Product Review: Jane Iredale's Artists' Eyes I & II

Mission: To find non-toxic eyeshadows that are pigmented and performs exceptionally.

Merchandise: Jane Iredale's Artists' Eyes I & II

Taken Directly from their website:

Artists' Eyes is a palette of matte shadows created especially for makeup artists working in commercial settings. This kit contains six eye shadow shades designed with the professional makeup artist in mind. Includes hues of pure black, canary yellow, chocolate brown, regal mauve, deep teal and neutral peach, packaged together in a black and gold, faux alligator skin wallet and displayed in a formation reminiscent of an artist's palette. Formulas glide on and stay put with a crease-proof finish.
Artists' Eyes II is a palette of matte shadows created especially for makeup artists working in commercial settings. This kit contains six eye shadow shades designed with the professional makeup artist in mind. Includes Blue Sky, Cut Grass, Grape, Copper, Indigo and Truffle, packaged together in a silver faux-croc slim case and displayed in a formation reminiscent of an artist's palette. Formulas glide on and stay put with a crease-proof finish.


Jane Iredale introduced her unique skin care makeup line in May of 1994. Her cosmetic line offered not just color enhancement but also benefits to the skin. Plastic surgeons were the first to recognize the benefits of the line and were confident enough with it to use it on skin that had just undergone laser resurfacing. It not only effectively and safely covered the redness but also provided essential sun protection. The products are based on micronized minerals and are made without fillers and binders (such as talc and mineral oil) and without chemical dyes or preservatives. As a result, the Iredale products are carried by salons, spas and medical clinics throughout the world.

On my quest to find cosmetics that are non-toxic, the very first line of makeup that I used were from Jane Iredale. I remember it well. The first products that I purchased were the PurePressed® Base Mineral Foundation with SPF 20 along with the Balance Antioxidant Hydration Spray. After using both products for a few weeks - my skin loved it! It felt light and didn't break my skin out. Then I thought, if my skin responded well to the foundation, let's give the other products a go!

Eyeshadows:

PROS: First thing that I noticed - the packaging of course! Both palettes were separately encased in these faux-croc skin containers with magnetized lids (similar to Inglot's packaging). It looked very glamorous and soft to the touch. The shadows glided on to skin easily and are HIGHLY pigmented.

CONS:  As a makeup artist, I want to be able to have easy access to all of my products at a glance. However lovely the packaging looked and felt, de-potting these eyeshadows might be a challenge. I'm also unsure if Jane Iredale sells individual eyeshadow/blush pans. I may have to reach out to them and find out. As soon as I do, I will post an update. 

Artists'  Eyes

Artists' Eyes II

*Although the description states that the formulations are matte for both palettes, Artists' Eyes II has a bit of a sheen or shimmer from all the shadows, especially from Truffle and Copper.*

Swatches:

Natural light/Outdoors

Dimmed lighting w/ flash/Indoors

Until next time,  

Love, Laugh, Live Positive

 

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: Zosimos Botanicals cream eyeshadows

Taken directly from their website:

"At Zosimos Botanicals, we handcraft our own line of mineral makeup and natural skincare in our 100% wind-powered studio. As a green business, our products are handcrafted in small batches using gentle plant-based raw materials, including pure plant oils, natural waxes, herbs, extracts, floral waters and essential oils. No animal testing is performed, nor do we resort to synthetic chemicals such as parabens, nanoparticles or other toxins."

In my ongoing quest to "green" my make-up kit, I stumbled upon this wonderful website of handmade natural line of cosmetics and skincare products. Instantly, this peaked my interest. As I read more about the company, I found that not only do they prefer to make products that are fresh, (as in their items are not taken off a shelf and placed into a box) but they are also dedicated to sell a variety of safe, wholesome, non-toxic goods! 

Oh happy day!!

After a series of correspondence, I've had the pleasure to know Linda Stein, Founder/Formulator of Zosimos Botanicals who allowed me to put in my two cents and help develop these impressive  products.  Again, these products have been meticulously handcrafted, freshly made and toxin free.

Dear readers, I am honored to introduce you to Zosimos Botanicals cream eyeshadows.

To see this project come to fruiton was truly exciting! When I was given these items to sample, it felt like Christmas morning! hahaha!

The color payoff on all six products were amazing! The eyeshadows had a light shimmer and applied smoothly. The two colors that I'm crazy about in this collection are Fool's Gold and Branch. I've foiled Branch and used it as an eyeliner then used Fool's Gold to brighten up the inner corners of my eyes. LOVE!

I found that White Hilite's texture leaned more towards the wet side and the rest of the cream shadows leaned more toward the dry/powdery side. However, since cream eyeshadows are brand new to their line of cosmetics, the texture and formulation may still be under review.

Overall, if you're crazy about cream eye shadow, these beauties are for you!

**Quick Tip**

Once you apply your cream eyeshadow, ALWAYS apply powder eyeshadow of the same shade on top of it. This process will set your eyeshadow which will help sustain the longevity of your look. 

Ready to see how they look? You got it! Since they were all earth tones,I had fun using all six products at the same time. These shades were suitable to use alone or in combination.

Now to make this product review a bit more entertaining, I decided to add captions to coincide with the expressions below. Each expression would serve as a character in this week's bloggy-sode of "Who ate the last slice of blueberry pie?"

 *Queue in soap opera music*

This program is brought to you by our sponsors Zosimos Botanicals. Because at Zosimos Botanicals, they consider products created toxin-free not only logical, but spectacularly magical! Zosimos Botanicals."

and....ACTION!

Cassandra:
"I DARE you to ask me if I ate it!"

Matilda:
"So...what's that dark stain on your lip??"

Trixie:
"It wasn't me! You can't prove anything!"

  

Matilda:
"But I thought I heard you said you wanted something...sweet..?"

Cassandra:
"Ah-hah! I had a feeling it was you!"

Chelsea:
"Ya, don't look at me. I was at the tanning salon."

Ness:
*Burp* "Tee-hee!"

Chillessa:
*Snore*

Laugh, Love, Live Positive