Mascara Monday

Happy Monday ladies... I wanted to start this week off with one of my staples in my makeup bag and a staple for Mondays as well.I think I can speak for most women when I say we all need mascara even if you dont wear a lot of makeup. When talking about Mascara, its pretty easy for me as I have two holy grails I have used for years and I can never find anything that comes close. Every blogger that I have followed through the years say the same and that is how I initially found these products. A lot of those same people now only wear high end products so I thought I would share the best one and a dupe(in my opinion).My two favorites are Too Faced "Better Than Sex" and L'Oreal Voluminous.They are very different in the price category but they basically do the same thing. If you are on a budget you would obviously go for the drugstore mascara. I love makeup and high end products but I also love saving money so that is why I tend to go for both of these. I usually wear L'Oreal as my go to during the work week then the better than sex for nights out or a special occasion. If I have something major going on I will usually throw some Ardell lashes on and some light mascara. 

 Mascara

                                           Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara at $23.00

                                                              and 

                                           L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara at $8.00

The number one difference in these products are the price points. Depending on your budget this can be a deciding factor.

-Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 

You can purchase this product at any Ulta or Sephora. This will be on the pricier side but people have been raving about this since it came out a couple of years ago. This is a fan fave of everyone and I doubt anyone will be disappointed with this. The only downside to this mascara is the clumping and you have to be very careful when applying not to get any clumps. You will also get a lot of fall out through out the day or flaking. 

-L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara 

You can get the L'Oreal Voluminous mascara at any drugstore or retailer that carries L'Oreal. I ALWAYS have this in my makeup bag. Makeup artist, celebrity's, many bloggers and vloggers rave about this. You will get the most value out of this one. I feel like L'Oreal Voluminous is a dupe for the Too Faced "Better than Sex". The downside about L'Oreal is... it has a lot of left over product on the brush. TRUST ME when I say you will need to clean off the extra residue left over on the brush. You will only need one coat with the L'Oreal product. They are not playing when they say its carbon black. It is insanely pigmented. This will also make the product last longer so you can look at it either way.

Both products have thick brushes but the Too Faced is a little more curved. They both give lengthening and volume.  I always get compliments on my lashes with both products when I take the time to properly apply the right amount. The work week is a struggle for me so sometimes I have very little on during the work days.

If you have tried both of these let me know your thoughts and if you have any other products that are just as good I would love to find something similar.Its really hard for me to go outside of these products because I love them so much.Have a great week everyone and make sure those lashes are nice and full. 

xoxo

All Natural Deodorant Review

Happy Sunday Ladies! I have been using some new products on and off for awhile now but I finally found one I love so I wanted to share because the struggle is real when looking for a better/healthier deodorant that actually works and smells decent. I started doing some research last summer while looking into better skincare. I realized how bad deodorant and sunscreen can be for us and what the ingredients actually do long term or can cause. Its no secret deodorant and sunscreen are both linked to cancer. I still struggle on really hot days and sometimes go back if I need to here and there but over all I feel if I can incorporate these products into my daily life its better than using them every day and the chemicals going into my body and bloodstream are significantly less. I tried three different ones after doing my research. I quickly learned the cheaper ones DO NOT work but I did include one on here just in case someone wants to try and spend less money. This post will be about All natural deodorants but I will have an upcoming  post about sunscreen as well so stay tuned if you are looking. I hope if anything this will save you some time, maybe some money, and most of all help incorporate some healthier products into your lifestyle. 
So I have done the dirty work so you can get on with your day to day life. I tested some of the most popular brands of all natural deodorants on a couple measurements; 1. Smell 2. How strong they are (after working out, work days, and just normal day to day life) 3. Texture on your skin, and 4. Prices. For all of these, I have listed my top 3 that I like in all different areas. I hope this helps save you time, your health, and the awkwardness of having stinky body odor. Here are my Top 3 all natural deodorants. 

1. KTO

Price- $11 dollars and you can get a coupon by signing up for emails, and this product is sold in some Target and Whole Food locations on the east coast.
This product was truly amazing from the beginning I opened and smelled. It wins in every category...smell, texture, and lasting power. This product is not terribly expensive but its roughly double the price of a normal deodorant. I would describe the smell as something you would smell or find in a spa. There is somewhat of green tea smell to it in my opinion. If you want one that works, smells great and saves your time and money go for this one. 
WHY CHOOSE KTO NATURAL AND ORGANIC SKINCARE & COSMETICS
From the Website....
Kelly Teegarden is a stage III Thyroid Cancer Survivor who passionately formulates Skincare & Cosmetics with no known cancer causing or endocrine disrupting ingredients. KTO is the first brand in the USA to be scientifically proven to have no endocrine disruptors. KTO also fills the void in the skincare industry by catering to the discriminating cancer prevention consumer looking for a natural, non toxic way to enhance their beauty.

https://kellyteegarden.com/products/finally-natural-deodorant-that-works?utm_campaign=Pinterest%20Buy%20Button&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_content=pinterest-buy-button-132db8e3b-a4c8-4552-9402-b0c5d80d50e0

2. Piper Wai
Price - $11.99 with a monthly prescription.

You have likely seen this on the popular show Shark Tank. I had high hopes for this product and it was sent from a friend who is very healthy and has a healthy lifestyle. This product was OK to me but didn't compare to KTO. A couple reasons... the product is in a jar but they did recently release a stick version, the product only last about 4 hours, it does smell great and that was one thing I loved. Over all I would say dont waste your money unless you can clean your under arms every four hours and re-apply.

From the Website....
It all started when Jess Edelstein decided she’d had enough of the struggle with harsh, chemical ingredients in typical deodorants that irritated her sensitive skin. There had to be better way to stay dry and odor free. So she set out to invent her own formula from completely natural ingredients that aren’t “powder fresh” and wouldn’t burn or rash. She found the answer in her own kitchen mixer, using activated charcoal, essential oils, and natural moisturizers.
To test it out, she shared it with her best friend Sarah Ribner who took it on a trip to South America. It held up trekking through the hot and humid weather, and by the end of her trip, Sarah was a believer.
Sarah and Jess banded together to share PiperWai with the world so that anyone seeking a natural, gentler alternative to their daily essentials could finally find it.
https://www.piperwai.com/products/piperwai-natural-deodorant

Newly released from the company is  the stick version-
https://www.piperwai.com/products/piperwai-natural-deodorant-stick.
-Price- $16.99

3.Toms of Maine 


Price-$5 dollars or less. The reason this product makes the list is because Toms was the first one I tried and is the easiest on the budget. This product has easy access as well if you are looking for something quick or in a local store. This product was an absolute NO from the beginning. You can get your money back if you dont like the results with the money back guarantee. I would describe the smell similar to patchouli, texture is gritty and it doesn't last or smell good whatsoever by the end of the day. You will be a sweaty stinky mess with this. The only plus is the price point. 

From the Website...
At Tom's what makes our products good is how we make them with no artificial fragrance or preservatives and no animal ingredients or testing, ever. This effective line of long-lasting, aluminum-free, deodorant sticks uses odor-fighting hops to provide 24-hour odor protection to help keep you feeling fresh throughout the day, while the natural fragrance helps you smell and feel your best!
http://www.tomsofmaine.com/product-details/new-long-lasting-deodorant-stick


So there you have it. If you want to save some time and you're looking for something healthier that smells great I would just go straight for KTO. If you want to save some money then Toms would be the cheapest but I would consider looking for some alternatives in that price range. Another option I was considering if KTO didn't work was a brand called Native. I love everything about KTO so I didn't feel the need but it is another option with great reviews. This post was NOT sponsored by KTO, I honestly just wanted to spread the word if anyone else is considering or wanting some helpful advice. If anyone else would like to leave suggestions please do. 
xoxo