Natural Makeup Blog

There has been a lot of talk lately about the possible respiratory concerns from powder makeup.

When using powder foundations there are 4 key items to be aware of:

1) Ingredients

1) Particle size

2) Binding agents

2) Application techniques

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques has been aware of these concerns, and because of their commitment to creating safe and healthy cosmetics for women, have designed their Foundation Powders specifically with these four points and your health in mind!

First, their powders have been formulated with NO titanium dioxide because test results have found this ingredient to have possible links to respiratory cancers.  Second, they use NO nano-sized particles in any of their powders because these particles are small enough to be transferred through the skin as well as on a cellular level, especially when inhaled.  Third, Organic Jojoba Oil is infused into their powders to help bind loose particles together and create a ‘weightier’ powder, which keeps it on the applicator and face, instead of floating in the air for possible inhalation.  Lastly, each powder container contains a deluxe satin puff.  These puffs can be used to wipe the powder on the face, instead of using a brush, which tends to create more dust when applying.  After applying the powder with the puff, then a Kabuki or Powder brush can be used to create a smooth, finished look.

Integrating the healthiest ingredients, larger particle sizes, plant-based organic binding agents, and dustless application tools and techniques into a powder makes Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Foundation Powders the healthiest powders available for you and your overall health!

What is Beauty?

Over the centuries and within each nations culture can be found myriads of definitions of beauty.  Unfortunately, we’ve been convinced by a few, very minority groups that what they say is beautiful is true, and we have to adhere to and accept it.

That’s just high school on a world-level.

We all remember those select few in high school who decided they knew what was acceptable and we all had to follow their lead if we wanted to ‘fit in’.  I’m all for graduating from the world-level high school mentality of everyone having to look a certain way in order to be ‘beautiful’, and choose to define beauty in our own individual way.

We each have incredible beauty of our own deep inside and, as we graduate and mature, we learn to look within and find our own True Beauty.  As we grow, we let go of needing outside approval.  We learn who we Are and learn to embrace and express our Highest Potential.

Define your own unique beauty and LIVE IT!

We’re excited to announce our newest product!

Our new Creme Foundation is formulated with our new exclusive Phytolipid Complex with  Organic Rosehip Oil, plus natural botanical antioxidants of Organic Green Tea and Natural Vitamin E Oil to moisturize and nourish your skin all day long while giving you a beautiful, flawless finish!

Our Creme is a medium to full coverage foundation that smooths on with a silky feel that leaves your skin feeling wonderfully moisturized and protected.

As with all our products, no chemicals, fillers, or toxic preservatives are used in the creation of our Creme Foundation.

All you get is natural, healthy beauty.

Everyone has their own unique eye color, width, size and shape and finding the best way to enhance them is key to beautiful eyes.  Learning a few basic rules will help you bring out your eyes best features.

One type of eyes are Deep set eyes.   If the eyes are too deep, darker shadowing can happen, causing them to look sunken.  The best way to work with the darker shadowing is to use light natural eyeshadow colors.  The lighter shades will minimize the depth and the tendency for shadowing, helping the eyes appear larger and creating a more open look.  When choosing a contour color, pick colors that are softer and more subdued.  If you’re working with a prominent brow, use matte highlights or slightly darker shades under the brow to help create a more balanced look in relation to the rest of the eye area.

One of the first things people look at is your eyes.   With the right kind of colors, shades and shadow application, your eyes can become a beautiful ‘centerpiece’ for the face.

One of the keys to beautiful, long lasting eye color is to apply a base color.  This not only helps to set the eyeshadow colors so they last longer, but it also helps to create an even eyelid tone before adding color.  This step is most helpful for women who have deep set eyes or darker colors or shadowing on the lids.  The base powder should be very light in color, like natural eyeshadow Sunglow or Vanilla Creme in the Lauren Brooke Eyeshadow collection, in order to lighten darker lid coloring or shadowy areas.   These lighter colors will also create a larger, more open look to the eyes.

When applying, make sure to cover the whole lid area  – from the lashes to just under the brow, and from the inner area of the lid out to the edge of the eyebrow.

The Food and Drug Administration Office of Cosmetics and Colors stated in 1995 that “a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA.”   Accorging to the FDA, 10,500 different ingredients are used in personal care products.

Of those 10,500, 89% have never been evaluated for safety.  That leaves over 9,000 untested ingredients that are used in everyday personal care products!  To keep your skin healthy, use the most natural makeup and skin care products available.  Read ingredient labels and make sure the product ingredients are natural and beneficial.

EDTA stands for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid .  This used in products as a preservative.  It is not only used in cosmetic and beauty products, but is also used as a preservative in foods.  This chemical compound is made from formaldehyde, ethylenediamine,  and sodium cyanide – all toxic chemicals.

EDTA is also a chelating agent, which means it has a capacity to bind metal ions.  Because of this ability to bind heavy metals, it can cause different health problems and is linked to heavy metal toxicity.

While reading ingredient labels, find natural makeup and beauty products – not to mention foods – that don’t have this ingredient!

With a New Year comes the chance to start fresh by feeding your skin with a healthy, skin-nourishing mask.

This Organic Facial Mask recipe will not only help you start the year off with deeply moisturized skin, but also give you a wonderful excuse for a  personal pampering session!

Honey Oatmeal Moisturizing Mask

2 tsp. – Organic Yogurt

1 tsp. – Finely Ground Organic Oatmeal

1 tsp. - Organic, Raw Honey

Blend all ingredients in a bowl.  Smooth over face.  Leave on for 5-10 minutes.  Relax.  Rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry.   Finish treatment by applying a small amount of Lauren Brooke Organic Facial Serum to face and around eyes.

This ingredient is an interesting one!

Look on the ingredient list of the typical beauty, skin care or makeup product and you’ll probably see something with ‘urea’, such as Imidazolidinyl Urea or Diazolidinyl Urea, included in the name.   Ureas are similar to polyester and are used in products as preservatives.  They contain formaldeyde and have been found to release trace amounts of it into the skin.

Urea  is found in urine and can be derived from bovine urine or wood pulp.  This bit of information may make you think twice about applying that facial cream or hair conditioner.

That’s one ingredient that can stay on the farm!

As the years creep by, the first areas of the skin to be affected seem to be around the eyes.   Here’s some tips to keep those fine lines from showing your true age.

1) Be as gentle as possible.  Don’t pull, stretch, or tug the skin around the eyes.

2) When removing makeup or rubbing the eyes go from the outer eye area towards the center.  This will prevent the inner delicate skin from being stretched and pulled.

3) When removing mascara, apply Eye Makeup Remover to two Q-tips and slide lashes between cotton swabs.  This allows you to take the mascara off the lashes while avoiding the normal ‘racoon eyes’ that happens when rubbing it off the lashes and onto the eye area.

4) Apply a natural eye cream or Organic Facial Serum around eyes every morning and evening.