The All Natural Face

This past Christmas, all I really wanted was to start replacing my makeup with more natural products. I spent a lot of money on just a few items that I carefully chose from The Honest Life recommendations (Jessica Alba's book). Instead of paying a few dollars for mascara, I was paying $19 for a more healthy version!  Here is what I got during that first round:

Liquid Foundation: 100% Pure Healthy Skin Foundation with Super-Fruits SPF-20 in "Creme"

Cream Blush: 100% Pure Fruit-Pigmented Lip & Cheek Tint in "Grapefruit"

Concealer: RMS Beauty Un-Coverup in "11"

Mascara: 100% Pure Fruit-Pigmented Mascara in "Black Tea"

Eye-liner: Tarte Smoldereyes Black Liner

Ecotools Brush Set (made of bamboo)

Also, did you know that you can use olive oil as eye-makeup remover? I keep a small bottle next to my face wash and use that to remove eye makeup before washing my whole face. Why do we spend money on these things?

While I loved the products I was trying, I was impatiently waiting for my birthday (in February) to make the rest of the switch.  I had a wish list that was constantly changing because I wanted lots of eye shadows and other things, but I was having trouble justifying paying $15 per eye shadow color, along with all the other products I wanted.  Then I heard about  The All Natural Face in the comments section of another blog.  This company was started by a woman on the East coast who was too sensitive to the chemicals used in conventional makeup, and even had bad reactions to Bismuth found in some other mineral makeup lines.  She started making her own mineral, vegan makeup and skin care products and has grown a large, satisfied client base.  Her Etsy page, separate from her website, shows 4.9 out of 5 star reviews from 11,781 customers! I started reading her reviews and looking at all her products (seriously, there are SO MANY!), and decided that Round 2 of the Makeup Reform was going to be focused solely on this one company.  I spent a lot less money than the first round, and got a TON of stuff to try out.

I discovered, first of all, that the owner put together some cheap sample kits to try out different foundations, bronzers, glows (finishing powder/highlighter), eye shadows, perfumes, blushes, and more. I ordered the eye shadow sampler kit and chose 10 colors to try out. I also ordered the glow, bronzer, and perfume kits.  It was really nice to be able to try out the different colors of bronzers (which I have never bought in my life) and glows so I could see what worked best with my skin tone.  I picked out what colors and products I liked best, as well as the sizes that I wanted to start with, and started creating a cart on the website.  When it got closer to my birthday, I was ready to order LOTS of things! I paid a small shipping price and then received my order just a short while later.

I have been using these products for about a month and a half now, and I LOVE them! I definitely will be going to this company for makeup from now on, and would like to try their cream foundations, too, although I've liked the one I currently use from 100% Pure.  Here are the products I ordered from The All Natural Face:

Vegan Foundation Primer: I never owned foundation primer before but I decided to try this one out.  After I put on my lotion and sunscreen, I apply this primer before foundation on days I really want good coverage and long-lasting application.  There is no smell to it (am I the only one that gets irritated by the smell of some makeup?) and it goes on smoothly. 

Vegan Eye Shadow Primer: This was another product I'd never owned before.  I rub this primer onto my eyelids before applying the loose mineral eye shadow and it definitely helps everything to stick and last!

Diva Stix for the Eyes in Dark Brown and Sea Green: These are eye liners and I wish I had every color! I have only ever bought black or dark brown liner before, but I like being able to just put on a thick line of colored eye liner with no eye shadow on quick makeup days.

Jumbo Pencil Sharpener for Diva Stix: It's an eye pencil sharpener. :)

Shimmer Eye Shadows: I ordered these in a few different sizes.  I love the Pink Gold and Warm Honey for everyday eyes, and knowing I would probably use them more than the others I ordered them in the 10 gram jars.  My other shadow colors (Black Gold, Forest Nymph, Ice Fairy, Swiss Chocolate, Evening Orchid, and Frosted Blueberry) I ordered in the 5 gram jars because I knew I would use them less frequently. These jars are lasting forever, and even the little sample jars last forever. I learned that when applying loose mineral eye shadow, you kind of pat/blot it onto the eye lid on the eye shadow primer, as opposed to wiping it on like normal eye shadows.  

Brown Brow Powder Kit: I have never in my life used anything on my eyebrows, but I saw the brow kits and decided to give them a try. This one came with brow wax and 2 brown powders to brush on to fill in eyebrows, much like a brow pencil.  I only use the dark brown powder and I only use these products on days I really want my makeup to look great.  

Wedding Day Vegan Glow: I grew up thinking that foundation consists of liquid AND powder together. But my face always got so dry and flaky that the powder seemed like overkill. I've been learning that, for me, powder foundation is totally unnecessary. On most days I just mix a little foundation with sunscreen for a tinted moisturizer and then add a few things like the cream blush and some eye liner and mascara.  But on days I want a more finished look, I apply this "glow" over my foundation and blush. This sets the other makeup in and just looks more polished.  

Non-vegan Mini Kabuki Brush: This little brush was just too cute to not order, so I got it and use it to apply my glow. It's the only non-vegan product on the website (it's made out of goat hair).

Touched By the Sun Vegan Bronzer: I never knew how awesome bronzers are, but after trying the sample kit I picked out this one to start using. I read that you should find a bronzer color 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone so that you get that sun-kissed look. I don't use this every day, either, but on those days I want a little more color I apply with a big blush brush.  When you are very pale, you start appreciating things that make you look less like Casper the Friendly Ghost. 

I have tried the perfume collection, but haven't quite decided on one that I'd like to order. I also have the Vegan Lip Gloss in the Frosted Peach color and I really like it. I'd like to order some more of the glosses, as well. My wish list just gets longer instead of shorter.  :)

If you are looking to switch out some of your makeup products anytime soon, I highly recommend starting with The All Natural Face. My skin loves all my new makeup, and my wallet does, too! Let me know what you think!

*Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with The All Natural Face. I am just a very satisfied customer.*

Homemade Pizza

We are great lovers of pizza, in this household.  We spent many years trying to find the perfect dough recipe, and the perfect sauce recipe.  After much trial and error, we discovered the perfect combo.  Fridays or Saturdays are our usual pizza night, and I love that tradition.

Pizza Sauce

(Makes 2 pizzas)

Ingredients:

            1 15-oz can of tomato sauce

            ¼ cup water

            1 tsp sugar

            ¼ tsp oregano

            ¼ tsp basil

            ¼ tsp thyme

            ¼ tsp garlic powder

            ¼ tsp salt

            1/8 tsp black pepper

            ½ tsp lemon juice

           Optional: 1 whole bay leaf

Directions:

            1. Combine all in a small saucepan

            2. Cook over medium heat until sauce boils

            3. Lower heat and simmer, covered, 30-45 minutes

*This recipe can be make ahead of time and kept in a jar or other container in the refrigerator until ready for use.  We also make this recipe and freeze it in wide-mouth jars for quick pizza nights.*

The pizza dough recipes we use are found on a blog called Annie's Eats.  

The white dough recipe is here:

http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/04/29/perfect-homemade-pizza-crust-tips-and-tricks/

Her whole-grain version can be found here:

http://www.annies-eats.com/2013/07/15/baking-with-whole-grains-whole-grain-pizza-dough/

Instead of separating the dough into two medium/large pizzas, we like to separate it into four personal pizzas.  We first prebake the dough on the pizza stone, then add sauce, toppings, and cheese, and then finish baking until the cheese is melted and bubbly.  This is especially fun for nights you have company over. You just make and refrigerate the sauce ahead of time, prebake the crusts ahead of time, and then when company comes you have the sauce, cheese, and toppings laid out for everyone to put together their own pizzas. Those can be finished quickly on the preheated pizza stone.