organic beauty

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!
[Read more…]

I have been on the hunt, lately, for natural beauty skincare products that only contain ingredients that are needed. No extra chemicals, please! I found such a company, and I have a very interesting story about how using these products changed my mind about my least favorite vegetable on earth: the cucumber.

Clairvoyant Beauty is all about giving your skin the best. From their site, “We believe that what you feed your skin is just as important as what you feed your body so our products our 100% natural and organic, paraben-free, with no chemical preservatives and no synthetic fragrances.” I turned 30 several months ago, and I really had an epiphany that I needed to stop taking my skin for granted and get serious about taking good care of it. Basically, I realized that I wasn’t getting any younger!

When my package arrived from Clairvoyant Beauty, I was immediately struck by the beautiful packaging of the products. The bottles are beautiful and so are the boxes they come in! This makes them fabulous gift options for a girlfriend.

After opening everything up, I realized that two of the four products I was sent had cucumbers as a primary ingredients. I HATE cucumbers. I think they are completely foul. I remember thinking, “This is going to be interesting.”

The first product I started testing was their Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner. The scent, first of all, was very light and didn’t bother me. This was surprising, because in case I haven’t made it perfectly clear, I HATE CUCUMBERS. Toner has always been something that I have skipped over in my face care routine because I have really dry skin, and I assumed that it was meant for people with oily skin. WRONG! Its purpose is to restore the pH balance in your skin (cleansers tend to throw it off) and also to help remove any excess dirt left over from the cleanser. And by the way, your cleanser WILL leave some makeup/dirt behind. Promise! I was surprised to see evidence of it on my cotton pad, but it is true! So now I use this toner every day and I love it, cucumbers and all.

The second product is one I did battle with for a while. It is the Light & Refreshing Cucumber Cream. Any guesses about what my initial problem was with this? Could it be…..CUCUMBER???? Let me say this: if you like cucumbers, as many people do, this moisturizer smells exactly like fresh cucumbers. It doesn’t smell like a chemical version of cucumbers. It is the real deal, 100%! So I’ll be honest, when I first smelled it, I almost gagged. I then stopped breathing through my nose and applied the product. The smell of cucumbers was gone in about 20 seconds. Whew! Over the next several uses, I did notice that my skin, here in the dead of winter, was staying well-hydrated all day long. But it wasn’t greasy. It was quite nice, actually. So I just kept using the product and starting to “smell” the product a little more each time. I’ve been using it for several weeks now, and I actually don’t mind the smell now, nor do I hold my breath when applying it. To say I love the smell would not be true, but it definitely doesn’t make me gag. I think what I’m realizing is that cucumbers really do have their place…not on my plate, but on my face! I can’t believe it. Seriously, you guys, I can’t even put into words how much I used to hate cucumbers. This is major progress.

The third product I tried was the Skin Firming DMAE & MSM Serum. My first thought is that this product needs a new name. I have no idea what DMAE and MSM are! Here’s what their site says, “DMAE is a powerful nutrient that extends the life of cells. stimulates the facial muscles to contract. this gives it a toned appearance with less sagging. MSM feeds the formation of collagen and elastin.” Good stuff! I definitely have mornings where I look in the mirror and wonder if a train ran over my face while I was sleeping. That might be a bit extreme, but I think you know what I’m talking about! This product is great for those mornings, and can really help firm up your appearance and give you a brighter look. Basically, its that youthful glow in a bottle. Two thumbs up!

Finally, I tried the Gentle and Healing Rosewater Eye Cream. Doesn’t that just sound like a dream? The smell is delicious and the cream is very soothing. This is my very first eye cream (I’m kicking myself for not starting to use eye cream at 25) and I absolutely love this. The skin around my eyes feels very soft, just like a rose petal!

Clairvoyant Beautyproducts are a perfect choice for anyone who is ready to get serious about taking care of their skin, and who wants to nix harmful chemicals from their beauty routine. These products are organic and natural, and produce great results. They even got me to admit that cucumbers actually have a purpose in this world!

Buy it!: Are you on the lookout for something truly great for your face? Clairvoyant Beauty products have what you need! Products can be purchased on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Lavera Organic Liquid Foundation Review

Natural Beauty with Clairvoyant Beauty (Review)