Talk About It - Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

In my quest to find healthier, better for you makeup I was lucky enough to find Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on a handful of products with you today, but first – a little background on Jane Iredale.

Jane started the company in 1994 and was the first to supply the aesthetics industry with a full line of mineral makeup. Before starting her company, she worked as a commercial casting director, then moved to TV and film, and then on to the theater. She also started her very own production company where she produced over 50 programs. She has won an Emmy, a Tony Award, and the George Foster Peabody Award. Being in the entertainment industry she saw that good makeup artists only enhanced natural beauty and that healthy, clear skin and complexions boost self-confidence. All of her experiences led her to create a makeup line that helps skin look and be healthier. Her makeup is called "The Skin Care Makeup".

Jane Iredale makes a really awesome tinted moisturized called Dream Tint. Not only does this product even out my skin tone, give my face a lovely fresh looking glow (because it's neither matte nor too dewy), and leave my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth it also protects my face with SPF 15. It's very light and extremely natural looking. I use the shade light, but there is something for everyone between their 5 shades, 2 color corrector moisture tints, and the bronzer. I really like to wear this alone for day to day wear but it also makes a great base for powder foundation. It comes in a very generous 2 fl oz tube and it does have a very slight scent to it, but it's not overpowering or long lasting so it's very inoffensive.

This is what their website has to say about the product: This super-absorbent product not only hydrates, but prevents water loss, calms inflammation and improves the skin's elasticity. Plus, Dream Tint creates a soft-focus effect that minimizes the look of large pores and fine lines.



I was also sent the blending brush which is recommend for applying the Dream Tint, but can also be used for many other cream or powder based products. I really like this brush, although I use it for blush now instead of foundation or Dream Tint. It works in so many different ways but the reason I like it for blush is because it picks up and distributes the perfect amount. It's made out of both natural goat hair and Taklon fiber.

The last product I'm going to talk about is the Eye Steppes. This is such a neat concept, in really cute packaging, and I'm so glad I got to try it out! Eye Steppes are 5 different compacts consisting of 5 different eye shadow colors. They offer shades meant for different skin tones or eye colors (although you can pick whichever one suits your personal tastes best) like goBlue, goBrown, goCool, goWarm and goGreen which is the one I have. I have blue eyes but the goGreen is still really flattering on me. It features 5 colors – a pretty sparkling peach shade, a lilac, a brown, a shimmering olive green and a matte grape. All of the shadows go on smoothly, last all day, and don't irritate my eyes. I'm really happy with the texture and color payoff of these eye shadows.



All of her products boast an ingredient list that would make any green goddess proud. My skin loves Jane Iredale products and I love the way I look when wearing them. You can purchase Jane Iredale products at a number of online retailers and other locations which you can find by clicking here. Visit their website for more info about the products I've talked about today and let me know if you have any questions or if you want to share your experience with Jane Iredale makeup.

(FTC: These products were so generously provided to me for review consideration. I am not being compensated to write this review. As always, all thoughts and opions are my own.)

Talk About Cosmetics - Real Purity Cosmetics

I hope you had a great weekend, beauty. I know I did! Every day the sun is shining and I'm breathing is a good day. I'm easy to please in most cases, except when it comes to cosmetics. I'm pretty picky when it comes to the products that I use to enhance my natural features. I'm pleased to introduce you to a wonderful cosmetic line that meets all of my expectations, plus some!

Real Purity is a company that creates and sells skin care, cosmetics, and hair products using only the finest natural ingredients. They don't use any chemicals or synthetic ingredients in their products because they have a firm commitment to making products that do not harm people, animals, or the environment. Their products are organic and formulated by naturopathic doctors, biochemists, nutritionists, herbalists, natural estheticians and other people who really know their stuff.

I absolutely love what Real Purity is all about. Their mission is a noble one and I commend them for being dedicated to taking care of the environment and helping others. They put people before profit and plan to stay that way. I love everything this company stands for. They have a wonderful mission, superb products and they're really nice people too! The VP personally called me to tell me more about Real Purity, and sounded so passionate about the company that his Grandmother Virginia started.

I got to try out so many products and I don't think I can pick a favorite so I'll start with the order I apply my makeup. First up is the Health Glow Foundation. Since our skin absorbs 60% of what is put on it, I have always been a firm believer in using the best, high-end foundations that I can. Real Purity has created a foundation that has a very limited ingredient list – 5 total! It's simple, so it's healthy yet effective. It's more of a light to medium coverage but I don't need much coverage. You fuller coverage girls won't love this as much as I do, but it's a worth a try for everyone else. It even outs my skin tone and makes my skin look great. The color Light Beige is perfect for me, and it blends right into my skin. It's easy to spread onto my face and it's not too matte or too dewy. It's really nice!



Next is the Disguise System concealer, and I have the color light. This product features 11 ingredients. I could not believe how big this product is. The say numerous times on their website that their products are never nano-sized and it's true! I was shocked. I love this concealer, a lot! It's perfect for blemishes and under eye circles. It makes my skin look naturally flawless, as opposed to other concealers that leave me looking like I'm wearing a mask! I can't say enough good things about this. Oh, and it smells good to me, like cucumbers.

I don't know if I've shared with you all that I've recently become a total and complete blush junkie. I used to just use bronzer, and that was it, but now I'm realizing that blush is the perfect topping for any look. The Real Purity blushes are so great! I have the color Shrimp, which looks intimidating in the pan but turns into a really gorgeous, almost natural looking flush when applied to the cheeks. It's beautiful, smooth, and long-wearing. I need to collect more of these! They even have cream blushes which are on my wish list now. They have gorgeous colors, and there is something for everyone!



Next up is the Holistic Formula Mascara. I have it in Black/Brown and I think I lied before because this is actually my favorite product out of the bunch. I'm extra picky with mascara, but I'm madly in love with this one. I dare say that it's even my Holy Grail mascara, no joke! It makes my lashes look defined, long, and dark but it keeps them soft, which is something I've never experienced with any other mascara before. I can't use any other mascara now because they just feel so heavy and make my lashes uncomfortable. I can almost swear that my lashes look and feel healthier too. This has only 8 ingredients, and it's a magical combination, because this mascara is incredible.

The last product I got to try is something that sounded perfect for me, since I'm ill. The product I'm talking about is the hypo-allergenic Healing Lotion. It is meant to soothe aches, pains, and sore joints and muscles which it does! It smells a bit medicinal but the scent quickly dissipates after application. It leaves my skin feeling cool and more relaxed. I really like this lotion. It's not meant to be moisturizing, so it's not beneficial in that sense but it really does help get rid of aches!



If you're in the market for organic, all-natural cosmetics, skincare, or hair products go explore Real Purity at www.realpurity.com. I put my stamp of approval on their products and I know that you'll like them too! Everything I've tried from them has been added into my regular beauty routine and will continue to have a spot in the lineup from now on. In fact, I'm planning on checking out some other products very soon. Have fun shopping and let me know if you pick up anything from their store, and what you think of their products.

(FTC: Real Purity was so kind and generous - they provided me with these products at no charge so I could try and possibly review them. I am not being paid to write this review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Black Tea for Beauty

I’ve talked about how green tea can help your skin look its best, but black tea is also a superstar who works hard to beautify and rejuvenate the skin. It’s often overlooked because its green cousin tends to steal the spotlight. Don’t doubt black tea, because it can do a lot of wonderful things for us. Let’s jump right into the details of why I think black tea is so amazing (other than its delicious taste, of course)!

If you feel a blemish coming, just steep some black tea in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Apply the tea bag directly to the pimple and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, although the longer the better! When you remove the tea bag from the blemish, don’t rinse the tea off. It’s important to leave the tea on the skin because it will continue to work its magic throughout the day. This is my go-to blemish buster. It works so unbelievably well!

Oh, and remember the green tea toner recipe I shared with you a few weeks ago? You can make the same toner using black tea, instead of green. It works in almost the same way. I don’t recommend black tea for those of you with very, very fair skin as it can stain and leave a bronze look (which we’ll talk about a little later).

Acne on places other than the face, such as the back or chest, can be really frustrating. If you’re one of those who have body acne run a warm bath and throw in some (6 or so) black tea bags. Soak and relax for as long as you’d like. It will help work to clear your body blemishes.

You can also take a tea bath if you have an uncomfortable sunburn. If you’re in too much pain to take a bath, just make yourself a cool compress. All you need to do is make a bowl of black tea, and refrigerate it until its cool. Once it’s at a nice, cold temperature soak a cloth in the bowl and apply the cloth to your skin. You can do this same thing for itchy bug bites too! A spray bottle full of the tea can also work. Just spritz it on!

You might already know that you can refrigerate used tea bags and use as an eye compress to de-puff and rejuvenate tired eyes. The caffeine in the tea is helpful in making eyes look less swollen. Its quick and it’s easy!

Everyone gets sweaty, smelly feet at some point in their lives (especially in hot, summer months) but tea can help eliminate foot odor. You need to soak your feet in a tub full of darkly brewed black tea for half an hour. The tannins in the tea will help control the smell of your feet and also make them feel cooler and relaxed.

Want a simple way to make your lips look smoother? Just grab a warm tea bag and apply it to your lips for 5 minutes. This will also help your lips retain their moisture!

Okay, and the last thing I want to talk about it self tanning using tea bags. I haven’t actually tried this, but I read about it and I’m very intrigued by the idea. I’m all about covering up and using SPF whenever I go outside, but I’m also disgusted by the scents of self tanning products, so I have embraced my pale skin tone. However, if I can use tea bags to give my skin a bronze glow, I’m all over that! Here is the article on how to make it - http://www.ehow.com/how_5043769_tan-naturally.html If any of you have tried this, please let me know in the comments what you think of it and if it worked or not!

As always, if you know of any other beauty uses for tea let me know! I always like to hear your suggestions!

Luxurious lip scrub

Lips looking a little rough around the edges? Try making my favorite quick and highly effective scrub to make your lips look smooth and full! All you need is honey, olive oil, and brown sugar. The honey is antibacterial so it kills any germs while the oil moisturizes. The brown sugar acts as the exfoliant.

Just take a small container and fill about halfway with the brown sugar, put in a small amount of honey, and enough olive oil to create a paste-like scrub. Mix all of the ingredients together and you get an extremely cheap scrub to de-flake and make lips feel luscious. Wet your lips and apply the scrub, rubbing in gentle circular motions. I recommend doing this only once or twice a week as your lips can be very sensitive.

If you don't want to use this or any scrub on your lips, you can take a damp toothbrush and rub over your lips to remove dead skin and flakes.

I hope these tips help keep your lips looking and feeling better than ever before!

Talk About It - Honey Girl Organics

Happy Talk About It Tuesday! I hope all of you beauties are doing well on this fine summer day!
I've been day dreaming a lot lately about a trip that I'm planning for next June. I'm really excited about this trip because it will be my first time on the lovely islands that make up Hawaii. I can't wait to sit on the beach and drink a virgin pina colada while digging my toes into the sand. Since it's still a year away I needed something to add into my daily routine that reminded me of what is to come on my Island getaway, which is where today's products come into the picture.

Honey Girl Organics (www.honeygirlorganics.com) is a company that is based in Haleiwa, Hawaii. They have a wide selection of natural and organic beauty products which are filled with the best ingredients they can find, with no chemicals or artificial preservatives. Each and every product they create and sell is made with only edible ingredients because they believe that you should only put on your body what you would be willing to put into your body and I couldn't agree with them more.

One of the founders of the company kept bees as a hobby which led him to create crèmes using honey and beeswax for his wife. Honey Girl Organics uses honey, beeswax, pollen and propolis in their products and combines the beehive ingredients with olive oil. Bee ingredients are great antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, collagen stimulators, as well natural humectants and emollients that provide the skin with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids. Mix these two types of ingredients together and what you get is skincare gold.

First and foremost – the packaging is so gorgeous and of such high quality! I'm stunned by the beautiful jars they come in. Okay, let's start dishing about the actual products now.

I'm going to talk about the most interesting product I have ever tried first. I use the word interesting because I'm at an absolute loss of words when it comes to describing the facial scrub. I have never used anything that is even a little bit similar to this product. It's absolutely fantastic! It smells wonderful and it leaves my skin feeling unbelievably soft and smooth. I was actually giddy after the first time I used this scrub because it's so unique and incredible. It has only 8 ingredients including aloe, coconut butter, cane sugar, honey, diatomaceous earth, papaya and pineapple enzymes and essential oil – all of which are organic.



It has a thick, granular consistency that you massage onto a slightly damp face. You can add more water to adjust the level of exfoliation you desire. Massage in small circles all over face, but be sure to avoid the eye and mouth area since they are more delicate and sensitive. Rinse with lukewarm water, and use a washcloth to remove the extra scrub that may be remaining.

I can't even describe how much face feels when I'm done. It feels softer and more silky than ever, and that's not an over exaggeration. You have to try it for yourself because I wasn't kidding when I said I was at a loss for words. You'll just have to take my word when I say it's incredible. I use this 1-2 times a week depending on my exfoliation needs.

After I'm done exfoliating I apply the Extra Sensitive Face and Eye Crème. They have a regular version as well, but I always gravitate towards sensitive formulations. This crème is great because it allows you to combine two steps into one. I've never really understood why many companies sell separate face crèmes and an eye crème, so it's awesome that Honey Girl Organics has made a product that it both an eye and a face crème in one. This product has an all-star ingredient list including extra virgin olive oil, Hawaiian purified water, beeswax, raw pupukea wildflower honey, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly and d-alpha vitamin E.



This product really makes my skin feel hydrated and healthy without feeling heavy or greasy. I also feel like it plumps up my skin and make it look more youthful. I am only 24 but I'm starting to see myself aging and developing some very fine lines around my eyes so I feel like this is really helping my skin look younger. It doesn't irritate my skin at all and I'm really enjoying it. I think it's so luxurious! Oh, and a little bit goes a very long way!

I forgot to mention above that all of their products are cruelty-free and noncomedogenic, and their customer service is top notch. These products would suit just about anyone and everyone. I love them, especially the facial scrub if you couldn't tell by my rambling! Go check them out today because I know you'll really enjoy them as well! See you tomorrow!

 FTC: Honey Girl Organics sent me these products free of charge to test and possibly review. I am not being compensated to write this review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.