In the summer I REALLY hate wearing a TON of makeup.
I love playing up my skin and making it look flawless, to the point where you don't even need eye makeup (or less if you're an eye makeup junkie like me).
When I first heard about Brilliant Earth, I didn't expect it to be more than any other retailer specializing in diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry.
As I read more & more about the company, I became overwhelmed by the vast amounts ofinformation provided.
I could not even begin to comprehend what exactly goes into creating a company that practices and encourages the highest standards, such as:
*social and ethical responsibility
*environmentally responsible gold and platinum
*conflict free diamond jewelry
*the devotion and commitment to quality
*the promotion of an industry-wide change
The education section helps to deepen ones knowledge of precious gemstones, metals, ethical practices, conflict free diamonds and renewed gold- to name a few.
"Conflict free diamonds are guaranteed to originate from ethical and environmentally responsible sources. Conflict free diamonds are free from violence and other human rights abuses, and are produced with minimal environmental impact."
What Is A Conflict Diamond?
"Conflict diamonds have funded devastating civil wars in Africa, ending millions of lives. These conflict diamonds, also known as "blood diamonds", are associated with human rights abuses including violence and worker exploitation, as well as environmental damage."
Our Conflict Free Diamond Guarantee
"Brilliant Earth carefully tracks all of our diamonds from mine to market to ensure they are mined, cut, and polished with socially and environmentally responsible practices. While many of our diamonds are verified to be responsibly harvested originate from Canada, we also offer ethical origin African diamonds from Namibia. These diamonds are also carefully tracked to be socially and environmentally conscious."
"Other retailers may claim they offer conflict free diamonds or that conflict diamonds are a small problem. This relies on Kimberley Process data that addresses only nations in an official state of civil conflict. Environmental and labor-related concerns are wholly ignored, as is violence perpetuated by a "recognized" government."
"Our Canadian diamonds are carefully tracked from two mines in Canada through cutting, polishing, and transport. This ensures that our Canadian diamonds enter an uninterrupted chain of custody, and our supply is not corrupted by illicit or conflict diamonds. Many other retailers make vague claims that their diamonds are conflict free but have no such certification process to guarantee the ethical source of their diamonds. Because each of our Canadian diamonds is tracked from mine to customer, we can be confident no diamond treatments or alterations have been used."
"All of our Canadian diamonds have certification policies compliant with one of the leading bodies for Canadian diamonds, including Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct, CanadaMark, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. These policies provide independent validation to give you the peace of mind to know your diamond is conflict free."
"Brilliant Earth offers Canadian diamonds from the Ekati and the Diavik mine. Canadian diamonds are mined according to Canada's strict environmental laws - which are among the most rigorous in the world. These high standards protect caribou and other wildlife, water, and fish habitats. Canadian mines have demonstrated a strong commitment to the local Aboriginal people. The Diavik and the Ekati mine are both independently monitored to be ISO 14001compliant."
If you follow my blog, you know I take a serious interest in fair-trade, ethical and eco-conscious cosmetics, clothing, hair products, jewelry and various other consumer goods.
I sincerely hope that some of you find this information useful.
For me, it isn't about radically changing your lifestyle to "help save the planet."
Instead, I think we can make environmentally-conscious choices here and there to do our part.
Just read and take an interest in an area that appeals to you.
Kathy, the creator of Fusion of Color, asked me if I would like to try out her line of cosmetics.
While browsing her website, I noticed it was Mineral Makeup!
I have had a love-hate relationship with mineral makeup. When I first started blogging on Vox, I met a small group of mineral makeup fanatics. They all exposed me to MANY different mineral makeup lines.
I became OBSESSED with mineral cosmetics- I bought product from almost every mineral makeup line I could think of.
Then, I noticed I wasn't really using it...
It slowly became a fad, something part of my beauty-past.
I ask myself today why I grew apart from MMU, and I think the main reason is the packaging.
Some people don't mind it, but I prefer to have PRESSED makeup.
Seriously, it got so messy and I have color EVERYWHERE.
I know that sounds like the cliche excuse, but it's the honest truth.
I admit, I was a little hesitant when Kathy contacted me.
I told her I didn't like loose minerals and to my surprise she makes PRESSED mineral makeup!
I was ecstatic to finally find a mineral brand that appealed to the pressed-MMU-lovers.
For your own curiosity, check out my old blog HERE.
My old blog has HUNDREDS of MMU swatches from tons of different brands!
I still kept that blog up because it has tons of info on MMU (swatches, reviews, etc.)
But on March 25th 2009 (wow it's been over a year already!), I decided to spread my wings and fly into the blogger-sphere.
I consider my old blog to be a part of my MMU past.
The whole thing was almost dedicated to mineral makeup!
Bisque is a matte, neutral, nude shade that can be worn on the eyelid or on the brow bone; it's an "ALL-OVER" shade)
Truffle is a light, shimmery, purple-toned mauve; slightly on the taupey side and I LOVE IT!
(unfortunately it was cracked when I received it- but it's still staying together!- dang postmen)
Wine is a matte, deep, maroon-brown with red undertones (this shade is AMAZING); think of mixing MAC's Folie with Embark (not as light as folie, but not as dark as embark)
La Mer Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Partnership with Oceana
With a heritage deeply rooted to the beauty and power of the sea, La Mer is proud to announce the fifth anniversary of its partnership with Oceana, the world’s leading international ocean advocacy organization. Since 2005, La Mer has actively supported the efforts of Oceana in the protection and preservation of the oceans as a tribute to its founder, Dr. Max Huber. Inspired by the rejuvenating and healing powers of the sea, La Mer has created a limited-edition 100 ml World Oceans Day “blue” Crème de la Mer jar and will make a $200,000 donation to Oceana. This is the first time the look of La Mer’s signature Crème de la Mer jar has been changed; “going blue” signifies the brand’s continued commitment to the oceans.
Successes, Support and Expansion
The remarkable accomplishments of Oceana have raised critical awareness on the plight of our seas and their precious resources. Oceana’s specific campaigns to promote habitat protection, pollution control, safe seafood practices and responsible fishing have facilitated extensive global policy changes grounded by their tireless scientific research and reporting. La Mer is proud to support the continued growth and development of Oceana and honored to celebrate the fifth year of a dedicated partnership.
Over the course of the past five years, La Mer has donated over half a million dollars globally towards Oceana’s sea expeditions, studies and preservation efforts. La Mer’s $200,000 World Oceans Day donation in 2010 will support Oceana’s habitat protection campaign and will also help heighten awareness for their recent global expansion in Belize. The opening of Oceana’s new office there highlights their ability to identify and address areas in need of attention and whose health holds great importance in promoting the future wellbeing of the marine ecosystem.
Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless explains, “Because Belize has the second largest Barrier Reef in the world and is one the jewels of the sea, anybody who thinks about the world's oceans from a global perspective thinks about Belize. In late June, UNESCO added the Belize Barrier Reef to the UNESCO list of endangered World Heritage sites.With our new Oceana offices and local Belizean leaders, Oceana is focused on helping Belize to protect its incredible marine heritage and resources. I’m confident that in three or four years we’ll look back and say, ‘we made a difference for the oceans and for Belize.”
World Oceans Day Dive In 2009, The United Nations made World Oceans Day an official global holiday. To anniversary this and share the experience of Oceana’s extraordinary work, La Mer will sponsor a deep-sea dive in Belize with Oceana Spokeswoman January Jones. A passionate sea advocate and distinguished actress, January has been working with Oceana to raise awareness and help educate the public about ocean issues and ways to get involved.
La Mer Goes Blue
A classic icon of beauty since its creation – the Crème de la Mer jar will “go blue” for World Oceans Day 2010, marking the first time any change has ever been made to the look of its symbolic jar since originally designed by Dr. Max Huber. La Mer President Maureen Case explains, “The heritage of our brand is really founded in the classic emblem of our signature product, Crème de la Mer. Historically, La Mer has never made any alterations to the original jar, logo, color or design created by Dr. Max Huber until now. We are so proud to do so in celebration of this five-year partnership with Oceana as it harkens back to the core of what La Mer is all about – The Sea.” The limited-edition 100 ml “blue” Crème de la Mer jar is available in limited quantities and will be sold globally in the month of June in celebration of World Oceans Day.
World Oceans Day Created in 1992 and made official by the United Nations in 2009, World Oceans Day takes place annually on June 8thand is a day to recognize the sea’s importance as a vital ecosystem and take action to preserve its delicate habitats and wildlife. With over 300,000 members in 150 countries, Oceana’s science-based policies have greatly reduced over-fishing and protected threatened marine habitats.
For more information about World Oceans Day and the partnership between La Mer and Oceana, please visit www.lamer.com/oceana.
La Mer’s limited-edition 100 ml World Oceans Day Crème de la Mer will be available at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and www.lamer.combeginning in May 2010.
Here's our newest Bath Bomb of astronomical proportions. We were inspired by The Imagined Village's intriguing song Space Girl from their second album, Empire & Love. Shaped like Saturn with added space dust (aka glitter) and the refreshing scent of blackcurrant sweeties to make an intergalactic experience that can only be found in the tub. Lie back and enjoy the ride.
Personally, I really like the scent of this!
It adds a pop of zest to your bathtub.
However, the scent fades really fast- bummer :(
If you like the smell of candy sweet tarts, then you'll love this!
This irresistible cherry scented Luxury Bath Melt is the newest edition to the bunch. Helen (one of our product inventors) was inspired to create a fruity slice of heaven that you could snap into slices for three beautiful baths at one very reasonable price. Each melt is made up of 50% calamine powder, mixed with moisturizing cocoa butter, fragrant dried cherries and sweet passion fruit juice to melt in the water and create a milky consistency that leaves your skin feeling soft and cheery.
When I sniff this little sucker, it reminds me of Spring!
I seriously want to eat it because it smells like candied cherries.
You can break this into three parts (enough for 3 baths).
If you don't like cherry scents (or even sweet scents), then stay away from this.
Also, make sure your bath is warm enough for Happy Blooming to melt.
Butter yourself up with our delightfully rosy body polish. Each one is a decadently whipped up pot of roses, moisturizing cocoa butter, soothing almond oil, sensual jasmine and of course, Turkish rose. With thousands of petals in every pot, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything so delightful as this. Smooth it on in the shower for clean, soft and irresistibly fragrant skin.
Do you love the smell of roses???
If so, you will absolutely love this!
It smells exactly like roses, and it is VERY VERY strong and fragrant.
This is a whipped, yummy-looking body polish.
It tends to be a little harder to work into your skin, because it's so thick.
I don't mind spending a little extra time with this product. Why?
Because it's worth it!
This is what I IMAGINE "Buttercreams" to be like- instead they are solid and not very creamy at all. THIS, however, is extremely creamy- making it an EXTRAORDINARY shaving cream!
IF YOU LIKE THE SMELL & TASTE OF TOOTSIE ROLLS, THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS!
What LUSH says:
Sweet Lips is the lip scrub for chocolate fanatics. It smells like a bar of creamy milk chocolate. Vanilla extract keeps your lips moisturized, castor sugar gently exfoliates, and the rich, deep fragrance of cocoa absolute gives this an irresistible flavour. It's meant for exfoliating and softening your lips, but it's rather tasty too. Rub it over your lips when they're feeling the need for some chocolate and sugar.
All of them taste sweet, but this has a refreshing mint-kick to it!
Somewhat reminds me of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.
What LUSH says:
When you use Mint Julips, you'll find yourself craving a bowl of mint-chocolate chip ice cream. It's made with invigorating peppermint oil, which will make your lips feel fresh and tingly, along with sweet vanilla extract to lock in moisture and protect your lips. Simply rub it over your lips when you're feeling the desire for some fresh Mint Julips.
This smells sweet and yummy... a little like bubblegum but MUCH more like Snow Fairy.
It reminds me of being a kid... a very child-like smell.
What LUSH says:
This one will make your lips smell like our seasonal, best-selling Snow Fairy shower gel. Bubblegum Lip Scrub is made with exfoliating castor sugar and our delicious vegan flavour to gently scrub away rough skin, keeping your lips smooth and kissably soft. Simply rub it over your lips when you're feeling the need for some sugar.
After you scrub and wash it off, it leaves behind a nice hydrating feel.
Any of you tried the newest LUSH products?
What do you think?
The following products were sent to me by the company.
I am always 100% honest in my reviews.
For more information, please read the disclaimer on the right-hand-side of my blog.
Thank you.
Check out some of my LUSH reviews!!
The following products were sent to me by the company for reviewing purposes. I am always 100% honest in my reviews. For more information, please read the disclaimer on the right-hand-side of my blog. Thank you.
