Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is a yellow-beige (sepia-toned)

This one is for all the lipstick haters out there. This Creamy lipstick is the most moisturizing formula out there.  With shea butter and plant derived lip conditioners this lipstick keeps your lips moisturized and will never dry out on you. I hate to call this a lipstick, the texture is far too creamy and slick. If you’re a fan of the Revlon Lip Butters this Creamy Lip Color by Bobbi Brown will be quick to win you over and climb its way to the top of your lip faves. To me this formulation easily surpasses any other lipsticks making big claims on the moisturizing front.

You can get it at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com

Congratulation to the winner of the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Gloss Giveaway. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped to support my little blog. I truley wish everyone could have been a winner!

XOXO

Taylor

Ellis Faas Milk Lips are  highly pigmented liquid lipsticks with a brush-tip applicator. “All shades are “human colors” meaning that they’re inspired by the colors that by nature already exist in the human body and are therefore suitable for all skin tones.”

On a recent hunt for an orange lipstick I had come up short, later to discover this Ellis Faas lip product amidst my Glossybox monthly samples. A great shade of orange lipstick, I have discovered, is not easy to come by, especially by someone of my coloring. I found them to be either to bright or just uncomplimentary to the pink tones in my skin. So maybe Ellis Faas is onto something in their use of “human colors” because this is the orange I never came across. This burnt orange shade is totally wearable.

It took a relentless amount of clicks to get this product going, and once it flowed it was difficult to control the amount released. The sleek silver ‘bullet style’ packaging is very cool and modern. This lipstick can be layered, from the effects of a stain to a full coverage lipstick, and works well to do this. The formula was deliciously creamy and light, and has a long wear time. Liquid lipstick is a perfect description of its consistency. My lips stayed moist for hours with beautiful bold color. However, I found a huge flaw in application. Product is dispersed through the center of the brush and streaks in application. The brush is firm and it is nearly impossible to blend this lipstick evenly to lips. I opted for a lip brush and my finger to apply. Once I tackled the application I loved the lipstick.

 Ellis Faas Milky Lips in L204 – Burnt Orange

Ellis Faas Milky Lips $35 at sephora.com

Have you tried any Ellis Fass lip products? Any thoughts?

The Obsessive Complusive Cosmetics brand’s Lip Tars are truly unique and unlike any other lip product out there. These Lip Tars are an intensely pigmented liquid lipstick. They are not a gloss nor a lipstick, they are rather in a category all on its own. I would say for that for any ‘beauty enthusiast’ out there, this is a must try. OCC Lip Tar’s are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They contain beneficial ingredients such as Hemp Oil, Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E.

OCC Lip Tar’s are richly pigmented while the smallest amount goes a very long way. Using too much can get quite messy and stain. I suggest to use less than you think you need and be weary about getting it onto clothing. When working with this product it is necessary to use a brush for precise application. The liquid consistency blends easily and covers beautifully without any bleeding. The Lip Tars dry to a satin finish that gives you hours of wear. The peppermint oil is lovely and not overwhelming in the least.

OCC Lip Tars come in a variety of 40 shades. Some of these are not your traditional lip shades howver, if that isnt your style I suggest that you don’t pass them up just yet. Lip Tars can certainly be worn alone but are made to be blended to create your own custom colors. For the lipstick lover’s out there this is quite revolutionary. You can mix them and store them in a custom pot, or blend them right on your lips. There are video’s dedicated to just this on YouTube. Once I had a lucky opportunity to have a Prescriptives make up artist blend me my own very personalized shade of lipstick. I desired a nude shade and was caught off guard when the MUA added black, yellow and blue shades only to come out with the loveliest shade of nude. I hardly used that lipstick for fear of it running out.

Lip Tars previously came in packaging that featured a flat angled lip-applicater. The packaging has since been upgraded to a smaller squeeze tube version which makes more sense as well helping to keep product neat. OCC Lip Tars have recently been released at Sephora, and now include a lip brush and come in a plastic pouch, I highly suggest you try them for yourselves. 

OCC Lip Tar in Queen (with flash)wearing OCC Lip Tar in Queen (no flash)

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar $16 sephora.com or here

Have you tried the Lip Tars?

Becca Ultimate Color Glosses impart bold color and high shine. I picked up the newly released Fallen Angel along with their Ultimate Eye Quad in Night Star (see it here too). The Ultimate glosses provide full-on color without any tacky feel. They cover lips in one swipe giving you an even finish. What I especially loved is the long-wear time. Fallen Angel gave me several hours of wear without requiring any touch-ups. The gloss has a delightful vanilla scent.

Fallen Angel is described as a “nude spice” and is a gorgeous, wearable nude. This shade was released with their ‘Smoke & Grace’ collection and is the perfect accompaniment to a smokey-eye look. The formula is simply divine and along with its long-lasting formula, it is lip gloss at it’s finest!  The ultimate color glosses come in a variety of 10-shades. I adore this gloss and will most definitely be seeking out some other shades for myself. For the ‘lip gloss lovers’ out there this is one to try!

Get it here.

Have you tried Becca’s Ultimate Color Glosses?

I have a great weakness for YSL’s line of lip products, you might know this if you have followed me for some time. The shades, formulas, and finishes never disappoint. The Rouge Volupté Range might be my ultimate favorite. I can’t quite wait for the new ‘Shine‘ lipsticks for 2013. Onto the Golden Glosses, they are the ultimate  for high shine and another favorite of mine.

The Golden Glosses from YSL contain real 24 carat gold flecks which create a mirror finish. It seems a bit excessive, I thought so myself, but I was quite taken back by the sparkle from the large golden flakes. My boyfriend is a big fan as well. Suspended in a high-shine formula the flecks of gold reflect the light and dazzle the eye, unlike other glosses. The gloss is a bit tacky which ultimately allows for longer wear. Once the gloss wears, it does leave a bit of a sandy feel although it is minor and not really a bother. It has the sweet scent of raspberries familiar to alot of the YSL lip products. In my personal opinion, I find the sparkle to be a bit too much for daytime, but perfect for a night out and New Year’s kisses.

 YSL Golden Gloss in #30 (Golden Satin)

Golden Satin #30 is a light peachy-pink. This shade is a bit more sheer, gorgeous on its own or layered over a lipstick. Photographs can’t quite capture just how stunning this gloss is and the way it plays with light. I do highly recommend seeing it for yourself in person.

YSL Golden Gloss $30 here

Happy New Years Kisses!

The L’Oréal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stains, also known as Aqua Lip Shine Stains combine the longevity of a lip stain with the shine of a gloss. Formulated with a blend of nourishing oils, including Omega 3, Vitamin E and Argan oil they deliver hydrating benefits along with concentrated pigmentation.

I had been anticipating the arrival of these Wet Shine Stains to the US for quite some time. The Stains are said to be a dupe for YSL Glossy Stains and after testing them out for myself I can definitely see some significant similarities between the two. But first, the L’Oréal product as it stands alone.

L’Oréal Wet Shine Stains feature a triangular doe foot applicator that bends and turns for easier application. The formula is very wet upon application but dries to a the tacky feel of a gloss. I am increasingly impressed by the intense pigment of the two darker shades. One coat delivers opaque color. When layered the color becomes more intense, deeper and glossier. The lighter shade, Pink Resistance applied very sheer and needed a lot of layering to provide significant color. I was so impressed by the length of wear of all three. There is a fruity scent that disappears in time.

You can see above how much pigment is provided in just one swipe. The second image shows the product in several layers. The stain lended to streak more on my arm then it did on my lips. The final image shows the product wiped away and the stain left behind. The stain remains even when washed (scrubbed) away.

Pink Resistance is a peachy-pink with shimmer. This lighter shades required much more layering than the two darker shades. Pink Resistance is incredibly sheer and barely visible on my lips. I expected more pink with this color and wasnt too pleased with the orange tones that I was getting.

This is more like it. Infinite Fuchsia is a rich fuchsia shade. This one applied opaque in one swipe and seemed to deliver more shine than the other two. Definitely my favorite in the bunch.

Berry Persistent is a deep berry shade. The color was opaque in one swipe and deepened upon layering, providing further shine. The is one of the two darker shades that very much impressed me. If you are partial to the vampy lip I definitely recommend this one. It appears darker and more intense in person than in my photos. I think the formula was wonderful. For a dupe or on its own it’s a fantastic product. The color lasts for hours without budging.

Comparison:

If you are a fan of the YSL Glossy Stains or prefer a more affordable option, the L’Oréal Shine Stains are definitely worth considering. In some ways I felt the L’Oréal Stains trumped the YSL version. In other ways I felt they fell short. One aspect worth mentioning is the scent. The L’Oréal product has a scent very familiar to YSL lip products. The YSL Glossy Stains however have a significantly stong and unpleasant scent than other YSL lip products and is very much to my dislike. The L’Oréal scent isn’t as strong or appalling to me.

The L’Oréal stains have a more watery, lighter feel and streak less than the YSL which is definitely a plus. The lighter shades of the L’Oréal ar far more sheer than the lighter shades of the YSL. There are some inconsistencies between the shades of the L’Oreal range that aren’t apparent with the more higher-end counterpart. Ultimately the L’Oréal Colour Riche Caresse Shine Stains are definitely worth checking out in my opinion.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain $9.99 (here)

Have you tried the L’Oreal Shine Stains? Are you a fan? What are your thought between the two?

Le Mertier de Beauté Lip Cremes are the new-found product of my obsession. I have heard many good things about the Lip Creme formula, Xiao from Messy Wands raves. The steep $36 price tag had made me quite apprehensive, although cosmetic curiosity soon got that best of me, as it always eventually does. I just picked up one, Peche Cremè, it was my birthday (month). The only problem is, now I want them all…

The Lip Crèmes from Le Mértier de Beauté are said to be a hybrid of a gloss and a lipstick. It contains intense emollients and antioxidants to soothe and nourish lips, along with long-lasting intense color.

The Lip creme’s have a doe-foot applicator, perfect for the formula’s application. A sweet vanilla scent, similar to NARS, is quite noticeable at first but soon fades to nothing. When I first tested the Crème I was disappointed to find nothing that leads me to perceive this product as a lipstick hybrid. It is a lip gloss only, at least Peche Cremè is, which is a sheer shade. I have seen other darker shades to contain far more pigment in online swatches. The gloss as it is, I can honestly say, is the most lovely that I have ever come across in formulation.

Le Mertier de Beaute Lip Creme’s apply like any other gloss, about five minutes later is when the magic happens. The product transforms, providing a softening and plumping effect. I havent heard other’s refer to a plumping effect when using the Lip Cremes, however the results a clear. My lips are incredibly soft and full. The gloss wears very comfortably for a good 3-4 hours while providing intense hydration.

Peche Crème is a soft peach with multi-color shimmer. The shimmer is not grainy in the least, but has an undetectable feel on the lips. The shade is perfect for a soft wash of color with a high shine.

It is clear that I am absolutely smitten with the Lip Cremè formula. I can honestly say it is like nothing I have previously tried. The Lip Cremè is a must-try for even those indifferent to gloss formulas. This is a game changer!

Le Mertiér de Beauté Lip Crème $36 at nordstrom.com

Have you tried the Lip Cremés? I would love to hear your thoughts?

The latest addition to the LORAC PRO Face Tutorial series features everything you need to create a natural day to dramatic night look. The kit contains 5 products, including a full-sized blush, full-sized mascara, mini eye shadow palette, full-sized lip gloss and a mini makeup primer. Also included is a two page tutorial on how to apply all products for a day time look or a dramatic nighttime look.

The Lorac Pro Face Tutorial Set Includes:

• Mini Pro Palette with the shades Beige, Light Brown, Espresso
• Travel-Size POREfection Mattifying Face Primer
• PRO Mascara
• Lip Lustre Lip Gloss in Peach Lustre
• PRO Powder Cheek Stain in Rosy Glow

This sweet mini PRO Palette contains a neutral trio of shades. If your familiar with the Lorac PRO quality, than you will know just how buttery soft and pigmented these shadows are. Beige is a shimmering champagne and perfect when used as a highlight, although does create some fallout. Light Brown is a neutral light brown and adds perfect dimension when added into the crease. Espresso is a dark brown which is rich enough to use as a liner and intensified when wet.

The PRO Powder Cheek stain is loaded with pigment although blends beautifully. One swipe is really all it takes, while its lasting power is exceptional. Rosy Glow adds a gorgeous rosy flush to your complexion. A small amount of shimmer translates to skin as a radiant finish. I’m fairly certain that this is the beginning of a new blush formula crush.

For me, I don’t think that this gloss could be more perfect. The Lustre Lip Gloss in Peach Lustre is a beautiful peach shade with a stunning shimmer finish that creates a 3D effect. It’s a high-shine gloss that feels less sticky and more soft with a long wear time. Luckily the shimmer doesn’t travel beyond your lips. There is a slight gritty feel when you rub your lips together due to the high amount of shimmer. Without a doubt, the Lustre Lip Gloss is certainly a new favorite.

The PRO Mascara ia a thickening and lengthening, smudge-proof formula. The bulbous end is designed to coat lashes from root to tip. I find myself hesitant to bring the larger end closer to my eye. Lashes look longer and thicker with a lovely effect. The formula doesnt budge or smudge. My major qualm, as with all mascaras, is that it failed to hold my curl.

heavily swatched

The LORAC Close Up Real Life to Red Carpet Face Tutorial is a great value at $42 (valued at $132)

I highly recommend this beautiful kit! I’ve created both a day and night look to follow.

Get yours at loraccosmetics.com

The Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library from Bite Beauty features 12 mini glosses inspired by the scent, color and beauty of the delicate rose flower. This collection features shades raging from soft sheer pinks to deep and vibrant reds to suit your any mood. Each gloss is infused with antioxidant and mineral rich Rose Otto essential oil. Bite lip products contain only food-grade ingredients and are free of any chemicals. They’re good enough to eat and if you care to indulge yourself, they taste as good as they look.

The Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss set features a stunning selection of 12 shades. The deeper the shade, the richer the pigment and coverage. Shades seven on, apply like a liquid lipstick, leaving behind rich color. Some of the lighter shades apply very sheer, although can easily be layered for more coverage. The gloss is on the stickier side and does take some manipulation from the doe-foot applicator to spread the formula across the lips. Some tackiness wears away and lips are left feeling soft and nourished. It wipes off clear and leaves no stain behind. The fragrance is lovely and smells of the purest form of the rose and not of a perfumed re-creation. I’m loving the new glosses which makes my lips feel healthy and moisturized. The only problem is choosing just one shade to wear.

• One – cool-toned milky pale pink
• Two – light rosy pink
• Three – pale peach
• Four – raisin
• Five – light mauve
• Six – dusty rose
• Seven – dusty coral
• Eight – cherry red
• Nine – cool red
• Ten – berry red
• Eleven – brown red
• Twelve – deep purple

 Bite Beauty Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library $49 

available at sephora.com

Welcome to the second installment of my lucite dreams ‘Best of Beauty'; the Makeup edition. You may have noticed that things have ‘cleaned up’ a bit on MLD. For many years now, my skin care choices have been fine-tuned to exist of only natural and organic ingredients. This is because, as I have learned, it’s what works. It seems only natural that my love for clean ingredients would soon pass over to my makeups products. I want to nourish and nurture my skin by using makeup created with the same attention to ingredients. While I am certainly not a devout in terms of clean makeup, I make an effort to include them as much as I can, especially in foundations. 

So, with great restraint I have narrowed down my picks to feature the true stand-outs from the past year.

Foundation:

Gressa Skin Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (review)

Kjaer Weis Foundation (review)

Concealer:

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (review)

Bronzer:

RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer (review)

Highlighter:

W3LL PEOPLE Universalist 2 (review)

Blush:

Burberry ‘Light Glow’ Blush in Earthy (review)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion (review)

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Abundance (review)

Eyes:

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rio de Rose Gold (review)

L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Miss Manga Mascara

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

Lips:

Nude - Nūdus Lipstick in Naked (review)

Pink – Gressa Skin Lip Boost in Bare (review)

Bright – YSL Rouge Volupte in Opera Rose (review)

Red - Gressa Skin Lip Boost in Aux Rouge

Gloss - Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky

Palette:

LORAC PRO To Go Eye and Cheek Palette (review)

 What are your stand-out makeup products from 2014?

Au Naturale celebrates spring with the release of three trendy lip shades, in their African Color Collection. A statement lip is all the trend this season, and Au Naturale has covered the bases. Think plum, red, magenta, and rich pigments.

The African Colors Collection features two glosses and one lipstick, all intensely pigmented. Just check out the swatches…

First up is African Affair, a matte lipstick that is both unique and bold. I would describe it as a brick-red shade with a purple pearlecence. The wear is excellent, however, the formula seems drier than I am familiar with from Au Naturale. Both Ravish and Deep Coral Lip Glosses are generously pigmented, soft and ultra nourishing, with a fruity scent. For me, the formula is a love. They layer well for a more intense finish. Ravish is a beautiful bright pink, that brightens the face. Deep Coral is a warm dark coral shade with a golden shimmer. A gorgeous color for when the temperatures heat up.

 Wearing African Affair Lipstick with Ravish Lip Gloss and Organic Creme Bronzer on both cheeks and lips.

 Au Naturale Lip Gloss* $15 Lipstick* $22

Available at aunaturaleglow.com

Use code ‘SPRING’ for 30% off at the Au Naturale website

*sample

#targetstyle – W3LL PEOPLE is the latest brand to join Target’s line-up of green beauty offerings, along with Zoe Organics, S.W. Basics, and Vapour Beauty. 

High-performance naturals – Some new releases from Gressa Skin have just arrived at MLD headquarters, including the new Lumière Luminous Complexion Fluids and the latest Lip Boost in shade Jolie. All I can say is that I am simply blown away by the textures, performance, and colors, as per usual with Gressa’s line of organic cosmetics. If your thinking green beauty doesn’t stand-up against mainstream department store brands, Gressa Skin will surely dispel that way of thought. Reviews forthcoming.

Lipgloss Love – Au Naturale’s lip glosses are smooth, hydrating, and available in great variety of beautiful shades. They have recently received KIWI’s award for best natural lip gloss for 2015, and I highly recommend that you check them out. Pictured in the image above is the shade Magnolia, a light pink with a frosty finish.

New Beauty – Ilia Beauty has just dropped some new products to covet, including a new foundation, eye liner, and eye shadow stick. The new Vivid Foundation is said to have a “soft whipped formula”, with “buildable light to full coverage.” 

Sunday Pamper Sesh – Thoughfully Magazine has reawakened my love for printed publications. Check out the very beautiful Lilly of genuineglow.com modeling some green beauty products. I’ll be sporting the Pele Mask from Mahalo Skincare for tonight’s pamper session for a deep cleanse, as I delve into this quarterly for the third time. In taking note from beautybybritanie.com, I’ll be following up with CV Skinlabs Skin Balm to soothe my (as of recent) rather sensitive skin, which I mix with Kahina’s Argan Oil for easier spreadability.

When a Natural Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger, a Flower Alchemist, and a natural Mineral Makeup brand unite, you get a truly one-of-a-kind makeup collection. Created with love as the intent, the Beauty by Britanie Bohemian Collection is far more than just makeup, as these crystal-infused formulas contain a blend of flower essences to uplift your mood and evoke positive feelings.

Katie Hess, the radiant being behind Lotus Wei, created this special “emotive formula” for Modern Minerals, to enhance our love of life, inner strength, compassion and our ability to live in the present moment. The soulful beauty, Britanie Faith of beautybybritanie.com, is the mere embodiment of the ideals represented in her collaborative collection, which features both a lip gloss and a blush, each infused with pink camellia flowers and pink tourmaline, and are blended with a floral blend of essential oils, including lavender, chamomile, rose and neroli.

B of Love Lip Gloss

“The inspiration behind “B of Love” Lip Gloss is from my appreciation for the poem by E.E. Cummings, “Be of Love”. When you apply this flower essence and crystal infusion signature blend, use it as a time to reaffirm your commitment to speak only of love from your lips and always aspire to “B of Love” a little more than of anything.” 

Modern Minerals’ newly released collection of lip glosses features three shades in collaboration with Lotus Wei, Love of Attraction, Coral Glow and B of Love (from the Beauty by Britanie Bohemian Collection). This smooth (non-sticky) gloss formula features a blend of high-performance oils, waxes, fruit extracts and marine collagen, to create one exceptionally nourishing formula. It’s one of the most hydrating lip glosses that I’ve come across, as it works to keep lips moist and soft long after application. B of Love is a beautiful bright pink, that layers well for a more intense look. The blend of essential oils featured in this gloss lend it a lovely rose fragrance.

“Sweet Thing” Signature Blush 

“Britanie’s signature shade inspired by the Pink Camellia flower. This gorgeous pink has been specially formulated with a Modern Minerals Signature flower infusion created by Lotus Wei. The special name, “Sweet Thing” is Britanie’s grandmother’s term of endearment for Britanie. She’s called her this since childhood and each time Britanie hears, “Sweet Thing”, it makes her smile to think about the love behind it. Nonnie is a breast cancer survivor of 36 years and a portion of the proceeds for the Beauty By Britanie Bohemian Collection will be donated to the American Cancer Society in grateful appreciation for the continued research, treatment and early detection for women in America.”

Sweet Thing Signature Blush is a universally flattering bright pink shade with a matte finish. A little goes a long way, as this exceptional formula brilliantly mimics skin’s texture, while lending your complexion a certain radiance that is free of shimmer. It’s what mineral blush dreams are made of, with its undetectable and luminous finish.

(wearing a light layer of Love of B Lip Gloss and “Sweet Thing” blush)

Get the Beauty by Britanie Bohemian Collection at modernminerals.com

(gloss $24, blush $22)

Spring is in the air with latest makeup shades from Au Naturale Cosmetics. Warm corals, nudes, pinks and rose golds creates a color story that reflects the upcoming season.

Au Naturale’s line of cosmetics are created with all natural and organic ingredients for safe and healthy use. Each product is brimming with natural skin nourishing ingredients that hydrate, protect and nourish the skin. Bright vivid pigments are wrapped in luminous skin-mimicking formulas that enhance your true beauty. They latest selection of shades are truly exquisite and not to be missed!

Rose Gold Highlighter*

Au Naturale’s new highlighter is a medium rose-gold shade formulated for medium-deep skin tones. Like their original highlighter, and my personal go-to, the formula lends skin a lit-from-within glow. No discernible shimmer here, just natural radiance. For lighter skin-tones like myself, the Rose-Gold Highlighters creates a luminous blush that warms the complexion. I’m telling you! I also wear it on the eyes and on top of lipstick to add a warm sheen.

Palermo Blush*

Oh, Palermo.. you captivate me. This warm-toned coral blush is a kiss of sunshine for the cheeks. Although it appears quite shimmery in the tube, it applies seamlessly to the skin, creating a naturally luminous effect. Can we notice the “luminous” trend going on here, that is the Au Naturale way. Palermo easily builds from a sheer wash to more intense effect.

-please pardon my goosebumps-

The image above is not a true indication of color (I’m working with limited lighting). Both shades appear warmer in person, Rose Gold is more gold and Palermo is more orange. However, I did include the images to show the finish. I will try to update the images soon.

Bliss Creme Eye Shadow*

The Au Natural Creme Eye Shadows apply with ease and offer a sheer wash of shimmering color, with a subtle glossy effect. Bliss is a beautiful pearlescent pink-gold and a gorgeous compliment to my green eyes. On me, the hydrating formula does tend to crease on the inner area of my eye folds ,which I don’t mind that much, I just smooth it out throughout the day.

Marrakesh Lipstick*

Marrakesh is the nude-pink lipstick of my dreams in a formula that I adore! It delivers opaque coverage in one swipe with a creamy matte texture that stays creamy for the longevity of its wear, which is quite excellent. If you’re looking for a nude-pink that doesn’t wash you out, I do highly suggest this one. Perfection…

Lip Gloss in Nudist* & Marita*

Au Naturale Lip Glosses are widely loved and an absolute personal favorite, a top three contender for certain. Heres why; the formula offers a ton of pigment, a high sheen, a smooth (not sticky) texture, hydration and excellent wear. Not to mention an incredible line-up of all natural ingredients that nourish your lips with wear. Nudist is a medium toned shimmering brown-nude that achieves the current on-trend brown lip. Marita is a deep dark plum that registers almost black on my complexion. It is so highly pigmented that it offers an almost liquid lipstick effect with excellent wear. This shade frightens me, I’ll admit, but if you like that dark lip without all the nasty ingredients, this is for you my friend.

Marita (left) Nudist (right) in the image above.

The Au Naturale Look

Wearing a selection of Au Naturales latest shades including, Bliss Creme Eye Shadow, Palermo Creme Blusher, and Marrakesh Lipstick.

Available at aunaturalecosmetics.com and thechoosychick.com

#CLEANBEAUTYLOBBY

The Au Naturale Cosmetics team is working hard to create a new “clean beauty standard” by asking law makers to call for stricter legislation to monitor the cosmetic industry for the protection of consumers. You can read more about it here and help support the cause by signing their petition.

*denotes sample – all words expressed are unique and true to my personal experience, as always

These days I’ve been a bit more minimalistic with my makeup, opting for easy, fool-proof formulas that enhance the skin. I’ve been on a journey of beauty discovery and have come across some absolute gems that are either new releases, or just new to me. Here’s a look at some products that I’ve been loving lately, with a plentitude of bronze tones and soft pink hues.

Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint SPF30 (Light): Milk Makeup is a brand that has piqued my interest for some time, maybe for its sleek minimalistic packaging and its general “less is more” “girl on the go” vibe, or perhaps because it’s a newer line and as a bona-fide beauty junkie, I must try is all! As an ever curious foundation aficionado, the Sunshine Skin Tint seemed like the best place to start, and it’s love! The Tint is a super lightweight liquid foundation with SPF30 offering light, but not too light, coverage. The rollerball packaging is quite unique, but totally functional. You just pump the bottom to release the product and roll the ball across your face, then blend. It’s vitally effortless in application, with enough courage to balance out your complexion, as it appears to additionally minimize the appearance of pores. The finish is dewy and glowing. It’s perfect for those “no makeup, makeup days” – it just makes the skin look good. I have the shade light, which is a touch too pale for my skin tone, but with its lighter coverage I can get away with it.

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer (Custard): Ugh, concealers are not an easy area to navigate, they are just all so awful! In fear of more disappointment, it took me a while to warm up to the idea of trying yet another one, but my recent battle with seasonal allergies demanded more coverage. Believe me when I say, the hype is real! The Soft Matte Complete Concealer is the ultimate! My under eye area is generally dry and most concealers just suck all of the moisture out of my skin, leaving my under eyes looking crepey. Nars hit the mark with this new formula which just so beautifully melts into the skin, blending out like a dream with minimal to no creasing. I do set the inner corners of my under eye where I experience the most creasing, but I’m sure that some can skip the powder entirely. I use the shade Custard, which I initially thought would be too deep for me, but it just blends right into my skin.

Maya Chia The Highlight of the Day Illuminating Serum (Golden Hour): Maya Chia, creators of the exquisite line of skincare, released an illuminating serum in two shades: The Golden Hour (warm, champagne gold) and The Happy Hour (cool pink). I’ve been meaning to share a review of this product sooner because I am utterly in love! I picked up The Golden Hour just a few days after it was released and I have been wearing it almost daily. The Illuminating Serum is truly versatile, it works beautifully under, over or even added into your foundation (no matter the formula). However, I do find myself most often opting to add it into my foundation. The Golden Hour is a stunningly beautiful champagne gold that adds a subtle luminosity to the skin, with no discernible shimmer. It is technically skincare and features Maya Chia’s hero ingredient, supercritical chia oil, along with broccoli seed oil, calendula flower extract and rosemary leaf extract. It also has such a beautiful clean scent.

Fitglow Beauty Mineral Blush (Sculpt): I’ve briefly mentioned my love for this contouring powder before, but I thought I would share some more love as its been a staple in my beauty routine. To be totally honest, I’ve packed on a few lbs, which I’m not too happy about. While I’m working on getting that under control, I’ve been sculpting my fuller face to make me feel a bit better about it. The Fitglow Beauty Mineral Blush in Sculpt is the perfect contouring shade for my skin tone, it’s not too cool nor too warm. While it’s not “super” pigmented I feel like that’s a good thing, as it allows me to be more modest in application.

Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint (Bronze): The Lid Tints are cream eye shadows that offer a sheer wash of color and a glossy finish. I utterly love a glossy lid, but I often just can’t deal with the creasing that comes along with it. In comparison to the RMS Eye Polish, I experience far less creasing with the Lid Tints, however, they do not blend as well or offer as much of a wet look. They feel a bit tacky on the lid, but do offer a beautiful glossy effect indeed. The shade Bronze, is a beautiful neutral bronze shade that can be built up for more color payoff.

Olio E Osso Tinted Balm (No. 5): The Olio E Osso Balms are multi-purpose and available in clear or tinted versions. What stands out about the Tinted Balm is its superior hydrating abilities. They have a super short list of ingredients, including organic olive oil, shea oil, beeswax and pink grapefruit essential oils – yes they smell amazing. The tinted versions offer a sheer, dewy wash of color. I personally love using the balm on both my lips and cheeks. When applied to the cheeks, it does remain a bit tacky, which I personally don’t mind. I’m really into that dewy look and it makes the skin look really good, although it does require frequent touch-ups. I have the shade No. 5 Currant, which is a raisin shade that beautifully complements bronze tones.

Kevyn Aucoin Molten Lip Color Topcoat (Cyber Opal): The most recent release from Kevyn Aucoin includes 6 Metallic Liquid Lipsticks and 2 Metallic Lip Color Topcoats. I just picked up the Lip Color Topcoat in Cyber Opal at the recent Sephora VIB Sale – the pink opalescent hue really spoke to me. Cyber Opal is a milky pink with a beautiful opalescent finish. The formula is beautifully smooth and surprisingly pigmented, I need to go a bit light on my application, otherwise this shade is a bit too pale for my complexion, or I pair it with a deeper lip shade. It is truly long-wearing, hydrating and completely odorless – which I love. The doe foot applicator features a curved design, which hugs your lips on application.

Nails INC Mindful Manicure (Better Together): Nails INC infuses their polishes with real gemstones to promote a “spiritual feel” in their most recent nail polish collection. I actually picked up 3 out of the 5 new shade releases. Better Together is my favorite of the bunch, its a soft blush shade with an iridescent finish. It applies beautifully, while I’m not too sure of any enhancements on my aura, they sure are pretty!

*This post may contain affiliate links, when you make a purchase through my link I make a tiny fraction of that sale. Commissionss generated though MLD ultimately goes to the purchase of more beauty products to share.

Meet the latest and greatest in clean cosmetics, Clove + Hallow, a brand that blends a modern, high quality aesthetic with clean ingredients, along with high performance formulas at a reasonable price tag. Green beauty enthusiast and beyond, you’re going to swoon over this line! Clove + Hallow first debuted with a line of incredible lip products (which I have today) and most recently expanded their line to include a liquid concealer, pressed mineral foundation, makeup remover and a liquid lipstick!

Clove + Hallow was born out of the desire to create a safe, beautiful and affordable line of cosmetics that works for women of all skin tones. Fueled by her own growing interest in a cleaner lifestyle after dealing a “mystery illness,” MUA Sarah Biggers created the line as she found herself unimpressed with the current offerings in green beauty. With a “minimalist approach to formulation,” Clove + Hallow uses only ingredients necessary in creating their products “starting with skin-loving botanicals, butters and oils – and excluding more than 1,500 questionable nasties.” The line is also PETA-approved and vegan.

*A word about “safe:” Our clean makeup products go through a strict formulation process during which known carcinogens, endocrine and hormone disruptors, allergens and irritants, and animal by-products are excluded. We never use cheap or toxic filler chemicals, and the few synthetic ingredients we do use have been extensively researched and selected because they serve a real purpose within our formulas, such as preservation or pigment.

Angelic (left) and Candied Hearts (right)

LIP GLAZE

The Lip Glazes are highly pigmented glosses that boasts a lot of shine and long-lasting hydration. The formula is smooth – no stickiness whatsoever, with considerable long-wear. These are so hydrating that I can skip out on balm entirely. The beautiful and high quality packaging is certainly a surprise at this price point and its performance is exceptional. A twist tube releases product into a brush applicator. The Lip Glazes come in a selection of six shades, I have two of them to share with you today.

• Candied Hearts*: a bright cool-toned barbie pink
• Angelic*: a nude pink/beige

LIP CRÈME

The Lip Crème is so incredibly creamy, while it easily glides across the lips, depositing intense pigment and a satin finish. Again, the formula is notably hydrating (my lips still feel hydrated even after I’ve wiped it away) and the wear is better than average, maintaining its creamy quality throughout wear. The beautiful white packaging holds together with a magnet, which feels so luxe. The Lip Crème is available in a selection of nine gorgeous shades, from nudes, to bright pinks, to deep reds.

• Ballerina Slippers*: a full-coverage pinky-peach

“Clove + Hallow is for the beauty newbie, junkie or pro who cares about the ingredients that touch her skin daily. So, whether you rock the basics or take risks with bold looks and new techniques, get ready in five minutes flat after hitting the snooze button one too many times, or budget half an hour to coax that one eyebrow into place—Clove + Hallow has you covered with clean cosmetics made from real, natural ingredients that really work.”

Wearing the Lip Glaze in Candied Hearts

available online at Clove + Hallow

*denotes sample: kindly provided to me by Clove + Hallow for consideration of review purposes only.

FTC: This post contains affiliate links where I make a small percentage of generated sales through links in this post