Organic Beauty Junkie New Website

You can now find Organic Beauty Junkie natural skincare, bath and body products including lip balm, body lotion natural deodorant that really works and so much more at

JAVA Skincare Review

While sipping coffee at her husband's coffee shop 
North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Stephanie Additon learned about the many benefits of coffee and that these benefits could be infused into skincare. JAVA Skincare combines the antioxidant properties of green coffee with the therapeutic benefits of essential oils to formulate these incredible products. They only use the highest quality organic green coffee and pure essential oils and other natural oils. 

Products

The JAVA Skincare lineup includes bodywash, body serum,body scrub and a hand soap. They come in a set for 69.95, but you can also purchase each item individually. 

Body Wash- Oh, how I love this body wash! It has a great consistency as it's not going to slip through your fingers too quickly and it also has a great amount of lather, which I also really enjoy. A little goes a long way.  Surprisingly, this does not smell like coffee, it has almond scent to it. I like the scent, but would prefer a coffee scent in this! 

$14 for a 12oz. Bottle. 

Body Serum - This luxurious serum combines green coffee infused Argan oil with botanical extract to hydrate your skin, going deeper into the layers of the skin than a typical moisturizer due to it's unique molecular structure. The scent is orange blossom, which I really love. It moisturizes incredibly well, but it's not greasy like you might think an oil/serum would be.  Although a little bit does go a long way, I wish it came in a bigger bottle. It leaves your skin silky soft all day!  $36 for 4oz. 

Bar Soap - First of all, I do want to mention that I am not a huge fan of bar soap. It tends to melt too quickly and most of them are drying.  This soap doesn't melt quickly at all and is incredibly moisturizing! It contains coffee grounds to exfoliate the skin. 4.25oz. for $9. 

Body Scrub - In my opinion, this scrub is the winner of this brand! It contains green coffe infused organic Argan Oil & artisan roasted coffee blended with organic raw Sugar, sweet almond, rosemary and Vitamin e to exfoliate. It has just the right amount of "scrubbiness" to it to be really effective, but not irritate sensitive skin, the right amount of oil to be moisturizing, but won't leave you feeling greasy or leave a greasy film in your tub. This smells just like coffee, which I absolutely LOVE! $28 for 8oz. 

According to JAVA Skincare, their green coffee infused products will: 

Super-Hydrate the skin
Slow the appearance of aging
Protect from free radicals
Eliminate environmental toxins
Rejuvenate healthy cells
Restore elasticity
Even skin tone
Reduce fine lines
Reduce inflammation
Brightens and softens skin
Restore a youthful glow

While I'm not totally sure of all the benefits since I've only been using them for a a few months, my skin is definitely softer, smoother, younger looking/feeling and in generally better health. I don't have any cellulite so I can't make any judgement on that, but what I can tell you is that you NEED to try these products!!  They are amazing! You can find them at www.javaskincare.com and also various retailers in the R.I. area. I'm lucky being in MA, I'm not far from Rhode Island at all! Stephanie Addition, I might have to come visit someday and try a cup (or two) of 

that coffee that inspired your incredible products! 

*These products were sent for review and as always all opinions are honest and my own. 

 

Organic Beauty Junkie Indigogo Campaign

Hi Everyone! I wanted to tell you about an Indigogo crowdfunding campaign I've started. As many of you know, I've started making my own natural/organic skincare. I recently opened an Etsy Shop with a few products. I want to expand my business, AND help others. I have a physical disability and have faced many barriers, especially regarding employment. Because of my experiences, I want more than anything, to help others. So, although I am a one woman show right now, I want to be able to hire other people with disabilities to work for me. In order to do that, I need to expand my business, which requires money! I started the Indigogo campaign to raise some of the initial funds it will take to accomplish these goals. If you are willing and able to contribute, thanks SO much, you are awesome! If you don't have the funds, I totally understand, if you could just let your friends and family know about it or anyone else you might think of I would be so grateful! Nobody has to donate a lot, if a bunch of people would just donate a a small amount, that would be great...it all adds up! Thanks so much  and I hope you will support me in this and I look forward to sharing my progress as I go along! If you have any questions, please feel free to find me on any of my social media platforms or email me at maryannmakeup@gmail.com

Maryann Gallagher

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/organic-skincare-and-social-change

Red Apple Lipstick The Lash Project Review & Giveaway

I'm not going to go into great detail about this company, as I've done a review of their amazing products before. Now, if you read my first review of Red Apple Lipstick you know that they make incredible lipstick and eyeshadow. I'm SO excited to tell you about their brand new mascara! It's called The Lash Project and it is incredible and so much more than just a mascara. I'm not sure about you, but for me, finding a new, healthy, effective mascara was the most difficult product to find when I made the decision to go green with my makeup and personal care. I've been disappointed with my lack of options...until now! The Lash Project promises to take care of the most common and most frustrating issues women face when using mascara. This mascara will NOT clump, cause lashes to fall out, give you itchy/irritated eyesflake off, give you short, stubby lashes,smudge,give you that spidery look. The Lash Project WILL stay on ALL DAY but come off easily,lengthen your lashes, volumize your lashes, curl your lashes, condition your lashes so they'll be able to grow healthy and strong 

& last you up to 6 months. Most mascaras are sitting on the shelf for months before you even buy it so experts say to throw it out after 3 months. RAL is made in small batches and shipped right out to you! It might sound too good to be true, but it isn't! This mascara is incredible. Although you only need two coats, I decided to be "adventurous" and try 5 coats just to see if it would clump....It didn't!! Not only did I wear 5 coats, I slept in it the following night. I didn't mean to (I'm not really recommending you do the same) but I wanted to let you know that I did, and it didn't smudge at all! Pretty, awesome, right? Not to mention, I didn't wake up with red, irritated eyes. I've fallen asleep with mascara on in the past, and I always woke up with red, irritated eyes! Not only is the formula great, I love the sleek black (BPA free) tube it comes in. The Lash Project is gluten free, soy free, allergen free, dairy free, paraben free, cruelty free, plasticizer free, vegan, and made in the USA. 

Okay.....here's the difficult part. First go back and read all the awesome things about this mascara I outlined above. Done?? Read it again, it will make what I'm going to tell you next easier to understand! So, the price is $42! I know, I know! I'll be honest, my jaw kind of dropped when I first saw the price. I did some research and realized that most lash conditioning products cost between $30 and $135 for JUST the lash conditioner. You're getting so much more than that for the $42. I couldn't find any long wearing, non-toxic, lash curling mascara AND lash conditioner in one. So, not only is it a revolutionary product, it's basically a bargain! Red Apple Lipstick, you've done it again!! Oh, and did I mention they have a VIP program that you can join to get monthly discounts so you'll never have to pay full price? They also have a 6 MONTH, no questions asked return policy. If you don't like it, you can exchange it for something else or return it for a full refund! RAL has generously offered to provide 1 tube of The Lash Project and a lipstick to one of my lucky readers. Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter below. In addition, I have a discount code for my readers to receive 22% off orders of $50 or more during The Lash Project launch week (July 31st-August 7th) . Enter the code OBJ for your discount on the RAL website.*disclaimer This product was sent to me for my honest review. I am a Red Apple Lipstick Affiliate. What this means is that if you click on the banner at the bottom of the page and make a purchase, I make a small commission. The money I earn allows me to continue my blogging and provide even more fun, exciting opportunities for my readers. Thanks in advance, and as always, I will always give you an honest opinion of the products I choose to review. I would never, ever join an affiliate program unless I was 100% happy with their products, the ingredients they use and the company overall.

Ava Anderson Nontoxic Review

Background

Ava Anderson Nontoxic was started by a bright, young, 14 year old girl named Ava Anderson in 2009. The company uses a direct-selling model in which you find a local Ava Anderson Nontoxic representative who sells the products to you. I am from MA, so I contacted a local rep in my area named Jeanne-Marie Parker. She was lovely and sent me a ton of trial sized samples to try for this review. I chose a few of my favorites to share with you! 

Shower Gel

This is probably my favorite of a the products I tried. It is a simple, basic body wash with clean ingredients. It lathers a bit, but not a lot, it's creamy and not too thick and not thin or runny. It left my skin feeling clean and it smelled great. It had a lemon-lime scent which I loved, it wasn't at at overpowering, just the right amount, I'd say. The price is a good value at $16.95 for 16oz. 

Sunscreen SPF 30

I realize that it's fall right now and  thinking about sunscreen. However, I think people should wear it year round. I have very pale skin and a family history of skin cancer, so sunscreen is a must for me. I really like this one. It's not greasy, not TOO white....although I recommend waiting a few minutes to absorb. It lasts a long time, and can be used for the face and body. The only small drawback is that you have to knead the tube before you squeeze it out so it doesn't apply lumpy. It's s a small price to pay given the value and quality of this sunscreen! A little goes a long way! It comes in a 2.9oz. tube for $15.95

BB Cream

First off, I'm not typically a fan of BB creams. They're almost always too dark for my pale skintone. This one comes in a four shades, and the lightest one is perfect for me. It provides nice, sheer coverage and a finish that's neither matte nor dewy. It's great if you don't like the feeling of makeup on your face and if you like sheer coverage. I typically like full coverage makeup, however, it would be awesome for a casual weekend look. It definitely gives you a "your skin but better" look. It's $18.95 for 2oz. which is an incredible price considering most mainstream, chemical laden BB creams are double the price for half the amount of product. 

Moisturizer SPF 15

This is a great basic moisturizer. It works great for my combination, acne-prone skin, and I think it would be good for most skin types. It did not cause any redness or irritation, which I do sometimes get with moisturizers. It absorbs quickly and gave me baby soft skin. At $20.95 for 1.5oz , I'd say it's a great deal! 

I would definitely suggest that you try some Ava Anderson Non-Toxic products! You can go to directly from Jeanne-Marie by going to www.avaandersonnonontoxic.com and search by name- just type in Jeanne-Marie Parker and choose Massachusetts as the state and you'll be brought directly to her site. You don't have to be local to purchase from her, so please send her some love! You can of course purchase directly from the site or purchase locally, but it would be AWESOME for you to purchase from Jeanne-Marie because she's awesome and she sent me all tons of samples so I could do this review! 

Azure Naturals Ultimate Hyaluronic Anti Aging Serum Review

Background

Azure Naurals is a company that provides skincare products that are all natural, vegan, and cruelty free. They are 

made mostly of botanical ingredients and essential oils instead of harsh chemicals and are designed to be high performance and work as well as mainstream products that contain harmful chemicals. 

The Product

Azure Naturals Ultimate Hyalauronic Acid Serum is made to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration. I have been using it for a few weeks now and I definitely notice a reduction in my fine lines. I don't have any major wrinkles yet, so I can't evaluate if it would help with deeper wrinkles. I have lots of discoloration and I don't see much of a difference in my dark spots yet, but that could be because I need to use it longer. Sometimes discoloration can take several months before a difference can be observed with any product. The serum has no noticeable smell to it and it absorbs very quickly making it an ideal product to use under makeup and for women who are always on the go. The product comes in a 1oz. bottle for 19.95 and a 2oz. bottle for 34.95. 

Ingredients

The product contains vitamin C, Hyalauronic acid and lots of other good ingredients. It does however, contain carrageenan. Carageeenan, although a natural ingredient, derived from red seaweed, is linked to inflammation and other health problems. 

Azure Naturals can be found at www.azurenaturals.com 

*this product was sent for review,all opinions are my own.

3 Month Anniversary Favorites

Three months ago today, I decided to start my blog.  I have always loved anything and everything related to beauty. Since the age of 8 or so I was always "borrowing" makeup from my mom. About a year ago, I started learning about how whatever you put on your skin is absorbed by your body and that there are basically no laws regarding  what ingredients cosmetics companies can and can not put into their products. In addition, I learned about the many horrible chemicals that were in my lipstick, my foundation, etc. I learned that my makeup could be causing cancer,  and my perfume could be causing neurological disorders  I new that I needed to find products that were healthy but I didn't know where to start. Thank goodness for social media! I looked at blogs, websites of various non-profit organizations, etc. through my own journey of switching over to healthy, non-toxic products, I realized that I wanted to connect with like-minded individuals who I could share my experience with regarding what I've learned and what I've struggled with in terms of finding the best possible non-toxic products. So, I decided to start a blog. I didn't know exactly where to start, but I consulted with some of my absolute favorite bloggers as well as owners of companies I loved and trusted to provide the best products I could find!  I would be remiss not recognize a few people who have helped me SO much during the last three months.

Sarita Coren, Peace on the Skin & Peace Within

www.ediblefacial.com

I can't pinpoint exactly when or how I came across Sarita's blog, I believe it may have been through Twitter. I started off asking her a few questions about suggestions for various green beauty products, even before I started my blog. I admired her knowledge and ability to connect with people and when I decided to do my blog, she was one of the first people I reached out to for guidance. Sarita has helped me so much along the way and given me so much encouragement and advice. Despite being a busy mom of 5 kids, and a writer/blogger herself she has always made time to help me and give me advice when I need it! Another thing about Sarita is that she is a very caring/giving person and willing to help pretty much anyone! She is beloved in the entire green blogger community. Sarita, you are one of my favorite people who I've never met! Thank you!

Sarah Piccinini- Owner, Salty Cosmetics

www.saltycosmetics.com

I first "met" Sarah when I placed an order on her website after I had gotten an eyeshadow in a "sample box program" I subscribed to. Salty Cosmetics was one of the very first brands that I found that not only had high quality products, but were made with non-toxic ingredients. I fell in love with this company right away and have placed lots of orders including their custom blend products, which required going back and forth with Sarah to make sure the color is exactly what I wanted. Through this, I got to know Sarah and she has been an incredibly good friend and given me TONS of advice. She is a makeup artist and esthetician and has shared so much of her talent with me. Sarah, I am so grateful I have gotten to know you! Thanks so much for all of your support and thank you for making such awesome makeup! 

Cindy Bokma, author, blogger, www.hellodollface.com

Cindy has been one of my favorite bloggers for awhile now. She offers honest, reliable reviews on her blog.I know that if Cindy loves something, I will too! She is always willing to give support and advice when I need it! Thank you so much Cindy! I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from you! You are such a beautiful and talented person.

Now I would like to share with you, the items/brands that I have reviewed that have become my absolute favorite so far. I've already reviewed them so read the reviews to get all the details, but these brands have products that exceed my expectations by far in terms of quality, performance, ingredients and customer service. They have become staples in my beauty routine. 

1. Salty Cosmetics

2. Red Apple Lipstick

3. Suntegrity Face Sunscreen & Primer

4. Earthling Supply Company- All the Oils

Thanks to everyone who has supported me and followed my blog. Your support means the world to me!I hope you continue on this journey with me and contact me on any of my social media accounts or comment here and let me know if you have any questions! 

Maryann