natural make up

It’s not uncommon for me to get questions from readers about how to go green when it comes to makeup. My typical response has been to try mineral makeup. I have used a powder-based foundation from a well-known company off and on for years, and I always notice that my skin looks and feels great whenever I use it. Plus, it has far fewer chemicals than most other foundations.

But, I do find it to lack the overall coverage that I can get from most liquid foundations, and sometimes I really want that coverage. In those cases, I haven’t personally known about a quality “green” liquid foundation.

lavera review for liquid foundation

Until now! There’s a fantastic natural beauty company called Lavera that I’m excited to share with you. They are based in Germany, and in 2008 and 2009 they ranked as the #1 green beauty brand based on testing of product ingredients, beating out over 33 other brands. They are certified by BDIH, which is the toughest certification process in the entire world for making sure products are green. So let there be no doubt, the products on the Lavera site are really and truly eco-friendly!

I was pretty blown away by their vast selection of green beauty products, but what really caught my attention was their organic liquid foundation. From their site, “This hydrating foundation blends easily and hides imperfections, creating a porcelain-smooth canvas. Free-radical fighting argan oil, organic blossom butter and vitamins A, C and E protect, rejuvenate and nourish skin.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when something sounds too good to be true in the makeup department, I worry that it won’t really work. I was genuinely nervous about this foundation before it arrived. I feared it would have the coverage of a tinted moisturizer at best, or that it would lack the staying power of a more typical liquid foundation.

I’m so pleased to report that these things are untrue for Lavera liquid foundation! This stuff has held its own beautifully against my other liquid foundations. It lasts just as long as everything else and provides the level of coverage I want.

I have the porcelain shade, which is slightly pale for me right now, but will be perfect in a few months for winter. I would like to see Lavera come out with more shades than they currently offer, as I think their selection is a bit limited (it is currently offered in 5 shades). I do think that if Lavera wants to become as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, more shades are a must!
But as far as the quality goes, I’m very impressed. The liquid foundation is available for $22.50, which puts it in a similar category as department store brands. And you can be assured that this foundation leaves the chemicals you don’t want or need off your face. Lavera offers a 30 day “love it” guarantee, so if you try the makeup and don’t feel the same way I do about it, you can return it for a refund. I love when companies have policies like this, because it is a pretty good indication that dissatisfaction is a rare occurrence!

Win it!: Here’s your chance to win your very own organic liquid foundation from Lavera!
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Have you tried mineral makeup yet? I really hope you have. And if you haven’t, you really should!

Worried about the price? I’ve found that my jars of foundation last a really long time (several months). The coverage is also outstanding and breakouts just don’t happen with mineral makeup (I can only speak for myself on that matter, obviously). So the price is really quite reasonable when you consider how long it lasts and how good it looks.

Ok, you are thinking, you are right. I should give this stuff everyone talks about a go. Should I buy the stuff in the drugstores to save a few bucks? In my humble opinion, no. I personally found the coverage to be lacking, so I went through my drugstore brand much faster than I thought, which made it no longer the good deal I thought it would be.

Ok, Tiffany, so I guess I should go get Bare Minerals, right? You can if you like, but I’ve learned over the past year that there are a few other brands out there that offer products of the same quality as Bare Minerals, minus the super high pricing (Who do you think pays for all that advertising in the end? The customer!).

Today I bring you a fabulous find, Jenulence. From their site, “Jenulence^TM mineral makeup is handcrafted using synthetic-free high quality natural minerals and cosmetic pigments. We do not use synthetic preservatives, talc, nano-particles or micronized minerals in our mineral makeup. It is water and sweat-resistant, hypoallergenic, doesn’t clog the pores, and delivers complete sun protection.” I love their motto: “If you can’t eat it, don’t use it on your skin!”

Jenulence offers an ingredient list for each of their products, and everything is just as natural as they claim, which is really awesome. When is the last time you could pronounce all the ingredients in your makeup?

For my review, I chose 2 products that I need most as a mom. I need to look put together really fast, and I need some help covering up my dark circles since I don’t get as much sleep as I need. Therefore, I selected the Pink Ginger Mineral Foundation Powder and the Under Eye Dark Circles Concealer.

First, I want to talk about the concealer. It goes on really smooth and brightens the skin under my eyes. I’ve noticed that when I wear it I have a brighter overall look. This is so ideal for those (many) days when I feel tired, and you can see evidence of my tiredness without some good makeup on! Thank you, Jenulence, for creating this product!

Second, I want to talk about the foundation powder. One of the things I like the most about Jenulence is the great range of colors they offer for their foundations. When I’ve ordered Bare Minerals products in the past, I’ve had to order 2 of their colors and combine them to achieve the right look. That equals more money, which is quite painful! Jenulence has the perfect shade for me, no blending required. Hooray! Pink Ginger is pale but still peachy, and it goes on really smoothly. My skin looks flawless in it, and I love to wear it. Check out all the shades they offer; you will be amazed!

I also really appreciate that Jenulence has all budgets in mind, so they offer their products in different sizes, depending on your needs and what you can afford to spend at the time of purchase (another big thank you from this girl who has to watch her pennies!).

Buy it!: Jenulence foundations start at just $1.00 for a trial bag, and go all the way up to $20.00 for the full size product. You’ve got nothing to lose by giving a few of their shades a try, and I bet you that you’ll love them just as much as I do, and go back for more!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win one full size jar of Jenulence foundation/powder! The contest will run until October 1st at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: I want to hear which of the fabulous foundation shades you think would be best for your skin. I’m so wowed by their selection and I’m curious to hear what your match is!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Jenulence on Facebook or subscribe to their newsletter (found on the bottom left of the home page)
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page)

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Lavera Organic Liquid Foundation Review

Jenulence Mineral Foundation Review