Wearing “Hot Mess” Mint 2 Be gloss from Red Apple Lipstick
It seems like spring has finally sprung here (knock on wood!) and what better way to kick it off than with a colorful new line of lip gloss from Red Apple Lipstick? Red Apple let me in on a sneak peak of the new Mint 2 Be Gluten-free lip glosses and after trying them out over the holiday weekend, I was instantly hooked. I love the silky feel of the gloss and it’s foolproof to apply, even for those it’s-a-red-light-time-to-finish-my-makeup-while-driving-t0-work types…not that I ever do that or anything.. The bright hues are amazing and the formula is not the least bit sticky–it really nourishes the lips.
I sampled the “Berried Treasure” and “Hot Mess” glosses, which have a fresh minty tingle, loads of vitamin C and E, and a flattering sparkly sheen. As always from Red Apple Lipstick, these glosses are safe and non-toxic, gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, paraben free, and of course awesome. To learn more about why toxic free cosmetics are important, check out Mr. Jay Harper’s ebook, “Toxicity in Makeup – Silent Killings for a Profit”. Jay is the CEO and rocking visionary behind Red Apple Lipstick. I think we should all give Jay and his team a big thanks and round of applause for not only making us all feel a little more gluten-free gorgeous, but for also caring about our health in the process. Now for the Giveaway!!
Wearing “Berried Treasure” Mint 2 Be gloss from Red Apple Lipstick
I’m so excited to be hosting my first Give-away ever on the blog! Red Apple Lipstick will be sending one of the new Mint 2 Be lip glosses to a lucky winner on my blog! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below letting me know which new Mint 2 Be gloss shown here is your favorite, by Friday at 2:00pm Eastern Time. One winner will be chosen at random from the comments below. Please only leave one comment per entry. All repeat comments will be counted only as one entry. Thank you and Good luck to all to enter!
Giveaway contest ends Friday, April 5th at 2pm Eastern Time!
I’m taking a quick break from my holiday shenanigans to let you all know about one of my favorite beauty finds of 2012, Red Apple Lipstick! I first heard of Red Apple through the magazine I write for, Delight Gluten-Free Magazine. I’ve been hard pressed to find a gluten-free lipstick that was also soy-free, allergen-free, and non-toxic, but this lipstick seems to have it all; creamy, smooth application and vibrant healthy color. It’s also safe for all of you lovely vegans out there.
Looking in my search stats, I see that many of you have been scouring my site for more safe beauty finds. I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to pick up a product at the drugstore after attempting to read a long list of unclear ingredients, taking a chance, and then suffering the consequences with an allergic or celiac reaction. My honest and unsolicitated opinion is that I know when I put this lipstick on, there’s no guessing and no surprise reactions. I believe all of their rich shades would flatter any skin tone, as I’ve never been able to find a bright shade of red that looked great against my skin until I tried Red Apple Lipstick. “Red!” and “Sunkissed” (modeled above) are both two of my favorite shades. I plan to try their glosses and eyeshadows in the near future, so stay tuned for reviews to come. Check out all the Red Apple Lipstick products here. In the meantime, back to my holiday hiatus. Thanks for the great color Red Apple Lipstick, I am definitely an obsessed Red Apple Gal!
If you are soy free, you know how much of a challenge it is to find cosmetics sans soy. Even though the FDA has declared that soybean oil and soy lecithin are non allergens, I and many many others still have an issue with these additives. I can’t tell you how many organic, mineral, and/or natural cosmetics companies are using soy as a filler in their products. With many large companies depending on cheap fillers such as these soy additives, I’ve often wondered if lobbyists from these companies got into the pockets of doctors and legislators in order to protect their money making, filler laden products. But that’s a whole different post to get into… 😉
Luckily, I have found a few fantastic beauty buys that I love and use daily. After going fresh faced for almost 2 months, (without even my formally beloved Chapstick!) I was ecstatic to smooth on some creamy, hydrating lip-color. So here are my favorites of the moment. All of these products have been personally verified by emails, phone calls, and personal use. (Please note: This is not medical advice. If you have concerns about different cosmetics to use, please consult with your health care professional to determine what is the best course of action for you). I hope you enjoy these products as much as I have so far.
RMS Beauty
After reading about RMS Beauty on Kora Organics Blog by Miranda Kerr, I decided to send Rose Marie an email regarding the ingredients in her RMS products. She quickly replied within 24 hours to let me know how opposed to soy she was, and that none of her products contain any soy or soy additives. Her products are also all gluten free. How awesome is that!? I personally love the ‘Un’ cover-up in shade 22. It’s a lightweight creamy face shade that really lets your true glow shine through. You really don’t need a lot of it to help bring out the beauty of your own skin. Full of fantastic nutrients and oils, it heals your skin. Even though it contains a few different oils, my combination skin doesn’t get oily from it–even the T zone! In fact, my sometimes oil prone T zone looks more toned than ever before. I am definitely hooked. I also received a sample of the “Living Luminizer”–I really recommend it as a great highlighter and also a sheer glowing cream eye-shadow. Visit RMS Beauty here: http://www.rmsbeauty.com/
Lush Lipstick: Ultrapure Cosmetics
Ultrapure Lush Lipstick is Soy free, Gluten free, Dye Free and Vegan! It is featured in the above video about halfway through. This lipstick is ultra smooth and is more like a double-duty hydrating balm and lip-color than just a color stick. I bought Lush Lipstick in “Smooch” and am loving the glowing coral based shine. Ultrapure cosmetics also sent me a sample of their mineral blush in “Buff” which only contains minerals; no additives! I have yet to try their soy free, gluten free mascara, but I’m sure I’ll be ordering it sometime soon. Check out the lipstick here: http://www.ultrapurecosmetics.com/products/Lush-Lipstick%3A–Vegan%2C-Gluten%252dFree%2C-Soy%252dFree%2C-Dye%252dFree!.html
Garnier Fructis Body Boost Shampoo and Conditioner
So far, I haven’t found a great ‘organic’ non-soy and gluten shampoo and conditioner. I have personally contacted Garnier Fructis and received a phone call back letting me know that their Body Boost Shampoo AND conditioner are Soy free! I have been using them with no reactions for a few months now. It is really great for normal or fine hair and delivers a nice lift that lasts all day. These products seem to use more natural ingredients than most commercial shampoos I’ve seen, so it will work for until I find a nice organic alternative. Another great perk is that you can find these in almost any pharmacy and grocery store that carries beauty products. Hooray for no fuss beauty! I’ll also mention that it smells fabulous =)
Although these are all of my favorite products at the moment, I think no beauty routine is complete without covering the basics first. The basics being: Great nutrition, lots of water, healthy amounts of sleep, and working out your body at least a few times every week. I really enjoy the Kora Organics Blog, which I mentioned earlier. It’s written by supermodel Miranda Kerr and other healthy living advocates. I really admire Miranda Kerr for using her well-known name to inspire others to live peacefully and very healthily. Check out the Kora Organics blog here: http://www.koraorganics.com/blog/ Please note that I haven’t contacted Miranda to find out if any of her Kora Organics skincare products are soy or gluten free, but I’ll be writing her this week to find out.
With that, I’ll leave with a quote that I really enjoy:
“Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours.” –Swedish Proverb
Stay beautiful, positive, and let your light shine.
Until next time,
Bethany xoxo
A little photo of Max and I–Max is my parents’ maltapoo, and what a cute little soul he is =)
Sprinkles and Allergies 