shadows, to lip pencils, eye pencils, concealer and more, you will find the perfect product to enhance your natural beauty that also supports a healthy, vibrant lifestyle"

I recently purchased several of their products to try and I wanted to give you a review! There were several products that blew me out of the water, and a couple I wasn't the biggest fan of. My orders were shipped quickly and came wrapped in black tissue paper. They also sent a sample and a card with a discount code which will definitely encourage me to order again. They also included a personal note which I highly appreciated. Their level of personalized customer contact was very nice. They've even provided me a discount code to share with you (at the end of the post)!

Cream Blush - Rose

This creamy blush just glides right onto my face and sits perfectly once I've blended it in. I have to highly recommend this formula since it just feels so silky smooth on my cheeks. The color is also beautiful and a little goes a really long way. I've also used this as a lipstick (since it's all natural) and I have to say it will be one amazing color for fall/winter. It is a deep dusty red that gives you just enough color for you to be truly chic (since dark lips are in this winter). It also was not drying to my lips and simply glided on with no issues.

Lip Gloss - Poppy

Best lip gloss ever! I included this in my August favorites because I'm in love and have been using this gloss pretty much constantly since I received it.

The color in this gloss is incredible. It is long lasting and is super shiny. I have not found it to be drying on my lips at all. This gloss also looks fantastic over lipstick. I've tried it over several and loved it each time. The gloss gives you that uber glossy/slightly tacky feel you had when you were a youth. It is certainly one thing I've been missing with my switch to natural makeup. Beware though...your hair will stick to your lips if you wear this (just like when you were 16)!

Cream Eye Shadow - Gold

I had high hopes for this product, but unfortunately for me this cream shadow fell flat. The color is absolutely amazing. It is highly pigmented in the pot and on my finger. However when I apply it to my eye I just can't seem to get the correct shade. I've also had the hardest time getting this shadow to stay put. I've tried it with primer, without primer, setting with translucent powder and setting it with another shadow. Every time I use it though it creases like crazy within fifteen minutes and dissolves completely off my eye within a few hours. While I will keep the shadow I already own (and try to figure out how to make it work) I probably won't purchase another one. If you have any tips or tricks on how you make cream shadows work for you please feel free to share them with me!

Cream Highlighter

This beautiful cream highlighter is one of the things Au Naturale is know for. The color is simply spectacular. It is a golden-rose color that perfectly highlights your face. It is also one of the most stunning nude lipsticks I have ever used. I don't typically wear a nude lip since I have yet to find the perfect color. This product changes that though. Along with being the perfect color to highlight your cheeks and eyes it gives you the perfect amount of sheer/gold/rose and just makes your lips pop. I definitely recommend this product if you are in the market for a cream highlighter.

Pure Pro Lipstick - Sangria and Cora

I love the colors of these lipsticks, but unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of the formulation. While the colors are super vibrant and beautiful the lipstick itself is very hard and super difficult to apply. I've also found that it seems to settle into every crease and crack in my lips and make them look really dry (although the lipstick itself has not dried out my lips). I much prefer Root's Vegan Shea Butter Lipsticks since those glide right on. With the pure pro lipsticks being on the more expensive side I probably won't purchase another one, since I'm not the biggest fan of the formula, but I will keep (and keep using) the two I already own.

Overall Au Naturale makeup is definitely one to try if you want to branch out into green, safe, natural makeup. While they are quite a bit more expensive than some of my other favorite green makeup brands, there are certain products of theirs that are worth the extra money. 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!

Root: Skin Care – A Review

A couple of months back I reviewed Root makeup products. If you aren’t familiar with Root you should check out my previous post and their website. They have many fantastic products you will want to try out.I thought I would post a follow up review on several of their skin care items they have been coming out with over the last few months. I hope this helps you on your quest to find natural skin care items that are actually good for your body. I adore each and every one of these products and highly recommend them.R&R Makeup RemoverHaving being using Root products for a while I tried several different makeup removers while using them. One of the best thing about Root products is that they don’t move (especially the mascara and liners). The only problem with this is getting them off. I tried regular makeup removers, coconut oil and olive oil each with varying degrees of success.This product is by far the best thing I’ve tried to get the Root Liners off my eyes. Since it is specially formulated to work with Root products there is no need to scrub your delicate eye skin. This is a bonusFresh Face CleanserEver since I changed my birth control method last year I’ve had lots of trouble with acne and breakouts. This has been quite a stressful thing for me since for the first 25 years of my life I never dealt with any sort of acne. I’ve been trying everything I could to get rid of it but with no luck.That all changed when I found this cleanser though. The formula contains activated charcoal along with many other fantastic essential oils that have cleared my skin right up! I highly suggest trying this cleanser out if that is something you also deal with.Organic Peppermint TonerThis is by far my favorite Root product I’ve tried so far. Before this I’d never tried a toner, but now that I’ve tried it I’m never going back! The purpose of the toner is to tighten your pores while deeply cleansing your skin. This toner by Root is a fantastic product. You can notice a difference after the first use. When used with the Fresh Face Cleanser and the Beauty Sleep Serum you get a complete skin care routine that is wonderful for your skin.Since this product is made by Root it is gluten free, vegan and paraben free! This toner also has the most fantastic, tingly peppermint essential oils in it. It is truly a treat for your skin. If you are only going to purchase one of their skin care products I highly suggest this one. Your skin will thank you!Beauty Sleep Perfecting SerumOriginally I was on the fence about getting this product. I’d heard so many reviews and it seemed like such a miracle product, I was sure it was too good to be true. However I decided to give it a try since you actually get quite a bit of product in the small container.I have to admit, this product is as incredible as it sounds. It is the perfect overnight moisturizer for your face. Even after my first application I saw brighter skin that had a fabulous glow about it. I even converted my Mother when I had her try this product. The serum is chock full of anti-aging and moisturizing oils.The product itself is a dry oil that you put on your skin nightly. You can put it on during the day, but I’ve found if I cover it right away with makeup my face feels very oily. However, when used overnight this product makes the absolute perfect base for my other Root makeup products. I use this as a final step in my skin care routine and my skin has never been clearer!Organic Coconut ScrubThis scrub is amazing. It is a fantastic way to get some exfoliation on your face and lips. And since it is also made of all natural ingredients it is good enough to eat (although that is not recommended)! I typically use this once a week to exfoliate my facial skin. This is often enough for me. My only complaint is that this product doesn’t come in other “flavors”. I’d love a grapefruit or lavender scrub too.Fresh Lavender MoisturizerThis is an incredible moisturizer. I use it almost daily on my cracked hands. I also use it when I wear shorts to cut down on friction between my thighs. The smell for this moisturizer is incredible. It seriously smells like a field of lavender. It is fantastic to use right before bed since lavender is a calming smell.One thing to note on this moisturizer, since it is made with all natural ingredients it will not last forever. It is shelf stable for about 3 months. I don’t have any issues using the small tub within three months, but you might. You can put it in the fridge to get a little more time out of it, but you will simply want to use it often. Once you try it though you’ll have no trouble using it daily.

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Disclaimer: 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, I simply found products that I really love and wanted to share with you!

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