Lyonsleaf

I hit upon this brand by accident whilst browsing an online store and decided to google them to find out more.  I was really pleased they offered an affordable tester.  Everyone's skin is unique so although reviews can help, nothing beats trying it out for yourself.  

It also ticked all my boxes: 

* all natural 

* cruelty free 

* affordable 

* british (it's nice to support a local business, plus my product doesn't travel as far so there's less pollution) 

The last test was whether it is good quality.  Affordable and quality don't often go hand in hand - you tend to get what you paid for.  For just £1.99 it sounded like an invitation to try it out for myself.  

I was interested in the cleansing balm but decided to purchase all the samples.  I got:

* cleansing balm = £1.99 

* moisturising cream = £1.99 

* body butter = £1.99 

Postage and packaging was £1.15 

My order arrived promptly.  I really liked the travel friendly mini tins.  These would be perfect for holiday and look adorable. The lids are easy to get off and seem to stay on well too.  

They also sent a leaflet all about how their product is sourced and why all natural is better value for money than organic products that often contain a high percentage of water.  

CLEANSING BALM 

I massaged this onto my skin and then used a hot flannel to remove it.  There is no need to moisturise afterwards.  The product looked hard but was actually very soft and easy to apply. 

CONS:  I felt odd not using a moisturiser so applied the cream afterwards.  

PROS:  It didn't dry out my skin or cause new breakouts.  The scent isn't very strong.  

The sample lasted about 3 weeks so would be ideal for holidays.  

VERDICT:  This is a good quality affordable product.  You can't lose.  I would buy again.  

CALENDULA CREAM 

I applied this to my face, neck and de collage after cleansing. I also applied it to dry spots and those pesky hormonal breakouts.  I rubbed my finger over the solid product and it turns into an oil that's easy to run in.  

The product has a multiple of uses - an everything cream.  It has claimed to help skin conditions like psorasis and eczema.

CONS:  If it gets in you hair, your hair looks oily.  

PROS:  Helped heal spots faster.  Good at keeping dry skin hydrated.  Gentle scent.  I rubbed leftover product into my hands - my nails and cuticles love it.  

VERDICT:  my favourite out of the free. I would buy this again but waiting for my sample to run out.  

The sample is the perfect handbag size.  

BODY BUTTER 

This has a very similar consistency to the others but was the hardest out of the three. I scraped the product out and warmed it my hands before rubbing on my body.  I used it everywhere but my face.  

CONS:  it takes ages to apply to your body because you can only scrap a little out at a time.  

PROS:  My skin wasn't irritated by it and it was moisturising.  Same gentle smell.  

VERDICT:  I wouldn't by the butter again. It took me too long to apply after my bath/shower - I get cold quickly so need a fast application.  It works but it's not for me.  

OVERALL 

These samples were very impressive.  They are beautifully packaged and you can tell the brand take pride in producing a product that is ethical, green and works.  

These are perfect for travel, as well as testing, you get a decent amount in the tins.   

Give them a go, you won't be disappointed and it won't break the bank.  

CHRISTMAS

They'd also make cute stocking fillers for a natural beauty lover.  In addition, they do gift sets where you can buy their products at a discounted price.  

Tarte vs Jane Iredale

I've been lusting after Tarte cosmetics for a while but they are difficult to buy in the UK.  In addition, Tarte Cosmetics official website does not ship to the UK (USA, PR and Canada only).  The only option appeared to be QVC. 

QVC don't do samples and had a limited choice of shades (none of the pale shades).  I found a seller on eBay who sold 2ml samples for £3.90.  I ordered the shade Fair Sand.  I feel its a tad too dark and yellow for me.  I planned to order Fair Beige or Ivory come pay day.  

Whilst waiting, I discovered Rose Beauty Store.  This store is online, the office is located in the USA but  supply a UK distributor that uses DHL (so you don't pay import fees).  They charge £1.49 per sample and £2.00 shipping.  One sample would cost £3.49 and two samples would be just £4.98.  Www.rosebeautystore.com is worth checking out. Their prices are reasonable and they have an excellent range of some difficult to get products.  

At the same time as ordering from ebay, I ordered a sample of Jane Iredales Glowtime BB cream in shade Fair BB1 from Skin Maze.  This is an award winning salon in Dorset that you can visit for treatments.  They stock the full Jane Iredale range and offer a sample service. This sample cost £2.50 and free shipping.  The sample arrived with a generous amount of product.  I have used it to do a full face and thought it looked great and felt good on. 

Sample Jane Iredale Glowtime in Fair BB1 purchaser from Skin Maze.  Sample Tarte Foundation in Fair Sand purchaser from eBay but similar can be purchased from Rose Beauty Store for less money.

The BB cream feels more moisturising and smooth.  Tarte felt thicker and drier but not in a nasty way. 

Top is Jane Iredale BB cream and bottom is Tarte Foundation.  The BB cream is lighter and has a pink tone.  Tarte is darker and has a yellow tone.  

The both deliver a good full coverage and blend reasonably well.  When I applied the BB to my face, I used my blender sponge and it looked smoother.  They both seemed to melt into my skin as they warned up.  

TARTE FOUNDATION VERDICT (£36.99 at Roses Beauty Store)

This shade is to yellow for me.  I might order Ivory or Fair Beige to see if they are better matches as I love the fact this is made from clay from the Amazon rain forest that has been untouched by pollution.  Doesn't that sound beautiful?  I do like how the product feels on my skin.  The product has an spf 15.  

JANE IREDALE BB VERDICT (£32.50 at Skin Maze) 

I honestly thought this would be too dark - like nearly everything that claims to be light.  When I first put it on, it was too light.  However, give it a few seconds to adjust and it looks perfect.  It feels so good on my skin - it gives that feeling that your skin will be better for wearing it which is the result of a good BB cream.  

It has an SPF 25 which is great protection for skin that easily burns. Seven of the Jane Iredale products have won the Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval and this is one of those award winners.  I've had my eye on their "powder me spf dry sunscreen".  If I couldn't find a good foundation with spf I was going to buy the sunscreen as a finishing powder to give me the protection I need.  

It claims it can also be used as a concealer but I'm not yet convinced - i think if I had a bad blemish, I'd still want the reassurance of a strong concealer.  

This BB cream is everything I could wish for.  I'm not sure I can wait until pay day.  This is the winner of everything I've tested and I don't feel the need to test anymore.  

I shall do a post on where to get samples for different brands so you can do your own trials if you wish. Xxx

Vapour Organic

I was going to order samples of Vapour organic from Naturismo.  Then, I noticed on Vapour's company website that they offer a free Shade Consultation.  You answer a few questions and upload a picture of yourself.  A few days later you get an email recommending your ideal shade.  

My email came back recommending Atmosphere luminous Foundation in 090.  

Everywhere, I have seen Vapour foundation for sale has started with shade s100.  At first I thought the advisor had gone crazy, didn't know her product or was trying to tell me I am too pale to even register on their charts.  

However, on their website, there is in fact an s090 for the true/really pale beauties. 

Vapour offer a sample service where you can order 5 samples for $15, plus $5 shipping.  This is over £13 just for a few samples with enough product to try once or twice.  Seems a bit steep for me. 

I started searching the web and found a fantastic store in London who stock shade 090 and do a sample service.  

Content allow you to request 4 samples of any product they sell (there are a few restrictions) for the amazing price of £3 and free shipping!  I was chuffed. I ordered the concealer in s000 and both foundations in s090 and the skin perfector from www.beingcontent.com 

It was east identifying which shade of concealer to order based on my foundation shade using their guide. 

My order arrived quickly and I could tell instantly that they were lighter than others.  I was excited that finally if found a true pale shade match. 

The samples were in similar pots to those I am accustomed to from Naturismo and the amounts given are good.  

I was invited on a night out and tried the concealer with my Lily Lolo foundation and it looked great.  That's why it looks used in the picture. 

Here is a search on my wrist.  It's hard to see because the match is so good.  

From left to right, illusionist concealer, luminous foundation, soft focus foundation.

After a bad experience with Bobbi Brown's stick foundation (very dry and streaky), I was swaying towards the liquid pump foundation despite being recommended the stick.  After trying both, I actually do prefer the stick.  It felt smooth and creamy.  I absolutely love  the concealer.  

ATMOSPHERE LUMINOUS FOUNDATION (£37 at Content) 

Suitable for normal, dry and mature skin. Moisturises and gives a light to medium, dewy finnish.

ATMOSPHERE SOFT FOCUS FOUNDATION (£43 at Content) 

Suitable for combination to oily skin.  Medium to full coverage with a satin finish.  

ILLUSIONIST CONCEALER (£22 at Content) 

This is a highly pigmented concealer to hide flaws and brighten under eye.  It's moisturising and has anti inflammatory ingredients.  It is easily blended with your finger.  

VERDICT 

Come pay day, I will be ordering this concealer.  

I was super close to having the luminous foundation on my must have list.  The product feels great and the colour melts into my skin but... During my next review you will learn what topped it.

I will review the Straus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector s902 another day.   

RMS Beauty - Uncover Up

Another Amazingy sample.  RMS beauty do a product call uncover up which is marketed as a foundation and a concealer.  I ordered the lightest shade #00 and Amazingy threw in the slightly darker shade #11.

I applied it to my arm and double checked the lightest is at the top because it appeared darkest on my arm. 

(Left #11 and right #00) 

It had a lovely moist feel to like applying a light moisturiser.  I then blender them in. 

Once blended you can't tell much difference between the two shades.  It's a lovely medium coverage, perfect for everyday.  I'm still not convinced it would perform well as a concealer but I like it as a foundation.    

I prefer shade #11 in my test but I suspect that some residue from Kjaer Weis may have got mixed in.  I had washed my arm between applications but that foundation was thick.  I'll test #00 again to be certain before purchasing. But, that's right, I like this enough that I'm thinking about buying it.  

VERDICT 

Lovely texture, good colour & good coverage - not too heavy but enough to even your skin out.  Feels good on my skin.  As a foundation it's a good choice.  

I'm not convinced it would work as a concealer but if you already have it as a foundation, it doesn't hurt to try it. I do love a product with multiple uses. 

I think it's worth the money.   You can often get kits with this and three to four other products in which saves you money if you want to try the brand.  Their luminizer has great reviews!  Amazingly sell the kits at about 100 euros which is about £80.  Most places sell the kits at 150 euros.  Just the uncover up is 36 euros and that is about £26.  

Kjaer Weis vs Luxsit

Two other samples I bought from Amazingy were: 

* Kjaer Weis cream foundation - Porcelain 

* Luxsit BB cream - fair opal (spf 15)

The full size Kjaer Weis products are in posh silver cases that can be refilled.  It looks glamorous and economical.

I had never heard of Luxsit before visiting Amazingy. As I'm looking to replace my current BB cream with something organic this seemed like a good option.  I also like that it has spf protection - very positive for a redhead.  

This thing I notice is that both products are a darker shade than my other samples.  As far as I am aware, this is currently the lightest shade they stock.  

The Kjaer Weis (top) was very thick.  The Luxsit was oil and separated when I samples some on my skin. 

The Kjaer Weis is clearly too dark for my pale skin. It looks like it gives a full coverage so if you can get the right shade for you then you could easily give the illusion of flawless skin.  If you are Loly White like me then you'll look like an Oompa Loompa with this on your face.  

The Luxsit disappear into my skin and felt nice.  I guess the oil helps it melt in but I'm concerned it would be too sheer for me.  It is full of benefits (a one for all style product). 

VERDICTS 

Kjaer Weis is good quality but too dark.  "Like Porcelain" is nothing like porcelain.  Being able to buy refills will save you money and the environment.  The case is so pretty I wanted this to be the one.  

Luxsit is full of benefits (a one for all style product) but I don't think it will have deep enough coverage for me. I do like that it includes spf protection.  

Sadly, I'm not sold by either so won't be investing in a full size versions.  The hunt for the perfect organic base for pale skin continues.  

Hiro Cosmetics

I had not heard of Hiro cosmetics until I saw them on Amazingly's website.  I really liked the sound of the space balm and requested a sample.  Amazingly felt I should consider Hiro mineral powder so threw a sample pot of that into my order along with the balm sample. 

I got:

* Hiro Space Balm -#02 Altaira 

* Hiro Mineral Foundation - #01 Porcelain 

The balm was tricky to get out the bag to try.  It had a sticky texture and was thick.  

The powder was easy to get out the pot and dust into my arm.  It did have some sparkles in it.  

The balm is slightly darker than the powder.  It has a matt look whereas the powder has a shimmer look. 

They balm rubbed in well but is noticeable on my skin due to the heavier coverage.  The powder seemed to disappear but left a sparkle which I'm not sure I like for everyday wear. 

VERDICT 

Balm:  I wish I had more product to try.  I will try it on my face but I think it may be a tad to dark for me.  

Mineral powder:  I can't see me using a sparkly face powder for everyday.  I can see my younger self wanting it for nights out on the town but I very rarely get a night out now and can't warrant the expense of an occasional powder.  

I'm really happy with my Lily Lolo mineral powder that I am not considering replacing it. 

Ilia Beauty base

One of my Amazingy samples was the Ilia concealer.  Amazingy threw in the tinted moisturiser for free - just because they are thoughtful like that.  I hadn't chosen the moisturiser as I was concerned it would be too sheet but as I had a sample I gave it a go.  

I got:

* Ilia Beauty Moisturizer Los Roques (T1)

* Ilia Beauty Vivid Concealer Cassava (C1) 

Both samples came in pots which made it easy to try and a decent amount.  

The tinted moisturiser was a good shade and blended well.  If you are looking for a sheer coverage then this would be ideal. 

The concealer is denser but still easy to rub in.  The texture is suitable for covering imperfections and I will test it when I've more time.  I will keep this in mind.  

VERDICT 

Tinted Moisturizer:  I do like it but I'm looking for more coverage.  It is something I'd consider if my tastes change because the colour is ideal and felt good on my skin.  It would even out my skin tone.

Vivid concealer:  This is going on my wish list as it is a good colour and texture for a concealer.  I'm bound to use up the sample but will try it on my face before buying.