Introducing Pixi nail color in "Coral Cantaloupe"

Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe" - amazing, vibrant color!

Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in natural light

Though I’m the kind of gal who enjoys breaking free of fashion trends, preferring instead to do my own thing most of the time, one fashion trend that I found irresistible last year was the bright neon bikini trend! I would see so many women in bright orange, pink and coral bikinis and swimsuits, and I just love how a flash of neon color looks on tanned skin or dark skin tones in general!

So, naturally, I was also super pleased with the neon orange nail polish trend last summer. I don’t think I’m the only one who loves neon nail color, because the trend has continued into this spring and summer too, and I’m seeing countless nail polish companies releasing ads with at least one super bright, neon shade!

Which brings me to Pixi’s brand new 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe" that I’ve recently tried. I absolutely love this color! It’s a bright peachy coral that really has an amazing change of depth, depending on the lighting! It goes from a pastel peach color in medium light, to a bright neon coral in either really dim light or outside in the sun. Because of the complexity of this awesome color, I included a set of photos (below) revealing the color in different light, both in the bottle and swatched on a sheet of paper. It’s really a perfect, bright shade for the spring and summer! It has a gentle golden shimmer that is visible in certain lighting.

One of the coolest things about Pixi nail color is the way it dries. It has a matte finish and almost has more of a papery feel than most nail polishes I have tried. It applies nice and thick and spreads easily, but also starts to dry fast, so one should be aware of that when applying the color to avoid messing up the job by moving too slowly. Two coats on each nail should last at least three days without chipping. I use my hands a lot, so I’m usually happy with just two days wearing one nail polish – and honestly, even the less toxic options are not totally natural, so I prefer to only keep polish on my nails for 2 or 3 days at a time anyway. Pixi’s nail colors are free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP.

 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in inside lighting

  Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", shown in natural lighting

  Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown with flash

 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown in natural lighting

 Pixi 3-Free Nail Color in "Coral Cantaloupe", swatched on paper, shown in inside lighting

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Paraben-free & Non-toxic eyeliner? Try Pixi by Petra's Endless Silky Eye Pen in "BlackNoir"

A less toxic option for a truly high end eye liner by Pixi:

Pixi by Petra endless eye pen in "BlackNoir"; on nails: "Coral Canteloupe" 3-free Pixi nail color

Good eye liners are tough to come by. The main gripe with most eye liners tends to be a hard application, where the tip of the pencil tends to be too dry and difficult to apply. I’ve been a sucker for silky, smooth eye pencils that glide on like butter, but stay put on the eyes, and have deep pigment. For the last year, my go-to “less toxic” brand of eye liners have been the Tarte Beauty eye liners. But since trying this Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in "BlackNoir" (pictured above), I may have found another new eye liner favorite. If you are eyeing the nail color that really wants to steal the show in the photo, that is the vibrant "Coral Cantaloupe" 3-free nail color also by Pixi - stay tuned for an upcoming review of that awesome neon shade!

As their title suggests, the Pixi Endless Silk Eye Pens really do glide on like silk. They are easy to smudge for a gorgeous smoky eye look, or can be applied with the lightest swatch over the water line for a very subtle eye enhancement (because the pencil is so easy to apply, just the lightest touch against the eye will offer deep pigment – so you don’t need to press hard whatsoever). The formula of this eye pen also sticks to the eye very well after a few minutes of allowing it to settle. It is also quite water resistant, but also comes off easily with a dab of makeup remover or facial oil.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens come in several beautiful and vibrant colors besides the black I have tried, and based on the online reviews, all the colors seem worth a try! Find out more about these eye pens by clicking here. The hypoallergenic formula is free of toxic chemicals, parabens, mineral oil and preservatives.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Zion Health deodorant uses clay instead of aluminum

A shout-out to a lovely natural and aluminum-free deodorant by Zion Health:  Adama Clay Dry Deodorant in "Original Silk" 

Adama Clay Dry Deodorant - aluminum and paraben free!

Zion Health is a natural cosmetics brand that produces a few different lines of products, including toothpaste (which is wonderful – click here for a previous review of Zion Health’s Clay Bright Toothpaste), body care, hair care and facial care products. All of Zion Health’s products include clay in the ingredients, which is a seemingly miraculous ingredient with oh-so-many health benefits!

Being a huge advocate for natural deodorant use, I wanted to mention Zion Health’s wonderfulAdama Clay Dry Deodorant. This deodorant, in the "Original Silk" scent, is aluminum-free, paraben-free and contains no propylene glycol. Just check out this lovely, short list of ingredients in this deodorant:

Montmorillonite Clay (Kanwa), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Extract, Alpine Lichen Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Chamomile Extract, Cellulose Gum, Myrrh Gum Extract, Witch Hazel Distillate, Propanediol (Corn Derivative), Sodium Stearate, Yuzu Citrus Essential Oil Natural Fragrance, Purified Water.

The Yuzu citrus essential oil, that dominates the scent profile of this deodorant, is derived from a Chinese evergreen tree. This essential oil is not only super refreshing and sweet, but it’s also extremely delicate (great for those sensitive to strong smells) and has the added benefits of calming nerves and anxiety. I personally love how the formula of this deodorant glides on. It reminds me a little bit of Tom’s of Maine Deodorant, but Adama Clay Dry Deodorant is less sticky than Tom’s. Both are equally effective. I did find that this deodorant needs to be re-applied after any strenuous activity or on a hot day – but this is not an issue for me, since basically all natural deodorants sometimes need an extra swatch throughout the day! And I would rather do that than ever put aluminum-based products under my arms again!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Organic and biodegradable options are the way to go with your monthly flow!

Organyc feminine care products:

Organyc maxi pads: organic and biodegradable

This is an article for the ladies. I figure since most of my readers are female, that I will touch on something that I'm personally passionate about, and that I feel we should all try to do to help alleviate the weight of synthetic materials and plastics in our landfills, and even more importantly – in our oceans. Even though maxi pads (yes, I’m going there) are just one teeny part of the synthetic junk we throw into the garbage can every month, I feel like it’s important to support companies that make organic and biodegradable products, so that our monthly waste breaks down like it’s meant to. Organyc (box of maxi pads pictured above) is a company that has come up with a full line of organic cotton feminine care products that are also biodegradable. Most importantly, these products are effective, light and super comfortable - which can be expected from organic cotton.

Those who are sensitive to some of those popular synthetic brand name feminine care products, easily found in pharmacies, have the option of grabbing for an alternative option that works just as well as a brand like Always, but is better for you and the environment! Organyc products can now be purchased at CVS, and the more of us that support companies like this one, the cheaper these organic options will become because the demand will be there. Find out more about why organic, non-bleached and biodegradable options are the way to go with your monthly flow: Click here to read about Organyc’s misson and about the reality of most popular brand name feminine cares products.

Please leave comments below about your favorite non-synthetic feminine care products! Let's start a discussion and demand more of these kinds of products, like Organyc feminine care products, over the vast majority of synthetic choices we have as women - because, hey - a pile of billions of synthetic pads and tampons that will take hundreds or thousands of years to biodegrade is not the kind of mark we want to leave behind in our world. At least, not anymore!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Yet another fantastic lipstick by Honeybee Gardens in the shade "Goddess"

Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Lipstick in "Goddess" - Check out the images and review below:

Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Lipstick in "Goddess" is a slightly frosted gorgeous plum-red wine lip color that glides on easily and has great lasting power. “Goddess” is both pigmented and buildable, and you can attain a fairly dramatic look with this shade if you apply a few swipes. Honeybee Gardens’ lipsticks tend to leave a lovely gentle stain on the lips as well, and they do not dry out the lips, although I prefer to wear a coat of matte lip balm with lipstick that has frost or shimmer in it, to avoid dry-looking lips (I recommend Beessential lip balm for great matte lip protection that works great under lipstick). This particular shade of lipstick is a wonderful go-to color for me, and would really be complementary on most skin tones. The deep wine color gives a bit of a dramatic effect for a night out, but the light frost offsets the “vampiness” of the color, making this lip color also suitable for daytime wear.

"Goddess" is crafted using Honeybee Gardens’ new vegan lipstick formula, which has a very velvety, pleasant feel when applied on the lips. It includes the following ingredients:

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus 

(Sunflower) Seed Oil *, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter+, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl alcohol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxide (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499, CI45410). [* = certified organic ingredients; + = certified Fair Trade]

For other all-natural lipstick ideas and recommendations, check out the LIPS section of this blog for more natural lipstick reviews! I scope out the best rated natural beauty brands and their lip products, taking care to choose only those lip products that are free of potentially harmful ingredients and carcinogens! Since we tend to eat most of the lipstick we put on the lips, I'm a huge advocate of using lipstick made from simple, natural and safe ingredients.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are non-toxic and all-natural!

Try Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette for a natural-look day!

A neutral eye shadow palette by Gabriel Cosmetics - a favorite brand in the natural cosmetics industry!

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette is a neutral eye shadow palette that leans towards the plum color spectrum.

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette swatched on arm - natural day light.

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette swatched on arm - with flash.

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette

Gabriel Cosmetics Beach Beauty Palette

Gabriel Beach Beauty Palette is a neutral eye shadow palette from one of my favorite toxin-free makeup brands - Gabriel Cosmetics! This palette contains four shades that all lean towards a “plum” color spectrum, except for the lightest color. In order from lightest to darkest, the palette contains: a very light and slightly iridescent beige; a slightly sparkly, plummy grey-brown; a matte true purple; and a matte plummy red. Since this is meant as a natural-look neutral eye shadow palette, none of these colors are ridiculously pigmented. They are, however, build-able, they blend very easily, and they create a very neutral eye shading effect when applied. They feel velvety on the eye lid, have a satiny finish and – best of all – are made without any toxic ingredients.

Check out the images in this post to see how these eye shadows look when applied on the skin. The images show the palette packaging, two shots of the shades swiped on the arm (one with flash, and one without), as well as a shot of the shadows on the eye, demonstrating a neutral, “plummy” eye look. The lightest shade actually blends perfectly with the skin tone in these shots, but it actually has a really beautiful, natural-looking sheen effect (an iridescence), as can be seen between the eye lid and brow bone, when applied on the eye. It’s a perfect “secret” highlighting color!

If you haven't already tried Gabriel Cosmetics, and are looking for effective, amazing makeup without all the unnecessary toxins and carcinogenic chemicals found in most popular brand name cosmetics, be sure to put Gabriel on your list of companies to try! You won't be disappointed!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Teadora "Rainforest at Dusk" Nourishing Body Cream - more like a perfect body milk!

Smother your skin in nourishment with Teadora!

Teadora "Rainforest at Dusk" Nourishing Body Cream, pictured in this article, is just one of several Teadora products that I have been really impressed with as of late (check out the links below this article for other recommended skincare products from Teadora!). This Brazilian ingredient inspired company produces luxury, spa-quality skincare solutions, packed with skin-nourishing, non-toxic ingredients. Teadora's products are scented with only natural, rainforest-inspired aromas, derived from natural, non-carcinogenic ingredients. But the best part of this natural brand is that these natural skincare products work amazingly well and provide a sensory experience through the soothing textures of the formulas and the natural, rainforest-inspired scents!

Teadora’s "Rainforest at Dusk" Nourishing Body Cream is really more of a body milk, in my opinion. It’s considerably lighter in texture than Teadora’s Body Butter (also a must-try!). This body cream is very fast-absorbing and super hydrating, especially in Southern California’s dry climate, where I live. The cream also leaves the skin with a satiny feel for the whole day (or night!), and it works wonderfully after shaving too! Now, as with all previous mentions of Teadora’s products, I have to once again mention the incredible scent of this body cream! This natural beauty brand is inspired by Brazilian ingredients, and, more specifically, by the Brazilian rainforest! The all-natural scent, appropriately called “Rainforest at Dusk”, has notes of earthiness, slight grassiness, and tropical plants. Smelling it, truly reminds me of the rainforest, but it’s also a gentle scent that is not at all overpowering, and a wonderful choice for those sensitive to strongly scented products.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Bee Yummy Skin Food brings the nutrients of raw honey to your skin

Bee Yummy Skin Food - an amazing, natural, skin-nourishing treatment!

Bee Yummy Skin Food

Have you ever tried applying raw honey to your face to try to wreak the many benefits of honey onto your pores? I know what you're thinking - that would clog the pores and create a hot sticky mess to boot! But what if there were a natural, non-toxic beauty brand that had come up with an ingenious formula of skin cream that allows our skin to absorb the seemingly endless list of honey's benefits - without creating a sticky, clogging mess on our face? Live Live & Organic (based in New York City) has created just such a formula with their Bee Yummy Skin Food, and it’s become somewhat of a secret miracle cream amongst the women who have discovered it! 

This skin cream is appropriately named “skin food” because it pumps your face with up to 80 nutrients contained in honey within a few minutes of application! Bee Yummy Skin Food is effective for all kinds of skin types and skin conditions, and is also an effective cream for acne sufferers and those with extremely dry skin. The formula seems very thick at first, but it surprisingly absorbs into the skin beautifully, leaving one with visibly nourished, plump-looking skin several hours after application! Read more about this extraordinary skin cream by visiting the company’s website, where you can also read some testimonials from satisfied users.

The ingredients in Bee Yummy Skin Food compromise of wildflower honey, honey cappings, bee pollen, propolis, St. John’s wort oil, royal jelly, purified water, and balsam fir needles as fragrance. The raw, all-natural and non-toxic list of ingredients really can’t get any more natural! This cream does not require any synthetic or added preservatives because honey, propolis and balsam fir are natural preservatives that also have healing and nourishing properties for the skin. The scent of balsam fir needles, married with all the other wonderful ingredients is also a yummy (excuse the pun!) treat for the nose!

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet"

Bite Beauty's "Violet" lipstick truly is a vivid treat for the lips!

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in natural outdoor light

Bite Beauty is no stranger brand to natural, toxin-free lipstick lovers. The company offers a wide array of lovely, non-toxic lip products that are free of harsh and carcinogenic chemicals. In fact, their main mission is to continue offering products that are safe enough to ingest – an effort that should really be taken on by all cosmetics companies, since our skin absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it. When we wear lipstick, it’s usually more than 60% of an absorption rate, since we are actively licking and eating our lipstick off throughout the day!

Bite Beauty’s Luminous Crème Lipsticks are extremely popular because of their amazing, non-toxic, cruelty free and moisturizing formulas that are incredibly pigmented! The color “Violet” is no exception. It’s one of the most beautiful purple /orchid lipstick shades, with generous blue undertones. This color will compliment any skin tone and make teeth look super white! The creamy formula of this lipstick ensures that it nourishes the lips and doesn’t dry them out like many super pigmented lipsticks can do. For those with very dry lips, however, a coat of lip balm might still be necessary, but these lipsticks are overall considered non-drying. “Violet” will stain the lips a lovely pink color after several hours of wear.

Check out the photos in this post for some shots of “Violet” on the lips, in indoor lighting with flash, natural outdoor lighting without flash, and also as the lipstick appears in the tube. This lipstick came in the Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo in "Vivid", with the bright fuchsia shade “Palomino” on the other end of the tube. Also check out my review of the shade “Palomino”by clicking here. Both “Violet” and “Palomino” are also available in the full-sized individual lipstick option from Bite Beauty.

One of Bite Beauty’s coolest offerings is the above-mentioned Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo. Bite Beauty offers the double-ended duo lipstick in several pairs of shades, and these fun mini lipstick duos only cost $12. It’s a wonderful opportunity to try out two different shades from Bite Beauty, without having to buy a whole lipstick right away. This is a great option for those who don’t wear too much lipstick in the first place (therefore don’t need a huge amount to begin with), or for those who simply want to try shades out.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in indoor lighting, using flash

 Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in indoor lighting, using flash

 Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in natural outdoor light

 Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in its double-ended tube, alongside the shade "Palomino"

  Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in "Violet", shown here in its double-ended tube, alongside the shade "Palomino"

Acure's non-toxic leave-in hair conditioner

Why not try a toxin-free, all-natural leave-in conditioner for your hair?

Acure has quickly become one of my go-to natural cosmetics companies. I have been so impressed with this company's effective products that are made with the safest, nourishing ingredients, and are free of carcinogenic and toxic chemicals, such as parabens, synthetic fragrances, phthalates and petrochemicals. Other than becoming super popular for their outstanding skin care products, Acure is also becoming a popular natural brand in the hair care department. As someone with super long hair, it's especially important for me to protect and care for those uber long strands, without resorting to some horribly toxic brand that will protect my hair from breakage (but will definitely not protect my body's insides!). 

I have found that using Acure's leave-in conditioner (a few spritzes after washing my hair) has helped tremendously in keeping my hair manageable after it dries. One of the most damaging things one can do to their hair is to blow dry and style it using hair irons. Using these tools for someone with short hair, is not so bad because hair replaces itself relatively fast. But for someone who wants to maintain healthy-looking long hair, the towel dry method is really the best option. For me, applying a few sprays of Acure's leave-in conditioner before wrapping my wet hair in a towel ensures that the hair will be soft, shiny, and manageable after it dries.

If you are looking to try some new, non-toxic leave-in conditioners, be sure to give Acure a try. The spray smells lovely - like lavender, lemongrass and rosemary - because of the natural essential oils present in the formula! This leave-in conditioner spray is sure to give your hair a nourishment boost! Check out the full list of hair-loving ingredients here:

Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Rooibos, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Vera Leaf, vegetable glycerin, 100% natural betaine (from sugar beets), capric/caprylic triglycerides (fractionated cocos nucifera (coconut) oil), hydroxypropyl starch phosphate (from non-gmo corn starch), d-panthenol (provitamin b5), sucrose laurate (from sugar & coconuts), fair-trade certified organic olea europaea (olive) fruit oil (extra virgin), ethyl lauroyl arginate (from natural amino acid), & natural sclerotiom gum (fermented sugar), Ubiquinone (CoQ10), spinosa (Argan) Stem Cell, Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) Stem Cell Culture, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass), Lavendula Dentata (French Lavender), Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss), & Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Essential Oils.

Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!