Red Apple Lipstick Review

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

I am way overdue for this review, as I received these products months ago and I am only writing about them now, but hey, it is better late than never, right? Let's just say I took my time testing these beautiful products, haha!

Now, I am sure all of you know about Red Apple Lipstick company (please feel free to peruse their website) as we all hear the buzz that surrounds this wonderful company for a good few years now.
Their products are all natural, gluten free and free of any harsh chemicals you can think of. Their lipsticks are what green beauty legends are made of! Don't believe me? Just google "red apple lipstick review" and you will be floored with the onslaught of positive reviews, both in written form and Youtube videos. Want to know my two cents on it? Please keep on reading!

I got advantage of their beauty blogger's program and I chose two products from their range, which are lipstick in Twist 'N Pout (don't you just love the name?) and eye shadow in Down To Earth. When I contacted them they told me they don't ship to international bloggers anymore (or was that temporarily?) but they made an exception for me, so that obviously put a smile on my face! I have to be honest upfront, while the lipstick is very well loved and used, I didn't use the eye shadow much, as it turned out to be different shade than I was expecting, and I don't have much use for it in my every day life. Let me correct myself, I wanted a "everyday neutral" colour, the one that I could use all over the lid in two minutes flat without even thinking about it and be done for the day (I love these type eye shadows) but it turned out to be much more sophisticated brown-meets-aged-gold one, and it is so pigmented, I can't do even a single sheer swipe of it without getting or looking too much (for me). But this is in no way a company's shortfall, rather my own mistake in choosing the product. I remember originally wanting another shadow but a good few (neutrals) were out of stock at a time, so I went with this one. All of you make up lovers/collectors would love it, as it is a truly gorgeous colour, and you can do so many looks with it, but when it comes down to little old moi, I don't have much use it in my every day life. The formula is gorgeous, very natural and pigmented though, but be careful when choosing the shades for the first time.

RAL Down To Earth eye shadow swatched. In real life it is even more pigmented and shimmery!

Now, lipstick is the whole lotta of other story though! I freaking love it! I wore it all day everyday all summer long, I sent carefully scraped bits of it (sanitised of course!) in a few green beauty swaps, I got compliments about it in non stop stream, and more importantly, I really love it on myself, and that is the first time ever I can say that about a lipstick! I was never a lipstick person until I came across this beauty, all the others I have tried were not quite right for me and I would often give them away come first opportunity. This is an exception and it is the only lipstick I want to keep. And I will probably cry crocodile tears once it will finish. It is my baby, you know? It is that sort of your-lips-but-better shade, truly gorgeous, and it seems to suits every skin tone. Here you can see me modelling it, what do you think? I think it is gorgeous!

Red Apple Lipstick in Twist 'N Pout

So what are my final thoughts of RAL and their products?
Now, these are absolutely gorgeous products, all natural, vegan, cruelty and gluten free, and I do truly enjoy their products, but I would not repurchase them, and let me tell you why - their shipping to EU is mind boggling 49.25$ and I wasn't given cheaper option. Admittedly it is priority mail, but still I would never pay that much for shipping, and I think they need to sort it out! Customers these days sort of expect free or low cost shipping, and I truly think Red Apple Lipstick are losing a lot of customers purely because of this. I added two items to my cart, a lipstick and an eye shadow, and together with the shipping it came to 91.50$!! And I am not even kidding or making stuff up - see screenshot of it below! Now, anybody in their right mind would see no value in that (it is only two items!) and us EU gals who shop outside EU, we are taxed 35% custom tax plus another 10€ for handling fee (what??) so that would total me 133€!!!! I won't rant here, but I do think that would be ridiculous price, don't you think? Red Apple Lipstick, you need to get EU distributor or sort out your shipping price, and you will have a loyal customer in me. Until then, I am sorry.. Ours is one income family and my play money is so small is practically non existent, so 133€ for only two products is an unthinkable amount for me. I do hope they will get an EU distributor very soon, so all my European sisters could enjoy these beautiful products too.

So that is all for today, see you again soon! I counted and turns out I have 70 drafts for blog posts, so I better dish those out, cha cha.
P.S. I hope this does not come across as me bad mouthing the brand or their great products! Far from it! I do think they are a great company that make wonderful products, and I really am grateful for a chance to try them! It is just that those damn custom charges and the postage costs ruin everything! I mean custom charges is a political thing and too broad of a subject to get into, so let's leave it at that. I mean i would happily pay for the products, but I just don't want to pay that much more extra charges, I hope you can understand that!

Lot's of Love,
Renata.

PureChimp Matcha Tea Review

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome! 💕💕💕

Pure Chimp Matcha Green Tea

Pure Chimp Matcha Green Tea review

Today I am coming at you with non beauty review, but this fits in very nicely with the green and natural lifestyle, so let's just go with it, ok? Matcha tea is amazing, and it is the very thing I drink in the mornings now. Not only it is so good at waking you up, it is so much better for you than coffee! I am on my gazillionth attempt to ditch coffee, and this is working very well for me, better than anything I have tried to date, and I can't believe I went without matcha tea for so long! But what exactly is matcha tea you ask and why I should drink it?

Matcha tea is the powdered whole leaf of the green tea and by that you are getting all the goodness that is getting thrown out otherwise. The history and cultivation of the tea is interesting, but what matters most to health enthusiasts is its antioxidant content. One cup of matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular tea! I will have a cup of that, thank you very much! Before I will go into more details and the benefits, let me put one thing out there - not all matchas are created equal, and matcha brownies are probably not the health food, haha!

What are the health benefits?

Matcha contains small amounts of various vitamins and minerals, but is most prized for being rich in polyphenol compounds called catechins, a type of antioxidant. Because matcha is made from ground up whole tea leaves, it’s a more potent source of catechins than standard green tea, which is consumed as an infusion and the leaves discarded. One study found that matcha contains three times more of the catechin, an antioxidant linked to fighting cancer, viruses and heart disease – than other kinds of standard green tea. Matcha green tea possesses antioxidant levels 6.2 times that of goji berries, 7 times that of dark chocolate, 17 times that of wild blueberries and 60.5 times that of spinach! Those numbers are off the charts, don't you think? I can't believe I am so late to this antioxidant partay, as this jar is only the second jar I own!
There are various studies to show that matcha tea is cancer preventer, detoxifier, lowers bad cholesterol and blood sugar, is anti-aging and aids in weight loss, as well as giving you mind clarity, steady energy and who knew it has fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins in it too? Well, I knew about chlorophyll and vitamins, but I didn't even think it could have fiber in it if I am honest.

Matcha green tea is available as a concentrated powder and can be found at health food stores. I recommend organic matcha, because it is produced without any artificial fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. And as I already mentioned, there are different grades of it too, so you might shop around to find the favorite or the purity level that will suit you.

So, how to brew the tea?
Matcha tea brewing is a whole ceremony in itself in Japan (just google it) but let's face it, no one does that in the west, all of us are time poor, so we are much more likely to grab an electric whisk instead of traditional matcha whisk called daiso, although I must admit I would like to experience the traditional matcha ceremony at least once in my life. What? It is in my bucket list :)

Do not add matcha green tea powder to boiling water because it will taste "grassy." Boil the water and let it sit for 5 minutes before adding the tea.
Depending on your cup size take 0.25 to 0.5 teaspoon of matcha, mix it with a little water to really dissolve all the powder, and only then fill the cup to the brim and mix thoroughly again. Of course please feel free to add (non dairy) milk to it and make a matcha latte out of it, it is really delicious too!

There are numerous recipes for matcha cookies, cakes and other baked goodies, but I do not see them as a health food as they will probably have loads of sugar and fat in them, and very little of the matcha goodness, so it is up to you if you want to go for them or not. I don't have a sweet tooth and my thinking is why bake this good stuff, so I tend to give them a miss and just drink the tea instead. But if that's what you want, then please free to go for them by any means!

Store it in a dark cool place and make sure to screw the lid very tightly each time as not to get the dreaded moisture in. It also picks up surrounding aromas easily too, so you don't want to put it next to the roasted chicken or such.

Now that we overlooked what matcha is and what the benefits of it are, let's jump into the PureChimp review, shall we?

PureChimp is a young UK is based in Cambridgeshire and was founded in 2013. It's the home of the popular #1 selling Super Tea (Matcha Green Tea).

They say their main goal is to make people happy and this includes you. 5% of their profits are donated to charities and they proudly state that that are living wage employer.

Pure Chimp are stocked at Love Lula & have three types of matcha tea for sale, pure, lemon and mint. Their price range is really affordable at £9.95 for 50gr jars. They have three sizes of the tea for sale, as well as electric whisk and a few selected natural skincare items, which is a nice surprise. (I have shampoo bar on the way to me, really curious!) Ingredients are all natural, and the banana extract in the face oil intrigues me a lot - I didn't know about banana extracts used in beauty products until now? Surely I used mashed banana mask on my hair, but that's about it.

SO, how is their tea you ask? I find it nice, it has successfully replaced my morning coffee, where I failed so many times before, and this time, so far, so good! Admittedly I am only a couple weeks in, but I didn't had any third day headaches or anything like that, my energy levels are steady and I don't get that brain jitters like I used to get when I drank coffee. Instead I am calm and collected in the mornings with a clear head, which is fantastic! I definitely plan to make it into a habit, and maybe I can kick my coffee addiction to the curb this time? It is only second jar or matcha in my life - I know, I can't believe I am so late to this awesome antioxidants party, but better late than never, huh? I like the taste of PureChimp matcha tea (forgot to tell you I got the plain variety) but my hubby said it tastes like it has been mixed with a black tea. At this lower price point let's not expect the top notch fit for the king tea, ok, but I think this is great everyday option in my mind, and let's face it, living on one income in our family this is the right price I can pay.

PureChimp is available from their website and LoveLula (affiliate link) - the latter ships for free worldwide and who does not like free shipping? Top notch customer service too, I never had any problems. Highly recommend this website.


So that is it for today my dear friends! Have you tried this brand? Do you drink matcha and how do you like it?


Tune back in on Monday!
Lots of Love,
Renata.

Downsizing or Moving Into Minimalism

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

So far I have been focusing on the green beauty reviews, but as much as I hope you find them helpful, that is not all I want to blog about, I want to expand my blog in many different directions, not losing my focus on all things green and clean beauty, I want to expand into outfits of the day posts, skincare routines, favourites of the month or season, DIY masks and so much more, go back to posting healthy and easy recipes  and maybe book reviews, what do you guys think? It's just exactly what I've been thinking about a lot lately, green and eco lifestyle is so much more than a (clean) foundation, and I want to blog about so much more too. As much as I love testing and reviewing green beauty products, I have only one face, and as I do take my testing seriously (what I review, I test the products for weeks and weeks before posting, no shallow "look what's new on the market and I had it for five minutes before blogging about it" stuff here. At the same time I noticed I only focused on the reviews lately, and I don't want to become this "this is amazing product, you all should go and buy it" girl, so I decided to stop all the PR samples and focus on finishing up what I have and going easy from here. I do own a ridiculous amount of stuff for one person, almost to the point of being overwhelming, so it is time to take it easy. I never had so much products as I do now, and it definitely feels overwhelming. I am someone who hates wasting products. I am not ok with using something for a little while and then tossing it because I got another product for a review, I am sharing with my friends, of course I am, but my point is I have to stop this constant stream of new products coming in, I don't know why I taken upon myself to test so many products this year, but it is definitely a time to downsize. Everything I own can be found on my Instagram page, and while it may seems small compared to other blogger's stashes, it is too much for me. I mean I never had multiple variations of the same products, and having six or seven facial oils  or five different shampoos is not ok with me! I mean I recently quit using facial oils all together since I noticed that my face protests in a form of recurring dermatitis patch, I guess I knew that dermatitis and facial oils don't go together, but I didn't want to face it, I mean, Pai and all these other oils I have are wonderful, how can I just not use them, right? They do so much good for the skin? And that was all I used for about six years previously, so it must be something right, right? Not so much! My face cleared up COMPLETELY since I quit oils, and before that I had this stubborn dermatitis patch that would not go away completely, it would go and come back, shrink and go bigger in size, and it would go ballistic if I tried new products. SO one day I thought why am I doing this to my skin if it protests in the open, why I keep torturing it? Because brands expect their reviews? Why did I take it upon myself to test everything if I know I have super sensitive and reactive skin? I am sure no one want me to have my dermatitis back, and brands will understand if I won't review their products, esp if I had a reaction to them? I take everything so seriously, as if it were my job to test every product under the market, and I put myself under so much pressure too when in reality there is no need for it. I am making myself miserable trying to queue up the reviews and then reaching for new products that just came in. It would all be sort of understandable if I were get paid for it, but the truth is that I don't make any money from my blog, everything I do is done for you guys! I have this inner desire and need to blog and continue to draw people into the natural side of life, away from those toxic chemicals in the conventional products. That is truly where my passion lies, In reality blogging is hard work, and it is very time consuming, which I don't mind, but add the constant testing and will-I-or-won't-I-get-a-reaction from a product state, and you've got a recipe for a stress, when in reality there is no need for that at all! I mean no one asked me to test all-the-things-under-the-sun and no one will appreciate it nor realise this is what I am going through behind the scenes. So it is up to me to stop all this madness and draw the line here and now. I will be ruthless with the offers coming my way from now on, and definitely no more greenwashing brands that are vague about ingredients they use! If I will accept something in the future, it has to be totally natural, and aligned with my aesthetics. And only then when I will be about to finish off the same category product. No more five foundations or six different bottles of face oils! What for? I am only one person who does not even wear make up every day.
So, now that it is all there in the open, what do you guys think? Let's stay friends, just expect me to branch out a bit more, does that sound good to you? I mean I can still bring you great content without chain testing products and putting myself under pressure when there's absolutely no need for it. And I am sure my skin will be too happy for it. I will continue blogging as it is truly my passion even though I don't make any money from it, it is what I enjoy to do and will continue to do so. I am not short of ideas, mind you, I have seventy drafts in my blogger's dashboard, yes, you read that right, seventy! And that's only when it comes to green beauty, so I am really enjoying this stream of creativity.  You guys have been amazing so far, and you mean the world to me, the minute someone thanks me for what I do, you make my day!

So there it is, my impromptu post straight off the cuff, I mean I won't even re-read it before publishing. It is definitely time for a change, hop on for  ride :)

Lots of love,
Renata.

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P.s This is not to moan in any way shape of form, I hope that is not what you will get from this post! I am grateful for everything for all that I have, trust me, and just like any other women on a planet, I do have my desires and wishlists for hottest and most talked about green beauty products, it is just a reminder to myself to slow down and enjoy the ride. And not to stress, the most important thing of all.

Zao Organic Make Up Review

Hi Lovelies,


Wecome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Zao Organic Make Up - all photos copyrighted to Green Life In Dublin

What do you say when offered a chance to try organic make up that you had your eye on for ages?? You say: “Yes Please! Come This Way!” Right? Right??

Well, joking aside, I am very grateful for a chance to review Zao make up, and what's even better, there might be a chance that they are coming to Dublin soon! How exciting would that be?! Now we would have a chance to buy certified organic make up right here in our own city, no trying to match yourself to the right shade online, and no more unwanted custom charges! Do we want that? Yes we do, very much so! And can we just take a moment to appreciate gorgeous bamboo packaging? Totally adorable! And did I mention that it is certified organic and has fabulous refill system? Or that they are gluten free, cruelty fee and mostly vegan products? I think I just heard angels singing!

Here's what Zao have to say:

Many women tell us that they would like to use organic cosmetics, but texture and performance are often issues for them. zao Organic Makeup represents the breakthrough women have been waiting for luxury, quality and performance, which are only enhanced by the zao approach to using the most perfectly natural and organic ingredients. We don’t provide just a color cover-up. Our makeup is good for your skin, as it is full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids that nourish, renew and regenerate your skin. You can read their story on how it all started and how it all started here.


Zao first contacted me to see if I could help them conquer Dublin, I had a few ideas for them, but sadly I couldn't put them through with the right people as I’ve no connections in the biz, I am just a regular consumer like you and I. So we ended up collaborating for a blog review instead. So if you want to read what I think about the products, please keep on reading! And maybe grab a snack and tea or coffee, whichever one you prefer :)

Compact Foundation (cream)
 

There were a lot of testing around to find my correct shade in this foundation. At first I was sent 728, 729 and 730. All of them ended up being too light for me, 728 had too much yellow, 729 too much pink of the undertone, and while 730 looked just about right in undertone, but it was waaay too light for me. When I emailed them this with photos to boot, they sent the next foundation sample in the hopes to find the right shade for me, 733, because I am a neutral gal and 731 and 732 wouldn't have worked for me in terms of undertones. Well, I know what you are thinking, and I do understand that it looks scary dark in the pan, but the truth is that this shade ended up working for me! Crazy, I know, I haven't come across anything like it before, but it is like this foundation is almost un-oxidising when it hits your skin, so my advice would be go at least a shade darker than you think you are, or try to secure a sample before investing in a full size to avoid disappointment. 100%Pure Healthy Skin Foundation is similar in terms that it also goes lighter when it's on the skin, but not that much lighter.

Now, about the foundation itself. It goes on smoothly and it is very easy to blend. A bit less coverage than Kjear Weis, but it is very buildable. And I find it easier to work with than Kjaer Weis. It does not cling to any dry patches on the skin, nor it does highlight fine lines or anything like that. Once on, it holds pretty well in its own, the very first day I wore it I didn't set it on purpose, to see how well it would last on its own, and it didn't disappoint! My skin is dry and sensitive though, so if you are oily, setting it is a must, otherwise it would move on the face I am afraid. I am really impressed with it I have to say.
It comes in the gorgeous bamboo case that you only buy once, and from then on you can purchase refills, I just love that! No throwing away a plastic case when you are done, and then getting another one. As I try to reduce waste in our household, this refill system is just a music to my ears!
Below you can see the swatches of the shades as well as their concealer.

Ingredients:
728-741: Oleyl Oleate, Squalane, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Apricot Kernelate, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Rhizome Extract*, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil (Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil)*, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Lauryl Olivate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax)*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil)*, Tocopherol, Fragance( Natural Vanilla Extract), Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder,Ci 77820(Silver). May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet). *Ingredients From Organic Farming ** Made Using Organic Ingredients.

100%​ Natural ingredients. 20% Minimum of organic ingredient.

 Now, a bit more info about their ingredients, taken from their page:

Bambusa arundinacea stem powder (micronised bamboo stem powder) : Regenerates epidermis
A white substance extracted from the nodes of the bamboo. It is mainly composed of pure silica and has been widely used in oriental medicine. Organic silica, which is a component of connective tissue, is present throughout the human body and regenerates the epidermis as it is involved in the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Over time, our capital silica diminishes causing demineralisation and loss of skin elasticity. It is therefore necessary to regularly replenish the skin with transcutaneous supplies.

Phyllostachis Bambusoides Rhizome Extract* (organic bamboo rhizome oil): Regenerates epidermis
As bamboo powder or bamboo leaves hydrosol, this material is extremely rich in organic silica which external input is needed to maintain the elasticity of our tissues and our skin. In the case of this oil, the advantage over powder or hydrosol is its ability to further penetrate the superficial part of the epidermis.

Silver (CI77820 micronised silver powder) : Natural preservative
These micro-particles of pure silver are antiseptic (especially on skin and mucous membranes) and Antibacterial as well, thereby preserving the product and protecting the skin. Microsilver is often used in creams to treat burns. Almost all products in the ZAO range (except the two lipbalms) contain micro-particles of pure silver (a natural preservative).

Silica (organic silica) : Toning and moisturising
The human body contains about seven grams of silica, far more than any other mineral including iron (and silica is the second component of the earth's crust with a 28% share after oxygen with 47%). An essential quality of silica is that it allows the body to efficiently absorb and assimilate minerals and vitamins. The connective tissue of the human body (cell wall) is composed of collagen and elastin. These molecules need silica, which, however, is no longer synthesised from an age of about twenty. An external supply is needed especially for the skin. For this reason, most of the products in the ZAO range contain organic silica.

Orbignya oleifera (babassu) seed oil* (organic babassu seed oil) : Antioxidant and anti-aging
Very rich in lauric acid, this oil has exceptional penetrating properties and is noted as non-comedogenic. It is sweet, very moisturising and Suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive. Its high concentration oftocotrienols provides antioxidant and anti-aging values.

Zao Correcting Concealer, in a tube above testers. That's how your refill looks like.

 Correcting Concealer

I got it in the shade 492 which is correct shade for me, as I like my undereye concealers in a lighter shade to create that brightening effect. Now, let me start off with the good news, it Does Not Crease!! Amazing! I couldn't wait to tell you all about it. Concealer is a very important tool in my green beauty arsenal, because my hereditary dark circles are so bad, that you would immediately would ask me if I am tired or sick if you ever saw me without make up, they are that bad, and no amount of sleep/green smoothies/ relaxation/products help, so I might just as well make my peace with it and make concealer my best friend. Even on my no make up days (which is most days to be honest) I will put some concealer, mascara and eyebrows. I don't want to scare people, okay?

So, let's get back to the concealer, shall we? The ingredients are just as impressive as their foundation, and I am impressed at how this works, I mean I've never met a green and clean concealer that would not crease, even my beloved Hynt Beauty concealer creases if I put on a little more than a pinprick dot. This holds up beautifully on it's own, and I don't even have to set it! I have to admit that my daily make up looks very natural, and I use very little concealer too, nothing like you see some of the Youtubers use in their videos. So if you are that girl who puts on those "triangles" of concealer under your eyes, I would recommend setting it just in case, but for me it does not crease, and I am very impressed, definitely an unexpected star!

Ingredients (INCI/CTFA): Ingredients (INCI/CTFA): Oleyl Oleate, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Persea Gratissima Oil [Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil]*, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Cera [Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax]*, Cera Alba [Beeswax]*, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil [Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil]*, Squalene,Tocopherol, Natural Vanilla Extract As Fragrance ,Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Ci 77820 [Silver], Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil [Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil]*, Aqua [Water], Aloe Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Alcohol. May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 [Titanium Dioxide], Ci 77491 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77492 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77499 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77288 [Chromium Oxide Green] *. May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 [Titanium Dioxide], Ci 77491 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77492 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77499 [Iron Oxides], Ci 77288 [Chromium Oxide Green] *: Ingredients From Organic Farming

Percentage of natural ingredients: 100%. Percentage of organic ingredients: 20% minimum.

 Organic Mineral Silk Foundation (loose powder)

It comes in a gorgeous bamboo pot with a magnetic lid. All of their make up comes in cotton pouches too, which is a cute touch.

Ingredients (Inci/Ctfa):(Ref 500) : Mica, Zea Mays Starch (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch)*, Silica, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Rhizome Extract*, Glyceryl Caprylate, Squalane, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Tocopherol, Natural Vanilla Extract (Fragrance), Ci 77820 (Silver).*: Ingredients From Organic Farming

Percentage of natural ingredients: 100% Percentage of organic ingredients: 22% minimum

Ingredients (Inci/Ctfa) (Ref 501-506): Mica, Oryza Sativa Powder (Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder)*, Zea Mays Starch (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch)*, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract (Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract), Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil)*, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil*, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract (Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil)*, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Natural Vanilla Extract (Fragrance), Lauroyl Lysine, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Ci 77820 (Silver), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacao Extract (Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract). May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77947 (Zinc Oxide), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Green), Ci 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet).*: ingredients from organic farming

Percentage of natural ingredients: 100% Percentage of organic ingredients: 32% minimum

I like this a lot too, it can be used on it's own as a light coverage foundation, or to set their cream foundation, like I did, in both cases it works very well. Nothing bad to say about this product (or any of them for that matter), great ingredients, great performance, very cute packaging!

Zao Matte Lipstick in 464

 Lipstick

Comes in two varieties, matte and pearly. The one you see here is matte in the 464 which is described as red orange on the website, but it definitely pulls more brown on me. See it swatched here and in the very last photo below. It looks the same way on the lips. I have to say I like the formula, very easy to apply, creamy but not slippery, not drying at all, lasts a decent time too, and what I really like, no weird taste on the lips either like from Red Apple Lipstick. Would I purchase more of them? Totally! I would like to see the shade selection in person though, so hurry up to Dublin, Zao!! We want/ need you here.

Ingredients (INCI/CTFA) 461-468,470: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil (Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil)*, C10-18 Triglycerides, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract (Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Extract), Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters**, Glycine Soja Oil (Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil)*, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Fragance (Natural Vanilla Extract), Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter)*, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil)*, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter)*, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Rhizome Extract*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil)*, Elaeis Guineensis Butter (Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter)*, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract (Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract)*, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Ci 77820 (Silver). May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Mica. * Ingredients From Organic Farming

Percentage Of Natural Ingredients: 100%. Percentage Of Organic Ingredients: 50%

Ingredients (INCI/CTFA) 469: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil (Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil)*, C10-18 Triglycerides, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract (Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Extract), Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters**, Fragance (Natural Vanilla Extract), Glycine Soja Oil (Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil)*, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter)*, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter)*, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil)*, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Rhizome Extract*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil)*, Elaeis Guineensis Butter (Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter)*, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract (Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract)*, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Ci 77820 (Silver). May Contain +/-: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci77019 (Mica), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet). *Ingredients From Organic Farming

Percentage Of Natural Ingredients: 100%. Percentage Of Organic Ingredients: 45% minimum



So, what is my verdict? Did the products get Green Life In Dublin stamp of approval? Yes! They passed with flying colors!

Zao is stocked in 43 countries worldwide, including UK and one place in Ireland (which makes me to organize a trip to Sligo just for that purpose!) - you can find the list here.


My wishlist from the brand:

Blush in Golden Coral

All of the eye brushes and eyebrow brush

Eye shadows (pearly) in 102, 103, 105, 106 and 119 which I would also try to use as a blush

Cream eye shadow in 251

Volume mascara in black

Pearly lipstick in 402 and 403

A pencil or two (they have a lot of multipurpose ones)

Eyebrow powder (not sure of my shade, would need to get a sample or see the products in person, as from looking online, the "ash blonde" looks way warmer than "blonde", which confuses me a bit)

And I really wanted a bamboo palette as I find them gorgeous, but watching Crueltyfrecutie video opened my eyes that the palette isn't held together by hinges, but acording to her "a sticker", so again, this is something I need to see in person to decide whether to get it or not.



So that is it, my two cents aka the review on this wonderful brand and their products, which hopefully will come to Dublin sooner rather than later! I know they already have a loyal customer in me.



That is all for now,

Lots of Love,

Renata.

  

Natural Beauties - Meet Vita from Vita Lives Free

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

I thought it is about time to introduce you to the gorgeous Vita from Vita Lives Free - I am sure most of you don't need an introduction to her, but if you are not familiar with her, let me tell you you need to go and subscribe to her Youtube Channel right now! That is how we struck up this internet friendship, I commented on one of her very first videos and she complimented me on my username - I used to go by the name SleepyheadzzZZ on the internet for many years, before changing all my social media usernames to Green Life In Dublin to match my blog. So we chatted for many years ever since, and she is always gracious and helpful, she makes the best videos when it comes to your health, she is big on self healing, minimalistic way of life and natural beauty, I think you really need to go and check all of her videos like right now, straight after you will read her interview here of course :) I will leave links at the end of this post. She is a truly inspirational to me and I hope to God we can meet one day in real life too, I would love that very much! She is like sister I never had. Oh, and she has the cutest furry babies too :)

💕 Tell us a bit more about yourself? Why did you start your website and Youtube channel?
I quit my luxury retail career and was thinking what I could do instead. I wanted to change people's lives, to make a difference in the world somehow. At first, I was thinking of becoming a personal trainer, but then I decided to start a YouTube channel and my blog. Friends and family had been begging me to start a blog for a few years, but I didn't feel confident enough to face the world with my acne. When i finally cleared my skin, I felt like I was ready to share what I knew with the world. I decided to start overnight and never looked back.

💕 Is green beauty important to you and why?
Yes, of course. It's important for me because my skin and the whole body reacts badly to conventional chemical-laden cosmetics and skincare items. I really don't have a choice if I don't want to upset my skin badly. I also don't want to contribute to the pollution of our earth by buying chemical products. We can all make a difference by making conscious choices in our own home.

💕 Three things that make you happy?
My pets, seeing my husband next to me 24 days a day, climbing a mountain and basking in the euphoria with the most beautiful views and feelings of achievement.

💕 What is the best advice you've been given?
To not try to be liked by everyone. My husband is the one who gave this advice to me. I'm still learning, but I'm better and better at it every day.

💕 What people inspire you?
If you mean qualities of people, I'm inspired by charismatic, bold, honest, straight-forward, ethical, and intelligent people. if you're talking about certain people, my biggest inspirations come from Jessica Alba (the greatest businesswoman and actress of all times), Tony Robbins, Mimi and Alex Ikonn (my dream is to meet them in person one day).

💕 What are your three (or five) can't-live-without-it beauty products? Pic please!
My Sierra Bees lip shimmers, 100% Pure concealer, and 100% pure maracuja mascara.

💕 Your best DIY recipe?
At the moment I'm loving my fuller's earth mask: I mix 2 tsp of the clay with just enough water to form a paste, add a few drops of rosehip oil, and use it on my face when my skin is feeling oily and a little clogged (during TOTM for the example).

💕 What do you like and dislike about yourself?
I love my figure, my eyes, and my hair. I don't dislike things about myself because I find it counterproductive. Even if there was something I didn't completely like, I would ignore it, I wouldn't talk or write about it, until the thought left my mind completely. I've learned to accept myself from head to toe without criticism. It's the only body I have and the least I can do is love it unconditionally.

💕 Your proudest achievement?
Being featured in a New York Times article a couple of years ago. Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/fashion/the-paleo-lifestyle-the-way-way-way-back.html?_r=0

💕 What are you currently reading?
I'm reading "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. A true classic and I'm loving every sentence of it.

💕 What food do you like to cook/eat?
Simple things that don't contain exotic or expensive ingredients and that don't take forever to cook. Almost anything will make me very happy if I can have a slice of my homemade sourdough bread with it. I love soups and I must have a serving or two every single day. Porridge is my staple in the mornings.

💕 Your guilty pleasure?
Pizza. We have this takeaway pizza place where the pizza base is fermented for 24 hours and it's so incredibly light and heavenly, plus it digests so well. Yummmm!

💕 Your top tips for being healthy and happy?
Take it one step at a time and don't burn yourself out. Be patient. Exercise every day even if it's just 5 minutes. Wake up super early, watch the sunrise every morning, and watch your happiness go through the roof. Embrace all the food groups but avoid processed foods. Try to stick to your native foods as much as you can: I doubt that your grandparents grew up eating quinoa, chia seeds, and acai bowls. Don't try to invent a bicycle! Just come back to your roots and you'll find your balance.

💕 What scents excite you?

Vanilla, almond, cinnamon, scent of the sea, the scent of a pine forest.

💕 What is your mantra in life?
Trying to be liked by everyone prevents you from being authentic. So be you!

💕 Favourite affirmation if you have one?

 I am becoming the best version of myself.

💕 What's your favourite beauty trend at the moment?

I don't follow trends, sorry. I simply follow what works for my body. :-)

💕 Once an week for my health..

I go hiking in the mountains for extra oxygen, vitamin D, and inspiration for the mind.

💕 Crazy health idea that actually works?

Nothing is crazy to me.

💕 What do you do to de-stress?

Meditate, flick through my favourite cooking magazines, read a book, drag my husband for walk, take a shower.

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Vita, now go and check her out, and say hi from me while you are there too :) Here is a link to her website:

http://vitalivesfree.com/

and her YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/vitalivesfree

That is all for now. take care!

Lots of Love,

Renata

Wear Your Crown!

Wear Your Crown! by green-life-in-dublin featuring vintage bags

Jane Iredale First Impressions Review

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Jane Iredale is an iconic brand in the green beauty field, and I am sure you don't need the introduction to it! Jane Iredale was the pioneer in the green beauty field, she was one of the first brands to put the mineral make up on the map. It is well loved and trusted by the make up artists, celebrities and us mere mortals worldwide. So despite knowing they use some chemicals like dimethicone (which is derived from sand, not petrochemicals!) in some of their products, I still jumped at a chance to try the make up. I mean who wouldn't, right? What do you say when you are offered a chance to try their products? You say "Yes Please, come this way"! All the ingredients they use are out there in the open, so you can peruse if you are comfortable or not with them, all products are clearly labelled if they are vegan, gluten free or not. Check their website prior the purchase if you are in any doubt. All their products are certified cruelty free, which is very important for us, right? They proudly display Leaping Bunny and Peta certifications. They are also very committed to giving back in many ways, and you can read more about it on their website.

Boring Stuff I Have To Say, aka Disclaimer first - I was sent a few items and some of them are bought with my own moolah, and I want to tell you all about them! Shall we start?

Jane Iredale Clarity Multiple on the top right

Jane Iredale Clarity Multiple swatched. Insert heart eyed emoji here :)

Clarity Multiple

Ingredients:
Ethyl Macadamiate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Moringa Pterygosperma (Moringa) Seed Oil, Isopropyl Jojobate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Ozokerite, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. [+/- (May Contain) Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77489, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850)(Aka 202), Red 27 Lake (Ci 454102).

Isn't it just lush and gorgeous? I have this beautiful multiple for a while now, and yet I can't stop oohing and aaghing at how beautiful the colour it. Every time I take it out of my blush drawer I think to myself "I should use this more often". Truth to be told this is the only multiple I have left at the moment, as I gave those 100%Pure ones away, they were not quite up to scratch for me. This is way better in my opinion, the colour is to die for gorgeous (prepare to read it 97 more times in this post) and it just works! The texture is creamy, but just dry enough to adhere to the skin well, and it lasts pretty well on the cheeks, like all day without any retouching! Perfect for me, as I am someone who does not do touch ups during the day, when I leave the house in the morning, that is it for me. Yet the stick is perfect for on the go or for travelling too. The stick is small (4.25gr) but it will last you months, tried and tested by me :) Don't let the bright pink colour scare you, it is not as Barbie pink on the skin, it blends beautifully, and you can control the application easily. Love? Yes!

Liquid Minerals foundation (in Satin)

Very important to me and my fellow super sensitive skin gals, this foundation contains no dimethicone, like some of their other products (To be honest, I was dying to try their BB cream famous for their full coverage, but my skin broke out from it. Very upsetting for me as I’d hoped it would be my holy grail product. I still highly recommend it to anyone bar super sensitive gals, or try to get a sample of it to see if it's for you)

So, back to the liquids minerals foundation! It is spheres of minerals in aloe vera base. It looks beautiful, don't you think? My shade is Satin and it is right for me. It does not give a lot of coverage, very light coverage indeed, but it  but it is totally fine with me, as that’s exactly how I like my skin to look like these days.  I am coming out of my post dermatitis shell, where all I wanted to do was to cover up my skin completely. And the funny thing is, I now receive more compliment on my skin than ever. This foundation holds well on its own throughout the day, is not irritating at all, and is a joy to use, feels like nothing on the skin!

This was the one recommended to me once I took a Quiz on Jane Iredale website, so I was super stoked to get it. It is not what I expected to be honest, it is much more sheer in terms of coverage, and I expected it to be more covering, but it is in no way a product's shortfall. I have to say I like it still, even though I tend to go for more coverage most of the time, but in the recent months I started to get much more comfortable with my bare skin, and yes, even my dermatitis scars. Basically I wear products with little coverage and dewy finish (like this product) on my good skin days, and tend to go matte and more opaque when my skin is misbehaving (tends to happen if I test too many products at once or accidentally gluten myself). Thankfully I have more good skin days novadays, so this foundation comes out to play rather often these days, and I have to say I really like it! As I already mentioned, it has very little coverage, just enough to even out your skin tone and give that dewy blurred effect to the skin, so it looks like you can see in the photo below, it is unretouched in any kind of way (I don't do "fixings" nor filters, what you see is what you get with me). What do you think? I think it looks rather good?

Copyright Green Life In Dublin

Green Life In Dublin

Liquid Minerals Foundation Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Glycerin, Algae, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Squalane, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Boron Nitride, Stearic Acid. [+/- (May Contain) Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77489, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288).

Amazing Matte Loose Finish Setting Powder

Ingredients:
Mica, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Zinc Stearate, Pinus Strobus (Pine) Bark Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate. [+/- (May Contain) Iron Oxides (Ci 77489, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499)]

Again, this contains no dimethicone, very important for me. Still, it is a very silky setting powder, that gives matte finish. It is translucent, so it has no color on its own, so that is perfect for me. I didn't have a translucent setting powder before, so l definitely enjoy having it in my collection. I use it more on my bad skin days, where I want more coverage for skin and I want it to be matte. So I use it on top of other foundations, like Kjaer Weis or 100%Pure Healthy Skin one. It makes the foundations last all day and not budge. If you are oily skin gal, or if your foundation tends to move a lot, this might be your new best friend.

Setting sprays - D2O Hydrating Spray & Pommisst Hydration Spray



D2O Hydrating Spray Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Laminaria Digitata (Algae) Extract*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Alcohol**. *Ingredient From Organic Farming ** Made Using Organic Ingredients 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin 27.8% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming Natural and Organic Cosmetic certified by Ecocert.

Pommist Hydration Spray Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*, Laminaria Digitata (Algae) Extract*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Alcohol** *INGREDIENT FROM ORGANIC FARMING ** MADE USING ORGANIC INGREDIENTS 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin 31.83% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming Natural and Organic Cosmetic certified by Ecocert.


What can I say? I really enjoy both sprays, I use them to both set my make up and refresh my face throughout the day! They are slightly different in the ingredients and what they are aimed for, but I have to say I don't discriminate and use them both equally :) And I love them both the same. I am sure I will use them both more in the upcoming months, now that I've got the heating on, they will come in handy for that boost of hydration that we all need. And who does not want a boost of hydration that comes from natural origin, right? I have to add that the sprays differ in smell too, and in my opinion Pommisst smells nicer, but that is only my opinion. We are all different. I also use either of these sprays to create a winged liner from my mineral eye shadow, more info here.

So, what are my final thoughts on Jane Iredale products? Do I love and recommend them? Yes on both counts, although I would highly recommend securing samples first, for example I have had reaction to the dimethicone in the BB cream and was gutted about it, as I was dying to try that product out and was hoping it would end my quest for perfect foundation. And their silicones are derived from sand, not the petrochemicals! See, uber sensitive skin. Sigh. And it might not be for you if you a die hard purist, as they do use some ingredients that come from a man made source, all tested for safety of course!

I have to say I am hooked on this brand and I am compiling a wish list, which currently looks like this: (Are You listening, Santa??)

• *Enlighten concealer in 1
• *SPF dry sunscreen
• *Blushes in Awake, Cotton Candy and Whisper
• *Moonglow bronzer
• *Jelly Jar gel eyeliner
• *Eye pencil in black
• *Active Light under eye concealer in 2 or 3
• *Circle Delete concealer in 2
• *Brow pencil (not sure of the shade yet)

What are your favourite products from Jane Iredale if you have tried them? What products are on your wishlist? Please share with me :)



That is all for now, take care! Next I am planning my "Natural Defences against Colds and Flu" post, so stay tuned for that.



Lots of Love,

Renata.