Color trends: Vampy

I have never been a big fan of dark colours, especially on the lips, but I am so in love with this 'Vampy', deep red/berry trend that is everywhere at the moment, and as the weather gets cold, it makes it even easier to pull off. Here are my top natural picks for this Winter...

 Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick in 413 Torrid. 

This has to be my most lusted after color at the moment and is at the top of my 'must have' list. Torrid is described as a 'black orchid' color and I loved the description as much as i love the color...true vampy and absolutely gorgeous.

$22.00

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Bramble.

Described as a Blackcurrant shade, somewhat similar to Torrid but slightly lighter.

$36.95

  

Ilia Beauty Lipstick in Femme Fatale. 

I have had my eye on this lipstick since it first came out but as I didn't think i'd have the confidence to pull off the bold lip, I decided to purchase Humble Me instead. This lipstick contains "the sultry shades of berry and burgundy blended together into this deep, rich hue". The description alone is enough to make me want it.

Priti NYC nail polish in Sympathy Rose.

The nail polish version of Torrid, I think this color would suit anyone and would make any outfit look rather luxurious . 

$17.95

Kure Bazaar nail polish in Scandal.

I am yet to try any polish's from Kure Bazaar but this 'Vampy black cherry' is the one for me to start with. Stunning!

$16.00

Benecos Natural Kajal Eyeliner in Black.

For a nice clean line on the eyes or easily smudged to take the vampy look a step further.

$8.99

Bronzed Berry Dream

Bronzed Berry Dream by zara-alyce featuring beauty products

Eyeliner
alimapure.com

Beauty product
$60 - iamnaturalstore.com.au

Ilia beauty product
$42 - iamnaturalstore.com.au

Beauty product
vitacost.com

Ilia beauty product
$305 - iamnaturalstore.com.au

Vapour Organic Beauty | Australia | ATMOSPHERE SOFT FOCUS FOUNDATION |...
iamnaturalstore.com.au

Jane Iredale
janeiredale.com

Requested Post: Ilia Beauty Swatches

As requested by Marie, just a quick post to compare Ilia Beauty's Nobody's baby, In Paradise, and Humble Me.

 {l-r: Humble Me, Nobody's Baby, In Paradise}

In Paradise: This color is more coral than it is nude, without being too in-your-face. When this wears off it does leave a coral/hot pink-ish tint behind.

Nobody's Baby: This is the best 'nude' that I have come across that doesn't leave me looking washed out as it is on the pink side rather than being peachy or brownish. A very easy to wear color that I imagine would look good on anyone. 

Humble Me: A true nude that would probably suit those with tanned skin more, on paler skin the peachy/brown tinge looks a bit harsh.

Hope this helped :)

New Launch: Ilia Beauty Lipstick Crayons

I cannot tell you how excited I am that the Ilia Beauty Lipstick Crayons are finally ready to order. I've never purchased a lipstick crayon before, mainly because natural ones aren't exactly common, but I have always admired the look of them, and the fact that they would look nice in a cup on my desk haha. Available for pre-order now, orders are due to ship the week of April 25th.

There are 6 shades to choose from: 

 Dress You Up: A rose-berry mauve.

 99 Red Balloons: A real red with a touch of blue. (Every time I read the name of this the song pops into my head haha)

 Iko Iko: A sheer bronze shimmer.

Karma Chameleon:  A fiery coral hue. (And another with a catchy song name.)

 Call Me: A youthful shade of pink with hints of sweet sixteen.

Come Undone: A quiet nude.

These Lipstick Crayons are packed with the healing oils of sesame, rose-hip and papaya, and they sound amazing. Plus, there is a color to suit everybody. I will definitely be purchasing Karma Chameleon, Dress You Up, and Come Undone (in the hopes it will be my perfect nude). What color will you choose?

May Lindstrom Skin: The Clean Dirt

May Lindstrom Skin is one of those brands that from the moment I saw it, I had to have it, purely from the packaging. Of course, the ingredients sounded amazing and the products had great reviews, but that packaging...to die for! 

I would have loved to purchase the whole set but as my budget wouldn't allow it, I chose The Clean Dirt which is a cleanser of sorts, and it is unlike any cleanser I have ever used.

This cleanser is in powder form, you add water and it starts to fizz and bubble a little bit, then turns into this mousse type concoction. Not only can you hear the fizzing, but as soon as the product starts reacting with the water, the intoxicating smell of spices hits your nose and sets your senses tingling. 

Almost as soon as you apply this to your face, you start to feel this hot, tingling sensation, which the first time I used it, I was so worried my face would be all red and patchy once I washed it off as it did feel like it was burning a bit, but after a few uses that feeling eased to a nice warming one. 

I thought this product might be too harsh as my skin is fairly dry at the moment, which in turn makes it very sensitive, but other than the burning sensation, i've had no other issues and my skin is already looking bette, in saying that, my face does have that tight feeling afterwards so I have to be sure to moisturise well. 

As this is also a micro-dermabrasion, I can't use it everyday, otherwise my skin would most likely become dry beyond repair and breakout. Not a good look, so I alternate it every other night with a cream cleanser, which works well for me.

The solid dark glass bottle this comes in is so beautiful, especially with the gold wording and accents, my bathroom definitely looks more luxurious with this sitting on the counter and i'm sure i'll find some other use for it once its empty.

White Halloysite Clay, Red Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, Red Alaea Sea Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Bicarbonate, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root*, Rosa Centifolia (Pink Rose)*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower*, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon)*, Myristica Fragans (Nutmeg)*, Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove)*, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric)*, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger)*, Vanilla Planifolia Bean*, Theobroma Cacao (Raw Cacao)**.
* Certified Organic
** Fair Trade Certified

 
If your budget allows for it and you are after a luxurious two-in-one product, I absolutely recommend this. I cannot wait to try some of the other products in the line.

Foundation: Alima Pure and Vapour Beauty

In my last mini haul from I Am Natural Store, I purchased two new foundations, one from Alima Pure, and one from Vapour Organic Beauty.

 Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation in 120.

 I had used up my samples of Vapour foundation and was basically having withdrawals from it, yep that good, so it was definitely a product I had to add to the collection. I chose the stick version over liquid for the simple reason that it is more convenient, and less likely to waste product. As for the color, 120 is pretty much spot on for my skin tone, although i easily get away with one shade darker. It blends out perfectly, doesn't make me look pasty or washed out, and is somewhat nourishing at the same time. It is on the more expensive side, and i'm not sure how long it will last with daily use, but it truly is a fantastic product and I think its worth spending more on a foundation seeing as it makes up the base of your look. Vapour also has 11 shades of foundation which means you're more likely to find one that suits you. 

$44.00 for 9.65g

Alima Pure Satin-Matte Foundation in Wheat 3.5

I took a guess with choosing this shade based on those I had sampled in the past, and 3.5 seemed like it would be perfect. In comparison with Vapour 120, Wheat 3.5 is rather pale and more pinkish, and makes me look fairly washed out, so I only wear this when I have my Vapour foundation underneath as together, the color of this isn't so pale.

I was using HoneyBee Gardens Pressed Mineral Powder in Supernatural, which was a perfect match, but I ran out and decided to give Alima Pure a try instead. The foundation itself is a great product, it blends well, the coverage is buildable, and comes in a fantastic range of shades, next time I will give Beige 4 a try I think.

$28.00 for 7.5g

 

Nude Lips

I received an email asking for swatches of nobody's baby, from someone who is on the hunt for a nice nude lippy. I am still trying to find the perfect nude lippy that suits me...it's not as easy as it seems. 

I have however found a couple that range from pink-nude to brown-nude that do the job just fine for now. 

{l-r: Rms Beauty Lip2Cheek in Muse, Vapour Beauty Aura Multi-Use in Tender, Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner in Nobody's Baby, Ilia Beauty Lipstick in Humble Me}

Muse: In the pot this color is a muted pinky beige color, on the skin the color looks beautiful and has a shimmer to it which isn't too noticeable, it just kind of has that frosted finish you get with some lipsticks.

Tender: This is one of the most gorgeous pinks of any product I own. It's a really soft, pastel pink, which has that, almost barbie like look to it, just lighter. 

 Nobody's Baby: This has a nice dusty rose color to it, which is a really nice shade that goes with everything. The only thing with this is when it fades, it stains your lips an almost fuchsia color, which does show through when you apply more. It still looks amazing though. 

 Humble Me: I was really hoping the perfect nude with this one, but unfortunately it is on the brown side. In saying that, I still have been wearing it, I just make sure I blot really well and the brown is less obvious.

If anyone comes across any other nude lippies/tinted lip conditioners, please let me know, it is so hard to find the perfect nude for my skin tone.

Winner!

Time to draw the winner of the Madara 3 Step Daily Face Care Set.

And the winner is: 

Asti

Congratulations! If you could please contact I Am Natural Store with your contact details, letting them know you are the winner, they will get your prize on its way.

Thank you to everyone who entered, for those who didn't win this time, there will be more giveaways in the future.

Hope you all have a fantastic day.

Giveaway Time!

It's time for another giveaway, yay, and this one will be to win a Madara 3 Step Daily Face Care Set, sponsored by the lovely Rossana from I Am Natural Store. Each set is valued at $65 and contain a Purifier, Toner, and Moisturiser.

Previously I have tried the Travel & Trial Kit for dry skin, I don't seem to have reviewed it though unfortunately. I have also tried the Moonflower Tinting Fluid, and The Moonflower Tinting Gloss. Both were great products, I used tinting fluid everyday till it ran out. 

Madara offer three set's: one for dry skin, one for oily/combination skin, and one for normal/combination skin. The winner will get to choose the one most suited to their skin type. 

All Madara product's are certified through ECOCERT, prohibiting the use of  synthetic perfumes, synthetic preservatives like parabens, mineral oil, propylene glycol and other synthetic ingredients.

The ingredients for Madara products are from the Baltic region and after watching the video below, I want to go there now, it looks incredibly beautiful, wild and untouched. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bMgdpQmYE6E

In order to enter this giveaway, you will need to:

- Follow I Am Natural Store on facebook and twitter,

- Follow Free To Be Natural on facebook and twitter,

- Leave a comment below once you have done the above letting me know why you'd like to win this giveaway.

Open to Australian residents only.

The winner will chosen by random and announced on facebook. 

Giveaway closes on 10th March 2013. Good luck!

Kora Organics

Long over due is my review of my recent Kora Organics purchases, I got the cream cleanser, body wash, balancing rosewater mist, blemish gel, and the hydrated day and night cream. If my bank account allowed for it (and if I wasn't so obsessed with trying new brands), I would always have a nice supply of Kora in my bathroom. i love everything about this brand, from the purity of the ingredients, and the organic certification, to the amazing skin clearing benefits and the gorgeous packaging. I have to admit, it's the beautiful color that draws me to buying these, they just look so nice on any shelve. 

The Cream cleanser feels extremely luxurious  to apply and smells amazing! I love that a little goes a long way, which is good considering the price, I have had mine for roughly 3 months now and using once a day I still have a tiny bit left in the bottle. It's not so good at removing makeup (that's where my love, coconut oil comes into the picture), but it does an amazing job of cleaning the usual daily grime off your face, leaving it beautifully clean and soft. 

$44.95 - 90ml

Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) Extract*, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Macadamia integrifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil*, Stearic Acid, Dicaprylyl Ether, Morinda citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract*, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Rosa eglantaria (Rose Hip) Oil*, d-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Soyabean derived Natural Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus aurantium ssp bergamia (Bergamot) Oil*, Santalum spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil*, Citrus reticulata (Mandarin) Oil*, Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Lecithin (GMO free)*, Potassium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Chloride (Macrobiotic Sea Salt), Beta Carotene, Olea europea (Olive) Oil, Aqua (Water) & limonene**. **From essential oils. *Ingredient from Organic Farming. 

The body wash was a little hit and miss for me. Not because it isn't a great product...but because of the price, and the fact that it doesn't lather at all. While I understand that this product is organic and free of lathering substances, without any lather this product didn't seem to go as far and I didn't like how much I had to use everytime I showered just to wash my whole body. In saying that, I loved the smell and that it did feel very luxurious, so if the price and the non-lathering are not issues for you, then this product is worth a try.

$37.50 - 150ml

 
Camellia sinensis (Green Tea)*, Rosa centifolia (Rose) Extract*, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Morinda citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract*, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicapryl Ether, Lactic Acid, Sodium chloride (Macrobiotic Sea Salt), Benzyl Alcohol, Santalum spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil*, Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil*, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) Oil*, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lecithin (GMO free)*, Aqua (Water). **From essential oils. *Ingredient from Organic Farming.
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS. VEGAN.

 In the past i'd tried the Citrus mist, which I loved, but as my skin was on the drier side this time I thought the Balancing Rosewater Mist would be more suited. I actually love spraying this, not even so much for the benefits, but just because it feels so refreshing having a soft mist land on your face like little butterfly kisses. It hydrates nicely and is also wonderful for setting powdered makeup. As far as the smell goes, i'm a little unsure. It has an almost...peppery? smell to it which is kind of off-putting. I can't quite put my finger on which ingredient gives it said smell, but regardless, it's not bad enough to stop me from drenching my face in it 10 times a day.

 $39.95 - 65ml

Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water*, Rosa centifolia (Rose Petals Pink)*, Hibiscus sabdariffa (Hibiscus)*, Morinda citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract*, Aloe barbardensis (Aloe Vera)*, Alcohol*, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/ Radish Root Ferment, Malpighia glabra (Acerola Cherry Powder)*, Maltodextrin*, Sodium chloride (Macrobiotic Sea Salt), Potassium Hydroxide, Water (Aqua). *Ingredient from Organic Farming.

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.  VEGAN.

 The Hydrating Day and Night Cream is probably the best moisturiser i've ever purchased. The smell is to die for and the way it sinks into your skin leaving it feeling incredibly juicy and soft is like no other. Some moisturiser that i've tried left my skin with an odd feeling, almost like a powdery icky coating on my face but not this one. I will be repurchasing this for as long as they make it, or until I find a product that meets the same level of amazingness. 

$59.95 - 50ml

Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Camellia sinensis (Green Tea)*, Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile)*, Rosa centifolia (Rose)*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)*, Olea europea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Macadamia integrifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil*, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Morinda citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract*, Rosa eglantaria (Rose Hip) Oil*, d-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Soyabean derived Natural Vitamin E), Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter)*, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Carageenan, Bisabolol, Santalum spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil*, Citrus reticulata (Mandarin) Oil*, Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil*, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Lecithin (GMO free)*, Sodium Hyalonurate, Polyglutamic Acid (Natto Gum), Rosa damascena (Rose) Oil*, Citrus aurantium ssp bergamia (Bergamot) Oil*, Beta Carotene, Olea europea (Olive) Oil, Sodium chloride (Macrobiotic Sea Salt), Lactic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Aqua (Water), limonene**, linalool**, geraniol** & citronellol**. **From essential oils. *Ingredient from Organic Farming.
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.  VEGAN.

 The Blemish Gel is a product that you don't necessarily need, but is nice to have on hand anyway. Everynow and then I get a big cystic pimple on my chin, always in the same spot, and this helps it to go down quicker which I love, because let's face it, no one wants a giant red growth sticking out of their chin for everyone to see. The blemish gel doesn't sink into the skin, rather sits on top of it, and has a yellowish/brown colour to it which doesn't fade as it dries, so it's not practical to wear under makeup or if you are heading out. Best applied on days spent at home or before bed. Unless, of course, you don't mind having a patch of yellowish mess on your face while you're out. I purchased this product when it was still being sold in the little pump bottle, which I have to say is rather annoying as it kind of just shoots out and there's no possible way of getting just a little either, but they have recently changed the packaging to a much more practical one.

$39.50 - 10ml
 
Olea europea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Aloe barbardensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Alcohol*, Glycerin, Cocoyl Proline, Malpighia glabra (Acerola Cherry Powder)*, Maltodextrin, Morinda citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) Oil*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium chloride (Macrobiotic Sea Salt), Lactic Acid, Aqua (Water,) citral**. **From essential oils. *Ingredient from Organic Farming.
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.  VEGAN.


All up, I think if you have the money and are looking for some luxurious, and great quality, Australian skincare products then these are absolutely worth trying. My skin has been really clear and my skin tone has been more even since using these products.  I am really looking forward to trying the Clay Purifying Mask and the Enriched Body Lotion next. 

' I'm Blue ' eye makeup look

 

 As soon as I saw this eye pic on Pinterest, I knew I had to do a look for it, it is incredible. Here's what I would use:

Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeshadow in White

Alima Pure Pearluster Eyeshadow in Cimarron

Everyday Minerals Double Perfect Eyeshadow/Eyeliner brush

Modern Minerals Eyeliner in Drama

Ilia Beauty Mascara in Nightfall

Inika Eyeliner in Peacock Blue

I am currently obsessed with blue eyeliner look, not too sure if I could pull if off but i'm definitely keen to give it a try.