I am forever on the hunt for the perfect “my lips but better” (or MLBB) shade of lip color. Madam Mina by Ilia  is a great addition to my collection!

This weekend was the one year anniversary of my blog, and I’m so excited to celebrate by telling you that I’ve officially become an affiliate with Petit Vour!

I’m also part of some affiliate programs like ShareASale and Amazon Associates, but this is kind of the first real and direct partnership that I’ve chosen to agree to. I’ve worked with a couple of other brands and companies this past year, and honestly I chose not to continue with most of them because the relationship just didn’t feel right to me until now.

I love a great makeup collab/collection. I have also been wanting to try one of Vapour Organic Beauty’s eye palettes, their lipgloss, and their highlighter ever since I started with clean beauty. Every girl also needs a good clean black pencil eyeliner, so this set seemed like a perfect choice!

I didn’t know who Kimberly Snyder was prior to purchasing this collection, but she is a writer whose latest book, Radical Beauty: How to Transform Yourself from the Inside Out, was co-authored with Deepak Chopra. According to this collection’s description, “Snyder’s holistic approach to nutrition, wellness and skincare…dovetails seamlessly with Chopra’s history as an advocate for alternative medicine and spiritual health. Radical Beauty takes the approach that your connection with your spiritual self is reflected as the glow and sparkle in your eyes and also the expression of joy in your face that would be a true transformation from the inside out.” So there is a lovely sentiment to the book that inspired this collaboration, and I love collecting things that have meaning behind them.

Kimberly is a big fan of Vapour Organic Beauty, and she recommends many of their products on her personal website. This particular collection includes Vapour’s Meditteranean Eye Palette, an Elixir Lip Gloss, the Halo Illuminator stick, and Mesmerize Eyeliner in Ink or Truffle. I chose Ink (black) but will probably also buy the Truffle (brown) eyeliner at some point!

Below are swatches of the collection on my arm with a flash (first) and in regular indoor light (second). From top to bottom are Halo Illuminator in Moonlight (hard to see except for subtle shimmer at top of picture), Elixir Lip Gloss in Delite, Mesmerize Eye Color in Sugar, Mesmerize Eye Color in Flash, Mesmerize Eye Color in Enigma, and Mesmerize Eyeliner in Ink.

Review

This collection is priced at $126, which is exactly how much it would cost to buy each product individually. So there isn’t really any added value to this collection other than the fact that it’s a collaboration with Kimberly Snyder. Since this isn’t a limited edition or even exclusive collection, I’m going to rate each product individually rather than as a whole and you can try any or all of the products included depending on what you decide!

First of all, I am going to personally give the Halo Illuminator in Moonlight a 7/10. This is a great subtle highlighter and the packaging is convenient. Stick-formulated makeup is usually either 1) creamy, thick, and soft (think opaque lipstick and certain concealers) or 2) thin, sheer, and hard (like sheer lipsticks and some stick blushes/multi-use sticks). This highlighter is definitely the latter. I prefer a creamier consistency to my highlighter since it is usually applied as one of the last steps in my makeup routine and I don’t want to have to work hard applying and blending and risking disrupting my other makeup. This highlight is so pretty and subtle, though, that I do really like it for areas like under my eyebrow arch, down my nose and above my Cupid’s bow where using a stiffer brush won’t disrupt my makeup. I will be looking for something else to highlight my cheeks. Also, I had some trouble with the scent of Vapour’s Multi-Use Stick, and this seems to have the same scent which is unpleasant to me. It isn’t overwhelming or offensive at all; I just don’t prefer it.

Second, I think that the Elixir Lip Gloss in Delite is an 8/10. I love the color, consistency, and shine. I don’t mind the scent or flavor. The applicator is a little brush and I usually prefer a sponge tip wand for lipgloss.

Third, I think that the Artist Eye Palette in Mediterranean is an 8/10. I LOVE the Sugar shade, which Vapour describes as “golden peachy pink.” It is a perfect highlight or sheer shimmer for around the eye. Flash is described as “mushroom taupe,” which is so right up my alley with my coloring and eye color. I really like this shade as well. Enigma, described as a “luscious deep brown” was a little underwhelming to me. The formula is a little slippery and it creased almost immediately on my eyelids. The colors were also pretty sheer, which I don’t necessarily mind. (I have hooded eyes, though, and most shadows eventually crease. I don’t have a clean eyelid primer yet, and that will probably help with color intensity, blending and staying power.)

Finally, I give the Mesmerize Eye Liner in Ink a 10/10! It’s a great black pencil eyeliner and has a handy smudge sponge on the other end. As I mentioned before, I will probably pick up the brown shade as well.

I am wearing all of the products in this collection below:

I recommend Vapour’s Mesmerize Eyeliner and their Elixir Lip Gloss. If you are comfortable with/skilled at applying cream shadows, I would also recommend their Artist Eye Palettes! I want to try two other Artist Eye Palettes called Murmur and Soiree next. I definitely need to practice using and blending cream shadows, though!

Have any comments, suggestions or questions? Leave them below!

Xo, Edie

Okay, so these are my favorite lipglosses right now! Crunchi is an awesome brand and I have loved everything that I’ve tried from them so far. I currently also use their primer, foundation, and blush.

Hey guys! So I finally got my hands on two of the biggest green beauty products out right now and thought I’d show you swatches and my before/after. Since ordering a single shade of foundation or concealer is usually a gamble for me, I used samples for this review (for great deals on clean beauty samples, check out my previous post). Here we go!

First up, foundation. I was previously using Chanel Vitalumiere foundation in the lightest shade, Ivoire (07). Since that is packed full of parabens, I knew I needed to switch asap. Crunchi is a big new brand that I have been seeing everyone rave about lately, and their foundation is made with certified organic ingredients, is vegetarian, gluten-free, non-gmo, toxin free, cruelty free and made in the USA. They are super selective about ingredients that they use and even package the product in glass bottles. Here is the Crunchi Beautiful Flawless Foundation shade selection and swatches on my arm:

As you can see, my previous foundation shade is somewhere in between 02 and 2.5, so I mixed the two for the color I wanted. I’m not stoked about possibly having to order two products and to do this everyday, but it might end up being a good idea. I live in Florida and try to stay out of the sun most of the time, but I can pick up a tan pretty quickly so having the darker color to adjust in different seasons might work out well, actually.

Anyway, this product feels really lightweight and is very easy to blend out. I used an Artis densely packed foundation brush. The coverage is sheer to medium, and the finish is luminous and almost dewey on my skin. This definitely isn’t a full coverage or matte foundation. If that’s what you’re looking for, keep looking. It really feels more like a tinted moisturizer or bb cream to me. The consistency is so nice and thin (and it has aloe to moisturize) so you’ll probably be able to easily build the coverage with more product without looking cakey. I don’t have that much experience with primers, but I really liked the one included in Crunchi’s sample pack and will probably purchase it if I buy the foundation.

Next up, Hynt Beauty’s Duet Perfecting Concealer. “Hynt products have the highest ingredient quality and must be beneficial to the skin, efficacious, eco-conscious, cruelty-free and non-irritating,” according to their website. Here are the Fair and Light sample shades (also their lip color in Shiraz):

The Fair is very pink and the Light is a perfect match for my skin. Sorry I didn’t swatch it, but the colors in the pan are true to life. It is so, so, so pigmented. Everyone has told me to be careful trying this and that a little goes a long way, and I feel like it should actually have a warning or something because I still used way too much at first, haha. It blends out really nicely though and I eventually got the hang of it. You seriously only need to barely touch the product and have a tiny speck on your finger to completely cover both eyelids as shadow base. It did crease a little on my eyelids during wear, btw, but I have yet to find anything that doesn’t. Overall, this is a very close replacement for my not-so-clean Cle de Peau Concealer in Ivory . Hynt’s concealer is more creamy though and again definitely not matte. I think I will purchase this because the color match is good for me and it is so pigmented. I have some hyperpigmentation and acne scars and it covered them so well and easily.

So here are my before and afters! The top pic is my skin with no makeup or filters (but some good lighting). You can easily see the dark spots around my eyes and cheeks and a small red spot on my forehead. The middle pic is with only Crunchi primer and their Beautiful Flawless Foundation (shades 02 and 2.5 mixed). My skin is much more even, but you can still see a little discoloration. The last pic is with only Crunchi primer and foundation, Hynt Duet Perfecting Concealer in Light and mascara (Lancôme, not a clean or green product!). Overall, I like these products and they have set the bar pretty high being the first clean beauty foundation and concealer that I have tried. Unless otherwise noted, these will be my go-to base layer products for any looks you see for now.

Hope this helps if you are considering these products, and I hope it shows that clean and nontoxic makeup can be just as high performing and high quality as conventional beauty products/brands! Seriously, just get some of the samples and try it all out for under $20 guys!! Links to purchase in my last post. Your skin and health will thank you, and if you don’t love these products, I will be around to show you more options soon.

Xo, Edie

You’ve decided to switch to nontoxic makeup. Awesome!! When I made this decision, I was really excited but quickly got overwhelmed. Where do I start? Are there any stores near me? Where do I shop? What products should I buy first? What shade(s) am I? How do I know if the product(s) will work for me? You get the point. Well, it really doesn’t have to be complicated, stressful, or expensive to get started with clean beauty. In this post, I’ll share a few tips and my favorite places to shop so far.

One of the most awesome things I have learned so far about the clean beauty community is that pretty much everyone “gets it”. Bloggers, brands, store owners–they all understand that 1) you are making a conscious choice to switch from what you are using now to products and brands you are less familiar with, 2) it would be much easier for you to just keep using the readily available and sometimes much more affordable products despite the fact that they might be toxic and/or harming your health, and 3) shopping for things as personal as skincare/makeup/fragrance online can be intimidating (and discouraging when you do make a purchase and are not happy with it).

My first tip: if you have a question, just ask! Almost every brand and person I have had contact with so far in the clean beauty community has been incredibly accommodating and helpful. I have asked multiple bloggers questions via instagram and email and they have all gotten back to me within a day. I have asked store owners questions and they have responded quickly–some stores will even color match you and recommend products based on a picture you send them. I responded to one brand’s request for reviewers and have already gotten my first product to try even though I’m totally new to this. So everyone’s pretty cool and very approachable so far, and for the most part, we all just want to help each other and use/share healthier and safer self care products.

My second tip: buy sample kits before you buy the product. If you have used a brand before, know the place has a great return policy, or are super wealthy and don’t mind being wasteful, then ordering everything online at once will probably be great for you. If you are someone who likes to see, smell, and feel something before you commit to wearing it on your face all day everyday for the next month, trying a sample kit is literally the best (and most fun) way to get started. I try to be pretty thorough when deciding on a beauty product/makeup color; I try to find multiple reviews and swatches on skin that is similar tone to mine before deciding what to buy. I can’t tell you how many times multiple reviews have said something performs well (or especially ‘smells amazing’) and when I get it home I am disappointed. I am very lucky to have less picky friends and a little sister who have no problem taking my hand me downs when this happens, haha.

To make sure you like a product before buying the full size, here are some awesome sample kits for getting started in clean beauty:

1. Crunchi Foundation Sample Pack $10 (free shipping)
You can try out every available shade of this awesome light/medium coverage foundation. The little pots can probably last about 3 applications each if used sparingly. They even include a sample of their primer.

2. Hynt Duet Perfecting Concealer Sample Set $6 (free shipping)
This is like *the* concealer everyone uses, apparently. It has been sold out everywhere lately. This sample set comes in your choice of two shades (Fair and Light, Light and Medium, Medium and Tan, Tan and Dark, or Dark and Deep). I got Fair and Light. I also ordered a sample of their Aria Lipstick in Shiraz for $3. Click here for the link to all of their samples.

3. Gressa Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation Sample Kit in Fair-Light $15 ($5 shipping, so $20 total)
This kit is also available in shade choices Light-Medium and Medium-Dark. The kit is advertised as coming with two lip colors; as you can see, I got four. It also comes with a 10% off coupon to go towards your full-size purchase.

4. Vapour Organic Beauty Sample Kit $15 ($2.75 shipping if purchasing no other products)
This is the most customizable kit. You can select 5 products to try at a time. Any shade of any of their products, I think, and it includes skincare, primers, their organic lip balm, and even a perfume. I have ordered two different sample kits and been really pleased with this line so far. Once you place your sample kit order, you will receive a $10 off promo code to use toward your full-size purchase.

All of these brands and samples will give you a great start for transitioning to cleaner and safer beauty products. Even when sending a picture to be color matched to a professional makeup artist, lighting or different computer/phone screen colors could be misleading. The best possible way to choose colors that are a match for your skin is to try them out.

Finally, my third tip is to take your time! For most people, it isn’t realistic to make a complete switch to 100% clean beauty overnight. Give yourself time and a budget if you want, and go at your own pace. If you have to interact with the world on a daily basis (have a job or are a mom) and care about how you look, don’t throw out all of your current/previous makeup and skincare products right away. Even if you are able to buy everything all at once, you aren’t guaranteed to find everything that you need, want and are used to. For example, I used Proactiv forever and really counted on a couple of their products to clear up a breakout quickly. I know what to do and what results to expect/when my skin will be clear when using them. I don’t work and stay at home most days, so a pimple or two won’t kill me if they come up. But if I have an important event or something coming up, I have kept those products and will use them if I need to until I find a comparable replacement. Same for hair products and this one Chanel lip color I spent forever trying to find. They are toxic and I plan to stop using them when I am satisfied with their replacements.

Bottom line, becoming more aware of what we put in and on our bodies and deciding to choose cleaner and healthier products kicks ass. It’s a great choice for our health and hopefully sends a message to the food and beauty industries that we aren’t ok with ingesting or applying certain ingredients and so many potentially harmful toxins. It isn’t necessarily easy and won’t completely happen overnight, though. But that’s how it is with all great things, right?

Xo, Edie

Update 01/06/18: I’m now ok using a few products containing the preservative phenoxyethanol. While it does have some concerning side effects (especially for infants), it seems to mostly be a possible allergen/irritant and I haven’t reacted badly to it so far. If you have any questions/comments about this ingredient, let me know!

This is my first makeup post! And just to go ahead and get it out of the way, the products in this review contain a controversial ingredient: phenoxyethanol. I bought these Rituel de Fille products from an online retailer I trust and briefly scanned the ingredients and didn’t notice any red flags. About a week later, a blogger that I follow and respect pointed out that she won’t use or recommend this brand because they use the preservative phenoxyethanol. After doing some research, I decided to go ahead and review the products but also link to some info about this ingredient and let you guys decide if it is right for you. I will probably keep looking for an everyday cream blush and sheer lipstick, but these are high preforming, super pigmented and really beautiful.