Lily Lolo Mineral Makeup Review // Makeup Talk

Hey friends! Today I am bringing you a review of what I would consider a luxurious natural and paraben-free makeup line. You will see below in pictures just how gorgeous the packaging is and how amazing the quality is. Spoiler alert: I found one of my new favorite natural brands!

Overview of the brand 

Lily Lolo is a brand that started in London and is now available in the USA and Canada. They use natural, organic, paraben, synthetic, and nano particle free ingredients in their products. Win-win? I think yes.

I actually received two shipments of the products to review; as you'll see above I received the Natural Lipstick in shade "Rose Gold" and the Creamy Lash Alert Pure Natural Vegan Mascara in the shade "Black". The Rose Gold lipstick is suuuuch a pretty everyday color that I think would would on just about anyone.

The top photo is the "Rose Gold" lipstick with flash, while the bottom is a picture using natural sunlight. 

 Left eye (in picture) no mascara. Right eye: wearing Lily Lolo Mascara in "Black", one coat. 

 Both eyes with one coat of the Lily Lolo Mascara. So pigmented!

The second shipment included another lipstick, and two shades of their mineral foundation. 

 

Lily Lolo Lipstick in shade "French Flirt", Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation in shades "Cookie" (top) .and "Warm Honey" (bottom)

A swatch of the "French Flirt" lipstick and swatches of the mineral foundation. Left is "Cookie" while right is "Warm Honey". "Cookie" seems to be a bit more neutral, while "Warm Honey" had more of a warm, yellowy tone to it.

Wearing "French Flirt" lipstick in both pictures. Top picture is with natural sunlight, bottom picture is with flash.

 Wearing the Mineral Foundation in shade "Warm Honey". Taken with flash on the camera. Also wearing the Mascara and lipstick in shade "Rose Gold" here. 

As you can see, I definitely wanted to include a fair amount of pictures for this review (as always) so you get a good idea of what the shades look like/what the product looks like applied. As for the actual review, I feel I can make this one short, sweet, and to the point because the products speak for themselves.

Wear time: I would say the lipsticks wear for about 2-3 hours if not eating or drinking, while they may come off within an hour or so if you are eating or drinking. I will say the "French Flirt" shade lasts a bit longer, and leaves a sort of stain on the lips, which I like. The mascara wears well throughout the day and does not flake off like another natural mascara I am reviewing currently-so that is great! The mineral foundation probably lasts 6-8 hours on me, depending on what I am doing for the day. I notice that it wears off pretty evenly, seeming to just fade away instead of getting splotchy. I do wear a primer and setting powder with this, FYI. 8/10

Packaging: Come on! You see how pretty it is. Definitely a 10/10 score for this. The packaging is gorgeous, sturdy, and reminds me of high-end brands. Very comparable to something high-end I have looked at before but I just can't remember what brand it was. 

Pricing: I think the pricing is fair; you are getting what you pay for here. Lipsticks retail for $18 a piece, while the mascara is $19.50 and the mineral foundation is $22.00. This is not drugstore pricing, and if you are okay with that and want chemical free, natural products, this is an acceptable price range, in my opinion. So, I would give this section an 8/10. 

Shade selection: Lily Lolo has a great shade selection when it comes to the products I reviewed, especially when it comes to the mineral foundation. They have a shade guide that lists skin tone as well as undertone to help find your correct shade. If you hover over the shades, it lists this information. Although I did not review other products, I do see that they have a ton of shades of eyeshadows as well as lipglosses. Speaking of all this, they also sell eyebrow duos, bronzers, blushes, bb cream, finishing powder, concealer, and brushes. 10/10. 

Overall quality: Overall, this products fairly deserves a score of 9/10. They genuinely have amazing products and will be one of the go-to brands for me from now on. I do reviews of products not only to help others who may be interested in similar products, but to also narrow down my search for makeup that will replace my chemical filled beauty products. 

The products have not caused any breakouts or skin rashes on me; the mineral foundation feels light on the skin while offering light to medium coverage. The lipstick is highly, highly moisturizing, and the mascara is a pigmented, lengthening and separating combination. 

If you have any questions about the products or my review, please email me at: kelseylenay@hotmail.com. The customer service team is also amazing at Lily Lolo and will be awesome at answering your questions as well. Visit Lily Lolo's website here for more info!

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

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

**I received all of the mentioned Lily Lolo products free of charge. All opinions expressed are completely my own and 100% honest. No compensation was received for this review. 

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!

Makeup Talk: 100% Pure Makeup Review

Hello lovies! Today I want to talk about the brand 100% Pure. This brand is one that I have been looking into closely lately-if you have been following this blog for awhile, you would know that over the summer I went mineral-makeup crazy. I am always looking for ways to change up my skincare and makeup, and realistically, I would like to make it more natural based, as I feel it is best for my own skin type. Straight from the website-100% Pure is "truly 100% Pure-no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins!" I was lucky enough to receive a few samples, and after more than a month of trying them out, I think I am ready to honestly review them. I should preface this by saying I went into trying these products thinking they wouldn't perform well because they were all natural, vegan, free of preservatives, etc., something I wasn't 100% familiar with...so seeing how they worked was pretty interesting to me.

I received the Coffee Bean Eye Cream, Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in "pink peach", and the Fruit Pigmented Blush in "cherry". At this point, I will start by saying I can't pick a favorite between the three-you'll see why!

 Wearing all three products! No idea why this picture looks so soft focused-I think I may have had it on the portrait setting when I took the picture! Ooops.

First, I want to talk about the Coffee Bean Eye Cream.
Description:
 Clinically proven to de-puff and brighten dark circles.
Clinically proven to lessen lines and wrinkles.
Caffeine rich eye cream makes you look more refreshed and awake.

Pros:

-The texture is so smooth-almost like it is whipped.

-The tube has a pump attached (love this!)

-It smells amazing.

-It is absorbed easily into the eye area, and leaves the under eye really smooth...if you have ever used the Philosophy Miracle Worker, you know how awesome the eye area feels after it is absorbed...you get a very similar outcome with this which is amazing in my book!
-It makes a great base for concealer.
-I have noticed my under eye is  brighter after using this...immediately after applying and in the long run (with no makeup on!)

Cons:
-Sometimes the pump doesn't work correctly. I looked this up somewhere on the website and it does say that if you unscrew the pump, it can alter how well it works....which I unfortunately did. So, lesson learned! 

Price: $21 for 1 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in"Pink Peach"
Description: 
100% natural, 100% vegetarian, gluten free.

Colored with fruit and vegetable pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.

Made in a base of vitamin e to moisturize and soften lips.

Pros: 
-Really moisturizing on the lips.
-Not sticky.
-If you just so happen to lick your lips, it's pretty tasty!
-The color is build-able, so if you want to wear it alone, it will be a really pretty shade, but it looks gorgeous layered on top of lipstick!
-There is no chunks or pieces of glitter in the gloss.

Cons:
-Some may think the sheer color is a con (although I like to layer!)
-It isn't extremely long-wearing (probably 2 hours if you are eating and drinking).

Price: $15 for 0.24 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented Blush in "Cherry"
Description:
This fruit pigmented blush to make you sparkle and shine!
This blush is colored with the antioxidant and vitamin rich fruit pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.

Pros:
-Long wearing; I could put this on early in the morning and you can still see it very well into the night.
-Extremely pigmented! When I first got it, I thought it would have to be layered a ton for any color to show up....SO WRONG! You just get a little on your blush brush and use a light hand to apply; I would say this is just as pigmented as MAC blushes or any other high-end brand. 
-The finish looks gorgeous, like you're glowing from within (with no sparkles or glitter of course!)
-The packaging is adorable! I can't get over the design of what it is packaged in.

Cons: 
-If you are particular about fingerprints, the packaging really can attract them.

Price:   $28 for 9 grams (0.32 oz)

Overall, this brand has been nothing but great so far! I am really interested in expanding my makeup collection to include more natural and vegan products, so I will definitely be looking into this brand more! They even have foundations, tinted moisturizers, body washes, hair products, etc. which is awesome for someone who really has interest in products geared to be more natural and chemical free!

Do you buy any vegan, natural, or gluten free makeup products? If so, what are your favorite brands? 

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey  

*All 100% Pure Products reviewed were sent to me for free in consideration for review. Any opinions stated are all my own and are in NO way influenced by the brand. You can always count on an honest review! 
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