Search Results for: easy does it

Best of The Best: Vapour Cosmetics

by whoorl

Best of the Best is a series showcasing my favorite, tried-and-true, go-back-again-and-again green beauty brands. Being a beauty blogger, I’m in a constant state of flux with skincare and cosmetics, as I’m always trying new products. However, these brands are always in my rotation and are worthy of my highest recommendation.

Vapour Beauty is the first cosmetics brand I’ve featured in my Best of Best series, and that designation does not come lightly. In fact, when considering all the cosmetics brands in the green beauty realm that I adore, it wasn’t super easy to pick. However, most of the brands I love excel in one or two areas (for instance, my fave Kosas Cosmetics is all about the lips), and Vapour is one of the few brands that not only I can create an entire look with that garners compliments again and again, but these products PERFORM.

First off, a little bit about Vapour as a company. Founded in Taos, New Mexico by Krysia Boinis and Kristine Keheley, Krysia’s knowledge of healing botanicals and alchemical blending in combination with Kristine’s masterful blending of natural mineral pigments which creates Vapour’s palette of modern, classic color is a match made in heaven.

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My Go-To Holiday Look

by whoorl

Oh, how I envy those of you who switch up your cocktail party makeup looks – maybe a bold lip one night or a smoky eye the next. Me, on the other hand? I almost always go for the same look, and it’s ALL about two things. Skin and lips.

It’s all about the skin, my friends. Your skin is your canvas, and I want mine to look as flawless as possible. On a night out, I am more apt to use a medium-to-full coverage foundation to get that smooth, lovely look. As for lips, you guys know how I roll…I always jump the chance to rock a red lip.

Here are the products used in the above photo.

Kjaer Weis Foundation in Paper Thin – When you are wanting a fuller coverage that still blends like a dream, look no further than Kjaer Weis. You guys, this foundation is everything. I used it briefly a year or two ago, but was wearing the wrong the color that was too light for my skin. When Melissa at Citrine told me that Paper Thin was the shade I needed to wear (always listen to Melissa!), I tried it out, and she was SO RIGHT. This shade just melts into my skin, and it’s like a bonafide airbrush. Makes my pores disappear, covers redness, yet leaves the tiniest glow on the skin. Just look at the photo! This foundation is gold, I tell ya.

Oh, I like to apply this with a damp beauty blender, just gently pressing it into my skin, in a stippling manner.

W3LL PEOPLE Concealer in Light – My all-time favorite concealer. Covers, but doesn’t crease. Amen.

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Embrace – This is the most gorgeous pale shade of pink. Barely there. So pretty.

Rituel de Fille Ash & Ember Eye Soot in Sigil – This champagne shade worn all over the lid brightens up the eyes. I pat a bit extra right onto my lid above the lash line to give it a bit more shimmery oomph.

Jane Iredale Mystikol Liner in Onyx – I always apply this gel liner to my top lash line only. (I don’t put any liner nor mascara on my bottom lashline/lashes.) This liner is easy to apply with a liner brush (I use this one), and it lasts all night long.

Antonym Lola Lash Too Mascara – This has been a nice alternative to my beloved Per-fekt, which has fallen off the face of the earth.

Kjaer Weis Lipstick in KW Red – My favorite red. I’ve talked about it ad nauseum. SO MATTE. SO GOOD.

Jane Iredale Lip Pencil in Crimson – I like to put a little bit of this liner on the outer corners of my lips to give a bit more definition and dimension.

On my way out the door, I’ll dab a tiny amount of powder on my T-zone, throw my lipstick in my clutch, and I’m good to go! Happy holidays!

 

I’ve Found My Holy Grail SPF Moisturizer!

by whoorl

Since I delved into the green beauty scene a few years back, one of my most exhaustive searches was (“Was!” Did you read that?) for a facial moisturizer with SPF. You guys, that is one tough category. Finding a natural sunscreen that doesn’t look greasy or white or too heavy on the face isn’t the easiest job.

I had settled on Suntegrity’s facial sunscreen, which I must say, is a great one for long days at the pool or outside (it’s my sunny vacation go-to), but I always felt like it was just a bit too heavy for everyday wear. And of course, I want to wear sunscreen on my face every day…I mean, hello 42, not getting any younger and all that.

Well, cue the clouds parting and angels singing because I have found The One. The Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30 by Josh Rosebrook. You guys, I can’t even explain how great this moisturizer is. It doesn’t feel at all like a sunscreen. Just the perfect amount of moisture with a matte finish on the face. No white-ish cast, no greasiness, nothing but goodness. And the scent! It’s divine. Look at the ingredients.

Active Ingredient: 12% Non-Nano, Uncoated, Micronized Zinc Oxide

*Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, *Shea Butter, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Hemp Seed Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Borage Seed Oil, *Almond Oil, *Grape Seed Oil, *Sesame Oil, *Avocado Oil, *Olive Oil, *Sea Buckthorn Oil, *Broccoli Oil, *Calendula, *Bilberry, *Chamomile, *Burdock, *Rosemary, *Fennel, *Dandelion, *Rose Hips, *Catnip, *Chickweed, *Neem, *Skullcap, *Ginkgo Leaf, *Linden Flower, *Hawthorn Berry, *Green Tea, *Flax, *Nettle, *Sage, *Marshmallow Root, *Cayenne, *Ginseng, *Peppermint, *St. John’s Wort, *Alfalfa, *Vitamin E, ‡Candelilla Wax, *Guar Gum, *Gum Arabic, §Xanthan Gum,§Potassium Sorbate, *Benzoin Resin, †Carrot Seed Oil.

Cleaner than clean. I will honestly wear this on my face every morning until the cows come home. (I’m from Oklahoma and still don’t know what that means.)

While we’ve got the whole farm reference thing going, hold your horses. I haven’t told you the best part yet.

Do you remember me telling you about Beauty Heroes? The monthly subscription box with full-sized, luxury, natural products? (It’s only $39 per month and always contains at least $100 of product – it’s the only monthly subscription box I receive, if that says anything…) And on top of receiving the best-of-best products for a steal every month, Beauty Heroes members always get 15% off in the online shop, which has over 30 green beauty brands. It is SO worth 39 dollars a month, I promise you.

Anyway, July’s box contains none other than the holy grail Nutrient Cream and the Vital Balm Cream by Josh Rosebrook. You guys, a $115 value for 39 dollars. If you are considering trying Beauty Heroes out, I highly recommend doing it before July 20th so you can receive these two amazing products. (And truthfully, they will probably sell out before that date. Josh Rosebrook products usually do.)

Everything you could possibly want to know about these two products and Beauty Heroes is here, and please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments!

Shall We Chat About Kids Clothes?

by whoorl

Over the past year, as my kids continue to grow and develop their own “style” (I use that term quite loosely), their clothing choices have become interesting. Well, not so much my son…I mean, he doesn’t give a damn what goes on his body. He truly could not care less, people. So I buy a melange of tees and shorts and crazy patterned socks (these are a favorite) and hope for the best.

(I must note, though, that his combinations are laughable. I mean, how hard is it to pick TWO items that slightly coordinate? Apparently VERY hard for this boy, as he’ll come out of his room in a burgundy t-shirt, bright red shorts, and pink socks. I like to call his look “variations on one color,” coming to a town near you.)

My daughter? The one who is 6 going on 13? Hold me closer, tiny dancer. Long gone are the days when I could dress her in adorable European dresses with leggings and call it a day. (Seriously, how I MISS THESE DAYS.)

Now? We’re walking through the mall and she wants to go to Justice. OH MY GOD. It’s like she’s magnetically pulled to that storefront by a force that renders her powerless to “peace, love, and besties” tanks adorned with unicorn glitter. She might as well be standing on a conveyor belt catapulting her straight to the cash wrap of the tackiest stores in America. Pass me the smelling salts, please.

In addition to the “style” issue, we have two other major factors that come into play.

1. My kids are growing like weeds.
2. My kids are extremely hard on clothes.

My poor son and his neglectful mama. As I type this post, he just walked into the room wearing shorts that can only be described as “Leiderhosen chic.” THEY ARE SO SHORT AND TIGHT. BUT I JUST BOUGHT THEM LAST MONTH. HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?! My mother just pointed out that his toes are practically busting out from his shoes! She just accused me of trying to bind his feet, like the Geishas of yore!

Everything is covered in stains. And too small. And we can’t agree on anything.

Do you feel me?

Well, let me tell you about what we’ve been doing the past few months.

Fabkids.

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GREEN BEAUTY GUIDE – 2017 BEST OF BEST

by whoorl

This has been a long time coming…my initial Green Beauty Guide was written longer ago than I care to admit!

Today’s post is a little different, as it contains my very favorite cosmetics (skincare coming soon!) that I’ve procured over the past three years or so. You know, the kind of products you use until you’re scraping the very last bits from the container, only to repurchase again. And I don’t know about you, but that’s what I really want to know in regards to beauty bloggers. What they are truly using again and again and again.

Well, these fit that criteria for me. Naturally, I receive a lot of products to test, but the percentage that actually make it here on the blog and/or my Instagram account is pretty small. (15%, maybe?)

All to say, I love these products.

(A side note regarding ingredients. All of these brands are considered “clean beauty,” but it’s up to you how far you want to take it. Let me give you an example…a few of these products contain Phenoxyethanol, which is a preservative that some choose not to use. It scores a 4 on the EWG for possible irritation and toxicity issues, but personally, after much research, I’m okay using it here and there in a select few products. And that’s the thing, you need to research what you will and will not use. It’s a personal choice. BUT I can tell you that every product listed in this roundup is light years better than conventional beauty products, so never fear.)

Let’s get this party started!

Tinted Moisturizer/Foundation:

Gressa Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation – This foundation is my MVP. It is unbelievable to me how one single drop of this serum foundation can create the most beautiful coverage. One drop! I started wearing it a year ago and have never looked back. The 2.5 shade works very well on my skin except for summer when I get a little darker. This foundation is truly a game changer. Here’s a photo of me wearing it. (For samples, just click “Sample It” on this product page and you can try different shades. 4 samples at Detox Market for $7.99)

Beautycounter Tint Skin Foundation – This was included in my original post, and I still love it for those reasons. Has less coverage than the Gressa foundation.

W3LL PEOPLE Bio Tint SPF 30 – I usually wear this or the Suntegrity during the summer months due to the SPF component. Gives a nice evenness to the skin with a bit of glow.

Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen – Another great tinted moisturizer with SPF. Although, I feel I’m right between Fair and Light. Light usually works for me when I’ve got a bit of color in the summer.

Primer:

Vapour Soft Focus Stratus Skin Perfector – I use primer very infrequently, but when I do, this is the best. I constantly hear how great this is from friends I’ve suggested it to – good stuff. I wear the S904.

Concealer:

W3LL PEOPLE Bio Correct Multi-Action Concealer – Once I found this concealer, I tossed every other one I owned. It’s just perfect – the consistency, the coverage, and the Light shade works perfectly on my complexion.

Powder:

Ilia Fade Into You Powder – Like primers, I don’t use powder very often as oil and shine are not issues of mine, but I do enjoy “setting my makeup” with this powder on nights out.

Highlighter:

Maya Chia Highlight of the Day Illuminating Serum – Love love love this highlighting serum.  Wrote all about it here.

W3LL PEOPLE Bio Brightener Stick – As you move down this list, you will see that makeup sticks are a thing with me. They are just so easy to use and apply! Love this highlighter because the shade is very natural on the skin, and again, STICKS.

Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer – Holy moly, the shade Phosphene is ethereal on the cheekbones. Wearing it here.

Bronzer:

Maya Chia Illuminating Serum – The After Hours shade gives a great bronzed highlight to the face.

W3LL PEOPLE Bio Bronzer Stick – Bronzer in a stick. Need I say more. (Great for contouring too.)

Blush:

Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Cream Pigment – I wear this blush in Lovesick EVERY. DAMN. DAY. It is the perfect dusty rose on my complexion, and the application is a dream. (I’m wearing it here, and FYI, this brush is crucial for cream blush application.)

Antonym Baked Blush – On the days I’m feeling more of a powder blush vibe, the shade Rose is lovely. Wearing it here.

Vapour Aura Multi-Use Classic – Hello, it’s a stick. And the shade Spark is perfect for spring and summer.

Fitglow Beauty Pressed Blush – Another pressed powder blush that I enjoy in the bright pink shade Joy.

W3LL PEOPLE Universalist Multi-Stick – STICK. Nude Berry is gorgeous.

Eye Shadow:

Before we start here, I should let you know that I detest sparkle and larger glittery-type specks in eyeshadow. It is an absolute deal-breaker for me if I apply an eyeshadow and immediately see ANY sparkly fall-out on my face. However, I do appreciate a finely-milled sheen. All of these shadows fit the bill.

Lily Lolo Laid Bare Palette – Such lovely natural colors. This is my most-used palette.

Honest Beauty Eye Shadow Trio – Followed closely by this trio in Heather Mauve. Makes brown eyes pop! (Also, my sister, who’s a bit more oily than me loves the Everything Cream Foundation by Honest…it’s a lot less “dewy” than Beautycounter Tint Skin, and works great on oiler complexions.

Antonym Quattro Shadow – This Quattro is great. Croisette is my fave! Especially love the pink and bronzy-brown shade.

Ilia Essential Shadow Palette – This is a new palette for me. Love the Prima shade – great neutrals.

Kjaer Weis Eye Shadows – These wear very well, but also have a fairly hefty price tag. Wisdom is my favorite shade.

Eye Liner:

Jane Iredale Jelly Jar Gel Liner – OMG, they discontinued this product and I use it almost every day of my life. I’m crying. Someone tell me about a clean replacement for this, pleeeeaaaaaase.

Antonym Eye Pencil – The best color payoff and staying power in a pencil. So good for smudging.

Mascara:

Per-fekt Lash Perfection Gel – Have yet to find any clean mascara that works as well as this. I repurchase again and again.

Lashes:

Georgie Beauty – In the rare event that I wear faux lashes, I love the Bridal style by Georgie. I’m wearing them here.

Lipstick:

My favorite category! As many of you know, I love all shades of lipstick. But it doesn’t end there. Lip gloss! Lip pencils! Lip treatments! Lip crayons! I DO NOT DISCRIMINATE, FOLKS. Changing your lip color is the easiest way to completely transform your look.

Kosas Lipstick – Biggest find of the year. I am OBSESSED with this line. My absolute favorite lipsticks, of which I have 4 shades. (Want the rest, though.) Stardust is my go-to, always-in-my-purse, everyday lipstick. Wearing Stardust here, Royal here, Thrillest here, and I love Darkroom, although can’t find a photo of me wearing it. Each holds a special place in my heart. #itoldyouiwasobsessed

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon – Been wearing these for years, and I love the creamy, matte finish on these. Aubergine, Fraise, Red Velvet (also wearing it here) Framboise, Leche, and Pastille are my faves. (The lipstick photos never end!)

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick – Yet another Bite Beauty product, love these lipsticks too. Radish, Beetroot, and Liquorice are tops with me. Also love Chai and Meringue, but can’t find photos of me wearing those.

Nudus Lipstick – 27 Kisses is your lips but better. Wearing it here.

Red Apple Lipstick – So creamy and pigmented. Wearing Rebel here.

Lip Crayon:

Juice Beauty Lip Crayon – Salinas is gorgeous, everyday color. Wearing it here.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil – Great pigment. Wearing Chablis here and here.

Jane Iredale Play On Lip Crayon – The shade Luscious is my jam. Wearing it here.

Lip Gloss/Stain:

Au Naturale Lip Stain – This lip stain is like nothing I’ve ever felt. It is packaged in a tube like a gloss, but doesn’t have a slick gloss feel at all. On Pointe is a gorgeous nude that makes my lips look really full.

Ilia Lip Gloss – Sheer and lovely. Peek-a-Boo and Love Buzz are my favorites.

Vapour Elixir Plumping Gloss – I love the shade Trust, which is a pinky coral. Great for the warmer months.

Lip Pencil:

Jane Iredale Lip Pencils – I have these in multiple shades. Love ’em.

Lip Treatment:

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – I mean, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I do have some soft lips. I owe it all to this product. Put it on every night before bed without fail!

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm – Keep this one in my purse because the stick form makes it easier to apply on the go.

Kari Gran Naked Peppermint Lip Whip – Mmm, this smells and tastes so good. Also love her Lip Buff. (Again with the soft lips!)

Makeup Brushes:

Been enjoying these cruelty-free makeup brushes lately, and I’m going to be honest, I have no idea why they are giving Whoorl readers such a great deal. Enter the code whoorl and you’ll get the entire set for $24 + shipping. Yes, you heard me…it’s a hell of a deal.

Final Thoughts:

If I was forced to choose 4 brands only for the rest of my life forever and ever amen, they would be Rituel de Fille, Kosas, Gressa, and W3LL PEOPLE. (But wait! I need my Per-fekt Mascara! Can’t I have 5? Please ?! I HATE THIS SCENARIO DO NOT MAKE ME CHOOSE.)

Online Green Beauty Retailers:

Unless you live in a major metropolitan area, many green beauty cosmetics need to be purchased online. Luckily, there are some great online retailers that carry fantastic brands and whose employees are super knowledgeable. I have purchased from many green beauty retailers, and these are tops in my book.

Citrine Natural Beauty Bar – My favorite. Expertly curated brands, customer education, reward perks, and super fast shipping…I am such a fan of Citrine. They also offer a sample program – 5 samples for $15 dollars, including shipping. I know buying cosmetics online can be daunting, so the sample program is key. They also do consults! Free shipping over U.S. orders over $75, and use the code whoorl10 for 10% off your entire purchase. Boom!

Beauty Heroes – Another great curation of green beauty brands, and Jeannie the founder is very particular about brand inclusion. The shop exemplifies responsible, ethical, high-performance green beauty brands AND if you are a Beauty Heroes member (you’ve heard me talk about this, right? The monthly beauty box that ships with full-sized products?! THE BEST), you get 15% off everything in the store 365 days out of the year. So worth it! It’s the only monthly subscription box I receive.

The Detox Market – This shop is amazing. The sheer number of green beauty brands is impressive, and I have purchased from The Detox Market many, many times. (I’ve also visited the brick and mortar shop in LA, which was like waking up on Christmas morning as a child.) You can accrue “detox” loyalty points which go towards future purchases, and you get free shipping over $80.

Pharmaca – The great thing about Pharmaca is its wide selection of cosmetics, skincare, supplements, homeopathy and more. It’s like a green beauty buff’s Target. Plus, there is a wide range of price points, which is super helpful. (Parents of tweens and teens looking for more natural beauty options that don’t break the bank will love Pharmaca.)

A couple more fabulous retailers are Credo Beauty and Integrity Botanicals.

There you have it, fellow green beauty enthusiasts! All of the above products are sitting on my vanity as I type this. They are certainly my best of the best. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions in the comments section, as always!

My Guide to Natural Fragrances

by whoorl

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above, some of my favorites

Let’s talk about fragrance, which is a whole entity in itself.

I won’t go on and on about the intricacies of creating a fragrance (this post covers a lot of it!), but here’s a primer.

The biggest divide between natural and synthetic fragrances lies in the way they are created. Plants, trees or animals comprise the basic elements of natural scents and run the gamut from lilac to sandalwood to deer musk. Synthetic fragrances are created in a laboratory, and although it may not be common knowledge, Mother Nature has absolutely nothing to do with almost two-thirds of the most popular fragrances made today used in perfumes and other scented products.

The modern lab is their source, and basically, there are three different types. These include: full synthetics, which are composed almost entirely from petroleum by-products; semi-synthetics, or natural fragrances that have been modified by artificial means, and natural isolates, which are aromas which fall somewhere in between natural and synthetic because they are developed by isolating one scent from a more complex aroma base such as that of a red rose.

Additionally, in terms of government regulation, “fragrance” is considered a trade secret, so companies don’t have to disclose what it is. In fact, because of these trade secret laws, the single word “fragrance” you see on labels can represent as many as several hundred additional chemicals that aren’t required to be listed.

But! It’s also important to point out that sometimes synthetics are a better choice for our planet. For example, massive deforestation has resulted from the production of natural sandalwood and rosewood, and the utilization of natural musk requires painful extraction from deer and other forest creatures. (Horrible!) All things to consider…it’s not so black and white. There are synthetics that don’t include phthalates, neurotoxins, and allergens, keep in mind.

Have I confused you enough? And, frankly, what does this mean for you? Well, it might behoove you to look into some cleaner fragrance brands – ones that are much more transparent about what they are using in their perfumes. Lucky for you, I’ve done some of the work already. These are some of the brands I’ve personally tested, which vary in their ingredients. Some use essential oils only, some use absolutes, some synthetics – so depending on how gung-ho you are, you might want to dig even deeper into the brands. (Frankly, after trying all these scents and writing this, I need a nap.)

Let’s get started!

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