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

Earthling Supply Company Review

Background

The Earthling Supply Company was started by friends and "lifelong product junkies" Kat, a "yogi" and "amateur astrologer" and Ruth, a Reiki Master, aromatherapist and massage therapist, in Rochester, New York. When they couldn't find natural products to solve their skin problems, including acne, psoriasis and dry skin they decided to take it upon themselves to create their own products from scratch using healthy, effective ingredients that you can pronounce. After trying these homemade products on themselves, they shared them with friends and family who encouraged them to make these products for others.  Thus, Earthling Supply Company was born. Their products are all natural, using locally-sourced, organic products when possible, cruelty-free (tested on willing inhabitants of planet Earth, not animals), paraben free, sulfate free and handmade in small batches and with reusable, ecofriendly packaging! I love the little mason jars!! 

The Products

All the Oils- is a blend of oils including hemp seed, jojoba, apricot kernel, sweet almond, and grapeseed. In addition it has rosemary, eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils. It's great for anti-aging and acne. I can attest to that as my persistent adult acne has diminished greatly since I began using it. It is going to become a staple in my acne-fighting arsenal! I've also noticed that it doesn't dry out my skin like most acne treatments do, it actually moisturizes, without feeling greasy! As stated on their Etsy page, do not use this product near the eyes!

Lip Balm- the lip balm is made from mango butter, hemp seed oil, coconut oil and vitamin e. They are flavored with pure extracts and essential oils. They sent me the Coffee Flavor! Kat, Ruth, are you psychics, too because I LOVE coffee!! 😄 So glad you sent me that flavor! The scent is delicious, not overpowering for those who may be sensitive. I'd love more of it since I love it so much!! This lip balm is incredibly creamy and moisturizing. There are a lot of natural lip balms out there and I have to tell you that this is definitely among my favorites. 

Tropical Coconut & Shea Skin Butter- This rich, creamy, whipped body butter contains, coconut oil, shea butter, lemon and lime essential oils, lime extract and aloe vera. This is a great body butter. It is rich, but rubs in well and isn't greasy. It leaves my skin so soft and silky. In addition, it really soothed the dry skin I have from a sunburn I got at the beach last weekend! I love the citrus scent....again not overpowering, and I'd love the scent to be even stronger since it's SO good! 

Lavender Sea Salt Aromatherapy Body Scrub- This scrub contains grapeseed, jojoba, and olive oils to moisturize the skin while sea salt scrubs away dry flaky skin and callouses. The lavender essential oil provides a relaxing aroma! This scrub is a must-have for summer! 

Baby Serum- This product, although made to moisturize and soothe baby's delicate skin, it's great for adults, too! I frequently get dermatitis on my body and this seemed to moisturize and soothe it very well! Baby Serum contains almond, apricot and avocado oils as well as a touch of lavender essential oil. It can also be used as a massage oil.

These products are incredibly affordable as they are all under $15 for the sizes shown in the pictures. 

You can find the products on Etsy. 

Customer Service- Although I did not purchase from this company, I have contacted them several times regarding the review and they are super nice and super helpful! I'm pretty sure that when I purchase full sizes of these products, I won't have any problems. 

Another amazing thing that I love about this company? They give to charity! A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Women Helping Girls, a Rochester, NY non-profit which offers mentoring and empowerment to girls grade 6-12 in the city school district. "By giving to future generations of ladies, we hope to contribute to a harmonious flow of female affluence in our community."

How awesome is that? Go buy some Earthling Supply Company products right now!!!!! I know I'm going to! 

*samples sent for review, as always opinions are my own. 

*pictures above are full-sized products , samples came in ecofriendly glass vials. The lip balm they sent me was full size. 😄

Vapour Organic Beauty illusionist Concealer

Background

Vapour Organic Beauty was created by 3 beauty industry experts and cosmetics manufacturers Krysia Boinis Kristine Keheley and Eric Sakas who is the former President of Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, after  they became aware of the many chemicals in mainstream cosmetics and skincare products. Based on the fact that "up to 80% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body" they developed products without harsh chemicals. They company is USDA Certified Organic, 100% natural, and made with 70% certified organic ingredients, and 30% minerals and vitamins. They are gluten free, paraben free and contain no toxic chemicals. They are also cruelty free.  In addition, they are a signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. They have a full line of cosmetics including foundations, concealers, cream blush, eyeshadow, lipstick, lip gloss,  highlighters and skincare. 

The Product

The concealer I bought is #015 which is a pale neutral shade that suits my skintone well. It comes in a stick form and applies well right from the tube, but could also be applied with a brush. It goes on smooth on my face and under eye area. It provides a very light coverage with a luminous coverage. Although I like the luminous finish, I found that it did not cover my dark undereye circles enough and it also creased in the fine lines under my eyes. It did however, cover some redness on my face and other minor imperfections. On days when my skin isn't broken out and I've had adequate sleep, I think it works okay for me, however, I generally prefer concealers with more coverage. The other thing I noticed is that it has a very strong herbal/medicinal smell which I did not like . Although it is a high quality product with healthy ingredients given the light coverage, and high price tag ($24) I will not repurchase. I would however, recommend it to anyone who needs a light coverage concealer with a luminous finish. 

Customer Service

Vapour Organic Beauty accepts returns within 30 days. In addition, they offer sample sets so you can find the correct shade of foundation, concealer, blush, etc. Shipping is free for regular orders over $75 and sample kits ship for $2.50. 

Vapour Organic Beauty can be found at 

www.vapourbeauty.com