Organic Makeup Girl

(4/5)

Exfoliation is too often associated with summer, spray tans and sand. Exfoliating can make your skin feel luxurious, even when it is cool outside! Tree Hut sugar body scrub is an amazing, accessible scrub that is used to exfoliate the skin. The main ingredient in this product is sugar and the scratchy substance is a fabulous exfoliator. The prodcut smells sweet and has an incredibly thick consistency which makes it easy to work with. To use Tree Hut sugar body scrub: scoop some into your palm, rub in circular motions on your body, and rinse. Follow up with a moisturizer to complete the  treat for your skin! :)

Exfoliating the skin will improve the overall appearance of it. Keep in mind, it is unnecessary to exfoliate every single day but it is beneficial to do it 1-2 times per week. Avoid exfoliating by the skin surrounding your eyes – it is too sensitive and will not respond favorably.

I have purchased Tree Hut Sugar Scrub repeatedly throughout the summer and now into the fall…it is a shower staple that everyone should try! There are no parabens in this product, and it is formulated with organic shea butter and brazilian nut oil.I use about 1 tub/month but at less than $6, it is a luxury that anyone can afford. And of course, I got it at Harmon’s.

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Katie

The Goody Spin Pins are unfortunately handy. I didn’t believe they were going to work and since they were expensive, ($5.99 for two twisted pieces of metal? Lame!) I figured I would regret the purchase. It turns out that I really, really like the functionality of these pins. They are easy to use – 1. Twist your hair into a bun, 2. Twist in the two pins (if  you do not use both – one pin will not hold your hair in place), 3. Finish the look with a headband, hair spray or cute pin the front. To remove the pins, twist them the opposite way, gently and slowly.

*Just a note: You will probably not enjoy this product if you are not the type of person who likes a messy/carefree look. Also, I think that it works much better for people with medium – thick hair. Honestly, it seems like the spin pins would not hold very fine hair in place.

Although I enjoy this product it is honestly not worth the money. Regular bobby pins are quite cheap and can do the same trick (you might just need more than two, which is fine because they are easy to come by and inexpensive).  Additionally, the spin pins will be useless if you happen to lose one of them — which is likely because it is practically just a twisted bobby pin. I don’t know about you but I leave regular bobby pins everywhere and I also dispose of them after 1-2 uses. I am trying to keep the Spin pins in a place where I will not lose or bend them out of shape. If they were more reasonably priced I might not care as much but I definitely would not repurchase.

(2.5/5)

x0 Katie

Everyone needs at least a bottle of this stuff. Even guys. There are inevitably days when you probably should wash (or co-wash) your hair, but don’t. It happens! Now with dry shampoo as an option, no one should ever have to know that you are being a dirty slob. :) Just kidding!

Dry Shampoo is great for hair that needs a lift or has a bit of buildup (i.e. grease, hair products, etc.). To use dry shampoo – spray it from about a foot away your head at your roots. I like to lift up sections of my hair and spray generously. Then, let is sit and dry for a few minutes. Take a bristle brush (I bought mine at Harmon’s) and quickly but gently brush through the hair. Look at your roots – if they appear gray or white, you are not done brushing. When you cannot see anymore discoloring (which is nothing to fret about – it is only cornstarch!) – you are done. Try not to touch your hair now. Style it & go.

This process should take you less than 5 minutes once you get used to it. If it takes you longer than that, you should probably just jump in the shower and just wash/co-wash it! :)

I like to use dry shampoo 1 -2 times a week. In the fall/winter, I feel like I heat-style my hair too often (curling iron, straightener, blow dryer, etc.). The dry shampoo is a nice option because I can avoid heat altogether.

Tresemme FreshStart Dry Shampoo is inexpensive, effective and it produces results quickly. The only downfall with this product is the scent. Immediately after you spray the product, a little cloud of fragrance looms around your head. I like to spray my hair in the bathroom and then walk into my room to brush it or vice versa. Thankfully the scent does not linger on the hair so don’t worry about that. The packaging for this product is nothing special – just a typical can that resembles a hairspray can. Tresemme FreshStart Dry Shampoo is super accessible – I found mine at Harmon’s.

(3/5)

Get some dry shampoo. It is so cheap & accessible that it cannot hurt to keep a can around. It might come in handy and it could actually be beneficial to your hair (if you opt to skip heat styling every once in a while)!

x0 Katie

My first review of Renpure ogranics was in May. At that time, I focused mainly on two of the Renpure product lines, the moisturizing products and the body & shine products. Since each of these product lines were effective, enjoyable to use and reasonable in terms of price, I decided to try an additional RenPure product, the volumizing conditioner.

The Renpure Organics Volumizing Conditioner, cleverly called “My Luscious Hair Needs a Lift,” is my go-to conditioner in the morning. The citrus scent is awesome and really awakening. It is difficult to come by a citrus scented shampoo/conditioner that smells pleasant (considering a multitude of cleaning products are citrus scented, think Pledge, Orange Glo, etc.). Renpure’s attempt at citrus is a tremendous, refreshing success!

Renpure Organics conditioners are my favorite conditioners to use for co-washing! The organic ingredients, brightly colored bottles, awesome scents, affordable prices and cute/catchy names make Renpure organic conditioner a great pick!

x0 Katie

I am SO excited about this package! All of these things items arrived yesterday: 2 bath bombs (butterball and bon bomb), 1 stepping stone, 1 bath melt (you’ve been mangoed), 1 deodorant powder (coconut), 2 facial “tokens”, and 2 tiny soap samples. Although I have made countless trips to LUSH and have tried many of their products, all of these particular products were first time purchases. I will be sure to review each & give some tips on how to use them.

Lush products can be a bit pricey, for example, the bath bombs range from approximately $4 – $6, which is a lot considering they really do not last very long (1-2 baths). Since LUSH products are handmade and formulated with many natural ingredients, I think they are worth indulging in, at least every once in a while! :)

x0 Katie

(Mini) Haul at Sephora.com :]

Getting packages from sephora.com is awesome! Here is what I purchased:

Stila Collectible travel palette no. 1, $10 (I already own no.2 and no.3) – Road to Radiance Across the U.S.A.

*I love the colors in this palette. I feel compelled to purchase another since it was only $10 and I know I am going to love it!

Philosophy Trick or Treat Lip Glosses in Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice, $18

*This was the underlying reason for the Sephora purchase! The Pumpkin Spice is awesome – on my lips right now but I have not tried the Caramel Apple yet…I love fall! These lip glosses seemed perfect for the season!

Mini Samples: Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Primer, Hanae Mori Eau de Toilette, Paco Rabanne Million & Lady Million

:] I have a Lush (mini) haul coming soon as well! Check back soon!

x0 Katie

(2/5)

The Organix Coconut Milk Anti-breakage serum consistently fails to deliver desirable results. I have tried to love this product and I keep trying to figure out different ways to use it: on dry hair, wet hair, damp hair, straight hair, wavy, etc. and nothing works! Each time, my hair is left feeling oily and unpleasant. The scent is probably the best feature of this product — it truly smells luxurious! Unfortunately, the scent does not linger long enough to make the serum worthwhile to apply.

I would not recommend purchasing this serum! It is on the pricey side, and although the brand (Organix) might lead you to think its an organic  product, it isn’t. Skip it!

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-Katie

Both the Smashbox Photo Finish Face Primer and the Bare Minerals Prime Time primers can be found on the bright, sparkly shelves of Sephora. Even though these products are intended to do achieve the same purpose (to prime and prepare the skin for makeup) -these pricey primers are strikingly different.

I adore one of these primers, and despise the other! Can you guess which is which?!

The Bare Minerals Prime Time is both a purchase I regret and a product that is worthless, at least for my skin and in my experience. I insisted on trying this primer because I love Bare Minerals. My sister warned me that she had tried it but that it broke out her skin and she told me to discard the product immediately. This was impossible for me – I was determined to try Bare Minerals Prime Time – and to like it! My experience with this primer was awful! Let me tell you why:

-there is nothing overly pleasant about this product

-overpriced & overhyped

-leads to horrible breakouts (at least in my experience)

-it does a poor job of priming the skin for makeup (the product seems to slide off the face during the day – which means it is not great for long wear)

Consequently, the Smashbox Primer is a fabulous product that creates a seemingly ageless, matte face in minutes! This product is great for long-lasting makeup where (special events, holidays, long days at work, etc.). The product is unscented, clear, and efficient. It is worth it to invest in this primer! Smashbox Photofinish Primer is the best option at Sephora.

I cannot wait to tell you about my experience with Maybelline Ageless Face Primer…I think that you will find it surprising!

-Katie x0

IT’S TIME TO PRIME!

This will be the start of a short series of primer reviews, that will, at least for the purposes of this blog be referred to as, time to prime! [:

About 4 months ago I made my first primer purchase. It was a sample size and came as part of a Korres kit. I had never really cared about priming my face and would often use a moisturizer, Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Lotion with SPF (not my favorite day moisturizer but I have yet to find something better) or I would skip moisturizing altogether and jump to foundation.

My experience with primer has led me to believe, firmly, that primer is the most influential step in makeup application. Consequently, I have purchased 5+ primers in the past few months and I am ready to give a comprehensive review on each one. There is no reason for skipping this step! There are primers out there that will work for you and on your skin and it is just a matter of being patient, educated about them, and finding the right one. And not to worry, I can help you do just that!

So, this review will focus on the primer that kicked off my primer-loving persona, Korres Face Primer, and also the most beneficial techniques of application for this type of product.

(4.5/5)

I use this product by placing a dab on my forehead, each cheek, chin & temples. Then, I press it into my skin quickly and wait for it to be absorbed. It contains vitamin E and honestly feels quite luxurious to apply! The moisture in this product makes it a multitasker – there is no need to moisturize ahead of time or prior to your (primer) application with this particular primer.Thankfully, you will not experience an unpleasant oily sheen a couple hours after you apply it either!

After the product is absorbed into the skin, move onto foundation or a tinted moisturizer if you would like, to set up a base for the rest of your products. I enjoy everything – foundation, powder, blush, & bronzer – but in incredibly modest amounts. The natural look is a favorite of mine, especially for day to day makeup application.

Korres is natural product, silicone free and made in Switzerland. It smells great, and is clear. I enjoy using it alone or with the Korres tinted moisturizer. I have used this primer in conjunction with several other types of foundations & products – from drugstore to department store and have found that it consistently performs well and impresses me!

The benefits of primer:

-great complexion (even if you select to skip other products altogether)

-longer lasting makeup

-less creasing

-less traveling (of liquid foundations, cream blushers & bronzers, etc.)

-save money in the long run (you will inevitably use less makeup because you will require less touching up and less makeup altogether to achieve a flawless finish)

-formulas with SPF offer added protection from the sun (which hopefully provides for less wrinkles and a reduced cancer risk)

Get a primer. And check back for a review of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer soon!

x0,

Katie

I’m going to be honest, I purchased the Posh Angle Blush Brush as a substitute for the Sephora Angled Blush Brush — which I LOVE. The Sephora brush costs approx. $30 which is seemingly quite expensive. The Posh Angle Blush Brush can be purchased for less than $10 (it is $6.29 at most drug stores & Harmon’s).  I was hoping the Posh brush might be a cheaper (in terms of $) replica of the Sephora one. The Sephora Angled Brush is always sold out at the store and is a bestseller (according to a Sephora employee at my local Sephora). It is well worth it but difficult to get a hold of. I was excited to find an inexpensive angled blush brush. My excellent experiences with EcoTools brushes have led me to believe that inexpensive brushes can be exceptional in terms of quality and application. My experience with Posh brushes sadly did not meet that expectation!

(1/5)

Pros:

-soft bristles

-good sized handle (perfect for contouring)

Cons:

-poorly made & handle is not secured well (My brush literally fell apart the FIRST time I used it – not a good first impression!)

-bristles were not all going in the right direction and seemed very sparse

-too expensive for an item of such poor quality

The slogan for Posh brushes, on the package of my brush reads,”You could purchase a more expensive make-up brush-but not a better one!” This is FALSE in my opinion, at least in terms of the Angle Blush Brush. If you are looking for a quality angled blush brush, check out the Sephora brand brushes, I know they sell at least two different ones and I love both of them! You should definitely avoid the Posh Angled Brush because it is a waste of money and poor quality. This experience with Posh brushes will most likely result in me staying away from this brand altogether & you should too! :)

-Katie xo