Dealing with Hair Loss: Telogen Effluvium, Stress, & Products I've Tried

Seven months. That is the last time I've tried to write any sort of post on this blog. No drive, no time, nothing to write about-until now. I figured I would share my experience with my hair loss and what I am trying to do to reverse or slow it, all the while trying to stay positive. This post got lengthy, really fast, so I will try to make it easier to navigate.

Background

First off, if anyone tells you "it's just hair" when you start losing it, they do not get it-at first.

When I noticed my hair thinning, I freaked out. I was sad. Mad. Confused. I mean I barely put heat on my hair. Occasionally dye it, but no bleach. My diet is extremely clean, except for one  or 2 cheat days here or there. I worked out. I felt fine. Stressed, tired, but overall healthy. I frantically researched what could be wrong, bought supplements and products, and booked an appointment with my doctor that later led to a dermatology appointment. Family and friends said, "it's not that bad. It looks a little thin, when you show me, but it is not that noticeable. Fast forward about a month. I compare pictures of the thinning (at that point) to the prior month to my boyfriend, family, and friends. No hidden reactions-pretty much everyone either made a face or said, "Oh wow!" K guys, thanks, I appreciate the support. Kidding, but really, it did kind of hit me harder at that point. I was waiting on my derm appointment, and just trying to ignore the hairs that were piling up in the shower, on my pillows, and on my clothes.

Eventually, I got to see a dermatologist. Diagnosis: unknown. Probably a number of factors, like stress, a recent illness (hand, foot & mouth that I picked up from a kiddo at work-side note, I am a pediatric RN), the new job (I had been working as an RN for about 3-4 months at this point)and maybe a traumatizing event that had recently happened (horrible and realistic episode of sleep paralysis that occurred to my boyfriend and I at the same time, and has since affected my ability to sleep). Overall, most likely Telogen Effluvium.

The What

If you're not sure what TE is, aocd.org says it is: "when some sort of stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic. If there is some sort of shock to the system, as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are shed in large numbers about 2 months after the "shock". This sudden increase in hair loss, usually described as hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium. "

My dermatologist said the stress could be mental/emotional (work, family or social life, etc), physical (new diet, workout routine, or recent illness), or any other stress factor.  Since I had so many possibilities for a cause, I think she just rolled with that diagnosis. Treatment? Sit it out, just wait. Be good to your hair. Eat a healthy diet. Take Biotin, hair skin & nails, or prenatal vitamins. Limit damage to hair. Don't have tension on the hairline (such as a tight ponytail or bun). 

What I did is all of the above. I also started doing a ton of research, bought a few more products, and came to terms with this whole TE thing. I would do my hair but try to ignore the areas of thinning. Don't ask me how you ignore parts of your head that are there when you are physically touching them and styling them, but I guess I just mentally blocked it out-I didn't want extra stress about hair loss to increase the hair loss even more! 

Losing it
With everything I did to try to decrease the hair loss, and promote new, I would say I lost maybe 35% of my hair. Is that horrible, compared to those that lose 50-70%? No. Is it still hard. Hell yes! I am a female. I like my hair. I like to have my hair, to style it, to show off my personality. So when it starts thinning out, and I have areas where my scalp is showing through streaks of my hair, I am going to be bummed. I am at the point where I still try to ignore the loss, and I realllllly try to promote new growth, but I am also just waiting. Waiting for my body to say "HEY! Grow hair, grow!" TE takes time. Your body has to be ready for the hair follicle to come out of this "resting phase". The fortunate thing about TE (if that is what this is) is that most cases do not result in complete baldness. I do not even want to think about that! 

Mostly, for me, it has just caused an extra insecurity. It also is scary to think, "hey, hopefully this is TE and not something else". I did have a full blood work up, and everything was fine-no anemia, no hyperthyroidism, etc. I do not like the what ifs. What if its something else? What if this is permanent? What if it never grows back. If I have a baby one day, will I lose even more hair after birth? So many questions. I do my research, I try my best, and then I just ignore it. 

Side notes:I do switch the side that I sleep on. Some nights I sleep left, some right, and some on my back. I try to be gentle with my hair, but I've been told multiple times that if your hair wants to fall out, its going to no matter how gentle you are (hmmm?) I do rotate where I part my hair, and have done so for years (prior to all of this).I still eat a balanced diet. I would like to get a silk pillowcase, because I have read they are much more gentle on your hair. I still take my vitamins, and try to stay positive.

The research for the next best thing is always on-going. I hope to wake up one day and be like, "woah, that part line is looking mighty thick girllll". Or not. Maybe just my old normal. I've never had thick hair. My hairdresser always said, "you have such fine hair, but a lot of it". Note to self-cherish "fine but plentiful" hair if it all comes back. This could be my new normal... but I am hoping for the best! Hopefully by sharing this, someone can share something with me, that worked for them. Maybe I can help you with something I have tried. I'm no doctor, (just an RN guys), just someone looking for answers. Right now, I feel like I am still loosing hair at the same pace as when I first noticed the hair loss. I have been taking vitamins and doing this and that for about 6 months. About 2 months ago, I thought maybe I was seeing some improvement. Not necessarily new growth, but a slowing of the hair loss. Maybe I got lazy with routine, was not gentle enough, or stress took over, but I feel like I am back to where I started some days. Others I do see some progress. So.SO. Confusing.

Fun facts (because we have to joke about this or I will just be eternally sad):
1. Counting individual hairs in the shower that pile up is tedious work. Have you ever tried to separate 10 fine hairs from 10 other fine hairs?!
2. When you condition your hair, you can be certain that a lot more hair is about to end up on your shower floor. Thanks conditioner, 'ppreciate ya.
3. Said showers = wet hair. Wet hair and thinning areas do not go together. Everything looks wayyy worse when hair is wet. Avert eyes from mirror. Or just take all your snapchats then so you can joke with friends about it (again, I try to get through this with humor, lol).
4. Personally, curling my hair (and then washing it a few days later) results in a lot more hair loss. Look real cute with some beachy waves and take one for the team or just walk around with boring stringy hair. Oh, the struggle.
5. "I don't want to put heat on my hair, I can't go out"-statement to avoid being social and instead Netflix & chill alone with popcorn and Halo Top Ice Cream (possible perk? Eh?)
6. "I don't want to damage my hair"-statement for why hair always looks a hot mess.
7. Accept the fact that your bathroom may or may not look like it was featured on a hoarders show. I'm a sucker for anything with "for thinning hair" or "promotes a healthy scalp". Okay advertising, ya got me.
8. "It's just hair" is a statement that is said over and over. Yes, it's just hair. But I am someone that likes my hair. I am probably vain for that, right? I like to look nice. For me, personally, having hair that I can style to accentuate my "personality and other great attributes that realllly matter" is kind of important. I can't change that. Honestly, my personality and general attitude when I am down about my hair is probably not that fantastic. So let me wallow in my sadness for a minute. Then, I will snapchat you the worse possible angle and lighting of a thin area and we will both laugh. 

First, let me take a selfie
I will include a few pictures below for reference. Pretty recent, definitely horrible quality and angles. I can promise you that taking pictures of your thin areas does not qualify for a good time. 

 Dry hair. The top picture shows the diffuse thinning. Bottom picture is the 

ever-expanding part line. 

Hair right after washing. 

Styled hair. Apart from just looking like I have fine hair, you can not really see the results of TE when my hair is style and not pulled back/tucked behind my ears (fortunately). You can see the widened part line and thinning hair right at the scalp if you are close enough in person. 

Things I have tried 

First, let me say that I do not know if one specific product helped me. I will continue to use these products that I am listing, in the hopes that they are doing me some good. I did however choose these products based off of research, other testimonials, and general reviews of the products. I would love to do a separate post on a specific product if requested, but due to the fact that this post is already a mile long, I will spare the details for now. (Most products purchased from Vitacost.com!) 

1. B'iota Botanicals Herbal Care Experts Daily Care for Normal/Dry Thinning Hair Shampoo & Conditioner  (buy at must drugstores like CVS or Walgreens, or Amazon. This is one I would like to review-highly recommend!)

2. Vitamins/Supplements: Zinc, Biotin, and Evening Primrose (deserves a post-supposed to be great for hair loss!) all can be found pretty much anywhere, but I go through Vitacost & Ebates (to get cashback for all this money I am throwing down on this stuff!) 

3. Emu Gold Emu Oil (deserves a review post). Supposed to do wonders for your skin, scalp and hair (or wherever you choose to apply it!)

 4. Andalou Naturals Age Defying Scalp Intensive with Argan Stem Cells For Thinning Hair Serum & Shampoo. I will say that I used all of the serum. I don't know if it necessarily helped, and it was kind of annoying applying it in-between hair washes to dry hair, but I would probably purchase again. The shampoo was not my fave. I didn't really like the formula or smell, and couldn't find a reason to continue using it. 

If you made it this far, thank you for sticking around! I hope to learn more about hair loss, hear your stories, and share product recommendations if you have any. Sorry for such a lengthy post, but as you can tell, I am sort of passionate about this subject! Hang in there if you are dealing with hair loss-it will get better/easier with time! 

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

**All products listed in this post were purchased by me.

Makeup Talk // Review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup

Hey beauties! Today I am bringing you a review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup, a natural and organic brand based out of Texas. According to their website, the brand stands for "the best of Western Tradition". If you check out their website, you'll learn a bit more about the brand and see the fun western-inspired makeup names. When it comes to reviewing the products, I always test them out for 2-3 weeks at least before giving my opinion-I hope this review can be found helpful for anyone curious about a great natural and organic brand!

 Wearing most of the products I was sent! The blush, bronzer, 3 eyeshadows, highlighting concealer, and foundation. 

From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Eye Firming Cream, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4", Wild West Blush in the shade "Rawhide", Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5", and the Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena". 

Top picture: natural lighting. Bottom picture: with flash. From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4" and then "Grullo 5", Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena" and the Wild West Blush in shade "Rawhide" heavily swatched and then lightly swatched. 

The first product I used was the Eye Firming Cream, which is said to firm and tone the under eye area. I do not think I have had enough time nor sample to really confirm the benefits, but so far I do know that it leaves my eye area feeling soft and moisturized.

Next, I used the Under Eye Highlight Concealer. This is a peachy toned cream concealer that helps to brighten the under eye area. For a girl like me (with hereditary dark circles, products like these are a must.

As you can see, the right under eye is a ton brighter than the left after using this product. I believe I tapped on a bit of the product, let it set for about 30 seconds, and then tapped on a bit more to get more of a brightening effect. If you are someone with only minor dark circles, I think this product could be a huge help to your beauty routine! Since mine drive me so nuts, I add a bit of concealer on top of this to really get the coverage I want.

After priming my face with my usual moisturizer and primer, I applied the Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5" to half my face. I find that this powder foundation gives a sheer to medium coverage (buildable) and leaves a natural finish. This foundation wears amazingingly (not a word but oh well). I have worn it to work-sweating and running around-and it still holds up. The same goes for the Pressed Powder Foundation, which wears just as well, with more of a medium to semi-full coverage (buildable). Something I love about both these foundations are their ability to photograph well. Not only do they look great in person, but they also look awesome with flash photography, which is hard to come by when you have mineral makeup products.If you look at the picture below, you can see how airbrushed the makeup looks-I didn't edit my skin at all. The shade "Grullo 4" is a tad too light for the summer months for me, but it would probably be a go-to for the winter! As for my skin type, I have combination-oily skin and I was impressed with how the foundations did not cause any extra oil, and it was helpful in keeping excess oil from breaking through.

As you can see, the pressed foundation gives a bit more coverage. I think the pressed foundation is a tad bit darker than the loose foundation (even though they are the same shades), but maybe that has to do with the coverage they offer. 

Matte/Semi-Matte Eyeshadows in shades "Mud", "Arena Sand" and "Rodeo Rose".

 Swatches of the same shades with flash photography (top) and natural lighting (bottom). 

 A light application of all 3 shades.

 The last items I used/received are the Matte (and semi-matte) Eyeshadows. The colors are pretty and definitely pigmented, and were easy to blend. I didn't have any issues with fallout or the product smudging throughout the day, but I also tend to use concealer as a base on my eyelids, which acts as a primer. 

  Another shot with all the products! This is a picture with natural lighting-you can see how smooth the foundation still looks. It is almost like a "your skin but better" finish!

Well, if you made it through this super detailed post, thank you! I always try to be as detailed as possible, in the the hopes that my opinions could be helpful for someone trying to decide if they should try a product or not. I honestly have nothing bad to say about any of the products; I have spoken up before about products I was not happy with, but that is not the case here! All in all, I would 100% recommend and back up in product that I have spoke about on this post. I actually am interested in a few more of Cowgirl Dirt's products (such as the cream foundation, organic facial serum, and lipsticks) because I was so impressed with the products I already have. I could definitely see myself buying Cowgirl Dirt products and using them for a majority of my makeup needs-they are amazing! Give them a try if you are on the fence, I dont think you will regret it!

Thank you for reading!

XO, Kelsey

 

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

**These products were sent to me free of charge. As always, nothing has influenced my opinion other than the products performance itself.

Natural, Organic, and Cruelty-Free // Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Review

Hi all! If you have followed along with this blog for awhile now, you know that I am on a seemingly never-ending search for beauty and skincare products that are made of "better", "safer" ingredients. After researching for hours, I narrowed down a list of companies I would like to learn more about. I reached out to Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques and they kindly sent me a few samples to try out. After using the products a few weeks, I know I am ready to give an honest review!

A little about the company

According to their website, Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques uses natural and organic plant oils and extracts, soothing flower essences, plus beautiful minerals and pigments from the earth. In their products, there are no parabens, chemicals, or unnecessary fillers.

I received the creme foundation as well as a pressed eyeshadow duo. I originally received 9 foundation samples (for finding my shade), but because I found a great match for my skin, I traveled with it...and lost it. So unfortunately I can not share that shade swatch with you!

Creme Foundation

•  Shade selection: 8/10; There are 21 shades to choose from, including cool, neutral and warm options. I did find that many shades would work with my skin tone. Kind of odd, but I almost feel like the shade can adapt if it is semi-close to your natural tone. I used shade "warm no. 3" when not self tanning; I would say my natural skin tone is about light-medium with slightly golden undertones. When self tanning, shade "warm no. 4" worked well for me. 

[top picture with flash// bottom picture in natural light]

• Application: 7/10; The product itself has a mousse like texture. It almost feels whipped! I was kind of nervous that the foundation would make my oily skin even more oily because it is a creme. Totally wrong about that assumption, but we will get to that later! I put a few dots of this around my face and used a buffing brush to buff the product into my skin. It spreads pretty easily, although I imagine it may be a bit harder to buff out if you did not moisturize prior to application.

• Coverage: 9/10; holy smokes! This stuff is magic. I would say it is easily medium to full coverage. I never tried to build up extra coverage, because the coverage was already enough for me. While the coverage is amazing, it doesn't feel heavy at all, which is a major plus. The finish is pretty matte I would say, maybe semi-matte before setting the foundation.

• Wear time: 9/10; This foundation has become one that I rely on for long work days, or a night out. I have had such a hard time finding a natural foundation that would wear well and look good, so I am happy to have tried this! I would say the creme foundation wears for about 6.5 hours before needing blotting with powder, but the coverage still looks great. Around 8 hours of wear I start to see spots wear the foundation is wearing away. (I do wear a moisturizer, primer, and setting powder with this foundation as well).

• Overall product: 8.5/9; The creme foundation is definitely one of my go-to's for everyday wear, as well as special occasion wear. I love that it does work with my oily skin, not drying it out or making me more oily. I can't say where I would look for any improvements on the foundation-if anything, I just can't decide what actual shade I am, because a few shades can work for me, but that is not a bad thing! Buffing the product in is not 100% easy-but I imagine it is because the product is natural, not filled with all the "bad things". One point I want to hit on is that this does not break me out. Some natural brands have caused breakouts, but this one has not caused any sort of reaction or breakouts! I highly, highly recommend this foundation-I feel it may be hard to beat! I would however love any recommendations for other foundations you may have! 

[Wearing the creme foundation in shade "warm no. 3"]

 Pressed Eyeshadow Duo

I received the duo in the shade "Toffee/Sandalwood".  I was curious how a natural pressed eyeshadow would work out, since I had only tried loose natural shadows in the past. I honestly kind of doubted the pigmentation and wear time because it is a natural product, but I was wrong.

 [Pressed eyeshadow duo in shade "Toffee/Sandalwood"]

• Shade selection: 9/10; There are 12 different pre-made duos to choose from, or you can customize you own duo. I this the latter option would be really fun and an easy way to build a collection you know you will get use out of.
• Application: 9/10; I apply this with a standard eyeshadow brush. It applies just as any other eyeshadow would, so there is not much to say when it comes to this!
•  Pigmentation/Fall out: 8/10; I think this product is comparable to any high end eyeshadow. It is just as pigmented as my Naked Palette shadows. I don't notice fall out immediately, but I did notice that my shadow slightly smudged as the day wore on.
• Wear time: 8/10:This shadow duo wears about 6 hours before I notice any smudging or fallout under the eyes. I have been working a ton  since trying out this product, and I get reallllly hot and sweaty (running up and down stairs as a waitress, until I pass my state boards!) so I haven't had a neutral day to test the shadow when I am not sweating, so I would say the duo works pretty well!
• Overall product: 8.5/10; Love the duo colors, love how it applies, and love how wearable it is! Such a gorgeous set of colors for a neutral loving girl like me! 

 [Wearing the duo on a light makeup day-applied with a light hand!]

I hope you enjoyed this review-Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques is a brand that is really impressive and up there with high end brands. I look forward to looking into more of their products since they have already surpassed my expectations!

Also...I am looking for an all natural primer and bronzer. Any recommendations would be super appreciated! Please leave your favorites in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

**The Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques products were sent to me free of charge; I was not paid nor guided to say anything about these products. All opinions shared are my own.

Update//plans and rambling!

It's officially 2015! I can't believe that it is almost February... seriously, where has the time gone? 2014 was a great year for me, with awesome opportunities, life changes, and memories made. I am so excited to see what 2015 brings-in just about 4 months, I will be a college graduate, preparing to take my state board NCLEX exam to become Kelsey, RN, BSN. WHAT?! With everything being said, wow... I have been super busy. I find myself missing this blog, because I love writing, reviewing, and "meeting" people through the blog world. I haven't had a lot of free time to devote to blogging this previous semester, but I think that will change this semester! I am so excited to go back into blogging.

 If you have been following me on here for awhile, you will know I spent a lot of time reviewing mineral/natural products over the past year and a half. Wellllll, that is pretty much one of my main focuses now! I am very interested in purging all of my old, chemical laden products, and slowly replacing them with non-toxic, natural, eco-friendly alternatives. If you love topics like that, I think you will be interested in what I have to post over the next year! I also have spent a lot of time changing up my diet and lifestyle; I want to feel my best, and be the healthiest version of me that I can be. My whole life, I have had cardiac issues and other health problems, and I have really had to deal with those things over the past year-so being as healthy and happy as I can be is something that means a lot to me. Look forward to fun recipes on here, as well as an occasional outfit post!

Lately, I have been into staple outfit pieces that you can dress up or down. I like the idea of creating a simple wardrobe that can be versatile, accessorized, and minimal. The thought of downsizing everything is something that has been on my mind a lot lately; I feel as though sometimes, you can have too much! I hold on to clothing from 6-8 years ago, because it still fits, and "maybe I will need it one day!" But how is it useful at all if it has sat in my closet, untouched for 2 years? Looking at websites such as H&M (for basic tees/leggings), Simons (dresses), Tobi (for sweaters/dresses), Loft (for blouses/sweaters), and Banana Republic (for sweaters/accessories/other basics) has given me a lot of inspiration for basic outfit items that can be worn in SO many combinations-just what I would like! Also, I recently discovered the world of outlet shopping. Oh.My.Gosh. Why did I never go before a few months ago? You can find so many "in style" pieces at the outlets, and barely have to spend money! Example: I went to the Banana Republic and J Crew outlet and got 2 mens button ups, a sweater, a casual jacket, 4 shirts, and a pair of Nikes for around $115. To me, that is a great deal for those brands. (I had to share that story because I went around telling all my friends and family how excited I was for those deals for about a week straight after that, haha).

Now that this post is all over the place, I think I have said enough for now! My next post will be a review, although I am not sure which product I want to share first! My question for you is: What type of posts interest you the most? Do you like beauty/skincare posts? Fashion posts? Recipes or fitness posts? Please share!

Until next time!
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me:
on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

Vapour Organic Beauty Review

Hey gorgeous! Today I am going to take some time to review a brand that I came across about two months ago-if you are interested in more organic beauty products, this might be right up your alley! According to the Vapour Beauty website, their products are described as being:

"100% natural with 70% certified organic ingredients and 30% minerals and vitamins. There are no toxic chemicals, no parabens, no phalates, no gluten, no animal testing, no nano particles, and no irradiation".

To be honest, I don't know a ton about every single thing these products are made without; however, I know enough that I don't want those things in my products! This has led me to branch out and want to try to use better products in my everyday life. If you have been around this blog for awhile, you know I tried a bunch of mineral makeup products over the past year, nearly all of them being pretty pure in formulation, without any extra fillers or chemicals. I continue to use these products as I move forward in my quest for what I think is best for my skin!

The products I received for consideration of review are the Elixir Plumping Lipgloss, Aura Multi-Use Blush, and the Elixir Lipgloss. I can't seem to find the link for the plain old Elixir Lipgloss, which is why I didn't provide a link! Just as a general piece of info, I have had these products and have been using them for over a month! Now that all that is out of the way, let's get to the individual reviews!

 From top to bottom: Multi-Use Blush, Elixir Plumping Gloss, and Elixir Gloss. Swatches below.

        
Elixir Plumping Gloss:
In the shade "Coax", this product is described as offering "versatile color, dimension, and shine. Hydrating botanicals and organic plumping liposomes lock in maximum moisture for ultra-hydrated voluptuous lips. Never sticky or tacky, Elixir delivers superior body and shine". 

Personally, I love the formulation of this product. It is one of the most moisturizing glosses I have ever used, which might be surprising as it promises to plump! Many name brand plumping glosses I have used actually dry out my lips, which probably is due to the ingredients in them. Compared to plumpers like Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb, the Vapour lipgloss doesn't cause a burning or tingly feeling as it plumps. I don't mind the tingly effect...in fact, I kind of like it (does that make me weird?!) Either way, I think the plumping actually comes from all the moisture this gloss packs...I could be totally wrong, but it's almost like it makes the most of what your own lips can achieve from being moisturized! I don't find this to be sticky or tacky, which could be  a downside to some as this usually makes a product last longer. I would say it wears for a good hour before you start seeing the product fade; this includes drinking and eating! I would say the pigmentation is very sheer, at least in the shade I was sent.The taste isn't the best (not like the typical mint or fruit flavor many glosses offer), but for what the gloss does, I don't mind how it tastes.

Elixir Gloss:
In the shade "Sultry", this gloss is very similar to the plumping gloss, although you may not see the same plumping effects with this of course! Unfortunately, I can't find a description of this on the website, and I don't have the original box with me. Taste wise, I find this to have more of a flavor; one I can't exactly describe but it is better than the plumping gloss flavor! This gloss has a bit more of a tacky texture to it, but it isn't sticky...does that make sense? I want to say that maybe it's better explained as just adhering to the lips more effectively! This gloss wears about 2 hours before I really want to touch up. I adore the shade I was sent; it's more pigmented than the plumping gloss and I found it to pair well with many pink-toned lipsticks. I am actually wearing this gloss with a small amount of the plumping gloss in the picture below.

Aura Multi-Use Blush:
In the shade "Spark", this product is described as giving "a natural flush of color. These universally-flattering core colors work on all skin tones and all ages. Give the Vapour glow to cheeks, lips and eyes with one convenient stick. Aura blends like a dream for a polished look in seconds".

I think this is my favorite out of the three items I was sent. It really is very versatile! I have used it on my cheeks and my lips, but I am excited to see how it would work as a cream eyeshadow. I have pretty oily eyelids, so it would be interesting to see the lasting ability. The way I apply this is directly to my cheeks in an upward slanting motion. After this, I buff it out using a stipple brush. I find that doing this makes me look like I have a natural glow, and really makes it foolproof to apply! For lasting power, I would say that this lasts all day on me. I have pretty oily skin, but mostly in my t-zone, so I am not sure how this would work on someone with extremely oily skin everywhere. I do set it with a translucent powder, as I set all of my makeup, so I think with powder the lasting power should be no issue! I haven't had any problems with breakouts from this product. On my lips, it seems to be pretty moisturizing, although lasting only as long as a chapstick probably would.

Application technique! You can also see the shade on my lips in this photo.

Buffed out.

Voila! End result!

You can find more Vapour Organic Beauty products HERE.

Hopefully you find this review helpful! If you currently use natural, organic, or vegan products, I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment below or email me at kelseylenay@hotmail; you can find me on twitter @kelseylenayyy or instagram @kelseylenayy

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

**As started before, I did receive these products free, for consideration of review. Vapour Organic Beauty has no influence on my opinion of these products, as no brand or company ever will! I genuinely enjoy these products and am offering my honest opinion of how they performed on me personally!