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!!!

My Birch Lip Balm and Butter Bar... MANGO MADNESS!

My Birch

Lip Balm
$2.50 (+ $1 S&H)
[Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Fragrance oil ]

Butter Bar
$3.50 (+ $2 S&H)
[Beeswax, Shea butter, sunflower oil , fragrance oil, turmeric root for color]


The simple ingredients of these products and the sleek logo design really attracted me to Birch.

First up, the lip balm. I opted for Mango-Peach Fusion. It does smell very sweet and fresh, but more like a peach than a mango. Once it is on the sweetness becomes obnoxious and overly floral. This is scented with a very strong fragrance oil so the balm tastes like perfume. This is not attractive.

The balm glides on very nicely. At first it feels a bit greasy but when you rub your lips together they feel like they are being wrapped in moisture. There is also a nice subtle sheen/gloss to this balm. It makes your lips look healthy, supple, and moist. Wonderful!

The balm lasts about 2 hours and can stand up to a decent amount of heat. It does not seem to surpass eating however drinking light drinks will not wash it away.

Overall, I was not overly impressed with this balm due to the taste of it. I don't like perfumey things on my lips. However, I would use this a sick balm (ie. when I cannot smell or taste because I am sick but do not want my lips to get icky and chapped).

Rating: 2 outta 5



Body Butter Bar

To continue with the mango theme... this butter bar is in... guess what? MANGO! And when I was opening my package I could smell it through the cardboard. I'm glad my crazy mailman does not like mango, cuz if he did, I'm sure he would have pocketed this.

This smells so refreshingly light yet has the full essence of a rip mango. It is the perfect scent for your skin because it lasts but it is not heavy and compliments most any perfume (especially L.A.M.B, Juicy Couture, and Daisy).

It comes in a little cupcake sleeve, which is so cute. However if these were offered in cupcake scent or even labeled as baked good scents... this sleeve would be 3 times cuter! Imagine... instead of just mango... I received Mango Madness Tart. I digress...

There are several options for use for this body butter. I found it cumbersome to try and take it out and apply it with the ridges. If i pressed to hard they broke off and I had to rub them in more with my hands. Yet this body bar seems to instantly melt when placed against your skin BUT does not melt if you leave it out on your night stand or in a dresser drawer. This amazed me, especially with how hot my room can get. Major Kudos!

When you rub it onto your skin it feels a bit greasy as you rub the bar over your skin, but when you take your hands and rub it in more that feeling goes away and your skin feels soft and moist. I was worried about the bright yellow rubbing off or transferring to my skin, but no worries there! There is no color that comes off.

Overall, I am in love with this body bar. Even though it can get slippery in my hands, it is an amazing cuticle softener and again... the scent is amazing. I highly recommend if you are looking for a natural lotion bar, get this. Or if you like to treat yourself to manis or pedis... this is a great way to soften those rough spots and cuticles.

Rating: 5 outta 5

Lip Addict Lip Balm... sneak peak preview!!!

Lip Addict
Key Lime Quicky Sample

Lip Addict is this awesome spin off of Body Couture Junkie Etsy shop. It focuses on giving you that lip balm fix that you so crave!

[a mystery... but natural!]

This sample was sent my was a sneak peak of great things to come from Lip Addict, and let me tell you... I am very impressed and look forward to more.

This balm is softer, so do not push hard when applying, but it glides right onto your lips like luscious butter. It is rich and moisturizing. I LOVE the way it feels. It is not greasy or slick... just silky smoothness.

It slowly absorbs into your lips which I enjoy. Often times this affect produces an awkward slick feeling, but this does not. It is a lingering feeling of moisture: very refreshing.

As far as the scent and flavor... wow. I am not a fan of Key Lime, however I do love lime. It smells like Key Lime pie from the Cheesecake Factory yet tastes like a nice lime with a hint of vanilla. It is a wonderful scent and flavor, but it is not overly sweet.

This balm wears for about 3 and half hours. An admirable duration. However you cannot leave this out in the sun or expose it to heat because it is very soft (I believe it contains a lot of butter(s)) and melts very easily. It does not hold up past drinking or eating.

The only negative about this balm is an odd one. I have never experienced this before. If I put too much on (go around my lips 3 times or more) I get this white tint on my lips. I don't believe there is shimmer or pigment in this balm but it is weird, so I just have to make sure that I don't go over board applying it.

Overall, I'm counting down the days till Lip Addict opens. I look forward to it and you should too! If this balm is offered in a vegan variety you can bet that it will be considered one of my top 5 balms.

Rating: 4.8 outta 5

You Go Girl Sopas Lip Balm

You Go Girl Soaps
Lip Balm

$2 (+ $2 S&H)

[almond oil, beeswax, flavor oil]

I love banana...and I love sparkles. This lip balm brings together my two aforementioned loves. There is a cute little jem on the top of the cap. Delightful.

The banana scent is delightfully intoxicating. It is not the scent of a ripe banana rather a mix of banana cream pie and crispy yummy banana chips. If you love banana, I highly recommend this balm.

It has a firm consistency which is always nice. It glides on nicely and evenly, however feels a bit greasy until you rub it into your lips. It absorbs quickly, which helps decrease the greasy feeling.

It doesn't taste overly banana-ish, which is disappointing considering how intensely amazing the scent it. But that's okay. You don't lick your lips so it lasts longer.

And on the topic of length for wear... this is an average lip balm in that area: 2-3 hours. It does not stand up against food and fluids. However this balm has a great heat resistance. I had it in my pocket on a super hot day at a local park and no softness.

Overall, this is an adorable balm at a reasonable price. I would love to give this as a gift if I knew someone who loved banana. The greasy feeling is a bit much, but compared to all the pros...it's a con I can over look.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Kreated by Karina Mango Tart Lip Balm

Kreated by Karina
Lip Balm
in Mango Tart

$3 (+ $1.85 S&H)

[Shea butter, safflower oil, beeswax, vitamin e, flavor, mica]

I've been led astray by the allure of mangoes on many occasion, and throwing a tart in there made me a bit nervous about this balm... but my fears were put aside and tried this bad boy out.

First the label is this calming green and blue modern swirl thing. I just love it. It is so fun and fresh. If this lip balm completely sucked (which it doesn't) the label would clearly improve the crappy lip balm just because of it's amazing looks....seriously.

When you smell this balm you don't think mango. It is fresh and fruity but somewhat guava more than mango. When you put it on the mango comes out. It is a slight highlight of sweetness, very subtle, and very sophisticated. If you are not into sweet lip balms, this is the balm for you! However, if you love your mango sweet, you have to apply this a few times.

There is this great tingling sensation on your lips when you apply this. It feels like peppermint essential oil, however that is not listed. I have no idea where it comes from but it really enhances the feeling of this balm. The lip balm has a nice and firm texture but I found you had to go around your lips twice to get a really good application, which is not bad at all. This is common for harder lip balms. As you rub your lips together you can feel it absorbing into your skin and it is a very refreshing feeling.

This lip balm lasts the average 2 to 3 hours and does not hold up to food or drinks.

The ingredients say mica but I'm not to sure if there is actually any in it. It is not tinted and there is no sparkle or sheen to your lips once you put it on.

Overall, this a solid lip balm. If it were Vegan and sweeter I think it would be even better, however to the general public, I would recommend this balm to anyone that is over the age of 10.

Rating: 4.3 outta 5
(that .3 is for the label.... kudos label!)

Mystique Lip Balm

Mystique Products
Garden of Earthly Delights Lip Balm
$1.99 (+ $1 S&H)

[apricot kernel oil, mango butter, vitamin e, beeswax, sweet orange essential oil]

The awesome typeface on the label really drew me into this balm...and the great price!

This balm has a wonderfully subtle hint of orange. It is just enough to make you think of a bright and succulent orange, but not enough to make you want to constantly lick your lips.

It glides on very smoothly. The mango butter really makes your lips feel so smooth and soft. At first it felt a bit greasy, but this sensation quickly goes away. This only happened the first few times I applied this balm. My conclusion is that maybe via mailing it melted and reformed when it arrived and there was just some odd settling at the top, because after the 12th or so application, it felt like a gloriously well textured lip balm.

This balm lasts the average duration of your general lip product, 2 to 3 hours. It does not hold up to eating or drinking and I found that it really smudges clear glasses, so that you have to wipe them off before putting them in the dishwasher, otherwise they still come out with your lip-print on the rim.

Even though this product is not Vegan, it is all natural and organic. This makes this lip balm that much more awesome.

I cannot figure out why it is the Garden of Earthly Delights however. When I think of the title I think maybe Apple would be a better scent? It doesn't affect the great quality of this lip balm however!

The only negative of this balm is its low melting point. I forgot it in my car (I was doing so well remembering to take them out too!) and when I got it, it was too late, so I put it in the fridge and when it came out the mango butter had crystallized and it was no longer usable.

Overall, this is a great balm for the price. It has a sophisticated scent with a light flavor but do not expose it to great amounts of heat or sunlight.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Green Springs Rose Face Food

Green Springs
Rose Face Food

2 oz. $18 - $20 (+ $3 S&H)


[rose hydrosol*,aloe vera*, unrefined coconut oil*, comfrey, calendula, rose petals, marshmallow root, elder flowers, & plaintain infused in extra virgin olive oil*, sunflower oil*, jojoba oil*, shea butter*, kukui nut oil*,caster oil*,carrot seed oil, rosehip seed oil*, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, blueberry extract, black willowbark*, roobios*, benzoin, ROE(rosemary extract) and GSE(grapefruit seed extract).
*certified organic]

My mother will pay upwards of a hundred dollars on a moisturizer that will leave her skin soft, fresh, toned, and younger looking. Now I'm not saying that high end stuff is bad and doesn't do it's job, but why spend that much when for a fifth of is you can have this natural and organic product?

I was super pumped about receiving this face food sample. In the summer my typically oily skin gets extremely dry. I have always had a hard time finding moisturizers because of how sensitive my skin is. I was hesitant at first because of this known fact, but I figured that my face turning red couldn't be worse than my face peeling as much as it was with dry skin.

This face food smells like a garden of roses, real roses. This is not some Victoria Secret or Bath & Body Works rose scent. This is the real deal. I love it. I used a little bit (they recommend a pea-size, but I would say a little more if you really wanna cover your neck too) every night for a straight 2 weeks. The first few days my skin felt oily. I was not happy and losing confidence in this face food. I don't need more oil on my face, I need moisture. Well by day 5, my skin was glowing with moisturized goodness. I just woke up one morning and the peeling was gone, my skin actually felt firmer, and it just looked really healthy. I think that it is possible that my skin needed to adjust to this new product, which is why a delay in results occurred.

In a little less than two weeks this Face Food made my skin feel and look so healthy and supple. It was wonderful. My mother even asked what I was using. I found washing and exfoliating my face first, before bed, then putting this on seemed to work well. While looking at Green Springs's Etsy, I noticed there are other varieties of this Face Food. Tangerine sounds like it would be a wonderful choice for using in the morning. Citrus has a natural mood enhancing ability via scent They also offer a lavender, which would be wonderful as a before bed time scent so that you can really relax.

Overall I was very impressed with this (as I first thought) pricey face moisturizer. Compared to the quality that my mother buys, this is a bargain! My only qualms is how it made my skin very oily for a bit. This may or may not be an issue for you, but please be aware of it.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Nahia Creations Elihlizio Soap

Nahia Creations
Elihlizio (Chocolate Espresso) Soap
Via Etsy

$8.50 (+ $4.95 S&H)

[Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, possibly a Butter, Essential or Fragrance Oil and perhaps, some grains]


I received this bar of soap when I got the Nahia Mango Lip Balm. I've been using it for a while, on and off, and I figured it is about time to discuss this bar.

First, it smells heavenly, if you love espresso. It is like a cocomoco from Spot Coffee... nice and warm with the espresso but a little bitter sweet with the subtle chocolateness.

It quickly soaps up with either hot or cold water, however the lather is minimal. It rinses well and does leave your skin feeling fresh and clean, without any tightness or that dry clean sensation. Yet my skin does not feel moisturized. With the espresso, cocoa butter, and other goodness in here, I would assume that my skin would feel more lush. It is clean but that is about it.

Another disappointing quality of this soap is that it's great scent doesn't transfer to your skin. You may not want to smell like a cocomoco but I sure as heck do! What is the point of yummy smelling soap is not a little of it rubs off onto you?

I won't get started on the price either...

Overall, this is an average soap. It's quality does not back up the price tag of over $10 once you include shipping and handling. I should have kept it in my underwear drawer to make my undies smell yummy.

Rating: 2 outta 5

Take 2 Post

Often times I wanna give products a second chance or want to explore different flavors in balms that I totally loved. I've realized that I don't review these, but really should. This blog is going to be a quick run down of additional balms I purchased after doing the initial review.


BathLife
Original Review
Lime Grenadine

This lime sweet drink lip balm is an explosion to the sensations. It smells wonderfully divine, it feels amazing on, and the final product is smoochably smooth silky lips!

A GREAT BUY!


Sassy Scrubs and Such
Original Review
Oatmeal Milk & Honey lip tin
Creme Brulee tube

The consistency of these balms is great. They do not hold up well in the heat, but their cover and ability to make your lips moist makes up for that. However the flavors are just off. The Creme Brulee is more sweet milk and the Oatmeal Milk & Honey has this extremely unsatisfying sweet caramel smell and taste.

When I'm sick, these balms work great because I cannot smell or taste them.

NOT A GREAT BUY

Embrace Bath & Body
Original Review
Brownie Batter, Pomegranate Gloss, Cotton Candy

The Brownie Batter lip tube is AMAZING! It provides a really nice bronze-ish tint... not to mention how yummy it is. The Cotton Candy is also as yummy! It is light and sweet and has a nice shimmer. The Pomegranate Gloss does not smell all that pleasant nor does it taste that great. It does provide a nice sheen too.

2 Great Buys, 1 Okay Buy



Cherry Blossom Co.
Original Review
Pomegranate & Rosemary
Lime & Coconut
Mocha & Peppermint
Orange

These balms have the best mix ever. Their consistency is great. Their feel is great. Overall a great balm. The Lime & coconut is a wonderfully sweet coconut. The Mocha & Peppermint smells like a yummy Christmas candy. Pomegranate & Rosemary is very Rosemary-ish, an herbal pleasure. And finally, but certainly very amazing, the orange smells like orange soda! A crisp and flavorful and fizzy orange paradise!

THE BEST BUY!


Kisse Girl
Original Review
Sugar Rush
Cotton Candy

These balms are wonderful and great in the summer heat! I hit the jack pot when I picked these two sugary delights. When you wear them together it creates this amazing flavor! It is very very sweet, so if you are not a fan of sweet lip balm, avoid this. But if you love sweet and are a little girl... Get this balm... NOW!

A REALLY GREAT BUY!

Overall... C&B Co. and Kisse Girl really have it going on: great price, great lip balm, great flavors and just plain FUN!

Loving Naturals Organic Lime Healing Lip Balm

Loving Naturals Organic Lime Healing Lip Balm
via Etsy

$1.49 (+ $.99 S&H)

[organic hemp seed oil, organic beeswax, organic olive oil, organic jojoba oil, organic lime peel oil, vitamin e oil]

This lip balm is 100% organic comes from an up and coming business from Cicero, New York. (Yeah New York!) I was really pumped about this because of the promise of limey goodness with all this wonderful organicness.

It looks like any hemp lip balm. A golden color with a hint more green because of the lime peel. It has a pleasant mix of lime and hemp that composes it's scent. When you put it on, there is a slight hint of the zing you get from a lime. It is very refreshing but not over powering.

It goes on well. It does not glide on super silky. It is a soft and firm glide that gets smoother the more you put on. It sinks into your lips almost instantly and begins to make them feel super moist. There is no waxy or greasy feel to this balm, nor is there a residue. I have been talking with some friends about hemp lip balms. Some thing that the hemp balm leaves a residue after it wears, and I haven't really seen that in any of the hemp balms I have tried, and especially not in this one. It absorbs into your lips so evenly it's wonderful. It is such a fresh sensation.

It wears a little bit longer than your average lip balm, about 3 hours. It doesn't hold up to eating, but you can drink a little bit and still have some balm left on your lips.

Overall, I think this is another superb showing of hemp lip balm. It is not vegan (which would have been stellar!!) but it is 100% natural and organic. The label is also made of recycled materials, and possibly the tube as well. This company, as states their site and etsy profile, are growing and focusing on the use of truly natural products in the home and in the lives of your loved ones. They began the company when their first child was born and I think that this is possibly the best motivation ever. Better products for our future generations that are also eco-friendly and leave a lesser carbon-footprint.

Rating: 4.9 outta 5
(If only it was vegan!!!)

Vintage Soap Co. Lip Cremes

Vintage Soap Co. Lip Cremes
From Vintage Soap Co.'s Etsy

$1.75 (+ $1.50 S&H)
3 for $5.25 (+ $1.75 S&H)

[sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil, grapeseed oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, essential oils, honey, stevia, flavor]

I received the following flavors:

Let's Smooch (grapefruit)
Sparkling Grape
Coconut Lime
Peace (anise, mints, cloves)

I was really excited about these balms because they had really cool Celtic labels...and Grape was a flavor.

These balms all go on the same. There are creamy and lush on your lips. They moisturize and nourish your lips. They are silky and soak in evenly. It is a great feeling. They last about 3 hours, and do not survive drinking or eating.

Here is the breakdown for the flavors:

Let's Smooch: If you love grapefruit...this is the balm for you! It smells great and tastes like a large grapefruit. It is tart yet sweet.

Sparkling Grape: It smells like an icky medicinal grape flavor. When you put it on, it does not get much better. I was really disappointed in this grape flavor.

Coconut Lime: This balm smells like a warm pina colada. Now, that may not sound good, but it is really nice. It tastes like coconut, but has a slight sweetness, which I assume is the lime.

Peace: This was my favorite. It is a warm and calming lip balm. It is not lick liping goodness, but it is a really great sophisticatd scent/flavor. If you love cloves, this is for you! And it makes your lips tingle wit the mint. Very nice.

Overall, these balms feel great. They are a great balm, I just picked some bad flavors. The only negative is that these balms do not hold up to the heat well. So I would advise against keeping them in your pockets.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Lip Service Organic Lip Balm

Green Springs Body Works
Lip Service Organic Lip Balm in Citrus Bliss

$3 (+ $1.75 S&H)

[Certified organic: coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, comfrey, plantain, and calendula infused olive oil, beeswax, pure essential oils]

This nifty vintage inspired tube has a great military/standard issue label. It's simple design is really great. It has a cute star, but the colors are sophisticated so you could pull this tube out of a Hello Kitty clutch or Prada Hobo and look oh so good.

The lip balm has a nice citrus scent. It is not overpowering and blends well with the olive oil. When you put it on you get the sweetness from the citrus then there is the mellow contrast of the oils. It is tasty but by no means are you constantly licking you lips. It is really a wonderful blend of flavors and scents that you don't need to worry about wearing or licking through.

The consistency of this balm is superb. It is solid, yet soft enough to nicely glide on, and with force applied it is sturdy enough to not splooge over the edge of the tube and onto the outline of your lips. It makes you lips feel really soft and moisturized without a film, waxy feeling, or grease.

This balm lasts a long while. I'd gauge about 4 to 5 hours worth of wear. I lost track because it lasts so long. I have also found that this balm works wonders as a lip stick or gloss base. I does stand up to some drinking and snacking, but during a meal, you will have to re-apply post eating.

Overall, this balm is a great organic find. It is sophisticated and I would warn against giving this to a child. They may be looking for a sweeter lip balm, but if you want your kid to have a balm where they are not constantly licking their lips, then maybe it's right for you.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Vixens & Venus Magic Sticks and Whipped Body Frosting

Vixen & Venus Magic Sticks
$3 (+ $1 S&H)

(The ingredients online vary from the Magic Sticks I have...so this is the make up of mine)

[cocoa butter, evening prim rose oil, beeswax, fragrance]

These Magic Sticks are the nifty things around! I had never heard of lotion bars or sticks until I started this blog. Who knew lotion could be a solid?! Well, I'm glad it can be!

These Magic Sticks really are delightfully magical. A little goes a long way with these. They are great for your legs, arms, tummy, elbows, knees, and even to use on your feet! At first their glide is a bit stiff and ridged but once your body heat warms them up, they go on like butter. I found that you want to kind of round them your skin because if you build up the sides or they get uneven, they break off easily. They don't go on greasy or waxy, they soften right into your skin and it feels so silky and supple.

The scents I have are as follows:

Chamomile: I found this stick to be the driest one. You have to warm it up in your hands a bit prior to putting it on otherwise it flakes everywhere. The scent is so relaxing. I have found that when I have a head ache or stomach ache, putting this on is really comforting.

Pink Hydrangea: It is like walking into a botanical garden found at the George Eastman house. Delightfully floral and playful, yet somewhat Victorian in the subdued woody scent. It is invigorating and works wonderfully as its own perfume.

Sandalwood Vanilla: The best scent I have ever found in the world. It is warm and sugary. To be honest, I feel that a brown sugar cupcake would also work as another name for this scent. It is intoxicating. This one warms up the fastest as well.

Overall, these Magic Sticks are so convenient when you are on the go. The only trouble I have had is with pushing them up. If you push too hard they pop out, but if you don't push hard enough they don't move. But this is no biggie.

Rating: 4.8 outta 5


Body Frostings

Samples: Three 2oz containers: $6 (+$2.90 S&H)

Full Size: 8 oz: $9.50 (+ $3.75 S&H)

There are a wide array of scents, primarily scrumptious food ones. I received Strawberries & Champagne. When Victoria's Secret came out with that scent in their body spray I dubbed it "SEX." So.... SEX is a great scent. It is light and sweet. It is more strawberry than champagne-y. When you put it on it feels a bit greasy but when you work it into your skin it has this really nice soft texture going. You really have to spread it out, so a little goes a long way. I took a tiny dab from the cap and was able to do the top part of my arm from my wrist to my elbow. WOW! After you put it on the scent lingers slightly. It is really nice. Especially if you want your skin feeling soft but also wanna put on perfume and don't want scents mixing. This is a great solution.

The only negative about this balm is the way it goes on. It is a lot of work to work it into your skin. This may be a plus to some people. Maybe it says this is a super thick lotion and you're getting a great coverage... it is body frosting this may be true. I don't know. I'm just not a super big fan of the consistency, however I cannot deny how moisturizing this lotion is.

Overall, this is a pretty great lotion. I would recommend the samples over the big container because you get more of a variety with scents and I bet you could mix a few to come up with something yummy!

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

Blue Monday Soap Tinted Lip Slicker

Blue Monday Soap Tinted Lip Slicker

$2.50 (+ $1.40 S&H)
From Etsy

[beeswax, castor oil, fragrance, alkanet root]

I have never heard of alkanet root, and I was really intrigued. It apparently is this cute little flower that has these deep red roots that make a great dye.

I ordered Pumpkin Spice as my scent and it smells wonderful. It reminds me of the Freak-O-Latern, a Spot Coffee Halloween beverage.... so just image a really awesome pumpkin spice latte. DELICIOUS! I wish it tasted as intense as it smells. When you lick your lips there is a slight hint of pumpkin and cinnamon.

When you put it on, it doesn't just nicely glide on, yet it isn't terrible. It is this odd gooey feeling. It is not super soft, it's solid, but it's mushy in its solid state. It is an interesting texture. Once you put it on your lips it evens out and smooths into your lips. It provides a nice moderate sheen and a nice reddish/coral tint.

This balm lasts about an hour. The shine quickly goes away and the color fades. Yet re-applying is an easy task.

This balm has a low heat resistance, and I do not recommend putting it in your pocket unless you will be spending most of your time in an air conditioned area.

Overall, this is a really nice and naturally colored lip tint. It's texture is something that is a new experience, but it is not terrible. I wish it did last longer. The color is really nice and would make a wonderful lip stain/cheek stain color.

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

SDavisOriginal

SDavisOriginal Lip Balm pots
$6.00 for 2 (+ $1.85 S&H)

[shea butter, beeswax, aloe, vitamin e, soy oil, sweet almond oil, essential oils]

I ordered Lilac and Eucalyptus/Lavender as my flavors


The Lilac lip balm smells just like a fresh cut from the bush in my back yard. It doesn't taste awesome, but it smells great! I have found that this works as a great solid perfume. It is very powerful but not overwhelming.

The Eucalyptus/Lavender is a wonderfully calming scent. It tastes like lavender but I don't recommend licking it.

Both go on nicely. It is a pot so you have to use your fingers and the opening is small, so if you have big fingers, be warned. You can really feel a lot of shea butter in this lip balm. It is very soothing and thick. If you do not like thick lip balm I do not recommend this balm. It begins to melt into your lips and feels divine, yet it is thick when you first put it on.

These balms last for about two to three hours and your lips feel lush and silky smooth. I cannot attest to their ability to withstand heat, but from the contents of these balms and the texture, I think it would stand up pretty well. The pot makes it too hard to carry it around in your pocket, but these would go well in any purse.

Overall, these balms are a slight step above your average lip balm. The Shea butter makes it have a wonderful texture which truly nourishes your lips.

Rating: 3.5 outta 5

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

The Scented Blossom Tinted Lip Balm

The Scented Blossom tinted Lip Balm
$1.50 - $1.75 (+ $1.50 S&H)
From The Scented Blossom's Ebay

[may contain: sweet jasmine, rice bran oil, cocoa butter, coffee butter, beeswax, mica, Japanese Camellia oil, aloe extract oil]

I was looking through Ebay for some natural lip balm, and these came up. I'm into Wei East right now, so I was really excited to see these Asian inspired lip tints.

I'm going to run down these by color, because they all go on a little different.


Beach Bronze Lip Balm

This smells like a fancy schmancy lip stick. It goes on with a nice glide and the sparkles are not gritty. They blend in smoothly and your lips feel nice and glossy. The color is a summer bronze. It is somewhat sheer, but as you can tell in the photo, the color is just enough to warm up your lips. It doesn't taste like anything in particular, but it is a peculiar flavor. It is not displeasing, just different. It is a warm flavor, possibly from the camellia oil. It wears for about 2 hours.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Coral Rose Lip Balm

Although this photo is somewhat blurry, this Coral Rose is a perfect light pink. It looks great on pale skin. It is warm and compliments the natural hue of the lips. It smells like the older Chanel lip stick my grandmother used to wear. It's a bit intense, but when you put it on, it fades. This glides on nicely, yet it is a bit harder than both of the other balms. This lip balm really made my lips feel nourished and silky smooth. I would not recommend licking your lips, it is does not have a pleasing taste. This balm lasts for about 3 hours, and does not stand up to eating or drinking.

Rating: 4.5 outta 5


Mocha Latte Lip Balm

This balm has the least amount of pigment. It is a sheer warm gold/brown that makes your lips glow in a way. It is the best smelling lip balm, reminiscent of a big, dark cup o' coffee. This balm goes on a bit waxy, but if you rub your lips together it smooths out to this wonderfully silky feeling. This, like the Coral Rose offers a quenching sensation on your lips, but it does not last that long, maybe a half hour. The wears for about 2 hours.

Rating: 4 outta 5

Overall, these balms are a great alternative for lipstick. It is a nice sheer color and shimmer, so even for a little girl, these are radtastic.

Overall Rating: 4 outta 5
(there are a lot of other flavors and colors available as well as some other natural bath, body and skin products!)

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