Product Review: Nvey Eco Organic Creative Eye Color System (#1 & #6)

Mission: To find a versatile natural eyeshadow pallette

Merchandise: Nvey Eco Organic Creative Eye Color System (#1 & #6)

Taken directly from their website:

"Finely milled with an extra soft base of Corn Silk and Jojoba Oil, NVEY ECO, Organic Eye Shadows can be used in combination to enhance and contour the eye or individually for a flush of color. Chamomile and Vitamins A, C, and E make for a smooth and soft formula excellent for dry and sensitive skin. Single shades can be used, or step it up with a combination of shades; can be used wet (with water only). Each palette selection contains five (5) full-size shadows; these shadows are also available as singles."

I first heard of Nvey Eco through New Beauty magazine.This particular cosmetic line has been featured in several beauty/lifestyle magazines as one of the pioneers in the natural/organic makeup industry. Needless to say, I was very excited to try it.

I love the packaging and color combination from both palletes. The colors are buildable and applies easily. However, I would use these shadows for daytime wear as opposed to evening wear. I suppose you can use these colors for evening, but I prefer colors with a bit more tint for an effective smokey-eye look.

For a different perspective, I brought this with me to L.A. to have one of my Glaminar sisters (Samantha) swatch the colors and give me her take on the product. She states that "it goes on so light and I like the shimmer. It reminds me of an ULTA pallette. It's not bad, but I would prefer a heavier look". As far as pigmentation goes, I would have to agree.

But I've found that if you foil these shadows (mix shadow with water) the color payoff is amazing!

*Eyeshadow tip*
If you feel "iffy" about your eyeshadow pallete, try foiling them for a more dynamic look. Works like a charm.

Nvey Eco is an Australian made product with an impressive track record from beauty and lifestyle publications, "green" makeup artists, and celebrities who continue to support and endorse their products.

*Green tip*
Cosmetic products are minimally regulated by the FDA in the US. However, Australia has one of the most stringent regulatory systems in the world for cosmetic chemicals through NICNAS,  Australia's government regulator of industrial chemicals for the protection of human health.

With that in mind, I understood why the demand for these items. Clean ingredients and versatility of use.

Laugh, Love, Live Positive,

Product Review: Ecco Bella body lotion - Vanilla

Mission: To find a natural lotion that smells of yummy french vanilla cake.

Merchandise: Ecco Bella Herbal Body Lotion Vanilla

Taken directly from website:
"After your bath or shower, enjoy our best natural and organic body care products. Herbal Body Lotion, made without water will transform dry, irritated, flaky skin into silky suppleness for hours after other lotions have worn off. 70% organic body care ingredients. 100% Preservative Free. Vegan. Gluten-free. Not tested on animals. Excellent for dry environments. Pure luxury."


Going to my local health food store is always an adventure for me. I'm always up for trying new products from exotic fruits to natural/organic cosmetics. After shopping for the essential foodstuffs, I always make it a point to make my way towards the front of the store where they have all the natural/organic lotions, potions, soaps, and all sorts sweet smelling items. This time around, I made a bee line towards the creams and soaps area.

With the change in the weather, I needed a body lotion that has an ultra-rich formulation, non-greasy, hydrates like a dream, and gives off a delicious vanilla scent..

Please welcome, Ecco Bella body lotion in Vanilla. YUM!

I LOVE anything vanilla. I'm  pretty sure that if they created a scatch-n-sniff vanilla scented CELL PHONE, I'd be very inclined to try it out. I'm not kidding. And lemme tell yah, I'd be blogging about it the very next day! hahaha!

Four fab  facts I love about this moisturizer:

• 100% preservative free
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Not tested in animals

This is  definitely my favorite winter lotion. It easily absorbes into my skin, leaving my skin smooth and hydrated. Another point I wanted to make is, because the texture it's super rich and luxurious (without being greasy or sticky)  I tend to use less - which ends up being cost effective.

Brilliant!

So, If you 're a vanilla lover such as myself, this product is definitely a must try. And if you dare slather this body cream at any point in time, be prepared to hear comments/compliments such as:

"Who smells good?"
"Smells like cookies/baking"
"Can I have some of that?"

Cool!

Too bad they don't sell these by the gallon. If they did, I'd purchase two. haha!

Love, Laugh, Live Positive

Inspiration: New Year, New Fears

As I type this, I hear Oprah in the background talking about her new network appropriately called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). She talks about how certain experiences at this point in her life that continue to provide her with "Aha!" moments. She further discusses her adventures in this new project, which allows her to continue to grow as an individual. She felt a bit nervous of taking on an entire network but expressed that in order to grow as an individual, we have to "step into our fears and walk through it."

The new year can be daunting. The demands we place upon ourselves to loose weight, stop smoking, get organized, get out of debt, get the new "it" tech gadget, or whatever new year's resolution we plan to achieve or obtain successfully. Unless we come from a place of genuine intention to move forward with our resolutions, then our plans are flawed. Often the pressure to accomplish becomes overwhelming to which we riddle our thoughts with self-sabotage. Before you know it we are ruled by anxiety - which will be the collapse of our well-meaning plan to loose weight, stop smoking, etc, etc.

What we fail to realize is by stepping into our fears, we have to be ready for a change. If we step into our fears as a motivator for change, then our chances of a positive outcome will be greater once we commit to facing them.

My opinion? The best way to eradicate fear is educate yourself of whatever it is that creeps you out with an objective point of view.

For instance, if you're anxious to start a new smoking cessation program, read up on the negative impacts smoking does to your body with an impartial mind - no judgements. Treat it like a case study. Once you've faced your fears with the knowledge of the havoc smoking does to your body, read about the positive effects your body goes through once you stop smoking. The commitment to have an open heart coupled with the willingness receive the facts with an open mind is the key to your success.

Next, you have to surround yourself with people to aid you with accomplishing your goal. Oprah has an entire army of producers, assistants, and creative people to help her realize her dreams. Ultimately, she would have the final say with what is presented in her programs. If you plan to join a smoking cessation program (surround yourself with like minded people) which The American Heart Association strongly supports for smokers who are prepared to quit, commit to work at it everyday. Eventually, once you've completed the program the responsibility lies in you to persist to effectively attain your goal.

So with the new year, let's dare to face our fears and grow as individuals. Let's dare ourselves to speak in public, to give a stranger our most winning smile, to start a blog, to introduce yourself at a party, to start a business, to learn a new skill and a slew of other fears that no longer serve us.

We need to begin the year with positivity, gratitude, hope and an open heart ready to shame the face of fear and purge out hearts from False Emotions Appearing Real.


Laugh, Love, Live Positive