❤ Rejuva Minerals Bronzer ❤

I took a small leap when I ordered this.  I took another when I tried it for the first time.  This time it was in a little happy dance.  There were no reviews for this that I could find, except for one lil bitty thing on the company website.  I love bronzers, especially for summer.  They are fantastic for contouring, and because I’m a pale girl, to give a little life to my skin.  Okay, I’m not quite as white in the summer despite my obsessive sunscreen use (I spend a lot of time on and in the water).  Nevertheless, I remember one time I went shopping in December for some foundation and their lightest color was too dark for me.  I promptly asked the lady if they had anything in “corpse.”  I don’t think she got it.  I think you get the picture though.

This stuff is great.  It is light, sheer, blendable and buildable.  It doesn’t go on too dark or too orange.  It is a nice neutral light brown, meaning it works for many different skin-tones and colors.  I would say the color is very comparable to some of Benefit’s bronzers.  It is a bit lighter and less red-brown than Hula, but along those lines.  It has a nice silky texture, probably in large part to the rice powder.  It also does not contain titanium dioxide or nano-particles (nano-particles are ingredients refined to the point that they can be absorbed straight into your skin, see below for more info)  If you read my previous posts you know I don’t usually like to use titanium dioxide in loose form, though it is great in a liquid form for sunscreen.  Rejuva bronzer also does not contain mica.  Though I am not opposed to mica in my products, so many things have it that I worry about over-indulging in the glittery goodness.  I think balance is key in most everything, so I to vary ingredients in my everyday products.  Also, I prefer a matte bronzer look.  If you don’t feel the same as me about glitter, feel free to add shimmer powder over the top of this.  It looks really pretty that way. 

Cheers to spending the summer not looking like an extra from Twilight!! 

❤ Eco Belle Elle

PS. “Nano-particles” or micronized ingredients are controversial in cosmetic use.   Nano particles are found in many foundations and sunscreens since we desire a flawless coverage from these products.  In the case of sunscreen, they make it easy to blend the white away.  Nano-particles should be avoided, as they filter readily through the skin directly into your tissues and bloodstream.  Without the benefit of an intervening process, such as digestion, it could be problematic for our bodies.  For more on nano-particles please see:  http://www.ewg.org/node/21738 and http://www.ewg.org/nanotechnology-sunscreens. 

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: Benefit Hula Bronzer and Clinique Bronzer

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Rejuva Minerals Bronzer

Color tried: There is only one, it’s pretty neutral so it should work for many people

Buy it: www.rejuvaminerals.com

Gonna lighten your bank account: $29 for a 10 gram jar, $15.75 for a 5 gram jar (they are running a discount though, so check below)

Cheers to:  Healthy certified organic and non-threatening ingredients.  No mica, titanium dioxide, or nano particles. Cute, non-plastic packaging (it has a plastic sifter cap, fine by me).  Nice texture and highly pigmented, yet blendable and sheer.  Gluten free if you need that feature.

Jeers to: Only available in one place that I could find.  Also, it is too bad that you can’t try it out without spending $15.75

Shop 'til you drop?: I would definitely buy this again, but not for a while.  This one will definitely last a long time, even when used daily.

Can't wait to try:  I’m looking forward to trying their new lip gloss trio and maybe a finishing powder

EWG score: 1 excellent!

Ingredients: Boron Nitride (synthesized natural mineral), 
Kaolinite (Clay)
, Ecocert Organic Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, 
Iron Oxides (pigment),
*Certified Organic Punica Granatum  (Pomegranate), 
*Certified Organic Pyrus Malus (Apple), 
*Certified Organic Prunus Domestica (Plum), 
*Certified Organic White Tea 

Company low down: Developed by beauty company insider, Brenda Hyre, these products were created for sensitive individuals prone to allergies.  Rejuva Minerals has signed the Compact For Safe Cosmetics, is a member of the Natural Products Association and PETA’s Cruelty-Free Company program.

BONUS POINTS:

Discount! I don’t know how long this is going on.  I got it directly from the company website.  It is a nice deal and takes the sting out of shipping. Rejuva Minerals Coupon Code

SAVE 15% ON ANY ITEM (NOT ALREADY DISCOUNTED) TODAY! COUPON CODE: 1292883112

❤ Real Purity Mascara ❤

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for not having any recent posts. I was on a little vaca with my family, to the most unnatural place on earth. Las Vegas!  It was so fun though!  I loved being warm and outside by the pool for the for the first time in months.  How sad is that, since it is nearly June?  Well back to rainy reality.............

So you want to know about mascara?  I'll be completely honest: a good natural mascara is hard to find.  I went through several on my quest to find what is often referred to as the holy grail of mascaras. The first gave me length, but no volume and couldn’t hold a curl to save its life.  It also completely disappeared by the end of the day. As in, poof! I was no longer wearing mascara.  The second was more like a lash tint.  The third was goopy and dry.  Like Goldilocks and her quest for the perfect bed, I couldn't find one that was just right. 

Let me preface this review by telling you that natural mascaras have difficulty competing with synthetic versions. It takes a lot of chemicals to deliver the kind of results that you would find with something like Diorshow.  I am willing to sacrifice a little when it comes to using a healthier mascara option, but I don't feel like I have to with Real Purity.  I have to say that for a natural mascara, Real Purity is as close to performing like a standard mascara that I have found.  I have very straight, long, fine lashes that are hard to curl.  I also have had a longtime love affair with my eyelash curler.  I have about 10 Shu Uemura leftover curlers that I can’t seem to throw out.  Mascara with curled eyelashes is the one thing that I pretty much always do before leaving the house.  I don’t feel “done” without this step, so I was sad when the all the natural mascaras made my curly eyelashes droop back to their former straight, sad state.

I also demand a lot from my mascara, no flaking, no running, volume, length and super black color.  My past favorite mascara was L’Oreal Voluminous, and I used it for years.  I always came back to it, but I also loved Lancome Hypnose and Diorshow for a tube or six.  I also liked to layer different brands.  So I think you are getting the picture that I obviously have never gone with the “natural mascara” look.  I want ‘em big and borderline false looking, but not like spider legs!

So my new lash lovely is Real Purity mascara.  It is cheaper and better performing than the Jane Iredale Longest Lash ($34) that I used at first.  It also holds a curl! I couldn’t believe it. Totally made my day.  It is definitely the best natural mascara I have found, offering both volume and length.  It is a bit drier in consistency so it doesn’t take 5 minutes to dry like others I used.  It is also extremely buildable without clumping.  It doesn’t flake and it lasts all day long.  It will smudge if you have a creamy or greasy eye cream, or if you have oily eyelids.  So you could dust your under eye area with powder though, to make sure it stays put. It is pretty easy to wash off, either with makeup remover or face cleanser.  It doesn’t have any nasty chemicals in it either.  It holds up pretty well to sweat and rain (oh, Seattle how I love you) unless you start touching or rubbing your eyes. 

Natural Mascara is more gentle to your eyes and
lashes. It might not get you this.... but
they will be fuller and longer in the long run

I love to layer it over my Jane Iredale Lash Primer $15 (also of clean ingredients and yummy, natural vanilla smell).  It gives pretty much the same effect as my previous mascaras.  I still have some of my Jane Iredale Longest Lash left over so I layered it over the Real Purity, and WOW!!  Seriously pretty peepers: long and feathery and black.  I don’t know if I would repeatedly buy both because $50 is a little crazy on mascara, even for me, but hey, to each their own.

I purchased mine from Natural Joy Beauty for $11 with an E-coupon (I LOVE this store and Joy is so very sweet).  It usually costs about $13.  So it’s still a good value even at full price, but a little more than drugstore brands. 

So go ahead and lash out,

❤ Eco Belle Elle

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: Loreal Voluminous (4), Diorshow (7) and Lancome Hypnose (4)

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Real Purity Mascara

Color tried: Black

Buy it: naturaljoybeauty.com or realpurity.com

Gonna lighten your bank account: $13

Cheers to:  Volume, Length, Curl! Buildable with no smudging or flaking

Jeers to: This is super petty, but the sad packaging, so generic and plain.  I actually broke the lid the second time I used it thinking it had to “click” to be closed and had to glue it back together.  That was just me being nitpicky though.  Like people, it’s the inside that counts.

Shop 'til you drop?: I would definitely buy this again, in fact I am getting a spare

Can't wait to try:  Pretty happy with the one mascara

EWG score: 2 excellent! No parabens or icky stuff!

Ingredients Purified Water, Beeswax, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Candellila, Cellulose, Pure Plant Extracts, Iron Oxide

Company low down:

Founded in 1986 by Virginia Easterling and now run by her son, a naturopathic doctor (president & CEO).  It is one of the older natural and environmentally conscious makeup companies out there.

❤ Living Nature Illuminating Tint ❤

This is a long one…… Sorry!

At the start of this whole overhaul, I admittedly made many mistakes. My first was buying a mineral powder foundation that I had purchased at my local Sephora. Honestly, it almost made me give up on this whole thing. I have several problems with mineral powder foundations: they do not work with my skin type (dry-ish), they are time-consuming, messy and I prefer a more dewy finish. Plus, when I read more about the entire mineral powder makeup thing I learned that inhaling titanium dioxide and some of the other ingredients in this particular mineral foundation can lead to some pretty serious health issues. Also, despite this company’s claims of makeup so pure you can practically sleep in it, it has several questionable synthetic ingredients and parabens. Ew! I quickly gave that foundation the axe and begun researching new products to try. Enter the New Zealand company “Living Nature” and their product: Illuminating Tint…….

Before I tried this I was seriously pining for my Diorskin Airflash foundation, which my friends and I had dubbed as "rich girl skin in a can." You know what I'm talking about, that ladies-who-lunch and spend days at the spa kind of flawless, luminous skin. Unfortunately, Dior Airflash is comprised of a naughty trifecta of aerosols + chemicals + parabens, a truly nasty little cocktail for your lungs and skin. In spite of knowing all this, it was like breaking up with a once-loved boyfriend. I kept romanticizing our glory days together, those days of perfect skin and mess-free application. That was until I met my new beloved. 


So, I hope I don’t undersell this, but I have to tell you………. It is the best foundation ever! I love this product since I’m not a traditional “foundation” person. I like to look polished, not like a geisha. Thus I tend to favor a lighter finish or a tinted moisturizer. For me this is perfect and luminous. The light-reflecting mica diffuses any lines or blemishes and the texture is lightly moisturizing. For fuller coverage, you can mix the Illuminating Tint with the foundation from the same line. It lasts pretty much all day too, although if you are oily you might need a finishing powder for touch up.

Since I promised you all the best of the best in terms of purity and performance, I did question two of the ingredients: stearic acid and grapefruit seed oil (not to be confused with grape seed or grapefruit skin oil, those are perfectly acceptable). Stearic acid can be derived from rendered animal fat, through means I will not discuss here, since they are completely revolting. My concern with the grapefruit seed oil is that it can be contaminated with parabens and other synthetic chemicals due to the distillation process. (For more on these topics visit the chemical blog on Bubbleandbee.com. Stephanie, the owner and developer is a total smarty and there is a wealth of information on chemicals and their effects. Love this site!)

Living nature’s response to my questions put all of my concerns to rest (please see below for the actual email). This product is BDIH certified, meaning it has met strict standards for purity in ingredients and manufacturing. The company has also taken additional steps to certify that their grapefruit seed oil is free from impurities. It has been analyzed and processed by a non-affiliated lab, and they have the paperwork for proof of its cleanliness. In addition to doing all this certification, they are still taking steps to remove the grapefruit seed oil from their products. I also found out that the stearic acid is comprised from a vegetable source, so we need not worry about its origins.

I would honestly use this foundation over my once-loved Dior for it’s price, performance and finish (even if I wasn’t doing the natural makeup thing).

So try it out! All the Kiwi’s are doing it!

G’day Mate! (or is that Australian? ;)

Eco Belle Elle

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: DiorSkin Airflash (EWG 6- surprised it’s not higher since it had propane & butane in it! BBQ anyone?) & Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (EWG 4)

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Living Nutrients Illuminating Tint

Color tried: Dawn Glow (the lightest of the three colors)

Buy it:  www.saffronrouge.com (this is a New Zealand-based company, so shipping may be high directly from them idk)

Gonna lighten your bank account: $37

Cheers to:  Even-toned & pretty glowing skin, moisturizing texture, pure ingredients. Plus, it’s less $ and lasts way longer than my Dior, you only need 1-1 1/2 pumps to completely cover your face.

Jeers to: Nothing, they pretty much cleared up any concerns I had, but I wish their ingredients were certified organic. Some may prefer more coverage

Shop 'til you drop?:  I would definitely buy this again

Can't wait to try:  Maybe their foundation for a fuller, less dewy coverage

EWG score: 2 (a great score, but would probably be a 1 without the grapefruit seed oil, but no worries about that!)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Jojoba esters, Macadamia oil (Macadamia ternifolia), Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus grandis), Wheat straw extract (Cetearyl wheatstraw glycosides & cetearyl alcohol), Manuka honey (Mel), Avocado oil (Persea gratissima), Glycerin (vegetable), Cetyl alcohol, Sclerotium gum, Stearic acid, Manuka oil (Leptospermum scoparium), Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), May contain depending on color: Zinc oxide (Cl 77947), Iron oxide (Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499), Mica (Cl 77019), Talc (CI 77718), Titanium dioxide (Cl 77891)

Company low down: Although I did not order from them, they were extremely responsive to all of my questions regarding their ingredients. They even gave me some tips on using it from their in-house makeup artist. Love that!

BONUS POINTS: Recycled Packaging, Bioactive ingredients (aka skin food) that is packed in glass instead of plastic, cruelty free, independently lab tested and BDIH certified

Email:

“In response to your query about Stearic acid it is a wax sourced from coconut oil. It is added to create viscosity and body into an emulsion.

As for your enquiry on Grapefruit Seed Extract, we are progressively removing this ingredient from all Living Nature products as part of our overall range reformulation. This reformulation started last year with our skincare products. Grapefruit Seed Extract has become a controversial ingredient over recent years due to the negativity surrounding the extraction process and the fact that some Grapefruit Seed Extract on the market contains parabens. We can verify that the Grapefruit Seed Extract that is used by Living Nature does not contain parabens, and we have the Material Safety Data Sheet to confirm this. 

Living Nature’s goal is to be the most natural, safe and effective skincare available worldwide. This is why we chose BDIH Germany to certify our products as they are an independent auditor and set some of the world’s highest natural skincare standards. While BDIH do accept Grapefruit Seed Extract as an ingredient, at Living Nature we will always err on the side of caution. If an ingredient is questionable then we will remove it. In this case because it formed part of the preservative system of the products, it is a long process to reformulate an entire range, hence the timeframe to have it removed completely from all products.”

❤ Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick ❤

Vapour Organic Siren Lipstick

I don't know about you, but when I look at my tube of lipstick I don't exactly think: "Yum, can't wait to eat that." I should though, since the average woman eats five pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. If this isn't enough to change your mind about changing your lipstick to a healthier option, I don't know what will.  My new favorite lipstick from Vapour Organic is actually good enough to eat, with it’s certified organic, food-grade ingredients and delicious citrus scent.

Usually I don’t wear just lipstick on its own, but sometimes I like to mix it up. Mostly, I wear it layered under lip gloss, so I can sort of tweak the colors and invent new ones. However, I really like this product, and wear it often without a gloss. The texture is a little thick compared to MAC, but the colors are really beautiful and wear well on lots of different skin tones (I know since I gave out some of my samples to friends).  I would say that it is really comparable in texture to the MAC matte formulas such as the color “O”.

For the colors I tried, I don’t know that I would have bought Hint on it’s own, but it came free as part of a gift set. It is a little too "coral-y" for me, but I will see if I can mess with it. It might be cute for summer.  I would venture a guess that it would be beautiful on a blonde or redhead with more of a golden complexion.  I love the color Possess, it is so pretty and replaces a lot of my MAC colors (Angel, Hug Me, Patisserie, to name a few). It is described as a sexy adult pink. This seems like a really fitting description, it is extremely wearable and not too bright or too bubble-gum. I would say it is definitely more of a blue-based pink than orange. For me, it is the perfect all season color, to the point where I want to stockpile it in case it ever gets discontinued! Right now, I'm loving it layered under my 100% Pure juicy pink grapefruit lip gloss. It is a great spring combination. The Ravish color is a sheer blue based red, is the most moisturizing of the three and goes on sheer but can be layered for fuller coverage. One light coat looks natural and basically gives you a deeper shade of your own lip color. Two coats gives you a more dramatic real red shade, though still a bit sheer and very glossy.  Bliss was my favorite of all the colors I ordered. It is a fresh, slightly peachy pink, so beautiful for spring and summer. This is my daily go-to color these days.

I have to say that along with perfume, (because it is inhaled and has proprietary formulations ie: chemicals) makeup that you could potentially ingest is at the top of the list for safety concerns. So, if you’re going to change one cosmetic product, make it your lip products.......

‘Cause you are what you eat, even if it’s a lipstick.

Bon Appetit!

Eco Belle Elle

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: MAC lipstick

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Vapour Organic Beauty

Color tried: Possess: a pale Bardot-like pink, Ravish: a sheer blue-based red, Hint: a coraly-pink, Bliss a peachy nude pink

Buy it: spiritbeautylounge.com, vapourbeauty.com

Gonna lighten your bank account: $22

Cheers to:  Healthy organic ingredients, non-plastic packaging, highly pigmented colors that will last a while.

Jeers to: Price? $36 is kind of a lot for concealer, though it is cheaper than some. People may need to buy two if they tend to get darker in the summer.

Shop 'til you drop?: I would definitely buy this again, in fact they had a special so I have some on the way. I also can't wait to try their lip & cheek stain combo sticks!

Can't wait to try:  Their multi-use blush

EWG score: 1 excellent!

Ingredients: Organic/Bio Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic/Bio Cera Alba (Beeswax), Organic/Bio Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Camelina Sativa Oil, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Organic/Bio Punica Granatum (Pomegranate Oil), Organic/Bio Rosa Damascena (Rose) Buds, Organic/Bio Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm), Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh)*,  Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Leaf Extract  [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470)]77492, CI 77491, CI 77499] * signifies certified organic (Made in USA)

Company low down: Remember the sweet and ever-so-talented Kevyn Aucoin? Well, this line was co-founded by the president of his (now disbanded) cosmetics company, Eric Sakas. They have a great company philosophy and a large range of products and colors. Check out their company info and products at vapourbeauty.com

BONUS POINTS: 100% of proceeds from the sales of HONOR Elixir Plumping Gloss are donated to benefit breast cancer research at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, where they are working towards the first breast cancer vaccine! Plus if you follow them on Facebook or sign up for email notifications on their website, they have all sorts of specials. Recently I got $80 of products for $18! 

❤ RMS UNCOVERUP ❤

So I love this entire line. However, in the effort of filling up my blog and giving each product its day in the sun, I will review them one at a time. This concealer comes in a pot, and you can apply it with either your fingers or a little brush. Although it is described as just a concealer, I would really call the uncoverup more of a multi-use product. It works great to cover up any blemishes or under eye circles, but on those days you don’t want to apply foundation you can use this on its own. I warm a few dabs of this up on the back of my hand, apply them to areas that need evening out and kind of buff it in using a small, fluffy foundation or concealer brush (I like Sephora’s Airbrush set: made of cruelty-free taklon nylon and so soft). It blends out really well and is moisturizing, but non-greasy. Plus, it is made of organic, unrefined coconut oil, full of free-radical fighting antioxidants. It actually makes your skin healthier when you wear it! 

Yay for healthy, free-radical-free skin!

Peace, love & beauty,

Eco Belle Elle


P.S.  How do you use your concealer? Do you prefer a pot style to use with a brush or the sponge tip applicator?

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: MAC concealer

Eco Belle Elle product pick: RMS Beauty Uncoverup

Color tried: 11 (the lightest of the three colors, ugh, always the lightest, thanks to all the rain and sunscreen)

Buy it:  www.saffronrouge.com, spiritbeautylounge.com, rmsbeauty.com

Gonna lighten your bank account: $36

Cheers to:  Healthy organic ingredients, glass packaging, large amount of product that will last you forever. Also, one of the top safest makeup brands in the US!

Jeers to: Price? $36 is a lot for concealer, though it is cheaper than some. People may need to buy two if they tend to get darker in the summer.

Shop 'til you drop?:  I would definitely buy this again

Can't wait to try:  All of their other products, especially the lip2cheek. Eyes, cheeks, lips, Oh my!

EWG score: 1 excellent!

Ingredients: *Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol(non-GMO), *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, and may contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499] * signifies certified organic

Company low down: Developed and founded by celeb makeup artist, Rose Marie Swift, so you know it’s good. This company is extremely proud of it’s ingredient list and has a beautiful website to show it off.

BONUS POINTS: Pretty packaging, organic and one of the most favorite products in the realm of natural, organic beauty products. Signer on the compact for safe cosmetics.

❤ Scotch Naturals ❤

Okay, so this is my first experience with water-based nail polish, and I have to say.... I am totally impressed! A lot of the reviews I read about water-based polishes were bad: tales of chipping, peeling and the like. I thought I was going to have to give up having my nails painted. It seemed like I had to choose between using toxic chemicals and having pretty toes. Turns out I was wrong!  I followed the instructions exactly: made sure all the old nail polish residue was removed, buffed with jojoba oil and nail buffer and applied two coats before going to bed. Two weeks later, my pedicure is pretty much chip-free and shiny :o).  Even after a massage involving wrapping my feet in steaming hot wet towels, wearing high heels, and trips to the steam and sauna rooms (my best friend treated me to a spa day for my birthday, I know, BEST friend ever! Thx Jules). My daily activities also include running, which is something that used to make my old polish wear at the ends.  After two weeks of this the only place I lost any polish is on the side of my little toe, where I did a poor job of removing my cuticle. I tried the “Kiltlifter” color, a perfect classic red.  I also painted my nails and the red lasted 3 days before chipping. The wear was on par with an OPI polish in a similar color, so I consider this a non-issue. One of my favorite features was the ability to completely wash the polish off with soap and water before it dried. This way if you mess it up or change your mind it's super easy to switch!

My Toes.... a week and a half later and still holding up well!
Highland Fling an Adorable Summery Orangey-coral

I really loved both the color and the application.  It went on completely opaque and streak free, which surprised me given the thin consistency. If you’ve never tried water-based polish before, know that it goes on thinly, and doesn’t build a thick lacquer-like finish like my old OPI. I don’t really miss the thick finish and the bonus is that is pretty much smells like nothing, if pressed, I would say it smells slightly bitter, maybe a little like vinegar? Some describe the scent as crayon like. You can sniff for yourself and decide. Either way,  the smell is completely innocuous, a non-issue. Honestly you have to stick your nose right next to the bottle to smell anything at all.  It is a huge departure from the headache-inducing fumes of my old polish.  Love that they kept the scotch theme throughout the line, with witty and cute names.  Plus, if you’re looking for some creative color choices check out Hopscotch Kids. They have a rainbow of options going on with the same formulation. Tthere is a link through their main site.

Cheers to SCOTCH NATURALS, thank you for saving me from boring toes!


P.S. What is your favorite nail polish look? Pale and neutral? Red and racy? Or funky and colorful?

The once over……….........

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: OPI (EWG 4) and Essie Nail (EWG 7) enamels

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Scotch Naturals water-based nail enamel

Color tried: Kiltlifter

Buy it:  www.scotchnaturals .com and several online retailers including Spirit Beauty Lounge and Abe’s Market Natural Goods

Gonna lighten your bank account: $14.99

Cheers to:  Their cute names and great color range

Jeers to: Pretty much nothing, I wish it would be available in my local stores so I wouldn’t have to ship it!

Shop 'til you drop?:  I can’t wait to get more colors!

Can't wait to try:  Colors in: Neat, Highland Fling, Heather Blush, Tartan Swizzle, Hot Toddy and Flying Scotsman, and nail polish remover (two different types available)

EWG score: 1!! Seriously, WOW! Practically unheard of for nail polish.
Ingredients: water, acrylic polymer emulsion, and non-toxic colorants
Company low down: Although I did not order from them, since they were out of the color I wanted at the time, I sent them an email requesting back order information and the response I got was super-quick and very nice. Since the order was going to be for a gift they offered to expedite the shipping process and get it to me in time! Love that!

BONUS POINTS: Cute names, additional product line of hopscotch kids and if purchased through the Scotch Naturals website: 30-day return policy, 15% off of three bottles + remover, free shipping after $35. Try risk-free, returns are accepted.


UPDATE!! I am still loving this polish- I got 3 more colors: Neat, Highland Fling and Tartan Swizzle. They are all so pretty! I got the remover too, which works fine, but I have also learned that you can use rubbing alcohol to the remove nail polish too. It's cheap and handy if you already have it. YAY!

❤ Badger Lip Balm ❤

Badger lip balms are my new lip love. Every night after brushing my teeth I slather on a  lip balm.  When I had to give up my old stand-by, Smith’s Rosebud, I was truly sad. I wanted to find something that was organic and petroleum free, and I found it! Better yet, I think it works better than my old stuff. It smells delicious like chocolate, thanks to the moisturizing cocoa butter!  I have the Creamy Cocoa flavor and one of the tinted double-ended formulas in Rose Tourmaline. The colored side of the Rose Tourmaline goes on like a pale baby pink. Although it is a subtle color, the opalescent side gives you a little shimmer, perfect for those days that you are not feeling a made-up lip look.

Love you Badger! Not only does the company donate to charity, but their clean ingredients + USDA certified organic rating means that you never, ever have to worry about eating your lip balm again!

The once over………….

I’m bidding a (not-so-fond) farewell to: Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Kiehl's and Bonnie Bell Lipsmackers

Eco Belle Elle product pick: Badger Organic Lip Balm

Color/variety tried: Pink Tourmaline and the non-colored Creamy Cocoa

Buy: Lots of places! Whole Foods, various health stores and online retailers

Gonna lighten your bank account: $5-6.50

Cheers to:  Yummy smells, an organic and clean product, fab moisturizing, widely available and affordable pricing

Jeers to: Pretty much nothing

Shop 'til you drop?:  Yes! I can’t wait to get more colors and flavors!

Can't wait to try: Garnet & Opal Shimmer, Mocha Cocoa and Vanilla Bean

EWG score: 0- Creamy Cocoa, 1-Lip tint

Company low down: I bought this at my local health food store, so I didn't deal with the company directly. However, in perusing their website I am extremely impressed with the purity of their products ingredients, their highly-rated sunscreens and their company philosophy which includes charitable giving.

Ingredients: Lip tint: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Beeswax, *Fair Trade Certified Cocoa Butter, *Castor Oil, *Aloe Vera, and CO₂ Extracts of * Rosemary Antioxidant, *Seabuckthorn Berry, and *Rosehip.

* = Certified Organic, Each Tint contains one or all of the following: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Silica, Iron Oxide.

Lip Balm: Base Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, *Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Extract, and CO₂ Extracts of *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary), *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) & *Rosa Canina (Rosehip).

* = Certified Organic

BONUS POINTS: Badger donates 10% of before tax profits or $10,000 (whichever is greater) to non-profit organizations which focus on the healthcare & welfare of children. For more on why you should avoid petroleum products please see http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dangers-of-mineral-oil.html or http://www.health-report.co.uk/petroleum_petrolatum_health_concerns.htm, it will give you a brief glimpse into the controversial manufacturing process that results in thiscommon ingredient.