Review - Therapy Systems Better Than Cover Concealer

Therapy Systems has come out with a concealer that is made with 70% certified organic ingredients so I decided to give it a try.  From the website: With a custom antioxidant infusion of acai, green tea and raspberry leaf, Better Than Cover's 70% organic formulation provides a smooth application and a sheer coverage that does not crease or cake. Your best self is only a dab away - simply you...simply fabulous!

The concealer comes in a small tube like a lip balm and retails for $24 for .18 oz.  They offer shades in light and medium and they are neutral based so I think they would work well on a variety of skin tones.  The Physician's Formula concealer I used prior to this had more of a yellow base and since I have a cool skin tone this works better for me.  I have used it with mineral foundation and also with Tarte's Amazonian clay infused liquid foundation and the concealer works well with both.  The texture is a lot more sheer than other concealers I've tried and when applied it feels almost oily at first but not in a bad way, it just makes it very blendable and then after a minute it seems to 'set'.  Since it is sheer coverage it doesn't cover red spots the best, but for general evening out of the skin tone it applies very smooth and provides natural coverage.  Even though my complexion is very light this blends right in without being obvious that I have something on which is important to me as I like a natural look to my makeup.  I use it around my nose and on other areas that need evening and I love it for that, but for acne spots that are red it doesn't cover the best so if that is an issue for you a heavier coverage would be better.  The natural ingredients don't irritate my skin and it stays put for hours without needing retouching.  It also does not settle into fine lines but rather glides over them, and when applying more than one layer it doesn't look cakey or thick. 

Overall I really like this concealer for general evening out of the skin tone but it didn't cover the best on a red spot from an acne breakout.  I love that the texture is sheer and creamy, it blends flawlessly, and it doesn't cake up when applying more than one layer.  For a concealer made with 70% organic ingredients I am really impressed with it, so if you're into organic/natural makeup I would recommend this!

Grade: A

Pros: Natural ingredients, blends well, provides natural looking sheer coverage, lasts for hours

Cons: Coverage might be too sheer depending on your needs

Get it: http://www.therapysystems.com/product/BetterThanCover/19

Natural Bliss Skin Care

The friendly owners of Natural Bliss were kind enough to send me generous samples of some of their products with a challenge - use only their products on my face for an entire week.  Once I accepted the challenge, I really thought about the amount of products I use daily on my face and body and realized that it's a lot!  Lately I have been thinking about all the chemicals in the products I use and how they may actually be causing some of my skin problems such as clogged pores, dryness, breakouts, ect. rather than nourishing my skin, especially since I use several products and the different chemicals may interact in bad ways.  I was really excited to start my 7 day Natural Bliss trial and see how completely natural handmade products worked on my skin and to see if there were any noticeable changes while using them.  I shut up all my bottles and tubes in my cabinet and let the journey begin.  This will be a long review as I tested 5 different products and want to be fair to each, so bear with me!


I received samples of their unscented and scented olive oil soap, normal/sensitive face serum, kaolin powder scrub, and each of their scented body oils.  First, I must say that I love their packaging.  Each item has a small brown label that lists the ingredients of the product and even specifies organic ingredients.  The Kaolin scrub had a small piece of paper with directions stuck on the bottom which was very helpful.  The packaging is practical, natural looking, and informative.  

The first item I tried was the handmade unscented olive oil soap, which has just a few ingredients - extra virgin olive oil, distilled water, coconut oil, and sodium hydroxide.  This formed a nice lather when mixed with water after I washed my face it felt squeaky clean.  As a true test to see if it was really getting off all of my makeup I used a bit of Kiehls toner on a cotton ball after rinsing.  There was a little bit of residue on the cotton ball but not much compared to other cleansers I have used, and it easily took off all of my makeup (even mascara!) without scrubbing.  I really feel that this soap cleans my skin well and evens out pH balance as my skin did not feel dry or tight when I was done and my pores looked smaller.  It's very gentle and I think it would be great for those with sensitive skin or children.  I also used it in my hair and on my entire body with the same results - it was gentle, lathered well, and made me feel completely clean.  The olive herb soap works just as well and is better for people who suffer from acne or skin inflammation because it contains aloe water to speed up healing and a mix of essential oils to treat skin ailments like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.  The scent is pleasant, earthy and natural without being cloying.  Each day I use the unscented soap in the morning and the scented at night and I plan to continue using both.  They work just as well, if not better, than cleansers that I've tried in the $30-40 range and since they are all natural I feel good about using them.  I love that they can be used all over the body and even in the hair - talk about a multi-tasker!  Natural Bliss offers other natural soap options besides these two, so there's one for everyone.

Following the cleanser I gave the Kaolin Powder Scrub a try.  It contains white kaolin clay, ground olive soap, honey powder, oat flour, lemon peel, apricot seeds, essential oils of: geranium, lemon, eucalyptus and peppermint.  It is good for sensitive, dry, mature, normal, oily and acne prone skin and can be used on the face or body.  The first things that struck me about the scrub were the scent and sensation .  It's very minty feeling/smelling and is extremely refreshing on the skin.  The texture is slightly rough like any scrub and I think the lemon peel, even though it looks a little strange, is a great addition for a more mild texture.  It felt gentle enough to use on even sensitive skin and did not strip my skin of natural oils or give me an irritated feeling at all.  In fact, it moisturized my skin and made it feel hydrated which I have not experienced with many scrubs.  After I rinsed my face it looked and felt healthy, fresh, and soft.  I really love this scrub and how it not only makes my skin feel fresh and alive but makes it look that way too!  The scrub can be used 2-3 times a week for controlling breakouts and clogged pores. 


Finally, I followed the soap and scrub with an application of Natural Bliss's Normal/Sensitive Face Serum.  From the site, "Our Normal/Sensitive Face Serum uses a combination of vegetable oils suited for this skin type. This light and non-greasy oil penetrates easily into the skin. It is moisturizing and improves elasticity and general skin health. Our oil blend is high in vitamins, such as: A,B,C,D and E, minerals, essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants, contains natural chlorophyll and offers UV protection. Our choice of essential oils stimulates circulation, regenerates tissue, assists in healing, balances sebum and corrects sebum production."  This serum is also offered for mature/dry skin and oily/acne skin.  I LOVE the smell of this serum - it's natural, slightly floral, and just a really great smell that I don't mind at all having on my face.  I had been using Natural Bliss Organic Passion Fruit oil (previously reviewed here ) on my face at night before switching to this serum.  The serum is a lot lighter in texture and has a more pleasant and light fragrance than the passion fruit oil.  It comes in a small glass bottle so I just tap it against my index fingers a few times per side of my face and apply.  It sinks in very quickly and doesn't 'sit' on top of the skin which surprised me because I did not expect that from an oil based serum.  My skin loves this serum and it makes me even toned, my pores appear smaller, and it provides a nice healthy glow that is not greasy looking or feeling.  I have been using this during the day before I apply my makeup and in the evening before bed, but I think I will start to use this during the day only since it's lighter in texture and go back to applying the heavier passion fruit oil in the evening before bed.  It doesn't affect my makeup application and in fact provides a nice smooth base for foundation.

They also sent me samples of each of their scented body oils - vanilla spice, sensual sandalwood, cocoa candy, jasmine, and patchouli.  These body oils are made with a mixture of nutrient rich oils that feed the skin and each body oil is good for different skin conditions and can be used as massage oil.  I was excited to see that the jasmine and patchouli body oils aid in healing skin and preventing scarring, as I took some skin off my knee with a new razor a few weeks ago and really don't want a scar!  Applying the patchouli oil daily is healing the wound quickly, keeping it moisturized, and helping the mark fade away.  My favorite scent of them all is the cocoa candy - it smells like the most delicious cocoa brownies so it helps me cure my chocolate cravings just by smelling it!  I also love the jasmine as it's a very light feminine scent that is not overpowering.  These oils absorb quickly into the body, do not feel greasy, and leave skin softly scented and supple.  A lot of lotions, especially scented ones, leave my skin feeling drier, irritated, and even itchy a few hours after I apply it, but these body oils just left me smelling great and feeling moisturized even at the end of the day.  I love that the healthy nutrients in these oils actually feed my skin and make it healthier, rather than masking dry skin with chemicals.



Now I'd like to provide some feedback on the company itself.  The company was founded by two sisters whose mother instilled in them a passion for natural skin care, so they started researching and then making their own products.  The first time I ordered from them I had some questions so I emailed them and they promptly responded by the next morning.  Every time I have contacted them I receive a reply within a day - I love a company that not only provides great products but also fast and friendly customer service.  The owners are extremely knowledgeable about natural and organic skin care and have already taught me a lot about their products and why they work.  My order was shipped quickly with no issues and they provided a tracking number.  They offer sample sizes of most of their products which is great for people looking to try natural skincare but unsure if it will work for them.  Their website is easy to navigate and ingredients as well as usage information is clearly listed for each product, as well as if certain ingredients are organic and unrefined.  They also offer hair care, body butters, pure fruit and nut oils, pure fruit butters, and many other natural products including sample sets.  I think I'll be picking up one of their sample sets for a friend's birthday that's coming up, it would make a cute (and great smelling) gift!

My results?  Fantastic!!  After using these products for only 1 week, I am a convert and will be ordering full sizes of the soap, kaolin scrub, and serum.  At the end of 1 week my skin is incredibly soft and smooth, pores appear smaller, skin tone is a lot more even, clogged pores are becoming a thing of the past, and the few monthly blemishes I had before I started have healed a lot faster than they ever have before.  It has also helped my slightly oily t-zone become more normal and it has left my skin looking radiantly healthy and, I think, younger.  I feel a lot more confident about my skin and am using less foundation now and soon may not even need foundation for the first time since I was 16!  I have not experienced any breakouts and the only adverse side effect I have had is a bit of dry skin around my mouth and chin, but that usually happens to me when the seasons change and spring is blooming here in Wisconsin.  I think that as I continue to use the products this will balance out and my skin is just getting used to the natural products.  The only other products I might continue to use are my nightly eye serum (preventative care, as my family is prone to crow's feet) and a bit of moisturizer here and there, but otherwise I am more impressed with these products than I have been by anything I've used in the past years, and I've tried a lot.  I did not experience results like this even while using $35 cleansers and $85 serums.  Even using the samples every day for a week I still have plenty left for another few weeks, so these products last a while too and you don't need to overdo it to see and feel results.  I am not sure what I'm going to do with all the bottles and tubes in my cabinet, but I do know that I don't want to use other products on my face anymore.  I've always been looking for the perfect skincare regimen at a fair price and I can say I've finally found it!  Thank you Natural Bliss for kindly sending me these samples so I could experience the wonder of natural skincare for myself!

Grade: A+

Pros: Large selection of handmade products with natural ingredients, natural and unrefined oils feed skin, owners are knowledgeable, great customer service, very fair prices
Cons: Experienced slight dryness
Get it:  http://www.mynaturalbliss.com/


**Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a Desert Essence Throughly Clean Oil Control Lotion!! : http://prettylightsbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/07/desert-essence-throughly-clean-oil.html **


*Samples were provided for review purposes and I am not affiliated with this company or being paid for this review/to promote this company*

Mizani Supreme Hair Oil

I have heard a lot of rave reviews from women who use hair oils, so I decided to give Mizani Supreme Hair Oil a try.  I have never used a hair oil before so I was not sure what to expect but I was enticed by the fact that this oil is derived from 99% all natural ingredients and contains 8 natural oils - sesame, jojoba, almond, avocado, apricot, olive fruit, sunflower and argan oils.  It can also be used as a body oil, a pre-shampoo treatment,  daily leave-in conditioner, for blow drying and finishing, and as a moisturizing scalp oil.  My hair is long, thick, not dyed, and has a slightly wavy texture.  I don't heat style a lot or use a lot of products on my hair besides the occasional smoothing gloss or wave enhancer.  I wanted a product that would be healthy for my hair, impart a nice shine, and leave it manageable without feeling greasy.  

The oil is very lightweight and clear in color.  It has a pleasant, long lasting slightly floral scent that is very natural and not overpowering.  The first time I used this oil, I used way too much and didn't like the results.  My hair looked limp and greasy so I had to shampoo afterward.  Since then I adjusted the amount I use to 3 drops and rub it between my palms, then apply to my hair avoiding the scalp as a leave-in conditioner/smoothing treatment.  This leaves my hair soft, shiny, manageable, and imparted with a gentle natural scent.  It's great to use whether I keep my hair natural and wavy or decide to blow dry it straight.  It does not weigh down my hair or leave it heavy feeling and I love the way it smooths my hair, making it feel extremely silky.  My hair just looks extremely soft, silky, and healthy after I use this and also has a bit of body.  In the summer when it gets more humid I think this oil will do a great job of controlling frizz and flyaways, and since it doesn't contain any silicons it won't build up in my hair.  Since my hair is thick it's important to me to find products that don't weigh down my hair or leave it greasy and hard to manage.  This product provided exactly what I wanted and I love that I can also use it on my entire body - who doesn't love a product that multitasks! 

Overall I am happy with this product and will continue to use it.  The bottle is 4.1 fl oz. and since I only use a few drops for my entire head, this will last a very long time so it's a steal.  I am looking forward to using it this summer as an alternative to smoothing products that contain silicons and think it will hold up well in the humid summer months.  I love how healthy my hair looks and feels after using this oil!

Grade: A+

Pros: Provides healthy shine and manageabilty, does not weigh down hair, 99% natural, has a variety of uses, pleasant scent
Cons:  Be careful not to use too much!
Get it:  http://www.mizani-usa.com/?m=721&rid=300

Lorac Multiplex 3D Lipgloss

I have always been a lip product junkie since I got my first bonne bell lip balm around 10 years old - I'm the girl that the other girls turn to when they can't find or forgot their lip products.  "Just ask Nicole, she'll have some!"  That's when I whip out my arsenal and say "Well if you want a natural balm, try this, if you want a bit of reddish color, try this one... for a sheer gloss with a hint of pink go with this one..." You get the point.  It's not unusual for me to use 5-6 different lip products in the course of one day, and they constantly change depending on my mood.  I'm still on the hunt to find the best and brightest lip products, and with new ones coming out all the time it's a constant battle!  Recently I tried out two shades from Lorac's Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss line in the shades 3D and Cliche.   From their website: "Get glam, glossy, gorgeous lips with Multiplex 3-D Lip Gloss! This innovative, paraben-free Lip Gloss contains holographic pigments for multidimensional, high-lacquer shine and vibrant, long-lasting color. Its unique formula is infused with antioxidants to help nourish and protect while the creamy, moist texture help lips look silky-smooth and ultra-glossy. The custom, pro brush is designed to easily hug the curves of the lips for a super sexy 3-D pout!"  First, I have to say that I love that its paraben-free.  More and more I am actually noticing what ingredients are in the products I use and thinking about the effect those products might have on my body.  If you're not familiar with parabens and the effect they may have on you, check out this great article here: http://blog.cincovidas.com/hype-or-fact-are-parabens-in-cosmetics-really-that-dangerous-you-bet Second, if you're not an in-your-face lips girl, stop reading now!  This gloss is not for the faint of heart or those who prefer an understated lip!  

Ok, on to the product itself!  It comes in a classy looking round tube and contains .17 fl oz. of product.  The first shade I'll review, 3D, is described as a Rose Bronze with 3D glitter.  The applicator is a small short-bristled brush that provides precise application and makes it easy to put the gloss exactly where you want it.  I just hate messy gloss applicators!  When I first put this on I was actually a bit unimpressed - it just screamed "GLITTER!" "GLOSS!" "GLOSSY GLITTER!!" at me.  I set it aside for a while and went back to it later, and since I've tried it out again it's grown on me.  The gloss is a bit heavier and stickier than what I'm used to but it has a smooth texture despite the microglitter in it.  The actual color itself is gorgeous.  When you really look at in the light it has a base of rosey bronze and then multifaceted bronze/rose glitter over the top of that, all packed into a super shiny lush gloss. It has a bit of sheerness to it so it would easily layer over a lipstick to deepen the color.  It did not dry out my lips as all and lasted quite a while, even through eating and drinking.  It does leave a bit of a stain on the lips after it fades.  It's not a top pick for a demure daytime look, but I tried it with some Tarte Park Ave Princess bronzer, Tarte Clay Illuminating Serum on the cheekbones, and an Origins light brown shimmer eyeshadow and it screamed "gorgeous sunny summer day!" this time.  It makes the lips look full, plumped, and truly 3D.  I am a very visual person so I just love looking at this gloss on the lips - it's just a really gorgeous multifaceted shade unlike anything I've ever seen before.  

Next up is the shade Cliche, which is described as Pink with Blue 3D Pearl. This one is a bit intimidating - in the tube it is bright pink!  It's definitely more pigmented than the 3D shade and does not have glitter in it.  It goes on as a lovely blue based pink, so it's great for my fellow fair skinned blonds out there.  This shade is bright and very attention-grabbing, but I feel like I could still pull it off during the day if the rest of my makeup was very understated, maybe just a touch of blush and mascara.  For night I would love to try it with a 60's pin-up girl look with some white shimmer shadow, thin black winged out liner, and then this bright pink gloss instead of the usual bright red.  Just putting it on makes me feel utterly sexy, and my boyfriend really loved it on me - too bad it's a bit too sticky for comfortable kissing!  It makes lips look plump and defined and the pink to blue 3D pearl shift is so lovely - it adds visual interest to the gloss and really does make lips look 3 dimensional.  I would describe this shade as pink liquid lipstick meets blue based liquid lip laquer and creates a lovely third dimension!

Sorry for the slightly dark photos, it's so hard to find good lighting in my house and it's been a rainy mess lately here in WI!  I wish I could get some good natural sunlight soon!

Overall I like these glosses but I can see myself using them mostly during the evening vs daytime at work.  For the price of $22, I probably would not buy more unless I am sure they would work for daytime looks.  If I use them evenings only for the few times I go out, I may have to toss them (no parabens means they will probably get stale faster) before I use them up.  However, if you love attention grabbing, super shiny multifaceted lips then this is your dream product!  I think this would also work great on women whose lips have some wrinkles or lines, as it really smooths out the lip area and makes it look refreshed and young.

Pros: Plumps lips, gorgeous truly 3D effect, lasts a while before reapplication, smooth texture, actually does what it says it will!
Cons: Heavier/stickier texture, maybe too glam for daytime looks
Get it: http://www.loraccosmetics.com/p-133-multiplex-3-dbrfont-size1lip-glossfont.aspx