Beauty Product of the Week: Aqua-Gel Eyeliner

What is it? Tarte's EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner is "a revolutionary long-wearing eye liner that contains intensely rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration. This revolutionary EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner captures the high-pigment concentration and staying power of a gel pot in an effortless pencil, no brush required! Even more unique is the proprietary formula which suspends rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration. By a process of hydrous pigmentation, cooling and refreshing pure water absorbs into the skin to hydrate and replenish the delicate eye area, leaving behind an intense, long-wearing, and pigment-rich color. Fortified with vitamin E, cucumber, and aloe this soothing Aqua-Gel Eyeliner maintains moisture balance in the skin while treating with healing free-radical fighters." Available in 8 shades at Sephora and Ulta for $18.00.

What did you think?  I've been using Urban Decay's eyeliner for months now. I think Urban Decay's liners kick ass, except for the fact that every stinking liner they (other than black) is sparkly.  Too sparkly.  I don't like I lot of glitter on my face--it's just not my thing.  The other day I was looking for an equally good, glitterless liner, and was told by a salesgirl to check out Tarte.  I'm glad I listened!

The liner goes on easily.  It feels a little cold and wet, and you can smudge it before it dries.  Once it does dry, it's set in place.  This liner does not budge!  It does take a few tries to perfect the amount of liner.  A light hand is all that's needed.  It feels smooth going on and it lasts a really, really long time.  There's also a ton of pigmentation in the liner, so you can get a bold look quickly.

The only downside is that the tip can easily break off if you have too much out for application.  Keep it low, and it should be fine.

The final verdict?  I love this liner!  They need more shades (and I'd love for it to be a few bucks cheaper), but the fact that it feels good, lasts forever and is easy to apply make it worth the price.  If you're into liners, check this one out!

Beauty Product of the Week: Smoky Shadow Blast

What is it? Cover Girl Smoky Shadow Blast Shadow Stick "is a smoky eye tool and makeup artist all in one brilliant shadow stick. Create a colorful smoky eye in just 2 easy steps! Available in 6 expertly coordinated duos with specially shaped ends. It's like having a makeup artist at your fingertips."  Available at drugstores and big box stores for less than $8.00.

What did you think? This product is very easy to use.  You just slide on the colors from either end of the tube and viola!  You have a somewhat smoky eye.  I didn't get very dramatic results from this, but my eyes looked decent enough.   The shadow is lightweight, which is nice.  I did notice that there was a little bit of creasing which I didn't like.  Oh well.

I do like the fact that everything you need to create an acceptable eye look is in one tube.  It makes this a very decent beauty product for traveling.  Overall, I liked the results I got, but for some reason, I don't find myself gravitating to this product on a daily basis.  I have it, it's in my bag, I use it if I remember, and I'm typically satisfied with the results.  It's not a memorable or exciting product, but it does a decent job.


The final verdict? There's nothing wrong with this product, but I don't love it.  I give it a solid "meh." 

Get to Know: Kiss My Face

I've long thought of Kiss My Face as being a crunchy, hippie personal care company.  After all, it was founded by two vegetarians who were on a mission to find healthy body care products.  Kiss My Face is committed to using natural, organic ingredients to create their cruelty-free products.  Because I've dismissed Kiss My Face as a sort of hippie-dippy company, I never really tried their products.

Silly me!  Kiss My Face has some really good products...and their eco-friendly, cruelty free stance is a huge plus.  Be on the lookout for their new line of skin care products in the start of the new year (available in January at Whole Foods).  Their Potent and Pure Organic Face Care line is worth a look.  It includes:

• Clean for a Day, $15: a creamy face cleaner that is soap-free and non-drying.  
• Startup, $15: an exfoliating cleanser that contains natural fruit alpha hydroxy acids for gentle exfoliation.
• Brightening Day Creme, $23: a cream that includes SPF to help protect from the sun's damaging rays.
• Night Creme, $23: a cream that provides extra moisturizing power along with detoxificaiton.
• Underage, $21: a "mega-moist" blend of organic botanicals and vitamins that will smooth lines and nourish skin.

Kiss My Face is a great brand to get to know if you're concerned about organic ingredients, animal testing, etc.  Their new skin care line will leave your face looking good and your conscious clean!  Check it out at Whole Foods in January.

ReFreshing New Pedicure

This post is especially important for all my Washington state and California readers since it's about a fabulous new pedicure service from the always phenomenal InSpa.

We all have our favorite spas or places to get our nails done.  For me, I only get my pedicures from InSpa here in Washington state.  With locations in both WA and CA, InSpa is a no tipping full service spa.  They do waxing, facials, massages, and manis/pedis.  Sure I may pay a little more for a pedi than I would at the nail salon around the corner from my house, but at InSpa, I feel confident that I am going to have a safe and sanitary procedure...that all the nail technicians are licensed, that the place is clean, and that I'll get killer customer service and a decent pedi.  I also love that I don't have to worry about how much to tip--that always confuses me.

When I normally go to InSpa, I get a classic pedicure.  It includes a warm, softening soak in the whirlpool basin followed by intense callous work, nail trimming, and painting.  Sometimes I'll splurge and go for the signature pedi which includes a leg/foot massage, a moisturizing mask, and these amazing heated booties that provide instant relaxation!

Now, though, InSpa is offering a ReFresh pedicure.  Instead of soaking in the whirlpool or using any water at all, the nail technician uses hot towels.  The ReFresh pedicure is about 10% less (20% less if you're an InSpa Member) than a normal classic or signature pedi.  The ReFresh pedicure uses less water, so it's a bit more environmentally friendly.  Also, I think this may be a tad more sanitary than using the whirlpool.  I have never been worried about health issues at InSpa, but every now and then you hear stories about women who get skin infections from using the whirlpools at less reputable establishments.  If you're not using a whirlpool, you're not as likely to be exposed to any scary skin funk.

I was invited down to the Southcenter InSpa over the weekend to experience the ReFresh pedi first hand (or foot!).  I must say: I did not miss the water!  Instead of sitting in bubbling water, I had my feet up, wrapped in perfectly warm towels.  Unlike a normal pedi, I got a very relaxing hand massage, and I felt like my nail tech took a little longer with the foot/leg massage (and that's a good thing!).

After my ReFresh pedi experience, I think I'm hooked.  My legs (and arms!) felt super smooth and moisturized, my feet feel much better thanks to the fact that the nail tech used more lotion on my callouses than normal, and my nails looked perfect.  I can't believe InSpa is charging LESS for this service!  I loved it and will certainly be getting it again.

Way to go, my most awesome of all spas!  Keep up the good work!  I love that they're considering the environment, the economy, and customer experience by providing this new service!

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Cosmetics and concern for the environment do not necessarily go hand in hand, but in a nod to being more green today, here a couple Earth Day beauty notes...

Hit the bar to go green Did you know that switching from liquid to bar soap is one of the simplest ways to go green and actually spend less?

Fact: Bar Soaps use less packaging – most are usually packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes – and weigh less than their liquid soap counterparts. Meaning they need less fuel to transport and take up less room in landfills. According to Country Living Magazine, “Substituting one bottle with a bar in each U.S. home would keep 2.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills.” Also, less of the product goes down the drain during use, so you get more bang for your buck.

I personally use liquid soap, but I am going to try out some bars from Yardley of London Natural Soaps in Honeysuckle Citrus, Almond Milk and Lavender Wisteria to see if I can make the switch. It shouldn't be too hard since these moisturizing beauty bars combine the health and environmental appeal of all natural ingredients with luxurious scents and ingredients found in higher-end boutique soaps. . Available at all Rite Aid Stores and YardleyLondon.com for $3.

Spend some green on "green" products
Revamp your hygiene routine and go green at the same time. Your local drugstore and supermarket have a wealth of products that won’t break the bank. Fill your cart with these Eco-Friendly picks:

• Avalon Organics Vitamin C Sun-Aging Defense Moisture Plus Lotion SPF 15: Provides protection against the sun and made form100% vegetarian ingredients. Available at Walgreens.com for $16.99.
  
• de-luxe MAISON Soy Candles are made with premium soy wax, so they burn clean - no harmful pollutants like ordinary paraffin wax (which is used in almost 90% of all candles made today). They use 100% soy wax from soybeans grown here in America. Available at drugstore.com for $9.99.
• Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Hand Soaps in Geranium, Lemon Verbena, Lavender and Basil. All products are made with natural ingredients and come with biodegradable packaging. (Refill Pouches are also offered) Available at www.mrsmeyers.com for under $5.
  
• Eco Me Natural Home Suzy Dish Soap is chemical free and made from the purest ingredients. Best of all it smells like Sweet Tea. Available at eco-me.com for under $7.

Get creative with Ole Henriksen (contest!)
Ole Henriksen, Hollywood’s skin care guru to the stars and creator of Ole Henriksen Face/Body care products is challenging you to take recycling to the next level and come up with a creative way to reuse your Ole Henriksen product containers. Whether it is finding a new use for your jars and bottles, or turning them into a sculpture, all ideas are welcome. There is no limit to the number of containers you can use to build your creation.

To enter, submit a photo of your “Alter Eco” with a statement of 250 words or less at OleHenriksen.com, explaining how you repurposed your Ole Henriksen containers. Participants and visitors to the Ole Henriksen website will be able to vote for their favorite entry. There will be one grand prize winner who will receive a $150 online gift certificate to OleHenriksen.com plus a $100 online gift certificate to justgive.org to make a donation to a charity of their choice. There will be two runners up winners who will each receive a $75 online gift certificate to OleHenriksen.com. The contest begins on April 22nd and will run through May 22nd, 2010.

What Were You Doing When You Were 15?

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I was 15, my biggest ambitions in life were getting through high school in one piece, having decent friends, and maybe, just maybe, landing myself a super cute boyfriend. My teen years were not my best.

Anyway, I mention this because I recently received some samples of skin care products made by a 15 year old. Geesh, I'm feeling old. Teenager Ava Anderson has launched the first line of skin care and cosmetics in which every ingredient in every product scores ZERO on the Cosmetics Database toxicity scale.

Anderson became concerned with all the potentially hazardous products found in everyday skin care and cosmetics products and decided to do something about it. With her the help of her parents, she's launched Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer, Exfoliator, Lip Scrub and Eye Makeup Remover Pads. Each is formulated with truly safe ingredients, they provide gentle cleansing, moisturizing, conditioning, nourishing and protection for every day healthy skin.
I've been trying out several of these products and they're very good. I expected them to be very sugary and sweet smelling since they were made by a teenager, but I was pleasantly surprised to find them fresh and clean scented. The face wash is nice--it rivals my favorite Purity Made Simple in providing a gentle, thorough cleansing. The eye makeup remover pads get the job done, and the lip scrub is minty and invigorating.

Pretty impressive stuff from a 15 year old!

If you're interested in checking out the Ava Anderson Non-Toxic line, head over to her website.

Eco-Beautiful

Eco-friendly products are all the rage in the world of beauty. There are so many new brands and products popping up every day that it's hard to keep track.

I recently got some samples of products from a company called Wembe. The company's vision is that nature compliments the human soul and envelops it with health beauty and happiness. And their line of soaps promises to be good to your skin and good to the earth. Their soaps are cruelty free and contain NO silicone, petroleum products, parabens, sulfates, phenoxythanol, polyethylene glycol, synthetic fragrances or dye. All soaps are made from organic, locally grown plants in Paraguay and 94% of their products are vegan.
I received a stack of three soaps, all housed in a recycled cardboard box with minimal packaging. They also sent me a bonus to try out. Here's what I've been using:

• Yerba Mate Exfoliating Blend: helps to eliminate dead skin cells to keep skin radiant and keeps skin detoxified.
  
• Citric Cleansing Blend: helps purify the skin, and essential oils keep you moisturized and smelling great.
• Mango Cleansing Blend: contains ingredients high in Vitamins A, C, and E and smells like the warm tropical forest.
• Loofah Exfoliating Blend: this is a lovely bar, almost too pretty to use. It stimulates circulation and improves skin's complexion. Perfect for the dry skin winter months.
  

Wembe soaps range in price from $7 to just under $10 for the soaps and $25 for a pack of three loofas.

I like that these products are all natural and don't contain any nasty chemicals. They make my skin feel soft and smell great. During cold months, my skin is dry and yucky. The Wembe line does a nice job of improving skin gently.

With Christmas coming, any of the Wembe products would make a great gift for your eco-conscious friends.

ecoTOOLS Bags to Keep You Organized!

I love makeup bags, and I never seem to have enough of them. Weird. Maybe I have too many beauty product? Nah!

Anyway, if you're like me and you're always in need of more beauty storage, check out the new line from Alicia Silverstone and ecoTOOLs. Their new collection of bags is currently available in places like Walgreens and Target, and--like all ecoTOOLs products--they're designed with green in mind. Green as in eco-friendly since they're made of natural materials like hemp, and green as in budget-friendly since they're very reasonably priced.

Because ecoTOOLS teamed up with Alicia Silverstone, all the bags are cruelty-free and contain a floral design inspired by the actress and animal rights activist's favorite flowers printed with non-toxic inks.

The collection includes:

• Cosmetic Bag ($8.99): This small bag is perfect to throw in your gym bag or large purse. I gives you just enough room for your on-the-go beauty essentials.
• Train Case ($14.99): This is my favorite bag in the set. I gave my mom this case when she went on a recent trip to the east coast. She was impressed with how much it held and how little space it took up in her suitcase. Plus there's a clear case inside that can be easily remove for more flexibility.
  
• 5-piece Brush Set and Bag ($15.99): I love this set. You get ecoTOOLS super soft brushes (all made from natural and sustainable materials) and a cute bag to house them all.
• Overnight Bag ($19.99): This bag is huge! You can really stuff it to the gills--there's tons of space in this baby. It also contains two clear, removable compartments that will help you sort and compartmentalize your essentials.
  

I have used ecoTOOLs brushes in the past and I love them. They're great quality and they don't cost an arm and a leg. And now this new line of bags makes me love ecoTOOLS all the more. Check it out for yourself!

Disclosure: A press sample was provided.

Product Preview: Nexxus Nourishing Botanicals

I've been focusing a lot on eco-friendly beauty products this week, and in keeping with this theme, I bring you a preview of Nexxus Salon Hair Care's Nourishing Botanicals line.

The products in this line contain natural ingredients that promise to keep your hair looking beautiful while being kind to the earth. Nexxus Nourishing Botanicals Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave-in Conditioner are formulated without parabens and dyes while containing a blend of pure, natural botanical oils, emollients, and plant proteins. The Nourishing Botanicas line utilizes a fruit micro-sphere technology that will leave hair healthy, soft, and shiny.

But Nexxus doesn't stop considering the earth at their forumlas. They consider their packaging, too. The entire Nourishing Botanicals line comes in recycled packaging and...like all Nexxus products...is not tested on animals (yay!).

I'm sharing the Nourishing Botanicals line with my testers (my mom and sister), so I'll let you know their thoughts soon. I know my mother is hooked on the leave-in conditioner. Here are all the details on the entire line:

• Nexxus Botanoil Nourishing Botanical Shampoo: A cleansing shampoo that weightlessly nourishes and hydrates to leave hair looking and feeling luxuriously soft and healthy. ($9.27 for 13.5 fl. oz bottle)
• Nexxus Botanphuse Nourishing Botanicals Conditioner: A conditioner that nourishes and pampers hair without weighing it down for luxuriously soft, healthy-looking hair. ($14.99 for 13.5 fl. oz bottle)
• Nexxus Botanluxe Nourishing Botanical Leave-in Conditioner: This leave-in conditioning spray employs natural ingredients to provide the ultimate in hydration for all hair types. ($11.99 for 8.5 fl. oz bottle)

Give Good Face the Eco-Chic Way

Yesterday I gave you hints on how to get a beautiful eco-chic face in only a few easy steps. But what's the foundation for a perfect look? Flawless, radiant skin, of course!

Head on over to Sephora and check out these natural products that will result in good face:

Boscia Oil-Free Hydration SPF 15: this is the perfect way to start your natural routine. This daily hydrator combats excess oil, refines pores, and defends skin against damage caused by UV rays and everyday stresses. The moisturizer is balanced so that it effectively banishes shiny T-zone areas, making it the ideal base for makeup.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Eye Cream: Designed for use both morning and night, this eye cream reinvigorates tired-looking eyes. The expert formula brightens and smooths the contour of the eye, reducing dark circles, puffiness, and lines for a more refreshed look.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: This highly concentrated oil-free serum is designed to improve the appearance of dark spots, giving you even-toned, radiant skin.

REN Glycilactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask: This product is like having a dermatologist's treatment right in your own home. The resurfacing mask is formulated to gently and effectively rejuvenate skin by using fruit acids and papain. Use the peel once a week, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

Nude Miracle Mask: This mask firms and smooths in minutes. The efficacious formula speeds up circulation and cellular turnover, instantly smoothing and brightening the complexion.

Be a Natural Beauty at Sephora!

First off, thanks so much to all of you who have left comments about the how much we are eco-conscious when making our cosmetics purchases. Sounds like you all are a lot like me. You know you should care more than you actually do. It's hard to make the switch to more natural products, but it's getting easier all the time...especially if you're willing to pay a little more for your products.

The good folks over at Sephora are, of course, helping make us all more naturally beautiful by offering up numerous "eco-chic" products. Here are some to check out:

GET AN EASY ECO-CHIC LOOK
Let's go back to basics. When we think about natural beauty, we think of perfectly clear skin. But you can also punch up the color and embrace the classically natural.

1. Prep your skin with a face primer like Korres Silicone Free Face Primer ($28). It is an innovative formula of soothing natural botanical ingredients that refine the skin texture by reducing redness and uneven or dull skin tones. The primer creates a non-oily silky film that acts as a barrier between the skin and makeup to reveal flawless, long-lasting skin.
2. Follow up with Tarte ReCreate Foundation ($37). An anti-aging foundation with Wrinkle Rewind technology and SPF 15 that protects from UVA/UVB rays, this foundation provides medium to full coverage while hydrating and brightening.
3. To finish in a flash, swipe on Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($18). Referred to as a push-up bra for lashes, this four-in-one (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) dermatologists and clinically tested mascara presents a sexy fringe to compliment your dewy complexion. Now you have an effortlessly eco-chic look.
   
4. If you're craving more color on your face, take your eco-chic look one step further and try out some of the bright colors in Sephora's Pure Natural 7-Color Palette ($36). This is a multipurpose palette that comes with three trendy shadow colors, three basic brown shadow colors, and a blush that will have you creating vibrant looks from day to night.

I'll be back tomorrow with more eco-chic products that will make your skin look even more flawless and radiant! In the meantime, I'll be trying out many of the products listed here and will be sure to report back soon!

Happy Earth Day Plus LUSH Giveaway

Today is Earth Day and I've been trying to figure out how I want to mark the day here on Kiss and Makeup.

I could tell you about all the eco-friendly makeup products and accessories on the market today, but I'd surely forget to mention half of them. I could give you tips on how to be a more green consumer, but I think we all know about reducing, recycling, and reusing. I could be cheeky and talk about all the cool green (as in green colored) products you could pick from, but St. Patty's Day just came and went.

I want to talk about something fresh, something new. But I am having a tough time trying to figure out what that would be.

This is going to sound terribly jaded or out-of-touch, but I don't always consider the environmental impact of my beauty purchases as much as I probably should. Since I'm a makeup blogger, I feel that I need to try all kinds of different products, so I know I am consuming more makeup than the average girl. And yes, I know that it is wasteful and unnecessary. But then makeup, by its very nature, is somewhat wasteful and unnecessary.

The big issue for me is animal testing. I prefer to buy products that are not tested on animals whenever possible. I see no reason why animals should suffer for me to look good. That said, I know that some of the brands I buy are on PETA's naughty list.

I don't know....it seems tough to always shop your conscious...as terrible as that sounds (and I know it sounds awful).

Instead of prolonging this post's agony, I'm going to turn it over to you. I ask you the following:

• How much do you consider the environmental impact of your beauty purchase when you're shopping?
  
• Do you try to buy products that don't have excess packaging?
• Do you try to buy products that are not tested on animals?
• Do you try to buy products that do not contain harsh chemicals?
• How much does any of it matter to you?

Leave me a comment and help me out here. I'll pick a random answer and will give that person a Good Karma kit from Lush. (Sorry: this one's open to US residents only, though if you're not in the US, I'd still love to hear your thoughts.) You have til next Tuesday to give me your input.