Ring in the New Year with a rapturous (and NATURAL!!!) lipstick shade by Zuzu Luxe!

Check out "Rapture" by Zuzu Luxe - a sexy and sultry lipstick shade for the winter season!

 

Zuzu Luxe’s lipstick shade in “Rapture” is a gorgeous brownish-red deep color, with plum undertones, that is perfect for a winter’s night out! Zuzu Luxe, a line from Gabriel Cosmetics’ huge selection of makeup and skincare products, offers a nice array of lipstick styles, from matte to shimmery. All of Gabriel Cosmetics' products are natural, toxin free, paraben free, vegan, and cruelty free!

“Rapture” is a true matte lipstick, and is also buildable. For a deep and sultry look, the lipstick is best applied in 2 solid swipes across each lip. Because of the matte quality of this formula, a lip liner is not necessary, since this lipstick adheres to the lips without smudging and without feathering. However, because of the true matte nature of the formula, a bit of lip balm base might be in order for those with dry puckers. A nice natural lip exfoliation treatment (Teadora’s exfoliating and moisturizing Rainforest at Dusk Lip Butter - click for review - is highly recommended), and plenty of lip balm the day before should do the trick for most people, so that one’s matte lipstick application looks smooth.

Check out the photos above for a look at "Rapture" as it appears on the lips. A perfect, sexy shade for the colder months, this lipstick is sure to get lots of compliments for the remainder of this winter and beyond!

Follow this blog (click the link on the upper right panel) for more green beauty reviews! This blog is all about raising awareness for healthier cosmetics and personal care products. People should be aware of what they are putting on their bodies, since the personal care product industry lacks regulations. Better regulations could eliminate toxic and known carcinogenic ingredients from being present in the products we put all over our bodies; but, since those regulations don’t exist, it’s up to each individual to do their research about what toxins lurk in their makeup, skincare and personal care products.

Loose leaf tea bliss with Trader Joe's Herbal Infusions

Trader Joe's Herbal Infusion Anthology - a perfect holiday gift for any tea lover on your list!

Trader Joe's Herbal Infusion Anthology - loose leaf tea bliss!

Any loose leaf tea lovers on your gift list this holiday season? Trader Joe’s is known for creating unique products with signature flavors and mixtures that quickly become cult favorites. Well, TJ’s has apparently done it again, this time with their holiday exclusive Herbal Infusion Anthology, available for just $6.99 at Trader Joe’s locations nationwide. This is a fantastic addition to any tea lover’s gift, if you want to give that special someone quality, flavorful tea with unique and amazing flavors.

Trader Joe’s Herbal Infusion Anthology, pictured above, comes with eight signature blends of herbal teas in the most awesome flavors. Each flavor comes in its own paper box, in individual plastic baggies as pictured above (re-use those plastic baggies, please, for less plastic waste!!). Each sampler pack is enough for about eight cups of strong tea, so the value for this anthology is pretty marvelous!

Want to make sure you get your turmeric intake for the day, for some amazing health benefits? Try the Golden Coconut Masala tea or the Gingerly Turmeric tea, both found in this fantastic anthology of teas. Besides those two, the other six flavors in Trader Joe’s Herbal Infusion Anthology include: Hip Hibiscus, Garden Party, Lapacho Apple, Ruby Lemon, Thai’d Lemon Mint and Rooibos Riot. Don’t wait to pick these babies up, as they are only available for this holiday season!

A gentle, nourishing, fragrance free, paraben free shampoo and conditioner duo

Check out Earth Science Fragrance Free Shampoo & Conditioner:

For those of you who want fragrance free, natural, nourishing hair care, free of toxic ingredients, Earth Science shampoo and conditioner will not disappoint! This shampoo and conditioner duo leaves hair super soft, voluminous, tangle free and healthy looking. The shampoo has an excellent lather that effectively cleans hair, but also protects the skin of the scalp which produces natural oils that are essential for maintaining healthy, shiny hair – naturally! Following the shampooing with Earth Science Conditioner leaves hair untangled, shiny and manageable.

Earth Science Naturals is a natural personal care product company that has been around for over 30 years. Earth Science creates products that are eco-friendly, cruelty free, and toxin free. The brand is a favorite amongst green beauty and natural skincare enthusiasts. The company also has a whole line of completely fragrance free options, for those who are sensitive to scents, even if they are derived from natural sources.

Of course, shampoos and conditioners can also be scented and smell divine, and that is a wonderful thing as long as companies scent their products with naturally derived scents and essential oils. Check out the HAIR section of this blog for more suggestions on some of those divinely scented (naturally!) shampoo and conditioner duos by other great natural beauty brands!

A fantastic aluminum free and paraben free deodorant by Earth Science

Earth Science 'Tea Tree Lavender' Natural Deodorant:

Earth Science Naturals is a natural personal care product company that has been around for over 30 years. Earth Science creates products that are eco-friendly, cruelty free, and toxin free. The brand is a favorite amongst green beauty and natural skincare enthusiasts. The company also has a whole line of completely fragrance free options, for those who are sensitive to scents, even if they are derived from natural sources.

Today’s highlight is Earth Science’s Natural Deodorant in ‘Tea Tree Lavender’. This effective and long-lasting deodorant is aluminum free, paraben free, and gluten free, and is also vegan. The all-natural lavender and tea tree oils found in the ingredients help control odor all day long. The lavender and tea tree scent is very pleasant and calming, and not at all over-powering. This deodorant works just as well as any of the popular drugstore brands that do contain toxic ingredients and synthetic perfumes. Currently, Earth Science offers four different deodorant options, which can be checked out on the Earth Science Website.

Be sure to follow this blog for more articles about effective, natural, non-toxic, aluminum free and paraben free deodorant options!

A moisturizing, all-natural and USA-made hand soap by Hugo Naturals

Hugo Naturals 'Grapefruit' Handcrafted Soap:

A moisturizing, all-natural and USA-made hand soap by Hugo Naturals in the 'Grapefruit' scent

When we are washing our hands and bodies, we seldom think about the ingredients that are in the soap we use. Why should we? The soap lathers on and then is washed right off, no? Well, the skin is a remarkable organ that absorbs substances very quickly, especially when we open our pores to those substances by washing our skin in warm or hot water. And with all of the toxins present in everything that we are exposed to in the modern world, why not limit our exposure to toxic chemicals, by using skin care and personal care items that are completely free of toxins?

Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap in the scent 'Grapefruit' is made from 100% natural ingredients. The invigorating grapefruit fragrance in this soap is natural too – from essential oils. The soap has a gentle lather that leaves skin hydrated, soft, clean and refreshed. Each bar soap by Hugo Naturals is hand crafted and has a long life in the shower, without melting all over the soap dish, as some natural products tend to do.

Hugo Naturals is an American green beauty brand that produces soaps, lotions, baby care, hair care and other personal care products made from natural and sustainably-sourced ingredients. All of Hugo Naturals’ products are free of parabens, sulfates, PEGs, propylene glycol, petroleum products, silicones, phthalates, synthetic surfactants, phenoxyethanol, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances. The products are also eco-friendly, vegan, cruelty free, soy free, and gluten free. That just about runs the gamut of any serious green beauty checklist, and Hugo Naturals is certainly a winner! Hugo Naturals is an excellent and effective choice for anyone looking to try a well-rated and honestly natural brand.

Accentuate your eyes with Pixi's eye shadow palette in Aquamarine Dream

Check out Pixi's Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in 'Aquamarine Dream':

Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in 'Aquamarine Dream'

Pixi by Petra has named their new eye shadow palettes "Mesmerizing Mineral Palettes" - and mesmerizing they are! These pigmented, silky-soft shadows are paraben free, last all day and come in the most beautiful color combinations! With the holidays around the corner, these stunning eye shadow color palettes are a perfect stocking stuffer for any lovers of eye shadow on your gift list.

Today's featured palette is in Pixi's color combination "Aquamarine Dream", which is a gorgeous array of blue colors ranging from royal blue to navy to turquoise. This is an obvious pick for anyone with blue eyes, but these superb shades of blue shadow would accentuate any eye color and any skin color beautifully. The finishes range from matte on certain shades to shimmery on others; one color even offers a beautiful iridescent finish - a gentle blue with gold interference, giving this eye shadow a more greenish undertone (this color was favored in the picture above, with a look of the eye shadows lightly applied on the eye). Pixi's eye shadows can be applied dry or wet, with a wet application allowing for even more intense pigmentation.

Check out Pixi's website to see the brand's awesome holiday collections! Pixi by Petra is a cruelty free company that does not test on animals, and they produce makeup that is free of parabens, fragrance, mineral oil, phtalates, gluten and sulfates. 

Combine Hemp and Argan Oils for a fantastic daily facial moisturizer

Hemp and Argan - a marriage of oils that do wonders for the face - naturally!

Mixing hemp and argan oils to create a nourishing, moisturizing and healing barrier for the face.

Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and give our skin some basic, all-natural care, prepared for us naturally by Mother Nature. Is it really all that necessary to buy heavily processed, chemically rich concoctions to nourish our faces’ sensitive skin? Why not try some more ancient remedies to keep our skin beautiful, youthful and moisturized?

Hemp and argan oils are some of nature’s most prized and historically used plant oils. Before humanity was bombarded with commercially produced creams and lotions that were sold to people, various cultures around the world had their natural secrets to protect their skins. Now, although I do occasionally like to use some of these “concoctions” (creams and lotions) produced by trusted natural and green beauty brands, my honest go-to skincare regimen involves mixing 2/3 argan oil with 1/3 hemp oil in a quarter size mixture on the palm of my hand, and gently patting that into my face and neck. That’s it! A little bit goes a long way too; many people will complain of breaking out when trying natural oils on their face, and that is usually due to applying too much. You want just enough oil to feel a gentle barrier on the skin that will absorb within the hour.

Argan oil offers the skin the benefits of hydration, healing, anti-aging and toning. Hemp oil is a drier oil; it not only fights acne, tones the face, and prevents breakouts, but it also balances the “look” of the blend of oils when applied on the face: it’s a dry oil so the face will not be super shiny after applying it! Both oils absorb quickly and leave a lovely glow on the skin, thanks to their nutritional properties.

Organic oils are always best and least likely to contain contaminants that might have entered the plant during agriculture. Be sure to choose oils that are certified fair trade and are distributed by companies that do not harm the environment in their process to attain the oils. My current go-to argan oil is sold by Acure, and my current go-to hemp oil is the Nutiva brand, which I also use as a delicious dressing for spinach salads. Yum yum!

Dropper tools like the one above are great for use with oils and measuring amounts. They make it easier to make sure you don't over-do it. You only need a little bit of oil!