Smoky Quartz/Twilight Pressed Eyeshadow Duo by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques

I'm always excited when I receive makeup items in my Eco Emi subscription box, as they typically are not something I already have in my collection and they are going to be from a natural ingredient based cosmetics company.  That's how I actually discovered Lauren Brookes Cosmetiques, and since then I've found a foundation from them I really like (review here), as well as their pressed eyeshadows.  Lovely formulas on both!

Another thing I love about receiving items in subscription boxes is that often the colors are not ones I would have gravitated towards on my own, but that I end up loving.  Such is the case with this gray duo, both of which feature a matte finish (I'd say they look more satin).  The darker Smokey Quartz has great pigmentation, applies smoothly, and blends out easily while still maintaining intensity.  The lighter Twilight was also lovely to work with and made for a great base shade.

Twilight, Smokey Quartz

For this look, I used Maybelline's Inked in Pink Color Tattoo cream shadow as an all over base color to work with, mainly to help warm up the cool tones of this duo, plus I like pinks/grays together.  The wear time was an impressive 8-9 hours before I could see some disintegration.

In this one, I used a grayish green cream shadow from Sula Beauty called Big Flirt (review here) as the base, which has a nice silver sparkle to it.  It gave the overall look a slightly greenish cast.

 The shadow formula is quite interesting:

• Zinc: Natural UVA & UVB protection. Protects against free radical damage.
• Broccoli Seed: Rich in Vitamin A & Essential Fatty Acids, Moisturizing.
• Orange Peel Wax: Excellent emollient properties, provides a protective barrier for skin, anti-microbial.
• Lecithin: Rebuilding, restorative agent. Supplies Vitamin B and reduces cholesterol build-up in the skin.
• Jojoba: Nourishing and hydrating.
• Allantoin: Stimulates new and healthy tissue growth, a skin cell proliferant.

I've got one other Lauren Brooke eyeshadow duo that I bought last Christmas called Toffee/Sandalwood, and the formula seems to be consistent in the two I've now tried.  Available in 8 color combos, the duo's are $12 each, but you can sign up for email alerts on periodic sales. 

Lauren Brooke Pressed Eyeshadow Duo in Toffee/Sandalwood

 I recently picked up a full sized jar of Lauren Brooke's cream foundation (I'm wearing it in all of the photos below), and since they were having a 20% off sale on their new pressed eyeshadow duos, I picked up one.  There are currently 8 duos to chose from, and I chose the neutral brown Toffee/Sandalwood duo.  They are both described as demi-matte, although I'd say Sandalwood is definitely a shimmer.

A bit about the formula - these have some unique ingredients I haven't seen in eyeshadows before (broccoli seed?):

• Zinc: Natural UVA & UVB protection. Protects against free radical damage.
• Broccoli Seed: Rich in Vitamin A & Essential Fatty Acids, Moisturizing.
• Orange Peel Wax: Excellent emollient properties, provides a protective barrier for skin, anti-microbial.
• Lecithin: Rebuilding, restorative agent. Supplies Vitamin B and reduces cholesterol build-up in the skin.
• Jojoba: Nourishing and hydrating.
• Allantoin: Stimulates new and healthy tissue growth, a skin cell proliferant.

Anything that can potentially help improve the quality of my skin I'm all for, although I now wonder if applying primer before hand would end up blocking the benefits anyhow. Hmmm, thoughts on that, anyone?

Over primer alone, Sandalwood over lid, Toffee in crease

Fortunately, I'm enjoying these for other qualities, including the lovely smoky brown eye I'm able to create.  That's right, I said 'smoky eye', a look that is elusive for me (I blame my small, narrow eyes). 

Toffee/Sandalwood over Tarte's Endless Taupe

I'm finding that a good primer or a cream shadow underneath works best for me with this duo.  They don't so much crease as start to break up after about 7 hours over primer alone (I've got very oily lids), but over a cream shadow I'm good to go for 9-10 hours.

Toffee/Sandalwood over Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze

I've been using Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze or Tarte's Endless Taupe as a base color, with the shimmery Sandalwood on top.  This deepens the color a bit and provides a nice base for the shimmer in Sandalwood. You can get an idea of how pretty the shimmer is in this picture, which has a decidedly pink cast.  If you're wondering why the difference, it's because I was standing under a tree loaded with pink flowers :-)

I lined my upper lid with Estee Lauder's kajal eye pencil in Blackened Cocoa and then applied Toffee on top.  It's a really simple but pretty look that I've been wearing all week!

The pressed duo shadows are regularly $12 but were on sale for $9.60 each.  The colors are rather basic, but I've got to say I'm enjoying mine.  So, if you are on the lookout for an all natural, organic pressed shadow, these may be worth a look!

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Creme Foundation: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

For some reason, I've been really into trying new foundations recently.  I can remember the days when I had one foundation that I used every day, and now I've got a growing rotation.  Enter Lauren Brooke Creme Foundation, which has earned a spot!

I received three different shades in September's Eco Emi box, which tips you off that this is a natural ingredient based foundation.  With the exception of mineral powders, I really haven't found any cream or liquid foundations that fell into the natural category, until now.  So count me excited :-)

Available in 16 different shades, Cool No. 30 was a pretty good match for my skin, although in looking at their foundation color chart I'm thinking the Neutral No. 30 may be a better choice.  I've been using the Neutral No. 00 as an under eye concealer, and Warm No. 50 as a contour shade.  The consistency of this foundation is on the thicker side, and I use a q-tip to dab the foundation on a mixing tray and then apply with my foundation brush.  I noticed one of the tips on the Lauren Brooke site was to place a few dabs on your face and allow your skin to heat it up prior to blending.

Source:  Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques

Coverage is on the light to medium side but it is buildable, and what I especially like about this foundation is how smooth the finish is.  My pores are not emphasized at all - in fact they seem to be a bit minimized.  The finish is somewhat dewy, which I originally though would rule this out for me, considering my oily skin.  However, using the Mattify! Ultra as my primer and setting powder has solved that problem.  I doubt this foundation would be a good option for me in the hot, humid Mobile summer, but for winter?  I think my skin will be thanking me.

Check out these good for your skin ingredients: Triglycerides, Zinc Oxide, Organic Beeswax, Organic Jojoba, Silica, Radish Root, Organic Argan, Organic Rosehip, Neem, Clay, Organic Green Tea, Organic Passionflower, Organic Raspberry, Natural Vitamin E (+/-, Iron Oxides, Mica, Org Essential Oil Blend).

• Beeswax: Hydrating ingredient that increases the skin's essential moisture.
• Argan Oil: Rich in Fatty Acids. Protects skin against pollution & sun exposure.
• Silica: Creates a soft, finished look reducing appearance of large pores, fine lines & wrinkles.
• Phytolipid Complex: Jojoba, Rosehip, Neem & Vitamin E Oil. Moisturizing, nourishing & regenerative.
• Green Tea: Antioxidant. Phenol & Vitamin C rich.
• Zinc Oxide: Anti-inflammatory, emollient. Reduces and supports the healing of epidermal irritation, protects against UVA rays, soothes the skin.

The full sized version (24 gms) comes in a screw top glass jar, similar to Revlon's Colorstay Whipped Creme foundation.  These two foundations actually remind me of each other, with the distinction being that Lauren Brooke is a bit thicker and may be a better option for dryer complexions.  Lauren Brooke's is also twice as expensive as Revlon's Colorstay Whipped at $27 vs. $13.  So there is that to consider as well.  However, if a natural ingredient foundation appeals to you, I think this is a fantastic contender!  I will be purchasing a full size jar in the near future.