♥ What's in my Closet? Tootpaste! ♥

Since it was asked a few times and recently answered in my Q&A Vegan Video post, I thought I would share right here on the blog as well as I like to keep my "In My Closet" product posts easily available and up-to-date. xo

So, what toothpaste does this vegan gal, keeping in mind products that are chemical-free and good for the earth, use? 

Seafresh Toothpaste by Jason! :) 

It's been a good many years since I've used any chemical, fluoride-laden toothpastes so it's hard for me to compare flavours, however I do like this one. I find the taste mild and a little minty which I like. I'd also have to say that it works well. Why? Well, I've been using this toothpaste for… hmm… around 8 years. I admittedly don't go to the dentist very often (because we don't have benefits so it's pricey, and because I don't like all the chemicals), but I went a little while ago (after having not gone for several years) and my teeth were perfect. No cavities, no problems, no pains. Of course, my diet probably can contribute to this as well, however I still think it's a good toothpaste. And at least I'm not accidentally swallowing chemicals or having chemical residue left behind in my mouth when I brush. ;) 

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☯ What's in My Closet; Zosimos Botanicals! ☯

This Earth Day I am all too happy to share with you another  wonderful cosmetics company I discovered during my thorough hunt for safe, vegan, and earth-friendly products. Allow me to introduce you to Zosimos Botanicals... 

Zosimos Botanicals is a lovely Green business that handcrafts their line of mineral makeup and skincare products in small batches using gentle plant-based raw materials that are also chemical-free and toxin-free. And, oh oh! ...their make-up is made in their 100% Wind Powered studio! :) They also pack their orders in reused packaging, they give back to communities, and use suppliers that use sustainable harvesting practices and organic ingredients. They also have a really easy way for fellow Vegans to check out which of their products are vegan and which are not (which I'm pleased to say, the vast majority are). 

First, I have to share my favorite product of theirs; their "Natural Black Eye Pencil". Words cannot express how much I love this item! Eyeliner is one of my make-up must-haves so this product has made me an extremely happy chicky. I have found that so many "natural" eyeliner pencils either don't show on your skin or else have some chemical in them of which I do not approve. Zosimos' Eyeliner pencil is a dream come true! It's a beautiful deep matte color that goes on smooth, holds all day and actually shows! It's soft, smudges and blends great if you so choose or makes a solid smooth line as well. Super bold and sexy! Absolutely love love love it! They also have a ton of other eye pencil colors to choose from and, from such a positive experience with the black, makes me want to try many more. The other liner I just love is the cream shadow of "Natural Black." Apply it with an eyeliner angled brush and you have a beautiful solid black liner. 

I've had the pleasure of trying several of their eyeshadows, both powdered and cream-formulas. They are beautiful and subtle, perfect for that more "au-natural" look or bold statements. I'm a big fan of soft colors and browns and Zosimos has so many to choose from that I want them all. Their "Branch" and "Bronze" are two favorite brown-shades, couple these with the eyeliner pencil and the "Black Shimmer" powder for the smokey undertone and you can create the perfect classy and sexy smokey eye look. The greens of "Avocado" and "Kelp" are both wonderfully subtle but incredibly eye-catching and flirty. Another favorite is the soft hue of "Blackberry" to which my 3-year-old sister was dazzled by; "your eyes are purple!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, looking as if she wanted to match. I'll wait to share that with her once she's much older ;). The cream-formulas are wonderful as well, heaven in eye-shadow form. They go on super smooth and feel light on my eyelids. "Fools Gold" in the cream formula is a beautiful and bold shade that I love with the "Natural Black" cream shadow as a liner and the Eye Pencil to highlight the inner eyes. 

For both the cream and powders, Zosimos has "mini pinch" trial options as well, a great and easy way to try out tons of different colors and pick out your favorites! 

I also just love "Tigerlily" in the powder shadow as a cheek highlighter or blush, just powder on a tiny pinch and blend it in. Beautiful! 

Next on my list to try is their Eye Shadow Sticks! 

Their concealers are another dream-like product. I am not one with much experience when it comes to concealers. I've fortunately gone through the better-part of my life without needing them, however with a recent move to a new climate my skin has been less friendly so I am grateful for this product. The ones I have tried are the cream-formula "Pot Concealers" which I have been rather enjoying. Of course, I hadn't thought of using a primer underneath and since my skin is quite dry, I find they look a tad dry on my face, as with all concealers. My quick fix has been to add a little facial-moisturizer as I apply them and it fixes it right up! They don't actually dry out my skin either, on the contrary I find that my skin always feels super soft while wearing them and even once I've washed my makeup off at the end of the day. Truely wonderful products! These are also available in mini-sizes so that you can give it a try first. And if you're unsure of which shade to purchase, they have several "tools" for comparing right on the website and if that doesn't work their staff is also extremely helpful.

I am interested to try the powder-base "Mineral Foundation" and the primer in the future. 

Lips lips lips. They have some wonderful colors for lipsticks, lip and cheek tints, lip balms, lip pencils, and, my favorites, lip gloss. They are lovely on the lips and have some bold and fun color while still maintaining that subtle flirtiness all at once. My favorites? The lovely red hue of "Garnet" and the soft pinky-plum of "Black Cherry." 

I hate that heavy feeling you sometimes get with makeup, no matter how much or little you are wearing. I love love Zosimos because their makeup feels light and wonderful on my skin. As mentioned, at the end of the night when I've washed it all away, my skin still feels amazing, even better than the start of the day. Just goes to show that you don't have to sacrifice gorgeous beauty products to be healthy! 

As a whole this company is simply amazing and I highly recommend them! Customer service is fabulous, the staff are super friendly and helpful and quick to respond to questions. They have so many more products to choose from as well! Tons more makeup products, skin care, body care, soy candles, perfumes, hair care, and more that'll entice you into checking out their website. Oh! And they also have Bamboo Vegan Cosmetic Brushes! :) 

So what are you waiting for? Order your Zosimos products today! :)  

Peace & Love

xo

~Bianca 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☯ What's in My Closet; Madd Style Cosmetics!! ☯

Many of you know that I have been on a mad hunt for amazing and safe cosmetics. In my very picky hunt I have indeed found companies that meet my approval and I will be sharing them with you over the next several weeks. :) 

First up; Madd Style Cosmetics:

What will you find at Madd Style?

Upon entering the Etsy shop, you are immediately drawn in by the huge and adorable Sugar-skull icon and colorful banner. This alone compells me to explore further, because of that perfect mixture of fun, pretty, and punk. I am very happy to say that I was not disappointed.  

The fun and creative names of the cosmetics add that extra wonder to the wide selection of dazzling colors, and to the whole shopping experience. Hell yes, I'll take a lil "Kick-Ass" in my order ;). 

You'll discover a wonderful selection of cosmetics that are high-quality, safe, effective, and that are free of of talc, bismuth, harmful fillers, or any animal by-products. All of the products are Vegan and 100% cruelty-free, so you can sleep peacefully knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of these beautiful cosmetics.

The tantalizing selection of Eye Pigments left me sitting in front of my computer screen for hours trying to decide which ones I wanted in my immediate collection. But I'm certainly not going to complain ;). The shadows are beautiful and you can make them as subtle or as vibrant as you'd like depending on your application. They mix great and are perfect for any look. Coming back to that lovely punky-edge, the colors are simply too much fun and will make you want to be extra bold at even the most "formal" of occasions. 

I love the darker brown shades, such as "Dirty Beats" and the lovely plum-purple undertones of "Cruisin for a bruisin." To the wilder side of the color spectrum, I'm in love with purples like "Mondo" and "Electric Koolaid"; blue hues of "Jive Talk" and "Vortex"; the gorgeous green of "Ecto Cooler"; and of course, that lovely red tone of "Kick-Ass". One of my favorites in the collection however is "Cloud 9"; a beautiful silver-blue that stands out on its own or accents beautifully when blended with other pigments. 

But the awesomeness does not end at Madd Style's bold eye pigments. The shop also provides some lovely "Lip Service" to treat your lips, including some yummy smelling lip-balms and lip-gloss. 

I want to take a moment here to talk about lip-balms. I don't know about you, but I have found that most lip-balms do not do their job. They often end up drying out my lips instead of actually moisturizing them, resulting in a constant need to reach for the very thing contributing to the dryness of my lips. This has made me generally stay away from them. However, I was delightfully surprised when I tried Madd Style's Lip Balms. These do what they are supposed to do and they smell simply amazing! With ingredients including shea and cocoa butter, healthy oils and vitamin E, you know they'll treat your lips right. I was treated to "Cherry Bomb", "Iced Mocha", "Jack Frost" and my personal favorite "Pumpkin King." 

The "Uber Boss Lip-Gloss" is fantastic! It is subtle yet vibrant all at the same time and, once again, smells like heaven and is rich with good-for-you ingredients that will keep your lips looking supple and fabulous. From a girl who doesn't wear a whole lot of lip-gloss, I can't stop using this one! The one I have is "Knock Off" and I just love it!   

In a world full of nasty chemical cosmetics, it is well worth treating your skin right with beautiful and safe cosmetics. 

So what do I think of Madd Style? Pure love! 

As if the products weren't enough to make this company awesome, Mo, the lovely woman behind the solo-operation is as equally fantastic as her cosmetics. The customer service is amazing, helpful and friendly, and an absolutely pleasant over-all experience.

As stated in her shop "100% VEGAN 100%. WORTH IT!" 

I couldn't agree more. 

Now what are you waiting for? Go go and get yourself some amazing Madd Style awesomeness! 

Peace & Love

xo

~Bianca

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.