Blushing with Makeup Geek

I have a confession to make: I love blush. It is one of my favourite parts in a makeup routine. A normal person doesn't need a blush of every single rainbow colour, unless you are obsessed with it like me. In order to satisfy my craving but not spend a fortune on it I looked to Makeup Geek. I say if you are a blush addict you need to stop whatever you are doing and check out Makeup Geek blushes now!

I have already reviewed Makeup Geek eyeshadows and pigments, so if you are interested you can give them a read here and here. All Makeup Geek products are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in the USA. I have a total of 6 blushes in my collection and I believe the range consists of 13 shades. These blushes come in pan format and as compacts. I prefer the pan simply because it is easier to store and I can have all my blushes in one place. I keep them usually in a Z palette, which you can purchase from Makeup Geek website or Beautybay. Now let's take a closer look at the blushes. I have the following shades:

Bliss - light peachy coral

Summer Fling - soft burnt orange

Infatuation - medium matte terracotta 

Secret Admirer - light orchid purple

Randezvous - rosey to medium pink with purple undertones

Love Affair - intense pink - coral

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

Makeup Geek blushes are a dream to work with. They are very smooth and highly pigmented. With shades like Love Affair it is enough to just dab your brush a little bit, otherwise you can overdo it. They blend seamlessly on your cheeks without leaving streaks. In terms of longevity they are the best blushes I have tried hands down. Usually when I put blush in the morning by lunch time it is almost gone. When I use these blushes they do not budge. That is the one quality I appreciate most about these blushes. The shade selection is also very good; you have warm and cool tones. However, I would have liked to see a natural rosy shade along the lines of Tarte Exposed, Mac Cubic, NARS Douceur and Urban Decay Video. 

In my opinion Makeup Geek blushes are comparable to Mac. I don't own any Mac blushes and the main reason is because I am very satisfied with these. Mac blushes are of the same size, can be bought in a pan or compact and have a wide range of colours. However, Mac blushes retail for 22,00$ per compact and 17,00$ per pan, while Makeup Geek for 12,99$ and 9,99$ respectively. Makeup Geek ships internationally.

If you are looking for new blushes that are cruelty, paraben and talc free, affordable, and have some fun colours, Makeup Geek is where it is at. You can't go wrong with Bliss or Infatuation: those are flattering on anyone if you ask me. If you fancy unique colours or a potential dupe for Mac's Full of Joy that was discontinued - Secret Admirer is worth checking out!

What is your all-time favourite blush? Let me know!

Cheers,

Muffy

Healthy Deodorant Lavanila

If you have been searching high and low for a healthy deodorant that does not contain alcohol, aluminium and other nasties, I might have just the right one for you! Lavanila Healthy Deodorant is an all- natural deodorant that is free from Parabens, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Silicones, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oils, Synthetic Dyes, Sulfates, Chemical Sunscreens and Aluminum.

Lavanila Healthy Deodorant, Pure Vanilla

Traditional deodorants can contain aluminium, Propylene Glycol and Parabens that could potentially absorb into the delicate underarm area and be harmful for you. As a result of this awareness, more people are turning towards more natural alternatives, including myself. I have discovered Lavanila Healthy Deodorant after having read a few reviews myself. Previously I haven't had the best luck with natural deodorants (I am looking at you Lush Aromaco Solid deodorant and Lavera Neutral deodorant roll-on). I am not gonna lie, I went on a spree to find a reliable source from where I can order this product and have it shipped to Finland. More on that at the end of this post! Lavanila Laboratories specialise in all natural body care products and fragrances. They have a pretty good deodorant range targeted at different concerns (e.g fragrance free, extreme protection for sports etc). I picked an original which is Pure Vanilla. What impressed me when it arrived was the size. It is larger than your average deodorant. It comes with 57g of product while your standard deodorant would be around 50g. I personally like the scent of vanilla and don't find it too overpowering, but I can imagine that someone people might. It is by no means a lightly scented product. This deodorant may not be the best solution for heavy duty exercising, but for everyday use it is fantastic. If you want an option for an effective sports deodorant I can recommend Vichy 48h Anti-Persperant Treatment, Intense Perspiration. It does however contain aluminium, but it is free from alcohol and parabens nevertheless.

Do not expect immediate results, I noticed that it takes time for it to do the trick. You need to use it consistently for a couple of weeks or up to a month, until your body adjusts to it. Remember you need to be persistent, do not give up after using it handful of times. And I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Shop for Lavanila Healthy Deodorant

Net-a-Porter - provides worldwide shipping, with a flat rate of 15,00€. However, Net-a-Porter offers free shipping a few times a year, usually around Christmas time. Lavanila Healthy Deodorant retails for 12,00€.

I hope you found this post useful. Let me know if you have converted to the healthy deodorant side!

Cheers,
Muffy

No Fuss Pigments

We all shiver at the thought of using pigments as it tends to get messy, troublesome and at the end of the day you end up looking like a disco ball. But let me assure you not all are like that. I came across pigments that stay true to colour, offer minimal fall out and do not melt off your lids. These are Makeup Geek pigments - shock horror! 

L-R: Utopia, Afterglow, Sweet Dreams

As with all Makeup Geek products, these pigments are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in USA. You get 2,0g of product in a jar (even though it says 1,5g due to the regulations). Makeup Geek has recently repackaged their pigments, which now contain proper sifters preventing it from flying around everywhere. I went ahead and purchased three colours.

Utopia (an antique gold glitter)
Afterglow (a soft shimmery champagne with peachy undertones) 
Sweet Dreams(a beige nude with slight shimmer)

L-R: Utopia, Afterglow, Sweet Dreams

I use Sweet Dreams and Afterglow pigments on a daily basis. Sweet Dreams is the more subtle of the two, although both of them are wearable for everyday use. Utopia is more of a special occasion pick. It would be great for a night out or New Years or if you want to rock it during the day, You go girl or boy! Utopia does have a little bit more fall out since it is a glitter.

Tip: Prior to application, if you dip your brush into an eye drop solution, it will help the glitter to adhere and give you an even better colour payoff. 

I would suggest applying these pigments with a small synthetic flat brush. For example something along the lines of Morphe Brushes G15 the one featured in the picture below. It doesn't have to be this exact brush but anything similar will work.

Small Oval Brush G15 by Morphe Brushes

If you are trying out the brand for the first time and not sure which pigment to pick, I say go with Afterglow. It is quite versatile; you can sheer it out or you can make it really intense. It goes with any makeup and looks stunning on its own. Makeup Geek pigments retail for $7,99. You can purchase them directly from the Makeup Geek website. 

Which pigment should I try next? I have been eyeing Birthday Wish.

Cheers,

Muffy

Vegan Dupe for MAC 217

I would imagine if you are reading this blog you have heard about the famous blending brush MAC 217 in one way or another. 

Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan

I gave into the hype and purchased mine almost a year ago. It has served me well and changed my eyeshadow blending game for the better. That is until I came across a Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan. The two brushes are almost if not completely identical. They have the same oval rounded shape and the hairs are quite densely packed. I would say the Zoeva 227 brush is a little bit more flat, but you can't really see it unless you are super picky. The bristles of both brushes are very soft and gentle on the skin. It does not tag or pull on your eyelids when blending. Both can be used for multiple purposes. I have used them for depositing a wash of colour over my lids when I am going for a one eyeshadow kinda look, or you can use them for blending out cream eyeshadows.

The only major difference between the two is the source of bristles and price. MAC 217 is made of white goat hairs while Zoeva 227 is made of vegan taklon hairs. Moreover, MAC 217 retails for $24,00 or around 22,00€, while Zoeva 227 comes at a very affordable price of 7,80€. Besides the obvious cruelty aspect, animal derived bristles tend to accumulate more bacteria, so you need to wash them more frequently. Also white hairs get stained easily after prolonged use meaning your brush will not look so stark white as when you purchased it.  

MAC 217 and Zoeva 227 side by side

MAC 217 vs Zoeva 227

R-L : Zoeva 227 and MAC 217

Zoeva is a German brand that is best known for their brushes, but they are also carrying makeup nowadays. I have tried a few of their brushes and lipsticks and was never disappointed. It ships worldwide and it costs 7,50€ to ship to Finland. Even with shipping it totals only to 15,30€, which is still cheaper than MAC 217. 

If you are looking for a new blending brush, I say Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan is as good as MAC 217. I have had mine for at least six months and it is as soft and fluffy as when I bought it. It does not shed and is easy to clean. If you are vegan or simply conscious about animal welfare, Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan is what you want to be looking at.

What are your favourite blending brushes?

Cheers,

Muffy

LA Girl Cruelty Free Concealers

I am bringing to you a product that does not leave my makeup bag. Recently I stumbled upon a brand called LA Girl, which happens to offer concealers that cover dark circles and are also cruelty free. These are LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers. As you can see from the pictures below these puppies are very well loved. LA Girl is a USA based company that offers a wide range of products. I have not tried anything else from their line, but I am tempted to pick up their Pro BB cream. 

LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers

La Girl Pro Conceal comes in a vast array of colours ranging from fairest up to deeper skin tones. They have an assortment of 20 shades, which means there is a shade for everyone! Since I ordered these online, I was not sure which shade would be the right match for me. Thus I went ahead and picked up two colours: Natural and Creamy Beige. Natural is more of a pinkier tone while Creamy Beige leans more towards yellow / salmon. I use both interchangeably. Usually if I want more of a highlighted look, I go for Natural and if I want more of a subtle look I use Creamy Beige. For reference I have an olive complexion with warm undertones, and I am NC25-NC30 in MAC. 

R-L : LA Girl Pro Conceal in Natural and Creamy Beige

LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer's Applicator

These concealers have a very light texture and blend like a dream. Sometimes I use a brush to blend them out and other times I prefer to use my fingers. Either way works great. La Girl Pro Conceal does not crease on me. I usually set it with a powder (I use MAC Emphasize but any finely milled powder will do). I have tried a number of mass market concealers and all of them creased on me regardless if I set them with powder or not.

I like that it comes in a tube and has a brush-like applicator, which makes it easy to distribute the product. I will say that it might get a bit challenging and messy to squeeze the product out of the tube if you start pressing randomly. Just press from the end like you would with toothpaste to avoid said mess. You get 8g of product per tube.

I think these concealers are worth looking into if you are on a budget and want a product that complies with your ethical standards. I will surely be placing an order when I run out.

Shop for LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers:

BeautyJoint - Worldwide shipping. Price is $2,99 plus additional shipping charges based on weight. You can toggle currency settings at the top right corner of the website to save yourself the trouble of manual conversion.

Ebay - Free international shipping. Price is $5,39. 

Cheers,
Muffy

Sensitive & Flaky Scalp? I got you sorted

Let's be honest: sensitive and flaky scalp is not fun or attractive. But don't you despair! I got you covered - let me introduce Kiehl's Scalp Purifying Pyrithione Zinc Dandruff Shampoo. 

Kiehl's Scalp Purifying Pyrithione Zinc Dandruff Shampoo

Since I have atopic eczema, my entire skin tends to be super sensitive and dry, including my scalp. This winter I had the worst episode of dry flaky scalp. It was flaking like no other and I felt very self conscious about it. I tried various oils and treatments for my scalp from the pharmacy but, frankly speaking, nothing worked. It might have taken the itching sensation off for some time but it would not stop my scalp from being super dry and flaky. It was my friend who suggested I try Kiehl's Scalp Purifying Dandruff Shampoo. I went to a Kiehl's counter here in Finland( you can find it at a central Stockmann in Helsinki and Tampere)and asked for a few samples. That is what I like about Kiehl's. They have an amazing customer service and will always give you samples if you ask. In terms of ingredients, as the name suggests, it contains Zinc which helps to fight dandruff, redness and itching. It is also packed with essential oils such as Rosemary Leaf and Marjoram Oil. 

This product has a very pleasant none intrusive minty scent, which I personally like. It is non-stripping and leaves my scalp feeling refreshed. After a few uses I could already notice that the skin was less irritated and having used this product for a month I could see a massive difference. Now my scalp is back to normal, and I keep this product in my weekly hair care routine. I don't use it every time I wash my hair but at least once or twice a week. 

This is now my holy grail product (as many bloggers and youtube's would put it) and I could not be without it. The thought of running out gives me a slight panic attack! In terms of price, it costs 22,00€, which in my opinion is not too bad. You don't need a lot, so a little goes a long way. I bought mine in winter and I am only half way through. 

If you suffer from sensitive and flaky scalp I highly recommend you try this guy out. As said you can always ask for samples at your nearest Kiehl's counter and see how you get along. 

Cheers,
Muffy

The Eyebrow Pencil You Need in Your Life

I have to be honest and admit that I never really cared much about brows. Only in the past few years I actually started to realise that they exist and maybe it was about time I did something about them. I have tried various products in the past, mostly pencils and powders, but nothing really stood out for me, and at the end I just went back to my usual self of not being bothered. That is, until I heard about Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. It took me a while to bite the bullet and order one online in the Medium Brown shade, which is a perfect match for me. This little fellow ain't cheap, it costs around 19,10 - 23,90€, depending on where you buy it. It gets a big plus in my books as it is cruelty free and has no sulphates and parabens.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz 

Brow Wiz is a dual ended pencil, where on one end you have a spooley to brush out your brows and excess product, while on the other end you have a retractable tiny pencil to draw out your brows with. When I say tiny, I mean tiny, the kind that allows you to mimic brow hairs. This product will be your best friend if you have sparse or over plucked eyebrows. It also comes in a large array of shades, so you are bound to find a match for yourself. I am by no means an expert in filling in my brows but since I started using Brow Wiz I found myself showered with complements on my brows from both colleagues, relatives and friends. But what really gets to me is that it is so easy to use and it never looks too drawn on and it stays on all day. Literally - it does not budge!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Dual Ended with Retractable Pencil and Spooley

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown 

You can get Anastasia Beverly Hills products at Kicks stores in Finland (in central Helsinki those can be found in Forum & Kamppi). However,their selection is very poor and they do not re-stock products frequently. The products that are available are sold at a much higher price point. 

Tip 1: I found the cheapest place for Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products to be Beauty Bay. They ship internationally and offer free shipping on orders over 15,00€ to Finland. Beauty Bay occasionally features various deals and discounts, so you can get 10% or 20% off their entire selection. I would advice to wait and save a few pennies. 

Tip 2: Do not underestimate the spooley that Brow Wiz comes with. It is the best spooley. It brushes out brow hairs so easily and gives them their natural shape. Do not throw away the pencil when you run out; save it and use it as an extra spooley. Something you can keep in your beauty desk or in your bag in case you need to touch up your brows. Also you can wash the spooley under hot water and all the gunk that has accumulated there comes off like it was nothing.

Overall, Brow Wiz is my gem and I can't imagine using any other brow product. 

Let me know if you have tried it or what is your favourite eyebrow product?

Cheers,
Muffy

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows - Worth the Hype?

I decided to dedicate this post to something that I have had in my collection for some time now, and it has become a staple in my everyday makeup routine. As the title may suggest, I am referring to Makeup Geek eyeshadows. I know that there's a lot of reviews out there as is, however, I would like to share my humble opinion and experience. Makeup Geek has appealed to me mainly due to its ethical values, but more on that further on. 

In a nutshell Makeup Geek is a US based company that was established by a beauty Youtuber, Marlena. Her products are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in USA. Some people, including myself, can be sensitive to talc and break out, therefore it is fantastic to know that there are products out there for us folks. But wait - there is more - they are also very affordable! Eyeshadows retail for $5,99 per pan. Since they do come in a pan format, you would need to have a palette or something along those lines on hand to store your eyeshadows. I have been using a large Z palette (they come in a variety of sizes) and you can get it directly from Makeup Geek website. Z palettes serve well for making your storage space more compact, although they are not the best for traveling.

L-R : White Lies, Baby Face, Bling, Peach Smoothie, Crème Brulee, Preppy, Chickadee,
 Glamorous, Grandstand, Cosmopolitan, Flame Thrower, Cocoa Bear, Pretentious, Homecoming,
 Barcelona Beach, Unexpected, Cupcake, Bitten, High Tea,  Moondust, Shimmermint, Rockstar

In my collection I have 22 Makeup Geek eyeshadows to choose from. Each pan contains 1,8g of product, while for instance MAC single pan eyeshadow contains only 1,5g of product. In terms of pan size Makeup Geek and MAC eyeshadows are identical. 

L-R: White Lies, Baby Face, Bling, Peach Smoothie, Crème Brulee, Preppy, Chickadee

L-R: Glamorous, Grandstand, Cosmopolitan, Flame Thrower, Cocoa Bear, Pretentious,
Homecoming

L-R: Barcelona Beach, Unexpected, Cupcake, Bitten, High Tea, Moondust, Shimmermint
Rockstar

Makeup Geek eyeshadows are highly pigmented, easy to blend and come in a variety of colours and finishes (e.g matte, shimmery, foiled). The only downside is that they are not readily available and you would need to purchase these babies online and have them shipped over to you. In my opinion, Makeup Geek offers quite reasonable shipping rates: I have paid between $6,00 - $12,00 depending on the amount I ordered. The shipping rate is usually determined by the weight of the package.

Tip : If you are placing an order from Finland (or another place outside the USA for that matter), on top of shipping costs you will be charged customs fees if the value of your order exceeds a certain amount. In Finland that amount is 22,00€, but please check your local country's regulations, as the threshold may vary from country to country. As such, I suggest you go with a few smaller orders instead of one big one.

I have not experienced any problems with ordering from Makeup Geek. They provide very good quality swatches online so you can see how different eyeshadows compare within the same colour family. It takes about two weeks for an order to arrive to Finland. Makeup Geek notifies you when you order has shipped and provides you with a tracking number. My products have always arrived and they were never damaged or different from what had been ordered.

If I were to recommend a "starters kit" it would depend on if you prefer warmer or cooler tones. If you are more of a warmer tone lover, your safest bet would be the shades below:

L-R: Peach Smoothie, Cème Brulee, Cocoa Bear,
Chickadee, Cosmopolitan

However, if you fancy more cooler tones, I would go with the following shadows:

L-R: Baby Face, Barcelona Beach, Unexpected,
Moondust, High Tea

Regardless of what colours you pick, the quality is consistent. I have not encountered a single dud. And as for the final verdict, hell YES, they are worth the hype!

Makeup Geek's Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupGeekTV

Where else to buy Z pallets (worldwide shipping incl. Finland): 

http://www.beautybay.com/zpalette/ 

I hope you found this post useful. Let me know which of the colours are your favourite. If you want a more detailed review of each colour in my collection let me know and I shall conquer!

Cheers, 
Muffy 


Disclaimer: I was not sponsored by Makeup Geek. I purchased the reviewed products for my personal use.