Get Gilded This Summer With Erzulie’s Mineral Cream Eye Shadows

Mineral Cream Eye Shadow – Image from Erzulie Cosmetics

Hello lovelies! We hope you had a beautiful Independence Day last week, we know we did here in San Jose. Today we wanted to share one of our new favorite products for achieving a signature summer look: gilded eyes!

You can achieve this look with Erzulie’s Mineral Cream Eye Shadow in Gilda. It’s a creamy, golden eye shadow full of amazing ingredients like argan oil! Apply with your finger tip to your upper lids, and use  a brush along your lower lashes. You can set the look further by dusting over a golden powder. One of our favorite things about this shadow is it’s multitasking ability: use this cream as a base, shadow, highlighter, or if you are feeling bold a lip color! It’s priced fantastically at $5 a pot, or you can score two shadows for $9 at Rhonda’s Etsy Shop.

Have you rocked a shimmery gilded look yet this summer?

Product Review: Organic Wear Natural Origin Loose Powder

Organic wear™ 100% Natural Origin Loose Powder – $10.50 on Amazon

Hello there lovelies! Last week we shared some top picks for primer, and today we wanted to share a review of one of our favorite and budget friendly loose powders—Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Natural Origin Loose Powder! Yes we know it’s been out for a long time, but it’s always good to bring back the oldies (but goodies). Loose powder is clutch for setting your makeup and keeping oil at bay during the summer. But many powders contain nasty ingredients, so choose wisely. We love this powder for it’s natural ingredients, affordability, coverage, and mattifying look. The translucent light is perfect for fair skin tones, giving your skin a matte look while hiding redness and imperfections. It does a decent job of keeping oil at bay, but depending on your skin’s oil levels you probably will need an afternoon touch up. You get a ton of product for just $10.50 on Amazon, or $13.95 in most stores. This one bottle will last you all year—no joke. The brush leaves something to be desired. It’s pretty coarse, but that is a common complaint amongst most reviewers. The little mirror is more useful for checking your eye makeup or covering a pimple versus applying your foundation. If you want a safe (EWG rating of only 2) and effective loose powder pick this stuff up (use your own brush) and you will not be disappointed! Have you tried this loose powder? What did you think?

Picking The Perfect Primer

Summer weather and long days call for long lasting makeup. One of the keys to keeping oil and shine at bay and your makeup in place is using a primer underneath your foundation. Today we wanted to share some of our top picks for natural makeup primers.

Earth Angels Minerals Original Butter Cream Skin Balancer – This mineral powder is vegan and gluten free, and helps to correct imperfections, redness, and dark circles. It works great to balance out skin or as a shadow primer. Available on Etsy from Earth Angel Minerals in a 20g sifter jar for $17.99.

Butter Cream Skin Balancer & Eyelid Primer from Earth Angel Minerals – $17.99 on Etsy.

Forget-Me-Not Pure and Natural Mineral Primer – The perfect way to start your makeup routine! This primer by Willow Tree Minerals eliminates shine, reduces pores, and keeps makeup in place all day. Available for $15.95 on Etsy.

Forget-Me-Not – Pure and Natural Mineral Primer by Willow Tree Minerals – $15.95 on Etsy.

Fixit 100% All Natural, Vegan Eye Primer and Mixing Medium – The perfect product for making gel eyeliner with your favorite powder or keeping eye makeup in place! This primer and mixing medium by Addictive Cosmetics is available on Etsy for just $6.99!

Fixit 100% All Natural, Vegan Eye Primer and Mixing Medium by Addictive Cosmetics – $6.99 on Etsy.

Vegan Foundation Primer – We love The All Natural Face, and this primer is no exception. Using natural and safe ingredients it smooths and balances your skin out for the perfect application every time! Available fro $11.99 on Etsy.

Foundation Primer from The All Natural Face – $11.99 on Etsy.

What is your favorite primer?

Get Perfect Lashes with Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara – $10 from Target

Hello there lovelies! Are you ready for some backyard barbecuing this weekend? We are! But first we wanted to share a great beauty find with you! Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara is the perfect lash enhancer for any eco-friendly girl! It’s made from all natural ingredients, is never tested on animals, and would only be rated a 1 or 2 on the Environmental Working Group’s Skindeep Cosmetic Database!

We love this mascara because it contains 100% natural fibers to help you achieve a subtle false lash effect and leave all the flaky stuff behind. Now be warned this isn’t like an intense false lash look, but more of a natural false lash look (see the box). It even comes packaged in a cute pink leaf-shaped tube with a recyclable brush! Physician’s Formula promises 24 hour wear, and we would agree that it lasts mostly the whole day, which is perfect for a girl on the go. We didn’t have any issues with smudging or smearing, but you need to give it some extra time to dry. And with most mascaras, if you want a truly dramatic effect it’s best to curl your lashes and apply several coats (probably two). Some users really weren’t huge fans of this mascara, but we would give it a solid 4/5 stars.

You can easily pick up this Fake Out Mascara at most drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, Riteaid), at Target, Walmart, or online for under $10! We really want to try out Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara next. Have you tried either? What did you think?

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Image from beautyatskindeep.com

Maybe some new quality makeup brushes are topping your Christmas list, or maybe you already made the investment in some great tools. Either way brush care and cleaning is essential for keeping both your tools and your skin looking good. Brushes and applicators accumulate dirt, oil, and bacteria with use, and eventually that stuff starts to take a toll on your skin—clogged pores, irritation, and breakouts!

Fear not! We have a simple and safe way for you to keep your brushes clean and free of bacteria. You’ll just need to assemble a few simple ingredients:

• Baby Shampoo – We like California Baby or Aveeno Organic Baby Shampoo. Castile soap would also work here.
• Water
• Olive Oil or Almond Oil
• Clean sponge or towel

There are 4 basic steps:

1. Wet the bristles under the faucet with luke-warm water (the bristles should be pointing downwards to prevent water from getting in the metal band or down the handle.
2. Squirt some shampoo or castile soap onto your clean fingers and apply it to the bristles of the brush creating a nice lather. You could also use the sponge or towel here if you prefer (which helps to show that the brush is actually clean when it stops giving off color). Rinse the bristles and repeat until the water runs clear.
3. Squeeze out the excess water and lay your brushes on a towel to dry.
4. Let your brushes dry COMPLETELY before using. Never stand the brushes with the bristles up to dry. This lets water get into the handle and can cause bristles to fall out (oh no!).

You may be wondering what the oil is for. If you have very dirty brushes with caked on makeup, like a liner brush, then you want to use the oil before the soap to loosen dried makeup. How often should you clean your brushes?

• Foundation , Finish Powder & Blush Brushes – Once per week
• Eyeshadow & Concealer Brushes – 2 to 3 times per week
• Eyeliner Brushes – Ideally after each use, especially if you use a sealant or waterproof liner.

We know it’s a pain, but keeping your brushes clean is so important for maintaining healthy skin. At least try to give all your brushes a clean one day a week. Do you practice good brush hygiene? How often do you clean your brushes?

Product Review Eyeshadow Primer

Magic Vegan Eyeshadow Primer – $7 by The All Natural Face on Etsy

So we have been testing out a lot of products lately… and we’ve got another that we are excited to share with you! The All Natural Face’s Magic Eyeshadow Primer is simply amazing. It is extremely effective, and priced totally right at $7 a bottle. This stuff works just as well as Urban Decay’s Primer Potion ($15) or Two Faced’s Shadow Insurance ($17). It has a sweet little doe tip applicator tip for easy application. I applied this magic primer after my Jane Iredale BB Cream Foundation, but before I put on any eyeliner or shadow. I even applied a little to my lower lash line and under my eye. It kept my eyeliner and shadow in place all day long! All Natural Face’s Magic Eyeshadow Primer also helped brighten up my sleepy eyes without shadow.

Did I mention that this primer is totally vegan and free of harmful chemicals (yay safe cosmetics!)? The bottom line, this stuff is a serious beauty steal, for twice as much product at half the price you’d be a fool not to try (and fall in love with) this Magic Eyeshadow Primer. You can order yours in The All Natural Face’s Etsy store and feel good about supporting another beautiful women in the pursuit of her safe cosmetic dreams!

Oh and for all you San Fran girls out there, if you are worried about getting your makeup just right this Halloween think about stopping by Y&L Style Bar and letting us take care of your Halloween makeup needs!

What beauty goods do you want us to check out for you? Let us know and we will do the tough work!

Related articles

• Product Review: Erzulie Naturegel Mineral Liner!

What Makeup Will Your Rock On Halloween?

Halloween is a little less than two weeks away—hopefully you’ve found a costume, but if not maybe we can help you find a look that will carry you through the nights celebrations (whether that is traditional trick-or-treating, or a more adult gathering :))! We’ve got five looks that we love for Halloween to share with you today, AND we wanted to let you know about the great deal we are offering! You pick the costume, and let us handle the rest. Adults can come into Y&L Style Bar for Halloween makeup perfection for only $55, and just $19.99 for the little ones! We love this October Holiday because it gives us a reason to be adventurous with our hair and makeup—to rock makeup that might not be accepted at the office! But lets get onto our favorite looks!

Baby Doll Look – This is so pretty and sweet!

Doll Face Makeup – Image from Little Makeup Face

Arabic Beauty – We love this gorgeous eye makeup, super sultry!

Arabic Beauty – Image from Beautylish

Cheetah Eyes – This catty look is hot!

Cheetah Eyes – Image from Fix Me Up Pretty

Fiery Black Swan – Love this red eye makeup, and the hair is pretty fabulous too!

Fiery Black Swan – Image from NY Times

Sexy Vampire – This is super gorgeous, love the purple hues!

Sexy Vampire – Image from Jessica Harlow

Which is your favorite Halloween Look? We are kind of partial to the sexy cheetah eyes!

Product Review: Erzulie Naturegel Mineral Liner!

Today I will fulfill my promise of a full product review for a totally safe, totally natural, and totally affordable gel eyeliner. Before I became a safe and ethical cosmetics convert, I used (and loved) Maybelline’s Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in black. It was powerful stuff and with a reasonable price tag of $8. But once I made the switch to safe cosmetics from companies that did not test on animals, my Maybelline Gel Eyeliner was out :-(.

I’ve tried several different eyeliner alternatives, including a gel liner by Terra Firma Cosmetics and a mineral powder liner by Everyday Minerals with lackluster results. Terra Firma’s gel eyeliner burned my eyes and smeared as I tried to apply it, needless to say it was not a winner. And using a pure mineral with a wet liner brush just didn’t deliver the same dramatic effect as a gel. So I was thrilled to try out this new Natural Gel Eyeliner from Erzulie in Intense Black, which promised rich pigments and a smooth application!

A little background on Erzulie Cosmetics: These lovely beauty goods are handmade in small batches by Rhonda Demars, an awesome entrepreneur from Massachusetts that is committed to helping women find safe, quality cosmetics without compromising the environment or the furry creatures that inhabit it. At Y&L Style Bar we love supporting other passionate female entrepreneurs in the beauty industry—so this is a definite reason behind our new-found affection for Erzulie! All of Rhonda products are also non-comedogenic, and FREE of harmful chemicals, Talc, lakes and dyes, Parabens, PEG’s, Polybutenes, Glycols, Acrylates, Synthetic Silicones, phthalates(plastic esters),BHT, Dioxane, Petroleum bi-products and Bismuth Oxychloride. You can find Erzulie Cosmetics and skincare in Rhonda’s Etsy store, and I must also attest to her excellent customer service. She shipped super quickly, responded to my emails fast, and just made the experience of buying cosmetics online really, really pleasant! But onto the review! 

I started by first applying my Jane Iredale BB Cream in Light to give my skin a smooth and even look and then applied some of Erzulie’s concealer to my lids and under my eyes to act as a primer. I love layering my eyeliner to get a really bold effect, so I did that here too (but don’t worry I also tested the gel by itself). To layer I first applied Jane Iredale’s Eye Pencil in black to my upper and lower lash lines without stressing too much about it being perfect. Then I took a regular artist’s #1 paint brush and dipped it into the Erzulie’s Naturegel Mineral Liner. Using short strokes (moving from the outer edge of my eye to the inner corner) I applied a thick and neat line on both my upper and lower lash lines. I waited a few minutes and then applied another light coat making sure the line was completely filled in, dark, and smooth (I really like intense eyeliner:-)). After applying the gel I gave my lashes a quick sweep of Jane Iredale Mascara, and touched up under my eyes with some more concealer. As you can see from the pictures, the gel added a nice really bold and rich color!

Erzulie’s Naturegel Eyeliner has a pleasant smell and a glossy texture. I tried out the intense black color, but Rhonda has also created some other great shades: Dark Plum (sounds amazing), Black Cherry, Darkstar Blue, and Dark Brown. A little goes a long way, so I think this pot will last at least 6-8 months. That is a great bargain for only $7.95! I thought that it held up pretty well throughout the whole day. I applied it around 6:30AM, and didn’t need to touch up until about 5:00PM (and that’s just because I’m a little OCD about my eyeliner). It’s definitely important to give the liner some time to set so it doesn’t smear, but this really doesn’t take long, maybe a few minutes. Using a primer really helps keep your eyeliner in place, so I’d recommend using a primer (or a shadow) with this gel eyeliner as well. When I applied Erzulie’s Gel Eyeliner solo it still delivered an intense and long-lasting line, albeit not as intense as layered application. Overall I think this is a great gel eyeliner, at a great price, created by a lady with the same commitment to safe, effective, and sustainable beauty as Y&L Style Bar! So if you are on the lookout for a new eyeliner give Erzulie’s Naturegel Liner a try!

I am already eyeing up Erzulie’s Chubby Pencil Liner, Liquid Liner, and Highlighting pencil! Which of these products would you like to see tested out and reviewed?

Y&L Stylist Q&A: Megan Knapp

I’m excited to be continuing with our Stylist Q&A series, where we ask them questions about their personal style, and grill them for beauty advice and secrets. This week we have an interview with the blonde bombshell and Y&L stylist, Megan Knapp. Questions are in bold italicized text, and stylist and interviewer (Jackie Blizzard, i.e. my) responses are denoted by normal text.

What is your favorite piece in your wardrobe? What clothing or accessory can’t you live without? 

Megan Knapp: My favorite piece of clothing would definitely be my Lululemon yoga pants! Super comfy and figure flattering! I can dress them up and wear them to work or throw on a tank/jacket and run around the park with my 8 month old in them!

Jackie Blizzard (Me): I love a great pair of yoga pants! I haven’t given Lululemon a try yet (I presently am in love with my Prana Audrey pants), but I’m thinking I will have to. Having a wardrobe staple that can be dressed up or down is key for women on the go!

What is your must-have beauty product? 

Megan Knapp: The beauty product I can’t live without would be my Sally Hansen Leg Spray. It’s like makeup for your legs when you need a quick tan and want your legs to look like they are18 again! Perfect for when you are wearing shorts or a skirt for date night (or your school dance depending on your age 🙂 my FAV!!

Jackie Blizzard (Me): Great product recommendation! Especially since tanning can damage your skin and increase your risk for developing skin cancer. It would be a great replacement for pantyhose too (which never looks as nice as flawless tan skin).

Who do you look to for style inspiration?  

Megan Knapp: My style icon would have to be Marilyn Monroe… the way she embraced her body and taught women to love the way they look and love their curves is an inspiration! She looked great—always put together, sophisticated and classy. But always with a touch of sexiness and oozing with femininity.

Jackie Blizzard (Me): Marilyn really is an inspiration, clearly her confidence and comfort in her own skin radiated and added to her sexy mystique. Girls need to look to women like Marilyn Monroe and remember that beauty comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Why do you love working in cosmetology/the hair/makeup/nail industry? 

Megan Knapp: I love working in the beauty industry because I love making people feel good about themselves! Having a career doing something that I am good at and really enjoy doing is such a blessing! Every woman deserves to feel good about themselves, inside and out, and i get to help in a big way with that by enhancing the outer beauty everyone already has!

Jackie Blizzard (Me): It is fantastic to hear that you are in the industry for the right reasons! I love when people are able to blend their passions and talents with their work (that is how it should be after all)!

Why do you love working at Y&L?

Megan Knapp: I love working at Y&L because the atmosphere is great! All the girls that work there are so nice and great at what they do, it makes it so easy and enjoyable to be there! Also the clients are great and so willing to help us by spreading the word to their friends… what’s not to like?!!

Jackie Blizzard (Me): I’m seeing a pattern here—Y&L stylists love their colleagues and their clients! All that love is probably why Y&L is such a great place to bring out your beautiful side 🙂

What is one beauty tip you would like to share with our readers? 

Megan Knapp: The one beauty tip I would like to share is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!! From the inside-out it is one of the most important things you can do for your health and beauty! Drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated (and your skin clearer), use moisturizer when you wash your face and your body (don’t forget your neck!!!) to look younger longer, and use sunscreen and repairative moisturizers/conditioners on your hair to keep that beautiful shine and body as long as possible!

Jackie Blizzard (Me): This is great advice! The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink at least 3 liters of water a day (13 cups), and ladies you need to get at least 2.2. liters a day (9 cups)! Investing in a quality reusable water bottle that makes drinking water easier has been key for me keeping my water intake up. I use the insulated CamelBak eddy Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle, but they also make non-insulated versions that hold more water (meaning fewer refills)!

What do you think of our Stylist Q&A series? Have any questions you want answered? Comment and let us know!

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DIY Makeup Remover & Moisturizer

Reusable Organic Cotton Rounds by Baby Zing on Etsy

As an avid fan of heavy eyeliner and mascara, finding a makeup remover that gets the job done without damaging the sensitive skin around my eyes is key. I have used a variety of makeup removers: makeup removing pads, makeup removing washes, tissues, cotton balls, and cold cream. Pond’s cold cream was my favorite eye makeup remover for a long time. It was creamy, smooth, and moisturizing while it removed all of my eyeliner. But after truly analyzing the ingredients list on my store-bought cold cream I became a little concerned and began looking to alternatives.

I scoured the aisles of Whole Foods and Pharmaca looking for a “natural” remover that would work and contain safe ingredients. But each one I tried resulted in dried skin, burning, and tugging around my eyes (eek!). So I resolved to making my own cold cream sans harsh chemicals. It is pretty easy to do, and the ingredients are super affordable. I store my homemade cold cream in Humangear’s GoTubb, but you could also store it in a glass jar or an old container of moisturizer. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 tsp. borax
• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 1/2 almond oil
• 1/2 oz (by weight) of grated beeswax (or just a little over two tablespoons)

Directions:

1. In a (1-cup) glass measure cup, dissolve the borax in the water and set aside.
2. Combine the oil and beeswax in a larger (2-cup) glass measuring cup.
3. Heat the oil/beeswax mix in a microwave until the beeswax is melted and the mixture is clear. (Start with 30 seconds at a time).
4. Heat the borax/water mix in a microwave for a minute – almost to boiling.
5. Slowly pour the borax/water mixture into the oil/beeswax mixture, using a stick blender to mix as you pour. Now beat well with the stick blender until the mix is glossy white and thicken.
6. Pour or scoop (with a silicone spatula) the (hot) cold cream into the reusable container of your choosing (it should have a tight lid).
7. Let it cool to room temperature.

*Tips: I store my cold cream in two of the Humangear GoTubbs and leave one in the fridge and the other in the bathroom. This helps to keep the cold cream fresh!

You may be wondering whether borax (the emulsifier) in this recipe is safe (I know I did). The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that it has it’s dangers—especially if ingested. I came across another blogger that conducted months of research on borax and summarizes it quite nicely (read it here). The bottom line for me—it is safe to use in my cold cream, but I won’t be eating it! This cold cream is very moisturizing, affordable, and free of all those synthetic ingredients in store bought brands. I love using these reusable organic cotton rounds in tandem with this cold cream to keep my eyes looking young!

Do you make any of your own beauty products?