REVIEW || ECO MINERALS SAMPLES

I ordered some mineral make up samples from ECO Minerals at the beginning of October but haven't tried them out, until now! I have never tried mineral make up before, I haven't really experimented a lot with make up, ever! So I was really interested to see what it was going to be like! The samples are $2.20 each with free shipping in Australia and New Zealand.

On their website it states that "ECO minerals is a luxury brand of 100% pure, safe, natural and beautiful cosmetics made in beautiful Byron Bay, Australia." I am keen to try and natural products, especially if they are an Aussie brand! 

Normally I use a bb cream for light coverage and if I want more coverage I will use my MAC foundation over the top of the bb cream. However, I don't wear make up every day. Not very often at all, actually! I like to wear it for obvious special events such as weddings, parties etc. I also wear it when we go out for dinner or on a day trip, but I am not very skilled in make up application! So basically I am starting from scratch with natural products and learning how to 'make up'! I will write another post with my 'toxic' make up in the near future to share.

ECO Minerals have a colour match product selector to help you choose which foundation will suit your skin. I found this was quite simple and was good to use along side matching the foundation from the colour alone. I was matched with Flawless Foundation in Light Tan but I also got it in Light Beige to compare. I also chose a sample of the blush in Dreamtime, the bronzer in ECO Exotic and the eye shadow in Middle Earth. They also gave me a sample of the illuminate in White Light which was really nice of them!

I think the sample are a good size. I think I could have used more than I did though. As I don't wear a lot of make up often, when I do try and put more on it looks very full on to me. Then I realise after I have finished that it isn't as much as I thought it was! I think it depends on the lighting in my bathroom when I am putting it on!

I think I used about a third or a little bit more of the Light Tan sample. Also, I had already opened the Light Tan sample when I remembered I needed to take photos!

The foundation has a light coverage, but I think you could definitely build it up. I was a bit scared when I first started applying it but I just kept swirling my powder brush around to make it even. I made sure to tap any excess off the brush before putting it to my face, in order to avoid patches of product! I think the Light Tan matches me quiet well. I think the Light Beige might suit me as well so I will need to try that one out another day to compare the two. I do really think the Light Tan is a pretty good match as you can't really see that I am wearing it!

Like I said above, I think I could have added more blush and bronzer, but I was scared of putting too much on. So it is very subtle. I do like subtle, but I also want to try and be a bit bolder! I really like the colours, I like nice earthy tones and the blush is really nice but I also like to wear blush that is a little more pink. 

So today I used all of the samples except the Light Beige. I applied the foundation in circular strokes and blended it until it looked even. I put the bronzer on my cheekbones and up onto my temples a little bit. The blush I used just above the bronzer. I found they all applied very easily and it doesn't feel like I am wearing anything. The lipstick I am wearing is from 'tasting plate' of lipsticks from Luk. I will write about these once I have tried all the colours!

Here is a before for comparison...

 And with my make up on!

For the eyes I used the Middle Earth all over, then added a lighter coloured mineral eye shadow from another brand, Nature Delivers, which I will review soon. I just needed something a little lighter on top of the ECO Minerals eye colour, on the eye lid. I then used the illuminator White Light for a hint of brightness on my eye lid and I also put some along my brow bone on either side. 

Again, it is all very subtle, and I am not a professional by any means! I am a beginner applying a new type of make up!

And there you have it! Overall I really like all of the products! I need to try and build it up a bit more into a bolder look, and not be such a chicken! I think this would be really awesome as an every day make up as it has a nice light coverage and it doesn't feel like I am wearing anything! I do get redness on my cheeks a bit, and this seems to mostly hide it, while still looking really natural. I will use up the samples I have of this and compare with the other brand I have to try, before deciding if it is something I want to purchase.

I would also like to note that I am having a wild hair day, that is why it is tied up. I have heaps of frizz, all the time and I don't spend much time on my hair when I do fix it up. I like my hair to be natural.

I hope this wasn't too long, and I hope you enjoyed my review! Stay tuned for more! 

Lou x

UNBOXING || NATIVE BOX SPRING BEAUTY BOX

While I was searching the interwebs for Australian subscription boxes, I came across Native Box as well. Native Box is also a seasonal box (four each year), which you can subscribe to. I wasn't able to find any reviews on this box, so I had no idea what I would be receiving in it!

Not pictured is a $10 voucher for ivadore and a $10 voucher for Native Box. All of the products are skin care or body related. All but one of the products I will use. The ivadore Tanning Treatment is a self-tan lotion that is full of natural oils and other ingredients such as strawberry and coffee seed extract. It sounds like a great product but unfortunately I won't be using it. I have never in my life used any tanning product and I am too scared to try! I tan naturally in summer, so I don't feel I need to use tanning products. I am also fine with being pale as shite in winter! Another point about this sample is that it is 20mls and that doesn't seem like it would be enough to use over my whole body!

There are two Evohe products in the box, a sample of both the Repair Intensive and the Omega 369. The Repair Intensive is a multi-purpose ointment and healing balm for eczema, cuts, burns, rashes and bites. The Omega 369 is a soothing, hydrating treatment. You can also use this one for eczema, and other skin conditions. These will be nice to try when my eczema flairs up (I only get it mildly). Both of these products smell amazing and have a load of natural oils in them. I can't wait to try these out!

Next up are three products from Anerah Skincare. Unfortunately I can't link these products at the moment as their website is under construction (can't wait to browse it!) and Native Box don't have the products on their website. This also means I can't tell you the prices! Aside from this, these are some nice products! There is a sample of the Face and Body scrub which only has three ingredients and it smells delicious! There is a Sensitive Face Mask which is mild and can be used on children too. I love face masks so I am keen to try this one out. It is so relaxing applying a nice mask and rinsing it off, don't you think!? And last but not least are some Relaxation Bath Salts. Another 'unfortunately'... the bath in our current house is way too small for any human adult! I will save this until I am visiting somewhere with a decent sized bath. I am not sure if these last 2 products are full size or not, but they are a good size for a sample if that is what they are!

Ok! So overall this box has some really nice products in it and I am excited to try the ones I will use. I like that for two of the brands there were multiple products, this means I get to try the brand out rather than just one product. I think this could give a good snapshot of what a brand is like and help make an informed decision!

One thing that I think would be good, is if the product card had the RRPs for each of the products. Because it doesn't, I can't give you prices for the Anerah Skincare products, however I have contacted Native Box and asked for them and will update when I can.

One frustration I had, was not with the box, but with communication. When I received my order confirmation in my email it said my box would be shipped in 1-2 working days. A week later I still hadn't heard anything so I emailed Native Box but I didn't receive a response. I sent a message through their website again and this time I received a response. After this, communication was fine, and my box had been sent. It was just a little frustrating to begin with, not knowing if and when the box had been sent. I think this was an easy oversight and it hasn't affected my view of the box at all.

I will review the products as I use them, however I am currently trying some other products and I don't want to overload my skin so it might be a little while until I can post about these specific ones.

Now for the value of the box, I will do my best with what I can find.

1. Evohe Repair Intensive RRP $13.90 for 20ml = $13.90
2. Evohe Omega 369 RRP $56.90 for 30ml = $28.45 for 15ml sample
3. ivadore Tanning Treatment RRP $48 for 120ml = $8 for 20ml sample
4. Anerah Bath Soak RRP $25.95 for 180g = $18.70 for 130g *
5. Anerah Face Mask RRP $18.95 for 40g = $14.20 for 30 *
6. Anerah Sugar Scrub RRP $25.95 for 200g = $6.50 for 50g *
Bonus
7. ivadore voucher = $10
8. Native Box voucher = $10

Total Cost = $29.95 + $39.40
Total value = $70.35! /$109.75

* I received a reply from Native Box with RRPs for the Anerah products and have updated the values above. The three products didn't have an weights on them so I weighed them myself, please note the weights include packaging so are an estimate. I am still not sure if these are 'samples' or full sized products. For example the bath soak RRP is for 180g while the one I have weighed in at 130g, which seems like a large sample or not quiet enough for a full sized. Either way. This new value is still good!

UNBOXING || FLORA AND FAUNA SPRING BEAUTY BOX

A long time ago I subscribed to Bella Box for one month, It was that long ago that I can't even remember what was in it! Recently I've been interested in learning about natural skincare products and I had a look around the internet and found a couple to try. The one I was looking forward to the most was the Spring Beauty Box from Flora and Fauna. This is a seasonal box, so there are 4 each year. They also do a vegan beauty box too.

While I was googling and watching youtube to see what boxes I wanted to try I found that the F&F spring box had a full size Kosmea Moisturising Lotion with SPF 30. Every morning I use a moisturiser that has a SPF of 30, however I really wanted to find and try a natural/chemical reduced version. So ultimately, it was this product that decided my purchase! I was stoked with the sample of Natural Loose Illuminser from Adorn too. I don't wear a lot of make up but it is also something I love to play around with.

The Vanessa Megan Darling Perfume was also something I was excited to receive and try out. I don't use a lot of perfume, but I think that is because I don't really have much! At first smell, I am not sure I like the scent, but I will try wearing it for a while to see what it is really like. Next up is the Tula Naturals Ultra Nourishing Facial Serum. I have never used a serum! I haven't used a large variety of products to be honest. I have to say it smells wonderful! It is meant to help protect against ageing. Now I have no problem with ageing, but I am conscious of keeping my skin as healthy as it can be, so if this product works that will be awesome!

The last three products are moisture related. As I said, I wear SPF moisturiser everyday, so I might try the Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream on a day I know I am not going to go outside. I do get a dry face so it will be nice to try out, also I would never buy a day cream that cost this much so nice to get a sample of it. I also get really dry hands most days so the Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Hand Cream along with the Eco Tools Spa Moisture Gloves will be amazing to try out. Though I am not sure how they will go, I love the idea of them, however I hate wearing socks to bed so I might be the same with the gloves!

Overall I am very happy and excited about my first Natural Subscription Box! Yay! As I use the products I will write reviews one them. I have already started using the Kosmea moisturiser and I am LOVING it! I will list the prices of the products below to show the value of the box. Hope you all enjoyed my unboxing! Stay tuned for more!

1. Kosmea Moisturiser RRP $44.50 for 50ml = $44.50
2. Vanessa Megan Perfume RRP $29.95 for 50ml = $5 for 15ml travel size
3. Eco Tools Gloves RRP $8.99 = $8.99
4. Dr Hauschka Day Cream RRP $58 for 30ml (F&F website) = $2.90 for 1.5ml
5. Weleda Hand Cream RRP $16.95 for 50ml = $0.51 for 1.5ml
6. Tula Naturals Facial Serum RRP $49 for 30ml = $12 for 5ml travel size
7. Adorn Illuminiser RRP $35 for 5g = $2.50 for a sample pot (size of sample unknown, info card states wrong pricing for this product so I have found the pricing on Adorn's website).

Total Cost = $29.99 + $8 for postage = $37.99
Total value = $76.40!!