Mama Love Perfumery
I'm having some help with my crankies today. I'm sure many gals can sympathize- I'm in the "cry at phone commercials, crampy & whiny" time of the month. Luckily I have a full bottle of organic flower essence aromatherapy perfume oil from Mama Love Perfumery.
Mama Love products are all natural and handmade using 98-100% organic ingredients: ethically wildcrafted or biodynamically grown flower essences, therapeutic grade mostly steam-distilled essential oils and 100% organic jojoba. Eco-friendly and vegan-friendly, too. (Member of EtsyOrganic Team!)
Mine is for PMS, Postpartum, and Menopause support. Well, I don't know about postpartum or menopause- but it calms my PMS Monster into, well, at least just a tiny PMS bridge troll. And it smells DIVINE! I like to actually put a tiny dab just under my nose so I can continually inhale the scent. Useful AND lovely!
Ahhhhh, now I don't have to murder anyone :-)
Sisobaba Soaps
I’m so very grateful for my Almond Butter Vanilla Soap from Eugene Oregon's Sisobaba. It's lightly scented so that it doesn't battle for dominance and is nicely unisex. It's gentle enough to be used on your face and has a lovely exfoliating effect. I could feel it sloughing off all of the funk and I felt like a new person! I'm surprised that there wasn't a ring around the tub like I'd just given the dog a bath when I was done! When it’s summer in Texas, just walking from the door to the car can make you feel gross, so this soap is perfect for turning yourself back into a human.
They have awesome sampler sets. Their guest soap samplers are an incredibly cheap three bucks and would make an awesome gift or simply set out to make your guests feel pampered (my mother-in-law loved the bar I put down in the guest bathroom.) They have great Etsy feedback, so give 'em a shot- you won't be disappointed. (Plus, they also sell affordable and adorable totes and ceramics as well!)
I'm in love with the Cream Concealer in Fair. This was the first cream mineral concealer I'd seen, and it blends perfectly with my skin and covers any and all imperfections. It's made with jojoba oil, so it's an anti-inflamatory- perfect for blemish prone skin. I've been using it to cover up the areas of my face that aren't healed up after my accident, and a number of people that see me every day were asking me "wow! How did you get your face fixed up so fast?" No one believed me that it was this concealer because it looks so natural- not at all thick or cakey. I just say I'm Wolverine's little sister ;-)
The Mineral Lip/Blush Duo in Egyptian Sunrise is a lovely dual use color and gives a healthy glow to the cheeks and a natural sexy pout to the lips (I applied it over a clear lip balm). I can never resist a multitasker!
Appetite Synergy in Warm Spice
I like to actually dab a little of this onto my wrists so I can sniff it whenever I get the nibbles. It's such a beautiful spicy scent that it doubles as a fragrance! It works too! (Obviously it's not going to keep you from starving to death, but it does seem to affect those craving sensors.)
From the website:
"Stop the food craving when it starts with a warm blend of your favorite spices! "Spices" is a earthy blend of 100% pure allspice, coriander, clary sage, vanilla, and black pepper essential oils. Directions: When you are sitting down to eat or when the food craving begins take 3 whiffs in each nostril of the synergy blend, breathe as deeply as you can, partially closing one nostril and enhaling with the other. The most effective weightloss is obtained with 3 different synergy blends, varrying one oil for every few days. Please remember that you must still exercise and keep healthy eating habits for the best results!"
All natural perfume in Jessamine
Jessemine is a fruity bouquet of rare white florals, with a burst of tropical citrus, that dries down to a soft note of precious heartwoods. Subtle and flirty and without the heaviness of so many synthetic scents, but still a true perfume, not just a heavy essential oil sledgehammer.
Did you know that 90% of all commercial perfumes are dangerously toxic because of unregulated ingredients which are hazardous and used because they are cheap? Jenuine Beauty Botanical Perfumes are 100% natural and made from exotic essential oils like Tuberose, Pink Lotus, Ambrette, Rose, Orange Blossom, Labdanum, Oakmoss, Geranium, and Sandalwood-as well as many others: Combine them with beneficial Organic Jojobba oil-a valuable skin renewing plant oil that is good for your skin- And you get an exotic highly beneficial perfume which is suited to your unique body chemistry and perfect for that night out!
Rainforest Lipgloss is a light,shimmery gloss that goes on nice and slick- no rubbing crayons on your mouth here!
Two products that I got to try out that are not yet available commercially (whoo hoo! Prototypes!) were the
Botanical Pressed Mineral Foundation in Blushing Ivory and the Acne And Pain Relieving Serum.
The pressed foundation is the first of it's kind that I've seen in the indie makeup market. So much more convenient for travel or for applying on the run!
The serum has been a lifesaver for my arthritis. I keep the bottle in my purse and rub it into my hands when the joints get all achy. It's truly amazing, and I love that it actually smells nice- no nasty old man Ben Gay smell!
"Finally makeup, skin care, personal care, and perfumes which are toxin free and good for you!
From the About Me Page
My name is Jennifer Bingham. I have dedicated the last 9 years of my life to making revolutionary beauty products that are toxin free, and enhance the health and beauty of my clients. To date I have developed over 100 recipes, each one carefully crafted and fully researched and tested. I use only the finest vegan, organic, and natural ingredients sourced from all over the world: many of which are rare and exotic-each one selected for it's healing properties and natural beauty enhancing abilities. Please, browse my site and enjoy what I have worked so hard to offer to you."
Jenny is an absolute doll and a really neat lady, so go and check out her site today!
Something that I love about sampler boxes is the tons of independent companies I get to find out about that I would probably never have stumbled across on my own. Sometimes I even fall rapturously in love!
Take for instance Stinky D's. Their body lotion is DIVINE. Natural ingredients, highly emollient without being greasy, and quick to absorb. Simply a perfect lotion. I have it in Laid Back Lavender and I love to slather this on before I go to sleep so that the lavender will send me off to pillow island. And it's cheap too! a 2oz bottle is only $3.00!
Stinky D's is a 2 woman operation in Utah that started out by selling their products at Utah farmer's markets. Before you know it, their concoctions were highly sought after, and it's easy to see why! My only criticism is that they need to update their website with shopping info or a link to their Etsy shop- I had to really hunt to find out how to purchase their products online! I would also like to see that information given on their bottle labels, especially as they're branching out into the cyber marketplace.
Another indie that I love is Gumdropz Luxury Bath Products. I have their solid lotion bar in Creamcake Coco-Cabana. Again, the only complaint I have is that they make themselves very hard to track down. Nowhere on the label does it say the name Gumdropz- I actually thought the company was called Coco-Cabana (the scent name) because it's the only identifying name on the label. Come on guys! Let us know how to buy from you again and send you business!
Onto the lotion itself......
This HIGHLY concentrated form of lotion is a solid. You run your fingers across it to warm it up and make it easy to use. Solid lotions will last nearly forever- I have been using this one for a few months and there's barely a dent in it. Because it's a solid, these are perfect for keeping in your purse or for travel. Particularly good for rough patches like feet or elbows and great for the cuticles too. I keep mine at work because I wash my hands so frequently, and this keeps my skin soft without having to reapply after every handwashing. I also don't have to worry about it spilling, and in a solid form it confuses my co-workers who leave it alone :-) I wouldn't try to use this for my body as it's so concentrated it seems like it would take forever to use on such a large area, but for the hands and target areas it's c'est magnefique!
BLESS YOU CHERRY CITY!
Not to be a broken record here, I realize that I am continuously praising this company to high heaven- but I have to say, the Lush Locks Leave On Conditioning Spray has saved me with my currently disabled arm. To lift my right arm to be able to wash and condition my hair is still a horrible pain in the, um, arm. With this spray, I can use my good arm to spritz and brush through and my hair is soft, bouncy, shiny, and smells like a zillion bucks. I love that it has vitamin B5 and wheat protein in it (so it truly is a conditioner, not just a shine spray).
I use the Bergamot & Coriander in the morning for a wonderful pick me up to start the day, and when I do a night hair washing, the Honey Pear & Praline is a soothing midnight snack as I drift away. Of course there are hundreds of scents to choose from, so you can find your own Nirvana. There's even a new scent called Good Karma, and any items chosen in that scent will have 100% of the profits donated to the Willamette Humane Society! That right there makes me want to give these guys a big smooch! Vegan and cruelty free products handmade in small batches as you order them, Cherry City just keeps getting more and more awesome. I am proud to have watched the evolution of this dynamo!
One of the biggest complaints I hear about mineral veils is that many people don't like the shimmer that accompanies so many of them. For those, Ferro's Matte Veil is the answer to their prayers. I have it in nude, and it truly is a matte. It has excellent staying power and keeps your makeup fresh all day, whether used as a primer beneath your mineral foundation to lessen the appearance of pores, or as a touch up to absorb oil as the day wears on. I love that it doesn't become cakey or look piled on- you simply have fresh, clean looking skin.
While they do not make sunscreen claims (for which you have to go through the FDA) it does contain titanium dioxide, so it does act as a sunsceen.
"Ultra-fine mineral veil in pale beige naturally reflects light and conceals acne, dark spots and under-eye circles for fresh, luminous skin. Tinted with pale beige minerals for a fresh, neutral glow."
Another Ferro fave is their Winter Kiss Glow Bronzer. A lot of bronzers look downright creepy on me because I'm such a pale kemosabe, but a lil dab of this on the apples of my cheeks and I just look healthy and vibrant. It's the perfect alternative to standard blushers for a natural, yet glowing look. While they talk about it warming up pale winter skin, for someone who's ghostly year round like me, this is the perfect shade.
Another Ferro fave is their Winter Kiss Glow Bronzer. A lot of bronzers look downright creepy on me because I'm such a pale kemosabe, but a lil dab of this on the apples of my cheeks and I just look healthy and vibrant. It's the perfect alternative to standard blushers for a natural, yet glowing look. While they talk about it warming up pale winter skin, for someone who's ghostly year round like me, this is the perfect shade.
"Add warmth to the crispness that is winter with a spectacular peachy-colored mineral bronzer. Skin kissed in a peachy glow brings warmth during the doldrums of winter."
I've used a lot of mineral foundations, and I have to say that their Ultimate Foundation is one of the best I've ever used (and I mean that to include the big department store brands!) I have it in Fairest Honey, which blends in so perfectly with my skin that it looks totally natural. It's light enough to match my skintone without looking pasty or mask like. What I really adore about it though is that it's so finely spun that it doesn't cake up or need any blending and it doesn't creep into pores or fine lines.
I've used a lot of mineral foundations, and I have to say that their Ultimate Foundation is one of the best I've ever used (and I mean that to include the big department store brands!) I have it in Fairest Honey, which blends in so perfectly with my skin that it looks totally natural. It's light enough to match my skintone without looking pasty or mask like. What I really adore about it though is that it's so finely spun that it doesn't cake up or need any blending and it doesn't creep into pores or fine lines.
One of the great things about Ferro is that you can order a foundation starter kit. It includes 3 Ultimate Mineral Foundation and 3 Radiance Foundation Mini’s in your skin tone. Includes makeup brush, application sponge, directions for finding and customizing your right shade, and a $5 Coupon towards your full size purchase. The minis are actually a good size too, so you really can spend some time playing with them and testing them out.
Now something I really think makes them a cut above so many mineral makeup lines is their Eye Candy. They have them in mattes, pearls, shimmers, and the awesome 3-in-ones!
Now something I really think makes them a cut above so many mineral makeup lines is their Eye Candy. They have them in mattes, pearls, shimmers, and the awesome 3-in-ones!
Their bestselling shade is the fabulous Dirt, which is one of the 3-in-one shades. It can be used as a shadow, an eyeliner and a brow definer and is easy to take from very soft to intense depending on your level of layering. I love to apply this as a liner, because it doesn't crease or fade and is a magnificent compliment to almost any color of shadow. It's a cool toned deep matte brown, but it has green mica flecks that add an unexpected extra depth. It blends fabulously with almost any highlighting shade, and like their other products, is finely milled for smooth application.
In their Pearl Eye Candy line, I have Come Hither, which is a lovely pearl shimmer. This is the one for those who want a little extra pizazz above a matte shade but don't want the full on glitter effect. Come Hither is an extremely subtle peachy nude, providing the perfect bit of highlight and blending beautifully with bolder colors. This one is also great for toning down colors that got applied too heavily or for adding shimmer to a matte shade without altering the color itself too drastically.
Ferro Cosmetics is the brainchild of Krissy Ferro, who is a delightful woman. She helped me to pick out the best shades for my skintone and made great recommendations for me, which I truly appreciate.
About Ferro Cosmetics from Krissy herself:
About Ferro Cosmetics from Krissy herself:
"An advocate of natural skincare products, I soon became unsatisfied with trendy brands and their mineral counterparts. It was difficult finding mineral makeup that was truly all natural and toxin-free. And when I found products that met those qualifications, I grew discontent with the lack of colors, overly shiny and dull finishes and mediocre results. Thus the seedling of Ferro Cosmetics was planted. Our wide selection offers a little bit of everything for every woman. Besides our continued effort to present you with a dazzling array of colors, we also offer several finishes that best suit your skin type.
A single mother of two rambunctious boys (ages 3 and 6) and business owner, I understand the time-restraints we face as women. Whether you have four or 20 minutes to spare for your daily beauty regimen, Ferro Cosmetics offers all natural, non-toxic mineral makeup and tools to achieve that desired flawless look. After years of research and trial-and-errors, we offer an unrivaled selection for everyone - from the supermom juggling a busy career and children to the ferocious trendsetter who is always experimenting with her look. Mature women enjoy their youthful glow with our age-defying products, while women with darker pigments have wider selection of products that won't leave their skin looking ashy. By matching our customer's exterior to her interior, we can reflect just how fabulous she truly is."
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