Category: Natural Makeup

Ilia Beauty. My latest lipstick love.

If you read my “about” page, you’ll discover that I am not a total purist when it comes to being green. My preference is to use only all natural products, especially perfumes and body products, but you’ll find a few mainstream bottles and tubes scattered about my house nevertheless. Lipsticks in particular are a weakness because even though I have found a few naturals that I really like, they haven’t yet moved into the love category. Like how I love my Chanel Rouge Coco Shines- I’ve got more than a couple of those- or my Hourglass Femme Rouge in Fresco.

When I first read about Ilia Beauty over at Grace’s blog, LondonMakeupGirl, I had a feeling their natural lipsticks would be impressive. Ilia’s lipsticks are packed with sesame oil, jojoba oil, beeswax and pomegranate seed oil and I was eager to find out if they feel as good on the lips as they should given those nourishing ingredients. Now that I have worn these lipsticks for myself over several weeks, I can tell you they feel great and look amazing.

Sheer, balmy lipsticks with a subtle shine are my favorites, and Ilia’s fall right into that category. They are not a gloss/lipstick hybrid, but rather a lipstick that feels like a balm with a lovely slip that’s not waxy or sticky. These lipsticks not only feel nourishing, they are nourishing.

The colors I tried were Blossom Lady and Arabian Nights, both very wearable and flattering. Blossom Lady is the lighter pink color, which against my olive skin tone reads as a bubblegum pink. It’s almost nude in tone but not quite since it is sheer, allowing for your natural lip color to add depth. I usually go for pinks that are warmer and rosier, but Blossom Lady is just so pretty. It brightens up my face on those mornings when I haven’t had enough sleep.Arabian Nights is also very sheer, more so than you might think from just looking at it in the tube. But take a peek below and you’ll see that when swatched, it’s not densely pigmented. It’s buildable if you want a richer color, but if you prefer a sheer berry lip you’ll get that with just a couple swipes.
As far as the ingredients, they are over 99% all natural and 85% organic. While perusing online reviews, I found this comment from the founder of Ilia at No More Dirty Looks regarding the use of synthetic color

The 3 synthetic colours listed are minimally used with percentages as low as 0.1% of the total formula. The majority of the shades are a combination of these with “natural dyes”, or iron oxides. Ironically, natural dyes or iron oxides dyes that come from the earth as minerals are full of metals…which our bodies are really good at absorbing and holding onto forever. It was a big decision to use a combination of the two in order to achieve more contemporary shades and provide options. There are many organic cosmetics brands that choose not to disclose the use of mild synthetic colours, yet most will have them if there is a brighter colour involved. Sharing this information was important to me, as to be completely transparent with nothing to hide. As an extra note, there is no Carmine in any of ILIA’s shades, which was a morale decision. The one colour that is completely natural with natural dye is the nude “Nobody’s Baby”. Hope this of help to you, and could write forever about what I have learned in regards to sourcing the ingredients for this one product, yet I do know where each ingredients comes from, right down to its source. If you have any other questions please let me know. Cheers! Sasha // Founder ILIA Beauty

I appreciate the transparency that Sasha provides just as much as I adore her lipsticks. I want to add that they last for hours and the recycled aluminum tubes are surprisingly elegant and close with that high end snap we makeup junkies love.
Who’s that crazy kid?

Ilia lipsticks are $24.95 at IliaBeauty.com

Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by Ilia Beauty. Opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

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Lisa Eldridge’s Natural Makeup Tutorial

I was making my daily visit to The Non Blonde today and learned about Lisa Eldridge, a well-known makeup artist with a fabulous blog that includes very informative video tutorials. I was immediately intrigued by Ms. Eldridge as she looks like a cross between Parker Posey and Mary Louise Parker, has a soothing voice, and a no-nonsense approach to makeup. When I stumbled across her organic and natural makeup tutorial, I knew I had to share it with all of you.

She features one of my favorite blushes, Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powder Duo and also introduced me to some new products I am now anxious to try, namely Lavera’s Natural Liquid Foundation, Korres Wild Rose Compact Powder and Dr. Hauschka’s Lavender Dreams Balancing Teint Powder. Sadly the Dr. Hauschka powder looks like it’s not available in the US which makes me want it even more!

I hope you find this honest and candid tutorial as helpful as I did.

Now that my blog is back on WordPress.com, I can’t embed videos anymore, so I will just have to supply you with the link to her video.

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Kjaer Weis. Luxurious, all natural makeup.

Danish-born New York makeup artist, Kirsten Kjaer Weis, has created a line of makeup that elegantly merges the worlds of design and green beauty. These sleek and weighty compacts won a 2011 Wallpaper design award for best new grooming product while also achieving certified organic status from the CCPB, Italy’s organic certification agency. The compacts are refillable, and the packaging of both the compacts and the refills are recyclable. When you purchase your first Kjaer Weis product, it’s filled with the color of your choice and it will indeed feel like a substantial investment. This is a high-end luxury item to be sure.

Take a deep breath if you clicked on the above link, let the sticker shock wear off, and read on because Kjaer Weis products perform beautifully. At least the ones I tested certainly did. I started with Cloud Nine which would have a happy home in any champagne eyeshadow collection. This one is unique as it’s cream in color but leans pink with a subtle golden iridescent sheen. It’s in no way over-the-top and I love wearing it as a wash over the entire eyelid. For those of you who like to highlight the brow bone, I can’t think of a lovelier color. As for performance, the consistency is silky and creamy, blends effortlessly, and creases very minimally without a primer.

I also tried the Lip Tint in Passionate, and even though I love Cloud Nine, if I were pressed to choose between the two, I’d go with the Lip Tint. Passionate is everything I want from a lip color. It’s rosy and warm, a very “my lips but better” shade that feels really good on my lips. Since it’s a tint, it has a much thinner consistency than a gloss and isn’t quite as thick as a balm. I’d say it feels and wears closest to a sheer lipstick, but it doesn’t give a shiny finish, more of a satiny one. I prefer to apply the tint with a lipbrush which intensifies the pigment more so than using your fingertip. The color lasts for several hours but honestly, I do so more frequently than that since it’s a pleasure to reapply. It’s a beautiful design that holds an excellent product, and it’s all natural to boot. I can’t ask for much more.

See below for my pics of Kjaer Weis Cloud Nine and Passionate. Click here if you would like to read The Non Blonde’s review of Passionate that she posted today as well. She’s also crazy for Kjaer Weis taupe eyeshadow, Wisdom.

Kjaer Weis Eyeshadows and Lip Tints are $44 and $48 for a filled compact, and $20 and $22 for the refills alone. Available online at The Detox Market.

Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by Kjaer Weis. The opinions in this review are my own. This post does contain affiliate links. 

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Alima Pure Lip Tints

Lip-Tint

I’ve reviewed Alima more than any other natural makeup line, simply because I love everything they do. Their blushes and eyeshadows are richly pigmented and gorgeous, their foundations provide luminous coverage, and their brushes are top-notch. And now that Alima has revamped their lipbalms, I can honestly say I love them too.

The previous lipbalms were perfectly fine, but they were a little thin and frankly the packaging was nothing special. Both issues have been addressed in Alima’s Natural Lip Tint as the texture is thicker like a balm should be, and the packaging has been upgraded to reflect thier overall aesthetic. The tube is sleek and slim which makes application easier than before and I love its sweet yet elegant Alima design. All of the ingredients are organic, save for the mineral pigments, and features the antioxidant action of pomegranate seed.

I mentioned that the new formula is a bit thicker and more balm-like than its predecessor. While this is true, Alima’s balms are by no means super thick or waxy. The texture is silky and feels very sheer but hydrating. I consider them a balm/stain hybrid as they provide excellent pigmentation, without a glossy effect. Therefore, if I want a satiny finish, I leave it as is. If I want more shine, then a lipgloss on top does the trick.

2016 Update: Since I originally posted this review, the colors and packaging have been updated but I understand that the formula is the same. I hope to review the new colors ASAP! Picture above is the newest of the new packaging!

Alima Pure Lip Tints are available at The Detox Market for $14

Ingredients:

  • Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Hybrid Safflower) Seed Oil, Beeswax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil [+/- (CI 77491), (CI 77499), (CI 75470), (CI 77492), (CI 77891), (CI 77019)]. *Blackberry Contains Carmine
Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by Alima. This post contains affiliate links . The opinions in this review are my own.
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Alima Spring Eyeshadow Collection

On a cold and overcast day like today, I could have spent hours perusing the Alima website. It’s easy to navigate, the product photos and overall design are aesthetically pleasing, and you’d be hard pressed to find another cosmetics line with such a gorgeous variety of colors. Deciding what to drop in your shopping bag might be the only difficult task when you visit Alima, and I find myself discovering another blush I want to try each time I take a peek.

Needless to say, I’m a fan. But when I was sent the new spring eyeshadow collection, Welcome to the Rainforest, I wasn’t sure I’d find the colors all that wearable. Two of them are bright and light colors that I usually don’t go for, and all of them are rather sparkly, so they sat on my bathroom counter for a couple weeks before I decided to actually play with them.

Alima does a fantastic job of describing their colors, so there’s no need for me to change their verbiage: Jaguar is a slinky, golden-brown shimmer, Macaw is a light shimmering teal, Kapok is a deep, dark brown sparkle and Bromeliad is a sparkling light green. It was Macaw and Bromeliad that gave me trepidation with their easter-egg likeness. There was, and still is, no way I was going to use them all over my eyelids and then go near the door. But turns out, they both make absolutely stunning eyeliners. I used my favorite brush for lining, Alima’s #35 Eye Detail Brush, and came away with a surprisingly subtle flash of green from Bromeliad and a darker than expected pop of shiny teal from Macaw. Probably not my quick-run-to Trader-Joe’s-look, but definitely perfect for a night out or enjoying a special lunch on a day off.

Jaguar and Kapok being earthier colors are more in my comfort zone and create a lively take on the smoky brown eye. As a wash, Jaguar is a peachy light brown that sparkles with shimmers, not chunks. Nevertheless, it shimmers enough so I’ll be saving Jaguar for evenings. When paired with Kapok as an eyeliner on the lower lid and smudged out on the top, you get a warmish-brown smoked eye that will look even more amazing with a summer tan and a sundress.

Jaguar on top left, Macaw on top right, Kapok on lower left, Bromeliad on bottom right.

Jaguar on tippy top, Kapok on mid-top, Macaw on mid-bottom, Bromeliad on very bottom.

With every purchase of the limited edition Welcome to the Rainforest collection, $2 will be donated to the Rainforest Action Network. Alima is 100% natural mineral makeup and is cruelty free. Please read more about their safety and standards.

Welcome to the Rainforest is available at Alima for $30.

Posted by ~Trish

Photos except for top pic (from Alima) taken by ~Trish

Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by Alima. The opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

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Hourglass Aura Lip and Cheek Stains

The words lip, cheek and stain don’t normally go together with easy, to, and use, but they certainly do in this case. Hourglass Cosmetics has impressed me yet again, with gorgeous colors, ease of use, sophisticated packaging as well as their lack of parabens, phthalates and fragrance. (If you’re looking to avoid petrol-based ingredients in your products, you’ll want to skip this review).

The newly released Aura Lip and Cheek Stains won me over even before I applied them on my lips and cheeks. Both have a twist and click dispenser that allows control over how much product you want to apply. Some of you may know this isn’t always the case with the twist and click mechanism. Stila’s lip glazes are a perfect example of a “clicking pen” type dispenser that gives you all or nothing. The Hourglass stains on the other hand distribute a tiny amount or a liberal amount, with lots of wiggle room in between so it’s easy to get exactly what you want.

When it comes to blush, control is especially important as it’s difficult to undo too much blush. Two clicks gives me just the right amount of color and I love its soft sponge applicator that you can touch directly to your cheeks. My preferred technique is one that Hourglass recommends: blot the sponge onto the apples of your cheeks and then blend towards your temples. I like to do the blending part with my finger tips. The water based formula smooths over the skin like silk, and doesn’t set immediately so there’s plenty of time for blending. I have been testing the Aura Cheek Stain in Flush, which is described as a sheer red in the Hourglass literature, but Sephora calls it “berry pink” which I find to be more accurate. As the name indicates, it gives a pretty and very natural flush to the cheeks that works well for a low maintenance look.

The Hourglass Aura Lip Stain is just as impressive as the Cheek Stain, and is by far the easiest-to-use lip stain I have encountered. Again, its twist and click mechanism is simple to control and the flocked applicator feels really nice on the lips. I confess that I need a mirror to apply this stain, but once it’s on, it lasts for hours and hours and layers beautifully for a more saturated lip. Its finish is semi-matte but since it’s water based, it doesn’t provide much hydration. I didn’t find it drying per se, but I do like a subtle glossiness and feel to my lips, so a gentle swipe of Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick gives me the perfect pout.

I also tried Flush in the Aura Lip Stain, and like the Cheek Stain, I found it to be more pink than red. Of course skin tone and lip pigment create variation, and for your reference I have light to medium olive toned skin (MAC NC30) and moderately pigmented lips. On me, Flush is a neutral medium pink that has a bit of a chameleon quality. In bright light it leans a bit cool, but outdoors it becomes warmer and more natural. Regardless of the lighting, Flush is always flattering and brightens up my face which is saying a lot after many months of overcast skies!

Aura Lip Stain in Flush on top, Cheek Stain in Flush on bottom

Hourglass Aura Lip and Cheek Stains are $45 and $26 respectively. Available at Barney’s, Sephora and HourglassCosmetics.com

Photos by ~Trish (except the first, stock photo)

Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by Hourglass PR. The opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

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Sophisticated eyes by Edward Bess

Today’s review is a bit of a departure for Scent Hive. My blog usually focuses on natural or nearly natural fragrances and beauty products, but not today. Actually, I can’t speak to the ingredients in the products I am about to rave about, as I have not even read the labels! Nor do I want to. That’s right, we’re having out first “ignorance-is-bliss” post.

It all began in the beauty department of Bergdorf Goodman. Over ten years ago, I lived in Manhattan, but never ventured into BG’s hallowed halls of retail until this past Novemeber when I had a midtown meet-up with Gaia of The Non Blonde and Jessica of Now Smell This. The moment we stepped off the escalator and into BG’s lower level of beauty, everything was shiny and golden, with no clocks or windows to interfere with notions of time or reality. This casino-esque bastion of cosmetics and perfume beheld many things I was interested in, but was not necessarily planning to buy. Yet, once I approached the Edward Bess counter and Mr. Bess himself began applying makeup on my face, I was a goner.

Edward Bess, Gaia, me, Jessica

Mr. Bess’s good looks, charm and exceptional line of cosmetics made it virtually impossible for me not to succumb to several purchases, especially when it came to his eyeshadows. You’re not going to find kaleidoscope colors or glittery chunks at the Edward Bess counter which is fine by me as I have always been partial to subtly shimmery neutrals. At first glance the eyeshadows look lovely in the display case, but I didn’t think I would be tempted by them. It wasn’t until the colors were swept across my lids that I realized how pretty they really are.

Ultra Luminous Eyeshadow in Nude (left) Intimate (middle) and Dusk (right)

Intimate and Dusk both lean taupey, Intimate being a neutral beige and Dusk is cooler and can look slightly gray or khaki depending on the light. Their application is creamy smooth and very easy to blend and build color as you like. While I was duly impressed with the understated sophistication and uniqueness of Intimate and Dusk, I was thoroughly amazed that they lasted an entire day with no creasing and without a primer. That’s a first for me. I am so glad I snatched up Nude as well since it’s staying power as a sumptuous champagne wash is unparalleled.


Eyeshadow Trio in Soft Smoke and the Luxury Eye Brush

I felt pretty confident I would love the three individual eyeshadows I chose, but went out on a limb when I also chose the trio in Soft Smoke. I can manage a fairly decent smoky brown eye, but my smoky charcoal attempts have been disastrous. But after Edward used this trio on my eyes, I had to give it a go as I loved the subtly smoldering look he achieved. Because his shadows are so finely milled and of such high quality, I managed to get (almost) the same look Edward gave me that day in Bergdorf Goodman and I’ve done so several times. I must also mention that his Luxury Eye Brush makes blending and smoking out darker colors a cinch, even with eyeshadows of lesser quality.


Defining Eyeliner in Deep Black

The Defining Eyeliner in Deep Black finishes off the smoky eye perfectly, and I love that it’s retractable so no sharpening is needed. It goes on smoothly without any tugging or pulling, and even though it doesn’t last the entire day like the eyeshadows, it provides several hours of intense pigment.


So there you have it, I love my Edward Bess purchases and fully recommend every one of them. Sometimes being green means buying the best that’s out there, so you end up buying less in the long run.


Edward Bess is currently available at Bergdorf Goodman in NY or at his website, EdwardBess.com. Eyeshadows $30, Eyeshadow Trio $60, Eyeliner $29, Eye Brush $40.


Want more of Edward?

Intimate and Dusk Eyeshadows at Cafe Makeup

Luxury Eye Brush Review at The Non Blonde

Soft Smoke Trio at Cafe Makeup

Nude Eyeshadow at Beauty Look Book


Posted by ~Trish

Photos by ~Trish

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Gorgeous Skin and Glossy Lips with Vapour Organic Beauty

I have a lot of love for Vapour Organic Beauty. Their original Atmosphere Foundation turned me into a stick foundation believer as it is so easy to use, travel with and gives my skin a natural, even tone. I also found it on par, if not better than other foundations with silicones, parabens, and a long list of synthetic chemicals I stammer through when reading aloud. By contrast, Vapour Organic Beauty’s ingredient list reads like a botany text as their products are 100% natural and have a high percentage of organic ingredients.

Camellia Seed Oil, the first ingredient in their new Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation, is rich in anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, essential fatty acids and non-essential fatty acids including oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid. It provides the Soft Focus Foundation with a silky hydration for the skin and gives a healthy and radiant “satin” finish which is neither matte nor overly dewy. While I do love Vapour’s stick foundation, I have become partial to this new liquid foundation. I like the creamy texture and find it faster and easier to apply than the stick. My typical regimen is to apply it over evanhealy’s Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum in Rose after cleansing. Most days I prefer the light coverage of a tinted moisturizer, so I blend one pump of the Soft Focus Foundation with one pump of evanhealy’s Light Moisture Replenishing Fluid. After warming the mix in my palms, I apply it on my face just as I would a moisturizer. The coverage is smooth, even and radiant. If you like medium to full coverage, you will achieve that by using Soft Focus Foundation over your moisturizer. My skin tone is light to medium olive and looks best with yellow leaning foundations rather than pink so I chose S120, the same color as I have in their stick foundation. My first look at the liquid on my skin had me questioning if I chose correctly as it seemed kind of pink, but once on my face, it was a perfect match.

        S120 Soft Focus Foundation top, S930 Skin Perfector bottom not blended
      S120 Soft Focus Foundation top, S930 Skin Perfector bottom both blended

Vapour also came out with a liquid version of their stick Skin Perfector, and in my opinion, the liquid is a huge improvement. I found the stick to be drying, especially in cold winter months. Like the liquid foundation, the liquid Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector has Camellia Seed Oil as its base, so with that comes a soothing moisture for your skin. On its own, the Skin Perfector is a subtle highlighter. When used underneath your foundation, it’s an excellent primer as I noted my makeup (blush in particular) lasted a whole day at work, no touch-ups needed. I ordered the more golden toned S903 for my skin, and again, it’s a terrific match.

                                                          Elixir Gloss in Twinkle

With my order came a free gift, the Elixir Lip Gloss in Twinkle. To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes as I have been disappointed in their “lipsticks” which feel like tinted balms without much staying power. Thankfully, I am thoroughly impressed with my Twinkle GWP! The gloss is nourishing and smooth with just enough texture to make it last, but without any gummy or tacky consistency. I love the color Twinkle, as it’s a neutral baby pink that has enough pigment to get it out of the “nude” realm. I find it useful to wear over lipstick that needs some toning down, and I also reach for it when I want a soothing salve for my dry lips. And I love, love, love that it’s all natural, with 70% of its ingredients being organic.

Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation is $50 for 1.14oz,

Stratus Instant Skin Perfector $56 for 1.06 oz

Elixir Lip Gloss (Now in wand style) $24. 

Disclosure: A sample of Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation was a PR sample. I purchased the Stratus Skin Perfector myself. The Elixir Gloss was a GWP. The opinions in this review are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

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Lovely Lippies from Hourglass Cosmetics

I’ve professed my love for Hourglass on Scent Hive before, so when I was offered the chance to test their new lipstick line, Rouge Femme, and check out the new packaging of their Extreme Sheen lipgloss, you know my answer was a resounding, “Yes! I’d love to!” Happily, both lippies have lived up to the excellent Hourglass performance that I have grown accustomed to, namely with the Visionaire eyeshadow duos and the Prodigy lipgloss.

My biggest love goes to the Femme Rouge lipstick. It ranks right up there with my favorite natural lipsticks, Dr. Hauschka and NVEY Eco, and has pulled ahead of Chanel’s Rouge Coco, my favored mainstream luxury lipstick. Femme Rouge wears like a dream. Its application is smooth and effortless, and affords excellent pigmentation without feeling heavy or drying. Femme Rouge, as well the entire Hourglass line, is rich with mineral pigments that give a saturated color so it lasts through a morning cup of tea and doesn’t require a touch up until after you’ve eaten lunch.

I was given Fresco to try, which is a perfect match for my light-medium olive skintone. The swatch is deceiving on the Hourglass website as it is not nearly as brown as their picture suggest (please see my swatch below). On me, Fresco is a rosy warm pink with only the subtlest hint of brown. It gives more coverage than a sheer lipstick, but certainly feels like one since it’s so light and soft, and bestows a subtle shine on the lips. Fresco gives a huge payoff in prettiness for such a low maintenance lipstick. It’s ideal for your handbag since application requires no mirror and no lipliner, two things you might not have nearby when you’re on the go.

In general, lipgloss satisfies similar needs for quick and easy application. Extreme Sheen in Lush is no different. I’m not sure it’s the same story for all of the Extreme Sheen colors as a few of them look quite intense (Siren for example) and might need fine tuning when swiping on your lips. Lush though, is as effortless as Fresco, but it’s a gloss so the experience is different.

First, let’s discuss the new packaging of the Extreme Sheen glosses. I am unfamiliar with the old packaging, so I cannot compare the two, but the revamped tube is gorgeous and feels luxurious in your hand. It has an elongated oblong shape that’s sleek and appeals to the sucker that I am for an elegant design.

As for the color of Lush, it leans nude with strong peach tones and a little pink. A light lip color isn’t flattering on me unless I’ve got a killer tan going on and this time of year, that’s not happening. But for lighter skinned gals, or those of you who love nudes with a little color, give Lush a go. As for the texture, it’s thick without being goopy or tacky and lasts for several hours. I do however prefer the Hourglass Prodigy formula which is a bit thinner but just as pigmented, and it’s unscented. Extreme Sheen glosses have a fairly strong vanilla fragrance which tends to be a deal breaker for me. If the Prodigy formula were in the Extreme Sheen tube, I’d be in lipgloss heaven.

Like all Hourglass cosmetics, both the Femme Rouge lipstick and Extreme Sheen lipgloss are paraben, sulfate, synthetic-dye, and phthalate free, they are not however, 100% natural.

Hourglass is available at Sephora, Sephora.com and Barney’s, $30 for the lipstick and $28 for the gloss. 

Photos by ~Trish, except for the obvious stock photos from Hourglass.

Disclosure: Samples were sent to me for consideration by the Hourglass PR company. The opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

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Getting Dramatic. Natural lipstick reviews continue.

On left: Dr. Hauschka Lipstick in Mezzoforte (04) On right: NVEY Eco #356

Last Friday I wrote about my burgeoning love for lipstick. Yet, and this is just my opinion, to fully embrace the lipstick-love one needs a couple high drama colors on hand. For me, that means busting out of my “warm brownish pink realm” and into the red zone.

Finding a red lipstick that compliments your skin tone is quite a challenge. Those of you who have gone on the perfect-red-lipstick-hunt already know this. If the red has too much orange it can leave you looking clownish and if it’s got too much purple or blue, it can wash you out faster than pulling an all-nighter. The key is finding a red that has subtle nuances of warm or cool tones that essentially looks neutral on your lips.

Since I have warm/olive skin, lippies that lean warm with orange or brown are best for me. (If you have cool skin with pinkish or reddish undertones, red lipstick with blue or pink are best). Dr. Hauschka Lipstick in Mezzoforte has a warmth that is spot on. It’s a deep orange-red with a hint of copper which steers it away from over-the-top drama. There’s no shimmer, and it’s not matte or glossy, just creamy perfection that I now expect from Dr. Hauschka. As I mentioned in the last post, Dr. H’s lipsticks have the same formula as their lip care stick which provides excellent hydration and feels soothing.

NVEY Eco also makes fabulously pigmented lipsticks, but unlike Dr. H lipsticks, they do necessitate a dab of balm for added moisture. Of course that’s just my preference and I know many of you would be thoroughly pleased with its ample hydration from ingredients like organic castor oil, jojoba oil, beeswax and vitamin E. My red color pick from NVEY Eco is #356, a brownish ruby color with a subtle shimmer. I do need to be careful not to apply too much of #356, as its rich brown-leaning tone creates a garish look on me if applied with a heavy hand. Luckily, one swipe gives light to medium coverage, no blotting necessary. On my lips, #356 is a stunning berry that I have been enjoying on evenings out.

My favorite look with both of these red lipsticks is a nude blush (Alima Bisque), lots of mascara (Dr. Hauschka and Gabriel are my current faves) and a touch of champagne eyeshadow (NARS All About Eve or Alima Jacquard from their “Perfectly Tailored” collection for fall). Dr. Hauschka’s Lipliner in 02 works well with both Mezzoforte and #356. Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite red lipsticks and what you like to pair it with.

My swatches left to right: NVEY Eco #356, Dr. Hauschka’s Mezzaforte (04), Dr. Hauschka’s Lipliner (02)

Dr. Hauschka Lipstick in Mezzaforte is  $25 at Beauty.com. NVEY Eco is $27.95 and is available at SkinBotanica.com. All items in this review were purchased by me.

Posted by ~Trish

Photos by ~Trish

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