My Lazy 'No Makeup' Makeup Routine | Cruelty-Free

Now that I'm on a break from working life my attitude to makeup has changed.  I have the freedom to experiment more without worrying about looking work appropriate - Great! - but I also have freedom to wear very little, or no makeup if I want to.  

Who am I kidding? No makeup?!  I've been a makeup junkie since my teens so no makeup isn't going to be a thing I choose very often but 'no makeup' makeup on the other hand is something that I do like.  My skin isn't perfect, as I do have some uneven pigmentation, hereditary under eye circles, visible pores and fine lines, but considering my age it isn't horrible so there are days I just want to look like a fresher version of me.  

Everyone has their own interpretation of low-key makeup and mine has changed over the years so I'm sharing what I've fallen into doing recently.  I was in one of those moods where I was completely over wearing a full face of foundation and was inspired to use minimal products to perfect while still allowing my own skin to show through.  If you're interested in my routine then read on...

After moisturizing I use a teensy squeeze of Om SHE Aromatherapy Pure Magic Primer (at just under 15AUD this is a much more affordable Cruelty Free dupe for Benefit's Porefessional) and rub it into my T-zone to blur my pores on and around my nose.  Then in place of foundation I let a good concealer like NARS Creamy Concealer in Vanilla go to work, just applying it to where it's really needed:  under the eyes, a little down my red nose and spot concealing any other redness or blotches and then I blend, blend, blend it in so I can't tell where the concealed bits end and my natural skin begins. To further even out my skin and take down the shine I lightly brush a tinted pressed powder all over my face and under the eyes to set the concealer (lately I've been using Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder in Natural).  Finally, I don't want to use blush but I do want to bring some subtle dimension back to my face so lately I've been using Hourglass Dim Light Ambient Lighting Powder as a subtle glowy contour (unfortunately I'm really that pale at the moment) and also apply just a touch on the tip of my nose for a subtle glow, to take away that freshly powdered look.

Eyes and lips are even more simple. I just apply a wash of beige shadow over the lids and up to the brow bone to brighten up the eye to look fresher and more awake.  The shade I've been using, Essence The Velvets (03 Smooth Caramel) appears to have been recently discontinued - why do this to me when I was about to shout out that this creamy matte shadow is a favourite? - but any good matte beige shadow should do and I finish off my eyes with a natural looking non-clumping mascara.  I've finally tried Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara (Ultra Black) which is a good one if you hate clumpy lashes. Now I have heard some say this mascara can be prone to smudging - I've got oily lids and normal/combo skin and have had no issues personally -  so I'm putting it out there just to be fair.

I am obsessed with lip products so I'll always wear something because I like the feel of hydrated lips and I need a little hint of youthful colour somewhere on my face. On low-key lazy days I'll either swipe on a tinted balm or sheer lippy like Essence Sheer & Shine.  The shades Glamour Queen (as pictured) or BFF are current picks.

The whole routine takes around 5 minutes so it's as lazy as I like it to be.  What's your lazy day makeup routine?  Do you go for the 'no makeup' look or do you prefer to go with a punch of colour like a bright lip?


(All products purchased by me)

Bite Beauty | Sweet Cream Amuse Bouche Lipstick

Ever since Bite Beauty reformulated and relaunched their lipsticks in the Amuse Bouche formulation last year I was keen to try one for myself.  Being a big fan of the original Luminous Crème formula I was disappointed at first to hear it was discontinued, then wondered how they were going to top it.

Revisiting my thoughts on the Luminous Crème lippy in a 2013 post I loved it because of the glide-on application, moisture-rich comfortable creaminess and the antioxidant ingredient resveratrol, the free-radical fighter found in red wine. I was raving like a crazed fan-girl in the original post so I won't link it directly but you can find it if you click on Bite Beauty in my blog labels. Also, as the original formula has been discontinued it's more of historical (and hysterical!) reference. 

So, the new Amuse Bouche lipsticks promise "bold, creamy lip color" and are "..made with 12 edible oils and triple milled pigments...", to provide, "...saturated lip color with weightless coverage".

Now, the shade I chose in Sephora called Sweet Cream, reminded me a lot of my old Bite lipstick, Rosé, in the shade at least as this warm coral pink looks very similar in the bullet... 

Sweet Cream:

Rosé (this bullet is all finished now):

...but there are some differences I've noticed in swatching and wear.  The new formula has slightly more drag on application, is less glossy and is definitely heavier in pigment.  It's less of a cream and more of a satin so it looks less luscious on the lips - slightly more ageing on me than the previously creamier, sheerer formula - but it stays put better than its predecessor and there is absolutely no bleeding.  

The colour stayed true on my lips from breakfast to lunch and only a minor reapplication was needed after lunch so it would be a good choice for those who don't want to worry about touching up their lipstick throughout the day and prefer a bullet over a liquid lip colour. Also being a bullet lipstick it faded evenly rather than flaking off or drying the life out of my lips and my lips felt comfortable all day.

Arm swatch:

And a selfie after a few hours of wear. There's slight fading but no bleeding:

So do I love this as much as the original? I feel there's a slight trade-off between that moisturizing feeling and longevity of wear but I do prefer a longer wearing, pigmented lipstick for work wear and Amuse Bouche ticks off those requirements for me.  Yes, this lipstick aficionado grudgingly admits this is a better lipstick.  And yes, resveratrol is still one of the ingredients too.

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  Ingredients:

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil**, Glyceryl Rosinate*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)**, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil**, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter**, Triisostearyl Citrate*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil**, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax*, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil**, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax**, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Cera (Wax)*, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil*, Flavor (Aroma), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax*, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax*, Polyglyceryin-3*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil**, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract**, Silk Powder*, Pearl Powder*, Glyceryl Oleate*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables*, Trans-Resveratrol*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil**, Almond (Prunus Dulcis) Oil**, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil**, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil**, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil**, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil**, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil**, Siraitia Grosvenorii (Monk Fruit) Extract*. +/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)*, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499)*, Carmine (Ci 75470)*, Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 27 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742)*.

(This product was purchased by me)

Planning On Panning? Tips For Using Up Your Makeup

 So you’re thinking of doing a project pan or something similar to get the satisfaction of actually using up some of your makeup…

If you have a normal – now sometimes called a ‘minimalist’ – makeup collection you won’t need to read this post because you’re probably going to use a product up before you replace it. However if you’re a makeup collector/blogger/vlogger/hoarder/lover like me then you’re less likely to have that satisfaction without applying some kind of focus and restraint.  

Not long ago I was approached by one of my social media friends to share some info on project pans and the like - I’m not an expert but I do like to give myself a focus or target at the start of each year to use up some of my beloved products and as a result I’ve done project pans, beauty ‘diets’, and makeup use-up challenges all with reasonable success.  Through trial and error I've figured out what works, or not, for me so if you’re interested in getting through some makeup here are my suggestions:

• Before you begin you might want to set yourself a SMART goal of what you hope to achieve in your project pan.  In case you haven’t heard the term, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Rather than having a vague idea you can be a little more organised in how you approach it – last year I set the challenge of 50 makeup empties in 12 months (I'd managed to finish 44 the previous year so I was reasonably confident) and I managed to get there right at the end of the year!  Go ahead and Google SMART if you want to learn more about the technique.

• Go through your collection and look for products  that you have a reasonable expectation to finish (half-worn lipsticks, panned powders, lip glosses etc).  It certainly helped me choosing everyday products that are on high rotation and sticking with those.

• Choose to use what you love and enjoy.  It’s so much easier to keep grabbing for a lipstick that you know is truly flattering. And that means don't keep those expensive products for 'best’ – they expire too (how unfair!) and it’s disappointing when an expensive lipstick goes bad just because you didn’t allow yourself to use it.

• On the other hand it’s always more of a struggle trying to force yourself to finish up a product you don’t like just to be rid of it - if something really isn’t working for you, decide whether to finally remove it from your collection – give it away if it’s hygienic to do so, or toss it in the garbage if it can’t be passed on to someone else.

• Try a ‘one out one in’ approach to get through products more quickly – I have one pressed powder that I use daily and won’t open another until it’s done.  Other things I can keep to a minimum I do too (e.g. I only have 2 concealers, and 3 mascaras - waterproof, everyday, and volumizing – open at the moment)

• Create a list of what you want to use and check the empties off the list as you go – I found this very satisfying because I actually like ticking off to-do lists.  You can create your list in whatever format you wish - it doesn’t have to be anything fancy or high tech. To be honest my list has been handwritten on a notepad! You can add to your list at any stage too if you can see there are additional products you love using and think you can finish.

• Put the products you’ve selected to use in an everyday makeup basket or drawer for easy access and so you don’t have to think about it.

• Give yourself an occasional break from your panning mission e.g. every weekend, one weekend a month, one week every few months depending on your needs to allow yourself the freedom to use whatever you like.

• You might want to take step back from beauty spending and think about going on a low-buy - if not a no-buy - so you can focus on enjoying what you have already. Doing this makes me grateful for what I have and as a bonus my spending habits have changed as a result.

• Finally, if you’re on social media share your progress for that extra support from your audience – they will encourage you as you go and keep you accountable too! They're your virtual support group! I personally love seeing used makeup on social media more than pristine pans and lipstick bullets – it shows genuine love for what the person owns - so I'm more likely to comment on those posts.

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If you're about to embark on your own mission I hope some of these ideas help you too - When I look at them now I don't think they're anything more than commonsense really but it did take me a while to get there myself.

I wish you the best of luck!

Natural Supply Co Haul | First Impressions

Who doesn't love the occasional bit of online shopping? I hadn't done any significant shopping in a while but I recently made a few purchases at Natural Supply Co.  Taking advantage of a discount code sale and free standard shipping over $99 I bought quite a few things that I knew I'd get into using straight away.  I'm being a bit more selective in my choices these days but all of these products are things I use on a regular basis so there's no impulse shopping or buyer's guilt happening here.

While I use these kinds of products I've not tried most of the brands before so I'd like to share my first impressions with you.  Being first impressions I'll try to keep my thoughts short and sweet!

GROWN ALCHEMIST PURIFYING BODY EXFOLIANT (5.7 oz/170ml)

They say:
"Grown Alchemist Purifying Body Exfoliant with Pearl, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang is a revitalising body exfoliant formulated with a sensuous, nutrient and antioxidant rich blend of botanical and pearl bioactive ingredients designed to gently remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin noticeably softened, smooth, deeply cleansed and feeling refreshed."

My thoughts:
I like shower products in squeeze tubes as it makes it easy to get just the right amount without the mess so this was a thumbs up before I even tried it.  I do enjoy the subtle peppermint and ylang ylang scent which made for a refreshing combination and the scrubby particles are effective at doing their job, leaving my skin feeling smooth afterward.


LASH FOOD INSTANT EYE MAKEUP REMOVER (100ml/3.4fl.oz)

They say:
"LashFood Conditioning Instant Eye Makeup Remover is a conditioning dual-phase formula that moisturises lashes and instantly removes even the toughest makeup formulas.

LashFood Conditioning Instant Eye Makeup Remover was uniquely formulated to minimise lash loss and breakage when removing mascara and eye makeup. The dual-phase formula activates when shaken and instantly removes even the most stubborn waterproof formulas. Its gentle yet effective ingredients will leave skin feeling soft and lashes hydrated."

My thoughts:
I always use dual-phase removers so clearly I'm a fan of these.  The Lash Food remover is one of the more gentle formulas I've tried - it doesn't sting or burn (like another luxe brand I've been using lately), doesn't feel overly greasy and it easily removed my waterproof mascara in one application without any tugging or panda eyes afterward.


ONLY GOOD NATURAL HAND WASH - NOURISH (300ml)

They say:
"Only Good Natural Hand Wash in Nourish helps to gently cleanse and condition your hands as it nourishes skin with clever natural moisturisers coconut and shea butter."

My thoughts:
A bit of a backstory:  I have dry, sensitive skin on my hands so I've had to become fussy about what I use to wash them, and make sure I always carry hand cream to keep them from drying out and cracking.  I've found that switching to gentle, more natural formulas has made all the difference and I'm no longer plagued with winter eczema, so you can understand why I've become rather fussy about what I wash my hands with!

I've only been using the Nourish hand wash formula for a few days but I can tell that it agrees with my skin.  The wash has a delicate coconut scent, works up into a creamy lather and leaves my hands feeling clean but not stripped of moisture.  The 300ml bottle is just the right size to fit nicely on the edge of the bathroom basin too and the packaging is a practical plastic but attractive enough to look at home in any bathroom.


LA MAV ORGANIC BIO-ACTIVE PRIMER (50ml.1.7fl.oz)

They say:
"Suitable for all skin types, the new La Mav Organic Bio-Active Primer locks moisture into the skin whilst creating the perfect hydrated base for your foundation application. 

La Mav Organic Bio-Active Primer evens skin tone while creating an even base to aid foundation longevity. It firms and plumps skin, while soothing and nourishing."

My thoughts:
I wasn't sure if I'd like this because I have an oily T-zone but so far I'm truly loving it.  I was worried that a hydrating primer = shiny skin but this primer effectively mattified my skin once I applied it.  It's definitely different to any primer I've tried as the white lotion initially feels tacky on the skin before it dries.  Because it's not my usual silicone-based choice, my makeup seems to "grip" or adhere to my skin better over the primer for more opaque but still smooth coverage and it lasts all day without the need to powder at midday. It's still very early days - and I need to try this under a range of foundations - but this is the product I've been most seriously impressed with. Now I'm curious to try other products in the La Mav range!


PHR  PROFESSIONAL DETOX SHAMPOO (375ml)

They say:
"The PHR Professional Detox Shampoo combats dull and lifeless hair by removing built-up dirt caused by styling products, chlorine, salt water and other daily impurities.

With a combination of soothing Chamomile and Nettle Extracts, this rejuvenating shampoo brings back bounce and shine to the hair. Using natural wheat proteins this product hydrates even the most dry and brittle hair."

My thoughts:
This shampoo is quite a runny formula but it builds up a generously creamy lather and the scent is very subtle to the point that I can't really describe it.  It cleaned all the product buildup from a hair salon appointment the day before and didn't leave my hair feeling stripped or in a matted, overly tangled mess.


BON LUX VOTIVE CANDLE - SWEET SMOKE

They say:
"BON LUX Sweet Smoke combines the mysterious smokey scent of a beehive, and the crackle of a forest fire. This candle blends notes of honey and beeswax with woodsmoke and spice."

My thoughts:
I've picked the perfect winter's night candle scent for the family room and this medium sized candle effectively projects its scent into our high ceiling space. I enjoy how different this scent is as it conjures up memories of an open fire but with a slightly sweet, spicy twist.


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All of these products were purchased by me and are available at Natural Supply Co.

Natural Supply Co provide free standard shipping for all orders over $99 and express and international shipping are also available.  

Until next time!