Behold the Beauty in Mineral Make Up

Yes, I am sure that you have seen those infomercials at 3 am or during your mid-day Soaps binge about mineral make up changing your life. From Bare minerals, to Bare essentials, to whatever else there is... I think the concept is amazing, however I am not all about the hype. I have been trying out some mineral make up from Etsy for a few months now... and I'm impressed. For the most part, I have not found the super bright and vibrant colors I love to wear, but I have found a lot of multi-purpose colors that look great in multiple combination and are appropriate for my future career. (Oh yes... I recently received my official NYS teaching certificate!) Below are some of the companies I have purchased from and my evaluation...

Mixology Makeup
samples: $1.65 and up
shadows: $6 and up
Kits and other makeup goods available
S&H : very reasonable

The colors I selected were:
(in order from L to R)

Prospector, Embark, Hooligan, Conundrum, Rock Show, Oceanic

By far these shadows are as close as I have found to match the bright and highly pigmented shadows I like to use. These apply smoothly and last a long time. They do no crease, however when used with Urban Decay's Primer Potion these (and all the other minerals that I used) do crease after about an hour of wear.
These shimmer and the more neutral colors work well as all over shadows and highlights.
Overall, I strongly recommend Mixology Makeup if you want bright and sparkly shadows. This company also promotes giving back to the world.

Rating: 5 outta 5


Pink Quartz Minerals
Samples: $2.50 and up
Shadows: $5.95 and up
Other vegan and mineral makeup items available
S&H: Reasonable

Colors: (From L to R)
Wisteria, Copper Red

The Copper Red complimented my blue eyes very well. These applied smoothly but felt a bit grainy on my lids at the end of the day. The copper red also worked really well as a pigment to add into clear lip gloss for a very nice and sexy lip color. I did not try the wisteria, but I believe it would work just as well... if you were into purple lips... This brand is bit more expensive.

Overall, I would like to try more of Pink Quartz Mineral shadows because I think they are quality.

Rating: 4 outta 5


Korisma
Samples: 35 cents and up
Shadow: $3.52
Other mineral make up products available

Colors: (L to R)

Summer Peach, Outrageous Orange, Strawberry, Terracotta, Crush, Lemon








(L to R)

Wild Watermelon , Princess Purple


(L to R)
Cerulean, Fuzzy Peach






(L to R)
Screaming Green, Golden Rod



(L to R)
Pink, Tawny, Raisin, Barely There (Blushes)



I was really impressed with these shadows. Although they are not the super bright colors I love, these colors have helped me "mature" a bit in my makeup wearing. The shadows all went on smoothly, wore well, and did not crease when worn alone or blended with other shadows (such as Urban Decay & MAC). The blushes I received also were very smooth, however I am not a blush person. They worked great as shadows... in fact Tawny was my favorite "shadow" out of this bunch. I love the sheen it has and how it catches the light.

I also received foundations, which were kinda hard to photo, but I can say that having recently experienced a Bare Minerals make over.. they are literally the same quality and almost the same colors... just way cheaper. I found that I had to mix 3 and 4 to have the right match. I recommend if you are looking for your foundation, ask for some samples... then ask to have it mixed, if you figure out what works for you.

Overall, Korisma mineral makeup has made a very positive impression on me. I think she offers great products for great prices. She recently developed a primer, and I look froward to getting a hold of that soon and testing it out. I hope that it helps prevent the mineral makeup from creasing.

Rating: 5 outta 5


I have one more group of mineral make up to review but that will be for another day!

To conclude this blog I just want to say thank you to those people who have brought the greatness of mineral makeup to me and others. I have felt a different on my skin from using mineral makeup compared to my other makeup. I can tell you that if I do not wash it off at night (Yes it's a sin... I know) the mineral makeup does not irritate my eyes. I can wear it to bed and not wake up with red eyes!

If you haven't tried mineral makeup... get out and get some from one of these fabulous Etsy stores!

And oh... VEGAN too!!!

Sun Chief Soaps Lavender Body Powder (For Baby & Mom)

Sun Chief Soaps Lavender Body Powder
via Etsy

3 oz for $3 (+ $2 S&H)

[corn starch, arrowroot powder, lavender buds, lavender essential oil]

At first I was a little puzzled by this body powder. It has been years...yes years, since I've used something like this. Flash back, I was about 7 and when I would get out of the shower at my grandma's house she would insist I put on body powder because it would make my skin soft and smell good.

This body powder is advertised as being gentle enough for a baby's butt yet fragrant enough to be worn like a traditional body powder you would find in the bathroom of a super fancy restaurant. Due to the lack of baby in my life, I cannot test the first claim. However I have uber-sensitive skin.

I used a large and CLEAN blush brush to dip into the baggy and brushed it over my left arm. It went on white but within a stroke it was sheer and against my skin. There was a subtle and light scent of fresh cut lavender. It is not overly fragrant, but it does smell pleasant and I found it to be very calming. It did make my arm smoother. You could tell by feeling my arm where I had applied the powder and where I had not. The powdered area felt soft. This powder also absorbed some of the oil in my skin. You could feel where the "dryness" of the powder began, in contrast to the colder oiled part of my skin. Does that make sense?

The powder is refreshing and after wearing it for about 2 hours, my skin was not red or irritated. So I am going to go out on a limb and say that the claim of this powder being gentle enough for the bum of a babe is accurate. However I disagree with how strong the scent it, yet I think the subtle scent is a plus. It this body powder had a stronger scent I think it would be overpowering and possibly hard to compliment with other body sprays or perfumes.

Overall, this body powder is pretty great. Not to sound terrible, but I remember my grandmother putting it in shoes and so I put it in my DC's (I wear these often and you're feet sweat and I have put damp socks on while wearing them....so they may not smell like sugar, spice, and other girly scents) and wow. My shoes smells great, not like a lavender bush or anything amazing, but it took away the scent of well... icky shoe and replaced it with a slight floral scent. Wonderful! It's good for your body and for keeping your shoes smelling nice!

And by looking at the ingredients... this body powder is looking pretty vegan...unless it is prepared in a non-vegan container.... you may have to inquire about that....

***I can't really rate this because I do not have anything to compare it to, however I would recommend this to my friends with kids or smelly shoes over the kind you by at the store***

HawkMoon Soaps Summer Slice Soap

HawkMoon Soaps
Slice of Summer

$4.25 for 4 oz
or 3 bars for $12 (+ S&H depends on location)

[saponified vegetable oils of olive, coconut, sweet almond, castor,rice bran, sunflower and soy & drenched in shea butter, natural fragrance]

This is the first of three bars I purchased from HawkMoon Soaps at the Allentown Art Festival.

The smell of this soap is so crisp and refreshing. At first I had no idea what the distinct smells were but I found out it is Cucumber and Melon. This is such a wonderful burst of summer smells for a morning shower. It is a really great wake up scent.

It lathers well with both hot and cold water. It is not super bubbly but it gets considerably foamy with luke warm water. I have found that this soap is awesome to shave with. It makes your skin super soft and not froathy so shaving is easy.

It leaves your skin feeling nice and clean. Your skin does have some tightness, yet it is soft. It is a wonderful feeling on your face in the morning, and it helps a lot with dry skin, but also wont add oil to your skin. Its scent does not fade after you rise it off. The wonderful mix of cool crisp cucumber and ripe melon make your skin radiate in summer scents.

Overall, I think this is a great soap. It lasted about 6 weeks, and I used it at least once a day and all over my body. I think that is an adequate amount of time for a full bar. The only negative is that you really need to use a slatted soap dish. It gets mushy and icky on the bottom otherwise. And apparently this soap is also Vegan (but you want to double check, but they state on their site that they are vegan friendly).

Rating: 4.5 outta 5

Ella Dean Beautiful Twists Body Mist

Ella Dean's Body Mist

$5.99 for single spray
$8.99 for spray/lip conditioner set
(+ $1.65 S&H)

From Etsy

[pure floral water from a daisy patch, spring water, vitamin E, essential oils, fragrance oils & isopropyl alcohol]

I am a huge fan of Ella Dean. What she makes and what she stands for. These body mists are a new creation from a creative mind. I was super pumped to receive them and try them out!

First, let's talk about my favorite.... Daisy's Burnt Marshmallows. I love marshmallows, especially what Ella does with marshmallow flavoring. This spray smells just as scrumptious as the lip gloss that matches! It is a light and sweet scent of a gooey marshmallow. Not one from the plastic bag, no, one that is homemade and lightly roasted. (There is a difference. If you have never had homemade marshmallow, get on it. It is incredible.) When you put it on it is just as sweet and sugary.

The second scent is Moonbeam's Summer of Love. This is an interesting scent. It is very sweet with fruity and floral tones. The best I can describe this scent as is a field of glorious flowers and pomegranate. It is delightful but it also subltey sophisticated. As much as I would want to, wearing marshmallow body spray to a job interview may not be a good idea, but this spray would work wonderfully. It is a stronger scent, when applied, that the marshmallow.

The final scent is Mia the Lifeguard's Summer Fling. I wore this to a wedding a recently went to and received TONS of compliments about how great I smelled. Everyone kept asking where I bought it and what designer it was. It was Ella Dean from Etsy! Everyone was really shocked that a Vegan, homemade by a lovely lady, and inexpensive body spray was on me, rather than some high end designer fragrance, which would be the typical me. The scent is light and sweet. It reminds me of fresh air on a beach. I wore it because it has this great envigorating quality yet also this sultry undertone. This is a great mist for going out at night and not wanting to smell like you just walked through the perfume area at Macy's getting assualted by old women with sprayers.

So, we've established how great these all smell, I now want to point out some fantastic things I have noticed about these all, just as body mists.

Putting the scents aside, I usually spray three squirts into the air in front of me, start at above my head, at abotu my neck and then chest area, and proceed to walk through the mist and the walk backwards. I find this is a great way to evenly apply this body mist (or any perfume for that matter). These sprays feel light and refreshing on your skin. You do not need to worry about feeling oily or greasey. And they do not leave stains on your clothes like some perfumes/mists do (thanks J.Lo).

After applying the Marshmallow spray one day, I went to a bonfire and was really concerned that because I sprayed sweet smelling goodness on me, I'd become large, living bait for mosquitoes and bugs. Not true. I found that these sprays (I later tried it with the other two) do not attract bugs. Which may not even cross your mind, but I think it's a good thing to think about because I know the Bath & Body Works body sprays DO infact increase insect interest.

Another great trait about these sprays is that their scents last a long time (especially if you spray a little into a brush and put it in your hair) and you can't sweat them off. A friend of mine recommended put the body mist on right after the shower over my entire body. She said the scent will abosrb into my skin better. I figured I'd try it. The scent did last longer but it did not radiate through my clothes, so the scent was much more subtle. I noticed however, I did not sweat off the scent. That's pretty awesome!

Overall, these body mists are super rad. They provide high quality perfume like scents that can go with most any occasion. They are in reasonably sized 3 oz bottles (I think that means they are airport safe!) that come with, as always in the Ella Dean style, bright and wonderfully colorful labels telling the tale of a wonderful and fun woman. If you are 5 or 55, there is an Ella Dean scent for you! (You could be way older than 55 becuase my seventy something grandmother really loves Moonbeam's Summer of Love.)

Rating: 5 outta 5

***ALSO***

Ella started a blog! And she has this super nifty competition going on, so if you are artsy fartsy or like to doodle, check it out. You can win some super cool stuff!!! Click HERE for info post via her blog.

Vixen and Venus Kiss This! Lip Conditioner

Vixen and Venus Kiss This! Lip Conditioner
$2.75 (+ $1 S&H)

in Green Apple ( other flavors available)

[Almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax (VEGAN SOY WAX ALSO OFFERED), Olive oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin e, and flavor]

I received this balm as a nice added bonus from a purchase I made, and will review at a later date. I was really excited because I did not realize this shop sold lip balm too, I thought it was soap, hair, and just skin care (scrubs and such). What a wonderful surprise!

First, this lip balm is one of the nicest greens I have ever seen. It does not come off on your lips or anything, but just to look at...it's soothing.

This lip conditioner also smells lovely. It is just a slightly tart apple scent. It is not over powering, if anything it's faint, but I have found with Green Apple, it is often an overdone scent which turns into into Sour Green Apple quickly. This lip conditioner does a wonderful job finding the right balance where it is there, the real deal, and not overpowering. When you put it on, the apple flavor stands out more. Consider it like the aftertaste of the green apple JollyRancher. Fresh and apple-y. It is very pleasing.

This balm goes on nice and smooth. At first it felt a bit greasy but I noticed that my lips did get a bit of a shine going, so I think that greasy feeling that lingers for about a minute after you put it on is just the oils trying to absorb. It is not uncomfortable or anything. As this conditioner sinks into your skin it feels very refreshing. It wears for about 2 hours, and it lip licking goodness, so you may find yourself applying it frequently because you just love the taste too much.

The only negative about this balm is that it is a low heat resistant balm. It does not hold up in your pocket, or even being out on my desk during the day. It gets very soft and if you try to apply it, the nice firm application pressure you'd normally use will send it smudging all around your lips with chunks everywhere. Unattractive and terribly uncomfortable.

Overall, this is a really great balm. A nice subtle scent with a great flavor and a cool color that wont transfer to your lips. This is a great product for a person with a sweet tooth or a small child who has chapped lips and refuses to take care of them. This label design is even male friendly. I don't think my guy friends would mind carrying this tube around, as compared to maybe the Lip Ganache Tube or Pussy Pucker Pots container. The other nice thing about this lip conditioner is that, UPON REQUEST, it can be made Vegan with soy wax. How awesome is that?!

Rating: 4 outta 5

Urbody Lip Balms... VEGAN!

Urbody Lip Balm
Vegan Natural lip balm in Gin & Tonic
Vegan lip balm in Persian Dessert

$2 per tube ($1.50 S&H)

[hemp seed oil, virgin coconut oil, candelilla wax, flavor oils/essential oils, agave syrup, vitamin e]

I wanted to try the lip balm entitled Persian Dessert. It is a blend of rose, lime and cardamom flavors. It sounded really intriguing, and I'm glad I got it. It is a strong and sweet floral scent. It tastes like roses with a twist of lime. Plus this is a Vegan lip balm!

The Gin and Tonic is the answer to my search for a fantastic lime flavored balm. The bonus is that there is no alcohol in it. This is a great lime flavor and the scent is really invigorating. The Gin and Tonic I received did not have a vegan label, however I was informed that this is indeed vegan as well!!!!

Both balms go on very well. It is a nice and smooth transfer and there is this great feeling of coverage. They feel very rich, like most of the hemp balms I've reviewed. They last a little longer than your average lip balm, about 3 to 3 and a half hours. They do not stand up against drinking or eating.

The gin and tonic seems to hold up better in the heat than the Persian dessert.

I have also found that together, these balm have a great scent and flavor. I put one on my top lip and then the other on the bottom. They are a dynamic duo!

Overall, these balms are really great. I am so glad that I was able to the Gin & Tonic, the lime is fantastic! Not to mention the price is just right!

Rating: 4 outta 5

Pink Quartz Mineral Custom Slim Stick Lip Balm

Pink Quartz Mineral Slim Stick Lip Balm
$4.50 (+ $2.25 S&H)

[castor oil, palm kernel oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, aloe extract, carnuba wax, candelilla wax, minerals, stevia, flavor]

These slim sticks (pots are available, and reviewed on a while ago) are 100% customizable, up to the flavor, sweetening, and color. Perfect for that someone that knows EXACTLY what they want but can't seem to find it.

I purchased four and here is the run down... (note, all of mine are sweetened)

Flavor: Mango Pomegranate
Color: Rose Ice

This has a super sweet and candy-like scent. The color is a nice shimmery rose. It goes on nicely but because it is highly pigmented, it feels grainy. At first this is was awkward, but then you get used to it. The color of this balm is flattering with metallics and pink make up.

Flavor: Coffee Brownie
Color: Bamboo

Yes... I went a bit over the top with this flavor... I wanted it all! The cool thing is, it smells like Spot Coffee's Cincoshake. YUMMMY!! The color is similar to the neutral lip glass in MAC's Heatherette collection. It is less grainy than the first balm, and the color is intense. I don't recommend this color on super pale skin unless you are going for that look.

Flavor: Peach Fruit Punch
Color: Golden Green

This flavor sounded like a great combination....sadly it is not. It smells like super sweet perfume and tastes like soap. Very icky. However, the color is great. It is like Spring Bean by MAC. It is grainy, like the first balm, and the flavor really is blah. It lingers and just wont go away. Bad call on my part....learn from this mistake.

Flavor: Marshmallow
Color: Chameleon

It doesn't smell like a marshmallow but when you put it on it does taste like a nice burnt marshmallow, with a nutty kick to it. I enjoy the taste. The color is a nice neutral shimmer. It is a slight bronze/brown but the shimmer in picks up greens and blues. This is a lib balm I have enjoyed wearing with my neon green and blue eye shadow. It compliments bright colors if you want to high light your eyes and not your lips. It is about the same grainy composition as the first as well.

These balms all last about 2 hours, if you don't lick your lips. Yet the hint of color will stay longer, which I find nice.

A major bonus of these balms is that they VEGAN!!! This is a great thing. Especially if you are a super picky vegan.

The slim stick is also convenient, however the price is a bit much. If you are super picky and you like what you see here, then the price may be right.

Overall: 3.8 outta 5

GudonyaToo Bath & Body Set

GudonyaToo set
Etsy Store

I asked for a custom listing. This is what I requested and the price of each through their Etsy.

Salty Dawg shampoo in Fusion Spa: $6.50
Intense Hair Conditioner in Tahitian Vanilla: $5.50
Trial Deoderant in Fusion Spa: $3.50
Shealo Body Butter in Yuzu: $6.50

(= S&H which is reasonable... $1- $1.50 then about $1 per extra item)


First, the SheaLO Butter is not available right now, due to the summer weather and it's low temp make up. However, when this stuff comes back into season, I highly recommend it. Yuzu is a great citrusy scent with a light floral background. This Body Butter just melts into your skin. At first it feels a bit greasy, but then it begins to absorb and it's heaven. I have even found that this body butter lubricates your skin so well, it doubles as a Blister Block double. Put this on your feet where shoes may rub and bother you, and you just wont get blisters because this butter acts as a lubricant and barrier. It's awesome. And it is great after a hot shower because the it melts even faster and gives your legs this nice sheen. I believe this product is Vegan as well.

The Salty Dawg Shampoo was a gamble for me, heck this all was! The concept behind it sounded simple and I liked that. I have a very dry scalp so it's a pain in the butt finding a nice shampoo that will clarify my hair and not dry out my scalp. This Salty Dawg works great. My scalp is retaining more moisture than ever, and your hair feels and smells soooooo clean. The Fusion Spa scent is glorious. It is fresh and invigorating, a great wake up in the morning. My only issue with this shampoo is that the 6 oz I get, is just not enough!! They need to make bigger containers! Added Bonus.... VEGAN PRODUCT!

The Intense Hair Conditioner was something I was interested in because my mother uses this leave in conditioner that actually causes the ends of my hair to curl up....and this is no good. So this conditioner feels like silky lotion when you squeeze it out of its container. I put it on the ends of my hair or will massage it into my entire scalp on the days where I may feel dry scalp coming back to ruin my head of hair. I have found it also works as a nice leave in conditioner. It does soften and help de-tangle hair, but you can hardly smell the Vanilla, which was a little upsetting.

The Stinky No More Deodorant smells just like the shampoo. They should...being the same scent, I know. The best aspect of this deodorant is that you don't have to worry about white stains in your clothes. HOWEVER, I recommend putting this on maybe a half hour after you shave. Because of the salt that is in this, if you have a nick anywhere under your arm, no matter how small it is.... so help you god. It burns like crazy. Aside from that is offers a great scent a long lasting protection against stench as you work throughout your day. Another VEGAN product as well!

Overall, this is a nice set from GudonyaToo. For someone who is just going into the realm of natural and vegan body care. I am unsure if the conditioner is Vegan, but I'm sure if it wasn't, you could ask and they would accommodate you. They are an awesome group of people to do business with. All together, I smell great when I use these products. They really are healthy and improve your hair and skin. My only complaint is that I wish bigger sizes were offered, because if you wash your hair every day, the shampoo does not last long, nor does the SheaLO Body Butter.

Rating: 4.5 outta 5

Frost Fish Cove Vegan Lip Duo

Frost Fish Cove Vegan Lip Balms
$4.50 for two (+ $1.48 S&H)
From Etsy

[Babassu Oil, Safflower Oil, Castor Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Candelilla Wax, Cocoa Butter, Mowrah Butter, Hemp Butter, Aloe Vera Extract, Vitamin E, Natural Vanilla Oil and Essential & Flavor Oils]

I have been debating about getting this lip balms for a while. First, the price (that sounds silly, I know but they just look bland and unappealing in the ad photo) and secondly.... fish. Fish and I do not get a long (unless it's crab and in sushi...and crab isn't really a fish anyways). I sucked it up and was like, I might as well try it. Their feed back was solid.

I selected Mango Passion and Cranberry Lime as my poisons.
The Mango Passion has a biting scent. It is sweet but it has that sharp and crisp edge like a citrus fruit. Not very mango-ish.

The Cranberry Lime smelled very berry is, but again, has a crisp and biting scent. I can't really describe it better than that. I did not like smelling these balms from the tube. Once you put them on, the scent became very splendid and mild. Yet they do not taste like anything but lip balm. I think lip balm flavor is a nutty butter taste, but that is just my interpretation.

When you apply them, they go on softly. They don't feel greasy, but slightly waxy on your lips. This feeling dissipates if you rub your lips together for a few passes. This balm does a great job quenching dry lips. My allergies have been on the fritz with this bi-polar weather, and breathing through your mouth is a one way ticket to chapped lips and this balm has been a great night time application ritual. It really has helped keep my lips soft and moisturized while I sleep. However, I did find out if you have chapped lips and there is a crack (or just a cut on your lip) it burns when you put it over that wound.

They last about the same as your average lip balm would. About two to three hours. They don't last past drinking or eating.

One big plus of this balm is the fact that it's vegan. One major negative is that this balm is so low heat, I can't even put it in my pocket. This is an exclusive purse only lip balm, which is often uncool. Who wants to search for their lip balm? (If you are a true lip balmer, you have a special compartment but backups in every little zipper space....don't act like I'm exaggerating)

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

The Plaid Mushroom Lip Balm

The Plaid Mushroom Lip Balm
Pink Frosting and Tingly lip balm

$3.00 (+ $2 S&H)

Pink Frosting: [Coconut oil, almond oil, candelilla wax, avocado oil, vitamin e, stevia, flavor oil]

Tingly: [Emu oil, beeswax, coconut oil, almond oil, vitamin e, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil]

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PINK FROSTING IS VEGAN!!!!!! THE TINGLY IS NOT!

I've been looking at the Plaid Mushroom on Etsy for a bit. One, I love plaid. Who doesn't? Yet the mushroom... should I equate that with some trippy dippy hippie? I try not to be stereotypical and noticed the lack of patchouli and felt reassured.

I am so glad I did.

I ordered the Tingly lip balm and because of a promotion got the Pink Frosting. (The Pink Frosting was a gamble, it sounded different.)

The tingly balm has emu oil in it. I've been looking for a balm that uses emu oil because it has the most amazing moisturizing elements. It's amazing old women have realized this and aren't taking the emu to the level of extinction. NOT that I think or suggest you do that. Please don't. Emus are people too. Anyways.... this balm is pepperminty but not overly done. It is just the right scent and flavor and it makes your lips feel luscious with its tingle.

The Pink Frosting was the most pleasant surprise. It is like a vanilla cupcake with that pink frosting on top. It's not strawberry, it's not butter cream, but damn is it good. That is the exact smell and flavor of this lip balm. AND it is vegan. This must be heaven.

I have found that the tingly balm lasts longer than the pink frosting, and not just because of the lip licking difference. I did not find myself licking my lips at all with either balm. I think you grow out of that. The tingly just seemed to hold on better to the skin of my lips, but that could be the emu oil since it is know for its deep penetration. The pink frosting held strong for a good 2 hours. That is valiant showing for such an amazingly yummy vegan balm.

The glides are smooth and silky. Both are hard, but not waxy and not greasy. They apply easily and can tolerate this summer heat (B-lo @ 75... What?!)

Overall this lip balm rocks. It really does. I bet the other flavors are just as great. The sweetness is just right and they do wonders for your chapped lips...and if your lips aren't chapped...they make them soft anyways!!!

Rating: 5 outta 5

[You're so rad, if you were a fabric you'd be plaid! Cuz everyone knows plaid is so rad!...thanks Bouncing Souls!}

Daisy Cakes Soap Lychee Lip Balm

Daisy Cakes Soap Lip Balm in Lychee Fruit
Available through Etsy
$2.75 (+ $1.95 S&H)

[cocoa butter, candelilla wax, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin e, flavor oil]

As you know I have a fondness for all things Asian. Lychee fruit is something one can find in Florida as well as on the West Coast, but not often where I live. I love the smell of Midohana's Lychee soap so I really wanted to invest in some solid Lychee lip love.

This balm comes in a very plain and simple tube. Not too bad, but it is rather lack luster.

When you first take off the cap you get this super sweet scent of lychee. Lychee is sweet, but this is overpowering. I hoped that when applied the scent dispersed. The scent mingled with the cocoa butter creating this extremely unpleasant smell and even more, a terrible taste occurred.

The glide of this balm is very nice. It is solid at room temperature (up to about 68) but anything else it seems to get soft. I left it out on my desk, next to a window. The light coming in from my window and I guess the combination of the heat as I went to put this balm on prior to my review, it smooshed all over my lips. Uncool and super soft.

However, in normal lip balm conditions, this holds up well. The glide is lovely. Solid, but not wax-hard. It does not create an uncomfortable coating on your lips, rather leaves a nice smooth glistening sheen, that really feels like it is moisturizing.

It lasts about two to three hours. It does not stay on while eating or drinking, yet after eating a few pretzel rods, my lips still felt supplely soft.

Overall, this is not a great high heat balm, meaning it is not meant for the summer. Secondly, this is a dismal flavor. DISMAL. The scent is far to sweet to be accurate to the real deal and then the cocoa mixes poorly with the flavor. When will people understand it is easier to mix mango or shea butter with fruit flavors than it is to do so with cocoa butter?? The sad thing is that this could be a great vegan lip balm.... but only so in the winter, early spring or late fall. Add some carnuba!!!!

Rating: 1 outta 5

(Should have gotten a different flavor during a different season)

{Stock photo of lip balm}

Tattoo Balms: Ink Schmear & Hemp Tat Balm

This entry was originally going to be comparison blog, Ink Schmear Vs. Hemp Balm. However, through the use of both I have found they are two different products that cannot be held against one another, rather they should be used together for AMAZING results.

Ink Schmear by Disquieting Designs
$5.25 (+ $4.60 S&H)
[shea butter, coconut oil, soybean oil, jojoba oil, lavender and rosemary essential oils, beeswax]

This balm can be used on a new tattoo to help healing or on an old one to improve/help the color stay and to keep it moisturized. Although I am not a tattoo artist, I would not recommend you use this with a new tattoo, use only the recommended bactin or other antibacterial cream. However, in regards to an older and healed tattoo, this is a great product. It has a nice smell, rosemary, and is very soft. I have found that if I leave it in my room next to my other lotions, an oil seeps out of it. Not good. I have begun to put it in the fridge. It stays nice and cool, yet remains soft so application is easy. I use my fingers to apply it. It absorbs quickly and adds a nice sheen to my tattoo. Over time (the past month) I have noticed a change in my tattoo. I do not know if I would out right say that is it getting brighter, but I feel it is looking better in the sense the skin looks supple with moisture. I also noticed that I was beginning to get ridges where there was outlining and since I've used this Ink Schmear these ridges have disappeared. The only negatives here are as follows: first, the price. The $5.25 is not terrible, but you do not really get a whole lot and the shipping makes this balm almost $10. It is an awesome tat balm IF you have the money to spend. Second, it is gritty. I do not know if this is intended but it is a little annoying. The grit seems to rub into your tattoo but it does feel awkward.

Overall, this balm is pretty rad if you're willing to pay the price for it.

Merry Hempsters Hemp Tattoo Balm
$3.99 (online or from your local Merry Hempsters retailer)

[7.5% Octyl Methoxycinnamate, 3.5% Benzophenone-3 Other Ingredients: Certified Organic Canadian Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax, (Certified Organic Lavender, Certified Organic Calendula, and Myrrh Infused in Certified Organic Sunflower, Certified Organic Olive, or Certified Organic Canola Oil, (Essential Oils: of Certified Organic Orange, Lavender, and Carrot Seed), Vitamin E, Rosemary Extract.]

Please note this balm is SPF 18. Often times people forget that they should be super protective of their tattoos in the sun. The UV rays can age your tattoo faster and dry out the color. Not good. This balm helps protect that and bonus.... it moisturizes!! This balm comes in an easy roll up tube and smells like good ol' sunblock. It does feel a bit waxy when you put it on and it does last a lot longer than the Ink Schmear on the surface. It seals in the moisture and your tattoo/skin area does actually feel refreshed. The fact that is stays on your skin for a while can be annoying. Sometimes I find my shirt sticking to it or worse, at the beach my tattoo (on my upper back) ends up covered with sand I have to wash off.

Overall, this balm is great for outdoor use, especially if you are not covering your tattoo with clothing, and it's vegan!

Now, together, these balms make the ultimate tattoo care package. I have found that I can use the Ink Schmear when I wear t-shirt and things that cover my back with no worried of them sticking to it or it leaving oil marks on my clothing. When I know I will be going outside in a tank top or something, I use the Hemp balm, and better yet, I use the Ink Schmear first, let it soak in and then apply the SPF balm. Great!!! And you can even apply the SPF first and then put on the Ink Schmear and it helps take away from that long lasting waxy/stickiness.

Together, these tattoo care items are essential for anyone who loves their tats enough to wanna make um last a lifetime and still look bitchin'.

Ratings:
Ink Schmear: 4 outta 5
Merry Hempsters SPF 18: 4.5 outta 5 (vegan!)

As a combination: 5 outta 5

Pooka. Machine Pooka Gloss

Pooka. Machine
Pooka Gloss in High Gloss Vanilla & Sweet Orange
$1.50 (+ $2.00)

[Vanilla: candelilla wax, mango butter, avocado oil, vit. e, vanilla infused oil]

[Orange: Candelilla wax, sweet almond oil, shea butter, organic sweet orange oil & coloring]

Due to a bad cool down time with the vanilla, I've been putting this review off, and this it makes me really sad. The wonder woman behind Pooka. Machine is an artist and lip balm enthusiast. She recently obtained a full time job which means she currently is unable to make lip balm anymore (or until further notice). Before this review begins, and this spoiler is valid, go to her Etsy and buy whatever balm she has left. You will not be disappointed.

But on with this review....

First, please note, these are hot pink mini tubes. Small but powerful. I've found that these little containers fit anywhere!!! My super small Gucci purse, your super tight girly pants, and I would go as far as saying if you're at the Black Out Party in Downtown B-lo, these would stay nice and secure in your bra.

These little balms smell divine!!! The sweet orange smells like a great orange tea with sugar. The vanilla is also intoxicating. It almost smells like a vanilla cupcake. Super yummy!!! And the weird thing about these balms is that I didn't lick my lips at all. I mean, for the initial taste, yes they are wonderful, but this balm lasted forever. Much longer than I anticipated because I thought I'd be lip-licking and I wasn't. I'm not to sure why or how, but Pooka has this balm down to a science I think. It has almost every amazing aspect of a great balm you could imagine.

The only negative that I found was that the vanilla, if left in your pocket and while you are outside, gets kinda melty. Not soft, but super wet.

Please note the vanilla is also a high gloss. A very high gloss. I would compare it to the gloss extreme of M.A.C.'s lip glass, the clear one.

Overall, this balm is rocking! And you all need to go buy it while it is still available. Portable, cute, practical, and super yummy for your lips!

Did I mention.... THESE ARE VEGAN!!!?? Major kudos, because I have not found a great vegan balm as of late.

Rating: 5 outta 5

Savvii Whipped Body Creme

Savvi Whipped Body Creme Samples
(Formally known as Blackberry Bath Works on Etsy)

$5 for three .75 oz jars of your scents of choice (+ $2 S&H)

(I think I paid $5 for the five .4 oz jars)

Some great scents to choose from too!

[Deionized water, Cetearyl Alcohol & Cetearth-10, Glyceryl Monostearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Aloe Vera, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Fragrance]


These little jars have gone a long way. For samples they are a great value and great way for a buyer to smell and try new scents. The following are what I chose and tried.

Lettuce: When you first smell it in the jar it does not smell all that crisp and refreshing but when you apply it, there is this wonderful fresh and lightly floral scent. It is succulent and clean. Very impressive. I found this a great and relaxing balm to put on when I got out of the shower and was going to bed.

Mango Sorbet: Of course I would pick the mango scent. It is very very sweet and mango-y. I loved it, but it was not an every day lotion because of how strong the scent was. When I was going out to the art gallery I found that this lotion complimented my Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B perfume very well. It is mouth watering though. YUM!

White Tea & Ginger: I thought this would be an interesting Asian inspired scent. It has the bite of the ginger when you smell it in the jar but when you put it on, it mellows out nicely to high light the scent of the tea. It is a very earthy scent. Something that could be used for everyday wear without using perfume.

Bamboo: Here I go again with the Asian love. It is a crisp scent, light but sweet. It seems to have some wood undertones and when you apply it, there is a warm and sweet scent. I wore this a lot. It was the first I finished because the scent just went so great with my everyday life.

The final scent I got was Cherry Blossom (yes more Asian inspired smells). I passed this one on to JB for her comments and concern. She has quite the tale to tell about this whipped body creme.


The Cherry Blossom is a great lotion and a great...lip balm, if you'll humor me. I discovered this when I was given the product to test. The conversation went something like this:

Miss Beauty Fiend: Here, I got this to review for the blog...
Me: Mmmm, lip stuff! Hey, it looks like lotion! (applies to lips)
MBF: Umm...it's not for your lips, but ok.

You do have to admit that these little pots look like there could be lip balm in them. My over-eagerness led to the discovery that applying this lotion to your lips makes them ridiculously soft and smooth. And it works right away, unlike most lip balms, which you have to rub in and allow time to soak into your lips. I wouldn't put it on right before eating or lick it too much though, because it tastes like...well, you know. Lotion.

The scent is also fan.tas.tic. Very sweet and fresh and clean-smelling, like it has a yummy cherry ice cream sort of smell (does ice cream have a scent?), but it's floral at the same time. I found myself opening the jar just to smell it.

As a lotion, I found that the scent lasts about three hours. It's strong enough that it could definitely be used as a perfume on it's own. It's a sweet smell, but also sophisticated enough that you could wear it to a wedding or something. It works great on softening your skin. I have really dry hands in the morning, so I put it on then, and it was wonderful.


These whipped body cremes, or in other words, lighter lotions, are great. They are non-greasy and absorb quickly. Their lotions are sophisticated and can be worn alone with the scent acting as a perfume. Looking at the new packaging, you get more which is awesome and the labels are brighter than the ones in the picture above. The only negative thing is the fact that there are parabens in these. Some people may not be all that excited about that, but these are VEGAN!! So there are some bonus points. Its a personal choice, but I think these whipped body cremes and a must try. The scents alone are just phenomenal.

I did not experience any redness or sensitivity to these cremes. I have uber-sensitive skin and often times fragrances are a source of irritation for me. However, these lotions left my skin feeling soft, quenched and fresh. No irritation at all.

Overall, these whipped lotions are a great buy. Inexpensive and they go a long way, and I'm sure they'd last longer now being in the container almost twice the size of when I ordered mine.

Rating: 4.5 outta 5

Fresh Lime Lip Balm

Fresh Lime Lip Balm
by Rachel323
$2 (+ $1 S&H) from Rachel323's Etsy

[soy wax, cocoa butter, avocado oil, vit e, lime essential oil]

***Yes this photo shows Key Lime, there was a labeling error, I received the Fresh Lime flavor***

After the first dance with a lime lip balm, I was cautious but still yearning for the refreshing lime that I sought.

This lip balm is pretty simple. The composition and the labeling. It's not overly appealing but let's roll with it.

This balm smells super lime-y to a point where it's intense. When you put it on, that intense smell does not transfer. Thank goodness. It doesn't taste like anything. It is mildly sweet, but there is no lime flavor. And yes, I realize that is silly, because an essential oil was used, and because of it, there shouldn't be a flavor, but lime EO does taste lime-like.

Moving on... the glide of this balm is nice. It is not greasy but it is slick. I think this is due to the soy wax. For some reason soy wax seems to be slicker than most other waxes when oil is added. This balm does a great job creating a nice, cool, and smooth coat on your lips. You can really feel the benefit from the cocoa butter. It is really luscious .

It wears pretty well. It does not hold up while eating and drinking, but you can still feel it on your lips about 2 hours after you put it on.

The neato part of this balm is the vegan factor. It's been a while since I've looked at a nice vegan balm. This, for being a vegan balm, is nice and shows a great quality for the low price.

Overall, this balm is a good deal for the price. It doesn't stand out, but it isn't terrible. I have found that it is a really nice base balm for lipstick and glosses.

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

Ana Aya & Co. Vegan Lip Balm

Ana Aya & Co. Vegan Lip Balm in Manic Mango
$3.50 (Free shipping)

[Cocoa butter, candelilla wax, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E; stevia flavor oils]

Ana Aya & Co. is a nifty little company (found em on Etsy) that specializes in natural mineral makeup.

This lip balm seemed dreamy and I was pumped about it. It's Vegan!

Well... it smells divinely mango-licious.

When you put it on... not so divine. Cocoa butter is one of the toughest lip balm ingredients to use because you have to be so exact with melting and cooling. The times and temps and critical. This balm has some parts that are smooth but has some serious crystallization of the cocoa butter. When I first went to put it on I actually cut my lip. Uncool. I pushed the balm up and cut off the top to try and get down to where the balm might be less harsh. To little avail, I have managed to put it on a few times without bleeding or hurting my lips.

When I have been able to put it on, it is greasy. And when I went outside it melted off my lips. That is not good.

It tastes a lot like Cocoa butter too. The mango is there and it is not as disgusting as that Lucias Lip Love, yet it is not super.

When I got this lip balm I also got some rad make up samples. While this lip balm is not great, the mineral eye shadow I received was AMAZING! I have never worn an eyeshadow (mineral or not) that lasts as long (without a base) as Ana Aya & Co.'s eyeshadow! Don't get this lip balm, but you NEED to get the eyeshadow. I recommend Swanky.

Overall, this balm is not amazing. It's not even great. It may have been a bad batch, but you can visually see the crystallization as soon as you take the cap off.

Rating: 0 outta 5

epli Asian inspired lipbalm

epli lip balm
Chopstick lip balm in Sudachi and Kabosu
$3 per balm or $5 for "Pair of Chopsticks" (+ $2.50 S&H)

[soy wax, cocoa butter, beeswax, palm stearic, fractionated coconut oil, candelilla wax, rice bran oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, evening primrose oil, citrus]

and
Pout Premium Lip Balm in Yuzu
$5 (+$2.50 S&H)

[soy wax, rice bran oil, camellia oil, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, cocoa butter, illippe butter, mowrah butter, sal butter, menthol, yuzu citrus oil]


I am in love with Asian inspired everything. I stumbled across these on Etsy. I had no idea what a Sudachi or a kadosu was. Well, I found out (thanks wikipedia!!!) that they are these delightful citrus fruits from Japan. The Pout is a bit pricey but these balms rock!!

The glide of these balms is heavenly. It is smooth, yet firm, and you can feel the great mix of butters and oils settling nicely onto your lips and absorbing. I cannot express how fantastic this balm feels on. It has a nice cooling sensation and such a sweet, light, citrusy aroma it's intoxicating.

These Chopsticks have wonderful tastes/scents. True citrus bliss. The Kabosu is a flatter combination of grapefruit and lime. It is not overly acidic. The Sudachi is a more broad blend of flavors. It reminds me of lime, grapefruit, clementines, and a hint of lychee. This has a more acid scent to it, clearly denoting its citrus roots.

The Pout in Yuzu is a great representation of the yuzu fruit. A nice grapefruit like flavor. The menthol crystals in it gives your lips a nice tingle. It is very refreshing.

These balms also wear for a long time. A few hours, and depending on what you're eating, it lasts through your meals and drinking.

The only negative thing I have to say about this balm pertains to the Pout primarily. It softens rather fast. I have been using these as my primary balms because I love them so much, and I cannot keep the Yuzu in my pocket. It gets very mushy within an hour from your body heat.

Overall, this balm is worth every penny. I plan on purchasing more of this and keeping it stocked. It is a great "adult" balm with an exotic flavor that is surprisingly pleasing for people who are not big fans of change or risks. Oh and I almost forgot. These are VEGAN!!!!

Rating: 5 outta 5

Pretty Monsters Vampire Kisses & Vampyra Kisses

Pretty Monsters Vampire Kisses (round tin)
$4.50 - $8 (+ $2 S&H)
[organic shea butter, mango butter, sweet almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, EO ruby red grapefruit and sweet orange, vitamin 4]

Pretty Monsters Vampyra Kisses (rectangle tin)
$3.50 (+ $1 S&H)
[Organic coconut oil (unrefined), candellia wax,mango butter, avocado oil,boysenberry flavor oil, and vitamin E]
(There are three flavors to this Vampyra Kisses balm. 2 are vegan, the peppermint is not vegan)

By the fantastic and creative naming of these products, I had to have them. I feel that being an excessive Buffy fan compelled me to purchase these vampyric lip products.

These are organic products from Pretty Monsters. The maker of these balms buys from a certified organic dealer in Oregon. And as I mentioned, some of these products are vegan!

Let's start with the Vampire Kisses balm. Now this can be used as a lip balm or as an all over balm. I have found that it does work nicely as a balm, but it is also a fantastic cuticle balm.
The scent is light and sweet. The scent absorbs quickly into your skin, but on your lips it does linger, which is lovely. It tastes sweet like a ripe orange with a hint of the tartness from the grapefruit. I want to call this balm blood orange, because that is really what I smell. Plus it sounds neato. The balm is a nice consistency. It is thicker so it does make for a nice everywhere balm. I've found that it doesn't run or get greasy because it absorbs so quickly.
Another super cool feature for this balm is it's container. It is not in one of the pop off lid tins, instead you have to unscrew the tin. This rocks beyond belief because I don't have to worry about cutting myself or have the lid fly three feet away from me.

The Vampyra Kisses lip balm, came in three flavors. Boysenberry, Guava, and Peppermint. The first two were vegan which my my choosing easier and of course I went for the Boysenberry. (And I'm sure the guava would have been just as amazing, but since I was already getting the citrusy vampire kisses balm, I wanted something different.) This balm is a bit softer than the Vampire Kisses. Yet the boysenberry scent and taste is deeeelish! It even leaves a little gloss on your lips.

As a bonus in my order, I received a Zombie Kisses lip balm stick in Peppermint. This isn't vegan. Sorry....but it is organic! [Organic castor oil, beeswax, organic shea butter, sweet almond oil, EO peppermint, vitamin e] This sells for $2.50 (+$1.25 S&H) from Pretty Monsters Etsy.
This balm makes your lips tingle and even makes your breathe seem fresher!
How can you go wrong!? It's glide is the same as Vampyra Kisses, a little softer than the other balm, but again, it is not greasy or runny. It is a great blending of wax, oils, and butter.

All of these balms wear for a great while. I have found that the Zombie kisses lasts about an hour longer than the Vampyra Kisses and the Vampire Kisses. I think it may be because it is not fruity...and fruity flavors are lip lickingly good!

Overall, these are great lip balms. They display such novelty that anyone who is a fan of classic horror films or Gothic novels needs to get these! I mean, Zombie kisses?! What Shawn of the Dead fan wouldn't eat brains for these!? (Ugh... bad pun) Even as a Buffy fan, I am drawn to the vampire-lore of these balms. And let's not forget the greatest is not just label deep. These are high quality and ORGANIC products for a very reasonably price.

Rating: 4.5 outta 5
(5 outta 5 if you are a zombie. clearly)

Pink Quartz Mineral Sparkle Shimmer Lip Balm

Pink Quartz Mineral Sparkle Shimmer Lip Balm
(100% Customizable)
From Pink Quartz Mineral Etsy
$3.50 (+ S&H) for 5 gram sample pot
(Bigger sizes are available)

[castor oil, palm kernel oil, avocado oil, cocnut oil, aloe extract, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, minerals, stevia, flavor]

First, these balms are 100% customizable, which is something I love. This make up shop offers dozens of natural, mineral colorings to add to your balm as well as at least a hundred available flavors ranging from alcoholic beverages, fruit, coffee, and food. You can even combine the flavors, have your balm sweetened or left natural. Amazing options from Pink Quartz Minerals!!

I opted for a strange, but pleasantly surprising, combo.... Mango Loganberry. (I call this MangLo) I also got a iridescent coloring added it for more shimmer. It smells DIVINE!!! Just like candy. I can adequately equate it to the scent and taste of one of those unicorn horn candy suckers you'd get at a fair. SUPER YUMMY!!!

The pot is really small, but it is a sample and it is also deep. I'd advise you to use a brush because if you have big fingers it's a bit tricky. As you can tell, my pot was even made especially for me. My name is on the label! Yeah! It easily glides on and your lips feel silky smooth. Right after you put it on there is a bit of stickiness, but I do put a lot on...I just can't help it...the flavor is intoxicating. It absorbs nicely into your lips and you really can tell after just one use that it is effective in moisturizing.

The shimmer is just the perfect amount. This is a true balm, not a gloss, even though there is castor oil. I love how the mineral shimmer reflects the eye make up I am wearing too. This balm would be even better is it were in a tube. It would be any Vegan's first choice compared to a lipstick. I would highly recommend if you are a Veg looking for a nice lip color that isn't chalky and wears for a great while to check out the vast options you have through Pink Quartz.

In the picture above the balm is much yellower than it actually is. The hue of the color changes depending on what surface it is near. I chose my desk because it was the closes thing that showed the real color of the balm.

Oh, and you also get a nice little velvet pouch to carry your balm in. Not that you may use it, but it is a very nice presentational touch, just like the personalized label.

Overall, this balm is the bomb. I am so glad I can across this company. First, their options are endless which gives you almost a creative control of what you are putting on your lips. Second, their colors are fantastic because vegan lip stick is hard to come by. Third, it is just delicious and nutritious for your lips!!

Rating: 4.9 outta 5
(It really needs to be in a tube!)

The Balm Shoppe Vegan Healing Balm

The Balm Shoppe Vegan Healing Balm in Peach
$2.75 (+ S&H)
From The Balm Shoppe

[Candelilla wax, Carnauba Wax, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera, Evening Primrose and Vitamin E]

This was one of my first Etsy purchases. It is a vegan lip balm with evening primrose and tea tree oil which is rumored to be very good for your lips.

When I first got this lip balm is was all gritty. Turns out cocoa butter and mango butter can crystallize if they get heated up and cool too quickly. The owner of the shoppe quickly sent me a new balm that was properly solidified.

This balm smells so perfectly peachy. It is also sweetened so it tastes like just a juicy peach! I love it!

It glides on but it does feel a tad greasy. It absorbs quickly but I've found that as I've gone farther down in the tube, it is gritty. It is by no means as gritty as the first balm....imagine bleached sand mixed with peach jelly.... but it has some little flecks of something. At first this freaked me out but I realized as I rubbed my lips together this balm was more like a sugar scrub for lips....in a balm. I kinda like it. It make be a weird texture for some, but I like to look at the bright side.

This balm does not last that long. It is very lick-able, but in its defense, it does absorb. It makes your lips feel nice, after you wipe off the girt.

Overall, this balm can go either way. The texture can make or break it, but the quality ingredients do have benefits. When it gets warmed up it gets a little greasier, and gets very hard when cold. The scent and flavor is amazing, but it is not the most amazing lip balm.

Rating: 2.5 outta 5