I recently learned that my favourite cosmetic line tests on animals. I have been pretty loyal to this brand for a long time now and hadn’t bothered to check their stance on animal testing because a) I probably didn't really want to know and b) I thought it didn't happen that often any more. Wishful thinking - it's still really common.
Apparently loads of red lipsticks contain carmine too, which is a product made from thousands of crushed insects most commonly native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico (umm…?). It’s safe, but there is growing controversy around the intensive, mass scale farming of these insects.
Crushed Dactylopius confusus - insects used for their red pigmentation in lipstick. Source: Wiki Commons
So. All this got me curious about Living Nature which is made in New Zealand but available all over the world (including a US based warehouse and a UK distributor called Botanical Brands).
Living Nature seemed to have the balance right of quality, cool products at a decent price. All of their makeup is made from natural minerals and plant products. They are famed (and have won awards) for putting luscious natural skin feeding ingredients in - like Manuka Honey, Manuka Oil, Macadamia, Jojoba, Avocado Oils and Vitamin E. Yum. The products come in cool black recyclable packaging, and all ingredients are either certified organic or 100% natural. No animal testing, no smearing crushed insects on my mouth. Good.
Here are a few things I’ve recently tried:
Face
I’m a fan of liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers, and Living Natures Foundation in Pure Sand is really good. It’s light weight but provides good coverage and doesn’t smell like a chemical bath like some BB creams I’ve recently been using. I used a good moisturizer just before applying because a couple of reviews said that dry patches can show up with this product. It comes in a beautiful little glass bottle with a pump and a little goes a long way.
I applied the Luminous Pressed Powder over the foundation, which gave a beautiufl tone and a slight shimmer to my skin and helped keep the foundation on all day. The powder comes in a sexy black aluminum case with a mirror and a sponge (although I used the beautiful retractable Kabuki Brush which gave a perfect dusting). The pressed powder can also be used over moisturizer alone if you’re not needing too much coverage.
I finished off with the blush in Cool Winter which has a peachy light brown tone. A great little blush with no nasty chemicals. I’ve been using this every day since I got it, it brings just the right shade to my pale wintery skin (I look like a GOT extra from the north at the moment).
Living Nature Foundation in Pure Sand - NZD $55
Living Nature Luminous Pressed Powder (medium) - NZD $58
Living Nature Blush (Cool Winter) - NZD $45
Living Nature Retractable Kabuki Brush - NZD $24
Eyes
The eye pencil in Midnight is a perfect little pencil, goes on easy and lasts really well. I used the eye shadow in Glacier (a light silvery grey) over the pencil which was an ideal day-time combo. The shadows come in an individual pan, but you can buy the eye shadow compact separately if you'd like. I loved the mascara in Thickening Jet Black, it lengthened and thickened beautifully without clumping. It's fragrance free as well, which I love - I find fragranced mascaras smell weird after a couple of weeks.
Living Nature Mascara (Thickening Jet Black) - NZD $41, Eye Pencil (Midnight) - NZD $29, Mineral Eye Shadow (Glacier) - NZD $24
Lips
Finding decent lippie colours in lines that are cruelty free and natural (let alone organic) is a challenge. I gotta say, I’ve found a new favourite colour in Living Natures new organic lipstick in Pure Passion. I’m obsessed. I haven’t stopped wearing it - it's so exciting when you a find a colour that clicks with your complexion and style. Classic red with crimson undertones, and a micro shimmer that you can see in the lippie bullet but not so much once it’s applied. I also tried Living Nature’s other new colour - Wildfire - which is a warmer shade of shade of red with orange undertones.
These are two very vibrant shades that totally pop, which is such a treat from an organic line. They also have no carmine included, so kudos to Living Nature for going all out in the cruelty-free stakes. These lippies are both long lasting (made it through the dinner/drinks date test), and I didn’t find them drying like some matte lipsticks can be.
Living Nature New Organic Lipstick in Pure Passion (left) and Wildfire (right) - NZD $33
When all's said and done, I'm a fan for sure. You can shop the full range here.