A girl's quest to live on the greener side.

I Tried 3 Samples From The Detox Market: Here's What I Think

By: Ariana Palmieri
I'm a firm believer in taking care of ones skin from the inside-out. What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it. That's why I was so excited when The Detox Market sent me natural beauty samples: These products are perfect for maintaining glowing, beautiful skin the natural way all winter long. I got to sample Moon Juice's Beauty Dust, RMS Beauty's "Un" Cover-Up, and Shiva Rose's Rose Facial Oil, all thanks to The Detox Market. If you've never heard of them before, you should totally check out their website. They're kind of like the Sephora of the natural beauty world in the sense they curate and sell products from multiple green beauty brands. You can find everything from makeup to hair care while browsing their site, or you can shop by brand name. The Detox Market also offers free USPS shipping and surprise samples on any purchase over $80, which is really awesome. Unlike Sephora, the products they curate never contain any harmful chemicals and are always cruelty-free. While not all of their products are vegan, they do have vegan-friendly options available. If you want to learn more about what ingredients are off-limits in their products, they have a whole page dedicated to it. It's actually pretty cool because it lists a bunch of harmful ingredients, explains their use, health concerns, and the sort of (conventional) beauty products you can find them in. Some toxins they list include aluminum, lead, parabens, and phthalates (among many others). Thankfully, you'll never have to worry about any of these ingredients being found in products they sell. If you've shopped there before, be sure to let me know in the comment section! Now, without further ado, here's my review.


Beauty Dust
Moon Juice

Why you want it: This herbal 'dust' can be added to any drink of your choice, hot or cold, and tastes great.

Its value: $30

My review: I've heard a lot about Moon Juice products, so I was really excited when The Detox Market sent me this sample. I've been wanting to try their products for a long time, but specifically their dusts. They offer an array of dusts, and this is just one of them. Other dusts include brain dust, action dust, power dust, goodnight dust and even spirit dust. Each 'dust' is supposed to help with different things, whether it be going to sleep or improving your complexion. This particular dust that I sampled is supposed to "expand my beauty, luster and glow from within", according to the packaging. Since I only received one sample of this beauty dust, I cannot say what my experience would've been had I continuously used it for several days. It was a one-time use only packet that I was supposed to rip open and pour into the drink of my choice. To be exact, the packet says "mix with 8 oz of hot or cold water, nut milk, coffee, tea, or smoothie". Since I wanted to taste what this herbal supplement would taste like on its own, I just added it to a mug of hot water. In a way, I was kind of drinking it like I would tea, only without the steeping. The coolest part about the beauty dust is that you don't need to steep it: It dissolves right into the water (or any liquid you decide to drink it with). Once I added it into the water, I mixed it up and was amazed to see the water had turned a deep dark brown color. It almost looked like coffee, which kind of scared me because I don't drink coffee. That said, when I tasted it, it sure wasn't coffee. It was such a nice blend of herbs with a pleasing taste. It reminded me a little bit of drinking hot cocoa for some reason (and not just because it looked similar to it). It had a hearty after taste that resembled pure, all-natural hot cocoa, minus the sugar. I actually really liked it and took my time drinking it. Since I have never tried half the herbs listed in this beauty dust, it's hard for me to describe the flavor. It wasn't spicy, sour, or bitter. It was warming with a gentle sweetness to it. Unfortunately, I would have to drink one per day to see any real effects of this beauty dust on my skin. According to The Detox Market's website, "This ancient empiric formula expands beauty through calming the nerves, increasing collagen and silica production, toning and firming tissue, and both hydrating and fortifying skin, hair, nails and cell membranes from the inside out". In the future, I'd love to try this stuff out again, only next time for a longer duration and on a daily basis, to see if all these benefits reign true. That said, it certainly did calm my nerves and help me relax. So cheers to that!

Wildcrafted: Pearl, Goji, Schizandra, Rehmannia, Lo Han Guo, Stevia


Shiva Rose

Why you want it: This aromatic facial oil will not only help reduce redness and dryness, but also opens up your heart chakra.

Its value: $105

My review: I've been following Shiva Rose for a while now and have been in love with her products pretty much the moment I laid eyes on them. Their packaging is beautiful (hard to see from this sample, but you can see it here), as well as their logo (it's a rose, duh). Each product is carefully crafted with lots of love, and the founder herself infuses each with good blessings (making it the perfect product for someone spiritually inclined - like myself). Though the prices on each Shiva Rose product is high, so is the quality. I have yet to see one Shiva Rose product I did not want. One of my life goals is to have her entire skincare line (just saying). This particular product is made with organic oils and even said to "open up the heart chakra," according to The Detox Market. That's because roses are almost automatically associated with the heart and have incredible healing, invigorating, and beautifying benefits. I'm also in love with how there's only 8 ingredients in this product, and each one is plant based. This product also helps reduce inflammation, slows aging, and creates cell-renewal. Considering it's winter and my skin is particularly dry (I blame lack of humidity), this product was a god send. I was so happy The Detox Market sent me this sample because my skin literally starts to flake in the winter. I applied this oil morning and night to all dry and inflamed areas (near any pimples I had) and did notice a difference. It wasn't immediate as far as reducing inflammation, but there was an immediate difference on the dry areas of my skin (mainly my cheeks, chin and forehead). That said, this oil is not heavy at all on the skin. It's actually quite airy and light, plus it smells absolutely phenomenal. It definitely can be used just for its aromatherapy benefits alone. It made my entire face smell like a rose for at least an hour after application (dreams do come true!). While I can't say all my acne cleared up and my dry skin is no more, I have seen a sharp reduction in both redness and flakiness after using this product. I still have more left too, even though I've been using it pretty much two weeks straight! Now that's impressive.

Organic Simmondsia chinensis ( Jojoba ) Oil, Organic Rosa canina (Rosehip Seed) Oil, Aleurites moluccans (Kukui Nut) Oil, Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Organic Camelina sativa (Camelina) Oil, Hippophae rhamnoides (Seed Buckthorn) Oil, Organic Rosa Damascena (Persian Rose) Essential Oil, Non-GMO Alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Oil. 

Formulated in a high vibrational environment with love and blessings.


"Un" Cover-Up

Why you want it: This cover up applies super smooth and hides blemishes without needing to apply much at all.

Its value: $36

My review: As most of you know, I don't wear foundation. That said, my face is far from flawless. It's very rare for my face not to have some sort of blemish on it, be it acne, red spots, or dark spots. That's why I adore cover up: I only apply it to the areas I feel need it most. In order to ensure my face looks even and not blotchy, I prefer using cover ups that deliver the best results without sacrificing my health and ethics. I've heard about RMS Beauty's "Un" Cover-Up through multiple rave reviews and figured it was time for me to investigate. I'm so glad I did too: This stuff works! Once The Detox Market sent it to me, I immediately tried it. After applying my favorite all-natural primer from 100% Pure, I used my finger to dab the concealer onto any problem spots on my skin. It's not really a liquid concealer, but it's not a powder either. It's something in between and applied very smoothly to my skin. I rubbed and patted it in and was amazed at how well it blended with my skin coloring. It almost instantly made my blemishes vanish, and if it didn't, I just applied a little more. It can be layered without looking cakey and gross, which is very important to me. If anything, it helped moisturize my skin (something I certainly need in the winter - remember how I mentioned my skin flakes up in the winter?). Since this product is made with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter and jojoba oil, I'm not too surprised at how velvety the application was. Unfortunately, it's not vegan-friendly because there's beeswax in it. That said, it is cruelty-free, so there's no need to worry. The concealer lasted me a while, but by the end of the day it had faded a little (even with primer). I'd say it lasted about 6-7 hours before starting to melt/fade a little, which is still pretty good. I still have plenty left too: I didn't need much to do the job, which is another big win in my book! I'm all about minimalist makeup. So in total, I would definitely recommend this to any non-vegan friends of mine!

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol (non-GMO), Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Extract*, and may contain [+/-] Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499. *Certified Organic

The (quick) rundown

The pros: The pros completely outweigh the cons.
  1. I really admire The Detox Markets standards for clean, natural beauty.
  2. I love how they offers free shipping and free samples over any purchase over $80! 
  3. I loved receiving all three of the samples I requested: They were so accommodating and friendly!
  4. I was impressed by how well everything performed, even though I would've liked to sample more of the Beauty Dust.
  5. I still have more left over from each sample (except for the Beauty Dust).
  6. I love how each product is all natural and made with organic ingredients.
  7. I love how there are many more brands to choose from on their website other than just these three.
  8. I really love their Instagram account (super inspirational and great pictures!).
The cons: The cons are ridiculously low.
  1. Each product on its own would've costed me a lot at full size.
  2. I would've liked at least 3 packets of the Beauty Dust sample so I could've given a more in-depth review of my experience with it.
Conclusion: I can't help but recommend The Detox Market to all my followers. Even if none of the products I reviewed spoke to you, there are bound to be others on their site that do. While it can be hard to find which green beauty brands are perfect for you, or where to start, The Detox Market is making it one step easier. They stock so many in one place it's impossible to have an excuse not to try one! My advice? Go to their website and shop via skincare, makeup, or hair care. Once you find a product you really like, check out the brand it's made by. Chances are, if you like one product from them, you're bound to like a few more. Happy shopping!

How to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas

By: Ariana Palmieri
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but not always an eco-friendly time. After all, stores this time of year encourage massive consumerism, which takes a toll on the environment: Most products are made in environment-polluting factories and are made with non-recycled resources. Not to mention any imported items generate added pollution to the environment: The farther an item travels, the more fossil fuels are burned. That said, there are ways to make sure your carbon footprint doesn’t double in size this time of year. Here are some tips on how to make this Christmas your most eco-friendly one yet. And don’t worry, it won’t cost you a fortune either. 


Buy a real tree (better yet an organic one), and then recycle it

You might be wondering which is better for the environment: A plastic tree or a real tree? While there are certainly pros and cons to owning both, buying a real tree is the better option. Why you ask? Because, plastic trees are made using plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the toxic chemical dioxin is released during PVC production. Not to mention PVC also contains hormone-disrupting plastic softeners called phthalates. Yuck. Oh, and if that’s not enough to make you cringe, many plastic trees also contain lead. The worst part is, even if you wanted to recycle it, it couldn’t be recycled. Only certain plastics are recyclable and PVC is not one of them. Instead, it will just sit in a landfill. For all eternity.

While real trees aren’t flawless either, they certainly have more pros than cons. At least with real trees, they can be recycled or even replanted. While few Christmas trees rarely come from forests anymore, they are grown on plantations available throughout all 50 states and for each tree that's cut down, another is planted. That makes it virtually impossible to find a tree that isn’t locally grown (which is great for the environment – the closer the distance, the smaller the carbon footprint). The only cons with real trees is that they can be riddled with pests and pesticides. To avoid this, try buying an organic Christmas tree. Then, when the holiday season is over, have it turned into mulch or find an area to re-plant it. If you’re still adamantly against both options, you can always just buy an artsy Christmas tree made from recycled materials, or try planting a tree outside your home.

Make DIY eco-friendly ornaments + décor

I personally love making DIY anything, but Christmas décor? That's fun stuff. Instead of buying new ornaments and decorations this year, just DIY new ones, while re-using old decorations from last year. Some DIY ornaments that are fun to make are glitter-dipped pine cones (I only use biodegradable glitter), popcorn/cranberry strings, cinnamon dough ornaments, and light bulb snowmen. There are tons more ornaments to make using items found in nature too, such as twigs, rocks, berries, and sprigs of evergreen plants. You just have to get a little creative. You can also make eco-friendly wreaths using natural materials such as pinecones, twigs, loose pine branches, or even succulents. Don't forget to hang an eco-friendly stocking on your fireplace! If you like to upcycle items (I know I do) why not try painting some empty glass bottles using holiday colors (like red and green), or making paper ornaments using day old newspaper? The possibilities are endless.

Use DIY wrapping paper

It's safe to say paper is one of the biggest victims on Christmas: Have you seen how much wrapping paper is produced and wasted? Literally, when my family is done unwrapping things on Christmas, there is not one, but two heaping garbage bags filled with only wrapping paper. Thankfully, it gets recycled, but that isn't the case for all wrapping paper. Instead of buying new wrapping paper this year, try using some DIY hacks to lessen the burden on the environment. Instead, wrap your gifts with newspaper, old magazine pages, or even leaves lying around your garden. To make leaf wrapping paper, just glue or tape them together to create one big sheet, then use as you would actual wrapping paper. This technique works best with fresh leaves, as dried leaves would crumble and crack. However, try to avoid using too much glue or tape, as this is not biodegradable: Instead use ribbons to keep your gifts held together.You can also re-use any old gift bags you may have that were given to you in the past to put presents in. Here are some other eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas if none of the ones I listed speak to you. Remember: Not everything needs to be gift wrapped. You can simply put your gifts in plain cardboard boxes and decorate them any way you see fit (drawing nature-inspired pictures on the box is a good idea). That said, if you must use wrapping paper on Christmas, here are some fun ways to recycle wrapping paper besides throwing it in a recycling bin.

Reduce light usage

I'll admit I love a nicely lit house on Christmas Eve, but the environment sure doesn't. The amount of energy wasted on all those lights is enormous, not to mention wasteful if left on all day (which some places do, mind you). My advice? Use only LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights to decorate your home and tree this year. That, and keep them off during the day. The reason I suggest LED lighting is because LED holiday lights use up to 95% less energy than larger, traditional holiday bulbs. They also last up to 100,000 hours when used indoors. Also, with LED lights, if one burns out, the rest of the strand will still be lit. That said, even with LED lights in place, it's still a good idea to keep your indoor and outdoor lighting simple. Your house can still look attractive and beautiful without hundreds of lights. Personally, I'm a sucker for blue Christmas lights, but that's just me.

Make your own gifts or buy local, handmade gifts

I adore making homemade gifts for people. I feel like people appreciate them even more when they know you took the time out of your busy day to make them something. Plus, you can personalize a homemade gift any way you see fit without it costing an arm and a leg. DIY gifts don't have to be super fancy either: They can be as simple as making someone eye makeup and lipstick or as complex as making mittens out of an old sweater. Either way, you have the creative license to do as you please. Note that you can never go wrong with crafting DIY body scrubs, lotions, foot soaks, or bath balms (all available on Pinterest)! Just don't craft the ones that require any artificial dyes or fake fragrance (essential oils are better). For the men in your life, maybe try your hand at making all-natural cologne, rosemary pine beard balm, or citrus honey scotch ale soap.

If you're not in the mood to DIY anything, try to buy handmade items instead. Etsy is a great source to find handmade goodies anyone in your family would adore. The best part about Etsy is that any purchase you make from them goes to supporting a small business owner, instead of a corporation. Since most corporations are known for polluting the environment to produce their products, it's always better to support small businesses. As always, you should still read what ingredients are in the product you're looking to buy, even if it's on Etsy, to ensure it's an eco-friendly purchase. Here are some eco-friendly Etsy gifts worth looking at to get you started. Better yet, if you know any small businesses in your neighborhood that sell all-natural products, be sure to check in with them. Vintage shops are also great places to shop because they're inexpensive and can have fantastic, well-preserved items (like tea sets and classic records) someone in your family is bound to love.


Happy Holidays!

A Full Moon Gratitude Ceremony for a Happy Holiday Season

By: Ariana Palmieri
Stressing out this holiday season? I understand: Holiday blues is a real thing. That said, it's important to take a moment to step back and reflect on all you have. Thankfully, December's Full Cold Moon is upon us: The moon is in Gemini and encourages us to all slow down and be real with one another. While the first day of the full moon was technically yesterday (December 13), this 4-step full moon ceremony is still relevant. It's great for humbling you, grounding you, and helping you realizing you don't need hundreds of gifts to be happy this holiday season. What you have right now is enough.

Photo credit: Alamelu Sundaramoorthy

1. Settle down, breathe, and think of 3 positive things in your life.

Take a moment to get yourself in a relaxed state. You may light some incense, play some soothing music, or light a candle. Sit down, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths to let go of the day's woes. When you're ready, think of at least three people, situations, or places you're grateful for. Maybe it's your significant other, a good grade, or your new home. Focus on each and let yourself feel gratitude. Stay in this feeling for as long as you like.

2. Make a list of what you're grateful for.

Now grab a pen and paper so you can list everything you just envisioned mentally. You don't have to put too much detail into this: It can just be the names of the people, places, things, or situations you're grateful for. That said, feel free to put the reason why you're grateful for them down, if you feel so inclined. The more energy you add to this, the more powerful the ceremony will be.

3. Burn your gratitude list.

The full moon is a time of release: Burning your list will help you let things go. If you don't feel comfortable burning the paper, you may shred it, bury it outside, or simply recycle it. The goal is to release attachment so you can welcome further abundance and happiness.

4. Say a positive affirmation.

This can be a simple "I am blessed" or something more intricate like, " I am grateful for all the good that comes my way." Make sure to speak it out loud, and to say whatever comes from your heart. You may say it once, or, if it feels right, repeat it three times. Either way, what you say should resonate with your soul. When you're finished, make sure to put any fire you may have lit out! Now, you are charged with positive gratitude energy that will make this holiday season all the better.


Want more posts like this?

For more moon-related pieces, check out my work for MindBodyGreen. Also, If you enjoy moon-themed products, be sure to check out my review of MoonBodySoul. As always, thanks for reading.

The Best Green Beauty Gift Sets Under $100

By: Ariana Palmieri
Looking for a gift set that won't break the bank and the environment? You've come to the right place: I've assembled a list of my favorite green beauty gift sets. Some contain makeup, some contain skincare, and some contain a mix, but you're bound to find one that's perfect for that special someone.

Review: De Lune Care - Natural Tonics for Period Pain

By: Ariana Palmieri
I’m about to get a little personal here, so get ready. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve suffered from cramps. Not minimal ones, not slightly annoying ones - harsh, persistent, unforgiving cramps. If you’re a woman who doesn’t get them, or a man, then let me paint a picture for you: Every day I had my period, I’d wake up feeling very heavy and groggy. Then, the pain would come, usually after I started to wake up more. It would hit me like a ton of bricks and it wouldn’t stop. It made my legs feel like lead and I could barely walk, let alone lie down, without pain. I had trouble finding a comfortable position no matter what I was doing, be it standing, walking, or sitting. On top of all this, I had stabbing pain in my womanly areas that literally deduced me to tears. It would cause me to have hot and cold flashes and literally made me feel like I wanted to throw up. Often times, I’d have to be force fed food just to take two advils (it’s bad to take them on an empty stomach), but just the sight of food made me want to puke. I also could barely catch my breath and often hyperventilated while asking the heavens “Why? Why me?” over and over again. This was my life. As you can imagine, this sort of pain kept me home a lot. I missed several days of class all throughout high school, and sometimes even in college. Thankfully, its gotten way more tolerable and mild as the years have gone by…but every once and a while, that same unbearable pain will tackle me to the ground and halt everything I’m doing, no matter what it is. It will literally put my life on hold. And I’m sick of it.
I want out. I want an answer. I’m sick of being told “take advil”, “grin and bear it”, or “it’s part of being a woman”. You want pain that inhibits you every month? Thought so. It’s not normal, and I can’t, and never will, accept that as an answer. When period pain is that severe, there’s a reason. Your body, your hormones, are trying to tell you something. That’s why I decided to listen. That’s why I chose to try De Lune Care.
De Lune Care isn’t a miracle potion, or a miracle cure. I don’t want you to think I’m saying all this because I want you to go, run out, and buy their product. Absolutely not. I’m saying this because I wanted to try something that would help me better regulate my period in a natural way. I’m tired of just managing it. I want to treat it. That’s where De Lune Care comes in: These tonics are specifically designed to make your period pain manageable. They’re made with all-natural ingredients you can actually pronounce and don’t have to worry about consuming.  They come in a set of 4 for $20, which is not a bad deal at all. You’re supposed to drink one tonic per day as soon as you feel PMS of any sort.  Since I usually sync my period to the moon, I’ve noticed PMS starts for me around the waning moon. I started drinking the tonics on November 13, and finished the 4-pack November 16, the day I actually got my period. Want to see what I thought of the tonics and if they worked for me? Here's my day to day documentation of the De Lune Care experience. 


A few De Lune Care facts
  1. De Lune is made with 5 simple ingredients: Water, organic apple cider vinegar, organic blackstrap molasses, organic raw honey, and vanilla extract.
  2. De Lune is packed with calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6 and selenium. 
  3. These powerful components have the ability to reduce period pain by easing the contractions of the uterine muscles, minimizing blood clots, and restoring essential nutrients.
  4. De Lune can be taken 1-2 times per day to help relieve PMS or period pain. It can be taken as soon as PMS acts up, or as soon as your period starts, depending on personal preference.
  5. De Lune Care was created in 2015 by Mimi and her partner Kai out of a mutual desire to addresses the cause of women's pain, not their symptoms.
  6. De Lune is a 4-pack menstruation tonic set that costs $20. With each purchase, you get 4 drinks (you cannot purchase only one drink).

Day 1 – Sunday, November 13
This was the first day I tried the tonic. Very clearly, the instructions say to drink 1-2 bottles as soon as I start to feel the onslaught of PMS. To be honest, I had felt some PMS a few days prior to this day, but I decided to wait until today because it was growing intolerable. I also didn't want to drink the tonic too early because I didn't want to waste any of it, considering there are only 4 bottles. When I took my first sip, I must admit I was shocked. I didn’t expect it to taste the way it did: It was kind of bitter and had a little bite to it. That’s because it’s made with apple cider vinegar – I thought it was apple juice at first glance. Silly me. Unfortunately, the first tonic was very hard for me to down because of this. I had expected it to be sweeter because I misread the ingredients (but it’s still safe and all-natural!). Because of that, it took me a while to finish the first bottle. In fact, I drank it in bursts throughout the day: A quarter here, a quarter there. My PMS wasn’t super terrible, but it was enough where I knew my period would be coming well within the next few days. I didn’t see an immediate result from finishing the tonic today, but now at least it’s in my system.

Day 2 – Monday, November 14
Now that I know what the tonic tastes like, it’s a little easier to drink. I wouldn’t say it tastes awful, but it is an acquired taste. I started to taste the subtle notes of honey more today, which certainly made it more tolerable to drink. I'm starting to get used to the taste and actually enjoy it. As far as my PMS goes, the camps are on and off. Usually, the first couple of days I get PMS I get on and off cramps, start waking up feeling very heavy, and having intensely vivid dreams. All of that pretty much happened while drinking this, though it wasn't anything I couldn't manage. Then again, my PMS usually isn't the unbearable part. Only a select few times has my PMS been as bad as my period pain, but this time (thankfully) certainly wasn't one of them). I drank one tonic throughout the today as I did the day before. My hope is that drinking this tonic prior to my period will ease me into it painlessly.

Day 3 - Tuesday, November 15
Today was my dads birthday. Since my mom took off the entire week (the week of the 15th is loaded with my dads birthday, mine, and my parents' anniversary), we decided to go out. I drank my tonic before we went anywhere and felt pretty good the entire day. My PMS was pretty much on the down low and the occasional cramps I get while experiencing PMS were very mild and infrequent. I actualy felt better today than I did yesterday, ironically. The taste of the tonic is even starting to grow on me, and I'm kind of sad I only have one bottle left. My biggest concern is that on the bottle, it says to drink the tonic as soon as you get PMS and the first few days of your period. What if I don't get my period tomorrow? Then what? Will it effect my results? I guess time will only tell.

Day 4 - Wednesday, November 16
Woke up today feeling quite heavy and groggy. More so than usual. Finally got the strength to get my day started and what do you know? I got my period. As soon as I saw that, I went straight for a tonic. Believe it or not, this one tasted like it was sweeter than all the rest - like it had more honey in it or something. I enjoyed this bottle of tonic the most and regret that it was the last day of drinking the tonic. I wished I had more bottles. Every time I felt even a slight cramp, I reached for the tonic and took a sip. Ironically, the cramps would diminish as if on cue. For the beginning of the day, I didn't feel bad at all. In fact, I had very minimal cramps. I got some freelance work done and was able to actually focus on what I was doing, which felt great. Usually the whole first day of my period is terrible from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. It wasn't like that though. With the tonic by my side, I felt virtually pain-free. Unfortunately though, all good things must come to an end: By the middle of the day, I started feeling my cramps act up again. This time, I had no tonic. I had finished it. I tried my best to ignore the pain, because at first it was tolerable. But by 5 P.M., I had no other choice: I had to take advil. Out of seemingly nowhere, my cramps started becoming worse and worse to the point where I couldn't get comfortable, couldn't focus, couldn't function. After that, I decided to stop doing any more work and just relaxed.


Conclusion - Tuesday, November 22
I had made a promise to myself at the beginning of all this to try and avoid advil like the plague while I drank these tonics. I wanted to experience their full potential. Unfortunately, as soon as I ran out of the tonic, my period pain kicked back in, full swing. I have different levels of pain during my period: Lets say 1 is extremely low pain, and 10 is extremely high pain. Usually speaking, a typical period for me ranges somewhere between a 6 and an 8. There are times when it is definitely a 10 though. Fortunately, this time around, it was more like a 6. That said, 6 is still more painful than I care for. My goal is to get the pain level down to about 3 or 4. I don't expect it to ever go down to 1 or 0, except by the late days (which was today - I finished my period for this month on November 22 and have no pain, of course). That said, I must admit that while I was still drinking the tonics, my pain level was more in my desired range of 3 - 4, which is very impressive. I wonder how things would've been, had I had more tonic available to me. I wonder what would've happened if I drank two bottles on November 16 instead of one (would I still have needed the advil at all?). These are questions I cannot answer, but I will say this: I am thankful for this experience. I'm thankful that De Lune Care is creating these tonics and letting women like me try them out. I am thankful that there are other women out there who realize period pain is not normal and that there needs to be natural solutions made available, not coping methods. I cannot say anything bad about De Lune Care, despite the fact I had to take advil at some point. I recommend this brand to all the women I know who have severe cramps, simply because they did help me deal with my PMS and the first day of my period. If you do decide to purchase from them, I recommend getting at least two sets: This will give you 8 bottles in total. That way, you'll have some more to drink throughout your period, depending on when you choose to start drinking them. For more information on De Lune Care, check out their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts. You can also visit their website to make your own purchase and start your De Lune experience.

Vegan Chocolate Cranberry Bites

By: Ariana Palmieri
It's so hard to snack healthy these days: Everything is loaded with sugar, fructose corn syrup, or dairy! The worst part is that sugar is a huge beauty betrayer, in the sense it contributes to blemishes, age spots, wrinkles, cellulite, and lackluster skin (every 20-somethings nightmare). Luckily, I found a pretty neat recipe while cruising through Instagram that I enhanced and tweaked to make it my own.
It's completely vegan, no bake, and doesn't require more than 2 hours to make, max. This recipe should produce at least 12 bites, assuming you're using a similar mold to my own. It only required 6 ingredients to make, all of which I readily found in my kitchen. The original recipe called for raspberry filling (which sounded equally yummy), but since I didn't have any raspberries, I decided to go with cranberries. It's probably for the better too: Cranberries are currently in season and are loaded with anti-aging power that reduce wrinkle-causing inflammation. Cacao (when not loaded with dairy and sugar) also blocks wrinkle formation and is a real treat for your complexion. In other words, this snack will actually make you look younger and prettier. Ready to dig in? Me too.

Yield: 12 chocolate cranberry bites
Prep: 15 Minutes
Freeze time: 1 hour + 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour + 30 minutes
Level: Easy (no bake)

You will need:

For the cranberry filling
  • 1 cup cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (here)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (here)
For the chocolate
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil (here)
  • 3/4 cup raw cacao powder (here)
  • 5 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt 
  1. For the cranberry filling, add the cranberries to a pot on medium heat. Let them simmer and become mushy, mixing them around with a wooden spoon every so often. Turn off the heat when they start to get very soft and juicy to avoid burning them. Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract to the pot and mix well until completely blended with the cranberries. It should resemble cranberry sauce in appearance.
  2. In a separate pot or pan, add the coconut oil. Allow to completely melt on low to medium heat, then add the cacao powder, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Mix well. When all ingredients are properly blended together, remove from heat.
  3. Pour the chocolate mixture into silicon mold (I got mine here) - but don't fill the mold all the way. Fill them about 1/3 of the way, to leave room for the other layers. Place the mold in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will settle the chocolate.
  4. Take the mold out and add the cranberry filling in the middle so that it fills up about 2/3 of the way. Afterwards, fill up all the mold with the remaining melted chocolate. If you would like, you can wrap the top of the mold in plastic wrap to help prevent it from spilling, but this is't necessary. Place your mold back in the freezer, but this time leave it in for an hour. When the hour is up, simply pop the vegan chocolate cranberry bites out of their molds and enjoy!

Review: Moon Body Soul - Bath + Body Products

By: Ariana Palmieri
Out of all the celestial bodies, the moon is my favorite. There's something so pure about its light, and the power it has over the earth's tides is nothing to laugh at. Maybe that's why I gravitated towards a company called Moon Body Soul: They sell beautiful bath and body products that I've been eyeing for a while now. Up until recent, I had just been admiring from afar, but I couldn't resist any longer: I had to try some. 
Kaitee, the founder of Moon Body Soul, was nothing but pleasant to work with. She was always super accommodating, friendly, and enthusiastic. Her excitement for her creations was contagious, and I felt so honored that she sent me anything. I will admit, I received these products free of charge, but this post is not sponsored (even if it was, I'd still include my own, honest opinion of the products). I also won't earn anything if you decide to buy something from Moon Body Soul. I simply adore their business and want to spread the word.
The best part about working with Kaitee was her generosity: I had told her I was most interested in the moon dust, moon ball, or the radiant rose body scrub, but I didn't expect her to send all of them. I would've been happy with just one! Instead she wound up sending me the radiant rose body scrub, the moon dust, and the konjac sponge (the last one was completely unexpected). Although I hadn't expressed interest in the sponge, she told me she had read my blog posts about my skin (probably my Juice Beauty review) and truly felt her konjac sponge could help me. I was shocked at her kindness (not only did she send me more than I thought she would, she also catered them to my blog - outstanding!). So as you could guess greenifiers, I'm already pretty in love with this company. Want to see what else I love? Keep reading. P.S.: The beautiful, high resolution pictures of each individual product aren't mine - they belong to Moon Body Soul. Kaitee was just kind enough to let me use them (enjoy!).


The Basics

About the company
This natural bath company has a unique source of inspiration: The moon. If you couldn't tell from their name (Moon Body Soul), all their products are inspired from the healing energy of the moon, as well as the natural abundance of the earth. Their products never contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives.They don't believe in "safe" synthetic ingredients - they believe in ingredients crafted by mother nature herself. The company currently offers seven bath and body goodies, all of which are never priced above $30 (depends on the size you want). Among these items are the Moon Ball (bath bomb), Moon Dust (bath soak), Cosmic Coffee (body scrub), Radiant Rose (body scrub), Moon Scrub (body scrub), Lunar Lemonade Scrub (body scrub), and the Half Moon Konjac Sponge (facial sponge). All of these goodies are designed to promote self care, align you with the moon's energy, and make bath time extra special. After all, the moon is connected to water (it controls the tides, remember?), so it's only fitting Moon Body Soul is all about bath time. To make sure people are connecting with the moon and all its wonderful phases, Moon Body Soul is creating a Monthly Moon Ball subscription program where you can sign up and receive two moon balls at the beginning of each month. The idea behind it is that you use one moon ball on the full moon, and one on the new moon. This will increase your connection to each moon phase even more and promote further relaxation and rejuvenation. This Monthly Moon Ball subscription option isn't available just yet, but it will be coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled! Perhaps the coolest part about Moon Body Soul is their emphasis on the moon's energy: They are one of the only companies I have ever encountered that loves the moon just as much as I do. They not only promote the practice of self love and pampering, but also encourage a spiritual, mind-body connection you would never get shopping at Bath and Body Works (don't shop there anyway - their products are toxic!). To top it all off, each purchase you make from Moon Body Soul will help them donate to WaterAid, an organization dedicated to providing clean water to everyone by 2030. Isn't that amazing? So if you're looking for a spiritual, moon-themed, natural bath experience that also gives to charity, this is the company for you. For more information (and stunning moon-focused visuals), check out Moon Body Soul's social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest


Why you want it: This beautiful bath soak will make you feel like you're not only a moon goddess, but a rose goddess too (is that a thing? - No idea). 

Its value: $9

My review: I was hoping I would get my hands on the moon ball or the moon dust, but either way they're essentially the same thing. This is literally the moon ball in powdered form, plus roses. In a way I'm glad I received this instead of the moon ball just because of the roses - you all know I'm rose obsessed (I think Kaitee knew that too). According to the instructions, all I had to do was add it to a nice, hot bath (preferably during the new or full moon). Using this moon dust during the new or full moon is optional, but it would enhance the effects, considering these products are designed to sync you to the moons energy. Either way, using them at any point in time is fine: The moon is always in the sky, after all, and these products have a short shelf life since they have no preservatives in them. Unfortunately I wasn't able to wait for the full or new moon, so I soaked during one of its other phases (I believe the start of the waxing phase - where the moon grows in appearance). I simply drew a bath, added the moon dust, and the rest is self explanatory. It was a lovely bath and it smelled amazing - after all, it did have roses in it as well as vanilla and lavender essential oil. It was such a luxurious experience that I stood in the tub at least 40 minutes to enjoy the full effects. The rose petals were not only there for aesthetic pleasure either - I used them to exfoliate my skin a little, which felt lovely. To make the bath even better, I added some of the radiant rose scrub as well - I'll talk more about that below, though. Suffice it to say when I left the bath, I was completely relaxed and smelled like a walking flower. I had already showered earlier, so the bath was just for unwinding (I didn't wash my body or hair while in the bath - I was simply using it to relax). I'm sure you could wash up while using this calming bath soak, but I really recommend using it to just treat yourself. It's a beautiful meditative experience that quiets your mind just as much as it relaxes your body. Bonus: Your skin will feel super soft afterwards. So go ahead and indulge!

Dried Rosebuds and Petals, Naturally Extracted Sodium Bicarbonate, 100% Organic Citric Acid, Magnesium Sulfate U.S.P, .Kaolin Clay, Organic Pure Grape Seed Oil, 100% Vitamin E Oil, 100% Pure Essential Lavender Oil, 100% Pure Essential Vanilla Absolute Oil & Love.


Why you want it: This scrub not only smells like roses but it'll keep your skin smooth for several hours after use!

Its value: $18-30 (depends on the size you want - 8 or 16 ounces)

My review: Who would've thought you could use a scrub when you're actually in a bathtub? Well, you can. While I was using the moon dust, I decided to also indulge in some of the radiant rose scrub. To apply it, all I had to do was scoop some out using my hands, rub it on my arms, and let it sit for a while. Since I had access to bath water, I just rinsed it off when I felt it was time to. I also put some on my legs, but this was a little tricky: Since I was already in the bath I kind of had to keep one leg out of the water in order to let the scrub do its thing (and not get washed off). It was pretty comedic, and in truth, I probably should've applied the scrub a few minutes before I got in the bath tub to avoid such a process. Regardless, I still made it work. After a few minutes of letting the scrub soak into one leg, I'd wash it off, then replicate the process with the next leg. Afterwards, my legs felt like heaven and smelled just as sweet. Its always been my dream to smell like a rose and this bath and scrub combo pretty much nailed it on the head. Not only did it make my skin super soft, but I felt super dreamy to top it all off. Rose is an aphrodisiac as well as a relaxing scent: Those two things combined are bound to put anyone in a good mood (don't get the wrong idea though - all I did was go to sleep afterwards). However, it certainly boosted my levels of self-appreciation and made me feel extra confident and beautiful. While scrubs are mainly a 'summer thing' (since every woman and their mother are showing off their legs and want them to be soft), I think they're even more important in the colder months due to how drying the cold can be. I don't know about you, but my skin hates the cold - I start developing dry, cracked, unappealing skin in the most random of areas (hands, feet, etc). My legs don't necessarily get dry - but they do get insanely itchy during the fall and winter, to the point I am driven mad. That's why I'm so grateful to have gotten my hands on this scrub. I'm excited to continue using it and making the most of it as the fall continues. I really think it'll help me not only keep that summery scent going (roses forever, baby), but also help my body adjust to colder weather.  

Himalayan Pink Salt, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Pure Grape Seed Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Dried Rose Petals, 100% Vitamin E Oil, 100% Pure Rose Essential Oil, 100% Peru Balsam Essential Oil & Love.

Why you want it: This sponge is so much fun to watch as it expands in water right before your eyes - and it does a great job of exfoliating and clearing your skin too.

Its value: $12

My review: I've never used anything other than my own hands and a cleanser to clean my face, let alone a konjac sponge. But Kaitee thought it could help clear up my acne, so I was willing to give it a try. Besides, I had never heard of a konjac sponge before (don't judge me - I'm learning as I go along this green beauty journey), so I was excited to try something new. Apparently konjac has been used for 1,500 years to exfoliate and detoxify the body (and I only just heard about it now - amazing). The coolest part about this sponge is that it's perfect for sensitive skin and is naturally alkaline, which helps balance acidity in the skin's oils. This, combined with bamboo charcoal makes for a great acne-fighting duo: The charcoal bamboo helps reduce pores, inflammation, and breakouts. When I used the sponge, I was unsure of what to do first. The directions are simple enough to follow, so I wasn't lost for long. I liked how it was called a 'half moon' - since it really did look like the dark side of the moon. I used a small bowl (one I had got while in Francesca's - they sell the cutest knick knacks) and filled it up with warm water, then plopped the konjac sponge in. Before adding the sponge to any water, it was kind of hard and crunchy (texture wise - not taste wise). But after I left the konjac sponge in the water for at least 5-10 minutes (the website says it can take up to 15, but I usually left it for less), it was super squishy and soft. It retained a lot of water (makes sense - it's a sponge), so I had to squeeze it a few times before using it (otherwise it would drip down my arm and make a watery mess on the counter). I loved adding some of favorite EWG-approved cleanser to it too (MyChelle, Refining Sugar Cleanser - go to my Shop My Blog page if you want to find it): I just put a drop no bigger than the size of a dime on the fully expanded sponge and started scrubbing my face. You don't have to add a cleanser to it, I just chose to (it helped get rid of the makeup I had on better that way, since I only used the sponge at night). I scrubbed in small, slow, circular motions all over my face for at least a minute or two. Although I did use the konjac sponge on my eyes and acne, I made sure to be extra gentle on these areas, as Moon Body Soul cautions harsh scrubbing in those places can cause irritation. I might add never once did this sponge cause me irritation in any way, shape or form, so I guess I'm using it right (and it being a great product doesn't hurt). Anyway, when I was done, I simply rinsed my face off, then rinsed off the sponge and hung it to dry. The coolest part about this sponge is that it can last for a while, but should be replaced every 4-6 weeks. I was very impressed with the results: My skin was so soft afterwards and after a couple of days, I noticed a vast improvement in my skin. My pimples started to vanish and are currently few in numbers (thank god). I seriously recommend this to people who love cleansing their skin using a sponge. Even if you never have, just remember I didn't either and I wound up loving it. I also recommend this to anyone suffering from acne - it's a game changer and definitely worth a shot.

100% Natural Konjac infused with Bamboo Charcoal (Yes, it's really that simple!)


The (quick) rundown

The pros: The pros heavily outweigh the cons.
  1. I really admire Moon Body Soul's standards for clean bath and body products.
  2. I still have more left over from almost every product - hard to not use all the moon dust in one place!
  3. I really loved how the moon was incorporated into each product and how incredibly simple each ingredient list was.
  4. I'm lunar obsessed - Haven't you green beauties read my articles for MindBodyGreen?
  5. The logo was beautiful and really created a simple, clean, and spiritual vibe that went with the company very well.
  6. I love how the mind-body connection was stressed on Moon Body Soul's site.
  7. Kaitee was one of the sweetest, most enthusiastic people I've worked with yet - she gave me more than expected!
  8. I absolutely loved each product and have little to no complaints about them (a rarity).
  9. Each product is fairly affordable ($30 max).
  10. If you're spiritual, you'll love these products because they vibrate at a very high level (probably because they're made to align you with the moon's healing energy - and were made with love). 
  11. Purchasing these items (or any others from Moon Body Soul) will help Kaitee keep creating more moon-themed goodies.
The cons: There are none...
  1. I need more of these products in my life. That is all.
Conclusion: I know it seems odd my cons list is so low (and practically a joke), but I mean it. There's nothing bad about these products (at least from my perspective). I truly recommend you try them out for yourself - you'll see why I have absolutely nothing bad to say as soon as you do. Not to mention I see a lot of potential in this company - Kaitee is just starting to make her dreams come true. She's a very determined, outgoing, bright woman. I can only say great things about her and strive to be as successful as her one day. So if you want to indulge in some amazing natural bath goodies (or know someone who needs to pamper themselves a little more), make a mark of this company. They're going places.

Review: Plant Makeup

By: Ariana Palmieri
Ever want to be like Poison Ivy and just become part-plant? Now you can (sort of) with this amazing, completely plant-based makeup line. Plant Makeup (or Good4You on Etsy) is one of those brands that will make you feel like you belong in an enchanted forest somewhere. I'm absolutely in love with their line and adore the way they present themselves with stunning, crisp images that make me want to buy their whole collection (seriously, you need to check this company out). Want to see which goodies I got, what I thought, and receive a discount code for your own first purchase with Plant Makeup? Then keep reading greenifiers! 


Plant Makeup
The Basics

About the company
One of the most inspiring makeup companies I've ever reviewed, Plant Makeup is fully dedicated to communing with nature in a way most conventional beauty brands wouldn't dream of. In 2004, Jes, the company founder, began her journey with Plant Makeup (then only known as Good4You). She became interested in the healing power of plants when she discovered the language of plants in a medicinal herb greenhouse. Fascinated, she felt driven to "be the voice of nature in our modern era" and started an organic line of herbal teas. This slowly transitioned into beauty products and botanical fragrances that incorporated ancient beauty secrets, as time went on. Her shop is flourishing, and she has sold over 8,000 products on Etsy alone. Using only the highest quality plants she has either grown, foraged, or bought, her products practically scream authentic. After all, she puts in a tremendous amount of time to grow, pick, and create all her makeup ingredients. If that's not enough, she's also an advocate for conservation and because of this, her products are often small and seasonal. The coolest part about all this? Plant Makeup products come wrapped in up-cycled/ recycled/compostable packaging that's bike-peddled to the post office, then sent to you. How eco-friendly can you get? Jes is also an artist, so her beautiful artwork will often appear alongside your goodies (I got a stunning rose sticker in mine that she made herself). You can see more of her artwork and amazing products on her website, or on social media. Check her out on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. You won't be sorry.

Bonus - Discount code: Want 15% off your first purchase with Plant Makeup? Thought so. Just use this code to get it: PLANTMAKEUPLOVE. It expires 12/31/16, so enjoy it before the year is up! This code works on their official website, but doesn't appear to work on their Etsy.


Lilac Lip Balm

Why you want it: This beautifully scented lip balm will leave your lips nourished and smooth, without any stickiness.

Its value: $14 (with code PLANTMAKEUPLOVE, it would be $11.90 )

My review: The color of this lip balm is such a pretty grape color that the scent actually reminds me of grapes. I have to keep reminding myself it's lilac. Either way, it's a lovely scent and a great lip balm. I just use my finger to scoop some out, then swipe some on my lips. It's very nourishing and provides my lips with instant hydration. Out of all the lip balms I've ever used, this one literally gets absorbed into my lips. I can feel it working on my lips in a way other lip balms do not. It will dissipate as time goes on, and it doesn't last too long, but I'm okay with that. Every time I use it, it makes my lips feel a thousand times better. I don't really use it for its color: It's not very pigmented and leaves a very clear, barely visible coat on my lips. However, I'm kind of glad it didn't have a strong pigment because it brought out the natural, beautiful color of my lips. It made me appreciate them just as they are. Plus, it didn't make my lips feel sticky (and they were totally boyfriend approved, ahem). I truly recommend this lip balm to those who suffer from flaky, dehydrated lips, or simply want to prepare for the colder months ahead. After all, fall and winter tend to be harsh on not only your skin, but your lips too (they're very sensitive to temperature changes, after all!).

Purveyed certified organic + fair trade virgin unrefined cold pressed coconut oil from the Philippines (Cocos nucifera), purveyed certified organic + fair trade cocoa butter from Peru (Theobroma cacao), local beeswax from USA + purveyed certified organic alkanet powder from Pakistan (Alkanna tinctoria) + love.


Sea Foam Eye Shadow Powder

Why you want it: For the days you want to connect with your inner sea siren.

Its value: $10 (with code PLANTMAKEUPLOVE, it would be $8.50 )

My review: What's interesting about Plant Makeup is that most of their products are very light, not just in color, but in pigment. This eye shadow is no different: I had to apply layers of it in order to really get the color on my lids. The color is more subtle than I was expecting. I would've liked it to be a little more pigmented so I could see the pretty sea foam color on my eyelids better. In the container it's a more distinguished sea foam color, but on my skin it almost appears white. It applied smoothly, but it was a little crumbly and I had to be careful trace amounts of it didn't fall on my cheek. After application, I found myself wiping my cheeks a lot because it would crumble onto them. Altogether, it wasn't a bad experience, but not exactly the one I was looking for. However, I will say this: There's something about this eye shadow (along with all the other makeup), that has a spiritual vibe to it. I have a feeling Jes put a lot of loving intention into making each batch. Plus, the plants she used were very pure, which would definitely create a higher vibration. After all, the part I love the most about this eye shadow is the ingredients list: It's pronounceable, safe, and natural. The ingredients list even tells you where everything is sourced from (most businesses would never do that). I can feel safe about putting this eye shadow on. Not to mention I have other eye shadows that go great with it that bring out its color. I recommend this eye shadow to anyone who's looking for a loose powdered, sea-inspired shade that's subtle, but elegant. Not to mention, this particular product is vegan (not all their products are vegan, but here's a vegan guide they created to show you which are), cruelty-free, non-GMO, and handmade. If that's not something to love, I'm not sure what is.

Sustainably sourced kaolin clay from USA, ethically wild harvested chlorella from Japan (Chlorella vulgaris), purveyed certified organic aloe vera powder from India (aloe vera), sustainably sourced French green clay + love.


Pink Rose Eye Shadow Powder

Why you want it: You get to paint your eyelids with literal roses - what can be better than that?


My review: Roses are my weakness, so of course I had to give this eye shadow a try. It's all well and good when a product is named after a flower, but when the flower named is actually in the product, it's something to get excited about. When applying this beautiful, lightly colored eye shadow, I quickly realized it was identical in application to the sea foam eye shadow. It wasn't very pigmented, and had a slightly drying, crumbly feel to it. Often times it would fall onto my cheek. While I didn't mind that too much (easy enough to wipe off), I would've liked to see the pink color just a little bit more. I had to really layer it in order to get a nice shade of pink on my lids, but even then it was almost white in color. I think if I ever order more eye shadows from this company, I'll try out the darker colors (despite my love for all things rose). It's clear that what they said on their website is true: Their makeup applies very light to the skin, considering they don't contain any harsh chemicals. Since their main ingredient is plants, they cannot achieve the crazy colors most conventional makeup products do. This is important to note when buying any of their products. So while I wish this eye shadow was a little more pigmented, I understand why it's not and value the standards Plant Makeup lives up to. That said, I still recommend it to the fellow rose fanatics out there!

Naturally occurring kaolin clay from USA, purveyed certified organic rose petal powder from Morocco (Rosa Damascena), sustainably sourced French red clay + love.


Rose Blush Powder

Why you want it: This subtly colored blush is just enough to give your cheeks a gentle pink tint.

Its value: $20 (with code PLANTMAKEUPLOVE, it would be $17 )

My review: I received this as a sample version, instead of the full size, but I still have some left over. It's a cute little sample, and if you're interested in sampling any of their products, you can find most of them here (they usually cost about $3 each). Here's the funniest part about this powder though...it's essentially the same thing as the rose eye shadow powder. Look at the ingredients list below and you'll see it's practically identical to the rose eye shadow powder, aside from one ingredient: Pure sericite mica. It sure applies the same way though, in the sense the pigment is light. I had to layer it on my cheeks in order to see any difference (my skin is fairly light, so that didn't help much). I should've realized that this blush was pretty much the same as the eye shadow, but again, the allure of the rose caught me. Not like there's anything to worry about, the ingredients are all the same, making them 100 percent safe. I think next time I'll give a darker blush from them a try, like their light beet blush powder or their hibiscus blush powder. Still, with that said, I don't necessarily regret getting this blush because I can also use it as a body highlighter, or as a replacement for the rose eye shadow when it runs out (or vice versa). I recommend this to anyone who enjoys roses just like me, and loves subtle, light hues to compliment their already gorgeous skin.

Purveyed certified organic arrowroot powder from India (Maranta arundinacea), purveyed certified organic rose powder from Morocco (Rosa damascena), sustainably sourced French pink clay, pure sericite mica + love.


The (quick) rundown

The pros: The pros heavily outweigh the cons.
  1. I really admire Plant Makeup's standards for clean beauty.
  2. I still have more left over from each product.
  3. I really loved how plants were incorporated into each product and how incredibly simple each ingredient list was.
  4. The packaging was beautiful, completely eco-friendly, and included stunning artwork Jes, the founder, made herself.
  5. I love how Plant Makeup also provides a Vegan Guide for those who want to buy vegan-only makeup.
  6. Jes was very kind and accommodating to work with, especially when she gave me a 15% off code to share with all of you (PLANTMAKEUPLOVE)!
  7. Speaking of discount codes, this is the first company to ever give me one to share with all of you, and that deserves a shout out on its own!
  8. Each product is fairly affordable ($20 max).
  9. If you're spiritual, you'll love these products because they vibrate at a very high level (probably because they're made out of high quality plants and infused with love). 
  10. Purchasing these items would only help Jes create more of these amazing, plant-based products.
The cons: Barely any cons (I mean seriously)!
  1. I would've liked the products I got to have a little more pigment, but to be fair the site does say their products have a lighter pigment than conventional brands.
  2. I wasn't too crazy about the crumbly nature of the eye shadows and the blush: When I applied the eye shadows and the blush it kind of dried out my skin a little and the eye shadow would crumble onto my cheeks a lot.
  3. I kind-of, sort of, accidentally got two products that were practically identical (the rose eye shadow and the rose blush), but I'll be sure to make the most of them!
Conclusion: All in all, I cannot complain. This company is definitely worth looking into, and I can see myself ordering something from them again soon. After all, there's more than just makeup to try! Jes has so many things for sale from makeup to skincare to aromatherapy blends. It would be hard to resist trying them all! I truly wish Jes the best and greatly admire the journey she is on. She's an inspiration to me, and one day, I hope to find an even deeper way to connect with plants and nature, just like she did. For now, this blog (and my container garden) will have to do.