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!!!

Soapalaya Soaps tea house inspired lip balm

Soapalaya Soaps
Green Tea and Chai Tea Lip Balm
Via Etsy

Green Tea: $3.50 (+ $1.75 S&H)
[Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Elaeis guinneensis (Palm Oil), Glycine soja (Soybean Oil)& Gossypium (Cottonseed Oil,)Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Matcha Green Tea), castor oil, beeswax, candellia wax, and, viamin E]

Chai Tea: $3 (+ $1.75 S&H)
[beeswax, candelilla wax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, palm kernel oil, avocado oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, and, vitamin e.....plus, 5 other oils and butters known for their healing and moisturizing benefits]

First, the Chai Tea comes in a little tea bag, which is all to adorable and a great marketing/packaging idea.

I was really excited about these balms because both are loaded with greatness and I do love tea greatly. The Green Tea has actual Matcha tea leaves in it. I love Match green tea. Both of these balms glide right onto your lips. It is so smooth and lush. The Green Tea has this excellent flat but invigorating scent of tea leaves.

The Chai is a bit tangier, reflecting the spice of the drink, but it does actually make your lips tingle a little. Both look like they would feel greasy at first but they do not. They penetrate quickly into your lips and it feels so healthy.

I do not think these would hold up well in your pocket during the day. They seem to have a low heat resistance but do last about 3.5/4 hours, which is impressive. They hold up pretty well to drinking and eating, however I did notice they went quicker if your drink was hot, like tea. (Ironic or just unfortunate?)

Overall, if you love tea or chai or are just looking for an excellent lip balm, I am going to rave about these two options. I just wish these were vegan and I could keep them in my jean pocket and not worry about melting.

Rating: 5 outta 5

Kisse Girl Lip Glosses

Kisse Girl
Lip Gloss
&
Lip Icing

Via Etsy







Lip Gloss: $4 (+ $1.50 S&H)
[beeswax, castor oil, color, vit. e, flavor, cosmetic glitter]

Lip Icing: $5 (+ $.75 S&H)
[glycerin, castor oil, vit. e, flavor]

There is a special promotion running for the month of June. If you buy one LIP GLOSS you get one LIP BALM FREE!!!!

I'm a big fan of Kisse Girl. The sweet flavors and the positive message the company has to improve the concept of beauty for the younger generation of little girls become young ladies. I love the lip balm so I wanted to try other products.

The Lip Gloss is very nice. My flavor was Cotton Candy, and it does not disappoint. Just like the fluffy stuff at the fair, this is a not a super strong flavor, but just the right amount. It has a brush applicator, so you squeeze the tube and brush the gloss on. A little goes a long way and I learned that the first time I used it and had to share the remaining gloss with my mom because there was too much on the brush. My only complaint is that that sparkles in it are somewhat big. Being a big girl, I'm used to super small shimmery dust in my gloss, but this one is a bit chunky (think of Rimmel London's Vinyl Gloss) and you can feel the sparkles. It isn't super bothersome, but if you are a person who constantly is rubbing their lips together...it may be an issue.

Overall, especially with the June promo... I highly recommend this balm to a young lady or an adult. It doesn't melt and wont leak out into your bag like some other glosses (Thanks MAC!) .

Rating: 4 outta 5

The Lip Icing was something I was really looking forward to. I got the Tango Mango flavor and was ready to experience one of my favorite past times as a little girl... roll on lip gloss. Who doesn't love it? I loved it so much I once did a soft sculpture of Hard Candy's Lava Roll on Lip Gloss. I was very pleased with the consistency of this gloss as well as the high shine and the fact my lips did not feel greasy. I think that with roll on gloss and all the oils, sometimes it is over done and it's melting off your face in the warm weather. I wore this out today in some fairly warm weather and it didn't budge. The flavor is okay, I can honestly say I prefer it more as a balm, than this icing. One issue that I found was when I used it in the winter. For some reason the ball contraptions on these glosses works poorly in the winter time here. I'm sure it has to do with the lack of heat, but I had a hard time using it in the winter...but now, no problems.

Overall, I think this is another great product for little girls. I would not recommend the Tango Mango however... possibly the Sugar Rush because that is a flavor that should translate well into any lip product.

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

Quick Product Wrap Up

This is just a quick run through of some products I've used since my hiatus. There are pros, cons, costs, and just the stuff you really want to know.

Marshmallow Fluff Whipped Soap
via Etsy, Doctor Sweet Tooth

$ 5 (+ $3.89 S&H)
[Soap Ingredients: Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palmate, Castor Seed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Glycerin, Water, Shea butter, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Oleate, Glycine Soybean Protein, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance.]

Pros: When wet and using it, it smells great! Like Marshmallows!
-It's supper soft and ways like 2 oz but it's really 4.5 ozs...cool texture
-Could work great for kids

Cons: Smells bad when not in use and makes the shower smell funky too
-Doesn't really smell great on your skin when you leave the shower
- Just an OK clean feeling after use
- Don't use on your face... it stings crazy bad in the eyes and just is not meant for your face

Overall: Only for a little kid
Rating: 1 outta 5


Body Couture Junkie
Oh La Licious Body Whip
in Green Tea
(Check Etsy for prices and stock)

[distilled water, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbate, shea butter, mango butter, olive oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil and preservative]

Pros: I loved this body whip. I wish I would have purchased a bigger container. I went through it so fast. Another great use for it, aside from body butter, using it on your feet when wearing high heels that are tight or give you blisters. It moisturizes and lubricates your feet so you don't get blisters or discomfort.

Cons: Needs to come in a bigger size

Rating: 5 outta 5


Body Couture Junkie
Kiss Me Aloe-va Lotion
in Sugar Cookie
(Check Etsy for prices and stock)

[Water, isopropyl Myristate, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth 20, caprylic/capric glycerides, dimethicone, stearyl alcohol, sybean oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, hydrolyzed silk, aloe barbadensis, disodium EDTA, diazolidinyl urea, benzophenone 4, iodopropynyl buthcarbamate, fragrance and preservative.]

Pros: Smells amazing! Like real cookies!
-Does nourish skin

Cons: Very slippery and slimy
- felt like an attempt to copy Skin-Trip but failed.
- Poor shelf life... two months in and it started to get lumpy

Rating: .5 outta 5


Birch Soaps
Berry Scrub Soap
(Check Etsy for prices and availability)

Pros: Smells great
-Looks great
- Nice cleaning power
- Great exfoliater

Cons: The seeds can be a pain
- Not to be used on the face

Rating: 4 outta 5







Hawkmoon Soaps
Spring Lilac
$ 4.35

Pros: smells amazing
- Got a soap already going? Use this in a drawer to make your clothes smell great
-Leaves your skin so clean and fresh
-Can use everywhere

Cons: - Sticks to soap dishes like WHOOAAA

Rating: 4.5 outta 5


I hope that wasn't too much for you all!!!!

Other Exciting New Body Products!

Terra Secrets Tingly Feet Foot Scrub
2 oz. $2
12 oz. $9

via Etsy
(Shipping depends on your order)

[ Dried rosemary, dried peppermint, rosemary EO, peppermint EO, sea salt, natures sunshine concentrate, olive oil, vegetable glycerin, vitamin e oil]

I'm used to much coarse and rougher foot scrubs, this one at first made me question its scrubbing power. I won't lie. I was a doubter and after my first use I felt like I did not prematurely jump to that conclusion. However, I began to use it twice a week, and within 3 weeks I noticed a huge difference in my feet. They were softer and were not chalky looking. You know what I'm talking about...when you wear flip flops a lot at the end of the day there is that chalky look to your feet, which is just dead skin and dry spots caused by the strap of your sandal rubbing your skin. I feet felt great and when I went to get a pedicure, the woman did very little scrubbing because my feet were already so soft.

Overall, I was impressed with the foot scrub with consistent use. It got under my nails (literally) easily, but that's not a big issue, because it a product that delivered.

Rating: 4 outta 5




Terra Secrets Tea Tree Foot Soak
2 oz. $2
8 oz. $7
16 oz. $10
(S&H varies)

[Tea tree oil, lemon oil, sea salt, epsom salt, baking soda cornstarch]

In conjunction with the foot scrub, this foot soak is decent. I am not a big fan of soaking, but I did to try this out. It smells a bit intense, but if you enjoy tea tree oil, then it will work well for you. I'm glad I did the scrub after the soak. I don't know if that was the correct order, but it's what I did.
My feet did feel revived... in some weird way they felt warm and healthy. The instructions were on a card so this soak was easy to use.

After a hard day of work, I could see this foot soak being helpful and a nice little mini spa at home. I do not have much use for it, but if you are a soak person, I think this offers a lot and is a solid value. You get a lot for a nice price and a little can go a long way.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Soapalaya Soaps Facial Cleanser

$5.75 (+ $2.25 S&H)

[Micro-fine oatmeal will soothe irritated skin and soften.
Jojoba beads are amazing little micro spheres that ever-so-gently help to exfoliate dead skin cells without irritating sensitive facial tissue. Wonderful for encouraging circulation! White kaolin clay is a perfect detoxifier and will effectively draw out impurities from the skin without over-drying. Handmade olive oil soap, along with the clay, provides creamy, light suds action and allows you to gently use your hands to massage your face as the jojoba beads exfoliate, the clay removes impurities and the oatmeal soothes.]

I purchased the formula to oily and blemish proned skin. I was impressed with how it made my skin feel. But let's start with beginning process.... mixing it. It is very sloppy and icky at first when you mix the powder with water to create a cream/paste. When you apply it, there is a cool (I found that warm water makes it thicker and harder to put on) sensation on your face like if you were to spread papermache on it. You have to let it dry and if you let it dry too much it starts to flake off, which can be bad if you're wearing a thick knit sweater, but hopefully you're not. I washed it off with warm water and there is this very clean feeling. A deep down clean.

I did not notice any dramatic changes in my skin, but I did find the clean feeling rewarding. There was some tightness that went along with the clean feeling, so it did brighten up my face.

Overall I think this would make an excellent morning cleanser; get your face ready for the day.
It's actually cheaper, if not the same price as most drug store and some department store brand cleansers, and it's not full of crappy chemicals.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Back and talking Body Scrubs.

First and foremost, thanks to everyone who expressed concern for the past several months I have been MIA. It's the summer and I am going to be back to the swing of things and have a lot of catching up to do, so expect a few reviews per post!

And let's begin!!!

GudonyaToo SMOOchy Bar
@ Etsy
$4.75 (+ $1.25 S&H)

[ coco butter, beeswax, fragrance, oatmeal, salt, preservatice, emulsifiers]


This winter was not unlike any other Buffalo winter, but my skin was super dry so I was looking into more skin products (sorry lip balmers). This scrub seemed very practical, well priced, and easy to store in the shower.

The fragrance of this is fresh and crisp. I am a big fan of the Spa Fusion scent from GudonyaToo. It's not over powering so I never worried about it poorly mixing with lotion or perfume. It definitely exfoliates... if you don't have enough water on your body before you start to scrub it can hurt a little.

This bar lasted about 2 months. I used it roughly once a day. My only problem with the bar is the fact you have to keep it dry. This means you have to get your body wet, scrub, then rinse, without letting any water that is not already on your body get to the bar. Towards the the end of my last month of use, water did get on it. It began to crumble quickly. If this bar was able to be a scrub and a soap and endure water, I think this would be a perfect body scrub, especially with the bars circular shape. It was so perfect, and easy to use and fit into my hands perfectly.

Overall, this is a solid body scrub bar. It is not super moisturizing, so I would recommend using it with a body wash or body conditioner.

Rating: 3.75 outta 5



Body Couture Junkie
Pin Up Girl Body Polish, 8 oz.
in Island Girl

check Etsy for current selling price and availability.

[Sunflower oil, shea butter, rice bran oil, golden jojoba oil, behenyl alcohol, fine grain pure dead sea salt, phenoxythanol, caprylyl glycol, sorbic acid, polysorbate 20, fragrance and preservative.]

This was 8 oz of sheer greatness. The smell is girly. It is sweet, floral, yet has strong subtle hints of vanilla. A little goes a long way with this body polish, it lasted about 3 months with daily use. It exfoliates and does polish your skin. When I got out of the shower, it felt like my skin was glowing without any harsh rubbing, it was gentle and like a mini massage.

My only complaint against this body polish is that I wish it had a bigger opening at the top. When I got down to the very last bit, it was hard to get into.

Overall, I hope this body polish returns to her shop because I was very impressed and strongly recommend this scent.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Low Down on the Slow Down

Well as you can tell Balmbastic has not been blowing up. (Sorry for these terrible puns and internal rhyme schemes)

Between graduate school, working, and the recent death of my grandpa things have been hard.

I just want everyone to know come winter break, I will finish up the reviews that I have, then this blog will again go on hiatus while I student teach.

I appreciate the support of those who send me well wishes and questions about the blog and for those who stumble upon it and find it's content useful.

Thank you for your thoughts, hits, and support.

And I would like to promote Ella Dean's new line of holiday lip balms. I highly recommend them. I will be stocking up on them for stocking stuffers!

Have a swell and safe Holiday Season!

Miss Beauty Fiend

Kisse Girl Skin Desert

Kisse Girl
Skin Desert

$5.50 (+ $2 S&H)

[Water,Isopropyl Myristate,Glyceryl Sterate,Cetearyl Alcolol,Steric Acid,Polysorbate-60,Stearyl Alcohol,Allantoin,Propylene Glycol Diazolidinyl Urea,Metholparaben,Propylpababen,Sunflower Oil,BHT Triethanolamine,Benzophenone-4,Aloe Vera, Cosmetic Glitter, Color, Fragarance]

Yes... some of those ingredients are scary.... but I must admit, I've been using this lotion as a shimmer/glitter for when I go out and I have not had any irritation from using it. So I do not endorse this as a natural body product, however it's fun, non-irritating, and can help start a good moisturizing regiment for young girls.

The scent is Lemony Berry. It is a sweet yet tart lovely light scent. It smells like a high tea pastry. Yum yum!

The clear jelly part of the lotion glides on and absorbs well. The pink opaque lotion takes a bit more to rub in. If you just glide it on it looks like sunscreen... that light colored film... but a few seconds it's nicely going into your skin.

Overall, I like the sparkle in this lotion. I wish it was natural... vegan would be awesome, but hey... it is a glitter that doesn't turn my skin red.

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

Kiss me like you mean it Lip Balm

Kiss Me Like You Mean It Lip Balm
from Ajoeynamedroo via Etsy

$1.50 ( + $2.05 S&H)

[ Sugared Grape Lollipop: Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Lanolin, Flavor, Vitamin E, Castor Oil, Red 7, Blue 1, Titanium Dioxide]
[Under the Mistletoe: Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Lanolin, Organic Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Flavor, Vitamin E, Castor Oil, Red 7]

I'm sure the first thing you notice about these awesome lip balms are those bitchin' sparrows. Oh yea.... how Sailor Jerry. But I digress....

I got the splendid scents of Sugared Grape Lollipop and Under the Mistletoe (Vanilla and Cinnamon). The Sugared Grape is delightful. It is a nice sweet lollipop flavor, however it is not super sweet. If you love grape... this is a must.

The UTM is a super cinnamony chai like balm. It has lip plumping qualities and a slight tint. If you dig chai, this is the balm for you. Or is you are looking for a natural plumper that isnt a sticky gloss... this is for you.

Both have a nice firm texture, which transfers fairly smoothly to your lips. It feels very silky and nourishing. It lasts about 4 hours and does not hold up to drinking but it does hold up to mild to moderate snacking. That is impressive.

Overall this is a great lip balm. Quality for the price. It's not organic or vegan, but it's a fun little balm to have in your purse if your going out to a punk or rockabilly show.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Obama Balm!

I don't want to push my political beliefs onto you... especially because this is a bath and body product review... but I do want to tell you to VOTE! If you are not registered, REGISTER! If you are, then get your friends and other people who may not be REGISTERED!


Obalma balm
from KandFshop on Etsy
$3.00 (+$ 2.25 S&H)

[sweet almond oil, beeswax, organic cocoa butter, vitamin e, honey, propolis, essential oil colors, natural organic flavors]

So, I've elected to show my patriotism and voting spirit through lip balm. I am sure you are shocked. When I cam across this Obama lip balm, I had to snatch it up. And bonus... it's actually awesome lip balm!

Its scents are raspberry, chocolate, and blueberry. That's right... three layers... red, white and blue.

It smells fantastic! I've only gone through the raspberry, but it is a wonderfully light and natural scent, and tastes sweet and yummy like a fresh raspberry! I'm beginning to smell the chocolate, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

The red also works as a tint. It's bright and not so sheer, so if you do not want color, avoid the red.

This balm goes on nice and smooth. It makes your lips feel extremely moisturized. For being a politically charged lip balm, this packs a very powerful punch for greatness in the lip balm department.

It lasts about 3 hours, and doesn't stand up to drinking or eating.

The only negative thing I've found with this balm is that when you put it on and it gets on the corner of your lips it seems to spread out and the corner of your mouth turn red.... this is also known as "fruit punch mouth." It is easily resolved by wiping the corners with a tissue or some other paper product... or your sleeve.

Overall, this is an awesome lip balm, which I am using as my main squeeze lip balm until the election. I'm hoping it lasts till then!

Rating: 4.8 outta 5

Along with this balm, I recieved a bunch of small samples from Clear Hills Honey. They all apply and moisturize the same, so here is the run down on the scents and flavors.

Oregon Hazelnut: Smells just like International House of Coffee's Hazelnut Cappuccino. Very yummy, and tastes lightly nutty.

Chai Tea: Spicy and chai like. If you dig chai, this is for you! It is tingly on the lips.

Sugared Violet: I don't know what this is meant to taste like, but it is very sweet, light, and berry-ish. When you put it on it has a definant floral taste. Very sophisticated and enjoyable.

Tangerine Vanilla: Hello super sweet dreamcicle. Yummy smell and taste.

Mocha Latte: A nice blend of chocolate and coffee. On your lips the cocoa prevails.

Wild Strawberry: Fresh and sweet, just like I picked it out of my grandpa's back yard. Smells delish, tastes less sweet, but still very strawberry, and a natural flavor... not that Bonnebell crap.

Chocolate Mousse: Does not have an overpowering chocolate smell but when you put this on your lips will love it. It tastes so chocolately and rich. Awesome for a chocolate lover!

GO VOTE!!!