Vegan Luxe Lipsticks By Axiology

I was planning on writing a post about vegan lipsticks from different brands and featuring my favourites when I realised that each brand that brings a fabulous vegan lipstick to market (and they are far and few between!) deserves their very own post. So, today it is all about Axiology.

While there is an abundance of toxin-free and cruelty-free lipsticks the vegan ones are still rare.
And then there are vegan lipsticks which aren't all that toxin-free and natural...
In my pro-kit, I combine different cruelty-free brands with vegan lipsticks to get a good colour and texture variety which I need as a pro artist.
In my personal beauty bag, I am extra picky and use vegan&toxin-free lippies.
I will step by step introduce these goodies to you!
The other week I also mentioned some vegan lipsticks here in care you missed it.

AXIOLOGY

The outer
The lipstick brand with the unique triangular boxes and shiny golden luxe packaging. I love having a shiny blingy luxe lipstick and think this brand really nailed the packaging.

The Inner
Creamy lipsticks that glide on with ease. The texture is light and not greasy. The colours have a shimmer which makes lips look plump and voluminous. These beauties smell and taste of natural orange oil. Axiology has a large range of colours, from wearable nudes to funky bold colours.

The Company
Crafted in Oregon, USA by vOwner Ericka. She understands eco credentials and lives a vegan lifestyle, so I am not surprised by the quality, ethics and strict pure natural formulation of these treasures. Definitely one of these amazing small businesses that I am proud to support.

The Verdict
Perfect luxury lipstick for your own handbag! Feels hydrating, not greasy and leaves a beautiful shimmer. If you are after a matte colour, this isn't for you.
For the pro artists out there, this is a slightly sheer and shimmery range that still delivers true colour, a great addition to your matte, high-pigmented collection.
I love mine! My personal Favourite Colour is "Vibration"
All shades are shown on lips on the website which gives you a very accurate idea of the colour along side with swatches. I found this very helpful.

 

P.S: They just came out with some crayons as well! I can't wait to try. Please let me know if you have gotten your lips on some already. I am all ears :)

Osea- One Fine Line Of Vegan Skincare

Powered by the Ocean, as the name promises Osea is a range with active ingredients derived from Organic Seaweed. I have been dying to try this range ever since I first saw it.
I just knew this would be a winner when I looked at the ingredients, the simple packaging and the philosophy of this beautiful brand.

Fast forward a few centuries and I finally got to try out a few staples of this beautiful product line. This line has been around since 1996 and is vegan, absolutely toxin-free, the packaging is eco-friendly and the ingredients are safe, natural and effective, all made in Malibu, California USA.

The textures are just lovely, the scent is very luxurious but not overpowering. They do feel in the best possible way like conventional luxury skincare. Hold on, no: Of course, they feel better! Because they are better for you and you can feel that difference.

This line is great for any skincare junkies who are not too fond of herbally scents and homemade textures and oils. It feels and works just like any high-end skincare line but without the junk.
The packaging is simple and reminds me of a good professional spa skincare line.
The glass is frosted but clear, so I would recommend keeping these goodies out of direct sunlight. IIt's great that you can see exactly how much you have left.
The range is rather extensive with products for all skin types and concerns and includes face as well as body products.

Here is what I have tried:

Atmosphere Protection Cream
Lightweight moisturiser for Day & Night for normal/combination skin.
Not greasy glides on very easily and leaves the skin supple. Provides a fantastic base for makeup. It's so nice and straightforward I don't know what else to say. A very good moisturiser full stop.

Ocean Cleanser
A non-drying gel cleanser, it's very balancing to the skin. It gently exfoliates with vegan lactic acid, leaving your skin radiant.

Sea Minerals Toner Mist
Extra hydrating mist can be used as toner in your skincare regime as well as to set and refresh makeup during the day. The scent is subtle and pleasant. The mist comes out really nice and fine, which is a plus. (not all companies master this and as a pro makeup artist it is VERY annoying if hydrating sprays squirt out and potentially ruin your makeup) So: extra vegan brownie points for the packaging!

Sea Vitamin Boost
I have been keeping the Sea Vitamin Boost on my desk and spritzing my face with it in this dry Winter air. With the heater running due to our little baby in the house, my skin wasn't too impressed and was showing signs of dryness and dehydration. This helps me through the day.
(in combination with a humidifyer in the room and nightly leave on masks!)
This one is a great one for the handbag and desk. Loaded with antioxidants it has some age defying powers and really locks in moisture.

I like to be critical in my reviews but this brand has nailed natural skincare! Of course, I haven't tried the whole range but everythign that I have been using has impressed me. Have you tried this range? Do you have any favourite products?

Probiotic Smoothie Bowl For Healthy Skin

I love my green smoothies for breakfast but it's fun to mix it up every now and then.
Lately, I really got into making myself a smoothie bowl by using my smoothie and adding some delicious toppings.
I have also been adding Probiotics! There are so many great options, from capsules to yummy powders or eating fermented foods. Of course, real foods are always the best option and I do include Kimchi, Coconut Kefir and Tempeh into my diet on a regular basis.
Still, I like to add some probiotic supplement. Like the Pono Probiotics Gorgeous Greens Probiotic Powder (this one is the only vegan one in their range!) it combines the goodness of green superfoods with probiotics. Perfect addition to any smoothie or smoothie bowl.
Probiotics are good for everyone and can make a huge difference on your skin! If your gut is healthy your body can absorb nutrients properly, which will leave you with more energy, glowing skin and a stronger immune system.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it's a good idea to keep your gut flora as healthy as possible, probiotics taken by Mum during pregnancy can prevent skin conditions such as eczema and allergies in babies!
(During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any supplements!)

My Smoothie Bowl Recipe:

For the Smoothie:
1 ripe banana (frozen)
1/2 Mango (optional, also works well with frozen Mango)
1 handful of organic kale
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp fermented vegan protein powder (optional! see link for my favourite one)
1 tsp Pono Gorgeous Greens Probiotic Powder
1 cup Plant milk of your choice or water (when using protein powder water works well, if you skip the protein powder I recommend using a creamy milk, to get that yummy creamy texture!)

Throw it all into a high-speed blender until smoooooth!

Toppings:
1 handful Buckinis
1-2 Tbsp Goji Berries
Mango (optional)
Get creative! Decorate, Sprinkle and add whatever feels right and looks pretty!

I know my creation is a pretty humble one compared to the artworks I see on Instagram all the time. But this one is real, it's my actual breakfast unstyled for the photo, just the bowl that I actually made for myself.

 

tmf vegan makeup review

I finally got the chance to try out some tmf makeup products. I have been intrigued by this Australian brand, as it's vegan, cruelty-free and uses a lot of organic ingredients too.
The packaging is very simple, practical and minimal and the line is supposed to be designed with pro artists in mind. It just sounded like the perfect alternative to a brand like MAC (which does test on animals and contains way too many questionable potentially toxic ingredients for my liking)
tmf stands for The Makeup Factory, just in case you were wondering.
I received an Essentials collection, which contained a variety of products to get an idea of the quality, ingedients and performance. There are still lots of products that I haven't been able to try as of yet though (I would love to try the concealer and liquid foundation!) and I will keep you up to date when I do.  Of course, please feel free to comment for feedback and share your own experience with this brand or any questions.
My favourites were:

LIPSTICK
First I have to say that it makes me very happy when I find vegan lipsticks, as they are very rare even with cruelty-free and organic brands, most do contain beeswax. Tmf makes it clear with their range called Vegan Lips. that their range is 100% free of animal products, which scores extra points with me! The lipsticks are matte and packed with pigment! Definitely a very professional product and long wearing too. They apply very smoothly and not much product is needed. I will have to grab some more of these beautiful colours for my kit. They aren't your creamy, nourishing lipstick, but rather a great colour, long-wearing matte kind. If you are in need for extra shine simply add their lip gloss over the top.

Highlighter
The Pure Skin Glow is a lightweight fluid that can be mixed with liquid foundation for a dewy finish or used on its own as a beautiful highlight. I really liked that this one is not sparkly or overly shiny, it's subtle and sophisticated and can be used in real life without looking like a disco ball! I am definitely a fan of this one.

Pure Skin Base
This is a lovely lightweight, hydrating primer. I would recommend it for dry to normal/combination skin. This is not a mattifying product, but one that makes your foundation last. You can use mineral powder or liquid over the top and it will prolong the wear of your foundation, make it glide on easily and save you from needing too much foundation and ending up with a cake face. Pure Skin Base is a really good primer for most skin types.

The Verdict...
I love the pigment, textures and simple professional packaging. Extra brownie points for being vegan. Extra points for being a local, Australian company that strives to manufacture here too.
I am especially impressed with the Vegan Lipsticks. Another plus is that they offer free shipping within Australia!

I am disappointed that the full ingredients aren't listed on their website. As they market themselves as toxin-free & cruelty-free and have organic written on their packaging, I feel that this is very important information for their customers and for me as a pro artist too. I won't buy products without knowing what is inside.
Their preservative is Phenoxyethanol, which is allowed to be used in organic products but is not my first choice. The products are silicone based, which again is allowed in natural formulations and I do also like the professional results this gives, yet it's important to mention.
I personally don't wear silicon on my skin day to day but do use it in my professional kit for its performance.

The products are not certified organic nor have any natural cosmetics certifications.
TMF is in the process of being certified cruelty-free though, according to the founder, who ensured me that they are working on it. The quality is right up their with the professional brands and I would love to include more of these products into my kit.
 

Time For Your Winter Glow! Exclusive offer for Liv Well Readers

I don't know about you but for me, it's time to get my Winter Glow on!
And I have a pretty amazing deal waiting for you:
When purchasing the Divine Natural Bronze you will receive a FREE full-size Exfoliating Scrub.
Simply use the code: winterglow at checkout and get glowing.
Now let me tell you why you would want them:

I am a bit of a Winter phobic and definitely a Summer girl, but I made this commitment a few years back to not ever again complain about Winter, but to rather celebrate it and making the most out of it! This has led to buying fun beanies, cool boots and chic coats and to get some tan on when needed. To stocking up on yummy teas and baking vegan treats.
Winter is fun and beautiful after all!

While I tan quite well naturally over the warmer months, right now I can do with a bit of an extra colour. And thanks to my new full-time job as Mama it's especially important that I only use clean, green, non-toxic and ideally Certified Organic products on myself.
My latest discovery is the Divine Natural Bronze & Exfoliating Body Scrub Duo.
Of course, it's all vegan & certified organic, packed with luxurious ingredients to pamper the skin. Let me tell you about the products:

Natural Bronze is a gradual tan, which makes it more mistake proof. I am in a bit of a hurry these days when having a shower. (Anyone that has taken care of a Newborn can probably relate! ) Yet I come out even and streak free. I do always use a mitt when applying tan, which saves me from scrubbing my hands so much afterwards and it does save time. Of course, you can just use your hands if you prefer. I also take good care to exfoliate at least 24h before ideally using an exfoliating glove! Only apply your tan very lightly around dry areas like knees, elbows & feet. You will always have to do some good skin preparation before tanning but I find gradual tans way more forgiving. ( I am sure most of you are tanning experts but just in case there are some newbies)
This one will work for fair to medium skin tones and is buildable. My own skin is never too pale, so the colour looked very natural on myself. All natural tans only use the active tanning ingredient, no synthetic colours. Most conventional tans now have a lot of green and blue pigment added to their formulas, which create more olive results. Natural tans will always be a bit more on the warmer side.The lighter your skin the more careful you will need to apply. You use it as many days in a row as you like until you have achieved the bronze tone that you like, then you can maintain your glow by applying only every 3 days. This lotion feels very moisturising and has a very subtle natural scent.

Exfoliating Body Scrub
This is one nice body scrub! I really like the subtle natural smell and the super fine Pumice & Walnut Shell Powder does a great job exfoliating without being too scratchy. It's a very creamy texture and super easy to use. Of course, it's also nicely hydrating. It's perfect to prep your skin for tanning or just on it's own.

I hope you enjoy this special cooler season!