Editorial - Parabens are SAFE! Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Confirms.

For all of you that have been in fear or unsure about whether or not products with parabens in them are safe to use, I'm linking to an article in Skin, Inc. Magazine (title above) that finally puts the issue to rest.  Great Brittain's number one skincare brand's developer, Liz Earle, even told me herself that parabens are probably the most effective preservatives for skincare one can get.  The only reason she doesn't use them in her own line is because of the misconceptions surrounding them. 

Interesting fact: Blueberries are packed with parabens which is why they stay fresh longer than the other fruits you buy with them.

Please feel free to comment if you are still in doubt or have any questions and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Review- Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder

• Natural coverage that leaves skin the way it was meant to be…fresh, breathing, flawless
• No oils, no waxes, no nonsense

What I like best about the Maybelline Fit Me Line is that I'm sure to find the right shade for my skin tone. So far, as has been the case with the Fit Me Foundation, this pressed powder matches nicely with my normal skin tone and looks very natural on. It's a clean formula that leaves my skin feeling soft and unclogged. Usually, I'd layer loose or pressed powder on top of my foundation on top of a primer or serum plus on top of moisturizer before that, but with this fresh pressed powder, I'm finding that I need to wear it over moisturizer only and I'm set. It provides full coverage all-around and lasts all day, not to mention time-saving as well! Definitely worth a try if you're someone who likes to keep it simple and normally wear powder only, this Maybelline Fit Me powder seemed to cover it all nicely! This is one of the few cases, where I liked the product better in its most pure and simple form and preferred not to add it on top of anything else.

review - Ruby Kisses All Over Glow Bronzing Powder ABP03

From sunrise to long after the sun sets, this silky smooth and SPF infused bronzing powder delivers a natural head-to-toe glow for any skin tone. Radiant and delectable, your sun-kissed look will be perfect for any time of the year.

This bronzer is good, I'm sure, but I am a very pale blond and I received shade 3. It looked VERY orange on my skin, more so than any other bronzer I have tried. So I applied it, it has great pigment for the price (under $5) and unfortunately for me has great staying power. I would say if I had received this in the right color I would be very happy with the end result. Ruby Kisses makes some very good quality for very little money. Hopefully someone else has also received this bronzer so they can add to this post! Please feel free to add your opinions and thoughts!

Review - NYC Liquid Lipshine in Fashion Fuchsia

Have you heard the gossip? There’s a new gloss in town! NYC New York Color Liquid Lip Shine is getting headlines with seriously high-drama color at a seriously low price. Pure pigments give a 3-D effect that’s off-the-charts glossy. Tons of hot new shades, from preppy nudes to bold statement hues – all for less than your weekly fashion magazine.

Can we say LOVE! I work at a department store as an assistant manager in the cosmetics section where we sell mainly designer lip glosses. All of these glosses start at around $30,and with the exception of Chanel I like this NYC Liquid Lipshine more than all of them! For only $2.49 you can have creamy, beautiful color that doesn't last hours by any means, but definitely long enough. The applicator is awesome, really skinny and flexible, which I wasn't expecting but LOVE! I got it in Fashion Fuchsia, a vibrant beautiful pink that I'm super happy with. I have to say I could totally buy one in every color, and I wouldn't even mind the expense! Very very happy with this lippy, I will totally repurchase this product.

Review - MBeze Ife Deodorette

- (ee-FEH) – a female African name meaning “love” -
The essence of strawberry makes this scent sweet, while African musk and sandalwood give it a lovingly bold and exotic appeal. Keep this cosmetic deodorant in any purse, bag, or pocket for convenient application wherever you are. Made with natural and organic Ingredients. Not tested on animals.

I don't want to be a nay sayer. I try really hard to like everything that I try from small natural skin care lines. The "Deoderette" is a mini deodorant, it is about the size of a chubby Chapstick but a bit shorter. While it would totally be convenient to throw in my pocketbook or clutch I find the size makes the deodorant quite difficult and uncomfortable to apply. The product itself is really waxy, so it isn't really slick when your applying it which adds to the difficulty of it. Personally I do not like deodorant, I'm bad and I use antiperspirant. For me it wasn't worth the difficulty, despite the size and the very cool naturalness and innovation of this company. The product does work well and has a pleasant strawberry scent and it does neutralize odors on the skin. If your a deodorant user, and you have issue with how much space your product takes up in your bag than this "Deodorette" could be for you. Unfortunately, you'll have to spend $10 for .3 oz on it......... for me its a no, but if you love all natural ingredients and cute little start up companies this product is definitely for you!

Review - Ruby Kisses Lip Salvation in Menthol

Treat your lips to a fresh, tingling sensation while leaving a super glossy shine. Keep it in your pocket or purse to always have in your hand for a refreshing feeling all day long. Clear or tinted, it's a must-have for every girl. Your lips will thank you!

I have never seen Ruby Kisses before I received this basket of goodies, and I am lucky enough to be able to try quite a few of their products. I like them all, and they all seem pretty affordable. It is a little difficult to get an idea of what the company is all about, but all in all I think I like the fresh Urban feel of it. The Lip Salvation I was lucky enough to receive is clear, but you can also get it in colors. The packaging of this lippy is pretty standard, it works well and is no fuss which I like. It feels pretty utilitarian, which I really like because if I'm using a clear lip gloss with Shea butter, organic mint leaves and jojoba seed oil I want to be searching for this kind of tube in my bag. You just get the idea of comfort when you feel the package in your hand while searching through your bag! I didn't get much of a tingling feeling on my lips, which I was searching for because the scent is definitely there. I'm happy when I use it, my lips seem conditioned and it lasts a really long time. This product is awesome for under $6 I'm very happy and so are my lips!

Review - Sally Hansen Everyday Streangth Nail File

File and shape nails with ease with this set of Everyday Strength nail boards from Sally Hansen.

I'm not gonna lie, it seems strange to be really excited about a nail file, but I am. For under $3 you get two sturdy, really good sized nail files. The file itself is exactly what I want, its fine enough that it doesn't pull, but gritty enough that you can really take some nail off if you want to. I have been using one for a couple of weeks and I can hardly tell that its been used at all. Probably the best cardboard nail file I have ever used! Sally Hansen always does such a good job for very little money, and the same is true here!

Review- I Love Blueberry & Smoothie Hand Lotion

Super smooth and luxuriously nourishing our new hand lotions will leave your hands super soft and beautifully fragranced.

Mmm, I love the smell of blueberries and this hand lotion delivers highly on scent! I recently switched hand soaps and lately my hands have been super dry, although using this lotion really has softened my skin and made a recognizable difference. My hands literally went from dry and scratchy to silky and well-nourished just from this cream. It's a strong sweet scent so if that's what you're looking for, there's no shortage of fragrance here. Personally, I love the extra burst of fruitiness and find it surprisingly gratifying! Aside from the enchanting scent, my hands really do feel soft and silky couple that with a light touch of luxury, this lotion is an all-around go in my opinion. It dries fairly quickly and doesn't leave your hands feeling sticky, but softer and sweet-smelling, that enough had me sold from the go!

Review - L'Occitane Hibiscus Flower Shea Hand Cream

This Limited Edition Hibiscus Flower Hand Cream, enhanced with an exotic and sensual fragrance, is highly concentrated in Shea Butter (20%) to help protect, nourish and soften your hands.

She went to Tahiti the summer after her sophomore year of college. "All alone?" her friends asked her. Alone, she told them, she could have an adventure. Her grandmother had given her enough money to sustain a few months in a tropical climate, so off she went.

It was hard at first, being a foreigner who wasn't quite a tourist. "I want to see everything," she told the woman in the dress shop. "Everything? Good luck," she said, and went back to her gossip magazine.

But she did try to see everything, even when rain beat down like there could never be enough water. As she ran through the rain, she saw him: a tan boy with a basket full of hibiscus blossoms. He saw her dashing through the rain and chuckled. "Kind of wet out, wouldn't you say?" she shouted over the sound of thousands of water droplets pelting the ground and the trees and the rocks. "Kind of?" he laughed outright at her, and held out a flower. "For the lady in the rain." Then he was gone. And at the end of the summer, so was she.

Sometimes she thinks about that boy when she uses her L'Occitane Limited Edition Hibiscus Flower Hand Cream. She lets the shea butter soak into her dry hands and inhales the divine scent of the flower that, for a moment, meant everything to her. She's older now, and doesn't run in the rain, but at least her hands smell like hibiscus.

Review - Upper Canada Golden Maple Lip Balm

Golden Maple Sugar - A natural skin softener! This emollient-rich balm envelops thirsty lips in moisture with a blend of Shea Butter, Beeswax, Cocoa Seed Butter, and Vitamin E.

OH MY GOD THIS LIP BALM TASTES SO GOOD YOU GUYS.

I don't even like maple all that much, except when it's made into snow candy a la Little House in the Big Woods. Like, maple syrup is fine, but I'm not going to eat one of those maple candies shaped like a leaf. But this lip gloss! It just tastes sweet and nice.

It feels like maybe it's a little bit exfoliating? Like there is actually sugar in it? But there isn't. It's just nice, natural lip balm from our friends in Canada. I'm not saying you should rush out and buy it, but if you see it, try it, especially if you like maple.