Where has the time gone? The past few months have been so busy, that I just haven’t had time to blog! I’ve decided to discontinue my blog for the time being and focus on creating some new products for spring (including mascara!), but I wanted to write one last post to share a video I just made showing how I make lip gloss. The video is part of an interview with Love the Label, a campaign in Ontario that promotes natural alternatives to traditional cosmetics. You can check out the full interview here and watch the video below. It’s my first video, and I sound a bit dull, so please don’t judge me on that
I am really excited to share a few new developments with you!
First, I just ordered some new sifters for the foundation and blush containers. They have a turning mechanism that closes off the holes so when you stash powders in your purse the powder stays below the sifter - meaning less mess! They cost me a bit more, but not enough to affect the cost of the product for you, so I think it’s a great improvement! I’ll be slowly phasing them in over the next few months.
Second, I ordered some new ingredients (ones I have been looking for for ages!) to experiment with: Ecomulse (INCI: Glyceryl Stearate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate) and Glyceryl Stearate. They are both emulsifiers that are ECOCERT approved for use in organic cosmetics. Emulsifiers are never really natural, since they must be heavily modified even if they are plant-based, but are necessary in lotions, creams, and mascaras to mix water with oil or wax. So it’s great to finally have found some that have at least gone through some sort of organic certification process! I also found an ECOCERT approved preservative: Geogard Ultra (INCI: Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate), which is essential for mascara.
So I will be experimenting with new mascara recipes soon! And maybe even some skin creams and lotions now that I have the ingredients!
06/15/2011 Update: I have switched back to the original style of sifters because the new ones were almost impossible to remove, making refills extremely difficult. I still have quite a few turn sifters left, so if you would like one, just request it (foundation or blush or both) when you order and I will include it in your package (you will have to replace it yourself, though).
The short answer: whatever you want it to mean. The government has no formal definition or regulation of cosmetics labeled as natural, so each company defines the label according to its own standards. Even a product made entirely of petrochemicals can be labeled as natural if the company believes it to be.
So where does that leave you as a consumer?
First, you need to define what natural means to you. Does your definition include only plant material? Only plants and minerals? What about poison ivy or lead – those would fit the above definition, but are obviously not healthy for you. Learn as much as you can about the ingredients listed on the products you currently use and write a list for yourself with three categories: Good, Bad, and Not Sure. Your definition of natural is probably different from most companies’ definitions, or even from your friends’ definitions. That’s okay. We all have unique ingredient needs according to what our skin reacts to and what we consider acceptable.
Okay, so you have your list. Then what?
Next, you need to find the products that match your definition of natural as closely as possible. This is where companies need to step up and be more transparent. Many companies make it difficult to find ingredients on their websites or don’t list them at all. You can either ask yourself “What are they hiding?” and move on, or you can send them an email requesting the information.
If all of this sounds like a lot of work to you, you’re right, it is.But it’s worth it. Once you have your list, you can keep it updated and reference it when you shop. And once you find the products that work for you, you can enjoy them without worrying and spend your time looking and feeling fabulous!
As the temperature rises, the key to keeping your makeup looking flawless is to embrace the lighter, fresher looks of summer instead of trying to fight the heat. Try these tips to stay beautiful all summer long:
Wear less powder and reapply more often. Use half as much powder foundation as you normally would and aim for sheer coverage. When your nose starts to get a bit shiny, use blotting papers to wipe off excess oil (eco-friendly option: use small cloths that you can just throw in the wash later). Then apply a fresh (light) layer of powder. .
Use loose mineral powders instead of pressed powders. Loose mineral powders are more resistant to sweat and oil because they usually don’t contain any oils or waxes. .
Skip the eye liner during the day. Instead, just wear a light layer of eye shadow (see #4 below) and save the eye liner for evening when the temperature cools down a little. .
Keep your eye shadow light, fresh, and natural. Skip the heavy colors and opt for a light shade all over your lids in a color that’s close to your skin tone. Bronzers, all-over face colors, and beige eye shadows work really well. And if they start to crease, it won’t be as noticeable. .
Swap your lipstick for lip gloss or a tinted lip balm. They’re lighter, fresher, and more natural-looking. Plus, lipstick can soften in the heat, leaving you with a broken tube if you press too hard when you apply it. Lip balm holds up to heat better since it’s supported by the tube and lip gloss is already semi-liquid, so it doesn’t matter if it softens a bit.
Do you have any secrets to looking gorgeous during the summer heat? Share them below!
About a month ago, I posted nine of my favorite handmade purses for summer, which included the Summertime Linen Bag by Koej. After seeing my post, Judith, the creator and owner of Koej, actually made and sent me the bag! It just arrived a few days ago (all the way from the Netherlands) and I absolutely love it! Thank you so much, Judith - you are too kind!
The purse is so well-made with perfectly lined-up stitches (I sew occasionally, so I notice these things) and sturdy construction. And it has cute yet practical little pockets inside and an attached key chain so you don’t have to spend an eternity fishing for your keys at the bottom of your purse! I absolutely love the combo of casual linen with contrasting cotton print – it has such a laid-back peasant/boho vibe to it that’s perfect for summer.
So if you’re looking for a unique handmade summer purse, check out Koej!
Thank you to all of you who tested out the products and took the time to give me such detailed feedback. It was very helpful! Here are the results:
All-Over Glow: Everyone loved this one! So it’s now available on the website here.
All-Over Glow
Beach Babe Bronzer
Bronzers: The general consensus was that they looked good on, but were a bit too intense-looking in the jar. So I’ve tweaked the recipes a bit and toned them down without changing too much. I also changed the names to Sun Kissed and Beach Babe. The new and improved versions are now available here.
Illuminating Veil
Veil: The reviews for the veil were very mixed – it seems like everyone is looking for something different in a veil. Some of you like them matte and others like them more shimmery, some of you want oil control and others want a bit of coverage. So I decided to make two brand new veils: one is semi-matte and oil-controlling with some light coverage, and the other is a sheer and shimmery illuminating veil. I added Kaolin Clay to the mix to help with oil control. Check out the new veils here.
All of these products were developed because of your requests, so keep them coming! I love to hear your suggestions!
I just bought a filling tray, which makes pouring lip balm into tubes faster and easier. Until now, I’ve been pouring the mixture into the tubes one at a time, over-filling half of them, and painstakingly wiping the excess off the tubes. Now my life is a lot easier! I can’t believe I waited this long to get one!
So to test it out, I decided to try something new. I made a batch of lip balm and added a bit of color to it, about half as much as the concentration in the lip glosses, for just a sheer tint. I decided to try out a new flavor too – vanilla orange – and now I’m completely addicted!
I’m so excited about this lip tint since I’m a total lip balm junkie. I have a tube in almost every purse and jacket I own, and it’s nice to have a sheer and natural tint to stash in my purse that I can apply without a mirror. This one’s going to be a permanent fixture in my beach bag this summer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do because I’m already planning more colors to add!
I’ve been looking for a summer purse that’s vegan, handmade, and (of course) chic and stylish. I’ve spent quite a bit of time searching, so I thought I’d share my favorite pieces with you! I can’t decide which one to buy – they’re all so pretty!
This look is fun and colorful, yet subtle enough to wear during the day. I used Mauvelous on my lid, Aubergine on my upper lash line, Lucky on my lower lash line, and Silk on my brow bone and inner lid as a highlighter. It’s a quick and easy way to add a dose of color to your day!
1 tspOrganic Firefly Chai Loose Tea (a rooibos blend)
1.2 g (0.04 oz) Potassium Sorbate (natural preservative – if you omit this, make sure you keep your lotion in the fridge and use within a week) .
15 g (1/2 oz) Lanette N Wax (a vegetable-derived emulsifying wax)
20 ml (1 tbsp + 1 tsp) Organic Sweet Almond Oil
3 g (0.1 oz) Organic Cocoa Butter
10 dropsVitamin E
25 dropsOrganic Balsam Tolu (an essential oil that smells a lot like vanilla)
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Instructions:
Step 1: Brew tea! Boil water and add loose chai tea. Steep for 5-6 minutes, then strain.
Step 2: Add potassium sorbate to tea and stir to dissolve. Keep mixture warm on medium heat.
Step 3: Put lanette wax, cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil into a small stainless steel bowl and place over a pot half full of water (or use a double boiler, if you have one). Place on stove top at medium heat until melted. Stir occasionally.
Step 4: Add vitamin e to wax and oil mixture.
Step 5: Pour a spoonful of the tea mixture into the oil mixture and stir continuously. Continue adding tea mixture slowly to oil mixture, stirring, until completely mixed. Don’t stop stirring!
Step 6: Remove mixture from heat and keep stirring until mixture has cooled completely. This part can get very boring. If you want to speed it up, place bowl in an ice bath.
