Thursday, May 22, 2014

BE Organics Review + Creator Interview

Hi lovelies! Today I bring you a long awaited post based solely around natural products. After getting in touch with Malea Rhodes, creator of the BEbathworks shop on Etsy, I was able to finally dive into the world of organic and natural beauty items. She let me try 4 of her best sellers and in return I created this in-depth review video for all of you! If you're interested in my thoughts and opinions on each individual item I'd definitely check it out. Demos are also included!


As promised I wanted to include the ingredients of each product on my blog because I completely understand the importance of knowing what's in the products you put on your body. I have never been one to stress over reading every label but after trying these items I have a new found interest in paying a little more attention.



BE Really Cheeky Cheek Tint (small and large size): $12.00
Ingredients- Shea Butter, Kokum Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Beeswax,
Alkanet Root, Beet Root, Bayberry Root Powder, and Vitamin E.



Ingredients- Essential Oils, Resins, and Absolutes, and Grapeseed oil.


BE Cleansed Organic Cleansing Oil: $9.00 for this size, $20.00 for bigger bottle

Directions: Rub 5-8 drops into skin, ring out a hot damp washcloth, press onto face, allow a moment to open pores, wipe clean.Also, use as a moisturizer by rubbing 1-2 drops into damp hands and press into face. 

Ingredients: Apricot Kernel Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil,
Calendula Essential Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Neem Oil, Angelica Oil.

Coupon Code
I also wanted to provide the coupon code she generously gave to all of my readers!
If you are interested in any of these items use: LACEY14 for 15% off your entire order!

I love the fact that Malea was on board with my little interview idea because the answers she provided really help explain how and why she created her shop. I hope you enjoy reading over this as much as I did!

1. What got you interested in all natural and organic beauty products? 
One day I was looking at the ingredients in my high end store bought lotion. It contained high amounts of alcohol and mineral oil. They add alcohol to help the lotion dry fast when you apply it but it also drys your skin so it's really not doing you any favors. And mineral oil is like pouring motor oil on your skin. It's harvested the same way. Yuck. So I set out to find products that would actually moisturize my skin and that I would feel good about putting on my body. 
After I started making products for my family, I had an excess of product so I took it to a show I was already doing for my pottery (maleaspottery.com) and sold out of bath products and got two wholesale orders out of it. A new business was born!

2. Did you always have plans to create an Etsy shop?
I have always been a huge fan of Etsy. It seemed a natural platform for my products and has done very well for me. 

3. Out of all the products you offer which one is your favorite?
It's a tie. I love my Cheeky, organic cheek color because it's just so good for your skin and it gives just the right amount of color to look like a natural blush of color on your cheeks. I am also a huge fan of my Cleansed, cleansing serum. It's a mix of a dozen organic and wild crafted oils that break down the skins sebum deposits, lift dirt and grime and wipes away smooth. My skin has never looked more radiant. 

4. Do you have any future plans on expanding your line? If so, what do you want to include?
I am looking at a few other colors of Cheeky to be able to accommodate all skin tones and and also make one that is more color and less moisture for people who want organic color but might have oily or combination skin. 
I am also going to be working on more lip tint colors but replacing the beeswax with carnauba wax as it is harder, will stand up to summer heat and will make all my products vegan friendly. 

5. What is your favorite beauty product at the moment and why do you love it?
Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian clay eye pencil. I don't wear a lot of make up but this portable pencil can look natural and is buildable for more intense evening looks. That plus my Cheeky and Lip Tint and I'm good to go!


Thank you so much for reading and please let me know if you enjoyed this post!
Are you into using natural and organic products?
Love, Lacey

Sunday, May 18, 2014

NEW Black Radiance Urban Identity Shadow Trios| Swatches Included!

Hi lovelies! Do you remember the Black Radiance post I did a few weeks ago? It was all about their latest lip product and if you haven't seen it I'll link it here because I love that post!

Today I am back reviewing yet another new product from this underestimated brand and again I am BLOWN AWAY! A few days ago I was checking out the display which is located right new to Wet N Wild in my local Meijer when I came across these babies. The bright, bold colors caught my eye because that is one world I'm a little afraid of when it comes to eyeshadow. I never typically incorporate color like this into my eye looks because I like experimenting with lip shades so much more but my curiosity got the best of me when it came to these summery hues. I HAD to see if they were worth it and if the pigmentation was as good as that of their sister company Wet N Wild and I must say I was incredibly pleased.




Product Information

Price: $2.84
Size: 0.08 oz./ 2.4 g
Shades: Cute (pink), Correct (green), On Point (brown), Ambition (purple), Alluring (blue) 
Shade Selection: 5
Marketed As: "NEW Urban Identity™ Shadow Trio delivers tone on tone definition with intensely beautiful textures that blend easily for a stunning impact. Each trio compact features pearl, metallic, and matte textures of the same shade family to create a gorgeous waterfall color effect. The smooth, crease-resistant formulas can be worn alone or layered for endless looks day or night".
Where To Buy: I found these at Meijer but they can also be found at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid or anywhere else Black Radiance is sold.


Swatches of Shades

















♥ Across the board these shadows are very consistent and the pigmentation is wonderful. Each contains a nice mix of shades and as far as the layout goes the finishes stay the same throughout the entire line. The top left shade is shimmery with a slight sparkly quality, the top right shade is matte, and the bottom shade has a satin finish.

 I LOVE the color choices they supply in each trio because even though they stick with the certain color theme they are uniquely different yet still complementary of one another.

♥ I definitely think applying a primer helps with these and in this case I used my favorite NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. I'm sure you can tell by the swatches but with the primer these went on smoother and with more color than on bare skin. As far as the formulation it is very smooth and silky. Keep in mind though I did find the darkest purple shade to be quite a bit more powdery than the rest.

All in all I can't explain to you enough how much I am falling in love with this brand and these shadows. For under $3.00 you can't beat the quality and if you are looking to add a little more brightness to your bland eyeshadow collection these are a wonderful and inexpensive addition. With all of these palettes you can practically have every family of colors and even though I don't feel like these could create single looks individually, they would be great supplemental shadows to any look.

If you want to see these in action check out my latest 
Get Ready with Me video featuring the On Point and Ambition trio.


As always I hope you had an amazing weekend and please let me know if you have tried anything from this awesome line. I need to know what to pick up next!

Love, Lacey

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Lipstick Queen Review

Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to give you my thoughts on some great products I recently received. Lipstick Queen was a brand I had never heard of until I reached out to them and they were more than generous when working with me. They sent me 3 of their newest product launches and I must say I am INCREDIBLY impressed which is why I featured them in my recent GRWM video!

This company mainly focuses on lip products after it's founder Poppy King was unable to find her perfect formula in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. She has even written a book that takes you through her years as a young entrepreneur which I would love to read someday. Her story seems incredibly inspiring!


Now, onto the products!



Price: $18.00
Marketed As: "Invisible Lip Liner works wonders with any lip color. The perfect way to stop lipstick from feathering, color stays put and you can create a defined lip line. It's the liner that goes with every single lip color and skin tone".

I love the idea behind this, it's as simple as that. $18 for one lip liner may seem a bit pricey but just think... this is a one stop shop! Honestly, out of everything they sent me I haven't used this that much but that's only because I'm not much of a lip liner person. That may surprise you because I am obsessed with all things lip related but that's just one world that completely overwhelms me! With that being said I have really liked trying it out. The consistency is very smooth and lining the lip line is super easy. I love that this is a twist up pencil so there is no need for a sharpener and this does create a great base for the formula of lipstick I will talk about in a second. I am totally a fan of the idea of having a universal shade to cover all lip options.




Price: $24.00
Size: 0.28 oz/ 8 g
Marketed As: "Just in time for spring, the Oxymoron collection is being joined by a vibrant new shade, Open Secret! In a romantic pop pink hue, this ultra-moisturizing lip and cheek tint, housed in a luxurious, soft touch gold case, looks perfect on your pout and pretty in your purse as well".

After laying my eyes on the beautiful color I was immediately hooked and have been using it almost every day since. This item can be used on both the cheeks and lips but personally I prefer using it as a cream blush. I did try the color on my lips one day but it came off a little too cool to flatter my skin tone and it felt a little drying. On the cheeks though it's a dream. A little goes a super long way and after picking up a tiny bit on my Elf Small Stipple Brush I am ready to blend. I begin on the apples of my cheeks and use my brush to dab the product out and upward towards my temples (I demo this in the video). They do offer 4 shades in their original line but each color is very natural looking so I feel like this shade in particular was a great addition for summer.





Lipstick Queen Lipstick in Jungle Queen
Price: $22.00
Size: 0.12 oz/ 3.5 g
Marketed As: "A color-popping coral suspended in a super-nourishing formulation, Jungle Queen flatters all complexions and is 100% fabulous when paired with your favorite big cat prints. Rrrroar"!

I have really fallen in love with this shade and formula of lipstick. If all of their other colors are this easy to work with you better believe I'll be trying many more! This formula is very unique in the fact that it's pretty thin and very light on the lips. Don't think color pay off and opacity are compromised though! This is the most beautiful and bright summery coral that is said to look great on anyone. The warmth of this lipstick brings out my blue eyes and seriously warms up the complexion like no other (see what it looks like on in the video below)! Staying power is pretty average due to the light formula but the color does seem to hang around for a good while.

I can't even begin to explain how satisfied I am with this brand and these products- they are absolute must haves! They've impressed me so much that now I have many more of their items on my radar. On the top of my "must try" list is their Hello Sailor lip product. It looks deep blue coming out of the tube but turns to a sheer plum shade on the lips. I love things like this during the week when I wear minimal makeup and they say it's very moisturizing while also making your teeth appear whiter! The two other items I am dying to try is the darker shades from their Endless Summer collection as well as their Medieval shade which they claim is a universally flattering red.

I hope you enjoyed today's review and make sure to see these products in action in my latest video!


Make sure to keep an eye out for that Black Radiance post coming this weekend
and please let me know if you've ever tried anything from Lipstick Queen!
Love, Lacey

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips Review + GIVEAWAY!

Hi lovelies! A few weeks ago I got an email from Birchbox because I am part of their BirchBloggers program. From time to time I receive emails containing information on how to enter simple giveaways on Twitter featuring products I could win to review and guess what... I recently won! They sent me 2 Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips- 1 to review and 1 to giveaway! How nice was that?!

First on to the review!


Price: $14.50
Size: 0.50 fl oz/ 15 ml
Marketed As: "Packed with all-natural ingredients, Dr. Lipp’s thick, rich, long lasting formula is clinically proven to repair rough, flaky lips and smooth dry skin patches. Purified Lanolin is the closest thing to your skin’s own natural oils so it provides instant effective relief and the complex combination of lipids replenishes dryness and seals in moisture. Bonus: This versatile lip balm and gloss also heals cuticles, split ends, sunburns, and even diaper rash".
Directions: "Squeeze a small amount onto your fingertip and apply to lips. Reapply when necessary".


My first impression of this little guy was completely different than I imagined! I think all of us beauty lovers research products like crazy once we see something we like and I did just that with this. However, when I opened up this adorable yet hilarious box for the first time I couldn't believe how EXTREMELY thick the balm was! The product itself was so hard to squeeze out of the tube I initially thought that I got a defective batch haha. Once some finally came out I realized that that was the actual texture and I moved on with my life. As for the consistency it is identical to that of regular Vaseline and it really feels the same as that going on, it's just a bit more thick.


I have been using this on my lips for the past few days and I really like it. You just need a tiny bit and after getting used to the consistency I don't have much of a problem getting it out of the tube. I do think it's made my lips softer over the time I've been using it and it beats the staying power of a typical lip balm due to its thickness.

It feels a little bit heavy on the lips but I love that in a lip balm product because it makes me feel like it's actually doing something! It also has sort of a tacky texture which normally would bother me but it is so slight I actually prefer it because it prolongs the wear! It lacks any type of scent as far as I can tell and they do say that it is 100% natural which is pretty cool! I LOVE the idea of products you can use in multiple places and you better believe I will be keeping this multi tasking product in my purse because it is the perfect size. Since receiving it I have only used this on my lips but I can't wait to try it on my cuticles and feet next!

Now who's ready to win?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

I hope you enjoyed my little review of this do it all product!
Good luck and I can't wait to see who wins!
Love, Lacey

Sunday, May 4, 2014

NEW Bite Beauty BB for Lips Haul + Swatches


Hi lovelies! A few days ago I came across this new product from Bite Beauty on Sephora's website and I was immediately obsessed. I am a lip product fanatic (as you may know) and as sad as it sounds I couldn't stop thinking about them until I broke down and purchased online. Now, I HATE buying makeup online and find that choosing the right shade is nearly impossible but ultimately I decided on two.

If you're interested in a full review please let me know but for a little background information this is the first balm like lip product Bite Beauty has put out. Right when I saw this brand hit stores back in March of last year I picked up 3 formulas because the line immediately stole my heart (find my post featuring those here). It's a line based around lip products and lip products only so you know I was SOLD!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on these new BB for Lips and it was so hard waiting to try them until after I took tons of pictures! Since it's a brand that I already know and love I thought that these were a shoe-in but sadly I was a little mistaken. Don't get me wrong, these are very nice but they are definitely not as life changing as I thought they would be. In these photos you will also see their Luminous Crème Lipstick (wonderful formula btw) in Pomegranate which I had to pick up while I was at it. :)






We will start with the BB for Lips since that's probably why you're here! These are selling for $24 each and upon the first application I liked everything besides the scent! I even asked my boyfriend what he thought of it and he didn't like it either. The only way I can describe it is a pretty heavy savory smell that doesn't touch on sweet or floral at all. It reminds me of something along the lines of strawberries and cream without the strawberries haha. 

If you didn't know Bite Beauty prides it's self on being "lip color that's good enough to eat" however I have heard a few complaints with the fact that they used Oxybenzone as the SPF agent. This is an ingredient that tends to break some people out so I would use caution if you've had trouble with it in the past. Keep in mind though that I haven't had any issues and these do contain SPF 15.

As far as color and pigmentation I am pretty happy. I initially got the Natural shade because on Sephora's site is says that these can be used as a primer before applying lipstick. I also thought it would be nice to try the colorless version to see how the formula compared to a typical lip balm. I was pleased with this shade and it does carry a little bit of a nude tint on the lips but personally I would never wear this in place of a lip color.



I feel a little bit differently about the shade Dolce! I always go for the darkest shades when dealing with balm like products because I want the most color payoff. I love bold lips and this shade satisfied my needs. It looks quite dark and scary in the tube but once on your lips it gives off a nice glossy berry shade that would compliment any skin tone! After trying this color I am also anxious to try Tawny which is more of a dusty pink.



I really do like the idea behind this product but I haven't been using them enough to see a drastic change in the texture of my lips. I have been getting a couple hours of wear out of these and once on they feel very nice and moisturizing like they claim. They are on the thicker side (think of the texture of say a Nivea or Fresh Sugar lip balm) but I love the feel. Keep in mind that these don't surpass my beloved Korres Lip Butters in the hydration department though. The one plus to Bite's product however is that it is in twist up form.

In the swatches I hope you can agree that these really do what they claim. They make my lips look healthier and more alive with a hint of natural color. My only hope is that in the future they expand the line to include a few other fun colors. As of right now there are only featuring 5 natural looking shades.

Quickly touching on the last product I picked up, I have loved their lipstick formula from first swipe and after hearing Emily Eddington rave about this red shade I had to get it. It's a really nice bold red that makes your teeth look incredibly white!


I hope you enjoyed this peak inside my recent Sephora purchase!
What do you think of the new BB for Lips from Bite?
Love, Lacey